South Africa: Government launches initiative to empower women, girls in Africa

Government has officially launched the Charlotte Maxeke African Women's Economic Justice and Rights (AWERJ) initiative, which aims to give practical effect to the country's commitment to the economic and financial inclusion of women.

In paying tribute to the work of Charlotte Maxeke, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said the organic legacy initiative would be an embodiment of her values and leadership qualities.

The project will also be anchored on South Africas foreign policy, which is primarily Pan Africanist.

The Charlotte Maxeke African Womens Economic Justice and Rights initiative is our contribution to the Global Acceleration Agenda for the empowerment of women and girls. It is the missing piece to our women, peace and security agenda. Through this initiative, we have come full circle in our efforts on the full emancipation of women and girls, DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor said on Monday.

She said the move is a practical expression of diplomacy of Ubuntu and aims to strengthen South Africa's international solidarity work.

It is an affirmation and a validation of womens economic justice rights as fundamental human rights.

According to the Minister, while more efforts have gone into civil and political rights of women, the economic rights of women and girls have been largely neglected.

It is for this reason that South Africa chose to focus its efforts under the Generation Equality Forum on Economic Justice and Rights.

Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa joined other Heads of States and organisations at the Paris Forum to endorse the outcome of the multi-stakeholder process, the Global Acceleration Plan for the empowerment of women and girls across the globe.

Furthermore, he outlined South Africas commitments for the next five years, including the Charlotte Maxeke AWEJR initiative as one of the programmatic commitments.

Pandor said this years Womens Month is taking place against the backdrop of the celebrations of 150 years since the birth of Maxeke, whom she described as an internationalist, intellectual, teacher, visionary, social worker, visionary, advocate for womens rights and human rights activist.

Government has declared 2021 as the Year of Charlotte Maxeke.

Through the implementation of this initiative, Pandor said South Africa seeks to mobilise the global community to support womens leadership across all the action coalitions, particularly economic justice and rights, education, training and mentorship as well as creating opportunities in economic participation, networking, diplomacy, and trade.

This gathering is an invitation to all our friends and partners to join hands and walk with us as we roll out this project.

According to Pandor, the Charlotte Maxeke AWEJR programme has six concrete flagship programmes implemented gradually in the coming three to five years.

These include the Africa Future Leadership Development Programme, African Womens Leadership Award, the first-ever Ministers Breakfast with Women Ambassadors on gender equality initiatives, African Women's Leadership Training Programme on Economic Justice and Rights, Women's Trade Fair which will showcase African womens products and services to markets in the continent and globally and the Fellowship for African Women in Diplomacy.

The department has also opened an invitation to those who would like to see an opportunity to contribute to the economic justice and rights of women and girls in Africa.

As I conclude, let be guided by the words of the patron of this initiative and I quote, this work is not for yourselves, kill that spirit of self, and do not live above your people but live with them if you can rise, bring someone with you, said Pandor.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Government remains committed to providing housing

As government continues to deliver housing through its programmes, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has assured rural citizens that they will not be excluded.

I wish to inform the people of KwaZulu-Natal that we remain determined to ensure that those who live in rural areas are not left behind as the new wave of human settlements delivery is sweeping throughout the corners of the province, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Jomo Sibiya said on Monday.

The MEC visited the KwaMaphumulo Local Municipality to hand over a house to a 73-year-old woman who lives with her three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The initiative is part of the Maqumbi Rural Housing Project, which has to date spent more than R17.6 million for the construction of 1 500 houses.

The structures that they were living in were not suitable for human habitation and not structurally safe and sound. As the department, we had to intervene and ensure speed in the construction of a new house for this deserving family, the MEC said.

Phase 1 of the Maqumbi Rural Housing Project is in Ward 4 and falls under the Mkhonto Traditional Council within the Maphumulo Local Municipality.

Critically, as Human Settlements and Public Works we are supporting the programme of rural development. We share the belief that rural development will help to ensure that the people live in areas where people could live with their families - work, access decent education and have access to quality healthcare.

We understand that rural development will also help solve migration to big cities where there is competition of land and accommodation, the MEC said.

In an effort to ensure rural development, the province has used the Maqumbi Rural Housing Project as a firm base for the acquisition of skills.

More than 30 young people, including 16 females, from the local community, have been subjected to an intensive bricklaying, plastering, roofing and carpentry training.

The learners, who have been employed formally in the Maqumbi Rural Housing Project, will get their certificate in an official graduation ceremony scheduled to take place in the local community hall today, the MEC said.

He said the skills development of young people is fundamental to the growth trajectory the province has set.

Through our Expanded Public Works Programme we want young people to take charge of the infrastructure revolution. The national government, together with the private sector, identified 276 projects with a total investment value of more than R2.7 trillion. Government went on to gazette 50 of these Strategic Integrated Projects with a value of R340 billion, the MEC said.

The projects are in the areas of human settlements, water and sanitation, energy, transport, digital infrastructure, harbour development and maritime in general.

Some of the projects are located in KwaZulu-Natal.

Our programme today should therefore be viewed within the context of preparing young people to take advantage of all infrastructure projects as we move forward, Sibiya said.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: President Ramaphosa to participate in G20 meeting

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday travel to Germany to attend a G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) meeting to take place in Berlin on 26 and 27 August 2021.

President Ramaphosa has been invited by Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Angela Merkel.

The G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) was initiated under the G20 German Presidency in 2017 to promote private investment into the African continent.

Currently, 12 African countries have joined the initiative. These include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia.

South Africa, which is a member of the G20, co-chairs the initiative alongside Germany.

The Berlin meetings will include a G20 Investment Summit, as well as a separate meeting of Heads of State and Heads of Government, where discussions will take place on ways in which to improve the business environment and increase investment in Africa.

The conference will also discuss vaccine production in Africa, which is key to enabling African countries to build back stronger, faster and more inclusively, and ensuring that the post-pandemic African economies become more resilient and equitable.

President Ramaphosa is scheduled to have a meeting with Chancellor Merkel to discuss bilateral and regional issues, the Presidency said in a statement on Tuesday.

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: WC pet owners encouraged to be on lookout for rabies

Pet owners in the Western Cape have been encouraged to be vigilant and take their pets to their private veterinarian or animal welfare organisation, to make sure their rabies vaccinations are up to date.

The call follows confirmed laboratory results received by the provincial Agriculture and Veterinary Services on Monday, which confirmed rabies in two dogs at Khayelitsha, in the City of Cape Town.

Western Cape MEC of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, said investigations are currently underway to determine the source of the outbreak.

Meyer said officials are vaccinating pets in Khayelitsha and affected areas this week in response to the cases.

"Our Animal Health Technicians began vaccinating dogs and cats in the area yesterday [Monday]. We are working closely with the welfare organisations and medical doctors to check on contacts and any people who may have been bitten and need treatment.

"If you suspect that you have had contact with a rabid animal, getting preventative treatment as soon as possible saves your life. Wash any bite or scratch wound thoroughly with soap and water, and then go immediately to your doctor or clinic to get rabies vaccinations. The sooner you receive treatment, the better you will be protected against rabies," Meyer said.

Rabies is a viral disease affecting animals and people. It is transmitted by saliva or other body fluids, and a dog or person can be infected by being bitten, scratched or licked by a rabid animal.

Western Cape Veterinary Service Head, Dr Gininda Msiza warned that dogs with rabies often show a behaviour change and become suddenly aggressive or unusually tame for no reason.

However, Msiza said rabies is very easy to prevent by vaccinating dogs and cats.

"Dogs with rabies struggle to swallow and often walk around with their mouths open, drooling or making choking sounds as if they have something stuck in their throat. If you suspect a dog has rabies, do not touch it and contact your nearest private or state veterinarian immediately, Msiza said.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Basic education releases May/June matric results

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) on Tuesday released the May/June Second Chance matric examination results.

The May/June examinations are special exams offering an opportunity for adults who do not have their matric certificate, candidates who passed the 2020 November examinations but who want to improve upon their results and those who did not pass their final matric examinations in the previous year, to obtain their matric certificate.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DBE said a total 239 024 candidates enrolled to write the exams. This included both the National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Senior Certificate examinations (SC). A total 95 525 candidates wrote the NSC exams while 143 499 wrote the SC examinations.

The 2021 May/June examination was written by a diverse cohort of candidates, comprising employed adults, unemployed youth and school learners that wrote the previous Grade 12 examination in November 202. The 2021 May/June examinations were successfully administered despite the enormous challenges related to the COVID-19. Both candidates with COVID-19 symptoms and those that tested positive were allowed to write the examination in special isolation venues, the department said.

The results of the candidates cannot be reported in overall passes as candidates only sit for one or more subjects.

The department said examinations were administered under strict monitoring by the national and provincial education departments, Umalusi and the Council for Quality Assurance.

Examinations not affected by unrest, irregularities

The department reported that the prevalence of examination irregularities like cheating has declined over the years and any irregularities did not compromise the examinations which commenced on 26 May.

[The] Council for Quality Assurance, after having scrutinised the reports from both the DBE and Umalusi monitors, declared the 2021 May/June examinations as being conducted in accordance with the standards prescribed in the Examination regulations. [It] also confirmed that there were no irregularities that were of such a nature so as to compromise the examinations as a whole, the DBE said.

The marking of examination scripts was not affected by the civil unrest in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in July.

The marking of the 772 404 scripts, undertaken by 9323 markers, across 54 marking centres in the country was completed during the school vacation in July 2021. Despite the protests and the rise in infections during this period, in certain provinces, the marking was completed according to plan, observing the high standards commensurate with these examinations.

Candidates who wrote the examinations can access their results at district education offices, centres where examinations were written or on the departments website on www.education.gov.za.

Applications for requests to re-check or re-mark of examination scripts can be done at centres where candidates wrote their examinations.

The department has encouraged those who would like to sit for May/June examinations to register and participate in the Second Chance Matric programme.

The Second Chance Matric programme offers face to face support programmes, learning support materials and online support, the department said.

The exams concluded on 7 July.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Dept of Military Veterans suspends senior officials

The Department of Military Veterans is investigating irregular expenditure amounting to R119 million and has since placed senior officials on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.

This is according to the Deputy Minister, Thabang Makwetla, who was briefing the media on the departments irregular expenditure.

The Deputy Minister told the media on Tuesday that the Director-General (DG), Irene Mpolweni, who has suspended the officials, was exercising her authority as accounting officer to implement consequence management as required by the Public Service Commission.

According to Makwetla, the Public Service Commission (PSC) wrote to the then Acting DG, Lieutenant General Derrick Mgwebi last month, requesting him to provide information on consequence management in respect of irregular fruitless and wasteful expenditure by the department.

He told journalists that the Commission noted that the department reported irregular expenditure amounting to R119 million of fruitless and wasteful expenditure to the tune of R5 million in the annual report for the financial year 2019/20.

The Public Service Commission and the Director-General of the Department of Military Veterans agreed to collaborate to overcome the challenges faced by the Department of Military Veterans.

Makwetla said the suspended officials have since been informed about the departments intentions to appoint a service provider to commence with the investigations.

This is in a bid to implement consequence management as required by the PSC.

In dealing with this matter expeditiously and efficiently, the Deputy Minister said the department intends to adhere strictly to the prescribed 60-day period to bring the probe into finality.

In addition, he said Minister Thandi Modise has also been appraised of the decision of the DG in line with the requirements of consequence management.

He also addressed reports about the upkeep of the troops that were deployed in KwaZulu-Natal to quell the unrest after soldiers complained about not having food or clean water.

So, these are you know, niggling issues that we'll be able to overcome with the necessary support that has been assured by the highest office in the land, he added.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: SA, Bangladesh commit to strengthen economic ties

While trade and economic relations between South Africa and Bangladesh have grown significantly, both countries have acknowledged that there is still considerable potential to expand these relations.

The two nations believe that this can be done by harnessing the opportunities that exist between them.

This was discussed during the working meeting between International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor and Bangladeshs Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Kalam Abdul Momen on Tuesday.

The Ministers agreed to forge closer cooperation in the fields of small business development, technical exchanges in information and communications technology and skills development and womens economic empowerment.

This is in addition to the already identified priority areas, including trade and investment, agriculture, transport and education, according to a joint statement issued following the meeting.

The meeting took note that Bangladesh is celebrating its Golden Jubilee Anniversary of Independence as well as the Centenary Birth Anniversary of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The two Ministers reflected on Bangladeshs achievements since independence and paid tribute to the life of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his dynamic and visionary leadership, commitment and sacrifice that enabled his people to enjoy freedom and democracy.

The leaders also paid tribute to former President Nelson Mandela for his visionary leadership and recalled his visit to the South Asian country in 1997 to participate in the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of Independence.

The focus of the meeting centred on strengthening the excellent relations that exist between Bangladesh and South Africa which have been forged through bonds of solidarity, friendship and cooperation.

To strengthen both political and economic relations, both parties agreed to continue deliberations, through the exchange of official visits, including high-level visits, as well as facilitating engagements and cooperation across all levels.

The parties once again spoke about the developments within the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), with Bangladesh set to assume the Chairship in November 2021.

The Ministers underscored the need for consultation and the exchange of views between South Africa and Bangladesh to build partnerships in multilateral fora and to ensure the prioritisation of the development agenda of the Global South.

In addition, the Ministers further exchanged views on regional and international developments and reflected on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global response to the pandemic.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: High number of candidate nominations for 2021 Local Government Elections

With candidate nominations for the 2021 Local Government Elections having closed on Monday night, preliminary indications are that there has been a high number of candidates nominated, said the Electoral Commission (IEC).

The IECs preliminary figures indicate the total number of candidates stands at 59 272, including those captured through the online candidate nomination system, as well as manually, in the local office of the Commission.

Seventy-four per cent of preliminary candidates were captured through the online system, whereas 26% came through manual submissions, it said on Tuesday.

This as the IEC on Monday extended the closing time for submission of candidate nomination lists from 5pm to 9pm for political parties and independent candidates intending to contest the Local Government Elections scheduled for 27 October 2021. In line with the Electoral timetable, the first stage of the candidate nomination process concluded on Monday night.

The IEC said there is currently work in progress to collate all the nomination information.

The Commission has released a preliminary report on the candidate nomination process, which opened on 3 August 2021 and closed on Monday.

Local offices of the Commission are still currently busy capturing manual submissions that were received by the cut off time of 9pm yesterday. The plan is to conclude this capturing by the end of today. The total number of municipal council seats being contested in this years election is 10 285, the IEC said.

Compliance verification

There are 276 unique political parties that submitted candidates of which two are contesting in all the 257 municipalities in the country.

The total number of independents currently captured is 944. In 2016, there were 855 independent candidates.

The compliance verification processes is already under way. This is to ensure that candidates on the system are compliant with the electoral prescripts. As at this morning, the total election deposits paid amount to just over R 7 million. Some payments were made late last night through electronic funds transfer and these may take up to 48 hours to reflect in the bank account of the Commission, it said.

The IEC confirmed that the online system closed at 9:34pm.

The reason for this was to enable the data transfer from the public website where the online candidate nomination system is hosted into the internal business application.

In the interests of sound election management practice, candidates whose details were entered after the deadline of 9pm cannot and will not be accepted but candidates captured before and up to 9pm will be taken as duly submitted. This is facilitated through the date and time stamp, which is a component of the online candidate nomination system, the IEC said.

The affected candidates who were captured during the 34 minutes before the online system actually closed are 74.

On Friday, 27 August 2021, the Chief Electoral Officer will notify political parties of any non-compliance that may have arisen. In this regard, contestants will have until Monday, 30 August 2021, to correct the non-compliance.

Furthermore, on 31 August 2021 parties will be notified of candidates who may be appearing on multiple party lists. Parties may choose to remove such candidates and re-order lists by 2 September 2021, the IEC said.

Final list of candidates

The final lists of candidates will be certified and published on 7 September 2021.

This date will mark the conclusion point of the candidate nomination process and the ballot paper production process will then be able to commence. Certified candidates will be issued with certificates on 13 September 2021, the IEC said.

The IEC has thanked political parties and independent candidates for their continued interest in electoral democracy.

Such interest tells us that the electoral democratic project is well and alive in the country. It is not lost to the Commission that the unfolding nomination process had to be undertaken against the backdrop of a pernicious pandemic, which is threatening our collective existence, the IEC said. SAnews.gov.za

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Hong Kong: Sophia Chan joins health meeting

Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan attended the 11th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High-Level Meeting on Health & the Economy via video conferencing today.

Under the theme of "Making the Economic Case for Health Equity in a COVID-19 World", senior health officials from member economies shared views on challenges to public health systems and economies as the world continues its enduring battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also discussed measures to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines and medical products as well as strengthening the resilience of the global public health system to respond to future health threats, and promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

During the discussion session, Prof Chan shared her views on the supply chain resilience of COVID-19 vaccines. She noted that having entered the second year of the battle against COVID-19, it has become clear to the global community that vaccination is one of the keys to ending the pandemic.

She pointed out that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has launched a citywide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme since February and the Early Vaccination for All campaign at the end of May to boost public uptake of vaccines.

Hong Kong will continue to support and participate in the joint effort of ensuring sustainable and equitable access to safe and affordable COVID-19 vaccines, as well as addressing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, in order to promote extensive immunisation against COVID-19 as a global public good, she added.

Before the end of the meeting, Prof Chan and health officials of other economies jointly adopted a statement to affirm continued international and regional collaboration on health on various fronts.

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RTHK: No extensions for US August 31 deadline, Taliban warn

Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers said on Tuesday they wanted all foreign evacuations from the country completed by an August 31 deadline and they would not agree to an extension as Group of Seven (G7) leaders met to discuss the crisis.

The hardline Islamist group also sought to assure the thousands of Afghans crowded into Kabul airport in the hope of boarding flights that they had nothing to fear and should go home.

"We guarantee their security," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a news conference in the capital, which Taliban fighters seized on August 15.

As he spoke, Western troops were working frantically to get foreigners and Afghans onto planes and out of the country. US President Joe Biden faced growing pressure from allies to negotiate more time for the airlift.

Chaos punctuated by sporadic violence has gripped the airport following the Taliban's rapid takeover of the country.

Leaders of the G7 countries - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States - were meeting virtually to discuss the crisis.

CIA Director William Burns met Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul on Monday, two US sources told Reuters.

The Taliban's Mujahid said he was not aware if Baradar had met the CIA chief. But he said the group had not agreed to an extension of the deadline and it wanted all foreign evacuations to be completed by August 31.

He also called on the United States not to encourage Afghan people to leave their homeland.

The Taliban also urged foreign embassies not to close or stop work.

"We have assured them of security," he said.

Countries that have evacuated nearly 60,000 people over the past 10 days were trying to meet the deadline agreed earlier with the Taliban for the withdrawal of foreign forces, a Nato diplomat told Reuters.

"Every foreign force member is working at a war-footing pace to meet the deadline," said the official, who declined to be identified.

Biden, who has said US troops might stay beyond the deadline, has warned the evacuation was going to be "hard and painful" and much could still go wrong.

Democratic US Representative Adam Schiff, chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, told reporters he did not believe the evacuation could be completed in the days remaining.

"It's possible but I think it's very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated," Schiff said.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said at a news briefing Monday that "we will continue to get Afghans at risk out of the country even after US military forces have left".

British defence minister Ben Wallace told Sky News he was doubtful there would be a deadline extension. But German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Germany was working with the United States and Britain to ensure the Nato allies can fly civilians out after the deadline.

The frantic evacuation operation kicked off after the Taliban seized Kabul on August 15 and the U.S.-backed government collapsed as the United States and its allies withdrew troops after a 20-year presence.

The militant group had been ousted by US-led forces in the weeks after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States by al Qaeda militants whose leaders had found safe haven in Afghanistan.

Leaders of the Taliban, who have sought to show a more moderate face since capturing Kabul, have begun talks on forming a government that have included discussions with some old enemies from past governments, including a former president, Hamid Karzai.

But many Afghans fear reprisals and a return to a harsh version of Islamic law that the Taliban enforced when in power from 1996 to 2001, in particular the repression of women.

Seeking to ease such fears, Taliban spokesman Mujahid said it was trying to come up with a procedure so women could return to work.

He also said there was no list of people targeted for reprisals.

"We have forgotten everything in the past," he said.

However, the top UN human rights official, Michelle Bachelet, said she had received credible reports of serious violations committed by the Taliban, including summary execution of civilians and restrictions on women and protests against their rule.

"A fundamental red line will be the Taliban's treatment of women and girls," she told an emergency session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. (Reuters)

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RTHK: G7 wants 'safe passage guarantee' for Afghans

The Taliban must "guarantee" safe passage for those fleeing Afghanistan beyond the current August 31 evacuation deadline, the G7 said on Tuesday, according to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Johnson, who convened the emergency meeting, said that he and his colleagues had agreed "a roadmap for the way in which we're going to engage with the Taliban" in the future.

But he added that the "number one condition" was "to guarantee... through August 31 and beyond, a safe passage for those who want to come out."

The UK chaired the emergency talks among the group of wealthy countries on Tuesday, saying it would urge Biden to extend his August 31 deadline to pull American forces out of Afghanistan.

France also called on Washington to push back the timeline.

However, Biden decided after the G7 talks that he would stick to the deadline, US media reported.

Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said earlier Tuesday it was "unlikely" evacuations from Afghanistan would be extended beyond August 31.

A spokesman for the Taliban on Monday warned that the hardline Islamist group would not agree to any extension, calling the issue a "red line", with any delay viewed as "extending occupation".

"If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations -- the answer is no. Or there would be consequences," Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Sky News.

Britain has continued to evacuate Western citizens and some Afghans from the capital, with Wallace warning the security situation was getting "more and more dangerous" as August 31 approaches.

The defence ministry said 8,458 people have been evacuated by the UK since August 13, with nine military flights leaving Kabul in the last 24 hours.

More than half -- 5,171 -- are Afghans eligible to relocate to Britain under its programme to protect those who aided its military and civilian officials during their two-decade involvement in Afghanistan.

An individual on the UK's no-fly anti-terrorism watchlist arrived as part of the evacuation, the interior ministry confirmed.

A spokesman said the individual was identified "as part of the rigorous checks process" and that after further investigation was deemed "not a person of interest to the security agencies or law enforcement".

The G7 leaders also agreed that the Taliban will be "held accountable for their actions on preventing terrorism, on human rights in particular those of women, girls and minorities and on pursuing an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan", according to a statement issued by Johnson's Downing Street office.

Britain currently chairs the G7, which also comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. (AFP)

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A special online lecture on the day of martyrdom of Ameer-ul-Momineen Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) was organized by Iqbal Academy Pakistan

A special online lecture on the day of martyrdom of Ameer-ul-Momineen Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) was organized by Iqbal Academy Pakistan. Renowned researcher and Director Idara e Saqafat e Islamia Prof. Dr. Mazhar Moeen was the guest speaker. He said that Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) was appointed Caliph of the Muslims after the death of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA). It was said that he was very strict in nature. Hazrat Ali (AS) replied that once it comes the responsibility of governance, softness will be there automatically.

Hazrat Umar Farooq had excellent administrative skills. He brought the youth in the government. Built roads and bridges. During his regime the government took responsibility for illegitimate children. Gave stipends to children from birth. He fixed a stipend of Rs. 12,000 for each Umm-ul-Mumineen. He spread the teaching of Arabic language throughout the Islamic world. Divided the whole Islamic world into provinces. Appointed judges and fixed their salaries. Measured the area. Appointed regular army. He made whatever arrangements can be made in a modern state of today's world.

In his times "Al-Salah Khair Min Al-Noom" was regularly included with the consensus of the Sahaba. He Arranged Taraweeh prayers regularly. Appointed separate Imams and Qur'an reciters for men and women. Mut'at al-Nisa 'was forbidden. Hazrat Umar (RA) added more than 40 new practices by consensus. Omar Farooq seems to be at the forefront of everything that Islam has today. In his time, the Islamic State covered 2.2 million square miles. And Hazrat Omar Farooq ran the system of such a large kingdom in the best way.

Feroz, a Parsi slave of Mughirah ibn Shu'bah, whose surname was Abululothi, complained to Hazrat Umar (RA) about the heavy tax levied by his master, the complaint was unfounded, so Hazrat Umar did not pay attention, he was so angry that in the morning prayer, he suddenly attacked with a dagger and attacked him one after the other. Hazrat Umar fell down and Hazrat Abdul Rahman bin Awf offered the rest of the prayers. Finally, he embraced martyrdom on 1st Moharram 24 AH. In the end, Director Iqbal Academy Pakistan Prof. Dr. Baseera Ambreen thanked the guest speaker.
by Fady Noun

The Maronite patriarch stands against those trying to empty the country of its Christians. The tragic explosion in Tleil has moved people. Church, lawmakers, Kesrouan-Jbeil municipalities, and business associations are trying to meet local food, medical and energy needs.

Beirut (AsiaNews)  Are people in power trying to empty Lebanon of its Christian lifeblood? This is the serious accusation that the Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara a-Rahi, has just made against Lebanons political leaders.

Without naming anyone, the head of the Maronite Church suggested in his Sunday homily in Dimane, the summer residence of the Maronite patriarchs, that an attempt is underway to empty the country of its living forces" and that Christians are the target of this Machiavellian plan.

As the countrys crisis drags on, the Patriarch announced that the Maronite Church will work to thwart the plan, in coordination with the local lawmakers, municipalities and business associations.

Temporarily, these groups will organise in such a way so as to provide the population the bulk of its food, medical, energy and communication needs, "by maintaining the appearance of a new state apparatus worthy of its name, the head of the Maronite Church said.

Federation of Kesrouan Municipalities

In fact, two meetings have already been held at the headquarters of the Federation of Kesrouan Municipalities, in Jounieh, in order to organise civil life in the area, sources say.

The meetings brought together five lawmakers from the Kesrouan-Jbeil constituency, including the presidents son-in-law Chamel Roukoz, major industrialist Neemat Frem, and Farid el-Khazen, as well as bishops and patriarchal vicars Paul Rouhana and Nabil Andari, plus many local councillors and business leaders like owners of drug manufacturing factories and fuel importers.

The aim is to put an end to the widespread chaos caused by shortages, best exemplified by the endless queues at petrol stations, which sometimes end up in violence.

We know that the Lebanese pound has lost some 90% of its purchasing power, and that fuel shortages caused by the depletion of the reserves of the Bank of Lebanon endanger the food and medical security of the population, with hospitals and refrigerated warehouses running out of fuel.

The tragedy of Tleil

The tragedy of Tleil (Akkar), which caused more than a hundred deaths and scores of burn victims, led to this realisation, if we are to believe MP Chamel Roukoz. For the latter, the fire that followed the explosion could have been avoided if the illegal tank discovered by the army had been placed under guard rather than left to disorderly looting. It is the accidental repeat of such a tragedy, which is still possible in the current state of anarchy, that the authorities and groups involved are trying to avoid.

Petrol supply, which is particularly difficult because it takes hours to refuel, is not the only need of the population, said Roukoz, a retired brigadier general. Rubbish collection, power supplies, medicines, butane gas, communications are all essential needs that the population cannot meet without making great sacrifices.

The organisation has never undermined the countrys unity," explained Roukoz, who is pessimistic about the formation of a new government.

Aren't you afraid of being accused of isolationism, or partition? asked some. We have nothing to do with this, President Michel Aoun's son-in-law said. What we are doing is an act of public security, not of partition.

The main thing for the lawmaker, who said that these meetings will be held weekly, is not to let people devour each other. The organisation is a good and necessary thing, especially at times of shortages.

According to analyst Jean Aziz, the meeting at the headquarters of the federation of municipalities in the Kesrouan constituency, where the headquarters of the Maronite Patriarchate is located, helped establish a priority list, starting with public services essential to social life such as power supplies to water filtering stations, hospitals, pharmaceutical factories and central communication units.

Security too is no exception. There is talk of giving more power and authority to the municipal police to restore order around petrol stations and, in general, fight crime," the analyst said.
The emergency originates from climate change and also affects access to electricity and food. In Syria it affects at least five million people, in neighboring Iraq more than seven. The drought has left about 400 square kilometers of arable land unusable. Concern mounts in Lebanon where medicines are also in short supply.

Baghdad (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Millions of people in Iraq and Syria are at risk of losing access to clean water, electricity and food as temperatures continue to rise due to climate change. Moreover, the collapse in rainfall and the consequent drought have led to a record - negative - water level. This is the alarm raised by experts and international activists who believe that the two nations, battered by years of war and corruption, need rapid action to counter the emergency.

The drought is affecting electricity supplies because the low water level ends up impacting on the proper functioning of the dams, which in turn affect essential infrastructure, including health facilities. The emergency affects more than 12 million people, including five million in Syria who depend directly on the Euphrates River. In neighboring Iraq, the loss of access to the Euphrates and Tigris affects at least seven million people.

The Imam of al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayeb recently spoke out on climate change and emergencies related to them, calling for "serious actions" to counteract the devastating effects, especially in the Middle East region. The drought has made about 400 square kilometers of arable land unusable and at least two plants in northern Syria, which under normal conditions supply energy to three million people, are at risk of closure.

Carsten Hansen, regional director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, one of the aid groups behind the warning, said that for hundreds of thousands of Iraqis still displaced and many more still fleeing for their lives in Syria, the unfolding water crisis "will soon become an unprecedented catastrophe pushing more into displacement." Other aid groups included Mercy Corps, the Danish Refugee Council, CARE international, ACTED and Action Against Hunger.

CARE's regional chief for Mideast and North Africa, Nirvana Shawky, urged authorities and donor governments to act swiftly to save lives. The latest crisis comes on top of war, COVID-19 and severe economic decline, she said. "There is no time to waste," said Gerry Garvey of the Danish Refugee Council, adding that the water crisis is likely to increase conflict in an already destabilized region.

Experts are also concerned for neighboring Lebanon, mired in the worst economic and health crisis in its history: there is a lack of water, fuel, medicines and thousands of generators remain unusable, while most of the rivers are heavily polluted due to sewage and waste. Unicef has called for the urgent restoration of the electricity grid to keep essential services running.
US Vice President to pay three-day visit to Vietnam

US Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Vietnam from August 24-26 at the invitation of Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Monday.













Vice President of the US Kamala Harris (Photo: AFP)



Harris will become the first sitting US Vice President ever to visit Vietnam.



Last month, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin paid a two-day official visit to Vietnam. During his meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 29, Austin reiterated that the US attaches importance to the comprehensive partnership with Vietnam, advocating a strong, independent and prosperous Vietnam.



He voiced support for Vietnam to play an increasingly active role in ASEAN and UN Security Council.



The US will continue assisting Vietnam in overcoming war consequences, including search for the remains of Vietnamese martyrs, decontamination of dioxin as well as bomb and mine clearance, the US Secretary of Defense affirmed.



The US will also assist Vietnam in improving maritime security capacity and taking part in the UN peacekeeping force, he said, adding that Vietnam and other nations will soon receive more vaccine from the US to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cuba to deliver 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam

Cuba will provide Vietnam with 10 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine from now until the end of 2021, President Miguel Diaz-Canel told Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc during phone talks on August 23 evening.









State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and other Vietnamese officials during phone talks with the Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel from Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)



Diaz-Canel, who is also first Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, affirmed that Cuba attaches great importance to vaccine cooperation with Vietnam.



Cuba is making efforts to soon supply COVID-19 vaccines and is ready to send its experts to transfer vaccine production technology to Vietnam, he told Phuc.



Diaz-Canel once again thanked the Party, State and people of Vietnam for donating rice to help Cuba overcome difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said demonstrates the noble gesture and tradition of the special relations between the two countries.



He affirmed that the Cuban Party and Government will actively direct relevant ministries and branches to continue implementing measures to further consolidate and develop the fraternal solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.



For his part, President Phuc highly appreciated Cubas experience in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the results of discussions between the two sides in supplying and transferring Cubas Abdala vaccine production technology to Vietnam, noting such effective cooperation will vividly demonstrate the special solidarity between the two countries in the current situation.



He proposed that leaders of the two countries continue to direct ministries and sectors to overcome difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and implement measures to strengthen and develop cooperation in all fields, including effectively implementing cooperation mechanisms and Cuban food production programmes, in order to maintain bilateral trade and investment relations.



Both presidents reiterated the two countries unshakable solidarity and the spirit of mutual assistance in any circumstances, and agreed to strengthen cooperation and exchange of experiences in the process of building socialism in their countries.



They expressed pleasure at the positive development of the relationship between Vietnam and Cuba despite the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the two sides have regularly maintained political dialogue at the highest level, including important phone calls between Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and first Secretary Miguel Diaz-Canel and on May 5 and July 27.



The two leaders agreed that Vietnam and Cuba will continue to maintain close coordination and mutual support at international organizations and multilateral forums.



President Phuc reiterated Vietnams consistent stance of strongly supporting resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to call for an end to the blockade and embargo against Cuba.
China urges probe into U.S. bio-lab over coronavirus "lab-leak" theory

Xinhua) 08:00, August 24, 2021

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Monday urged the United States to stop levelling unwarranted accusations against other countries concerning coronavirus origins tracing and conduct investigations on its own laboratories.

Wang made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to continuous media focus on the bio-lab in the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Ralph Baric for the former's poor safety record and the latter's techniques in artificial synthesis of coronavirus.

For quite some time, Wang said, the United States has been persistently hyping up the so-called "Wuhan Institute of Virology lab leak theory" in disregard of the conclusion in the WHO-China study report that "a laboratory origin of the pandemic was considered to be extremely unlikely." It has gone so far as to ask the intelligence community to fabricate a so-called report on origins investigation.

"However, the United States can not whitewash itself by smearing China. The United States keeps alleging that the virus came from a lab leak, but actually, no one merits a proper investigation more than the United States," Wang said.

The United States was the first to start research in recombinant virus and possesses unrivalled strength in this area. It has also funded and conducted more research in coronaviruses than any other country, he said, citing research conducted and interviews given by Baric.

"An investigation into Baric's team and lab is all it takes to clarify whether coronavirus research can create or has created novel coronavirus," Wang said.

He also said the United States has the world's worst bio-lab safety records, citing reports of lab incidents involving genetically engineered organisms by the University of North Carolina, and the fact key details like the nature of the genetic modifications and how the incidents were handled were deliberately deleted from incident reports.

Baric collaborates closely with the two institutes involved in research on high-risk viruses and coronaviruses at Fort Detrick, the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), and the Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), he added.

Wang said the United States has been going to great lengths to try to prove that the novel coronavirus was leaked from the Wuhan lab. However, WHO experts have paid two visits there and concluded that a lab leak from a Wuhan lab is extremely unlikely.

"I wonder when the United States plans to invite WHO experts to investigate the UNC bio-lab and USAMRIID? We suggest that the United States stop slinging mud at others and instead find out what happened in its own labs first," said the spokesperson.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
What lessons could be drawn from China's combat against latest Delta outbreak?

Xinhua) 08:19, August 24, 2021

-- The Chinese mainland reported zero new local cases for the first time in over a month on Sunday, marking an initial success in containing the most severe COVID-19 outbreak since the beginning of this year.

-- The latest resurgence since mid-July, caused mainly by the highly contagious Delta variant, has prompted resolute actions, including targeted lockdowns, travel restrictions, mass testing, and swift medical actions to contain its spread.

-- China's measures, widely supported by the public, have brought previous and its recent outbreak under control. What lessons could be drawn from China's combat against the latest Delta outbreak?

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland reported zero new local cases for the first time in over a month on Sunday, marking an initial success in containing the most severe COVID-19 outbreak since the beginning of this year.

The mainland Sunday reported 21 imported COVID-19 cases but no new locally transmitted cases, the National Health Commission (NHC) said in its daily report on Monday.

The latest resurgence since mid-July, caused mainly by the highly contagious Delta variant, has prompted resolute actions, including targeted lockdowns, travel restrictions, mass testing, and swift medical actions to contain its spread.

"Practices have proven that our prevention measures are effective. We must continue to implement these measures, strengthen weak links, and consolidate work in key areas," said Ma Xiaowei, head of the NHC, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

China's measures, widely supported by the public, have brought each outbreak under control. What lessons could be drawn from China's combat against the latest Delta outbreak?

Staff members check a passenger's identity information and health code at Nanjing Railway Station in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Aug. 23, 2021. Nanjing cleared all medium- and high-risk areas for COVID-19 on Aug. 19. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

IS LOCALIZED LOCKDOWN NECESSARY?

Local Chinese governments have taken swift measures to stem the spread of COVID-19. Measures such as timely medical treatment of confirmed cases, concentrated quarantine of close contacts, closed-management of residential communities, and suspended passenger traffic, have proven effective in rapidly controlling the epidemic, said Yu Chuanhua, an expert in epidemiology and health statistics at Wuhan University.

China's measures to control COVID-19 follow the basic principles of infectious diseases prevention and control, and have brought the epidemic under control in a short period, said Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

This strategy has proven effective in rapidly controlling more than 20 imported outbreaks since the epidemic began. It is the most effective way to control acute infectious diseases like COVID-19 while controlling the economic cost, said Wu.

The latest Delta epidemic affected more than half of the provincial-level regions on the mainland. East China's Jiangsu Province reported a total of 818 local confirmed cases in this round, the most among the affected provinces.

"We have invested a lot in manpower and material costs, and the control and prevention measures have kept most of the Chinese provinces, regions, and cities free and open," said Wu. Wu added that "without the 'local control,' there would likely be a nationwide loss of control."

Volunteers and security staff deliver necessities ordered by residents under home quarantine at a community in Haidian District, Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

DO WE STILL NEED TO WEAR MASKS?

The entire world is still struggling to cope with the crisis. Although China reported zero new local cases, the possibility of another imported outbreak is still high, warned Wu.

"Therefore, we must always adhere to the prevention and control measures of COVID-19 regularly. Previous practices have proven that vaccination, wearing masks, frequent hand-washing, maintaining social distancing, and avoiding crowds are effective," said Wu.

"If the virus mutates again, as long as you wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and keep social distance, the prevention effect will be good," Wu added.

Wu's opinions were echoed by Zhu Liguo, with the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Zhu said mask-wearing and washing hands frequently could help reduce the transmission of the highly infectious Delta variant, which is also transmitted through respiratory systems.

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 14, 2021 shows "Falcon" air-inflated testing labs for COVID-19 nucleic acid testing at Yangzhou International Exhibition Center in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THE VACCINES?

More than 1.94 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered in China as of Sunday, data from the NHC showed Monday.

Preliminary studies on the latest COVID-19 outbreak in south China's Guangdong Province show that China's homegrown vaccines are effective against the Delta variant. Top epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan shared China's experience in epidemic prevention and control via videolink on Aug. 20.

According to Zhong, the overall protection efficacy of China's domestic vaccines is close to 60 percent against the Delta variant and 100 percent against severe cases.

The latest data showed that antibody levels increased more than 10 times when a third dose of the domestic vaccine is given six months after the second dose, Zhong added.

"With more than 80 percent of the population vaccinated, the country could achieve an effective herd immunity," said Zhong, adding that the vaccination rate in China will likely reach more than 80 percent at the end of this year.

HOW CAN MASS TESTING STOP THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS?

Qiu Haibo, an expert with the State Council joint COVID-19 prevention and control mechanism team, said China has been able to control the epidemic faster and faster since the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province. It is mainly because rapid nucleic acid testing can identify the infected and control the source of infection.

The existing nucleic acid testing method can detect the Delta variant in time, said Zhu Liguo.

In the mass testing and testing among key population groups, the country continued to use nucleic acid testing technology and increased the testing frequency to maximize the timely detection of all infected persons, said Zhu.

Zhu Shida, director of a nucleic acid test laboratory named Huoyan, or Fire Eye, which was established by the Shenzhen-based biotech company BGI Group, said mass testing in China has now generally adopted a ten-in-one mixed testing approach.

On the premise of ensuring scientific sensitivity, this method reduces the detection amount by 90 percent compared with single tube detection, which dramatically reduces cost, said Zhu.

Wang Yaru (2nd R) and other staff celebrate the birthday of a woman under medical observation at a quarantine site in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Aug. 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Li An)

WHAT RESULTS WOULD THERE BE IF THERE IS NO CONTROL?

"As the virus mutates and spreads faster, we must respond faster. If we loosen control measures, all our efforts in the past year will go to waste, and we will have huge losses and unimaginable consequences," said Wu Zunyou.

"Our current anti-epidemic measures have avoided many infections at a relatively small cost. Thanks to our accurate and regular measures, most of the production activities in all walks of life have resumed, and economic development is positive," said Yu Chuanhua.

China's prevention and control measures reflect the value of "people first and life first." The measures are effective for safeguarding the lives of millions of people and their families and boosting economic growth, noted Wu.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
China tames latest Delta-induced surge in 35 days

Global Times) 08:19, August 24, 2021

Chinese 'Four Early' model proves effective: experts

China has put the latest wide-spread outbreak under control in 35 days as zero domestic confirmed COVID-19 cases were registered on Monday in the country despite that an asymptomatic case was reported late that day, a result that experts said proves the effectiveness of China's anti-epidemic model.

Since the first cases in the latest outbreak that started in July 20 in an airport in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province, the latest round of epidemic surge affected more than ten provinces and regions. It is regarded as the widest-spread one since the Wuhan outbreak in 2020 and the number of daily new cases at a time exceeded 100.

Wang Guangfa, a respiratory expert at Peking University First Hospital, told the Global Times on Monday that China's precise zero-tolerance epidemic strategy has guarded the country against epidemic flare-ups one more time, despite the highly-transmissible Delta variant and larger areas affected, further proving the effectiveness of China's epidemic coping model which stresses "Four-Early" measures - early detection, early reporting, early quarantine, and early treatment of COVID-19 cases.

A Beijing-based immunologist told the Global Times on condition of anonymity that with this zero tolerance model of fighting the virus, China was able to stamp out the epidemic surge in 35 days. In the future, China's response could be faster and more precise as the country is ready to tweak it anytime in the face of more emerging mutations and the pandemic situation.

China's zero tolerance method of the epidemic coping strategy will continue. At the same time, the immunologist suggested boosting efforts in prompting vaccinations to slow down transmissions and reduce severe illness as well as give booster shots for frontline workers.

After 35 days, the Global Times found that over the weekend, places such as Beijing, Jiangsu and Southwest China's Sichuan announced they would gradually lift restrictions and restore normal life and production.

Since Monday, those who leave Nanjing will not need to present negative nucleic acid test results. Those who intend to enter Nanjing from low-risk regions will only need a green health QR code and normal temperature. Public transportation within the province has also normalized.

Nanjing has been reporting zero domestic confirmed cases for 10 days as of Monday, and the entire province reported zero confirmed cases for the first time on Monday.

From Sunday, Sichuan Province resumed cross-region travel and all main traffic routes in Hubei Province's Wuhan also resumed. Beijing also cleared all epidemic controlled regions following the restrictions of two neighborhoods in Fangshan district being lifted on Sunday afternoon, and two communities in Wangjing, Chaoyang district, being lifted out of lockdown starting Tuesday.

Zhengzhou, capital city of Central China's Henan Province which has registered zero domestic confirmed cases for 8 days, was cleared of all high-risk regions. Buses and taxis, and car-hailing platforms within the urban downtown resumed operations on Monday.

The country eliminates the virus in the latest flare-ups the same way China swiftly contained the outbreak in 2020. But this time, the country has been reacting more precisely in tracking down close contacts and enforcing lockdowns, ensuring the overall normal operations of people's lives and production, despite the Delta sweeping dozens of regions, Wang said.

With the Delta variant spreading, for example, Beijing ran normally and only locked down several communities after confirming cases, and people in Wuhan lined up to take tests in an orderly and calm manner, and the city only had dozens of communities sealed off.

To detect potential cases, Yangzhou rolled out 12 rounds of massive nucleic acid tests, Nanjing had organized seven rounds and Zhengzhou is conducting the fifth round of testing. Once positive cases were found, they and their close contacts would be quarantined and treated.

Some problems were revealed as experts pointed that the poor management of cleaning workers in both Nanjing and Zhengzhou fueled the spread of the Delta variant from the Nanjing Lukou International Airport to other provinces and loose management was exposed in crowded public places such as mahjong parlors in Yangzhou, making these places the "eye of the storm" in this round of the epidemic.

In the early stage of the epidemic surge, Nanjing was also blamed by the public and some experts as it has been comparatively slow in taking action and conducting epidemiological investigations.

It is a big lesson to learn from this round of the epidemic related to Nanjing and Zhengzhou that staff members at airports and designated hospitals should be subject to regular testing and other strict epidemic control measures along with cargo and objects. Controlling the infection source and cutting off the infection channel are the two main ways to prevent and control any epidemic resurgence in China. If the people involved fail to do a good job in daily health monitoring and protection, they will ignite fresh flare-ups anytime, Wang said.

The Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council on Monday released a notice requiring hospitals and local governments to give more efforts to optimize the arrangement of epidemic controlling personnel within hospitals, not reduce their salary to consolidate the hard-won achievements in the epidemic.

Some experts also said that in the latest outbreak, the timely punishment of officials who were slack in the fight against the epidemic is also part of the anti-epidemic Chinese model which proves effective. At least 70 officials were given penalties, some of whom were removed or dismissed from their posts, and others were warned for dereliction of duty in dealing with the local COVID-19 outbreak.

Holding derelict officials accountable at a moderate level helps enhance China's prevention and control measures given the fact that maintaining a high-level guard in China is difficult in nature due to the huge population, large number of ports, vast territory and different levels of management in different regions across China, a senior official at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told the Global Times on condition of anonymity.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Case of Hangzhou 'fallen tiger' sounds alert to officials in rich regions

Global Times) 08:23, August 24, 2021

City launches campaign to examine govt-business relations

The anti-graft authority in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province announced on Monday that it has launched a special campaign to address problems in establishing a close but clear relationship between the government and the business sectors.

The announcement came after news on Saturday that Zhou Jiangyong, the city's Party chief, was put under investigation on suspicion of serious violations of laws and Party disciplines, casting a spotlight on the city that is home to billionaire Jack Ma's Ant Group and Alibaba Group Holding.

Chinese anti-graft experts said the 54-year-old official is the first provincial-level official investigated in Zhejiang since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in 2017, but the case should not be excessively interpreted before the details of the case and the results of the investigation are released.

But they warned that it should also sound an alarm to Zhejiang officials that the province has been designated as a testing ground for a national plan to achieve common prosperity - which Chinese President Xi Jinping said is the essential requirement of socialism and also an important feature of China's modernization. Thus, they should have a clear idea of the heavy burden they are shouldering in development and resources allocation.

The case also sets an example to other rich cities, said experts, as it once again demonstrated the principle of China's anti-graft campaign: there is no forbidden area against corruption.

In the special campaign, Hangzhou's Commission for Discipline Inspection listed 10 scenarios under which conflicts of interest may rise, and it asked government officials to undertake self-examination and rectify any issues within three months, the commission's official website showed on Monday morning.

It mainly focused on officials' illegal loans, and their spouses' or children's businesses. Since the launch of the campaign, 24,849 officials in the city have undergone self-examination, including those retired or dismissed from office.

If officials failed to report their spouses' and children's businesses, they would face harsh punishment on suspicion of abusing their power for personal gain.

"Hangzhou has become one of China's most affluent cities, and now it is home to hundreds of thousands of private enterprises. The highly developed market economy has brought great challenges to the establishment of a healthy relationship between the local government and business," a Beijing-based anti-graft expert told the Global Times on condition of anonymity, adding that "Zhejiang is taking the lead in achieving common prosperity and narrowing gaps between the rich and the poor."

Before further details and results of the investigation are made public, people should not jump to a conclusion too soon and make any excessive speculation about capital's involvement in Zhou investigation, the expert said.

Alibaba's financial arm Ant Group refuted online rumors that the investigated official had bought shares of the company during its IPO, saying in a Sunday statement that "the rumors about certain person taking shares in the company is false, not to mention sudden share buying or refund." Many have linked such rumor with Zhou.

The expert noted that Zhou's case has sounded a timely alarm to local officials to avoid "power corruption."

Early in 2016, Zhejiang released a guideline, drawing eight clear red lines on the relationship between the government and businesses, and stressing that it will hold a "zero-tolerance" attitude toward any violations.

For example, the guideline bans officials from arbitrary inspections, fines, charges and taking donations from enterprises. It also prohibits officials from abusing their power for personal gains in market access, licensing, project examination and approval, land acquisition, business administration, tax collection and other areas.

It also bans officials from conniving, acquiescing or instructing their spouses and children to seek illegal interests from enterprises.

The Zhejiang Gongshang University has been releasing reports on the index of close, clear government-business relations for three years. The latest one, released on May 21, showed that the overall situation is fair and internal divergences are gradually being narrowed.

The cities of Hangzhou, Jiaxing and Ningbo were ranked at the top.

Gan Chaoying, a professor from Peking University Law School, told the Global Times on Monday that the case and the special campaign show the province's determination to crack down on high-ranking officials' corruption, to clear its way to achieve the goal of common prosperity.

Private entrepreneurs are the important builders of common prosperity, Gan said, and local governments should create a healthy environment for private enterprises while remaining capable of regulating the power of capital.

In June, China issued a guideline on building Zhejiang into a demonstration zone for achieving common prosperity. By 2025, Zhejiang should achieve solid progress in building the demonstration zone, with per capita GDP reaching the level of moderately developed economies. A social structure with a middle-income population as the majority should be generally developed by then.

Authorities in Zhejiang launched a detailed roadmap for 2021 to 2025 in July that aims to increase residents' per capita disposable income to 75,000 yuan ($11,560.88) by 2025. The province is also planning the layout of advanced technologies and cutting-edge industries, like artificial intelligence, blockchain and third-generation semiconductors, to reach the world's most advanced levels in some areas.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Singapore encourages other ASEAN countries to leverage digital connectivity with western China

Xinhua) 08:29, August 24, 2021

SINGAPORE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The China-Singapore (Chongqing) International Dedicated Connectivity (IDC) launched in 2019 has enabled companies in ASEAN to better provide digital services for Western China via the connection through Singapore and vice versa, a Singapore official said here Monday.

Lew Chuen Hong, Chief Executive of Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority, made the remarks while delivering a speech at the Singapore venue of the International Dedicated Connectivity (IDC) Forum, which is part of the Smart China Expo 2021 held in Chongqing in western China.

Being the first point-to-point Internet connectivity between China and a foreign country, IDC links Singapore with seven districts across Chongqing.

He noted that IDC links the two sides with "high speed and low latency", adding that the sectors that stand to benefit range from media to video conferencing, education and healthcare.

The forum is not only attended by representatives from Chongqing and Singapore, but also those from western China's Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Moreover, it also drew participants from other ASEAN countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Thailand, said Lew.

He encouraged all participants to embark on the journey to digitally connect ASEAN and the western China region, which will benefit their businesses and countries.

A Memoranda of Understanding was signed between Singapore and Chongqing Businesses at the expo, with a view to furthering cross border digital collaborations in areas including manufacturing, trade and logistics, and healthcare.

One MoU was inked to facilitate the collaboration between Singapore startup EyRIS Pte Ltd and Beijing's Aurora International Trading to provide autonomous screening of retinal diseases faced by an ageing population through the indigenous use of AI algorithms.

EyRIS' Senior Vice President for Business Development Steven Ang K. H. said that IDC enables them a better access to apply their technology on the data so as to improve the performance of their system and allows them to explore the delivery of other products into China.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
China donates more COVID-19 vaccines to Cambodia

Xinhua) 08:30, August 24, 2021

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday donated additional 600,000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to Cambodia, giving the Southeast Asian country another boost to its immunization program.

The new donation included 500,000 doses from China's Ministry of National Defense to Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense and 100,000 doses from the Red Cross Society of China to the Cambodian Red Cross.

Speaking at handover ceremonies held at the Phnom Penh International Airport upon the vaccine arrivals, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian congratulated Cambodia on inching closer to achieving herd immunity against the COVID-19.

"As iron friends and a community of shared future, China regards the challenges and difficulties faced by Cambodia as its own challenges and difficulties," he said. "As long as the COVID-19 is not over, China's aid for Cambodia's fight against the pandemic will not end."

Wang said China will continue to uphold the concept of building a global community of health for all and will continue to do its best to help developing countries cope with the pandemic.

The ambassador said that China resolutely opposes the politicization of COVID-19 origins-tracing, saying that the virus origins-tracing is a serious scientific issue, not a political one.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh expressed his heartfelt thanks to China for donating the new batch of the vaccine, saying that it was another testament to the ironclad friendship between the two countries.

"China is the leading country in providing vaccines to Cambodia in terms of both humanitarian donations and direct orders," he said at the event. "The vaccine is essential for Cambodia to protect its people's lives from COVID-19 and its variants."

Cambodian Red Cross President Bun Rany said the donation truly reflected close friendship between the two countries, especially between the two red crosses.

"This humanitarian assistance is very valuable and shows China's kindness and mutual support during this difficult time," she said, adding that the donated vaccines would be delivered to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to support the government's vaccination drive.

Meanwhile, Rany also praised China for playing a leading role in providing vaccines and medical equipment to help other countries fight against the pandemic.

Cambodia launched a COVID-19 inoculation drive in February, targeting to vaccinate 12 million people, or 75 percent of the kingdom's 16-million population by the end of this year.

As of Aug. 22, some 9.71 million people, or 60.73 percent of the total population, have received at least one vaccine dose, while 7.87 million of them have received both required shots, the MoH said.

The kingdom on Monday reported 410 new COVID-19 cases, raising the national total caseload to 89,641, the MoH said, adding that 16 more fatalities had been confirmed, bringing the overall death toll to 1,808.

Another 537 patients had recovered, taking the total number of recoveries to 85,618, the MoH added.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Vietnamese military receives Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine from PLA

Xinhua) 08:31, August 24, 2021

HANOI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A transport aircraft of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China carrying a batch of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine landed Monday at Noi Bai International Airport in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.

At the handover event, the Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo said China had been paying close attention to the epidemic situation in Vietnam, and that the cooperation in the fight against the pandemic is a significant part of the cooperation between the militaries.

China is willing to further its cooperation with Vietnam in battling COVID-19 in multiple ways, so as to help Vietnam both control the disease and advance socio-economic development, as well as to ensure the bilateral trade and the stability of the industrial and supply chains between the two countries, Xiong said.

The handover marked the first time the Vietnamese military received COVID-19 vaccines from foreign militaries, and was the most vivid image of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, Hoang Xuan Chien, Vietnam's deputy minister of national defense, said at the handover event.

Extending gratitude towards China for the vaccine, he promised that Vietnam will make the most of the vaccine and administer the doses in time among the Vietnamese personnel on the frontline against the pandemic.

According to Vietnam's Ministry of Health, as of 6:30 p.m. local time Monday, Vietnam had registered 354,355 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases since the start of the current wave in the country in late April.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
ASEAN stresses inclusive, sustainable development in flagship report

Xinhua) 08:42, August 24, 2021

JAKARTA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will foster evidence-based policy planning in the future to achieve inclusive and sustainable development in the region amidst imminent changes and emerging trends, according to the ASEAN Development Outlook (ADO) released Monday during an online forum here.

Being the first cross-sectoral and comprehensive assessment on ASEAN social and environmental development, the flagship report was developed by ASEAN in cooperation with China and brings new perspective to achieve inclusive and sustainable development.

The ADO, themed Inclusive and Sustainable Development, captures the successes and challenges of ASEAN's development to date and offers critical look at possible ways forward to achieve inclusive and sustainable development in the region amidst imminent changes and emerging trends.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-cultural Community Kung Phoak said that the ADO and its innovative perspectives will foster evidence-based policy planning and greater ASEAN policy ownership. He hoped that with policy options, recommendations and grounded solutions, the ADO will help assist policy makers in safeguarding development gains in this challenging time.

Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Deng Xijun shared that as ASEAN and China celebrate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations and ASEAN-China Year of Sustainable Development Cooperation in 2021, the ADO is a landmark outcome of ASEAN-China partnership especially in sustainable development cooperation.

The findings of the report emphasise that direct engagement with the social and cultural spheres of development through participatory methods will ensure individual voices across different cohorts of society are included.

The report calls on a more thorough and inclusive approach in enhancing capabilities of human being, while taking advantage of utilizing foresight approach to development. Moreover, rather than looking out to global practices, the ADO advocates for approaches that are rooted in ASEAN in term of design, implementation and evaluation.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
China donates 300,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Ethiopia

Xinhua) 08:45, August 24, 2021

ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia on Monday morning received 300,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by the Chinese government.

The COVID-19 vaccine doses were received at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport by Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan, Ethiopia Minister of Health Lia Tadesse and Getahun Mekuria, Ethiopia Minister of Education.

"Today we're here to receive the third batch donation of around 300,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine, which is going to really enhance our effort to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic as a country," Tadesse told reporters.

"This support and donations come at a very critical time where we need to really enhance our strategy of prevention in addition to our non-pharmaceutical interventions which is rolling out vaccines especially to those who need it the most," she further said.

The Ethiopia health minister also commended China for the comprehensive anti-COVID-19 support it has provided Ethiopia so far.

"The government of China has been really supporting the country's efforts in mitigating the pandemic since the beginning of the pandemic in many ways, not only in vaccine support but also in Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) supplies, supply of test kits and technical support from the experiences they've had," Tadesse elaborated.

Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation, has so far reported the highest COVID-19 caseload in the East Africa region.

The east African country has as of Monday morning reported 295,804 COVID-19 cases and 4,561 COVID-19 related deaths.

The Ethiopia Minister of Education Getahun Mekuria also commended China for providing the latest batch of COVID-19 vaccines, which will mainly be administered to those engaged in the education sector.

"What makes me very happy today is that this vaccine which we're receiving from the Chinese government is focused primarily for the education sector and I would like to say that I am representing all of my 700,000 teachers to say thank you very much," said Mekuria.

The Ethiopia education minister also said the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Ethiopia's education sector in multiple ways.

"During the last one year when the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Ethiopia one of the major sectors hit hard is the education sector. It's not only the interruption of the education sector, but also we've lost a large number of our teachers," he said.

The Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan, disclosed the Asian country has provided about 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Ethiopia so far underscoring strong commitment to help the east African country's health sector.

"Up to now, China has provided a total of 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Ethiopia, which have been widely used in health, defense and other fields," Zhao said.

"China is committed to deepening cooperation with Ethiopia on education and public health capacity, and tackling the challenge of the pandemic in solidarity with Ethiopia," he further said.

Zhao also underlined the two countries' health sector partnership as an example of multifaceted bilateral cooperation.

"As the comprehensive strategic cooperative partner of Ethiopia, China will continue to help Ethiopia fight the virus through various channels and try our best to provide support," Zhao said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Chinas first global carbon flux dataset produced through CO2 monitoring satellite

09:47, August 24, 2021 By Wan Yu ( People's Daily

Photo shows the first global atmospheric CO2 distribution map produced by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, through reverse algorithm in April, 2017. (Photo/Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Chinese scientists recently created the countrys first global carbon flux dataset based on data collected by the countrys first carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring satellite TanSat. The achievement means that China is capable of conducting the quantitative spatial monitoring of the global carbon budget and helping take an inventory of the carbon budgets around the world.

More importantly, the capability bears great significance for the countrys goal to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

Relevant findings about the breakthrough have been published by a research group led by Liu Yi, a researcher from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in the science journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences in collaboration with many scientists from China and the U.K.

While ground observation enables researchers to obtain accurate and comprehensive information, the method of calculating carbon emissions and absorption based on measurement of the concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide offers a broad and clear view of the situations, which can effectively complement ground observation, noted Liu.

Researchers used an advanced data assimilation system to simulate the transmitting process of CO2 in the atmosphere and the amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere at every moment in every place in consistent with the observation data gathered from TanSat, and finally got the closest approximation of the true value of carbon flux, Liu said.

Chinas first CO2 monitoring satellite TanSat was launched on Dec. 22, 2016, which is the worlds third carbon-sniffing satellite, following Japans Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) launched in 2009 and the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) sent into space by the U.S. in 2014. On Dec. 22, 2015, NASA released the first global CO2 map, which indicated that the atmospheric CO2 levels in some of the middle and low latitudes surpassed 400 ppm.

China developed and launched the satellite TanSat to conduct dynamic monitoring of the atmospheric CO2 concentration and provide global carbon distribution data, which not only represents the countrys active efforts to cope with global climate change, but also shows the countrys sense of responsibility as a major country, said Li Jiahong, chief engineer of Chinas National Remote Sensing Center.

The monitoring of greenhouse gases through satellite is based on the atmospheric absorption pool theory. Gases like CO2 and oxygen absorb relatively more light waves whose lengths are between the near-infrared band and shortwave-infrared band and form characteristic atmospheric absorption spectra.

While taking account of auxiliary information including atmospheric pressure and temperature and eliminating interference factors like atmospheric particulate matter, researchers can get the atmospheric CO2 column concentrations in the observation paths of CO2 monitoring satellite through inverse algorithm based on strict quantitative measurement of the intensity of the absorption spectra.

Changes in global CO2 flux (the amount of CO2 that passes a unit area per unit time), the core data base of research into carbon cycle, can be deduced with the help of sequential analysis of global atmospheric CO2 column concentrations and a series of models in the data assimilation system.

The acquisition of highly accurate atmospheric absorption spectra is relied on the main payload of the TanSat CO2 monitoring satellite, CO2 detector, which can detect atmospheric absorption spectrum channels with the wavelengths of 2.06m, 1.6m, and 0.76m. The resolving power of the detector can reach 0.04 nm.

Cloud and aerosol polarization imaging detector (CAPI), another important payload of Chinas TanSat CO2 monitoring satellite, can gather auxiliary information on cloud and aerosol and help eliminate interference factors for accurate calculation of CO2 concentrations.

In addition, CAPI can collect aerosol data on a global scale, which can not only help meteorologists improve the accuracy of weather forecast, but offer important data for research into PM2.5 and other causes of air pollution.

Chlorophyll fluorescence remote sensing represents an important application of the TanSat. The ultra high spectral resolution data collected by TanSat helps not only conduct dynamic monitoring of global atmospheric CO2 concentration, but also calculate chlorophyll fluorescence in vegetation through reverse algorithm.

Satellite chlorophyll fluorescence measurements can help researchers accurately estimate global vegetation photosynthetic productivity, which, in combination with the global CO2 concentration data calculated synchronously, is expected to significantly improve the capability to observe global sources and sinks of carbon.

Some scientists even think the detection of chlorophyll fluorescence, rather than greenhouse gases, is the most innovative and revolutionary observation task of greenhouse gas observing satellites like GOSAT, OCO-2, and TanSat.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Chinese bigwig in leprosy studies turns 100

09:51, August 24, 2021 By Bai Jianfeng ( People's Daily

Li Huanying discusses with an American leprosy expert in Louisiana. (Photo courtesy of the Beijing Friendship Hospital affiliated to the Capital Medical University, and the Beijing Tropical Medicine Research Institute)

A simple birthday celebration was held at the Beijing Friendship Hospital on Aug. 17 for Li Huanying, a world-renowned expert on leprosy prevention and control who has just turned 100.

To a bouquet and a birthday cake, the centenarian made a noble wish - an early victory over leprosy.

Li was born on Aug. 17, 1921 in Beijing, and works for the Beijing Friendship Hospital and the Beijing Tropical Medicine Research Institute. Graduating from the Tongji University School of Medicine in 1945, she went to the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) the next year for a master's degree in bacteriology and public health, and worked as a research assistant at the JHU after graduating from there.

Later, Li became one of the first batch of officials of the World Health Organization (WHO) under the recommendation of the JHU when the UN health body was established in 1950. During her seven years of service, she was sent by the organization to multiple regions in Asia and America and highly praised by the organization for her arduous efforts made to contain the spread of infectious diseases.

When her term was about to end in 1957, the WHO proposed to renew the deal with her. However, she politely declined the invitation and returned to China as she felt she was very much needed by her country after seeing many other countries plagued by diseases due to poverty. She was 37 that year.

Leprosy is one of the most ancient infectious diseases in human history. The only way to fight it in early 20th century was to quarantine patients, because there was no specific cure back then.

Serving as a visiting scholar to the WHO in 1980, Li learned that the organization was studying a new method of combined chemotherapy for leprosy. The pharmaceutical formulation had been completed, but there was not enough clinical data. Therefore, she applied for free medicine and support from the WHO, and started pilot projects in China.

In pilot villages in southwest China, Li never wore protective suit when facing leprosy patients, so as to establish a closer relation with them and reduce their fear for the disease. That's why she was popular in every village she visited.

To promote fixed-duration combined chemotherapy, a treatment method that turns lifelong medication into fixed course for leprosy patients, she worked painstakingly and visited villagers door-to-door. With concrete efforts, she eliminated people's discrimination against leprosy patients, and proved that the disease is totally curable.

Li had been traveling among remote and impoverished regions for years, leaving her footsteps wherever leprosy patients were in 59 counties of seven prefectures in Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces.

In 1990, she turned Nanxing village in Mengla county, Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province, which was once hard hit by the disease, leprosy-free. The village was later renamed Mannanxing, which means "new life" in Dai language.

Thanks to her ceaseless efforts, Li shortened the course of medication for leprosy patients to two years, and reduced the number of leprosy patients from around 110,000 to less than 10,000. The annualized relapse rate was also brought down to 0.03 percent, much lower than the one-percent standard set by the WHO.

Li's fixed-duration combined chemotherapy was promoted worldwide in 1994, and two years later, she spearheaded a special campaign to eliminate leprosy in China, which was hailed "the world's best treatment campaign." In 2016, Li received a lifelong achievement award for leprosy prevention and control in China.

Over the past decades, Li has made multiple major strategies and tackled key problems in leprosy prevention and control, laying a solid foundation for the global elimination of the disease.

In recent years, she and her research team started studies in molecular biology, and have made a series of breakthroughs in the early diagnosis of leprosy, genetic test of antimicrobial resistance, and molecular epidemiology.

Today, the centenarian is still concerned about leprosy prevention and treatment. "The disease shall be terminated in our generation," she said.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
China 'shocked' and 'condemns' attacks targeting Chinese nationals in Pakistan, 'firmly opposes' terrorism: FM

Global Times) 09:53, August 24, 2021

Photo/Ministry of Foreign Affairs

China condemns the suicide attack at the Gwadar East Bay Expressway Project in Pakistan on Friday, which killed two Pakistani children and injured one Chinese worker, and will continue to work with the country to combat the threat of terrorism to protect Chinese people and projects there, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Monday.

Wang said at a press conference that China was "shocked" about the incident, and expressed condolences to the Pakistani people killed in the attack, urging the Pakistani side to arrest the perpetrators as soon as possible and bring them to justice.

He noted that Pakistan has provided proper treatment to the injured Chinese, and said it will do its utmost to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and the project. China will join hands with Pakistan to fight against terrorism and protect the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions and projects in the country, he said.

"China firmly opposes any force using terrorism for geopolitical gains, and calls on regional countries to work together to eradicate all terrorist organizations," he said.

The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan also strongly condemned the suicide attack on Saturday, and asked Pakistan to upgrade its safety measures to ensure such incidents won't happen again.

On Friday, at the Gwadar East Bay Expressway project in Balochistan, Pakistan, a motorcade carrying Chinese workers was attacked by a suicide bomber.

This comes only a month after nine Chinese nationals were killed when a bus carrying Chinese engineers and workers to the site of the Dasu Dam was attacked in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
China and Arab states to advance strategic partnership to higher level

09:57, August 24, 2021 By He Yin ( People's Daily

Photo taken on August 18 shows the well-decorated Ningxia International Hall, the venue for the fifth China-Arab States Expo scheduled from August 19 to 22, in Yinchuan, northwest Chinas Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Peoples Daily Online/Yuan Hongyan)

The fifth China-Arab States Expo, which concluded in Yinchuan, northwest Chinas Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on August 22, has witnessed plenty of fruits, fully demonstrating the vigorous efforts of China and Arab states to jointly promote peace, cooperation and development for mutual benefits and win-win results, build the Belt and Road with high-quality, and advance China-Arab strategic partnership to a higher level.

The China-Arab States Expo serves as an important platform for the two sides to advance the construction of the Belt and Road. The previous four China-Arab States Expos attracted more than 5,000 enterprises from 112 countries and regions and witnessed the signing of agreements for 936 cooperation projects.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent congratulatory letter to each of the expos since 2013, which reflects the great importance China attaches to developing ties with Arab countries.

In his letters, Xi stressed that China and Arab states are good friends with mutual trust and good partners walking hand in hand on the path to realize common development.

During the construction of the Belt and Road, China is willing to promote shared opportunities with other countries, including Arab states, and jointly promote peaceful develpment with them, said Xi.

Xi has expressed great expectations of China-Arab cooperation in his congratulatory letters, which infused confidence and impetus into the two sides efforts to jointly create a bright future.

The China-Arab States Expo is the epitome of the two sides vision of seeking common development that conforms to the trend of the times.

China and Arab states are natural partners in Belt and Road cooperation. China has signed BRI cooperation documents with 19 Arab states and the League of Arab States.

Photo taken on August 18 shows the well-decorated Ningxia International Hall, the venue for the fifth China-Arab States Expo scheduled from August 19 to 22, in Yinchuan, northwest Chinas Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Peoples Daily Online/Yuan Hongyan)

As China and Arab states push forward high-quality construction of the Belt and Road in recent years, cooperation between the two sides in various fields have been continuously deepened. Even when faced with global challenges posed by profound changes unseen in a century and the havoc wreaked by the COVID-19 epidemic, China-Arab cooperation and BRI construction havent stalled, but showed strong resilience and vitality.

In 2020, the trade volume between China and Arab states totaled nearly $240 billion, which made China the largest trading partner of Arab states. In the first half of this year, volume of the bilateral trade between the two sides reached $144.27 billion, up 25.7 percent year on year.

China and Arab states have jointly completed the construction of the tallest skyscraper in Africa, or the Iconic Tower, the worlds largest solar-thermal power station and the cleanest coal-fired power plant in the Middle East.

Through integration of their development strategies, China and Arab states have made their dreams of national rejuvenation closely connected.

The fifth China-Arab States Expo, which set up six offline exhibition areas for such fields as digital economy, clean energy, new materials, green food, health care and cross-border e-commerce, demonstrated the two sides determination to take the lead in expanding cooperation in emerging fields.

According to a report on the development of China-Arab states economic and trade relations released at the expo, China and Arab states speeded up cooperation in exploring digital transformation last year.

Besides cooperation in traditional energy, they have made clean energy and technology new growth points in bilateral cooperation. Renewable energy development, energy-driven poverty reduction and governance will become new highlights of their cooperation, said the report.

China and Middle Eastern countries are jointly tackling climate change and facilitating energy transition. For the purpose, they have actively carried out cooperation in clean energy such as solar and nuclear energy, promoted the diversification of energy structure, improved environmental protection and governance capabilities, and jointly created a Green Silk Road in the Middle East.

By promoting exchanges, enhancing mutual understanding and carrying out cooperation, China and Arab states have set an example of international economic and trade cooperation and infused confidence into worlds economic recovery, said Nasser Bouchiba, president of the Africa-China Cooperation Association for Development in Morocco.

The China-Arab States Expo represents a step that the two sides have taken toward pursuing solidarity and cooperation and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

China and Arab countries have worked together in the battle against the COVID-19, providing an example of surmounting the crisis through solidarity, Xi pointed out.

Participants of the fifth China-Arab States Expo spoke highly of the two sides collaboration and mutual assistance amid the epidemic.

China has shipped nearly 100 million doses of Chinese vaccines to Arab states in the form of assistance or exports, and worked with the United Arab Emirates and Egypt in joint filling and production of vaccines.

During the post-pandemic era, China and Arab states will also further investment cooperation in the health sector, including the procurement of medical materials and the production of vaccines, which are expected to facilitate regional countries efforts to defeat the virus and resume economy.

China provides the most prominent experience that Arab countries can learn from to revitalize the economy after the pandemic, noted Kamal Hassan Ali, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.

An Arab poet once wrote, when you turn to the sun, you will see hope. For China and Arab states, their strategic partnership has brought new hope to them.

Since they established a future-oriented strategic partnership of comprehensive cooperation and common development over the past three years, China and Arab states have constantly broadened their cooperation and harvested more and more tangible fruits from cooperation.

Its believed that marching forward together along the path of win-win cooperation is a vivid reflection of the two sides practice of jointly building a community with a shared future for China and Arab states for the new era.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Chinese mainland reports 1 new locally transmitted COVID-19 case

Xinhua) 10:59, August 24, 2021

Staff members check a passenger's identity information and health code at Nanjing Railway Station in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, Aug. 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Monday reported one new locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 case in Henan Province, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Tuesday.

Also reported were 34 new imported cases, including nine in Shanghai, eight in Guangdong, seven in Zhejiang, four in Yunnan, two each in Fujian and Sichuan, and one each in Tianjin and Shaanxi.

One suspected case arriving from outside the mainland was reported in Shanghai as well, the commission added.

No new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported Monday, said the commission.

A total of 8,139 imported cases had been reported on the mainland by the end of Monday. Among them, 7,417 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 722 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 94,687 by Monday, including 1,634 patients still receiving treatment, 19 of whom were in severe conditions.

A total of 88,417 patients had been discharged from hospitals following recovery on the mainland, and 4,636 had died as a result of the virus.

There were two suspected COVID-19 cases on the mainland on Monday.

A total of nine asymptomatic cases, all imported from outside the mainland, were newly reported. There were a total of 491 asymptomatic cases, of whom 405 were imported, under medical observation by Monday.

By the end of Monday, 12,062 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 212 deaths, had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), while 63 cases had been reported in the Macao SAR, and 15,932 cases, including 828 deaths, had been reported in Taiwan.

A total of 11,766 COVID-19 patients in the Hong Kong SAR had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, while 59 had been discharged in the Macao SAR, and 13,601 had been discharged in Taiwan.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
The seven sins of the alliance system of the United States

Xinhua) 11:02, August 24, 2021

BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world," first U.S. President George Washington said in his farewell presidential address in September 1796. Two centuries later, it seems that the United States has already forgotten the exhortation of its founding father.

For a long time, the U.S. alliance system has adhered to the Cold War mentality, and has been obsessed with zero-sum games. It trampled on justice for self-interest, provoked conflicts and wars, imposed unilateral sanctions, and reaped world dividends, posing serious threats to and undermining the international system with the United Nations as the core and the international order based on international law.

Since the new U.S. administration took office, it has re-enhanced its control of the alliance system under the pretext of returning to multilateralism. The fact, however, is that the U.S. government aims to build "small circles" and "group politics" to divide the world by forcing others to choose sides between different ideological camps. It has also attempted to use such small circles to contain and suppress China, and to pursue unilateralism with the camouflage of multilateralism.

The U.S. alliance system goes against the historical trend. It flexes its muscles and claims to have gained wide support, but in fact it is just a paper tiger and has gradually lost its popularity. Its crimes of violence, plunder, infringement, sabotage, lying, concealing, and infighting are becoming increasingly flagrant, and it is falling into the abyss of "a gang" step by step.

The following is a presentation of the "seven sins" of the U.S. alliance system, which demonstrates its hegemonic mindset and power politics.

THE FIRST SIN: VIOLENCE

During the past 240-plus years after it declared independence on July 4th, 1776, there are only less than 20 years during which the United States had not involved in any war. According to incomplete statistics, from the end of World War II in 1945 to 2001, among the 248 armed conflicts that occurred in 153 regions of the world, 201 were initiated by the United States, accounting for 81 percent of the total number. Of them, there were 13 overseas wars, in most of which U.S. allies were involved. Under the guns and bayonets of the United States and its allies, countless people have been displaced and even lost their lives. The economic and social development of regional countries has suffered drastically. Many countries are still in great misery.

Major aggressive wars waged by the United States and its allies after World War II include:

The Korean War. Since June 1950, the United States has gathered more than a dozen countries to form the so-called "United Nations Army" to intervene in a civil war between the North and the South of the Korean Peninsula. The war resulted in the death of more than 3 million civilians and another 3 million refugees. During the war, the U.S. military secretly carried out a germ warfare in the northern region of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and parts of northeastern China, spreading by planes large numbers of insects, mice, rabbits and other vectors with bacteria that could cause plague, cholera and typhoid. The germ warfare has resulted in large casualties among Chinese and Korean soldiers and civilians.

The Vietnam War. The Vietnam War that lasted from 1955 to 1975 is one of the longest and most brutal wars since the end of World War II. The war has caused as many as 2 million civilian deaths and rendered over 3 million people displaced. The U.S. forces dropped 20 million gallons (about 75.71 million liters) of defoliants in Vietnam during the war, directly causing over 400,000 Vietnamese deaths. Another approximately 2 million Vietnamese who came into contact with this chemical got cancers and other diseases. Besides, it is estimated that at least 350,000 tons of unexploded mines and bombs have been left by the U.S. military in Vietnam, and these mines and bombs are still explosive, which will take 300 years to be cleaned out.

The Kosovo War. In 1999, NATO troops led by the United States blatantly set the UN Security Council aside and carried out a 78-day continuous bombing of Yugoslavia under the guise of "preventing humanitarian disasters," killing and injuring over 8,000 innocent civilians and uprooting nearly 1 million. More than 2 million people have lost their source of livelihood. NATO troops targeted the infrastructure of Yugoslavia and even bombed the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia. Serbian economists estimated that the total economic loss caused by the bombings was as much as 29.6 billion U.S. dollars. Lots of bridges, roads, railways, and other buildings were destroyed during the bombings, affecting 25,000 households, 176 cultural sites, 69 schools, 19 hospitals, and 20 health centers. About 1.5 million children could not go to school. Apart from that, during this war, NATO troops led by the United States also used cluster bombs and depleted uranium bombs banned by international conventions, leading to a surge in cancer and leukemia cases in Yugoslavia and inflicting disastrous impact on the ecological environment of Yugoslavia and Europe. In March 2000, the UN peacekeeping force in Kosovo confirmed that the U.S. military had launched a total of 31,000 depleted uranium bombs to destroy Yugoslavia's tanks and fortifications. There were more than 100 drop sites in Kosovo and Metohija. NATO used 2 tons of depleted uranium in southern Serbia, and 13 tons in Kosovo and Metohija, for a total of 15 tons of depleted uranium. In addition, from April 17-18, 1999, NATO aircraft blew up a chemical plant in Pancevo, causing the carcinogen content in the city to reach 10,600 times the normal level. As of May 2019, 366 Italian soldiers who participated in NATO military operations had died of cancer, and 7,500 were suffering badly from illness.

The Afghanistan War. In October 2001, the United States and NATO invaded Afghanistan in the name of combating al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Over the past 20 years, the U.S. military operations have killed and injured more than 100,000 civilians, and created about 11 million refugees. In 2019, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said that 45,000 soldiers in Afghan security forces have been killed since 2014. A UN report in 2019 showed that 32,000 Afghan civilians had died in the war, while the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University in the United States stated that the number of deaths among the resistance forces was 42,000. Scholars at Kabul University estimated that since its beginning, the Afghanistan War has caused about 250 casualties and a loss of 60 million U.S. dollars per day. In 2020, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court stated that there was evidence that nearly 100 Afghan prisoners had been tortured, abused and even raped during interrogation. U.S. military forces and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency may have committed war crimes for torturing prisoners in Afghanistan. In November 2020, the Australian military released an investigation report of the country's troops in Afghanistan, confirming that Australian soldiers were suspected of participating in the killing of prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan. On April 14, 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the mission of preventing terrorists from obtaining safe shelter in Afghanistan had long been over and that all U.S. troops would withdraw from the country before Sept. 11. The U.S. military was withdrawing from Afghanistan hastily, leaving behind a mess of rampant violence and devastation.

The Iraq War. In March 2003, despite broad opposition of the international community, the United States, along with Britain and other countries, still invaded Iraq on unfounded charges, which led to around 200,000 to 250,000 civilian deaths, including 16,000 directly killed by U.S. forces. Today in Iraq, there are still 25 million mines and other explosive remnants that need to be removed. According to public statistics, the total number of depleted uranium bombs exploded in Iraq exceeded 3,400 tons, with an average of nearly 8 kilograms of uranium compounds remaining per square kilometer. In 2008, the UN General Assembly voted to ban the use of depleted uranium bombs in civilian areas. 141 countries supported it. The United States, Britain, France and Israel voted against it. In addition, the U.S. and British forces have seriously violated international humanitarian principles and abused prisoners of war. A set of photos released by the CBS showed that after the war in Iraq, the U.S. military police brutally tortured Iraqi prisoners of war, such as ordering them to stack their bodies naked, or to stand on boxes with their heads covered and live wires connected to their hands. In November 2019, investigators from the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) and "Operation Northmoor" revealed that the relevant investigations were suspended by the British government in 2017. The British government and the army covered up the credible evidence of war crimes of killing civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq committed by their soldiers.

The multiple wars of aggression launched by the United States and its allies have caused a large number of civilian casualties and property losses in other countries, and brought about a series of social problems. In March 2021, the U.S. anti-war organization CODEPINK issued a report stating that in the past 20 years, the United States and its allies have been constantly bombing other countries, dropping more than 40 bombs and missiles per day on average. Since 2001, the United States and its allies have dropped 326,000 bombs and missiles in other countries, mainly in the Middle East. Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen were the most severely attacked countries.

The United States continues supplying weapons to its allies, leading to regional conflicts.

After 2017, the United States increased the sales of advanced weapons to its allies as an important means to control and consolidate alliances. Then President Donald Trump frequently touted U.S.-made weapons during meetings with leaders of other countries. In addition, U.S. defense contractors can directly sell military drones to foreign governments without approval from U.S. Department of Defense. In 2018, the U.S. arms exports amounted to 192.3 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 13 percent over the previous year. In 2020, the U.S. arms sales accounted for more than 85 percent of the global total, and nearly half of them went to the Middle East. In March 2021, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute in Sweden confirmed that the United States has always been the world's largest arms exporter, whose exports in the past five years accounted for more than one-third of the world's total, with more than half going to the Middle East. The size of arms purchases by Middle Eastern countries accounted for one third of the world's total, of which nearly 70 percent came from the United States, Britain, and France.

U.S. allies have long participated in U.S. military operations overseas and conspired to commit violence.

Australia is the only ally that has participated in every major U.S. military operations overseas since World War II, including the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Kosovo War, the Iraq War, the Afghanistan War, and the Syria War. In November 2020, the Australian Defence Force released an investigation report, which confirmed that Australian soldiers were suspected of torturing and killing 39 Afghan civilians, including children. The report has shocked the world and triggered widespread criticism in the international community. Recently, Michael Pezzullo, secretary of the department of home affairs of Australia, commented on China-U.S. tensions over Taiwan, saying that "free nations again hear the beating drums (of war)", deliberately inciting confrontation and exaggerating the threat of war.

The United States has a number of military bases in the Middle East, with more than 70,000 U.S. troops stationed in the region. The United States also deploys advanced military equipment in the region, such as aircraft carrier groups, stealth fighters, and strategic nuclear submarines, flaunting its power from time to time as it tries to maintain strategic deterrence in the region at all times. Under the anti-terrorism banner, the United States used force to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, and even violently overthrew the legitimate governments of sovereign countries. The United States dispatched drones to remove Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Quds Force in Iran. In recent years, several Iranian nuclear scientists have been assassinated, behind which there are shadows of U.S.-Israel conspiracy. The United States condoned Israel for launching air strikes against Syria, Lebanon and other countries, which seriously infringed on the sovereignty of relevant countries. The United States also acquiesced in Turkey's invasion of Syria, and allowed Turkey to attack Kurdish forces in Syria and invade northern Syria in the name of anti-terrorism. During the Libyan war, the United States, Britain, France, Canada and other countries jointly implemented armed intervention on the grounds of implementing the UN Security Council's no-fly resolution, with the actual purpose of supporting the opposition groups in Libya to overthrow the Gaddafi regime. Since the launch of the so-called "war on terrorism" in 2001, the United States and its allies have caused at least 480,000 deaths in the region, most of which are innocent civilians.

Gun violence is rampant in the United States.

On April 3, 2021, The New York Times reported that more than 1.5 million Americans have died from gun-related suicides, murders, and accidents since 1975, more than the total number of deaths caused by all U.S. wars since the Civil War. According to data released by the U.S. Gun Violence Archives, in 2020, more than 40,000 people were killed in shootings in the United States, setting a record high, and there were 592 mass shootings in the country, an average of more than 1.6 per day. On June 14, 2021, The Washington Post reported that from January to May 2021 alone, more than 8,100 people died in shootings in the United States, about 54 people per day, which is 14 more than the average of the previous six years in the same period. While the country is plagued with gun violence, there is no progress in strengthening gun control. The two major parties in the United States have been in a tug of war over gun control, making it difficult for any act to pass Congress. Congress has adopted nearly no gun laws of practical significance since 1994.

Police violence continues in the United States and its allies, and has caused a large number of casualties.

During the "Yellow Vest" movement in France, the police used chemical sprays, tear gas, rubber bullets and other methods excessively to suppress violence. In recent demonstrations in Northern Ireland and other places, police violence also caused many injuries and bloodshed and aroused public outrage.

On Feb. 26, 2021, during the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council, a number of UN special rapporteurs and human rights experts issued a joint statement calling on the U.S. government to adopt wide-ranging reforms to put an end to police violence, and to vigorously address systemic racism and racial discrimination. The experts also expressed concern that U.S. legal and policy frameworks allow law enforcement officers to use lethal force whenever it is deemed "reasonable," and urged the U.S. authorities to address the increased "militarization" of policing. On April 21, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in a statement over the George Floyd case that impunity for crimes and human rights violations by law enforcement officers must end, and robust measures must be taken to prevent further arbitrary killings. (more)

The seven sins of the alliance system of the United States (part 2)

The seven sins of the alliance system of the United States (part 3)

The seven sins of the alliance system of the United States (part 4)

The seven sins of the alliance system of the United States (part 5)

The seven sins of the alliance system of the United States (part 6)

The seven sins of the alliance system of the United States (part 7)

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
China donates more COVID-19 vaccines to Cambodia

Xinhua) 12:58, August 24, 2021

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian (L) hands over the China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to Cambodian Red Cross President Bun Rany, at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Aug. 23, 2021. China on Monday donated additional 600,000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to Cambodia, giving the Southeast Asian country another boost to its immunization program. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday donated additional 600,000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to Cambodia, giving the Southeast Asian country another boost to its immunization program.

The new donation included 500,000 doses from China's Ministry of National Defense to Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense and 100,000 doses from the Red Cross Society of China to the Cambodian Red Cross.

Speaking at handover ceremonies held at the Phnom Penh International Airport upon the vaccine arrivals, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian congratulated Cambodia on inching closer to achieving herd immunity against the COVID-19.

"As iron friends and a community of shared future, China regards the challenges and difficulties faced by Cambodia as its own challenges and difficulties," he said. "As long as the COVID-19 is not over, China's aid for Cambodia's fight against the pandemic will not end."

Wang said China will continue to uphold the concept of building a global community of health for all and will continue to do its best to help developing countries cope with the pandemic.

The ambassador said that China resolutely opposes the politicization of COVID-19 origins-tracing, saying that the virus origins-tracing is a serious scientific issue, not a political one.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh expressed his heartfelt thanks to China for donating the new batch of the vaccine, saying that it was another testament to the ironclad friendship between the two countries.

"China is the leading country in providing vaccines to Cambodia in terms of both humanitarian donations and direct orders," he said at the event. "The vaccine is essential for Cambodia to protect its people's lives from COVID-19 and its variants."

Cambodian Red Cross President Bun Rany said the donation truly reflected close friendship between the two countries, especially between the two red crosses.

"This humanitarian assistance is very valuable and shows China's kindness and mutual support during this difficult time," she said, adding that the donated vaccines would be delivered to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to support the government's vaccination drive.

Meanwhile, Rany also praised China for playing a leading role in providing vaccines and medical equipment to help other countries fight against the pandemic.

Cambodia launched a COVID-19 inoculation drive in February, targeting to vaccinate 12 million people, or 75 percent of the kingdom's 16-million population by the end of this year.

As of Aug. 22, some 9.71 million people, or 60.73 percent of the total population, have received at least one vaccine dose, while 7.87 million of them have received both required shots, the MoH said.

The kingdom on Monday reported 410 new COVID-19 cases, raising the national total caseload to 89,641, the MoH said, adding that 16 more fatalities had been confirmed, bringing the overall death toll to 1,808.

Another 537 patients had recovered, taking the total number of recoveries to 85,618, the MoH added.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
The seven sins of the alliance system of the United States (part 5)

Xinhua) 15:18, August 24, 2021

THE FIFTH SIN: LYING

In order to protect their own interests and marginalize and suppress those countries that disagree with them, the United States and its allies have resorted to lying and abusing, making up counterfactual evidence and false statements with no bottom lines, and repeatedly deceiving the world and provoking conflicts and clashes under the pretext of fabrications.

On the grounds of "washing powder," the United States provoked the Iraq War with its allies.

On Feb. 5, 2003, in a UN Security Council meeting on Iraq, then U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell presented a test tube containing white powder, claiming that it was the evidence that Iraq was developing chemical weapons. On that ground, a combined force of troops from the United States and Britain launched the Iraq War on March 20. By the end of 2011 when the United States withdrew all its troops from Iraq, it found no evidence of any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

While responding to the accusation by Western countries in 2014 that Russia had been secretly annexing eastern Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said: "Proof? Let's see it!"

"The entire world remembers the U.S. secretary of state demonstrating the evidence of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, waving around some test tube with washing powder in the UN Security Council," he said.

The United States made up the story of war hero Jessica Lynch.

In April 2003, the U.S. military portrayed the heroic story of Jessica Lynch, a female soldier who served in Iraq. Lynch was wounded in an ambush by Iraqis but fought till the end in this outnumbered clash, according to the U.S. military. It later claimed that the 19-year-old was raped and tortured after being captured.

The story infuriated the Americans. U.S. special forces raided the hospital where Lynch was held and rescued her. CNN filmed the entire operation and released the footage of the rescue a few days later.

An all-American heroine, the story of Lynch's capture and rescue became one of the great patriotic moments of the conflict, which gave a huge boost to the morale of the U.S. military, and made up a stunning storyline for Hollywood filmmakers.

As a matter of fact, however, Lynch never fired her weapon during the battle. She was seriously injured as the vehicle she and her fellow soldiers were riding in crashed in the ambush. Iraqi medical staff who rescued Lynch reached out to the U.S. military to free her, but was rejected.

According to Iraqi doctors, the hospital informed them of the rescue operation in advance that the operation was a show performed by the military.

In April 2007, appearing as a witness at the congressional committee investigating military misinformation from the battlefield, Lynch recalled the friendly Iraqi medical staff in the rescue and the fine treatment she had received during the time she was wounded and taken prisoner of war, saying that the tales of great heroism by the Pentagon was a hype based on lies.

The U.S.-led NATO brazenly launched Kosovo War on the baseless fabrications of genocide.

On March 24, 1999, the 78-day Kosovo War broke out as the U.S.-led NATO launched an airstrike against Yugoslavia. A total of more than 2,000 people were killed, more than 6,000 injured, and nearly 1 million people became refugees in the war which also caused an economic loss of over 200 billion dollars on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

On April 7, 1999, then U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen said, "the appalling accounts of mass killing in Kosovo" made it clear that the war "is a fight for justice over genocide."

Then U.S. President Bill Clinton defended NATO's air attacks on Yugoslavia, claiming that "Nine of every 10 Kosovar Albanians now has been driven from their home; thousands murdered; at least 100,000 missing ..." and that NATO works to reverse systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing and mass killing. CNN reported that Clinton criticized the Serb campaign of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and compared the actions to those of Adolf Hitler during the Holocaust.

The Washington Times reported in November 1999 that the Clinton administration exaggerated the number of ethnic Albanians killed by Serbs.

In addition, according to the United Nations Charter, "all members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state," except in a few circumstances where the UN Security Council shall decide whether to use force. However, the United States and NATO launched the operation without the UN authorization.

The United States and its allies launched the Syrian war under the hoax of self-initiated chemical weapon attacks.

In early 2011, anti-government demonstrations spread across Syria, which later escalated into a civil war. With the financial support from the United States, the White Helmets, also known as Syria Civil Defense, faked videos of false-flag airstrikes and chemical attacks on civilians, putting a target on the back of the Syrian government.

Taking the videos as evidence, the governments of the United States, Britain and France later claimed that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons to attack its civilians, and thus launched targeted airstrikes in the country.

According to a UN report released in 2019, "there are reasonable grounds to believe that international coalition forces may not have directed their attacks at a specific military objective, or failed to do so with the necessary precaution."

"Launching indiscriminate attacks that result in death or injury to civilians amounts to a war crime in cases in which such attacks are conducted recklessly," said the report by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria.

Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's permanent representative to the EU, said the White Helmet had repeatedly used the tactic of faked videos to frame the Syrian and Russian governments. According to Chizhov, there are personnel "specifically trained" by the White Helmet, who "were already caught in the act with staged videos."

Aside from providing the so-called humanitarian aid, the White Helmet had long been producing fake news and spreading misinformation, said Russian and Syrian reports, adding that Western countries including the United States, Britain, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium have been its long-time sponsors.

The United States and its allies made up a pack of lies about the COVID-19 pandemic in an attempt to deflect blame for their ineffective response to the epidemic in their own countries.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. administration and other Western governments have shrugged off the WHO guidelines to take effective prevention measures, instead, they have been casting blame and doubts on China.

From gloating to waiting for the so-called herd immunity, they have resorted to a series of fabrications to numb their people, claiming that "the virus was leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan;" "the virus originated in Wuhan;" and "it was the Chinese government's procrastinated response that had caused the outbreak to spread around the world."

Trump and Pompeo keep claiming to have collected new evidence that the virus came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

The Multi-Agency Collaboration Environment (MACE), a major Department of Defense contractor, released a report saying that the novel coronavirus was released from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which was criticized by The Daily Beast, a U.S. news and opinion website, as being "filled with information that's just plain wrong."

The 30-page document claimed to rely on social media postings, commercial satellite imagery, and cellphone location data to draw the conclusion that some sort of "hazardous event" occurred at the Wuhan lab in October 2019.

Earlier this year, a WHO expert team that visited Wuhan in central China to carry out the virus source tracing research concluded that a laboratory incident is "extremely unlikely" to be the cause of COVID-19, which, however, was ignored and questioned publicly by the United States and other Western countries.

According to the WHO, China has provided the organization with information about a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan as early as Jan. 3, 2020. Two days later, on Jan. 5, the WHO shared detailed information about the cluster of cases through the International Health Regulations (2005) Event Information System, which is accessible to all its members. The event notice provided information on the cases and advised its members to take precautions to reduce the risk of acute respiratory infections. Yet Western countries turned a deaf ear to the advice.

The United States wrongly accused China of militarizing the South China Sea, and strengthened its military deployment with its allies in the region.

In recent years, the United States has stepped up its military deployment with its allies such as Japan and the Philippines, citing the so-called "freedom of navigation," while misleading international public opinion by accusing China of militarizing the South China Sea.

According to incomplete statistics, from 2017 to 2020, the U.S. military conducted "Freedom of Navigation Operations" as many as 15 times in the South China Sea.

What's more, the United States strengthened the deployment of military forces in surrounding areas of the South China Sea, especially that of sophisticated strategic weapons, and continued to seek to strengthen military partnerships with the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan and other countries. The United States also strived to seek cooperation with its allies in the Asia-Pacific region.

East Asia Forum, an international policy forum based in Australia, pointed out in an article published on May 2, 2017, that "media distortion flourishes when academic analysts themselves push U.S.-slanted research."

"The U.S. argument is that freedom of navigation is indivisible and includes both commercial navigation and U.S. IRR probes. The United States then argues that China's interference with its military vessels and aircraft in and over China's exclusive economic zone violates freedom of navigation," it said.

The United States fabricated a preposterous lie about a "genocide" in Xinjiang, wooing its allies to impose sanctions on China.

In the past two years, based on so-called Xinjiang-related research reports concocted by pseudo-scholars such as Adrian Zenz, and experiences of some so-called "witnesses," the United States has wooed anti-China forces in the West to make up and disseminate fallacies related to Xinjiang, falsely accuse China of committing genocide against Uygurs in Xinjiang, defame China's policy on Xinjiang, grossly interfere in China's internal affairs, and announce sanctions against Chinese entities and individuals, in an attempt to deceive the international community and disrupt Xinjiang's stability and development.

According to The Grayzone, a U.S.-based independent news website which produces original investigative journalism, Zenz, a German far-right ideologue, has invented statistics and spun tales to justify his false conclusion.

"A careful review of Zenz's research shows that his assertion of genocide is contradicted by flagrant data abuse, fraudulent claims, cherry-picking of source material, and propagandistic misrepresentations," said the website in its report.

Having visited Xinjiang "from one end to the other" and "seen a lot of things" during his trips, French writer Maxime Vivas recounted what he saw in a book entitled "Uygurs, to put an end to fake news," which has dismantled the lie of genocide in Xinjiang.

The United States and its allies vilified China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and fabricated lies such as China's "new colonialism" and "debt trap diplomacy."

The United States and its allies have been vilifying the BRI. Deliberately ignoring the positive role of Chinese investment in promoting regional economic development, some Western media and politicians are fueling hypes of the so-called "new colonialism" and "new imperialism," and disseminating such fallacies as the countries joining the BRI are falling into China's "debt trap," and China is the sole beneficiary of its investment.

The narrative of Chinese "dept-trap diplomacy" is just a powerful, well-told lie, which wrongfully portrays China and the developing countries it deals with, according to an article co-authored by Deborah Brautigam, an international political economy professor at Johns Hopkins University, and Meg Rithmire, an associate professor at Harvard Business School.

The authors indicated in the piece published on the Atlantic that the former U.S. administration was touting the fallacy of "debt-trap diplomacy," taking the Sri Lankan port of Hambantota as the prime example to warn against China's strategic use of debts.

However, it was Canadian and Danish firms -- not China -- that first carried out feasibility studies for the port, putting forward plans to finance, build and operate the project, but failed to move forward, said the article.

In 2007, with China Harbour Engineering Company lobbying hard, the Export-Import Bank of China offered a more than 300-million-dollar, 15-year commercial loan for the project, and the group won the contract.

Among the creditors of Sri Lanka's foreign debt, Japan and the World Bank are the biggest owners. The Hambantota Port debt in 2017 accounted for only 5 percent of Sri Lanka's foreign debt, which was not the cause of the country's financial crisis, said a former central bank governor. Politicians and media from the United States and other Western countries have been turning a deaf ear to the will of developing countries to pursue development.

Fueling U.S. oppression and economic decoupling from China, Australia made up preposterous fabrications hyping up the so-called "China threat" theory and "China interference" theory, continued to stipulate such bills as "foreign interference laws" and "Foreign Relations Act," rejected a number of Chinese companies' investment in Australia and tore up Victoria State's BRI agreements with China citing national interest.

In the name of "human rights" and "democracy," the United States and its allies keep selling the world conspiracy and lies.

Some former suzerain states in European countries promised their African colonies that the Western-style democracy was the "gospel" of development, which, in reality, pushed African countries into the trap of endless political succession crisis and development deficit. Europe claimed to have provided the largest aid to Africa but turned out to be just lip service, which procrastinated the development of Africa.

After the start of the Arab Spring movement, the EU promised to increase aid to Arab countries year by year, but facts have shown a downward trend. In 2014, the EU accomplished only 20 percent of its goal for the year. The bloc branded itself as the biggest funder of the COVAX mechanism, but the number of vaccines it exported to developing countries is less than 5 percent of its production capacity.

On April 19, 2021, Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent from the United Nations Human Rights Council issued a joint statement, strongly rejecting a British government-backed report on racism and ethnic disparities in the country, saying the report further distorted and falsified historic facts, and could even fuel racism, racial discrimination and negative racial stereotypes.

The statement condemned the report's assertion that while there might be overt acts of racism in the UK, there was no institutional racism there.

"The report's conclusion that racism is either a product of the imagination of people of African descent or of discrete, individualized incidents ignores the pervasive role that the social construction of race was designed to play in society, particularly in normalizing atrocity, in which the British state and institutions played a significant role," the statement said.

According to experts, many previous studies and reports have all shown the damaging impact of institutional racism and deep-rooted inequities in areas such as health, education, employment, housing, stop-and-search practices, and the criminal justice system in the UK.

The statement pointed out that the report's mythical representation of enslavement is an attempt to sanitize the history of the trade in enslaved Africans.

"This is a reprehensible, although not unfamiliar tactic, employed by many whose wealth came directly from the enslavement of others, ever since slavery was outlawed. Seeking to silence the brutal role of enslavers, the mind-numbing generational wealth they accrued, and the social capital and political influence they gained from exploiting Black bodies is a deliberate attempt at historical misrepresentation," it said. (more)

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
What to expect from the upcoming U.S. intelligence report on COVID-19 origins

16:56, August 24, 2021 By Qing Ming ( People's Daily Online

Illustration/People's Daily Online

The highly anticipated report on COVID-19 origins is finally set to be dropped. Ordered three months ago by American president Joe Biden and compiled by Americas intelligence community, the report will arrive with the perfect timingwhen the US military, guided by the thorough calculus of US intelligence, has completed a swift and successful withdrawal of its troops lingering in Afghanistan .

Well, this all depends on how you define successful and how you view Americas intelligence community, which frequently offers up one-of-a-kind intelligence reports from time to time.

If you are expecting a meticulous, watertight report that is in accordance with science and facts, you will probably find yourself disappointed. But if you are looking for a specious, preposterous, and Iraq-Has-Weapons-Of-Mass-Destruction-kind of piece, its definitely worth the wait.

In churning out gibberish and farcical accounts, the US intelligence community is rarely seen as reliable, and its output has certainly been stable in its quality. A brief review of its history will demonstrate how trustworthy the intel body has been. From the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 to the 9/11 Attacks, from the Fall of Saigon to the disgraceful fleeing of Kabul (not to mention the W.M.D. saga during the Iraq War)the US intelligence community has carried the torch of amateurish intel gathering in its surefire attempt to further fan the flames of war and confrontation.

Taking a break from spying on American allies , the US intelligence community has been allocated with the significant task of tracking down the origins of COVID-19 , capturing the spotlight and taking over the tasks of scientists.

Bidens move to let intelligence personnel masquerade as scientists is appalling but unsurprising. After all, America is plagued with not only SARSCoV2 but also a blend of anti-science viruses , reducing them into a melting pot where masks are abandoned, vaccines rejected, and scientists taunted, where misinformation spreads as fast as the virus, and the voices of conspiracists and quacks speak louder than scientists and doctors.

What to expect? (Note: Spoiler alert)

On August 23, Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, revealed that the findings of the 90-day intelligence probe into the origins of COVID-19 would be finished this Tuesday, but that it would take a few days before it is declassified and made public.

What you may ask is the fresh report all about? A similar report concocted by the Republican Party may offer a few clues.

Earlier this month, the GOP disseminated a so-called detailed report on the COVID-19 lab leak conspiracy, offering their version of the COVID-19 probe, weeks ahead of the deadline of the report ordered by Joe Biden. In the GOP report, farfetched concerns and farcical trifles were pieced together to form circumstantial evidence pointing to a lab leak in China, e.g., major renovations to air safety and waste treatment systems in research facilities, satellite imagery of Wuhan in September and October 2019 showing a significant increase in hospital visits and internet searches for COVID-19 symptoms, and the like. Come on the worlds self-proclaimed most powerful intelligence community is better than this.

Apart from the aforementioned tricks, Bidens intelligence squad might have mobilized some other cheap shots in vain. CNN reported on August 6 that American intelligence agencies had gained access to a catalog of virus-related information that contained genetic data from virus samples studied at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Hard as they tried, experts like Professor Jin Dongyan of Hong Kong University, believed that no concrete conclusion can be reached in the analysis of indirect and circumstantial data.  The sequence cannot tell where SARS-CoV-2 comes from. It could even be counterproductive, just raising more questions, said Jin.

During an interview with CNBCs Squawk Box on August 23, NIH director Dr. Francis Collins reiterated that he believed the SARSCoV2 more likely has a natural origin, standing firmly along the long line of scientists who hold their belief against conspiracies and unscientific noises. The vast evidence from other perspectives says no, this was a naturally occurring virus, Collins said.

The reason why the US has been constantly belittling WHOs February report on the origins of COVID-19 and later decided to create their own versions of the report is very easy to fathom: the report didnt provide the conviction they wanted it to provide. Unless there is a guilty verdict, the US wouldnt give up so easily. In scapegoating China for its calamitous mishandling of the coronavirus, the US is following the same pattern used in framing China on Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and a whole spectrum of other issues: it created piles of anti-China documents packed with lies and disinformation and pressed for further investigations, all from a stance of moral supremacy.

Whatever its findings, the COVID-19 origin report ordered by Joe Biden will at least divert some of the publics attention away from the recent developments in Afghanistan, which has dragged the presidents support levels to a new all-time low. But the report proceedings will undoubtedly do nothing to persuade American citizens to put on their masks or roll up their sleeves in the fight against the virus. More likely than not, the report will merely serve as a piece of wastepaper that bears no other value than inciting hatred.

(Web editor: Meng Bin, Liang Jun)
China to issue commemorative coins to mark success of its first Mars exploration mission

People's Daily Online) 17:03, August 24, 2021

Photo shows the front side of the 150-gram gold coin. (Photo/website of the Peoples Bank of China)

Chinas central bank is set to issue a set of commemorative coins on Aug. 30 to celebrate the success of the countrys first Mars exploration mission, the bank announced via its website.

The set will consist of two gold coins and one silver coin, the Peoples Bank of China said, adding that both will be legal tender.

All coins will feature the logo of Chinas planetary exploration missions (to Mars), along with the countrys official name and the year of issuance on the front side.

One of the gold coins, with a diameter of 60 mm, contains 150 grams of pure gold and has a face value of 2,000 yuan (about $308.6). It will feature a combination of images  the landing platform and rover of Chinas Mars probe, Tianwen-1, a schematic of the probes landing process and the planets topography on the reverse side.

The other gold coin, with a diameter of 22 mm, contains 8 grams of pure gold and has a denomination of 100 yuan. The reverse side of this coin will feature the Mars rover and the Martian surface.

The silver coin, which is 40 mm in diameter, contains 30 grams of pure silver and has a face value of 10 yuan. Its reverse side will feature the orbiter for the Tianwen-1 mission, along with depictions of Mars and Earth.

The reverse side of all the coins will also be inscribed with a line that reads the success of Chinas first Mars exploration mission Tianwen-1 in Chinese.

A total of 1,000 large-size gold coins, 30,000 smaller gold coins, and 60,000 silver coins will be made available for purchase, the bank said.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
China contributes to APEC sub-fund on combating COVID-19, economic recovery

Xinhua) 17:10, August 24, 2021

WELLINGTON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- China has contributed 1 million U.S. dollars toward the establishment of a new APEC sub-fund on Combating COVID-19 and Economic Recovery (CCER), aiming to support initiatives that strengthen member economies' capacity to address and manage impacts from the pandemic and fast track recovery, APEC Secretariat announced on Tuesday in a statement.

A memorandum of understanding on China's contribution to the sub-fund was signed virtually by Lu Mei, China APEC Senior Official and Rebecca Sta Maria, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unprecedented challenge to APEC members that requires a collective and inclusive response," said Lu. "APEC economies have strengthened cooperation to respond to COVID-19. The establishment of the sub-fund is part of these varied and continuous efforts as well as the contribution of additional resources across APEC to combat the pandemic," said Lu.

"We hope that this sub-fund will assist APEC in combatting current and future pandemics, safeguarding the health and well-being of people, accelerating economic recovery and harnessing new opportunities of the digital economy, which also contributes to the implementation of the APEC Putrajaya Vision," Lu added.

APEC is responding to COVID-19 with numerous policy measures and tools that address different pain points caused by the health and economic crisis. These initiatives range from high-level commitments to expert analyses and recommendations as well as innovative tools and practical projects.

The CCER sub-fund will be directed to support projects and initiatives to help member economies in their efforts to address and manage the economic impacts of COVID-19, strengthen public health systems and capacity building, expedite economic recovery and build resiliency against future large-scale economic disruptions.

The sub-fund also aims to facilitate APEC economies to better adapt to available and innovative digital tools such as telemedicine, online education, teleworking to boost economic recovery and growth.

Member economies can also tap into the sub-fund for activities that support capacity building for micro, small and medium enterprises, and vulnerable groups to recover and build resiliency to economic disruptions caused by COVID-19.

"As we keep our focus on recovery, we see opportunities for member economies to deepen cooperation and work together for the prosperity of all our people," said APEC Secretariat's Executive Director, Rebecca Sta Maria. "This sub-fund will support initiatives focused on recovery in APEC, ensuring that we remain the world's most dynamic and interconnected region."

Projects are a vital part of the APEC process. They help translate the policy directions of APEC Economic Leaders and Ministers into actions and help create tangible benefits for people living in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC provides funding for over 100 projects each year, with around 17.7 million U.S. dollars available in 2021.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Thanks to the internet, auction houses, and authorised dealers. This revolution has contributed to a much wider market for vintage and pre-owned watches.

Watch painted by Suzanne Rohr, 1978, auctioned 1.5 million  Patek Philippe

The Times they are A-Changin'

Traditionally, a watch was the purchase of a lifetime: a gift from loved ones to mark an important event, or a studied purchase to commemorate a significant success. The timepiece was generally purchased in a jewellery or department store and was brand new. Generations of buyers purchased a watch in this manner and owned it for most of their life, satisfied with their unique treasure; just one single watch would mark time for all occasions. It was a personal and distinctive keepsake, to be passed on to family members in the hope that they would continue preserving and cherishing it. The entire watch industry was predicated on this concept, and still today watch companies such as Patek Philippe communicate around this theme.

All this has now changed. In the last 20 years, the watch offerings available on the market have evolved, and traditional watch buyers have adapted their purchasing and collecting behaviour to match. There are now many new watchmakers, offering more watches for many different tastes and at a variety of price points, opening up a new world of choices that can satisfy the taste and imagination of almost anyone. The key driver for this change is the internet. Information is now accessible freely and easily, and a potential buyer can consult the websites of established brands, collectors forums and social media feeds for information and inspiration.

Kalla Pagoda, Minute Repeater Perpetual Calendar and Split Seconds Chronograph, Patek Philippe for Cartier  Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe

The internet also facilitated the trading of watches between watch collectors, which was a significant step in the evolution of the market for vintage watches. Trading between collectors grew on watch discussion forums such as Timezone.com which was founded in 1995, where collectors could share their passions and knowledge, which inevitably led to buying and selling within the group. Online auction websites such as eBay became another peer-to-peer platform for trading between collectors. Eventually this practice developed into its own sector of the industry: new professional watch sellers emerged who specialised in pre-owned timepieces, with their websites designed to celebrate vintage watches and educate collectors, as well as trade.

The Auction World and the Rise of the Superstar Watch

The strong market for vintage watches means that a well-maintained watch can retain its value, and sometimes can even increase in value far beyond its original purchase price, if demand in the secondary market is strong. Timepieces may be bought and sold like objets dart, and the auction world in particular has facilitated this transformation from a utilitarian tool to a work of art. The last 20 years have seen high-end collectors ready to bid astronomical sums for the most desirable timepieces.

Paul Newmans Rolex Daytona, auctioned for $17.8 million  Rolex

The first auction house exclusively to sell timepieces at auction was Antiquorum, an auction house established in Geneva by Osvaldo Patrizzi in 1974. Antiquorum met with success in creating this new auction category and was followed by Christies and Sothebys. By the year 2000, Antiquorum had developed its offerings to include some a successful thematic auction around important brands, such as Patek Philippe, Breguet and Cartier. The auction houses benefited greatly from a resurgent interest in mechanical wristwatches, but this was still mostly restricted to a few knowledgeable collectors and professionals.

Grandmaster Chime auctioned 31 millions CHF  Patek Philippe

Over the last 20 years, this narrow traditional customer base expanded to encompass a broad, global collector community. This expansion of demand has fuelled the record prices attained for pre-owned watches at auction. The watch auction business has increased threefold, from US$100 million in 2000 to US$300 million in 2019. A few well-known examples suffice to show the extraordinary sums now commanded by the rarest pieces. In 1999, Sothebys New York obtained the world record price for any watch when a Middle Eastern collector paid US$11 million for the Henry Graves Patek Philippe Grande Complication. The same watch sold again at Sothebys in Geneva in November 2014 for the equivalent of US$24 million, more than doubling its world record price in 15 years. But record prices for watches did not stop there: in October 2017.

Phillips in New York shattered all previous records for a wristwatch, achieving the spectacular sum of US$17.8 million for screen legend Paul Newmans Rolex Daytona Cosmograph with its namesake dial, a stainless-steel chronograph originally purchased by his wife in 1968. But a mere two years later, a unique Stainless Steel Grandmaster Chime from Patek Philippe was sold for CHF 31 million at the Only Watch charity auction, organised by Christies Geneva in November 2019.

*On the occasion of GMT Magazine and WorldTempus' 20th anniversary, we have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the last 20 years in watchmaking in The Millennium Watch Book, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. This article is an extract. The Millennium Watch Book is available on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English, with a 10% discount if you use the following code: WT2021.

*Written by William Massena
A national flag-raising ceremony is held at Tian'anmen Square during a ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee will release a key publication on the Party's mission and contributions.

The key publication, titled "The CPC: Its Mission and Contributions," will be released at 10:00 a.m. Thursday.

A press conference will also be held on the publication.
Rain is expected to continue across China this week, with some provinces suspending production, closing roads, issuing alerts and evacuating residents to prevent flooding disasters. From Tuesday through Thursday, North, East and Central China will see heavy rain and parts of the northern provinces of Shanxi and Hebei as well as Beijing are forecast to be hit by hail, the National Meteorological Center said. On Monday morning, Central China's Hubei province urged the suspension of production by factories and the evacuation of residents from places where rain poses a danger. Six cities or counties in Hubei issued red alerts for heavy rain, the highest level in a four-tier warning system, local media reported. Elsewhere, meteorologists warned that East China's Shandong province will see strong winds and rainstorms for the next few days. They said residents need to be alert to the danger of landslides and protect themselves from wind. Xuzhou in East China's Jiangsu province issued an orange alert, the second-highest level, for rainstorms early Monday morning. Police closed some flooded roads and drainage workers were clearing pipes to ensure the effective discharge of floodwaters, local media reported. From Saturday to Sunday, Shaanxi's 94 counties saw rainfall, with Mianxian county hit by about 230 millimeters of precipitation, the most across the nation over the weekend, the National Meteorological Center said. About 11,600 people in the county were affected by the rain, with water and electricity supplies cut in some areas. Floodwaters reached pedestrians' knees and hundreds of cars were inundated. Local authorities were busy repairing power facilities and communication equipment. "On Sunday, my car was flooded before I realized how serious the situation was. I've never seen such heavy rain in the county. That was rare," a resident surnamed Zhao told local media. A video taken in Ankang, a city in Shaanxi province, on Sunday showed part of a road beside a river that also served as a dike collapsing due to continuous rainfall. All the residents in an apartment block meters away from the road had been evacuated, the local government said. Three staff members of a telecommunication company who were sent to repair phone lines in Xi'an, the provincial capital, on Thursday are missing. Rescue teams are still searching for them, local media reported. Chen Tao, chief forecaster from the National Meteorological Center, said the latest rainstorms are moving quickly and will not stay in the same place for long. "Although the rain is not as extreme as that in July, we still need to be cautious about the accumulated impacts brought by continuous rain, especially in disaster-hit provinces like Henan, Sichuan and Shaanxi," he said.


By Liu Wenlong

Recently, in an open letter on nuclear disarmament, a group of former US officials, including former defense secretary William Perry, and experts asked Japanese political parties not to oppose a "no-first-use" nuclear stance that may be adopted by the US. It is reported that the Biden administration is initiating a new Nuclear Posture Review, which is likely to clarify the no-first-use nuclear policy.

As the only country that has used nuclear weapons in actual combat, the US is the only nuclear power whose nuclear weapon policy remains vague.

Although the Obama government discussed the "no-first-use" nuclear policy twice and proposed building a "world without nuclear weapons", the US didn't promise "not to use nuclear weapons first" in the Nuclear Posture Review published in 2010 by its Department of Defense.

Considering that nuclear weapons have dual strategic importance for the US  deterring strategic rivals and controlling allies, it is impossible for the US to give up nuclear weapons. As the US is seeing a continuous decline in its overall strength and international prestige, in particular, nuclear weapons are effective means for it to enchain and control its allies.

Analysts point out that the US re-proposing the policy may aim to strengthen its hand in nuclear disarmament talks. As it conducts dialogue with Russia on maintaining strategic stability, this move tries to improve its international image in nuclear security, increase its advantage in nuclear weapon control negotiations, pin down the development of nuclear weapons of countries like Russia, and bring other countries with nuclear weapons to the negotiation table.

Although the Democrats, led by Biden, have the tradition of supporting the arms control policy, the subsequent implement will not be smooth due to multiple factors, even if the Biden administration announces the "no-first-use" nuclear stance.

Firstly, the mindset of asymmetric nuclear deterrence is deeply rooted in the US government. It is estimated that the US has 6,000 nuclear warheads, ensuring its absolute advantage in nuclear deterrence. The past nuclear arms races have proved that the nuclear superiority that the US pursues is not merely to maintain homeland security, but to seek nuclear weapon-backed global hegemony. To continue a vague nuclear policy will enable the US not only to have enough space of autonomy in response to nuclear threats but also to enhance its capacity to deter rivals.

Secondly, it is hard for the US to give up the "preemptive strike" strategy. The US has a strong mindset in reliance on nuclear weapons, and it won't easily shift from "active" to "passive" in nuclear stance. Moreover, the latest Nuclear Posture Review clarified that the US needs to use nuclear weapons if it and its allies face nuclear attacks and non-nuclear attacks. The report indicates the US has high-degree autonomy in the use of nuclear weapons, and it doesn't give a clear definition of "vital interests". In other words, the US can define its "vital interests" on its own and secure the right to launch "preemptive strikes".

It is also reported that the US will invest US$400 billion to develop new nuclear weapons, especially low-yield nuclear weapons that can be used flexibly in the next 10 years. If the US adopts the "no-first-use" nuclear policy, the previous investments will be in vain.

Thirdly, arms producers and dealers will make every effort to thwart the policy. To a certain extent, the "no-first-use" nuclear policy will reduce the strategic importance of nuclear weapons, thus indirectly impacting the interests of US arms producers and dealers. The FY 2022 Defense Budget shows that the US will invest billions of US dollars in developing new-type nuclear warhead carriers, and the money will mainly flow into the pockets of arms producers such as Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Honeywell. According to data released by magazine Forbes, in 2020 alone, major nuclear weapon producers donated funds of more than US$31 million to elections, of which a large proportion was used to lobby and advocate for the legitimacy of the nuclear policy and the reasonability of nuclear weapon expenditures.

Finally, the policy may be opposed by US allies. The US' global alliance system is built on its capacity to provide nuclear protection for its allies, which is not only an extension of the US military power but also an effective means to control its allies. If its nuclear policy shifts towards "passive defense", the nuclear protection provided by the US will be weakened and make some allies "insecure". It is learned that the nuclear policy of the Obama administration was once strongly opposed by Japan.

In summary, driven by the interests of various parties, the signal sent by the US that it will adopt a "no-first-use" nuclear policy is a gimmick under its "vague nuclear stance", which will make little difference in reality.
BEIJING, Aug. 24 -- According to three notices released by the maritime safety administrations in Chinas Shandong, Liaoning and Guangdong provinces on August 23, the Chinese Peoples liberation Army (PLA) will carry out military exercises in several sea areas of China in recent days. Ships are banned from entering during respective time limits.

According to the notice released by Chinas Shandong Maritime Safety Administration, live-fire training will be held in different water zones of the Bohai Strait and Miaodao Archipelago from August 24 to 25, local time.

Notice issued by Chinas Liaoning Maritime Safety Administration said that military exercises will be carried out in waters off the Dalu Island in the north Yellow Sea from August 24 to 26, local time.

A notice released by Chinas Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration on August 23 said that the gunnery drill will be carried out in waters of the estuary of the Zhujiang River on August 25, local time.
A memorial ceremony is held in Nanjing, Jiangsu province to mourn the 300,000 victims of the Nanjing Massacre, Dec 13, 2020. [Photo by Cui Xiao/For China Daily]

Xu Jiaqing, a survivor of the Nanjing Massacre, passed away at 96 on Monday.

Xu Jiaqing was born on Feb 8, 1925. He and his families took refuge in shelters on Shigu Road during the Japanese invaders' occupation of Nanjing and were later caught during relocation.

Eight survivors of the Nanjing Massacre have passed away this year, according to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.

Their deaths reduced the total number of registered survivors to 64, according to the memorial hall.

The Nanjing Massacre took place when Japanese troops captured the city on Dec 13, 1937. Over six weeks, they killed close to 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II.

In 2014, China's top legislature designated Dec 13 as the national memorial day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre.

The Chinese government has preserved survivors' testimony, recorded in both written documents and video footage. These records of the massacre were listed by UNESCO in the Memory of the World Register in 2015.
MOSCOW, Aug. 24 -- The International Army Games (IAG) 2021 "Army of culture" contest were in progress in Moscow, Russia on August 22, local time. Thirteen teams from 20 countries participated in this contest.

A Chinese participant introduced that the Chinese team chose a classic Russian folk Katyusha and a representative work named Luhua with Chinese vocal music characteristics as the competition songs, which embody the friendship between China and Russia while showing China's national vocal music in the international stage.
The National Assembly Research Service in a recent report slammed the government's job creation programs for the elderly for distorting employment figures.

The report published on Aug. 2 was the first that openly criticized President Moon Jae-in's failed job creation policy in what may be a sign that his administration has entered its lame-duck phase.

The jobs are mostly menial, from picking up leaves or telling people where to park their cars to making little video clips at home.

The city of Daegu started a program for senior citizens last year that hires them to promote the city's job program for them on YouTube and blogs. They are paid up to W710,000 a month for five hours a day, three days a week (US$1=W1,166).

One 70-year-old resident of Jongno district in Seoul is taking part in a program writing biographies for other elderly people. He is paid W270,000 a month for three hours a day two to three times a week.

Statistics Korea data show that the employment rate last year was 60.1 percent, but when such sinecures for the elderly are removed, the figure falls to 58.4 percent.


The labor union of Seoul Metro, which runs much of the city's subway system, has warned it will go on strike next month.

The labor union on Monday called on the city-owned company to cancel plans to fire workers and freeze pay to make up for a growing deficit.
The government on Monday tried to deflect mounting anger about the slow pace of coronavirus vaccination by promising scores of millions more vaccines next year.

President Moon Jae-in's chief of staff Yoo Young-min told the National Assembly some 80 million doses will be left over next year and the government will procure an additional 90 million doses. That brings the total to 170 million or more than three times the population.

But the plans are sketchy. The government has signed a contract with Pfizer for 30 million doses next year with an option to buy an additional 30 million. Where the other 60 million doses will come from is not clear.

The promises come as the government secured a commitment from Moderna to deliver 7.01 million doses by early September to inoculate people aged 18-49. The first batch of 1.01 million doses arrived Monday.


New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. Hot and humid. High 97F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low near 75F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Hot and humid. High 97F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low near 75F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

Rain likely. High 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Rain becoming heavy at times overnight. Low near 60F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
On 20 August, 2021, the U.S. Department of State released a fact sheet announcing Russian firearms and ammunition importation will be banned for a minimum of 12 months starting 7 September, 2021. From state.gov:

New sanctions imposed today under the CBW Act include:

Restrictions on the permanent imports of certain Russian firearms. New and pending permit applications for the permanent importation of firearms and ammunition manufactured or located in Russia will be subject to a policy of denial.

The ban is listed as a sanction pursuant to the Chemical and Biological Weapons (CBW) Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991, over the supposed Russian use of the "Novichok" chemical agent to poison Aleksey Navainy.

Navainy was poisoned in August of 2020. He has been critical of the Putin regime in Russia. This is a second round of sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States over the Aleksey Navainy incident. The first round of sanctions did not ban the importation of Russian ammunition or firearms.

The Department of State announcement says "New and pending permit applications" ... "will be subject to a policy of denial". The implication is applications which have already been approved will not be revoked.

If that is correct, shipments of ammunition and firearms from Russia which have already been approved will be allowed to enter the United States and be sold.

It is unclear how long supplies in the pipeline will last.

The announcement is likely to rekindle the ammunition bubble for calibers commonly imported from Russia, such as 7.62x54, 7.62x39, 5.45x39, 5.56x45, and even match grade .22 ammunition.

(2021 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.)
Put on your red shoes and dance the blues, Kokomo.

Dancing with the Stars will return as a fundraiser for the Literacy Coalition after a COVID-19 delay postponed the 2020 outing.

On Aug. 28, Transamerica will present the 10th installment of the event at Bel Air Events, 3014 S. Webster St. Tickets are $75 for premium seats next to the dance floor and $50 for general admission seats. Tickets are available for sale at the Literacy Coalition office, 901 S. Courtland Ave., or via phone at 765-450-8532. Tickets purchased for the 2020 event are being replaced for free.

As a result of last years cancellation, fundraising is crucial for the Literacy Coalition, said Bob Stephenson, the organizations executive director.

This has always been our largest fundraising event, he said. With the combination of last year being kind of wiped out fundraising wise by COVID, this is extremely important. We need to do well to maintain the sustainability of the agency and all the things that we do.

Along with problems presented by the pandemic, 2021 marks the first time in 30 years the Literacy Coalition has not receive funding from the United Way. Stephenson said it would help if people who assisted the program through the United Way could make donations directly to the Literacy Coalition.

This years competing couples include Jeanette and Kent Land, Ashley Shanks and Keith Hill, Erin Kauffman and Matthew Behnke, Crista and Chad Tharp, and Connie and Todd Trobaugh. The couples will complete one dance and their chosen styles include swing, tango, the twist, the mambo and bolero.

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Its quite a performance for amateurs, said Stephenson. These are people who arent trained dancers who go out there and put it all out in front of 250-260 people and help us raise money.

The competition winners will be decided based on which duo raises the most money. Attendees will be able to buy poker chips to deposit into the competitors designated ballot boxes.

The competition is basically their ability to entice fans to vote for them with dollars to raise money for us, said Stephenson.

Along with the competition, the Kokomo High School Dance Team will perform, and a masked local celebrity will be on hand as a mystery performer. An opportunity to unmask the mystery guest will be auctioned off during the evening.

A dinner will be catered by Pastariffic and the event will have a cash bar.

Its a dress-up event, Stephenson said. Its a nice night out for a lot of people.

The Literacy Coalition provides free services such as teaching adults to read, speaking English and preparation for driving, high school equivalency and employment tests in Howard and surrounding counties. The nonprofit also gives away books to school children in the Head Start program each month.

For the first time since 1991 the Literacy Coalition is operating without the support of the United Way, so events like Dancing with the Stars are vital for the agencys survival.
A booster shot is likely coming for those who received a two-shot dose of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

The federal Department of Health and Human Services issued a joint statement with medical experts on Aug. 18 that booster shots will be needed by Americans, saying they are prepared to roll out the shots as soon as Sept. 20, if approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

A Johnson & Johnson booster is expected to be announced at a later date.

Many of the things that have occurred that people have taken as proof that these vaccines dont work are entirely expected, such as breakthrough cases, explained Jennifer Sexton, Howard County Public Health Nursing Division manager. Breakthrough cases occur with every vaccine. Chickenpox is one I can think of that we have had many breakthrough cases with. Yet breakthrough cases with COVID are at a level that we expect with a vaccine that has been given to this many people.

All vaccines wane over time, Sexton said. Hepatitis A and B, measles, mumps, tetanus and shingles are just a few of the common vaccinations that require boosters throughout a persons lifetime.

Add in the strength of the Delta variant and it becomes even more important to shore up the bodys defense against COVID.

Sexton said the booster doses will be a different formula from what was given in the first and second vaccination doses. However, she expects post-shot side effects to be similar to the previous shots: a sore arm, flu-like symptoms, lethargy.

The booster shot should be received eight months after the initial doses of the vaccine an individual chose  either Moderna or Pfizer. The rollout will be similar to the original shots, with frontline workers and the elderly ready for the booster before most of the general public will need it.

Additional booster shots may be needed depending on how long the first booster lasts. The need for additional boosters also depends on an increase in vaccination rates. Continued mask wearing and social distancing also will help decrease the need for future boosters.

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Sexton doesnt want people to confuse the booster with the needed third vaccination shot for the immunocompromised.

Thats not a booster dose, Sexton said. That is a third dose because there are certain people who have a compromised immune system who may benefit from an additional dose to make sure they have protecting against COVID-19.

People who are considered candidates for a third shot of the vaccine include cancer patients, people who have undergone an organ or stem cell transplant, people with a severe immunodeficiency, people with advanced or untreated HIV, and people receiving active treatments of high-dose steroids or other medications than can cause someone to be immunocompromised.

The Centers for Disease Control and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have suggested that these folks are especially vulnerable to COVID because they are at more risk, so these individuals are recommended to get one additional dose of the same mRNA COVID-19 vaccine that they received the first time, Sexton said.

The third shot for the immunocompromised should come at least 28 days after the second vaccine dose.

Sexton said that the third shot is the exact same dose of the vaccine as the first two doses. It is not a new formula like booster shots will be.

She said there are currently unfilled appointments at each clinic for immunocompromised people to receive the third shot, but they should talk with their doctors before doing so.

Sexton urged people to consider good sources of information when reading about COVID-19 or the vaccines. Social media is not a good source for information, she said.

We need people to get vaccinated, Sexton said, as the COVID numbers continue to increase in Howard County and around the country. The booster shot is very important for people to continue to have immunity as we are going through this particular surge, which is a very steep upward spike as opposed to a slight upward curve.

For more information on COVID-19 in Indiana or to register for the vaccine (boosters cannot be registered for at this moment) visit https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/.
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NASHVILLE, Ind. - I never met Marine Sgt. Jeremy R. McQueary, but anyone traveling on Indiana 46 heading into this town crosses a bridge named in his honor.

On Feb. 18, 2010, while on a combat support mission in Helmand Province in Afghanistan, McQueary was killed by an improvised explosive device in the midst of a war at that point that had been going on nine years.

Sgt. McQueary had been inspired by his father, Dallas, to serve. He graduated from Columbus East High School in 2002, just months after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the citizen patriot downing of Flight 93 that had been aimed at the U.S. Capitol.

Less than three months after Sgt. McQuearys death, U.S. Special Forces found and terminated the life of Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaida mastermind of those Sept. 11 attacks.

One could make the case it was at that point the United States achieved its mission; that was the time we should have exited Afghanistan, the so-called graveyard of empires.

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, observed on Wednesday, For more than 20 years ... it was American warriors like Sgt. McQueary who helped prevent an attack on the homeland.

This is personal, Gen. Milley said. To each of them, I want you to know personally, your service mattered.

In dedicating that Indiana 46 bridge in Sgt. McQuearys honor, then Indiana Gov. Mike Pence observed on Nov. 11, 2013, Sgt. McQueary demonstrated what it means to be a true family man. His contributions to this community and nation are invaluable. And so, for his service, for putting on the uniform, wearing it with pride and serving under circumstances so few can understand, we owe a debt of gratitude to Sgt. McQueary which can never be repaid.

I choose to remember Sgt. McQueary this week because of the U.S. military pullout of Afghanistan, and then the stunning collapse of the Asian nations 300,000-man army while its government fled. This forever war had been designated for termination by President Trump, who set a May 1 deadline for the U.S. to leave before he left office last January.

President Biden delayed the May 1 deadline for several months, and has taken extraordinary criticism from across the political spectrum when chaos ensued the American pullout. Seared into the public memory this week were the terrible optics of a hollow, rotted government collapsing, conjuring comparisons to the demise of South Vietnam in April 1975, and U.S. helicopters off the roof of the Saigon embassy to the C-17 cargo plane rolling down the Afghan runway with hundreds of people running alongside, some latching on to their ultimate doom.

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In early July, Biden had said, It is not at all comparable [to Vietnam]. The likelihood theres going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely.

Gen. Milley told the press on Wednesday that U.S. military and intelligence assessments on a potential Afghan government collapse ranged from weeks, to months, or even years. There was nothing I saw that indicated the collapse of this government and army in 11 days.

Ive never seen a collapse of an army that size in 11 days, Milley said.

Nobody has. Rotted regime collapse is never predictable; never tidy; always chaotic; always fueling the temptation to second guess.

Our mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to have been nation-building, Biden said in an address to the nation last Monday afternoon. The truth is this did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated. I am president of the United States of America and the buck stops with me. I am deeply saddened by the facts we now face, but I do not regret my decision. We gave them every tool they could need. We gave them every chance to determine their own future. [What] we could not provide them, was the will to fight for that future. Afghanistan political leaders gave up and fled the country.

Biden continued, If anything, the developments of the past week reinforce that ending U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan now was the right decision. American troops cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves.

On the nation building tangent, former U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mike Jason writes in The Atlantic magazine that for two decades, the U.S. military was tasked with building an Afghan national police force, something it was ill-equipped to accomplish. Theres a huge difference between military and police departments. We didnt fight a 20-year war in Afghanistan; we fought 20 incoherent wars, one year at a time, without a sense of direction, he said of U.S. military trainers who were deployed for a year.

It had been 7,252 days since the U.S. launched Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

As for Sgt. McQueary, his 2,448 comrades and 3,846 U.S. contractors who did not walk out of Afghanistan alive, the echoes of history find President Lincoln on the Gettysburg battlefield: It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.

Brian Howey is publisher of Howey Politics Indiana at www.howeypolitics.com
Nicholas Brendon has been arrested for allegedly using false information to obtain prescription drugs.

The former 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' actor - who played Xander Harris throughout the show's entire run from 1997 to 2003 - has been charged with prescription fraud and was being held at the Vigo County Jail.

He has since been released, and the 50-year-old actor jail records obtained by TMZ show he has also been charged with a misdemeanour for allegedly not properly identifying himself to police.

It's claimed he showed officers a California ID bearing the name Kelton Schultz, who he said was his brother.

Although Brendon does have an identical twin, his name is Kelly Donovan.

It's not yet known if he's entered a plea on either of the two charges.

On August 18, he was pulled over by police in Terre Haute after he allegedly failed to signal and was serving.

According to the report, he "appeared nervous due to a visibly racing pulse on his neck and shaking hands".

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After searching the car, officers found one pill bottle with medication prescribed to him, and another for amphetamine salts prescribed to Kelton Schultz.

The actor has also been serving a three-year probation service after he pleaded guilty last year to domestic battery for an alleged domestic altercation with his girlfriend.

And in 2015, Brendon pleaded guilty to criminal mischief after allegedly grabbing his girlfriend, stealing her car keys and smashing her phone.

That year, he was arrested four times and went checked into rehab in the summer to receive treatment for substance abuse, depression and alcoholism.

Then, in the October, he once again went into rehab and thanked his fans for their "love and support".

He said at the time: "Well my beautiful people I'm off to Florida for 90 days of treatment.

"I love you all so much and I truly do appreciate all of your love and support. We're going to beat this.

"#kickingdepressionintheballsack #loveyou #huglife (sic)"
Press Release

August 24, 2021 Drilon urges Congress to curb wasteful gov't spending, trim budget of security sector in favor of social services Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon vowed to root out wasteful and unnecessary government spending in the proposed P5.024-trillion 2022 national budget to ease the impact of the mounting national debt and expanding budget deficit. "The rising outstanding national debt, which is to be paid out of the taxpayers' money, calls for a need to eliminate unnecessary items in the budget. We need to get rid of the fat in the national budget. We must trim the bloated spending for the security sector next year so that we can ease the impact of the mounting debt and deficit on our national coffers," Drilon said on Tuesday. "While this rising debt is something we cannot avoid because of the pandemic, what we can do is to make sure that every centavo that we allocate is spent judiciously. There is no room for inefficiency. There is no excuse for underspending and delays," Drilon said. "The enormous debt is alarming. We are approaching the red alert zone for our debt and that can affect our financial standing. However, we can tolerate it as long as it goes to our pandemic response and it is used for the much-needed ayuda for our countrymen," Drilon said. Drilon said that it would be up to Congress, where the power of the purse lies, to trim the excess fats and unnecessary spending in the budget such as the P28.1-billion anti-insurgency fund lodged under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). If the P28.1 billion and similar programs are deleted from the budget, it can help lower the borrowings and the deficit gap, Drilon said. "We can remove this item or channel the funds to ayuda," he added. "Given our limited resources, we must prioritize ayuda over NTF-ELCAC. We must cut funding for the security sector in favor of the social services sector." Drilon also cited the government's confidential and intelligence funds worth billions of pesos as among the items that can be reduced in order to save money. The Philippines' outstanding debt has grown exponentially due to increased borrowings to fund the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted. Drilon had earlier said that the next administration will face a hefty debt burden on top of a shrinking Philippine economy due to the pandemic. Based on several budget documents submitted by the Department of Budget and Management, the government expects to breach the 60% ideal debt-to-GDP ratio in 2022. It is expected to reach P11.73 trillion by the end of 2021 and further rise to P13.42 trillion by the end of 2022. To finance the P5.024-trillion spending outlay for 2022, an election year, the government plans to borrow P2.47 trillion, smaller than the P3.07 trillion borrowings in 2021, Drilon noted.
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August 24, 2021 SENATE RATIFIES BICAM REPORT ON BILL IMPOSING HIGHER PENALTIES FOR PERJURY The Senate ratified on Monday the Bicameral Conference Committee Report of the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 1354 and House Bill No. 8268 or "An Act Increasing the Penalties for Perjury, Amending for the Purpose Articles 183 and 184 of Act No. 3815, As Amended, Otherwise Known as "The Revised Penal Code." Senator Dick Gordon, Chairman of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, and primary author and sponsor of SBN 1354, said the higher penalties meted for perjury proposed in his bill would deter people from committing the crime. "The penalties we proposed are already sufficient to ensure that the intention of our bill is achieved. With the higher penalties, the crime would no longer be covered by the Probation Law. We also made sure that we do not give a harsher penalty outside of the court so that we won't end up imposing harsher penalties outside of judicial proceedings," he said. Under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code, the current penalty for the crime of perjury is arresto mayor in its maximum period (4 months and 1 day to 6 months) to prision correccional in its minimum period (6 months and 1 day to 2 years and 4 months). Under the proposed measure, perjury will now be punishable with prision mayor in its minimum period (from 6 years and 1 day to 8 years) to its medium period (from 8 years and 1 day to 10 years). The duration of the penalties of prision mayor and temporary disqualification shall be from six years and one day to twelve years, except when the penalty of disqualification is imposed as an accessory penalty, in which case its duration shall be that of the principal penalty. The measure also proposed to impose a fine not exceeding P1-million if the person responsible for the commission of the felony is a public officer or employee and perpetual absolute disqualification from holding any appointive or elective position in the government or in any agency, entity or instrumentality. "The higher penalties would be sufficient to deter the commission of perjury and create a culture of truth telling. Kapatid ng magnanakaw ang sinungaling At kapag ikaw ay nasa gobyerno, mas malaki ang parusa," Gordon said. SBN 1354 was approved on second reading on May 13, 2020.
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August 24, 2021 Lacson Bill Pushes Better Benefits for Retired DFA Career Officials More at: https://pinglacson.net/2021/08/24/lacson-bill-pushes-better-benefits-for-retired-dfa-career-officials/ Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson took the cudgels for retired career officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as he pushed for an increase in their monthly pension and disability benefits, in exchange for their long years of looking after the welfare of Filipinos and the interests of the Philippines abroad. Lacson, in filing Senate Bill 2347, lamented that some of our DFA retirees were receiving a measly pension despite rendering long years of service at the frontlines of Philippine foreign relations, at times risking their lives under dangerous conditions in their countries of assignment. "Personnel of the DFA are at the frontlines of Philippine foreign relations, sometimes risking their lives under dangerous conditions in their countries of assignment. While in active service, diplomats have demonstrated their resilience as the Philippines' first line of representation in dealing with a plethora of concerns. Their initiative, competence, professionalism, and creativity have resulted in enduring bilateral and multilateral partnerships, strategic agreements and collaborative engagements that continue to be harnessed for our people's benefits," he said. The bill therefore aims to provide both present and future retirees of the foreign service "support that is adequate and responsive to their needs, and to reassure them that their dedication and loyalty to the Filipino people is not forgotten." Lacson, who chairs the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Commission on Appointments, made the call for better benefits after meeting recently with retired Ambassador Raul Hernandez, who is now the Assistant Secretary of the DFA's Department Legislative Liaison Unit (DLLU). Senate Bill 2347 applies to retired officers or employees of the DFA who have served in the DFA for at least 15 years and are eligible to receive monthly pensions from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). Under the bill, the monthly pension benefits of all retirees of the DFA as provided under Republic Act 7157 shall be automatically adjusted at the same rate as any future or subsequent increase in the salary grade of the same rank he or she retired from.
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August 24, 2021 Senators denounce revival of PMVICs The Senate on Tuesday ratified a resolution denouncing the revival of the Department of Transportation's (DOTr) order which requires the mandatory testing of motor vehicles by private motor vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs). A resolution filed by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Grace Poe, "strongly" condemned the revival of the DOTr's Department Order No. 2018-019 "in blatant disregard of the recommendations outlined in Committee Report No. 184, as adopted by the Senate, and in violation of President Duterte's directive to make the system non-mandatory for motorists in the process of car registration." The DOTr immediately ordered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to temporarily hold the implementation of the memorandum. The Senate Committee on Public Services, chaired by Poe, has recommended the repeal of the department order and all accompanying issuances delegating the Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) to private operators. Committee Report No. 184, which was adopted by the Senate on March 1, 2021, cited the need for such to go through the normal legislative process inherent in the power of Congress. Earlier, at the height of the investigation, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that the inspection of vehicles by PMVICs shall no longer be a mandatory requirement for the renewal of the registration of motor vehicles. However, on July 5, 2021, the DOTr issued Memorandum Circular No.-SC-2021-02, or the implementation of Geographical Area of Responsibility (GAOR) for the inspection of vehicles as a requirement for the renewal of vehicle registration, "thus cutting short the reprieve granted to the motorists and members of transport groups," the resolution stated. MC-SC-2021-02 reinstates the testing by PMVICs "as a requirement for the registration of motorcycles and light vehicles in areas within the GAOR of a PMVIC by providing for the following: (1) In areas where the LTO district offices (DOs) and/or extension offices (EOs) are within the GAOR of a PMVIC, the inspection shall be conducted by the PMVIC; (2) The DOs and EOs may only accept motor vehicle inspection reports (MVIRs) from the PMVICs within their GAOR for processing of the renewal of registration of light vehicles and motorcycles; (3) DOs and EOs within the GAOR of a PMVIC shall only accept emission test results from PETCs for heavy vehicles; and (4) Only the second and third provisions of DoTr MC-SC-2021-01 shall continue to be in full force and effect." The resolution stated that this issuance "runs counter to the recommendations of the Committee Report adopted by the Senate and the previous declaration of the Office of the President." Poe, in a privilege speech, urged the DOTr "to listen to the people on the ground" as she presented video clips showing the long lines in a PMVIC in Pangasinan and people protesting against the implementation of the policy. She noted that the long lines, the lack of social distancing and the added expenses in this time of a pandemic were some of the problems motorists have to face due the implementation of the order. "Mr. President, I hope our colleagues in the government would be more sensitive in this time when many of our people are having difficulties," Poe said in Filipino. Drilon, for his part, recommended the adoption of a resolution. "May I so move that this particular practice of inspection being conducted continuously by the LTO (Land Transportation Office) despite the sentiment of the Senate and the instructions of the President be condemned in the strongest possible terms," Drilon said. Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go urged Transportation Sec. Arthur Tugade to explain why the DOTr has implemented the department order despite a Senate recommendation to repeal the order and an instruction from the President to halt its implementation. "The bottom line here is we are in the midst of a pandemic. The situation is different now. Let us not make it hard for our countrymen," Go said. He said motorists had to travel as far as 150 kilometers to have their vehicles tested since it is a requirement before a car registration could be renewed. Sen. Joel Villanueva said the department order should not be implemented since the issues raised during the hearing, such as the cost of testing, access to test centers and the selection process of PMVIC concessionaires, were not addressed by the LTO. Interpellating Poe, Sen. Richard Gordon, pointed out that the legal bases for issuing DO 2018-019 (were) the Clean Air Act and the need to ensure the road worthiness of a vehicle. However, Gordon observed that the DOTR was playing favorites when it accredited (a) few testing centers, prompting the people to queue in long lines while others had to travel long distance to get their vehicles tested. "That is really oppressive for the people. The DOTr failed to live to its purpose. It appears that what the department was doing is not in pursuit of equal opportunities but opportunities for the few," Gordon said.
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August 24, 2021 'Pasa-buy' scheme in gov't procurement created 'two mega parking lots' for funds The institutionalization of "pasa-buy" in government purchases has transformed two agencies into "mega parking lots of funds" which, despite years-long delays in delivering the goods and projects they were contracted to buy, still raked in hundreds of millions in commissions. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) and the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC), a Department of Trade and Industry-attached agency, owe government agencies at least P63.1 billion. This represented "unutilized deposits and advance payments of government agencies", Recto said. "Ang ibig sabihin niyan ay may bilyones na pambili ng mga gamit o proyekto na hindi pa nagagamit ng PS-DBM at ng PITC," Recto said. The P63.1 billion is almost evenly split by the two "pasa-buy agencies," Recto said, "with PITC accounting for P31.54 billion and the PS-DBM, P31.56 billion. Recto said the two agencies "have become last minute dumping grounds of about-to-expire allotments of agencies." "Hindi naman procurement expertise ang dahilan kung bakit sila napapasahan ng pondo. Ang totoong dahilan ay upang huwag abutan ng deadline at mapaso ang mga pondo ng mga ahenysa," Recto said. "Once an agency transfers the funds for a particular project to PITC or PS-DBM, the funds are deemed obligated. Parang committed na. And this prevents the funds from being returned to the Treasury," Recto said. This makes the two agencies "sanctuaries which extend the life of funds about to expire," he said. "In short, we are deluding ourselves with the fiction that the funds are obligated when they are not. It circumvents the provision in the national budget that appropriations must be spent within the fiscal year," he said. Recto explained that appropriations have been designed by Congress "to be perishable" so that agencies will spend them promptly. "Ang nangyari, parang cryogenic chambers itong PS-DBM at PITC that deep freezes funds," Recto said. "At ganun nga nangyari, kasi yung PITC halimbawa, mayroon pang P355 million worth of goods and projects to be delivered out of orders made in 2016," Recto said. "Yung RITM building na may project cost na P864 million, 2017 na-transfer ang pondo, last March lang ang opening of bids," he said. The same delays plague subcontracted procurements to PS-DBM, Recto said. "So the mystery is, if PS-DBM has been plagued with delays in the delivery of goods, if it has this huge backlog of deliverables, then why would the Department of Health contract them to buy things we urgently need to defeat the pandemic?" Recto asked. Recto said "it also boggles the mind on why agencies would surrender their funds to a small agency which do not have the expertise to vet highly technical purchases." "Trains, planes and ships have been procured by DBM, which is way over their head as they are more familiar with common-use office supplies like paper and pen," Recto said. In 2020, PITC booked an income of P199.8 million, of which P137 million came from outsourced procurement. PS-DBM's 2020 revenue on the other hand reached P1.02 billion, with sales accounting for P877 million and service fees as procuring agent contributing P21.6 million.
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August 24, 2021 Villanueva: Senate rushing bill protecting freelancers, gig economy workers from abuse, exploitation The Senate is rushing legislation that will put a "mantle of protection" over some 1.5 million freelancers and gig economy workers whose numbers ballooned during the pandemic. Senator Joel Villanueva, the labor committee chair who is spearheading the codification of their rights, said freelancers are the most vulnerable from abuse and exploitation. Part of the reason, he explained, is "the gaping hole in our laws that have yet to assign rights to "this new class of workers." Current labor laws, he said, were written ages before app-based food delivery and courier riders, home-based creative workers, and work-on-demand professionals came to being. "Historically, laws always play catch-up with technology. In the case of freelancers, laws that protect them are way behind the curve," Villanueva said. He said there is a "huge vacuum to be filled on protection entitlements that these workers should receive." The Constitution, he said, mandates that rights of workers be upheld. "That call is universal. It does not discriminate as to what kind of workers." One important rule that must be set refers to the health and safety of gig economy workers. "Isa po rito ang mga riders natin na kahit umulan at bumagyo o laganap ang iba't-ibang variant ng COVID ay parang may oras na hinahabol. Dahil may quota na hinahabol at multang iniiwasan, malapit po sila sa disgrasya o pagkahawa," Villanueva said. The Freelancers Protection Act that Villanueva authored and sponsored defines freelancer as a "person who renders a task, work or service through his or her freely chosen means and methods, free from any forms of economic dependence, control or supervision by the clients, regardless of whether they are paid by results, piece, task, hour, day, job or by the nature of the service required." Among the rights proposed under the Villanueva measure, or Senate Bill No. 1810, are: Just compensation and equal remuneration for work of equal value without manipulation or distinction of any kind;

Safe and healthy working conditions;

Self-organization and to collectively negotiate with the government, client and other entities for the promotion of their welfare and in advancement of their rights and interests;

Protections against any form of discrimination, violence, sexual harassment, and abuse;

Affordable and adequate financial services; and

Social protection and social welfare benefits. The bill also mandates payment for work done not later than 30 days from completion of tasks. Villanueva said, "we are also putting in ironclad guarantees against contract alterations, especially the arbitrary reduction of fees." While the Philippines is a hotspot for freelance work, with freelancers expected to form the majority of the labor force in 10 years, "the DOLE is at a loss of how to treat them," Villanueva said. In one of the Senate hearings, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III admitted that there is no law extending labor protection to freelancers and self-employed professionals. Three in four freelancers belong to the 24-39 years age group, and two out of three are women, Villanueva explained.
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Russia signed a deal Monday to develop military cooperation between the two countries, Arab News reports, citing the deputy Defense ministry of the Gulf country, Prince Khalid bin Salman.

Prince Khalid signed the deal with his Russian counterpart Colonel General Alexander Fomin on the sidelines of the ongoing International Military-Technical Forum (ARMY 2021). We discussed our common endeavor to preserve stability and security in the region, and reviewed shared challenges facing our countries, Prince Khalid Tweeted after the meeting. ARMY 2021 kicked off on Monday and runs until Saturday.
A tea farmer was arraigned at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi for pocketing money sent to him by mistake.

Late last year, Josphat Keire Abere received Sh36,000 from Victoria Commercial Bank Limited in Nairobi.

According to a police report, the amount was part of Sh127, 613 that Ecoline Energy Ltd had requested Victoria Commercial Bank to deposit in the Mpesa accounts of their employees.

The bulk Mpesa totalling to Sh127,613 was processed and accredited to various Mpesa accounts as listed in the email by their client, a police statement read.

However, on November 9, 2020, Ecoline wrote to the bank complaining that one of its employees had not received the money.

The bank established it had wired Sh36000 to a wrong M-Pesa number and upon requesting a reversal from Abere, Safaricom notified the lender that the money had already been withdrawn.

Abera is also said to have switched off his phone, but he was later traced and arrested.

Appearing before Milimani Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi, the farmer pleaded guilty to using Sh36,000 from Victoria Commercial Bank.

He pleaded with the court to allow him to pay the bank Sh2000 monthly until he clears the full amount.

Magistrate Andayi rejected his plea saying the amount was little. He ordered a pre-sentencing report to be filed in court on August 27, 2021, before sentencing the suspect.

According to Section 35 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, Abere is facing a Sh200,000 fine or a two-year jail term, or both.
Individuals found urinating, spitting, or blowing their nose without a handkerchief in public within Nairobi County will be fined between Sh10,000 and Sh500,000.

This follows the signing into law of the Nairobi City County Public Nuisance Bill, 2021. The Bill was fronted by Riruta MCA James Kiriba and assented by Acting Nairobi Governor Ann Kananu.

The new rules and regulations are aimed at keeping Nairobi clean and hygienic, with violators also risking imprisonment of between six to 12 months.

Other misdemeanors include sleeping in kitchens or food stores, defecating in the open, lighting fires without authorization from the County Secretary, riding motorcycles or driving on footpaths, playing loud music, and smoking in undesignated places.

The law also prohibits washing, repairing, or dismantling any vehicle except in the case of an emergency, within the Nairobi CBD.

It also seeks to penalize the discharge of dirty water, sewer or effluent into streets or water channels, discharge of oils into roads or water channels, and obstruction of roads or streets.

Nairobi residents are also prohibited from allowing trees and hedges in their homes or places of work to obstruct streets or footpaths.

Kananu urged Nairobi residents to familiarize themselves with the new law.

Nairobi is the face of Kenya. We all need a clean and hygienic environment to live and work in, she said.

The objective of this Law is to provide for the control of public nuisance and empower the county to take all lawful necessary and reasonably practicable measures for the maintenance of the county at all times in a clean and sanitary condition, Kananu added.
Political wheeler-dealer turned presidential aspirant Jimmy Wanjigi is confident that he will beat Raila Odinga to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) presidential ticket.

The businessman says he is ready to compete with his party leader at the primaries ahead of the 2022 General Elections.

Speaking on Sunday, Wanjigi said ODM is not Railas personal party, and hence, he is not guaranteed a presidential ticket.

ODM is a national party that was started by many people among them President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto and Wiper Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka among others and not Odingas personal outfit, he said at the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Ndarugu in Nakuru Town West.

Odinga is my good friend and I want to tell him now that I will beat him at the nominations, it is time for a new crop of leaders, he added.

According to Wanjigi, Kenya needs a third liberation that cannot be attained by people he termed as recycled and tired leaders.

Kenya had its first liberation during colonisation and those leaders had their times of 30 years, the second liberation started in 1992 and that too has taken another phase of 30 years and the people who led the nation for that period have nothing to offer, he said.

The country has faced a myriad of challenges among them impunity and corruption which have stagnated economic growth, Wanjigi added.
According to information published by Tass on August 23, 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a command via a video conference to lay six combat ships for the Russian Navy at three shipyards.

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Vladimir Putin, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, and Deputy Defence Minister Alexei Krivoruchko at the keel-laying online ceremony for the Russian Navy's new warships (Picture source: Kremlin)

He launched the construction of combat ships at the shipyards located in Severodvinsk, St. Petersburg and Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The Russian president gave the keel-laying command from the Patriot Park in Kubinka outside Moscow where Army-2021 international military-technical forum opened.

Two strategic nuclear-powered submarines have been laid by Sevmash Shipyard in northwestern Russia, two corvettes by Amur Shipyard in the Russian Far East and two Varshavyanka-class conventional subs by Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg.

The keel-laying plaques have been installed on the nuclear-powered submarines the Dmitry Donskoy and the Knyaz Potemkin at Sevmash Shipyard, the submarines Mozhaisk and Yakutsk (the fifth and sixth subs in a series of six projects 636.3 diesel-electric submarines for the Russian Pacific Fleet) at Admiralty Shipyard, and the Project 20380 (Gremyashchiy-class) Grozny and the Buiny corvettes at Amur Shipyard.

Russia will continue to develop the Navy and its infrastructure. The warships will be armed with the latest weapons. In the coming years we have to do major work and implement the arms procurement order to raise the share of modern warships in the Navy to 70 percent by 2027, Putin said.

The Knyaz Potemkin and the Dmitry Donskoy are the fifth and sixth SSBN of project 955A. The Navy operates the Yuri Dolgoruky, the Alexander Nevsky and the Vladimir Monomakh SSBN of project 955 and the Knyaz Vladimir of project 955A.

Sevmash is building the Knyaz Oleg, the Generalissimo Suvorov, Emperor Alexander III, the Knyaz Pozharsky SSBN. The Knyaz Oleg is to join the Navy in late 2021. The Navy has to receive a total of ten SSBN of projects 955 and 955A.

The contract for the construction of six diesel-electric submarines of project 636.3 for the Pacific fleet was signed with Admiralty Shipyard in September 2016. The Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky joined the Navy on November 25, 2019. The Volkhov second submarine followed on October 24, 2020. The Magadan third submarine is to join the Navy this year. The Ufa fourth sub is to be floated in late 2021. The whole series of six diesel-electric submarines is to be ready by 2024.

In late 2020, the Defense Ministry signed a contract with Amur Shipyard for the construction of projects 20380 and 20385 corvettes. The Pacific fleet is to get two projects 20380 corvettes and four projects 20385 ships in 2024-2028.

The Gremyashchiy is the Project 20385 type guided missile corvette. The ship was laid down at the Northern Shipyard on February 1, 2012, and was launched in June 2017. The naval platform is intended for the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy. Project 20385 is armed with an eight-cell 3S-14 vertical launch system that fires Kalibr (SS-N-27 Sizzler), Otvet, and Oniks (SS-N-26 Strobile) guided missiles. The surface combatants are also armed with the Redut surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems (16 cells).

The Project 20385 corvette is designed for strike missions and anti-submarine warfare. The ship has a displacement of 2,500 t, a length of 106 m, a width of 13 m, a speed of 27 knots, a range of 4,000 nautical miles, and a crew of 99 servicemen. The ship is armed with an A-190-01 100 m naval gun, two AK-630M close-in weapon systems, the Kalibr missile system, the Redut surface-to-air missiles, the Paket anti-submarine warfare system, and Kamov Ka-27 (Helix-A) naval rotorcraft.
The newly developed Close-in AirDefense System (CIADS), LEVENT; by Roketsan represents the first stage in the development of a new system and new missile solutions aimed at meeting the close-in air defence needs of Turkish Navy. The system follows in the footsteps of the SUNGUR System, which was developed to address the needs of land elements. After entering mass production, SUNGUR has performed well and achieved considerable successes in its land vehicle applications.

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Close-in Air Defense System (CIADS) Levent (Picture source: Roketsan)

The prototype production of Turkish-Type Fast Attack Craft (FAC) will take place in the 30-month period following the completion of design studies carried out over an initial 24-month period, in accordance with a contract signed between the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) of the Republic of Turkey and STM in August 2020. The contract called for a Close-In Weapon System weapon configuration for the FAC.

LEVENT will be able to operate autonomously or in integration with the vessels sensor systems and will be developed in line with the FAC schedule in accordance with the requirements of the Turkish Naval Forces Command.

The system to be developed will be a product of Roketsans accumulated knowledge in air defence missile systems, its technological infrastructure and its acquired subsystem technologies. The system will include the national and indigenous sensor technologies (seeker heads, RF sensors, proximity sensors) that have been developed in earlier air defence projects, and will work at high supersonic speeds and with a high level of effectiveness at long ranges, in particular against surface targets.

The CIADS will have the necessary infrastructure for launching SUNGUR missiles, in addition to close-in air defence missiles. The ability to launch a variety of missiles from a single platform will provide a noteworthy boost to the firepower and flexibility of the Turkish Naval Forces Command.

LEVENT, developed by Roketsan will offer manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic modes. The integration and usage concept of the system will develop in line with the requirements of Turkish Naval Forces Command, and system solutions developed in this respect will allow for integration with the onboard combat management system, separate launch consoles, or both options simultaneously.
According to information published by the Philippine News Agency on August 24, 2021, BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), the Philippine Navy's new guided-missile frigate, has joined two Indian Navy ships in a maritime exercise at the West Philippine Sea.

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Guided-missile destroyer INS Ranvijay from BRP Antonio Luna frigate (Picture source: Philippine Navy)

The BRP Antonio Luna, guided-missile destroyer INS Ranvijay (D-55) and guided-missile corvette INS Kora (P-61) performed several operational maneuvers off the northwestern coast of Palawan.

The Indian Navy ships were deployed to improve maritime security coordination with partner nations such as the Philippines which India has had a long-standing relationship for 72 years.

Since 1998, regular visits by Indian navy vessels to the Philippines have highlighted the two maritime nation-states' defense cooperation.

The exercise was conducted in a contactless manner in compliance with the prevailing pandemic guidelines and health and safety protocols were strictly observed.

INS Kora is the lead ship of the Kora-Class of Corvettes in active service with the Indian Navy.

The corvettes are armed with a 76 mm (3.0 in) AK-176 dual-purpose gun and two 30 mm (1.2 in) AK-630 CIWS. The Ak-176 can fire at the rate of 120 rounds-per-minute (RPM) to a range of 15.5 km (9.6 mi), while the AK-630 can fire 3,000RPM to a range of 2 km (1.2 mi).

The Kora class is powered by two diesel engines driving two controllable pitch propellers through two shafts. Each engine is rated at 7,100 horsepower (5,300 kW). Four diesel alternators rated at 350kW are provided for power generation. The propulsion system provides a top speed of 25 kn (46 km/h; 29 mph), an average speed of 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph) and a maximum range of 4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi).
According to information published by the U.S. Navy on August 23, 2021, USS America (LHA 6), the Navys only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship, conducted a bilateral fueling-at-sea (FAS) with the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender (D36) while operating with elements of the HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) Carrier Strike Group (CSG-21) in the Philippine Sea.

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Type 45 guided-missile destroyer HMS Defender (D36) and America-class amphibious assault ship USS America LHA 6 (Picture source: U.S. Navy)

This is the first time in history a U.S. amphibious ship has conducted a FAS with a British warship, and the third time America has refueled a partner nation at sea this summer.

Demonstrating a sustainment capacity unique to its class of amphibious assault ships, America refueled the Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat (FFH 155) on July 27 during Talisman Sabre 21. A little more than a week later on Aug. 7, America consecutively refueled Ballarat and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Makinami (DD 112).

America, flagship of the America Expeditionary Strike Group, along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners, and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The HMS Defender (D36) is the fifth of Type 45 or Daring-class air-defence destroyers built for the Royal Navy. She is the eighth ship to bear the name. Construction of Defender began in 2006, and she was launched in 2009. The ship completed her first sea trials in OctoberNovember 2011 and was commissioned during March 2013.

The Daring-class guided-missile destroyers or Type 45 are primarily designed for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare and are built around the PAAMS (Sea Viper) air-defense system utilizing the SAMPSON AESA and the S1850M long-range radars.

The Type 45 destroyers are 152.4 m in length, with a beam of 21.2 m, a draught of 7.4 m, and a displacement of approximately 8,500 tones.

The Type 45 destroyer is equipped with the Sea Viper (PAAMS) air-defense system utilizing the SAMPSON active electronically scanned array multi-function radar and the S1850M long-range radar. PAAMS is able to track over 2,000 targets and simultaneously control and coordinate multiple missiles in the air at once, allowing a large number of tracks to be intercepted and destroyed at any given time.
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Investigators seek arrest of ex-owners of Promsvyazbank in absentia in new fraud case

 RAPSI, Eugeny Varlamov

12:41 24/08/2021

MOSCOW, August 24 (RAPSI)  Investigators have filed a motion with Moscows Tverskoy District Court seeking to arrest ex-owners of Promsvyazbank Alexey Ananyev and his brother Dmitry in absentia as part of a new fraud case launched against them, according to court records.

The hearing date has not been scheduled yet.

The brothers have been charged with large-scale fraud. According to investigators, they were involved in the illegal siphoning off assets worth nearly 6.7 billion rubles (over $90 million) from the bank.

In September 2019, Moscows Basmanny District Court arrested the men in absentia on embezzlement charges.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on August 24, 2021

2021/08/24

At the invitation of India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Yang Jiechi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, will attend the 11th BRICS Meeting of National Security Advisors on August 24 via video link.

Phoenix TV: We noticed that G7 leaders will discuss the crisis in Afghanistan by video conference on August 24. It is reported that the UK will push leaders to consider new sanctions on the Taliban at the meeting. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: Afghanistan is an independent sovereign country. The US and its allies should learn from the past experience, and deeply reflect upon and act prudently on Afghanistan-related issues. The international community should encourage and work for the positive developments of the Afghan situation, support peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan, and help the nation to improve people's livelihood and enhance its ability to achieve self-development. Wantonly slapping sanctions and exerting pressure solves no problem and will only be counterproductive.

China holds that while promoting steady transition of Afghan situation and reconstruction, it is necessary for the international community to consider how to prevent such acts as military intervention in other countries under the pretext of democracy from happening again. We should not allow the tragedy that Afghan people and the international community, regional countries in particular, to pay for the mistake made by certain country to happen again.

Xinhua News Agency: China-SCO Forum on the Digital Economy Industry opened in Chongqing on August 23. Could you give us more details on the forum?

Wang Wenbin: China-SCO Forum on the Digital Economy Industry and the 2021 Smart China Expo opened in Chongqing on August 23. China attaches great importance to the high-level forum on digital economy, the first of its kind hosted by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the forum and expo, pointing out that in an era of rapid development of digital economy, new technologies, new forms of business and new platforms such as 5G, artificial intelligence and smart city are emerging and exerting profound influence on global technological innovation, industrial structural adjustment and socioeconomic development. In recent years, China actively promotes digital industrialization and industrial digitization, in an effort to facilitate the deep integration of digital technologies and socioeconomic development. President Xi stressed that as the SCO celebrates its 20th anniversary, China is ready to work with all SCO members to carry forward the "Shanghai spirit", get deeply involved in international cooperation on digital economy, and allow digitization, Internet and smart technologies to lend impetus to economic and social development, so as to open up a new prospect for cooperation on digital economy.

The theme of this forum is "promoting the digital economy for common prosperity". Liu He, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the opening ceremony and delivered an address through video link. Wan Gang, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attended the opening ceremony in Chongqing. Political leaders from SCO member states, the SCO Secretary-General, China-based diplomatic envoys and representatives from the business community of relevant countries attended the forum online and offline.

Since it was founded 20 years ago, the SCO has upheld the purpose of safeguarding regional security and stability and promoting shared development. It has maintained the momentum of sound and steady development and played an important and constructive role in international and regional affairs. China stands ready to work with all sides to consolidate our good-neighborly friendship and political trust, address regional security threats and challenges, deepen economic, cultural and people-to-people cooperation and strive for greater development of the SCO at a new starting point.

CCTV: About the 11th BRICS Meeting of National Security Advisors, I wonder what China expects from it?

Wang Wenbin: The BRICS Meeting of National Security Advisors is an important platform for the five countries to strengthen political security cooperation. The 11th meeting is a major event leading up to the BRICS Summit to be held later this year. National security advisors of the five countries will hold in-depth exchange of views to reach broad consensus on the global, regional and international security landscape and cooperation in such fields as health, law enforcement, counter-terrorism and cyber security.

China attaches high importance to this meeting. We look forward to working together with other BRICS members for a fruitful meeting with the guidance of leaders of the five countries to further deepen BRICS strategic mutual trust and cooperation in political security. We hope all five members will jointly deal with conventional and non-conventional security challenges, safeguard our security and development interests, promote world peace and stability, and foster a favorable atmosphere for the Summit to be held next month.

Bloomberg: In a speech on Tuesday, US vice President Kamala Harris said that "Beijing's actions continue to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations." She also added that "our engagement in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific is not against any one country, nor is it designed to make anyone choose between countries". Does the foreign ministry have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: What is happening in Afghanistan clearly reveals the US definition of "rules" and "order". The US can arbitrarily launch military intervention in a country without shouldering the responsibility for the suffering of the people in the relevant country; it gets to decide when it wants to come and leave without consulting the international community, not even its allies; it can wantonly smear, suppress, coerce and bully other countries for the sake of "America First" without paying any price. This is the kind of order that the US wants. It always tries to defend its selfishness and bullying and hegemonic actions by citing "rules" and "order". But how many people would actually buy it?

Prasar Bharati: What kind of role do you see for BRICS as a group in context of the current scenario in Afghanistan and also in the context of today's BRICS NSA meeting?

Wang Wenbin: The current situation in Afghanistan is evolving, driven mainly by internal factors. External factors can play a role, but only through internal ones. China hopes that various multilateral mechanisms will be sensitive, balanced and professional in dealing with the Afghan issue, and play a constructive role, with an aim to promote early smooth transition of Afghan situation and help the nation to embark on a path of peace, stability and development at an early date.

As for the second question, I gave the answer just now.

China Daily: During her visit in Singapore, the US Vice President Kamala Harris stated that the US is willing to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2023. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: The Chinese side has noted relevant reports. APEC is an important economic cooperation forum in the Asia-Pacific region that follows the principle of consensus through consultation. China is ready to maintain communication with APEC members including the US.

Global Times: According to the Mercury News, the first COVID-19 death in the US may have occurred in January 2020, earlier than the official record. Do you have any comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: I noted the report. As we've been saying, the timeline of the COVID-19 outbreak in the US has been constantly revised to earlier dates. The mayor of Belleville, New Jersey, who has tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, said he was sick with the virus in November 2019, over two months earlier than the first confirmed case in the US and also earlier than the first case reported in China. According to the US NIH website, research has shown that evidence of infection in five states appeared back in December 2019. A joint study by UCLA and the University of Washington concluded, "A significantly higher number of patients with respiratory complaints and diseases starting in late December 2019 and continuing through February 2020 suggests community spread of SARS-CoV-2 prior to established clinical awareness and testing capabilities". Besides, many media reports have shown that as EVALI broke out in July 2019 in Wisconsin and swept through other states, CT scans of patients' lungs show white patches with ground glass opacity, highly similar to the symptoms of COVID-19. These cases in the US show that COVID-19 seem to have multiple origins and emerged in different localities. These features merit close attention and careful study.

However, it is baffling that while the US accuses China of lacking transparency in origins research and spreading disinformation, it has been reticent and elusive on the origins study and stonewalling and obstructing relevant work itself. As revealed by US media The Palm Beach Post and Miami Herald, Florida's Department of Health website originally showed the data of 171 patients who had coronavirus symptoms or positive test results in January and February 2020, but the data was once mysteriously removed.

Similarly, in a study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases in November 2020, the US CDC researchers tested blood samples from routine blood donations from December 13, 2019 to January 17, 2020 and found SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 106 of 7,389 blood donors. And then guess what? This project on origins study was halted by senior US officials, and a great number of blood samples were sealed.

We have invited WHO experts to China twice for origins research. Together with their Chinese colleagues, they have compiled an authoritative joint report. We urge the US to stop the clumsy trick of shifting blames to smear and denigrate China, disclose and test data of early cases at home as soon as possible and invite WHO experts to conduct origins research in the US as soon as possible so as to give the international community and the American people an explanation based on science and justice.

Yonhap News Agency: Today marks the 29th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Republic of Korea and the year 2022 will mark the 30th anniversary. Do you have any comment on the bilateral relationship? Many people in the ROK are following closely on when President Xi Jinping will visit the ROK. Do you have more information on that?

Wang Wenbin: China and the Republic of Korea are and will remain close neighbors. The two countries are each other's important cooperation partners. China and the ROK enjoy sound relations. The upcoming 30th anniversary in 2022 will present important opportunities to deepen the bilateral ties. China is ready to work with the ROK to enhance mutual trust, friendship and cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional issues, and move forward the China-ROK relationship.

Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in promoting China-ROK relations. The two countries are keeping close communication on that.

CCTV: According to reports, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on August 23 that the report on the origins of COVID-19 to be submitted by the US intelligence community as ordered by President Biden will be concluded on August 24. Psaki also said that it typically takes a couple of days "to put together an unclassified version to present publicly". Do you have any comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: As you all know, in tracing the origins of COVID-19, we need science, not intelligence. Relying on the intelligence community for the origins study is in itself not scientific. The US intelligence community has a poor track record in history. It is impossible that it would draft the report based on facts and truth. This report will be nothing but a patchwork of so-called evidence based on predetermined conclusions, with the aim of shifting blames onto others. It is not credible at all.

The origins study requires solidarity, not efforts at framing others. The purpose of tracing the origins is to protect the lives and health of people in all countries, rather than to shift blames, suppress rivals and serve one's selfish interests.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the US has been politicizing the fight against the disease, resulting in more infections and deaths in the US than elsewhere. A heavy price is paid by the American people. Now, for ulterior political purposes, the US has resorted to its intelligence agencies for the so-called investigation of the origins of COVID-19, which has undermined international cooperation on origins study. This is widely questioned and opposed by the international community. We urge the US side to bear in mind the lives and health of its own people and people around the world, stop politicization and return to the track of science-based origins study at an early date.
HOLLYWOOD, Md.

(August 19, 2021)The County Times has obtained an audio recording that indicates there were a total of 15 bullets fired at Peyton Ham, the 16-year-old shot dead by a state trooper in Leonardtown on April 13.The recording also indicates that a total of 15 bullets were discharged in a period of one minute and seven seconds. During that period the trooper ceased firing at Ham for 57 seconds after the 11th shot before firing four additional shots.The County Times has shared the audio recording with the State's Attorney's Office and the family of Peyton Ham.Christopher Longmore, attorney for Peyton Ham's family, issued a statement on the family's reaction to the recording."The family is troubled and concerned by the information they have learned to date," Longmore told The County Times. "They are anxiously awaiting the conclusion of the State's Attorney's Office investigation to learn more about what happened that fateful day."The recording was taken at a residence off Hollywood Road and across from both the Leonardtown state police barrack and the site where Ham was shot, allegedly because he leveled what appeared to be a handgun at Tpr. Joseph Azzari who was responding to a 911 call about a suspicious person in the neighborhood with a gun.The state's attorney's office has said they are examining the recording. "I appreciate the neighbor sharing that recording with us, just as we appreciate all of the members of the community who are assisting in this critical work," said Deputy State's Attorney Daniel J. White, who has overseen the investigation.The timeline is based solely on the audio recording and shows the following: At 1:26:35 p.m. on April 13 the trooper begins firing his service weapon, a Glock 22 .40 caliber pistol, which has a magazine capacity of 15 rounds. At 1:26:39 p.m., the firing has stopped briefly after 10 shots; the shots were fired in five seconds. At 1:26:42 p.m., the recording shows the trooper fired shot number 11 three seconds after the initial salvo. Evidence markers from the scene indicated the officer moved about 9 to 12 feet closer to Ham before firing shot number 11. At 1:27:30 p.m., emergency sirens can be heard, 48 seconds after the 11th shot was fired. At 1:27:39 p.m., the officer opens fire again, firing four additional shots at close range, 57 seconds after shot number 11. The gunfire ended at 1:27:42 p.m.The gun Ham is alleged to have wielded turned out to be an airsoft pistol, which State's Attorney Richard Fritz said did not have a distinguishing orange-or-otherwise colored tip to show it was not a real firearm, in this case a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol.At a press conference the day of the shooting, held in front of the Leonardtown State Police barrack just yards from the site of the incident, State Police Superintendent Woodrow W. Jones III said they did not know how many rounds were fired.Ham is reported by state police to have dropped to the ground at some point during the incident, and then is alleged to have tried to get back up while holding a knife That knife was revealed to be a folding pocket knife with a blade length of approximately three inches.The state's attorney's investigative report has been delayed, Fritz has said, because the autopsy report from the state medical examiner's office on Ham's shooting is not yet completed.The county's chief prosecutor said he hopes to have his office's report released to the public by September.
An illustration of 2021 PH27s orbit, by Katherine Cain and Scott Sheppard, courtesy of the Carnegie Institution for Science. It is the fastest orbiting known asteroid. CREDIT Katherine Cain and Scott Sheppard, courtesy of the Carnegie Institution for Science.

The Sun has a new neighbor that was hiding in plain twilight.

An asteroid that orbits the Sun in just 113 days--the shortest known orbital period for an asteroid and second shortest for any object in our Solar System after Mercury--was discovered by Carnegie's Scott S. Sheppard in evening twilight images taken by Brown University's Ian Dell'Antonio and Shenming Fu.

The newfound asteroid, called 2021 PH27, is about 1 kilometer in size and is on an unstable orbit that crosses that of Mercury and Venus. This means that within a few million years it will likely be destroyed in a collision with one of these planets or the Sun, or it will be ejected from its current position.

Studying objects like this can help scientists understand where asteroids originated and the forces that shaped our Solar System's architecture. "Most likely 2021 PH27 was dislodged from the Main Asteroid Belt between Jupiter and Mars and the gravity of the inner planets shaped its orbit into its current configuration," Sheppard said. "Although, based on its large angle of inclination of 32 degrees, it is possible that 2021 PH27 is an extinct comet from the outer Solar System that ventured too close to one of the planets as the path of its voyage brought it into proximity with the inner Solar System."

Because 2021 PH27 is so close to the Sun's massive gravitational field, it experiences the largest General Relativistic effects of any known Solar System object. This is seen in a slight angular deviation in its elliptical orbit over time, a movement called precession, which occurs at about one arcminute per century. Observation of Mercury's precession puzzled scientists until Einstein's Theory of General Relativity explained its orbital adjustments over time. 2021 PH27's precession is even faster than Mercury's. "2021 PH27 gets so close to the Sun that its surface temperature gets to around 900 degrees Fahrenheit at closest approach, hot enough to melt lead," Sheppard said.

Future observations of this object will shed more light on its origins. Comparing 2021 PH27 to objects that orbit beyond Earth will improve researchers' knowledge of its composition and the materials that enable its survival under these extreme conditions. An object like 2021 PH27 experiences tremendous thermal and internal stresses due to its proximity to the Sun.

A census of asteroids near and inside of Earth's orbit is crucial for identifying those that could potentially impact our planet, but are difficult to spot because they approach Earth during daylight. These types of asteroids are not easily detected by most surveys, which usually observe at night. The asteroid will soon pass behind the Sun and be unobservable from Earth until early next year, at which time observers will be able to refine its orbit to the precision needed to give it an official name.

The only efficient method for spotting asteroids that move around the Sun in orbits closer than Earth's own is to take images as the Sun sets or rises, which Dell'Antonio and Fu did with the Dark Energy Camera on the National Science Foundation's Blanco 4-meter telescope in Chile. Their main research is part of the Local Volume Complete Cluster Survey, which is observing most of the massive galaxy clusters in the nearby universe with increased detail. In collaboration with Sheppard, Dell'Antonio and Fu switched from focusing on some of the most distant objects in the universe to some of the nearest, using the first few minutes of evening twilight on August 13 to take images in which Sheppard was able to find 2021 PH27 a few hours later.

"Because the object was already in the Sun's glare and moving more toward it, it was imperative that we determine the object's orbit before it was lost behind our central star," explained Dave Tholen of the University of Hawaii, who measured the fast-moving asteroid's position on the sky and predicted where it would be the night after the initial discovery. "I surmised that for an asteroid this size to remain hidden for so long, it must have an orbit that keeps it so near to the Sun that it is difficult to detect from Earth's position."

Additional images were obtained the following night using the Magellan telescopes at Carnegie's Las Campanas Observatory in Chile as well as again with NSF's 4-meter Blanco telescope. A third night of follow-up observations were needed to determine the new asteroid's orbit before it was lost, but cloudy weather in Chile elicited a trek around the world to South Africa thanks to the activation of the Las Cumbres Observatory's extensive network of global 1-meter telescopes.

"Although telescope time is very precious, the international nature and love of the unknown makes astronomers very willing to override their own science and observations to follow-up new interesting discoveries like this," said Sheppard. "We are so grateful for all of our collaborators who enabled us to act quickly on this discovery."

University of Chicago's Alex Drlica-Wagner, NOIRLab's Clara Martinez-Vazquez, Stanford University's Sidney Mau, and Luidhy Santana-Silva of Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul interrupted their first and second nights using the Dark Energy Camera to observe the asteroid. Princeton University's Scott Carlsten, Rachael Beaton (a Carnegie-Princeton Postdoctoral Fellow), and Jenny Greene were instrumental in the second night follow-up images from Las Campanas and on the third night Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso's Cristobal Sifon and Camila Aro-Bunster delayed the start of their Magellan observing program to image the object through some passing clouds. Marco Micheli of the European Space Agency's Centre for Earth Observation coordinated the use of the Las Cumbres Observatory's network.



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In 2019, astronomers spotted something incredible in our backyard: a rogue comet from another star system. Named Borisov, the icy snowball traveled 110,000 miles per hour and marked the first and only interstellar comet ever detected by humans.

But what if these interstellar visitors--comets, meteors, asteroids and other debris from beyond our solar system--are more common than we think?

In a new study published Monday in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, astronomers Amir Siraj and Avi Loeb at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) present new calculations showing that in the Oort Cloud--a shell of debris in the farthest reaches of our solar system--interstellar objects outnumber objects belonging to our solar system.

"Before the detection of the first interstellar comet, we had no idea how many interstellar objects there were in our solar system, but theory on the formation of planetary systems suggests that there should be fewer visitors than permanent residents," says Siraj, a concurrent undergraduate and graduate student in Harvard's Department of Astronomy and lead author of the study. "Now we're finding that there could be substantially more visitors."

The calculations, made using conclusions drawn from Borisov, include significant uncertainties, Siraj points out. But even after taking these into consideration, interstellar visitors prevail over objects that are native to the solar system.

"Let's say I watch a mile-long stretch of railroad for a day and observe one car cross it. I can say that, on that day, the observed rate of cars crossing the section of railroad was one per day per mile," Siraj explains. "But if I have a reason to believe that the observation was not a one-off event--say, by noticing a pair of crossing gates built for cars--then I can take it a step further and begin to make statistical conclusions about the overall rate of cars crossing that stretch of railroad."

But if there are so many interstellar visitors, why have we only ever seen one?

We just don't have the technology to see them yet, Siraj says.

Consider, he says, that the Oort Cloud spans a region some 200 billion to 100 trillion miles away from our Sun--and unlike stars, objects in the Oort Cloud don't produce their own light. Those two factors make debris in the outer solar system incredibly hard to see.

Senior astrophysicist Matthew Holman, who was not involved in the research, says the study results are exciting because they have implications for objects even closer than the Oort Cloud.

"These results suggest that the abundances of interstellar and Oort cloud objects are comparable closer to the Sun than Saturn. This can be tested with current and future solar system surveys," says Holman, who is the former director of the CfA's Minor Planet Center, which tracks comets, asteroids and other debris in the solar system.

"When looking at the asteroid data in that region, the question is: are there asteroids that really are interstellar that we just didn't recognize before?" he asks.

Holman explains that there are some asteroids that get detected but aren't observed or followed up on year after year. "We think they are asteroids, then we lose them without doing a detailed look."

Loeb, study co-author and Harvard astronomy professor, adds that "interstellar objects in the planetary region of the solar system would be rare, but our results clearly show they are more common than solar system material in the dark reaches of the Oort cloud."

Observations with next-generation technology may help confirm the team's results.

The launch of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, slated for 2022, will "blow previous searches for interstellar objects out of the water," Siraj says, and hopefully help detect many more visitors like Borisov.

The Transneptunian Automated Occultation Survey (TAOS II), which is specifically designed to detect comets in the far reaches of our solar system, may also be able to detect one of these passersby. TAOS II may come online as early as this year.

The abundance of interstellar objects in the Oort Cloud suggests that much more debris is left over from the formation of planetary systems than previously thought, Siraj says.

"Our findings show that interstellar objects can place interesting constraints on planetary system formation processes, since their implied abundance requires a significant mass of material to be ejected in the form of planetesimals," Siraj says. "Together with observational studies of protoplanetary disks and computational approaches to planet formation, the study of interstellar objects could help us unlock the secrets of how our planetary system -- and others -- formed."

###

About the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian

The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian is a collaboration between Harvard and the Smithsonian designed to ask--and ultimately answer--humanity's greatest unresolved questions about the nature of the universe. The Center for Astrophysics is headquartered in Cambridge, MA, with research facilities across the U.S. and around the world.



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The ESCAPADE Mars mission will consist of two identical satellites  named "Blue" and "Gold" after UC Berkeley's school colors  that will study how the planet's ionosphere and magnetic field interact. (Image courtesy of Rocket Lab)

An interplanetary mission led by the University of California, Berkeley, to put two satellites -- dubbed "Blue" and "Gold" -- into orbit around Mars has been officially authorized to prepare for launch in October 2024.

The announcement last week by NASA means that by 2026 the spacecraft will likely be exploring the red planet's atmosphere and its interaction with the solar wind.

Called the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission, it is the culmination of two years of intense work by scientists at UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory (SSL) to show that relatively inexpensive spacecraft -- the design, build, test, integration and launch will cost less than $80 million -- can be assembled in a short period of time to explore other planets. Typical NASA planetary missions often require more than a decade of preparation and can exceed $1 billion in costs.

"ESCAPADE and two other NASA missions recently approved are experiments to see whether advances in the space industry over the last five to 10 years can translate to a much better bang for the buck in terms of science per dollar," said mission leader Robert Lillis, SSL's associate director for planetary science and astrobiology. "Sending two spacecraft to Mars for the total cost of under $80 million is just unheard of, but current NASA leadership is taking the risk."

The UC Berkeley team will work with Rocket Lab, a space contractor based in Long Beach, California, which will supply two Photon spacecraft to house and support the instruments. The academic/industry collaboration is an example of what NASA hopes to encourage with its Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program, designed to fund compelling planetary space science with small satellites and provide more opportunities for flight experience to the science community.

These missions represent "a new commercial, higher risk, high reward way of doing things," Lillis said. "Instead of spending $800 million for a 95% chance of success, can we spend $80 million for an 80% chance? This is what NASA is trying to find out with these missions, and we are lucky to be one of the guinea pigs."

The mission's goal is to collect data that could help reconstruct the climate history of Mars and determine how and when it lost its atmosphere, which was once dense enough to allow for running water, including rivers, lakes and possibly oceans. ESCAPADE also will study the ionosphere of Mars, which can interfere with radio communications on the surface and between Earth and Mars colonists.

"With simultaneous two-point observations of the solar wind and Mars' ionosphere and magnetosphere, ESCAPADE will bring us the first 'stereo' picture of this highly dynamic plasma environment," Lillis said.

"This constellation of two satellites at Mars will answer big questions about the atmosphere and the solar wind in real time," said Shannon Curry, project scientist for the mission at UC Berkeley.

Rocket Lab, which teamed with UC Berkeley in June, has been building rockets and spacecraft platforms since 2006 for civil, defense and commercial customers. NASA evaluated the mission's preliminary design and project plan and determined last week that both UC Berkeley and Rocket Lab had met all milestones -- called key decision points -- necessary to prepare for launch. The next steps include the final design of the mission and building of the instruments.

"ESCAPADE is an innovative mission that demonstrates that advanced interplanetary science is now within reach for a fraction of traditional costs, and we're proud to make it possible with Photon," said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck in a statement. "Passing the key decision point is a critical milestone in ESCAPADE's development and is testament to the world-class science and engineering work of the UC Berkeley and Rocket Lab teams. We are delighted to receive the green light from NASA to proceed to flight."

The mission builds on decades of experience at SSL in building satellite instruments and fleets of spacecraft to explore regions around Earth, the moon and Mars, specializing in magnetic field interactions with the wind of particles from the sun. Each of the two satellites, named after UC Berkeley's school colors, will carry instruments built at SSL to measure the flow of high energy electrons and ionized oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules escaping from Mars, magnetic field detectors built at UCLA and a probe to measure slower or thermal ions built at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

With twin satellites, it is possible to measure conditions simultaneously at two places around the planet, Lillis said, allowing scientists to connect plasma conditions at one site to the escaping ion flux at another. Over the course of the mission, the two satellites will change positions to map the upper atmosphere and magnetosphere of nearly the entire planet from an altitude of between 150 and 10,000 kilometers.

When selected by NASA in 2019 to receive $8.3 million for a conceptual design, ESCAPADE was scheduled to piggyback aboard a rocket that was launching another mission, called Psyche, in August 2022. But that opportunity evaporated when the launch vehicle was changed, and NASA looked for another option. The agency eventually deciding to launch ESCAPADE as a secondary payload aboard a different, as-yet-unselected commercial rocket

"For ESCAPADE, we're evaluating a number of rideshare options to enable this critically important science while also lowering costs," said Alan Zide, program executive for the mission at NASA headquarters, in a blog post on NASA's website.

As a result, while the instruments remain unchanged, they have to be reconfigured to fit the Photon platform.

"The instruments haven't changed, the science objectives haven't changed, but everything from the launch pad to the orbit in space is completely different," Lillis said. "We are going with a brand new contractor, a different propulsion system and a very much shorter mission plan in getting to Mars."

The trip to Mars will take about 11 months, after which Blue and Gold will separate and start their mission.

Lillis said that his reaction to NASA's decision was "just unbridled joy and happiness," but admitted that he won't rest easy until early in 2026, "when we get our first data from orbit around Mars."



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CAPSTONEs 12-Unit CubeSat nears completion. The spacecrafts S-Band antenna is shown on the right side of the spacecraft. The 16 square-shaped elements on the surface of the flat plate are low-profile antennas, called patch antennas, that make up the S-Band antenna array. The antenna is integrated with the communications system structure. The red structures are handling fixtures that will be removed from the spacecraft prior to testing. Credits: Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc.

Small spacecraft will play a big role in lunar exploration, including a Moon-bound CubeSat launching later this year.

The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, or CAPSTONE, mission team is making the final preparations for the spacecraft that will make CubeSat history over a series of technological and operational firsts for the small platform.

Planned for launch in 2021, CAPSTONE will fly in cislunar space - the orbital area near and around the Moon - and demonstrate an innovative spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation technology. CAPSTONE also will test out a unique lunar orbit that Gateway will use as the Moon-orbiting outpost for NASA's Artemis program.

CAPSTONE will use a hydrazine-fueled propulsion system during most of its three- to four- month journey to the Moon. This line of propulsion system, developed by Stellar Exploration Inc. of San Luis Obispo, California, is a recently developed and flight-proven system developed for use on CubeSats. The team recently completed a fueling and final test-fire of CAPSTONE's propulsion system at Stellar Exploration's facility and is integrating the system with the spacecraft.

But before CAPSTONE fires its own thrusters, Rocket Lab's Electron rocket will launch the mission from Earth carrying the CAPSTONE spacecraft integrated onto its new Lunar Photon upper stage/spacecraft. For the mission, Lunar Photon will serve as an upper stage to get CAPSTONE to a highly efficient ballistic lunar transfer trajectory designed by Advanced Space of Colorado. About seven days after launch, after a series of orbit raising maneuvers and the final trans-lunar injection burn, Photon will release CAPSTONE. After the deep space, low energy transfer, the CAPSTONE spacecraft will insert itself into the near rectilinear halo orbit. At the same time, Lunar Photon will continue to a separate orbit for its safe disposal.

The CAPSTONE spacecraft is fast approaching completion. Near-term plans include continued integration, testing, and international shipment of the spacecraft in late September. Rocket Lab has identified its Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand as the CAPSTONE launch site. Onsite launch preparations will include checkouts and fueling of the CAPSTONE spacecraft and its subsequent integration with Photon.

In May 2021, New Zealand signed the Artemis Accords with NASA - a set of principles that reinforce and implement the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. The agency aims to assemble the broadest and most diverse international space exploration coalition in history. To date, 12 nations have signed the accords, and conversations with other nations are ongoing.

CAPSTONE is commercially owned and operated by Advanced Space in Westminster, Colorado. It represents an innovative collaboration between NASA and industry to provide rapid results and feedback to inform future exploration and science missions. Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems of Irvine, California, is building the microwave oven-sized 12-unit CubeSat platform.

NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology program within the agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate funds the demonstration mission. The program is based at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) within NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate funds the launch and supports mission operations. The Launch Services Program at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida manages the launch service.



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VoterGA Files Suit to Ban Illegal Dominion Voting System

Voting System Already Declared in Violation of Georgia Law



NEWS PROVIDED BY

VoterGA

Aug. 24, 2021



ATLANTA, Aug. 24, 2021 /Standard Newswire/ -- VoterGA today announced joining with State Rep. Philip Singleton in a legal petition to ban Georgia's Dominion Democracy Suite 5.5 voting system. The voting system has already been declared in violation of Georgia law by the U.S. District Court of Northern Georgia [Pg. 81-82].



Georgia law requires a voting system to "print an elector verifiable paper ballot;" and "...produce paper ballots which are marked with the elector's choices in a format readable by the elector." After reviewing extensive evidence in the Curling V. Raffensperger case, Judge Amy Totenberg concluded: "Plaintiffs and other voters who wish to vote in-person are required to vote on a system that does none of those things." [O.C.G.A.  21-2-2(7.1); O.C.G.A.  21-2-300(a)(2)]



Petition Seeks Temporary and Permanent Injunctions

The petition seeks temporary and permanent injunctions against the state's use of the new voting system on grounds that its unverifiability to the voter makes it illegal. The Dominion Democracy Suite 5.5 system uses a touchscreen Ballot Marking Device (BMD) to print voter selections with a QR code on a sheet of paper. The scanners ignore the printed voter selections and read the QR code to determine candidates selected and to tabulate election results. The QR code is not human readable, even with a QR code reader and is thus illegal under Georgia law.



Attorney Todd Harding of Maddox and Harding filed the petition in Fulton County Superior Court. Harding is also representing VoterGA petitioners in the Fulton County Ballot Inspection lawsuit. Details of both cases can be found on the VoterGA.org legal tab.



Petition Highlights

The petition contends that recommendations provided by VoterGA to the Secure, Accurate, Fair Election Commission (SAFE) warned that any new system must tabulate human readable vote marks that can be verified by the voter. It also contends that VoterGA co-founder Garland Favorito and Madison Forum President Michael Opitz warned Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger about the unverifiability of QR coded voting systems like the Democracy Suite when he was a runoff candidate in 2018. Raffensperger did not heed the warnings and purchased the new Dominion system for over $100 million in 2019.



About VoterGA

VoterGA is a non-partisan, 501(c)3 registered non-profit organization created by a coalition of citizens working to restore election integrity in Georgia. We advocate for independently verifiable, auditable, recount capable and transparent elections. VoterGA does not endorse political candidates for office.



SOURCE VoterGA



CONTACT: Garland Favorito, 404-664-4044, garlandf@voterga.org


Creative Zone, a top business setup advisory firm in Dubai has signed a tie-up with strategic partnership platform Lead Ventures to launch a new project to help new investors to the UAE with fast-tracking the development of their businesses.



The collaborative project titled Scale 971 will offer support in areas such as setup, launch, business development, partnerships with the private and public sector, legal advice, relocation and human resources needs.



Scale 971 will act as the partner/advisor on the ground for many new organisations entering the UAE market and need that initial advice and support to set foot in the country successfully. The program is also ideal for entrepreneurs already in the country who want to grow their businesses to a new height by getting the right advice and support for opening the right doors and developing their market of interest.



Built on the philosophy of collaboration and collective growth, Lead Ventures has helped several companies penetrate the UAE's market with strategic investors, advisory board, government and public entities. The company has accredited industry leaders who advise, broker and offer a spot-on market strategy that businesses are not privy to.



Scale 971provides two well-curated packages for both foreign and local entities. The first package has a trial period during which both parties can align on mutually agreed goals with a complete strategic plan for the first three months. This approach will assist foreign investors in testing the waters of the UAE market before officially launching. It will also help them tailor their product/service scope for having the right approach to doing business in the UAE.



Alternatively, the second package is more suitable for established businesses to expand further in the UAE market.



Scale 971 will become a powerful platform for business owners and corporations, whether inside or outside the country, to get the advice and support that is needed when entering a new market. Joining efforts between Creative Zone and Lead Ventures for this brings together immense value to any new investor looking to do business in the country, said Lorenzo Jooris, CEO, Creative Zone.



"In today's world, where an individual's network is their net worth, it is vital, especially for new businesses, to invest in building the most important asset, a solid professional network. With our strategic partnership with Creative Zone, we are better equipped in identifying and reaching budding companies that can reach their desired business results through our Scale 971, said Mohamed Al Banna, CEO, Lead Ventures.  TradeArabia News Service
Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the infrastructure engineering software company, is set to host a virtual open digital twin event as part of The Bentley Infraweek for the Middle East and Turkey.

The panel session will bring together leaders and experts from the oil and gas sector to share their insights on the use of digital twins for safer, more reliable, efficient, and resilient operations, said the statement from Bentley.

Several global industry experts are likely to join the event include professionals and leaders from large end-users, utility companies, owner-operators, engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) companies, national oil companies, energy institutes and associations, and integration solution providers.

The list of headline speakers include top Bentley experts - Frederik Verhoef, Regional Director, Asset Performance; Christian Huber, Vice President, Regional Executive; Mehreen Javaid, Digital Integrator, Business Development, PlantSight and Klaus Hatle, Principal Consultant, Energy in addition to Denis Marshment, Vice President, Digital Twins, Worley; Wassim Ghadban, Vice President, Digital and Global Innovation, Kent and Andreas Gaarder, Vice President, EMEA, FutureOn.

The discussions will cover the role of digitalization in business transformation and sustainability as well as the opportunities digital twins can bring to the oil and gas sector, said the statement from Bentley.

Part of the discussion will also focus on the regions infrastructure community and how it responds to current challenges as well as smarter ways to advance infrastructure development, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
Dubai along with Miami (US) and Moscow (Russia) emerged as the big three among the 30 cities which recorded the highest levels of rental growth over the first half of 2021 in the World Cities Index compiled by leading global real estate advisor Savills.

The latest report by Savills evaluated the rental values and yields reported for prime residential properties across the globe.

However, the overall results from the report indicate an average increase of just 0.5% across the cities, and a 1.8% drop over 2020 due to global restrictions on travel thereby reducing global demand, stated Savills in its report.

Due to the vast array of development causing a significant oversupply in the market, Dubai rental prices have been on a steady decline over the last six years.

Last year witnessed the worst decline with a 12% drop in rents over the city due to travel restrictions and resulting economic decline caused by the pandemic.

Based on the findings from the World Cities Prime Index Report by Savills, the Dubai market appears to finally be reaching a turning point. Prime rental prices increased by 5% in the first six months of 2021, driven by a 20% increase in rents across certain villa communities, said a top official.

"Rental markets are likely to remain stable for the rest of 2021. Travel restrictions remain in place between key source markets, causing rental prices to recover more slowly than capital values," explained Swapnil Pillai, Associate Director Research at Savills Middle East.

"However, in the long run, prices are likely to gradually appreciate as economic activity gathers momentum and more job opportunities are created. The further easing up of travel restrictions will be a welcome catalyst for growth," he added.
The forecasted growth in wood pellet production in Europe will increase competition for wood fibre and require new feedstock sources, says a report.

Europes pellet industry is the largest in the world and is expected to continue to grow strongly, at least until 2025, says WRI Market Insights 2021.

The key factors driving this increase include:

*EU has ambitious and rising targets for renewable energy supply;

*Biomass will play an important role in meeting those targets; and

*Pellets offer several advantages over other forms of biomass in many applications.

Pellet demand is likely to grow by 30-40% over the next five years, and depending on how imports develop, European production might need to increase by up to ten million tonnes.

Europe represents about 75% of global pellet demand and is more diverse in its pellet usage than are other regions. In Europe pellets are used for residential heating (40%), power plants (36%), commercial heating (14%), and combined heat and power plants (10%).

Demand is strong in both the industrial and residential sectors and is likely to continue even beyond 2025. According to a just-released study, European Wood Pellets  Where will the raw-material come from?, the rise in wood pellet consumption will put significant pressure on raw material markets in Europe and require new sources such as forest residues, recovered wood, and energy crops.

Raw material prices and availability vary widely by geography but increased competition for wood fibre, including sawmill byproducts, will impact pulp and wood panel industries throughout Europe.

The most crucial feedstock for the wood pellet sector is currently sawmill residues (85% of the mix), roundwood (13%), and recovered wood (2%). This mix is likely to change in the coming years with the forecasted expansion of the wood pellet industry.

Although wood residues will remain an important feedstock, especially in northern and western Europe, they will not be sufficient to meet the future fibre demand from the growing wood pellet sector. New fibre sources are needed, and the greatest potential for increased supply is forest residues and energy crops.

Experience from North America shows that it is possible to use more forest residues as fibre furnish. Although it yields pellets with higher ash content, it is often a lower-cost raw material than, for example, roundwood and wood chips. This practice is increasingly common in both the US South (mainly for pellets exported to Europe) and Canada (mainly exported to Europe and Asia). In Western Canada, the saw mill residue share of the total feedstock has fallen from 97% in 2010 to 72% in 2020, with the balance being forest residues and roundwood.-- TradeArabia News Service
Rockwell Automation, one of the worlds largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, announced the appointment of Cyril Perducat as senior vice president and Chief Technology Officer.

He will report to Rockwell Chairman and CEO Blake Moret.

Perducat joins Rockwell following a 25-year career with Schneider Electric, where he most recently served as executive vice president, Internet of Things and Digital Offers. Perducat has had an extensive career as a technology strategist, particularly for systems, software, networks, and solutions businesses.

Cyril brings to Rockwell a passion for innovating and building teams, and a drive for implementing successful outcomes based on effective change management, Moret said. His career has focused on developing innovative solutions to enhance manufacturing technologies, and we are confident his leadership will help Rockwell reach new levels of value for our customers and partners.

Rockwell has been an industry leader and innovator for decades, said Perducat. The companys innovative team of technologists are focused on growing its already broad technology offering and expanding what is possible in the industrial automation space.

Perducat succeeds Sujeet Chand, who recently announced his retirement. Chand has served as Rockwells Chief Technology Officer since 2005 and has held various leadership positions during his more than 35 years at the company. Chand was most recently responsible for leading Rockwells technical innovation, common architecture development, company-wide technical talent management, and global business development with its ecosystem of strategic alliances and partnerships. He will work closely with Perducat until he retires at the end of the calendar year.

Sujeets distinguished career with the company has positioned Rockwell Automation as a leader in industrial automation and digital transformation, said Moret. Sujeets contributions to our product and technology evolution, intellectual property portfolio, and strategic partnerships cannot be overstated. The board and I wish him and his family the very best in his retirement.--TradeArabia News Service
Batelco recently held a virtual awards ceremony to celebrate employees who have successfully completed management and leadership training programmes offered by the company.

The two programmes, Grow and Empower, are part of Batelcos initiatives created to develop the companys Bahraini talent.

Fifty-five Batelco employees completed the ILM (Institute of Leadership & Management) Level 3 programme, GROW, while eleven members of Batelcos management completed the ILM Level 4, Empower. The teams were presented with certificates from ILM and a gift from Batelco to honour their achievements.

Commenting on the awards ceremony, Batelco Chief Human Resources Officer Faisal Al Jalahma said: Batelcos ongoing Talent Development Centre Project, established in 2019, focuses on empowering the Companys Bahraini talents, creating more opportunities for them to thrive as they are groomed for potential future leadership roles within the organisation. We are proud of the continuous achievements of our team members, as our human capital is what really determines our value as an organisation.

Batelco has continuously emphasised the importance of honing the skills and talents of its workforce. We strive to instil leadership and management qualities within members of our teams and enable them to set the standard in creating a high-performance organisational culture. An important element of the development programme is to encourage innovation which can support the delivery of best-in-class products and services, ultimately leading to an enhanced experience for Batelco customers, he added.

Through our collaboration with the Institute of Leadership and Management, we were able to successfully equip our team members with the necessary knowledge to distinguish themselves in the workplace and advance their careers, he concluded.

The Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) based in the UK is a professional membership body for leaders and managers. ILM offers its programmes on a global scale and delivers world class leadership tools and resources to help unlock individual and business potential.-- TradeArabia News Service
Expatriates can now run for the elections to the Board of Directors of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the Kingdom, said the Federation of Saudi Chambers, according to local media.



This provision is included in the executive regulations of the new Chambers of Commerce Law that came into force recently, reported Saudi Gazette, citing federation sources.



The Council of Ministers approved the new Chambers of Commerce Law on December 1, 2020 that allows foreign investors to become members of the board of directors of the chambers for the first time in the history of Saudi chambers.



The law abolished the Saudi nationality requirement for the membership in the board of directors of the chamber. The move enables foreign investors to become members of boards of directors of the chambers of commerce for the first time with a condition that the membership to the board is renewed for two consecutive terms only.



According to the new regulation, those who want to run or will be appointed to the chambers Board of directors, must have an experience of no less than 10 years, while a five-year experience is required for holders of a bachelors degree or its equivalent.



The regulation also specified that the candidates age should not be less than 30 years or at least 25 years old if he holds a university degree related to commercial and industrial business.



The regulation also forbids relatives running for board elections. In the previous law, there was no ban on relatives contesting the election. In another qualitative leap, new technologies will be relied on in the voting and election processes of the chamber bodies.



There are several provisions in the regulations that enable the private sector to save large sums of money as well as to bring down the cost for starting a commercial activity.



It is also stipulated that the federations revenues include 10 percent of the value of the subscriptions received by the chambers from their members and this amount shall be deposited in the account of the federation at the end of each Gregorian month.



This is in addition to the financial compensation that the federation receives from the activities and events that it organizes jointly with various chambers. There should be an agreement between the federation and chambers in this regard.



Also, five percent of the financial revenues obtained by chambers from attestation from subscribers shall be deposited in the account of the federation at the end of each Gregorian month.



As per the new law, the Council of Saudi Chambers has been renamed as the Federation of Saudi Chambers. According to the new law, it is possible to establish more than one chamber of commerce in the same region, or offices or branches in the governorates and towns in their jurisdiction.



The new law also gives exemption to new companies and establishments, which are joining the chamber, from the subscription fee for a period of three years since the date of their commercial registration.



It allows anyone who practices a licensed commercial activity to be registered in the chamber of commerce.



Unlike the previous law, the new law does not require multiple subscriptions with the increase in the number of branches of business firms. In the previous law subscription fees were multiplied by the number of branches and registered establishments.
Smile initiative, a scheme of Bahrain Future Society for Youth, has partnered with MDC company to provide MDC card to sick children and their families enabling them low-cost access to more than 100 hospitals and health facilities in Bahrain.

This came during a visit by Dr Mustafa El-Dakrouri, CEO of MDC, to the headquarters of Smile, when he was introduced to the quality services provided by the initiative to more than 200 children with cancer.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Future Society Sabah Al Zayani, said that this new cooperation with MDC comes within the framework of the Smile strategy that seeks to provide more health support services to young cancer patients.

"Today we add a new privilege for sick children and their families, through which they can obtain high-quality health and treatment services at high discounts and a low cost. The initiative's administrative body will communicate with all of its affiliates to give them MDC card for free, and to explain to them the advantages of this card, and how to derive maximum benefit from it, Al Zayani said.

For his part, Dr Al-Dakrouri expressed his happiness to cooperate with the Smile initiative by presenting the (MDC) card to the affiliates of the initiative and said: "Through this collaboration, we will be able to serve hundreds of sick children and their families in a systematic way that ensures its success, thus achieving a significant aspect of our companys social responsibility. -- TradeArabia News Service
British Airways customers will be welcomed back on board with new Best of British Menus with the September edition featuring a traditional British Roast dinner.

The airlines roast, that will be available in First and Club World, will provide travellers across the globe a taste of a quintessentially British dish.

British Airways will debut its traditional roast with 21-day aged British beef, served with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, seasonal vegetables, horseradish cream and gravy, the airline said in a press release.

On flights to the Indian subcontinent, customers will be offered British roast chicken served with roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, bread sauce and gravy.

Head of Inflight Sajida Ismail said: As we look ahead to welcoming back customers who may not have flown for a while, we wanted to mark the occasion by offering a really special menu that celebrates the best of Britain.

"Working with our catering partners, DO & CO and Newrest, we have created dishes using the best of British ingredients while they are in season. We are particularly excited to be offering a roast dinner on board.

"We know that Yorkshire puddings and crispy roast potatoes can be difficult to re-create at altitude, but our chefs have been working to make it happen, because we know that every British roast dinner should have them!

The chefs will also be creating themed deserts on its monthly menus, with Septembers theme being All Things Botanical including an elderflower and white chocolate dessert with compressed apple and elderflower sorbet.

In October, customers can expect to see another traditional roast featuring chicken, as well as lamb hot pot and Welsh rarebit with chutney. The dessert menu will celebrate the British apple season with treats such as apple mousse, with granny smith sorbet or British apple compote with vanilla custard and crumble.

The new menus follow the introduction of other British Airways food and drink improvements for short-haul flights in its Euro Traveller (economy) cabin.

The improvements include the introduction of Buy Before you Fly menus including a selection of gourmet food from Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge, and the recent introduction of digital technology to Buy on Board which will allow customers to order to their seat through a mobile device.-TradeArabia News Service
Help India!



To have genuine remembrance of the horrors of partition of the subcontinent, one should take a leaf from Germany where they have included the horrors of the holocaust in the school curriculum, with the solemn purpose to educate its young generation and not allow it to repeat. For this to happen in the sub-continent, and not allow this to be turned into another Hindu-Muslim demonization and alienation exercise, all three countries India, Pakistan and Bangladesh should join hands and choose one date to jointly have the Remembrance of the Horrors of the Partition.

Mushtaque Rahamat | TwoCircles.net

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On August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the rampart of the Red Fort in New Delhi. In his 90 minutes long address, he touched upon many subjects, including the praise of his tenure. As a departure from the customary contents of the address, he proposed to remember the horrors of the participation on August 14. The idea sounds innocuous and noble as there is no denying the fact that death and destruction during the partition in 1947 was one of the greatest tragedies ever befell on the hapless Indian subcontinent.

The departing British government on 14-15 August 1947 divided the Indian subcontinent into two parts  Hindu majority India and the Muslim dominated Pakistan (East Pakistan was created by dividing Bengal and West Pakistan comprised of Western Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and the parts of Balochistan). Although the exact reason and the persons responsible for this partition has long been a matter of debate among scholars. In India, the blame is generally placed on Mohammad Ali Jinnah who on the other hand is regarded as Quaid-e-Azam in Pakistan. It is interesting to note that Jinnah, a British educated and trained lawyer was once a votary of Hindu-Muslim amity and is known as the brain behind Lucknow Pact. The Lucknow Pact was an agreement reached between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League (AIMLM) at a joint session of both the parties held in Lucknow in December 1916. Through the pact, the two parties agreed to allow representation to religious minorities in the provincial legislatures.

Hindus and Muslims had lived for millennia together since the first appearance of Muslims in the Sindh region (now part of Pakistan) and the Muslim traders arriving on the ports Malabar (now Kerala). The communities in India before the arrival of Britishers were not recognised and referred by their faith as William Dalrymple put it in his article published in the New Yorker (published in June 2015) The Great Divide. He wrote, The newcomers are identified by linguistic and ethnic affiliation, most typically as TurushkaTurkswhich suggests that they were not seen primarily in terms of their religious identity. Similarly, although the conquests themselves were marked by carnage and by the destruction of Hindu and Buddhist sites, India soon embraced and transformed the new arrivals. Within a few centuries, a hybrid Indo-Islamic civilization emerged, along with hybrid languages notably Deccani and Urduwhich mixed the Sanskrit-derived vernaculars of India with Turkish, Persian, and Arabic words.

The reference to the conquests by the central Asian tribes of Indian territories and later the establishment of Delhi Sultanat as Muslim is a fairly new phenomenon after the arrival of the East India Company and their penchant to study and look at history from their perspective. They came from a region that has a vast and bloody history of religious strife, power struggle and identity based on faith. Europe, though a homogenous region in terms of culture, was divided by alliances and opposition to the Church. The renaissance itself was preceded by the criticism of the ever-powerful church and its corruption. Therefore, for them, religious identity came first in studying alien societies which were albeit not so homogenous rather a blend of complexities of language, region, caste and religion. The foreign occupying powers failed to appreciate, which had unintended consequences, the Hindu and Muslim rivalry.

More than 14 million, according to one estimate, migrated in both directions and what came to be known as India and Pakistan and in ensuing migration some 200,000 to 2 million never made it. Punjab and Bengal, the two states sharing borders with Pakistan witnessed the worst carnage, lootings, massacre, forced conversion, mass abduction, and sexual violence. According to William Dalrymple, some 75000 women were raped, and many of them were disfigured or dismembered in Punjab and Bengal alone. It wont be wrong to say that the horror of the partition is the same to the communities of the Indian sub-continent as the horrors of the holocaust is to the Jews of Germany and Europe. As Ayesha Jalal puts it, A defining moment that is neither beginning nor end, the partition continues to influence how the peoples and states of postcolonial South Asia envisage their past, present and future.

The invoking of this horror of the partition by the Indian Prime Minister is good to an extent only as we must not forget this horror is shared by Pakistan and now Bangladesh as well. Our experiences of such remembrance and declaration havent borne good faith, harmony and social cohesion. The cow protection movement and legislation turned into a raison detre of lynching, primarily and majorly of Muslims and Dalits. According to the one report carried by The Hindustan Times, As many as 124 people were injured in the cow-related attacks and more than half (52%) of these attacks were based on rumours. Muslims were the target of 51% of violence centred on bovine issues over nearly eight years (2010 to 2017) and comprised 86% of 28 Indians killed in 63 incidents, according to an IndiaSpend content analysis of the English media. As many of 97% of these attacks were reported after Prime Minister Narendra Modis government came to power in May 2014, and about half the cow-related violence  32 of 63 cases  were from states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) when the attacks were reported, revealed our analysis of violence recorded until June 25, 2017.

Of the 28 Indians who died over the seven years, 24 were Muslim or 86%. As many as 124 people were also injured in these attacks. More than half (52%) of these attacks were based on rumours, our analysis found.

Tiranga Yatra, a procession of carrying out Indian flags as a mark of patriotism stoked anti-Muslim riots by the right-wing activists who are mostly supporters of the current ruling dispensation. It has become a norm for Hindu Right-wing activists and supporters to shout anti- Pakistan slogans while passing through Muslim localities. One such incident, as noted by Maya Mirchandani in her research titled Digital Hatred, Real Violence: Majoritarian Radicalisation and Social Media in India happened in late January in Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, where a group of young Hindu men from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), rode through the predominantly Muslim town on a self-declared Tiranga Yatra (journey with the Tricolor), shouting slogans. The local Muslim villagers were in the midst of a flag hoisting ceremony to mark Indias Republic Day as the provocative procession rode through. Clashes ensued, in which a Hindu boy died, leading to a social-media outburst of hate against Kasganjs Muslims.

The constitution of India includes the right to practice the religion of choice as a fundamental right. Despite this, many Indian states promulgated laws prohibiting religious conversion on the pretext that Muslims and Christians deliberately target Hindus and tribals to leave their religion and convert to Islam or Christianity. They say that missionaries and Muslim organizations have incentivised religious conversion, a charge denied vehemently by Christian Missionaries and Muslims. A pernicious campaign led to the enactment of laws, in several Indian states, makes it harder for the people to choose and practice their faith. Another sinister campaign wilfully targeting Muslims was Love-Jihad; according to which Muslim men are targeting Hindu women to marry and convert to Islam. This flies in the face of numerous court judgements which allows consenting individuals to choose their life partner irrespective of religion, caste, creed and language. The civil administrations, Hindu extremist organisations like VHP, Bajrang Dal and many of its faceless organisations with the help of pliant & biased media and in some cases the lower judiciary have harassed inter-faith couples. A tirade has been launched against Muslims and these Hindu extremist organizations do not leave any opportunity to harass Indian Muslims in the name of so-called Love Jihad.

Even as innocuous as Dharna on August 10 this year at Jantar Mantar, in the Indian capital Delhi and a few hundred meters from the Indian parliament, was on to repeal colonial-era laws and to enact laws suited to Indian society, it, however, turned into hate speech and anti-Muslim sloganeering and baying for Indian Muslims blood.

Besides Prime Minister Modi has not been consistent in extolling his followers and foot soldiers in respecting and maintaining the social fabric of India. In the last election of Uttar Pradesh, during a rally, he invoked the issue of Qabristan (Muslim Graveyard) and Shamshan (Hindu pyre yard) an obvious reference to Muslims and Hindus. Earlier in the Bihar election of 2015, his home minister Amit Shah said in one rally that the defeat of BJP will be celebrated by Pakistan. The reference of Pakistan is a veiled and indirect reference to Muslims a bete noire of BJP.

The RSS, BJP and their numerous offshoots branded anti-national those who protested against CAA-NRC. The law, which grants citizenship for refugees of every major South Asian religion except Muslims, was widely condemned as discriminatory. Indias home minister Amit Shah in one of the rallies in Bengal explained the chronology and purpose of the enactment of CAA and NRC. He, reportedly, hinted in his speech that Hindus need not worry as they will be saved through the combined implementation of NRC and CAA and he implied Muslims wont. The process of NRC was, initially, planned for Assam, which has a high concentration of illegal migrants, to identify and repatriate illegal migrants, from neighbouring countries especially from Bangladesh soon morphed into a design to target Muslims in the rest of India.

One may ask the question of what purpose this remembrance is going to serve. To have genuine remembrance of the horrors of partition one should take a leaf from Germany where they have included the horrors of the holocaust in the school curriculum, with the solemn purpose to educate its young generation and how not to let this happen again.

The choice of August 14 doesnt augur well as on this day our neighbour Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day. One must remember it was a joint fight to get Britain out of India by those who wanted a separate homeland for Muslims and for those who had dreamt of plural India  a place for all religious communities. By having the same day of remembrance as that of Pakistan Independence Day, we will be turning the sacrifice, deaths, and destruction of millions of people who perished on the way to their promised homeland into another jingoistic and hate-filled event against Pakistan and by that corollary against Muslims. I dont want to draw an equivalence of Muslims and Pakistan but cant do it otherwise as the current ruling dispensation of India and its numerous cohorts and foot soldiers will no doubt make this one. The RSS and BJP have always fed partition in their Hindutva messaging as Hindu victimhood and have been feeding into the minds of their followers the victimisation of the Hindu majority by the Muslim minority for around 800 years. This fits perfectly in their binary world view and yields rich electoral dividends too.

Besides, RSS and BJP have little to celebrate in the Indian Freedom struggle. They did not participate in the struggle. They were on the other side of the extreme i.e. aiming for Hindu Rashtra by collaborating with the Britishers. On the one hand, Jinnah was leading a campaign for Pakistan; a homeland for Muslims and the Indian National Congress who was leading the freedom struggle wanted India for people of all faiths and on the other hand, RSS and Hindu Maha Sabha were colliding & allying with Britishers for a Hindu Rashtra, a land for Hindus only.

RSS and BJP, therefore, are looking for ways and trying to find some date or day to celebrate and remember their contribution. By declaring August 14 as the Horror of the Partition Remembrance Day, the RSS, BJP and et al would like, if not eclipse, at least, rival the August 15, as our Independence Day.

Uttar Pradesh, which is one of the largest states in India, is going into elections in a few months. One cant help but associate this sudden Remembrance Day with the election of Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP government has done little to show off. They would be looking to bank on their time-tested formula of fomenting communal tension for electoral gain. Polarisation is something that BJP knows best.

However, it is solemn to remember those who fell during the partition. We must mourn for that life. But for this to happen seriously, and not let this be turned into another Hindu-Muslim demonization and alienation exercise, all three countries India, Pakistan and Bangladesh should join hands and choose one date to jointly have the Remembrance of the Horrors of the Partition. We must as a society rise above religious, linguistics, regional and caste biases & divide and celebrate humanity. The horrors of the partition should be included in our school curriculum to take a lesson from it, heal wounds and create an environment for a unified existence. If West and East Germany can be reunited, and Europe can have a single entity as EU, why cant we have some form of union in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh?
by Bryan R. Swopes of This Day in Aviation

On August 24, 1961, at Edwards Air Force Base, California, the legendary Jacqueline Cochran flew a Northrop Talon (T-38A-30-NO 60-0551) to an average speed of 1,358.6 kilometers per hour (844.2 miles per hour) over a straight 15-to-25 kilometer course, setting a Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) world speed record for women.

August 24 Big day! First solo in production. Jackie took off in Northrop T-38 for a 1525 record attempt at 9:00 am. I chased in F-100. Flew good pattern and lit afterburners 50 miles from west outer marker. Jackie held a good altitude through the trap and made a good procedure turn. Lit afterburner 40 miles out on return run and nailed the altitude down perfectly. The average speed was 844 mph. All the officials were pleased and the record was confirmed. One down and nine to go.

 Brigadier General Charles Elwood (Chuck) Yeager, U.S. Air Force, quoted in Jackie Cochran: An Autobiography, by Jacqueline Cochran and Maryann Bucknum Brinley, Bantam Books, New York, 1987, Pages 301302.

The Northrop T-38A Talon is a two-place, twin-engine jet trainer capable of supersonic speed. It is 46 feet, 4 inches (14.122 meters) long with a wingspan of 25 feet, 3 inches (7.696 meters), and an overall height of 12 feet, 11 inches (3.937 meters). The trainers empty weight is 7,200 pounds (3,266 kilograms) and the maximum takeoff weight is 12,093 pounds (5,485 kilograms).

Two General Electric J85-GE-5s power the aircraft. The J85 is a single-shaft axial-flow turbojet engine with an 8-stage compressor section and a 2-stage turbine. The J85-GE-5 is rated at 2,680 pounds of thrust (11.921 kilonewtons), and 3,850 pounds (17.126 kilonewtons) with an afterburner. It is 108.1 inches (2.746 meters) long, 22.0 inches (0.559 meters) in diameter, and weighs 584 pounds (265 kilograms).

The Talon has a maximum speed of Mach 1.08 (822 miles per hour, 1,323 kilometers per hour) at Sea Level. The aircrafts service ceiling is 55,000 feet (16,764 meters) and it has a maximum range of 1,093 miles (1,759 kilometers).

In production from 1961 to 1972, Northrop built nearly 1,200 T-38s. As of September 2017, the U.S. Air Force had 503 T-38A Talons in the active inventory. The type also remains in service with the U.S. Navy, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Turkey also maintains a small fleet of the type, as does Germanys Luftwaffe, although all of the latter airframes are based in the USA.

Jackie Cochrans record-setting T-38 still survives, belonging to the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum. In late 2018, the museum moved the fuselage to their Udvar-Hazy Center annex for a little TLC within the Mary Baker-Engen Restoration Hangar. The complete aircraft will eventually go on display at their Washington, DC campus once that buildings renovations are complete.

For more aviation anniversaries please visit www.thisdayinaviation.com
Of all the consequential battles which took place in the 20th century, its doubtful that any loom larger in significance, regarding our collective freedom, than the Normandy Invasion of June 5th/6th, 1944. Better known as D-Day, we celebrate the anniversary of this pivotal moment each year with continued vigor. Sadly, however, the generation of young men who prevailed in that epic struggle is dwindling ever more rapidly, and even the living memory of their sacrifice is also fading fast from view. However, a handful of surviving aircraft which participated in D-Day operations still remain, and their stories have a unique ability to inspire and remind younger generations about the significance of those now long-ago events.

Seeing, and hearing, a D-Day veteran Douglas C-47 Skytrain growling through the skies with a stick of paratrooper re-enactors descending from its open cargo bay door is perhaps the most evocative way these aircraft can retell the story of their most important mission. While just a handful of these D-Day veteran aircraft still fly, we can report on one of their number moving ever-closer to her first post-restoration flight, this being C-47A-65-DL 42-100521 Night Fright which flew with the 79th Troop Carrier Squadron, 436th Troop Carrier Group out of RAF Membury during D-Day. She also took part in every other consequential Airborne mission in Europe during WWII. The aircraft is currently undergoing an in-depth, authentic restoration back to flying condition in England, and Charlie Walker, one of her current guardians, is overseeing this adventure; he presents an update on progress for us here!

Night-Fright: D-Day Veteran C-47  Restoration Update

by Charlie Walker

Rewind back to 2017 and it was all systems go as we were frantically trying to get Night Fright ready for the big one, June 2019 and the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. We were also making  and filming  a TV documentary about D-Day 75 with Guy Martin and North One Television for Channel 4. The finale would have been Night Fright retracing the route she had flown 75 years earlier and dropping Guy on the original Drop Zone in Normandy

It was a big ask, not impossible, but we had an awful lot of work to do. Back then we were putting in between 500 and 600 work hours every month and we had a team of around a dozen highly-skilled engineers from Heritage Air Services working on Night Fright. The focus was manifold; we had structural work taking place, work in the cockpit, cabin detailing, avionics and on all the sub-systems including the oil, hydraulic and fuel systems. Furthermore, we had three engines being overhauled to zero-time in the USA, split between Global Radial Engines and Anderson Aeromotive.

That February, we found ourselves in Ontario, Canada on another adventure. We purchased a C-47 located at Peterborough airport to give us access to some parts that we simply couldnt find anywhere else, including a cargo floor and a complete set of original paratrooper benches. We arrived in the worst snowstorm Ontario had seen in 30 years with temperatures as low as -30C and a complete whiteout. A freezing week later and we had removed all of the necessary parts and loaded them into a 40 shipping container for the journey home, all with a film crew in tow.

It was probably late Spring of 2019 when we had to accept the reality that Night Fright wasnt going to be ready for the D-Day 75th Anniversary. This was disappointing, of course, but these large restoration projects are full of challenges and hurdles that need to be overcome, and its difficult to predict how much effort/time is involved ahead of time. Its hard to say whether there was one particular thing which caused us to miss our deadline, but I think our determination to make Night Fright the most accurate and authentic C-47 flying in the world today has caused some those delays. We have scoured the globe for priceless and original parts to fit on Night Fright when we could have compromised and used modern equivalents. The detail we were now going into meant that this became a down-to-the-last-rivet restoration of a C-47  not a small task. Its hard to explain why projects like this take so long; the only way I can explain it is that every time you come to the next part or piece you need, it often ends up having to be completely remade. That doesnt mean finding it on a shelf or ordering it either  that means good old fashioned engineering. Despite not being able to hit our deadline, we still had to come up with a new plan for the finale of the TV programme in the form of another C-47  we still did the drop following the original route, and it was an amazing process to be a part of!

With the disappointment of missing June 2019, and having evaluated where we were and where we needed to go, we set to work in late 2019 with a renewed sense of optimism. We had decided on a plan of tackling all of the remaining structural work before moving on to the sub-systems and then finally the detailing and cosmetics.

Great progress took place; we built a completely new rear bulkhead, finished the engine cowls, trial-fitted the cargo floor so it was ready for installation, fitted undercarriage jacks, repaired fuel tanks and checked them for leaks, painted, completely rebuilt the crew seats, repaired and installed the wing root fairings, made a completely new tail cone, repaired and painted the horizontal stabilizer, made and installed bump stops, and a myriad other details which needed attention.

As well as the front-line engineering, we were also conducting a huge amount of research. Neil Jones, an RAF sergeant and project volunteer, continued to track down all of the original navigation and radio equipment which would give Night Fright that authentic, 1944 look and feel. Neil also worked on the pararack release panel, the navigators table and other internal details.

2020 got off to a good start, with the structural work continuing and progress beginning to take place with some of the internal details. That February also recorded a special moment for the project as we received a visit from the late James Hardts family from the USA; Hardt was Night Frights copilot on D-Day. And in March, Warbird Workshop, a TV documentary we had participated in, aired on Yesterday TV.

2020 also saw us make contact with the 436th Operations Group (OG) at Dover AFB; the 436th OG is the present incarnation of the 436th Troop Carrier Group which Night Fright flew with on D-Day. We are delighted to have their enthusiastic support, and regularly communicate with the senior team. Furthermore, we have also made a presentation for some of the personnel at Dover and look forwards to helping educate future 436th OG members about the important role their predecessors played in WWII.

Of course, at the end of March 2020, the UK and the rest of the world were thrown in to chaos with the onslaught of COVID 19. When the UK went into national lockdown, work on Night Fright effectively ceased. Indeed, it wasnt until October before Heritage Air Services were able to return to the hangar in any meaningful capacity. With structural work on the fuselage all-but-completed, we decided to tackle the last major item on the list  the wings. For the previous eighteen months, we had been putting off the decision regarding whether to use Night Frights original wings or another set we had available to us at Coventry.

Ultimately, we chose to use the original wings, staying true to our philosophy of authenticity and originality. We began the process by de-skinning the undersides, a task which took about three weeks. We then thoroughly cleaned and paint-stripped each wing, another labour intensive endeavor which took several of weeks. Once completed, however, we were able to assess structural condition and identify necessary repairs. We were pleasantly surprised by what we found, but there was still a lot of work to do. There were stringers and stringer cleats we needed to replace, not to mention the upper and lower wing attach angles, then there were repairs needed for some of the ribs, an aileron hinge, landing and formation lights. The wing leading edges also needed attention too.

By the end of June 2021, work was all-but-complete on the wings, with all necessary repairs having taken place and the underside of both wings re-skinned. There are a few minor tasks yet to complete: repairs to the right-hand wingtip, the trailing edge sections need fitting and a little bit of skin work post-trailing-edge sections being installed.

We will then move on to other areas of the project, returning to systems work and restoring the cockpit. Many parts are already overhauled and ready for installation as soon as the time is right  these include the engine cowlings, tailplane, fuel tanks and of course the outer wings. So, in the not-too-distant future things will change pretty quickly!

This brings us up to date with where we are presently with the engineering tasks. Most of the wing repairs are now complete and we expect to begin reskinning them imminently. At that point, the wings will go through repainting and we will then return to focusing on other areas of work. While Im reluctant to give any completion deadlines, particularly in light of the current challenges around the world, but if we continue at the current pace, I feel we can expect Night Fright to be approaching her first post-restoration flight by the end of 2021.

In addition to the aircrafts restoration, we have also been tackling the task of other aspects in the larger project, which is intended to see Night Fright based out of her original WWII airfield at Membury. Indeed, we are in the final stages of the planning permission process for establishing a museum at Membury. This will be our way of honoring Troop Carrier Command and we very much look forwards to welcoming visitors to the museum. Of course Night Fright will be hangared at Membury, becoming the star of the show, and we hope to operate her from the airfield during the summer months. To our knowledge, Night Fright will become the first WWII warbird to return and operate from her original wartime base!

As part of our outreach endeavors, we rolled out an education program early last year for making presentations to local schools, colleges and aviation museums. Obviously, this program went on hiatus when the pandemic arrived, but we have been able to make presentations virtually in the interim. Living and breathing tangible history while educating future generations about the past is at the forefront of what we are trying to do.

With a project of this massive scale, there is always plenty going on, managing and creating content for social media channels, the website, magazine articles and radio interviews, designing, creating and selling merchandise and creating partnerships. We have partnered with some wonderful like-minded organizations which are helping raise awareness about our project and what we are trying to do. We have also joined the newly-formed DC-3 Society where we can work with the DC-3 community to keep these airplanes flying and promote the work we are all doing.

We look forward to keeping Warbird Digest readers regularly updated with progress as we push to return Night Fright to the air this year.

Warbird Digest published a marvelous article by Richard Paver about Night Fright, her restoration and combat history in Issue 90 of the magazine backorders are available when you click on the image below!
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Assyrian Worship In Syria Despite Recent Turkish Bombardment

Assyrian Christians gathered last Sunday to celebrate the Assumption of Mary, despite the recent escalation of Turkish bombardment. Hundreds of Tel Tamer residents gathered to worship together at the Church of Virgin Mary.

For the past month, Tel Tamer and its surrounding countryside have experienced shelling by Turkish forces and armed opposition factions. Residents have lost belongings, experienced damaged homes, injuries and been forced to flee to safer areas. Just one day before the celebrations the town was hit by dozens of shells.

Turkey has long been targeting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which is an armed group fighting for Kurdish rights in Turkey, and they are designated as a terrorist organization by most countries. Turkey extended the fight into Syrian territory, claiming that the People's Protection Units (YPG), which is the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), is the Syrian offshoot for the PKK. Turkey's fight against the PKK has long taken place in northern Iraq as well. In both countries, Christian villages and residents face harm to their physical safety, homes, and livelihood. Christians are displaced but find themselves with no place else to go.
The Impact of Turkey's Influence on Religious Freedom

he 2016 coup attempt in Turkey ushered the nation into a new chapter, one which includes a significant emphasis on foreign policy and military expansionism. Countries previously part of Turkey's former Ottoman Empire, and countries with a significant Muslim population, are specifically targeted. The unique religious freedom concerns that were once contained within the boundaries of Turkey's borders are now found wherever Turkey has gained influence. Equally concerning is how Turkey has leveraged those religious freedom issues of neighboring countries for Turkey's own benefit, at the expense of the local population.

In short, Turkey's military expansionism has had the impact of exploiting people, exporting persecution, and enabling the perpetrators to commit even more egregious actions. If this is how Turkey treats vulnerable communities outside of its own borders, then how much more so within.

It is also worth noting that much of the media produced by Turkey's humanitarian and military partners often includes Grey Wolf symbolism, particularly the salute. An extremist movement connected with the MHP party and youth cultural centers, the Grey Wolves are well-known for violently targeting ethnic-religious minorities and have been involved through many of most egregious violations of religious freedom.

Exploiting People

Turkey has positioned itself not only as the regional superpower, but also as a major influential player who dictates the terms for how those countries outside of the Islamic world interact with Muslim-majority nations. By the end of 2019, Turkey had evolved so that they had contributed "more than a quarter of the entire world's humanitarian aid," according to the Borgen Project. Turkey's Foreign Ministry confirms on their website that the reason for this rapid expansion into humanitarian aid is because of the ongoing crises within Turkey's regional vicinity.

However, it is also clear that the escalation of many regional crises occurred in large part because of Turkey's expanding military activities. Turkey is also the world leader in hosting refugees, a situation that predates their recent military expansion, but which has become a key negotiating point impacting the outcome of multiple conflicts.

For example, just days before the Taliban gained control of Kabul, Afghanistan, Turkey's President Erdogan extended an invitation for the Taliban to visit Turkey. This followed an earlier statement by President Erdogan that "Turkey has nothing that contradicts their beliefs." Such a validation from arguably the most influential Islamic country within the region further empowers the Taliban. On the day of Kabul's fall, the son of the Taliban's founder was quoted saying, "Turkey is a country that hosts many Afghans and that we want to build close relations with. We consider Turkey an ally and not an enemy."

In separate interview, the Taliban explained, "Our entire infrastructure has collapsed. We will rebuild Afghanistan in all areas and we need Turkey the most to do that. Turkey is a very important actor for us. It's a respectable and strong country in the world and has a special place for the Muslim community. Turkey's bond with Afghanistan can't be compared with any other country. I'm saying this clearly; As the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, we need Turkey's friendship, support and cooperation the most."

In addition to contributing to the Afghan crisis, Turkish authorities also manipulate refugee crises. As a local example, the Bolu municipality attempted to capitalize on the opportunity, with the council approving a proposal to charge refugees higher fees for utilities (like water).

A similar sentiment permeated the national level. On one hand, accusations swirled that Turkey's ruling party was seeking monetary rewards from Europe for receiving Afghan refugees. On the other hand, nationalist sentiment against all refugees hit a new level across the country. For example, hundreds of people poured into the streets of Ankara and targeted Syrian refugees in what some described as "a wave of xenophobia that resembled a pogrom." While the Syrian incident was sparked by something unrelated to Afghanistan, it did reflect just how poorly national sentiment has developed towards refugees.

The conflicts that Turkey contributes towards worsens humanitarian conditions. When people attempt to flee, they often have nowhere to go except Turkey. But once there, they face exploitation at best. At worst, their lives continue to be threatened.

The highly Islamic language which permeates and often justifies these situations pushes religious minorities into further vulnerability. Turkey worsens crises under the name of Islam. Then Turkey makes it clear that help comes with conditions. While this challenges all refugees, non-Muslims are at a particular disadvantage.
by Riccardo Lampariello*

In addition to internal opposition, Islamist militants will have to face and manage rapid population growth. More than four children per woman in the country. Every month about 600 pregnant women and 4 thousand Afghan children lose their lives at birth or soon after. Continuous violence and Covid-19 exacerbate the problem.

Geneva (AsiaNews) - A demographic boom threatens Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Islamist militants, who have seized control of the country again after the US and Nato military withdrawal, will have to face and manage the rapid population growth, in addition to internal opposition. With more than four children per woman, Afghanistan has grown almost by one million inhabitants per year, now at around 38 million according to the World Bank, causing further stress to a devastated country. The health system is particularly concerned.

In normal times, Afghanistan has struggled to provide basic quality healthcare services to the population. Despite major improvements in the last 20 years the country still scores one of the highest maternal and newborn mortality rates worldwide and the highest in Asia. For comparison, in the neighbouring Pakistan the maternal mortality is one fifth. Every month about 600 pregnant women and 4,000 babies have lost their lives at birth or soon after according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Newborns die mainly because of preterm birth complications, intrapartum related events (e.g. asphyxia) or infections; mothers die because of haemorrhages, infections and complications of unsafe abortions. Most deaths are preventable with the provision of quality healthcare services during pregnancy, delivery and in the very first days of life. Though, fewer than 60 per cent of births are overseen by skilled health professionals in Afghanistan.

While a growing population would require additional doctors, nurses, medical products and infrastructure to satisfy the expanding needs, years of violence have exhausted the countrys fragile health system, which has relied on the services supplied by international humanitarian actors. As the healthcare workers are equally impacted by the fights  occasionally being the direct victims of assaults - health posts and maternity wards are left partially or totally unattended.

In addition, people are increasingly too afraid to leave their homes due to the violence, and so access to healthcare is dramatically low. With over 100,000 childbirths expected each month for the next months to come, there is an immediate need to ensure continuity of health services across the country.

Apart from the maternal and child healthcare needs, the raging violence escalated trauma injuries requiring scaled-up emergency medical, surgical services and psychological support. Disruptions in the delivery of healthcare services would increase the risk of disease outbreaks. Almost half of the children population is malnourished.

Amid the violence, COVID19 brings further distress: WHO recorded a total of 152,448 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 7,054 deaths in Afghanistan, with a large portion of cases not being reported. The ongoing violence and the Taliban traditional hostility towards vaccines will impact the ability to immunize the population (0.6% of the population is fully vaccinated on 20 August). The ongoing political turmoil may only fuel an uncontrolled wave of COVID-19, as it occurred in Myanmar, pushing the health system towards collapse.

An immediate cessation of violence and a commitment to a peaceful transition is urgently required. The WHO has called on all parties in Afghanistan to respect and protect civilians, health workers, patients and health facilities .Without a substantial international support to provide immediate relief and rebuild a broken health system, the situation will likely turn into a humanitarian disaster and the most vulnerable will pay the highest price. The clock is relentlessly ticking in Afghanistan: 3,500 women will give birth tomorrow. Who will assist these Afghan women and their babies?

*Head of Health Programme at the Terre des hommes Foundation. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect necessarily the view of the organisation he works for.
by Steve Suwannarat

It is now possible to produce, sell and consume kratom leaves, but not the concentrates. The opiate has been traditionally used in rural areas. The decision comes after a bitter debate in a country where drug use is severely punished. The COVID-19-related crisis in agriculture also affected the decision.

Bangkok (AsiaNews)  Kratom leaves (Mitragyna speciosa), an opiate-type plant typical of Southeast Asia, has been widely used in Thailand, especially in rural areas. Now it has become legal.

The Thai parliament began examining the issue back in January when lawmakers looked at decriminalising the use of other banned substances like medical marijuana.

The bill legalising the leaves became law in May after receiving the royal consent, and entered in force today, despite a bitter debate that pitted various factions, and various economic, health and moral arguments over soft drugs in a country where drug use is severely punished even though it is widespread.

The authorities gave the green light only to the use of kratom leaves, not other parts of the plant. The leaves also cannot be given to minors or pregnant women, nor be sold near schools or temples, and exports must be regulated.

In announcing today kratoms immediate removal from the list of banned narcotics, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin explained that while producing, selling, and consuming the leaves will be allowed, kratom concentrates remain banned.

Liberalisation is taking place in a particular socio-sanitary context in which many call for the use of traditional pharmacopoeia to prevent or counteract COVID-19 or at least its effects.

In addition, against the backdrop of a persistent economic crisis and high unemployment, kratom growing, although a relatively marginal activity, can provide an income to producers.

This is the case for many farmers, often unable to repay easily granted loans because of a major drop in sales and exports of their products.

For Thailands justice system, decriminalisation also brings easily quantifiable benefits.

One immediate effect will be the release of individuals detained for using and marketing the substance.

A total of 1,038 prisoners being detained for trading or consuming kratom will be released and the cases of some 10,000 individuals in police detention or facing legal action will be dismissed, Minister Thepsuthin said.

Thai courts will thus save almost US$ 60 millions a year. In the first half of this year alone, 22,076 kratom-related court cases were heard.
by Ngoc Lan

The Vatican dicastery for integral human development will provide support for the people of Vietnam, severely tried by the pandemic. This deed joins the Vietnamese Church's commitment to the sick. Here Jesus is waiting for me to give his love to others, said a nun in Xuan Loc who contracted the virus in hospital. Francis also offers aid to cyclone Yaas victims in Bangladesh.

Hanoi (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis is showing his solidarity to Vietnam, strongly tried by the COVID-19 pandemic, with direct action.

The Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development announced today that the pontiff is sending 100,000 euros in emergency aid to the people of Vietnam, which is in a state of dire crisis due to the socio-economic fallout from the pandemic.

The popes show of support also extended to two other areas of the world affected by tragedy, namely Bangladesh, which was recently hit by cyclone Yaas, and Haiti, rocked a week ago by an earthquake. The pontiff is contributing US$ 69,000 to the Asian country, and 200,000 euros for the Caribbean nation.

In Vietnam, the pope's act of solidarity joins the Catholic Church's action in favour of COVID-19 victims, which continues with unreserved dedication.

This is best exemplified by Sister Th., a member of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in the Diocese of Xuan Loc, who with fellow nuns and a group of volunteers spent a month helping the sick in a hospital in ong Nai province.

Sister Th. contracted COVID-19 herself, but she wont to give up on her mission. She is now in isolation, slowly recovering from the illness.

"I thank God who gave me this time to be closer to him than ever, she wrote in a message released by the Diocese of Xuan Loc.

She explains that her mother superior entrusted her with the mission of working with local health officials and community.

I was sent to a place that was not a parish nor a school. It was a hospital, an isolation facility, a room for testing, she explained.

My job was not to be a choir leader or arrange flowers, but to bring meals to patients and wash them. As part of my mission, I was prepared for the risk of getting infected.

Here Jesus is waiting for me to give his love to others.
Hong Kongs Legislative Council will examine proposed legislative changes next week. If adopted, the new rules will impose up to three years in prison and a fine worth US$ 128,000. Productions that promote subversion, secession and terrorism are targeted. Controversy surrounds Nicole Kidmans boutique shopping in violation of COVID-19 restrictions.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Taking their cue from Beijing, Hong Kong authorities plan to boost film censorship with a further squeeze on locally produced, distributed and screened films.

A series of amendments to the Film Censorship Ordinance are currently under review. If adopted they would enable the chief secretary to ban previously approved films and new projects considered a threat to national security.

The amendments will go before Hong Kongs Legislative Council (LegCo) next week. Penalties include up to three years in prison and a HK$ 1 million fine (US$ 128,000) for unauthorised screenings.

Described as simple and straightforward, the changes follow the adoption last year of a controversial national security law, used to crack down on pro-democracy protests and increase censorship.

Unveiling the amendments today, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah said that there would be no appeal mechanism for bans issued on security grounds. In addition, his office will be able to delay the vetting of films for up to 28 days if necessary.

The amendments this time are simple and straightforward, Yau said. The aim is to consolidate our legal foundation regarding film censorship work so as to prevent acts against national security.

As Yau admits, there is a chance that past movies could be banned from public screening. Classic satires such as Stephen Chows From Beijing with Love and the dystopian tale Ten Years could be barred from public screening or pulled from DVD shelves.

The new guidelines would block films or series if they were found to be enduring, supporting, promoting, glorifying or inciting acts of subversion, secession, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces.

Since the guidelines are so broad, they could be easily manipulated and abused, raising concerns among professionals, producers and commentators about the repercussions of the amendments on the film industry, with severe restrictions on creativity and freedom of expression in what was once considered "the Hollywood of the Far East".

Meanwhile, actress Nicole Kidman has become the centre of a controversy recently. The Australian star is currently taking part in a production in the city and was seen at a Central shopping boutique.

Kidman, who arrived on a private flight from Sydney, is in town to shoot an Amazon Prime series called Expats.

In order to allow her to work in the former British colony, local authorities waived the quarantine requirement for foreigners, sparking anger on social media. They justified her shopping trip as a part of costume fitting.

The government noted that its decision to exempt the actress from mandatory quarantine was for the purpose of performing designated professional work, taking into account that it is conducive to maintaining the necessary operation and development of Hong Kongs economy.

Given Hong Kongs new guidelines on censorship, will a movie about expats pass muster or will it be banned?
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Many young Afghans, including girls, used to attend Nur Sultan universities thanks to a cooperation agreement. Now they are unable to return to Kazakhstan to resume their courses and are worried about their future.

Nur Sultan (AsiaNews) - Many Afghan students studying at universities in Kazakhstan are stuck in their homeland, where they had returned for the summer, and now they cannot return to Kazakhstan to continue their studies. As Radio Azattyk reports, the students are very worried about their future.

The 20-year-old student J. (the name is not revealed for security reasons) has to start the fourth year of the Kazakh-Turkish International University "Ahmed Jesevi" in the city of Turkistan. Since 2020 the students have been in an online regime due to the pandemic, and many like J. had returned home, but the new school year is supposed to start in attendance, and J. is not at all certain that she will be able to get a visa to Kazakhstan.

J. maintains that "Afghanistan today is dangerous for women in general, and much more so for those who study. Since August 15th we see very few women on the streets, we don't believe in the promises of the Taliban, who could easily give me in marriage to someone against my will. We want to be free, like all the young people in the world, but our dreams are breaking: we risk losing our history and our future, our whole world is disappearing... I received an education, I evolved, how can I close myself up in my house now?", J. repeats in perfect Kazakh idiom.

Zabihullah, a fifth-year student at the same university as J., is also stuck at home without a visa to return to study. As he explained, Kazakhstan did not issue him the needed visa and the Kazakh embassy in Kabul will not receive students. "I approached the university on behalf of 30 other students, asking to talk to the ministry in case there is no answer for us on the visa. If we stay in Afghanistan, all our efforts and commitments will end in nothing," the student explains in good Russian.

According to data from Kazakhstan's Ministry of Education and Science, there are currently more than 100 Afghan students studying in the country, thanks to a cooperation agreement with Afghanistan. A few years ago Kazakhstan allocated 50 million dollars for hosting Afghan students in its universities; according to the agreement, after the conclusion of the free period of courses students must return to work in their own country.

The ministry assures that scholarships and enrollments will be preserved and that visas will be renewed as soon as possible, as also confirmed by a representative of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, Ajbek Smadjarov. It has not been specified when the paperwork will be completed, given the extreme uncertainty of the situation.

Thousands of people are trying to cross the Afghan borders to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, on foot or by any other means, including "illegal planes". Several of them are precisely trying to reach Kazakhstan, considered the safest of the Central Asian countries for Afghan refugees.

The Consul General of Turkmenistan in Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif met on August 20 with local Taliban leaders to try to regulate the flow of people to their country, as communicated by the Turkmen Foreign Ministry. The meeting was reportedly held "in a friendly atmosphere."
Government has an obligation to do all we can to protect the health, safety and well-being of our residents, Olszewski said in a statement. While weve made undeniable progress in our fight against this deadly virus, the rapid emergence of the Delta variant has made it clear that we need access to every tool in our toolbox to be able to respond to it.
The Biz Challenge allows local entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas and compete for a monetary prize. The grand prize winner will receive $10,000. An advisory committee with Carrolls Chamber of Commerce viewed all the applicants and eventually narrowed it down to five finalists. Moving Targets was one of them and Wimmer said hes excited but didnt expect it.
Its possible if the Engineer had filed for 2020, their employment with the Company may have been disclosed to the City earlier, read Tuesdays report. Alternately, if the Engineer had been required to file but nonetheless failed to disclose the secondary employment, there may have been grounds for an ethics investigation.
From the early days of Greenbelt, African Americans were excluded from residency in the city. But at the same time, Black workers were heavily involved in helping to literally build the city, Byrd said. Thats part of our history, just like slavery is a part of American history more broadly. And my view is that we should address that history, confront that history, reconcile that history and address the related intergenerational racialized barriers to wealth accumulation that come with that type of complicated history.
Research News

UB architect unveils latest animal-friendly installation at Exhibit Columbus

Ultrasonic detectors placed at the top of the 84-foot-tall observation tower in Mill Race Park will regularly record bat calls. The recordings will be accessible to visitors, both in-person and through online platforms. Photo: Hadley Fruits

Joyce Hwang, associate professor of architecture at UB, works on her installation "To Middle Species, With Love," which will be on display at Exhibit Columbus in Columbus, Indiana, Aug. 21-Nov. 28. Photo: Hadley Fruits

A team of student volunteers from the environmental club at Columbus North High School in Indiana helped UB architecture professor Joyce Hwang (far left) assemble the base structures for To Middle Species, With Love. Photo: Hadley Fruits

At higher elevations, Hwang and her team created structures that function like a typical bat house (known as a rocket box) known to be used by the endangered Indiana bat. Photo: Hadley Fruits

UB architecture associate professor Joyce Hwang's installation "To Middle Species, With Love" will be on display at Exhibit Columbus (Indiana) from Aug. 21-Nov. 28. Photo: Joyce Hwang

By DAVID J. HILL

Its probably not that often that we as humans think of animals as community members or neighbors, even though they often do live alongside us. 

Theyre your neighbors. Theyre mostly friendly, but sometimes not, if you agitate them. Theyre an integral part of what makes your community unique. And perhaps theyve even lived there longer than you have. Yet, theyre often ignored simply because theyre not human.

Its probably not that often that we as humans think of animals as community members or neighbors, even though they often do live alongside us, says Joyce Hwang, associate professor and director of graduate studies of architecture in the School of Architecture and Planning.

They contribute significantly to the health of our cities, yet often remain invisible in our imaginations of where we live, adds Hwang, who hopes to bring greater visibility to the bats, birds, turtles and other reptiles and amphibians that reside in cities all across the world through a forward-thinking installation opening this weekend.

Its called To Middle Species, With Love, and it is among a dozen installations being featured at Exhibit Columbus, a critically acclaimed, two-year cycle of programming that takes place in Columbus, Indiana, a city with a celebrated legacy as a laboratory for design as a civic investment. Hwangs exhibit will be on display at Exhibit Columbus through Nov. 28.

The annual Exhibit Columbus symposium and exhibition explores the future of cities in Americas heartland. Hwang was one of seven University Design Research Fellow participants  scholars and design researchers from universities across the U.S.  each invited to develop an installation design that engages their respective university community. This years theme is New Middles: From Main Street to Megalopolis, What is the Future of the Middle City?

When humans do think of animals, its usually the so-called flagship species that first come to mind: think the bald eagle as a symbol of the U.S., or the polar bear as representative of the urgency of climate change.

But Hwangs new installation, similar to previous works shes built  including Bat Tower in Griffis Sculpture Park in East Otto  asks people to consider the world through the perspective of the often overlooked animals that live among us in our urban environments. Hwang calls these the middle species.

Hwang recently summed up her interest in animal architecture in a Biodesigned essay: What defines a post-industrial city? What does it mean to decline and decay? I am like a real estate developer looking for sites with untapped potential. But the potential I seek has to do with increasing habitat rather than increasing capital. I imagine a species-inclusive city.

Sited within the landscape of Columbus Mill Race Park, Hwangs installation is conceived of as a series of strata, featuring bat and bird habitat conditions above, and environments for terrestrial and amphibious species below. To shift human perception to sense the less visible world of urban animals, the project provides visitors ways to explore middle species sounds  particularly bat echolocation  by using ultrasonic detectors to regularly record bat calls and make the recordings accessible to visitors, both in person and through online platforms.

The detectors will be triggered by bat calls, and will be recording their high frequency sound throughout the exhibition period, Hwang notes. As a visitor to the park, you can put on your headphones, link to a website and listen to bat calls from previous nights.

At the higher elevations, Hwang and her team created structures that function like a typical bat house known to be used by the endangered Indiana bat. There is also a series of perches and possible nesting sites for birds using Indiana hardwoods.

At the ground level, the team used local stones to create a series of gabion-like mounds that can provide shelter for smaller terrestrial or amphibious animals. Benches and boulders invite human visitors to stop and enjoy the sights and sounds around them as their animal neighbors enjoy their new habitats.

Were looking to develop ways to shift human perception to sense the less visible world of urban animals and to hopefully make their presence part of the way that we experience Columbus, Hwang says. (She describes the project in this Youtube video made for Exhibit Columbus.)

Most of the structures for middle species were created at UB using the fabrication workshop in the School of Architecture and Planning, with advisement and assistance from UB architecture alumnus Wade Georgi.

And the core installation team included UB architecture graduate students Nicole Sarmiento and Bethany Greenaway, as well as UB undergraduate Anh Shavindya Seneviratne Do. All three students have also been part of the design, research and fabrication process.

In addition, Albert Chao, an adjunct instructor in UB's Department of Architecture, and Greg Delaney, clinical assistant professor of architecture at UB, assisted Hwang in Columbus.
Buffalo, WY (82834)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 78F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 52F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
The delta variant has hit us at a time where were thought we were close to being through this and back to normal, Pittman said during a weekly media call. This is not something that we can control. It was something that we were warned about by our public health folks  that if we didnt get vaccinated quickly enough, that these variants would continue to mutate, to be created, and this one is certainly moving fast.
The first project expected to be paid for in part through the authority is the redevelopment of City Dock. The project is in the planning stages with phase one  the demolition and rebuilding of Hillman Garage  set to start next year. Later will come the construction of a sea wall around City Dock and other resilience infrastructure with some areas elevated to combat higher sea levels.
Porter, who lives in Eldersburg and works in quality assurance, conceived of Local Bucket after dealing with leftover materials from various repairs he did around the house. He didnt have a truck, but needed a way to transport the materials to the dumpster. It would be convenient, he thought, if there were an easy way to contact and pay someone in the area to handle the materials for him.
The incident was caught on video, according to the documents, and showed Enlow standing next to a woman and a baby outside the building. Enlow bends down and appears to be waving and speaking to the infant, before he is approached by a man, later identified as Benjamin. The two talk for a moment, then Benjamin puts his book bag down and they exchange a few more words before he strikes Enlow, according to the documents.
With many of my constituents in Baltimore County, there is a frustration in the accountability, he said. People are paying higher water bills and they dont seem to think that the money is going to spent wisely, so I think one of the major issues is that if you have regional water authority with both county and city representatives on it  it would help create a better sense of accountability.
I am quite pleased that the county executive is using the American Rescue Plan money that we have received to pursue this program, said council member Deb Jung, District 3. Many in our community, as well as our states attorney, police department and sheriffs department, have been looking forward to getting this program off the ground as soon as possible.
She will be under pressure to get federal rent relief money into the hands of tenants. Little of the $2 billion set aside by the federal government to help New Yorkers pay off rent debt has been distributed, to date, in the state. Thousands face the possibility of eviction if the state allows protections to expire.
I have no desire for my children to add to that number. Because a virtual academy is not available to all, we were planning on taking our chances and pray the virus doesnt take hold at our childrens elementary school. After reading about your fundraiser, we are seriously exploring home-school. When I asked my son how he felt about that, he said: safe. As heartbreaking as that is, because of irresponsible policies being advanced by you, he is probably right. Given your public demonstration of unfitness for office, the only honorable option left for you is to resign. We need board members who are on our childrens side, not that of the virus.
Afghanistan's famous pop star, Aryana Sayeed, who escaped from the Taliban after the takeover of Kabul, has blamed Pakistan for empowering the terrorist outfit and expressed her utmost gratitude to India for helping Afghans during the ongoing crisis.

"I do blame Pakistan. Over the years, we have seen videos, seen evidence that Pakistan is behind empowering the Taliban. Every time our government touches the Taliban they see identification and it would see a Pakistani person, so it's very obvious that I blame them and hope that they back off and don't interfere in politics in Afghanistan anymore," said Afghanistan's pop star Aryana Sayeed in an exclusive interview with ANI from an undisclosed location.

She also claimed that the Taliban terrorists are being instructed and trained by Pakistan.

"They are being instructed by Pakistan, their bases are in Pakistan where they get their training. I hope the international community, first of all, cut off their funds and don't offer funds to Pakistan for funding the Taliban," said Sayeed.

Moreover, she urged the international community to sit down and find a solution to bring peace to Afghanistan. "I hope they can put pressure on Pakistan. I believe that we're dealing with all these issues in Afghanistan because of Pakistan," she added.

Meanwhile, she lauded the Indian government's efforts in Afghanistan and termed India as "true friend".

"India has always been good to us. They have been a true friend, they've been very helpful and kind to our people, even refugees. Afghans who have been in India before have always spoken highly of the nation, its people. We are grateful to India," she added.

"On behalf of Afghanistan, I want to express my utmost gratitude to India and I want to say thank you. Over the years we've realised that the only good friend in the neighborhood we have is, India," she said.

Aryana Sayeed in 2015, sang at a stadium, breaking three taboos: Singing as a woman; Not wearing hijab; and entering a stadium as a woman, which was forbidden under the Taliban.

(ANI)

Also Read: Evacuation from Afghanistan: Air India flight with 78 passengers en route to Delhi from Dushanbe
An Air India flight carrying 78 passengers, including 25 Indian citizens is en route to New Delhi from Tajikistan's Dushanbe in a safe evacuation from Afghanistan.

Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said evacuees were flown in from Kabul.

"Helping in the safe return from Afghanistan. AI 1956 en route to Delhi from Dushanbe carrying 78 passengers, including 25 Indian nationals. Evacuees were flown in from Kabul on an @IAF_MCC aircraft. @IndEmbDushanbe," tweeted Bagchi.

The passengers on board the flight shouted slogans like 'Wahe Guru ki Khalsa, Wahe Guru ki Fateh' for a safe return from Afghanistan.

Earlier, Indian authorities on Monday evacuated 75 Sikhs amid the deteriorating situation in war-torn Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's situation is worsening as people are in rush to leave the nation after the Taliban seized control last week. On August 15, the country's government fell soon after President Ashraf Ghani left the nation.

Countries have been evacuating their citizens from the war-torn nation. Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs had said the government is committed to the safe return of all Indian nationals from Afghanistan.

(ANI)

Also Read: 'Taliban not allowing food, fuel to get into Andarab valley'
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will present a white paper against the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government's performance over the last three years highlighting its corruption and rigging in the elections.

According to the Daily Times, the while paper will expose the PTI government's corruption, prejudiced accountability and rigging in the elections.

Speaking to media after a meeting of the PDM in Islamabad on Saturday, Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said, "The evidence is being gathered and a white paper will be presented from the PDM's platform to 'expose' the PTI government before the people."

Calling the use of the electronic voting machines (EVM) 'unilateral' and 'in contradiction with the constitution and laws, he rejected the government's proposed electoral reforms.

Reacting to the government's offer of talks on electoral reforms, Abbasi said, "All the parties [in the PDM] have once again rejected the unilateral electoral reforms as they are tantamount to rid people of their freedom of speech."

"The reason behind the incumbent government's failures is the rigging of the 2018 general elections, and till the time this country's affairs are not in line with the Constitution, the problems of the people cannot be resolved," the Daily Times quoted the former prime minister.

He further said that it is crystal clear that democracy cannot thrive in Pakistan till the elections are not transparent and held without interference.

Abbasi said that the country's 'so-called accountability process' was an 'attempt to mask the corruption of the government and its ministers', adding that there had been attempts to rig all elections.

"The proof is in front of the people. We will present a white paper regarding this after collecting all the facts," he added.

Abbasi said the leaders who participated in the meeting also rejected 'unilateral' electoral reforms, which they termed as the government's bid to 'steal' the next elections.

He said the government is trying to "rob people of their right to select their representatives by introducing electoral reforms".

Abbasi further informed that during the meeting they have prepared a schedule for rallies across the country and the meeting will take place on August 28.

The PDM had earlier announced that it would hold a "massive" anti-government rally on August 29 in Karachi.

He further added that the PDM, nearly six months back, had issued an initial Charter of Pakistan that aimed to resolve the issues of the people, however, the work on it was interrupted, and it could not be completed.

(ANI)

Also Read: Afghan pop star Aryana Sayeed blames Pak for empowering Taliban, terms India 'true friend'
Clay Center, KS (67432)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 86F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 68F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph.
Somehow, I find it hard to believe the freedom to risk spreading sickness and death is exactly what this nations founders had in mind. But the result has been devastating to thousands of victims of a pseudo-information contagion that the World Health Organization calls an infodemic, a confusing tide of false or misleading information through a variety of media during a disease outbreak.
We recognize that not everyone will agree with this decision, Mastro said in the news release. The ethical framework under which we operate, however, means that it is our responsibility to do good, and an individuals right to autonomy ends when that persons actions may harm others.  This is the right thing to do.
I think its more significant than people realize because I believe corporations and schools are really going to move the needle for increasing vaccinations, Dr. Mathew Philip, a primary care physician and senior vice president of clinical innovation at DuPage Medical Group, said of the vaccine gaining FDA approval. This gives those organizations cover to do that. This is going to get us a lot closer to that herd immunity.
Wilson, 29, is accused of shooting both men: a 35-year-old, who died from his injuries, and a 38-year-old man who was wounded in the leg, Chicago police said. The man who was killed was identified as Ricky Shipman, according to information from the Cook County medical examiners office. Shipmans 11-month-old child was in a car parked next to Shipman when the shooting took place, according to prosecutors. The child was not hit by gunfire.
We believe that it is absolutely critical that we are honoring this past years process and outcomes worked by all of the Whole School Safety Committees and Local School Councils, Chou said in a press statement Monday. As we continue to work with CPD on their review of the (agreements) terms, CPS will also continue to partner with principals, teachers, Local School Councils, parents and students to continue to engage on what it means to them to have safety in schools in order to help inform our next steps.
State police received a report around 2:15 p.m. that two people were shot on I-290 near California Avenue and had arrived at a hospital in a private vehicle, state police Trooper Philip Ayala said.
A 19-year-old man and a 26-year-old man were also both struck in the buttocks, and both were taken by ambulance to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in serious condition, police said.
In their June filing asking for the bribery conspiracy charges to be dismissed, attorneys for McClain and the other defendants cited the case against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who famously argued that his efforts to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama in 2008 were not tied directly to things of value, and therefore did not constitute a bribe.
Guzman, meanwhile, was extradited to the U.S. in 2017 after he was captured in a firefight between his bodyguards and Mexican marine special forces. He was convicted in New York in February 2019 on federal charges including drug conspiracy and murder and was later sentenced to life behind bars.
The analysis also found that among the 50,000 alerts, a total of 1,056, or 2%, were linked to an investigatory stop, suggesting the stop happened as a direct result of an alert from the system. There were an additional 1,300 documented stops in which a keyword search of the report narratives suggested that officers general knowledge of ShotSpotter alerts in the area had contributed to the reason for the stop.
Masoud became a translator at 17, with the promise of a shot at the American Dream for him and his family at the end of his service. At his job interview, a Marine captain asked what he would do if he was in a convoy and the American next to him was shot and badly wounded. Masoud replied that he would pick up the service members weapon and continue fighting. He was hired on the spot, according to his National Guard biography.
Though she was told that her stage 2 cancer needed to be treated immediately, she was denied urgent treatment because she did not have any type of health insurance. As an immigrant from Mexico living in the country without permission, she does not qualify for federal programs that offer health coverage and she cant afford private insurance.
That is, unless one party hijacks the redistricting process, as the Democrats did in 2011 and as they did once more this spring. When that happens, voters lose trust in politics and politicians. Remaps should be steppingstones for voters to exercise the new clout that population changes can bring. They shouldnt be turned into partisan bludgeons that perpetuate the dominance of one party over another.
I think its virtually impossible for an alderman to be able to fulfill their responsibility to their ward and residents who are in need, particularly now, when they have the sword of Damocles hanging over their head, and that is a federal indictment, Lightfoot said at an unrelated news conference. Ive had that conversation with Ald. Austin. I will continue to be in dialogue with her. But I think its very difficult for her to be able to do her job, just as it is the others who are indicted. Its an extraordinary thing that we have three sitting aldermen indicted.
Republicans have asked a three-judge federal panel for a summary judgment on their lawsuit, contending the special session is an acknowledgment that the Democratic map is unconstitutional. They say there is no provision for redrawing the boundary lines and want to pick up the constitutional redistricting process which after June 30 requires a bipartisan commission, which inevitably deadlocks, requiring a ninth and partisan tiebreaking member to decide control of the map.
Lollapalooza, which also took place on Park District property and saw 100,000 people per day descend on Grant Park during the four-day festival in late July and early August, required attendees to show a negative COVID-19 test administered within 72 hours of entrance or proof of vaccination. The average daily number of new COVID-19 cases in Chicago has more than doubled in the weeks since the festival, and the city has since implemented an indoor mask mandate.
Like all alleged DUI cases, the case against Ms. Mendoza was 100% avoidable, Berlin said in the release. As I have said many times before, if you have been drinking or for any other reason are not able to safely operate a motor vehicle, do not drive. It is a very simple idea and that is what makes cases such as this so frustrating. The tragic death of Andrew Lewis and so many other DUI victims did not have to happen.
At trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Hudson entered the apartment through an open window just after midnight on Sept. 27, 2017. He then stabbed the man with a knife in the neck, abdomen and chest before he assaulted the woman.
Beyers lawsuit alleges that he was placed on administrative leave in April after he brought concerns to department leaders that police were not conducting a meaningful investigation into the incident, that a report had not been completed, that individual officers turned off body cameras improperly during the police response to the call, and that body camera footage that had been recorded was removed from the police department server before the required 90 days under the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act.
Five-year-old Hasifa Nakirijja is becoming popular in local media and among netizens in Uganda because of her amazing skills in Kung Fu (Chinese martial arts).

Nakirijja stays with her parents in the shanty town of Katooke, north of the country's capital Kampala.

The person behind Nakirijja's skills is her father, Manisuru Ssejjemba, a man-on-a-mission who in 2017 made a journey to a Shaolin Temple, thousands of kilometers away in China.

Ssejjemba set up a makeshift training center behind his house where he trains youngsters to help promote the Kung Fu culture in Uganda.

Yet the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted his training sessions as the government stopped public gatherings to limit the spread of the virus.

Before the pandemic, Ssejjemba was training 17 youngsters and seven adults. He said that more people were signing up to join.

Although the training sessions were drastically scaled down, Ssejjemba is now teaching his daughter Nakirijja.

He told Xinhua in a recent interview that since schools are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nakirijja now has more time to train.

Usually before starting his training sessions for Nakirijja, Ssejjemba first demonstrates his own stretches.

Clad in his red Chinese attire, Ssejjemba stretches out for about 45 minutes as he is closely watched by Nakirijja. Then he jogs around the training center and performs different Kung Fu skills, as some children and adults in the slum area peep through the papyrus mat walls of the center.

Ssejjemba's passion for Kung Fu started in 2003 after he watched several Chinese Kung Fu movies. His favorite actor is action star Jet Li and his favorite movie is "The Forbidden Kingdom."

"I love his movies a lot and he is the one who inspired me to love Kung Fu and also to practice," Ssejjemba said about Jet Li.

"I like it (Kung Fu) so much because it helps the body to be physically fit and also builds the brain," he added, noting that Kung Fu can also be used for self-defense.

Ssejjemba's skills in Kung Fu have led him to film acting. He joined Ramon Film Production that owns the movie studio Wakaliwood, which makes low budget films in Uganda. He has acted in several local movies which have Kung Fu scenes.

He joined the Country Wing Chinese Kung Fu School where he improved his Kung Fu skills. Through the Kung Fu school and Wakaliwood, Ssejjemba said he and three other colleagues traveled to China for about one month in 2017.

They camped at Shaolin Temple in China to learn various drills from different masters.

"When we went to the temple, I saw a lot of techniques, those people in fact practice a lot," Ssejjemba said.

Ssejjemba dreams of setting up a similar Shaolin Temple here in Uganda so Ugandans could learn Kung Fu and other Chinese martial arts.

He is optimistic that the COVID-19 pandemic would soon come to an end so that children and adults in the neighborhood can come back and resume training.

"I am optimistic that after COVID-19, we will have 100 plus people who want to join," he said.

For now, he is concentrating on training his daughter Nakirijja, whose dream is to become a star in Kung Fu movies.
Lin Weixing in Fuzhou, Fujian province, is a fifth-generation inheritor of the She ethic group's silver crafting technique, a 200-year-old art and a national intangible cultural heritage. His silver pieces are sold nationwide and throughout Southeast Asia. [Photo by Lyu Ming/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Lin Weixing was crafting a silver bar with a burin and a small hammer to make a silver bracelet at his shop on a busy street in Fuzhou, Fujian province. The tap-tap-tapping sound attracted tourists from time to time.

Over time, the pattern on the bar became clearer. The next step is polishing, Lin said.

Lin is a fifth-generation inheritor of the She ethic group's silver crafting technique, a 200-year-old art and a national intangible cultural heritage.

The She people admire silver and they use it in connection with major events such as childbirth, weddings, funerals and folk festivals, as well as in their daily lives.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on Monday that its new allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) equivalent to 650 billion U.S. dollars, the largest in the IMF's history, comes into effect, in an effort to help countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.



"The allocation is a significant shot in the arm for the world and, if used wisely, a unique opportunity to combat this unprecedented crisis," IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement.

"The SDR allocation will provide additional liquidity to the global economic system -- supplementing countries' foreign exchange reserves," Georgieva said, adding countries can use the space provided by the SDR allocation to support their economies and step up their fight against the crisis.

SDRs are being distributed to countries in proportion to their quota shares in the IMF. About 275 billion dollars of the new allocation will go to emerging and developing countries, of which low-income countries will receive about 21 billion dollars, according to the IMF.

The announcement came weeks after the board of governors of the IMF on Aug. 2 finally approved the SDR allocation proposal, which was delayed for more than a year.

The United States, the IMF's biggest shareholder with a unique veto power, blocked the proposal last year under the Donald Trump administration. The Joe Biden administration quickly reversed the position and voiced its support for the plan earlier this year.

The SDR allocation proposal gained wide support during the virtual spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank held in April, as G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, as well as officials from other IMF members, backed the plan.

The SDR, an international reserve asset created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement its member countries' official reserves, can be exchanged among governments for freely usable currencies in times of need.

The Chinese currency, renminbi, formally became the fifth currency in the SDR basket on Oct. 1, 2016, joining the U.S. dollar, the euro, the Japanese yen, and the British pound.

The SDR allocation came at an important time as many countries are in acute need of liquidity support to fight the pandemic with the spread of the more contagious Delta variant.

"The SDR allocation is expected to have important macroeconomic benefits for the global economy and for member countries," the IMF staff said in a guidance note released on Monday.

"It is a unique instrument that supports all IMF members, boosts reserves, helps build confidence, and sends a powerful signal of a cooperative multilateral response to the COVID-19 crisis," the IMF staff said, adding the provision of unconditional reserves will help liquidity-constrained countries address the fallout from the COVID-19 crisis.

To magnify the benefits of this allocation, Georgieva said that the IMF is encouraging a voluntary channeling of some SDRs from countries with strong external positions to countries most in need.

Over the past 16 months, some members have already pledged to lend 24 billion dollars, including 15 billion dollars from their existing SDRs, to the IMF's Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, which provides concessional loans to low-income countries, she said.

The SDR allocation is a critical component of the IMF's broader effort to support countries through the pandemic, which includes 117 billion dollars in new financing for 85 countries, debt service relief for 29 low-income countries, and policy advice and capacity development support to over 175 countries to help secure a strong and more sustainable recovery, Georgieva added.

The IMF's last SDR distribution came in 2009 when member countries received 250 billion dollars in SDR reserves to help deal with the global financial crisis.
Vice Premier Liu He Monday called for vigorous efforts to advance the digital economy in China while paying close attention to the issues that its development may bring.

Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a video address to the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Forum on the Digital Economy Industry and the Smart China Expo 2021. The events both opened Monday in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

The digital economy is a significant growth engine for the Chinese economy, Liu said. Liu urged efforts to conform to the development trend and promote technological innovation.

"We should simultaneously pay close attention to the new problems brought by the digital economy, strengthen international cooperation and exchanges, conduct in-depth research and discussions, and put forward effective solutions," Liu said.

He called for a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized environment to develop the digital economy. He also urged giving priority to the building of sound mechanisms to foster its development.
You are here: China

China's public security organs continued the crackdown against activities disrupting the market economy or harming market entities' rights and interests, with over 4,000 offenses uncovered in the first half of the year, authorities said.

The police dealt with over 2,900 cases of contract fraud, 1,100 cases involving seizure of property by taking advantage of one's position, as well as 380 cases of embezzlement of funds.

More than 1,200 gang-related organizations were rooted out from industries including construction and mining.
 Flash

China on Monday donated additional 600,000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to Cambodia, giving the Southeast Asian country another boost to its immunization program.

The new donation included 500,000 doses from China's Ministry of National Defense to Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense and 100,000 doses from the Red Cross Society of China to the Cambodian Red Cross.

Speaking at handover ceremonies held at the Phnom Penh International Airport upon the vaccine arrivals, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian congratulated Cambodia on inching closer to achieving herd immunity against the COVID-19.

"As iron friends and a community of shared future, China regards the challenges and difficulties faced by Cambodia as its own challenges and difficulties," he said. "As long as the COVID-19 is not over, China's aid for Cambodia's fight against the pandemic will not end."

Wang said China will continue to uphold the concept of building a global community of health for all and will continue to do its best to help developing countries cope with the pandemic.

The ambassador said that China resolutely opposes the politicization of COVID-19 origins-tracing, saying that the virus origins-tracing is a serious scientific issue, not a political one.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh expressed his heartfelt thanks to China for donating the new batch of the vaccine, saying that it was another testament to the ironclad friendship between the two countries.

"China is the leading country in providing vaccines to Cambodia in terms of both humanitarian donations and direct orders," he said at the event. "The vaccine is essential for Cambodia to protect its people's lives from COVID-19 and its variants."

Cambodian Red Cross President Bun Rany said the donation truly reflected close friendship between the two countries, especially between the two red crosses.

"This humanitarian assistance is very valuable and shows China's kindness and mutual support during this difficult time," she said, adding that the donated vaccines would be delivered to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to support the government's vaccination drive.

Meanwhile, Rany also praised China for playing a leading role in providing vaccines and medical equipment to help other countries fight against the pandemic.

Cambodia launched a COVID-19 inoculation drive in February, targeting to vaccinate 12 million people, or 75 percent of the kingdom's 16-million population by the end of this year.

As of Aug. 22, some 9.71 million people, or 60.73 percent of the total population, have received at least one vaccine dose, while 7.87 million of them have received both required shots, the MoH said.

The kingdom on Monday reported 410 new COVID-19 cases, raising the national total caseload to 89,641, the MoH said, adding that 16 more fatalities had been confirmed, bringing the overall death toll to 1,808.

Another 537 patients had recovered, taking the total number of recoveries to 85,618, the MoH added.
 Flash

One Afghan citizen was killed and several others wounded on Monday following a shooting outside Kabul airport, where crowds still exist amid U.S. evacuation efforts, multiple sources said.

The shooting occurred when a former military officer holding a pistol fired towards joint security forces at the military gate of the airport in the morning, a witness, on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua near the scene.

Since mid August, U.S. forces, Taliban forces and a small unit of security forces from the Afghan government have been jointly working to ensure order in multiple airport gates as Afghans continue to flood to the airport.

The U.S. Central Command has reportedly confirmed that one Afghan was killed and several wounded but no coalition forces were hurt during the exchange of fire.

The Taliban has not commented on the incident so far. Unofficial sources said one Afghan soldier was killed and several people, including a son of the assailant, were wounded in the shooting.

The U.S. forces have been evacuating diplomats and Afghans who worked for U.S. and the coalition forces, since Taliban took over the control of Kabul.

Earlier in the day, an Italian-run war victim's emergency hospital in Kabul said that six patients from the airport with bullet injuries were admitted to the hospital over the past two days.

At least 20 people were killed and dozens wounded around the airport in multiple shootings and stamped since Aug. 15, according to media reports.
Jesus calls for love and unity, yet His church has splintered into 1000s of pieces. And each of these pieces has also shattered into more pieces.

From Catholicism we see many different orders. Orthodoxy has many geographical and cultural flavours. Anglicanism also talks about a unity yet shows diversity in many matters of faith. And other Protestant denominations continue to split faster than amoebae with various Presbyterian, Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal etc. denominations dividing further.

Even with most modern Christians not understanding the similarities and deep differences between all these denominations, it raises the question, Why so many?!

A recent blog by New York Pastor, Tim Keller, highlighted the passion this topic raises. Keller gave his two cents worth, resulting in a tsunami of troll harsh online comments. From the comments given there seemed to be two positions.

Firstly, denominations are bad because Jesus wanted unity. Therefore, any divisions or denominations are against Gods will. As an example, the hatred between the Protestants and Roman Catholics over the years illuminates the ugly soul of cross-denominational fighting.

Secondly, denominations are good because diversity in the wider Church is healthy and useful. The Bible lists examples and letters to different churches with diverse styles. And if you visit different denominations today, you will see a diversity of worship styles, preaching styles, community involvement and theological positions that allow people to express their own personalities and personal positions towards God.

Lets explore these polarized positions, searching for wisdom on the issue.

How did the one universal Church splinter into the 40,000 or so denominations we have today? The big groups are the Roman Catholic (approximately 40% in Australia), Anglican (25%), Presbyterian (4%), Baptist (3%), Pentecostal (3%), and Orthodox (3%) plus many other independent groups.

Reflections on differences of denominations:

Good. There have always been denominations. A survey of Pauls letters to the various churches reveals the very different regional issues and personalities these churches had.

Paul seems to acknowledge the differences but calls for unity around the cross (i.e. Jesus atonement). The Book of Acts also highlights many differences and even endorses these while giving firm direction for unity of central aspects of the faith (e.g. the Council of Jerusalem).

A modern-day example: One Christian with autism described his difficulty understanding the Book of Revelation with all its rich imagery and symbolism. In the same way he preferred denominations that were more structured in their worship (e.g. formal Anglicanism) and systematic in their teaching (e.g. Reformed theology).

He struggled going to Pentecostal churches with their emphasis on feelings and emotions. This highlights that God made us different. Denominations allow for everyones diverse personality types.

Bad - Paul and Barnabas were two of the biggest figures in the early church. Both godly men were intensely focused on sharing the good news about Jesus. Yet even these Christian giants had such a sharp dispute that they parted ways taking their own followers (Acts Chapter 15 verse 36-41).

Similarly, each letter of Paul describes a dysfunctional church with infighting. For example, some had lavish Lords Supper feasts while others miss out. Even within a denomination people clash, so it is not just the many denominations issue that is the problem.

The problem is really the human heart, where evenly godly people can have their own strong personalities and different opinions on how to do Christs work. It reflects the human heart rather than the gospel concept of reconciliation.

As a result, we should not be surprised that there are so many denominations or endless splits in the church. It points to the Churchs need for a Saviour. It points to the reconciliation Jesus offers.

Case study: A desire for unity brought about foundational documents such as the Council of Nicaea. This aimed to join Christians together with a desire to protect Jesus identity and what He died for.

Similarly, the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) brought denominations together to protect from alleged error in other denominations (the Roman Catholic church). The WCF even infers denominations are God ordained by defining the true Church (capital C) as Gods saved people across all denominations and nations.

This unity is formed by believing in the central truth of the saving power of the cross. As a subset of this universal united Church there are those that are part of a church (small c) yet are not true believers.

Conclusion

I was recently reading the Salvation Armys denomination documents that clearly state their Ministers and workers should not say harsh words against other denominations. While acknowledging the differences it explains that critical hearts are a bigger problem, and these detract from the work of the gospel.

In contrast, the WCF describes the head of the Roman Catholic denomination, the Pope, as the antichrist identifying error as the bigger problem to the gospel. Is only one correct or are they both correct in context?

Denominations are both positive and negative. God ordained them for our benefit yet also grieves over the critical hearts of its members. Denominations can come from our pride, independency, and inability to get along. However, they can also come from seeking unity and protecting the gospel.

The application comes from realizing the complexity of unity in a fallen world. It means changing the question to, How can we build unity?

The thing that unites all denominations is the gospel  a central message of Jesus saving His people from their sin. Unity comes from keeping this in focus and submitting to this rather than fighting against others.
Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Gum (Confectionery) Market in Saudi Arabia  Outlook to 2025; Market Size, Growth and Forecast AnalyticsunderFood and Beverage Market Research Reportscategory. The Gum (Confectionery) Market in Saudi Arabia is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports.



Gum (Confectionery) Market in Saudi Arabia  Outlook to 2025; Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics is a broad level market review of Gum Market in Saudi Arabia.

Gum  includes all bubble and chewing gum (including functional gum and sugar free gum). Also includes dental gums such as Air-Lift Dental Chewing Gum



Gum market in Saudi Arabia registered a positive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.80% during the period 2015 to 2020 with a sales value of SAR 749.71 Million in 2020, an increase of 4.63% over 2019. The market achieved its strongest performance in 2018, when it grew by 8.54% over its previous year and its weakest performance in 2017, when it increased by 4.13% over 2016.







The research handbook provides up-to-date market size data for period 2015-2020 and illustrative forecast to 2025 premised on Covid-19 hit, covering key market aspects like Sales Value and Volume for Gum and its variants Bubble Gum and Chewing Gum.



Furthermore, the research handbook details out Sales Value and Volume for top brands for the year 2017 to 2020 and overall market sales by Distribution Channel (Dollar Stores, Variety Store & General Merchandise Retailers, Cash & Carries and Warehouse Clubs, Convenience Stores & Gas Stations, Department Stores, Drug Stores & Pharmacies, Chemists/Pharmacies, Parapharmacies/Drugstores, eRetailers, Food & Drinks Specialists, Health & Beauty Stores, Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Direct Sellers, Others, On Trade, Vending Machines, Other Specialist Retailers, Tobacco Specialists) where ever applicable.



Due to on going large scale uncertainties in the market due to COVID-19 pandemic, the research handbook acts as an essential tool for companies active or planning to venture in to Saudi Arabias Gum (Confectionery) market. The comprehensive statistics within the research handbook provides insight into the operating environment of the market and also ensures right business decision making based on historical trends and industry model based forecasting.



Sales Values in the handbook are depicted in USD ($) and local currency of country and Volumes are represented in M Kilograms.



*Note: Certain content / sections in the research handbook may be removed or altered based on the availability and relevance of data.



Scope

 Overall Gum (Confectionery) market value and volume analytics with growth analysis from 2015 to 2025.

 Value and Volume terms for the top brands.

 Distribution channel sales analytics from 2017-2020.



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The global high purity alumina market Size is anticipated to reach USD 6.68 billion by 2025, expanding at a CAGR of 20.3% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is majorly driven by the growing demand from LED lighting and electric vehicles.

The increasing consumer preference towards energy-efficient and cost-effective LEDs has propelled its demand, which has resulted in the high consumption of HPA. This trend has led the manufacturers to set up new plants and extend their target market to cater to the growing demand. For instance, in May 2019, Seacera Group Bhd announced its plan to set up a LED production plant in Tangga Batu, Melaka, Malaysia that is expected to turn operational after three years.

The growing LED production is anticipated to be fruitful for the global HPA demand, as HPA is used in sapphire substrates, which are further used in LEDs. Synthetic sapphire is also used in semiconductors and glass. The rising demand for semiconductors is influenced by the growth of the electronics industry. For instance, in July 2018, SK Hynix announced about its investment of USD 3.1 billion for setting up an additional semiconductor plant in South Korea, in order to meet the increasing demand of memory chips. The increasing production of semiconductor is anticipated to augment HPA demand in near future.

Browse Details of Report @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/high-purity-alumina-market

Manufacturers of battery separators in Asia Pacific are focusing on increasing their production capacities to meet the ascending demand for lithium-ion batteries in the region. For instance, in July 2019, SK Innovation announced about expanding the production capacity for lithium-ion battery separators at its plant in South Korea. The expansion will increase the annual production capacity of the company by around 47%. The increasing production of separators is thus, anticipated to augment the HPA consumption in Asia Pacific, during the forecast period.

The key players of the high purity alumina market such as Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd, Altech Chemicals Ltd., Baikowski, FYI Resources Limited, and Pure Alumina are striving to extend their market share due to intense competition. Strategic initiatives such as investments in research & development, capacity expansion, and cost-effective manufacturing processes are being adopted by the key players.

Further key findings from the report suggest:

 LED segment accounted for a volume share of 51.1% in 2018, on account of increasing production due to its environmental friendly, energy-efficient, and cost-effective characteristics.

 Sapphire segment is anticipated to augment at a CAGR of 19.6%, in terms of revenue, due to increasing consumption of sapphire glass in smartphones and electronic devices display.

 4N was the largest product segment in 2018, accounting for a revenue share of 41.6%, owing to its low cost and easy availability compared to other grades is expected to increase the demand further over the forecast period

 North America accounted for a revenue share of 14% in 2018 owing to the increasing demand for electric vehicles in the region which in turn is expected to further boost the demand the product over the forecast period

 Increasing demand from end-use industries is compelling manufacturers to increase their production capacities. For example, as of February 2019, a new added automated press by Polar Sapphire Ltd. for producing HPA pellets is expected to increase production capacity by 500 tons annually.

Grand View Research has segmented the global high purity alumina market report on the basis of product, application, and region:

High Purity Alumina Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons, Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

 4N

 5N

 6N
Market Highlights

The global dermatology diagnostic device market has been evaluated as rapidly growing market and expected that the market will reach high growth figures. The benefits such as easy detection of the skin disease at the initial stages had increased their market globally. Dermatology diagnostic devices are widely accepted by the patient suffering from diseases like skin cancer, lesions, scalp problems, wrinkles, warts and other skin related diseases. Out of total cases of skin disease worldwide, US comprise around 6% of the cases while Europe comprises 7.5 % of the cases which are expected to increase during the forecast period, leading to the growth of the overall market. Technology advancements in treatments and increased incidences of skin diseases, acne, psoriasis, tattoo removal and other skin related problems are the major factors leading for the growth of market.

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Global Dermatology diagnostic device market Players:

The major participants of this market are: Valeant Pharmaceuticals (Canada), Alma Lasers, Ltd. (Israel), Cutera, Inc. (U.S.), Lumenis, Ltd. (Israel), Cynosure, Inc. (U.S.), Dino-Lite Europe/IDCP B.V., Michelson Diagnostics Ltd., (UK), Galderma S.A., (Switzerland), and Cutera, Inc. (US).

Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market and is expected to continue to grow at the same rate during the forecasted period. North America captures the largest market share of 70% in 2013 of the global Dermatology Diagnostic device Market Size due to high prevalence of skin related diseases, and easy availability of dermatology diagnostic devices and treatment facilities which is possible because of the widespread healthcare infrastructure and government encouragement to medical innovation. It is expected to grow further during the forecasted period. Developing countries were reported to have maximum cases of skin disease but due to lack of technology advancement, skin care facilities, high cost of treatment, and lack of awareness, only few cases were reported and treated in the last 7 years.

Segmentation:

The global dermatology diagnostic device Market is majorly segmented on the basis of types, their application and end users. Based on the diagnostic device, the market is segmented into dermatoscopes, imaging devices, and microscopes. Further on the basis of application the market is classified into skin cancer, lesion and others. Similarly, on the basis of end users the market is again classified into hospitals, research labs and centers, institutions and others.

Imaging device is expected to account for the largest market share due to advancement in technology and increasing awareness regarding aesthetic procedures. Also skin cancer segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecasted period due to increase incidences of the disease.

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LONDON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TPBank, one of the most established financial institutions in Vietnam, has won both "Best Customer Service Banking Brand, Vietnam 2021" and "Best Mobile Banking Application, Vietnam 2021". The felicitation ceremony will be held at the Palm Jumeirah a Waldorf AstoriaA in early 2022 in Dubai. The Global Brand AwardsA is an annual event held by Global Brands Magazine (GBM), an international publication headquartered in the UK. The award aims to recognise global brands achieving excellence in performance across a broad range of sectors while keeping its readers updated on key trends surrounding the branding world. TPBank was evaluated based on customer service, satisfaction, digital innovation, strategic relationships and new business development. Commenting on TPBank winning the awards, Jay Reddy (Director) of Global Brands magazine, said, "TPBank very deservedly has been allocated two distinct awards on this occasion, not only for its continued excellence in customer service but also for its exemplar mobile application, both of which outshine competitors from the region. Having only been established in 2008, TPBank has shown tremendous achievements compared to even its most established competitors that have existed decades longer. We at GBM proudly allocate them these prestigious awards." Commenting on winning the award, Nguyen Hung (CEO) said, "I'm very honoured to receive the Best Customer Service Banking Brand, Vietnam 2021 and Best Mobile Banking Application, Vietnam 2021. I'd first like to express my gratitude to Global Brand Magazines for recognising the efforts we've made to TPBank over the years." "For many consecutive years, TPBank has continuously launched the most modern technologies that update the most prominent trends in the market, especially in mobile banking. In 2020, It was also the first bank to successfully implement eKYC on Mobile App, allowing customers to open an Account with only 5 seconds of identification. TPBank Mobile Digital Banking App reached the Top 1 of most downloaded banking and finance apps in Vietnam for consecutive weeks. Customer service quality is also something that TPBank always cares about and improves every day, so that customers always have the best experience at TPBank. TPBank will always strive every day for new and better values. Thank you so much," he said. About TPBank TPBankA is a Vietnamese bank that was established in 2008. TPBank combines and harnesses the technological prowess of its shareholders, including DOJI Gold and Gems Group, FPT Corporation, MobiFone Corporation, Vietnam National Reinsurance and SBI Ven Holding Pte. Ltd, Singapore. AboutA Global Brands MagazineA (England) Global Brands MagazineA (GBM) has been at the forefront, bringing news, views and opinions on brands shaping the future of their industry. The UK-based magazine provides its readers with the latest news and information on 'best-in-class brands across the globe. Each year, GBMA develops a series of awards for companies that stood out, having a unique vision, exceptional service, innovative solutions and consumer-centric products among their industry leaders. About Global Brand Awards Global Brand AwardsA honours brands for their excellence in performance and rewards companies across different sectors for the quality of their services. TheA Brand AwardsA highlight accomplishments of organisations that have performed remarkably well in finance, education, hospitality, automotive, lifestyle, education, real estate, technology and several more. Global Brand Awards recognise vital players who progress towards excellence by providing a platform to acknowledge their efforts. In addition, GBM strives to create awareness concerning the significance of such organisations and rewards them for their notable efforts with the ultimate global recognition. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1508879/GBM_Final_Logo.jpg
Join Edith Salas of Salas Properties & host Jenn Barlow as they visit the Coronado Shores community. The towers have amazing views including the world famous Hotel del Coronado, downtown San Diego, San Diego Bay, the City of Coronado, Point Loma, and the Pacific Ocean.
Litchfield, CT (06759)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Potential for flooding rains. High 64F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

A steady rain. The rain will be heavy at times. Low 57F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Litchfield, CT (06759)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Potential for flooding rains. High around 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

A steady rain. The rain will be heavy at times. Low 57F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
CVS Health Corp. and Cigna Corp. have become the first of what are expected to be numerous companies requiring workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as public officials grapple with a rising number of cases brought on by the delta variant among those who balk at getting a shot.
Young said she bought the house on Gerard Street in 2019. She lives there with her two children and her grandfather, who is blind and had to be rescued by firefighters Sunday as water surrounded the home. Young said she was on the phone with her grandfather before help arrived, warning him not to step outside. Firefighters used a borrowed canoe to rescue the man along with another resident of the same street.
I think that what weve got to acknowledge is that theres a fear factor, and its driven by lots of things, Cardon said. It could be things that we think dont make sense because its not rational, but if you believe such a thing, that this vaccine is harmful in some way, is going to harm me or put my ability to have kids at risk, or all the other things you hear, thats just scary.
In Flora, the customers  I know they feel better wearing a mask and when they see us wearing a mask. Im quick to say, its the Town of West Hartford, were going to all wear the masks. We are following the towns guidance, he said. In Newington, it would have been dangerous if the town left this up to me. I could disenfranchise some of my regulars. I cannot afford to lose even that one customer at a time like this.
The PURA order on storm response clearly identified areas for improvement. We know we have to work to do not only our response plan, but also on our relationship with PURA, he said. This was apparent from the April 28 decision and a subsequent notice of violation. I can assure you that we hear this loud and clear and already doing all we can to improve on both counts.
It will pay to clean any ground contamination in the lot where White Oak parked a massive fleet of construction trucks; the company also had a fuel depot there along with a maintenance garage. The grant will also pay to remove asbestos, lead paint and any other contaminants from the existing buildings.
Its unimaginable,' George said. You can hear that in the tone of voice and the tears that people have when they talk to us. People are literally going from one safe house to another, trying to stay one step ahead of the Taliban that is searching for them. Theyre terrified.  It really is bedlam over there. Im really worried that were not going to be able to get everybody out.'
The company objected to some of the criticism of its performance last year, and Nolan said COVID-19 precautions complicated its response. (Judge, who stepped down as CEO, remains as executive chairman.) But Judge last year acknowledged a major failure in communications and coordination, a problem Nolan said has been corrected with a new online portal and more liaisons Also, at least one bucket truck is positioned in every community with an outage.
Lincoln, NE (68508)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 82F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 66F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.
Lincoln, NE (68508)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 82F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 66F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.
She probes relationships  particularly marriage  with candor. In The Church of Abundant Life, an older woman peers back at a lost romance through the lens of Christianity. First Language limns tensions within an arranged union, the lengths to which an immigrant bride goes to please her first-generation husband; as the narrator observes in her faulty English: It is very easy to lie in the language that is not your first language.
The evidence that Webb wants excluded from the trial includes that Green is a convicted felon; that he was on probation for a past case; that he was recently convicted on a federal gun charge pertaining to the 2020 incident; that he was out on bond on a 2016 North Carolina bank robbery charge when he tried to flee from the officers; and that a cooler bag found outside his car after the fatal crash contained a large amount of cash.
Mrs. Butts would be proud that a historical sign was installed here in her honor. She would have been even prouder to know that she is still inspiring fellow citizens to vote and to help ensure the voting rights of other people, Mayor Kenny Alexander said in a statement. That would be our greatest tribute to the life, leadership, and legacy of Norfolks own Evelyn Thomas Butts.
Broccoletti argued the government failed to prove some essential elements needed to win a bribery conviction. There was no evidence that any of the gifts or other things of value McCabe got from the contractors were given in exchange for an official act, or that the men had conspired together, he said.
In terms of public education, McAuliffe said his plan features an extensive revitalization effort geared toward schools. With Virginia ranking highest in the country with the lowest pay for teachers, McAuliffe said, if elected, he plans to increase teacher pay as well as invest in infrastructure to fix older schools.
Students wait in the line to pick up online orders from Barnes & Noble on Monday, August 24, 2020 at the Student Union Building.
The sudden showers also took many by surprise, with waterlogging in many areas affecting the evening traffic as well.  DC Image

HYDERABAD: After days of dry and hot weather, the city on Monday witnessed heavy downpours at several places. Rainfall measuring 54.2 mm was recorded at the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) office at Begumpet. This is the third-highest rainfall the city has received this decade. The all-time record was of the year 2000, when on August 24, the city had received 241.5 mm of rainfall.

Areas including Khairatabad, Musheerabad, Nampallly, Karkhana, Ameerpet, Golconda, Bansilalpet, Sainikpuri, Kapra, Raj Bhavan Road and other areas witnessed rainfall. Till 8.30 pm, the highest rainfall in the city was recorded at the Mallapur Biodiversity Park, which had received 88.8 mm of rainfall.

As heavy downpour led to water logging in many places, social media was flooded with images of inundated roads, fallen trees, and electric poles. There was power outage for a small duration in 15 places over the city. Fortunately, it was only rain and if there had been wind, the power outage would have gone on for a longer duration, a source from the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) told this newspaper.

The sudden showers also took many by surprise, with waterlogging in many areas affecting the evening traffic as well. Jams were reported at places like CTO, Paradise Junction, Parklane, and Ranigunj towards Karbala Maidan. Till 7 pm, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation received 34 complaints pertaining to rain-related problems. However, it is not over for the city as the local IMD forecasted more rains in the days to come.

There is a trough that is persisting over the state. Under its influence, we will receive light to moderate rains. For the next two or three days, we can expect thunderstorms to prevail over it, said K Naga Ratna, director, IMD, Hyderabad.
Chennai: State BJPs most popular face on television, K T Raghavan, was forced to make a hasty exit from the party, hours after a clandestinely captured visual of him, behaving inappropriately during a video call with a woman party colleague, started making its rounds on social media on Tuesday early morning, exposing a deep fissure in the party.

Termed a sting operation by the makers of the video and as a honey trap and an instance of Me Too by social media users, the video that went viral within minutes of its release on YouTube threw up a kaleidoscope of speculations, emotions and hidden truths.

As the troll army unleashed memes, mocking and challenging the BJP to respond to the repulsive behavior of its leader  Raghavan was party State general secretary and spokesman  the resignation came in quickly, so did a clarification from the State president K Annamalai.

Since the video maker, a rabble rouser on social media and a self-confessed member of the BJP, alleged in his longish spiel - the offending visuals formed just a part of the narrative - that Annamalai knew about the video, the speculation was that the group opposed to Raghavan in the party, or Annamalai himself, had masterminded the entire operation.

That Annamalai did not make any mention of taking action against the video maker who could have been accused of besmirching the image of the party in the statement made many believe that it was nothing but a sign of factionalism in the party assuming diabolical contours.

To put it otherwise, an earlier article on salacious happenings and rampant instances of Me Too in the state unit that appeared in a Tamil newspaper, known to be an unofficial mouthpiece of BJP, was rumoured to been published at the behest of Raghavan, who wanted show some colleagues in bad light. Has that affected group now got even with the latest video?

The visuals show Raghavan, with a bare chest, indulging in indecent behavior even as he converses with the woman, identified as a district office bearer of the party. The inference is that the woman, whose face has been morphed, was being subjected to sexual harassment by the powerful general secretary.

The video maker acknowledges the compliance of the woman in his sting operation and says the purpose was to save women from the clutches such lechers. He talks a lot about his social consciousness and also about having more such videos of other leaders in his quiver that would be shot into the public domain at the right time.

Some social media users, however, suggested that Raghavan could have been honey trapped by the woman as the video maker himself had said that his partner in the operation had spoken to the woman and convinced her to help expose the party bigwigs obnoxious attitude.

The sudden fall of Raghavan from grace made an extraordinary impact in media circles for he had been a regular in media discussions and coordinating friendly media persons meetings with Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and many others for quite some time.

His clout in the media industry and the party was such that he took a select band of top editors and media company owners on a secret trip to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on August 2, 2018. Interestingly after the news of the meeting leaked, some editors justified it as an off-the record interaction.
New Delhi: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced a Rs 6-lakh crore National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) plan, listing out the government's infrastructure assets to be sold over the next four years. The projects have been identified across sectors, with roads, railways and power making up the top three segments. Also, the states will be incentivised to monetise public sector assets, with 30 to 100 per cent interest-free loan assistance, depending on the monetisation mode.

Ms Sitharaman clarified that the NMP plan does not mean selling land, rather it talks about brownfield assets where investments are already being made and where there are assets either languishing or not fully monetised or underutilised.

"For those who have this question in mind -- are we selling the land? No. The NMP is talking about brownfield assets that need to be better monetised. By bringing in private participation, we are going to monetise it (assets) better and with whatever resources that you obtained by monetisation, you are able to put further investment into infrastructure building, she said, launching the governments mega NMP plan here.

According to the Niti Aayog, the NMP plan will serve as a medium-term roadmap for the governments asset monetisation initiative. For this, the Centre has finalised Rs 6 lakh crores worth of infrastructure assets that will be monetised.

Elaborating, Ms Sitharaman said: The ownership of assets remains with the government. There will be a mandatory handback. They (private sector partners) will have to give it back after a certain time. Also, by bringing in private participation, the government is going to monetise its assets better.

The finance minister further said the Centre will also incentivise states to monetise their public assets. The incentives will be given by the Centre to states as 50-year, interest-free loans. Up to Rs 5,000 crores financial assistance is already budgeted as 50-year interest-free loans for states for the current year, she said.

If the states divest a PSU and raise funds, the government will give them 100 per cent of that amount as financial assistance. If they monetise the asset, then government will give them 33 per cent of that amount. If the states list a public company in the stock markets and raise funds, the Central government will be give them 50 per cent of that amount, she added.

The finance minister also said this year's Budget identified infrastructure as a key focus for public spending. For the NMP plan, the Centre has identified highways, railways and power as top three sectors for asset monetisation. Fifteen railway stadiums, 25 airports and the stake of the Central government in existing airports and 160 coal mining projects will be up for monetisation, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said.

We feel that it is very important to bring in the private sector for better operation and maintenance. Therefore, we are committed to very strong delivery on the ground Mr Kant added.
Hyderabad: After Dalit Bandhu, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has proposed to bring BC Bandhu later for the uplift of backward classes people. The decision was announced at the TRS state executive committee meeting chaired by Rao at the Telangana Bhavan on Tuesday.

He said the TRS would help all the castes and religions in a phased manner by bringing schemes like Dalit Bandhu, according to sources. Rao, in his address, expressed the confidence that the TRS would remain in power for 20 years, they added.

However, he reportedly avoided any reference to the upcoming Huzurabad bypoll in the two-hour long meeting. It's the TRS which will bring BC Bandhu and similar schemes for all other castes and religions in future in phases. The TRS will not leave out anyone who is poor and needs financial support to come up in life. The TRS will remain in power for the next 20 years and will implement all these schemes," Rao reportedly said.

Rao lashed out at Opposition parties for trying to provoke other castes against Dalits by undertaking a false propaganda against Dalit Bandhu. He said Dalits were chosen first to extend `10 lakh financial assistance each as they remain at the bottom of the pyramid.

"This doesn't mean that we have no concern for the poor belonging to other castes. Dalits are languishing in extreme poverty not just in Telangana but in the entire country even after 70 years of independence. Hovernments at the Centre and the states have failed to bring qualitative change in the lives of Dalits. For that reason, I have decided to do something for the betterment of Dalits, who remain at the bottom of the pyramid. Step by step, we will move upwards covering all castes and religions," Rao stated. He talked about Dalit Bandhu scheme and its importance for over an hour.

Later, speaking to the media, TRS working president and minister K.T. Rama Rao said, "The CM's speech on Dalit Bandhu for over an hour was like an academic discourse. He cleared all the doubts surrounding the scheme and motivated all to work for the effective implementation of Dalit Bandhu in Huzurabad on a pilot basis. If this pilot programme becomes a success, the entire country will look at Telangana and it will fuel debate in all states to follow suit."
Vijayawada: Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Tuesday that the state government has credited Rs 666.84 crore into the accounts of over seven lakh Agri Gold victims who had deposited upto Rs 20,000 each in the property-linked financial enterprise and lost the money.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is keeping up a promise it had made to those victims. The government has credited Rs 905.57 crore to benefit almost 10.4 lakh families in two phases.

The CM said the Agri Gold scam had taken place with the involvement of Telugu Desam leaders. He criticised the previous government headed by Chandrababu Naidu for abandoning the victims and trying to appropriate the Agri Gold properties.

The CM said that, in the coming days, the government would take steps to sell the attached properties of Agri Gold and compensate all the victims. He had heard the victims of Agri Gold from every district expressing their agony and requesting him to help get back their hard-earned money, Jagan said.

The victims include daily ordinary labourers to middle-class families, who all deposited their earnings in the money-growth scheme. Sadly, they went into problems with the Agri Gold firm collapsing.

The Chief Minister said the state government has credited, in all, Rs 905.57 crore to banks, to be distributed to 10.4 lakh families in two phases.

There is no instance of any government in the country taking the responsibility for restoring money to families who were betrayed by a private sector company. As identified by the district legal service authority (DLSA), the state government had released Rs238.73 crore in November 2019, to be given to 3.4 lakh Agri Gold victims who had made less than Rs 10,000 deposits. Those who were left out in the first tranche, almost 3.86 lakh depositors, could get a newly credited amount of Rs207.61 crore on Tuesday, he said.

The entire process is being done in a most-transparent way through volunteers and tracking by CID officials, he said.

The Chief Minister said the scam was enacted for the benefit of the leaders of the TD, or those in the previous government, who were also part of the company management. Although the TD government promised to help the victims during the 2014 elections, all it did in five years of its term was to loot the companys properties and abandon the victims, Jagan said.

He added that the Naidu-led government dragged the matter for long and released a GO to compensate the families, just two months before the 2019 elections. Even after sanctioning Rs 785 crore to compensate those families, it didnt bother to pay even a single rupee to those victims, the CM said.

Deputy Chief Ministers Dharmana Krishnadas and Pamula Pushpasrivani, home minister Mekathoti Sucharitha, Panchayat Raj and rural development minister Peddireddy Ramachandrareddy, municipal and urban development minister Botsa Satyanarayana, R&B minister Sankaranarayana, BC welfare minister Venugopalakrishna, chief secretary Adityanath Das, DGP Gautam Sawang, CID additional DGP Sunil Kumar home secretary Kumara Viswajeet and MLC Lella Appireddy were among those present.
HYDERABAD: In a major jolt to the state executive, the Telangana High Court on Monday directed Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, also the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA), to pay Rs 25,000 to P. Laxminarayana Reddy, an ex-servicemen, within two weeks and also give possession of four acres of land in Survey No. 118 of Yenkepally village of Vikarabad district.

Failing this, Chief Secretary has to appear before the court at the next hearing and explain why the order was not complied with.

This is the second time that the court imposed a fine on the revenue secretary for not obeying the court orders. He already paid Rs 20,000 to Laxminarayana Reddy in another contempt case for not implementing orders of a single judge bench.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy was dealing a contempt case filed by Laxminarayana Reddy, who said revenue officials had not handed over the possession of four acres of land which was allocated to him under the ex-servicemen quota in 2010. As the possession was not handed over, the ex-servicemen knocked the doors of the High Court. A single judge bench directed the revenue department to hand over the possession of the land. When it was not complied with, the single judge bench imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the revenue secretary.

While the issue stood like that, the government filed an appeal before the division bench, stating that it was the mistake of the ex-serviceman as he did not take possession and cultivated the land allocated to him within three years from the date of allocation.

After examining the records, the court came to know that apart from allocation of land on papers, no physical possession of land was handed over to the ex-serviceman, by giving demarcation or any other proceedings. Closing the appeal, the court directed the authorities on June 15 this year to hand over the actual physical possession of land to the ex-serviceman within two weeks. As these orders were not complied by the authorities, Laxminarayana Reddy filed the contempt case.
Former Amalapuram MP Harsha Kumars son and young Congress leader Sri Raj has fried quail-Kouju in protest against Twitter suspending the account of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

KAKINADA: Former Amalapuram MP Harsha Kumars son and young Congress leader Sri Raj has created a flutter by killing a bird (quail-Kouju), to match with the image of the Twitter logo bird, and sent the fried bird to Twitter offices via post.

He did this in protest against Twitter suspending the account of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The entire action was video-graphed, and he posted it onto his Instagram page. He also informed this to the Congress office.

He said in his message to the Congress office that this protest was staged by Congress leader Harsha Kumar from the state and his followers raised slogans in favour of Rahul Gandhi and against the BJP. After posting a part of the fried bird, we ate the remaining pieces, he has stated.

The Pradesh Congress disciplinary committee and the All India Congress Committees communication wing took a serious note of the incident. Sources quoted the committee president Lingamsetty Eswararao as saying such protests would hurt the image of the Congress party.

From Mahatma Gandhi to Rahul Gandhi, Congress leaders maintained a high degree of decency in their conduct. The AICC communication wing, therefore, suspended Sri Raj from party membership, it was stated.

Harsha Kumar told Deccan Chronicle that the incident took place as a mark of protest.
KARIMNAGAR: After the August 16 public meeting of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for launching Dalit Bandhu as a pilot project in Huzurabad constituency, the pace of political activity appears to have slackened. Many TRS leaders, who have been assigned responsibilities have gradually stopped visiting villages for campaigning. Many are disappointed that they are being given less importance compared to others who have recently joined the party.

One of them accused TRS leadership of ignoring workers who have been with the party right from the beginning.

After coming to know of these developments, finance minister Harish Rao held a confidential meeting on Saturday night with party in-charges and active workers.

He said he has information about some leaders not participating in campaigning. He warned such leaders to mend their ways and continue their interaction with people, explaining the benefits they are going to derive from Dalit Bandhu and other welfare schemes of the state government.

While this is so, Rajendar is trying hard to retain his seat by interacting with various sections of people in the constituency even as his main followers have shifted their loyalties to ruling TRS. Rajendar is ploughing the lonely furrow for the time being with lack of participation from either state or national leadership of BJP in campaigning.

The Congress is lagging behind in terms of poll campaigning compared to TRS and BJP. It has till date not even finalised its candidate who is going to contest from Huzurabad. However, the party leadership held a meeting last Saturday and shortlisted names of three candidates  S.A. Sampath Kumar, Konda Surekha and Patti Kistareddy.

A report in this regard has been submitted to state AICC in-charge Manickam Tagore, who will finalise the candidate in consultation with central leadership of the Congress.
Thiruvananthapuram: Former Kerala DGP Siby Mathews was on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail by a court here in the case registered by the CBI in connection with the illegal arrest of former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan and two Maldives nationals in a 1994 spying case.

The relief was granted by Principal District and Sessions Judge P Krishnakumar, advocate V Ajakumar -- who appeared for Mathews -- confirmed.

The order was also confirmed by advocate Prasad Gandhi, who had appeared for the two Maldivian nationals -- Mariyam Rasheeda and Fouziyya Hasan.

The detailed order is awaited.

Both Narayanan and the two women from Maldives had opposed granting any relief to Mathews.

Recently Kerala High Court had granted anticipatory bail plea to three former police officers and a retired Intelligence Bureau (IB) official in the same case.

CBI has lodged the case against Mathews and 17 others, including IB officials, for various offences like criminal conspiracy and kidnapping and fabrication of evidence, under the IPC in connection with the arrest of Narayanan and the two Maldives nationals

The Supreme Court had on April 15 ordered that the report of a high-level committee on the role of erring police officials in the espionage case relating to Narayanan be given to the CBI and directed the agency to conduct further investigation on the issue.

The three-member committee, headed by former apex court judge Justice (retd) D K Jain, was appointed by the top court in 2018 after acquitting Narayanan in the case.

The Supreme Court had also directed the Kerala government to pay Rs 50 lakh as compensation for compelling Narayanan to undergo "immense humiliation".

The espionage case, which had hit the headlines then, pertained to allegations of transfer of certain confidential documents on India's space programme to foreign countries by two scientists and four others, including two Maldivian women.

The CBI, in its probe back then, had held that the then top police officials in Kerala were responsible for Narayanan's illegal arrest.

The case also had a political fallout, with a section in the Congress targeting the then Chief Minister late K Karunakaran over the issue, that eventually led to his resignation.
Mumbai: Union minister Narayan Rane has sparked off a row over his remarks about slapping Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for what he claimed as the latter's ignorance of the year of India's independence.

There is speculation that Rane may be arrested over the remarks against the chief minister. Some reports said a team of Nashik police has left for Chiplun in Konkan region, where Rane is present now, after a complaint against the Union minister over the remarks. There is no word yet from the police on these developments.

It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap, Rane said during his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in adjoining Raigad district on Monday.

The BJP leader and former Shiv Sena chief minister claimed Thackeray forgot the year of independence during his August 15 address to the people of the state. Thackeray had to check the year of independence with his aides midway during the speech that day, Rane said.

Rane's remarks drew sharp reactions from Shiv Sena, whose workers put several posters in Mumbai and other places, calling him a kombdi chor' (chicken stealer), a reference to the poultry shop he ran in Chembur five decades ago, during his initial stint with the Bal Thackeray-led party.

Shiv Sena's Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg MP Vinayak Raut said Rane has lost his mental balance.

To impress BJP leadership, Rane has been attacking Shiv Sena and its leaders. He lost his mental balance after his induction into the Modi-led ministry. Modi should show him the door, Raut said.

Rane flagged off his political life in Mumbai with the son-of-the-soil party led by Bal Thackeray in the late 1960s. He entered the Maharashtra Assembly in 1990 as a Sena MLA.

In February 1999 he was sworn in as Maharashtra's 13th chief minister. That stint was short as the then Shiv Sena-BJP combine lost the state Assembly elections held later that year.

In 2005, Rane parted ways with the Shiv Sena following irreconcilable differences with the Thackerays.

After quitting the Sena, he joined the Congress and was made state revenue minister. He quit the Congress in 2017, saying he had joined it on assurance of being put in the state's top position in six months.

He founded the Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha with his two sons Nilesh and Nitesh as his key generals but later merged it with the BJP.

Over the years, Rane's rivals have linked him to several incidents of violence, claiming his involvement in the murder of a Sena worker and some other crimes in Konkan's Sindhudurg district.


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HAMMOND  Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. is running next year for the U.S. Senate.

The five-term leader of Northwest Indiana's most populous city filed paperwork Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission indicating his McDermott for Congress campaign committee now will be used for a Senate bid, instead of a second possible run for the U.S. House.

McDermott said the office change "is the next step" as he begins openly courting support among elected officials, party leaders, activists, and voters at an annual Democratic Party gathering this weekend in French Lick, Indiana, for a possible challenge to incumbent U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind.

"I want to make sure I'm not going to be controversial as a candidate, that the party wants me, and making sure that it appears everything is going the way we need it to go if I'm going to be a serious challenger to Todd Young," McDermott said.

"As long I get a lot of green lights from key people, I'm willing to take on who I consider one of the toughest opponents in the Republican Party."

WATCH NOW: Mayor McDermott Gives 17th State of the City Address

McDermott has hinted for months a Senate run could be in his future, especially as Young repeatedly has voted against items on Democratic President Joe Biden's legislative agenda that help Indiana, including financial support for Hoosier families with children and federal funds to pay for road and bridge repairs and broadband internet expansion.

"Washington, D.C., is broken, let's be honest," McDermott said. "In particular, the U.S. Senate, in my opinion, is the place where good bills go to die, and Todd Young is part of the problem."

The U.S. Navy veteran said he initially had high hopes that Young, a Naval Academy graduate, would be a leader in the mold of former U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., who McDermott said was willing to work across the aisle and always focused on the needs of Hoosiers.

But McDermott said Young over the past five years has become only about raising campaign money, hobnobbing with lobbyists, and blocking the president.

"It has nothing to do with Hoosiers anymore, and that bugs me," McDermott said. "I'm a Hoosier, and I'm a Democrat, and I know he doesn't give a crap about me or what I feel is important. He doesn't care. He ignores us."

A spokesman for the Young campaign declined to comment on McDermott's Senate bid.

McDermott said his campaign will be about offering Hoosiers an experienced, credible alternative to Young who will follow in the footsteps of the best Hoosier senators of both political parties, instead of being a reflexive partisan merely for the sake of partisanship.

"I'm the kind of guy who can get people across the aisle to vote for me," McDermott said.

McDermott never got the chance to prove that in his most recent campaign. He was defeated by U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, in the 2020 Democratic primary election to represent Northwest Indiana in the House.

After initially wallowing in that defeat, and starting his "Left of Center" podcast to talk his way through it, McDermott, 52, said he's realized an election loss isn't the end of the world  it could be the start of something great.

He noted former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg unsuccessfully ran for Indiana state treasurer, Democratic National Committee chairman, and president of the United States, and Buttigieg still ended up as U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

Watch Now: Riding Shotgun With NWI Paramedics

"Pete Buttigieg wasn't afraid to take on a big challenge and that's been inspiring to me  and this is a guy that's 20 years younger than me," McDermott said. "He's inspired me to take chances and to do things that are hard."

McDermott said he has no plans to resign as mayor if he mounts a full-fledged Senate campaign. He said he's learned over the years how to balance his city duties with his political activities and excel at both.

"I still have a family and I still have to be the mayor of Hammond, and I plan to do a good job at that as well," McDermott said.

So far, only one other Democratic candidate, Haneefah Khaaliq, has raised money and filed the preliminary paperwork required to run in the May 3, 2022, primary election.

The winner of the Democratic and Republican primaries then will compete for Hoosier votes at the Nov. 8, 2022, general election with a six-year Senate term on the line.

Get to know these new Indiana laws enacted in 2021
Reports say that President Joe Biden refuses military advice that his commanders, officials, and advisers are offering after shaming the US in the world's eyes. Even as he is held hostage by his many errors, he refuses to admit he cannot handle being the president.

Biden does not heed advised to extend evacuation deadline

Arlene Foster, ex-DUP leader to GB News, said that Biden is unrealistic and denies the mess he created. Kabul is now where the Taliban are holding hostage foreigners and Afghans.

A report states that even the White House staff would not dare question his decisions, which led to a mess that causes EU allies into immense trouble.

Ms. Foster stressed that getting everyone out of Kabul is challenging, since the taking of Kabul Jihadis kept civilians around and very few got out, reported the Express UK.

UK defense secretary Ben Wallace grimly said not everyone would be going out of captivity. He added it was terrible that a choice will have to be made. He said that President Biden had created this situation by not following a practical plan to leave Afghanistan. Calling the US leader to think what to do with good advice.

Wallace scoured that Biden, despite his monumental blundering, is still not getting advice from US commanders, and the US is sinking its reputation.When Biden refused military advice and got it all wrong.

Read Also: Osama Bin Laden Foresees Joe Biden as US President, Stops Al-Qaeda from Assassinating Him

Impossible to get 60,000 people out by August end

Sources in the White House were privy to the flailing Joe Biden that warning of an impending Taliban takeover was denied. Leaving US citizens and allied nationals hung to dry and a military tied by the decisions of an incompetent US leader, noted TW News.

Biden is in denial that he failed his job on all points. He is stubborn and defensive as everyone vilifies how foolish he is for handing Kabul to the Jihadis on a silver platter.

Republicans are bashing him for the self-inflicted problems brought about by his incompetence. All the assessments and warnings from the military and intelligence community were ignored, given a red carpet for Trump to insult all his grievous errors.

US diplomats in Kabul sent a memo for the president last month, calling Secretary of State Antony Blinken's attention that anytime Afghanistan may fall, cited Fox News. More than a dozen consuls signed the crucial memo last July to move out US citizens and assets by early August.

This came as the allies asked the US not to leave abruptly and extend the August 31 deadline a bit longer. He failed to consider some factors which his predecessor outlined, start with civilians, not the military, which he did to look good but looked terrible either way. ISIS is a danger to the people in Kabul, and they are ruthless to all trying to leave the airport.

Wallace said the countdown to end the UK's military occupation could not be stopped. Furthermore, the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated that getting 60,000 people from Kabul is impossible by the month's end.

Former President Donald Trump called Joe Biden the greatest bungler who sat in the White House. He gave the US its worst military defeat of all time. Biden surrendered unconditionally, not withdrew, as refuses military advice as he fails every step of the way.

Related Article: Joe Biden Ignores Classified State Department Memo on Rapid Taliban Takeover, Denies He Screwed Up

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Thousands of Americans remain in Kabul, with Washington instructing them to walk the Taliban's gauntlet to the airport on their own. They are not, however, "stranded," claims White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

At Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, the American evacuation mission is still in full force. Despite overcrowding, mortality, and runway closures at the airport early last week, President Joe Biden said on Sunday that 11,000 Americans, nationals of US allies, and Afghan refugees flew out of the airport in 36 hours over the weekend.

Psaki refuses to use "stranded" as a term for Americans stuck in Afghanistan

Officials from the Biden administration say they don't know how many US citizens are still in the country following the Taliban's takeover last week, but several have told news outlets that they can't get to Kabul's airport to be evacuated. The situation in Kabul has put the White House on the defense in regards to President Biden's plans to remove US troops by August 31 after a 20-year conflict. Many Americans were caught behind enemy lines as a result of the Taliban's quick attack.

The White House believes that around 4,000 Americans have been evacuated from Afghanistan, according to a senior US source, implying that thousands more may remain in Taliban-controlled areas. According to the official, the Pentagon initially projected 8,000-10,000 Americans in Afghanistan, while the State Department predicted 10,000-15,0000.

There have been several reports in the news of Americans being unable to access the Kabul airport. One American, David Marshall Fox, told The New York Post on Thursday that he and his son attempted to enter the airport on Wednesday with his US passport but were denied.

During her heated exchange, Psaki's vehement condemnation of the "stranded" description was widely mocked on social media. Per Fox News, even CNN's Jake Tapper reacted to Psaki's statements, saying, there is, no question, Americans who feel stranded in Afghanistan right now, recognizing the Biden administration's attempts to rescue Americans.

The Press Secretary's statements were partially intended to reassure Americans remaining in Afghanistan, but she was parsing words on what precisely is stranded, according to CNN Pentagon correspondent Oren Liebermann. The Washington Post, The Daily Beast, ABC News, Axios, and NBC News all used the term "stranded" as recently as Sunday, critics pointed out several headlines.

Read Also: Haiti Despair, Anger Mount as Earthquake Toll Rises; Gangs Offer to Help Aid Efforts

White House can't determine the number of Americans in Afghanistan

In recent days, the Biden administration has failed to provide an exact number of Americans still in Afghanistan, provoking Conservative and other criticism of the government's readiness to withdraw US people.

The problem in determining a precise number stems from the fact that some Americans failed to inform the US Embassy when they arrived in Afghanistan or when they left, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan explained.

Because there are thousands of more Afghans trying to escape the country, Sullivan claims that a "significant majority" of the 37,000 people evacuated by the US military in the previous nine days are Afghan civilians and allies of the war effort. However, a few thousand Americans had been evacuated from Afghanistan since the Taliban began conquering major cities on their way to seizing Kabul's capital.

In recent days, Biden administration officials have been questioned about how many American citizens are in Afghanistan and need to be evacuated. Many spokespeople have hesitated to provide a more definite response than a few thousand. Sullivan said the administration has attempted to reach people thought to be in Afghanistan by email, text messages, phone calls, and public media such as radio, The Hill via MSN reported.

Related Article: Joe Biden Reveals Talks of Extending August 31 Afghanistan Withdrawal, Defends His "Right Decision" Amid Catastrophic Situation

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered his final address before stepping down amid sexual harassment allegations while continuing to deny the accusations of nearly a dozen women.

The lawmaker announced his resignation last month while the investigations into his sexual harassment cases were ongoing. In his address, he said that New York Attorney General Letitia James was politicizing a statewide investigation into the harassment allegations. Cuomo added the investigation was designed to be a "political firecracker on an explosive topic."

Cuomo Steps Down as Governor

During his speech, the official said a simple firecracker could start a stampede out of panic but noted that at some point, people will look around and notice nothing was wrong. He said that the "truth is ultimately always revealed." Cuomo was confident that his crimes would soon prove to be nonsensical.

Cuomo also said that every person had the right to speak out about allegations that involved sexual harassment and assault. He said all claims should be examined closely and equally, arguing that was the foundation of the justice system, NPR reported.

The New York governor has been facing widespread criticism since the reveal of the allegations. He has also received numerous calls to resign from other lawmakers, including United States President Joe Biden. The situation came as a stark contrast to last year when his office was being praised for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 165-page report detailed how Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women, and in one instance, sought to legally fight against one of the accusers who went public with her claims. The document followed after months of investigations that looked into the governor's actions and detailed what James said were violations of both state and federal law.

Read Also: Osama Bin Laden Foresees Joe Biden as US President, Stops Al-Qaeda from Assassinating Him

A new controversy also pressures Cuomo on social media platforms after he allegedly tried to give away his dog, named Captain, during his final days in office. Reports said that the governor left his dog at the Executive Mansion before he started staying with one of his sisters in Westchester County last week, Fox News reported.

Who Will Replace the Democrat?

The allegations against Cuomo include unwanted and non-consensual touching, groping, kissing, and sexual comments. The governor's announcement to resign is followed by him leaving his office at 11:59 p.m. E.T. Monday. He would be replaced by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who will be sworn in at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday during a private ceremony, marking the state's first female governor.

The day before Hochul became the New York governor, she had already announced her top two aides, saying they were also women. The two officials include Karen Persichilli Keogh, who will become secretary to the governor, replacing Melissa DeRosa. The other is Elizabeth Fine, who was chosen to be Hochul's counsel.

The two women have had experience in New York City and Washington and could help Hochul navigate the state. The new state governor said that Keogh and Fine will be able to assist her in turning "the corner on the pandemic and serve the best interests of New York, whether it's defeating COVID, getting more people vaccinated, or strengthening our economy," the New York Times reported.

Related Article: Social Security Income: Millions of the Country's Retired Workforce To Receive an Increase Payout in 2022

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Another batch of stimulus checks may never arrive, and many of the previous stimulus payments made during the pandemic are about to expire. Some states are handing out new stimulus checks, but this may not be enough for many people. So, if you need some more cash, one unexpected source for your next coronavirus stimulus check maybe your state's unclaimed cash reserves.

This is how to find out if your state will send you a fourth stimulus check since almost three million individuals are requesting recurring stimulus payments. While millions of Americans wait for another round of stimulus checks, several states have begun to take matters into their own hands and distribute funds to specific citizens.

States' stimulus check

Teachers, first responders, and families in the states of California, Florida, New Mexico, and Tennessee may be eligible for extra relief funds, according to Fox 8. If you live in California and are qualified for the Golden State stimulus check, you may expect to receive more money owing to Governor Gavin Newsom's efforts.

The $100 billion California Comeback Plan, termed the "biggest economic recovery package in California's history," contains $12 billion in relief funds allocated for middle-class households. Approximately two-thirds of the state's citizens will get a $600 payment, with qualified families with children receiving even more.

With the aid of Florida's Heroes initiative, the state has chosen to provide $1,000 one-time relief payments to first responders. Florida Gov. Ron Desantis also presented "the first of almost 177,000 Disaster Relief Payments of up to $1,000 to Florida's educators in honor of their hard work to teach children in the 2020-2021 school year," according to a press release.

Meanwhile, New Mexico has provided emergency financial help to almost 4,0000 low-income households with one-time $750 payments. Finally, teachers in Tennessee will receive financial assistance.

Per The Sun, full-time teachers will get a $1,000 hazard pay premium and part-time instructors would receive $400 by the end of 2021. People around the country have not given up hope for further financial aid, although only four states are providing additional funds to poor Americans.

Over 2.8 million individuals have signed a petition asking the White House to propose recurring checks of up to $2,000, citing concerns that the present sum is insufficient. Stephanie Bonin, a Colorado restaurant owner, started the petition last year, and it continues to gain traction.

Read Also: Prevent Missing Your Next Stimulus Check; Make Sure To Do This by the End of the Month

How to check if you have unclaimed cash in your state?

Unclaimed cash might be in the form of an uncashed check, bonds, property, safe deposit box, stocks, and more in your state. However, because it is unclaimed, you are very likely unaware that your state owes you money. Many states make this information available on the internet.

Simply go to the website of the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. This webpage includes links to official websites for each state, as well as Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the District of Columbia, where you may search for unclaimed property. According to Value Walk, here are the procedures to see if your state owes you any unclaimed cash:

Select your state or province on unclaimed.org, or click on your state on the map. You'll be sent to the unclaimed property website for your state.

You must now choose an option for looking for unclaimed property. Depending on the state, several alternatives may be available. For example, California's website offers a "Search for Unclaimed Property" option, but Texas' website has a "Get Started" option.

You must now input your details to assist the site in locating any unclaimed cash for you. The site may request your complete name, city, and other information.

The Missing Money website is another place to look for any unclaimed funds that your state may owe you. However, information for 11 states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Washington, Hawaii, California, Oregon, Delaware, Georgia, and Wyoming, is not available on this page.

FindMyFunds is another website that might assist you in your search for unclaimed funds, however, it only displays information for 25 states and the District of Columbia. If the results of your search reveal that your state owes you money in the form of unclaimed cash, you can apply to reclaim it.

While it is unlikely that Congress would approve the fourth stimulus check, many states have attempted to recreate it. Some states, such as California and Florida, have been working nonstop to ensure that the stimulus money is allocated evenly-the states have been given over $200 billion to spend-so that the economy may return to pre-pandemic levels.

Since the deadline was moved until December 31, some jurisdictions have already begun distributing funds where they are most needed, as per Digital Market News.

Related Article: Here are States Giving New Stimulus Check Despite Federal Government's Unclear Possibility of Handing Out Fourth Round of Payments

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The Food and Drug Administration gave full clearance to Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, making it the first in the United States to get the full approval.

FDA Scientists Evaluated Data from Pfizer

In a recently published article in CNBC, according to the FDA, scientists reviewed "hundreds of thousands of pages" of vaccination data from 40,000 study participants. The vaccine was shown to be 91 percent efficient in preventing COVID, which was somewhat lower than the 95 percent effectiveness rate trial data indicated when the injection was approved late last year and before the delta version gained traction in the United States.

Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement that Pfizer's vaccine satisfied the agency's rigorous criteria for safety, efficacy, and manufacturing quality. Meanwhile, millions of individuals have gotten COVID-19 vaccinations successfully, and they acknowledge that the FDA's approval of a vaccine may give some people more confidence to be vaccinated.

Furthermore, since the drugmakers filed their application to the FDA in early May, federal health authorities have been under increasing pressure from the scientific community and advocacy organizations to completely approve Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine. On May 7, the firms filed a Biologics License Application to the FDA, securing complete approval for patients aged 16 and above, according to a published article in The Washington Post.

Read Also: Booster Shots of Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccines Will Begin on September

Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine is Still Under EUA for Kids Under 12 Years Old

In a published article in NBC San Diego, as the firm continues to gather data, the vaccine is still approved for emergency use in children aged 12 to 15. Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA's chief vaccine regulator, said Monday that after the firm provides the data, the agency would act as "quickly" as possible to approve the injection for children under the age of 12.

Standard vaccination evaluations may take anything from a few months to a year or more to establish if they are safe and effective for widespread usage. However, due to the pandemic, which has claimed the lives of over 628,000 Americans, the FDA granted an EUA allowing the injections to be used.

Meanwhile, Dr. Marks said Because there are still studies underway, the FDA must wait for the business to submit data for those trials. They want to be certain that they get it properly. Marks also debunked myths about the injection, such as that it includes microchips and leads to infertility.

FDA's Full Approval Will Enforce Mandate of Vaccination

Within hours of the news, the Pentagon, CVS, the State University of New York system, and the New York City school system, among others, stated that they would carry out requirements that they had planned to implement but had put on hold pending the FDA's action, according to a report published in MSN News.

The Pentagon was one among the first and biggest to go forward. According to John F. Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III had already obtained permission from President Biden to require vaccinations for all active-duty soldiers once the vaccine was officially authorized, and he was working quickly to put the plans into effect. 1.4 million military members will get special vaccination instructions from the secretary shortly.

Related Article: Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine May Get Full Approval from FDA this Week; Why Does It Matter?



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A local Australian government is under fire and widespread criticism after it fatally shot 15 rescue dogs due to a council's interpretation of the region's COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

In the northwestern parts of New South Wales, the Bourke Shire Council shot and killed impounded pups. The decision was made to prevent volunteers at an animal shelter from traveling to adopt the animals last week. Officials opted for the brutal incident amid worries of allowing the spread of the coronavirus.

Fatal Shooting of Rescue Dogs

A spokesman for the Office of Local Government (OLG) said that the agency was informed that the council opted to take the drastic course of action to protect its employees and the community. They said that they wanted to keep aboriginal populations from being infected with the coronavirus.

The official also revealed that they were investigating to determine whether or not any animal cruelty laws were broken during the incident. However, sources said that shelter volunteers implemented COVID-safe measures to handle the killed dogs, one of which just gave birth, which made the killings unnecessary, the New York Post reported.

Read Also: Tropical Storm Henri: 4 Nursing Homes Evacuated as Connecticut Experiences Floods; Thousands Face Power Outages in Massachusetts

Emma Hurst, a state lawmaker from the Animal Justice Party, called the shootings "absolutely heartbreaking" as the animals were not even given the chance to find a home. The council also defended its decision by saying the pound was at capacity and that two of the dogs were aggressive toward each other and staff. Officials said they were unable to contact the person responsible for finding homes for the dogs before the decision was made.

Citing the level of vulnerability in the community, the council said the decision was made to prevent a possible COVID-19 outbreak by keeping people from other communities from entering Bourke. Currently, all regions in New South Wales are in lockdown as the region has observed a surge of coronavirus infections. On Saturday, officials recorded a high of 843 new cases while Bourke reported seven confirmed infections on Sunday night, USA Today reported.

Australia's Battle Against COVID-19

The incident comes as Australia struggles to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the region. While the nation implemented extremely strict border measures to drive the virus out, which made the country largely COVID-free since mid-2020, new case numbers have since skyrocketed.

The outbreak was attributed to a single case of the Delta variant, a highly transmissible strain of the original COVID-19. More than half of the country's nearly 25 million population have been placed on lockdown. Officials are conducting a slow vaccination program that has caused many residents to demand to know what went wrong.

Michael Toole, a professor at the Burnet Institute medical research center, said that for a time, the country was in a bit of a "COVID-free paradise." He argued that the situation caused people to become relaxed and complacent despite the ongoing threat of the pandemic. He said this was what caused the mess that the country is currently suffering from, NBC News reported.



Related Article: Osama Bin Laden Foresees Joe Biden as US President, Stops Al-Qaeda from Assassinating Him

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Is Kim Kardashian's divorce from Kanye West already over? One tabloid reports the TV reality star and rapper are repairing their romance after barely six months of separation.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are working on patching up their strained relationship. Indeed, the two are "getting along really well. Friends believe they've called off their divorce since they're doing so well," according to a source close to the issue. The source of this assumption is Kardashian's recent appearances in Atlanta, where she was seen cheering on West.

Despite their divorce, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have a "friendly relationship." According to a source close to the Keeping Up with the Kardashians actress, 40, she has recently been supporting her ex's work as he prepares to release his new album, Donda, but the two are not getting back together.

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West were recently spotted in Malibu

The insider told PEOPLE that now, "They can make agreeable decisions that benefit the kids," referring to Kardashian and West's four children, North, Chicago, and sons Saint and Psalm. After a difficult year together that included West's failed presidential run, Kardashian filed for divorce from the rapper, 44, in February. They had been married for almost seven years.

Amid their approaching divorce, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were seen having a peaceful lunch in Malibu on Thursday. The billionaire couple was spotted parking their car in front of the opulent Nobu Ryokan hotel, which is located next to Nobu, one of the Kardashians' favorite restaurants.

Following a difficult year in which the rapper appeared to suffer from mental health concerns, Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kanye West in February, citing irreconcilable differences. As they attempted to enter the high-end Japanese cuisine under the radar, accompanied by security officers, things looked to be friendly between the two.

Per Daily Mail, Kim had her brunette locks slicked back into a tight low bun, which was more modest than her typical attention-getting styles. Despite their upcoming divorce and the split of their multibillion-dollar fortune, Kim and Kanye appeared to be on good terms as they arrived in the same vehicle, with the rapper driving.

Kim has tried to remain supportive of West, at least publicly, after filing for divorce from her spouse of nearly seven years six months ago. Kim has faithfully been in attendance at both of her ex's recent listening parties for his new album Donda, cheering him on.

Kanye's late mother, Donda, died in 2007 at the age of 58 from heart disease and postoperative complications after undergoing several cosmetic operations. He urges his long-lost love to "come back to me," and adds audio of Donda recalling her father's teachings of "loving unconditionally and never abandoning your family."

Read Also: Britney Spears Allegedly Slapped Housekeeper With Phone After Dispute Over Her Dog's Treatment

Ex-couple shared custody of their children

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West began dating in 2012 and married in 2014 in Florence, Italy, in a spectacular wedding. According to reports, the couple has decided to share custody of their children. Kanye has reportedly moved on romantically from Kardashian and is seeing Bradley Cooper's ex-girlfriend Irina Shayk.

Last month, a Page Six insider said that the Russian model and the artist were "cooling down," and that she had turned down an invitation to travel to France with West. Despite reports of a split, it was later revealed that the couple is still very much together.

Meanwhile, Kim has been relentless in pushing her recent SKIMS collections on social media. She also debuted a new hairstyle while shooting a selfie video on her Instagram story on Friday.

The E! star sported a sleek brunette long bob as she talked with the camera in the driveway of her Hidden Hills house while waiting for a delivery. Kim was dressed in a heather grey pajama top from her SKIMS sleep line, which is buttery soft.

On the official Instagram page for the brand, the businesswoman sported a brown version of the pajama set, as well as many different bodysuits from her best-selling collection. While her renowned beauty and fragrance business undergoes a makeover, Kim Kardashian has been concentrating on promoting her SKIMS items.

She stated last month that KKW Beauty and KKW Fragrance will be discontinued and that they would be relaunched with new formulations that are more modern, innovative, and packaged in a more elevated and sustainable manner. Fans speculated that Kim would be removing the 'W' from the label amid her divorce from Kanye West, even though she made no mention of the cause for the makeover.

Related Article: Is Khloe Kardashian Back Together With Tristan Thompson After Countless Cheating Episodes?



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According to the IDF and a source inside Gaza, Israel began airstrikes on the enclave on Monday after incendiary balloons fired from the strip sparked fires in the country's south.

Israel Carried Out Airstrikes

In a recently published article in The Times of Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces launched airstrikes in Gaza late Monday night in retaliation for the launching of arson balloons from the coastal enclave that set fire to at least nine Israeli border towns earlier in the day, according to the army.

According to the army, it struck a Hamas weapons facility in Khan Younis, the entrance to a terror tunnel in Jabaliya, and an underground rocket launcher. The launcher was found in a densely populated area near a school in the Shejaiya neighborhood.

Meanwhile, the latest flare-up comes after several people were wounded in border confrontations over the weekend. The attacks on Gaza City, Khan Younes in the south, and Jabalia in the north did not result in any fatalities, but they did inflict material damage, according to a Palestinian security source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, according to a published article in MSN News.

Read Also: Iron Dome Stops Hamas Rockets and Shields Israel from Repeated Barrages

Border Protests Escalate

With the resumption of border demonstrations, Israel will be obliged to react more forcefully to keep Gazans away from the security barrier, resulting in more Palestinian deaths, which Hamas will wish to respond to. As a result, the security officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, believes that another conflict between Israel and Gaza terror organizations is likely to happen.

However, ahead of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's talks with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi next week, Israel is attempting to tread gently while reiterating that Israel will continue to react to violence from Gaza.

Meanwhile, despite Israel's declaration last week of resuming Qatari assistance to Gaza, which was viewed as strengthening the fragile ceasefire, cross-border violence has increased. On Saturday, Israeli soldiers opened fire on Gaza protesters who were burning tires and hurling bombs near the border, wounding 41 Palestinians, two of them were severely injured, according to doctors, according to a published article in France24.

Balloon Launches With Airstrikes

Israel often reacts to incendiary balloon launches with air attacks, as it did on August 6 when such explosives were deployed. They are a frequent technique employed by Palestinian militants in Gaza, which has been under an Israeli siege since Hamas seized control there in 2007.

The fire department stated early Monday that it was battling a series of fires in the Eshkol border area, which it blamed on at least nine incendiary balloons fired from Gaza. On Saturday, there was a lot of fighting on the border.

Israeli soldiers opened fire on Palestinian protestors who had congregated near the Gaza border, throwing bombs and attempting to climb the barrier. A 13-year-old Palestinian and an Israeli border police officer were severely wounded. The escalation occurred three months after Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire after the worst fighting in years.

Related Article: Militant Group Launches Rocket at Jerusalem, Israel Says They Will Respond With Great Force



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Brazil has topped 20 million coronavirus cases as of Friday since the beginning of the health crisis but President Jair Bolsonaro has recently called for a study to end the use of face masks to battle the pandemic.

On Monday, the president said that he had commissioned a study from the country's health ministry to end the use of facial coverings in the region. He also said that he would meet with Health Minister Marcel Queiroga to announce a matter related to masks.

Brazil to Remove Face Masks?

As of Friday, officials from the South American country reported that they have recorded 20,528,099 confirmed cases of the coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic. The official death toll has since risen to 573,511. The numbers mark the third-worst outbreak in the world, following the United States and India, NBC News reported.

Bolsonaro has long fought against the use of face masks in Brazil, frequently refusing to wear one even when going out in public and despite a legal requirement to do so. The president defended his decision by saying that the majority of the country's residents were already vaccinated against coronavirus or have already contracted the infection.

However, epidemiologists argued that it is still too early to remove the use of face masks in the country, citing the recent spread of the Delta variant. Despite 60% of Brazilians have received their first vaccine dose, only 25% of the population have been fully vaccinated against the virus.

Read Also: US FDA Grants Full Approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine, Recent Action Will Mandate Vaccination

Despite Bolsonaro's desire to remove the use of face masks in the country, states and municipalities are free to set their own COVID-19 restrictions. While Bolsonaro's far-right base would consider the passing of the guidelines a win, it would not mandate government agencies to remove the use of face masks in their regions, Reuters reported.

Many residents have blamed Bolsonaro for the deaths related to the coronavirus in the country. One resident, Cida de Moura, said her husband died before they could celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary this December. The woman said that the president could have helped everyone if he took the right measures against the health crisis.

Bolsonaro's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Brazilian senate continues to investigate the pandemic in the country that continues to bury its dead in grief. In April, the hearings began and have been broadcasted live for residents to watch. There was evidence shown by a representative of Pfizer, which was particularly damning.

The representative said that while the pharmaceutical company repeatedly offered to sell vaccines to the Brazilian government last year, they were ignored. He said the issue continued for months and left more than 100 emails unanswered.

Another witness accused the Brazilian president of ignoring the irregularities and massive overcharging of vaccine purchases from India. However, Bolsonaro has denied all accusations and said he has not done anything wrong.

Omar Aziz, a Brazilian senator of the opposition party, leads the inquiry into Bolsonaro's response to the pandemic. He is a towering figure from the Amazonas and his brother, Walid, was one of the victims of the health crisis, BBC reported.



Related Article: New Zealand's COVID Outbreak Tops 100; What Comes Next?

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The People's Republic of China has unveiled a new technology that threatens the West with a Hypersonic wind tunnel that can help the CCP make faster missiles. It comes as Beijing is obsessed with developing more cutting-edge technology than the US military and supplant it in the future.

The development of this high-tech device allows testing of models that reaches a blinding 30 times the supersonic speed. In the hope, it will tip the favor to China over the US.

Wholly developed and assembled in China that will exceed other countries. Beijing already has hypersonic missiles, but this technology is an incredible upgrade to boot.

China in the race for hyper-speed with the world's fastest wind tunnel

An advanced facility called JF-22 in the Huairou district in Beijing will put it in the forefront of hypersonic research applied to a new generation of weapons, reported the Express UK.

Han Guilai, a fellow in the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said this gives two to three decades lead on this new technology compared to the West. America and Russia are racing to develop hyper-fast missiles with several warheads that will hit targets with precision.

Like an ICBM, it will go into space at least Mach 5, faster than the speed of sound, then hurtling into the atmosphere, and destroying its targets correctly. Getting the speed wind tunnel allows the PLA to develop missiles and airframes for ultra-hypersonic speed flight. This capability might bring it head-to-head with the US with 6th generation fighters.

The SCMP said that the tunnel could simulate an impossible Mach 30, which is incredible speed. A capability that threatens the West with Hypersonic wind tunnels to forward their technology.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Commands Russia's Invincible Hypersonic Nuclear Missile on Indefinite Standby

Concorde is a supersonic plane that could fly Mach 2 when going from London to NYC.

This advanced wind tunnel uses chemical explosions to produce a high-speed wind stream rather than mechanical compressors, noted the Daily Mail. A stream will be making solid shockwaves and pressures compared to the ends of missiles and hypersonic weapons. Han said the condition is similar to flying in a puddle of mud, with all the resistance.

When it Hitting supersonic speeds will bake the surfaces of a plane that is as hot as temperatures of 10,000C (18,032F), the bond of molecules will break.

Professor Han added that the air is different by then, not breathable. The flying vehicle is slowed down like moving through mud.

One of the most extensive wind tunnels is in Mountain View, California, but it cannot recreate supersonic speeds. However, a similar research facility is found outside Buffalo, New York. Another more advanced facility is called the Large Energy National Shock tunnels (LENS), where NASA researches its spacecraft designs.

The JF-22 Wind Tunnel is advanced

Professor Han states that the equipment could put out 15 gigawatts, 70% of the Three Gorges Dam in Sichuan.

Jiang Zonglin, head of the project, remarks that no weapon design has been done yet; instead, it will work on space aircraft design.

A Chinese has moved to space at low earth orbit and farther with the Tiangong Space Station and missions to the Moon and Mars insights. Also, moving ahead in supersonic-grade technology worries the US. Beijing threatens the West with a Hypersonic wind tunnel to test the fastest designs for missile technology that could be used for aircraft and space vehicles.

Related Article: Experimental Laser on the Tip of Chinese Hypersonic Missile Makes It Faster

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High Point police stated in a press release that a woman tasked with caring for a woman with cerebral palsy was charged in her death Monday, nearly two weeks after the lady died after being left unattended in a vehicle for five hours.

Briea D. Askew, 29, of Greensboro, North Carolina, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of a 21-year-old Jamestown lady. According to authorities, the subject was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Health High Point Medical Center on August 10 with a temperature of above 110 degrees. A short time afterward, she was pronounced dead.

The patient was left in a hot car for five hours

The death was investigated by the Special Victims Unit of the police department. The victim was kept in a car without air conditioning for almost five hours, according to investigators. Authorities claim that excessive heat and humidity had a factor in the fatality. The North Carolina caretaker was being detained on a $200,000 secured bond at the High Point prison, Greensboro.com reported.

Officers from the High Point Police Department responded to the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist High Point Medical Center in connection with a death investigation. The victim, a 21-year-old woman from Jamestown, was taken to the hospital with an extraordinarily high temperature of over 110 degrees and was pronounced dead a short time later, according to the inquiry.

Briea Askew was caring for the victim, who had cerebral palsy. The HPDP Special Victims Unit was dispatched to the scene and began an investigation.

During the inquiry, it was discovered that the victim had been left alone in a car for about five hours. The fatality was caused by the extreme heat and humidity, as well as the lack of air conditioning in the car, as per Fox 8.

Read Also: Missing Baby Found Dead in Indiana Woods; Family Relative Arrested, Parents Also Charged

Another North Carolina resident charged in a separate case

Police in North Carolina has filed charges against a man they suspect stabbed his 81-year-old grandfather following an altercation. According to new reports, Greenville police officers were sent to a house on Friday in response to a stabbing complaint.

Wheeler Brown, 81, was stabbed during an incident, per the dispatchers. With life-threatening wounds, Brown was transported to a local hospital. Wheeler Brown was still in the hospital on Monday, but according to a news release from Greenville police, his condition had improved.

After learning that the suspect had barricaded himself inside the house, emergency and negotiation teams were dispatched to the scene, Charlotte Observer reported. Aaron Brown, 23, was detained and charged without incident, according to police. On a $1 million bail, he was charged with attempted first-degree murder. He hasn't been assigned an attorney, said the clerk of court's office.

Anyone with information on a violent crime or unlawful behavior should call Crime Stoppers of High Point at (336) 889-4000 or download the P3 mobile app for IOS or Android.

Related Article: NY Police Discover Dead Woman in Plastic Barrel After Luxury Wall Street Apartment Reports Foul Smell



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In return for the final American hostage kidnapped last year in Afghanistan, President Joe Biden's government is willing to pardon an important Afghan tribal leader who has been imprisoned in a US federal jail for 15 years.

Afghan Tribal Leader and American Hostage

In a recently published article in Newsweek, Bashir Noorzai, a top figure in the Pashtun tribe of his surname, the same tribe as elusive Taliban Supreme Commander Hibatullah Akhundzada, was arrested in New York City in April 2005 on drug trafficking charges while on a trip to advance diplomacy as the US-led war in his home country grew more violent. He is now incarcerated in a federal prison in New Hampshire, where he is serving a life term.

On the other hand, Mark Frerichs is a U.S. contractor who was kidnapped by forces thought to be linked to the Haqqani network, a Taliban-aligned organization operating across the Afghan-Pakistan border in late January 2020. Days later, a local news outlet was the first to report on his abduction and has been in touch with his family and former U.S. officials about his situation, as well as the possibility of a Noorzai-for-Frerichs swap.

Read Also: IMF Refuses to Release $450 Million to Afghanistan; Taliban Cannot Access Most Afghan Central Bank Assets

The U.S. Government Wants a Proof of Life

A U.S. government official who requested anonymity said they are eager to figure out how to bring back in U.S. the American hostage, Frerichs. However, these investigations are contingent on obtaining fresh evidence of life. The basic line is that any future development is contingent on obtaining evidence of life, according to a published article in MSN News.

Frerichs' sister, Charlene Cakora, supports the deal, saying that despite Noorzai's claimed drug kingpin status, Frerichs' release was worth much more than the imprisonment of a guy who had already spent 16 years in prison. She also asserted that the U.S. government should move quickly as possible.

She encouraged the Biden administration to act as soon as possible to acquire the documents needed to take the negotiations forward. She believes the U.S. government has to overcome its aversion to stages, processes, and meetings. Since last summer, the Taliban have been clear about what they want; and they need to act now while the opportunity for bringing Mark home is still open, according to a report published in The Latest Page News.

The US Officials Have Been in Regular Contact With the Taliban

With the Taliban in control of the capital, U.S. officials have been in contact with the group on a regular basis in the hopes of securing the continued evacuation of tens of thousands of people, including U.S. citizens and allied Afghan personnel who have served in the country's two-decade-long war effort.

A former senior U.S. official also said that the foundation of all hostage deals is the proof of life. According to the former top official, there is a procedure for acquiring such evidence.

Furthermore, the former senior official highlighted the significance of this move, particularly in the one-of-a-kind situation in which the president would be forced to issue a pardon in order to ensure the release of a U.S. captive.

Related Article: Taliban Manhunts People Who Work With NATO and American Troops, Threatens Families



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Taliban leaders have threatened the US and UK with "consequences." In Doha if the evacuation of western forces from Afghanistan is delayed, a Taliban spokesperson warned the US and its allies against staying in Afghanistan over the August 31 deadline.

Amid a frantic humanitarian effort to rescue Afghans from the Taliban's fundamentalist rule, British soldiers have been assisting the US and other NATO partners in protecting Kabul Airport. Dr. Suhail Shaheen, speaking with Sky News, delivered a terrifying warning to President Joe Biden, claiming that a sustained US presence will have "consequences."

Taliban group expects US, UK to abide by the withdrawal deadline

According to Shaheen, the extension would give the Taliban the impression that the US was extending occupation in Afghanistan. He said there was no need for soldiers to stay in Afghanistan beyond the end of the month, and that doing so would degrade ties and generate mistrust between the US and the Taliban.

He dismissed allegations of Taliban members going door to door hunting journalists, former government employees, and schoolgirls as "false." Despite the "bloodshed and damage," Shaheen said US troops and western forces spending two decades in Afghanistan will be part of their history as the group looks to the future, Sky News reported.

Taliban leaders ordered British paratroopers out of Afghanistan in a week or risk re-entering the conflict. The insurgents warned that any delay would jeopardize the tenuous cease-fire at Kabul Airport, saying, "It's our red line."

It occurred as UK's Defense Secretary Ben Wallace acknowledged that the airlift of 7,000 British and Afghan soldiers had been reduced to "hours, not weeks." Prime Minister Boris Johnson will use today's G7 meeting to press US President Joe Biden to extend the August 31 deadline to evacuate as many people as possible.

They spoke by phone Friday night and agreed that dealing with the Taliban requires a common strategy from the West. If Biden refuses to prolong the mission, the next seven days will be spent airlifting troops out of Kabul rather than refugees, as per The Sun.

Read Also: China's Xi Jinping Puts Wealthiest Citizens on Notice to Give Back to the Society, Signals Stricter Regulation of Incomes

Biden vows to pull out US and allies in Afghanistan

Defense chiefs are rushing against the clock to free all those who are frantically attempting to leave. With three C-17s, three A400 Atlases, and two C-130 Hercules flying in and out of Kabul every day, every available RAF transport plane has been diverted to help the airlift.

Meanwhile, Biden spoke on the Afghan situation again on Sunday, saying that any penalties against the Taliban are contingent on their behavior. The Taliban who have assumed control of Afghanistan have promised good behavior; nevertheless, the US administration has not ruled out the potential of sanctions against the Taliban, according to Biden.

Speaking from the White House he stated that if such a circumstance arises, the appropriate consequences would be imposed against the group. Furthermore, in response to the Taliban's promise, he stated that the group has not caused any interruption in the evacuation process yet and is adhering to their word.

Per Republic World, any attacks against US soldiers, on the other hand, will force the government to approve sanctions. Earlier, US National Security Adviser (NSA) Jack Sullivan stated that if the Taliban tries to obstruct or interfere with the evacuation process, they would be met with a strong and swift reaction from the government.

Since the Taliban took control of the country, the US and other nations have attempted to evacuate their people and officials. Biden has previously described the evacuation as the most challenging and biggest airlift in history.

Nonetheless, he promised to pull all Americans and allies out of the country, seeking to put an end to the Afghan mission for good. Since August 14, about 25,100 people have been evacuated. In addition, the White House announced on Sunday that 30,000 people had been evacuated since the end of July.

Related Article: PHOTOS: Troops in Desperate Situation, Helping People in Kabul Airport as Evacuees Struggle to Escape Chaos in Afghanistan

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The federal unemployment benefits are unlikely to be extended as House Democrats have not openly expressed their support of the financial support to be included in the massive $3.5 trillion spending package.

House Budget Chair John Yarmuth, a Kentucky Democrat, said that he has not heard any interest from other lawmakers about extending the enhanced unemployment insurance. The politician said the issue has not been a part of discussions during meetings between officials.

End of Federal Unemployment Benefits

The federal unemployment benefits that provide financial assistance to residents who have lost their jobs amid the pandemic are set to expire in two weeks. This includes the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance that provides support for gig workers and freelancers. It also means the end of another federal initiative that gives payments to people who have maxed out state benefits.

Century Foundation, a left-leaning agency, discovered in a recent analysis that a projected 7.5 million people would lose all of their unemployment aid on September 6. But Yarmuth's statement suggests the complete lack of support of Democrats in an extension of the benefits, Business Insider reported.

Earlier this month, Sen. Joe Manchin from West Virginia said that he did not support the extension of the enhanced unemployment insurance. He argued that the economy of the United States was slowly returning back to normal. Other Democratic moderates, including Sen. Angus King of Maine, have also announced that they were reluctant to back the extension of the financial support programs.

The situation comes after United States President Joe Biden urged states who have relatively high unemployment rates to provide federal aid money to extend benefits for jobless workers. The unemployment benefits that are scheduled to expire on Sept. 6 run under a $1.9 trillion economic aid bill that was enacted in March.

Read Also: Social Security Income: Millions of the Country's Retired Workforce To Receive an Increase Payout in 2022

The programs include a $300 weekly supplement for traditional benefits paid by states, additional weeks of benefits for long-term unemployed residents, and a special pandemic program that helps those who do not qualify under normal unemployment benefits, the New York Times reported.

Lack of Support from Officials

While the programs are administered by state officials, the federal government is the one paying for the benefits. The bill also included $350 billion in relief funds that aim to support state, local, and tribal governments.

In a statement, Biden said that he believes it was appropriate for the $300 benefits to expire as scheduled because it was always meant to be a "temporary" solution. However, he said that the stimulus bill allowed states to use their relief funds to prolong other parts of the benefit programs, and he has called on lawmakers to make sure of the fact.

In Illinois, the Department of Employment Security urged claimants to be aware that the unemployment programs in the region would end on September 4. The benefits that are set to expire in the area include the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), and the Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC).

Officials said that while the economy continues to recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, residents who are still struggling can look for assistance from the Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois Housing Development Authority, Illinois Department of Commerce, and Economic Opportunity, and Get Covered Illinois, WEEK reported.



Related Article: Child Tax Credit: How to Make Sure You Receive Your Payments

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A social media post which has been claiming that the Taliban are abducting young girls was found to be false.

Over the past week, an alleged screenshot of a tweet posted by the Al Jazeera news channel circulated online. In the tweet, the publication's English account was seen claiming that the Taliban, who took over Kabul on Aug. 15, have been abducting young girls from their homes.

Taliban Abducting Girls?

"Taliban started abducting minor girls from their home. The parents who are refusing to give their daughters to Taliban are being killed by Taliban fighters," the tweet read, as reported by Reuters.

However, it was later found that the screenshot is not authentic. The tweet is also not linked with the company. The account used featured a typographical error in the company name, which says "Al Jajeera" instead of Al Jazeera.

The Twitter handle of the fake account was AJENEws, which is the handle for Al Jazeera Breaking News.

The tweets come as more people raise concern over the safety and security of women after the group of insurgents took over the Afghan government last week. It also comes after a group of Taliban soldiers were said to have set an Afghan woman on fire because they were dissatisfied with her cooking.

According to former judge and campaigner against violence against women Najla Ayoubi, the soldiers had been part of an attack that the Taliban help against people waving the Afghan flag.

Read Also: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki Claims Americans Stuck Behind Taliban Lines in Afghanistan Are Not "Stranded"

The judge also claimed that the insurgents were forcing families to marry their young daughters to soldiers.

"They also force families to marry their young daughters to Taliban fighters. I don't see where is the promise that they think women should be going to work, when we are seeing all of these atrocities," Ayoubi said, as reported by The Telegraph.

How Will the Taliban Rule Over Afghanistan?

The Taliban's central leadership has previously promised that it would respect women rights and protect civilians. However, several soldiers on the group appeared to be engaging in impulsive acts of violence.

Marcus Grotian, an active German soldier who ran a network of safe houses for Afghans who worked with coalition forces, said the Taliban are going door-to-door, searching for anyone who helped foreign forces.

The recent attacks followed the Taliban's brutal massacre of ethnic Hazara men in the Ghazni province last month. According to a report by Amnesty International, the insurgents killed at least nine men between July 4 to 6. Six of the men were shot to death while three were tortured. At least one of the victims was strangled to death using a scarf and had their arms sliced off.

The extremist group, notorious for their religious extremism and brutal punishments, have also cut mobile phone services in many of the areas they've captured. This has effectively allowed them to control the photographs and videos the people shared from their regions.

In a separate occasion, the Taliban were also seen hauling a driver out of his car after he was seen with an Afghan flag on his dashboard.



Related Article: US-Taliban Deal: Biden To Pardon an Influential Tribal Leader in Exchange For the Last American Hostage

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
China's Zhurong Mars rover has completed all its predetermined tasks. Now, the China National Space Administration has sent the rover off to an "extended expedition." The rover will enter safe mode next month in anticipation of communication disruptions.

China Mars Rover Extends Mission After Outliving Its 3-Month Life Expectancy

The China Mars rover named Zhurong is the sixth Mars probe to move across the Red Planet's surface. The other five were from the United States, India Today said.

Zhurong landed on Mars on May 15, touching down cocooned inside the lander. It set off to perform its mission, separating from the landing platform a week later.

The 6-foot-tall or 1.85-meter-tall rover weighs 240-kilograms, carrying six scientific instruments aboard, and was expected to perform is predetermined tasks in three months before giving way to technical failures.

China's Mars rover #Zhurong had traveled more than 1,000 meters on the surface of the red planet as of Monday, the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said. pic.twitter.com/iBxbENikG8  libijian (@libijian2) August 23, 2021

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) was pleased to announce that the rover outlived its life expectancy. Deciding it could still carry on, the CNSA extends the rover's expedition towards the coastal area Utopia Planitia, PC Mag explained.

Utopia Planitia is a massive plain found in what is considered the Solar System's largest recognized impact basin.

The orbiter has been passing over the rover's location on Mars once a day, relaying the information back to Earth.

Read Also: Elon Musk, NASA Hit With Major Problem After Jeff Bezos Lawsuit: Will It Cause Moon Mission Delay?

Zhurong Will Take a Break, Entering Safe Mode Until Communication Will Get Back Up

Zhurong is a core component of Tianwen 1, China's first interplanetary mission. The rover has traversed almost 1,000 yards and was able to transmit 10 gigabytes worth of data back to Earth, Slash Gear said.

With the data received, China has shared images from its rover showing the rocky surface it is currently investigating. The rover has analyzed rocks and other features on the planet's ground, exploring what is believed to be the bottom of an ancient lake.

Along with Zhurong are NASA's Perseverance Rover and Curiosity Rover, the three are separated by thousands of kilometers, performing their missions solo. Ingenuity, the small helicopter, is closer in radius to Perseverance.

"The last 90 days were a milestone, a complete success" The #Zhurong rover reached its initial working target of 90 days on Mars and it will continue to explore more. pic.twitter.com/VLTN9YtKKV  Hua Chunying  (@SpokespersonCHN) August 19, 2021

The CNSA is anticipating communication disruptions from mid-September to late October as the solar conjunction will prevent communications between Earth and Mars, Slash Gear explained. The solar conjunction is a phenomenon involving solar electromagnetic radiation that can disrupt inter-planetary communication.

Because of this, China says the orbiter and the rover will enter safe mode during that period. NASA will not be able to communicate with their rovers in that timeframe either.

Once communications are running again, the Chinese Mars rover will continue to travel towards a feature that mission controllers want to investigate. The "groove" feature is about a mile away from Zhurong's current location.

No further details have been released regarding Zhurong's new, extended mission but and it looks like the CNSA will continue to keep the rover in operation for as long as it continues to function.

Related Article: NASA Space Construction: ISS Tests Regolith 3D Printer for Artemis Lunar Program; Is This the Start of Space Colonization?
Toyota has announced this week that it would cut production worldwide by 40 percent in September due to a computer chip shortage.

The Japanese automaker said the reduced production will affect its plants around the world, slicing its September targets of about 900,000 cars to 540,000, Car and Driver noted. According to Toyota North America executive vice-president Bob Carter in an interview with Bloomberg, the company's production woes are not solely due to the chip shortage, though he admitted it was a major factor behind the decision.

These changes, he said, will begin this month as the company's North American facilities will make about 170,000 lesser vehicles in August and September.

Toyota released a statement describing how "COVID-19 and unexpected events" affected its supply chain that further dampened its output in North American plants. The automaker said countermeasures have been developed to further minimize the impact, as they project a reduction of up to 90,000 vehicles in August and 80,000 in September with no job losses.

Toyota Will Not Cut 2022 Toyota Tundra Production

Despite Toyota's production cuts in North American plants, one U.S. facility will not reduce its output: Toyota's plant in San Antonio, Texas that is currently building the Tacoma and is set to put together the much-awaited 2022 Toyota Tundra.

Toyota spokesperson Melissa Sparks told the San Antonio Express News that the company needs to follow and complete its production timeline and schedule for the new Tundra. Sparks added that they are prioritizing the computer chips for its San Antonio assembly dedicated for the 2022 Tundra "to meet those milestones."

The 2022 Toyota Tundra, which is set for rollout in the fall, offers a twin-turbo V6 iForce MAX engine, coil-spring suspension, and impressive design details and powerful off-road capabilities.

Read Also: 2022 Toyota Tundra Suspension Confirmed! Leaf Spring Setup Is Gone

Globally, the production cut will affect Toyota's 14 plants in Japan, and additional facilities in Europe, China, and other countries, the New York Times reported.

Ford, G.M., Volkswagen Also Reducing Vehicle Output

This comes after major automakers, including Ford, General Motors and Volkswagen, also reduced output in their automobile facilities. This is due to the struggles faced by the semiconductor industry in restoring the production of auto chips as a result of the pandemic. Toyota had been unaffected by the move at first because the company stockpiled its computer chips and components after they faced supply challenges since the 2011 Japan earthquake.

While the car manufacturers expect the chip shortages to ease by the second half of this year, the New York Times report further said, the Toyota announcement hinted a longer burden that could last up to next year.

Ford is set to idle its plant in Kansas City, Missouri, which builds its top seller F-150 trucks, due to the shortage in chips and components, while G.M. halted production of trucks in its North American plants at certain times of the month also due to the shortage. These include G.M. facilities in Lansing, Michigan and Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Related Article: 2022 Toyota GR 86 Gets Early Positive Reviews: Powerful Without Turbo, Excellent Gearbox Teased!




Citibank Korea has again postponed a decision on the exit plan for its retail banking unit amid differences over sale terms, industry sources said Tuesday.







Citibank Korea, the South Korean unit of Citigroup, had originally planned to hold a board meeting on Aug. 26 to determine how to sell the retail banking division.







But the lender has decided not to put its exit plan on the meeting's agenda, putting off its decision until September, according to the sources.







It marks the second postponement in a couple of months. Citibank Korea had planned to make decision in July but delayed it by one month.







The delay comes as Citibank Korea and potential buyers are known to have big differences over terms of the sale.







Some potential buyers are reportedly seeking to purchase the retail banking division's credit card and wealth management businesses, instead of purchasing the whole division.







In April, Citigroup said it will exit consumer banking operations in 13 countries, including South Korea, as part of its global business reorganization.







The labor union of Citibank Korea has supported an exit plan to sell the entire retail banking unit.







At the end of last year, Citibank Korea had a workforce of 3,500, with the lender's retail banking unit employing about 2,500.







The U.S. banking giant opened its first branch in South Korea in 1967 and launched Citibank Korea in 2004 after acquiring KorAm Bank. (Yonhap)


A promotional image from Hana Bank announcing its adoption of the Equator Principles / Courtesy of Hana Bank



By Anna J. Park



Hana Bank announced earlier this week that it recently officially adopted the Equator Principles, which refer to a risk management framework adopted by global financial institutions for assessing and managing environmental and social risks in investment projects according to a minimum standard.



Currently, 123 financial institutions in 37 countries have officially adopted the principles, which were first established in 2003. Adopters vow to implement the principles in their environmental and social policies for financing projects and will not provide financing or loans to projects where the client will not  or is unable to  comply with the principles.



With the adoption, Hana Bank plans to launch its own environmental and social risk screening process, which will be implemented systemically in providing loan products, as well as in financing large projects, in order to eliminate any harmful effects on the environment or human rights in the bank's businesses.



"With the adoption of the Equator Principles, the bank will proactively take on the social role required to bring about sustainable financing by managing environmental and social risks," an executive from Hana Bank said.



In April, Hana Financial Group announced its environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) vision, "Big Step for Tomorrow," setting a series of medium- and long-term goals to reduce carbon emissions and increase support for financial projects that are in line with ESG principles. The bank's adoption of Equator Principles is in line with the financial group's long-term ESG vision.



With Hana Bank's adoption of the principles, it joins four other major local banks  KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori and NH NongHyup  in completing their endorsement of the principles, along with state-led Korea Development Bank (KDB). KDB was the first Korean bank to adopt the principles back in 2017, followed by Shinhan Bank in September of that year, and KB Kookmin Bank in February of this year. NH NongHyup and Woori Bank also followed suit this month along with Hana Bank.






California's legislature has passed a new resolution to celebrate kimchi, a popular Korean fermented side dish, to promote the consumption of healthier food, industry sources said Tuesday.







Under the bill led by Californian Assemblyman Steven Choi, which was passed on the previous day, the U.S. state of California plans to celebrate November 22 as "Kimchi Day," according to the World Institute of Kimchi.







The latest move came as South Korea celebrated its first Kimchi Day in 2020 in line with efforts to promote the consumption of the dish.







"The increase in awareness of kimchi corresponds to higher awareness of Korean culture, including K-pop, K-beauty, K-food, and K-drama," the bill added.







Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish normally made of fermented cabbage, salt and hot peppers, and is eaten with almost all meals.







The resolution also specified that South Korea is "the country of origin of kimchi," amid continued attempts by some Chinese media claiming the Korean dish is Chinese, a move that has sparked strong criticism as many people regard it as Korea's soul food and often link it to the nation's identity.







South Korea's exports of kimchi advanced a whopping 35 percent on-year in the first four months of 2021, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, on the growing demand for healthier foodstuffs amid the new coronavirus pandemic.







Outbound shipments of kimchi reached $61.1 million over the January-April period. By destination, exports to Japan accounted for the largest portion of $31 million over the January-April period, followed by the United States with $11 million and Europe with $5.5 million. (Yonhap)






North Korea's main newspaper on Tuesday urged Japan to repent and make reparations for colonial-era brutality on the occasion of the 111th anniversary of Tokyo's annexation of the Korean Peninsula.







The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, pointed out that Japan forced Korea to sign the treaty in 1910, and called it a fabricated and illegitimate treaty.







The paper challenged Japanese assertion that the annexation took effect legally with the approval of King Sunjong. The treaty was signed on Aug. 22, 1910, between pro-Japan Korean Prime Minister Lee Wan-yong and Japanese Governor General of Korea Terauchi Masatake.







"We must make Japan pay the price of all the pain and misery it has inflicted on our people in the past," a researcher said in the article.







Uriminzokkiri, a North Korean propaganda website, also carried a commentary slamming Japan for indicating that South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo are Japanese territory on a map in Tokyo's recent defense white paper for children.







The website called such a move Japan's efforts to brainwash their children with militarist ideas and instill vengeance in their hearts to invade Korea. (Yonhap)


Medical personnel talk in an operating room equipped with surveillance cameras at Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center Suwon Hospital, Monday. The provincial government has installed surveillance cameras in operating rooms at government-run hospitals. Yonhap



Largest doctors' group plans to file petition with Constitutional Court



By Bahk Eun-ji



Doctors are strongly protesting a contentious bill that will mandate the installation of surveillance cameras in operating rooms as a part of measures to prevent medical malpractice.



Citing the possibility of the surveillance affecting doctors' surgical procedures and the leakage of video recordings, the nation's largest doctors' group said it will seek a constitutional petition if the bill is approved.



Their protest came after the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee passed the revision bill to the Medical Service Act, Monday. The Assembly plans to approve it at a plenary session on Wednesday.



According to the bill, hospitals must video-record medical procedures upon the patient's or guardian's request when an operation is conducted while the patient is unconscious such as under anesthesia. They have to save the recording for more than 30 days for future reference in case of legal disputes, and viewing the recording will be allowed upon request by an investigative body or a court, or when the patient and the hospital agree.



There are exceptions where recording is not required if there are "valid reasons," such as for emergency operations or operations involving high risk to save a patient's life. There will also be a two-year grace period before full implementation.



In response, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) issued a statement, also on Monday, and warned to take legal action against the bill.



"Under the system where all doctors struggling to save patients' lives are placed under surveillance and their every procedure is subject to judgment, it is very likely doctors will want to avoid high-risk procedures," the statement read.



It said video surveillance of medical personnel also violates their human rights and privacy and leads to distrust between patients and doctors.



"If the bill is passed at the plenary session, we will make every effort to clarify its unconstitutionality and block the implementation of the bill, including filing a petition with the Constitutional Court."



The KMA further pointed out that it is not alone in its objections, as the international medical community, including the World Medical Association, has pointed out that surgical surveillance is extremely inappropriate because it could damage the health, safety and personal dignity of patients.





A medical worker looks at a screen showing an operating room at Gangbuk Himchan Hospital in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap




Colombian President Ivan Duque on Tuesday began a three-day state visit to South Korea, which includes a summit with President Moon Jae-in on establishing a comprehensive bilateral partnership in key areas.







Duque arrived in South Korea earlier Tuesday via Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, officials said. He is scheduled to hold a summit with Moon at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday, the second day of his South Korean state visit.







According to officials, the state visit was arranged at the invitation of the South Korean president to mark the 10th anniversary of a bilateral strategic partnership and the 70th anniversary of Colombia's participation in the 1950-53 Korean War this year.







The two leaders plan to exchange ideas on achieving economic recovery in the post-coronavirus era based on their signature growth policies. They are also expected to forge comprehensive partnerships in key areas such as digital transition, eco-friendly infrastructures, and bio and agriculture industries.







Moon also plans to deliver Seoul's willingness to support Colombian veterans of the Korean War and their families, as well as contribute to the modernization of the South American nation's military. Following the summit, the two leaders plan to adopt a joint statement on their discussions.







Duque's other itineraries include visits to the Seoul National Cemetery and the International Vaccine Institute on Wednesday. He will leave the country Thursday after making stops at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the heavily-fortified inter-Korean border area, and the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul. (Yonhap)


Korean members of the Committee for Future-Oriented Development of Korea-China Relations watch a congratulatory message from Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong on the launch of the cooperative forum during its launching ceremony at the Plaza Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



A committee of Korean and Chinese government officials, diplomats and scholars has been launched to discuss improving relations between the two nations, which will celebrate 30 years of diplomatic ties in 2022.



Members of the Committee for Future-Oriented Development of Korea-China Relations held the launching ceremony, Tuesday.



The two sides agreed in principle to form the cooperative panel in their foreign ministers' meeting in November 2020 to draw up and suggest a roadmap on the development of relations between Seoul and Beijing.



In the Track 1.5 dialogue mechanism, 18 members, including former and incumbent government officials and private sector experts, participate from each country. Those from the Korean side includes former National Assembly Speaker Lim Chae-jung who is co-chairperson of the committee, and Korea National Diplomatic Academy Chancellor Hong Hyun-ik.



"South Korea and China are close and important neighbors," Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong said in a congratulatory message during the launching ceremony, held in a hybrid online and offline format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



"In particular, the two nations have been actively cooperating on establishing lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula."



Chung added, "The two countries will work closely together to advance the peace process on the peninsula and further promote peace and stability in Northeast Asia."



Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi welcomed the committee launch, saying strengthening bilateral ties is in line with the interests of both countries.



"Amid the complicated international and regional situation, stronger cooperation between the two countries is in their best interest," Wang said.



"During the 29 years of diplomatic ties, Korea-China relations have developed rapidly and have contributed greatly to regional and global peace and development as well as being beneficial to the people of both countries."



He added, "I hope that the committee will propose high-quality and practical policies that will allow bilateral relations to overcome difficulties and move forward for the next 30 years."



Following the launching ceremony, the Korean and Chinese members exchanged opinions on how to operate the committee for the next 12 months. The committee will have subcommittees on future planning, politics and diplomacy, economy and commerce, and society and culture.



According to the foreign ministry, the committee plans to hold one or two plenary sessions per year along with multiple subcommittee meetings.


U.S. service members prepare to board evacuees onto a C-17 Globemaster lll at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Aug. 22. EPA-Yonhap



Afghans here to be allowed to overstay visas



By Nam Hyun-woo



Korea is working to evacuate Afghans who helped the Korean government's activities there, rescuing them from the Taliban-controlled country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, Tuesday.



The ministry said in a text message to reporters that "three military aircraft have been deployed to Afghanistan and neighboring countries on a mission to evacuate those who helped the Korean government's activities in Afghanistan."



The ministry added the Afghans to be rescued had worked for years at the Korean embassy as well as Korea-led hospitals and job training centers there, without elaborating further on the details of the mission.



The move came after growing concerns of potential Taliban retaliation against Afghans who supported the U.S. or other countries.



On Monday, National Security Office Director Suh Hoon dropped hints at South Korea's efforts to evacuate those Afghans, saying "we have a national responsibility to secure a safe haven for those who supported Korea's activities in Afghanistan," adding "the government is making necessary efforts."



The ministry did not disclose the number of people to be evacuated, but the ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil said on Sunday the number was around 400.



In the meantime, a suggestion made by the U.S. to house Afghan evacuees in U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) bases here appears to have been scrapped.



"As of now, Korea is not included in a number of countries where Afghan evacuees will be housed," a Cheong Wa Dae official said.



Reuters also reported that the U.S. has decided against the idea of using its largest overseas military bases in South Korea and Japan to house Afghan refugees temporarily, citing unidentified sources.



On Monday, the government confirmed that it had "a rudimentary discussion" with the U.S. on the possibility of accepting Afghan evacuees here, but added that the discussion did not move forward.



Regarding the plan, some members of the Korean public expressed concerns over COVID-19 infections, the possibility of radical Islamists among the evacuees and costs incurred from operating refugee camps. Heavyweight politicians of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea also showed caution, saying the government must be prudent in making such decisions.





Justice Minister Park Beom-kye visits the National Human Rights Commission of Korea in central Seoul, Aug. 19. Yonhap
Xing Haiming, right, Chinese ambassador to Korea, gestures to pictures of former President Roh Tae-woo during his visit to the former president's house in Seoul, Aug. 20, in commemoration of the 29th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Korea. Roh, 88, was the Korean head of state when ties were formed back in 1992, and his son Jae-heon, left, chairs the Road and Belt Institute in Korea. Courtesy of Chinese Embassy to Seoul
The government has decided to provide low-to middle-income families with multiple children with university tuition support as part of policies for youth, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday.





Korea Times file
The flag of the Ministry of National Defense, left, and Taegeukgi, the national flag of the Republic of Korea, are seen at the main building of the ministry complex in Seoul's Yongsan District in this file photo. Yonhap



By Jung Da-min



The military has again come under fire for its mishandling of a sexual harassment case, as it has been found that a victim of sexual violence in the Army attempted to kill herself.



It is the third time that a sexual harassment victim in the military has taken their own life or attempted to do so, following one each at the Air Force and the Navy.



These cases show the military's systemic errors in dealing with sex crimes, considering similarities in the three cases. In all three cases, the military authorities failed to separate the victims and the alleged perpetrators, making them continue working together after the harassment complaint was made, and all three victims suffered from secondary harm and retaliation.



According to the Army and the victim's side, a staff sergeant of the Republic of Korea Army allegedly suffered persistent and repetitive sexual harassment and was stalked by a sergeant first class for months after she turned down his advances when she joined the Army in April last year.



The victim reported the case to a superior of her unit in August last year, but they did not deal with the case properly, as they only took disciplinary action against him without criminal punishment. The perpetrator was dismissed from the Army in early September in a disciplinary action.



The victim's family claims the Army mishandled the case.



"During the unit's investigation into the case, her superiors tried to cover it up by telling her not to report it. They also failed to take proper measures such as separating her from the perpetrator after she reported it to the unit," her sister said in a petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website posted on Aug. 20.



"After that, there had been various acts of secondary harm done to her and she ultimately chose to transfer to another unit, but the situation did not improve."



The petitioner said the victim has since been going through serious mental distress for over a year and has been hospitalized after attempting suicide many times.



The Army said it is investigating whether the officials of the unit dealt with the case properly.



It was the third incident of military sexual violence in recent months.



On May 22, a female Air Force master sergeant killed herself after the Air Force tried to cover up her sexual harassment complaint about a male colleague. The military has since launched a full-scale investigation into the case and pledged to improve the system for dealing with sex crimes, but criticism only grew as similar cases have been reported even after the incident.



On Aug. 12, a female chief petty officer of the Navy was found dead in an apparent suicide after reporting that she had been sexually harassed by a male senior chief petty officer.






By Jun Ji-hye







The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has warned against an increase in financial scams in which swindlers send text messages containing web links to fake COVID-19 vaccination certificates, with the intention to acquire passwords and other personal information of victims.







Bae Gyung-taek, a senior KDCA official, said during a media briefing, Monday, that the agency has recently received an increasing number of reports about "smishing"  a portmanteau of short message service (SMS) and phishing  related to vaccinations, as the country's vaccination program has been gaining speed.







More than 25.9 million people, or 50.5 percent of the entire population here, have received at least their first vaccine shot as of Sunday, according to the KDCA.







"We never ask people to offer their personal information, except for when they book their vaccination schedules via reservation programs," Bae said. "To receive digital vaccination certificates, people should download a relevant mobile application available on devices running Google's Android and Apple's iOS. The KDCA does not send web links for that."







Bae noted that any text messages from the KDCA are sent by 1339 or its office numbers, and never sent by mobile phone numbers beginning with 010.







The KDCA will cooperate with the Korea Internet & Security Agency and National Police Agency to actively respond to criminal practices using text messages, he added.






The British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and its strike group will not make a planned port call at a port in South Korea's southern city of Busan due to the pandemic, sources said Tuesday.







The aircraft carrier had planned the port call later this month, during which they were to hold various joint events for friendship and exchanges, and stage combined exercises. Ahead of its arrival, the HMS Artful submarine firstly docked at the port of the Naval Operations Command in Busan earlier this month.







"We've decided to cancel the port call given the coronavirus situation. Exchanges and other in-person events between the sailors will not take place. But some combined field maneuvers are likely to be staged as planned," a military source said.







South Korea has experienced the fourth wave of COVID-19 since July, and Britain reported nearly 100 COVID-19 confirmed cases among around 3,700 sailors aboard the strike group vessels recently, though all of the crew members have been vaccinated.







The 64,000-ton Queen Elizabeth and the strike group embarked on a seven-month world tour in May. The fleet had conducted joint exercises with India and Singapore, and made a port call in Guam. After visiting Busan, it plans to travel to Japan, the officials said.







The aircraft carrier is escorted by several British navy vessels, as well as a Dutch frigate and the U.S.' guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans.







North Korea slammed the carrier group's deployment as a provocation that would escalate tensions in the Asia-Pacific. (Yonhap)






The United States decided not to use its military bases in South Korea to temporarily house Afghan evacuees, Reuters reported Tuesday.







U.S. officials "appeared to have figured out better sites" and decided to remove South Korea, as well as Japan, from the list "because of logistics and geography among other reasons," Reuters reported, citing sources well-versed in the issue.







The U.S. is currently working to transport tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees following the Taliban's seizure of power in Afghanistan.







The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has yet to comment on the latest report.







In response to an earlier Wall Street Journal report that Washington is considering USFK bases for those evacuees, USFK said, "To date, USFK has not been tasked to provide temporary housing or other support for anyone departing Afghanistan."







On Monday, South Korea's National Security Adviser Suh Hoon also said that the U.S. has decided to use its military bases in the Middle East or Europe to house Afghans.







"What has finally been concluded is that the U.S. will use its military bases in the Middle East or Europe in accordance with geographical conditions or conveniences," he told a parliamentary session.







He added that the Seoul government is reviewing various options to provide refuge to Afghans who worked with South Koreans in Kabul, including the possibility of bringing them to Seoul. (Yonhap)


Environment Minister Han Jeoung-ae speaks during a media conference at the Han River Flood Control Office in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Environment



By Jun Ji-hye



Korea will become the 14th country to cement its goal of achieving carbon neutrality into law, once a bill aimed at cutting emissions in 2030 by 35 percent or more from 2018 levels is passed at the National Assembly's plenary session, scheduled for Wednesday, Environment Minister Han Jeoung-ae said Tuesday.



Minister Han said during a media conference that through the passage of the bill, the country will take its first step toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, as the bill provides detailed plans for the medium and long term.



"2030 is becoming an important year, as the bill has as a goal reducing carbon emissions by at least 35 percent  compared to 2018 levels  by that time, as a mid-term goal," Han said. "A number of discussions and forums have taken place in order to draw up the bill for the past year. The government will continue carrying out discussions to seek public consensus on the issue in order to achieve its final goal."



The minister said that the bill also calls for drawing up appropriate measures to protect workers and industries that could suffer damage during the process of going carbon neutral, such as the coal mining and combustion engine car manufacturing industries.



On Aug. 19, the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee endorsed the bill, about 10 months after President Moon Jae-in declared the 2050 carbon neutrality goal.



The bill, however, was endorsed unilaterally by liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers, as some opposition lawmakers walked out of a heated session claiming that the target of reducing carbon emissions by only 35 percent was insufficient considering international standards.



For example, the minor opposition Justice Party, together with civic groups dedicated to the environment, demanded that the bill seek to cut emissions in 2030 by 50 percent from 2010 levels.



Rep. Kim Woong of the conservative main opposition People Power Party wrote on Facebook, "The bill will not be able to respond to climate change, but rather, will only use up the budget."



Regarding the criticism, Minister Han said that the 35 percent target represents the minimum of the country's nationally determined contributions (NDC) target range for 2030, in order to participate in the global initiative to go carbon neutral.



"Suggesting a lower limit is meaningful in that we expressed our willingness to go carbon neutral anyway, and the bill also includes comments calling on the government to consider a higher 40 percent target," Han said. "Members of the presidential committee on carbon neutrality will continue their discussions. I look forward to the committee's proposal on the final goal we should seek by 2030."


By Arthur I. Cyr





As the United States withdraws from Afghanistan under intense pressure, the Taliban are providing stark evidence of their exceptional fighting prowess. Forces of the militant fundamentalist movement have overrun major cities with stunning speed. The national government has collapsed.



This success has occurred despite trillions of dollars and tremendous labor being invested over two decades to build an effective national army and representative central government institutions.



Known as a conservative obstructionist, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell's immediate denunciation of President Joe Biden for a "botched" Afghanistan withdrawal begins the inevitable political recriminations from the right. There are also cries from some political quarters to send sizable military forces to overthrow the Taliban again.



That would be a major blunder.



As always, the context is clarifying. On September 11, 2001, an al-Qaeda (not Taliban) terrorist group based in Afghanistan carried out large-scale, horrific, murderous attacks on the United States. Hijacked civilian aircraft became directed lethal missiles. High-octane aviation fuel provided massive explosions on impact, an imaginative as well as evil killing tool.



Planes struck the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Another went down in the Pennsylvania countryside. That plane likely was to have hit the U.S. Capitol or White House. Passenger heroes prevented that.



In response, military forces of a comprehensive international coalition of nations led by the U.S. overthrew the fundamentalist Taliban regime in Kabul. Both the United Nations and NATO supported this effort, made necessary by the terror attacks.



Over time, comprehensive economic, political and social reform dimensions evolved. These were not necessary.



In February 2020, after nearly 20 years of occupation, the U.S. government, led by former President Donald Trump, and the fundamentalist Taliban movement signed a formal agreement for the phased withdrawal of international troops. The accord includes detailed stipulations to help protect the population and discourage the return of terrorists.



This struggle to find a reasonably responsible, acceptable diplomatic route for the departure reflects subtle but sustained sentiment among Americans. The emphasis on ending the war quickly was part of Donald Trump's "America First" campaign and important to his 2016 election victory.



Afghanistan has no history of sustained central government. Local tribal leaders remain powerful, dominating politically and socially, lethal in armed conflict.



In 1979, the Soviet Union carried out a massive invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. Many years of brutal unconventional warfare followed, extraordinarily costly to Soviet forces.



President Jimmy Carter supplied American weapons and related support for the Mujahideen warriors. President Ronald Reagan expanded that aid. A decade later, Moscow withdrew, acknowledging defeat.



After the Sept. 11 attacks, a sizable international coalition led by the U.S., under U.N. authority, invaded Afghanistan and overthrew the Taliban regime. However, the movement was not defeated.



Instead, in classic insurgent fashion, the Taliban faded into the population. Professor John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago has provided insightful analysis.



Afghanistan is significant for U.S. interests within the larger South Asia region. Major trade routes traverse the region, today as in ancient times. Preventing proximate powers, notably China, from establishing dominance is important.



As the Taliban advances, the U.S. must conduct efforts to extricate those who wish to leave, especially people who directly supported the international coalition. Mearsheimer and others emphasize the importance of remaining involved by means of espionage, bribery and other forms of influence, including special operations.



The surprise of American officials at the speed of Afghanistan's collapse signals a major intelligence failure. That fact requires investigation.



Finally, Afghanistan's people ultimately are responsible for their nation.





Arthur I. Cyr (acyr@carthage.edu) at Carthage College is author of "After the Cold War," "Liberal Politics in Britain" and other books.


More lawmakers suspected of illegal property deals



Twelve lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) are suspected of having engaged in illegal real estate transactions, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission announced Monday. It also said a lawmaker of the Open Democratic Party, a minor liberal party aligned with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), faces similar allegations.



The announcement was based on the commission's probe into opposition lawmakers and their families' property transactions taking place over the past seven years. It came after the state anti-corruption watchdog discovered in June that 12 lawmakers of the DPK were involved in irregular real estate dealings. These findings followed a land speculation scandal involving employees of the state-run Korea Land & Housing Corp. that erupted in March amid soaring housing prices.



The results of the commission's investigations show that opposition lawmakers are no different from the ruling party members. All the legislators suspected of illicit real estate deals are under severe criticism for their greed to make windfalls from property speculation. As long as they seek easy gains by illegal means, the National Assembly cannot push for legislation to root out speculation. The Moon Jae-in government has already invited the public's fury over its failure to bring runaway housing prices under control.



Lawmakers, politicians and bureaucrats should set an example so that they can gain the public's trust. However, their suspected property speculation shatters their integrity and credibility. The Moon administration instructed presidential secretaries and raking government officials not to possess more than one home. But many of them still refuse to sell additional properties in which they do not reside, apparently in pursuit of financial gain.



Both the ruling and opposition parties should take stern action against the lawmakers if they are found to have violated any law in their property transactions. A police-led joint government investigation team should also conduct a thorough probe to shed light on the allegations leveled against the legislators. Yet, many people question if the authorities can get tough with any law-breaking lawmakers.



The governing DPK asked the 12 lawmakers under suspicion to leave the party voluntarily  a move insufficient to assuage the public's outrage. Then only two lawmakers under the proportional representation system were expelled from the party, but without losing their National Assembly seats. On Tuesday, the opposition PPP decided to expell one legislator and recommended five lawmakers to exit the party on their own. But it took no action against six others who it claimed were cleared of suspicion.



No one can believe that the rival parties have undertaken sufficient action to prevent lawmakers from engaging in any irregular real estate transactions again. Critics are calling into question PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok's repeated pledge to take harsher action against his party's lawmakers than the DPK's. We urge the government and the political parties to take a zero tolerance approach toward those found to have broken the law on property speculation.


By Jang Daul





The heat wave finally seems over. Although it was difficult to endure, at least it was not worse than the hottest summer in 2018.



However, the inconvenient truth is that the frequency and severity of extreme weather events will most likely continue to increase due to global warming.



For many households, now is the time to worry about the bill of the hot summer. The media is already discussing August electricity bills and how they could be a big burden to households.



The bills are costlier because of people using air conditioning at home much more frequently and longer in August due to not only the scorching heat but also social distancing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.



In addition, since progressive rates are applied to only residential electricity in Korea, it is likely that most households pay more for electricity. However, is this "fare bomb" really too much of a burden?



According to data of the Korea Electric Power Corp., the average household consumed about 300 kilowatt-hours and paid 30,000 won in 2019, equivalent to $26 or 22 euros.



Since an average household spends 134,000 won for TV, internet and mobile service, the electricity expenditure is less than a quarter of telecommunication expenditures. Therefore, the power bill does not seem like that big a burden for households.



Of course, in July and August, households consume more electricity. In the hottest summer in 2018, an average household consumed 443 kWh of electricity in August and paid 54,000 won. It was an 80 percent increase compared to normal but it might be too much to call it "a fare bomb."



Furthermore, the household electricity price in Korea is very low compared to other industrialized countries. According to the International Energy Agency, the electricity price of Korea in 2019 was $102 per MWh which was the second-lowest among OECD member countries.



Germany ranked at the top with $334 per MWh and Denmark was second with $321 per MWh. The households in the two countries pay triple what Korean homes pay.



If we look at the details of the prices, we can understand why there is a big difference. Korea's $102 per MWh is composed of $90.10 of fare, $3.30 of excise tax and $9 of value-added tax (VAT) while that of Germany consists of $156.40 of fare, $124.20 of excise tax and $53.30 of VAT.



The excise tax in Germany is 38 times higher than that of Korea. The situation is similar for Denmark and many other OECD member countries, because revenues from the excise tax are mostly utilized for environmental and climate protection.



For example, with the tax revenue, the government could do many things to support energy transition, subsidizing the rapid deployment of renewables, extending grid systems, installing more energy storage services, and compensate industries and workers affected by the industrial transition required for reducing carbon emissions.



Then, how much does the average household in Korea pay for climate protection now?



Now every household in Korea can check how much they pay for the environment and climate protection with their electricity bills. The environment and climate charge rate is 5.3 won per kWh.



Therefore, if a household uses 300 kWh per month, then the climate charge is 1,590 won which is little more than 1 euro (equivalent to 1,378 won).



The possible revenue derived from such charging is too little to effectively invest in various ambitious climate mitigation policies. Of course, residential electricity consumption only accounts for 15 percent of the total in 2020 while the shares of industrial and commercial consumption were 55 and 22 percent, respectively.



Not paying enough for curbing carbon emissions now will result in an enormous bill in the future. Industrial, commercial and residential electricity bills need to substantially increase the excise tax in order to secure the necessary budget for a green transition.



Research by the Swiss RE Institute in June 2021 estimated that the economies of the G7 nations could lose an average of 8.5 percent GDP every year by 2050 if we do not respond effectively to the ongoing global climate crisis. The institute calculated that the GDP loss for Korea would be 9.7 percent annually.



Therefore, bearing the cost of the necessary transition to decarbonize our socioeconomic system is a lot cheaper and therefore a smarter way to respond to the deteriorating climate crisis.



The recent release of part of the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change gave a stark warning of where we are headed if urgent action is not taken.



Therefore, it's the time to think big and bold. Every country, especially for the global major economies including Korea, needs to accelerate the green transition, which requires a budget and it should certainly be much bigger than 1 euro per month if we ever hope to avoid a climate disaster.





Jang Daul (daul.jang@greenpeace.org) is a government relations and advocacy specialist at Greenpeace East Asia Seoul Office.


In this June 20 file photo, models promote LG Electronics' 83-inch OLED TV. Courtesy of LG Electronics



Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics  represented half of the global TV market in the first half of the year, a report showed Tuesday, as they maintained their leadership in the premium segment.



Samsung accounted for 31 percent of the global TV market in terms of sales revenue to defend its top status in the first six months of 2021, while LG followed with a 19 percent share, according to data from industry researcher Omdia.



Japan's Sony came in third with 9.3 percent followed by Chinese makers TCL with 7.4 percent and Hisense with 7.3 percent.



By volume, Samsung made up 21.2 percent of the global market after shipping 21.03 million TVs in the first half, up 10.3 percent from a year earlier. It was the first time since 2016 that the company's first-half sales volume topped 20 million units.



Samsung's strong performance was led by premium QLED TV sales that topped 4 million units in the first half, up 46 percent from a year ago. The global QLED TV market came to 5.25 million units in the first half.



Samsung also had the dominant position in the 80-inch or larger TV segment with a market share of 51.9 percent.



"Considering second-half TV sales are usually above the first half's, our QLED TV sales are expected to reach 10 million units this year," Samsung said. "We are certain to achieve the No. 1 status for 16 consecutive years."



LG sold 13.56 million TVs in the first half, up 25.8 percent from a year earlier, thanks to increased supply and enhanced price competitiveness of OLED displays.



LG shipped 1.73 million OLED TVs in the first half, representing more than 63 percent of the worldwide OLED TV market. In particular, the company's OLED TV shipments reached 945,600 units in the second quarter, its largest-ever quarterly volume since the introduction of OLED TVs in 2013.



"This is meaningful considering that the average selling price (ASP) of LG's OLED TVs is almost $2,000, nearly four times larger than that of LCD TVs," it said.



The worldwide TV market in the first half posted revenue of $54.2 billion, up 36.1 percent from a year earlier, while sales reached 99.11 million units, up 7.4 percent from a year ago, Omdia data showed.



When it comes to the second-quarter alone, the global TV shipments came to 47.85 million units, up from 45.64 million units a year earlier. However, it was down from 51.25 million units in the first quarter due to seasonality and production disruptions from the resurgence of COVID-19.



Samsung's second-quarter TV sales were 9.41 million units, down from 11.61 million in the previous quarter, while LG's TV shipments came to 6.28 million units, down from 7.28 million units in the first quarter. (Yonhap)


Samsung leader Lee Jae-yong attends a trial on fraud and stock manipulation charges at the Seoul Central District Court, Aug. 21. Yonhap



75 percent of W240 tril. budget will be invested in Korea



By Kim Yoo-chul, Baek Byung-yeul



A few days after Justice Minister Park Beom-kye said his ministry's decision to parole Samsung leader Lee Jae-yong was due to concerns related to the "national economic situation and the global economic environment," Samsung said it will massively invest into businesses designated as "nationally important."



On Tuesday, Samsung said it plans to invest up to 240 trillion won ($205 billion) over the next three years. Capital expenditure will be focused on contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), foundry and memory chips  areas in which Samsung has competitive edge over its chief international rivals.



It aims to become the global CDMO leader by 2023. "Samsung targets 30 percent global market share in the CDMO segment," the statement added.



Its highlights in semiconductors and CDMOs are in accordance with the earlier requests from business leaders and politicians in terms of the company's role in striking COVID vaccine deal and addressing a global chip shortage. Samsung is the long-time leader in memory chips.



Pundits and political analysts claimed that Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's release from prison may have a complicated political dimension given how much sway the country's top conglomerate has over the rest of the economy. Out of the allocated budget, 180 trillion won or 75 percent will be invested in Korea, said the release.



"Semiconductors are vital to a lot of industries beyond conventional usage as the global technology industry is seeing rapid acceleration of tech development amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), fifth-generation (5G) and 6G network-embedded solutions. Given that chips represent dependency for many countries, competition is getting fiercer between countries regarding the issue. Plus, the spread of COVID-19 has awakened the importance of vaccines, so the bio business has also become a strategically important segment," it said.



Samsung Biologics is the group's promising affiliate, as the nature of CDMO business is based on on-time delivery, better pricing and huge manufacturing  the points that Samsung's competitiveness lie in. The CDMO unit is set to manufacture Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine at its plant in Songdo, Incheon, starting late this month.



Samsung said it will be aggressive for big acquisition deals to cement its leadership in its target businesses. It is sitting on about 200 trillion won cash and cash-equivalent assets that the firm can't wait to spend.



Samsung is still interested in a possible acquisition deal for NXP, though it is reconsidering the deal due to its high price. JP Morgan said Samsung's NXP acquisition makes sense logically and despite legal issues, if Samsung purchases NXP, it will help bolster its position in the chip industry and bring its patented automotive 5G offerings. It said earlier it will invest 171 trillion won in the foundry business by 2030.



Additionally, Samsung said it will increase the number of employees by hiring 40,000 over the next three years. As of June this year, it has around 110,000 employees.










Korea's largest shipper HMM Co. on Tuesday pressed its labor unions to return to the negotiating table, saying the imminent walkout of its workers could cost the firm a whopping $580 million.







"We have already offered the unions a raise estimated at 10 percent, considering that the potential strike can deal a harsh blow on the export-oriented economy," HMM said in a statement.







On the previous day, unionized sailors and other sea-based workers at HMM have voted in favor of staging their first-ever strike after wage negotiations with the company reached a deadlock. They plan to hand in letters of resignation to management Wednesday.







The separate land-based labor union of HMM also plans to hold a vote Monday on staging a walkout.







Union members demand an 8-percent pay increase on top of a bonus amounting to 800 percent of their wages. In contrast, the management offered workers an 8-percent raise, along with bonuses of 500 percent.







The seafarers union said it is still open to reach a last-minute agreement with the company, should the management come up with a sweetened proposal.







Union members claim they have been underpaid compared to workers at rival companies and their wages have been frozen for up to eight years.







HMM, meanwhile, posted record earnings over the April-June period on the back of rising freight costs. Its operating profit rose 10 times from a year earlier to about 1.4 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in the April-June period. (Yonhap)




People flee their homes and travel on Kandahar-Kabul highway, Afghanistan, Aug. 23. EPA-Yonhap



The United States and South Korea are communicating over the possible use of U.S. military bases in South Korea to temporarily house Afghan evacuees, a ranking U.S. military official said Monday.



Maj. Gen. William Taylor, deputy director for regional operations of the Joint Staff, said he did not know what exactly was being discussed, "other than that communication is happening."



South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong earlier said the U.S. has asked to use U.S. military bases in South Korea to house Afghan nationals evacuated from the war-torn country.



Chung, however, added that there was no such discussion currently underway "at all."






A nurse reaches for a vial of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a pop up vaccine clinic in the Arleta neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, Aug. 23. AFP-Yonhap



The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday fully approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID shot, triggering a new wave of vaccine mandates as the Delta variant batters the country.



Around 52 percent of the American population is fully vaccinated, but health authorities have hit a wall of vaccine hesitant people, impeding the national campaign.



In a televised address, President Joe Biden called FDA approval the "gold standard" in evidence.



"Today I'm calling on... more companies in the private sector to step up with vaccine requirements that will reach millions more people," he said.



Pfizer's vaccine, which will now be marketed under its brand name Comirnaty, is the first to receive full approval.



More than 200 million Pfizer shots have already been administered under an emergency use authorization (EUA) that was granted on December 11, 2020.



The decision to fully approve it among people aged 16 and up was based on updated data from the drug's clinical trial involving more than 40,000 people, which found the vaccine 91 percent effective in preventing COVID.



The FDA tracked data from 12,000 vaccine recipients six months out from their vaccine series.



Most commonly reported side effects were mild and included pain and swelling at the injection site as well as headache, chills and fever.



The agency is continuing to investigate safety data regarding the highly rare but more worrisome condition myocarditis (heart inflammation), particularly within seven days after the second dose.



The highest risk has been detected in boys aged 12 through 17, with available data suggesting most individuals recover but some require intensive care.



Military, NYC announce mandates



The US military said shortly after the announcement that it would mandate the vaccine, and a slew of private businesses and universities are expected to follow.



New York City also said it would require all its department of education employees to receive at least one dose of vaccine by September 27, without the option for regular testing instead.



The vaccine remains available under emergency use authorization to children aged 12 to 15, but because it has now been fully approved, physicians may prescribe it to children under 12 if they believe it will be beneficial.



But Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock recommended against so called "off-label" use in younger children until clinical trials report their data, which is expected later this year.



"We need to get the information and data on usage in younger children  they are not just small adults," she told reporters, emphasizing that knowing the correct dosage for this group was key.





U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the COVID-19 response and the vaccination program at the South Court Auditorium at Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC, Aug. 23. UPI-Yonhap
A shopper loads items into her car in the parking lot of a Walmart in Willow Grove, Pa., on May 19. AP-Yonhap



Walmart says it will start commercializing its delivery service, using contract workers, autonomous vehicles and even drones to deliver other retailers' products directly to their customers' homes as fast as just a few hours.



The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer launched delivery and Express delivery for its shoppers three years ago on more than 160,000 items from more than 3,000 stores, reaching nearly 70 percent of the U.S. population. The nation's largest retailer aims to tap into its ties with local communities, particularly businesses in rural areas that have struggled to implement their own delivery operations.



The strategy announced Tuesday will pit Walmart against the likes of Uber, DoorDash and other delivery services. It comes as Walmart moves to expand its sources of profits and revenues beyond its core retail businesses. It's a strategy similar to Amazon's cloud computing unit called Amazon Web Services, which the online behemoth built for itself and now sells to other businesses.



The service, Walmart GoLocal, has already signed a number of contractual agreements with national and small business clients, which it declined to name. Walmart is currently selecting new business partners. Walmart declined to offer figures on the investment or financial targets for the service. It is to begin operations within a few months.



Last month, Walmart began offering small- to medium-size businesses e-commerce technology it developed to let shoppers buy products online and pick them up at stores. It's part of a partnership with technology provider Adobe.



During a call with reporters Monday night, Tom Ward, a senior vice president at Walmart's U.S. division, said that fees for the service will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The delivery time could be as fast as a few hours or up to two days.



"In an era where customers have come to expect speed and reliability, it's more important than ever for businesses to work with a service provider that understands a merchant's needs," said John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart's U.S. division. (AP)




People wait to be evacuated at Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 23. An Afghan policeman was killed on 23 August in a gun battle between security forces and unknown attackers at the North Gate of the Kabul airport, the German military said, amid ongoing chaos at the airport as thousands try to flee Taliban rule. EPA-Yonhap



A firefight at one of the gates of Kabul's international airport killed at least one Afghan soldier early Monday, German officials said, the latest chaos to engulf Western efforts to evacuate those fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country.



The shooting at the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month. The Taliban said they retook three districts seized by opponents the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control.



Afghanistan's security forces collapsed in the face of the Taliban advance, despite 20 years of Western aid, training and assistance. Tens of thousands of Afghans have sought to flee the country since, fearing a return to the brutal rule the Taliban imposed the last time they ran Afghanistan. That has led to chaos at the airport in Kabul, the main route out of the country, where some Afghan troops are assisting Western evacuation efforts.



Gunfire broke out near one of the airport's gates, where at least seven Afghans died a day earlier in a panicked stampede of thousands of people. The circumstances of the shooting, which occurred around dawn, remained unclear.



The German military tweeted that one member of the Afghan security forces was killed and three others were wounded by "unknown attackers." It later clarified that it was referring to "members of the Afghan army" involved in securing the airport.



Emergency, an Italian humanitarian organization that operates hospitals in Afghanistan, said it had treated six patients with bullet wounds from the airport, none of whom were in life-threatening condition.



The U.S. military and NATO did not immediately acknowledge the shooting. There was no comment from the Taliban.



The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world. Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths. At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed Sunday.



The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military and say there's no need for any Afghans to flee. They have pledged to bring peace and security after decades of war and say they won't seek revenge on those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government.



But their fighters have violently suppressed protests and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport perimeter. There have also been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies. It's unclear if Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters on the ground are taking matters into their own hands.



As the airlift continues, the U.S. government asked for 18 aircraft from U.S. commercial carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees to their final destinations after their initial evacuation. The request fell under the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, which was born in the wake of the Berlin airlift and can add to the military's capabilities during crises.



Early Monday, a Delta Air Lines flight landed in Dubai and later took off for Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where evacuees are crowded into hangars. A steady stream of military transport planes continue to fly people out of Kabul to airfields across the Mideast.



Since Aug. 14, the U.S. has evacuated or facilitated the evacuation of more than 30,000 people on military and coalition flights. Tens of thousands of people  Americans, other foreigners and Afghans who assisted in the war effort  are still waiting to join the airlift, which has been slowed by security issues and U.S. bureaucracy hurdles.



U.S. President Joe Biden said Sunday he would not rule out extending the evacuation beyond Aug. 31, the date he had set for completing the withdrawal of U.S. forces. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to press Biden for an extension.



But Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, in an interview with Sky News, said Aug. 31 is a "red line" and that extending the American presence would "provoke a reaction."



There are concerns that a local affiliate of the Islamic State group might target the crowds outside the airport with suicide bombers or fire missiles at U.S. aircraft. Military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff _ both measures used to avoid missile attacks.



The Taliban and IS have different ideologies and have fought in recent years, but one concern about the Taliban's takeover is that they could again shelter extremist groups. The Taliban harbored al-Qaida while it orchestrated the 9/11 attacks, leading to the U.S. invasion in 2001. The Taliban now say they will not allow Afghanistan to be a base for attacks on other countries.



Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban have faced limited armed resistance from fighters in Baghlan province, some 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Kabul. The anti-Taliban fighters claimed to have seized three districts in the Andarab Valley on Sunday, but the Taliban said Monday that they had cleared them out overnight.



Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group's forces have also surrounded nearby Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistan's 34 provinces yet to fall to the fighters.



Several Taliban opponents have gathered there, including Amrullah Saleh, the vice president in the toppled government who claims to be the acting president. Ahmad Massoud, son of the slain commander of the Northern Alliance militias that partnered with the U.S. to drive the Taliban from power in 2001, is also in Panjshir.



In interviews with Arab media outlets over the weekend, Massoud said his fighters would resist any attempt to take the province by force but were open to dialogue with the Taliban.



Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said there had been no fighting in Panjshir yet and that his group is seeking a "peaceful solution" to the standoff. (AP)








People were evacuated from two villages west of Athens on Monday as firefighters battled a new blaze in a forested area that was devastated by flames last week.







Authorities ordered the protective clearance of the villages of Vilia and Profitis lias, about 50 km (30 miles) from the Greek capital, as strong winds fanned the blaze. There were no immediate reports of injuries.







More than 500 wildfires have broken out across Greece since the beginning of August, ravaging swathes of forest and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people.







The biggest one, on the island of Evia near Athens, burned for days before it was contained.







Greece, Turkey, Tunisia and other countries across the Mediterranean region have seen some of their highest temperatures in decades this summer.







A total of 85 firefighters, 13 helicopters and eight water bombing planes were sent in to contain the wildfire west of Athens on Monday, a fire brigade official said.







More than 9,000 hectares of thick pine forest were burned in the same area last week. (Reuters)






A crowd of UK students jumps up and down to music during Christian Student Fellowships Luau Party on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, at CSF's temporary location on Columbia Avenue in Lexington, Kentucky. Photo by Jack Weaver | Staff
1. Comedian Amanda Seales (of HBOs Insecure) is about to take you to school. Sick of the stereotypes about African Americans in media and the overall lack of knowledge of black history, Seales mixes humor and her doctorate in African American studies with her love of games and music to cr


Applications Systems Analyst - Consultant (BlueCross BlueShield of TN, Chattanooga, TN): Reqs Bachelors (U.S. or foreign equiv) in Comp Sci or related or equiv yrs exp; 5 yrs exp working as middleware admin in Unix-based operating sys; 5 yrs exp working w/ IBM WebSphere MQ; 5 yrs exp working w/ IBM WebSphere Message Broker (WMB) or IBM Integration Bus (IIB); 3 yrs exp working w/ IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS); 1 yr exp working w/ automation technologies Ansible, GitHub, & Jenkins; strong design & working knowledge in message oriented middleware platforms; able to evaluate complicated sys architectures & make recommendations; extensive knowledge in designing and building middleware platforms to meet business demand incl creation & maintenance of tech & functional documentation; tech exp in automating the provisioning, configuration, & installation of middleware messaging components; proven skills w/ monitoring tools & Cloud Tech; top level exp implementing SSL/TLS based security; possess leadership & communication skills; exp tuning middleware components for high availability & high performance; able to communicate w/ project management & quality mgmt teams effectively; proven analysis, design, & coding skills, & demonstrated success in leading large & complex projects; capable of undertaking tasks & completing them w/o supervision. In lieu of Bachelors, will accept 1 year of tech exp for each yr of requested college ed in addition to the exp reqs listed above. Job offer contingent upon satisfactory background check, tobacco/nicotine test, & drug test. Qualified applicants mail resume Attn: Talent Acquisition, BCBST, One Cameron Hill Circle, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Requisition ID SJ-SM.

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Financial Aid Advisor II About Tulsa Community College

Tulsa Community College is committed to creating equitable and inclusive work environments to support the success of the full range of our employees.



We believe that employees who feel valued and respected will create policies, programs, practices and services to effectively meet the needs and exceed the expectations of our increasingly diverse student populations.



We encourage candidates to apply who have demonstrated capacity to create inclusive work environments, to work effectively on increasingly diverse teams, and to serve the increasingly diverse college community.



We are committed to hiring and retaining a racially diverse, culturally competent staff at all levels of the organization who not only reflect the demographics of our students, but also continue to deepen their skills and competencies to serve the full range of our community.

Job Summary:

Responsible for implementing and maintaining federal and state compliance in the Financial Aid Office with regard to the awarding and disbursement procedures for financial aid funds.

Campus: Northeast

Classification: Staff

Position Type: Full-time

Curricular:

If Faculty, Contract Length:

Job Code Number: 3755F-8-22

Minimum Qualifications:

Associates Degree or equivalent education in Business, Accounting or other related area. Degree requirement may be substituted with equivalent work experience.



One year experience working in Financial Aid environment.



Experience working with Federal Title IV regulations, policies and procedures related to financial aid.



Detail-oriented with good interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.



Demonstrated ability to perform responsibilities with initiative and minimal supervision.



Ability to interact effectively in a team based environment, college service areas and diverse student population. Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting or other related area.

Starting Salary Range: $14.77/hour - $16.76/hour

Work Schedule:

Monday-Friday 8-5

Posting Date: 08/12/2021

Closing Date:

Open Until Filled: Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Advertised Department: Financial Aid

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Microcomputer Technical Support Specialist

Applicants must be experienced working in LAN/WAN environments. Familiarity with Windows, MAC OS/iOS, Windows Servers, and PC operation/ management is mandatory.

Management of Microsoft Active Directory, Group Policies, DHCP/DNS, and Computer Imaging using WDS is highly desired.

Knowledge of WAN, Chromebooks, iPads, Enterprise Mobility Management, and other technologies is a plus. Candidate must have strong customer service and communications skills in addition to troubleshooting, research, and documentation skills. Must possess a valid NYS driver license and reliable transportation.

Employees may be required to travel to any school/district that WNYRIC supports.

Qualifications required: Bachelor's degree plus two (2) years of experience that includes installation and maintenance of LAN/WAN systems, or six (6) years total education / experience. *BOCES provides a competitive salary with excellent benefits and working environment.

For more information and to apply online, please visit:

E1b.org, Employment, Classified Open Positions.

Posting #0821-0013.

E1B is an EOE.

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ImOn Communications is the LOCAL choice for cable TV, high-speed Internet and phone service. We value the relationships we have with colleagues, customers, and members of our community and look forward to serving Eastern Iowa for many years to come. As we expand our service availability we are looking for an Outside Plant Design Engineer to be a part of the ImOn Difference! Our employees share a passion for building a culture of Creating Connections One Person at a Time and fostering a fun and rewarding work environment. The Outside Plant Design Engineer will design complete network areas for aerial and underground applications to obtain optimum and economical utilization of communication facilities. Design tasks will include creating detailed permit/construction drawings, compiling project cost estimates/material lists and producing clear and accurate field splicing instructions. Other responsibilities include maintaining network protection procedures, providing new facility information for the network database and managing all aspects of aerial and underground construction, as well as fiber optic testing procedures. Essential duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Engineer cost effective design solutions for both business and residential areas by analyzing collected field data.

Identify and resolve construction obstacles during the design process.

Compile project cost estimates, bills of materials and project requests while meeting time and budget constraints.

Produce clear and accurate fiber splicing instructions for the construction technicians.

Maintain detailed records of all aspects of a fiber network including facility location, network splicing, fiber assignments, and all active ID circuits.

Follow all network protection and reporting procedures as necessary.

Generate CMR requests listing the potential impact.

Responsible for meeting scope, schedule, and budget goals.

Help maintain data integrity in Omnia/Oasis. Requirements We are looking for people with: Bachelors Degree or equivalent work experience in relevant field preferred.

Valid Iowa Drivers License

5+ years experience in telecommunications industry with comprehensive knowledge of outside plant construction specifications, fiber optic technology, and system design.

Basic software experience including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Internet Explorer a must. Experience with Auto-Cad software preferred.

Ability to read and interpret network engineering maps, fiber documentation and fiber splicing per document requirements. In addition to competitive pay, ImOn also offers health & dental insurance, 401(k), discounted Cable, Internet & Phone services, and additional perks such as FREE vision and life insurance as well as FREE short term/long term disability, vacation & holiday pay, and community volunteer opportunities.

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PURPOSE OF YOUR JOB POSITION The primary purpose of your job position is to provide residents with routine daily nursing care delivered in a compassionate attitude and in accordance with our established nursing care procedures and philosophies as may be directed by your supervisors. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY As a Certified Nursing Assistant you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties. JOB FUNCTIONS Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. However, it in no way states or implies that these be the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION A criteria-based performance evaluation will be done using components of this job description and documentation of your daily activities. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS 1.1 Record all appropriate entries on flow sheets, notes, charge, etc. 1.2 Report all accidents and incidents you observe on the shift as they occur. 1.3 Report all changes in the resident's condition to the charge nurse as soon as practical. 1.4 Uses resident's charge system accurately. ADMISSION, TRANSFER, AND DISCHARGE FUNCTIONS 2.1 Ensure that the resident's room is ready for receiving the resident (i.e., bed made, name tags up, etc.). 2.2 Greet and escort residents to their room. 2.3 Introduce residents to his/her roommate, if any, and other residents and personnel as appropriate. 2.4 Make resident comfortable (i.e., put to bed, get water, etc.). 2.5 Inventory and mark the resident's personal possessions as instructed. 2.6 Store resident's clothing. 2.7 Assist residents with packing their personal possessions when they are being transferred to a new room, or when being discharged. 2.8 Transport residents to new rooms or to the receiving area. 2.9 Assist residents with loading/unloading as necessary. EMPLOYEE FUNCTIONS 3.1 Follow work assignments, and/or work schedules in completing and performing your assigned tasks. 3.2 Perform all assigned tasks in accordance with our established policies and procedures, and as instructed by your supervisors. 3.3 Notify the facility when you will be late or absent from work. 3.4 Report all complaints and grievances made by the resident. 3.5 Cooperate with inter-departmental personnel, as well as other facility personnel to assure that nursing services can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the residents. 3.6 Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift. 3.7 Meet with your shift's nursing personnel on a regular basis to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas and/or the improvement of services. PERSONAL NURSING CARE FUNCTIONS 4.1 Participate in and receive the nursing report upon reporting for duty. 4.2 Assist residents with daily dental and mouth care (i.e., brushing teeth/dentures, oral hygiene, special mouth care, etc.). 4.3 Assist residents with bath functions (i.e., bed-bath, tub or shower bath, etc.) as directed. 4.4 Give back-rubs as instructed. 4.5 Assist residents with hair care functions (i.e., combing, brushing, shampooing, etc.). 4.6 Assist residents with nail care (i.e., clipping, trimming, and cleaning the finger/toenails.). (Note: Does not include diabetic residents.) 4.7 Shave residents. 4.8 Keep residents clean and dry (i.e., change gown, clothing, linens, etc., when it becomes wet or soiled.). 4.9 Make beds (occupied and unoccupied). 4.10 Position bedfast and wheelchair or Specialty chair residents in correct and comfortable positions. 4.11 Change bed linens. Keep linens tight to avoid wrinkles from forming under the resident. 4.12 Put extra covers on beds as requested. 4.13 Assist resident with bowel and bladder functions as instructed (i.e., take to bathroom, offer bedpan/urinal, portable commode, etc.). 4.14 Maintain intake and output records as instructed. 4.15 Keep incontinent residents clean and dry. 4.16 Check and report bowel movements and character of stools as instructed. 4.17 Prepare and give enemas. Report results as instructed. 4.18 Assist residents in preparing for activity, social and wellness programs (i.e., church services, parties, visitors, etc.). 4.19 Follow established policies concerning exposure to blood/body fluids. 4.20 Assist in transporting residents to/from appointments, activity and social programs, etc., as necessary. 4.21 Assist with lifting, turning, moving, positioning, and transporting residents in and out of beds, chairs, bathtubs, wheelchairs, lifts, etc. using proper body mechanics and appropriate number of personnel for resident condition. 4.22 Answer resident call-bells promptly. 4.23 Assist residents to walk with or without self-help devices as instructed. 4.24 Perform restorative and rehabilitative procedures as instructed. 4.25 Measure and record temperatures, pulse, respirations and pain (TPRs), as instructed. 4.26 Weigh and measure residents as instructed. 4.27 Assist with the care of the dying resident. 4.28 Provide postmortem care as instructed. 4.29 Check residents routinely to assure that they're personal care needs are being met. 4.30 Assist Residents for transport to and from the Wellness Center, including change into and out of swimsuits. SPECIAL NURSING CARE FUNCTIONS 5.1 Observe and report the presence of pressure areas, skin breakdowns and any reddened area to prevent decubitus ulcers (bedsores). 5.2 Provide daily indwelling catheter care on every shift. 5.3 Provide daily Range of Motion Exercises. Record data as instructed. 5.4 Turn bedfast residents at least once every two (2) hours. 5.5 Perform special treatments as instructed. 5.6 Watch for and report any change in room temperature, ventilation, lighting, etc. 5.7 Turn all medications found in the resident's room/possession over to the Charge Nurse. FOOD SERVICE FUNCTIONS 6.1 Prepare residents for meals (i.e., take to bathroom, wash hands, comb hair, raise bed, position tables, place bavettes, take to/from dining room, etc.). 6.2 Serve food trays. Assist with feeding as indicated (i.e., cutting foods, feeding, assist in dining room supervision, etc.). 6.3 Assist residents with identifying food arrangements (i.e., informing residents with sight problems, of foods that are on his/her tray, where it is located, if it is hot/cold, etc.). 6.4 Record the residents food/fluid intake. Report changes in the resident's eating habits. 6.5 Keep residents water pitchers clean and filled with fresh water (on each shift), and within easy reach of the resident. 6.6 Serve between meal and bedtime snacks when appropriate. 6.7 Perform after meal care (i.e., remove trays, clean residents hands, face, clothing, take to bathroom, brush teeth, clean dentures, etc.). 6.8 Check rooms for food articles (i.e., food in proper container, unauthorized food items, etc.). STAFF DEVELOPMENT 7.1 Attend and participate in scheduled training and educational classes. 7.2 Attend and participate in scheduled orientation programs and activities. 7.3 Maintain current licensure. SAFETY AND SANITATION 8.1 Restrain residents in chair/bed only as instructed. 8.2 Check restrained residents at least every thirty (30) minutes. 8.3 Release restraints at least every two (2) hours for range of motion exercises, taking to bathroom, etc. 8.4 Maintain a record of restrained residents, the times restraints were released, and how long the restraints were released. 8.5 Notify the Charge Nurse of any resident leaving/missing from the facility. 8.6 Keep floors dry. Report spills immediately. 8.7 Keep excess supplies and equipment off the floor and stored in designated areas. 8.8 Keep residents personal possessions off the floor and properly sorted. 8.9 Follow established smoking regulations. Report all violations. 8.10 Keep the nurses' call system within easy reach of the resident. 8.11 Report all hazardous conditions and equipment to the Staff Nurse immediately. 8.12 Follow established safety precautions in the performance of all duties. 8.13 Report all safety violations 8.14 Before leaving work area for breaks, or at the end of the work day, store all tools, equipment, and supplies. 8.15 Wash hands before and after performing any service for the resident. 8.16 Wash wheelchairs, walkers, etc., as instructed. 8.17 Clean and return all resident care equipment to its designated storage area after each use. 8.18 Perform routine housekeeping duties (i.e., clean bed-rails, over-bed table, night stand, medicine chest, closets, etc.) that relate to nursing care procedures. 8.19 Wash hands before entering and leaving an isolation room/area. 8.20 Report any communicable or infectious disease that you contact, to the Director of Nursing Services and/or to the Infection Control Coordinator. 8.21 Follow established isolation precautions and procedures. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY FUNCTIONS 9.1 Use only the equipment you have been trained to use. 9.2 Operate all equipment in a safe manner. 9.3 Use only the equipment and supplies necessary to do the job. Do not be wasteful. 9.4 Report defective equipment to the Charge Nurse. 9.5 Inform the Charge Nurse of your equipment and supply needs. CARE PLAN FUNCTIONS 10.1 Review Nurse Assistant instruction sheets daily to determine if changes in the resident's daily care routine have been made on the care plan. 10.2 Inform the Charge Nurse of any changes in the resident's condition so that appropriate information can be entered on the resident's care plan. RESIDENT RIGHTS 11.1 Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information. 11.2 Ensure that you treat all residents fairly and with kindness, dignity and respect. 11.3 Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy. 11.4 Knock before entering the resident's room. 11.5 Report all grievances and complaints made by the resident to the Charge Nurse. WORKING CONDITIONS Works throughout the nursing service area (i.e., drug rooms, nurses' stations, resident rooms, etc.). Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves intermittently during working hours. Is subject to frequent interruptions. Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances. Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel, and visitors. Communicates with nursing personnel and other department personnel. Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends and holidays, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary. Attends and participates in continuing education programs. Is subject to falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work day. Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses. Must be able to work the required hours for the position. Must be able to adhere to all policies of St. Simeon's including absenteeism or tardiness as well as all approved policies. EDUCATION Must possess, as a minimum, an 8th grade education. EXPERIENCE Must be a certified nurse aide in accordance with laws of this state or be willing to undergo certification. Must maintain current certification in accordance with the laws of this state. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language. Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action. Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public. Must meet age requirements for the position. Must possess the ability and willingness to work harmoniously with professional and non-professional personnel. Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents. Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices. Must be able to relate information concerning a resident's condition. PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS (With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices) Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day. Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner. Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position. Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to assure that the requirements of this position can be fully met. Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies. Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability. Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility. Must be able to lift or assist in moving more than own body weight. Must be able to bend, walk, stand, lift, carry, push and handle equipment, supplies or patients exceeding 50 pounds. Must be willing to perform tasks that may involve exposure to the resident's blood/body fluids. Must be able to assist in the evacuation of residents.

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Description



System ID 717630

Category Human Resources

Relocation Type No

Employment Status Full-Time

Unit Description

Sodexo has an exciting opportunity for a Human Resource Manager 3 at UCHealth System in Colorado Springs, CO. Reporting to the Client Executive this position will have direct human resource responsibility of 7 hospitals and coverage for 300 hourly employees. The selected candidate will need to visit units 2 to 3 days a week, but can home office when not at a unit. The successful candidate will have experience in all Human Resource functions, including administration of facility hiring, retention, termination, legal compliance, benefits, worker's compensation, FMLA, long-term staffing strategies, payroll, and strong understanding of Colorado Labor Law; PHR/SPHR Certification a plus. Targeted salary for this position is $55,000 to $75,000. The ideal candidate will: Work closely with on-site managers to ensure compliance with Sodexo human resource policy and procedures and other human resource needs.

Create and maintain employees files.

Execute all Sodexo and Hospital required HR reporting.

Maintain employee files ensuring compliance with hospital and Sodexo standards.

Oversee employee relations and retention.

Address all Sodexo employee relations situations.

Interact with the client Hospital Human Resource team as necessary.

Be responsible for all unit level recruitment including job posting and interviewing.

Facilitate all required Sodexo HR training programs including New Employee On-boarding process.

Lead other human resource initiatives for the unit.

Support other HR activities as needed. If you have the following skillset, then we would love to hear from you: Human Resources experience working in a similar sized and type of industry.

Ability to lead HR practices and objectives.

Ability to provide an employee-oriented, high performance culture that emphasizes quality, productivity standards, goal attainment.

Ability to support and promote ongoing development of a superior workforce.

Strong attention to details as well as ability to be successful in a high volume, fast paced environment.

Computer literate in all MS Office products.

Knowledgeable of Colorado state and federal HR policies and laws.

Skilled in the area of employee relations.

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast paced work environment.

Professional communication skills. Learn more about Sodexo's Benefits Not the job for you? At Sodexo, we offer positions that support a variety of career goals working in diverse business segments, including Corporate Headquarters, Corporate, Schools, Universities, Government and Agencies, Health Care, Senior Living and Sports and Leisure locations across the United States. Continue your search today.

Position Summary

Handles human resource functions, up to complex issues and administration for single or multi-unit/account(s). May include payroll, benefits, training, employee relations, recruiting, safety, etc. Position focuses on hourly workforce and may or may not include union accounts. Key Duties

- Respond to inquiries regarding HR plans, programs & policies. Education managers and employees on policies and procedures. Assist in developing and implementing new policies and procedures. Knowledge of and oversees all Federal, State and Local laws regarding human resources.

- Investigate and resolve employee issues and recommend resolutions, based on policy, as appropriate. Involve those necessary based on incidents; HR People Center, legal, etc. If applicable, management of union employees; understanding of all contract rules/policies and management of arbitration. Involvement of contract negotiations.

- Provide direction to managers and employees on implementation of HR plans, programs, policies, and training. Act as the primary consultant on various HR initiatives.

- Serve as the HR consultant and work with operations to positively impact business.

- Perform due diligence for new business initiatives to determine the appropriate HR plans, programs, process, and tools (including compensation, benefits, leadership, staffing, diversity & inclusion) based on financial and legal exposure.

Qualifications & Requirements

Basic Education Requirement - Associate's Degree or equivalent experience Basic Management Experience - 2 years Basic Functional Experience - 2 years in HR Sodexo is an EEO/AA/Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran employer.



Requirements

See Job Description






Department: School of Law

Rank: Assistant Professor, Clinical

Annual Basis: 9 Month Review of Applications Begins

September 1, 2021; position open until filled Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with your online application including three references, please upload:

 A cover letter which includes subject matter interests

 A current resume

 A statement addressing your potential contribution(s) to diversity, equity, and inclusion (see below)



As part of the application process, applicants are required to submit a statement about promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity in their professional careers. In evaluating such statements, the law school will consider awareness of inequities and challenges faced by underrepresented minority students and faculty; track record (commensurate to career stage) of activities that reduce barriers in education or research for underrepresented minority students and faculty; vision and plans for how their work will continue to contribute to UOs mission to serve the needs of our diverse state and student population and create an inclusive campus; and other relevant factors. Department Summary

The University of Oregon School of Law is a dynamic, ABA-accredited law school and Oregons only public law school. Degrees offered include: Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Conflict and Dispute Resolution (CRES), and a minor in undergraduate legal studies. Oregon Laws mission is to provide a world-class education. We prepare students through excellent classroom teaching paired with a multitude of practical experience opportunities and robust professional development. Our faculty produce exceptional research and scholarship. We accomplish our mission in a positive, inclusive environment where we strive to provide everyone opportunities to grow, contribute, and develop. Our aim is to learn, teach, and practice the principles of equity and justice as critical foundations for our overall effort to achieve excellence as a top-ranked law school. Success in this work requires a diverse group of people in various faculty and staff roles working in one of our two locations, Eugene and Portland. The University of Oregon is located within the traditional homelands of the Southern Kalapuya. Learn more about Oregon Law at law.uoregon.edu, and consider joining our team.



The Nonprofit Clinic engages law students, as well as graduate students from the Conflict and Dispute Resolution masters program, the Universitys Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management, and the Lundquist School of Business. Working on interdisciplinary teams, students serve Oregon-based nonprofits by conducting highly tailored governance assessments that culminate in detailed written reports along with in-person presentations to boards of directors. Students develop valuable professional skills and provide a meaningful service to Oregon nonprofits.



Since the Clinics inception, 90 Oregon Nonprofits have received assessments through the participation of 162 students. The Clinic is funded by multi-year grants which currently run through 2026.



To date, the Clinic has been offered once each year during the Spring semester. As a result of additional funding, the Clinic will expand to include a new fall semester beginning in 2022. Position Summary

The Director will continue to teach the Spring course, focusing on assessments. In addition, the Director will develop and teach the new Fall semester course for law students, which will provide follow-up legal assistance on a range of business legal matters for nonprofits. The Director will be responsible for managing all aspects of the Clinic including outreach across the U of O campus and the Oregon nonprofit community.



The Director position will be a 9-month, funding contingent, career non-tenure track Assistant Clinical Professor position that reports to the Director of Experiential Education. An additional month of summer salary will be offered to finalize Spring projects and prepare for fall.



The Director will work closely with faculty who are part of the law schools nationally recognized Business Law Program. The Clinic is one of the Programs experiential learning offerings. Minimum Requirements JD from an ABA-accredited law school and a record of academic excellence or MPA, MBA, or terminal professional degree

Three years relevant professional experience which includes knowledge, skills, and expertise in nonprofit governance and business law more generally

Bar licensed in any jurisdiction with the capacity to become bar licensed in the state of Oregon Professional Competencies Strong oral, written, and interpersonal skills, as well as organizational, administrative and supervisory skills.

Strong editing skills. Ability to guide student writers through multiple drafts to produce and present a professional, high quality, complex assessment report to clients

Demonstrated ability to: 1) work effectively with students, staff, and faculty from culturally diverse backgrounds and with multiple intersectional identities; and 2) advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the university community.

Proven or potential for teaching success

Strong problem solving and project management skills with proven ability to strategize and prioritize, to meet goals, deadlines

Demonstrated leadership and initiative

Budget management skills and experience Preferred Qualifications

Significant experience with and knowledge about nonprofit organizations and business legal matters that impact nonprofits. Ideal candidates will also have experience in supervising students. Job no: 528031

Work type: Faculty - Career

Location: Eugene, OR

Categories: Legal/Law

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Office of General Counsel Public Records Officer/Policy Coordinator



Position Summary:



Receive and respond to all public records requests, subpoenas, and third-party inquiries on behalf of the university. Work in concert with attorneys in the Office of General Counsel, outside counsel, and BGSU employees to respond to litigation and/or agency claims. Set up and manage matters related to public records, subpoenas and third-party requests in the Office of General Counsel database.



Oversee the process for formalizing and public issuance of university policies, including the process for vetting, approval, archiving, systematic review, and filing necessary rules with the Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Develop and maintain the central policy repository for the university. Communicate with representatives as a resource and point of contact for the campus community in the policy process.



Essential Duties, Tasks and Responsibilities



Prepare timely responses to public records requests, subpoenas and any other third-party inquiries. Consult with various members of the University community to gather responsive documents. Review records to determine appropriate redactions under the Ohio Public Records Act and FERPA, and any other university policies, state, and federal laws. Receive and respond to alt court-issued subpoenas in addition to public record requests. Coordinate with outside auditors regarding compliance with Ohio Sunshine Laws.



Oversee the maintenance of assigned matters in document management system and ensure confidentiality of all records. Assist with document collection, coordinate with outside counsel and university employees in connection with litigation, including maintaining database of litigation hold and coordinating with security personnel in Information Technology.



Oversee the process for formalizing and public issuance of university policies including maintaining the central repository for the university. Ensure the university's policies and practices remain current with LSC and ERF filing systems.



Other duties, including research and benchmarking, as assigned



Knowledge, Skills or Abilities



Strong writing and legal research skills.



Ability to effectively communicate sensitive information both verbally and in writing to a diverse population.



Ability to determine work priorities; especially when events attracting media attention arise.



Ability to work effectively in a high-volume department as a team member and independently.



Ability to exercise good judgment, execute various assigned tasks on multiple matters, work independently, exercise discretion and handle confidential information



Diversity Statement



In addition to your cover letter and resume, you will be required to upload a written response to the diversity and inclusion question listed below. The Diversity Statement should not exceed 1 page that is double-spaced with 1-inch margins, using 12pt. font.



Is there a way you envision diversity and inclusion playing a role in this position? Please explain your answer.



Minimum Qualifications:



Associates degree in Paralegal Studies or related field required. Bachelors degree in paralegal studies or related field preferred. Degree must be conferred at the time of application.



The following experience is required:



A minimum of two years of paralegal experience is required.



Preferred Experience:



Experience in the public sector and/or educational setting is desirable.



Salary Full-time, Administrative staff position available. Administrative Grade Level 354. Salary is commensurate with education and experience. Full benefit package available.



Deadline to apply: August 27, 2021



To Apply For a complete job description & to apply for this position visit https://bgsu.hiretouch.com/ or contact the Office of Human Resources at (419) 372-8421. BGSU. AA/EEO/Disabilities/Veterans. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Bowling Green State University, please call 419-372-8421.

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This mornings CAL FIRE incident update for the Caldor Fire reports the wildfire is now 106,562 acres and has now reached a reported 5% contain
Magnolia, AR (71754)

Today

Mostly sunny. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 99F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some passing clouds. Low 73F. Winds light and variable.
Magnolia, AR (71754)

Today

Sunshine and a few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 100F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 73F. Winds light and variable.


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The Dutch Springs plan has been met with heavy opposition since news broke early this month that the property was under agreement to be sold to Trammell Crow, a Texas developer that has built many warehouses across the Lehigh Valley. What Trammell Crow has in mind for the Dutch Springs site is a project called Lehigh Valley Trade Center III, which would include a 296,000-square-foot warehouse in Lower Nazareth and a 300,000-square-foot warehouse in Bethlehem Township.
Michael Layton shot Jeffrey Werner, 53, twice in the chest after pushing his way into the home he shared with his mother and grandchildren around 4 a.m. Oct. 18, 2019. Layton left Jeffrey Werner dying on the floor of his bedroom as he left with a safe he later cracked and shared the contents with an accomplice.
At this point, if officials just pulled the plug on the trip, parents would be out half the money already spent  about $730 each, for a total of $94,835, alongside miscellaneous fees that would bring the total loss over $100,000, Roy said. However, officials are working with the tour company to see the trip can be postponed, or, if its truly canceled, if money can be recouped.
In one sense, she said, she felt as if her lifes work were being destroyed. In another, though, she felt sure that the resilience of the people of Afghanistan that she witnessed for years would carry them through the terrible situation.
Misiak was sentenced Aug. 4 to a year of probation after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct in a May 2020 terroristic threats case, court records show. He was sentenced in 2015 to less than a year in county jail after pleading guilty to indecent exposure. Both were Bethlehem cases.
It is deeply disappointing that Senator Mastriano has retreated from conducting a forensic investigation of the election in Pennsylvania, and it is discouraging to realize that he was only ever interested in politics and showmanship and not actually getting things done, Corman said.
Now a different president is bringing the troops home, and these same politicians are criticizing him for it as a huge blunder. So now it would be OK to keep troops there and have more of our soldiers die just because it is a president of a different party?
As a current print subscriber, you receive 24/7 access to our website and online e-edition at no additional charge. All you have to do is activate your access. To activate digital access, you will need your account number. You can find your account number on any recent subscription notice or bill.
Sayre, PA (18840)

Today

Rain. High 66F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Rain early. Decreasing clouds overnight. Low 53F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Business

Govt sets Sept 15 deadline for Infosys to fix IT portal glitches

New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) | Publish Date: 8/23/2021 1:11:45 PM IST

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her meeting with Infosys MD and CEO Salil Parekh has asked the software major to resolve the issues faced by the taxpayers on the Income Tax e-filing portal by September 15.

Sitharaman held a meeting with Parekh here in the afternoon to convey the deep disappointment and concerns of the government and the taxpayers about the continuing glitches in the e-filing portal of the Income Tax Department, even after two-and-a-half months since its launch, which was also delayed.

The Ministry of Finance emphasised that there is a need for putting in more resources and efforts on the part of Infosys so that the much-delayed delivery of agreed services is ensured. Parekh was also sensitised on the difficulties that the taxpayers are facing and the problems that are arising on account of the delays in the functioning of the portal, said a Finance Ministry statement.

Parekh assured that the software major is working expeditiously towards ensuring a glitch-free experience in the income tax e-filing portal.

According to the statement, the minister sought an explanation from Infosys for the repeated issues faced by the taxpayers.

The Infosys CEO explained that he and his team are doing everything to ensure the smooth functioning of the portal.

He added that over 750 team members are working on this project with Pravin Rao, the COO of Infosys, personally overseeing it. The new income tax e-filing portal developed by Infosys was launched on June 7 in a bid to ease the tax filing process and expedite the refund issue.

However, taxpayers have been facing several problems in using the portal since its inception.

In July, the Finance Ministry asked the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to constitute a seven-member task force to look into the technical issues facing the new Income Tax e-filing portal developed by Infosys.

In line with the directive, the ICAI constituted a team to analyse the issues.

During the recent Monsoon Session of the Parliament, Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha that Infosys has been paid a total of Rs 164.5 crore under the project.

He had said that the government has launched the new income tax e-filing portal as part of the Integrated E-filing and Centralised Processing Centre 2.0 Project.
State

Naga Tribunal may not be required, says Nagaland Dobashis Association

DIMAPUR, AUG 24 (NPN) | Publish Date: 8/24/2021 12:21:55 PM IST

Nagaland Dobashis Association (NDA) has appealed to the State government to enact and insert the Third Amendment Act, 1984 in the Nagaland Code at the earliest and pave way for constituting customary courts in consonance with the customary practices and usages of the Nagas.

This will undoubtedly strengthen the function and essence of the courts in dispensing justice to the people, and the purpose of establishing Naga Tribunal may not be required, it added.

In a press note, NDA NDA general secretary R KemerioYanthan stated that the Third Amendment Act, 1984 failed to find a page in the Nagaland Code till date, which might have delayed or hampered constituting the customary courts in Nagaland. Mentioning that Nagaland, as per the third Amendment Act, 1984 of the Rules for Administration of Justice and Police in Nagaland 1937, chapter IVA, should have three courts viz, i) village courts, ii) subordinate district customary courts and iii) district customary courts, the association pointed out that the village courts were the only courts constituted by the State government till today.

NDA claimed that the customary courts in Nagaland had been functioning for over 120 years, safeguarding the age-old culture and tradition by adjudicating civil and criminal cases, besides those customary in nature, though not formally recognised/constituted by the Government. It said performances of the customary courts could be best understood by the remarks made by visiting high officials during the British era.

While appreciating the State governments initiative to establish Naga Tribunal to adjudicate cases according to customary practices, NDA however, suggested to the government to consider the views of customary custodians before that.

NDA emphasised that by virtue of the nature of the services the customary courts dispensed, they deserved to be given due recognition in matters relating to customs and traditions of Nagas. Regarding documentation of customary practices and usages, he said the association strongly supported the concept as it would uphold the practices and usages of customs and traditions for the younger generations.

Informing the government that all tribes of Nagaland had documents of historical practices regarding customs and traditions, NDA said the records were well maintained by all customary courts. However, as codifications of customary usages might require wider consultations and insights because, once these were codified and became law, the very essence of customary nature would vanish and end up in the hands of experts, the association said it left the matter to the good wisdom of policy makers.

The association regretted that Nagaland, which was born out of unique customs and traditions, failed to give due acknowledgments to the two institutions that had been instrumental in bringing the State thus far.
International

Refugee body urges not to recognize Taliban

The World Refugee & Migration Council has called for global leadership to avert further human suffering.

New Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS) | Publish Date: 8/24/2021 11:42:27 AM IST

Soon after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan after toppling the democratically-elected government of Ashraf Ghani, the war torn country has been passing through a humanitarian crisis across the provinces.

With an aim to counter the challenges posed by Afghan militia, an international body, the World Refugee & Migration Council (WRMC) has urged the global leaders to withhold the recognition of the Talibans new government and access to financing.

The ongoing situation in Afghanistan has brought focus to the war-torn people seeking refuge in several countries amidst their uncertain futures.

The WRMC has also suggested some urgent priorities with an objective to avert further human suffering and bloodshed in war ravaged country.

Under these priorities, the international body has suggested that the Hamid Karzai International Airport should be kept secure for evacuation flights for as long as necessary. There should be no artificial deadlines for the removal of NATO forces that have been deployed to secure the airport.

UN Member States must ensure that UN Funds and Agencies on the ground in the region have the requisite resources to provide humanitarian relief to the hundreds of thousands of Afghans who have been forcibly displaced in recent months. More than 10 per cent of the Afghan population has been forcibly displaced and there has been a 60 per cent shortfall in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA).

A humanitarian land corridor should be negotiated with the Taliban to permit access to humanitarian assistance to those in Afghanistan facing famine and those who have been displaced by the decade long war, the WRMC suggested.

The council also underlined the need that future of Afghan refugees should not be determined simply by geography but according to the principles of responsibility sharing in the global compact of the United Nations (UN).

Some states like Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States have already pledged to accept a specific number of Afghans but to realize these promises, the respective governments should be prioritised and free from red tapism whereas self-imposed country quotas should be sufficiently flexible to meet the evolving situation.

The international body also urged the countries bordering Afghanistan to keep their borders open for Afghan refugees and the international community should ensure that these countries receive the full support they need.

The processing of Afghan applications for resettlement should be organized through dedicated sites where vetting and assessments can take place as was the international practice during the exodus from Vietnam in 1978-79, it added.

According to the suggestions, the UN Secretary-General should also hold a multi-stakeholder pledging conference, similar to the one held in 1979 for Vietnamese refugees, with the aim of gaining commitments from Afghanistan to protect the rights of its citizens and provide avenues of orderly departure, from neighbouring countries to admit Afghan asylum seekers at their borders, and other countries to commit to provide essential humanitarian aid and pledge robust resettlement opportunities for those seeking to exit.

The most vulnerable population in Afghanistan are women, girls, and LGBTQ+. These sections of the society have faced grievous challenges in Afghanistan, especially under Taliban rule and now, the international community should maintain continuous monitoring of the Talibans treatment toward these vulnerable populations by strengthening UNAMAs mandate.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has suspended the Afghanistan governments special drawing rights amidst no formal government in the country. After Ghani fled the country and Taliban captured 33 of 34 provinces, the government is yet to be formally established in Afghanistan.

The Council has urged the international community to not recognise the new government and withhold access to financing until these priorities are achieved.

US in talks with Taliban as Aug 31 deadline nears

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said that the US is engaging with the Taliban on a daily basis as the ongoing Afghan evacuation faces the August 31 deadline. President Joe Biden has left open the possibility of extending the ongoing evacuation beyond August 31, the date he previously set to end the US military mission in Afghanistan, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, however, made clear in an interview with Sky News that such extension would be unacceptable. At a White House briefing on Monday, Sullivan told reporters that the US has been consulting with allies and the Taliban on the evacuation issues.

We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through both political and security channels, he said when asked about talks with the Taliban over the extension issue. Im not going to get into the details of those discussions here to protect those discussions, which are covering a wide range of issues. Sullivan added that the US is consulting the Taliban on every aspect of whats happening in Kabul right now and would continue those conversations. As the president has said before, we believe that we have time between now and the 31st to get out any American that wants to get out, he said, while noting the president will ultimately make his decision about the precise shape and scope of this operation.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said later in the day that the US had discussed the issue of Kabul airport with the Taliban. There is actually an agreement between and among all these actors, of course between the US and our partners and allies, but also with the Taliban, that all of our interests would be served with a functioning airport, he told reporters during a daily briefing.

According to media reports, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson would use the virtual summit of Group of Seven (G7) held on Tuesday to push Biden to extend the August 31 deadline to exit the country.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also said that additional time is needed to complete the evacuation.

The US and its allies have been scrambling to evacuate personnel from Afghanistan since the Taliban entered Kabul on August 15.

Sullivan said the US and coalition aircraft had evacuated over 16,000 people in the last 24 hours.

The World Refugee & Migration Council was established, originally as the World Refugee Council in May 2017, which complement the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which affirmed the Global Compact for Refugees in December 2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 16:32:33|Editor: huaxia

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People wearing masks visit a shopping mall in central Israeli city of Modiin on Aug. 24, 2021. The number of COVID-19 cases in Israel has reached 1,005,511, almost a year and a half since the first case was detected in the country, the Israeli Ministry of Health said on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 cases in Israel has reached 1,005,511, almost a year and a half since the first case was detected in the country, the Israeli Ministry of Health said on Tuesday morning.

Israel thus became the 35th country with more than 1 million infections, according to the World Health Organization.

The country reported its first COVID-19 case on Feb. 27, 2020, as an Israeli who had returned from Italy tested positive.

The number of deaths caused by the virus in Israel rose to 6,864, while the number of patients in a serious condition increased to 678.

The number of active cases jumped to 72,572 in the country, while the number of recoveries rose to 926,075.

Over 5.9 million people in Israel, or 63.2 percent of its total population, have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while over 5.45 million have taken two doses and over 1.57 million have got three jabs. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 17:26:17|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, checks the growth of the trees and learns about the promotion of the Saihanba spirit and the high-quality development of the Saihanba forest farm at a forest named after Wang Shanghai, a late official of the farm, in north China's Hebei Province, Aug. 23, 2021. Xi made an inspection tour of the Saihanba forest farm on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

SHIJIAZHUANG, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Monday stressed the importance of developing the green economy and furthering ecological progress.

Xi made the remarks while visiting a memorial forest in the Saihanba forest farm located in north China's Hebei Province.

Named after Wang Shanghai, a late official of the Saihanba forest farm, the Shanghai memorial forest is the birthplace of the "Saihanba spirit," a term attributed to generations of workers on the farm who have kept their mission in mind, worked hard and pursued green development.

The workers have dedicated themselves to decades of hard work and created a miracle by transforming a wasteland into vast forests.

When talking with staff representatives of the farm, Xi said their efforts have set a good model and are of great significance for ecological advancement nationwide.

Xi urged the workers at the Saihanba forest farm to gain a deeper understanding of ecological conservation and continue their hard work for new achievements. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 21:12:06|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed on the importance of coordinating on Afghanistan during a telephone conversation on Tuesday.

The leaders noted that closer cooperation on Afghanistan would contribute to the establishment of peace and stability in the region, the Kremlin said in a statement.

"They expressed their readiness to build up cooperation in countering the spread of terrorist ideology and the drug threat emanating from Afghanistan," it added.

Both leaders agreed to form a bilateral communications channel that would allow for further consultations on Afghanistan.

Putin and Modi also covered bilateral trade and economic ties, and cooperation in combatting COVID-19. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 21:38:50|Editor: huaxia

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-- The U.S. intelligence community consists of 18 civilian and military organizations within the federal executive departments, including the leading Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). With an annual budget of more than 80 billion U.S. dollars, their jobs include so-called "intelligence activities necessary for the conduct of foreign relations and the protection of the national security of the United States."

-- The intelligence services are tasked with delivering sound information and educated analysis to U.S. policymakers but they are also needed politically, especially when Washington is determined to carry out interventions. History has shown U.S. intelligence agencies fanned the flame in the country's politically charged drives to initiate wars.

-- Public opinion manipulation -- During the Cold War, the CIA enlisted more than 400 American journalists in a 25-year span in a bid to manipulate the public opinion by spreading propaganda, wrote Carl Bernstein, a renowned U.S. investigative reporter, in a cover story for U.S. magazine Rolling Stone in 1977.

-- Washington's use of the controversial intelligence arms for COVID-19 origins tracing has come under question, as there is a strong consensus that the matter should be left to scientists with qualifications and expertise in certain fields, which the U.S. intelligence community clearly lacks.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- "I was the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) director. We lied, we cheated, we stole," then U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said when addressing Texas A&M University in April 2019. "We had entire training courses. It reminds you of the glory of the American experiment."



Pompeo's "confession" is only a glimpse of the gigantic U.S. intelligence system's ingloriousness, from the production of unsubstantiated intelligence that gave Washington pretexts to invade others to the engagement of assassinations, abuse of prisoners, wiretapping, and public opinion manipulation, among other things.

Photo taken on April 13, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Photo by Shen Ting/Xinhua)

The shameful and deplorable record, while having long since shattered the credibility of the intelligence community, has also laid bare its nature of serving at the pleasure of U.S. decision-makers, regardless of truth, facts, and human conscience, as Washington plays power politics and seeks to preserve a hegemonic position in the world.





POLITICAL INSTRUMENT

The U.S. intelligence community consists of 18 civilian and military organizations within the federal executive departments, including the leading Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). With an annual budget of more than 80 billion U.S. dollars, their jobs include so-called "intelligence activities necessary for the conduct of foreign relations and the protection of the national security of the United States."

The intelligence services are tasked with delivering sound information and educated analysis to U.S. policymakers but they are also needed politically, especially when Washington is determined to carry out interventions. History has shown U.S. intelligence agencies fanned the flame in the country's politically charged drives to initiate wars.

Robert Hanyok, a former historian with the National Security Agency (NSA), wrote in an internal publication that was declassified in 2005 that the military intelligence agency's officers "deliberately skewed" the evidence passed on to Washington to falsely suggest that Vietnamese ships had attacked American destroyers on Aug. 4, 1964, in the "Gulf of Tonkin" incident that led to the United States engaging more directly in the Vietnam War.

Based on the assertion that such an attack had occurred, then U.S. President Lyndon Johnson ordered airstrikes on the Southeast Asian country and Congress passed a broad resolution authorizing military action, according to an article published by The New York Times in 2005.

In addition, Philip Liechty, a former CIA officer, revealed to The Washington Post in 1982 that the Johnson administration and the spy agency fabricated "evidence" in 1965 to help prove that the war in Vietnam was being fueled by outside arms and to set the stage for U.S. involvement.

The United States also notoriously used what it called "facts and conclusions based on solid evidence" that Iraq is making weapons of mass destruction to invade the Western Asian country 18 years ago as part of the West's counterterrorism campaign. However, no such weapons had ever been found. Yet years of war left hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead and a broken country, along with more than 4,400 casualties among U.S. troops.

Colin Powell, who presented as secretary of state the U.S. case against Iraq to the United Nations Security Council in early 2003, acknowledged several years later that the invasion was "badly flawed." "If we had known the intelligence was wrong, we would not have gone into Iraq," Powell told NBC News during an interview in 2015. "But the intelligence community, all 16 agencies, assured us that it was right."

"This was, in short, a war the White House wanted" and that the U.S. intelligence community was "under intense pressure to justify the war," wrote New York Times opinion columnist Paul Krugman in 2015. "Whatever the precise motives, the result was a very dark chapter in American history. Once again: We were lied into war."

UNBOUNDED TACTICS

U.S. intelligence agencies have gone to great lengths to fulfill purposes with no regard to laws and ethics by deploying unbounded tactics.

Prisoner abuse -- The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee released in 2014 an explosive report on the CIA's detention and interrogation program, detailing its personnel's use of "enhanced interrogation techniques," including waterboarding, stress positions, sleep deprivation, and noise exposure, on select detainees captured after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001 that led to the "War on Terror," and how the spy agency tried to cover it up and obstruct oversight.

Then chair of the panel, Senator Dianne Feinstein from California, called the CIA's actions "a stain" on the country's history. "This program was morally, legally, and administrative misguided," she said on the Senate floor in 2014. "The CIA program was far more brutal than people were led to believe."

Wiretapping -- A European media investigation released in May this year revealed the NSA had collaborated with Denmark's secret service to spy on high-ranking officials from Germany, Sweden, Norway, and France.

The report once again put under the spotlight spying activities of the United States, years after intelligence contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden leaked highly classified information from the NSA, exposing the agency's surveillance programs both at home and abroad, including PRISM, under which agents can access users' data stored in major social media and tech companies.

Assassination -- The CIA had attempted to assassinate several foreign leaders and aided assassination plots in some countries, a report by the U.S. Senate in 1975 found.

Following the release of the report, then U.S. President Gerald Ford signed an executive order in 1976 banning the federal government from engaging or conspiring in "political assassination." And yet Washington "never totally abandoned the strategy, simply changing the terminology from assassination to targeted killings, from aerial bombing of presidents to drone attacks on alleged terrorist leaders," said a 2017 article in The Guardian.

Public opinion manipulation -- During the Cold War, the CIA enlisted more than 400 American journalists in a 25-year span in a bid to manipulate the public opinion by spreading propaganda, wrote Carl Bernstein, a renowned U.S. investigative reporter, in a cover story for U.S. magazine Rolling Stone in 1977.

"The tactic was straightforward: false news reports or propaganda would be provided by CIA writers to both knowing and unknowing reporters who would simply repeat the falsehoods over and over again," according to political blogger Lauren Von Bernuth in a 2018 post on the CIA project known as Operation Mockingbird, adding that its primary function "was to cover up covert and often illegal foreign operations."

TRUST CRISIS

The White House has been roundly criticized after a chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan earlier this month, as many pointed fingers at the intelligence community over the debacle. Richard Haass, president of U.S. think tank Council on Foreign Relations, tweeted that he thinks "this looks to be both a major intelligence & policy failure with tragic consequences."

Photo taken on July 2, 2021 shows the Bagram Airfield after all U.S. and NATO forces evacuated in Parwan province, eastern Afghanistan. (Photo by Sayed Mominzadah/Xinhua)

This is not the first time U.S. intelligence agencies have been mired in a political firestorm. When Donald Trump was in office, the relationship between the White House and the intelligence community had been tense because of their disagreements over a number of national security matters.

Trump was particularly unpleasant with a 2017 DNI report concluding that Russia interfered with the 2016 U.S. presidential election in favor of his victory, arguing that there was a "deep state" within the federal government seeking to undermine the legitimacy of his election. Critics responded by raising concerns that the rhetoric was mounting political pressure on the intelligence community while eroding its independence and public image. Russia has denied the allegations of election interference.

In April 2020, Trump fired Michael Atkinson, inspector general of the U.S. intelligence community, who first notified Congress of a whistleblower complaint over the White House's interaction with Ukraine that ultimately led to the president's impeachment by the House of Representatives earlier that year. The Republican moved to install loyalists to the DNI in the final year of his presidency, triggering criticism that intelligence agencies would be further politicized.

In an article published in U.S. magazine Foreign Affairs late 2020 when she was still president and CEO of U.S. think tank Wilson Center, Jane Harman wrote that Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump early this year, is inheriting "a broken intelligence community."

"U.S. spy agencies are mired in the worst crisis of trust and accountability the nation has seen since the Iraq war," Harman pointed out, stressing that the intelligence process has been politicized "in ways large and small, undermining the integrity of national security decision-making and the public's faith in it."

Biden asked in May the U.S. intelligence community to redouble their efforts to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and come up with a report in 90 days. Intelligence officials have reportedly drafted a classified report that is in the preliminary review process.

Washington's use of the controversial intelligence arms for COVID-19 origins tracing has come under question, as there is a strong consensus that the matter should be left to scientists with qualifications and expertise in certain fields, which the U.S. intelligence community clearly lacks.

Refrigerated trailers are seen at a temporary morgue in Brooklyn, New York, the United States, June 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

"We don't need an intelligence report, we need an outbreak investigation -- and that's a very different skill set, and a very different approach," Peter Hotez, co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children's Hospital and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told Rolling Stone in June this year.

His remarks were echoed by Matthew Kavanagh, director of the Global Health Policy & Politics Initiative at Georgetown University, who said that if the aim of Biden's report was to find a scientific explanation of the origins of COVID-19, he would have tasked the health agencies with it, instead of the U.S. intelligence community.

"This tells us that this is a political and an intelligence story: not a story mostly about science," Kavanagh continued. "And so we should understand the picture in that sense, and not be naive about it. We're in a place where politics is driving people's scientific understanding in a dangerous way." (Video reporters: Deng Min, Jawid Omid, Liu Chuntao, Yang Yi, Feng Yiwei, video editor: Peng Ying)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 21:39:20|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has signed a State Council decree unveiling a regulation on the registration and administration of market entities.

The new regulation, which will take effect on March 1 next year, has set out unified provisions on the registration and administration of enterprises of all types, self-employed individuals, and specialized farmers' cooperatives that engage in for-profit business activities in China.

The regulation will likely streamline market entities' registration processes, lower institutional costs, and reduce their burden to provide legal safeguards for cultivating and strengthening market entities and promoting fair competition.

Registration authorities should optimize the process, raise their work efficiency, and provide online registration services, the regulation stated.

Market entity registration applicants should be accountable for the authenticity, legality, and validity of their submitted materials.

The authorities shall not require applicants to repeatedly provide relevant information that can be accessed via the government information-sharing platform, the regulation noted.

It has also called for strengthened oversight and management of the market entities. Those submitting false materials or concealing significant facts by fraudulent means will see their market entity statuses deregistered. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 22:14:03|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Tuesday opposed COVID-19 origins tracing by U.S. intelligence agencies, urging the U.S. to return to the course of scientific origins tracing as soon as possible.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a press briefing when asked to comment on a report on the COVID-19 origins tracing being compiled by U.S. intelligence agencies.

"As is widely known, the origins tracing needs science, not intelligence. It is anti-scientific for intelligence agencies to engage in virus origins tracing," Wang said.

Noting the notorious record of U.S. intelligence agencies, Wang said the so-called report cannot be truth-based. "It's just a planted report with conclusions preset and then 'evidence' pieced together. It is not credible at all."

The purpose of origins tracing is to safeguard the lives and health of people of all countries, not to shift responsibility, suppress opponents, and serve one's selfish interests, Wang said, stressing solidarity in origins tracing studies.

He said since the outbreak of COVID-19, the U.S. has politicized anti-epidemic efforts, which has led to the country having the largest number of infections and deaths and made U.S. people pay a heavy price.

Now, for ulterior political purposes, the U.S. has used intelligence agencies to conduct the so-called investigation on the COVID-19 origins tracing, undermining international cooperation. Such move has been widely opposed and questioned by the international community, said Wang.

He urged the U.S. to proceed from the interests of life and health of its own people and people globally, stop political manipulation, and return to the course of scientific origins tracing as soon as possible. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 22:46:25|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, conducts field research on the preservation and development of cultural heritage at Chengde Mountain Resort during an inspection tour of Chengde in north China's Hebei Province, Aug. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

SHIJIAZHUANG, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Tuesday inspected the city of Chengde in north China's Hebei Province.

Xi went to the Chengde Mountain Resort, the Puning Temple, the Chengde Museum, a village and a community-based service center for elderly home care.

He conducted field research on the preservation and development of cultural heritage, as well as the topics of religious affairs, ethnic unity, rural vitalization and elderly care services. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 23:54:15|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns Monday held a secret meeting with Taliban senior leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul, U.S. media reported on Tuesday.

Citing officials familiar with the matter, multiple media outlets said the meeting between Burns and Baradar was the highest-level face-to-face engagement between the Biden administration and Taliban to date.

The Washington Post first reported the secret meeting, which likely covered the issue of an impending Aug. 31 deadline for the U.S. military to complete its evacuation operation in Afghanistan.

The CIA declined to comment on the meeting, according to reports.

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday that the United States is engaging with the Taliban "on a daily basis through both political and security channels."

President Joe Biden is facing pressure at home and abroad to extend the ongoing evacuation beyond Aug. 31, the date he previously set to end the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid made it clear on Tuesday at a press conference that the United States should withdraw all troops and contractors before the Aug. 31 deadline.

The spokesman also said Afghan citizens would not be allowed to leave the country through the U.S. evacuation process after the deadline.

The United States has been scrambling to evacuate Americans and its Afghan partners from the country since the Taliban entered the capital Kabul on Aug. 15.

The White House said on Tuesday that around 21,600 people had been evacuated during a 24 hour-period ending early Tuesday morning. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 18:02:46|Editor: huaxia

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YAOUNDE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed in an attack by suspected members of terror group Boko Haram overnight into Tuesday in Cameroon's Far North region, local sources told Xinhua.

Armed militants invaded Malika, a locality in the region, firing indiscriminately when the villagers were asleep, killing two civilians, wounding several others and stealing cattle in the process, local sources said.

The villagers have fled and were taking refuge in the bushes, according to local authorities.

Nighttime incursions by Boko Haram have become recurrent in the region, according to security reports. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 18:18:59|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Somali National Army (SNA) said on Tuesday that its forces foiled an attack and inflicted heavy casualties on the militant group al-Shabab.

The suicide bombing attack targeted a SNA base in central part of the country early Tuesday.

"The Somali National Army has repelled an attack by al-Shabab militants on a military base in the southern town of Amara in Mudug region," SNA said without disclosing the act number of casualties.

The al-Qaida allied terrorist group which has been fighting to overthrow the government claimed responsibility for the latest attack.

Amara, a town in Mudug region, is one of the areas recently taken over by Somali government forces and regional Galmudug forces. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 20:02:21|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Two military officers were killed and another was abducted on early Tuesday when a group of unidentified gunmen attacked a military academy in the northwestern state of Kaduna, according to the academy's spokesperson.

Bashir Jagira, a spokesperson for the Kaduna based Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), told Xinhua on the phone the gunmen gained access to the institution on Tuesday morning as "security architecture of the institution was compromised" by the gunmen.

Jagira said the gunmen launched the attack at the "residential area within the academy" at about 1 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

"During the unfortunate incident, we lost two personnel and one was abducted," he said.

The cadets and the NDA community are safe, he said.

According to Jagira, the NDA in collaboration with the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and Air Training Command, as well as other security agencies in Kaduna, had since commenced pursuit of the assailants within the general area, with a view to tracking them and rescue the abducted personnel.

There have been a series of gunmen attacks in Nigeria in recent months, leading to deaths and kidnappings. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 21:26:09|Editor: huaxia

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RABAT, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan navy has rescued 438 Spain-bound immigrants in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic over the past four days, official RIM radio reported on Tuesday.

Most of the rescued immigrants were sub-Saharan people, in addition to three Bangladeshi nationals and a Turkish one, the report added quoting a military source.

They were experiencing difficulties aboard several makeshift boats sailing in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, it added.

The immigrants received the necessary first aid from the navy units, before being brought back to the nearest Moroccan ports and handed over to the Royal Gendarmerie.

Morocco has become a transit country for African and Asian migrants seeking to reach Europe for better living conditions, as the shortest distance from Morocco's Mediterranean coasts to Spain is only 14 km via the Strait of Gibraltar. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 21:32:19|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is planning to position itself as a luxury destination as a part of a strategy to revive and expand the tourism sector, a government official said on Tuesday.

Najib Balala, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary, said that the absence of international tourists coupled with travel restrictions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in reduced travel globally and the growth of niche tourism.

"The government has now set eyes on luxury travelers as it seeks to continue the recovery path of the tourism sector through targeted marketing strategies in several markets," Balala said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

He spoke from the Maasai Mara game reserve as he welcomed tourists aboard the inaugural Roar Africa and Emirates Executive Private Jet Safari (a World-Class Conservation Safari).

According to government data, Kenya received 305,635 tourists in the first six months of 2021 as compared to 2.05 million international arrivals for 2019.

Balala noted that the destination is proving to be attractive to luxury travelers especially with Kenya having unique travel opportunities and new developments in the country.

"Over the years we have been working towards profiling Kenya to niche clients who have specific preferences and needs and that's the reason we have been diversifying our products to suit each market segment," Balala added.

He observed that Kenya has iconic tourism products such as the wildebeest migration at the Maasai Mara that suit the needs of the high-net-worth traveler who want value for their money.

"Our goal is to build on the growing luxury tourism sector as we work towards expanding into different market segments in the short and long term," Balala revealed.

He added that luxury travel is growing to become a key segment in the tourism industry with several key developments currently ongoing, expected to boost the sector such as the Chinese built Lamu Port which is touted to be a game changer through cruise tourism. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 22:46:15|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian and French air forces have carried out joint exercises with several multi-role fighters at one of the Egyptian air bases, the Egyptian armed forces said Tuesday in a statement.

The exercises included training on air refueling and tactical experience in planning, implementation, methods of command and control, with using different models including F-16, Rafale, and Mirage 2000 jet, it said.

"The joint activities were carried out in light of the cooperation pillars between the Egyptian and the French armed forces and to identify the most advanced battling methods for promoting the operational experiences," it added.

Egypt, a major military power in the Arab world, annually holds several military exercises with Arab, African and Western countries to boost military cooperation and share military expertise. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-25 01:01:34|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's Galmudug regional state said its forces backed by the Somali National Army (SNA) killed more than 60 al-Shabab militants in a foiled base attack in Mudug region in central Somalia.

The Ministry of Internal Security for Galmudug State said that the SNA and Galmudug paramilitary forces also recaptured Amara town hours after it fell into militants' control.

"After constant airstrikes on terrorists, the joint forces saw over 60 al-Shabab dead bodies," the ministry said in a statement.

Minister of Information for Galmudug State, Ahmed Shire Falagle told the state-owned Radio Mogadishu that they lost five soldiers during the fighting with al-Shabab after the militants ramped the military vehicle with explosive devices.

The statement came after al-Shabab militants claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb attack at the SNA base. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 21:25:59|Editor: huaxia

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VALLETTA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Malta is set to further relax measures while curbing the spread of coronavirus by allowing fully vaccinated people to attend standing events such as concerts and festivals from Sept. 6, Health Minister Chris Fearne announced on Tuesday.

Fearne said the number of attendees would initially be limited to 100 people. Addressing a press conference at the opening of a new clinic, Fearne said that the number of people who can attend seated events will, from next week, increase from 300 to 500.

The health minister also said that a third booster vaccine dose will be given to immunosuppressed people, and elderly people living in care homes. The rollout process is expected to start on Sept. 13.

He said the health authorities were considering giving the booster to people aged 70 or over.

Fearne stated that between 80 and 90 percent of critical cases in Malta were unvaccinated patients. So far, Malta has administered almost 800,000 vaccine doses. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 10:57:01|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world," first U.S. President George Washington said in his farewell presidential address in September 1796. Two centuries later, it seems that the United States has already forgotten the exhortation of its founding father.

For a long time, the U.S. alliance system has adhered to the Cold War mentality, and has been obsessed with zero-sum games. It trampled on justice for self-interest, provoked conflicts and wars, imposed unilateral sanctions, and reaped world dividends, posing serious threats to and undermining the international system with the United Nations as the core and the international order based on international law.

Since the new U.S. administration took office, it has re-enhanced its control of the alliance system under the pretext of returning to multilateralism. The fact, however, is that the U.S. government aims to build "small circles" and "group politics" to divide the world by forcing others to choose sides between different ideological camps. It has also attempted to use such small circles to contain and suppress China, and to pursue unilateralism with the camouflage of multilateralism.

The U.S. alliance system goes against the historical trend. It flexes its muscles and claims to have gained wide support, but in fact it is just a paper tiger and has gradually lost its popularity. Its crimes of violence, plunder, infringement, sabotage, lying, concealing, and infighting are becoming increasingly flagrant, and it is falling into the abyss of "a gang" step by step.

The following is a presentation of the "seven sins" of the U.S. alliance system, which demonstrates its hegemonic mindset and power politics.

THE FIRST SIN: VIOLENCE

During the past 240-plus years after it declared independence on July 4th, 1776, there are only less than 20 years during which the United States had not involved in any war. According to incomplete statistics, from the end of World War II in 1945 to 2001, among the 248 armed conflicts that occurred in 153 regions of the world, 201 were initiated by the United States, accounting for 81 percent of the total number. Of them, there were 13 overseas wars, in most of which U.S. allies were involved. Under the guns and bayonets of the United States and its allies, countless people have been displaced and even lost their lives. The economic and social development of regional countries has suffered drastically. Many countries are still in great misery.

Major aggressive wars waged by the United States and its allies after World War II include:

The Korean War. Since June 1950, the United States has gathered more than a dozen countries to form the so-called "United Nations Army" to intervene in a civil war between the North and the South of the Korean Peninsula. The war resulted in the death of more than 3 million civilians and another 3 million refugees. During the war, the U.S. military secretly carried out a germ warfare in the northern region of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and parts of northeastern China, spreading by planes large numbers of insects, mice, rabbits and other vectors with bacteria that could cause plague, cholera and typhoid. The germ warfare has resulted in large casualties among Chinese and Korean soldiers and civilians.

The Vietnam War. The Vietnam War that lasted from 1955 to 1975 is one of the longest and most brutal wars since the end of World War II. The war has caused as many as 2 million civilian deaths and rendered over 3 million people displaced. The U.S. forces dropped 20 million gallons (about 75.71 million liters) of defoliants in Vietnam during the war, directly causing over 400,000 Vietnamese deaths. Another approximately 2 million Vietnamese who came into contact with this chemical got cancers and other diseases. Besides, it is estimated that at least 350,000 tons of unexploded mines and bombs have been left by the U.S. military in Vietnam, and these mines and bombs are still explosive, which will take 300 years to be cleaned out.

The Kosovo War. In 1999, NATO troops led by the United States blatantly set the UN Security Council aside and carried out a 78-day continuous bombing of Yugoslavia under the guise of "preventing humanitarian disasters," killing and injuring over 8,000 innocent civilians and uprooting nearly 1 million. More than 2 million people have lost their source of livelihood. NATO troops targeted the infrastructure of Yugoslavia and even bombed the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia. Serbian economists estimated that the total economic loss caused by the bombings was as much as 29.6 billion U.S. dollars. Lots of bridges, roads, railways, and other buildings were destroyed during the bombings, affecting 25,000 households, 176 cultural sites, 69 schools, 19 hospitals, and 20 health centers. About 1.5 million children could not go to school. Apart from that, during this war, NATO troops led by the United States also used cluster bombs and depleted uranium bombs banned by international conventions, leading to a surge in cancer and leukemia cases in Yugoslavia and inflicting disastrous impact on the ecological environment of Yugoslavia and Europe. In March 2000, the UN peacekeeping force in Kosovo confirmed that the U.S. military had launched a total of 31,000 depleted uranium bombs to destroy Yugoslavia's tanks and fortifications. There were more than 100 drop sites in Kosovo and Metohija. NATO used 2 tons of depleted uranium in southern Serbia, and 13 tons in Kosovo and Metohija, for a total of 15 tons of depleted uranium. In addition, from April 17-18, 1999, NATO aircraft blew up a chemical plant in Pancevo, causing the carcinogen content in the city to reach 10,600 times the normal level. As of May 2019, 366 Italian soldiers who participated in NATO military operations had died of cancer, and 7,500 were suffering badly from illness.

The Afghanistan War. In October 2001, the United States and NATO invaded Afghanistan in the name of combating al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Over the past 20 years, the U.S. military operations have killed and injured more than 100,000 civilians, and created about 11 million refugees. In 2019, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said that 45,000 soldiers in Afghan security forces have been killed since 2014. A UN report in 2019 showed that 32,000 Afghan civilians had died in the war, while the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University in the United States stated that the number of deaths among the resistance forces was 42,000. Scholars at Kabul University estimated that since its beginning, the Afghanistan War has caused about 250 casualties and a loss of 60 million U.S. dollars per day. In 2020, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court stated that there was evidence that nearly 100 Afghan prisoners had been tortured, abused and even raped during interrogation. U.S. military forces and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency may have committed war crimes for torturing prisoners in Afghanistan. In November 2020, the Australian military released an investigation report of the country's troops in Afghanistan, confirming that Australian soldiers were suspected of participating in the killing of prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan. On April 14, 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the mission of preventing terrorists from obtaining safe shelter in Afghanistan had long been over and that all U.S. troops would withdraw from the country before Sept. 11. The U.S. military was withdrawing from Afghanistan hastily, leaving behind a mess of rampant violence and devastation.

The Iraq War. In March 2003, despite broad opposition of the international community, the United States, along with Britain and other countries, still invaded Iraq on unfounded charges, which led to around 200,000 to 250,000 civilian deaths, including 16,000 directly killed by U.S. forces. Today in Iraq, there are still 25 million mines and other explosive remnants that need to be removed. According to public statistics, the total number of depleted uranium bombs exploded in Iraq exceeded 3,400 tons, with an average of nearly 8 kilograms of uranium compounds remaining per square kilometer. In 2008, the UN General Assembly voted to ban the use of depleted uranium bombs in civilian areas. 141 countries supported it. The United States, Britain, France and Israel voted against it. In addition, the U.S. and British forces have seriously violated international humanitarian principles and abused prisoners of war. A set of photos released by the CBS showed that after the war in Iraq, the U.S. military police brutally tortured Iraqi prisoners of war, such as ordering them to stack their bodies naked, or to stand on boxes with their heads covered and live wires connected to their hands. In November 2019, investigators from the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) and "Operation Northmoor" revealed that the relevant investigations were suspended by the British government in 2017. The British government and the army covered up the credible evidence of war crimes of killing civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq committed by their soldiers.

The multiple wars of aggression launched by the United States and its allies have caused a large number of civilian casualties and property losses in other countries, and brought about a series of social problems. In March 2021, the U.S. anti-war organization CODEPINK issued a report stating that in the past 20 years, the United States and its allies have been constantly bombing other countries, dropping more than 40 bombs and missiles per day on average. Since 2001, the United States and its allies have dropped 326,000 bombs and missiles in other countries, mainly in the Middle East. Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen were the most severely attacked countries.

The United States continues supplying weapons to its allies, leading to regional conflicts.

After 2017, the United States increased the sales of advanced weapons to its allies as an important means to control and consolidate alliances. Then President Donald Trump frequently touted U.S.-made weapons during meetings with leaders of other countries. In addition, U.S. defense contractors can directly sell military drones to foreign governments without approval from U.S. Department of Defense. In 2018, the U.S. arms exports amounted to 192.3 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 13 percent over the previous year. In 2020, the U.S. arms sales accounted for more than 85 percent of the global total, and nearly half of them went to the Middle East. In March 2021, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute in Sweden confirmed that the United States has always been the world's largest arms exporter, whose exports in the past five years accounted for more than one-third of the world's total, with more than half going to the Middle East. The size of arms purchases by Middle Eastern countries accounted for one third of the world's total, of which nearly 70 percent came from the United States, Britain, and France.

U.S. allies have long participated in U.S. military operations overseas and conspired to commit violence.

Australia is the only ally that has participated in every major U.S. military operations overseas since World War II, including the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Kosovo War, the Iraq War, the Afghanistan War, and the Syria War. In November 2020, the Australian Defence Force released an investigation report, which confirmed that Australian soldiers were suspected of torturing and killing 39 Afghan civilians, including children. The report has shocked the world and triggered widespread criticism in the international community. Recently, Michael Pezzullo, secretary of the department of home affairs of Australia, commented on China-U.S. tensions over Taiwan, saying that "free nations again hear the beating drums (of war)", deliberately inciting confrontation and exaggerating the threat of war.

The United States has a number of military bases in the Middle East, with more than 70,000 U.S. troops stationed in the region. The United States also deploys advanced military equipment in the region, such as aircraft carrier groups, stealth fighters, and strategic nuclear submarines, flaunting its power from time to time as it tries to maintain strategic deterrence in the region at all times. Under the anti-terrorism banner, the United States used force to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, and even violently overthrew the legitimate governments of sovereign countries. The United States dispatched drones to remove Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Quds Force in Iran. In recent years, several Iranian nuclear scientists have been assassinated, behind which there are shadows of U.S.-Israel conspiracy. The United States condoned Israel for launching air strikes against Syria, Lebanon and other countries, which seriously infringed on the sovereignty of relevant countries. The United States also acquiesced in Turkey's invasion of Syria, and allowed Turkey to attack Kurdish forces in Syria and invade northern Syria in the name of anti-terrorism. During the Libyan war, the United States, Britain, France, Canada and other countries jointly implemented armed intervention on the grounds of implementing the UN Security Council's no-fly resolution, with the actual purpose of supporting the opposition groups in Libya to overthrow the Gaddafi regime. Since the launch of the so-called "war on terrorism" in 2001, the United States and its allies have caused at least 480,000 deaths in the region, most of which are innocent civilians.

Gun violence is rampant in the United States.

On April 3, 2021, The New York Times reported that more than 1.5 million Americans have died from gun-related suicides, murders, and accidents since 1975, more than the total number of deaths caused by all U.S. wars since the Civil War. According to data released by the U.S. Gun Violence Archives, in 2020, more than 40,000 people were killed in shootings in the United States, setting a record high, and there were 592 mass shootings in the country, an average of more than 1.6 per day. On June 14, 2021, The Washington Post reported that from January to May 2021 alone, more than 8,100 people died in shootings in the United States, about 54 people per day, which is 14 more than the average of the previous six years in the same period. While the country is plagued with gun violence, there is no progress in strengthening gun control. The two major parties in the United States have been in a tug of war over gun control, making it difficult for any act to pass Congress. Congress has adopted nearly no gun laws of practical significance since 1994.

Police violence continues in the United States and its allies, and has caused a large number of casualties.

During the "Yellow Vest" movement in France, the police used chemical sprays, tear gas, rubber bullets and other methods excessively to suppress violence. In recent demonstrations in Northern Ireland and other places, police violence also caused many injuries and bloodshed and aroused public outrage.

On Feb. 26, 2021, during the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council, a number of UN special rapporteurs and human rights experts issued a joint statement calling on the U.S. government to adopt wide-ranging reforms to put an end to police violence, and to vigorously address systemic racism and racial discrimination. The experts also expressed concern that U.S. legal and policy frameworks allow law enforcement officers to use lethal force whenever it is deemed "reasonable," and urged the U.S. authorities to address the increased "militarization" of policing. On April 21, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in a statement over the George Floyd case that impunity for crimes and human rights violations by law enforcement officers must end, and robust measures must be taken to prevent further arbitrary killings. (more)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 11:08:36|Editor: huaxia

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NEW YORK, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Biden administration's lack of a clear agenda on trade and investment policy toward China has created uncertainty that is hurting American companies, reported American business magazine Forbes on Saturday.

"Before he (Biden) came into office, many of us, myself included, expected a calming of the waters and reduction of bilateral tension. Rather, what we've seen is very little change in policy, particularly trade policy, and indeed we've seen a heightening of tensions. And for businesses, increased uncertainty," U.S.-China Business Council President Craig Allen was quoted by the magazine as saying.

Biden officials are clearly occupied with many discussions regarding China but "different agencies have different opinions" and it takes too long time to decide, said Allen, a longtime U.S. diplomat and trade official, at the 3rd U.S.-China Business Forum organized online by Forbes China under the theme "Rebuilding Momentum."

Tariffs continue to pose challenges and pandemic-related travel restrictions have exacerbated political tensions and operational obstacles; at the same time, "trade tensions have resulted in reputational damage to U.S. firms, lost sales, shifts in suppliers, and heightened scrutiny from regulators in both the United States and China," according to a member survey conducted earlier this month by the U.S.-China Business Council.

"The level of uncertainly is very high until our government tell us what is their intentions," Allen said, voicing his hope that trade negotiations between the United States and China will resume in the very near future.

Referring to recent U.S. legislative moves regarding China, Allen noted that none of them were conducive to improving bilateral relations, which, coupled with China's responsive diplomacy, is making the negotiations "in a very bad place."

Urging the two sides to conduct "good negotiations," Allen said that good negotiations "with give and take on the trade side can be a confidence-building measure to help to address the greater problems in the U.S.-China bilateral relationship." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 13:30:01|Editor: huaxia

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THE THIRD SIN: INFRINGEMENT

The U.S. alliance system bends international rules to its will, remains selective in applying international laws, challenges justice with might, distorts international laws to whitewash its wrongdoings, and seeks only its own interests.

The United States has either refused to join or withdrawn from international conventions and organizations.

Over the years, the United States has followed an "America First" approach and withdrawn from a number of international treaties and organizations, dealing a heavy blow to multilateralism and undercutting the UN-centered international system.

Washington, for example, has refused to ratify the 1948 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention that recognizes workers' rights to association, refused to sign the Geneva Agreements of 1954 that seek peaceful settlement of the two questions concerning the Korean Peninsula and Indo-China, refused to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, refused to sign the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is supported by most countries and was once advocated by Washington. In 1984, under the pretext that the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was over politicized, the United States withdrew from the UN agency for the first time.

The United States is also the only country in the world that has not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989. It has also failed to ratify the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, and has withdrawn its signature to the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. In 2001, the United States solely opposed negotiations on a verification protocol of the Biological Weapons Convention, and has blocked them to date.

In January 2017, the United States withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership on the grounds that the trade deal would destroy the U.S. manufacturing sector. In June the same year, though a major greenhouse gas emitter, the United States announced its decision to exit the Paris Agreement, and then restarted its fossil fuel mining projects, claiming that the climate accord had put it at a disadvantage. The country withdrew from UNESCO for the second time in October 2017, citing the "need for fundamental reform," and then announced two months later that it was withdrawing from the Global Compact on Migration because the non-binding UN migration pact was "inconsistent with U.S. immigration policy and the Trump Administration's immigration principles."

In May 2018, Washington announced its decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), calling the 2015 nuclear deal "a lie," "a horrible, one-sided deal" and "disastrous." In June 2018, the United States quit the UN Human Rights Council, claiming that the council was biased against Israel and was "a poor defender of human rights." In the same year, the United States also announced its withdrawal from the Optional Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes relating to the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in response to Palestine's complaint to the ICJ over the U.S. government's relocation of its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem.

In August 2019, the United States announced its withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty to develop ground-launched conventional missiles without restraints. In April 2020, it halted funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) and formally moved to quit the organization in July (though later rejoining the WHO after U.S. President Joe Biden took office in early 2021). In May 2020, the United States announced its decision to exit the Open Skies Treaty, and formally backed out in November.

The United States and its allies have committed massive human rights abuses in wars overseas.

On Dec. 30, 2020, the Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries under the UN Human Rights Council said in a statement that the pardons granted by then U.S. President Trump to four convicted Blackwater contractors for war crimes in Iraq violated U.S. obligations under international law, and called on all States parties to the Geneva Conventions to condemn the pardons. On Dec. 23, 2020, the spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed deep concerns over the pardoning in a statement, saying that the step "contributes to impunity and has the effect of emboldening others to commit such crimes in the future."

On April 12, 2021, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Bachelet expressed concerns in a statement that the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill, then reaching its final stages in the British legislative process, could lead to shielding military personnel operating abroad from due accountability for acts of torture or other serious international crimes, adding that "the Bill would make it substantially less likely that UK service members on overseas operations would be held accountable for serious human rights violations amounting to international crimes." On Oct. 5, 2020, 10 experts from the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council also voiced concerns that the bill violates the British obligations under international humanitarian law, human rights law and international criminal law, and protects British soldiers serving abroad from charges for serious international crimes, including unlawful killing and torture.

On April 14, 2021, UN human rights experts, including the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, issued a joint statement to criticize the U.S. anti-terrorism program "Rewards for Justice" for violating the human rights of some of the individuals it targets.

"Many of the people targeted by the Rewards for Justice program have had their due process rights denied," said the statement. "By offering money for information that can lead to the capture of these individuals, the program encourages others to participate in the denial of these rights."

The United States has imposed long-arm jurisdiction and unilateral sanctions on many countries over the years.

Relying on U.S. laws including Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the United States has long arbitrarily imposed long-arm jurisdiction and unilateral sanctions on other countries and foreign companies. To date, it has reaped huge profits by imposing economic sanctions on nearly 40 countries, affecting nearly half of the global population. From 2009 to 2017, the United States gained 190 billion U.S. dollars and access to a large amount of corporate data from Europe alone through the long-arm jurisdiction. Companies like Alstom were acquired by U.S. companies after the sanctions.

Washington applied more than 350 unilateral coercive measures against Venezuela between 2015 and 2019. The new set of unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States against Venezuela were "extremely broad," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Bachelet in August 2019. "I fear that they will have far-reaching implications on the rights to health and to food in particular, in a country where there are already serious shortages of essential goods," said Bachelet in a statement, adding that evidence has shown that "wide-ranging unilateral sanctions can end up denying people's fundamental human rights."

In 2018, Turkey sentenced a U.S. pastor, who had been arrested on charges of espionage and links to the Gulen movement, to years in jail. The United States unilaterally announced additional tariffs on steel and aluminum imported from Turkey after communication through diplomatic channels failed. Under the U.S. economic sanctions, the Turkish lira tumbled as much as 18 percent in August 2018, throwing Turkey's foreign exchange market into chaos.

In 2019, the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security imposed supply restrictions on Huawei and its affiliates. Since June 2019, the U.S. government has added more than 200 Chinese companies to its economic blacklist.

In April 2020, seven UN human rights experts called on the United States to lift its economic and financial embargo on Cuba, saying the U.S. embargo was obstructing humanitarian responses to help the country's health care system fight the COVID-19 pandemic. They said the U.S. embargo on Cuba and sanctions on other countries seriously undermine international cooperation to curb the pandemic, treat patients and save lives.

The United States has imposed more than 1,600 unilateral sanctions on Iran, covering various fields of Iran's national economy, including oil, finance, shipping and automobiles. Despite the repeated U.S. claim that humanitarian supplies are exempt from the sanctions, Iran has been unable to purchase medicines and the like through normal channels for a long time, which has caught the country in a humanitarian dilemma of medicine shortages. The Trump Administration adopted a policy of maximum pressure against Iran, and resorted to long-arm jurisdiction to deter the whole world from conducting legitimate and reasonable economic and trade exchanges with Iran. Many Chinese entities and individuals were thus sanctioned by the U.S. side. Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in December 2019 that renewed U.S. sanctions on Iran had cost the country 200 billion dollars in foreign exchange income and investment.

After the outbreak of COVID-19, the United States has prevented the International Monetary Fund from granting a loan to Iran to combat the epidemic and not allowed its allies, including South Korea and Japan, to release Iran's frozen funds overseas, depriving the country of the access to medical supplies and COVID-19 vaccines. The United States has also wielded its sanctions against Syria, Yemen and other war-torn countries, further impacting those countries' fragile economic and social foundations and creating a humanitarian disaster worse than war.

In March 2021, UN human rights experts said in a statement that "the sanctions authorised by the United States on the base of announced states of emergency violate a wide range of human rights in China, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Nicaragua, the Russian Federation, Syria, Venezuela, Zimbabwe and other countries around the world."

The United States has also obstructed the work of international judicial institutions. In March 2020, the International Criminal Court (ICC) authorized an investigation into allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Afghanistan, including any that may have been committed by Americans, which the U.S. alliance system spared no effort in obstructing. In June 2020, former U.S. President Trump issued an executive order that authorized asset freezes and family travel bans against ICC officials as well as other persons that contributed to the investigation. In September 2020, then U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced sanctions against ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and Director of the Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Cooperation Division Phakiso Mochochoko. These measures "constitute serious attacks against the Court, the Rome Statute system of international criminal justice, and the rule of law more generally," the ICC said in a statement, calling the U.S. steps "another attempt to interfere with the Court's judicial and prosecutorial independence."

The Five Eyes Alliance countries have carried out mass surveillance of other countries and their own people.

The Five Eyes Alliance countries have long been engaged in large-scale cyber theft, surveillance and attacks, and obliged technology companies to insert "backdoors" in encrypted applications. The United States has invested a large amount of money and human resources in cyber tapping and surveillance, with its total intelligence expenditure in 2018 reaching as much as 80.5 billion dollars. In October 2013, the German government said Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone may have been bugged by U.S. intelligence. WikiLeaks disclosed in 2015 that the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) had spied on French presidents Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy, and Francois Hollande. In May 2021, media exposed another scandal of the United States monitoring its European allies, reporting that the NSA spied on text messages and phone conversations of leaders from Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, etc. from 2012 to 2014 by tapping into Danish information cables.

The United States, meanwhile, has used cyber means to conduct mass surveillance of ordinary people around the world. In June 2013, top-secret documents of the NSA program PRISM leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden showed that the NSA was gathering nearly 5 billion mobile phone records per day. It was also exposed that the NSA had secretly broken into the main communications links that connect Yahoo and Google data centers around the world, stealing information from hundreds of millions of users and wantonly tracking their personal relationships and social activities. It was also known that the NSA had been monitoring mobile applications and grabbing personal data for years. The exposure of PRISM triggered a strong backlash, with public doubts and resentments about the U.S. surveillance of the global network mounting in many countries.

On top of that, starting from the 1970s and by utilizing its control over Crypto AG, a Swiss company that sold encryption devices, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency on the one hand reaped millions of dollars through the sale of encoding devices to foreign governments and businesses, while on the other stealing confidential information from more than 120 countries by decrypting messages sent through Crypto AG devices.

The UN Human Rights Council has expressed concerns in multiple statements over various U.S. violations of human rights.

On Dec. 29, 2020, the UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights said in a statement that the enforcement of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, also known as the Caesar Act, "may worsen the existing humanitarian crisis, depriving the Syrian people of the chance to rebuild their basic infrastructure."

"What particularly alarms me is the way the Caesar Act runs roughshod over human rights, including the Syrian people's rights to housing, health, and an adequate standard of living and development," the UN human rights expert said. "The U.S. government must not put obstacles in the way of rebuilding of hospitals because lack of medical care threatens the entire population's very right to life."

On Feb. 23, 2021, 16 experts of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, including the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, issued a joint statement calling on the U.S. government to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center and address ongoing violations of human rights being committed against the 40 remaining detainees, including torture and other ill-treatment, during its review of how to close the center.

The U.S. government should ensure that those who had been subjected to enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, torture, and denied fundamental rights were given reparation, and ensure independent and impartial investigations and prosecutions of allegations, such as secret detention and unfair trial, the experts said.

On March 2, experts of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, including the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, raised serious concerns about the environmental pollution in the southern U.S. state of Louisiana, saying the development of petrochemical complexes in the area has not only polluted the surrounding water and air, but also subjected its residents to health problems.

This form of environmental racism poses serious and disproportionate threats to the enjoyment of several human rights of its largely African American residents, including the right to life, the right to health, the right to an adequate standard of living and cultural rights, and U.S. federal environmental regulations have failed to protect African Americans' legal rights, the experts said.

On March 4, experts, including the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights at the Human Rights Council, issued a statement, saying that the emergency declarations by the U.S. government that authorize unilateral sanctions are resulting in severe human rights violations.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights allows governments to suspend the protection of certain rights during emergencies only when the very existence of states is endangered, but U.S. emergencies often violate these rules, the experts said, urging the United States to refrain from imposing unilateral coercive measures on other countries on the grounds of a prolonged state of national emergency.

The U.S. "family separation" immigration policy forcibly separated children from their parents, seriously endangering immigrants' rights to life, dignity and freedom, among other human rights.

The infamous "family separation" immigration policy is the "zero-tolerance" policy for illegal entry into the United States announced by the Department of Justice. In April 2018, U.S. border enforcement officials sought to curb illegal border crossings by subjecting anyone who entered the country illegally to "detention, trial, and deportation" and relocation of their minor children, resulting in the separation of nearly 2,000 minors from their parents in less than two months. Media revealed images of immigrant children being held in "large cages" and recordings of them crying for their parents, saying that the children might face violent law enforcement and dilapidated temporary housing sites, making their physical and mental health a concern.

The perverse acts of the United States have triggered strong condemnation from the international community. Then Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray called the policy "cruel and inhumane." The El Salvador government called on the U.S. government to consider the protection of minors first rather than the immigration issue, and not to solve the immigration problem in a crude way that violates human rights. The Guatemalan government issued a statement calling on the United States to reconsider its immigration policy and protect the basic human rights of Guatemalan immigrants. The Honduran foreign ministry said that forcibly separating children from their parents would make them face judicial proceedings alone in a foreign country, which is inhumane.

In June 2018, the UN Human Rights Council issued a statement, saying that the U.S. immigration policy violated international human rights standards and might amount to "torture." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that refugees and migrants should always be "treated with respect and dignity, and in accordance with existing international law." then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said that the practice of child migrant separation may cause "irreparable harm" with "lifelong consequences," and "the thought that any state would seek to deter parents by inflicting such abuse on children is unconscionable."

Under pressure, then U.S. President Trump signed an executive order in June 2018 to end the "family separation" policy, but continued to implement the "zero tolerance" policy detaining illegal immigrants and their minor children together. However, according to Manfred Nowak, who led a UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty published in November 2019, more than 100,000 children were held in migration-related detention in the United States in 2015, the latest figure his team could find, and in 2019 the United States held far more children than any other countries "for which he has reliable figures."

Till June 2021, the Biden administration had facilitated the reunification of only seven children with their parents, leaving 2,127 still separated from their parents, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The United States has not stopped its violations against immigrants' human rights, including the rights to life, dignity and liberty.

The United States coordinated the forced landing of the then Bolivian president's jet over suspicion of hiding Edward Snowden.

On July 2, 2013, the United States, suspecting that then Bolivian President Evo Morales was hiding Edward Snowden, coordinated with Italy, France, Spain and Portugal to ban the then Bolivian president's jet from their airspace, resulting in its forced landing in the Austrian capital Vienna, and a forced search until it was confirmed that Snowden was not on board.

Then Bolivian Defense Minister Ruben Saavedra said that the U.S. government was behind the rumors that Morales was hiding Snowden, and that the rumors were "generated by the U.S. government."

Bolivia's air travel rights were violated, he said, adding that "it is an outrage. It is an abuse. It is a violation of the conventions and agreements of international air transportation."

Then Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino considered this "a huge offense," and said that he would call for a Union of South American Nations special summit with foreign secretaries to discuss this issue. The Cuban foreign ministry released a statement condemning the move, saying that "this unacceptable, unfounded and arbitrary act" offended all of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The United States and its allies have intervened in others' affairs under the name of humanitarianism, while their own human rights situation has deteriorated.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) issued comments on child labor issue in the United States in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2020, repeatedly expressing concern about the large number of severe injuries to children working on farms in the country.

In 2014, the ILO Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) listed as one of the key country cases that the United States violated ILO Convention No. 182, (which requires countries to take immediate, effective and time-bound measures to eliminate the worst forms of child labor as a matter of urgency.)

Forced labor has been ubiquitous in the United States. On any given day in 2016, there were 403,000 people living in conditions of modern slavery in the United States, according to the 2018 Global Slavery Index published by the Walk Free Foundation, which also revealed that in 2016, of 1,067 potential labor trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, the majority involved domestic work, agriculture and farm work, travelling sales crews, restaurant or food services, and health and beauty services, among others.

Regarding U.S. compliance with Convention No. 105 (Abolition of Forced Labor Convention), the CEACR noted in 2017 that "the committee strongly encouraged the government to strengthen its efforts to ensure that racial discrimination at the sentencing and other stages of the criminal justice process do not result in the imposition of racially disproportionate prison sentences involving compulsory labor," and that "the Committee urges the government to pursue its efforts to ensure the adoption of federal legislation to address this issue."

In Germany, the number of crimes committed by far-right extremists reached 23,064 in 2020, and anti-Semitic crimes increased by 16 percent, according to official statistics. In the European Union (EU), the gender pay gap stands at 14.1 percent and one in three women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence.

The EU has shirked its responsibility on refugee resettlement and has no regard for the human rights of refugees, and the fires in refugee camps in Greece are still fear-provoking. The EU border agencies refused to allow refugee boats to disembark, and even pushed refugees back into the sea in an outrageous move. (more)
POLICE officers and municipal cops are allegedly demanding sex from female illegal vendors to facilitate their release, it has emerged.

This was revealed at the virtual launch of the informal womens hub hosted by Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (Viset) on Friday.

The women also bemoaned sexual exploitation by land barons when they want to access vending stalls they control.

The womens hub seeks to develop an inclusive gender policy for the informal economy, which will include eradication of gender-based violence and corruption in the informal economy.

Representatives of several civic society organisations (CSOs), who attended the meeting, said although women constituted the majority of the informal traders, they were exposed to various forms of corruption more than men, which hindered their success.

The CSOs representatives said sexual exploitation was the most common form of abuse which was being faced by female vendors in their day-to-day dealing with law enforcement agents.

Economic Justice for Women Project executive director Margaret Mutsamvi said the COVID-19 pandemic had worsened economic problems, resulting in more people resorting to informal trading.

She said State security agents were the major perpetrators of injustices and corruption in the informal sector.

There is increased use of force and brutality by the State security officers towards traders in the informal sector as they regulate their operations, Mutsamvi said.

They use batons to beat vendors. They arrest vendors without clear charges and sometimes demand sex and bribes or even take away their wares without payment. Female vendors are also raped during the time they will be conducting their businesses. Apart from the city council and State security agents, customers also tend to take advantage of women by negotiating lower prices for their products, she said.

Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development executive director Janet Zhou said women wanted to access equal opportunities with men, resulting in them being exposed to exploitation.

Women suffer the greatest forms of corruption in the informal sector and this includes sexual exploitation, Zhou said.

The informal sector in Zimbabwe is heavily criminalised, hence women encounter law enforcement agents in the day-to-day running of their business. Most of the time, women in the informal sector are either forced or they offer sex voluntarily to space barons so as to survive under the circumstances they find themselves in while working in the informal sector. The laws against informal trading are archaic. They are not gender sensitive, she added.

Viset deputy chairperson Rosemary Mudzamiri urged government to provide a safe working environment for women on the informal market. Newsday


Zambia's new President Hakainde Hichilema has said in his inauguration speech that his government will ensure that citizens can have three decent meals a day.

"No Zambian should go to bed hungry," Hakainde Hichilema told a packed stadium in the capital, Lusaka.

He also said his government would focus on reviving the economy and creating jobs for the unemployed youth. Mr Hichilema beat incumbent Edgar Lungu in a landslide victory 12 days ago.

It was the sixth time the former businessman had run for president.

The 59-year-old's victory has raised the hopes of his former opposition counterparts in other African states that they too can overcome state repression and one day rise to power.

In his speech, Mr Hichilema thanked his predecessor for facilitating a smooth transition to his administration, but added that this was "not a transfer of power but a transfer of leadership," saying power resides in Zambians.

This was the third time there had been a peaceful and democratic transfer of the presidency from the candidate of one party to another. This was something that was of great credit to Zambia, Mr Hichilema said.

"Democracy is the way to go - for Zambia, the people of Africa and the world," he said.

He added that the country was facing a lot of challenges but his government would work to revive the economy, which he said had been "overwhelmed by debt servicing, emoluments and consumption" leaving little room for investment for growth.

"We will pay special attention to lowering the fiscal deficit, reducing public debt and restoring social and market confidence," he said.

"To the jobless youths, a new dawn is here where you will be skilled and find opportunity to work or do business in an economy that we will revive," he said.

Mr Hichilema said that there would be "zero tolerance for corruption", vowing to fight "the scourge" professionally and not be vindictive.

He added that his government would work to deal with the high cost of living to ensure food is available and affordable.

Hinting at the mistreatment meted against him by the outgoing president, he said "it was a new dawn", adding "time has come for all Zambians to be truly free".

He said the media should work freely without fear, and that his cabinet would be inclusive because he believes "diversity is a strength".

Afterwards, President Hichilema released hundreds of balloons into the sky over Heroes Stadium - a change from last inauguration when doves were used and proved problematic when they refused to fly off. BBC
The leader, who has faced widespread critique over his handling of the coronavirus crisis, revealed he had commissioned a study from the health ministry in a bid to do away with facial coverings, held up by most medical experts as an effective way to slow the spread of the highly-contagious disease. In an interview with a local radio broadcaster, Bolsonaro said he planned to meet with Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga on Monday, adding that the mask mandate could come to an end at any time.
On July 20, health officials confirmed the coronavirus mutation was detected among airport cleaning staff in the eastern city of Nanjing, CNN reported. Since then doctors and medical experts have been battling the variant, which has infected more than 1,200 people across more than half of the nations 31 provinces.
The ability to participate in the broader business ecosystem will be increasingly challenging for those who are not vaccinated, Ucuzoglu said in the email viewed by the outlet.
Theres a big caveat: this is a very wily virus, he said. If we dont do what we are supposed to do and get people vaccinated ... this thing could linger on, leading to the development of another variant.
The tantalizing prospect is being studied elsewhere as well, including the U.S., though not in human trials as of yet. Those antibodies, too, are showing promise, as a study last year from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine indicated. An earlier study published in the journal Cell in May 2020 by a team from the University of Texas at Austin, the National Institutes of Health and Ghent University in Belgium, which is also involved in the current trials, laid the groundwork.
Gov. Andy Beshear said they will be sent in two waves, the first involving 75 members making up five teams of 15. He told reporters during a press conference on Monday the teams will be deployed in two-week increments to some of the most in-need facilities, including St. Claire HealthCare in Morehead, the Medical Center in Bowling Green and Pikeville Medical Center.
The new mandate, among the first involving a pact with a private-sector union, will require all union and non-union hourly and salaried workers to show proof of their vaccination unless they receive an explicit exemption for medical or sincerely held religious reasons.
I grew up with the idea and the myth of Candyman, so being able to come in 30 years later and continue that legacy and to work with amazing artists like Jordan Peele and Nia DaCosta, and really expanding what Candyman is (was exciting), Parris, 33, told The News. Is it an idea? Is it a person? And how that relates to where we are today and how it continues to be so relevant.
In transit you have a higher proportion of minority workers, and we already know that minorities in the U.S. population are more resistant to vaccines for historical reasons, for a lack of trust in health care due to the way they were treated in the past, said Gershon. Theres also a less than ideal relationship between the employer (the MTA) and the employees that creates this lack of trust.
I was just looking around the platform as everyone does, and my eyes just sort of grazed past this guy, Sharma said. I didnt stare at him but this guy started shouting, Dont look at me this way. I wasnt in the mood to argue so I looked away. But he started charging toward me and shouting like a crazy man. I was kind of pissed off because of the things he said to me but I just folded my arm and didnt pay attention.
I think were well past that time. I think all across this country people should be embracing these vaccines, Shea said on NY1 when asked if he would support a vaccination mandate for his employees like the one just issued for all city public school staffers. We lost three members last week, two of them to COVID, and I think its all unnecessary.
A cop who was among the first to respond to the scene put a tourniquet on Farrells leg to stop the bleeding. He was then taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The 58-year-old victim, whom sources said has been in the city for about three months as part of his job, was standing near a concrete barrier by the New Jersey Transit entrance on Seventh Ave., near the northwest corner of W. 31st St., just after 5:50 p.m.
We agree with many of the issues raised here, DOC Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi said. We have been taking extensive measures to encourage staff to return to work, to relieve those who have been heroically working extra shifts to compensate, and to make this an environment where any parent would feel like their own son or daughter was safe working or living here.
The DOC has reached a new level of hypocrisy by lecturing us about fairness when it comes to sick leave, said COBA President Benny Boscio. Was it fair to discipline over 800 of our officers who took sick leave because of their COVID-19 related illnesses? Was it fair to refuse to hire a single new Correction Officer for the past two and a half years? We have and continue to do the best we can in an almost impossible environment where no one has our backs.
A spokesperson for Airbnb told the Daily News that both short-term and long-term stays will be available and that the company will work with resettlement agencies and partners to determine and serve the specific need for each individual refugee.
The news was exactly what had happened: the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, former President Donald Trumps false claims of a rigged election, the insurrection of Jan. 6 and the novel coronavirus pandemic were some of the news events that education officials and some parents allegedly objected to. Also in the mix: the shooting of Jacob Blake and Daunte Wright, as well as the establishment of Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, the Arkansas Times reported.
He claimed his organization had no reason to believe a police drone would have been operating near the airport. Matrundola expects that it will take months for the plane to be repaired and put back into service.
The family wasnt too worried, according to NBC DFW, because the dogs had gotten out of the yard in the past and always returned. However, this time, Zoey didnt.
The former pastor, who was arrested last year, later admitted that he filmed a child in his home and that he and his co-defendant secretly recorded multiple children at the Denison Church of the Nazarene in Grayson County, about 75 miles north of Dallas, federal prosecutors said. The victims were about 11 to 14 years old at the time they were unknowingly filmed.
I feel that with COVID surging and us being asked to teach our courses face-to-face with potentially unmasked and unvaccinated students that, in my case, I think they are asking me to choose between my job and the health of myself and my family, Buchbinder, who resigned Friday and taught five classes with 32 students each, told the outlet.
In one of the client cases, Avenatti allegedly collected a $4 million lump-sum from Los Angeles County on behalf of a man who was injured in jail and left paraplegic. Prosecutors claim Avenatti lied to the client about the hefty payout and only paid him a pittance, telling him the money was an advance.
He still has a long road ahead, but we are grateful for the progress he is making. Please continue to keep him and his family, and the French family, in your thoughts and prayers, Brown said. Also lets keep Ellas and Carlos partner and all CPD officers in your prayers as well.
I cant say how it was determined these were homicides, but I can say it was due to evidence found at the scene, officer Brian Lear told the Jefferson City News Tribune.
I want people to believe in their government again, the Democrat said. Its important to me that people have faith. Our strength comes from the faith and the confidence of the people who put us in these offices and I take that very seriously.
Harris hopes the ride will also serve as an inducement for New Yorkers to get vaccinated and said those who got shots from Aug. 1 to Sept. 12 will be eligible to take a free ride.
You can be sure the Taliban, who are now in complete control, didnt allow the best and brightest to board these evacuation flights, Trump said in a statement Tuesday, despite the Talibans efforts to curtail Afghans movements and to bring the withdrawal to a swift end.
Easing off the stalemate will shelve, for now, the stark divisions between moderate and progressive lawmakers who make up the Democrats so-slim House majority. But as the drama spilled out during what was supposed to be a quick session as lawmakers returned to work for a few days in August, it showcased the party differences that threaten to upend Bidens ambitious rebuilding agenda.
The Biden administration is facing new pressure to resolve the mystery as the number of reported cases of the Havana Syndrome has sharply grown. But scientists and government officials arent yet certain about who might have been behind any of the attacks, if the symptoms could have been caused inadvertently by surveillance equipment  or if the incidents were actually attacks.
The president said the U.S. was on track to complete evacuations by the end of the month, but he noted that he had asked the military to draw up plans for adjustments to the deadline and offered a warning to the Taliban now controlling Afghanistan.
Afghanistans security forces collapsed in the face of the Taliban advance, despite 20 years of Western training and assistance. Since then, tens of thousands of Afghans have sought to flee the country, fearing a return to the brutal rule the Taliban imposed the last time they ran Afghanistan. That has led to chaos at the airport in Kabul, the main route out of the country.
A mother gave birth to a baby on board a C-17 flying into Ramstein Air Base in Germany, according to Gen. Steve Lyons, the commander of U.S. transportation command. During his press conference at the Pentagon, he disclosed the births of two other babies, but did not give details such as the location or time of the births, CNN reported.
In the Bourke Shire Council located in New South Wales, officials ordered the canines to be shot to death as a way of preventing volunteers from going to multiple shelter locations to help find new homes for the dogs, the Office of Local Government said.
Nor have the 41 transcripts of people interviewed under oath to tell the truth  Cuomo and the complainants included  yet been released, which means important context and potentially exculpatory material remains hidden from public view. This leaves Cuomo and other executive branch staffers, who have been warned that revealing details of their interviews is against the law, in the position of having to somehow respond to the reports characterizations without seeing some of the evidence on which they are based.
The 200 million Pfizer doses that have already been administered in this country, starting with that very first shot for LIJ nurse Sandra Lindsay on Dec. 14, came under a special, emergency use authorization. But from here on out, its a fully-vetted vaccine, which means that not only can Pfizer market and advertise  and we really want them to do a fantastically convincing sales job  but government and schools and employers can, and must, require the vaccine for their workers and students (no, its not approved at all for kids under 12, and for 12-to-15-year-olds, its still at emergency authorization).
An even better alternative, though, would be for a gubernatorial vacancy to be filled by the voters. Provided the vacancy occurs before the last year of a governors four-year term, voters should be able to choose a replacement. While the lieutenant governor temporarily serves as acting governor, a special election can be held relatively quickly. New Yorkers are used to special elections; we routinely go to the polls to fill vacancies in a variety of offices, including district attorneys, mayors and other local offices, and members of the House of Representatives. Just a few weeks ago, Gov. Cuomo signed a bill requiring special elections for state legislative seats. It stands to reason, then, that the states chief executive should always be directly elected.
His lawyers contend in the new filing that prosecutors didnt preserve evidence that could potentially help exonerate Duggar. They also assert Duggar didnt get the chance to call his lawyer before his cell phone was taken.
Beef Buzz News

Bruce Hoffman Talks Treating Bovine Respiratory Disease

At CattleCon21, Ron Hays spoke with Bruce Hoffman, veterinarian and senior technical consultant at Elanco, about staying ahead of diseases like Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), plus the latest vaccine technology Elanco has to offer.



First off, Hoffman said cattle producers should have a plan to stay ahead of BRD.



The biggest thing is have a plan, Hoffman said. When it comes to vaccination, thats a big part - were trying to prevent disease, so we ideally want to give that calf a vaccine.



Hoffman said the best time to vaccinate calves for the first time is in the spring, before summer turnout. He recommends administering a modified-live vaccine, which will establish immunity. When weaning comes along, Hoffman said Elancos Titanium lineup of vaccines and a new combination vaccine, which fights bacterial aspects if BRD, available for producers.



Having a vaccine that is effective and quick is exciting, Hoffman said. On top of that, the technology utilized in Elanco vaccines is one-of-a-kind.



But no matter how hard you may work to protect your herd, you may still come across sick cattle. Hoffman said that happens and producers should first look at the environment their calves are living or being weaned in; if it is dusty, producers should wet the pen down and try to keep stress levels minimal as possible. Next, dont wait to treat, he added.



When we do see animals get sick, dont wait another day, Hoffman said. Too many ranchers I talk to say, looks off today, but Ill check him tomorrow.



Hoffman urged producers to treat animals as early as possible and with the appropriate drug.



Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear more of Rons conversation with Bruce Hoffman, where they discuss what off cattle look like and what else Elcano has to offer the industry.



The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for todays show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.















Listen to Ron's conversation with Bruce here

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Were seeing an increase in cash offers at a tremendous rate compared to what weve seen in the past, said Kendall Bonner, a real estate broker and expert in Tampa. She said much of the influx of cash is coming from people relocating from other parts of the country who have already sold their homes and also from institutional buyers such as Zillow and OpenDoor.
This means to work at Walt Disney World, unless you have a medical or religious accommodation need, that you will be required to be vaccinated, Unite Here Local 362 president Eric Clinton said. Vaccines are the best way to protect all of us, and Disney will be requiring it of its cast members.
The reason to mask in schools is not necessarily only to protect our adults but also to protect our children from transmissibility from one child to another and then of course from children going home to unvaccinated or immunocompromised or at-risk adults who may have waning immunity, she said.
Author Philip Norman, who has written extensively about the Rolling Stones, said Watts lived in constant hope of being allowed to catch the next plane home. On tour, he made a point of drawing each hotel room he stayed in, a way of marking time until he could return to his family. He said little about playing the same songs for more than 40 years as the Stones recycled their classics. But he did branch out far beyond Satisfaction and Jumpin Jack Flash by assembling and performing with jazz bands in the second half of his career.
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At the time of his death, law enforcement found Nance had several bruises and his face was swollen with signs of trauma, according to an affidavit in the case. It said Dotson told authorities that she had gone to work and left Nance in Manns care. Manns then called her and told her that Nance was dead or likely dead after drowning.
In most of the canine apprehensions we reviewed, there is some question as to whether the Handlers acted swiftly enough to remove the dog from the bite, the report said. However, because the canine policy is so poorly written and does not provide specific guidance on this action, reviewing supervisors would have to conclude that the problematic force is within policy.
Felder said she understood the views of parents who think they should decide if their children wear masks  but said she had to consider the health of all students, especially those too young for a COVID-19 vaccination or those ineligible because of medical conditions.
All three were vaccinated and wearing masks while sitting together at a table in the student union building, They said they thought their classmates should be required to mask up in class and get the shot, especially now that the Pfizer version has received FDA approval.
Chi said he hacked into the accounts of about 200 of the victims at the request of people he met online. Using the moniker icloudripper4you, Chi marketed himself as capable of breaking into digital accounts, he admitted in court papers.
The Florida Department of Children and Families, which administers SNAP within the state, has not yet applied for the program, though it has had since April to do so. Meanwhile, at least 38 other states have applied and been approved for the funds, as have Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and American Samoa. Executives with the nonpartisan Florida Policy Institute said they and several prominent anti-hunger organizations have tried without success to get an explanation from DCF, which also did not respond to a media request to comment on the situation.
The unidentified driver was heading west on Marigold Avenue, near Poinciana Parkway, when he veered off the road and hit the pole, said FHP spokesperson Lt. Kim Montes.
When detectives were finally able to enter the residence to investigate, they found Millers badly burned body, with a machete and a pair of scissors nearby, according to the report.
Now that the Senate has sent the bipartisan infrastructure bill over to us in the House, I and some other Democrats want to take the normal next step, which is to pass the bill with Democratic and Republican votes, send it to President Biden for his signature, and get shovels into the ground. It would be a major win for our country and for the president, who played an indispensable role in crafting the bill.
My privacy has been more than breached, Jenkins said in an interview. Its not about me, its not about the inconvenience that you had people calling my phone, I couldnt care less about that. Its more that I have to worry about the safety of my daughter and my neighbors. And any fuel you add to the fire  I feel like youre being complicit in it.
Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed for and signed into law SB 2006 earlier this year, which bans businesses from requiring so-called vaccine passports, or proof of vaccination from customers before receiving goods or services. The law is being challenged in court. and some cruise lines have said they will still require proof of vaccination for passengers.
We are pleased to partner once again with B.J. McLeod in the NASCAR Cup Series and introduce millions of families to Central Floridas nature attractions, said Margie Bryan, co-owner of Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures. The Kissimmee attraction made its inaugural race appearance in 2010 at Martinsville, with several more races in the Camping World Truck Series and a few in the Cup Series.
Oswego, NY (13126)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 71F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Low near 60F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.
Asmara, Eritrea (PANA) - Eritrea has rejected the "utterly baseless allegations" by the US in which it sanctions the Chief of Staff of the Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF), General Filipos Woldeyohannes (Filipos), for his connection with "serious human rights abuse" committed during the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Najla Al-Mangouch, on Tuesday chaired an expanded ministerial meeting with the UN Fact-Finding Commission on the human rights situation in Libya
London, UK (PANA) - Human rights advocate, Amnesty International, says its arms experts have identified Serbian-manufactured weapons in videos posted by armed groups operating in the Sahel, including an Islamic State affiliate which has claimed responsibility for hundreds of civilian deaths
The decision to return the machine to Lemu reflects the difficulties faced by the team in commissioning a new machine for the innovative P2F anti-viral masks

Nanosynth Group PLC ( ), the company formerly known as Remote Monitored Systems, is to claw back some money spent on a recalcitrant mask manufacturing machine.

The group said terms have been agreed with Lemu Group, the supplier of a mask manufacturing machine to Pharm 2 Farm Limited (the company's main subsidiary), to return the machine to Lemu.

The agreement is a recognition that despite the best efforts of Pharm 2 Farm (P2F) and Lemu to overcome technical issues with the machine, it has not been possible for the machine to perform as originally expected.

Lemu will repay 180,000 to P2F by the end of next month. The remaining 66,000 of the 246,000 that has been paid to Lemu will be paid contingently upon a re-sale by Lemu of the machine to a third party, with the intention being that this is achieved by the end of this year. Egremont Capital has been appointed to assist with the sale, for which they will receive a commission.

P2F will continue to supply masks to its customers through sub-contracted manufacturing via Volz Filters UK.

"The decision to return the machine to Lemu reflects the difficulties faced by the team in commissioning a new machine for the innovative P2F masks, said Antony Legge, the executive chairman of Nanosynth.

In the board's opinion, the agreement to recover almost 75% of the paid cost of the machine, excluding the 66,000 contingent payment, is a fair deal and we are grateful for all the efforts by Lemu in recent months to try and resolve the issues and their collaborative approach to the negotiations to return the machine, Legge said.

Shares in Nanosynth were down 6.1% at 0.78p in early deals.
FTSE 100 built on Mondays gains, helped by a good showing by tech firms on US markets overnight. Londons leading index added 14 points to 7,123 in early trading.



Didi, Chinas equivalent of ride-hailing firm Uber, however has scrapped plans to launch in the UK and Europe. It was due to concerns over customers data use.



( ) ( ) has partnered with pharmacy chain Boots to deliver hundreds of products including medicines, toiletries and baby products. The scheme is launching today in 14 stores.



McDonalds has run out of milkshakes in all its UK sites due to supply chain issues. The news comes just a week after Nandos had to close tens of stores due to a chicken shortage.



Elsewhere, the UK onshore Wressle oil field has produced at its targeted rate of 500 barrel in testing, boosting the prospects for AIM-quoted stakeholders ( ) and Europa Oil & Gas Plc. Union Jack noted that the rate was achieved after a proppant squeeze operation that stimulated the Wressle-1 well.



( , ) (AIM:GFIN, ) is to acquire Megit, a private company that owns and operates the website Stock Informer, for an initial consideration of 5mln. Half of the consideration will be satisfied in shares with the rest paid in cash.



( ) ( ) said its gross profit rose 66% in the year to end March 2021, helped by a full year of commercial production from its Sahamamy facility in Madagascar. Revenue grew 42% to 1.12mln.
Market Update: Tuesday 24 August 2021 Union Jack Oil* (AIM:UJO): Strong flow rates recorded at Wressle Energy Prices Brent Oil US$69.5/bbl vs US$66.4/bbl yesterday WTI Oil US$66.2/bbl vs US$63.7/bbl yesterday Natural Gas US$3.93/mmbtu vs US$3.89/mmbtu yesterday

Oil & Gas Daily Flow

Non-Independent Research; Marketing & Sales Commentary - MiFID II exempt information  see disclaimer below

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Market Update: Tuesday 24 August 2021

Union Jack Oil* (AIM:UJO): Strong flow rates recorded at Wressle

Energy Prices

Brent Oil US$69.5/bbl vs US$66.4/bbl yesterday

WTI Oil US$66.2/bbl vs US$63.7/bbl yesterday

Natural Gas US$3.93/mmbtu vs US$3.89/mmbtu yesterday

Oil Price News

Oil prices rose over 5% yesterday as a weaker US dollar and strong global equities markets boosted futures after seven sessions of declines

This follows a challenging demand outlook with concerns around the rapidly spreading delta variant forcing expectations lower through the remainder of the year

The uptick in prices comes despite yesterdays announcement by the US energy department that plans to sell up to 20MMbbls of crude oil from the nations Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Contracts will be awarded in September with delivery to take place during Q3 2021

The number of oil and gas rigs in the US rose by 3 last week, according to Baker Hughes, following an increase of 9 the previous week

The total rig count is now 503, up 249 from the same time last year, the highest rig count since April 2020, but still down sharply from the 790 active rigs in March 2020

The EIAs estimate for oil production in the US rose by 100,000bopd for the third week in a row to an average of 11.4MMbopd

US crude inventories fell 3.2MMbbls last week to 435.5MMbbls, their lowest since January 2020, according to US Energy Department figures

Gasoline stocks, however, rose modestly, and gasoline product supplied to the market, a measure of demand, was 9.5MMbopd, just 1% below 2019 levels

Fuel demand in the world's top consumer has steadily increased throughout the year with the four-week average of overall US product supplied was 20.8MMbopd, in line with pre-coronavirus levels from 2019

That has come just as the OPEC+ agreed to raise output by 400,000bopd every month into next year, returning some of the supply the group has held back since early 2020

The IEA estimates that demand for oil is expected to increase at a slower rate over the rest of 2021 because of surging cases of the Delta variant

Also bearish for the markets in the longer term, a US offshore regulator yesterday said efforts to resume a federal oil and gas leasing program were underway and would soon bear results following a court decision ending a suspension

Gas Price News

Natural gas futures continue to trade within a range of US$3.8-US$3.9/mmbtu as production figures continued to fluctuate but generally remained firmly entrenched in the low 90s Bcf/d range.

Liquefied natural gas volumes also were stable near 11Bcf/d.

On the weather front, the latest models cooled a bit but remained in a pattern biased to the warmer side of normal, according to Bespoke.

The price action is pointing towards the current low storage levels, and elevated summer temperatures in the US and Europe

Carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector will increase 7% to 4.9 billion mt in 2021 given growing economic activity, according to the EIA's Short-Term Energy Outlook

The sector's emissions fell 11% in 2020.

With summer heat nearing what traditionally is the peak period this month, weather forecasts have once again become a driving force for gas markets

The American and European data each saw a difference of less than 2 cooling degree days (CDD) for the coming 15 days

Company News

Union Jack Oil* (AIM:UJO): Strong flow rates recorded at Wressle

Share Price: 34.8p, Market Cap: 34.4m

STRONG BUY  TP: 176p

Union Jack has confirmed that initial well test measured flow rates at Wressle (UJO 40% WI), under a restricted choke, have exceeded 500bopd which was the forecast rate following the proppant squeeze operation.

The Wressle-1 well is continuing to clean up and has not yet reached its optimum potential.

A further update will be provided once a stablised oil flow rate is established in the coming weeks.

Our take: A positive and welcome update from Union Jack. Wressle will boost the Companys production profile and cash flow position once on commercial production, and todays update reinforces the long-term potential in our view. With oil prices now enjoying a period of relative stability, first commercial oil at Wressle has come at an opportune time for Union Jack. In-depth modelling infers a break-even5oil price of c.US$17.62/bbl, highlighting the compelling project economics on offer at the project. In terms of cash generation, at current oil prices, annualised net revenues to Union Jack from Wressle could be in excess of US$4m. Further upside value drivers including the possible production of gas and electricity sales over and above that used on site, in addition to the c.50% increase in the Contingent Resource volumes within the Penistone Flags reservoir. We reiterate our STRONG BUY rating and 176p/share TP.

* SP Angel Acts as Nominated Advisor and Broker to Union Jack Oil

Research  Oil & Gas

Sam Wahab - 0203 470 0473 / 0784 385 5037

sam.wahab@spangel.co.uk

Sales

Richard Parlons  020 3470 0472

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Rob Rees  020 3470 0535

Grant Barker  020 3470 0471

SP Angel

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+SP Angel employees may have previously held, or currently hold, shares in the companies mentioned in this note.

Sources of commodity prices

Oil Brent, WTI - ICE

Natural Gas -NYMEX

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Analysts at JP Morgan believe the British Airways owner can achieve attractive margins once the market begins to normalise - whenever that may be.

When will IAG shares get airborne again? Heres what one leading London bank reckons.

Shares in British Airways owner IAG ( ) have had more trouble getting off the ground than the planes it has mothballed during the pandemic.

Since early April the stock has lost around 25% of its value as the recovery in international air travel has been stalled by the Covid delta variant.

Fears the US may not open its air borders to European visitors as envisaged next month have further depressed sentiment.

Yet the ever-optimistic team at JP Morgan Cazenove (JPMC) is keeping the faith with IAG in spite of the headwinds.

That said, it had tweaked down its 2021-24 EBITDA and EPS forecasts and has set a new multiples-based price target of 2.45, down from 2.70.

Sticking with its overweight recommendation, JPMC told clients: The global aviation market remains very challenging.

It remains very difficult to predict the pace and magnitude of the air traffic recovery and, as always, even harder to forecast fares.

However, IAG has taken radical action to cut costs and this underpins our view that it can achieve attractive EBITA margins once the market begins to normalise, which we do expect in the next few years.

We also note IAGs very low valuation multiples.and so continue to recommend the stock to long-term investors.
Oil price So, weve had a shakeout and yesterday saw a decent recovery, along with todays rise Brent is nearly 8% off the lows which can be attributed to a number of factors. I would divide by country, firstly the USA where sentiment that the Jackson Hole Symposium would shake the trees has been muted by the cancellation of the face to face meeting which is now a virtual one.

Oil price, UJO/Egdon/Europa, Hunting, President, Prospex. And finally

WTI $65.64 +$3.50, Brent $68.75 +$3.57, Diff -$3.11 +6c, NG $3.94 +9c, UKNG 107.22p +1.6p

Oil price

So, weve had a shakeout and yesterday saw a decent recovery, along with todays rise Brent is nearly 8% off the lows which can be attributed to a number of factors. I would divide by country, firstly the USA where sentiment that the Jackson Hole Symposium would shake the trees has been muted by the cancellation of the face to face meeting which is now a virtual one. Dont ask me why but the experts think that not being face to face will mean a more vanilla outcome

Also in the US, the ( )/BioNTech vaccine was approved whilst in China they saw no new Delta variant cases yesterday. In Mexico, oil production was cut by around 450/- b/d after an explosion on an oil platform. Finally it is retail gasoline price day and a gallon will rush you $3.145 on average in the US which is down 2.9c w/w, up 0.9c m/m and up 96.3c y/y. If you live or work on the West coast it is a different story where a gallon is $3.936

Egdon Resources/Union Jack Oil/ Europa Oil & Gas

Egdon as operator has provided an update on operations at its Wressle Oil Field Development, located in North Lincolnshire, covered by Licences PEDL180 and PEDL182 and where the Company holds a 30% operated interest. Union Jack owns 40% and EOG 30% of the field.

Egdon is pleased to advise that the coiled tubing operation has been completed safely and successfully and the Ashover Grit reservoir has been returned to flow, under extended well testing operations. The well flow is continuing to clean-up and has not yet reached its full potential. The measured flow rates have exceeded 500 barrels of oil per day under a restricted choke setting, which was the forecast rate following the proppant squeeze operation.

Mark Abbott, Managing Director of Egdon, commented:

I am delighted to advise that the proppant squeeze operation has been successful in enabling the Wressle well to deliver the target production rate of 500 barrels of oil per day. Oil production will be optimised whilst the Ashover Grit reservoir continues to clean-up. With this additional 150 barrels of oil per day net to Egdon and the current strong oil price, Wressle will have a transformational impact on Egdons near-term cash flow.

Considerable upside remains in the additional reservoirs at Wressle and in adjacent prospects and we expect Wressle to be an important asset for Egdon for a number of years to come.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of Egdons contractors who have contributed so effectively to delivering this milestone event for the Wressle joint venture.

Executive Chairman of Union Jack, David Bramhill commented:

I am, of course, delighted with the outcome of the proppant squeeze operation which has enabled the Wressle-1 discovery to deliver the expected production rate of 500 barrels of oil per day from the Ashover Grit reservoir, the lowest reservoir interval in the original discovery well.

At a full production rate of 500 barrels of oil per day, Wressle, at current oil prices would transform the economics of the Company with a materially positive impact on our revenues and operating cashflow.

Union Jack Management are of the opinion that Wressle is still at a very early stage in its development and that considerable upside potential remains given the higher Wingfield Flags and Penistone Flags reservoirs, that are not part of this test programme, have both already demonstrated their ability to flow oil to surface during testing of the original discovery well, as well as other opportunities within the licence areas.

Simon Oddie, CEO of Europa, said:

Achieving the targeted 500 barrels of oil per day production rate at Wressle is an excellent outcome, following the successful proppant squeeze operation at the Wressle-1 well. While oil production will be optimised in the coming weeks as the reservoir continues to clean-up, a gross rate of 500 bopd at Wressle more than doubles Europas existing UK onshore production to over 200 bopd. At current oil prices of over US$65 per barrel, this step-up in net production will transform Europas financial profile and in turn provide a strong platform from which to grow the Company further. Considerable upside exists in the other formations at Wressle which we now look forward to progressing.

Todays announcement is exceptionally good news for the partners that has not been adequately reflected in the prices, for the following reasons. Firstly and I quote The Wressle-1 well is continuing to clean up and has not yet reached its optimum potential.

As far as I can gather this result was significantly better than expected and the proppant squeeze was highly efficient and while still cleaning up that might give a clue to how big this might be. Indeed with a combination of bigger and better facilities maybe such as a separator and of course distribution it could be well in excess of this test rate.

Finally, as mentioned considerable upside potential remains given the higher Wingfield Flags and Penistone Flags reservoirs, which together with all the other potential could be substantial and given an update on stabilised flow rates is expected within weeks I am supremely confident that there is more to come from Wressle, at long last

Hunting

Hunting has announced a strategic investment of $5.0m for a 27% stake in Cumberland Additive Holdings. Headquartered in Pflugerville, Texas, CAH offers engineering design services and production of parts via additive manufacturing in both metals and polymer materials using powder bed fusion technology.

CAH holds AS9100D and ITAR accreditations, supporting customers in the aerospace, defence, space, oil and gas and energy sectors who demand strongly quality assured components to operate in high performance environments. CAH currently occupies 30,000 square feet at their Texas location. CAH is in the process of establishing their second location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which will improve supply chain efficiency.

The investment in CAH provides Hunting with access to the fast growing additive manufacturing sector, which is increasingly being adopted by many of the Groups current oil and gas clients, while also providing opportunities for Hunting to enter new sectors complementary to the Groups current customer profile.

Jim Johnson, Chief Executive of Hunting, commented:

Huntings investment in CAH is a key part of our strategy to access new manufacturing technologies which are being adopted by our current customers, but also provides new market and customer opportunities in sectors complementary to our core competencies of precision engineering and strongly quality assured products and procedures, including aerospace and defense. The Group was attracted by CAHs materials and process engineering know-how and expertise which we believe will complement our existing engineering and manufacturing leadership in our chosen sectors of focus. We look forward to building a strong collaboration with our existing businesses in the coming years.

Whilst this is a pretty modest investment by size for Hunting it could be a highly strategic move and is typical of how they do their business. With results imminent Im sure that the excellent Jim Johnson will be able to put some more meat on the bones announced today.

President Energy

Given how much information we get from President I am not going to detail figures which go back to December 2020, lets get the abbreviated detail.

In the face of the unprecedented challenges in 2020, including the dramatic drop in the oil price to less than US$20 per barrel, the Company still delivered solid progress and operational profitability, with adjusted EBITDA* of almost US$2.1 million on turnover of approximately US$28 million. This demonstrates the continued strength of the Group and resilience in navigating through the perfect storm of Covid-19 and its tsunami of economically challenging waves which enveloped the whole of the World.

Peter Levine, Chairman, commented in the Chairmans Statement:

When I wrote my statement on 30 June last year, I dont think any of us could have imagined that 14 months on we would still be battling the impact of Covid-19. As I said previously, I spent several months earlier this year travelling around our operations in South America overseeing our exciting work programme and advancing a material investment in our Paraguay assets. During that time, I saw first-hand the devastation wrought by the global pandemic and the significant sacrifices required to keep businesses operational during such difficult times. Having myself been hospitalised for two weeks, although thankfully now well on the way to recovery, I remain eternally grateful for the skill and dedication shown by the medical professionals in Paraguay and across the Globe.

As I said at the time, I have never been one to sit behind a desk to manage my business and I am willing to put myself in harms way for the benefit of our stakeholders so say none of this to gain sympathy. I make these observations so that people might understand the dedication shown by our hardworking employees in the face of such adversity. It is this dedication that has led to us delivering all the progress noted in the last 20 months.

Day by day our Company gets stronger although always subject to intermittent variables which do throw stones in our path to deflect us. We do all we can to grow President organically and by strategic initiative. I am confident that 2021 will be seen by its end as a year of progress with the Paraguay farm-out, new drilling in Salta and the spin off and float of Atome all set to be completed by year end.

We successfully controlled what we could and the key performance metrics through 2020 bear witness to this:  increased average production, reduced operating and administrative costs as well as overall debt. I am sincerely grateful to everyone within the business for their efforts. We have a lot of work to do this year, but we are very much up for it and relishing the prospects.

The energy landscape has changed even faster and more dramatically than anticipated. President, as an energy company focused on long term goals, embraces this and shareholders may have noticed the rapid progress we are making with Atome Limited, the subsidiary we formed earlier this year to focus on hydrogen-related opportunities.

This is pure gold from Peter Levine who has, with his team, worked flat to the boards to bring a really high quality portfolio of assets to the company. Most of these are not fully represented in the share price and the market cap which should be way higher than this level.

Prospex Energy

Prospex say that they have now received a valid (sic) letter from Jarvis Investment Management requisitioning a general meeting of the Companys shareholders.

The Requisition proposes that shareholders be asked to consider the following resolutions:

1. The appointment of Leo Willem Koot to the Board

2. The appointment of Gordon Bowman Stein to the Board

3. The appointment of Stephen Bocciolo to the Board

4. The appointment of Michael Douglas to the Board

5. The removal of William Hartman Smith from the Board

6. The removal of Richard Paul Mays from the Board

7. The removal of Mark Christopher Routh from the Board

8. The removal of Alasdair Buchanan from the Board, should he be appointed ahead of the GM

9. To authorise the directors to allot shares in the Company up to a nominal value of 125,000

10. To authorise the directors to disapply pre-emption rights over the allotment of shares in the Company up to a nominal value of 125,000

Let battle commence

And finally

The Paralympics start today in Tokyo until 5th September.

Last night the happy Hammers went to the top of the Prem with a 4-1 win over the Foxes, Antonio celebrated with a cut-out of himself as he became their top ever scorer.

Finally its the EFL Cup tonight at the stage where the big teams come in. Accordingly Barrow host Villa, Huddersfield entertain the Toffees, the Cherries will fancy their chances at the Canaries, Crewe visit Leeds, the Hornets host the Eagles and in the avian derby the Bluebirds host the Seagulls.
By bringing CH-6 back into production, the ASX-listed operator expects to produce 120 more barrels of oil per day, bringing Cliff Heads total field production to roughly 850 barrels of oil per day.

Triangle Energy (Global) Ltd has brought the CH-6 well, part of the Cliff Head Oil Field in Western Australia, back into production.

The Perth Basin oil producer completed a workover at the field's CH-6 and CH-11WI wells on behalf of the Cliff Head Joint Venture, which it operates and retains a substantial interest in alongside fellow ASX-lister ( ) Ltd.

Conclusion of the workover marks the end of the electric submersible pump replacement, which included installing a new pump in a more technical and cost-effective configuration.

Performance testing and verification are underway, with the CH-6 well expected to stabilise at around 120 barrels of oil per day, bringing the total field production to roughly 850 barrels per day.

An excellent outcome

Triangle Energy managing director Robert Towner said: Well integrity management is a priority at Cliff Head and the condition of the recovered equipment from both the CH-6 and CH-11WI wells showed no visible evidence of corrosion or physical degradation.

This is an excellent outcome considering the years since this equipment was installed and supports our plans to continue to extend the operating life of the facility.

The company looks forward to future well activities and exploring asset life extension opportunities.

Workover complete, production resumes

The Cliff Head Oil Fields CH-6 well returned to production on Monday afternoon, with subsequent testing now underway.

Before its restart, all of the programs technical and well integrity expectations were met, so the well was handed over from well services to production on August 22.

Triangles hydraulic workover unit provider, Clear Cut Interventions (CCI), with the assistance of R&D solutions, successfully deployed the first Omega Gemini plug on Slickline using a time delay hydrostatic setting tool in an offshore environment in the Asia Pacific.

Omega provided virtual training to the CCI supervisor because COVID-induced travel restrictions prevented a specialist from being deployed to Australia.

Ultimately, the joint CH-6 and CH-11WI workover campaign provided Triangle with the rare opportunity to evaluate the condition of the downhole completion and wellbore equipment in terms of its long-term well integrity and corrosion management.

Exploring Cliff Head and beyond

Triangle is the registered operator and holds a substantial interest (78.75%) in the Cliff Head Oil Field, which includes the onshore Arrowsmith Stabilisation Plant and offshore Cliff Head Alpha Platform.

Current oil production at the field is around 800 to 900 barrels of oil per day gross, with the company poised to leverage its operating expertise and infrastructure to secure growth opportunities in the basin beyond the Cliff Head Joint Venture.

Triangles growing footprint in the Perth Basin includes a 45% joint venture interest in the Xanadu-1 prospect within the TP/15 Xanadu oil field and a 50% participating interest in the PL7 production licence, including the Mt Horner oil and gas field.

Beyond the Perth Basin, Triangle holds a 27.67% equity interest in fellow ASX-lister ( ), which is developing the Reids Dome Gas Project in Queensland to supply a gas shortage in the eastern states.
Lindi Jumbo is now officially in construction and the company will update shareholders on the progress over the coming months.

Lindi Jumbo's Paul Shauri and the independent project manager on site during the second week of August.

( , )s flagship Lindi Jumbo Graphite Project in Tanzania has further progressed into the construction phase, with the commencement of site mobilisation and the appointment of an independent project manager (IPM).

The CRDB-approved IPM has completed site visits and has been given the necessary approvals.

Also, bulk earthmoving contractor TNR, who was appointed to undertake site earthworks and civil engineering work, has commenced mobilisation to site.

The company has further completed stakeholder meetings and information sessions.

Walkabout also hosted two high-level government delegations, including the Prime Minister of Tanzania Kassim Majaliwa and the deputy minister of minerals Professor Shukrani Manya.

Kickstarts development activities

Walkabout Resources CEO Andrew Cunningham said: The appointment of the Independent Project Manager by CRDB has kickstarted project development activities, with the mobilisation of bulk earthmoving equipment now underway.

These activities coincided with the company hosting two high-level Government delegations to site over the past week through visits by the Honourable Prime Minister of Tanzania Kassim Majaliwa and Honourable Deputy Minister of Minerals Professor Shukrani Manya.

Lindi Jumbo is now officially in construction and we look forward to updating our shareholders on the progress over the coming months."

Project debt agreement

Under the US$20 million project debt agreement, an IPM is required to be appointed to approve the payment of project funds from either the companion equity or the project debt.

A total of US$8 million of companion equity funds has already been deposited with CRDB in Tanzania.

The final US$4 million of companion equity is expected next week, subject to approval by shareholders today.

CRDB approved the appointment of the IPM in early August and mobilisation payments have been made to TNR.

PM visits

The start of the first major mine development activities in Tanzania over the last five years and the first in the wider region has resulted in active interest by the government stakeholders.

The company hosted two senior official government site visits over the past week.

Professor Manya was on site on August 13, 2021, and again accompanied the PM Majaliwa to site on August 20, 2021.

Both delegations were updated on the commencement of the project development activities and of the companys environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities in the region.

Both delegations expressed their delight in seeing this happen and confirmed their ongoing support towards the company and the project

Finalising other development contracts

Walkabout continues to finalise its other important project development contracts.

The EPC contract is nearing finalisation, while the logistics, camp and power contracts have all been re-tendered with the award of these contracts expected shortly.

A current global container shortage is expected to significantly increase shipping costs of around 90 containers from China to Tanzania.

As the erection of the graphite plant is not scheduled until later in the year, these shipments will be sequenced to arrive according to the construction schedule to try and mitigate the higher costs.

Stakeholder activities

The Lindi Jumbo team has been very active in the local region, where numerous meetings and information sessions have been held to inform all relevant local stakeholders ahead of the start of construction activities on site.

Interactive information sessions will be conducted throughout the construction process, as it is of the utmost importance to the company that the 'Social Licence to Operate' is maintained.

Offtake enquiries every week

The existing binding offtake term sheets will be priced and converted to agreements much closer to production.

These offtake agreements are not required to be finalised before the project debt is available to draw down as they are not a condition precedent and are only required to be provided to CRDB as a condition subsequent. It is in the commercial interests of the company to enter those arrangements as late as possible.

Walkabout remains encouraged by the increasing demand outlook for Lindi Jumbos products.

With the mine under construction, the company receives new offtake enquiries from around the world virtually every week.

Its commitment is to deliver the 40,000 tonnes base case project and make active consideration of the growth possibilities.
CEO John Arbuthnot said the Delta 9 brand is becoming more familiar in Western Canada" and the new store in the City of Selkirk "strengthens our network of stores

Delta 9 Cannabis Inc has announced the grand opening of its thirteenth retail store, and tenth cannabis store in the Canadian province of Manitoba, which is bordered by Ontario to the east, and Saskatchewan to the west.

The vertically integrated cannabis companys newest retail store is in the City of Selkirk and is scheduled to open on Thursday.

I am very proud of the fact that in spite of the pandemic our team has worked hard to continue our pace of growth, Delta 9 CEO John Arbuthnot said in a statement. The Delta 9 brand is becoming more familiar in Western Canada and this new store location strengthens our network of stores and enables us to continue to offer the best selection of cannabis products; at the lowest prices, from the most popular cannabis manufacturers in Canada.

Established in 1882, the City of Selkirk is 34 kilometres (km) north of Winnipeg, servicing a trade area population of 53,000 people. The new store is in the heart of the downtown core at the Arena Plaza Mall at 379 Main Street. This section of Main Street is the focal point for 100,000-square-feet of retail business making it part of one of the citys largest shopping destinations.

The tenants within a 3-km radius area include Shoppers Drug Mart, CIBC, Liquor Mart, Walmart Super Center, Dollarama, Staples, Sport Chek, and Home Hardware. The company also noted that their location has ample parking and easy access from the street.

The new store offers customers a modern shopping decor, highly trained staff and a wide range of products including dried cannabis flower, cannabis oil, edibles, drinkables, vape pens, concentrates and more, said the company.

The firm said it will also provide online and click-and-collect services for the Arena Plaza location.

Delta 9 - one of Canadas original cannabis companies  sells products through its wholesale and retail sales channels and markets its cannabis Grow Pods to other businesses. The firms wholly owned subsidiary, Delta 9 Bio-Tech Inc., is a licensed producer of medical and recreational cannabis and operates an 80,000-square-foot production facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Delta 9 owns and operates a chain of retail stores under the Delta 9 Cannabis Store brand.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
( ) CEO Marcio Fonseca and Non-Executive Chairman Eric Zaunscherb joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share major news as the company announces the initial NI 43-101 mineral resource estimates on their Plomosas Project located in Sinaloa, Mexico. That saw Indicated Resources of 10.3 Moz AgEq* and Inferred Resources: of 21.0 Moz AgEq*

Fonseca telling Proactive the company used a combination of 80 new drill holes and 476 historic drill holes representing a total of 100,672 metres of drilling covering the former Plomosas Mine and the San Juan area.

Zaunscherb telling Proactive even with this initial resource estimate their geological model shows they have established a baseline for growth at both the Plomosas Mine and San Juan area
The new platform is being launched at the three-day Society for Independent Show Operators (SISO) summer conference, starting on August 24, in Louisville, Kentucky

The packaged solution provides event operators with new line revenues through sponsorship and engagement opportunities

( , ) Inc said it has released its new Venue Management System for conferences and events that will help organizers provide a better, mobile-first contactless customer experience, reduce costs and get better analytics on how attendees are interacting with the event.

The Vancouver, British Columbia-based company said the packaged solution consists of Fobis Passcreator Wallet passes and proprietary Smart Tap Devices and the new Smart Scan Pass Validation App for event check-in and management, as well as Fobis Insight Portal for event analytics.

Fobis new platform is being launched at the three-day Society for Independent Show Operators (SISO) summer conference, starting on August 24, 2021, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Fobi SVP of Business Development Mike Canevaro will be at the event and will meet key decision-makers for some of the largest conference management companies in the world, said the company.

In a statement, Canevaro said: We are very excited to launch our new product and service live at this years event. Our latest product will help transform the Event and Conference sector and provide much-needed support to an industry that has faced many economic challenges over the last 19 months due to the forced lockdown.

The Conference and Events industry is in desperate need of turn-key solutions that provide a safe and contactless digital experience for their guests. I believe we will benefit from immediate adoption as we help create much-needed new line revenues opportunities for event operators through new digital sponsorships and we will enable show organizers the ability to monetize their event data via their show exhibitors, attendees and third parties.

With conference halls slowly reopening, Fobis product launch is well-positioned to tap the Event Management Software Industry, which is currently pegged as one of the fastest-growing technology segments. It is expected to hit $14.6 billion by 2025, with a 11.56% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), according to MRFR.

The conference and trade show industry has a very traditional business model with many antiquated and legacy processes, said the company.

When attendees arrive at conferences, they are met with long lines, staff members using clipboards and paper for check-ins, and a pile of ID badges being rummaged through by staff to find the right one, it noted.

However, Fobis new platform is about to change things.

The company said: Attendees register online and are sent a Digital Conference Pass that they download to the Mobile Wallet on their phone. The conference pass then becomes their 'key' to the event. When attendees arrive at the venue, they simply tap their phone onto one of Fobis Smart Tap devices to check into the event. The attendees check-in information is passed automatically to the Fobi Portal backend and their Digital ID badge is sent in real-time directly to the attendees mobile wallet for a contactless entry experience."

The Fobi platform gives the attendee the option of checking in with their wallet pass and receiving a physical badge via a printer that is connected to the Fobi Smart Tap check-in device.

The company highlighted the merits of the new Venue Management System as follows:

Incredibly scalable and easy-to-use as it can be up-and-running in minutes;

Offers a better guest experience that reduces check-in times and streamlines ticketing with tickets sent to the Wallet already built into attendees mobile devices;

Saves organizers money on labor costs, training, and other registration and sign-in resources;

Conference organizers get insights into attendees through real-time analytics, such as guest demographics, and event-specific analytics such as which booths they visited, or which sessions they attended;

Provides new line revenues through sponsorship and engagement opportunities.

With the size and scope of the global trade show industry we see this as a very lucrative financial opportunity. Fobi will benefit from event licenses as well as generate revenue from the issuance of each pass that is issued to attendees, said Fobi CEO Rob Anson. Our professional and managed event services will play a significant element in the rollout for these large-scale events.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
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In a major development, the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) report has confirmed that multi-lingual actresses Sanjjanaa Galrani, Ragini Dwivedi and others consumed drugs.

Both were arrested and released on bail later in this connection. The police have also arrested Viren Khanna, an event manager, Aditya Alva, son of former late minister and a close relative of Bollywood actor Vivek Oberai and others in connection with the case.

The developments made national headlines and all accused pleaded to be innocents.

Along with actresses, the reports have also confirmed that Viren Khanna, Rahul Tonse, both event managers were using drugs.

The City Crime Branch (CCB) police, investigating the case, have sent hair samples of the accused persons for tests to check on drugs consumption. The test is known as the hair follicle test or hair drug test.

The lab had rejected the samples of hair of the actresses for the first time and the samples were resent. The CCB had also written to the CFSL to provide results as early as possible.

The samples were sent 9 months ago along with samples of nails and urine. The hair samples were sent for the first time in the drugs case in the state. Since the drug traces could be found for up to one year.

Generally, blood and urine samples were sent as drugs could be detected only within 24 to 48 hours.

Inspector Puneeth, the investigating officer of the case has submitted the reports to the 33rd CCH court in Bengaluru. The reports will be added to the charge sheet against the actresses and others.

Though the officers were not available for comment on the development, the CCB had released a press note claiming that they have sent hair samples of the accused in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases to Hyderabad Central Forensic Science Laboratory.

The accused who avoided the arrests for a long time could have escaped from urine and other routine blood tests as they confirmed the presence of drugs in the body if only submitted within 48 hours of consumption, the note said.

"Hair samples will retain the traces of drugs up to 1 year. The new method has helped the police to trace the drug consumption of the accused in NDPS cases. The Police Commissioner Kamal Pant has appreciated the effort and use of novel method by CCB police," Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner (Crime) stated.

"We have sent samples of accused persons in drugs cases arrested last year. Now the reports have come. This is an alarming bell for those who involve in drug consumption," he underlined.

Bengaluru police had arrested actresses Sanjjanaa Galrani and Ragini Dwivedi in September 2020. Sanjjanaa was granted bail in December 2020. Ragini Dwivedi obtained bail in January 2021 from the Supreme Court after her bail plea was dismissed by the Karnataka High Court.
At least three complaints have been filed against Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane for allegedly threatening to 'slap' Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, sparking fresh tensions between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena, here on Tuesday.

Irate Shiv Sena and Yuva Sena activists retaliated by erecting a hoarding in Dadar with a picture of Rana and a cocky caption -- 'Kombdi Chor' (Chicken Thief) -- and others lodged police complaints against him in Pune, Nashik and Raigad districts.

The Union Minister, who hails from the state, is currently on a 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' from Mumbai to Sindhudurg and the alleged comments came during a rally in Chiplun (Ratnagiri) on Monday night.

While Shiv Sena and its affiliated wings have reacted sharply to Narayan Rane's comments, the local BJP leaders sought to defend him saying it was made in a typical 'Thackeray-style language'.

Even as the police beefed up security for Rane's home in Mumbai, Sindhudurg and a resort where he was camping, his son Nitesh Rane said that they are consulting legal advisors in the matter.

This is the second major brush between the former allies turned enemies BJP-Sena in a week. Last Wednesday, Sena activists 'cleaned and purified' the late Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial at Shivaji Park after Rane paid obeisance there prior to launching his yatra.

However, despite the police complaints, Rane's team has made it clear that the ongoing 'Yatra' will continue undisturbed till August 27 as originally planned.
In an unprecedented development in the state political history, the Maharashtra Police on Tuesday afternoon arrested Union Minister Narayan Rane for his 'slap slur' remark against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, as an aggressive Shiv Sena protested vociferously all over the state.

This is said to be a first in the state when a serving Union Minister has been arrested and comes around 20 years after a union cabinet ministers, the late Murasoli Maran and T.R. Baalu, both in the government of the late Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, were nabbed by Chennai Police in June 2001.

In a day of fast-paced developments, a team of police personnel went to Rane's camp in Sangameshwar in Ratnagiri in the Konkan region, whisked him off to a waiting vehicle and took him to the local police station for the other arrest-related formalities amidst tight security.

The sensational happenings came barely a couple of hours after Rane sharply dared that "nobody could do anything to him" or prevent him from "moving around freely".

A team of senior police officers met Rane and later completed the arrest formalities even as a large number of his supporters and a huge posse of police were present.

Rane, whose health seemed to have deteriorated as he suffered from diabetes and hypertension, underwent a preliminary medical checkup and is expected to be taken to Nashik later.

Anticipating the arrest possibility, Rane's team had moved the Bombay High Court seeking to stay the arrest but was declined urgent hearing in the matter.

Multiple police complaints have been filed against Rane with Police in Pune, Raigad, Nashik and at least two teams of Nashik and Pune police proceeded to nab the central minister.

This afternoon, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis had dropped hints at the upcoming possibilities, stating that if Rane was arrested, the party had kept a Plan B ready to carry forward the ongoing Jan Ashirwad Yatra.

However, while the BJP has categorically rejected Rane's statements, the entire party will solidly stand behind him in the current crisis, Fadnavis assured.

The stunning arrest of Rane - a former Shiv Sena Chief Minister - is likely to trigger further bitterness with the party's former ally, BJP, which went on a downslide after Thackeray joined hands with the Nationalist Congress Party-Congress to head the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in November 2019.

Top leaders from both the NCP-Congress have flayed Rane's remarks against the CM, even as angry Saniks went on protests throughout the state.

Even as a police team was closeted with Rane, one of his aides, Pramod Jathar claimed that "no arrest warrant has been produced and the police allegedly pleaded that they were under 'pressure' to arrest Rane in five minutes".

Jathar contended that the police were not following the due protocols, nor showing the arrest warrant or other documents for the same and not revealing under whose alleged 'pressure' they were taking the action.
In a big relief, a Raigad Magistrate late on Tuesday granted bail to arrested Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane in a case pertaining to his 'slap slur' against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

The development came around 8 hours after Rane's dramatic arrest by a police posse from his camp in Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri, from where he was whisked off to a Raigad court late in the evening.

The Central minister was nabbed - a first ever for the state - after multiple cases were filed against him in various districts for his 'slap slur' targeting Thackeray.

Leader of Opposition (Council) Pravin Darekar and other leaders welcomed the verdict and said it was on expected lines as Rane's arrest was illegal and it was a politically motivated case.

BJP ex-minister Sudhir Mungantiwar termed it as a victory of democracy and a defeat of the 'Talibani mentality' of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

"The state government will have to pay a price for insulting the constitutional tenets of B.R. Ambedkar," Mungantiwar said.

Meanwhile, Rane is expected to walk out free a short while later after completing the legal formalities, much to the relief of his wife Neelam, sons Nilesh and Nitesh, besides a large number of supporters.


Pakistan once again stands exposed with its claims of not supporting terror groups across the globe proving to be an eye wash. In Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), a rally was organised by Taliban supporters on Monday morning, with LeT and JeM outfits coming out in support of the Taliban. The participants in the rally also fired in the air.




A close examination of the various religious organisations based in Pakistan indicates that there is a growing rhetoric among them favouring the Taliban victory in Afghanistan. Such strong narrative can indeed be damaging to the interest of Pakistan and the region at large.

Chief of Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-lslam (S) and Difa-e-Pakistan Council Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq Haqqani termed the victory of the Taliban as the victory of the ideology of Maulana Sami-ul-Haq and his thoughts and announced that next Friday, on 27 August they would observe 'Youm-e-Tashkkur', that is thanking Allah for the victory of the Taliban. Maulana Hamid said that the world shouldn't force its so-called democratic system on Afghanistan, as the Taliban had learnt a lot in the last 20 years. Maulana Hamid demanded that the world should immediately acknowledge the government of the Taliban and revive diplomatic ties. Maulana Hamid was addressing a gathering at the Lahore Press Club after a session of Shura of JUI.

The Maulana further thanked Allah for the latest development in Afghanistan and said that by announcing amnesty to all, the Taliban have won the hearts of Afghan people, the world forces were playing with blood and fear in Afghanistan for the last 40 years and there were pro-India and American governments in Kabul for 20 years. He mentioned that the Taliban have freed their country from the occupied forces and have entered Kabul peacefully. The people have welcomed them, if there would have been contradictions in saying and deeds of the Taliban, they would have not won this victory, he said.

In addition, Maulana Haq has announced that on November 2 in commemoration of the death of Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, major conferences will be held in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. In these conferences, the Taliban leaders will also be invited. On this occasion, rallies will be carried out across the nation.

Maulana said that they thanked Rabta Alami Islami for extending support to the Taliban. The borders of Pakistan will be secure now after the government of the Taliban has taken-over in Afghanistan. Haq said that they will try and form a religious alliance in Pakistan and if all religious forces unite then Pakistan can be like a state of Madina in the true sense of it. Prior to the press conference, Maulana Hamid had said in the Shura of the JUI that they will call a session of religious and political parties to discuss the Afghan issue and to extend support to the Taliban. In the session, problems and difficulties faced by the Taliban will be given attention.

Separately, Tahaffuz-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwat, an alliance of 13 major religious parties has issued a statement (Aug 22) and rejected a resolution of the European Union about ending Khatm-e-Nabuwat Laws or making it ineffective or releasing accused of blasphemy. The TKN mentioned that the EU resolution was an open interference in the laws of Pakistan and a violation of the international laws. The European Union resolution had hurt religious sentiments of 22 crore Pakistanis, the statement mentioned. They further demanded that the EU should apologize and withdraw the resolution and mentioned that any conspiracy on the Khatm-e-Nabuwat will be an attack on the faith of 2 billion Muslims.
A Ukrainian plane that arrived in Afghanistan to evacuate Ukrainians has been hijacked by unidentified people who flew it into Iran, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin said on Tuesday.

"Last Sunday, our plane was hijacked by other people. On Tuesday, the plane was practically stolen from us, it flew into Iran with an unidentified group of passengers onboard instead of airlifting Ukrainians. Our next three evacuation attempts were also not successful because our people could not get into the airport," he said, Tass reported.

According to him, the hijackers were armed. However, the deputy minister did not report anything about what happened to the plane or whether Kiev would seek to get it back or how the Ukrainian citizens got back from Kabul, onboard of this "practically stolen" plane or another one sent by Kiev. Yenin only underlined that the whole diplomatic service headed by Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba "had been working in the crash test mode" the whole week.

On Sunday, a military transport plane with 83 people onboard, including 31 Ukrainians, arrived from Afghanistan to Kiev. The presidential office reported that 12 Ukrainian military personnel returned home, while foreign reporters and public figures who requested help were also evacuated. The office also added that around 100 Ukrainians are still expecting evacuating in Afghanistan.
The newly-discovered asteroid 2021 PH27 has a diameter of about 1 km (3,280 feet) and orbits the Sun in just 113 days  the shortest known orbital period for an asteroid and second shortest for any object in our Solar System after Mercury.

2021 PH27 has a semi-major axis of 70 million km (43 million miles, 0.46 AU), giving it a 113-day orbital period on an unstable elongated orbit that crosses the orbits of both Mercury and Venus.

This means that within a few million years it will likely be destroyed in a collision with one of these planets or the Sun, or it will be ejected from its current position.

2021 PH27 was discovered by Carnegie Institution for Sciences Dr. Scott Sheppard in images taken by Brown University astronomers Ian DellAntonio and Shenming Fu on August 13, 2021.

Most likely 2021 PH27 was dislodged from the main asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars and the gravity of the inner planets shaped its orbit into its current configuration, Dr. Sheppard said.

Although, based on its large angle of inclination of 32 degrees, it is possible that 2021 PH27 is an extinct comet from the outer Solar System that ventured too close to one of the planets as the path of its voyage brought it into proximity with the inner Solar System.

Because 2021 PH27 is so close to the Suns massive gravitational field, it experiences the largest general relativistic effects of any known solar system object.

This is seen in a slight angular deviation in its elliptical orbit over time, a movement called precession, which occurs at about one arcminute per century.

Observation of Mercurys precession puzzled scientists until Albert Einsteins theory of general relativity explained its orbital adjustments over time. The precession of 2021 PH27 is even faster than Mercurys.

2021 PH27 gets so close to the Sun that its surface temperature gets to 482 degrees Celsius (900 degrees Fahrenheit) at closest approach, hot enough to melt lead, Dr. Sheppard said.

The asteroid will soon pass behind the Sun and be unobservable from Earth until early next year, at which time observers will be able to refine its orbit to the precision needed to give it an official name.

The discovery of 2021 PH27 is reported in the Minor Planet Electronic Circular.

_____

S.S. Sheppard et al. 2021 PH27. MPEC 2021-Q41
E Commerce platforms are going to be essential for any business wanting to host an online store or transaction system. Shopify remains a staple and classic for many good reasons. It has a robust support system and historically has been used by many businesses for decades. But there are some other options that might work for different kinds of businesses. Let's hear from some business owners and their take on Shopify and other platforms.

Shopify remains one of the best ecommerce engines out there. It's extremely user friendly and the templates look really nice. However if you're already working with a web designer it might feel redundant to pay for another service. Consider exploring wordpress for website building as well. The more customization options you have the better in the long run. John Wu, Co-Founder Gryphon

When choosing an e-commerce company, the simpler and more transparent the better. One of the things people tend to dislike about Shopify is their paywalls. Their advanced services cost more than other services that offer similar features for fractions of the price. Jonathan Simpkin, CEO Swiftly

Shopify is great but Squarespace is a definite favorite among businesses as well. Squarespace is great if you are looking for a quick solution for your website. It's customizable features and templates are extremely easy to use and make for a great browsing experience for your customers. Jim Beard, COO Box Genie

Wix is a great alternative to shopify and squarespace. With competitive pricing and features, you can add advanced features as you need them and build something that fits your needs. If you're building an informational website or setting up an online store as well, Wix is a great alternative option. Jeff Meeks, VP of Sales and Marketing Energy Fit

The downside of Squarespace and similar services is that they don't perform well SEO-wise. Try BigCommerce for a website builder with an easy user interface, high performing SEO and great templates. BigCommerce is not only a great alternative to shopify but in some ways might be a step up. James Sun, Founder Beauty Tap

Squarespace is the easiest service to use in a pinch. Especially for small businesses run by a small team needing a simple website. You can have your store up and running within a few days and not only will it look great but it will be easy for clients to use. Joe Thomas, CEO Loom

The benefit of using Shopify or another service that's been around is that it has a built in support network of clients, plus the benefit of being a sustained business in the industry. You definitely run a risk choosing a newer service, but often those risks will be beneficial in the long run. Shopify is a totally viable option, but there are a lot of new and exciting website building services out there to explore. Mike Pasley, Founder Allegiant Goods Co.

Square online is great because of it's easy transaction integration. They're known for their point of sale systems, but recently have launched a website building platform that's really easy to use and offers a free option. No other platform offers a free shop service, so that's a great tool for businesses on a budget. Lucas Nudel, Founder & CEO Pride Palace

There are tons of open source options for those that know how to code. Magneto is one and Square Online allows you to customize your code. Wordpress still remains a great website building tool, but it can be helpful to have another service to deal with your transactions and sales. Katie Kiernan, Co-Founder Nue Life

The downside of working with Shopify is their transaction fees and tiered service pricing. You can always upgrade for more features, but the extra cost can be frustrating when there are other services out there offering much cheaper options. Hector Gutierrez, CEO JOI

Shopify and Squarespace are great for people who don't want to code. It's so easy to set up a slick, clean website and host sales. The only downside is that most services charge a transaction fee, but if that 's something you can work into your overhead costs it's completely worth it to take the pressure off of building your website. Dylan Trussell, CMO Culprit Underwear

Wix is ideal for someone just starting out who would appreciate a simpler interface, and it can still stand right with Shopify in a number of other areas as well. However, for larger eCommerce sites who want more options, such as themes or features, Shopify will almost always be seen as the more professional choice. Marc Atiyeh, CEO Pawp

If your website and store are fairly small, Shopify is probably a pretty good option for your business. Larger websites will perform better with a service that supports better SEO, but you can still rank fairly high as a small business with a Shopify website. That all depends on your marketing strategy and who you are working with to help grow your business. Lori Price, Co-Founder Pixie Lane

A great new option for hosting an online store is Shift4Shop. They are a cloud based service and offer tons of flexible pricing and great features. As always is the risk with newer and less sought after services, their support isn't as robust as it is with a bigger company like Shopify. Michael Jankie Of Natural Patch
Sustainable Economic Growth of China Creates Opportunities for the Whole World

by Li Guangjun

According to Chinas National Bureau of Statistics, the gross domestic product (GDP) of China in the first half of 2021 reached53,216.7 billion yuan, upby 12.7%over the same period of last year. While facing challenges both at home and abroad, Chinas economy has been on a steady recovery path with increased production and demand, stable employment rate and prices, fast-developingdriving forces, enhanced quality and efficiency, improved market expectations. All the major macro-economic indicators are demonstrating the steady and sound growth of Chinaseconomy.

Chinas economic development features as follows: First, the economic recovery continueswith growth.The year-on-year GDP growth for the first quarter was 18.3%, with an average two-year growth of 5.0%; for the second quarter 7.9%, with an average two-year growth of 5.5%. Second, theeconomic structure is further adjusted and optimized.The role of industries andmarket consumption were strengthened in drivingeconomic growth; investment grew rapidlyin areas needing capital; and urban-rural income gap was narrowed. Third, economic growth driven by innovation has increased continuously. New market entities, industries and products developed rapidly withnew business forms and new models growingeven stronger. Fourth, both quality and efficiency have been improved.Theprofits of businessesand fiscal revenues of governments continued to increase, with a risingcapacity utilization rate. Fifth, peoples livelihood continuesto improve. The employment rate was generally stable (surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas was 5.2%); the level of consumer price rose mildly (up by 0.5% year-on-year); and the growth of resident incomeis aligned withnationaleconomic growth (nationwide per capita disposable income of residents increased by 12% year-on-year).

The Chinese economy is not a pond, but an ocean. Despite the severe adverse impact of COVID-19 on the global economy, Chinas economy is growing steadily.The optimized and upgraded economy shows extraordinary resilience to pressure. By promoting the freeflow of production factors across borders, China contributessignificantly to the stabilization and repair of the global supply chain, bringing hope to the bleak world economic outlook. Meanwhile, in order to promote high-quality development, the Chinese government has adopted a series of regulatory measures, such as improving the regulatory system for overseas listing of enterprises, strengthening regulations on tech companies, and easing burdens on families in terms of childbearing, childcare and educationetc.. However, these actionshave caused some unnecessary doubts and misjudgments about Chinas opening-up and economic prospects. As a matter offact, these measuresfocus oncorporate behaviors that are violating laws andregulations, disrupting normal economic order, underminingthe interests of people and national security, rather than to containor suppress certainindustries. Instead, the objectiveis to promote the healthy development of these industries, while protecting data security and peoples livelihood. What needs to be emphasized is that Chinas economic development policy has not changed. China will unswervingly advance the fundamental national policy of reform and opening-up, and promote high-quality development of Belt and Road cooperation.

The world is confident in Chinas economic prospects. The World BankGroup, in its latest report, raised the forecast of Chinas economic growth this year from 8.1% to 8.5% and predicted that Chinas contribution to world economic growth would exceed 25%. The International Monetary Fund raised its forecastfrom 8.1% to 8.4%. Moodys Investors Service believes that Chinas economic rebound has strengthened and become more broad-based since the beginning of this year. S&P predicted that Chinas economic growth would reach 8.3% this year. Robert Merton, the Nobel Prize winner in economics, has publicly stated that he remains optimistic about the future growth of Chinas economy and believes that after the Pandemic, Chinas economic development will become healthier in the future.

In the globalized economy, the developments of countries are closely entwined, and no one cangrow in solitude. The Pandemic has caused severe impact and far-reaching influence on the world economy, but global openness and cooperation remain the historical mainstreamand will be even more needed in the post-pandemic era. As the worlds second largest economy, largest FDI recipient, second largest consumer market, largest exporter and second largest importer, China will open its door wider to the outside world; the market opportunities it offers will be more significant; and its connection with the global economy will be even closer. The steady improvement of Chinas economy will continue to provide strong impetus for the world economy to return to normal, regain confidence, and resume growth, and offer new development opportunities for other countries, especially the developing ones.

China and Sri Lanka are good neighbors helping out each other, good friends treating eachother with respect and trust, and good partners in mutually beneficial cooperation. In recent years, bilateral cooperation under the Belt and RoadInitiative has achieved fruitful results, and the two countries friendship has been further strengthened in ourjoint fight against the Pandemic.To help Sri Lanka tide over difficulties, the Chinese financial institution provided Sri Lanka with credit lines of USD 1billion and RMB 2 billion, and China coordinated with AIIB to provide USD 180 million loan as COVID-19 emergency and crisis response facility, which have boosted the confidence ofinternational investors. It is particularly worth mentioning that despite the Pandemic, our bilateral trade reached USD 2.79 billion in the first half of 2021, upby 61% compared to last year, of which Sri Lankas exports to China account for USD 276 million, increased by 103.8%. Meanwhile, major breakthroughs have been made in important cooperation projects including Hambantota Port and Colombo Port City, which have attracted large amount of international investment, and played an important role in revitalizing Sri Lankas economy and improving peoples livelihood, breaking new ground for attracting FDI and enhancing Sri Lankas international competitiveness in the post-pandemic era. China is willing, as always, to welcome Sri Lanka to board its fast train of development, share its development experience, and provide the best possible support for Sri Lankas economic and social development, so that the results of our bilateral cooperation could benefit more people in both countries.

The writer, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka
Global Tamil Forum is deeply saddened by the passing of former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera

Following statement issued by Global Tamil Forum

The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) is deeply saddened by the passing of the former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. We closely followed Mangalas health condition and were hoping for his speedy recovery. Alas, Mangala too has become a victim of COVID-19 which is wreaking havoc in the country.

Mangala hails from an illustrious political family from Matara and carried on with their proud tradition throughout his political career. He was a pragmatic politician who could act as the situation demanded. But, when it came to ethnic relations and reconciliation among all communities, Mangala was unique, and he never wavered on his principles. He always found time and space to give his support to the causes of the marginalised communities.

GTF has maintained a special relationship with Mangala over several years and it is people like him that has rekindled our hope that Sri Lanka can be turned around to be a decent, progressive, and pluralist society.

We are aware that Mangala has been intensely disappointed at the recent turn of events in Sri Lanka and even then, without becoming despondent or turning away, he embarked on a new mission to bring together progressive youth from all across Sri Lanka and was hopeful for a better future for his beloved country.

We are certain that Mangalas passing will be devastating to all progressive sections in Sri Lanka and no doubt the sentiments will be the same among the Tamil people  in Sri Lanka and in the Diaspora.

Perhaps this is the legacy of Mangala Samaraweera  a legacy no sitting politician in Sri Lanka will be able to match. A legacy Mangala would be proud of.
Historically productive mass community relationship with the king was quite consciously cut off by the Brahmin priest and the Prime Minister during the monarchical phase. The Shudra kings could not do anything to weaken the power of the Brahmin.

by Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd

But for the accidental reading of Shahu Maharajs letter to the retired Governor of Bombay presidency, Lord Sydenham, written in 1918, I would not have thought of writing this essay. In my life time experience of writing about the Brahmin-Bania power in contemporary times at the expense of life threats and cases in various levels of courts the Dwija pundits tried to dismiss my arguments about the Brahmin-Bania power over the society and state in post-independence times and in the pastmedieval and ancient times. Many Brahmin-Bania liberal intellectuals keep arguing that when so many Shudra kings ruled the Indian states in ancient, medieval times how could Brahmin-Banias control the system. For a long time, they also dismissed Babasaheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Jyotirao Phules arguments about the control of Brahmins on the state and society on the same ground. But Shahus lengthy letter in his own words, reproduced in this essay, as a king of a very important Princely State that existed till 1947, as a descendant state of great king Chatrapati Shivaji provides an indisputable testimony, how the Shudra kings suffered under the spiritual and intellectual yoke of Brahmins. This control of Brahmin priestly forces who turned, apart from being head priests in every kingdom, the Prime Ministers of all Shudra monarchical states and other bureaucratic networks from the days of Kautilya, the author of Arthashastra a book of dangerous statecraft shows the real mirror image of Indian history.

This essay looks at the history of Shudra kings and their fear of Brahmins from the days of Chandragupta Mauryas kingdom, in the light of Shahu Maharajs letter.

Kautilyas Arthashastra stipulates that the state has to maintain the caste system in the following order:

As the triple Vedas definitely determine the respective duties of the four castes and of the four orders of religious life, they are the most useful.

The duty of the Brahman is study, teaching, performance of sacrifice, officiating in others sacrificial performance and the giving and receiving of gifts.

That of a Kshatriya is study, performance of sacrifice, giving gifts, military occupation, and protection of life.

That of a Vaisya is study, performance of sacrifice, giving gifts, agriculture, cattle breeding, and trade.

That of a Sudra is the serving of twice-born (dwijati), agriculture, cattle-breeding, and trade (varta), the profession of artisans and court-bards (karukusilavakarma)[1]

This people (loka) consisting of four castes and four orders of religious life, when governed by the king with his sceptre, will keep to their respective paths, ever devotedly adhering to their respective duties and occupations.

He further says the observance of ones own duty leads one to Svarga and infinite bliss (Anantya). When it is violated, the world will come to an end owing to confusion of castes and duties. Hence the king shall never allow people to swerve from their duties; for whoever upholds his own duty, ever adhering to the customs of the Aryas, and following the rules of caste and divisions of religious life, will surely be happy both here and hereafter. For the world, when maintained in accordance with injunctions of the triple Vedas, will surely progress, but never perish.[2]

Having stipulated strict caste duties and condemning the Shudras to serve Brahmin, Ksatriya and Vaisyas by investing their labour power forever Kautilya makes a false spiritual promise of granting moksha/heaven to the Shudras. This kind of false written word was also believed by the Shudra masses that if they do not practice caste order they would also be punished by Brahmin Gods both in this life and hereafter. Nowhere in the world religious book writers played such a satanic mischief on the life of innocent productive masses, who were illiterate and ignorant. By using Vedas as divine books both Kautilya and Manu created a barbaric civil society and State. The subsequent Brahmins practiced the spiritual and political ideology formulated in those books. No book of divine source would divide people into such inhuman categories and create fear generated by the combined institution of religion and State and also promise heaven if they remain slaves. No slave in the world other than in India would believe this kind of barbaric book knowledge as God-given. The Shudras and Dalits of India followed this so-called divine sanction for millennia.

Shudra Kings under spell

The Shudra kings of India from ancient days, particularly from the times of Chandragupta Maurya to the present came under the mystic spiritual spell of Brahmin writers. Though they knew that the war strategies and the abilities to fight nature and produce food were with Shudra masses they surrendered the written word to the Brahmin and internalized a psychology of enormous fear and slavishness. The fear of God was attached to a human person, a Brahmin, and the food producers believed that he has all the powers that God is said to have. While the idea of God evolved in the process of human transformation from one state of life to the other, hunter-fisher to animal domesticater to agrarian producer, the Brahmin superimposed himself as Bhoodeva with an uncommon mystic wisdom on them. This distorted the very nature of religion in India. Kautilya projected this Brahmin divine power onto the state as far back as the 3rd century BCE.

Kautilya forecloses any transcendentality of castes into one another in administering the state institutions. Even the occupational change was also arrested. To maintain caste hierarchy, the state was made to be violent and ruthless. He established a complete control over the state resources in the interest of the Brahmin, Kshatriya and Bania forces by totally disarming the Shudra/Dalits who were the main productive force all through the Indian history after this book was written. By various estimations by scholars we now come to know that Manus Dharmashastra belongs to much later periodicity than that of Arthashastra from Mauryan dynasty of the 3rd century BCE. The Brahmin power on the state structure got tightened from then on. The animal economists and agriculturalists broadly known as Shudras from the days of building of Harappan civilization were pushed to the status of slaves once the Vedic civilization was established as Aryan divinely ordained and the Arthashastra pushed that system into the state structure with a full force of fear of God and also violence of the state.

Even in the case of Shudra kings, they were forced to suppress their own brothers and sisters, who were toiling in the productive fields. Kautilya gave full freedom and leisure time to Brahmins by living a good life while constantly receiving gifts from the state and Shudras at will. The duties that he assigned to the Shudras, Vaisyas and Ksatriyas that they have to give gifts of wealth to the Brahmin as a duty shows the Brahmins were completely made free from labour and production process.

The so-called mental labour they were assigned was very negative. If the Shudras did not give wealth in the form of a gift he said the state has to punish them. The Shudras had to pay taxes to the state for its maintenance and also provide for the labour free good life of the entire population of Brahmins. The Brahmin is only receiver but never a giver at any time in Indian history. This idea Bhoodeva is opposite of the universal God who gives the humans life, wealth and the knowledge to produce food from the earth and a human family life. Both the Brahmin God and also the Brahmin himself are opposite of this universal spiritual ethics and morals. Once the Shudra kings were made to accept it they lived against themselves, framed laws against their own people.

Constitution vs Manudharma

In this background of Brahmin written word and its mystic power in the past it is important to understand the present ruling Hindutva forces projecting only Vedic and Post Vedic books written by Brahmins like Arthashastra and Manu Dharma Shastra and also Vastyananas Kamasutra as the source of Indian civilization. They are trying to re-establish the Arthasatric state and Manu Dharmic civil society even in the 21 century. Not many Shudras understand this historical process that they are part of. As we have shown in The ShudrasVision for New Path, Hedgewar the founder of Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) praises Manus laws as greater laws than the laws written by Lycurgus and Solon and says To constitutional pundits that (Manus laws) means nothing (Introduction XXV) He had no respect for the constitution that Ambedkar has instituted which made an Other Backward Class (OBC) Narendra Modi ( a man of their own party) the Prime Minister of the nation in 2014. As he was still the Prime Minister Ram Madhav an RSS young leader in his book Because India Comes FirstReflections on Nationalism, Identity and Culture (2020) in the very introduction says Through its living history of over five millennia, India has offered invaluable gems of wisdom enriching all of mankindThis widom proclaimed in Manusmriti, one of the oldest constitutions of India. He further quotes a Sanskrit sloka from the Manusmriti to say  Men all over the world would come to beseech lessons in character through the lives of the great men born in this country.[3] According to him Manu was the greatest wise man of India from whom great men of the world should learn how to institutionalize, perhaps, caste and untouchability. He knows pretty well that Ambedkar burnt this great constitution, treating it as the most barbaric book that does not deserve to be positively talked about. This middle aged RSS Brahmin leader from Andhra Pradesh, knows that the Shudras and Dalits all over the country treat Manuwadis as anti-national as this book made them perpetually slaves. The BJPs own Prime Minister Modi never takes the name of Manu, rather he takes the name of Gautham Buddha on international platforms, but Ram Madhav tells the Shudras/Dalits/Adivasis working in both RSS/BJP, leave alone outside their fold, that they should follow only the Manusmriti that Ambedkar burnt but not the Ambedkars constitution which gives them equal rights with Brahmins, at least in the state institutions. In the Hindu spiritual system still Brahmins control everything. Even the RSS Shudras/Dalits/Adivasis cannot become priests in the Hindu temples even now. This is where the Shudras/Dalits and Adivasis working in the Sangh Parivar must realize even in the 21 century the Brahmin leaders of RSS from Hedgewar to Ram Madhav worship only Kautilya and Manu, certainly not Ambedkar who wrote a constituted that liberated them in the political and legal domain.

Orthodox versus secular Brahmins

The Hindutva Brahmins quite openly own Kautilya and Manu but the secular, liberal and left Brahmins by and large remain silent about them. They pretend as if the ancient thought of Brahmins does not matter. In the literary sources there is no left-liberal and secular critique of these authors written in a manner that we could use to counter the Hindutva Brahmins. The silence of left-liberal Brahmins must be treated, for all practical purposes, as agreement with the Hindu Brahmins and hence the Shudra/Dalit/Adivasis must suspect their liberalism, secularism and socialism. There is however, a fundamental problem with the Shudraness and Brahminness which I will examine at the end of this essay.

In the latter half of the last century, many leaders from Shudra castes have become the Chief Ministers in different states and also ministers of different State as well as Central Governments. For them a question lies unanswered: for how long in Indian history the Shudra kings were made the slaves of the mystical powers of the Brahmin books? By their calculated silences, RSS wants that mystic power of the Brahmin should remain unchecked. The RSS Brahmin leaders know enough now to let go of the Manu and Kautilya who gave them enormous power in the political domain.

The Tyranny in Arthashastra

The Arthashastra does not talk of Chandal and Adivasi as separate categories. As per the Kautilyan classification, the Dalits and Adivasis are part of the Shudra category. In his socio-legal formulation all agrarian and artisanal masses are Shudras. But at the same time they all are fragmented based on their occupations and Kautilya asks the state not to allow them to move out of each ones occupation and caste boundaries. This kind of long enforcement of caste-occupational rules by the Brahminic state power by all the rulers the Shudra masses who constitute about more than 52 per cent population of modern India believe that they must surrender to Brahmin authority, spiritually and socially, even now. It does not matter what their economic and political status in modern India is. They treat Brahmin as Bhoodevata. Such a mental surrender does not allow their intellectual, philosophical and spiritual energies to evolve even now. The Shudra and Namasudra submission to Bengal Brahmins and Kayasthas, whatever their ideology, left or liberal or Hindutva is a strong case in point.

Though there has been a lot of discussion about Manus role, through his socio-legal text Dharmashastra or Manusmriti in controlling the productive Shudra/Dalit/Adivasi masses with an iron grip of brahminism there is not much discussion around Kautilyas Arthashatra in terms of its role in controlling the state institutions by the brahminic ideological apparatus in terms of human management by the hierarchical Varna system. In his very serious critique of the Hindu Social Order, B.R.Ambedkar, examined numerous key texts of Brahmanism except that of Arthashastra. But this is the text that strategized their perennial control over the state structure of India. They got far higher control on the state institutions even in our times because of the Kautilyan varna classification acted as the normative principle that guided the state. The so called secular and liberal Dwija scholars tried to hide this aspect of the Indian state as this was providing them enormous scope to control in the post-Independent state institutions and also the civil society.

Many get misled with the title of the book Arthashasatra thinking that it is about science of economics. It actually is a book that gives hegemonic control to brahminism in every field of the state activity. Thus, it weakened the potential of the productive forcesthe Shudra and Dalits in a long history of India. It was also meant to suppress all tribal transformation processes into normal civil society with an iron hand.

The mischief in Kamasutra

The third book that another ancient Brahmin author Vastayana wrote  Kamasutra  was meant to control the Shudra/Dalit massesparticularly women. He has converted Shudra/Dalit/Adivasi women into sexual objects without giving them motherhood agency too.

On the contrary Wendy Doniger, a well-known American Sanskrit scholar writes The Kamasutra is almost unique in classical Sanskrit literature in its near total disregard of class (varna) and caste (jati). Of course, power relations of many kinds  gender, wealth, political position, as well as caste  are implicit throughout the text. But wealth is what counts most.[4] But that is not true if we look at that social distinctions mentioned while discussing sexuality. It is primarily a book for anti-production leisure Brahmin Kshatriya ruling class and Bania business men

Kamasutra stipulates that the Brahmin women should be wives of only Brahmin men but the Shudra/Dalit women should work as Granikas (sex workers) for nagarikas (the urbanite Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya leisure-centered male citizens)

No Shudra king in such a long history could dare to oppose the Brahminical hegemony. Neither he was ingenious enough to record or authorize the history of the spiritual system of the productive masses that existed outside the brahmanical fold. Nor did they establish schools for the Shudra children and commissioned writers to write books of their own, history, culture and civilization. The Shudras and Dwijas were not living like one national people but of two different cultural and civilizational entities. Even the kings were made to obey the Brahmins unquestioningly as they themselves treated the Brahmin as god  Bhoodeva. Even the kings were living like socio-spiritual slaves without any rights to read and write books. After getting the Kshatriya status some could learn reading and writing but they too were forced to isolate themselves from the productive masses by injecting fear of the Brahmin controlled Gods. The Shudra kings never realized that their own ancestors had their gods/goddesses different from the god images that the brahmins constructed in their books. The gods in their books were mainly their own war heroes. The Shudra gods/goddesses were evolved mostly from the Shudra production and science and development (See Why I am Not a Hindu, Our Gods and Goddesses and their Gods and Goddesses) processes. But the Shudra kings and rulers even of our times are forced to believe only the Brahmin Gods. Brahmins went on telling the kings that they themselves would curse the king if he does not obey them or their god will punish him if they do not obey the Brahmin. This whole spiritual ideology was a myth constructed to acquire wealth and power without getting involved in agrarian or artisanal production.

Shudras as human beings like any other human beings on the earth should have doubted this spiritual theory though it was being propagated both in oral and book form. The Shudra kings were also made to fear books that the Brahmins wrote as if they were gods words and truth. When Brahmins told them they should not even touch their spiritual books the Shudras remained away from those books. Such a dictum is patently a historical fraud committed in the name of spiritual theory. Once the right to read was forbidden for the Shudra/Dalit/Adivasi masses, their fears of Brahmins and their Gods increased many fold.





Fortunately for us, Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj, the grandson of Chatrapati Shivaji, left evidence of the Brahmin grip in his state even though he was a revolutionary ruler with a vision of his own to change the caste hierarchy. He told the story of his own kingdom and the Brahmin hegemony and control in all spheres of the state. His full letter to the former Governor of the Bombay Province is given below to understand the role of Brahmins in that state. This is the only document available written by a king from the Shudra community with a commitment to their development.

Perhaps from the third century BCE onwards, ever since Kautilya became the Prime Minister of Chnandragupta Maurya the kings who came from the Shudra varna were virtually under the control of Brahmin PM and also the head priest. The situation did not change much both even after the Muslim rule and also that of the British. It is a known historical fact that the Shudra agrarian and artisanal communities never rebelled against the varna dharma order that Vedas, Arthashastra and Manudharma Shastra ordained through written codes. Until the British came and opened school education for the Shudras they had no right to educate themselves and write what their point of view was. The Shudra masses could never organize themselves cutting across the internal caste-occupation divisions. The growth and transformation of the food producers who were the main source of the national wealth production was stalled by the written knowledge of Brahmins rather than help them advance.

Even the stone pillars or epigraphic evidence that come from the Shudra kingdoms also were written by Brahmins. Except Ashoka, no other king could reject the Brahmin authority. King Ashoka did that only after he became Buddhist. Quite ironically after Ashokas ancient Buddhist revolution and his pursuit of a welfare administration again the Brahmin counter revolution took place with Pushyamitra Shunga capturing power. Since then Kautilyas Arthashastra and Manus Dharmashastra were systematically used to suppress Shudras in all fields of life. From that period to Muslim rulers all the kings ran the state apparatus with Brahmins as the real drivers of administration.

I have examined in detail the fundamental difference between the Buddhist political and social thought and the Brahmin thought in my book God As Political PhilosopherBuddhas Challenge to Brahminism (2000). After Buddhism became a major religion it influenced the kings who ruled India till Kautilya wrote Arthashastra. In its core, Arthashastra changed the State structure in favour of the Brahmin ministers and priests whoever was the king. From Magadha rule to Nanda rule i.e. till the 3rd century the Brahmin authority was not allowed to direct the state structure. Kautilya systematically planned to overthrow the Nanda dynasty and established the Mauryan Chandragupta rule, which was Shudra, under his control. Thereafter the Brahmin authority was established over the kings, as himself became the Prime Minister and head priest. That authority and power continued into the post-colonial period as well.

It was a surprise to those of us who were born and brought up in Hyderabad in Nizams state, how the Brahmin authority over the civil society continued to play a critical controlling role, in such a Muslim state. Though more than 300 years Muslim rule existed here once the Nizam rule ended in Hyderabad state in 1948, a Brahmin, Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, became the first Chief Minister and the Brahmin control over the Telangana state and also united Andhra Pradesh existed with iron grip for several years later. The reason was very clear during the Satavahana (the Kummarispot makers even today claim that Satavahanas belong to their community, which is of lower Shudra order) rule and later Kakatiya (from 13th Century AD onwards), rule the Brahmin bureaucratic and priestly power continued unabated. Kakatiyas were Shudras, with several Shudra castes claiming their community heritage.

The Kakatiya stone edicts were written by Brahmins by making fourfold varna order a strict rule. ( There is a strong claim that Kakatiyas were Kammas and also Mudirajas in their organizational writings).

Even the kings who were ruling small princely states during the British colonial rule could not reject the Brahmin authority over what is now known as the Hindu system. The Shudra kings who fought brave battles with enemies were also dead scared of the Brahmin spiritual power. All the Shudra warriors who won wars and became the kings were forced to take the Kshatriya status without which they said gods would punish them. Once they were declared Kshatriya they were told to remain away from the Shudra masses and follow only what the Brahmin priest tells and run the state according to the Brahmin Prime Ministers directions.

In the religious domain the Brahmin head priest was guiding the king. The priests were regularly taking gifts from the king. In many cases they got a huge amount of cultivable land as the temple Agrahara land. This land over a period of time was made the private property of the priest family. Again this land was also cultivated with the free labour of Shudra masses. The priests and the ministers made the kings to build massive temples for the Brahmin gods with the state money in accordance with Agamashastras and the priesthood rights were taken in the name of families around that area.





In West Bengal the famous Shudra woman queen Rani Rashmoni built a Dakshineshwar Kali temple on the riverbed of Ganga at Hooghly in the 19th century. She bought 33 acres of land around the temple. But the Bengal Brahmins did not allow the queen to inaugurate the temple from her position as queen. They forced her to write off the whole land and the temple to a Brahmin to make it functional. She wrote off that land and the temple to Ramakrishana Paramhamsas elder father Ramkumar Chattopadhyay and Paramhamsa inherited that land and the temple and his spiritual image was built from that temple and its property. Gradually they displaced the queens history itself. Amitanghush Acharya in his article in The Hindu says As upper caste (Brahmin and Kayastha) Rajaram Mohan Roy, Easwar Chandra Vidhyasagar, Ramakrishna Paramhamsa and Vivekananda gained prominence Rani Rashmoni was one of the most influential icons of the 19th century was relegated to the margins of history[5]

Thus Kautilyas book gave, in addition to such power to Brahmins, free lands, free labour and exclusive rights for education which continue being the most important property of that caste and it was given both by state and the civil society. Their power was acquired from books--Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Arthashastra and Manusrimiti. They would not have retained such vast powers with physical strength or through any other method, except for the mystic power of written word. With all that power and property the Brahmins entered the free India after 1947 with a clever shift from Sanskrit to English as their private educational language. Under the leadership of Pandit (a Brahmin with Kashmiri roots) Jawaharlal Nehru the Brahmins mostly educated in England captured the state and civil societal institutions and the Brahmins who could not go to England for English education remained here either studied in locally available English medium schools or in Sanskrit Gurukulas and became officers and priests in the temples. They defined all Shudra/Dalit/Adivasis as Hindu for keeping their political hegemony in a democratic polity without giving them the basic spiritual rights. The entire Shudra/Dalit/Adivasi forces were forced to remain either illiterate or regional language literates.

Historically productive mass community relationship with the king was quite consciously cut off by the Brahmin priest and the Prime Minister during the monarchical phase. The Shudra kings could not do anything to weaken the power of the Brahmin. The issue of graded inequality and caste based human untouchability could have been gradually abolished if only the Shudra kings were to rebel against the Brahmin spiritual, social and political power. But that power was so deeply entrenched even the kings were terribly scared to oppose the Brahmin because of the spiritual hold over the idea of God. The Shudrasboth rulers and massesdid not realize that they had a spiritual tradition of their own, independent of the Brahmin tradition but that had no recorded book version and with a systematically trained priesthood with a written book to read. But that was so because the Brahmins refused to educate them in their gurukulas and did not allow the Shudra kings to open parallel schools. The Shudra kings also naively believed that if they open parallel schools the Brahmins and their gods would curse them. There are many examples where great warrior Shudra kings surrendered to the Brahmin power of spiritual letter and mantra.





Famous Chatrapati Shivaji of the present Maharashtra region was made to surrender to the Brahmin power and was made to take Kshatriyahood under the leadership of Brahmin priests. When the local Brahmins refused to coronate him as he came from an ordinary Maratha family he was desperate to get coronated by the Brahmins. He imported a group of Brahmin priests from Kashi and got himself crowned and surrendered to their spiritual authority. Even such a brave man could not think of training Shudra priests and keeping the religion under the Shudra control. A man who fought Mughal rulers could not oppose the Brahmins who controlled the domain of mystic power. In fact, such a mystic power which was not open for all human beings could not be defined as religion. But the same Brahmin and Bania intellectuals defined Hinduism as a inclusive religion like other religions in the world where caste kind of system was not accepted. The Shudra kings treated a Brahmin as god and whatever he asked was gifted as the Kautilya stipulated in Arthashastra.

Take for example the Baroda king, Sayajirao Gaekwad, who sent Ambedkar to America for higher education. He was a Shudra king. He was a visionary enough to send a brilliant Dalit student for his higher education to America. In fact, the scholarship given to Ambedkar came with the obligation of working for the State of Baroda after he finished his education abroad. Despite this, the Brahmin intervention came at a stage when Ambedkar was to work in Barodas administration. Brahmins, even as late as the twentieth century, could not come to terms with the fact that a Dalit man has become a superior/colleague of them. The fact that Ambedkar studied in Columbia and London School of Economics mattered little for them. So the priestly caste forced the king to send him away, as it was not agreeable for them to provide him a house for Ambedkar within the city. Within four days, in 1917, Ambedkar had to leave the job and go away to Bombay. That was the power of Brahmins in the kingdom of a Shudra king who was sympathetic to the education of the exploited castesincluding Dalits.[6]

However, for the first time as I said earlier Shivajis grandson tells the story of their control in a letter that he wrote to a top British official. Once such a gimmick was done by injecting enormous fear into their kingdom itself, then Brahmins were able to control every other aspect of the civil society and state life in his kingdom also. After the king becomes a Kshatriya a Brahmin becomes the PM of the state and another Brahmin becomes the head priest and spiritually controls the day to day belief systems of the king and his family.

Even when the Muslim empires controlled the whole nation there were Shudra local rulers and they depended on the same from Brahmin, Kayastha or Khatri knowledge of Persian language. The Muslim rulers were also dependent on the Brahmin forces for the simple reason that if they were not happy they would instigate the Shudra masses against the state. Hardly any Shudras learnt Persian during the Muslim period of Indian history. Maybe because of the fear of learning letters that the brahminism injected into their psyche, they remained away from Persian education also. There is no historical evidence that the Muslim rulers started Persian schools to teach the Shudras in the villages who were main tillers of the land, builders of artisanal and animal economy.

But for the accidental reading of Shahu Maharajs letter to the retired Governor of Bombay presidency written in 1918, I would not have thought of writing this essay. In my life time experience of writing about the Brahmin-Bania power in contemporary times at the expense of life threats and cases in various levels of courtsfrom a Sessions court at Korutla, Hyderabad, and the High Court of Telangana and the Supreme Court of Indiathe Dwija pundits tried to dismiss my arguments about the Brahmin-Bania power over the society and state in post-independence times and in the pastmedieval and ancient times. Many Brahmin liberal intellectuals keep arguing that when so many Shudra kings ruled the Indian states in ancient, medieval and contemporary times how could Brahmin-Banias control the system. For a long time, they also dismissed Babasaheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Phules arguments about the control of Brahmins on the state and society on the same ground. But Shahus lengthy letter in his own words as a king of a very important Princely State that existed till 1947 as descendant state of great king Chatrapati Shivaji provides an indisputable testimony of how the Shudra kings suffered under the spiritual and intellectual yoke of Brahmins.

It is true that from Chandragupta Maurya to the princely states during the colonial times and also the present Chief Ministers of many states were Shudras. Yet, they could never control the spiritual power in India. Not only that, their political power was heavily circumscribed by Brahmin bureaucrats and priests. The kings and the Chief Ministers were virtual slaves of the varna spiritual control that the Brahmins imposed and that grip remains very strong as the Hindu spiritual system is not democratized.

Why were they so afraid of the Brahmin population which was so small without directly controlling the armed strength? Very rarely they were in the army. They had no role in food production and improvement of its technology from time to time. They in fact hated productive work in the fields as work of pollution. Yet their control on the Shudra masses and rulers was unbridled. As I said earlier their spiritual power came from their written word. They spread all over India with the common Brahmin languageSanskritand the Shudra masses were forced to live in disconnected regions without a common language. Not that they did not learn the local languages. They learnt and also gradually Sanskritized them. Today all the regional languages which were developed by the productive masses over a period of centuries got Sanskritized by varying degrees . Because these languages were brought into written text the Brahmin writers jumped into the task to inject Sanskrit vocabulary into all regional languages. At the same time, they saw to it that the Shudra/Dalit masses do not learn Sanskrit or Persian during the Muslim rule and English during the British rule. Mahatma Phule and Ambedkars lives show how difficult it is for them to learn Sanskrit or English. Ambedkar had to learn Sanskrit in Germany.

Even the children of Shudra kings did not become well educated in Sanskrit, Persian or in English by the time India achieved freedom. Only the Dwijas whom Brahminsparticularly Kautilya and Manu historically given the status of three upper varnas which need not do the agrarian production or practice animal husbandry became most educated by 1947. Mahatma Gandhi, a Bania from Gujarat who was a son of the Prime Minister of a small princely state and Nehru a Brahmin a Brahmin with Kashmiri roots became the main pillars of independent India. No Shudra king could get English education like these two leaders. Sardar Vallabai Patel a peasant Shudra and Ambedkar a Dalit competed with them with foreign degrees but they were not allowed to run the real system. Ambedkar became a Buddhist and died and Patel died as an equal Shudra.

However, to understand the role of Brahmins in the states where Shudra kings were ruling during the British colonialism it is important to carefully read the full text of the memorandum that king Shahu Maharaj (18741922) wrote to Sydenham the former Governor of Bombay province. what follows is the only written record that a Shudra king left for understanding the cunning role of Brahmin intellectuals in the whole of Indian history and it speaks volumes:

SHAHU Maharaj TO SYDENHAM FORMER GOVERNOR OF BOMBAY ABOUT BRAHMIN CONTROL OF THE SATE AND SOCIETY

Kolhapur

September 1918

My Dear Lord Sydenham,

I have to thank Your Lordship for championing the cause of the dumb millions of India. Your close acquaintance with India and especially with Bombay, which is the political storm-centre of the country, has enabled Your Lordship to gauge the situation correctly and to see the fallacy of applying the Western principles of equality to the priest-ridden and caste-divided illiterate millions of India. The Deccan has been for centuries groaning under the tyranny of the Brahmin priest, who has seized supremacy in every way in religious as well as secular matters, politics, commerce, education, banking, etc and so on. The masses of the country are not, therefore, free agents and unless special precautions are taken to safeguard their interests they are sure to fall an easy prey to the tyranny of their Brahmin masters. Communal representation is the only way for safeguarding their interest in the Provincial and Imperial Councils. I may state some of the reasons why the Marathas (a caste to which king Shahu himself belonged to. This community is now demanding for reservation in education and employment both at Delhi and in their own state Maharashtraitalics and emphasis are mine) are greatly in need of it:

FIRSTLY. Although the British are the rulers of the country, the real power rests with the Brahmin officers who pervade every rank of the service from the meanest clerk and the village accountant, the Kulkarni, to the highest offices and predominate even in the Councils. The other communities have to submit to this Brahmin bureaucracy and their tyranny is beyond description. The grievances of the non-Brahmin communities do not reach the British Officers and even when they go to them the Brahmin subordinate is a past master in the art of prejudicing his head against the complainant. Under such a bureaucratic rule of the Brahmins, the Marathas and other backward communities have no chance to send their representatives to the enlarged Councils. The non-Brahmins will have to vote in favour of Brahmin candidates whose caste-men know all the tricks of threatening, cajoling or inducing them. There is no remedy except communal representation, for a limited number of years at least. The elections for the Councils, Municipal and Local Boards are instances in which a Maratha very rarely succeeds.

SECONDLY. The Congress agitation forced the Government to enlarge the Councils under Morley-Minto-Scheme. The Congress has up to this time devoted its energies to further the cause of the Brahmin bureaucracy and the British Government has also unwittingly played into their hands. The Congress has closed its eyes to the needs of, and done nothing for, the submerged classes, and the aims of their leaders are to strive to keep down the masses to perpetuate the bureaucratic rule of their community. Tilaks organ, Kesari, is condemning free and compulsory primary education and the Maharaja of Darbhanga is opposing tooth and nail in the Council of Behar any scheme of popular education. This is one done with no other object but the preservation of the despotism of their community. And if, Government persists in refusing communal representation the result will be to flood the Councils with the Brahmins, whose ideal leaders are the two worthies who barefaced oppose the interests of communities other than their own. This is sure to degrade the position of the non-Brahmins more and more. Communal representation is, therefore, necessary to counteract all such tendencies.

THIRDLY. It might be urged that the Government will nominate members from the Maratha and other backward communities if they do not succeed in the general election. But I think that this expedient will not be very useful. Such a nominated member generally lacks the confidence which a successful fight at the poll gives. He is, moreover, most likely to play into the hands of those the poll gives. He is, moreover, most likely to play into the hands of the powerful priestly bureaucracy. He may not care for the interests of a community which does not elect him. Moreover, the very fact that he is a Government nominee takes away from him the value of advocacy, however disinterested it may be. The Brahmin bureaucrats are in the habit of accusing nominated members of being partisans and slaves of Government and thus try to lower such members in the popular esteem. An election through a limited communal electorate will create confidence in the Councillors who will be more and more self-reliant. And this the Brahmins do not want and hence their opposition to communal representation is due to this fear.





FOURTHLY. I may quote an instance to show how the Brahmin bureaucracy kills self-respect. One Mr Bagal, a Maratha LLB, was a Mamlatdar here and that time he was very enthusiastic in the cause of the masses and was against the Brahmin supremacy. But when he left service and commenced to practice at the courts, he found it expedient to change his angle of vision in order to curry favour with the Brahmin Judges and Magistrates and now he is noted Brahmanophil in public. He dares not give expression to his real feelings. Mr Latthe too, after commencing practice at the bar, has become altogether moderate in his attacks against the Brahmins. He was a zealous advocate of non-Brahmins.

Many a time I have found to my mortification and chagrin that orders against the interests of the Brahmin bureaucracy are intercepted or were so watered in the passage that they became useless. The reason was that the Brahmins were in possession of the records and they can quote precedents to support Brahmin claims and can suppress the precedents that will go against them.

Even high British officers and non-Brahmin States are powerless against the Brahmin bureaucracy. They dare not make any move lest the Brahmin press will raise a howl against them and they are afraid of the higher officers whose Brahmin assistants take precious care to have them prejudiced against innovation. This has come to such a pass that the British officer or State who dares to go against the Brahmins is looked upon as foolish or imprudent; for he forgets that he is standing on a very slippery ground. His Brahmin subordinates are to join with his enemies and bring him into trouble.

FIFTHLY. The principle that majorities have no need of separate representation does not hold good in a province where a selfish minority is likely to get the power, which is sure to be used to hold the majority in perpetual vassalage. The Maratha community is numerically very strong in the Central Division. But it is weak as the number of men of independent views is very small. It can of course boast of a very small number of legal practitioners. The few that now practise, realise that the whole weight of the Brahmin bureaucracy will be thrown against them if they resist and therefore young men are unwilling to begin practice at the bar. There is not, nor will there be, in my lifetime at least, a single Maratha leader in the whole of the Bombay Presidency. This shows the necessity of some special provision for the numerically strong Maratha community to secure an adequate representation of their grievances.

It is difficult to realise the tyranny to which the millions of Marathas are subjected. In the villages, as Your Lordship knows, the Kulkarni or the village accountant reigns supreme and none dare raise his voice against him. The village priest and the astrologer and their caste men are looked upon as Gods and the villagers have to feed them and pay them fees equally on joyful and sorrowful occasions. The secular and religious bondage is so very complete that the Maratha can hardly think for himself much less act for himself. But for the inborn loyalty of the Maratha, the wily Brahmin would have made a tool of him in his reasonable acts. It must be said to his credit that although the Maratha was never the recipient of any special favours at the hands of Government, he has ever remained loyal. To refuse communal representation to such a community who have been profusely shedding their blood on the fields of battle in the three continents in the cause of the empire is tantamount to consigning these faithful people to the tender mercies of their hitherto oppressors. The Councils will be flooded with Brahmins who will have a dominating voice in the affairs of the departments handed over to them. All these departments will be exploited to the advantage of the favoured community and to the prejudice of the real supporters of Government. The non-Brahmins will ultimately have to submit to Brahmin influences and sacrifice their loyalty.

I, for myself, have done my best to completely free my subjects from the tender mercies of the village Kulkarni, Bhat (ritual priest) and Joshi (hereditary village astrologer). The services of the first are commuted and are replaced by paid agencies mainly recruited from non-Brahmin ranks who were specially trained for the work in anticipation of the change. By a proclamation the rayats (farmers) are informed that they need not employ the village priest or the astrologer who will have no claims against them if they do not employ him. Thus liberty of conscience is given them. In the same way liberty of action is also given to them by abolishing the hereditary rights of the village artisans whose inefficient work was very dearly paid for, by a portion of the produce.





I have also cancelled the rules that pressed very heavily against the Mahars and Mangs and Ramoshis who were described as the criminal tribes. The restriction upon their movements resulted in preventing them from taking to trade and forced some of their members to take to dishonesty and violence. By the way I may mention that the Boarding Institute for the untouchable classes named after your beloved lamented daughter is quite flourishing. I am sending a photo of the building from which Your Lordship will see that its inmates do not despise manual labour as they were apt to do when they took to books.

Very few can realise the influence of the Brahmin bureaucracy as your Lordship does. Being very strong in every branch of the service, high or low, it has its way and means to keep other communities down, who have to submit to their ex-actions and dare not raise a protest even when flagrant injustice is done to them. A merchant of Kolhapur was cheated by a Brahmin leader. When asked to prosecute the latter, the former said that he had no chance of success as the judges were Brahmins, the Police were Brahmins, the clerks were Brahmins and that instead of getting any redress of injustice he would make himself a marked man and that he would have to bear the consequences of Brahmin revenge. Even when I asked him to prosecute the pleader he begged to be excused and refused to move in the matter. Similarly, one Mr Gandale, a Brahmin, preached in public that it was good for the untouchable classes to remain so, because a new mixed caste is seen springing up as a result of illegitimate connections between the two castes of Brahmins and Marathas, as the two castes are touchables. I tried to bring Mr Gandale to court for making such defamatory statements but no one dared take up the prosecution. This fear of the Brahmin bureaucracy is not entertained by the merchants or such other people alone but it haunts even Princes. I crave your Lordships indulgence for a little piece of personal boasting. I am the only Prince who is openly fighting against the Brahmin bureaucracy although I do realise their power. They do not come forward themselves but they instigate the subjects against their Prince whose black side only the Brahmin bureaucracy exposes.

The best way to break down this citadel of Brahmin power is to grant communal representation, not only in the Councils but also in all branches of the service, high or low. Whenever a chance occurs, preference should be given to qualified non-Brahmins. It will not appoint a few non-Brahmins in important places. This remedy is worse than the disease. Such an office is between the anvil of his Brahmin staff and the hammer of the similar staff of the higher office. His staff forces him to take measures even against the interests of the masses and the poor fellow has to bear the responsibility. The remedy lies in granting proportionate communal representation in the subordinate and clerical staff also. Recruitment for the posts of the lowest clerks should be made from non-Brahmins and for this purpose a list of eligible candidates from those communities should be maintained, and appointments made from among them until the non-Brahmins get a percentage of posts in proportion to their numerical strength.

In the educational department also the Brahmin bureaucracy comes in. All the school-masters are Brahmins. The Brahmin bureaucracy here is not like the priestly bureaucracy. In priestly bureaucracy not only caste but learning is also necessary. A learned Brahmin becomes a priest. In the Brahmin bureaucracy it is the caste alone that is required. However low, wicked, unhealthy, immoral a man he may be, being a Brahmin, he is supposed to be higher than a Prince or a General or an Admiral or any learned man of another caste. The Brahmin bureaucracy for ages past had ordered that no non-Brahmin should be taught anything, even the three Rs [reading, writing, arithmetic]. The consequence is almost all the colleges and high schools are for Brahmins though they are cosmopolitan. There are all Brahmins in them. Untouchables are not allowed to come in their precincts. Some other castes are allowed but their percentage is 1 to 100. Again I say there should be communal representation in service as there must be in councils at least for another 20 years. If no step is taken in that direction it will not be correct to say that the Princes ruled India or I may even say that the British ruled India but on the contrary it will be right to say that Brahmins rule India. Communal representation is the only remedy.

If communal representation is not granted to the non-Brahmin communities in Maharashtra, all this trouble of Political Reform will end in strengthening the Brahmin bureaucracy at the expense of the really loyal and faithful subjects of the Government

The Shankaracharya of Kolhapur (Dr Kurtkoti) is a learned man, but I must say that at heart he is a Brahmin of Brahmins. The other day he presided at a meeting held to support the Durbar in their action of doing away with Kulkarni and the president refused to communicate to me the resolution passed at the meeting to request the Durbar to investigate the conduct of the Kulkarnis and to give relief to a certain extent to the people who had to suffer at their hands. He has now openly joined the extremist Congress. As a religious head he ought not to dabble in politics; but a Brahmin is very rapacious and wants to be supreme everywhere.

Even such an educated person like Mr Rajwade, who poses to be a great historian, is partial to his own caste and so envious towards other castes, that he has published some false and defamatory matter about the Chandrasenia Kayastha Prabhu caste and the Mohamedans. Of course they are going to take steps against Mr Rajwade but I only refer to the incident in order to show you the Brahmin character.

I should have very much liked to speak and discuss these matters personally with Your Lordship, but my only chance to do so seems to be if I am sent up by Government like the Maharaja of Patiala.

This letter has become very lengthy and I must now close, not, however, without making apologies to Your Lordship for its unusual length, for which my only excuse is the gravity and urgency of the situation and the momentous issue involved.

May I request Your Lordship kindly to convey my respectful remembrances to Lady Sydenham, and with warm regards.

Believe me,

Yours Sincerely,

[Signed]

PS: I hear that Sir John Hewett is coming over here in India. May I request Your Lordship kindly to send to me a note of introduction to him?

I herewith enclose a few copies of my letter so that you may please give one to Sir John Hewett and Sir Valentine Chirol and, if you think it unobjectionable, to Mr Montagu, with a request to all in my behalf to treat this as confidential as I do not want my name to come forward.[7]

Shahu Maharaj realized that the priesthood was critical in controlling civil societal life. He says they control the religious and even the secular life of the people. According to him a Brahmin is only for Brahmins. He describes the Indian society as priest-ridden and caste divided. He calls the Deccan as a society that was groaning under the tyranny of the (Brahmin) priests They help each other at every place, in the darbar and in the court. They were the village land revenue officers called Kulkarnis. They exploit the tillers all along. A similar system was also there all over India including Telangana where a Muslim ruler was ruling. The revenue system was under the control of Brahmins by my childhood in Telangana state. He thus came to a conclusion that unless a proportionate reservation system is placed in his state he cannot do justice to the non-brahmin productive population. But that day to present, the whole issue is revolving around jobs in the Government sector whether it is small or big. But there is no demand from Shudras at the base structural levelthe priesthood and handling the spiritual philosophyfor a share in every aspect of Hindu life.

Brahmins established their hegemony through the spiritual system and that system got institutionalized through philosophical written text. But philosophy and understanding the role of each symbol in a religion requires very critical reading of the religious texts. The Shudras, whether they were rulers or tillers or artisanal operators, have not focused around that fundamental issue of equality in religious life. For example Ambedkar in his seminal work, Who Were The Shudras: How They Came to Be the Forth Varna in the Indo-Aryan Society says:

1) The Shudras were one of the Aryan communities of the Solar race. (2) There was a time when the Aryan society recognized only three Varnas, namely, Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. (3) The Shudras did not form a separate Varna. They ranked as part of the Kshatriya Varna in the Indo-Aryan society. (4) There was a continuous feud between the Shudra kings and the Brahmins in which the Brahmins were subjected to many tyrannies and indignities. (5) As a result of the hatred towards the Shudras generated by their tyrannies and oppressions, the Brahmins refused to perform the Upanayana of the Shudras. (6) Owing to the denial of Upanayana, the Shudras who were Kshatriyas became socially degraded, fell below the rank of the Vaishyas and thus came to form the fourth Varna[8]

In this sum up Ambedkar puts the Shudras as part of Aryan society. That may be because by the time he was writing this book the race question was not well studied with advanced methodological toolsarcheology and DNA studies. Now that question is settled that Shudras are Indo-Dravidians with Indo-African roots. The significant question, however, in his thesis is his importance to the spiritual symbol, Upanayana (so called sacred thread). The Brahmin priesthood is still linked to this issue. Even now when the RSS is defining all Shudras as Hindu whether it wants all of them to get this right to Upanayana is not allowed to come up for debate. The Shudra kings who were given the Kshatriya status got the Upanayana right yet they did not have the right to priesthood, why? This fundamental control over the religious power is exclusively kept in the hands of Brahmins. The Kshatriyas and Vaisyas in modern times, while claiming to be Hindu, rather militantly, also do not ask for the priesthood right. But they ask for reservation in the state and in fact several Bania castes got the right to reservation as they defined themselves as the OBC.

The long history of political systems, monarchical and post monarchical, the role of the spiritual system and its exclusive control in the hands of Brahmins made India a very stagnant nation. Even the priestly class could not face competition and never improved the systems in any meaningful direction. The Shudras and Dwijas, particularly Brahmins, remained frozen. The Shudras and Dalits got stuck not only in social fragmentation but illiteracy, spiritual backwardness and lack of national and international exposure. Both the masses and rulers remained helpless in their unorganized way of life. Both the Brahminness and Shudraness became shackles and kept the productive forces, market relations primitive even in modern times. No revolutionary movements sprang up from the Shudra forces and the Brahminness did not allow the priestly forces to self-reform with an understanding of universal changes. Even with their violent colonialism, if not for the British and their globalized knowledge system, Brahmins would have been even more regressive social forces in the subcontinent without any outside exposure. The Sanskrit language would not have given them any additional advantage than the spiritual control over the Shudra masses. All Indians lived a very fate bound life.

Dynamic spiritual discourse involving all masses would have changed every other sphere from time to time. But Brahmanism was uncannily successful in assimilating and swallowing up all the revolt against its oppressive spiritual conspiracy. The only major shakeup that the Shudra and Dwija masses encountered collectively in their living history was the freedom struggle. Even the arrival of Islamic rule and its existence in India did not bring any significant revolutionary change in Indian life. The Muslim rulers and the Muslim ruling class remained more aligned with the Brahmins and other Dwijas than the Shudras all through the Indian history, ever since they established their administrative authority either in the whole of India or in different regions like Telangana, Mysore, Junagadh and so on. This question needs a study of its own.

Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd is the author of Why I am Not a Hindu, Post-Hindu India and The ShudrasVision for a New Path, co-edited with Karthik Raja Karuppusamy. I thank Karthik Raja Karuppusamy for his editorial assistance.

[1]Kautilya, Arthashastra, Shamahastris translation, p 10

https://ia802703.us.archive.org/13/items/Arthasastra_English_Translation/Arthashastra_of_Chanakya_-_English.pdf Page 10

[2]Ibid, p 10-11

[3] Ram Madhav, Because India Comes First: Reflections on Nationalism, Identity and Culture, (Chennai, Westland, 2020)

https://www.amazon.in/Because-India-Comes-First-Reflections-ebook/dp/B08LDMMV2X?asin=B08LDMMV2X&revisionId=5e8f7294&format=1&depth=1 kindle version

[4] Wendy Doniger, What is the Kamasutra really about? Wendy Doniger reads the classic text, Scroll, Aug 06, 2015

[5]https://www.thehindu.com/society/the-shudra-queen-rashmoni-and-a-sacred-river/article34847554.ece

[6] http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00ambedkar/txt_ambedkar_waiting.html

[7] This letter has been excerpted from Chhatrapati Shahu: The Pillar of Social Democracy, edited by P.B Salunkhe and published by the Education Department, Government of Maharashtra

[8] Ambedkar BR, Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches, Volume 7, (Bombay: Government of Maharastra, 1990), 11-12
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Sailing vessel with ham radio history marks 100 years

The schooner Bowdoin is a century old this year. Now owned by the Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) as a training vessel, the ham radio history of the 88-foot (LOA) Bowdoin is often neglected.

Constructed in Maine specifically for Arctic exploration, the vessel relied on amateur radio for communication during explorer Donald B. MacMillans Arctic Expedition of 1923 and on the MacMillan-McDonald-Byrd Expedition of 1925  thanks in part to ARRL co-founder Hiram Percy Maxim, W1AW. The venerable vessel, the official vessel of the State of Maine and the flagship of Maine Maritime Academys Vessel Operations and Technology Program, recently underwent a complete hull restoration and refitting and has done a little touring to mark its centenary. Its home port is Castine, Maine.

The longwave transmitters MacMillan used on his earlier missions had proved unable to penetrate the screen of the aurora borealis, then-ARRL historian Michael Marinaro, WN1M (SK), explained in his article, Polar Exploration, from the June 2014 issue of QST. In 1923, MacMillan turned to ARRL for help in outfitting his next expedition with better wireless gear. Marinaro recounted, It was enthusiastically provided. Maxim and the ARRL Board recruited Donald H. Mix, 1TS, of Bristol, Connecticut, to accompany the crew as its radio operator.

M.B. West, an ARRL Board member, designed the gear, which was then built by amateurs at his firm, Zenith Electronics. The transmitter operated on the medium-wave bands of 185, 220, and 300 meters, running 100 W to a pair of Western Electric G tubes. Earlier exploratory missions had used gear that operated on longwave frequencies. The shipboard station on board the Bowdoin was given the call sign WNP  Wireless North Pole.

WNP transmitted weekly 500-word press releases and listings of stations worked and heard, Marinaro said. Once received by amateur stations, these reports were delivered to local affiliated newspapers of the North American Newspaper Alliance; from there, they were distributed syndicate-wide by telegraph.

MacMillans subsequent attempt at the North Pole centered around wireless. The objectives supported by the Navy and the National Geographic Society were to determine the full capabilities of radio north of the auroral belt and to explore the northern reaches by air. The outstanding accomplishment of the 1925 expedition was in the sphere of radio. Utilizing shortwaves, the expedition was in consistent contact with the outside world throughout the journey, to the delight of the amateurs who were able to work them. The phenomenal success proved to the Navy that shortwaves were definitely superior to the longwaves and ultra longwaves that fleets had been using.

ARRL
Tonga update

Masa, JA0RQV, is now active as A35JP from Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu Island (OC-049). He was heard on 17 meters CW, August 22nd. He will be in Tonga until October 31st (early November).

Activity will be on 80-6 meters using CW, SSB and FT8. Equipment is an IC-7300 w/100W into a Vertical antenna.

QSL via LoTW and ClubLog, or direct w/2 USDs or by the Bureau via his home callsign JA0RQV.

He states, "If you need paper QSL, please be patient to receive it because I will be able to issue paper QSL after I return to Japan in November 2021. Please do not send SASE to my home address."

He also mentions, "During the period, if possible, I will try to activate some outer islands again such as Niuatoputapu (OC-191), Niuafo'ou (OC-123), Vava'u (OC-064) and Ha'apai (OC-169). Details will be announced once decided."

For more details and updates, visit his QRZ.com or his Blog page at: http://blog.goo.ne.jp/rqv
The United States has wreaked destruction across the planet and bringing an end to its reign of terror is urgent. But an organisation such as the Taliban offers only new forms of oppression.

On the night of 14 August 1791, enslaved Africans gathered in the Bois Caiman forest and planned the revolt that would begin the Haitian Revolution. Last week, on the 230th anniversary of this meeting, Haiti was hit by an earthquake that has upturned the lives of more than a million people. The count of the lives lost stood at 1 941 at the time of writing, with around 10 000 more injured. The following day, the Taliban took the city of Kabul and thereby control of Afghanistan.

In these two days, the question of Euro-American imperialism was brought into sharp and dramatic focus. It has, beginning with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Bahamas on 12 October 1492, been the most powerful force shaping the modern world. More than 500 years later, we continue to inhabit the historical epoch inaugurated by Columbus. The rise of China is beginning to bring this period of unrivalled Euro-American domination of the planet to an end, but it is far from over.

Revolution and containment in Haiti

After 1492 came genocide, mass enslavement and colonialism, first legitimated in the name of religion. Then, from the latter part of the 17th century, came the idea of race. The revolution in Haiti defeated the three great European powers of the day  the French, the Spanish and the English  and after more than 12 years of war it declared the first Black republic in the modern world on 1 January 1804.

Circa 1915: American naval officers and marines from the USS Washington come ashore for the capture of Port-au-Prince in Haiti. (Photograph by Getty Images)

In 1805, the French foreign minister wrote to then American secretary of state James Madison, declaring: The existence of a Negro people in arms, occupying a country it has soiled by the most criminal acts is a horrible spectacle for all white nations. France and the United States moved swiftly to isolate the new republic, and France sent its warships to Haiti in 1825 to demand that it accept and pay a debt of 150 million francs for Frances loss of slaves and its colony. The debt had to be financed by incurring further debt at extortionate rates, and by the end of the 19th century it consumed around 80% of the national budget. It was only fully paid off in 1947.

In 1915, the US, which had always seen the independent Black republic as a serious threat, sent its army to occupy Haiti. It moved swiftly to steal the countrys gold reserve and take it to the National City Bank in New York. A brutal and intensely racist regime was implemented, and a revolt that began in 1918 was met with unrestrained American savagery and crushed by 1922. The US ended its occupation in 1934, but its exit was designed to sustain control via proxy, including the army that it had established.

In 1957, Francois Duvalier was elected to power in a rigged election. He ran an extraordinarily brutal dictatorship, a kleptocracy backed at every turn by the US. Democrats and leftists were viciously persecuted. Up to 50 000 people were murdered under the Duvalier dictatorship, which his son continued when, in 1971, he died a fabulously wealthy man in what had become a country of extremely impoverished people.

Resistance to the dictatorship was organised through popular formations, often based in shantytowns and animated by a commitment to the affirmation of dignity. The statement tout moun se moun, every person is a person, which has obvious African roots, became central to the logic of organisation and resistance. As so often happens, the movement crystallised around a charismatic figure, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a Catholic priest committed to liberation theology. He was elected as president in February 1990.

The first coup attempt, immediately after the election, was seen off by huge mobilisation in the streets. But in September the following year, Aristide was removed in a coup covertly supported by the US, following which 4 000 to 5 000 of Aristides supporters were murdered.

After more than a quarter of a million people took to the streets in the US in support of democracy in Haiti, Bill Clinton allowed Aristide to return in 1994 after he agreed to allow US control over the police force, implement a structural adjustment programme and the deployment of 20 000 US soldiers. The US agreed to pull its soldiers out of the country in 1996, with Clintons deputy secretary of state saying: Even after our exit in February 1996, we will remain in charge by means of USAID and the private sector.

Aristide was elected for a second term in 2000, with huge popular support, and on 28 February, two months after the bicentenary of the Haitian Revolution was commemorated, abducted from his home at gunpoint by US soldiers and flown out of the country. Since then, the US and other Euro-American powers, including Canada and France, have not allowed the Haitian people the right to chart their own course into the future.

The devastation of the 2010 earthquake was largely a result of the deliberate impoverishment of the country, a process going back to the revolution and taken over by the US in 1915. It was exploited to effectively implement rule by non-governmental organisations. The earthquake last weekend hit so hard for the same reason.

Millions killed

The Haitian experience of US imperialism is far from unique. Since 1945, the US has bombed at least 32 countries, invaded at least 12 and attempted to overthrow or support the overthrow of more than 45 governments, including the 2019 coup in Bolivia. Between 1946 and 2000, the US sought to intervene in at least 81 elections around the world. A report prepared for members of the US Congress notes that between 1946 and 2020 the US deployed its armed forces abroad for other than normal peacetime purposes in more than 70 countries.

The number of lives lost to violence perpetrated and supported by the US is staggering. Estimates of deaths resulting from the war in Vietnam range from around 1.5 million to 3.5 million. Around a million people are said to have been killed in Indonesia in violence backed by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) against the Left in 1965 and 1966, although there are estimates that range as high as three million. Estimates of deaths consequent to the war in Iraq are highly disputed and reach past the one million mark. A 2006 study published in The Lancet journal concludes that 654 965 Iraqi lives were lost between March 2003 and June 2006 as a result of the US invasion. Estimates of the number of people displaced by the war are between 3.5 million and five million. And the devastation caused by the destruction of Iraq paved the way for new wars, and the horrors of the Islamic State.

There are plenty of states that repress their own people in horrendous ways. But there is, in planetary terms, no more dangerous, anti-democratic and murderous a state than the US.

If a government from anywhere outside of the Euro-American world engaged in even a small fraction of this sort of conduct it would be vilified in the most extreme terms, isolated and every effort made to overthrow it. The sole reason why figures such as George W Bush and Tony Blair are not received as monstrous war criminals is because they represent countries that are assumed by many in major circuits of influence, including much liberal opinion in South Africa, to have a natural right to rule the world, and to decide who lives and who dies.

Afghanistan

The US and its proxies have been defeated in countries such as Vietnam, Angola, Nicaragua and elsewhere. And now they have been defeated in Afghanistan. These defeats are significant events, but we are far from an end to the epoch in human history that began in 1492.

Conservative estimates place the cost of the 20-year US occupation of Afghanistan at close to a quarter of a million deaths and more than $2 trillion, $6.5 trillion when the interest on the loans taken to finance the war is repaid. This is more than enough to end global hunger and, by some estimates, climate change. Afghanistan has been laid to waste and will now have to endure the agonies of rule by the Taliban and what it will do to women and girls, and religious and ethnic minorities.

This grim situation should not be misused to mask the nature of US power. The sense that the US has some sort of sacred mission to free people with bombs, guns and coups has been held by everyone who has taken high office in that country and is shared by large numbers of US citizens. Just as European colonisers told themselves that they were bringing the word of God to heathens, or civilisation to the uncivilised, the US bombs people in the name of freedom, democracy and, since the invasions of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003, a perverse form of feminism blinded by whiteness and exemplified by Hillary Clinton.

This is hypocrisy of the highest order. The US has backed all kinds of repressive regimes, including the apartheid state. It supports Saudi Arabia, has backed Al Qaeda in the Yemen and, in the 1980s, backed the deeply conservative Islamists in Afghanistan against the secular state allied to the Soviet Union. It has supported deeply reactionary Islamist projects against the Left and secular nationalism in countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan and Egypt.

As Mahmood Mamdani has observed, it was the Reagan administration that rescued right-wing Islamism from the historical cul-de-sac in which it was mired in the mid-1980s. The CIA, primarily working with Pakistani intelligence, provided money, weapons, intelligence and training to the mujahideen  the Islamist fighters in Afghanistan  with support from intelligence services in countries such as Israel, Saudi Arabia and Britain. Mamdani notes that more than 100 000 foreign militants were recruited and trained to support this project, including Osama bin Laden, who, by 1986, was working directly with the CIA. By the following year, clandestine US support to the mujahideen was estimated at $660 million. The war was also supported by the heroin trade, which, Mamdani writes, was organised and centralised under CIA control.

The US invested in a deeply misogynistic project. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who was allocated vast resources by the CIA during the war  up to $2 billion  and huge amounts of arms, ordered his followers in the early 1970s to throw acid in the faces of women students who refused to wear veils.

The Taliban has its roots in this US-backed milieu, and in particular the madrassas that were supported in Pakistan. The chickens, as Malcom X famously said, have come home to roost.

It is difficult to overstate the urgency of the need to roll back and eventually defeat American imperialism. But if we are to avoid exchanging one form of oppression for another, imperialism needs to be confronted, driven back and eventually defeated by progressive forces. And, as the example of Haiti shows, these cannot be isolated. Progressive internationalism must be rebuilt.

This essay was originally published in New Frame
Mangala had a dream about the country. He strove to create a beautiful Sri Lanka free from racial, religious and caste differences. Many of those who dreamt the same in Sri Lanka either died prematurely or were killed by enemy forces.

Editorial

He has ended his journey here. Early hours today, his soul has taken for the journey to the mysterious realm. Isnt it an exemplary journey? He lived the life he desired without hurting or manipulating anybody's sentiments. He, we believe, lived a precious life. He fought for the cause he thought was right. He who served as the Foreign Minister as well as the Finance Minister most recently, Mangala Samaraweera has taken the last breath to cross the portal to start another fresh journey at the height of his life.

There is so much to write about Mangala. He was a gentleman who made significant contributions to change the distorted political tradition of this country. He was a man who taught by actions, how a politician should behave when he comes to power; how a man should respond to harsh criticism; how a person should understand life beyond rhetoric and social facade created on myths and disbelieves. He was a man who attempted to conquer the fabric of patriarchal society which is continued to undermine individual freedoms.

Mangala had a dream about the country. He strove to create a beautiful Sri Lanka free from racial, religious and caste differences. Many of those who dreamt the same in Sri Lanka either died prematurely or were killed by enemy forces. Consequently, as many of them ended their journeys, so did their dreams.

Mangala's politics attracted many who valued individual freedom and human dignity. It is too early to say whether the dream he had also died along with him. But, time will certainly tell.

Mangala was an open-minded man. He was not a man who lived to hide the truth. More importantly, he was not a politician who used his power in the most despicable way to loot the public and suppress the rights of ordinary people. The vacuum created in the politics of Sri Lanka by the death of this beloved man who lived with many rare good qualities will last forever.

Good Night, Prince!




Heading towards the huge grey military transport planes are long queues of Afghans. Their lines dont end but inside the aircraft are also US and NATO evacuation forces and civilians.

by Victor Cherubim

The debacle in Iraq, the fall of Saigon, the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, now the dilemma of Kabul, all of them had one common feature  a people let down after promises made to protect them. Many of course can debate where exactly the collapse of the 20 yearsafeguard operation by the US and NATO forces in Afghanistan will rank in the list of US military and foreign policy adventures of the so called West, which has now ended in disaster. Many will wonder if this episode could well undermine the credibility of safeguarding freedom by the West for generations to come.

Every so called Western and foreign power, has tried over several decades with all their might withhope to rebuild Afghanistan by force, but got nowhere. Now, the shambolicexit by US and its allies from the country handing power back to the Taliban  the so calledCountry Boys as the West called them, will go down in history.

Hardly can one envisage such a handover more ineptly organised, so ineffective and so incoherentinthe extreme.Sadly, such clamour to clear out before the deadline enforced by the US, the end of August 2021,is beyond contemplation.

Heading towards the huge grey military transport planes are long queues of Afghans. Their lines dont end but inside the aircraft are also US and NATO evacuation forces and civilians.

About 17,000 people have left Afghanistan via Kabul in just one week according to US sources. It is not known how many of them, Afghans both interpreters and other Afghan professionals, graduates, women and children who left their homeland, have been given visas for having worked with international governments and other organisations amid fears they may be targeted by the Taliban.

Outside the gates of the airport we are told, there are another 10,000 or more Afghans hoping to clamour on to a military aircraft in search of Paradise in the West. The crush of people, with many women and children who have been left behind, perhaps, abandoned. We also hear that at least 20 people who are known to have died so far.

What is their plight when they reach Britain?

The British military personnel, civilians evacuated and the so called, Afghan refugees all land at the RAF military base at Brize Norton,Oxfordshire. Many British Borough Councils have accepted to take on the refugees in their boroughs after screening them, whilst Operation Pitting Rescue Mission continues in Kabul.

Human Rights response

Lord Ahmad the Foreign Office Minister directly responsible for South Asia whose responsibilities include Afghanistan, is due to make a statement today 24 August 2021 with other humanitarian partners in London. He is also expected to speak with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mme Michelle Bachelet.

Lord Ahmad is expected to outline that, over the past 20 years the UK and NATO allies have worked to promote human rights in Afghanistan for women and girls. That 20 years ago almost no girls went to school and that women were banned from positions of governance. Now 3.6 million Afghan girls are in school and women hold over a quarter of the seats in Afghanistans Parliament. Maternal mortality has almost halved and infant mortality has decreased. These gains must not be reversed. He is expected according to official circles to state the Taliban need to respect Human Rights and fundamental freedoms?

Last week UK supported a UN Security Council Statement which called for all parties to allow immediate, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for humanitarian agencies to provide assistance in Afghanistan.

The Other View

Whilst this is happening Ben Habib, a researcher has stated that the Taliban is laughing all the way. He maintains that the G7 Nations has rendered itself impotent in Afghanistan and indeed in the region. He states: no one in Afghanistan today cares any longer what the G7 members think. They will not take a blind bit of notice, as what to doabout Afghanistan has

long passed. Bomb them to hell and then put boots on the ground. Deliver them your ideology and democracy down the barrel of a gun. Instead, give Afghanistan and Pakistan a commercial incentive to work with the West and through commerce regain the influence.

The other view is expressed by the former Conservative Party leader and now MP, Iain Duncan Smith. He maintains that the Taliban wont change. This is not a leopard about to change its spots. It is a brutal intolerant organisation that has already been carrying out

arbitrary executions and punishment beating.

The Afghanistan of today is a different country to what it was in 2001. It has regained what it lost 20 years ago, whether we like it or not. Therecan be no doubt about that.
'Free Burma Rangers' Documentary Returns to Movie Theaters Nationwide September 13

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Lifeway Christian Resources

Aug. 23, 2021

NASHVILLE, Aug. 23, 2021 /Standard Newswire/ -- Lifeway Films, Deidox Films and Fathom Events have announced an encore presentation of the award-winning film "Free Burma Rangers" in theaters September 13. The encore presentation features an exclusive update from the Eubank family.

The documentary film won Best Feature Film at the The Justice Film Festival in 2019, while the subject of the film, the Free Burma Rangers group, received the 2020 Foley Humanitarian Award for their work with oppressed ethnic minority groups.

"The outpouring of support since the film was released has been encouraging to our team and we are grateful," said David Eubank, founder of the Free Burma Rangers.

The documentary follows the Eubank family, their work, and the more than 1.5 million displaced individuals the Free Burma Rangers have assisted around the world. The film will show in select theaters across the U.S. as a one-night-only Fathom Event on September 13.

Directed by Brent Gudgel and Chris Sinclair, the film "Free Burma Rangers" explores the extraordinary 20-year journey of David, Karen, and their three young children as they venture into war zones bringing much-needed food, supplies, medical aid and hope to civilians caught in the middle of the conflict.

In 1993, after 10 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces, David Eubank answered a call from his father, serving on the mission field in Thailand, to help the people caught in the middle of a civil war.

"You have one life; you might as well go for it," Eubank explains in the film.

Newlyweds David and Karen skipped the traditional honeymoon and went to Burma to help free the oppressed and rescue victims there.

As they went on relief missions into the height of conflict, more locals joined in. Eventually, indigenous leaders asked Eubank to train teams. Using his military experience, Eubank began training groups to go on rescue missions to help those in need, as well as provide medical clinics and children's programs for survivors. In 1997, the Eubanks founded the Free Burma Rangers, a multi-ethnic relief organization.

More than two decades later, the Eubank family continues to provide humanitarian aid to some of the most difficult areas in the world. In 2016, the Eubanks and a few of the Free Burma Rangers moved to northern Iraq to help deliver food and aid to people caught in the middle of the conflict with ISIS. In 2019 they served in Northern Syria.

While Burma continues to be their main area of mission, the Free Burma Rangers have relief teams in Syria, Kurdistan, and Iraq.

In addition to their relief work, the Eubanks say their mission is to share the love of Jesus Christ and help free people from oppression.

"Everywhere, every person in the world has something good and wonderful we can love, learn from and build up," says Eubank. "When we stand together in Christ and love others, we form the antidote to evil. That is the story I want to be told."

To learn more about the film and view the official trailer, visit FBRmovie.com. To learn more about the organization, visit FreeBurmaRangers.org.

About Lifeway Films

Lifeway Christian Resources is one of the world's largest providers of Christian resources. Lifeway Films exists to empower churches and Christians to engage faith-based films as a tool for discipleship and growing their faith.

About Deidox Films

Deidox Films is a non-profit documentary production company creating content from a Christian perspective. Their documentaries serve churches and organizations around the globe.

About Fathom Events

Fathom is a recognized leader in the entertainment industry as one of the top distributors of content to movie theaters in North America. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC); Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK); and Regal Cinemas, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L)., Fathom operates the largest cinema distribution network, delivering a wide variety of programming and experiences to cinema audiences in the top U.S. markets and to more than 45 countries. For more information, visit www.FathomEvents.com.

SOURCE Lifeway Christian Resources

CONTACT: Aaron Earls615-251-2597, aaron.earls@lifeway.com


Dr. Cameron Webb, senior policy advisor for equity on the White House COVID-19 Response Team; Dr. Rachel Villanueva, clinical assistant professor of obstetrics/gynecology at the New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine and National Medical Association president; and Dr. Michele Benoit-Wilson, an OB-GYN at WakeMed Health in Raleigh, North Carolina encouraging African Americans to get vaccinated.
Pregnant women with COVID have suffered the same complications as others with severe cases, such as difficulty breathing, Lenchus said. They also suffer a higher risk of complications in childbirth, he said. Although the baby cant contract COVID through the placenta, he said, there have been cases of babies getting COVID after birth from close contact with the mother or family members.
Bethany Phillips remains the sole protester outside the Palm Beach County school headquarters, after police broke up a crowd of 30 people protesting against school masks on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Phillips, who has three children in the school district, says she will keep them home for as long as they have to wear masks. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The United States in recent days has ramped up its airlift amid new reports of rights abuses that fuel concern about the fate of thousands of people who fear retribution from the Taliban and are trying to flee the country. The Pentagon said 21,600 people had been evacuated in the 24 hours that ended Tuesday morning, and Biden said an additional 12,000 had been flown out in the 12 hours that followed. Those include flights operated by the U.S. military as well as other charter flights.
Alexis Rodriguez, who was recruited to run as a no-party candidate in the key Senate District 37 race by former state Sen. Frank Artiles, originally pleaded not guilty on four charges related to the alleged scheme. Under state law, those charges carry sentences of up to five years in prison.
Florida law does not ban masks  it merely protects parents rights to choose whether their own child wears a mask to school or not. Those who want their children to wear masks to school have the right to make that choice for their children. They do not have the right to force-mask other parents children. Anecdotally, some children do not have problems wearing masks 8 hours a day, but others do. Every child is different, and thats why Governor DeSantis opposes -one-size-fits-all mandates, Pushaw said. The CDCs forced-masking advocacy is not supported by data.
Black immigrants are a part of this equation. According to a report by the Florida Policy Institute, there are over 700,000 Black immigrants in Florida. One in five of these immigrants work in health care. As a Black woman born and raised in Jacksonville, I know that the success of my family is tied to that of my immigrant neighbors. The governor is wrong to try to distract and divide us. He should instead join us in supporting a path to citizenship for our immigrants in this state, protect all essential workers, and put the needs of Floridians ahead of his partisan political ambitions. We deserve a governor who puts Floridians first.
National Police officers in Velez-Malaga have helped dismantle a group that allegedly scammed businessmen through the purchase of tropical fruits. So far, two people have been arrested on fraud and forgery of document charges.

Police said the pair posed as salespeople for an Italian company, negotiating fruit supply contracts, that included mangoes and avocados.

In a statement, the force said the two were part of a scam contacting businessmen from companies that supply products that are easy to resell on the black market. Once they gained their trust - paying upfront - with small orders, they would place a large order which they would resell when it arrived  but disappear without paying the bill  and without trace.

When the Axarquia victim became aware of the fraud, more than 50,000 euros in products such as avocados and mangoes had already been sent. The businessman said that during negotiations over the deal he was shown an insurance document provided cover in case of any problem in the collection of any payments.

Police investigations eventually found that the network was headed by a 54-year-old Italian man, who used others to carry out the scams in Spain. The merchandise was destined for Italy, although, according to the police enquiries, the fruit consignments were routed via Barcelona and Almeria.

The operation culminated in the arrest of two people and the identification of the alleged leader of the scam. Among those now being investigated are the person in charge of an Italian company, who was arrested in Barcelona, and another member of the network, in charge of logistics tasks, who was arrested at a police control in the town of Sitges.
A message that has been widely spread on social media and WhatsApp warning of attempts to kidnap children at the Miramar Shopping Centre in Fuengirola, has been declared as fake by Spains National Police.

The force has officially said the message that has been shared across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram is false and a hoax.

The message read, "Attention, parents: in the Miramar Shopping Centre  Fuengirola  there have already been two attempts to kidnap children."

It was supposedly from a woman who claimed that the incidents happened to two "friends" of hers, who told her first-hand about the kidnapping attempts.

The text referred to a man of around 60 years old, who allegedly grabbed the victims by the neck to drag them away from their parents. Once discovered, the alleged child abductor said it was "a joke."

The author of the message suggested that the complaint had been reported to the police and even suggested that the two kidnapping attempts had been carried out by some type of mafia that had settled on the Costa del Sol.
No Andalusian municipality with a population of more than 5,000 inhabitants exceeds the rate of 1,000 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants in 14 days, this Tuesday, 24 August. That is the threshold when the Junta proposes a perimeter closure and night curfew - from 2am to 7am - which must always be ratified by the courts.

The data comes just one day ahead of the next scheduled meetings of the Territorial Committees of High Impact on Public Health that convene every Wednesday.

According to the latest figures from the regional governments Ministry of Health, some 25 smaller municipalities exceed the rate of 1,000 cases in 14 days, but none have more than 5,000 inhabitants. In these locations the Territorial Committees have to analyse any proposal for mobility restrictions on an individual basis.

There are seven in Granada province, five in Jaen and Seville, four in Huelva, two in Cordoba, one in Malaga and Almeria and none in Cadiz.

These municipalities are Turrillas (with an incidence rate of 1,612.9) in Almeria province and La Guijarrosa (1,087.7) and Fuente la Lancha (1,169.6) in Cordoba province.

Similarly, there are Lentegi (1,201.2), Lobras (1,503.8), Dehesas de Guadix (2,843.6), Arenas del Rey (1,225.1), Chimeneas (1,199), Jatar (1,765.7) and Zagra (1,129.9) in Granada province; while in Huelva province are Alajar (1,581), Canaveral de Leon (1,515.2), Corteconcepcion (1,119.4) and Linares de la Sierra (1,908.4); and in Jaen province, Aldeaquemada (2,521), Castellar (1,215.1), Montizon (1,361.8), Genave (1,525.4) and Huesa (1,927.7).

Finally, in Malaga province is Montejaque (1,159.1) and in Seville there are Castilleja de Guzman (1,129.5), Gilena (1,502.5), Lora de Estepa (1,145.5), El Saucejo (2,998.8) and Villanueva del Rio and Minas (1,196.6).

Cadiz is the only province that does not have any municipality with a cumulated incidence rate above a thousand points this Tuesday.
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The Perspective

Atlanta, Georgia

August 23, 2021





President Bidens decision to finally withdraw US forces from Afghanistan was the correct decision and certainly overdue. However, the lack of preparation to do so orderly and safely was yet another terrible mistake in a string of mistakes that have plagued the US from day one.



Righting the Wrong

In his address to the nation last Monday, President Biden used the majority of it to try to justify the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, which needed hardly any justification given that after 20 years the US has not come any closer to defeating the Taliban permanently. The vast majority of the American people supported his decision when he first announced his intention to end the war based on the agreement concluded between Trump and the Taliban last February. Bidens decision to withdraw was certainly the right one and was overdue by 19 years. His determination to not pass the war onto a fifth president was wise, as it would spare the country from continuing to invest blood and treasure in an unwinnable war.



The problem was not the need to withdraw, but the manner in which it was conducted. Why on earth did he begin to pull out troops without the proper preparation to ensure that the US and other foreign diplomats and civilians, along with thousands of Afghan interpreters and other support staff and their families, departed orderly and safely?



To subsequently dispatch thousands of troops to secure the airport to ensure safe passage for the departees was certainly necessary. But this happened only following the chaos that swept Kabul and sent shivers down the spines of tens of thousands of Afghans and foreign diplomats and civilians. As I see it, this last sorry chapter is continuing a string of mistakes committed by Bidens predecessors Bush, Obama, and Trump. They have learned nothing about the nature of Afghan society nor from the Soviet Unions experience in the 1980s when it departed Afghanistan after ten years of fighting with its tail between its legs.



Miscalculation from the onset

Following the defeat of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in less than a year, former President Bush rushed to invade Iraq in 2003 through the concerted effort of his Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney. He failed to make any arrangement with the then-transitional government led by Hamid Karzai over the prospect of continuing Taliban resistance. He lost focus on the unfinished Afghanistan campaign and subjected American troops to an uncertain future, as neither he nor his military brass had any plans as to how to conclude the campaign once the main objective of removing the Taliban from power was accomplished.



Imposition of democracy

The decision to introduce democracy and engage in nation-building was doomed from the start. Yes, progress was made, a democratically-elected government was installed, and human rights and social reforms provided the hallmark of the American enterprise. But then the US ignored the fact that the imposition of a western-style democracy on a country that lived for millennia as a tribal society would be short-lived at best.



The US should not be in the business of spreading democracy by force. We seem to have learned nothing from Vietnam, let alone the US long history of instigating and interfering in regime changes. Instead of providing a model of a functioning democracy and human rights through the use of soft power to influence other countries, we come in charging with the massive military to change the political landscape, only to end up retreating and delivering the country straight to insurgent forces.



Military miscalculation

Three successive presidents before Biden made their decision on the continuing efforts in Afghanistan based on the recommendations of military leaders who insisted that the war was winnable and wanted to secure a total victory. Troop surges have continuously been sent on the promise that victory over the Taliban was in sight, which obviously was proven to be completely misguided. In addition, the military strength of the Afghan National Army was grossly overstated; thousands deserted over the years and many sold their weapons to the Taliban. Over 2,300 American soldiers were killed and more than a trillion dollars were spent with little to show for it.



Mis-assessing the source of the Talibans resiliency

All three administrations preceding Bidens never fully appreciated or understood the nature of this tribal country, its culture, and history, and the Talibans resolve to resist regardless of the heavy toll it would sustain. The Taliban are indigenous to Afghanistan, fighting for their country and their culture guided by a deeply religious way of life, following Sharia law using a strict interpretation of the Quran. As they see it, no power would be allowed to exercise any prerogatives in their land and they have no reason to tolerate any foreign intrusion, not to speak of conquest. They are patient and know how to persevere.



Sadly, Biden has shown no better understanding of the Talibans resolve and tenacity. In his press conference only a week and a half ago, Biden declared that the Talibans takeover was not inevitable, as the Afghan troops have 300,000 well-equipped [soldiers] and an air force against something like 75,000 Taliban, later stating that the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely. However, Bidens announcement of the withdrawal three months ago only gave the Taliban time to prepare for their takeover. Intelligence agencies warned the administration of the rapid collapse of the Afghan military and the extreme likeliness of a Taliban victory, and the Afghan government itself was simply unprepared for the Talibans onslaught.



Failure to engage the tribal chiefs

Another mistake common to all four administrations is that they did not involve the chiefs of the Afghan tribes, who hold tremendous sway in the country, alongside the central government. A tribal leader with whom I spoke a while ago was adamant that without the tribal chiefs participation, the war will go on. After all, the Taliban come from these tribes and tribal leaders can pose a much greater influence on their tribespeople than the Taliban. Had the US engaged the chiefs in the negotiations, the outcome might have been different.



Rampant corruption

Despite the US efforts to reform the country and establish a legitimate government that responds to the publics needs, corruption by top officials and the military consumed the country from within. The US knows only too well that unless corruption is weeded out, little social, economic, or political reforms can be made and sustained. Sadly, the US did not insist that the government make every effort to systematically weed out corruption. Billions of dollars have been squandered, bribes were rampant, and as a result, many social programs have suffered.



No cohesive and goal-oriented policy

Through mission creep, the US goal became to create a functional and stable democracy, but there was no mechanism in place to secure this outcome once the US withdraws from the country. Although several sets of negotiations took place between Taliban representatives and US officials regarding the eventual withdrawal, the US failed to establish a policy of carrot-and-stick. The US could have committed to providing the Taliban financial assistance should they adhere to a certain level of human rights, especially regarding girls and women, yet failed to implement any sort of arrangement in this regard.



Now that the US is coming to the end of a war that should have ended 19 years ago, the question is, what have we learned from this bitter experience. Leadership bears major responsibility and foresight. We should not be the policeman of the world but must use our soft power to address injustices and human rights abuses wherever they may occur. Our experiment in democracy should be emulated voluntarily, and not forced down the throats of other nations.



Finally, now that the Taliban will govern Afghanistan once again, its time to heal the wounds and extend to them a helping hand, which may well be the only way we can persuade them to treat their people humanely and with dignity. If nothing else, if we can affect even such a limited outcome, we can look back and take comfort that the longest war in American history and our sacrifices were not totally in vain.


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There is a lot of hidden wisdom in waiting.

A little patience, a slight delay, can save a life. Waiting on that decision before committing, gives one an opportunity to investigate all pros and cons and thus evade possible negative consequences. Patience is a virtue which is in short supply these days, we find ourselves being victims of relentless internal and external pressure. Our society is heavily engulfed with the instant phenomenon  the need to do it now  the why wait attitude  the jump into it before it disappears stance or the limited-edition rhetoric. As these are often well packaged, they have the potential to lure us into instant action. The truth is, not all is meant to benefit us, but some things are purposely designed to rush us into making decisions without reading the fine print. Unfortunately, marriage is not immune to the effects of scarcity of patience. Husbands and wives are putting themselves under unnecessary pressure because of the need to do it now. This is not meant to promote a sluggish attitude or the lack of promptness, but to caution us on the speed at which some decisions are taken.

I wish to highlight a few areas where waiting can benefit the married couple and help them avoid some conflicts and disharmony. The first one is delaying your response, particularly when there is a confrontation between you and your spouse. King Solomon encourages us to be slow to speak and to think first before we talk. He says a word spoken at the right time is fitting. The significance of applying your mind before letting go cannot be overstated  words carry so much power, which can either build or destroy. Once words escape your mouth, they cannot be retrieved  this includes the slip of the tongue, as we normally put it. If words carry so much power, one would think that we would take more care in ensuring that the words we say are carefully selected, especially in a conversation between husband and wife. Delaying your response is not always a sign of disrespect but could be the difference between verbally assaulting your spouse or building them up. We have witnessed far too many marriages wrecked by husbands and wives who are not careful to think before they speak.

Delay

If you do not have the right response, it is better to delay it  engage your spouse that you wish to wait a little bit before responding. This is so true particularly when you are hot under the collar. To this, King Solomon says a response given in anger inflames, and therefore, responding in anger benefits no one, yet the opposite is true. Remember that once words fly out, they cannot be retrieved; it is therefore better to practice restraint and explain to your spouse your reluctance to respond immediately.

However, the waiting must be within reasonable parameters, otherwise this act can be deemed insensitive and disrespectful. I know men tend to have a gift of waiting - let this not be a forever waiting to the frustration of the other party. Certainly, a little patience from both ends can go a long way in solidifying the marriage. Another area couples need to be weary of involves making hasty conclusions about certain unexplained behaviours. It is common that if we do not understand a certain phenomenon, we tend to disengage and draw our own uninformed conclusions. This is a dangerous postulation as we, often, draw on wrong conclusions. Husbands and wives need to give each other the benefit of the doubt and not be quick to conclude about the other. Premature conclusions make one not to be open minded and reinforces unhealthy stereotypes. To conclude about your spouse could lead him or her to self- fulfillment of the prophecy, closing them up for positive change in behaviour.

Driven

There are perhaps elements in your spouse which you wish s/he could change, however, because we are driven by instant results we tend to be frustrated when we see no change. This frustration leads to unhappiness and a negative attitude towards your spouse, yet if we were to be a little bit patient with them and not put any form of pressure, change could be within the horizon. Your spouse might be struggling to adjust to marital life or struggling to establish relations with his/her in-laws  all that they need is time and your gentle encouragement. Given time, all things fall into place without you aggravating yourself and your spouse and, in the process, causing irreparable damage in your relationship. Whatsoever area your spouse is struggling with, it could be a perpetual failure, or an irritating addiction, try supporting him/her with an additional ounce of patience and see if they will not pull through. There is power in patience as it is revealing of your love. The holy scriptures define love as patient. I wish to challenge you to put patience into practice in your relationship and see the results you will both enjoy. Patience removes the focus from self to the other party, your posture and demeanour becomes that of selflessness. Waiting an extra second could be a life-or-death decision!




MANZINI  A mother is seeking help in finding her 17-year-old daughter, Noxolo Mazibuko, a pupil at St Michaels High School.

Noxolo went missing from home last Thursday. Siphiwe Ndlangamandla shared that her daughter went missing on the day she went to school. Noxolo resides at Mangwaneni in Manzini with her mother and was usually transported to school by a school bus. She is a Form III pupil at St Michaels High School. Days before she went missing, the school bus driver asked to stop ferrying Noxolo to school because she was the only one attending classes.

The driver stopped taking her to school, so she started using public transport to go to school and back home, said Ndlangamandla. The mother further shared that when her daughter went missing, she was wearing the schools tracksuit, which was grey in colour. During the telephonic interview, the mother said she had informed both the school and the police on the disappearance of her daughter. As we speak, Im moving up and down Moneni looking for her and I hope and pray that I find her in time. She has never left home before without informing me. This is so unlike her, said Ndlangamandla.

Since her daughter went missing, the mother has been up and down looking for her. She has since gone to places like Matsapha, Moneni and Tincatfwini in search of her daughter. Meanwhile, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the matter. Anyone with information pertaining to her whereabouts, can contact the REPS on 999/999.
MBABANE  As of yesterday, only people with a direct and substantial interest in a case will be permitted in court.

This was announced by Chief Justice (cj) Bheki Maphalala during the swearing in of two new permanent judges of the Industrial Court, Dumsile Faith Dlamini and Manene Musa Thwala at the High Court. The CJ said per session, not more than 20 people would be allowed inside a courtroom. Maphalala also said all remand hearings would be conducted at Correctional Services centres with effect from yesterday. When making the announcement, Maphalala said he was invoking Practice Directive 1/2020, 3/2020, 4/2020 as well as 5/2020 in terms of the Constitution.

This, according to Maphalala, has been necessitated by the upsurge in COVID-19 cases. Some members of staff at the High Court and other courts have tested positive for the virus. The CJ said proceedings had to be adjourned to fumigate the courts on various occasions with a view to ameliorate the spread of the virus. Some of our support staff are currently being hospitalised as a result of the COVID-19 infection, said the chief justice. He further mentioned that all persons entering the premises in all courts in the country as well as the Master of the High Court would be subjected to a COVID-19 scanner at the entry point with a view to control the spread of the virus. The notice, according to Maphalala, is with immediate effect. The chief justice pointed out that all remand hearings would be conducted at the Correctional Services centres and principal magistrates would designate magistrates to preside over the remand hearings at the Correctional facilities.

Inmates

Inmates, said Maphalala, would not be transported to magistrates courts for remand hearings pending further advice and all criminal, civil and labour matters would continue being heard in all courts in the country. Only persons with a direct and substantial interest in all matters inclusive of legal practitioners, litigants, close relatives, accused persons, witnesses, court support staff and media practitioners will be permitted to attend court hearings to the extent that they do not exceed 20 people per session, said Maphalala.
MBABANE  The Crown will parade about 50 witnesses against incarcerated Hosea Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube.

The number of witnesses was revealed by the Crown during a pre-trial conference held at the High Court yesterday. The prosecution was, however, adamant that it would not disclose the names of the witnesses because of security reasons. The Crown served the MPs with the statements of witnesses yesterday and the trial could not proceed because, according to their legal representative, Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko, they were not ready to proceed with the trial. Maseko said he still had to go through the statements with the accused persons and prepare their defence.

The two MPs face charges relating to the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

Statements

We have just been served with the statements of witnesses. That is why we couldnt start today because we have just been served with the statements of witnesses. They (Crown) are saying that they will call about 50 witnesses for now. We dont know, maybe the number might change. We need to take that big file to these guys (MPs Mabuza and Dube) at Matsapha and go through each and every statement and prepare our defence based on what the State has against us, Maseko said. In the composite summary of evidence which the Crown presented to the defence, it is alleged that Mabuza and Dube, as well as Mduduzi Magawugawu Simelane, held various meetings in different places where they incited members of the public to revolt against government.

According to the Crown, the contents of all their meetings were posted on social media platforms for public consumption. In the composite summary of evidence, the State narrated that it was common cause that there had been unrest in the whole country. The issue, according to the prosecution, started on or about June 5, 2021, at Hosea Constituency. It is alleged that MPs Mabuza and Simelane were present during the meeting that had been called by the former. The Crown went on to highlight that during the meeting at Hosea, there was no registration of the attendees and there was no sanitisation as required by the COVID-19 regulations. The Crown told the court that as a result of the alleged incitement by the three accused persons, different tinkhundla centres were burnt down and these included Timphisini, Ndzingeni, Hosea, KuMethula, Mayiwane, Ngwempisi, Somntongo, Ntondozi, Sandleni, Engudzeni, Matsanjeni and Maseyisini (vandalised).

FurtherMORE, as a result of the incitement of the public by all the accused persons, various properties around the country were destroyed and different items looted. These include three OK Supermarkets in Matsapha, Eswatini Breweries, Nhlangano Health Centre, Mbabane Embangweni Complex, Buy Cash Hardwares all over the country, Lewis Stores and different ATMs for various financial institutions around the country, submitted the Crown.
MANZINI - Army Commander General Jeffery Gubuzumlambo Tshabalala is going home.

This is because the former army commander, who was working in the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) on a contract basis (three years) as he was over 60 years, has resigned. According to the Army Public Relations Officer (PRO), Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo, Tshabalalas contract was due to expire in June 2022, but following his resignation, he would leave the army, but continue to be a Foster General like all other former army commanders. The resignation of the army commander was announced by himself during a press conference held at the army headquarters at Nokwane yesterday. He did this in the presence of Prince Hlangusempi, who is the National Chief Defence Officer. Tshabalala said given the recent developments, it put him as the army commander in a very precarious position.

Confidence

Therefore, he thanked Their Majesties; the King, who is the Commander-In-Chief of the military, and the Queen Mother for having confidence in him by bestowing this national duty which many other officers were looking forward to also serve in, but he was given the honour. Tshabalala, who was appointed by the King to the position in June 2019, said after assuming the duties of being the army commander, he was grateful that he had a lot of support from government, the nation and the entire armed personnel, including their sister security forces; the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and His Majestys Correctional Services (HMCS). He expressed hope that they would continue to render such support even to future dreams of the army. Again, he said following the resumption of duty, he had of course a lot of ideas, hopes and aspirations of making a difference in the army so that it became a military of the 21st century, by bringing technology and good training among other things.

Developments

However, with all these developments in the public domain, I have taken it upon myself to make a plea to His Majesty King Mswati III, who is also the Commander-In-Chief of the military, that I feel it will not be appropriate for me to continue as the army commander because this had a great potential to compromise my position as the leader of the army, Tshabalala said. In that regard, he said he humbly and respectfully requested Their Majesties to relieve him of the duties of being the army commander. He said he would carry out other duties of Their Majesties and remain a humble and loyal servant of the King and the Queen Mother. He sent his appreciation to all the army commanders, who contributed immensely to his career in the military.

Thereafter, he recognised and thanked the support from generals, officers, commissioned and non-commissioned officers for their outstanding teamwork that they gave him as he was carrying out the national task of being the army commander. He also appreciated the enormous support he received from the chiefs of the two other security forces, since he assumed the position of army commander. He then appealed to the heads of the security forces to also render the same teamwork and support to the future army commander. To the entire personnel of the UEDF, he said respect, loyalty, honesty and integrity should remain at the apex of operations at all times as they pursued their national duties. Moreover, he said his appreciation also went to his family for the resolute support they gave him while undertaking the national and noble duty as army commander.

Announce

Meanwhile, the National Chief Defence Officer, Prince Hlangusempi, said they would wait for His Majesty King Mswati III to announce who would act as the army commander. On the other hand, Kings Office Spokesperson Percy Simelane said he was not aware that Tshabalala had resigned as the army commander. It is worth noting that recently, one of the issues that were in the public domain and had to do with the former army commander, was an alleged recorded conversation between him and a police officer, Sergeant Cebile Shongwe, where he allegedly revealed information about him meeting with the King to report on certain developments which were taking place in the country. This information was published by Swaziland News.
MANZINI  I found my husband with my (female) cousin and I challenged him on that.

These were allegations made by the wife to arrested Pastor Sikhumbuzo Shongwe  Jabulile Nkonyane. Nkonyane made these allegations when this publication contacted her mother to ascertain her condition yesterday morning. This was after social media platforms were abuzz with allegations that she had passed on following the shooting incident which happened on Sunday. Her mother informed this reporter that Nkonyane was responding well to treatment and was even talking. Thereafter, she asked her daughter if she wanted to engage with this reporter and Nkonyane responded to the affirmative. Despite that she had difficulty breathing, Nkonyane narrated that she was feeling better than when she was admitted to the hospital.

Bullets

She said one of the bullets, which was lodged in her head had been extracted and only two bullets were still in her body. Nkonyane said doctors had informed her that one was lodged in her lungs while another was in her leg. With pauses in her speech, Nkonyane said: Yesterday, I experienced extreme pain; but the medication has lessened it. The two bullets will not be taken out for now, my husband terminated our medical aid and here (hospital) they want E108 000. She said that was what would prolong her stay in hospital. Thereafter, Nkonyane said she had requested her family to seek donations so that her medical expenses could be sorted. Nkonyane dismissed allegations that were made by her husband regarding the shooting incident.

Entrances

Her spouse had claimed that while at his residence, about four people who were in the company of his wife, arrived. He purported that upon their arrival; they took positions at the entrances of the house while his wife entered and sought to engage him. This, Nkonyane disputed. Instead, she claimed to have been in the company of her two brothers aged 23 and 20 when she arrived at their matrimonial home. Nkonyane claimed that her siblings were known to Shongwe as they had accompanied her to their home in previous instances. She claimed that her intention was to collect her academic qualifications, which she sought to use when applying for employment.

Upon arrival, she purported to have found her cousin (who she named) to be in their home. Thereafter, she claimed to have informed Shongwe about her mission. This, Nkonyane claimed, was not welcomed by her husband as she purported that he informed her that she would leave with nothing from their house. Thereafter, I asked him why he had my cousin in the house. I questioned him on what lesson he was imparting to our children, claimed Nkonyane. She further supposed that when they arrived at the residence, her cousin had been hidden in a vehicle parked in their yard. Nkonyane further alleged that the relationship between her husband and her cousin had started in 2019. She alleged that her husband was even leasing a flat for her cousin in one of the peri-urban townships in Manzini. Also, she claimed to have questioned her husband about all the men that were allegedly in her life.

Meanwhile, Shongwe had on Sunday claimed that he requested to engage with his wife in private when she arrived at their residence. While in the bedroom, he claimed that there was an altercation.

He purported that given the altercation, he suspected that his life could be in danger following threats he had received before. He supposed that there was a man who wanted to kill him who was known to him and his wife. For that reason, he took his gun to protect himself. However, Shongwe said he could not recall everything that happened as things became intense.

It is believed five gunshots were allegedly fired by Shongwe, three of which hit his wife.
Capex.com, the leading global multi-licensed broker operated by Key Way Markets Ltd, has recently announced the appointment of Tarek Nabil as their Chief Operating Officer for the Mena region effective July 2021. In his role, he will be responsible for managing day to day operations and helping the brands expansion in the region.

Nabil comes with more than two decades of industry experience and has held leadership roles with multiple organisations such as ADS Securities, Amana Capital, Saxo Bank and The Change Group Denmark to name a few.

This is an exciting time for us at Capex.com and we are thrilled to have Tarek onboard with us as our COO. With him onboard and the decades of experience he brings to the table, we are positive about expanding our offerings to continue to shape the future of trading in the region and helping our clients expand their portfolios, said Madalina Rotaru, CEO, Key Way Markets Ltd, ADGM

In the most recent role as a Sales Director at Amana Capital, he led the sales team in a fast-paced environment to exceed assigned targets by employing modern selling techniques. Backed by his strong track record, he designed and implemented strategic business plans to expand the companys client base.

Prior to this, Nabil has held the Director position at ADS-Securities for nearly a decade. His journey with the Abu Dhabi based FX broker commenced in September 2010 as their Senior Vice President of Sales.

In April of 2016, he went on to become the Sales Director, and after two years, he took the next step as the Sales Director Premium Team. In the early stages of his career, Nabil worked with Saxo Bank where he was instrumental in setting up the Middle East office and establishing new client relationships, while expanding the portfolios of existing clientele.

Capex.com recently launched their zero-commission based product  Stox. The product offers traders a unique trading experience, and brings Fractional Trading, allowing clients to trade fractions of the shares value starting from 0.01, as opposed to trading full value of the share, without leverage and no swap fees on long (buy) positions.

Stox will enable clients to diversify their portfolio by accessing more than 50 of the worlds largest US listed companies including Apple, Tesla, Microsoft, Facebook, Alibaba, Disney and more. Stox is available on the Capex.com online trading platform WebTrader. New users can sign up for a normal trading account and existing users by default will have access to Stox.

Since opening its strategic location in Abu Dhabi in 2020, Capex.com, the official trading partner of Juventus, is regulated by  CySEC, FSCA, and ADGM, providing services across Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, Latin America, and South-East Asia and continues to offer an authentic and exceptional trading experience for professional and novice traders alike.

Capex.com blends technology with a customer-centred, education-oriented approach to create a one-of-a-kind trading experience. As the multi-award-winning fintech company grows and expands its global presence, it continues to develop as a complete fintech platform  a one-stop-shop trading solution with tailor-made services for clients and partners.-- TradeArabia News Service
Omans Central Utilities Company (Marafiq), a member of OQ Group, has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Rural Areas Electricity Company (Tanweer), a member of Nama Group, for the new integrated power and water plant that is still under construction in Duqm, said a report.

The power plant, consisting of gas turbines with a capacity of more than 80 MW, has been designed to meet the energy requirements of Tanweer in Duqm. It is expected to begin power production in November 2021, reported Oman News Agency (ONA)

The PPA was signed by Hamad Ali Al Wahibi, General Manager of Business Development at Marafiq, and Ahmed Said Al Harthy, Acting CEO of Tanweer.

On the strategic deal, Marafiq Executive Director Abdullah Al Hashimi said: "It will meet the requirements economic procurement of the sectors law and will create high value to meet the increasing demand in the zone. In addition, the plant will contribute to reducing emissions."

Marafiq received natural gas in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm in April and began commissioning activities of the integrated power and water plant, which has reached a completion rate of 92%, and all work on the 132 kV high voltage transmission line has been completed.
Bauer Maschinen Group, a global leader in the development and manufacture of specialist foundation engineering equipment, has announced the launch of an innovative cutting system developed in collaboration with its strategic partner, the Belgian tunnel construction expert Denys.

A true global innovation, Bauer Cube System will open up entirely new opportunities for the future construction of diaphragm walls.

"It is designed as an electrically powered cutting system which builds on a great deal of proven expertise from Bauer but features an entirely new construction," explained Dr Ruediger Kaub, Managing Director of Bauer Maschinen.

"What makes it unique: The entire system was developed precisely in container dimensions. This means it can be used without any problem in microtunnels with small diameters of just 3.8 m, for example," he noted.

"Imagine you are planning a new subway line in a densely populated city. Ideally, you want to plan the new line to allow passengers to get on and off exactly where they want to go. This means that the new subway stations need to be located exactly where there are large office complexes, a large shopping center or the city center. But precisely in such locations, it would be very difficult or even impossible to build these subway stations with the technology available to date. It is now possible thanks to our Bauer Cube System, which can be used exactly where the new subway stations need to be constructed: Underground, below the existing buildings! This opens up entirely new opportunities for designers and architects, remarked Kaub.

A leading provider of services, equipment and products dealing with ground and groundwater, Bauer has over 110 subsidiaries cutting across all continents.

He pointed out that for almost 60 years, equipment from Bauer has represented the highest performance and quality and constant innovation.

Underground expansion of cities, setting up drinking water storage, or transferring cloud servers below ground along with the necessary cooling technology are all conceivable applications. All these examples demonstrate the enormous potential of our Cube System," added Kaub.

The advantages of the system are evident: The impact of construction sites on traffic, businesses and residents (in particular) are minimized. This is because the minimally invasive Cube System only requires a comparatively small access point to an existing microtunnel or auxiliary tunnel.

The actual work is carried out underground, essentially invisibly. The electric drive system also considerably reduces the ecological disturbance of a cutting site. When it comes to logistics as well, the systems compact dimensions are a major advantage: Instead of expensive heavy haulage, the individual elements of the Bauer Cube System are easily transported to their place of deployment as conventional containers. As a result, the Bauer Cube System also sets new standards when it comes to sustainability.

"Last but not least, I would particularly like to emphasize the trusting and highly constructive collaboration with our strategic partner Denys as well as our specialists within the group," stated Kaub.

"During the development phase, this collaboration delivered crucial input that allowed us to examine nearly every aspect of process engineering, mechanical engineering, logistics or external influences on the site in advance. Based on this research, many ideas were incorporated into the system at an early stage of development," he added.

According to him, the first successful tests of the prototype under the most realistic conditions possible have already been carried out on the Bauer plant grounds in Aresing near the company headquarters in Schrobenhausen, Germany.

"This test phase will continue for the next four to six months, which in principle means that an anticipated practical application will be possible towards the end of 2021. One thing is already clear: With this development, we are once again demonstrating the innovative power of Bauer," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
BznsBuilder, the leading Egyptian 360 Business Relation Management platform (BRM) extends its footprint into the Asian market by launching the platform in Indonesia in partnership with Indonesia Prima.

The new launch was announced during the Festival Entrepreneur Indonesia in the presence of his Irman Adi Purwanto Moefthi the Indonesian Commercial Consulate in Egypt.

BznsBuilder is a flagship platform that prides itself on being the startups' virtual co-founder providing businesses with step-by-step guides on building impeccable business plans. The platform automates the financial reports and charts without the need for a solid financial background. Founders can also develop their pitch decks and one-page plans, export and share them with investors.

Indonesia Prima is an innovation player supporting Indonesian and Asian startups to grow and scale their businesses.

BznsBuilder expansion in Indonesia is the first in a series of planned expansions into Asia, the home for 200 global unicorns, bringing BznsBuilder's 360 experience to support local entrepreneurs in building their businesses. The expansion to Indonesia followed the booming in the local ecosystem with the startups raising more than 1.9B in Q3 2020.

Riham Abu Elinin, founder of BznsBuilder commented on the new launch saying: "BznsBuilder is on a mission to empower entrepreneurs, students, and organisations globally with reliable, efficient and cost-effective 360 business relationship management solutions to grow their business."

Diah Yusuf founder of Indonesia Prima said: Entrepreneurs should create a better future with better mindsets as well as skill sets. BznsBuilder will help them with practical thinking to have better understanding of their business to grow, to achieve their maximum success. I am delighted to have this opportunity of working in partnership with BznsBuilder to expand in Asia, because we all are part of the global entrepreneurship ecosystem and must support each other.-- TradeArabia News Service
Seabourn, the ocean and expedition travel company, has announced the Seabourn Ventures inaugural itineraries, Wild & Ancient British Isles Voyage and Scottish and Norse Legends Expedition, setting sail next April.

The first of the lines two new purpose-built expedition vessels, Seabourn Venture is scheduled to depart on its inaugural voyage on April 10, 2022, exploring the United Kingdom with a 12-day Wild & Ancient British Isles voyage from Greenwich (London), England, to Leith (Edinburgh).

The ship will then sail on a 12-day Scottish and Norse Legends Expedition out of Leith on April 22, 2022, exploring the coastal beauty of Scotland and Norway en route to Tromso, Norway. These voyages are available for booking on August 19, 2021, the company said in a press release.

President Josh Leibowitz said: Were looking forward to the dawn of a new era of expedition cruising, and our inaugural Seabourn Venture itineraries through the British Isles, Scotland and Norway are the perfect beginning.

Our first purpose-built ultra-luxury expedition vessel is a ship unlike any other, with a perfect blend of luxury and adventure to break boundaries and create lasting memories in destinations brimming with natural and cultural marvels.

From Tromso, Seabourn Venture will embark on its first summer season in the Arctic, starting on May 4, 2022.

The ship will set sail in the Arctic, exploring far-flung destinations in Svalbard, the North Cape and other locations in Norway, as well as Iceland, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.-TradeArabia News Service
Oman has decided to lift the travel ban on fully vaccinated passengers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other 18 countries that were red-listed, The Omani Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced.

The decision will be effective from midnight on September 1, 2021, reported Times of Oman , citing the

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) officials.

According to CAA, all Omani citizens, residents and visa holders of the sultanate, and those who can obtain a visa on arrival, are eligible to enter the sultanate from September 1 in accordance with the pre-Covid-19 guidelines.

All passengers arriving to the Sultanate are required to present a Covid-19 vaccine certificate containing a QR code stating that they have received two doses of a vaccine approved in Oman, or in cases where a single dose is approved by the health authorities of the Sultanate, have received one dose of such a vaccine.

The last dose is required to have been received not less than 14 days ahead of estimated arrival time.

The CAA also said that all passengers arriving into the sultanate presenting a negative Covid-19 PCR test result are exempted from quarantine.

The PCR test shall indicate the medical test result which can be validated and certified with a QR code and the test shall be conducted within 96 hours prior to the scheduled time of arrival in the sultanate for the international flights of more than eight hours duration, including transit, and 72 hours before for shorter flights, said the report.

All passengers entering the sultanate without a negative PCR test or subject to a PCR test upon arrival will be required to enter mandatory quarantine with electronic tracking bracelet until a negative PCR test result is received.

In case of a positive PCR test result, the passengers shall be required to undergo mandatory health isolation for 10 days starting from the test date, it stated.

However, passengers who have recovered from Covid-19 but tested positive on arrival, are exempted from health isolation provided they are able to submit proof that they have completed the prescribed isolation period in the country where they were infected before travelling to the sultanate.

Before boarding the aircraft, all passengers arriving in the sultanate, including diplomats, are required to complete pre-registration via Tarassud+ platform and to upload the vaccine certificate as well as a PCR certificate, both containing QR codes, it added.

According to CAA, those passengers who prefer to conduct the PCR test upon arrival will need to pay the prescribed fees by registering via Tarassud+ platform before boarding the aircraft.

Arriving passengers aged 18 years and below are exempted from the requirements of the vaccine and Covid-19 PCR test.
As part of his working trip to Mary province, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited Turkmenistans largest gas field Galkynysh (Revival), where he gave start to construction of new wells.

Speaking at the official ceremony, the head of state noted that significant investments are being made in the country's fuel and energy complex with the view of further developing the industry, equipping specialized enterprises with technological innovations and intensifying exploration and drilling works.

According to the President of Turkmenistan, the State Concern "Turkmengaz" signed a contract to this effect with Chinese company CNPC. The project implementation period is 30 months. In accordance with the agreement signed in 2007, payment for the company's services will be made with natural gas supplied to China for three years.

During his trip to Mary province, the head of state also took part in the ceremony of starting the construction of a facility for mass celebrations with 3,000 seats located next to the building "White Yurt of Turkmens".

 TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021
UNI NEWS DIGEST AT 2000 HRS FOR SEPTEMPER 1, 2021 01 Sep 2021 | 8:17 PM New Delhi: Self-immolation case: NHRC issues notice to UP, Delhi Police (DI18)

Doha : No way around talks with Taliban, says German Foreign Minister (DF24)

Kabul : Will support new Taliban govt: ex-Afghan PM (DF19)

New Delhi: 50 cr Indians get first dose of COVID vaccine: Health Minister (DI7)

Lucknow : UP CM orders action against guilty officers in Supertech twin tower case (DR12)

Nagpur : Ex-CJI Sharad Bobde calls on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at RSS headquarters in Nagpur (BY9)

Chennai : As COVID cases ease, Schools, colleges re-open after one year in TN (MS34)

Kolkata : Rujira Banerjee requests ED to quiz her in Kolkata (CA30)

Mumbai : SEBI revises LES framework used by stock exchanges (DC44)

New Delhi: Over 190 players sold for Rs 48.22 crore at PKL season 8 auction (SPD9)

UNI JAL 2017. see more..

India-Russia to review bilateral cooperation in energy sector 01 Sep 2021 | 8:07 PM New Delhi, Sep 1 (UNI) Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri is leading an

official and business delegation to Russia from September 1-5 to participate in the 6th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) Summit in Vladivostok. see more..

Self-immolation case: NHRC issues notice to UP, Delhi Police 01 Sep 2021 | 7:30 PM New Delhi, Sep 1 (UNI) National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued notice to Uttar Pradesh and Delhi Police over the self-immolation by an alleged rape victim, and a man outside the Supreme Court on August 16. see more..

Inflammatory slogan case: Pinky Chaudhary sent to day's police custody 01 Sep 2021 | 7:18 PM New Delhi, Sep 1 (UNI) A Delhi Court on Wednesday remanded Hindu Rakshak Dal president Pinky Chaudhary in police custody for one-day in connection with alleged inflammatory sloganeering at Jantar Mantar in the national capital. see more..
New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday slammed the government for selling out public sector assets and said he was selling the "jewels in the crown" of India, even as he clarified that the Congress is not against privatisation.

Addressing a press conference a day after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the National Monetisation Pipeline, Rahul Gandhi said this can eventually lead to a situation similar to when East India Company came to India.

"There's a list of assets Congress has helped build. The PM is in the process of selling the crown jewels of this country," Rahul Gandhi said at a press conference.

"They are selling away all we built. Every patriotic person should oppose this," Rahul Gandhi said.

He stressed Congress is not against privatisation.

"We are not against privatisation... we believe there should be a policy for privatisation. First point is that strategic assets should not be sold," he said.

The former Congress president added that all assets will be sold to "a few corporates", adding that it will lead to a rise in unemployment in future.

"The whole idea is to create a monopoly of 3-4 businessmen. Young people in India will not be able to find jobs in future. This will ensure our entire industrial structure will be controlled by 3-4 people," Rahul Gandhi said.

He compared the situation to the time when the East India Company took over India.

"We have dealt with a monopoly that was the East India Company. This is what is happening now; we are heading towards enslavement," he said.

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram called it the "grand closing down sale".

"Virtually no public sector will be left after this exercise," Chidambaram said.

He also said consultations have not been held with any stakeholders before undertaking the exercise.

Rahul Gandhi warned workers and the youth that the National Monetisation Plan will kill jobs by creating monopoly.

Referring to the monetisation plan, senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said there had been no criteria or goals for such a big exercise.

"Have they consulted stakeholders, the unions, etc? All this was hatched in NITI Ayog. Can this be the sole goal, to get money through rent? To get 1.5 lakh crore?" he asked.

Upto 25 airports, 40 railway stations, and 15 railway stadiums, among other installations, have been identified to get private investments in the Rs. 6 lakh crore monetisation plan announced by the Finance Minister.

UNI AO JW2020
Applications Open for Fisher Innovation Launchpad Sponsored by UWs IMPACT 307

University of Wyoming students have another opportunity to take their ideas from the dorm room to the boardroom through the Fisher Innovation Launchpad (FIL).

FIL awards seed funding to student-led businesses with a focus on innovation, problem-solving, emerging industries and disruptive technology startups. Students within all disciplines at UW at the undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels are encouraged to apply.

The application deadline is midnight Monday, Sept. 13. To apply, go to https://uwyo.startuptree.co/event/s/GsGMwttyZgwe2BzDaeuQYE/Fisher-Innovation-Launchpad.

The opportunity was created in 2016 through a generous financial gift from Donne and Sue Fisher. FIL continues to run through UWs IMPACT 307, a network of innovation-driven business incubators committed to growing and strengthening Wyomings entrepreneurial community by providing resources and support for founders to thrive.

Interested UW community members are invited to attend an FIL information session Wednesday, Sept. 8, from 4:30-7 p.m. at the Wyoming Technology Business Center, located at 1938 Harney St. in Laramie. The event will be outside in the east courtyard. Attendees can network with previous Fisher winners, incubator clients, IMPACT 307 business counselors and UW faculty members who are engaged with entrepreneurship on campus.

Participants in FIL will receive individualized advising for their businesses and guidance in navigating all aspects of business development. FIL will culminate in November at the final Pitch Day event, where finalists present their businesses to a panel of independent judges. While there is no set limit on how much a finalist can receive, awards have historically ranged from $4,000 to $40,000.
UWs Hickman Named 2021 Mary Garland Early Career Fellowship Recipient

Barbara Hickman

Barbara Hickman, an assistant professor in the University of Wyoming College of Education, has been named the recipient of the 2021 Mary Garland Early Career Fellowship.

The college presents this award annually to support the recruitment and retention of the best candidates for faculty positions. Hickman will use the $25,000 award over the next two years to investigate how K-12 districts understand and use copyright law; language and adaptation of school board policies regarding intellectual property; and if virtual learning has influenced Wyoming school administrators understanding and application of copyright law.

The late Wyoming business leader, John P. Jack Ellbogen, established the Mary Ellbogen Garland Early Career Fellowship in 2000 in honor of his daughters commitment to community service and philanthropy. The fund is used to support promising junior faculty members in the College of Education by providing startup funding for the recipients research and teaching programs, as well as to supplement their income.

The selection committee for the award consists of the College of Education dean, associate deans and the chair of the colleges Tenure and Promotion Committee.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck last spring, many schools had to quickly move to virtual learning but were unprepared to support their students with digital materials and resources. For example, schools that have only one classroom set of textbooks might have made copies to post online for individual students to access. This might not be considered fair use, because it changed the terms under which the district owned the rights to use this material.

The story of the Houston Independent School District (HISD) provides an example of the costs of copyright violation, Hickman says. In 2019, HISD purchased study guides and made copies to distribute districtwide. When the publishing company sued, the district was required to pay $9.2 million to the publisher and guarantee employees would participate in annual copyright training,

The HISD story is not unique and can be attributed to a lack of emphasis on copyright law during teacher preparation programs and district professional development opportunities. The uncertainty many educators have surrounding the legal application of copyright law inspired Hickman to study the problem, so that teachers can be better prepared in the future.

The first stage of the project is to analyze current school board policies on copyright and intellectual property that are in use in Wyoming, and to learn if any changes have been made to those policies during virtual learning. The next stage is a qualitative study to interview Wyoming school administrators about current policy regarding copyright laws and intellectual property -- to gain insight into where administrators see room for growth and improvement in the preparation programs at UW and in their professional development offerings.

After collecting and analyzing the data, I will develop an outline of recommendations for district professional development opportunities regarding copyright and intellectual property for K-12 districts, Hickman says. We also will work to incorporate these findings into our programs at UW.

Data from this research will be presented by Hickman at the national Education Law Associations annual conference and other relevant opportunities. She also plans to publish her findings in journals that focus on education law.

The project is a natural extension of Hickmans research agenda, which focuses on large-scale systems, processes and policies, with a subfocus on the application of constitutional law in schools. This project also expands upon her previous publications on copyright law and social media, as well as a policy analysis paper she is developing that explores the ownership of Zoom recordings.
MEGAN SPOERLEIN is a News and Features Reporter for The Vidette. Spoerlein can be contacted at mkspoe1@ilstu.edu. Follow Spoerlein on Twitter at @meganspoerlein.

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 digital media, please contribute to this most important cause. Thank you.
Minister Bossano to Address UN Decolonization Seminar

The Minister for Economic Development Joe Bossano accompanied by Albert Poggio is travelling to the Island of Dominica to participate in the UN Decolonization Seminar and will be back in Gibraltar next week.

The Seminar has historically been held in May so that the issues debated in the Seminar can be reflected in the Committee of 24, the Special Committee, in New York in June.

The recommendations of the Special Committee are then considered by the 4th Committee in October and decisions later taken by the General Assembly.

This year because of COVID, the New York meeting took place in June and the Seminar has been delayed till August.

The Seminars were set up in 1990, to accelerate the decolonization process, with a target of 2000, the 1st Decade. The Meeting this week is the first year of the 4th Decade.

Joe Bossano has addressed the Seminars in all 4 decades.
West Hartford, CT (06107)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Potential for flooding rains. High 67F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..

Tonight

Periods of rain. The rain will be heavy at times. Low near 60F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
MCCH Welcomes News Hospice Social Worker

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MURRAY - Murray-Calloway County Hospital recently welcomed Katie Hoover as the newest Social Worker to the team at MCCH Hospice.Hospice social workers help clients and their families navigate planning for end-of-life care; understand their treatment plan and be vocal about their needs; manage the stresses of debilitating physical illnesses, including emotional, familial and financial; overcome crisis situations; and connect to other support services.This position also serves the role as the Volunteer Coordinator and works alongside the Hospice Chaplain with bereavement services that follow families from 13 months after a patient has passed.Hoover will be working with social worker Charlotte Rhodes, who has over 10 years of experience at MCCH Hospice and worked for five years in mental health prior to that. She plans to retire later this year.
Comer to Speak at Chamber Breakfast

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - The September 2 Power in Partnership Breakfast, hosted by the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, will feature U.S. Congressman James Comer.Comer has served Kentucky 's 1st Congressional District since he was elected in 2016. He's currently the Republican Leader of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor.The breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Julian Carroll Convention Center and pre-registration is required. The cost is $20. Pre-registration is required by noon, August 30. Register at paducahchamber.org or call 270-443-1746.Safety protocols to be followed at the breakfast include masks requirments except when eating and drinking; tables will be spread out with fewer seats at each table; boxed meals will be served; and hand sanitizing stations will be available. The Chamber asks that you do not attend if you are feeling ill or have recently been exposed to COVID-19.The breakfast will also serve as the kick-off to the Chambers annual Membership and Total Resource Campaign, which will run until October 14. Cory Hicks, Business Services Director for Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership and Chair-Elect of the Paducah Chamber Board of Directors, will lead the campaign as Chairman and will introduce the 2021 Campaign Team Captains.
Masks Required at Du Quoin State Fair

By West Kentucky Star Staff





DU QUOIN - If you plan to attend this year's Du Quoin State Fair from August 27 to September 6 you're going to need a mask.The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced today that all fair attendees, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear masks in public indoor settings.Not just indoors but also in the grandstands for the concerts as all grandstand concert goers must wear masks to all performances.Masks will be provided at the grandstand upon entrance as well as in other locations throughout the fairgrounds and must be worn over the nose and mouth indoors and for the duration of all grandstand performances.
Kuttawa Man Arrested After Multiple Incidents

By West Kentucky Star Staff

KUTTAWA - A Kuttawa man is facing charges after Lyon County Sheriff's deputies responded to two different incidents on Saturday.Deputies came to a Kuttawa business for a trespassing complaint. The man had been told to stay away from the property, but had been seen by several employees. By the time a deputy arrived, the man was gone, but was identified from photographs as 37-year-old Jacob Armstrong.A short time later, the deputy responded to a home on Cinder Lane, where Armstrong had reportedly violated an emergency protective order. He was arrested on that charge, and also for criminal trespassing for the earlier incident.Armstrong was taken to Crittenden County Detention Center.
IL Couple Arrested in Cadiz in Stolen Car

By West Kentucky Star Staff

KUTTAWA - A complaint about suspicious activity in Kuttawa led to the arrest of an Illinois couple in Cadiz.A Lyon County Sheriff's deputy was called to a Kuttawa business about a couple spotted in and around a dumpster, but they fled in a car before deputies arrived.The car had been reported stolen in another state, and it was eventually pulled over near I-24 exit 65 by Cadiz Police and the Trigg County Sheriff's Department.Police arrested 25-year-old William J. Finney of Murphysboro, Illinois, and 28-year-old Tara D. Williams of Wolf Lake, Illinois on charges related to the vehicle.Lyon County deputies charged Finney and Williams with theft by unlawful taking and criminal littering, related to a gas can and $40 in gas that was allegedly stolen in Kuttawa, and pill bottles and other items they reportedly threw out the car's window.They were taken to Christian County Jail.
Rolling Stones Drummer Charlie Watts Dead at 80

By West Kentucky Star Staff

LONDON - Charlie Watts, the self-effacing and unshakeable Rolling Stones drummer who helped anchor one of rock's greatest rhythm sections and used his "day job" to support his enduring love of jazz, has died, according to his publicist. He was 80.Bernard Doherty said Tuesday that Watts "passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.""Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation," Doherty said.Watts had announced he would not tour with the Stones in 2021 because of an undefined health issue.The quiet, elegantly dressed Watts was often ranked with Keith Moon, Ginger Baker and a handful of others as a premier rock drummer, respected worldwide for his muscular, swinging style as the Stones rose from their scruffy beginnings to international superstardom. He joined the band early in 1963 and remained over the next 60 years, ranked just behind Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as the group's longest-lasting and most essential member.Watts stayed on, and largely held himself apart, through the drug abuse, creative clashes and ego wars that helped kill founding member Brian Jones, drove bassist Bill Wyman and Jones' replacement Mick Taylor to quit and otherwise made being in the Stones the most exhausting of jobs.A classic Stones song like "Brown Sugar" and "Start Me Up" often began with a hard guitar riff from Richards, with Watts following closely behind, and Wyman, as the bassist liked to say, "fattening the sound." Watts' speed, power and time keeping were never better showcased than during the concert documentary, "Shine a Light," when director Martin Scorsese filmed "Jumpin' Jack Flash" from where he drummed toward the back of the stage.The Stones began, Watts said, "as white blokes from England playing Black American music" but quickly evolved their own distinctive sound. Watts was a jazz drummer in his early years and never lost his affinity for the music he first loved, heading his own jazz band and taking on numerous other side projects.He had his eccentricities  Watts liked to collect cars even though he didn't drive and would simply sit in them in his garage. But he was a steadying influence on stage and off as the Stones defied all expectations by rocking well into their 70s, decades longer than their old rivals the Beatles.Watts didn't care for flashy solos or attention of any kind, but with Wyman and Richards forged some of rock's deepest grooves on "Honky Tonk Women," "Brown Sugar" and other songs. The drummer adapted well to everything from the disco of "Miss You" to the jazzy "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" and the dreamy ballad "Moonlight Mile."Jagger and Richards at times seemed to agree on little else besides their admiration of Watts, both as a man and a musician. Richards called Watts "the key" and often joked that their affinity was so strong that on stage he'd sometimes try to rattle Watts by suddenly changing the beat  only to have Watts change it right back.Jagger and Richards could only envy his indifference to stardom and relative contentment in his private life, when he was as happy tending to the horses on his estate in rural Devon, England, as he ever was on stage at a sold-out stadium.Watts did on occasion have an impact beyond drumming. He worked with Jagger on the ever more spectacular stage designs for the group's tours. He also provided illustrations for the back cover of the acclaimed 1967 album "Between the Buttons" and inadvertently gave the record its title. When he asked Stones manager Andrew Oldham what the album would be called, Oldham responded "Between the buttons," meaning undecided. Watts thought that "Between the Buttons" was the actual name and included it in his artwork.To the world, he was a rock star. But Watts often said that the actual experience was draining and unpleasant, and even frightening. "Girls chasing you down the street, screaming...horrible!... I hated it," he told The Guardian newspaper in an interview. In another interview, he described the drumming life as a "cross between being an athlete and a total nervous wreck."Author Philip Norman, who has written extensively about the Rolling Stones, said Watts lived "in constant hope of being allowed to catch the next plane home." On tour, he made a point of drawing each hotel room he stayed in, a way of marking time until he could return to his family. He said little about playing the same songs for more than 40 years as the Stones recycled their classics. But he did branch out far beyond "Satisfaction" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by assembling and performing with jazz bands in the second half of his career.Charles Robert Watts, son of a lorry driver and a housewife, was born in Neasden, London, on June 2, 1941. From childhood, he was passionate about music  jazz in particular. He fell in love with the drums after hearing Chico Hamilton and taught himself to play by listening to records by Johnny Dodds, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington and other jazz giants.He worked for a London advertising firm after he attended Harrow Art College and played drums in his spare time. London was home to a blues and jazz revival in the early 1960s, with Jagger, Richards and Eric Clapton among the future superstars getting their start. Watts' career took off after he played with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, for whom Jagger also performed, and was encouraged by Korner to join the Stones.Watts wasn't a rock music fan at first and remembered being guided by Richards and Brian Jones as he absorbed blues and rock records, notably the music of bluesman Jimmy Reed. He said the band could trace its roots to a brief period when he had lost his job and shared an apartment with Jagger and Richards because he could live there rent-free."Keith Richards taught me rock and roll," Watts said. "We'd have nothing to do all day and we'd play these records over and over again. I learned to love Muddy Waters. Keith turned me on to how good Elvis Presley was, and I'd always hated Elvis up 'til then."Watts was the final man to join the Stones; the band had searched for months to find a permanent drummer and feared Watts was too accomplished for them. Richards would recall the band wanting him so badly to join that members cut down on expenses so they could afford to pay Watts a proper salary. Watts said he believed at first the band would be lucky to last a year."Every band I'd ever been in had lasted a week," he said. "I always thought the Stones would last a week, then a fortnight, and then suddenly, it's 30 years."
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 12:24:38|Editor: huaxia

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SYDNEY, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Fully vaccinated residents in Australia's state of New South Wales (NSW), the epicenter of the country's current COVID-19 outbreak, will likely be granted more freedom as the state edges toward its goal of jabs.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Tuesday the state has now hit the milestone of 6 million vaccines administered, about 60 percent of its population across the state having at least one dose and around 30 percent of the population double dosed.

Berejiklian said 2 million fully vaccinated NSW residents will have "at least one" freedom restored to them in the near future, but further details are still being worked out by health authorities and would be unveiled on Thursday or Friday.

The state recorded 753 new locally acquired cases in the 24 hours to 8:00 p.m. local time Monday and no death cases.

Berejiklian also urged other Aussie states who have had zero cases for a long time to get high vaccine rates as borders will be reopened in the future and "the Delta strain will take hold."

"They will all be confronted, perhaps not as starkly as New South Wales, being the largest and densely regulated state and most of us, Victoria has similar demographics so it is only stand to reason we are the first two states confronting the reality of the Delta strain, other states will have to go through it," she said.

Victoria, which recorded 50 new local cases on Tuesday, opened Pfizer vaccine eligibility to residents aged over 16 from Wednesday.

"The change means that from Wednesday, Aug. 25, anyone aged 18 to 59 will be eligible to receive either Pfizer or AstraZeneca - with people aged 16 to 17 able to receive the Pfizer vaccine. Those aged 60 and over will continue to receive AstraZeneca," the government said in a statement.

However, as the number of Victorians aged 18 to 59 still far outweighing the Pfizer doses available, the state said the AstraZeneca vaccine is still available for those who choose to provide consent and discuss their vaccination with a medical professional. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 12:32:18|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) on Tuesday morning recorded 30 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19, a new record number for the national capital, on the 12th full day of its lockdown.

It takes the number of active cases associated with this outbreak in Canberra to 167, including four being treated in hospital.

Of Tuesday's new cases, 13 were in quarantine for their entire infectious period and the source of five infections is unknown.

Andrew Barr, chief minister of the ACT, said it was too early to know if the lockdown would be extended beyond Sept. 2 but that the number of people infected in the community was troubling.

"The reason we are in lockdown is to reduce the transmission potential," he told reporters.

"The more Canberrans who are vaccinated, the better protected our community will be from the virus and from the decisions of other governments that are beyond the control of the ACT government."

The ACT Health Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said that while the number of new cases might be a shock to the community, authorities were not surprised.

"Specifically of these new cases today, I can confirm that out of the 30, 25 can be linked to known cases or ongoing clusters," she said.

"Please people do not panic. We are heading in the right direction. We just need to keep doing it for a bit longer."

As of Monday afternoon, there had been 44,922 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, and the number of cases reported in the previous 24 hours was 909, most of which were locally acquired, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health.

On Tuesday morning, New South Wales (NSW), Australia's most populous state with Sydney as the capital city, reported 753 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19. And Victoria, the second-most populous state with Melbourne as the capital city, reported a further 50 new local cases.

So far, about half the Australian population in NSW, Victoria, and ACT was still in lockdown. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 13:23:22|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia registered 1,596 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 196,841, the country's health ministry said Monday.

The viral disease has claimed 907 lives after five people died in the past day, the ministry said.

The Asian country launched a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign in late February, aiming to inoculate at least 60 percent of its 3.3-million population.

So far, 63.4 percent of the population have been fully vaccinated against the virus, according to the ministry. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 14:24:53|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Two Naxal rebels were killed Tuesday in a fierce gunfight with government forces in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, officials said.

The gunfight broke out inside a forest in the Konta area of Sukma district, about 450 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.

"This morning a gunfight between Naxals and joint contingents of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) triggered inside forest area near Gompad and Kanhaiguda villages here. After the stand-off we have recovered two bodies of Naxals," senior police official Sunil Sharma told the media.

The identity of slain rebels was being ascertained, police said.

Following the firefight, the remaining Naxals managed to escape from the area, police said.

Last week two paramilitary troopers including an officer were killed after Naxals attacked them in the state's Narayanpur district.

Currently, Naxals are active across the central and eastern parts of India.

India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh once termed the Naxalite movement as India's "greatest internal security challenge".

New Delhi has deployed several companies of its paramilitary forces to take on Naxals in their strongholds.

The insurgency reportedly has claimed hundreds of lives besides rendering thousands of poor inhabitants homeless. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 15:28:06|Editor: huaxia

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Bangkok, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's exports expanded 20.27 percent year-on-year in July, reflecting continuous expansion for five consecutive months, the Minister of Commerce announced on Monday.

Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit told local media during the press conference on Monday that the healthy growth momentum was driven mainly by the ongoing global economic recovery in Thailand's trading partners, principally the United States, China, and European countries.

The customs-cleared exports value stood at 22.65 billion U.S. dollars, with imports increasing by 45.9 percent to 22.47 billion U.S. dollars, resulting in a trade surplus of 183.46 million U.S. dollars.

July's expansion was led by agricultural and agro-industrial product exports, which rose by 24.3 percent compared with a year earlier.

Collaborations between the Ministry of Commerce and the private sector, the economic recovery in Thailand's major trading partners, together with weakening Thai baht have increased the competitiveness of Thai products in the global market.

Meanwhile, rising oil prices also helped to boost the value of exports on the products in the supply chain network such as plastic resins and export chemicals.

However, Jurin said that the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown measures may have impacted the manufacturing sector in the country, especially between August and September, because of the closures of some fruit factories and inconvenient transportation of exporting routes from Thailand through Laos, Vietnam, China and Malaysia.

Exports are considered as a rare bright spot in Thai economy, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis as the country struggles with a surge in infections due to the more transmissible Delta variant.

The sector accounts for up to 70 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in the pre-pandemic era, according to data released by the National Economic and Social Development Council. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 15:59:18|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government will purchase marine products as an emergency measure to support fishermen if the planned discharge of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea brings damage to their sales, local media reported Tuesday.

The decision to allow the discharge of treated radioactive water has triggered an outcry from local fishermen and neighboring countries, although the Japanese government said it would not cause any safety issues.

Government officials said that under a plan compiled to help fishermen threatened by reputational damage, the government is looking at establishing a flexibly operating fund to buy marine products from Fukushima Prefecture and other parts of Japan.

After the Japanese government's decision in April to start releasing the water from around spring of 2023, fishermen called on the government to come up with detailed measures to protect the reputation of marine products.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a meeting for the plan, "We will make thorough efforts to prevent reputational damage being caused and will create an environment where (fishermen) can continue operations feeling assured even if reputational damage occurs."

If demands of Japan-produced marine products drop sharply in both domestic and overseas markets, the government will temporarily purchase and store frozen products or support fishermen to expand sales channels for products that cannot be frozen, the officials said, adding that the size and details of the envisaged fund are yet to be determined.

Moreover, the government will instruct Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc (TEPCO), the operator of the nuclear plant, to show a detailed framework for compensation at an early date as a safety net, which prevents fishermen from incurring losses even though they thoroughly implement measures against reputational damage, they said.

Tomoaki Kobayakawa, president of TEPCO, also attended the meeting. He told reporters that he and his company will "seriously" respond to the government's instruction and will come up with compensation plans for the water release "as early as possible."

By the end of this year, the Japanese government plans to compile a medium- and long-term action plan that covers the period after the discharge of the treated water, and it will continue getting opinions from related parties to add necessary measures, the officials said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 17:15:21|Editor: huaxia

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HO CHI MINH CITY, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Legislators of southern Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) on Tuesday elected Phan Van Mai as the new chairman of the municipal People's Committee for the 2021-2026 period, replacing Nguyen Thanh Phong, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Mai, 48, won the election with an approval rate of 97.75 percent at a meeting held by the committee.

Presenting his action plan, Mai said that he "would be proactive, creative, bold and responsible in leading the implementation of tasks, persistently striving for the interests of the people and the city's development."

He pledged to take strong measures on COVID-19 prevention and control with the focus on treatment, reducing mortality and taking better care of people's lives, especially the poor and disadvantaged, as well as to carry out a suitable socio-economic development plan to adapt to prolonged and complicated epidemic conditions.

Mai was previously appointed by the Political Bureau of the 13th Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) as permanent deputy secretary of the HCMC Municipal Party Committee in June.

Also at the meeting on Tuesday, the municipal People's Committee of HCMC relieved Nguyen Thanh Phong, 59, from his post. Phong was recently appointed deputy head of the Commission for Economic Affairs of the CPVCC by the Political Bureau of the CPVCC.

HCMC is currently the COVID-19 epicenter in Vietnam with over 180,200 infections and 7,000 deaths registered since the start of the current wave in late April, according to Vietnam's Ministry of Health. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 17:40:36|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Four coal miners were killed by unknown gunmen in capital city Quetta of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Tuesday, a rescue official said.

The incident happened in a coal range of Marwar area, located 43 km away from the downtown city, and the bodies have been shifted to a nearby hospital, Muhammad Zeeshan, manager of operations of the rescue department of the Edhi Foundation in Quetta, told Xinhua.

He said that the miners were missing at about 11:00 p.m. (local time) Monday, and their bodies were found by paramilitary troops Frontier Corps (FC) on Tuesday afternoon.

The official said that two of the bodies have been identified as the laborers who came from the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, while the other two are in the process of identification.

The FC personnel have kicked off a search operation in the area to find the traces of the gunmen involved in the incident.

No group has claimed the attack yet, but in the past, such incidents were either attributed to or claimed by separatist groups of the province who are against working of laborers coming from other provinces in Balochistan's coal mines. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 17:42:59|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Samsung Group, South Korea's largest family-run conglomerate, said Tuesday that it will invest 240 trillion won (206 billion U.S. dollars) in semiconductors and biopharmaceuticals for the next three years until 2023.

Samsung said in a statement that the investment in strategic businesses to drive future growth will be led by various Samsung affiliates, including its mainstay Samsung Electronics and Samsung Biologics.

Out of the total, 180 trillion won (154 billion U.S. dollars) will be invested locally. The total amount topped Samsung's previous three-year investment plan of 180 trillion won announced in 2018.

Samsung Electronics planned an early execution of the already announced investment to develop advanced process technology and expand business for new applications in artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers.

The tech affiliate will continue in research and development (R&D) and infrastructure, focusing on meeting the mid- to long-term demand rather than short-term changes in market conditions, Samsung said.

Samsung Biologics and Samsung Bioepis will expand contract manufacturing business by building two new plants in addition to three currently in operation and the fourth facility presently under construction.

The biopharmaceutical units will newly enter into the contract manufacturing of vaccines and the cellular and gene therapy products, while the biosimilar business will continue to boost the product development pipeline.

Samsung said it will apply high-performance AI algorithm to more smart devices, noting that the robotics investment will look to secure core technology in the sector.

With the new investment, Samsung expected to create 40,000 new jobs over the next three years. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 17:58:20|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will embark on a three-day official visit to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran on Tuesday, according to the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan.

During the visit, the foreign minister will have high-level interactions to exchange views on the evolving situation in Afghanistan and on enhancing bilateral relations, a foreign ministry statement said.

"Pakistan believes that the neighboring countries have a vital stake in the peace, security and stability of Afghanistan and the region," said the statement, adding that it is important to coordinate closely with the neighbors to address common challenges and advance shared goals of peace, security, stability and regional connectivity.

Qureshi's visit would also help promote a coordinated regional approach as well as strengthen Pakistan's engagement with Central and West Asia, said the foreign ministry. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 21:47:44|Editor: huaxia

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KABUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The United States should withdraw all troops and contractors before Aug. 31 deadline, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Tuesday.

Afghan citizens will not be allowed to leave the country by the ongoing U.S. evacuation process after the deadline, he told reporters. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-25 01:18:02|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said late on Tuesday that he would run for vice president in the May 2022 elections when his single six-year term ends.

Duterte, 76, announced his political plans in a pre-recorded televised public address.

"I am running for vice president (in the 2022 elections)," Duterte said, adding he wants to continue his crusade against insurgency, criminality, and illegal drugs.

Duterte's confirmation comes a few hours after Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, also the executive vice president of the governing PDP-Laban party, announced that Duterte had accepted the party's endorsement to run for vice president next year.

Nograles said Duterte, also chairman of PDP-Laban party, accepted the endorsement during his meeting Monday night with party officials at the presidential palace.

Duterte was elected president in the May 2016 elections. The constitution limits Philippine presidents to a single six-year term.

The vice president is elected separately from the president under the Philippine law. The vice president can be propelled to the presidency if the president dies or is incapacitated.

Nograles said the party would discuss Duterte's endorsement during their national convention next month. Enditem
" " The star-filled night sky over Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, certified as an official International Dark Sky Park in 2019. VWPics/Getty Images

According to the U.S.-based International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), an International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) "is a land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage and/or public enjoyment."

The most visible arm of this entity is their vaunted International Dark Sky Places program, which has been in existence since 2001 and has five levels of participation. We will focus on International Dark Sky Parks, which the organization defines as publicly or privately owned spaces protected for natural conservation that implement good outdoor lighting and provide dark sky programs for visitors. There are also International Dark Sky Reserves, International Dark Sky Sanctuaries, Urban Night Sky Places and International Dark Sky Communities.

To learn even more, we tapped John C. Barentine, Ph.D., F.R.A.S., who serves as director of conservation at the International Dark-Sky Association. Barentine shares that, "As of today, there are 178 designated International Dark Sky Places in 21 countries on six continents around the world." He thinks it's vital for there to be places like those recognized by the IDA. "They represent in some cases the last remaining regional sources of natural nighttime darkness, which we now know has great value for the wellbeing of the biological world, including ourselves as humans. Access to the night sky is part of our cultural heritage, and many people are now cut off from that experience. They are refuges for body and soul in our increasingly disconnected and frenetic world."

Most importantly, Barentine continues, is that they show what could be when people consciously decide that nighttime darkness is worth protecting. "They demonstrate the power of people coming together to identify a valuable resource and take simple but powerful and cost-effective steps to protect it. And they offer an opportunity for us to hand off something good to the generations that come after us, so they can access an experience among the few that transcends place, time, culture and cultural identity. There's only one night sky, and it belongs to all of us. It's also up to us to preserve it," says Barentine.

Earning an IDA designation is no small task. To get this distinction, areas must go through a rigorous application process, further explained here. "At any given time there are about 50 places in the pipeline that we consider highly 'active' (i.e., we anticipate that they will apply to the program within about the next 12 months) and about 75 that are considered 'active' but that we think will take a little longer to apply. So all together, there are around 125 sites that are somewhere in the nomination process. Lately we have accredited about 25 new sites per year, which means our annual conversion rate is about 20 percent," Barentine explains.

Now that we know what dark sky parks are, let's learn about a handful of options across the United States where visitors can experience the majesty of unspoiled nature via astrotourism.

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1. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

We'll start with John Barentine's favorite park, which he admits is a tough question, adding, "I've been asked the same question by journalists in the past, and I always think it's sort of like trying to say which of your children is your favorite. The answer is, of course, all of them." But when pushed, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is his chosen pick. "Not only is it a world icon, as national parks go, but as an Arizona native, it has special meaning to me. It's not the darkest park, or the biggest, but it's "grand" on a scale that's hard to describe. Seeing the Milky Way at night with the dark, yawning depths of the canyon before you is an incomparable experience. It's that sort of moment, that feeling, that drew me into working in dark skies to begin with. It's a feeling I want everyone on this planet to experience in their lifetime," he explains. This park was certified by the IDA in June 2019.

According to the National Park Service, about 5.5 million people visit the Grand Canyon each year to see the stunning 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) deep canyon winding through the desert. Grand Canyon National Park has built a robust night skies program. The best spots to view the stars from the South Rim, where 90 percent of visitors access the park, are Moran Point, Lipan Point and Mather Point from the visitor's center. The Desert View Watchtower is another popular spot, especially for astrophotography. Ranger-led hikes occur every full moon, and rangers occasionally provide constellation talks as well. The 10 percent of visitors using the North Rim entrance should hike to Bright Angel Point for the best views.

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2. Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho

Fittingly, Idaho's Craters of the Moon National Monument consists of ancient lava flows that are reminiscent of the craters and valleys of the moon. Its a stunning spot to view the skies and was designated a dark sky park in 2017. Annual star parties are held each spring and fall, while full moon hikes led by rangers are a summertime staple. Additionally, the Idaho Falls Astronomical Society hosts special events in the park to celebrate the beauty of the night sky.

Visitors can also camp overnight in a lava field for another excellent opportunity for a pristine star view.

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3. Newport State Park, Wisconsin

Dark sky parks aren't just reserved for nationally protected lands, so in 2017, Newport State Park in Door County, Wisconsin became the first IDSP in the state. This beautiful area rests on the shores of Lake Michigan and is the only wilderness state park in the state. The entire park offers pretty dark sky views, but for specific parking suggestions, check out this guide to the park's 2,300 acres (931 hectares). Just be sure to head out of the park before the 11 p.m. closing time.

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4. Prineville Reservoir State Park, Oregon

Prineville Reservoir State Park is currently Oregon's only certified dark sky park and earned the honor in May 2021. According to Allison Keeney, global communications manager for Travel Oregon/The Oregon Travel Commission, visitation has definitely increased over the last couple of years, likely due to this designation and the COVID-19 pandemic, with more people choosing to camp and be outside. This central Oregon spot is located east of Bend, a popular outdoorsy destination in the Beaver State. Scheduled dark sky programs are listed at the park in the on-site calendar, and overnight guests can camp at 43 sites along the shore of the 3,000-acre (1,214-hectare) reservoir. A number of rustic cabin accommodations are also available in the park and can be reserved up to six months in advance.

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5. AMC Maine Woods, Maine

AMC Maine Woods is New England's first IDSP and was designated as such in May 2021. This massive site helps preserve 75,000 acres (30,351 hectares) in remote northern Maine from light pollution. Owned and operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Maine Woods site provides overnight stargazing and accommodations opportunities with their Medawisla Lodge & Cabins and future programming is in the works as well.

Now That's Interesting According to National Geographic, three of the most light-polluted countries in the world are Singapore, Qatar and Kuwait.
A la fecha, el 27% de la poblacion objetivo ha recibido ambas dosis de la vacuna contra la #COVID19, una cobertura que representa a 7 574 060 de personas correctamente protegidas, informo el ministro Hernando Cevallos. pic.twitter.com/x9mvTVj3HS
Ahora | El presidente @PedroCastilloTe, junto con ministros de Estado, gobernadores regionales y otras autoridades, participa en el 14. #GoreEjecutivo.

?? En vivo: https://t.co/6SHcJfZ1JW
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced to lawmakers in parliament that the number of the Armenian sides victims of the 2020 war is 3773, with another 243 classified as missing in action.

I am presenting the 2021-2026 government program in unusual conditions, the prime minister said during debates of his administrations 5-year action plan.

The grave consequences of the 44-day war, our 3773 victims of the war, the fact that 243 soldiers are still missing, the fact that some of our captive soldiers havent yet returned, the thousands of displaced persons, the unusual and difficult social-economic state in Artsakh and Armenia, the alarming security challenges around Armenia and Artsakh, the crisis situation in the Sotk-Khoznavar section as a result of the unlawful invasion of the Azerbaijani armed forces into Armenian sovereign territory, the periodical violations of the November 9 trilateral ceasefire statement and resulting new casualties, the tense international situation, the continuing coronavirus pandemic make this environment in which we are discussing the government program unusual, PM Pashinyan said.

He called for the discussions to be not only about problems and challenges, but also their origins and causes, and most importantly solutions, because right now Armenia is standing at a turning point and its further course is going to be fateful for its future.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenia will continue strengthening and expanding the allied relations and strategic partnership with Russia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in the Parliament.

He stated that the capacities of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia continue expanding based on a number of agreements between Armenia and Russia.

The bases of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia have been established in Goris and Sisian of Syunik province. In several border sections of Armenia, Russian border guards participate in the protection. We are in close cooperation with Russia in a format of a working group dealing with the unblocking of regional communications. Russia is engaged in discussions relating to the situation in Sotk-Khoznavar section. Russia is an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair country, and of course, the presence of Russian peacekeeping forces in Nagorno Karabakh is a key factor for ensuring security, the PM said.

Pashinyan expressed serious concern over the fact that a strong anti-propaganda and actions are underway in Azerbaijan directed against the Russian peacekeepers.

I think that the fact that our captured citizens have been sentenced to long years in prison by the Azerbaijani courts also aims at discrediting the Russian peacekeepers and the Russian peacekeeping mission, Pashinyan said.

He stated that actions will be taken to further strengthen the Armenian-Russian political dialogue at the highest level and deepen the cooperation with Russia within the frames of the EAEU, CSTO, CIS and other multilateral formats.

I must highlight the special personal role that Russian President Vladimir Putin has played and plays in developing the Armenian-Russian relations, ensuring security and stability in our region, stopping the 44-day war and returning our captives. President Putins personal involvement and the trustful atmosphere between us is the guarantee to constantly raise the efficiency of the Armenian-Russian relations, he added.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on the 30th anniversary of the countrys national day  the Independence Day, the Armenian Presidents Office said in a statement.

I am convinced that the traditional friendship of our nations is a firm and stable base for the development of inter-state relations and implementation of mutually beneficial initiatives between Armenia and Ukraine, the letter reads.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister of Armenia Arshak Karapetyan points out three main tasks facing him on the path of having new and modernized weapons and resisting the security threats facing the country. The first one is obtaining new and high quality weapons, the second is having domestic production of arms, and the third one is excluding brokers between the Defense Ministry and producers, ARMENPRESS reports the Defense Minister spoke about this in Moscow in the sidelines of Army 2021 military-industrial exhibition. The Minister emphasized that strategic ally of Armenia Russia will play an important role in the solution of the three mentioned issues, which fully supports Armenia.

I can say I never heard the word no here. And we will tale practical steps to develop our cooperation with Russia. We plan to obtain new and high quality arms. We have refused to buy old weapons. That our policy. It's better to have less but of higher quality arms, being sure that they will work when necessary'', Arshak Karapetyan said.

As refers to domestic production of arms, Arshak Karapetyan noted that here Russia again supports Armenia in terms of creating joint ventures.

I think in case of these 3 conditions are brought to life, we will definitely have a new, modernized army in line with the 21st century and will be able to withstand the challenges, Arshak Karapetyan concluded.
The G20 special summit, dedicated to the crisis situation in Afghanistan, where power has seized the radical Taliban, is due to take place in September this year, news.am informs.

August 24, 2021, 12:54 Special G20 summit on Afghanistan to be held in September

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 24, ARTSAKHPRESS: The meeting will take place in the first or third week of the month so as not to overlap with the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, which is also scheduled to take place in September in New York. It has not yet been decided whether the G20 summit will be held in person in Rome or via videoconference, Il Giornale points out.

Italy currently holds the G20 Presidency. On August 19, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio announced the preparations for the summit dedicated to Afghanistan.
All first-graders of the Stepanakert schools will receive bags from the ICRC.

August 24, 2021, 14:05 First graders of Artsakh schools to receive bags from ICRC

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 24, ARTSAKHPRESS: Varduhi Ohanyan, Spokeswoman of the Stepanakert Municipality, told "Artsakhpress".

"The International Committee of the Red Cross will donate about 2,000 school bags to the first graders of the capital's schools, which will be full of the necessary stationery. The children will receive their bags as a surprise on September 1," said V. Ohanyan.
Strategic relations with Russia are one of the key factors of Armenias security, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Tuesday when presenting a new government program to the parliament, Tass informs.

August 24, 2021, 16:14 Armenian PM vows to prioritize deeper strategic ties with Russia

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 24, ARTSAKHPRESS: "I want to specifically highlight the strategic alliance with Russia which is one of the key factors of our countrys security architecture. The treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance between Armenia and Russia and the treaty on the joint armed force group of Armenia and Russia will continue ramping up the capabilities of the Russian 102nd military base in our country," he explained.

According to Pashinyan, "Russian border control officers continue to protect the Armenian state border, Russia is an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair and participates in discussions aimed at resolving the situation at the Sotk-Khoznavar section."

"Armenia is committed to expanding strategic relations with Russia as well as deepening cooperation in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and other international forums," he added.
A new residential district is being built near the village of Dahrav, Artsakhs Askeran region. The private houses will be provided to 100 Artsakh families displaced due to the recent 44-Day War.

August 24, 2021, 16:44 A new residential district being built in Dahrav

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 24, ARTSAKHPRESS: Martha Danielyan, Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Urban Planning of the Republic of Artsakh, told "Artsakhpress".

"Currently, the construction of the foundation of the houses are underway. The "100 Houses in Artsakh" project is implemented on the initiative of the Artsakh Living Foundation and the Public Television of Armenia.

The total area of the new district is 21 hectares. The district will have 100 houses with 3 and 4 rooms. The construction of the roads and the foundation of the houses is financed by the Ministry of Urban Planning of the Republic of Artsakh," said Martha Danielyan and added that the construction is carried out by the "Capital Stroy" LLC.
The Taliban radical movement (outlawed in Russia) has appointed interim heads of several ministries and agencies including the Interior Ministry, the Finance Ministry as well as intelligence services, Tass informs.

August 24, 2021, 17:42 Taliban picks interim top officials, among them Interior, Finance Ministry posts

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 24, ARTSAKHPRESS: Based on the reported information, Sadr Ibrahim was appointed as the acting Interior Minister, Gul Agha is the interim Finance Minister, while Najibullah will be the interim head of intelligence.

Additionally, the organization appointed its representatives to the posts of ministers of education, higher education and to the post of Governor of Kabul.

As Foreign Policy reported earlier, citing sources close to the Taliban leadership, the movement intends to form a council to govern Afghanistan which will consist of 12 people, including some members of the countrys previous government.
The Chakma people of Arunachal Pradesh strongly oppose and condemn any move to relocate Chakmas-Hajongs

Guwahati: The Chakmas of Arunachal Pradesh have expressed deep concern and disappointment over the governments plan to shift them from Arunachal Pradesh saying they are hurt at being branded as refugees after 57 years of rehabilitation. Saying that they will oppose any move to shift them from Arunachal Pradesh, they said that more than 90 per cent of Chakmas-Hajongs are Indian citizens by birth as they were born here and know of no other native state other than NEFA/Arunachal Pradesh.

Asserting that the Chakma people of Arunachal Pradesh strongly oppose and condemn any move to relocate Chakmas-Hajongs, the All Arunachal Pradesh Chakma Gaonburah (village head) Association and the Chakma Rights and Development Organisation (CRDO), in separate statements, reacted to the remarks of Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu.

CRDO president Mahendra Chakma argued that Chakma and Hajong people did not come to NEFA on their own. They were brought by the Government of India traversing a distance of 1,200 km from the Chittagong Hill Tracts and rehabilitated in the then North East Frontier Agency (NEFA), which later became Arunachal Pradesh under a Centrally-sponsored definite plan of rehabilitation, following a series of discussions between the representatives of the Central government, state administration and local tribal leaders, he said.

The CRDO also held a virtual meeting with all Chakma stakeholders who expressed grave concern over the development. They acknowledged an uncertain and fragile future that now looms over the Chakma people of Arunachal Pradesh, he said.

Chakmas are Buddhists who fled the Chittagong Hill Tracts in erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) after being displaced by a hydel power project, and the Hajong are Hindus who left East Pakistan due to religious persecution. They entered India between 1964 and 1969 the population of Chakmas in Arunachal is approximately 65,875.

Chief minister Khandu had, in his Independence Days speech, said, The state government and the Union government are working to resolve the long-pending vexed Chakma-Hajong issue of Arunachal Pradesh in a focussed manner and there will be an outcome in this regard in the days to come. All illegal immigrant Chakmas will be moved and settled outside of Arunachal Pradesh with honour and this matter has already been taken up and discussed with Union home minister Amit Shah.

Pointing out that while many are happy that the government is working towards resolving the vexed Chakma issue, he said that they are equally concerned and worried about their future relocation plans.

Informing that the forefathers of their community have already suffered long enough because of Partition and the Kaptai dam, the general secretary of CRDO Mr Anton Chakma said, This is unacceptable to us and will oppose any move to uproot the already settled Chakmas out of Arunachal Pradesh. It hurts us badly when after 57 years of rehabilitation we are branded as refugees by none other than the chief minister himself . We were refugees at one point of time long ago before the resettlement in NEFA but are like any other citizens of the country now.

The CRDO on behalf of the Chakma people of Arunachal Pradesh strongly opposes and condemns such a relocation move of the Chakmas-Hajongs out of the state. More than 90 per cent of these people are citizens by birth as they were born here and know of no other native state other than NEFA/Arunachal Pradesh, he said.

He also demanded, The government should not have any issue in accepting Chakmas on the ground that Arunachal Pradesh is a tribal state, because Chakmas are also a tribal community most deserving of ST status within the state and must be recognised as such as are being recognised in other states.

The Chakmas are presently spread over three districts of Arunachal Pradesh Papum Pare, Namsai and Changlang.

According to the Census Report of 2001 Chakma population in Tripura is 61,793 and in Mizoram their population is estimated to be more than 100,000 (according to the 2011 census, it is 96,972).
Extra beds set up in a hall to accommodate patients at the French Polynesia Taaone Hospital in Papeete

Covid infections are soaring in the sparsely populated Pacific territory of French Polynesia, with health authorities reporting 54 deaths from the virus over the weekend as the Delta variant spreads among a largely unvaccinated population.

More than 300 people have died from Covid-19 since the pandemic hit the remote archipelago -- home to 280,000 inhabitants. Over half of those deaths have come in the last three weeks.

The territory has so far recorded 7,591 infections, though the true figure is likely higher as most asymptomatic people are not being tested.

High rates of diabetes and obesity have made the population more vulnerable.

The territory's limited health care system has struggled to cope, with one major hospital setting up beds in hallways to handle the rising number of patients. Bodies have been loaded onto refrigerator trucks to relieve pressure on the overwhelmed morgue.

The Polynesian archipelago is now under a curfew and the Society Islands -- which include the largest island of Tahiti and other more densely populated areas -- are under lockdown.

But the rules, which allow for a modicum of economic activity, have been difficult to enforce.

The territory's president Edouard Fritch was forced to apologise after being spotted playing guitar at a wedding party attended by hundreds of maskless people in defiance of the regulations.

Schools have been closed for at least two weeks and efforts are being made to teach online but many underprivileged students do not have access to the internet.

The French government has voiced alarm about Covid-19 infection rates in its overseas territories.

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Visitors look at Didi's new generation of driverless cars at the Shanghai Auto Show in Shanghai, China.

Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi has halted plans to launch in the UK and continental Europe, a source close to the company has told the BBC.

The Uber rival had been planning to roll out services in Western Europe, including major British cities.

Didi is in consultation with the team working on the project about assigning new roles or potential redundancies.

The move comes as Chinese firms face intense scrutiny by Western nations and Beijing cracks down on data privacy.

Didi did not comment directly on the story that was first reported by The Daily Telegraph but said in a statement: "We continue to explore additional new markets, liaising with relevant stakeholders in each and being thoughtful about when to introduce our services."

"As soon as we have any more news on additional new markets, we look forward to sharing," the spokesperson added.

Didi has been expanding its international business and has recently launched services in a number of new countries in South Africa, Ecuador and Kazakhstan.

In response to questions about the future of its team in the UK Didi said: "We have established an international talent hub in the UK, recognising the exceptional quality of people in the market. Beyond that, any personnel matters remain strictly confidential."

Didi's decision comes as Chinese companies face increasingly close attention from authorities in Western countries.

Last year, telecoms giant Huawei was banned from the UK's 5G infrastructure and faces scrutiny over its security practices from Britain's National Cyber Security Centre.

Huawei is also one of the Chinese companies hit by tough restrictions in the US.

Under the Trump administration firms including the hugely popular video-sharing app were targeted over allegations of links to the Chinese government.

While President Biden has eased back on some of that rhetoric Washington is still keeping up the pressure on Chinese firms.

At the same time Didi has come under intense scrutiny in China as Beijing is increasingly cracking down on data privacy.

Story continues

Earlier this year, the country's internet regulator ordered online stores to stop offering its app, saying it illegally collected users' personal data.

The announcement came just two days after the company raised $4.4bn (3.21bn) in its New York Stock Exchange debut. Didi's shares fell sharply on the news.

The Chinese government is also introducing broader measures to protect data privacy.

On Friday, the country's top legislative body, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, passed a sweeping new privacy law.

The Personal Information Protection Law aims to strictly control data collection by technology firms and will take effect from 1 November.

Reporting by the BBC's Peter Hoskins

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Gov. Kathy Hochul told New Yorkers she is direct, decisive and a straight-talker.

The outline of her early agenda confirmed those descriptors.

In a speech that lasted a little more than 10 minutes, Hochul, who was sworn in as New York's first female governor on Tuesday, detailed her priorities for her first days in office. At the top of the list: COVID-19 and the Delta variant.

COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in New York, but there hasn't been a statewide strategy to combat the surge. Hochul hopes to change that with proactive measures focused on ensuring that children can attend in-person classes and that schools are safe from the virus. She is calling for vaccinations to be required for teachers and school employees, with a weekly testing option for those who aren't vaccinated.

Hochul also directed the state Department of Health to implement a universal mask mandate for anyone entering schools. And the state will launch a back-to-school testing program for students and staff.

There will be more policies to come for schools. Hochul said she will make an announcement later this week with "concise and consistent" guidance for school districts.
Grotian recounted one incident earlier Tuesday in which an Afghan woman who had worked for Germanys foreign development agency four years ago was barred from entering Kabul airport.

He said the mixed messages being sent to Afghans by German bureaucrats would likely mean some will miss other opportunities to leave the country because they are still waiting for Germany to evacuate them.

Everyone who has worked for Germans must now be let through, because there wont be many more chances, said Grotian. Theyve been rejected three times, some of them four. There may not be a fifth when the planes dont fly anymore.



PARIS  French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said an Afghan evacuated from Kabul to Paris and suspected of links to the Taliban was detained by French police on Tuesday.

The man is one of five Afghans placed under strict surveillance by Frances intelligence agency for possible links to the Taliban. The five men were required to stay in a hotel in the Paris region for a quarantine, as are all evacuees who arrive in France without having been fully vaccinated.

One left the place where he was asked to stay and police arrested him, Darmanin said on news broadcaster France Info.
For more than 30 years Rahm Emanuel has been a faithful servant of the Democratic Party. On Friday, President Joe Biden nominated Emanuel to be ambassador to Japan.

From his days as a senior adviser to President Bill Clinton, to being President Barack Obama's chief of staff, Emanuel's breadth of political experience makes him an attractive person to add to the Biden administration.

Except for one tiny thing: Based on Emanuel's time as mayor of Chicago, adding him is a slap in the face to people who voted to have a Biden administration.

Where do we start?

How about the time Emanuel engineered the largest number of school closings in the city's history. In 2013, he shuttered 49 schools all at once, presumably because of low enrollment. Most of these closures were in poor Black neighborhoods. Emanuel said the money saved would be used to invest in better schools for those children, most of whom lived in poverty.

Instead, researchers in Chicago found the school closures had negative effects on the neighborhoods, families and students. In the following years, Emanuel's efforts to build and improve schools disproportionately benefited white middle-class families.

This is just one of many reasons Emanuel was nicknamed "Mayor 1%."
Haima H1 net loss narrows

Beijing (Gasgoo)- Haima Motors revenue in the first half of this year jumped 48.35% from a year ago to RMB926 million ($143 million) and the net loss attributable to shareholders of the listed company dropped from RMB173 million ($26.7 million) to RMB83.04 million ($12.8 million), the company announced in a statement. The basic losses per share was RMB0.0505.

Haima 6P; photo credit: Haima

During the reporting period, the automaker produced 16,021 vehicles, representing a year-on-year surge of 229.79% while sales in the period jumped 153.39% versus the same period of last year to 16,544 vehicles, only 1,229 vehicles less than the total annual volume of last year.

Haima makes such vehicles as the 7X, the 8S and the 6P. The automaker is also the contract manufacturer of XPeng Motor, but both parties will not renew their contract manufacturing agreement which will terminate by the end of this year.

In July, FAW Group sold its 49% stake in Faw Haima Automobile Co., LTD and its 50% in Hainan FAW Haima Automobile Sales Co., LTD to Hainan Holding company, a wholly state-owned comprehensive investment holding company established by Hainan Provincial government. After FAW Groups withdrawal, two companies have changed its names to Hainan Haima Automobile Co., LTD and Hainan Haima New Energy Vehicle Sales Co., LTD.
Beijing-led city cluster included Chinas first FCV pilot conurbations

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Led by Beijing, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV) pilot city cluster has become one of the first FCV demonstration conurbations in China, according to the Beijing Municipal Finance Bureau.



Foton Motor's FCV; photo credit: Foton Motor



The approval was jointly given by Chinas Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, National Development and Reform Commission, and National Energy Administration. During the four-year demonstration period, they will provide supports, by means of replacing subsidies with rewards, for the shortlisted demonstration city clusters based on the latters fulfillment of targets.

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei hydrogen FCV pilot city cluster encompasses six districts of Beijing, Tianjins Binhai New Area, Hebeis Baoding and Tangshan cities, as well as Shandongs Binzhou and Zibo cities. The application was led by Beijing Municipal Finance and Daxing District Government of Beijing Municipality, and commenced in September 2020.

Beijing announced last week the target of having 3,000 hydrogen vehicles on roads and 37 hydrogen refueling stations by the end of 2023. It expects the number of hydrogen vehicles on roads to exceed 10,000 by 2025.

The city government said it aims to foster 10 to 15 leading companies with global influence for hydrogen energy industrial chain, construct an industrial cluster about core parts and facility manufacturing of hydrogen industry, and build 3 to 4 world-class platforms for R&D and innovation of hydrogen business by 2025, according to a hydrogen energy industry development blueprint issued by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology.

According to the aforesaid blueprint, a hydrogen energy industrial chain worth more than 100 billion yuan ($15.427 billion) will be built and 2 million tons of carbon emissions will be reduced in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region by 2025.
HOZON Auto achieves 60,000-unit production volume milestone

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- HOZON Auto, a Chinese startup having the EV brand NETA, saw its 60,000th new vehicle roll off the assembly line on August 21 at the Tongxiang-based factory, only three and a half months after the birth of the 40,000th one.



Photo credit: HOZON Auto



It took the automaker only 17 months to hit the 10,000-unit outputs milestone since the first NETA-branded vehicle came off the production line. The cumulative production volume reached 40,000 units in May this year.

HOZON Auto said its monthly new car deliveries rocketed 492% year on year to 6,011 units in July, 90% of which were handed over to private users. For the first seven months of 2021, the startup delivered 27,115 vehicles in total, representing a 481% year-over-year hike.

There are two mass-produced models under NETA brand. The NETA U Pro, positioned as a compact all-electric SUV priced around 150,000 yuan ($23,110), features a range of up to 610km under NEDC test cycle. The company has currently backlogged orders of over 10,000 NETA U Pros and its plant is working at full capacity to satisfy users' demands.

Since the market launch in November 2020, the NETA V was continuously recording over 25% growth in monthly deliveries, said the automaker. In late June, two new versions of the NETA V, namely, the Co-loli and the Co-sport, were launched to attract more young consumers.

Besides, the NETA S, a new B-segment coupe built on a fire new car platform, is scheduled to go on sale at the end of next year.
Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroen reports year-to-date sales topping 2020 annual sales

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Company Ltd. (DPCA), a passenger vehicle (PV) manufacturing joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Groupe PSA, said its year-to-date auto sales amounted to 50,277 units as of August 23, soaring 75% from a year earlier and exceeding the full-year volume of last year.



Versailles C5 X; photo credit: Dongfeng Citroen

By the end of July 2021, DPCA scored year-on-year growth in monthly sales for the eighth consecutive month, said the company.

In October 2020, DPCA launched the YUAN + strategic plan, under which the joint venture would roll out 14 new models that meet Chinese consumers' demands in the following five years.

Under the YUAN + plan, DPCA aims to hammer out marketing strategies with greater precision, provide consumers with more reliable after-sale services, and improve the company's operational efficiency.

The plan is regarded by industry insiders as a self-rescue measure for DPCA as the joint venture saw its annual sales plunge to 113,600 units in 2019 from 704,800 units in 2015.

In 2021, DPCA put several new models onto the market, including the 2021 Citroen C5 AIRCROSS, the new Citroen C3-XR, and the all-new Peugeot 4008 and 5008, with greater importance attached to Chinese users' demands.

The Versailles C5 X, a new global flagship model of Citroen, was open for presale in China in early August and will hit the market next month.
LOS ANGELESWicked Sensual Care brand strategist and resident sex educator Jessica Drake invites industry members to join Team Wicked in support of AIDS Walk Los Angeles 2021. Team Wicked is currently ranked #6 on the annual fundraiser's scoreboard, ahead of Bank of America, Paramount/Viacom/CBS, Nieman Marcus Beverly Hills, the Hallmark Channel, Anthem Blue Cross and dozens more.



For the second consecutive year, COVID-19 concerns have led event organizers to move fundraising activities online, making team membership and virtual walk participation accessible to all. To date, Team Wicked has raised well over $150,000 in charitable funds to assist AIDS Project Los Angeles in providing care, prevention, and advocacy programs for those living with HIV in Los Angeles County. Individuals interested in donating or signing up as a fundraising team member are encouraged to visit the Team Wicked homepage.



"Since the COVID-19 crisis began, nonprofits have been forced to constantly adapt to changes. From taking fundraising events online to meeting donors where they want to give, it seems like each week poses a new challenge," said Drake, who serves as team captain. "AIDS Walk Los Angeles is an event I hold close to my heart, so although we are participating virtually once again, the goal remains the same. I want to personally invite everyone to join us in solidarity and help raise funds for a segment of the population especially susceptible to coronavirus. With the highly contagious Delta variant now the predominant strain here in the U.S., we hope everyone is able to come together to create awareness and raise funds for an organization dedicated to supporting those affected by HIV and AIDS.



To learn more, visit the Team Wicked homepage.
Even though CM Punk wasnt entirely confirmed for last Fridays AEW Rampage, the largest crowd in AEW history turned up expecting the Chicago native to appear at the United Center. AEW delivered and the Best in the World came back to pro wrestling after being away from the business since 2014.

For the second episode of Rampage, AEW averaged 1,129,000 viewers for the one-hour show. At its peak, when CM Punk led off the show, 1,341,000 viewers tuned in. Within the 18-49 demo, Rampage averaged 692,000 viewers which topped every Dynamite episode except for the debut in 2019.

The opening quarter-hour with the return of CM Punk was watched by 1,341,000 viewers on average and 842,000 in the demo (0.65).https://t.co/Z0rG5QbZu4  Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) August 23, 2021

Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics had some interesting information on top of the Rampage numbers he provided. In addition to Rampage having a 65 percent increase on its 740,000 viewer premiere the week before, Thurston noted where AEW was positioned compared to WWE. WWE is certainly the behemoth and on Raw and SmackDown, they averaged about double the viewers of any of AEWs shows but the 18-49 demo tells another story and AEW is a lot more competitive among younger people.

AEW might not be ahead of WWE but they certainly arent far behind in the 18-49 demo, which says something for a pro wrestling company that started in 2019 when compared to the undisputed pro wrestling leader that also benefits from being a publicly traded company.

Will Rampage maintain this viewership strength during the Summer of Punk? Its not likely. Even with its strong momentum, most Rampage shows from this point forward will be taped and its impossible to expect AEW to have something amazing like they did with CM Punk every Friday night. Not to mention, expectations should be somewhat tempered when were talking about a show that airs at 10 pm Friday night when its a company that targets younger people. That being said, the AEW/Turner partnership is in its third year and it seems to be a happy relationship so if theyre both happy, thats all that matters.

[Wrestlenomics]
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One of the campers in the area recognized the woman and pointed authorities to a nearby camp off Forest Road 776. According to authorities, the camp was found disheveled from a recent wind storm, and Wheelers body was located nearby covered in pine needles on April 25.

As authorities investigated the campsite further, they reported discovering the area littered in trash and other belongings. A sheriffs report suggested an attempt had been made to conceal the body.

After the incident, the friend reported to authorities that he had spoken to Mota while he was traveling back to Oregon. Mota allegedly spoke to the friend about turning himself in, and seemed receptive to doing so, according to a sheriffs report.

The friend gave authorities a description of Mota and Wheelers relationship, explaining that the pair would frequently travel and camp in the woods together.

An autopsy from the Coconino County Medical Examiners Office classified the death as a homicide and indicated that Wheeler passed away from head injuries. The report also suggests that Wheeler had sustained defensive wounds to her forearm.
The pandemic rage has coincided with a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, a growing movement to require vaccines and a new round of mask requirements, most notably in schools where exhausted families had hoped the worst days of the virus were over. Now, the country is averaging nearly 1,000 coronavirus deaths a day.

Anger from parents over masks has been simmering in rural Amador County in Northern California, and it reached a peak earlier this month when for the first time a teacher was attacked. A father became irate when he saw his daughter come out of school wearing a mask but teachers in a lounge were unmasked. Vaccinated staff are allowed to take off their masks if students aren't present, said Amador County Unified School District Superintendent Torie Gibson. The father was told this and left, but returned later to speak with the principal.

A concerned male teacher went to the principal's office. An argument ensued and the father struck the teacher.

The teacher had some lacerations and bruising on his face and a knot on the back of his head, Gibson said.

He was treated at a hospital and returned to work the following day. Still, the incident has shaken teachers and the community.
Airlines are covered by federal laws and regulations, Brnovich wrote, and currently are not allowed to refuse service unless a person actually is sick, a risk to other customers and can't get a medical certificate that outlines preventative measures.

It will be difficult for a carrier to establish that proof of vaccination is now a required preventative measure for COVID-19 when airline service has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with masking and ventilation as the primary preventative measures, the opinion said.

In a statement and summary accompanying the legal opinion, Brnovich argued that the coronavirus is a threat to constitutional rights.

"We must hold the Constitution close in times of crisis because thats when our rights are most at risk, Brnovich's statement said. In all medical and health decisions, Americans have the right to try and the right not to try; we cannot have one without the other.

The attorney general also gave himself some political cover for the parts of the opinion where he says private businesses in many cases can require vaccines, a position vocally opposed by some in his own party.

Americans should be allowed to choose which risks they are comfortable taking and which they are not, Brnovich wrote. The law does not always reflect good public policy and our role with respect to an Attorney General opinion is to say what the law is, not what it should be.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Last year was a win for youth voter participation. We saw the highest-ever turnout for young voters, with half of 18- to 29-year-olds casting ballots. (Only 39% did so in 2016.)

But 2020 also made it clear that we have a lot of work to do. Changes to voting laws add confusion. Political differences and polarization add tension. And while we should celebrate the record-high 50% youth turnout, that means 20 million young people still didn't cast ballots.

Higher education institutions are in a unique position to engage young people, but civic engagement is often seen as beyond the purview of colleges and universities. This is a massive missed opportunity, for both higher ed institutions and our democracy.

Here are three reasons your campus should invest in voter engagement:

1. You're a trusted messenger and the first touch point for the newest, youngest voters who still cast their ballots at the lowest rates.

Who are "young voters"? The label (often 18-29, sometimes 18-34) is a bit of a misnomer. When your age bracket combines people straight out of high school who have never been eligible to vote before with those who might be 10 years into their careers, you gloss over critical nuances in behavior and needs.
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The president thinks thats completely unacceptable and he has asked his secretary of education, directed I should say, his secretary of education to use all of his authority to help those school districts doing the right thing to ensure every one of their students has access to a fundamental right of safe in-person learning, Psaki said. This could include a number of considerations but Ill let the secretary to speak to them.

Columbia school district spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said the district is extremely disappointed that Schmidt filed the lawsuit. She said the mask mandate is not a forever decision" but is currently necessary to keep students safe.

The decision to file suit against a public school district after a local decision is made in the interest of safety and keeping students in school will waste taxpayer dollars and resources, which are better spent investing in our students. Columbia Public Schools intends to aggressively defend its decision to keep its community and its scholars safe.

Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat, said in a statement that schools may be forced to close if Schmitt's lawsuit is successful and outbreaks occur. She also noted that Schmitt is running for U.S. Senate in 2022.
Pelosi told her colleagues before the vote that the legislation would lead to a federal investment on par with the New Deal and the Great Society.

She brushed aside the delays. Thats just part of the legislative process, she said, according to an aide granted anonymity to discuss a closed-door caucus meeting.

Not only are we building the physical infrastructure of America, we are building the human infrastructure of America, Pelosi said on the House floor.

Easing off the stalemate will shelve, for now, the stark divisions between moderate and progressive lawmakers who make up the Democrats' so-slim House majority. But as the drama spilled out during what was supposed to be a quick session as lawmakers returned to work for a few days in August, it showcased the party differences that threaten to upend Biden's ambitious rebuilding agenda.

With Republicans fully opposed to the presidents big plans and arguing that Congress should be focused instead on the crisis in Afghanistan, the Democratic leaders have just a few votes to spare. That gives any band of lawmakers leverage that can be used to make or break a deal, as they are in position to do in the weeks to come as moderates and progressives draft and vote on the broader $3.5 trillion package.
Going forward, the leaders said they would judge the Afghan parties by their actions, not words, echoing previous warnings to the Taliban not to revert to the strict Islamic form of government that they ran when they last held power from 1996 until the U.S.-led invasion that ousted them in 2001.

In particular, we reaffirm that the Taliban will be held accountable for their actions on preventing terrorism, on human rights in particular those of women, girls and minorities and on pursuing an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan, the leaders said. The legitimacy of any future government depends on the approach it now takes to uphold its international obligations and commitments to ensure a stable Afghanistan.

Yet, individual leaders offered less sanguine descriptions of the meeting as well as the state of affairs in Afghanistan, which have dramatically changed since the bloc last met in Britain in June. At the time of that summit, Afghanistan had been almost an afterthought with the leaders more concentrated on the coronavirus pandemic, China and Russia. Although Biden had announced his plan for complete withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Cornwall meeting did not anticipate Talibans rapid takeover.
Biden said he had asked the Pentagon and State Department for evacuation contingency plans that would adjust the timeline for full withdrawal should that become necessary.

Pentagon officials expressed confidence the airlift, which started on Aug. 14, can get all Americans out by next Tuesday, the deadline Biden had set long before the Taliban completed their takeover. But unknown thousands of other foreign nationals remain in Afghanistan and are struggling to get out.

The Taliban, who have wrested control of the country back nearly 20 years after being ousted in a U.S.-led invasion after the 9/11 attacks, insist the airlift must end on Aug. 31. Any decision by Biden to stay longer could reignite a war between the militants and the approximately 5,800 American troops who are executing the airlift at Kabul airport.

In Kabul, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a news conference the U.S. must stick to its self-imposed deadline, saying after that we wont let Afghans be taken out on evacuation flights. He also said the Taliban would bar Afghans from accessing roads to the airport, while allowing foreigners to pass in order to prevent large crowds from massing.
Under the Trump administration, the Waters of the United States rule was revised in 2019, restricting what the Clean Water Act oversees. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the change would mean 51% of the wetlands in the United States would no longer be protected.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, wetlands must be adjacent to other jurisdictional waters to meet the definition of Waters of the U.S.

Pond?

One of the photos Chapman sent to the agencies she sought help from shows a wooden stake protruding from the ground in front of where dirt was dumped. Printed on the stake is pond edge.

So someone clearly knows there were ponds here, she wrote.

Henrichon said the stake delineates where a retention pond will be built next to a road. The dirt is being dumped to create a base for the road, he said, noting that the project is a clean development with solar panels on every house and geothermal heat. If there was ever a wetland there, Henrichon said it was filled in by the previous owner.
Both the legislation and the program before the commission process saw pushback due to low survivability of pen-raised pheasants, high per-bird cost of the program and questioning whether the money would be better spent on habitat. Some critics have also decried the state moving into put-and-take style hunting.

Montana once raised pheasants in state run facilities but abandoned that program in 1982 to focus funding on habitat for wild birds. Some privately-raised birds continued to be released on private shooting preserves and onto private land through a lightly-used state grant program.

The new stocking program is not an effort to increase wild bird populations, but purely to bolster numbers on wildlife management areas for the youth and subsequent general pheasant seasons.

Commissioner Patrick Byorth of Bozeman, the only remaining appointee of former Gov. Steve Bullock, was the lone commissioner to comment ahead of Fridays final vote. He recalled learning to hunt with a .410 shotgun, struggling at first but working hard to become proficient. He cautioned that stocking pheasants for hunting seemed to be part of a movement in modern hunting that emphasizes success over sound wildlife management.

Nobody said hunting is supposed to be easy, he said, before casting the sole vote against the measure.
Lawellin said their perspective is based on a call from a juror from the original June trial. According to Lawellin, the juror said the original jury had been hung by a single juror who insisted on assigning blame to the city. As a result, she said, the city views this 49-51 percent split as a compromise made by the jury to avoid a mistrial. But she said there was no way to know without speaking to the jury.

We believe that there were a number of jurors who believed that the actions of Sean OBrien were so utterly reckless, Lawellin explained, that there could be no liability for the city and that the jurys final ruling is a compromise to get to a final verdict so that there wasnt a hung jury in this second trial as well.

Asked if the city would review its use of force procedures and training in the context of the jurys verdict Lawellin responded, The city has been reviewing the incident since Jan. 3rd, 2016, and we are constantly working to improve policies, procedures and training.

Asked if any specific policy change has arisen from the shooting, she responded, No, because the policies are general and they are universally, broadly accepted as the appropriate parameters that define the use of deadly force.
Two-thirds of University of Wyoming students and nearly 90% of employees say they've been vaccinated against COVID-19, the school said Monday.

The results came from an anonymous survey preformed over a five-day testing period that preceded Monday's start of the fall semester. The survey found that a higher percentage of students and staff were vaccinated than what was indicated by self-reporting to the school's Student Health Service and Human Resources.

The testing, meanwhile, turned up 42 positive cases of COVID-19 among students and staff. The tests were performed as the school prepared for in-person instruction to resume.

Were encouraged by the results of this one-time testing event and the related survey on vaccination, UW President Ed Seidel said in a statement. While the numbers are incomplete, they show that were beginning the semester in conditions that will allow us to proceed with in-person classes and activities.
There was loss of other structures, totaling 11. Were still determining the type of structures, said Beckman with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

Rainfall last week, along with a drop in temperatures, assisted firefighters while they dug their control lines in some of the rougher terrain surrounding the fire. By Tuesday evening, all evacuation warnings related to the Pine Grove fire will be lifted. The fire has burned through just over 16,000 acres, and Beckman said it resulted in no injuries to either crew members or residents.

The fire was human-caused, Beckman said, but an investigation into who and what exactly sparked the fire is still ongoing.

Looking south, the Richard Spring and Lame Deer fires in Rosebud County and the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation were 100% contained by Friday. The Richard Spring fire began Aug. 8 about 10 miles southwest of Colstrip and the Lame Deer fire followed two days later just five miles northwest of Lame Deer. Coal seams smoldering beneath the ground started both fires, which temporarily closed highways 212 and 39.
Sanford Health and CHI St. Alexius in Bismarck recently announced vaccine mandates as a condition of employment, as did the Missouri Slope skilled nursing facility. People who oppose mandatory vaccination have responded with protests outside of the two hospitals, which they say will continue on a weekly basis.

Dr. Robert Tanous, medical director for Mid Dakota Clinic, said in Tuesday's statement that We are fighting an uphill battle every day, but it doesnt have to be that way. Get vaccinated. Wear a mask. Realize that this pandemic is still here."

About 673,100 total doses of the three available COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in North Dakota, with about 99,800 doses in Burleigh-Morton counties, according to the state's vaccine dashboard. It shows 50.3% of eligible North Dakota adults are considered fully vaccinated; 22.3% of adolescents in the 12-18 age group are considered fully vaccinated.

North Dakota's rate of total coronavirus vaccine doses administered -- 90,138 people per 100,000 population -- is one of the lowest in the nation, according to the CDC tracking site.
Out of approximately 314,000 North Dakotans who have been fully vaccinated, 1,247 breakthrough cases of COVID-19 have been reported since Dec. 14, which is 0.4% of fully vaccinated people. Ninety-four fully vaccinated people have been hospitalized with the disease, and 18 have died from it. About 1 in 17 unvaccinated people get COVID-19 compared to 1 in 253 fully vaccinated people, Kruger said.

Howell said vaccination is especially important for the elderly, pregnant women, people with weak immune systems and those around them.

Delta in North Dakota

COVID-19 cases in North Dakota have increased drastically since the start of August, and hospitalizations due to the disease on Monday hit their highest level in seven months.

The delta variant of COVID-19 is the predominant variant in the state, Kruger said. It's as infectious as chicken pox, and one person could potentially infect six or seven other people, he said.

State Health Officer Nizar Wehbi said the department is monitoring the number of COVID-19 cases, is active in testing and is meeting with the six main hospitals in the state to ensure any response is coordinated. He added that vaccination is the best way to stop the spread of the virus.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  The office of a Wisconsin lawmaker who has been an outspoken critic of vaccine and mask mandates declined to update his condition on Tuesday, even as a fellow legislator asked for prayers, saying the state senator was hospitalized with COVID-19-induced pneumonia.

Wisconsin state Sen. Andre Jacque was hospitalized on Aug. 16 after he tested positive for COVID-19. Jacque, a Republican from De Pere, is one of the Legislature's most conservative members and a vocal opponent of mask and vaccine mandates.

His spokesman, Matt Tompach, stopped providing updates on his condition last Wednesday. On Friday night, state Rep. Shae Sortwell asked his Facebook followers to pray for Jacque.

He is in serious need of your prayers tonight, Sortwell said. He is in the hospital with Covid induced pneumonia.

Tompach on Tuesday again declined to provide any update on Jacque's condition. The last update, provided a week ago, said Jacque was tired but in good spirits.

Jacque, 40, said on Aug. 16 that he was at the hospital with pneumonia but he was largely asymptomatic with the exception of fatigue.
The 17 issues our team identified are extensive, Gallion said. Our hope is now that these areas have been identified, the School District can make changes necessary to implement best practices to better serve their students and community.

Parshall Superintendent Shane Sagert in a corrective action plan sent to the state auditor last month indicated the school district agrees with the audit's recommendations, has formed a two-member finance committee to address the issues and plans to implement certain controls.

School Board President Michelle Hoff told the Tribune the board also has hired an accountant to help with bank reconciliations and bookkeeping.

She said the audit's publication on Monday caught board members off guard. The audit had not yet been presented to the full board, she said.

Hoff would like to see the citizen request for the audit and learn the reasons behind the initiative. She said the auditor assured board members the probe didn't find fraudulent activity. A spokesperson for Gallion told the Tribune, "Our office does not make determinations on criminality."

The school board president, superintendent and state auditor put together the corrective action plan, which has yet to be presented to the full board, she said.
North Dakota has pursued its own route in fighting the leasing pause, opting not to join the same lawsuit as other oil and gas states and instead filing a separate suit. It's asked U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor of North Dakota to schedule a hearing on the matter and issue an order requiring the federal government to hold lease sales canceled earlier this year and future ones.

The state maintains that federal law requires that lease sales be held at least once per quarter.

Securing a lease from the federal government is the first step an oil company must take to drill a well that touches federal minerals. It must also obtain a permit, which it can still do under the Biden administration as long as it already has a lease.

The state claims in court documents that it's already lost out on $82 million in potential revenue from taxes and royalties as a result of two canceled lease sales earlier this year.

The Interior Department's No. 2 official spoke about the leasing pause when he visited Bismarck earlier this month.
The Laborers District Council of Minnesota and North Dakota, an affiliate of the Laborers International Union of North America, has raised the matter in recent years. It intervened in the Bowman Wind proceeding before the PSC, as it has done in cases involving three other recently proposed wind farms.

Apex has indicated that it plans to hire local workers on a renewable energy project in Minnesota, but the union hasnt heard of its plans for Bowman Wind, union marketing manager Kevin Pranis said. The union took a neutral stance on the project ahead of the hearing.

Were hoping to learn some more about what they have in mind, Pranis said.

Apex told the Tribune it plans to maximize the local economic benefits from the construction and operation of the project, including by hiring a local workforce to the greatest extent possible, in line with the projects safety, cost and timeline requirements.

The union estimates the two most recent wind farms built in North Dakota employed less than 10% of its workers from within the state, based on surveys it conducted looking at license plates of construction workers. That was in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic caused unemployment to spike.
Lai has commented notably on communist government tactics, saying, If they can induce fear in you, thats the cheapest way to control you and the most effective way and they know it. The only way to defeat the way of intimidation is to face up to fear and dont let it frighten you. []

Lai Chee-Ying, also known as Jimmy Lai, is a successful Hong Kong entrepreneur, media mogul, and democratic activist who fled, young and penniless, to Hong Kong from mainland China. Lai eventually founded Apple Daily, one of the most well-read newspapers in Hong Kong.

Lai is best known for his pro-democracy activism, and has come under fire from the Chinese Communist Party, or CCP, for challenging its overreach in Hong Kong.

Lai was sentenced in April to 14 months in prison for his role in pro-democracy protests. Now, CCP leadership are doing everything in their power to eradicate Lais name and memory as they continue to snuff out threats to the CCPs absolute power.

Humble beginnings

As a young man, Lai worked as a porter at the Shanghai railway station. He was given a piece of chocolate by a traveler. This simple act of charity changed Lais life. The chocolate was like nothing he had experienced before; the moment he consumed it, he knew he had to get some for himself. So he asked the traveler where he got this delicacy from, to which the traveler responded: Hong Kong. Determined to find a way there, Lai asked his impoverished parents to send him there.

At the age of 12, Jimmy snuck out of mainland China in the bottom of a fishing boat. Upon arrival, Jimmy started working in a knitwear factory.

I came here with $1, escaped from China when I was 12, Lai said. This place gave me everything.

Lai rose through the ranks to the position of factory manager, all while studying English. In 1975, he made his entrepreneurial debut by purchasing a bankrupt garment factory.

Lais entrepreneurialism, paired with his curiosity and work ethic, led him to learn more about free-market, classical liberalism from economists such as Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman. These thinkers inspired Lais love of liberty. This free-market education was the catalyst in Lais fight for freedom.

Entrepreneurial spirit

In 1981, Lai opened Hong Kongs first fashion brand, Giordano, then successfully expanded his business to mainland China and other parts of Asia. It was with Giordano that Lai first began to express his democratic advocacy through business ventures, even in the face of government opposition and censorship. During the Tiananmen Square Massacre of 1989, the CCP and accompanying troops opened fire at pro-democracy student protests. Lai created and distributed Giordano T-shirts with catchy slogans that opposed the anti-democracy communist leadership. This courageous act prompted the totalitarian regime to forcibly close Giordano stores. In 1996, the business was sold entirely. But Lai wasnt done yet.

As the Cold War ended and the Soviet Union fell, society seemed to have reached a consensus on the perils of Communism. It was in this era of hope and new beginnings that Lai founded the largest media company in Hong Kong, Next Digital (originally identified as Next Magazine). From this parent company, Lai launched Apple Daily, a globally recognized pro-democracy news service. The newspaper was named after the forbidden fruit, because, as Lai explains, If Eve hadnt bitten the forbidden fruit, there would be no sin, no right and wrong, and of course  no news.

Commitment to faith and family

As committed as Lai is to a democratic society, he is even more committed to his faith in God. He was introduced to Catholicism by his wife, Teresa, a longtime and devout Catholic. Curious to learn more, Lai continued to go to mass and witnessed the homilies of Cardinal Joseph Zen. Lai converted to Catholicism in 1997, the same year that Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule. From then on, Lai relied deeply on his faith to remain resolute and hopeful under emerging Communist rule.

Participation in pro-democracy demonstrations

In 2014, the Standing Committee of National Peoples Congress (NPCSC) issued a decision to propose reform to Hong Kongs electoral process. Beijing officials promised universal suffrage to its citizens, but in actuality, the rule forced voters only to choose from a list of pre-approved candidates during elections. Most saw this decision as highly restrictive, and protests soon broke out. Lai was a frequent and prominent participant in these protests, which often included peaceful prayer and singing. During the demonstrations, the protestors quickly blocked the main east and west boulevards leading into the city. Authorities used tear gas to control the protesters, which only increased their fervor. Lai was physically attacked by two men, received countless threatening messages, and violent props such as machetes were left in his driveway. He was even rammed by a car and endured fire bombings at his home several times. Nevertheless, he continued to promote freedom and democracy in Hong Kong.

Lai has commented notably on communist government tactics, saying, If they can induce fear in you, thats the cheapest way to control you and the most effective way and they know it. The only way to defeat the way of intimidation is to face up to fear and dont let it frighten you.

Lai was arrested on Feb. 28, 2020. Hong Kong police took into custody three other veteran pro-democracy figures for taking part in the 2019 unauthorized pro-democracy protests. These protests were prompted by the Chinese governments cancelation of the Aug. 31 Civil Human Rights Front march, a march that attracted up to 2 million attendees. The three other men were arrested on suspicion of illegal assembly; Lai and one of the three were released on bail the following Friday. The Hong Kong government was determined to silence influential pro-democracy voices and make examples out of them to instill fear in the rest of the citizenry.

The Chinese Communist Partys National Security Law

On July 1, 2020, the CCP put into effect a National Security Law, or NSL. The NSL criminalizes behavior that endangers national security or is seen as damaging to China. Since its implementation, over 100 pro-democracy activists have been charged under its authority. Lai is one of them.

On Aug. 10, 2020, Lai was arrested again, this time on charges of colluding with foreign forces. That same morning, approximately 200 Hong Kong authorities raided the offices of Apple Daily, investigating and seizing dozens of boxes filled with Apple Daily materials. This made Apple Daily and Lai incredibly popular. The outlet reported it printed five times the usual number of newspapers the day after Lais arrest. The front page was an image of Jimmy Lai in handcuffs with the headline Apple Daily must go on. In June 2021, the Hong Kong government froze HK$18 million in Apple Dailys assets, equivalent to $2.3 million USD. Apple Daily was forced to shut down its operations and printed its last edition on June 24, 2021.

Lais legacy

In May 2021, Lai was sentenced to 14 months and was locked away in a Hong Kong prison. Still, more people continue to learn of his sacrifice and commitment to pro-democracy ideals, and countless people across the globe have been inspired by his selflessness and commitment to a higher cause: faith and freedom.

Jimmy Lais fight continues, and as arrests and convictions of Hong Kongers on charges under NSLs make newspaper headlines, the general public is reminded of the ongoing fight of pro-democracy advocates in Communist China. It is a fight Jimmy undertook when he snuck out of China in the bottom of a fishing boat as a young boy, and it is a fight he, and other courageous activists, continue to undertake for the reemergence of freedom and democracy in Hong Kong.
A sustainable government and flourishing society can only be built under the right conditions. Acknowledging the dignity of the human person, the importance of subsidiary social institutions, a commitment to the rule of law and an embrace of the commercial society are necessary, but they were absent in Afghanistan, largely because of Afghanistans violent modern history. []

I deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. Eleven years later, I watched the Taliban devastate all the progress we fought for.

Afghanistans chaos and the Talibans return to power is heartbreaking and maddening. Like other veterans who deployed to Afghanistan, my astonishment at what is transpiring is limited only to the speed of the collapse.

While historians and political scientists will assess and debate the innumerable missteps during Americas 20-year Afghanistan presence, at least one thing is clear: When the preconditions necessary to secure a free and flourishing society are absent, it is extraordinarily difficult for another nation to impose them, and it is the ordinary citizens of that society who suffer as a consequence.

One of these preconditions is anthropological  a civilization must recognize the inherent dignity of the human person if that civilization is to thrive. The Afghan people have been the victims of four decades of violent conflict where torture, death and destruction were commonplace. Such an environment inevitably undermines the value of a persons humanity.

Whatever good the United States and its allies were able to promote in the service of the Afghan people  such as increasing access to a stable school environment for Afghan girls  the Taliban will undoubtedly unravel.

According to the U.S. Department of State, the Taliban committed large-scale massacres of civilians in the late 1990s and the situation is again particularly grave for women and the ethnic Hazara minority. Two decades of effort were insufficient to illuminate the Afghan government and army of the Talibans barbarism and thus importance of mounting a vigorous defense of their country against them. Few government officials and soldiers possessed an adequate understanding of the dignity of each Afghani, and they folded too easily.

Our Afghanistan efforts also failed because the necessary sociological preconditions werent there. Human beings are inherently social creatures, which implies that social institutions are exceedingly important for human beings to thrive. But these social institutions must be at the service of the first condition  the dignity of the human person.

On the one hand, Afghan culture is known for its custom of hospitality. Indeed, I experienced the warm hospitality of Afghans firsthand. But hospitality is insufficient; societies also have a need for a broad array of social institutions (local and national) that reinforce the duty to treat all men and women with equal dignity and provide a community of reciprocal understanding and trust.

Oppressive dominance by the Soviets not only hindered the development of these institutions, but it also actively undermined them through its totalitarian Marxist ideology. After the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, the Taliban repeated the Soviets oppression, this time using Islamist ideology.

The Talibans virtue police thwarted healthy social institutions by severely limiting womens access to education, work and health care while banning social bonding activities like kite flying. Now, after a 20-year hiatus, it appears that whatever social capital may have been built is now on the cusp of dissolution.

Other preconditions for a flourishing and stable society include the rule of law, market commerce and creative entrepreneurial activity. The rule of law, where human rights and private property are respected, must also be consistently and impartially enforced. It is only under these conditions that a commercial society can prosper, and entrepreneurship can create new wealth.

Sadly, it is well known that the Afghan government was rife with corruption. This corruption, coupled with incompetence, oftentimes manifested itself in the form of ethnic discrimination. Incensed by injustice, Afghan citizens would turn to the Taliban for extrajudicial remedies. Graft, cronyism, the drug trade and other deeply embedded maladies are not problems quickly overcome.

Furthermore, property rights are at best tenuous in a society with endemic conflict. Regular and violent regime change often paralyzes the conditions under which commercial life thrives. Development economists have long underscored the importance of the rule of law, access to institutions of justice, and defense of property in enabling countries to grow economically.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, ranks 165th on Transparency Internationals corruption perception index  indicating an abysmal deficiency in the rule of law. Clearly the Afghan government failed in establishing these conditions, and corruption was no small factor in the inevitable collapse. No country can have a thriving commercial sector under these conditions.

The United States removal of the Taliban after 9/11 was an understandable response to a regime that harbored terrorists. Thousands of heroic military personnel from dozens of countries sacrificed their lives to deter terrorism and give the Afghan people hope. The swiftness of the governments collapse after 20 years of nation-building is as much an indictment of Afghan government and military as it is a catastrophe for the Afghan people.

A sustainable government and flourishing society can only be built under the right conditions. Acknowledging the dignity of the human person, the importance of subsidiary social institutions, a commitment to the rule of law and an embrace of the commercial society are necessary, but they were absent in Afghanistan, largely because of Afghanistans violent modern history.

Unfortunately, the endgame unfolding now is as unsurprising as it is tragic.

This article originally appeared in The Detroit News on August 19, 2021
ITAI








Our commitment to the city of San Francisco extends beyond Waymo One, as we are dedicated to serving the community through



We cant wait to hear from more San Franciscans as they experience the Waymo Driver themselves. Beginning later today, San Franciscans can sign up for the Trusted Tester program and help us shape the future of mobility in this city. Just download the



Happy riding! Through the Trusted Tester program, well help San Francisco residents expand their mobility options while complementing the citys robust public transportation infrastructure. Were committed to ensuring that our ride-hailing service is accessible for people with disabilities, both in our autonomous vehicles and in rides provided through our local wheelchair accessible vehicle partner. Were beginning our Trusted Tester program with riders of all different mobility levels, and those who require a wheelchair accessible vehicle can hail directly from the Waymo One app and provide critical feedback on their experience as well.Our commitment to the city of San Francisco extends beyond Waymo One, as we are dedicated to serving the community through civic engagement and public education efforts in the Bay Area, as we work with key city stakeholders to bring awareness to the societal benefits of autonomous driving technology.We cant wait to hear from more San Franciscans as they experience the Waymo Driver themselves. Beginning later today, San Franciscans can sign up for the Trusted Tester program and help us shape the future of mobility in this city. Just download the Waymo One app to get involved.Happy riding!

Trusted Tester is a research-focused program that, for the first time, will invite San Franciscans to actively help us shape the future of fully autonomous ride-hailing. Weve been driving in the city for over twelve years, have accumulated more autonomous driving miles in California than anyone in the industry, and began ramping up our testing by offering autonomous rides to our employees in San Francisco earlier this year.Now, for the first time, San Franciscans will be able to hail an autonomous ride in one of our all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles equipped with the fifth-generation Waymo Driver. While this is a first for San Francisco, it is a familiar step for Waymo. Over the past four years in Metro Phoenix, weve gone from welcoming our first riders in 2017 with an autonomous specialist on board, to launching the first public, fully autonomous ride hailing service . Since October 2020, weve served tens of thousands of fully autonomous rides, and through our years of experience, have refined our incremental approach guided by our safety framework and rider feedback.Our San Francisco Trusted Testers can hail autonomous rides for their everyday needs anywhere they want to go in our initial service area, whether its their favorite bakery in the Sunset, or a special picnic spot in Golden Gate park. All rides in the program will have an autonomous specialist on board for now, and our Trusted Testers will also share feedback with us on their ride experience. From using the Waymo One app, to pickup and drop-offs, to the ride itself, we receive valuable feedback from our riders that allows us to refine our product offering as we advance our service. We kicked off this program last week with a select few and are now expanding the program to all interested San Franciscans. Well begin with an initial group and welcome more riders in the weeks to come.
A federal judge dismissed Rep. Devin Nunes' (R-CA) lawsuit against political strategist Liz Mair for allegedly defaming him, reports the Fresno Bee.

Nunes is still suing the anonymous writers behind the fictional personas of "Devin Nunes' Cow" (@DevinCow), and "Devin Nunes' Alt-Mom" (@NunesAlt), but has not been able to serve them with complaints.

From The Fresno Bee:

The ruling to dismiss Mair, obtained by The Fresno Bee, reads that Nunes' complaint failed to describe the exact words Mair used to defame him, that the statements Nunes alleged Mair made were not defamatory and that "the facts alleged fail to support a reasonable inference that Mair made any of the alleged statements with the requisite intent of actual malice."

It also said that Nunes did not prove Mair had entered a conspiratorial agreement to slander him.
Ecology & Environment  an environmental consulting, testing and engineering firm that used to be publicly traded  was acquired in late 2019 by Montreal-based WSP Global, a privately owned engineering conglomerate and parent of WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff.

WSP USA consolidated operations to its existing offices in the Waterfront Village office complex, at 50 Lakefront Blvd., and then put E&E's 60,000-square-foot former headquarters on 13 parcels up for sale a year ago, for $4.95 million.

WSP is now looking for new space downtown for its 150 employees, after its staff voiced a preference for the city versus the suburbs.

Last week, Upstate Niagara  through UNC Real Estate IV LLC  bought the 119-acre property at 368 Pleasant View Drive and along Eighth, Ninth and Tenth streets, for $4.75 million, according to a deed filed with the Erie County Clerk's Office. The property is assessed at $2.854 million.

The private dairy food and beverage cooperative, which had been based on Anderson Road in West Seneca, has moved its headquarters to the Lancaster campus.
MATHER, Calif. (AP)  More than 13,500 firefighters were working Monday to contain a dozen large California wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee to safety.

After an extensive review of fire damage, Gov. Gavin Newsom requested a presidential major disaster declaration for eight counties, Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Office of Emergency Services, told a briefing near Sacramento.

If approved, the declaration would provide a wide range of assistance including housing, food aid, unemployment and governmental emergency costs, Ghilarducci said.

Nearly 43,000 Californians were under under evacuation orders and more than 500 households were in shelters, he said.

New concerns were developing at the explosive Caldor Fire southwest of Lake Tahoe, the famed alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada state line and surrounded by peaks of the Sierra Nevada and resort communities.

The Caldor Fire, just 9% contained, has become the nation's number one priority for firefighting resources, said Chief Thom Porter, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Pentagon chief spokesman John Kirby said Monday the faster pace of evacuation was partly due to coordination with Taliban commanders on getting evacuees into the airport.

"Thus far, and going forward, it does require constant coordination and deconfliction with the Taliban," Kirby said. "What we've seen is, this deconfliction has worked well in terms of allowing access and flow as well as reducing the overall size of the crowds just outside the airport."

CIA Director Burns and Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban's top political leader, secretly met in Kabul on Monday as the evacuations continued. The Washington Post first reported Burns' meeting. The U.S. official later confirmed the meeting for the AP.

The senior U.S. military commander at the Kabul airport, Rear Adm. Peter Vasely, has been communicating daily with Taliban commanders in an effort to facilitate the evacuation, but the last known contact between the military and Baradar was when Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, flew to Doha, Qatar, to meet with him and other Taliban officials last December. Milley tried to persuade the Taliban to reduce their attacks against Afghan forces, ultimately to no avail.
Much is on the agenda for the gathering of the governments three top leaders, including a possible special session to deal with a number of pressing matters. At the top of that list is potentially giving authority to Hochul to directly respond to the worsening Covid pandemic through various steps, which could include everything from mandatory wearing of masks in all schools and new vaccination edicts.

The new governor did not stay overnight in her new Albany home, the executive mansion on Eagle Street just a short distance from the Capitol. Aides said Hochul is still moving in and cleaning crews are still working at the building following the departure of ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who stepped down at midnight amid a swirl of scandals.

The 3 p.m. speech is an important one for Hochul. Many New Yorkers are still getting to know Hochul, who traveled extensively since she first ran with Cuomo in 2014, but was never prominently featured by Cuomo in key events that may have elevated her name recognition over the years.

The Hochul speech not only will introduce her, but should be an opportunity to lay out, with some level of specificity, some of her priorities for the early days of her administration. Also, Hochul has named some key advisers so far, but many top jobs have yet to be filled  or at least publicly identified who will take the jobs.
Former Gov. David A. Paterson can appreciate Tuesdays historic events more than most. In 2008, he became the states first Black governor when he assumed the top job following another resignation in disgrace  by Eliot L. Spitzer.

Its an historic event, he told The Buffalo News in a Tuesday phone conversation that dwelled on the incredulity of it all. New York has been a member of the union for 234 years, and this is the first day weve had a woman governor?

But following the morning ceremony in which Hochul acknowledged being emotional but prepared, the new governor had to get to work. She met with Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and they didnt talk about the normal business of state government, such as crafting a budget. This time, the new trio of two women and one man in a room had to dwell on life and death matters presented by a coronavirus still wreaking havoc on New Yorks government, its finances and its people.

They have to find a way to successively pull New York out of its Covid-19 mess. And if Cuomo could chalk up success in inspiring the state during its darkest moments of 2020, then Hochul must somehow do the same. That means she must govern effectively. That also means mastering the intricacies of New York politics in a way she has never faced before.

Analysis: Local Democratic leaders shed no tears over Cuomo "During the about-to-end Cuomo era, Erie County Democrats more often than not found themselves isolated from the inner workings of New York Democratic politics," writes Robert J. McCarthy.
ALBANY  A universal mask mandate will be imposed by the state on all public and private schools as students get to return to classes in the coming weeks, and officials are looking at ways to mandate vaccines for school employees, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday on her first day in office.

Seeking to depict an Executive Branch no longer distracted by scandal fatigue, Hochul used a 13-minute video to both introduce herself to New Yorkers who dont know her and to advance new plans to control the spread of Covid, get stalled relief payments to renters and bring what she says a new culture to Albany.

The new governor said the mask mandate, coming as Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to rise in New York, will be done through a regulatory action and does not need state legislative approval.

A mandatory vaccination program is not being required immediately, as is the case in the New York City for teachers and staff there, Hochul said, but will be considered based on talks between education stakeholders and the Legislature. Unions in New York City are taking legal action to force the vaccine mandate to be subject to collective bargaining talks.
Back when Americans were unaware that they had the right to expose other Americans to the sight of their scrawny and not-so-scrawny torsos and bare feet in a convenience store, the No shirt, No shoes, No service was a given. If you went for beer from your backyard pool, you slipped on a T-shirt, flip-flops, and did a beer run.

If youre not vaccinated, good for you. Youve made your silly stand and taken prisoners while doing it. All the jobs, schools, the other unvaccinated, all the things that were closed during the lockdown are your hostages now. The Delta variant is more contagious. Almost 100% of those who are dying in Mississippi are/were unvaccinated. Lets hear it for the loser who got to inhale your last free breath on this earth and will soon be turned away from a hospital when he gets ill, in Mississippi where hospitals are so full that they cant admit someone in need of treatment for Covid-19 or someone who needs an organ transplant. All because of your refusal to help. By your reasoning, if were invaded, you lay down your weapon and say that if God wants you to die of a gunshot, youll die of a gunshot wound.
But the correlation between climate change and more numerous flood disasters in recent decades is difficult to ignore. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes nine of the 10 most extreme one-day flooding events have occurred since 1996, when warming was well underway. There are elements of natural variability in most extreme weather events, so, again, placing the entire causation on the warming climate may amount to shoddy science.

Even so, inland flooding has been the leading cause of death from tropical cyclones in the last 50 years, as reported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the Washington Post. While not related to the Tennessee flooding, the tropical cyclone inland flooding does appear to have a tie to warming, particularly Arctic warming.

As I wrote in The Buffalo News in August 2018, There is also growing evidence that Arctic warming is having several climate and weather impacts elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere. The warming may be weakening the polar jet stream which can allow it to buckle into a 'blockier' pattern of more ridges and troughs more often locked in place for weeks and months at a time. When a blocking pattern develops, parts (not all) of the globe can have longer periods of drought, or cold, or heat, or wet conditions.
Each year the Couture jewelry show welcomes a mix of new brands into the fold, helping to link them up with the creatives, buyers and executives who walk the show.

The 2021 edition is no exception, once again shinning a light on some newer talents as well as brands just new to the trade show. Here WWD looks at five brands in the 2021 Design Atelier, the shows incubator for fresh jewelry talent.

More from WWD

Dale Hernsdorf - Credit: Courtesy Photo

Courtesy Photo

Brand name: Dale Hernsdorf, designed by Dale Hernsdorf; launched three years ago.

Price range: $2,000 to $85,000

Describe your brands aesthetic: Dale Hernsdorfs meticulously crafted jewels are inspired by the raw materials themselves: the natural worlds most precious, spiritually charged elements. Twenty-two-karat gold is alloyed by hand, and each gemstone, is selected for its own exceptional beauty. Favorite stones include Paraiba tourmaline, rubellite, mandarin garnet, and aquamarine, most often in cabochon cut. Every link of chain, bezel and twist of wire is then fully hand-wrought in our Los Angeles studio. The line explores the strength of simple forms from a bold, yet timeless perspective. Each heirloom-quality jewel bears exquisite details, artful proportions, and impeccable craftsmanship, evoking a blend of sophistication and subtle irreverence.

What are some signature pieces to the brand? Goddess rings, gorget necklaces.

What are you looking forward to about attending Couture? Showing my collection to discerning jewelry lovers.

How has the pandemic changed how you create? Its just given me personally a chance to reflect on the importance of authenticity in every piece I make.

Milamore designer George Inaki Root. - Credit: Courtesy Photo

Courtesy Photo

Brand name: Milamore Fine Jewelry, designed by George Inaki Root; launched in April 2019.

Price range: $600 to $22,000

Describe your brands aesthetic: Milamore is designed in New York and handcrafted in Japan by elevating daily wear fine jewelry. The aesthetic reminds you of classic and vintage forms with edge. Story is incorporated in each piece to add significance and serve as subtle reminders to keep you empowered. Kintsugi is our signature collection; it is about finding beauty in the flaw, and celebrating your story.

Story continues

What are some signature pieces to the brand? Kintsugi is incorporated seamlessly throughout our other collections, to represent the brands identity. We use solid 18-karat yellow gold, solid 18-karat white gold, and precious stones such as emeralds and sapphires.

What are you looking forward to about attending Couture? I am looking forward to meeting press and buyers in person. This is something we havent done before, and its our first time at Couture. I cant wait to present my jewelry and tell my stories to everyone.

How has the pandemic changed how you create? During the pandemic, I focused on creating the brands identity and defining our true voice. On the business side, I learned about the different markets, in Japan, in the USA, and internationally. Learning about the different markets in a pandemic helped me prepare our brand to be what it is now. I am proud of what we have accomplished.

Walters Faith founders Mollie Faith Good and Stephanie Walters Abramow. - Credit: Courtesy Photo

Courtesy Photo

Brand name: Walters Faith, designed by Mollie Faith Good and Stephanie Walters Abramow; launched in 2013.

Price range: $155 to $68,750

Describe your brands aesthetic: We work primarily in 18-karat rose gold and diamonds. Our collection is influenced by the classic and interested in the now. We strive to create wearable fine jewelry for the modern woman that can be layered amongst the other jewels in her wardrobe.

What are some signature pieces for the brand? Our Clive fluted rings and Saxon chains are what we are best known for.

What are you looking forward to about attending Couture? We are thrilled to be amongst all the amazing designers, retailers, editors and industry professionals who make up our amazing jewelry community and present our collection for the first time.

How has the pandemic changed how you create? During the pandemic, we spent a great deal of time creating line extensions that we can add to our current assortment. We have seen how our customers still purchase jewelry to make special occasions and maybe now more than ever. Our manufacturing has been slowed so we are working on designing pieces six to eight months in advance of launching a new collection.

Renna Brown-Taher of Renna. - Credit: Courtesy Photo

Courtesy Photo

Brand name: Renna, designed by Renna Brown-Taher; launched in summer 2018.

Price range: $350 to $25,000

Describe your brands aesthetic: I think of Renna as soft and meditative with a whimsical edge. I design for myself, and dedicate myself to creating and curating timeless, elegant and unique pieces. Weve always used recycled gold and ethically sourced diamonds. We source our aquamarines from the all-womens Zimbaqua mine in Zimbabwe and our emeralds from mine-to-market Muzo Emerald Colombia. At Couture, were introducing hand-carved gemstone charms in the likeness of some of my favorite shells.

What are some signature pieces for the brand? Our coffee bean shell pieces are the core of our collection. My mother and I found the shells on the shores of Laguna Beach when I was nine years old. She kept them in her safe deposit box and presented me with a bracelet made of the shells cast in 18-karat gold when I graduated from university. I began my career in jewelry over a decade ago and always wore the bracelet. It was obvious to me when I started my own line that I would look to these shells as the DNA of the brand.

What are you looking forward to about attending Couture? We were supposed to debut at Couture in 2020 so it feels like it has been a long time coming. I cant believe its finally happening! Despite not showing in person last year, I already feel like we are a part of the Couture community. We have met a number of fellow brands and retailers through Instagram and from introductions facilitated by Couture. I already feel like I am a part of the community and I am excited to meet everyone in person.

How has the pandemic changed your brand or how you create? I am incredibly excited to debut our new collection  Through the Looking Glass. I designed this collection to remind myself to find beauty in the small details all around us. The pandemic helped me pause and embrace the whimsy of the world. We really wanted to incorporate bespoke features as a subtle nod to the wearer, such as the engravings on the Looking Glass ring and Octogram spin ring.

Arks Ann Korman. - Credit: Courtesy Photo

Courtesy Photo

Brand name: Ark Fine Jewelry, designed by Ann Korman; launched in 2017.

Price range: $550 to $20,000

Describe your brands aesthetic and the prime materials you use: We make personal, protective talismans using 18-karat gold, diamonds, gemstones and introducing Plique-a-jour enamel. We aim to bring to life ancient symbols embedded with spiritual meaning that communicate an empowering energy to its wearer. We hope our jewelry stimulates a higher consciousness and brings abundance into life.

What are some signature pieces for the brand? I have redesigned the entire collection for Couture this year. My most signature piece, formerly called the Quantum ring, has been updated and now represents an infinity sign that wraps around the finger. We expect that our Dreamweaver Hoops will become our new signature earring; they make a statement, but are incredibly lightweight.

What are you looking forward to about attending Couture? Weve been working on our new collection for the past year and a half and are looking forward to the opportunity to show everything in person at Couture. Our special introduction is Plique-a-jour, where weve enhanced certain pieces with an enameling technique applied to empty spaces so light can shine through. Were also excited to see people in the jewelry community that we have missed. It will truly be a celebration to be together once again.

How has the pandemic changed your brand or how you create? The pandemic reinforced my belief that people need meaningful talismans to give them strength and joy. I think that having something tangible with positive energy can be a powerful tool. There is a crack in everything, thats how the light gets in is a Leonard Cohen quote that is in my mind right now and seems as timely as ever. The pandemic has been a challenging time, but gave me the opportunity to practice what I preach and find the light in every moment, even when things feel uncomfortable. I was inspired by my meditations and from my study of consciousness as I started to redesign my entire collection. I began to take traditional mandalas and abstract them to make them my own and then amplifying pieces with exciting color combinations.

For more, see:

Ones to Watch: Couture Jewelry Show 2019

Couture Jewelry Show 2018: Brands Pivot to Move With Times

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linda almond

facebook Linda Almond

A woman who died during the record-breaking floods in middle Tennessee had filmed rising waters surrounding her house before she was swept away.

On Saturday morning, Linda Almond went on Facebook Live to show friends and family floodwaters rushing past her home. The 70-second video would be one of the 55-year-old's final moments.

"Well, if anybody's seeing me on Facebook Live, we're being flooded right now in Waverly, Tennessee," Linda said during the livestream. "Really scary."

As murky rainwater carried debris down the street, Linda commented, "This is scary. Oh my goodness."

Her brother, Leo Almond, later confirmed on Facebook that she died "in the water" after filming the video, writing, "please pray for her soul."

RELATED: 7-Month-Old Twins Who Were Swept Out of Father's Arms Are Among 22 Killed in Tennessee Floods

Linda had been staying with her son, Tommy Almond, in Waverly  a small city in Humphreys County that's approximately 75 miles west of Nashville  for the past few months following a countrywide road trip, her daughter, Victoria Almond, told The Washington Post on Tuesday.

Victoria, 25, said that her mother was on disability for a bad back, so it would have been difficult for her to escape the flooding.

"I couldn't contact her or Tommy," recalled Victoria, who said that she became worried after seeing her mother's video on Saturday afternoon. "The towers were down and I didn't know what was going on."

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When Tommy, 37, was finally able to reach Victoria, he told her that the "house was lifted off its foundation" by the floodwaters, according to The Post. At some point after finding themselves in the floodwaters, the mother-son duo desperately clung to a power line pole but had to let go when another house floated toward their direction.

"My brother went down for about 45 seconds underwater and when he came back up, he couldn't find Mom," Victoria said. "That was when they let go. It was the last time he saw her."

Waverly Department of Public Safety chief Grant Gillespie said during a Tuesday press conference that at least 18 people were dead in the area, with three people still missing, according to The Tennessean.
Enterprise Resource Planning

New Mexico CC Collaborative Chooses Workday and CampusWorks for Consistent Student Experience

A community college collaborative formed earlier this year to develop shared services expects to launch its first programs shortly. The Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS), which was started by five schools in New Mexico, announced that it is working with Workday's suite of applications, which includes enterprise planning, financial management, human capital management and student services. The project will be aided by CampusWorks, a higher education consultancy, to provide an independent perspective and additional components of the system.

In coming months, the original five CHESS colleges  Central New Mexico Community College, Clovis Community College, Northern New Mexico College, San Juan College and Santa Fe Community College  will work with Workday and CampusWorks to set up multi-institution HR and financial services modules, followed by a student service platform intended to handle numerous aspects of the student journey, from recruitment and registration to completion and career.

Implementation, which is expected to start this fall, will be structured to enable other U.S. colleges to participate in the adoption too.

The project's goals are ambitious. The big ones are to improve the student experience with easier access (one application, one set of student records); enable students to take class offerings from any of the member colleges for faster degree completion; and provide a consistent experience across member colleges, so regardless of where students are enrolled, the platforms and processes will be the same.

Other objectives include:

Helping close achievement gaps in New Mexico, a majority-minority state;

Reducing costs for students, member colleges and taxpayers;

Boosting services by sharing personnel resources and expertise;

Adapting and standardizing best practices among member institutions;

Creating shared, standardized reporting to state and national entities;

Improving the security and access to data and student information; and

Providing modern solutions for institutions that otherwise couldn't afford them.

"This is another major milestone for our partnering colleges as we prepare for the next steps on this groundbreaking journey," said Central New Mexico CC President Tracy Hartzler, in a statement. "Together with Workday, we're ready to get to work on creating a consistent and exceptional higher education experience for students across all of our colleges. We will provide students outstanding support every step of the way. Respecting our distinct colleges and cultures, this new system will help us align our systems and business processes, share expertise and be more collaborative  all to better serve our students. We hope that this unique higher education collaboration will help other colleges in our state and across the country realize what's possible when institutions  our boards, our presidents, our faculty and staff  commit to working together to achieve historic progress on behalf of students."

"Clovis Community College and the CHESS colleges are devoted to the primary mission of providing student success and completion and equitable outcomes to all of our students," added Charles Nwankwo, president of Clovis CC. "Workday has a solid reputation for delivering systems that serve students holistically, resulting in increased student success. I believe the CHESS colleges have found a committed and worthy partner in Workday. We at CHESS look forward to this partnership and the opportunity to move services to our New Mexico students to the next level."
HONOLULU (AP)  Hawaii's governor asked Monday that visitors and residents reduce travel to the islands to essential business only while the state struggles to control COVID-19 as the highly contagious delta variant spreads in the community.

Gov. David Ige wants to curtail travel to Hawaii through the end of October.

It is a risky time to be traveling right now, he said.

He said restaurant capacity has been restricted and there's limited access to rental cars.

Ige stopped short of a mandate, saying its a different time now than last year when strict travel rules that required quarantining essentially shut down Hawaiis tourism industry.

Last year in March, when I first asked for visitors to postpone travel to the islands, we saw a 60% reduction in the traffic to Hawaii" Ige said. And then certainly, ordering the mandatory quarantine of all incoming visitors reduced travel to the islands by 99.5%, essentially 100% of travelers.

Things are different now with vaccines available and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying fully vaccinated people can travel domestically.
Jacque, 40, said on Aug. 16 that he was at the hospital with pneumonia but he was largely asymptomatic with the exception of fatigue. The last update on Jacques health was provided a week ago, when his office said Jacque was tired but in good spirits.

Jacques office also has not answered questions about whether he has been vaccinated.

One of the Legislatures most conservative members, Jacque has been a vocal opponent of mask and vaccine mandates and has sponsored legislation that would have barred government officials or business owners from requiring proof of vaccination. The bills were ultimately vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

Like other Republicans, Jacque also has opposed the statewide mask mandate that was ultimately struck down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in March.

As a human being I have every hope that Jacque recovers quickly, I dont want anyone sick from COVID and thats the whole point, Roys said. Thats why I got vaccinated, thats why I wear a mask, thats why I encourage others to do so.
A yearslong effort to test backlogged sexual assault evidence in Wisconsin has resulted in prosecutors sixth successful conviction, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday.

Dane County Judge David Conway sentenced 47-year-old Joachim M. McKnight, of Saginaw, Michigan, to 3 years in prison for the assault of a teenage victim that occurred in March 1994.

The Madison Police Department investigated the case, which was prosecuted by the Dane County District Attorneys Office.

McKnight pleaded guilty on Aug. 9 to third-degree sexual assault and was sentenced Aug. 19. He was charged with one count of second-degree sexual assault in January 2020, according to the criminal complaint.

Sexual assault evidence was tested in 2018 from the victims sexual assault kit, which can contain evidence that is crucial to finding sexual predators or freeing those wrongly convicted.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24)  More office spaces were unoccupied in Metro Manila during the first half of 2021, according to a property consultancy firm, which also observed a shift to non-traditional work setups among firms.

"As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches on, the overall vacancy in Metro Manila hits another new record high at 13.0% of total grade A office stock in the first half of the year," KMC Savills said in its latest report.

Atop this came completions of prior delayed projects, which yielded 150,000 square meters (sqm) in fresh office space during the second quarter of the year, it added.

KMC Savills noted that while leasing activity began picking up, non-renewals and pre-termination among tenants kept subduing demand for the period.

The real estate brokerage firm also cited a pivot towards non-traditional working arrangements of offices among several industries, as sectors assessed their current operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Firms across the globe have adopted alternative work setups in a bid to maintain productivity and keep personnel safe from the coronavirus.

"We have observed a shift away from dense work areas to work-from-home or hub-and-spoke models all over the country," said KMC Savills, which also flagged a possible supply-demand imbalance with the lack of new tenants making their foray into the market.

"This will keep leasing conditions in the occupiers' favor in the short term, resulting in flight to quality and discounted premium space," it added.

These higher vacancy rates have also affected rent levels, according to KMC Savills, citing in particular how prices in the nation's capital fell by 1.6% year-on-year for the second quarter.

"Landlords may look to offer generous concessions to help them attract and/or retain tenants. Lessees, however, may look to go bargain hunting given the surplus of new stock in their chosen submarkets," KMC Savills explained.

How are office space submarkets faring?

For instance, in premiere financial business district Makati, about 68,500 sqm of office space had been vacated since the pandemic's onset. Bargain hunters could look for high-end options that may be bagged at a discounted price, the firm said.

KMC Savills added that it expects the city's vacancy rate to remain in the double digits, noting nearly 110,000 sqm of office spaces are slated to go online in the quarters ahead. Makati logged a vacancy rate of 10.7% for the second quarter.

On the other hand, Alabang emerged as the "biggest loser" since the beginning of the pandemic - seeing the vacancy rate jump from 4.6% in the first quarter of 2020 to 17% from April to June this year.

"With the (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) and (business process outsourcing) industries being the market's leading tenants, we may continue to see volatility in the coming periods," added KMC Savills, which also cited restricted travel among office workers as reducing the business district's appeal.

An additional 123,000 sqm in office space set for completion through next year may also push vacancy rates up, it added.

Meanwhile, only 140,000 sqm out of the previously projected 245,000 sqm in spaces are expected to become available this year in Bonifacio Global City. KMC Savills said it expects construction delays as developers moved project turnovers to early 2022.

"Amid vaccination rollout picking up and office occupiers gearing towards repopulating their physical footprint in the second half of the year, vacancy rates are expected to increase further," it added.

In Ortigas Center, organizations have been reengaging the market and taking advantage of "increasingly tenant-favorable" conditions in the district, according to the firm. About 73,700 sqm of office space had been occupied in the first half of 2021 in the district, the highest among all submarkets in Metro Manila.

"While Ortigas Center's leasing activity has been on an uptrend during the first half of the year, vacancies are expected to rise further in the short-term," it said, noting vacancy rate may reach 30% next year with 300,000 sqm in spaces projected for completion in the next 15 months.

KMC Savills also flagged how Quezon City has "not been able to utilize its appeal as a hub-and-spoke office option," noting it failed to reel in new tenants. It ended the second quarter of 2021 with an 18.3% vacancy rate - with KMC Savills expecting further decline in the periods ahead given the city's aging office stock.

"With no projected building completions until the end of 2023, Quezon City may have to rely on its varied locations and proximity to established residential communities to attract tenants in the future," it added.

The Bay Area logged a 8.2% vacancy rate in the second quarter, KMC Savills said, adding it recorded a "positive net take-up" of around 34,800 sqm. Pre-leasing remained active in the district, it added.

"It should be noted, however, that 375,900 sqm of Grade A office space is set for completion in the next 12 months. This may cause further drag in the overall growth of the submarket with vacancy rates projected to go beyond 20% by 2022," the company explained, adding less volatility may be expected once POGO regulations in the country become clearer.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24) - Malacanang on Tuesday defended its request for a bigger budget to end communism in the Philippines, saying that rebellion and terrorism will remain a threat during the pandemic

A day earlier, the Department of Budget and Management submitted the proposed National Expenditure Program for President Rodrigo Duterte's last year in office. The 5.024 trillion proposed budget for 2022 was transmitted to Congress for deliberation.

Under the program, the controversial National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is slated to receive P28.1 billion. Despite facing calls for defunding due to the red tagging by its officials, it may receive funds higher than the 19 billion budget it got this year.

The proposed budget also seeks to allocate P4.5 billion for intelligence and confidential expenses under Duterte's office.

"I mentioned in my first Budget Message that I would double or even triple the efforts of the government to reduce criminality in our country," Duterte said in a statement. "True to our word, the administration has never held back."

The President in December refused to submit reports on use of intel funds to Congress, citing national security issues. He stressed that these are confidential or classified information.

Pandemic

Patuloy pa rin po ang banta ng mga terorista, ng mga ISIS, ng mga komunista, ng mga drug lords kahit may pandemya, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a briefing.

[Translation: The threat from terrorists, ISIS, communists, and drug lords continue amid the pandemic.]

He added that the higher budget for the NTF-ELCAC is in line with the governments efforts to provide livelihood to people during the health crisis.

Maski nandiyan po ang pandemya, alam natin na ang kagutuman ang dahilan ng pagaalsa, said Roque.

[Translation: During the pandemic, we all know that hunger is the reason for rebellion.]

Ito po ay sangayon din sa ating stratehiya kung paano tayo babangon galing sa pandemyang ito. That is to provide more development projects nang sa ganoon mas maraming hanapbuhay at mas maraming perang iikot sa ating ekonomiya.

[Translation: It is also in line with our strategy for recovery from this pandemic. That is to provide more development projects so that there will be more livelihood and more money that will circulate in our economy.]

The DBM said the expenditure plan is 22.8% of the countrys economic output and higher by 11.5% than the 4.5 trillion budget for this year.

The education sector gets the biggest chunk of the budget pie for next year.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 25)  The Food and Drug Administration announced on Tuesday that Modernas COVID-19 vaccine has applied for the amendment of its emergency use authorization in the Philippines to cover inoculation of adolescents.

During a meeting with Cabinet members, FDA Director General Eric Domingo said the American manufacturer submitted the application on August 19 to include those aged 12 years old and above.

He added that clinical data were already submitted, and the experts are expected to come up with their final decision until next week.

Meanwhile, Domingo said they have not approved the application of Chinas Sinovac to be used on individuals who are 3 to 17 years old due to lack of data. The vaccine manufacturer has been requested to submit more data on the vaccine's use for that age bracket so that the FDA can revisit the request, he added.

Currently, only Pfizer's COVID-19 shots have been approved by the regulator for use on minors that are 12 to 15 years old.

Vaccine experts earlier rejected the call to immunize children and teenagers against COVID-19 due to unstable supply and lack of efficacy and safety data for the said age group. The government is also prioritizing the inoculation of the most vulnerable, which include medical workers, senior citizens, and people with comorbidities.

RELATED: Gov't urged to order boosters, vaccine shots for kids ASAP

Latest data show that more than 13 million Filipinos are now fully protected from the coronavirus. This however, is still far from the goal of vaccinating some 70 million of the population to achieve herd immunity.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24)  The local government of Tuguegarao has asked the regional pandemic response task force to extend the enhanced community quarantine in the city until Aug. 30 to pave the way for disinfection activities, Mayor Jefferson Soriano said on Tuesday.

The regional inter-agency task force earlier approved an extension up to Aug. 28.

"We requested the [regional] IATF yesterday that we will have another extension of two days," Soriano told CNN Philippines' New Day.

On Aug. 12, Tuguegarao City returned to ECQ for the fifth time since the pandemic started last year. The latest ECQ was supposed to end on Aug. 21 but it was extended as the city's COVID-19 situation did not improve, Soriano said, adding the hospitals were already "full."

The vaccination program in Tuguegarao continues. However, Soriano said the city government is facing a "little challenge" in convincing more senior citizens to get inoculated.
(CNN) -- Vice President Kamala Harris, undertaking a suddenly high-stakes visit to Southeast Asia this week amid the first major foreign policy crisis of the Biden administration, was on the receiving end of questions Monday about the US' withdrawal from Afghanistan for the first time since the chaotic fall of Kabul.

Harris' stops in Singapore and Vietnam have assumed outsized importance for their potential to reassure foreign leaders of the United States' continued commitment to its allies. Particularly in Vietnam where Harris heads Tuesday -- as images of the 1975 fall of Saigon have stirred comparisons to evacuations in Kabul -- the vice president will work to maintain her focus on Asia, a region President Joe Biden wants to prioritize as he ends 9/11-era conflicts.

Yet on Monday, reporters beamed in on a monitor from another room to pepper Harris on the tumultuous Afghanistan exit as she stood alongside Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loon in a joint press conference after their first bilateral meeting, providing a first look at how the vice president is approaching the unfolding crisis.

"There's no question there will be, and should be, a robust analysis of what has happened," Harris said, as she sidestepped answering whether she was personally satisfied with the operational steps being taken during the US withdrawal. Officials separated reporters traveling with the vice president from the politicians because of Singapore's Covid-19 restrictions.

Harris said in April she was among the last advisers Biden consulted before making his decision to end the Afghanistan war, and she has joined the multitude of briefings he's received on the matter over the past week. Her advisers had faced questions ahead of her trip about whether the tumultuous end to the 20-year war would undermine her message to leaders in Asia about America's commitments abroad.

There had already been some questions about Biden's attention to southeast Asia; he hasn't spoken directly to a leader from the region since taking office. Part of the reason he's explained for ending the Afghanistan war is a desire to shift focus to modern-day issues, like countering China's rise.

On Monday, even as Harris sought to project the administration's focus on bolstering its influence in Asia, she still faced questions about the Afghanistan crisis.

"Right now, we are singularly focused on evacuating American citizens, Afghans who worked with us, and Afghans who are vulnerable, including women and children," Harris added. She also defended President Joe Biden, saying he'd shown "great emotion" over the images coming out of Afghanistan.

Responding to the Afghanistan crisis while on foreign soil is part of the steep challenge Harris faces this week as she travels to Singapore and Vietnam, as the once-low-risk trip to friendly nations comes at the same time as a chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Political experts, and even her own allies, say Harris faces enhanced pressure to fulfill dual responsibilities largely unfamiliar to her in the seven months she's been in office: Deliver a foreign policy win for an administration in crisis and embody Biden's call to pivot US focus abroad to counter a rising China.

"It's going to be a real sticking point for her to exude that America is here and we're committed to the things that we say we're committed to," a source close to Harris told CNN last week.

Harris' comments on Monday echoed Biden's statements in previous days, saying that the time for reflection and criticism will come later as the focus remains on the dangerous mission of evacuating tens of thousands from the now-Taliban-controlled city. But that notion has not stopped the barrage of questions over the administration's competency and who is to blame for the collapse in Kabul.

"The reason I'm here is because the United States is a global leader, and we take that role seriously, understanding that we have many interests and priorities around the world," Harris said Monday. "I am here in Singapore as a reaffirmation of our commitment to our membership in the Indo-Pacific region."

Monday agreements

Following Harris' meeting with Lee, the White House announced several initiatives with the Singapore government aimed at "strengthening and deepening" the administrations' partnerships in Southeast Asia. The agreements focus on easing supply chain issues compounded by the pandemic, combating cybersecurity threats, addressing climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Harris and Lee will launch the US-Singapore Dialogue on Supply Chain, according to a fact sheet provided from her office, which would be a "high level dialogue on enhancing cooperative efforts to promote greater supply chain resilience.' CNN reported Friday that trade would factor into the theme of global competition on the vice president's trip, as the US grapples with the global microchip shortage

On cybersecurity, the pair announced they've finalized "three agreements that will expand cybersecurity cooperation with respect to the financial sector, military-to-military engagement, and regional capacity-building.'

And the US and Singapore say they will track Covid-19 variants together more closely as well as partners in research for treatments, among other agreements on defense issues.

Afterward, the vice president received a briefing from Singaporean defense officials on the US-Singapore defense relationship at the Changi Naval Base before addressing US sailors aboard the USS Tulsa.

She thanked troops for their efforts in Afghanistan, as discussions are underway about the potential for remaining in Kabul beyond the August 31 deadline to exit the country so US troops can finish the evacuation effort.

"The men and women who have served in Afghanistan -- including some who are here today, and I have read about your service -- and those who are serving there right now, I just want to say we are all grateful to the men and women in uniform and the embassy staff on the ground who are bringing safety to Americans and the Afghans who worked side by side with us and to other Afghans at risk," Harris said.

"And they're doing this mission in an incredibly challenging and dangerous environment, and the President and I are thankful for their service."

Then Harris turned back at the task at hand, deepening the relationship in the Indo-Pacific, a region she called "critical" to the United State' security.

Biden has centered his domestic economic policy agenda around beefing up the country's infrastructure and manufacturing ability to compete with China, making it no secret he intends to fight the battles of the "next 20 years," instead of the last, a part of his reason for withdrawing from Afghanistan.

"At the same time, other missions continue all around the world. So, you all are here in Singapore -- and Southeast Asia, and the Indo Pacific -- with a mission of your own, a mission that is vital to the American people," Harris said to US sailors after touring the combat ship USS Tulsa. "The Indo-Pacific is critical to the security and prosperity of the United States."

The vice president is scheduled to give remarks Tuesday in Singapore laying out the administration's vision for the region, a White House official said, focused on security, economic partnerships, and global health.

"The Vice President will discuss a theme she has discussed many times before -- she believes we are embarking on a new era. Our world is more interconnected and interdependent than ever before, therefore, the only way to move forward is together," the official.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Afghanistan fallout engulfs Harris' first day of Southeast Asia trip"
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24)  The national government budget deficit eased in July, as the growth in state revenues outpaced that in public spending, according to Treasury data released on Tuesday.

The Treasury bureau reported a deficit of 121.2 billion for the month, which was 13.57% less than the 140.2 billion logged in July 2020. It is also lower than the 149.9 billion shortfall in June.

"The fiscal performance for the period resulted from the 9.21% growth in revenue collection alongside a 0.69% modest increase in government expenditures," the agency said.

The latest figure brought the cumulative deficit for the January-July period to 837.3 billion, higher by 19.5% from the comparable period last year.

Revenues reached 256.1 billion in July, climbing by 21.6 billion from the same month last year. This came as the Bureau of Internal Revenue saw collections rise by 7.45% to 170.8 billion, while the Bureau of Customs raked in 57.2 billion, up 14.76%.

The Treasury itself likewise logged higher income during the month, with earnings hitting 13.6 billion. This is a 78% improvement from July last year, mainly due to higher dividend remittances, national government share from PAGCOR, and interest income from deposits.

Revenue from other offices, however, dwindled by 22.96% to 12.7 billion according to the Treasury. It partly attributed the decline to the high base effect of the one-off remittance from MPCALA Holdings Inc. for the Cavite-Laguna Expressway project.

Government expenditures logged a mild 0.69% rise in July to 377.3 billion, added the bureau.

"The modest increase can be attributed to the higher personnel services expenditures and infrastructure outlays, but were partially offset by the one-off Social Amelioration Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development whose implementation of the second tranche was still ongoing in July last year," said the Treasury.

It also noted that the timing of subsidy releases to Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and National Housing Authority also weighed down on the pace of expenditures during the said period.

Interest payments hit 59 billion in July, slightly slower by 0.6% with the rise in domestic interest charges offset by lower foreign payments due to matured global bonds, explained the bureau.

House Ways and Means Committee chairman Rep. Joey Salceda noted the slowdown in deficit expenditure could be partly due to the return of stricter COVID-19-related restrictions.

"While it means well for fiscal space for a third Bayanihan package, it could also indicate that we did not spend as much as we should have, especially around 18 billion in excess funds from Bayanihans 1 and 2, based on my last meeting with the Department of Budget and Management," said Salceda in a statement.

The lawmaker noted that the lower deficit spending allows more room for a third Bayanihan package, which also contains assistance for sectors affected by the health crisis.

"I am confident that we will have a final agreement on the matter by next week. Time, of course, is of the essence," noted Salceda.
(CNN)  When Tim Cook took over as chief executive of Apple, it was a corporate transition unlike any other. He stepped out from the shadow of one of the best-known American CEOs and took the reins of one of the world's biggest tech companies facing some uncertainty about how much more successful it could be.

Ten years into the job, Cook now leads the most valuable company in the world  technology or otherwise  and it remains among the most influential. More than a billion people worldwide use its devices and tens of millions of developers have built businesses on its software platforms.

Cook took over as CEO from Steve Jobs on August 24, 2011, less than two months before the Apple founder passed away. Since then, Apple's market capitalization has grown around 600% to nearly $2.5 trillion, and its annual revenue has more than doubled.

If Jobs was known for his ability to create groundbreaking devices that redefined consumers' experience of technology, Cook may come to be known for expanding the Apple ecosystem  building a suite of subscription services and other hardware products that complement the core iPhone business Jobs launched.

Under Cook, Apple has gone from a premium device maker to a massive, multifaceted company with businesses ranging from payment services to an Oscar-nominated TV and film production studio. He's overseen the acquisition of more than 100 companies, including the $3 billion Beats purchase in 2014 and the $1 billion acquisition of Intel's smartphone modem business in 2019.

Inside Apple, Cook inherited a company culture known for being relentlessly demanding and he's now managing at a time where tech workers have been increasingly vocal about social issues. (Cook himself, who in 2014 became one of the first leading CEOs to come out as gay, has been involved in LGBTQ+ rights advocacy.)

Cook has also been at the helm for major corporate missteps such as "Batterygate" and allegations of poor labor conditions at its suppliers' factories. A recent announcement around a new child protection initiative also turned into an unexpected PR nightmare. And he has navigated a host of external threats to Apple's business over the years, including, recently, feuds with the Trump administration, the US-China trade war and the Covid-19 pandemic.

What Cook hasn't done is launch another product as successful and disruptive as the iPhone, but he's found ways to keep Apple growing without that.

"It's possibly the most successful handoff from strength to strength in corporate history," Mike Bailey, director of research at FBB Capital Partners, said of the transition from Jobs to Cook. "Apple, frankly, needed a cheerleader and a politician, possibly more than a micromanaging, stressed out founder."

Bailey added: "You're maintaining the empire, as opposed to building one."

The growth of services

A month after taking over as CEO, Cook announced the launch of the iPhone 4S. Since then, Apple has released nearly two dozen more versions of the iPhone at a wider range of price points, along with new generations of the iPad, Mac and MacBook. Cook has also overseen the introduction of new hardware products  most successfully, the Apple Watch in 2015 and AirPods in 2016.

But even more important than the new devices brought to life under his leadership is the growth of Apple's services business.

"From a hardware standpoint, I think you can make the argument that it's been more iterative than revolutionary, but I think that diminishes his contribution to the company," said D.A. Davidson analyst Tom Forte, adding that Cook expanded the notion of what Apple is. "He said ... 'What can Apple be? Apple can be a music subscription service, Apple can be a fitness subscription service, Apple can be much more than the App Store.'"

Even in the first five years of his tenure, Apple was making meaningful revenue from its Services division, which included products such as iCloud, which launched in October 2011; Apple Podcasts, which launched in 2012; and Apple Music, which launched in 2015. In January 2016, Apple revealed for the first time that it had generated $20 billion in services sales in the previous year.

Since then, Apple has launched even more services, including Apple Arcade, Apple TV+ and Apple Fitness+, along with a subscription bundle, which have further boosted the business. In the 2020 fiscal year, Apple generated nearly $53.8 billion in services revenue, accounting for around 20% of the company's total sales. (Apple doesn't break out sales for individual services.)

Apple's focus on services has allowed it to be less reliant on iPhone sales, which can be volatile from quarter to quarter and have begun to plateau, even dipping at times under Cook. A key focus for Cook has been offsetting that slowing iPhone growth.

"He kept the iPhone party going, but he solved a boom-bust problem by exploding their services business," FBB's Bailey said.

Apple still brings in hoards of cash each year from iPhone sales. But now, it also has the more consistent, higher margin profits from subscription services to act as a buffer as customers hold onto their devices for longer. Services also give consumers yet more reasons to choose Apple hardware over others, and helps the company eke out more dollars from each person that buys one of its devices.

What's next?

Cook has already said he doesn't plan to be at Apple in another 10 years. But most followers of the company expect him to stick around for at least a few more.

In that time, he'll have plenty on his plate that could shape the future of the company, including the long rumored release of an Apple car and AR glasses, as well as its continued efforts to build its own chips for its devices.

But he'll also face major challenges, including Apple's current antitrust fight with app developers and regulators. Forte also questioned whether Apple will be able to maintain its leadership position if the growth in internet of things devices means consumers become less reliant on smartphones. Apple has yet to gain the same traction in connected home devices as Amazon's Alexa, and earlier this year killed off its original HomePod in favor of the cheaper mini version.

"An argument can be made that they're [still] heavily dependent on the iPhone," Forte said. "I'm still trying to envision what the future looks like and what happens when the smartphone is no longer the center of the universe."

Under Cook, Apple has also been working to address its impact on the environment, including plans to become carbon neutral by 2030. But given that the company is dependent on a complex global supply chain and non-renewable rare earth metals to build its products, Cook will likely have to push the company's efforts further in the coming years, as climate change poses an increasingly existential threat.

Then there's the question of who will take over leading the world's biggest company when Cook does step down. Jeff Williams, Apple's current chief operating officer, who has been dubbed Tim Cook's Tim Cook in the tech press, would be an obvious choice if he were taking over now. But at just two years younger than Cook, that succession plan could be more questionable in even a few years, Bailey said.

"It doesn't look like there's another insider, number two, ready to go, so I do think that's something Apple's going to have to start to address over the next two years," he said.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "How Tim Cook has grown the Apple empire in his decade as CEO."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24)  Philippine Health Insurance Corporation's budget request for next year was cut by 30 billion.

This was revealed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III during the House Committee on Health's hearing on the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law and PhilHealth Circular 2021-0013, which suspends the payment of claims to healthcare providers under probe for fraudulent, unethical acts, and/or abuse of authority.

"We asked for 110.13 billion. But the NEP (National Expenditure Program) reflects 80 billion," Duque told lawmakers on Tuesday.

He did not say why the proposed budget of the state health insurer was slashed.

Data from the Department of Budget and Management show that PhilHealth's proposed budget will be used to subsidize the health insurance premiums of indirect contributors, including indigents, senior citizens, and unemployed persons with disabilities.

Lemuel Untalan, acting vice president of PhilHealth's Member Management Group, told Congress that more than 50 million Filipinos, including dependents, are being subsidized by the state health insurer. The number of Filipinos in PhilHealth's database is around 95 million.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24)  The Commission on Elections hit past its voter registration target weeks ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline and it has no plans of extending it.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said 61.06 million Filipinos are now eligible to vote in the May 9, 2022 national and local polls, exceeding its 59 million target.

"We've already ruled on this issue," Jimenez said, referring to last week's en banc decision to reject petitions to extend the registration deadline so as not to affect other preparations for the elections.

Comelec offices in Metro Manila and select provinces stopped accepting applications for new voters and transferees this month due to lockdowns meant to curb rising COVID-19 infections. This prompted some lawmakers and civic groups to call for a later registration deadline to avoid voter disenfranchisement.

On Monday, Chairman Sheriff Abas said more than two million additional voters have registered during the past year despite the pandemic, matching the usual increase during previous registration cycles.

He said he expects "thousands more" to register in the next five weeks, after Comelec offices extended registration hours in areas under general community quarantine and modified GCQ from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on weekdays and up to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Mall-based registrations are likewise expected to boost sign-ups, Abas added, following the signing of a deal to use Ayala Malls as satellite venues. The Comelec has a similar arrangement with Robinsons Malls.

Existing rules prohibit voter registration activities in areas under strict lockdown.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24)  The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday ordered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to suspend the implementation of the controversial mandatory vehicle testing by Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs).

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade gave the order amid several issues raised by transport groups, motorists, and lawmakers regarding the operation of PMVICs.

In a ratified resolution, senators slammed what they described as the "ill-timing" of the program, high cost of inspection, and unreliability of test results.

They also questioned the reported absence of stakeholder consultation, lack of transparency in the selection process of the inspection centers, inadequate number of operational facilities, and "the overall incompatibility of PMVICs with LTO's own IT system and the landscape of motor vehicles in the country."

Until the issues surrounding the system are resolved, Tugade directed the LTO to maintain the previous registration process.

This means motorists can still choose between PMVICs and Private Emission Testing Centers (PETCs) for the required vehicle inspection.

Tugade also asked the LTO to review its Memorandum Circular No. MC-SC-2021-02, which is the basis for the mandatory PMVIC testing.

In a statement, Senator Grace Poe welcomed the DOTr's move, but added that the department should still deal with the "flaws" the Senate pointed out in its resolution.

"Hindi pwedeng basta itago na lang sa ilalim ng basahan ang dumi at kalat ng programang ito sa simula pa lang [They can't just simply sweep these flaws under the rug]," she said.

Meanwhile, the agency said it has listened to the inputs of various stakeholders, but maintained the new policy is "very important" to ensure roadworthiness of vehicles.

It said the scope of inspection by PMVICs is wider compared to PETCs and will help with road safety.

On the issue of additional fees, the DOTr said it was able to convince PMVICs to lower their inspection rate from 1,500 to 600 for light vehicles, and 500 for motorcycles, "which is similar to rates collected by a PETC."

It added that reinspection or retest fees were likewise waived.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24)  The public information office of Pasig City said on Tuesday that the deep road cracks that appeared on Topaz Road in Ortigas Center were due to a damaged drainage line.

The office reported that environment officials and seismologists ruled out fault line and liquefaction as the causes of the fissures that surfaced Sunday evening.

It explained that the cracked drainage line led to water seepage, eventually causing the top soil to erode. The drain was identified to be where most rain water from nearby buildings collects. The cause of the damage to the drainage line is still being investigated.

Engineers will start repairs on Wednesday once a ground penetrating radar  a device which takes images underground  has been deployed, city officials added.

CNN Philippines Correspondent Paige Javier contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24)  The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) will not yet launch an investigation on the government agencies flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA).

PACC Chairman Greco Belgica on Tuesday said the annual reports released by state auditors are still subject to justification and compliance of the agencies flagged for how they are using their funds.

He said the PACC is in touch with COA.

Belgica added that once COA issues a notice of disallowance, only then can his agency launch an investigation.

"Ibig sabihin ng notice of disallowance, meron na talagang na-violate na batas so pwede nang mag-investigate at mag-file ng kaso after," he said in a media briefing.

[Translation: A notice of disallowance means a law was violated. Then we can investigate and file a case.]

Belgica vowed to conduct an independent investigation that will not be swayed by politics and alliances.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24)  Local governments with slow vaccination rollouts might be given less vaccine supply, Malacanang said Tuesday.

"Ang importante pong maintindihan ng taumbayan: kung ikaw po ay LGU na mabagal magpabakuna, hindi rin po ganon karaming supply ang bibigay sa inyo dahil ibibigay 'yan sa mga LGU na mas mabilis gumamit po ng bakuna," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday.

[Translation: It is important for the public to understand: if you are an LGU that is slow in vaccinating (constituents), you will be given not that much supply as it will be given to LGUs that are able to use up vaccines faster.]

The spokesman's remarks come as the local governments of San Juan, Pateros, and Mandaluyong opened up vaccination efforts to non-residents after reaching high vaccination rates within their localities.

Individuals must register through the LGUs' respective websites. They will then be informed of their schedule either through a phone call or text message.

To date, 43% of Metro Manila's eligible population have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Authorities are aiming to achieve a 50% complete inoculation rate for the said populace by end-August.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24)  The country expects to receive in the last days of August over 3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses it had purchased from suppliers, Malacanang said Tuesday.

In his regular briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said 362,700 government-procured Pfizer doses are slated to arrive in the country this Wednesday.

RELATED: US FDA grants full approval to Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, opening door to more vaccine mandates

Some 3 million doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine purchased by the government will be delivered in the fourth week of August, the spokesman added.

Latest data from the National Task Force Against COVID-19 shows over 47.26 million vaccine doses have arrived in the country so far.

The country has administered over 30.69 million shot so far, the task force said. Over 13.19 million Filipinos received both vaccine doses, while 17.49 million got their first shot, it added.
(CNN)  US President Joe Biden on Monday urged Americans who have been waiting for full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to go get vaccinated against COVID-19 hours after the FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for those ages 16 and older.

"If you are one of the millions of Americans who said they will not get the shot until it has full and final approval of the FDA, it has now happened. The moment you've been waiting for is here, it's time for you to go get your vaccination, and get it today. Today," Biden said, speaking from the White House.

The President said the full FDA approval was "an important moment in our fight against the pandemic," and said: "The FDA approval is the gold standard."

Biden called on leaders in the private and public sector to implement vaccine requirements, saying it will push millions more Americans to get vaccinated.

"If you're a business leader, a nonprofit leader, a state or local leader, who has been waiting for full FDA approval to require vaccinations, I call on you now to do that. Require it," he said.

The President noted vaccine requirements have been around for decades and that students, health care professionals and US troops are typically required to get vaccinated against polio, smallpox, measles, mumps and rubella.

Biden warned against the dangers of the Delta variant, which is ripping through parts of the country with low vaccination rates and driving up hospitalizations and deaths. He urged Americans who have opted not to get the shot to reconsider in order to protect their loved ones and their communities.

Many children are not eligible to get any of the Covid-19 vaccines, and Biden said he would address the nation "soon" with Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona about Covid-19 cases among children and how his administration will help get kids back in school safely. For now, Biden said, parents can help keep their kids safe by ensuring everyone around their children are vaccinated, and that their children wear masks when they leave home.

Biden thanked the acting FDA commissioner, Janet Woodcock, and her team for their hard work poring over data as they "followed the science." Biden noted Woodcock is a career scientist who has served under both Republican and Democratic presidents.

The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is the first coronavirus vaccine to be fully approved by the FDA -- the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccines remain under emergency use authorization -- and the announcement is expected to open the door to more vaccine mandates.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said during a briefing on Monday the Department of Defense would move forward with requiring all US military service members to be vaccinated now that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has full FDA approval.

Also on Monday morning, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a Covid-19 vaccine mandate for all education department staff for all public schools across the city without a testing alternative, becoming the largest school system in the US to do so.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been authorized for emergency use in the United States since mid-December for people age 16 and older. In May, the authorization was extended to those 12 and older. Out of more than 170 million people in the United States fully vaccinated against Covid-19, more than 92 million have received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that approval could encourage more people to get vaccinated, and more mandates.

"For businesses and universities that have been thinking about putting vaccine requirements in place in order to create safer spaces for people to work and learn, I think that this move from the FDA, when it comes, will actually help them to move forward with those kinds of plans," Murthy told CNN's Brianna Keilar.

Last month, Biden announced all federal employees must attest to being vaccinated against Covid-19 or face strict protocols including regular testing, masking, limits on official travel and other mitigation measures. Contractors working for the federal government will also be subject to the new rules.
(CNN)  China reported no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Monday for the first time since July, according to its National Health Commission (NHC), as authorities double down on the country's stringent zero-Covid approach.

China has been grappling with the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant since July 20, when a cluster of Covid-19 infections were detected among airport cleaning staff in the eastern city of Nanjing.

Since then, it has spiraled into the worst outbreak China has seen since 2020, spreading to more than half of the country's 31 provinces and infecting more than 1,200 people. The surging cases driven by Delta were seen as the biggest challenge yet to China's uncompromising zero tolerance virus policy.

Local authorities responded by placing tens of millions of residents under strict lockdown, rolling out massive testing and tracing campaigns and restricting domestic travels.

The strict measures appeared to be working. Daily infections have fallen steadily over the past week into single digits, down from more than 100 from its peak two weeks ago.

And on Monday, the country reported 21 imported cases and zero locally transmitted symptomatic infections -- the first time no local cases have been recorded since July 16. It also reported 16 asymptomatic cases, all of which were imported too, according to the NHC. China keeps a separate count of symptomatic and asymptomatic cases and does not include asymptomatic carriers of the virus in the official tally of confirmed cases.

If the trend continues, China could become the world's first country to control a major Delta outbreak.

Doubling down on zero-Covid

China is one of a number of countries, including Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, that have sought to completely eradicate Covid-19 within their borders.

Authorities closed off borders to almost all foreigners, imposed strict quarantines for arrivals, and launched targeted lockdowns and aggressive testing and tracing policies to stamp out any cases that slipped through the defenses. And for more than a year, these measures had been largely successful in keeping cases close to zero.

But fresh outbreaks driven by the Delta variant are prompting some countries to rethink their approach.

In Australia, several major cities, including Sydney, Melbourne and the capital Canberra, have been placed under weeks of lockdown, but cases have continued to surge. On Saturday, the country recorded its highest single-day caseload since the pandemic began, while thousands of people took to the streets to protest against prolonged lockdowns.

In an opinion piece published in Australian media Sunday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison hinted at an end to the country's zero Covid-19 restrictions, saying the lockdowns "are sadly necessary for now" but "won't be necessary for too much longer." He said the Australian government intended to shift its focus from reducing case numbers to examining how many people were getting seriously ill from Covid-19 and requiring hospitalization.

Singapore, too, has laid out a road map to transit to a "new normal" of living with Covid-19.

China, meanwhile, appears to be resolutely sticking to its zero-Covid approach, with state broadcaster CCTV warning on Monday that the pandemic has not ended, and that people shouldn't become careless in epidemic prevention.

The country has also continued to ramp up its vaccination drive. As of Sunday, it has administered more than 1.94 billion doses of domestically made Covid-19 vaccines, according to the NHC. More than 135 doses have been administered per 100 people, a ratio higher than that of the United Kingdom and the United States.
(CNN)  Inside a hospital in a leafy campus in the shadow of Mount Kenya, workers dressed head-to-toe in pale green Hazmat suits load a shrouded body into an ambulance.

For the past few weeks, this somber scene has become a daily routine at the 31-bed Mount Kenya hospital, in Nyeri county, a few hours north of Nairobi. The hospital, which is now exclusively treating Covid-19 patients, is struggling to cope under the strain of Kenya's Delta variant-fueled fourth wave.

The official nationwide data, which shows an average of just 20 deaths per day over the past week, tells only a small fraction of the full story -- everyone here, it seems, knows someone who has died from the virus.

The Mount Kenya Hospital, like many others across the country, is turning away new patients because it simply doesn't have enough room. It is also lacking resources.

Despite a newly installed oxygen compressor, extra cylinders, trucked in every day, are still needed to meet demand.

Four patients arrive, desperately in need of a bed in an intensive care unit, but there are none.

Without an ICU bed, their chances of survival are not good.

Fear of the vaccine

Most of the patients at Mount Kenya are unvaccinated -- not because they didn't have access to a vaccine, but because, in most cases, they chose not to take it.

"When you ask why they didn't get the jab, some of them, they're told it's not available. Others -- the majority -- they fear to have it, because they've heard of the issues," explains Eudiah Wang'ombe, the hospital clinician who runs the facility.

She is referring to the extremely rare blood clots associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, which before a new shipment of Moderna vaccines arrived from the US this week, was the only brand available in Kenya, according to the Kenya Health Ministry

People have also heard stories of vaccinated people falling ill or even dying after receiving the vaccine.

"That's not true, I am on the ground. Those people who have died so far, have not received anything... There's a lot of misinformation," says Wang'ombe.

Kenya has struggled with vaccine supply since day one, so far only 3.6 million doses of vaccine have arrived in Kenya, the latest shipment coming from the UK just this week.

Even with every available dose, it would only be enough to inoculate roughly 3.5% of the population. But even as supply issues slowly ease, vaccine hesitancy is quickly emerging as a very serious problem.

Along a busy street in Nyeri town, everyone is masked -- it's the law in Kenya -- and street vendors sell masks and hand sanitizer along with their usual assortment of clothes and household knickknacks.

Selling the vaccine, though, is a more difficult task and misinformation is rife.

The early stigma surrounding the virus, denial, general misinformation, and some traditional beliefs are all contributing to an unhealthy skepticism of the health system and vaccines. Misinformation, spread mostly by word of mouth has been a challenge for the government to overcome, as health officials plead with citizens to take the vaccine in regular Covid-19 TV briefings.

"We heard that Kenya was making Covid-19 vaccines, that's why we are scared. They don't even know how to make matchboxes or even toothpicks," says Jane Wangari Kahemu, a mask-vendor.

The Kenyan government does have a long-term plan to produce its own vaccines, but it's still a long way off.

Kahemu would take the vaccine, if she knew for sure it was American, she says.

"Why should I take something that I don't know what it will do to my body?" another vendor asks, holding his baby son in his arms.

His colleague agrees. "If, and I say 'IF' with capital letters, if we understand about it, maybe we can do it, but for now it's a no!"

A boon for coffin-makers

Along a dusty road, a stone's throw from the local morgue, a small black hearse is parked opposite a strip of coffin vendors. Lately, it has been a hive of activity.

Outside, a group of young men cut, sand, plaster and paint an array of caskets in different shapes and sizes as quickly as they can.

Before the pandemic, they were making fewer than one coffin a day.

Now each man is expected to make three a day and they can't keep up with demand, forcing the owner to recruit more coffin makers.

Before the pandemic, they were making less than one coffin a day  sometimes only one per week. Now each man is expected to make three coffins a day  and the owner has hired twice his normal staff to keep up with the demand.

"The workload is too hard for us now," said 34-year-old coffin builder Joseph Mureithi. "We are working on very tight schedule and we can even say we are suffering fatigue right now."

He says that many people who are hesitant simply don't know enough about it, but he thinks more and more people are starting to seek out the vaccine because so many people are dying from the virus.

"Unless you see the impact of something, you won't take it seriously," he says standing over an unfinished casket he had just began to plaster.

Yet many of the Mureithi's colleagues still say they wouldn't take the vaccine if it was offered to them.

Dennis Maina, a slight 24-year-old in jeans and camouflage trucker hat, is one of them.

"Many people, they are not dying because of the virus, they are dying because of another disease," he says. He adds that some of the families who bought coffins told him their loved one were vaccinated.

He adds that some of the families who bought coffins told him their loved ones were vaccinated.

'Dire situation'

Vaccine skepticism is such a problem that the government has now legally mandated civil servants to get vaccinated. The local county governor agrees that more has to be done to get shots into arms.

"Yes, I will admit, the situation is dire. We have not been here before," Nyeri County Governor Mutahi Kahiga tells CNN from the driveway of his well-manicured, gated property on the edge of town.

Not only are hospitals turning patients away, but many people only seek out medical attention when it's too late.

"That tells you clearly that our people are doing self-medication at home. And that is dangerous. Because by the time you get to the hospital, you are gasping for oxygen, your oxygen levels are too low. We don't have enough oxygen and we may end up losing you," said Kahiga.

Nyeri, a largely rural area with a population of less than one million, has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country, at 6.2% of adults, second only to Nairobi.

Even so, the governor says that more than a third of the police officers, teachers and senior citizens who were given the first dose of the vaccine failed to come back for the second.

Many others don't want the vaccine at all. In some Kenyan counties, the vaccination rate is less than 0.5%. Nationally, it's less than 2%.

"We have more than 40 tribes, with different traditions, beliefs, and taboos," Kahiga says. "I think with Covid-19, some of us are still in denial, they are still holding on to traditional beliefs that cut across Africa... that's why we may be where we are."

At the moment, the county has only 1,000 doses of the vaccine on hand -- to distribute to 28 vaccination sites. The central government will only send more once they've all been used.

But as the virus continues its deadly surge, some attitudes are changing. At a vaccination site in the capital, Nairobi, earlier this month, 24-year-old Olendo Obondo told CNN she "wasn't concerned for a long time" about the virus, until the Delta variant started filling up hospitals and morgues. That was enough to convince her to get vaccinated.

"Death can convince me. If this can prevent me from dying, hopefully, then I'd rather take it."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Kenya's coffin makers say Covid means they're busier than ever. Some still won't get vaccinated."
(CNN)  The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted full approval to the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people age 16 and older. This is the first coronavirus vaccine approved by the FDA, and is expected to open the door to more vaccine mandates.

The vaccine will be marketed as Comirnaty, the FDA said in its announcement on Monday. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been authorized for emergency use in the United States since mid-December for people age 16 and older, and in May, the authorization was extended to those 12 and older.

"The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals," according to the FDA.

Out of more than 170 million people in the United States fully vaccinated against Covid-19, more than 92 million have received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

"While this and other vaccines have met the FDA's rigorous scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA approved Covid-19 vaccine, the public can be confident that this vaccine meets the FDA's gold standard for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality that we require for an approved product," FDA Acting Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said during a briefing on Monday, calling the approval "a pivotal moment" for the United States' fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

"Health care providers can continue to use the vaccine on their shelves," Woodcock added. "The FDA-approved vaccine and the EUA-authorized vaccine have the same formulation and can be used interchangeably to provide the Covid-19 vaccine series."

Agency official said Monday they hope approval will push unvaccinated people to get vaccinated. US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday that approval could encourage individuals to act, and more mandates.

"For businesses and universities that have been thinking about putting vaccine requirements in place in order to create safer spaces for people to work and learn, I think that this move from the FDA, when it comes, will actually help them to move forward with those kinds of plans," Murthy told CNN's Brianna Keilar.

Murthy also noted "a small number of people" have been waiting for full approval before getting their shot and believes "this may tip them over toward getting vaccinated."

Why emergency use authorization came first

Due to the seriousness of the pandemic, vaccine makers originally applied for emergency use authorizations because the authorization process takes less time than what's required for full approval.

In July, drugmaker Pfizer announced that the FDA granted its vaccine a priority review, and the FDA had been pulling in extra help from across the agency to speed final approval of the vaccine.

The FDA worked around the clock and conducted its own analyses of the vaccine in addition to the companies' analyses, Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said during Monday's briefing.

"We also did benefit-risk assessments based on real-world data that has emerged since the vaccine has now been used in hundreds of millions of people globally. And so that actually takes a lot of work," Marks said, adding that the agency also inspected facilities that make the product.

It has been 97 days since Pfizer completed the rolling submission of its biologic license application, he said, which means the FDA completed the approval process "in about 40%" of the time it would normally take for an approval application submission of this magnitude.

Emergency use authorization is what its name suggests -- a medical product, such as a vaccine, that gets special FDA authorization to be used during an emergency. When the health emergency is over, "then any EUA(s) issued based on that declaration will no longer remain in effect," according to the FDA.

Among the two other coronavirus vaccines authorized for emergency use in the United States, Moderna has begun applying for full approval for its Covid-19 vaccine in people ages 18 and up. Johnson & Johnson has not yet filed for full FDA approval of its vaccine.

Some experts have pushed the FDA to approve vaccines quickly, as doing so could help combat vaccine hesitancy.

Full approval of the Covid-19 shots comes days after the Biden administration announced plans to offer booster doses to vaccinated adults starting September 20 -- pending approval by the FDA and recommendation from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

FDA approval could fight vaccine hesitancy, experts say

Progressing from authorized to approved would allow manufacturers to market and directly distribute their vaccines -- and perhaps sway skeptics hesitant to get the vaccines now.

A Kaiser Family Foundation survey of US adults released in July found that among the one-third of adults surveyed who are not yet vaccinated, 16% said the vaccine was too new, too unknown or not tested enough.

Some said in this poll that they wouldn't get a vaccine until it is required. While companies are allowed to require the vaccine -- and many large businesses, such as United Airlines, Disney, Walmart, Microsoft, Google and Facebook already have announced plans to do so -- some experts believe more will make it a requirement once a vaccine is fully approved.

The Pentagon plans to make the vaccine mandatory for all active duty members of the US military by the middle of September, or sooner, based on approval timing, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a memo released earlier this month.

"I want you to know that I will seek the President's approval to make the vaccines mandatory no later than mid-September, or immediately upon the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensure, whichever comes first," the memo states.

Full FDA approval may also mean big changes in terms of vaccine requirements for staff and students in schools.

For instance, in Ohio, a House bill signed into law in July states that a public school or state institution of higher education shall not "require an individual to receive a vaccine for which the United States Food and Drug Administration has not granted full approval."

Across all 50 states, at least five routine childhood vaccines are generally required for children attending childcare or school, including those for diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus or DTaP, chickenpox, poliio and MMR. But those shots have all been fully approved by the FDA.

"Covid-19 is a little bit different from these other vaccines because of the way it had to be developed," Hemi Tewarson, executive director of the National Academy for State Health Policy, told CNN in July.

"That is a difference, I think, in some people's minds who have concerns around potential side effects for children," Tewarson said, noting that clinical trials for the EUA for children 12 and older were robust, and there were not significant side effects.

But full FDA approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is for people age 16 and older -- it's not yet available for all ages.

What does approval mean for kids?

As of now, the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is still only available for ages 12 and older in the United States.

Pfizer has said it expects to have vaccine trial data on children ages 5 to 11 by the end of September, and the company could apply to have its vaccine authorized for those younger ages shortly after. The company also has said data for even younger children, ages 2 to 5, could be available shortly after.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are also working on studies in children.

Even though the FDA has approved the Pfizer/BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine for people age 16 and older, the agency emphasizes that this does not mean the vaccine can be used "off-label" in children younger than 12. Off-label refers to an approved product being used in a way or in a patient that it wasn't necessarily approved for.

"We want to reiterate, it is important that the unvaccinated get vaccinated where it is indicated, but we do not have data on the proper dose nor do we have full data on the safety in children younger than what is in the EUA," FDA's Woodcock said during Monday's briefing call.

"So that would be a great concern that people would vaccinate children because we don't have the proper dose and we don't have the safety data, nor do we have all the efficacy data, as well," Woodcock said. "We are not recommending that children younger than age 12 be vaccinated with this vaccine. It would not be appropriate."
(CNN)  Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen received her first shot of the island's homegrown COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, a public show of support for the new drug which is central to plans for inoculation self sufficiency amid low immunization rates and struggles to obtain vaccines from overseas.

Monday's island-wide rollout of the Medigen Covid-19 vaccine, developed by Taipei-based Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corporation, comes after the drug was approved for emergency use last month by Taiwanese authorities for anyone above 20 years old, with at least 28 days between the two doses.

The vaccine has yet to complete phase 3 clinical trials and no efficacy data is available.

Paul Torkehagen, Medigen's director of overseas business development, told CNN in May that the company designed a "very large" phase 2 clinical trial to ensure the vaccine's safety and effectiveness, with 3,800 participants. Normally, a stage 2 clinical trial only involves several hundred people. Data from the trials showed that 99.8% of participants were able to form antibodies against Covid-19 after taking two doses of the vaccine, Medigen's CEO Charles Chen said.

Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control said in a July 19 statement that the vaccine posed no serious health effects.

Taiwan has ordered 5 million doses of the vaccine from Medigen and more than 700,000 people have already signed up to receive it, according to Reuters.

In a Facebook post after receiving the vaccine at a hospital in Taipei, Tsai said she hadn't suffered from any post-vaccination pain and thanked the health care workers who had administered the shot.

"Taking the vaccine can protect yourself, your family, as well as medical staff," Tsai wrote. "Let's do our part in boosting Taiwan's collective defense against the virus!"

With its borders sealed to most travelers and strict measures enacted to contain local outbreaks, Taiwan has so far been largely successful in containing Covid-19, reporting fewer than 16,000 total confirmed infections and 828 deaths. But the island has struggled to vaccinate its more than 23 million population, partly due to difficulties obtaining doses from international suppliers.

Taiwan's government has only managed to import around 10 million Covid-19 vaccines, according to Reuters. In July it ordered another 36 million doses of the Moderna shot.

Fewer than 5% of Taiwan's population has received both doses of their Covid-19 vaccine, according to Reuters, as the island delays second dose vaccinations so more people can receive a first shot.

On Monday, Taiwan reported four new Covid-19 cases, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC). Authorities announced on the weekend they would ease virus prevention measures to allow for larger gatherings and the opening of study centers and indoor amusement parks.

But Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung said current Covid-19 restrictions -- which include the closure of bars and nightclubs -- would remain in place until at least September 6, with the possibility of an extension if the global outbreak continued to grow.

Taiwan could become increasingly isolated if it keeps pursuing its "Covid zero" strategy, with both Australia and New Zealand hinting they might abandon the approach once vaccinations reach a certain level.

In an opinion piece published on Sunday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that while lockdowns to prevent Covid-19 transmission were "sadly necessary for now," they may not be once vaccination rates increased to the targets of 70% and 80%.

"This is what living with Covid is all about. The case numbers will likely rise when we soon begin to open up. That is inevitable," he said.

In neighboring New Zealand, which has also attempted to eliminate the virus within its borders, Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins told local media the highly-contagious Delta variant raised "some pretty big questions about what the long-term future of our plans are."

"At some point we will have to start to be more open in the future," he said.
(CNN)  The Taliban have sentenced the brother of an Afghan translator to death, according to letters obtained by CNN, accusing him of helping the US and providing security to his brother, who served as an interpreter to American troops.

A former service member who worked with the translator confirmed his service and his brother's plight.

The letters are just one example of how the Taliban are directly threatening Afghans who worked with the US or are family members of those who have, leaving them scrambling to flee the country in the wake of the Taliban takeover.

"You have been accused of helping the Americans," the Taliban wrote in the first of three letters to the Afghan man, adding, "You are also accused of providing security to your brother, who has been an interpreter."

The first letter from the Taliban, which is hand written, orders the man to appear for a hearing.

The second handwritten letter is a notice of his failure to appear for the hearing.

In the third letter, which is typed, the Taliban notify the man that because he rejected previous warnings to stop "your servitude to the invading crusaders" and ignored a subpoena to appear for a hearing, he was "guilty in absentia" and will be sentenced to death.

The Taliban delivered the letters within the last three months to the interpreter's brother, according to the former service member who worked with the interpreter.

CNN is not identifying the Afghan man, nor his family member, to protect their identities amid the threats they're facing. The letters, which were written in Pashto and translated into English for CNN, have seals that match those of archival Taliban letters.

"These court decisions are final and you will not have the right to object," the third letter reads. "You chose this path for yourself and your death is eminent [sic], God willing."

The letters contradict assurances Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid made at a press conference last week, as the group tries to project a more moderate image to the world.

"Nobody will be harmed in Afghanistan," Mujahid said. "Of course, there is a huge difference between us now and 20 years ago."

Afghan allies of the US doubt that and these letters and numerous reports of the Taliban seeking retribution explain why many Afghans fear the Taliban's return to enforcing its brutal, oppressive rule.

The Biden administration has come under intense pressure to evacuate not only the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants but other vulnerable Afghans who are fearing for their lives. The administration has been working to manage the massive crush of people attempting to flee the country on evacuation flights out of Kabul, as chaotic scenes have played out for days outside of Hamid Karzai International Airport.
Hes a hard worker, too, she said. Hes an independent person. Im trying to teach him that he needs to do things by himself. One day Im not going to be here so he needs to be able to do things by himself.

Meanwhile, the committee provided Moises with decorations, relating to superheroes like The Avengers, Campus Committee Vice President Sarah Lasso said.

We wanted that to be part of his room.  We wanted him to feel more at home, said Lasso, a junior at CHS.

Habitat for Humanity of Columbus Executive Director Lori Peters said shes amazed by the students ability to identify needs in their community. She added theyre pretty autonomous as she and her staff only need to give direction every so often.

I think they filled a great need in our community, Peters said.

She added when she took over for Habitat, the first three houses constructed under her watch didnt have any decor or furniture to put inside them.

Peters said that is because of Habitat's bylines which state it cannot provide such assistance. But thanks to Janssen - who came up with the committee - and the other members stepping up, that issue has been addressed, Peters said.
Source: Adobe Stock / Nuthawut

A leading South Korean media outlet and industry experts have warned that a coin run could take place next month as the likelihood of a mass of crypto exchange closures increases.

In a video report, the national broadcaster KBS reported that a glut of crypto liquidations could be on the cards in the coming weeks as scores of exchanges shut up shop.

The South Korean market-leading crypto exchange Upbit has become the first trading platform to apply for an operating license this week. But per the terms of the nations first piece of crypto-specific legislation  which will become legally binding as of September 24  all exchanges must have anti-money laundering protocols in place, obtain information security certificates and ensure that their clients all have trading platform-linked bank accounts verified by real names and social security numbers.

While Upbit, which already has the latter in place, appears to have cleared all these hurdles, only a tiny clutch of rivals is likely to follow suit.

And as the regulatory Financial Services Commission (FSC) has told exchanges that if they continue doing business without a permit after September 24, most will be forced to close unless the government grants them an eleventh-hour reprieve. As things stand, banks are unwilling to form partnerships with exchanges, with many claiming that crypto exchange-related business is not worth the risk.

KBS reported that experts now fear that some small and medium-sized exchanges are concerned that customers will look to withdraw all of their funds from their platforms all at once  a fact that could overwhelm their systems and KRW reserves, with a massive spate of crypto-to-fiat liquidations also likely.

Large-scale sell-offs and withdrawals are almost inevitable at this stage, the media outlet hinted, adding that this all means that the possibility of a so-called coin run is not small.

Nobody can predict the size of this coin run, however, as nobody knows how much money and crypto is currently held on South Koreas smaller exchanges.

Kim Hyung-joong, the chairman of the Korean Society of Fintech and a Korea University professor, told the network:

It is regrettable that there are no statistics on how many investors there are and how much damage could be caused in the future.

Investors in the country have told Cryptonews.com that they face a nervous wait as the deadline approaches.

The FSC has stated that one or two trading platforms could also submit their applications before the end of August. But the likelihood of more joining this number appears increasingly slight. The FSC has turned down industry requests to extend the deadline, with political efforts to make legislative changes also running out of time.

In the same report, Im Yo-Song, the Chairman of the Korea Digital Asset Business Association, stated:

[Exchanges] are still knocking on banks doors. However, the banks have no intention of reviewing our applications now and no intention of accepting them. Therefore, as things stand, there is no way for us to meet the regulatory requirements.

____

Learn more:

- All of South Koreas Crypto Exchanges Fail their Regulatory Audits

- Nerve-wracking Wait for S Korean Crypto Investors, 70% of Crypto Firms Sites Down

- South Korean Crypto Exchanges Plead for 6 Months of Regulatory Mercy

- S Korean Regulator to Force Crypto Overseas Exchanges to Abide by its Rules

- Smaller South Korean Crypto Exchanges Begin to Shutdown, Suspend Services

- Signs of a Crypto Regulatory Climbdown from South Koreas Ruling Party
Board members Mike Gossert and Jevon Ford were absent Monday night. Of the seven members present, Bud Shaffner, Michelle Nestor and Jessica Silcox voted against the change.

Prior to the vote, Silcox said its up to the parents to decide. Nestor also said following the meeting that she felt parents should be able to choose, knowing the risks of quarantine for unmasked students.

Board members Brian Drapp, Greg Rausch, Heather Dunn and Barbara Geistwhite voted in favor, although Rausch said that Im not really in favor of the triggers of this masking and added that the policy could be adjusted at a later date.

Dunn said that, while some might debate the efficacy of masks, the measures the district took last year to limit spread were in total effective, and should be adhered to again, including the masking component.

I also know what we did last year worked, Dunn said. We saw minimal cases and when we were able to contact trace the cases that we did have, very few could be traced back to school exposure.

Geistwhite cited Christophers practical concerns, saying that if we get to high transmission, the number of students we would have to quarantine, we cant keep the doors open.
Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site invites the public to come out and enjoy an outdoor movie night 8-10:15 p.m. Saturday, in the day-use area.

The site will be showing the 1941 Warner Bros. classic, Sergeant York, which chronicles the life and heroism of one of our countrys most decorated World War I war heroes, from his humble beginnings in the mountains of Tennessee to his heroic valor on the battlefields of Europe.

The movie stars Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan. Cooper won an Academy Award for best actor in a leading role for this role, and Brennan was nominated for best supporting actor. The real Sergeant York never wanted to profit from his wartime achievements and resisted book and movie offers until the beginning of World War II, when he finally allowed this movie to be made in patriotic support of his country.

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This is an outside event, so visitors should bring blankets or lawn chairs to sit on and enjoy the picture show, which will be shown in the day-use area of the historic site.

The public is strongly encouraged to follow social-distancing guidelines and be proactive in protecting themselves and others.
Don Everly, the last surviving member of the Everly Brothers and an inaugural inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, died at his Nashville home on Saturday. He was 84.

A spokesperson for the family confirmed Everlys death to the Los Angeles Times, but did not disclose a cause.

A statement from the family read in part: Don lived by what he felt in his heart. Don expressed his appreciation for the ability to live his dreams ... with his soulmate and wife, Adela, and sharing the music that made him an Everly Brother.

Beginning in 1957, he and his brother, Phil, recorded a series of hit singles for the Cadence and Warner Bros. labels. Their best known numbers included Bye Bye Love, Wake Up Little Susie and All I Have to Do Is Dream.

Their harmonies inspired musical acts that followed in the 1960s including The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel.

The siblings had a messy public breakup on July 14, 1973, at Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, but reunited a decade later.

They last toured together with Simon & Garfunkel in 2004.
All of those exiting the cars were wearing masks, which are required to be worn while inside county school buildings. Some students even wore masks that matched their backpacks.

Inside, Decker kicked off class with a morning meeting on the carpet and discussion about how the group spent summer vacation before explaining class procedures.

Were gonna get along, he said. Were like one big family in here.

Haven and other students in Deckers class had a chance to peruse the changes during a tour on the first day of school Monday. One student said the school was unrecognizable.

In addition to the expansion, the entire building was renovated to include new lighting, tile, more natural light and upgraded bathrooms, among other changes. A James River-focused interior design runs through the schools hallways.

Families had their first glimpse inside the completed expansion at an open house last week. England said the initial reviews have been fantastic.
I know that I have bills in this backlogged mail that need to be paid, he said.

Wasch attended Warners press conference hoping to get some answers. He is frustrated with the service, but he blames poor management, not the carriers.

Theres nobody that should take their problems out on these people. My mailman  is the nicest person  They did not create the problem. Please dont take it out on them, he said.

Wasch said that while he is a lifelong Republican, he would vote for Warner, a Democrat, if he is able to fix the problems with the mail.

Charlottesville resident Betty Mooney said she and her neighbors didnt receive mail for two weeks, except for Amazon packages. Mooney said on Monday that she found out there is not currently a dedicated mail carrier for her route, and that another carrier will be delivering their mail once a week.

Its just such a lack of trust now that I have in the Postal Service and I feel really sad about it. Its not the carriers fault. Theyre doing all they can. Theyre working long hours, she said.

Mooney said she is concerned this will create an equity issue, especially for people who dont have internet access to pay bills online.
Washington resident William Hart also spoke during the ceremony. His ancestor, William Henry Harrison Hart, was buried in the original D.C. cemetery.

William Henry Harrison Hart was a professor of criminal law for 34 years at Howard University who in the early 1900s challenged Jim Crow laws. He was arrested and convicted, but eventually took his case against Marylands Jim Crow laws to the U.S. Supreme Court.

William Hart emphasized the importance of his ancestors actions.

This represents the first precedent-setting case that began the dismantling of the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling that had upheld separate-but-equal segregated facilities, he told the crowd.

When it comes to how Hart feels about the desecration, he told the crowd that his overwhelming emotion is that I am so happy and encouraged that so many people care about this issue.

The nonprofit group History, Arts and Science Action Network is working with officials on what is called the Harmony project in the effort to find and collect remaining headstones. HASAN says on its website that the group focuses on restorative justice through racial reconciliation and repatriation of human and cultural remains.
VCU also announced it will require its employees to be vaccinated. Currently, 87% of the workforce have confirmed their vaccination status.

In keeping with our public health responsibilities, we continue to monitor COVID-19 infection rates in the Richmond metro area, and there is no doubt that the delta variant is a serious threat, VCU President Michael Rao wrote to employees earlier this month.

The University of Virginia said Friday that it disenrolled 238 students, which is less than 1% of the student body, who did not report their vaccination status. Of those students, only 49 had registered for classes, so it was possible the remaining 189 never intended to return to school regardless of their vaccination status, a university spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the Pfizer vaccine received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration on Monday, triggering the University of Richmonds vaccine requirement for students and staff. As of last week, 96% of UR students have reported their vaccination status, and 93% of them are fully vaccinated; 98% of employees have reported their vaccination status, and 92% of them are fully vaccinated.

A UR spokesperson said Monday that the university is still considering its next step to ensuring all students and staff get the shot.
Frank Friedman has compiled an illustrious record as president of Piedmont Virginia Community College.

Well be sorry to see him retire (though hes earned it), but are reassured that he leaves the college in first-rate shape.

Friedman announced last week that he would step down at the end of the current school year, May 2022.

That timing will give state officials plenty of time to find a successor.

Frank has been an outstanding president, always seeing our mission in the best interest of our students, Glenn DuBois, chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, said in a prepared statement. He has fought hard and often to secure financial resources for the faculty and staff at Piedmont.

That work has led to some impressive statistical evidence of accomplishment.

During Friedmans tenure, PVCCs enrollment grew by 25%, while the number of annual graduates rose even more spectacularly: 400%, from 300 graduates to 1,200.
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

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I will not lie. I want lots of space placed between a beautiful duck gliding on the marshes and the duck a l'orange carefully arranged on my plate. And I'll never forget the jarring sight of a hawk plucking a baby duck from the water. Its pathetic little quacks still haunt my ears.

As you may guess, hunting is not my thing. But as a meat eater, I cannot get on any high horse about those who shoot animals for sport or food or both. Ducks in the wild eat fish and frogs. Guess the duck and I are all locked onto the same food chain, whereby one creature depends on the next as a source of nourishment.

And that leads us to an interesting little controversy over, of all things, a government regulation on duck art.

Every year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service runs a competition for a portrait of a swimming bird to appear on the federal duck stamp. Sportsmen pay $25 for the stamp, which gives them the right to hunt for waterfowl on America's wildlife refuges. The service uses the proceeds to help manage these essential habitats.

The controversy centers on a Trump administration rule that the winning piece of art include some depiction of hunting. Supporters assert that the hunting imagery would showcase the reality that hunters contribute mightily to the cost of refuge preservation.
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Indias Optiemus Electronics, a diversified business group with over two decades of experience in the manufacturing, distribution and retail of global telecom brands across India, is partnering with contract manufacturer Wistron Corp of Taiwan to build products such as smartphones and laptops.

As part of the deal, says Reuters, Optiemus will invest roughly $200 million to ramp up electronics manufacturing in the next three to five years.

The partnership is expected to yield revenues of $5.13 billion over five years for Optiemus, the company said, adding that it plans to hire roughly 11,000 workers for its two plants on the outskirts of New Delhi. This is a massive boost to a workforce said to be only about 300-strong at the moment.

The success of India's electronics manufacturing sector is key to a government push to make the country an electronics manufacturing hub. Production-linked-incentive (PLI) programmes that pay manufacturers for sales of locally made goods have supported this scheme, which will allow Wistron and Optiemus to keep prices down.

Wistron began assembling iPhones in a small plant in Bengaluru in 2017. It now occupies a much bigger factory in Karnataka state's Narasapura industrial area. However, Wistron attracted unfavourable publicity after a riot at the Narasapura factory late last year due to worker discontent over unpaid wages.

This partnership with Optiemus may help Wistron to diversify manufacturing in India to other products beyond smartphones. It should also boost efforts to assemble devices locally for other global clients as well as its key client Apple.
SoftBank Vision Funds first investment in an African start-up has been announced  and its a big one for fintech company OPay.

The company has attracted $400 million in new financing led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, valuing the company at $2 billion. Bloomberg reported that this includes participation from a number of existing investors and new participants.

This is the latest in a number of funding rounds since the company entered the market. Its USP includes providing customers with digital services in their everyday life, from mobility and logistics to e-commerce and fintech, at cheap rates.

However, mobile money and payments have largely driven OPays growth in its core Nigerian market among customers with little or no access to conventional banking services. These customers have shown a strong appetite for sending and receiving money and paying bills through OPays network of thousands of agents, driving impressive growth for the company.

OPay is not a complete newcomer, however. Its parent company  global internet brand Opera  already has a strong presence in the African market. OPay itself claims already to process about 80 percent of bank transfers among mobile money operators in Nigeria and 20 percent of the countrys non-merchant point of sale transactions.

Last year, the company reported that it had acquired an international money transfer license and announced its expansion into Egypt. A WorldRemit partnership is apparently also on the way. The companys monthly transaction volumes, Bloomberg suggests, exceed $3 billion at the moment.

Can the company continue to thrive? As regular readers will know, fintech in general, and mobile money in particular, are very big business in Africa at the moment, but theres still room for growth.
The Ethiopian government is reportedly planning to build a local rival to Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp, apparently following a number of disagreements with the social media giants  and Facebook in particular  though this has not been officially confirmed.

Nevertheless, according to Reuters, the Director General of the countrys Information Network Security Agency (INSA), Shumete Gizaw, has accused Facebook of deleting posts and user accounts which he said were disseminating the true reality about Ethiopia. He wants the new, local platform or platforms to replace Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and Zoom.

Its a difficult time for information exchange in the country. Ethiopia is fighting the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in the country's north and social media companies have had to manage the (more tricky than usual) business of hosting comments but keeping them within the rules.

In June, with national elections imminent, Facebook said it had removed a network of fake accounts in Ethiopia targeting domestic users. These were linked to individuals associated with INSA, which is responsible for monitoring telecommunications and the internet.

At the same time there have been unexplained shutdowns to social media services, including Facebook and WhatsApp, in the past year.

Shumete Gizaw has suggested that Ethiopia will develop its own versions of various platforms solely using local input. While a platform to replace Facebook and Twitter and another to replace WhatsApp and Zoom are promised, precise launch dates are not yet available.

However, Reuters reports that INSA is not at the moment planning to block existing social media. To date, Facebook, Twitter and Zoom have not officially commented.
Minister Coveney to officially open Irelands Embassy to Ukraine

Press release

On Monday 23 August the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, T.D., will officially open Irelands Embassy to Ukraine as part of the Governments Global Ireland Strategy to double our footprint on the world stage.

Minister Coveney said, I am delighted to officially open the Embassy of Ireland in Kyiv. This marks a new stage in our bilateral relationship with Ukraine, through which we can deepen and widen our bilateral cooperation. I am glad also to be part of the international community which has convened to coordinate efforts to resolve the long-standing issue of the illegal annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

Minister Coveney will also meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Foreign Minister, Dr Dmytro Kuleba, during his visit to Ukraine. The Ministers will discuss a wide range of issues, including; the COVID-19 situation; the current situation in Crimea/eastern Ukraine; the impending work of the International Crimean Platform; Irelands membership of the United Nations Security Council; the opening of the Embassy of Ireland in Kyiv, and; the areas of future cooperation in the economic, trade and cultural sectors.

Minister Coveney will also represent Ireland at the inaugural summit of the International Crimean Platform (ICP). The ICP has been established to further develop a coordinated approach by those in the international community who wish to resolve the issue of the illegally-occupied Crimea.

While in Kyiv, the Minister will take the opportunity to meet with some representatives of the Irish community in Ukraine.

ENDS

Press Office

23 August 2021

Notes for Editors As part of the Governments Global Ireland Strategy, the Embassy of Ireland, Kyiv opened on 7 June 2021.

Ambassador Therese Healy presented credentials to President Zelensky on 19 August.

The Embassys remit is to deepen bilateral relations with Ukraine, provide consular assistance to Irish citizens and work closely with other EU member states in further developing the EU-Ukraine relationship.

Ambassador Healy has served previously on postings in China, Russia and Japan, as well as at DFA HQ.

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Minister Simon Coveney approves Consular mission to Kabul airport

Press release

An Emergency Consular Assistance Team (ECAT) is currently deploying to Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) in Kabul, with a view to assisting the remaining Irish citizens who wish to evacuate from Afghanistan.

10 Irish citizens have already been evacuated through HKIA with the assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs the Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The balance of citizens that have requested assistance with evacuation comprises mainly of family groups.

The ECAT will consist of officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Defence Forces personnel. This is a consular assistance mission with Defence Forces providing security and support to the consular staff.

The deployment of the ECAT has been approved by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney on the joint recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence.

Minister Coveney said this evening, Good progress has been made to date in evacuating Irish citizens from Afghanistan. My view is that further progress requires a short deployment of a consular team to HKIA. The security situation for citizens attempting to access to airport remains extremely volatile. Citizens should continue to follow the consular advice given to them directly by our Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Given the complex security environment, no further operational details will be released.

The Consular Section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy in Abu Dhabi will continue to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens in Afghanistan who wish to depart, including, as necessary, after air evacuations out of HKIA have concluded.

ENDS

Press Office

23 August 2021

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Statement by Ambassador Byrne Nason at the UNSC on Yemen

Statement

Thank you Mr. President. I would also like to thank our briefers.

I want to welcome Martin Griffiths to the chamber; its good to see him in his new role. And always very happy to see Henrietta Fore amongst us. Id also like to welcome the appointment earlier this month, Mr. President, of Hans Grundberg as the new Special Envoy for Yemen. We look forward to working with him as he takes forward the crucial work of seeking solutions to this devastating crisis, building of course on your own tireless and valiant efforts, Martin.

Mr. President,

Regrettably, as we have heard from other speakers, the summer months in Yemen have seen a further deterioration of the political, security, human rights and humanitarian situation, with devastating consequences for the ordinary people, for the civilian population in Yemen.

Ireland reiterates our firm conviction that there can be no military solution to this conflict. A nationwide ceasefire is urgently needed, to open the way for inclusive negotiations on the badly needed political way forward. Such processes require the full, equal and meaningful participation of women.

Ireland also calls for the full and urgent implementation of the Riyadh Agreement, and for all parties to set differences aside, and finally, to act in the interests of the Yemeni people themselves. We reiterate our strong support to the unity Government of Yemen and call on all sides to resume dialogue with the aim of the safe return of the Government to Aden.

The continued absence of any women in the cabinet remains seriously regrettable to us. We hope that this issue will be addressed in the very near future. The voice of Yemeni women in finding a pathway to peace is critical. We will return to this point, Mr. President, again and again until it is done.

I repeat Irelands call for all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, and for accountability for crimes committed against the Yemeni people, critical for any lasting peace.

Mr. President,

The briefing we have just heard from Henrietta Fore, taken together with recent reports, lays bare the devastating combined impact of war and poverty on the innocent children of Yemen.

I will not repeat the horrifying facts and figures. They are staggering and all too familiar by now.

They make clear that Yemeni children - and Yemeni girls in particular - remain the primary victims of this horrific crisis.

As we approach the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, we are reminded that every child should have a desk - a desk where they can learn in safety and security and begin to build a brighter future for themselves, their families, and for their country. We know that when girls have access to education, they are empowered and equipped to participate fully in political and social life in later years, and to break devastating cycles of violence, conflict and poverty.

It is shameful therefore that more than 2 million Yemeni children are currently out of school, and that a harrowing 70% of Yemeni girls are married while still children. That is an automatic denial of access to education for those 70% of Yemeni girls. And schools in Yemen continue to be attacked and used for military purposes.

Ireland fully supports the critical work of UNICEF in addressing these vitally important issues, including in providing access to education and in supporting teachers and school staff whose salaries have gone unpaid for many years.

Mr. President

Ireland remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the protracted conflict in Yemen, further compounded by the continuing violence across the country and the serious economic pressures that Yemenis currently face.

We have heard from USG Martin Griffiths again today that the humanitarian and economic crises in Yemen are conflict-driven. The lack of fuel entering Hodeidah port both directly and indirectly affects the ability of millions of Yemenis to access food. Rising fuel prices mean rising food prices. The only food on shelves in Yemen today is food which few can afford.

And lets not forget that the effects of famine  horrific as they are  are not only immediate. The effects are intergenerational. The effects of stunting and education lost will undermine the ability of Yemenis to rebuild their country once this brutal conflict finally ends. In other words, Yemens future is marked for decades ahead by famine.

We call for the lifting of restrictions of imports into Hodeidah port, for the payment of civil servant salaries and for critical humanitarian access to all those in need to be preserved and strengthened.

Thank you Mr. President.

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Statement for Ireland  Mexico Press Stakeout on the Situation of Women in Afghanistan

Statement

Statement for Ireland  Mexico Press Stakeout

on the Situation of Women in Afghanistan

[Ambassador Byrne Nason speaks]

Good afternoon.

This morning Ireland and Mexico as co-chairs of the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security hosted a meeting on the situation of women in Afghanistan. Council Members received a briefing from the UN on the ground in Kabul, including reports of the abuses and human rights violations suffered by women and girls in recent days and weeks.

Ireland and Mexico are now jointly urging the Security Council to place the utmost priority on protecting and vindicating the rights of Afghan women and girls in all decisions and action on Afghanistans future.

We have today written today to the Council indicating four immediate actions we believe the Council needs to take now:

The Security Council must unite and express clearly its rejection of these assaults on the rights of women and girls. The Council must as a matter of urgency call on all parties to respect and facilitate the emergency evacuation and safe and timely departure of Afghans, including human rights defenders, women leaders and those involved in public life, womens rights activists, peacebuilders and journalists, who wish to leave the country. The Council must continue to demand full, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access: this must include access for women humanitarians and frontline workers throughout the country to carry out their lifesaving work. The Security Council must insist with all Afghan parties that the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in any new government is a non-negotiable condition of international engagement.

Weve all heard the purported assurances from the Taliban that the rights of women and girls will be respected. What we hear from women on the ground does not bear this out. The past record of the Taliban does not bear this out. The Security Council must listen to Afghan women and it must heed them.

Now is the time for the Council to stand with the women and girls of Afghanistan.

[Ambassador Buenrostro speaks]

Good afternoon to all of you.

Mexico and Ireland are extremely concerned by the impact of the crisis in Afghanistan on women and girls. It is deeply disturbing to see how their hard-won rights and progress made over the past decades are being stripped away after the Talibans takeover.

Violence has compounded existing crises of internal displacement, drought and COVID-19. Hundreds of thousands of women and girls have been displaced and are facing extreme vulnerability, undermining their health, their dignity, security and autonomy.

Taliban violence has targeted women and girls.

We have heard repeated and credible reports of summary executions, beatings, sexual and gender based violence, sexual slavery, and forced marriage.

We have heard of restrictions placed on women and girls seeking to access healthcare facilities or go to school or work, and of restrictions to their freedom of movement without a male guardian.

We are concerned as well that no women have been included in the negotiations towards a future government and political settlement. Any future government of Afghanistan must be representative of all its people, including and in particular its 18 million women.

Girls must be free to go to school, women must be free to participate fully in society, and those who speak up for their human rights must be free to do so without fear or without reprisals.

Let us be clear: the rights of women and girls need to be at the heart of our collective and united response to this crisis. This is not a peripheral issue. This is at the core of the task facing the Security Council on Afghanistan.

We thank you.

ENDS

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As a wildfire approached her Moscow Mountain rental home Monday, Ruth Garfield smelled smoke but was unsure of how close the danger truly was. When she heard a helicopter overhead, Ruth said she went onto her back porch to see if she could catch a glimpse. It was then she saw the fire that would swallow the home roaring up the hill perhaps 30 yards away.
Health officials said Tuesday that they are confident the country remains on track to quell the outbreak.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says most of the new cases appeared linked and officials arent seeing an exponential rise in infections.

New Zealand is scheduled to remain in lockdown until at least Friday, while the city of Auckland where most of the cases have been found will stay in lockdown until at least the end of the month.

The outbreak is the first in New Zealand in six months.



SYDNEY  An Australian state leader is indicating that a slight easing of pandemic restrictions is coming for Sydney after achieving a vaccination milestone.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Tuesday she will announce before the weekend a new freedom for fully vaccinated people now that 6 million vaccine doses have been administered across the state. She said that equates to 60% of the population having at least one dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca and 32% being fully vaccinated.

Australias most populous state is in lockdown because of the virus outbreak, as is Victoria, which is the countrys second most populous state.
Evidence presented at trial proved that on November 25, 2019, the defendant visited the victims family at the Grand Ridge Park at the corner of Broadway Street and Porter Avenue in Grand Ridge, Florida, the release continued. While the victims father was in the restroom, the defendant began to place his hands down the pants of the victim in a lewd and lascivious manner. An eyewitness exiting the restroom caught the defendant in the act of molesting the victim. Two more eyewitnesses on the scene also were able to observe the defendants actions and confronted him about those actions before calling local law enforcement. The facts at trial went on to prove that the defendant was over the age of 18 at the time and the victim was under the age of 12, the release states.
Beginning this week, the Jackson County Health Department will be giving third doses (as well as continued first and second) of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine at the Marianna facility.

Currently, the CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose no sooner than 28 days after the second dose, and the health department is beginning those now.

Booster doses for the general public should be administered at roughly eight months past their second dose and those general booster doses will begin in late September here.

The reason the immunocompromised should go ahead with their third dose is that, because theyre immunocompromised, their systems are less likely to have formed the appropriate antibodies that the vaccine generates to fight off the virus after their first two doses, and so a booster is needed early on to fortify the shots.

The reason the rest of the population should wait eight months is that theyre more likely to have formed the warrior antibodies kicked into gear by the first two doses. That being so, the vaccine can be working efficiently for them over a period of several months.
Pinellas board member Bill Dudley cited several studies indicating little difference in coronavirus infection spread among children whether they wore masks or not.

If it doesn't make a difference, why do it? Dudley said. We have a mandate, and that mandate is choice. Do what you think is best for your child.

The three-day hearing that started Monday before Leon County Circuit Judge John C. Cooper pits pro-mask parents against the DeSantis administration and state education officials who contend that parents, not schools, should choose whether their children cover up in classrooms.

The highly contagious delta variant led to an acceleration in cases around Florida and record high hospitalizations just as schools prepared to reopen classrooms this month. By mid-August more than 21,000 new cases were being added per day, compared with about 8,500 a month earlier. The state said 16,820 people were hospitalized on Tuesday, down from a record of more than 17,000 last week.

Dr. Mona Mangat, a St. Petersburg physician who specializes in pediatric immunology, testified Tuesday on behalf of the lawsuit plaintiffs that face coverings remain essential in classrooms because children 12 and under aren't yet eligible to get their shots.
Harris underscored this shift, calling the Indo-Pacific critically important to our nation's security and prosperity. She said that while the U.S. is focused on closing out its Afghanistan engagement by evacuating as many people as possible, it is also imperative that as we address developments in one region, we continue to advance our interests in other regions, including this region.

Her rebuke to Beijing amounted to her sharpest comments yet on the U.S. foe. And China hit back, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin invoking Afghanistan in his response to a question about Harris comments, saying the messy withdrawal from Kabul showed the U.S. had lost credibility. He charged that the U.S. can smear, suppress, coerce, and bully other countries at will in order to maintain America first, without paying any price.

"This is the order that the U.S. wants. The U.S. always tries to make use of the rules and order to justify its own selfish, bullying and hegemonic behavior, but who still believe it now? Wang said.
Startups in Vietnam are doing all they can to ensure income for their staff while making necessary strategical changes to adapt to the unpredictable Covid-19 pandemic.

Paul Espinas, CEO of education company MoveUp, it is prioritizing keeping the same number of employees.

The company, which provides e-learning services, has an adequate number of staff for each project and therefore does not need to let anyone go, he told VnExpress.

MoveUp dedicates 15 minutes each day to online meetings to ensure the well-being of everyone.

Eighty four percent of small and medium businesses are reporting difficulties, with dwindling market demand and shortage of cash, according to a survey by the Ho Chi Minh City of Business Associations.

Over half have cut down their number of employees and 14 percent reported a disruption in their supply chain, said the survey, which polled 100 companies.

Amid the outbreaks, hotel booking startup Go2Joy also seeks to ensure the income and sense of security of each employee.

It has not made any cutbacks in either staff or their incomes, said CEO Simon Byun.

The company believes investing in people and reducing costs in other categories, not cutbacks, are the keys to achieving sustainable development beyond the pandemic, he said.

However, Byun admitted the longer-than-expected social distancing periods are making revenues fall while regular expenses like salaries, rent and taxes remain.

The imbalance in revenue and expenses is also occurring in other companies, he added.

For motorbike producer Dat Bike, the main priority is to ensure its manufacturing goals are not majorly delayed. Cutting down costs is not its main priority.

Financial and operating director Pham Duc Nam Trung said if the company were to cut expenses to a minimum, the process of developing new technology and products would be slowed down.

This will in turn affect the companys ability to raise more money later, he added.

Trung considers the pandemic an opportunity to improve management in order to accommodate faster growth.

"If any principle does not prove to be suitable with the market, it needs to be changed as quickly as possible," he said, adding that the speed of making decisions is the key to helping Dat Bike overcome and develop during the on-going chaotic situation.

Go2Joy CEO Byun also said companies need to analyze their business models and make necessary changes to adapt to the pandemic.

The company also requests the government to provide tax breaks or a delay in payments so startups could survive and thrive after the pandemic.
Vietnams Nguyen Vu Minh Tuan has received accolades for his dancing and choreography in the ongoing Street Dance Of China season four.

In the second episode, aired on August 21, Tuan was chosen by Lay Zhang, one of the four team captains, to dance with him in a contest against a team led by Henry Lau.

Zhang said he chose Tuan because of his unique talent and style. The two performed popping dance choreographed by Tuan.

Tuan added his own twists and ideas to the dance, making it lively, he added.

They wowed both audiences and the judges and ended up winning the contest. The other captains also praised the talent of the Vietnamese dancer.

Judge ICee said: "I think Tuan's choreography is great, and so is his technique. To me, his dance is very beautiful, radiating an aura."

Vietnamese dancer wows audiences in Chinese dance competition Nguyen Vo Minh Tuan nhay cung oi truong Truong Nghe Hung Performance by Nguyen Vu Minh Tuan (middle) and Lay Zhang. Video by Youku

On Weibo, Chinas top social media platform, Tuan's performance attracted nearly 13.5 million views and thousands of comments.

One commenter praised the choreography by MTPOP (Tuan's stage name), and said he would make it into one of the final rounds of the competition.

Street Dance of China is a reality show featuring professional dancers from China and around the world. Tuan is one of the prominent faces of season four, and considered an ace popping dancer. He has been among the top contestants with the most broadcast time in the first two episodes.

Tuan, 26, said he received an invitation to participate in season one, but declined because he was busy. This year again the program invited him, and he agreed, hoping to learn and compete with good dancers from around the world.

"By entering the competition I will help take images of Vietnam to international audiences. I want to compete with countries with developed dance backgrounds."

He has 14 years of experience in choreography, and is currently a member of the X-Clown Crew dance group. He has won many dance competitions including Street Star Festival in Sweden (2017), Who Is The Champion in Malaysia (2017), Jack Of All Trades Festival in Canada (2018), and Drop The Beat in Australia (2018).
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a meeting at the White House in Washington, U.S., August 10, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein

Both Vietnam and Washington are expecting to reap significant benefits from Kamala Harriss visit to Vietnam, the first by a U.S. vice president, experts say.

James Borton, senior fellow with the Johns Hopkins University Foreign Policy Institute, said that during Harriss visit, senior officials are likely to discuss the U.S.'s additional pledged vaccine doses to combat Covid-19, additional funding to support Lower Mekong Delta climate change issues through the Mekong-U.S. Partnership, and elevating the Trade and Investment Agreement (TIFA) to more senior officials from the Office of Government in Vietnam and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in Washington.

"I can confirm that VP Kamala Harris will offer additional vaccination doses", he said.

In broad agreement with Borton was Bonnie Glaser, Director, Asia Program, German Marshall Fund of the U.S.

She said the Biden administration was well aware that the top current priorities of Vietnam and other Southeast Asia countries are Covid-19 control and economic recovery and therefore, these topics will be at the top of the agenda.

Pham Quang Vinh, former Vietnamese ambassador to the U.S., said he was optimistic that the U.S will be able to meet the vaccine needs of Vietnam in coming time. The pressure on manufacturers in the U.S. and in Europe could be reduced thanks to their capacity, despite the demand for the third dose.

Vinh noted that the U.S. was one of largest vaccine providers for Vietnam under the governmental program, with 5 million doses via Covax, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization. Besides, it has assisted Vietnams pandemic fight with $20.9 million in medical supplies and technical support. Vietnam is in the regional top priority list for the 500 million doses that the U.S. has earmarked for the region.

"I am confident that Vietnam will continue to have this position, because Hanoi is a major partner for Washington."

Vinh expected that Vietnam would make clear to the U.S. its need for further financial and technical assistance to help Vietnam become more self-sufficient in vaccine production and medical supplies.

Vietnam is carrying out research on its domestic vaccines and is discussing vaccine technology transfer and quality medical infrastructure with American partners. It could take on the role as "a hub" in this area for Southeast Asia, which would be in line with U.S. aims with the Harris trip: increase bilateral cooperation and regional cooperation.

In its latest meeting, regional bloc ASEAN had also expressed the same desire to become self-sufficient in vaccines in the near term.

Gregory Poling of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a U.S. think tank, said he expected Harris to make Covid-19 cooperation a centerpiece of the visit to Vietnam, including with the opening of the new CDC regional office and a virtual engagement with all the health ministers from ASEAN and Papua New Guinea.

The VP will also focus on supply chain issues, Poling said, adding that Washington and Hanoi seem to see eye to eye on these issues. "With the recent delivery of U.S. vaccines to Vietnam and the end of the U.S. investigation into alleged currency manipulation by Vietnam, it seems that continued progress is likely," Poling said.

Business interests

Nirav Patel, CEO and co-founder of The Asia Group (TAG), a strategic advisory firm based in Washington DC, said that given the Covid-19 situation, Vietnam and the U.S. should focus on increasing cooperation in healthcare and biosciences.

TAG is principal strategic and sales advisor for collaboration and licensed production agreement between Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. and Vingroup to start clinical trials of the former's Covid-19 vaccine in Vietnam.

Patel said the two countries should also increase business engagements in high technology, for example in consumer electronics, because Vietnam is a leading manufacturer and has a lot of advantages in the field.

Homegrown Vietnamese technology entrepreneurs, who are creating the next generation of apps or fintech products, would also welcome partnerships with American venture capital and other firms, he said.

Aerospace and defense are sectors in which the comprehensive partnership between the U.S. and Vietnam creates tremendous opportunities for cooperation, he said.

Former ambassador Vinh said the two countries have great potential to boost economic cooperation, noting that bilateral trade has nearly doubled from $45 billion in 2015 to over $90 billion in 2020.

Vietnam should quickly resolve differences with the U.S. to boost cooperation in digital trade and e-commerce, which is vital for countries in Covid-19 times. He said Vietnam has a "good foundation of high standards" based on free trade agreements with Europe and previous discussions with the U.S. on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Vinh said Vietnam should also catch up with the U.S.'s priority in climate change, focusing on economic structural transformation towards a green economy.

"Vietnam needs to be ready to embrace opportunities in the high quality supply chain with infrastructure, human resources and policy framework," he said.

He said the Biden administration has showed its determination to enhance economic and security relationships with partners both in the Asia-Pacific region. After withdrawing from the TPP trade pact, the U.S. had fallen short in establishing strong economic connections with the whole region. But it could not act as an outsider anymore.

"Vietnam should take the chance to come on board as the U.S. has a new initiative on supply chains. The issue is how Vietnam will prepare for it."

Glaser of the German Marshall Fund said: "The U.S.-Vietnam relationship has not only become increasingly comprehensive, but also increasingly strategic, whether or not the two countries agree to use that label."
A military officer checks the travel papers of a person on HCMC's Dinh Bo Linh Street, August 23, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

The Ministry of Health confirmed 10,383 new local Covid-19 patients in 39 localities on Monday, taking the national tally in the current outbreak to 354,356.

The three localities recording the most cases were Ho Chi Minh City (4,252), Binh Duong (3,183) and Dong Nai (623).

The number of recoveries since the beginning of the pandemic has increased to 154,612 after 6,945 were announced recovered Monday, while the death toll increased by 389 to 8,666.
When a major earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010, tragically killing over 150,000 people the United States immediately mounted an emergency response, deploying search and rescue teams and medical personnel as well as hundreds of tons of emergency food, water, medical and hygiene supplies, and temporary shelters.

On August 14, 2021, another major earthquake shook Haiti resulting in significant death, injury, and destruction, and the United States again offered immediate support to the people of Haiti.

In what is already a challenging time for the people of Haiti, I am saddened by the devastating earthquake that occurred in Saint-Louis du Sud, Haiti this morning. We send our deepest condolences to all those who lost a loved one or saw their homes and businesses destroyed. I have authorized an immediate U.S. response and named USAID Administrator Samantha Power as the senior U.S. official to coordinate this effort, said President Joe Biden.

Through USAID, we are supporting efforts to assess the damage and assist efforts to recover those who were injured and those who must now rebuild. The United States remains a close and enduring friend to the people of Haiti, and we will be there in the aftermath of this tragedy.

Haiti is prone to natural disasters, be they hurricanes or earthquakes. Taking this into consideration, USAID began providing support to the International Organization for Migration and the UN World Food Program to pre-position emergency relief supplies and food in the event of disasters, as well as to develop Government of Haiti personnel capacity to manage facilities and deploy supplies when necessary. This means that when disaster strikes in Haiti, life-saving pre-positioned supplies are immediately available for distribution to affected populations.

The wisdom of this decision became apparent following the earthquake when USAID partners were able to quickly begin distributing lifesaving relief supplies. In addition, USAID deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team or DART, within a day of the earthquake. By August 16, at the request of the Government of Haiti, USAID deployed a premiere Urban Search and Rescue team, which is now on ground conducting search and rescue operations as part of the DART and in coordination with Haitians on the ground.

USAID is also receiving support from the Department of Defense U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. Coast Guard, which is ferrying DART personnel to and around the disaster area, and injured Haitians to Port-au-Prince for treatment.
Aug. 23

Michael A. Hansen, 44, was arrested on Interstate 80 for failure to maintain lane, open container of alcohol in vehicle, and driving under the influence, failure to obey peace officer regarding traffic laws, failure to report unattended vehicle or property damage, log book violation, and on a felony criminal justice detainer. Bail: $8,195

Rhiannon N. Junker, 32, of Elko was arrested at 340 Commercial St. for felony possession of a controlled substance. Bail: $5,000

Joshua G. Kay, 35, of Elko was arrested at 775 W. Silver St. for petit larceny.

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Shayla L. Morrison, 40, of Salt Lake City was arrested in West Wendover on a warrant for two counts of failure to appear after bail on a felony crime. Bail: $15,000

Micah I. Sanchez, 33, of Spring Creek was arrested at Jiggs Highway and Hilltop Drive on a warrant for theft. Bail: $1,640

Keaton M. Schomer, 25, of Spring Creek was arrested at 2001 Errecart Blvd. for unlawful act by prisoner relating to human excrement or bodily fluid, domestic battery, assault, and coercion. Bail: $7,920



This weeks felony arrests:

The charges above do not imply guilt. Under the law, everyone is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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The fifth China-Arab States Expo, which concluded in Yinchuan, northwest Chinas Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on August 22, has witnessed plenty of fruits, fully demonstrating the vigorous efforts of China and Arab states to jointly promote peace, cooperation and development for mutual benefits and win-win results, build the Belt and Road with high-quality, and advance China-Arab strategic partnership to a higher level.

The China-Arab States Expo serves as an important platform for the two sides to advance the construction of the Belt and Road. The previous four China-Arab States Expos attracted more than 5,000 enterprises from 112 countries and regions and witnessed the signing of agreements for 936 cooperation projects.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent congratulatory letter to each of the expos since 2013, which reflects the great importance China attaches to developing ties with Arab countries.

In his letters, Xi stressed that China and Arab states are good friends with mutual trust and good partners walking hand in hand on the path to realize common development.

During the construction of the Belt and Road, China is willing to promote shared opportunities with other countries, including Arab states, and jointly promote peaceful develpment with them, said Xi.

Xi has expressed great expectations of China-Arab cooperation in his congratulatory letters, which infused confidence and impetus into the two sides efforts to jointly create a bright future.

The China-Arab States Expo is the epitome of the two sides vision of seeking common development that conforms to the trend of the times.

China and Arab states are natural partners in Belt and Road cooperation. China has signed BRI cooperation documents with 19 Arab states and the League of Arab States.

As China and Arab states push forward high-quality construction of the Belt and Road in recent years, cooperation between the two sides in various fields have been continuously deepened. Even when faced with global challenges posed by profound changes unseen in a century and the havoc wreaked by the COVID-19 epidemic, China-Arab cooperation and BRI construction havent stalled, but showed strong resilience and vitality.

In 2020, the trade volume between China and Arab states totaled nearly $240 billion, which made China the largest trading partner of Arab states. In the first half of this year, volume of the bilateral trade between the two sides reached $144.27 billion, up 25.7 percent year on year.

China and Arab states have jointly completed the construction of the tallest skyscraper in Africa, or the Iconic Tower, the worlds largest solar-thermal power station and the cleanest coal-fired power plant in the Middle East.

Through integration of their development strategies, China and Arab states have made their dreams of national rejuvenation closely connected.

The fifth China-Arab States Expo, which set up six offline exhibition areas for such fields as digital economy, clean energy, new materials, green food, health care and cross-border e-commerce, demonstrated the two sides determination to take the lead in expanding cooperation in emerging fields.

According to a report on the development of China-Arab states economic and trade relations released at the expo, China and Arab states speeded up cooperation in exploring digital transformation last year.

Besides cooperation in traditional energy, they have made clean energy and technology new growth points in bilateral cooperation. Renewable energy development, energy-driven poverty reduction and governance will become new highlights of their cooperation, said the report.

China and Middle Eastern countries are jointly tackling climate change and facilitating energy transition. For the purpose, they have actively carried out cooperation in clean energy such as solar and nuclear energy, promoted the diversification of energy structure, improved environmental protection and governance capabilities, and jointly created a Green Silk Road in the Middle East.

By promoting exchanges, enhancing mutual understanding and carrying out cooperation, China and Arab states have set an example of international economic and trade cooperation and infused confidence into worlds economic recovery, said Nasser Bouchiba, president of the Africa-China Cooperation Association for Development in Morocco.

The China-Arab States Expo represents a step that the two sides have taken toward pursuing solidarity and cooperation and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

China and Arab countries have worked together in the battle against the COVID-19, providing an example of surmounting the crisis through solidarity, Xi pointed out.

Participants of the fifth China-Arab States Expo spoke highly of the two sides collaboration and mutual assistance amid the epidemic.

China has shipped nearly 100 million doses of Chinese vaccines to Arab states in the form of assistance or exports, and worked with the United Arab Emirates and Egypt in joint filling and production of vaccines.

During the post-pandemic era, China and Arab states will also further investment cooperation in the health sector, including the procurement of medical materials and the production of vaccines, which are expected to facilitate regional countries efforts to defeat the virus and resume economy.

China provides the most prominent experience that Arab countries can learn from to revitalize the economy after the pandemic, noted Kamal Hassan Ali, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.

An Arab poet once wrote, when you turn to the sun, you will see hope. For China and Arab states, their strategic partnership has brought new hope to them.

Since they established a future-oriented strategic partnership of comprehensive cooperation and common development over the past three years, China and Arab states have constantly broadened their cooperation and harvested more and more tangible fruits from cooperation.

Its believed that marching forward together along the path of win-win cooperation is a vivid reflection of the two sides practice of jointly building a community with a shared future for China and Arab states for the new era.
Leadership capability seen as crucial factor in China's success

In 1974, Abbas Zaki, the head of the Palestinian Fatah party's commission on Arab-Chinese affairs, visited China for the first time as a member of a delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

That trip was followed by a dozen more visits to China over the past four decades. A witness of China's breathtaking change, Zaki spoke highly of the Communist Party of China's governance practice and achievements.

In just one generation, China has transformed into a strong, modern country that has successfully addressed prominent challenges, including meeting the basic needs of 1.4 billion people for food and clothing, Zaki said.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the CPC has led the Chinese people in creating economic miracles and long-term social stability.

Over the past eight years, the final 98.99 million impoverished rural residents have all been lifted out of poverty. This means that absolute poverty no longer exists in the world's most populous country.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the CPC. The centenary not only depicts extraordinary success but also a history of dedication.

'Incredible' growth

During his China visits, Zaki noticed that China's villages and towns are growing at an "incredible" rate.

"What used to be poor villages have been transformed into productive, rich ones almost overnight. Some backward and desolate places in the past have become vibrant industrial parks," he said.

In the 1990s, he visited a suburban village near Beijing that was surrounded by empty land with no decent roads. But when he came to the same place in 2018, he found a bustling town with a number of high-rise buildings.

To Zaki, the CPC's leadership and the political system with Chinese characteristics are admirable.

The Party adheres to a people-centered development philosophy and takes people's aspiration for a better life as its goal, he noted.

In Zaki's view, the CPC has a farsighted national development strategy, which not only focuses on economic development and industrial construction, but also values education, science and technology.

All these measures have provided the driving force for China's growth, navigating the Chinese economy toward high-quality development, he said.

Zaki places high value on the CPC's new concept of green development, saying that such a concept indicates that the Party is placing ecological civilization and environmental protection in a more important position in the country's governance.

China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) includes green development in all aspects of the nation's economic and social development.

"It's a very smart strategic plan," Zaki said, adding that China's green development will benefit all mankind.

Zaki said other political parties around the world can learn from the CPC's experience in governance and administration of state affairs.

To guide the country's new journey, the CPC Central Committee unveiled in October last year the strategy of fully building a modern socialist China as well as comprehensively deepening reform, advancing the rule of law and strengthening CPC discipline.

The focus has been shifting from poverty alleviation to rural vitalization.

The Government Work Report delivered in March at the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, set a five-year transition period for China to consolidate and expand its achievements in poverty alleviation and continue to promote rural vitalization.

Amid the country's green transition to pursue a "Beautiful China", a set of interim rules for management of carbon-emissions trading took effect in February, marking a key step toward meeting the country's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.

The outstanding leadership capability of the CPC is "a very important factor" for China's success, Zaki said.

The Chinese people's support rate for the CPC and the government has been above 90 percent for years. The CPC as China's governing party is a choice of history.

Public support is seen as the key to the CPC's strength and confidence in long-term governance.

Mohsen Basurra, a member of Yemen's Islah Party, said that the CPC has united Chinese people of all ethnic groups and provided them with political guidance, which is why China has achieved so much today.

Hailing the CPC's achievements in the 100 years since the Party's founding, Basurra, who is also deputy speaker of Yemen's House of Representatives, said that developing countries, including Yemen, are expected to draw inspiration from China's experience in developing trade, technology and culture, among other areas.

Ibrahim Al-Shehabi, a member of the board of trustees of Egypt's Coordination Committee of Party's Youth Leaders and Politicians, said the CPC's success in leading the Chinese people through the COVID-19 health crisis mirrors the great solidarity of the ruling party, the government and the Chinese people.

As the CPC achieves its first centenary goalcompletely building a moderately prosperous society in all respectsit also has embarked on a journey toward the secondbuilding a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by 2049, the centenary of the People's Republic of China.

Former Thai foreign minister Tej Bunnag has witnessed China's opening-up to the outside world and its transformation from an impoverished backwater into a major contributor to the world's economy.

Tej, 77, was the Thai ambassador to China from 1986 to 1990.

"When I first went to China in 1973, Shenzhen was just a small fishing village. Now it's an international city of more than 10 million residents and a high-tech hub," he said.

"What impresses me most is the rapid growth of the general wealth of China," Tej said. "It's obvious that without the CPC, China would not be what it is today."

He is amazed by China's infrastructure development. In his days as an ambassador to China, it took more than three hours to travel from Beijing to Tianjina distance of around 110 kilometers. The journey now takes just half an hour by high-speed train.

Source of strength

Throughout its 100-year history, the CPC has been firmly marching on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, flexibly adapting to changes and improving its policies, which Tej believes is a source of the Party's strength.

China has been committed to its reform and opening-up, has pursued innovation-driven development, raised proposals such as the Belt and Road Initiative, and promoted a new type of international relations and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, making contributions to the world's development, he said.

Faraj Itmeiza, secretary general of Jordan's Communist Party, praised China's comprehensive achievement under the CPC's leadership, saying the CPC and the Chinese people have been engaged in unceasing endeavors for a better future.

"What struck me the most was that some projects that usually take several years in other countries can be finished only in a few months or weeks in China," he said.

"It seems that China is in a race against time for realizing the best future for the Chinese people and humanity," he added.

Itmeiza, who has visited China twice, said that though some Western media have slandered and misrepresented the facts about China, the reality he has witnessed is that "China is a large productive country and open to other civilizations and international dialogues".

Suggesting that other countries learn from the CPC's governance experience, Itmeiza said, "It is not to fully copy it, but we have to act like China by first studying issues, and then adopting the positive sides to serve our country and people."

Drawing inspiration

Veteran leaders of Indian Communist parties seek to draw inspiration and lessons from the CPC to reclaim the relevance of India's Communist parties among the masses and to regain the lost support base.

The Left Front, comprising the Communist Party of India, the All India Forward Bloc, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party, enjoyed its golden period in electoral politics in the 1990s and early 2000s.

The Left Front parties generally suffered in India's recent elections, except in the southern state of Kerala, where the Communist-led Left Democratic Front government made history by winning a second successive term, thanks to sound governance by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

"The CPC is a lighthouse of hope," said M.A. Baby, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo leader from Kerala. "Now on the occasion of celebrating 100 years of the CPC, it has succeeded in removing acute poverty from the country.

"The CPC is currently concentrating on addressing important issues like economic disparities, environmental degradation and focusing to fight corruption. We definitely should draw inspiration from China to address the same challenges in India," Baby added.

The CPC has continuously been reforming itself for decades, and generations of CPC leaders have been transforming Marxist theories with Chinese practices and have persisted in shaping a socialist system with Chinese characteristics, including Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Xinhua News Agency and Aparajit Chakraborty in New Delhi contributed to this story.
Mountains are wreathed in mist in the Shennongjia National Park, Hubei province. JIA GUOHUA/FOR CHINA DAILY

At the Shennongjia National Park in Hubei province, which covers 3,250 square kilometers, the environmental grid protection network effectively safeguards wild animals in real time, the park administration said in a statement.

The network, consisting of electronic fences, a remote-sensing heat source satellite system, unmanned aerial vehicles and video surveillance, embodies the latest scientific and technological means. It provides real-time images of wildlife in the region and helps curb illegal entry into the park's core protected area, the statement said.

The system is composed of 40 drones, more than 1,400 wireless cameras, over 100 electronic fences and more than 950 infrared cameras. In addition to the technical grid-based monitoring system, a patrol team comprising 420 professionals and 2,600 farmers was also formed for the protection of the park's flora and fauna.

Each ranger is responsible for the protection of one section of the grid, which is subdivided by the 33 areas of the Shennongjia reserve.

"We have to spend at least 10 days per month patrolling the field," said Wang Min, who is one of the six rangers responsible for the conservation of nearly 6 sq km of forest in the region.

In a patrol log dated July 17, Wang, 46, wrote: "Going from South Mountain to Green Peak, a distance of 26 km, took us five days and four nights. During the journey, we found aesculus and balanophora (two herbs found in Shennongjia)."

Supported by the Beidou navigation satellite system and handheld intelligent patrolling management terminals, the routes taken by the rangers are mapped and collected. According to Wang, the routes of any two field patrollers may not overlap.

The Shennongjia forestry area accounts for just 1.7 percent of the total area of Hubei province, but it is home to more than 90 percent of the province's plant species, he added, emphasizing the importance of the area not just to Hubei, but also to the whole country.

Strict protection measures have improved the reserve's environment. Yang Jingyuan, director of the Scientific Research Institute at Shennongjia National Park Administration, said the latest research in March showed that there were a total of 728 land vertebrate species in Shennongjia, and that 4,329 species of vascular plants had been discovered.

He said Shennongjia has also increased its forest coverage to 96 percent in 2019, up from 80.6 percent in 1990. Last year, facial recognition technology was also put into use to bolster control measures against people attempting to break into the protected area.

Editor: GSY
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska took part in the Blessing Ukraine prayer event on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the country's independence.

As reported on the website of the head of state on Tuesday, the event took place in the courtyard of the Sophia Kyivska National Reserve. Primates of churches and leaders of religious organizations said prayers for Ukraine.

Later, the president and his wife installed icon lamps at the memorial cross on the Alley of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred in Kyiv, at the site of the deaths of participants in the Revolution of Dignity, and honored with a minute of silence the memory of those who gave their lives for the freedom and dignity of Ukrainians in 2013-14.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry denied information about the allegedly "hijacked" Ukrainian plane in Kabul (Afghanistan).

"There are no hijacked Ukrainian planes in Kabul or anywhere else. The information about the hijacked plane, which is being circulated by some media outlets, does not correspond to reality," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko told Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman said that all the planes that Ukraine attracted to evacuate from Afghanistan "returned safely to Ukraine." He also said that there were three evacuation flights, which evacuated 256 people.

"Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Enin reported the unprecedented level of difficulties on the whole that diplomats had to face in order to pull the Ukrainians out. We must understand that the situation at the airport is close to chaos, many people are trying to catch the least opportunity to leave the country. It was necessary to ensure that the necessary people got on the necessary plane in safe conditions, and then safely returned home," Nikolenko said.

He said that the Foreign Ministry stays in touch with the Ukrainians, who still remain in Afghanistan, and works out possible ways to evacuate them safely.
Scientists of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, who are at the Akademik Vernadsky station in Antarctica, congratulated Ukraine on the Independence Day.

Congratulations were osted on the YouTube channel.

"We, 12 participants of the 26th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition, being at the scientific station Akademik Vernadsky 15,000 kilometers from home, congratulate our native country from the farthest corner of the Earth, where our national flag flies. We represent different regions of Ukraine [...]Despite the fact that we are fascinated by the beauty and grandeur of Antarctica, our hearts beat in unison with the hearts of all Ukrainians. And although there is no escape from homesickness and the desire to see relatives, we are happy to represent the interests of our state here. Congratulations to Ukraine on its anniversary. We wish her development, victories and prosperity. We believe in its success, just as we believe in the success of our mission in Antarctica," the polar explorers congratulated the Ukrainians.
Ukraine is ready to hold meetings of the Foreign Ministers of the "Normandy format" countries (Ukraine, France, Germany, Russia) and hopes for a constructive approach of the Russian Federation in this matter, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said at a joint briefing with the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France by Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday in Kyiv.

"The efforts of the Normandy format should be even more effective. Minister Le Drian and I share the same idea that the Normandy format should work, and we expect more dynamics from it. We understand that first of all it depends on the position of Russia, and I want to take this opportunity and confirm that we are ready for the meeting of foreign ministers in the Normandy format. I hope that our Russian counterpart, Minister Lavrov, will also approach this meeting constructively and conscientiously," Kuleba said.

The head of Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also said that Ukraine will work on organizing a Normandy format summit "to prepare and make the necessary decisions."
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has confirmed the intention of French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Ukraine. This was announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba at a joint briefing on Tuesday.

"We are looking forward to a new stage of cooperation - the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Ukraine. Minister Le Drian today confirmed President Macron's intention to make such a visit, which will become symbolic and significant for our bilateral relations," Kuleba said.

In turn, Minister Le Drian expressed hope that Macron's visit to Ukraine will take place by the end of 2021.
MPs adopted at first reading the presidential bill on the great State Emblem of Ukraine (No. 5712). A total of 257 MPs voted for such a decision at an extraordinary session of the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday.

As the correspondent of the Interfax-Ukraine agency reports, not a single vote in support of the bill was given by the European Solidarity, the Opposition Platform - For Life and the Holos factions.

In the Servant of the People, some 213 MPs voted for the bill, in Batkivschyna - 13, the For the Future group gave nine votes, Dovira - 16, non-factional MPs - six votes.

According to the bill, developed in accordance with the Constitution, the great coat of arms is the state symbol of Ukraine. Its main element is the sign of the princely state of Volodymyr the Great (the small state emblem of Ukraine) of gold color, placed on a blue five-sided shield with rounded lower lateral corners with a gold border. Above the shield there is an image of the grand-ducal crown of Yaroslav the Wise and a purple-gold tent in the form of a floral ornament. On the left side, the shield is held by a lion (coat of arms of the Galicia-Volyn principality), on the right - a Cossack warrior with a gun (coat of arms of the Zaporizhian Army). Under the shield there is a ribbon of two equal horizontal stripes of blue and yellow colors, under the ribbon there are two golden spikelets of wheat intertwined with a bunch of purple viburnum with stylized purple-gold leaves.

The draft law provides that the great state emblem must be reproduced on the official symbols of the president, the large state seal of Ukraine, the seals of the president, the Verkhovna Rada, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, the facades of the buildings of the presidential residence in Kyiv, the Verkhovna Rada, the Cabinet of Ministers, Constitutional and Supreme Courts, the parliamentary meeting room, as well as on banknotes by the decision of the National Bank.

At the same time, the great state emblem of Ukraine cannot be used as its own symbolism of state authorities, territorial communities, districts and regions and/or as an element of such symbols.

The bill prohibits the reproduction of images of the large state emblem of Ukraine in the symbols of political parties, public associations, trade unions and their associations, legal entities and individuals. Its image can't be used or imitated in advertising, except for the social protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. It is also not allowed to use the images of the large state emblem in an inverted form or in another way, expressing outrage and disdain for it, as well as to place inscriptions or images on the picture of the large state emblem of Ukraine, regardless of the methods of their application and content.
On the day of celebrating the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence, Ambassador of Ukraine to the State of Israel Yevhen Korniychuk thanked official Jerusalem for its support of Ukraine and love for Ukrainian culture. The head of the diplomatic mission stated this during the opening ceremony of the Days of Ukrainian Culture, according to the Embassy's Facebook page.

"I want to note that the principled position of Israel and its support in the issue of sovereignty and preservation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine is highly valued in our country," the Ambassador stressed.

Yevhen Korniychuk also congratulated on the State Flag Day and the Independence Day of Ukraine.

Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan-Nahum addressed the audience with a welcoming speech.

Days of Ukrainian Culture are held in Jerusalem on August 23-24. A photo exhibition and an exhibition of paintings by Ukrainian and Israeli artists were opened at the Jerusalem Museum of Nature. Ukrainian songs were played during the evening. The event was organized by the All-Israel Association of Immigrants from Ukraine with the support of the Municipality of Jerusalem.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he delivers his 6th State of the Nation Address (SONA), at the House of Representative in Quezon City, Metro Manila (Photo : REUTERS/Lisa Marie David)

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday he will run for the vice presidency in next year's elections, confirming an earlier announcement by the country's ruling political party that was criticized by opponents as a ploy for Duterte to maintain his grip on power.



The announcement came ahead of the party's national convention on Sept. 8, where it is also expected to endorse Duterte's aide and incumbent senator Christopher "Bong" Go to be its presidential candidate in the 2022 polls.



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"I will run as vice president, then I will continue the crusade. Number one is insurgency, then criminality, drugs," Duterte said in a late night weekly national address. "I may not have the power to give the direction or guidance but I can always express my views in public."



Under the constitution, a president can serve only one term, and the announcement had been widely anticipated as Duterte had already hinted he could seek the No. 2 job, a move seen by political observers and critics as a backdoor to the presidency https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-duterte-ponders-play-power-political-exit-looms-2021-07-08.



Duterte was heeding "the clamour of the people," Karlo Nograles, executive vice president of the PDP-Laban party, said in a statement.



Critics believe he could be making a play for retaining power by taking over as president under a scenario in which Go wins and then resigns, enabling Duterte to shield himself from possible legal actions when he leaves office https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-pacquiao-ousted-president-ruling-party-after-row-2021-07-17.



"This is really part of the scheme of the Duterte clique to extend not only influence but control of government," said opposition congressman Carlos Zarate.



Duterte-backer Nograles said the move would "guarantee continuity of the administration's programmes during the past five years," including his war on drugs, which an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor wants investigated. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/international-criminal-court-prosecutor-requests-probe-into-philippines-killings-2021-06-14



Duterte's legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, has described as "unfounded and illogical" claims that he would control the office of the president should he clinch the vice presidency.



Opinion polls show Duterte remains hugely popular, despite his bloody anti-drugs campaign and criticism of the pandemic response, but analysts say his popularity would not necessarily rub off on Go.



In the Philippines, the president is elected separately from the vice president.



Duterte has previously said he wanted Go to be his successor. His endorsement in 2019 helped Go to become a senator, a post he carries out alongside his duties as Duterte's personal aide.



"In choosing his successor, President Duterte is grappling with an unstated urgent concern: who can be best trusted to protect and insulate him from almost certain criminal suits once he is out of power," said think tank the Center for People Empowerment Governance.



Go has been the 76-year-old president's closest aide since the late 1990s, when Duterte was a congressman representing his hometown Davao City.



Previously, Go has insisted he is not interested in the presidency.



"Vaccines first, before politics," Go, who chairs the senate committee on health, told Reuters.



Duterte's daughter, Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, has outshone Go in opinion polls, but she and her father have played down the prospect of her running.

Political analyst Victor Manhit said until candidacies were officially filed, starting in October, everything is speculation, with opinion polls showing other vice presidential candidates including a Manila mayor just behind Duterte.


Biden sticking to Aug. 31 Afghan pullout so long as Taliban cooperate -U.S. officials

Groups of people wait on tarmac at Kabul's airport, Afghanistan (Photo : TECHNOLOGIES/Handout via REUTERS)

President Joe Biden will stick to a Pentagon recommendation to remove U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Aug. 31 so long as the Taliban enables the United States to complete its evacuations, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Tuesday.



Biden sent thousands of U.S. troops to the Kabul airport after the Taliban militant group took over the city and much of the country less than two weeks ago.



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The nearly 6,000 U.S. troops are helping to evacuate American citizens and at-risk Afghans and to protect the airport so other countries can evacuate their citizens as well.



The Pentagon made the recommendation that Biden stick to his Aug. 31 target date on Monday, the officials said.



Biden accepted the recommendation but asked the Pentagon to make contingency plans to stay longer if necessary, one official said.



The date was dependent on completing the mission and the Taliban's cooperation, the official said.



The official said the United States has been in regular contact with the Taliban and officials are telling the group that the timeline is contingent on Taliban cooperation.



Biden sent CIA Director William Burns to meet Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul on Monday in the highest level official encounter since the militant group took over the Afghan capital, a U.S. official and a source familiar with government activity told Reuters on Tuesday.



A congressional source said Burns and Baradar had discussed the Aug. 31 date.



The Pentagon recommendation reflects increasing security concerns at the Kabul airport, where American citizens and at-risk Afghans are being evacuated.



Two U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that there was increasing concern about suicide bombings by Islamic State militants at the airport.



One official said it was no longer a question of if, but when, militants would attack and the priority was to get out before it happened.



Biden was set to speak later on Tuesday.



The Pentagon earlier said that it was confident the military can evacuate all Americans who want to leave. Whether thousands of at-risk Afghans would all be evacuated was unclear.



"We're absolutely still aiming towards the end of the month," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said, while adding that the Pentagon may need additional bases to house evacuees from Afghanistan.



Kirby said "several thousand" Americans have been evacuated from Afghanistan but declined to give a more specific figure. He also said he was unable to provide the percentage of Americans in Afghanistan who have now been evacuated.



Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers said on Tuesday they wanted all foreign evacuations from the country completed by Aug. 31 and they would not agree to an extension as Group of Seven leaders met to discuss the crisis.



Western troops have been working frantically to get foreigners and Afghans onto planes and out of the country and Biden has faced growing pressure from allies to negotiate more time for the airlift.


Egypt and Sierra Leon signed on Tuesday a number of agreements for cooperation in the fields of political consultation, youth and culture, Egypt's foreign ministry said.

The agreements were signed by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Sierra Leonean counterpart David Francis, who is visiting the Egyptian capital Cairo on top of an official delegation.

Shoukry and Francis exchanged views on a number of bilateral issues and regional causes of mutual interest, the ministry added in a statement, addung that they expressed their aspiration to enhance the level of trade exchange to be on par with political relations between the two countries.

Shoukry said Egypt will send a package of medical aid to Sierra Leone to help support the health sector there.

Shoukry urged intensifying bilateral and regional efforts to combat terrorist organizations and organized crime groups in the Sahel region as well as reconstruction and development process needed during the post-armed conflict stage.

The talks also touched upon joint coordination regarding an African call to reform and expand the Security Council, in light of Sierra Leone's presidency of the African Union's Committee of Ten concerned with the matter.

The Security Council includes five permanent members, who have the right to veto resolutions (China, France, Russia, the UK and the US) as well as five non-permanent members, who are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms, and five non-permanent members, who are elected each year.

Only one seat is designated for Africa out of the 10 non-permanent seats, so the African countries want to expand the UN organ to be included in the permanent membership as well as increase the African representation in the non-permanent seats.

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Egyptian and French air forces have conducted a joint military exercise with the participation of Mirage 2000, Rafale, and Egyptian F-16s multirole fighter jets.

During the drill, the Egyptian and French forces carried out an air-to-air refueling exercise with the participation of French aerial refueling aircraft MRTT.

The joint drills come within the framework of efforts to bolster cooperation between the Egyptian and French armed forces, and help them get acquainted with the state-of-the-art combat systems and methods.

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Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed on Tuesday with his Sudanese counterpart Mariam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi the situation in Sudan in the wake of floods that hit several Sudanese states.



In a phone call, Shoukry stressed anew Egypt's full solidarity with the Sudanese government and people, the Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Ahmed Hafez, said.



The two top diplomats touched on a number of issues of mutual interest, agreeing on enhancing coordination and cooperation to achieve the aspirations of the two countries' peoples.

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Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Burundi's Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert Shingiro asserted their keenness to continue developing bilateral relations between the two countries in a way that promotes joint action.



In a telephone call on Tuesday, the top diplomats said they are keen to keep pushing forward the path of cooperation between Egypt and Burundi in various fields, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministrys Spokesman Ahmed Hafez.



The ministers affirmed the importance of continuing consultation between both countries to coordinate positions towards regional issues of mutual interest.

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President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi directed the government to keep up its coordination with relevant state bodies to improve road efficiency in Greater Cairo to do away with traffic congestion and restore its civilizational appeal, the Egyptian Presidency reported.



El-Sisi made the directives during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, the governors of Cairo and Giza, the ministers of local development and housing, and head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority Maj. Gen. Ihab el Far.



The president also instructed the bodies concerned to draw up an integrated blueprint for enhancing the efficiency of main road axes connecting eastern and western Cairo, especially 6th of October Bridge and Al-Fangary and the 26th of July corridors.



He also gave orders to embark on further projects to improve the road network in the western part of Greater Cairo, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.



The president was briefed on a plan for several new projects, including Al Sabtaya-Imbaba and Amr Ibn El-Aas corridors in Giza, in tandem with the Mohamed Anwar Al-Sadat corridor as a cross bridge between Al-Haram and Faisal streets.

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Eighteen migrants have drowned after their boat sank off Libya, the coastguard said Tuesday, the latest tragedy on the dangerous Mediterranean Sea crossing to Europe.

Rescue vessels picked up 51 survivors from Sunday night's shipwreck, a coastguard official in the port of Zuwara, 120 kilometres (75 miles) west of the capital Tripoli, told AFP.

The International Organization for Migration had earlier reported 16 migrants missing, including a woman and a child.

It was not immediately clear what caused the boat to sink, but vessels leaving the North African coast for Europe are often heavily overloaded makeshift crafts, departing at night even in rough weather to avoid detection by the coastguard.

Nearly 970 migrants have died trying to reach Europe from Libya since the start of the year.

Last month, the IOM said the number of people who had died trying to cross the Mediterranean nearly doubled in the first half of 2021 compared with the same period last year.

Despite persistent violence since the 2011 overthrow of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, Libya has become one of the main departure points for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa trying to reach Europe.

Most head for the Italian coast around 300 kilometres (190 miles) away.

The European Union has for several years supported Libyan forces to try to stem migration, despite often grim conditions in detention centres in Libya.

International agencies have repeatedly denounced the return to Libya of migrants intercepted at sea.

The Libyan coastguard picked up more than 13,000 people in the first half of this year, exceeding the total figure for 2020, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

That figure has now risen to 20,257, according to the IOM.

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Hundreds of people escaping conflict or poverty, mostly from Afghanistan but also from other countries in the region, have died over the years risking the perilous crossing. Some succumbed after exposure to extreme weather conditions, others died in accidents as their smugglers tried to evade authorities in trucks and boats crammed with people.

Those whose identities remain unknown are buried in dirt lots in special sections of cemeteries around Turkey's eastern Van province, which borders Iran. Their grave markers bear a number corresponding with their forensic file and, if it's known, their nationality or date of death.

``During the passage of irregular migrants ... there may be those who freeze at the border line in winter. There may be people who drown in a stream. From time to time, there are people who lose their lives in traffic accidents,'' Van's Gov. Mehmet Emin Bilmez told The Associated Press.

Following autopsies to determine the cause of death and DNA tests, the bodies are kept in the morgue for a fortnight in the hope that a relative or an embassy will claim them.

``If no one takes responsibility for them within 15 days, then the metropolitan municipality takes the body from the morgue, buries it in the cemetery (for the unidentified) and gives it a number,'' Bilmez explained.

The migrants' biggest enemy on their trek through the treacherous gateway to the West is the weather. Winter temperatures in Van province's vast highlands can dip as low as minus 26.9 Celsius (minus 16.42 Fahrenheit). According to local media, Turkish authorities recovered several bodies in the region this spring as the ice and snow began to melt.

Other hazards include hunger, thirst, and robbers who threaten or kill migrants if they don't give up their possessions on the spot, according to numerous migrant testimonies to the AP.

Murad Majidi, a 17-year-old from northern Afghanistan's Jawzjan province, who left the country before the Taliban takeover, says he feels lucky to be alive. He fell into a ditch and broke a limb trying to evade gunfire from Iranian police at the border.

Other migrants in his group escaped, but he was caught by Turkish authorities and sent to a deportation center.

``I was going to experience the fate of those (other migrants) that died in traffic accidents, froze or died ... I survived (the fall) but broke my leg.'' Majidi said at the center where he was registered and treated for his injuries.

At the special section of Karsiyaka cemetery, in Van province's main city of Van, 12 graves belong to migrants whose minibus overturned and caught fire on a road last month. Some 20 other migrants were injured in that accident.

Last year, about 60 migrants drowned when a boat sank in Lake Van in a storm. Their smuggler had selected the lake crossing to avoid police and gendarmerie check-points on roads in the region.

``They freeze in the cold weather, in snow. Buses crash, people die,'' said an Afghan who identified himself as Mustafa Aydin. He was caught crossing the border with Iran and is currently in a deportation center in Van city.

``They come here to work, to send money to their families,`` he said. ``Because there are no jobs in Afghanistan.''

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Algeria's Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said Tuesday that his country has severed diplomatic relations with Morocco due to its "hostile actions".

The move comes afer Algeria last week said it would review its relations with Morocco after accusing it of complicity in deadly forest fires that ravaged the country's north.

"Algeria has decided to cut diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Morocco from today," the minister announced during a press conference.

"History has shown that the Kingdom of Morocco has never stopped carrying out hostile actions against Algeria," Lamamra added.

The forest fires in Algeria, which broke out on August 9 amid a blistering heatwave, burned tens of thousands of hectares of forest and killed at least 90 people, including more than 30 soldiers.

Algerian authorities have pointed the finger for the fires at the independence movement of the mainly Berber region of Kabylie, which extends along the Mediterranean coast east of the capital Algiers.

The authorities have also accused the Movement for Self-determination of Kabylie (MAK) of involvement in the lynching of a man falsely accused of arson, an incident that sparked outrage.

Algeria last week accused Morocco of supporting the MAK, which it classifies as a "terrorist organisation".

"The incessant hostile acts carried out by Morocco against Algeria have necessitated the review of relations between the two countries," a presidency statement said last week.

It also said there would be an "intensification of security controls on the western borders" with Morocco.

The border between Algeria and Morocco has been closed since 1994.

Algeria's foreign minister on Tuesday also accused Morocco's leaders of "responsibility for repeated crises" and behaviour that has "led to conflict instead of integration" in North Africa.

Relations between Algiers and Rabat have been fraught in past decades, especially over the flashpoint issue of the disputed Western Sahara.

Morocco considers the former Spanish colony an integral part of its kingdom, but Algeria has backed the Polisario movement which seeks independence there.

Last month, Algeria recalled its ambassador in Morocco for consultations after Morocco's envoy to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, expressed support for self-determination for the Kabylie region.

At the time, Algeria's foreign ministry said Morocco thus "publicly and explicitly supports an alleged right to self-determination of the Kabylie people".

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Daraa was retaken by the government in 2018 but emerged as a new flashpoint as government forces tighten control over Daraa al-Balad, a southern district of the provincial capital considered a hub for former rebels.

Clashes including artillery exchanges between the two sides since late July have marked the biggest challenge yet to the truce deal that returned Daraa province to government control but allowed rebels to stay on in some areas.

Russian-sponsored talks begun in the wake of the latest fighting have intensified in recent days as the government stepped up its campaign to root out remaining rebels from Daraa al-Balad.

On Tuesday, it appeared that warring parties had agreed a deal, as opposition fighters boarded buses to take them to rebel-held territory in the north, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The evacuations are a main part of the ceasefire accord that also calls on opposition fighters who stay in the province to hand over their weapons, the Observatory said.

Forces linked to the Syrian regime are expected to deploy inside Daraa al-Balad under the agreement, it said.

The pro-government al-Watan newspaper also reported the start of evacuations, saying that "implementation of the truce agreement has begun".

Earlier on Tuesday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that 38,600 internally displaced persons are registered in and around Daraa, with most having fled from Daraa al-Balad.

"This includes almost 15,000 women, over 3,200 men and elderly and over 20,400 children," OCHA said.

It warned of a critical situation in the volatile district, saying that access to goods and services, including food and power, is "extremely challenging".

The Observatory said that government forces are restricting the entry of goods into Daraa al-Balad, where it says 40,000 people still live.

"They are living under siege with families facing shortages of food, medical services, potable water, power and internet," said the monitor, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria.

UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen on Tuesday warned the Security Council of a pressing need for humanitarian assistance.

"We repeat our calls on all parties to end the violence immediately," he said.

"Immediate, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access is needed to all affected areas and communities, including Daraa al-Balad."

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President Joe Biden says 11,000 individuals were evacuated from Kabul over the weekend and he remains committed to assisting all Americans who want to leave Afghanistan get out.

Biden added Sunday that his first priority is getting American citizens out of Afghanistan as quickly and safely as possible.

In the president's words: We're working hard and as fast as we can to get people out. That's our mission. That's our goal.

Biden also says he is also activating the civilian reserve air fleet provided by commercial airlines to help move evacuees from third country waystations on to the United States.

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Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Tuesday it is "unlikely" evacuations from Afghanistan will be extended beyond August 31, as G7 leaders prepare to meet virtually to discuss the crisis.

The UK will chair the emergency talks among the group of wealthy countries later Tuesday, and has said it will urge the United States to extend the end-of-the-month deadline to complete the Afghan airlifts.

France has also called on Washington to push back the timeline.

But hours before the summit, Wallace acknowledged that both US President Joe Biden and Taliban leaders now in power in Kabul had cast serious doubt on evacuations continuing into September.

"I think it is unlikely," he told Sky News. "Not only because of what the Taliban has said, but if you look at the public statements of President Biden I think it is unlikely.

"It is definitely worth us all trying, and we will."

Biden has set an August 31 deadline to finish the chaotic airlift organised by thousands of temporarily deployed US and UK troops, but has left the door open to an extension if needed.

However, a spokesman for the Taliban warned Monday the hardline Islamist group would not agree to any extension, calling the issue a "red line", with any delay viewed as "extending occupation".

"If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations -- the answer is no. Or there would be consequences," Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Sky News.

'Next phase'

Britain has continued to evacuate Western citizens and some Afghans from the capital, with Wallace warning the security situation was getting "more and more dangerous" as August 31 approaches.

The defence ministry said 8,458 people have been evacuated by the UK since August 13, with nine military flights leaving Kabul in the last 24 hours.

More than half -- 5,171 -- are Afghans eligible to relocate to Britain under its programme to protect those who aided its military and civilian officials during their two-decade involvement in Afghanistan.

An individual on the UK's no-fly anti-terrorism watchlist arrived as part of the evacuation, the interior ministry confirmed.

A spokesman said the individual was identified "as part of the rigorous checks process" and that after further investigation was deemed "not a person of interest to the security agencies or law enforcement".

Meanwhile, on the eve of the G7 meeting, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the leaders of the world's top economies should also have an eye on the "next phase" for Afghanistan.

His office said he will urge fellow leaders to step up support for refugees and to restate their "commitment to safeguarding the gains made in Afghanistan over the last 20 years -- in particular on girls' education and the rights of women and minorities".

Britain currently chairs the G7, which also comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

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The UN refugee agency on Tuesday urged Poland to take in a group of migrants believed to be from Iraq and Afghanistan who have been stranded on the border with Belarus for more than two weeks.

Thousands of migrants -- mostly from the Middle East -- have crossed the border from Belarus into the eastern EU states of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in recent months.

Brussels believes the influx is being deliberately engineered by the regime in Minsk in retaliation against EU sanctions -- an accusation that Belarus denies -- and Poland has called it a "hybrid attack" on the bloc.

Poland has said it will not allow the migrants in, with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki saying that this would be giving in to "blackmail" from Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko.

Morawiecki insisted on Tuesday that the migrants "are on the Belarusian side of the border. Belarus is responsible for these groups".

"If someone on the Belarusian side wants to apply for refugee status, please do so in Minsk," he added.

Around 30 migrants have set up a makeshift encampment just inside Belarus near the Polish village of Usnarz Gorny between lines of Belarusian and Polish military personnel.

"We call on the Polish authorities to provide access to territory, immediate medical assistance, legal advice and psychological support to these people," Christine Goyer, UNHCR representative in Poland, said in a statement.

"According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, to which Poland is signatory, people seeking asylum should never be penalised, even for irregular border crossing," Goyer said.

The UNHCR said it was "concerned by the alarming reports regarding a group of several dozens of people" at the border, adding that they were believed to be from Afghanistan and Iraq and may require medical attention and international protection.

The Polish government has announced its intention to build a 2.5-metre (8-feet) high barbed wire fence along a third of its border to prevent further arrivals, with work to begin in the next few days.

"States have the legitimate right to manage their borders in accordance with international law, however, they must also respect human rights, including the right to seek asylum," the UNHCR statement said.

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Egypt is set to issue its first batch of sovereign bonds (Islamic sukuk) during the second half (2H) of the current FY2021/2022, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait announced on Tuesday.

The minister said that the timing and the value of the offering will be set later.

Maait explained that the offers proceeds will provide the required finances for the investment projects that are included in the economic and social development plan of the states public budget for FY2021/22.

In June, Maait stated that the value of the soon-to-be-issued sukuk is expected to reach a total of $2 billion.

Following receiving cabinet approval in November 2020, the House of Representatives  the parliament  approved the sovereign bonds (Islamic sukuk) bill, which is waiting on a final vote that must end in a two thirds majority.

However, on 27 July, the House of Representatives announced its adjournment for summer recess.

The bill paves the way for Egypts government to usher in an Islamic financing system, which recorded $2.7 trillion in transactions globally by the end of June, according to Maait.

Maait expounded that the bills bylaws will be issued within three months in collaboration with the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) and Al-Azhars grand imam to issue the bonds in a way that is compatible with Islamic Sharia.

He also declared that the anticipated Islamic sukuks proceeds will be subjected to the tax measures applied on the treasury bills (T-bills).

Furthermore, sukuk issued in the domestic market will be listed in the Egyptian stock exchange, while those issued in hard currency will be listed in international stock markets, which will provide extra cash liquidity for Egypts economy as well as decrease the investment finance cost.

A supervisory committee is set to be formed as soon as the cabinet approves the Islamic sukuk bills bylaws, which will include finance, law, and economy experts, as well as a number of Al-Azhar scholars, Maait explained.

He added that Islamic sukuk will allow the utilisation of state-owned assets according to the beneficial right system through either ownership without usufruct or renting.

According to the rules for purchasing Islamic sukuk, the issuer must make a contractual promise to buy back the bond at a future date at par value.

Sukuk are financial certificates issued in Islamic countries that allow investors to have a share of ownership in a portfolio of existing or eligible assets.

Despite the COVID-19 crisis, sukuk supply is expected to witness a surge in the 2H of 2021 after experiencing strong growth during 2Q of 2021, backed by strong investor appetite and issuers refinancing and funding diversification needs, according to Fitch Ratings.

Throughout September and October 2020, Egypt issued sovereign governmental green bonds worth $750 million domestically and in the London exchange stock market, the first of their kind in the Middle East and North Africa.

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Egypts Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and Majid Al-Futtaim (MAF) Global Solutions have inked an agreement to establish a shared services centre in Egypt, ITIDA announced on Tuesday.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat witnessed the signing of the agreement.

The centre will be the first of its kind for MAF Holding, the leading shopping malls, communities, retail, and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia, according to ITIDA.

According to the agreement, MAF will employ a minimum of 600 new Egyptian employees over the course of the agreement, directed primarily to export activities.

Talaat stressed that business process outsourcing (BPO) is one of the labour-intensive industries to which Egypt attaches great importance, and where the country enjoys all the elements of success given its regional leadership and remarkable positioning on the global map of the BPO and offshoring services industry.

The minister added that Egypt is also one of the leading destinations for multinational companies to expand their businesses and establish dedicated service centres for global operations.

Talaat also asserted the ministrys keenness to create an enabling environment for the growth of the BPO industry and the increase of digital exports, with working to overcome the obstacles facing investors, and intensively upskilling and qualifying young Egyptians for professional work in that field.

ITIDA CEO Amr Mahfouz said that MAF's decision to invest in Egypt reflects Egypts increased global appeal for investors, especially in the outsourcing domain, with more enterprises and global tech companies willing to expand global business services in Egypt.

This also enhances the countrys position as one of the fastest-growing offshore destinations in the world, according to Mahfouz.

Mahfouz added that ITIDA is working to develop and boost Egyptian IT/ IT-enabled services exports, which contributes to creating more job opportunities for Egyptian youth. He added that his company is encouraging foreign investors to do business in Egypt where it provides help and guidance every step of the way, especially with the increased demand following Egypts BPO sector's proven resilience and response amid the pandemic.

Were excited to cooperate with ITIDA through our shared services centre to serve the markets where MAF operates in different countries, leveraging Egypt's competitive advantages, most notably its diversified and abundant talent pool, said Khaled El-Chidiac the CEO of MAF Global Solutions.

El-Chidiac highlighted that MAF partners with ITIDA out of the formers commitment to investing in local talent, training young people, enhancing experiences, and creating direct and indirect job opportunities for Egyptian youth.

Within the next few months, MAF will work to attract young people of the highest calibre to join its team to embark on the transformation journey that will lay the foundation for the sustainable growth of MAF businesses, according to El-Chidiac.

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Egypts Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly chaired on Tuesday a meeting in Cairo to discuss developing the Green Hydrogen industry in Egypt in the presence of Electricity and Renewable Energy Minister Mohamed Shaker, President and CEO of Germanys Siemens Energy Christian Bruch and Managing Director at Siemens Energy in Egypt Emad Ghaly.



The premier welcomed Siemens Energys delegation, hailing the companys distinguished relations with the Egyptian side as well as the long history of partnerships between them in various fields.



Madbouly said that an agreement signed Tuesday with Siemens Energy will give a strong push to the close cooperation between both sides, adding that Green Hydrogen represents the future of energy.



The prime minister said Egypt has a plan for developing the Green Hydrogen industry which comes in conjunction with the programs being implemented by the European Union (EU) in this regard, expressing his keenness on translating the agreement into real projects as soon as possible.



Meanwhile, the Siemens Energy chief said the partnership between both sides succeeded in achieving bold changes in the energy sectors infrastructure, asserting the great importance that his company attaches to the ongoing partnership with Egypt in the Green Hydrogen area.



He also lauded serious steps taken by the Egyptian government to promote the Green Hydrogen industry, which he said represents the focus of attention of the entire world.

Following the meeting, the premier and the electricity minister attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company and Germany's Siemens Energy.



Cabinet Spokesman Nader Saad said the MoU comes as part of efforts to implement the states strategy to expand in the green energy fields as well as increasing the share of the renewable energy in the energy mix.



The electricity minister said the MoU came after signing a letter of intent between both sides on launching consultations and negotiations on implementing a project for generating Green Hydrogen from renewable electric power with a capacity of 100 MW or more using EPC + Finance system.

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As part of Egypts strategy to engage further with the African states, especially those in the east of the continent and around the Nile Basin, Cairo unrolled the red carpet for Prime Minister of Somalia Mohamed Hussein Roble during a visit to Egypt this week.

Roble was in town for a three-day visit and was received by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli who held two rounds of talks, one attended by both prime ministers and one also attended by Egypts ministers of foreign affairs, education and health and their visiting Somali counterparts.

Robles visit is the third by a high-ranking Somali official to Cairo in a year, with previous visits having included one by the Somali foreign minister.

During his visit, Roble was received by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb. Al-Azhar operates a prominent institute in Mogadishu and offers scholarships to Somali students.

Education has always been one of the most prominent areas of cooperation between our two countries. For decades, Egypt, through the national education system and through Al-Azhar, has provided educational support to Somalia, Mohamed Nasr, the Egyptian Ambassador in Mogadishu, said.

He added that this support had always been highly appreciated by the Somali people, who thought fondly of Egypt as an education destination.

Actually many prominent Somali figures received their education in Egyptian schools in Somalia, or by Egyptian teachers, or even went to Egyptian universities, Nasr said.

Roble himself studied for a few years in Egypt, and one of the things that was agreed during his talks in Cairo was to boost educational cooperation between the two countries, Nasr said.

In the years prior to the outbreak of over a decade-long civil conflict in Somalia in the early 1990s, Egypt had run a school in almost every region of the country. In Mogadishu, it ran a prominent school that carried the name of former president Gamal Abdel-Nasser, whose memory is cherished on the continent 50 years after his death.

In the 1990s, Egypt tried to put an end to the devastating civil conflict and hosted several rounds of political dialogue in pursuit of reconciliation. However, with so many political developments around the Middle East, Cairo got a lot more focused on the Arab problems, while Somalia was falling into disrepair.

With the end of the conflict in Somalia, Egypt tried to pick up the pieces of its educational presence in this important country in the Horn of Africa. Starting in 2015, Egypt has been systematically working on consolidating its relations with Somalia, Nasr said.

Robles visit, he added, was designed to underline the commitment of both sides to working together towards stronger ties. I think part of what makes our relations so important is that they never overshadowed the many other issues that we are both interested in, Nasr said.

Robles visit comes a few months ahead of the national elections that are scheduled tentatively for October this year in Somalia. The elections, earlier announced by Roble, are meant to spare the country from the possible political crisis that has been in the making since Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo attempted to delay these elections for two years.

The attempt stirred political unrest, and Roble stepped in to offer a political compromise through the elections. He has since been at the head of the process leading to the elections.

Nasr said that Egypt was not planning to get involved in internal Somali affairs. What Egypt was keen on was boosting development in Somalia and aiding in political coordination, he added.

According to Amira Abdel-Halim, lead researcher on the Horn of Africa at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, in the final analysis the outcome of these elections is important for Egypt in the sense that anything that influences the stability of Somalia is important for Egypt.

For Egypt, the Horn of Africa is a national security concern, especially vis-a-vis the Red Sea. It is also close to the Nile Basin.

These have always been two strategic areas of concern for Egypt, Abdel-Halim said, adding that the Red Sea is a very important region for Egypt, and it has become highly militarised with many foreign countries building military or logistics bases in the countries of the Horn of Africa.

In addition to Turkey  that has become during the past two decades a key player in this region and other parts of Africa including the equally crucial Sahel and Sahara zone  other foreign countries that have some sort of presence in the Horn of Africa include, Italy, US, France, Russia, China and the United Arab Emirates.

Egypt, government officials say, is not planning to press its interests in the region at the expense of members of the region, but it cannot look the other way when foreign powers, including Arab and non-Arab states, are expanding their presence.

For example, Qatar, for several years a political foe of Egypt and both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, who have had alliances with Egypt, acted during the past decade to expand in the region, Abdel-Halim said.

Egypt, she added, has been legitimately trying to balance this situation to make sure that its strategic interests around the Red Sea and in the Nile Basin are not compromised. This reach-out, she noted, has been trying to cover all the countries of this region at the highest level possible.

She added that winning Somalia over is crucial both for the security of the Red Sea and also in view of the current conflict with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) was also important for Egypt.

Ethiopia has often tried to undermine Somalia, she said, adding that this had been either through military interventions or political maneuvering.

According to Abdel-Halim, Ethiopia was largely to blame for the radicalisation of the Al-Shabab movement in Somalia. Originally Al-Shabab was stimulated to resist Ethiopias military and political presence in Somalia and along the road the movement got radicalised, she said.

Today, Abdel-Halim argued, helping Somalia stand on its own two feet is crucial to helping it face up to the attempts of foreign countries to intervene in its affairs, Ethiopia or any other country.

Sparing Somalia from the conflicting agendas of other countries is a crucial first step for stability since the country has suffered a lot due to repeated interventions from countries in and out of the region, she said.

I think there is an understanding in Somalia, both at the official and public levels, that Egypt is not trying to take control of the political will of Somalis, Abdel-Halim said. Still, she added, it is also understood and accepted that Egypt has some crucial interests that it would wish Somalia to accommodate, including those related to Red Sea security and the GERD conflict.

According to Nasr, coordination and consultations between the two countries will continue, covering all aspects of bilateral and regional issues.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 August, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The Africa Singapore Business Forum (ASBF), a platform for business exchange and boosting trade between Africa and Asia, kicked off on Monday for its sixth edition and is scheduled to conclude on 27 August.

Organised by Enterprise Singapore, a Singapore government agency dedicated to business growth, the forum gathers over 2,000 business and government leaders from 30 countries to explore partnerships and growth opportunities among countries on the two continents, particularly amid the ongoing challenges imposed by Covid-19.

The 2021 edition of ASBF identifies opportunities in key sectors, including digital technology, financing, innovation, manufacturing, sustainability and urban solutions, Sugumaran Devaraja, regional director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region at Enterprise Singapore told Al-Ahram Weekly.

Devaraja said Singapore was committed to working with African companies to develop the post-Covid-19 economy. Noting the resilience of Africa in the face of the pandemic, Devaraja said that this was an unprecedented crisis that had impacted all countries around the world, but that the African economies had shown particular resilience in managing it.

The pandemic had thrown curveballs at the various responses of governments, but they had learnt to adapt and evolve their responses depending on their needs, he added.

Africa is a diverse region characterised by different cultures, languages, and stages of development, but Devaraja said that despite this diversity the African countries had been quick to set up the Africa Task Force for the coronavirus in the early stages of the pandemic to coordinate responses across the continent.

Volunteers had come together to produce an open-source Africa Covid-19 Response Toolkit that allowed any government or public entity to develop further tools to respond to the pandemic, Devaraja explained.

Africans are known for their ingenuity and resilience, he added.

He noted that when supply chains had been impacted and lockdowns had become inevitable, African businesses and startups had stepped up, some pivoted to medical supply manufacturing. Startups had created new applications to track crowds and supplies and robots and drones had been used to minimise direct human interactions.

Digital solutions and technology have been one of the bright spots for Africas development, driven by the mobile revolution, Devaraja said, stressing that this was one area Africa could count on in the recovery trajectory.

The Africa region accounts for over 60 per cent of the global transaction value of mobile money in 2021, despite being home to only 16 per cent of the world population, he said.

This interest in new banking practices was particularly true for Egypt, where the surge in fintech investment and digital banking growth were paving the way to new recovery paths for the country.

The pandemic only expedited the spread of technology across the region and encouraged many African governments to reduce barriers to signing up, he said. Singapore companies have recognised this opportunity and are forging partnerships in healthtech, edtech and fintech in various African markets, he added.

According to Devaraja, initiatives such as Boost Africa launched by the African Development Bank and the European Investment Bank aim to harness the regions potential and spur entrepreneurship and innovation across Africa.

Meanwhile, the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will also play a role in this regard. AfCFTA has created the largest free-trade area in the world, based on the over 50 African countries that it brings together under its umbrella, with a combined GDP of $3 trillion.

AfCFTA will connect 1.2 billion African consumers in a single market and will reduce trade costs and enable Africa to integrate further into global supply chains, Devaraja noted. This brings tremendous opportunities for companies to diversify their trade and investment mix. Distribution networks will be enhanced, and opportunities in manufacturing, consumer and lifestyle goods, transport and logistics and real estate are set to grow significantly. All these things add to the attractiveness of the region, he said.

In Egypt, Devaraja said that the countrys light-manufacturing and garment sectors were expected to benefit from the AfCFTA agreement coming into effect, providing a bigger market for Egyptian manufactured goods. However, the easing of logistics bottlenecks and red tape was key to these materialising, he added.

Singapore companies interest in Egypt is due to the countrys growth potential driven by its population size and strategic location, he said.

To facilitate more partnerships between companies from both countries, Enterprise Singapore will continue to engage Egyptian companies in order to understand their problems and match them with Singapore companies with the right solutions that can meet their needs, Devaraja said.

He said that Singapore companies were exploring investment opportunities in the Suez Canal Economic Zone due to its strategic position, adding that Singapore ports and logistics firms were interested in having a presence there. Singapore food-processing companies were benefiting from Egypts location to manufacture for African countries, he added.

We also see opportunities in the infrastructure, hospitality, and digital transformation sectors and greater cooperation in partnerships between Singapore companies and larger Egyptian companies, connecting the technology and innovation ecosystems of both countries to promote Singapore as a destination for Egyptian businesses to set up a presence as a gateway to Asia and for their innovation and research and development (R&D) needs, he said.

More trade activity and business visits will resume once the Covid-19 pandemic reduces, he stated.

Assessing Egypts policies to alleviate the impacts of the pandemic on its economic and business scene as an emerging market, Devaraja said that Covid-19 had hit just as the reforms of the previous years had been set to begin paying off, with consumer demand rising and salaries catching up to their pre-currency-flotation levels.

Thanks to the improved fiscal position of the country and the steps taken to increase regulatory efficiency, financial inclusion, and digitalisation, Egypt was well placed to take the measures necessary to respond effectively to the pandemic with a coordinated response by the government and the private sector, he said.

Like the UAE, the Egyptian government had sought to strike a balance between mitigating the spread of the virus and allowing the economy sufficient operating room to sustain the livelihoods of workers and employees, he noted.

Singapore companies operating in Egypt across different sectors had said that the economy had been resilient despite the pandemic and had thanked the Egyptian leadership for steering the economy through earlier dark days, he concluded.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 August, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The US and Pakistani media reported that the Taliban reached out to former Afghan president Hamid Karzai and Russia this week in an attempt to fulfil their pledge to form an inclusive government and defeat holdouts against their rule in Afghanistan.



However, many local, regional and international parties involved in Afghanistan have little confidence in such pledges, noting that little in the Talibans history suggests a readiness to compromise on their extremist Islamist principles or to share power.



Karzai, 63, has stepped into the void left by the flight a week ago of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. He has met with Taliban leaders, including Khalil Hakkani, designated as a terrorist by the United States, and is working closely with Abdullah Abdullah, head of the former Afghans governments peace delegation, and Galbueddine Hekmatyar, a former Afghan warlord with close ties to Pakistan who served as prime minister in the 1990s.



Karzai, Abdullah and Hekmatyar have announced the formation of a transition council whose mandate remains ambiguous.



A Taliban leader described as the acting governor of Kabul, Mullah Abdul-Rahman Mansour, talked over the weekend with Karzai and Abdullah. A growing number of senior Taliban have also been seen in Kabul in recent days to discuss the shape of the next government, among them Mullah Abdul-Ghani Baradar, the Talibans chief diplomat and a senior official in the groups government in the 1990s.



Baradar languished for eight years in a Pakistani jail and led Taliban talks with US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad in Doha, Qatar, following his release in 2018. He brokered the withdrawal of US troops agreement with former US president Donald Trump in late 2020 and received a heros welcome upon his arrival in Kabul early this week.



Many are watching him closely to see how the Taliban will rule the country in its current iteration, compared to the systemic oppression that defined Afghan society under their past reign between 1996 and 2001. When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, it was a highly secretive regime, and the country was governed by strict laws.



During the talks in the capital on Saturday, Baradar had meetings with militant commanders and individuals who were part of the ousted government under former president Ghani. According to a Taliban official, the government talks will continue for several weeks, and then different groups will tackle the countrys security and financial issues.



When the Taliban took control of Kabul earlier this week, they touted themselves as moderate and said that they would build an inclusive, Islamic government. However, the groups first week of power has been marked by intimidation and reprisals, as reports have come out revealing that Taliban fighters have gone door-to-door in search of those who worked with the US and that they killed the relative of a Deutsche Welle journalist in the country.



The chilling images of despair at Kabul Airport that have emerged from the country show thousands of Afghans seeking to leave the country for good, as they fear for their lives under the Taliban regime. Many said they could not trust the sudden professed moderation of the Taliban, whose oppression of women and brutality have been hallmarks of their rule.



A deputy within the Talibans cultural affairs committee, Ahmadullah Wasek, said on Saturday that although Taliban officials were mostly talking among themselves to prepare for more formal negotiations, we will talk with other parties to form an inclusive government acceptable to all Afghans.



A week after the Taliban overran the country and the two-decade American attempt to shape a democratic Afghanistan collapsed, there was no sign of any cabinet taking form. Chaos still engulfed the nations capital in a fiasco whose political fallout US President Joe Biden is struggling to contain.



Still, resistance remains among Afghan leaders who have taken refuge in the Panjshir Valley, a rugged gorge where Afghan fighters resisted the Taliban for years during Afghanistans Civil War in the 1990s.



Former Afghan officials put the number of fighters holed up today in the Panjshir at 2,000 to 2,500 men, but they are isolated and lack logistical support. The Panjshiris, led by Ahmed, the son of historic Afghan Tajik leader Shah Massoud, have said they intend to resist a takeover of the valley unless the Taliban agree to an inclusive government.



Pakistani political analyst Tarek Farhadi told the Pakistani news Website Tolo News that the Taliban were likely to take around 10 days to form a new government, as there are issues concerning the inclusion of women and representatives of all Afghan ethnicities.



If they continue with their monopolisation of power like Ashraf Ghani and distribute it to certain provinces only without respecting other provinces and to their people alone, there could be a possibility of a civil war, warned another political analyst, Farhad Akbari.



Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Qureshi, also visited Kabul this week and met with Taliban leaders. Qureshis visit assumes significance at a time when Pakistan is willing to play its part in forming a new government in Afghanistan with the Taliban and local politicians.



A senior Taliban leader said last week, however, that there would be no democratic system in Afghanistan because it does not have any base in the country, while highlighting that the new regime would impose Islamic Sharia Law.



James Schwemlein, a non-resident scholar in the South Asia Programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said the Taliban appear to be implementing a deliberate plan in these early days to renovate their international reputation and offer reassurance to Afghan groups.



Images of Taliban officials encouraging female doctors and nurses to continue working in hospitals, meeting with Kabuls small Sikh community, and attending Muharram services with Kabuls Hazara Shia minority are all part of these efforts, he said.



There is too much history to take these measures at face value, but assuming they are all deception will effectively guarantee a bad result. If policy makers treat the Taliban as a pariah, they will almost certainly become a pariah; if policy makers engage with the Taliban and encourage them to be a more responsible government this time, they might well still turn into a pariah, but there is a chance for a better outcome for US interests and for the Afghan people, Schwemlein suggested.



The key fear for many Afghanis right now is whether the deceivingly non-violent entry of the Taliban into Kabul indicated that they would be able to maintain the peace, or will civil war break out as soon as US, British and other troops leave the country over the next three to four days, Schwemlein asked.



Rudra Chaudhuri, director of Carnegie India, wrote that the Taliban in Doha want legitimacy. That is clear. At this time, it might be the only effective card left for US and other negotiators, as their governments focus on the evacuation from Kabul. After this evacuation happens over the next few weeks, and after Baradar claims the government, the desire for legitimacy is less likely to matter.



The promise of financial assistance, another card that can be traded, is not held by the United States alone. China and Russia are well placed to support Baradars group. They have kept their embassies open in Kabul and are unlikely to support any opposition to the Taliban, at least for the time being.



Chaudhuri noted that troops and diplomats from the United States, the UK and other countries will leave Afghanistan. Meanwhile, over-zealous Taliban political leaders (who have long waited in Doha, Quetta and elsewhere) and military commanders are taking over the country. There is little to suggest that the inclusive government that Taliban leaders emphasise is anything more than rhetoric, carefully designed to present an exclusive, perhaps ever-so-slightly more modern, Islamic Emirate.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 August, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The Taliban of today are not very different from the Taliban of the 1990s. They might act differently for now, but I think in gradual terms we will be seeing a replay of Taliban rule in Afghanistan as it unfolded in the 1990s, commented Ahmed Kamel Al-Beheiri, a researcher on Islamist movements at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo.Beheiri had been following the statements made by the leaders of the Taliban since their 15 August takeover of Kabul, or rather their retaking of the capital of Afghanistan, since they had also ruled the country from the mid-1990s until the US-led invasion in 2001 in response to the 9/11 attacks blamed on the Afghanistan-based Al-Qaeda group.Some analysts have argued that the Taliban have evolved from being a largely impulsive group of angry, radicalised and armed young men into a genuinely political movement that could make intelligent compromises even if it still relies on arms.But Beheiri rejected this argument. There is no backing for this argument. The ideological base of the Taliban was established early on and remains very much the same. More importantly, the statements of the leaders of the Taliban over the past few days cannot be said to have the support of the grassroots of the movement, he said.It was in the early 1990s that the Taliban came to life. They were essentially a group of students of the Sharia [religious law] that decided around 1994 to act against the communists represented by the rulers of Afghanistan at the time that enjoyed the backing of Moscow, he said.

This predominantly Pashtun movement, whose fighters today are estimated to stand at over 60,000, took part in the war against the decade-long Soviet occupation of Afghanistan after 1979. In 1996, it was the Taliban, literally meaning students, that put an end to the civil war among the different groups that had fought against the Soviet occupation of their country.They relied upon direct US support and upon a radical Islamist ideology that they had learned in Saudi-funded teaching centres in neighbouring Pakistan.Beheiri is quick to note that while the Taliban is at heart a Salafi group, this does not fully describe its ideology. I think it is very important when trying to understand what we are faced with today to be aware of various nuances. The worst mistake is to lump everything in together, because while I agree that all groups that carry arms against their own fellow citizens could be qualified as terror groups, things are not black and white, he said.The Taliban, he explained, are Salafi, but they ultimately follow the school of Abu Hanifa Al-Noaman, an 8th-century theologian whose thought has long dominated some Muslim communities in Asia. There is also part of the group with some Sufi affiliations, compatible with the fact that the Abu Hanifa school is less radical in some aspects than other schools adopted by Middle East-based radical Islamist movements.In this sense, they are different from other groups like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) group, as they are different in their ideology and consequently in their choices, Beheiri said.The Taliban could be a lot more radical than other Islamist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood in the Arab world. The Taliban dont think the Muslim Brotherhood apply the Sharia correctly, and they blame them for pursuing electoral choices in some contexts, he explained.As a result, while the Taliban have hosted and will likely continue to host Al-Qaeda, because the leaders of the Taliban offered Al-Qaeda a commitment they cannot break because in the Hanifa school this would be a major wrong, they will not carry out military attacks against US targets unless forced to retaliate to an attack initiated by the Americans.There was never any evidence that the Taliban were involved in the 9/11 attacks, Beheiri added.

Meanwhile, the Taliban will not apply a democratic political process in Afghanistan because that for them would be contradictory with the cause of applying the Sharia.



If one were to examine the intellectual base of the Taliban and compare it to that of some of the other militant movements, one would find many differences, Beheiri said.



These intellectual differences prompt conflicts on the ground, and IS has been executing military operations against the Taliban. IS has conducted 86 operations against the Taliban over the past three months, the last six after the Taliban takeover of Kabul on 15 August, he said.



These operations have killed and wounded fighters for the Taliban.



Moreover, Pakistan did not only help in the training and operations of the Taliban as part of the alliance with Washington against Moscow. It also needed the Taliban to put pressure on India.



It is important to note that back in 1996 it was only Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that recognised the rule of the Taliban over Afghanistan, Beheiri said.



And while the political agenda of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi might have changed, this is not the case for Islamabad.



Pakistan is not the only regional player that could tolerate Taliban rule in Afghanistan in favour of political gains. This, along with the decision of the US to leave Afghanistan to its fate, could mean the Taliban being enabled to rule for many years to come.



In 2018, the US Trump administration started peace talks with the Taliban in Doha. In early 2020, a peace agreement was signed with the Taliban, paving the way for the full withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. The Biden administration delayed the withdrawal for around three months but then executed it in a chaotic way.



Beheiri is of the opinion that the US has not just exited Afghanistan, but has left it behind. This means that the US will not worry about how the Taliban end up ruling Afghanistan. Nor, he added, will countries that wish to entertain the political favour of the Taliban, like China and Russia.



This means that in a few months the Taliban leaders will likely have to succumb to their radical base and apply a system of rule out of the middle ages. All the statements that the leaders of the Taliban have been making about pursuing participatory rule and including women are political propaganda that will not last for long, Beheiri said.



We saw the writing on the wall when the Taliban fighters were prompt to cover pictures of unveiled and even in some cases veiled women on the walls of buildings or the facades of stores, and this is but one sign of their intentions, he said.



Beheiri said that the leadership of the Taliban is not likely to come under any real pressure from the international community to refrain from its radical style of ruling, and nor would it put any pressure on the base of the movement to be less radical.



Any compromises that the Taliban will likely make will mostly be on the foreign policy front rather than in its internal rule. It is easy to expect some political deals with Pakistan, China and Russia, he said.



However, Beheiri agreed that it would be wrong to assume that the rule of Taliban will be uncontested. Iran, he argued, is a possible candidate to contest the Taliban.



Already, some voices in Iran have been talking about forces on the border with Afghanistan, and there have been signs that Iran is moving some of its militias out of Syria, where they have been stationed for combat purposes, to put them on the borders with Afghanistan, he said.



Some Arab Gulf countries, who have shifted positions on the radical Islamist groups, could also act against the Taliban. The United Arab Emirates has offered refuge to Ashraf Ghani, the former president of Afghanistan, who fled from Kabul before the Taliban takeover.



There are already militant Afghan groups that have started to speak of militarily resisting the rule of the Taliban. Beheiri commented that these groups are not without regional backing, both political and financial.



Meanwhile, there are countries in the region, including potentially Qatar and Turkey, that might wish to give the Taliban a chance as part of wider support for radical Islamist ideology.



Things will likely descend into a tug of war, he said, and it is possibly more a question of when than of if Afghanistan will again enter a period of civil war.



It is true that the Taliban of today is not just Pashtun, and it is true that the leaders of the Taliban have successfully managed to integrate members of other components of the Afghan nation, but we cannot expect, for example, that the Northern Alliance [which resisted the Taliban in the 1990s] will just keep silent, Beheiri said.



The scope of any civil war will not depend only on the wishes and capacities of the Afghan players, however, Beheiri said. It will also depend on the wishes and capacities of foreign powers to reach out to the Talibans opponents inside Afghanistan.



It is very hard to think of a good scenario for Afghanistan, because even if the Taliban are able to avert a civil war, or at least a large-scale civil war, it is hard to think that they will really abandon their radical style of rule that will make the lives of many Afghans very difficult, Beheiri concluded.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 August, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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This September a national dialogue commences in Ethiopia to address grievances that have destabilised the country in the past few years, though no details are forthcoming as yet about the roadmap or agenda.



The civil war in Tigray has taken over the countrys political scene since its outbreak last November, the northern part of the country becoming a battlefield with thousands dead and thousand others facing famine, turning Ethiopia a source of instability in the volatile Horn of Africa.



Despite sanctions imposed by the US in response to alarming reports on the dire humanitarian situation in the region, the Ethiopian government still refuses to sit down for any peace talks with the Tigray forces (TPLF), which Addis Ababa declared a terrorist group earlier this year.



It is still not clear whether the national dialogue will include Tigrayans but it is widely believed that the issue will be at the top of the agenda. One Europe-based political scientist who has closely followed the war, feels there are conditions under which the Tigrayans might participate if invited.



The planned national dialogue is dead on arrival as it disregards the key actor, the European A Tigrayan professor at Umea University, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Al-Ahram Weekly.

The TPLF having been labelled a terrorist organisation and the governments repeated statements that there will be no dialogue with a terrorist organisation makes process disingenuous, if not impractical. If the dialogue is with representatives of Tigray hand-picked by Abiy Ahmed and not with the legitimately elected leaders of the people of Tigray, that would be another ploy meant for media consumption, he added.

For a genuine national dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the war, Abiy Ahmed must respect the constitution and agree to return to the situation as it existed before the war. Invading forces must leave all of Tigray. Most importantly, the president must show willingness to peacefully resolve the conflict by doing the bare minimum: lifting the blockade, resuming basic services and facilitating access to humanitarian assistance. If such conditions are met, I dont see why the TPLF wont engage in dialogue and work towards a peaceful resolution of the war.



For his part Mulu Beyene, a Tigrayan lawyer pursuing a PhD at the University of Bergen, Norway, feels it is farcical to exclude the warring parties in the Tigray and Oromo regions if the Ethiopian regime is going to undertake a national dialogue.



The dialogue recently announced is not even close to addressing the critical challenges the country faces, he told the Weekly. All indications show that the regime intends to talk with like-minded parties and personalities. That is, the regime assumes it will win the many-sided wars and then talk with parties that supported it in post-war Ethiopia. This is simply farcical. I believe a meaningful start would have been to sit with, at least, the Tigrayan and Oromian fighting forces in order to end active hostilities. A negotiated settlement is the way forward. That is, if the TDF and OLA are willing to sit and talk with a genocidal regime.



Beyene believes that Addis Ababa has no appetite for negotiations with Tigray. The rhetoric and practice are all for war. He confirmed that the regime realises that no settlement can be reached that will not ensure full accountability for crimes committed in the course of the war.



This could mean a total regime change, according to Beyene. As the fighting has now extended beyond Tigray into neighbouring regions, Abiys government summoned capable citizens to fight earlier this month, urging them to join the countrys military, which signalled what can be a military depletion in the numbers of the Ethiopian forces. The move also reveals that Ethiopias 110 million people are being dragged into a conflict that Abiy Ahmed, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, once said would end within weeks.



By the initiative of the national dialogue, Abiy Ahmed is obviously buying time; he is regrouping and attempting to recover from recent military losses and the growing unrest in the country, according to Hafsa Mohamed, an executive director at Maandeeq Womens Organisation (MWO), based in Ethiopia.



The Ethiopian government cannot adequately respond to a crisis which the majority of the public believe the government created. That does not make any sense. National dialogue does not equal a ceasefire, nor does it result in the immediate end to humanitarian blockades.

Also, if Abiy Ahmed was genuine about ending the Tigray genocide, he would not preschedule or plan a dialogue a month into the future, he would call for a dialogue right this minute. Mohamed highlighted the fact that communities across the country and in the diaspora are beginning to side with the Tigray Defence Forces (TDF) and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) as the only two entities currently fighting to save the constitution and multinational federalism.



Abiy Ahmed cannot overcome the crisis he and the Prosperity Party (PP) produced, she said; they can only be consumed by it. It is only a matter of time.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 August, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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This was a week from hell! Every which way you turned, human beings were crying, suffering, dying, from natural or man-made disasters.

An earthquake in Haiti, anti-lockdown demonstrations in Australia, shootings in Mexico, blowing mines in Columbia, and above all the havoc in Afghanistan.



The return of the Taliban to Kabul to form a new government was more than pitiful.



After 20 years of US military presence, following the 9/11 terrorist attack on New Yorks Twin Towers, the terrorists took a back seat. The US military, sacrificed many American lives as they fought to keep the merciless Taliban terrorists at bay. By supporting, aiding and protecting a legitimate Afghan government, some form of neutrality was established.



Suddenly they shocked the world by announcing their immediate departure.



Former British prime minister Tony Blair put it best when he said: It was tragic and unnecessary.



This sudden pullout was a rash decision sending shivers up your spine. It was un-planned, under-cooked, and unwise. Where was the strategic outline of such a move? Should it not have taken weeks or months to remove American and other foreign diplomats, military personnel, equipment, residents and Afghan allies, before announcing their careless, premature abandonment.



Indeed, it would have happened sooner or later, with cool caution, discretion and precision.but what was the purpose of their presence to begin with? Was it not to put an end to the terrorist rule of the Taliban? Now they are spreading out the red carpet for their return with little regard for the people of Afghanistan, the women, the US allies  as though those past 20 years were for naught, except for the loss of lives, money, valuable intricate equipment left in the hands of the enemy. Need we go on with the list of damages caused by an act of stupidity, we do not know what else to call it.



The whole area is now at risk. Pakistan and India at the border of Afghanistan own nuclear weapons. An obviously weakened US urges China to exercise more control over Taiwan as well as Afghanistan. Now South Korea also wants the US military out- the whole geography of the area is sure to change. The US president is either unaware or uninformed, to say the least.



Did you know that the US military is present in 150 countries? They are everywhere Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and especially the Middle East. We see no legitimate reason why, is it to aid, to protect or to support? Can anyone trust their commitments after the vivid pictures of flight from Kabul, with roads blocked to the airports by the Taliban.



The grim images on our screens as families rush to safety, mothers dropping their babies to Americans, who, as of this writing, are still trapped, awaiting help from the US, breaks our hearts in a million pieces.



It is a deja vu of what happened in Saigon as the defeated Americans fled the city in disarray, hanging on the wings of flying airplanes.



Does history repeat itself? If not, it certainly rhymes said Mark Twain.



A new dawn had been breaking in this ancient country, over 100,000 years old. A land of great mountains, scorching deserts, fertile valleys and rolling plains. Located is southwestern Asia, it is bordered by Russia on the north, China on the far northeast, Pakistan on the east and south and Iran on the west.and no seacoast. Suddenly darkness and hungry neighbours.



No wonder at one time or another invaders have ravaged the country, rich in oil, copper, gold, natural gas, uranium, coal, iron ore, chromium, lead, sulfur and more  giant assets still to be developed. China has a 30-year lease for the largest copper project  no surprise there.



Its long and troubled history of tribal wars has encouraged invaders from early days  among them Greeks, Persians, Mongols and in modern times interference from Great Britain, Russia. Their guerilla war tactics helped overcome invaders. No wonder the country has earned the title of the graveyard of foreigners.



With 99 per cent Muslims, their form of Islam is like no other. The Taliban claim they follow Sharia Law (Islamic rule), but their interpretation is far stricter than any other to the extent that they justify the killing of fellow Muslims of the Shafei sect, a sect accepted by the holy prophet and Islamic law.



Is man a child of peace or a creature of war? While he seemingly embraces peace, he continuously finds a necessity to exercise those primal instinct he shares with his cousins in the animal kingdom. Yet he alone reserves the distinction of being the only animal to kill his own people.



Many of our baser instincts such as prejudice, intolerance and violence remain etched in our brains despite our sophistication in all matters technical, philosophical or lyrical.



The Taliban and other terrorists have proven that.



In 2001, the remarkable Iranian Film Director Mohsen Makhmabaf presented his masterpiece Kandahar, second city in Afghanistan, where the Taliban took refuge after the US wars: I shall call it the land of no pictures, he said. With no paintings, no music, a library burned to the ground and women hidden under burqas, useful only for mans needs, whipped regularly, mercilesslyI shall write a book about it.



Is this the legacy the US is leaving after 20 years of occupation  a shameful, abrupt departure?



US allies, in 150 countries must be restless or sleepless nowadays.





An open foe may be a curse. But a pretended friend is worse.



John Gay (1685-1732).

*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 August, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Historic Cairo, with its famous mosques, madrassas (schools), sabil-kuttab (water fountains and Quranic schools), hammams (bathhouses) and wekalas (trade centres), is one of the oldest mediaeval cities in the world. Since 1979, it has figured on UN cultural agency UNESCOs World Heritage List.



In 2016, a national campaign was launched by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to restore 100 monuments in the area. It aims at rescuing the monuments not only for their historical and archaeological value, but also to restore their role in the community through halting deterioration, removing debris, and upgrading the sites and their surroundings.



It also develops the skills of workers in the field of restoration through direct participation in such work, as well as providing investment opportunities to rehabilitate the ancient buildings. A permanent maintenance programme will be adopted after the completion of the campaign.



Early this week, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enany embarked on a tour of the Al-Hattaba district and Souq Al-Selah Street in Historic Cairo to inspect projects within the governments development plans to preserve and revive the district.



The visit included the sabil (water fountain) of Al-Amir Shaykhu in the Al-Hattaba area along with sabils of Roqaya Dodo, Mustafa Sinan, and Hassan Agha Kokliyan and the portal of the Hammam Bashtak in Souq Al-Selah Street.



Tucked right behind the Salaheddin Citadel, the Al-Hattaba district with its distinguished mediaeval monuments bears witness to an influential segment of Egypts history. The sabil of Al-Amir Shaykhu was a water dispensary for animals during the Mamluke era, and it has now been restored to its original glory.



It is one of a kind, Osama Talaat, head of the Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), told Al-Ahram Weekly. He explained that the sabil was set into the rocky hill on which the Salaheddin Citadel and has an architectural design unlike other sabils in Egypt.



It stands alone without being attached to a mosque or a madrassa or any religious or civil edifices, he said.



The restoration work included the cleaning of the facade, the inscriptions, and the decorations, Talaat said. All encroachments on site were removed and an iron fence was erected to protect it. The sabil was built by Al-Amir Shaykhu al-Omari al-Nasiri in the year 775 AH / 1354 CE. He was a prince who reached a high position during the reign of the Mameluke sultan Al-Muzaffar Haji Ibn al-Nasser Muhammad.



A few km from the Al-Hattaba district, El-Enany headed towards Souq Al-Selah Street, the ancient armoury market that is believed to have been the main source of arms in Cairo during the mediaeval era.



The street teems with many Islamic monuments, including Prince Bashtaks Hammam (bathhouse), where brides used to be scrubbed and adorned before their wedding ceremonies. There is also the Agha Kokliyan sabil and the Al-Tanbugha Al-Mardani Mosque, both considered treasures of the street because of their exceptional ornamentation, and the sabils of Mustafa Sinan and Roqaya Dodo.



There are other significant monuments on the street that have been recently restored.



During his tour, El-Enany met with the areas inhabitants and shop owners and talked about the governments development projects in Historic Cairo. He visited an old house that has been rehabilitated as a venue for workshops to raise cultural awareness among the areas inhabitants as well as the Al-Tanbugha Al-Mardani Mosque and prayer hall that will be officially reopened soon.



He also inspected the Fustat excavation site  the first Islamic capital in Africa  to check on progress in transforming the area into an open-air museum that will add to tourist experiences in Historic Cairo.



Hisham Samir, assistant to the minister for projects and supervisor of the Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Project, said that the monuments visited by the minister had been undergoing restoration for almost two years. This had been carried out according to the latest methods and after consulting original documents.



Every effort was made to ensure that all the original architectural features were retained, Samir said, adding that the restoration had been part of plans to see individual monuments preserved for future generations and neighbourhoods revived and upgraded.



The walls of the buildings were reinforced, the masonry cleaned and desalinated, and decayed parts of the mashrabiya windows restored and replaced with similar ones. The wooden ceilings were restored and paintings retouched. New lighting systems were installed, giving the buildings a dramatic look.







Portal of the Bashtak Hammam: The portal of the Amir Bashtak Hammam is the only surviving remnant of the original Mamluke bath.



Now located about one-and-a-half metres below ground level, the portal has a ribbed keel arch inlaid with black-and-white marble strapwork, and a dated inscription. The interior was modified during the Ottoman period, but it still retains many typical elements of bathhouse design.



It may have originally been a double bath for men and women, but only one half survives, providing bathing facilities for people of the lower and middle classes who lived nearby.







Mosque of Al-Tanbugha al-Mardani: This was built in the style of the congregational mosques of the time and has a court surrounded by four aisles. The deepest and largest of the aisles is the one in the direction of prayer.



In the centre of the nave there is an octagonal fountain covered with marble. The facade of the northern aisle is covered with beautiful marble inscribed with the date of construction. The rest of the prayer-direction wall is covered with a fine marble dado, or panel, inlaid with mother of pearl. The mosque has three entrances and a dome supported by eight granite pillars.



Hassan Agha Kokliyan Sabil-Kuttab: The sabil-kuttab of Hassan Agha Kokliyan lies at the corner of Souq Al-Selah Street. The nobleman Hassan Agha Kokliyan established the sabil during the early Ottoman period. It has a beautifully coloured lunette.







Mustafa Sinan Sabil: The sabil of Mustafa Sinan was founded by its owner in 1630 CE and is the only remaining part of a complex that was once including a kuttab, or elementary school.



The sabil has a unique style of decoration mixing Ottoman and Mamluke styles, as well as marvelous geometric patterns and arabesque works over its windows and panels of handsome ornate marble and harmoniously painted tiles







Roqaya Dodo Sabil: This is among the most opulent 18th-century edifices still standing in Historic Cairo and is a rare example of Rococo-influenced Ottoman-period architecture in Cairo.



It was built in 1761 by Badawiya Shahine as an act of charity in memory of her daughter Roqaya Dodo. The interior has a painted wooden ceiling bearing numerous inscriptions, while its exterior facade is decorated with ceramic tiles, a wooden canopy, segmented arches, and stalactites (muqarnas), as well as rich geometrical and floral ornamentation engraved in stone.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 August, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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In a statement the U.N. health agency said the new scientific group would provide the WHO with an independent analysis of the work done to date to pinpoint the origins of COVID-19 and to advise the agency on necessary next steps. The experts will also provide guidance on critical issues regarding the potential emergence of other viruses capable of triggering outbreaks, such as MERS and Ebola.

The WHO said its seeking up to 25 officials with relevant expertise to apply for membership in its new scientific advisory group by September 10.

In March, a WHO-led team of international experts issued a preliminary report that deemed it extremely unlikely  that the origins of COVID-19 were linked to a laboratory. Although scientists think its most probable that the virus jumped to humans from animals, the theory that a laboratory was involved has gained traction in recent months, with an intelligence review ordered by U.S. President Joe Biden to examine the possibility.

Critics have slammed the WHOs initial assessment, saying it was a flawed effort and noting that all of the team members sent to China needed Chinese government approval, as did the WHO report.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged last month it was  premature  to rule out the lab leak theory, describing lab accidents as common.

In a Danish documentary released earlier this month, the WHOs team leader said during a trip to China that he was worried about safety standards at a facility close to where the first human COVID-19 cases were detected in Wuhan  concerns that were not previously disclosed by the WHO.

Numerous health experts and scientists have called for an independent investigation to be conducted beyond the WHO, pointing out that the agency has no authority to compel countries, including China, to co-operate.

According to the terms of reference released on Friday, the WHOs new expert group will also be bound by certain confidentiality rules, similar to those in place for many of the agencys other expert groups.

The guidelines state that members shall not speak on behalf of the WHO or the group to any third party, that internal deliberations should be treated as strictly confidential and that they should not quote from or use any documents outside of the groups remit.

The WHO will retain full control over any reports, including whether or not they will be published.

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Croatia's Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic will travel to Cairo Thursday, according to a statement by the Croatian ministry, after Egypt's affiliate of the Islamic State (IS) group threatened in a video Wednesday to execute a kidnapped Croatian national.

"Pusic is in contact with the Egyptian foreign minister and in agreement with him and his recommendations she will go to Cairo," the statement said.

Egypt's affiliate of the Islamic State group threatened Wednesday to execute the Croatian kidnapped in Cairo last month within 48 hours if Muslim women jailed in Egypt are not freed.

The man is the first foreigner to be abducted and threatened with death by militants in Egypt since an Islamist insurgency erupted two years ago.

In a video posted online by the jihadists, the Croatian identifies himself as Tomislav Salopek working for French geoscience company CGG, and appears kneeling at the feet of a hooded man holding a knife.

Reading from a sheet of paper, he says he will be executed within 48 hours if Egypt's government fails to release Muslim women held in prisons.

Salopek, wearing an orange jumpsuit, did not say when the countdown began.

He said he was abducted 22 July by the Sinai Province group, Egypt's Islamic State affiliate based in the Sinai Peninsula.

In Zagreb, the foreign ministry said the "Croatian government ... is doing its best to solve as soon as possible the difficult situation in which the Croatian citizen T S is," identifying the hostage only with his initials.

"Considering the very difficult and sensitive circumstances and in order not to make a difficult situation worse, we are not able to provide more detailed information at this moment."

Formerly known as Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, the group changed its name when it pledged allegiance to IS last November.

CGG confirmed that the man in the video was one of its "sub-contracted staff working on a land acquisition seismic crew" and that he had been "kidnapped on 22 July while in transit in Cairo."

"He is the hostage appearing on the video released today by the Sinai Province of Islamic State," it said, without naming him.

Salopek, a father of two, is the first foreigner to face execution by militants in Egypt. In December, Sinai Province claimed it had killed in August an American working for petroleum company Apache.

In July, IS said it was behind a car bomb attack targeting the Italian consulate in Cairo  the first such attack against a foreign mission in Egypt since jihadists began their insurgency following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and a subsequent crackdown on Islamists.

In February, IS released a video showing the beheadings of 21 Coptic Christians, all but one of them Egyptians, in neighbouring Libya.

That massacre prompted air strikes by Cairo targeting IS positions in Libya.

The threat to execute Salopek comes ahead of Thursday's inauguration of the new Suez Canal channel in the port city of Ismailia, with hundreds of foreign dignitaries, including French President Francois Hollande, due to attend.

* This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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President Joe Biden says the Taliban have not changed but are going through an ``existential crisis'' about whether they want legitimacy on the global stage as they've taken over Afghanistan.

In an interview on ABC's ``Good Morning America,'' Biden said that he's ``not sure'' the Taliban want to be ``recognized by the international community as being a legitimate government.''

He also said that the threat from al-Qaida and their affiliate organizations is ``greater in other parts of the world than it is in Afghanistan, adding that it's ``not rational'' to ignore the ``looming problems'' posed by al-Qaida affiliates in Syria or East Africa, where he said the threat to the U.S. is ``significantly greater.''

``We should be focusing on where the threat is the greatest,'' Biden said, in defense of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Biden also pushed back against concerns about the treatment of women and girls in the country, arguing that it's ``not rational'' to try to protect women's rights around the globe through military force. Instead, it should be done through ``diplomatic and international pressure'' on human rights abusers to change their behavior.

___

PRAGUE _ The Czech leaders declared the country's effort to evacuate the Czech nationals and the Afghans who have worked with them a mission accomplished.

Three Czech evacuation flights in three days transported almost 200 people from Kabul to Prague by Wednesday night.

Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek says 170 Afghan nationals were among them, including all the local staffers at the Czech Embassy in Kabul and interpreters who helped the Czech armed forces during NATO missions and their families. Also, the Afghans who have a permanent residency in the Czech Republic were included.

Four Afghans were transported at the request of another European Union member state Slovakia. Czech embassy staff and two Polish nationals were also evacuated.

``We've saved everyone we wanted to,'' Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Thursday. ``The mission has been accomplished.''

A Czech NGO that helps army veterans says several interpreters with families who have helped the Czechs still need to be rescued.

Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek says that a possible transport in such cases will be coordinated with the allies.

Kulhanek said the successful rescue operation was ``a big miracle.'' He described the situation in Afghanistan as ``a total and unexpected collapse... a tragedy that nobody could be ready for.''

___

ISTANBUL _ A top Afghan official says he and other top officials left Kabul on Monday on board a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul with the help of the Turkish Embassy.

Babur Farahmand, deputy chief of Afghanistan High Council for National Reconciliation, told The Associated Press in Istanbul that other senior officials on board the flight included Second Vice President Sarwar Danish, Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar, intelligence chief Ahmad Zia Saraj, former foreign minister and politician Rangin Dadfar Spanta.

Farahmand said he and some other officials reached the Hamid Karzai International Airport's military airfield in Kabul on Sunday evening. They spent the night inside the military compound waiting for the flight. Various countries facilitated the Afghan officials' entry into airport but Turkish government facilitated the flight, he said.

Earlier, Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper reported that as many as 40 Afghan officials arrived in Istanbul on Monday on board a Turkish Airlines flight. The plane with 324 passengers on board, took off from Kabul with several hours of delay due to the chaos at the airport.

___

MOSCOW _ Russia's top diplomat on Thursday reiterated a call for a broad dialogue between all political forces in Afghanistan, noting that the Taliban do not control ``the entire territory'' of Afghanistan yet.

Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed to ``reports ... about the situation in the Panjshir Valley, where the resistance forces of Afghan Vice President (Amrullah) Saleh and Ahman Massod have been gathering.''

He said that it makes Moscow's stance on the necessity of a dialogue between all rival forces and groups even more consistent. Russia has been calling for one when ``all of Afghanistan was engulfed in a civil war,'' and continues to urge it now, ``when the Taliban have taken power in Kabul, in the majority of other cities, in the majority of Afghanistan's provinces.''

``We support the same thing _ a nationwide dialogue''? that will lead to a representative government, Lavrov said. ``''This, with the support of Afghan citizens, will work out agreements on the final make-up of this long-suffering country.''

Earlier this week, the minister stressed that Moscow was ``in no rush'' to recognize the Taliban as the new rulers of Afghanistan. Russia had labeled the Taliban a terrorist organization in 2003, but has since hosted several rounds of talks in Afghanistan, most recently in March, that involved the group.

Moscow, which fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Soviet troops' withdrawal in 1989, has made a diplomatic comeback as a mediator, reaching out to feuding Afghan factions and cultivating ties with the Taliban as it has jockeyed with the U.S. for influence in the country.

___

ROME _ A plane carrying some 202 Afghans, including an activist and medical researchers affiliated with an Italian think-tank, have arrived in Rome in the latest airlift fleeing the country overtaken by the Taliban.

The Italian foreign ministry said Italy was committed to evacuating ``those who collaborated with Italy and who are threatened, such as women and children.''

One of the passengers was Zahra Ahmadi, whose brother lives in Venice and apparently helped rally diplomatic efforts to get her out. Other passengers were affiliated with the Veronesi Foundation, which supports medical research, especially for women, and hosted Afghan doctors in the past.

Italy has been flying groups of Afghans out at a clip of two or more flights a day, transferring them to a plane in Kuwait and then onto Rome. The new arrivals are then tested for the coronavirus and placed in mandatory quarantine, as called for by current Italian health regulations.

Italy had one of the largest military contingents during the two-decade NATO and U.S.-led operation in Afghanistan.

___

BUDAPEST, Hungary _ More than two dozen Hungarian nationals evacuated from Kabul arrived in Frankfurt, Germany early Thursday, and will likely be transported to Hungary later in the day, deputy foreign minister Levente Magyar told reporters.

The air evacuation of the 26 Hungarians was carried out by Hungary's military allies with a stopover in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The evacuees had worked as private security contractors at the Dutch embassy in Kabul before the city's takeover by the Taliban. Magyar did not say which allies were involved in the operation.

A separate evacuation mission was launched from Hungary early Thursday, which will attempt to recover other Hungarians still in Afghanistan and some Afghan citizens who assisted Hungarian military forces, Magyar said. Not all of the Hungarian citizens awaiting evacuation have yet made it to Kabul airport, he added.

___

LONDON -- Britain's foreign secretary is rejecting calls to resign for not interrupting his holiday on the Greek island of Crete to make a call to help translators flee Afghanistan.

According to the Daily Mail newspaper, Dominic Raab did not call his Afghan counterpart Hanif Atmar on Friday after officials suggested he ``urgently'' do so in order to arrange help for those who supported British troops.

Two days later, the Taliban captured Kabul and Raab cut short his holiday and headed back to the U.K. to deal with the crisis.

Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told BBC radio that the suggested phone call would not have made ``any difference whatsoever'' given the Afghan government was ``melting away quicker than ice.''

Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, said on Twitter: ``Who wouldn't make a phone call if they were told it could save somebody's life?''

Lisa Nandy, Labour's foreign affairs spokesperson, was one of many to call for Raab's resignation after what she described as ``yet another catastrophic failure of judgment.''

On entering 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office, Raab was asked if he would resign. In response, he said ``no.''

----------

The first evacuation flight from Kabul organized by the Slovak government has landed in Slovakia.

Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok says a total of 20 passengers were onboard, 16 Slovak nationals and four Afghans among them, including a 10-month old baby. It was the full capacity of the military transport plane.

Four other Afghan nationals who were working with the Slovak armed forces were transported onboard of a Czech evacuation flight and flown to Slovakia overnight.

Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said the members of Slovak army's special forces had to use weapons to secure the passengers' safe transport to the plane. He cited a deteriorating situation at the airport but declined to give details.

Prime Minister Eduard Heger says his country is coordinating further steps with allies.

___

WARSAW, Poland -- A second airplane carrying people evacuated from Afghanistan has landed in Warsaw.

The plane landed on Thursday morning, following one that brought people late Wednesday.

Poland has deployed 100 soldiers to Afghanistan to help with the evacuations of Polish and Afghan citizens. Those evacuated are first transported to Uzbekistan by military transport and then brought to Poland on civilian airliners.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has shared images on Facebook of some of those being evacuated.

___

ROME _ Two more Italian C130s have brought nearly 200 Afghan citizens out of Kabul, as Italy continues its evacuation of people who worked with Italian forces and their families following the Taliban takeover of the country.

The Defense Ministry said the passengers aboard the two flights were transferring Thursday to other aircraft in Kuwait, and from there would continue onto Rome.

Italy has vowed to evacuate as many Afghans as it can, particularly those who worked with Italian forces during the nearly two-decade long NATO and U.S.-led operation in the country.

With the arrival in Rome later Thursday of the latest evacuees Italy says it will have airlifted out some 500 Afghans.

___

KABUL, Afghanistan _ Afghanistan's steel factories' association is concerned scrap metal smuggling abroad has increased and exhausted supplies, putting thousands of workers at risk of losing their jobs.

Abdul Nasir Reshtia, chief executive of the association says that with borders reopening, Afghanistan's scrap metal is being smuggled once again to neighboring countries.

Reshtia warns that in next ten days, the smuggling will push factories to close as they cannot operate without scrap metal.

Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had banned the export of scrap metal to support Afghan steel factories so they could compete with imported steel from neighboring countries.

Reshtia says that he has not been able to reach the Taliban leadership to share his concerns.

___

BUCHAREST, Romania _ Romania's foreign ministry says that a military aircraft has evacuated a single Romanian citizen from Kabul airport to Islamabad.

It said in a statement that ``the particularly difficult security conditions in Kabul meant that the access of other groups of Romanian citizens to the airport could not be achieved.''

The C-130 Hercules aircraft, which evacuated a NATO employee on Wednesday evening, had military personnel and a mobile consular team onboard ready to provide ``specialized assistance.'' It is set to return to Kabul airport to continue evacuating Romanian citizens, officials said.

Authorities said that at the time of the operation there were 33 Romanian citizens registered as present in Afghanistan.

----------

A Dutch military transport plane has arrived in Amsterdam carrying people evacuated from Kabul.

The Ministry of Defense says that a C-17 plane landed late Wednesday night at Schiphol airport. On board were 35 Dutch nationals along with citizens from Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The government says it has now airlifted 50 Dutch nationals out of Kabul. A Dutch consular crisis team along with dozens of troops to protect the personnel flew into the Afghan capital on Wednesday.

___

BRUSSELS _ The European Union said Thursday that 106 staff members of EU delegations and their families had safely left Afghanistan but said that some 300 still remained behind.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Thursday that the first plane with EU staff had landed in Madrid, from where they will be relocated among the 27 EU member states.

``There are still 300 more Afghani staff of European Union delegations blocked on the streets of Kabul trying to reach the airport and trying to have a seat on some of the European Union member state flights,'' Borrell told a EU parliament committee.

He insisted that ``these people have loyally promoted and defended the union's interests and values in Afghanistan over many years,'' adding that it was the EU's ``moral duty to protect them and to have to save as many people as possible.''

___

MADRID _ Spain has evacuated 53 people from Afghanistan on its first flight to airlift Spanish citizens and Afghan workers and their families from Kabul.

The military cargo plane landed at an airport near Madrid on Thursday morning with five Spaniards and 48 Afghans on board. An unspecified number of children were included.

Spain has two more planes prepared to continue with the evacuation of Afghan workers and their families.

All the passengers received a COVID-19 test on arrival and were attended by police so that they could ask for ``international protection,'' the government said in a statement.

The airport also received a flight from the European Union External Action service with five Afghan families on board. Spain's government has offered to take in additional evacuees from EU partners and care for them until they can be distributed to other countries of the bloc.

``We are still working to evacuate those Afghans who worked with Spain in the quickest manner possible and guarantee their security along with those people who have worked with the EU,'' said Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Albares.

___

COPENHAGEN, Denmark _ Denmark says that a plane with 84 people who had been evacuated from Afghanistan has landed in Copenhagen and were now on ``safe ground in Denmark.''

On Twitter, Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod wrote Thursday that the evacuation ``is still in full swing and we are working hard to evacuate the last local staff, interpreters and other groups from Kabul.''

Danish media said that those aboard the plane reportedly were locally hired people and interpreters who had worked for Denmark. No further details were available.

___

WARSAW, Poland _ Poland's president has approved the deployment of a 100-person military contingent to Afghanistan to help secure the evacuation of Polish citizens and the citizens of other countries in coordination with allies.

President Andrzej Duda signed the order late Wednesday for the mission, and which is to last until Sept. 16.

Meanwhile, a first plane carrying a group of people who were evacuated from Afghanistan landed at Warsaw's military airport late Wednesday, said Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak. The group was first taken from Kabul by military plane to Uzbekistan and from there was transported on to Warsaw.

Since Tuesday, Polish forces have been carrying out an operation to evacuate Poles and Afghans who previously cooperated with the Polish military or diplomatic mission or who helped otherwise with western groups.

Those who arrived in Warsaw will have to go into quarantine.

___

WASHINGTON _ The Biden administration has suspended all arms sales to the government of Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of the country.

In a notice to defense contractors posted Wednesday, the State Department's Political/Military Affairs Bureau said pending or undelivered arms transfers to Afghanistan had been put under review.

``In light of rapidly evolving circumstances in Afghanistan, the Directorate of Defense Sales Controls is reviewing all pending and issued export licenses and other approvals to determine their suitability in furthering world peace, national security and the foreign policy of the United States,'' it said.

The notice said it would issue updates for defense equipment exporters in the coming days.

___

WASHINGTON _ President Joe Biden says he's committed to keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, even if that means maintaining a military presence there beyond his Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawal.

In an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday, Biden said that the U.S. will do ``everything in our power'' to get Americans and U.S. allies in the nation out before the deadline. Pressed repeatedly on how the administration would help Americans left in the nation after Aug. 31, Biden finally affirmed, ``if there's American citizens left, we're gonna stay till we get them all out.''

Up to 15,000 Americans remain in Afghanistan after the Taliban took full control of the nation. The Biden administration has received criticism for the scenes of violence and disorder in recent days as thousands attempted to flee while the Taliban advanced.

But during the same interview, Biden suggested there wasn't anything the administration could've done to avoid such chaos. ``The idea that somehow, there's a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don't know how that happens,'' he said.

___

WASHINGTON _ The International Monetary Fund says that the new Taliban government in Afghanistan will not at the current time be allowed to access loans or other resources from the 190-nation lending organization.

In a statement Wednesday, the IMF said it would be guided by the views of the international community.

The statement said, ``There is currently a lack of clarity within the international community regarding recognition of a government in Afghanistan, as a consequence of which the country cannot access SDRs or other IMF resources.''

SDRs are special drawing rights which serve as a reserve that IMF member countries can tap into to meet payment obligations.

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The two men could not have been more different. Gamal Himdan was a recluse, immersed in his studies; Robert Hichens was an extrovert, frequently travelling seeking new experiences. Their politics were also clashing. Himdan was a fierce Egyptian nationalist; Hichens was an imperialist, believing in the grand project behind the British Empire.

As for the ages they lived in and their impacts on them, Hichens was a product of the late nineteenth, early twentieth century, connected to the refinement of the Renaissance and the optimism of eighteenth century romanticism. Himdan, on the other side, belonged to the generation formed by the Second World War and its aftermaths. Whereas Hichens was inclined to look languidly at the world and to reflect on what he believed were examples of utmost human achievement, Himdan was driven to analyzing what he deemed fundamental questions about his immediate environment.

Yet both men unintentionally contributed to each others work. Himdans masterpiece, Egypt: A Study in the Genius of the Location, is a hard-nosed assessment of the meaning of Egypts geography; Hichenss The Spell of Egypt is almost a poem on the meaning of Egypts history.

Himdan argues that Egypts geography has shaped the traditions of agriculture and farming in the country, connected its different regions with each other and to a centre where authority was destined to appear, and forged a coherent, homogeneous society. One of his key conclusions is that these traditions and connections have resulted in similarities, integration, and later on dependencies in-between the regions, which together were the foundations of the Egyptian state. Himdan shows how unique these foundations were, not only in the orient and the Mediterranean basin over six thousand years ago, but throughout the entire ancient history. To him, this uniqueness was a key reason why a specific type of civilization had emerged on this land and why it lasted three thousand years, and later evolved to become the host of one of the most luminary branches of the Hellenic civilization (in Alexandria).

Hichenss The Spell of Egypt traces the Pyramids, the Sphinx, and the major temples in a specific order just as one encounters them while travelling on the Nile from the north of the country towards its south, and at each stop to describe, reflect, and uses history  and imagination  to find connections between the different hallmarks in the journey. The stories that Hichens weaves connect the monuments with their epochs, as well as with the evolution of beliefs in the first three thousand years of recorded Egyptian history. The result is a concise but dense book that conjures up a holistic meaning that the Pyramids, the Sphinx, the grand temples, and their hosts, the land and the Nile, collectively form.

Hichens would have objected to the verb conjure, for it signifies an agency on his behalf, while he would have argued that he merely recorded what the Nile, the Pyramids, the Sphinx, and the temples in their order from the north to the south, actually add up to. In Hichenss view, Egypts history has left not only monuments, but also a meaning, on its land. Not surprisingly, Hichens repeatedly invokes that grand master of reflecting on natures work and on the finest milestones of major civilizations, Goethe. Like Goethe, Hichens employs his knowledge, observation, imagination, and language to decipher what the land, the water, and the architecture keep only for the worthy.

Hichenss poetic style complements Himdans analytic approach. Himdan gives us a tightly argued case built on numbers, facts, substantiated deductions, and precise comparisons. Hichens presents us with images, flashes of memory, eureka moments, and descriptions of scents.

Himdan teaches us about the land of Egypt, and how the physicality of the location enabled the state and made the civilization both a natural product of the place and a reflection of its uniqueness. Hichens, on the other hand, preaches to us about the soul of that civilization, illuminating our minds with the ideas upon which that civilization was built and towards their expression its grandest monuments were erected.

The Genius of the Location and The Spell are must read books for any student  or lover  of Egypt. Combined together, they are a key to a rich understanding of the idea of Egypt.

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US sanctions senior Eritrean defense official for rights abuses in Tigray



AFP, , Monday 23 Aug 2021



The US Treasury Department said forces under the command of General Filipos Woldeyohannes, chief of staff of the Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF), are responsible for 'massacres, looting, and sexual assaults'



The United States imposed sanctions on Monday on a senior Eritrean military leader for engaging in "serious human rights abuse" during the conflict in Tigray.







The US Treasury Department said forces under the command of General Filipos Woldeyohannes, chief of staff of the Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF), are responsible for "massacres, looting, and sexual assaults."







"EDF troops have raped, tortured, and executed civilians; they have also destroyed property and ransacked businesses," the department said in a statement.







"The EDF have purposely shot civilians in the street and carried out systematic house-to-house searches, executing men and boys, and have forcibly evicted Tigrayan families from their residences and taken over their houses and property."







The Treasury Department said any property or interests of Woldeyohannes in the United States would be frozen and US citizens are barred from conducting any business with him.







"The Treasury Department will continue to take action against those involved in serious human rights abuse around the world, including in the Tigray region of Ethiopia," said Andrea Gacki, director of the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.







"Such acts further exacerbate the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis," Gacki said in a statement.







"We urge Eritrea to immediately and permanently withdraw its forces from Ethiopia, and urge the parties to the conflict to begin ceasefire negotiations and end human rights abuses," Gacki said.







The Treasury Department said the ongoing conflict in Tigray "has exacerbated a humanitarian crisis that threatens hundreds of thousands of lives."







"Despite the Ethiopian government's June 28 unilateral ceasefire declaration, parties on all sides continue to escalate the conflict," it said. "These escalatory actions risk furthering a severe humanitarian crisis."



https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/419653.aspx
Egypt, Sierra Leon sign agreements to enhance political, cultural cooperation



Ahram Online, , Tuesday 24 Aug 2021



Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry urges to intensify efforts to combat terror groups in Sahel region



Egypt and Sierra Leon signed on Tuesday a number of agreements for cooperation in the fields of political consultation, youth and culture, Egypt's foreign ministry said.



The agreements were signed by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Sierra Leonean counterpart David Francis, who is visiting the Egyptian capital Cairo on top of an official delegation.



Shoukry and Francis exchanged views on a number of bilateral issues and regional causes of mutual interest, the ministry added in a statement, addung that they expressed their aspiration to enhance the level of trade exchange to be on par with political relations between the two countries.



Shoukry said Egypt will send a package of medical aid to Sierra Leone to help support the health sector there.



Shoukry urged intensifying bilateral and regional efforts to combat terrorist organizations and organized crime groups in the Sahel region as well as reconstruction and development process needed during the post-armed conflict stage.



The talks also touched upon joint coordination regarding an African call to reform and expand the Security Council, in light of Sierra Leone's presidency of the African Union's Committee of Ten concerned with the matter.



The Security Council includes five permanent members, who have the right to veto resolutions (China, France, Russia, the UK and the US) as well as five non-permanent members, who are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms, and five non-permanent members, who are elected each year.



Only one seat is designated for Africa out of the 10 non-permanent seats, so the African countries want to expand the UN organ to be included in the permanent membership as well as increase the African representation in the non-permanent seats.



https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/419700.aspx
Saudi Arabia lifts travel restrictions for fully-vaccinated Egyptian expats, other banned nationalities



Ahram Online , Tuesday 24 Aug 2021





Saudi Arabia is allowing the entry of fully-vaccinated foreign workers from several countries including Egypt, the Egyptian Ministry of Manpower announced on Tuesday.



According to the new Saudi directives, which have been reported to the diplomatic missions of the concerned countries, the new regulations are applicable only for foreigners who had previously left the kingdom while in possession of a valid exit/re-entry visa and were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 inside the Kingdom before their departure.



The travelers must also take direct flights from their countries to Saudi Arabia.



The new rules apply to Egyptians who have resident status in Saudi Arabia and those who have a valid exit/re-entry visa.



Upon their return to the kingdom, the expats must follow quarantine rules that are yet to be announced, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Manpower.



Egypts national air carrier EgyptAir announced on Tuesday that as of 1 September 2021 all of its departure flights from Cairo to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be transferred to the seasonal flights buildings at Cairo International Airport.



EgyptAir operates flights to KSA for the following cities already : Jeddah, Madinah, Riyadh, Dammam and Qassim.The countries from which Saudi Arabia had banned arrivals are Egypt, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, the UAE, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Lebanon.



According to the latest official numbers from Saudi Arabia, 37.7 percent of the population, including foreigners and expats, have been vaccinated.



https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/419716.aspx
Algeria cuts diplomatic ties with Morocco due to its 'hostile actions': Foreign minister



AFP, , Tuesday 24 Aug 2021



Following a review of relations over suspected hostile actions, Algeria's foreign minister said that Algeria has severed diplomatic relations with Morocco.



Algeria's Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said Tuesday that his country has severed diplomatic relations with Morocco due to its "hostile actions".



The move comes afer Algeria last week said it would review its relations with Morocco after accusing it of complicity in deadly forest fires that ravaged the country's north.



"Algeria has decided to cut diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Morocco from today," the minister announced during a press conference.



"History has shown that the Kingdom of Morocco has never stopped carrying out hostile actions against Algeria," Lamamra added.



The forest fires in Algeria, which broke out on August 9 amid a blistering heatwave, burned tens of thousands of hectares of forest and killed at least 90 people, including more than 30 soldiers.



Algerian authorities have pointed the finger for the fires at the independence movement of the mainly Berber region of Kabylie, which extends along the Mediterranean coast east of the capital Algiers.



The authorities have also accused the Movement for Self-determination of Kabylie (MAK) of involvement in the lynching of a man falsely accused of arson, an incident that sparked outrage.



Algeria last week accused Morocco of supporting the MAK, which it classifies as a "terrorist organisation".



"The incessant hostile acts carried out by Morocco against Algeria have necessitated the review of relations between the two countries," a presidency statement said last week.



It also said there would be an "intensification of security controls on the western borders" with Morocco.



The border between Algeria and Morocco has been closed since 1994.



Algeria's foreign minister on Tuesday also accused Morocco's leaders of "responsibility for repeated crises" and behaviour that has "led to conflict instead of integration" in North Africa.



Relations between Algiers and Rabat have been fraught in past decades, especially over the flashpoint issue of the disputed Western Sahara.



Morocco considers the former Spanish colony an integral part of its kingdom, but Algeria has backed the Polisario movement which seeks independence there.



Last month, Algeria recalled its ambassador in Morocco for consultations after Morocco's envoy to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, expressed support for self-determination for the Kabylie region.



At the time, Algeria's foreign ministry said Morocco thus "publicly and explicitly supports an alleged right to self-determination of the Kabylie people".



https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/419719.aspx
Catastrophic rebranding of US foreign policy



Manal Lotfy, Thursday 26 Aug 2021



No agreement was reached on Western policy on Afghanistan at a G7 meeting on Tuesday, with NATO allies openly expressing their dismay at US policy



The G7 group of countries failed to persuade US President Joe Biden to postpone the date for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan at a virtual meeting on Tuesday, with Pentagon Spokesperson John Kirby saying there had been no change to the deadline of completing the evacuation by the end of the month.



Kirby added that the US believed it could complete the evacuation on time and suggested that the US and the Taliban were in agreement about the 31 August deadline for the US leavingAfghanistan.



Without getting into details, Im not seeing much dissonance between US public statements and conversations with the Taliban, Kirby said. The Taliban have been very clear about what their expectations are, he added.



The Pentagon also announced the biggest day so far for the evacuations from Afghanistan, with Spokesman Hank Taylor saying 21,600 people had flown out of Kabul Airport over the previous 24 hours.



The apparent coordination between the two sides came after CIA Director William Burns held a meeting with Taliban leaders in Afghanistan on Monday.



Adhering to the timetable for the departure of international forces will put more pressure on relations between Washington and its European allies, which had hoped for more time to evacuate the thousands of their citizens and the Afghan citizens who had worked with them from Afghanistan.



In a brief pooled interview following the G7 virtual summit, UKs Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the G7 had agreed a roadmap for engaging with the Taliban. He explained he wanted to ensure safe passage for Afghans wanting to flee after the 31 August deadline.



Even before the G7 meeting, the European leaders were already planning for the worst. It had been apparent that there were significant differences between Washington and its European allies, and the time was short to bridge the gap with Washington before the meeting called by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, also chair of the G7.



Before the summit meeting, statements from European capitals differed from Washingtons position regarding extending the deadline of 31 August for the pull-out of NATO forces from Afghanistan.



While London, Paris and Berlin were urging Washington to pressure the Taliban to extend the timetable beyond this date, statements issued by the White House and the Pentagon said that Washington would deal with the question of an extension on a day-to-day basis and it was not yet at the point to seek a change of the deadline with the Taliban.



The Taliban had warned there would be consequences if Washington sought to extend the deadline. It wants all foreign evacuations from the country completed by the 31 August deadline.



Taliban Spokesperson Suhail Shaheen said that its a red lineIf they extend it, that means they are extending the occupation while there is no need for that.



US officials, including Biden, hinted that delaying the departure of international forces from Afghanistan was fraught with risks. Among their fears was a possible attack by the Islamic State (IS) group or Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan on US forces.



The British position is that we want to stay longer if it is possible to do so, said UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace. But he said the 1,000 British troops at Kabul Airport would be unable to keep up the operation when the much larger American contingent left.



Wallace conceded there was a low probability that the US would be persuaded into delaying the deadline past 31 August, the deadline agreed by Biden after he inherited a peace deal between former US president Donald Trump and the Taliban.



I look at the public comments by President Biden, I look at the interviews given by the Taliban, I think its worth the G7 trying, but in the MoD [Ministry of Defence] were planning for the worst and hoping for the best, Wallace said.



He argued it would be in the Talibans interest to ensure the airfield remained open. The Taliban needs trade, he said. It needs a population to survive, indeed, the Taliban also needs international recognition and foreign money, so I think its in the interests of the Taliban to keep the airport functioning.



Germany said it was in talks with both NATO allies and the Taliban about keeping Kabul Airport open beyond 31 August.



The German government also expressed its impatience with the pace of the evacuation effort. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the majority of local staff who worked for his country in Afghanistan had not yet left.



The French government also believes it will be required to carry out evacuations beyond the 31 August deadline imposed by Washington. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that we are concerned about the deadline set by the United States on 31 August. Additional time is needed to complete ongoing operations.



The differences between Washington and its European allies are not limited to extending the deadline for the departure of NATO forces. There were also differences over the international strategy towards the Taliban and forging a common approach to Afghanistan policy.



While Britain led the camp that wanted to threaten to impose economic sanctions against the Taliban if it violated promises to form a representative government or backtracked on pledges to respect the rights of women and girls in education and work, the US did not show any great resolve to use a carrot-and-stick strategy with the Taliban.



There is $9 billion in US banks alone belonging to the Afghan government, and some European powers argue that the US could use this as leverage to press the Taliban to cooperate with the international community.



But many in the Biden administration fear sanctions might push the Taliban to further militancy, saying that sanctions would harm the Afghan people, of which about 70 per cent of the population already lives at the poverty line.



In a significant move showing that Washington wants to engage with the Taliban, Biden sent the head of the CIA to meet the Talibans leader on Monday in the highest-level diplomatic encounter since the militant group took over the Afghan capital.



CIA Director William Burns met Taliban leader Abdul-Ghani Baradar in Kabul, US officials told the Washington Post. The newspaper said the talks were likely to have involved the deadline for the US military to conclude its airlift.



The G7s inability to break Bidens stance on the evacuation of Afghanistan has left European leaders asking whether the US is still a reliable partner.



For them, the worst consequences of the collapse of the Afghan government and the Talibans assumption of power are yet to come. Among the potential repercussions are increased risks from Al-Qaeda and IS terrorism and the prospects of a new refugee crisis on Europes borders, as happened during the Syrian Civil War.



If these repercussions materialise, Europe will pay the price because of the geographical proximity that has made it in the past face migrant crises and terrorist attacks.



The European leaders assessment is that the Biden administration has created a rift in transatlantic relations that is worse than the rift created by Trumps anti-NATO and anti-EU policies, a senior European diplomat familiar with NATO operations in Afghanistan told the Weekly.



Regardless of all Bidens justifications for withdrawing the troops in such a chaotic manner, the conviction in Europe is that American leadership of the world is in retreat and that Europe can no longer protect its security and interests by relying on America. What Biden confirmed through his policies is: America first  just like Trump. he added.



The G7 meeting was a make-or-break moment in reshaping strategy on Afghanistan. But the meeting, due to the lack of time available for discussion amid the fluidity of events on the ground, left many allies with more questions than answers.



Senior British military officers expressed anger over the US strategy, saying it exposed the hollowness of the trans-Atlantic special relationship.



France has reason to assume that a unilateralist US president will continue to dominate Western foreign policy and defence. The crisis in Afghanistan will only reinforce the French presidents view that Europe needs an independent foreign and defence policy.



Germany is also dismayed by the developments in Afghanistan and Bidens decisions. Armin Laschet, candidate to succeed Angela Merkel asGerman chancellor, has described Kabuls fall as the biggest debacle NATO has seen since its foundation, and it is an epochal change that we are facing.



Japans concern will be to ensure that Washington sticks to its pledge that the Afghanistan withdrawal indicates a reordering of US priorities towards competing with China in Southeast Asia. Tokyos fear is that the withdrawal reflects growing US isolationism.



During the G7 meeting, Biden defended the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying that it was one of his election promises. He echoed what he had said over the past days that America has no interest in never-ending wars. Instead of a foreign policy based on brutal force, Biden said he sought to enhance his doctrine of smart diplomacy.



For Europe and the world, non-military interventions would be a positive shift for US foreign policy, but applying this doctrine in this crisis and the Taliban being the beneficiary of it is what many are dreading in Afghanistan and worldwide.



For many, the rebranding of US foreign policy to smart power or soft power in this context has been catastrophic.



*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 August, 2021 edition ofAl-Ahram Weekly



https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/419742.aspx
KYODO NEWS - Aug 24, 2021 - 21:23 | World, All

A prominent pro-democracy group in Hong Kong known for its yearly vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown is headed for closure, local media reported Tuesday.

The standing committee of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China has passed a resolution to disband amid mounting suppression from the authorities, according to the reports.

An emergency general meeting will be held among its members to officially vote on whether the group will end its 32-year-run.

Last month, the group terminated all its workers and reduced its standing committee by half, citing political suppression.

On June 4, the alliance's vice chairwoman Tonyee Chow was arrested on suspicion of promoting the annual vigil, which was banned by authorities for the second consecutive year due to public health concerns during the coronavirus pandemic.

The alliance is the latest organization to fold under Beijing's efforts to crack down on dissent in the city following the implementation of the national security law, which criminalizes acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

Earlier this month, Hong Kong's biggest protest group announced its closure just three days after the city's largest pro-democracy teachers' union disbanded, citing "unprecedented severe challenges."

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KYODO NEWS - Aug 24, 2021 - 20:47 | All, Japan

Seven-Eleven Japan Co. plans to expand its delivery service to almost all of its 20,000 stores across Japan by fiscal 2025, bringing products to customers' homes in as little as 30 minutes after receiving an order via the internet, a company source said Tuesday.

The largest convenience store operator in the country hopes to boost profits amid growing demand for home delivery with people refraining from going out due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A total of about 550 stores in Hokkaido and Hiroshima prefectures and Tokyo are conducting the trial and it is expected to expand to about 1,000 outlets mainly in the three regions in fiscal 2021 ending next March, the company source said.

Although the service will be left to the discretion of store owners, the majority of stores will likely introduce the system by fiscal 2025, the source said.

Around 2,800 food items and daily products will be delivered, and the service will be available from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Membership registration is required to use the service and orders are accepted from 1,000 yen ($9) excluding tax via a website, with an additional delivery fee of 330 yen.

Currently, Genie Inc., a Tokyo-based subsidiary of Seino Holdings Co. in Gifu Prefecture, partly provides the delivery service, and Seven-Eleven is negotiating with logistics companies in various regions to expand the service.

Rival convenience store chain operator Lawson Inc. has already started to offer delivery of food, daily products as well as drugs sold without a prescription via Uber Eats.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 24, 2021 - 23:00 | All, World, Japan

As Japan's government scrambles to evacuate Japanese and local staff working at its embassy and other Japanese organizations in Afghanistan following the Taliban's return to power, some of those involved in the mission aired safety concerns Tuesday.

Some members of the Self-Defense Forces and the Defense Ministry expressed wariness over the fluid security situation in the country and the hurriedly arranged nature of the transport mission.

While the troops will be allowed to carry rifles, use of them is heavily restricted under Japanese law given the mission is defined as an evacuation from a "safe place."

The SDF's use of weapons is strictly limited to self-defense purposes under Japan's war-renouncing Constitution.

"I doubt the government's claim that Afghanistan is safe, when no one is sure of what the Taliban are thinking," a senior SDF official said.

A senior Defense Ministry official said, "We are quickly preparing for the mission and to be honest, we don't really know the local situation."

The mission will involve several hundred personnel from the Air and Ground Self-Defense forces evacuating several hundred people, including local staff and their families, aboard ASDF aircraft from Kabul airport to a third country near Afghanistan, which the government has declined to name citing diplomatic protocol.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Tuesday at a meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that "the safe departure (from Afghanistan) of Japanese nationals and local staff is our top priority."

The Japanese government is considering organizing charter flights or other means to transport the evacuees from the third country to Japan or elsewhere, the sources said.

The government maintains the airport in Kabul is in the safe hands of U.S. forces, but there are reports of firefights and deaths at and around the airport amid a chaotic exodus.

There also remain questions over the safety of evacuees given they have to travel to the airport by themselves.

"I hope the government will create an environment where the troops can work safely," the SDF official said.

In the past, the SDF has been involved in four missions to transport Japanese nationals, but no weapons were used, according to the Defense Ministry.

This time, the government defines the operation as a mission to transport Japanese nationals and others from one safe place to another, which under the law comes with heavy restrictions on the use of weapons. SDF personnel are permitted to fire only when it is unavoidable to ensure the safety of SDF members and those with them.

In 2016, Japan newly established legal provisions on the protection of Japanese nationals from terrorism or other crises, which would grant SDF members broader authority to use weapons including for warning.

But no protection missions have so far been conducted as they would require more conditions to be met, such as gaining consent from the country concerned.

With the Afghan government having collapsed following the takeover by the Taliban militant group, it was difficult for the Japanese government to classify the evacuation as a protection mission.

Earlier this month, the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan 20 years after it was ousted from power by U.S.-led forces, with President Ashraf Ghani fleeing the country following the group's seizure of Kabul on Aug. 15.

Japanese diplomats were evacuated to Dubai on Aug. 17 after the embassy in the capital Kabul was shut on Aug. 15.

Related coverage:

Japan sends SDF aircraft to Afghanistan for evacuations

Taliban wants to maintain good relations with Japan: spokesman

One week into Taliban rule, Afghans look on with suspicion
KYODO NEWS - Aug 25, 2021 - 00:02 | World

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday denounced China's aggressive assertion of its territorial claims in the South China Sea, in a speech she made in Singapore.

Reaffirming security and economic partnership between the United States and Southeast Asia as well as the importance of sea lanes for trade in the region, Harris said, "And yet, in the South China Sea, we know that Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate, and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea."

Harris, who arrived in Singapore on Sunday as part of her first official trip to Southeast Asia, pointed out that China's "unlawful claims" were rejected by an international tribunal in The Hague in 2016 in a landmark case brought by the Philippines.

"Beijing's actions continue to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations. The United States stands with our allies and partners in the face of these threats," she said, pledging that Washington will pursue a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Harris's remarks drew a swift rebuke from Beijing, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin telling reporters, "In order to maintain its first place, the United States can arbitrarily discredit, suppress, coerce and bully other countries without paying any price."

"This is the order the United States wants. The United States has always tried to defend its selfishness," he added.

Harris said, "Our engagement in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific is not against any one country, nor is it designed to make anyone choose between countries."

"In this region, we have long put forward a vision of peace and stability, freedom on the seas, unimpeded commerce, advancing human rights, a commitment to the international rules-based order, and the recognition that our common interests are not zero-sum," she said.

"Now, as we face threats to that order, I am here to reaffirm our commitment to that vision -- to strengthen it and to make sure it addresses the challenges of today and of tomorrow."

Aside from issues of security, Harris said the United States seeks to strengthen its economic engagement in the region and offered to host meetings of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, in 2023.

On global health cooperation amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, Harris called the United States "an arsenal of safe and effective effectives for the entire world."

Pointing out that the United States has delivered to Southeast Asia almost a quarter of the 110 million vaccines it has shipped worldwide, she said "it is important to note that these are donations free of charge with no strings attached."

Harris also said the United States "remains deeply alarmed" by last February's military coup in Myanmar that toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, ending a decade of civilian rule.

"We condemn the campaign of violent repression and we are very committed to supporting the people there as they work to return their nation to the path of democracy and we do hope that nations throughout the Indo-Pacific will join us in that effort," she said.

Harris had been set to depart for Vietnam, the second and last leg of her trip, on Tuesday afternoon, but her flight was reportedly delayed for more than three hours.

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, in a statement, said the delay came after the vice president's office "was made aware of a report of a recent possible anomalous health incident" in the Vietnamese capital.

According to U.S. media, the term is how the government usually refers to the mysterious Havana syndrome that has sickened hundreds of U.S. diplomats, spies and troops over the past few years.

"After careful assessment, the decision was made to continue with the Vice President's trip," the embassy said.

CNN reported that Harris' plane eventually took off from Singapore's Paya Lebar Air Base at 7:32 p.m. local time.

Related coverage:

Harris reaffirms U.S. commitment to Indo-Pacific amid Singapore visit

U.S. vice president arrives in Singapore for 1st trip to Asia

Biden vows to complete difficult evacuation mission in Afghanistan
New Delhi:

South Korean electronics giants Samsung on Thursday revealed its latest Samsung Galaxy A9 smartphone to strengthen its grip in the mid-premium range in the mobile market.

The Galaxy A9 is the worlds first smartphone to provide a quad-camera setup and is likely to take over the Indian market in November. The price of the Samsung Galaxy A9 is slated to be announced near to the launch date.

The Samsung Electronics President and CEO (IT and Mobile Communications Division) DJ Koh have said that the company is looking forward to its debut of the latest camera technology with the Galaxy A9.

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As a global leader in smartphone innovation, we understand the demand for meaningful innovation in a fast-paced world driven by visual communication, he said.

Building on our legacy in smartphone camera development, were introducing next generation technology across our entire Galaxy portfolio to give more consumers the opportunity to experience cutting edge, he added.

Samsung had recently launched its Galaxy A7 for Rs 23,990 to make its mark in the mid-range smartphone segment, which has taken the Indian market by storm.

The South Korean giants has changed its strategy to rival Xiaomi in the Indian market for the mass and to bring innovation across the mid-range and not limit them to premium flagships.



Samsung is likely to assemble the brand new Galaxy A9 in its new facility in Noida, which was recently inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi to meet the demand of the growing Indian consumers.

Samsung claims that the Noida facility is the worlds biggest smartphone factory with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore.

(With inputs from PTI)
New Delhi:

Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) has become cheaper than petrol and diesel, as its prices were slashed by 2.6 per cent on Thursday following the government move to reduce excise duty on the fuel.

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ATF prices in Delhi: ATF or jet fuel in Delhi was cut by Rs 1,962 per kl, or 2.6 per cent, to Rs 72,605 per kl (Rs 72.6 per litre), according to a price notification issued by state-owned oil firms.

ATF prices in Mumbai: ATF costs Rs 72,225 per kl in Mumbai, down from Rs 74,177.

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Even at the latest reduced price, ATF is at its highest level since March 2014.

On Wednesday, the government cut excise duty on jet fuel to 11 per cent from previous 14 per cent to give relief to the aviation industry.

The aviation industry has been hit hard by soaring petrol and diesel prices in metros and plunging rupee value against dollar.

Also Read | Amrapali group tells Supreme Court nine properties sealed

Jet fuel prices hit their highest level in October since January 2014. The prices had risen by 9.5 per cent since July, and over 58.6 per cent since July 2017. Now, the fuel used in airplane is cheaper than even diesel.

Petrol in Delhi today is priced Rs 82.36 per cent and diesel at Rs 74.62 per litre while Petrol in Mumbai costs Rs 87.82 per litre and diesel is priced at Rs 78.22.

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New Delhi :

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched an unsparing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the controversial deal to purchase 36 Rafale fighter aircraft from France.

Referring to a recent expose by a senior executive of Dassault Aviation  the French company responsible for making the Rafale aircraft - that it was mandatory to choose a particular Indian partner for the deal, Gandhi said that there was a clear-cut case of corruption against Modi and his role should be investigated.

"Dassault is sitting on a huge contract. Dassault will say what the Indian govt wants it to say. Their internal document clearly stated that PM has said without this compensation the deal will not be done," Gandhi said while addressing a press conference in Delhi.

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"Rafale deal is a clear-cut case of corruption against Modi. He is directly involved in this corruption and his role should be investigated," the Congress chief said.

The latest attack against Modi by the Congress president came after a senior executive of the Dassault Aviation claimed that the company had to choose Anil Ambani's Reliance as a "mandatory" trade-off to win the Rs 58,000 crore Rafale deal.

"Rafale company's senior executive has clearly stated that choosing Anil Ambani's company was a compensation for the purchase of Rafale. They have admitted that it was 'imperative and obligatory' for Dassault Aviation to accept this compensation in order to obtain Rafale contract," the Gandhi scion said.

The Congress leader said that Modi is not the Prime Minister of India but a PM of Anil Ambani as he gave away public money worth Rs 30,000 crore to Reliance, a debt-ridden company that started its defence business just 10 days before the deal was signed.

Gandhi also raised questions on Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharamans sudden three-day France tour and said the visit was a clear message that the government was trying to cover this up.

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"The #GreatRafaleCoverUp has begun. To try and show the deal is legit, Raksha Mantri will need to generate minutes of imaginary meetings held between the French & our MOD & both sides will need to agree on a common story to be spun to the media," Gandhi tweeted.

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New Delhi:

President Ram Nath Kovind will be on two-day visit to Himachal Pradesh later this month, an official spokesperson said here on Thursday.

As per the schedule of his proposed visit, Kovind will be in Kangra on October 29 and Shimla on October 20, he said.

Kovind will confer degrees to the students of Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC) Tanda in Kangra in its first convocation function on October 29, he said, adding he would give away degrees to the students of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) in Shimla on October 30 in its 24th convocation function.

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A meeting was held here today under the Chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Shrikant Baldi to make necessary arrangements for his proposed visit.

Baldi directed the officers of district administration, Municipal Corporation and all concerned departments to make all necessary arrangements.

GAD Secretary R N Batta, DGP S R Mardi, Principal Secretary R D Dhiman, senior army officers and state government were present in the meeting.

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New Delhi:

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on stressed upon the need to promote regional peace, fight terrorism and address climate change, and urged the SCO member countries to come together to address these global challenges.

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Swaraj, addressing the two-day conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)'s Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in Dushanbe, called on Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon and heads of delegation from other SCO countries.

WATCH: EAM Sushma Swaraj speaking at SCO Heads of Government Meet in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. https://t.co/9qnxpH2uDF  ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2018

Swaraj highlighted the need for SCO member countries to fight terrorism together, address climate change, promote connectivity and regional peace, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet.

EAM @SushmaSwaraj speaking at the Extended Format Meeting of the #SCO Heads of Government Council Meeting in Dushanbe: We support an open, stable international trade regime based on centrality of the World Trade Organization. Full speech at https://t.co/nmPTwo78DR. pic.twitter.com/GSbTCe6TD0  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) October 12, 2018

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Apart from the global challenges, the CHG meeting is also expected to review the situation in Syria, Afghanistan and the Korean peninsula.

India became a full member of the SCO in . India was an observer at the SCO since 2005 and has participated in its ministerial-level meetings. Indias presence is expected to increase the bloc's heft in regional geopolitics and trade negotiations besides giving it a pan-Asian hue.

Pakistan was also granted membership of the SCO last year. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi attended the conclave this time.

The SCO currently has eight-member countries which represent around 42 percent of the world's population and 20 percent of the global GDP.

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court ordered the Noida Police on Thursday to take the three directors of the Amrapali group to the sealed properties where the documents of the firms will be catalogued. It issued a contempt notice against the three, including CMD and sought their reply in four weeks and ordered the cops to keep them under surveillance at a Noida hotel. They have also been barred from using their phones.

Adhering to the Supreme Courts direction to seal nine properties of Amrapali group in Noida, Greater Noida, Rajgir and Buxar in Bihar where documents are kept, the group on Thursday informed the court that the nine properties in the said places were sealed.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the group to file an undertaking with regard to the sealing of its properties and sought the presence of two forensic auditors by by 2 pm.

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On Tuesday, the top court had sent three directors of the group to police custody, directing them to hand over all the documents of the 46 group companies to forensic auditors.

The directors of the real estate groupAnil Kumar Sharma, Shiv Priya and Ajay Kumarfailed to provide the documents relating to the companys accounts to forensic auditors.

The apex courts order came on a batch of petitions filed by home buyers who are seeking possession of around 42,000 flats. The court said the conduct of the directors was in gross violation of its order.

You are playing hide and seek. You are trying to mislead the court, the bench had said.

It directed the Delhi police to seize all the documents of the Amrapali group and hand them over to forensic auditors, emphasising that not a single document of these companies should remain in custody of the group.

The top court had earlier allowed National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd (NBCC) to float tenders for selecting the builder to complete the stalled projects of Amrapali Group and asked it to prepare a detailed project report for pending projects within 60 days.

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On September 12, the apex court had appointed NBCC to develop stalled projects of the realty firm and directed the Debts Recovery Tribunal to sell the unencumbered commercial properties of the group.

It had also directed the opening of an escrow account in the apex court in which the amount received after the sale of properties would be deposited and later disbursed to the NBCC to start construction of the pending projects in Group A and B Categories.

Besides, it directed that bank accounts, balance sheets and other documents of all the 46 Amrapali companies and Jotindra Steel, since 2008 be given to the forensic auditors.

The apex court had on September 6 identified 16 properties of Amrapali for auctioning, preferably by the NBCC, to give the PSU an initial corpus to start work on the stalled projects. It had also ordered a forensic audit of the firm and its promoters to gauge the extent of financial wrongdoings.

The group CMD had come under the top courts scanner for declaring his assets worth at Rs 67 crore as against Rs 847 crore in his affidavit filed during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, when he had unsuccessfully contested as a JD(U) candidate from Bihars Jehanabad constituency.

The NBCC had earlier given a proposal for completion of 15 residential projects of Amrapali having 46,575 flats at an estimated cost of Rs 8,500 crore in six to 36 months.

(With PTI inputs)

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Beijing:

Scientists have developed colour-changing contact lenses that can deliver drugs and monitor eye treatments. Researchers from China Pharmaceutical University and Southeast University in China sought to create a drug-delivering contact lens that would change colour as the medication is released into the eye.

According to the study published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, the lens could control and indicate the sustained release of many ophthalmic drugs. It is difficult to known how much medication is actually getting to the eye, when eye drops and ointments are administered.

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This is because the eyes tend to reject foreign elements, and tears start rapidly start flowing when something goes into the eye.

While this process is usually helpful for avoiding infection and damage from foreign objects, it can hinder the uptake of much-needed medications.

Contact lenses may be a more effective way to deliver drugs directly to the eye, but real-time monitoring of drug release is still a challenge.

The researchers fabricated a colour-sensitive contact lens using molecular imprinting, a technique that creates molecular cavities in a polymer structure that match the size and shape of a specific compound, such as a medicine.

In laboratory experiments, the molecularly imprinted contact lenses were loaded with timolol, a drug used to treat glaucoma. Then, the team exposed the lenses to a solution of artificial tears, which was used as a stand-in for the eye.

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As the drug was released from the contacts, the architecture of the molecules near the drug changed, which also changed the colour in the iris area of the lenses.

No dye was involved in the process, reducing possible side effects, researchers said. They could see this shift with the naked eye and with a fibre optic spectrometer.

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Chandigarh:

The apex consumer commission has asked LIC India to pay Rs 5 lakh to the kin of a deceased diabetes patient and made clear that insurance claims cannot be denied on the ground of common lifestyle diseases.

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), while setting aside the Punjab state commission's order, asked the Chandigarh branch of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) India to pay the sum along with compensation Rs 25,000 and litigation cost Rs 5,000 within 45 days to Punjab-resident Neelam Chopra.

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Neelam Chopra's husband, who was suffering from diabetes, had availed a life insurance claim in 2003 from the company. While filling the proposal form, he had not mentioned about his disease.

He died of a cardiac arrest in 2004.

After her husband's death, when she claimed the policy, the company rejected it on the ground that the deceased had suppressed information regarding his health at the time of effecting the policy and that the claim has become time barred.

"The deceased died on account of 'cardio respiratory arrest' which was existing for only five months prior to the date of death. Thus, clearly, this disease was not prevailing when the proposal form was filled. The disease of diabetes, though was existing for some time but was under control at the time of filling up of the proposal form. Moreover, the non-disclosure of information in respect of this lifestyle disease of diabetes, will not totally disentitle the claimant for the claim," the commission said.

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The apex commission, however, said that this ground does not give any right to the person insured to suppress information of such diseases and the person insured may suffer consequences in terms of the reduced claims.

The commission said suppression of any information relating to pre-existing disease if it has not resulted in death or has no direct relationship to cause of death, would not "completely disentitle" the claimant for the claim.

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New Delhi:

Union minister MJ Akbar, who was accused of sexual harassment amid the raging #MeToo campaign against male predators, on Monday filed a private criminal defamation complaint against journalist Priya Ramani in the Patiala House Court in Delhi.



Ramani recently accused the minister of state for external affairs of sexual misconduct as the #MeToo campaign took India by storm.

Read | BJP breaks silence, says Akbar has given his version on sexual harassment allegations



Reacting to the accusations and allegations against him, Akbar had issued a statement on Sunday and said that he would take legal action against the accusers.



Taking Ramani to court, the former editor of a newspaper accused her of "wilfully, deliberately, intentionally and malaciously" defaming him and has sought her prosecution under the penal provision on defamation.

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"Ms Priya Ramani began this campaign a year ago with a magazine article. She did not however name me as she knew it was an incorrect story. When asked recently why she had not named me, she replied, in a Tweet: Never named him because he didn't 'do' anything."

"If I didn't do anything, where and what is the story? There is no story. This was admitted at the very inception. But a sea of innuendo, speculation and abusive diatribe has been built around something that never happened. Some are total, unsubstantiated hearsay; others confirm, on the record, that I didnt do anything...," Akbar had said in the statement he issued on Sunday.

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Kabul:

A Taliban delegation has met with US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Qatar to discuss ending the Afghan conflict, the militant group said on Saturday, the first time either side has officially confirmed talks.

The direct negotiationsa longstanding Taliban demandwere held as Khalilzad seeks to coordinate efforts with regional countries, including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, to convince Afghanistans largest militant group to engage in talks.

The meeting with Khalilzad and other American officials took place in Doha on Friday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement sent to journalists.

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Taliban and US negotiators discussed a peaceful end to the invasion in Afghanistan, Mujahid said, referring to the US-led intervention in 2001 that toppled the Taliban regime.

But the group made clear that the presence of foreign forces in the country was a big obstacle to peace.

Both sides agreed to continue such meetings, he added, without providing further details.

A spokesman for the US embassy in Kabul declined to comment on the Talibans statement.

In July, the Taliban reportedly met with US officials, including Alice Wells, the senior official for the State Departments Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.

Neither side would go on the record to confirm that meeting, but there has been speculation since then that more talks were planned.

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The reported July meeting followed an unprecedented ceasefire involving Afghan security forces and the Taliban in June, which fuelled hopes that fighting could be brought to an end after 17 years.

But a wave of attacks by the Taliban and the Islamic State group in recent months has poured cold water on the nascent optimism for peace.

The Talibans decision to issue a statement on the meeting suggests it sees the talks with Khalilzad as a propaganda win, analysts said.

The group has long called for bilateral talks with the United States, but Washington has repeatedly refused, insisting the process must be Afghan-led.

But under pressure to break the impasse with the group, Washington appeared to change tack in June when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said his country was prepared to participate in talks.

The meeting is a success for (the) Taliban. They were demanding to directly meet with the US for a long time and they finally got it, said Afghan political analyst Atta Noori.

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Although they have not agreed on anything... they could bypass the Afghan government.

The Taliban statement was issued as Khalilzad returned to Kabul after a regional trip that began with his first visit to Afghanistan since his appointment last month as US envoy.

On Monday, he met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other senior leaders in Kabul.

On the same day, the Taliban issued a statement vowing to target government security forces in upcoming parliamentary elections, which the United States is helping to finance.

Afghan-born Khalilzad, a former US ambassador to Kabul, Baghdad and the United Nations, is known as a blunt negotiator with hawkish foreign policy views.

Fluent in Pashto and Dari, Khalilzads experience as a foreign policy operative in the country dates back to the 1980s, when he served as an adviser to the Reagan administration.

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New Delhi:

At least nine climbers, including five South Korean nationals, died after a massive storm struck their base camp on Nepals Mount Gurja, a mountain of 7,913 metres, the expedition organiser said on Saturday.

Five South Korean climbers, including team leader Kim Chang-ho from Koreanway Gurja Himal Expedition 2018, were killed along with their four Nepali support staff in the incident, said Wangchu Sherpa, the Managing Director at Trekking Camp Nepal.

The unexpected violent snowstorm buried the climbers at the base camp at an altitude of 3,500 metres near the south face of Mount Dhaulagiri in western Nepals Myagdi district on Friday evening, said Sherpa.

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Other deceased South Koreans have been identified as Lee Jaehun, Rim Il-jin, Yoo Youngjik, and Jeong Joon-mo, the Nepal media reported.

A mountain expedition of five South Korean nationals and four foreigners were swept off by strong winds at the base camp during their climb to Mount Gurja. (They) fell off a cliff and died," the South Korean foreign ministry said in a statement.

According to reports, the organisers raised an alarm after the group (climbers) were out of contact for nearly 24 hours.

The bodies of eight climbers, including four Korean nationals, were spotted by a rescue team on Saturday morning, however icy conditions and powerful storms hamperered the search operations.

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Everything is gone, all the tents are blown apart. The conditions were too icy to continue the search," pilot Siddartha Gurung, who among the first reached at the wreckage told reporters.

According to official, they (climbers) had gone to scale the mountain from Gurja Village on October 7.

A heavy snowstorm followed by a landslide buried the base camp at an altitude of 3,500 metres when the climbers were awaiting for a fair weather to move towards higher camps, they said.

The Mount Gurja storm is the deadliest mountaineering incident to hit the Himalayan nation since 2015 Mount Everests avalanche triggered by a powerful earthquake, killing at least 18 people.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Kanpur:

Quite often, higher education institutions are hit by strife which are predominantly between the students and the administration or among the students themselves. Many of these prestigious temples of learning across the country have witnessed violence and student unrests as institutional governance failed to ensure sacrosanct academic environment in college or university campuses.

Sometimes the magnitude of these disturbances is so intense that the institutions have to be closed sine die, leading to derailment of the academic schedule and allied activities. Violence in campuses also lead to loss of property of the institution and public, posing law and order problem to both inside and outside academic campuses along with mortification of the institution.

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The reasons for such disturbances vary. Subsequently, in all of the happenings, the institutional governance and other facilitators conduct routine inquiries and seek reports about the cause and prevention of such recurrences, but the disturbances continue unabated, may be due to other reasons.

It may be noted that almost all students in higher education institutions are entitled to adult suffrage which means that the maturity, as well as use of individual wisdom in actions, is there and the involvement in any activity cannot be termed a part of frenzy mob. Also, the present state of gross enrolment ratio is indicative of the fact that the current higher education system is not capable of extending the opportunity to all interested ones, meaning thereby that the admission process does some kind of filtration based on the academic merit of aspirants before admitting them in the respective institution.

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So, the intent of admitted students for serious study cannot be doubted as they seek admission to study for a successful career ahead through the teachers at the core of every education system. Hence, the question arises why the student unrests erupt in higher education institutions whether of the public or private.

An unbiased introspection of student disturbances would reveal the reasons being trivial issues that are ignited to spread violence due to miscarriage at a certain level. Any lethargy on the part of institutional governance in responsiveness to the student concerns and the unavailability of respite seeds the circumstances for the student unrest. In fact, the majority of student issues can be redressed through a proactive approach of the institutional governance which invariably has teachers as an integral part of it.

Frequent student unrests point towards insufficiency of student-teacher interaction. Because the understanding of teachers about the challenges faced by the students through interaction can certainly help to resolve the difficulties faced by them, but the same is not being relied upon usually. Sometimes, the improper handling of student-centric activities because of the absence of teachers in handling also invites trouble. Also, the impartiality and absence of rationality in the actions of the people at the helm in the institution is often construed as a partisan approach, which may even be concluded as the imposition of certain ideologies by the institutional governance that is not convincingly accepted by a section of students or the students and teachers/staff.

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Functioning dynamics of the higher education institutions of residential, non-residential or semi-residential type are different, but the similarity lies in the aim and objective of the Institution for imparting education to the students. The academic rigour of teaching-learning processes in the respective institution defines the level of involvement of students, teachers, and staff in various related activities. Inadequate involvement of students in academic and non-academic activities prescribed for their development enables ample time with the students for doing various other undesirable activities.

Apart from above, the various other generic issues responsible for student unrest are the incompetency at the institutions apex levels, non-uniform application of prescribed provisions, arbitrariness in actions, dilution of academic integrity, unfair practices leading to corruption, inadequacy of infrastructural support, deficient facilities and services in institution, shortage of teachers and staff, lack of inspiring teachers, the decline in mutual tolerance and most importantly the uncertainty about future career after completion of study.

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From time immemorial, the political system of the country has been making an intangible influence on the minds of the senior students in higher education institutions which over a period creates a divide amongst them, and the presence of one or more of the factors detailed above make academic campuses vulnerable for strife.

Eventually, the disturbances in institutions burden the whole of institutional set up to bring back normalcy and combat its adverse effects. It may restore the situation but the loss of academic and research activities leading to poor performance of the institution and the erosion of its public perception cannot be reversed.

Any decline in the brand value of the institution is likely to incur larger damage. Bright students and teachers would not want to be a part of the institutions prone to disturbances, and this drift of competence at any level could be disastrous for any institution in due course. Therefore, the governance within and outside institution should make candid assessment of the prevailing situation in higher education institutions and evolve holistic remedy by making systems driven on the premise of quality consciousness and student-centric approach so as to maintain them as real temples of learning with capability of producing responsible citizens to take civilisation forward.

(The writer is founder Vice Chancellor of Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Currently, he is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Harcourt Butler Technical University, Kanpur, UP. onkpar@rediffmail.com)
New Delhi:

Bollywood actor Nana Patekar, who has been accused of sexual harassment by Tanushree Dutta, has distanced himself from the upcoming film Housefull 4, his son Malhar said in a statement in Mumbai on Friday.

"Nanasaheb doesnt want any inconvenience caused to anyone and hence in the backdrop of false accusations levelled against him he thought it fit to distance himself with the ongoing project of 'Housefull 4'," Malhar said.

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The development comes a day after lead actor of the film Akshay Kumar wrote to the producers of the film to halt the shooting until the probe is completed. Akshay said he would not work with proven offenders and demanded justice for the victims.

"I have requested producers of Housefull 4 to cancel the shooting until further investigation. This is something that requires stringent action. I will not work with proven offenders and all those who have been subjugated to harassment should be heard and given the justice they deserve," Akshay wrote on Twitter on Friday.

The statement from Akshay, the most high-profile actor of Housefull 4, came after at least three women came out with similar accusations of sexual harassment against the films director Sajid Khan.

Sajid Khan had also decided to step down as the director of the film following the accusations. He, however, denied the charges and said that he will allay the allegations and prove the truth.

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Meanwhile, Nana Patekar had also rebutted the allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour. Tanushree Dutta had accused that the national-award-winning actor had sexually assaulted her during the shooting of a song sequence for the 2008 flick Horn OK Pleassss.

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Srinagar:

Scholar-turned-militant Manan Wani, was one among the two militants to have been killed in an encounter at Handwara in North Kashmir on Thursday.

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Wani, a PhD scholar with the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), joined militant ranks this January, according to sources.



Following the tip-off of the trapped militants, police and other security forces have cordoned off a village. And, the militants have been asked to surrender by the police through a public address system.

Also Read | Amrapali group tells Supreme Court nine properties sealed



The firing stopped for sometime around 9 am, but firing resumed after 15 minutes amid search operation, the officials said.

The operation has been concluded, the police said.

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Thursday said sealing of illegal and unauthorised construction in Delhi should be done without giving any advance notice. The top court has also sought the Centres response on discarding the rule which mandates 48 hours advance notice to be given to violators before taking action against them.

The Supreme Court on August 6 warned that those obstructing the government officials from carrying out the sealing of unauthorised and illegal constructions in the national Capital would be sent directly to the Tihar jail from the court.

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The stern warning came from a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta, which accepted an unconditional apology tendered by Mukesh Suryan, the chairman of the wards committee of the Najafgarh zone, against whom allegations were levelled that he had threatened the officials.



The Forum of MCD Engineers had alleged in the apex court that Suryan had threatened the officials when they had gone to seal unauthorised constructions as per directions of the court-mandated monitoring committee.



During the brief hearing, Suryan's counsel told the bench that an affidavit tendering unconditional apology has been filed by Suryan and he would not repeat any such thing in the future.

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"Make sure that it is not repeated and if you will do it again, then come to the court with a suitcase as you will go directly to Tihar jail from here," the bench said.



The apex court had earlier warned against threats given to officials, who were carrying out sealing of unauthorised constructions, and said that such kind of 'dadagiri' (bullying tactics) would not work.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: MLA Raghav Chadha from Rajendra Nagar in the national capital has launched 'Mission Sahara' in his assembly constituency to help transgenders in the wake of the corona epidemic. The district magistrate of the area approached the Community Empowerment Trust, a non-profit organization under Mission Sahara, to assist transgenders.

Mission Sahara



AAP MLA @raghav_chadha distributes Free Ration Kits to the Transgender Community



"Mission Sahara is our way of ensuring that nobody has to struggle for the bare minimum during this pandemic" pic.twitter.com/ej1QrLhptr  AAP (@AamAadmiParty) August 24, 2021

Various teams of volunteers were deployed to identify them and ration kits followed by about 100 transgenders who were not able to avail the free ration distribution scheme of the already existing Delhi government. These transgenders were distributed ration kits in difficult situations of the corona epidemic, rice, wheat, oil, spices were given in ration kits. Raghav Chadha said that through Mission Sahara, efforts are being made to ensure that people do not face difficult situations during the epidemic.

Chadha said that the right to life lies in our Constitution, availability of food is a part of this right to life, as an elected representative of Rajendra Nagar, I will do everything possible to ensure that the people of my Assembly do not suffer.

Sri Lankas Ex Foreign Minister Samaraweera dies of COVID-19, Jaishankar expresses condolences

Israel's Covid-19 case tally surpasses 1 million landmark

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JERUSALEM: The number of coronavirus cases in Israel has crossed over one million landmark, that is to say 10,05,511, almost a year and a half since the first case was detected in the country, the Israeli Ministry of Health said on Tuesday.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Israel has now become the 35th country with more than 1 million infections, as quoted by the international news media. The country reported its first Covid-19 case on February 27, 2020, as an Israeli who had returned from Italy tested positive.

The number of deaths caused by the virus in Israel climbed to 6,864, while the number of patients in a serious condition increased to 678. The number of active cases went up to 72,572 in the country, while the number of recoveries rose to 926,075. Over 5.9 million people in Israel, or 63.2 percent of its total population, have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while over 5.45 million have taken two doses and over 1.57 million have got three vaccine shots. Covid Pandemic posed 75-80 mn more people in Asia-Pacific into extreme poverty.

Covid Pandemic posed 75-80 mn more people in Asia-Pacific into extreme poverty

Ukrainian evacuation plane hijacked in Kabul

US VP Kamala Harris accuses Beijing of Coercion and Intimidation in South China Sea
Upping the ante to the humanitarian mercy, Pope Francis has sent more than USD 411,000 in charity funds at his personal disposal to help with emergency relief in Haiti, Bangladesh and Vietnam. In the Vatican statement released on Tuesday, it states that 200,000 euros was going to Haiti to help in the aftermath of the August 14 earthquake that killed more than 2,000 people.

About USD 70,000 was sent to Bangladesh for continuing recovery assistance from Cyclone Yaas, which left tens of thousands of people homeless last May, and about 100,000 euros to Vietnam, where food supplies have been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vatican said the sums were initial contributions and would be administered through its embassies in the countries.

Much of the charity money at the pope's personal disposal comes from Peter's Pence, a fund to which Catholics can contribute for general or specific causes. The fund amounted to 50 million euros in 2020, according to a consolidated financial statement issued last month.

Taliban lashes out at people on street, says 'Wearing jeans is an insult to Islam...'

Sri Lankas Ex Foreign Minister Samaraweera dies of COVID-19, Jaishankar expresses condolences

Spain cautions Will Have To rescue People Behind In Afghanistan
Islamabad: Kargil hero captain Vikram Batra's life film 'Shershaah' has been in the news since its release. While some people may be expressing some displeasure over Sidharth Malhotra's performance after watching the film, there is no denying that most people are praising the film. Captain Vikram Batra's bravery, his sacrifice as well as his life are depicted in this film in such a way that not only Indians but Pakistanis also want to watch the film.

Interestingly, some Pakistanis are saying that the film is blocked on many sites in the country, but still, many want to see it. Let someone provide them a link to this film. After watching the trailer of Shershaah on a Pakistani YouTube channel called Desi Veer Reaction, YouTubers praised Sidharth's performance and said that the film has shown good romance and action. They have loved this video clip. This has been followed by a reaction to the film on a YouTube channel called News, Views & Updates. He says it is not just a war story, but a family story. At the same time, the spirit of the soldier shown in the film has also been appreciated by YouTubers. He not only liked the graphics but also liked the music very much. The video also appreciates the relationship between Vikram Batra and Dimple Cheema.

The most interesting reaction has been seen on a YouTube channel called Mr. Ahmr, where YouTuber Ahmr Khokhar has made a video on it after the release of the film. In the video, he said that the film is banned in Pakistan but he wants to watch it. The two YouTubers, who hosted a YouTube channel called Mr Ahmr, said they had seen several video clips of the film and had a great desire to watch the film. He has also appealed to the people to provide them a link to a website so that they can watch the film. YouTubers have also praised Captain Vikram Batra for his bravery as a soldier.

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Spain will not be able to rescue all Afghans who served Spanish missions in Afghanistan on account of the "dramatic" situation on the ground, Defence Minister Margarita Robles said Tuesday. "We will evacuate as many people as possible but there are people who will stay behind for reasons that do not depend on us, but on the situation there," Robles said, adding that Taliban checkpoints and violence were making it difficult for people to reach Kabul airport to catch one of the daily flights on a Spanish military plane out of the country.

Speaking to a prominent Spanish radio network on Tuesday, Margarita Robles said that the country will evacuate as many people as possible but there are people who will left behind due to the "dramatic" situation on the ground. "Not everyone would be evacuated before the 31 August deadline agreed with the Taliban," a report by the BBC quoted Wallace as saying. "We have taken out 2,000 people in the last 24 hours and 10,000 since April," Wallace said. "Our focus is to get as many people out, but the scale of the challenge means that not everyone will get out. We are ruthlessly prioritising people," he alerted.

Earlier in the day, her UK counterpart Ben Wallace issued a similar warning.

Israel's Covid-19 case tally surpasses 1 million landmark

Covid Pandemic posed 75-80 mn more people in Asia-Pacific into extreme poverty

Pratik Gandhi starrer 'Raavan Leela' to release in theatres; Know date
Tamil Nadu coast is on high vigilant over possible LTTE-supported drug syndicates. The central agencies are on high alert after the arrest of Sri Lankan national Suresh Raj or Chinna Suresh and Soundararajan from Kochi and Chennai in the last week of July.

The National Investigating Agency team who are probing the seizure of five AK 47 rifles and Rs 3000 crore worth of drugs from a Sri Lanka boat off the Kerala coast on March 25, 2021, has found that the arrested were handled by a Pakistani national and that the two were involved in smuggling the drugs for garnering funds to the now-defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The arrested Suresh Raj and Soundararajan said the investigating officers that the LTTE network is active in certain pockets of Tamil Nadu. According to Central intelligence agencies that are tracking the seizure and the arrest of the Sri Lankan nationals, the drugs, and weapons from Pakistan were headed towards Hambantota port in Sri Lanka and from there to other international destinations. According to reports, the drugs and weapons from Pakistan are being smuggled using networks in Tamil Nadu and Kerala for scouting funds to the operational activities of the now-defunct LTTE.

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New Delhi: Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeni Yenin has said that a Ukrainian plane has been hijacked by unidentified people. It was taken to Iran. It also has some unknown people on board. Yenin had earlier reported this to Russian news agency TASS, but now the Ukraine Foreign Ministry has also dismissed reports of hijacking.

According to reports, Iran's aviation regulator denied Ukraine's claim that the Ukrainian plane stopped to fuel Mashhad on the night of August 23 and then went to Ukraine at 9:50 p.m. The news was also dismissed by Ukraine Foreign Ministry Chairman Oleg Nikolaenko. Talking to the media, he said that there has been no hijacking of a Ukrainian plane in Kabul or anywhere. Some media reports are reporting information about the hijacked plane, which is not in line with reality.

In fact, Yevgeni Yenin, deputy foreign minister of the Ukrainian government, claimed Tuesday that the plane was hijacked this Sunday, which was taken over by some unknown people. No information in this regard is yet to be ascertained. According to information, the plane was taken to Iran on Tuesday. Some ignorant people are also aboard the plane.

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Modi-Putin discussions on Afghanistan issue continued for 45 minutes
The official journey of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) started in 1985 when seven states namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives formed this regional platform. Later in 2007, Afghanistan joined SAARC. Sri Lanka and the Maldives are island states among the eight SAARC members. On the other hand, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan are landlocked countries.

Realising that the unprecedented progress that other regions of the world have made by increasing regional communication and cooperation, the same development of this region is possible if the communication and cooperation between the states in this region can be increased to the desired level.

Comparing SAARC with other blocs

The EU, ASEAN, GCC and other regional blocs have achieved prosperity by joining the regional alliances. Citizens of these regional alliances excluding some member states are not required to obtain visas if they wish to travel from one allied country to another. Citizens of these regions can travel from one country to another by road, rail, sea or air without any hindrance in their respective territories. Even citizens of these regions can travel from one country to another in private cars. These regional alliances give more importance to regional trade in the development of their respective regions. It accelerated the development of these regions to increase regional trade.

After the establishment of SAARC, it was hoped that citizens of one country would be able to travel to another without a visa. One country would provide transit facilities to another country as required, including moving from one country to another by private car. But, that goal has not yet been achieved. And, the prospect of achieving that in the near future is not very bright.

The main objective of establishing SAARC was to make the region one of the most prosperous in the world by enhancing regional connectivity and cooperation. But, almost 30 years after the establishment, it is clear that there is still a long way to go to achieve that goal.

India is the largest of the SAARC countries in terms of size and population. The second place belongs to Pakistan. Before the establishment of SAARC, India and Pakistan were engaged in three all-out wars. The state of Bangladesh was born in 1971 in Pakistan through a hardcore struggle. Perhaps, this background has also blocked the region to move ahead as other blocs.

Capitalising on available resources

A meeting between SAARC ministers.

The SAARC region is home to more than a quarter of the worlds population. This region is the most populous region in the world. In recent times, the countries of the region have made great strides in agriculture. While the industrial development of the region is promising, there is a need to harness the potential for further development along the way. The scope of regional trade between SAARC countries is still limited. If this scope is expanded, the SAARC member states will be able to achieve unprecedented development within their own borders.

Among the SAARC countries, Nepal and Bhutan are bounded on the east, west and south by India. Although the two states are bordered by China on the north side, their entire border is rugged. So, communication in that direction is very impenetrable. Nepal and Bhutan are completely dependent on India for foreign trade. Although these two countries have long demanded transit facilities from the regional structure of SAARC through the two seaports of Chittagong and Mongla in Bangladesh, the slow pace of implementation has tarnished the spirit of SAARC.

The seven states of eastern India are called the Seven Sisters. As these seven states are surrounded by other states, these states maintain communication with the mainland of India through a narrow route called the Chicken Neck Corridor. Communication through this route is time-consuming and expensive. India is interested in establishing transit by road, rail and waterways with these seven states through Bangladesh. Although the transit is open by water, it is not fruitful throughout the year due to the low navigability of the rivers in different places.

On the other hand, Bangladesh is on the way to develop the infrastructure required for transit by road and rail for the usage of transit. Bangladesh would like to be a transit hub between South Asia and South-East Asia. Bangladesh is focusing on regional connectivity more. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is liberal in this regard. She always urges regional countries to be connected. She wants to make the way for Nepal and Bhutan for the usage of Bangladeshi seaports such as Chattogram, Mangla, Payra ports and Saidpur airport in Nilphamari.

Immediate concerns

We know the Afghan Crisis. A platform of regional countries like SAARC is needed to address such problems. But now, SAARC is inactive due to the Indo-Pak dispute. Pakistan and India should work together to revive SAARC for the maximisation of regional interests.

Meanwhile, 54 common rivers flowing through India have fallen into the Bay of Bengal through Bangladesh. By unilaterally withdrawing water from most of these rivers upstream, India is using it to maintain the navigability of inland rivers, including hydropower generation and irrigation in agriculture. Bangladesh has faced an unfavourable situation due to the unilateral withdrawal of water by India and the consciousness of SAARC never allows one neighbouring state to create an unfavourable environment for another neighbour. India should work together with Bangladesh in regard to better regional benefits. India should complete a fair Teesta agreement with Bangladesh soon to maximise the mutual benefit. As a big fish in this region, it has some accountability towards others.

Disregarding and ignoring the spirit of SAARC as other SAARC member states are smaller than it, India has always shown a great vicious attitude towards other SAARC member states. Due to this behaviour of India, SAARC is failing to reach its goal on the one hand and the political stability of other SAARC member states is also being endangered on the other hand.

Although India has road and rail links with Bangladesh and Pakistan, trade is being conducted through transhipment due to the lack of transit facilities. Communication is not very easy as the citizens of these three countries also need a visa to communicate. It is as easy as possible for an Indian citizen to travel to these two countries by obtaining a visa from Bangladesh and Pakistan; it is not easy for the citizens of these two countries to travel to that country by getting an Indian visa.

At present, the trade between Nepal and Bhutan with Bangladesh is being handled through transhipment in the absence of transit. As a result, the import and export expenditure of both the states is increasing.

Indias economy is growing rapidly. Bangladeshs economy is also booming day by day. Besides, the economies of all other countries in South Asia are also developing. Under the scope of regional cooperation, the following provisions should be introduced to reap benefits from this platform:

Transit facilities between SAARC countries are opened

The visa system is abolished

The currency of one country is easily exchanged in another country or common currency is introduced

Travel facility from one country to another in a private car is introduced

The flow of electricity, gas, oil and water from one country to another is made easily available

The same SIM card can be used to talk from one country to another easily and cheaply

The scope of trade is maximised

This requires the SAARC countries to show the highest level of friendship and harmony towards each other and to make the best use of opportunities and cooperation.
" " The late Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones performs at MetLife Stadium Aug. 5, 2019, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Watts died Aug. 24, 2021. Taylor Hill/Getty Images

In an era when rock drummers were larger-than-life showmen with big kits and egos to match, Charlie Watts remained the quiet man behind a modest drum set. But Watts wasn't your typical rock drummer.

Part of the Rolling Stones setup from 1963 until his death Aug. 24, 2021, Watts provided the back-beat to their greatest hits by injecting jazz sensibilities  and swing  into the Stones' sound.

As a musicologist and co-editor of the Cambridge Companion to the Rolling Stones  as well as a fan who has seen the Stones live more than 20 times over the past five decades  I see Watts as being integral to the band's success.

Like Ringo Starr and other drummers who emerged during the 1960s British pop explosion, Watts was influenced by the swing and big band sound that was hugely popular in the U.K. in the 1940s and 1950s.

" " Charlie Watts at the drums while the Rolling Stones were on stage in Hamburg, Germany, in September 1970. Picture Alliance via Getty Images

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Modest With the Sticks

Watts wasn't formally trained as a jazz drummer, but jazz musicians like Jelly Roll Morton, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk were early influences.

In a 2012 interview with the New Yorker, he recalled how their records informed his playing style.

"I bought a banjo, and I didn't like the dots on the neck," Watts said. "So I took the neck off, and at the same time I heard a drummer called Chico Hamilton, who played with Gerry Mulligan, and I wanted to play like that, with brushes. I didn't have a snare drum, so I put the banjo head on a stand."

Watts' first group, the Jo Jones All Stars, were a jazz band. And elements of jazz remained throughout his Stones career, providing Watts with a wide stylistic versatility that was critical to the Stones' forays beyond blues and rock to country, reggae, disco, funk and even punk.

There was a modesty in his playing that came from his jazz learning. There are no big rock drum solos. He made sure the attention was never on him or his drumming  his role was keeping the songs going forward, giving them movement.

He also didn't use a big kit  no gongs, no scaffolding. He kept a modest one more typically found in jazz quartets and quintets.

Likewise, Watts' occasional use of brushes over sticks  such as in "Melody" from 1976's "Black and Blue"  more explicitly shows his debt to jazz drummers.

But he didn't come in with one style. Watts was trained to adapt, while keeping elements of jazz. You can hear it in the R&B of " (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," to the infernal samba-like rhythm of "Sympathy For the Devil"  two songs in which Watts' contribution is central.

And a song like "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" from 1971's "Sticky Fingers" develops from one of Keith Richards' highest caliber riffs into a long concluding instrumental section, unique in the Stones' song catalog, of Santana-esque Latin jazz, containing some great syncopated rhythmic shots and tasteful hi-hat playing through which Watts drives the different musical sections.

You hear similar elements in "Gimme Shelter" and other classic Rolling Stones songs  it is perfectly placed drum fills and gestures that make the song and surprise you, always in the background and never dominating.

" " Charlie Watts (far right), seen here with (from left) Ronnie Woods, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, was an instrumental part of the Rolling Stones. His drum fills and jazz beats will be extremely difficult to replace. Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for the Rolling Stones

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Powering the "Engine Room"

So central was Watts to the Stones that when bassist Bill Wyman retired from the band after the 1989 "Steel Wheels" tour, it was Watts who was tasked with picking his replacement.

He needed a bass player that would fit his style. But his choice of Darryl Jones as Wyman's replacement was not the only key partnership for Watts. He played off the beat, complementing Richards' very syncopated, riff-driven guitar style. Watts and Richards set the groove for so many Stones songs, such as "Honky Tonk Women" or "Start Me Up."

If you watched them live, you'd notice Richards looking at Watts at all times  his eyes fixated on the drummer, searching for where the musical accents are, and matching their rhythmic "shots" and off-beats.

Watts did not aspire to be a virtuoso like John Bonham of Led Zeppelin or The Who's Keith Moon  there was no drumming excess. From that initial jazz training, he kept his distance from outward gestures.

But for nearly six decades, he was the main occupant, as Richards put it, of the Rolling Stones' legendary "engine room."

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. You can find the original article here.

Victor Coelho is a professor of music at Boston University.
FCW Insider: August 24, 2021

Richard Spires, the former CIO at the IRS and DHS, explains why early-career expertise is the key to successful leadership.

The Defense Department will mandate Pfizer-produced COVID-19 vaccines following the Food and Drug Administration's approval, and other agencies are expected to follow.

Months after clearing out Trump appointees, Biden nominated appointees to fill the Federal Services Impasses Panel, a key institution in the federal labor-management relations space.

Quick Hits

*** Security vendor Upguard discovered a configuration weakness in Microsoft's Power Apps portal, which is used to support low code business applications, that led to the leak of 38 million records across 47 entities including the governments of New York City, Indiana and Maryland.

*** The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has posted a fact sheet to help public- and private-sector organizations prevent and respond to ransomware attackers threatening to release sensitive information if a victim does not pay the ransom demanded. GCN has more.
SUZHOU, China, and ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and age-related diseases, today announced its 2021 interim results and released an update on the recent progress in clinical development, strategic partnerships, and preparation for commercialization.

Ascentage Pharma Logo (PRNewsfoto/)

During the reporting period, Ascentage Pharma achieved significant progress in areas including clinical development, strategic partnerships, and intellectual properties. In particular, the company reported clinical results on its lead drug candidates in oral presentations at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, validating the promising clinical utility and first/best-in-class potential of its late-stage assets. In strategic collaborations, Ascentage Pharma entered into a major partnership with Innovent Biologics (or "Innovent"), setting the precedence of a large-scale multifaceted collaboration between two leading Chinese innovative biopharmaceutical companies.

Rapidly advancing clinical development with commitment to global innovation

In the first half of 2021, Ascentage Pharma continued to increase its investment in innovation, with the research and development expenses increased by 26.3% year on year, to RMB318 million. The company has rapidly advanced its global clinical development programs, and is currently conducting over 40 Phase I/II clinical trials in the United States, Australia, Europe, and China. Meanwhile, the company has further strengthened its portfolio of intellectual properties, paving the way for its accelerating research and development. As of June 30, the company has 144 issued patents and more than 510 patent applications globally, among of which, 110 patents are issued overseas.

In the six months ended June 30, 2021, Ascentage Pharma has rapidly advanced its drug candidates in clinical development. The third pivotal Phase II study of the company's lead drug candidate, HQP1351 (olverembatinib), in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) resistant/intolerant to first- and second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), has already completed its patient enrollment. In March 2021, a Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the indication was granted to HQP1351 by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), accelerating the future development of regulatory approval of the product. HQP1351 is the first China-developed third-generation BCR-ABL inhibitor developed for the treatment of patients with TKI-resistant CML, and is designed to effectively target BCR-ABL mutants, including T315I. Prior to the reporting period, the company has already submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) for HQP1351 in China and was subsequently granted the Priority Review status by the CDE.

Story continues

Lisaftoclax (APG-2575), the first China-developed selective Bcl-2 inhibitor entering clinical development in China, was cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2021 to enter a clinical study evaluating the drug candidate as a single agent or in combination with other antitumor therapies for the treatment of patients with advanced estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer or other solid tumors. APG-2575 is currently being investigated in 17 clinical studies in a range of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, and has thus far showed enormous therapeutic potential.

During the reporting period, the Bcl-2 inhibitor alrizomadlin (APG-115) was granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for the treatment of stage IIB-IV melanoma, marking the fifth ODD granted the product. In total, Ascentage Pharma has obtained twelve ODDs, which is a new record in the number of ODDs granted to any Chinese biopharmaceutical company and a manifestation of the company's capabilities in global innovation.

Demonstrating the therapeutic utility of lead assets with a focus on delivering clinical values

As a global leader in the development of apoptosis-targeting therapies, Ascentage Pharma has continued to demonstrate its capabilities in global innovation by attracting widespread interest at major scientific events and delivering impressive progress with the clinical development of its apoptosis-targeting drug candidates.

In an oral presentation at the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting, Ascentage Pharma reported updated results from the first-in-human study evaluating the Bcl-2 inhibitor APG-2575, another core drug candidate of the company's apoptosis-targeting pipeline, in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (R/R CLL/SLL) and other hematologic malignancies. These results of APG-2575 demonstrated favorable preliminary safety and efficacy, including an objective response rate (ORR) of 80%, and a good tolerability profile with manageable adverse events (AEs). Moreover, no dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed at the maximum tested dose of 1,200 mg. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) has not been reached, and no laboratory or clinical tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) has been reported. These data are indictive of APG-2575's potential as an alternative treatment with clear best-in-class potential.

In another oral presentation at the ASCO Annual Meeting, the company released updated results from a Phase II study of APG-115, which is also a lead candidate in Ascentage Pharma's apoptosis-targeting pipeline, in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma or advanced solid tumors that have progressed on prior immuno-oncologic (IO) drugs. These results demonstrated a manageable safety profile and meaningful clinical antitumor activity, including one patient with a complete response (CR), an objective response rate (ORR) of 24.1% and a disease control rate (DCR) of 55.2%. In addition, partial responses (PRs) were reported in enrolled patients with other tumor types. These results showed APG-115's potential as a first-in-class therapy for patients resistant or refractory to prior IO drugs. Furthermore, the preclinical results of APG-115 published in the renowned scientific journal, Nature Immunology, in March this year has demonstrated MDM2's pivotal biological role in T-cell stability, survival, and antitumor immunity, potentially laying a foundation for synergistic effects between MDM2-targeted agents such as APG-115 and cancer immunotherapy.

Expanding external collaborations through multiple new landmark partnerships

In the first six months of 2021, Ascentage Pharma entered into a landmark strategic partnership with Innovent, setting a new partnering model between innovative biopharmaceutical companies in China. According to the terms of the agreement, the two companies will jointly develop and commercialize one of Ascentage Pharma lead drug candidates, the third-generation BCR-ABL inhibitor, HQP1351; jointly develop Ascentage Pharma's Bcl-2 inhibitor, APG-2575, in combination with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection), co-developed by Innovent and Eli Lilly and Company, and Innovent's anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody, letaplimab (IBI188). Moreover, the two companies agreed that Innovent will subscribe to Ascentage Pharma's common shares for a total consideration of US$50 million at HK$44.0 per share (subscription completed), and to grant Innovent stock warrants that will allow it to acquire additional Ascentage Pharma's common shares for a total consideration of US$50 million at a subscription price of HK$57.2 per share (pending approval at shareholder meeting). Having entered this strategic collaboration that created a new partnering model for the development of innovative therapies, the two companies will collaborate in every possible manner to accelerate the introduction of China-developed innovative therapies to the world and bring clinical benefit to more patients in need.

While building win-win partnerships in China, Ascentage Pharma has actively sought new partners overseas. To accelerate its global innovation, the company has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the world-leading research institute, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), to collaborate on the non-clinical and clinical development of Ascentage Pharma's drug compound APG-1252 (pelcitoclax). This collaboration with the NCI will help Ascentage Pharma to maximize the clinical potential of APG-1252 in solid tumors and further strengthen the company's pipeline.

Also during the reporting period, Ascentage Pharma received another milestone payment from its global licensee, UNITY Biotechnology, after UNITY reported positive data from a Phase I clinical study of the senolytic drug candidate UBX1325, and dosed the first patient in the subsequent Phase IIa clinical study. In the future, Ascentage Pharma will continue to work closely with UNITY in the development anti-aging drugs that will bring hope to patients around the world.

Steady progress in commercialization and industrialization in preparation for upcoming product launches

To support the company's commercialization activities and the rollout of its global strategies, Ascentage Pharma commenced the construction of its Global Headquarters, R&D center, and manufacturing facility in November 2019. Since then, the construction has progressed rapidly and the facility will likely to be ready for operations later this year to accelerate the company's transition from a clinical-stage biotech into a full-fledged global biopharmaceutical company, further extending the company's global outreach. While entering into the agreement with Innovent on the joint commercialization of HQP1351, Ascentage Pharma has built a commercial team processing a strong track record in the field of hematology. This talented team is currently in all-out preparation for the upcoming launch of the company's lead drug candidate HQP1351, laying down a solid foundation that will enable the future commercial success.

Dr. Dajun Yang, Chairman & CEO of Ascentage Pharma, commented: "In the first half of 2021, Ascentage Pharma achieved tremendous progress in clinical development, external collaborations, and commercialization preparation. Clinical progress with two of our lead apoptotic assets, APG-2575 and APG-115, reported in oral presentations at this year's ASCO Annual Meeting, demonstrated our robust progress in research and development, and further validated the clinical value and potential of our assets. Meanwhile, we entered into a large-scale multifaceted strategic collaboration with Innovent. This collaboration will generate strong tailwind to the commercialization of our lead compound, HQP1351, and the clinical development of APG-2575. The equity investment from Innovent signifies strong recognition of our R&D capabilities and our growth potential.

Moving forward, we will press ahead with the commercialization of HQP1351 and reach the milestone of our first commercial launch as soon as possible. We will continue to accelerate our clinical programs globally and steadfastly implement our global innovation strategy. To move us closer to realizing the mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world, we will strive to bring more safe and effective therapies to patients and to create additional value for our shareholders."

About Ascentage Pharma

Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) is a globally focused biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B, and age-related diseases. On October 28, 2019, Ascentage Pharma was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code: 6855.HK.

Ascentage Pharma focuses on developing therapeutics that inhibit protein-protein interactions to restore apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The company has built a pipeline of eight clinical drug candidates, including novel, highly potent Bcl-2, and dual Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors, as well as candidates aimed at IAP and MDM2-p53 pathways, and next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Ascentage Pharma is also the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators. The company is conducting more than 40 Phase I/II clinical trials in the US, Australia, Europe, and China. Ascentage Pharma has been designated for multiple Major National R&D Projects, including five Major New Drug Projects, one New Drug Incubator status, four Innovative Drug Programs, and one Major Project for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases. HQP1351, the company's core drug candidate developed for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), has been granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and a Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the US FDA. A New Drug Application (NDA) for HQP1351 has been submitted and subsequently granted Priority Review status and a Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) in China. To date, Ascentage Pharma has obtained a total of 12 ODDs from the US FDA for 4 of the company's investigational drug candidates.

Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights, and entered into global partnerships with numerous renowned biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and research institutes such as UNITY Biotechnology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MSD, and AstraZeneca. The company has built a talented team with global experience in the discovery and development of innovative drugs, and is setting up its world-class commercial manufacturing and Sales & Marketing teams. Ascentage Pharma aims to continuously strengthen its R&D capabilities and accelerate its clinical development programs to fulfil its mission of 'addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world' for the benefit of more patients.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions may alter in light of future development.

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SOURCE Ascentage Pharma
Reuters

LONDON/DUBAI (Reuters) -OPEC and its allies will likely stick to their existing policy of gradual oil output increases, four sources said on Wednesday, even though the group revised up its 2022 demand outlook and still faces U.S. pressure to raise production more quickly. A meeting of key OPEC+ ministers from the monitoring committee, which usually precedes the main meeting, ended on Wednesday in just under 30 minutes and made no proposals to adjust existing policies, an OPEC+ source said. On Tuesday, OPEC+ experts revised the 2022 oil demand growth forecast to 4.2 million bpd, up from a previous 3.28 million bpd, potentially building the case for higher output in future.
BEAMSVILLE, Ontario, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Youth wellbeing in Canada has seen a decline in recent years. The staggering numbers demonstrate that the perceived mental health with a mention of poor/fair more than doubled in 2018 for youth. While proponents of flavour restrictions often cite surveys finding that some youth indicate flavours are a reason for use, they ignore the same survey data which indicates mental health is a driving force. Canadian youth have been vocal regarding their mental health and the need for counseling, and through forward-thinking studies, its becoming apparent that their requests are valid and pressing.



A study conducted in BC asked youth about quitting vaping, where 24% of youth reported that vaping improved their mental health and 11% indicated that mental health counseling would help them quit vaping. In their comments, there are requests for judgement-free and shameless approaches to quit vaping, as well as education on how to quit. While it may seem obvious that a federal strategy would outline support and stress management for youth, the battle has been wrongfully directed towards flavours.

There are modern and innovative studies from the US that demonstrate the potential effectiveness in appealing to youth by means of their mental health. In their recent study, UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh shows that setting goals and strong parental support reduces the likelihood that youth will vape. Positive future orientation and high levels of parental monitoring were both linked with a 10% to 25% lower prevalence of recently or ever vaping, compared to peers with lower scores on those protective factors. Yale researchers developed a video game, played by using a virtual reality headset, that not only educated teens on nicotine addiction and vaping, but teaches them to say no to vaping while maintaining their coolness and dignity. There was an 80% completion rate, and students reported a satisfactory gameplay experience. These studies demonstrate the absolute potential there is in controlling the narrative and offering youth the education and support they need to avoid dependencies in their future. As they are empowered in their own decisions, they build the required skillset to face temptations.

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It is imperative that youth learn to cope with strong emotions and deal with their mental health as opposed to using nicotine as a crutch. This requires fail-safe programs that would allow for education that is paired with an awareness of the social stakes and imperatives that surround them. said Darryl Tempest, Executive Director of the CVA.

The solution to youth vaping will not be found in a makeshift regulation change. The joy of enjoying flavours is universal, and there are thousands of products that are flavored in food and drink. Addressing the mental health state of youth and educating them to make good choices now and in the future are paramount to being successful. While Canada attempts to limit the effectiveness of vaping products by obliterating flavours, it is entirely blind sighted by the reality that mental health is a major factor and plays a pivotal role in decreasing the Canadian smoking prevalence.

Contact Info:

Darryl Tempest

Executive Director

dtempest@thecva.org

647-274-1867




- Teleconference to be held at 8:00 A.M. EDT/8:00 P.M. Beijing Time -

ZHANGZHOU, China, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- China Zenix Auto International Limited (OTC: ZXAIY) ("Zenix Auto" or "the Company"), one of the largest commercial vehicle wheel manufacturers in China in both the aftermarket and OEM market by sales volume, today announced that it plans to release its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021, on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 before the market opens.

To participate, please call the following numbers 5 minutes before the call start time and ask to be connected to the "China Zenix Auto" conference call:

Phone Number: +1-877-407-0782 (North America)

Phone Number: +1-201-689-8567 (International)

Phone Number: +86-400-120-2840 (Mainland China)

A telephone replay of the call will be available after the conclusion of the conference call until September 31, 2021. The dial-in details for the replay are: U.S. Toll Free Number +1-877-481-4010, International dial-in number +1-919-882-2331 using Conference ID "42534 " to access the replay.

About China Zenix Auto International Limited

China Zenix Auto International Limited is one of the largest commercial vehicle wheel manufacturers in China in both the aftermarket and OEM market by sales volume. The Company offers more than 800 series of aluminum wheels, tubed steel wheels, tubeless steel wheels, and off-road steel wheels in the aftermarket and OEM markets in China and internationally. The Company's products are primarily sold to large PRC commercial vehicle manufacturers and exported to over 54 distributors in more than 24 countries worldwide. With six large, strategically located manufacturing facilities in multiple regions across China, the Company has a designed annual production capacity of approximately 15.5 million units of steel and aluminum wheels as of June 30, 2021. For more information, please visit: www.zenixauto.com/en.

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Safe Harbor

The Company may make written or oral forward-looking statements in periodic reports filed with the SEC, annual reports to shareholders, press releases such as this announcement, other written materials furnished to investors, and oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Further information regarding these risks is included in the Company's annual Form 20-F filings with the SEC. The coronavirus outbreak, together with a deterioration of the general economic conditions and the automobile industry triggered by the outbreak in part, has adversely affected the financial position and operating results of the Company. The outbreak's impact on our supplier and customers, including disruptions and inefficiencies in the supply chain, could be unpredictable. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For more information, please contact:

Kevin Theiss

Investor Relations

212-521-4050

kevin@awakenlab.com

Cision

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SOURCE China Zenix Auto International Limited
Matt Booker appointed head of Westchester Property and Inland Marine; Bob Meyer to take on newly created role as Executive Vice President, North America Property

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb announced leadership appointments within its North America Property business unit and in its wholesale excess and surplus lines division, Westchester.

Matt Booker, appointed head of Westchester Property and Inland Marine.

Matt Booker has been appointed Executive Vice President, Westchester Property and Inland Marine, where he will have responsibility for leading overall efforts, including new business development, strategic direction, and implementation of underwriting strategy and product development of all property and inland marine products and services. Based in Alpharetta, Georgia, Mr. Booker will report to Scott Meyer, Senior Vice President, Chubb Group, and Division President of Westchester.

Bob Meyer, who previously served as head of Westchester Property and Inland Marine, has been named to a newly created role in Chubb North America Property as Executive Vice President, North America Property, where he will report to Derek Talbott, Division President, North America Property, and serve as a key member of Chubb's North America Property management team. As part of his expanded responsibilities, he will focus on building and developing employee training for all North America Property, as well as providing continued underwriting direction and guidance to Westchester. In his new role, Mr. Meyer will be responsible for strategic planning, portfolio management, including CAT management, and reinsurance strategy. Mr. Meyer will continue to be based in Alpharetta, Georgia.

"This is yet another example of the breadth of leadership within our organization," said Scott Meyer. "Both Matt and Bob have strong track records in underwriting, coupled with extensive leadership skills. That combination will certainly help ensure that our businesses continue to meet the needs of our distribution partners and policyholders."

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"Over the past few years, we have experienced significant growth in our North America Property business," added Mr. Talbott. "Bob's years of experience and expertise are a perfect complement to our existing leadership team, and his industry knowledge and reputation within the industry will help us to further develop our business."

Mr. Booker has close to two decades of insurance experience, with 11 years spent at Chubb. Prior to this appointment, he served as a Senior Vice President, Major Accounts Property in the United States, which serves the large account segment. Prior to that, he served as Chubb's Senior Vice President and New York and Mid-Atlantic Regional Property Underwriting Manager. Throughout his career, Mr. Booker has held a variety of senior leadership roles in underwriting. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Language and International Trade from Clemson University, South Carolina.

Bob Meyer has more than three decades of insurance experience, having served in a variety of managerial and underwriting positions in global property, energy, inland marine and excess and surplus lines. He joined CIGNA, a Chubb predecessor company in 1986 as an international property underwriter in New York and moved through various Property and Inland Marine-related underwriting and managerial positions both in New York and Atlanta. Mr. Meyer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from St. John's University, New York.

About Westchester

Westchester is one of the largest and most diverse excess and surplus lines commercial property and casualty insurance underwriters in the United States. Focused on the wholesale distribution channel, Westchester provides innovative specialty products for property, specialty casualty, environmental, professional risk, inland marine, product recall, small business, binding and programs. The business is further distinguished by exceptional financial strength, underwriting excellence and superior claims handling expertise. Westchester is a Chubb company. Additional information on Westchester can be found at www.westchester.com.

About Chubb

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: chubb.com.

Bob Meyer, named Executive Vice President, North America Property.

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SOURCE Chubb
Private consultants have been running key parts of the governmental response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and that isnt always producing the best results, according to an analysis by The Washington Posts Isaac Stanley-Becker.

The service contracts for consulting services signed by federal, state and local governments can be quite costly, Stanley-Becker says, and tend to leave states without the internal resources and capacities they need to respond to this and other crises over the long term.

At least 25 states, along with federal agencies and many cities and counties, hired consulting firms, Stanley-Becker writes. The American vaccination drive came to rely on global behemoths such as McKinsey and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), with downsized state and local health departments and even federal health agencies relying on the private sector to make vaccines available to their citizens.

While the consultants say they are providing essential services and specialized expertise, critics charge that the contracts, which are often awarded on a no-bid basis, are difficult to monitor, with little oversight of the goals and work product. In one example cited by Stanley-Becker, an official said that California paid Blue Shield and other consultants millions of dollars to do work that was already being done by state employees.

In a more critical example at the national level, Stanley-Becker reports that Boston Consulting Group has been paid more than $9 million to develop a plan to distribute Covid vaccines across the country, with the contract calling for the delivery of robust central infrastructure to coordinate the effort at all levels of government. But coordination of the vaccine effort has been notably lacking, especially in the beginning of the year, and neither the consultants nor officials at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention can identify any robust central infrastructure that has been created by the consultants.

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Its another example of the government farming things out, and often to the wrong folks, Jeffrey P. Koplan, a former CDC director, told Stanley-Becker.

Even when the consulting firms do provide obviously necessary services, their know-how disappears as soon as their contracts end. The contractors leave and were not retaining that expertise, Robin Taylor Wilson, former chair of the American Public Health Associations epidemiology section, said. So the next time an emergency hits, were going to have another delayed reaction.

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Acquisition of US-based Critical Process Systems (CPS) Group from Wynnchurch Capital

Manufacturing and design business of CPS to complement Exyte offerings

Growth acceleration through complementary regional footprint and synergies in semiconductor and life science markets

Completion of transaction expected in the fourth quarter of 2021

STUTTGART, Germany, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Exyte Group ("Exyte") and Wynnchurch Capital announced today that they had reached an agreement for an all-share acquisition of Critical Process Systems Group ("CPS") by Exyte, a global leader in the design, engineering, and delivery of high-tech facilities. The completion of the acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Exyte logo

CPS is a group of manufacturing and design companies with $150 million in annual sales in 2020. With more than 400 employees, the group provides innovative product solutions to clients in the semiconductor, life science, high-purity chemical processing, gas systems, and wastewater industries. CPS is predominantly active in North America with exports to Europe and Asia.

Dr. Wolfgang Buchele, CEO of Exyte, stated: "CPS is a perfect fit for Exyte. The specialized knowledge and technical capabilities of the team are extremely impressive. We are looking forward to expanding our offering in the services and process equipment area. Our strengthened global footprint will allow us to further enhance our service to existing and new customers in our semiconductor and biopharma and life sciences businesses. The acquisition will serve as a platform for future bolt-on acquisitions."

"We are thrilled to become part of Exyte," said Dmitry Shashkov, CEO of CPS. "CPS and Exyte serve the same industries and share the same high standards of technical expertise and project execution. Together, we will be able to fulfill the needs of our customers in the US even better and now also all over the world. Exyte and CPS are both well-recognized players in the market, and we are convinced that the combination of the two will allow us to further accelerate our growth."

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Brian Crumbaugh, partner at Wynnchurch, stated: "Through Wynnchurch's partnership with management, CPS has accomplished a number of milestones since 2018. These include investments in additional engineering and sales resources, developing a refined commercial strategy to drive new business wins, establishing policy deployment tools to create a culture of continuous improvement, recruiting and promoting several new members of the leadership team, and acquiring Nuance Systems. These initiatives have resulted in significant growth in revenue and EBITDA at each of CPS's business units. Exyte is the ideal partner and new shareholder for CPS to continue its growth path in the upcoming years."

About Exyte

Exyte is a global leader in the design, engineering, and delivery of facilities for high-tech industries. With a history of more than 100 years, the company has developed unique expertise in controlled and regulated environments. Exyte has a truly global footprint, serving the most technically demanding clients in markets such as semiconductors, batteries, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and data centers. The company offers a full range of services, from consulting to the managing of turnkey solutions  delivered to the highest quality and safety standards. Solving the most complex challenges, Exyte forges trusted, long-lasting relationships with its clients. In 2020, Exyte generated sales of EUR 4.1 billion with over 4,900 highly experienced and motivated employees. The company is ideally positioned to further strengthen its market leadership with its broad industry insight and its exceptional talents.

About CPS

Critical Process Systems Group, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, is a leading provider of mission-critical solutions for highly demanding industries and applications. The company provides a broad range of products & services including corrosive fume exhaust ducts and air flow control devices, high purity process utility modules, biopharmaceutical processing equipment, and liquid, chemical, and gas storage, blending, and delivery control products, as well as process and mechanical engineering services and project management.

About Wynnchurch

Wynnchurch Capital, L.P., headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, with offices in California, New York, and an affiliate in Canada, was founded in 1999, and is a leading middle-market private equity investment firm. Wynnchurch's strategy is to partner with middle market companies in the United States and Canada that possess the potential for substantial growth and profit improvement. Wynnchurch Capital manages a number of private equity funds with $4.2 billion of committed capital under management and specializes in recapitalizations, growth capital, management buyouts, corporate carve-outs and restructurings.

Exyte

Adriana Williams

Vice President Corporate Communications

& Investor Relations

Tel.: +49 711 8804 1489

www.exyte.net



Critical Process Systems Group

Dmitry Shashkov

President and CEO

CPS Group

Tel.: +1 978-691-2737

www.cpsgrp.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487100/Exyte_Logo.jpg

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CPS logo

Wynnchurch Capital logo




OKLAHOMA CITY, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FlexCare Infusion Centers, a patient-first platform of ambulatory infusion centers, announced a partnership with River Cities Capital, a healthcare-focused growth equity firm, to accelerate FlexCare's regional expansion across Oklahoma and Alabama. In conjunction, FlexCare announced the opening of three new centers: two in Tulsa and one in Birmingham. FlexCare currently operates five centers throughout Oklahoma and Alabama with near-term plans to expand coverage in underserved markets.

"Everybody benefits from our intentionally designed clinical model and passionate focus on the patient experience."

FlexCare Infusion Centers prioritizes comfort, access and convenience while providing patients top-quality care with beneficial treatments in a lower-cost setting.

"This is an incredible opportunity and we are excited to partner with River Cities," says Aaron Smith, CEO, Flexcare. "We look forward to introducing a more convenient, comfortable and private site of care option to patients and their referring specialists in our communities. Everybody benefits from our intentionally designed clinical model and passionate focus on the patient experience."

An advocate for patients, FlexCare works with physicians and insurance providers to ensure patients access to prescribed treatments quickly and efficiently, helping referring providers facilitate authorization and benefits eligibility for their patients. With evening, weekend and workday treatment options, and private, comfortable rooms, patients receive high-quality care safely and comfortably.

"We are thrilled to partner with a team committed to providing exceptional care for patients and that serves as a partner to referring physicians by ensuring consistent and effective communication between providers," says Adam Midkiff, River Cities Capital, who joins the Board of Directors. "We look forward to quickly expanding FlexCare's regional footprint to provide greater care access for complex chronic patients with convenient, comfortable and cost-effective infusion therapies."

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Headquartered in Oklahoma City, FlexCare's current footprint includes multiple centers located throughout Oklahoma City, Norman, Tulsa and Birmingham, with plans to open additional centers throughout Alabama (Huntsville, Montgomery, and Mobile) and Oklahoma (Lawton and Stillwater) in the coming months. Additional regional expansion in neighboring states is planned for 2022.

Locations

Oklahoma City Clinic 1001 West Memorial Oklahoma City, OK 73114 Norman Clinic 481 Merchant Dr. Norman, OK 73069 Tulsa  Midtown 1826 E. 15th St., Ste. A Tulsa, OK 74104 Tulsa South Clinic 8556 E. 101st St., Ste. G Tulsa, OK 74113 Birmingham Clinic 2409 Acton Rd., Ste.153 Vestavia Hills, AL 35243

About FlexCare Infusion Centers

FlexCare Infusion Centers provide specialty infusion and injections to adult and pediatric patients with rare, chronic, and complex conditions. Our expertise includes neurology, immunology, GI, and rheumatology. We offer fast, convenient new patient enrollment. Start the process now by visiting our website: FlexCareinfusion.com/referrals

About River Cities Capital

River Cities (RCC) is a growth equity firm building high-potential healthcare companies by leveraging the unique interplay of our segments of focus: medical device, healthcare services and healthcare IT. We are dedicated to investing on the right side of healthcare, growing companies that enable clinicians to improve the delivery of care and the experiences and outcomes for the patients. We seek to be a business partner first and a capital provider second, investing significant human capital to leverage our domain expertise, a network of healthcare thought leaders and deep relationships with health systems assembled over our 27-year history. For more information, please visit rccf.com.

Contact - RCC Britney Hamberg bh@rccf.com Contact  FlexCare Infusion Centers Joshua McBride josh.mcbride@FlexCareinfusion.com

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SOURCE River Cities Capital Funds
KMBC-TV, KCTV, KSHB-TV, WDAF-TV, KCPT, KCWE, KSMO-TV and KCMI-TV Begin Broadcasting with New Technology

KANSAS CITY, Mo., August 24, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kansas Citys leading television stations today began broadcasting with NEXTGEN TV, a revolutionary new digital broadcast technology. Todays launch includes KMBC-TV (ABC), KCTV (CBS), KSHB-TV (NBC), WDAF-TV (FOX), KCPT (PBS), KCWE (CW), KSMO-TV (MyNet) and KMCI-TV (IND), which are now available to Kansas City area viewers in the all-new NEXTGEN TV format.

Based on the same fundamental technology as the Internet and digital apps, NEXTGEN TV can support a wide range of features that are currently in development. In addition to providing a new, improved way for broadcasters to reach viewers with advanced emergency alerts, NEXTGEN TV features stunning video with brilliant color, sharper images and deeper contrast to create a more life-like experience.

NEXTGEN TV adds a whole new dimension to TV viewing, with vibrant video and new Voice+ dialogue enhancement that brings voices to the foreground. Movie theater-quality sound lets viewers hear every voice clearly and keeps volume consistent across channels. NEXTGEN TV also can be enhanced with Internet content to enable viewers to get the most out of live sports, live news, and live events in real-time, without looking away from the TV screen.

Powered by ATSC 3.0, NEXTGEN TV is the most significant broadcast technology upgrade ever. Features available on NEXTGEN TV will vary by device and station as broadcasters roll out service across the country.

Todays launch in Kansas City follows a decade of development and months of planning and preparation by the local stations. KMCI-TV, owned by The E.W. Scripps Company, and KSMO-TV, owned by the Meredith Corporation, have converted to ATSC 3.0 transmissions. The two stations will broadcast their own programming in NEXTGEN TV format, as well as the programming of the other participating stations. All of the programming of all participating stations will continue to be available in the existing DTV format, which can be received on all modern television sets. BitPath, which is developing new data broadcasting services, led the planning process and coordinated efforts across the eight television stations.

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From Seattle, Washington, to Washington, D.C., NEXTGEN TV service is already on the air in more than 30 cities across the country. Kansas City viewers can learn more about NEXTGEN TV by visiting www.WatchNextGenTV.com, which offers a guide listing cities currently carrying the service, as well as links to available NEXTGEN TV set models.

Antenna viewers without NEXTGEN TV sets can simply rescan their TV sets to ensure uninterrupted service. Rescan instructions are available at: fcc.gov/rescan. Cable and satellite subscribers do not need to take any action.

About KMBC and KCWE  Hearst Television

KMBC is honored to have served Heartland viewers since its first broadcast in 1953. An ABC affiliate, KMBC also airs top syndicated shows like Ellen, ET, Tamron Hall, and more. KMBC 9 News produces more than 50 hours of news and informational programming each week on KMBC and its sister station, KCWE. KMBC 9 News has been recognized as the best TV news operation in Kansas and Missouri for six consecutive years by the Radio Television Digital News Association.

KMBC and KCWE are owned by Hearst Television. Hearst Television owns and operates 33 television and two radio stations serving 26 media markets across 39 states reaching over 21 million U.S. television households. Through its partnership with nearly all of the major networks, Hearst Television distributes national content over nearly 70 video channels including programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, MY Net, MeTV, This TV, Estrella and more. The radio stations are leaders in Baltimore news/talk and rock music listenership. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry's premier companies and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst.

About KCTV and KSMO-TV  Meredith

KCTV5 and KSMO-TV are owned by Meredith Corporation. Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP), a leading media company for nearly 120 years, produces service journalism that engages audiences with essential, inspiring, and trusted content. Meredith reaches consumers where they are across multiple platforms, including digital, video, magazine, and broadcast television. Meredith's Local Media Group portfolio includes 17 television stations reaching 11 percent of U.S. households and 30 million viewers. Meredith's portfolio is concentrated in large, fast-growing markets, with seven stations in the nation's Top 25 markets, including Atlanta, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Portland, and 13 stations in the Top 50.

About KSHB-TV and KMCI-TV  Scripps

KSHB-TV and KMCI-TV are Kansas City-based stations owned and operated by The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP), a diversified media company focused on creating a better-informed world. As the nations fourth-largest local TV broadcaster, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of 61 stations in 41 markets. The Scripps Networks reach nearly every American through the national news outlets Court TV and Newsy and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Grit, Laff, Court TV Mystery, Defy TV and TrueReal. Scripps is the nations largest holder of broadcast spectrum. Scripps runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and is the longtime steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, "Give light and the people will find their own way."

About WDAF-TV  Nexstar

WDAF-TV is a leading television station in Kansas City, MO, owned and operated by Nexstar Media Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST). Nexstar is the nations largest operator of local television stations and a leading diversified media company that leverages localism to bring new services and value to consumers and advertisers through its broadcasting, digital and mobile media platforms. WDAF-TV is affiliated with the FOX network.

About Kansas City PBS (KCPT)

Kansas City PBS is a non-profit multimedia organization located in Kansas City, MO, that has been serving the community since 1961. The PBS member station airs content focused on civic affairs, science, food & drink and arts & culture on four television channels which include 19.1, 19.2, 19.3 (Create) and 19.4, the 24-hour PBS kids channel. Content is also available through livestream for 19.1 and 19.4 and on-demand in the PBS Video app and Passport streaming service (a member benefit). Kansas City PBS serves students, caregivers and the local education community through free, online resources, workshops for parents and teachers, and annual conferences and events. It owns and operates the NPR music station, 90.9 The Bridge, providing nonprofit radio in a AAA format to listeners over the air and online streaming. Kansas City PBS nonprofit source for local journalism, Flatland (flatlandkc.org) produces multimedia reporting focused on civic affairs, arts and culture, food and drink, and education. Find more information at kansascitypbs.org

About BitPath

BitPath is building the nation's first dedicated broadcast data network to provide innovative new wireless services at a fraction of the cost of cellular systems. Based in Arlington, Virginia, the BitPath network will launch this year covering dozens of cities, with more launches in 2022. For more information, visit bitpath.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005750/en/

Contacts

Media Contacts:



KMBC and KCWE; Hearst Television  Tom Campo

Tom@CampoCommunications.com



KCTV and KSMO-TV; Meredith  Kara Kelly

kara.kelly@meredith.com



KSHB-TV and KMCI-TV; Scripps  Michael Perry

michael.perry@scripps.com



WDAF-TV; Nexstar  Gary Weitman

gweitman@nexstar.tv



Kansas City PBS (KCPT)  Tyler Peterson

tpeterson@kansascitypbs.org



BitPath  John Hane

jhane@bitpath.com
TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Medivolve, Inc. ("Medivolve" or the "Company") (NEO: MEDV) (OTC: COPRF) (FRA: 4NC) today announced it will launch its first two mobile COVID-19 testing vans servicing Las Vegas, Nevada and surrounding areas.

"This new initiative is one of Medivolve's many efforts to stopping the virus's spread through early detection," says David Preiner, CEO of Medivolve. "Going mobile allows for immediate expansion and is a cost-effective means of rapid deployment of our resources in underserved areas as new COVID-19 hotspots arise."

Like the Company's collection site locations, Medivolve's mobile testing vans are outfitted with the appropriate testing equipment, supplies, and technology to secure patient registration. Service options include three types of COVID-19 testing: rapid antigen tests, PCR tests, and rapid antibody tests. Depending on the test administered, rapid test results will be available in 15 minutes and PCR results within 2-10 business days. As vaccine availability continues to ramp up, the vans have been strategically designed to easily transition to COVID-19 vaccine administration sites.

"According to Medivolve's medical advisors, providing on-site testing services could reduce exposure to those infected while also boosting confidence in returning to work, school, or attending events," explains Preiner. "Many organizations building complete workforce strategies against COVID-19 are experiencing hurdles in rapidly deploying testing solutions, and we are honored to bring our resources right to their business front."

Mobile testing services for workplaces, schools, and events can be scheduled in coordination with Medivolve's B2B on-site testing services programs. For more information, visit www.testbeforeyougo.com.

About Medivolve, Inc.

Medivolve, Inc. (NEO: MEDV; OTC: COPRF; FRA:4NC) is a healthcare technology company that seeks to reinvent the U.S. healthcare system by leveraging a bespoke telehealth platform, a clinical diagnostic network, and a data-driven A.I. framework to improve patient care.

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The company was born out of the healthcare crisis; to rethink, relearn and ultimately, reimagine a better way for the healthcare system to operate. Our network of retail collection sites plays an essential role in recovery by giving all Americans access to fast, accurate, and inexpensive clinical services when and where they need them. These centers will also play a pivotal role in diagnostic testing, vaccinations, and other point-of-care services. We are building disruptive technologies to make it easier and faster to identify, treat, and prevent medical issues. In doing so, we are working to give patients a holistic and empowered view of their personal health.

Our long-term mission is to permanently fix systemic issues in the nation's fragmented, overly complex, and expensive healthcare system. Medivolve's next growth phase is about pivoting the model and putting the pieces together to build a profitable, SaaS-based health-tech company. We bring data-driven clinical diagnostics, physician recommendations, and prescription medications directly to people, all powered by a singular, streamlined technology network. A powerful, singular purpose unites our team: harnessing the transformative power of technology to create healthier lives.

Underpinned by a bespoke, AI-driven platform, we're developing a stealth system that constantly gets smarter, takes the guesswork out of diagnostics, and flags critical health issues immediately to deliver an unparalleled level of personalization for each patient. We are determined to push the boundaries of what's possiblenot just for our business and our shareholders, but for physicians and patients and the future of healthcare. We strive to achieve a continuity of care never seen before, a game-changer for our business and patients in the communities we serve.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to mobile testing services; insurance coverage; COVID testing access; or financial results. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NEITHER THE NEO EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

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SOURCE Medivolve Inc.
ir Winston Churchill once admonished leaders to never let a good crisis go to waste, and Big Oil has rarely failed to heed the advice. Under normal circumstances, energy downturns have created perfect opportunities for deep-pocketed oil and gas heavyweights to land prime assets on the cheap. A good case in point: the last oil bust of 2016 was followed by a sizable number of huge M&A deals in the sector including the $60B tie-up between Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.A) and BG Group, Canadian Oil Sands and Suncor EnergyEnergy, as well as a handful that fell through including the proposed merger between Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) and Baker Hughes (NYSE:BKR).

But Big Oil has now ditched that old playbook and appears largely disinterested in some M&A action this time around.

The current year is shaping up as one of the slowest in the oil and gas industry as far as mergers are concerned. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, so far there's been $86 billion of takeovers announced, pending or completed in the current year, on track for one of the most lackluster years for energy tie-ups in two decades.

Source: Bloomberg

M&A disaster

Oil executives appear too gun-shy to pull the trigger on the numerous distressed assets that have become available after the latest oil downturn--and for a good reason.

After all, the last M&A wave turned into a disaster for many of the acquiring companies.

Last year, Royal Dutch Shell cut its dividend from US$0.16 per ordinary share to US$0.4, good for a 66% cut. That marked the first time the company cut the dividend since WWII, a testament of just how severe the oil massacre has been, which is what Shell blamed in its press release. However, there could be another culprit to blame for the dramatic cut: the company's 2016 acquisition of BG Group, which set it back $60B.

Occidental Petroleum's (NYSE:OXY) $55B leveraged purchase of Anadarko has become the poster-child of oil and gas mergers gone bad. The deal has turned into a complete disaster, leaving the company in deep distress over its mountain of debt and water cooler wisecracks of how it could itself get acquired at a fraction of what it paid for Anadarko.

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Big Oil's high debt levels are also to blame; Cowen has pointed at BP Plc. 's (NYSE:BP) extremely high debt, though it might have less to do with its 2018 merger with BHP Billiton for $10.5B and more to do with its Deepwater Horizon oil spill which has cost it a staggering $65B in clean-up costs and legal fees over the years.

BP's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87 is way higher than the oil and gas sector's average of 0.47, and the highest among the oil supermajors.

BP is hardly alone in the debt conundrum.

Whereas Chevron (NYSE:CVX), Shell (NYSE:RDS.A), and TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) all have all announced a return to stock buybacks during the current earnings season, ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) has opted to pay down debt rather than reward shareholders. Exxon suspended buybacks in 2016 as it went on one of the most aggressive shale expansions, particularly in the Permian.

WSJ Heard On The Street's Jinjoo Lee says Exxon has less flexibility than its peers thanks to years of overspending followed by a brutal 2020. This has left the company in a vulnerable position, and now Exxon has little choice but to lower its debt levels which have recently hit record highs.

Luckily for XOM shareholders, CEO Darren Woods has reassured investors that reinstating buybacks is "on the table," though he has reiterated that "restoring the strength of our balance sheet, returning debt to levels consistent with a strong double-A rating" remains the top priority.

Source: Y-Charts

Cowen, though, says that oil majors like Chevron and Total with relatively strong balance sheets could go for cheap assets such as GALP Energia (GALP.Portugal) or BP's stake in a gas project in Oman.

Capital discipline

Instead of mergers, oil and gas companies are preferring to maintain the all-important dividend or cut capex in a bid to preserve liquidity. This is a trend we clearly witnessed during the last earnings season.

The world's oil and gas companies have continued to hold back from raising their capital spending budgets as they try to maintain capital discipline.

According to RBC, the aggregate investment budget for the 190 oil and gas companies tracked by the firm is forecast to grow by 4% to $348B from $334.7B in 2020, but a good 25% below 2019 levels of $461.7B spent.

Top spenders Saudi Aramco (ARMCO) and PetroChina (NYSE:PTR) are expected to spend a combined $170.3B this year, up 12% from 2020 levels but 3.4% below 2019 levels.

Combined spending by the seven global oil supermajors is expected to total $78.2B in 2021, just 1% more than the $77.8B spent in 2020 and 20% lower than $110B spent in 2019.

Not everybody shares Cowen's bearish M&A outlook, though.

Goldman Sachs analyst Michele DellaVigna says the highly fragmented U.S. shale industry could still be a candidate for a spate of consolidations.

DellaVigna has conceded that we are not likely to see a repeat of the mega-mergers of the 1990s; however, he says there's a financial case to be made for mergers, especially in a sector like U.S. shale that has previously lacked cost discipline:

"The oil industry has delivered its best corporate returns in periods of consolidation, financial tightening and rising barriers to entry. We believe this environment (and shareholder pressure for de-carbonisation) could engender a similar phase of consolidation and capital discipline, as in the late '90s."

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

Read this article on OilPrice.com
Microsoft is moving into the next phase of its plan to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to as many devices as possible, and it's one of the most important steps yet. Starting this holiday season, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will have access to cloud gaming on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One consoles.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BomfVh2PSkM?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=640&h=360]

The company, which made the announcement during its Gamescom showcase, said you'll be able to fire up more than 100 games without having to download them first. At some point in the future, Xbox One owners can play some Series X/S games through the cloud, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator. You'll know a title is cloud gaming-compatible if you see a cloud icon next to it in the Game Pass library. Microsoft is targeting 1080p gameplay at 60 frames per second.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is already available on phones, tablets and PC. Microsoft is also working on Xbox game streaming sticks as well as a smart TV cloud gaming app. This summer, the company started transitioning cloud gaming onto beefier Xbox Series X hardware after launching the service on Xbox One S-based blade servers.

Editor's note: This post originally appeared on Engadget.
2021 Regulatory and Legislative Trends Report includes key trends on COVID-19

BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Public policymakers continue to address the challenges to workers compensation due to COVID-19, according to the 2021 Regulatory and Legislative Trends Report from the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI).

(PRNewsfoto/National Council on Compensatio)

NCCI notes that, as of July 31 of this year, states have enacted 150 workers compensation-related bills.

NCCI tracked COVID-19 workers compensation presumption and compensability-related legislation in approximately 30 states, the District of Columbia, and at the federal level. Many of the bills proposed to establish presumptions that the contraction of or exposure to COVID-19 arises out of and in the course and scope of employment and is a compensable injury or disease.

This year, several states that enacted COVID-19 presumption legislation in 2020 took additional action to extend and/or expand those presumptions. Other states considered establishing new workers compensation presumptions for COVID-19 for certain workers.

In addition, several states have proposed legislation this year to create workers compensation presumptions that could be applicable beyond the current COVID-19 pandemic. At least a dozen states considered legislation that would establish workers compensation presumptions for infectious diseases and pandemics.

"This timely report shares the latest on how workers compensation legislative, regulatory, and judicial trends are evolving," said Bill Donnell, President and CEO, NCCI. "These are important updates for system stakeholders, with insights on implications for workers, employers, insurers, and others in the workers compensation arena."

NCCI's comprehensive legislative and regulatory report tracks other key workers compensation issues including workplace-related mental injuries, the legalization of marijuana and reimbursement for medical marijuana in workers compensation, single-payer health insurance proposals, and the classification of certain workers as employees or independent contractors.

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NCCI notes that, as of July 31 of this year, states have enacted 150 workers compensation-related bills and have adopted 91 new workers compensation-related regulations. NCCI has monitored almost 940 state and federal workers compensation-related bills and over 230 workers compensation-related regulations so far in 2021, according to the report.

"NCCI provides this annual report to keep you informed about emerging trends and hot topics impacting workers compensation," said Laura Kersey, author of the report and NCCI Division ExecutiveRegulatory & Legislative Analysis. "This report, along with our Legislative Activity site, Court Case Insights tracker, and COVID-19 Resource Center are just some of the resources available to help industry stakeholders make informed decisions."

The 2021 Regulatory and Legislative Trends Report is available now at ncci.com/INSIGHTS.

About NCCI

Founded in 1923, the mission of the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) is to foster a healthy workers compensation system. In support of this mission, NCCI gathers data, analyzes industry trends, and provides objective insurance rate and loss cost recommendations. These activitiescombined with a comprehensive set of tools and servicesmake NCCI the source you trust for workers compensation information.

Media Contact: Cristine Pike, NCCI 561-893-3631

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SOURCE NCCI
Thailand Focuses on Quality Exports

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As demand from the U.S. grows, Thailand has placed a focus on quality, safety and reliability with its agricultural and food exports.

"Thai food has become the world's food." says Thailand's Commerce Minister, Jurin Laksanawisit.

"Thailand's popular exports such as Hom Mali Jasmine Rice, Coconut and Tamarind products are all grown with the highest production standards," says Laksanawisit. "They are harvested with environmental consciousness and a focus on safe and ethical labor and we are seeing robust growth of premium Thai exports."

PROMOTION IN U.S. LED BY FOOD NETWORK STAR JET TILA

In the U.S., Thai products have been promoted in 2021 via "Thai Food at Home with Jet Tila," a YouTube series and public relations campaign that earned more than 12 million viewers and 30 million impressions across multiple platforms.

The series was produced by Thai Trade Center Los Angeles, with the objective for Food Network star Tila to teach Americans how to cook Thai food at home. Viewers are also encouraged to use Thai ingredients, even when they are cooking another cuisine.

The guests on Tila's show included:

Celebrated Italian Chef Laura Vitale joined with Jet to introduce Thai ingredients to her Italian food fans.

Twilight Saga actress and sustainable lifestyle entrepreneur Nikki Reed joined with Jet to showcase Thai ingredients that can be used in plant-based cuisine.

Gen Z Chef Eitan Bernath of The Drew Barrymore Show joined to cook Thai food and create his own fusion "Thai Bruschetta."

In addition to appearing with the three celebrities, Tila also did a press tour, appearing on national shows such as Good Morning America, GMA3 and The Talk.

Thai Trade's promotional work started in 2020, with a digital advertising campaign on YouTube and Google designed to stimulate sales of Thai ingredients. Interested viewers could click to Thai products available on Amazon.

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"The COVID situation created the need to try new marketing and we are pleased that delicious Thai food and ingredients are increasingly popular in the U.S." says Kwanapa Phivnil, Director of Thai Trade Center Los Angeles. "Thai cuisine has become a health-conscious and tasteful option for the US consumers across nation for their self-contained living. Our thanks to the dedicated network of importers, distributors and retailers marketing the products."

ABOUT THAILAND'S DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROMOTION

Thailand's Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) was established is an agency under the Ministry of Commerce, Royal Thai Government, to assist Thai manufacturers and exporters in building their competitiveness and fulfilling their potential in the global market. DITP aims to provide fast, reliable and efficient services to address the challenges and opportunities within the new world economy.

Through Thai Trade Center, DITP's overseas offices are located in many countries worldwide, including four in the United States; Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Miami. DITP works closely with international trade communities, both in Thailand and abroad, to create good business relationships that would result in mutual benefit.

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SOURCE Thai Trade Center
Industry's Focus on Expanding Broadband Access to All Fuels Company Growth

SOMERSET, N.J., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- VCTI, the broadband and network technology experts, today announced that it had achieved 53% in customer growth in the first half of 2021, in addition to seeing an expansion of services delivered within all strategic accounts. The United States' commitment to expanding broadband access has fueled demand for VCTI's broadband products and services. Additionally, the Company also has numerous achievements in product innovation, partnerships, and leadership.

VCTI (PRNewsfoto/VCTI)

In efforts to address the country's digital divide, U.S. federal and state governments are approving funding to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities at unprecedented rates. As a result, broadband service providers are scrambling to clearly understand technology options and the financial implications of those options to prioritize infrastructure and investment opportunities.

"Our new Broadband Investment Optimization Service has been embraced by service providers for the rich, actionable insights it delivers to help them build highly efficient and effective network build-out plans in a market environment where customer demand, government programs, new technology, and new competitors are all moving at an incredibly fast pace," said Raj Singh, President, and CEO of VCTI. "The speed and differentiated services that our teams are delivering are setting us ahead of the competition."

As part of this momentum, VCTI has achieved several major milestones in the first half of 2021, including:

Outstanding Business Performance: VCTI reports a 53% increase in new customers in the first half of 2021. The new customers include GeoLinks, the fastest growing telecommunications company in California, and Etheric Networks, the leading provider of wireless internet service in the California Bay Area, and a national cable service provider. The Company also reported 100% customer retention.

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New Product Innovation

VCTI's introduced its new Broadband Investment Optimization Service, which helps broadband service providers accelerate their process for identifying underserved communities and then analyzing, quantifying, prioritizing, and optimizing expansion opportunities. The speed and accuracy of the service offer a data-driven foundation to strengthen collaboration with local governments for public/private partnerships.

Growing Software Services Practice: VCTI software services continue to be embraced by existing customers. The Company's consistently high quality, on-time, on-budget delivery of projects has enabled it to expand service engagements within its existing customer base as well as attract new customers. VCTI specializes in network technologies and has expanded its Kubernetes skills base to support the re-architecting of complex hardware to migrate to the cloud. The Company is at the forefront of supporting the next generation of telecom infrastructure in the cloud.

ServiceNow Partnership Expanded: VCTI's NOCVue Service Activator, which dramatically improves broadband service provisioning, activation, and subscriber management, has been certified in the ServiceNow store. Service providers can now simplify and streamline operations by converging the ITSM and broadband activation onto the Now Platform, enabling unified control of a multi-vendor access network. A key enabler of the automation is discovering and verifying active elements in the access network. Additionally, VCTI is now a member of the ServiceNow Services Partner Program module, which enables VCTI to deliver implementations for the Now Platform, which may include consulting, outsourcing, subcontracting, or custom application development.

New Board Member: To support its growth, VCTI strengthened its advisory board with the appointment of telecom industry veteran Brent Williams, a seasoned operational and engineering leader.

VCTI Careers

VCTI is currently hiring to support its growth and expects to expand its employee base by 40% in 2021. More details on careers at VCTI can be found at https://vcti.io/join-us/.

About VCTI

VCTI is a world-class leader in network technology. VCTI provides expert technical resources to help technology companies develop complex networked and cloud products. The Company also offers software solutions and services to enable broadband service providers to optimize investments for network evolution, simplify operations, and strengthen their path to digital transformation. A trusted partner to the most respected and innovative broadband service providers and technology companies globally, VCTI is a privately held, global company headquartered in the U.S. with offices in India. Learn more at www.vcti.io

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SOURCE VCTI
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 24, 2021 /CNW/ - With wildfires continuing to threaten communities across British Columbia, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is reminding British Columbians of the insurance supports available to them when forced outside of their homes.

Wildfires - we're here to help. Tips from Insurance Bureau of Canada (CNW Group/Insurance Bureau of Canada)

"Our thoughts are with those whose lives have been disrupted and whose homes have been destroyed," said Aaron Sutherland, Vice-President, Western and Pacific, IBC. "We want to ensure residents who have evacuated due to the wildfires understand and are aware of the supports insurance provides. Importantly, standard home and tenant insurance policies provide coverage for additional living expenses  for things like food, accommodation and clothing  when a mandatory evacuation order is issued. Canada's insurers are here to help, and anyone with questions about their home or business insurance should call their insurance representative or IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 18442askIBC."

What insurance covers

Standard home insurance policies cover fire damage and additional living expenses (ALE) for items such as food, accommodations and clothing if residents must leave their homes because of a mandatory evacuation order or if fire damage renders their home uninhabitable.

When is ALE triggered?

Coverage for ALE is typically trigged by a mandatory evacuation order. This coverage starts on the date of evacuation and typically extends for a period of time determined by your policy. Residents should check their own policies for limits.

Accessing emergency assistance offered by governments and/or other organizations does not impact your insurance claims or the level of insurance supports available.

Once the evacuation order is over, coverage remains in place for a period of time for people who cannot return home because of fire damage to their own or neighbouring properties.

How to start the claims process

Don't wait. If you've been forced from your home due to an evacuation order, call your insurance representative or insurer today to find out what financial support is available. Discussing your options with your insurer does not mean you have to make a claim and will not impact your future insurance coverage.

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Once the evacuation order is lifted and it is safe to return to your home, if your property has been damaged by wildfire, take the following steps before contacting your insurance representative:

Assess and document the damage. Take photos and make a list of all damaged or destroyed items as best you can.

Keep damaged items unless they pose a health hazard.

If possible, assemble proofs of purchase, photos, receipts, owner's manuals or warranties for damaged items.

Keep all receipts related to cleanup and for your living expenses while you were evacuated.

Next steps  what to expect

Once you have reported a loss, you will be assigned a claims adjuster. Given the number of people impacted by the wildfires, it may take some time, but your insurer will contact you.

The claims adjuster will investigate the circumstances of your loss, examine the documents you provide and explain the claims process. Take notes during the conversations and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Your insurance company will ask you to complete a Proof of Loss form to list the property and items that have been damaged or destroyed.

You must sign and swear that the statements you make in the Proof of Loss form are true.

If you are unsure about anything, ask your insurance representative or claims adjuster to clarify.

Resources

If you have questions, contact your insurance representative or IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC.

For additional information, visit BC Wildfires or email askibcwest@ibc.ca.

About Insurance Bureau of Canada

Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, auto and business insurers. Its member companies make up 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. For more than 50 years, IBC has worked with governments across the country to help make affordable home, auto and business insurance available for all Canadians. IBC supports the vision of consumers and governments trusting, valuing and supporting the private P&C insurance industry. It champions key issues and helps educate consumers on how best to protect their homes, cars, businesses and properties.

For media releases and more information, visit IBC's Media Centre at www.ibc.ca . Follow us on Twitter @IBC_Pacific or like us on Facebook. If you have a question about home, auto or business insurance, contact IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC.

Insurance Bureau of Canada (CNW Group/Insurance Bureau of Canada)

SOURCE Insurance Bureau of Canada

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2021/24/c9305.html
Tech leader to help create employment opportunities for local communities in Sherwood

SHERWOOD, Ark. & NEW YORK & BANGALORE, India, August 24, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, today announced that it will open a new delivery center in Sherwood, Arkansas. The company expects to hire up to 400 employees in the next two years in Arkansas.

Wipro will invest approximately US$ three million to transform a 70,000 square-foot facility at Landers Road into a customer service center. The delivery center will provide operational services to Wipros clients across industry verticals.

"Wipro has been a technology leader for decades. With great pleasure, I welcome them to Arkansas," said Asa Hutchinson, Governor of Arkansas. "These jobs will help improve the lives of citizens in Central Arkansas, and continue to reinforce our goal of making Arkansas a leader in information technology."

"Im thrilled that Wipro recognized the talent we have here in Central Arkansas and chose Sherwood as the site of its newest facility," said Mike Preston, Executive Director, Arkansas Economic Development Commission and Arkansas Secretary of Commerce. "I know they will find the necessary support here that will continue to lead them on their path to success."

"We are thrilled to welcome Wipro to our community," said Virginia Hillman Young, Mayor of Sherwood. "This announcement is the beginning of a new partnership between our city and the company. We look forward to working closely with the local Wipro team as they grow and thrive in Sherwood."

"This is a tremendous win for the City of Sherwood and their local economic development team," said James Reddish, Executive Vice President - Little Rock Regional Chamber. "As a region, we know that the success of any one community is a success for all, and we look forward to supporting Wipro and Sherwood, as the company establishes and grows its presence in Central Arkansas."

Story continues

"We are thrilled to open the delivery center in Sherwood and improve our reach to customers in central Arkansas. This strategic investment will bring Wipros innovation, operational capabilities and organizational expertise to the region. This is part of our commitment to enable future expansion, and drive employment generation initiatives for local communities, said Nagendra P Bandaru, Managing Partner-iCORE, Wipro Limited.

Wipro is recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship.

About Wipro Limited

Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have over 200,000 dedicated employees serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future.

About the City of Sherwood

On April 22, 1948, Sherwood officially incorporated as a town. According to the 2018 Annual Estimate of the Resident Population for Counties and Places, the City of Sherwood is estimated to have 31,237 residents. The City of Sherwood has a variety of resources that provide a quality lifestyle for its residents. From youth to seniors, as well as their furry friends, the city offers programs and services that appeal to all ages. Located within a few minutes from a large metropolitan area, the amenities allow residents to enjoy a quiet family atmosphere that is both CLOSE TO THE ACTION, yet FAR FROM THE NOISE.

About the Metro Little Rock Alliance

The Metro Little Rock Alliance (MLRA) is a coalition of 11 counties: Clark, Faulkner, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Jefferson, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, Saline and White. Economic development leaders from these communities work together to develop and market Central Arkansas as a premier location for new and expanding business and high-quality job growth. For more information, visit www.MetroLittleRockAlliance.com.

About the Arkansas Economic Development Commission

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce, seeks to create economic opportunity by attracting higher-paying jobs, expanding and diversifying local economies in the state, increasing incomes and investment, and generating growth throughout The Natural State. Arkansas is a pro-business environment operating leaner, faster and more focused through a streamlined state government designed to act on corporate interests quickly and decisively. For more information, visit www.ArkansasEDC.com. The Arkansas Department of Commerce is the umbrella department for workforce and economic development drivers. Its divisions and regulatory boards include Division of Aeronautics, Waterways Commission, Wine Producers Council, Division of Workforce Services, Office of Skills Development, State Bank Department, Insurance Department, Securities Department, Economic Development Commission and Development Finance Authority. It was established in July 2019 as part of Governor Asa Hutchinsons wide-sweeping efficiency and transformation efforts to reduce 42 cabinet agencies to 15 while maintaining services for all Arkansans.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements contained herein represent Wipros beliefs regarding future events, many of which are by their nature, inherently uncertain and outside Wipros control. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Wipros growth prospects, its future financial operating results, and its plans, expectations and intentions. Wipro cautions readers that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in our earnings, revenue and profits, our ability to generate and manage growth, complete proposed corporate actions, intense competition in IT services, our ability to maintain our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which we make strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, war, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our business and industry. The conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could decrease technology spending, adversely affect demand for our products, affect the rate of customer spending and could adversely affect our customers ability or willingness to purchase our offerings, delay prospective customers purchasing decisions, adversely impact our ability to provide on-site consulting services and our inability to deliver our customers or delay the provisioning of our offerings, all of which could adversely affect our future sales, operating results and overall financial performance. Our operations may also be negatively affected by a range of external factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic that are not within our control. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Annual Reports on Form 20-F. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005513/en/

Contacts

Media Contact:

Nisha Chandrasekaran

Wipro Limited

nisha.chandrasekaran@wipro.com
More than 5.4 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been given in Virginia since December 2020, said Dr. Danny Avula, the states vaccination coordinator.

The science is clear that this is a safe and effective vaccine that is highly effective in preventing infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and subsequent variants, and in preventing serious illness that could result in hospitalization and/or death, he said in a statement.

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The VDH dashboard provides cases, hospitalizations and deaths among the fully vaccinated since the shots began, as well as for each weekly period, from Jan. 23 to Aug. 14. The weekly breakdowns show a handful of breakthrough cases in January, then a gradual increase through the spring and early summer as more people were getting vaccinated.

Then, the numbers exploded after the Fourth of July.

In the week that ended the day before the holiday, 231 vaccinated people had tested positive for the virus and five people were hospitalized. No deaths were reported among the fully vaccinated for that seven-day period, according to the state.

The next month, cases shot up like a rocket, both among the vaccinated and unvaccinated.
Kristen Carter and her son, Kamari Jackson, were excited about his first day of school Aug. 12.

Kamari was eager to start first grade in person at Spotsylvania Elementary School after taking kindergarten classes virtually last year. But Carter said her son appeared to be suffering from heat exhaustion when he arrived home following an extended ride in a bus without air conditioning on an afternoon where the heat index topped 100 degrees.

I couldnt feel my face; I was very hot. We were trying to let the windows down, but the bus driver said no, sit down, Kamari said.

Spotsylvania is dealing with a shortage of school bus drivers that has delayed getting students to and from school. Carter said her son was supposed to be dropped off at 4:13 p.m., but didnt arrive until 5:40 p.m.

She said family members were there to ask him about his first day, but Kamari was unable to respond.

His face was really red, his body was clammy, and he collapsed once inside the house, Carter said.

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My grandmother applied ice and a cold rag to my sons face and body while he was in distress, she said. Shortly after, he became sick to his stomach and she rushed him to the Mary Washington Hospital emergency room.
Spotsylvania School Board candidate Rich Lieberman said sexually suggestive and misogynistic comments he made on a popular local Facebook page were wrong and not what a leader does.

I am working to improve myself, Lieberman said in an interview Monday. A leader owns up to [his] mistakes.

Liebermans posts on the Facebook page Fredericksburg Wall of Shamea local group with 39,000 members that is restricted to those 18 and olderwere circulated over the weekend by supporters of his opponent, Lee Hill District incumbent Lisa Phelps.

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The comments, which appear to have been made most recently in January, were in response to the Wall of Shames weekly post of mugshots from the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

Lieberman said Monday he left the group as soon as he decided to run for School Board earlier this year.

When I first decided to run, my wife and I talked and we went over everything we thought [would be problematic]. She knew about the posts, he said. My wife thought I should delete them but I thought, Thats not what an honest person does. I chose to leave them up.
The board never got to a discussion of the health commissioners order. The meeting began falling apart when Livingston District representative Kirk Twigg attempted to amend the agenda to add time for public comments.

Comments were not part of the published agenda, which according to state law must be made available to the public at least three working days prior to a public meeting.

At an emergency special meeting held Aug. 11, the board did vote to amend the agenda and allow public comments before it voted to remove a religious exemption to the mask ordinance.

After Twigg made his motion Monday night, Shelley and Battlefield District representative Baron Braswell said they heard from constituents after the last meeting.

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I spoke to a number of people over the last week and they asked about public comments, and I said there would not be public comments, Shelley said. So because its not on the agenda, I do not think public comments would be appropriate, because it was not advertised.

There are a number of people here, but there are other people who asked about public comments and when they were told there would not be any, they did not attend the meeting.
Airbnb opened the doors of its properties to 20,000 Afghan refugees globally Tuesday and sought assistance from hosts who rent property through the home-sharing company for more free housing for those fleeing the crisis.

"The displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the U.S. and elsewhere is one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time. We feel a responsibility to step up," said CEO Brian Chesky on Twitter. "I hope this inspires other business leaders to do the same. There's no time to waste."

The UN Refugee Agency said last month that an estimated 270,000 Afghans had been newly displaced inside the country since January  primarily due to insecurity and violence  bringing the total uprooted population to over 3.5 million.

White House officials said 28 U.S. military flights ferried about 10,400 people to safety out of Taliban-held Afghanistan over 24 hours that ended early Monday morning, and 15 C-17 flights over the next 12 hours brought out another 6,660.

Airbnb has a history of making free shelter to those in need through its Airbnb.org.

Since 2012, Airbnb.org has housed 75,000 people fleeing or responding to a crisis, from COVID-19 health workers and earthquake or fire evacuees or responders, to refugees.
So all of a sudden were supposed to roll up our sleeves to take a vaccine that has never been on the market before? he said.

Similarly, bill supporter Angie King said that without long term studies of the vaccines, I will not be an American lab rat for the CDC or Big Pharma.

The legislation has attracted opponents of COVID-19 vaccines but does not mention the coronavirus. Instead, it addresses mandatory requirements for all vaccines, such as for the flu.

The legislation would also prevent employees from being fired as a result of refusing to get vaccinated and would allow them to sue their employers if they felt they had been wrongly dismissed.

The Health Committee has received more than 1,000 submissions about the bill, ranging from people who fear COVID-19 and choose to be vaccinated to people who fear losing their job for refusing to be vaccinated, said Chairman Scott Lipps, a southwestern Ohio Republican.

Everybody's voice has been heard, Lipps said, before cautioning witnesses to avoid rude or bullying comments.
FORT MONROETheres a grassy spot on the southwestern side of Fort Monroe National Monument that looks out across the expansive waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Its a place where people gather under a shady tree for a picnic lunch, or linger along the seawall to gaze at the massive cargo ships coming and going and delight in the playful dolphins leading the way.

But if you stand just so on this grassy spot, facing the bay at an angle, with the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel over your right shoulder, your sightline takes an imaginary leap to the other side of the world, a leap that symbolizes a very real journey that ends on the shores of Angola on the southwestern coast of Africa.

These two points, Fort Monroe and Angola, are thousands of miles apart, yet forever linked to one of the darkest narratives in American history.

This grassy spot at Fort Monroe will become the site of the African Landing Memorial, a space to honor the area where some 20 and odd African individuals, as documented by colonist John Rolfe in a 17th-century letter, arrived in English-speaking North America for the first time in 1619.

The efforts are being led by the Fort Monroe Authority, which oversees the fort and its daily operations, and in partnership with the Hampton-based Project 1619.
Virginians caught possessing more than an ounce of marijuana, the states legal limit, but less than a pound of the drug, stand to face a light, $25 civil penalty. The potential repercussions jump drastically after the 1-pound benchmark to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

A government watchdog says that approach is not gradual enough and instead proposed that Virginia follow the lead of other states and create a criminal misdemeanor charge for possession above 2.5 ounces.

The proposition is facing criticism from some civil rights advocates, who say creating additional penalties goes against the goal of decriminalization and could disproportionately penalize Black Virginians, as other marijuana laws have.

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission presented the proposal to lawmakers during the first meeting of the legislatures Joint Commission on Cannabis Oversight, which will take a leading role in crafting marijuana policy. Two key Democratic lawmakers on the cannabis oversight panel said they thought the creation of the misdemeanor charge would be unpopular among their caucuses but didnt rule it out.

Whether to adjust penalties for possession of marijuana above the legal limit is one of myriad issues lawmakers will have to settle when they return to Richmond in January.
Imagine the cost, then and now, if the equivalent number of Afghan refugees arrive here.

Glenn Youngkin, Republican candidate for governor, released a statement telling anguished American veterans, Our nation owes you and your families a debt it can never repay. Hes right, but the next Virginia governor and president must try.

Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic nominee, called the refugee situation tragic but did not echo Youngkins sentiments. McAuliffe also raised veterans eyebrows recently when he bailed on a disabilities forum after the first question to fundraise in Las Vegas.

While compassion must be genuinely demonstrated for immigrants and the less fortunate, support for our disabled veterans must not be ignored while focusing on public safety and law enforcement. No doubt the increased wartime anxiety will find more veterans on the wrong side of the law seeking ways to cope with another national betrayal. Fortunately, judges like Ricardo Rigualwho runs the Rappahannock Veterans Docket in Spotsylvaniaare prepared for what may be an increase in cases. Then theres the medical nightmare, in which unvaccinated Afghans, like undocumented Latinos from our southern border, are being flown into Virginia and the nation as the COVID-19 crisis surges again.

Yes, veterans are outraged over failed military leadership,and the political ineptitude by those representing them. Expect their votes forcing change in November.

Daniel P. Cortez is a Stafford resident, presidential appointee, political writer and broadcaster who was wounded serving with the Marines in Vietnam. He is also a volunteer co-chairman of the Latinos for Youngkin Coalition.
Voters approved this antidote to gerrymandering by almost a 2-1 margin last November. Sen. Barker seems to exemplify the kind of respect those voters get from the commission entrusted with this important task.

The commission couldnt agree on hiring a team of unbiased geographic data specialists from the University of Richmond to draw up maps. Instead, the Dems and the GOP have both hired legal counsel that could lead to two partisan teams drawing up a red and a blue map.

If the commission and then the General Assembly cant agree on new maps, the issue falls to the Virginia Supreme Court, many of whose members were appointed by the Assemblys former Republican majority. The court would appoint its own experts, who of course would be approved by both legislative parties.

Because of delayed census results, the commission is working on a tight schedule. The new state legislative maps are due Oct. 10, the congressional maps on Oct. 25. And they wont be done in time for this years state elections.

To be fair, the Redistricting Commission is an improvement over the old system, a winner-take-all affair. Anything would be.
And Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, chairman of the House intelligence committee, told reporters after a committee briefing Monday on the Afghanistan withdrawal that it was hard for me to imagine wrapping up the airlifts by the end of the month. He also said it was clear there had been any number of warnings to the administration of a very rapid takeover by the Taliban.

Biden asked his national security team to create contingency plans in case a situation arose for which the deadline needed to be extended slightly, the official said.

The chief Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby, said Aug. 31 leaves enough time to get all Americans out, but he was less specific about completing the evacuation of all at-risk Afghans.

We believe we have the ability to get that done by the end of the month, he said, referring to the unspecified number of American citizens who are seeking to leave. He said several hundred were evacuated on Monday and that several thousand have gotten out since the airlift began. He would not be more specific.
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP)  Tunisias president has prolonged the special powers he granted himself a month ago when he began ruling by decree after firing the prime minister, freezing parliament and lifting the immunity of lawmakers.

President Kais Saied had been expected to step back within 30 days, the time the Tunisian Constitution allows for such special measures. On Friday, Saied assured that changes would be made in the coming days, while adding that the institutions of state are functioning normally.

As the 30-day deadline approached, the president issued a decree late Monday saying that exceptional measures would remain in place until further notice. Saied did not give a reason for his action but said he would address the nation in the days ahead.

The president moved to consolidate power in his hands on July 25, after nationwide, sometimes violent protests against worsening social and economic conditions exacerbated by the spread of the coronavirus. Other nations have since poured vaccines and oxygen equipment into Tunisia, which had few resources with which to fight the pandemic.

Since he took full charge of the country, Saied fired top government ministers, along with a handful of regional governors, while police went after lawmakers and other officials for alleged corruption.
Supporters of an effort that would require Nebraska voters to show photo ID at the polls say its necessary to ensure elections here stay free and fair.

Opponents frame it as an unnecessary requirement that would serve as a barrier to the ballot box, especially for people already at the margins of access.

Underlying opponents argument is that there doesnt seem to be a single documented case of the presumed problem voter ID laws aim to address  Nebraska voters trying to impersonate other voters.

When The World-Herald asked a sponsor of the initiative, an opponent, a historian, a longtime state elections official, and two political scientists at state universities, none of them knew of an example of a Nebraska voter convicted of impersonating another voter.

Nor did they contend that voter fraud of any sort is widespread in Nebraska or the U.S., generally.

The thing I can say about widespread voter fraud is: Both proponents and opponents of voter ID laws have looked really hard for evidence of widespread voter fraud, and neither side has found it, said University of Nebraska-Lincoln political scientist Kevin Smith.

Thats not to say nothing illegal ever happens.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced an increase in humanitarian support for Afghans to more than 200 million euros ($234 million) from the current 50 million euros.

"This humanitarian aid will come on top of member states' contributions to help the people of Afghanistan," von der Leyen said on Twitter, adding that she would announce the additional support at a G7 summit later in the day.

According to von der Leyen, the aid will benefit people inside Afghanistan as well as refugees. The aid will be conditional on the respect of human and women's rights, according to an EU official.

In view of the Taliban's seizure of power in Afghanistan, the heads of state and government of the G7 countries want to discuss the further course of action and aid for the population at a video conference on August 24 in the afternoon.

The group of important industrialized countries includes the United States, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, and Canada. The top representatives of the EU are also always present.

Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa
President Joe Biden says the U.S.-led airlift from Kabul must finish by the August 31 deadline he set because of an increasing threat from a branch of the Islamic State terrorist group.



There is an "acute and growing risk of an attack by a terrorist group known as ISIS-K," or Islamic State-Khorasan, the longer U.S. forces stay in the country, Biden said.



"Every day we're on the ground is another day we know that ISIS-K is seeking to target the airport and attack both U.S. and allied forces," he said.



Biden also said that the United States was "on pace to remove its forces from Afghanistan by the end of the month as planned.



The Taliban has said it wants all foreign evacuations from the country completed by August 31 and that it would not agree to an extension.

With Biden facing mounting pressure from allies to negotiate more time for the airlift, leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) major industrialized economies on August 24 discussed how to complete the chaotic withdrawal and deal with the Taliban now that it has seized power.

In a statement, White House spokesman Jen Psaki quoted Biden as telling the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan that "completion of the mission by August 31 depends on continued coordination with the Taliban, including continued access for evacuees" to the Kabul airport.

Psaki added that the U.S. president had asked the Pentagon and the State Department for "contingency plans to adjust the timeline should that become necessary."

In a joint statement issued after their meeting, G7 leaders pledged their "steadfast commitment" to the people of Afghanistan. The group also said they back the United Nations in coordinating immediate humanitarian help in the region, which faces a new influx of refugees.

The leaders also agreed on the need to press the Taliban to allow people to leave Afghanistan after August 31, according to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The G7 agreed not only to a joint approach to dealing with the evacuation but also a road map for the way in which it will engage with the Taliban, Johnson said after the meeting.



"The No. 1 condition we're setting as G7 is that they've got to guarantee right the way through -- through August 31 and beyond -- safe passage for those who want to come out," he added.



Johnson said the G7 wields economic, diplomatic, and political leverage over the Taliban, including the ability to withhold substantial funds.

Just over a week since the Taliban captured Kabul, the hard-line Islamist group sought to assure the Afghans crowded outside Kabul's airport in the hope of boarding flights that they had nothing to fear and should instead remain home.

But UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said she had received credible reports of serious violations committed by the militants, including summary executions of civilians and restrictions on women. She warned that the group's treatment of women and girls will be the international community's own "a fundamental red line."

About 21,600 people were flown safely out of Taliban-held Afghanistan in the 24-hour period that ended early on August 24, the White House said, compared with about 16,000 the previous day.

In all, 37 U.S. military flights -- 32 C-17s and 5 C-130s -- carried about 12,700 evacuees. An additional 8,900 people flew out aboard 57 flights by U.S. allies.

The Kabul airport has been engulfed in chaos, with sporadic violence, and Western troops and Afghan security guards have had to push back desperate crowds.

The United States is the only country with the military capabilities to defend Kabul's airport and carry out the massive airlift to evacuate people.

British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said on August 23 that if U.S. troops exit by the deadline, then other countries will be forced to do so as well.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the faster pace of the evacuations was due in part to coordination with Taliban commanders on getting evacuees into the airport.

Still, U.S. Representative Adam Schiff (Democrat-California), the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, told reporters after a briefing by intelligence officials that he did not believe the evacuation could be completed in the remaining time.

Western media on August 24 reported that CIA Director William Burns had met Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul the previous day. The meeting would be the highest-level Western diplomatic encounter since the militant group took over Kabul.

Neither the CIA nor the White House has commented on the report. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he was not aware if Baradar had met Burns.

Earlier, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen announced that the EU would more than quadruple its humanitarian aid to more than 200 million euros ($234 million).

"This humanitarian aid will come on top of member states' contributions to help the people of Afghanistan," von der Leyen said on Twitter.

Speaking at a press conference in Kabul, which Taliban fighters seized on August 15, Mujahid said the Islamist group would not agree to a deadline extension and told the United States to stop evacuating skilled Afghans.

Mujahid called on Afghan nationals to head back to their homes, jobs, and normal life, saying their security was guaranteed, while also urging foreign embassies not to close or stop work.

The group has pledged to rule differently than during its brutal regime of the 1990s, but its promises are being treated with skepticism amid reports that militants have been going door-to-door in recent days searching for opponents.

Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the Taliban was imposing "very severe constraints" on the media in an effort to gain control over information.

The Taliban is "increasing threats, pressures, and sometimes violence" against journalists, while the list of obligations for them "grows longer every day," the Paris-based media-freedom watchdog said in a statement.

At least 10 journalists have been threatened or assaulted while carrying out their work in the streets of Kabul and Jalalabad in the space of a week, RSF said, adding that about 100 private local media organizations across the country had ceased their activity as soon as the Taliban arrived.

In Tokyo, at the opening of the Paralympic Games, Afghanistan's flag was carried into the opening ceremony by a volunteer as an act of solidarity with the country's two Paralympic athletes who were forced to withdraw due to the chaos.

With reporting by AFP, AP, Reuters, and the BBC
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 57F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Northrop Grumman plans to hire 250 people by the end of 2022 for its Colorado Springs operations specializing in missile defense and ballistic missiles, a top company official said Monday.

The Virginia-based defense giant expanded this month into nearly 100,000 square feet of office space in the former Quantum manufacturing plant in the InterQuest business area of northern Colorado Springs to make room for the additional employees. The company is moving employees from two of the three operations that have been based in Northrop Grummans 130,000-square-foot complex near the Colorado Springs Airport, which had reached capacity, said Greg Manuel, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grummans Strategic Deterrent Systems Division.

The InterQuest office features advanced engineering, research labs, software development facilities and a high-speed secure communications network. Blake Larson, a Northrop Grumman vice president who heads the companys Space Systems operations, said the new space will better enable us to deliver innovation solutions that help to protect and defend our nation and its allies. He made the comments as the company celebrated moving into the new facility.

All three of our divisions in Colorado Springs are expanding, so we took two of the divisions and moved them here (the InterQuest office) and that will leave space for the other division to expand as well, Manuel said. We want to hire locally, but are recruiting nationally. Were looking for engineers of all types  STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) on steroids  technologists, cyber, security, software development as well as employees in business management and finance.

Much of Northrop Grummans local growth comes from two programs: its longtime work on missile defense, where it is either the prime contractor or subcontractor on $2.8 billion in contracts, and a $13.3 billion contract the defense giant won last year to modernize the nations ballistic missile program. While the ballistic missile system contract is based in Utah, plenty of work will be done in Colorado Springs and across missile sites in northern Colorado, southwest Nebraska and southern Wyoming. Employees in both programs will be based in the InterQuest building, with the move expected to be complete by years end.

Northrop Grumman, which employs 550 in the Colorado Springs area and 2,200 statewide, lists on its website nearly 60 openings in the Colorado Springs area and about 50 others in Aurora and Boulder. The companys Strategic Deterrent Systems division works on the ballistic missile contract, while the Missile Defense Solutions division works on several contracts with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency at Schriever Space Force Base and the Payload and Ground Systems division works on several Space Force contracts.

Contact Wayne Heilman 636-0234 Facebook www.facebook.com/wayne.heilman Twitter twitter.com/wayneheilman
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Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 58F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Military leaders overseeing U.S. Space Command backed down from full-throated support of a process that would move it from Colorado Springs to Alabama, but said they'll wait for a pair of federal investigations to conclude before they decide to reverse the decision.

Former President Donald Trump caused controversy Friday when he told a syndicated radio show that he "single-handedly" decided on Huntsville, Ala., as the command's future home, short-circuiting a nonpartisan process at the Pentagon to make the basing decision.

In Colorado Springs for the Space Symposium, which packed the Broadmoor this week, new Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said he puts as much faith in that Trump statement as he has in the panoply of his political pronouncements.

"President Trump has said many, many things," Kendall said in a news conference.

But Kendall  who is familiar with assets in Colorado Springs and Alabama from his more than 50 years of defense experience, including as an Army officer, defense contractor and in senior Pentagon posts  was clearly not ready to close the door on the Pikes Peak region as Space Command home.

"I think either one of them is certainly feasible as the headquarters," he said of Huntsville and Colorado Springs.

The Trump administration announced the Alabama move on Jan. 13, when the president had one week left in office. Immediately, rumors of political skullduggery emerged, with sources telling The Gazette that Trump had ignored senior military leaders with the Huntsville pick.

Colorado politicians from both political parties pointed to Trump's Friday remarks as proof that political shenanigans played a role and called on Biden to reverse the decision.

Space Command's Army Gen. James Dickinson, who has in the past expressed confidence in the Huntsville decision, was hesitant to back it up Tuesday, saying it would be "premature" for him to voice an opinion until investigations of the move by the Government Accountability Office and the Pentagon's Inspector General conclude.

Dickinson said he does want certainty for his command, which is provisionally located in Colorado Springs through at least 2026 as the Alabama decision plays out.

"To get to the next level, it will require resources, personnel and a permanent location for my headquarters," he said.

Reggie Ash, who heads military programs for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & EDC, said Tuesday that his sources were quiet on Space Command, too, even as thousands of space experts swirled through Space Symposium exhibit halls.

"Surprisingly, there's just not a lot of new information on the Space Command move this week," he said.

Space Command made its own move-free headlines.

Dickinson announced Tuesday that the command, which leads all American military missions in orbit, reached a startup milestone of "initial operational capability."

The announcement means the command, which celebrates its second birthday since its 2019 rebirth next week, can effectively defend American interests in orbit while deterring rivals from attacking U.S. space assets.

Dickinson said that Space Command, headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, is "prepared to address threats from competition to conflict in space, while also protecting and defending our interests in this vast and complex domain."

The latest version of the command, which was headquartered here in the Cold War years but shuttered amid budget cuts in 2002, has now reached 900 troops, Dickinson said.

Dickinson didn't address the controversy in his remarks Tuesday morning, but he did talk about the importance of caring for the command's troops.

"Make no mistake, our No. 1 priority in all of this, in all of the missions areas we have, is to take care of those people," Dickinson said.
SALIDA  A Chaffee County judge did not make a ruling Tuesday on whether there was sufficient evidence for Barry Morphew to stand trial in the murder of his wife, Suzanne.

At the end of the four-day preliminary hearing and about 20 hours of testimony at the courthouse in Salida, Judge Patrick Murphy said he would rather make his decision "correctly" rather than quickly.

The next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 17, when Murphy will make his ruling.

Suzanne Morphew, 49, of Maysville in Chaffee County, was last seen May 10, 2020. Despite an exhaustive search, her body has not been found.

Earlier Tuesday, Barry Morphew's attorneys called Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Joseph Cahill as a witness to question him about a DNA sample taken from the glove box of Suzanne Morphew's vehicle after she went missing.

The sample resulted in three unknown matches in the Combined DNA Index System, a national DNA database used by law enforcement. The matches were connected to sexual assault cases in Arizona and Chicago, according to testimony.

According to the defense, Cahill was listed as the CBI contact in letters sent to law enforcement agencies in Tempe, Ariz., Phoenix and Chicago, notifying them of DNA matches between a swabbed sample taken from the glove box of Suzanne Morphews vehicle and unsolved sexual assault cases in those cities.

Barry Morphews DNA was excluded from the glove box sample, according to defense attorneys.

Cahill testified that he was not aware of those letters at the time they were sent, between October and April. He testified that he became aware of them when the district attorneys office gave the letters to him later on.

Cahill testified that he didnt follow up on those matches. In the Chicago case, a detective in that city told Cahill that he would follow up on the match, Cahill testified, and then said he did not check whether the detective did so.

Under cross-examination from the prosecution, Cahill testified that a DNA match from CODIS should be treated as an investigative lead that law enforcement should follow up on.

The defense also called Chaffee County Sheriff's Office Deputy Scott Himshoot, who testified that a tranquilizer gun owned by Barry Morphew appeared not to have been fired in a long time.

The prosecution wrapped its case earlier Tuesday. Over three and a half days of testimony, the prosecution questioned several witnesses and submitted dozens of pieces of photo and video evidence without laying out a specific narrative for what they think happened to Suzanne Morphew.

According to testimony for the prosecution:

- Suzanne was having a two-year affair with Jeff Libler, a Michigan man who was told he was not a target of the investigation. Suzanne suspected that Barry was having an affair, but investigators have not found evidence of that. (The defense focused on interview transcripts in which Barry acted surprised and disbelieving that his wife would have an affair.)

- Suzanne sent Barry a text on May 6, four days before she was reported missing, that said, Im done.

- Suzanne and Libler regularly communicated through LinkedIn, but no messages came from Suzanne after the afternoon of May 9, the day before she was reported missing.

- Barry owned a tranquilizer gun that investigators suspected he might have used on Suzanne, and also a 16-inch gun with a scope that Barry told investigators he used to shoot chipmunks. He told investigators he was using the gun on May 9 to shoot chipmunks on his property.

- Days after Suzannes disappearance, law enforcement found a needle sheath in the dryer in the Morphews residence. The sheath would fit a needle used to inject serum into a tranquilizer dart. Barry told investigators he had no idea how it got there. He also told investigators that he might have had tranquilizer serum on his work bench before he left May 10 for Broomfield on a presumed business trip.

- Barry had injuries to both of his hands and scratch marks on one of his arms on May 13, three days after Suzanne went missing. He told investigators he got the injuries from a tree while searching for Suzanne.

- Barry visited a business, Stove & Spa, in Poncha Springs in the late afternoon on May 9, the last day Suzanne was seen alive. The owner of the store told investigators that Barry inquired about getting his hot tub fixed and didnt make any purchases.

- Barrys phone was in airplane mode for several hours on two occasions: on May 9, the last day Suzanne was seen alive, and May 10, when Barry was in Broomfield.

- When Barry left his home early May 10 to drive to Broomfield, he turned left instead of right, which would be the direction to go to head toward Broomfield. Barry told investigators he saw a bull elk and followed it to see where it would drop its antlers. One witness testified that elk dont drop antlers that time of year.

- In Broomfield, Barry made five stops at various businesses and disposed of items in trash receptacles. He told investigators that the items were clutter from his truck. One witness testified that his theory is Barry was disposing of murder evidence.

- Barry left his hotel room in Broomfield in late afternoon on May 10. One of his employees, who was staying at the same hotel, told investigators that when she went into that room hours later, it smelled strongly of chlorine and wet towels were strewn on the floor.

- On March 5, 2021, 10 months after Suzannes disappearance and after many interviews with investigators, Barry asked two FBI agents: "What about immunity? Can you give me immunity if I just sit and open my life to you?" (FBI Agent John Grusing later said under defense questioning that Morphew said he was asking the question in case he was falsely convicted.)

Barry Morphew is being held without bail.
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Cloud-native incident management streamlines emergency response

A new cloud-native software suite links data and workflows from an initial 911 call all the way through the criminal justice system.

Motorola Solutions CommandCentral suite provides a complete incident view, including 911 call handling, dispatch, video analytics, field reports, records, evidence and community engagement. The automatic collection and correlation of incident data from every source -- including bystanders smartphones, officers body-worn cameras, fixed video, 911 calls and radio logs -- enhances collaboration and the building of case files.

Typically the applications and data sit in silos, and although those may be loosely linked, its not enough to streamline response, said Mahesh Saptharishi, CTO and senior vice president of Motorola Solutions Software Enterprise & Mobile Video unit. The company already had call-taking and evidence-management solutions, so it was a matter of putting them together.

By making it cloud-native, by making it very scalable and secure, its a common user experience that straddles every aspect of the incident, Saptharishi said. It lets users work faster because information is available to them instantaneously, and they can make clearer decisions because they are not hunting for information. Collaboration is streamlined, which saves precious seconds, and precious seconds usually save precious lives.

Other benefits of being in the cloud include scalability and improved cybersecurity because Motorola can push out patches when they become available for vulnerabilities, he said.

The suite works like this: Someone calls 911, and the call-handling solution automatically transcribes what the caller says. The technology uses natural language processing to extract pertinent information such as address and the condition of the individuals involved. That data automatically populates a form that goes from the call taker to a dispatcher, who can send the applicable response units, such as police, firefighters or emergency medical technicians with the appropriate equipment for the situation.

As they responders work, their body-worn and in-car cameras can stream to the CommandCenter computer-aided dispatch solution so dispatchers and supervisors can see what is happening. Any data from fixed cameras set up as part of a smart city initiative can be pulled in too.

All the data gets pulled into the back-end evidence platform, Saptharishi said. As responders leave the scene and investigators move into the post-incident mode to figure out what, how and why the incident happened, the video data, the call transcript data, the dispatcher and their information about the interactions that they observed -- all of that data is now available in a ready and transcribed fashion.

Additionally, the data can be presented to a prosecutor as a complete case file through a judicial sharing platform within the CommandCentral evidence solution, he said.

To test the software suite, Motorola Solutions worked with Collier County, Fla., to determine pain points and inefficiencies and then to see what happened with unified and simplified workflows.

The 911 call is the start of a complex process requiring information sharing among call takers; dispatchers; fire, EMS and law enforcement units; real-time crime analysts; and investigators, Bob Finney, director of communications technology at the county sheriffs office, said in a June 30 press statement announcing the suite. Todays systems arent designed with this process in mind and are clunky at best when dealing with the volume and influx of new data types. For public safety team members, every second counts and transitioning information quickly and completely across the workflow, so each individual can make informed decisions, is critical.

Jefferson County, Ala., 911 also participated in the user interface and experience research to inform the development of CommandCentral.

From the testing, Motorola Solutions found that applications can communicate with one another without relying on users to transmit the information. For instance, technology can allow for a form to be filled out once and shared, and it can better inform dispatchers and responders of conditions being reported, such as snow, ice or fire.

Youre data-aware, information-aware, [and you] are able to make decisions with a greater degree of clarity, Saptharishi said.
Govt-and-politics

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Emails: Safety chiefs uneasy over border duty

Courtesy An Iowa State Patrol vehicle sits parked in front of the Iowa Capitol building. Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Reynolds

As Gov. Kim Reynolds prepared in June to announce she was sending Iowa State Patrol employees to the nations border with Mexico, the states top public safety leaders raised concerns whether her commitment would leave enough staff for law enforcement obligations in Iowa and run up a significant cost for sending personnel out of state, according to records obtained by The Gazette.

Further, the records reveal, the Republican governor and other top officials knew sending troopers to Texas could cost the state up to nearly $400,000  but they didnt share that information with legislators or the public for weeks.

On June 24, when Reynolds announced the deployment  which she said was in response to pleas from Republican Govs. Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona  she asserted in a public statement she had been assured the move would not jeopardize public safety in Iowa.

My first responsibility is to the health and safety of Iowans and the humanitarian crisis at our nations southern border is affecting all 50 states, she said in the statement. The rise in drugs, human trafficking and violent crime has become unsustainable. Iowa has no choice but to act, and its why I am honoring Texas Emergency Management Assistance Compact following assurances from the Iowa Department of Public Safety that it will not compromise our ability to provide all necessary public safety services to Iowans.

Reynolds vows to hold strong against school mask mandates Gov. Reynolds fired back Thursday against threatened legal action by the Democratic Biden administration over the states ban on mask mandates in schools:

After the announcement, Democratic state Sen. Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City wrote emails June 29 and 30 to Sarah Jennings, legislative liaison for the Iowa Department of Public Safety, asking for answers about the deployment. But he did not receive specifics about the timing of the trip, the number of officers it would involve or the estimated cost.

This is just the latest example of the Reynolds administration keeping Iowans in the dark, Bolkcom told The Gazette. The bigger issue for me is (Reynolds) using these state resources and Iowa State Patrol in an ongoing effort to build her far-right political resume.

The Gazette requested documents under the Open Records Law about what officials believe to be the first out-of-state deployment of state troopers in Iowas roughly quarter century of being in the Emergency Management Assistance Compact  an agreement among states that sets the protocols for mutual aid. To learn more about the decisions behind the unprecedented deployment, the newspaper reviewed more than 3,500 pages of emails from Iowa Public Safety and Iowa Homeland Security officials surrounding the July 8-23 trek of 28 Iowa State Patrol employees to Texas.

Among the findings:

 The State Patrol estimated June 17 the 16-day deployment could cost the public $383,700, but wouldnt provide those estimates to reporters or lawmakers.

 Iowa signed an agreement July 2 to waive reimbursement from Texas for the cost of deployment, but four days later told Iowans that reimbursement terms still were being worked out.

 Iowa didnt lend law enforcement officers when neighboring Minnesota requested aid under the same Emergency Management Assistance Compact for civil unrest after the murder of George Floyd. But Reynolds office had considerable interest in requests for aid from states along the Mexican border.

 State Patrol leaders expressed concerns among themselves, to their supervisors and to a counterpart in another state about the deployment.

This request creates staffing and logistical concerns regarding our current position based on the 16-day deployment request for personnel/resources, Col. Nathan Fulk, who leads the Iowa State Patrol, wrote June 16 to Stephan Bayens, who as Reynolds appointee leads the Department of Public Safety.

The concern came after a June 10 letter from Abbott and Ducey asking other states to send all available law-enforcement resources to help with a surge of illegal border crossings. Although the Emergency Management Assistance Compact allows for reimbursement of costs when states help each other out in times of disaster or unrest, Texas and Arizona  which have spent millions on border enforcement  wanted states to foot the bill.

Bayens and a counterpart in Alabama expressed doubt about the cost.

Whats your governor thinking? Hal Taylor, secretary of law enforcement at the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, asked Bayens on June 16 after Bayens forwarded Taylor a copy of the detailed request that came into Iowas Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Speaking with her at 2:30 p.m., Bayens replied of Reynolds. The cost waiver request may be a deal-breaker in my opinion.

Thats what did it for my Governor. We just cant afford it, Taylor wrote.

Bayens and Catherine Lucas, the state Public Safety Department lawyer, emailed several times June 14 with the subject line Fwd: Emergency Management Assistance Compact. But the department censored the text of those emails, saying it was exempt from Iowas public records law.

Ten days later, Reynolds announced Iowa would send troopers to the border. At that time, Iowa was one of seven states with Republican governors to indicate plans to send officers to assist with bordersecurity.

On July 2, Iowa Homeland Security officials signed a contract saying the deployment would be at no cost to Texas. Yet on July 6, public safety officials still werent telling the public who would pay for the deployment. The contract remained secret until the Associated Press reported on it July 12.

Expenses for this mission will not be calculated until it has fully concluded and discussions regarding payment structures are ongoing, Public Safety spokeswoman Debbie McClung had told reporters. The reimbursement process and travel/logistics are not solidified at the present time.

In fact, emails show State Patrol leaders had put together a cost estimate for the deployment by June 17 that showed it could be up to $383,700. The estimate was considered likely high, rather than low, emails said, and included $14,000 for airfare. The employees ultimately drove, however, taking a combination of state and rented vehicles.

Actual costs ended up being $294,853, including regular salaries, overtime, lodging, meals, fuel and rentals, according to a July 27 email. That money will come from the State Patrols general fund.

At a news conference July 28, officials said that total should be marked down by about $100,000 because the state would have been spending that on the troopers regular salaries anyway. But Iowans did not get services from those troopers during that time, and the department did not call in off-duty officers to backfill for the openings, McClung confirmed.

The mission

Iowa State Patrol troopers were scheduled to leave July 8 for a two-day drive to Del Rio, a border city in western Texas, where they stayed at a Ramada Inn.

Of the 28 officers who went to Texas, 12 were to be paired with Texas troopers for public safety services including traffic enforcement, criminal interdiction, crime prevention and provide assistance to other area agencies, records show. Another 13 were paired with Texas Rangers, a division that investigates major violent crime, public corruption, cold case and officer-involved shooting investigations and oversee(s) the departments border security and tactical and crisis negotiation programs, according to its website.

Iowa committed to sending two supervisors and one Spanish-speaking investigator to help with sex abuse investigations, records show.

At the post-deployment news conference July 28, Patrol Capt. Mark Miller said troopers made arrests, seized illegal drugs, firearms and money while helping people with food, water and other necessities as they attempted to cross into the United States.

No numbers have been released about how many people Iowa troopers, specifically, arrested during the deployment. But during the 12 days Iowa officers were working in Texas, the operation resulted in 240 arrests, 51 vehicle pursuits and the seizure of 948 pounds of marijuana, 37 pounds of methamphetamine and cocaine, 18 firearms and $1.7 million from criminal activities, the Iowa State Patrol reported.

Why this deployment?

Reynolds has spoken extensively about her concerns illegal immigrants are bringing drugs into the country and increasing COVID-19 rates. Coupled with her criticism of Democratic President Joe Bidens border policy, some Republicans have speculated she may be interested in higher office.

On June 10, the same day Abbott and Ducey sent their letter requesting help, Reynolds issued a news release saying she and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee demanded congressional hearings on the border crisis.

Bayens forwarded that release to Paul Feddersen, assistant director in charge of the departments Division of Narcotics Enforcement, with the note FYSA, which likely means for your situational awareness. Feddersen replied, Interesting.

Interim Iowa Homeland Security Director John Benson wrote an email June 11 to Blake DeRouchey, the Homeland Security legislative liaison. There is considerable interest in possible EMAC requests from states along the southern border. Please keep a close eye out for any and all EMAC requests. If we do receive some through the system let me know as soon as possible so I can inform the Governors Office.

DeRouchey replied June 14 that he had looked that morning and had seen a new posting from Texas, but no formal request providing details.

Can you pull that down for me? Benson replied. I would like to see it and possibly forward to IGOV so they can see the event but also that no requests have been created thus far.

On July 23, while preparing for the post-deployment news conference, Public Safety lawyer Lucas wrote to Benson asking whether Minnesota had used the assistance agreement to call for help during protests that turned violent following George Floyds May 25, 2020, murder in Minneapolis.

Do you know if Minnesota used EMAC last summer? (we are anticipating question of why sending to TX but not MN last summer), Lucas wrote.

Benson said Minnesota had requested 19 people, including 15 law enforcement, for civil unrest and 123 law enforcement officers during Aprils trial of Derek Chauvin, the police officer who was convicted of killing Floyd.

We did not support either of those  however for background, we were prepared to support a National Guard helicopter for the George Floyd funeral, which was canceled by Minnesota the day prior, Benson wrote.

Iowa National Guard members did go to California last year to help with wildfires, Benson said.

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Iowas seven-day average of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 is also climbing, and stands at 491, a 54% increase over the past two weeks, according to the New York Times data. Hospitalizations in the state are at the same level now as they were in late January.

The counties that saw the biggest gains in hospitalization, when measured against their overall population, were Lucas, Madison, Polk, Ringgold and Warren counties.

Despite the current rapid rate of increased infections, the raw number of newly infected Iowans remains far less than last November, when Iowa sometimes topped 4,000 new cases per day.

The total number of current COVID-19 cases at Iowa stands at 849, a 42% increase over the past two weeks.

Two-thirds of some counties residents still unvaccinated

Statewide, 51% of Iowans are fully vaccinated, which places Iowa close to the national average. There are 23 states with a higher percentage of fully vaccinated residents.

The Iowa counties that have the lowest percentage of fully vaccinated residents are: Davis County, at 31%; Decatur County, Van Buren and Lyon counties, each at 34%; and Sioux and Wayne counties, at 35%.
Brycelynn Blu Blackdeer entered this world with spunk and attitude on September 4, 2013, the eldest of her triplet sisters, Katelynn and Maxine. Brycelynn and her sisters were welcomed by their parents, Cody B. and Katie J. (Schweizer) Blackdeer as well as their oldest sister, Olivia in Des Moines, IA. From the beginning Brycelynn was a fighter and overcame every obstacle in the NICCU. She and her sister, Katelynn, were inseparable: sleeping side by side, playing together, they were two pieces of a greater whole. Often Brycelynn stood up, protected, and spoke for Katelynn, making sure she was safe at all times; even in death, their bond will forever be present. Before long her protective personality broke through as she worked tirelessly to take care of all of her siblings. Brycelynn was quite the tom boy- running around playing super heroes with her sword and cape, riding on toys, and creating her next adventure, but never hesitated to rock her bright blue eye shadow and dress up with her sisters. She and her siblings were proud of their Native American heritage of the Ho-Chunk Nation.
If approved, the order would apply not only to businesses, but to schools within the countys borders, as well.

Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse told the County Board on Tuesday that she had sought the approval for the mask order from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Huse said the order, if approved, would require masking until community transmission drops below the substantial category and until eight weeks past the time a COVID vaccine is approved for children between the ages of 5 and 11.



WASHINGTON  Dr. Anthony Fauci is urging hospitals and doctors to make greater use of antibody treatments for people infected with COVID-19 as hospitalizations and deaths rise due to the spread of the delta variant.

Infusions of antibody drugs can keep patients who are experiencing mild-to-moderate symptoms from getting so sick they need hospitalization, the governments top infectious disease specialist said at Tuesdays White House coronavirus briefing. They also can serve as a preventive treatment for people exposed to someone with a documented infection.
CHARLESTON, WV  Gov. Jim Justice announced today that th e West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) and West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) will host Vigilant Guard 2021; a national-level exercise cosponsored by the U.S. Northern Command and the National Guard Bureau, Aug. 26-29, 2021.



Vigilant Guard is held in a different FEMA Region each year. This is the first time West Virginia has been selected to host the exercise for FEMA Region III, which is comprised of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.



Vigilant Guard 2021 will test West Virginias ability to respond to a large-scale disaster, Gov. Justice said. Seamless coordination during emergency response is really important to saving lives and requires the cooperation of all levels of government. I applaud the efforts of everyone involved for their hard work showcasing West Virginias response capabilities to the nation and making this exercise a success.



Vigilant Guard 2021 is a premier disaster exercise that will bring over 300 military personnel, public-safety first responders, private sector partners, and volunteers from around the United States together for a multi-day, hands-on and simulated training exercise, supporting the development, enhancement, and interoperability of disaster response assets across federal, state, and local jurisdictions within a joint operations environment.



The four-day exercise will test the states disaster and emergency response capabilities to a severe weather event that causes simulated flooding, accidents, building collapses, and more.



Exercise activities will take place in Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties. The public may notice an increased presence of first responder and military personnel, aircraft and equipment, and emergency vehicles leading up to and during the exercise.



Emergency response scenarios will include a train derailment, hazardous materials accident, mass casualty incident, collapsed structures, swift- and still-water rescues, as well as aerial and wildland search and rescue operations for both humans and large animals/livestock. The exercise will also test overall command and control decisions and actions, public information and hazard alert messaging, and interoperable communications capabilities.



Planning and execution for Vigilant Guard 2021 is based on the FEMA-led National Response Framework (NRF) and National Incident Management System (NIMS) protocols and policies utilized by response agencies across the nation during large-scale disaster-level events and will utilize the nationwide Incident Command System (ICS) for overall command and control of the exercise.



According to West Virginia National Guard Adjutant General Brig. Gen. William Bill Crane, hosting the exercise will allow the state to highlight its growing portfolio of capabilities.



Vigilant Guard 2021 is a perfect opportunity to refine training and response operations with our interagency partners, Crane said. It also allows us to highlight the excellent training opportunities and venues that exist here in the Mountain State that are available to agencies and organizations from around the U.S. and internationally to utilize.



More than 30 unique agencies and organizations from across the nation will participate in Vigilant Guard 2021 from across the federal, state, and local levels, including private sector and volunteer partners, as well as international partners from Qatar, Peru, and Oman.



This exercise gives us a chance to practice our emergency response capabilities and is an excellent way to test the coordinated disaster response skills of West Virginias agencies, said WVEMD Director G.E. McCabe. Vigilant Guard allows us to practice our emergency response plans with the whole community. It will make us better able to serve our citizens and make our entire state safer.



For more information on emergency preparedness, visit www.emd.wv.gov.
GREENSBORO  N.C. A&T University crushed its past record for private fundraising with $93.8 million raised in its just concluded fiscal year, which included the end of a long-running fundraising campaign by the university.

The amount includes a blockbuster $45 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos. But even without Scotts gift, the university would have still more than doubled the record it set for donations in fiscal year 2020, when it raised $18.1 million.

N.C. A&T is the United States largest public historically black college or university. The nations next largest public HBCU, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, raised $13.62 million for the year, which was a record for them also.

Harry Williams, the president of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, said that many of the HBCUs his group works with saw record fundraising for the year. That was driven, he said, by corporations and philanthropists looking to make a positive difference for Black people in the United States in the wake of the death of George Floyd in 2020.

It touched something in the core of this country, as far what we saw happening to an African American in Minneapolis, he said.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP)  Attorneys for former reality TV star Josh Duggar have filed motions seeking to dismiss child pornography charges against him.

The motions ask for the dismissal of the two charges and to suppress evidence in the case, including all statements Duggar made to investigators, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

The documents, filed Friday, allege prosecutors failed to preserve potentially exculpatory evidence and that the two acting secretaries of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at the time of the Duggar investigation werent properly appointed.

The motions to suppress evidence say investigators took Duggar's cellphone before he could call his lawyer and questioned him without his lawyer present.

Duggar, who appeared in TLCs 19 Kids and Counting, was indicted in April on two counts of downloading and possessing child pornography, some of which prosecutors said depicted the sexual abuse of toddlers.

He has pleaded not guilty.
Usually by three days, we can get most of them out. But it used to be a matter of hours, and now were talking a matter of days, he said. And these are people that need care, and were trying everything that we can to get them treated appropriately. But they need to go to the big tertiary care centers for a reason, and theres just not that availability.

The emergency department is the route for many patients into a hospital, and when the system is at or near capacity, this is where it backs up, said Alora Rodgers, the clinical care coordinator for the department.

Its not just here at Johnston, its everywhere  its Duke, its Rex, its Wake. Everywhere is just at max capacity, Rodgers said. What happens is that when we have to hold them in the emergency room, it bottlenecks. We have to hold these admissions here because theres nowhere for them to go. Then it makes it more difficult to see the ER patients, because we just physically dont have the place to see them.

UNC Johnston Health is actually two community hospitals, a 50-bed hospital in Clayton and a 149-bed one in Smithfield. On Friday, the two hospitals suspended non-emergency surgeries that require an overnight stay, a move that should free up 10 beds.
Mary Pat Harris and her husband, Jim, own and operate Bozeman Spirits Distillery in downtown Bozeman. Though they are operating in one of the state's largest cities, the importance of community, like so many at the Montana Beverage Show, is not lost on them.

When the Bridger Foothills fire of 2020 claimed about 30 homes in the area, the couple siphoned about 100 bottles worth of bourbon being barrel aged in the warehouse on their farm and auctioned them off.

Within two and half days they had raised around $10,000, with all of the proceeds going to help those who had lost their homes.

"Montana provided the ingredients for our product, so we thought it was important to give back to the community," Harris said.

The Desmul family started out brewing hard cider in their Kalispell barn nearly 15 years ago. The operation has since grown into a 40-acre orchard, cidery, tasting room and restaurant.

Matriarch Jennifer Desmul co-owns Big Mountain Ciderworks with her husband, and their three sons help run the operation.

"We really wanted to create a legacy for our boys," Desmul said.
Burrows said the issue about the new gate has not come before the full commission yet.

Before we have those discussions, we need to little more background, he said. If its on a new landowners property, it changes the dynamic of the discussion.

If the sign is located on another persons property, the county will need to provide notice to the landowner and go through a process to address the issue.

Burrows wasnt surprised by the tone of the new sign.

Thats basically been our concern the whole time, he said. Thats been the sentiment expressed by the landowners from the beginning  Its always been about public safety. That sign reinforces that.

Other than recent concerns expressed about the new gate and sign, Burrows said the commission hasnt heard anything about Hughes Creek this summer.

Its been really quiet, he said. If this was a big public access area, it probably would have expedited our process. We are trying to avoid conflict and dotting all our Is and Ts to keep the public safe. Its not like we have people chomping at the bit to go up there.
DECATUR  Police said one of the victims from Monday evenings double shooting in Decatur was a 6-year-old boy while the other was an 18-year-old male.

Both the wounds were described as non life-threatening, added Carroll.

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He said no arrests have yet been made and did not have information on the circumstances of the shooting, which he described as an active investigation with police seeking information and help.

Anyone with information or tips can call the police at (217) 424-2734 or call Crime Stoppers at (217) 423-TIPS.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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MINNEAPOLIS  The Illinois militia leader convicted of masterminding the bombing of a Minnesota mosque is asking a judge to legally acknowledge her transgender identity.

Emily Claire Hari was previously known as Michael Hari, who was found guilty last year of civil rights and hate crime charges related to the bombing of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington in August 2017.

During the trial, prosecutors said Hari was fueled by a hatred of Muslims when he devised a plan to pipe bomb the building during morning prayers. While no one was hurt in the bombing, it spread fear through the community, prosecutors said.

Hari, 50, of Clarence, Illinois, said gender dysphoria and right-wing misinformation fueled her inner conflict when she was convicted in the bombing, according to court documents.

She strongly desired making a full transition but knew she would be ostracized from everyone and everything she knew, Haris defense attorney, Shannon Elkins, wrote in the documents. Thus, as she formed a ragtag group of freedom fighters or militia men and spoke of missions to Cuba and Venezuela, Ms. Hari secretly looked up sex change, transgender surgery, and post-op transgender on the internet."

Elkins said Hari bought military fatigues for her so-called missions but purchased female clothing for a planned trip to Thailand for male-to-female surgery, the Star Tribune reported. Hari was living a double life, Elkins said.

Elkins cited these as factors in asking U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank to give Hari no more than the minimum 30-year prison sentence, not the life term prosecutors have requested.

Hari also asked for an amended prison placement based on her transgender identity, but the details of the request are under seal.

Haris sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 13.

Two Illinois men also charged in the case pleaded guilty.

Prosecutors said Hari established a terrorist militia group called The White Rabbits in Clarence, Illinois.

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Foster said he is very concerned about the potential loss of jobs.

We cant bring Amazon in and a casino in and then lay off 40 to 50 of our most loyal employees. Those guys down there really deserve the fight and need somebody who will stand up for them and fight, Foster said of the jail employees.

Foster, 63, is a detective and 24-year veteran of the city police department.

Thomas, 56, is a 30-year veteran of the Bristol Tennessee Police Department. He too expressed support for retaining the jail. His wife Pam recently retired from the Sheriffs Office after 32 years of service.

Like my opponent, I think it is a mistake to see the jail go, Thomas said. Im not seeking an office; Im not seeking a title. Im seeking a job. My job is to work for you guys, the rest of the citizens of this city and those employees.

He pledged to work to keep the jail open.

Ill do everything that I can to save those jobs and keep the jail here because, if the jail goes, all our opportunities for rehabilitation, for inmate programs, for mental health counseling and all those other things are taken out of our hands and put in the hands of the regional jail authority. So that is priority No. 1, Thomas said.
President Biden got that off to the right start Wednesday by announcing that nursing homes had to require vaccination of their staffs or forgo federal funding. The Los Angeles City Council voted to require vaccination of its own staff, a week after the L.A. Unified school system made the same requirement.

And rather than providing a little more protection to people who already are pretty safe from a deadly case of COVID-19, the Biden administration should be spending more of its vaccine-purchasing power on doses for nations where the shots have simply been unavailable. Only now is Haiti getting the first vaccines delivered; its rate of fully vaccinated people is zero.

Shipping doses internationally is more than just a kindness to other countries. Viruses dont respect national boundaries; one of the best ways to protect ourselves is to help protect the world.

Its not dangerous for people to get third doses in a month or so; any side effects are expected to be about the same as they were for the first two. Nor is it immoral, especially for those in special circumstances, such as health care workers and the immune-compromised. Existing doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are in place and not headed overseas.

But as the nation continues investing in vaccine production, the most effective use of those vaccines for now is first doses, and then second ones, not third. The easy work of vaccinating the willing and those with access is done. The real trick is in figuring out how to get those needles to reach billions of untouched arms.
I am here to tell you that from my personal experience, masks work. I live in a small house with my husband and daughter, Carrion said. Neither of whom have gotten COVID from me, because we have all been wearing our masks.

Carrion was concerned because COVID-19 cases and COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Catawba County have increased drastically in the last month.

Max Kihneman, a seventh-grader at Jacobs Fork Middle School, also spoke in favor of a mask mandate.

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I wore a mask today. It didnt really prevent me from breathing. I still enjoyed the school day, it was still fun and I could still breathe. I got my COVID vaccine a couple of weeks ago when I turned 12, he said. I got my COVID vaccine as soon as I could, but I am still not fully vaccinated. We should mandate masks, so that way everyone can continue going to school safely. I did entirely online school last year. I didnt get to see most of my friends for over a year.

Amanda Chapman, a parent of a middle-schooler in the Catawba County Schools district, wanted masks to remain optional. She listed several common sicknesses, including the flu, pink-eye and strep, that children catch throughout the school year. She pointed out that schools have never had a mask mandate as a result of those illnesses.
Our residents identify closely with their individual community, so the rebranding is intentionally keeping the community names and enhancing them with the EveryAge mark, said Kim Kilday, chief marketing officer, EveryAge. This new brand allows us to tie together both our communities and programs throughout the region to create better awareness and give us plenty of room to grow as we write our next chapter.

The name EveryAge ties directly back to UCHS strong belief that all ages matter and it is important to make the most out of life, regardless of age. As a steward of the nonprofits resources, values, reputation, and relationships, the EveryAge brand aligns with the organizations goal of empowering seniors and their families to navigate their futures by providing help and support that evolves with them.

The unveiling of the new EveryAge brand occurred during the 50th anniversary celebration on Aug. 20 in Newton, which was livestreamed to all 12 locations. A landing page with more information about the new brand is available at www.everyage.org, and the organizations Facebook and LinkedIn pages will also provide updates.

While our name is changing, our mission and vision remain steadfast, said Syria. EveryAge is committed to enriching lives by providing the right services, at the right time, in the right setting. We are honoring our legacy while broadening the role we play in helping individuals live life to the fullest.
In a recent conversation with Saunders, I tried to get him to explain what makes a good column. Is it surprise and humor combined with a serious message? He dodged the question, but he shared this: I know I have a good column when I can write it quickly. But if I have to struggle with it, write and rewrite, and start all over again, I know its best to trash it and write about something else.

In that respect, he explained, it is like a poem or a song. The best ones come smoothly when already you know what you want to say and there is a moment of inspiration that opens door to writing it down.

The best news is that Saunders is back writing for the N&O, Durham Herald-Sun and The Charlotte Observer.

So, you ask, What good is that for me? I dont read those papers.

First of all, you can find his columns on the web at www.thesaundersreport.com

Also, you can know that this columnist is doing his best to learn from Saunders how to do a better job so you will enjoy reading this column even more.

D.G. Martin hosts North Carolina Bookwatch, Sunday at 3:30 p.m. and Tuesday at 5 p.m. on PBS North Carolina (formerly UNC-TV). The program also airs on the North Carolina Channel Tuesday at 8 p.m. and other times.
As knowledge surrounding greenhouse gas emissions continues to grow, those in agriculture have identified manure digesters as part of the solution. This technology carries a two-fold benefit of reducing gas emission from manure storage and creating usable renewable natural gas.

By my numbers, there are actually about 330 digesters in the country and about 233 of those are on dairy farms. The rest of them are either servicing pigs or poultry, shared the University of Wisconsin-Madisons Mark Stephenson during the August 18 Hoards Dairyman DairyLivestream.

More digesters to come

While 233 active manure digesters on dairies remains just a sliver of the dairy farm market, Newtrient LLC calculates that another 50 installations are underway.

Digesters are generating biogas from almost 200,000 dairy cows in this country right now, Stephenson elaborated. The total biogas thats generated is roughly 25 million cubic feet of gas per day. If all of that made it to the pipeline, it would be enough to supply about 150,000 homes with all their natural gas needs.

While substantial that leaves plenty of opportunity on the table both for dairy farmers and energy markets.

When you think about it, 200,000 cows whose biogas were capturing is only about 2% of the dairy cows in this country, concluded Stephenson. Obviously, well never get to 100%, but I think theres room for a lot more digesters and a lot more opportunity to think about this biogas in the pipeline.

To watch the recording of the August 18 DairyLivestream, go to the link above. The program recording is now also available as an audio-only podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and downloadable from the Hoards Dairyman website.

An ongoing series of events

The next broadcast of DairyLivestream will be on Wednesday, September 15 at 11 a.m. CDT. Each episode is designed for panelists to answer over 30 minutes of audience questions. If you havent joined a DairyLivestream broadcast yet, register here for free. Registering once registers you for all future events.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2021

August 19, 2021
ACS has outlined its vision for the future as it conducts a series of major operational reviews and learns from its mistakes of the past.

In a virtual meeting for members on Monday, ACS CEO Rupert Grayston and ACS President Dr Ian Oppermann explained how the member organisation was moving into a new development phase.

We've got four major development programs in train right now, Grayston said.

First of all, our current strategic plan  our five-year plan  runs out in the middle of next year, and we're right in the midst of developing the next one.

We've also been conducting a brand review: this isn't about redoing the logo, this is about understanding and studying our markets and our member needs, and how we're going to interact with the world into the future.

Thirdly, the governance review: not only are we still intending to go to a company limited by guarantee, but we're also reviewing how we make decisions now and how we orientate ourselves for an efficient business managing risks in the best way.

And finally, the technology review: how we are going to enable product and service delivery for now and for the future through a major renewal of our tech stack.

The four-pronged approach to ACSs future follows a turbulent 18 months for the organisation.

Its attempts at major governance reform was initially passed by the slimmest of margins before a successful Federal Court challenge ultimately saw the move overturned.

Since then, ACS has undergone a period of cultural and procedural re-development with Congress passing a vote of no-confidence in the governing management committee, and Grayston taking the helm as CEO.

Strategic plan

Speaking at Mondays event, Dr Oppermann said the work on ACSs next five-year strategy was another chance for the organisation to move forward as his time as President nears its end.

It's an opportunity for us to rethink the ACSs role in the future Australian economy, in a future digital economy, and hopefully a post-COVID economy, Dr Oppermann said.

Historically when we take the approach of developing a five-year strategy, those are the things that we need to think about, especially considering how rapidly the world is changing.

But we have started the process. We have had a number of workshops with Management Committee, with Congress, and we're in the process now of that consultation with members, staff, and outside stakeholders.

Branding review

Attached to the strategic planning is a branding review which has already seen ACS engage a survey of over 2,300 members and nearly 100 ACS staff to gain a greater understanding of what ICT professionals and ACS members need most.

This is about increasing our relevance to members, Grayston said.

We are realigning the value proposition of our products and services, and seeing that these meet the priorities of the different groups of ACS Members.

We're looking to define the role that ACS needs to play in this sector. To do that, we need to understand the sector, where our strengths lie, and what others expect of us.

Dr Oppermann tied the branding review back to finding what ACSs specialised role is for Australias technology workforce and posed a series of self-reflective questions being asked of and by the organisation.

Why should people be members of the ACS? Dr Oppermann asked.

What can we offer to the people of the ACS? And what can we offer to the future Australia?

How do we ensure that we have what it takes to be at those significant national conversations?

Governance changes

Dr Oppermann said ACS would proceed with plans for major governance changes that triggered upheaval at the organisation in late 2019, but with a wildly different approach this time around.

Our last attempt at constitutional reform and governance reform was certainly not handled well, he said. And there's plenty we can learn from that.

But also the world has moved on, ACS has moved on, and as we move through the 2020s we will see that the economy and society around us also changes quite significantly.

Dr Oppermann outlined ACSs plan for this next attempt at governance reform, beginning with membership consultation to identify the key issues and goals before checking with members that the right concerns are being addressed.

A draft constitution will then be presented to Congress for approval before being circulated to members for further feedback and review.

Dr Oppermann said ACS will try to reach as many members as possible to look at the draft constitution before conducting a membership ballot.

We have the desire to do this well, he said. We have the desire to do it in a very consultative fashion.

We want to hear member voices and we want to make sure that we are building the ACS to reflect not only the interests of members but also the role we can play in future Australian economy.

Technology review

The last big project ACS is undergoing alongside its day-to-day operations is an overhaul of technology used internally and to deliver products and services.

We've recently brought on board an interim CIO, Richard Wiltshire, who is now really looking deeply at how to renew our existing environment, Grayston said.

He is looking at the common elements of the information and technology platforms, our systems, organisational capabilities, and things that we're going to need in order to meet our organisational objectives.

He will then be looking to design and ideate a desired state of IT infrastructure and an operating model that focuses on creating structure and collaboration and innovation across the organisation.

Finally, we will capture all that in a three-year road map to deliver on this new operating model.

At the conclusion the of the member Q&A, some questions were left unanswered. These have been addressed below:

Is ACS planning to expand on the offerings in the ACS Learning Accelerator portal to include more current vendor certifications?

The Learning Accelerator is a live service, so well constantly be updating it to reflect current work conditions and requirements. It will depend on the particular certification, but there will be new content added to the service as time goes on.

How would you encourage more student membership?

When it comes to the strategic plan and branding review, all options are on the table, including things that might encourage more student members through price incentives, events and product offerings. One of our key goals is to ensure that different groups of members are being catered for. We know that different types of members have different needs  theres no one size fits all solution  and students, like other member groups, are being looked at and were planning how to best meet the needs of those members. We believe if we can do that, then more students will come to ACS for assistance in their career journey.

Will ACS change from .org to a .com entity?

ACS will remain a member-owned not-for-profit and registered charity regardless of the outcome of the governance review. The governance review is about simplifying ACS currently very complex governance structure and enabling agile operational decision-making while still retaining healthy member oversight. ACS will not be privatised or become a commercial entity.

Would there be consideration made for members who have not been able to spend enough face-to-face time on their Continuous Professional Development in the last 12 months?

In the past year, ACS has significantly ramped up both our virtual events and online learning offerings (which qualify as CPD for Professional Year and certification CPD). This should allow people to complete CPD requirements without having to leave their home  and they have been. ACS Learning Accelerator, for example, saw an increase in usage of 1385% during the fiscal year. Individuals who may need advice on options to maintain or claim CPD hours are, however, encouraged to call ACS Member Services.

How do you make sure that international students are also considered for all job roles? Graduate programs are always seeking PR [permanent residence] and Australian citizens, which make it difficult for international students  are there plans to address this?

We are looking into the needs and issues that international students face in entering the Australian technology job market. We would like to be more effective in helping individuals build careers, find a professional home in ACS and become long-term ACS members. In achieving this we will also help employers of ICT professionals find capable people and will strengthen Australias growing digital economy.

Is there a plan to extend membership due to lockdowns?

Not at this time. Although employment across the Australian economy shrank by 1.7% in 2020, Australias technology workforce grew by 33,400 (or 4.3%), and growth of over 5% per annum has been forecast. To attract and retain members in this environment we should focus on creating value by researching and delivering what busy members and employers need rather than offer discounts.
South Australia will use facial recognition to make sure people are at home. Image: Shutterstock

South Australia is trialing an app that will monitor people who are in home quarantine by checking geo-location data and scanning their faces.

The trial, which began on Monday, allows around 50 South Australian residents returning from interstate to conduct their 14 days of mandatory quarantine from home.

Residents who sign onto the trial will install the Home Quarantine SA app on their smartphones to monitor their compliance with quarantine requirements through random in-app checks.

Users will have 15 minutes, when the app pings them, to prove they are at their homes by showing the app their faces and giving it access to geo-location data.

If they fail to do so, police will check on them in-person.

A spokesperson for SAs Department of Premier and Cabinet told Information Age the Home Quarantine SA app was developed from scratch over-two-and-a-half months by a team within the state government.

SA Premier Steven Marshall said the Home Quarantine SA app  which also contains a COVID-19 testing schedule, daily symptom checks, and wellbeing resources  is an important part of the states COVID-19 management plan.

This innovative technology is the most-advanced of its kind in Australia, and if the trial proves successful, could provide more options for home quarantine for returned South Australians," he said.

We take no decision lightly when it comes to community safety; it must be reiterated this is a trial, and the outcomes and lessons learnt from it will be foremost amongst any decision to continue or expand it.

According to its privacy statement, Home Quarantine SA will encrypt data immediately upon submission before sending it to an Australian server under control of the Government of South Australia.

There have been issues in other states with police using data collected by COVID-19 apps for purposes other than enforcing pandemic compliance, including in WA where the government quickly had to pass legislation stopping WA Police from accessing QR check-in data.

Data from the app will be destroyed at the conclusion of COVID-19 pandemic, the privacy statement says, unless it is needed to enforce a breach of emergency laws.

We will ensure personal information is stored securely, not kept longer than necessary, and disposed of appropriately, the state government assures app users.

Originally, the government offered a $1.1 million contract to Western Australian company GenVis to develop a version of a similar app used for home quarantine in WA.

But that deal was thrown out following complaints about glitches in WAs G2G app.
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MATTOON  Lake Land College will host its annual Career Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5. At Career Day, nearly 1,200 high school juniors and seniors come to Lake Land to learn about a variety of careers and how to follow a path to attain those careers.

High school students throughout the district will have the opportunity to register for more than 175 different sessions in an array of fields including agriculture, health care, business, information technology, cosmetology, humanities and arts, communications, math, science, engineering, education, criminal justice, human services, psychology, sociology, political science, history, automotive, construction, technology, leadership, success in college and more.

Sessions will be either 20 or 50 minutes in length, allowing students to explore topics at a basic or in-depth level of the particular field.

This event is a great way for high school students to explore the options available to them, Michelle Zumbahlen, coordinator for strategic student communication and initiatives, said. The attendees have the chance to learn and ask questions about areas of study, career paths and colleges that can help guide their decision-making process in the future.

An Illinois Regional College Fair will also be held as a part of Career Day. Representatives from approximately 50 different colleges around the country will be on hand to speak with students about what their colleges have to offer.

The college fair will allow students to interact with many different colleges at one time, a unique opportunity that they may not experience elsewhere.

Students may attend the College Fair before or after their scheduled sessions or register to attend the College Fair as one of their sessions if they wish to have more time to explore this component of the day.

Masks covering the nose and mouth will be required for all individuals at all times while inside campus buildings, regardless of vaccination status. While outdoors, vaccinated individuals may remove their masks, while unvaccinated individuals should wear a mask when social distancing cannot be maintained.

To support compliance with indoor mask requirements, food or drink will not be allowed at college events or gatherings held on campus or in college facilities.

For more information about Career Day, visit lakelandcollege.edu/career-day or contact Zumbahlen at mzumbahlen4077@lakelandcollege.edu or 217-234-5230.

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SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP)  A California judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in the embezzlement trial of attorney Michael Avenatti, who is charged with stealing millions in settlement money from his clients.

U.S. District Judge James V. Selna ruled on technical grounds that federal prosecutors failed to turn over relevant financial evidence to Avenatti, who has been representing himself in the case with assistance from advisory counsel. Another hearing in the case was set for Sept. 2, and Selna scheduled a tentative new trial date for Oct. 12.

This was obviously important stuff that they knew about and didnt turn over, said H. Dean Steward, Avenattis advisory counsel, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Federal prosecutors declined to comment about the ruling.

It was the second trial in recent months for the 50-year-old lawyer who once represented porn actress Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against then-President Donald Trump.

Avenatti was sentenced in July to 2 1/2 years in prison in a $25 million extortion case in New York.

Legal experts said declaring a mistrial is rare, and it might have little effect on the trial's outcome. Thaddeus Hoffmeister, a University of Dayton law professor, said prosecutors typically have the upper hand in securing a conviction, but Avenatti got a win, at least for now.

Any time you have stopped that conviction or you have overturned that case, it's a victory, he said.

Federal prosecutors in Southern California have accused Avenatti of cheating five of his clients out of nearly $10 million by negotiating and collecting settlements on their behalf and funneling the payments to accounts he controlled while lying to them about what happened to the money.

In one instance, prosecutors alleged Avenatti collected $4 million from Los Angeles County for a man who suffered injuries in custody and was left paraplegic after a suicide attempt, paying out much smaller amounts that he told the man were advances.

Avenatti, who is suspended from practicing law in California, had pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of wire fraud in connection with the allegations spanning from 2015 to 2019. He denied embezzling money and said his law firm was entitled to recoup expenses if settlements were reached.

The mistrial related to a database used by the firm. Lawrence Rosenthal, a Chapman University law professor, said fully understanding large, complex databases can be challenging when they're created by someone else.

The mistrial was first reported by the legal news service Law360.

In addition to these counts, Avenatti faces charges of bankruptcy, bank and tax fraud in California. He is expected to be tried on those allegations at a later date after Selna split a 36-count indictment into two trials.

Avenatti also faces another criminal case in New York in which he is charged with cheating Daniels out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Avenatti represented her in 2018 in lawsuits against Trump and often appeared on cable news programs to disparage the Republican president.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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The dip uses only a small amount of pomegranate molasses, and that is in combination with lemon juice. Even so, it does give the dip a slight sweetness. Those who dont care for even a tiny bit of sweetness in such a dip can increase the lemon juice and decrease the pomegranate molasses as needed.

I like muhammara as a snack with pita chips, but Wolfert also recommends it with grilled fish or meat kabobs.

Im a fan of beans and vegetables tossed in oil and vinegar, so I was happy to try a marinated chickpea salad, which combines chickpeas with cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, mint and feta cheese  all of which gets a good soak in a lemon-garlic vinaigrette.

The mint really adds a nice touch here, and the feta and vegetables are great counterparts to the dense chickpeas.

If youre not a fan of chickpeas, try this with white cannellini  or really just about any kind of  beans.

Ive been making Greek-style shrimp with tomatoes and feta for many years. The traditional recipe calls for baking the shrimp in the tomato sauce with the cheese. That method does give the dish a nice texture  a near-crispiness on the surface that contrasts with the wet sauce underneath.
In COVID-19s dismal fourth wave, some things havent changed. Vaccination still dramatically reduces the chance of serious disease. Mask-wearing and distancing are still effective tools in fighting an easily aerosolized pathogen.

But some of the pandemics moral mathematics have become harder to figure. Because of the delta variant, more people who did the right thing and took the vaccines are testing positive for COVID (though they are far less likely to become dangerously ill). Whole nations that did the right thing  such as Israel, which has vaccinated as much as 78% of its population age 12 and older  are seeing new cases rise. The delta virus falls on the just and the unjust.

The gradual fading of vaccine protectiveness highlights and accentuates global inequities. Who in wealthy countries should get a third dose before health professionals and the vulnerable elderly in poor countries get their first? Are we left with a brutal vaccine nationalism as far as the eye can see? Will such nationalism be punished by new monsters that emerge from the global genetic churn?
WGHP/Fox 8, the newsgathering partner of the Journal, reported investigators saying that the juvenile they arrested is 15 years old, and that he was among two groups of people who were riding in separate cars going back and forth on 14th Street and firing guns.

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It was just a kid, Lorenza Blackmon said. A child killed my wife. He sure destroyed my life. This woman died for nothing. People around here, normal people, are in bed at 4 oclock.

Blackmon said he and his wife were married for 42 years. They didnt have any children of their own, but their home was a gathering place for Blackmons large family, with dozens of nieces and nephews among those likely to be visiting, Blackmon said.

I met her when I came here from the service in 82 or 83, Blackmon said. When they got married, he said, he told his wife she wasnt going to work outside the home because he would be taking care of that. Blackmon said his wife loved to cook, eat and watch television, and insisted that others share her meals as well. When she picked up food at the Second Harvest Food Bank, he said, his wife would make sure to distribute the food to others nearby so theyd have something good to eat too.
* The operating hours for medical marijuana dispensaries would be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Political analysts have said the Senate Health Care committee may be the most challenging of the four committee steps.

The pathway through the state House could be equally daunting, if not more so, according to political analysts.

Key supporters

The bills odds of clearing the Senate are considered promising given that Rabon, chairman of Rules and Operations committee, is one of its three primary sponsors, along with Sens. Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth, and Michael Lee, R-New Hanover.

The bill requires the medical marijuana system be self-sustaining from a revenue perspective following initial money to set up the system.

The funding would come mostly from license fees and a monthly fee equal to 10% of the gross revenue derived from the products sold at the medical cannabis centers.

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Lee said the reason for not having revenue projections yet is that North Carolinas approach is different from that of other states with medical marijuana laws.
We must make sure that no patient in North Carolina is ever left alone in a hospital or nursing home while their spouse or family members are forced to wait at home or in the parking lot while their loved one is receiving care, said Sen. Warren Daniel, R-Burke, and co-primary sponsor, during the Senates floor debate on SB191.

A video call to a hospitalized patient, many who dont know how to use a computer, cannot become a substitute for having a family member present during potentially life-and-death health care situations.

Background

The latest version of SB191 has been broadened to apply the same patients rights protections to most long-term care facilities, Hospice facilities and certain residential treatment facilities.

Krawiec has said that non-COVID-19 patients are being adversely affected by the visitor restriction as well.

There are a multitude of cases where residents are still not allowed to have visitors, Krawiec said. It should never happen again where patients are dying alone in facilities.

There are also those who have diminished cognitive abilities who dont understand why they are abandoned without loved ones or caregivers being allowed to visit them.
All church members, of course, have the right to express grievances. I, however, have two concerns about the Bethabara meeting. I hope most Moravian church members have remained in their churches in part because of its resolute belief in inclusiveness. And I feel that many people have joined the Moravian church because of that tenet. If that and other essentials are diminished, I worry that the church may slowly move to the periphery of American Protestant extremism.

I also am concerned that frenzied overt and covert rhetoric about doctrine will serve to divide congregations. Some of the feelings expressed at the Bethabara meeting have been extensively discussed already in many Moravian congregations. Dialogue about differences is a healthy process, and it can strengthen congregations. But ultimately, when sheep repeatedly attack and do not recognize consensus, the attacks can be divisive and even destructive.

Gene Capps

Winston-Salem

Nurses and mental health
Health

editor's pick topical top story

Nebraska health officials cheer FDA move on COVID-19 vaccine

EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star Hollis Alexander-Ramsay administers a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Monday at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, hours after the vaccine received full FDA approval. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star Hollis Alexander-Ramsay puts a bandage on a patient's arm after administering a does of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Monday at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, hours after the FDA granted the vaccine full approval. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star Hollis Alexander-Ramsay administers a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Monday at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, hours after the vaccine received full FDA approval. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star Hollis Alexander-Ramsay administers a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Monday at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, hours after the vaccine received full FDA approval. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star Hollis Alexander-Ramsay administers a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Monday at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, hours after the vaccine received full FDA approval. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star Dolores Tague draws out a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Monday at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, hours after the vaccine received full FDA approval.

Nebraska health officials cheered Monday's announcement from the Food and Drug Administration that it's giving full approval to the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer and partner BioNTech for people 16 and older.

"This is extremely welcome news and confirms what we have seen in more than 188 million doses that have been administered thus far  that it is safe and effective and our best path to ending the pandemic," said Dr. James Lawler, co-executive director of the University of Nebraska Medical Centers Global Center for Health Security.

"From very early on, Bryan Health stated that vaccination is our way out of this pandemic. The safety and efficacy of this vaccine has been proven in both clinical trials and real-world application," a Bryan spokesman said in a statement. "Local and national data shows the overwhelming majority of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated, and this is consistent with what we are experiencing at Bryan Health."

It's not yet clear whether the change in status of the vaccine, which will be marketed under the brand name Comirnaty, will spur more people to get vaccinated.

Many of the state's largest health care systems have announced vaccine mandates for employees, and some senior care facilities followed suit after President Joe Biden last week announced that employee vaccine mandates would be a requirement to continue receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds.

Bryan Health, with Lincoln hospitals full, delays elective surgeries again Elective surgeries requiring an overnight stay that can be postponed for 30 days will not be scheduled until further notice.

On Monday, Immanuel announced plans to require its employees to get vaccinated. The Omaha-based company, which owns three Lincoln senior living communities, said all employees, unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption, will have to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 1.

We did not come to this decision lightly nor without much thought. We respect the rights of our employees to choose, but the people we serve have entrusted us to protect them. Immanuel has to make a choice that is in the best interest of the seniors we serve and those we serve alongside of, Dr. Devin Fox, Immanuel medical director, said in a news release.

Lincoln nursing homes say they'll require staff to be vaccinated for COVID-19 Tabitha, Sumner Place and Southlake Village were among those to announce plans to mandate employee vaccination after the president said facilities that don't require vaccines could lose access to federal funds.

Hospitals and long-term care centers have unique situations that can put their staffs and those they care for at higher risk for COVID-19, making mandating vaccination necessary, experts say.

A few other companies and organizations, including some private universities in Nebraska, have mandated vaccination, but getting the Pfizer shot past emergency use authorization is likely to make more feel comfortable requiring it.

"I think FDA full approval will be a threshold that will lead more employers to require the vaccine," said Dr. Bob Rauner, president of the Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln and chief medical officer of OneHealth Nebraska.

Health department raises risk dial as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations continue to rise in Lincoln Despite the move to orange, the Health Department is not planning to reinstate any directed health measures, such as mandatory masks or reduced capacity at restaurants and venues.

Recent court decisions have supported the right for employers to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine even when it was under emergency use authorization, and a number of polls have shown majority support for vaccine mandates. A poll released Monday by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed that 59% of Americans support a vaccine mandate for teachers and 55% believe it's appropriate for students.

Dr. Cary Ward, chief medical officer for CHI Health, said many businesses have been reluctant to mandate the vaccine because it was new and under emergency use, but the FDA's full-use authorization "adds more credibility" to any decision to require it.

"I have no doubt this is going to lead to more and more (vaccine) mandates," Ward said.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo Registered nurse Heidi Sailer administers a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in March at Mount Zion Baptist Church. The Food and Drug Administration on Monday announced it is granting full approval to the vaccine for people 16 and older.

Full FDA approval of the vaccine also could lead more people to get vaccinated voluntarily.

A Morning Consult poll released last week showed the percentage of Americans either unwilling to get the vaccine or uncertain about it dropped from 29% to 27%, and full FDA approval could cause more of the uncertain portion to now get the vaccine.

More than 56% of Nebraskans have had at least one vaccine dose, and about 51% are fully vaccinated, numbers that are slightly below the national average.

"(It's) likely also a few of the vaccine-hesitant will get off the fence with full approval," Rauner said.

Lawler said he's optimistic the FDA's move will boost vaccination rates both nationally and in Nebraska.

"I hope this will be an important step forward for many who have been hesitant or waiting to get the vaccine," he said.

Third COVID shot a blessing for some in Lincoln A woman with lupus said she hopes a third dose of Moderna will let her "live her life."
The agencys data and epidemiology teams have been in contact with the CDC since last month to try to determine what has changed since the dashboard was retired and why some of Nebraskas data is not represented in the same way as the state provides it, Dack said. The data the agency is providing to the CDC is largely the same as the data that used to be available to the public on the states dashboard.

Were still reporting the same data, Dack said. Our teams are monitoring it. Its still available to both us and the CDC. If theyre not showing it, they (CDC) would be the best folks to answer that question.

CDC officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

The downside, Dack said, is that the situation creates a perception that the state is hiding data. It is not what is happening, she said. The intent is not to hide information, the intent is to balance our sharing of information with the public with the legal limitations of protecting Nebraskans privacy.

The pandemic emergency had suspended some restrictions in state law on the release of communicable disease data, state officials have said, allowing the state to release more information than would otherwise be allowed. The state now posts data updates on a weekly basis.
Theyll pay the kindness forward.

Theyll do everything they can to honor Jeni.

After Robbie was born and Jenis head started to hurt, she kept asking the same questions: When will this stop? When am I going to feel better?

After she died, and when Mike finally came home from the hospital and walked into their office, he found a note, dated July 2.

Dearest, it started:

Instructions on payroll, bills, etc., for Faustman Household & Frosty Effects Construction should I become incapacitated after birth of boy ...

Shed included all the details in an email, everything he didnt know but needed to.

All my love, she wrote. Youll be fine.

Postscript: Every day they miss Jeni.

And every day they see her in 7-year-old Robbie.

Hes the spitting image of his mom from the chin up, Steph says. All Daddy from the chin down.
A Colorado man who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old Lincoln girl he abducted and terrorized two years ago was sentenced to a 20-year state prison sentence Tuesday on top of a 19-year federal prison sentence he got back in January.

Nathan Kempter, 34, likely would be in his 60s before his release.

Following his sentencing in the federal case, he pleaded no contest to second-degree sexual assault in state court.

In exchange, prosecutors dismissed two other felonies.

In Lancaster County District Court on Tuesday afternoon, Kempter declined an opportunity to speak before learning his sentence.

But Camille "Millie" Iacono, the girl he'd abducted who now is 16, asked to read her victim impact statement.

The Journal Star is naming her at her and her parents' request.

In it, Iacono said she wasn't at all satisfied with the plea deal, which she didn't think adequately reflected the extent of the damage and pain and cruelty Kempter inflicted.

Kempter could've gotten more than 70 years under the original charges.

Iacono asked for the judge to give him the 20-year max.
Popular with the college crowd were downtown bars like the Downtown Bar & Grill and the colorful Hob Nob, with its high ceilings and red wallpaper. Lebsack Bros. offered lunch with the owners serving soup and sandwiches personally.

Students on a limited budget could patronize the Acme Chili Parlor at 14th and O streets or the Tastee Inn at 14th and Q streets. For a little nicer fare, you could drive in or dine in at Kings at 19th and O streets. If you wanted to impress a date, you took her to a movie and finished off at the Pow Wow Room at the old Cornhusker Hotel.

At this time, Lincoln still had beat cops. As a shift changed, officers would march in formation from LPD headquarters at 10th and R streets, and peel off to relieve those on duty. There were red call boxes located on poles downtown. If dispatch needed to contact a beat officer, they would press a button for the phone on his beat, and a light would come on. As the officer came by, he would notice the light and call in.

If you wanted sporting goods, Lawlors on O Street had it all. Nearby Latschs had everything you would need for office supplies. Stores were open late on Thursday evenings. Lincoln City Lines buses operated late into the evenings and were heavily used by shoppers on Thursday evening trips downtown. Todays StarTran has yet to equal that service.
"We believe we have the ability to get that done by the end of the month," he said, referring to the unspecified number of American citizens who are seeking to leave. He said several hundred were evacuated on Monday and that "several thousand" have gotten out since the airlift began. He would not be more specific.

U.S. allies and other countries also are conducting evacuations, and would have to shut down their operations and leave before U.S. troops do.

About 21,600 people were flown safely out of Taliban-held Afghanistan in the 24-hour period that ended early Tuesday, the White House said. That compares with about 16,000 the previous day.

Thirty-seven U.S. military flights  32 C-17s and 5 C-130s  carried about 12,700 evacuees. An additional 8,900 people flew out aboard 57 flights by U.S. allies.

Amid the tense operation to get people out of the country, CIA Director William Burns secretly swooped into Kabul on Monday to meet with the Taliban's top political leader, Abdul Ghani Baradar, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.

.The Washington Post first reported Burns' meeting. The U.S. official later confirmed the meeting for the AP.
New York City this week announced a mandatory vaccination policy for all school staff, with no way to opt out through frequent testing.

Former New York Gov. David Paterson, who, like Hochul, unexpectedly became governor when his predecessor resigned, said one of her tasks will be to restore faith in government.

Theres going to be some pressure on Gov. Hochul, as there was on me, to kind of restore the values and to restore the conduct and the decorum that bespeaks a governor," Paterson said.

She'll have to work quickly. Hochul has already said she intends to run for a full term and will have just months to establish herself before a spring Democratic primary.

In the meantime, she'll be building an administration  a task that began in the first minutes of Tuesday with the oath of office, hours ahead of the restaging of the event for television cameras in mid-morning.

DiFiore administered the oath in the Capitol in front of a stone fireplace, atop which were placed family pictures.
The lawsuits accuse online booking companies of chronically underpaying taxes ranging from 10.5% to 13.38%, calculated as a percentage of gross rental receipts.

Both court filings used an example of an online travel company obtaining a room from a hotel for $150 and selling it online to a customer for $200, then paying the state tax based on the lower wholesale price of $150.

This business model deprives Nevada taxing authorities including Clark County of taxes due them on the full value of the transaction, the county lawsuit said.

The amount in dispute includes more than $100 million in unpaid taxes, plus perhaps another $100 million in damages and penalties, Cristalli said.

The revenue would benefit tourism, school, transportation and local government general fund accounts, according to the county lawsuit filed May 14 in Clark County District Court.

Attorneys representing at least 16 named defendants moved the case in July from state to federal court, where a judge now is being asked whether to send it back to state court.

In state court, a hearing is scheduled Sept. 2 before a judge in Las Vegas who decided in May not to throw out the unusual qui tam civil lawsuit filed in April 2020 by Fierro and Rogich.
The neat thing about this village is we provided a restaurant, motel and a museum. You come over here, go through here, go have lunch and go back to the room and rest.  We provided a really good facility, board President Larry Wilcox said.

The board along with a variety of community members came together in July for a strategic planning meeting.

All of our grants basically ask: What is our strategic plan? We basically had to put that together  what we are doing and what is going on, Wilcox said. We put our plan together. Now we are on our first 90 days of saying, This is what we are doing. That is why we are painting, mowing or cleaning up or moving some stuff around.

The three primary objectives in the first 90 days are revenue production, community involvement and enhancing the look and feel of Pioneer Village.

We thought that those were things that had to happen in the first 90 days to start making a difference in the eyes of members of the community and to finance some of the things that needed to be done, Kershner said.

The foundation board has had 41 citizens express interest in volunteering at the museum. They hope to find groups who would be interested in adopting a building or part of the village and help maintain it.
Currently, Lincoln Municipal Code 4.04.010 states that the mayor shall attempt to achieve a balanced commission membership which shall be a reasonable representative cross-section of the residents of the city, both geographically and socio-economically ... While geographic and socioeconomic requirements are well and good, it would be prudent to add political affiliation to this list.

The state provides a helpful standard in this regard. Many of Nebraskas boards and commissions require the governor to consider political affiliation when selecting potential members. Take, for example, the Judicial Nominating Commission. The language regulating this group states clearly that no more than half of the members shall be from the same political party. Rules like this ensure a group that is representative. By following the states lead, Lincoln can move toward achieving the mayors goals by becoming a more inclusive city.

According to voter registration data, the logical political makeup for the 15-member Charter Revision Commission is six Democrats, six Republicans and three nonpartisans. Unfortunately, this is not the reality of the current group.
Local

alert

ASCENSION ALL SAINTS HOSPITAL

Group of Ascension nurses, staff protest strict vaccine mandate

ADAM ROGAN, adam.rogan@journaltimes.com Employees at Ascension All Saints protested Ascension Health's strict vaccine requirement in front of the hospital along Spring Street from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday. At right is Licensed Practical Nurse Teresa Lucas. To the left of her is Mary Bendix, who works in housekeeping at the hospital and brought her son to Monday's protest.

RACINE  A minority of hospital employees both in the medical professions and outside of them are becoming more vocal, to the point of risking their jobs and careers, in opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates in place at several Wisconsin hospital systems.

We are being coerced, said one nurse, who lives in Racine County and works at Ascension All Saints but asked her name not be shared for fear of retribution.

Their reasons for opposition are varied.

During a protest along Spring Street in front of Ascension All Saints Hospital on Monday morning, more than a dozen women protested the health systems requirement that virtually all of its employees get vaccinated against COVID-19 or be forced to resign; Ascension would be referring to this as a voluntary resignation, and those who resign in this way would then likely be ineligible to receive full unemployment benefits.

Shortly before the protest began, the FDA announced that the Pfizer vaccine was no longer under a trial phase and has been fully approved.

ADAM ROGAN, adam.rogan@journaltimes.com Employees at Ascension All Saints protested Ascension Health's strict vaccine requirement in front of the hospital along Spring Street from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday.

Those protesting who spoke with a reporter shared varied reasons for their opposition to the mandate. Their reasons included:

Mary Bendix, who works in housekeeping at All Saints, noted that people who have been vaccinated are still getting COVID. (While so-called breakthrough cases of COVID-19 are possible, getting sick from the novel coronavirus is much less likely for those who have been vaccinated, and research shows

that more than 95% of those who have recently died and/or were hospitalized from COVID-19 in the U.S. were unvaccinated.) However, when a reporter told Bendix that the FDA fully approved the Pfizer vaccine, she said Ill think about getting it before Ascensions mid-October deadline.

A woman who is a registered nurse at Ascension All Saints and said she is breastfeeding mother said she had not seen enough research on the effects COVID-19 vaccines may have on breastfeeding mothers and their offspring. The nurse, who asked her name not be used for fear of retribution, said that she plans on getting pregnant again soon and would need to see more research before being willing to get vaccinated  but was open to the idea in a few months or maybe in a year, after hearing about the effects the vaccines have had on more pregnant/breastfeeding mothers. She was surprised and happy to hear Monday that the FDA had fully approved the Pfizer vaccine, and said shes so glad people are getting the vaccine, but still doesnt feel comfortable doing so herself.

Teresa Lucas, a licensed practical nurse, shared several reasons. The first was First of all, its freedom of choice  They (Ascension) are taking that away from us. She also laid out theories about the pandemic that had been featured in the discredited viral videos known as Plandemic and Plandemic II, both of which allege without evidence that members of the U.S. government caused the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to an estimated more than

worldwide, in pursuit of financial gain. Lucas compared COVID-19 to influenza, but also made the

that COVID-19 is a bioweapon that Dr. Anthony Fauci created and patented in 1993. Of Ascension, Lucas added They entrust these patients in our care; we are the last line of defense  If they can trust our judgment in caring for these patients, why cant they trust our judgment in our own self-care?

Others shared they were opposed to the mandate in principle, that This is the United States of America and such requirements limit freedom of choice.

An Ascension nurse, who was also at the protest Monday, shared during a phone interview last week that some of her coworkers dont want to get vaccinated because they have already had COVID-19 and dont want to face the side effects  including headache, chill, nausea and soreness  from being vaccinated, which are likely to be worse for those who have already survived COVID. They have antibodies. They dont feel like its necessary, she said. What they have is good enough in their minds.

Responses from the public to the protest itself were mixed.

Most who drove by on Spring Street did not react.

Some showed a thumbs up and honked in approval upon seeing the signs reading things like Stop the mandate and My body my choice and Im not anti-vax, Im pro freedom of choice.

Others who drove by, one nurse said, had shown the occasional middle finger or gave the group a thumbs down.

By the numbers Per 100,000 unvaccinated people, there were 1.1 deaths due to COVID-19 and 18.2 hospitalizations in the month of July in Wisconsin. Per 100,000 vaccinated people, there were only 0.1 deaths and 4.9 hospitalizations. 53.7% of Wisconsin residents have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose 64.6% of Wisconsin adults (ages 18 and up) have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose 50.3% of Racine County residents have received at least one vaccine dose 61.7% of Racine County adults (ages 18 and up) have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose 6 deaths per day due to COVID-19 is the average across Wisconsin as of Thursday, Aug. 19. Less than 1 death per day due to COVID-19 was the average across Wisconsin one month ago, as of July 19. (The average grew to 1 per day on July 23, but didn't reach 2 per day until Aug. 9.) 54 deaths per day due to COVID-19 in late November in Wisconsin was the highest average reached since the beginning of the pandemic.  According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services

A strict mandate

Different health systems have different policies for allowing exemptions to getting vaccinated.

At Ascension Health, exemptions are especially limited: If an Ascension employee requests an exemption and is rejected, there isnt an appeals process; that employee would then have to get vaccinated or be forced to resign.

At Advocate Aurora Health, the second-most prominent health care system in Racine County, there is an appeals process, one nurse said.

When asked what Advocate Auroras exemption policy is, Media Relations Manager LeeAnn Betz said in an email: Team members seeking a religious or medical exemption from COVID-19 vaccination must fill out a form explaining their sincerely held religious beliefs or the medical reason they believe prevents them from receiving the COVID vaccine. For religious exemptions, team members must show a clear connection between that belief and a justification for vaccine exemption. For medical exemptions, team members must provide supporting documentation from their health care provider. Every exemption request is considered on a case-by-case basis and reviewed by a multidisciplinary group including members of our human resources, spiritual care and ethics teams.

An internal Ascension document shared with The Journal Times does say an exemption will be made for those who had a bad reaction to the first dose of the vaccine. A nurse, who asked her name not be published for fear of retribution, said that those who have known allergies to previous vaccines unrelated to COVID-19 would also be exempted.

Some religious exemptions may be made for employees of Ascension, which is Catholic-affiliated.

However, documents provided to The Journal Times do not make it clear what exemptions would be allowed.

Regarding the religious exemption, the internal document states the following: In those instances when someone may not be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine because of a medical condition or strongly held religious belief, we will provide a process for requesting an exemption.

Requests for exemptions will be reviewed by members of Associate and Occupational Health, Human Resources, and Mission Integration. The exemption application will be available the week of August 16. Exemption applications are due by October 1 to allow time for review. A decision will be made and shared with you by October 12 on the status of the exemption request.

Ascension says it will not allow employees to say they have a religious exemption if they cite how fetal cell lines from historical abortions were used in development of the vaccines; no cells from abortions are directly in any of the vaccines, but were used in the development of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

In response to the My Body, My Choice, argument, the internal Ascension document states: Autonomy is not an absolute value without constraints in Catholic teaching. Autonomy is often appropriately restricted by those with responsibility for the common good and public health when necessary to protect others from harm  e.g., mandatory reporting of certain sexually transmitted diseases. Thus, limits may and should be placed on individual autonomy precisely when an individuals action or inaction would cause harm to others. Because death and some forms of morbidity resulting from COVID-19 are irreversible harms, and minimizing healthcare-associated infections in patient populations is a critical institutional responsibility, healthcare organizations may be justied in requiring associates to receive a vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccines, as a condition of employment, when purely voluntary vaccine acceptance is not sucient to establish an adequate level of protection for their patients and employees.

Also from a Questions and Answers section of the internal Ascension documents provided to The Journal Times is the following:

Q: How does this vaccine mandate align with our identity as a ministry of the Catholic Church?

A: The principles of human dignity, the common good and solidarity serve as the foundational principles upon which the Catholic tradition rests its support for public health initiatives generally, and vaccination in particular. COVID-19 continues to disproportionately impact lower-income communities, those who experience various forms of social marginalization, and those with pre-existing conditions. Thus, increasing the utilization rate of COVID-19 vaccination, especially among those serving within the Catholic health ministry, is a moral imperative and deeply rooted in our Mission to provide the highest quality, safest care possible for all persons, with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable.







Pope encourages vaccines

Pope Francis, the head of the global Catholic church, is vocally pro-vaccine. He said getting vaccinated is an act of love.

Last week, the Argentinian-born pope appeared in a video in which he said Being vaccinated with vaccines authorized by the competent authorities is an act of love. And contributing to ensure the majority of people are vaccinated is an act of love ... Vaccination is a simple but profound way of promoting the common good and caring for each other, especially the most vulnerable.

Francis got vaccinated, along with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in January.

A spokesperson for Ascension did not respond to requests for comment before press time.
The state's new vaccine incentive program, which will be funded using federal coronavirus stimulus dollars, was announced the same day that the Food and Drug Administration granted full approval of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine.

From now through Labor Day, if youre a Wisconsin resident and you get your first COVID-19 shot here in the state, you will get $100 bucks," Evers said. "Its that simple: get vaccinated, get $100. I'm calling on all eligible Wisconsinites who have not gotten their COVID-19 vaccine yet to step up, roll up their sleeve, and do their part to help protect our state and put an end to COVID-19.

In addition to getting a first shot of vaccine, individuals will need to fill out a form available at 100.wisconsin.gov to verify their first dose. Gift cards may take as much as six weeks to be mailed to participants.

State officials said the $100 Covid-19 Vaccine Reward Program aims to address the financial barriers faced by some to getting a vaccine and increase inoculations among those who have yet to get vaccinated.
RACINE  A Houston woman has been accused of helping rob a Chase Bank at 5815 21st St.

Bryanna V. Blades, 21, was charged with felony counts of robbery of a financial institution and robbery.

According to a criminal complaint:

On Aug. 4, two men had ran towards a man who was servicing one of the ATMs at Chase Bank, 5815 21st St. and stole the money he was to put into the machine. The total amount of money that was stolen from Chase Bank was $136,460. Surveillance showed that the car had a Texas registration, and during the investigation other jurisdictions reported similar robbery incidents involving it.

At 4:35 p.m., the car was in a police chase and ended up in a cornfield with two of the occupants fleeing. One of the occupants of the car, Blades, admitted that she was with the two other men when the robberies occurred and was a part of the planning for them.

She showed an officer group chat messages between her and the two other men planning to drive north and commit robberies. She said they robbed a restaurant employee who was making a deposit in Northfield, Ill., then continued to Racine and searched for the Chase Bank. She said she was asleep during the Chase Bank robbery.
WIND LAKE  A Milwaukee man allegedly threatened to kill the officers arresting him.

Justin D. Lindberg, 34, was charged with five felony counts of threat to a law enforcement officer, two felony counts of throw or discharge bodily fluids at public safety worker and misdemeanor counts of resisting an officer and disorderly conduct.

According to a criminal complaint:

On Friday, while Lindberg was being arrested for allegedly causing a disturbance in the 7900 block of South Loomis Road, he reportedly said to the officers "I'm going to murder all you (homophobic slur)!" He had hit and kicked the squad door and caused a dent to one of the doors.

While officers were conducting a traffic stop on a possibly impaired driver, Lindberg got out of the car and was repeatedly told to get back in the car. After refusing, he was placed under arrest and allegedly began getting violent and argumentative. He was put in leg restraints and a spit hood was put on him after he tried to spit on the officers.
Strong case for the defense?

Chris Van Wagner and Jessa Nicholson Goetz  two prominent Madison-based defense attorneys who were initially hired as the criminal defense attorneys for Rittenhouse before quickly dropping out of the case because of concerns about the behavior of Rittenhouses past civil attorneys Lin Wood and John Pierce  said they believe the defense has a strong case.

I would say I think the state has a very problematic case on all counts, Van Wagner said. Its a tough case.

Racine-based defense attorney Mark Richards signed on as Rittenhouses defense attorney before Rittenhouse was extradited to Wisconsin. Madison-based defense attorney Corey Chirafisi signed on officially as Richards co-counsel in May.

In the weeks after he was released on $2 million bond donated by supporters, Rittenhouses former civil attorney Pierce trotted the teen and his mother out for interviews and positioned him as a right-wing hero. They have chosen a very firm political line and they have promoted their client as being part of that political line, Nicholson Goetz said.

That was what they (Wood and Pierce) did but since then Mark (Richards) is bound and determined to try this as straight self defense, Van Wagner said.
Were here to serve the people and we look forward to opening so that everyone has access to affordable health care, Muhammad added. No matter where they come from, no matter their income, insurance, lack of insurance, we know that the need is here.

The clinic, which may open sometime this fall, was designed to offer basic dental care, health care and some behavioral health care.

The clinic will give at-risk or underserved community members a place to go instead of going to the emergency room, which sometimes happens when people do not have the resources to see a doctor in private practice.

The clinic has two rooms for dental service, four examination rooms for health care, and two rooms for behavioral health care. It is expected to have a sliding-scale fee structure, and they will bill Medicaid, Medicare, and third-party private insurance.

As such, depending on a persons eligibility, the service might be free or it might be offered at a significantly reduced cost.

City response

The governors announcement received an enthusiastic response from the members of the Racine City Council who were present.
How would I run the university? he asked. Parents are not going to have our students come to us. Students will probably not want to come to that kind of environment. The facultys not going to teach. The TAs are not going to teach. You tell me what kind of university youre going to have. So if they win...the university will close down. Everybody will lose money. Students will not get educated. The employers will not have graduates to hire...It would be an absolute mess.
President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said at the White House that talks with the Taliban are continuing as the administration looks for additional ways to safely move more Americans and others into the Kabul airport.

We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through both political and security channels, he said, adding that ultimately it will be Biden's decision alone whether to continue military-led evacuation operations beyond Aug. 31. That's the date Biden had set for completing the withdrawal of troops.

California Democrat Rep Adam Schiff, chairman of the House intelligence committee, told reporters after a committee briefing Monday on the Afghanistan withdrawal it was hard for me to imagine wrapping up the airlifts by the end of the month. He also said it was clear there were any number of warnings to the administration of a very rapid takeover by the Taliban.

After more than a week of evacuations plagued by major obstacles, including Taliban forces and crushing crowds that are making approaching the airport difficult and dangerous, the number of people flown out met  and exceeded  U.S. projections for the first time. The count was more than twice the 3,900 flown out in the previous 24 hours on U.S. military planes.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  A white Louisiana man has received a life sentence for the apparently random killing of a Black man in a park. He also is accused of killing another Black man at a bus stop and firing into the home of a Black family as part of a string of attacks that police said may have been racially motivated.

Kenneth Gleason was found guilty of first-degree murder in April for the killing of Donald Smart, The Advocate reported. Smart, 49, was shot in a park near Louisiana State University as he was walking to his overnight shift as a restaurant dishwasher in September 2017.

The 27-year-old was also charged in the fatal shooting of Bruce Cofield, 59, a homeless man who was sitting at a bus stop on a busy street in Baton Rouge two days before Smart was killed. Evidence was presented during the trial that Gleason fired gunshots through the front door of the only Black family that lived on the same suburban street as him and his parents.

After consulting with Smarts family, prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty. That meant the only sentence that could be imposed on Gleasons first-degree murder conviction was a mandatory life term.
Gov. Tony Evers announced Tuesday an additional $250 million in federal COVID-19 funds will be allocated to local municipalities, counties, tribes and nonprofit health care organizations for projects meant to boost disadvantaged communities.

In total, $200 million is for a Neighborhood Investment Fund grant program and another $50 million is for a Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment grant program. Both programs are to be funded using federal COVID-19 funds, over which Evers, who is seeking reelection next year, has sole discretion as governor.

If we want to see Wisconsins families, communities, and economy succeed for years to come, then we need to make the investments today to build long-term, sustainable economic well-being for tomorrow, Evers said. And what better place to make those investments than in our people and our neighborhoods so every Wisconsinite has access to the infrastructure and resources to thrive.

The neighborhood program will be open to local and tribal governments to support projects such as workforce and entrepreneur innovation centers, affordable housing projects, transit and child care, or for public space development with an emphasis on increasing services for low-income and minority populations.
On the outlandish side, there have been claims that vaccines alter DNA or that the shots inset microchips in people. Conspiracy theories that serve only to confuse people at best and, at worst, deter the campaign to corral the virus.

We stand wholeheartedly by the belief that those opposing vaccine and mask requirements have the right to make their opinions heard. That can be done in protests, by attending meetings, by writing letters and commentaries to the local newspaper. That said, these need to be done in a civil and safe way so that the rights of those not sharing their opinions are not infringed.

In the United States, as politically and socially divided as the nation is, the First Amendment to the Constitution gives us the right to freely express our beliefs. In Nazi Germany and totalitarian regimes past and present, that was and is not the case. No one in America is being rounded up and shipped to a gulag or concentration camp.

Use of the Star of David by protesters, worn on clothing and drawn on protest posters, should end immediately. It is an insult to victims and survivors of the Holocaust and their descendants.

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1. Yes. An unvaccinated worker is a potential health liability for the entire workforce.

2. Yes. But it should only be required in some businesses, like health care or food service.

3. No. The requirement shouldnt be forced on employees; its a discriminatory practice.

4. No. Not only should they not require COVID shots , but no proof of vaccination either.

5. Unsure. Its a hard choice between public safety concerns and personal freedoms.

Vote

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But cases started a steady climb the last week of June and that soon became a rapid climb, with cases doubling every two weeks as the delta variant started tearing through mostly unvaccinated people. Last week, Lancaster County recorded 788 cases, the highest number in seven months. The Health Department said the county has averaged at least 100 cases a day since Aug. 17.

The increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations has also led to an increase in deaths.

Lancaster County reported three more deaths Tuesday, a woman in her 50s, a woman in her 90s and a man in his 90s. Two of the victims were unvaccinated.

The deaths bring the total this month to 18, more than in May, June and July combined. Bryan Health reported six deaths over the weekend and 22 just in the past two weeks.

Cases have been surging elsewhere in the state as well. According to numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nebraska had 3,755 cases for the seven-day period ending Friday, a 41% increase from the previous week.
I just want to reinforce, please take advantage of this opportunity to call this hotline, he said. We have great people able to answer all of your questions.

Dr. Cary Ward, chief medical officer of CHI Health said the resurgence of the virus, especially with unvaccinated people, is a concern across the country. While nearly half of Nebraskas population has received the vaccine, states such as Louisiana, where about 40% of the people are vaccinated, are seeing their hospitals overrun with COVID-19 patients.

Their hospitals are overrun again worse than they ever were, he said. This really has turned out to be a pandemic of the unvaccinated. The patients are younger. Absolutely, theyre younger, and by and large, theyre not vaccinated. We know that getting this vaccine is going to prevent hospitalization. It is a highly preventable disease. So please get the vaccine and if youre unsure and you need more advice, or if you have more questions, please take advantage of this hotline.

Dr. David Quimby of infectious diseases for CHI Health-Creighton University said while the patients who are being infected with the virus are younger, they are also healthier than the people who contracted the virus last year, especially elderly people or people with health concerns. The death rate from the virus is lower than last year for that reason.
KEARNEY  An Iowa man has served 30 days in jail and paid a fine after being convicted of threatening staff over his hotel reservation in Kearney in March.

Paul M. Hayden III, 30, of Council Bluffs also was placed on one year probation for misdemeanor third-degree assault in the March 20 incident. Buffalo County District Judge John Marsh gave Hayden two days credit for time already served.

Hayden originally was charged with making felony terroristic threats after accosting staff at Ramada Inn, 301 Second Ave. He walked into the hotel and threatened to shoot it up after his reservation was canceled.

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Court records indicate around 6:26 p.m. March 20 a woman and Hayden arrived at the hotel to check into a room they earlier had reserved online. The woman was upset because the reservation wasnt what she wanted, and pets werent allowed in poolside rooms. Records say the hotel couldnt give her a different room because they were booked that night, and the woman became aggressive toward staff members.

The hotel manager then canceled the room, and the woman left. A short time later Hayden entered the hotel, was verbally aggressive toward staff members and said, It would be really funny if the place got shot up, records indicate.
HONOLULU  Hawaiis governor is urging residents and potential visitors to limit travel to the islands to essential business while the state struggles to control outbreaks of the delta variant of the coronavirus.
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Our goal ultimately is to welcome these individuals safely and efficiently while taking appropriate safety and public health measures, an official said.

Refugees are also being housed at Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort Lee, New Jersey. The official said the situation is fluid and couldnt say how many refugees are expected to go through any of the three installations or how long they will be there.

There will be movement in, and there will be movement out, an official said. We are quite conscious about not overtaxing any particular facility, any particular community.

An official said the federal government has reached out to resettlement organizations that specialize in helping people in this type of situation begin new lives in America.

Civic leaders in La Crosse met last week to discuss economic and spiritual support for the new arrivals.

State Sen. Pat Testin, R-Stevens Point, raised the issue of local impacts Friday in an open letter to Gov. Tony Evers.

Refugees are eligible for Medical Assistance, BadgerCare, W2, and cash assistance, Testin wrote. Has your administration calculated the added cost to Wisconsin taxpayers of 10-20,000 individuals who will doubtless be enrolled in these programs?
The FDAs approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. While this and other vaccines have met the FDAs rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product, said acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock. While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. Todays milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S.

Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, asserts that scientific and medical experts conducted an intensive evaluation of data and performed additional analyses and assessments prior to granting approval.

We have not lost sight that the COVID-19 public health crisis continues in the U.S. and that the public is counting on safe and effective vaccines. The public and medical community can be confident that although we approved this vaccine expeditiously, it was fully in keeping with our existing high standards for vaccines in the U.S, Marks says.
BRUSSELS (AP)  Well before U.S. President Joe Biden took office early this year, the European Union's foreign policy chief sang his praises and hailed a new era in cooperation. So did almost all of Washington's Western allies.
We know that Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea, she said in a major foreign policy speech Tuesday in Singapore in which she laid out the Biden administrations vision for the Indo-Pacific. Beijings actions continue to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations.

Harris, who is on a weeklong swing through Southeast Asia, declared that the U.S. stands with our allies and our partners in the face of threats from China.

***

Mayim Bialik to guest host as 'Jeopardy!' drama continues

LOS ANGELES  Jeopardy! is back to guest hosts after the resignation of Mike Richards, and actor Mayim Bialik will return as the first one up.

Sony Pictures Television announced Monday that Bialik will take the podium long occupied by the late Alex Trebek for three weeks of episodes.

Sony's news release Monday said other guest hosts would follow Bialik and made no mention of a permanent replacement.

***
Agrace, which provides hospice care and related services in southern Wisconsin, is requiring its 1,600 employees and volunteers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the organization said Tuesday.

The announcement comes the day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which was expected to result in more mandates. Agrace joins many other Madison-area health care providers in requiring vaccines, including Capitol Lakes retirement community, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, SSM Health, UnityPoint Health-Meriter and UW Health.

Other large employers, including Epic Systems Corp. and Exact Sciences, have also mandated vaccines for workers.

Employees at Fitchburg-based Agrace must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 1 unless they have medical or religious exemptions as allowed. About 90% of Agrace workers are already fully immunized.
Wisconsin on Tuesday reported 21 COVID-19 deaths, the highest daily total in six months, as the number of patients hospitalized with the coronavirus increased to 804, more than double the total from early this month.

The state Department of Health Services also reported 2,170 new COVID-19 cases, the highest since mid-January.

The 21 deaths, which occurred within the past month, matched the total reported on Feb. 23, bringing the current daily average of fatalities to eight, up from one as recently as Aug. 4.

Of the 804 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 244 were in intensive care, according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association. Thats well below a peak of 2,277 patients in the hospital with COVID-19, and 456 in intensive care, in mid-November.

But the states surge in COVID-19 cases, which health officials say is fueled by the delta variant of the coronavirus, is showing no signs of letting up. The daily average is now 1,369 cases, more than 18 times greater than it was on the Fourth of July.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  The militia leader convicted of masterminding the bombing of a Minnesota mosque is asking a judge to legally acknowledge her transgender identity.

Emily Claire Hari was previously known as Michael Hari, who was found guilty last year of civil rights and hate crime charges related to the bombing of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington in August 2017.

Hari, 50, of Clarence, Illinois, said gender dysphoria and right-wing misinformation fueled her inner conflict when she was convicted in the bombing, according to court documents.

She strongly desired making a full transition but knew she would be ostracized from everyone and everything she knew, Haris defense attorney, Shannon Elkins, wrote in the documents. Thus, as she formed a ragtag group of freedom fighters or militia men and spoke of missions to Cuba and Venezuela, Ms. Hari secretly looked up sex change, transgender surgery, and post-op transgender on the internet."
Nicholas Brendon has been arrested for allegedly using false information to obtain prescription drugs.

The former 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' actor - who played Xander Harris throughout the show's entire run from 1997 to 2003 - has been charged with prescription fraud and was being held at the Vigo County Jail.

He has since been released, and the 50-year-old actor jail records obtained by TMZ show he has also been charged with a misdemeanour for allegedly not properly identifying himself to police.

It's claimed he showed officers a California ID bearing the name Kelton Schultz, who he said was his brother.

Although Brendon does have an identical twin, his name is Kelly Donovan.

It's not yet known if he's entered a plea on either of the two charges.

On August 18, he was pulled over by police in Terre Haute after he allegedly failed to signal and was serving.

According to the report, he "appeared nervous due to a visibly racing pulse on his neck and shaking hands".

After searching the car, officers found one pill bottle with medication prescribed to him, and another for amphetamine salts prescribed to Kelton Schultz.
If you call yourself doplic after tripping over a curb, you may just be from Lancaster County.

And, if you are, you might find that there are some common local words and phrases you use that may be confusing people from outside the county.

We have compiled a list of some of these common words and phrases so that next time someone tells you its making down outside, you dont leave your umbrella inside.

Dr. Mark Louden from the University of Wisconsin who wrote a book titled, Pennsylvania Dutch: The Story of an American Language, was consulted to help dive deeper into the history and origins behind each of these words and phrases.

The main ways that languages influence each other is through what are known as loanwords, loan translations and loan shifts, Louden said.

Loanwords are words borrowed from another language with minimal to no changes, Louden said. Loan translations are phrases that are closely translated from one language to another and loan shifts are words that are modified to match a similar word in a different language, Louden further explained.

If youre ready to brush up on your Lancaster County slang, check out the list below.

Doplic :



Doplic is a loanword. It comes from the Pennsylvania Dutch adjective dappich, which means clumsy, according to Louden. Another variant is doppy."

Rutsching :

Rutsching is another loanword that comes from the Pennsylvania Dutch verb rutsche, meaning to squirm. The term rutsching utilizes the English suffix ing, Butch Reigart, the dialect teacher at Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, explained. Reigart also mentioned that rutschy is used as an adjective to mean cant sit still.

Spritz:



This is another loanword that comes from the Pennsylvania Dutch word schpritze, meaning to sprinkle, spray, squirt, etc. This word can also be found in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Fasnacht:

This is also a loanword that was taken directly from Pennsylvania Dutch word Faasnacht, meaning Shrove Tuesday or a type of doughnut prepared on Shrove Tuesday.

Make down

Make down is an example of a loan translation and comes from the Pennsylvania Dutch verb, nunnermache, which means almost exactly what Lancaster natives say: to make down. This phrase is used in reference to precipitation.

Make down can also be found in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as a verb meaning to rain or to snow.

What for...

This is another loan translation from the Pennsylvania Dutch phrase Was fer..., meaing "What kind of...," Louden said. Used in a sentence in these parts, one might hear What for book is that?

Hows that come?

"Hows that come directly translates from the Pennsylvania Dutch phrase Wie kummt sell, meaning why is that.

Make the light out.

Another loan translation meaning to turn the light off, the phrase make the light out originates from the Pennsylvania Dutch phrase Machs licht aus.

 Re ad up the room.

Read up the room comes from a Scottish/Northern English dialect verb and was brought to Pennsylvania during colonial times, meaning to tidy up. Louden said it has Pennsylvania regionalism and is likely related to rid or ready.

All:



All, is an example of a loan shift and, as an adverb in German dialect, means all gone.

Merriam-Webster Dictionarys seventh entry also defines all as used up or entirely consumed.
COLUMBIA  Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health officials on Monday announced a new, $50 million program to screen, test and remove lead from roughly 2,800 Lancaster County homes over the next decade.

Its important that we all know that lead poisoning is not curable, said Carolyn Scanlan, chair of the LG Health Board of Trustees. Once poisoned, you will always be impacted, but we do know it is 100% preventable.

Called Lead-Free Families, the program was touted as the first of its kind to be funded and led by a health system. The announcement was made in Columbia Borough, home to one of the first Lead Free Families clients.

The LG Health Board of Trustees approved the funding in the spring of 2020.

The LG Health initiative is working in concert with the City of Lancasters lead abatement program, which two years ago received a $9.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. The citys program is expected to remove lead from, or remediate, roughly 700 housing units in four U.S. Census tracts.

Lead poisoning remains a stubborn problem in communities with older housing stock such as Lancaster County.

The hope had been for many years that there would be state and federal funding to remediate lead, Alice Yoder, executive director of Community Health at LG Health, told LNP | LancasterOnline following the press conference announcing the program.

Yoder added, Its the remediation that matters.

Its also why progress has been so slow. The average remediation cost is $12,000.

Thats a lot of money for most families, Yoder said.

The greatest threat to our community

Roughly half of Lancaster County homes were built before 1978  when lead-based paints were banned  according to Pennsylvania Department of Health data.

Lead is fairly ubiquitous, found in soil, older water pipes and certain imported products such as toys and jewelry. But the most common source for lead is in homes.

Lead poisoning is the greatest threat to our community, said Dr. Michael Ripchinski, LG Health chief clinical officer, who called it a silent epidemic.

Ripchinski noted that what should be frightening for parents is that most children with detectable levels of lead in their blood have no obvious symptoms.

No lead blood level is considered safe.

Lead exposure in children  particularly those younger than 6 whose brains are still developing  is extremely dangerous because of their rate of absorption. In children, exposure can result in lifelong health and developmental issues including lower IQs, an inability to pay attention and poorer academic achievement.

Because the damage is irreversible, prevention is widely considered the best treatment for lead poisoning.

While lead poisoning can be detected with a simple blood test, only about 20% of Pennsylvania children are tested each year.

Experts fear prolonged shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem, given the number of skipped checkups and school children who were, essentially, shut-in.

In June, a LG Health pediatric doctor reported two childrens cases with very high blood lead levels. One had 52 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (g/dL), and the other childs blood lead level was 112 g/dL. The level of concern is 5 g/dL.

Thats whats so scary

When Mary Hogentoglers daughter and 3-year-old grandson, Levi Miller, moved back to her 1930s-era home in March, the threat of lead poisoning never crossed her mind.

But then a friend told her about the LG Health program.

A home test Friday found elevated levels in Levis room, Hogentogler said. They promptly moved Levi into another room.

I didnt know how severe it is; once you have it, you cant get rid of it, Hogentogler, 57, of Columbia Borough, said of lead poisoning. Thats whats so scary about it.

Her home is now expected to be among the first remediated by the LG Health effort.

With the Lead-Free Families initiative stalled during the pandemic, Yoder said its now back on track.

LG Health officials hope to remediate 200 homes across the county before the end of the fiscal year in June.

The partnership with the City of Lancaster means a streamlined process for individuals at 400% of the federal poverty level, which for a family of four in 2021 is $106,000.

In addition to increasing annual blood lead screenings, the initiative seeks to test and remediate homes for lead at no cost to residents (participating landlords are expected to pay 10% of the costs), social services support and community education.

We need to step up, said Columbia Borough Mayor Leo Lutz. Lead-free housing means safe housing.
The Manheim Township Board of Commissioners has voted not to renew their current police coverage contract with Lancaster Township, which ends at the end of 2024.

Manheim Township says that providing the coverage under the current contract language has been costing it an additional $600,000 to $800,000 each of the last several years.

The board voted unanimously Monday night not to renew the current contract, though it plans to continue negotiating with Lancaster Township on possible terms for a new contract.

As one cost increase example, Manheim Township's solicitor said in May other officers beyond the nine assigned to Lancaster Township are sometimes pulled into Lancaster Township to handle police matters. The township has GPS units in its cars and has been able to track coverage.

The two townships are continuing to negotiate over possible terms of a new agreement for future coverage, officials said.

Manheim Township has expressed that we believe the agreement is poorly written and has left out a lot of the expenses that we've had to provide and we believe Lancaster Township should compensate us for, Manheim Township Manager James Drumm said Monday.

The base payment from Lancaster Township was $2.58 million last year.

Lancaster Township Manager Bill Laudien said Monday hes not sure why the issue has suddenly come up for a vote.

The Manheim Township police have done a tremendous job in Lancaster Township. We continue to express our interest in keeping them in Lancaster Township and have been cooperative in working toward a longer term contract, he said. As we are in the middle of those discussions, that we have no pressing deadline, and that I first learned of this being on the agenda at 4 p.m. on Friday, all of this comes as a curious surprise.

The contract requires an 18-month notification if its not to be renewed, but the current contract is still in effect for more than three years.

Drumm said Monday that negotiations are continuing and Manheim Townships commissioners just wanted to give as much notice as possible.

Were working out our differences and looking to negotiate a contract, but we do not want to go with the current language, which we believe is poorly written, he said, noting the contract as written automatically renews unless action is taken.

In a letter to Lancaster Township, commissioners set a deadline of Oct. 12 to determine the cost of Manheim Township's police coverage of Lancaster Township. After that date, if the townships cannot agree, commissioners will seek the help of an outside arbiter.

Lancaster city had provided coverage to Lancaster Township until 2009. Lancaster Township officials said at the time that coverage from the city was too costly, so it opted for Manheim Township coverage.

In June 2019, East Petersburg Borough  citing cost  opted not to continue contracting for police services from Manheim Township and instead contracted with Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department. The borough had been getting police coverage from Manheim Township for 44 years.

Correspondent Joan Kern contributed to this report.
After weeks of impassioned debate over whether masks should be required in schools, second-grader Jackson Breitegan on Monday was most concerned about the temperature in his classroom at the new Smith-Wade-El Elementary School in Lancaster.

Im excited for the air conditioning, Jackson, said, referring to the old school, then called Buchanan Elementary School, which didnt have air conditioning. Ive been sweating my butt off.

Jackson was among the thousands of students entering the first day of the 2021-22 school year, one that comes with COVID-19 cases  and, at times, tempers  on the rise. Elementary students in Lancaster as well as Conestoga Valley School District, and all but kindergarten students in the Elizabethtown Area School District, started school Monday.

The day was long-awaited for many. For a moment, masks werent a topic of discussion  but only for a moment.

It is what it is, Jacksons mother, Danielle Breitegan, 36, of Lancaster Township, said of the mask requirement as she and her husband, Vince, walked Jackson and their other son, Logan, a kindergartner, to school Monday morning. I want the kids to be safe, but I wish we could go back to normal.

School District of Lancaster is one of three Lancaster County school districts with a universal mask requirement entering the 2021-22 school year, along with Columbia Borough and Manheim Township school districts.

While masks remain a point of contention throughout the county, school officials, parents and students in Conestoga Valley, Elizabethtown Area and Lancaster said the first day of school went fairly smoothly, with no major disruptions related to COVID-19 or transportation.

Elizabethtown

Elizabethtown Area School District spokesperson Troy Portser said the district couldnt be more pleased with how the school year started. A blend of masked and unmasked students were happy and engaged with their learning, he said.

Portser said he was not aware of any COVID-19 cases reported Monday.

Jillian Wivell, a sophomore at Elizabethtown Area High School, said Monday after school that it was nice to be back, and it felt more normal than last school year. The students seemed looser and more talkative without the mask requirement or whether theyre wearing their mask correctly, she said. Jillian, who chooses not to wear a mask, said there was no shaming or bullying of those who wore masks.

It wasnt really a topic of conversation, she said. I think that everyone just kind of respects that its their decision and nobody was asking people or saying like, You shouldnt be wearing your mask.

Sarah Crawford, a former French teacher at the high school, said her kids, who are in ninth and 11th grades, are wearing masks in school to protect themselves and others, including at-risk family members.

We think masking is better for the good of the whole, Crawford, 43, of Elizabethtown, said.

With COVID-19 ramping up again, including in children, Crawford said masks are a simple mitigation measure that schools should implement to protect students and employees and their families.

Although it was challenging getting back into the rhythm of in-person learning, Crawford said, her kids were mostly pleased to be back.

Conestoga Valley

Conestoga Valley School District spokesperson Katie Meier said there were no major hiccups on the first day of school, including busing.

Looming over the first day, though, was a last-minute announcement changing the districts mask policy. In a letter shared with families Sunday, district Superintendent Dave Zuilkoski said that because elementary students are ineligible for vaccination, there can be periods of mask requirements at the elementary schools.

Individual elementary schools will impose two-week mask requirement if one reaches a certain number of active cases. Leola Elementary Schools temporary mask requirement will kick in if it reaches five active COVID-19 cases; Brownstown, six; Smoketown, seven; and Fritz, eight.

The district is using the same threshold the Pennsylvania Department of Education used last school year for closing schools amid surges of the virus. That guidance, however, does not exist this school year and it was never meant for shifting to a mask requirement.

Asked why the administration chose to adopt this new policy, Meier referred a reporter to Zuilkoskis letter. She declined to answer specific questions about the decision-making and timing surrounding the announcement.

Story continues after document.

Some in the community were enraged when they received the letter on Sunday.

I was aghast, LuAnne Mikos, who has a son in fourth-grade in the district, said, adding that the district should have gone further and adopted a universal mask requirement districtwide. A retired nurse, Mikos said masks are a preventative measure, not something meant to quell an outbreak once things have gone haywire.

Mikos, 62, from West Earl Township, said she felt heart-wrenched sending her son to school on Monday knowing that he will be around unmasked kids and adults. Shes called neighboring schools to see if her son could attend there, and shes talked to a lawyer about potential legal remedies.

I dont know what to do, she said. Were just sending them into, like, a bees nest now, and they could have prevented that.

Tom Richard, a fifth-grade teacher at Smoketown Elementary School, said he agrees that the district should have gone further in its mask policy. While it was an improvement from its initial stance, he said, its probably not the best prevention we could do. Richard said some parents may not bring their sick child to the doctor to get tested and, therefore, each schools case count might be unreliable.

I think theres probably positive cases in our school right now that were not aware of, he said.

Richard said he believes he is in the minority opinion among teachers regarding masks.

Lancaster

School District of Lancaster spokesperson Adam Aurand said there were no noticeable issues there Monday.

It deployed a full fleet of buses, he said. The district received some reports of COVID-19  which were contracted before students arrived at school  but none regarding quarantine, he said. Aurand said the positive cases would appear on the districts dashboard, which had not been updated with Mondays data as of 5 p.m.

One of the new faces at Lancaster is Smith-Wade-El Principal David Krakoff. A Pittsburgh native, Krakof has worked in Florida schools the last 12 years. He said Monday was the most excited hes felt for a first day. He described it as a feeling of relief mixed with exuberance following a summer fueled with debate over COVID-19 measures.

Walking to the school with their two kids, who are in kindergarten in third grade, Jason and Maristela Gottlieb, of Lancaster Township, said they felt relieved to be sending their children to a school where masks are required. Jason Gottlieb, 50, a pediatrician in Lancaster, said masks give the best chance for students to have a happy and healthy school year.

The kids agree, Maristela Gottlieb, 42, said.

The kids dont mind at all, she said. I think its more about fuss from the parents.
Since 2008, New Jersey has required all police departments in the state to submit forensic information about guns recovered in the course of police work to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, often referred to by its acronym, NIBIN.

Fans of the CBS show NCIS will be familiar with scenes where lab techs fire guns into water tanks so that bullets and shell casings can be studied for unique fingerprints left by the gun. But its a real-world system thats proven valuable to investigators throughout the county, so much so that former Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale tried to expand its use.

In 2019, DePasquales office issued a report celebrating NIBINs help in leading to the apprehension of people responsible for using firearms for violent purposes rather than (investigators) wading through the levels of bureaucracy it takes to trace a recovered firearm to its purchaser  who, data shows, is hardly ever the shooter.

DePasquale recommended increased funding for law enforcement agencies to pay for staff to process more firearms and submit the information to the ATF network.

According to the ATF, NIBIN was launched in 1997 and contains 4.2 million pieces of ballistic information. The system provides investigators the ability to compare their ballistics evidence against evidence from other violent crimes on a national, regional and local level, thus generating investigative links that would rarely be revealed absent the technology. The bureau claims NIBIN generated 267,000 leads for investigators in 2019 alone.

Put more simply by Lou Weiers, a Pennsylvania-based ATF agent quoted in DePasquales 2019 report, (NIBIN is) probably better than fingerprints.

But two years after DePasquale touted NIBINs importance, Pennsylvania still does not require police departments to submit information about seized guns to the system, and an LNP|LancasterOnline review found that only 1 in 5 firearms seized in connection to crimes in Lancaster County between 2016 and 2020 were submitted to ATF.

Lancaster Countys District Attorneys Office only submitted 29% of the 135 guns its investigators collected to the ATF for analysis during that time period.

District Attorney Heather Adams said while the office doesn't have a specific policy on what guns should be processed for NIBIN, certainly any legally seized gun in connection with a drug investigation or warrant should be sent.

She said that not all guns are suitable for submission to the network, including guns taken in connection to suicide or when a person violates a protection from abuse order.

Nine departments in the county made no submissions during that time, though police chiefs from those departments said they didnt have cases that required checking the firearm against the system.

We did not have any type (of) incident that would involve this type of submission, Chief Kevin McCarthy of East Earl Township Police Department said via email. Im very happy that we did not have to use the system, and hope it stays that way.

West Earl Township Police Chief Eric Higgins said he was unsure why his department hadnt made any submission, noting that he only started his position last year. But he said when he was a police chief in New Jersey it was mandated by the states Attorney General that all firearms were submitted to the system.

The Lancaster Bureau of Police is on the opposite end of the spectrum. City police submitted 73% of the 579 guns seized and 83% of all shell casings collected to the system between 2016 and 2020, according to data provided by the bureau.

Michael Winters, a captain with the Criminal Investigation Division, said via email that NIBIN's track record in helping his teams investigations encouraged them to make submissions to the system a more regular part of their work. The more often they submit information, the better the chances (we have) of making connections between different crimes from different scenes or even other jurisdictions.

By using the NIBIN system, Lancaster city police were able to link one of the guns seized from a 2019 bust on Beaver Street to an earlier 2018 shooting on the 600 block of Lafayette Street, Winters said.

Winters did not speculate on why other departments may not be submitting as many guns to NIBIN, but he said that submission involves taking the gun to the nearest ATF lab, which is located at the State Police barracks in Harrisburg

We do see great value in submitting firearms to NIBIN and have been doing so for quite some time, Winters said. We have had success in linking crimes together through this analysis and have been able to successfully prosecute offenders for multiple incidents that we may not have otherwise known about, had it not been for the connection made through NIBIN.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)  Florida's power struggle over wearing masks in school to guard against coronavirus infections landed Monday before a judge considering a lawsuit that challenges Gov. Ron DeSantis' order reserving the mask decision for parents.

The three-day hearing before Leon County Circuit Judge John C. Cooper pits pro-mask parents against the Republican governor and state education officials who say parents, not schools, should choose whether their children cover up inside schools.

The hearings come as the highly contagious delta variant causes a surge in hospitalizations and deaths across Florida, where the school year is already being disrupted.

Some districts belatedly began requiring masks, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after classroom exposures forced them to send thousands of students and hundreds of teachers and staff into isolation or quarantine.

At least eight school districts representing more than 1 million Florida students were defying the governor's order as of Monday night. Duval County, which includes Jacksonville, became to latest district to adopt a stricter mask policy, which begins Sept. 7 and last for 90 days. State education officials have vowed to financially punish districts that don't comply, contending they are violating state law unless they allow parents to opt-out their children for any reason.

Charles Dodson, a former judge representing parents challenging DeSantis' order, said in an opening statement that the delta variant affects children more than previous strains and places them at greater risk in crowded schools.

Because of the delta variant, our schools are not safe and secure unless everyone wears a mask, Dodson said. It is certainly an emergency.

The Florida Constitution and state law give school boards the authority to decide health and safety matters affecting their students, Dodson said. He asked the judge to block the DeSantis order.

Each local school board, and only each local school board, should be able to decide in each district whether to make masks mandatory," Dodson said.

Most of Monday's court session focused on testimony by plaintiffs and medical experts who support masks in schools and oppose DeSantis' order banning them without parental consent. Monday's final witness, Damaris Allen, parent of a high schooler in Hillsborough County, said masks are an important to contain the virus.

I want to stop the spread of the virus in my community, said Allen, president of the parent-teacher association at Plant High School. Local school boards have the ability to make decisions based on the needs of the local community.

The hearing is set to resume Tuesday.

A lawyer for the defendants  DeSantis, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, the state school board and education department  said the governor's order heeds the state constitution and law, particularly the Parents Bill of Rights measure that took effect in July.

That law states that only parents and legal guardians can direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their child, attorney Michael Abel said.

Abel said the state's experts will testify that requiring students to wear masks causes many harms   speaking difficulty, mood changes, breathing issues and depression  while scientists disagree on their effectiveness against the coronavirus.

Citing state statistics from 2020, Abel said 40 of the 67 Florida school districts mandated masks, and yet still had positive virus tests for 48 of every 1,000 students. Districts without mask requirements had positive tests for 50 out of every 1,000 students.

Mask mandates are unnecessary, Abel said, adding the state's actions were consistent with state law and the Florida Constitution.

The mask issue has spurred heated debates at school board meetings, with one side claiming a ban on mandatory mask rules denies their children a safe education, and the other contending such requirements amount to government overreach  even tyranny.

Miami-Dade schools, the nations fourth-largest district with 340,000 students, began classes Monday with a strict mask mandate. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the district would wear any state punishment as a badge of honor.

I know it (wearing masks) is an inconvenience but it is a necessity considering the explosive nature of COVID-19 transmission, Carvalho said.

The largest school district in Florida that hasnt imposed a strict mask policy is Orange County, where parents and teachers protested Monday outside district headquarters demanding that Superintendent Barbara Jenkins and the board make masks mandatory.

Sarasota County implemented its new mandatory mask policy Monday. Masks were optional the first two weeks of classes, but outbreaks districtwide prompted the school board to impose a strict mandate. Only students who provide a doctors note will be excused, an opt-out mirrored by other districts with mask requirements.

Ive struggled with wearing a mask. I know a lot of my friends have, too, Mya Mamazza, an 11th-grader, told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune outside school Monday. I have asthma, so its really hard for me.

She wants the district to offer online classes if masks are mandatory, so she wont have to wear one.

This hearing is scheduled to end by Wednesday. It's not immediately clear when Cooper will rule, but the judge has said he prefers to decide issues from the bench  and aknowledged time is of the essence.

I want everyone to have enough time, but I think we need to move as quickly as we can, he said.



Spencer reported from Fort Lauderdale.
When: Adamstown Borough Council meeting, Aug. 3.

What happened: Borough Council delayed a decision on sharing the cost for school resource officer in the Cocalico School District over questions of funding the position in the upcoming school year.

Background: East Cocalico Township Police Department administers the SRO position; Adamstown is served by Ephrata Police Department.

Quotables: This has created a division amongst the region, said Dave Matz, council vice president. When the initial creation of that position went to council, we were all in favor of the SRO but wanted it to be included in the school tax. Council member Alex McManimen added, Im still hesitant because I agree with Dave that this was discussed three years ago and Im still under the position that if this is a school position, it should be school taxes.

Letter from a neighbor: Denver Borough sent a letter to Adamstown Borough seeking support fro the position, but the letter does not include the cost of the SRO program, how much the school district contributes, or how much each municipality contributes. The letter from Denver Borough Council President Blake Daub states, The program has been very successful in fostering positive relationships with students; providing a law enforcement presence in the school district; and serving as a liaison between the school district, the police, and the surrounding community.

Waiting for information: I do not like the nontransparency that goes on in these letters, McManimen said. This is a very general letter and does not tell us if they got a grant, which Im pretty sure they did for the first two years, how much was that? Resident Tori Motter asked council to look into the matter further. Council member Jerry Thomason then made a motion to table the issue until more detailed information is available, and council agreed to hold off.
When: Cocalico school board meeting, Aug. 23.

What: About 50 parents and community members attended the meeting. Board President Kevin Eshleman affirmed the districts current policy that masks will continue to be optional and that nothing has changed since the plan was approved. As classes start today, there have been no amendments or changes to the plan. Eshleman noted that some students attended open houses with masks and some without, and it was great to see the students either way.

Mask policy: At a meeting July 26, the school board approved a policy for the 2021-22 school year that affirmed that masks would not be mandated by the district. The exception is on school buses, due to a federal public transportation masking mandate. In district buildings, masks will be optional for students and staff, regardless of vaccination status.

Quotable: The pandemic is back. Vaccines have plateaued, said Patrick Descinsy, of Adamstown. We have to be aware of that. Were living in a pandemic again.

Public comment: One resident, Jane Good, asked whether board members would sign a document to add validity to their stance on keeping masks optional. Good asked for clarification whether the school board would mandate masks should the situation with COVID-19 change. A document would be taken more seriously and would show parents that you mean to keep your word, she said. Resident Dan Burton brought props to illustrate why he believes masks to be ineffective. He sprayed an aerosol through several masks, which he said shows how masks are ineffective.

Next meeting: The school boards next meeting is Sept. 27.
THE ISSUE

With COVID-19 cases climbing and schools poised to open amid a fifth surge, the Lancaster Chamber on Wednesday hosted a virtual town hall to provide legal and health information for business leaders navigating an ever-changing landscape, LNP | LancasterOnlines Nicole C. Brambila reported last week. During the hourlong presentation, Dr. Michael Ripchinski, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health chief clinical officer, and David Freedman, an employment law attorney with Barley Snyder, gave attendees an update on the court challenges to vaccine mandates, COVID-19 boosters and contact tracing efforts.

As COVID-19 makes it clear that its not finished with us yet, we thank the Lancaster Chamber for stepping up to help the county business community navigate the pandemics latest surge.

In the absence of a county public health department, and given the silence of the county commissioners, the Chambers leadership on COVID-19 is particularly valuable. We also appreciate that its virtual town hall seemed to be straightforward and informative, without getting bogged down in pandemic-related culture wars.

Like the Chamber, we dont want to see local businesses further harmed by the pandemic. A significant outbreak tied to a particular business would be devastating.

So we hope businesses implement COVID-19 mitigation strategies that will enable them to conduct business safely. Those strategies must include indoor mask-wearing and vaccination.

Lancaster County, like much of the U.S., is dealing with the highly contagious delta variant, which is causing infection rates and hospitalizations  and tragically, deaths  to rise.

As LNP | LancasterOnline reports, After recording just six deaths in all of July, the county recently had five deaths over nine days, from Aug. 14 through 22, according to data from the countys coroner, Dr. Stephen Diamantoni.

Increases in new cases and hospitalizations began several weeks earlier. ... Lancaster County has been a high transmission area for COVID-19 for about two weeks, and pace of cases here has risen since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made the designation, which covered 52 of Pennsylvanias 67 counties as of Friday.

One more unsettling fact, reported by LNP | LancasterOnline: Over the past week, Lancaster County has averaged 120 new COVID-19 cases per day, up from a daily average of 94 cases a week ago and 78 cases two weeks ago, according to the state Department of Health. The daily average held in the single digits from mid-June to mid-July before the current upsurge began.

The CDC recommends that masks be worn in indoor public spaces in areas of substantial or high transmission, regardless of peoples vaccination status.

As Brambila reported, because the U.S. Department of Labor adopted the CDC guidance on indoor mask-wearing in those designated areas, employers could risk being out of compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

OSHA is telling employers, Look you have to do what the CDC is telling you to do, and if you dont you risk getting an OSHA violation citation,  David Freedman, the employment law attorney, told the Chamber town hall attendees.

Mask-wearing, which is the simplest of mitigation measures, strikes us as imperative, given that the trends here are heading in the wrong direction.

We can bemoan that fact  and we do  but we also can pledge to do everything we can to curb COVID-19 transmission.

That means instituting not just mask mandates for everyone in businesses and other indoor public spaces, but also raising COVID-19 vaccination rates.

We were relieved last week when President Joe Biden announced that nursing homes that receive federal Medicare and Medicaid funding must require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

We remain incredulous that among the health systems serving Lancaster County, only Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health had the wisdom to announce an employee vaccine mandate in May.

Should we need to choose hospital care, we know wed choose the hospital whose employees are inoculated. Protection against the spread of infectious disease is essential in a health care setting, but not only there.

Ensuring that employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 seems like common sense for any business working to keep its doors open and seeking to reduce employee sick days and health care costs.

And the good news is that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Monday. Full approval for the Moderna vaccine is expected soon. Removing the emergency use authorization label from these vaccines should encourage more employers  and colleges and schools  to require them. And hopefully, it will encourage more Americans to get vaccinated.

As The Associated Press reported, The Pentagon promptly announced it will press ahead with plans to force members of the military to get vaccinated amid the battle against the extra-contagious delta variant. And New York City announced Monday that all public school employees must get vaccinated.

Mandating becomes much easier when you have full approval, Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious disease expert at Emory University School of Medicine, told the AP. I think a lot of businesses have been waiting for it.

As Brambila reported, the legal challenges to vaccine mandates are being resolved mostly on the side of employers.

In June, in Bridges v. Houston Methodist Hospital, currently under appeal, a U.S. District Court judge in Texas ruled in favor of an employer mandate, saying employees can accept or refuse a COVID-19 vaccine. If they refuse, the judge wrote, they will simply need to work somewhere else.

And earlier this month in Klassen v. Trustees of Indiana University, a federal judge dismissed a case from students claiming a vaccine mandate violated their due process.

These cases are not really getting much traction in the courts, Freedman said.

As weve noted before, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has said that federal laws do not prevent an employer from requiring all employees physically entering the workplace to be vaccinated for COVID-19. (That federal agency said that employees who dont get vaccinated because of a disability or a sincerely held religious belief may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation that does not pose an undue hardship on the operation of the employers business.)

We may be facing a tough few months if the delta variant is allowed to spread further, unchecked by widespread masking and improved vaccination rates.

I dont know where its going to land, Dr. Ripchinski, Lancaster General Healths chief clinical officer, told the Chamber town hall attendees. And thats where I think the concerns for the health care institutions are. Wheres the zenith, if you will, the top end of this peak?

If more than 55% of Lancaster County residents ages 12 and older were fully vaccinated, hospital officials might not need to be so concerned.

And if we had a public health department, Lancaster County wouldnt feel so much like a rudderless ship.

But this is the situation were in, so were glad the Lancaster Chamber is helping businesses to navigate whatever lies ahead.
Years ago, when Laura Wu was living in New York City, she worked for Collette Peters, a world-famous cake designer whose specialty cake company had clients from Hollywood to the White House.

Collette had pivoted to cake design after getting her start as a designer for Tiffany & Co. Ironically, Laura would take the reverse path, deciding she was more interested in the design of jewelry than cakes.

She and her husband, Zhiwei Zhang, recently opened Laura Z Tai Fine Jewelry & Watches at 101NQ, Suite 111, in downtown Lancaster. The store will have its grand opening Friday, Sept. 10.

Over the past decade, the couple has operated several boutiques in New York and Lancaster, including Mishorm, a shop on East King Street featuring clothing, accessories and fashion jewelry.

They made the move to fine jewelry not only for its elegance, but for its timelessness: It will last forever, Laura says.

Laura Z Tai favors more modern over traditional styles and offers an international flair, with brands from Paris, Italy, Switzerland, England and Japan, among others. Their selection currently includes:

- Moritz Glik, whose trademark shaker jewelry features a white sapphire casing that houses floating bits of precious gemstones that move as the body moves. Inspired by classical architecture and fine art, the New York-based designer crafts one-of-a-kind statement pieces that have been worn by celebrities from Taylor Swift to former First Lady Michelle Obama.

- dinh van, a Paris-based designer that focuses on the simplicity of timeless, modern design. Their Menottes jewelry collection features chain necklaces and bracelets with handcuff-style centerpiece clasps symbolizing strength, love and attachment.

- Mizuki, whose modern take on traditional pearl jewelry includes pieces like large pearl rings as well as smaller pearl earrings and necklaces. Tokyo-born and New York-raised designer Mizuki Goltz creates sophisticated designs using Tahitian, Akoya and Freshwater pearls.

- Bremont, a British luxury watchmaker known for its aviation-inspired timepieces. Precise, reliable and durable watches are handcrafted in limited numbers.

- Rado, a globally recognized Swiss luxury watch brand, famous for innovative design, revolutionary materials and specialization in high-tech ceramic watches.

- William Henry, a creator of exclusive and award-winning pocket knives, jewelry, writing instruments, money clips, cufflinks and keychains that integrate natural materials, precious metals and gemstones.

- Vhernier, an Italian designer known for contemporary and unconventional designs. Vhernier specializes in round, sculptural shapes with solid materials and big, colorful precious gems.

- Pomellato, a Milan designer offering distinctive, unconventional designs with sophisticated color stone combinations. Will be introduced to the store in the coming year.

- Suzanne Kalan, a mother-daughter duo of Armenian background known for custom-cut colorful gemstones and dramatically placed diamonds. Their famous Fireworks collection marries scattered baguette diamonds with large, custom-cut gemstones. Will be introduced to the store in spring 2022.

They plan on introducing additional brands in the coming year. The store also carries its own brand, the Laura Z Tai Bridal Collection, featuring not only engagement rings, but also wedding bands, necklaces, bracelets and bridal gift pieces, all geared toward making a memorable wedding day.

They can also help customers redesign an old piece of jewelry to create something fresh and new.

Laura describes her new store as a relaxed, gallery-style atmosphere where customers are invited to explore. Theyll have an opportunity to do that and more during the Sept. 10 grand opening from 5 to 8 p.m. The event will feature cocktails, hors doeuvres, live music and gift bags.

Current hours for Laura Z Tai Fine Jewelry & Watches are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Beginning Sept. 1, the store will be open Tuesday through Sunday and closed Mondays.

For more information, visit lauraztai.com or facebook.com/lauraztai.
Commitment to 50% Electric Vehicles Is Being Discredited

Aug. 23 , 2021 (EIRNS)The Biden Administrations demand that 50% of U.S. motor vehicles be fully electric by 2030 is being defied by reality. The rash of reported vehicle fires and losses of power has caused Chevrolet to stop EV production and recall 69,000 Chevy Bolts, following recalls of more than 130,000 EVs by Hyundai, Ford, Volvo and BMW. One well-publicized fire of a Bolt while chargingafter it had been serviced in the recall in Spring 2021was that of Vermont State Senator Timothy Briglin, who had been a strong advocate of the technology. On Aug. 21, General Motors, which made the electric motor for Chevrolet, expanded the Chevrolet recall to include all Bolt EVs.

Recalls with new technologies are common, but the problem of EV fires is a very serious one. They are extremely difficult to put out, repeatedly reigniting for many hours after being extinguished, typically require 10,000 gallons of water to be applied to do so, and have required special training in fire departments across the United States. The cars cable harness may still be carrying high voltage, much higher than in an internal combustion engine-powered vehicle. If the car is being charged in a garage when the lithium battery ignites, it sets the house on fire.

This is a minor problem, however, compared to the lack of electric power generation or transmission capacity to make mass conversion to EVs possible. The above problems come with 2 million EVs, out of 300 million vehicles, on U.S. roadsless than 1%, ABC News reports on the local Rochester network WHAM on July 22. The EIR Special Report The Great Leap Backward: LaRouche Exposes the Green New Deal, published in February, demonstrated that the goal of even 100 million EVs, if accompanied by continued shifting to wind parks and solar power farms in place of baseline plants, would require nominal installed electric capacity to increase by half, and 100,000 new miles of transmission lines be built.

One example is a study just released by the Power Workers Union of Ontario, Canada which finds that the province will have to increase its installed electric power capacity by at least 55 GW by 2050 to pursue electrified vehicles, buildings, etc. and reach the mythical zero emissions. That amount is four times Ontarios current total of nuclear, hydro, and renewables capacity. And it is probably an underestimate by as much as 25 GW, the report finds, particularly if the province goes through with the planned closure of the Pickering nuclear power plant in 2025. The report is titled, Electrification Pathways for Ontario To Reduce Emissions, and was reported by the World Nuclear News on Aug. 20.
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 24 , 2021

Questions on Afghanistan

Aug. 23 , 2021 (EIRNS)Why did we get into a 20 years war in Afghanistan?

The British Prime Minister told us the United States had to. Tony Blair came to Chicago two years before that war started, and said the United States has to protect people from undemocratic governments London doesnt like, by taking those governments out. The term regime change was born.

Clinton agreed? Did anybody say no?

Lyndon LaRouche did. He called it restoring the British Empire with U.S. forces. Nine months before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. LaRouche warned a major terror attack was coming in the United States to push the country into emergency government, and into war. That was Jan. 3, 2001.

But the 9/11 attacks were launched from Afghanistan by Osama bin Laden. Didnt everybody agree on that?

LaRouche knew better. He said on radio, as those attacks were ongoing, that some other force, not Osama bin Laden, let down the American security screen and punctured it to make those attacks possible. Againto push the country into emergency government and set it up for endless war.

Does anybody agree with that?

All the families of the victims of 9/11 gradually got the evidence that a foreign governmentthe Saudi Kingdomhelped take down that security screen for the hijackers. The 20 years commemoration of 9/11 is coming up, and those families wrote to President Biden: Dont show up! unless you declassify the FBI report on these Saudi operations first. He may do it. And LaRouche said the Saudis would not have done that without a wink from the British.

So what did we do in Afghanistan?

Pushed out the Taliban government the U.K. wanted gone. Blair again. He told his Parliament it was for the protection of our [British] people and our way of life, including confidence in our economy; and he told W Bush it would be just a short-lived exercise. The Blair Doctrine, the regime-change war policy, is the failure here. And he was found by a Commission of Inquiry to have faked WMD intelligence about Iraq. But the U.K.s top military institute is still inviting Blair to speak on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

So Biden pulled American forces out.

For doing that, the former British commander in Afghanistan, a Lt. Col. Richard Kemp (ret.), demanded that the American President be, not just impeachedcourt-martialed as a traitor. You can read what he and Blair and other hysterical British officials said, below.

Biden a traitor to what?

To Global Britain, they said. Watch out for Tuesdays G7 meeting, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is chairing it. The British say: They will push the United States to stay and expand in Afghanistan. And they want Biden out.

Whats wrong with them?

This Global Britain, and London world financial center, all depends on American muscle being directed by British brains. As Helga Zepp-LaRouche says, without U.S. muscle, Global Britain is just a pea-brain.

Then the United States should get out?

More than that. This is the chance to throw the table over and reconstruct instead of bombing, and instead of sending U.S. troops there to confrontations with China and Russia. Let engineers go in and build in that whole region, invest in developing it. Every country in that region agrees that Afghanistan, now, is where the United States and the other great powers could finally start to cooperate in new infrastructure projects and exports of capital goods and machinery.

By flipping the war script that way, maybe the United States could get finally get some justice, for what the British banks did to poor Richard Nixon and the U.S. dollar 50 years ago, on Aug. 15, 1971.


From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

In February of 2020, the United Nations Commission for Social Development created their first resolution on homelessness. The resolution said homelessness has become a worldwide problem and a serious violation of human dignity."

It affects people of all ages from all walks of life, in both developed and developing countries. The U.N. adds that 1.6 billion people worldwide live in poor housing conditions. And UN-Habitat has noted a worrying rise in homelessness around the world in the last 10 years. Young people are the age group with the highest risk of becoming homeless.

In some parts of the United States, there is a growing type of homelessness. People living in a vehicle instead of a house or apartment is becoming more common. It is called vehicle homelessness.

During the pandemic, many people lost their jobs and their homes. There is also a lack of affordable housing and housing supply, in general. As a result, RVs, campers, and other vehicles have appeared in local campgrounds, store parking lots, and neighborhood streets. It is especially problematic in areas with very high housing costs.



The problem became so serious in Seattle, Washington, that the states supreme court had to step in.

The Associated Press reported on August 12 that Washingtons Supreme Court issued a decision that helps protect people living in their vehicles from having them towed. This decision comes from a case that gave a lot of attention to Seattles housing crisis.

The justices held that it was unconstitutionally extreme for the city of Seattle to impound a homeless mans truck and require him to pay the nearly $550 costs to get it back. The court also ruled that vehicles that people live in are homes and cannot be taken from them and sold to pay their debts.

Staying in one area all summer and over-staying camping limits is a problem with many popular camping areas in the U.S. The environmental cost comes in the form of human waste dumped on the land, trees and plants destroyed, and burnable wood being used up when campfires are allowed.



Reporters for the Associated Press recently looked more closely at the issue in two towns in the western part of the U.S. -- Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Bozeman, Montana.

Bozeman, Montana

While there has been an increase in the number of people living out of their vehicles across the United States, it is new to Bozeman, Montana. That is what Heather Grenier, the CEO of Human Resources Development Council (or, HRDC), recently told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

Grenier explained that during the pandemic many people in Bozeman lost their homes. So, now in Bozeman, there is an increase in vehicle homelessness. HRDC found that the majority of people living in their vehicles are working more than one job. Many lost their homes.

Megan Metzger runs a campground at Bear Canyon near Bozeman. She said the campgrounds month-to-month RV lots sell quickly. Many people living at the campground work in Bozeman, Metzger said, including travel nurses.



Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Some people are living in vehicles in and around some of the most beautiful national parks in the United States. Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is close two very popular national parks: Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

Most of the land in Jackson Hole is a national park or under some type of federal protection. So, there is little land for building new homes and very little affordable housing.

Some employers in Jackson Hole have pushed employees toward the national park when housing became hard to find.

Linda Merigliano is the Wilderness & Recreation Program Manager for Wyoming's Bridger Teton National Forest. We cant just use the national forest as the bedroom for employers to house their staff, she said. That (is) not what the national forest is about.

Erica Robertson has been living out of her car since graduating from college in 2020. She lives mostly in the Jackson Hole area, where she can see the Teton mountains. She plans to live in her car until winter makes car life unsafe.

If I could find housing, "Robertson said, "I probably would have done that.

And thats the Health & Lifestyle report. Im Anna Matteo.

Associated Press writers Nora Shelly and Gene Johnson reported on this story. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor.

Quiz - Costly Housing Forces Some to Live in Vehicles Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

dignity  n. the quality or state of being worthy of honor and respect

apartment  n. a usually rented room or set of rooms that is part of a building and is used as a place to live

affordable  adj. within someone's ability to pay : reasonably priced

RV  n. recreational vehicle, such as a camper or motorhome

tow  v. to pull (a vehicle) behind another vehicle with a rope or chain : Sentence example: The police towed my car because it was parked illegally.

impound  v. to seize and hold in the custody of the law

recreational  adj. done for enjoyment

camper  n. a type of vehicle or special trailer that people can live and sleep in when they are traveling or camping

lot  n. a piece or plot of land

staff  n. a group of people who work for an organization or business


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday gave full approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The action may help raise public trust in the vaccine as the country and the world battle the fast-spreading Delta variant of the coronavirus.

Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement: as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product.

The vaccine, made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, was the first shot to be approved for emergency use by the FDA last December. The FDA has also approved vaccines from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson for emergency use.

The FDA based its latest decision on a study of 40,000 volunteers 16 years and older. It said, the vaccine was 91 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 disease. The agency also noted the shot is effective in preventing COVID-19 and potentially serious outcomes including hospitalization and death.

Approval could lead to vaccine requirements

The full approval came as governments, schools and businesses around the United States are considering requiring vaccinations for employees, students and others.

Last month, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that federal employees and those who work with the federal government are required to show proof of vaccination or have regular testing.



Members of the U.S. military will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 beginning next month.

Also on Monday, New York City announced it is requiring all public school teachers and workers in the nations largest school system to be vaccinated.

Dr. Carlos del Rio is with Emory University in the state of Georgia. He told The Associated Press, I think a lot of businesses have been waiting for the full approval from the FDA. He noted that requiring people to get the shots becomes much easier when you have full approval.

An AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research study released this week found that a majority of Americans, up to 59 percent, support a vaccine requirement for teachers and students.

Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. have differing opinions about vaccine requirements in schools. Only 38 percent of those who identified as Republican support a vaccine mandate for teachers. By comparison, 81 percent of self-identified Democrats support such a requirement.

The Kaiser Family Foundation reported earlier this month that most unvaccinated adults in the country do not believe vaccines are effective. Some even see the shots as a greater health risk than the actual disease.

FDA chief Woodcock noted: While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated.

Booster shots

The FDA said the vaccine continues to be available under emergency use for young people between the ages of 12 and 15.

The agency has also advised a third shot, known as a booster, for those with a weakened immune system. But the Biden administration announced last week it plans to provide the third shot to all Americans.



Israel has one of the worlds highest vaccination rates using the Pfizer-BioNTech shots. In early July, it became the first country to give coronavirus boosters to people with weakened immune systems. Israels Prime Minister Naftali Bennett then announced that the country would offer the booster to all people over 60.

Israels Ministry of Health reported on Sunday that the third shot of Pfizer has greatly improved protection from infection and serious illness among Israelis aged 60 and over.

However, health officials with the World Health Organization (WHO) have asked wealthier and more highly vaccinated countries to delay offering booster shots. They said it would be better to give more shots to unvaccinated people in developing countries.

WHO chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus said, We cannot accept countries that have already used most of the global supply of vaccines using even more of it, while the worlds most vulnerable people remain unprotected.

Im Jill Robbins.

Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English with additional reporting from the Associated Press. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

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Words in This Story

variant - n. something that is different in some way from others at the same kind

confident - adj. certain that something is true

outcome - n. something that happens as a result of an activity

regular - adj. happening over and over again

mandate - n. an official order to do something.

instill - v. to gradually cause someone to have (a feeling, etc.)

immune system - n. the system that protects your body from diseases and infections

global - adj. international, involving the entire world

vulnerable - adj. easily hurt or harmed


American Harvey Sutton went to his first day of school last week. The 5-year-old boy had a lot to tell his teacher and classmates about his summer.

That is because Harvey just finished walking the entire length of the Appalachian Trail, one of the longest footpaths in the world. The 3,500-kilometer-long trail passes through 14 states in the eastern United States.

Harvey is one of the youngest people ever to walk the trail. He and his parents completed the trip in 209 days.

It was hard work. But it was also fun. Harvey got to watch wild animals like frogs and lizards. He climbed over tall rocks. And he got to eat Skittles, a colorful sweet treat, to give him energy.

The rock scrambles were really fun and hard. We were not bored, Harvey said from his home in Virginia, where he lives with his parents, Josh and Cassie Sutton.

His parents tried hard to keep their little boy happy and excited. In fact, they said, they had little time to pay attention to their own physical pain from walking so many kilometers.

It gave us a bond and a strength that we hadnt realized before, Cassie Sutton said.

Other young children have hiked the trail, which starts at Springer Mountain, Georgia and ends atop Maines Mount Katahdin. Even some babies have travelled the length with their parents.

Harvey was 4 years old when he and his parents began their walk in January. He turned 5 before the family completed the trip earlier this month in Maine.

He is several months younger than Buddy Backpacker, a boy who once held the record for youngest person to complete the trail.

But the youngest of all may be Juniper Netteberg. The little girl finished the trail at age four with her parents and three siblings last October.

It may seem like an extreme activity for a child, but Dr. Laura Blaisdell sees no harm. She is a childrens doctor and medical adviser to the American Camp Association.

Dr. Blaisdell said children are strong enough for the experience if parents attend to their childs usual social and emotional development.

Harveys parents had been hiking with Harvey since he was two years old. Doing the Appalachian Trail seemed like a good next step.

It was a mostly smooth experience, the family reported. They slept in a tent, waking at 5:30 in the morning and walking all day. Their daily life was simple.

Josh Sutton said meeting and talking with other hikers along the way prevented boredom. They started calling his son Little Man, early on the trip. Harveys new name spread quickly among hikers all along the Appalachian Trail.

Karl Donus Sakas hiked with the family from Pennsylvania to the end of the trail in Maine. He helped the family keep Harvey interested by creating a treasure hunt with maps. Little Man found hidden playthings and brightly lit sticks along the trail.

Some other hikers gave Little Man toys, too, including a pet rock and Hot Wheels cars. At a Dollar General store, Harvey bought himself a calculator to keep track of all of the kilometers he had walked.

The Sutton family completed the hike August 9 atop Mount Katahdin in Maine. Now it is off to school for Little Man and back to work for his parents.

Harveys trip earned praise from another hiker, Dale Greybeard Sanders. He is the oldest person to hike the trail, which he did at age 82.

Its going to change his life forever, and his parents life, too. The kid went through some hardships, but dont we all? Hardships make us stronger, said Sanders, now 86. That kid is going to smile through life.

I'm John Russell.

The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

trail - n. a path through a forest, field, etc.

scramble - n. the act of moving or climbing over something quickly especially while also using your hands

excited - adj. very enthusiastic and eager about something

bond - n. something (such as an idea, interest, experience, or feeling) that is shared between people or groups and forms a connection between them

sibling - n. a brother or sister

tent - n. a portable shelter that is used outdoors, is made of cloth (such as canvas or nylon), and is held up with poles and ropes

hardship - n. pain and suffering


Vietnams largest city, Ho Chi Minh City, issued new COVID-19 restrictions Monday, one day ahead of a visit to the country by United States Vice President Kamala Harris.

The city is currently facing its worst outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new restrictions include an order for people living in high risk areas to stay at home. The measures will remain in effect for at least two weeks.

Police and army troops have deployed around Ho Chi Minh City to enforce the stay-at-home order, or lockdown, and to help get food and supplies to the people.

Vietnams Health Ministry reported 737 virus-related deaths on Sunday, the countrys highest single-day total. That raised the total number of deaths to 8,277 since the pandemic began.

In the north, Vietnams capital, Hanoi, is also under a lockdown order. Hanoi is where Vice President Harris will spend her time in the country. She is set to arrive on Tuesday for a three-day visit.

During her stay, Harris is expected to meet with Vietnamese leaders, including Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. State-run media reported her talks will center on Southeast Asia security issues, economic cooperation and the COVID-19 situation.

Harris also plans to attend the opening in Hanoi of an office of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The office is meant to be a center for dealing with infectious disease issues across Southeast Asia.

Vietnam had been praised for keeping its COVID-19 cases largely under control through most of the pandemic. But the fast spread in recent months of the Delta variant of the coronavirus has caused the countrys worst outbreak by far. More than half of the countrys 98 million people are currently under lockdown orders.

It is hoped the new severe restrictions in Ho Chi Minh City will reduce the infection rate among its 10 million people and ease pressure on overloaded hospitals.

Harris is expected to discuss how U.S. assistance programs can help Vietnam deal with the health crisis. So far, the U.S. has been the countrys largest donor of vaccines, sending 5 million doses of Modernas shot.

Separately, Vietnam has signed agreements with American vaccine makers Moderna and Pfizer to secure at least 80 million vaccine doses. Vietnam aims to vaccinate 70 percent of its population with at least one shot by the first quarter of next year.

During a visit by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin last month, the U.S. announced plans to donate 77 low temperature freezers to help Vietnam store and give out vaccines.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) says the United States has promised to provide more than $20 million dollars in virus-related assistance to Vietnam.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor.

_______________________________________________

Words in This Story

outbreak  n. a sudden start or increase in disease

variant  n. something that is different in some way from others of the same kind

dose  n. the amount of a medication to be taken at one time

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As schools in the U.S. start to reopen for the autumn, coronavirus cases among children are rising with the new Delta variant.

But some state policymakers and their school district leaders disagree about how to safely reopen schools.

Last month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed its guidance. It is now advising school districts to require masks for all students, teachers and workers. This includes people who have been fully vaccinated.

The countrys two largest school districts, New York City and Los Angeles, are requiring its teachers to be vaccinated or face weekly COVID testing. California recently became the first state to require vaccines or weekly testing for all teachers and school workers.

But several Republican-led states have passed laws or signed executive orders that ban school districts from following the CDC guidance. Schools in Florida, Texas, Arizona, South Carolina, Utah, Iowa and Oklahoma are not permitted to require masks for teachers and students, Forbes reported.

In the United States, support for vaccines and mask-wearing is largely divided along political party lines. Monmouth University in New Jersey released a public opinion study this month measuring Americans opinions about masking and vaccines. The study found that 85 percent of Democrats support new mask requirements, while 73 percent of Republicans oppose it.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis banned schools in the state from requiring masks. He called mask-wearing a choice that parents should make and not the government. But some districts in the state are choosing not to listen to the governors order.

In Floridas Leon County, which includes the state capital of Tallahassee, masks are being required in elementary and middle schools. The first day of class in the county was last week.

County school Superintendent Rocky Hanna made the announcement at a recent press conference.

I did a lot of soul searching, a lot of thinking, he said. If  we lost a child to this virus, I cant just simply blame the governor of the state of Florida. I cant.

Sara Lee is a mother of two 10-year-old twins attending school in Leon County. She told VOA that their school required masks during the spring term, as well. She said wearing masks did not prevent her kids from learning or communicating, as Governor DeSantis has suggested. I was relieved when our school board went against our governor, Lee said.

The Broward County, Florida, teachers union said Thursday that four of its teachers died of COVID-19 within two days. The countys school board had voted to require mask-wearing.

DeSantis has threatened not to pay school leaders who do not follow his order. Last week, Florida set records for the number of coronavirus hospitalizations for 12 straight days.

The Arizona Republic says 10 school districts in Phoenix, Arizona, are requiring mask-wearing even though a state law prevents mask or vaccine requirements. A group of 26 Republican lawmakers in the state are pushing for Governor Doug Ducey, also a Republican, not to give federal money to school districts that have mask requirements.

George Lyle has a stepson who attends high school in one of the Phoenix school districts that is ignoring the governors order. His stepson is vaccinated. But he thinks that in an environment right now where the Delta variant is spreading so rapidly, I think it would make sense, to require masks in schools, he told VOA.

Texas has also banned mask and vaccine mandates. Under Texas law, schools in the state do not even need to tell parents if there has been an outbreak of COVID-19 in a school.

The Dallas Independent School district started school August 16. It is ignoring the Texas governors order and requiring masking. The district said on its website that the governors order does not establish reasonable and necessary safety rules for its teachers, workers and students.

About 40 percent of new COVID-19 cases in the United States have come from Texas and Florida. Texas Governor Greg Abbot and Floridas DeSantis have both resisted efforts to prevent the spread of the virus since the pandemic started. Both are close allies of former President Donald Trump. Both are considering running in the 2024 presidential election.

Michael Steele is the former chairman of the Republican National Committee. He told The Washington Post that Abbot, DeSantis and other Republican governors are making a political bet on the lives of the people they serve.

Few school districts are planning for a return to online or hybrid learning, though the number is growing. Hybrid learning includes a mix of both online and in-person classes.

The publication Education Week, found that 20 percent of school district leaders questioned said they will have hybrid models. That is up from 10 percent a month earlier. Less than one percent of school leaders say they are planning for full-time remote learning.

Lee, the parent in Florida, said her young children struggled at times while learning remotely. She said she hopes the masks will help prevent an outbreak.

Weve learned that its probably better for them to be in school, Lee said.

She added, Its interesting to me that last year in this time we were remote learning, and now (the virus is) worse and it affects younger kids more, so we are sending them to school.

Im just worried about the spread.

Im Dan Novak.

And I'm John Russell.

Dan Novak wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

Quiz - School Districts Ignore States Bans on Face Covering Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_______________________________________________________

Words in This Story

variant  n. different in some way from others of the same kind

district  n. an area or section of a country, city, or town

soul-searching  n. the activity of thinking seriously about your feelings and beliefs in order to make a decision or to understand the reasons for your own behavior

relieved  adj. feeling relaxed and happy because something difficult or unpleasant has been stopped, avoided, or made easier

board  n. a group of people who manage or direct a company or organization

stepson  n. your wife's or husband's son by a past marriage or relationship

rapid  adj. fast; quick

outbreak  n. a sudden start or increase of fighting or disease

bet  n. an agreement in which people try to guess what will happen and the person who guesses wrong has to give something (such as money) to the person who guesses right

remote  adj. connected to a computer system from another place
WASHINGTON (AP)  Since the Taliban seized the Afghan capital on Aug. 14, more than 82,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan in one of the largest U.S. airlifts in history. While the pace has picked up in recent days, its still a chaotic scramble as people seek to escape. Afghans trying to reach the Kabul airport face a gauntlet of danger, and there are far more who want to leave than will be able to do so. Those who do make it out will face the many challenges of resettlement, either in the U.S. or somewhere else.
ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP)  Igor Vovkovinskiy, the tallest man in the United States, has died in Minnesota. He was 38.

His family said the Ukrainian-born Vovkovinskiy died of heart disease on Friday at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. His mother, Svetlana Vovkovinska, an ICU nurse at Mayo, initially posted about his death on Facebook.

Vovkovinskiy came to the Mayo Clinic in 1989 as a child seeking treatment. A tumor pressing against his pituitary gland caused it to secrete abnormal levels of growth hormone. He grew to become the tallest man in the U.S. at 7 feet, 8.33 inches and ended up staying in Rochester.

His older brother, Oleh Ladan of Brooklyn Park, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that Vovkovinskiy was a celebrity when he arrived from Ukraine because of his size and the flickering Cold War of the late 1980s. But Ladan said Vovkovinskiy "would have rather lived a normal life than be known."

Vovkovinskiy appeared on "The Dr. Oz Show" and was called out by President Barack Obama during a campaign rally in 2009, when the president noticed him near the stage wearing a T-shirt that read, "World's Biggest Obama Supporter." In 2013, he carried the Ukrainian contestant onto the stage to perform in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Ken Smith wipes the sweat off of Firebug as they finish a ride at Hells Gate State Park earlier this week in Lewiston. Smith is training Firebug to be a performance horse who will follow in the hoofprints of her mother that placed second at the Pendleton Roundup, competing in barrel racing a
Thank you to sponsors The Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce would like to thank Explore Lompoc for being the Title Sponsor of the annual event, as well as event sponsors Hancock College, Union Bank, SB Foundation, and Lompoc Valley Medical Center. Additional thanks go to Vilay Saikeo of Savory & Sweet Eats, and local businesses who donated and contributed to the event: Sweetzer and Temperance Cellars, Pacific Beverage, Aramark and Lopez Flower Farms.

Six local leaders were recognized last week at the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet for their outstanding contributions and philanthropic response to the needs of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The six honorees named in five different sectors were: Kim Blea, owner of Tom's Hamburger (small business); Bree Valla, deputy superintendent for Lompoc Unified School District (education); Lompoc Valley Medical Center COVID-19 vaccination team (health care); Aaron and Alix Crocker, owners of Lompoc Grocery Outlet (retail); and Shelby Wild, executive director of Route One Farmers Market, and Jamie Diggs partner services manager with the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County (nonprofit).

"We pivoted and changed the structure of the awards to highlight those people who went above and beyond during the pandemic," said new Chamber CEO and President Devika Stalling, who replaced Amber Wilson on June 16.

The banquet was attended by 130 members of the community, local leaders Mayor Jenelle Osborne, City Manager Jim Throop, council members Jeremy Ball and Gilda Cordova, as well as representatives from the office of Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham and Congressman Salud Carbajal.

Stalling, who had been named 2020 Woman of the Year for her years of work with the local Boys & Girls Club, explained that the deadline to accept nominations for Man and Woman of the Year came and went without submissions, so instead of canceling the annual event, an ad-hoc committee was assembled to select six standout honorees for this year's awards banquet.

Vaccination rates low, COVID-19 cases high in northern, central Santa Barbara County The northern and central areas of Santa Barbara County are experiencing much lower vaccination rates and higher COVID-19 case rates during the latest surge than in the southern portion, with public health officials continuing to urge vaccination.

"This year has been challenging for many of us, but one thing is for sure, we couldn't have done it without each other," Stalling said. "These amazing individuals remind us that action leads to great impact, and I am so grateful that they are a part of our village.

An overwhelming ovation was given to the Lompoc Valley Medical Center's COVID-19 vaccination team, who were honored for their quick and dedicated response during the pandemic.

The team  comprised of physicians, volunteers, registered nurses and medical assistants who over the past eight months were responsible for administering over 24,000 vaccine doses to members of the community, and some days up to 400 people, according to Stalling  were recognized for their steadfastness during the COVID-19 crisis. The organization as a whole also was honored.

"Many of them worked the vaccination clinics in addition to their own daily workloads," said Stalling, awarding Melinda DeHoyos, Chad Signorelli and Martin Kaper the honor on behalf of the LVMC team.

"It's an incredible opportunity that were able to provide this service to the community," DeHoyos said. "It was an honor to put this together. The amount of people that came in and were so grateful to get the vaccine was truly touching. This was definitely a team effort."

Also recognized were Aaron and Alix Crocker, owners of local retailer Lompoc Grocery Outlet, who got a rise from attendees at the mention of the Crockers' Instagram fame.

Lompoc Valley Medical offering third COVID shot to immunocompromised population The FDA emergency on Aug. 12 amended the authorization for a third dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to be made available to those with moderate to severe immune compromise.

"They're not only known for their hilarious Instagram videos but their desire to give," said Chamber board member Caitlin Boyle, who presented the award.

Boyle acknowledged the Crockers' "Independence From Hunger" food drive campaign, held each year since 2015, that raised $34,000 in 2020.

" ... and this year, despite the lingering effects of the pandemic, they were able to raise over $37,000, which will stay right here in Lompoc," Boyle said.

The Crockers' desire to support the community didn't stop at that, according to Boyle, who described the efforts of the husband/wife duo. To keep the community fed during the pandemic, the couple assembled affordable, prepackaged LompocGO bags and also pulled together and offered "essential bags" via curbside pickup. They even delivered the bags filled with basic supplies to members of the community who were unable to make their way to the store, Boyle said.

"They never closed or adjusted their hours," she said. "They worked tirelessly."

Recognized in the nonprofit sector were both Diggs and Wild, who admitted being shocked by the news.

+2 Lompoc Chamber CEO Amber Wilson exits role, welcomes new leadership Wilson reported that her last day at the Lompoc Chamber was July 2, although she has agreed to stay on staff remotely through mid-September to assist with the transition of personnel.

"It's incredible to be recognized, but so completely unexpected," Wild said. "It was a privilege to provide a service during a time when so many things were unavailable and shut down and so many people were scared. It felt special and was an honor to be able to make connections with people during that time."

Wild's nonprofit, Route One Farmers Market, was recognized for remaining open despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

"Shelby led Route One through the resulting restrictions, safety challenges, loss of vendors and transition to curbside contactless pickup, all while remaining relevant and available to the community in a great time of need," said Chamber board member Megan Raff, co-owner of Dare 2 Dream Farms, who presented Wild's award.

Sharing the sector but not an award was Diggs, who accepted the award on behalf of the North County Foodbank team after logging 12-hour days, including weekends, to feed local families during the height of the pandemic.

While holding her award, Diggs said she was "glowing."

"We doubled our [food distribution] pounds with the same amount of staff  and warehouse staff," Diggs said. "I went from one truck to Lompoc High School, and now I have four trucks that deliver food to Lompoc High School. That doesn't include Hancock every Thursday. That's always two trucks for 200 families out there."

Despite the heavy lifting of her team based in Santa Maria, Diggs looked around the banquet and acknowledged the many partnerships in the room.

"All the community here  it's just amazing how many people I know from here that have had a part in that also," she said. "This Lompoc community works together really, really well."

Strauss wind turbines to roll through county en route to Lompoc site Three large transport vehicles will roll along state highways in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties this week, starting Wednesday, to 

+2 Weeklong celebration planned around Landsat satellite launch in September The weeklong celebration planned for September will feature such events as a geo tour coordinated through geocaching.com, a USGS-developed, life-size Landsat 9 model to be displayed at the Lompoc Airport, and hands-on science activities during the launch window of the Sept. 15 late morning launch.
There will be a few people who were holding out for the full approval before getting it, but we don't anticipate those numbers to be as big in Dane County, Finke said. We continue to say that vaccines are safe and effective, and the full licensure really only changes the name.

In Dane County, 71.5% of all residents have received at least one dose of vaccine and 68.4% are fully vaccinated. Of residents who are 12 years and older, 82.6% have received at least one dose of vaccine and 79% have completed the series.

According to data from Aug. 2 through Aug. 15, Public Health Madison & Dane County reported an average of 568 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered per day, up 18% from a low of 480 doses per day four weeks ago.

The FDAs decision comes as local communities across the nation grapple with the latest surge in the coronavirus pandemic stemming from the Delta variant.

In Dane County, cases of COVID-19 rose for four weeks before stabilizing between Aug. 2 through Aug. 15, according to Public Health Madison & Dane County. There were an average of 91 cases per day during this time frame, 3.9% of all COVID-19 tests conducted were positive and PHMDC saw an average of 2,363 tests conducted per day.

Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less.

Abigail Becker | The Capital Times Abigail Becker joined The Capital Times in 2016, where she primarily covers city and county government. She previously worked for the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and the Wisconsin State Journal. Follow Abigail Becker | The Capital Times 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. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
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While neocon hawks like Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney argue that the United States must remain a global police officer, occupying distant lands  including Afghanistan  conservatives of a more isolationist bent, such as Tucker Carlson, are warning against welcoming refugees from Afghanistan with the crude claim of, First we invade, then were invaded.

Pocan rejects each approach as wrongheaded and proposes an enlightened internationalism. He wants to use this moment to begin shaping a new approach to foreign policy that moves the United States away from reactive militarism and toward the diplomatic and humanitarian responses that forge a safer and more secure world.

The former Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair, who now co-chairs the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus, has introduced the COVID Defense Act, a plan to transfer 1.3% of U.S. military spending to global vaccination efforts.

The $9.6 billion shift in spending priorities, while small in the context of the Pentagons $740.5 billion budget, would more than double the amount of money available for vaccine production, procurement and distribution internationally. This move, Pocan explains, could enable perhaps another 30% of the worlds vulnerable population to have access to a COVID-19 vaccine. Doing that would curtail the spread of variants that threaten everyone.
The Republican ploy is consistent with their contempt for democracy. When the voters chose Evers, Republican leaders quickly convened a lame duck legislative session to undercut the will of the voters by changing the powers of the governor. Now they are again showing their disdain for the voters by trying to deny the rightfully elected governor the opportunity to have his appointees serve on the Natural Resources Board. Prehn claims that he can serve until his successor is confirmed by the Senate. However, the Republican controlled Senate has indicated that they have no intention of allowing a vote on confirmation.

The difference in qualifications to make environmental policy between the illicit squatter Prehn and his legally appointed replacement Naas is striking. To know why Prehn was appointed to the board, one only has to look at campaign finance records to see pages and pages of contributions to Republican candidates. His open checkbook to the GOP seems to be his major qualification  and it shows. As Natural Resources Board chair, he has ignored scientific experts and terribly bungled wolf policy in our state.

By contrast, Naas is a scientist who has 30 years of conservation experience as an outdoor educator, chair of the Bayfield County Conservation Congress and owner of an environmental business.
We cant really tell him that he cant check them all out. We were very fearful that they would not return, that they would be damaged when they got back, Kerrigan said. All of the books were returned unharmed within a week, she said.

While he had the books, the childrens display sat empty, she said.

Kerrigan recently graduated from River Ridge High School. She describes herself as a fervent advocate for the LGBTQ community. She said she rarely backs down from confrontation. But she said she went home after work that day angry and crying.

When I got home I told my parents: I dont feel safe at work anymore, she said.

It was very upsetting to have a kid who is never scared  she always says, Theyre not going to scare me, theyre just being a bully, whatever. For her to say, I dont feel safe at work, said Kerrigans mom, Rita Trautsch, that was very scary.

Kerrigan said her fear was heightened because the librarys staff is almost all women.

I was terrified that he would be outside, that there would be a collection of people outside waiting for me, waiting for anyone else, she said. We were terrified.

More outrage
A popular meme circulating on Facebook says, We cant save Afghanistan. We cant even save Florida. There are shining pearls of wisdom encased in that sarcasm.

The news from Afghanistan is heartbreaking  people desperately trying to climb aboard U.S. aircraft, a U.S. Air Force transport crammed with more than 600 lucky Afghans who made it out, female activists frantically scrubbing their digital presence from the web before Taliban thugs see it. The Biden administration deserves to be castigated for its failure to provide a safe exodus for the thousands of Afghans who served American interests over the last two decades.

But critics who insist that the U.S. military should have maintained a substantial presence in Afghanistan are mistaken. Those who seem to believe that we could have built a stable democracy there are delusional. As the Facebook meme suggests, we have vital work to do here at home to save our own democracy. Its not clear we can succeed.

The memes creator was referring to the high rate of COVID-19 infection in Florida, whose Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, has resisted all entreaties to pay attention to science and enforce minimal public health precautions. Trying to out-Trump the former president, DeSantis has gone in the opposite direction  threatening public school districts that try to enforce a mask mandate.
Any time you have stopped that conviction or you have overturned that case, it's a victory, he said.

Federal prosecutors in Southern California have accused Avenatti of cheating five of his clients out of nearly $10 million by negotiating and collecting settlements on their behalf and funneling the payments to accounts he controlled while lying to them about what happened to the money.

In one instance, prosecutors alleged Avenatti collected $4 million from Los Angeles County for a man who suffered injuries in custody and was left paraplegic after a suicide attempt, paying out much smaller amounts that he told the man were advances.

Avenatti, who is suspended from practicing law in California, had pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of wire fraud in connection with the allegations spanning from 2015 to 2019. He denied embezzling money and said his law firm was entitled to recoup expenses if settlements were reached.

The mistrial related to a database used by the firm. Lawrence Rosenthal, a Chapman University law professor, said fully understanding large, complex databases can be challenging when they're created by someone else.

The mistrial was first reported by the legal news service Law360.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Opposing rallies that drew hundreds of people in Portland, Oregon, sparked clashes on Sunday.

The two groups had gathered in different parts of the city after a far-right group changed the location of its event.

The right-wing rally drew about 100 people in a parking lot of a former Kmart store and clashes began as it wound down, KOIN-TV reported. A van tried to drive into the parking lot, but crashed and the driver ran away. Demonstrators then began igniting fireworks and similar devices. It was not immediately clear whether anyone suffered serious injuries.

Later, shots were fired near demonstrators downtown. Dustin Brandon Ferreira, 37, a left-wing activist, told The Oregonian/OregonLive he was with others Sunday evening when a man used a slur against a Black man in the group and then fired multiple rounds in their direction.

Portland police said the man was arrested. No one was injured.

Demonstrations associated with anti-fascists had earlier drawn more than 200 people downtown.
Opinion: Like 90% of Americans, I was in favor of the war in Afghanistan. We were fighting the fight against terrorism and we were going to win.

So, what the hell went wrong?
NSO Group said in a statement that it had not yet seen the report, but questioned Citizen Lab's methods and motives. If NSO receives reliable information related to the misuse of the system, the company will vigorously investigate the claims and act accordingly, the company said.

Citizen Lab found that in some instances the malware infected targeted iPhones without the users taking any action  whats known as a zero-click vulnerability.

Bill Marczak of Citizen Lab said the exploits worked against a recent versions of the iPhone's operating system, adding that there's no indication that the bugs exploited have been fixed."

Ivan Krstic, head of Apple Security Engineering and Architecture, said such attacks are costly and often have a short shelf life. They are not a threat to the overwhelming majority of our users," he said in a statement, adding that Apple constantly adds new protections for its devices and data.

The new report is the latest unwelcome news for NSO Group. The firm was the focus of recent reports by a media consortium that found the companys spyware tool Pegasus was used in several instances of successful or attempted phone hacks of business executives, human rights activists and others around the world.
More than 1.7 million new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Donated blood is a lifesaving gift most healthy people can give. The community is encouraged to donate blood with the American Red Cross on any of the following dates to help those with cancer and many others who need blood:
The three-day hearing that started Monday before Leon County Circuit Judge John C. Cooper pits pro-mask parents against the DeSantis administration and state education officials who contend that parents, not schools, should choose whether their children cover up in classrooms.

The highly contagious delta variant led to an acceleration in cases around Florida and record high hospitalizations just as schools prepared to reopen classrooms this month. By mid-August more than 21,000 new cases were being added per day, compared with about 8,500 a month earlier. The state said 16,820 people were hospitalized on Tuesday, down from a record of more than 17,000 last week.

Dr. Mona Mangat, a St. Petersburg physician who specializes in pediatric immunology, testified Tuesday on behalf of the lawsuit plaintiffs that face coverings remain essential in classrooms because children 12 and under aren't yet eligible to get their shots.

That leaves us with vaccination where we can and masking everybody, Mangat said. Masking of any sort that you can get your hands on is better than no masking.

Other testimony Tuesday featured a Stanford University medical professor and researcher who supports DeSantis and state education officials in contending there's little science to warrant a mask requirement for all students.
Biden understood that the choice was between getting out or being stuck there with no end in sight, and he rightly judged that the former was better for the United States, wrote historian and veteran conservative commentator Daniel Larison. The fact that the Afghan government has lost so much ground so quickly proves that the U.S. failed in building a functioning state that could fend for itself . Far from showing the folly of Bidens decision, it confirms the wisdom of it. A state as rickety and incapable of protecting itself as this one would not have been saved by delaying withdrawal a few more months or even years.

As Biden said on Saturday, One more year or five more years of U.S. military presence would not have made a difference if the Afghan military cannot or will not hold its own country. And an endless American presence in the middle of another countrys civil conflict was not acceptable to me.

That view also jibes with the sentiments of the most Americans. Hell likely take a hit in the short run as the images of surrender resonate globally  although thats akin to blaming President Gerald Ford for our chaotic final departure from Vietnam in 1975  but the fact remains that the current withdrawal is supported by 70 percent of Americans, including 56 percent of Republicans.

What most Americans appear to understand  even while mostly tuning out the war  is that leaving Afghanistan is basically the least bad option. Theres no point in investing a few more trillion dollars and more American bodies just to keep meeting the definition of insanity, the compulsion to do the same thing over and over again in expectation of a different result. It takes wisdom and political courage to face reality.

Dick Polman, a veteran national political columnist based in Philadelphia and a Writer in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania, writes at DickPolman.net. Email him at dickpolman7@gmail.com.
Prisons have a high prevalence of certain diseases, but an optimal control strategy that administers rapid testing at prison entrances could help reduce disease spread. Credit: Hedi Benyounes on Unsplash

The use of rapid tests to screen for diseases in prisons could enable the diagnosis of asymptomatic individuals and reduce the spread of infection. Victor Riquelme, Pedro Gajardo, and Diego Vicencio (all from the Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria in Chile) recently explored how to optimally control a communicable disease inside a prison population using inexpensive, low-complexity rapid tests that personnel can administer with only basic training. Their results appear in a paper published in the SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization.

Certain diseases are much more prevalent in prisons than in the general population. Overcrowding, high-risk behavior, a higher probability of disease risk factors like depression and drug use, and deficiencies in prison health care systems all contribute to this problem. "This is a general social problem and not only a penitentiary concern," Riquelme said. "Prisons act as reservoirs of diseases, which are subsequently transmitted to the community when inmates are released, or when they are in contact with the outside population like visitors or prison workers."

The current standard for disease detection in prisons is passive and based purely on obvious outward symptoms. A more active application of rapid tests could increase the access of diagnoses for asymptomatic patients, thereby preventing long-term complications and interrupting the chain of disease transmission. But despite these obvious benefits, there is little research on the use of these types of technologies in prison contexts.

Gajardo first became interested in this issue during a collaboration with the Center for Epidemiology and Public Health Policy Studies at the Universidad del Desarrollo in Chile that focused on finding the most cost-effective strategy for the detection of syphilis in prisons. One of the best evaluated policies involved screening the new inmate population with rapid tests upon prison entry, a topic that Riquelme, Gajardo, and Vicencio's recent paper further explores. "We set ourselves the problem of determining the best way to apply this policy," Gajardo said.

The study utilized a simple epidemiological model that represents diseases that people can still catch even if they have already had them before, like meningitis or gonorrhea. "Although this [model] may seem unrealistic for many diseases, it allows us to obtain valuable insights into the structure of the optimal strategy and its dependence in terms of the problem data," Vicencio said. While more realistic models would be necessary to ultimately design real-life polices, this preliminary approach allowed the researchers to identify useful information about the optimal strategy's general properties and the way in which different qualities of a prison environment might impact the strategy.

The authors incorporated this basic epidemiological model into their own model of a prison that screens a certain proportion of new inmates at the entrance. They hoped to find the optimal strategy for rapid testing at the prison's entry point based on both infection reduction and cost-effectiveness. "The decision we aim to optimize is the percentage of new inmates to be screened at each period of time," Gajardo said. "Our objective is to minimize the total costs of this procedure, along with the maintenance cost of infected people inside the prison." Minimized costs could be a powerful draw for prison administrations, making them more likely to adopt the proposed testing strategy.

The model assumes that the size of the prison population does not change, an assumption that can be explained by prison overcrowdingas soon as a space becomes vacant, it is filled by a new inmate. The screening test has a certain true positive rate, and anyone who tests positive receives immediate treatment for the identified disease. However, a certain proportion of infected individuals do still enter the prison: Those for whom treatment did not work, those who received a false negative test result, and those who were not tested.

According to this simplified model, the optimal strategy is to switch between applying a screening at maximum capacity at the prison's entry and not screening at all; it is never best to operate at a partial testing capacity. "To apply the rapid test to an intermediary percentage, say 60 percent, is never optimal," Riquelme said. "This is a bang-bang strategy, a strategy that only considers possible extreme values."

The question then becomes when to switch from full testing to no testing and vice versa. "Surprisingly to us, we found that there are situationsdepending on the problem datawhere it is not optimal to start screening at maximum capacity," Riquelme said. "It is better to wait a bit and then apply the maximum screening capacity." Many different parameters impact the decision of when and how frequently to test prison entrants, including contagion and recovery rates; test sensitivity; the rate at which inmates enter and exit the prison; and the costs of screening, treating, and holding infected individuals within the prison.

Further research could build upon these preliminary results to define more elaborate testing strategies while also accounting for some additional specifics of the prison environment. "Our work may help to design the application schedule of rapid tests at the entrance," Gajardo said. "Nevertheless, for a real application, more complex models that are tailored to the diseases in question should be considered. Our results can help these studies, providing the general structure of the strategies that should be tested." Ultimately, this study indicates that rapid testing is a worthwhile method for facilitating access to disease diagnosis and treatment in prisons; future efforts could put it into practice.

More information: Pedro Gajardo et al, Optimal Control of Diseases in Prison Populations through Screening Policies of New Inmates, SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization (2021). Pedro Gajardo et al, Optimal Control of Diseases in Prison Populations through Screening Policies of New Inmates,(2021). DOI: 10.1137/20M1378582
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Brunei reported two coronavirus deaths Tuesday, the first fatalities from COVID-19 in the Southeast Asian nation in over a year as it battles a fresh outbreak.

An 85-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man, both Bruneians, died after contracting lung infections following their admission to a quarantine centre this month, the health ministry said.

It brings the total virus deaths in the sultanate on Borneo island to five since the start of the pandemic.

The country, home to about 450,000 people, reported its last COVID-19 death in June last year.

Brunei introduced fresh curbs in August after seeing its first local infections for 15 months.

Authorities have closed cinemas and places of worship, banned dining in at restaurants and barred people from leaving their homes except for essential reasons.

Another 110 new virus cases were recorded Tuesday, taking total infections to 1,983 since the beginning of the pandemic.

Brunei's outbreak remains small compared to other parts of Southeast Asia, which are battling fierce virus waves driven by the Delta variant.

Explore further Brunei clamps down after first local virus cases in 15 months

 2021 AFP
An Israeli soldier conducts a COVID-19 antibody test on a child in Hadera, Israel, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Ahead of the opening of the school year on Sept. 1, the Israeli army's Home Front Command is conducting serology tests on children age 3-12 who have not yet tested positive for coronavirus and are not yet listed as recovered, to see if they have antibodies. Credit: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

New daily coronavirus infections in Israel are approaching record levels, despite the country's largely successful vaccination campaign and the recent rollout of the world's first widespread booster shot.

The spread of the virus has been driven by a surge in the delta varianteven among the vaccinatedand sparked talk of crackdowns on gatherings ahead of the holiest days of the Jewish calendar.

The government recorded 9,831 new cases on Monday, the highest single-day figure since Jan. 18, when 10,118 new cases were detected, Israel's record for the pandemic.

In between, Israel led one of the world's fastest vaccination drives that seemed to turn the tide on the pandemic. A low of a dozen new cases on May 22 kicked off what was expected to be a go-go summer of tourism, concerts and the giddy return of crowds to Israel's restaurants and outdoor marketplaces.

"Who's coming to Israel this summer?!" beckoned Tourist Israel, a popular travel site, on Twitter on June 21. It posted a watermelon popsicle over a photo of Tel Aviv's seaside skyline.

Not many tourists, as it turns out. The same day, the government registered 125 new cases, more than double the previous day's count of 49, a snapshot of the spike that's continued since then.

An Israeli soldier conducts a COVID-19 antibody test on a child in Hadera, Israel, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Ahead of the opening of the school year on Sept. 1, the Israeli army's Home Front Command is conducting serology tests on children age 3-12 who have not yet tested positive for coronavirus and are not yet listed as recovered, to see if they have antibodies. Credit: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

The government soon indefinitely postponed the Aug. 1 target date for reopening the country to foreign tourists, a gut punch to the industry that has suffered a more than 80% drop in incoming visitors during the pandemic. Officials began to issue dire warnings about the return to school and the possibility of new restrictions during the Jewish High Holidays that begin in September.

Mandatory masks and green passports, which had been lifted as infections bottomed out in May, are again required to enter public indoor spaces.

More than 5.9 million of Israel's 9.3 million people have received at least a single dose of vaccine, and the government's data show the shots help people avoid severe illness. A disproportionate number of people hospitalized in serious condition are unvaccinated. And morbidity remains lower than at Israel's peak.

Still, officials have pointed to evidence that the initial round of vaccines become less effective over time.

The surge of infections, said one specialist, is "not entirely unexpected," but human behavior helped fuel it.

An Israeli soldier conducts a COVID-19 antibody test on a child in Hadera, Israel, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Ahead of the opening of the school year on Sept. 1, the Israeli army's Home Front Command is conducting serology tests on children age 3-12 who have not yet tested positive for coronavirus and are not yet listed as recovered, to see if they have antibodies. Credit: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

"When the rates went very much down, we didn't reach herd immunity," said epidemiologist Manfred Green of the University of Haifa's school of public health. "But we acted as if we had reached herd immunity."

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Sunday that research is showing a rise in infections among a perhaps unexpected segment of the population: Israelis of middle age who received two shots near the beginning of the year, but not a booster.

"This is because they are going around with the sense that they are protected," Bennett told his Cabinet. "They do not understand that the second dose erodes over time against the delta strain and that they must be inoculated with the third dose quickly."

Late last month, Israel began offering booster shots to its people. Beginning with its oldest citizens, that effort has expanded to include anyone over the age of 30 and select others, including health care workers and teachers of all ages.

Almost 1.6 million people have received the third shot, according to the Health Ministry. Early indications are that the booster is helping.

An Israeli soldier conducts a COVID-19 antibody test on a boy in Hadera, Israel, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Ahead of the opening of the school year on Sept. 1, the Israeli army's Home Front Command is conducting serology tests on children age 3-12 who have not yet tested positive for coronavirus and are not yet listed as recovered, to see if they have antibodies. If a child tests positive for coronavirus antibodies, they can be issued a "green pass," allowing them to attend classes in-person. Credit: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

Ran Balicer, an epidemiologist who heads the Clalit Research Institute, which is affiliated with the country's largest health insurer, wrote on Twitter on Tuesday that while "the rise in serious cases has yet to be fully halted" in recent weeks, "without a doubt there is a change in the trend of defending the vaccinated thanks to the booster."

The drive for third jabs comes despite the World Health Organization's appeal for wealthy countries like Israel to share their vaccines with poor nations that have not yet inoculated their citizens. Several other countries, including the United States and Hungary, as well as nations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, are already offering or planning to offer COVID-19 booster shots.

Over the course of the pandemic, Israel has come under criticism for being slow to share vaccines with the Palestinians.

It has vaccinated its own Arab population, including Palestinians in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem. But it has only shared limited supplies with the West Bank.

The Palestinians withdrew from an agreement to accept vaccines from Israel in an exchange earlier this summer, saying the medicines were too close to expiring. The Palestinians received a boost on Monday with the delivery of 500,000 Moderna vaccines donated by the U.S. government.

People wait to have their children tested for a COVID-19 antibody test in Hadera, Israel, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Ahead of the opening of the school year on Sept. 1, the Israeli army's Home Front Command is conducting serology tests on children age 3-12 who have not yet tested positive for coronavirus and are not yet listed as recovered, to see if they have antibodies. If a child tests positive for coronavirus antibodies, they can be issued a "green pass," allowing them to attend classes in-person. Credit: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

Bennett this week dangled the incentive of holding off on new restrictions if people observe safety measures. That way, he said, "we will celebrate the holidays with our families, freely."

Amir Halevi, director general of Israel's Tourism Ministry, said he understands the need for the restrictions. But he said taking a break will mean more difficulties for the struggling industry.

"After the vaccinations, we (had) wonderful momentum to bring back tourists to Israel," he said. Operators, he said, "will survive because in this industry, they are very optimistic."

He said the government, for now, is promoting domestic tourism to help the industry survive this period of volatility. The crash caused by the pandemic, he said, came on the heels of a record-breaking 2019, when nearly 4.6 million foreign tourists visited the country.

Over at Tourist Israel, a blog asks: "When will travel to Israel resume?" It promises: "We've got your back with updates and inspiration to dream up adventures to come!"

An Israeli soldier conducts a COVID-19 antibody test on a child in Hadera, Israel, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Ahead of the opening of the school year on Sept. 1, the Israeli army's Home Front Command is conducting serology tests on children age 3-12 who have not yet tested positive for coronavirus and are not yet listed as recovered, to see if they have antibodies. If a child tests positive for coronavirus antibodies, they can be issued a "green pass," allowing them to attend classes in-person. Credit: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

The posting was updated earlier this week, noting the glum reality.

"The re-opening of Israel for individual tourists has been pushed back to an unconfirmed date," it says. "We do not recommend booking until it is clear what the travel regulations are."

Explore further Israel to begin COVID booster shots for over 30s

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In a large-scale, population-based surveillance conducted in partnership with the City of Santa Ana, researchers at the University of California, Irvine's Program in Public Health found 27% positivity of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among participating Santa Ana residents. This unique study was one of the first to examine household transmission of COVID-19 and to include a pediatric population (ages 5+).

The results of this study, conducted during the 2020-2021 winter surge as part of the city's Santa Ana CARES COVID-19 response efforts, were more than twice the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies as that of a county-wide study, dubbed "actOC," conducted by UCI Public Health researchers in summer 2020 (12%). Both studies highlight the disparities in infection across racial/ethnic groups in one of the largest counties in the U.S.

In addition to finding a greater prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies among adults (28%) and children (26%) than previously expected, the Santa Ana study found disparities in previous infection across racial/ethnic groups including Hispanics (29%), Asians (15%), Whites (12%), and other non-Hispanics (6%). The county-wide actOC study had previously found that Hispanic participants were nearly 50% more likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

These findings may help researchers make predictions and public health administrators and city officials to make policy preparations as the virus continues to mutate into increasingly transmissible variants, vaccine uptake slows in Orange County, and schools manage the return of students to in-person instruction.

"We know that COVID-19 is a disease of disparities, and this research illustrates the disproportionate impact of this devastating disease in areas of high density and those with larger concentrations of essential workers," said Bernadette Boden-Albala, MPH, DrPH, principal investigator of the study, director of UCI's Program in Public Health, and founding dean of the campus' future School of Population and Public Health. "With these findings, public health and city officials will be better able to address the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 as well as future risks to the community's health and well-being."

In communities such as Santa Ana, which is one of the most diverse and densely populated cities in Orange County, it is critical that investigations into the spread of COVID-19 aim to understand patterns of race-ethnic disparities, which raise the question of what social, biological, and environmental factorsalso known as the social determinants of healthinfluence the spread of disease.

"After the pandemic began, it quickly became clear that our residents were being disproportionately affected because of where they work, the size of their households and other factors," Santa Ana Mayor Vicente Sarmiento said. "This study has helped shine a light on just how great that disparity is and how urgent it is that we vaccinate our community against COVID-19."

Informing public health strategies

The study was made possible through funds from the federal CARES Act received by the City of Santa Ana and approved by the Santa Ana City Council. Results will enable leaders across the county to identify key demographics at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and could help develop more effective public health strategies, such as:



Equitable vaccine distribution policies that prioritize those who have the highest likelihood of transmission and infection,

Consideration of essential workers and other individuals who can't work from home and the impacts of disease transmission within their own households,

Community-based interventions that address ongoing vaccine hesitancy, including within communities with higher prevalence of infection, and

Partnerships with local organizations and community health workers who are the appropriate individuals to present culturally organized information on the importance of infection mitigation efforts, vaccine campaigns and other health-related topics.

An equity-driven process

To recruit a truly representative sample of Santa Ana residents, the study enrolled around 3,200 people randomly selected from 54 census blocks and contacted via U.S. mail, door-to-door outreach, social media marketing and the deployment of bilingual community health workers. These efforts were conducted in partnership with community organization Latino Health Access.

Three schoolsSanta Ana High School, Valley High School and Saddleback High Schooland Centennial Park served as drive-through testing sites staffed by community health workers hired by UCI Public Health. Surveys were conducted in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Blood samples were collected via finger pinprick and analyzed using technology developed by the Vaccine Research and Development Center on campus. Individual results were mailed within 2-3 weeks of the test site visit.

In addition to racial/ethnic disparities, findings also showed disparities across zip codes with 92701, 92703, and 92704 containing the highest prevalence of previous infection. Among adults with COVID-19 antibodies, nearly one-third worked outside the home and one-third did not worka finding that highlights the increased occupational risk for essential workers who can't work from home and the likelihood that their household members are also at higher risk for infection.

Potential impact

Few studies have examined the impacts of COVID-19 and social determinants of health, specifically in a Hispanic population. Orange County, with its racial/ethnic diversity and large income gap, serves as a prime example of why it's so important to look at the spread of disease at the community level to better allocate resources and implement effective policies. Santa Ana, the county's second largest city with a 77% Hispanic population, disproportionately bore the burden of COVID-19.

"Some of our work early in the local epidemic suggested that Hispanic or Latino folks were more likely to be exposed to the virus, and that cases were clustering in zip codes in Santa Ana," said Daniel Parker, Ph.D., assistant professor of public health and researcher on the study. "This project allowed us to really zoom our focus in on communities in Santa Ana to try to tease out what was going on with transmission in these settings. Were these patterns a result of geographic clustering of essential workers in Santa Ana? Or was there also a lot of within-household transmission going on in this setting?"

This study is the first of its size to examine transmission of COVID-19 in children ages 5 and older in a majority Hispanic community in which many residents worked in sectors deemed "essential" during stay-at-home orders.

While there is still much to learn about COVID-19, including how long antibodies last, findings from this study play an important role in informing community-driven programs and policies. Community-based efforts are needed to boost vaccine rates and reduce hesitancy, especially those operating through the lens of health equity.

Results were published in Scientific Reports.

Explore further Study finds disparities in Orange County rates of COVID-19 infection and mortality

More information: Tim A. Bruckner et al, Estimated seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among adults in Orange County, California, Scientific Reports (2021). Journal information: Scientific Reports Tim A. Bruckner et al, Estimated seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among adults in Orange County, California,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82662-x
(HealthDay)"Off-label" use of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine in children younger than 12 is "not appropriate," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Monday. Off-label use refers to an approved medicine being used in ways or in patients it's not FDA-approved for.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also "strongly discourages" such use.

On Monday, the vaccine was fully approved for use in people 16 and older. It also has emergency use authorization for use in people as young as 12, but it is still is not cleared for use in younger children.

"We do not have data on the proper dose nor do we have full data on the safety in children younger than what is in the EUA [emergency use authorization]," Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said Monday.

"So, that would be a great concern that people would vaccinate children because we don't have the proper dose and we don't have the safety data, nor do we have all the efficacy data, as well," Woodcock said, CNN reported. "We are not recommending that children younger than age 12 be vaccinated with this vaccine. It would not be appropriate."

While many parents want to get their younger children vaccinated, Woodcock pointed out that children "are not just small adults."

"We really would have to have the data and the appropriate dose before recommending that children be vaccinated," she explained.

"The clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 11 years old and younger are underway, and we need to see the data from those studies before we give this vaccine to younger children," AAP President Dr. Lee Savio Beers said in a statement Monday.

The adult vaccine dose is much higher than doses being tested in younger children and the AAP "strongly discourages" off-label use of the vaccine in children younger than 12, the statement read.

Pfizer has said it expects to have vaccine trial data on children ages 5 to 11 by the end of September, and data for children ages 2 to 5 could be available shortly after, CNN reported.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are also conducting trials of their vaccines in children, CNN reported.

As of last week, the AAP had reported 180,000 new cases of COVID-19 among children and adolescents. So far, about 8.5 million, or 34% of all adolescents, are fully vaccinated.

More information: Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for more on the Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for more on the Pfizer vaccine approval.

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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The majority of patients who contracted COVID-19 while in hospital did so from other patients rather than from healthcare workers, concludes a new study from researchers at the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke's Hospital.

The study provides previously unprecedented detail on how infections might spread in a hospital context, showing that a minority of individuals can cause most of the transmission.

The researchers analyzed data from the first wave of the pandemic, between March and June 2020. While a great deal of effort is made to prevent the spread of viruses within hospital by keeping infected and non-infected individuals apart, this task is made more difficult during times when the number of infections is high. The high level of transmissibility of the virus and the potential for infected individuals to be asymptomatic both make this task particularly challenging.

Looking back at data from the first wave, researchers identified five wards at Addenbrooke's Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust, where multiple individuals, including patients and healthcare workers, tested positive for COVID-19 within a short space of time, suggesting that a local outbreak might have occurred.

Using new statistical methods that combine viral genome sequence data with clinical information about the locations of individuals, the researchers identified cases where the data were consistent with transmission occurring between individuals in the hospital. Looking in detail at these transmission events highlighted patterns in the data.

The results of the study, published today in eLife, showed that patients who were infected in the hospital were mostly infected by other patients, rather than by hospital staff. Out of 22 cases where patients were infected in hospital, 20 of these were the result of the virus spreading from patients to other patients

Dr. Chris Illingworth, a lead author on the study, who carried out his research while at Cambridge's MRC Biostatistics Unit, said: "The fact that the vast majority of infections were between patients suggests that measures taken by hospital staff to prevent staff transmitting the virus to patients, such as the wearing of masks, were likely to have been effective.

"But it also highlights why it is important that patients themselves are screened for COVID-19 regularly, even if asymptomatic, and wear face masks where possible."

The study found contrasting results among healthcare workers, who were almost as likely to be infected by patients as they were by other healthcare workers. This was one piece of evidence that motivated the decision to upgrade the respiratory protection worn by healthcare workers in COVID-19 wards at CUH. A recent Cambridge study indicated that this resulted in staff being better protected against catching COVID-19.

The researchers also found a trend towards individuals either infecting no one else, or infecting multiple other peoplejust over a fifth of patients (21%) caused 80% of the infections. This phenomenon is sometimes called 'superspreading' and can make infection control very challenging. Whether or not an individual can be identified in advance as being more or less likely to pass on the virus is an ongoing topic of research.

Dr. William Hamilton, an infectious diseases clinician at CUH and co-lead author on the study said: "Preventing new cases of hospital-based infection is a critical part of our work. Here we have shown that analyzing clinical and viral genome sequence data can produce insights that inform infection control measures, which are so important for protecting patients and healthcare workers alike."

More information: Christopher JR Illingworth et al, Superspreaders drive the largest outbreaks of hospital onset COVID-19 infections, eLife (2021). Journal information: eLife Christopher JR Illingworth et al, Superspreaders drive the largest outbreaks of hospital onset COVID-19 infections,(2021). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.67308
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Israel has one of the highest COVID vaccination rates in the world, having fully vaccinated 78% of people 12 years and over.

Many people are surprised at the country's resurgence of COVID cases since restrictions were lifted in June.

Israel's vaccination rate is similar to Australia's plan to start relaxing restrictions when 70% of over-16s are fully vaccinated.

So, why are cases surging in Israel? And what can Australia learn from it, particularly as Sydney charts its path out of the pandemic?

Let's break it down.

Herd immunity is much harder with Delta

Around 25% of Israel's population is younger than 12, so the whole population vaccination rate is only about 60% (including a small proportion of children under 12 with high-risk medical conditions who've also been vaccinated).

Even with last year's virus and the use of the Pfizer vaccine, that wouldn't be enough for herd immunity.

The Delta variant, which has swept the world since April, is much more contagious. It has an R0 of 6.4, which means one infected person on average infects more than six others in the absence of restrictions and vaccinations. This is compared to the strain circulating in 2020, responsible for Melbourne's second wave, which had an R0 of 2.5.

In Israel, 60% of hospitalized cases are vaccinated. This is something called the "paradox of vaccination"in highly vaccinated populations, most cases will be in the vaccinated because no vaccine is 100% protective.

However, the rate of serious cases in Israel is double for unvaccinated under-60s and nine times higher for unvaccinated over-60s, so vaccines remain highly protective against severe outcomes.

NEW: Orange line shows COVID infections among unvaccinated 70+ citizens in Israel. Blue line shows COVID infections among vaccinated 70+ citizens. It couldn't be starker. Among the triple vaccinated, the pandemic comes to a virtual halt. Graph from @GazitDoron. pic.twitter.com/tPt6UKupUH  Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) August 20, 2021

Lifting restrictions too quickly

What's clear in Israel (and the United Kingdom and United States) is lifting all movement restrictions and mask mandates after Delta arrived resulted in surging cases. Current vaccines at about 60% uptake weren't enough.

In the US, Southern states with lower vaccination rates are seeing the worst surges, with the majority hospitalized being unvaccinated. Alabama, with 36% fully vaccinated (higher than Australia) is overwhelmed. Hospitals and ICUs are full and the health workforce is in crisis due to infected and quarantined health workers.

It provides a glimpse of what Sydney faces if we lift restrictions without the population being adequately vaccinated.

And that includes children. In Texas, pediatric ICUs are full and children cannot get beds. This is another warning that we must urgently vaccinate children, at least those 12 years and over, before lifting restrictions.

In Australia, the 70% vaccination rate at which the federal government proposes to begin easing restrictions corresponds to about 56% of the total population vaccinated.

It was modeled on 30 cases at the start of a new outbreak. With Sydney likely facing daily new cases in the 1000s (with no change in strategy), the outcomes could be much worse than anticipated.

Let's recap

So the situation in Israel is caused by several factors:

the Delta variant has some ability to escape the protection offered by vaccines, and the protection seems to wane a bit over time after two doses

premature lifting of restrictions

the herd immunity threshold required for Delta is higher, likely over 80% of the whole population, not the 60% achieved in Israel

over 70% of infections with Delta arise from asymptomatic transmission, which makes it harder to control

cases of Delta breakthrough infection in vaccinated people can be as infectious as in unvaccinated people (though viral load declines faster in vaccinated people).

Reasons for optimism

There's a good news story in one of the most highly vaccinated cities in the US, San Francisco, where over 70% of the whole population has been vaccinated and cases are starting to decline.

This is also likely due to the reintroduction of layered social measures such as mask mandates.

Israel has reintroduced a green-pass system of proof of vaccination or a negative test for anyone three years or over accessing public indoor spaces. It has also started vaccinating over-50s with a third dose booster.

It seems a third dose dramatically boosts immunity, even in people with weakened immune systems. The US will soon start offering a third dose for everyone.

Many vaccines require three doses for full protection, and it's too early to know what the final primary immunization schedule will be. We may end up needing three doses plus regular boosters, or more effective spacing of two doses.

There's reason to be optimistic because the vaccine pipeline isn't static. We'll have vaccines updated to tackle Delta and other variants in time, which will raise their efficacy and lower the herd immunity threshold.

What about children?

In addition to crippling outbreaks of Delta in schools, new data shows kids 03 years old transmit to adults more than older children.

Ultimately, vaccination of children will be required to fully control SARS-CoV-2, or it will become a pandemic of the young, with unknown long-term, generational health effects for our children.

COVID has mutated to become more contagious, more vaccine resistant and more deadly. As a result, there's no safe "living with COVID" until at least 80% of the whole population is vaccinated, including boosters or vaccines updated to tackle the Delta variant.

We can live with COVID as we do with measlesoccasional travel-imported outbreaks that never become sustainedwith an ambitious vaccination strategy.

Lifting restrictions with only 60% of the population vaccinated in Australia will result in a resurgence of COVID like Israel, the UK or the US. The health system will be endangered and its workforce will be stricken.

To lift restrictions safely, we should also continue some social interventions such as wearing masks, vaccinating children, ventilating public venues including classrooms, and prioritizing front-line health workers for a third dose booster to protect them and the health system.

There's light at the end of the tunnel. But we need to keep using masks and other restrictions for now, learn from Israel and other countries, protect health workers and hospitals, vaccinate kids, use boosters, await vaccines updated for variants, implement smarter dosing schedules and aim for the most optimal vaccination strategy with equitable vaccine access, everywhere.

Explore further Israel reimposes more restrictions as virus surges

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A major study of health outcomes finds a highly effective vaccine and high total uptake will be required to help mitigate high numbers of COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations and deaths once New Zealand borders are reopened.

COVID-19 vaccine strategies for Aotearoa New Zealand: a mathematical modeling study led by Prof. Colin R Simpson (Victoria University of Wellington), in collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), of the potential effect of New Zealand's vaccination program when borders reopen has been published in The Lancet Regional HealthWestern Pacific.

The modeling looked at various hypothetical scenarios. One scenario predicted that with 10 overseas cases daily and 90% total population vaccine uptake (including zero- to 15-year-olds) with the same vaccine and the targeting high-risk groups, there would be an estimated 11,400 total hospitalisations (peak 324 active and 36 new daily cases in hospitals), and 1,030 total deaths. The modeling is based on a two-year open-border scenario and without public health controls.

The paper suggests a strategy targeting vaccination of high-risk groups will result in lower hospitalisations and deaths, but a higher number of cases compared to a strategy targeting reduced transmission. The modeling excludes the impact of public health controls, including lockdowns, and therefore predicts a greater number of cases.

Prof. Colin R Simpson says the predictions from different vaccination program strategies that were modeled to consider the number of cases, hospitalisations, and deaths over two years with open borders could help support New Zealand's vaccination strategy.

"The aims of the study were to predict how many people do you need to immunize for herd immunity, which age groups should be targeted first and in what order and what the number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths would look like under a number of different vaccine effectiveness, Ro and population coverage".

The modeling found that reaching herd immunity threshold (HIT) based on the infection rate of the Delta variant was almost impossible.

"Based on a 90% Vaccine effectiveness (VE) against disease and 80% VE against infection we would require at least 865% total population uptake (including children) for R0=45 (with high vaccination coverage for 3049-year-olds) but that would jump to 981% uptake for R0=6 (the Delta variant)" said Prof Simpson.

ESR Chief Scientist Dr. Brett Cowan says the results show that vaccinating as many New Zealanders as possible will reduce the risk of widespread community outbreaks and, as a result, vulnerable populations will have a greater chance of protection from severe disease. But other public health and social measures will still be required as part of an effective pandemic response.

"Vaccination modeling has been proved to help anticipate potential public health outcomes based on different vaccine effectiveness reported in clinical trials and 'real-world' studies and vaccination program strategies. While the study was primarily developed with New Zealand in mind, our experience will also provide valuable insights to the international community to inform future actions. "

Andrew Sporle, Department of Statistics, The University of Auckland says it was critical to include strategies to ensure maximum protection for Maori and Pasifika, who are at higher risk for hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

"Prioritizing vaccinations for those most at risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection (including Maori and Pasifika) benefits the whole population as well as protecting those groups. We know that opening the border will result in local cases of COVID. Minimizing the resulting hospitalisations and deaths requires prioritization of those groups and communities most at risk, as Australia and Canada have done. The risk of a border breach before our vaccination delivery is complete means that prioritization must be a focus of the vaccine roll-out and not a catch-up strategy."

Explore further New modeling highlights risk in Australia's national COVID plan

More information: Trung Nguyen et al, COVID-19 vaccine strategies for Aotearoa New Zealand: a mathematical modelling study, The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific (2021). Trung Nguyen et al, COVID-19 vaccine strategies for Aotearoa New Zealand: a mathematical modelling study,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100256

Provided by Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A new clinical approach that reduces the use of mechanical ventilation can greatly improve outcomes for critically ill infants and children, finds a major new UK trial involving UCL researchers.

The Sedation AND Weaning In CHildren (SANDWICH) trial, led by Queen's University Belfast, involved more than 10,000 child and infant admissions to 18 UK pediatric Intensive Care Units.

Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the trialthe largest of its kind in the worldassessed a multicomponent intervention designed to help clinicians safely wean critically ill children off ventilation.

This is a complex process involving several stages that include recognition of patient readiness to begin the weaning process, steps to reduce ventilation while optimizing sedation in order not to induce distress and removing the endotracheal tube.

The 20-month trial found that a greater involvement of nurses, minimizing sedation use and increasing daily testing to assess the child's readiness to come off the ventilator, significantly reduced time on mechanical ventilation.

Compared to the current standard care, the study reported that in children who were expected to be on a ventilator for more than 24 hours, the intervention reduced the time on the mechanical ventilator by an average of six hours.

Furthermore, in all children, regardless of whether they were expected to be on a ventilator for more or less than 24 hours, the intervention reduced the ventilation time by an average of seven hours. Overall, the chances of children having their breathing tube removed successfully was greater.

Trial lead, Bronagh Blackwood, Professor of Critical Care from The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queen's University Belfast, said: "To minimize the risks associated with mechanical ventilation, the sooner children are weaned off the ventilator, the better their outcomes.

"We have shown that nurse-led care, with daily screening to test for readiness to come off the ventilator and reduced sedation, is safe and greatly improved their chances of getting off the ventilator earlier than before."

Annually, in the UK, approximately 20,000 infants and children are treated in a pediatric ICU and, of these, around 12,000 receive mechanical ventilation. Mechanical ventilation is a lifesaving therapy but may involve related risk caused by the breathing tube in the mouth and throat, the sedative drugs needed to reduce anxiety, and remaining confined to bed.

Professor Mark Peters, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Consultant in Intensive Care at GOSH, said: "This is the largest randomized control trial ever undertaken in pediatric intensive care with more than 8,800 critically ill children taking partalmost 2,000 children at GOSH alone.

"To improve the care of the very sickest children in our hospitals, pediatric intensive care teams from across the UK have come together to put bedside nursing at the heart of decision making, and introducing a more structured approach to reducing sedatives and ventilation.

"This trial redefines what is feasible in children's intensive care research."

The trial involved training more than 2,000 doctors and nurses in the new SANDWICH intervention. This resulted in a change in practice for two-thirds of the UK pediatric ICUs for the benefit of infants and children. The success of this quality improvement intervention in changing medical and nursing practice is far reaching for other pediatric ICUs worldwide.

Explore further Use of sedation protocol does not reduce time on ventilator for children

More information: Bronagh Blackwood et al, Effect of a Sedation and Ventilator Liberation Protocol vs Usual Care on Duration of Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Pediatric Intensive Care Units, JAMA (2021). Journal information: Journal of the American Medical Association Bronagh Blackwood et al, Effect of a Sedation and Ventilator Liberation Protocol vs Usual Care on Duration of Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Pediatric Intensive Care Units,(2021). DOI: 10.1001/jama.2021.10296
A new study led by scientists at Gladstone InstitutesMark Petersen (left), Katerina Akassoglou (center), and Reshmi Tognatta (right)identifies a promising therapy that could improve the repair of damaged myelin. Credit: Michael Short/Gladstone Institutes

In the nearly 1 million Americans living with multiple sclerosis, the fatty substance that insulates the nerves of the central nervous systemcalled myelinis damaged. This slows the transmission of signals from their brain to the rest of their body, which causes movement difficulties, vision problems, and cognitive changes.

Clinical trials are currently testing drugs that were shown in lab-based studies to stimulate the production of new myelin. However, in the brains of patients with multiple sclerosis, cells are surrounded by toxic elements from the blood and the immune system that inhibit the repair of damaged myelin, so it remains unclear whether the drugs can be effective in humans.

A new study by scientists at Gladstone Institutes led by Senior Investigator Katerina Akassoglou, Ph.D., shows that many of the drugs currently in trials may not be sufficient to promote repair within these cells' toxic environment and identifies a different treatment option that could improve the repair of myelin. The study, performed in collaboration with UC San Diego and the University of Vienna, Austria, is published in the journal Brain.

"We found a new line of drugs that could potentially be used to stimulate myelin repair even in the presence of toxic blood leaks in the brain," explains Akassoglou, who is also the director of the Center for Neurovascular Brain Immunology at Gladstone and a professor of neurology at UC San Francisco (UCSF).

Blood leaks in the brain prevent repair

Normally, in an attempt to restore insulation to damaged nerves, specialized repair cells in the brain can transform into cells called oligodendrocytes, which produce new myelin.

Drugs in clinical trials are intended to boost this formation of mature oligodendrocytes as a way of increasing myelin production. However, many of these drugs were initially tested on cells grown in laboratory dishes, which didn't account for the fact that in disease, toxic elements are also present in a cell's environment.

In multiple sclerosis, one such element is fibrinogen, a blood-clotting protein that leaks into the brain.

Blood leaks are abundant in the brain and spinal cord of multiple sclerosis patients, and are monitored with brain scans to establish a diagnosis for the disease. Akassoglou and her team previously showed that in multiple sclerosis, fibrinogen leaking into the brain causes inflammation and loss of neurons, and blocks myelin repair.

In this study, the researchers wanted to understand how to overcome fibrinogen's harmful effect. In collaboration with Mark H. Ellisman, Ph.D., director of the National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research (NCMIR) at UC San Diego, they developed an advanced microscopy technique that allows them to combine the high-resolving power and advanced 3D imaging capabilities of electron microscopy with light opticsbased imaging inside a living mouse's spinal cord.

"We can image blood leaks and track repair cells in real-time, visualizing the structure of myelin at exactly the same sites, all in the same specimen," says Reshmi Tognatta, Ph.D., a scientist in Akassoglou's lab and one of the first authors of the study.

The researchers found that in mouse models of multiple sclerosis, the repair cells were clustering at sites of blood leaks in the brain, where fibrinogen is present. But instead of transforming into myelin-producing cells, they transformed into astrocytes, a type of cell that produces scar tissue.

"We now understand that fibrinogen blocks the production of myelin by causing a chain of events that prevents the repair cells from transforming into myelin producers, forcing them instead to turn into cells that can make scar tissue," says Tognatta. "Fibrinogen determines the cells' fate."

When fibrinogen (yellow) leaks into the brain, it blocks repair cells (magenta) from producing new myelin, shown here in a spinal cord lesion. Credit: Reshmi Tognatta

Possible new drug to repair myelin

The team decided to test whether the clinical trial drugs could overcome the detrimental effect caused by fibrinogen. To do so, they developed a new method to screen the drugs in the presence of fibrinogen, mimicking the inhibitory environment around the repair cells. The new assay was designed to test not only the production of new myelin, but also the formation of damaging cells in brain lesions.

"Fibrinogen puts repair cells on a derailed path, stopping myelin production," says Akassoglou. "We can now screen, in a single assay, the efficacy of drugs to put the cells back on track for myelin repair. Our new assay is ideal for the discovery of drugs that overcome the toxic lesion environment."

The scientists showed that while the trial drugs may increase myelin repair in a normal environment, they were not effective when fibrinogen was present.

"None of the drugs we tested could reverse the effect of fibrinogen," says the other first author of the study, Mark Petersen, MD, a visiting scientist in Akassoglou's lab and an associate professor of neonatology at UCSF.

The team then tested other compounds to see if any of them could increase the production of myelin even in the presence of fibrinogen. They identified one small molecule that could not only make the repair cells turn into myelin-producing oligodendrocytes, but could also stop them from becoming scar-producing astrocytes. They treated two different mouse models of multiple sclerosis with this compound, and discovered that it increased the production of myelin and prevented paralysis in these mice.

"This compound completely overcame the effect of fibrinogen and restored myelin repair around leaky blood vessels," says Petersen. "Even if the treatment started after they were already sick, the mice improved and we saw signs that the myelin was repairing faster and there was less damage to their nervous system."

Similar compounds to the one used by the scientists are being tested in clinical trials for other indications, and so far, they appear to be safe. These compounds could potentially be repurposed and tested in multiple sclerosis patients much sooner than new drugs that still must go through an extensive development process.

Beyond multiple sclerosis

The small molecule identified by Gladstone researchers could be combined with other available drugs to help better repair myelin. The team's findings could also provide clinicians with a new option to enhance the production of myelin in the presence of a leaky blood-brain barrier in multiple sclerosis.

And, beyond those diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the study could help a much larger group of patients with other diseases.

"The disruption of blood vessels and deposits of fibrinogen link many neurological diseases, from multiple sclerosis to neonatal brain injuryso a discovery in one area gives us a lot of insight into other disease processes," says Petersen, who takes care of infants in the intensive care nursery. "I'm now applying our findings and the tools we developed to the study of the developing brain."

There is also growing evidence that myelin damage plays a role in normal aging as well as Alzheimer's disease. Indeed, Akassoglou's team has spearheaded studies that identify fibrinogen as a new culprit for cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Akassoglou and Ellisman also recently expanded their collaboration in Alzheimer's disease research with the support of a new grant.

"It's crucial to take into account the blood leaks in the diseased brain in order to design treatments that can benefit a broad set of patients," says Akassoglou. "We discovered that fibrinogen gains access to the diseased brain, acting as a gas pedal for toxic inflammation and as a break for repair. We are continuing to investigate its deleterious effects in the brain in hopes that we can develop effective therapies for multiple sclerosis and other devastating neurological diseases."

"Identifying and blocking the mechanisms by which fibrinogen contributes to major diseases of the brain and spinal cord is an important objective for us and the field at large," says Lennart Mucke, MD, director of the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease. "Dr. Akassoglou's research program has pioneered this mission andthrough this groundbreaking studyhas opened new avenues for the development of urgently needed novel therapeutics."

Explore further Blood-clotting protein prevents repair in the brain

More information: Mark A Petersen et al, BMP receptor blockade overcomes extrinsic inhibition of remyelination and restores neurovascular homeostasis, Brain (2021). Journal information: Brain Mark A Petersen et al, BMP receptor blockade overcomes extrinsic inhibition of remyelination and restores neurovascular homeostasis,(2021). DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab106
A recent poll shows that a majority of Americans support vaccine mandates for travel on airplanes, at crowded public events and in bars and restaurants. Credit: AP-NORC

As COVID-19 cases quickly rise throughout the United States, most Americans support vaccine mandates for crowded events, air travel, health care professionals and workers that interact with the public, according to a new poll from the Associated Press and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

While worries about the COVID-19 virus have grown as cases of the Delta variant rise throughout the country, precautionary measures including mask wearing and social distancing have not returned to the levels seen before vaccines were widely available. Confidence in the vaccines to withstand the variants has not waned, either.

Concerns about contracting the coronavirus are at their highest level since January, with 41% of Americans saying they are extremely or very worried that they or a member of their family would become infected. This is up from 21% in June, the lowest level of concern since the beginning of the pandemic.

Confidence in vaccine effectiveness against new variants has remained largely unchanged since last month. Democrats, older Americans and the vaccinated remain more confident in the vaccines than other Americans.

Despite increased concern about contracting COVID-19, Americans' precautionary habits have remained largely unchanged since June. At least half continue to stay away from large groups, wear face masks when around people outside their home, and avoid nonessential travel. Vaccinated Americans are more likely to maintain these habits than the unvaccinated.

Fifty-five percent of adults support requiring Americans to wear face masks when they're around other people outside their homes, while 26% oppose. Democrats are more likely to support mask requirements (81%) compared to independents (48%) and Republicans (26%). Seventy percent of Black adults and 85% of Asian adults support a mask mandate, while just 49% of white adults and 54% of Hispanic adults agree.

As several cities begin enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, most Americans favor a mandate for those attending crowded public events or traveling on an airplane. Half think people should be fully vaccinated in order to go to a bar or restaurant.

More than half of Americans support vaccination requirements for government workers, members of the military, and workers who interact with the public, like at restaurants and stores. About 6 in 10 support vaccine mandates for hospital or other health care workers.

Overall, 71% of Americans report receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Democrats, college graduates and adults 60 and older are more likely to have been inoculated.

The nationwide poll was conducted August 1216, 2021 using the AmeriSpeak Panel, the probability-based panel of NORC at the University of Chicago. Online and telephone interviews using landlines and cell phones were conducted with 1,729 adults. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.2 percentage points.

Asian, Black, and Hispanic respondents were sampled at a higher rate than their proportion of the population for reasons of analysis. The margin of sampling error for the 318 completed interviews with Asian respondents is +/- 8.2 percentage points, for the 337 Black respondents it is +/- 6.7 percentage points, and for the 301 Hispanic respondents it is +/- 7.5 percentage points.
Kratom is part of the coffee family, used for centuries in Southeast Asia for its pain-relieving and mildly stimulating effects.

Thailand on Tuesday decriminalised kratom, a tropical leaf long used as a herbal remedy but which some health regulators around the world have criticised as potentially unsafe.

Kratomscientific name Mitragyna speciosais part of the coffee family, used for centuries in Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea for its pain-relieving and mildly stimulating effects.

It has become increasingly popular in the United States, where the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against its use, citing risks of addiction and abuse.

The change to Thai law means "the general public will be able to consume and sell kratom legally", government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said in a statement.

A Thailand Development Research Institute study estimated that decriminalisation will save authorities about 1.69 billion baht ($50 million) in prosecution costs.

Kratom stimulates the same brain receptors as morphine, though with much milder effects, and in Thailand it is mainly used in the deep south, where Muslim workers use it for pain relief after manual labour.

It has not been subject to international restrictions, though the World Health Organization announced last month that it was examining whether kratom should be considered for control.

Kratom stimulates the same brain receptors as morphine, though with much milder effects.

Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch said the decriminalisation of kratomwhich is native to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Papua New Guineawas "welcome, and frankly long overdue".

"The legalisation of kratom in Thailand ends a legacy of rights-abusing criminalisation of a drug that has long been used in traditional, rural communities in the country," Robertson told AFP.

Soontorn Rakrong, an adviser to the committee on drafting the new legislation who has long advocated decriminalisation, said farmers in southern Thailand could grow kratom as a crop to make up for a fall in rubber prices.

In Indonesia, kratom is legal but its status is under review, with some politicians pushing for it to be banned.

Thai lawmakers have shown some appetite for reforming the kingdom's harsh anti-drug laws in recent years.

In 2019, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalise medical marijuana, and the government has invested in the extraction, distillation and marketing of cannabis oils for use in the health industry.

But overcrowded Thai prisons are still packed with inmates handed long sentences for drugs offencespossessing just a few methamphetamine pills can earn a decade in jail.

Jeremy Douglas of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said Thailand is discussing and considering drug rehabilitation and diversion programmes for meth users to ease some pressure off the system and "also because it is more effective".

Explore further Kratom use rare, but more common among people with opioid use disorder

 2021 AFP
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A Cedars-Sinai cancer study finds that intestinal fungi and bacteria play opposing roles in regulating the efficacy of the anti-tumor immune response following radiation therapy.

The study, published on Aug. 13 in the journal Cancer Cell, builds on prior studies that focused on the role of intestinal bacteria in influencing immune responses to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Here the investigators sought to determine what role both bacteria and fungi in the gut might play in the response to radiation therapy.

Trillions of microorganisms live in normal human intestines. These so-called commensal microorganisms are "friendly" bacteria and fungi that help process nutrients and play key roles in regulating the immune system in everything from infections to allergies. The research team found that reducing levels of commensal fungi in the intestines enhanced the anti-tumor immune response in the mice following radiation therapy. Conversely, they showed that depletion of commensal bacteria reduced the anti-tumor response.

"Scientists have long known that bacteria in the gut influence the immune system," said Stephen L. Shiao, MD, Ph.D., director of the Division of Radiation Biology and the study's lead author. "We now believe that a yin-and-yang relationship exists between intestinal bacteria and fungi. If you deplete bacteria with antibiotic use, for example, it upsets the balance in the microbiomethe community of bacteria, fungi and potentially other microbes in the body. The effect is to create space for fungi to proliferate and dampen the anti-tumor immune response."

The potential impact of this discovery is wide-reaching because nearly half of patients diagnosed with cancerincluding brain, head and neck, lung, breast, gynecologic and prostate cancerundergo radiation therapy as part of their treatment regimen, Shiao explained."In our mouse studies, the impact of intestinal bacteria and fungi on the anti-cancer immune response was the same in both breast cancer and melanomavery different cancers," said Shiao, associate professor of Radiation Oncology & Biomedical Sciences at Cedars-Sinai Cancer. "We think that this indicates that gut bacteria and fungi influence anti-tumor immune responses in many, if not all, types of cancer."

It may seem odd that bacteria and fungi in the gut could affect the response to radiation therapy directed at cancers in other organs. This connection is rooted in the relationship between the biology of cancer and the immune system.

Cancer forms when cells in the body grow and divide uncontrollably. Certain types of immune cells patrol the body to identify and destroy tumor cells. This immune response is shaped by the microbiome. Sensors on immune cells detect specific microbes that stimulate different responses. The researchers discovered that one such sensor, Dectin-1, detects a sugar found only on the surface of fungi that prompts a braking signal to shut down an immune response. In contrast, bacteria send signals that strengthen immune responses. By reducing the number of fungi in mouse intestines, the study team was able to strengthen the immune system's attack on the tumor following radiation.

Although the major experimental parts of the study were performed in mice, the Cedars-Sinai team also examined the level of Dectin-1 in patients with breast tumors. They found that higher expression of Dectin-1 was associated with worse survival, suggesting that this sensor may play the same role in patients with cancer.

Looking forward, the researchers hope to characterize the diversity of gut microorganisms in cancer patients undergoing treatment to better understand the mechanisms by which gut microbiota, such as bacteria and fungi, influence cancer therapies. The goal is to find the best way to optimize both the bacterial and fungal microbiome to promote anti-tumor immune responses, Shiao said. "Radiation therapy has always been a major part of cancer treatment. Now more than ever, precision delivery of radiation and its combination with immunotherapyincluding manipulating host factors as described in this paperwill make this therapy even more effective for our patients," said Dan Theodorescu, MD, Ph.D., director of the Cedars-Sinai Cancer enterprise and professor of Surgery and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. "This study has made a significant advance in the cancer field."

Explore further Salmonella flagella confer anti-tumor immunological effect within tumor microenvironment

More information: Stephen L. Shiao et al, Commensal bacteria and fungi differentially regulate tumor responses to radiation therapy, Cancer Cell (2021). Journal information: Cancer Cell Stephen L. Shiao et al, Commensal bacteria and fungi differentially regulate tumor responses to radiation therapy,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.07.002
Fig. 1. TR as a hub of extensive human admixture. (A) Procrustes analysis based on unprojected coordinates of geographical locations and PC1 and PC2 coordinates of 1,460 TR individuals with known origin. (B) PCA for individuals from the TR WGS (n = 773), the populations from Lazaridis et al. (n = 1,430) (16), and 1000GP populations (n = 1,299). Individuals were projected along the PC1 and PC2 axes. (Inset) Zoomed view of TR and nearby populations. (C) Map of TR showing the number of chromosomes (WGS/WES) and mean admixture proportions of individuals with known birthplaces who originated from present day TR and former Ottoman Empire territories (TR-B, Balkan; TR-W, West; TR-C, Central; TR-N, North; TR-S, South; TR-E, East). (D) Admixture results of the TR WGS individuals with known origin (n = 647), the populations from Lazaridis et al. (16), and the 1000GP (k = 8). (E) PCA of TR individuals in a regional context. The populations with the lowest pairwise Wrights FST values were included. Credit: DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2026076118

An international team of researchers has conducted a genomic analysis of the Turkish population and found a high degree of variation and admixture. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes obtaining tissue samples from thousands of people living in regions of Anatolia (a peninsula that includes most of Turkey) and what they found when they sequenced and analyzed their exomes.

Throughout human history, many major migrations have involved traveling through what is now modern Turkey. Because of that, it is believed that many of the people who live there today likely have ancestors from many places in the region. In more recent times, the practice of consanguineous marriage (marriage between people who are closely related) has become common in Turkey, which suggests the possibility of deleterious (harmful) genetic variants arising. In this new effort, the researchers began by noting that despite its rich history, very few genetic studies have been conducted regarding the people of Turkey. To remedy that, the team embarked on a genomic analysis of the Turkish population.

Researchers obtained tissue samples from 3,362 Turkish individuals who were not believed to be related and who lived in different geographic areas. They then sequenced the samples and then analyzed the results looking for both trends and variants.

The researchers found that the people of Turkey have close genetic ties to the people in the Caucasus, the Balkans, Europe and the Middle East. And they also found a very large number of variantssome shared with people from other regions and some unique to people living in Turkey. More specifically, they found 10 million variants, 37,123 of which they deemed to be deleterious. They also found that 21% of the variants were unique to people living in Turkey, and of those, 38% had not been seen before. The researchers also found examples of the Greater Middle Eastern Variome, though they note they do not represent the Turkish people as a whole.

The work by the team led to the creation of a Turkish Variomea compilation of genetic variations unique to a given population. The tool, they note is helpful to general research aimed at better understanding genetic diseases.

Explore further Turkey arrests 4 in new digital currency platform probe

More information: M. Ece Kars et al, The genetic structure of the Turkish population reveals high levels of variation and admixture, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences M. Ece Kars et al, The genetic structure of the Turkish population reveals high levels of variation and admixture,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2026076118

 2021 Science X Network
Images showing the distribution of tagged STING and HA-HPN proteins in liver cells. Credit: F. Hsin et al., Science Signaling (2021)

Chronic viral infections in the liver can lead to organ dysfunction and ultimately to liver tumors in a progression invariably characterized by viruses that proliferate free of immune system restraints.

Although it has been known for decades that chronic viral infection of the liver can lead to cancer, medical investigators have only now begun to fully appreciate how the disruption of molecular signaling sets the stage for virus-induced liver cancer.

In an elegant series of cellular studies at the National Taiwan University's College of Medicine in Taipei City, scientists have found that a transmembrane enzyme (a protein embedded in the cell with active portions above and below the cell surface) plays a powerful role in damaging liver cells.

That enzyme goes by the name of hepsin, and is produced by the host. It increases vulnerability to liver cancer because it's a noteworthy turncoata biological traitorwhen active in the milieu of a viral infection. Although the team in Taiwan saw the damaging activity in the lab when two types of viruses, Sendai and herpes, were studied, the major global health crisis involving liver infections and cancer are centered squarely on hepatitis B and C.

Hepsin, as it turns out, doesn't even mess with the viruses themselves to create havoc in the liver; it irrevocably damages a protective protein called STING. Once STING is crippled, viruses are free to run roughshod through the liver.

"Our study provides new insights," declared Drs. Fu Hsin and Helene Minyi Liu, writing in the journal Science Signaling. "Chronic viral infections of the liver can lead to organ dysfunction and hepatocellular carcinoma.

"The transmembrane serine protease hepsin, suppresses type I interferon induction by cleaving STING," Hsin and Liu wrote, referring to the tremendous biological damage heaped on the protein known as STING.

The Taiwanese research is demonstrating that hepsin suppresses the body's natural antiviral responses that are launched by STING, which stands for Stimulator of Interferon Genes. When STING is intact, its signaling activity is involved in the release of a massive flood of virus-fighting interferons, proteins that thwart viruses.

STING activation stimulates the expression of genes encoding type I interferons as part of the antiviral response. Type I interferons comprise a large subgroup of proteins that help regulate the activity of the immune system. In addition to its role activating interferons that control viruses, STING activation also figures prominently in antitumor immunity, making it critical in the overall innate immune response.

In terms of timing, STING is supposed to be activated in an early phase of the innate immune response when viruses are sensed and cascades of molecular assaults from a stimulated immune system are needed for a full-bore attack.

As it turns outand as bad luck would have itturncoat hepsin literally chops up STING, thereby disabling the innate immune response. The immune system constituents sabotaged by hepsin are the type I interferons, proteins that not only kill viruses but are crucial to signaling activities that marshal additional components of the immune system. The word 'traitor' seems too kind when considering the degree of liver destruction hepsin inadvertently allows.

"Hepsin, which is predominantly present in hepatocytes, inhibited the induction of type I interferon during viral infections," asserted Hsin and Liu, noting that without type I interferons, viral infection can progress largely unchecked.

Damage to STING wasn't merely theorized; the Taiwanese team actually saw how hepsin assaulted STING in the lab, observing the damage in infected mouse embryonic fibroblasts and infected human hepatocytes. "Hepsin co-localized with STING at the endoplasmic reticulum and cleaved STING," the scientists asserted.

Aside from being a turncoat in the liver, hepsin goes by another name in other tissues, particularly the nasopharynx, which forms the upper respiratory tract and the lower respiratory tract, which includes the lungs. In these tissues, hepsin known as TMPRSS1 and, not surprisingly, exists in those cell populations as a transmembrane traitor, too.

In the case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, TMPRSS1 sends signals that can alert the virus to the presence of the ACE2 receptor. The ACE2 receptor is TMPRSS1's next-door neighborand the vulnerable gateway that SARS-CoV-2 breaches to invade human cells, leading to the sometimes deadly pandemic disease, COVID-19. There's no question among investigators that TMPRSS1's signaling aids the virus.

To be clear, one of the major roles of the immune system is preventing viruses from commandeering cells. But when hepsin cripples STING, amid an ongoing liver infection, the stage is set for liver cancer. The Taipei City research not only opens a new window of understanding into how a signaling molecule can be damaged, it also demonstrates how a minuscule transmembrane enzyme plays a role in causing the destruction.

The new research arrives at a critical juncture as international health agencies, especially the World Health Organization, map strategies to reduce the burden of liver disease and liver cancer. Globally, liver cancer is a leading form of cancer-related death, and a primary cause of those malignancies is viral infection of the organ, predominantly by hepatitis B and C.

An estimated 1.1 million people die annually of liver cancer caused by viral infections, according to the WHO, which additionally defines the most vulnerable regions for hepatitis-linked liver cancer as resource poor countries. Even though a vaccine, in use since the 1980s, is capable of preventing hepatitis B infection, and in more recent years, drug therapy effectively cures hepatitis C, these interventions still elude many parts of the world.

Grasping the underlying molecular mechanisms that lead to cancer in the first place, might pave the way toward newer methods of liver cancer prevention, such as developing pharmaceutical strategies that block hepsin, the team reporting said.

Hsin and Liu, who collaborated with scientists from the Liver Disease Prevention and Treatment Research Foundation, also in Taipei City, noted in their research that the release of interferons is critical during liver infection for more than one reason: It isn't just a matter of interferons quelling viruses. The infection-fighting proteins also stimulate antiviral pathways in nearby cells. And hepsin, they say, not only makes liver infections worse by preventing the release of interferons, aberrant hepsin activity also may be involved in non-infectious diseases, worsening them as well.

"Hepsin makes hepatocytes vulnerable to viral infection and may contribute to the poor response of prostate cancer cells to immunotherapies that rely on STING activation," the scientists said.

Explore further How a protein named STING assaults viruses and cancer cells that invade us

More information: Fu Hsin et al, The transmembrane serine protease hepsin suppresses type I interferon induction by cleaving STING, Science Signaling (2021). Journal information: Science Signaling Fu Hsin et al, The transmembrane serine protease hepsin suppresses type I interferon induction by cleaving STING,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abb4752

 2021 Science X Network
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Inoculating the planet from COVID-19 presents an unprecedented logistical challenge like none we've seen before. Mobilizing for a world war may be the closest comparisonbut in this case, the enemy is invisible and everywhere.

Some of the vaccines require super-cold storage at virtually all points along the journey until they reach someone's upper arm. And the vaccines are primarily being produced in wealthier countries, though the needespecially nowis greatest in the poorest.

While many rich countries such as Israel, Canada and those of the U.K. have managed to inoculate most of their citizens, the vast majority of people overall have yet to receive a single dose.

I have been studying global supply chains for over two decades, including those for drugs and other health-related products. To illustrate the process and how complicated and challenging it is, I'll take you on the journey of a single dose of Pfizerwhich received full Food and Drug Administration approval on Aug. 23, 2021all the way from a factory in Missouri to an arm in Bangladesh.

From Missouri to Massachusetts to Michigan

Even though it's commonly known as the Pfizer vaccine, it was actually developed under a partnership with BioNTech, which is based in Germany.

It is one of two vaccines that use new mRNA technology, which provides genetic instructions that encode a viral protein. Once the vaccinated person's cells start making the coronavirus protein, it prompts their immune system to design powerful antibodies that can neutralize the virus if they ever encounter it.

A vaccine dose's 60-day journey to distribution starts with raw ingredients in a Pfizer factory in Chesterfield, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. This factory produces the key raw material called plasmids, which are basically strands of DNA that contain the genetic instructions for building coronavirus proteins.

Bottles of the DNA material are frozen, bagged, sealed and packed into a container and shipped to Andover, Massachusetts. There, the DNA is processed into mRNA, which is the active ingredient in the vaccinealso referred to as the "drug substance."

The mRNA is packaged in plastic bagseach containing enough material to produce 10 million dosesfrozen and shipped to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where the vaccine reaches the last stage of the process: formulation and filling.

First, the drug substance is combined with lipid nanoparticlesbasically fatto protect the mRNA and help it enter the human cells. Next, the combination is squirted into glass vials, six doses per vial, packaged and frozen for distribution.

Here I have presented a simplified three-step process. Making a vaccine, however, is more much complex, requiring more than 200 different materials supplied by factories spread across the world.

Keeping vials super-cold

While awaiting distribution, the Pfizer vaccine vials must be stored at temperatures from minus 112 F to minus 76 F (minus 80 C to minus 60 C) in ultra-cold freezers.

To put this in perspective, the average annual temperature at the South Pole is about minus 58 F (minus 50 C). Ice creams and frozen steaks are kept, during storage and transport, below minus 20 F (minus 29 C).

Pfizer designed its own custom cooler box to make it easier to transport its vaccines across the U.S. and around the world. Vials are placed into trays, with 195 vials per tray. Each box can fit five trays. Each box of 5,850 doses has a GPS tracker and contains a monitor that keeps a log of the temperature.

Pfizer's custom boxes don't require any other specialized equipment to transport the vaccines, and the ultra-cold temperature in the cooler boxes is maintained during transport using dry ice that needs to be replaced every five days.

A problem with the dry ice is that it's carbon dioxide in solid form. The dry ice gradually turns from solid to gas, which can be dangerous without proper ventilation.

Once it has a shipment ready for delivery to a given destination, Pfizer contacts one of the global freight carriers it's partnered with, such as UPS or DHL, which picks up a designated number of boxes and ships them directly to the country in need within one or two days.

A vial's last mile

For a country to receive Pfizer vaccines, it needs to have the capacity to store ultra-cold medical items.

While this isn't a problem for wealthier nations, poorer countries are less likely to have the necessary infrastructure in place.

Upon arrival in a country, the shipment goes into a deep freezer, typically at the airport or a central storage facility, until it is ready to be used. The vaccine has to be kept in ultra-cold storage until within about a month before it's injected into someone's shoulder.

In poorer countries that do have the right infrastructure, such as Bangladesh, distribution still needs to be restricted to a few select hospitals in large urban areas where there are ultra-cold storage facilities. For example, Bangladesh will use Pfizer vaccines at seven hospitals in its capital city, Dhaka.

The frosty journey of the Pfizer vaccine itself is just one part of getting people their jabs. Ancillary supplies needed for vaccination include special syringes delivering a 0.3-milliliter (mL) dose, needles, sterile alcohol pads and personal protective equipment for the health care worker delivering the shot.

Preparing the injection of the Pfizer vaccine requires a complex dance. First the nurse thaws the vaccine in a refrigerator to a range of 36 F to 46 F (2 C to 8 C), where it can be held for up to 31 days. Just before vaccination, the nurse brings the vial to room temperature of 36 F to 77 F (2 C to 25 C), at which it can survive no more than six hours.

Because the Pfizer vaccine is shipped as a concentrate, the nurse needs to dilute it with 1.8 milliliters of saline, resulting in a mixture sufficient for six doses.

There's a further complication in that many low- and medium-income countries use syringes that ensure a fixed maximum dose and are automatically disabled after single use. This takes away the guesswork and prevents mistakes. UNICEF is responsible for delivering these extra supplies to poorer countries that are getting their vaccines through COVAX, the global initiative set up to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to low- and middle-income countries.

A monumental achievement

Other vaccines have much less demanding cold supply chain requirements, don't require dilution and use syringes with standard dose sizes, allowing more countries to use them, including in rural areas.

Most of the COVID-19 vaccines approved for use by the World Health Organization, such as those made by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, require only standard cold storage of 35.6 F to 46.4 F (2 C to 8 C).

I focused on Pfizer in part because it makes up the lion's share of doses donated by the U.S. to COVAX.

As of Aug. 22, 2021, a total of 4.97 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered, a feat unimaginable in the fall of 2020. But global coverage has been highly uneven. While a little over half of the population in high-income countries have been vaccinated, only 1.4% of low-income populations have received theirs. Many of these countries are in Africa.

The development of several vaccines, 10 of which are WHO-approved, many within a year, was a monumental achievement of science and global collaborationespecially since it previously took on average a decade.

But creating supply chains to deliver all those lifesaving vaccines to people all over the world will be an equally remarkable accomplishment.

Explore further Vaccines from BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna can be combined

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Former Congressman Pat Williams called it Americas best backyard.

Fourteen miles up a rock-strewn road along Rattlesnake Creek, a little-visited trailhead beckons to national-park-quality scenery. Glacial cirques, crystalline lakes, bountiful huckleberry patches and a thoughtful network of trails await in the Rattlesnake National Wilderness.

And like any backyard, some upkeep is expected. That puts Missoula residents in a remarkable position as hands-on decision-makers for a federal treasure.

To explain in somewhat backwards fashion, the citys acquisition of Mountain Water Co. in 2017 included ownership of eight lakes the private company used as reserve water reservoirs. Those lakes, and the right to maintain the dams controlling them, were grandfathered into the federal legislation creating the Rattlesnake Wilderness and National Recreation Area in 1980.

The Montana Power Co. built those dams between 1911 and 1923, mostly by hand and horse-drawn labor. Around that time, Lolo National Forest archives note that 139 people lived in the northern tip of the Rattlesnake Valley, above where the present-day vehicle parking lot and trailhead serve the National Recreation Area.

In the early 1900s, there were as many as 19 homes in the upper drainage with amenities such as mail and newspaper delivery, the Lolos Rattlesnake National Recreation Area brochure states. In 1911, there was a phone line that ran north up to the Franklin Guard Station and over the ridge to Gold Creek. Residents built a school near the confluence of Spring and Rattlesnake creeks and operated it from 1907 to 1930.

Montana Power sold its dams and water rights to Mountain Water in 1979. It also owned about 21,000 acres of the Rattlesnake drainage, which it transferred to the Forest Service as part of the wilderness legislation in return for an opportunity to acquire coal leases in eastern Montana in 1983.

The Forest Service built the main trailhead off Rattlesnake Drive in 1987, adding a horse access in 1992. Another trail entrance sits at the tip of the Lincolnwood neighborhood where Mountain Line Route 5 turns around, making the Rattlesnake one of the only wilderness areas in the nation with city bus service.

Compromise has shaped the Rattlesnake from its historic beginnings to its federal protection, and now looms over its future management. Williams bill split the area into a 33,000-acre wilderness and 28,000-acre national recreation area, which allows more biking and forest activity.

Even during its remarkably swift congressional passage (introduction to presidential signing in just two months), a last-minute demand by then-Sen. John Melcher created the Cherry Stem allowing bicycle and wagon access along 4.5 miles of upper Rattlesnake Creek in what otherwise would have been a no-wheels-allowed wilderness. That headed off threatened opposition by motorcycle enthusiasts who had sought access to the upper creek drainage on the old Montana Power roads.

Mountain Water, for its part, retained the right to drive maintenance trucks up the roads, and to fly helicopters into the lake basins. The Forest Service, and subsequently, the city of Missoula, also have limited ability to drive vehicles into the wilderness to work on the lakes.

The big question now, is what to do with those lakes?

'Giant nursery habitat'

Archeological records confirm people have been enjoying those lakes and streams since at least 1460 AD  the date of some human remains found along Rattlesnake Creek. Salish Indians routinely used it when moving between the Jocko, Clearwater and Blackfoot river drainages.

Lots of animals use it too. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologist Liz Bradleys aerial surveys report at least 13 mountain goats and around 200 elk inhabiting the upper drainage. Black bears, wolves, mountain lions and occasionally grizzly bears hunt them.

Of the 45 lakes bigger than an acre in size, 13 have self-sustaining trout populations. Those lakes were naturally fishless, and artificially stocked in the early 20th century. Stocking ceased after the wilderness designation in 1980, but many populations of rainbow, Yellowstone cutthroat and native Westslope cutthroat trout hung on in isolation above their dams. They spawn in the tiny inlet streams from the surrounding cirque wall snowbanks.

Rattlesnake Creek below the dams has three distinct fisheries. From its mouth at the Clark Fork River 4.5 miles up to the former Mountain Water Dam (removed last year), the creek has been hemmed in by housing and lost most of its good habitat. Fishing is allowed, but not very good, according to FWP fisheries biologist Ladd Knotek.

From the former dam to Beescove Creek  probably the most popular trail section for hikers, bikers and dog-walkers  no fishing is allowed to protect spawning gravels used by bull, cutthroat and rainbow trout.

Its a giant nursery habitat for the Clark Fork River fishery, Knotek said. Rattlesnake Creek is producing most of the trout that support the fishery down through town.

Anglers willing to sweat their way 5 miles from the main trailhead past Beescove Creek have the whole rest of the Rattlesnake to cast a line. Few river fish push above Franklin Bridge (7 miles up), leaving the upper stream to resident trout and some hybrids produced by mating with nonnatives flushed down through the dam outlets. The lake basins are otherwise too remote for natural fish colonization.

Campers who make it to the upper basin have their choice of lakeside campsites to choose from. On a recent two-day dam inspection tour, Missoula City Conservation Lands workers encountered only two other wilderness visitors  two women trail runners at Sanders Lake whod started their run that morning and expected to be back in town by early afternoon after a 40-mile roundtrip.

Knotek estimates the upper Rattlesnake lakes get about 100 angler-days per year. By comparison, Boulder Lake just outside the wilderness boundary to the east (still artificially stocked and with a 6-mile hike up the Gold Creek drainage) sees two to three times more annual activity.

More people probably experience the Upper Rattlesnake as hunters. For a while in the early 2000s elk populations there were high enough that FWP offered special elk cow tags to encourage harvest there. Bradley said those numbers have reduced to the point that extra encouragement is no longer needed. But many archers still take advantage of early season rut hunts, riding their meat cycles up the Cherry Stem to the meadows where they stage multi-day excursions into the lake basins.

No 'pristine nature'

The Wilderness Act of 1964 clearly states the intentions of the United States people regarding special natural places.

Wilderness means we allow nature to function on its own terms  we dont intervene for some perceived human benefit at the time, said George Nickas of the Missoula-based Wilderness Watch, a national wilderness advocacy group founded by some of the original drafters of the Wilderness Act. In order to have wilderness, where we allow nature to function without our interventions, it means sometimes we cant have everything we want.

The act also acknowledges theres no such thing as pristine nature. The dams got built before wilderness was a legal concept. Mountain Water stopped using them for drinking water after a giardia scare in 1983.

Consider McKinley Lake. It holds about 168 acre-feet of water, enough to turn the Missoula County Fairgrounds into a 4-foot-deep wading pool. Its dam stands 15 feet high, and has beautiful campsites on either end.

But in the brush beyond the eastern tent spot, an emergency spillway threatens significant hazards. Intended to gently release excess water, it instead has eroded a 100-foot gash into the steep mountainside below the basin. Known as a headcut, that gash is slowly working its way back toward the dam, where it could eventually trigger a catastrophic failure.

McKinley Lake sits so far back in the Rattlesnake, the only humans at risk would be those unlucky enough to be hiking there that moment. But rebuilding the dam to Forest Service standards would cost an estimated $1 million.

Increasing its storage capacity would remove the spillway hazard and actually cost less money (about $706,000). Decommissioning the dam by carefully breaching it and revegetating the original shoreline would cost about $173,000.

That would cause some legal problems with the citys water rights. With water in such short supply throughout Montana, failing to make use of a right leaves it vulnerable to someone else claiming it for their needs. Five irrigation ditches remain active in the Rattlesnake Creek drainage, and any of those users could conceivably demand access to the supply the city abandoned.

McKinley Lake could be the pilot project, said Rob Roberts, a project manager for Trout Unlimited, which is helping Missoula staff assess the dams. Cutting a notch in the 200-foot rock wall would lower the lake to its natural level, and allow its then-exposed shoreline to become a productive wetland. That would defuse the headcut risk, and eliminate the need for maintenance.

At the other end of the basin sits Sanders Lake. This geologic oddity sits on a shelf a thousand feet above the Rattlesnake Wilderness trailhead and a thousand feet below the Mosquito Peak ridgeline. A skinny waterfall draws a white line down the mountainside, visually indicating the lakes 210-foot depth.

Meadows lush with mountain heather, spirea and fireweed decorate its shoreline. So do two small dams, built in 1912 and 1914. One outlet valve has silted shut, requiring underwater unplugging.

If that could be done, Sanders and nearby Big Lake together could deliver about 60 percent of the citys water rights from the basin. Roberts and Missoula City Conservation Lands Manager Morgan Valliant are working with engineers to find the sweet spot of cost efficiency, water supply, maintenance minimum, wilderness character, and public interest for the lakes.

Theres a lot of community values and collaboration opportunities to consider, Roberts said. We need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture with the rest of the lakes. The ability to manage just two lakes out of the eight the city owns could have a huge impact. We could triple the flow in Rattlesnake Creek in dry times  take a stream that was dry and dying and pump some life back into it.

For Nickas, thats like trying to be a little bit pregnant.

If you retain any dams, then you have the issues of long-term maintenance and access, and everything you do from that point on is an affront to wilderness, Nickas said. Missoula has such a long history as really the center of wilderness management and stewardship in the country. We have an opportunity now to walk the talk. A city that likes to promote itself as a wilderness city has to find it within itself to honor that wilderness and preserve those values. It has to stop doing the things the private corporation was doing.

In addition to the wildflowers, the lakes all bear scars and stumps from the dam construction a century ago. Tumble-down cabins littered with automobile frames and wheelbarrow buckets recall the mancamps that housed the dam builders.

The long approach up Rattlesnake Creek could be softened by the growing popularity of e-bikes, which currently arent allowed in the Rattlesnake by a rule rarely enforced. Other explorers have pioneered a shortcut bushwack across the Grant Creek Basin from Snowbowl Ski Area (whose chairlift ride cheats some of the elevation climb).

And the landscape itself is changing. Recent landslides have reshaped the shorelines of several lakes. This summers heat has forced many shrubs ahead in their seasonal progression, with fall colors appearing in late July. Stands of dead trees load a kinetic trigger for a restorative wildfire.

Whatever decisions come up for the Rattlesnake Wilderness, it wont stay the same.

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The median sales price of homes sold in the Missoula area in the first six months of 2021 was $430,000, according to a new report from the Missoula Organization of Realtors.

That's a 22.9% increase over the median sales price for all of 2020, which was $350,000.

"Supply shortages of existing homes and limited number of new construction units are contributing factors in the continued increase in median sales price," said Dwight Easton, public affairs director for the Missoula Organization of Realtors, in an email.

The rental vacancy rate for the first half of 2021 in Missoula was 1.6%. A vacancy rate of between 4% and 5% is considered healthy by most experts.

"The ongoing tightening of the housing market and low inventory of rental units continues for the ninth consecutive quarter," Easton said.

Because buyers are forced into bidding competitions, the average sales price was 104% of the average list price. The average number of days a house sits on the market in Missoula has fallen 44% to just 86 days since this time last year.

There is about a three-week supply of homes available on the market, Easton said.
PHOENIX (AP)  The delivery of a report on the 2020 vote count to Arizona state Senate Republicans was delayed yet again Monday after the Donald Trump supporter hired to lead the effort and several others involved contracted COVID-19 and are quite sick, the Senate GOP leader said.

Republican Senate President Karen Fann said she still expects to receive a portion of the report Monday. She did not give a date for delivery of the full draft.

It's the latest delay for the unprecedented partisan review, which has so far taken more than double the 60 days it was originally supposed to take.

The report was commissioned by Senate Republicans and funded mostly by Trump allies promoting his unsupported election fraud narrative. It will not immediately be made public. Rather, two senior Republican senators will review it along with their lawyers and advisers to decide whether the findings are supported by evidence.

Fann said anything lacking sufficient backing will be removed.

We want to see their proof, their documentation, everything to make sure that the report that goes out is fully accurate," he said.
Miami-Dade schools, the nations fourth-largest district with 340,000 students, began classes Monday with a strict mask mandate. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the district would wear any state punishment as a badge of honor.

I know it (wearing masks) is an inconvenience but it is a necessity considering the explosive nature of COVID-19 transmission, Carvalho said.

The largest school district in Florida that hasnt imposed a strict mask policy is Orange County, where parents and teachers protested Monday outside district headquarters demanding that Superintendent Barbara Jenkins and the board make masks mandatory.

Sarasota County implemented its new mandatory mask policy Monday. Masks were optional the first two weeks of classes, but outbreaks districtwide prompted the school board to impose a strict mandate. Only students who provide a doctors note will be excused, an opt-out mirrored by other districts with mask requirements.

Ive struggled with wearing a mask. I know a lot of my friends have, too, Mya Mamazza, an 11th-grader, told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune outside school Monday. I have asthma, so its really hard for me.

She wants the district to offer online classes if masks are mandatory, so she wont have to wear one.
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday proposed spending more than $1.5 billion in federal pandemic rescue funding to help boost the business climate, redevelop polluted sites and take steps such as accelerating the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The proposals are the latest offered by the Democratic governor since Congress and President Joe Biden approved an unprecedented $6.5 billion in discretionary aid for the state, half of which can be allocated now. She and the Republican-led Legislature have not allotted any of the funds. Some could be negotiated as they work to finalize the next state budget before October, though much of it may not be approved until later.

Under Whitmer's plan, about $700 million would be used to redevelop brownfield properties, rehabilitate vacant buildings, prepare sites for business development, create more energy-efficient homes and bolster regional economic resiliency plans. Roughly $350 million would go toward fostering a business environment that the governor said would be more conducive to high-tech, high-growth startups, preparing manufacturers for opportunities in emergency industries, speeding up charging infrastructure for electric cars and expanding an internship program for science, technology, engineering and math students.
BEIJING (AP)  Asian stock markets were mixed Wednesday after Wall Street hit a new high as investors looked ahead to a Federal Reserve gathering for an update on U.S. stimulus.

Shanghai advanced while Hong Kong declined. Tokyo was unchanged.

Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 index rose 0.2% after a quiet day in the market.

Investors are betting on an absence of aggressive taper signals when Fed officials speak Friday at their annual Jackson Hole meeting, said Mizuho Bank's Venkateswaran Lavanya in a report.

Some Fed officials say the U.S. central bank needs to start winding down bond purchases and other stimulus due to stronger hiring and higher inflation. Others want to wait for stronger economic data that show a recovery is established.

The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.2% to 3,512.77 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong fell 0.4% to 25,615.67. The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo was unchanged at 27,733.11.

The Kospi in Seoul shed 0.2% to 3,134.24 and the S&P 500 in Sydney advanced 0.3% to 7,521.60. New Zealand, Bangkok and Indonesia rose while Singapore retreated.

On Wall Street, the S&P 500 advanced to 4,486.23 for its second record high in two weeks.
Carlsons bill, HB 702, prohibited not just government entities, but private businesses from deciding whether their employees or customers should be vaccinated. The law applies not only to COVID, but includes other vaccines that protect against transmissible diseases, such as measles, hepatitis, and even the flu. Medical professionals, hospitals and other health care groups argued strongly against it. Even nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in Montana have to let unvaccinated employees treat their elderly patients, according to a new state ruling.

Carlsons law is not only bad health policy, but, while offered in the name of freedom, it is an attack on the freedom of private businesses to protect their employees and customers in ways that work best for their business. Montana now has the dubious distinction of being the only state in the country that prohibits private businesses from making their own decisions about vaccinations. For companies considering whether to locate or hire in Montana, this anti-business stance could push them to set up shop or hire workers in any state but ours.
I balance my professional and family life with time on the river. River time, usually with a rod in hand, is a critical part of my quality of life as a Montanan. This summer that life feels very threatened by high temperatures, a winter with low snow pack, a bad fire season, and the sheer volume of anglers seeking out native trout on our blue ribbon trout streams.

Yet Im worried about my future as an angler, and Im sure our states fly shop owners, outfitters and guides, who are all part of the $7 billion outdoor recreation economy our rivers support, are even more concerned.

As a Missoulian, a large part of my river days are spent on the Blackfoot River and its tributaries. I feel fortunate that the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act is in the works to help protect this important watershed. What this legislation needs to move forward is support from Senator Steve Daines. This summer is a wake-up call, and our rivers and native trout need all the help we can offer them. Senator, please help move the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act through Congress now.

Derek Laine,

Missoula

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Vice President Kamala Harris and her delegation delayed their departure from Singapore to Hanoi, Vietnam, Tuesday, after they were made aware of an "anomalous health incident" in Hanoi.

A senior State Department official told CBS News the reported incident that delayed the vice president's trip to Hanoi is consistent with previous reported cases of "Havana Syndrome" in Cuba and around the world. It was serious: at least one official had to be removed by medevac over the weekend. This was not the first reported instance of "Havana Syndrome" in Vietnam, the official said.

"Earlier this evening, the Vice President's traveling delegation was delayed from departing Singapore because the Vice President's office was made aware of a report of a recent possible anomalous health incident in Hanoi, Vietnam," the State Department said in a statement. "After careful assessment, the decision was made to continue with the Vice President's trip."

The vice president's office declined to answer when they were first alerted about the health reports and whose decision it was for her to continue on to Vietnam. Harris had been scheduled to leave Singapore for Hanoi at 4 p.m. local time, or 4 a.m. ET.

A State Department spokesperson said the State Department and other partners across the federal government are vigorously investigating reports of possible unexplained health incidents wherever they are reported, and is doing everything possible to make sure employees who reported a possible incident to get immediate attention and care.

Harris is making her first trip to Asia as vice president, a trip that has continued as the U.S. continues to try to evacuate Americans and vulnerable Afghans from Afghanistan. She aims to strengthen American ties with allies in the region, particularly as China works to exert its influence.

The government has been intensifying its efforts to address the effects of "Havana Syndrome," as reported cases proliferate and worries mount that its cause remains poorly understood and unidentified publicly, according to current and former U.S. officials. Havana Syndrome, which gets its name from the first known cases to be reported by U.S. officers in Havana, Cuba, in 2016, presents in a variety of neurological symptoms, and can include vertigo, ear ringing, nausea and intense headaches. Some people have been diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), though physical damage to the brain hasn't always been detected.

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Luxurious, exclusive resorts seems to be all the rage this summer  at least on television.

HBOs The White Lotus, set in a tropical Hawaii paradise, took the internet by storm, racking up 1.9 million viewers for its finale and providing plenty of meme inspiration. Meanwhile, Nicole Kidman plays a, uh, wellness guru of sorts at a secluded, scenic Californian retreat in Nine Perfect Strangers. The show kicked off with three episodes on August 18, and new episodes are coming out weekly on Hulu.

It would be nice if we could just enjoy these shows without having to know exactly how much a vacation like this would actually cost. But, if youre anything like this Money reporter, thats not the case.

Sadly (or probably for the best), you cant actually find the White Lotus resorts manager Armond or any of its zany and insufferable guests in Hawaii. But you can stay at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, where the show was actually filmed.

That is, if you have around between $1,000 and $26,000 to spend per night. You read that right: a week-long stay in a 3-bedroom suite could put your bill in the ballpark of $180,000. Might as well throw in $16,950 for a speciality coffee tour via a helicopter and $23,750 for a five-hour whale watching and snorkel photography excursion, or at least $495 for an 80-minute facial. All are offered at the resort.

Rachel Olsson / Four Seasons

Meanwhile, filming of Nine Perfect Strangers at the Tranquillum House, a fictional retreat in California, actually took place in Byron Bay, Australia. The area is a popular spot for retreats that look  at least online  to have much of the beauty you can see in the Hulu limited series.

While the original plan was to film in and around Los Angeles, COVID-19 pushed the crew to Australia, the production designer Colin Gibson told Architectural Digest. Thats where the team found Soma, the actual retreat you see in much of the show, in New South Wales Byron Bay.

Romello Pereira / Soma Byron Bay

At Soma, retreats include meditation training, ice baths, guided forest walks, daily yoga classes and more. Soma Meditate, a three-day, two-night retreat costs $2,500 Australian dollars for one person and $3,995, which is roughly equal to about $1,800 U.S. dollars for one person and $2,870 for a couple.

Story continues

A quick drive to the local beach will probably be enough for me this summer.

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The Butte-Silver Bow Health Department is managing 85 active cases of COVID-19, as of Monday afternoon.

Health Officer Karen Sullivan said six people were hospitalized with COVID-19 at St. James Healthcare on Monday, three of them Butte-Silver Bow residents. Two of the six were in the hospitals intensive care unit. Of the six, only one was vaccinated against COVID-19.

For the epidemiological week of Aug. 14 through Aug. 20, 78 cases were newly confirmed, averaging a little more than 11 cases daily for the week.

The Health Department confirmed an additional 27 cases over the weekend and into late Monday afternoon.

Through Sunday evening, the department was reporting 35.93 cases per 100,000 population.

According to the Harvard Global Health Institute, anything more than 25 cases per 100,000 calls for community mitigation, Sullivan said. We are asking people, first, to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

But we are also asking our community to wear masks in public places and practice social distancing as much as possible.
Smoke blowing from the Dixie and Caldor fires in California has blanketed northern Nevada on and off for weeks, leaving particulate matter in the air and causing ash to rain on cars in some areas.

More than 13,500 firefighters were working to contain a dozen large California blazes that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee to safety. New concerns were developing at the explosive Caldor Fire southwest of Lake Tahoe, the famed alpine lake surrounded by peaks of the Sierra Nevada and resort communities.

The Washoe County School District delayed start times at K-12 schools due to the smoke last Tuesday to wait for winds to clear the fumes.

Last August and September, the districts schools were closed six times in four weeks due to smoke.

In an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, the district installed commercial-grade HVAC systems in its schools last year to help ventilate hallways and classrooms. But it has expressed concerns about juggling wildfire smoke outside and the risk of the coronavirus inside.
With the number of people testing positive for COVID-19, we have not been able to meet our goal of making initial contact and follow-up within 24 hours, said RiverStone Health VP of Communications Barbara Schneeman. Currently we do not have the capacity to do the contact tracing that results from a case investigation.

On Monday, St. Vincent Healthcare had 41 COVID-19 inpatients and six COVID-19 patients in the ICU, six of which were intubated.

Over the weekend, three COVID-19 patients died at Billings Clinic with the youngest being 58 years old. Billings Clinic also admitted a 24-year-old and a 37-year-old with severe COVID-19 illness, underlining that in the fourth wave of infections, younger people are coming down with serious illness.

As of Monday, Billings Clinic had 40 inpatients with COVID-19 and about two-thirds of them were under 60 years old, much younger than in the past, said Nancy Iversen, director of patient safety and infection control at Billings Clinic.

Though the number of inpatients seems to have stabilized in the few weeks, Iversen said there is a constant flow of patients with some being released as more are admitted.
DUBUQUE, Iowa  With less than a days notice, a jury trial for a Muscatine man accused of first-degree murder in the death of a Wilton teen was continued Monday with the new trial date to be determined later.

Judge Mark Lawson of the Seventh Judicial District of Iowa granted the continuance Monday via a Zoom conference, directing court administrations in both Cedar and Dubuque counties to select a new trial date. A change of venue was made earlier this year from Cedar County to Dubuque County.

Milton Jermaine Cole Serrano Jr., 22, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Chantz Stevens, 19, of Wilton in July 2020.

Police reports say Serrano attended a party at 938 Quincy Ave. in Clarence, rural Cedar County. During the party, he allegedly keyed a silver Toyota Camry, resulting in about $1,000 damage. He is also charged with second-degree criminal mischief for the incident.
MUSCATINE  The Muscatine Fire Department trains for a variety of common and rare situations. In every emergency they need to have the proper equipment.

On August 11, Muscatine Power and Water presented the Muscatine Fire Department with a new Chlorine Emergency Kit-B for its HAZMAT truck, which is used in the case of a chlorine gas leak.

This new kit replaces an older version the HAZMAT truck carried, delegating the older kit to be a backup. The kit included several tools to contain leaks in and around containers.

These older kits, though, are a lot harder to work with. They take two people to do everything, and when (the firefighters) are in those big HAZMAT suits, the kits are even harder to work with, MPW Safety and Training Manager Jim Garrison said.

Garrison, and MPW Safety and Training Specialist Donyell Archer were the ones to discuss upgrading the fire departments current chlorine emergency kit.

In 2014, a new, ergonomically correct emergency Kit-B was created which is easier for one person to use.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Gov. Tom Wolfs administration on Tuesday discontinued a lawsuit against IBM after suing the company four years ago, accusing it of failing to deliver on a contract to produce an updated system for processing unemployment compensation claims.

However, Wolf's administration refused to provide a copy of any agreement with IBM, or describe all of its terms.

In a brief statement, Wolf's Department of Labor and Industry said it settled and resolved the lawsuit "following an extensive discovery period and exchange of expert reports and opinions," and revealed no terms other than saying that IBM acknowledged no liability or wrongdoing.

The department did not file any sort of agreement paperwork in Dauphin County court, where the lawsuit had been filed. All it filed was a one-sentence discontinuance Tuesday morning, according to court records.

A department spokesperson would only cite the settlement in refusing to provide any information beyond the four-sentence statement the department had issued.

Private lawyers argued the case for the state, and the department did not respond to questions Tuesday about how much the case had cost it in legal bills.
SEATTLE (AP)  An organizer of a neo-Nazi campaign to threaten journalists and Jewish activists in three states was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison after apologizing for what he did and saying he's a changed man.

Cameron Shea was one of four members of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division charged last year with having cyberstalked and sent Swastika-laden posters to journalists and an employee of the Anti-Defamation League, telling them, You have been visited by your local Nazis, Your Actions have Consequences, and We are Watching.

The defendant wanted the victims to feel unsafe in their own homes, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

Shea, 25, pleaded guilty in April in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two of the counts in the five-count indictment: a conspiracy charge that carries up to five years in prison and interference with a federally protected activity, which carries up to 10. Prosecutors sought a term of more than four years.

In a letter to Judge John C. Coughenour, Shea apologized, saying, I cannot put into words the guilt that I feel about this fear and pain that I caused.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Poland's prime minister insisted Tuesday that efforts by Middle Eastern migrants to enter the European Union country from neighboring Belarus are part of a plot by the Minsk regime to sow political instability in the EU.

Mateusz Morawiecki spoke in Kuznica, in the east, during a visit to the Border Guards securing Poland's  also the EU's  border with Belarus.

Almost 3,000 migrants have tried to enter illegally from Belarus this month alone, and a group of some 30 people  including from Afghanistan and Iraq  have remained at the border, sleeping outdoors for over two weeks. Poland is denying them entry, saying they are political pawns in the hands of Belarusian authorities.

Our eastern neighbor is trying systematically, and in an organized way, to destabilize the political situation, Morawiecki said.

He said his government had knowledge of advertisements that encourage Iraqis to go to Belarus, who are then escorted to the border with Poland and forced by Belarusian officers to cross the Belarus-Poland border. Morawiecki didn't provide further details.

He said these efforts will fail because Poland's border will be very well protected.
A vial labelled with the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease vaccine is seen in this illustration picture taken on March 19, 2021.
People wait in the observation area after receiving their Covid-19 vaccine on Monday at the Micronesia Mall Vaccination Clinic in Dededo.
A United States Navy officer from the amphibious ship USS San Diego receives a vaccine against the coronavirus at the navy port in Manama, Bahrain on Feb. 26, 2021.
Introducation:

Washington president Mr. Trump on Wednesday (25th Jan 2017) ordered that the Mexican border wall is going to be constructed. This decision is taken just to prevent immigrants to enter into the United States, not only this border wall will reduce the number of people who want to resettle in the United States. Just because of this wall many family members of nearest city San Diego gets separated and this forced to reunite through the fence. Mr. Trump said it is vital to control the entry of immigrants who can make illegal plans and implement them against the United States and this will lead to terrorist attack. So the major focus of Mr. Trump was to stop or prevent terrors attacks in United States.

Analysis

Curtail immigration resulted president trump to take action and ordered to construct Mexican border wall. The order on detention policies includes the program which prevents the terrors activities that can be formulated from different country or anywhere outside the Mexico City. On Tuesday (24th Jan 2017) Mr. Trump said that he will be signing tahe order of Mexican wall in front of department of Homeland Security on Wednesday, in the presence of foreign minister Luis Videgaray. This order is going to implement once Mr. trump will complete the official documentation.

Muslim Immigrants

When the campaign took place Mr. trump said that there is a need to take the step against terrorism, trump major focus was on saying no to refugees basically from countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Syria at least for temporary basis. These countries include Muslims and who can lead to more and more terrorist attacks. With the order of making Mexican border wall it will stop entering of any immigration or refugee, which ultimately helps in reducing terrorist attacks and will prevent from terrorist planning.

Funding

Mr. Trump has insisted that Mexico will finance but on the other hand leaders protested against it. The order for making the wall was passed but it definitely needs money, so they estimated the approximately budget for making the wall and they found that there will be need of fencing that will cost $6.5 million and if in case they need additional fencing then it will cost around $4.2 million. Maintenance cost was not included in the price, so ultimately it will cost around $14 billion for a wall. On which Mr. Trump said that whenever he will meets with Mr. Pena Nieto, he will talk about finance for wall.

Conclusion:

Personally, trump order to make Mexican border wall was temporally solution against the terrorist attacks and for banning the entry of refugee. Later by the end of the month the motive was to increase number of refugees said by Mr. Obama, now out of 85000, 10000 slots are reserved for Syrians. This year there is an increase in the number of resettled refugees has been increased, it is almost double what Mr. Trump was considering.
FNB customers should be aware of the increase of enumeration or account testing used by criminals to identify their bank card details and steal their money.

This issue was recently brought to MyBroadbands attention after fraudsters attempted to use an FNB customers new and unused debit card to transact online.

The customer contacted us because he suspected FNB had suffered a data breach or that the banks employees or third-party card delivery services had been compromised.

His predicament started a few months ago when his card was being charged for a Netflix subscription that he had not signed up for.

He called FNB and after the bank investigated the matter, they refunded him and confirmed it was not Netflix but another service that was using Netflix as a description in its payment details.

The bank cancelled the card and a new one was sent to the customer.

When he received it, he had already started using a secondary bank card. He told MyBroadband he always had two cards, keeping a spare should his main card get damaged.

Since the new card was only going to be a backup, I put it away in a drawer and never even took it off the paper that they stick it on to or opened the security window where the PIN is, he said. I only activated the card within the FNB app.

He also sent MyBroadband an image as proof of this and told us that no one else had access to the drawer where it was kept.

On Friday 13 August 2021, he received five notifications from FNB within 30 minutes that a transaction was declined due to CVV failure.

I reckoned an online store where I previously purchased was trying to charge for a service, but because I have been using the FNB virtual card for online transactions, the transaction probably failed, the customer said.

Two days later he received the same message in nine notifications within a 20-minute period.

He called the FNB fraud department, and an agent told him the card being used was not his virtual card but his new, unused debit card.

The customer then placed a temporary block on the card within the app to try and figure out what was happening.

The next morning he received about 20 more notifications of declined transactions due to the temporary block.

He called the FNB fraud department again and an agent blocked the card. He was informed that it was not clear who was charging the card.

I believe within the bank or where the cards get printed or put inside the envelope, there are bad actors that are taking down card details and are then trying to use it for transactions a couple of months later, he said.

Normally, someone will not pick this up because they would have used their debit card many times in retail stores or online and would not be able to understand where the card details were breached. What makes my case very strange is that the card is basically still in the box, unused, he said.

However, FNB Card head of fraud Trish Ramdhani told MyBroadband that the incident was related to a new modus operandi adopted by merchant fraudsters.

This fraudulent activity is called enumeration or account testing, where fraudsters use automated scripts or software to obtain or validate payment account information, Ramdhani stated.

It is becoming more prevalent in the industry and globally as we see ecommerce transactions increase due to Covid-19 and lockdown restrictions.

Ramdhani explained that the fraudster was able to generate the card number but not the CVV number.

From time to time, these fraudsters target unsuspecting victims. Fortunately, with the increased levels of security controls, we proactively block these merchants from future attempts, Ramdhani said.

In this instance, FNB detected the fraudulent attempts and blocked the merchants.

Ramdhani confirmed that the previous fraud case the customer had experienced was unrelated to the incident.

To help minimise the risk of fraud, we recommend that consumers use trusted websites for online shopping, said Ramdhani.

Our customers can easily cancel their cards or report possible fraudulent activity by using the Report Fraud On App function on the FNB Banking App.
House of Better, the health-centric restaurant at the newly renovated Dr. Wilkinsons Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs, will kick off Chile Harvest with a series of special celebrations inspired by Hatch Chile Season that is widely celebrated in New Mexico.

Every Sunday starting Sept. 5 through Sunday, Oct. 31 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. the resort in downtown Calistoga will offer spice-loving patrons the opportunity to indulge in special seasonal chile-infused dishes and cocktails envisioned by Trevor Logan. Regular menu offerings of nutritious-forward food influenced by Southwest cuisine will also be available.

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The Chile Harvest Celebration menu will feature New Mexican Chile roasting hourly, with special menu items like roasted green chile salsa, calabacitas with roasted green chile, and queso blanco with roasted green chile. Chile-infused cocktails will include green chile margaritas and green chile lemonade. House of Betters Labor Day Weekend Special Menu will include carne adovada and slaw sliders with housemade buns, Southwest Barbecue chicken flatbreads, grilled organic corn with cotija cheese and red chile, and drinks like house-made cherry lemonade spritz (with or without spirits) and watermelon mint spritz.
Yountville  Louis Kapcsandy Jr., Kapcsandy Family Winery  "There is a blissful combination of enthusiasm and relief about the recent fall-type weather conditions. All established vineyards are exhibiting low stress, sporting robust leaf canopies that drive sugars and provide ample shade cover for the final mile of ripening. Cordon-pruned vines appear to be weathering the drought better than those cane-pruned. The early varietals (i.e. Sauvignon Blanc and blocks selected for Rose production) began coming off the vine last week with delightful results. Yields are promising and spirits are high for those filling and tending the tanks. Cabernets are on track to ripen by mid-October. Berry-size is very respectable, with moderate juice-to-skin ratios, not an unusual occurrence when soil moisture is at a premium. With warmer but pleasant weather on the way, the 2021 vintage has a shot at greatness. Stay tuned!"

Stags Leap District  Elizabeth Vianna, Chimney Rock Winery  "In Stags Leap District, the thrill of anticipation for harvest has arrived. Chris Tynan, winemaker at Cliff Lede, will harvest some Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon from further Upvalley this week and says, 'It wont be long until we bring in Merlot from our SLD vineyards.' Elias Fernandez, winemaker at Shafer Vineyards, is working with his team to get all the equipment ready and says harvest looks like it is three to four weeks away. 'Crops are below average across all varieties. Once it starts I think it will go quickly.' At Chimney Rock, we are getting equipment and cellar ready with some Rutherford whites getting close, but no Stags Leap District reds yet in sight. We are tracking about a week behind last year and excited about the potential quality of the vintage."
Monday, Aug. 16

1903  Firefighters were dispatched to a possible gas leak on Monte Vista.

Tuesday, Aug. 17

1714  Medical aid for a man feeling dizzy near Adams/Main.

1759  A teenage girl was late getting home from school on the bus. She got home momentarily.

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1849  Medical aid for a person with shortness of breath on Pope Street.

1854  Report of a large water leak at Spring Mountain/Elmhurst, with water running into the street.

2017  Officers were asked to do a Birthday Driveby for a 7-year-old boy on Knoll Place.

Wednesday, Aug. 18

0426  Lift assist on Grayson Avenue.

0902  Report of a man with a shopping cart and a dog hanging out on an Adams Street property all week and leaving trash. Police admonished the man for trespassing.

1013  A green bike was found on Hunt Avenue.

1514  Police were told to be on the lookout for a truck reported stolen from Soda Canyon Road.
Local Pacaso opponents are celebrating a win after the company pulled a prospective timeshare house from its portfolio, selling it quietly to a couple as a single-family home.

The billion-dollar company had intended the house, at the corner of Kearney and Madrona, to be one of its fractional-share operations, occupied by as many as eight different owners. Neighbors have expressed their opposition with prominent signs, and the house was the site of an anti-Pacaso rally last month that included representatives from groups in Napa and Sonoma.

The wine country opposition groups have formed an alliance and maintain the website stoppacasoNOW.com, collaborating on strategies and outreach to other communities opposing timeshares in their neighborhoods.

St. Helena recently received a favorable ruling in a SLAPP motion that was part of the lawsuit Pacaso has filed against the city, which has said the company violates regulations on timeshares. Currently, two Pacaso houses are in operation within St. Helena, to the continuing dismay of neighbors. Another has been having showings to prospective buyers, while yet another house is in limbo.
What about water, that is life, that is gold, the core of our existence. Water shortage? Is this the newest threat to our being.?

It is hard to be without electricity, can you imagine being without water?

As the shortages become more extreme and water supplies are cut, it has raised awareness that we need to find alternative resources.

What is being done by our city administration in St. Helena to face and remedy the ever-critical issue of water shortage?

Restriction on water usage is a must, however, it is not going to solve the problem, in short term or in the long run.

We must aim for a long-term permanent solution, a solution that we control, and we can make it happen.

Turn wastewater into drinking water.

This technique is being applied in several locations in the USA and around the world.

Our community is very aware, and concerned about the Water Issue, however worrying is not going to solve the problem.

We demand action, and realistic, accomplishable solutions.

Turning wastewater into drinking water is one of the possibilities.
All of that immunity is bringing down our cases in California, Gandhi said.

She and other experts expect vaccination rates to increase as more employers mandate the shots and proof of vaccination is required to participate in more activities.

The experts also expect some people will be more comfortable with getting the shots after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday gave full approval to the Pfizer vaccine for people 16 and older.

About two-thirds of eligible Californians 12 and over are fully vaccinated, and another 10% have gotten their first shots. Areas with higher numbers of new cases and hospitalizations tend to be areas with lower immunization rates.

In Del Norte County, in the state's far northwest, only 44% of eligible people have received at least one shot, and it averaged 170 new COVID cases per 100,000 residents in the last week, a rate nearly triple any other county. Tuolumne, Kings, Yuba and Sutter counties all had rates above 50 new cases per 100,000. The state average is 28. All those counties have vaccination rates well below the state average.
In taking on police trauma, mindfulness  the practice of maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens, according to UC Berkeleys Greater Good Magazine  was a particular focus of Napas former Interim Police Chief Sylvia Moir during her stint at NPD earlier this year.

Richard Goerling, founder of the Mindful Badge Initiative, said Moir told him she wanted a pilot group of roughly 30 Napa officers to be taught mindfulness skills. In June, the organization held two in-person trainings with NPD and followed up with weekly Zoom sessions.

Goerling, a retired police lieutenant and veteran of the United States Coast Guard, said he founded Mindful Badge to bring growth mindset and trauma competency training to public safety professionals. His training gives officers tools to combat burnout and cynicism and the dualistic thinking that often emerges as a coping mechanism."

Moir knew Goerling before coming to Napa, according to a TEDx talk she gave in 2019, titled The potential of mindful policing. In the talk, Moir details a call she responded to that involved a man who died by suicide. Moir and the other officers present acted humanely and professionally, she said, and she even comforted the mans wife. But then she dove back into work.
The mission is to provide a global education that instills a love for learning and honors languages and cultures, reads the schools guiding statement, which was released during the Thursday meeting in Napa. Our vision is that all students are empowered to achieve academic excellence while growing bilingualism, biliteracy, and interpersonal connections in a community that is responsive to the well-being of all learners.

Survey results also shared with the board showed a majority of the 236 school parents contacted have placed their children in NVUSDs three existing Spanish-immersion schools for this academic year, including Harvest, the existing middle school in that segment. However, a sizable minority  nearly 27% of English speakers and 12% of Spanish speakers  said they had children currently in River Middle School who would stay on campus even with its move to the dual-language model next fall.

Creating a new English-Spanish academy is a linchpin of NVUSDs overhaul of its middle school tier, in which two school programs and one campus will be closed response to shrinking enrollment and the resulting fall-off in per-student education funding from the state. The district opened the 2021-22 year with 16,603 children and teenagers enrolled, down from 16,779 in June and more than 18,300 in 2015.
Perrulli also anticipates that with the rise of contactless service during COVID-19, these single-serve units will continue to be sold in restaurants, bars, sporting events and concert venues in the years to come. Only time will tell, but Perrulli says govino is already in chats with interested wine partners, airlines and resorts to fill this gap in the wine and packaging industries.

Green thinks this partnership with Quartino promotes the democratization of deliciousness, since they are putting a 90-point wine in a single-serve unit, after all. But to Royal Prince Wines, this is anything but selling out,  its a strategic business move.

I think part of the challenge of our industry is that we are surrounded by great wines, and some of them are like trophies and it becomes almost more about the collectability and the squirreling away and laying it down for 10 years ... We really wanted to produce something that was not only going to be for people like ourselves, but that we could really drive our business in the on-premise world, he said.

The sustainability aspect isnt half bad either.
Full approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine means it meets the same very high standards required of all the approved vaccines we rely on every day, said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief. That should help anyone who still has concerns gain confidence in the shots.

Moderna has also applied to the FDA for full approval of its own two-part vaccine. Johnson & Johnson, maker of the third, single-dose option in the U.S., said it hopes to do so later this year.

Later Monday, Adams, the Napa County spokesperson, announced the county health department will no longer report whether people dying from the coronavirus had weakened immune systems, saying such details may give healthier people a false sense of security about their resistance to severe illness.

It gives people this idea that they can get COVID only if they have a pre-existing condition, she said. It gives the idea you have to be really sick to die of COVID, and thats not true.

Napa City Council hears COVID-19 update from Queen of the Valley Medical Center While the city of Napa weighs possible COVID-19 safety adjustments to deal with a recent surge in new cases, the Napa City Council on Tuesday 

The Delta variant has sent cases, deaths and hospitalizations soaring in recent weeks in the U.S., erasing months of progress against COVID-19. Deaths are running at about 1,000 a day on average for the first time since mid-March, and new cases are averaging 147,000 a day, a level last seen at the end of January.
President Biden defends his decision to continue with the American withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. As the U.S. and its allies leave the region, desperate scenes have unfolded at Kabul airport as people try to leave as the Taliban tighten their grip on the country. Chris Purdy from Veterans for American Ideals had warned that America should have begun to evacuate interpreters in June. Only 1% of interpreters have been evacuated. Mark Almond, Director of Crisis Research Institute, describes the situation on the ground in Afghanistan and explains what the ramifications may be for the West.
PLACERVILLE  More than 13,500 firefighters were working Monday to contain a dozen large California wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee to safety.

In Northern California, where most of the blazes are burning, there were no red flag warnings for critical conditions but the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said fire danger was expected to remain elevated through midweek.

Containment increased to 40% at the Dixie Fire, which has burned more than 1,130 square miles (2,926 square kilometers) in the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades. Ongoing assessments showed 1,259 buildings destroyed, including 678 single-family homes, Cal Fire said. Nearly 13,000 structures remained threatened.

Tallies of losses also increased at the Caldor Fire, which has incinerated more than 166 square miles (430 square kilometers) of El Dorado National Forest on Sierra slopes southwest of Lake Tahoe. Continuing assessments showed 447 buildings destroyed. More than 17,000 structures were still under threat.

4:30 WATCH NOW: Napa County Fire Season Update: How YOU can prevent starting a wildfire Interim Napa County Fire Chief Jason Martin discusses how residents can curb spark-inducing activities to prevent starting a wildfire. Video c

Cal Fire said the potential for large wildfires will continue to be low in Southern California. Intrusion of moist ocean air inland has been keeping skies cloudy and temperatures cooler than normal well into each day.
Kiley has raised close to $1 million, mostly in small amounts from thousands of contributors across the state and has pledged to not accept money from special interests. But it takes many millions to mount the kind of statewide media campaign that can raise his name recognition in a Republican field that includes talk radio host Larry Elder, ex-Olympian Caitlyn Jenner and former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

Voters have two choices in the Sept. 14 election: Should Newsom be removed from office and who among 46 candidates should replace him? If a majority votes to oust Newsom, whoever gets the most votes on the second question will be governor. With so many candidates dividing the votes it's likely a winner could emerge with 25% or less.

Jon Fleischman, former executive director of the California Republican Party, is among GOP observers who say Kileys campaign is more about the future than pulling an upset next month. No Republicans hold statewide office in California and the party is desperate to find new political leaders to rally around.

The state is home to 5.3 million registered Republicans  more than the total populations of more than half the states. Jon Fleischman, publisher of the Flash Report, a conservative news website, said many people forget that reality because Democrats have such a stranglehold on power in the state.
Last week, the Culver City Unified district near Los Angeles was believed to be the first in the U.S. to require vaccines for all eligible students this fall. But student vaccine mandates are still uncommon, and the shots are not yet approved for children below age 12.

The poll shows 59% of Americans support vaccination requirements for teachers and nearly as many  55%  say the same for students age 12 and over, who are eligible to be vaccinated. Among parents, support was lower, with 42% backing vaccine mandates for students.

Vaccinated parents were more likely to support mask and vaccine requirements than unvaccinated parents.

Jeff Hicklin in Falmouth, Maine, said he supports mask and vaccine mandates for teachers and eligible students. He says it's the best way to protect those who are too young to be vaccinated, including his 7-year-old son, Oscar.

We need to do everything we can to keep schools open and safe, said Hicklin, 40, an accountant.

In Menomonie, Wisconsin, Erik Pederstuen has been vaccinated and plans to have his 9-year-old daughter inoculated once she's eligible. But Pederstuen, a technical college instructor, said he doesnt think coronavirus vaccines should be a requirement.
The Israeli military said in a statement that it was beefing up its forces along the Gaza border and conducting extensive exercises. The army said that it would act aggressively against any militant activity along the fence.

Early on Tuesday, Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes on Hamas targets in response to incendiary balloons. The Israeli military said that Hamas fired machine guns into Israel, drawing an additional airstrike. No casualties were reported on either side.

But by the afternoon, the activists were launching the balloons again. Our message is clear and explicit. This siege must be broken, said one of the activists, who identified himself as Abu Omar. We will not be intimidated by any threats.

The violence has complicated the cease-fire efforts by Egypt, which closed its border with Gaza on Monday because of difficulties in the cease-fire talks. It also has threatened to overshadow a visit to Washington by Israel's new prime minister, Naftali Bennett, who is scheduled to meet President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday.
Over the last four decades, hundreds of politicians have come and gone from the Capitol and its political ambience has undergone a dramatic transformation. Allan Zaremberg has not only seen it all, but has hugely influenced what did or didnt happen.

Last week, Zaremberg announced that he will soon retire after more than two decades as CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce and previous stints as a chamber lobbyist and high-ranking aide to two Republican governors, George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson.

Donna Lucas, a public relations executive who chairs the chambers board and herself has been a prominent Capitol figure during those decades, wasnt blowing smoke when she said, CalChamber and Allan Zaremberg have been one and the same for more than two decades. His effectiveness in representing Californias business community is legendary and he created models for success that are now common practice.

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When Zaremberg, then a young attorney in the Department of Justice, followed his boss, Deukmejian, into the governors office in 1983, California and its Capitol were bastions of pro-business conservatism. However, by the time he assumed leadership of the chamber in 1998, California was turning blue and the Legislature was drifting leftward.
Those fears are legitimate. Recidivism is commonplace among convicts supposedly rehabilitated in state prisons. A very recent 34-state federal study found three-quarters of released convicts are arrested again within five years of their release. So its easy to imagine how many more repeat crimes are likely to come from people arrested for very harmful crimes and then quickly released without bail.

Its true Gascon, like Chesa Boudin, his San Francisco counterpart, opposed cash bail during his election campaign. But its reasonable to argue that as a public official, he nevertheless must act according to the voters wishes, as made known very clearly in their votes on ballot measures.

But Gascon sneered at voters from the moment he took office, issuing light-sentence orders for serious criminals on the absurd theory that letting them out sooner will cause them to be better citizens on release.

Hes correct that most enhanced sentences are meted out to minorities. But no one has ever proven those sentenced did not commit serious crimes. In fact, most crimes by Blacks and Latinos are committed against others in the same groups because angry and frustrated people are more likely to lash out against those physically closest to them. Giving them easy outs and own-recognizance release while awaiting trial will not lower crime among minorities.
Pikeville, KY (41501)

Today

Cloudy with occasional showers. High 72F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Some clouds. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Digest: Armenian soldier killed at Ararat positions, Azerbaijan returns Karabakh citizen injured

Human rights activist: We have indisputable evidence of 80 more Armenian POWs being captured by Azerbaijan

Artsakh parliament holds special session dedicated to 30th anniversary of declaration of Karabakh independence

Azerbaijan prosecutor general complains about Russia peacekeepers in Karabakh

Armenia opposition MP: Azerbaijanis throw burning wheels at several Gegharkunik Province villages

Caucasus Heritage Watch: Azerbaijanis destroy Makun Bridge in Karabakh

Russias Lavrov: Armenia is our ally

Soldier, 39, killed after Azerbaijan opens fire on Armenia positions

Russia, Azerbaijan deputy FMs discuss implementation of Karabakh agreements

Armenia army General Staff chief meets with 3-month training camp reservists

Armenia health ministers adviser appointed deputy head of UCLA Promise Armenian Institute

Prosecutor's Office: Numerous injuries found on Artsakh citizen returned by Azerbaijan

Artsakh President appoints new labor, social, migration affairs minister

Armenia national airline to be named Fly Arna

Armenia defense minister pays working visit to some military units

Pashinyan: I am convinced that Armenia-Uzbekistan mutual relations will further develop

615 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Moody's leaves Armenia sovereign rating unchanged

Russia peacekeepers ensure order, security in Karabakh on Knowledge Day

Psaki: US partners with Turkey, Qatar on Kabul airport

Artsakh to mark Independence Day anniversary for first time without Armenia top leadership attendance

President to Armenia students: Learn to overcome challenges, to pursue dreams without despair

Five missing after US Navy helicopter crashes off California coast

Armdaily.am: Armenia President reacts to recent events taking place in Syunik Province

Newspaper: Azerbaijan carrying out large-scale construction in Artsakhs Shushi

Newspaper: Armenia authorities compile 'blacklist' of opposition MPs

Biden calls Afghanistan evacuation mission extraordinary success

Armenian Foreign Minister and CSTO Secretary General discuss Armenian-Azerbaijani border situation

Merkel says that Germany is trying to establish contact with Taliban

Digest: More on COVID-19 in Armenia, armed robbery takes place in Yerevan

Russia FM calls on Azerbaijan to unconditionally release Armenian POWs

Russias Lavrov: Rhetoric of both sides of Karabakh conflict needs to be moderated

Armenias Mirzoyan: We will respect Afghanistan peoples choice

Armenia FM: No negotiations on peace agreement with Azerbaijan underway

Eurasian Development Bank wants to become one of largest creditors of Armenia economy

Armenia Investigative Committee: Man found dead with gunshot wound inside car in Yerevan

Lavrov: In talks with Armenia FM we will separately discuss Nagorno-Karabakh situation

Opposition MP: Positive signals being exchanged with Turkey are new trap for Armenia

Armenia FM: Tense situation in region is consequence of Azerbaijan's destructive policy

ECtHR ruling: Ambassador to Sweden, Iceland to get compensation from Armenia government

Armenia, Russia FMs hold tete-a-tete meeting

Armenia ex-president Kocharyan, former deputy PM Gevorgyan case court hearing not held

Ombudsman: Azerbaijan MOD aims to cover up their criminal acts against Armenia civilian population

Fallen soldiers family stages protest outside Armenia government building

No electricity in court where Armenia 2nd president Kocharyan, ex-deputy PM Gevorgyan criminal case is heard

Armenia ex-president Kocharyan, former deputy PM Gevorgyan criminal case court hearing resumes

524 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

OSCE Minsk Group new Russian Co-Chair visits Azerbaijan

Armed robbery occurs at bank branch in Yerevan shopping mall

37,000 first-graders start school in Armenia

Armenia PM congratulates Kyrgyzstan President on Independence Day anniversary

Some 30,000 people evacuated in California due to wildfires

Russia peacekeepers hold humanitarian action for Nagorno-Karabakh children

Dead body of man, 37, with gunshot wound is found in car in Yerevan

Newspaper: Artsakh independence anniversary to be celebrated without Armenia top leadership for first time in history

Newspaper: Armenia authorities trying to cause rift among parliament opposition factions, MPs

Armenia PM goes on short vacation

UN Security Council adopts Afghanistan resolution

Pentagon announces US completion of evacuation out of Kabul airport

Armenia ombudsman reaffirms Azerbaijan soldiers deliberate starting fire near Sotk, Kut villages of Gegharkunik

Ukraine and Armenia to cooperate in attracting investments

Armenian Ministry of Education and French Embassy sign cooperation agreement

Israeli Defense Minister meets with the President of Palestine

Uzbekistan completely closes border with Afghanistan

IAEA: North Korea seems to have restarted nuclear reactor

EU recommends restoring restrictions on US tourists

Digest: Turkey talks normalising relations with Armenia, soldier injured in Karabakh

Dollar drops in Armenia

Azerbaijans Aliyev calls Karabakh Armenians hated enemy

Azerbaijan president: Current course of events shows that Karabakh conflict would never be resolved peacefully

Divine Liturgy served in Armenian church of Turkeys Malatya for first time since 1915 (VIDEO)

Economist: Armenia exports growth connected with external factors

Opposition Armenia Faction MPs health grows worse in prison

Moscow Armenian Theater actor dies during performance

Artsakh FM: Azerbaijan, with Turkeys complicity, sending militants from Afghanistan to occupied part of Karabakh

Opposition Armenia Faction MP summoned to Special Investigation Service

Officer charged with Azerbaijans capturing of 62 Armenia soldiers in Artsakh: They were forces 15 times greater

FM: Armenian captives in Azerbaijan are subjected to torture

Lawyer of Armenia officer accused in 62 Shirak residents case: How was connection cut off on day of Azerbaijan attack?

Health ministry: 275,138 people so far vaccinated in Armenia against coronavirus

Russia peacekeepers in Karabakh carry out actions to find drones

Confusion arises during Armenia appellate court hearing of case of ex-President Kocharyan, others

Armenia 2nd president Kocharyans lawyer submits to appellate court motion to cancel or reduce bail

Prosecution in case on Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan, others: Charge should be re-qualified

Artsakh Investigative Committee: Azerbaijan soldier who entered Martakert city apartment is arrested

275 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia appellate court continues considering lawyers, prosecutors appeals in ex-President Kocharyan, others' case

Armenia FM to pay working visit to Russia

Coronavirus casualties worldwide exceed 4.5m

One dead, 2 injured after road accident in Armenia town

Brazil unveils largest Buddha statue in country

Unidentified gunman opens fire inside Toronto shopping mall

Explosions occur in Kabul Monday morning

Armenia ombudsman: Azerbaijan soldiers deliberately set fires near Sotk, Kut villages

Biden declares major disaster in US State of Louisiana

Death toll rises to 7 in US missile strike in Kabul

US hits Kabul territory

At least 30 people killed in airstrike on a Yemeni military base

Turkey speaks about normalising relations with Armenia

Pentagon confirms US attacked car in Kabul due to ISIS threat
Another disinformation is being disseminated in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). This time, about the (Lachin) corridor passing through Berdzor, as if it will be closed soon. Armenian media expert Nairi Hokhikyan wrote about this on Facebook.

"And no one is discussing how that road should be closed if it is the only way connecting Artsakh with the RA [(Republic of Armenia)] so far. The panic is spreading with great speed.

I receive dozens of letters from Artsakh, people ask in terror what will happen to them.

Dear people of Artsakh, this is another provocation of the enemy, the aim of which is to spread panic among the people, forcing them to emigrate. Do not believe this nonsense. Artsakh will never be deprived of the land connection of mother Armenia.

(). Azerbaijan's information attacks need to be immediately destroyed by the Armenian state. ().

Nothing threatens the Lachin corridor passing through Berdzor; moreover, soon the Azerbaijanis will not pass through Berdzor anymore ()," Hokhikyan added, in particular.
MOSCOW.  The mobile patrol teams of the Russian peacekeeping contingent have carried outwith armored vehiclesthe tasks of overseeing the situation along the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) border delimitation line, according to the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry.

"Every day, the mobile patrol team is instructed to go along the line of contact to demonstrate the presence of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, as well as to monitor the observance of the ceasefire," said Aleksandr Isakov, a representative of the Russian peacekeepers. "During the patrol, the team conducts air surveillance, conducts surveys among the local residents to identify changes in the situation at the domain of responsibility."

Russian peacekeeping units carry out daily patrols along three routes in the Martakert and Martuni regions and along the Lachin corridor.

At 27 observation posts, Russian peacekeepers are monitoring the situation around the clock and monitoring the ceasefire.

Cooperation is maintained with the General Staffs of the Armed Forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan to coordinate efforts to prevent possible incidents in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Karabakh.
I present the government's action plan for 2021-26 in extraordinary conditions. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this Tuesday while presentingin the National Assemblythe program of the new government of the Republic of Armenia (RA).

"The grave consequences of the 44-day [Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)] war in 2020, the 3,773 casualties we had during the war, the whereabouts of 243 soldiers, the fact of being unknown, the fact that some of our captured soldiers have not been returned yet [by Azerbaijan], the thousands displaced, the unusual and complex socioeconomic situation in Artsakh and Armenia, the growing challenges around Armenia and Artsakh, the current crisis situation in the Sotk-Khoznavar area as a result of the illegal incursion of the Azerbaijani armed forces into the RA sovereign territory, the regular violations of the tripartite declaration on cessation of hostilities after November 9, and as a result, the existence of new casualties, the tense international situation, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic make the environment in which we shall discuss the government program strange

This discussion, however, shall not be only about the recording of the problems and challenges, but also about their causes and origins, and most importantly, it shall outline solutions in terms of short-term, medium-term, as well as in terms of strategic perspective because it is obvious that the RA is at a crucial and turning point destination; at a point from where the continuation will be decisive for our state and statehood," Pashinyan said.

He expressed hope that the style, content, depth, and atmosphere of today's discussion will correspond to the agenda that Armenia is facing today.

Pashinyan said that there has been an important achievement in recent months in terms of the institutional establishment of the Armenian state and democracy. "Many years of unresolved agendas have finally been irreversibly resolved through the 2021 snap parliamentary elections. The institution of elections was manifested in a new way in the RA in 2021. The average statistical standard in the history of the Third Republic [of Armenia] was as follows: the publication of the official election results was followed by convincing facts attesting to the authorities rigging of the elections, all this was accompanied by public political unrest, the internal political crisis was emerging or further deepening," the PM said.

According to Pashinyan, the internal political crisis has been overcome in Armenia as a result of the 2021 snap parliamentary elections. "This is probably the most unexpected result of the elections because after the catastrophic 44-day war until the end of the [election] campaign, the internal political discourse was being built on the logic of betrayal, handing over, sale of land, accusation of capitulation, punishment, taking revenge upon, even public shooting of the representatives of the current authorities, in particular of the [incumbent] Prime Minister, the family members of his and of the [other] representatives of the authorities, Nikol Pashinyan said.
The court hearing on the criminal case against second President Robert Kocharyan and former deputy prime minister Armen Gevorgyanwho is now an MP of the opposition Armenia Faction in the National Assembly (NA)has resumed Tuesday in Yerevan.

At the previous court session, Gevorgyan's lawyer Erik Aleksanyan petitioned the Constitutional Court to clarify the issue of suspending the criminal prosecution against his client. The thing is that the law does not provide a clear answer as to whether parliamentary immunity can be "automatically" overcome if criminal prosecution has started before obtaining the status of an MP, or the Prosecutor General is obligated to seek the consent of the NA.

The situation is similarbut not the samein the case of two other MPs of the "Armenia" Faction, and the latter will apply to the Constitutional Court regarding them. In the case of MPs Mkhitar Zakaryan and Artur Sargsyan, the requirement of the law was bypassed, as the new parliament had not yet begun its work, and therefore the Central Electoral Commission assumed its role, allowing the arrest of these two MPs.

In Gevorgyan's case, however, it turns out that the criminal prosecution against him had started before he won a parliamentary seat and was elected the head of a parliamentary standing committee, but the status of an MP changes this situation. The court constantly appoints sessions at the same time as the NA holds sittings, and it demands Gevorgyan's presence in the courtroom, threatening with sanctions in case of "disrespectful" absence. Today, for example, Armen Gevorgyan will have to "sacrifice" his participation in the NA debates on the government program in order to attend the court hearing.
During Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's address Tuesday at the debates on the new governments program, the journalists held a protest at the National Assembly (NA) boothand as a sign of media restrictions in Armenias parliament.

To note, the rights of journalists were restricted at the beginning of the work of the new NA.

In particular, they are no longer allowed to conduct interviews with MPs in the NA corridors.

Besides, a few days ago the journalists were asked out of the NA booth when the situation in the NA Sessions Hall had become tense, and the parliament speaker had called the security officers there.
The processes related to the statement [demanding the resignation of the government] by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia could not but have a negative impact on the security system, and we saw their bitter consequences in May, in the form of the well-known situation that came about in the Sotk-Khoznavar sector. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this Tuesday in the National Assembly while presenting the program of the new government.

According to him, the situation was unusual when the aforesaid statement by the General Staff of the Armed Forces in February created a risk to involve the Armenian army in politics, and the process of getting out of this situation took more than a month.

The PM recalled that after the 44-day Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war in the fall of 2020, the conversations about the need to change the form of government and return to the semi-presidential system became more active.

"The question arises whether the mechanism for reducing public tension through elections would work just as effectively in the case of a semi-presidential system. It is not a fact that the parliamentary system showed its incompetence in connection with the crisis over the Karabakh issue. Everything must be weighed well," said the Prime Minister.

Pashinyan suggested that if there were an opportunity to hold elections in 1998 according to the 2021 scenario, then all future processes in Armenia could have gone differently. "Then the [First] President resigned, and all this was done without taking into account the opinion of the people, and the issue of the Karabakh [conflict] settlement was removed from the sphere of public discussion, which created problems.

From the very beginning of the negotiation process, Azerbaijan has clearly worded its goals. Baku believed that Karabakh [(Artsakh)] and especially the regions were part of Azerbaijan. For it, there is no Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, and moreover, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. They have always pursued the goal of gaining control of Karabakh and the regions; and if this is not achieved through negotiations, then to achieve it by military means.

It was not like that in our rhetoric. We focused on the issue of international recognition of Karabakh. But many considered it treason, citing the December 1, 1988 decision according to which Nagorno-Karabakh should have been recognized as part of Armenia.

Later another resolution appeared: territories in exchange for status. There were people who had considered this treason, too.

There was also a resolution in the form of conceding some territories of Armenia in exchange for the joining of Karabakh to Armenia; this was also considered treason.

Azerbaijan's rhetoric was the same everywhere and always, whereas Armenia's approaches were different in the country, in the external environment, and around the negotiating table. There was no answer to the question of what we will do if we cant reach an acceptable solution to us at the negotiating table. This systemic problem has had a serious impact," the Armenian PM added.
After November 9, one of our key tasks is and remains the reforms and modernity of our armed forces. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this Tuesday in the National Assembly while presenting the program of the new government of Armenia.

"Some forces are trying to present our agenda of army reforms as evidence of our adoption of an aggressive policy, our intention or decision to start a war. This has nothing to do with reality because the Republic of Armenia, like any peace-loving state, will develop and transform the armed forces not for aggression, but for the legitimate and constitutional purposes of defending against aggression, defending its own sovereignty. The objective of the [Armenian] government in the domain of the armed forces is to carry out continuous reforms that will ensure the fulfillment of the constitutional mission of the armed forces.

The Republic of Armenia has no intention to conquer territories, start a war. Strategically, the Republic of Armenia will gradually transition to a professional army, the structure of temporary and conscription military service will be considerably changed," the Prime Minister stated.

According to Pashinyan, the Armenian government attaches importance to the involvement of women in the combat units of the armed forces.

"The thesis on women's involvement has no ideological or anti-ideological basis, but is conditioned solely by pragmatic calculation. Women are the majority of the population of Armenia, and the under-involvement of their resources in any sphere, from defense to economy, means a distortion of our country's development potential. This does not mean that women should be involved in the army as much as men; it is about the full use as possible of potential," said Nikol Pashinyan.
Hovhannes Khudoyan, a lawyer of Armenias second President Robert Kocharyan, submitted a motion to the court with a request to suspend the criminal case against his client and former deputy prime minister Armen Gevorgyan, who is now an MP of the opposition Armenia Faction in the National Assembly (NA).

At the previous court session, Gevorgyan's lawyer Erik Aleksanyan had petitioned the Constitutional Court to clarify the issue of suspending the criminal prosecution against his client. The thing is that the law does not provide a clear answer as to whether parliamentary immunity can be "automatically" overcome if criminal prosecution has started before obtaining the status of an MP, or the Prosecutor General is obligated to seek the consent of the NA.

Presiding Judge Anna Danibekyan said that the Constitutional Court had answered the question whether it was considering the petition of the "Armenia" Faction on this issue.

It follows from the response of the Constitutional Court that there is no such specific petition, but there is a petition in which, among other issues, Article 96 of the Constitution is raised.

They also received the answer of the leader of the "Armenia" Faction in parliament, Seyran Ohanyan, who confirms that the faction has not yet applied to the Constitutional Court on this issue.

Khudoyan recalled that Article 96 of the Constitution defines the procedure and circumstances of overcoming parliamentary immunity. The attorney reminded that, regardless of when the criminal prosecution started, it is the parliament that should give permission for its implementation and continuation regarding an MP.

The lawyer stated that this did not imply inadmissibility of criminal prosecution, but the need to comply with the law.

The continuation of this criminal case is impossible without the approval of the parliament, the lawyer argued.

In conclusion, Hovhannes Khudoyan asked the court to suspend the consideration of this case, as Armen Gevorgyan's parliamentary immunity has not been overcome, or to apply to the Constitutional Court.

The prosecution, in turn, said this motion was inconsistent with the norms, and concluded that all suspects and defendants could be nominated MPs and request a suspension of the case on that basis.
The court considering the criminal case against second President Robert Kocharyan and former deputy prime minister Armen Gevorgyanwho is now an MP of the opposition Armenia Faction in the National Assembly (NA)on Tuesday rescheduled the consideration of the motions to apply to the Constitutional Court (CC) and suspend this case.

The motions were submitted by defense lawyers Erik Aleksanyan and Hovhannes Khudoyanand in connection with the incomprehensible situation regarding Gevorgyan's parliamentary immunity.

Presiding Judge Anna Danibekyan stated that the consideration of these motions had been postponed due to the appeal of one-fifth of the MPs in the Constitutional Court, which also testified to the applicability of Article 96 of the Constitutionand which regulates the issue of parliamentary immunity.

The appeal has not been accepted to proceedings yet.

The judge's actions infuriated lawyer Aleksanyan, who accused the judge of evading justice and questioned her objectivity and knowledge of the law. He therefore requested that this court hearing be adjourned in order to prepare the petition.

The court, however, stated that there was no need to adjourn this hearing and that when the petition was ready, the lawyer would submit it.
The second President of Armenia, the first President of Nagorno Karabakh Robert Kocharyan delivered a speech during a court session on Tuesday.

"The prosecutor's office has not yet apologized to me for the illegal imprisonment," he noted.

"In August 2018, I was arrested in the same hall. From the very first meeting, we voiced the issue of legal certainty of Article 300.1. All other decisions were made during the first arrest. I spent about two years in prison only because the prosecutor's office stubbornly refused to accept the problem of legal certainty of the article. Even though all authoritative specialists from Armenia and from abroad spoke the same thing with one voice," he said.

The ex-president recalled that even in the decision of the ECHR Grand Chamber, they did not understand the essence of the article, suggesting that a mistake had crept into the translation. Although everything was translated correctly.

"The stupidity of the wording is to such an extent that they decided that the problem was in translation. After all this, it is a shame to talk about education and knowledge," the second president said, adding that in the end, it is not the prosecutors office that is responsible for everything, but the Republic of Armenia. The former president recalled the existence of numerous appeals to the ECHR.

"We say - there is an example of all this. Shall we step on the same rake again or draw a conclusion? There are doubts - we need to dispel them as soon as possible," he concluded.The defense side demands to suspend the case and appeal to the Constitutional Court to clarify the issue of Armen Gevorgyan's parliamentary immunity.
Tuesdays court hearing of the criminal case against second President Robert Kocharyan and former deputy prime minister Armen Gevorgyanwho is now an MP of the opposition Armenia Faction in the National Assemblywas marked by a scandal.

When presiding Judge Anna Danibekyan rescheduled the consideration of the motions by defense attorneys Erik Aleksanyan and Hovhannes Khudoyan, Aleksanyan accused the judge of bias and demanded that the current hearing be adjourned in order to prepare a motion for the recusal of the presiding judge.

The court, however, stated that there was no need to adjourn this session, and proposed to submit this motion when it is ready.

As a result, lawyer Aleksanyan demonstratively left the courtroom, despite the judge's announcement that she does not allow him to leave the courtroom.

And the prosecutor stated that these actions of the defense were aimed at preventing him from reading the final part of the indictment.

Due to the absence of the aforesaid lawyer, however, the hearing was adjourned.

The next court session is scheduled for August 31.
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 24.08.21:

A regular session of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia was held Tuesday to debate on the program of the new government.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented the government's program to the parliament.

"I present the government's action plan for 2021-26 in extraordinary conditions," he said referring to the Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] last war.

He noted that the grave consequences of the 44-day war in 2020 resulted in 3,773 casualties, while the whereabouts of 243 soldiers are being unknown, and some of our captured soldiers have not been returned yet by Azerbaijan.

According to him, most of our POWs in Azerbaijan were taken after Russian peacekeepers deployment.

"Azerbaijan has not yet signed the mandate of peacekeepers, and it is becoming clear that a number of Baku actions are aimed against Russian peacekeepers, Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), and stability and peace in Nagorno-Karabakh," he said.

Referring to the crisis in Armenia, PM said that Pashinyan considers politicization of army as a reason for the Azerbaijani attack on Armenia.

Following Pashinyns speech, the situation got tense in the parliament.

The question and answer session with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had started in the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, and the situation got tense.

Parliament speaker Alen Simonyan as well as a number of ruling "Civil Contract" Faction MPs did not like the question by opposition "With Honor" Faction lawmaker Anna Mkrtchyan, and they started making noise in the sessions hall.

A recess was announced, during which, lawmakers even hit each other with chairs in the sessions hall.

The security officers also entered the hall, trying to separate these MPs.

Later, security officials of the Armenian Parliament deleted the footage filmed by the Armenian News - NEWS.am operator from the scuffle in the parliament sitting room.

When a scuffle between pro-government and opposition deputies began, media representatives, among whom was the operator NEWS.am, went to the entrance to the hall. The latter, seeing the open door, entered the hall and filmed the incident. At that time, the head of the parliamentary faction of the ruling Civil Contract party Hayk Konjoryan, pointing to the cameraman, instructed the security officer to pick up the latter's phone and deleted the video.

Moreover, they threatened that if the video about the scuffle is made public, our operator will lose parliamentary accreditation.

As of Tuesday morning, 537 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 238,422 in the country.

Also, six more deaths from COVID-19 were registered, making the respective total 4,768 cases.

One of the leaders of the Panjshir resistance, Ahmad Massoud, is looking for options for resolving the conflict with the Taliban.

According to sources, Massoud intends to surrender, but preserve the honor. Given the reputation of his father, known for his successful fight against the Taliban, the surrender of power would be a significant victory for the Taliban.

In the first ten days of August, the Taliban stepped up their offensive against government forces in Afghanistan; on August 15, militants entered the capital and took control of the presidential palace.

Meanwhile, the Taliban have seized several US aircraft, military helicopters, and anti-tank missiles, Al-Arabiya TV reported, citing sources.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Yevgeniy Yenin said that last week a Ukrainian plane, which was supposed to evacuate Ukrainians from Afghanistan, was seized by unknown persons and taken out on it other passengers to Iran.

On Monday evening, the third plane with citizens evacuated from Afghanistan arrived in Ukraine, there were 98 passengers on board, including 41 citizens of Ukraine.

The G20 special summit, dedicated to the crisis situation in Afghanistan, where power has seized the radical Taliban, is due to take place in September this year, Il Giornale reported.

The meeting will take place in the first or third week of the month so as not to overlap with the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, which is also scheduled to take place in September in New York.

It has not yet been decided whether the G20 summit will be held in person in Rome or via videoconference.
Why was a law passed, according to which the Republic of Azerbaijan is located near the village of Shurnukh? Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this Tuesday in the National Assembly (NA), answering the question of opposition "Armenia" Faction MP Tadevos Avetisyan on how many kindergartens, schools, hospitals, villages, cities, intra-community, and interstate roads have passed under the control of Azerbaijan as a result of the 44-day Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war last fall.

"I am not saying this to cause pain, but to relate to the facts. After all, according to our state logic, to whom did the territories you are talking about belong? Why does one not have an explanation? Many people in the [NA sessions] hall have voted for that law. We have a systemic problem because we do not determine what attitude we have towards all that.

Dont suddenly think that I intend to avoid any confrontation, political challenge, any accusation. If the citizens of the Republic of Armenia decideincluding for what you saidthat I should be shot, I will obediently go under the wall of shooting.

We have put our proposed agendas, youyour agendas, weour proposed wording, youyour wording, our proposed hypotheses, youyour hypotheses, we have taken them to the elections, we have taken them to the elections, and the citizen of Armenia has made his decision. You can ignore that decision, but you will not get any benefit from it. As for the issue, I can say yes, we have lost a lot," Pashinyan stated.

Pashinyan added that it is not a question of a sufficient quorum, but of a political position.

"When was the last time you have been to the lost territories you listed? How many millions or billions [of dollars] were invested in those territories? Throughout the history of negotiations, Armenia has never disputed that they are not Armenian territories. That is, the necessity and inevitability of returning those territories to Azerbaijan has never been disputed," the Armenian PM stated.
In a talk on Thursday during the Herbert Half Hour lecture series, Meg Daly, founder and president of The Underline, shared her experience in launching an entrepreneurial startup, managing a nonprofit organization that coordinates $140 million in construction funding, and overseeing a project that will ultimately bring a wealth of well-being to the University of Miamis doorstep.

We look forward to being a middle-aged company someday soon, but were still an entrepreneurial startup which means were scrappy, opportunistic, and juggling a lot of balls at the same time, said Daly, in a noonday talk with Dean John Quelch of the Miami Herbert Business School. You have to be always looking for that next opportunity and be open to having others help youdont think that you have all the answers.

In three construction phases, The Underline converts a 10-mile stretch of unused land running under the Metrorail into a hybrid of community spacepark, trail, art destination, sound stage, and more. Phase 1 or Brickell Backyard, the first half-mile of the project, was finished on Feb. 26. Phase 2, a 2.14-mile stretch from SW 13th Street to SW 19th Avenue, begins construction Aug. 30. And Phase 3, a 7-mile stretch that extends southward to Dadeland South Metrorail Station, is to be completed by 2026.

The University of Miami is one of the largest landowners that fronts The Underline and one of the many communities that will benefit from the conversion, Daly noted.

She credited the University for its help with the projectthrough meetings and visioning studies held with support from the School of Architectureand also with leadership. Both Rudy Fernandez, senior vice president for public affairs and communication and chief of staff to the president, and most recently Donna Shalala, former congresswoman and former University president, serve on The Underlines board of directors.

Daly explained how she came to launch the project in 2013. She had broken both her arms, couldnt drive, had tired of asking friends to ferry her around, and she decided to walk home from physical therapy one afternoonunder the Metrorail. The shade, light breeze, and swaths of dormant land conspired to create an epiphanic moment.

Daly first shared her idea for the project with her father, a renowned area philanthropist. Heartily enthusiastic, he even offered to work with her. Then she turned to friends for advice.

When 90 percent of the people are telling you its a great idea, then theres something there and reason to move ahead, Daly said.

Her professional background in marketing has proved essential to both managing an organization and securing partner support.

Communication is so important, she said. A lot of people dont know the importance of an elevator pitch or how to pivot that pitch depending on who theyre talking with. You really have to know who your audience is for your message to resonate.

The pandemic punctuated the value the project provides to community well-being, she said.

COVID endorsed the need for outdoor economy and the importance of vibrant public spaces, she said. People dusted off their bikes, discovered they can walk and bike with their families, the elderly saw the need to be able to be out in the community and for connecting with other neighborhoods.

Daly apologized in advance for disruptions that future construction will cause, and she emphasized that safety is a priority of the project. Because road crossings are the most vulnerable areas, widening the crossings, bright-colored paint, extending crossing times are all considerations to safeguard pedestrians, she explained, albeit without overly inconveniencing drivers.

Because there is no direct funding source for industrial reuse projects, Daly described the funding lasagna that supports the project: $23 million in federal grants; $80 million in county road impact fees; $15 million from City of Miami; $7 million from the City of Coral Gables; and $15 million from the state of Florida from certain appropriations. Miami-Dade County oversees the public-private partnership that includes the Department of Transportation and Public Works; the Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, and Friends of The Underline.

She noted that studies have indicated that the conversion to community friendly green space will result in significant real estate value appreciationwhich is estimated to generate some $50 million annually in new tax receiptsyet the projects ultimate goal of building a better city resists financial assessment.

How do you quantify better community, building a better city and making it more livable? Daly asked.

While construction continues, supervising the nonprofit requires the same leadership and vigilance as for any company, especially one utilizing taxpayer dollars. Looking ahead, Daly recognized the challenge of maintaining programming for the 10-mile stretch of the 24/7 transportation portal.

For those interested, Daly highlighted that a range of volunteer opportunities exist to support the ongoing project and its wide range of health and wellness programming activities. Visit TheUnderline.org.
The energy inside the Lowe Art Museum is reinvigorated. For the first time in 18 months, the museum has been able to open its doors, giving museum members, the campus community, and the general public the opportunity to experience art as it is meant to be experiencedin person.

"My team and I could not be more excited about welcoming people back across our threshold. One of the many lessons that we have learned during the pandemic-related suspension of our on-site operations is just how critical visitors are to the overall museum experience, explained Jill Deupi, director of the Lowe Art Museum. Though we have maintained a robust digital presence since March 2020, we now understand what we intuitively suspected all along: It takes the energy, vitality, and enthusiasm of guestsfrom all walks of lifeto make an art museum a living, breathing entity.

Three new exhibitions and many new gallery installations will be on view at the Lowe.

William Wegman (United States, b. 1943)

Beach Scene, 1984

Color Polaroid

24 X 20 in.

 William Wegman

William Wegman: Instant Miami, gives a unique glimpse of Miami in the 80s through a series of 22, 20-by-24-inch Polaroidsone of only five such experimental cameraswhich explores the city through the eyes of an artist. Deupi explained that in 1984, Wegman was invited by the Lowe Art Museum to visit Miami, where he spent a week photographing iconic locations including South Beach, Grove Isle, and Les Violins, the Cuban cabaret-style lounge on Miami Beach.

This particular exhibition will resonate with people who lived in Miami at the time. The city has changed so dramatically, and its interesting to see how that is illustrated through Wegmans compelling photographs, said Deupi.

Duane Michals (United States, b. 1932)

Yayoi Kusama, 1990s

Edition 1/25

Gelatin silver print with hand-applied text

 Duane Michals

Another exciting exhibition is Duane Michals: The Portraitist, which includes more than 125 commissioned portraits of actors, writers, musicians, and other celebrities. Deupi said Michals is widely recognized for deftly using his distinctive style to capture his subjects without extinguishing their unique identities or flattening their bold personalities.

Hes an incredible photographer who has the ability to capture not only a specific moment in time, but also the soul of a sitter in one static image, she explained. The exhibit features well-known figures from cinema, literature, music, and the art world. Its fascinating to see celebrities captured in such an intimate way.

Pierre Cavalan (France, b. 1954)

Brooch, ca. 1995

Corkscrew, shells, charms, and other found objects Collection of Myrna B. Palley

 Pierre Cavalan

The third exhibit, FORCE OF NATURE: Highlights from the Myrna B. Palley Art Jewelry Collection, shows Palleys indomitable spirit and her keen eye as a collector.

This stunning niche exhibit makes clear that art jewelry is sculpture on a very small and wearable scale. Its truly a beautiful show that commemorates the life of one of the city's most dynamic and philanthropic individuals, Deupi pointed out.

There are other exhibitions in the Ben Tobin Gallery, which features modern and contemporary works.

I'm proud and relieved and grateful to my team, but I'm really happy and excited that the people who have been waiting to be able to come back to the Lowe can now do so. As a director, it's the happiness of others that fills me with the greatest sense of achievement, declared Deupi.

In addition, the Lowe will offer free general admission through May 31, 2022, according to Deupi. We are equally thrilled thatthanks to our long-standing donor and community partner, Beaux Artswe are able to offer complimentary general admission for all, in keeping with our renewed diversity, equity, access, and inclusion commitments and BA's parallel commitment to bringing the arts and art education to our community, she noted.

The museum will operate at reduced capacity to prioritize the health and safety of visitors, staff, and the campus community. It is open to visitors by reservation only on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, from 10 a.m.4 p.m. and will be closed Sundays through Wednesdays. Other helpful information, including additional health and safety measures, is updated regularly on the museums website.
University of Miami researchers have developed an innovative strategy to help predict COVID-19 outbreaks up to four days before a person tests positive for the disease. And this early warning system could prove even more useful as the Delta variant is prompting a surge in coronavirus cases.

This knowledge could be invaluable to protecting our students, staff, faculty, and hopefully, our communities, said Helena Solo-Gabriele, an environmental engineering professor who began the research study last summer with the help of George Grills, associate director of shared resources at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

By sampling wastewater flowing from campus buildings, Solo-Gabriele said her research team members are now able to isolate areas where SARS-CoV-2the virus that causes COVID-19is present on campus. University leaders are now using the data to plan ahead for more COVID-19 testing, to prepare for patients utilizing the Student Health Service, as well as to assess the need for more isolation and quarantine spaces, said Erin Kobetz, vice provost for research and scholarship, who is leading the Universitys COVID-19 testing, tracking, and tracing efforts.

This is another data point thats important for how we assess the level of community transmission of COVID-19 across our University, Kobetz added. We use it to inform our approach about where there may be a spike and to plan logistically and operationally to support that.

The COVID-19 wastewater surveillance project, now funded by a $5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), grew out of research indicating that humans shed particles of COVID-19 in their urine, feces, and exhaled breath before they even notice symptoms. Initially, Solo-Gabrieles team investigated whether an early warning model could be created using wastewater. When they learned that asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 can still infect and sicken others, it catalyzed the project because this indicated that early detection of the virus could help save lives.

Yet through the project, Solo-Gabriele has recognized that wastewater surveillance is useful beyond COVID-19.

This can help determine the rate at which a community is experiencing disease, and it gives a sense of how many people that contribute to that sewage could be sick, said Solo-Gabriele, who studies water and beach contamination in South Florida. Not only for COVID-19, but many other diseases can be monitored this way.

Yet Solo-Gabriele could not do it alone. She quickly met Grills, who connected her with colleagues at the Miller School of Medicine who were already creating tests to identify COVID-19 in patients, to see if the same tests could be adapted to wastewater. As a molecular biologist focused on genetics and genomics, Grills had worked with colleagues at Weill Cornell Medicine to track novel pathogens using surface sampling in urban environments.

Based on research being done around the world, Solo-Gabriele and Grills realized that if researchers at the University could track high virus levels in the wastewater to specific locations, it could help predict the locations of emerging outbreaks. Their project soon grew into a University-wide effort.

We have faculty from all three UM campuses involved in this project, and we are integrating environmental surveillance of the virus with human COVID-19 data to develop a model to predict outbreaks and to inform public health decision making, Grills noted. The tools and methodologies that we are developing also have the potential to monitor other types of infectious diseases going forward.

While they started with weekly samples, Solo-Gabriele said the NIH funding has allowed the team to expand and collect samples more frequently to see if they can get an even more detailed early warningperhaps even allowing them to estimate the number of infected people in a building.

She pointed out that the entire process was accelerated by a new analytical techniquedeveloped by Mark Sharkey, assistant professor of research in the Division of Infectious Diseasecalled V2G (for volcano second generation) quantitative polymerase chain reaction (or qPCR) that can pick up COVID-19 in sewage faster than earlier methods.

In addition, one of the projects co-investigators, Chris Mason, a professor of physiology and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine, and his team also check the wastewater samples for SARS-CoV-2 using a rapid diagnostic tool he developed called loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). The entire project is outlined in a new paper published recently in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

Since it began last summer, the wastewater project has expanded dramatically and it now collects samples with the help of automated devices from 16 sites across the Universitys three campuses. Their typical workflow begins with the sampling team, which includes Solo-Gabriele, students, and research staff, along with the Universitys Facilities and Environmental Health and Safety team collecting and filtering the samples, before passing them along to Sharkey, Mason, and Sion Williams at the Onco-Genomics Shared Resource at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center for further analysis.

Then, the wastewater data is analyzed by public health professor Naresh Kumar and research analyst Alejandro Mantero, who correlate it with campus-wide COVID-19 test positivity rates to feed the projects prediction model. This allows the team to estimate where outbreaks may occur. Kumar said their model now suggests that the virus can be detected up to four days before a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19. It also shows that the virus persists in wastewater up to five days after a positive diagnosis, he added.

In addition, since the COVID-19 variants are now prompting more outbreaks, Solo-Gabriele said they are now also working with Mason to sequence and perform metagenomic analysis of some of the wastewater samples. This will allow them to figure out which COVID-19 variants are circulating on the Universitys campuses.

Meanwhile, co-investigator Stephan Schurer, a professor of molecular and cellular pharmacology at the Miller School, is also working with team member Dusica Vidovic to streamline the massive influx of data coming from the sample collection process.

Schurer and Chris Mader, director of applications and system development for the Universitys Institute for Data Science and Computing, are using this information to create a dashboard that will provide information about potentially emerging COVID-19 hot spots to University leaders. Meanwhile, they are also sharing the information with a national database created by the NIH to compare results across all of the U.S. institutions that are monitoring COVID-19 in wastewater.

We are building the infrastructure, so that all the data and results of the wastewater analysis will be processed, integrated, and made accessible through a dashboard, said Schurer.

As the project has progressed, Solo-Gabriele said they are adding more data, like samples from a Miami-Dade County wastewater plant to correlate with local COVID-19 positivity data. This will help refine the computer model and broaden their understanding of local wastewater surveillance. It also allows them to scale up their research to see the amount of virus present in a sample of up to 800,000 people.

The model could help researchers across the country move forward as another surge of COVID-19 happens or help them to monitor future viruses that can be shed through wastewater, according to Solo-Gabriele.

Especially in pandemic situations, we need to have real-time data collection, analysis, and prediction systems at our fingertips, she said. I wish we had this system at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. But at least now we have it moving forward, so that if the illnesses change you can monitor that through wastewater.
HK confirms seven new imported Covid infections

Five of the latest imported cases were fully vaccinated. Image: Shutterstock

Health officials on Tuesday reported seven new Covid-19 infections  all of which were imported cases.



Five of them, aged 6 to 34, arrived from Pakistan on a flight operated by Emirates, and among them four were fully vaccinated with the BioNTech jabs.



In light of the five cases, health authorities have suspended Emirates flights from Dubai and Bangkok until September 6.



The latest cases also included a 56-year-old woman arriving from Turkey who had received both doses of the Sinovac vaccine. She showed no symptoms and tested positive during her quarantine period at the Regal Airport Hotel.



The seventh case was a 9-year-old boy who flew in from Lithuania. His infection was confirmed while he was being quarantined at the Nina Hotel Island South in Wong Chuk Hang.



Health authorities urged the public not to travel unless it is necessary, noting that many people infected recently had gone on non-essential trips after having jabs.



In total, Hong Kong has so far reported 12,069 confirmed infections.
Two-year-old Khalecia Richards is lucky to be alive after being kidnapped  by accident, as it turned out  by a car thief who apparently didnt know she was in the back seat when he drove away from a convenience store near Linwood Boulevard and Indiana Avenue in Kansas City.

But a week later, law enforcement officials still cant explain why no Amber Alert was issued last Tuesday, and thats an issue.

By the Kansas City Police Departments own admission, Khalecias disappearance fit all of the criteria for such an alert. Those include having detailed information on the victim and suspect, a reasonable belief that an abduction has occurred and a credible threat of serious bodily injury or death to someone 17 or younger.

Police officials in Kansas City were in communication with the Missouri Highway Patrol when the child was located so the alert was no longer needed, a spokesman for the highway patrol said. But she had been missing for 90 minutes by then, so why the delay in relaying the information to the public?

A child is most likely to be killed within three hours of an abduction, a United States Department of Justice study on child abduction homicides found.

Amber Alerts exist for a reason, and unnecessary delays in exchanging information put missing children in further danger.

Her abduction was reported around 5:40 p.m. on Aug. 17. Kansas City police were still in the process of requesting a statewide Amber Alert when the child was recovered about 7:20 p.m. in a back yard near North Fifth Street and Walker Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas.

New information was coming in by the minute, Kansas City police officials said. But nearly an hour passed between the time the girl was reported missing and even a local media alert went out.

Though police lucked out this time, the KCPD must work out whatever communication problems kept critical information on Khalecias disappearance from being sent out to the public.

That police just didnt get it done is a fact, but its not the explanation that her family deserves.
In The Know

The 26-year-old TikToker and mom of one was asked to leave a gym for showing her belly in a sports bra.
DUBAI (Reuters) - The first flight carrying at-risk Afghan evacuees arrived in Kuwait, which has approved passage for 5,000 under an agreement with the United States following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the U.S. envoy said on Tuesday.

Ambassador Alina Romanowski said in a Twitter post that the flight arrived at a coalition military installation in Kuwait, but did not say how many were aboard. She posted images showing children among them.

Other Gulf Arab states have agreed to temporarily host Afghan evacuees, with the United Arab Emirates expected to welcome 5,000 and Qatar 8,000.

The UAE and Qatar have also been facilitating international evacuation efforts as the United States and its allies race to move out all foreigners and vulnerable Afghans before the expiry of an Aug. 31 deadline agreed with the Taliban.

The UAE has so far helped evacuate 20,500 people, its foreign ministry said on Tuesday, including 8,500 transported to the Gulf state via its national carriers and airports.

Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told Fox News on Sunday that Doha has helped move out around 7,000 people and was continuing to do so.

Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar, which has hosted a Taliban office since 2013 for peace talks, was acting as an "impartial mediator" between the group and other countries to help ease the process, including transport to Kabul airport.

Bahrain is also allowing planes carrying evacuees to stop over in the kingdom. Its national carrier Gulf Air operated a flight from Isa Air Base to Dulles International Airport outside Washington on Monday as part of evacuation efforts.

(Reporting by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Alison Williams)
By Yuddy Cahya Budiman

JAKARTA (Reuters) -Hundreds of Afghan refugees protested in Indonesia on Tuesday against a prolonged resettlement process, saying they needed to be offered new homes now that repatriation was out of the question with the return of the Taliban.

Thousands of refugees from Afghanistan, most of them from the Hazara ethnic minority, who have long been persecuted by the Taliban, have lived in Indonesia for years as they await resettlement in third countries such as Canada or Australia.

On Tuesday, hundreds gathered outside the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the capital, Jakarta, despite coronavirus restrictions prohibiting demonstrations, to demand that their cases be expedited.

"In the past year the UNHCR has been telling us there is only one percent chance of resettlement, refugee Hakmat Ziraki told Reuters.

"Today we come here to ask 'what is your answer now? Are you still encouraging voluntary repatriation?'."

"Our people are dying every day," he said. "We need some justice, we need resettlement.

A spokesperson for the UNHCR said that the situation in Afghanistan did not have any impact on the status of refugees in Indonesia or elsewhere and their resettlement programme was going on as usual.

Indonesia is not a signatory to the 1951 U.N. Convention on Refugees and is predominately seen as a transit country for those seeking asylum to a third country.

Tuesday's protest saw minor scuffles between police after demonstrators were warned to disperse given the public health risks, with the capital still recovering from a wave of coronavirus infections.

(Additional reporting by Agustinus Beo Da Costa and Stanley Widianto; Writing by Kate Lamb; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Even for a nation with such a proud legacy of immigrants  those "huddled masses yearning to breathe free," as it says on the Statue of Liberty  there is a special place in the American heart for Afghans.

If the desperate drama playing out at the international airport in Kabul ends as President Joe Biden promised Sunday and America's Afghan allies are successfully evacuated, America must welcome them with open arms.

It's something that should go without saying.

The refugee cap

But already, nativist voices from the Republican Party, the media and elsewhere are raising alarms about a sudden influx of Afghans into the USA. Former President Donald Trump pandered to this same sector last year when he slashed the annual refugee cap to a historically shameful 15,000.

Every nation has an international responsibility to accept its share of refugees fleeing war, violence and natural disasters. Under Trump, America dismally failed that duty. (Biden has since raised the yearly refugee limit to 62,500.)

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Even by that score, the Afghans seeking refuge in America are in a category of their own. When the United States lost nearly 3,000 people in the terror attacks of 9/11 and acted to overthrow the Taliban regime harboring al-Qaida, tens of thousands of Afghans stepped forward to assist and protect U.S. military and relief efforts, in addition to nongovernmental and media organizations, working as translators, organizers, journalists, security personnel and more.

"We were in Afghanistan to protect ourselves in our own national interest," says Mark Hetfield, president of HIAS, a resettlement agency. "They (the Afghans) protected us. We owe them a debt of gratitude. And we owe them a welcome to our country."

Earned pathway to America

But it's unclear how many of these friends of the United States will make it out alive. The circumstances at the Hamid Karzai International Airport have become more chaotic and dangerous with a desperate throng outside the gates and fetid, crowded conditions inside, where 6,000 U.S. troops provide security and Biden administration officials work to process and fly people out.

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Tens of thousands have been evacuated. But many more who remain in hiding or are on the run have earned a pathway to America. They worked for the United States and qualify for a special immigrant visa, or they were employed by government-affiliated groups or U.S. media and qualify for a new expanded refugee status known as P-2.

Khan, an Afghan national living in Texas, told NPR about the plight of his wife, hiding in a Kabul apartment and waiting for word on her application for a special immigration visa. "It's like leaving somebody in the middle of the sea  in the middle of nowhere  and you don't know when somebody will return to pick you up," he said.

Biden told reporters Sunday that Afghans are being flown to U.S. military and transit centers in friendly countries to continue their processing and background checks: "Once screened and cleared, we will welcome these Afghans, who helped us in the war effort over the last 20 years, to their new home in the United States of America."

That day will be lucky for them. And lucky for the USA.

USA TODAY's editorial opinions are decided by its Editorial Board, separate from the news staff and the USA TODAY Network. Most editorials are coupled with an Opposing View, a unique USA TODAY feature.

To read more editorials, go to the Opinion front page or sign up for the daily Opinion email newsletter. To respond to this editorial, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Afghan refugees: Welcome to your new home in America
Neither side would confirm the reports that William Burns (L) met Mullah Baradar (R) on Monday

The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) secretly met the leader of the Taliban in Kabul in Monday, sources have told US media.

Neither the Taliban nor the CIA would confirm the reported meeting between William Burns and Mullah Baradar.

US President Joe Biden has set a deadline of 31 August for American forces to leave Afghanistan. Allies - including the UK - want an extension.

US forces have been in Afghanistan since 2001, following the 9/11 attacks.

Sources have told US news outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Associated Press and broadcaster NPR about the CIA-Taliban meeting.

However, they gave few details.

If confirmed, this would be the highest-level contact between the US and the Taliban since the militants took Kabul on 15 August, prompting the internationally backed Afghan government to flee.

About 5,800 US troops are currently guarding Kabul airport as thousands of foreign nationals and Afghans try to leave the country.

The Washington Post says the discussions are likely to have involved the deadline for the US military to conclude its airlift.

Also on Tuesday, the Taliban said no more Afghans would be allowed to leave the country, nor would the deadline for the US withdrawal be extended.

Mullah Baradar is one of the four men who founded the Taliban in 1994. He was captured in a US-Pakistani operation in 2010 and spent eight years in prison.

Since 2019, he has been the head of the Taliban political office in Qatar. In February 2020, he signed the Doha agreement on the withdrawal of US and Nato troops.

He was also the first Taliban leader to communicate directly with a US president, after having a telephone conversation with Donald Trump in 2020.
BEIJING (Reuters) - OPay, an Africa-focused digital payment startup founded by a Chinese entrepreneur, said it has secured $400 million in its latest funding round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, valuing it at $2 billion.

Other investors in the funding round include Sequoia Capital China, Source Code Capital, Meituan-backed fund Long-Z, Redpoint China and 3W Capital, OPay said in a statement on Monday.

OPay, which has notched up 160 million active users in Africa since its launch in 2018, said it will use the capital to invest in African markets including Nigeria and Egypt, as well as Middle Eastern markets.

"We want to be the power that helps emerging markets reach a faster economic development," said Zhou Yahui, founder and chief executive of OPay, in the statement.

Zhou also founded Chinese gaming company Beijing Kunlun Tech Co Ltd, which was once the owner of the popular dating app Grindr. Washington had ordered Kunlun to divest Grindr in 2019 amid concerns over the safety of its handling of user data.

(Reporting by Yingzhi Yang and Brenda Goh; Editing by Kim Coghill and Krishna Chandra Eluri)
Judges ruled to restore voting rights to thousands of convicted felons including ones currently on probation

North Carolina judges have ruled to grant voting rights to over 50,000 convicted felons who are on parole and probation.

Mondays ruling overrides the past law that required strict voting restrictions on convicted felons, requiring that all forms of probation and parole time be served before regaining access to the polls. This new law would apply to felons who are currently on probation, effective immediately.

Over the years, disproportionate voting restrictions have created divisions between the formerly incarcerated and other citizens throughout the country.

According to research done by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), only two states and Washington, D.C., advocate for all citizens to be entitled to their voting rights regardless of criminal history.

Maine, Vermont, and D.C. require that no restrictions are placed on any convicted felon, even while incarcerated. Felons in 11 states lose their voting rights, according to the nature of the particular crime and under certain circumstances must even receive a governors pardon, in addition to completing parole or probation.

In 16 states, felon voting rights are restored once probation or parole are completed. In 21 states, felons automatically regain their voting rights once incarceration time is completely served.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections has already updated its website confirming the ruling.

As of Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, you may register and vote if you are on felony probation, parole, or post-release supervision. You may also register and vote if you still have outstanding fines, fees, or restitution. No documentation is needed. You are eligible to register and vote, even if you still owe money or have a civil lien. You are not eligible to register or vote if you are in prison or jail on a felony conviction.

Many in the Black community, including activists and a coalition of community leaders, believe current and past voting restrictions set in place are secretly targeting African Americans in hopes of silencing their civil rights. Felon voting restrictions, paired with the corruption of poll placement and mail-in ballots in predominantly Black areas, have been viewed as a way to control Black voter participation.

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As previously reported by theGrio, Faith For Black Lives chairman Reverend Stephen Green sees an increase in voting rights restrictions targeting African Americans, labeling it as an assault.

Rev. Stephen Green speaks during a Freedom Friday March protest at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Aug. 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

What we are seeing is an unprecedented assault on access to the right to vote. Not only is it increasing restrictions on voter ID laws in certain states, but they are putting restrictions on mail-in ballots, which we saw overwhelmingly used during the pandemic, that allowed many African American seniors to vote through absentee balloting, Green told theGrio. Ohio, for example, they are putting only one drop-off ballot in every county.

North Carolina state senator Warren Daniel (R) says that it is not a judges place to determine the restoration of voting rights.

If a judge prefers a different path to regaining those rights, then he or she should run for the General Assembly and propose that path, he said, according to NPR.

Daniel says that there is a clause in the constitution that defends the previous law of felons only regaining their state rights according to the law in that particular state.

These judges may think theyre doing the right thing by rewriting laws as they see fit (without bothering to even explain their ruling), he said in a statement reported by The New York Times. But each one of these power grabs chips away at the notion that the people, through their legislature, make laws.

North Carolina GOP lawmakers, who oppose this new law, plan to move forward with an appeal.

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The post Almost 60,000 formerly incarcerated citizens regain the right to vote in North Carolina appeared first on TheGrio.
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Photos Getty

Its Tuesday, which means Kathy Hochul is the governor of New York and a brutal decade is at an end here.

Andrew Cuomos farewell speech on Monday, 12 hours before officially resigning in disgrace, was notable in only one way: How remarkably dull it was.

Predictably, he opened by lashing out at Attorney General Tish James and his many accusers, whom he and his craven counsel, Rita Glavin, have smeared repeatedly, and yet ineffectually, to the bitter end. He did a lot of embarrassing whining, bragged about his self-claimed accomplishments, none of which were actually his, and lashed out at the political left with nonsense phrases that defined him as precisely as relevant as your tiresome drunk uncle at the holiday dinner table.

You put the u in unity, he said straight to the camera in his pre-recorded last words, sounding more like a tedious, nonsensical drunk than a statesman.

Cuomo Goes Down Like He RuledWith Lies, Excuses, and Insults

It was an ignominious end fitting of the career his team has been desperately exalting even as their ship sinks, a truly pitiful rearranging of deck chairs that took place mostly on social media, where his top aides including Secretary Melissa De Rosa and Communications Director Rich Azzopardi stayed in character to take a few parting cheap shots.

Team Cuomos desperation grew to the point they spent their last hours in power amplifying an infamously misogynist reporter whose major life accomplishment is having prompted some really good jokes from others on Twitter when he tried to claim octogenarian Congresswoman Maxine Waters assaulted him.

The whole time, they have been on and on about his nearly 25 years in government, from his early days at HUD. And you know what? Lets talk about those early days at HUDwhen, according to a sort of career obituary by Ryan Teague Beckwith at Bloomberg, the inspector general appointed by the president to have oversight over the agency accused our illustrious governor in 1998 of harassing and undermining her, telling a Senate committee that he was hostile to the idea of an independent investigator not subject to his control.

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Well, that sounds familiar. As Beckwith noted, that was simply the first (known) incident of a pattern of behavior endemic to Andrew Cuomo, the boy king, whenever he slammed up against anything that might check his power, such as the Moreland Commission he aggressively and abruptly disbanded when it stopped being a useful prop to claim ethics points and threaten his enemies with, and instead turned its sights on his office.

All Cuomo and his cohort have ever really been good at is manipulationof people, of messages, of situations. Theyve wielded power like a cudgel or a blade, whichever suited them, and they succeeded, over and over again. Cuomo allowed the people of Hoosick Falls to drink poison water and covered it up, and faced no repercussions. The Moreland Commission? No repercussions.

Andrew Cuomo Remains a Fucking Creep to the Bitter End

And at the end, it killed them that the very thing they delighted in so muchdehumanizing others for their own advancement and enjoymentis the thing that has brought them down. As Glavin repeatedly took to little video presentations to smear his many accusers, Cuomo repeatedly framed the allegations against him as trivial, as though the lives and livelihoods of the women he abused were just salacious gossip, not the serious work of government.

Of course, he sang a different tune when he was capitalizing on them back in 2015, when he said, Its not about, Did the woman say no Its whether or not the woman said yes or when Melissa DeRosa boasted that the laws they took credit for, but which were conceived of and fought for by abuse survivors they refused to acknowledge, take direct aim at the culture of secrecy, dominance and power inequality that allowed sexual harassment to thrive.

Thats what James thorough report, validating 11 womens accounts about Gov. Cuomo, did, even as he cried that he was being railroaded into resigning.

In Glavins last little presentation, she lashed out at Virginia Limmiatis, one of the women who came forward to report being groped by Cuomo at a public event. Glavin showed a bunch of photos, including one that seemed very suggestive of the aftermath of precisely the interaction Limmiatis apparently described to the AGs investigators, albeit potentially with Cuomos right hand instead of his left, or vice versa, who cares. The point is, Cuomo and Glavin and DeRosa and all his other enablers and collaborators are banking on the hope that there are enough narcissists out there just like them who still refuse to understand, in the year 2021, that women often grin and bear it when a bad thing happens, for survival.

The Young Women Cuomo Underestimated Are About to Bring Him Down

That there are dozens of photos taken by someone on Team Cuomo and not one of them shows him groping anyone is not shocking, or surprising, or compelling. That the governor and his tightly controlled, tightly controlling, eternally manipulative staff kept such a tight-fisted chokehold on the throats of everyone around him for so long that none of this ever came out before does not contradict anything in the AGs report. If anything, it bolstered the fleshed-out picture of a Machiavellian powermonger who was only ever out for himself.

We should not still be having to explain to you that sometimes, as a woman in a vulnerable position, you go along to get along. That if you were a woman who worked in government in any capacity, you probably tweeted praise of the governor, for the sake of your job and whatever it is you were tasked with trying to accomplish, knowing that nothing in this state could be accomplished for the last ten years without a vigorous stroking of the governors ego. Sound familiar?

Look at these supportive tweets and smiling photos! is meaningless in the context of a man who functioned as a hostage taker.

I have written before, over and over, about this. Other women have, too. Anyone who knows a woman knows someone who has grinned and borne a terrible thing only to go home and exhale and be grateful to have survived. Sometimes you dont get to go home and exhale for years.

I wrote for The Daily Beast, in fact, about a man Andrew Cuomo was all too eager to show consequences for his actionsmany of which were not so dissimilar from those Cuomo is accused of committing, with vastly more power behind him. It took me two years to write about Bob Freeman, the state official reporters depended on for decades to interpret New Yorks laws about transparency and open records and whose own sexually inappropriate actions, as a state report finally found, had been an open secret.

It took me two years after that to name himfittingly, in an essay about Democrats tepid defenses of Al Franken, whom some of Cuomos defenders are comparing the governor to. As I wrote of the interaction with Freeman that took place in broad daylight, on a busy city street: Anyone who saw us wouldve thought everything was fine, unless they were still watching me when I turned a corner, the smile slid from my face, and I cried about the story I was about to throw out, so that I would never have to see or speak with him again.

I have never in my life been someone anyone would describe as soft-spoken, and it is only in recent years that I have stopped nodding and smiling in the faces of intimidating men. It is only with concerted effort that I lately will catch myself doing so, and stop and say, thats not funny or I dont like that or please dont touch me. And even then, theres that please, those mild statements delivered gently in the hopes of not angering anyone, or even worse, humiliating a man whose insecurity teeters on the edge of violence.

And in the end, I only went on the record about Freeman because I felt responsible for the women Freeman harmed after me. That's the thing, too, about them going after Limmiatis. I cried reading the AG report when I got to her quote: "I am compelled to come forward to tell the truth, she told investigators. I didn't know how to report what he did to me at the time and was burdened by shame, but not coming forward now would make me complicit in his lie, and I won't do it."

Me too, Virginia.

I thought, too, of the part in Cuomos resignation speech where he said, I dont remember doing it. Thats the galling thing, in situations of abuse, especially abuse of power, which all abuse is in some way. The powerful person gets to walk away. The ones they harm are left to remember. Cuomo may have acted inappropriately, cruelly, horribly, as a rule, and forgotten it immediately.

I wouldnt be surprised if that was the one honest thing hes ever said. But that doesnt mean it didnt happen.

Cuomos supporters are, plainly, deranged. Their social media posts read like some of the most unhinged fan mail youve ever seen. These peopleall apparently adult women far past their 20sspend their time online trawling the Venmo of Charlotte Bennett, and then harassing the 25-year-old about jokes she made with friends. This is the target audience for Cuomo and Glavins smear campaign.

Unfortunately for them, this small minority of wackos appear to be the only people still falling prey to Team Cuomos once-master manipulations. For the rest of us, the truth is finally outand so is Cuomo.

Here is the real legacy of Andrew Cuomo, paragon pandemic leader: According to a new report by the state comptroller, through June 2021, New York was the only state that didnt distribute any emergency rental assistance. The state commissioner responsible for overseeing those funds testified in an Assembly hearing that hes never spoken to the governor about the program.

Andrew Cuomo doesnt care about renters, or about people who need assistance. He never did. All he ever cared about was himself, and other powerful people he could control and benefit from. And now its the New Yorkers who were harmed by Andrew Cuomo who will be left to remember his true legacy.

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FIRST ON FOX: Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich  the latest Republican to link the border crisis to the situation in Afghanistan  is warning of a potential terrorist threat via the southern border from prisoners being freed by the Taliban.

In a letter to President Biden, Brnovich pointed to comments made by former Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott about the threat of terrorists potentially making their way through the southern border amid the ongoing migration crisis facing the U.S.

TALIBAN RELIANT ON ILLEGAL DRUG TRAFFICKING FOR FINANCING AS PRODUCTION BOOMS, UN SAYS

"I firmly believe that it is a national security crisis," Scott said in a video message to agents, as reported by The Washington Examiner. "Immigration is just a subcomponent of it, and right now, its just a cover for massive amounts of smuggling going across the southwest border  to include TSDBs at a level we have never seen before. That's a real threat."

TSDBs refers to migrants whose names match those on the Terrorist Screening Center Database. It is not publicly available how many migrants have names on the TSDB, but i n March, Fox News reported that at least four migrants whose names match those on the terror watch list had been picked up by U.S. Border Patrol since the beginning of the fiscal year.

Brnovich linked Scotts statements to the Talibans freeing of thousands of prisoners  including terrorists  as they take control of Afghanistan ahead of the U.S. withdrawal at the end of the month.

TALIBAN FREES THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS FROM FORMER US BASE: REPORT

"These statements from a high-ranking Border Patrol official are frightening  especially as Americans are watching news coverage of thousands of prisoners, including many terrorists, being released by the Taliban in Afghanistan," he wrote to Biden. "Americans are now facing an unprecedented terrorism threat level in their own backyards."

Brnovich urges Biden to visit the Arizona-Mexico border, which he says is the "front lines of this border catastrophe." More than 212,000 migrants were encountered in July, an increase from the already high numbers encountered in June.

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"We need to take decisive action to secure our border and prevent terrorists, gang members, and hardened criminals from accessing our ports of entry," he wrote.

Meanwhile, Republicans on the House committees on Homeland Security, Armed Services and Foreign Affairs last week wrote to national security adviser Jake Sullivan about reports that thousands of prisoners  including Taliban fighters and al Qaeda and Islamic State members  had been released.

"The rapidly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan suggests that the region may once-again return to being a terrorist safe-haven, serving to train foreign fighters while allowing terrorist groups to plot, direct and inspire attacks against the United States and the American people, the letter from Reps. John Katko, R-NY, Michael McCaul, R-Texas and Mike Rogers, R-Ala., said.

In their letter, they also referenced the southern border as well as the Border Patrol chiefs comments, and expressed concern about an overwhelmed Border Patrol missing a terror threat.

"While U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plays a critical role in identifying and mitigating terrorist travel, the agency is currently strapped for resources as it manages the fallout from the administrations disastrous border policies," they said.

They requested information from the White House including how the U.S. is tracking released prisoners who may pose a threat, what steps are being taken to mitigate foreign travel by released prisoners and whether individuals are being added to the Terror Screening Database.
President Joe Biden pointed to terrorist threats posed to service members as he told top foreign counterparts he would be sticking to his Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.

But Biden did not dismiss the possibility that military personnel from the United States could remain in Afghanistan if conditions further deteriorate during his meeting with Group of Seven leaders Tuesday morning, according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

WHITE HOUSE FIGHTS TO REGAIN CONTROL OF ITS MESSAGE ON AFGHANISTAN

"He confirmed we are currently on pace to finish by August 31st and provided an update on progress in evacuating Americans who want to come home, third-country nationals, and Afghans who were our allies during the war," Psaki said in a statement.

She added, "He also made clear that with each day of operations on the ground, we have added risk to our troops with increasing threats from ISIS-K, and that completion of the mission by August 31st depends on continued coordination with the Taliban, including continued access for evacuees to the airport."

Psaki released the statement during a delay that lasted over three hours in which Biden was due to speak on the topic as reports filtered through that U.S. forces have already begun pulling out of Afghanistan.

Contributing to the confusion, Psaki also said Biden had asked the State and Defense departments for contingency plans in case the U.S. needs to stay in Afghanistan longer.

Biden had until Tuesday to decide whether to keep to his Aug. 31 deadline in order to give the Pentagon time to reduce assets in Afghanistan. His expected announcement follows CIA Director William Burns meeting with Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul.

Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen also reiterated the group's opposition to a U.S. deadline extension overnight after Biden faced pressure from international partners, such as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, to delay leaving.

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"If the U.S. or U.K. were to seek additional time to continue evacuations  the answer is no. Or there would be consequences," Shaheen said. "It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation, it will provoke a reaction."

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Roughly 5,100 U.S. citizens have been evacuated from Kabul, including embassy personnel and contractors. Early estimates indicated up to 15,000 Americans and 65,000 Afghan nationals seeking Special Immigration Visas required help, though the White House has been reluctant to confirm numbers.

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Tags: News, Biden, Biden Administration, Joe Biden, White House, Afghanistan, War in Afghanistan, National Security, Terrorism, ISIS

Original Author: Naomi Lim

Original Location: Biden cites terrorist risks to troops as he tells allies US still leaving Afghanistan on Aug. 31
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Photos Getty

For all of the media attention here on President Bidens handling of Afghanistan, the latest poll numbers show that its his handling of COVID-19 thats been most damaging to his standing with the American public and that could get worse, fast, if the Delta variant disrupts the school year.

The American people are sick of the pandemic and theyre taking it out on Biden while a handful of red-state governors reap short-term political gains by blocking mask mandates and other public health measures, and allow the virus to spread.

Their intransigence in the face of a widening health crisis is costing Biden politically. On Monday, with the news that the Pfizer vaccine had gotten full FDA approval, he called on private sector companies to do what he has done with the military and federal health workers and make the vaccine mandatory or require frequent testing to employees who refuse it. Its your lucky day, the president told the people who say they were waiting on the FDA.

Bidens New Vaccine Push Is Greatbut Futile, Experts Say

There may be a relatively small number of people who wanted full clearance instead of emergency authorization before getting the jab, but the FDAs move may motivate companies to take a more aggressive approach to protecting their workforces and facilities now that they may be on a legally sounder footing for doing so.

Biden had promised that the country could return to something resembling normal once 70 percent of the population was vaccinated, which he believed could be achieved by July 4, aptly named Independence Day. The numbers fell short but the new president was on a roll, and he and the first lady celebrated with a big party on the South Lawn, prematurely as it turned out.

Even before the authorization, vaccination rates have continued to tick up but not fast enough to beat the Delta variant into submission, and not fast enough to reclaim Bidens standing. Notably, his predecessor gently encouraged his fans to get the vaccine at a rally this weekend.

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I believe totally in your freedoms, I do, Donald Trump said. But, get the vaccine. I recommend it, I do. Its good. It works.

Fans there to see Trump booed him for advocating a life-saving vaccine.

Its never too late to do the right thingbut it is too late. When he had the bully pulpit and the opportunity to lead the country, he chose to follow and were all the worse for it, says Jeff Horwitt with Hart Research, the Democratic polling firm that together with the GOP firm, Public Opinion Strategies (POS), conducted the recent NBC poll that found Bidens approval dipping below 50 percent for the first time in his presidency, a casualty of the resurgent virus and an increasingly pessimistic public.

Biden Battles a Triple-Headed Monster on Vaccines

Its really COVID and the economy together, said Horwitt. And in August and September when schools re-open, there are lots of things that can go wrong.

The COVID situation has impacted public confidence in general and really hurt economic confidence, said Bill McInturff with POS. He points to a 10-point drop in the MI Consumer Confidence index that began well before Afghanistanone of the three largest drops in 50 years of polling.

Biden has charted an ambitious domestic agenda and he needs popular support to keep together a fragile bipartisan coalition that he has painstakingly built against all odds, and to keep his own party in line to support a second human infrastructure bill to expand health and social benefits, and address climate change. The challenge is enormous, and it rests largely on Bidens negotiating skills and the perception of him as a strong and competent leader. Only 25 percent of the public supports the way he exited Afghanistan, though they agree it was time to go.

The depth of the countrys frustration and the partisan division that is fueling it is evident in Dr. Anthony Faucis numbers. In October of 2020, the epidemiologist was viewed favorably by 50 percent overall with 13 percent viewing him unfavorably. In the current poll, 40 percent approve and 36 percent disapprove, with most of the negative coming from Republicans who moved from 27 positive and 23 negative in 2020 to 13 positive and 68 percent negative in the current poll.

How red and blue state populations view their leaders is most stark when you compare Texas Gov. Greg Abbott with California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Abbott barred local leaders from imposing mask mandates and has done nothing to constrain the virus and protect his constituents. When he tested positive last week for COVID-19, we learned that he is doubled-vaxxed and got a booster shot before it was authorizedand he is tested daily. After the positive test, he immediately received infusions of antibodies even though he had no symptomsan expensive treatment not widely available to the thousands sickened in his state. Meanwhile, in California, Governor Newsom, a Democrat, is facing a recall ballot because in a moment of stupidity he attended a party at a fancy restaurant and was pictured maskless cavorting with the rich and powerful while otherwise shepherding his state through COVID-19 and multiple other crises.

Abbott gets away with hypocrisy and elitism in a state where the population is vaccine-hesitant and mask-resistant, while Newsom faces the severe punishment of potentially losing his job for a far smaller slip.

Those (red state) governors knew that their supporters were skeptical of institutions and public health. But instead of addressing that head on, they played right into it, says Horwitt. Theyve taking precautions for themselves but theyre not willing to take the political shot here and do the right thing.

Trump getting booed wont encourage his followers to change course, but we are seeing more unvaccinated people fall sick, then recover to tell the tale. Its painful to see so many tragedies, said Horwitt. but were beginning to hear more live to tell the story. Before, people who knew what this was like couldnt talk anymore. They were dying.

The White House is ramping up its efforts on vaccine persuasion. Its safe, its effective, its free, the president said in his midday announcement Monday of the FDAs full Pfizer approval. Theres no time to waste, he said. And hes on solid ground with his messaging.

According to a USA Today/Ipsos poll, substantial majorities of Americans, upwards of 60 percent to over 70 percent, favor mask mandates and vaccine requirements, and think people have a right to refuse but can then lose their right to be among others. Not surprisingly, 78 percent of Democrats favor the common good over personal freedom while 62 percent of Republicans value personal freedom above all else, taking risks that the governors they support and the former president they revere did not take.

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President Joe Biden. AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Biden will not extend the deadline to finish Afghanistan evacuations, the White House said Tuesday.

He has set an August 31 deadline to finish the evacuations of Americans and Afghan allies in Kabul.

Earlier Tuesday, the Taliban said Afghans would be prevented from going to the Kabul airport.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

The White House said Tuesday that the US intended to maintain the August 31 deadline for completing evacuations from the Kabul airport in Afghanistan.

President Joe Biden was set to address the nation from the White House at 12 p.m. ET Tuesday about the "ongoing efforts" in Afghanistan, but the speech was pushed back by more than four hours.

During his address, he reiterated that the US intended to conclude the evacuations by August 31 but said "the completion ... depends on the Taliban cooperating."

"I've asked the Pentagon and the State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timetable, should that be necessary," Biden added.

The president said that as of Tuesday afternoon, the US had evacuated 70,700 people from Afghanistan since August 14.

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Biden also said that prolonging the evacuations from Afghanistan, which thousands of US troops have helped coordinate from Kabul's airport, would increase the risk of an ISIS-Khorasan attack.

"The sooner we can finish the better. Each day of operations brings added risk to our troops," Biden said. "But the completion by August 31 depends upon the Taliban continuing to cooperate and allow access to the airport to those we're transporting out - and no disruptions to our operations."

He added: "Every day we're on the ground is another day we know that ISIS-K is seeking to target the airport and attack both US and allied forces and innocent civilians."

Biden said the security situation in Kabul was "tenuous," adding that gunfighting had already broken out at times.

The president said that anyone arriving in the US as a result of the evacuations who's not a US citizen or legal resident would be subject to "thorough security screening in the intermediate stops they are making."

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"Anyone arriving in the United States will have undergone a background check," Biden said.

Biden spoke with other G7 leaders about the Afghanistan evacuations earlier in the day.

"During a meeting this morning with the G7 leaders, the President conveyed that our mission in Kabul will end based on the achievement of our objectives. He confirmed we are currently on pace to finish by August 31st," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.

The speech came as the Taliban was pushing back on America's evacuation efforts, saying Afghans would be prevented from going to the airport in the capital of Kabul to try and flee the country.

A Taliban spokesperson urged the US against pushing Afghan nationals to flee, saying their skills would be required to rebuild the country.

"We are asking the American: Please change your policy and don't encourage Afghans to leave," Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson, said.

The Taliban also said Tuesday that the US must finish its evacuation of people from Afghanistan by the Biden administration's August 31 deadline.

The militant group said it would not accept any extensions on the withdrawal date and warned of "consequences" if the deadline was missed or pushed back.

Meanwhile, reports emerged Tuesday that Biden had CIA Director William Burns meet with the Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul on Monday. It was "the highest-level face-to-face encounter between the Taliban and the Biden administration since the militants seized the Afghan capital," The Washington Post first reported.

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan for the first time since 2001 last week after the rapid collapse of the US-backed Afghan government, which stunned the Biden administration.

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Biden said Tuesday the U.S. military is on track to finish its evacuation efforts and depart Afghanistan by Aug. 31, emphasizing the growing threat that the terrorist group Islamic State Khorasan poses to U.S. troops on the ground in Kabul.

Every day were on the ground is another day we know ISIS-K is seeking to target the airport, said Biden. The sooner we can finish the better.

President Biden in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Tuesday. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

The president delivered his update on the Afghanistan evacuation efforts following a virtual meeting with G-7 leaders Tuesday morning  and more than five hours after he was originally scheduled to speak to reporters at the White House. He said that he has asked the Pentagon and State Department for contingency plans to extend the timeline for U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in case that becomes necessary, adding, Im determined to ensure that we complete our mission.

Biden said the U.S. has now helped 70,700 people get out of Afghanistan since Aug. 14, with more than 12,000 evacuated since Tuesday morning. He said he asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide the press with a detailed update on the number of Americans whove been evacuated from Afghanistan so far and how many are still in the country.

Evacuees from Afghanistan inside a military aircraft during an evacuation from Kabul on Thursday. (Staff Sgt. Brandon Cribelar/U.S. Marine Corps/handout via Reuters)

Over the weekend, Biden suggested that he may delay the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan if necessary to complete evacuations of U.S. citizens. Some U.S. allies, including Britain and France, had reportedly urged him to delay, raising concerns that there was still not enough time to evacuate all of their own citizens from the country, let alone the Afghans who face reprisals from the Taliban because of their work for the U.S.-led military coalition.

But extending the withdrawal could prove difficult. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that a Taliban spokesman said the U.S. must complete evacuations from Afghanistan by the Aug. 31 withdrawal date, with no extensions.

On Tuesday, Biden acknowledged that the U.S. militarys ability to complete its evacuations by the end of the month is dependent on the continued cooperation of the Taliban.

Story continues

White House press secretary Jen Psaki at the daily press briefing at the White House on Tuesday. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

U.S officials have said repeatedly that they are in constant contact with Taliban leaders, who have agreed to provide safe passage to the airport in Kabul for U.S. citizens and Afghan allies seeking to evacuate. The Washington Post reported Tuesday that while foreign nationals are still being permitted to leave Afghanistan, the Taliban are now blocking Afghan citizens from reaching the airport and calling on the U.S. to stop encouraging them to leave.

By later Tuesday afternoon, other reports had already begun to emerge from Kabul indicating that Taliban forces were also preventing Americans from accessing the airport. Asked about such reports at a press briefing ahead of Bidens speech, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that for Afghans who have fought alongside us, who are eligible for Special Immigrant Visas ... our expectation is that they will be able to reach the airport.

Psaki also told reporters at the White House, If any of you are hearing from American citizens who cant reach us, give me their contact information, and we will get in contact with them.

Evacuees from Afghanistan board a military aircraft during an evacuation from Kabul on Thursday. (Staff Sgt. Brandon Cribelar/U.S. Marine Corps/handout via Reuters)

According to a government document obtained by Yahoo News, 4,407 U.S. citizens had been evacuated from Afghanistan as of Monday afternoon. However, its not clear how many Americans still remain in the country. Biden administration officials have said they do not have a precise number because citizens are not required to register with the U.S. Embassy there, but theyve been using a variety of means, including personalized direct phone calls, to get in touch with everyone they believe to be in the country.

At the White House on Monday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters, We believe we have the wherewithal to get out the American citizens who want to leave Kabul.

More than 80,000 Afghans are believed to be seeking to evacuate following the Talibans takeover, including more than 20,000 translators and others who worked with the U.S. military and have applied for Special Immigrant Visas.

____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Aug. 24Not too long ago, I was at the Hook and Eye  the gorgeous rooftop bar in the new Hampton Inn in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Normally, I'll order a glass of wine, but on this particular afternoon I was in the mood for something different, so on a whim, I ordered a Manhattan. The very talented bartender asked me which bourbon I preferred, and I told him I had no preference. So he went with Kentucky-made Bulleit bourbon. Nothing more was asked of me until he put the drink down in front of me.

The conversation then continued.

"How do you like it?" he asked.

"In all honesty, it's the best Manhattan I've ever had," I answered.

And very truthfully, it was. So I asked him how he made it. This one was fairly simple to remember. He said he follows the 212 rule. I thought that was pretty clever, a Manhattan made with the 212 Rule since that's Manhattan's area code.

The Manhattan is a classic cocktail made with whiskey and sweet vermouth. The original Manhattan recipe features rye whiskey, which is peppery and dry. But you can make a richer version of the cocktail using bourbon instead. And that's what I believe made all the difference.

It was a brilliant drink perfectly chilled and great for a summer afternoon cocktail.

If you have the time, make the drive to Blue Ridge. It's beautiful this time of year and only gets better as the leaves begin to turn in the mountains. The view from the roof of the Hampton Inn should be outstanding, as is the Manhattan you'll enjoy as you watch the sun go down. Here's the recipe, just in case you want to try making it for yourself at home.

The 212 Manhattan

2 ounces bourbon

1 ounce sweet vermouth

2 dashes Angostura or orange bitters

1 wide slice of orange peel

1-2 maraschino cherries

In mixing glass or cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine whiskey, vermouth and bitters. Stir well, about 20 seconds, then strain into cocktail glass. Rub the edge of the glass with the orange peel, then let it float in the Manhattan. Add the cherries, and serve.

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GIN AND TONIC TO GO

Continuing our libations theme, this time a little closer to home, did you know you can find ready-made gin and tonics in Chattanooga liquor stores? How simple is that?

British craft gin maker 6 O'Clock Gin now comes in cans with tonic already mixed in. Just buy a four-pack or two, add it to your cooler with a couple of limes, then pour over ice, add some lime slices, and your gin and tonic is ready when you are.

I took some to the beach a couple of weeks ago, and everyone loved them. The flavors are perfectly balanced with just the right amount of gin.

These have just been introduced to the U.S. market and can be found in Chattanooga at Imbibe Chattanooga, Riverside Wine and Spirits and Chattanooga Wine and Spirits.

TRADER JOE'S

Fans of Trader Joe's have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the chain to the Chattanooga area, and that comes this week with the grand opening of the new store at 2111 Gunbarrel Road on Wednesday.

In a story last week, writer Alison Gerber offered details of what she and her friends have on their shopping lists.

In emails and online comments, you've offered your suggestions too. Among the recommendations from readers have been the selection of imported cheeses and wines, lemon crisp cookies, Everything But the Bagle seasoning and orange-flavored dried cranberries, "great in salads or breads and muffins."

"Best item is their colorful reusable shopping bags," said another reader. "We have versions from Atlanta, Asheville, Nashville and Tucson. Wonder if Chattaboogie will get its own design."

Carla Sanderlin said she put in a request for a Chattanooga store every time she shopped at the Atlanta location. Her favorite products include premium extra-virgin olive oil, Thai-style yellow curry sauce, sweet chili sauce, gyoza dipping sauce, organic toasted sesame oil, fudge sauce, caramel sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and triple gingersnaps.

"Now that they are local, I am really looking forward to trying some of their frozen-food options," she said.

Contact Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com or annebraly.com.
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STRANDED IN THE WHITE HOUSE. The Biden administration says it does not know how many U.S. citizens are in Afghanistan hoping to leave in the face of the American withdrawal and Taliban takeover. For days, Pentagon officials said they had no ability to venture outside the Kabul airport to find those Americans and bring them to safety.

Now, the military says it is doing just that. "The Pentagon is ramping up evacuations from Kabul's airport by deploying American helicopters and troops into select spots in Kabul to extract stranded American citizens and Afghan allies," the New York Times reports. Defense Department spokesman John Kirby would not confirm that any such rescue missions are being conducted. "I would just say that commanders on the ground have the authority to conduct local missions as they deem appropriate to the need," Kirby said Monday.

But here's the thing: The Biden administration will not admit that there are Americans "stranded" in Afghanistan. In a surreal exchange in the White House briefing room, spokeswoman Jen Psaki pushed back against Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy, who asked about criticism of President Biden's decision to withdraw American troops "before getting these Americans who are now stranded."

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"First of all, I think it's irresponsible to say Americans are stranded," Psaki responded. "They are not. We are committed to bringing Americans, who want to come home, home..."

Doocy then asked if the official White House position was that "There are no Americans stranded?"

"I'm just calling you out for saying that we are stranding Americans in Afghanistan," Psaki said, "when we have been very clear that we are not leaving Americans who want to return home. We are going to bring them home."

Story continues

Just for the record: There is some number, likely thousands, of Americans who want to get out of Afghanistan but who cannot safely travel through the country, much less get through Taliban lines around the Kabul airport. They are stranded. Hundreds of news reports in the past week have made reference to that simple fact.

Three examples, in addition to the New York Times story quoted above: Yesterday the Washington Post reported that, "The Pentagon said U.S. troops had made multiple sorties beyond the airport to reach stranded Americans." Last week, CNN's Wolf Blitzer said: "Thousands of Americans remain stranded in [Afghanistan] right now." And at the same time, CBS News reported, "Thousands of Americans are stranded..."

At the Pentagon on Saturday, a reporter asked Kirby whether helicopter missions "may be a way that other Americans who are still stranded might be able to get to the airport." Kirby did not object to the use of "stranded." Instead, he simply said he would not discuss future operations.

But now, the White House spokeswoman insists all that is wrong. No Americans are "stranded."

The Biden administration obviously wants to portray the Afghan disaster in the best light, although it is hard to see what that best light is. But it cannot do that by denying the existence of what is in front of everyone's face, which is that some Americans -- we don't know how many -- are currently stranded in Afghanistan. If they are not, in fact, stranded, why do they need to be rescued?

Even President Biden himself conceded the need for rescue missions. Last week, in one of the few times he has taken questions on the Afghanistan issue, he was asked, "Are you considering rescue operations to recover Americans and Afghan allies stuck behind Taliban checkpoints?"

"Yes," the president answered. "We're considering every opportunity and every means by which we can get folks to the airport."

So a reminder of the reality that even the president at least indirectly acknowledges: U.S. citizens are stranded in Afghanistan. And the U.S. government needs to rescue them, not to deny that they are stranded at all.

For a deeper dive into many of the topics covered in the Daily Memo, please listen to my podcast, The Byron York Show -- available on the Ricochet Audio Network and everywhere else podcasts can be found. You can use this link to subscribe.

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Tags: Daily Memo, Byron York, Joe Biden, Afghanistan

Original Author: Byron York

Original Location: Byron York's Daily Memo: Stranded in the White House
Associated Press

After seeing gusty winds in the forecast as the fire moved closer to his Lake Tahoe community, Johnson said he planned to leave Tuesday afternoon to join his girlfriend in Reno, once he had packed up a few precious items to take with him. While more than 20,000 residents and likely thousands of tourists packed roads leading out of Lake Tahoe on Monday to flee the Caldor Fire closing in on the resort community, a handful of people decided to buck the mandatory evacuation orders and stay behind. In the West, where bigger and hotter wildfires rage through the forests each year, more communities find themselves staring down evacuation orders.
Every time you turn around, someone new is winning the war in California around organizing workers in the sharing economy.

Labor struck first when California legislators passed Assembly Bill 5, requiring all independent contractors working for gig economy companies to be reclassified as employees. That was expected to set off a chain reaction in state legislatures nationwide, until two things happened.

First, COVID-19 hit and quickly became all-encompassing, making it virtually impossible for lawmakers and regulators to focus on anything but surviving the pandemic. Second, Uber, Lyft, Instacart and others funded and voters approved Prop 22 in California, striking down AB-5 and returning sharing economy workers to independent contractor status.

On the same day that Prop 22 passed, Democrats captured both chambers of Congress in Washington, but their margins were so slim (50-50 in the Senate and a nine-vote majority in the House), that federal legislative action on the issue was near impossible. Across the country, politicians read the tea leaves of Prop 22 and decided to mainly stay away. That kept the issue at bay during the 2021 state legislative sessions.

But the tide started to turn again this summer. First, U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Virginia) introduced the PRO Act in February 2021, stating that workers would be reclassified using an ABC test, in addition to rolling back right-to-work laws in states and establishing monetary penalties for companies and executives who violate workers rights.

The bill handily passed the House in March, but has since stalled in the Senate, despite receiving a hearing and energetic support by high-profile senators including Bernie Sanders and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

The Biden administrations appointees to the Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board are decidedly in favor of full-time-worker status. And now, a California Superior Court judge has ruled Prop 22 unconstitutional, saying it violates the right of the state legislature to pass future laws around worker safety and status.

Story continues

The sharing economy companies are expected to appeal, and the case could ultimately wind up before the California Supreme Court.

So now what? The courts will ultimately determine the status of sharing economy workers in California, but since the decision will be about the specific legal parameters of Californias referendum process, it wont determine the issue elsewhere. And despite noise from Washington, Congress isnt passing the PRO Act any time soon (Democrats may try to include it in the reconciliation for the $3.5 trillion American Families Plan, but the odds of its survival are low). That means the action returns to the states.

New York is the biggest battleground outside of California. Democrats have amassed a supermajority in both chambers of the legislature, and New York lacks a referendum vehicle to overturn state law.

Sharing economy workers are the biggest organizing opportunity for private sector unions in decades, and labor will use all of its influence to pass worker classification reform in 2022.

However, Kathy Hochul, New Yorks new governor, is a moderate, and state legislators recently abandoned a half-baked plan brokered by gig companies to safeguard independent contractor status, indicating a resolution on the issue will likely take time.

Illinois is fertile ground for worker reclassification, too, but the state remains a question mark.

Theres also a chance of movement in Massachusetts, where gig companies are making a play to establish a ballot initiative very similar to Prop 22. Legislators in Seattle and Pennsylvania have also signaled an interest in exploring the issue.

And just a few months after most state legislative sessions conclude next summer, well hit the midterm elections, which could produce a Republican wave (especially in the House) that would yet again quash the chances of worker classification legislation passing anywhere.

In other words, this is going to ping back and forth for at least the next few years in the courts, in state legislatures, and in the halls of Congress and federal agencies. If youre a sharing economy investor and you want this issue resolved once and for all, that peace of mind isnt coming. And the market, rather than accepting that this will be an unresolved issue for the next few years, will probably overreact to each individual action, whether its a lower court ruling or a piece of legislation making its way through a state.

In reality, the answer is the same as its always been: Trying to shoehorn sharing economy workers into one of two existing categories -- 1099 or W-2 -- doesnt work. We still need to recognize that the inherent nature of work has changed over the last decade, and we need to recognize that both parties -- the sharing economy companies and the unions -- are only looking out for their own interests and coffers at the expense of whats best for actual workers.

California is not going to resolve this issue. Its just swung back and forth from one extreme to another. Congress is not going to resolve this issue because it almost never resolves anything.

So the game comes down to states like Illinois, New York and Massachusetts. It comes down to legislators and leaders trying to craft good public policy at the expense of their donors and supporters and Twitter followers -- and then it comes down to their colleagues doing the same.

It means sacrificing politics for policy. That almost never happens. And it probably wont happen here, either. So if youre trying to game out where this issue is going, accept the uncertainty and expect that a thoughtful, smart resolution -- locally or nationally -- is unlikely. Its a dissatisfying conclusion but, sadly, it epitomizes exactly where our politics stand today.
Good Morning America

The Justice Department on Monday alerted several federal judges that an outspoken attorney representing at least 17 alleged rioters charged in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection is reportedly hospitalized and possibly incapacitated after testing positive for COVID-19, leaving the bulk of his cases effectively at a "standstill" and his clients "without counsel." The California-based attorney, John Pierce, currently represents more defendants charged in the riot than any other defense lawyer -- including multiple alleged members of the Proud Boys group and a number of individuals accused of assaulting law enforcement officers. In recent weeks, an associate at Pierce's law firm, Ryan Marshall, has appeared in Pierce's place during multiple hearings, where he offered conflicting reports about the status of Pierce's health.
By Stephen Nellis

(Reuters) - Cerebras Systems, the Silicon Valley startup making the world's largest computer chip, said on Tuesday it can now weave together almost 200 of the chips to drastically reduce the power consumed by artificial-intelligence work.

Cerebras is one of a number of startups making chips specifically designed for AI and aiming to challenge current market leaders Nvidia Corp and Alphabet Inc's Google. The company has raised about $475 million in venture capital and has secured deals with pharmaceutical firms GlaxoSmithKline Plc and AstraZeneca Plc to use its chips to speed up drug discovery.

Traditionally, hundreds or even thousands of computer chips are manufactured on a 12-inch (30 cm) silicon disc called a wafer, which is later sliced up into individual chips. Cerebras, by contrast, uses the entire wafer. The huge Cerebras chip can hold more data at once.

But artificial intelligence researchers now have AI models called "neural networks" too big for any single chip to hold, so they must split them up across many chips. The biggest current neural networks are still only a fraction of the complexity of a human brain, but they use much more energy than human brains because the systems that run them become less power-efficient as more chips are added.

Cerebras said on Wednesday that it can put together 192 of its chips to train huge neural networks, but that the power efficiency will stay the same as chips are added. In other words, Cerebras can double the amount of computing its chips do for double the power, unlike current systems that need more than twice as much power to double their computing capacity.

Current AI systems "are in the realm where you're talking about tens of megawatts of power, and you're doing it over months. You're using a the equivalent of a small city's power to train these networks," Cerebras Chief Executive Andrew Feldman told Reuters. "Power is extremely important."

(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
The Guardian

As sovereign nations, Indigenous groups are using their authority to make their own rules to protect students and teachers A mural on the Navajo reservation in Shiprock, New Mexico. Photograph: Andrew Hay/Reuters Native American tribes across the handful of US states with bans on school mask mandates have asserted their powers as sovereign nations to defy the orders, with some also implementing their own testing and vaccine directives for tens of thousands of students and faculty in schools on t
(Bloomberg) -- Shenzhen IVPS Technology Co., the firm behind e-cigarette device brand Smok, is considering an initial public offering to raise at least $500 million in Hong Kong as soon as next year, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The vaping device maker is working with an adviser to prepare for the potential share sale, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the information is private. The offering could raise between $500 million and $1 billion, the people said.

Deliberations are at an early stage and details of the potential offering such as timing and size may change, the people said. IVPS didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

Founded in 2010, IVPS makes vaping kits under its Smok brand, according to its website. The devices are used by over 80 million consumers globally, and are sold online as well as via distributors in countries such as France, Kuwait and the U.K.

Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology proposed a draft regulation in March that would apply the same rules for the conventional tobacco industry to the e-cigarette sector. The aim is to regulate production and marketing of new types of tobacco products and prevent false advertising and quality issues, the document said, without giving further details.

The move was seen as a further blow to the vaping industry after Beijing banned online sales of e-cigarettes in 2019. Shares of several Chinese e-cigarette companies plunged following the drafts release in March, and Hong Kong-listed device maker Smoore International Holdings Ltd.s shares are down about 40% this year.

While rising regulatory scrutiny of the vaping industry could impact investor appetite for listings in the sector, IVPS could be less affected because it makes the device rather than the e-cigarette liquid, one of the people said.

(Updates with locations of distributors in the fourth paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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2021 Bloomberg L.P.
Aug. 24OGDENSBURG  The blocking of constituents by Ogdensburg Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly on his personal Facebook profile has led to a federal lawsuit being filed by a small group of Ogdensburg residents.

The lawsuit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court, Plattsburgh, by the law firm of Gleason, Dunn, Walsh & O'Shea of Albany on behalf of their clients Cynthia Layng, Douglas Loffler, Brian Mitchell and Angela McRoberts.

The plaintiffs, according to court documents, state they "are active and vocal participants in discussions regarding the affairs and policies of the City and have been denied a voice on a social media platform maintained by the defendant, Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly."

"The plaintiffs allege that the defendant Mayor's act of 'blocking' plaintiffs from participating in the ongoing discussions regarding the affairs and policies of the City constitutes viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution," the complaint reads. "Upon information and belief, dozens of other citizens who, like the plaintiffs, have expressed viewpoints on the Mayor's Facebook profile that criticize the Mayor and/or his policies have been "blocked" from participating in the ongoing social media discussions regarding the affairs of the City taking place on the Mayor's Facebook profile."

On Monday, the non-partisan group called Citizens Watch, held a press conference on the steps of City Hall to announce the lawsuit.

"This gathering tonight is a critical step in protecting Ogdensburg's citizens from what we believe is a blatant erosion of their first amendment rights," stated Maureen Brashaw to a group of about 75 supporters announcing the lawsuit. "As has been demonstrated, Mayor Skelly uses his private Facebook page as a public forum, to air city/political business. He censures those who ask for information, question his actions or provide opposing opinions on his posts, by blocking them."

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Ms. Brashaw continued that when the mayor blocks people it denies the public critical information because he uses it for city business. She is calling for the mayor to provide an open forum and reinstate those who have been blocked.

"All voices need to be heard, not just the feedback the mayor wants to hear. We are speaking for those that have been denied and cannot," Ms. Brashaw said.

A call to Mr. Skelly for comment was unanswered, and his mailbox was full so a message could not be left.

Court documents say that Mr. Skelly uses his Facebook profile to announce his mayoral agenda and update his constituents on projects and initiatives that he has advanced as mayor and that he has engaged in a pattern of conduct where he "blocks" people who express viewpoints that are at odds with his or are critical of his administration.

An example was cited on Aug. 25, 2020 when Mr. Skelly published a Facebook post where he mentioned the previous evening's council meeting. According to the court documents, Cynthia Layng posted a comment calling the council idiots and Mr. Skelly blocked her from his Facebook profile.

"Plaintiff Layng knew the defendant had blocked her when she could no longer locate his Facebook profile," according to the complaint.

Another example was on or around Aug. 25, 2020, when Mr. Skelly published a Facebook post stating that he wanted the blue light bulbs at the Ogdensburg Fire Department taken down.

"These light bulbs were in place to honor the life of an Ogdensburg City Police Officer who had recently committed suicide. Plaintiff Douglas Loffler ("plaintiff Loffler") commented on this post, criticizing the defendant's leadership skills. Plaintiff Loffler also suggested that the defendant should have gone to the Ogdensburg Fire Department to discuss his concerns with them directly instead of posting about it on Facebook. Defendant subsequently blocked plaintiff Loffler from his Facebook profile. Plaintiff Loffler knew defendant had blocked him when he could not locate defendant's Facebook profile the next day," stated the complaint.

Similar examples were written for Brian Mitchell and Angela McRoberts, both of whom had been blocked by the mayor.

According to court documents, "users who have expressed support for the defendant's performance as Mayor on his Facebook profile have not been blocked. Plaintiffs have been and continue to be excluded from the public dialogue concerning the affairs of the City occurring on defendant's official Facebook profile. Defendant's viewpoint-based exclusion of plaintiff from his official Facebook profile filters the speech in that forum and causes a chilling effect for others from similarly expressing dissenting viewpoints."

The court documents state that the plaintiffs demand a jury trial.

The plaintiffs are seeking "injunctive relief" prohibiting Mr. Skelly from blocking them from his Facebook profile, along with unspecified compensatory and punitive damages and reimbursement for court fees.
Several Democratic lawmakers are calling on Biden to push back the Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan, arguing that U.S. military presence is crucial to the safe evacuation of both Americans and Afghan partners.

Driving the news: Three members of the Armed Services Committee urged the president to reconsider the deadline following a classified congressional briefing from administration officials on the situation in Afghanistan.

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What theyre saying: The cries for help are not ones we can ignore, Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) said at press conference following the briefing.

Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), a former Army Ranger who served two combat tours in Afghanistan, said, the deadline is when the mission is accomplished, and we bring our people home.

Make no mistake, this evacuation is an extremely dangerous mission and it's set to get more dangerous in the coming days, said Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Va.), a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot. I requested that the SecDef and SecState encourage the President in the strongest possible terms to reconsider that deadline.

Between the lines: There is considerable distance between Democratic lawmakers and the administration on the correct course out of Afghanistan.

Kim told Axios after the news conference that the contingency of members who want the deadline extended is significant and bipartisan.

Pressed again in a classified briefing today by Crow about how many Americans are still in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark Milley declined to provide any estimates, two sources in the room confirmed to Axios' Alayna Treene.

The other side: Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) introduced legislation last week that, if passed, would limit the Defense Departments ability to withdraw forces until evacuation is complete unless there is an imminent threat of hostilities.

The legislation would also require the Secretary of Defense to issue a daily report to Congress regarding the ongoing evacuation operation in Afghanistan, including the number of Americans still in country.

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Rep Cheri Bustos of Illinois (Getty Images)

Many House Democrats continue to support President Joe Bidens plan to exit Afghanistan despite criticisms of how the exit was handled.

Rep Cheri Bustos of Illinois, who is retiring at the end of the term, said the White House is doing everything it can to leave on time.

Theyre doing everything they can to get em out and get Americans out and they have the sense of urgency to get the job done, said Ms Bustos, a moderate Democrat who hails from a district that voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.

But despite Mr Trumps critiques of Mr Biden, Ms Bustos said it was still the right decision to end the war in Afghanistan.

I think that weve been in a war for 20 years and President Biden did the right thing by making sure were calling an end to it, she said.

Rep Ted Lieu of California, who serves in the air force reserves, said he supported the presidents plan and noted how it was initiated by the Trump administration.

Similarly, Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told The Independent that Mr Bidens administration was hamstrung by the agreement made by Mr Trump and his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Absolutely. President Trump and Secretary Mike Pompeo exclusively made agreements with the Taliban and the conditions of those agreements created a predicate that very much limited the current administration, Ms Ocasio-Cortez said. But all that is to say we needed to pull out.

Mr Bidens polling has taken a hit in light of the news from Afghanistan. A new poll from NBC News found that only 25 percent of Americans approve of his handling of Afghanistan. By comparison, 53 percent approve of Mr Bidens handling of coronavirus, and 47 percent approve of his handling of the economy, though both are down from his numbers in the spring.

Still the same poll showed that 88 percent of Democrats approve of Mr Bidens performance overall.

At the same time, some Democrats criticised the unraveling in Afghanistan. Rep Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, who worked for the CIA for years as a Middle East analyst, said that Afghan President Ashraf Ghanis leaving the nation as it fell did not portend well.

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I think when the president of the country leaves the country and announces on Facebook, its not a great start but I think obviously no ones happy with how this is going, Ms Slotkin said.

Ms Slotkin said there also needed to be a process for people to come to the United States through a system that wasnt based on connections and added that Congress passed legislation to expand special immigrant visas for translators and others who assisted with the US mission in Afghanistan.

If they want something, if they need something, they should speak up and ask, Ms Slotkin said, adding that she continues to work on about 500 cases.

Similarly, some Republicans such as Kentucky Rep Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has criticised the war in Afghanistan, say Mr Bidens performance has been lackluster.

Getting out is the right thing to do but, I think you get the people out who dont have guns before you take out the people who do have guns, he said. And I think the same hubris that led us to be there for 20 years is the hubris that led us to believe that the Afghan national security force and the president could keep the whole thing going long enough for us to get out safely.

Read More

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The Taliban: Who are they, who are the leaders and what do they want?

How quickly did Taliban advance across Afghanistan?
SACRAMENTO  For a generation, Larry Elder has been an AM radio fixture for millions of Californians, the voice they could count on when they were fed up with liberal Democratic politics. Those living in the country illegally? Deport them. Affirmative action? End it. Equal pay? The glass ceiling doesnt exist.

Now Elder, a Los Angeles Republican who bills himself as the sage from South Central, could end up as the next governor of the nations most populous state. As the campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom has become a dead heat among likely voters, Elder has emerged almost overnight as the front-runner in the campaign to replace him.

Fueled by a combination of arcane recall rules, name recognition and partisan desperation, his rise to the top of a pack of some four dozen challengers has stunned and unnerved many in both parties.

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Democrats call him the agent of a far-right power grab. Republican rivals say he is an inexperienced, debate-dodging opportunist. Orrin Heatlie, a retired sheriffs sergeant who is the recalls lead proponent, said he and his fellow activists were voting for someone else.

This month, The Sacramento Bee and two Republican candidates  Kevin Faulconer, a former San Diego mayor, and Caitlyn Jenner, a television personality and former Olympian  demanded that Elder drop out of the race after an ex-girlfriend of his said he brandished a gun at her while high on marijuana during a 2015 breakup.

We were having a conversation and he walked to the drawer and took out a .45 and checked to see that it was loaded, Alexandra Datig, 51, said in an interview. Datig, who worked as an escort in the 1990s and now runs Front Page Index, a conservative website, said: He wanted me to know he was ready to be very threatening to me. Hes a talented entertainer, but he shouldnt be governor.

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Elder, 69, did not respond to requests for comment about Datigs claims, but he did tweet that he has never brandished a gun at anyone, adding, I am not going to dignify this with a response.

The onslaught has come as a Sept. 14 election deadline nears. Ballots have been mailed to all active registered voters, asking whether the governor should be replaced, and, if so, by whom.

Constitutional scholars say Elders sudden ascent is an example of all that is wrong with the recall process, which requires a majority to recall a governor but only a plurality of votes for the replacement candidate to win. With 46 challengers on the ballot, 49.9% of the electorate could vote to keep Newsom, and he could still lose to a replacement who is supported by only a tiny sliver of voters. Polls show a rout by Newsom among all Californians but a far tighter race among likely voters. Elder leads 46 challengers on the ballot with about 20% of the likely vote.

Newsom, whose fate rides on turnout, has made a foil of Elder, a small-l libertarian who reliably agitates the governors base with claims, for instance, that the minimum wage should be zero, the war on oil should be ended and racial preferences are destructive.

The leading candidate thinks climate change is a hoax, believes we need more offshore oil drilling, more fracking, does not believe a woman has the right to choose, actually came out against Roe v. Wade, does not believe in a minimum wage, Newsom has told supporters.

Dont paint me as some wild-eyed radical, Elder said in a recent interview. Im running because of crime, homelessness, the rising cost of living and the outrageous decisions made during COVID that shut down the state.

To his loyal listeners, Elder paints himself as the native son of a California that was once simpler and safer than the teeming, disaster-prone nation-state he sees anchoring the West Coast today. Listeners know that his father, a former U.S. Marine, saved his pay as a janitor to open a restaurant in Los Angeles Pico-Union district, and to buy a house in a neighborhood that shifted from mostly white to mostly Black residents in less than a decade.

His father was also violently abusive, Elder wrote in 2018, driving him to leave home the moment he graduated from Crenshaw High School. Admitted to Brown University under an early affirmative action program, Elder, the second of three sons, stayed away from California for years, moving on to the University of Michigan Law School and becoming a lawyer and legal recruiter in Ohio.

He was a guest on a Cleveland PBS show when the stand-in host, Los Angeles-based conservative talk radio host Dennis Prager, suggested he come back.

I was so impressed with his original mind and phenomenal grasp of the issues that when I returned to Los Angeles I invited him onto my show  solely in order to persuade the KABC station manager to hire him, Prager wrote in an email.

It was the age of Rush Limbaugh, and Elder rose swiftly. Los Angeles progressives boycotted his advertisers, but he hung on, writing books, making Fox News appearances and expanding through syndication until 2014, when the station abruptly fired him. Another station soon picked him up; Salem Media Group has syndicated his show since 2016 and is holding his slot while he campaigns.

I have never, ever, ever, ever thought I would be entering politics, Elder said. But he was persuaded, he said, by Prager, Jack Hibbs, the evangelical pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, and a host of others including radio colleagues, his barber and his dry cleaner.

I kept waiting for somebody to say, Are you kidding? he said. But nobody said that. People said: If not you, who? If not now, when?

Elders political positions speak loudly and clearly to the states small but vocal strain of far-right conservatism. He supports school vouchers and prioritizes jobs over environmental and climate considerations. He opposes abortion. He is vaccinated against the coronavirus because of a rare blood condition but opposes vaccine and mask mandates.

And, GOP consultants note, Elder is among a handful of California Republicans with enough name recognition to compete in a state of almost 40 million people.

Ive been a listener of his for years, said Shelby Nicole Owens, 35, a Republican in the rural community of Sonora who admired Elders consistency and commonsense approach long before her ballot arrived in her mailbox.

Done and done! she posted on his Facebook page, adding a kiss-blowing emoji after marking her vote.

But establishment Republicans such as Faulconer say he is more suited to provocation than to governing.

While other candidates disclosed their income taxes, Elder supplied partial returns and then successfully challenged the state requirement, keeping his private.

After incomplete conflict-of-interest disclosures  now being investigated by state campaign finance regulators  were amended, they showed that Elder is being paid by The Epoch Times, a purveyor of political misinformation and far-right conspiracy theories.

He has refused to debate other Republicans and bashed the news media when challenged. He has told left-leaning editorial boards that President Joe Biden fairly won in 2020 and conservative radio interviewers that he did not.

He has recanted assertions made in 2008 that climate change is a crock but, in an interview, offered $10,000 to charity for proof he had ever said that and falsely claimed that nobody really knows to what degree humans caused climate change. He has written that Democrats do better with female voters because, according to academic research, women know less than men about political issues.

In an interview this month, Elder said he had been single since an amicable divorce in the 1990s, and now shares his Hollywood Hills home with a girlfriend who is an interior designer.

Asked about Datig, he said they had dated for a few months and thats it. Datig said they lived together between 2013 and 2015 for 18 months and discussed marriage.

Employed by Heidi Fleiss and the now-deceased Beverly Hills Madam during the 1990s, Datig has since spoken publicly against sex trafficking and worked as an assistant to a now-retired Los Angeles city councilman. She used her connections to help Elder get a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, she said, and tattooed Larrys Girl across her lower back.

But as the relationship deteriorated, she said, he threatened eviction. A legal agreement shows she left for $13,000 in relocation money, $7,000 for tattoo removal and a Cadillac.

She did not report the alleged gun incident to the police, she said, in part because she had signed a 2014 nondisclosure agreement, but she did ask for help from acquaintances and city officials. Three confirmed last week that they had gotten her emails.

Datig, who has endorsed Faulconer, said she went public after learning that her NDA was less restrictive than she had realized.

And Owens, the voter? At her farm in Tuolumne County, she predicted that fans of Elder would be unshaken.

There does not seem to be a politician alive today, she said, that doesnt have some sort of past relationship scandal.

The sage from South Central, she added, still has her vote.

 2021 The New York Times Company
(Reuters) -Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Global Inc has suspended its plans to launch in Britain and continental Europe, The Telegraph reported on Monday, against the backdrop of a regulatory backlash at home over data privacy.

Staff working on the planned launches have been told that they face possible redundancy and Didi has stopped hiring in Britain, pulling the launch plans for at least a year, according to the report. (https://bit.ly/2WaN29Z)

"We continue to explore additional new markets, liaising with relevant stakeholders in each and being thoughtful about when to introduce our services," a Didi spokesperson said, without mentioning the UK launch plans.

"As soon as we have any more news on additional new markets, we look forward to sharing."

Chinese companies have been caught in a pincer with increasing U.S. scrutiny on one side and a domestic regulatory crackdown on the country's massive internet sector.

The move has rattled tech giants in the country and Didi is under a cybersecurity review, as China revamps its policy towards privacy and data security to ensure secure storage of user data.

Didi which listed its shares in New York in June after raising $4.4 billion in an initial public offering, is looking to expand its international business with recent launches in South Africa, Ecuador and Kazakhstan.

(Reporting by Eva Mathews in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Devika Syamnath)
By Rupam Jain

(Reuters) - Ashraf Haidari, an economist at the Aghan finance ministry, was waiting anxiously at home when a call came from the Taliban: a commander ordered him back to work so he could help run the country once the "crazy foreigners" had left.

Like thousands of others working for the outgoing Western-backed administration, swept aside by the Islamist militants' lightning conquest of Afghanistan, he worried he might be the victim of reprisals https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/cowering-bathroom-some-afghans-dread-taliban-knock-door-2021-08-20.

On the other end of the line was a Taliban commander, urging Haidari to return to his ministry where he works allocating funds to the country's 34 provinces.

"He said don't panic or try to go into hiding, the officials need your expertise to run our country after the crazy foreigners leave," Haidari, 47, told Reuters.

To fit in with the norms of the previous Taliban rule, when they brutally enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law, Haidari grew a beard. After the phone call on Sunday, he swapped his suit for traditional Afghan robes to meet his new bosses.

Reuters spoke to three other mid-level officials at Afghanistan's finance ministry and central bank who said they had been told by the Taliban to return to work, as the country faces economic upheaval and a shortage of cash.

Sohrab Sikandar, who works in the finance ministry's revenue department, said he had not seen any of his female colleagues since he went back to the office.

During the Taliban's 1996-2001 rule, women could not work, had to cover their face and be accompanied by a male relative if they wanted to venture out of their homes.

Taliban spokespeople have sought to reassure Afghans that they were not out for revenge and that they would allow women to work, as long as their jobs were consistent with Islamic law.

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But reports of house-to-house searches, women https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/afghan-women-bankers-forced-roles-taliban-takes-control-2021-08-13 being forced from jobs and reprisals against former security officials and ethnic minorities have made people wary. The Taliban have vowed to investigate reported abuses.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters in Kabul on Tuesday that it "was time for people to work for their country". He added that the Taliban were working on procedures for female government workers to return to their jobs but that for now they should stay home for "security" reasons.

STAYING PUT

Widespread destruction during a 20-year war between U.S.-backed government forces and the Taliban, the drop in local spending due to departing foreign troops, a tumbling currency and lack of dollars are fuelling financial crisis.

An Afghanistan central bank official, who said he had returned to work and wished to remain anonymous, told Reuters the Taliban had so far only recalled a few officials, mainly in the finance and interior ministries.

Leaders of the Taliban have begun talks on forming a government that have included discussions with some former foes from past administrations, including ex-president Hamid Karzai.

The Pajhwok news agency reported that Taliban officials had been appointed to various posts including a governor of Kabul, acting interior and finance ministers and intelligence chief.

Haidari, the economist at the finance ministry, said he didn't tell his family when he left his house on Monday for his first day at work under Taliban rule to "avoid panic".

At the office he was greeted by three Taliban officials who told him he would soon be joined by other colleagues and that they needed to focus on sending money to the provinces.

One official, who said he was in charge of security for the ministry, told Haidari that prayer breaks were mandatory.

"They are not carrying guns inside the building and one of them said we can learn from your expertise," Haidari said.

Unlike some fellow citizens desperately trying to leave https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taliban-says-no-evacuation-extension-g7-meets-afghan-crisis-2021-08-24 the country, he plans to stay put.

(Reporting by Rupam Jain; Writing by John Geddie; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
Nearly 75 doctors in South Florida took part in a symbolic walkout Monday to protest the overwhelming number of unvaccinated coronavirus patients receiving care at their hospital in Palm Beach Gardens.

The doctors stood outside the hospital with the hope of using their platform to convince people who havent yet received their COVID-19 vaccine to do so, WFLA reported.

We are exhausted. Our patience and resources are running low and we need your help, said Dr. Rupesh Dharia from Palm Beach Internal Medicine.

The vaccine still remains the most effective and reliable way to stop this madness, said Dr. Leslie Diaz, an infectious disease specialist.

The walkout comes as the Food and Drug Administration gave full authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, a measure that many health experts hope encourages more hesitant people to get their shot.
(REUTERS)

Elizabeth Holmess fraud trial begins on Tuesday 31 August at the federal courthouse in San Jose, California.

She faces multiple charges of conspiracy and fraud for her lead role in the Theranos scandal as the companys founder and former chief executive officer.

The disgraced blood-testing start-up wowed the tech investment world before collapsing in a storm over the efficacy of the technology supposedly at its core.

Theranos was at one point valued at approximately $9bn, but is now a byword for corporate misconduct, with Ms Holmes accused of lying to patients about testing, and investors about projected revenues.

The once-lauded founder faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Previously scheduled trial dates were postponed three times due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

On 2 March 2021, counsel for the defendant advised the government that Ms Holmes was pregnant once agin pushing the start date back, this time from 13 July to 31 August.

When the trial begins on Tuesday, her son will be just weeks old.

According to the US Attorneys Office for the Northern District of California, court trial days will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, with the possibility of other half days.

The court may modify the trial time and set either 8.30am to 2pm or 9am to 2pm with some 30-minute breaks in between likely.

Hearings will take place in San Jose, Courtroom 4, 5th Floor before Judge Edward J. Davila.

It is thought her defence lawyers may argue that she is guilty of nothing more than optimistically believing in her product, or that her actions are attributable to a mental disease, according to reporting by Bloomberg Businessweek. It is unknown if she will take the stand.

Expected to last approximately three months, it is one of the most-anticipated trials of the year.

Former chief operating officer of Theranos Ramesh Balwani, known as Sunny, will face the court in January 2022.

Both Ms Holmes and Mr Balwani have pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.

Story continues

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By James Pearson and Nandita Bose

HANOI (Reuters) - Vice President Kamala Harris pushed ahead with a trip to Vietnam on Tuesday after delaying the visit over concerns due to a health incident potentially related to the mysterious Havana syndrome.

Harris arrived in the Southeast Asian country's capital after a three-hour delay in Singapore that the U.S. government blamed on reports that someone in Hanoi may have been targeted by the Havana syndrome, a condition of unknown origin with symptoms including dizziness, nausea, migraines and memory lapses.

The incident upstaged a bid by President Joe Biden's top deputy to woo the allies Washington hopes will help it challenge China's assertive foreign policy in the region.

Beijing, meanwhile, attempted to stage its own diplomatic coup with a surprise meeting in Vietnam and a donation of 2 million COVID-19 vaccines to the country.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Havana syndrome case was reported in Vietnam before Harris' departure but not confirmed. A safety assessment was done before sending Harris to the country, she said.

"The Vice President's office was made aware of a report of a recent possible anomalous health incident in Hanoi," the local U.S. Embassy said.

Some 200 U.S. officials and kin, including CIA officers, have been sickened https://www.reuters.com/world/us/about-100-cia-officers-family-members-afflicted-by-havana-syndrome-cia-chief-2021-07-22 by "Havana syndrome," CIA Director William Burns has said.

A U.S. National Academy of Sciences panel in December found that a plausible theory is that "directed energy" beams caused the syndrome, which is so named because it first was reported by American officials based in the U.S. embassy in Cuba in 2016.

The CIA sees a "very strong possibility" that the syndrome is intentionally caused, and that Russia could be responsible, but is withholding definitive conclusions pending further investigation. Moscow denies involvement.

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VIETNAM SAYS IT PICKS NO SIDES

The incident came as Washington faces icy relations with another global competitor, China.

As Harris's trip to Vietnam was delayed, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held the unannounced meeting with Chinese Ambassador Xiong Bo, during which Chinh said Vietnam does not align itself with one country against any other.

Earlier on Tuesday, Harris had accused https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/kamala-harris-says-beijing-continues-coerce-south-china-sea-2021-08-24 Beijing of coercion and intimidation to back claims in the South China Sea, her most pointed comments on China during a visit to Southeast Asia, a region she said is critical to U.S. security.

"The Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam adheres to an independent, self-reliant, multilateral, and diverse foreign policy and is a responsible member of the international community," the Vietnamese government said in a statement.

"Vietnam does not align itself with one country against another," it said.

Territorial disputes in the South China Sea should be settled according to international law and "high-level common sense," it said.

The U.S. administration has called rivalry with China "the biggest geopolitical test" of the century.

"The fact that China's ambassador insisted on a meeting with the Vietnamese prime minister shortly before Harris landed shows how anxious Beijing is that its communist neighbor may tilt toward the U.S.," said Murray Hiebert, a Southeast Asia expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies.

During the meeting, Chinh thanked the ambassador for the vaccine donation. It was not immediately clear which vaccine China had donated.

Vietnam had successfully contained the coronavirus for most of last year but since April has been dealing with a large COVID-19 outbreak in Ho Chi Minh City, driven by the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus. Just under 2% of its 98 million people are fully vaccinated.

(Reporting by James Pearson and Nandita Bose; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom, Steve Holland and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; Editing by Trevor Hunnicutt, Angus MacSwan and Jonathan Oatis)
The claim: Tattoo ink isn't FDA approved

Viral Facebook posts have commenters debating the importance of Food and Drug Administration approval for two very different products  COVID-19 vaccines and tattoo ink.

"Guess what... Tattoo ink isnt FDA approved. That didnt stop you," an Aug. 13 post reads.

Many interpreted the post as taking a shot at people who are skeptical of the COVID-19 vaccine because none had received full FDA approval at the time of the Facebook posts. The vaccines had instead received Emergency Use Authorizations after extensive testing and peer-reviewed clinical trials.

Fact check: Peer-reviewed studies have shown safety, efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines

Some commenters said the comparison in the post wasn't fair because some employers are requiring vaccines, while tattoos are voluntary. Other commenters disputed the claim itself, saying the FDA does approve tattoo ink.

The claim is accurate  the FDA doesn't require inks for tattoos to be approved before use in human skin because it considers them a cosmetic, unlike drugs and other products that typically require FDA review before going on the market.

Fact check: CDC didn't oversee the Tuskegee study. But the agency isn't blameless, experts say

USA TODAY reached out to the user who created the post for comment.

Al Nelsen of Kelsey, Washington gets his Sturgis tattoo updated by Tim Martin at Fat Cats Tattoos during the 81st annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally on August 10, 2021, in Sturgis, South Dakota. The rally is expected to draw more than 500,000 people during its 10-day run.

FDA does not approve tattoo ink but does regulate its safety

The Facebook post's assertion is accurate: The FDA does not approve tattoo ink products. It does, however, monitor reports for safety issues and enforce regulations on tattoo ink manufacturing.

The FDA has the authority to regulate a large list of products marketed for human and animal use, including:

Human and veterinary medical drugs

Biological products like vaccines

Medical devices like artificial hearts and home pregnancy tests

Food for both humans and animals, including additives and supplements

Tobacco products

Cosmetics, including tattoo ink

Electronics that emit radiation like sunlamps and -ray equipment

Of the many products the FDA regulates, only a few must receive FDA approval before they can be sold to the public. This means scientists and experts have reviewed the product for safety and effectiveness.

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Drugs, medical devices, biological products, color additives and food additives all require pre-market approval.

Tattoo ink is considered a cosmetic, and as such, it doesn't undergo that process.

Fact check: FDA did not associate Pfizer's first vaccine dose with COVID-19 infections

"The FDA has not approved any inks for use on your skin," its website states.

According to FDA spokesperson Courtney Rhodes, the pigments used in tattoo inks are technically subject to premarket approval under Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. However, the website says, these pigments have historically had few documented safety problems, so the government concentrates its efforts elsewhere.

"Because of competing public health priorities and lack of resources, the FDA historically has not exercised regulatory authority for color additives on the pigments used in tattoo inks that have not received the FDAs premarket approval," Rhodes told USA TODAY in an email.

More: Olympic ink: Athletes' tattoos commemorate games

In 2017, the agency issued a warning advising people to "think before you ink."

"Published research has reported that some inks contain pigments used in printer toner or in car paint." the FDA advisory said.

How the FDA regulates tattoo ink

After tattoo inks and pigments hit the market, the FDA monitors problems and regulates the products under federal law.

One way the agency monitors safety is by collecting reports from MedWatch and consumer complaint coordinators or conducting its own randomized tests for microbes or harmful substances like metals, then alerting the public when safety issues arise. In addition, the agency has the power to recall unsafe products.

The agency also uses warning letters, which inform companies when they have violated a law and tell them what action they must take to correct the problem. For example, manufacturers must make products that are safe when used as instructed on the product's label, Rhodes said. They also must not use deceptive packaging.

As an example of the FDA's past regulatory action, Rhodes described an incident in 2018 and 2019, when inspections of 12 tattoo manufacturers revealed that harmful bacteria had contaminated six tattoo inks.

"As a result of the inspections, the FDA worked with the manufacturers and distributors to remove contaminated tattoo ink products from the market and to provide manufacturers with the FDAs expectations about tattoo ink safety," Rhodes said.

Our rating: True

Based on our research, we rate TRUE the claim that tattoo ink is not approved by the FDA. The FDA states on its website that it has not approved any tattoo inks for use on skin.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Tattoo ink isn't FDA approved
The FBI is selling a surveillance plane allegedly used on Black Lives Matter protests last summer. (AFP via Getty Images)

The FBI is selling a million-dollar surveillance plane that was likely used to spy on last summers Black Lives Matter protests in Washington, DC.

A listing for the aircraft, a Cessna Citation jet, first appeared on a website run by the federal General Services Administration, where surplus government property is auctioned. Though similar jets have sold for more than $1 million, so far theres only one bid on the listing, worth $1000, after which the listing notes, reserve not met.

The plane is able to fly at high altitudes and carries a sophisticated infrared camera array that can be used during the day or at night.

According to flight data analysed by Buzzfeed News, which has extensively covered the federal governments surveillance flights, the craft has been used to make drug busts in Puerto Rico, firearms arrests in Alabama, as well as making flights around Baltimore and Washington DC that coincided with Black Lives Matter protests in 2018 and 2020, following the deaths of Freddie Gray and George Floyd at the hands of police.

The intelligence agency, as well as the FBI special agent named in the listing, declined to comment to the outlet on its surveillance efforts generally or the specific history of the plane.

The FBI says it doesnt monitor protected First Amendment activity, but has in recent years began investigating what it calls  Black Identity Extremists , a loosely to unrelated coalition of Black activists that critic say includes numerous civil rights organisers, evoking the agencys long history of surveilling Black social justice activists like Martin Luther King, Jr.

In October of 2020, US Senator Ron Wyden and other members of Congress sent a letter to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, an independent federal oversight agency, seeking more information on domestic intelligence flights.

The act of protesting has played a central role in advancing civil rights in our country, and our Constitution protects the right of Americans to engage in peaceful protest unencumbered by government interference, they wrote. We are, therefore, concerned that the federal government is infringing on this right.
After the Food and Drug Administration fully approved Pfizers two-dose COVID-19 vaccine for people 16 and over Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he felt people who were waiting to get their vaccine would now get it. His optimism, shared at the opening of a free monoclonal antibody treatment site for COVID-19 in Fort Pierce, was echoed by thousands of people across Florida and the nation.

Some people looked at the Pfizer and the Moderna and said, well, emergency approval, it hasnt technically been approved, DeSantis said in a Monday press conference. The thought is maybe now that its finally approved, maybe that will cause some people to say, OK, it went through a longer evaluation period. Maybe well then go ahead and look at that.

But some Florida doctors arent so sure that FDA approval will convert the most hesitant.

Florida currently has a vaccination rate of 66%, which means 12,691,414, people have gotten at least one dose.

Miami cardiologist Dr. Bernard Ashby, Florida lead for the Committee to Protect Health Care, said its common to talk to patients for whom FDA approval is just one of many things holding them back from getting vaccinated.

This step may help convince some people, but people of color face barriers that it wont fix, Ashby added.

[FDA approval] will help us in encouraging many vaccine-hesitant folks to get the vaccine, but Im not quite sure how significant the impact will be [for people of color], Ashby said. That doesnt change the level of distrust, and lack of access, and fundamental failures of our system. Thats a much larger issue.

Another concern expressed by Dr. Kenneth Alexander, Nemours chief of infectious diseases, is that some people would never be swayed by FDA approval.

In an earlier Kaiser Family Foundation survey, about one out of three unvaccinated adults said FDA approval would reduce their reluctance to get a vaccine. But many of the vaccine-hesitant incorrectly thought the vaccines were already FDA approved or werent sure, leading KFF to conclude that their stated desire for FDA approval may have just been a proxy for general safety concerns.

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I dont want to sound cynical, but I think thats an excuse, not a reason, said Alexander.

The official authorization, based on a 360,000-page application, a rigorous clinical trial, and in-depth inspections, doesnt yet change the Center for Disease Control and Preventions recommendations, said Alexander. The CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is meeting on Monday, Aug. 30 to discuss whether this authorization should change anything about this vaccines administration.

Alexander worries that misinformation may contribute to some parents reluctance to vaccinate themselves and to vaccinate children when the FDA approves COVID-19 shots for them in the next few months.

Immediately after the FDA approved Pfizer, a tweet emerged from Florida resident Erin Elizabeth on @unhealthytruth, one of 12 anti-vaccination accounts responsible for creating two-thirds of social medias anti-vaccination content, according to the Center for Countering Digital Hate.

Anyone change their mind? tweeted Elizabeth. Hundreds of people responded that they were still unwilling to get the vaccine.

This is a game that we wont win with facts, Alexander said. Vaccination is a gesture of love.

ccatherman@orlandosentinel.com
As the Taliban swept to power last week, Afghans working for the United Nations watched as many of their foreign colleagues got on planes to leave the country.

But their own increasingly desperate pleas for help getting out  or at least for somewhere safe to stay if the Taliban targets them for their work for an international organization  are being ignored, according to interviews and emails seen by BuzzFeed News.

Angry current and former staffers said the UN, which has operated in Afghanistan since 2002, seemed to have no plan for its staff of thousands of Afghan nationals to leave the country and has given them few alternatives but to hunker down at home while militants may be searching for them.

In phone calls and texts, four Afghan nationals who work for the UN told BuzzFeed News the UN has not offered them secure housing in Kabul, leaving some seeking shelter with relatives. They pointed out that Afghan nationals who work for the UN take on far greater risks in the country for less pay than their international colleagues, and their work could put them in harms way. Reuters reported on Tuesday that Taliban fighters had ransacked multiple UN compounds since its stunning sweep to power last week.

They are very, very visible in communities, said a former international UN staffer who requested anonymity. The Taliban know exactly who these people are.

The UN did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the secretary-general, said in an Aug. 18 press conference that the UN could not easily evacuate Afghan nationals from the country because it is not a nation that issues visas.

He added that the UN is doing its utmost for national staff and their families. There are all sorts of administrative hurdles that have to be negotiated and discussed, Dujarric said. But the national staff is very much on the forefront of what we are trying to do every day.

The organization has about 300 international staff members and 3,000 Afghan national staff in Afghanistan, working for the UNs mission in the country as well as agencies such as the UN Development Program and UN Women. The organization said on Aug. 18 that about 100 of those international staff would temporarily leave for Kazakhstan.

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The UN-focused news site PassBlue reported on Friday that Afghan nationals working for the organization felt alone and petrified. New details in this story about Afghan staffers pleading to no avail for help hiding from the Taliban  even as one heard word that militants were in his neighborhood asking where he was  raise further questions about whether the UN adequately planned to protect local employees as the Taliban ramped up their military offensive against the Afghan government starting in May.

They've had months to prepare for this, the former international staffer said.

One Afghan staffer, who works in the operations department of a UN agency, said he and his colleagues repeatedly brought up the issue of evacuations in the chat box of a Zoom meeting with colleagues and superiors last week, but received no response. (BuzzFeed News is withholding identifying details of all four Afghan staffers interviewed for this article to avoid endangering them.)

They usually read the chat box, he said. This time they were seeing the chats but trying to change the topic and get everything finished.

The staffer said he had asked his superiors whether the UN would help him and other Afghan staff who hold valid international visas. But he was told that the organization could try only to get him out, forcing him to leave his wife and young child behind.

How does this make sense? he said. How can I leave my family behind me when I leave the country? Its not acceptable for me or for the national staff  its against humanitarian values, its against human values.

Other Afghan staff members described similar meetings.

Theyre just playing a game with us. Each week theres a meeting where they say theyre trying our best, said another Afghan staffer for the UN Development Project who works on gender equality. What kind of trying is this? If small embassies can evacuate staff, why cant the UN?

Its unclear how many UN international staff have been moved out of Afghanistan, but the four staffers told BuzzFeed News that high-level international staff had been evacuated and that it seemed that it was mainly Afghans left.

Liam McDowall, a spokesperson for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (Unama), told PassBlue that the UN was pushing other countries to support visa applications and temporary residence requests from Afghan staff members and their families.

Unama did not respond to calls or emails for this article.

Staffers interviewed by BuzzFeed News also said UN officials had told them they were campaigning for visas so they could relocate to other countries, but some said they felt it was too little, too late.

This is not the time for visas, said one Afghan staffer who works with UNDP. We have UN identity cards, they can discuss with other countries to do an immediate evacuation.

One UN worker who has urged the UN to evacuate its female Afghan employees out of concern about the Talibans abuses of women told BuzzFeed News she had requested help for Afghan staffers in town hall meetings and through local and global staff associations.

No one heard us, she said. No one is listening."

They told us we have to stay and deliver, she added, quoting a UN slogan about its presence in Afghanistan.

The UN reportedly moved some of its Afghan staff to Kabul to reduce their risk but has not put those people in secure locations.

They haven't been housing them in a fortified compound, theyve been left to their own devices, said the former international staffer, who had spoken directly with Afghan staffers.

The World Bank evacuated all of its Afghan-based staff, Reuters reported on Aug. 20.

A group of UN unions and staff associations began a petition calling for the UN secretary-general to take all necessary measures including evacuation to protect staff. It has nearly 5,300 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon.

We are supposed to protect human rights of all, and now we are leaving our own to fend for themselves, said Arora Akanksha, a UN auditor who is campaigning to be the next secretary-general. Shame on the UN and its leadership.

This whole stay and deliver message that the UN is promoting, we should ask ourselves who is staying? she added.

A Unama staffer who said he is in hiding in a remote location told BuzzFeed News Taliban militants were asking his neighbors about his whereabouts. He had worked on sensitive political projects, and he believes he could be targeted.

All the people here know I am working with Unama, he said. I am high profile.

He told BuzzFeed News he asked his department to move him to a safer location where militants would have a tougher time identifying him by speaking to locals, days before Kabul fell to the Taliban. A few days later, after the militant group had already seized power, a reply came advising him to hide at home, according to emails he shared with BuzzFeed News.

Im like a detainee, he said. I cannot go outside, I cannot see anyone. How long can I stay here like this?

More on this
DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - An Afghan mayor who fled to Germany said she would work in her host country to draw attention to the plight of those left behind who are living in fear of Taliban militants running Afghanistan.

Zarifa Ghafari, who was one of the country's first female mayors in Maidan Shahr west of Kabul until the Taliban seized power last week, thanked the German government and people for "saving" her life and that of her family.

"I am just here to raise the voice of those 99% of people in Afghanistan who are not able to come out of their houses, those women who are not able to work, those women who are not able to speak out," she said.

Ghafari was speaking in the western city of Duesseldorf where she met Armin Laschet, the chancellor candidate of Angela Merkel's conservative bloc in an election on Sept. 26.

Laschet, whose campaign to succeed Merkel as conservative chancellor has been faltering, has been criticised by rivals for saying that there must not be a repeat of Europe's 2015 migrant crisis when Merkel welcomed almost one million asylum seekers.

"She wants to fight for her country and tell everyone what has happened there," said Laschet, premier of the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, standing next to a tearful Ghafari at a hotel in Duesseldorf.

When they last held power, the Taliban strictly enforced their ultra-conservative interpretation of Sunni Islam that included banning women from going to school or working. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said last Tuesday that women "will be very active in society but within the framework of Islam".

Ghafari, who first fled to Istanbul with her family, said she was aware of the crisis of refugees and immigration in Germany, but added: "Me and my family, we are not here as migrants."

Her journey was facilitated by the German army, whose soldiers are helping German nationals, Afghans as well as activists and lawyers whose lives are in danger for helping NATO armies flee Afghanistan.

(Writing by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
CLEVELAND  Robert O'Brien, former President Donald Trump's last national security adviser, is backing JD Vance in Ohio's crowded Republican Senate primary.

"JD is a strong leader who will fight for President Trump's America First foreign policy," O'Brien said in a statement issued by Vance's campaign. "He understands that our national security needs to be about American interests, not nation building or being 'woke.' JD will always put America and its people first."

Vance, a Marine veteran and venture capitalist known for his bestselling memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," is one of five GOP candidates in a contest that has revolved around Trump, who won Ohio comfortably in 2016 and 2020. On the Democratic side, Rep. Tim Ryan and progressive activist Morgan Harper are running. Sen. Rob Portman, the Republican who has held the seat since 2011, is not seeking re-election next year.

Trump has not endorsed a candidate. Vance and his rivals have worked to position themselves as Trump-friendly candidates with support from his allies and other national figures on the right.

Kellyanne Conway, a senior counselor in Trump's White House, is working with businessman Bernie Moreno, who also has been endorsed by Richard Grenell, Trump's ambassador to Germany. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Trump favorite, is backing Jane Timken, the former head of the Ohio Republican Party. Also in the GOP race are businessman Mike Gibbons, endorsed by Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, and former state Treasurer Josh Mandel, endorsed by Sen. Mike Lee of Utah.

O'Brien was Trump's fourth and final national security adviser. NBC News reported last year that he was angling for a higher-profile role in a second Trump term while considering a future run for office himself, perhaps even for president.

"Robert is one of the great champions of President Trump's America First policy agenda, and his endorsement sends a strong signal about who will stand up to our enemies," Vance said of the endorsement Tuesday.

Vance, once a Trump critic, now presents himself as a populist in Trump's mold. Vance posted a Twitter video Monday criticizing Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., for his position on resettling Afghan refugees who assisted the U.S. in its war with Afghanistan.

"Yes, let's help the Afghans who helped us," Vance said in the video, "but let's ensure that we're properly vetting them so that we don't get a bunch of people who believe they should blow themselves up in a mall because somebody looked at their wife the wrong way."
Aug. 23The Supreme Court of Georgia will hear oral arguments Thursday over whether evidence collected via search warrant two years after the warrant was issued can be used in a Cobb murder trial.

Corey Nelson, of Atlanta, was charged with murdering Kristopher Dixon in October 2017. Dixon was found shot dead in a home on Crestside Drive in Austell, the MDJ reported at the time. Nelson was arrested the next day, and police said then that Dixon and Nelson knew each other.

Nelson's cell phone and other electronic devices were seized with a search warrant but were not examined until more than two years after being seized, the high court said. The trial court handling the case initially denied prosecutors from using the evidence because of a state law that says search warrants must be executed within 10 days.

Law enforcement obtained new warrants and extracted the devices' data again, leading the trial court to allow the evidence, the state Supreme Court said.

Nelson appealed the decision to allow the electronic evidence on Fourth Amendment grounds. His trial is on hold as the state Supreme Court court hears his appeal.

The high court is concerned with the questions of when a search warrant for the contents of an electronic device is executed and whether the execution of the warrants for Nelson's devices was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.

A neutral amicus brief has been submitted in the case by Georgia State University law professor Clark Cunningham, working with law students and linguistic students from Northern Arizona State University.

An amicus curiae, "friend of the court," is a party who offers or is called to advise a court on a legal matter. The professor and students are seeking to help the state Supreme Court by analyzing the language and structure of Georgia law and the Fourth Amendment. The state Supreme Court granted the research team's request to participate in oral argument.

The research team plans to apply linguistics science methods to the interpretation of "executed," in reference to when the warrant was executed, then "analyze how the original public meaning of the Fourth Amendment might be applicable to the search of the contents of an electronic device," the amicus brief says.

Marietta-based defense lawyers Mitchell Durham and Jill Stahlman are representing Nelson. The state's case will be argued by prosecutors from the offices of Cobb County District Attorney Flynn Broady Jr. and state Attorney General Chris Carr.
Goldman Sachs will introduce the policy from 7 September

Goldman Sachs has made it compulsory for its staff to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus in order to work in its US offices.

The investment bank said from 7 September all employees, along with clients and visitors, would need to be doubled jabbed to enter its buildings.

Goldman said it would also introduce mandatory once-a-week testing from the same date for staff.

Workers who are not fully vaccinated will be expected to work from home.

Goldman told the BBC the policy was being introduced in the US, where workers returned the office in July, and not at its sites around world.

Proof of vaccination status will be required via an app from October, it added.

A spokesperson said that from Wednesday face masks would also be required - regardless of vaccination status - in all common areas of its buildings, such as lobbies, lifts, hallways, restrooms and cafes, except while seated for eating and drinking.

The bank had previously ordered its US bankers to disclose their vaccine status before returning to the office but refrained from mandating them.

The announcement comes after Pfizer's two-dose vaccine received full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The vaccine had initially only been given emergency use authorisation.

The approval is expected to set off more vaccine mandates by employers and organisations in the US at time when infections are rising and vaccine hesitancy remains high.

The City of London skyline

Last month, Goldman announced bankers returning to its London head office would be required to wear masks in the building, despite the easing of the UK government's coronavirus restrictions.

But Richard Gnodde, the head of Goldman Sachs International, said the bank would not insist on people being vaccinated, nor would it force people to return if they felt uncomfortable doing so.

"[We will] continue to manage our exit from this in a cautious and appropriate way to make sure that our people feel comfortable," he told the BBC.

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'Aberration'

Banks have been split over whether staff should come back to the office full time or work from home for some or all of the week.

Goldman Sachs' group chief executive, David Solomon, has described working from home as "an aberration", while James Gorman, the boss of rival US investment bank Morgan Stanley said: "If you can go into a restaurant in New York City, you can come into the office."

Meanwhile, NatWest has said some 55% of its workforce would adopt a hybrid model of working between the office and home.
By Paresh Dave and Hyunjoo Jin

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's Waymo has started taking a few San Franciscans on rides in its self-driving sport utility vehicles and hopes to open the robotaxis to anyone in the city in less than the three years it took to launch in its only other market.

Waymo's announcement on Tuesday of its status and plans in San Francisco, a small peninsula of hills, trolleys, bicycles and narrow streets, shows the length that remains before driverless transport becomes commonplace.

The company's all-electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs initially are serving the more residential western and southern portions of the city, including Richmond and Bernal Heights. Operators are in driver's seats with hands on their knees - but prepared to steer in an emergency.

Anybody can sign up for Waymo's ride-hailing app, though the company is hand-selecting who it picks up with the list expected to grow gradually to hundreds of people. Waymo bars them from publicly discussing rides.

Sam Kansara, senior product manager at Waymo, acknowledged that autonomous vehicles are rolling out slower than Waymo and its many rivals had originally envisioned.

"There's a lot that remains to be done," Kansara said. "This is a step about starting to now get more information so that we can inform our roadmap."

The company wants feedback from people with differing backgrounds and commuting needs. It expects many riders to weigh in on challenges with hopping on and off because of San Francisco's limited curb space and rampant double parking.

Employees riding in the city since February gave the company confidence to expand to the public, Kansara said.

Waymo last October in a first-of-its-kind deployment in the United States for the industry started allowing anyone to buy rides in its fully driverless Chrysler Pacifica minivans in some Phoenix, Arizona, suburbs.

The launch followed three years of testing, but Kansara said he hopes lessons learned from that experience will bring about swifter progress in San Francisco.

(Reporting by Paresh Dave and Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Peter Henderson and Sandra Maler)
InsideHook

Just two years ago, Thailand was one of the most visited countries in the world, welcoming nearly 40 million travelers in 2019. Of course, when COVID lockdowns were put into place, that all came to a screeching halt. For more than a year, the country remained completely closed to outside visitors. The sudden lack of [] The post Paradise Regained: Phuket Is Open to Tourists, And Now Is the Time to Visit appeared first on InsideHook.
(Bloomberg) -- Opponents of the Belarus government said they have pulled off an audacious hack that has compromised dozens of police and interior ministry databases as part of a broad effort to overthrow President Alexander Lukashenkos regime.

The Belarusian Cyber Partisans, as the hackers call themselves, have in recent weeks released portions of a huge data trove they say includes some of the countrys most secret police and government databases. The information contains lists of alleged police informants, personal information about top government officials and spies, video footage gathered from police drones and detention centers and secret recordings of phone calls from a government wiretapping system, according to interviews with the hackers and documents reviewed by Bloomberg News.

Among the pilfered documents are personal details about Lukashenkos inner circle and intelligence officers. In addition, there are mortality statistics indicating that thousands more people in Belarus died from Covid-19 than the government has publicly acknowledged, the documents suggest.

In an interview and on social media, the hackers said they also sabotaged more than 240 surveillance cameras in Belarus and are preparing to shut down government computers with malicious software named X-App.Belaruss interior ministry didnt respond to requests for comment. On July 30, the head of the countrys KGB security agency, Ivan Tertel, said in a speech aired on state television that there had been hacker attacks on personal data and a systematic collection of information, which he blamed on the work of foreign special services, according to local news website Zerkalo.io.While the immediate impact of the hack isnt entirely clear, experts said the long-term consequences could be significant, from undermining government proclamations to bolstering international efforts to sanction or prosecute Lukashenko and his subordinates. If ever Lukashenko ends up facing prosecution in the International Criminal Court, for example, these records are going to be incredibly important, said Tanya Lokot, an associate professor at Dublin City University who specializes in protest and digital rights issues in Eastern Europe.

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Nikolai Kvantaliani, a Belarusian digital security expert, said the data exposed by the Cyber Partisans showed that officials knew they were targeting innocent people and used extra force with no reason. As a result, he said, more people are starting to not believe in propaganda from state media outlets, which suppressed images of police violence during anti-government demonstrations last year.

The hackers have teamed up with a group named BYPOL, created by former Belarusian police officers, who defected following the disputed election of Lukashenko last year. Mass demonstrations followed the election, and some police officers were accused of torturing and beating hundreds of citizens in a brutal crackdown.

Aliaksandr Azarau, a former police lieutenant colonel in Belarus who headed an organized crime and corruption unit, said he quit his job last year after witnessing election fraud and police violence. He moved to Poland and joined BYPOL, which he said had been working with the Cyber Partisans since around late last year. Azarau said the information the hackers released is authentic and that BYPOL plans to use it to hold corrupt police and government officials accountable.

The wiretapped phone recordings obtained by the hackers revealed that Belaruss interior ministry was spying on a wide range of people, including police officersboth senior and rank-and-fileas well as officials working with the prosecutor general, according to Azarau. The recordings also offer audio evidence of police commanders ordering violence against protesters, he said.

We are cooperating closely with the Cyber Partisans. The information from them is very important for us, Azarau said. They hacked most of the main police database, and they downloaded all information, including information from the security service wiretapping department, the most secret department of our police.

We found that they were wiretapping the most famous law enforcement agents, he said. And now we can listen to them and understand their orders to commit crimes against people. Azarau said the group hopes to use the information to pursue sanctions against Belarusian officials in the EU and the U.S.; earlier this month, both the U.S. and the U.K. announced sanctions against individuals and entities tied to Lukashenkos regime.

During other periods of unrest in recent years, activist hackers, known as hacktivists, have breached government computers. During the Arab Spring in 2011, hackers affiliated with the Anonymous collective carried out distributed denial of service attacks to bring down government websites in Tunisia and Egypt. Meanwhile, in Turkey, a Marxist hacker group named RedHack breached police, corporate and government databases in a series of attacks staged between 2012 and 2014. In 2016, a group of hackers calling themselves the Ukrainian Cyber Alliance formed to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine. They compromised Russian Ministry of Defense servers and breached emails of alleged Russian militants and propagandists.

Gabriella Coleman, a professor at McGill University and an expert on hacktivism, said that the Cyber Partisans highly organized and persistent hacks, paired with its collaboration with former police officers, set it apart from other groups, whose operations have often been chaotic and experimental. I don't think there are a lot of parallels to this, said Coleman. That they are so sophisticated and are attacking on multiple levels, its not something Ive seen before except in the movies.

A spokesman for the Cyber Partisans, who requested anonymity due to security concerns, said in an interview that the group includes about 15 people, three or four of whom focus their efforts on what he described as ethical hacking of Belarusian government computers. The rest work on data analysis and other tasks, he said. Most of those involved with the group are Belarusian citizens who work in the information technology business, the spokesman said, and some had worked on so-called penetration testing, a method of evaluating the security of computers and networks by simulating an attack on them.

Earlier this year, an affiliate of the group obtained physical access to a Belarus government facility and broke into the computer network while inside, the spokesman said. That laid the groundwork for the group to later gain further access, compromising some of the ministrys most sensitive databases, he said. The stolen material includes the archive of secretly recorded phone conversations, which amounts to between 1 million and 2 million minutes of audio, according to the spokesman.

The hackers joined together in September 2020, after the disputed election. Their initial actions were small and symbolic, according to screenshots viewed by Bloomberg News. They hacked state news websites and inserted videos showing scenes of police brutality. They compromised a police most wanted list, adding the names of Lukashenko and his former interior minister, Yury Karayeu, to the list. And they defaced government websites with the red and white national flags favored by protesters over the official Belarusian red and green flag.

Those initial breaches attracted other hackers to the Cyber Partisans cause, and as it has grown, the group has become bolder with the scope of its intrusions. The spokesman said its aims are to protect the sovereignty and independence of Belarus and ultimately to remove Lukashenko from power.

Franak Viacorka, a senior adviser to Belarus exiled opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said the hackers were engaged in non-violent resistance.

When people face terror and repression, they cant defend themselves with arms. They can defend themselves with creativity, Viacorka said.

Names and addresses of government officials and alleged informants obtained by the hackers have been shared with Belarusian websites, including Blackmap.org, that seek to name and shame people cooperating with the regime and its efforts to suppress peaceful protests, according to Viacorka and the websites themselves. That has created difficulties for officials working for the Lukashenko regime, Viacorka said.

It creates pressure on them, Viacorka said. It creates fractures within the government and a feeling that you cant trust anyone when you are in the system.

The Cyber Partisans said they are working with other groups to continue to hack government infrastructure. They are progressing toward what they call Moment X, a period that will combine computer sabotage with physical uprising on the streets, resulting in what the group hopes will be the overthrow of the Lukashenko government.

Azarau, the former police lieutenant colonel, is pursing the same goal, working with BYPOL to create an undercover Belarusian army, he said. We are building structures inside, and one day we will be ready to change the power, the regime.

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(Bloomberg) -- Confined to their desks in the midst of the global pandemic, former Citadel traders Niall OKeeffe and Tio Charbaghi made the rounds on video calls to woo investors for their new hedge fund.

It should have been a hard sell. The price tag was high for a fledgling fund  a 20% cut of profits on top of a hefty 2% annual fee. The investment style, betting on rising and falling stocks, was out of vogue with investors. The pitch was uncompromising: take it or leave it.

And yet, the duo raised $1.25 billion, the most by a hedge fund so far this year. On their first day of trading on July 1, they slammed the doors shut to new investors.

Its a feat thats rare even in a $4 trillion industry replete with superlatives, marking a hedge fund resurgence after a decade-long decline. But it holds a stark message for investors trying to get in on the nascent boom: it may already be too late to put money to work with the most promising money makers.

There are signs everywhere showing how rapidly the shift has occurred. Famed investment firm Brevan Howard, which as recently as mid-2019 was struggling to stem an unprecedented client exodus, shut its flagship fund to investors earlier this year. Christophe Aurand, the former co-chief investment officer of York Capital Management who is planning to raise a new $1 billion hedge fund, is already mulling closing it by the end of the year, according to people familiar with the matter.

Across the industry, a record 1,144 hedge funds have stopped accepting new money, the most since data tracker Preqin started compiling the information. Of twenty multi-manager firms managing more than $220 billion collectively, thirteen are no longer taking in more cash, according to Julius Baer Group Ltd. Crucially, those closures are happening at some of the biggest and sought-after firms.

The reality is the best performers are dictating terms, Ivan Iliev, head of alternative funds at Julius Baer, said in an interview. For investors, the easy way of making money by buying two or three multi-manager platforms is closed, he said, referring to the the practice of investing with a handful of hedge funds that give clients access to an array of strategies.

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Of course, only a small fraction of the 8,000 or so hedge funds globally are in a position to be demanding. Average fees are continuing to fall for the vast majority of managers after a lengthy stretch of lackluster performance in the years following the global financial crisis, which brought an end to an earlier era of standout returns and explosive growth.

Read more: Hedge Fund Fees in Free Fall Is the New Reality For a Humbled Industry

The post-crisis slump hit the industry hard. A brutal culling prompted more than 11,600 hedge funds to shut between 2008 and 2020. While hedge funds collectively doubled assets to more than $3 trillion through 2020, not a penny came through net inflows, according to an analysis of data from Hedge Fund Research Inc. In recent years, active managers struggled to beat cheaper index trackers, with many firms blaming central bank intervention as a key factor in sapping markets off their volatility.

But volatility returned as the pandemic roiled markets last year, spurring resurgent returns at some top funds. That in turn has created an extreme and unprecedented dislocation in the industry, widening the divide between the most coveted hedge funds and everyone else. The upshot is that an elite cadre of managers are set to extend their dominance in an industry where 90% of the assets are already controlled by just 20% of the worlds hedge funds.

No hedge fund has mirrored the arc of the industrys fortunes more faithfully than Brevan Howard, the London-based investment firm co-founded by billionaire Alan Howard. The firm, once one of the worlds largest hedge funds, entered into a prolonged slump after assets peaked at more than $40 billion in 2013. Over the next several years, anemic returns prompted investors to yank their investments, bringing assets crashing down to about $6 billion at their low point in 2018.

Dozens of staff were fired, fees were cut and the firm shuttered many funds. Speculation swirled that Howard  who made his name as an interest-rates trader  would follow peers like George Soros and Michael Platt to turn his firm into a family office and return all outside capital back to investors (The firm said the rumor wasnt true).

As Howard turned away from managing his firm in 2019 to focus solely on trading, he brought in Chief Executive Officer Aron Landy to oversee other changes. Traders with ambitions to run their own money pools were given funds to manage, driving an upswing that produced returns of as much as 99% last year. Thats allowed the firm to boost assets to more than $16 billion and double fees on its listed fund.

The tables have turned in favor of managers dictating the terms, Caron Bastianpillai, who allocates money to hedge funds at Switzerland-based Notz Stucki & Cie, said.

Blue-chip firms such as Elliott Investment Management and Millennium Management are pushing clients into share classes that require investors to lock in their money for longer periods of time. Even funds of hedge funds, the middlemen between money managers and investors, which were tainted by the Bernie Madoff scandal during the financial crisis, have pulled in cash this year after persistent outflows since 2008.

Other hedge funds, especially those that seek to profit from macroeconomic events, joined Brevan Howard in benefiting from large-scale market disruptions last year. Chris Rokos, a Brevan Howard co-founder who went on to start his own hedge fund, posted returns of 44% in 2020, his best year ever, and Caxton Associates climbed 42%. Millennium returned 26%, the firms best year in two decades.

As a group, hedge funds are off to their best start since 1999 after posting their biggest gains in a decade in 2020. Industry-wide assets, which had stagnated for years, surged past $4 trillion, according to data compiled by Preqin. Hedge funds optimism about their own businesses is also on the rise, according trade body AIMA, which surveyed money managers running about $1 trillion.

Last year, although the market rebound was fast, the stress test was very deep and hedge funds performed the way investors wanted, said Mark Jones, the soon-to-be deputy chief executive officer at the worlds largest listed hedge fund firm Man Group Plc. Thats a material positive tick for clients.

The recovery is visible at Man Group: Its assets have hit a record $135.3 billion and shares have surged more than 50% this year, double the gain in the worlds biggest asset manager BlackRock Inc.

A lot could still go wrong. A fresh round of Covid infections may yet upend positions that rely on an economic rebound. Tech stocks, one of the main contributors to returns, could reverse their upward trajectory. Chinas crackdown of its industry leaders could spark selloffs.

The unraveling of Bill Hwangs leveraged bets at Archegos Capital Management and Gabe Plotkins precipitous decline after a short-squeeze spurred by Reddit traders also highlight the idiosyncratic risks that could derail any rebound.

For now, investors are overlooking those risks. Ex-Citadel traders OKeeffe and Charbaghi were able to point to their record investing in industrial and tech stocks in their seven years at billionaire Ken Griffins investment firm. Their firm, FIFTHDELTA, was deluged with client money even as investors have been pulling money out of long-short strategies.

Meanwhile, Aurand  who left Jamie Dinans York Capital last year  is on track to start trading stocks for his firm Nekton Capital in London shortly and will close it to fresh cash by the end of the year. Representatives for Aurand and FIFTHDELTA declined to comment.

To Saleem Siddiqi, who has seen the evolution of hedge funds over much of the last two decades, the investor stampede harks back to the frenzy at the turn of the century, which built the foundation for a boom until the 2008 crisis reversed the trend.

Its deja vu all over again, said Siddiqi, who runs Musst Investments in London.

At Brevan Howard, the firm is determined to avoid a repeat of the boom-and-bust cycle. And a key part of that is talking more to investors, who in the old days didnt get much more than an occasional update and a phone call. Now, even with Brevan Howard firmly in the throes of a turnaround, its focused on holding onto client assets when markets inevitably turn again.

The issue is with the ability of the manager to stop investors from getting disillusioned and retain their confidence during inevitable periods of not-so-great performance, Landy said in a virtual interview from his home office. What we are doing very thoughtfully and deliberately is trying to be the best partners for our clients.

For him and other senior money managers at the firm, that means grabbing a microphone: they all have to record podcasts outlining the thinking behind their investments.

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Flash flooding has hit swaths of the USA in recent weeks, from Tropical Depression Henri knocking out power to rapid flooding in Middle Tennessee.

Multiple fatalities were reported after record-breaking rain surged through Tennessee this month, and families reported losing everything in the floodwaters.

Experts said there are ways to prepare for storms and flash flooding, including if you have to evacuate from your home or gather in a shelter during the coronavirus pandemic.

Heres what you need to know about flash flooding and how to keep you and your family safe.

What is a flash flood?

Flash floods can begin within minutes of storms, according to the National Weather Service.

Flash floods are usually caused by heavy rainfall, but they can also be caused by dam or levee breaks and other factors, according to Ed Clark, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Water Center.

After heavy rains, they can rip through riverbeds or urban streets, Clark said, really just destroying everything that the waters encounter.

The sudden floods can occur in various terrains, but urban areas are more prone. Such environments have more paved areas, preventing water from filtering into the ground.

Are flash floods deadly?

They can be. According to the National Weather Service, more than 70 people have died in the USA from flooding in 2021.

Eleven people died from floods at home and four people while walking or hiking. Twenty-four died while driving.

Jenelle Eli, Red Cross spokesperson, told USA TODAY individuals should stay off the road during flash flood warnings, and if a roadway is flooded, they should turn around and go another way.

The adage Turn around, dont drown is really prescient advice, Eli said.

Clark called flash flooding an extremely hazardous event, noting that 6 inches of moving water can knock a person off his feet, while 12 inches can move smaller vehicles.

Particularly when faced with moving water, with flash flood situations, it's imperative that folks do not drive into those waterways, Clark said. We dont know how fast that waters moving. We dont know how deep that water is.

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How can I prepare before a flash flood ?

Eli told USA TODAY, Theres no time like the present to prepare yourself and your family for emergencies, including flash floods.

The Red Cross encourages people to assemble an emergency preparedness kit, including food, water, a flashlight and a first aid kit. Individuals should create an evacuation plan and ensure each family member knows how to get back in touch if they are separated during an emergency.

Flash flooding can come with no warning, so individuals may want to assemble kits before potential storms.

Eli noted that during the coronavirus pandemic, families should pack masks and hand sanitizer in emergency kits.

Emergency officials encourage people to learn and practice evacuation routes, shelter plans and flash flood responses, in case they need to get to higher ground quickly.

Hurricane season is upon us: Here's what you need to protect yourself

'Not knowing is the hardest part': Hope of finding flooding survivors dims in Waverly, Tennessee

How do I know if my area is at risk for a flash flood ?

Officials told USA TODAY that families can use the Federal Emergency Management Agencys online resources and other tools to understand their areas risks for flooding.

Know your risk, Clark said. Its really important to discuss where you are relative to a body of water thats susceptible to flash flooding. If you live near a small stream, how high is your home up?

Individuals can take advantage of the Emergency Alert System for information on emergencies in their area.

A flash flood warning means that flash flooding is coming  or already underway. A flood watch means that a flash flood is a possibility for a given area.

Flash floods know no season. They can occur in all 50 states. They can occur really throughout the entire year, Clark said. So its really important to monitor your weather, water forecasts. Be in touch with your community, with your family.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Flash floods: Here's how to keep your family safe during rapid floods
By Jessie Pang

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong said on Tuesday new film censorship legislation will be introduced to "safeguard national security", in another sign of shrinking freedoms in the former British colony.

China introduced a sweeping national security law in June last year to crack down on what it deems subversion, secessionism, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, following months of sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019.

The new "film censorship" amendment bill will help enhance the regulatory framework, the government said in a statement, with a view to "ensuring more effective fulfilment of the duty to safeguard national security".

"The main reference is the national security law ... for instances, acts or activities which might endorse, support, glorify, encourage and incite such activities that might endanger national security," Edward Yau, Hong Kong's commerce secretary, told reporters.

Hong Kong's number two official, the chief secretary, will also be empowered to revoke a film's licence if found to be "contrary to the interests of national security".

Those who violate the law could sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined HK$1 million ($128,400).

The bill will be put to the city's Legislative Council next Wednesday.

Hong Kong introduced new film censorship guidelines in June to ban films perceived as promoting or glorifying acts which may endanger national security.

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise its wide-ranging freedoms, including freedom of expression, would remain intact. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have repeatedly denied curbing human rights and freedoms.

The move comes after recent cancellations of a number of screenings of protest-related films and documentaries at cinemas and art centres.

A documentary called "Taiwan Equals Love" on Taiwan's gay marriage debate was pulled in June, after the Film Censorship Authority refused to approve its full screening. China considers self-ruled Taiwan a breakaway province.

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The Cannes Film Festival screened a new documentary titled "Revolution of Our Times", which chronicles the 2019 protests, by filmmaker Kiwi Chow as a surprise addition in July,

Chow said he doesn't plan to screen it in Hong Kong given previous censorship guidelines announced in June.

(Reporting by Jessie Pang; Editing by James Pomfret and Nick Macfie)
Aug. 24Prosecuting Attorney Steven S. Alm hasn't decided whether to campaign for a second term, but he doesn't believe two failed attempts to put three Honolulu police officers on trial for murder and attempted murder for the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old crime spree suspect will impact his political fortunes.

"I don't think it would have an effect one way or another, " said Alm, in a response to a question about whether he thought his charging choices would hamper him at the polls. "When I ran for this office I didn't even consider that."

Alm took questions from reporters today for the first time since a judge ended his latest attempt to try the officers for what he believes was a violation of HPD's use-of-force policy and state law. He said he was "surprised " and "disappointed " by Judge William M. Domingo's finding of no probable cause but he is done trying to prosecute the officers for Iremamber Sykap's death.

"I certainly accept it. That is the way our independent system works, " said Alm. "I knew that prosecuting the three police officers would not be a popular decision with some in the community. That is what accountability looks like."

Alm said he has not met with the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers since the decision to charge the officers via criminal complaint on Jun. 15 after an Oahu grand jury declined to indict them June 9.

SHOPO representatives did not respond to questions about their prior endorsement of Alm or if they would support him should he choose to run again.

Alm spent the majority of his news conference going over the evidence deputy prosecutor Christopher T. Van Marter presented over six days of a preliminary hearing. The prosecution still believes the officers were wrong, put themselves in harm's way and did not need to use lethal force to subdue Sykap and his crew.

What officers Geoffrey H.L. Thom, Zackary K. Ah Nee and Christopher J. Fredeluces wrote in their incident reports about the danger they faced, after being permitted to sit in the same room and go over their story together, and what their body-worn camera footage revealed, did not often match up, Alm said.

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Going forward, Alm said he hopes officers follow their training.

"I hope we don't have to bring charges against any officer, " he said.

Attorneys for the trio strongly objected to Alm's recitation of the prosecution's position and claim that the process was not fair.

"In his press conference, Mr. Alm marched forward with the same misguided arguments that the grand jury and the Court rejected. It was disappointing to hear him misrepresent facts, and disparage a good judge. Nevertheless, we commend him for not pursuing this further, " said Thomas M. Otake, Ah Nee's attorney.

"The prosecution's relentless defense of a theory that has been resoundingly rejected by both the citizens of the grand jury and our judicial system is deeply troubling. Accountability is not a principle that can justify bad judgment, much less once that bad judgment has been pointed out by a grand jury. The belated claims that the process was somehow unfair rings hollow and unfairly besmirches our judicial system, especially given the fact this preliminary hearing was unprecedented in both its comprehensiveness and length, " said Richard H.S. Sing, who represented Thom.

Crystal K. Glendon, counsel for Fredeluces, said her client was "saddened and disheartened " by Alm's statements.

"Despite two fact-finders determining that there was no probable cause to charge Mr. Fredeluces, prosecutors continue to claim that he committed a crime. The press conference was nothing more than a third attempt by the prosecution to argue their case again and change the narrative of the Court's clear, fair ruling. Instead of using this opportunity to focus on their decision to not proceed any further with the case, we are disappointed that they continue to blame the Grand Jury and Judge Domingo for the office's inaccurate belief that probable cause ever existed, " she said.

Alm said the action against the three officers would not hurt his office's working relationship with the vast majority of the department's more than 2, 000 officers. He is encouraged by the police and members of the public who thanked him and his office for taking a tough but necessary stand to show that no one is above the law.

"Judge Domingo made the absolute right ruling. This case is a travesty of injustice, " said retired Honolulu police Lt. Alexander Garcia. "Prosecutor Alm was an excellent deputy prosecutor and U.S. Attorney. He was also a fair and lenient judge. However his judgment as the Honolulu Prosecutor is questionable. This case was not based on facts but on creative innuendos and racist mainland incidents not applicable here in Hawaii.

"Prosecutor Alm should consider returning to retirement."
Hugh Jackman is all smiles in a rare pic with his mom, Grace.

The 52-year-old "X-Men" franchise star posed alongside Grace, who's seen grinning right back at him, in a photo he shared Monday on Instagram. In his caption, the actor simply wrote, "Mum."

Jackman has opened up in the past about his relationship with Grace, who abandoned him and his four older siblings when he was only 8.

During an interview with "60 Minutes Australia" while promoting his 2001 thriller Swordfish, Jackman recalled how he felt after Grace returned to her native England, leaving her children in the care of their father, Christopher, in the family home in Sydney, Australia.

"I thought she'd come back," said the actor, whose parents emigrated with their kids from England to Australia in 1967. (Jackman was born the following year.)

Jackman and his brothers and sisters leaned on each other to get through the ordeal. "There's five of us  at the time, there was five kids, and so we kind of pulled on that together," he said.

Although his mom's leaving caused him pain when he was younger, the actor said he eventually healed, and that he and Grace now have a relationship that's "very good."

"I'm not someone who's wallowed a lot in my family past. I don't feel like a victim. ... I feel very blessed actually in many ways," he said.

In a 2013 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Jackman spoke again about his childhood, explaining the "difficulties" that Grace experienced.

"To be in Australia at that point, with my father working hard, I think Mom just felt incredibly isolated," he said, adding that the family's move from England to Australia took a toll on Grace.

"Fairly soon, she had difficulties. She was in the hospital a long time after I was born. She had very bad postpartum depression. Im guessing it lasted years because I remember she used to go off for little periods. I think she was feeling trapped," said Jackman.

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Grace returned to the U.K. after her own mother became sick, Jackman said, adding that he remembered his father praying for his wife to return.

The "Les Miserables" star also recalled being afraid to be home alone as a boy after Grace moved away.

"I was terrified because I was the first one home every day," he said. "I used to walk home from school and wait outside. I just wouldnt go in."

At 13, Jackman finally realized his mother was never returning when his father traveled to England in an effort to win her back.

"Dad went off to England to bring her back, but by this point she was married to someone else, with a kid," he said. "It was really complicated. So when Dad arrived back  not three weeks later, as planned, but five days later  I just knew. I was old enough to go, 'This is not happening.'"
Associated Press

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam granted posthumous pardons Tuesday to seven Black men who were executed in 1951 for the rape of a white woman, in a case that attracted pleas for mercy from around the world and in recent years has been denounced as an example of racial disparity in the use of the death penalty. Cries and sobs could be heard from some of the descendants after Northam's announcement. The Martinsville Seven," as the men became known, were all convicted of raping 32-year-old Ruby Stroud Floyd, a white woman who had gone to a predominantly black neighborhood in Martinsville, Virginia, on Jan. 8, 1949, to collect money for clothes she had sold.
Israel launched airstrikes against Gaza on Monday, the army and a source inside the enclave said, after incendiary balloons launched from the strip started fires in the country's south.

The latest escalation of tension follows weekend border clashes in which dozens were injured.

There were no casualties in the raids on Gaza City, Khan Younes in the south and Jabalia in the north, but they did cause material damage, the Palestinian security source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He added that fighters loyal to the ruling Hamas Islamist movement had fired on the Israeli aircraft.

In a statement, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that fighter jets attacked "a Hamas weapons manufacturing site in Khan Yunis as well as terror tunnel entrance in Jabalia".

"A Hamas underground rocket launch site that is located adjacent to civilian homes and a school in Shejaiya, was also struck," it added, saying "the strikes were in response to Hamas launching incendiary balloons into Israeli territory".

Israel frequently responds to incendiary balloon launches with air strikes, including after such devices were used on August 6.

They are a common tactic used by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, which has been under a strict Israeli blockade since 2007, when Hamas took power there.

In a statement earlier on Monday, the fire service said it was working to contain a number of fires in the Eshkol border region, which it blamed on at least nine incendiary balloons launched from Gaza.

Saturday saw intense hostilities on the border.

Israeli troops fired at Palestinian protesters who had gathered near the Gaza border and hurled explosives and tried to scale the wall.

An Israeli border police officer and a 13-year-old Palestinian were critically injured.

The escalation came exactly three months since Israel and Hamas reached a truce following their deadliest fighting in years.

Over 11 days in May, Israel pounded Gaza with air strikes in response to rockets fired from the enclave.

Israeli strikes killed 260 Palestinians, including fighters, while munitions fired by militants in the territory killed 13 people in Israel, including a soldier.

mib/bs/tgb/pbr/dw
By Jeffrey Heller and Matt Spetalnick

JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will push U.S. President Joe Biden to harden his approach to Iran during his first White House visit, with few prospects their talks will lead to renewed movement on Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Yet both Israel and the United States have expressed hope the meeting on Thursday will set a positive tone between Biden and Bennett, a far-right politician and high-tech millionaire who ended Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year run as prime minister in June.

This would stand in sharp contrast to years of tensions between the conservative Netanyahu, who was close to former President Donald Trump, and the last Democratic administration led by Barack Obama with Biden as his vice president.

"There's a new administration in the United States and a new government in Israel and I'm bringing a new spirit of cooperation with me from Jerusalem," Bennett said on departure for Washington from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport on Tuesday.

The visit gives the U.S. administration an opportunity to demonstrate business as usual with its closest Middle East ally while it contends with the chaotic situation in Afghanistan, Biden's biggest foreign policy crisis since taking office.

But Israel faces concern from Washington over housing construction in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, on land Palestinians seek for a state. U.S.-Israeli friction over the issue was absent while Trump was in office.

Bennett is less dramatic but publicly just as adamant as Netanyahu in pledging not to allow Iran, which Israel views as an existential threat, to build a nuclear weapon, telling a cabinet meeting on Sunday the situation was at a critical point.

Bennett said he would tell Biden: "This is the time to stop the Iranians, not to give them a lifeline in the form of re-entering an expired nuclear deal."

A U.S. official said Bennetts expected entreaties for the Biden administration to drop its efforts to revive the agreement are not likely to bear fruit.

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To Israeli acclaim, Trump in 2018 withdrew the United States from the 2015 deal between six world powers and Iran. He deemed it too advantageous for Tehran and reimposed U.S. sanctions.

In a report seen last week by Reuters, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had accelerated uranium enrichment to near weapons-grade.

Iran has consistently denied seeking a bomb, but the enrichment raised tensions with the West as both sides seek to resume talks on reviving their deal to curb Tehran's nuclear activities in return for the lifting of sanctions.

ISRAELI PLAN ON IRAN

Bennett told his cabinet he would present Biden with "an orderly plan that we have formulated in the past two months to curb the Iranians, both in the nuclear sphere and vis-a-vis regional aggression". He gave no further details.

At the airport in Tel Aviv, Bennett told reporters he would share with Biden the findings that Israel has gleaned from its extensive COVID-19 vaccine booster drive aimed at taming the Delta variant.

Bennett, 49, is the son of American immigrants to Israel. A former head of Israel's main West Bank settlers council, he heads an unlikely coalition of left-wing, right-wing, centrist and Arab parties.

With consensus on Palestinian statehood virtually impossible within the diverse Israeli government, Biden and his aides are not expected to press Bennett for any major concessions towards the Palestinians in his first foreign visit.

The two leaders are expected to speak briefly to a small pool of reporters during their Oval Office meeting but will not hold a joint news conference.

But even with little sign of U.S. pressure to resume peace negotiations with the Palestinians that collapsed in 2014, Israel faces concern from Washington over its settlement activity in areas it captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

The Biden administration has already made clear it opposes further expansion of Jewish settlements on occupied land. Most countries consider such settlements illegal. Israel disputes this.

So far, Bennett, who has advocated annexation of parts of the West Bank, has moved cautiously on the settlement issue.

Scheduled approval last week of 2,200 new settler homes, along with 800 houses for Palestinians, was postponed, apparently to avoid dissonance with Washington ahead of Bennett's visit, which he said would include meetings on Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

But rising tensions and violence along the Israel-Gaza border, three months after an 11-day war between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants, could cast a shadow over Bennett's trip.

(Editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Naftali Bennett. GIL COHEN-MAGEN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Israel's new prime minister, Naftali Bennett, doesn't differ all that much from his predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, when it comes to policies, but he wants to carve out his own political style as a statesman during his upcoming meeting with President Biden at the White House later this week, The New York Times reports after a lengthy interview.

Like Netanyahu, Bennett doesn't support the United States re-establishing a nuclear agreement with Iran (Israel's regional rival), wants to expand settlements in the West Bank, and hasn't backed U.S. plans to reopen a consulate for Palestinians in Jerusalem, the Times notes.

That said, Bennett hopes to reset the tone between Israel and the U.S., which was sometimes a bit chippy, especially when Netanyahu was dealing with the Obama administration. "I call it the good-will government," Bennett told the Times. "There's a new dimension here  coming up with new ways to address problems, being very realistic, very pragmatic, and being reasonable with friends."

One of the ways he plans to do this is by presenting a new "strategic vision" on Iran. Even though he's opposed to the nuclear pact, he said he wants to find common ground with Biden on the issue, although he didn't delve too deeply into the specifics of proposal, other than stating that he's determined to form a "regional coalition of reasonable Arab countries" that will "fend off" Iran's "expansion and ... desire for domination." Read more at The New York Times.

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10 things you need to know today: August 22, 2021
ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Tuesday it was vital for the Group of Seven wealthy nations and Europe to adopt a common policy on immigration from Afghanistan as they rush to pull people out of the country by an Aug. 31 deadline.

Speaking after a virtual summit of G7 leaders, Draghi said in a statement that the exclusive club of major industrialised economies also needed to involve the broader Group of 20 nations in its discussions on Afghanistan.

"The G20 can help the G7 in involving other countries that are very important because they have the possibility of controlling what happens in Afghanistan: Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and India," he said.

Italy holds the annual, rotating presidency of the G20 and is looking to host a special summit on Afghanistan next month, but has yet to get the backing of Washington for the plan.

Draghi said it was essential for international organisations to have access to Afghanistan after the end of August and said Italy would henceforth direct resources intended for the Afghan military forces to humanitarian aid.

On the immigration front, Draghi said there was still no coordinated or common approach at a European or international level. "We have to make huge efforts on this," he said, adding that such cooperation was likewise vital to fight terrorism.

(Writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Giulia Segreti)
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chairman of the Jan. 6 select committee, said Monday that the committee will ask telecommunications companies to turn over the phone records of several hundred people, including members of Congress.

Why it matters: Preserving these records is a first step to procuring witnesses to testify before the select committee, per CNN, which first reported Thompson's comments.

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The big picture: The committee will seek records from telecom companies and social media platforms as part of their investigation into the events of Jan. 6.

"We have quite an exhaustive list of people," Thompson said when asked whether any family member or former Trump associates were on the list of people whose records are being sought.

I wont tell you who they are, but its several hundred people that make up the list of individuals we plan to contact," he added.

Issuing subpoenas "is not the first thing we have to do," Thompson said, adding that "well do whats required to get the information."

State of play: Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) has previously voiced support for issuing subpoenas to Republican members of Congress, including Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

Jordan has admitted to speaking to former President Donald Trump on Jan. 6 but maintains that he has "nothing to hide," according to CNN.

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Japan map

A court in south-western Japan has sentenced the head of a powerful crime syndicate to death by hanging.

The court in the city of Fukuoka found that Nomura Satoru, aged 74, had ordered four assaults, one of which resulted in death.

The verdict came despite a lack of direct evidence against Nomura, local media said. He denied any involvement.

It is believed to be the first time a senior member of Japan's mafia, the yakuza, has been sentenced to death.

"I asked for a fair decision... You will regret this for the rest of your life," Nomura told the presiding judge after his sentencing on Tuesday, according to Japan's Nishinippon Shimbun newspaper.

Nomura, who heads the Kudo-kai syndicate operating in south-western Japan, plans to appeal.

Although prosecutors had no direct evidence Nomura had ordered violent attacks, they successfully argued that his absolute command over the group meant he had ultimate responsibility.

During the four assaults between 1998 and 2014, a former boss of a fishing co-operative was killed, and three other people, including a police officer, were injured.

Sentencing Nomura on Tuesday, the judge described his actions as extremely vicious.

Yakuza groups are not illegal in Japan, and they frequently operate front companies out of smart offices.

Analysts say the gangs are involved in every area of criminal activity in the country, from drug-running and prostitution to stock-market manipulation.
LES CAYES, Haiti (AP)  A Haitian justice official has appointed a new judge to oversee the investigation into the killing of President Jovenel Moise, acting more than a week after his predecessor withdrew from the case and as the country struggles with recovering from the devastating magnitude 7.2. earthquake that killed hundreds and injured thousands.

Magistrate Bernard Saint-Vil, dean of the Court of First Instance in Port-au-Prince, confirmed Monday to The Associated Press that he chose judge Garry Orelien to be in charge of the case.

Orelien replaces judge Mathieu Chanlatte, whose resignation from the case was announced Aug. 13. Chanlatte cited personal reasons without giving more information, but he left the post a day after one of his assistants died under unclear circumstances.

Orelien will supervise a case that it doesn't seem close to be solved. Police have arrested more than 40 suspects, but there is no clarity about who was behind the plot to kill Moise on July 7. Among the detainees are 18 former Colombian soldiers and 20 Haitian police officers.

Also on Monday, Public Security Minister Rockefeller Vincent requested in a letter to the National Police that the Colombians be held in cells away from other detainees to minimize risks, although he didn't elaborate.

The earthquake that struck Haiti's southwestern peninsula July 14 killed more than 2,000 people, according to authorities, and it had distracted national and international attention away from Moise's assassination. While Haitians work to recover from the disaster and look for the Moise investigation to advance, the country also is expected to hold a presidential election Nov. 7.
A federal jury began deliberating on Tuesday afternoon the fate of a Kentucky man who faces a murder charge after being pardoned on a related state homicide conviction.

Patrick Baker faces up to life in prison if convicted.

The jury was out for about two hours and thirty minutes before asking to go home for the night about 7:15 p.m. The panel will resume deliberations Wednesday morning.

In closing arguments, a prosecutor argued Baker killed a drug dealer while trying to satisfy his need for pain pills. However, a defense attorney for Patrick Baker said prosecution witnesses had lied about Baker and argued there was not sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to convict him.

Baker, 43, was convicted in state court in 2017 in n the death of Donald Mills, a Knox County man who was a large-scale drug dealer. Mills died of two gunshot wounds to the chest after two men posing as police invaded his home to rob him of drugs and money.

A judge sentenced Baker to 19 years in prison, but then-Gov. Matt Bevin pardoned him just two years later in December 2019.

Federal authorities later brought a charge against Baker that he murdered Mills during a drug-trafficking crime.

The case has drawn considerable attention because members of Bakers family had held a political fundraising event for Bevin in 2018.

The prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna Reed, reminded jurors of testimony that Baker tried to recruit a friend to rob Mills; that he had a Google Earth photo of Mills house on his iPad; and that he bragged to one man he was getting ready to make a big score.

The plan was that they were going to rob Donald Mills of oxycodone pills, a lot of oxycodone pills, Reed said.

An alleged accomplice, Christopher Wagner, said he went with Baker to Mills house and that Baker, who was in a bedroom alone with Mills, later told him Mills had pulled a gun and Baker had to shoot him.

Wagner said he fled to Bell County with Baker, where they buried parts of the gun. Wagner later led police to the gun, which belonged to Baker and was linked to shell casings left behind at Mills house.

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Lori Hammack, Bakers ex-wife, testified he confessed killing Mills to her, Reed reminded jurors.

However, one of Bakers three defense attorneys, Steve Romines, said in his closing argument that another man, a felon named Adam Messer, killed Mills and helped frame Baker.

Make no mistake about it, ladies and gentlemen, Patrick Baker is innocent, Romines told jurors.

Romines reminded jurors a boy who was staying with Mills sons that night told police the killer had a skull-and-crossbones tattoo, which Messer has but Baker doesnt, and that Mills mother described the killer as having brown eyes, while Baker has blue eyes.

One defense witness, Joshua Spencer, testified that Adam Messer and his brother Elijah had talked repeatedly of robbing Mills in the weeks before the crime, Romines said.

And he reminded jurors of inconsistent statements that prosecution witnesses, and that two witnesses had erased or destroyed cell phones that could have held evidence incriminating someone other than Baker.

As to Bakers ex-wife, Romines said Baker did not confess to her, but that her memory changed over time.

Romines said there was a reason that Adam Messer, who was Mills friend, didnt give police information about Bakers alleged involvement until Messer got worried he was under suspicion and had to deflect suspicion.

The only reason not to is because he did it, Romines said of Messer.

Reed said in rebuttal that the boy who testified about the tattoo could not have seen it that morning from his vantage point, and that Bakers story about Messer taking his truck and gun for the crime without his knowledge didnt make sense.
Gov. Kathy Hochul became New York's first female governor at midnight on Tuesday, assuming office after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal.

Hochul, who has in recent days attempted to create daylight between Cuomo and herself despite serving as his lieutenant governor, offered brief remarks on Twitter following her swearing-in, noting that a second ceremony will be held at 10 a.m.

"Honored to be officially sworn in as New York's 57th Governor," Hochul tweeted shortly after midnight. "Looking forward to the full swearing-in ceremony with my family later this morning, and addressing the people of New York later today."

NEW YORK GOV. ANDREW CUOMO SUBMITS LETTER OF RESIGNATION

Following Cuomo's Aug. 10 announcement that he would resign his post in 14 days, Hochul, who was the governor's running mate during his 2014 and 2018 reelection contests, pledged to purge the governor's mansion of "unethical" Cuomo staff members and end the "toxic workplace environment."

"Nobody named in that report doing anything unethical will remain in my administration," Hochul said on Aug. 11.

Hochul has since appointed two women, Karen Persichilli Keogh and Elizabeth Fine, to top gubernatorial aide positions, according to the New York Post.

Cuomo faced multiple scandals during his final months as governor, including allegations that he sexually harassed several women, that he directed health officials to give special access to COVID-19 testing to his inner circle, and that he hid the state's coronavirus death toll in nursing homes, among other charges.

While continuously denying all allegations of wrongdoing, Cuomo resigned following the Aug. 3 release of a report by Attorney General Letitia James detailing that Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women and retaliated against former employees who publicly commented on his conduct.

Cuomo signaled he will continue to defend his reputation against the allegation in his post-governorship, railing against James's "unjust" report in his farewell address to the state on Monday.

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CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Hochul faces multiple challenges as governor, including containing the COVID-19 delta variant and dealing with the effects of Tropical Storm Henri.

Hochul is set to deliver her first address as governor at 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to the New York Times.

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Tags: News, Kathy Hochul, New York, Andrew Cuomo

Original Author: Asher Notheis

Original Location: Kathy Hochul becomes New York's first female governor
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  A Kentucky lawmaker who won reelection despite facing criminal charges for allegedly choking a woman and trying to hog tie" her during a domestic dispute resigned on Tuesday.

State Republican Rep. Robert Goforth, a former gubernatorial candidate, submitted a letter to the governor's office and the House speaker's office announcing his immediate departure.

At this time, family and personal circumstances demand my full attention and focus, Goforth wrote in the brief message.

Goforth faces strangulation and assault charges stemming from the 2020 domestic dispute. Authorities said he faces accusations of choking a woman with an ethernet cable and attempting to tie her up. A pretrial conference is set for Dec. 16.

Goforth pleaded not guilty and was reelected by a wide margin to another two-year term last year in his rural district, a Republican stronghold that covers Jackson and parts of Laurel and Madison counties in southeastern Kentucky.

His legal turmoil prompted a citizen's impeachment petition seeking his removal from office. A House panel dismissed the petition after determining that impeachment doesnt apply to legislators under the states constitution.

Goforth was a relative newcomer to the legislature when he challenged then-Gov. Matt Bevin in the 2019 GOP primary. Goforth won nearly 40% of the vote, exposing Bevins political weakness despite the governors backing from then-President Donald Trump. Bevin never fully recovered from the lackluster showing, and he lost a close race to Democrat Andy Beshear, the current governor, in the general election.

Goforth was known as a strong social conservative with a populist tone, backing funding for public education and workers' rights issues. He had pointed to his life story in his election campaigns. He dropped out of high school to help support his family, then earned his GED, served in the Army and went on to college. He became a pharmacist and opened a small chain of pharmacies.

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In his resignation letter, Goforth thanked his constituents for electing him and said it was with a heavy heart that he was leaving the legislature. He wished the governor and his now-former House colleagues the very best.

The governor will set the date for a special election to fill Goforth's seat.

Goforth was arrested in the spring of 2020 after the woman told authorities that he assaulted her while three small children were in the home, officials had said. The woman had visible marks on her forehead, neck and arms, and bruises on her leg when she went to the 911 Dispatch Center in London, Kentucky, to file her report, they said.

The woman said she fled after Goforth made several attempts to hog tie her, according to the citation. Goforth allegedly strangled her with an ethernet cable to the point where she said she had difficulty breathing and thought she was going to pass out, the citation added.

The woman later said she never wanted him criminally charged and said they had reconciled.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said during a Tuesday news conference that there is "no way" President Biden will be able to evacuate all of the Americans currently trapped in Afghanistan by the Aug. 31 deadline.

"There's no possible way that we can get every American that's still in Afghanistan out in the next seven days," McCarthy said after leaving a classified briefing on the evacuation efforts.

"We are just 3 weeks away from the 20th anniversary of 9/11," the California Republican continued. "At no time should America  allow the Taliban to tell us when we have to stop bringing Americans out. We should stay until every single American is able to get out of Afghanistan.

DAN CRENSHAW ISSUES BLISTERING RESPONSE TO TALIBAN'S DEMAND ALL US TROOPS LEAVE BY AUG. 31

McCarthys comments come as the Biden administration scrambles to evacuate thousands of Americans currently stranded in Afghanistan and reports have circulated that the U.S. military has begun pulling troops from the Hamid Karzai International Airport despite reports of thousands of Americans still stranded in the country.

SASSE URGES BIDEN TO TELL TALIBAN 'WE'RE GETTING OUR PEOPLE OUT HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES': 'DAMN THE DEADLINE

On Monday, the Biden administration would not commit to extending the August 31 deadline negotiated with the Taliban in order to ensure that every American, roughly 8,000 by some estimates, could be evacuated. The White House appeared to open the door to possibly extending the deadline saying that the president asked the Pentagon to prepare "contingency plans to adjust the timeline should that become necessary."

The Taliban has publicly stated that it will not accept an American military presence after August 31.
Bravo

Ramona Singer is no stranger to settling into new homes. She spends plenty of time at her Southampton abode and recently moved from her 31st floor NYC apartment up to the "exact same unit" on the 35th floor of the same building. For part of 2020, she traded the Big Apple for the Sunshine State while self-isolating in Boca Raton with her ex-husband, Mario Singer, and their daughter, Avery Singer. After living together as a trio for a couple of months, Ramona announced via a May 2020 Instagram vid
FILE PHOTO: Members of Taliban forces gesture as they check a vehicle on a street in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 16, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer REUTERS/Stringer

Local resistance militias in three districts fell to the Taliban on Monday, Reuters reported.

The groups previously claimed victory last week after capturing the three districts.

The militia's victories had marked the first signs of armed resistance against the Taliban since the fall of Kabul.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

The Taliban on Monday retook three districts in northern Afghanistan where local resistance militias claimed victory last week, Reuters reported.

Local militias had captured the districts of Bano, Deh Saleh, and Pul e-Hesar by August 21.

But all three districts have since fallen to the militant group, which is now set up near the Panjshir valley in Badakhshan, Takhar and Andarab, Reuters reported, citing Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid's Twitter.

The militias' victories had marked the first pushback from armed groups against the Taliban since the fall of Kabul on August 15.

The Panjshir valley remains a stronghold for anti-Taliban resistance, just like it was during the previous rule of the Taliban.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Puppies look out of a van as they are evacuated from the RSPCA shelter at Fairfield on January 12, 2011 in Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Jonathan Wood/Getty Images

A local government in Australia is taking heat for putting down 15 shelter dogs to mitigate COVID.

The council issued the order to prevent employees at a shelter from traveling to obtain the dogs.

Ten of the fifteen dogs were puppies, and another had just given birth to a litter of her own.

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A local government in rural Australia fatally shot 15 shelter-bound rescue dogs in a drastic attempt to protect volunteer workers from contracting COVID-19 while traveling to pick up the animals last week.

Bourke Shire Council in the north of New South Wales issued the order to prevent employees at another shelter about 125 miles away from traveling back and forth to obtain the dogs, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, which first reported the incident on Sunday.

Ten of the fifteen dogs were puppies, and another had just given birth to a litter of her own, USA Today reported.

In a statement to The Herald, the Bourke Shire Council said the local pound had reached capacity and two of the dogs were exhibiting aggressive behavior toward each other and staffers. The group said the person usually in charge of rehousing the animals had also become unavailable ahead of the euthanizing.

The Office of Local Government, which serves as a local watchdog for the Bourke Shire Council, told the outlet that the agency is looking into the incident to determine whether companion animal and cruelty prevention laws were broken.

"OLG has been informed that the council decided to take this course of action to protect its employees and community, including vulnerable Aboriginal populations, from the risk of COVID-19 transmission," a spokesperson from the Office of Local Government told The Herald.

All of New South Wales remains under lockdown due to surging COVID-19 amid an outbreak of the delta variant. The state has urged residents to remain in their own local government region and to avoid travel in order to mitigate the spread.

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"The town is in a tenuous situation at the moment with COVID," the Bourke Shire Council told The New York Times. "Positive cases are on the increase. Council is being very careful with people entering Bourke."

The council did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Animal-welfare workers are considered "authorized workers" and exempt from the state's COVID-19 restrictions while doing their jobs, according to The Washington Post.

While more than 4,800 coronavirus cases have been reported in New South Wales over the past week, according to state data, Bourke has recorded only seven COVID-19 cases in that time, while Cobar, the town where the shelter volunteers were coming from, recorded just one case.

Emma Hurst, a state lawmaker from the Animal Justice Party, told media outlets she and her office had worked tirelessly to try and save the dogs ahead of their euthanization, but were told by the council's general manager that the choice to put the pups down had already been made.

"This is just absolutely heartbreaking - to think of these lost or abandoned animals not even having a chance to find a loving forever home," Hurst told USA Today.

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A snorkeler floats above the underwater sculptures in Cyprus. MUSAN/Costas Constantinou

An underwater art museum with 93 sunken sculptures off the coast of Cyprus opened in July.

Designed by Jason deCaires Taylor, the museum explores the relationship between people and nature.

Snorkelers and divers can explore the magical underwater museum.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Off the coast of Pernera beach in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, there's a sunken forest that only divers, snorkelers, and the aquatic animals living in the waters can access.

A snorkeler swims through the sunken forest. MUSAN/Costas Constantinou

The 93 statues are part of the Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa, which explores the relationship between people and nature.

A map of the 93 submerged sculptures. MUSAN/JasondeCairesTaylor

Source: MUSAN

From whimsical trees to playful children, the work is artist Jason deCaires Taylor's latest creation. The museum, which opened in July, references everything from the ongoing climate crisis to habitat loss.

Artist Jason deCaires Taylor stands behind one of his sculptures. MUSAN/JasondeCairesTaylor

Source: MUSAN

"I'm kind of hoping that it leaves the visitor with a sense of hope along with a sense that the human impact isn't always negative. That we can reverse some of the things we've done," Taylor told CNN Travel.

The 93 sculptures range in subject matter. MUSAN/JasondeCairesTaylor

Source: CNN Travel

But the sunken statues are more than art. Eventually, animals, corals, and aquatic plants will make the sculptures - which are pH-neutral, meaning they don't negatively impact the surrounding environment - part of their habitat.

The submerged sculptures. MUSAN/JasondeCairesTaylor

Source: MUSAN

Taylor told EuroNews that the sculptures serve a "twofold purpose," because they're not only works of art, but they also act as "artificial reefs."

A diver explored the sculptures, which sit on the ocean's floor and float up to the water's surface. MUSAN/Costas Constantinou

Source: EuroNews

The museum cost $1.1 million to build, and the statues which weigh up to 13 tons, were placed on the ocean floor with a crane.

A crane lowers a museum sculpture into the water. MUSAN/Costas Constantinou

Source: MUSAN

Museum visitors can access the art from the shores of Pernera beach, which was once a barren stretch of sand.

Visitors can access the underwater museum from Pernera Beach in Cyprus. MUSAN/JasondeCairesTaylor

Source: MUSAN

Visitors swim through the forest of statues, which stretch more than 550 feet across the ocean floor and reach a depth of 33 feet, according to Scuba Diving.

Scuba divers and snorkelers can roam throughout the once-barren area. MUSAN/Costas Constantinou

Source: Scuba Diving

They might spot sculptures of children playing hide and seek - a reminder that the natural world is a place to be explored.

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Statues of children playing. MUSAN/JasondeCairesTaylor

Source: MUSAN

As they reach deeper depths, people can spot statues sitting on the bottom of the ocean floor and floating all the way to the water's surface.

A crane lowers a sculpture onto the floor of the ocean. MUSAN/JasondeCairesTaylor

Source: MUSAN

The immersive experience is a new way to explore and reflect on the importance of the underwater world.

A snorkeler floats above the underwater sculptures in Cyprus. MUSAN/Costas Constantinou

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Aug. 24AUGUSTA, Maine  Emergency medical services workers will have more time to comply with Maine's new vaccine requirement for health care workers, and dispatchers will be exempt after a state regulator voted on Monday to slightly rein in Gov. Janet Mills' mandate.

The Maine EMS Board's decision only affects workers under its purview and it did not have much authority to change an emergency rule advanced by the Democratic governor's administration requiring workers to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 1.

But it was a notable example of pushback after the board heard of testimony from agencies fearful of losing staff to the mandate. While the rule has support of groups including the Maine Hospital Association and others representing nursing homes and dentists, it has received more pushback from emergency personnel, especially in rural areas with fewer vaccinated people.

Monday's meeting had to be rescheduled from last week after the EMS board's 200-person streaming cap was exceeded. Dozens of EMS workers spoke in opposition to mandatory vaccinations during a public meeting on Monday morning, saying they or their colleagues may quit rather than be made to take the vaccine. A smaller number agreed with the mandate.

The bulletin ultimately adopted by the EMS board on Monday excluded only emergency dispatch centers as employers covered by the vaccine requirement, noting dispatchers do not have contact with patients. The board said it would also not enforce proof of vaccination until Oct. 15, two weeks longer than the deadline for vaccination is set to begin.

Opinions on the 15-member board, which is mostly made up of paramedics, other emergency workers and medical professionals, were also split on the mandate. The measure endorsed by the board will ask the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to consider additional input from emergency service providers as it continues rulemaking.

The concerns about staffing around the mandate highlight "just how fragile our system is," said Tim Beals, the CEO of Waterville-based Delta Ambulance and a board member. But the board noted it was only tasked with implementing the rule and must enforce it.

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"We cannot change this train's tracks," said Scarborough EMS Deputy Chief Richard Kindelan, who also sits on the board.

The board also adopted a policy that employees with a medical exemption to the vaccine could continue in their positions by regularly taking rapid COVID-19 tests. That exemption in state law allows medical professionals to exempt people from mandated vaccinations if they find it "medically inadvisable."

Spokespeople for Mills' office, the health and public safety departments did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the board's move.

BDN writer Michael Shepherd contributed to this report.
The New York Times

LIVINGSTON, Texas  John Henry Ramirez and Dana Moore both quote the same passage of the Bible when they explain their friendship. I was sick and you looked after me, Jesus says in the book of Matthew, describing God ushering righteous people into eternal life. I was in prison and you came to visit me. Rev. Moore, the pastor of Second Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, has been visiting Ramirez in prison for more than four years, driving 300 miles northwest to the Allan B. Polunsky Unit in Li
A man has been arrested near a popular hiking trail in Colorado with a collection of weapons including crossbows, knives and hatchets (San Miguel County Sheriff )

A Colorado sheriff has warned residents and outdoor enthusiasts to be aware following the third arrest this summer of a man illegally camping with a cache of weapons.

In light of the past weeks double homicide of campers outside Moab, I want to caution people to be aware of their surroundings, Sheriff William Bill Masters  the states longest-serving sheriff  said Monday in a social media post by the San Miguel County Sheriffs Facebook page.

He was referring to the shooting deaths in Moab, Utah  the neighbouring state  of newlyweds Crystal Turner and Kylen Schulte.

According to the Colorado sheriffs office post, the man currently detained in their jurisdiction has been arrested three times in the Norwood and Telluride areas since July 1st for charges including weapons offenses, burglary of a local laundromat, possession of meth, trespassing, and theft. The judge has repeatedly released this man from jail on PR bonds over the objections of the District Attorneys office.

On Monday, the post continued, more than three dozen weapons were found around his campsite ... including knives, hatchets and a cross-bow and several swords, just yards off a popular hiking trail. The campsite had been illegally constructed on private property.

The mans mugshot and name were not immediately released to avoid pre-trial publicity as per agreed upon protocols with the DAs office to minimize the risk that charges are dropped, the Facebook post continued.

Sheriff Masters began as a deputy marshal in Telluride in 1975.
Former Virginia governor and Democratic nominee for the 2021 gubernatorial election Terry McAuliffe said Monday that employers should mandate vaccines, just days after he said he wanted mandates to "make life difficult" for unvaccinated people.

McAuliffe spoke at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society on Aug. 16, saying, "I tell my private businesses all the time, 'I hope you mandate vaccines for people coming in.'"

CENSUS HIGHLIGHTS VIRGINIA SHIFTS THAT CHALLENGE REPUBLICANS IN GOVERNOR'S RACE AND BEYOND

"We cant force them. Were not going door to door, but you make life difficult," he continued. "If youre going to come to the HIMSS conference, you got to be vaccinated."

The former governor is campaigning against Glenn Youngkin, a Republican backed by former President Donald Trump. This would be McAuliffe's second, nonconsecutive term as governor.

"Today, I am calling on every Virginia employer to require all eligible employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19," McAuliffe said in a statement Monday afternoon. "I have long said that the best way to defeat this deadly virus, keep our students in school and keep Virginias economy strong is by getting every eligible Virginian vaccinated as quickly as possible."

McAuliffe's call followed the Food and Drug Administration's full approval of Pfizer's two-shot COVID-19 vaccine and comes as more private businesses have begun mandating vaccines mandates for employees.

Youngkin said that McAuliffe's announcement was an attempt to "bully" Virginians and businesses into compliance. Still, Youngkin has said he supports the COVID-19 vaccine and encourages residents to get inoculated, adding, "I have made the choice to get vaccinated and encourage everyone to join me in doing that, but ultimately, it is a personal decision to do so."

"Virginia is already struggling to recover from the pandemic due to failed Democratic leadership, and now Terry McAuliffe wants to 'make life difficult' for Virginians and businesses by issuing a government mandate that attempts to bully them into complying with what McAuliffe and the government thinks is best. And that will clearly evolve into closing down businesses and locking down Virginia again," Youngkin said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.

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Recent ad campaigns show the two candidates have been tightly focused on pandemic matters. Youngkin released one ad last week promoting vaccine efficacy.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

McAuliffe has taken aim at Youngkin's supportive comments of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who has faced sharp criticism from Democrats for an executive order limiting schools from mandating face masks and for the state's recent uptick in COVID-19 cases.

McAuliffe has a 5-point lead over Youngkin, according to the latest poll from Conservatives for Clean Energy.

The Washington Examiner contacted McAuliffe's campaign but did not immediately receive a response.

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Tags: News, Virginia, Governor, Democrat, Republican, Coronavirus, Vaccination

Original Author: Kaelan Deese

Original Location: McAuliffe asks employers to mandate vaccines to 'make life difficult' for unvaccinated
The Wrap

Either an identity has been stolen or it truly is the end of days: Ann Coulter is more pleased with Joe Bidens Afghanistan response than many liberals. The queen of conservative controversy posted two tweets Tuesday that left much of the Twittersphere scratching their heads and adjusting their glasses to make sure theyd read them correctly. Quote-tweeting a story in which Biden defended his withdrawal from Afghanistan (which has been slammed as chaotic by both sides of the aisle), Coulter wr
A prominent Minnesota GOP donor will ask a judge to release him to home monitoring Tuesday afternoon as he prepares a defense against charges of sex trafficking minors.

In court documents filed Tuesday morning, a lawyer for 30-year-old Anton Lazzaro says his client should be confined to his 2,200-square-foot condo in downtown Minneapolis, instead of Sherburne County jail. Attorney Zachary Lee Newland says Lazzaro's home would be fitted with thumbprint locks and cameras providing a 24/7 feed to U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services. "Taking the cameras together with the recommended use of bio-metric locks on areas where Mr. Lazzaro cannot go inside the home Mr. Lazzaro will be living inside a real-life 'Truman Show' scenario," wrote Newland, referring to the 1999 movie about a man whose life is secretly filmed for a reality show.

Lazzaro is set to appear in St. Paul's federal courthouse at 2 p.m. Tuesday for a hearing on detention. A 10-count indictment alleges Lazzaro recruited six minors to engage in sex for money over several months in 2020.

Lazzaro has contributed to dozens of Republican campaigns in recent years. His political ties have sparked outrage among state party members, and played a significant role in GOP Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan's ousting last week.

Gisela Castro Medina, A 19-year-old University of St. Thomas student and who served as chairwoman of the school's Republican chapter, has been charged with helping Lazzaro recruit victims for the commercial sex conspiracy.

Andy Mannix  612-673-4036
ELY, Minn. (AP)  Ely is typically teeming this time of year with visitors heading out on or returning from excursions into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. But about the only cars in the northeastern Minnesota town with canoes strapped to their tops this week are leaving.

Several fires inside and just outside the country's most visited wilderness area led officials to close it last weekend, dealing a blow to those who spent months planning their trips there and to the outfitters and other businesses that depend on them.

Usually, this time of the morning, were bustling  getting people on the water, loading canoes, getting them out to their entry points, Jason Zabokrtsky, owner of Ely Outfitting Company, told Minnesota Public Radio. And as you can see looking around, its empty.

Related video: The damage left by northern Minnesota wildfires

Several lightning-caused fires have burned in the wilderness amid this summer's drought conditions, while the much bigger Greenwood Lake fire just to the south has forced the evacuation of about 280 homes and cabins since it was spotted Aug. 15 about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southwest of the town of Isabella. Superior National Forest officials have also kept a nervous eye on fires burning just across the Canadian border, in Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park, which led them to close some parts of the Boundary Waters north of Ely earlier this summer.

But when the so-called John Ek fire took off late last week, forest officials decided to close the entire wilderness area as a precaution for at least a week. They said that fire and the Greenwood Lake fire had stretched their resources too thin to ensure the safety of paddlers and campers.

Pushed by high winds, the Greenwood Lake blaze doubled in size Monday and overnight to 30 square miles (79 square kilometers) as of Tuesday morning, while the John Ek fire nearly doubled in size, to 2.3 square miles (6 square kilometers). Residents well to the north along the upper Gunflint Trail, a dead-end highway that's a popular jumping off spot for Boundary Waters trips, were told Monday night to stand by in case they also needed to evacuate.

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Pat Prochaska watched the fire through his security cameras Monday as it advanced on his cabin on South McDougal Lake. He said Tuesday that he thinks it survived, but that he won't know for sure until he can get back there for a look.

We're just going on the fact that the cameras on the four corners of the house continued to operate as the fire passed, Prochaska said. We know there's a lot of siding that melted and maybe some holes in the roof, but we think the main structure is fine.

The video shows a line of fire advancing through the trees amid winds thick with smoke and flames quickly climbing the trunks. But the trees were already cut back 30 feet from the cabin to provide a safety buffer. Prochaska said he knows the view won't be the same, but he's taking a long view.

It's going to be a little different, but it'll be a rebirth. I know that to be true, he said.

In Ely, outfitter Zabokrtsky said his customers have been understanding, but its too late in the season to easily reschedule them. Some have rebooked trips for next year. But he said hes had dozens of cancellations and has had to refund tens of thousands of dollars.

To have sort of this immediate closure and have to tell somebody whos traveled from Texas or California, and are standing in front of us ready to go out for a week in the woods, that actually everythings changed and your Boundary Waters vacation is off, is really difficult, Zabokrtsky told MPR.

The BWCA makes up slightly more than a third of the 4,687 square mile (12,140 square kilometer) Superior National Forest, and most of the forest remains open.

Despite the closure of the wilderness area, a few visitors haven't been dissuaded. Mary Claire Ryan drove up from Brainerd, with her two grandsons and a canoe strapped to the roof of her truck.

Since our tradition is to come up and stay the night in Ely and get an early start, we still have a motel room, Ryan told MPR. And we figured, well, we can go to lakes outside of the Boundary Waters and do some fishing. And if its really bad, go home. But wed rather come up and keep our tradition going than stay home.

Drought conditions have also fueled wildfires in parts of the Western U.S. In California, more than 13,500 firefighters were still working Tuesday to contain a dozen large wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee. Nearly 43,000 Californians were under under evacuation orders and more than 500 households were in shelters.

About 20 miles (32 kilometers) offshore from Minnesota, a wildfire on Michigans remote Isle Royale in Lake Superior led the National Park Service to close some of its trails and campgrounds.
A Northwest Miami-Dade woman accused of stabbing her husband and teenage child also submerged her infant daughter in a bathtub during a bizarre baptism while screaming about Jesus and worrying that COVID-19 was coming to kill her family, according to multiple law enforcement sources.

Police believe the womans husband was stabbed while trying to intervene in what may have been a violent mental health episode. Her teenage daughter was also stabbed during the incident, police said.

By Tuesday afternoon, Miami-Dade police had not publicly released information on how the infant died. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiners Office was to conduct an autopsy on the child, who was rushed to the hospital, but could not be revived.

When police reached the home at 3005 NW 99th St., they found the womans husband on the front lawn with stab wounds and the woman inside the home with what they believe were self-inflicted stab wounds. The 15-month-old girl was found unresponsive in the bathtub and taken to Jackson North Medical Center, where doctors pronounced her dead.

Police said the couples four other children, all under 11, escaped and ran to a neighbors home. None were injured.

As of Tuesday afternoon, police had not officially released the names of the woman, 38, her husband, also 38, or the couples teenage daughter. Property records list the owners of the home as Evan and Precious Leslie Bland. A source said the woman goes by Leslie Bland.

All three remained hospitalized.

Nobody answered the door at the familys home on Tuesday. In the driveway of the ranch-style home, badly in need of a paint job, was a GMC SUV with a baby seat on the ground in front of it, and an older model Jaguar. A large Winnebago rested beside the home along a six-foot wooden fence on Northwest 99th Street. In the backyard were a trampoline, childrens toys and a large, above-ground pool.

The front yard was filled with rubber gloves likely used by paramedics and police after they got to the gory scene. The sidewalk in front of the home was covered in blood. Neighbors didnt answer door knocks and family members of Evan Bland down the street asked for privacy.

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As of Tuesday afternoon, no charges had been filed against Leslie Bland.

Were waiting for them to be medically released, said Miami-Dade Police Detective Christopher Sowerby-Thomas, a spokesman.

It was just two months ago when a Lauderhill mother was suspected of drowning her children, after two young sisters were found dead in a canal. A neighbor told the Miami Herald that Tinessa Hogan, the mother of the girls, had asked her if she could baptize her children. Hogan was charged with murder.
An auto parts salesman and acquaintance of a former Miami lawmaker accused of running a vote-siphoning scheme in a 2020 Florida Senate race pleaded guilty Tuesday to two campaign finance charges and agreed to help prosecutors try the man who recruited him to run for office.

Alexis Rodriguez, who was paid more than $40,000 by former Republican state Sen. Frank Artiles to run as a no-party candidate in the key Senate District 37 race, pleaded guilty to two felony charges: conspiracy to accept or make campaign contributions in excess of legal limits and accepting and making those excess campaign contributions.

Investigators say Rodriguez ran to confuse voters and siphon votes from the incumbent, a Democrat who shares the same surname and ultimately lost his seat by just 32 votes. Artiles, who has also been charged, has pleaded not guilty.

In exchange for his guilty plea, Rodriguez, who is represented by attorney William Barzee, will serve three years probation, including one year on house arrest with a GPS monitor. He cant work for any political campaigns during that time, and he has to cooperate with prosecutors.

He was previously facing four felony charges and up to 20 years in prison.

Seated alongside his attorney in his downtown law office, Rodriguez, 55, heard the terms of his plea from circuit court Judge Andrea Ricker Wolfson, who is overseeing the case.

I am deeply sorry for my actions and I want to apologize to my family, my loved ones and my friends, Rodriguez said through tears, speaking publicly for the first time since his arrest. I would like to publicly offer a sincere apology to the residents of Florida District Senate 37 including [incumbent] Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, the people of Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida, and anyone else who was affected by my actions.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, whose public corruption unit led the investigation, called Rodriguezs plea an important step in the effort to restore honesty to Floridas election process, which has been tarnished too long by almost invisible, independent and write-in candidates.

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Mr. Rodriguez critical testimony will shed light on the dirty election tricks used to steal our democracy and is the price he is paying for helping rob our community of its right to honest representation, she wrote in a statement.

Artiles still fighting

Rodriguezs plea deal formalizes his relationship with prosecutors, an arrangement Artiles attorneys have highlighted for weeks as the court treated the two men as co-defendants. Rodriguezs account of what happened in the case was used heavily in Artiles arrest affidavit.

He has been acting at all times in this case as an agent for the State and now the public knows that it is official, attorney Frank Quintero wrote in an email. We will be looking forward to deposing Mr. Rodriguez and exposing him for who he really is.

Investigators say Artiles funneled more than $40,000 to Rodriguez in exchange for him changing his party affiliation from Republican and qualifying for the ballot as a no-party candidate in Senate District 37. Investigators are still looking into the origin of the money, but court records say Artiles would repeatedly grab stacks of cash  ranging from $3,000 to $5,000  from his home safe and give them to Rodriguez in the months leading up to the election.

They also say Rodriguez submitted false information on his sworn candidate documents, marking that he lived in a Palmetto Bay home inside the district he was running to represent, when he was actually renting a house in Boca Raton at the time of the election. Knowingly filing an incorrect address with the state  or assisting someone to do so  is a third-degree felony.

Alexis Rodriguez, the no-party candidate involved in an alleged vote-siphoning scheme in Miami, entered into a plea agreement Monday alongside his attorney, William Barzee, left.

Rodriguez didnt campaign, but received more than 6,000 votes out of 215,000 ballots cast. Ultimately, GOP Sen. Ileana Garcia won the election by 32 votes, taking a seat thought to be in a relatively safe Democratic district and further strengthening Republicans hold in Tallahassee in a year Democrats said they could win control in the Senate.

Artiles, who has pleaded not guilty on similar charges related to the alleged scheme, still faces trial.

Last week a Miami circuit court judge set a check-in hearing date for Oct. 19, after Artiles lawyers asked for more time. The trial was originally set to begin Aug 30.

Rodriguezs plea deal hasnt let him off the hook with the Florida Ethics Commission, which has called for a full evidentiary hearing that could result in fines of up to $20,000.

Herald/Times Tallahassee bureau reporter Ana Ceballos contributed to this report.
One bullet from a gunfight bounced into the Blackmon home in Winston-Salem early Sunday morning. She looked at me and smiled and she closed her eyes and died, Lorenza Blackmon said of Donna.
DOHA, Qatar  They are known as Afghanistan's "robot girls."

The 10 high schoolers from Afghanistan's western city of Herat are members of a team that has made international headlines for several years for its work developing and building robots.

The team became a symbol of progress in modern Afghanistan, taking part in competitions around the world.

But with the Taliban now in power in Afghanistan, the girls have fled to Qatar in fear of the militant group's rule.

The previous Taliban regime's strict and austere interpretation of Islam largely erased women from public life, barring them from attending school or working outside the home.

Although the Taliban promised to respect womens rights as they took control of Afghanistan last week, many were skeptical. Girls like Somaya Faruqi, the captain of the robotics team, and nine more members of her team joined the thousands who have decided to flee the country.

They were flown out of Kabul to Doha with the assistance of the Qatari government last Tuesday.

Sitting in a housing compound where they now reside and wearing a beige headscarf, Somaya told NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel that she fled to Qatar for the chance to continue her education and robotics work.

Nothing can stop us. We continue our way, the 18-year-old said.

Somaya said fixing things makes her feel free and powerful and taking part in international competitions has given her an opportunity to show the world what Afghan girls can do, and that Afghanistan is not just about never-ending wars.

If there was an opportunity for every young boy or girl in Afghanistan, they could do anything they want, she said.

One of the latest projects for the Afghan girls robotics team is a 5-foot-tall robot that uses ultraviolet light to disinfect surfaces. (via NBC News)

Even as refugees, the team is still planning to enter a robotics competition in September. At the moment, it is working on a 5-foot-tall robot that uses ultraviolet light to remotely sweep rooms and destroy viruses.

Love of technology started early for Ayda Haydarpour, 17, the chief programmer on the team. She got a Super Mario video game when she was 7, and decided right away she wanted to know how it worked. She said she hopes to become a software engineer and work for herself someday.

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Id really love to build my company and be the boss of that company, she said.

Its for the sake of those dreams that Ayda said she had to flee to Qatar. But the pain of leaving her homeland is still raw.

The girls came to Doha without their families. Some of their teachers, mentors and even team members are still in Afghanistan. Somaya broke down in tears when asked how difficult it was for her to leave her loved ones behind.

We are going to go back to Afghanistan again, Ayda said, vowing to return  however long it takes.

We will go to Afghanistan again, and build Afghanistan and just change the future of Afghanistan, she added.
An Oklahoma man running for governor is accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman who applied for a campaign job.

Paul Tay, a 58-year-old longshot for governor, was charged with first-degree rape, kidnapping and assault with a dangerous weapon after a woman escaped him at a Walmart in Tulsa, police said.

On Sunday, the woman said she responded to a Craigslist job ad for Tays campaign, which offered pay and a place to live, and he picked her up in Bethany, Oklahoma, because she didnt have a ride to Oklahoma City.

When Tay drove toward Tulsa, not Oklahoma City, the woman tried to leave his vehicle and he hit her with a metal pipe and sexually assaulted her, police said.

Tay ran out of gas on the way home to Tulsa and locked the woman in his car while panhandling for money, police said. After gathering enough money, Tay drove the woman to his home, where he is accused of rape, police said.

On Monday, the woman said she convinced Tay to take her to Walmart for hygiene products and she escaped to get help from a store worker, police said. Tay was arrested in the parking lot.

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In June, Tay filed paperwork that indicated his intention to be a candidate for Oklahoma governor in 2022, The Associated Press reported.

Tay is a perennial yet unsuccessful political candidate, most recently losing a 2020 bid for mayor of Tulsa with less than 300 votes.

During the 2016 mayoral campaign, he interrupted a televised mayoral debate he wasnt invited to participate in by walking onto the set saying, I deserve my time, KTUL reported.

Tay, who was convicted last year of outraging public decency, has previously been arrested on accusations he threatened a member of the City Council and solicited prostitution, the news outlet reported.

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Racial justice groups received millions in donations amid the 2020 civil unrest stemming from the murder of George Floyd

The police killing of George Floyd ignited global protests and prompted corporate America to pledge billions to racial justice. But more than a year after his death, much of the funds have yet to be distributed and more questions about the funds have been raised.

Americas 50 biggest public companies from Silicon Valley to Wall Street proclaimed Black Lives Matter amid the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. These companies and their foundations collectively pledged nearly $50 billion toward racial equity.

The Washington Post analyzed public statements and company reports of 44 of the companies to determine how the funds were distributed. One key finding is that many of the organizations stand to profit from the $49.5 billion that was pledged.

Looking deeper, more than 90 percent of that amount  $45.2 billion  is allocated as loans or investments they could stand to profit from, more than half in the form of mortgages. Two banks  JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America  accounted for nearly all of those commitments. Meanwhile, $4.2 billion of the total pledged is in the form of outright grants. Of that, companies reported just a tiny fraction  about $71 million went to organizations focused specifically on criminal justice reform, the report read.

Protesters march in downtown Brooklyn over the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis Police officer on June 05, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Corporations are not set up to wield their power for the greater good as much as we give them credit for, a lot of times, said Phillip Atiba Goff, a professor at Yale University who co-founded the Center for Policing Equity. They are constrained by things they feel they need to do to manage their brand in a world where Black liberation does not have consensus.

The Post noted that corporations are not required to report on where all the pledges are going, nor are they required to track the impact the funds have on the communities they are allegedly benefitting.

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Because these are pledges, there isnt any one entity that will be holding these organizations accountable, said Una Osili, associate dean at Indiana University. Osili is also head of the annual Giving USA report, which tracks American philanthropy. I wonder about the follow-through  whether the will will be there in three to four years to continue to lift up these issues, she added.

The Post analyzed pledges made after May 2020 and found that 37 companies have confirmed disbursing at least $1.7 billion of the $49.5 billion pledged, the outlet wrote. Seven of the companies that made racial justice commitments refused to disclose how much had already been spent, per the report.

About 20 corporate organizations reportedly paid it forward to the National Urban League, 19 gave to HBCUs and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, 18 were generous to the Equal Justice Initiative, and 13 made financial gifts to the NAACP, as reported by Yahoo Finance.

Pilomena Wankenge of the DC Freedom Fighters waves an American flag to a crowd gathered at the John A. Wilson Building during a protest against police brutality and racism on June 6, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

As theGrio previously reported, Color of Change, ActBlue, National Bail Fund Network, and the Minnesota Freedom Fund, were listed as receiving the highest donation amounts after the 2020 civil unrest. The Minnesota Freedom Fund alone received $20 million.

The answer to these massive problems is not in capitalism doing better or more. Its not going to come from philanthropy. Its not going to come from promises. Its got to be a policy change, said Mehrsa Baradaran, a law professor at the University of California at Irvine.

We dont want just benevolent billionaires and nicer, softer, more-woke monopolies. We want an economic structure that allows for more mobility, and we dont have that.

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The post Only $71M given to criminal justice reform orgs out of billions pledged by companies appeared first on TheGrio.
Afghan refugees intent on leaving the country crowd into a U.S. military aircraft at the Kabul airport Thursday. (Shakib Rahmani / AFP via Getty Images)

Watching the news from Afghanistan, I couldnt help but feel a sense of deja vu. There they were on my TV screen: ordinary people who just days before had been going about their lives, now frantically crowding the Kabul airport, trying to flee.

Forty-six years ago, in April of 1975, I was among the hundreds of thousands of South Vietnamese citizens desperately trying to escape Saigon, the city that had been my home since childhood.

I was particularly vulnerable. Five years earlier, Id had the fortune to win a U.S. Agency for International Development scholarship to attend college in the United States. While the war escalated back home, I started college at Oregons Pacific University and finished earning my bachelors degree in business at UC Berkeley, in 1974.

Many of my American friends and professors urged me to stay in the U.S. or flee to Canada rather than return to my war-torn country. Instead, I honored the commitment I had made to return to Vietnam. I landed an executive-track position with a large international oil company, hoping to use all I had learned in America to help rebuild my country.

Instead, I found myself in a precarious situation. Within months of my arrival, the North Vietnamese had gained the upper hand militarily and U.S. troops were pulling out. Instead of enjoying my new career, I had one preoccupation: trying to escape to save my life.

This weeks images from Kabul brought me back to the day my father, acting on a tip, took one of my sisters, who was then about 17, on his motorcycle to get her to a departing boat, not knowing where it was headed. (Years later we would learn that, thanks to friends of mine, she had made it safely to Oregon.)

Amidst the confusion, friends in San Francisco alerted me by telegram that theyd sent evacuation papers for me to the U.S. embassy. But when I tried to obtain them, I found myself just one of thousands in the throngs trying to penetrate the fenced-in compound, with no hope of getting in.

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And the vivid pictures from the Kabul airfield transported me to April 29, 1975  one of the worst days of my life. That morning, along with two of my brothers, I managed to board an American evacuation bus in central Saigon bound for the airport and, I hoped, our best chance for freedom.

My heart raced as the driver steered through familiar streets. But then he suddenly received a call on his radio, seemingly in code, and abruptly hit the brakes.

What happened? I asked.

The airport is under rocket attack, he said, heading back toward the city center.

I knew at that moment that all was lost.

Burning possessions to hide U.S. ties

That evening, as my parents and siblings listened on the radio to the increasingly bleak news, I hauled a box of my possessions behind the house. I lighted my mothers kerosene stove and burned every shred of evidence of my U.S. ties: my address book listing hundreds of American friends and teachers, my college transcripts, a small American flag a classmate had given me.

I thought of that moment as I read reports of the tens of thousands of Afghans who had worked as interpreters or provided support for the U.S. military and diplomatic corps. Fearing reprisal from the Taliban, many of them are destroying anything that would reveal their connection to the U.S.

For me, that April night was only the beginning of a nightmare that would last more than four years and result in multiple failed escapes, including one that cost my father his life. Finally, in 1979, a connection my mother made led to one last chance to get away  aboard a small fishing boat with some 350 others.

After barely surviving the passage across the Gulf of Thailand, I made it to a refugee camp in Malaysia. Four months later, I boarded a flight for the U.S.

Landlocked Afghanistan offers few options for escape. That makes it all the more important for the U.S. to make every effort to help these people evacuate while theres still time. On Tuesday, the Taliban said it would begin blocking Afghans trying to leave the country from accessing Kabuls airport.

The U.S. has evacuated more than 28,000 people from Afghanistan since Aug. 14, and will continue to do so until President Biden's Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw all American troops from the country.

Still, the situation remains tenuous. I know all too well the strain and heartbreak that goes with trying to become a refugee.

Fortunately, I also know there is hope  if our government continues to act quickly and with resolve.

I am forever grateful to President Ford, who less than a month after Saigons fall signed a law admitting some 130,000 refugees from Southeast Asia to the U.S., opening the gates for years to follow. That allowed my wife and me to come to America, where I started as a junior accountant and rose to chief financial officer of a large company, taught business college courses  and make a point of contributing to my community.

My story is proof that refugees fleeing strife in their homelands can come to America and build better lives  if they are willing to work hard, learn and give back. But its up to our leaders and all of us to give them a chance.

Tim Tran is a retired business executive and college instructor. He wrote, with Tom Fields-Meyer, the memoir American Dreamer: How I Escaped Communist Vietnam and Built a Successful Life in America.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Tuesday that masks will be required in public outdoor spaces regardless of vaccination status, starting Friday.

The delta variant is spreading fast and wide, throwing our state into a level of crisis we have not yet seen in the pandemic, Brown said. Masks have proven to be effective at bringing case counts down, and are a necessary measure right now, even in some outdoor settings, to help fight COVID and protect one another.

RISE IN COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS OF PREGNANT WOMEN ALARMS DOCTORS

The risk of catching COVID-19 outdoors is very low. Still, the delta variant has been shown to spread more easily than previous strains, including the original strain of the virus that launched the pandemic.

It is much easier for people with the delta variant, compared to people who were sick last year, to infect others around them, said State Health Officer Dr. Dean Sidelinger. This is because they have 1,000 times more virus in their nose  which means that those around them are much more likely to get sick because this variant behaves so differently.

The masking rule, when it takes effect this Friday, will not apply to quick interactions between people from different households. People at large outdoor gatherings where social distancing is difficult, such as sporting events, will need to mask up. Although people who attend private gatherings in homes are not subject to the requirement, Oregon's state health department said masking is highly recommended.

FULL APPROVAL OF PFIZER VACCINE EXPECTED TO GENERATE WAVE OF MANDATES

The requirement allows for some exemptions. Children under 5, performers delivering a speech or concert, athletes playing competitive sports, and people who are eating and drinking will not have to wear masks outdoors in public. Brown did not say when the masking rule would be lifted, but record-breaking hospitalizations and cases in the state suggest the requirement will remain in effect for a while.

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Cases and hospitalizations are at a record high, Brown said. The combination of vaccines and masks is the most powerful way we can fight this latest surge of COVID-19 and save lives.

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Tags: Healthcare, News, Coronavirus, Oregon, Face masks, Vaccination

Original Author: Cassidy Morrison

Original Location: Oregon governor reinstates outdoor mask mandate regardless of vaccination status
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Back in June, Tamra Judge announced that she was going to give the Keto Diet a try. "Never thought Id say this, since its against everything Ive believed in (as far as a healthy diet)  but Im trying the [Keto] diet to see if it helps with my autoimmune issues," The Real Housewives of Orange County alum wrote back then. So, how did it go? In a recent Ask Me Anything thread on Instagram, a follower asked Tamra whether she is still following the low-carb, high-fat eating plan. "No I gained wei
Voters cast their early voting ballot at drop box outside of City Hall on October 17, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mark Makela/Getty Images

"Prison gerrymandering" refers to counting inmates as local residents.

The practice boosts the political power of largely white, rural districts.

Just under 37,000 people are incarcerated in Pennsylvania state prisons.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

In a boost for Democrats' prospects in 2022, Pennsylvania's redistricting commission voted Tuesday to stop considering incarcerated people as "residents" of state prisons, a practice that had boosted the political power of largely white, rural counties.

Under the new policy, which goes into effect before the next election, residency will be determined by the incarcerated person's last known home address.

Pennsylvania's Legislative Reapportionment Commission, tasked with drawing new political maps based on the 2020 Census, approved the change in a 3-2 vote, Spotlight PA reported.

The panel includes two Democrats and two Republicans, with former University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg appointed by the state Supreme Court to serve as a nonpartisan swing vote. Both Republicans voted against the change.

"When a system holds and counts a person in one place but forces him or her to vote in another, it does create a basic issue of fairness," Nordenberg said Tuesday, per the Associated Press.

As of July 31, just under 37,000 people are incarcerated in Pennsylvania state prisons. More than 9,000 previously called Philadelphia home, AP noted, while more than 2,500 hailed from the Pittsburgh area, both of which are Democratic strongholds.

The commission's vote does not impact the counting of the more than 30,000 federal inmates in Pennsylvania, who will still be considered residents of the counties where those federal facilities are located.

Aleks Kajstura, legal director at the nonprofit Prison Policy Initiative, said Tuesday's decision was a positive step. The move "adds Pennsylvania to the growing list of states that recognize prison gerrymandering is a practice that distorts our democracy and creates unequal representation," she told Insider.

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But the exclusion of other inmates was "unfortunate," she said, illustrating the need for national reform "to end prison gerrymandering completely and uniformly through the country."

Critics of "prison gerrymandering" have argued that it's unfair to apportion political power, once a decade, by counting incarcerated people as living in counties where on average they will involuntarily reside for 3 to 4 years.

In 2009, a PPI analysis found eight of Pennsylvania's state house districts, most in the more conservative center of the state, only met federal population requirements - the minimum number of people required to form a district - because they included the local state prison population.

Although Democrats control the governorship and other statewide offices, Republicans have a 25-seat majority in the state house and a seven-seat margin in the state senate. Pennsylvania's federal congressional delegation is evenly split between the parties.

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
The North Carolina Senate approved a bill Tuesday to raise the minimum age at which a child can face prosecution in the state from 6 to 8. Now the bill heads to Gov. Roy Coopers desk to sign.

The change would stop two years short of the minimum age of 10 in an initial bill that was introduced and passed in the Senate in March.

Rep. Danny Britt, a Robeson County Republican and one of the primary sponsors of Senate Bill 207, said the minimum age was lowered from 10 to 8 after officials with the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys expressed concern about young people committing serious crimes.

There were also members in the House that had concerns as well, he said.

In response, lawmakers changed the language of the bill to say people as young as 8 could face accusations that are the equivalent of felonies, while only those 10 and up could be accused of the equivalent of misdemeanors and some low-level felonies.

I think anytime we move things into a better direction, even if we dont get it all the way to where we want to have it, I think we have done a lot of good,  Britt said after the Senate vote.

Over the last three years, about 30 children ages 8 to 10 faced juvenile charges that would meet the definition of serious felony in the bill, while more than 1,000 would have been kept from the system under the change in the bill, Britt said.

Many of those children who faced those serious charges faced an assault or sex offense charge, he said.

These are people who need a little more, even at that age, need a little bit more services that can be better provided through juvenile delinquency court, Britt said.

Minimum age in other states

Some advocates and experts, including the National Juvenile Justice Network, recommend an age limit of 14 years old for the juvenile justice system.

The North Carolina Task Force for Racial Equity, established by Democratic Gov. Cooper, recommended setting North Carolinas age limit at 12.

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The change approved Tuesday takes North Carolina from having the lowest set age of juvenile jurisdiction, to being among three others, Arizona, Nevada and Washington, which set the minimum age at 8.

Three states set the minimum age at 7 and 12 states set it at 10.

Three other states set the age at either 11 or 12, according to information provided by the states Juvenile Justice department.

Twenty-nine other states dont set a minimum age for prosecution of children.

Kids in court

Advocates say young children lack the mental capacity to understand the juvenile justice process and its consequences. They cant make informed decisions about talking with police, admitting to the accusations against them and going to trial, The News & Observer reported.

Cases brought against young children in North Carolina have included a 6-year-old who picked a tulip at a bus stop, a 9-year-old with autism who threw a pencil at a teacher, and children who have broken windows, The News & Observer reported.

Democratic Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed of Charlotte, who works as a public defender in Mecklenburg County, co-sponsored the bill with Britt and Sen. Warren Daniel, a Morganton Republican. Mohammed said in an interview after the vote Tuesday that he started his legal career representing kids in court, so he has firsthand experience with these issues, and he thinks the bill is a good starting place for more reforms in the future.

There are too many children being shuttled off to detention centers, he said.

Mohammed added that hes glad North Carolina will finally lose the stigma of being the only state in the country that specifically allowed 6-year-olds to be brought to court. But hes disappointed it didnt happen sooner, he said, as well as disappointed that in the end the legislature only agreed to raise the age to 8.

Rep. Marcia Morey, a former Durham County district judge turned House Democrat who introduced bills last and this year seeking to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction, said she is pleased that the state is making progress but she, too, wanted the legislation to go further.

Morey said she doesnt agree with the reasoning of the bill that subjects kids accused of the equivalent of felonies to a different standard than of misdemeanors. If they dont have the capacity to proceed with misdemeanors, she doesnt understand why they would have that capacity if it is a felony, she said.

These are young children that need to be directed to services or counseling, Morey said.

Morey encouraged attorneys representing those kids to ask for capacity hearings to ensure they understand the proceedings unfolding around them. She also said she will continue to push to have the age increased.

We will keep working on it, she said.

News & Observer reporter Will Doran contributed to this report.
Fraud detectives with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department launched a new investigation into a dog muzzle sent to the states fired vaccine chief, Michelle Fiscus, after she reported the matter to officers last week.

Why it matters: State investigators closed their own probe into the muzzle earlier this month after determining it was purchased using Fiscus American Express card. Fiscus denied she bought the muzzle, and said someone else must have accessed her credit card information. Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said local detectives will seek an answer.

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Fiscus brought the issue to Nashville police on Friday. She told officers she did not buy the muzzle and that she considered it a threat.

"Were going to attempt to figure out how it happened," Aaron said of the harassment investigation.

The context: Fiscus was fired last month amid criticism from Republican lawmakers who were upset about health department efforts to convince teenagers to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The muzzle arrived at her office during her last days on the job.

Fiscus characterized her firing as a political move driven by Republican state officials who opposed her work.

The health department released a memo last month stating Fiscus was fired for poor interpersonal communication skills, ineffective management and attempting to steer state money to a nonprofit she founded.

Fiscus legal team is now preparing to sue the state for defamation, according to her attorney, Chris Smith.

The background: In multiple interviews after her termination, Fiscus and her husband, Brad, said the muzzle was an attempt to threaten her and stop her from talking about vaccinations.

The Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security investigated the muzzle and released a redacted report about its work last week. Investigators subpoenaed Amazon for details about the purchase. They found it was made using Fiscus credit card on an account created using her name.

"At this time, there appears to be no threat toward Dr. Fiscus associated with receipt of the dog muzzle," a summary of the case stated.

What theyre saying: Fiscus, her husband and her attorneys pushed back on the states findings.

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They said the Amazon account was set up using a "burner phone" number from Washington state. The Amazon account was created in March, several months before Fiscus was in the news for her statements about vaccine messaging to teenagers.

Fiscus said she used her credit card for state purchases and expense reimbursements, suggesting the possibility her credit card information could have been accessed that way. A spokeswoman for the Department of Finance and Administration, which oversees the states financial software, said personal credit card information is not stored on the system.

A Department of Safety spokesman did not say if the state had investigated whether Fiscus' credit card information was stolen.

Responding to a question about the state investigation, the spokesman said the agencys "sole objective was to determine whether or not there was a threat posed to Dr. Fiscus. Our investigation determined there was not and we closed the case."

For the record: Attorneys representing Fiscus requested a name-clearing hearing to contest the departments rationale for firing her. They submitted a public records request to the state last month to collect information for the hearing.

The Department of Health said it would charge $654,251.95 to produce the records.

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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, introduced herself to the South Carolina voters she may be trying to court in three years.

Noem was the featured speaker at the 10th annual Faith and Freedom BBQ  a must-attend event for politicians seeking the presidency  hosted by U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan.

Noem spoke to a crowd of about 2,200 people, who were mostly unmasked, at the Anderson Civic Center. She touted how she did not close down businesses and didnt mandate masks in South Dakota.

I didnt even define what an essential business was in our state because I didnt believe I had the authority to tell people that their business wasnt essential, said Noem, who became governor in 2019.

Noem, South Dakotas first woman governor, acknowledged she wasnt known on the national stage last year. Before becoming governor, she served in the South Dakota House of Representatives and the U.S. House of Representatives.

She said she only gained attention because liberals criticized her decisions during the pandemic

They called me reckless, that I was irresponsible, Noem said. (Massachusetts Sen.) Elizabeth Warren, Rachel Maddow night after night on the national news, telling people that I was dangerous for the decisions that I was making for my people. And listen, my people are happy, and theyre happy because theyre free.

In the more conservative Upstate, an area that is a stronghold for former President Donald Trump, Noem presented her conservative credentials. Noem pointed out how she has a full-time staff member whose title is pro-life advocate.

She also made an effort to associate herself with the former president.

Why do I love President Trump? Noem said. He is the only politician who did everything he said he was going to do.

She also was complimentary of S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, who was the first statewide elected official in 2016 to endorse Trump.

He knows how to pick winners, Noem said.

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Criticizes Biden administration

Noem was critical of how the Biden administration is handling the situation Afghanistan, while also saying that sending the military into the country was worth it.

For those who served in Afghanistan, we lived in peace here on our streets because they were over there, Noem said.

Those women and children and girls in Afghanistan now know that theres a different way of life than what they had to experience for generations. They know theres a choice and a hope and a future, because we were there, and we will continue, continue to pray and be by our allies sides and get our Americans out of there regardless of what this White House does or what it feels like doing next.

Potential presidential candidates attend the event to test their message in the state, which holds the First in the South Primary.

Previous speakers have included former Vice President Mike Pence, Sens. Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Rand Paul, and former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former Gov. Nikki Haley have also been speakers.

The event at the Anderson Civic Center returned after a one-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a year of economic slowdown, vaccine roll out, and people wearing masks, among the things sold at the event was a Vaccine Passport. But inside was a pocket copy of the United States Constitution.

This is the only passport that matters, said Duncan, a Republican from Greenville, to the crowd.
The longtime owner of a gun show in Eastern North Carolina spent three months in prison in 2005 after getting busted for selling and buying guns without a license.

After his release he went right back to running his gun show, prosecutors said.

Sherwood Watson Caraway was sentenced Tuesday to one year and one day in prison after he pleaded guilty to owning firearms as a convicted felon, prosecutors in the Eastern District of North Carolina said. Caraway was also ordered to surrender all of his guns and ammunition.

The 62-year-old had been the owner and registered agent of S&D Show Promotions Inc. since 1993, state records show. S&D is a gun and knife show production company operating out of Eastern North Carolina.

Prosecutors said Caraway sold his interest in the gun shows after he pleaded guilty last year.

Defense attorneys representing Caraway did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment on Tuesday, and Caraway could not be reached for comment.

According to federal court filings, Caraway was charged in 2005 with selling firearms without a license. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months in prison with two years of supervised release.

Caraway apologized to the court during his sentencing hearing in November 2005, saying what he did was wrong but not intentional because he thought he didnt need a license to buy, sell and trade to enhance (his) collection.

I just love guns and I collect, he said. In fact, Ive got 42 of them in my safe  or had 42 of them.

Prosecutors, however, rebuffed the idea that Caraway didnt know what he was doing when he reportedly sold guns to undercover agents, saying he knows what hes doing is illegal.

He is a gun dealer. He needs a license. He cant get one now, prosecutors said during the hearing. The government would like a judgment fashioned in such a way that this man cant do what he so desperately wants to do, deal in guns. He has no intention of giving up the gun show. He expects to run these things on and on and on.

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Thats exactly what Caraway did, prosecutors said Tuesday.

The gun shows go on

Investigators determined Caraway continued to run S&D Gun and Knife Shows in North Carolina after his conviction and kept multiple guns at his home in Merritt, a small coastal community in Pamlico County.

His role in the business was no secret: Caraway was cited in multiple news articles over the years talking about the shows.

In 2009, he told WECT about an uptick in business at one of his shows after former President Barack Obama was elected. Caraway was also interviewed by Time Magazine in 2016 after Obama took executive action to close loopholes that allowed guns to be sold at gun shows without a mandatory background check.

I dont know what [Obamas] trying to do, he said in the interview. Theres enough rules and regulations on the books right now to take care of what needs to be taken care of. The gun shows aint the problem, and the gun stores aint the problem.

Around the same time, an article in Greenvilles Daily Reflector described S&D as one of the largest promoters of gun shows in eastern North Carolina with 25 shows annually.

Pandemic delayed sentencing hearing

Prosecutors said detectives with the Pamlico County Sheriffs Office searched Caraways house in September 2017 and found numerous rifles, shotguns, and handguns, along with thousands of rounds of ammunition. They also found 33 guns at his daughters house that were previously stored at Caraways, according to the release.

In total, more than 40 firearms were seized.

Caraway was charged by criminal information in 2019, court filings show. He pleaded guilty in July that year but his sentencing hearing was delayed during the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition to the prison sentence he received Tuesday, Caraway was ordered to spend three years on supervised release and pay a $10,000 fine.

The judge requested Caraway surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on Oct. 8.

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Rep. Adam Schiff chairs the House Intelligence Committee. Saul Loeb/Getty Images

Adam Schiff on Monday expressed doubt all Americans and allies could exit Afghanistan by August 31.

The White House says more than 37,000 have been evacuated by the US and its allies so far.

The Taliban, however, warned of consequences if the US tried to extend the end-of-month deadline.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

The House Intelligence Committee's chair, Rep. Adam Schiff, on Monday said it was unlikely all Americans and allies would be able to get out of Afghanistan by the August 31 deadline.

"I think it's possible, but I think it's very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIV's, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil-society leaders, women leaders," Schiff told reporters. "It's hard for me to imagine all of that can be accomplished between now and the end of the month."

On Sunday, President Joe Biden suggested delaying the full withdrawal of troops from the country to evacuate more Americans and allies who worked with the US and are at risk of being killed by the Taliban.

The Taliban, however, rejected the suggestions and threatened "consequences" if US troops remained in the country after the deadline.

Read more: These are the 13 best crisis experts politicians call to manage scandals and crush bad press reports

Thousands of Afghans rushed to leave the country after the Taliban took over August 15. Chaos at Kabul's international airport has been deadly at times.

Seven people were killed in a stampede at the airport Sunday, and last week several others died after desperately clinging onto a departing plane.

More than 37,000 people have been evacuated by the US and its allies so far, the White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said on Monday.

Other lawmakers have echoed Schiff's outlook. Rep. Jason Crow, an Afghanistan war veteran, also said he didn't think it was possible to get everyone out by the deadline.

"This deadline has got to extend," Crow said in an interview with MSNBC. "There's just no way that we get the people out that we need to get out between now and the end of the month. It's just not going to happen."

Read the original article on Business Insider
England captain Joe Root has insisted he is "still living my boyhood dream" despite his already injury-stricken side being dealt another blow ahead of the third Test against India at Headingley starting Wednesday.

Root's men are 1-0 down in the five-match series after a 151-run defeat in the second Test at Lord's and their task of drawing level was made more difficult when fast bowler Mark Wood was ruled out Monday of this week's match at the skipper's Yorkshire home ground.

Wood suffered a shoulder injury diving into an advertising hoarding saving a boundary at Lord's and has now joined Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Olly Stone among England's sidelined quicks.

Meanwhile, Ben Stokes will not be returning to the scene of his stunning match-winning century in a 2019 Ashes Test against Australia, with the star all-rounder still on a mental health break.

As for the batting, Root has been a lone shining light in a top-order that has otherwise repeatedly failed to score runs during England's current sequence of seven Tests without a win.

At Lord's, despite his magnificent first-innings 180 and a top score of 33 in the second innings, England were still dismissed for just 120 inside 52 overs on the last day.

England, having dropped Dom Sibley, following the opener's dismal run of low scores that has seen him average 19.77 in 10 Tests this year, are now set to promote Haseeb Hameed -- who managed just nine runs in total on his international return at Lord's -- from three to partner Rory Burns at the top of the order.

That would give England their 22nd different opening partnership since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012, with the recalled Dawid Malan set to bat at first-wicket down.

For all the difficulties Test openers worldwide are experiencing -- since 2017 the average first-wicket partnership around the globe is only 30.38 runs - India's KL Rahul (129) and Rohit Sharma (83) shared a stand of 126 at Lord's, a match where England were in the game until the last day.

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- 'Easy to stay positive' -

"I'm playing for England and I'm playing Test cricket," Root said Monday. "It's quite easy to stay positive in that respect, I'm living my boyhood dream.

"I'm constantly trying to remind myself of that as well, when we are having the odd tough day or things aren't always going our way. When I was 10 years old I couldn't think of anything else I wanted to do," the 30-year-old added.

England's batsmen could do worse than follow the example of under-pressure India duo Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara.

Rahane put a run of low scores behind him to make 61 in the second innings at Lord's, with India effectively 28-3 when he came into bat after captain Virat Kohli was out.

But a century stand with Pujara, whose 45 took 206 balls, helped repair the damage before an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 89 between Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah paved the way for victory.

"It's all about the contributions for the team," said vice-captain Rahane, with India, after an injury-depleted side won a Test series in Australia earlier in 2021, on the verge of one of their best years.

"Cheteshwar and I have been playing for a long time, we know how to handle pressure, we know how to handle certain situations."

Root said England would benefit from Malan's "experience", even though it is three years since the world's top-ranked T20 batsman last played a Test, while hinting uncapped fast bowler Saqib Mahmood, a white-ball international but uncapped at this level, might replace Wood.

England lost their way when bowling to Shami and Bumrah, with Root accepting India had managed the kind of verbal confrontations beloved by Kohli "better than us" at Lord's.

But former England captain Michael Vaughan said coach Chris Silverwood, now in charge of picking the side after Ed Smith's post as national selector was abolished, had to take his share of responsibility.

"Why was Silverwood not sending someone out onto the pitch, with a drink, asking Root what the hell was going on and getting him to change tactics?," wrote Vaughan on his Facebook page.

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MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Afghanistan in a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, the Kremlin said in a statement.

The two leaders agreed to establish a permanent channel for bilateral consultations on Afghan developments, it said.

(Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Edmund Blair)
In two weeks, I go back to teaching in the classroom. Ironically, my course is titled the Future of the American Health System," a topic that has abruptly come into full view over the past year.

Like everyone else enmeshed in this years going-back-to-school rush  parents, students, teachers, administrators, school boards and local officials  the surges caused by the highly infectious delta variant have made me nervous.

The classroom, whether a kindergarten class, high school laboratory or college lecture hall, is precisely the type of setting that increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission  large numbers of people, gathered indoors, in close proximity and talking for extended periods of time.

Based on our best review of the available data, there are five steps any school can take to minimize the risks of getting or transmitting COVID-19 in the classroom. Using a small portion of the over $129 billion in funding provided to schools through the American Rescue Plan  and some of the billions for testing  classrooms of all types across the country can use the same process to make learning as safe as possible.

Step 1: Vaccinate as many staff and students as possible.

Fortunately, our university has a vaccine mandate, requiring all students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated or submit to COVID-19 testing twice per week. The teaching team and I have been fully vaccinated for several months, and by the start of the semester all students without exemptions will need to be as well.

Don't ask kids to mask up: Special needs kids were abandoned during COVID. School mask mandates are another betrayal.

For children under 12, the Food and Drug Administration says it expects vaccines to be available in the early to midwinter. While it is easier for universities to issue broad vaccine mandates, primary and secondary schools can create a safe environment for students unable to get the vaccine by moving quickly to ensure all school staff receive a vaccine or a biweekly test. This should be easier now that the two largest teachers unions in the country have come out in support of vaccine mandates.

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Step 2: Establish accessible testing.

To reassure students and the teaching team, I will test myself every Monday and report my test results to the class. I will also encourage every student who feels flu like to get tested and stay home until they have a negative test. Likewise, K-12 schools can remind parents to keep their kids at home if they are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or have been recently exposed.

Our university is unique because it has the resources to already have a readily accessible testing infrastructure. Schools across the country could partner with local testing sites and use American Rescue Plan funding to expand the amount of testing students and staff have available to them.

Step 3: Everyone should be using high-quality masks indoors.

Our university has a mask mandate, requiring masks to be worn indoors in all public and shared spaces, even by those who are fully vaccinated. But we also need to revise our understanding of masking. We need good masking  properly worn, National Institute for Occupational Safety And Health-approved N95 masks.

Each month, we are buying and distributing one cup, foldable or duckbill N95 mask to each student in our class. N95 masks are more expensive than other masks, but by using funding from the American Rescue Plan, schools can ensure all students and staff have access to the safest mask option. (We are going the extra mile to buy American-made masks to avoid the slew of counterfeit masks advertised online.)

High school students at a COVID-19 vaccine discussion in New York on July 27, 2021.

Explaining to students the appropriate way to wear masks and why certain types are more effective than others is also key. On the first day of class, we are also handing out an information sheet explaining why mask wearing prevents both exposure and transmission, and emphasizing the protective value of N95 masks compared with cloth and surgical masks. N95s block out particles less than 0.3 microns  about the size of coronavirus.

The information sheet emphasizes that many vaccinated people infected with the delta variant may be asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms, which can allow them to inadvertently spread infection. I will also demonstrate the appropriate way to wear a mask  covering the nose and having a tight fit on the sides and chin.

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N95 masks are not designed for young children and can be uncomfortable. Nevertheless, there are good, child-friendly options that filter out particles about 0.3 microns, such as Enro and Happy Masks.

Step 4: Rework special get-togethers.

During the semester, we typically have a few informal dinners so that faculty and students can get to know each other. They have always been voluntary pizza dinners in the classroom. But to reduce risks, the dates will be moved up to the early fall so they can be held outdoors. Elementary and high schools may need to adjust their calendars so that important schoolwide events can be held outdoors.

Step 5: Improve ventilation of classrooms.

Probably the most important safeguard that has received the least attention is ventilation. My classroom windows dont open, and its difficult to be sure of the quality of the classrooms air filters and frequency of air exchange. Typical air filters in American homes and schools are MERV 8.

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MERV  minimum efficiency reporting value  is a measure of the size of particles blocked and ranges from a low of 1 to a high of 16. MERV 8 filters have a 90% efficiency of removing particles 3 microns or greater, which achieves its usual goal of filtering out mold and dust.

Unfortunately, the coronavirus is more than 10 times smaller, about 0.1 microns. To protect against COVID-19, we need air filters in classrooms with a MERV rating of 13 or higher, filters that are typically used for surgical suites. But with normal heating and air conditioning units, MERV 13 filters dont permit sufficient air flow.

Consequently, we are adding HEPA filters to our classroom. HEPA  high efficiency particulate air  filters can remove 90% of bacteria and tiny airborne particles, including viral particles.

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HEPA filters can be comparatively affordable at about $600 a unit. For a middle-school class of 25 students, that is $24 per student for the school year, significantly less than the cost of a visit to the emergency room for the flu or parents losing wages due to missed work.

But if that cost is too steep for tight education budgets or a school board is resistant, it is possible for teachers and students to actually build a HEPA filter. This do-it-yourself version is called a Corsi box  and is made with four MERV-13 filters duct taped to a simple box fan. It costs roughly $100 to build, provides improved air filtration for a classroom, and can make for a great team-building science activity for students across the country.

Reducing the risk of COVID-19

These five steps are no guarantee there wont be any COVID-19 transmission in my class, but together they significantly reduce the risk. Vaccination greatly reduces risk of transmission. Masks have been shown to block particles and droplets by 50-70%.

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HEPA filters catch the elements that can transport the virus and remove nearly 90% of airborne particles. These safeguards are affordable and can be implemented by any classroom in the country. Together, they should cost less than $1,000 per classroom per year  free vaccines, about $300 for monthly masks for 30 students and a teacher, and $600 for a HEPA filter.

If we adopt this simple, multipronged approach we can all go back to school resting more comfortably knowing that COVID-19 transmission will be minimized. Given the more than $129 billion in the American Rescue Plan for upgrading school buildings for COVID-19, money should not be the issue. All of this is doable in the next few weeks if we put our minds to it. Then our attention can be on the most important things that happen in a classroom  students learning together.

Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, co-director of the Healthcare Transformation Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, is author of "Which Country has the Worlds Best Health Care?." Follow him on Twitter: @ZekeEmanuel

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Follow these 5 steps to help stop the spread of COVID in your schools
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  South Africa will extradite Mozambique's former finance minister Manuel Chang to his home country instead of to the United States where he faces corruption and fraud charges.

Chang is expected to stand trial in Mozambique on charges of being involved in a $2.2 billion loan scam while he was finance minister from 2005 to 2015.

Chang has been in the custody of South Africa since 2018 when he was arrested at the request of the United States, which has indicted him on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering.

Chang allegedly received more than $17 million in kickbacks for approving loans to the Mozambican government for state projects riddled with corruption.

South Africas justice minister Ronald Lamola said that Chang would face trial in Mozambique. South Africa had earlier ruled that Chang should face the charges in the U.S. on the grounds that Chang would be immune from prosecution in Mozambique as its former finance minister.

As the facts stand now, the accused is not immune from prosecution and has been duly indicted by the Mozambican government," said Lamola's statement, issued Monday. The accused will therefore be handed over to Mozambican authorities to stand trial.

Changs legal team would not comment on when he would be sent back to his country and whether he would immediately join 19 co-accused in the trial that started on Monday in Maputo, the capital. Those standing trial include Armando Ndambi Guebuza, the son of former Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, and former senior government officials.

Others included in the U.S indictment include two executives of a shipbuilding company and three former London-based investment bankers who were allegedly involved in getting loans from international banks and investors.
A special assistant prosecutor from St. Louis County has been appointed to determine whether criminal charges will be filed in the March 25 fatal police shooting of Malcolm Johnson.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker filed a four-page motion requesting a judge appoint a special prosecutor due to a potential conflict arising from prior criminal cases that involved Johnson, who was shot inside of a gas station convenience store at 63rd Street and Prospect Avenue.

An assessment of Mr. Johnsons history raises concerns for the neutrality of the Jackson County Prosecutors Office to review the file, according to the motion. Through this request the prosecutors office seeks to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest on a matter of such high community concern.

The special prosecutor will determine whether the shooting was justified or not under Missouri law.

St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bells office has appointed Rachel Smith as special prosecutor.

Chris King, a spokesman for Bell, said in an email to The Star: We will do a fair, impartial and thorough review of this matter. At this time we have no additional information to provide.

Smith previously served as the chief trial assistant in the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys office.

In the court filing, Bakers office cited various prior legal cases where a judge allowed one be appointed due to a potential conflict.

In 2014, Bakers office charged Johnson in the killing of Monteario Hogan, who was found shot to death behind the Family Dollar store at 5242 Blue Ridge Blvd. Three years later, Johnson pleaded to reduced charges of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action.

Before the convenience store shooting, police had identified Johnson as a suspect in a nonfatal shooting that occured March 15. On March 25, officers confronted Johnson inside of the gas station convenience store where they attempted to arrest him.

An altercation ensued between Johnson and the officers. One officer was wounded in the leg during the struggle with Johnson.

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The Missouri Highway Patrol said it concluded its investigation of the shooting and forwarded the findings to Bakers office. The prosecutors office received the case file of the shooting from the Missouri Highway Patrol early last month.

Authorities said Johnson drew a weapon and shot an officer while he resisted arrest inside the gas station. An officer returned fire, killing Johnson, authorities said.

But a pair of videos surfaced by a group of faith leaders several weeks later that challenged the law enforcement narrative of the shooting. The videos appeared to show Johnson heavily restrained by Kansas City officers as he was being arrested, raising doubt among some about the series of events provided by a highway patrol spokesman.

One surveillance video from inside the gas station showed two officers enter with their weapons drawn as Johnson is standing at the front counter, scratching off a lottery ticket. He tries to run away, the video shows, but the officers grab Johnson and take him to the floor.

A second video obtained by faith leaders appears to be filmed with a cellphone from behind the store counter. The video showed five police officers struggling with Johnson for nearly three minutes before three gunshots are heard.

It is difficult to determine from the video alone the order of the gunshots or their origin.

Community activists, faith leaders and police use of force experts have criticized the way Kansas City police are seen handling the arrest  entering the store with their firearms drawn. Johnson was never given the opportunity to surrender and innocent bystanders were placed in danger, experts told The Star.

Kansas City police said they were trying to arrest Johnson for a shooting that happened 10 days earlier. Johnson was accused in a shooting that happened March 15 in the 9700 block of East 43rd Street. In that shooting, a bullet grazed the foot of a man at a residence there.
The State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging U.S. travelers not to travel to the Bahamas and several other countries because of the risks of COVID-19.

On Monday, the State Department issued its highest travel alert, "Level 4 - Do Not Travel," for the Bahamas, Kosovo, Lebanon, Morocco and Sint Maarten, which takes into account CDC travel health notices.

The CDC also lists the Bahamas as "Level 4: Very High" for COVID-19, according to an advisory updated Monday.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, 3,134 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the Bahamas in the past 28 days. That's nearly a fifth of the small country's total cases throughout the pandemic. Just over 14% of the population is vaccinated.

"Because of the current situation in the Bahamas, even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants," the CDC said.

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A face mask is held on a beach.

The Bahamas issued an emergency order Thursday barring cruise ships from entering ports in the Bahamas with unvaccinated passengers 12 and older who don't have medical excuses starting Sept. 3.

The CDC's website said that if you must visit Level 4 countries, "make sure you are fully vaccinated before travel."

The State Department regularly issues travel alerts for countries based on a variety of factors, including public health and safety risks. It has issued a string of alerts over the past month based on dynamically changing CDC travel health notices.

The State Department and the CDC recently downgraded travel advisories for Canada, which reopened to U.S. tourists earlier in August.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bahamas travel advisory: CDC, State Department urge tourists not to go
Aug. 23After hearing hours of complaints Monday about a state edict that requires health care workers and emergency medical personnel get vaccinated for COVID-19 before October, a state panel agreed to narrow the mandate's scope and give some staff extra time to comply.

The Maine Board of Emergency Services said in its new rule that it will give people licensed by EMS an extra month to get the COVID-19 shots and it won't require the shots for dispatchers or students who don't work directly with patients.

The move doesn't erase the earlier mandate by Gov. Janet Mills but without the EMS board's backing for a broader, quicker application of its terms, it's not obvious who would enforce the stricter terms she initially announced.

Joseph Kellner, the board member who pushed for the revisions, said the EMS rule offers "a nice balance" between pushing for more vaccinations and taking heed of warnings from providers across the state that the mandate could create an exodus of experienced personnel who would rather give up their jobs than obey an edict they oppose.

With fire and ambulance departments already burned-out and short-staffed across Maine, officials warned the board Monday that the vaccine mandate for emergency medical workers will make it difficult to fulfill their duties.

"We have members who will walk," said Chris Thomson, president of Local 740 of the International Association of Fire Fighters. He said the Portland personnel he represents are already stressed-out and struggling. The prospect of losing colleagues who don't want vaccinations, he said, leaves them worried about how they'll fulfill their mission to protect the public.

"This is a dynamic issue that people are passionate about," said Michael Sauschuck, commissioner of the Maine Department of Public Safety. He said he wished there could have been more time for a rollout of the new mandate.

Waterville Fire Chief Shawn Esler said he's already had one career firefighter resign because of the mandate. He said he is especially concerned that nearby volunteer departments will see "a significant reduction in service" as personnel quit before the October deadline for them to be fully vaccinated.

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Deputy Fire Chief Cody Fenderson in Fort Fairfield said he anticipates his department will lose enough people that some calls for service will go unanswered.

Wells Fire Chief Mark Dupuis said if the mandate isn't changed, he will lose four of 12 full-time fighters, including two of only four who have more than two years of experience.

"This is dangerous," Dupuis said, and will pose "a significant blow" to both his department and his community.

Yarmouth Fire Chief Mike Robitaille said 20% of his full-time staff will resign, which he called "a hit for a small organization."

Robert Chase, Auburn's fire chief, called the mandate an "incredible risk" to departments across Maine and will likely cause problems "for years and decades to come."

John Cummings, an emergency medical technician in Aroostook County, said half the ambulance drivers in the county will quit if the mandate is enforced.

But public health advocates said the mandate will help slow the spread of the deadly virus.

Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the EMS services are "a core piece of the healthcare community" and had to be included in the mandate to protect the workers, the patients they serve and the overall force that serves as the frontline in the fight against COVID-19.

Dr. John Martel, a board member who favored the new EMS rule, said that officials needed to endorse vaccines considering "the gravity of the situation" facing Maine. He said there's been "a very, very large rise in cases" in recent weeks that is "creating a near paralysis of the hospital system" in the state.

"Masking is not enough," said another board member, Heidi Cote, a registered nurse in Portland. The problem, she said, is that the public "has forgotten we're still dealing with a pandemic."

At least 750 people joined a Zoom call Monday by the board to hear testimony about Mills' mandate, with many criticizing it for denying workers the right to choose for themselves whether to get jabbed. Even more expressed concern that the loss of EMS personnel will gut some departments, especially small, rural ones.

Mike Larson, chief of Three Rivers Ambulance Services in Milo, said he's going to lose half his staff to the mandate.

Larson said that with the science surrounding COVID-19 "changing every day," it's hard to know what to trust or believe.

"I kind of feel like we're pushing rope here," Larson said.

Rockland Fire Chief Chris Whytock said that each of his 25 employees is vaccinated but he can see the ill effect the rule will have statewide  and for his own department as it seeks to hire in the future.

Whytock warned that Maine will be "in a world of hurt" when many staff members leave departments rather than get the required shots.

"It's just going to get worse and worse and worse," warned Samantha Small, a paramedic in Washington County.

"Some calls are just not going to get answered," said Scott Susi, a board member from Caribou.

Not everybody agreed, though.

Phil Selberg, deputy fire chief at South Portland Fire Department, spoke in favor of the mandate.

"This is about being part of a bigger team," Selberg said.

Bangor Dr. James Jarvis of Northern Light Health told the board that officials had to act quickly to get healthcare workers vaccinated because of the rapid spread of the coronavirus' delta variant.

He said the vaccines that are available are "extremely effective" and "incredibly safe" for the people who get them. The benefits of getting the shot, Jarvis said, are "far greater than the risk," which are minimal.

Sabattus Fire Chief Troy Cailler said his department does not support the mandate. He asked what consequences might follow if an organization disobeyed the edict.

Cailler also wondered if personnel who are forced to vaccinate could ask patients if they've done so as well. If they haven't, he asked, "are we able to refuse treatment to them?"

Timothy Beals, a paramedic from Winslow who serves on the EMS board, said he is concerned about what will happen because of the mandate.

"I feel like it's a roll of the dice" on whether it will convince more people to get vaccinated, which would help, or push more people out of occupations the state needs.

"I am really confused about what to do," said Rich Kindelan, an Old Orchard Beach paramedic. He said he hasn't seen anything to indicate there's a problem with EMS workers spreading the disease.

The new rule gives EMS licensees until Oct. 29 to be fully vaccinated, a month more than Mills allowed, and it removes the dispatchers and some students from the list of those covered by its terms. Broadly, the panel said that only EMS personnel who deal with patients for 15 minutes or more and come within 6 feet of them will need to be vaccinated.

That means that the board's new emergency rule doesn't match the terms imposed by the governor in her Aug. 12 emergency declaration.

As a practical matter, it appears it would be a complicated legal step for the state Department of Health and Human Services to bring action against people with EMS licenses, which effectively means that the board's move leaves it in the driver's seat, for the moment at least, on enforcement issues.

Still, as Susi put it, "This is as clear as mud."

New permanent rules are likely to come within a few months.
Kabul evacuation. Taylor Crul/U.S. Air Force via Getty Images

As the Taliban settles in to its revived rule in Afghanistan, the group could soon try to strengthen its ties with international powers like Pakistan and China, Politico reports. One way they might go about a friendship offering? Selling data that's been left behind during the United States' evacuation.

U.S. officials in Afghanistan have hurried to wipe records amid the evacuation from Kabul, but Politico notes the Taliban's rapid takeover of the capital "left large stores of data open for exploitation inside Afghan businesses and government offices." Welton Chang, the chief technology officer at Human Rights First, added that even before the Taliban's offensive there was "no way that any of the Afghans' government databases were secure enough to stay within the government.

So, if the Taliban, already has, or is about to get, its hands on such data, it could use the information in two ways, James Lewis, a former State Department official and current director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies' strategic technologies program, told Politico. First, they could use it to surveil and retaliate against Afghans who helped the U.S. and, secondly, they could sell their findings about U.S. military operations to other countries, including China. "It's likely that the Afghan government that just fell was collecting on people who were connected to the U.S. in some way for a whole set of reasons," Lewis said. "So if you want to make friends, you show up with this offering." Read more at Politico.

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The Taliban is urging Afghans to stay in their home country as tens of thousands of them flee from their rule.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid urged Americans to please change your policy and dont encourage Afghans to leave during a Tuesday press conference and stated emphatically that they are "not going to allow Afghans to leave

HOW THE US IS HANDLING CORONAVIRUS IN KABUL AMID AFGHANISTAN EVACUATIONS

As of 3 a.m. Tuesday morning, the United States has either evacuated or facilitated the evacuation of approximately 58,700 people since Aug. 14, according to a White House official. The total for the month is 63,900. The U.S. military has rapidly increased the number of evacuees and evacuation flights out of Kabul in recent days.

We have stopped Afghan nationals from going because the crowd [has grown], Mujahid added, according to the Washington Post. There is a danger that people might die from a stampede.

The Pentagon has been deliberately vague when discussing how many Americans were among the tens of thousands of evacuees. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday that several thousand Americans had been evacuated from Kabul, and he declined to narrow that down then and again during Tuesdays briefing.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

We are not going to allow Afghans to leave, and we will not extend the deadline, Mujahid added, referencing President Joe Bidens Aug. 31 self-imposed evacuation deadline.

A Pentagon spokesperson, when asked for comment regarding Mujahid's remarks, told the Washington Examiner, "We are focused on our mission and our commitment to evacuate U.S. citizens and at-risk Afghan civilians," adding, "We are continuing to process at-risk Afghan civilians and facilitate their departures from the Afghanistan. Our commanders on the ground are in regular communication with Taliban representatives."

A day earlier, the Taliban described any potential stay of U.S. troops past the end of the month as a "red line" and warned of "consequences."

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The president decided on Tuesday to stick to the deadline despite conflicting pressures as to whether to extend the evacuation window. Foreign partners, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, had urged the president to keep forces in Afghanistan to ensure the safe and successful evacuation of Afghan allies and refugees to the U.S. and other countries.

The Group of Seven met on Tuesday to discuss better coordination on the unfolding situation.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Taliban, Afghanistan, War in Afghanistan, Defense

Original Author: Mike Brest

Original Location: Taliban: 'We are not going to allow Afghans to leave'
Apples Tim Cook, Microsofts Satya Nadella and Amazons Andy Jassy are meeting Joe Biden on Wednesday, a report says Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/REUTERS/Mike Blake/Sean Gallup/Getty Images

President Biden will meet Tim Cook, Andy Jassy, and Satya Nadella on Wednesday, per Bloomberg.

The CEOs - of Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft - will discuss cybersecurity, sources told Bloomberg.

The CEOs of Google, JPMorgan Chase, and IBM are also invited, a senior official told Bloomberg.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

The CEOs of three of the world's biggest tech companies are set to meet with President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss cybersecurity, Bloomberg first reported on Monday.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy are scheduled to meet Biden on Wednesday afternoon, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

A source with knowledge of the matter also told Reuters that Jassy would attend.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, and Southern Company CEO Thomas Fanning have also been invited, a senior official familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

Insider contacted Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and IBM for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

JPMorgan Chase declined to comment to Insider.

Read more: Cybersecurity pros are burning out faster than ever as threats rise. Here's how experts say firms should cope.

It's unclear what exactly the tech leaders will talk about with Biden on Wednesday, Bloomberg reported. The executives may discuss how software can improve cybersecurity in the tech industry, the senior official told Bloomberg.

Their meeting comes after various ransomware attacks and security breaches hit the US, including the Colonial Pipeline attack and the SolarWinds hack.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Most of Channel 4's presenting line-up at the Tokyo Paralympics are disabled

Channel 4 has said it would not be able to do "anything like" as much coverage of the Paralympics in the future if the broadcaster was privatised.

The government is set to decide in the coming months whether the channel should have a private owner.

Channel 4 will air 300 hours from Tokyo on TV, starting with Tuesday's opening ceremony, and 1,000 more hours online.

Programming director Ian Katz said the budget would be cut for future games if profit was the channel's priority.

"I just don't think there's any chance that a primarily profit-driven Channel 4 would invest anything like what we invest in trying to build up and celebrate the Paralympics in the way we do," he told the Edinburgh Television Festival on Tuesday.

"I think we should make no mistake that a purely profit-driven Channel 4 would be a very different beast to the Channel 4 that we know now, and much that is really special and treasured about Channel 4 I think would very likely be lost."

The channel, founded in 1982, is currently funded by advertising but is publicly-owned. A government consultation on privatisation will close in September.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has said it is the right time to "consider releasing Channel 4 from the constraints of public ownership" and that the media world "has changed immeasurably" since the early 80s.

The government has said Channel 4 is "particularly vulnerable" to fluctuations in the advertising market, and selling it "could allow it to access new capital, create strategic partnerships, and reach international markets only available through the private sector", as well as diversifying its income streams.

Mr Katz said some safeguards could be written into the licence with regulator Ofcom, but that they would be bound to come under pressure.

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"Inevitably any purely commercially-driven organisation will begin to argue for a weakening of those licence requirements," he said.

"We've seen it again and again in commercial television. Over time, inevitably, the essence, what's really special about the channel, I think, would be destroyed."

In recent days, Channel 4 has announced shows including a property programme fronted by rapper Tinie Tempah, an exploration of cancel culture by comedian John Cleese, and author Candice Carty-Williams' adaptation of her own best-selling novel Queenie.
Reuters

BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) -China beat Taiwan to the punch on Wednesday in announcing the delivery timetable for a highly politicised order of COVID-19 vaccines from BioNTech SE, saying the first 932,000 shots would arrive on the Chinese-claimed island on Thursday. Taiwan has blamed China for blocking an original order from the German firm earlier this year - charges Beijing has angrily denied. Taiwan's government subsequently allowed major Apple Inc supplier Foxconn - formally Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd - as well as its high profile billionaire founder Terry Gou, along with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, to negotiate on its behalf for the vaccine.
MAGA hats sit on empty seats during an election watch party, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Chandler, Arizona (AP)

Former PresidentDonald Trump is ramping up his legal fight against tech companies that banned him from their platforms following the violence at the US capitol on 6 Jan.

Mr Trump on Monday requested an injunction in his lawsuit against Google that would force the company to at least temporarily reinstate the former presidents YouTube channel, The New York Post first reported.

In his lawsuit, the former president claimed that the ban caused irreparable harm to his ability to potentially run for office again in the future, such as by blocking his ability to fundraise off of the platforms through advertisements for merchandise.

According to the Post, Mr Trumps attorneys are planning similar filings against Facebook and Twitter in the weeks ahead. Mr Trump remains banned from all three platforms as of now, with Facebook deciding earlier this year to extend the former presidents ban through at least 2023.

The Independent has reached out to Google for comment on the former presidents lawsuit.

An executive director of the America First Policy Institutes Constitutional Litigation Partnership, a group linked to members of the former Trump administration that is assisting the former president with his lawsuit, claimed to the Post that YouTube and other companies have inconsistently applied their terms and services and their community standards.

The lawsuit also mentions a favoured conspiracy theory of Mr Trump and his supporters regarding his ban and alleged pressure from congressional Democrats such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on tech companies to remove the then-president from their platforms.

Susan Wojcicki, CEO of Googles parent company, Alphabet, said in March that the former presidents channel remains suspended due to the risk of incitement to violence, and would be unsuspended if the risk of real-world conflict lessened.

The president was roundly criticised for his use of social media in the days leading up to and during the 6 January attack on the Capitol. At a rally near the White House and on social media, Mr Trump repeatedly egged his supporters on with false claims about election fraud, Democrat-led conspiracies, and misinformation about voting machines, all of which he said were responsible for his 2020 election defeat.

As the attack unfolded, Mr Trump largely refrained from addressing his supporters and only offered paltry words urging them to cease the violence after the attack began.
Covid vaccination - Andy Rain/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Two in five people with weak immune systems have "low or undetectable" antibodies after two Covid vaccinations, research shows, prompting calls for the rollout of booster jabs.

Findings from the UK trial have been given to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which is preparing to issue recommendations on who should get a third jab.

In its interim advice, the committee suggested boosters might be offered to everyone over 50. But since then there have been suggestions that the next stage of the rollout may be far more restricted.

Last week, Prof Adam Finn, a member of the JCVI, said the committee was "trying to identify the people who are really at risk and really need that third dose".

More than one million people in the UK are immunosuppressed, while around four million are classed as clinically extremely vulnerable. Those with weak immune systems are now likely to be prioritised for jabs next month.

The group includes those undergoing treatment for cancer and stem cell treatment, as well as those with relatively common conditions such as inflammatory arthritis, and diseases of the kidney or liver.

Further studies on the wider population are expected to be handed to the JCVI over the next week before the committee takes a final decision on the next stage of the rollout.

In the new study, experts from the Universities of Glasgow and Birmingham examined the immune responses of 600 such patients after receiving two Covid jabs. Forty per cent were found to have a "low or undetectable" antibody response.

Scientists stressed that this did not mean they had no protection against infection, as it is not known what level is required. But they said it would be "very sensible" for such patients should be offered booster jabs while further research is carried out.

Earlier this month Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, said: "We are going to have a booster scheme. It will start some time in September.

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"I couldn't tell you exactly when because before we start it... we need to get the final advice from our independent scientific and medical advisers the JCVI, and so we're waiting for their final opinion."

In the US and Israel, some people are already being offered a third Covid jab.

In the latest study, researchers performed immune tests on blood samples and examined not only antibody levels in the blood but also the ability of a particular form of white blood cell, called a T-cell, to respond to the vaccine.

Around three in five people in the vulnerable groups were found to have an antibody response similar to those found in healthy adults. But 40 per cent generated a low antibody response compared to healthy people, according to the study, which has been published as a pre-print by The Lancet.

More than one in 10 failed to generate any anti-spike antibodies four weeks after being double jabbed.

The authors stressed that almost all the people who did not show any antibody response had vasculitis, a group of rare diseases which lead to inflammation of the blood vessels and can lead to damage of the tissues.

They said that, across almost all patient groups, the T-cell response was similar to healthy adults, indicating that some form of immunological response had been mounted even among those with undetectable antibody levels.

Researchers said the vaccine is "immunologically active" in all patients, but the data supported the need for an autumn booster campaign for those with a poor antibody response.

They stressed that the study was limited to measuring the immune response and did not examine the effectiveness of the jabs in protecting against infection, with work ongoing to measure this among the most vulnerable.

Prof Iain McInnes, the trial lead from the University of Glasgow, said: "Our data suggests that a booster for people who have mounted either an absent or lower level of antibody response would be a very reasonable next step."
President Biden is attempting to navigate between calls from allies to extend the Kabul airlift operation beyond Aug. 31 and warnings from the Taliban that doing so would cross a red line.

Driving the news: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to push Tuesday for an extension beyond the end of August at a virtual G7 meeting, which he's chairing.

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French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Monday he's "concerned about the deadline set by the United States" as "additional time is needed to complete ongoing operations."

But national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden still believes all Americans can be evacuated before Aug. 31. The goal remains to conclude the evacuations by then, though Biden will consult with allies, Sullivan added.

It will likely be impossible to evacuate all Afghans who worked with NATO troops by Aug. 31, and dozens of other countries are still working to track down and extricate their citizens.

Of note: House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told reporters later Monday after a briefing by intelligence officials he believed the deadline was possible, but added: "It's very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated."

The big picture: As they conduct operations amid scenes of chaos that the Biden administration arguably precipitated, and failed to anticipate, NATO allies are grappling with their own reliance on American power.

What they're saying: "You look at the scenes at the Kabul airport, and what I see is the United States securing an airfield at the risk of several thousand U.S. troops to facilitate not just the evacuation of Americans but  third-country nationals from friends and foes alike," Sullivan said Monday.

Some critics of the chaotic withdrawal within NATO see instead a bungled retreat by a humbled superpower. But they likely agree with Sullivans next point: "There is no other country in the world that could pull this off, bar none."

One such critic, U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, has acknowledged that hopes of keeping the evacuation window open for a few additional days rest on the participation of American troops.

"When they withdraw, that will take away the framework," Wallace said, "and we will have to go as well."

A British evacuation flight. Photo: Ben Shread/MoD Crown Copyright via Getty

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Coordination with the Taliban is vital to the U.S. airlift operation. The militants have pledged to give Americans safe passage to the airport and to also let eligible Afghans through, though some are still reportedly being turned back.

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said Monday that continuous efforts at "deconfliction" with the Taliban had helped the U.S. pick up the pace of its evacuations.

Kirby acknowledged that it would take time to evacuate the 5,800 U.S. troops at the airport, meaning civilian evacuations could be suspended before a deadline that's one week away.

The other side: Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen said that it will "provoke reaction" and "consequences" if Biden reneges on his deadline.

The Taliban has not said what those consequences would be, but the militants control access to the airport perimeter.

It's unclear whether they'd risk conflict with the U.S. while on the precipice of total victory, or whether Biden would potentially jeopardize the security of the withdrawal operation by extending it beyond the deadline.

What to watch: The Taliban said it intends to keep the airport open beyond Aug. 31 and allow Afghans who want to leave the country to do so.

But allies including Germany have expressed concerns about the feasibility of continuing evacuations after control of the airport passes from the U.S. to the Taliban.

State of the airlift

U.S. officials seemed to speak with newfound confidence about evacuation efforts after announcing Monday morning that the U.S. had evacuated 10,400 people in the previous 24 hours, and 37,000 since the airlift began on Aug. 14.

Breaking it down: The vast majority of those are Afghan nationals. The White House and Pentagon said "several thousand" Americans had been evacuated without offering more precise numbers.

The evacuees are being housed temporarily on U.S. bases in Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Italy, Germany and Spain  as well as New Jersey, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The U.S. was initially heavily reliant on Qatar's base, but the hangar grew overcrowded, unsanitary and dangerously hot, forcing the administration to suspend flights for hours Friday and prepare facilities in other countries.

Food, water and other essentials have also run low inside Kabul airport. Kirby said that, to remedy that, military aircraft were bringing supplies in and people out.

Outside the airport's walls, the death toll has climbed to at least 20 due to gunfire and stampedes.

The evacuation operation has in some cases been extended beyond the airport. Sullivan said: "We have developed a method to safely and efficiently transfer groups of Americans onto the airfield."

Qatar's ambassador has transported small groups of Americans to the Kabul airport, per the Washington Post.

Kirby said the military was "going out as needed" to pick up Americans, but provided no details beyond the fact that one operation involved a helicopter while others did not.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Schiff.

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GENEVA (Reuters) -The top U.N. human rights official said on Tuesday that she had received credible reports of serious violations committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, including summary executions of civilians and restrictions on women and on protests against their rule.

Michelle Bachelet gave no details of executions in her speech to the Human Rights Council, but urged the Geneva forum to set up a mechanism to closely monitor Taliban actions.

The Taliban treatment of women which would be "a fundamental red line", she said.

"There are grave fears for women, for journalists and for the new generation of civil society leaders who have emerged in the past years," Bachelet told the forum's emergency session, held at the request of Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

"Afghanistans diverse ethnic and religious minorities are also at risk of violence and repression, given previous patterns of serious violations under Taliban rule and reports of killings and targeted attacks in recent months," she said.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet speaks during a special session of the Human Rights Council on the situation in Afghanistan, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, August 24, 2021. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Nasir Ahmad Andisha, a senior Afghan diplomat from the deposed government, called for accountability for Taliban actions, describing an "uncertain and dire" situation where millions of people fear for their lives.

Independent U.N. human rights experts, in a joint statement, said that many people were in hiding fearing reprisals as "the Taliban continues to search homes door-to-door".

"Searches, arrests, harassment and intimidation as well as seizures of property and reprisals are already being reported, they said.

The council will consider a draft resolution, submitted by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), that voices concern at reports of violations.

But it does not mention the Taliban by name, nor would it set up a fact-finding mission to probe them.

Instead, it calls on Bachelet to report back to the forum at its March 2022 session and urges all parties to respect human rights law including "the full and meaningful participation of women" and of minorities.

"We were hoping for a stronger text, it is extremely minimalist and we are disappointed," a Western diplomat told Reuters as heated negotiations continued on the text.
By Andrea Shalal and Ted Hesson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A senior U.S. official on Tuesday could not say how many Afghans have been evacuated to the United States, adding that the situation remains "fluid" because of the swiftness of the operation.

Pressed to provide numbers, the official said the U.S. government was "moving as quickly as we can to get them out of harm's way."

"I don't have exact numbers for you right now or a breakdown," the official told reporters during a phone briefing. "Even if I did, it would shift as this process continues."

President Joe Biden's administration has scrambled to evacuate U.S. citizens and Afghan allies amid the chaos at Kabul airport ahead of an Aug. 31 deadline https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taliban-says-no-evacuation-extension-g7-meets-afghan-crisis-2021-08-24 for U.S. forces to pull out of Afghanistan.

In the rush, the Biden administration has not said exactly how many Afghans have been allowed to enter the United States, a figure that could show the country's commitment to resettling vulnerable Afghans but also potentially fuel concerns that Afghans could be entering the country without adequate security vetting.

Flights have arrived in the United States in recent days carrying U.S. citizens and Afghans.

After being tested for the coronavirus upon arrival, Americans can head to their homes, while others will go to a variety of U.S. military bases, where they will receive assistance in applying for work authorization, the senior official said on Tuesday.

The arriving Afghans will be connected with refugee resettlement organizations, said the official, who requested anonymity to discuss internal government operations.

Other Afghans evacuated by the United States have been sent to third-country transit points in Europe and Asia, the official said.

U.S. law enforcement and counterterrorism officials are carrying out "robust security processing" before those evacuees are allowed to enter the United States, including biometric and biographical checks, the official said.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Ross Colvin and Grant McCool)
Aug. 23UNION COUNTY  It has been a tumultuous end to the summer for the county's school boards.

Following a statewide mask mandate from Gov. Kate Brown in late July, school boards in the area faced mixed reviews from parents and staff. On top of the mask mandate, Brown announced Thursday, Aug. 19, that teachers and staff will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by Oct. 18.

School boards in the county all expressed the notion that their backs are against the wall, with potential repercussions coming from not following the recent mandates. Violation of the mask mandate can result in a $500 fine per student not wearing a mask, while teachers who do not enforce the protocol can lose their teaching license.

The La Grande School Board was one of the first to meet and discuss the mandates, drawing a crowd of several hundred at the Central Elementary School gymnasium on Aug. 4. With a large outcry from community members, the La Grande School Board decision preceded a number of tense meetings across the county.

Among all the school districts, the potential for teachers losing their jobs was a major concern. North Powder School District Superintendent Lance Dixon noted that the district's decision was based heavily on being conscientious toward the jobs of teachers. He noted that upward of 90% of the teachers in North Powder School District are already vaccinated. As far as mask mandates go, Dixon plans to meet once a month to look at the back-to-school plan and make any changes necessary as COVID-19 numbers fluctuate.

Elgin Superintendent Dianne Greif echoed a similar sentiment, noting that their plans are subject to change based on state mandates. Elgin is moving forward with the district's plan to require masks this school year, but Greif was uncertain if the new vaccine mandate will impact the protocols in the future.

Cove School District Superintendent Earl Pettit noted that the district's efforts to continue in-person schooling last year has made it easier for students and parents to get behind the mandates this year. Pettit emphasized that Cove's decision was made on a local basis, and that the in-person learning experience is the district's the top priority.

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Pettit also stated there was outcry against the mandates this past year, which the district plans to deal with by working with the families to come up with a solution. The superintendent is confident that the biggest battles were fought last year and that the school community will come together to keep the focus on the kids and their education.

Union and Imbler school districts both decided to move forward with the state's mask mandate amid mixed feedback from parents and community members. Imbler Superintendent Doug Hislop gave a number of suggestions to avoid mask usage to appease the community's reaction, but ultimately the school board chose to require masks.

The mindset among school board members and teachers is a feeling of being between a rock and a hard place. Even with several board members voicing their own personal opposition to the mandate, following the state's mask mandate is unavoidable, and the repercussions could prove detrimental to the school districts.

With school set to start in the coming weeks, the COVID-19 numbers across the country will continue to play a part in how the county's students receive their education.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  One of the notorious Arellano Felix brothers was deported from the United States back to Mexico after serving most of a 15-year prison sentence, but he was promptly re-arrested when he arrived in his homeland Monday.

Prosecutors in Mexico said Eduardo Arellano Felix was handed over to Mexican federal authorities at a border crossing in Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas. He faces organized crime and drug trafficking charges in Mexico.

He was one of several brothers who founded the Tijuana-based Arellano Felix cartel that moved hundreds of tons of cocaine and marijuana from Mexico and Colombia into the United States.

Known for its violent and brutal control of the drug trade in the border city of Tijuana in the 1990s, the arrests or death of most of the seven Arellano Felix brothers have reduced the cartel to a shadow of its former self. The family slowly lost its grip along Californias border with Mexico over the past decade, while the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels emerged as the most powerful groups in the highly coveted corridor for moving drugs to the United States.

Arellano Felix was extradited from Mexico in August 2012 to face U.S. charges. He was arrested in October 2008 in a shootout with Mexican authorities at his Tijuana home.

Brother Benjamin Arellano Felix, described by U.S. and Mexican authorities as the cartels mastermind, was sentenced to 25 years in U.S. prison. after being extradited from Mexico, where he was arrested in 2002. Ramon Arellano Felix, the cartels top enforcer, was killed in a shootout with Mexican officers in 2002.

Another brother, Francisco Javier, was sentenced in 2007 to life in prison after the U.S. Coast Guard captured him in a fishing boat in international waters off Mexicos Baja California coast.

The issue of freed drug traffickers has been a sensitive one for Mexico, after the release or near-release of several old-guard drug lords.

Almost eight years ago, drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero walked out of a Mexican prison late at night when a judge improperly ordered his release from a 40-year sentence for the torture-murder of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique Kiki Camarena in 1985. He has since returned to drug trafficking and unleashed bloody turf battles in the northern Mexico border state of Sonora.

Story continues

Mexicos current government is beginning to earn a reputation for having released more drug lords than it has captured, part of the presidents stated policy of no longer detaining drug lords to avoid violence.

It's a particularly thorny issue President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who in 2019 ordered the release of Ovidio Guzman, one of El Chapo Guzmans sons, to avoid bloodshed.

In April, a lower court ordered 1990s drug lord Hector El Guero Palma freed, a development that threatened international embarrassment had he walked free. But in July, a Mexican appeals court overturned the acquittal, arguing the lower court improperly applied the double jeopardy rule, which prohibits trying someone twice for the same offense.
The US has started approving education visas for Chinese students. The number of new visas approved fell from more than 30,000 to just 8 during the 2020 academic year as a result of the pandemic. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The US is once again granting and approving visas for Chinese students after the pandemic slowed the program to a stop.

The increase in approvals began in May, according to data from the US State Department. Approval of F1 visas - the most common visa given to students - has returned to near pre-pandemic levels.

The South China Post reports that 33,896 F1 visas were granted by the US to Chinese nationals in June. That is a significant increase over June of 2020, in which only eight F1 visas were granted. During that same period in 2019, the US approved 34,001 visas.

According to consultants in China, the visa situation has mostly "returned to normal" though some students in certain tech or strategic fields have had to undergo a higher level of scrutiny before being accepted.

Despite the growing number of coronavirus cases in the US driven by the highly contagious Delta variant, the number of approved applications suggests Chinese students are still eager to study at US schools.

Diplomatic considerations may have also contributed to the increase in visa approvals. The Chinese vice-foreign minister Xie Feng pointed to the denial of Chinese student visas as an area of concern during a diplomatic meeting with US officials in July.

Mr Xie, who has earned a reputation for being outspoken and willing to directly criticise the US, called on the White House to "stop harassing Chinese students overseas" and to "cancel visa restrictions on Chinese students.

Chinese students make up the bulk of foreign students studying in the US. Last year, more than 380,000 Chinese students were in the country on education visas.

The influence of international students - and the money they bring the schools - has prompted US colleges to invest specifically in programs and facilities that cater to them.

Students from China and India made up about 47 per cent of the international student population in the US in 2020.

While Chinese students appear eager to return to US classrooms, Chinese analysts have noted that there are some parents who are worried over their children's safety.

Story continues

Qia Xiangdong, who owns the Gewai Education agency, told The South China Post that between gun violence, the state of the pandemic, and racial discrimination against Asians and foreigners in general, some Chinese parents have questioned whether a trip to the US is the best choice for their students. He said that ultimately the draw of studying in the US tends to overpower the fear of living within its borders.

There are many benefits for Chinese students in the US that other countries cannot compete with, including the great job opportunities, he said.

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Trump wants a judge to force YouTube to reopen his account so he can sell merchandise

Senator slams Biden for having Stockholm syndrome with the Taliban over his refusal to extend Afghanistan withdrawal date

Biden news  live: President delays Afghanistan address as hes slammed for decision stick to withdrawal date
MarketWatch

One of the biggest changes ever proposed to Medicare is working its way through Congress, and if it passes, and is signed into law by President Biden, it would put a smile on the face of tens of millions of beneficiariesliterally. The change would add dental benefits to Medicare for the first time since the gargantuan federal program was launched in 1965. As many seniors know, Medicare generally doesnt cover the so-called head issueseyes, ears and mouth.
File: US president Joe Biden is expected to make a decision on withdrawing troops within 24 hours (AP)

Some of Joe Bidens allies are pointing out that the 31 August deadline to completely evacuate Americans and local allies from Afghanistan is becoming increasingly hard to reach, even as the president is set to make a decision by Tuesday on a deadline extension.

Tens of thousands still remain to be airlifted from the conflict-torn country.

Completing the pullout, including of the US army troops carrying out evacuation operations, by 31 August is unlikely, Adam Schiff, a Democratic representative said, pointing to the number of American citizens who remain in Afghanistan.

I think its possible but I think its very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, Mr Schiff, who is also the chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, told reporters on Monday.

Some reports estimate a crowd of 20,000 people are present at Kabuls international airport since 15 August, the day the Taliban took control of the national capital without firing a single shot. Since then, people have been crowding the airport in a bid to flee the country and escape the militant groups rule.

Mr Biden has been in talks with allies and world leaders, including UK prime minister Boris Johnson and French president Emmanuel Macron and has discussed the situation in Afghanistan with them.

The US president spoke to world leaders ahead of the G7 summit, where there is a possibility the USs decision to pull out of the country may come under fire.

Mr Biden is expected to announce his decision to extend the deadline after the summit.

The decision will be taken by Mr Biden within 24 hours in part to give the Pentagon time to prepare accordingly, an unnamed administration official told news agency Reuters.

The Taliban, who has wrested control of Afghanistan, is on the back foot and has refused to tolerate any extensions, warning that any increase in the deadline will result in consequences, even as some reports have said US officials on the ground have been trying to come to an understanding with the militant group since 15 August to allow Americans and allies to reach Kabuls airport.

Story continues

Pointing out another challenge in the evacuation operation, Department of Defence officials have said the US needs more time to fly out the nearly 6,000 US troops stationed on Afghan soil to carry out airlifting operations.

This is in addition to the evacuation of thousands of Americans, citizens of allied countries and local Afghan population who have aided US forces in the last two decades.

A major portion of the Kabul airport is still under the US militarys control which is said to be the only exit route for people in the country.

Some of Mr Bidens advisers, however, have highlighted security threats and have cautioned the president against extending the 31 August deadline.

But a senior State Department official said the USs commitment to Afghans at risk doesnt end on 31 August.

Mr Biden on Sunday pointed to discussions taking place within the military as well on extending the deadline. Theres discussions going on in the military about extending. My hope is we will not have to extend, but there are going to be discussions, he said.

Nearly 48,000 people have been evacuated in the last 10 days, according to new data shared by the White House.

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The US pull out from Afghanistan has widely been described by political commentators and experts as a debacle. The decision to pull out of the country was first taken by former president Donald Trump, who had reached an agreement with the Taliban.

Mr Biden has maintained he has only been following through on his predecessors decision, even as the handling of the evacuation process has roundly come under fire.

At least 20 people have reportedly died so far because of firings and stampedes at the Kabul airport.

Read More

The Taliban: Who are they, who are the leaders and what do they want?

Who funds the Taliban and how?

What rules will the Taliban impose on women in Afghanistan?
Alphabet's fully autonomous driving unit Waymo is ready to offer rides to select passengers in San Francisco, the company announced on Tuesday. Starting later today, residents can sign up to become "Trusted Testers." With an invite to the program, you can use the Waymo One app to take rides in the fleet of Jaguar I-Pace vehicles Waymo will have stationed in the city.

Waymo describes the Trusted Tester program as a "research-focused" effort designed to help it collect feedback on its ride experience, with an emphasis on gathering information related to accessibility.

"We kicked off this program last week with a select few and are now expanding the program to all interested San Franciscans," the company said. "Well begin with an initial group and welcome more riders in the weeks to come." Much like it did in Arizona, Waymo won't let the cars drive without supervision right off the back. The company will have employees in the cars to ensure its fifth-generation Waymo Driver technology doesn't get lost on San Francisco's tricky one-way streets and hills. The company also told Bloomberg passengers will ride for free.

The expansion comes after Waymo recently announced CEO John Krafcik was leaving the company to pursue other projects. Some saw Krafcik as being too slow to push the company toward commercialization.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo submitted his letter of resignation hours before he officially vacates the office.

The Democrat, who is stepping down amid controversy, addressed the letter to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

"I hereby tender my resignation for the office of Governor of the State of New York. This resignation will be effective at 12:00 a.m., August 24, 2021. It has been my pleasure to serve with you both," Cuomo wrote.

Cuomo, 63, announced his resignation on Aug. 10 following the release of New York Attorney General Letitia James's report outlining 11 allegations of sexual harassment against the governor.

CUOMO DENIES ABANDONING DOG AT GOVERNOR'S MANSION

Cuomo rejected the claims outlined in the report but said it was the "right thing" to step down. But in his final public remarks as governor, he said it was "unfair" he had to resign.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Although lawmakers appear to have backed out of moving to impeach Cuomo, they are expected to release a report on the inquiry. Cuomo also faces multiple criminal investigations.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul is poised to replace Cuomo as New York's first female governor, and Stewart-Cousins will take over as lieutenant governor.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Andrew Cuomo, New York, Kathy Hochul

Original Author: Daniel Chaitin

Original Location: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo submits letter of resignation
A court in western Japan has sentenced the head of a notorious crime syndicate to death for killing or injuring four people.

The death sentence is believed to be the first handed down to a yakuza leader.

The Kudo-kai group, based in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, has been designated by authorities as a particularly dangerous gangster organization.

Its members shot dead a former head of a fishing cooperative and assaulted three people, including a former police officer and a nurse, with guns and knives between 1998 and 2014.

Police attempted to take down the group. They arrested its head Nomura Satoru on charges including murder.

Nomura's trial focused on whether he ordered the attacks.

Prosecutors had no direct evidence that Nomura did so, but stressed his absolute status in the organization and said he masterminded the attacks against members of the general public. They demanded that Nomura be sentenced to death.

The defendant denied involvement in the crimes.

His defense team described the prosecution's claims as groundless speculation that ignored evidence.

At the Fukuoka District Court on Tuesday, presiding judge Adachi Ben ruled that Nomura was involved in all four cases, saying the attacks could not have been carried out without his decision in the tightly controlled crime syndicate.

The judge sentenced Nomura to death, calling his actions extremely vicious.
Japan's prime minister has officially expanded the coronavirus state of emergency to cover 8 more prefectures where infections are spreading rapidly.

As Tokyo hosts the Paralympics, nearly half of Japan's prefectures will be under the measure.

Suga Yoshihide said on Wednesday, "The number of new infections across the country remains at a record high. The figure is especially high in the Aichi area. The highly contagious Delta variant is posing serious threats. I call on the public to cooperate more to overcome the crisis."

13 prefectures -- Okinawa, Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Osaka, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Shizuoka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka -- are currently under the state of emergency.

From Friday until September 12, the measure is to cover eight more: Hokkaido, Miyagi, Gifu, Aichi, Mie, Shiga, Okayama and Hiroshima.

So-called quasi-emergency measures will be in effect in 12 other prefectures: Ishikawa, Fukushima, Kumamoto, Toyama, Yamanashi, Kagawa, Ehime, Kagoshima, Kochi, Saga, Nagasaki and Miyazaki.

Officials plan to urge restaurants and bars to stop serving alcohol and impose stricter procedures such as limiting the number of people allowed at shopping malls and events. But Japan's measures do not resemble the strict lockdowns imposed in other countries.

Earlier on Wednesday, officials confirmed that the Delta variant continues to sweep across the nation.

Hospitals are under enormous strain, with more seriously ill patients than ever. Officials say many people don't know where they got infected.

Officials plan to introduce anti-infection measures at schools, but not to force them to close. They also plan to give teachers and other staff priority access to vaccines and provide schools with virus test kits.
$25,000  Autism Action Partnership (Omaha). Provides support for Prosper Workforce Services, a traditional workforce development program that connects the local business community to skilled adults (with autism) for permanent employment.

$20,000  Child Saving Institute (Omaha). Supports the Independent Living Skills program, which includes workforce support and is key to breaking the cycle of poverty for youth in the child welfare system.

Nebraska Furniture Marts CEO is honoredNebraska Furniture Mart CEO and President Tony Boldt has been chosen as a recipient of the first-ever 50 Over 50 NE Award from Omaha-based nonprofit organization The Bloc.

More than 1,500 people 50 and older were scored on the impact they have on their local, state and global community in each of five categories: nonprofit, innovation, business, community and health care. The recipients of the award are the top 50 nominees as decided by the organizations judges.

Boldt began his NFM career with Homemakers Furniture, a subsidiary of the Mart in Des Moines. He has risen through the ranks since moving to Omaha in 2011 and in April assumed the role of CEO and president.
Were having a great day, Naughton said late Monday morning.

Wilson started the day by having three assemblies in a row  one for each grade  to talk about expectations and opportunities for students to get involved, Naughton said. The meetings were held in the schools small gym, which has been converted into a multipurpose space. The fold-out bleachers had plenty of room for the 300 to 320 students in each grade, he said.

A lot of students toured the building during their advisement classes, Naughton said. With learning commons areas for each grade where students can collaborate on projects, there is more open space in the building.

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We just kept them in advisement all day, and they seemed to like that, with the smaller group, he said.

Wilson is starting out with more students, Naughton said, but the official tally wont be taken until early October.

At Bloomer Elementary School, the first day went as smooth as glass, Principal Kim Kazmierczak said.

We have the greatest team here, and they all just pitched in, she said. I think thats the secret of being inviting and making sure every child belongs.
Weeks said he confirmed with the district before the meeting began that speakers would have five minutes  the amount of time commenters typically have to comment on board activity. But that night, a board member moved to limit public comment to three minutes to allow more speakers to voice their opinions on masking.

As Weeks tried to keep speaking after three minutes, officials cut the audio from the microphone and eventually escorted him to his seat.

In an interview, he said the board meetings are the publics best chance to make their views known. Cutting down on speaking time limits that interaction, he said. Weeks said his experience working with OPS students in a volunteer capacity has taught him that many parents are unable to attend meetings because of their work schedules. Those barriers should prompt board members to go above and beyond to seek community feedback, he said.

Youve kind of got to go out of your way to figure out what the parents are actually wanting for their children, Weeks said.

He said he spoke that night in part to ask the district for consistency on masking. He questioned why the district is requiring masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when it has never done the same for influenza, which can also send children to the hospital.
As a teenager, she said her father fell ill from emphysema and had his health insurance canceled, forcing the family to choose between paying for his medicine and paying the familys bills.

But my teachers and my community never gave up on me, and I got a fair shot, Bohannan said in her campaign announcement video.

The first in her family to go to college, Bohannan paid for her degree in environmental engineering from the University of Florida by also working for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, before attending law school.

In Congress, Bohannan said she will fight to ensure hard-working Iowa families and small businesses receive a fair shot to get ahead.

I dont think hardworking people should lose everything when they have one bad break, Bohannan said. If people are working hard, they deserve a fair shot. And thats why Im running. ... I just want to work to find real solutions to real problems.

She used the bipartisan Senate-passed $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill and $1.9 trillion COVID-19-stimulus package as examples.
The Pentagon said it has added a fourth U.S. military base, in New Jersey, to three others  in Virginia, Texas and Wisconsin  that are prepared to temporarily house arriving Afghans. Maj. Gen. Hank Williams, the Joint Staff deputy director for regional operations, told reporters there are now about 1,200 Afghans at those military bases. The four bases combined are capable of housing up to 25,000 evacuees, Kirby said.

Afghan evacuees continued to arrive at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington. A bus carried some of the latest arrivals from Dulles airport to another site for what would be one of many processing stops before they reach new homes in the United States.

Exhaustion clouded the faces of many of the adults. How does it feel to be here, a journalist asked one man. We are safe, he answered.

An older woman sank with relief into an offered wheelchair, and a little girl carried by an older boy shaded her eyes to look curiously around. It was an interim stop for what had been a grueling struggle over days for many to get flights out of what is now Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. The scramble to evacuate left most arrivals carrying only a bookbag or purse, or a plastic shopping bag of belongings. Some arrived for their new lives entirely empty-handed.
First Premier is known for issuing high-interest credit cards to those with poor credit. Sanford, now retired, started it in 1986 amid a rush by lenders to take advantage of South Dakotas lax lending laws.

Sanford told the AP in 2016 that he wanted his fortune to have a positive impact on children after his hardscrabble childhood in St. Paul, Minnesota. His mother died of breast cancer when he was 4, and by the time he was 8, Sanford was working in his fathers clothing distribution company. He, along with two siblings, lived in a small apartment.

Stanford has since given away close to $2 billion.

You can only have so many cars and all of that kind of stuff so put it into something in which you can change peoples lives, Sanford said in 2016.

Sanford Health CEO Bill Gassen announced in March that the billionaire was donating an additional $300 million to the hospital system that bears his name. He told South Dakota Public Broadcasting at the time that it took the reports of the investigation seriously, but was satisfied that they were not substantiated.
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In preparing previous plans, the agency never has had a deviation from that standard of more than 1%. Any greater deviation would have to be justified by the Iowa Legislature.

So for congressional redistricting, its a matter of combining 99 counties in whatever combination you can come up with to get to that equal population requirement, he said, comparing it to working on a 99-piece puzzle.

The process gets more challenging as the agency creates legislative districts that are equal in population, split as few political subdivisions as possible and maintain compactness and continuity, he said. No consideration can be given to where incumbents live, election results or demographic information except as how the Voting Rights Act would apply.

The only information on our computer will be population, Cook said. Population is absolutely the most important standard, but its not the only consideration. Providing a plan that best blends the various standards does not lend itself to any precise mathematical calculation.
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Carrizales pleaded no contest to an amended charge of attempted burglary as well as counts of theft by unlawful taking with an amount between $1,500 and $4,999, burglary and violating a custody order.

One other charge was dismissed among the four cases as well as charges in two other cases.

He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 18.

 Jeffrey B. Knox, 46, of Wellfleet, pleaded guilty to an amended count of driving under the influence, fourth offense. The charge stems from an April 20 incident.

Knox was sentenced to 90 days in jail and credited for 31 days served. He also received an 18-month term of specialized substance abuse supervision, and his license was revoked for 15 years.

 Timothy J. Cooper, 34, admitted to violation of his post-release supervision conditions in July.

Cooper was sentenced to 12 months of probation on a charge of assault and resisting arrest, second offense, from a Oct. 27 incident.

Cooper was sentenced to 210 days in jail and credited for 32 days served.

 Joe A. Gomez, 41, pleaded no contest to possession of methamphetamine and possession of psilocybin mushrooms from a June 24 arrest.
NEW YORK (AP)  The Metropolitan Opera reached a four-year agreement with the union for its orchestra, the last major deal needed for the company to resume performances following a 1 1/2-year layoff caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The contract with local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians, ratified Tuesday, replaced an agreement that expired July 31.

The members of the Mets great orchestra have been through Herculean challenges during the 16 months of the shutdown, as we struggled to keep the company intact, said Peter Gelb, the Mets general manager, in a statement. Now, we look forward to rebuilding and returning to action.

To commemorate the occasion, the Met announced two free, pre-season performances of Mahlers Symphony No. 2, Resurrection, to take place in Damrosch Park on Sept. 4 and Sept. 5.

The announcement follows a four-year deal ratified last month by Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which represents stagehands and ended a lockout that started Dec. 8.

The Met reached a four-year agreement in May with the American Guild of Musical Artists, which represents the chorus and solo artists.
Washington, PA (15301)

Today

Rain showers early becoming a steady light rain for the afternoon. High 68F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 52F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Whos Responsible for Cybersecurity in Industrial and Manufacturing Settings?

One of the most significant challenges in industrial cybersecurity is a lack of experience and clarity.

The vast majority of industrial and manufacturing safety discussions center around physical dangers. Workplace hazards like falls and contact with machinery are still relevant and deserve attention, of course. The industrial world faces digital threats, as well. Cybersecurity must now play a role in every industrial companys safety consideration.

By 2018, 60 percent of heavy industry companies experienced a data breach in their industrial control or supervisory control and data-acquisition systems. Since then, digitization has only increased and cybersecurity standards have yet to match new technologys adoption rate. One of the most significant challenges in industrial cybersecurity is a lack of experience and clarity.

These technologies and the threats they bring are new to industrial and manufacturing businesses. Many do not have a dedicated IT department or a chief information officer (CIO). As such, it is often unclear who is responsible for ensuring these companies stay safe from cyber threats.

What Cyber Risks Do Industrial Businesses Face?

The first step in establishing a new security architecture is determining what risks these businesses face. Perhaps the most pressing is internet of things (IoT) vulnerabilities. Hackers can use facilities seemingly innocuous IoT devices as a gateway to their network, accessing more sensitive data.

As manufacturers and other heavy industry businesses collect more data, they become more valuable targets. Ransomware attacks can threaten to destroy mission-critical data or leak sensitive client information unless companies pay a hefty sum. Similarly, these industries reliance on digital technologies means any downtime could lead to significant disruptions and bottlenecks.
The amount of oil held in floating storage at Asian ports is growing, with Iranian and Venezuelan crude cargoes earlier this month pushing Asian floating inventories to the highest in three months, according to data from energy intelligence provider Kpler, as quoted by Bloomberg.

The glut follows Chinas crackdown on independent refinersthe so-called teapotswhich have come to account for a solid portion of total Chinese crude oil imports. This year, however, Beijing has targeted the independent refiners with tax evasion claims, environmental violations investigations, and production curbs amid excessive production of fuels that has pressured margins for all refiners in the country.

This environment in China suggests that the 62 million barrels of crudeper Kplersitting at Asian ports as of last week will have trouble finding a home.

These barrels sitting off Southeast Asia are distressed, Anoop Singh, head of East of Suez tanker research at Braemar ACM Shipbroking, told Bloomberg. Theyre going to have a tough time finding homes other than China, unless the situation surrounding the U.S. sanctions changes dramatically, or Chinas clampdown on its independents is eased.

Yet, the clampdown on independent refiners was not the only factor contributing to the glut. China also introduced additional import taxes on some oil products that immediately damaged demand for these products, which included bitumen mixture. Bloomberg noted that the mixture is often used to mask Venezuelan and Iranian oil cargos, and now that demand for bitumen has crashed, the cargos are sitting unsold.

Data from Vortexa shows there were 29 oil tankers idling at Chinese ports, with a fifth of these believed to be loaded with Iranian and Venezuelan crude since China is the principal destination for both sanctioned countries. Imports of crude oil in China fell for the second month in a row in July, by a hefty 20 percent on the year, according to the latest customs data cited by Nikkei Asia.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Russia regards its Arctic oil and gas development in the same way that the U.S. saw its shale oil and gas sector around 20 years ago, which is a truly game-changing opportunity to alter the balance of power in the worlds hydrocarbons markets. The Vostok Oil project, run by state oil giant Rosneft, is the cornerstone of these Arctic ambitions, combining the exploration and development of several huge oil and gas fields. Rosneft is now in talks with various groups of investors on taking part in the Vostok Oil project and whichever groups succeed in securing an interest will say much about the geopolitical balance in the oil and gas industry in the coming years.

In broad terms, the Vostok Oil project will unite the largest deposits in the north of Krasnoyarsk Territory, including the supergiant oil and gas fields of the Vankor cluster (Vankorskoye, Suzunskoye, Lodochnoye, Tagulskoye, Ichemminskoye), and the Payakhskoye oil field, and West-Irkinsky site. Overall, according to several senior oil and gas industry sources in Moscow and London spoken to by OilPrice.com last week, Rosnefts estimates that the Vostok Oil project has 6.2 billion tonnes (53 billion barrels) of oil reserves are realistic.

At full capacity, the project is set to produce up to 100 million tonnes (845 million barrels) of oil per year, which equates to just over another 2 million barrels per day. Given Russias ability to currently produce at least 11 million bpd with relative ease, this additional output from the Vostok Oil project would bring its average daily crude oil production to between 13 and 14 million bpd. This would be on a level with the current upper limit projections for the U.S. in the next five years and way above Saudi Arabias true crude oil production, which has averaged 8.162 million bpd from 1973 to yesterday.

All of these developments  and other elements of Russias Arctic sector exploration and development in the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas, lying on the south side of the Kara Sea - are within close proximity of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). The NSR, the coastal route of which crosses the Kara Sea, is already in operation but is being built out further to be the primary transport route to monetise these resources in the global oil and gas markets, especially to China.

Recently, Rosneft chief executive officer, Igor Sechin, told Russias President Vladimir Putin of the formal commencement of operations on the Vostok Oil project, stating: The prospecting and exploration work are now underway, in accordance with our timetable, and adding that the design work for a 770-kilometre oil pipeline and a port had been completed. In this context, Sechin also promised Putin that the scheme would create a new oil and gas province on Siberias Taymyr peninsula, with the complete project representing a total investment of RUB10,000 billion (US$135 billion), including two airports and 15 industry towns.

Russias efforts in the Arctic and through the NSR are being bolstered by Gazprom Neft, the countrys third biggest oil company by output and the oil arm of state gas giant Gazprom. July 2020 saw Gazprom Neft ship its first cargo of oil produced in the Arctic to China via the NSR, adding to its existing Western exports via the NSR to Europe.

According to Gazprom Neft, it took 47 days to deliver a full cargo of 144,000 tonnes of sweet, light Novy Port oil  that comes from the Yamal peninsula developments  to the Chinese port of Yantai on the Bohai Sea from Russias north-western city of Murmansk. Successful experience in the sale of Arctic oil in the European market and in-depth insight of Asia-Pacific markets allow Gazprom Neft to offer Novy Port oil with a unique year-round logistics scheme to Asian partners, said Gazprom Nefts deputy director general for logistics, processing and sales, Anatoly Cherner. A month later, Gazprom Neft announced a new joint venture (JV) with Anglo-Dutch super-major Royal Dutch Shell, focused on the exploration and development of oil and gas resources along the Gydan peninsula area, particularly at the Leskinsky and Pukhutsyayakhsky licence blocks.

Related: U.S. Rig Count Ticks Higher Amid Oil Price Slide



The China side of these Arctic projects is fully in line with the US$400 billion or so 30-year deal signed in 2014 for Russia to export vast quantities of gas  through the Power of Siberia pipeline project  to China over that period (managed on the Russian side by Gazprom and on the China side by China National Petroleum Corp). The agreement delivers some 38 billion cubic metres of natural gas a year to Chinas burgeoning economy (having formally started in 2018), totalling over 1 trillion cubic metres of gas being supplied during a whole contractual period.

Although a relatively reasonable deal for Russia economically, the political benefit is huge, giving it a major second market for its gas in the event of further sanctions from the U.S. over its already significant gas dealings with Europe. It also opened the way for massive Chinese investment in Russias power and transportation infrastructure and for a much broader and deeper co-operation between the two countries (including militarily) over the 30-year period.

It is highly likely, therefore, that Chinas investment into Russias Arctic exploration and development efforts will not just be focused on its gas (and resultant LNG) projects but also on its oil ones. It is also interesting to see that despite the remnants of the U.S.-led sanctions against Russia (as a result of its annexation of Crimea in 2014 and later its poisoning in the U.K. of former GRU colonel, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter Yulia)  many international oil companies are still active in Russian oil and gas projects, including in the Arctic. Aside from Royal Dutch Shells stake in the Gazprom Neft Gydan projects, Japans Mitsui and Japan Oil Gas and Metals National Corporation stake in Novateks Arctic LNG 2 project, perhaps the most overt signal that the oil business goes its own way when possible, regardless of all other considerations, is the fact that U.K. supermajor BP sold its TNK-BP Russian joint venture for cash and a 19.75 per cent stake in Rosneft.

According to initial  but vague reports out of Rosneft  potential investors in the Vostok Oil project (aside from the obvious Chinese candidates) include oil traders, international integrated oil and gas companies, and national or neo-national oil companies, including firms from India. A 10 per cent stake in the Vostok Oil project was already acquired by international trader Trafigura in 2020, and Rosneft and a consortium headed by Vitol signed a letter of agreement for the sale of a 5 per cent stake in the Vostok Oil project, according to a statement from Rosneft in June.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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The American Petroleum Institute (API) on Tuesday reported a draw in crude oil inventories of 1.622 million barrels for the week ending August 20, bringing the total 2021 crude draw so far to more than 58 million barrels, using API data.

Analysts had expected a loss of 2.367 million barrels for the week.

In the previous week, the API reported a draw in oil inventories of 1.13 million barrelsa loss smaller than the 1.259 million barrel draw that analysts had predicted.

Oil prices began to rise on Monday and continued on Tuesday, staunching the bleeding from the previous seven-day streak of losses as concerns about demand began to deescalate.

WTI gained more than 3% on Tuesday afternoon leading up to the data release.

At 3:20 p.m. EST, WTI was trading at $67.75 a more than $1 gain on the week. Brent crude was trading up 3.58% for the day at $71.21.

While U.S. crude oil stocks continue their decline, U.S. oil production rose for the second week in a row to 11.4 million bpdan increase of 100,000 bpd for the week.

The API reported a draw in gasoline inventories of 985,000 barrels for the week ending August 20compared to the previous week's 1.1979-million-barrel draw.

Distillate stocks saw a decrease in inventories this week of 245,000 barrels for the week, compared to last week's 502,000-barrel increase.

Cushing inventories fell this week by 485,000 barrels, after last week's 1.735-million-barrel decrease.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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A fire that broke out at a Pemex oil platform this Sunday during maintenance killed five workers and injured another six, Pemex said in a press release, adding that two people were missing.

The platform where the fire erupted is part of a gas-processing hub in the Campeche Bay. Its outage as a result of the fire has reduced Pemex's production by some 444,000 bpd. The natural gas processed at the Ku-Maloob-Zaap center is used to boost oil production from offshore fields, Reuters noted in a report citing a Pemex document. As a result of the fire, production fell from 719,000 bpd to 275,000 bpd.

Pemex, in turn, made a note of pointing out in its press release that the fire had not erupted because of insufficient investments in maintenance. The government has increased Pemex's maintenance budget, the company said, adding that the safety of its employees remained a top priority, over oil production.

"There is not a problem of lack of investment, there is not a problem of lack of resources," chief executive officer Octavio Romero told the media. "The oil industry is a risky industry. We have had accidents, which in numbers are less than in previous years."

This is the second fire at a Pemex platform for the past two months. The first one occurred in early July. The company said at the time that the fire was caused by a gas pipeline leak and a lightning storm. The location of the blaze was once again the Ku-Maloob-Zaap complex.

Pemex has been struggling to reverse a continuous decline in production, but the task has proved challenging, not least because of its financial troubles. The Mexican state-owned company is the most indebted oil producer in the world despite generous government help. Recently, Pemex was awarded the controversial operatorship of the largest new find in the country, the Zama field, but the company lacks sufficient funds to develop the field's reserves.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The value of Saudi Arabias oil exports jumped by 123.2 percent in June 2021 compared to the same month of 2020, the Kingdoms General Authority for Statistics said on Tuesday.

Saudi oil exports rose to $16.4 billion (61.45 billion Saudi riyals) in June 2021, from $7.4 billion (27.65 billion riyals) in June 2020, the data showed, as oil prices rallied this year after the slump in the spring of 2020 due to the pandemic and the oil price war Saudi Arabia started in March 2020.

This year, the surge in oil exports pushed the value of total Saudi exports up by 40.5 percent in June, the official data showed.

In addition, the share of oil exports in total exports increased from 62.0 percent in June 2020 to 72.1 percent in June 2021.

Saudi Arabias oil exports in June also rose compared to May 2021, when the Kingdoms oil sales were valued at US$16.1 billion (60.5 billion riyals), up by 146.7 percent year over year.

Saudi Arabias crude oil exports hit a five-month high in June at nearly 6 million barrels per day (bpd) as the worlds top oil exporter and entire OPEC+ group continued to ease the cuts amid recovering global demand.

Saudi Arabias crude oil exports in June rose for a second consecutive month to reach 5.965 million bpd, data from the Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI) showed last week. That was the highest export volume since January 2021.

The Saudis are receiving much more revenues from oil this year, especially compared to the second quarter of last year, when ultra-low prices and the OPEC+ deal limited oil revenues for the key oil-exporting nations.

In the second quarter of 2021, the value of Saudi oil exports jumped by 126.1 percent year on year, according to the International Trade Q2 2021 data from the General Authority for Statistics also published today. Saudi oil exports soared to $46.4 billion (174.1 billion riyals) in Q2 2021 from $20.5 billion (77.1 billion riyals) in Q2 2020.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Most people want to travel every year, buy a house in 10 years, get married in 10 years. These things cost money, Morrison says. Put down how much itll cost in todays terms and figure out how much to save out of your paycheck every month. From my experience, that alone can be $1,000 a month.

3. Get educated about cryptocurrency

Youve got the money and youre ready to jump on the crypto bandwagon, only you have no idea how someone even buys crypto. Or how it will fit into your overall financial plan. Or if its too risky for you.

Time out. Dont do anything with your money that you dont understand. Dedicate some time to learning everything you can about crypto. Understanding the mechanics is important, but so is learning what kind of investor you are, because that also affects the kinds of investments that would be a good fit for you.
The Department of Education announced Aug. 19 that it would automatically discharge federal student loans for 323,000 borrowers who qualify as totally and permanently disabled. Their debt totals $5.8 billion.

Those who qualify for the loan discharge have been identified through a data match with the Social Security Administration. Previously, individuals with federal student loans had to apply for a loan discharge by sending in documentation of their disability from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the SSA or a physician.

"Today's action removes a major barrier that prevented far too many borrowers with disabilities from receiving the total and permanent disability discharges they are entitled to under the law," said Miguel Cardona, the secretary of education, in a press release. This change reduces red tape with the aim of making processes as simple as possible for borrowers who need support."

Future borrowers also wont have to apply for disability discharges; rather, theyll be automatically identified based on information from the SSA or the VA. The discharges, current and future, wont be subject to any federal income taxes, but may be subject to some state income taxes.
Dr. Cary Ward, chief medical officer for CHI Health, said the health system is not seeing a rapid rise in hospitalizations as it did in the previous peak. In fact, COVID-19 patient numbers recently have stabilized, even decreasing in some facilities.

However, the health system currently has more than 100 COVID-19 patients across its 14 hospitals. It is a significant burden for us, he said, and in many ways its more of a burden now because our hospitals are full of other patients.

The state also recorded 11 additional COVID-related deaths last week, pushing the pandemic total over 2,300.

He and other local health officials hailed the full authorization of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration on Monday. The hope is that full approval will stimulate some people who have said they were holding out for the FDAs OK to get inoculated.

Nebraska did hit several vaccination milestones last week. The state reached President Joe Bidens goal of getting at least one shot into 70% of its adult population, albeit nearly two months after the presidents July 4th goal.

The state was the 24th to reach the mark. Hawaii now leads the nation on that metric at 87%. Nebraska also surpassed 2 million total vaccine doses administered.
Newborn Crew Crone has already one-upped his father.

While dad Dylan was featured in The World-Herald 24 years ago for being a fifth-generation baby, Crew has managed that feat on both sides  fifth generation meaning there area four generations of living relatives, the baby making the fifth.

Crew was born on Aug. 13, a fifth-generation baby for both Dylan and mom Haylee Neneman. He was about five weeks premature, so he has had to spend a few weeks at Methodist Womens Hospital before going home to Waterloo.

Just him learning how to eat, breathe and swallow at the same time, dad said.

His parents are excited to introduce him to all of his relatives after he finally gets to go home.

That includes on Dylans side his mother, Michaela Mcquillan, 44; grandfather Gary Crone, 63, and great-grandmother Jan Moninger, 88. On 21-year-old Haylees side is her father, Stephen Neneman, 42; grandpa Walter Neneman, 71; and great-grandma Helen Neneman, 92.

All of them live in the Elkhorn, Bennington and Gretna areas, so there will be lots of available babysitters.

They love him already, Dylan Crone said.
Health Director Pat Lopez cited rising cases and hospitalizations in Lancaster County, including 249 cases in schoolchildren and outbreaks in eight child care centers and a third of the countys long-term care facilities.

Speaking to the Douglas County Board on Tuesday, Huse framed her mask mandate request as a tool to help keep students in school, protect them and their families from the spread of COVID and help health systems until we can get transmission to a manageable level and a vaccine approved or authorized for our elementary schoolkids.

Last week we closed several classrooms in the Millard schools, sending home nearly 100 children in that district, Huse said. And over the weekend we sent letters keeping over 140 kids and staff members in the Ralston School District.

In anticipation of the states denial, local officials said it will likely be up to individual cities, towns and school districts in Douglas County to decide whether to make masks mandatory.

If he says no, then weve used up all our arrows as a county, said Chris Rodgers, president of the Douglas County Board of Health. Then the only thing we can do is chirp from the rooftops and recommend and say we want you to do this.
A principal of a Papillion elementary school informed parents Monday that students in a kindergarten class at the school would need to quarantine because of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the class.

Matt Hilderbrand, the principal of Patriot Elementary near 96th Street and Schram Road, sent an email to parents noting that the Sarpy/Cass Health Department has recommended that students in Mrs. OLearys Kindergarten class remain at home the rest of the week and monitor for symptoms. This was done out of an abundance of caution as there were multiple confirmed cases as of (Monday).

Hilderbrand added, We are navigating this at the school level and want to ensure we are working together to address the health and academic needs of the students in our building.

Hilderbrands note went out just 30 minutes after the start of the Papillion La Vista school board meeting at which the board decided masks will remain optional in the districts schools  for now.
Dr. Stephen Doran, chief medical officer with Midwest Surgical Hospital, said the state has a duty to protect its most vulnerable residents, and specifically recruiting nurses who are not vaccinated would put this population at risk.

Dr. Kristine McVea, chief medical officer for OneWorld Community Health Centers, said the eight health systems made their announcement together so it wouldnt create a competitive advantage for one or the other.

Their aim, she said, was to do what was right for public health.

Other health care organizations around the state have been waiting and hoping other employers, not just hospitals but also insurance companies and other firms, would go first in requiring vaccination and set a standard in the community, she said.

Its harder for organizations to act, McVea said, particularly in rural areas where leaders may worry that they wont have the staff they need to care for patients if they impose a mandate.

Health care organizations, not just in Nebraska but nationwide, are short on nurses right now, she said. COVID-19 patients require a lot of care, which stretches staff in hospitals. Hospitals across the country are competing for the same pool of contract traveling nurses.
There was no further information and it wasnt known who the attackers were. The Taliban, who are manning the outside perimeters of the Kabul airport, have until now not opened fire on NATO or Afghan troops within.

Mondays incident took place after at least seven Afghans died in a panicked crush of people trying to enter Kabuls international airport on Sunday, the British military said. Thousands were still trying to flee the country in a chaotic exodus a week after the Taliban takeover.

The German Defense Ministry said Monday that the countrys military has evacuated more than 2,700 people from Kabul since the evacuations started, with people of 38 nationalities among those taken out. German A400M transport aircraft are shuttling between Kabul and Tashkent, Uzbekistan.



COPENHAGEN, Denmark  A plane with Norwegian citizens from Afghanistan, others with links to Norway and also other foreign nationals landed in Oslo on Monday, the fourth flight in the past days to have landed in Norway.

The Scandinavian countrys foreign ministry declined to say how many were on the plane or give details for safety reasons, the Norwegian news agency NTB said.
Act responsibly

The letter in the Pulse caught my eye because it stated the powers that be are working feverishly to undermine our freedoms. Try as I can, the only freedom thats being undermined is the right to vote! Wearing a mask and getting the vaccine is just common sense! Trump politicized the wearing of masks! "Dont wear a mask but dont infringe on my right to wear one! I have rights too!"

Wearing a mask and getting the vaccine are no big deal. Its silly screaming about it and yelling in someones face because they feel the need to mask up! Republicans are enacting laws to undermine the right to vote. They are also trying to subvert federal gun laws by allowing just about anyone to buy a firearm. Religion is not being attacked unless you are Jewish or Islamic. Christians are pro-life until the child is born, then all bets are off.

Equality is for everyone and not just you! Yes, Afghanistan is a debacle. Yes, it could have been handled differently but hopefully President Biden will turn this around. All my freedoms are still intact and Fox News ranting almost every hour will not change the truth.

Robert Nunez Jr., Omaha

Freedom, not dictates
San Francisco's OMI Neighborhoods: 1862-1959

by Richard Brandi and Woody LaBounty

In 2009 the Western Neighborhoods Project received a grant from the Historic Preservation Fund Committee of the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development to produce a historical context statement on the Ocean View, Merced Heights, Ingleside, and Ingleside Terraces neighborhoods (often grouped together and called "OMI").

A historical context statement is more than a general history of an area; it can be an invaluable resource for planners, developers, and residents to evaluate individual properties under review for proposed alteration or demolition.

The link below is to a pdf document that is 3.0mb, almost 60 pages long, with dozens of historical photos. This document was adopted by the City of San Francisco's Historic Preservation Commission on February 3, 2010. Context Statements are by their nature always subject to updating as knowledge from surveys and research is increased and honed. This statement will no doubt change over time.

OMI Historical Context Statement

Contribute your own stories about western neighborhoods places!
Streetwise - Stop, Look, Listen

by Frank Dunnigan

April 2014

The San Francisco Chronicle reported recently that Commodore Sloat School has resurrected its School Safety Patrol, with Alice Fong Yu and Lakeshore Schools next in line. While there are now "paid adult supervisors"dont ask me what thats all aboutits good to see that an important program has returned.

The School Safety Patrol was established in the 1920s by the American Automobile Association in response to a large number of vehicle accidents involving schoolchildrengenerally reported in gruesome detail in the newspapers of the era.

In the past, most students longed for the job from an early age, and the mere threat of exclusion kept many of us in line during our formative years. In recent times, though, the concept of "drive-through" drop-off/pick-up became so commonplace that the program was dropped, thus denying many youngsters an important rite of passage.

Thinking back, most of us breezed through our first dozen years, facing only the challenges of getting out of bed, washing and dressing, scarfing breakfast, and walking to school. Moms and Dads generally did all the heavy lifting, while most of us had relatively carefree childhoods. Along about 6th Grade, however, we began taking on some real responsibilities that impacted othersassignment as a traffic girl or boy.

Once selected, at about age 12, we received on-the-job training from older students who were moving on. In addition to the task of looking out for others, we also learned how schools and workplaces transition over the years, with newcomers filling slots as more experienced people progressed into other activities.

Armed with a yellow-orange cap and a white canvas belt across the chest, the duties were straight-forwardstanding at curbside, arm held out horizontally to keep the pedestrians out of the street, and looking both ways to ensure that there was no oncoming traffic. Then, turning and extending the arm 90, pedestrians would be allowed to cross safely.

There was a ritual to folding the belt and securing the hat within the folds to make a single package. We were told to keep these items clean, and some truly fastidious kids learned ironing at an early age to maintain a crisp image. Those assigned as sergeant, lieutenant, or captain of the squad were also responsible for scheduling, plus filling in for absences. This was perfect training for many who later came to be responsible for staff coverage in high school organizations or at some future employer. Attending the annual review (at Golden Gate Parks Polo Field in 1964 for me) was a highlight of elementary school days.

Fond recollections spanning six decades have been posted on the Western Neighborhoods Project message boardsone of the longest-running continuous threadsbeginning eleven years ago. Note that while some recall the role as traffic boy, nearly one-third of these comments have come from former traffic girls who served as far back as the 1950s:

Jim, 2003: I was a traffic boy at Commodore Sloat in 1939. It was an honor to be selected We got to go to school early and stay late. We were issued a hat and a white belt that went across your chest. If it was raining, we wore a yellow raincoat and hat. My post was Junipero Serra [Boulevard] and Ocean [Avenue], which was a busy intersection. We learned safety, responsibility, discipline, and courtesy. It was a good experience and served a great purpose.

Rick, 2003: Officer Plant from SFPD traffic division, whose job it was to oversee all the traffic boy squads in the district, often cruised by in his patrol car. If we saw Officer Plant we would give him a snappy salute and he would return it, which made us feel important. One of the big perks involved free movie passes, good for the Parkside, El Rey, and Empire theaters.

Judy, 2003: I was on the traffic patrol in the mid-1960s. I recently ran across the program from one of the parades at the Polo Field. I felt so proud to be a part of that.

Trevor, 2003: Attending a little private school at 46th and Irving, I was a crossing guard and remember the parade. This was in the mid-seventies and it was at the Polo Fields. All schools were representedpublic, Catholic, and some private. Our little school had six crossing guards. Seeing groups of twenty or thirty crossing guards representing one school was daunting.

Ron, 2003: I also was a traffic boy, in 1955 at Jefferson. I remember everyone tried to have the stiffest capswashed with starch.

Leif, 2003: I was on the school traffic patrol at Jefferson in 1951-52. The traffic patrol was only open to boys in the 5th and 6th grade. I still have my yellow cap and white belt. I also have the lieutenants badge I wore because I was one of the squad leaders in the 6th grade. The school traffic parade was held at Kezar Stadium in the 1950s. A few weeks before the date, we were released from class for a few afternoons to practice marching. Our instructors were ROTC students from nearby high schoolshow we tried to impress them with our marching. Several years later, I had further experience when I was attending George Washington High School and in the ROTC program, was selected to be one of the marching instructors for a school in the Richmond District.

Alice, 2003: I remember when I was going to Jefferson in the mid-1980s we had traffic boys and girls. I always wanted to be one but my mother wouldnt let metoo dangerous. They must have done away with the program in the early 1990s.

Angus, 2003: I was a traffic boy at Dudley Stone in the Haight. While at AAA on Van Ness, I saw an exhibit of traffic boy paraphernalia in their lobby: white Sam Browne belt, hat with school name, the paddle we used to stop onrushing traffic and the badges: red lieutenant badge and blue captain badge Good times, though, especially the movie passes.

Dino, 2004: I did the duty at Parkside School in 1961. Hats, cotton belt harnesses and badges The annual parade was at that time held at the Polo Fields. It did give a kid a pride of responsibility.

Denise, 2004: Girls were not allowed on traffic patrol at Alvarado in the early/mid 1960s. I do, however, remember being allowed to attend the review at Kezar one year. Some of us 6th grade girls got together and convinced our principal, dear Mr. McInnis, that our boys needed cheerleaders. My Mom sewed white gathered skirts for us, and we wore red sweaters, and we went on MUNI.

Louise Ann, 2004: I was a traffic patrol girl at West Portal Lutheran 1968-71. Sloat and 19th got hairy sometimes. We used to have one guy in particular in a 1969 yellow Cadillac Coupe de Ville try and run us over several times I also remember Officer Plant very well. His son, David, attended our school. Phillip Miller was the Captain of our squad.

Richard, 2004: I was a traffic boy at Sutro School in 1945. I was amazed to find a picture of the 1945 School Traffic Review at Kezar Stadium In the picture, uniformed ROTC cadets stand like dark trees among the shorter white-clad traffic boys. Sutro won in our division and I remember walking back along Clement Street.

Norm, 2004: How well I remember that the boys were regularly informed that if we ever strayed from the academic or the moral straight line that we would NEVER get to be traffic boys We each had our station as these were situated strategically around the school. The status spot (Commodore Sloat/early 1960s) was at Sloat and Ocean on the school side. The stations on Darien Way were too tame, and the southwest corner across from Bowermans Drug Store was for the last kid picked to be on the traffic boy squad. It was the right field of traffic boy stations Every so often the cop in charge of all traffic boys would come by, and we would salute. Heck, any cop that came by got a salute. In fact, we saluted anyone in uniform: the guy from the Water Department, the MUNI man of the month, the Tidewater gas station attendant On rainy days we would get a few more minutes of freedom as we would have to go into the janitors area located off the inner school yard to get into our bright yellow rain coats and black rubber buckle-up bootsI can only wonder what the girls were thinking as we boys were standing in the rain and fog as they got into warm cars to go home.

Gary, 2004: I was a traffic boy at Ulloa. Casey Mendell and Tom Larson were captains. I loved the job because I got out of class earlier than others and had all that power when people were crossing the street. I dont think it had anything to do with my professional career, but I joined the SFPD and retired from there in June 1994.

Ken, 2004: I was a traffic boy at St Pauls where we practiced throwing our paddles (semaphores?) into the wooden telephone poles. If you flipped it right, it would stick into the open grain of the old poles. In spite of all our horseplay, no kid we crossed through an intersection ever got hurt on my "watch."

AB, 2007: I remember the show passes. If you did your week of crossing guard work at Jose Ortega Elementary you got a pass good for the El Rey Theater. Great daysand we never lost a kid either!

Irving, 2007: I was a member of the Commodore Sloat Crossing Guard in the mid-70s. They had been defunct for a number of yearsI believe it was revived during my 3rd Grade year.

Paul, 2007: I was a traffic guard at Farragut school from 1963-65. I "retired" as a captain There was a certain way to roll up the white belt that crossed ones chest and buckled around the waist when it was not being used. The yellow cap was an important part of the gear. The parade was at the Polo Grounds and if I remember right the student marchers from each school wore white shirts but different color sweaters. It was a maturing role that I have never forgotten.

Candis, 2008: I was a traffic girl in Fall 1956 or Spring 1957 at Laguna Honda The girls had campaigned to be included for some time, and finally the sixth grade girls were allowed their opportunity Years later, I was part of a token group of the first women hired, and by then I had learned how to handle certain situations.

Heidi, 2009: Isnt it fun to think back on it all? I was part of Traffic Duty in the 1960s at Parkside. It was thrilling when the police would drive by and salute you! We had what was called 12:30 duty for the children coming back from lunch. At that time, the Zodiac killer was loose and we all joked about it but we always did our assigned 12:30 and nothing ever happened.

Myron, 2010: I was a Traffic Boy at Argonne from 1947-1950. I was Captain of the squad and had many privileges such as: handing out rain gear, caps and/or belts (I got first pick of the best or new ones), handing out the weekly reward to squad, if they had no demeritsit was good for a free pass to the 4-Star Theater for just the tax, $.03 at that time, got to wear the Captains badge, and lastly, got to lead the squad, as school flag bearer, in the annual Safety Parade in Kezar Stadium.

Lorri, 2012: I was a traffic girl at Parkside 1963-64. I was a Lieutenant in H-6th We didnt have the power or large STOP signs that traffic people have now. We essentially had to make students stop until there were no cars.

It was one small part of growing upsomething that helped us transition from children to civic-minded adult members of the community.
Uganda's education minister has ordered the country's teachers to get vaccinated against Covid-19 or risk being barred from classrooms when schools reopen.



Janet Museveni, who is also the country's first lady, warned that any teacher who goes to work with a fake certificate as proof of vaccination risks losing their job.



She said the inoculation of teachers would help protect pupils from the virus, adding that vaccination centres would be set up in schools and universities when they reopen.



Mrs. Museveni has been under pressure in recent weeks to reopen schools, which were closed on 6 June to contain the second wave of Covid-19 infections.

Source: BBC









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Featured Video
Mr Abuga Pele, a former Member of Parliament for the Chiana-Paga Constituency in the Upper East Region, has expressed gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the Presidential pardon granted him to get out of prison.

The President granted Mr Pele, also a former National Coordinator of the defunct Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA), a Presidential pardon on grounds of ill-health.



The former GYEEDA Coordinator was sentenced to six years in prison on February 23, 2018, for his involvement in a GH4.1 million GYEEDA scandal.



I thank God for my release, I thank the President, the people of Nakolo, I thank all those who were instrumental in getting me out of prison. Another day will come for me to explain a lot of things, he said.



Mr Pele expressed gratitude when he spoke for the first time at Nakolo, a community in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region, after his release.



The former MP was given a rousing welcome into the Constituency by his Constituents as they displayed on motorbikes on the major streets of the town.



Mr Pele said the people of the Chiana-Paga Constituency had supported him since he became an MP, adding that For 16 years, they have kept their support for me. They actually supported me when we were in opposition from 2000 and 2004.



So, to imagine that this Constituency will stick to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in spite of the fact that we were in opposition tells you a lot about the love of the people. My only problem is, I always think I have not done a lot for my people.



He was, however, hopeful that others would continue from where he left off with the development of the area and prayed for Gods blessings for his family and all the people of the Constituency.



I pray that this town will continue to grow from strength to strength.



In an address delivered on behalf of his family, Mr Michael Gantera said, Our depleting hope is restored and we have every reason to be happy and jubilant.



We want to use this platform to extend our sincerest and heartfelt gratitude to the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the presidential pardon granted our father, husband and friend. God bless you graciously Mr President, the family said.



The family also extended gratitude to all those who contributed in diverse ways to the release of Mr Pele.





Source: graphiconline.com









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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Mr William A. Quaittoo, says the tree crop sector has the potential to increase the countrys export revenue to US$ 6 billion.

He said that was possible if the sector was improved and properly structured to meet growing demand through the adoption of best practices.



Mr Quaittoo explained that the sector had the potential to improve the countrys socio-economic development, hence the need for regulations to advance the sale and production of tree crops.



Speaking at a two-day technical workshop to draft regulations for the operations of the TCDA at Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, the minister urged the participants to let their skills and expertise reflect in the two-day activities.



TCDA Act, 2019



The TCDA, a corporate entity, was established by an Act of Parliament under the TCDA Act, 2019 (Act1010) and is expected to regulate the production, processing and trading of tree crops in a sustainable environment.



The regulations are, therefore, required to guide the performance of its statutory functions.



The 60 participants comprised research scientists, academia, importers and exporters, processors, the legislature, financial institutions, agro processors, civil society and non-governmental organisations and formed the core of the Technical Committee established by the Crop Services Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.



They were expected to conduct a comprehensive study of the TCDA Act and subsequently develop and draft proposals to guide the drafting of the regulations.



The proposals were to cover all the six tree crops, namely mango, cashew, rubber, coconut, shea nut and oil palm.



The programme was sponsored by Proforest, a financial consultancy firm, while the International Finance Corporation (IFC) procured the services of a Technical Assistant Team to support the TCDA prepare the regulations.



Regulations



Mr Quaittoo charged the lead facilitators and focus groups to critically study the Act and check whether any of the provisions warrant regulations, where the specific matter had not been referred to or was uncertain.



Contributing, an official of Proforest, Ms Afua Prempreh, said the regulations would deal with defaults and other incident issues that could be excluded from them.



She urged the experts to pay more attention to specifics and prescribe standards, processes and procedures for exports, maintenance and infringements needed for the development of a useful document.



Potential



The Deputy CEO of Operations of TCDA, Forster Boateng, said the tree crops sector, when well regulated and promoted, could overtake cocoa production and earn the country more foreign exchange.



He said the country was fast losing its forests and, therefore, urged the participants to adopt and develop the tree crops sector to serve as an alternative livelihood for the people.







Source: graphiconline.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.

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The Ashanti Regional Police Command has commenced investigations into the shooting and killing of a 34-year-old miner at the Adubiaho concession within Manso Dome Keniago in the Amansie South District of the region.

Elijah Tinbinkey was shot and killed around 8:30 p.m. last Thursday when a group of illegal miners allegedly stormed the site to prospect for gold.



According to the Public Relation Officer of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Godwin Ahianyo, a security man on duty, who was yet to be identified as of the time of filing this report, fired a warning shot into the air but the bullet mistakenly hit Tinbinkey and killed him instantly.



Attack



In what looked like a reprisal attack, the youth regrouped and invaded the site and in the process injured a Chinese who is a staff of the company.



He was rushed to the Saint Martins Hospital at Agroyesum.



ASP Ahianyo said due to the seriousness of the injury, the Chinese (name unknown for now) was rushed to the theatre for surgery.



He was in a stable condition as police initiated moves to identify the killer, the Regional Police PRO said.



ASP Ahianyo said as a first step, the owners of the concession had been invited by the police as part of the investigation process.















Source: graphiconline.com









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The government has earmarked GH50 million to undertake emergency works on roads in the Upper West Region that were washed away by floodwaters on August 13, this year.

The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah, disclosed this at a meeting with four local contractors who had been tasked to undertake the rehabilitation works in Accra yesterday.



The meeting was a follow-up to the ministers visit to the region to assess the extent of destruction caused by floodwaters to the road infrastructure there.



Affected roads



Mr Amoako-Attah mentioned the affected areas to include roads at Yiziri, which lies between Nadowli and Yagha on Route R132, the road between Guoriyiri and Nadowli on Route N12, the road just before Daffiema on the Sambo-Daffiema road, which is a feeder road, and the road between Fian and Bussie on Route N18



Others are the road between Serekpere and Guoriyiri on Route N12 and Dapuori, which lies between Nadowli and Jirapa on Route N12, the Doung stretch on the Sambo-Daffiema road, the low-lying areas on the gravel road between Fian and Daffiema and a portion of the gravel road between Daffiema and Nadowli.



Scope



Explaining the extent of damage and the scope of work to be done to restore the roads, the minister said the works would be done at eight locations in the region.



The works were site clearing and demolition works, concrete works, road pavement and surfacing works, as well as other works that would be done on a case-by-case basis, he said.



Traditionally, the region has a single rainy season between June and October, but in the past few days it has experienced excessive rainfall, with associated floods, which has negatively affected some roads in the road network, he said.



Poised



Mr Amoako-Attah said the government was poised to ensure that the affected roads were restored immediately to guarantee a rebound in economic activities in the region.



"I will say you should start work tomorrow because you have to finish as soon as possible. All the contractors have the capacity to work day and night and so if we give them the resources, I am sure they can finish early," he said.



In spite of the devastation caused to roads, the minister said, not a single bridge in the region was destroyed by the floods.



All bridges are intact; it is gratifying that they were not affected because they are pure concrete work and it takes time to build. It would have delayed efforts to turn around the situation, he said.



National response



Mr Amoako-Attah explained that the government was handling the situation as a national disaster that needed an emergency response.



What happened in the Upper West is a national issue and it will not be treated as a regional matter. The region received heavy rainfall that lasted many hours. We know that the region records heavy rains, but this time there was high return rainfall. I don't know if its a technical term, but they say such rainfall occurs once in 50 to 100 years.



When I met with the Wa Na, it came up that that kind of rainfall was experienced some 50 years ago. This high return period of rainfall caused a lot of damage to farmlands, but what is more pronounced is the harm it caused to roads, he said.



The minister indicated that the ministry would intensify its work, as it had done since the disaster struck.



For the past one week, we have been working day and night. Engineers at the ministry and its agencies are working together as a team and I am so happy with the spirit with which the assignment is being carried out. The engineers have come up with estimates and clearly defined the scope of works, he said.



Local contractors



Mr Amoako-Attah noted that there were about 20 local contractors who had the capacity to execute the works, but explained that only four had been chosen due to the scope of work and the contractors proximity to the affected areas.



It is a national assignment; a disaster that has befallen one region, and we are doing everything to resolve the issue. Let me assure you (contractors) that the government is working to release the money to you because this is an emergency. As you go along, we will resource you; I want to assure you of that on behalf of the government," he said.









Source: graphiconline.com









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The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, has charged the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to begin publicising and commercialising its research findings and innovations to enable the council to carry out its mandate effectively.

He observed that with the capacity to become a vibrant commercial entity, the culture of reticence which banned scientists from engaging in self-promotion on ethical grounds was inimical to the CSIR, insisting that it was time to give meaning to the idea of commercialisation.



Expressing disquiet over the relegation of the CSIRs relevance and contribution to the development of Ghana, and particularly, in the agricultural sector, the minister revealed, for instance, that close to 90 per cent of Ghanas maize varieties were from the laboratories of the institute but was it barely credited for same.



It is not in the culture of scientists to be self-promoting but that has got its bad side. If somebody does not know who you are, you'll be a nobody. That is why I'm calling for us to assert ourselves. If we're marketing ourselves, I'll want a celebrity professor or celebrity research scientist appearing on various TV screens and platforms and promoting a product that is backed by science and data and not somebody's conjecture and I believe that Ghanaians will buy into it.



When you take that path, CSIR will then become very relevant to the Ghanaian polity and most of the things that you request, your minister will not have any difficulty doing the advocacy for you, he said.



Tour

Dr. Afriyie made the admonition when he went on a familiarisation tour of the Food Research Institute (FRI) and the Institute of Industrial Research (IIR) of the CSIR both in Accra.



The essence of his tour was to help him appreciate the operations, achievements and challenges of the facilities in a bid to help the council acquire a facelift.



He visited many laboratories and projects including IIRs project demonstration site of a remotely controlled solar-powered irrigation system using a mobile device.



The minister noted that communication and information will for a long time remain the key to the fight against rural poverty, food insecurity and illiteracy in the 21st century.



It is in line with this that I urge you to consider, in all your deliberations, the element of culture of media programming properly targeted at audience so that the maximum potential of the messages can be realised and not forgetting cultural norms and values of our society. I'm charging you to groom your own scientist celebrities who can engage the public at large, he said.



Amendment



Acknowledging the existence of laws and policies that may be a barrier to his call, the minister expressed his commitment to lead the review of such instruments to make it possible for CSIR to commercialise and make profits.



He said to give meaning to the software component of his ministry, which is innovation, the leadership of the CSIR needed to inundate him with proposals, adding that I'll be your scientific lawyer and if there are laws to amend to make it possible, bring it to my attention.



Challenges



Dr. Afriyie, addressing some of the challenges of the facilities, observed that high electricity bills were a major threat to their operations and needed to be resolved with immediate effect.



He said instead of an expense, electricity should be treated as an input product and a public good.



He, therefore, charged the Director General of CSIR, Professor Victor K. Agyeman, to present a paper on the challenge for resolution because "if we do not take care, electricity bill alone will bring the institution down".



Governments support



The minister said the government was taking steps to improve scientific research and infrastructure in line with its policy of championing development through technology.



There is the need to embark on activities aimed at informing and influencing policy, using concrete evidence and demand from grass roots to call for effective implementation, increase public investment and improvement of accountability mechanism on post-harvest losses.



"The government is taking practical and deliberate steps to ensure that post-harvest management is effectively integrated in all its agricultural programmes such as Planting for Food and Jobs, he added.



Appeal



For his part, the acting Director of CSIR-FRI, Professor Charles Tortoe, averred that his outfit was heavily challenged in spite of its achievements and immense contributions.



He indicated, for instance, that inadequate consultancy and contract research jobs from government and private industries were affecting their internally generated funds, thereby limiting their operations.



We receive very low financial support, we are plagued with very high electricity bill and we operate with inadequate and old processing equipment, he said.



Professor Tortoe, therefore, appealed to the government for immediate and increased support.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ms Josephine Nkrumah, has underscored the importance of civic education campaigns in the growth and development of the country.

As a nation, we must build the mindset of the people through civic education since it is the biggest and most effective tool for development, she said and added that we must invest in making the citizenry more discerning so that they will play their part towards the nations progress.



Ms Nkrumah was speaking at a brief ceremony at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), when management of the university presented 200 pocket-size copies of the 1992 Constitution to the NCCE last Friday.



She stated that the political class should not only be interested in elections or winning the next election but should rather spend enough resources on civic education so that the citizenry would be discerning enough to be part of the governance of the country.



Obviously, if Ghanaians are well-informed through civic education, it will enable the political class to select the right leaders with the vision and passion to govern the nation for the benefit of all, she said.



Lost hope



Ms Nkrumah noted that the absence of an effective civic education campaign by the NCCE (due to logistical constraints) had led to a critical mass of the people losing hope in the leaders and the governance system and as a result not being able to put successive governments on their toes.



Indeed, this is a worrying development which must be nipped in the bud in order for all Ghanaians to put their shoulders to the wheel to contribute their quota towards the growth and development of the nation, she stated.



The change we want to witness as a country must start from the youth through civic education so that they will grow up to play pivotal roles towards the transformation of the nation, she added.



Pro Vice-Chancellor



The Pro Vice-Chancellor of UEW, Professor Andy Ofori-Birikorang, who presented the copies, said although the NCCE had an important role to play in Ghanas democratic dispensation, it had over the years been under-resourced by successive governments.

Source: graphiconline.com









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THE TEMA Regional office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has over the first six months of this year invested GHC989,800 in some major projects in order to improve the supply reliability in its operational areas.



The amount covers five major projects undertaken within the period covering January to June 2021.



The projects include the construction of a link between two of their main overhead sub transmission cables which has now enabled the transfer of load form one feeder to the other in case of repair works, and to ensure continuous power supply, Ing. Emmanuel Appoe, Tema Regional Engineer told DGN Online.



According to him, the beneficiary communities are Communities Twelve, Eleven and parts of Community Six.



Another of the projects had to do with the restoration of faulty underground sub transmission link cables between two substations. This was to ensure that Communities Five, Six and Ten would have better supply of power.



In some areas, the Company realized that the load on the available transformers were getting too heavy, hence, resulting in low voltage to customers in those catchment areas. A number of transformers were added to the existing ones serving Power City and surrounding areas in Prampram, Community 19 and behind the Emef Estate, he said.



He explained further that an amount of GHC142,141.92 out of the total amount above was invested in the upgrading of undersized conductors serving Community 8 and its environs.



Touching on these projects, Ing. Appoe, who also doubles as the current Acting General Manager for Tema Region mentioned that the Company is committed to its mission of providing safe, quality and reliable electricity services in order to support Ghanaians and to live up to our mandate.



He pleaded with developers and the public to desist from encroaching on the right of way where electricity network installations are concerned. This, he said, often leads to unnecessary delays in case of faults repairing, which eventually leads to delayed outage periods.



On the projects which had to do with overloaded transformers being eased, he admonished the public to stop illegal connections and urged people to report suspected cases of illegal connection.



He added that illegal connections are one of the main reasons for transformer overloads, which leads to low voltages for consumers and sometimes, a total breakdown of the transformers, hence, plunging customers into outages till the transformers are replaced.







Source: Daily Guide









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.

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Former National Communication Officer for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Solomon Nkansah says those who have openly and publicly declared their support for former President John Mahama to become the Presidential Candidate for the 2024 general election will have dire consequence on the progress of the party.



According to him, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is in the process of reorganization after the 2020 general elections defeat as many members still have unresolved issues pressing for attention than considering the next Presidential Candidate.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show to set the record straight about the viral information that he is seeking to end Mahamas presidential ambition, Solomon Nkansah said that the focus of his submission has to do with the reorganization of the party as it is important to elect at the party level people who are knowledgeable and possess certain qualities to handle the branches of the party.



He asserted that those spreading the falsehood about him intends to destroy his fortune ahead of the NDCs primaries which he has declared his intention to contest for a position when the nomination is opened.



As we speak, we are not in a Presidential Primaries; we are in the process of the partys reorganization and primaries at the party level and so as a former national executive officer hoping to contest again, if you ask me that who should be the Presidential Candidate for the NDC and I mention a name, I am destroying the party in the sense of unity and the progress of the party, he argued.



Inasmuch as he does not rule out former President John Mahama, coming from the background of mass mobilization trainee, it is imperative for him to know that it is not every NDC member that agrees and support the comeback of the former President.



 . . if we want to approach everyone in the party and be able to go their houses, we should be circumspect about some of the things we say publicly . . . if John Mahama becomes the NDC Flagbearer today which is about 90 per cent sure if he decides to, it will be difficult for anyone who will contest him . . . but I want to be able to approach every member of the NDC who has issues within the party and so I dont have to openly and publicly declare my support for Mahama, he explained.



That open declaration of support for John Mahama will affect the party, and that is our inability to tolerate divergent views. When you stand as a unifier, you will suffer vilification but you should not worry, he encouraged himself.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com









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Former National Communication Officer for the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Solomon Nkansah, has lambasted some members of the Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings (FONKAR) who have returned to the party.



According to him, some of the members of FONKAR who have returned to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and trying hard to gain acceptance in the party have resorted to lies and tagging people as anti-Mahama.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Solomon Nkansah described those FONKAR members as internal unintelligent people who are misusing the strength of Ex-President John Dramani Mahama to feel relevant again after breaking away from the NDC.



He stressed that those who are looking for ways and means to tag him as anti-Mahama for not only openly declaring his support for Mahama in the 2024 election so that he loses the chance of winning the contest in the NDC are wasting their time and energy.



I told you that they are misusing the strength of President Mahama sometimes. These are internal unintelligent people and they think that Solomon Nkansah is going for a contest in the party and so if they tag me as anti-Mahama, I will lose the election. They dont know that the issues they are raising will be a weapon for our opponent and at the right time, they will be used against our Presidential Candidate and the NDC, he noted.



Those who have been saying some people are anti-Mahama are those who destroyed the party when we were in power. Those who set up the FONKAR and came back to the NDC have caused troubles in the party and so they are misapplying the strength of Mahama to win the internal contest. Some of them are in Kumasi, Eastern Region and in Greater Accra. Those FONKAR members dont have any base in the NDC and so they want to misuse the strength of Mahama to gain acceptance by saying that some people are anti-Mahama but in the end, they are destroying the party, he asserted.



He insisted that the FONKAR members who have returned to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are struggling for acceptance in the party; hence, spewing lies and twisting facts in order that they will be considered again.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com









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Former President John Dramani Mahama has said that even though the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is not happy with the conduct of the 2020 elections, it still maintained a level head because the peace of Ghana is more important than anyone in the country.



He said there were many countries, where disputed elections led to civil wars, but for the grace of God Ghana continue to remain peaceful after elections since 1992 because the country cherished peace.



Former President Mahama said this at the palace of Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, during his visit to the Upper West Region as part of his nationwide thank you tour.



He thanked both Traditional and Religious Leaders in the country for their contribution to peace in the country, adding that anytime they were heading into an election, they continued to counsel them to maintain the peace.



He said this had yielded results and that it was his prayer that Ghana would continue to remain peaceful.



He said the PNDC led to the creation of the Upper West Region and that both the PNDC and the NDC had since been principally responsible for most of the infrastructure in the region.



So Im not surprised that in the last elections, if you take all the five regions of the north, the Upper West Region had the highest percentage of votes for the NDC in the Presidential elections with 67 per cent.



We won the Presidential elections in all the 11 constituencies in the region and increased the number of our Parliamentary seats from six to eight seats, he said.



Former President Mahama said this contributed to the partys vote rise nationally from a little above four million in the 2016 elections to almost 6.3 million in the 2020 elections.



He said the party also increased the number of Parliamentary seats from 106 in 2016 to137 in the 2020 elections.



According to the Former President, but for the arm twisting by the military in some constituencies against the NDC, they would have had a clear majority in Parliament.



On the recent floods that destroyed some major roads and cutting off six districts and several communities in the Upper West Region, Mr Mahama called on government to deploy the 48 Engineer Regiment with some emergency action to allow free flow of vehicular traffic.



On the deplorable nature of the Sawla-Wa road, the former President expressed disappointment in the failure of government to maintain the road, adding that when the NDC was in government every year they used to maintain the bad road.



If we dont do anything about it, that road will completely be destroyed and we will have to spend money to construct it again.



Former President Mahama also raised concerns about the failure of government to give the Upper West Regional Hospital seed money to enable it operate at full capacity, and called on government to do so for the hospital operate to full capacity.



Whilst we think about building new hospitals, the capacities of existing ones must be fully utilized, he said.



Wa Naa Pelpuo on his part commended former President Mahama for maintaining statesmanship after the December 2020 elections, noting that his peaceful nature contributed to the peace the country was enjoying.



The Most Reverend Richard Kuuia Baawobr, the Bishop of the Wa Catholic Diocese, thanked Mr Mahama for his contribution to peace in Ghana and indicated their willingness to work with political parties that demonstrated the fear of God and the love for humanity.



The former President was accompanied by his running mate in the 2020 elections, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, Ofosu Ampofo, National Chairman of the NDC, Peter Boamah Ottukono, NDC Deputy General Secretary, some Members of Parliament (MPs) from the region and regional and constituency executives among others.











Source: GNA









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US Vice President, Kamala Harris has blasted China during a speech made in Singapore on the first leg of a South East Asian tour, her very first trip to Asia since becoming VP.



Harris accused China of coercing and intimidating other countries in the South China Sea, which has been a regional flashpoint for years.

Ms Harris criticised China's claims "to the vast majority of the South China Sea," which she said were based on "intimidation and coercion"



"These unlawful claims have been rejected by the 2016 arbitral tribunal decision and Beijing's actions continue to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations," she said.

Harris was talking about a landmark legal victory the Philippines won over China, concerning territorial incursions in the South China sea in 2012.



Since 2012, and despite the tribunal ruling, there has been a constant Chinese Coastguard presence there -with Filipino fishermen reporting harassment by the Chinese authorities.

In recent years, China has been increasingly assertive, rapidly building up its military presence to back up those claims.

Several other countries including Japan claim ownership of various small islands and reefs that line the sea and the to resources in it.



She said the US would "stand with our allies in the face of threats".



Harris' trip is seen as an attempt to reaffirm US commitment to the region.















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THE OPPOSITION National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region is politicizing the COVID-19 vaccination in the country.



According to them, government has adopted biological strategy to reduce the population in the Volta Region hence the absence of COVID-19 vaccination in the area.



The Volta NDC said there is no vaccination ongoing in the region, despite the fact that the vaccination is taking place in other regions of the country.



A statement issued by Sorkpa K. Agbleze, NDC Volta Regional Communications officer put the blame on the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa for unavailability of vaccination in the region.



They are wondering why although the Volta Region has been declared by the Ghana Health Service as a hotspot with worryingly rising cases, yet no vaccination is currently taking place.



Read a press release issued by the Volta NDC on Sunday August 22, 2021



Absence of Covid19 Vaccination in Volta Region: Is it a Biological Strategy by Government to reduce the population of Volta Region?



The NDC in the Volta Region wants to draw the attention of the government to the absence of vaccination in the Volta Region, despite the fact that the vaccination is taking place in other regions of the country.



The Volta Region has been declared by the Ghana Health Service as a hotspot with worryingly rising cases.

Available data show that there are over 1,000 reported cases of the delta variant infection and 241 active cases within the past four weeks in the region.



The NDC in the Volta Region is wondering why a region which has recorded the highest rate of infection, is the region in which no vaccination is currently taking place. Vaccination is taking place in other regions of Ghana, except the region with the highest level of infection. This is absolutely incredible and unacceptable.



The Volta Region has a medical doctor in the person of Dr. Archibald Letsa as its Regional Minister at this time that the novel covid19 virus is ravaging the world. However the no vaccination scenario in the region at this critical moment, provokes the following questions for Dr. Letsa and the Nana Addo government to answer:



1. Is it the case that the Volta Region is not a stronghold of the NPP that is why vaccination is not taking place in the region despite recording the highest infection rate?



2. Is it the case that the deployment of the military and police to the region to suppress Votes in the 2020 elections failed hence the government now wants to allow a biological strategy to reduce the population in the Volta Region?



We do not want to believe that the absence of vaccination in the region is deliberate. For any doubts we have to be put to rest, the government should as a matter of urgency deploy vaccines to the Volta Region to get our people vaccinated. Such a gesture we believe will reduce the growing suspicion of the people of the Volta Region about government intentions towards the region.



Signed



Sorkpa K. Agbleze



Volta NDC Regional Communication officer











Source: Daily Guide









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STC Managing Director, Nana Akomea, has called on the law enforcers in the country to execute their duties effectively.



The 2020 Auditor-General's (AG) report has cited the Ministries of Health and Finance of causing the Ghana Aids Commission to lose funds from major international donors to a sum of $20 million.



Donors such as U.S President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and Global Fund are said to have withdrawn their funds for the Aids Commission.



According to a publication by The Chronicle newspaper on August 24, 2021, ''while PEPFAR withdrew US$19,500,000 from its grants to Ghana, Global Fund on the other hand directed that an amount of US$2,086,456.00 released to the Commission should be returned to it''.



"The financial stability of the Commission and the ability to achieve its mandate had also been affected," a portion of the AG report read.



Discussing the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Nana Akomea believed matters of financial misappropriation, corruption among others are prevalent because the country's laws have been relaxed.



According to him, this is why people get a leeway to misbehave or misconduct themselves in breach of the laws.



He called on the law enforcers to wake up and do their job dutifully stressing that obeying the laws is what builds a disciplined society.



He also cited scenarios where Ghanaians travel abroad and would comply with the laws outside but see nothing wrong with infracting their home country's laws, which, to him, is a bad habit.



Nana Akomea therefore held that, "if the person charged with enforcing the laws fails to do so, he/she should be seriously sanctioned to deter others. You will then see a positive cycle but now it's a negative cycle. The positive cycle means the system will start correcting itself''.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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While more production companies are now making drama series in Australia, they are making substantially fewer than they were in 1999 and foreign conglomerates are taking a bigger share of the drama pie says new research led by QUT. And it's only going to get worse.

The Australian Television Drama Index report concludes the available drama production work and revenue are increasingly diluted, and that the diminished priority on drama from commercial broadcasters hampers the production of series foremost for Australian viewers.

The report was produced by the Making Australian TV in the 21st Century research team, which is funded by an Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant, and a collaboration between researchers in QUT's Digital Media Research Centre (DMRC) and the University of the Sunshine Coast.

It used data from Screen Australia to review the changing landscape of Australian drama production between 1999 and 2019 and covers drama programs broadcast by free-to-air, subscription, and video-on-demand services.

"We found there are now twice as many production companies making drama in Australia than there were in 1999but together they are sharing 20 percent fewer broadcast hours," said Professor Amanda Lotz from QUT's DMRC."

Of the production companies with drama titles broadcast in 2019, exactly one half had produced six hours or fewer and 94 percent produced fewer than 20 hours. So, companies are either short-lived or exist with a multifaceted portfolio of work that includes factual or feature production, or advertising and online production work.

"A healthy production sector prioritizes diversity and sustainability, but it is difficult to accomplish both at the diminished level of production now characteristic of the sector." Co-author QUT's Professor Kevin Sanson added another area that should be of concern to our governments is the scale at which Australian drama producers have been absorbed into foreign conglomerates.

"Australian production companies are decreasingly Australian owned, especially among those producing sizable quantities of adult drama hours," said Professor Sanson.

"Such acquisitions raise questions about the extent to which Australian stories continue to feature in their productions, although they continue to access significant sums of Australian supports. They also leave local companies in a position of being without the significant resources provided by such conglomerates."

"Australian policy does not prioritize Australian-owned companies in the allocation of funding supports and unreliable criteria are used to determine content as 'Australian.'"

The report also revealed the extent to which commercial broadcasters' contribution to Australian drama has diminished. "More than anything else, it is the decrease in adult drama hours commissioned by commercial broadcasters that reshaped Australian television drama between 1999 and 2019, as broadcasters responded to the audience fragmentation and cost increases from the introduction of multichannel services," said Professor Lotz.

"The fall in hours is not so much due to a change in the number of titles being produced but the number of episodes per seriescommercial adult dramas dropped from an average of 21 episodes per title in 1999 to just seven in 2019. That's a 60 percent decrease."

"Despite the ABC expanding its role in drama production, and drama commissions from streaming services such as Netflix and Stan now matching Foxtel's commissions, together they commission only a fraction of what commercial broadcasters provided in the early 2000s. Combined, these new sources of drama production do not come close to replacing the steady falls in what commercial broadcasters offer."

Anna Potter, Associate Professor of creative industries, at the University of the Sunshine Coast added that although children's production remains quite level across the 20 years thanks to quota requirements, live-action hours have been well overtaken by animation since 2006.

"Even more concerning, in 2020, the government removed children's content quotas which is likely to lead to a significant decline in drama production," said Associate Professor Potter.

"We also see that more production companies are creating Australian drama but very few of these companies are sustainable in producing drama alone."

"We hope our report can be taken into consideration for future policy decisions on the subject."

Explore further Netflix: A zebra among horses

More information: Amanda Lotz et al, Australian Television Drama Index, 1999-2019, QUT ePrints (2021). Amanda Lotz et al, Australian Television Drama Index, 1999-2019,(2021). DOI: 10.5204/rep.eprints.212330
Credit: Shutterstock

Around the world, people worried about the impacts of climate change are seeking creative and meaningful ways to transform their urban environments. One such approach is known as "quiet activism."

"Quiet activism" refers to the extraordinary measures taken by ordinary people as part of their everyday lives, to address the climate emergency at the local level.

In the absence of national leadership, local communities are forging new responses to the climate crisis in places where they live, work and play.

As we outline in a book released this month, these responses work best when they are collaborative, ongoing and tailored to local circumstances.

Here are three examples that show how it can be done.

Climate for Change: A Tupperware party but make it climate

Climate for Change is a democratic project in citizen-led climate education and participation.

This group has engaged thousands of Australians about the need for climate actionnot through public lectures or rallies, but via kitchen table-style local gatherings with family and friends.

As they put it: "We've taken the party-plan model made famous by Tupperware and adapted it to allow meaningful discussions about climate change to happen at scale."

Their website quotes "Jarrod," who hosted one such party, saying: "I've been truly surprised by the lasting impact of my conversation amongst friends who were previously silent on the issuewe are still talking about it nine months on."

Climate for Change has published a "climate conversation guide" to help people tackle tricky talks with friends and family about climate change.

It has also produced a resource on how to engage your local MP on climate change.

EnviroHouse: Hands-on community education

EnviroHouse is a not-for-profit organization based in Western Australia committed to local-scale climate action through hands-on community education and engagement projects, such as:

facilitating workshops on energy efficiency

visiting schools on request to provide sustainability services

collecting seeds to grow thousands of she-oaks, paperbarks and rushes along the eroded Maylands foreshore in Perth

teaching workshops on composting, worm farming and bokashi techniques to community members

giving talks on sustainable living

running a home and workplace energy and water auditing program.

Climarte: Arts for a safe climate

Climarte is a group that "collaborates with a wide range of artists, art professionals, and scientists to produce compelling programs for change. Through festivals, events and interventions, we invite those who live, work and play in the arts to join us."

This group aims to create a space which brings together artists and the public to work, think and talk through the implications of climate change.

Why quiet?

Quiet activism raises questions around what it means to be an activist, or to "do activism."

While loud, attention-grabbing and disruptive protests are important, local-scale activities are also challenging the "business as usual" model. These quiet approaches highlight how ordinary citizens can take action every day to generate transformative change.

There is a tendency within climate activism to dismiss "quiet" activities as merely a precursor to bigger, more effective (that is, "louder") political action.

Everyday local-scale activities are sometimes seen as disempowering or conservative; they're sometimes cast as privileging individual roles and responsibility over collective action.

However, a growing range of voices draws attention to the transformative potential of small, purposeful everyday action.

UK-based researcher Laura Pottinger emphasizes that these everyday practices are acts of care and kindness to communityboth human and non-human.

Her interest is a "dirt under the fingernails" kind of activism, which gains strength from a quiet commitment to practical action.

Climate action, here and how

The climate crisis has arrived and urgent action is required.

By creatively participating in local climate action, we can collectively reimagine our experience of, and responses to, the climate emergency.

In doing so, we lay the foundation for new possibilities.

Quiet activism is not a panacea. Like any other form of activism, it can be ineffective or, worse, damaging. Without an ethical framework, it risks enabling only short-lived action, or leading to only small pockets of localized activity.

But when done ethically and sustainablywith long-term impact in mindquiet activism can make a profound difference to lives and communities.

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This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: David Wagner/public domain

A new study has found that the likelihood of owning your own home and becoming a parent has fallen in recent years, with young people just as likely to become parents while living in private rented accommodation. In previous eras, people were more likely to become parents after they became homeowners.

The research by the ESRC-funded Centre for Population Change (CPC) at the University of Southampton questions the usual assumption that people will own their own home before becoming a parent and suggests that increased uncertainty around housing may be the cause.

The study's main findings show that the likelihood of becoming a mother while in owner-occupied accommodation has declined in recent years to the point that, from 2013, there is a clear change in the relationship between owning a home and becoming a parent: it becomes equally likely that a woman will become a mother while living in private rented accommodation. Up until 2012, the likelihood of conceiving a first child was significantly higher for homeowners compared with private tenants. The findings were the same even when the women's socio-economic and demographic characteristics, including partnership status, education, employment status, income and parental social class, were taken into account.

Although the data do not show the underlying reasons, the researchers suggest that owning a home may now be in direct competition with the costs of having children. The majority of owner-occupied homes are purchased with a mortgage, and a higher proportion of income is now used to provide a deposit, service the debt, or to repay (at least partly) money loaned. Homeownership increasingly requires households to have a dual income; buying a home encourages women to attach themselves to the labor market. It could also be that homeowners have become a more select group due to the wider economic uncertainties in society  one characterized by an orientation toward career and material aspirations.

The CPC's Professor Ann Berrington, who led the research, comments that "this disconnection between owning a home and becoming a parent has significant implications for parenthood in general. If it is the case, as we propose, that homeownership is increasingly competing with the costs of having children, then it is likely that those who do manage to buy a home might well postpone or even forego having children. So the families that people may have planned to have will be unfulfilled for many young people now reaching the traditional parenthood ages."

As a result of houses becoming more unaffordable over time, homeownership rates, especially among younger people, have plummeted and the number of people living in private rented accommodation into their late twenties has increased. Private rental tenants have had, and continue to have, very few rights and are subject to upheavals and uncertainty. This may have traditionally put people off starting a family while living in rented accommodation.

Professor Berrington explains that "the private rental housing market in Britain remains un-family friendly, unregulated, and insecure. Housing uncertainty among private renters might arise from the threat of evictions, unregulated increases in rental prices, and the lack of rights around property maintenance and enhancement. What is particularly concerning for the parents of children in a private rental home is that moving house can require moving children from one school to another. With the rise in young people now more likely to be in private rental accommodation when they are of an age to start a family, it is vital that the government implements policies to improve the quality and security of private rented accommodation.

"Policies need to recognize and address the large regional disparities in housing affordability, for example by improving housing availability and affordability in high cost areas, while encouraging job formation in areas of the country where housing is more affordable."

The research team was led by Professor Ann Berrington, with Dr Valentina Tocchioni as lead author, and Daniele Vignoli and Agnese Vitali as co-authors. Valentina is currently supported by European Research Council 'Economic Uncertainty and Fertility in Europe' project (PI Daniele Vignoli).

The study used longitudinal data from 27 years of the British Household Panel Study (BHPS) and its successor the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) to examine women's rates of first birth between 1991 and 2016 in Britain. The sample consisted of 5,082 women living independently from parents born between 1948 and 1997 and residing in 374 Local Authority districts (LADs) of Britain.

The findins were published in Demography.

Explore further Pet-inclusive housing will help tenants and landlords

More information: Valentina Tocchioni et al, The Changing Association Between Homeownership and the Transition to Parenthood, Demography (2021). Journal information: Demography Valentina Tocchioni et al, The Changing Association Between Homeownership and the Transition to Parenthood,(2021). DOI: 10.1215/00703370-9420322
X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Credit: NASA

Jonathan Gilligan, associate professor of Earth and environmental sciences and civil and environmental engineering, and a group of international researchers have illustrated potential international conflicts over climate change.

One of a larger group of studies, this work engaged in a role-playing scenario set in 2040 in which the world has failed to control greenhouse gas emissions and climate change has become increasingly severe. The scenario examined the international political response to a small group of especially vulnerable nations or private actors initiating solar radiation geoengineeringa controversial response to climate change that attempts to reflect sunlight away from the planet to cool it off. In the scenario these nations or actors did not seek the assent of the rest of the world. Two groups of researchers acted as teams of advisers making recommendations to a coalition of "Great Powers"the United States, the Russian Federation, China, the UK, France, Germany and Japanfor how to respond to this threat.

"One group responded aggressively, adopting a perspective characteristic of the 20th century in which these nationspermanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany and Japansaw themselves as the natural leaders of the world seeking to put the vulnerable-nations coalition in its place," Gilligan said. "The other group recognized that the age of great-power hegemony had passed and took a more cooperative and conciliatory position regarding the vulnerable nations coalition."

On the heels of a cataclysmic report on climate change from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Gilligan and his colleagues are delivering yet another warning of the risks of international conflict related to global warming.

When a group of vulnerable nations resorted to geoengineering on their own to combat climate change, the geopolitical response of other nations depended on the perspectives that each brought to its role in the community of nations, Gilligan said. These insights should help policymakers and the public understand the risks of conflict that could arise if the nations of the world fail to control greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Gilligan hopes that understanding these dangers today will give nations and policymakers advance warning of future political risks and will help them develop cooperative approaches to managing climate change in the years ahead.

More information: Felix Schenuit et al, A scenario of solar geoengineering governance: Vulnerable states demand, and act, Futures (2021). Felix Schenuit et al, A scenario of solar geoengineering governance: Vulnerable states demand, and act,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.futures.2021.102809
Green hydrogen is a hope for the energy transition. Successful use, however, requires detailed understanding of its production processes. Credit: Pascal Armbruster, KIT

Using energy from solar modules and wind turbines, water can be split by electrolysis into its constituents hydrogen and oxygen without producing any dangerous emissions. As the availability of energy from renewable sources varies when producing green, i.e. CO 2 -neutral, hydrogen, it is very important to know the behavior of the catalysts under high loading and dynamic conditions.

"At high currents, strong oxygen bubble evolution can be observed on the anode, which aggravates measurement. It has made it impossible so far to obtain a reliable measurement signal," says the first author of the study, Dr. Steffen Czioska from KIT's Institute for Chemical Technology and Polymer Chemistry (ITCP). By combining various techniques, the researchers have now succeeded in fundamentally investigating the surface of the iridium oxide catalyst under dynamic operation conditions. "For the first time, we have studied the behavior of the catalyst on the atomic level in spite of strong bubble evolution," Czioska says. The American Chemical Society (ACS) considers the importance of KIT's publication to the international community to be high and recommends it as the ACS Editor's Choice.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy with synchrotron light

For catalysis, researchers from KIT's ITCP, the Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology, and the Electrochemical Technologies Group of the Institute for Applied Materials combined X-ray absorption spectroscopy for the highly precise investigation of modifications on the atomic level with other analysis methods.

"We have observed regular processes on the catalyst surface during the reaction, because all irregularities were filtered outsimilar to slow speed shooting on a road at nightand we have also pursued dynamic processes," Czioska says. "Our study reveals highly unexpected structural modifications connected to a stabilization of the catalyst at high voltages under dynamic loading," the chemist adds. Iridium oxide dissolution is reduced, the material remains stable.

Findings will contribute to better and more efficient catalysts

Understanding of the processes on the catalyst surface paves the way to further investigation of catalysts at high electric potentials and will contribute to the development of improved and more efficient catalysts meeting the needs of the energy transition, Czioska points out. The study is part of the "Dynakat" priority program funded by the German Research Foundation. This collaboration of more than 30 research groups from all over Germany is coordinated by Professor Jan-Dierk Grunwaldt from ITCP.

Green hydrogen is deemed an environmentally compatible chemical energy storage material and, hence, an important element in the decarbonization of e.g. steel and chemical industries. According to the National Hydrogen Strategy adopted by the Federal Government in 2020, reliable, affordable, and sustainable production of hydrogen will be the basis for its future use.

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More information: Steffen Czioska et al, Increased IrIr Interaction in Iridium Oxide during the Oxygen Evolution Reaction at High Potentials Probed by Operando Spectroscopy, ACS Catalysis (2021). Journal information: ACS Catalysis Steffen Czioska et al, Increased IrIr Interaction in Iridium Oxide during the Oxygen Evolution Reaction at High Potentials Probed by Operando Spectroscopy,(2021). DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.1c02074
Tadpoles gathered around an egg strand cannibalizing the hatchlings in a pond in Australia. Credit: Jayna L. DeVore.

A team of researchers at the University of Sydney has found that invasive cane toad tadpoles have given their species an advantage in Australia by eating the hatchlings of native toads. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes how they tested the willingness of cane toad tadpoles to consume competitors and whether it gave them an advantage.

Researchers have been studying the behavior of invasive species in recent years to learn more about their adaptability and whether it might help some of them survive a warming planet. In this new effort, the researchers have studied the cane toada species native to South America that was introduced into Australia in 1935 as a means for pest control. Since that time, the population of cane toads in Australia has skyrocketed. Prior research has shown that native predators of the toads have not been able to overcome the toxins in the invasive species' skin, leaving them to multiply with abandon. Prior research has also shown that cane toad tadpoles often catch and consume the hatchlings of native toad species, reducing the number of rivals. In this new effort, the researchers wondered if the cane toads had developed this form of cannibalism as a tactic to help them survive in their new environment, or if it was something they had done in their native land. To find out, they carried out a series of tests.

The first test involved capturing hundreds of cane toads in both Australia and their native South Americathe team exposed both to hatchlings native to Australia and found that the hatchlings were more likely to be eaten by cane toads living in Australia. The researchers also tested them another way: they set up traps containing native Australian hatchlings and then counted how many of the cane toad tadpoles from Australia were willing to enter the traps compared to those from South America. The data showed the cane toad tadpoles from Australia were 29.5 times as likely to enter the traps as those living in South America. The researchers suggest this shows that the invasive tadpoles have developed an aggressive tendency to kill and eat a native rival species. A third test showed that the invasive tadpoles developed more rapidly than native tadpoles, giving them the ability to easily overcome native hatchlings.

The researchers suggest their findings indicate that cane toads have developed cannibalism as a means of improving their chances of survival in a new environmentand that it has worked very well for them.

Explore further Cane toad testes smaller at the invasion front

More information: Jayna L. DeVore et al, The evolution of targeted cannibalism and cannibal-induced defenses in invasive populations of cane toads, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jayna L. DeVore et al, The evolution of targeted cannibalism and cannibal-induced defenses in invasive populations of cane toads,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2100765118

 2021 Science X Network
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

When Kilauea Volcano erupted in 2018, lava covered parts of the Island of Hawaii, but a volcanic smog, known as "vog," inundated it. The vog contained dangerous levels of fine particulate matter and sulfur dioxide gas, which threatened the health of the downwind population on the island.

In a new study, a team of scientists used a low-cost air quality sensor network to map the pollution exposure of residents in real time, for the first time. The new solution to measuring air quality could help populations in the future from getting sick, since air pollution is the single largest environmental risk factor for premature mortality worldwide.

"We were able to estimate fine-scale population exposures to multiple pollutants, measure the chemical transformation of volcanic emissions, and provide real-time observations as part of emergency management efforts," said Benjamin Crawford, Ph.D., lead author and assistant professor in the Department of Geography & Environmental Sciences at University of Colorado Denver. Crawford collaborated with researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Hawai'i.

The study was published in the journal PNAS.

Real-time monitoring during a catastrophic event

Prior to 2018, Kilauea Volcano had been erupting continuously on a much smaller scale for the last 35 years. At the end of 2017, Crawford's team began a project to measure the air quality downwind of the smoldering volcano, partnering with local schools to host sensors.

"We thought there was no rush," said Crawford. The team had a handful of low-cost sensor (LCS) prototypes and had begun to lay groundwork on the island when the volcano began to erupt in earnest in May 2018. The group sprang into action. They flew out to the island and built the network in 10 days.

The team used 30 nodes designed and deployed specifically to monitor a mixture of primary volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) gas and secondary particulate matter (PM2.5) that makes up vog. Their study became the first to use a low-cost sensor network in real time during an extreme air quality event.

Tracking the plume's chemical transformation

Downwind of the eruption, the team found that network stations measured peak hourly PM2.5 and SO 2 concentrations that could exceed 75 micrograms per m-3 and 1200 ppb, respectively. The LCS network's density enabled highly granular estimates of human exposure to both pollutants during the eruptionsomething that was impossible using pre-existing air quality measurements.

The plume dynamics exposed a much larger proportion (46.7%) of the island's population to elevated levels of fine PM2.5 than compared to SO 2 (2%). Additionally, the network was able to track the volcanic plume's chemical evolution downwind of the eruption. Measurements found a mean SO 2 conversion time of ~36 hours, demonstrating for the first time the ability of distributed LCS networks to observe reaction kinetics and quantify chemical transformations of air pollutants in a real-world setting.

"We had a good idea where the pollution was going, so we were able to track and measure the plume's chemical transformation," said Crawford. "It was the first time that we could observe both the plume's chemistry and how it traveled downwind. It was gratifying to see our approach work."

Empowering other people to measure air quality

Air quality (AQ) monitoring is critical to understand and ultimately minimize people's exposure to harmful air pollutants; however, surface-based measurements remain relatively sparse in much of the world. That's because most air quality measurements come from networks run by governments, such as states or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. These extremely precise instruments are expensive, which limits the amount of sensors deployed. On the Big Island of Hawaii, there were six permanent monitoring stations in operation before the eruption, one of which lava destroyed early in the eruption.

In contrast, the low-cost sensors in this study are solar-powered, stand-alone units that can communicate through cellular networks and function in remote places. The affordability of the units also makes it so the team could hand them over to the community members to measure the air quality themselves. Whether during a volcanic eruption, wildfires, or everyday urban pollution and smog, giving communities the power to measure data themselves is important.

"There's a demand for this kind of information," said Crawford. "It's a great way to democratize data and let communities monitor air quality violations independent of anyone else. You can empower people with the knowledge to make their own decisions."

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More information: Ben Crawford et al, Mapping pollution exposure and chemistry during an extreme air quality event (the 2018 Kilauea eruption) using a low-cost sensor network, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Ben Crawford et al, Mapping pollution exposure and chemistry during an extreme air quality event (the 2018 Kilauea eruption) using a low-cost sensor network,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2025540118
This rain gauge will measure the amount of liquid precipitation that falls during ARMs Surface Atmosphere Integrated Field Laboratory (SAIL) field campaign in Gothic, Colorado. The measurements from the rain gauge will also help scientists validate precipitation estimates from radar. The SAIL campaign, which will run from September 2021 to June 2023, will help scientists better understand how water is produced and transported in mountainous watersheds. Credit: John Bilberry, Los Alamos National Laboratory

The "megadrought" impacting the Colorado River system this year has been devastating to the 40 million people who rely on it for water. But could this drought have been predicted? Will we be able to predict the next one?

Mountain watersheds provide 60 to 90% of water resources worldwide, but there is still much that scientists don't know about the physical processes and interactions that affect hydrology in these ecosystems. And thus, the best Earth system computer models struggle to predict the timing and availability of water resources emanating from mountains.

Now a team of U.S. Department of Energy scientists led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) aims to plug that gap, with an ambitious campaign to collect a vast array of measurements that will allow scientists to better understand the future of water in the West. The Surface Atmosphere Integrated Field Laboratory (SAIL) campaign will start on September 1, when scientists flip the switch on a slew of machinery that has been amassed in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

Over the course of two falls, two winters, two springs, and a summer, more than three dozen scientific instrumentsincluding a variety of radars, lidars, cameras, balloons, and other state-of-the-art equipmentwill collect a treasure trove of data on precipitation, wind, clouds, aerosols, solar and thermal energy, temperature, humidity, ozone, and more. That data can then be used to turbocharge the capabilities of Earth system models and answer many scientific questions about how, why, where, and when rain and snow will fall. In close collaboration with researchers specializing in Earth's surface and subsurface, the SAIL campaign will help the scientific community understand how mountains extract moisture from the atmosphere and then process the water all the way down to the bedrock beneath Earth's surface. Ultimately, this will provide the tools for scientists to better predict the future availability of water.

"The Upper Colorado River powers more than $1 trillion in economic activity and provides an immense amount of hydroelectric power, but it's very understudied compared to how important it is," said Berkeley Lab scientist Daniel Feldman, the lead SAIL investigator. "We're starting to see really dramatic consequences from the changing water resources, but the details of what is actually going on in these places where the water's coming fromthose details matter, and that's what SAIL is focused on."

From the Arctic to the Rockies

SAIL is a research campaign managed by DOE's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility, a key contributor to climate research with its stationary and mobile climate observatories located throughout the United States and around the world. Much of the equipment being used in SAIL has just returned from a one-year Arctic expedition.

"SAIL is a timely campaign because of the ongoing drought in the Western United States," said Sally McFarlane, DOE Program Manager for the ARM user facility. "The Colorado River is of particular concern because it supplies water to 40 million people. SAIL is bringing together data from ARM and other research programs from within DOE to ultimately help provide insights into the atmospheric processes and land-atmosphere interactions that impact rain and snow in the upper Colorado River watershed."

SAIL is truly a broad, collaborative effort. ARM is co-managed by nine DOE national labs; Los Alamos National Lab leads the overall management and operations of the ARM mobile observatory while scientists from several other DOE labs, including Argonne, Brookhaven, Pacific Northwest, and Oak Ridge National Labs, work closely with Los Alamos and Berkeley Lab to support SAIL science and operations. A number of university researchers from Colorado State University, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UC Davis, Oregon State University, Indiana University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Utah, Desert Research Institute, and Boise State University are also involved in the research.

The instruments are mostly housed in large containers sited in the picturesque mountain town of Gothic, Colorado, an old mining town near Crested Butte, Colorado. The facility is hosted by the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, which is dedicated to research on high-altitude ecosystems. A staff of three technicians will monitor the instruments around the clock.

"This is a profound and incredibly unique opportunity and represents a first-of-its-kind experiment in mountainous systems worldwide, bridging the processes from the atmosphere all the way down to bedrock," said Berkeley Lab scientist Ken Williams, the lead on-site researcher for SAIL.

SAIL science: better models to answer tough questions

Having this volume of data at a wide range of spatial and temporal scales will allow scientists to begin to understand the physical processes that may affect mountain hydrology and answer questions such as how dust, wildfire, hot drought, tree mortality, and other phenomena might affect the watershed. Ultimately, the data will be fed into Earth system models so they can "get the water balance right."

On July 1, 2021, Heath Powers, site manager for the second ARM Mobile Facility, helps set up radiometers for ARMs Surface Atmosphere Integrated Field Laboratory (SAIL) field campaign in Gothic, Colorado. To his right is site technician Wessley King. The SAIL campaign, which will run from September 2021 to June 2023, will provide insights into mountainous water-cycle processes. Data from the radiometers will be used to help determine the sites surface energy balance. Credit: David Chu, Los Alamos National Laboratory

"Our models that predict what future water is going to betheir resolution is now about 100 kilometers [62 miles], but there's a lot of activity that happens in 100 kilometers, a lot of terrain variability, a lot of differences in precipitation, and surface and subsurface processes," Feldman said. "So really the question is, what are all the details that need to go into those big models, so that we can get them to get the water balance right? And that's why this is really excitingwe'll be measuring the inputs and the outputs at a fundamental level to develop a benchmark dataset for the scientific community to evaluate and improve their models."

DOE's Atmospheric System Research (ASR) program works closely with ARM to improve understanding of the key processes that affect the Earth's radiative balance and hydrological cycle.

"ASR research projects during the SAIL campaign will help us learn more about the cloud, aerosol, precipitation, and radiation processes that affect the water cycle in the upper Colorado River watershed," said Jeff Stehr, a DOE Program Manager for ASR. "Ultimately, this work will help us improve climate models so that they can be used to better understand, predict, and plan for threats to water resources in the arid West and globally."

SAIL leverages the substantial efforts that Berkeley Lab has already undertaken in this area: it has been leading field studies at the East River watershed of the Colorado Upper Gunnison Basin since 2014, as part of the DOE-funded Watershed Function Scientific Focus Area project. SAIL will build on that research effort, bringing together a wide range of scientific disciplines to create the world's first bedrock-to-atmosphere mountain integrated field laboratory.

"To have hydrologists working with precipitation process scientists, aerosol researchers working with snow process researchers, that's a really important part here, and it's unique and exciting," Feldman said.

Some of the practical questions the SAIL campaign could help answer include:

How do we plan for a future of low snow or snowfall changing to rainfall? "Our planning for the Colorado River is largely based on historical weather patterns that might be changing, from snow to rain," Feldman said.

How do activities and disturbances in the forest affect water quality and water availability? "It's not just about the total volume of water exiting these systems," Williams said. "We'll also be looking at how land activitiessuch as wildfire and forest managementaffect the concentrations of constituents in the water and overall water quality."

Will dams overflow? The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the federal agency charged with managing dams in the western U.S., will be using the new data coming in from the radar system to help with controlled dam and reservoir operations. Feldman noted: "There have been some pretty scary situations that have arisen when rain falls on snow. The Oroville Dam disaster [in California in 2017] is just one of many such examples."

Additionally, one of the weather radars will be located at a ski area owned by Vail Resorts, a major Colorado ski resort, which could benefit outdoor enthusiasts as well as scientists. And the research will also be useful to organizations such as water utilities and the Bureau of Reclamation that are experimenting with weather modification technologies, such as cloud-seeding.

Other federal agencies join the bandwagon

All the data collected by SAIL will be freely available to researchers. What's more, a bevy of researchers from other federal agencies are undertaking field campaigns in the area with complementary research efforts.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a Department of Commerce agency, has launched a project called SPLASH, or the Study of Precipitation, the Lower Atmosphere and Surface for Hydrometeorology, to improve weather and water prediction in the Colorado mountains and beyond. It will also be making detailed atmospheric co-observations in the SAIL study area.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a Department of Interior agency, has developed an Upper Colorado Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) to provide real-time data on water quantity and quality in more affordable and rapid ways than previously possible, and in more locations.

"It's quite rare for a single research question, the future of water in the West, to integrate the research activities of investigators across multiple federal agencies," Williams noted.

But the scale of the challenge, and the prospect of a low- to no-snow future, calls for nothing less than an all-hands-on-deck response by scientists. "We need to understand the range of risks that we're facing moving forward," Feldman said. "The term 'no-analog future' is a really big one for us."

Explore further Snow can disappear straight into the atmosphere in hot, dry weather
Robertson with PNNLs cube, which is in a protective case. Credit: Andrea Starr/PNNL

During World War II, Nazi Germany and the U.S. were racing to develop nuclear technology. Before Germany could succeed, Allied forces disrupted the program and confiscated some of the cubes of uranium at the heart of it. The ultimate fate of most of that uranium is unknown, but a few cubes thought to be associated with the program are in the U.S. and Europe. Today, scientists report initial results from new methods being developed to confirm their provenance. The techniques might also help with investigations into illicit trafficking of nuclear material.

The researchers will present their results at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

One cube is at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), but no one is sure how it got there, says Jon Schwantes, Ph.D., the project's principal investigator. Through collaborators, including Timothy Koeth, Ph.D., at the University of Maryland, the lab also has access to a few other cubes. "We don't know for a fact that the cubes are from the German program, so first we want to establish that," Schwantes says. "Then we want to compare the different cubes to see if we can classify them according to the particular research group that created them."

In the early 1940s, several German scientists were competing to exploit nuclear fission to produce plutonium from uranium for the war. The teams included Werner Heisenberg's group in Berlin (later moved to Haigerloch to try to avoid Allied troops) and Kurt Diebner's team at Gottow. Uranium cubes were produced to fuel nuclear reactors at these sites. Measuring about 2 inches on each side, hundreds of the cubes were hung on cables submerged in "heavy" water, in which deuterium replaces lighter hydrogen. The scientists hoped radioactive decay of the uranium in the assemblies would unleash a self-sustaining nuclear chain reactionbut the design failed.

U.S. and British forces seized some of the Heisenberg uranium cubes at Haigerloch in 1945, and more than 600 of these cubes were shipped to the U.S. Some may have been used in the U.S. nuclear weapons effortwhich was launched in part due to fears that Germany was developing nuclear weaponsand a few belong to collectors and sites including PNNL. The whereabouts of the others, including hundreds of Diebner cubes, are unknown.

PNNL uses its sample to help train international border guards and nuclear forensics researchers to detect nuclear material. It's labeled as a Heisenberg cube, but support for that assertion is anecdotal, says Brittany Robertson, who is presenting the work at ACS Fall 2021. "We didn't have any actual measurements to back up that claim," says Robertson, a doctoral student who works at the lab. To prove the cube's origins, she began modifying some analytical techniques to combine with Schwantes' established forensic methods. Robertson turned to radiochronometry, the nuclear field's version of a technique that geologists use to determine the age of samples based on radioactive isotope content.

When the cubes were first cast, they contained fairly pure uranium metal. As time passed, radioactive decay transformed some of the uranium into thorium and protactinium. Robertson is adapting a radiochronometry procedure to better separate and quantify these elements in PNNL's cube. Their relative concentrations will show how long ago the cube was made. She is also refining this method to analyze rare-earth element impurities in the object. They could reveal where the original uranium was mined, which might indicate whether it was produced for the Heisenberg or Diebner group.

Meanwhile, Robertson and Schwantes are collaborating with PNNL's Carlos Fraga, Ph.D., to test the cubes' coatings, which the Germans applied to limit oxidation. The PNNL team recently discovered that the cube at the University of Maryland is coated in styrenean unexpected finding since Heisenberg's group used a cyanide-based coating. However, the team has now learned that some of the cubes from Diebner's group, which used a styrene-based coating, were sent to Heisenberg, who was trying to amass more fuel for his reactor. "We're curious if this particular cube was one of the ones associated with both research programs," Schwantes says. "Also, this is an opportunity for us to test our science before we apply it in an actual nuclear forensic investigation."

While the scientists are intrigued about working with material from the dawn of the nuclear age, these objects are undeniably linked to a horrific time in history. "I'm glad the Nazi program wasn't as advanced as they wanted it to be by the end of the war," Robertson says, "because otherwise, the world would be a very different place."

Explore further Forensic investigation of uranium from German nuclear projects from the 1940s

More information: Nuclear forensic analysis to confirm the pedigree of U metal cubes allegedly recovered from Nazi Germany's nuclear program, ACS Fall 2021.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Analysis conducted at UNSW Canberra has demonstrated that a new space-based Earth observation system would be a valuable piece of infrastructure for monitoring and managing Australia's inland and coastal waterbodies.

The scoping study was one of the first steps in the AquaWatch Australia water quality management mission being developed as a joint initiative between CSIRO, Australia's national science agency and the SmartSat Cooperative Research Center (CRC). It was conducted at Australia's premier space mission development center, the Australian National Concurrent Design Facility (ANCDF) at UNSW Canberra.

ANCDF Manager and Space Systems Engineer Denis Naughton said the infrastructure could include a constellation of satellites and a network of ground-based sensors and that the study provided an understanding of the project's challenges and potential solutions.

"We were able to identify a system design that addresses those requirements and is feasible to construct, commission and operate," Mr Naughton said.

"The consolidated technical solution for the operational AquaWatch satellites would require further detailed engineering analyses of the mission."

CSIRO's AquaWatch Australia mission leader Dr. Alex Held commented: "This preliminary system design report will underpin our approach to establishing the integrated space and ground infrastructure, and inform our analysis of domestic technical capability to build such purpose-designed Earth observation satellites. This will help drive the development of local advanced manufacturing, support the growth in Earth observation data analysis, modeling and applications."

Data gathered from space provides critical insights about water quality and natural events including toxic algal blooms, the contamination of drinking water and excess runoff from irrigation.

Earth observation satellites currently only provide 6070 percent coverage for major Australian water bodies, and while the quality of some inland waterways is monitored directly by testing, this data is not routinely combined with satellite data.

AquaWatch aims to complement existing systems and build a comprehensive national monitoring system to deliver real-time updates, predictive analytics and forecast warnings to water managers.

SmartSat CRC's Chief Executive Officer, Prof Andy Koronios said: "The Concurrent Design Facility is an extremely important space infrastructure for the whole nation. Our partner, UNSW-Canberra should be congratulated for establishing such an important facility and for completing this study on behalf of SmartSat and CSIRO.

AquaWatch is a partnership between CSIRO and SmartSat which aims to use space technologies to provide continuous monitoring of the quality of Australia's fresh and coastal water bodies; a critical national resource.

"The outcomes could lead to a step-change in Australia's national water quality information delivery, supporting decision makers in water agencies, local communities, water utilities and commercial water users to provide safe drinking water, regulate contamination events, and monitor water quality across primary industry and assist with management of aquaculture farms, reef structures and our coastal environs."

The study brought together experts from a range of institutions, with the ANCDF enabling each member of the group to contribute their part to the project simultaneously, significantly speeding up the design process.

The Preliminary Concept Study for the Satellite Segment of AquaWatch Australia report was published today by UNSW Canberra and will inform the upcoming Australian Space Agency's Earth Observations from Space Technology Roadmap.

Explore further World-leading CubeSat satellites launched

More information: Preliminary Concept Study for the Satellite Segment of AquaWatch Australia. Preliminary Concept Study for the Satellite Segment of AquaWatch Australia. www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/sites/def  _Report_Final__0.pdf
A research team from Chemnitz University of Technology, IFW Dresden and IPF Dresden present a biocompatible energy storage device in the current issue of Nature Communications. In the picture: An array of 90 tubular nano-biosupercapacitors (nBSCs) on the fingertip enable autarkic operation of sensors in blood. Credit: Research Group Prof. Dr. Oliver G. Schmidt

The miniaturization of microelectronic sensor technology, microelectronic robots or intravascular implants is progressing rapidly. However, it also poses major challenges for research. One of the biggest is the development of tiny but efficient energy storage devices that enable the operation of autonomously working microsystemsin more and more smaller areas of the human body for example. In addition, these energy storage devices must be bio-compatible if they are to be used in the body at all. Now there is a prototype that combines these essential properties. The breakthrough was achieved by an international research team led by Prof. Dr. Oliver G. Schmidt, Professorship of Materials Systems for Nanoelectronics at Chemnitz University of Technology, initiator of the Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) at Chemnitz University of Technology and director at the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW) Dresden. The Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF) was also involved in the study as a cooperation partner.

In the current issue of Nature Communications, the researchers report on the smallest microsupercapacitors to date, which already functions in (artificial) blood vessels and can be used as an energy source for a tiny sensor system to measure pH.

This storage system opens up possibilities for intravascular implants and microrobotic systems for next-generation biomedicine that could operate in hard-to-reach small spaces deep inside the human body. For example, real-time detection of blood pH can help predict early tumor growing. "It is extremely encouraging to see how new, extremely flexible, and adaptive microelectronics is making it into the miniaturized world of biological systems," says research group leader Prof. Dr. Oliver G. Schmidt, who is extremely pleased with this research success.

The fabrication of the samples and the investigation of the biosupercapacitor were largely carried out at the Research Center MAIN at Chemnitz University of Technology.

"The architecture of our nano-bio supercapacitors offers the first potential solution to one of the biggest challengestiny integrated energy storage devices that enable the self-sufficient operation of multifunctional microsystems," says Dr. Vineeth Kumar, researcher in Prof. Schmidt's team and a research associate at the MAIN research center.

Smaller than a speck of dustvoltage comparable to a AAA battery

Ever smaller energy storage devices in the submillimeter rangeso-called "nano-supercapacitors" (nBSC)  for even smaller microelectronic components are not only a major technical challenge, however. This is because, as a rule, these supercapacitors do not use biocompatible materials but, for example, corrosive electrolytes and quickly discharge themselves in the event of defects and contamination. Both aspects make them unsuitable for biomedical applications in the body. So-called "biosupercapacitors (BSCs)" offer a solution. They have two outstanding properties: they are fully biocompatible, which means that they can be used in body fluids such as blood and can be used for further medical studies.

In addition, biosupercapacitors can compensate for self-discharge behavior through bio-electrochemical reactions. In doing so, they even benefit from the body's own reactions. This is because, in addition to typical charge storage reactions of a supercapacitor, redox enzymatic reactions and living cells naturally present in the blood increase the performance of the device by 40%.

Currently, the smallest such energy storage devices are larger than 3 mm3. Prof. Oliver Schmidt's team has now succeeded in producing a 3,000 times smaller tubular nBSC, which, with a volume of 0.001 mm3 (1 nanolitre), occupies less space than a grain of dust and yet delivers up to 1.6 V supply voltage for microelectronic sensors. This energy can be used for a sensor system in the blood, for example. The power level also is roughly equivalent to the voltage of a standard AAA battery, although the actual current flow on these smallest scales is of course significantly lower. The flexible tubular geometry of the nano-biosupercapacitor provides efficient self-protection against deformations caused by pulsating blood or muscle contraction. At full capacity, the presented nano-biosupercapacitor can operate a complex fully integrated sensor system for measuring the pH value in blood.

Thanks to origami structure technology: Flexible, robust, tiny

In the cover story of the scientific journal "Nature Electronics" (spring 2020), an international research team led by Prof. Dr. Oliver G. Schmidt presented the world's smallest microelectronic robot. Credit: Chemnitz University of Technology

Origami structure technology involves placing the materials required for the nBSC components on a wafer-thin surface under high mechanical tension. When the material layers are subsequently detached from the surface in a controlled manner, the strain energy is released and the layers wind themselves into compact 3D devices with high accuracy and yield (95%). The nano-biosupercapacitors produced in this way were tested in three solutions called electrolytes: Saline, blood plasma, and blood. In all three electrolytes, energy storage was sufficiently successful, albeit with varying efficiency. In blood, the nano-biosupercapacitor showed excellent lifetime, holding up to 70% of its initial capacity even after 16 hours. A proton exchange separator (PES) was used to suppress the rapid self-discharge.

Performance stability even under realistic conditions

In order to maintain natural body functions in different situations, the flow characteristics of the blood and the pressure in the vessels are under constant change. Blood flow pulsates and varies according to vessel diameter and blood pressure. Any implantable system within the circulatory system must withstand these physiological conditions while maintaining stable performance.

The team therefore studied the performance of their developmentsimilar to a wind tunnelin so-called microfluidic channels with diameters of 120 to 150 m (0.12 to 0.15 mm) to mimic blood vessels of different sizes. In these channels, the researchers simulated and tested the behavior of their energy storage devices under different flow and pressure conditions. They found that the nano-biosupercapacitors can provide their power well and stably under physiologically relevant conditions.

Self-contained sensor technology can support diagnosticssuch as tumor diagnostics

The hydrogen potential (pH) of blood is subject to fluctuations. Continuous measurement of the pH can thus help in the early detection of tumors, for example. For this purpose, the researchers developed a pH sensor that is supplied with energy by the nano-biosupercapacitor.

The 5 m thin film transistor (TFT) technology previously established in Prof. Oliver Schmidt's research team could be used to develop a ring oscillator with exceptional mechanical flexibility, operating at low power (nW to W) and high frequencies (up to 100MHz).

For the current project, the team used a nBSC based ring oscillator. The team integrated a pH-sensitive BSC into the ring oscillator so that there is a change in output frequency depending on the pH of the electrolyte. This pH-sensitive ring oscillator was also formed into a tubular 3D geometry using the "Swiss-roll" Origami technique, creating a fully integrated and ultra-compact system of energy storage and sensor.

The hollow inner core of this micro sensor system serves as a channel for the blood plasma. In addition, three nBSCs connected in series with the sensor enable particularly efficient and self-sufficient pH measurement.

These properties open up a wide range of possible applications, for example in diagnostics and medication.

More information: Yeji Lee et al, Nano-biosupercapacitors enable autarkic sensor operation in blood, Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications Yeji Lee et al, Nano-biosupercapacitors enable autarkic sensor operation in blood,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24863-6

Provided by Chemnitz University of Technology
Buchanan-fitted growth curves for Debaryomyces hansenii (A), Yarrowia lipolytica (B), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (C), and Kluyveromyces marxianus (D) inoculated at 10 cfu/mL into yogurt produced without (bold lines) and with (thin lines) bioprotective culture and stored at 7C (full lines) or 16C (dotted lines). The X indicates that due to missing raw data, no model could be fitted for D. hansenii grown in the presence of bioprotective culture at 16C. Credit: DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-20076

Spoilage of yogurt by yeast poses a problem for the dairy industry that includes economic losses from wasted product. Understanding the effects of factors such as storage conditions, yeast species, and bioprotective cultures on yeast spoilage can help yogurt producers make decisions that improve quality and minimize loss. In an article appearing in the Journal of Dairy Science, scientists from the University of Copenhagen, Chr. Hansen A/S, and Cornell University developed predictive models that evaluate the effects of a bioprotective culture on yogurt spoilage.

Between 11% and 25% of dairy products are wasted globally, in part due to fungal spoilage. One method to reduce fungal spoilage is to add food cultures known to have bioprotective effects that delay growth of unwanted microorganisms during shelf life. The authors of this study were the first to develop Monte Carlo simulation models to estimate yogurt spoilage caused by yeast that included the initial contamination level, different yeast species, storage conditions, and the addition of food cultures with bioprotective effects.

"These predictive models allowed for prediction of yogurt spoilage caused by different yeast species, as well as the effect of including bioprotective culture in a yogurt product to reduce yeast spoilage," said first author Line Nielsen, Ph.D., Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark. "Such models can help yogurt producers understand how different parameters influence product quality and use these results to support decision making in yogurt quality management."

The models from this study are able to predict the amount of spoiled product when four common spoilage yeast strains are present in a production (Debaryomyces hansenii, Yarrowia lipolytica, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Kluyveromyces) at different storage temperatures, with or without a bioprotective culture containing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus over a 30-day storage period. Although the researchers found the effect of the bioprotective culture was most pronounced at 7 degrees Celsius for all yeasts compared to 16 degrees Celsius, the yeast strain had the largest effect of the efficacy of the bioprotective culture. The Monte Carlo models were validated with actual data from a European dairy.

Nielsen added, "If a dairy has a problem with a yeast strain known to have a similar growth-inhibition pattern in the presence of a bioprotective culture as one of the yeast strains tested in this study, the data from this strain can be used in the model to predict an expected spoilage level relevant for the specific dairy; therefore, the predictive model can be used as a tool that allows the industry to better evaluate the potential of improving control of fungal soilage by using bioprotective cultures at specific production settings."

The study presents a valuable tool to assist in management decisions that can help to reduce economic losses due to food waste. Additionally, the methods used for model development can be used further for creating new and improved models.

Explore further A solution to prevent beer bottle explosions

More information: Line Nielsen et al, Development of predictive models evaluating the spoilage-delaying effect of a bioprotective culture on different yeast species in yogurt, Journal of Dairy Science (2021). Journal information: Journal of Dairy Science Line Nielsen et al, Development of predictive models evaluating the spoilage-delaying effect of a bioprotective culture on different yeast species in yogurt,(2021). DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-20076
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Homelessness has a lasting impact on educational outcomes for K-12 students, and up to 88% of Detroit children experiencing homelessness are not identified by their schools and offered extra support, according to new analysis from the University of Michigan's Poverty Solutions.

The new databook, "The Educational Implications of Homelessness and Housing Instability in Detroit" offers insights into the underidentification of students experiencing homelessness in Detroit and the connections between homelessness and chronic absenteeism, mid-year school transfers, graduation and dropout rates, school discipline rates, access to public assistance, and likelihood of entering the foster care system.

Across educational indicators, students who experienced homelessness struggled more than their housed peersand these challenges persisted even after stable housing was found. However, the data show exceptions to this overarching trend, which indicates schools' responses can make a difference for students who have been homeless.

"These findings can help schools decide how to spend the additional $800 million designated in the American Rescue Plan Act for identifying and supporting students experiencing homelessness. The funding provides a real opportunity not only to identify children who are homeless and support them in school, but to connect families with resources that could fundamentally end their homelessness," said Jennifer Erb-Downward, lead author of the databook and senior research associate at Poverty Solutions who studies child and family homelessness.

The databook provides previously unavailable data comparing the educational outcomes for students who have experienced homelessness with their housed peers at Detroit Public Schools Community District, Detroit's charter schools and statewide for school years 200910 through 201718; these are the most recent research-ready data available that include a student's housing status.

The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act guarantees equal access to public education for homeless children and youth. The act defines homeless children and youth as those who "lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." This includes children whodue to loss of housing or economic hardshipare staying in hotels, motels, trailer parks, campgrounds, doubled up in another person's housing, emergency or transitional shelters, or any place not meant for human habitation (such as cars, public spaces or abandoned buildings).

Students experiencing homelessness have certain educational rights under the McKinney-Vento Act, such as the right to immediately enroll in school, even if they don't have all the required documents; to remain in their school of origin, even as their housing situation changes; transportation to and from school; priority in early education; participation in extracurriculars; and other additional supports as needed, like tutoring or school supplies.

"Failing to identify when students experience homelessness deprives children of their legal rights to an equal education. Underidentification of homeless students also means educators and schools don't have essential information about the barriers that children and their families may face," Erb-Downward said.

The data show the negative impact of failing to identify students experiencing homelessness. Key findings from Erb-Downward's analysis include:

Underidentification is a problem. While Detroit schools identified 1,785 children as homeless in SY 201718, between 7,000 and 14,000 school-age children are estimated to have been homeless that year. This means up to 88% of those children were not identified as homeless by their school.

In Detroit, Black students were at a greater risk of homelessness than their peers of other races, accounting for 86% of students who were homeless but only 82% of students overall. The history of discriminatory financial and housing policies is visible in the housing struggles faced by families today.

Suspensions and expulsions in Detroit accounted for 12% of all disciplinary actions statewide despite the fact that students in Detroit only made up 6% of all students in the state. Formerly homeless students in Detroit face the highest disciplinary action rates, with 1 in 4 suspended or expelled in SY 201718.

Only 50% of Detroit students who were homeless during high school graduated on time, compared to an average graduation rate of 73%. Just over half (55%) of students who experienced homelessness during middle school graduated after four years of high school, even when students were housed throughout their high school years.

Statewide, students who were homeless in SY 201415 were 14 times more likely to enter foster care in SY 201516 than students who were not homeless the previous school year. Homelessness and poverty alone are not supposed to be reasons to remove children from their families, so understanding why rates of foster care entry are so much higher for children experiencing homelessness is critical to the state's child welfare system.

The databook also includes recommendations on how to improve supports for students experiencing homelessness, drawing from the knowledge of educators at schools that see better educational outcomes for those students.

"The databook provides a comprehensive understanding of the scope of homelessness within Detroit's school system. The information will assist Detroit's school system and homeless systems to strengthen the work happening to ensure all children experiencing homelessness in the Detroit school system are properly identified as such and provided with the resources they're entitled to," said Catherine Distelrath, manager of CAM, Detroit's local coordinated entry system for homelessness assistance.

Supported by the McGregor Fund and Skillman Foundation, the databook has been in development since 2019 as part of Poverty Solutions' broader homelessness agenda. Initial analysis for the databook revealed the underidentification of students experiencing homelessness in Detroit, which led to a new automatic referral system that connects the city's homeless shelter system and school homeless liaisons.

"Students and families experiencing homelessness have fallen through the cracks for too long, even when there is a federal framework guaranteeing their right to continuity of education and related resources," said Vanessa Samuelson, director of learning and reporting at the McGregor Fund.

"The McGregor Fund's investment in this foundational analysis was made to draw attention to the significant consequences an experience of homelessness can have for students and provide accurate and actionable information to spur the development of the necessary responses."

Explore further What the pandemic stimulus means for children who are homeless

More information: The report is available online: The report is available online: sites.fordschool.umich.edu/pov  -in-Detroit-2021.pdf
Researchers studying lava deposits in Greenland. Credit: Milo Barham

Curtin University research has found that a surge in volcanic activity 56 million years ago not only triggered a major global warming event turning polar regions into a lush tropical landscape, but also altered the shape of the Earth's continents thereby restricting the flow of water between oceans.

Co-author Dr. Milo Barham, from the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group within Curtin's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences said the research team traveled to remote northeast Greenland to undertake the research.

"This remote area is relatively underexplored geologically, despite being at a critical position for understanding volcanic activity and the exchange of water between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, so it was incredibly important for us to actually be there," Dr. Barham said.

"Our work during recent Northern Hemisphere summers involved mapping sedimentary and volcanic units over hundreds of kilometers of East Greenland by helicopter and on foot, collecting sediment samples and taking them to the lab to extract micro-fossils of plants and plankton. We combined information from offshore drillcore and seismic images to map the continuation of important boundaries in buried geology.

"From these we found that volcanic activity and the resulting uplift of the edge of the Greenland continent 56 million years ago led to the formation of a new tropical landscape and narrowing of the seaway connecting the Atlantic and Arctic oceans.

"So not only did the spike in volcanic activity produce an increase in greenhouse gasses, but the restriction of the seaway also reduced the flow of water between the oceans, disturbing heat distribution and the acidity of the deeper ocean."

Lead author Dr. Jussi Hovikoski from the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) said the findings also helped explain profound changes to the distribution of land-based animal species, which occurred throughout northern hemisphere continents at this time.

"The volcanic surge also changed the shape of Earth's continents, creating 'land bridges' or narrowed straits, and enabling crucial migration responses for mammalian species such as early primates, to survive climate change," Dr. Hovikoski said.

Dr. Barham said improved understanding of this greenhouse interval could help better predict and reduce negative impacts of current human-driven climate change.

"Recent studies have reported alarming signs of weakening ocean circulation, such as the Gulf Stream, which is an ocean current important to global climate and this slowing may lead to climatic 'tipping points' or irreversible changes to weather systems," Dr. Barham said.

"As fires and floods increasingly ravage our ever-warming planet, the frozen north of eastern Greenland would seem an unlikely place to yield insights into a greenhouse world. However, the geological record there provides crucial understanding of environmental and ecological responses to complex climate disturbances."

Dr. Barham is also affiliated with The Institute for Geoscience Research (TIGeR), Curtin's flagship Earth Sciences research institute.

The paper, "Paleocene-Eocene volcanic segmentation of the Norwegian-Greenland seaway reorganized high-latitude ocean circulation," was published in Communications Earth & Environment.

Explore further Ocean current system seems to be approaching a tipping point

More information: Jussi Hovikoski et al, Paleocene-Eocene volcanic segmentation of the Norwegian-Greenland seaway reorganized high-latitude ocean circulation, Communications Earth & Environment (2021). Journal information: Communications Earth & Environment Jussi Hovikoski et al, Paleocene-Eocene volcanic segmentation of the Norwegian-Greenland seaway reorganized high-latitude ocean circulation,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-021-00249-w
Prime Minister Theresa May speaking at the start of the debate on the second meaningful vote on the governments Brexit deal in the House of Commons in 2019. Credit: Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, U.S. President George W. Bush's approval ratings shot up from near 50 percent to over 80 percent. High-profile, international terrorist attacks typically produce this effect, which political scientists call a "rally 'round the flag"constituents increase their support for incumbent presidents and prime ministers when their country is met with a serious national security threat.

Does this increase in support come about when the head of state is a woman? Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Political Science Elizabeth J. Zechmeister and fellow researchers Mirya Holman and Jennifer Merolla sought to answer this question in a study recently published in the American Political Science Review.

"In general, voters associate leadership with masculinity and men with the trait of strong leadership. On average, people threatened by terrorism prefer strong, masculine leadership, which places women leaders at a disadvantage in those contexts," Zechmeister said. "If voters do not see women as inherently strong leaders, especially during national security crisis, they can hold women to a higher standard after a major terrorist attack. Women leaders may not get the increased support that men leaders tend to get."

The 2017 bombing at Manchester Arena in the U.K., during Prime Minister Theresa May's administration, served as a perfect test case for the conventional hypothesis that the "rally 'round the flag" dynamic will apply to all heads of government, regardless of gender. The arena attack killed 23 people and wounded at least another 250, making it the deadliest terrorist event on U.K. soil since the 2005 bombings in the London Tube. In elections that occurred soon after the terrorist event, May's Conservative Party lost seats in Parliament. That result is counter to the prevailing theory, and it affirms what Zechmeister and her colleagues refer to as their "gender-revised" rally framework.

Using survey data from the British Election Study, the longest running social science survey in the U.K., which sampled more than 16,000 respondents on a rolling basis before and after the Manchester bombing in 2017, Zechmeister's team found that May did not benefit with an increase in support after the bombing. Support for her declined instead, with losses most pronounced among those who hold negative views of women. This theory held when the scholars analyzed the relationship between large international terrorist attacks and executive approval in another 66 countries. May's case fits with Zechmeister and her colleagues' theory that gendered evaluations of political leaders place women executives and their parties at a disadvantage when terrorists strike.

Terrorist attacks may be particularly damaging to sitting women political leaders. The voting public prefers strong, resolute leadership in the face of national security threatstraits that the public associates with men and men who are politicians. Feminine traits associated with women are found to be undesirable in leadership roles associated with war, violence and terrorism.

"We found that voters punished May and her political party because of the attack," Zechmeister said. "And communities closer to Manchester were less likely to support the Conservative Party. Understanding these dynamics matters because executive approval matters. Approval provides the political currency that leaders need to achieve their goals in office and can have downstream consequences for the leader's party."

Zechmeister said their future research could consider whether there are situations in which women executives are able to hold gender bias at bay, and how so. The degree to which the public holds women to different standards in an economic or public health crisis (such as the COVID-19 pandemic, for example) is worthy of additional study. It may be, in fact, that women executivesdisadvantaged when terrorists strikeare more prone to receive rallies under other types of national crises.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Manatee deaths reported in the past half-century include nearly 5,000 from boat strikes, water structures and red tides.

Across that span of mortalities tied to human activities, there has never been a die-off as gruesome as from December through May, when 677 carcasses were counted along Florida's east coast. Half were in Brevard County's portion of the Indian River, a coastal lagoon in biological collapse from pollution.

Partly because of the pandemic, necropsies were not done on two-thirds of the dead in Brevard. But by February, authorities had learned that winter cold was not the culprit. They knew from manatees' contorted bodies and from finding nearly no seagrass in the lagoon they were dying of malnutrition.

Widely beloved as irresistibly cuddly, manatees are among Florida's strongest, hardiest creatures, able to heal from vicious propeller wounds.

Death by starvation is as inhumane as any of the assaults Florida has inflicted on manatees. Caretakers said suffering lasted months. Many lost nearly half of their weight. While still alive, bones pierced thinning skin and, remarkable to veterinarians, heart, liver and other organs were liquifying.

To survive, the animals consumed their fat and muscle. They lost buoyancy and, becoming too exhausted to swim, could no longer raise their heads for air.

An untold number survived, but emaciated. Experts fear their poor health will slow the species' reproduction for years.

Of rescue efforts for 80 manatees, a task requiring 10 personnel for each animal, many were too far gone: seven died during rescue and eight died in intensive care. So far, 37 have been revived and put back in the wild.

Here are four takeaways from the die-off, which threatens to repeat itself, according to authorities, who lack experience, quick solutions or even a plan for some of the challenges ahead.

Martine de Wit, a veterinarian with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, has determined many specific causes of manatee deaths often with painstaking examination. The root cause behind the hundreds that starved, she said, is plainly "an ecosystem in trouble."

Bottle babies

Jon Peterson, who oversees rescued wildlife at SeaWorld Orlando, said raising an orphaned manatee baby, or neonate, for release back into the wild takes three years.

"I'm going to spend probably somewhere around $600,000 on every neonate that comes in," Peterson said.

From December through May, 19 orphans were brought to care facilities, with 13or nearly three times the average numberfrom the state's east coast.

"We will bottle-feed every three hours for the first year," Peterson said. "We will start giving them a little bit of lettuce at about month three. At about a year, we start transitioning, we get them out in our exhibit, where we literally go hands-off."

As Peterson spoke, two SeaWorld caregivers fed a pair of orphans, a male and a female rescued in May. Each was consuming about 40 ounces of formulaa concoction of oils, vitamins and nutrients but not true milkdaily. It takes a month for babies to learn to drink from a bottle.

There are 18 public and private organizations that share in the cost and effort of rescuing and caring for manatees. Of that partnership, four provide acute care: Jacksonville Zoo, Miami Seaquarium, SeaWorld and ZooTampa. They are at maximum capacity.

A manatee stricken by red tide or hit by a boat may take several months to recover.

"Do you know how long it takes us to rehab a starving animal?" Peterson said. "I'm going to put you at six to seven months worth of work to get them back up and maybe a year, depending on how quickly I get them."

Some have come in at 800 pounds. They should weigh 1,400 to 1,600 pounds. It takes weeks to stabilize them, using high-level medical skills. If all goes well, they will begin to gain about 10 to 20 pounds a week.

"They have been eating their body from the inside, trying to stay alive because there is no food. I don't know if it hurts them because I'm not a manatee but I can tell you that if you haven't eaten for a week or two weeks, there is pain," Peterson said.

Peterson pointed out an adult female rescued Aug. 1 from the Indian River near Titusville.

She was breathing rapidly, stationary and listing to one side. "She's so heavy with no fat in her that she can't float easily," Peterson said.

The tank she was in has an adjustable floor that was raised to hold the manatee in shallow water, enabling her to tilt her head back to breathe.

Peterson said when the manatee was brought in, bones of her pectoral fins had broken through what had been tough skin. That was from pushing off the lagoon bottom to get to the surface to breathe.

"That doesn't happen in a day or two," Peterson said. "That's weeks of rubbing and tearing from trying to push up."

"A manatee has the ability to survive what most all other animals would never survive. Tougher than a dolphin all day long. Tougher than turtles. Tougher than most of the birds," Peterson said. "Their ability to work through stress and not crash is unbelievable."

He estimated the Titusville manatee had a 40 percent chance of living.

Seagrass famine

Lauren Hall is one of Florida's top researchers of seagrasses. She is from the St. Johns River Water Management District and oversees monitoring and mapping of seagrass in the Indian River.

In early August, she took an Orlando Sentinel reporter in a boat to an area of the lagoon four miles east of Titusville and a half-mile from wetlands buffering Kennedy Space Center.

Hall and her crew took the same reporter to the same spot six years ago.

At that time, the Indian River already had suffered convulsions of seagrass losses. But the seagrass there in 2015 still offered a carpet of green for grazing manatees.

In the recent outing, Hall set out with a snorkel and mask in a practiced search for seagrass under a few feet of water.

What she found is the nexus of everything wrong with the lagoon.

Through the lens of a mask in lightly clouded waters, the lagoon floor largely resembled desert sands.

Here and there, Hall pointed out shoots of seagrass as thick as eyelashes, inches long and dark green. She found a modest rebound of seaweed called Caulerpa, which can anchor the lagoon's sandy bottom as a precursor for the return of seagrass.

Hall was encouraged by the seagrass she found, though it might have equated to 1 percent of natural coverage. "We're seeing those patches every 5 to 7 meters. Now it just needs to fill in the gaps."

For decades, the lagoon has been afflicted by the usual Florida maladies: urban storm water, agricultural runoff, lawn and farm fertilizers, too many septic tanks and leaky sewer systems.

Brevard's share of lagoon gets no ocean tidal flushing. Pollution draining to the Indian River stays there.

By the start of this century, the abuse was exacting an alarming price.

The pollution spawned massive, intermittent and unpredictable outbreaks of microscopic algae, which darkened the water and cast lethal shade on seagrass and seaweed.

Larry Williams, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's ecological director in Florida, fears an ominous turn.

"There's the idea of an ecological shift to an alternative steady state. And what they mean is that the prior ecology was a clear-water system where sunlight could get down through the water and get to the seagrass," Williams said.

"In other parts of the world, they've seen systems like that shift to a new, steady state of murky water dominated by algae," he said. "Some of the scientists say that what we are seeing right now is the flickering transition to that new, steady state."

In the past decade, nearly 58% of seagrass bedsor 46,000 acreshas vanished from the Indian River Lagoon. Remaining beds contain about 10% of the original amount of seagrass.

Hall and other water district staffers track changes in seagrass by following a strict routine of returning to the same transects, or straight lines from shore into deeper waters.

There are 97 transects in the lagoon as long as 1,400 meters, depending on the extent of seagrass. The transect where Hall snorkeled had extended to 1,100 meters.

"If we were to give the transect a length now, we would call it zero," Hall said after returning to the boat.

$5 billion repair

Chuck Jacoby, a St. Johns water district scientist who accompanied Hall, said millions of dollars from many agencies and levels of government have begun to underwrite lagoon restoration.

But with the time-consuming planning and execution that go with restoration projects, there is Florida's environmental axiom: easy to break and difficult to repair. "People are hammering as hard as they can," Jacoby said.

In all, a campaign to revive clear water, lush seagrass, rich oyster and clam beds, and thriving populations of sea turtles and manatees, won't be as epic as remaking the Evergladesdescribed as the world's biggest nature fixbut it could be in the same league.

Duane De Freese is executive director of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, a collaboration of federal, state, county and other stakeholders.

The lagoon, from ribbon-thin to miles wide and extending 150 miles from New Smyrna Beach to Jupiter, is repairable, he said.

Doing so will require an estimated $5 billion and 20 years or more, De Freese said.

"We need to focus hard on the plumbing," De Freese said. "Septic, storm water, both urban storm water and the larger, stormwater regional projects." Replanting seagrass, oysters and clams would accelerate restoration, he said.

"We are in a well-directed, running start," De Freeze said. "But we have a long race to run."

Winter fears

There is little reason to think that another die-off couldn't occur again this winter, said Patrick Rose, executive director of Save the Manatee Club.

"We've got to have a better idea of how the animals are doing," he said. "There's too much uncertainty."

Manatees dispersed widely during summer months but it's likely many will return to the Indian River in Brevard.

The reason is warm-water discharges from the Florida Power & Light Co. generating station just south of Titusville along the lagoon.

During winter, manatees are drawn to warm waters of power plants or springs. The FPL plant is the only such source along Brevard's share of the lagoon.

"I think the record there is about 2,500 manatees," said Gil McRae, director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. "That also is an area that has experienced significant seagrass decline."

Planning for the tools and techniques to prevent another die-off, McRae said, will require "dozens and dozens of partners. "

Rose said drones may help in assessing manatees, as would capturing some animals for a health check, although that may be risky for those in poor shape.

Knowing manatee health would address two concerns: the size of the rescue response that may be required this winter and whether to attempt a problematic mass feeding of manatees.

The logistics of feeding manatees would be staggering, Rose said, including for sources of lettuce or aquatic grasses and the transport required. Feeding them may change behavior, and not in a good way.

"You wouldn't ever want to get into a situation where you are doing this annually for years," Rose said.

Larger issues include whether the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should reinstate manatees as endangered, which the Save the Manatee Club supports. The agency controversially put the species under a less dire status of threatened in 2017.

In turn, Rose said, the wildlife service should push the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to impose more stringent pollution rules for the Indian River as essential for ensuring that a $5 billion restoration succeeds.

"If that can be done for $5 billion, then that's a bargain," Rose said. "It's an investment we can't afford not to make."

Explore further Florida manatee deaths surge past 400 in first two months of 2021

2021 Orlando Sentinel.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Stefanik spokesman Alex DeGrasse claimed that Stefanik never said she was going to attend the Wilton rally  despite her social media posts promoting the event.

An Aug. 18 tweet from Stefanik said, Amercian Patriot @ScottPresler will be joining #TeamElise & the @SaratogaGOP for a rally & voter registration drive!

Thank you Scott for all of your hard work to #SaveAmericata @Risepacny

Everyone is excited to meet you! #NY21

That tweet appears to have been removed from Stefaniks Twitter feed.

The event was sponsored by Elise for Congress.

DeGrasse said the Team Elise mentioned in social media posts refers to her donors and supporters.

The announcement of the event at Gavin Park prompted a group called No to Hate in Upstate, No to Fascist Attacks on Democracy to schedule a counter-protest at the same time at 5:30 p.m. at Congress Park at 268 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

Organizer Joe Seeman said the event is still scheduled.

Zeilman criticized that event as a distraction from the failures of Democratic policies.

The local Democrat outrage to our grassroots voter registration drive is really about the National Democrat party imploding in front of our eyes and local Democrats looking for any other distraction to talk about other than their own failed policies that have brought our country into a crisis. They are threatened by Republicans historic support in upstate and all of America, he said in the statement.

Michael Goot covers politics, crime and courts, Warren County, education and business. Reach him at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com.

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South Glens Falls has dropped from 3,136 students to 2,831 and is expected to drop further to just under 2,500.

The merger would eliminate about four elementary and seven secondary positions. Given rates of attrition, it is likely no one would involuntarily lose a job, Pole said. In addition, the single district would not need two superintendents. The savings would be about $1.42 million, according to Pole.

Residents of both communities would see a reduction in their tax rates, according to the consultants.

Next steps

With the report done, the focus shifts to community information sessions and a series of votes. On Oct. 6, each board will vote separately to decide whether to put the matter out for an advisory referendum on Nov. 17.

If voters in both communities approve, a binding referendum is scheduled for Feb. 9. If that passes, the newly merged district would begin operating on July 1, 2022.

If any of the votes go against the merger, the process ends.

Some board members asked why two community votes were needed and expressed concern about the short window of time between February and July.

Pole said the process is spelled out in state law.
Presler was at the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the attack on the Capitol but was not one of the people who broke into the Capitol.

Seeman said by inviting this person to speak, local Republicans are endorsing his views.

Theyre all making it clear they support overthrowing democracy and turning America into a fascist state and the Big Lie. They support hatred against Muslims, discrimination and racism, he said.

Seeman said Stefanik is bringing Presler here to rile up the base, so she can make money. Stefanik voted against the certification of Bidens Electoral College win.

Seeman said he wanted to organize an event to send a clear message that the upstate region does not endorse hate. He said organizers considered holding the protest outside the Republican event but decided against it.

We thought there would be a lot of shouting and yelling. We thought it be best to do our rally in the Saratoga area, separately as a peaceful vigil against hate and against a fascist assault on democracy, he said.

Democrat Matt Putorti of Whitehall, who is challenging Stefanik, called on her to disinvite and disavow Presler.
In exchange for the legal protections, family members would contribute a total of $4.5 billion in cash and control of a charitable fund. They would give up ownership of Purdue, and the company would be reformed into a new entity with its profits going to fight the epidemic and pay victims and their families.

Most of the funds sent to government entities would have to be used to combat opioids via projects such as connecting people with treatment programs, and opioid use prevention. And most people with claims that are found valid are expected to receive between $3,500 and $48,000.

The company would also make public millions of internal documents, including communications with its lawyers. And the Sacklers would have to get out of the opioid business in other countries eventually.

Irve Goldman, a lawyer representing the state of Connecticut, argued that states' rights would be violated if a settlement is adopted without their agreement.

Drain, who had far more questions for those opposing the plan than supporting it asked what would happen if just one state or city were left objecting. Do you still say that the whole thing should be put aside for that creditors' rights? he asked.
Editor:

Once again, Elise is working hard to demonstrate her hypocrisy. Elise said the decision to suspend the Cuomo impeachment investigation showed that the cesspool of politics among the Democrats is alive and well and makes those lawmakers complicit in Cuomos crimes. What was her position on the orange mans two impeachments? Hypocrite!

Elise strives to be the biggest gator in the orange mans swamp.

The parallels are striking. The things Cuomo did were truly awful, but Elise has been silent about her idols credible rape allegations and sex with porn stars.

Elise claims Albany Democrats lived in fear of Cuomos political vengeance while seemingly forgetting how she, McCarthy, Cruz, Scalise, Jordan and so many other so-called Republican leaders rushed to the head of the pack for a pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago to kiss the orange guys ring and stay on his good (?) side to avoid his retribution and try to keep their own political power.

Elise said Cuomo should be in jail and not allowed to hold elected office ever again. Surely, Elise knows her idol very well deserves an orange jumpsuit.
The Housing Authority is working with the Michaels Organization, a Camden affordable housing developer, to complete the project, which will cost about $15.4 million.

The project sources include a construction loan and permanent loan from New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, low income housing tax credit equity syndicated by Berkadia Tax Credit Services, a soft mortgage from Atlantic City Housing Authority and deferred development fee, Gordy said in an email Monday.

Nick Cangelosi, vice president of the Michaels Organization, said they are ecstatic about the project.

Its in absolute need of investment, and were so excited to be working closely with the city and the Housing Authority, Cangelosi said. Weve had numerous meetings with residents over the summer where we showed them flooring samples, appliance selections, paint swatches, and just to see the smiles on their faces, its really terrific.

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Atlantic City Convention Center to host dinosaur exhibit in October ATLANTIC CITY  The Atlantic City Convention Center will offer the chance to check out lifel

While each unit is being rehabbed, residents will be provided with either temporary relocation off site or will be moved into a vacant unit on site for the duration of the renovation, which is about three weeks, Gordy said. All costs for relocation will be covered by the Housing Authority and the Michaels Organization.
Most voters and parents who vote in New Jersey support the statewide school mask mandate amid rising cases of COVID-19 in the state, according to a new Monmouth University poll.

The poll, released Monday, shows that 67% of voters and 69% of voters who are also parents of school-age children support Gov. Phil Murphys recent mask mandate for students, teachers and visitors at all primary, elementary and secondary schools, and slightly more than half of voters (53%) support a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for anyone eligible for the vaccine, including students 12 and older.

The vocal opposition to the states school mask mandate is a decidedly minority view. However, there may be greater pushback from parents if a vaccine mandate was instituted for school children, said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.

The poll was conducted by telephone from Aug. 11 to 16 with 810 New Jersey registered voters and has a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.
Initially the refugees will be flown to countries in Europe and Asia, where they will undergo security checks, and then they will come through Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., and be flown to the Army bases.

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American citizens and green card holders will move on to their homes but some people who have applied through the Special Immigrant Visa program and their families, and other vulnerable Afghans, are likely to need the military housing.

Special Immigrant Visa applicants are generally those Afghan allies who worked with the United States over the past 20 years.

Other vulnerable Afghans will be identified by the U.S. government, the officials said.

Everyone arriving, whether U.S. citizens, green card holders or Afghan nationals, will be tested for COVID-19, and the administration is determining how and when to offer vaccination, the officials said.

After testing, citizens and those with homes to go to will head to their destinations, and everyone else will head to military bases where they will be connected with a refugee resettlement organization to help them begin a new life in the United States.
HANOI (AP)  U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' trip from Singapore to Vietnam was delayed several hours Tuesday by an investigation into two possible cases of the so-called Havana Syndrome in Hanoi, administration officials said.

The investigation was in its early stages and officials deemed it safe for Harris to make her scheduled stop in Vietnam, which is part of her trip across Asia meant to reassure allies about American foreign policy amid the tumultuous evacuation of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. The Havana Syndrome is the name for a rash of mysterious health incidents first reported by American diplomats and other government employees in the Cuba capital beginning in 2016.

U.S. officials "take any reported incident of Havana syndrome seriously, press secretary Jen Psaki said at a White House press briefing later Tuesday.

U.S. officials had not yet confirmed the latest reported case, and it did not involve anyone traveling with Harris, Psaki said. In light of the reports, there was an assessment done of the safety of the vice president, and there was a decision made that she could continue travel along with her staff, Psaki said.
Afghan Americans already have strong communities in the U.S. because, tragically, they were displaced from their homeland following the Soviet invasion in 1979, and because this nation embraced them. Thousands established a presence in communities around the country, notably here in Los Angeles, in Fremont (in Californias East Bay), in Chicago and northern Virginia. They have become as integral to American life as the millions who came before them  the Vietnamese, Laotians, Cambodians, Hungarians and Cubans, among the many waves of refugees and immigrants, colonists, slaves and Indigenous people who built, and are building, the nation.

The U.S. cannot resettle every woman in every nation who is denied the right to an education, or every person whose treatment falls short of what can reasonably be deemed acceptable. We went into Afghanistan to remove the Taliban and stayed in the misguided notion that we could bestow on others the freedom and abundance with which we have been blessed. We have learned, and unlearned, and learned again that we cannot save the world with military invasion. The best we can do is to clean up after our failures, and that includes taking in not merely those who helped us  again, thats the easy part  but those in the most immediate danger in those nations where we failed.
Under a local court rule approved in February by the Illinois Supreme Court, any landlord who files an eviction order in Rock Island County must be notified of the eviction diversion program and is required to do mediation between themselves and the tenant before a trial is set.

But ProjectNOW is hoping tenants and landlords will take advantage of its resources available to settle payments even before mediation. With $1 million made up of different pools of funds with different requirements, both landlords and renters are encouraged to see what money they can qualify for.

What we have is several streams that come together to make a very large tributary of opportunity, Ford said.

Since the pandemic began, Ford said the program has doled out $740,000. The program does have its limitations, Ford said. They can't assist landlords whose renters have abandoned the property, for example.

Ford said, however, that there were likely people who didn't know about aid available or hadn't sought it out yet.
We need to find different solutions to the situation we have in our community, he said. If were spending $15 million a year in taxpayer money on this one particular issue, maybe we can find a better approach to have better resolutions here.

In 2020, the Rapid City Police Department responded to 12,505 calls for service for intoxication, trespassing, alcohol, panhandling and detox, which is 10.23% of all calls. According to data, Rapid City police officers responded to about 1,693 calls each, which is about 70% more than the national average.

Allender will also propose adding dozens of police officers over the next nine years to reduce the call for service load to about 1,000 each.

He said officers have been demoralized and have had 1.5-2 years of nonstop activity with increasing violence and increasing family and social dysfunction.

We have young officers who signed up to help people, and theyre coming back a couple years later saying, This is not why I signed up, this is not the job for me anymore, he said.

In 2020, the department lost 20 officers. Allender said 15-16 more have left in 2021.
Allender said the city would be able to fit the bill due to an increase in revenue. He said hes spoken with Elevate President and CEO Tom Johnson, who said projections indicate the growth is a longer term phenomenon.

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He said in a moments notice, the city can retool the budget to adapt to changing economic times. He said the program will need monthly evaluation until they find a groove.

If all we do for example is create more contacts but we dont relieve the police department for calls for service, were going to have to reassess, he said. I think its a new program, its a new approach for us.

In 2020, the Rapid City Police Department responded to 12,505 calls for service for intoxication, trespassing, alcohol, panhandling and detox, which is 10.23% of all calls. According to data, Rapid City police officers responded to about 1,693 calls each, which is about 70% more than the national average.

Allender will also propose adding dozens of police officers over the next nine years to reduce the call for service load to about 1,000 each.

He said officers have been demoralized and have had 1.5-2 years of nonstop activity with increasing violence and increasing family and social disfunction.
To identify Dills remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological analysis. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome DNA analysis.

Axt said helping to identify Leaman's remains was a family undertaking.

"Several years ago, my two brothers sent their DNA in and, evidently, they traced it more to the maternal side of the family, and it ended up coming to me," Axt said. "The Navy has been amazing to work with and has been so helpful. It's been stressful and tearful, but it's been quite a journey."

Leaman's remains were transported back to South Dakota. On Monday, he received full military rites at Black Hills National Cemetery. He will be interred where his once empty, white tombstone is located at the cemetery.

"I came in here once with my mom and dad because there is a marker for Leaman that was put in there in about 1959, I believe," David Dill said. "I've stopped here a couple of other times and I was just in here in April and visited his headstone for a few minutes and moved on up the road, not knowing that any of this was going to happen. So, this is a wonderful, wonderful thing."

Leaman Dills name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Punchbowl, along with the others who are missing from World War II. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Contact Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com.

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ProPublica first reported that South Dakota investigators had obtained a search warrant, citing four unidentified sources. Two people briefed on the matter by law enforcement confirmed the investigation to the AP. They demanded anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it.

Sanfords electronic devices came to the attention of investigators with the South Dakota attorney generals office after a technology firm reported that child pornography had either been sent, received or downloaded on his device, according to one of the people who spoke to AP.

Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg determined there was sufficient evidence to move toward prosecuting Sanford, but passed the case to the U.S. Department of Justice because it spanned to Arizona, California and Nebraska, according to both people. Federal prosecutors have given no indication that they are bringing charges against Sanford, and Ravnsborg has not dropped plans to prosecute him if the Justice Department declines, according to both people.

The Justice Department and the South Dakota attorney general's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the investigation.
Throughout this pandemic Gov. Noem has remained focused on governments proper role, as well as her own authority, he said in a statement.

However, whether or not the governor calls a special session may have little bearing on the deadlines employers throughout the state have set for employees to be vaccinated. In order to cause any passed bill to take immediate effect before the deadlines, it must gain a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate. With some in Senate leadership already opposed to the mandate bans, that is unlikely.

Nearly 56% of people eligible for a vaccine in the state have received one, according to the Department of Health.

Meanwhile, cases of the virus have resurged to their highest levels since February. The Department of Health reported 331 new cases Monday. New cases in the state have more-than-tripled in the last two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins researchers.

The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide climbed to 127, leaving about 42% of hospital beds open. Sanford Health is preparing for a fresh wave of the virus over the next four to six weeks, the Argus Leader reported.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Five authors of local history will gather Friday night at the Historic St. Marys Mission gift shop for a book signing and reading.

Local authors Jane Lambert, Jim Harmon, Bill Turner and Larry Strate will join Rosie Bosse from Kansas for the event that runs from 7 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 27.

Historic St. Marys Mission executive director Colleen Meyer said the opportunity for the mission to host the book signing came after Bosse offered to spend an evening at the historic site to talk about her new fictional account that includes a Texas cattle drive, Father Ravalli and St. Marys Mission.

Bosse has written a series of books about Texas cattle drives. Meyer said the author seeks out historical figures that arent well known to include in her stories.

While there was never a Texas cattle drive at the historic mission, Meyer said Bosse spent time visiting with Meyers husband, Jay, on what that would have looked like had it happened.

She was pretty enamored with the Bitterroot Valley, Meyer said.

Her fictional novel is called Down the Long Valley.
As the hospitality industry, in particular, confronts worker shortages, these apps are helping form an ultra-short-term worker-employee relationship, something that hasn't widely existed in recent decades. Walker noted that even students with no relevant experience could sign up with one of these apps and likely find paid work  as brief as a couple of hours  that fits their schedule from week to week.

In contrast to Stint, Instawork and Gigpro are suited more for skilled or experienced workers who want or need short-term shifts. Collectively, the newer apps represent a variation on the many gig apps that sprang up in recent years  from Uber and DoorDash to TaskRabbit and Thumbtack  that typically serve households in need of a one-time service. What distinguishes the latest apps is that they link workers with employers that have a steady need for labor but don't necessarily want to commit to permanent hires given the uncertainties from the pandemic.

Its no surprise that during COVID, when everything became virtual that these ... marketplaces might have exploded, said Fiona Greig, co-president of the JPMorgan Chase Institute, a global financial thinktank, whose research expertise includes the online platform economy.
Kristin Thoroman had a difficult time on Tuesday holding back her emotions as she described the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on her small business.

Like thousands of other restaurant owners, Kristin and her husband Tracey Thoroman, who started Hobnob restaurant on Hermitage Road in Henrico Countys Lakeside area in 2017, had to lay off employees during the pandemic in 2020.

Cutting staff was incredibly hard, Thoroman said of the decision to lay off about half of the restaurants 19-person staff, some of whom had been with Hobnob since it first opened. I was in tears as I called each person.

The Thoromans shifted the restaurant to a takeout-only, drive-thru service model, which helped sustain the business even though sales were still down about 25% between March 2020 and April 2021, when the restaurant re-opened for full, dine-in service.

The Thoromans said Tuesday that they have been able to rehire most of the staff this year, thanks to several federal and state grants designed to help support small, local businesses impacted by the pandemic.
******

Hospitals such as Henrico Doctors are also seeing a high number of patient transfers. If a person lives in a rural area with no gastrointestinal specialist or urology specialist, for example, the patient might be referred to a hospital in a larger metropolitan area, like Richmond. Sometimes, hospitals have no capacity and are unable to accept transfers for a period of time.

Transfers are extraordinarily difficult, Parker said.

To handle the flow, HCA, which owns Henrico Doctors and other hospitals in the Richmond area, will move staff from one hospital to another when the patient volume surges. HCA focuses on getting patients the treatment they need to be discharged quickly and safely, Szurkus said. Shifts have been added, and some longer shifts have been shortened to eight hours.

To liven spirits, hospital administrators have walked the buildings halls, handing out ice cream sandwiches or fruit bars to the staff.

But the pandemic has taken a toll on health care workers. There are high levels of stress and burnout, Baker said. It was especially taxing emotionally, because COVID patients often werent allowed visitors. Patients were sick and sometimes dying with only their health care workers to provide consolation.
Cindy Osterloh, whose husband pushed a relative in a wheelchair beneath the idled cables, said she and family members visiting from San Diego were all on allergy medications to take the sting out of their eyes and keep their noses from running so they can ride out the smoke for the rest of their vacation.

We got up and it was a lot clearer this morning. We went for a walk and then we came back and now its coming in again, she said of the smoke. Were going to go and see a movie and hopefully it clears up enough that we can go do our boat rides.

An army of firefighters worked to contain the blaze, which has spread explosively in a manner witnessed in the past two years during extreme drought. Climate change has made the West warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make the weather more extreme and wildfires more destructive, according to scientists.

Massive plumes have erupted in flames, burning embers carried by gusts have skipped miles ahead of fire lines, and fires that typically die down at night have made long runs in the dark.
Most of the bodies were relocated to National Harmony Memorial Park cemetery in Landover, Md., in the shadow of FedEx Field, just to the east.

But the headstones just disappeared. In 2016, Richard and Lisa Stuart were walking along the Potomac east of Fredericksburg and solved the mystery: Among the chunks of stone and concrete riprap protecting the shoreline from erosion were the missing headstones.

Richard Stuart  who had just bought the riverfront property  happens to be a Republican state senator from King George County and contacted Northam for help identifying and rescuing the headstones.

We start the last leg of our journey, I hope, today, Stuart said on Monday before a gathering of dozens of state officials and descendants of families connected to Columbian Harmony.

Last fall, after historians connected the headstones to the cemetery, volunteers spent three days fishing as many broken-up stones out of the river as they could. Stuart used his tractor to haul the pieces of 55 markers to Caledon State Park, adjacent to his property.
A Virginia Beach man pleaded guilty Monday to stabbing his estranged husband to death and hitting his mother-in-law with a car over two years ago.

Roel Ray Delua, 36, will serve 30 years in prison.

In January 2019, 32-year-old John Kilgore and his mother went to his Virginia Beach home  which Kilgore had previously shared with Delua  to meet someone who came to buy a desk.

Delua and Kilgore had separated in December 2018 and began selling off their property and house, located in the 1700 block of Rose Petal Drive.

Kilgores mother waited outside, watching as the buyer left the house a short time later. Thats when Delua  who was inside the home  stabbed Kilgore 128 times, according to court documents.

Delua then started a fire on the kitchen stove and, while fleeing the scene, rammed into Kilgores mother, Sharon Kilgore, with his car.

Court documents say Delua was arrested that day in a Virginia Beach Walmart bathroom, where Delua had slashed his arms and neck in an attempt to kill himself.

Annette Miller, Deluas public defender, said the incident was totally a mental health case, and Delua has been on medication since the incident.
Probably not on both counts. Individual lives tend to get ground up in the giant gears of geopolitics and history. Last week, the process was underway even before the bodies hit the ground, the punditocracy united in debating the question that, for many, was foremost in importance: Who gets the blame for this debacle?

Does it go to the Bush, Obama or Trump administrations for mishandling the war? To the Biden administration for bungling the pullout, creating a deadly calamity by misreading the speed with which Taliban forces would overrun the nation?

To Afghanistans hapless government, which we spent more than $2 trillion and more than 2,000 American lives to install, maintain and defend? Should it go to the Afghan army, 300,000 men trained and equipped at a cost of $83 billion, which melted away like a sandcastle in the waves when faced with a ragtag force one quarter its size? Or to U.S. military leaders who kept assuring us things were going well when, clearly, things were not?

Well, the answer is: Yes, all of the above. The answer also is, who cares?

Not that those are not critical questions. Not that they do not demand answers and accountability. Not that there are not grave geopolitical implications here.
Prioritize your business plan  set realistic goals by taking stock of your companys current situation and exploring options for funding. Whether that goal is moving to an online-only format, expanding the goods and services you offer, or investing and streamlining key revenue streams, your banking team should be a key partner in adjusting your business model.

Operational shifts: Fully 62% percent of business owners anticipate that operational changes they made in response to the pandemic will remain in place. Again, thriving businesses are the ones that can innovate and adapt to the current environment and future opportunities.

Consider making a digital transition. We are seeing Richmond businesses invest in digital technology for more of their operations. Businesses have increasingly adopted platforms for remote depositing and mobile banking during the pandemic. This is saving them a significant amount of time not having to make transactions in person. Most businesses that made this change during the pandemic have stuck with it.

Additionally, think about your point of sale system and what you can do to make it more adaptable to the new economy. You might need to upgrade to a system that integrates mobile and online ordering to capture the new routes of commerce consumers are engaging in.
TCJA offers corporate

welfare at a high cost



Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I am responding to David Edmunds Aug. 19 Letter to the Editor, which stated that President Joe Biden's administration has seen the biggest expansion of social welfare in the past 60 years. This statement is inaccurate because its based on incomplete information.

I agree with Edmunds that the price tag on 2021s budget is eye-popping. However, this price is from decades of neglecting our country and decades of expanding corporate welfare. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act gave the most recent infusion of funds supporting corporate welfare. It passed in December 2017 with only Republicans voting yes; all Democrats and 12 House Republicans voted no.

TCJA is so business-friendly that in 2020, no fewer than 55 publicly traded firms paid nothing in federal corporate income tax. Interestingly, all 55 companies are 100% dependent on tax-funded federal programs.
The English word for it is vaccine, a term that until this year was boring obvious and largely uncontroversial.

Although Americans have been taking vaccinations since George Washingtons days, the word now is one of the hottest buttons anyone can push. Some idiots claim a vaccine can magnetize the human body, so that forks stick to folks foreheads.

Conflict, displacement and poverty keep some of the most vulnerable children from getting the vaccines that can protect them from diseases such as tetanus, Tyner told the crowd. Fear of vaccines can prevent families from getting the help they need. Even when vaccines are available, the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate affects coverage, opening the door to new outbreaks.

A bit later in the speech, Tyner made a single reference to COVID-19. It was rather sly, however. He noted the spread of the coronavirus internationally has hampered the fight against MNT. That was the context.

After the speech I asked Tyner, 84, whether he was being deliberately allegorical. His one-word answer was certainly.
Virginia State Police on Tuesday continued to release bits of information about a man who officers said shot himself at the end of an interstate chase.

A Virginia news release said that the deceased man was 28 years old and from Abbottstown, Pennsylvania, which is south of Harrisburg, between Gettysburg and York.

State police did not release the mans name and the Northern York County Regional Police Department, a police force that a Pennsylvania newspaper said was involved in the dead mans case, did not respond to questions Tuesday.

However, the Pennsylvania police agency, in a news release, did confirm that Dakota James Toms sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a police chase in Virginia.

According to Virginia State Police, Mondays incident began at about 1:22 p.m. when state troopers joined deputies from the Botetourt County Sheriffs Office in chasing a man who was wanted by Pennsylvania authorities and said to be armed and dangerous. A pursuit began on Interstate 81 in Botetourt County and continued south through Roanoke and Montgomery counties, state police said.
Nearly 1,500 Virginia Commonwealth University students havent registered their vaccination status a day before the fall semester begins, but the university will allow some of them to attend class this fall if they perform regular testing. VCU spokesperson Michael Porter said he wasnt sure of the testing frequency.

As of Monday, VCU has placed holds on the accounts of 1,491 students, or 5% of the student body, Porter said. That number continues to decline steadily, and more than 300 students registered their vaccine over the weekend.

If a hold is put on a students account, he or she cannot add or drop classes this fall or next spring. If a student already added his or her classes before VCU announced the mandate, the student can still attend class on campus this fall, Porter said.

VCU is interested in getting as many students vaccinated as possible, but 100% compliance isnt possible, Porter said.

VCU announced in June that it would require students who take classes, work or live on campus to be vaccinated. The deadline to report their status was July 15.

This requirement will allow our students to safely learn, live, gather and experience college at its best, the universitys administration wrote to students at the time.
"It appears ... that many of you are not aware that we have returned to normal enforcement activity. 4, 5 or 10 tickets for a week of work is unacceptable," Desaulniers' email reads. "There is no reason you should not be writing 5 tickets minimum on a typical day (that's one every two hours). If you are on free patrol, you should be writing more if you want to remain on free patrol. I realize that some weeks court, crashes, weather, etc. factor in but they do not justify the pitiful enforcement numbers I am seeing. Let me be clear that the evals you got for the last performance cycle took into account the reduced enforcement periods and that those same numbers will not result in similar evaluations for this cycle."

Geller denied the email established "a 'ticket quota' requirement/minimum for the troopers. It is simply the first sergeant stating his enforcement expectations now that COVID restrictions are lifting and with the onset of spring break and summer travel," Geller wrote in response to a request from The Times-Dispatch for Desaulniers' email, which she provided.

Each area office sets its own benchmark based on "performance averages to evaluate how troopers are performing in relation to other troopers in that same area," Geller said. "This process has been in place at VSP for decades."
A few years ago, I sat in then-Gov. Terry McAuliffes office with Sen. Creigh Deeds and Del. Terry Austin and heard the governor promise us $180 million to build a super two-lane road (U.S. 220) from Eagle Rock to Iron Gate and we were delighted at that good news. Sadly, that amount got cut in half, somehow but, as we speak, that two-lane section is set to be completed this fall.

The two-lane is fine and is a big safety improvement, but it is not the four-lane highway VDOT planned and promised.

I am a little bit like an old dog with a bone and I will not be satisfied until we get the four-lane highway. I tell VDOT every chance I get that this is part of former Gov. Mills Godwins Arterial Highway System, designed to join major areas in Virginia by four-lane highways. We have even built a four-lane highway to Grundy, for gosh sakes!

Former Gov. Baliles was a big proponent of improving infrastructure in rural areas. He understood that nothing helps an area develop more than a good road system. U.S. 220 is the gateway to the Alleghany Highlands. It connects the Roanoke area to Iron Gate, Clifton Forge, Alleghany County, Covington, I-64, the Homestead Hotel and the Greenbrier Hotel.
The now infamous Nigerian Prince was never a prince and was never royalty of any kind. Instead, he was a suspended advisor to the local governor in one of Nigeria's states. He didn't stop at sending you messages with promises of untold riches in return for your bank account information. More recently, hes been scamming the U.S. federal governments jobless benefits.



For the Nigerian Prince, COVID-19 has been a windfall. But hes not alone. As much as $400 billion dollars in unemployment benefits may have fallen, or could fall, into foreign hands, according to some estimates. And its been easy money.

The Nigerian Prince is now known as Abidemi Rufai, and hes been in US custody since his arrest in May at the JFK International Airport in New York as he prepared to fly first class back to Nigeria.

He is accused of using the identities of more than 100 Washington residents to steal more than $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) during the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

The Department of Justice document shows that the Nigerian allegedly carried out the fraud by using the stolen identities of American workers.

In so doing, Rufai caused and attempted to cause the Employment Security Department to pay out federal and other unemployment benefits in excess of $350,000, and fraudulently caused other states to pay out additional benefit payments, Department of Justice document said.

Rufai is also charged with trying to defraud the Internal Revenue Service of nearly $1.6 million.

According to the IRS, Rufai filed 652 fraudulent tax returns on behalf of taxpayers whose identities he had stolen. The agencys investigation showed the scheme netted Rufai nearly $900,000, since many of the returns were rejected by the IRS, who had Rufai under investigation for years.

Wire fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, when it relates to benefits paid in connection with a presidentially declared disaster or emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since early last year, the vultures have been descending on the easy money opportunity provided by the pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused a 4,800% increase in unemployment fraud cases.

According to the Labor Department estimates, in 2020 the federal government lost at least $60 billion on fraudulent or improper unemployment payments.

Yet, according to an estimate by ID.me fraud-detection service, unemployment benefits fraud could easily reach $400 billion. That enormous figure represents nearly half of stimulus unemployment payments. And they claim that most of it ends up in the hands of foreign crime syndicates.

Haywood Talcove, the CEO of LexisNexis Risk Solutions, told Axios that at least 70% of the money stolen ended up in China, Nigeria, Russia and elsewhere.

Some of these syndicates have organized low-wage teams to file phony claims, while others have been able to access the money by stealing personal information or buying it on the dark web.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a consumer protection agency, received 1.4 million identity theft reports last year, more than double compared to 2019. Nearly half million people reported that their information was misused to apply for a government benefit, such as unemployment insurance. A year prior, that number was 20,000.
The widespread impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has called for the implementation of strict measures under Directive 16, which means maintaining social distancing and avoiding crowded places. These measures have unfortunately brought down productivity and exports have been very badly affected and are now expected to see a sharp drop in the last months of the year.

Decline since July

According to data from the General Department of Customs, in July 2021, the total import and export value of Vietnam's goods was estimated at USD 53.5 bn, down 2.5% compared to the previous month. In this, the total export value was estimated at USD 26 bn, down 4.4% and the total import value at USD 27.5 bn, down 0.6%. Many key export items had already begun to show signs of a decline in turnover.

Specifically, for wood and wood products, the export value in July was estimated at USD 1.3 bn, down 16.6% from the previous month. For footwear, export value in July was estimated at USD 1.7 bn, down 11.8% compared to the previous month. Fishery goods were estimated at USD 800 mn in July, down 5.8% compared to the previous month. The fruits and vegetables produce did not see a steady growth in the first six months of the year, and by July the turnover had decreased, reaching only USD 266 mn, a decrease by nearly 17% compared to June.

The cause of this decline was the virulent outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Ho Chi Minh City and all the Southern provinces, especially from 15 July when Ho Chi Minh City and the Southern provinces only allowed production activities with guaranteed enterprises, and requested pandemic prevention measures with a plan to offer workers the option to work and live on site under the 3-on-site model plan. Many enterprises could not meet these requirements, so they had to stop production. The remaining few who could meet these strict requirements saw a significant decline in productivity. Besides, some of these enterprises who continued operating saw many workers infected despite the extra precautions.

For example, in the seafoods industry, about 30% of enterprises in the Southern provinces could maintain production activities according to the 3-on-site model, where workers lived and worked in their workplace. These enterprises could only mobilize 30% to 50% of employees, so productivity decreased sharply and costs increased far too high. The textile and garments industry is also in a similar situation where only about 30% of enterprises can meet the requirements of the 3-on-site model plan, while the rest have had to suspend production. Many businesses also have sort to move orders to the North of the country, to keep up with the delivery schedule, but that number is quite limited.

According to Ms. Phan Thi Thanh Xuan, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Handbags and Bags Association, businesses in the leather and footwear industry are mainly concentrated in the South, but from mid-July, about 90% of enterprises have had to suspend production because they cannot meet the requirements of the 3-on-site model plan. A few enterprises in the North are also affected by the congestion of importing raw materials from the South, so productivity has also decreased. This has caused the July export turnover to decrease in the entire industry.

Challenging last months

In the current context of a raging pandemic, the big question arising from now until the end of the year is whether export industries will make efforts to reach the targets as set out or not. The answer largely depends on the pandemic control situation in the provinces and cities, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An provinces, where there are many large export enterprises operating.

However, even in August, the situation is difficult with export turnover showing a sharper decline than in July because the pandemic prevention and control requirements are becoming even much more stricter. According to a general assessment by many businesses, from now until the end of the year, businesses will find it difficult to meet the targets set out at the beginning of the year. Specifically, for the fruit and vegetable exports segment, the turnover has decreased substantially, and may only reach till about USD 3.4 bn, while the target set for this year is USD 4 bn.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said that for a long time, almost 70% of Vietnamese vegetables and fruits have been mainly exported to the Chinese market, but due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the process of importing goods to China has become much stricter. In the past, the Chinese side used to disinfect each batch, but now they check and disinfect each container. Thus, together with the slow speed of bringing agricultural products into the country, because of too many checkpoints, it is difficult to increase export turnover.

Along with so many continuing difficulties, the cost of logistics has also become a barrier for many export enterprises. For example, enterprises that export fresh fruits to markets as far away as the US, Europe, and Japan, are currently at a stand still due to shortage of empty containers and because of increased freight charges. Lack of containers has slowed down the shipping time, affecting the quality of fresh fruits. High freight rates have caused serious losses to many businesses, because not all import partners are willing to share this burden. High freight rates is not just affecting the fruit industry but is also a general concern of all export companies since mid-2020 until now.

Besides facing worries about meeting export targets for this year, many businesses are also worried that in the near future they will lose orders and customers when orders are moved to other countries with better disease control measures. Once the orders have been moved, it is extremely difficult to get back the same customers again. This will affect the entire export situation next year. To tackle this situation, export enterprises have proposed flexibility in the 3-on-site model, because it cannot be maintained for more than one month. When the situation is under control, enterprises will have to be more flexible with workers and avoid losing customers.

Thanh Dung
FROM THE VINE This is a great home that we consider akin to paradise. After all, we live in the heart of Central Coast wine country, halfway between Paso Robles and Solvang where the nearest wine tasting room is a short drive away.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It" is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net
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" " This topographic map shows the schematic circulation of surface currents (solid curves) and deep currents (dashed curves) of the Atlantic Ocean, which form a portion of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The colors of the curves indicate approximate temperatures. Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Imagine a world where North America is locked in snow. Winter storms ravage Europe, while Australia bakes in permanent drought. This isn't just the plot of Roland Emmerich's 2004 disaster flick "The Day After Tomorrow." It's also what could happen if a crucial network of currents in the Atlantic Ocean were to shut down.

Unfortunately, research published Aug. 5, 2021 in Nature Climate Change suggests that these currents are weakening due to manmade climate change. And if nothing is done to prevent it, they may collapse completely.

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The Pulse of the Ocean

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC, plays an essential role in regulating ocean temperatures. It is composed of a network of currents branching throughout the Atlantic Ocean like veins and arteries  some scientists compare it to the ocean's pulse.

The AMOC works like a perpetually turning conveyor belt. As water warms in the tropics, it "upwells," or rises to the surface, becoming more buoyant and less salty. This warm upwell rushes northward towards the polar regions, where it cools, becoming denser and saltier, before sinking once more. The cold, dense water is then whisked back to the tropics to start the cycle anew.

"The crucial ingredient is a positive feedback loop," says Niklas Boers, a researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany. Salt water's density keeps the AMOC churning. However, "this also means that when large amounts of freshwater are added to the North Atlantic," Boers says, "the positive feedback might collapse."

Such an event is known as a "tipping point," a kind of ecological threshold that, once crossed, can take centuries or even millennia to stabilize. And evidence suggests that the tipping point is edging closer. In a 2019 report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) deemed the AMOC "very likely" to continue weakening under climate change.

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The AMOC Run Amok

So, what would a world with a collapsed AMOC look like?

Since the AMOC has been "on" for all of recorded human history, it's difficult to say for sure. But Earth's ancient past offers some clues.

The last time the AMOC shut down was during a period known as the Younger Dryas, some 14,500 years ago. The most recent ice age was coming to an end; as temperatures rose, massive glacial melt off the North American landmass flooded into the Atlantic, disrupting the flow of oceanic currents. Then something strange happened: without a current to carry tropical waters to higher latitudes, the north polar warming trend reversed. The Northern Hemisphere was plunged into near-glacial conditions for the next 3,000 years.

If this were to happen again, Boers says, "we'll see much cooler temperatures in northern Europe." Certain regions could cool by as much as 14 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius). Unlike the Younger Dryas period, some of this freezing may be offset by global warming trends; however, AMOC collapse plus a warmer planet would permanently flood some cities along the United States' eastern seaboard.

In contrast, the Southern Hemisphere would experience even more warming, particularly around Antarctica. Many parts of Europe would also experience severe flooding and winter storms. "For Western Africa," Boers says, "it has been suggested that an AMOC collapse could lead to permanent drought conditions."

So, with that in mind, how close are we to "The Day After Tomorrow"?

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A Real-life Disaster Movie?

Theoretically, the AMOC could be shut down by another massive influx of freshwater from a melted glacier the size of, say, Greenland. And the accelerated rate of glacial melt in that region does make this possibility alarming, to say the least.

That said, the effects wouldn't be as immediate or severe as disaster movies portray. Many comprehensive climate models don't predict a total AMOC shut down for another 250-300 years under current emissions, though they predict a bevy of negative consequences as the currents slowly slide toward collapse.

Climate catastrophe is a slow-burn issue  but it's one that has a clear solution. "Avoid emitting greenhouse gases," says Boers. We live at a tipping point in Earth's history, one where our species faces a choice: We can either be the hero of the movie, or the disaster.

Now That's Interesting An alternative theory for the Younger Dryas suggests that the period was sparked by a comet impact around 13,000 years ago. Archaeologists have backed this claim up with carvings on pillars from Gobekli Tepe, a site in Turkey that holds the oldest known structure built by humans.
The next January she founded One Child at a Time. The next month she went to Cambodia, where she discovered it was easier to educate children than to rescue them.

We are scheduled to educate 14,000 children this year through our online website, she said.

The website will be ready in September, she said. Skipper said the program is set to launch in the Florence One Schools district this school year. It will teach about online safety and human trafficking. She said the website is geared to sixth through 12th grade students. They can click on the site and see videos and power point presentations.

Skipper said she is also involved in rescue efforts.

Our main goal is to rescue kids, she said.

Skipper said she joined the chamber to get the word out in the community. She said she was able to get out in the community during the summer and was amazed to see how the community is coming together to stop online predators and human trafficking.

For additional information, visit onechildrescue.com.
According to Wine Institute figures, Californias wine industry contributes $114 billion annually to the American economy and employs 786,000 workers. California retail wine sales reached $43.6 billion in the United States in 2019, with the state claiming three out of every five bottles sold. All in all, the Golden State is responsible for producing 81% of all the wine made in America, and ranks fourth worldwide in wine production, trailing only France, Italy and Spain.

Californias colorful wine history

Originally planted by Franciscan missionaries for sacramental wine production back in the 18th century, Mission grapes are believed to be the first cultivated variety grown in America. After the Gold Rush of the 1840s and up until around the turn of the 20th century, European wine grape varieties were imported and propagated at nurseries throughout the state. In fact, the California State Viticultural Commission was established in 1860 to promote variety in vine importation.

However, Californias true wine boom wouldn't happen until the 1960s, when consumer tastes began to evolve from sweet wines and generic jug blends to quality table wines made from specific grape varieties.

Along with his peers, industry legend Robert Mondavi led the effort to put California wines on the global map, striving to turn out products that rivaled the best wines Europe had to offer.

The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 proved a watershed moment, when California Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon bested their French counterparts in blind tastings for the first time ever.

So just what is it that gives California wines their lasting allure? Turns out, several things.

Climate

California benefits from a Mediterranean-like climate defined by warm, dry, sunny summers and mild , wet winters. These conditions help wine grapes grow steadily during a long, relatively stress-free season between April and October.

The great diversity of climates across California contributes to its great wines, supporting the growth of everything from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

Topography

The influence of the Pacific Ocean and several other significant mountain ranges cannot be overstated. Many of the most important wine regions in California, from Napa and Sonoma to Santa Barbara and Paso Robles, benefit in myriad ways from the natural cooling of coastal winds, fog and moisture. The comfortable temperatures help grapes retain acidity, which in turn keeps the resulting wines fresh and balanced instead of flabby and heavy on the palate.

This specific geology is one of the reasons California boasts 142 unique American Viticultural Areas (AVAs)  designated geographic regions for growing wine grapes  from Humboldt County near the Oregon border all the way to Temecula Valley and San Diego to the south with the majority of AVAs dotting the coast.

Elevation

Along with microclimates and soils, California features a wide variety of exposures and elevations, giving wine growers and winemakers further material to work with. These variations make it possible to capture the abundant sunshine the state provides, and to protect the vines from the threat of frost, wind or heavy rain, though rainfall during the growing season tends to be minimal. Currently, California supports the growth of dozens of different wine grape varieties, with Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon proving the most popular, and thus, the most frequently planted.

Sustainability

California has long embraced forward-thinking sustainable practices with a focus on soil health, habitat restoration and biodiversity, in addition to encouraging beneficial insects, using sheep and other grazing animals for weed control, and emphasizing water conservation.

In 2019, Sonoma County announced that 99% of its vineyards had been certified sustainable, making it the most sustainable wine region in the world.
FLORENCE, S.C.  The Darla Moore Scholarship, made possible by a $5 million gift from the Darla Moore Foundation, was announced Tuesday by Francis Marion University.

The Darla Moore Scholarship will be funded by $1 million per year for the next five years from the Darla Moore Foundation. Scholarships will cover tuition, room and board or school fees depending on the individual recipient's needs each semester.

The first group of Darla Moore Scholars will enroll at FMU starting in the fall of 2022.

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FMU is delighted to receive this substantial gift from the Darla Moore Foundation," FMU President Fred Carter said. "These scholarships will support those who would not attend college otherwise, and they will fund tuition, fees and housing  thereby giving these young men and women the opportunity to participate in the complete university experience. Im deeply appreciative to Darla for this generous gift and for helping us to educate some of our neediest students.
Without his wifes constant support, Schofield said, he would not be where he is today, as she has encouraged him in business and politics. He said she continues to be by his side as he strives to help the city of Florence grow and flourish.

Schofields dance partner, Constance Connie Mixon, is participating for the second time in Dancing for Our Future Stars. She has been dancing at KFA since she was 2 years old and has been a member of the KFA Dance Company for 13 years. For seven of those years, she has been a member of the FIERCE dance team. She has won many awards with KFA at competition.

Last year she participated in the Miss South Florence pageant and was awarded the crown. Since then she has applied to be a part of the Miss South Carolina/Miss America Organization.

Mixon loves to serve her community, where she promotes her platform #ArtsforAll.

She is a graduate of South Florence High School and is attending the University of South Carolina, majoring in K-12 dance education. Her plans are to become a choreographer and possibly have her own studio. She is an active member of Abundant Life Church.

Schofield recently took time to answer questions.
Then she got a call from the principal saying her son had been exposed and had to stay home at least a week. Of particular concern was that her parents watch her son after school and her mother has multiple sclerosis.

"It's definitely a big worry about how it's going to go from here on in and how the school's going to handle it," she said.

In Georgia, more than 60,000 students  over 3% of the state's 1.7 million in public schools  are affected by shutdowns so far. Many superintendents said they have already recorded more cases and quarantines than during all of last year, when most rural districts held in-person classes for most students.

"This year, you saw it very quickly," said Jim Thompson, superintendent in Screven County, Georgia. "Kids in the same classroom, you'd have two or three in that classroom."

Thompson said the county's 25-bed hospital warned it was being overloaded by infections but what led him to send the district's 2,150 students home was concern that he wouldn't be able to staff classes.

"You don't want to start the school day and find you don't have enough teachers," Thompson said.
 Nova Scotia Court says "historic factors and systemic racism" should be considered in sentencing an African Nova Scotian offender | Main | "Is New Yorks Wave of Gun Violence Receding? Experts See Reason for Hope" 

August 23, 2021

En banc Sixth Circuit preserves death sentences in Kentucky in two big en banc rulings

This past Friday and also today, the Sixth Circuit handed down divided en banc rulings to upholds death sentences in cases from Ohio and Kentucky. The Ohio case, Hill v. Shoop, No. 99-4317 (6th Cir. Aug, 20, 2021) (available here), has a majority opinion that gets started this way:

In this death penalty habeas case, appellant Danny Hill seeks collateral review of his conviction for the murder of Raymond Fife, a twelveyear-old boy. The case has been to the Supreme Court once and before panels of this court twice. The core issue in the underlying state case was whether Hill was ineligible for the death penalty because he is intellectually disabled, a question that became pertinent after the Supreme Courts 2002 decision in Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304 (2002). Before us, the issues are whether, under governing AEDPA review principles, the state court decision was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States or was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding. 28 U.S.C.  2254(d). We conclude that the state courts resolution of the issue does not meet either of the criteria that would permit a federal court to disturb a state conviction. Thus, we affirm the district courts denial of Hills petition for a writ of habeas corpus.

The Kentucky case, Taylor v. Jordan, No. 14-6508 (6th Cir. Aug, 23, 2021) (available here), has a majority opinion that gets started this way:

Victor Taylor murdered two high-school students in 1984, for which a jury convicted him of capital murder and recommended a sentence of death. The trial judge imposed that sentence and the Kentucky Supreme Court repeatedly denied Taylors claims for relief. Taylor eventually filed a federal habeas petition, arguing (among many other things) that the prosecutor at his trial had discriminated against African-American members of his venire. The district court denied Taylors petition. We affirm.

August 23, 2021 at 04:44 PM | Permalink

Comments

Andrew Cuomo used some pardon power on the way out.

Posted by: Joe | Aug 24, 2021 9:51:22 AM

The R reaction (to the Cuomo pardons) has been predictable  "Oh noes!1!! Murderers out roaming the streets!! WILLIE HORTON!!11!!!"

It'll be interesting to see what Eric "I'm uber-tough on crime and police" Adams has to say.

Posted by: kotodama | Aug 24, 2021 10:58:54 AM

My funky use of punctuation mistaken for HTML tags broke the previous comment. It should have been "heart" before "police" in Eric Adams' name.

Posted by: kotodama | Aug 24, 2021 11:00:00 AM

Post a comment
 En banc Sixth Circuit preserves death sentences in Kentucky in two big en banc rulings | Main | NY Gov Andrew Cuomo leaves office with a (high-profile) clemency whimper 

Just over a month ago, I was starting to look at summer crime data from various cities as I pondered in a post, "As we puzzle through gun violence spike, is it too soon to hope a decline is already starting?." I highlighted in this subsequent post that mid-year homicide data was more encouraging in 2021 than in 2020 in some notable cities (though more discouraging in others). I now see that the Gray Lady is on the beat with this new article that has the headline that I have used for the title of this post. Here are excerpts:

[A]mid the drumbeat of reports of shootings, experts who study the issue say that recent gun violence data has shown a downward trend. This June and July saw considerably fewer shootings than those months in 2020, experts note, and the numbers have not reached the stark levels many feared they might.

Experts caution against drawing conclusions from limited data and note that the recent trends could still change. Shootings also remain significantly up from prepandemic levels. But after the toll of the past year, the preliminary numbers have offered reason for optimism.

In April and May, all indications were that where we were headed was even worse than most of last year, said Marcos Gonzalez Soler, who heads the mayors office of criminal justice. I think that is a very different universe from where we are now.

As New Yorkers emerged last summer following months of isolation during the pandemics peak, the city began to experience the worst gun violence it had seen in decades. Over June and July 2020, New York saw 448 shooting incidents, a Police Department statistic that tracks distinct instances in which one or more people are shot, rather than total victims. It was a spike in shootings that was driven at least in part, many experts believe, by the social and economic disorder that accompanied the pandemic.

This summer, as the city reopened, the number of shooting incidents in June and July dropped to 323. Mayor Bill de Blasio and the police commissioner, Dermot F. Shea, have both touted the lower summer monthly totals as a positive sign, and have pointed to the increase in gun arrests between this year and last. (The arrests dropped dramatically between 2019 and 2020.) Mr. Gonzalez Soler offered a broader reasoning, pointing to the citys range of efforts to tackle the issue over the summer.

Experts caution that it can take years to learn why crime statistics change, and warn against comparing crime figures in one year with the previous year  and that is particularly true during the pandemics upheaval and frequent waves of change. But many have taken note of the swing. Jeffrey Butts, the director of the research and evaluation center at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, has been conducting analyses of quarterly shooting totals, comparing three-month periods between 2020 and 2021. The spike has appeared to be tapering off, even if gradually, across the past several times he has run the numbers, he said.

Mr. Gonzalez Soler said that he was always skeptical looking at the short-term trends in general, but optimistic about the direction the city has appeared to be moving in. Even as concerns remain, he noted several positive signs: New York saw homicides, for example, hover around a total similar to prepandemic levels over the past two months with 67 in 2021  more in line with 2019 (64) than 2020 (100).

While experts say the current statistical trends are encouraging, shootings are still significantly up from 2019, when about 177 shootings were recorded in June and July. And regardless of the next few months, 2021 will end having taken a steep toll compared with the time before the pandemic, when fewer than 1,000 people were shot by years end. By Aug. 15, police statistics show more than 1,160 people had been shot in New York City this year....

Experts say it was always unlikely that the spike would vanish quickly: Individual shootings can fuel cycles of retaliation that lead to further gun violence and take time to break....

The shootings spike came after a period during which homicides in the city dropped to their lowest levels in more than six decades. The overall crime index  which tracks seven major crimes including murder, felony assault, rape and car theft  has also remained at its lowest level in decades because of declines in reports of burglary and robbery.

Even as gun violence has risen, it remains far below the citys bad old days and peak levels of the 1980s and 90s. Then, the city often reported annual homicide totals in the high 1,000s or low 2,000s. Last years end-of-year total was around 450; 2021 is on pace to finish near or below that number....

A clear view of where New Yorks new baseline gun violence level may fall will not come anytime soon, experts say  particularly as the Delta variant fuels a rise in coronavirus cases and reopening efforts pause. I think Deltas going to interrupt any sort of simple narrative, said John Pfaff, a law professor at Fordham University. The pandemics already rebounding again, he continued. I think we have to wait until we really know were beyond the rebound before looking at what post-pandemic will look like.

Its also too early to pin down the root causes for the rise itself. Many experts who study gun violence and those who work in neighborhood groups on the issue believe the pandemic and its social and economic toll played a critical role.

But a variety of other factors may be part of the puzzle, including the rise in the volume of guns in New York and elsewhere during the pandemic and the breakdown of relations between communities and the police over the past year. And among the U.S. cities, large and small, that have seen spikes in gun violence during the pandemic, the causes are unlikely to be identical. For New Yorks part, homicide rates remain below those of many smaller major cities including Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston. (That was also the case before the pandemic).
 "Is New Yorks Wave of Gun Violence Receding? Experts See Reason for Hope" | Main | "When the Conditions Are the Confinement: Eighth Amendment Habeas Claims During COVID-19" 

August 24, 2021

NY Gov Andrew Cuomo leaves office with a (high-profile) clemency whimper

in a detailed report released early last year, the NYU Center for the Administration of Criminal Law documented the decline of clemency in New York state in modern time. This report, titled "Taking Stock of Clemency in the Empire State: A Century in Review," starts this way:

Clemency in New York has long been declining, while the states prison population has grown dramatically. Between 1914 and 1924, New York averaged roughly 70 commutations per year, equal to the total number granted between 1990 and 2019. In 1928, Governor Al Smith granted 66 commutations from a total prison population of 7,819. Had commutations been granted at an equivalent rate in 2019, there would have been approximately 373; in actuality, there were two.

The ugly modern New York clemency numbers were particularly disheartening given that former NY Gov Cuomo started talking big about NY clemency efforts in 2015 and again in 2017 (see prior posts here and here). But, after talking the talk, former Gov Cuomo thereafter never actually delivered significant results (see prior posts here and here).

But, as is depressingly common, former Gov Cuomo did deciding to go on a bit of a final (though still modest) clemency spree after announcing his resignation. This AP piece detailed that Cuomo granted five pardons and five clemencies last week, and this new local piece details that in his final hours in office, "Gov. Andrew Cuomo commuted the sentences of four individuals, referred one case to the parole board, and fully pardoned one individual." Given that there are well nearly 40,000 persons in New York prisons (with likely more than 10,000 over 50) and probably more than four million will some sort of state criminal record, a total of 16 clemencies on the way out the door seems more like a whimper than a bang.

That said, the one referral to the parole board will be sure to get attention because it involved a high-profile inmate with a high-profile son and it does not serve as a conclusion of the matter. This local article, headlined "Cuomo commutes sentence of radical who took part in '81 robbery; David Gilbert, imprisoned for four decades, can take case to parole board," provides the basics:

Just hours before leaving office, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo granted clemency to five men, including the commutation of the 75-years-to-life sentence of David Gilbert, a former member of the radical Weather Underground who in 1981 took part in the robbery of a Brink's armored truck in Rockland County that left two Nyack police officers and a security guard dead. Cuomo's action will allow Gilbert to make his case to the parole board. The 76-year-old has been incarcerated for four decades after being convicted of felony murder and robbery. He is currently confined at Shawangunk Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Ulster County, 80 miles south of Albany.

Steve Zeidman, a CUNY Law School professor who began representing Gilbert in 2019, said Monday evening that his client is one of the oldest and longest-serving among the state's roughly 38,000 inmates. He said that Gilbert has expressed deep remorse for his role in the crime, and while behind bars has taken part in efforts such as the creation of an AIDS education program that became a statewide model as the epidemic was raging in the 1980s and '90s. Zeidman, who directs the law school's Criminal Defense Clinic, said that beyond the impact on Gilbert personally, Cuomo's action sends a message to incarcerated people who fear they have no chance for release. "When a governor issues clemency, it echoes, it reverberates, it spreads hope," he said. Gilbert's son, Chesa Boudin, was elected district attorney for San Francisco in 2019. His mother, Kathy Boudin, was also incarcerated for decades for her part in the heist, and received parole in 2003. The Times Union's Paul Grondahl wrote in November about the efforts of Chesa Boudin and Green Island's Jeff Jones, a family friend and former '60s radical turned environmental advocate, to press Cuomo to release Gilbert from prison  especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "As someone who has known David since 1966, I'm just ecstatic," Jones said Monday evening. " ... He's a guy who deserves to be out of prison." Gilbert and Kathy Boudin were in a transfer truck waiting for the getaway car carrying the robbers and the $1.6 million they had stolen from the Brink's truck at the Nanuet Mall. Boudin received a sentence of 25 years to life after hiring a lawyer, pleading guilty and accepting a plea deal; Gilbert defended himself and went to trial. "My father was not present in the courtroom for much of the trial and nobody advocated for him, which is why it is a bad idea to represent yourself," Chesa Boudin told Grondahl. "My mother and father did the exact same thing and had identical culpability in the crime. My mother served 22 years in prison and was paroled 17 years ago, while my father is still in prison. It's an example of criminal justice imbalance." Boudin noted that his father is perhaps the only person his age who has served as many years in state prison who was unarmed during the commission of the crime. Another Brink's robbery co-defendant, Weather Underground member Judith Clark, who drove the getaway car, was granted parole in 2019 after Cuomo commuted her 75-years-to-life sentence in 2016. Prosecutors and law enforcement bitterly opposed her parole and called it an insult to the victims' family members.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  The Hartford city council has joined the city's mayor in calling for the closure of the Hartford-Brainard Airport, a small airfield used by flight schools, public safety flights and entertainers who come to town.

The council unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution to close the airport earlier this month, the Hartford Courant reported Monday. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin started campaigning in 2015 to close the airport.

Takeoffs and landings at the airport, which sits on 200 acres of land south of the city's downtown, have fallen by 30% between 2010 and 2020. That's according to Connecticut Airport Authority, which oversees the airfield.

It is in the best interest of the city of Hartford and the Greater Hartford community, for environmentally-friendly, economic opportunities that will create hundreds, if not thousands of jobs, and we can enjoy our natural resource, which is the Connecticut River, said Hartford City Councilman James Sanchez, who sponsored the closure resolution.
In 2005, coastal residents jammed freeways and gas stations as they rushed to get out of the way of Hurricane Katrina, which was headed toward
The girl, listed as age 12-16, fell asleep, and told investigators that she woke up later in the night to find Dale on top of her.

The girl said her underwear had been removed and that Dale began to have sexual intercourse with her.

When the girl asked what he was doing, Dale stopped. The girl pushed Dale off of her, told him to leave, and he did, court documents said.

The girl told relatives what had happened to her in the morning, and Dale was arrested later that day.

Local man sentenced to prison for illegal gun possession

SIOUX CITY  A Sioux City man has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms.

Jason Mota, 27, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to one count of possession of a firearm by a drug user. He was sentenced Friday to 51 months in prison.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Mota possessed five guns while trafficking cocaine and marijuana.

He was arrested May 3, 2020, when police were notified of a man walking on a sidewalk firing shots into the air.
Big Ox previously settled a federal class action lawsuit filed by two South Sioux City homeowners who said plant odors had interfered with local residents' ability to enjoy their life and property and had damaged property values. Terms of that settlement were confidential.

Two lawsuits involving South Sioux City, Big Ox and lenders remain in federal court.

Wells Fargo has filed a complaint against the city seeking more than $3.3 million in past-due monthly installments it says are due as part of a 2014 tipping agreement between Big Ox and the city. The agreement was an inducement for Wells Fargo to provide financing for construction of the approximately $30 million Big Ox plant.

The city council has denied the bank's claim, saying it was not filed in time and that Big Ox was in default of the agreement because it shut down the plant.

The city sued Big Ox, Wells Fargo and other lenders in December for negligent misrepresentation and breach of contract and is seeking a judge's order rescinding the tipping agreement and declaring the city does not owe the unpaid monthly fees the lenders are seeking.

The Big Ox plant remains idled and is for sale. Koch said "there's plenty of interest" from potential buyers. The South Sioux City Council has approved construction of a $46 million wastewater treatment plant, and the former Big Ox facility, located near many heavy industries, could be utilized to reduce the load piped to the city's new plant, Koch said.

"That plant does play a role in our future, whether somebody buys it or we keep it," he said.
SIOUX CITY -- In potential defiance of state law, Sioux City School Board Vice-President Monique Scarlett has called for the district to require masks be worn on its school campuses.

A bill signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in May prohibits districts and other local governments from such passing facial covering mandates. But Scarlett pointed to recent challenges to the state law, which includes threatened legal action by the Biden administration.

As we know, today it is currently an option, Scarlett said of a local mask mandate at Monday's school board meeting. "Many districts are taking a stand and want to override government mandates."

Scarlett believes a mask mandate should be a strong priority in the district's return-to-learn plan.

Board President Perla Alarcon-Flory said the state ban is a legislative decision and the school must follow the law.

We have been approached by a number of people, teachers, parents, students, asking us to order a mandate of masks for safety reasons, for health concerns, Alarcon-Flory said. We are unable to do so.

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Even as US troops began leaving, the Taliban gained strength. And the May 2021 deadline for pulling out all US troops ultimately was passed onto Trump's successor.

Joe Biden

Even before entering office in January, Biden had begun weighing what to do in Afghanistan, where he'd long become disillusioned about the war efforts. After having his advice to remove US troops rejected by Obama, Biden was finally in a position to end what he'd come to view as a war without purpose.

Over the course of the early months of his presidency, Biden received advice from his national security team, including "clear-eyed" warnings that withdrawing all US troops could lead to the eventual collapse of Afghanistan's government and a takeover by the Taliban.

Conversely, remaining in the country past the May deadline set in Trump's deal with the Taliban would expose US troops to attacks.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)  The coronavirus is disrupting more classrooms in Florida while lawyers for Gov. Ron DeSantis argue against school mask mandates in a Tallahassee courtroom. Three more school districts held hearings Tuesday to discuss stricter mask policies to avoid more disruptions as more staff and students are sent home due to COVID-19 infections and exposures.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden has decided to stick with his deadline next week for completing the U.S.-led evacuation from Afghanistan, an administration official said Tuesday. The decision reflects a growing fear of extremist attacks at the Kabul airport but also opens Biden to domestic political complaints of caving to Taliban demands and of potentially leaving some Americans and Afghan allies behind.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP)  Ash rained down on Lake Tahoe on Tuesday and thick yellow smoke blotted out views of the mountains rimming its pristine blue waters as a massive wildfire threatened the alpine vacation spot on the California-Nevada state line.
HANOI (AP)  U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a sharp rebuke to China for its incursions in the South China Sea, warning its actions there amount to coercion and intimidation and affirming that the U.S. will support its allies in the region against Beijings advances.
Back in 2018, when there was talk he might run for president, Andrew Cuomo insisted there was only one reason he would leave office early. And it wasn't the White House. The only caveat, he said, is if God strikes me dead.
RACINE, Wis. (AP)  A Missouri man who died after rescuing two young relatives from the choppy waters of Lake Michigan is the fourth person to drown in the lake this summer in the southeastern Wisconsin city of Racine.

Racine County sheriff's officials on Monday identified the man who drowned Sunday as 40-year-old Thomas Walker. They didn't say where in Missouri he lived.

Walker went into the lake at North Beach on Sunday to rescue the boys, ages unknown, authorities said.

The children showed that they were in distress, and an adult male relative entered the water to save the children, the sheriff's office said. The adult male assisted in the rescue of the young children; however, he did not emerge from the water.

Emergency responders from the South Shore Fire Department, Racine Fire Department and the sheriff's office dive team were called to the scene at around 3 p.m. Walker was found in the water about an hour later. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

The sheriff's office released a statement from Walkers family.
The Utah lawsuit was filed against Republicans Gov. Spencer Cox and Attorney General Sean Reyes, who both declined to comment.

Utah schools were open for in-person learning with a statewide mask mandate last year, but after the mandate ended the GOP-dominated Legislature decided individual school districts couldn't require face coverings on their own.

Without masks and other protective steps, coronavirus infections could spread rapidly among kids who are too young to get vaccinated and could bring it home to their families, experts have said. Masks are an effective tool against the spread of the coronavirus, but work best when everyone uses them, research has found.

Even as the delta variant has surged in Utah, filling hospitals beyond capacity, just one small school district has navigated the legal hurdles to require masks in the southern Utah tourist mecca of Grand County. An attempt to require masks in Salt Lake County was overturned by the Republican-controlled county council.

Many schools are encouraging students to wear masks, though, and in some parts of the state many are doing so.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden is raising concerns that the Islamic State poses a threat as American troops seek to evacuate thousands of U.S. citizens and Afghan allies from Afghanistan.
RACINE  A 40-year-old man died Sunday after saving two children who were in distress in the water near the pier north of North Beach and Zoo Beach, Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said early Sunday evening.

Schmaling called the man "a hero.

The man entered the water to save the children, who were related to him, at about 3 p.m., Schmaling said in an interview. The children got out of the water thanks to the man, whom Schmaling said was from Missouri, but he was unable to get out.

Emergency responders  including lifeguards and emergency personnel from the South Shore Fire Department, City of Racine Fire Department, the Racine County Dive Team of the Racine County Sheriff's Office  found the man at about 4 p.m. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

There were three drowning deaths on the Racine lakefront in June: A 10-year-old girl, a 17-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl.
The Douglas County Health Department has asked the State of Nebraska for approval to issue an order requiring people to wear face masks indoors in Douglas County.

If approved, the public health order from Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse would apply to school districts across Douglas County as well as other indoor settings.

Huse told the Douglas County Board Tuesday that she had sent a letter to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services seeking approval for a temporary directed health measure requiring masks because of rising numbers of COVID cases in the county, including among children.

"This measure would require masking for all persons over age 5, in indoor public settings with some exceptions, until two benchmarks are met," Huse said. "First our community transmission drops below the substantial category.  Second, until eight weeks have passed since a COVID vaccine is approved for children between the ages of 5 and 11."

It could take effect Wednesday if the state approves it, Huse said.

She reiterated her concerns about the increase among children, including in suburban school districts where school boards have voted not to require children and teachers to wear masks. Children 12 and under cannot yet be vaccinated.
DES MOINES -- As Gov. Kim Reynolds prepared in June to announce she was sending Iowa State Patrol employees to the nations border with Mexico, the states top public safety leaders raised concerns whether her commitment would leave enough staff for law enforcement obligations in Iowa and run up a significant cost for sending personnel out of state, according to records obtained by The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette.

Further, the records reveal, the Republican governor and other top officials knew sending troopers to Texas could cost the state up to nearly $400,000  but they didnt share that information with legislators or the public for weeks.

On June 24, when Reynolds announced the deployment  which she said was in response to pleas from Republican Govs. Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona  she asserted in a public statement she had been assured the move would not jeopardize public safety in Iowa.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  The health department for Douglas County  Nebraskas most populous with more than 580,000 people  has asked the state for approval to issue a countywide mandate requiring people to wear face masks indoors.

If approved, the order would apply not only to businesses, but to schools within the countys borders, as well.

Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse told the County Board on Tuesday that she had sent a letter to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services seeking approval for the mask order, the Omaha World-Herald reported.

Huse said the order, if approved, would require masking indoors of every person over the age of 5 until community transmission drops below the substantial category and until eight weeks past the time a COVID vaccine is approved for children between the ages of 5 and 11.

Gov. Pete Ricketts, who oversees the state Health and Human Services Department, has steadfastly opposed mask mandates, even as COVID-19 cases have soared.
When Joe Biden took office, he increased the number to 62,500. Biden has said he intends to raise the cap to 125,000 in the next fiscal year.

The initial drop to 50,000 admissions began a dismantling of many refugee resettlement agencies in the U.S., said Lacey Studnicka, a refugee advocate who previously worked for Lutheran Family Services in Omaha. Two local agencies said they have fared OK.

The hard part right now, there is a will from the federal government to resettle, but the systems have been dismantled, she said. Its going to take a lot of effort across the country and the world really to get that machine back in order.

Pentagon officials said Saturday that about 3,800 civilians had been evacuated from Afghanistan over the past day, amid widespread logistical challenges and backlogs at waystations in the Middle East and Europe.

Army Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor, Joint Staff deputy director for regional operations, said that of the 17,000 people evacuated since Aug. 15, just 2,500 have been Americans. U.S. officials have estimated there are as many as 15,000 Americans in Afghanistan but acknowledge they dont have solid numbers.
Kijito plopped down front and center in the window.

He tilted his head this way and that, posing for cameras and zoogoers in the newly renovated Hubbard Gorilla Valley at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium.

Kijito, a silverback gorilla in his 20s, and his fellow primates missed showing off and interacting with the public while their enclosure underwent $7 million in renovations, zookeepers said.

The building, which is nearly 18 years old, was starting to show its age, said Dennis Pate, CEO and executive director of the zoo. The renovations were partly a face-lift. But zoo officials also wanted to enhance the setting for the animals, add more educational elements for the public and improve the guest experience.

Were glad to finally be able to open it, Pate said.

The complex sits across from the newly renovated aviary. Some of the upgrades were superficial, like new carpet and paint, bench seating throughout the building and energy-efficient lighting.

But other changes will enhance the animal experience. The gorillas have new climbing structures and tree limbs in both the indoor and outdoor spaces. Officials also raised the elevation in the outdoor exhibit space, bringing the gorillas up to window height.
With Kathy Hochul officially taking the reins as New York's governor, a historic number of women are currently leading U.S. states  a push towards equality and representation that could continue into next years midterm elections.

There are now nine women serving as governor in the U.S. That ties a record that was set in 2004 and matched in 2007 and 2019, but its still well shy of gender proportionality.

Taking over on short notice for a scandal-plagued predecessor in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Hochul began her tenure Tuesday with more than enough challenges for a new administration. She also began with an historic opportunity: Hochul is the first woman to hold one of the most prominent governorships in the U.S.

New York as a whole has been a tough place for women to break into the highest levels, because there is very much a tight set of powerful gatekeepers," said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

"And unfortunately  even in 2021  women are still seen, in effect, as newcomers, she said.
Still, it will take work to ensure services are widely available, as criticism of the Indian Health Service and chronic funding inadequacies have spanned decades and numerous presidential administrations. The pandemic exacerbated health care disparities seen in many Indigenous communities.

Under the Biden administration's latest spending proposal, the agency would see a 36% increase in its annual budget for the next fiscal year. That would mark the largest single-year funding increase for the agency in decades, officials have said. About $420 million in pandemic relief funds also will be aimed at expanding mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services at IHS and tribal health programs.

Beginning in the early 1800s, the effort to assimilate Indigenous youth into white society by removing them from their homes and shipping them off to boarding schools spanned more than a century. According to the boarding school healing coalition, hundreds of thousands of Native American children passed through boarding schools in the U.S. between 1869 and the 1960s.

While research and family accounts confirm there were children who never made it home, a full accounting of deaths at the schools has never been done.

Some tribes and others have embarked on their own investigations.

In the coming months, researchers are planning to use ground-penetrating radar at the site of a former boarding school in Utah where tribal leaders say there may be unmarked graves. Corrina Bow, chairwoman for the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, said boarding school officials would take children as young as 6 years old and force them to work at a farm on the property.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Bangkok (AP)  The former longtime military ruler of Myanmar, Than Shwe, and his wife have been released from a capital city hospital after both being successfully treated for COVID-19, a hospital official said.

The 88-year-old and wife, Daw Kyaing Kyaing, were discharged from the Thaik Chaung military hospital in Naypyitaw on Friday, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with the press.

Than Shwe was hospitalized earlier this month, and his wife a short time later, and both were treated in a VIP section of the hospital under tight security.

The government has not yet officially commented on their cases, and independent media in Myanmar initially reported that their hospitalization was a precautionary measure as the country grapples with a new wave of the coronavirus, fueled by the virulent delta variant.

But the hospital official confirmed they had both tested positive for COVID-19, though both ended up exhibiting only mild symptoms. He said, for example, neither needed oxygen to help them breathe while they were being treated.

Since their release they have been examined by doctors and continue to do well, he said.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Poland's prime minister insisted Tuesday that efforts by Middle Eastern migrants to enter the European Union country from neighboring Belarus are part of a plot by the Minsk regime to sow political instability in the EU.
BANGKOK (AP)  Thailand on Tuesday decriminalized the possession and sale of kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia whose leaves are used as a mild stimulant and painkiller and which has a following in the United States for its pain-relieving qualities.
The Latest: Biden says US pullout on track to meet deadline
Many Americans who pay the online do-it-yourself tax-preparation giant TurboTax may not even know the company offers a free version of its services, under an agreement with the federal government. Critics say that lack of knowledge is intentional  that after agreeing two decades ago to provide free filing services in exchange for a promise that the federal government wouldnt offer its own free filing system, the company has downplayed its free service and steered users toward its paid services at every turn.

TurboTax now says its getting out of the governments free-filing agreement entirely. Good. It clears the way for the IRS to do what it should have done long ago, and create its own free government portal for online tax preparation and filing.

During the George W. Bush administration, tax-preparation giant Intuit, owner of TurboTax, sidelined its most ominous potential competitor in the then-nascent online tax-filing industry: the federal government. The Bush administration had proposed the IRS create a free online filing website for taxpayers. Intuit and other private tax-preparation companies dispatched lobbyists to stop the feds from providing this reasonable service to the taxpayers.
That sounds somewhat reassuring.

Indeed, some legislators have taken the courts statement to mean that not much will change.

We hope theyre right. Unfortunately, the high court has refused to answer follow up questions about how this would work.

Iowas unique system of redrawing political boundaries is successful in large part because of the constraints put in the law and the fact that much of the heavy lifting is centered in a non-partisan agency. Politicians in Iowa arent permitted to do the kind of, well, tinkering that is done in so many other states. (Yes, were looking at our neighbors in Illinois, but also many other states, such as Texas.)

In fact, gerrymandering across the country has been so pervasive that it has distorted Statehouse and congressional delegations to the point that it has yielded the much-quoted saying that lawmakers tend to pick their constituents, rather than the other way around. (Iowas constitutional deadline, by the way, does not apply to the redrawing of congressional boundaries.)

Unlike other states, in Iowa, politicians arent allowed to direct the map drawing and, when the boundaries are presented to them, they arent allowed the chance to amend them. Its an up or down vote.
DES MOINES -- The number of inmates held in Iowa prisons crept up last fiscal year but the population was down significantly from the record count of a decade ago as COVID-19 has forced policymakers to adjust to changing dynamics the virus has created within institutional settings.

New data released by the Iowa Department of Corrections shows 7,744 inmates were housed in the state's nine correctional institutions in Anamosa, Clarinda, Fort Dodge, Mitchellville, Oakdale, Fort Madison, Mount Pleasant, Newton and Rockwell City at the end of the 2021 fiscal year.

That was up 175 from the previous count on June 30, 2020, but well below the record of 9,009 inmates held behind bars in the state's correctional system on April 9, 2011, when the prisoner count exceeded the systems design capacity by 22 percent, according to state records. The fiscal 2021 offender count was 12 percent above the capacity of 6,933.

Inmate numbers dropped below 8,000 for the first time in 20 years last fiscal year when COVID-19 moved into Iowa in March 2020, causing the Iowa Board of Parole to accelerate releases as a way to help manage a prison population that was susceptible to the spreading coronavirus.
The 47-year-old actor will team up once again with director Scott Cooper for the third time on the thriller.

The plot revolves around the attempt to solve a series of murders that took place in 1830 at the US Military Academy at West Point. Bale will play a veteran detective who investigates the murders, who is aided by a detail-oriented young cadet who would later become a world-famous author, Edgar Allan Poe.

Bale and Cooper previously collaborated on the films 'Out of the Furnace' and 'Hostiles'.

Cooper said in March: "Even though Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston and died, delirious, in Baltimore, the majority of his life spent in Virginia, my home state.

"So I grew up in his presence. He bequeathed us the detective genre, and he's still such a presence in our culture, with every horror, mystery and science fiction writer indebted to Poe."

The 51-year-old filmmaker continued: "This is my attempt at a large-canvas whodunnit, with a serial killer at its centre. I want to make films that push me into a different, maybe uncomfortable space, but I am glad to have Christian go there with me.
Samantha Morton has joined the cast of 'She Said'.

The 44-year-old star is attached to the new drama about the New York Times newspaper's investigation department that oversaw the revelations of a series of alleged sexual harassment incidents and assaults on women by the disgraced movie mogul in 2017.

Samantha will play Zelda Perkins, a former assistant to Weinstein who endured his abuse and later found herself bound by conflicting non-disclosure agreements.

The new drama is based on the book 'She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement'. Maria Schrader is directing the flick from a script by Oscar-winning screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz.

Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan will also star as journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, who delivered the bombshell revelations.

Patricia Clarkson and Andre Braugher will also feature as the newspaper's investigations department editor Rebecca Corbett and the paper's executive editor Dean Baquet respectively.

The revelations led to Weinstein being dismissed from the Weinstein Company board and eventually being jailed for 23 years, and ultimately resulted in the creation of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements.
I first started watching Love Island in 2017, right before I moved to the UK. At the time, I was working as a barista. I would wake up and head to work by 5:30 a.m. and return home in the early afternoon, jittery to the point of shakiness from excessive espresso consumption, with long, empty hours to fill. Love Island was the perfect antidote to my liminal malaise; the first season of the U.K.-based dating competition series that I watched, Season 3, included an astounding 43 episodes, endless amounts of British slang, and a soundtrack that actually featured real songs (something sorely lacking in American reality TV).

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In the four years since, Love Island has held its place as my favorite reality showand one of my favorite shows, period. The dating competition show, which airs six nights a week in the UK, is the ideal blend of escapism and emotional realness: The contestants quite literally escape to a luxury villa in Mallorca, but the daily coverage of the minutiae of relationship development, from awkward first meetings to shared glances that seem almost too intimate to watch, carries with it an overwhelming sense of relatability. The premise is simple: Over the course of six-to-eight weeks, hot twenty-somethings couple off, hook up, and fall out in the hopes of winning 50,000 (or about $68,000) at the end of the summer, as voted on by the viewing public. I have laughed; I have cried (more times than Id like to admit); Ive rooted for couples with an intensity that seems alarming to those who havent yet joined the Love Island cult.

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The current season, Love Islands seventh, includes every beat of this emotional rollercoaster and more. In response to complaints of a boring start and following the lackluster sixth season, Love Islands producers have ramped up the drama to create possibly the most divisive season of the series to date. In contrast to every other summer that Ive spent watching the show, as toward the end of this seasonwhich just wrapped in the UK, but whose finale wont air in the US for another couple weeksthere remained no clear frontrunners. With so much uncertainty, the fate of the winning couple could be sealed by the opinions of one key viewer demographic: Fiat 500 Twitter.

I had never heard of the weird, wide world of Fiat 500 Twitter before Love Island, and for good reason: The group and its defining characteristics are very distinctly British. The name of this community itself comes from the name of the car modela Fiat 500 that an archetypal member would drive (bonus points if it was bought for herand yes, the demographic is decidedly female by her father). Fiat 500s are small, cute, and compact; think of an updated European twist on a VW Bug. Theyre hugely popular across their native continent, but the cars are not as well-known in the U.S. Fiat 500 Twitter is defined by this and other categorically un-American interests: Tango Ice Blasts (some variation on a Slurpee), takeaways, and ending their tweets with the meaningless flourish x. Members of Fiat 500 Twitter also love to post about cheating boyfriends and use cringeworthy emojis unironically. No matter what they post, their tweets get an inexplicably high number of likes and retweetsupward of several thousand.

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I do love a night in, takeaway and films all evening x  katie  (@lakatiexo) February 2, 2019

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dunno whether i want a gd shag or a bottle of gin x  Shannon (@shannonroseeexx) April 22, 2019

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My ex boyfriend seems to add all my pals on Snapchat & follow their instas looool babe no one wants to shag ya you dont even know where the vagina hole is for starters youre just lucky I was a nice girl & helped you figure it out x  kirsty (@xkirstm) September 27, 2019

The hero of this season of Love Island, according to Fiat 500 Twitter, is Essexs Millie Court. Millie entered the villa during Week Two and soon formed a connection with 66 Welsh bricklayer Liam Reardon. Milliam, as the couple has been dubbed, looked strong until Liam flirted relentlessly with, and ultimately kissed, another islander. Nevertheless, after one of the most uncomfortable public apologies in Love Island history (one stage of which involved Liam leaving a Millie a note that read, I may not be sticking in your back in bed, but youre always stuck in my head xx), Millie took Liam back. What is it about Milliam that appeals to Fiat 500 Twitter, which constantly posts about their love for the pair? In explaining the demographics support for Milliam, one Reddit comment reads: tall dark and handsome meets blond and blue eyed woman. He cheats and she helps him grow = their [sic] winners. Millie is undeniably stunning, and her quirky facial expressions in response to moments of awkwardness in the villa are endearing. Liam iswell, Liam is tall. Together, they comprise a generic but relatable fairy-tale narrative (with just enough of a struggle in the form of Liams infidelity to transform the story into a journey).

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Fiat 500 Twitters deep obsession with a pairing as relatively mundane as Milliam may leave the uninitiated to damn the cohort as superficial. Yet, as with virtually any profiling of a group of women, this view reflects the clear element of misogyny at play in coverage of Fiat 500 Twitter. While the nuances of how the media portrays the women of Fiat 500 Twitter differ from those of the more American, pumpkin spice-loving crew, the same elements define them: disdain for women liking what they like, simply because a lot of them seem to like it. A typical, critical post about the group might dub them as basic, materialistic, and prone to drama or spin them as empty-headed idiots. The demographic, in both the domestic and British context, is white and privileged, and recognizing this (particularly in the context of the racism that still plagues their beloved Love Island and features prominently in social media responses to contestants like Kaz, who is Black) is critical. A deeper interrogation of why Kaz, who is also from Essex Fiat 500 Twitters home basedoesnt share the same beloved status as a white woman like Millie would be welcome. Still, the frequent derision of a fanbase whose posts are written by women and geared towards other women feels, at best, tinged with sexism.

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Ultimately, while Im fascinated by the world of Fiat 500 Twitter in all of its relatability, privilege, and public oversharing about exes, my problem is that their reality show obsession, Milliam, is just plain boring. This season of Love Island has starred some of the most complex and dynamic individuals to ever appear on the series. Give me Kyler. Give me Feddy. Give me Chloby. Give me anyone but Milliam, whose uncomplicated cuteness personallyto quote a common Love Island phrasegives me the ick. But do not assign that same ick to Fiat 500 Twitter, please and thank you x.
You all need a pick-me-up over there, some new blood, some star power, says a trustee to the chair of the English department, in an early episode of the Netflix academic comedy The Chair. I happened to run into such a person at the farmers market, if you can believe it! He has a country house around here. We started talking and I thought, Heres the kind of person who can revitalize the study of literature. As the chairJi-Yoon, played by Sandra Ohvisibly blanches, I guessed gleefully that the new blood she would be forced to award the prize of delivering her departments prestigious lecture would be James Franco, Ph.D. But nope: its David Duchovny! Agent Scully himself! says the dean. The trustee corrects him: Mulder!

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Duchovny is the perfect choice for this show. The actor was a Ph.D. student at Yale, studying literature, in the 1980s. He was also a frustrated poet and novelist, looking for a mode of creative expression that fit. Duchovny told All Things Considered in 2015 that he started going on acting auditions as a graduate student, thinking a little experience delivering lines might help him with playwriting. One commercial led to another, and the money was good; he landed the X-Files role, and never went back to finish the doctorate. Recently, hes published four novels, and put out three albums. The latest of those dropped this week, just as The Chair, with its cameo featuring a little bit of Duchovnys singing and guitar-playing, hit Netflix.

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The Duchovny turn in The Chair is quite flattering to the actor. Look at this fun guy! Hes game for a little visual humor at his own expense: when hes introduced, after Ji-Yoon goes to his McMansion to try to talk him out of doing the lecture, he gets out of his indoor pool and stands in front of Oh, at age 61, with only a tiny Speedo ona callback to an iconic moment from The X-Files. (She stumbles into a plant, mumbling I thought you were naked!to which he replies, quite dryly, Interesting.) He banters with Ji-Yoon about the pronunciation of the word prescient. He asks whether Pembroke (Ji-Yoons fictional employer) had invited other celebrity academics first, and seems genuinely hurt when she tells him they had talked about Franco, and Ethan Hawke, but they werent available.

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In exchange for this little bit of game-ness, the show gives Duchovny a minute to sing a song, and lets him look like a mensch. He is willing to let Ji-Yoon tell him, in no uncertain terms, how outdated his scholarship isto hear her out as she lists off developments in the field since his time in school: Affect theory, ecocriticism, digital humanities, new materialism, book history, developments in gender studies and critical race theory  Whens the last time you picked up an academic journal? He even listens as she makes a moral argument, insisting that his plan of going back to school to get a Ph.D. is self-serving. Teaching is not a pastime, its a profession, she tells him. In the end, he actually backs down, allowing her to return the honor to the one who deserves it: her young, rising-star colleague, Yaz.

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This celebrity cameo, while it made me like David Duchovny, also made me respect The Chair. It was smart to bring a charismatic person, who once aspired to do what these professors did, into a show about the declining value of that profession. The deans and trustees and the whole world ask the professors in The Chair why anyone should care about what they do, as the motley crew of colleagues struggles to get students to sign up for their courses. One answer the higher-ups come up with: Lets associate ourselves with this famous person who did itat least hes sold books, tons of them. (Students want to produce content! the dean tells Ji-Yoon, trying to convince her Duchovny is the right choice, as her frustration mounts.) The years-out-of-date dilettante celebrity probably could get butts in seats, as the dean says, and hes certainly the only kind of person who can afford to go back to school to finish a Ph.D. just out of love. The envy and fury the English professors feel at his existence is palpableand perfectly justified.

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As Twitter digested The Chair, writer Patrick Radden Keeffe shared a photo of a flyleaf of a copy of Walter Benjamins Illuminations, which Keeffe said he had purchased in a used bookstore in New Haven a few decades back. The inscription reads David Duchovny, 12/87. For us frustrated ex-grad-students, the image was too perfect. This was a snapshot of a moment in time, when this handsome actor loved the things we loved, before he went on to turn his talents into much more money than well ever see. Country house money; leave acting behind and become a novelist money; beautiful indoor pool money. Thats what leaving Beckett behind will get you.
In The Night House, the new movie from director David Bruckner and screenwriters Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski, Rebecca Hall gives a brilliant, raw performance as a grieving widow, Beth, whose husband, Owen, has unexpectedly killed himself. Metaphorically haunted by loss, grief, and the fear that she never really knew her spouse, Beth fends off her friends attempts to help her mourn, holes up in the isolated lakefront house her husband designed and built, and goes down an extremely deep rabbit hole investigating his death. In the process, she makes a few discoveries that are no less painful for being commonplacethere were other women in her husbands life, for instanceand a few more that are decidedly uncommon: Her husband was constructing a secret house deep in the woods on the other side of the lake, a mirror image of the house they shared. Alongside all this metaphorical haunting, Beth comes to believe she is being literally haunted by her husbands ghost, who keeps doing things like turning on the stereo and playing their song at top volume in the middle of the night. Beth, desperately missing her husband, initially welcomes these ghostly visitations, even as they become more frightening. Then, the ending barrels in like a freight train and recasts everything weve seen so far in a much darker light. Spoilers for The Night House follow.

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Whats the twist?

Well, for starters, the dead husband Beth is mourning turns out to have been a serial killer. But it isnt entirely his fault, which is where things really get crazy. Beth discovers that she isnt being haunted by her husbands ghost as she thoughtshes being haunted by death itself, sort of. As she explains early in the movie, as a teenager, she was involved in a car accident and was clinically dead for several minutes. Revived, she became convinced there was nothing after we die, because shed experienced nothing. Late in the movie, she discovers that that nothingness she felt was quite literal, and it wants her back. (Ive been with you ever since, it tells her.) Owens suicide note, which read in part, There is nothing. Nothing is after you, turns out to have been an extremely poorly-planned exercise in Shel Silverstein-style wordplay: Nothing is after her. Thats why the spirit haunting her so often manifests itself in negative space.

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Wait, go back to the part where the husband is a serial killer.

Yeah, Owen is a serial killer, but he has his reasons. The evil spirit trying to get Beth sent back into nothingness doesnt approach her directly at first: Instead, it whispers in her husbands ear, telling him to murder her. As Twitter teaches us, men will do literally anything to avoid going to therapy, so Owen deals with his urge to murder his wife by getting really into the occult. This is probably a bad idea in real life, but in The Night House, hes on to something, because there actually is an evil spirit trying to get him to kill Beth. In an attempt to pacify the nothingness, Owen begins murdering other women who resemble Beth. The photos Beth finds on his computer are not his lovers, but his victims, and the reverse floorplan house he is constructing is part of an intricate scheme to trick the nothingness with decoy murders. When the nothingness figures out what hes up to, he kills himself in the mistaken belief this will protect his wife. Instead, the nothingness just starts terrorizing Beth directly, in an attempt to get her to kill herself and return to the void.

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Good Lord. How does the movie set any of this up?

Primarily through a copy of a (fictional) book called Caerdroia that Beth finds among Owens belongings. Caerdroia were mazes cut into the turf by Welsh shepherds, traditionally thought to represent the walls of the city of Troy. Peter Roberts, in his 1815 book The Cambrian Popular Antiquities: Or, An Account of Some Traditions and Superstitions of Wales: With Observations as to Their Origin, &c. &c., sketched out a Caerdroias traditional shape, which appears on the cover of the book Beth finds in the movie:

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As Roberts noted, a caerdroia isnt quite a labyrinth, because there are no means of losing the way into the citadel; the supposed way continuing regularly through all its windings unbroken, which could scarcely have been the design of the inventor. In The Night House, Caerdroia have a slightly different meaning and use, spelled out in this paragraph from the prop book, briefly visible as Beth flips through it:

Of the more than 600 magical prescriptions from both the pagan and Christian sources from the last 2000 years, few have so successfully employed the labyrinth for spell casting. In Celtic traditions, the Caerdroia represented any series of simple mazes and reversed spaces intended to confuse or weaken dark forces. By distorting the identity and location of the subject, pursuing spirits could be distracted by false forms of sacrifice.

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Owen was constructing a mirror version of his housea reversed spaceto confuse the dark force pursuing Beth. It wasnt exactly a kill housejudging from the visions Beth has, Owen murdered at least some of his victims in the house they sharedbut he used the reverse house to stash the bodies.

Okay, but what about that horrible voodoo doll?

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Right, theres also the matter of the voodoo doll Beth finds in the mirror house. Caerdroia explains that, too, in a paragraph immediately below a photograph of an extremely creepy, extremely real ancient voodoo doll from 2nd or 3rd century Roman-occupied Egypt, now held in the Louvre. Heres the explanation:

Voodoo dolls were rarer than curse tablets and were typically found at gravesites near those afflicted. They were commonly sculpted of hard material, often wood, sandstone, or limestone. Wax dolls were found in Egypt and Greece throughout late antiquity. Unlike curse tablets, dolls were often delivered as gifts, activated by contact with the intended recipient. Numerous spells would bind offerings to the artifact for delivery.

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Owen crafts his own version of this doll, and according to a woman who survived her encounter with him, he asked his victims to hold it before murdering them. Apparently, this somehow helped him trick the evil spirit into thinking he was killing his wife, as instructed. Theres a suggestion in some of Beths later visions that he bound his victims in the same pose as the doll, but The Night House doesnt get into the details of the ritual, presumably so viewers wont attempt it at home.

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Whats up with the ghostly women Beth sees running off a cliff at her house?

Theyd be the ghosts of Owens victims, if The Night House hadnt made it clear theres no afterlife. If you have to have an explanation, it seems most likely that the women are also manifestations of the nothingness, like the visions she keeps having of Owen. Part of its plan seems to be helping Beth discover her husbands secret life as a serial killer, in hopes that will drive her to suicide.

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After such a complicated explanation, does any of The Night House still hold up as metaphor?

Sort of? The early parts of the film suggest the supernatural elements in The Night House may be meant to represent the normal grieving process after a loved ones death by suicide, a reading that is not really tenable once it becomes clear Owen was a mass murderer. But if the movie is not aiming for a universal portrait of grief, it can still be read metaphorically, and its more or less internally consistent. Its not that big a stretch to think that the same nothingness would be behind murders and suicides alike, or that a man experiencing an urge to kill his wife might sublimate it by killing other women instead, or invent an elaborate occult explanation to explain why hes murdering people. The metaphor starts to fall apart, as far as mapping onto the way things work in our world, at the point where Beths depression and Owens urge to kill intersect. Early in the movie, Beth expresses a fear that shes to blame for her husbands suicide:

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Im the one who struggled with that stuff: depression, dark thoughts. Hes the one that kept them at bay. Maybe it got to him, I dont know. Maybe I infected him with my bullshit.

It doesnt work like that, one of Beths colleagues reassures her, but in The Night House, it absolutely does work like that: Owen becomes a serial killer because the nothingness thats been following Beth around since her accident targets him to get to her. If people became serial killers because their spouses suffered from depression or had a near-death experience as a teenager, thered be a lot more serial killers. Still, the movies vision of death as a negative space rings true, and Halls performance is magnetic enough to smooth over most of the rough edges. If you found The Night House relatable, though, especially the parts about building a Caerdroia to trick the evil spirit that keeps encouraging you to murder people, youll probably want to seek professional help.
As the U.S. and allied Western forces frantically try to evacuate citizens and local allies from Afghanistan, CIA Director William Burns was in Kabul Monday for secret meetings with the Talibans de facto leader Abdul Ghani Baradar. Burns presence in the country is yet another indicator of how quickly power has shifted in the country, a swing that has only accelerated as the Taliban took control of Kabul nine days ago, further complicating American evacuation plans. The U.S. is facing a self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline to wrap up operations in the country, including its airlift of American citizens and tens of thousands of Afghans that desperately trying to flee the country.

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Over the past few days, the U.S. flew more than three dozen flights out of the country carrying nearly 20,000 people, the Associated Press reports, a considerable escalation in what Biden has called one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history. U.S. officials said the pace of evacuation has picked up, in part, due to coordination with Taliban commanders that has made it easier for evacuees to physically get into the Kabul airport. After early moments of chaos and confusion, there has been an uptick in the airlifts, but Biden is facing pressure from allies to extend the evacuation deadline to get as many endangered people out of the country as possible.

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A Taliban spokesman roundly rejected the possibility of delaying the U.S. withdrawal saying that would cross a red line if allied forces lingered in the country. Since the Taliban seized the capital Aug. 15, completing a stunning rout of the U.S.-backed Afghan government and military, the U.S. has been carrying out the evacuation in coordination with the Taliban, who have held off on attacking Americans under a 2020 withdrawal deal with the Trump administration, the AP notes. That could change if U.S. forces unilaterally extend the evacuation deadline, though so far there are indications that the Taliban is trying to avoid outright antagonization of the West on its way out.

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Western officials say the Taliban are seeking international recognition of their takeover as well as foreign aid, points of leverage that could be used to extract concessions from the group as the U.S. and others race to evacuate their own citizens and Afghan allies amid chaos at Kabul airport, which is currently controlled by U.S. troops, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Taliban are also seeking to avoid new sanctions that could hit the impoverished countrys finances.
On Friday, the AFL-CIO, the nations largest federation of labor unions, named its first woman president in its 65-year history. To judge by the AFL-CIOs website or by recent headlines, Liz Shulers election simply confirms the federations stated commitments to social justice and represents the choice of a well-qualified candidate, as Shuler has long been the organizations secretary-treasurer. But Shulers ascent was far from inevitable. Laboring women have always had to fight on two fronts at once. They have pursued rights and respect from employers, but they have also struggled with union brothers who often clung to exclusionary notions of labor by protecting white mens prerogatives. While Shulers election reveals just how much has changed, it also signals the challenges to come.

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The American workforce has been consistently unequal, reflecting the sexist and racist logics that shaped the nation at large. And while womens labors have been essential to the economy, they have also been devalued, whether by being extracted through enslavement or culturally compelled by the ideology of domesticity. Despite that enduring trope, which held that womens main duty was to care for their own families at home, most working-class women and women of color have historically had to keep their families afloat by earning a wage themselves. Since the 1960s, the percentage of all women who fit that description has only grown.

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Rather than embrace laboring women as their comrades, the men who formed unions in the 19th and early 20th centuries generally tried to keep them out. They viewed women as competitors who would do their jobs at lower pay, and they defined themselves as breadwinners who needed wages that could sustain their dependent wives and children. When the American Federation of Labor formed in 1886, its mostly white and male members did not treat women as their equals even when they needed to collaborate across gendered lines to improve their workplaces. As women increasingly entered the industrial labor force in the early 20th century, the AFL responded by forming separate ladies auxiliaries and promoting protective labor laws that explicitly limited womens hours and working conditions. Such provisions offered women some benefits, but they also protected them out of the highest-paid, most desirable jobs.

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Women flocked to the industrial unions of the upstart Congress of Industrial Organizations amid the economic despair and labor militancy of the 1930s. Through violent struggle, these workers won access to good wages, seniority, and paid vacations. But male-led unions mostly stood by as employers kept men on top, retaining sex-based job classifications and discrimination in wages and benefits. The New Deal, a watershed for the nations working class, also hardened the divides within that population by giving primacy to white men and excluding many working women, especially women of color, from its provisions. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935, for example, protected workers right to form unions and strike but left out domestic and agricultural workers, which employed many of the most vulnerable laboring women.

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At government officials urging, more women entered industrial work during World War II, where the gendered division of labor shifted but held. Most Rosie the Riveters lost those jobs at wars end, but the work had raised their expectations, and they seized an important foothold in the labor movement by the 1950s. Often working through AFL-CIO-affiliated unions, an outspoken generation of midcentury feminists demanded justice for working women that included but far surpassed access to male-dominated jobs: economic security, racial equity, and acknowledgement by both unions and employers that women worked a double day on the job and at home.

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These labor feminists included Addie Wyatt, who had searched in vain for a typist position in hypersegregated Chicago. Wyatt took a job at the Armour Meatpacking Plant in 1941. She never forgot the electrifying first meeting of her union, the United Packinghouse Workers of America: a room full of Black and white workers, Hispanic workers, young and old, middle-aged workers, male and female, discussing their common struggles around pay and working conditions as well as the specific problems facing each constituency. I wanted to be a part of it, she said. Wyatt was elected the first woman president of her local in 1954, and she rose through her unions ranks, eventually becoming the first director of its Womens Affairs Department in 1974.

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An outspoken generation of midcentury feminists demanded justice for working women that included but far surpassed access to male-dominated jobs.

Labor feminists and civil rights activists like Wyatt sought to make their unions more democraticsometimes by applying force from outside them. Union women shepherded the creation of the National Organization for Women in 1966, which lobbied unions to strengthen their approach to womens rights. Nothing was going to happen unless you had a pressure group that was going to be pressuring, explained NOW co-founder Dorothy Haener, an employee in the United Auto Workers International Unions Womens Department who helped make the UAW the first union to endorse the Equal Rights Amendment in 1970. NOW co-founder Catherine Conroy led a Communications Workers of America local in Milwaukee. She grew frustrated spending all my time on the problems of these guys, which seemed trivial compared with women members concerns. Union leaders passed her over for the position of Wisconsin state director, instead selecting a less qualified man. Conroy hated having to file state and federal claims of sex discrimination against her own union; her co-workers called her disloyal. Still, she explained, if we dont tolerate discrimination by companies, we certainly shouldnt tolerate discrimination by the organizations that are supposed to protect our rights. Wyatt, Haener, and Conroy were all instrumental in establishing the Coalition of Labor Union Women in 1974.

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Laboring women fought on in the 1970s as employers squeezed workers in new ways. Despite strong new laws that mandated workplace equality and even affirmative action to address womens and men of colors past exclusion, several overlapping crises ended decades of postwar economic expansion. Corporate leaders declared an era of austerity, innovating tough measures that undermined organized labor and eroded the job security many Americans had taken for granted.

White men and the unions they led responded differently to this challenging new climate. Some embraced women as members, organizers, and leaders. For example, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees endorsed comparable worth, the theory that employers should root out pay discrimination by resetting wages based on work value rather than prevailing market rates. Other union men turned inward, defining women and men of color as undeserving of a boost into the blue-collar sphere. They stood by as employers set up court-manded affirmative action programs that funneled women into jobs that were already slated to disappear through automation, and forced Black women to accept lower settlement payouts and compete with white men for clerical positions, with white feminists blessing. And in male-dominated uniformed public sectors such as policing and firefighting, some unions backed new barriers to womens access.

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Todays AFL-CIO, in its public-facing stance, adopts an inclusive approach. But its members12.5 million American workers ranging from steelworkers and pipefitters to teachers and nursesrepresent our nation in all its diversity. Late last week, the executive council of the Connecticut Building Trades debated whether to leave the state AFL-CIO, reflecting the long-strained relationship between the more conservative trades and the more progressive public sector unions the trades workers accused the unions leadership of favoring. The council voted to remain, but the situation was tense. Organized labor was a big tent, explained Democratic Connecticut state Rep. Sean Scanlon. The movements diversity was our greatest strength, but its also something that causes issues.

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Americans are currently embroiled in a debate about which kinds of work deserve public investment through President Joe Bidens pending infrastructure bills. Some advocates are concerned that women workers and women-typed caring labor, which Biden and his allies have termed human infrastructure, will be cut out of Congress final deal. As California Rep. Katie Porter has pointed out, infrastructure has often been a unifying issue in a fractured capital because it has been used  as code for jobs for men.  Indeed, men have filled 9 out of 10 traditional infrastructure jobs in the past. The AFL-CIO praised the U.S. Senates recent passage of the more traditional bipartisan infrastructure deal and called upon Congress to advance the human infrastructurefocused American Families Plan. The federation should do everything it can to ensure that both bills become law.

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As Shuler takes office, union women will look to her to champion their expansive visions and specific concerns; employers will continue to try to pit groups of workers against one another in their crusade to depress conditions for everyone. Shuler explained earlier this month that if she were tapped for the presidency, my job would be to promote unity and solidarity around a common agenda. She will have to balance that mission against the one she laid out in accepting the office: This is a moment for us to lead societal transformationsto leverage our power to bring women and people of color from the margins to the center. Can she and her organization break from history and accomplish both goals at once? This year, theyre at the crossroads.
On Monday, the New York Times reported that Spike Lee devotes a significant amount of time in his new four-part HBO documentary series, NYC Epicenters 9/112021, to the group Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth, which promotes the conspiracy theory that the Twin Towers were brought down by a controlled demolition as part of an inside job.

About a decade ago, I interviewed Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth founder Richard Gage multiple times and attended one of his events for articles in Slate and Architect Magazine. Gage is responsible for peddling some of the most pernicious and long-running lies about the 9/11 attacks, which is why I was surprised that Lee, HBO, and WarnerMedia might be lending his group any amount of time.

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I had to see for myself to what extent Lees documentary actually promoted Gages fantasies, so I checked out a screener for Episode 4, which is due to be released around the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. What I found was surreal and demoralizing.

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Lee devotes 30 minutes near the very end of his series to relitigating arguments that have been debunked a thousand times. Specifically, he presents about a dozen conspiracy theorists and members of Gages group, including Gage himself, in a back-and-forth with three credible scientists who investigated the 9/11 attacks in a teach the controversystyle format that presents the truth behind 9/11 as an open debate between two equally valid sides. In terms of conveying facts, this is a bit like presenting COVID-19 vaccine skeptics in a debate alongside Anthony Fauci, or Holocaust deniers alongside the Simon Wiesenthal Center, or a clique of climate change skeptics alongside the authors of the United Nations IPCC report.

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Unfortunately, its also clear from Lees presentation in the film, as well as his public statements, where his leanings are on this controversy and where he wants the audience to land. In a New York Times interview published on Monday, for instance, Lee promotes previously debunked evidence of a controlled demolition, such as the amount of heat that it takes to make steel melt, that temperatures not reached and the way Building 7 fell to the ground was suspicious.

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In the documentary, Lee is presented with an explanation of the facts by Shyam Sunder, who led 200 scientists in examining the evidence of the 9/11 attacks to produce a three-year-long, $16 million investigation into the collapse of the World Trade Center for the National Institute of Standards and Technology. When Sunder finishes and says, Hopefully that answers your question, Lee laughs and responds, Well, not really. Interspersed through that part of the film are Gage and members of his group promoting falsehoods that the buildings could only have been brought down by a controlled demolition, citing faulty premises about jet fuel and evidence of explosions and repeating the claim that Building 7 is the smoking gun of 9/11. Ultimately, Lee calls for a new congressional investigation into how the towers came down. I hope that maybe the legacy of this documentary is that Congress holds a hearing, a congressional hearing about 9/11, he told the Times.

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You might be wondering why it matters if Spike Lee is raising questions about the official story of 9/11, particularly given that most of the evidence he presents is perhaps most well-known at this point because of mocking teen memes from the mid-2010s.

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But Lee and HBO are offering Gage and his conspiracy theories the biggest and most mainstream platform theyve ever had, pointing their viewers directly towards a bog of heinously dangerous ideas: Like other conspiracy theorists, Gage doesnt just stick to 9/11, and if Lees viewers follow Gage down the rabbit hole, they likely wont, either.

Gage, for instance, considers himself an expert on the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past year, he has said on various podcasts that COVID-19 is a deep state hoax and false flag event that has been perpetrated by an increasingly restrictive and tyrannical government that has locked us into our own homes, and kept us in isolation from each other with distance and masks, and poisoned us with vaccines that are going to kill us. Gage has also claimed that Bill Gates is a eugenicist attempting to reduce the population by doing a good job with the vaccines because his father was the head of the whole legal deal for Planned Parenthood. Again, once people dip a toe into the fever swamp of conspiracy theories, they are often sucked all the way inwith all the attendant horrific consequences for society and public health.

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But aside from being a potential gateway drug for his ideas about COVID-19, Gages theories about 9/11 are dangerous in and of themselves. His elaborate conspiracy would implicate nearly everyone in the country as either culpable criminals or gullible sheeple. Particularly guilty are mainstream media entitiessuch as HBO and WarnerMediawhich Gage says are in on the crime. Indeed, the man tends to see anyone who disagrees with him about 9/11 as a likely criminal; when I interviewed him in 2011, he demanded a criminal federal grand jury investigation into Sunder himself.

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When you listen closely to Gage and attend his events, other alleged criminals start to emerge. Chief among them: Jews. When I visited one of his groups gatherings in 2012, he offered an open platform to participants claiming that our government and the Israeli government, the Israeli Mossad, could be responsible for the Twin Towers demolition. In one recent interview, Gage endorsed the ideas of a podcast host who said that Israels use of COVID-19 passports means that it has the database that collects all of our phone calls and that Israel benefited from 9/11 and its pretty obvious who the real perpetrators of the attacks were. In response to the podcast host essentially suggesting the Jews did it, Gage responded: Its not too difficult to figure that out. You just have to listen to some really, really good peopleyour station, which Ive heard many times, your TV or video exposes are extraordinary. The 9/11 truther movement is awash in this sort of antisemitism, and Gage seemingly never disputes it.

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Lee is now pointing his viewers directly into the arms of Gage, whose most mainstream platform before now was the 9/11 conspiracy film Loose Change, and who has never had the type of audience that HBO is offering. Its a shame; from what I saw, the rest of the documentary was poignant and quite good, addressing real systemic failures such as issues preventing 9/11 first responders from receiving the health care they need and even a genuine conspiracy wherein former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo covered up nursing home deaths from COVID-19. Indeed, Lee himself acknowledges the danger of conspiracy theories about COVID-19 in Episode 1 of the series, during a set of exchanges with CNN national correspondent Athena Jones and epidemiologist Jacqueline Moline:

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Jones: Its very concerning, because it is just baked in, this idea that some people dont think this virus is a real thing. They think its a hoax. They think its just like a flu or a bad cold. Lee: How do they think that? Jones: They think that because theyre listening to the wrong people. Moline: There are people that think that the world is flat.

I asked representatives from HBO and WarnerMedia what they and Lee felt about Gages other ideas about 9/11 and COVID-19, why those ideas werent included in the film, and whether or not promoting Gages work might be leading his viewers to listen to the wrong people about both catastrophes. As of Tuesday afternoon, they had yet to respond.

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Theres still time, though, before Episode 4 airs, for Lee to do the right thing by excising the 30-minute section from the film, which is totally unnecessary to the true and important story he tells in the rest of the episodeabout the courage and health struggles of 9/11 first respondersso that his audience is not bamboozled by 9/11 lies.

Update, Aug. 26, 2021, at 7 p.m.: The revised version of Episode 4 no longer includes the 30-minute section in which Lee speaks with 9/11 conspiracy theorists.

Update, Aug. 25, 2021, at 3 p.m.: On Wednesday, HBO sent out a message from Lee saying: Im Back In The Editing Room And Looking At The Eighth And Final Chapter Of NYC EPICENTERS 9/112021 . I Respectfully Ask You To Hold Your Judgement Until You See The FINAL CUT.
This article is part of the Free Speech Project, a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech.

Foundational documents of liberal democracy, from the U.S. Constitutions First Amendment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, establish strong protections for free speech. Even so, the rise of digital platformsand social media in particularhas added new wrinkles to our thinking on what types of expression should be able to circulate widely with ease. Urged on by well-substantiated claims of real-world harms arising from disinformation, harassment, and other forms of problematic content, policymakers and members of the public have placed pressure on online platforms to limit the availability of certain speech. It would be legally impossible for U.S. regulators to take such action themselves for much of that speech. Platforms, however, have much more power to shape the communities they cultivate and the information they promote. For instance, the United States government generally cant silence those who spread general COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, even as the Biden administration claims it is killing people. Twitter, Facebook, and Google, however, canand dounilaterally move to contain or eliminate such speech and impose consequences on those responsible for it.

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This is real power. Accordingly, as platforms have adopted a content governance role in earnest, they have faced calls for greater transparency around how they promote, demote, remove, or otherwise influence the circulation of speech, whether it be spam, a statement of solidarity with an online social movement, hate speech riddled with racial slurs, a viral meme, an album of wedding photos, pornography, or Russian disinformation. Such calls have come not just from the platforms staunch critics but also from a growing community of researchers focused on analyzing (and developing strategies to mitigate) harmful content online. The researchers argue that insufficient access to detailed data on platforms content moderation activity limits the scope and usefulness of their work. These concerns were vindicated in early August when Facebook shut down accounts belonging to NYU disinformation researchers, prompting an outcry from academic and philanthropic leaders. AlgorithmWatch, a German research and advocacy organization, soon after announced that it had shuttered a research project aimed at better understanding Instagrams algorithms under pressure from Facebook.

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But determining how best to provide transparency and research access has proved tricky. Transparency reports and other summary-level accounts of how platforms moderate are welcome but arent enough. Highly aggregated overviews assembled by the very companies they purport to keep accountable are limited in their ability to foster public trust. Its harder to get more granular, though, including because of problems of scale. Facebook says that from April to June, it took action against 31.5 million instances of hate speech from its platform globally and used A.I., rather than depending on user reporting or human moderators, to detect 97.6 percent of it. Its not only the sheer number of decisions made that makes record-keeping difficult. Data on these decisions would also be tough to handle by definition. Because much of the content is posted by real people, a platforms detailed publicization of its elimination of specific posts, comments, and photos raises genuine privacy concerns. This is especially true for content that was originally limited to private audiences, such as in many Facebook Groups.

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And, by reposting content deemed inappropriate for a platform in a public release, that platform courts the Streisand effect, where attempts to suppress information only fuel its virality. Consider the example of sharing COVID-19 misinformation. We probably wouldnt want platforms to advertise a public list of individuals who spread misinformation within a rapidly changing information landscape, knowingly or unwittingly, oftentimes only to their friends. A public archive of actioned-against posts could also create an asset for turning dangerous conspiracy theories into martyred ones. In 2020, Facebook decided to take down posts suggesting that one could drink bleach to prevent infection from the coronavirus. Those posts were taken down to keep people from drinking a poisonous substance, even as some chose to see the actions as conspiracies to quell a movement or to hide hidden cures, no matter how many thousands of user posts suggest the contrary to theorists.

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Faced with this quandary, many platforms have rationally opted to avoid retaining and sharing much of the content moderation data they generate. There is no standard practice of maintaining comprehensive archives of a platforms moderation activity, even as that activity shapes platform discourse at a fundamental level.

Thats a real problem. The ways in which speech is produced and filtered on a societywide level is going undocumented. Without access to granular data on how content moderation works in practice, todays researchersand the public they serveare impaired in their ability to understand, debate, and advance the state of content moderation. Indeed, platforms have taken active measures to prevent researchers from scraping dataleaving tomorrows researchers with an impoverished historical record through which to comb. Archivists, librarians, philosophers, and others have long grappled with the problem of appropriately handling content that could putatively cause real harm if widely circulated but is too valuable or significant to be destroyed. The most popular depiction of that struggle in contemporary fiction may be J.K. Rowlings inclusion of a Restricted Section of the Hogwarts library, stocked with powerful but dangerous texts, as a plot point in several of the Harry Potter books.

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In a recent paper, two of us considered what lessons todays platforms might learn from the history of the Giftschrank (poison cabinet), a German archival institution with origins in 16th-century Bavaria. Information control systems ostensibly designed for the protection of knowledge-seekers, Giftschrank held texts deemed to be corruptive under lock and key. Their history is long and variedover more than four centuries, Giftschrank have been home to everything from heretical polemics to pornography, to copies of Mein Kampf and other writings of the Third Reich.

Importantly, the function of a Giftschrank is not to render its contents forever inaccessiblethroughout history, bonfires and paper shredders have served that function far more effectively. Rather, the idea behind a Giftschrank is to limit access to poisonous materials to those who demonstrate a need to review them for legitimate purposes.

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The Giftschrank is both an instrument of preservation and one of controla means of protecting powerful knowledge, but also of determining who gets, or doesnt get, access to it. In some instances, this control can be deployed to socially productive ends. In the wake of World War II, Giftschranke were used to make hateful writings from the Third Reich available to scholars of genocide and cultural memory without undermining Germanys program of denazification. But control over access can also be used to reinforce existing power structures, including repressive ones. In East Germany, Giftschrank were eagerly deployed to limit and shape academic and political speech. Controlling information flow awards those with power the ability to cover up scandals and shape narratives, or to choose those who will be able to do so.

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In many ways, the idea of a top-down system for controlling access to information and expressive material is out of step with the norms of liberal democracy. Still, the broader idea that restricting access to potentially dangerous content can sometimes be the only workable alternative to destroying it resonates todayincluding in platforms efforts to balance societal interests like the preservation of knowledge with their own corporate ones.

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Its understandable that platforms think that exhaustively retaining content moderation data might be prohibitively risky. Such data is sensitive and messy, involving the identities of real people, and speech that many might find repulsive or even legally actionable. But platforms can benefit from developing virtual Giftschrank of their own. They could, as part of the content moderation pipeline, build comprehensive archives of information corresponding to every moderation action they take. These archives could include data on the underlying content, the action taken, the reasons for removal, and other relevant attributes. And platforms neednt go it alone. Indeed, the most effective platform Giftschrank model might be one in which many platforms adopt a shared archival standard, or even a shared archive. Archivists, librarians, and other noncorporate experts in information management stand to play an essential role in helping platforms to develop best practices around the implementation of Giftschrank, including by setting standards for researcher access to Giftschrank data.

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Despite their inherent shortcomings, platform Giftschrank would be a marked improvement over what we currently have. Its better to have private libraries than no books, secret knowledge than lost knowledge. As complex and inherently fraught with questions of power, control, and ownership as such an approach would be, it would ultimately make possible new opportunities for transparency and academic discovery. And the active involvement of librarians and others who owe duties to the public rather than any one corporate entity could go a long way toward mitigating some of these concerns.

Of course, platforms and their noncorporate partners dont need to jump right into the deep end. Platforms could start by building a Giftschrank around one relatively narrow but important area of content moderationlike efforts to mitigate disinformation in the context of a particular electionrather than seeking to cover every form of moderation action right off the bat. They could also choose to quarantine archives for some period of time prior to releasing them. For example, a platform building a Giftschrank to track disinformation related to an election could hold off on releasing any data to researchers until the election has been certified to avoid fears of politicization or recirculation of removed content. Particularly hesitant platforms could even opt not to release the data until some point in the not-so-near future, depriving contemporary researchers of its benefits but buttressing the historical record.

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Adopting a Giftschrank would undoubtedly impose some degree of risk on a platform. Novel legal issues may arise, privacy protection at scale is an imperfect science, and first movers may face the poking, prodding, and criticism that new transparency measures invite. But the potential upside makes these risk factors worth contending with. Indeed, as legislators and regulators contemplate new laws aimed at shaping platform practices, they might weigh the merits of including safe harbor provisionsor even outright mandatesaimed at making the adoption of new archival approaches more tractable.

A platform that lets researchers inand gives them access to granular datawill have access to much better feedback and input than its closed-off peers, benefiting from the ingenuity and insight of a rapidly growing field. More importantly, allowing independent outside review of key content moderation data is absolutely necessary for public trust in online platforms. Todays transparency reports, press conferences, and statements of policy, many of which more or less require the reader to take a platform at its word, simply arent up to that task.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Companies struggle with data on vaccination of their employees

They can obtain information only if employees voluntarily provide it.

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Unvaccinated employees are creating problems for companies across Slovakia, the National Union of Employers (RUZ) announced.

According to the new warning system, known as the Covid automat in Slovak, the state has offered the organisers of mass events and owners of facilities the option of choosing the entry regime for their customers or participants of events.

However, the state did not set the entry conditions for their employees, RUZ has warned.

Preparation for worse time

As a result, companies say the conditions of the anti-pandemic measures are unclear. They are asking the Public Health Authority (UVZ) to specify the results.

Employers point out that it is hard to obtain data on whether and how many of their employees are vaccinated.

Regarding the worsening epidemic situation, companies are searching for ways to protect the health of their employees and ensure the smooth operation of the company, said Miroslav Kiralvarga, chair of RUZ, as quoted by the SITA newswire. Many companies are proactively preparing for 'worse times' and creating databases of fully vaccinated employees and those who have recovered from Covid-19, as well as adapting the schedule of services and operation the database.

Companies can receive information on whether their staff has been vaccinated only if they provide it voluntarily, Kiralvarga added.

Suppliers want to work with vaccinated people

Suppliers are also facing problems, as foreign purchasers often only ask for the service conducted by vaccinated employees, he noted.

Employers cannot push employees to get vaccinated Read more

In practice, there are bizarre situations where employees refuse to wear masks at the workplace. Despite the fact that they repeatedly violate work discipline, the current measures do not answer how Slovak employers should proceed in such cases.

The problem is the ordinance of the regional public health office itself, as obligations can only be imposed by law, Kiralvarga said, as quoted by SITA. Therefore, employers have their hands tied to a large extent.

24. Aug 2021 at 17:58 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Ohio three-year-old trotting fillies return to action on Wednesday night (August 25) in the Buckeye Stallion Series at MGM Northfield Park.

Sophomore fillies will face off with three divisions to highlight the 16-race card. First race post time is 6 p.m. Each race carries a purse of $17,500.

In the first division, Magic Credit Card will look to win her third leg in as many tries. She did not race in the first leg. Magic Credit Card will face two previous winners in Fanciful and Imalovelylady.

In the second division, two previous winners, Irish Princess and Chip It In, will square off.

The third division will feature the other winner of two legs, Jogging Sweets. Jogging Sweets did not race in the third leg. She will face two other winners in Fiesty Pistol and Cash N Chips.

The Buckeye Stallion Series will move to Eldorado Scioto Downs on Saturday night for the three-year-old colt pacers.

(Ohio Harness Horsemens Association)
At Saturdays Symposium, Bounds will be under tent advising the average person on how to legally grow cannabis plants at home.

Its fairly simple, a lot of little nuances, he said.

The lawyer said he would make himself available for any questions from the public. My goal is to be there, be free, help with anything that they dont understand, help guide the masses away from potentially stepping off a ledge of some kind.

In his professional life, Bounds, who is Sauers lawyer, is available to help business clients and farmers growing cannabis for hemp or marijuana and or help settle landlord-tenant disputes about the plant. People living in urban areas are much differently situated when it comes to the law than someone on 100 acres in Culpeper County, he said, where, It might be a little easier to have your four plants out of sight, out of mind, he said.

Bounds advises clients on changes in the law, ever in flux, as legislators race to find the best way forward for legal sales of marijuana and set up the licensing process by Jan. 1, 2024.

He represents small shops selling CBD gummies, and is familiar with FDA rules and regulations guiding sale and licensing of such hemp products.
Educational programming can no longer be bound by traditional delivery constraints, nor will we survive by simply waiting for applicants to walk through our door, he said. We need to become more proactive as a profession, by reaching out to address specific needs within those districts and states that we serve.

All of the 20 graduates are teachers in the district, and many have been hired as administrators since earning their masters degrees, according to Powell.

ASD Superintendent Deena Bishop said she was pleased with the program and the CSC graduates.

She spoke highly of their preparation and abilities, Powell said.

The 20 graduates earned their degrees in 2.5 years, representing the first two cohort groups in the program, and another 12 candidates currently moving through the program in their cohort 3 grouping.
Most people give themselves two or three days to get up and down. I climbed Granite this way in 2017 as a solar eclipse captivated the continent. I enjoyed camping near an alpine lake and the heavy footsteps of some huffing megafauna outside our tent at night. I love the slow moments of an overnight trip with a pack big enough to bring a small box of wine, how my attention is free to focus on the smallest details of the landscape. I also love moving quickly and lightly in the mountains. When Garrett, visiting from Michigan, asked me to join him on a one-day ascent of Granite this July, I eagerly agreed.

Garrett and I have been friends for nearly a decade, climbing snow, rock and ice around North America. Only recently have we begun focusing our annual outings on long days on foot. Merging the technical exposure of climbing with the endurance of trail running is certainly not a new idea, but the experience feels novel every time.

On Froze-to-Death Plateau, the faint path often disappears into a mess of scree or soggy tussocks of grass that eats shoes alive. With a map and GPS, we kept a fair heading toward our goal, moving only as quickly as the terrain allowed. Before long, we arrived at the east ridge of Granite Peak, and soon found ourselves crawling across the notorious snow bridge that guards the final, wandering scramble to the summit.
SCOTTSBLUFF  Nominations for the 2021 Western Nebraska Community College Alumni Association awards are now open. Each year the Alumni Association recognizes six individuals or businesses that have made a positive impact at WNCC.

Nominations are for the following awards:

Cara Perkins Meritorious Service - A person (need not be an alumnus) or organization that has served WNCC and students in a special or extraordinary way. If this person is not an alumnus, he/she is granted honorary alumni member status for life.

Family Pride  A family with multiple generations of family members that have attended or graduated from WNCC. Include a list of all family members, years of attendance, areas of study, and a description of how each are related.

Friend of the College - A person, organization, or business that has demonstrated a commitment to the educational advancement of people in the Nebraska Panhandle.

Lifetime Achievement  A WNCC staff or faculty member (current or former) who has shown a lifetime commitment to the mission of the College.

Outstanding Alumnus  A graduate of WNCC that has displayed great personal achievement in their career field or shown outstanding community service.
Ana Cabrera and her class pose in front of the school celebrating their earning first place in the national SpringBoard math competition.
Russ said while McCollough is the first, the plan is to continue to grow the scholarship over time.

The whole idea is to get these girls into careers and into what theyre wanting to do and to be there for them along the way, Russ said.

The Abby Winthrops Smart Girls Scholarship provides financial support for members of the group after they graduate, whether it is a four-year degree, trade school or something else to prepare them for a career. In McColloughs case, she will get $2,500 in support each school year for the next four years.

The Winthrops said that Abbys Smart Girl is a way of honoring their daughter. With the program, Vicki said that it was something Abby would have wanted them to do because their daughter loved working with children.

In our family, were about team, we dont leave people behind and we support them all the way through to the end. That was critical for us starting this program is that we didnt just throw money at you and drop you. It was super important for (JuhQuayden) to know that all she had to do is pick up the phone and ask for help.
The 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence came as the country is locked in a bitter tug-of-war with Russia, which in 2014 annexed Crimea and has since been backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, and Kyivs efforts to shore up support among Western nations.

Territories may be occupied, but one can't occupy the people's love for Ukraine. One can create a desperate situation and make people get (Russian) passports, but one can't issue passports for their Ukrainian hearts, Zelenskyy said Tuesday. If some people in Crimea and Donbass (region in eastern Ukraine, controlled by Russia-backed separatists) are afraid to talk about it, it doesn't mean they are afraid to think about it. They will come back, because we're family.

Delegations from 46 countries and blocs, including 14 presidents, attended the parade in Kyiv. The day before, they took part in the Crimean Platform summit called by Ukraine to build up pressure on Russia over the 2014 annexation of Crimea that has been denounced as illegal by most of the world.

The center of Kyiv on Tuesday turned into a large venue for concerts and other festive events marking the anniversary. Thousands of people flocked to the central Maidan square, which over the past 30 years has been a rallying point for Ukrainians.
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Cowlitz County recorded 30.8 new COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 people from Aug. 5 to Aug. 11. The state reported 11.7 hospitalizations per 100,000 for the same week.

Unlike during prior COVID-19 waves, St. John cannot easily transfer its most severely ill patients to other hospitals for higher levels of care, as every hospital in the region is struggling with capacity, according to PeaceHealth.

Unfortunately we are seeing steady daily increases in the number of patients requiring hospitalization for COVID-19, said Cherelle Montanye, St. John chief administrative officer. We must do all we can to be ready for what may come.

St. John is clearing space in its parking lot for an emergency tent to help hold or treat patients and expects it to be ready later this week, Montanye said. PeaceHealth Southwest in Vancouver set up a tent outside its emergency department Friday for an overflow waiting area.

PeaceHealth strongly advocates COVID-19 vaccination for anyone who is medically able.
Russia revealed Tuesday it postponed its first mission to the moon's surface in decades as a result of "problems" encountered during tests of the Luna-25 spacecraft. The country's space agency Roscosmos announced last week that the mission -- originally scheduled for October 1 -- from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far East had been moved to May 2022. The Luna-25 mission to the Moon's south pole aims to probe ice deposits there. It is set to be Russia's first mission to the moon's surface in 45 years and the first in its post-Soviet history.

The chief engineer of Russia's state NPO Lavochkin design bureau explained the delay Tuesday saying that "more time" was needed to complete successful trials. "We have encountered certain problems during testing," Alexander Shirshakov told the Interfax news agency. "A safe landing system is of crucial importance and we are working on Luna-25's soft landing system," Shirshakov said.

The race back to the moon is in full swing after China in December 2020 became the first country to return samples from the moon since the Soviet Luna-24 mission in 1976. US space agency NASA also has pledged to land the next man and the first woman on the moon in 2024 as part of its Artemis programme.

Meanwhile, Russia and China in March announced plans for a joint lunar station. Russia's space programme inherited from the Soviet Union has in recent years suffered from problems like corruption scandals and budget cuts.

Its space industry took a blow in 2020 when it lost its monopoly over manned flights to the ISS after the successful mission of Space X, the company belonging to US billionaire Elon Musk.

Roscosmos has however announced a number of ventures including a mission to Venus and the creation of a rocket capable of making round trips to space. Russia has also indicated that it plans to leave the International Space Station and launch its own orbital station in 2025.
Perth, Aug 23 (The Conversation) On August 28, a SpaceX rocket will blast off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, carrying supplies bound for the International Space Station. But also on board will be a small satellite that represents a giant leap into space for our research program here in Western Australia.

Our satellite, called Binar-1 after the Nyungar word for fireball, was designed and built from scratch by our team at Curtin Universitys Space Science and Technology Centre.

We chose this name for two reasons: to acknowledge the Wadjuk people of the Noongar Nation, and to recognise the relationship between our satellite program and Curtins Desert Fireball Network, which has successfully searched for meteorites in the Australian desert.

Binar-1 is a CubeSat  a type of small satellite made from 10-centimetre cube-shaped modules. Binar-1 consists of just one such module, meaning its technically a 1U CubeSat.

Its main objective is to prove the technology works in space, thereby taking a first step towards future missions in which we hope ultimately to send CubeSats to the Moon.

Binar-1 is equipped with two cameras, with two objectives: first, to photograph Western Australia from space, thus testing the performance of our instruments and hopefully also capturing the imagination of young WA students; and second, to image stars. The star camera will precisely determine which way the satellite is facing  a crucial capability for any future Moon mission.

Bespoke build

Our centre is the largest planetary research group in the southern hemisphere, and we participate in space missions with agencies like NASA and the European and Japanese space agencies. To understand the various planets and other bodies in the Solar System, we need to build spacecraft to visit them. But for most of the space age, the costs of building and launching this technology have been a major barrier to participation for most nations.

In the meantime, the rise of consumer electronics has produced smart phones that are significantly more capable than Apollo-era computers. Combined with new launch options, the cost of launching a small satellite is now within reach of research groups and start-ups. As a result, the market for COTS (consumer off-the-shelf) satellite components has boomed over the past decade.

Like other Australian research groups, we began our journey into space with a specific mission in mind: to build instruments that can observe flaming meteors from orbit. But we quickly found the cost of buying the satellite hardware repeatedly for multiple missions would be huge.

But then we realised our research group had an advantage: we already had prior experience building space observatories for the remote outback, such as the Desert Fireball Network. This expertise gave us a head start in developing our own satellites from scratch.

Outback observatories and orbital satellites have a surprising amount in common. Both need to monitor the skies, and operate in harsh conditions. Both depend on solar power and have to function autonomously  in space, just like in the desert, nobody is out there to fix things on the fly. They both also experience intense vibration while travelling to their destination. It is up for debate whether rocket launches or corrugated outback roads make for a bumpier ride.

So in 2018, we set to work building a bespoke satellite. For the first two and half years, we made prototype circuit boards and tested them to their limits, refining our design with each version. The testing took place in our space environment lab where we have vacuum chambers, liquid nitrogen and shaker tables, to simulate the different space environments the satellite will experience.

Onboard the International Space Station astronauts will unload Binar-1 and deploy it from an airlock in the Japanese Kibo module. To begin with the satellite will maintain a similar orbit to the station, about 400 kilometres above Earth. At that altitude there is enough atmosphere to cause a tiny amount of drag that will eventually cause the satellite to fall into the thicker part of the atmosphere.

In the end it will become a fireball, like its namesake, and if we are extremely lucky we will catch images of it on one of our ground-based observatories. We expect this to happen after about 18 months, but this time frame can vary because of many factors, such as solar weather. For as long as we can, we will gather data to help refine future missions, and we have already begun to look at ways to collect data as the next satellites crash into the atmosphere.

Jam-packed with cubesats

Launching on the same rocket with Binar-1 will be CUAVA-1, the first satellite built by the Australian Research Councils CubeSat development program. But although the two satellites will share the same ride to space, their development paths have been completely different.

As was our original plan, the CUAVA team has focused on the development of instrument payloads, while buying navigation systems and other components from Dutch and Danish suppliers.

Our satellite was designed and built completely in-house, which means we can drive down costs by making multiple versions, while constantly testing and refining our hardware for future missions.

There are already six more 1U satellites scheduled in the Binar program, each representing a step towards our ultimate goal of a lunar mission.

Shooting for the Moon

As part of the Australian governments Moon to Mars initiative, we are carrying out a feasibility study for our Binar Prospector mission, which we hope will involve two six-unit CubeSats making close-up observations of the Moon while in low-altitude lunar orbit.

The earliest we expect this mission to launch is 2025, when NASA begins its commercial lunar payload service. There are multiple opportunities to launch CubeSats to the Moon by the end of this decade, so there will be plenty of options. Most of these questions are the subject of the feasibility study and are confidential at the moment.

Shooting for the Moon isnt just scientifically fascinating  it will benefit Australia too. By developing completely home-grown technology, we can avoid relying on expensive imported components, meaning the Australian space industry can stand on its own two feet while reaching for the heavens. (The Conversation) AMS AMS
In this April 7, 2021 file photo, a Waymo minivan arrives to pick up passengers for an autonomous vehicle ride, in Mesa, Ariz. Waymo, the Google self-driving vehicle spinoff, is moving to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service to San Francisco. The company says selected "trusted tester" customers in the city by the bay will be able to hail a ride in self-driving Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles. Credit: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File

Waymo, the Google self-driving vehicle spinoff, is expanding its autonomous ride-hailing service to San Francisco.

Selected "trusted tester" customers in the city by the bay will be able to hail a ride in self-driving Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles, the company said.

For now the vehicles will have human backup drivers on board. But at some point the company plans to run the vehicles without them like it now does in the Phoenix area.

Waymo began the program last week with a few testers and is now expanding it, the company said. It would not say how many vehicles are involved or when it plans to pull the human backups.

The approach is similar to what Waymo did in Phoenix when it started a limited ride-hailing service in 2017. The company says it has given thousands of fully autonomous rides in metro Phoenix since October of 2020.

People who want to join the program can do so by downloading the Waymo One app.

Explore further Waymo brings robo-taxis to San Francisco in new test

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
College of Coastal Georgia students are back on campus for their fall semester, and the college is continuing to encourage all on campus to get vaccinated and to wear face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brazos County health officials reported 114 new cases of COVID-19 among county residents on Tuesday.

Health officials have confirmed 25,967 cases of COVID-19 in the county since the pandemic began more than a year ago. Of those, 883 cases were active on Tuesday, an increase of eight from the day before.

Officials with the Brazos County Health District said 24,811 cases were considered recovered as of Tuesday; health officials classify all cases older than two weeks as recovered.

Forty-five Brazos County residents were hospitalized Tuesday for treatment of symptoms related to the virus, officials said.

The percentage of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in the states Trauma Service Area N  Brazos County and six surrounding counties  was 23.85% on Monday, the most recent day for which figures were reported. Other counties in the Brazos Valley region are Burleson, Robertson, Grimes, Madison, Washington and Leon.

There were 135 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the seven-county Brazos Valley region on Tuesday and no intensive care unit beds were available, according to the Department of State Health Services. Of the 566 staffed hospital beds in the region, 37 were available Tuesday, according to state figures.
What a mess! Several thousand U.S citizens are stranded throughout Afghanistan.

First, President Joe Biden abandoned the best airfield available without notifying our allies or the Afghan government. That did little to inspire confidence in our armed forces and our government.

Next, despite warnings that the Taliban quickly would take over the country, Biden told us that he relied on a "consensus" that the Afghan government would not fall before the end of the year. Why did the administration not plan for the worst?

France, Great Britain and Italy are going in and retrieving their citizens. Instead, U.S. citizens are told to come to the Kabul airport, but are not offered assurance of protection to the airport.

We are told that there is an "understanding" with the Taliban. Recent events suggest otherwise; even U.S. citizens have been beaten by the Taliban.

Then there is the situation for the Afghans who are eligible for rescue. To qualify, these persons must have certain documents. Trying to go through the Taliban check points, they quickly would be pulled aside and, most likely, executed.
Richwood, TX (77531)

Today

Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Hot and humid. High around 90F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some clouds. Low 78F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
A previously undisclosed "zero-click" exploit in Apple's iMessage was abused by Israeli surveillance vendor NSO Group to circumvent iOS security protections and target nine Bahraini activists.

"The hacked activists included three members of Waad (a secular Bahraini political society), three members of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, two exiled Bahraini dissidents, and one member of Al Wefaq (a Shiite Bahraini political society)," researchers from University of Toronto's Citizen Lab said in a report published today, with four of the targets hacked by an actor it tracks as LULU and believed to be the government of Bahrain.

Citizen Lab called the new exploit chain "FORCEDENTRY." It's also a zero-click exploit, meaning that it can be used to trigger an infection simply by sending a malicious message to the target, even without having to click a link or view the message in question.

"As always, if NSO receives reliable information related to misuse of the system, the company will vigorously investigate the claims and act accordingly based on the findings," a spokesperson for NSO Group told The Guardian.

The development comes a little over a month after an extensive investigation undertaken by a consortium of 17 media organizations revealed the widespread use of NSO Group's Pegasus "military-grade spyware" by authoritarian regimes to facilitate human rights violations by surveilling heads of state, activists, journalists, and lawyers around the world.

The company has since temporarily blocked several government clients globally from using its technology as the company probes its potential misuse, while also acknowledging that it "shut off five clients' access in the past several years after conducting a human rights audit, and had ended ties with two in the last year alone," according to the Washington Post.

The latest disclosure is significant, not least because the zero-click attack successfully works against the latest versions of iOS, but also for the fact that it bypasses a new software security feature called BlastDoor that Apple built into iOS 14 to prevent such intrusions by filtering untrusted data sent over iMessage.

The tightly sandboxed service was detailed by Google Project Zero researcher Samuel Gro earlier this January, noting that it's "written in Swift, a (mostly) memory safe language which makes it significantly harder to introduce classic memory corruption vulnerabilities into the code base." BlastDoor inspects inbound messages in a secure, sandboxed environment, thus preventing any malicious code inside of a message from interacting with the rest of the operating system or accessing user data.

But the very next month after its existence came to light, Citizen Lab said it observed NSO Group deploying FORCEDENTRY  which Amnesty International dubbed "Megalodon"  against iOS versions 14.4 and 14.6 as a zero-day expressly engineered to get around the BlastDoor feature by crashing IMTranscoderAgent, a service responsible for transcoding and previewing images in iMessage, in order to download and render items from the Pegasus infection server.

"Despite a half-decade of being implicated in human rights abuses, NSO Group regularly claims that they are, in fact, committed to protecting human rights," the researchers said. "The company has even published a 'Human Rights Policy,' a 'Transparency and Responsibility Report,' and claimed to subscribe to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

"The sale of Pegasus to Bahrain is particularly egregious, considering that there is significant, longstanding, and documented evidence of Bahrain's serial misuse of surveillance products including Trovicor, FinFisher, Cellebrite, and, now, NSO Group," the Citizen Lab team added.
Just in time for the Nebraska State Fair, Grand Island has a new welcome sign on south Highway 281, near Boys Town.

The sign is much bigger than its predecessor.

It is one of three signs being replaced by Grow Grand Island. New signs also will be built on east Highway 30 and at Central Nebraska Regional Airport.

The total cost of the project is $229,000, which comes from food and beverage tax money allocated to Grow Grand Island.

All three of the signs are being installed by Mayhew Signs of Grand Island.

After a new electrical service is installed, each letter in Grand Island will light up at night, as will an illustration of two rivers on the front of the sign.

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A couple of floodlights will be added as part of landscaping.

So youll definitely see it at night, said Tonja Brown, chair of Grow Grand Island. That work probably wont be finished until after the State Fair.

The sign project has been in the works since 2015.

Grow Grand Island hoped to have the new sign in place a month and a half ago. But supplies were delayed.
Through the trees, I saw him get on the roof, but I didnt see my babies and I screamed, Please tell me they are alive! Hall told the TV station.

But Ryan and Rileighana had been ripped from Rigney's arms, just seconds after the merciless waters, rising 6 feet (1.8 meters) high in the apartment, had swept him and all four children under, trapping them beneath a bed.

The father and his two older children were ultimately able to escape with the help of a neighbor. Ryan and Rileighana's lifeless bodies were later found in the apartment after the floodwaters had receded.

I wish there was something I could have done, Rigney said, his voice trembling through tears. I wish I would have just stayed there. I didn't know if the whole house was about to collapse on us."

The babies were two of 18 victims claimed by the catastrophic flooding Saturday that destroyed houses, tore up roads and took down cellphone towers and telephone lines in rural Humphreys County. Surviving members of the community have pulled together in their grief, raising money for those who lost everything and to help pay for funerals.

We never, ever imagined we would be burying babies who are 7 months old, Hall said, leaning into Rigney's shoulder as she broke into a sob.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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STEM Grants

Grant Program Wants to Help 1 million Students Explore Space

A company that provides people with access to online telescopes wants to enable a million students this year to explore space from computers in their classrooms and homes. Slooh, which maintains a set of telescopes in multiple sites around the world, has launched the "Slooh Space Exploration Grant" for the new school year.

The grant will provide one teacher from each public school in the United States with access to the Slooh interface as well as professional development and 40 student licenses. Those student seats will allow learners to use robotic telescopes to view space phenomena, including lunar changes, solar flares, asteroids, living and dying stars and a variety of nebulae. The value of the grant is $750, and it's being made available to teachers in grades 4-12 who teach in schools with at least 100 students.

Normally, an annual student subscription to the service is $50.

"Space exploration is a powerful  and truly magnificent  way for students to build their scientific knowledge and practices, while tying celestial phenomena to STEAM concepts," said Michael Paolucci, founder of Slooh, in a press release. "Our new grant provides an equitable opportunity for students across the country to reap the benefits of space exploration as they become well-informed citizens and 21st century thinkers."

To apply for the grant, teachers need to fill out a short application, which asks them to explain how Slooh will support space exploration for students in their school. Applications for the first round of judging are due by October 18, 2021. Additional rounds of grants will be made available throughout the rest of the school year.

Grant applications are available through Slooh.org.
Teaching & Learning

i-Ready Updated for Tighter Assessment of Learning Needs

Education technology company Curriculum Associates has updated its digital learning platform. The latest version of i-Ready includes updates to help teachers more closely calibrate students' instructional needs, show more diversity in lessons and support Spanish-speaking students.

i-Ready combines formative assessments with curriculum in reading and math, to support individualized instruction for learners. Although i-Ready is a digital platform, it also incorporates printed content where that's appropriate.

Among the new tools in i-Ready, some are designed to help teachers gain a more precise understanding of students' instructional needs. I-Ready placement tables are now available by learning domain; and demographic data filters have been improved to help administrators better understand the impact of potential learning loss on different student groups.

Updates to Tools for Scaffolding and the Prerequisites report include resources to help students build up to doing grade-level work in reading and math. Adaptive phonics lessons for Grades K-2 and new reading comprehension lessons for Grades 3-8 are intended to help students build their skills and engage in "productive struggle."

Content has expanded representation, so students can see people who resemble them reflected in what they're learning. Also, i-Ready includes a new way for students to engage in learning fractions with the ability for teachers and students to create their own puzzles in the program's Cloud Machine Learning Game.

The latest edition features more than 200 new literacy tasks. Among them are a set of expanded benchmark assessments and new Oral Reading Fluency progress monitoring for Grades 1-6 and new Early Reading Tasks to assess phonological awareness, phonics, and other concepts to support teaching and help address state screening requirements.

i-Ready will also include a new Spanish reading assessment for grades K-6 for students in dual-language or transitional Spanish-English bilingual programs. Authentic Spanish reading lessons for grades K-2 covering phonics, phonological awareness, and reading comprehension will help students build Spanish literacy. New Spanish versions of many mathematics Personalized Instruction lessons for grades K-6 will offer equitable learning experiences.

Additional enhancements include:

The ability to assign Teacher Toolbox resources to Google Classroom in fewer steps;

Batch printing capabilities;

Targeted professional development options; and

Updates to the Online Educator Learning platform.

"Over the last 10 years, i-Ready has supported the teaching and learning process in schools nationwide," said Rob Waldron, CEO of Curriculum Associates, in a press release. "Throughout this time, we have continually worked to enhance the program to meet the needs of teachers and students alike. Now, at this critical time as teachers are tasked with addressing unfinished learning caused by the pandemic, these latest updates will go a long way in helping students achieve grade-level expectations and make real gains."
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On Monday, police confirmed multiple shooters were involved in Sunday's incident in which Jackson was killed and three others were wounded.

The Southern is not naming the three individuals who were shot but survived. The victims were a 29-year-old from Marion, a 23-year-old from Murphysboro, and a juvenile victim from Marion.

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Authorities are asking anyone who attended the party or who has information about this investigation to contact the department at 618-549-2121, SIU Police at 618-453-3771 or 618-549-COPS where callers can remain anonymous.

In an interview with The Southern on Monday, Jackson County State's Attorney Joe Cervantez urged the public to come forward with any information about Sunday's shooting.

Police say they responded at 3:12 a.m. Sunday to the area in response to shots fired at a residence where a party was taking place, according to a news release from the Carbondale Police Department. SIU students and non-students were in attendance at the party, police said.

Officers said they found a gunshot victim  later identified as Jackson  and attempted to save her life, but she was later pronounced dead at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.
The father of the Metro East policeman killed on the McKinley Bridge is livid about how the criminal justice system handled a 2017 weapons case against the man now charged with his son's death.

Caleb Lawyer Campbell, 22, was charged Friday in the death of Brooklyn police Officer Brian Pierce Jr., 24, who was killed on the bridge Aug. 4 by a hit-and-run motorist.

Campbell had been sought for nearly four years after he missed a court date in St. Louis County.

Pierce Jr. had been a Brooklyn police officer for nine months. He also was a lieutenant with the Makanda Fire Department near Carbondale. He moved to Carbondale recently and was making the 100-mile drive nearly every day to work the night shift in Brooklyn. His family said he was passionate about being a police officer.

"Honestly, he should have never been on the street," Brian Pierce Sr. said in an interview Monday. "It makes me sad and makes me angry that the justice system didn't do its job."

Police arrested Campbell on Friday at his grandmothers home in the 5100 block of Rockingham Drive in Ferguson. Court records say he has lived in the 2000 block of Wedgwood Drive in unincorporated north St. Louis County.
Republicans have maintained there is no provision for Democrats in the legislature to adopt an amended map and that post- June 30 provisions of the state constitution should kick in. That requires creation of a bipartisan mapmaking commission, which invariably deadlocks, and forces a drawing to determine a ninth partisan tiebreaking member to decide which party controls the map.

Democrats have argued there is nothing in law that prevents the adoption of a new map after having met the original constitutional goal of enacting one before June 30. They have scheduled at least seven public hearings on a new map leading up to the Tuesday special session.

Since Democrats control both chambers of the legislature and the governors office, no Republican input was needed for the new map. That was the case a decade ago, as well.

At an unrelated news conference Tuesday, Pritzker said it was proper for the legislature to take another look at the map with the release of more detailed census counts but did not address whether he believed changes were needed in the plan he signed into law.
Democrats' "rush to take new legislative action" to correct discrepancies revealed by 2020 Census data released Aug. 12 so they can maximize political power is a "sham process" that won't hold up in court, Barickman said.

Driscoll said the public hearings currently scheduled will be held before Democrats propose changes in the map. She said the hearings "are intended to inform the public about the Census and give the public an opportunity to provide their recommendations."

It's unclear whether there will be additional public hearings after changes proposed by Democrats are made public.

Democratic lawmakers either weren't available or declined interviews to answer questions about the latest hearings.

Instead, House and Senate Democrats issued a news release in which Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago, chairman of the Senate Redistricting Committee, said: "Our goal throughout this entire process has been to ensure that every person in Illinois receives fair and equal representation. The maps passed in May were drawn with the best data available at the time. Now that the long-awaited Census data has arrived, we will make adjustments as needed."
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday hailed the federal Food and Drug Administrations decision to grant full use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine and said he believed it would lead to more unvaccinated people to take the shot, though he stopped short of a widespread mandate.

Speaking at the University of Illinois in Urbana to tout state infrastructure investments for the U of I system, Pritzker also credited university researchers for developing the Shield saliva-based coronavirus test, 28 of whom were awarded presidential medallions by system President Timothy Killeen.

At this point now, today, as a result of what the FDA has done, there are reams and reams of research that has now been done to prove these vaccines are effective, especially the mRNA vaccines like Pfizer, and so Im very happy about that, Pritzker said.

I think so many people who may have been hesitant, wondering whether it was approved too quickly, now, literally almost a year later, we now have so much research to show these work, he said. I think that that means many more people will choose to get vaccinated.
Local

editor's pick alert

Orangeburg mom fights COVID limits; attorneys: Allow mask mandates, more online school

This illustration created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows what the coronavirus looks like when viewed through an electron microscope.

An Orangeburg resident is among those challenging a state law that limits how school districts can react to the coronavirus.

Orangeburg resident Malika Stokes, a mother of three, is asking the S.C. Supreme Court to allow more students into online learning programs.

Stokes, and Richland School District 2, are also seeking to give school districts the ability to require masks.

Attorney Skyler Hutto said, What we want to come out of this is for local school boards to be able to react to the situations that they see day-to-day.

Orangeburg County School District urging masks, vaccine; 17 student cases of COVID in first week of school The Orangeburg County School District is urging the use of masks in schools following the first week of school, when it had 17 positive student cases of coronavirus.

If their community is experiencing a high rate of illness or infection transmission, they need to be able to protect their students while continuing effective education. Hutto is an attorney with the Williams & Williams law firm in Orangeburg.

Richland 2 is asking the court to issue a temporary injunction stopping South Carolina officials from enforcing state budget provisos that prohibit schools from requiring masks and that limit virtual education to 5 percent of the student body.

3 more coronavirus deaths in region; 190 new cases in T&D Region over three days The T&D Region has seen two additional coronavirus deaths and another probable coronavirus death, according to figures released Monday by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Stokes is also listed as a plaintiff. She is being represented by attorney W. Allen Nickles III of Columbia.

Attorney Carl L. Solomon and Hutto filed a petition with the S.C. Supreme Court on Aug. 20 on behalf of Richland School District 2.

The motion asks the court to temporarily stop the enforcement of the budget provisos.

The lawyers claim that the rise of variant strains of COVID-19, along with low vaccination rates, have caused infection rates to rise rapidly in South Carolina.

They note the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, that even vaccinated people should resume wearing masks in public in indoor spaces in parts of the country where the virus is surging.

They claim that the provisos restrictions prevent schools from providing a minimally adequate education.

They also seek a permanent injunction to stop state officials from enforcing the provisos.

In a sworn affidavit given on Aug. 18, Stokes stated that her children were all minors enrolled in public schools, with one of her sons having severe asthma.

Her sons doctor has made it clear that it would be in his best interest to attend schools virtually while COVID-19 is spreading rapidly, she said.

Stokes said her family would also like to have their other two children in virtual school in the Orangeburg County School District.

In the affidavit, Stokes said she had made numerous efforts to enroll her children in the districts virtual programs, but was told that the district had already reached its 5 percent limit.

My husband and I fear for the safety of all of our children in this time when the spread of illness is so rampant, she stated.

Richland 2 Superintendent Dr. Baron R. Davis stated in a press release that the district is hopeful that the state Supreme Court will grant its request for declaratory and injunctive relief, enabling our district to fulfill our most important obligation to our families  providing a safe and healthy learning environment for all students.

S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson is suing the City of Columbia over its school mask mandate, saying the ordinance violates state law.

Robert Kittle, communications director at the state AGs office, said the office is not a party to the Richland 2 action so we dont really have a comment.

Weve made clear in our suit that regardless of how we feel about it, the law is the law and you have to follow the law.

Even if we were the most pro-mask people in the world, that doesnt change the fact that that proviso says what it says. So, as the attorney general, we have to uphold the law, he said.

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Kittle continued, Were not saying whether masks are good or bad. Were just saying that the proviso that the state legislature passed says that you cant do that, and we have to uphold the law.
My husband and I fear for the safety of all of our children in this time when the spread of illness is so rampant, she stated.

Richland 2 Superintendent Dr. Baron R. Davis stated in a press release that the district is hopeful that the state Supreme Court will grant its request for declaratory and injunctive relief, enabling our district to fulfill our most important obligation to our families  providing a safe and healthy learning environment for all students.

S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson is suing the City of Columbia over its school mask mandate, saying the ordinance violates state law.

Robert Kittle, communications director at the state AGs office, said the office is not a party to the Richland 2 action so we dont really have a comment.

Weve made clear in our suit that regardless of how we feel about it, the law is the law and you have to follow the law.

Even if we were the most pro-mask people in the world, that doesnt change the fact that that proviso says what it says. So, as the attorney general, we have to uphold the law, he said.

Kittle continued, Were not saying whether masks are good or bad. Were just saying that the proviso that the state legislature passed says that you cant do that, and we have to uphold the law.

Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD.

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Any honest observer and any honest member of the US military who has served in Afghanistan would know for years that the minute the US pulls out, the Taliban would overrun the country. They were in charge when the US invaded in 2001, they mostly melted into neighboring Pakistan or into civilian society and reemerged five years later as a fighting force that was only kept out of power by the US-led NATO forces. One might have thought that this buzzsaw dynamic, so painfully felt by Afghans, Americans, British, and other NATO troops, would have been grasped over the last 15 years.

So, one must ask, why did Biden botch this exit so spectacularly?

At least part of the answer is hinted at when we consider who benefits, who is hurt, and how much value is placed on each party.

Afghans who served as interpreters and guides for NATO, and their families, were and are clearly at most risk and just as clearly valued least. They are the epitome of the over-promise, under-deliver nature of war itself and this Biden blowout in particular, as evidenced by his inane claims just last month that the Taliban wouldn't take over.
Job Title: Content Manager

Organisation: Ogilvy Africa

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: Creative Director

About US:

Ogilvy Africa is the largest network agency on the continent catering to 40 countries with a team of ~900 people across Central, East and West Africa. Headquartered in Nairobi  Kenya, Ogilvy Africa manages a portfolio of over 100 brands for clients such as AB Inbev, Airtel, Africa CDC, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Distell, Equity Bank, Exxon Mobil, Kenya Airways, Mondelez, NCBA, Nestle, Philips, PWC, SAB Miller, Sanlam, Total, UNICEF, Unilever and WWF amongst others. Ogilvy is a leading global creative network of WPP. Launched by David Ogilvy over 70 years ago, its referred-to as the Agency of Giants, by several industry experts.

Job Summary: A content managers role is to develop a consistent brand identity for the brands assigned and establish its online presence. This job involves overseeing online executions and using information, such as metrics and statistics about the target customers demographics and preferences to create multimedia content that raises brand awareness.

The Content Manager is comfortable finding creative ways of building an online presence, as well as using analytics in the formulation of a content strategy. They possess the ability to think both creatively & analytically.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Enforcing quality assurance policies and procedures

Ensuring that copy is clear and consistent, complete and credible.

Ensuring that text is well written and logically structured.

Ensuring that all grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors are fixed.

Working closely with writers, and suggesting changes to enhance articles readability, conciseness and style.

Double checking that names, places and organizations are spelled properly and that facts, dates and statistics are accurate.

Checking and confirming that illustrations and captions are correct.

Referring back to the writer any copy that needs re-working.

Training and orienting copywriters.

Signing off all copy before its posted online or shared with client.

Write, edit and produce engaging content for publication via various digital media platforms.

Select, brief, manage and evaluate Work with digital agency where required.

Work closely with global digital team on each brand to ensure messaging is consistent across markets

Collaborate with Client Service/Creative team where necessary to work with accounts to development digital content tailored to specific retailers.

Use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and other tools to engage our customers and consumers as needed

Edit and enrich marketing and PR content for web publication

Respond to consumer who engage in dialogue with the brand as appropriate

Monitor competitor websites to ensure our site is competitive and on trend

Manages, maintains and performs Social Media activities which include:

In charge of developing and implementing strategic plan to grow social media audience for key demographics

Writing clear, compelling communications through Social Media channels, such as but not limited to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Maintaining consistent company voice and brand through Social Media channels.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

BA/BS degree or higher required, emphasis in communication, journalism, PR or marketing preferred

Five years of related business experience, preferably in marketing, corporate communications, public relations or as a professional journalist,

Demonstrated excellence in developing and executing PR strategies that produce measurable results

Superior verbal and written communication skills with outstanding attention to detail

Hands-on knowledge of all PR processes and developing and pitching stories

Blogger experience preferred Experience writing for the digital space

Experience using digital/social media as a reporting and engagement tool

Ideally have experience with word press ideally, and e-commerce experience.

Excellent oral and presentation skills, including ability to think on ones feet

Ability to write in a clear, concise and interesting manner.

Ability to conceptualize new ideas quickly.

How to Apply:

All candidates should download this template, Download Here and kindly forward your application to Human.Resources@wpp-scangroup.com indicating the job title as the subject. Please also share your motivation for the role along with your updated CV.

Deadline: 27th August 2021

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
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Casper

top story

COVID-19 | CASPER

Casper agencies bring back some COVID precautions amid rising cases

Cayla Nimmo, Star-Tribune A man walks into the Hall of Justice in October 2019 in Casper. The Casper Police Department uses the building as its headquarters.

Casper agencies are reinstating some COVID precautions, officials said Monday.

Limited masking, temperature checks and a return to remote work for some city employees and first responders are coming back in response to the recent rise in coronavirus infections and the spread of the delta variant.

At the Casper Police Department, officers are again wearing face coverings while interacting with people or when entering homes.

Weve seen the delta variant rise and cases increase just in our community, said police spokesperson Rebekah Ladd. A couple weeks ago, when it became more obvious that this was becoming more of an issue again, we started having those conversations  what precautions make sense for us right now? What can we do to make sure that were staying safe?

COVID hospitalizations reach Jan. 6 level with 112 patients statewide The state's largest hospital, Wyoming Medical Center, is caring for 33 COVID patients. The Casper hospital has 10 of 22 intensive care unit beds open.

Morning briefings are also being done remotely, Ladd said. Close quarters in the department offices in the bottom of downtowns Hall of Justice have made it hard to distance and separate officers during the pandemic.

(Thats) just to make sure if somebody is sick, and they dont know, were not taking out an entire patrol team, Ladd said. Typically you have an entire team of officers coming together at the beginning of every shift, and its an easy thing to take a precaution and say, Hey, were not going to physically be coming together at the beginning of every shift.

Eighteen Casper city employees tested positive for COVID since end of July The spate of positive cases among city employees comes amid a rise in infections statewide brought on by the delta variant.

Police employees can also choose to wear masks inside the office, but it is not required. Some of the COVID precautions the department follows come from city administrators, Ladd said, but the department can make many of its own determinations on how to best navigate the recent rise in cases.

Casper Risk Manager Zulima Lopez said some city offices are also adopting some of their precautions from earlier in the pandemic. Between July 27 and Aug. 18, City Manager Carter Napier said, 18 city employees tested positive for COVID-19.

The mandatory isolation or quarantine period for those exposed to the virus or experiencing symptoms has been enforced throughout the pandemic, Lopez said. The city is following guidance from the Wyoming Department of Health, which says unvaccinated people whove been exposed should quarantine for 14 days.

Wyoming COVID-19 vaccinations up nearly 20% in last month More Wyomingites received a first COVID-19 vaccine dose in the last two weeks than in any two-week period since mid-May, state figures show.

As of Tuesday, Aug. 17, city employees and facilities have also reimplemented some precautions lifted earlier this year. Face coverings must be worn when employees ride in vehicles together, and any of the clear plastic sneeze guards that had been taken down since the spring are being reinstalled.

Last week, Napier said that city staff will try to do as much business as possible over the phone or video calls. City guidelines implemented on Tuesday dictate that any meeting with more than five people or an amount that doesnt allow for social distancing will be held virtually.

Casper Fire-EMS has changed little about its precautions, Deputy Chief Devin Garvin said. Responders have already been using PPE and sanitizing regularly, since they often deal with medical calls.

We are definitely encouraging all personnel to get the vaccine, Garvin said. We dont know when this wave is going to hit Casper, so were kind of in a holding pattern.

Some restrictions on station tours and public education opportunities that bring civilians into the fire stations have been tightened, Garvin said, after being eased in the spring. Other safety-sensitive city facilities, like water and wastewater treatment plants, have also closed to public access.

At the Townsend Justice Center, which houses both district and circuit courts for Natrona County, security guards from the sheriffs office have also begun checking temperatures of anyone entering. That precaution also came back last week.
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Police employees can also choose to wear masks inside the office, but it is not required. Some of the COVID precautions the department follows come from city administrators, Ladd said, but the department can make many of its own determinations on how to best navigate the recent rise in cases.

Casper Risk Manager Zulima Lopez said some city offices are also adopting some of their precautions from earlier in the pandemic. Between July 27 and Aug. 18, City Manager Carter Napier said, 18 city employees tested positive for COVID-19.

The mandatory isolation or quarantine period for those exposed to the virus or experiencing symptoms has been enforced throughout the pandemic, Lopez said. The city is following guidance from the Wyoming Department of Health, which says unvaccinated people whove been exposed should quarantine for 14 days.

As of Tuesday, Aug. 17, city employees and facilities have also reimplemented some precautions lifted earlier this year. Face coverings must be worn when employees ride in vehicles together, and any of the clear plastic sneeze guards that had been taken down since the spring are being reinstalled.
Walsh and Clinton have complained theyre being scapegoated by state officials. One of Walshs lawyers also suggested Tuesday that his clients effort to alert state officials relatively early in the crisis helped save lives by allowing the state to mobilize the National Guard.

But an independent report commissioned by the state concluded that utterly baffling decisions made by facility administrators allowed the virus to spread unchecked last March as the pandemic took hold in the U.S.

At least 76 veterans died from the virus over 11 weeks, and many more residents and staff were sickened.

Earlier this month, veterans home workers filed a class-action suit against several members of the facilitys former leadership team, including Walsh and Clinton.

The workers allege they were forced to care for sick and dying veterans, sometimes after testing positive themselves, in inhumane conditions.
The total number of coronavirus cases in Wyoming grew by 508 on Monday, with the number of confirmed cases rising by 347 and the number of probable cases rising by 161, according to the Wyoming Department of Healths daily update.

Additionally, 314 new coronavirus recoveries were announced.

Numbers to know

Active cases: 2,207 (3,074 including probable cases)

Hospitalized patients: 165 (up from 140 Friday)

Deaths: 835 (26 announced this week, 59 announced this month)

Total vaccine doses received: 514,645 (253,905 Pfizer, 232,440 Moderna, 28,300 Janssen)

First vaccine doses given: 216,920

Second vaccine doses given: 193,713

One-time vaccine doses given: 17,609

(Vaccine data is as of Tuesday.)

Are we trending up or down?

The states 14-day average in total new cases is 437.4 per day. That number is up 308.2 from a month ago.
The government agrees with us that livestock grazing and endangered species dont mix, Segee said. Its too bad it took another lawsuit to force the Forest service to keep cows off Southwestern rivers, but lets hope this time itll stick.

The move is part of a broader campaign by conservation groups to rein in what they see as errant livestock and lax land management across the region, including parts of the Coronado National Forest and the San Pedro River closer to Tucson.

We do have a renewed push, but it is in response to what were finding on the ground across the Southwest, Segee said. Everywhere were looking, were seeing the same issues on public lands throughout Arizona and New Mexico. Livestock are all over these riparian areas.

The Aug. 18 settlement applies to 42 grazing allotments and more than 150 miles of riparian habitat in Eastern Arizona and Western New Mexico. The area includes portions of the Gila, San Francisco, Tularosa and Blue rivers.

Those waterways are home to numerous threatened and endangered birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles, including the Southwestern willow flycatcher, yellow-billed cuckoo, Gila chub, loach minnow, spikedace, Chiricahua leopard frog and the narrow-headed and northern Mexican garter snakes.
Offering students with disabilities or medical conditions a remote option is not a good alternative, Mizner said. Limiting medically fragile students and those with disabilities to a remote-only education denies them equal opportunity, she said.

We know from this past year that for many, many, many students, a remote education is not an equal education to in-person, she said. That would be denying them equal access to their education.

The lawsuit names top state officials including Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, the attorney general and the schools superintendent, and seeks to overturn the law banning mask mandates.

Amanda McDougald Scott, one of nine named plaintiffs in the lawsuit, has a 5-year-old son with asthma who is too young to be vaccinated. The family was told that online learning was full for the school year that is beginning, leading them to enroll in a private school 30 minutes away.

Samantha Boevers, another plaintiff, has a child in elementary school with autism spectrum disorder, making it hard for her son to adhere to COVID-19 mitigation measures such as handwashing and social distancing. The family's pediatrician advised them to send their son back to in-person learning only in a fully masked environment, according to the lawsuit.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  A sham candidate for the Florida Legislature pleaded guilty Tuesday to being part of a vote siphoning scheme in last year's election and will testify against a former Republican state senator who prosecutors say ran it.

Alex Rodriguez agreed to testify against former Sen. Frank Artiles after pleading guilty in Miami-Dade County to accepting illegal campaign donations and lying on campaign documents. He will receive three years probation if he cooperates, including a year of house arrest. He had faced a possible 20-year prison sentence.

Prosecutors charged Artiles in March with felony campaign fraud charges, saying he secretly gave more than $44,000 to Rodriguez so that he could run in the 2020 election to confuse voters and siphon ballots from then-Democratic incumbent, Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez. The funds allegedly came from a dark money source. Artiles has pleaded not guilty.

Alex Rodriguez, a 55-year-old auto parts salesman with no political experience, ran as an independent in the three-way race in Miami-Dade County, pulling in 6,000 votes. The race was won by Republican Ileana Garcia by just 32 votes. She is not implicated in the scheme.
Hochul will need to quickly build her own team of advisers to steer the administration for at least the next 16 months.

Hochul, who said she didnt work closely with Cuomo and wasnt aware of the harassment allegations before they became public, has vowed no one will ever call her workplace toxic.

I have a different approach to governing, Hochul said Wednesday in Queens, adding, I get the job done because I dont have time for distractions, particularly coming into this position.

She announced the planned appointments Monday of two top aides: Karen Persichilli Keogh will become Secretary to the Governor and Elizabeth Fine will be Hochuls chief legal counselor.

She plans to keep on Cuomo-era employees for 45 days to allow her time to interview new hires, but said she will not keep anyone found to have behaved unethically.

Hochul, who has already said she plans to run for a full term next year, is expected to pick a left-leaning New York City politician as her lieutenant governor. Hochul once represented a conservative Western New York district in Congress for a year and has a reputation as a moderate.

State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs praised Hochul as formidable.

Shes very experienced and I think shell be a refreshing and exciting new governor, he said.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Goforth was known as a strong social conservative with a populist tone, backing funding for public education and workers' rights issues. He had pointed to his life story in his election campaigns. He dropped out of high school to help support his family, then earned his GED, served in the Army and went on to college. He became a pharmacist and opened a small chain of pharmacies.

In his resignation letter, Goforth thanked his constituents for electing him and said it was with a heavy heart that he was leaving the legislature. He wished the governor and his now-former House colleagues the very best.

The governor will set the date for a special election to fill Goforth's seat.

Goforth was arrested in the spring of 2020 after the woman told authorities that he assaulted her while three small children were in the home, officials had said. The woman had visible marks on her forehead, neck and arms, and bruises on her leg when she went to the 911 Dispatch Center in London, Kentucky, to file her report, they said.

The woman said she fled after Goforth made several attempts to hog tie her, according to the citation. Goforth allegedly strangled her with an ethernet cable to the point where she said she had difficulty breathing and thought she was going to pass out, the citation added.

The woman later said she never wanted him criminally charged and said they had reconciled.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Today, the park 15 miles (25 kilometers) northeast of downtown Atlanta markets itself as a family theme park rather than a monument to the Confederacy.

The exhibit approved by the board is supposed to tell the history of the carving, including its roots in efforts to maintain segregation. It will also reflect the sites role in the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan. The group marked its comeback with a cross burning ceremony atop the mountain on Thanksgiving night 1915.

Bill Stephens, Stone Mountain Memorial Associations CEO, has said the seven-member committee tasked with creating the exhibit will include community leaders and historians. The original plan was for the team to be assembled before Mondays meeting, but that did not happen.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Stephens said Monday that the memorial association is in final discussions with two historians and an announcement could be made within about two weeks.

Were still working on that, and hopefully in the near future well have everybody in place to go forward, board chair Rev. Abraham Mosley said.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  The militia leader convicted of masterminding the bombing of a Minnesota mosque is asking a judge to legally acknowledge her transgender identity.

Emily Claire Hari was previously known as Michael Hari, who was found guilty last year of civil rights and hate crime charges related to the bombing of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington in August 2017.

During the trial, prosecutors said Hari was fueled by a hatred of Muslims when he devised a plan to pipe bomb the building during morning prayers. While no one was hurt in the bombing, it spread fear through the community, prosecutors said.

Hari, 50, of Clarence, Illinois, said gender dysphoria and right-wing misinformation fueled her inner conflict when she was convicted in the bombing, according to court documents.
MOAB, Utah (AP)  Residents of a Utah tourist town near the campsite where a newlywed couple was recently gunned down say theyre puzzled and concerned as the police investigation unfolds.

Crystal Turner and Kylen Schulte were found dead last week at a campsite near Moab, a desert town where they were living that draws visitors from around the world to its sweeping red-rock vistas.

Investigators believe someone killed the women and fled the area, KUTV reported. No firearms have yet been recovered.

We do think it was an outside party, Grand County Sheriff Steven White said.

The sheriff's office has also said there's no further danger to the public. But that leaves unanswered questions for locals now nervous to be alone.

Until they can give us more than that, we are not safe, said friend Cindy Sue Hunter. She said she ventured to the campsite after they didn't return as planned earlier this month and she called police.

Schulte's aunt Bridget Calvert previously said the couple told friends that a creepy guy was making them uncomfortable in the days prior to their deaths.
Yet while mariachi is a popular genre at its core, musicians and parishioners alike say its emotional interplay between trumpet, violin, guitar, vihuela and guitarron is a natural complement to the holy rites of Mass.

The Mass itself is a reminder that you dont just have mariachis you tip at tableside in a cantina, said Alberto Ranjel, who has been playing at the cathedral since he was 9 and now leads the ensemble his father founded, Mariachi Tapatio. It is a representation of my culture.

Worshipper Leilani Gomez echoed that sentiment, saying, They bring to Mass culture and art, together with the presence of God. They make you feel the presence of God.

The first canon of mariachi Mass was composed in Cuernavaca, Mexico, after the Vatican encouraged the incorporation of regional musical traditions into services in the 1960s. Called the Misa Panamericana, or Pan-American Mass, it features a specific order of instrumental arrangements, sung prayers and hymns, according to Dan Sheehy, director and curator of the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

At that time in the United States, the Chicano civil rights movement was blossoming, and mariachi musicians morphed from folksy troubadours to cultural heroes, symbols of Mexican identity heightened here because of multiculturalism, Sheehy added.
My next step would probably be a full detox. I've been given a lot of suggestions  one vet advised me to give Obi milk thistle, chlorella and other supplements  but I can't confirm if the dosages are correct for Obi's weight, and whether it's safe to mix the supplements with his Keppra.

I had asked to do a blood transfusion, and that's an option, though they've warned me about the possible development of pancreatitis. Our previous dog went through months of hell with pancreatitis, so I don't want to risk that with our pup.

I'll be discussing next steps with the team at the university vet hospital here, and would like your view on it, as well. I'm just trying to get decent, reliable info on how to help our Obi.  D.A., Ninove, Belgium

Dear D.A.: I am glad that some of my writings on this issue are spreading around the world. No pup as young as yours should have been given this product.

For detox and additional seizure control, I recommend giving Obi 1 teaspoon of coconut oil twice daily in his food, and 3 mg of melatonin midmorning and in the evening. I have emailed a veterinary expert on this issue, Dr. W. Jean Dodds, to advise you further on the detox; she will send you her articles and advice.
I just thought that itd be better to get that personal connection with everyone else around us  instead of just seeing new faces in every class, like a big university that has big lecture halls with hundreds of students.

Located on the OSU-Tulsa campus, 700 N. Greenwood Ave., College Park courses will be taught by TCC and OSU-Tulsa faculty.

Classes meet on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Students will have five classes the first semester  one 16-week class and four eight-week classes.

Addressing the group, Goodson said, Dr. Fry came to us about two or three years ago with the idea to create a four-year student experience in Tulsa. We are doing that, and we are so excited that you all have stepped up and have some interest.

Fry talked about the value of the cohort model, which allows groups of students to go through the program together.

It just makes it more fun, first of all, she said. But you also at some point will need networking. Its really important to have those connections with your faculty members and your peers.

You are starting your professional network right now.
During a contentious City Council meeting last week, five councilors expressed support for the ordinance  enough to ensure passage but not enough to overcome a veto by Mayor G.T. Bynum.

Bynum has never expressed support for the proposal, nor has he ruled out signing it into law.

Wright said she initially proposed a resolution but that the idea was shot down for not having teeth.

Well, now all of a sudden now that weve had an ordinance put up, it (a resolution) doesnt seem like that bad of an idea, apparently, Wright said.

Oklahoma City and Stillwater recently passed similar resolutions, and Norman will consider one Tuesday, Wright said, making it an opportune time for Tulsa to do the same.

To me it sends a pretty strong signal when the major cities of the state are all saying the same thing, which is: We need to follow CDC guidance, Wright said.

The proposed mask mandate has received a mixed reaction. Dr. Cliff Robertson, president and CEO of Saint Francis Health System, said last week that he would welcome a mask mandate if the City Council deems that appropriate for Tulsa.
The man later died, and Pisarra learned that his wife's mother also died in another ICU.

"Today, we lost one of our nurses' husbands," Pisarra said, urgent concern showing in her eyes. "This story is just going to keep repeating itself until we get through this."

Pisarra pleaded for the public to prepare their bodies for COVID-19 infection by way of the vaccine, for it's not a matter of "if you see COVID, but when," she said. She also urged widespread mask use.

"Consider helping us flatten this curve," she said. "Please dont be dismissive of what this is for us.  What were experiencing is very real, and its very personal.

"As a community we need to slow this down to care for all the patients who are asking for and need our care right now."

COVID-19 vaccines do not guarantee that a recipient will not contract COVID-19, but they almost always provide a vaccinated person who does contract the virus a less severe illness that doesn't require hospital care.

Robertson said there are often unvaccinated patients and their family members who ask to be vaccinated upon admittance, but, "unfortunately, at that point, it's too late," he said. Others share that they regret not getting the vaccine when they had the chance.
Or the complaint from Armin Laschet, the German conservative who could be his countrys leader after elections next month: The greatest debacle NATO has experienced since its founding.

Whether he likes it or not, Biden has repair work to do.

The first step, already underway, is making sure the endgame in Kabul doesnt get any worse.

That means keeping U.S. troops on the ground until every American is out, as Biden has promised. It also requires an energetic effort to evacuate Afghans who worked with the U.S. government and other institutions, even if that requires risking the lives of some American troops. Those Afghans trusted us; if we abandon them, it will be a long time before we can credibly ask the same of anyone else.

And, of course, the administration needs to prevent al-Qaida and other terrorist groups from replanting themselves in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. If the United States fails at that  the original reason we invaded the country almost 20 years ago  Bidens decision to withdraw will justly be judged a fiasco.

Theres repair work to do beyond Afghanistan, too.
The Boeing Company on Monday announced the opening of two new offices in Indonesia and Vietnam following the appointment of a new president for its Southeast Asia operations.

The newly-opened offices are located in Jakarta and Hanoi, with the latter being the first representative office of the American aerospace firm in Vietnam.

Boeings presence in Indonesia and Vietnam will support the companys growth objectives across its commercial airplanes, defense and services businesses, the announcement reads.

In Vietnam, besides Airbus, Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways are using Boeing aircraft such as the B787-9 and B787-10 in their fleets while Vietjet has plans to utilize the Boeing 737 Max in the near future.

In Mondays press release, Boeing also announced the appointment of Alexander Feldman as the new president of the companys Southeast Asia business, starting on Friday.

Feldman will be based in Singapore and oversee the companys strategy and operations as Boeing expands its regional presence.

He will also become director and chairman of Boeing Singapore Pte. Ltd. and president director of PT. Boeing Indonesia.

He succeeds Ralph Skip Boyce, who is retiring after more than 13 years at Boeing in Singapore.

Previously, Feldman was president and CEO of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (U.S.-ABC) for over 12 years and served as its chairman in 2020-21, helping steer the council through the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the U.S.-ABC, Feldman represented 170 of the largest U.S. businesses, including Boeing, and managed seven offices in Southeast Asia.

I am proud to join Boeing, one of the worlds iconic brands, and a strong and growing partner to one of the fastest-growing and most consequential markets in the world: Southeast Asia, Boeing quoted Feldman as saying.

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As BW Industrial Development JSC (BW) continues on its growth trajectory, CEO Lance Li discusses the companys commitment to supporting Vietnam in the fight against COVID-19.

Li, COVID-19 has affected Vietnam and the wider world for over 18 months; how has the recent rise of the Delta variant affected your business?

The pandemic has dramatically changed the way people live and work. From a business perspective, its been an accelerant for what we think is among the most critical secular trends  the rise of e-commerce. This is coupled with the continued growth of our logistics real estate business. Were seeing an increasing demand for modern warehousing, cold chains, and cold storage. E-commerce in Vietnam, which currently accounts for a mere 5.5 percent of the total retail sales, is still in a relatively nascent stage; we expect it to grow significantly in the coming years.

In a recent press release, your company and strategic partner ESR announced the conversion of a 40,000-sqm ready-built warehouse into a COVID-19 field treatment center. How did you make this happen?

Yes, we converted a warehouse into a COVID-19 field treatment center and have since doubled the area to 80,000 sqm in response to the rising number of cases in Binh Duong Province [just outside Ho Chi Minh City]. This is a great example of collaboration between entrepreneurs and local authorities in the fight against COVID-19. BW and ESR are responsible for providing electricity, water, and toilet facilities in the treatment center while Becamex [a state-run company in the province] is in charge of interior fit-out, and the Peoples Committee of Binh Duong is handling the installation of necessary medical equipment.

Lance Li, CEO of BW Industrial Development JSC

With a 11,800-bed capacity, it is one of the few field treatment centers in the country capable of appropriately segregating and treating a range of COVID-19 patients, from asymptomatic to severe cases. Around 600 beds are equipped with ventilators that are connected to a central oxygen supply system.

Its great to hear how agile the company has been in response to the pandemic. Is this a one-off activity or something BW does on a regular basis?

Social responsibility is deeply ingrained in our corporate culture. Were committed to giving back to the communities were in, and now more than ever, in the wake of COVID-19.

On August 10, we coordinated with local authorities for tenants of our BW Supply Chain City Industrial Park to receive vaccinations, to ensure a safe environment for all. In July, we donated VND1 billion [US$44,000] to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Binh Duong Province in response to a call for public donations to buy vaccines. In June, we supported the Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park in initiating one of Ho Chi Minh Citys largest COVID-19 vaccination campaigns by providing our facilities as a base.

Tenants receive vaccinations on BW Vaccination Day at BW Supply Chain City (BWSCC).

As an industry leader, what are your plans beyond corporate social responsibility (CSR)?

Thats a great question. CSR is just a part of BWs 2021-2030 environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategic plan. We aim to provide sustainable properties to meet customer needs while supporting well-being, diversity, gender equality, and the use of clean, affordable energy. Beyond our CSR goals, the Board of Directors has set out a clear vision and a series of targets across three key pillars: People and Culture, Property, and Corporate Commitment. We will strive to improve gender equality, achieve zero workforce fatalities, attain one million sqm of solar roofing coverage, deliver five LEED-certified projects, and invest significantly in social enterprises and local community foundations by 2030. We are committed to protecting the countrys natural resources, our stakeholders, and communities to become a better corporate citizen.

In your work with investors, how high on the list of requirements is having a favorable ESG profile for your business? Is not having things like a low carbon impact a deal-breaker?

With growing public awareness and concern about environmental protection, clean industrial facilities will be the way of the future. We believe integrating ESG factors into our operations will help save costs and create a long-term positive impact, and ultimately build a durable and successful company.

BW provides facilities within the Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park for Ho Chi Minh Citys largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

What is the most significant change you expect to see in the industrial logistics market as we head toward 2022?

Vietnams market will heal with the containment of the pandemic. The e-commerce marketplace will experience a boom, which will have to be backed by Grade A logistics infrastructure. This will lead to the accelerated development of the industrial logistics sector, fueled largely by the demand for ready-built factories.
Luong Thanh Thuy, an elementary school teacher residing in Quang Ngai Provnce, central Vietnam is doing his part to make sure no life is lost and no student is left behind.

The 32-year-old man has successfully saved two children from drowning.

The miraculous rescue bolstered his determination to extend a hand to those in need, a calling he has committed to over the past several years.

Brave heart

Thuy, a teacher at No. 1 Di Lang Town Elementary School, located in Son Ha District, is known in his neighborhood for his many good deeds and most recently, the brave rescue of two children from drowning.

Considering what he is doing as no big deal, he has done his utmost to help everyone.

That afternoon in mid-May, Thuy heard hysteric cries from a group of women while he was taking a swim in the river under the local Rin Bridge.

In the twilight, he spotted a child being pulled ashore to safety while two others were struggling frantically in the water.

The mothers were crying helplessly as their children slid into a deep sinkhole and were swept away into the swirling water right before their eyes.

Thuy immediately jumped into the currents to start searching and soon surfaced with one of the kids.

With no time to waste, he passed the unconscious child to two people passing by before taking another deep breath and diving even deeper into the water for the other kid.

After around eight minutes of hard search, the child was nowhere to be found.

Thuy was exhausted and started to lose hope. But the desperate cries of the childs mother kept him motivated and focused.

His source of strength also came when the child he had previously rescued regained a pulse before emergency services arrived to rush the child to the hospital.

I prayed for calmness and a miracle to help me locate the other child, Thuy recalled.

With the direction of a local, Thuy was able to locate the child and quickly came to the rescue.

My heart sank then at the thought that the child would not have stood a chance of survival after staying under the water for eight minutes, Thuy further recalled.

Its a miracle that the child finally made it and was at the hospital rehabbing.

Vo Thi Ha, mother of one of the two children whose lives were saved by Thuy, said her family had the brave man to thank.

Following their childs full recuperation, Ha and her husband have visited Thuy to give their profound thanks.

He has given birth to our son once again, Ha shared.

Hero to shattered lives

Saving the two kids lives is not the only thing people in Thuys neighborhood remember about him.

The teacher has spent the past several years familiarizing himself with the faces of his neighborhoods needy students and local people and has reached out to them when he is most needed.

He has gained the admiration of others with how he has gone to help out disadvantaged students and make sure they are not left behind in their academic pursuits.

Thuy serves as a beacon of hope and makes his mark on the community by helping many in need in and around Son Ha District.

Among his beneficiaries are 12-year-old Dinh Thi Huy and her two younger siblings, residing in Di Lang Town, who were left to fend for themselves after their father passed away and their mother left for work far from home.

Their story deeply moved netizens when it went viral.

Few, however, knew that Thuy is the first to post their touching story and images on social media in an effort to help the kids.

Until now, Thuy has helped cover part of Huys tuition fees and other expenses.

The dedicated teacher shared, though the students financial situation has not improved much, at least she and her siblings are now in the care of her mother.

He welcomes love and sympathy for Huy rather than calling for financial contributions, Thuy said.

After Thuy shared the information on social media, many people reached out to him offering donations.

He only accepted stationery, clothing, and food while steadfastly refusing monetary contributions, except VND7.5 million (US$329) to open a savings account for the girl.

Thuy said he cannot remember how many underprivileged students he has helped over the years.

Luong Thanh Thuy (right) is honored with the Tuoi Tre Dung Cam' (Brave Youth) title by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Unions Central Committee for saving two children from drowning. Photo: Tran Mai / Tuoi Tre

In his recent charity trip, he brought gifts to needy members of the Cor ethnic minority group residing in Tra Bui Ward in the provinces Tra Bong District.

Education, rather than material comforts, is the best way to help the poor students and their families get out of their plight and lift their communities out of poverty, the man said.

Only when the future owners of Ca Dam Peak [considered the provinces roof] receive proper education can they successfully fight poverty, he added, looking down from the peak.

For now, what my group and I are doing is spreading hope.

"I want the students and their parents to know theres always someone that really cares for them.

Luong Thanh Thuy was recently honored with the Tuoi Tre Dung Cam' (Brave Youth) title by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Unions Central Committee for saving two children from drowning. Thuy isnt only brave but also kind-hearted through his many contributions in education, sports, and community work to needy people residing in the mountainous district of Son Tra, said Cao Le Tung Nghia, secretary of the Quang Ngai chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

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Phan Van Mai, deputy secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, has promised to spare no effort to put the current coronavirus outbreak under control upon being elected as the new chairman of the municipal administration.

Mai received a 97.75 percent approval rate after members of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Council cast their ballots during a meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

During the gathering, delegates also voted to relieve Nguyen Thanh Phong as chairman of the Peoples Committee.

The Politburo had appointed Phong as deputy head of the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission last Friday.

In his speech, chairman Mai stated that the appointment is a great honor, but it also comes with great responsibility and challenges.

He pledged to mobilize all resources and implement effective measures to improve the current situation and gradually put the pandemic under control.

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Phan Van Mai (L) receives flowers from Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen, August 24, 2021. Photo: T.H. / Tuoi Tre

Treating COVID-19 patients, reducing the number of deaths, and taking care of local residents lives will be the top priorities, Mai said.

He asserted he will order relevant authorities to finalize a specific plan for the city to effectively respond to COVID-19 and ensure socio-economic development against the backdrop of the prolonged pandemic.

Born in 1973 in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, Mai had been deputy secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee since June.

He was secretary of the Party Committee and chairman of the Peoples Council in Ben Tre Province from August 2019 to May 2021.

From April 2014 to July 2019, the official was deputy secretary of the Ben Tre Party Committee.

Mai holds a masters degree in economic management and a bachelors degree in English.

Ho Chi Minh City has recorded over 180,000 COVID-19 cases since the fourth virus wave hit Vietnam in late April, making it the largest epicenter of the country now.

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Here are todays leading news stories:

Politics

-- Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris is scheduled to pay a visit to Vietnam from August 24 to 26 at the invitation of her Vietnamese counterpart Vo Thi Anh Xuan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Monday.

-- Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue led a Vietnamese delegation to attend the virtual opening ceremony of the 42nd General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-42) on Monday, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

COVID-19 Updates

-- Ho Chi Minh City currently has 16 active COVID-19 infection clusters, the municipal Center for Disease Control said on Monday, adding that more than 42,000 patients are being monitored and treated at home.

-- The Ministry of National Defense on Monday received 200,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine gifted by its Chinese counterpart.

-- The Ministry of Health has added Molnupiravir to the list of medicines used in treating COVID-19 patients. A shipment of 300,000 Molnupiravir pills imported from India arrived in Vietnam on Monday afternoon.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City administration has asked competent authorities to conduct rapid COVID-19 tests on homeless people and take them to local social protection centers if their results come back negative. Those who test positive will be brought to ward-level quarantine and treatment facilities.

Society

-- Downpours and thunderstorms are forecast to dampen northern Vietnam from Tuesday to Thursday, while similar weather patterns will linger in southern provinces until Saturday.

-- Border guard officers in the north-central province of Quang Tri confirmed on Monday they had arrested three Laotian men for smuggling 46 kilograms of crystal meth into Vietnam.

-- Rains and cyclones blew off the roofs of 23 houses, knocked down multiple utility poles, and damaged nearly 200 hectares of rice paddy in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan on Monday afternoon.

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Many commuters have been asked to turn back home after they failed to present valid travel documents needed for outdoor journeys during the ongoing shelter-in-place order in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters on Tuesday, the second day of the mandate, the number of vehicles on local streets and at COVID-19 checkpoints significantly decreased.

At a checkpoint on Dinh Bo Linh Street in Binh Thanh District, four police and military officers were in charge of conducting administrative inspection of travelers.

Within only 20 minutes, over ten people were required to return home due to the lack of legitimate documents.

Traffic congestion usually occurred at this checkpoint during rush hours. The situation has greatly improved after the stay-home order took effect, said Tran Thuy Tien, an employee of a local convenience store.

Tien has been able to pass the checkpoint on a daily basis thanks to a certificate issued by her company.

On Dien Bien Phu Street in Binh Thanh District, many commuters who could not prove their reasons for going outside were also required to turn around.

A COVID-19 checkpoint on Dien Bien Phu Street in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, August 24, 2021. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

Members of pandemic prevention and control teams did not have to present their papers thanks to their uniform.

Ho Chi Minh City is currently the countrys largest epicenter with 180,245 local infections recorded since the fourth wave began on April 27.

The municipal authorities have asked people to stay where they are from August 23 to September 6, as part of their drastic measures to push back the serious pandemic.

Military officers inspect a commuter on Dinh Bo Linh Street in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, August 24, 2021. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

The citys administration has issued a list of demographics that are allowed to go outside during this period, but they need to present related documents to officers at local checkpoints.

People who work in certain sectors as well as members of pandemic control missions are also required to wear their corresponding uniforms.

An officer examines documents of a resident in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, August 24, 2021. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

A COVID-19 checkpoint on Bach Dang Street in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, August 24, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre

An officer examines documents of a resident in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, August 24, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre

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Cuba will deliver 10 million doses of Abdala, a Cuban-developed vaccine against the novel coronavirus, to Vietnam from now to the end of this year, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has told his Vietnamese counterpart.

The Cuban leader, who is also First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, made the commitment during a phone talk with Vietnamese State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Monday evening.

Cuba is going to deliver the Abdala vaccine to Vietnam soon and is ready to send experts to the Southeast Asian country for transfer of the vaccine production technology, Diaz-Canel told Phuc.

State President Phuc expressed his high appreciation of Cubas response to COVID-19, as well as of the outcome of bilateral discussions on Cuba supplying Abdala and transferring the vaccine production technology to Vietnam.

Abdala has been developed by state-run biopharmaceutical corporation BioCubaFarma, which released preliminary data on its efficacy and another domestic vaccine, Soberana 2, on August 13.

Out of the 2.5 million people vaccinated with the two vaccines, 21,000 people were infected with COVID-19, or 0.8 percent, and 99 died, or 0.003 percent.

These figures have proven that the two Cuban vaccines are effective against the coronavirus, including the highly infectious Delta variant, said BioCubaFarma.

Cuba approved Abdala for emergency use on July 9 as trial results had proved 97 percent efficacy with three doses administered.

Vietnam has so far got more than 24 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from different sources, including COVAX Facility, contractual purchases and donations, while it needs up to 175 million doses to inoculate two-thirds of its 98-million population.

By Monday evening, the numbers of people receiving the first and second dose nationwide had reached more than 15.53 million and 1.83 million, respectively, the Ministry of Health reported.

Vietnam's Nano Covax vaccine is slated to be registered for emergency use authorization within August as part of an effort to make the first Vietnamese vaccine available as soon as possible.

The country has documented over 358,400 COVID-19 cases, including 8,666 deaths, since the pandemic hit the country in early 2020.

Except Cao Bang, the coronavirus has spread to 62 out of the countrys 63 cities and provinces, with Ho Chi Minh City topping the list with some 180,200 cases, followed by southern Binh Duong and Dong Nai Provinces, with more than 73,400 and 18,300 cases, respectively.

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The Ministry of Health logged nearly 10,800 domestic COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, alongside over 7,600 recoveries and 348 fatalities.

Forty-three provinces and cities recorded 10,797 local cases whereas another 14 infections were imported from abroad, the health ministry said.

The health ministry had documented 10,383 locally-infected patients on Monday.

Almost 6,800 of the latest local cases were found in the community while the remainder were detected in isolated areas or centralized quarantine facilities.

Ho Chi Minh City registered 4,627 of the new domestic infections, up by 376 patients; Binh Duong Province 3,628, up by 445; Dong Nai Province 799; Long An Province 393; Khanh Hoa Province 203; Dong Thap Province 162; Da Nang 153; Tay Ninh Province 105; Tien Giang Province 93; Can Tho City 72; and Hanoi 66.

Since the fourth COVID-19 wave began in Vietnam on April 27, the country has confirmed 365,152 community transmissions in 62 out of its 63 provinces and cities.

Ho Chi Minh City is on top of the list with 184,872 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 77,053, Dong Nai Province with 19,110, Long An Province with 18,586, Tien Giang Province with 7,836, Dong Thap Province with 6,223, Bac Giang Province with 5,840, Khanh Hoa Province with 5,712, Da Nang with 3,399, and Hanoi with 2,909.

By comparison, Vietnam confirmed 106 community cases in the first wave from January 23 to April 16, 2020, 554 in the second from July 25 to December 1, 2020, and 910 in the third from January 28 to March 25, 2021.

The ministry recorded 7,663 recoveries on Tuesday, bringing the total to 162,279 recovered patients.

The death toll has jumped to 9,014 after the health ministry documented 348 fatalities the same day, including 292 in Ho Chi Minh City and 35 in Binh Duong Province.

The Southeast Asian country has detected an accumulation of 369,267 cases since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit it on January 23, 2020.

Health workers gave 275,085 vaccine doses on Monday.

More than 17.6 million vaccine shots have been administered in Vietnam since the country rolled out vaccination on March 8, with over 1.9 million people having been fully vaccinated.

The Vietnamese government expects to obtain 175 million shots of various vaccines, including 51 million Pfizer-BioNTech jabs, by early 2022.

It set a target of immunizing two-thirds of a population of nearly 98 million people against COVID-19 by the first quarter of next year.

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The Ministry of Health has added antiviral drug Molnupiravir to the list of medicines used in treating COVID-19 patients at home in a pilot program scheduled to start in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday.

At present, the domestic manufacturers of Molnupiravir, which is developed by American pharmaceutical company Merck & Co and biotech firm Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, are ready to sponsor the first batches of the drug with 16,000 doses.

Some 100,000 additional doses will be given to Vietnam on September 5.

A combined 116,000 doses of Molnupiravir are equal to 2.32 million 400-miligram tablets, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, a shipment of 300,000 200-miligram Molnupiravir pills, or 7,500 doses, imported from India arrived in Vietnam on Monday afternoon.

It is expected that an additional 1.7 million 200-miligram tablets will be delivered on Saturday while the next batch will be imported early next month.

Clinical trials of Molnupiravir, which were published in many countries, showed safe and virus-free results in mild and moderate patients after five days of treatment, according to the health ministry.

The drug, therefore, can help reduce the rates of hospitalization and mortality.

Given the results, the Ministry of Health and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health decided to begin the pilot use of Molnupiravir in home treatment for COVID-19 patients in the southern city on Wednesday.

Amid the ongoing outbreaks in Ho Chi Minh City and some southern provinces, the programs objective is to help ease pressure on hospitals and lower death rates.

The health ministry has updated its treatment plan based on global case studies and the pandemic situation, which indicates that nearly 80 percent of patients have few or no symptoms.

COVID-19 patients suffering mild symptoms will be advised by medical staff about the program.

Those who agree to participate will be given a bag of medicine with detailed guidelines for their home-based care.

Patients will be provided with a specific instruction document from the health ministry and the municipal Department of Health, health monitoring, and consultancy from doctors in charge and medical facilities in case of severe symptoms.

All patients will be evaluated for their viral negativity and disease progression after five days.

During the 14-day period, they will be monitored for any symptoms of COVID-19 and side effects of the medicine.

Medical experts and health workers will evaluate the programs results according to a scientific research protocol approved by the National Ethics Committee in Biomedical Research and the Ministry of Health.

The program has been supported by domestic drug manufacturers, local corporations, the Vietnam Young Physicians Association, task forces, mobile medical stations in Ho Chi Minh City, and other units.

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Vietnams Ministry of National Defense on Monday received 200,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine gifted by its Chinese counterpart.

During a ceremony held at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo handed over the vaccine shots, along with 201,600 disposable syringes, to Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defense Hoang Xuan Chien.

Ambassador Xiong said that the gift is the sentiment of the Chinese military and government in general to the military and people of Vietnam.

Senior Lieutenant General Chien thanked the Chinese side for the timely support amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Southeast Asian country.

This reflects the close relationship between the two nations military forces, he continued.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defense Hoang Xuan Chien stands next to the shipment of Sinopharm vaccines at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, August 23, 2021 in this supplied photo.

After being appraised by the health ministry, the vaccine doses will be distributed to authorized healthcare centers for inoculation, with priority given to military officers who are participating in pandemic prevention and control efforts.

China previously donated 500,000 Sinopharm shots to Vietnam in late June.

The vaccine has been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is in use in more than 70 countries.

Vietnam has received approximately 24 million COVID-19 vaccine doses through the COVAX Facility, purchase, and donations from other countries.

More than 17.3 million shots have been administered since inoculation was rolled out on March 8, with over 1.8 people having completed the two-dose regimen.

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Documentary Motleys Law screens on iwonder on Thursday, profiling Kimberley Motley, an audacious former beauty queen who left her family in the USA to become the first and only Western lawyer and woman  licensed to practice law in Afghanistan.

iwonder CEO, James Bridges, says of the film: The world is watching with concern as Afghanistan is consumed by fear and uncertainty. Motleys Law offers a unique and eye-opening portrait of one incredible womans desire to deliver justice in a place where the most dangerous thing for many people, particularly women and girls, could soon be the law itself.

As the Taliban rapidly reasserts control over the embattled country, fresh fears arise around the world for the treatment of its citizens, most worryingly  women. Now residing in North Carolina, Motleys network of contacts still in Afghanistan have already told her of shocking scenes in the days following the Talibans resurgence, with Motley telling Variety magazine: Were seeing in real time the erasure of women from society.

Motley left the USA for the first time in 2008, leaving behind her husband and three kids in order to work as a defence lawyer in Kabul. Motleys Law tells the story of what happened next, and how for five years human rights cases and troubled expats motivated her to keep fighting for justice, as personal threats and the general condition in the country brought fresh challenges every day.

With the help of her Afghan assistant and a group of specially trained legal translators, Kimberley defends Western and Afghan clients accused of criminal acts from adultery to drug-smuggling, while navigating the trying Afghan system of justice. Not ashamed to admit she initially arrived for the money, that all changed as Motley saw how poorly the legal system in Afghanistan was run and how parts of Afghan society had been neglected by the international community.

Now, with the Afghan way of life under greater threat than ever, and the safety of women far from certain, Motleys Law provides an in-depth look at the daily battle for justice.

Thursday 26th August on iwonder.

Language.
BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand (Mastermind, The Weakest Link, Dancing With the Stars: All Stars) has appointed Will Hamilton to the new position of Director of Commercial and Business Operations.

He will be responsible for production set-up and business and commercial plans for BBC Studios Production ANZ as the company expands, reporting to General Manager and Creative Director Kylie Washington.

Hamilton joins from Eureka Productions where he was Director of Production and Operations on The Amazing Race Australia, Luxe Listings, Frogger, Holey Moley and Making It.

Prior to Eureka he was Business Director at Seven Studios and Director of Production and TV Operations at Fremantle Australia.

Kylie Washington said: Im delighted to welcome Will to the team. 2021 has been a big year for us with four local commissions secured during the first half of the year. With filming due to commence on the latest series of The Great Australian Bake Off in the coming months, which will be produced by BBC Studios for the first time, and with a number of other productions in development, the time was right to add to our team. Will has a fantastic track record and a wealth of experience with some of the worlds biggest brands managing slates for Eureka Productions, Seven Studios and Fremantle Australia. Im excited to work with him to grow our business further as we enter the next phase of our expansion.

Will Hamilton said: Im thrilled to be joining Kylie and the team at BBC Studios. The BBC is a global iconic brand with an extensive and diverse pipeline, so ideally poised at such an exciting time in our industry. With a range of scripted and unscripted projects planned, Im looking forward to growing this exciting business with Kylie.

Matt Forde, Managing Director, International Production and Formats BBC Studios, said: Will is a valuable addition to our Australian production team as BBC Studios continues to build its production business around the world. With a wealth of proven formats across all genres, our global international production and formats business is booming and Im pleased to have someone of Wills calibre on board.
Season 4 of Love It or List It begins on LifeStyle in late September.

Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker return for 10 new episodes of the property series from Beyond Productions.

Once again they will tempt home-owners to stay or go, with renovations or property sale.

The show has also been sold to the UK, Norway, Italy and Turkey.

Andrew Winter said: This season for team list started off with the concern of how the market would be an added challenge, when in fact the market boomed across the whole of Australia. This makes for this season of Love It Or List It Australia very unique in real terms for our homeowners who had a fairer playground. Neales property reno magic turned hard work into adding to the competitiveness. There are some fantastic homeowners, great stories and oh so much delectable real estate.

Neale Whitaker said: Filming our fourth season during a pandemic presented obvious challenges, but I think it made us all stronger and more creative! This is easily our most exciting season yet  on every level  and Im proud of how Andrew and I helped our homeowners around Australia to make major life changes.

The fourth season of Love It Or List It Australia sees Andrew and Neale help ten grateful homeowners from all around Australia, all who have a variety of unique dilemmas that only our two duelling experts can resolve.

This season has it all.. from a record-breaking property value profit after renovation, to the battle of Neales Team Love It and Andrews Team List It coming down to the wire. From floorplans requiring a compass to navigate to homes too small for a growing family, postcode envy and beachside dreams  Andrew and Neale have their work cut out for them, swaying homeowners to make the right decision theirs!

An unexpected property boom has meant now more than ever, is the time for homeowners to face the dilemma of staying or selling.. but has this boom made it easier for Andrews Team List It or does Neales showstopping makeovers win over the homeowners?

8:30pm Wednesday September 29 on LifeStyle.
The average cost of hospital care for COVID-19 patients without insurance (or at an out-of-network provider) is about $51,000 for patients age 21-40, and $78,569 for patients between 41 and 60 years old, according a July report from FAIR Health. ER physician Dr. Jordan Wolfe (second from left) works with a team of nurses last month at Saint Francis.
Belarussian authorities have been cracking down on dissidents.

Theyve targeted opposition politicians, journalists and now - apparently - lawyers.

Mikhail Kirilyuk was a lawyer in the former Soviet State.

He defended anti-government protesters and publicly criticized President Alexander Lukashenkos rule.

Then in October, he said he received a tip-off from a KGB affiliate telling him to flee:

This person wrote me that my license will be revoked and then Belarusian authorities will arrest me not as attorney-at-law but as a former attorney-at-law."

38-year-old Kirilyuk quickly fled to Poland with his parents and children.

His account fits with what more than half a dozen Belarusian lawyers say is a pattern of intimidation and suppression of attorneys by authorities.

Seven lawyers interviewed by Reuters say their licenses were removed after defending protesters or speaking out against authorities.

Many of them allege that authorities monitored confidential client meetings or obstructed their work.

Like Kirilyuk, former lawyer Anton Gashinskiy also had his license terminated.

"The all-seeing eye sees everything, observes, systematizes, accumulates information, and then makes procedural decisions. We can easily turn from a subject of criminal proceedings into an object."

Reuters could not independently corroborate their assertions or the tip-off described by Kirilyuk.

And Lukashenkos office didnt respond to requests for comment.

At least 23 Belarusian lawyers have been disbarred since last summer, according to the International Federation for Human Rights.

The justice ministry said it has the power to terminate legal licenses in circumstances stipulated by law.

It added that a number of lawyers had lost their licenses this year because they had committed gross violations of licensing legislation.

A new law approved by Lukashenko in June stipulates that only candidates approved by the justice ministry can practice law.

Some attorneys say that is intended to control their profession.

Sergei Ustinov is a member of Belarusian human rights organization, the Legal Initiative:

"Before August 2020, the rules of the game were clear and some legal mechanisms worked, there was no obvious torture in relation to political prisoners. Now we see the complete legal lawlessness in Belarus, the concept of law does not exist in principle."
King's Resort Boss Leon Tsoukernik Wins 740K in Crazy Nosebleed PLO Game

August 24 2021 Matthew Pitt

One of the craziest Pot-Limit Omaha hands went down at Kings Resort over the weekend, one that saw Kings owner Leon Tsoukernik help himself to a near 740,000 pot!

The live-streamed High Stakes Ca$h King$ saw Tsoukernik go to battle for six hours in a 100/200 PLO cash game. There was a ton of action throughout the stream, and Tsoukernik found himself in a 300,000 hole. However, that all changed on the final hand of the night.

Check out the hand in all its glory below or keep reading to find out what happened.

The Big Hand

Blinds remained at 100/200 but there were several straddles in play, including one weighing in at a quite ridiculous 6,400 from Cobanski! Three players folded, putting the action on Tsoukernik, who called for 5,600 with . The action folded to "Pablo" in late position, and he tried to raise all-in with , but could only raise to 29,500, leaving himself 10,000 behind.

"Cobanksi," on the button with , called the 29,500, and Tsoukernik tossed in calling chips.

Tsoukernik flopped the nuts with the first three community cards falling , and he checked. Pablo put in his last 10,000, Cobanski called, only for Tsoukernik to check-raise to 60,000. Cobanski called with his trip kings.

The turn improved Tsoukernik to a better full house, and he fired a 110,000 bet, which Cobanski called. The completed the board and Tsoukernik snap-shoved for what turned out to be 143,200.

Cobanski went deep into the tank for more than five minutes while Tsoukernik puffed frantically on his electronic cigarette. Irish poker legend Fintan Gavin provided the English commentary on the stream, and he stated Cobanskis cards would be in the bin immediately if he was against any player other than Tsoukernik.

Amazingly, despite holding only trip kings, Cobanski emerged from the tank with a call, gifting the 738,400 pot to Tsoukernik, digging him out of a hole and then some.

Leon Tsoukernik Beats Phil Ivey to Win King's 100K Short Deck (1,102,000)

Tsoukernik Wins $1.5 Million On Slots

Leon Tsoukernik after winning $1.5M on slots

You may recall Tsoukernik won a massive 1,372,500 in January 2020, but not at the poker table. The Czech entrepreneur and art collector failed to cash in the CAPT Seefeld High Roller, and passed some time by playing 1,000 a spin on one of the casinos slot machines. Tsoukernik, literally, hit the jackpot and took home 1,372,500 (circa $1,530,500).

King's Resort Owner Leon Tsoukernik Scoops $1.5m Slots Jackpot

More recently, in April, Tsoukernik became embroiled in a legal battle with social media giant Facebook; he is suing Facebook for half a billion Czech crowns, which is approximately $24 million.

Tsoukernik is irked by Facebooks lack of action regarding malicious mobile advertisements for online casinos that were using Kings Resort imagery to encourage players to sign up for an account.

Earlier this month, Tsoukernik scored a victory when a Czech court ruled Czech courts have jurisdiction in his case. The legal battle continues.
Antalya, Turkey ( Atf Zafrak / Unsplash)

Turkey expects to come off the UKs travel red list this week, according to the countrys UK embassy.

The scientific data on Covid-19 support our expectation that Turkey will be removed from the red list at the upcoming review, the embassy said in a statement to Sky News.

Reports suggest the holiday hotspot will be moved to the amber list in a travel review expected on Thursday. The move would allow double-jabbed Britons and all under 18s to travel without needing to quarantine in a hotel on return to the UK.

Turkeys case numbers are now lower than those in the UK and its genomic sequencing has improved, its London embassy said.

The country also continues to progress with its vaccination programme, with more than half of adults now fully vaccinated, it added.

Turkey has been on the red list since May meaning travellers must spend 11 days in a quarantine hotel at a cost of more than 2,000 upon their return to the UK.

Just 1.7 per cent of those arriving into the UK from Turkey have tested positive for coronavirus in the last three weeks, according to NHS Test and Trace data. This figure is similar to that of Spain, which is already on the amber list.

We expect the UK to take into account all these developments and remove Turkey from the red list this week, the embassy added.

Travel expert Paul Charles, CEO of PC Agency, tweeted that it is encouraging to see Turkey now supplying substantial data to GISAID about infections and any variants.

GISAID figures show the UK leading the way in total number of genomes shared, at 78,179, followed by the US at 48,696 and Turkey at 33,278.

It also shows the country has reported more than 200,000 fewer cases of coronavirus than the UK in the last 30 days, despite having a much larger population.

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Turkeys tourist sector is pinning its hopes on Britain removing it from the travel red list to help it recover from the pandemic, a spate of wildfires, and Germanys designation of Turkey as high risk.

Story continues

Ulkay Atmaca, head of Turkeys Professional Hotel Managers Association, said with the fall in German bookings and the Scandinavian market remaining closed, the sector was looking to Britain, which sent more than 2.5 million visitors in 2019.

We are eyeing the British market to open this week, Atmaca said. We expect a huge demand from the British market as it opens.

Read More

UK travel: When is the next Covid travel update and what can we expect?

Caribbean set for UKs red list and Croatia could go amber in this weeks travel review

UK Covid travel: Hassle-free holiday guide to the countries you can visit without quarantine
Against the backdrop of increasingly more tense situation along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ministry of Defense of the former is planning to hold training camps with the participation of more than 2,000 reservists from August 25 to November 25. The three-month trainings are planned to include exercises with motorized rifle, artillery, communications, reconnaissance, engineering, air defense, electronic warfare, etc. and meant to increase combative capabilities of the reservists and ensure their readiness for a potential escalation. As Euria Review writes, for Armenian military experts, military exercises are an international practice to covertly prepare for an imminent danger and their conduct at this particular time shows the likelihood of a certain rise in the tensions between the two conflicting states.

This immediately reminds the similar militarization of the Armenian society prior to the Second Karabakh War last year. A draft law introduced by the Ministry of Defense in August 2020 sought to create the militia. The proposed militia would be open to both men and women and would accept people up to age 70. The militia units would be organized under local governments, and members wouldnt be issued weapons except in case of military operations or the threat of operations. The militia could total up to 100,000 members, reported the media.

Then even a military training program for young women (aged 18-27) was announced by Anna Hakobyan, the wife of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the initiator of a program called Women for Peace that was supposed to encourage peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenias embrace of militarization instead of constructively participating in the peace negotiations cost thousands of lives on both sides and humiliating defeat of the Armenian army in late 2020.

This happens against the backdrop of Russias failure or reluctance to ensure the implementation of the withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces from the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan in line with the trilateral ceasefire deal signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on November 10, 2020, also known as the November deal. Armenia uses this opportunity to transfer more armed forces to the Karabakh region and to militarily attack the Azerbaijani side.

Moscows rearmament of the Armenian army combined with the new wave of militarization of the Armenian society and armed escalations are seen in Azerbaijan as a great threat to the regional security. We hope that Russia continues to spare no effort for the security of the region and take steps to ensure lasting peace. At the same time, our expectation is that Russia will not arm Armenia, said President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan in an interview with CNN Turk.

Along with calling upon Armenias leaders to negotiated solutions to the conflictual questions on the bilateral agenda, he also warned against the use of force, vowing that Azerbaijan will respond adequately to any military provocation by the Armenian side, no matter how much arms supplied by the countrys external patrons.

Despite these worrying developments between Armenia and Azerbaijan, there is now a greater potential to peacefully settle existing problems between the two countries, compared to last year. The resumption of the trilateral [Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia] working group, which was established during the January 11 trilateral leaders summit and tasked with presenting action plans (including implementation schedules) to their governments regarding regional railroad and highway projects, is a good sign for peaceful future of the region.

It is expected that the sides would soon also embark negotiations about the demarcation and delimitation of the Armenia  Azerbaijan border that has been a source of bilateral tensions since a few months. Yerevans positive response to Azerbaijans offer to sign a peace treaty and herein recognize each others territorial integrity would be a big step forward towards mutual reconciliation and regional prosperity.

This is however of great importance for the sides to show sincere interest in peace and peaceful settlement of the disputes between them. The imitation of negotiations and abuse of the trust would otherwise dramatically aggravate the situation and lead to serious ramifications for the entire region. In this context, it is unfortunate that Armenia has recently provided inaccurate mine maps to the Azerbaijani side in exchange of the release of the Armenian detainees by Azerbaijan. The accuracy of the maps provided at the latest stage is only 25 percent. So here, too, they [Armenians] are acting insincerely, said President Aliyev in his interview with CNN Turk.

The main regional and global actors should support the substantive negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan in order to promote the peace process and avert the recurrence of humanitarian tragedies in the region. A lot depends also on Russia. Moscow must stop arming Armenia, ensure that the November 2020 deal is fully implemented and, accordingly, Armenian armed forces are fully withdrawn from the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan.
Ahead of the inauguration of the Army 2021 Expo in Moscow on Sunday, Rosoboronexport JSC expressed its readiness to offer to India the whole range of small arms and light weapons, including assault rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, submachine guns, pistols, grenade launchers etc, Financial Express reports. All what is being offered to India have been tested and are known for their reliability, and lots of these weapons have proven their effectiveness in real combat use. Russia has also developed technical means to train small arms use, which can be integrated into a joint virtual environment to conduct full-scale training sessions.

We are ready to demonstrate the above-mentioned weapons to our Indian partners, launch deliveries, and conduct joint works to establish licensed manufacturing, a Rosoboronexport official dealing with the media confirmed to Financial Express Online on Sunday.

The official who wished to remain anonymous said, Russia and India previously signed an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to set up the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Ltd. Company to manufacture Kalashnikov AK203 assault rifles. The capacity of the Korwa-based enterprise is sufficient to arm the personnel of all the uniformed services of India.

How much will be the local content?

Should it become necessary, both sides are ready to increase the output of production and upgrade to manufacture future models which are based on the Kalashnikov rifles unique design. And, under Indias Atmanirbhar initiative, the 100 per cent localization of the manufacturing processes is envisaged, he added.

Army 2021 in Moscow

Rosoboronexport JSC (part of the Rostec State Corporation) is likely to conclude several contracts with foreign customers at this expo. This expo is starting today August 22 and will go on up to August 28, 2021 on the premises of Patriot Congress and Exhibition Center of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

According to Alexander Mikheev, Director General of Rosoboronexport, The Army Forum is the main platform. And it enables Rosoboronexport to demonstrate the widest range of Russian products for the Special Forces and police units to foreign customers. And also for different branches of the armed forces and all services.

According to the companys media statement, there will be more than 800 members of 35 foreign delegations. Out of the 35 foreign delegations around 17 will be headed by their defence ministers, and their deputies. There will be senior officials from Russias partner countries who have been invited by the company.

In total, representatives of around 150 countries invited through the Ministry of Defense of Russia, the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia and the Rostec State Corporation are also taking part in the expo.

On display will be equipment and weapons for the first time will be naval equipment. A special cluster has been created for the demonstration of naval equipment. Also on display will be dual use platforms and equipment, and aircraft, air defence and electronic warfare assets, as well precision guided weapons for the land forces.

For the first time the newest T-14 Armata tank, combat vehicles based on the Boomerang combat platform will be displayed. And, the Orion-E reconnaissance/strike UAV, which is the star of this year, the Antey-4000 battlefield anti-aircraft missile system designed to equip the land forces, and the Pantsir-S1M air defense gun/missile system are being displayed. There are going to be the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter, helicopters, the BK-16 high-speed landing boat, and the latest small arms, added Alexander Mikheev.

What will be of interest for the Indian Army during the expo will be small arms. This includes Kalashnikov AK-100 series, AK-200 series, AK-12, AK-15 and AK-19 assault rifles. On display will also be KORD assault rifles, sniper rifles and machine guns which are being manufactured by the Kalashnikov Concern and the Degtyarev Plant, which are part of the Rostec State Corporation.

On display are equipment and gear for Special Forces and security agencies. The Dominator, Sumrak (Twilight) sniper rifles, Lobaev Arms Volkodav (Wolfhound) will be on display.
Taliban (movement banned in Russia) leaders will form a 12-man council to rule Afghanistan and will offer some pliant members of the former U.S.-supported government the ministries of their choice as they strive to form an administration that is acceptable to the international community, according to sources close to the leadership, Foreign Policy reported.

The three most powerful men in the leadership council will be Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, co-founder of the Taliban; Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, son of the groups founder, Mullah Mohammad Omar, and the man behind the victorious military strategy; and Khalil Haqqani, a senior figure in the Haqqani network, responsible for some of the most vicious terrorist attacks of the past 20 years, and who is blacklisted by the United Nations and United States.

This strategy for governing Afghanistan avoids the recreation of such positions as president, or even that of emir, a title claimed by previous leaders of the Taliban insurgency, including Mullah Omar. But such a strategy opens the door to factional struggles and will leave the ruling council to grapple with an incipient anti-Taliban movement centered on the Panjshir Valley.

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on Aug. 15, after a military romp through the country that led them into Kabul in just four months. The government of former President Ashraf Ghaniand all security in the capitaldisappeared overnight, giving the insurgency a clear run into power. The Taliban victory followed U.S. President Joe Bidens decision to adhere to a deal brokered by his predecessor, Donald Trump, that committed the United States to withdrawing all troops by May 1. Biden extended the deadline to Aug. 31.
Ahmad Massoud is holding the Panjshir Valley with other opposition fighters, but is set to surrender in the absence of international support.

Ahmed Massoud, the son of a renowned Afghan warlord, is holding the Panjshir Valley with a few hundred Afghan soldiers, commandos and pilots. He has been joined by other ousted Afghan leaders including Amrullah Saleh, the vice president who now claims to be the acting leader of Afghanistan.

In his first interview since the fall of Kabul, Massoud told The Telegraph last week that his surrounded forces would fight to the last breath if it came to war. But an adviser to Massoud, whose identity The Telegraph is not disclosing, said the 32-year-old was looking for a way to capitulate with his honour intact.

Panjshir cant fight the Taliban (terrorist group banned inn Russia), the Taliban have overwhelming forces, the adviser said. This is not the 1980s or 1980s, the Taliban have battle hardened fighters.Hundreds of Taliban fighters have been sent towards Panjshir, according to the Taliban's Alemarah information service.

The cards are heavily stacked against Panjshir, he said. I think Panjshir can hold out for two to three months, and then the winter will come.

In a last ditch effort to stop a Taliban military offensive, the Panjshir forces sent a delegation to Pakistan last week to negotiate.
U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to decide within the next 24 hours on whether to extend the timeline for withdrawal.

An unnamed official told the agency the decision would be made in order to give the Pentagon time to prepare, Reuters reports.

At Kabul airport on Monday, dozens crowded around the BBC's Secunder Kermani, desperately flashing documents to try to get on to flights they had not been given permission to board.

The crush makes it difficult for those who have received emails telling them to turn up at the airport to gain access, he says.

According to the White House, about 10,900 people were evacuated from Kabul between 11:30 and 23:30 local time (07:00 - 19:00 GMT) on Monday.

The U.S. has evacuated, and facilitated the evacuation of, approximately 48,000 people since an intense airlift started on 14 August, the White House said.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will urge the international community to unity for the sake of the people of Afghanistan during the G7 summit on Afghanistan on Tuesday, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric said at a briefing on Monday.

"Secretary General has been invited to participate in the virtual G7 summit on Afghanistan," he said. "His message will be focused on the need of unity in the international community as we keep the interests of the Afghan people front and center," the spokesperson specified.

The meeting of the G7 leaders will be held in a virtual format on August 24 at the UKs initiative which is chairing the group this year. Earlier, a number of media outlets reported that US allies intend to demand from Washington to extend the evacuation operation from Afghanistan.

On August 15, Taliban fighters (outlawed in Russia) swept into Kabul without encountering any resistance, and gained full control over the Afghan capital within a few hours. Afghanistans President Ashraf Ghani said he had stepped down to prevent any bloodshed and subsequently fled the country. Vice President Amrullah Saleh announced that, in the absence of the head of state, the constitution empowered him to become the caretaker president and urged the Afghan people to join the resistance against the Taliban radical movement. At present, Western nations are evacuating their citizens and embassy staff.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Israel has reached 1,005,511, almost a year and a half since the first case was detected in the country, the Israeli Ministry of Health said on Tuesday morning.

Israel thus became the 35th country with more than 1 million infections, according to the World Health Organization.

The country reported its first COVID-19 case on Feb. 27, 2020, as an Israeli who had returned from Italy tested positive.

The number of deaths caused by the virus in Israel rose to 6,864, while the number of patients in a serious condition increased to 678.

The number of active cases jumped to 72,572 in the country, while the number of recoveries rose to 926,075, Xinhua reported.

Over 5.9 million people in Israel, or 63.2 percent of its total population, have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while over 5.45 million have taken two doses and over 1.57 million have got three jabs.
Germany is looking at ways of evacuating people from Afghanistan after the August 31 deadline when Americans are set to leave Kabul airport, Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

"We are working on ways to get people out of the country beyond the end of the military #evacuation operation. To make sure that the end of the military evacuation does not mean the end of the effort to get people out of Afghanistan," the ministry wrote on Twitter.

Maas noted that they need to talk to the Taliban, because the alternative would be to abandon these people. "And we are not willing to do that," he stressed.

U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to decide in the next 24 hours on whether to extend an August 31 deadline to airlift Americans and their allies to safety.

Earlier on Monday, the Taliban warned that delaying the departure would have "consequences."

Despite that threat, a US administration official told Reuters that Biden is still considering an extension in order to give the Pentagon time to prepare.
Armenia is ready to open regional communications with Azerbaijan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during the presentation of the government program at the parliaments meeting, according to the Armenian media.

"As Armenia should get a road to Russia and Iran through the territory of Azerbaijan, so Azerbaijan should get a road for communications with its eastern regions [from exclave Nakhchivan to the main territory of the country] through the territory of Armenia," Pashinyan stressed.

The PM also noted that demarcation and delimitation of borders with Azerbaijan must be started as quickly as possible.

"I regret that due to political noise it wasnt possible to achieve the planned result in the spring. The unstable situation on a number of sections of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is a serious threat to the start of these processes," Pashinyan noted.

Recently, the Armenian Armed Forces have been shelling various regions of Azerbaijan almost every day. In addition, training camps with the participation of more than 2,000 reservists will be started in Armenia on August 25.
U.S. Department of Defense is still unable to tell how many US weapons, shipped to the Afghan Armed Forces, ended up in the hands of the Taliban movement (outlawed in Russia) after it took control over the republic, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday.

He was asked during the press briefing, whether the Department of Defense attempted to calculate the number of US weapons and vehicles in the Talibans possession.

"I dont have an exact inventory of what equipment the Afghans had at their disposal that now might be at risk. Obviously, we dont want to see any weapons or systems to fall into hands of people that would use them in such a way to harm our interests," Kirby said, adding that he currently has "no policy solutions" on how to resolve this issue.

On August 15, Taliban (outlawed in Russia) militants entered the capital city of Kabul without fighting and took complete control over the city in a matter of hours. The President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani announced that he was leaving the country in order to prevent bloodshed. Vice-President Amrullah Saleh claimed that in the absence of the president he becomes acting president in accordance with the Constitution. He urged the republic to continue fighting the Taliban. Meanwhile, Western states are in the process of evacuating their citizens and embassy employees from the republic.
Current issues of the development of relations between Russia and Belarus, including further integration within the Union State, were the focus of a telephone conversation between Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, the Kremlin press service said on Monday.

The telephone call followed Mondays extraordinary session of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The two leaders exchanged views on the results of the session, which focused on the situation in Afghanistan.

"The sides discussed current issues of the development of Russian-Belarusian ties, including cooperation within the Union State," the Kremlin said, adding that the presidents agreed a schedule of further contacts.
The latest Kornet anti-tank missile systems have reinforced the 201st Russian military base stationed in Tajikistan, the press office of Russias Central Military District reported on Tuesday.

"A batch of Kornet advanced anti-tank missile systems has arrived for the 201st Russian military base stationed in Tajikistan. The new systems have entered service with the Russian military formations artillery units," the statement says.

The 201st military base stationed in Tajikistan is Russias largest military facility outside its borders. The military base is stationed in the cities of Dushanbe and Bokhtar. The military base comprises motor rifle, armored, artillery and reconnaissance units, air defense forces, radiation, chemical and biological protection and signal troops.

Under an agreement signed in October 2012, Russias military base in Tajikistan will remain until 2042.
Russian Defense Ministry intends for an intensive development of the military-technical cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Monday.

"We aim for a progressive development of cooperation in military and military-technical fields on the entire spectrum of issues that pose mutual interest," Shoigu said during his meeting with Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud.

He thanked the Saudi official for visiting the Army 2021 international military forum.

"You would be able to examine the newest Russian specimen at its venues, including those that have proven themselves well in Syria," Shoigu said. "We view your personal attendance as a confirmation of Saudi Arabias course for further deepening of cooperation with Russia," the Russian Minister said.

He noted that the trustful and respectful relation between the two heads of state facilitate the constructive dialogue between the two Defense Ministries.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin and his Saudi counterpart signed an agreement on military cooperation between the two governments.
Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev had a phone call with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the Council press service announced Monday, adding that the two officials discussed cooperation on security and the situation in Afghanistan,

"Nikolay Patrushev and Jacob Sullivan discussed the matters of Russian-American cooperation in security," the announcement says, adding that special attention was paid to the bilateral cooperation in IT security.

"Besides, the sides exchanged opinions on the situation in Afghanistan," TASS cited the Council as saying.

Earlier in May, Patrushev and Sullivan held Russian-American consultation at the level of Security Councils. According to the Russian agency, this meeting was a part of preparation of the June Russia-US Summit in Geneva.

Previously, the two officials had a phone call on April 30. That time, the agenda included the current state and perspectives of Russian-US relations, as well as preparations for the Russia-US summit.

Before that, the two officials talked in late January, early March and mid-April. In particular, they discussed the extension of the New START treaty and perspectives of Russian-US cooperation on security and strategic stability.
Turkey hosted 10.88 million foreign visitors in the first seven months of 2021, the country's Culture and Tourism Ministry said on Monday.

While climbing 85.44% year-on-year, the figure fell by 78% versus the same period in 2019 before the eruption of coronavirus pandemic dealt a major blow to international travel, showed the official data.

The metropolis Istanbul was the top destination in the seven-month period, attracting around 38.2% of foreign visitors, or 3.85 million people.

The Mediterranean resort city of Antalya saw the second-highest number of visiting foreigners with 3.26 million and Edirne in northwestern Turkey, which borders both Bulgaria and Greece, followed with some 1.22 million.

Russians accounted for 15.41% of visitors, followed by Germans with 12.5%, Ukrainians with 11.08%, Bulgarians with 4.85%, and Iranians with 4.3%, Anadolu Agency reported.

In July alone, the country hosted 4.36 million tourists, up 367.5% on a yearly basis and down 86% versus the same period in 2019.

Last month, Antalya, Istanbul, and Edirne were the top tourist destinations.

In 2020, more than 12.7 million foreigners arrived in Turkey during the pandemic, down from nearly 45.05 million in the previous year.
The United States aims to complete evacuations from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan by a 31 August withdrawal deadline - as calls grow from allies to extend it.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said: "Our focus is on getting this done by the end of the month."

If commanders on the ground said an extension was needed it would be passed to President Biden, he said, but added: "We just aren't there right now."

He added: "We've seen the public statements by the Taliban spokesman about their views on the 31st of August. I think we all understand that view." Kirby was reluctant to give the specific number of Americans evacuated so far, saying it was in the "thousands".

He also said there were no plans at present to add to the 5,800 troops securing the airport and overseeing evacuations.

The Pentagon said it was not yet at the point to seek a change, though the UK, France and Germany will step up pressure at a virtual G7 summit.

The Taliban told the BBC that any extension would violate an agreed deal. Tens of thousands have been evacuated, but others seeking to flee remain crammed in or near Kabul airport.
The U.S. Department of Energy said Monday it would sell up to 20 million barrels of crude from the emergency oil reserve to comply with legislation passed in recent years.

Up to 8 million barrels will be offered from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve's (SPR) Bryan Mound, Big Hill and West Hackberry sites, while 1 million barrels will be offered from Bayou Choctaw.

Congress passed legislation in 2015 and 2016 to tap the SPR, held in several salt caverns on the Texas and Louisiana coasts, to fund the federal government, medical research and a modernization of the facility.

The sale complies with the 2015 law that called for the offering of 58 million barrels between 2018 and 2025. The SPR has more than enough crude to meet international supply agreements.

The department said bids must be received by early Aug. 31 and it would award contracts no later than Sept. 13. Deliveries of the oil will take place between Oct. 1 and Dec. 15, Reuters reported.

The added supplies from the sale are expected to weigh on sour crude grades in the U.S. Gulf Coast, traders said. Mars crude, the main sour crude sold in the U.S Gulf Coast market, is already at the lowest levels in about a month on oversupply and slow global demand.
A Ukrainian plane that arrived in Afghanistan to evacuate Ukrainians has been hijacked by unidentified people who flew it into Iran, Ukraines Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin said on Tuesday.

"Last Sunday, our plane was hijacked by other people. On Tuesday, the plane was practically stolen from us, it flew into Iran with an unidentified group of passengers onboard instead of airlifting Ukrainians. Our next three evacuation attempts were also not successful because our people could not get into the airport," TASS cited him as saying.

According to him, the hijackers were armed. However, the deputy minister did not report anything about what happened to the plane or whether Kiev would seek to get it back or how the Ukrainian citizens got back from Kabul, onboard of this "practically stolen" plane or another one sent by Kiev. Yenin only underlined that the whole diplomatic service headed by Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba "had been working in the crash test mode" the whole week.
Vietnam has suggested that China should create favourable conditions to boost customs clearance for Vietnamese agricultural products stuck in border areas.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien on August 23 sent a letter to the Chinese Minister of Commerce of China and the Governor of Yunnan asking them to facilitate customs clearance and export of Vietnamese agricultural products and fruits to the market.

In the letter, Minister Dien said that under the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic with the Delta variant, the delivery of import and export goods at the border gate has been guaranteed safe from any spread through the border.

Minister Dien expressed his "regret" upon receiving information that the Department of Commerce of Yunnan had announced suspension of the import of dragon fruit from Vietnam through border gates from July 2021 due to concerns about the Covid-19 situation in Vietnam.

By mid-August, dragon fruit in particular and many other fruits and agricultural products of Vietnam in general could not be exported to China through border gates with Yunnan province. Meanwhile, the import of vegetables and agricultural products from Yunnan to Vietnam's border localities has been going smoothly, with an average of about 400 trucks per day.

The Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade expressed "understanding and sharing" with China's concern about disease prevention and control, but he said as long as border authorities and businesses of the two sides strictly comply with customs clearance of goods, disease prevention and control will be absolutely safe.

The Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam asked the Chinese Minister of Commerce to ask Yunnan province to urgently lift measures to limit the import of agricultural products through border gates with Vietnam and at the same time coordinate with Vietnamese border localities to continue epidemic prevention, while maintaining stable circulation of goods.

In the Letter to the Governor of Yunnan, Minister Dien also made a similar proposal.

Previously, on August 20, the Ministry of Industry and Trade again issued Document No. 5067/BCT-XNK, requesting businesses to quickly and strongly shift the export of goods to the Chinese market to the official form and only transport goods to the border when there are agreements with the buyer (clear consumption addresses).

For agricultural products, it is necessary to coordinate with the buyer to classify, pack and use packages and labels in accordance with requirements of the import market in the stage of production, and meet regulations on quality standards, food safety, traceability and growing area codes to help speed up customs clearance.

Luong Bang
Data from epidemiological studies using antibody tests to measure the proportion of the population who have acquired protective immunity will help to make more accurate assessments about the epidemic situation.

More scientific data is needed to fight Covid-19. Photo: Thanh Tung

According to data from HCM Citys Covid-19 portal, on August 17 the city tested 15,124 samples, recorded 3,540 new cases, including 2,568 cases in community (accounting for 72%), an increase of 19% compared to the previous day.

Anti-epidemic needs strategic view

In recent days, the rate of F0s (infection cases) in the community increased in Ho Chi Minh City, accounting for 53% of the total number of new cases, while it was only 41% in locked down areas, much lower than the previous figure of 80%.

This data and more represent the efforts of agencies in the city, but it is still not enough to suggest appropriate solutions.

From a national perspective, the data published by the Ministry of Health is not sufficient for research and analysis to serve the direction and administration of pandemic prevention and control.

A petition about an Epidemic Prevention Strategy sent to the authorities by a group of organizations (1) notes that scientific research activities are still weak and have not been able to fulfill the role of sufficiently providing basic and essential scientific information in the country as a basis for assessing the evolution of past outbreaks and also the current outbreak in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and many other provinces.

The group says that there is a lack of epidemiological data using antibody tests to measure the proportion of the population that has acquired protective immunity - a basic requirement that must be obtained at this time when considering epidemiological characteristics. This makes the assessment of the epidemic situation in the past, present, and the future become uncertain, and risks having the disease prevention and control work fall into a state of passive response and limited effectiveness.

They note that the daily data of provinces and the whole country on the total number of F0 cases, hospitalized F0 cases, cured people, and fatalities can help identify the evolution of the epidemic, but cannot be seen as scientific, objective and accurate information to support the proposal of an effective epidemic control policy.

They also say that even some reports on disease prevention strategies for Ho Chi Minh City are still limited in strategic scope, and do not properly assess the progress of the disease spreading in the community because of the lack of research data investigating the prevalence of infection in the community by antibody testing, which causes the comments and recommendations to lack a solid scientific basis.

As an epidemiologist, Dr. Nguyen Thu Anh, Country Director of the Woolcock Medical Research Institute in Vietnam, also faces difficulties due to insufficient data. She says that a lot of people have texted and asked her why her organization has not analyzed or recommended anything.

She replied: Honestly, I really want to. I don't mind difficult questions. I don't mind staying up many nights, but lets see, without data, what's the recommendation? You should ask the people who have data. You should ask them why they don't share data so that people, scientists, businesses, offices... czn make preparations".

Scientific zoning

A fence prevents strangers from entering alley 197, District 10, HCM City.

Recently, the concept of green, red, and yellow zoning is being applied by some localities to establish a "new normal".

For example, in Ho Chi Minh City, epidemic free areas (green, near green, yellow) are areas where there are no positive cases after 2 tests, and the vaccination rate must reach 50% for people over 18 years old and are able to ensure social distancing.

In the high-risk and very high-risk areas (red and orange zones), and locked down zones, the city will organize household-based tests to reduce the scope of the locked down zones into only points.

In case the test results are all negative, the locked down area can be released if eligible, and continue to monitor and re-test if cases with suspected symptoms are detected.

Dr. Thu Anh said the criteria of the "green zone" is as follows: Administer 2 doses of vaccine every 6-8 months for at least 90% of people over 50 years old, people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic respiratory disease, obesity, immunocompromised, and pregnant women.

While there is not enough vaccine coverage, it is necessary to adhere to locked down areas when F0 cases are not controlled in the community and adhere to the 5K solution when there is no F0 cases. In addition, there are Covid-19 teams that provide medical and welfare support to all members of the green community.

Dr. Thu Anh offers short-term solutions:

Quickly gathering the scarce vaccine resources for all people over 50 years old, people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic respiratory disease, obesity, immunocompromised people, and pregnant women. Priority is given to vaccines with a short time between two doses to quickly create immunity.

That measure will help reduce fatalities and stress on the health system. It will take some time to see the number of deaths decrease, so people need to be patient and accept it for a while.

She says that it is necessary to impose locked down areas and social distancing until 2 weeks after the 2nd dose for the group of people above, then gradually open, while continuing the application of 5K solution and vaccinations based on the volume of vaccines available. Locked down areas without vaccination for the priority group above would waste time, public costs, and economic sacrifices.

In addition, in epidemic-hit areas, it is necessary to quickly transform the model of care and treatment so as not to collapse the general health system. That is the management, care, treatment of F0 cases in the community. F0 and suspected F0 cases in the community will be transferred to hospitals when they show signs of hypoxia or other emergency signs.

She also suggested setting up temporary emergency stations in the community to treat F0 cases when hospitals are overloaded; mobilize young volunteers who are fully vaccinated with two vaccine doses to support health workers at healthcare facilities at all levels; and import, instruct and allow people to use rapid test kits.

Dr. Thu Anh says that the recommendations are not perfect, but are the optimal way in the context that there are not many "weapons", while the system and capacity need time to change.

Meanwhile, the group says that it is necessary to remove awareness among some officials in charge of epidemic prevention and control in provinces and cities that imposing social distancing and blockades as an attempt to implement the principle of "nobody in, nobody out" is the way to stop the spread of the virus.

This perception is no longer appropriate when the disease has been in the form of an "endogenous epidemic", which has spread in the community through the respiratory tract for the past few months.

Instead, it is better to implement the monitoring function of the authorities, businesses and people to ensure mask wearing and regular and correct social distancing in public places, and reduce the risk of mass gathering in public places, including wet markets and supermarkets.

The group also suggests avoiding blockades to disrupt essential services for the daily life of people and production activities of enterprises, while the State system should try its best to deploy vaccination to cover the entire population and ensure the health system meets the people's medical needs.

Tu Hoang

(1)

 Evidence-Based Health Policy Development Advocacy Group (EBHPD)

 Vietnam Non-communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Alliance (NCDs-VN)

 Vietnam Public Health Association (VPHA)

 Community Medicine Organization

 Vietnam Sustainable Energy Alliance (VSEA)

 One Health Approach to Climate Change and the COVID-19 Pandemic (CSO-OHCCP)

'Vaccines' for the human spirit amid the Covid-19 pandemic Covid-19 is a serious trauma that affects the human psyche, making people susceptible to mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, experts say.
The registration fees collected for the state budget increased from VND11,816 billion in 2012 to VND40,194 billion in 2019, up by 240% or VND28,378 billion.

Revenue from registration fees has increased steadily in recent years, with an average annual growth rate of about 16%, except for 2020 due to the policy of reducing registration fees for domestically produced cars.

According to the provisions of the Law on State Budget, local budgets can keep revenue from registration fees. Therefore, this is a revenue source that plays an important role in total local budget revenue.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the current registration fee has contributed to strengthening the state management of assets, and protecting the legitimate interests of those with the right to own and use assets.

Revenue from registration fees has increased steadily in recent years, with an average annual growth rate of about 16%, except for 2020 due to the policy of reducing registration fees for domestically produced cars.

The registration fees collected for the state budget increased from VND11,816 billion in 2012 to VND40,194 billion in 2019, an increase of 240% or VND28,378 billion.

Registration fee collection in the period of 2012 - 2020 is about VND24,740 billion per year on average, accounting for about 2.1% of total state budget revenue, 2.9% of total domestic revenue and 4.8% of total local budget revenue.

The structure of registration fee collection by asset groups has also increased steadily over the years, especially revenue from registration fees for cars, which accounted for about 73% of the total registration fee revenue for the period 2017-2020.

Registration fee revenue from houses and land accounted for the second largest proportion with stable growth over the years, from VND1,454 billion in 2012 to VND5,838 billion in 2019, a 4-fold increase.

After more than a year implementing online registration fee collection (from March 12, 2020 to June 28, 2021), in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the number of online registration fee payment transactions for cars and motorbikes was 23,124 vehicles, totaling nearly 623.3 billion VND.

For the remaining 61 provinces and cities, after nearly 11 months of implementation (from August 1, 2020 to June 28, 2021), the number of transactions to pay registration fees online for cars and motorbikes was 248,833 vehicles, worth over 1,651 billion VND.

It is estimated that online registration fee declaration and payment procedures for cars and motorbikes helps reduce taxpayers compliance costs by about VND1,020 billion/year.

The Ministry of Finance is collecting opinions on a draft decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree 140 of the Government on registration fees.

The Ministry has proposed that the registration fee for electric cars for the first time should be equivalent to 50% of that for petrol-fueled and diesel-fueled cars with the same number of seats. The second registration fee will be equal to that for petrol and diesel cars with the same number of seats, at 2%.

Currently, the registration fee for passenger cars with nine seats or less in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi is 15%, and 10% for the remaining provinces and cities. In its submission to the Government, the Ministry of Finance proposed that the first registration fee for electric cars should be 5-7.5%. At this tax rate, the registration fee for a car worth 600 million VND is about 30-45 million VND.

With a factory with a yearly capacity of 250,000 vehicles, the selling price of VND 690 million/vehicle, assuming all these vehicles sell out, revenue from registration fee (5%) would be VND 5,175 billion.

According to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA), the number of electric vehicles registered in 2020 was only about 1,000 units, accounting for about 0.16% of the total number of registered cars.

The Ministry of Finance also wants to add submarines and submersibles to the subjects paying registration fee, at the rate of 1%.

Luong Bang

Production shoring up state coffers Although the state budget revenue was dented in May due to the resurgence of COVID-19 affecting businesses performances, the first five months of the year have seen a big surplus in the state coffers,
The long fourth Covid-19 outbreak and social distancing regulations have posed great challenges to the office leasing market.

Ngo Anh Tuan, director of a transport firm in Hanoi, said its 5-year lease contract is expiring in some days but they still have not reached an agreement with the landlord about the rent.

Tuans company is leasing a 200 square meter floor for an office with rent of VND50 million a month. His company has been seriously hit by the pandemic over the last two years. Because of the poor business performance, he has laid off many workers and has tried to re-negotiate with the landlord about rents and leasing areas.

I want to extend the leasing contract, but want a smaller area. But the landlord did not accept this. Later, I sent an email asking for monthly rent reductions, but there has been no reply, he said.

The office is in a C-class privately run building in Thanh Xuan district in Hanoi. The vacancy rate of the building is relatively high because many businesses have shut down because of the pandemic.

Tuan believes the landlord is refusing to cut rent because there are few tenants at this moment.

If we cannot reach an agreement about new rent, I will give back the premises and look for a smaller office to lease, Tuan said.

Do Manh Hung, who works at a company providing training courses on life skills, said his company has not been operating for many months. Training centers have closed the doors, and employees are working from home. It still has to pay for security guard services and electricity and water bills.

Hung said the landlord refused to lower the rent.

The landlord only accepts payments twice a year, instead of once a year as previously applied, he said, adding that the landlord is deliberately putting difficulties on the company.

Hung doesnt want to relocate the office, because the current office has become well known to clients.

Landlords' problems

Landlords are also having difficulties because of the pandemic.

Do Van Ha, the owner of a building in Thanh Xuan District, said he still has not paid a loan he got from a bank to build the office building.

In 2017, with VND15 billion, plus VND5 billion he borrowed from a bank, he built a 10-floor building on the land plot valued at VND100 billion, for lease.

The office building had just become operational for a short time when the pandemic broke out. Over the last year, he has not been able to lease any space, and many tenants have given back the premises before the contract expired.

I know that lessors and lessees need to share difficulties in the current period. But we are under pressure. There are very few tenants, and we still have to pay bank debts. If I cannot pay debts, the banks will foreclose on the building as the mortgage for the loan, he said.

Ha said instead of reducing rent, he supports tenants in service fees and offers flexible payment conditions. Despite the offers, more companies are leaving.

The owner of a building in the Trung Hoa  Nhan Chinh area in Cau Giay District in Hanoi said that the building rent is low compared with other buildings in the same area. So he wont reduce the rent.

Some months ago, analysts said that the impact that Covid-19 had on the office leasing market was less than on the hotel market. However, office building landlords also complain about the lack of tenants and their debt payment capability.

Hoang Nguyet Minh from Savills Hanoi said renters are uncomfortable about making decisions on leasing offices now. Site survey and interior construction activities are also facing difficulties. Most businesses are deciding to extend leasing contracts or postpone their plans to relocate until the pandemic is contained.

She said that the slowdown of the office market segment in the second half of the year will see a decrease in the leasing rate.

She believes that office rents won't be affected after the pandemic ends. The requests to lower rents come from tenants during social distancing when travel is restricted and workers cannot go to the office.

In the long term, the current leasing fee in Hanoi will reflect the market value and capability of tenants. So a mass decrease in office rents wont occur, she believes.

To better control costs, some enterprises have left traditional offices to shift to flexible office models. So the pressure on landlords is high. However, Minh said that the rent of serviced office buildings is always higher than rent for traditional offices.

Duy Anh

Multi-million dollar apartments up for sale despite COVID-19 Despite the pandemic impacting the resort, hotel and rental market, the housing and apartment segment still has projects for sale at record prices.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Chu Ngoc Anh.

At the signing ceremony

Charge d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Vietnam Christopher Klein and Director of the Hanoi municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment Bui Duy Cuong on August 25 signed an agreement on the new location of the headquarters of the US Embassy in Vietnam.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Chu Ngoc Anh.

The activity took place within the framework of the ongoing Vietnam visit by the US Vice President from August 24-26.

At a total cost of about 1.2 billion USD, the headquarters will cover 3.2 ha with a construction site of over 419,000 sq.m in Cau Giay district.

Its main building is inspired by Ha Long Bay while its landscape around features the tradition of rice cultivation like topographies of the Red River and the Mekong Delta. It is also expected to become a solid symbol of relations between the two nations.

Experts from the US Department of State are responsible for choosing the new location, design and facility management of the project.

According to the US Embassy, the project is in the process of designing./.

Source: VNA
The Air Force Two carrying US Vice President Kamala Harris from Singapore landed at Noi Bai international airport (Hanoi) on August 24 evening.

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This is the first time a US Vice President paying an official visit to Vietnam.

On August 25, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan will welcome her US counterpart.

According to a statement of the White House, during her stay, Harris will engage Vietnamese leaders on issues of mutual interest, including regional security, the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and joint efforts to promote a rules-based international order.

The US Vice President will also affirm and celebrate the strong cultural and people-to-people ties between the US and Vietnam.

The visit is hoped to contribute to strengthening ties and expanding economic cooperation between the US and important partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

Harris is scheduled to have meetings with Vietnamese leaders, including a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the COVID-19 pandemic, regional security and economic cooperation.

She also planned to attend the inauguration of an office of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Hanoi, which will work to deal with issues related to infectious diseases in Southeast Asia.

The US is currently the largest COVID-19 vaccine donor for Vietnam with 5 million doses of Moderna vaccine.

As of August 3, 2021, Vietnam ranked 7th among the top 10 countries receiving the vaccine support from the country.

Vietnam has also signed commercial agreements with US vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer to realise its goal of having about 70 percent of its population provided with the first shot by the first quarter of 2022.

In his visit to Vietnam last month, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin said his country pledged to donate 77 cold storage freezers to help Vietnam store COVID-19 vaccines.

According to the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the US has committed to providing Vietnam with over 20 million USD in aid to support the Southeast Asian country in the fight against the pandemic.

Some pictures taken by VietNamNet at Noi Bai airport:

US Vice President Kamala Harris steps out of the plane and waves her hand.

Photo: Pham Hai

Chairman of the Presidential Office Le Khanh Hai and Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung welcomed the US delegation at the airport.

The Air Force Two carrying the US Vice President lands at Noi Bai airport.

The US Vice President's motorcade.

Pham Hai - Tran Thuong
The Ministry of Information and Communications will launch a set of four stamps featuring native Vietnamese chickens on August 25.

These stamps, with the size of 37 x 37 mm, will be available on the public postal network from August 25, 2021 to June 30, 2023.

The stamps, designed by painter Nguyen Du of the Vietnam Post Corporation, introduce Vietnams biodiversity and help contribute to the conservation of purebred Vietnamese chicken species. Materials for the design of the stamps are provided by the Institute of Livestock Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The stamps feature four native chicken species, including multi-toed chicken, Dong Tao chicken, H'Mong chicken, and Lac Thuy chicken, with the first three stamps priced at VND4,000 and the Lac Thuy chicken stamp with face value of VND12,000.

The Multi-toed chicken is a rare and precious purebred chicken breed that has existed for a long time, and is associated with the livelihood and culture of ethnic minorities in the northern province of Phu Tho. This breed has many toes, usually from 6 to 8 and some with 5 or 9 toes.

Dong Tao chicken is also an endemic and rare breed of chicken of Dong Tao commune, Khoai Chau district, Hung Yen province. As a rare and precious poultry breed of Vietnam with genetic resources preserved, Dong Tao chickens have large and rough legs. Mature chickens can weigh over 3.5kg.

H'Mong chicken originates in the northern mountainous region, widely raised by the H'Mong ethnic group. Adult H'Mong chicken weighs from 2 to 3 kg.

Lac Thuy chicken originates from Lac Thuy district in the northern province of Hoa Binh, which is also listed among the rare and endemic species for genetic preservation. This species sources from Phu Thanh commune of Lac Thuy district and An Phu commune, My Duc district, Hanoi. This chicken species is widely raised in Lac Thuy district.

Van Anh
Nearly 4,000 doctors and trained volunteers have joined Thay thuoc dong hanh (Companion physicians) network to give support to Covid-19 patients in HCM City, Hanoi and Binh Duong province.

The network was established by the Central Vietnam Association of Young Physicians and the Covid-19 Rapid Response Information Team to mobilize social resources to give advice to Covid-19 patients and people at high risk of getting infected, and intensify medical support to provinces under lockdown under Directive 16.

Most of the patients served cannot be brought to medical units because the infections have just been discovered, or because medical facilities are overloaded.

They also include patients under monitoring at home, after initial treatment at medical facilities; people who have had contacts with F0 cases and have symptoms of Covid-19 but have negative testing results; and people at high risk because they live in a close atmosphere with patients.

They are vulnerable because they dont know about their situation or when they need to be hospitalized; dont know whom to call for advice during home quarantine; or cannot contact medical facilities if their situation becomes severe, and may panic.

At first, Companion physicians operated in HCM City, the Covid epicenter. Later, it reached out to Binh Duong, and since August 19, has been available in Hanoi.

The technology is used as an online switchboard and a real-time work coordination tool for volunteers. It helps thousands of doctors and nurses advise patients in real time; records and shares results; and analyzes data, provides more information about severe cases, and assists the health sector in coordinating emergency resources.

More than 50 technology volunteers for the network around the world conduct data management, streaming and analysis, and data security. Features are also updated daily and tailored to needs.

With the connection portal, physicians can make calls from a distance to take care of patients. Hanoi and HCM City residents can call the switchboard 1022 to access medical care from the doctors of the network.

From August 1 to the end of August 16, 368,000 calls were made by nearly 4,000 volunteers and physicians throughout the country. Nearly 70,200 patients received medical support from a distance, including 720 F0 cases, which turned severe and received timely emergency treatment in HCM City.

Van Anh

40% of Covid-19 cases in Hanoi found through electronic medical declaration screening As many as 13,579 people reporting coughing and high temperature on medical declarations turned out to be positive cases, amounting to 40 percent of total cases of the city.
On the first day HCM City imposed the stay-where-you-are measures, August 23, the streets were deserted. Those who went out were strictly inspected to ensure their compliance with the rules.

From August 23 to September 6, Ho Chi Minh City is implementing Directive 11, with the motto "building each ward, commune, town, each agency, factory, and business a fortress against the Covid-19 epidemic. All people are requested to stay put.

On the morning of August 23, the first day implementing the highest social distancing measures, Saigon streets were mostly deserted. Some people allowed to go out must present necessary documents at checkpoints.

Checkpoints are guarded by police officers, soldiers and militias to ensure that people go out for the right reasons and strictly observe social distancing rules to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic.

Most of the roads were deserted, but some were still crowded.

Military forces at the checkpoint at the foot of the Saigon Bridge in Binh Thanh District on the morning of August 23.

Checking travel documents of people going out.

According to the High Command of HCM City, soldiers and officers of Military Zone 7 began joining local forces on August 23.

Thousands of military officers and soldiers have been mobilized to support Ho Chi Minh City to fight against the epidemic.

In a green (epidemic free) zone.

A quiet road in the citys center.

Vo Thi Sau Street in District 3.

Some people show their e-travel documents.

Division 5, the main infantry division of Military Region 7, with nearly 2,000 officers and soldiers are in HCM City to support the fight against the epidemic.

Most people have legal travel documents.

A checkpoint at Le Quang Dinh - Pham Van Dong intersection in Go Vap District.

People obeyed the rules well, so checkpoints and gateways were clear this morning.

Pham Van Dong Street on the morning of August 23.

The road in front of Gia Dinh Park.

Nguyen Thai Son Street, Go Vap District.

Hoang Minh Giam Street, Phu Nhuan District.

Military forces transport equipment at the Military Headquarters of Binh Thanh District.

Truong Thanh Tung - Duy Linh

Prime Minister: Everyone in HCM City to be tested during social distancing period Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed local authorities to perform rapid testing on a large scale. HCM City will conduct Covid-19 test for the entire population during the social distancing period to detect F0 cases as soon as possible.
Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Vietnam's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, called on all relevant parties in Yemen to accept the UN-led peace proposal while addressing a UN Security Council meeting on August 23.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Vietnam's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

The event saw the presence of Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations; Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs; and Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF).

Speakers noted that military escalation has continued in many places across Yemen, especially in Marib, leading to heavy casualties, including women and children.

They underscored the need for a nationwide ceasefire to resolve current deadlocks and give an impulse to the resumption of political dialogues among parties.

With regard to the Safer oil tanker off Yemens coast, they urged the Houthis to let the UN technical team access the vessel to perform their duties.

Council member states condemned attacks against civilians, particularly women and children, and appealed for an end to military actions as well as efforts be promoted to deal with the challenges facing Yemen. They called for unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance and protection of civilians.

Many states also urged the Houthis to cooperate with the UN to handle the issue of the Safer oil tanker.

On this occasion, they applauded the appointment of Hans Grundberg, former EU Ambassador to Yemen, as the new Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for this country.

In his remarks, Quy emphasised that there is no military solution to the conflict in Yemen, and that military escalation is one of the biggest obstructions to the peace process in this country.

He asked all parties to cooperate with Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, respect the International Humanitarian Law, and implement Resolution 2573, including protecting civilian infrastructure, supporting the UNICEF appeal for upholding childrens right to education, and cooperating with one another to achieve sustainable and inclusive peace in Yemen.

The diplomat also urged relevant parties to step up the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement and the Riyadh Agreement.

Also on August 23, the UN Security Council discussed the Haiti situation after the August 14 earthquake, which killed 2,200, injured 12,000, and affected 8,000 others. The access to humanitarian aid in many areas is being hampered by security uncertainties, especially in the places controlled by crime gangs.

Quy offered deep condolences to Haiti in these difficult times, noting that the top priority now is to increase humanitarian relief and ensure security for the earthquake-hit places.

The ambassador also called on the international community to increase assistance to Haiti.

Source: Vietnam News
The banking commissioner also ordered Mann to pay $687,000 for improperly reimbursed expenses and $250,000 in fines for his actions.

The commissions findings and the lawsuit pertain to Manns dealings while serving as former chairman of the board, former chief executive officer and former director of the Citizens State Bank in Woodville, which is in Tyler County in far East Texas and has branches in Waco and Marlin.

According to the lawsuit and the commission order, Mann sought inappropriate reimbursement for expenses from 2014 to 2018 worth $641,870. Mann admitted to listing people as having attended dinners with him and his wife in California, Las Vegas and New York when they actually dined alone, according to the lawsuit and the commission order.

He also admitted he obtained $3,300 in reimbursement from the bank for his contribution to a political action committee, for which he later reimbursed the bank. When bank directors raised concerns in 2017 about Manns excessive reimbursed donations to Baylor University, Mann reimbursed the bank for $22,036, the lawsuit and order state. However, the very next day, Mann requested and received reimbursement for that same amount from the Bank Service Corp. and RAM Holdings.
The season also will feature a pandemic-delayed pops concert with 70s pop-rock band America on Nov. 12 and a return of The Nutcracker with Ballet Frontier of Texas on Dec. 12.

Calao said this season also would feature a partnership with several Waco restaurants for pre-concert meals, expanding a concert into a full evening experience for some.

While the symphonys home base of Waco Hall will be open to full capacity this year, the pandemic is forcing a change to electronic ticketing, which Calao said may be a novel experience for some of the WSOs older patrons.

The pandemic truncated the final months of the WSOs 2019-20 season, and with only a Belles and Brass concert performed since then, the upcoming season represents a return to the type of concert programming the WSO has done for more than 60 years.

That and Wacos growth over the last few decades put Bess and her husband Craig back in her hometown at a fortuitous time.

Its really the perfect moment to be coming back here, she said. It seems to me that audiences are very eager to get back.

Helping audiences do that will be her first task, she added: Season tickets go on sale on her second day on the job.

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Adults still make up the bulk of cases, but there are growing numbers of children testing positive for the virus.

Twenty-something make up 282 of 1,085 active cases. Another 273 fell between the ages of 30 and 39, 197 fell between 40 and 49 and165 fell between 50 and 59.

There are 17 current cases among children younger than one year old. Children between the ages of one and 10 account for 107, and kids and teens aged 11 to 19 make up 185.

Waco Mayor Dillon Meek said the city will hold another news conference on the resurgence at 9 a.m. Wednesday that will run on Spectrum Channel 10, in HD on Grande Channel 810 and online at wccc.tv. The city will broadcast a version translated into Spanish at 1 p.m.

At this time, it is critical that we all take a hard look at the current data regarding local and state hospital capacity, and the impact the dangerous delta variant is having on our community, Meek said.

The city of Waco and health district put out statements saying local hospitals are overwhelmed by the current surge of cases. For the last week, 87% of the people hospitalized in the county for COVID-19 have been unvaccinated.
The Navy and the Marine Corps said they have had zero religious exemption requests for other vaccines in recent years. The Air Force said it did not have specific data on religious exemptions, but said it has granted 336 overall administrative exemptions, which include religion. The bulk of those exemptions were for troops who are within 180 days of retirement or separation from the service, and did not involve religion. The Army did not provide an answer to the question about religious requests.

Troops may also get temporary exemptions for up to a year if they, for example, are pregnant, seriously ill, or if there is a lack of vaccine supply.

The regulations also note that any exemption may be reversed if a medical condition changes or if it is determined that the risk of acquiring the disease is greater than the risk of vaccine exposure.

An AP-NORC poll released Friday found that 56% of Americans are in favor of requiring members of the military to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, compared with 20% opposed.
Now, if a person can just say, I am not in jail or prison for a felony conviction, then that person can register and they can vote freely, said Stanton Jones, one of the plaintiffs lawyers.

Bell, the panel's chief judge, said Monday that the majority's reasoning for the injunction would be explained in their order. The state election board said Monday was its deadline to change registration forms for the fall, and that county boards must immediately begin to permit these individuals to register.

Dennis Gaddy, co-founder of Community Success Initiative, a Raleigh-based organization that helps ex-prisoners and another plaintiff, said his group and others would have a statewide registration drive.

The wait is over, and Im excited to be a part of this transformation, said Gaddy, who was once behind bars and unable to vote for seven years after his release because he was on probation.

The North Carolina Constitution forbids a person convicted of a felony from voting unless that person shall be first restored to the rights of citizenship in the manner prescribed by law. The 1973 law, approved by a Democratic-controlled General Assembly and written in large part by Black legislators, eased restoration requirements.
Because of this conflict of interest, Karloff said she abstained from all discussion and action related to the solar farm regulations and permits which can be found in meeting minutes between February and May 2021. The minutes also reflect that Karloff, as chairperson, relinquished her power to District 1 Supervisor Dave Lutton during agenda items connected to the solar topic.

I have tried to do my best to make sure that I was doing everything legally correct, Karloff said.

Carritt felt the opposite action was necessary in a situation like this and wished Karloff would have attended the public hearings prior to the approval of the conditional use permit. Carritt reported that at one of the hearings she said Karloff should resign or be recalled for this.

She shouldnt have been shocked because she wouldve been told, Carritt said.

Now that Karloff has filed her defense statement, Lindgren has five days to prepare the 75 petitions and inform Carritt they are ready to pick up. Carritt technically only needed about 30 petitions since there are 20 signature lines on each one.
WATERLOO  Three people have been arrested in a July shooting that injured a 5-year-old girl in Waterloo.

In a series of early morning raids, Waterloo police detained three 17-year-olds and executed five search warrants. Officers arrested Deandrew Naqawn Spates, Daeonnis Javir Gates and Tyray Dontrell Smith Jr., all of Waterloo, on charges of intimidation with a weapon and willful injury.

All three are charged as adults, according to court records. Bond was set at $50,000 each.

Police said they are thankful for the assistance they received from the community in the investigation as well as other local, state and federal authorities.

Officers found about 30 spent shell casings after four people opened fire at a southbound sport utility vehicle in the area of Logan Avenue and Argyle Street around 9:18 p.m. July 18.

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The 5-year-old was struck and taken to UnityPoint-Allen Hospital where she was treated for a broken left arm.

Witnesses saw four people running toward Heritage Apartments, and investigators recovered surveillance video from the shooting, which led to the identification of the suspects, court records state.
The spread of COVID-19 is continuing to ramp up in Iowa, with almost 2,200 new cases recorded on Saturday.

Not surprisingly, the county with the lowest vaccination rate in Iowa is also the county with the highest number of new infections over the past week, when adjusted for population.

According to the New York Times, the number of new infections reported Saturday was 2,197, a sharp increase from last weeks single-day high of 1,992. Saturdays total was Iowas highest single-day tally in seven months, since 2,478 new cases were recorded on Jan. 6.

Throughout August, the trend line for new infections in Iowa has been climbing sharply, mirroring a trajectory last seen in early November 2020. The current trend line shows no signs yet of leveling off.

In Black Hawk County, the 14-day average positivity rate was at 14% as of Tuesday, up from 13.8% less than a week ago on Aug. 18, according to the county Health Department. The number of new cases reported on Aug. 18 was 59. On Tuesday that number was 145.
Eventually the photo was spotted by an Italian journalist who had written a book on World War II. He was able to track down Adler's regiment and where it had been stationed from a small detail in another photograph. The smiling photo was then published in a local newspaper, leading to the discovery of the identities of the three children, who by then were grandparents themselves.

They shared a video reunion in December, and waited until the easing of pandemic travel rules made the trans-Atlantic trip possible.

"I am so happy and so proud of him. Because things could have been so different in just a second. Because he hesitated, there have been generations of people,'' Donley said.

The serendipity isn't lost on Giuliana Naldi's 30-year-old granddaughter, Roberta Fontana, one of six children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who descended from the three children hidden in the wicker basket.

"Knowing that Martin could have shot and that none of my family would exist is something very big," Fontana said. "It is very emotional."

During his stay in Italy, Adler will spend some time in the village where he was stationed, before traveling on to Florence, Naples and Rome, where he hopes to meet Pope Francis.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A conservative group filed a redistricting lawsuit with the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Monday, an action that comes after Democrats filed their own legal challenge in federal court less than two weeks ago.

A third lawsuit on behalf of voting rights advocacy groups was also filed in federal court on Monday. The lawsuits mean there are fights in both state and federal courts in Wisconsin over redistricting, even before the Legislature proposes a map or takes a vote on new political boundary lines.

All of the lawsuits argue that the current maps, adopted in 2011, are unconstitutional and courts should establish a plan to draw new lines because the Republican-controlled Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers will not be able to agree.

Democrats and the advocacy groups are asking the federal courts to handle the drawing of new maps, while the lawsuit filed by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, known as WILL, asks the conservative-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court to do it.
In all, South Carolina will get about $9 billion in federal aid. About two-thirds of it is being sent directly to local governments or school districts or is already allocated. There is also $500 million from a federal settlement over the U.S. government failing to meet deadlines to remove plutonium from the Savannah River Site near Aiken.

Accelerate SC released 19 recommendations Tuesday worth about $2.1 billion. They suggested the state hang on to the rest of the money in case unforeseen problems crop up between now and the deadline to spend it all in late 2024.

The group recommended giving $170 million to start a $1.8 billion or more project to widen 70 miles (more than 110 kilometers) of I-26 in the rural areas between Charleston and Columbia.

The corridor sees frequent traffic jams and slow downs as trucks going to and from the state's busiest port mingle with traffic between South Carolina's busiest cities.

Making this investment now allows us to slingshot this program ahead by six years, Accelerate SC Executive Director James Burns said.

When can that start?" someone in the crowd asked.
James White has been named Detroits police chief after serving since June 1 as an interim replacement for James Craig who retired and is looking at a possible run at Michigan governor.

Mayor Mike Duggan announced Monday that the job now belongs to White pending approval by the City Council.

Duggan was given three candidates to consider by the Board of Police Commissioners following a national search.

White, 53, is the latest in the line of about a dozen Detroit chiefs since 1990. Several had been forced out amid allegations of wrongdoing.

He stepped down as chair of Michigans Civil Rights Commission to take over as interim chief.

To have quit that, come back here on an interim basis knowing what he had to go through, going through the (interviewing) process like everybody else with the Board of Police Commissioners, I think it just shows how much he loves the city, how much he loves this department, Duggan said.
Emotionally, its obviously the hardest thing Ive ever had to watch, Cannon said. You can talk to a middle schooler and you can tell a teenager, `Look, this is what you need to do to get better. But to a 3-year-old, its just confusion and fear. She doesnt know why she cant go home. She doesnt know why her family cant be here with her.

Sometimes I wish I was completely clueless so I didnt know what could happen.

As for the thousands of comments she has received on her Facebook posts, Cannon said she is reading them during the sleepless nights at her daughters bedside.

She is overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness by strangers and her family and friends, who launched a GoFundMe campaign for medical expenses and a Meal Train for her family at home.

But what Cannon mostly wants is for her cry for help from Aug. 12 to be heard loud and clear by as many COVID vaccine holdouts as possible:
DES MOINES  Because of a new state law, the 2021-2022 school year started in Iowa on Monday with the vast majority of school districts not requiring students to wear face masks despite new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations once again surging across the state.

The bus rides were a different story.

While most Iowa students do not have to wear face masks at school this year, many students must wear face coverings while on school buses because of a federal order.

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In February, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order that requires passengers on buses  including school buses operated by both public and private school systems  to wear face masks.

That order remains even after the Republican-led Iowa Legislature and GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds in May passed a new state law that bars school districts and local governments from enacting face mask policies that exceed the states. Since the state has no face mask requirement at this time, school districts cannot require students to wear them.

But the federal order for masks on school buses remains.
The Safe at School Sit-In organizers and the Disability Caucus of the Iowa Democratic Party are calling on the Iowa Ethics Committee to consider Ethics Standard 12B that specifies that senators not discriminate based on disability. The passing of HF 847 which banned mask mandates, was a violation of that standard.

The senators ignored the extreme risk posed to the disabled and medically vulnerable students, their families, and the disabled/medically vulnerable in the community at large. Senators were reminded in a presentation by Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott of the danger HF 847 poses by restricting mask mandates in schools. She cited several students and their families as an example. Despite this reminder, disabled students, teachers, and their families were dismissed as irrelevant, unimportant, and simply collateral damage by the Senators actions in signing HF 847 into law. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects the right to education and safety of those with disabilities. This federal mandate was not considered or honored.

States banning mask mandates could face civil rights probes WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced that his administration will require that nursing home staff be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition for those facilities to continue receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funding.
Two old-school Democrats had similar features in their letters to the editor last week. Here, in mid-August, they both construed their words to arrive at Jan. 6 and the riots at our Capitol; both included the partys overused term -- insurrectionists. Apparently four years of media and Democrats bashing Donald Trumps every move will continue as a distraction, else the media would be obliged to report and fill space using Joe Bidens limited successes and failures.

Again last week, President Biden has tried to blame Trump when his administration failed to understand conditions in Afghanistan. We all know Biden owns this disastrous withdrawal of U.S. troops. Did Bidens military leaders let him down, or was proper intelligence lacking when he declared two weeks ago that Afghanistans military could defend their country with no concern for the Taliban?

Many other failures are under-reported including seven months with illegal immigration reaching 7,000 a day, huge inflow of drugs and growing human trafficking at the southern border. To Biden, thats not a crisis. Have you noticed the higher price of gasoline? Thank Biden for cancelling the Keystone pipeline project and eliminating Americas self-sufficient drilling.

Each new day, the difference between a strong president and a weak one is becoming quite clear.

Ron Wheeler, Cedar Falls

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Rep. Ashley Hinson has spent her time in Congress thus far obstructing legislation designed to help Iowans and voting to protect the twice impeached former president from any accountability for inciting a violent insurrection. Hinson refuses to meet with community members and organizations and her voting record is abysmal.

Hinson voted against President Bidens bipartisan infrastructure plan to fix Iowas crumbling roads and bridges. Hinson voted against LGBTQ protections. Hinson voted against accountability for police brutality. Hinson voted against protecting our right to vote. Hinson voted against the Violence Against Women Act. Hinson voted to make it harder to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Hinson voted against equal pay for women. Hinson has voted against several pieces of legislation regarding worker protection like the PRO Act and protections for health care and social service workers.

What has Hinson voted for? Hinson voted to keep prices high on prescription drugs that treat rare diseases. Hinson has voted to protect Trump from impeachment, to protect Trump from a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection he incited, and to protect Qanon conspiracy theorist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from consequence. Hinson isnt voting with the betterment of Iowans lives in mind.

Marcia Buttgen, Waterloo

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Anna Faris decided to elope with Michael Barrett because she didnt need a big wedding.

The 44-year-old actress revealed she tied the knot with the 51-year-old cinematographer in secret in July, and has now said she chose to elope rather than having a huge wedding ceremony because of her age.

Anna has been married twice before  to Ben Indra from 2004 to 2008, and to Chris Pratt from 2009 until 2018  and said shes been alive long enough that she felt she didnt necessarily need the whole thing when it came to marrying for the third time.

Speaking to Page Six while at LAX, she said: Its been awesome, were really happy.

And when asked why she and Michael eloped, she added: I think with a little bit of age, you dont necessarily need the whole thing. [It was] just us.

The Mom star previously spoke about marrying Michael on her podcast in July.

She said: "I'm looking around  my fiance's right  he's now my husband. Yes, we eloped. It was awesome, yeah, it was great."

She added: "It was at a local courthouse up in Washington State, it was great."


Reports FY21 Results At Top-end of Guidance

Sydney, Aug 24, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - MNF Group Limited ( ASX:MNF ) ( FRA:M2S ), a leading voice communications software provider, today announced its financial results for the full year ending 30 June 2021, with a strong performance across all metrics.Highlights:- Recurring revenue rose 12% to $113.2 million, as a result of organic growth from longterm wholesale customers- Recurring Gross Margin up 14% to $68.1 million making up more than two thirds of the Gross Margin of $102.2 million- EBITDA increased 13% to $43.1 million (FY20: $38.2 million), at the top end of market guidance- Underlying NPAT-A increased 16% to $19.2 million (FY20: $16.6 million)- Earnings per share up 24% to 18.43 cents per share (FY20: 14.88 cents per share)- Dividends increased by 25% to 7.6 cents per share (FY20: 6.1 cents per share)- Strong balance sheet with over $100 million made up of cash and undrawn debtCommenting on the results, MNF Group CEO, Mr Rene Sugo said:"After a strong start to the year, I am pleased to report we have ended the 2021 financial year at the top end of market guidance, achieving solid performance across all metrics, including record EBITDA of $43.1 million and a 29% growth in phone numbers."We continued to grow recurring revenue in our business, resulting in a 12% increase on prior year, due to strong demand from long-term customers in our Global Wholesale business. Recurring margin now accounts for 67% of our total gross margin, reflecting the results of our sustained efforts to increase high-quality, recurring revenue. We are targeting 80% recurring revenue over the long-term."I'm particularly proud of the progress we have made against our strategy during the year, as we build MNF into a world-class software company. We completed the divestment of parts of our Direct business, aligning our business to wholesale revenue and the multi-billion-dollar opportunity we see ahead of us. To reflect the new, simplified business, we are restructuring our reporting lines to align with the opportunities in our target market. Going forward, the business will be structured into three software-as-a-service divisions: Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS), Telecom as a Service (TaaS) and Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS)."We also made substantial progress on our long-term strategy to grow market share across the Asia-Pacific region. This year marked a significant milestone in our expansion, as we officially launched our Symbio CPaaS product suite in Singapore. We are now set to deliver next-generation communications and unlock the growth benefits of an entirely new unified communications capability in a sought-after market."We are a more streamlined, robust business with a strong focus on our people, culture and sustainability. Looking ahead, we are well placed to continue to execute our strategy and growth objectives, supported by a strong balance sheet, cash position and sustained demand from our customers."Operational Highlights:- Record phone number growth, up 29% to 5.8 million (FY20: 4.5 million)- Net Revenue Retention (NRR) rate across top 10 customers was 115%- Officially launched in Singapore, marking a significant milestone in MNF's growth strategy to expand into Asia-Pacific- Divestment of Direct business in line with MNF's strategy to simplify the business and focus on recurring revenue- Refreshed strategy including realignment of business to maximise opportunities driven by global megatrends of CPaaS and UCaaSPhone numbers on network, the key performance indicator for future growth, reached 5.8 million as at 30 June 2021, growing by a record 29% on the prior year. The strong growth of phone numbers drove the Group's total recurring revenue, which increased 12% to $113.2 million on FY20, largely from long-term wholesale customers, and supported a 5% increase in recurring margin to 67% of total margin.Despite the strong performance and continued demand for MNF's services, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and travel has had an impact on financial results. Overall revenue declined 5% during the period to $218.7 million, as a result of lower global roaming and audio-conferencing usage.Record EBITDA was also achieved in the period, up 13% to $43.1 million (FY20: $38.2 million), at the top end of market guidance of $40.0 million - $43.0 million. MNF's gross margin increased by 6% to $102.2 million and underlying NPAT-A was up 16% to $19.2 million, as MNF's high-quality product mix delivered higher margin and more efficiencies in the cost base.During the period, the company delivered a cash conversion of 99%, supported by a strong focus on cash collection. The balance sheet remains strong, with net cash of $22.7 million as at 30 June 2021, providing the ability to leverage our streamlined and focused business to maximise growth opportunities provided by the rapid shift to cloud communication in the APAC region.Strategy Update:FY22 strategic prioritiesMNF has refreshed its strategy for FY22 to focus on three areas to build MNF into a worldclass software company. The new strategy seeks to simplify the business, build best in-class software capability and network, and scale and expand throughout Asia-Pacific both organically and through acquisition, driving short term revenue and margin growth and medium term EBITDA. Enabled by the most experienced industry professionals, a strong culture and a genuine commitment to sustainability, MNF's refreshed strategy underpins its new strategic goal: to reach 100 million numbers on network by 2030.Divestment of Direct businessDuring the year, MNF decided to sell the non-core parts of the Direct business to Vonex. The divestment is in line with MNF's strategy to simplify the business and drive growth in its CPaaS and UCaaS voice services. Funds from the sale will be reinvested into growing the wholesale business and expansion offshore.A new operating structure to execute global growthIn FY22, MNF will realign its business structure to support global growth. Going forward, the business will be segmented and reported on in three software-as-a-service (SaaS) divisions:Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS), Telecom as a Service (TaaS) and Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS). Each division is aligned to a key target market, with a distinct product set and geography. This structure more clearly communicates MNF's value proposition to customers and can easily be scaled globally.Singapore and expansion into APACMNF successfully launched its CPaaS product suite in Singapore, following regulatory approval and successful completion of customer trials. The focus will now be on building sales pipeline in the region as well as additional features to extend total addressable market and replicating the technology stack to enter additional regions.In line with the group's strategy to expand in South-East Asia, MNF appointed a General Manager for South East Asia, Mr See Kiat Yeo. Mr Yeo's deep experience in technology and business development across a number of different APAC regions will further support MNF's expansion into additional Asia-Pacific regions. Additional local and international business development staff have been recruited.AcquisitionsAcquisitions form part of MNF's expansion strategy both domestically and offshore.MNF applies disciplined criteria for assessing potential acquisitions, including strategic fit and earnings contribution. With a strong balance sheet and undrawn debt, MNF is well placed to take advantage of opportunities in the market.Outlook:Commenting on the outlook, Rene Sugo said:"Our business looks markedly different compared to 12 months ago. As we move into FY22, we will focus on further simplifying our business, building best in-class software capability and network and growing our business throughout Asia-Pacific."Our new strategy will support MNF to achieve its new 2030 vision, and sets a clear path for global expansion, with the goal to reach 100 million numbers on our network by 2030. This will be achieved by increasing our market share and expanding our presence across Asia-Pacific. Singapore provides the stepping-stone into more opportunities in APAC. Now, supported by a strong balance sheet, we will further invest in our three business divisions, to capture further market share and expansion across the region."MNF continues to benefit from the increased utilisation of collaboration and communications software applications due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The business has had no immediate impact due to current lockdowns and July 2021 trading showed continued growth."To view the FY21 Results Presentation, please visit:To view the Annual Report, please visit:About MNF Group Ltd

MNF Group Limited (ASX:MNF) is one of Asia-Pacific's fastest growing technology companies. Listed on the ASX since 2006, it is now capitalised at around $380m, and twice winner of the Forbes Asia-Pacific "Best under a Billion" award. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, the company has over 500 people located across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. MNF develops and operates a global communications network and software suite enabling some of the world's leading innovators to deliver new-generation communications solutions.



As the world moves to IP, MNF Group is building the brands, services, network and technology to lead the way. For further information about MNF Group Limited please visit: http://mnfgroup.limited/


Significant Farm-in Agreement with Oz Minerals - Wollogorang

Adelaide, Aug 24, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Resolution Minerals Ltd ( ASX:RML ) ( FRA:NC3 ) is pleased to announce the execution of a significant, multi-year farm-in and joint venture agreement with copper focussed mid-tier mining company, OZ Minerals Limited ( ASX:OZL ). The agreement will allow RML and OZL to fast-track the search for copper discoveries on Resolution's Wollogorang Project (Project), located in the McArthur Basin in the Northern Territory.OZ Minerals is a modern mining company that's focused on creating value for all its stakeholders. As one of Australia's largest copper producers, OZ Minerals owns and operates the Prominent Hill and Carrapateena mines in South Australia. Collaboratively OZ Minerals and Resolution have a strong commitment to safety.Material Terms of the AgreementResolution Minerals Ltd, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Mangrove Resources Pty Ltd (Mangrove), entered into a binding Heads of Agreement - Farm-in and Joint Venture - Wollogorang Project with OZ Exploration Pty Ltd (OZE), a wholly owned subsidiary of OZ Minerals Ltd (OZL) (Agreement).Under the Agreement, OZL can earn from Mangrove up to a seventy-five per cent (75%) legal and beneficial interest in the mineral exploration tenements, EL30496, EL30590, EL31272, EL31546, EL31548, EL31549 and EL31550 (Wollogorang Project or Tenements), in the Northern Territory.To earn a 51% interest in the Wollogorang Project OZL is required to undertake exploration activities of $1.6m over an initial 2-year period (Minimum Commitment), a further $3.0m expenditure over a 3-year period (Stage 1) as well as paying Resolution $0.3m for the VTEM survey undertaken by the Company in mid-2021. A formal joint venture agreement (in line with industry standard terms) may be formed from the point that OZL earns a 51% interest in the Project.If OZL doesn't spend $4.9m within the 5-year period (to end of Stage 1), Resolution retains a 100% interest.Resolution can elect to contribute at 49% interest (initial JV formed) or 25% interest following Positive Financial Investment Decision (PFID). If OZL elects to discontinue sole funding after having reached a 51% interest, OZL transfers 2% interest to RML for $1, and RML becomes the 51% owner and manager with OZL diluting.To earn a 75% interest in the Wollogorang Project, OZL must expend at least $1m per year over a further 5-year period to PFID. If either party's interest dilutes to below 10% that party's interest converts to a 2% NSR. OZL can accelerate earning to any milestone by meeting the expenditure requirements early. Over-spend in any stage is carried forward to the next stage.- Resolution Minerals Ltd and OZ Minerals Limited ( ASX:OZL ) enter into a Farm-in and JV agreement on the Wollogorang Copper Project in the Northern Territory, Australia- OZL can earn a 51% interest by spending ~$4.9m over 5 years- RML may retain 49% interest by electing to participate from year 6- If RML elects not to participate, OZL has the option to earn a 75% interest, by sole-funding and delivering a Positive Final Investment Decision to Mine (at a minimum spend of $1m/year, OZL has a further 5 years to complete)- Resolution remains Operator during the Earn-in period with technical input from OZLManaging Director, Duncan Chessell commentsThis is a very exciting development for Resolution's shareholders. Copper is a fundamental ingredient to the renewable energy future of the planet. Resolution Minerals is very pleased to be a partnering with copper focussed producer OZ Minerals, to explore together for copper at Resolution's Wollogorang Project in the Northern Territory.The JV agreement with OZ Minerals, is recognition of the copper prospectivity of the Wollogorang Project. In particular the results of our recent air-borne VTEM geophysics survey that identified dozens of untested conductors and highlighted the sedimentary hosted copper potential of the project. The partnership with OZ Minerals has secured long-term funding, technical exploration collaboration and mining expertise to explore the current identified targets with potential to discover the next large-scale copper mine in the Northern Territory. The 25% carried interest for Resolution to decision to mine is a significant value add for RML shareholders without dilution.The Wollogorang Project is located within the McArthur Basin which hosts the world class McArthur River lead-zinc Mine and is surrounded by mid-tier and major companies including BHP, Rio Tinto and Teck. The Northern Territory ranks in the Top 20 of the best mining jurisdictions in the world by the Fraser Institute (2020) and is relatively underexplored. RML recognises the potential within the Northern Territory to host large scale undiscovered mines.This Agreement allows Resolution to advance two major projects simultaneously - the other being the 64North Gold Project in Alaska which surrounds Northern Star's ( ASX:NST ) 11Moz Pogo Gold Mine - putting the company in a very strong position as a junior explorer.To view tables and figures, please visit:About Resolution Minerals Ltd

Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX:RML) is a mining company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of precious and battery metals - such as gold, copper, cobalt, and vanadium.

The company is led by Managing Director Duncan Chessell and an experienced team with proven success in corporate finance, marketing, metallurgy and geoscience. This equips Resolution Minerals with the tools to meet the changing demands of the mining markets.

Resolution Minerals Ltd Listed on the ASX in 2017 with a focus on the exploration of the Wollogorang Copper Cobalt Project. It has since aquired the Snettisham Vanadium Project and more entered into a binding agreement witth Millrock Resources to earn up to 80% of the highly prospective 64North Gold Project.
SALIDA, Colo.  An unused .22-caliber round was found next to the bed of a Colorado woman who disappeared last year and whose husband is charged with killing her, and a tranquilizer gun and accessories were also found in the couples home, investigators testified Monday.

Prosecutors also showed body camera footage of Barry Morphew with deputies at the couples home on May 10, 2020, the day his wife Suzanne Morphew was reported missing by a neighbor, during the third day of a court hearing to determine if he will stand trial, The Denver Post reported.

The deputies were looking for an item of Suzanne Morphews clothing to help tracking dogs find her. It was the first time Barry Morphew had been in the house in the mountains of southern Colorado since his wife was reported missing and he acted oddly and did not try to look around for her, Chaffee County Undersheriff Andy Rohrich testified.

Hes not even trying to call her phone, he said. This is the last place, according to his testimony, that hes seen his wife alive and hes not asking any questions.

Barry Morphew, 53, is charged with first-degree murder and other crimes in the death of Suzanne Morphew  whose body has not been found  after pleading for her safe return on social media. He has not yet been asked to enter a plea.

When Suzanne Morphew disappeared, investigators photographed injuries on Barry Morphews hands and scratches on his left arm that appeared to be caused by fingernails, Rohrich said.

Defense attorney Iris Eytan, countered Rohrichs description of Barry Morphews behavior, pointing out that he only been asked by deputies to help them get some clothing, not start investigating.

He followed the task as directed by law enforcement, she said.

Investigators found a dart gun, empty tranquilizer darts and a needle used to inject tranquilizer chemical into darts in the house and Barry Morphews gun safe, retired FBI agent Jonathan Grusing testified. A cap used to cover the injecting needle was also found in the dryer along with clothes and bedsheets from one of the couples daughters, he said. However, no tranquilizer chemical was found and there is no way to know how long the needle cap had been in the dryer, Grusing said during cross-examination by another of Barry Morphews attorneys, Dru Nielsen.

Rohrich did not testify about how the live round may have factored into Suzanne Morphews death.

The testimony presented by prosecutors so far suggests they believe Barry Morphew killed Suzanne Morphew on May 9, 2020  the day before Mothers Day  before leaving for work in the Denver area the following morning, stopping at several trash bins there.

The hearing was scheduled to end Tuesday.
The Jeopardy! shuffle continues: Mayim Bialik will serve as guest host of the syndicated TV program when production resumes this week.

Jeopardy! producer Sony Pictures Television announced Monday that the Big Bang Theory actor will temporarily fill in as emcee of the hit quiz show for three weeks after executive producer Mike Richards recently stepped down as newly appointed host.

Bialik was previously named host of Jeopardy! prime-time specials and spinoffs, while Richards was supposed to helm nightly episodes.

Upcoming installments will see Bialik take the famed studio lectern  with subsequent guest hosts to be announced  as the search for a permanent successor for the late Alex Trebek drags on.

Bialiks guest-host appointment comes days after Richards exited his brand-new post following a cascade of scandals. Shortly before his departure, Richards apologized for making several sexist remarks on The Randumb Show, a podcast he co-hosted from 2013 to 2014.

It is humbling to confront a terribly embarrassing moment of misjudgment, thoughtlessness, and insensitivity from nearly a decade ago, Richards said in a statement to The Ringer, which reviewed all 41 episodes of the podcast before they were scrubbed from the internet.

Looking back now, there is no excuse, of course, for the comments I made on this podcast and I am deeply sorry.

By the time he addressed the podcast controversy, Richards was already on thin ice with viewers: In the days leading up to his casting, lawsuits alleging wrongful termination, gender-based harassment and retaliation filed by former female employees on The Price Is Right, where he was an executive producer from 2008 to 2018, came back to haunt him.

Despite Sonys controversial decision to hire him anyway  initially  Richards ultimately quit the hosting gig after his podcast commentary resurfaced. As of Monday, Richards was still an executive producer on Jeopardy!

Prior to his withdrawal, Richards filmed five installments as host of Jeopardy! all of which are scheduled to air as planned.



2021 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
InsideSources.com (TNS)

If you want to ascribe blame for the failure in Afghanistan, youll find it in the decision to invade Iraq. President Joe Biden did not fail there, he did his best to work through an impossible situation made worse by former President George W. Bushs terrible choice to shift the war to a country that played no part in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

As has been shown over and over, most recently in Robert Drapers To Start a War, it was Bush himself who decided Saddam Hussein was a bad guy who needed to go. One by one, senior officials fell in line with the presidents gut instinct and set about obstructing and poisoning the intelligence and planning processes designed to help the White House make strategic decisions based on fact.

Many of those officials had serious doubts about the wisdom of Bushs call. Most notably was Secretary of State Colin Powell, who cinched the decision with his deft, but nearly totally incorrect, presentation in defense of war to the U.N. Security Council. Once the famous general-turned-diplomat said it was OK, there was no turning back. Our allies piled on the bandwagon, and we were off to topple Baghdad and make way for a democratic Iraq.

In 2003, when Bush declared major combat operations over in Afghanistan, there were just 8,000 U.S. service personnel in-country for the entire theater of operations. Biden sent 5,000 troops to cover just the embassy withdrawal. Bushs pivot to Iraq was an abandonment of Afghanistan. It was a move from which our efforts there never recovered.

The images of bodies falling off planes as they leave the country are emblematic of the horrors that await local citizens when the Taliban consolidates its rule. Enough time has passed for girls to have been born after the fall of the Taliban to U.S. troops who never knew the fear of forced hoodings with a burka or the devastating exclusion from school. The Taliban-suffused world looming over Afghanistan will be a special kind of hell for these 18-year-olds.

The story bouncing around of the State Departments failure to anticipate the quickness of the Talibans takeover misses the reality. A better way to understand what happened is that the processes of Americas intelligence agencies were working right, compared to the way they were when the Bush administration yoked them to its geopolitical fantasies. Real disagreement about events was aired. As it should be. And even as Biden acknowledges that the speed of the Talibans operations caught people flatfooted, the truth is that thats more a courtesy apology to his critics than anything else. The bottom line is that the intel community was more right than it was wrong.

The Department of Defense had been urging the State Department to beware that Kabul might fall fast, but just how fast is a fools game to play. Some said days, some said weeks. Everyone understood that once word got out of the evacuation something like this might happen. It was planned for. What you see on TV isnt a chaotic withdrawal, but a well-executed withdrawal in the midst of chaos that was war-gamed out months ago. American professionalism is bringing enough order to the chaos to complete the mission, but it cant eliminate it all.

The United States faced a situation with no good bets to be placed. As Biden repeated, there was never a good time for a withdrawal to take place. Once any sort of evacuation started, we risked precipitating a rapid collapse if it was seen that Washington had lost faith in the ability of the Afghan government. So Foggy Bottom took a risk and held off on closing shop until the last minute. It was a brave call. But the diplomats, like the servicemen and women, were willing to put their lives in danger for the sake of a mission they believed in. The images were watching reflect the resolve and heroism of individual Americans commitment to their mission, not a mistake by Joe Biden.

The choice was an impossible one. All that could be done was to stand with the people of Afghanistan as long as possible.

That was a choice Bush didnt make.

Matthew Schmidt is an associate professor of national security and political science at the University of New Haven. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Scientists say upgrades planned for the Very Large Array in New Mexico  which recently took a step forward with a major financial award  may help answer centuries-old questions like:

How did we get here?

Are we alone in the universe?

The National Science Foundation recently awarded the National Radio Astronomy Observatory $23 million to design and develop a prototype antenna for the Next Generation Very Large Array, or ngVLA. That antenna will be tested at the existing Y-shaped array of dish antennas rising out of the high plains in western New Mexico, about 50 miles west of Socorro, and, if approved, located at multiple sites around North America.

To take a generational step forward, there are plans over the next 15 years to add hundreds of additional dish antennas to complement the existing radio wave observatory. The installation started making observations of space 40 years ago.

Astronomers who work on the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array radio astronomy observatory say the ngVLA project will improve what is arguably already the worlds foremost radio telescope system.

Even in its current state, the VLA is, by a long way, the worlds premier radio telescope facility. Its been that way since it was opened. Its still doing amazing science, said Tony Beasley, the director of the NRAO, which operates the VLA. Were talking about building an instrument, which is basically an order of magnitude more sensitive.

The VLA currently has 28 dish antennas, which detect radio wave signals in space. The plan is to increase the system to 263 dish antennas.

Most of the new antennas will be about 60 feet in diameter with 20-foot dishes in the center of each structure. There will be a dense cluster of antennas at the current VLA site and other antennas spread to west Texas, eastern Arizona and northern Mexico. There will also be far-flung antennas in Hawaii, Washington, California, Iowa, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the NRAOs website.

When you have all the antennas very far apart, like spread across the U.S., you can image a small region of sky with incredibly high resolution, said Eric Murphy, NRAOs Project Scientist for ngVLA.

The entire ngVLA project is expected to cost about $2.4 billion, with money coming from the National Science Foundation, U.S. government agencies and international partners, said Dave Finley, a spokesman for the NRAO.

All the antennas will be operated from the existing VLA site west of Socorro and an NRAO facility in the city, as well as a to-be-determined metropolitan area, according to the NRAOs website.

The project will give the system greater powers to study far-away black holes, galaxies and planets, Beasley said.

The next-generation array also will enhance the systems ability to search for potential intelligent extraterrestrial life. Last year, the NRAO reached an agreement with the SETI Institute, an organization dedicated to the search.

The agreement allows for data collected at the VLA during normal observations to also be analyzed by separate equipment being built by the SETI Institute. The system is called COSMIC: the Commensal Open Source Multimode Interferometer Cluster.

That project will allow the institute to examine massive amounts of radio observation data to consider if the signals could be artificially created, and a sign of alien intelligence in the universe, Murphy said.

What the SETI system does is it searches  to see if it can detect a steady signal, Murphy said. While the normal observation is looking at this distant galaxy  these powerful back-end systems sit on the end of the telescope, and just continuously watch the data signal going forward.  It is constantly gathering data all the time.

Construction could begin in 2026 and the system could come online by 2029, with full scientific operations expected to be up and running by 2035, according to a NRAO news release.

The NRAO has signed an agreement with mtex antenna technology gmbh, a German firm, to develop a production-ready design and produce the prototype, which will be tested at the original VLA site in New Mexico.

Contruction at the current VLA location began in the 1970s and it was completed in 1980. The antennas detect faint cosmic radio waves, which are far fainter than radio waves on earth. The Plains of St. Agustin northwest of Socorro, was chosen as the VLA site because of its remoteness and because the area is ringed by mountains, which act as a buffer to keep out radio interference.

Since coming online, the system has made many major scientific breakthroughs, Beasley said. The rotation rate of the planet Mercury, understanding the nature of collapsing black holes and assisting in recording the worlds first photo of a collapsing black hole are among some of the more notable projects the VLA was a part of, he said.

Beasley said the improvement expected from ngVLA will help scientists try to answer questions about how life formed on Earth and whether there life beyond our planet.

So one of the big science cases for ngVLA is that well have the sensitivity and resolution to actually be able to make movies of planets forming around nearby stars, young stars. And when we do that, we can also measure the chemistry of the materials that are forming these planets, he said. And so you can learn whether or not there are organic molecules like water and simple carbon chain molecules and so on.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine Monday, potentially boosting public confidence in the shots and instantly opening the way for more universities, companies and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory.

The Pentagon promptly announced it will press ahead with plans to require members of the military to get vaccinated amid the battle against the extra-contagious delta variant. Los Alamos National Laboratory likewise said it would require the vaccine for its entire workforce. And The University of Minnesota said it will require its students get the shot, as did Louisianas major public universities, including LSU, though state law there allows broad exemptions.

More than 200 million Pfizer doses have been administered in the U.S. under emergency provisions  and hundreds of millions more worldwide  since December. In going a step further and granting full approval, the Food and Drug Administration cited months of real-world evidence that serious side effects are extremely rare.

President Joe Biden said that for those who hesitated to get the vaccine until it received what he dubbed the gold standard of FDA approval, the moment youve been waiting for is here.

Please get vaccinated today, he said.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla called the FDAs action an important milestone that I think will unlock some of the more skeptical minds.

Pfizer said the U.S. is the first country to grant full approval of its vaccine, in a process that required a 360,000-page application and rigorous inspections. Never before has the FDA had so much evidence to judge a shots safety.

The formula, jointly developed with Germanys BioNTech, will be marketed under the brand name Comirnaty.

Moderna has also applied to the FDA for full approval of its vaccine. Johnson & Johnson, maker of the third option in the U.S., said it hopes to do so later this year.

Just over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Vaccinations in this country bottomed out in July at an average of about a half-million shots per day, down from a peak of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. As the delta variant fills hospital beds, shots are on the rise again, with a million a day given Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Full approval of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine means it meets the same very high standards required of all the approved vaccines we rely on every day, said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief. That should help anyone who still has concerns gain confidence in the shots.

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he would seek the presidents OK to make the vaccine mandatory by mid-September or once the FDA grants final approval, whichever comes first. On Monday, after the FDA acted, the Pentagon said guidance on vaccinations will be worked out and a timeline will be provided in the coming days.

Hours after the approval was announced, LANL said that Triad National Security, LLC, which operates the lab, would require all regular employees  including those who telework  and on-site contractors and subcontractors to be fully vaccinated. According to a news release, more than 85% of LANLs contractors and employees are already vaccinated against COVID-19.

The approval also opened the way for swift action by colleges to require vaccines and solidified the legal ground for hundreds of universities that have already issued mandates for students and staff.

The public university systems in Louisiana and Minnesota had been waiting for FDA action before making vaccinations mandatory. Louisiana has become a COVID-19 hot spot, repeatedly breaking records for the number of people hospitalized with the virus. But certain other states forbid universities to require shots, including Texas and Florida.

Mandating becomes much easier when you have full approval, said Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University. I think a lot of businesses have been waiting for it.

On the same day the FDA decision came down, New York City announced that all public school teachers and other staffers will have to get vaccinated.

The delta variant has sent cases, deaths and hospitalizations soaring in recent weeks in the U.S., erasing months of progress. Deaths are running at about 1,000 a day on average for the first time since mid-March, and new cases are averaging 147,000 a day, a level last seen at the end of January.

Elizabeth Nichols, 18, of Akron, Ohio, said she felt a rush of relief after hearing the news of the FDAs approval. She already was on her way to get her first vaccine shot Monday morning after months of hesitation.

I had an internal battle of whether I should get the shot or not, Nichols said in an email. It can be scary subjecting yourself to something that is unapproved. But she added: The authorization proves how safe it is.

The FDA, like regulators in Europe and much of the rest of the world, initially allowed emergency use of Pfizers vaccine based on a study that tracked 44,000 people 16 and older for at least two months  the time period when serious side effects typically arise.

Thats shorter than the six months of safety data normally required for full approval. So Pfizer kept that study going, and the FDA also examined real-world safety evidence.

Pfizers shot will continue to be dispensed to 12- to 15-year-olds under an emergency use authorization, until the company files its application for full approval.

Normally, doctors can prescribe FDA-approved products for other reasons than their original use. But FDAs acting Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock strongly warned that the Pfizer vaccine should not be used off-label for children under 12  a warning echoed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Both Pfizer and Moderna have vaccine studies underway in youngsters, and they are using lower doses than those available for people 12 and older.

Pfizers Bourla said he expects study results from 5- to 11-year-olds by the end of September, but data for those younger than 5 will take a couple of months.

Also, Woodcock said health providers are offering COVID-19 vaccines under agreements with the government that should preclude using Mondays approval as a pretext for offering booster shots to the general population.

Currently, the FDA has authorized third doses of either Pfizers or Modernas vaccine only for certain people with severely weakened immune systems, such as organ transplant recipients. For everyone else, the Biden administration is planning for boosters starting in the fall. But the FDA is evaluating that question separately.

In reaching Mondays decision, the FDA said serious side effects remain very rare, such as chest pain and heart inflammation a few days after the second dose, mostly in young men.

As for effectiveness, six months into Pfizers original study, the vaccine remained 97% protective against severe COVID-19. Protection against milder infection waned slightly, from a peak of 96% two months after the second dose to 84% by six months.

Those findings came before the delta variant began spreading, but other data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the vaccine is still doing a good job preventing severe disease.

Journal staff contributed to this report.
That man had followed her for 21 years, from New Jersey to New Mexico.

He was heavy, gangly, made of some sort of wood she could never identify. If she had to estimate, he was about 36, maybe 40 inches tall sitting down, cross-legged, a yoga pose perhaps, his shoulders stooped, a wry smile on his bespectacled face.

He had big ears. Whatever hair had been affixed to his smooth, round head was long gone.

Now, he was gone.

Debra DeFrancesco speculates that the sitting man sculpture, which had sat on the front doorstep of her tidy home in the Wells Park neighborhood since 2016, was taken some time on the night of Aug. 12. But she hadnt known it until that next morning  Friday the 13th, as it turns out.

My husband went outside that morning and said, Your mans gone,  she said.

Neighbors on NextDoor had recently started complaining about things going missing from front yards, she had learned. Flower pots. Plants. Packages. Some speculated that thieves were scavenging for things to sell at flea markets or pop-up roadside sales.

Still, she thought her sitting man was safe, given his weight and cumbersome size and, well, he was like a fixture. Nobody had ever bothered him before.

I never thought thieves would take him, he was so unwieldy, DeFrancesco said. Boy, was I wrong.

And, boy, did those thieves steal more than a statue.

He was a memento of DeFrancescos boy. Her son.

Vito Posich was young, but had an old soul, she said. He was worldly wise and thoughtful. He toured with a band out of Washington, D.C., as the drummer.

He was a good kid, she said.

He had a drug problem and had just gotten out of rehab in 2000 when he thought maybe just one more time wouldnt kill him.

But it did.

He was 24.

Her three sisters found the sitting man statue and thought it looked like Vito, who was tall and lanky, and gave it to DeFrancesco as a gift. Her sitting man sat near a pond at her home in New Jersey for nearly 16 years until she moved to Albuquerque, bringing him with her.

Now he is gone, just like her son.

DeFrancesco said she has looked about as best she could to see if she can spot it. She contacted a nearby pawn shop and folks from the big flea market in Albuquerque. Maybe he will show up there.

Or maybe whoever took the sitting man will stand up and return him now that he or she knows who that man is and that what they really stole was a piece of DeFrancescos heart.

UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Reach Joline at 730-2793, jkrueger@abqjournal.com, Facebook or @jolinegkg on Twitter.
WASHINGTON  The United States clashed with some of its closest allies over President Joe Bidens insistence on sticking to an Aug. 31 Afghanistan withdrawal date that will shut down a frantic international evacuation effort from Taliban rule.

Biden insisted after virtual talks with leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies Tuesday that the U.S. and its closest allies would stand shoulder to shoulder in future action over Afghanistan and the Taliban, despite disappointing them in their urgent pleas now to allow time for more airlifts.

The U.S. president was adamant that the risk of terror attacks was too great to accede to appeals from G-7 leaders to keep what are now 5,800 American troops at Kabuls airport beyond the end of the month, anchoring the airlifts.

Britain and other allies, many of whose troops followed American forces into Afghanistan nearly 20 years ago to deal with the plotters of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, had urged Biden to keep American forces at the Kabul airport longer. No country would be able to evacuate all their citizens and at-risk Afghan allies by the Aug. 31 deadline, allied officials had said.

We will go on right up until the last moment that we can, said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had openly lobbied to keep the airport presence after Aug. 31. Johnson acknowledged he was unable to sway Biden to extend the U.S. military presence in Tuesdays talks.

But youve heard what the president of the United States has had to say, youve heard what the Taliban have said, he said.

A senior French official, speaking anonymously in accordance with the French presidencys customary practices, said President Emmanuel Macron had pushed for extending the Aug. 31 deadline but would adapt to the American sovereign decision. Thats in the hands of the Americans, he said.

In a partial show of unity, G7 leaders agreed on conditions for recognizing and dealing with a future Taliban-led Afghan government, but there was palpable disappointment Biden could not be persuaded to extend the U.S. operation at the Kabul airport to ensure that tens of thousands of Americans, Europeans, other third-country nationals and all at-risk Afghans can be evacuated.

The meeting of the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.S. served not only as a bookend to the Wests 20-year involvement in Afghanistan that began as a response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks but also a resigned acknowledgment from European powers that the U.S. calls the shots.

Our immediate priority is to ensure the safe evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have partnered with us and assisted our efforts over the past twenty years, and to ensure continuing safe passage out of Afghanistan, the leaders said in a joint statement that did not address precisely how they would guarantee continuing safe passage without any military presence.

Going forward, the leaders said they would judge the Afghan parties by their actions, not words, echoing previous warnings to the Taliban not to revert to the strict Islamic form of government that they ran when they last held power from 1996 until the U.S.-led invasion that ousted them in 2001.

In particular, we reaffirm that the Taliban will be held accountable for their actions on preventing terrorism, on human rights in particular those of women, girls and minorities and on pursuing an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan, the leaders said. The legitimacy of any future government depends on the approach it now takes to uphold its international obligations and commitments to ensure a stable Afghanistan.

Yet, individual leaders offered less sanguine descriptions of the meeting as well as the state of affairs in Afghanistan, which have dramatically changed since the bloc last met in Britain in June. At the time of that summit, Afghanistan had been almost an afterthought with the leaders more concentrated on the coronavirus pandemic, China and Russia. Although Biden had announced his plan for complete withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Cornwall meeting did not anticipate Talibans rapid takeover.

I want to stress again that of course the United States of America has the leadership here, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters in Berlin after the meeting. Without the United States of America, for example, we  the others  cannot continue the evacuation mission.

On Monday, CIA chief William Burns met with Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul in talks in which the Taliban underscored they would not accept a U.S. military presence at the airport beyond Aug. 31.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday said his group would accept no extensions to the deadline.

The G-7 leaders were also joined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

___

AP writers Nomaan Merchant in Washington, Jonathan Lemire in Lowell, Mass., Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Ellen Knickmeyer in Oklahoma City and Frank Jordans in Berlin, contributed to this report.
HANOI  U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a sharp rebuke to China for its incursions in the South China Sea, warning its actions there amount to coercion and intimidation and affirming that the U.S. will support its allies in the region against Beijings advances.

We know that Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea, she said in a foreign policy speech Tuesday in Singapore in which she laid out the Biden administrations vision for the Indo-Pacific. Beijings actions continue to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations.

Harris, who is on a weeklong swing through Southeast Asia, declared that the U.S. stands with our allies and our partners in the face of threats from China. Her subsequent stop in Vietnam was delayed several hours due to an investigation into two possible incidents of the so-called Havana syndrome  a mysterious health ailment plaguing U.S. diplomats  in Hanoi.

The speech sought to cement the U.S. commitment to supporting its allies in an area of growing importance to the Biden administration, which has made countering Chinas influence globally a centerpiece of its foreign policy. And it came during a critical moment for the United States, as the Biden administration seeks to further solidify its pivot toward Asia while Americas decades-long focus on the Middle East comes to a messy end with the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Harris underscored this shift, calling the Indo-Pacific critically important to our nations security and prosperity. She said that while the U.S. is focused on closing out its Afghanistan engagement by evacuating as many people as possible, it is also imperative that as we address developments in one region, we continue to advance our interests in other regions, including this region.

Her rebuke to Beijing amounted to her sharpest comments yet on the U.S. foe. And China hit back, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin invoking Afghanistan in his response to a question about Harris comments, saying the messy withdrawal from Kabul showed the U.S. had lost credibility. He charged that the U.S. can smear, suppress, coerce, and bully other countries at will in order to maintain America first, without paying any price.

This is the order that the U.S. wants. The U.S. always tries to make use of the rules and order to justify its own selfish, bullying and hegemonic behavior, but who still believe it now? Wang said.

In her remarks, Harris was careful to emphasize that the U.S. is seeking greater engagement in the Indo-Pacific region not just to counter China, but to advance an optimistic vision that we have for our participation and partnership in the region. In deference to Singapores staunch neutrality in the U.S.-China dispute, Harris also affirmed that the U.S. isnt looking to make anyone choose between countries.

Speaking in a country that serves as the anchor of the U.S. naval presence in Southeast Asia, Harris emphasized the significance the region holds for U.S. defense. She also emphasized the significant U.S. economic ties there, noting that Southeast Asia represents Americas fourth largest export market.

After the speech Tuesday, Harris held a roundtable discussion with business leaders on supply chain issues. And after a delay of several hours that her staff refused to explain, Harris departed for Vietnam, the trips second and final stop. She meets with top Vietnamese officials on Wednesday.

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi issued a statement saying the delay was because Harris office learned about a report of a recent possible anomalous health incident in the Vietnamese capital. The embassy provided no details, but said Harris office decided to travel to Hanoi after careful assessment.

The cause of the delay was two reported, separate cases of the so-called Havana Syndrome, according to an administration official not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation. The people potentially afflicted were not immediately identified.

The U.S. government uses anomalous health incident to describe the syndrome, a rash of mysterious health incidents first reported by American diplomats and other government employees in Havana, Cuba, beginning in 2016. Some of those impacted report hearing a loud piercing sound and feeling intense pressure in the face. Pain, nausea, and dizziness sometimes followed.

Similar, unexplained health ailments have since b een reported by Americans serving in other countries. Administration officials have speculated that Russia may be involved, a suggestion Moscow has denied.

President Joe Biden himself has repeatedly emphasized his focus on China as one of Americas main adversaries. In recent months, his administration has ramped up outreach to the Indo-Pacific region, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman both visiting the area in the spring and summer. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also held a number of virtual meetings with Southeast Asian officials earlier this month.

The chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, however, complicated that message of support to the region, raising questions about the U.S. commitment to its allies. While Biden said last week that an indefinite engagement would have benefited true strategic competitors China and Russia, China has seized on the images of violence from the evacuation to slam the U.S. for its engagement there.

___

Additional reporting contributed by Associated Press writers Jonathan Lemire in Lowell, Mass. and Matthew Lee and Darlene Superville in Washington.
Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, one of the greatest in rock history, died Tuesday at the age of 80.

It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts, a statement from the band said. He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family  We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members and close friends is respected at this difficult time.

His death comes as the Stones are about to embark on a stadium tour that will begin on Sept. 26 in St. Louis.

It was announced in early August that Watts would miss the tour dates to recover from an unspecified medical procedure. The drummer was previously treated for throat cancer in 2004.

For once my timing has been a little off. I am working hard to get fully fit but I have today accepted on the advice of the experts that this will take a while, he said in a statement at that time.

His understudy Steve Jordan, who has played with Keith Richards for years, will back the Stones on the tour.

Watts, who got his first drum kit in 1955, had an early interest in jazz and R&B. He joined Richards, Mick Jagger and Brian Jones in the Stones in January 1963, and became the epitome of precision and drive in rock n roll.

In addition to being one of three members (with Jagger and Richards) to perform on every Stones album, he also designed the bands album packages.

Richards once said, Everybody thinks Mick and Keith are the Rolling Stones. If Charlie wasnt doing what hes doing on drums, that wouldnt be true at all. Youd find out Charlie Watts IS the Stones.

His death prompted numerous tributes from fellow musicians on social media:

Ringo Starr posted, God bless Charlie Watts were going to miss you man peace and love to the family.

A very sad day, declared Elton John. Charlie Watts was the ultimate drummer. The most stylish of men, and such brilliant company. My deepest condolences to Shirley, Seraphina and Charlotte. And of course, The Rolling Stones.

From Robbie Robertson of The Band: Charlies drumming is powerful and unique. His approach is entirely his own and helped shape the sound of rock and roll. Blessings Charlie Watts.

Hugo Burnham, drummer of British post-punk band Gang of Four, took to Facebook, saying, [EXPLETIVE]. I bloody knew this was coming. He Was My Darling. My inspiration. He added, The epitome of self-effacing charm when I met him. Just gutted.

Paul Stanley of Kiss tweeted, AWFUL NEWS. One of the true timeless icons and the backbone of the Stones. Hard to fathom the loss. So very sad.

Charlie Watts was the most elegant and dignified drummer in rock and roll, tweeted Joan Jett. He played exactly what was needed  no more  no less. He is one of a kind.

Brian Wilson, of the Beach Boys, tweeted, Im just shocked to hear about Charlie Watts. I dont know what to say, I feel terrible for Charlies family. Charlie was a great drummer and I loved the Stones music, they made great records. Love & Mercy.



2021 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
From Walt Disney World to Goldman Sachs, a flurry of private and public employers are requiring workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 after the federal government gave full approval to the Pfizer shot. And the number is certain to grow much higher.

For the past eight months, coronavirus shots were dispensed in the U.S. under emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Some workers and unions objected to getting the vaccine  and some employers were reluctant to require it  because it had yet to receive FDA full approval. That happened on Monday.

The FDA decision takes that off the table, said Devjani Mishra, a New York-based attorney with the firm Littler Mendelson, which specializes in workplace matters. She and others in the worlds of business, law and health predicted more companies will mandate vaccines for their workforces.

Shortly after the FDA acted, Walt Disney World reached a deal with its unions to require all workers at its theme park in Orlando, Florida, to be vaccinated.

Goldman Sachs told employees Tuesday that it will require anyone who enters the banks U.S. offices to be fully vaccinated starting Sept. 7, according to a memo obtained by The New York Times.

Drugstore chain CVS said pharmacists, nurses and other workers who have contact with patients will have to be inoculated. Oil giant Chevron Corp. said it will require some of its workers  such as those who travel internationally, live abroad or work on its offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico  to get their COVID-19 shots.

We pushed go when the FDA made that decision, said Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, president of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, which announced on Monday that its 800 faculty members, 1,500 staff members and 18,000 students will have to be vaccinated. Before that, only students living on campus had to get the shot.

She said the university could have legally mandated vaccines before the FDA decision but waited for it because Pescovitz, who is a pediatrician, believes the authorization will help persuade those still on the fence.

Ohio State University, too, announced Tuesday that it would require all students, faculty and staff to complete the full vaccination process by Nov. 15. Ohio State is among the countrys largest universities and is a major employer in Columbus, Ohio.

On Monday, health experts expressed hope that the FDAs action would boost the U.S. vaccination rate, which bottomed out at about a half-million shots a day in July  down from a peak of 3.4 million a day on average in April.

The number of shots dispensed has since climbed to about 850,000 a day amid growing alarm over the highly contagious delta variant, which has sent deaths, cases and hospitalizations soaring, wiping out months of progress.

Littler Mendelson released a survey Monday showing that 9% of employers are already mandating vaccines for at least some of their workers, and an additional 12% are planning to impose some sort of mandate in the near future. In January, just 1% of firms Littler Mendelson surveyed had issued vaccine requirements.

There is a risk for employers at a time when many are struggling to fill openings and workers are confident of finding better jobs: Faced with a vaccine requirement, an employee might say, OK, fine. Im leaving,' Mishra said. Its not a given youre going to be able to fill that job with someone who is vaccinated.

But Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, said he doesnt foresee a large backlash.

People will see that mandates can open their businesses and save their paychecks. They will see the effects and they will welcome it, he said.

Earlier this summer, President Joe Biden announced that federal workers will have to get vaccinated or else face weekly testing and other measures.

The nations two largest private employers dont seem to be budging. Walmart said Tuesday there is no change to its policy, which requires vaccinations for office workers but not store employees. And Amazon, which doesnt mandate vaccines for any of its employees, declined to comment.

As for the auto industry, Ford Motor Co. said it is not requiring the vaccine, and General Motors has said it isnt either, though CEO Mary Barra has held open the possibility.

The career-advice website Ladders Inc. released a study last week showing a more than 50-fold increase since January in job openings that require applicants to be vaccinated.

Ladders spokeswoman Laurie Monteforte predicted vaccine requirements will only rise after the FDA decision. Many employers, she said, have exhausted vaccine incentives such as bonuses or other perks.

Employers that require vaccines are on solid legal ground. Private companies and government employers can generally require workers to be inoculated as a condition of working there, though they must offer exemptions or accommodations in some cases.

___

Associated Press writers Carla K. Johnson, Anne DInnocenzio, Tom Krisher and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed to this story.
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Wayne Spears, who had worked on the country music star's ranch for decades, passed away after 'being swept up in the flood waters' that ripped through the state.

Aug 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Country music star Loretta Lynn is mourning the death of the foreman who worked on her Tennessee ranch for decades.

Social media managers for Loretta Lynn's Ranch shared the sad news to Facebook on Sunday, August 22, along with a series of pictures and a special tribute to Wayne Spears, who died in the serious floods which have ripped through the state.

"With the heaviest of hearts, we are saddened to report that our beloved foreman Wayne Spears did not survive being swept up in the flood waters," the post reads. "Wayne has been a family friend to the Lynns and a fixture to the Ranch for decades and we are all devastated by his passing."

Spears was remembered for his "ready smile, kind heart and willingness to go the extra mile for everyone around him."

"Eventually we'll rebuild our community, our ranch, our lives and our homes, but only God could build a man like Wayne Spears. There's just no replacing that," the statement continues. "The Ranch will never be the same without him."

Lynn also posted a tribute to Spears on her personal Facebook page. "There are no words at the ranch today...only tears," she wrote. "Our ranch family is our family. We lost my amazing ranch foreman, Wayne in this devastating flood. He took such good care of things here on the ranch for us. He's one of us and the whole Lynn family Is heartbroken. Please pray for his precious family and friends."

The Ranch is located in Humphreys County, one of the areas hardest hit by the rising waters, where a torrential storm dumped more than 17 inches [43 centimeters] of rain water in 24 hours. At least 22 people, including Spears, were killed. Dozens more are missing.

A Facebook post on Lynn's granddaughter Tayla Lynn's account shared the news that the Lynn family is safe.
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Essex Police confirms that a 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after police responded to a call over an incident that occurred at a property in Essex, England.

Aug 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Katie Price was taken to hospital in the early hours of Monday, August 23 morning with an eye injury following a "serious" altercation.



According to editors at Mail Online, police were called after the incident occurred at a property in Essex, England. They called for paramedics.

Essex Police confirmed to the publication that a man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently being held in custody.

In a statement obtained by the website, Essex police said, "We were called by colleagues in the ambulance service to reports of an assault in Little Canfield, shortly after 1.30 A.M. this morning, Monday, 23 August."

"We arrived and found a woman had sustained a facial injury which required hospital treatment. A 32-year-old man was arrested a short time later on suspicion of assault. He remains in custody."

In a further statement, Essex police added, "Our investigations are continuing at the scene today."

A source close to the "I'm A Celebrity" star told Mail Online, "Katie is ok, but it's quite a serious altercation that's happened. She is currently working with the police."

The former glamour model last posted on social media on Sunday sharing an image taken by her fiance Carl Woods, 32, that showed the pair posing with her youngest children Jett, eight, and Bunny, seven.

Katie also revealed the family was spending the weekend in Carl's home.

"Excuse the mess we are doing Carl's house up but how cute does bunny look with buddy," she captioned a picture of Bunny cradling their pet dog.
Instagram/WENN Celebrity

While the Canadian star seems to be unbothered by Ye revealing his personal information, Young Money meddles in the two rappers' feud as it uses a clip of Drizzy's response in an Instagram post.

Aug 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Drake has had the last laugh after Kanye West's latest jab amid their recently-reignited feud. The Atlanta rapper pulled a petty move as he leaked the Canadian superstar's home address on social media on Sunday, August 22, but Drizzy didn't seem to be bothered at all.

In the wee hours of the morning, the "Hotline Bling" hitmaker seemingly responded to Kanye leaking his home address with a video posted on his Instagram Story. In the clip, the "Degrassi: The Next Generation" alum chuckled to himself as he was riding in a car with the top down at night.

Earlier in the night, Drake even posted a video of Toronto's CN Tower and Rogers Centre Stadium, suggesting that he is currently in his hometown.

Meanwhile, Young Money has meddled in the two rappers' feud. Showing which side it's on, the label used a clip of Drake's response in an Instagram post of its official account and captioned it with "Monday mood [crying laughing emoji]."

It added a snippet of Drake's addition to "Seeing Green", Nicki Minaj's song feat. Lil Wayne that was released along with the updated version of the Harajuku Barbie's 2009 mixtape "Beam Me Up Scotty". "Y'all some drama queens, for real/ It's all good, though/ You now tuned in to the biggest ever," Drizzy spits at the beginning of his verse.

The beef between Drake and Kanye has heated up after the former throws shade at the "Donda" artist on Trippie Redd's new song "Betrayal". "All these fools I'm beefin' that I barely know/ Forty-five, forty-four (Burned out), let it go/ Ye ain't changin' s**t for me, it's set in stone," reads Drizzy's verse which appears to be directed at Ye.

Ye then seemingly hit back at Drizzy by posting a screenshot of a group chat of eight people where he added Pusha T. In the chat box, the estranged husband of Kim Kardashian could be seen sending an image of Joaquin Phoenix as Joker. Alongside the snap, he wrote, "I live for this. I've been f**ked with by nerd a** jock n***as like you my whole life. You will never recover. I promise you."

Later, he shared an image of Drake's home address in Toronto before quickly deleting it.
Movie

Confirming the multiverse storyline, the official sneak-peek video sees Doctor Strange against wise advice to help Peter Parker and Doctor Octopus returning.

Aug 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - The first teaser trailer for "Spider-Man: No Way Home" is finally here for fans' viewing pleasure. After unfinished footage of the film leaked online, the long-awaited sneak-peek video was officially released on Monday, August 23.

Picking up where "Spider-Man: Far From Home" left off, the trailer sees Peter Parker (Tom Holland) dealing with the aftermath of the big reveal. After Mysterio revealed his identity, he seeks Doctor Strange's (Benedict Cumberbatch) help to get his old life back.

Against Wong's (Benedict Wong) advice, Strange casts a spell that undoes what Mysterio did. "We tampered with the stability of space-time," Strange warns Peter. "The multiverse is a concept about which we know frighteningly little." He is also seen scolding the teen for trying to live "different lives," which becomes more and more dangerous.

As Peter's actions open the multiverse, they also unleash old Spider-Man foes. The trailer ends with Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus greeting Peter, while Jamie Foxx's Electro and Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin have been rumored to appear in the movie as well.

According to the official description of the movie, "For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a Super Hero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man."

In "Spider-Man: No Way Home", Zendaya Coleman returns as Peter's love interest MJ, Jacob Batalon reprises his role as Peter's best friend Ned, and Marisa Tomei still portrays aunt May. Jon Watts, who helmed the previous two installments, is back at the helm, with the script written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. The movie is slated for a December 17 release in the United States.
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The one-half of The Everly Brothers has passed away at his home in Nashville, leaving behind wife Adela, mother Margaret, four children and six grandchildren.

Aug 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Jerry Lee Lewis and Sir Ringo Starr have led tributes to the late Don Everly. The Everly Brothers legend - who released 21 studio albums with his late brother Phil - died at his home in Nashville on Saturday, August 21.

A message on the Everly Brothers' Instagram page stated, "It is with great sadness that we regret to announce the passing of Isaac Donald Everly today. He leaves behind his wife Adela, mother Margaret, children Venetia, Stacy, Erin & Edan, grandchildren Arabella, Easan, Stirling, Eres, Lily & Esper RIP Don 2/1/37-8/21/21 #doneverly #everlybrothers [sic]."

And tributes continue to flood in for the late rock and roll star. Jerry, 85, a pioneer of rockabilly, said, "The Everly Brothers are integral to the fabric of American music. With my friend Don's passing, I am reflective ... reflective on a life full of wonderful friends, spectacular music and fond memories."

"There's a lot I can say about Don, what he and Phil meant to me both as people and as musicians, but I am going to reflect today."

The Beatles sticksman, Ringo, 81, tweeted, "God bless Don and Phil the Everly brothers we loved them peace and love."

Phil died of pulmonary disease at the age of 74 in 2014.

Elsewhere, Nancy Sinatra, 81, admitted performing with the "Wake Up Little Susie" group was "one of the great gifts" of her career.

She said, "We have now lost Don Everly. Touring with Phillip and Donald was literally thrilling. To have the privilege of singing with their breathtaking iconic voices was one of the great gifts of my career. Godspeed, Donald. I love you."

A family spokesperson had told The Los Angeles Times newspaper, "Don lived by what he felt in his heart. Don expressed his appreciation for the ability to live his dreams ... with his soulmate and wife, Adela, and sharing the music that made him an Everly Brother."

Don and his brother Phil released their debut album in 1957 before signing with Warner Bros. Records in 1960. They are best known for hits including "Bye Bye Love", "All I Have to Do is Dream" and "Problems".

The Everly Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 alongside Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry. And Don was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2019.
WENN Celebrity

'The Way Life Goes' rapper calls out the 'Gold Digger' hitmaker in his social media post after the latter sent the internet into a frenzy with an image of Drake's Toronto address.

Aug 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Kanye West currently becomes the most talked-about artist, with fans debating the delayed release of his "Donda" album as well as his reignited feud with Drake. Also joining the discourse was rapper Lil Uzi Vert as he dubbed the "Gold Digger" hitmaker "fake pastor."

"Kanye a fake pastor [crying laughing emoji]," he wrote in a Twitter post he shared on Monday, August 23. His tweet was deleted immediately, but not before other users caught wind of it and shared the screenshot.

While fans weren't sure where the 26-year-old rapper's statement came from, they still joked around with him. When a fan responded, "And you a real devil worshipper," the musician kept the conversation going and replied, "You get it my boy."

Shortly after, another user told Uzi he was "mad" he got "left off" West's upcoming album. In response, "The Way Life Goes" rapper, born Symere Bysil Woods, implied that he didn't want the tweets to take away from his chances to get a "head bag mask thing." He penned, "Chill bro before he don't send my head bag mask thing."

The Shade Room also reported Uzi's since-deleted tweet via Instagram. In the comment section, Lil Mama shared his thoughts as saying, "Nahhh Uzi Grow up Bro." Meanwhile, Lil Duval had another take as he commented, "I know that's right."

Uzi's Twitter post came amid West and Drake's reignited drama. Recently, the feud has heated up after the latter threw shade at the "Donda" artist on Trippie Redd's new song "Betrayal". "All these fools I'm beefin' that I barely know/ Forty-five, forty-four (Burned out), let it go/ Ye ain't changin' s**t for me, it's set in stone," reads Drizzy's verse which appears to be directed at the estranged husband of Kim Kardashian.

West himself then seemingly hit back at Drake by posting a screenshot of a group chat of eight people where he added Pusha T. In the chat room, the "N***as in Paris" hitmaker could be seen sending an image of Joaquin Phoenix as Joker. Alongside the snap, he wrote, "I live for this. I've been f**ked with by nerd a** jock n***as like you my whole life. You will never recover. I promise you."

On Sunday, August 22, West went on to unveil Drake's Toronto home address on his Instagram page. Though the "Wash Us in the Blood" spitter quickly deleted the image, many of his followers took a screengrab of his post.

After West shared his address, Drake didn't seem to be bothered at all as he laughed out loud in a video he posted on his Instagram Story. In the clip, the "Degrassi: The Next Generation" alum giggled to himself while he was riding in a car with the top down at night.
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In a new social media post, the 'You're Mines Still' rapper explains that he was just trying to buy a new trailer when owners of the shop suspected him of committing fraud.

Aug 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Yung Bleu has finally gotten his freedom back. The "Baddest" rapper, who was arrested for a suspended license after he accused police officers of racial profiling, informed his online devotees that he's now "back free" as he's released on bond.

The 27-year-old MC, real name Jeremy Biddle, shared an update to fans via Twitter on Monday, August 23. "I'm iight, back free! F**k em ! thank y'all," the Alabama artist declared.

Yung was taken into police custody after he went to Absolute Trailers in Georgia. He told The Shade Room that he didn't even make it inside the store. The "Miss It" spitter then claimed that he was outside of the building for about 10 minutes before a police officer arrived at the location.

The officer was reportedly summoned by the shop owners who said they "suspected fraud," citing an incident last week involving someone else. Although Yung and his pal were eventually allowed to leave the scene, another officer pulled him over because his license plate was obstructed.

"I can't stop you illegally, you know that," Officer Forrester told Yung while she kept asking for his license. He then ended up being cited for an April party and arrested for a suspended license.

Yung himself shared videos of his confrontation with police on Instagram. Alongside the post, he argued, "THESE GAINESVILLE, Ga POLICE OFFICERS are racially profiling us ! They approached me and my team for absolutely nothing trying to buy a trailer for my tour at (Absolute Trailers) the owner was a old white guy who called the police talking about they suspect fraud ! I was just trying to buy a trailer !"

"The first officers walk up with hands on guns . damn near drawn on us saying 'What y'all doing here' ...We have a brief back n forth and then As I leave the cop is sitting in the middle of the highway waiting on us," he continued. "They trap and get get behind me ! say my tag is obstructed but she clearly had her lights on way before she saw the back of my car !"

"5 cars have pulled up on us since then ! Saying we do fraud and all type of lies ! I HAVE MORE VIDEO BUT I will use only as evidence," Yung concluded his lengthy message, before stressing, "We did nothing wrong !"
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The disgraced ex-Governor of New York has been stripped of his Emmy honor after the politician resigned from public office following allegations of sexual harassment.

Aug 25, 2021

AceShowbiz - Andrew Cuomo, the disgraced ex-Governor of New York, has been stripped of his honorary Emmy award.

Officials at the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences have taken back the trophy they awarded Cuomo in 2020.

In a statement released on Tuesday (24Aug21), representatives for the organisation wrote, "In light of the New York Attorney General's report, and Andrew Cuomo's subsequent resignation as Governor, it is rescinding his special 2020 International Emmy Award. His name and any reference to his receiving the award will be eliminated from International Academy materials going forward."

The outgoing politician had been given the honour "for effective communication and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic."

"The Governor's 111 daily briefings worked so well because he effectively created television shows, with characters, plot lines, and stories of success and failure," Bruce L. Paisner, the Academy's president and CEO, said at the time. "People around the world tuned in to find out what was going on, and 'New York tough' became a symbol of the determination to fight back."

On 3 August (21), an investigation led by New York state Attorney General Letitia James determined Cuomo had sexually harassed multiple female employees and created "a hostile work environment for women."

The politician, who had served as New York's governor since 2010, announced his resignation on 10 August (21). New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul took office early on Tuesday and will now serve out the rest of Cuomo's term.
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A number of musicians have paid tribute to the Rolling Stones drummer after he passed away at the age of 80 in a hospital while recovering from an unspecified illness.

Aug 25, 2021

AceShowbiz - Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are leading tributes to The Rolling Stones star Charlie Watts following his death on Tuesday morning (24Aug21).

The Beatles bandmates took to social media to share their thoughts about Watts, with Starr revealing he was going to miss his fellow drummer.

"#God bless Charlie Watts we're going to miss you man peace and love to the family (sic)," Ringo wrote, while McCartney offered up a video tribute after hearing the sad news.

"So sad to hear about Charlie Watts, the Stones' drummer, dying," he said. "He was a lovely guy. I knew he was ill but I didn't know he was this ill."

"Lots of love to his family... and condolences to the Stones. This'll be a huge blow to them, because Charlie was such a rock, a fantastic drummer... Love you Charlie..., beautiful man."

Meanwhile, Elton John called Watts "the ultimate drummer" in a statement, adding he was also "the most stylish of men, and such brilliant company."

The rocker, who joined the Stones in 1963, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, at a London hospital.

Watts was 80.

Nile Rodgers also paid tribute to the late star, calling him a "smooth brother" and thanking him for "all the great music."

There have also been nods to the great rocker and jazz man from The Who, Lenny Kravitz, Brian Wilson, Joan Jett, John Fogerty, David Coverdale, Tom Morello, Perry Farrell, and Duran Duran, while The Kinks star Dave Davies tweeted, "I knew him a bit I used to meet him on the train when I used to go to Devon years and years ago. he was a great drummer and a great guy a one off sorry Charlie (sic)."

And Kiss frontman Paul Stanley added, "AWFUL NEWS. One of the timeless icons and the backbone of the Stones. Hard to fathom the loss. So very sad."
YUBA COUNTY, Calif. - Yuba County detectives have arrested two suspects in connection to a shooting incident at Johnson Park in Olivehurst, according to the Yuba County Sheriffs Office.

The Sheriffs Office said on Thursday, 19-year-old Brayden Martinez of Lina, Calif. Was arrested and booked into the Yuba County Jail for accessory, murder and felony drug sales.

On Friday, 21-year-old Asael Prado Villalobos of Olivehurst was booked into the Yuba County Jail for murder, the Sheriffs Office.

The victim was identified as Ondrai White, 25, of Sacramento.

The homicide happened on Aug. 16 around 10:15 p.m. on Copper Leaf Ct. at Johnson Park.

White was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.
REDDING, Calif. - On Monday, United Way of Northern California (UWNC) announced it was receiving a grant of $250,000 from the Ben B. Cheney Foundation to support its wildfire recovery and relief work.

The primary use of the funds will be to help in the recovery of Greenville and surrounding areas that were devastated by the Dixie Fire, according to UWNC.

This generous gift truly shows the heart and commitment of this foundation, President & CEO of United Way of Northern California Larry Olmstead said.We appreciate the confidence and trust it demonstrates in United Ways ability to carry out our mission of providing hope and recovery to the survivors of this destructive wildfire season.

The Cheney Foundation has a legacy of giving in the region. Cheney Lumber Co. used to operate in Greenville and maintains former mill property in Westwood, another California community threatened by the fire.

Our primary focus at the Cheney Foundation is to support the communities that supported the Cheney Lumber Company, Executive Director of the Ben B. Cheney Foundation Brad Cheney said. We are heartbroken to see the loss in Greenville, which was for decades the site of Cheney Lumbers most productive mill. While this grant wont solve every need, our aim is to bring some hope to those affected by the fire.

UWNC has launched a $2 million campaign to provide wildfire relief and recovery to rural communities throughout the North State.

The region is enduring wildfires that have all but leveled the towns of Greenville in Plumas County and Doyle in Lassen County, UWNC said.

Over 500 residential structures in the region have been destroyed.

Money donated to UWNC for wildfire relief is used to provide emergency financial assistance for evacuees and survivors, pay expenses related to intermediate and long-term housing, provide grants to partner non-profits that are working on relief and recovery, support information and referral services through the 2-1-1 NorCal helpline, and pay for operational expenses related specifically to relief and recovery, UWNC said.

Over the past three years, UWNC has distributed more than $10.7 million in wildfire relief. Nearly $8.5 million of that amount has helped survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire which destroyed 14,000 structures and the community of Paradise.

Another $1.7 million assisted survivors of the 2018 Carr Fire, which destroyed 1,200 homes in Redding and other Shasta County communities.

We are still providing about $100,000 per month in housing assistance to Camp Fire survivors and will continue to do so for probably a couple more years, Olmstead said. We are also continuing to support the recovery of 2020 wildfires, including the North Complex Fire in Butte and Plumas counties, and the Slater Fire in Siskiyou County. Our resources, and the resources of our partner agencies, are getting stretched thin. There is an urgent need for more funding.
CHICO, Calif. - A data breach at Chico State University exposed the personal information of students who requested COVID-19 vaccination religious exemptions.

According to the Associated Press, the information was posted on an anonymous internet message board and leaked records for about 130 students.

In the report, a commenter on the message board linked a spreadsheet detailing explanations from students who requested to be exempt from getting the vaccine to attend school.

Several student names and phone numbers were also posted on the spreadsheet.

Some students didnt feel like this was a big problem, while others said they were concerned.

Its not that big of a deal in my opinion, Chico State student Brandon Weaver said. I know its a HIPAA violation to get your personal medical information leaked. I wouldnt care if someone knew I was vaccinated or not. Thats my take on it.

RELATED: Chico State data breach leaks names of students requesting exemptions from vaccine

Its weird to know that my information could also be out there, Ava Paredes, another student, shared. I feel like if other people have personal things on the information that they gave would be scary.

The Associated Press said the spreadsheet shows about half of the requests in the document were approved.

The CSU vaccination requirement allows for medical and religious exemptions.

The school system requires its 56,000 faculty and staff and roughly 500,000 student body to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Andrew Staples, the Public Relations Manager for Chico State, provided a statement to Action News Now. The statement is below:

Students medical and religious exemption requests are protected information. We are aware of the documents posted online and circulated among the media. We are investigating this incident, while also taking a number of proactive steps to protect students confidential information.
GREENVILLE, Calif. - People in Greenville are seeing the damage left behind for the first time since the Dixie Fire flames destroyed most of the town.

Action News Now spoke to one man who returned home today to find his house still standing.

Lloyd Cash's house is one of few in his neighborhood that survived the Dixie Fire. But he says even though his house is still standing, his heart breaks for his neighbors who lost everything.

It's surreal, the pictures don't do it justice, Cash said.

Lloyd Cash was speechless as he saw the Dixie Fire damage around his town for the first time and found that most of his neighbors' homes had burned to the ground.

"I just don't understand how it got so close and all that's gone and our house is still here," Cash said.

RELATED: Cheney Foundation donates $250,000 to Dixie Fire fund

Cash is glad his friends and family made it out safely.

I'm glad that we were one of the fortunate few that still have our house and possessions, my family and animals are safe, my neighbors are safe. That's the most important thing," Cash said.

Cash shared words of encouragement and support for his neighbors who lost their homes.

We are all gonna stick together and help each other and that we are all gonna rebuild and Greenville will be back, Cash said.

The state will be going in and checking for hazardous materials Tuesday.

Cash doesn't know when he'll be able to return home for now he's staying with his mother in Quincy.

The Plumas County Sheriff's Office said Phase One of the clean-up in Greenville will last about two to three weeks.

After that people will be contacted to begin Phase Two where the state will allow people to begin sifting through their properties.
TEHAMA COUNTY, Calif. - The Tehama County Sheriffs Office has reduced some evacuation orders and warnings in the area of the Dixie Fire.

The orders reduced include zones B16, C16 and D16 are now in evacuation warnings. This includes the community of Mineral, north of Highway 36 to the Shasta County line and the area of Yellowjack.

Mill Creek, Child Meadows and Fire Mountian Lodge are still in an evacuation order.

The warnings were lifted for zones B15, C15 and D15. This includes the area west of Mineral and north of Highway 36 to the Shasta County line and south of Highway 36 to Yellowjack and east to the area just west of Skyranch.

Highway 36 is closed just east of Mineral to the intersection of Highway 32 and Highway 36. Highway 147 is closed.

Power is off in the areas of Mineral and east as the fire continues to burn.

Residents should continue to monitor the fires activity.
JUNCTION CITY, Calif. - Junction City has been reduced from an evacuation order to an evacuation warning in the area of the Monument Fire, according to the Trinity County Sheriffs Office.

Highway 299 west of Oregon Summit to Cemetery Rd. is included in part of the downgrade.

This includes the following areas:

Eagle Rock Quarry

Slattery Pond

Sky Ranch Rd.

Red Hill Rd.

Canyon Creek Rd. north to Ripstein Campground

Upper Rd.

Power House Rd.

Valdor Rd.

Lake Rd.

The eastern section of Hocker Meadow Road and all of Coopers Bar Estates.

There is a road closure on Highway 299 at Sky Ranch Rd. but people who live in the area and medical personnel will be allowed access.

East Fork and Helena Rd. remain closed.

The area of Dutch Creek Rd., Evans Bar and Soldier Creek will remain closed.

The fire is still active and people returning home should be cautious of any changes.

The Monument Fire is 20% contained and has burned 150,011 acres.
Hero Electric, Indias largest EV Two-wheeler maker today introduced Hero Care, a flexible benefits policy for its employees that takes care of their and their familys hopes, dreams, and aspirations in different stages of life. The Hero Care program will cover every employee who has completed a minimum of 2 years in the company.

The last couple of years have been extremely challenging for the entire world. In times like these, organisations like Hero have continued to emphasize the importance of not only well-being but also the happiness of each of their employees. Coming from the belief that  In nature, nothing exists alone, the Hero Care program thus empowers each one of them to recognise their true potential by providing them support in all means at every stage of their career. The company recognises the diverse and multi-talented employee pool and hence have discovered various approaches to entitle them to stay committed to the companys mission.

Speaking about this initiative, Mr. Naveen Munjal, MD, Hero Electric said, At Hero Electric, the health, safety and growth of our performance driven team matters to us, which is why there is an absolute emphasis on ensuring the growth of an employee entirely on their contribution to the companys mission. The Hero Care program is thus a family away from home that cares for every step in our lives as we aim to create an environment that makes the work possible with respect and the traditional care for the team. Some of our initiatives that are part of this program are absolute industry firsts that not only encompass the employee but also put their family at the forefront of their careers. Hero is extremely excited to be launching this at a time when our employees have worked hard over the last two years to bring us to where we are today.

Mr. Sohinder Gill, CEO, Hero Electric said, Today, we have over 300+ employees who have worked with us through this journey to bring it to the position we are at today. Our employees are our family and when we looked the best practices globally, we decided we had to come up with some of our own that set benchmarks for the industry, just like we did for the EVs. We truly understand the needs and wants of people through different life stages and we want to give them exactly what motivates them to be aligned with the company's goals. Hero Care is therefore not just a program, but a plan to help each one of our family members thrive and succeed in an environment that respects each one of them.

Adding to it, Mr. Manu Sharma, Associate Vice President  HR, Hero Electric said, Hero has always linked the desired results with utmost level of quality and customer satisfaction. We strongly believe that employees can only be aligned to the companys goals when they are happy. Giving each one of them an opportunity to shine through merit is the hallmark of our organisation. When we analysed the factors that made a difference, we realised that smaller initiatives like encouraging employees to take up short-term learning courses or encouraging them to take up speaking opportunities made a huge difference in their productivity. We thus set out to create a workplace that truly cares about its employees and launched this program.

The Hero Care program will apply to employees across their different stages in life.

Some details of the program are below:

For Young employees: The company believes in giving wings to those who deserve it. Hence, under Hero Care, employees between the age groups of 20-25 years will be entitled to education loans and scholarships to pursue higher education based on performance. They will also be offered Flexi timings during exams and short term company sponsored courses.

For Newly Wed employees: While stepping into their next phase of life, Hero Care will provide opportunities to spouses of employees getting full time/ part-time employment in the company and on priority vehicle loans apart from existing benefits of Flexi hours for 3 months and additional leaves

For new parents: To ensure parenting is a joyful journey, the program will offer new parents, paternity leaves of 15 days and maternity benefits as per govt guidelines, Flexi hours for up to 6 months , WFH for up to 10 days in the first 3 months

For employees with children in primary education: Hero Care will further provide low interest loans for school admissions, organise get togethers for children of the same age group, family holiday vouchers to ensure they get to spend time with family and experience a new city every year.

For employees with children in higher education: The program will not only provide scholarships and loans for meritorious children to pursue a course of their choice, Hero Care will also give offer paid internships and support them in skill enhancement and job search so they are placed in the best institutions

Employees in their Mid-life: The company under Hero cares will offer long term Home loans at fixed interest to give wings to their dreams, offer speaking opportunities, allow for leave accumulation and organise hobby classes to keep their minds off work and learn a new skill because it is never too late to learn something new.

Employees in their Fifties: will get benefits of flexi timings, life insurance, have the flexibility to take sabbaticals using their accumulated leaves and also focus on bettering their lifestyles with Annual health check-ups

Post retirement: Hero Care will help employees who retire at Hero Electric to kick start their second innings by getting them inducted into a prestigious Ex-Hero Club to avail benefits of Annual Heath check-ups for upto 5 years. Such employees will also get opportunities to consult and mentor at other organisations through Hero. Hero will also offer job opportunities to their offspring based on merit.

Hero Care is truly a comprehensive offering for the employees through their career cycle at the firm that ensures it stands with each one in every phase of their life.
Myntra has on-boarded Urbanic, a London-based digital fashion brand and the ultimate one-stop-shop for edgy, chic yet economical fashion, marking the latters first-ever partnership with an e-commerce platform. The brand is an emerging favorite among fashion-first Gen-Z shoppers and beyond in India, for womens western wear, while also being popular in several countries, with its trendy and stylish offerings across categories.

Urbanic will offer a differentiated collection of over 2500 styles to shoppers on Myntra, targeted at the young fashion-conscious consumers looking for trendy, affordable, far-from-basic styles across categories, including apparel, loungewear and accessories. The selection includes tops, denims, winter wear, lingerie, swimwear and accessories, and will be available on Myntra from September 1.

The association between Urbanic and Myntra gives an edge to one of the world's biggest bases of Gen-Z fashion shoppers as it creates wider accessibility, especially with Myntra being the preferred launchpad and platform for fashion brands in engaging with digitally native audiences across the country. Gen-Z is one of the primary consumer segments that Myntra focuses on considering their wide-ranging expression of fashion and the enormity of this fast-growing segment. Myntras association with Urbanic, which is a favourite among this particular generation of shoppers, intensifies its bond by bolstering its relevant portfolio, while Urbanic, can enhance its reach and foothold in the country, offering the perfect opportunity for consumers to access a wide range of trendy grammable pieces.

Founded in 2019, Urbanic was born with a strong grasp of the tenets of contemporary fashion catering to Gen-Z. The brand acts as a link between imagination and reality for young fashion experimenters by putting up and delivering the trendiest styles. Urbanic also resonates at a deep level with the spirited, outspoken and fashion conscious cohort of young Indians by being vocal about causes such as self expression, body positivity and defying gender norms, among others. The brands community of style icons in the making enjoy unparalleled access to a plethora of bold, experimental and affordable lines of Urbanics clothing and accessories.

With an offbeat marketing strategy that hinges on leveraging thousands of celebrated influencers donning Urbanic's attractive designs, the brand gives patrons unprecedented opportunity to find the perfect outfit suited for various occasions. The brand is popular among shoppers in metros, tier-1 and 2 Indian cities and seeks to penetrate further into these markets, riding on the wide reach and popularity of Myntra, Indias leading fashion, beauty and lifestyle destination.

Best selling products of Urbanic to look out for on Myntra include flared jeans, knot A-line pants, animal print outfits, cut out dresses, co-ord sets and denims, among others.

Speaking on the launch of Urbanic on Myntra, Ayyappan Rajagopal, Chief Business Officer, Myntra, said, We are elated to be joining forces with Urbanic to bring the best of fashion-in-trend to our thriving base of young shoppers namely Gen-Z and millennials, who are steadily shaping the future of e-commerce. With their extremely high digital presence combined with a keen sense of style, they are poised to become one of Myntra's dominant consumer bases and this partnership helps us boost our portfolio to cater to their distinctive fashion choices. In addition, our dedicated brand store for Urbanic will enable easy discovery of the brands proposition under one roof for our fashion-conscious customers while offering a personalised shopping experience. Myntras hassle-free returns, differentiated customer experience and impeccable service are sure to enhance the shopping experience for Urbanics community of trendsetters.

Rahul Dayama, Head of Marketing, Urbanic - India said, We are delighted to partner with Myntra and bring Urbanics edgy, uber chic and in-vogue collection onto Indias leading destination for fashion, beauty and lifestyle. With this collaboration, we aim to scale our accessibility and leverage Myntras nationwide reach, their large and evolving customer base and rely upon their industry-first initiative, Myntra Studio, to give our community of style icons a superior digital shopping experience.

James Wellwood, Partner at Urbanic - London added, We want to make sure that all individuals have equal access to fashionable and trendy outfits that Urbanic provides at an affordable range.
South Indias largest edible oil brand, Sunpure, has appointed actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood as its brand ambassador. The new association reiterates brands core values of purity, care, honesty, and trustworthiness. Sonu Sood who has become the most trustable brand in India for his selfless work resonates with Sunpures commitment to bringing a positive change and creating a more healthy ecosystem.

As part of this association, the first campaign celebrates the pure bond between a father and daughter. The campaign video, released in Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada, shows Sood playing a responsible and caring father to a daughter who has lost her mother. Despite dealing with his own loss, he discharged his duties with great care and honesty, thus earning his daughters love and trust. With emotional storytelling driving the narrative, the video makes for a compelling watch.

The campaign stands out in its unique approach and execution. Unlike most players in the category, who limit themselves to leveraging mother-child bond to appease homemakers, Sunpure has opted to portray a narrative that is brave, unconventional, and yet endearing. This is largely because of its honest storytelling, further reiterating the brands commitment to being non-negotiable when it comes to core values such as purity. #Ek Rishta Shudhta Ka! is the vital message.

Talking about the decision to appoint Sood as the brand ambassador, Mannan Khan, Director Sales and Marketing, Sunpure, said, We arent just South Indias largest selling brand in the category, but also the most trusted brand. As we look to further the brand, it is our values that must take the lead. At the same time, having a familiar face that delivers the brand message is important in a cluttered media environment. Hence, we were keen to have a brand ambassador that shared Sunpures values. It is our honour and delight to have Sonu Sood as our brand ambassador, given his relentless approach to helping people to the best of his abilities, without expecting anything in return. His commitment reflects purity of heart, honesty, a caring attitude, and trustworthiness, all of which resonate with us at Sunpure as we seek to build a strong and growing brand community.

Elaborating on the newly-launched campaign video, Vijesh Vijayan, Head of Brand Marketing and Communication, said, We were keen to lead with a campaign that had authenticity at its core. We wanted to depict that it takes immense integrity to express care, purity, and honesty, and earn trust in the face of external challenges. This holds true for both individuals and the brand. However, with great determination and the right intent, this is definitely achievable. So when as a young girls father, Sood attempts to succeed at tasks that were earlier being taken care of by his wife, we see him struggling at first, but eventually, finding success. With the actor and philanthropist as our ambassador, we want customers to know that they can always rely on us for our values, and at the same time, find strength in the same to fight their own challenges.

The new brand campaign will be launched across all markets where Sunpure is currently present  namely, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. In the days to come, the actor will be seen leading several brand campaigns as part of the new association.
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 24.08.2021 - On 24 August 2021, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, together with the foreign minister of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi, took part in the Middle East Mediterranean (MEM) Summer Summit Forum in Lugano. The event provides a platform for many young adults from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to share and flesh out ideas.

Speaking at the MEM Forum, organised by the Universita della Svizzera italiana (USI), the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) highlighted the close relations that exist between Switzerland and the MENA region. "The Middle East and North Africa is a priority region for Switzerland because of its geographical proximity and geopolitical importance. We share a strong historical and cultural heritage," said Cassis. This importance is also reflected in the MENA Strategy 202124 adopted by the Federal Council in October 2020.

Younger generations at heart of MENA Strategy

In addition to strengthening peace, security and prosperity, the MENA Strategy also puts promoting and supporting younger generations at the centre of Swiss foreign policy. At the MEM Forum, Mr Cassis reaffirmed the potential of the young demographic: "In the MENA region, about 45% of the population is under 25. To me, that's synonymous with new beginnings and optimism. During my trip to Oman, I had the opportunity to meet a number of motivated young men and women and I was very impressed by their inspiring ideas."

Joint appearance with the foreign minister of Oman

Mr Cassis attended the MEM Forum together with the foreign minister of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi. The evening before, he had received his Omani counterpart in Lugano to pursue bilateral talks. The two foreign ministers had already met earlier in the year on the occasion of Mr Cassis' trip to Oman.

At the MEM Forum, the head of the FDFA stressed the importance of good partnerships with the countries in the region for the successful implementation of Switzerland's MENA Strategy. Turning to his Omani counterpart, he underlined: "The Sultanate of Oman is a very reliable partner to Switzerland. Our countries have much in common  both in the tradition of neutrality and in the role we play as bridge-builders in peace diplomacy."

In a subsequent panel discussion, the two foreign ministers talked with some of the young men and women  the young change-makers making a difference in their region  about current developments.

Cooperation with the Universita della Svizzera Italiana

The MEM Summer Summit is being organised for the fourth time by the USI with FDFA support. This year's edition is being held in a hybrid format, in compliance with the health measures currently in force. Around 30 young change-makers from the MENA region travelled to Lugano to take part in various activities between 21 and 28 August. A further 100 participants are taking part online. On 24 August, various panel discussions covered some of the key issues concerning the present and future of the MENA region. They were attended by high-ranking political, scientific, business and cultural representatives and the young participants in the summit.

The Forum will be streamed in its entirety on the MEM website on 28 August (www.mem-summersummit.ch).

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html




Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 24.08.2021 - The FDFA-chartered plane from Tashkent landed at Zurich Airport on the night of 24 August 2021. On board were 219 people evacuated from Kabul, including 141 members of the SDC's local staff and their families. The remaining local SDC employees and their families have already been able to leave Kabul and are awaiting repatriation to Switzerland. All local staff wishing to leave Afghanistan have now been evacuated from the Afghan capital. At present, 15 Swiss nationals are still in Afghanistan. Switzerland is continuing its efforts to ensure that they can also be evacuated.

The SWISS charter flight to Tashkent took off from Zurich on Monday 22 August, and returned to Zurich Airport shortly after 1am today. On board were 219 people, including 141 local SDC staff and their immediate families, as well as 78 passengers of Afghan, German and Swedish nationality. With this flight, Switzerland has made a tangible contribution to the international community's evacuation efforts. To date, as of Tuesday 23 August, a total of 292 persons with a connection to Switzerland have been able to leave Afghanistan thanks to the efforts made by Switzerland in collaboration with its partner countries, particularly Germany. "We are especially grateful to our German friends and neighbours for their tremendous support during this evacuation operation," said Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis.

The FDFA continues its efforts

The Swiss embassy in Islamabad, which provides consular services for Afghanistan, is also in regular contact with the 15 Swiss nationals still in Afghanistan. Switzerland is working hard to ensure that they can also leave the country.

Evacuees from Afghanistan placed in federal asylum centres

The evacuees who arrived in Switzerland this morning completed all the required checks at the airport (passport controls and body and luggage searches), and have been assigned to different federal asylum centres. Care has been taken to keep families together. All of the evacuees were tested for COVID-19. Two of them were ordered to self-isolate after testing positive. A first security check was already carried out when the persons concerned were recruited by the FDFA. A second check was carried out by the Federal Intelligence Service before the SEM issued them with a humanitarian visa. This check did not reveal any security-relevant information affecting the evacuees' admission to Switzerland. If necessary, a third check will be carried out at the federal asylum centre. The families will probably spend several weeks in the asylum centres before they are assigned to accommodation in the various cantons.

Admission to Switzerland's resettlement programme

132 of those who have arrived in Switzerland so far will be admitted to Switzerland's resettlement programme. They will be accorded refugee status and will be allowed to stay in Switzerland. As resettlement refugees, they will not complete the regular asylum procedure, and will only have to undergo identity checks (fingerprinting, security checks, etc.). Once they arrive in the cantons, all of the refugees will take part in a cantonal integration programme. The Federal Council has already approved a quota of 1,900 resettlement refugees for the 202223 period.

Switzerland concerned about the situation in Afghanistan

Switzerland today took part in a special session on Afghanistan at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. It expressed deep concern about the attacks on human rights defenders and minorities, and stressed the importance of independent investigations into human rights violations.

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains of great concern. The high levels of violence have greatly added to the hardships faced by people in Afghanistan and forced many to flee in search of safety and protection. In response to this situation, Switzerland intends to pursue its commitments even in the current context. The FDFA is currently examining several appeals for assistance from major international organisations. In the coming days, it will decide how best to help the Afghan people, who are in a situation of great humanitarian need. Of Afghanistan's 38 million inhabitants, 18 million currently depend on humanitarian aid. This figure has doubled since the beginning of the year.

While it is essential to respond with short-term humanitarian relief, it is also important to consider the medium and long term. Finally, at the diplomatic level, Switzerland is also prepared to provide good offices as a host state, as part of an international conference or by facilitating talks between the parties.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html



Federal Department of Justice and Police

http://www.ejpd.admin.ch



State Secretariat for Migration

https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home.html




Alton, IL (62002)

Today

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It really was tremendous fun back in the Trump era when all you media mavens were acting as the willing accomplices of the Deep State in undermining and dispatching that notorious mean tweeter to Outer Slobbovia. Or at least to Mar-a-Lago.

How are you chaps -- and the weeping Rachel Maddow -- feeling now, as the Deep State turns on Joe Biden?

I mean, now that Trump is safely out of the way -- or is he? -- maybe you guys are ready to discuss the performance of the CDC and its octogenarian chappie Dr. Fauci during the late COVID episode.

Maybe you guys are ready to discuss the competence of the whole foreign policy / defense / intelligence community. Hey! The U.S. has 17  seventeen -- intelligence agencies. Do you think that helped or hindered in the run-up to the Afghanistan debacle?

Maybe you guys are ready to discuss the curious case of the FBI and the DoJ and the armed insurrection that wasnt. Isnt it odd that all of a sudden they cant bring in the bacon and send the whole MAGA movement off to reeducation camp? What gives, do you think? How about we all get together and cut the FBI budget by 57 percent?

Thaddeus G. McCotter at American Greatness rehearses Sen. Chuck Schumer (N-NY) sneering about President Trump to the now-tearful Rachel Maddow back in 2017:

Let me tell you, you take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday of getting back at you  So even for a practical, supposedly hard-nosed businessman, hes being really dumb to do this. [The deep state is] very upset with how [Trump] has treated them and talked about them.

But you know, Chuckie Baby, if you and your Republican pals in the Senate ever got together and cut the intelligence community budget by 50 percent and the number of intelligence agencies by seven, Ill bet those rough tough intelligence experts would all of a sudden get real tearful.

Because you know what I think? I think that all bureaucrats are pussies. The only thing they care about is their pensions. Right, Lois Lerner? And if the whole of Congress gets together and cuts their budget, just to show whos boss, Ill bet theyll just fold and settle for rescuing the jobs of 57 deputy undersecretaries.

And you politicians are lions! You can do it!

Of course, the reactionary Curtis Yarvin recommends a more radical post-mortem for the Next Regime to accomplish on the pustulating corpse of Big Lib.

It must erase all old noble structures and institutions -- there can be nothing left of the old agencies, universities, newspapers, nonprofits, etc. Even the buildings have to go.

He reminds us that the Deep State is not just the government agencies but the full adornment of the Cathedral of the ruling class in all its conceited fatuous pompousness. But the buildings! Do they have to go? Maybe just the worst 40 brutalist buildings of the 17 intelligence agencies.

Another end-of-regime narrative is Malcolm Kyeyunes Farewell to Bourgeois Kings in which he quotes Carl Schmitt on the inevitable end of the epoch of monarchy when a sense of the principle of kingship, of honor, has been lost.

Carl Schmitt! How dare he? Schmitt is a thinker you are not allowed to know about mainly due to his intellectual support for and active involvement with Nazism as La Wik delicately puts it. Kyeyune continues:

Every ruling class throughout history advances various claims about its own legitimacy, without which a stable political order is impossible. Legitimating claims can take many different forms and may change over time, but once they become exhausted or lose their credibility, that is pretty much it.

Is that the situation today with regard to the century-old progressive project, now that a sense of the principle of wise educated administration by the Best People, of honor, has been lost? That its the end of the Deep State? Lets go back to Kyeyune:

What Schmitt is saying is that when the legitimating claim for a particular form of elite is used up... the extinction of that particular elite becomes a foregone conclusion.

Do you want to know why your extinction has become a foregone conclusion, dear educated elite and Deep State? It is because your legitimating claim is a lie, and always has been. Government has always been mostly a question of distributing loot and plunder among the supporters of the rulers, and your government is no exception. Your claim to fame is that you have done a better job than most ruling classes of dressing this sordid truth in magnificent imperial robes.

Then the day comes when some smart-ass kid says the unsayable: that the emperor has no clothes.

Then the only question that matters is the size of the butchers bill.

Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class.

Image: US Gov

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As irate parents and taxpayers turn up in large numbers at school board meetings across the nation to express their opposition to Critical Race Theory (CRT), school districts are backpedaling as fast as they can, claiming we dont teach Critical Race Theory in our district. Although districts are not teaching classes titled Critical Race Theory, they are incorporating CRT ideology into programming and curricula, and hiring people whose job is to insert CRT into every aspect of school life.

The following is one example of how CRT principles and practices are being supported by Pennsylvanias Downingtown Area School District (DASD), where earlier this year the board hired a Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI), Justin LaKyle Brown, who wrote a book, Ugh! Not Another Diversity Book in which he misrepresents the history of Thanksgiving to portray all early European immigrants as bad. Please note, the disparagement of people based on their skin color (white), and ethnic background (European), is a key aspect of CRT ideology.

At DASD public meetings, the Board does not allow community members to make comments about DASD employees. Speakers are silenced when they attempt to provide personal experiences and observations of how CRT ideology is being implemented -- as was this woman and this woman -- making it very difficult to reveal the CRT/DEI agenda. Therefore, it is vital for DASD residents to communicate beyond the bounds of school board meetings to the broader public.

In Ugh! Not Another Diversity Book Brown plays fast and loose with history to promote an anti-white narrative about the origins of Thanksgiving. To elucidate both what Brown is doing and what the DASD Board considers acceptable scholarship for a member of the Senior Leadership Team, it is helpful to look first at the historical record. The passage below is one of the only two existing firsthand accounts of the first Thanksgiving in America, written in 1621 by Edward Winslow.

Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after have a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the company almost a week, at which time amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain, and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty. We have found the Indians very faithful in their covenant of peace with us

Edward Winslow goes on to write more about what he perceives as the mutually respectful and supportive relationship between the English settlers and the Wampanoag Tribe. While we do not have a contemporaneous account by a Wampanoag, the historical record supports that the two peoples coexisted peacefully for 55 years until King Philips War in 1675.

Contrast the above with the account of the first Thanksgiving written by Brown in his book --

For example, you would be surprised at the amount of schools that I travel to where individuals still think that Thanksgiving happened the way that they were taught in school. Yeah thats right. There are a lot of people who think that in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue and landed in what is today the United States. We all know, historically, he found this land by accident and that he and his people couldnt survive here. The indigenous people, who already thrived here, helped them cultivate the land and they all had a giant feast for Thanksgiving. Thats what a lot of students still perceive to be true. Its not in their mind that these individuals stole that land, raped, murdered, and pillaged entire villages just to declare them their own. We even sing songs about them. And didnt you know, celebrating Columbus Day means you could get 30% off your mattress!

With this short passage, Brown subverts accuracy and presents his opinion as fact -- both of which are common practices employed in forwarding the Critical Race Theory agenda. It is doubtful any school in America has ever taught that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated by Columbus and his sailors with the indigenous people of the Caribbean, yet Brown claims he has traveled to such schools. He does not acknowledge that the relationship between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag was, at the very least, respectful, and he conflates the activities of Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer sent by Spain to find an alternate route to India, but made land in what we now call the Bahamas in 1492, with the activities of the Pilgrims, a group of English people who came to America seeking religious freedom in 1620 -- 128 years after Columbuss voyage and 1,231 miles north of where Columbus landed.

This conflation indicates Brown 1) has an alarmingly inaccurate understanding of this history, or 2) is purposefully misrepresenting historical events to support a distorted view of history and his preferred narrative that all European immigrants to America behaved with violence toward the indigenous people. For whichever reason, he flippantly spouts misinformation. This is problematic because the DASD school board has placed Brown in a position where he will be involved with making decisions about curriculum, an area where all materials must be as factually and historically accurate as possible.

Some DASD board members are active supporters of CRT and thus choose to accept inaccurate history. Other DASD board members do not appear to support CRT, but also do not appear to have read Browns book prior to hiring him, or if they did, it was not a critical reading. One suspects they were simply happy to hire a candidate they could point to as having written a book. Unfortunately, this situation is not unique to the DASD -- similar scenarios are unfolding in school districts across the country where boards are rushing to hire DEI directors without fully examining the candidates principles or credentials, and pushing through new programming, curricula, and policies without realizing they are endorsing an American version of Marxism designed to, once again, divide the country along racial lines.

Fortunately, people of all cultural backgrounds, races, and political affiliations are becoming aware of the malfeasance being committed by these supposed public servants. Americans are standing up to tell school boards that CRT ideology is not what they want for their children or the future of our nation. This November these same people will be voting.

Image: Ted Eytan

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What is occurring in Afghanistan is not surprising to most conservatives, as this crisis only confirms the corruption and ineffectiveness that dominates our foreign policy establishment and military leadership. While this crisis is far from over, there are already a number of sobering lessons that Americans have learned:

1) The America Last agenda of the Democrat Party remains in place. It is simply unprecedented to have American military troops extracted from a crisis before every American citizen has been evacuated so once again, American citizens are treated as if they were lepers. Even in Vietnam in 1975, the military did not leave until all citizens were evacuated.

Moreover, whats worse is the Biden Administration is spending far more time, money, and effort evacuating Afghanis than they are Americans. They even announced that Americans are on their own to get to the airport while 5,000 troops on the ground are ordered to do nothing but seal off the airport. And at least one report says that the State Department was intending to charge all Americans $2,000 to fly them home but apparently, they changed their mind.

2) Dismantling Trumps policies is more important than national security. We now know the Biden Administration disbanded a State Department unit called the Contingency and Crisis Response Bureau which was created especially to draw up plans regarding the evacuation of Americans from situations like the one we have now.

3) Social Justice issues are now such a high priority in the military that it has affected its effectiveness. We now know that our military spends an inordinate amount of time, money, and energy championing phony social justice causes, both at home and abroad. Even the gay agenda in Afghanistan apparently received more attention than developing evacuation plans:

Indeed, military personnel are being promoted based on skin color, gender, and sexual orientation, merit be damned. This is destroying unit cohesion, troop morale and individual performance as incompetents are being promoted for reasons having nothing to do with merit. Moreover, physical fitness standards have been lowered for females so that we are now putting soldiers in the field not able to carry a wounded colleague to safety. Diversity goals are now more important than merit and performance. Transgenders are also readily admitted to the military no matter how disruptive they are to unit cohesion and the millions of dollars they cost taxpayers for sex-change surgeries.

It is clear that the woke agenda is a higher priority than military effectiveness as evidenced by the Biden Administrations announcement that it is a top priority for the entire military to stand down while they weed out nonexistent White Supremacists. While the military wasted millions of dollars -- and continues to do so today -- on a phony witch-hunt targeting conservatives, the Taliban advanced toward Kabul, but that was apparently a lower priority.

4) The left still doesnt care about wasting our tax dollars. No surprise here. Billions were wasted by leaving the Taliban over 2000 armored vehicles, not to mention planes and helicopters. Overnight, the Taliban became a well-armed military thanks to a complete lack of any planning by the Biden team to reclaim vehicles and planes ahead of the Taliban advance.

5) Our allies no longer trust the USA. We have lost the trust of our Allies and it is doubtful they will readily join the USA in any foreign intervention again, no matter how honorable it may be. The Alliance is gone and everyone knows this except for the White House. Some of our allies have already spoken out while others are using proxies, but regardless, the relationship with our allies, especially the Germans, French, Brits, and Aussies, has been severely damaged if not permanently altered.

6) The idea of nation building is over. The Neocons and Democrats who dominate the foreign policy establishment under both Republicans and Democrats have lost all credibility. The idea that the USA can graft a Western-style culture and democratic institutions on top of a backward Islamic society was never realistic. In twenty years, we were unable to even create some semblance of national loyalty among the Afghan people as evidence by the fleeing of its entire military as soon as they saw the Taliban advancing on Kabul. America will never again engage in nation-building and thats a good thing.

7) Joe Biden places political advantage ahead of Americas national security. Bidenss effort to withdraw from Afghanistan was all about having a photo op to coincide with the 9/11 anniversary so he could boast to the American people about how he got us out of an endless war. Shockingly, he didnt care how the withdrawal was carried out, the impact on our security, the damage to our relationships with our allies, etc. Whats worse is that he then repeatedly lied about the withdrawal even while events on the ground and his own CIA and military leaders countered almost every statement he made. Biden has misled Americans about the readiness and size of the Afghan military, the lack of an evacuation plan, what his intelligence and defense advisors told him, the danger Americans face trying to get to the airport, how this crisis has affected our relations with our allies, and on and on. He should be impeached for this alone.

8) The feminists confirm they are a phony movement. While they have conniption fits over men opening doors for women and terms like manhole covers, they went silent while the most anti-female government on the planet came to power. Radical feminist leaders are so concerned about hurting the reputation of Biden and the Democrat Party that they were willing to sell out millions of women in order to protect the Hair-Sniffer in Chief. It is now quite clear that the feminist movement is fake and its real purpose is to elect and keep leftists in power, women be damned.

9) The left detests America and always takes actions that strengthen our enemies. The crisis in Afghanistan reinforces the idea that the Democrats so detest America due to its racist roots, that they always end up favoring policies that weaken America and strengthen our enemies. This explains almost every Democrat policy in the last decade, from the Iran Nuclear Treaty to the push for open borders to the efforts by Obama to undermine numerous moderate governments and replace them with radical Islamic extremists. If you believe America is essentially evil, Bidens ill-planned exit from Afghanistan makes perfect sense, since, after all, it weakens America and strengthens the Taliban.

10) The State Department is grossly incompetent. Despite the billions allocated to the State Department, they have no idea how many Americans are in Afghanistan. Its somewhere between 10,000 and 40,000. How can that be when all Americans over there are assigned some form of a visa which can be easily tracked by State Departments computers?

11) Pakistan sold us out as we knew they would. Pakistan is the recipient of three billion dollars in U.S. foreign aid each year, even though they have been covertly supporting the Taliban for years. We knew this but continued to fund them. Stupid is as stupid does.

Theres no lack of lessons to be learned from the Afghan debacle. Its too much to expect the ruling elite to learn any of it. Thats one more thing the American people will have to handle.

Image: National Archives

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The history of the intelligence community is replete with violations of the trust of the American people.  James Clapper

In another time and place, I was the Director of Research and Russian (nee Soviet) Studies at USAF Intelligence under General James Clapper. One of my responsibilities at the time was to draft the USAF input to TOP SECRET strategic National Intelligence Estimates. The NIE, at the time, was considered to be the premier national analytical product, if not consensus, of the Intelligence Community in support of policymaking.

If the truth be told, few policymakers or politicians read NIEs anymore than congressmen read the legislation they pass into law. If voluminous national assessments are read at all, only the summary ever gets a glance. Annual revisions of recurring NIEs are usually a drill, changing happy to glad.

Summations for an NIE come in the form of boilerplate entitled Key Judgements. Were I writing judgments for an NIE on Afghanistan today, it might read like what follows; with no expectation that such an assessment be read, no less influence policy.

Key Judgments on Afghanistan

After decades in Afghanistan, America has been defeated by Muslim fanatics equipped primarily with small arms and Toyotas.

Removing American troops and air support from Afghanistan before non-combatants, was a grave operational error that enabled the collapse of the Afghan Army, accelerated the Taliban advance, and created the panic and chaos now evident in Kabul.

The failure to destroy arms, equipment and facilities was another fail, indeed a gift to the Taliban and the global jihad.

As the 20th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, Afghanistan is likely, again, to become a haven for jihadists in South Asia.

No principal at the National Security Council, Department of State, or Pentagon will be fired or relieved. The 9/11 precedent abides: flag officers who enabled that fail were decorated, celebrated, and promoted.

The small wars fiction, the so-called war on terror, will abide; emphasizing the tactical sectarian ghettos of Islam; the Taliban, Hezballah, Hamas, al Qaeda, and ISIS instead of the strategic global threat: state-sponsored imperial Islam.

Sunni Arabs and Shite Persians will continue to finance and enable Islamist politics and the global jihad with impunity.

Drug money from urban America will continue to be a primary source of revenue for jihadists in Afghanistan and elsewhere. The irony of American addicts financing Americas Islamic enemies will continue to be lost on the State Department and the Pentagon.

Islamofascism will continue to be rationalized by America as unrepresentative of the larger Muslim demographic.

The United States and Europe will absorb unvetted Muslim refugees fleeing Afghanistan.

The Pentagon and the Intelligence Community will continue to cower behind fictions that confuse tactical trees with strategic forests.

The next likely target for the Taliban may be Pakistan, another potential strategic coup that would create yet another Islamic emirate with a nuclear weapons capability.

At this point, America is clearly losing the global war with Islamic religious fascism.

Things will get a lot worse before they get better.

The author writes about the politics of national security.

Photo credit: YouTube screengrab

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Fox & Friends Weekend host Rachel Campos-Duffy is catching a lot of flak for saying over the weekend what many of us noted during the campaign: that Joe Biden's loved ones should have spared this rapidly declining man the ordeal (and shame) of serving as POTUS when his health was obviously not up to the task. Mike Miller of RedState quotes her from last Sunday:

"I look at this and I think, well, we had a president who was impeached over a phone call. This looks like a much more impeachable offense, if you ask me. ... "But when you look at what's hurting America, when you look at this lack of leadership, and you wonder, who are the people responsible for putting someone this incompetent and frankly, this, you know, mentally frail, in this position?" "And that's, yes, of course, the media, many people are saying you had some people on your show this week who were suggesting it was Susan Rice and Obama, and maybe Valerie Jarrett." "I'm sorry, as a political spouse [Campos-Duffy is married to former Rep. Sean Duffy [R-Wis.], who abruptly retired in November, 2019], I can't help but look at Jill Biden. "No one knew better his state of mind than Jill, Dr. Jill Biden. And if you ask me, the most patriotic thing Jill Biden could have done was tell her husband, to love her husband, and not let him run in this mental state that he's in. I think she failed the country as well."

Rachel Duffy: When you look at whats hurting America, when you look at this lack of leadership, and you wonder, who are the people responsible for putting someone this incompetent and frankly this, you know, mentally frail in this position?I cant help but look at Jill Biden pic.twitter.com/Hj461MDeD3  Ian Miles Cheong @ stillgray.substack.com (@stillgray) August 23, 2021

As the debacle of abject surrender in Afghanistan unfolds and worsens, the commander in chief is barely working, frequently hidden away from the public, and quite obviously not up to the job.

Among those who cant handle the truth: Jill Biden's press secretary:

This is disgusting. @RCamposDuffy and @FoxNews know better. They can do better and their viewers deserve better. I hope they'll apologize to the First Lady and leave this kind of talk in thewhere it belongs. https://t.co/emBFCwKDiV  Michael LaRosa (@MichaelLaRosa46) August 23, 2021

Also:

"The first lady's press secretary on Monday called for an apology from Fox News and weekend host Rachel Campos-Duffy, who over the weekend said Jill Biden had failed the country by letting her husband run for president." https://t.co/TpmtDsoEmS  Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) August 23, 2021

"Dr. Jill Biden" long ago revealed that she is highly interested in titles (and, presumably, position):

The issue of Jill Biden's educational honorific isn't new. As long ago as 2009, the Los Angeles Times devoted a story to the subject. From the piece by Robin Abcarian: "Joe Biden, on the campaign trail, explained that his wife's desire for the highest degree was in response to what she perceived as her second-class status on their mail. 'She said, "I was so sick of the mail coming to Sen. and Mrs. Biden. I wanted to get mail addressed to Dr. and Sen. Biden." That's the real reason she got her doctorate,' he said."

Of course, I am not privy to the private conservations of the president and first lady, but given the frank admission that Mrs. Biden was animated by a lust for title in obtaining a doctorate in education with a term paperlength "dissertation" from a third-tier school of education, I tend to see her as Lady McBiden, pushing and manipulating her hapless near-ward to keep her own grip on perks, title, and prerogatives. A majority of the country now recognizes he is not mentally fit for the office he holds.

Like the rest of the world, I am stunned by the utter incompetence of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, with no notice to anyone, no thought to logical sequence (keep Bagram AFB open until the evacuation is complete, for instance), no evidence of anything other than a blanket order: get out now!

I can't help but wonder if there was a conversation between Dr. Jill and her senescent charge, in which she said words to this effect, "Well, you're president, aren't you? You can give the order and get us out of Afghanistan. Just tell the military to stop everything else and Get Out Now!"

It's happened before with Edith Wilson. It might well be happening now.

Photo credit: Twitter screen grab.

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Back in my college days, a fellow student asked the professor about the 25th Amendment and he said something like this: "What happens if the president suffers a stroke and can't return to the office? Or is a vegetable?"

We laughed a bit at the vegetable line but got the point. You can't have the leader of the world incapacitated and connected to a life machine.

That's what the 25th Amendment is about:

Section 4 addresses the dramatic case of a President who may be unable to fulfill his constitutional role but who cannot or will not step aside. It provides both a decision-maker and a procedure. The initial deciding group is the Vice President and a majority of either the Cabinet or some other body that Congress may designate (though Congress has never done so). If this group declares a President unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President immediately becomes Acting President. If and when the President pronounces himself able, the deciding group has four days to disagree. If it does not, the President retakes his powers. But if it does, the Vice President keeps control while Congress quickly meets and makes a decision. The voting rule in these contested cases favors the President; the Vice President continues acting as President only if two-thirds majorities of both chambers agree that the President is unable to serve.

Again, we've never used this before and it will be difficult to get two-third of Congress to go along unless the medical evidence is overwhelming.

The problem with President Biden is that he is not really incapacitated. Yes, he is a bit strange and shows signs of senility, but that's not incapacitated.

Senator Tim Scott is calling on the cabinet to remove the president. I understand the frustration but President Biden's problems must be resolved by voters. Making bad decisions, from closing a critical energy pipeline to opening the border, or creating the Afghanistan crisis, will be eventually settled by voters in 2022.

The talk about the 25th is interesting but not realistic at the moment.

Of course, all bets are off if the first lady steps in to save the president from further humiliation. Politics aside, it cant be fun watching your husband do those press conferences.

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).

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I've been watching in sadness and wonder at the abuse that Australia's government elites  many of them purported conservatives  have heaped on their citizens, using military force to keep people imprisoned in their own homes, warning people against private conversations, vaccinating children without their parents' permission. All over a handful of deaths in a continent-sized nation of 25 million. There has been savage repression of demonstrations.

Finally, an Aussie member of Parliament has stood up and denounced the madness. (Hat tip: CTH.)

George Christensen is what passes for a maverick in Australia: outspoken, nationalist, anti-jihad, pro-life. His web page shows the symbols of his causes:



Source.

I can only hope that his words stir further resistance to the dictatorial powers seized by the democratically elected heads of several Australian states.

Photo credit: YouTube screen grab.

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According to VAERS, 3,079 people have died after receiving the Pfizer vaccine, and nearly 3,900 have suffered a permanent disability. Many more thousands have been hospitalized with post-vaccination side-effects. Think about that, and then think about this "approval" of the vaccine as being "safe." While I realize that nothing is perfect, my only conclusion is that it was a political approval. The vaccine has killed and disabled an awful lot of otherwise healthy people, which doesn't seem to me to warrant the green light it's been given.

Previous experimental vaccines have been pulled for far fewer dangerous side-effects. Normal vaccine approval is a 5- to 10-year process. We've accelerated the timeline because of the pandemic. Was that wise?

While I'm not a medical person or a researcher, I am guilty of exercising logic whenever I can. We still have no clear evidence that the Pfizer jab (or any of the others, for that matter) is safe in the long run. Previous attempts at a vaccine for swine flu, for instance, were halted after causing Guillain-Barre syndrome in recipients. It's an awful disease, causing total paralysis in some. Note that it is one of the serious side-effects of this vaccine, along with clotting disorders and heart disorders. All can have lifelong deleterious effects.

Then, there's the way the vaccine-pushers are willfully ignoring the fact that the delta variant infects the vaccinated, and if you read the story of the vaccinated chickens that ran on American Thinker yesterday, you'll understand that the vaccine itself may be causing virus's rapid transformation. The idea that a vaccine can cause a virus to mutate, and that the mutations may be worse than the original, is inescapable. I've written before about antibody-dependent enhancement. There are many warnings, but the government refuses to listen to any of them.

Because the bloviating class has spread so much misinformation about treatments, to keep up the relentless push to get everyone jabbed (the emergency use authorization is okayed only if there is no viable treatment), many doctors have been afraid to prescribe available treatments, or believe they have been disallowed to prescribe them. I know I had to hunt for a doctor willing to treat me in case I get COVID, and I have heard from readers whose doctors flat-out stated that they were "unable" to prescribe ivermectin. If that's the case, by the way, America's Frontline Doctors will help.

Way back in January, I wrote an article here titled Munchausen by (government) proxy. I felt that we were on the wrong track  and that was before we started our mass vaccination drive. Munchausen by proxy is a mental illness diagnosis, where the caregiver convinces someone that he is ill, then takes control over his life.

I personally think I called it correctly  and if you look at places like Australia, where totalitarian lockdowns have become commonplace, it's hard to call that anything but a mental illness sapping those in charge of all common sense. There's a secondary mental health condition called Stockholm syndrome. It's where someone, generally someone taken hostage, starts to identify with the captors. An emotional bond forms. Seeing the abject fear and dependence on government and the willingness to give up basic rights among many people, I think this applies as well.

It's disturbing to see our cities rush to ban unvaccinated people from living their lives. The relentless pressure to get the jab will be even more fierce. For those of us unwilling to be guinea pigs, life could get even more difficult.

One thing I want to note before ending. Despite the continual barrage of scare porn from the government and the press, if you want to see what the reality is with COVID infections and deaths, check this site. It's kept up to date. You might be shocked at how few people are dying from COVID right now.

Image: COVID virus. Public domain.

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COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine granted full FDA approval; Alaskans who are not yet vaccinated are encouraged to do so as soon as possible




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(Image source from: Deccanchronicle.com)

Telangana Schools and Colleges to Reopen from September 1st:- With a steep decline in the new cases of coronavirus, the Telangana Health Department recently announced that the normalcy is back in the state. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) announced that all the educational institutions from KG to PG will be reopened from September 1st and he instructed the officials to make the arrangements for the same. KCR chaired a meeting that is held in Pragati Bhavan yesterday after which a media statement was issued by the Chief Minister's Office. State's Education Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy along with the officials of the Education Department were present for the meeting. KCR wanted all the government and private educational institutions to be reopened from September 1st.

The Panchayat Raj and the Municipal Administration department officials are instructed to ensure the cleaning and sanitization of the premises and hostels that are run by the state government in Telangana. He instructed that the institutions should be ready by August 30th. The Health and the Education departments submitted reports about the closure of the institutions which is leading to mental and physical stress among the children. The recent surveys also said that the parents are ready to send their children to schools. The Health Department reported that the situation of coronavirus in Telangana is under control. Special instructions will be issued and the educational institutions will have to follow them without fail. The government is keen to vaccinate the entire schooling staff including the teachers before the schools and colleges are reopened.

(Video Source: TV9 Telugu Live)
(Image source from: hindi.news24online.com)

Study: 1.6 Cr Indians Missed Their Second Vaccination Dose:- The fever of coronavirus is yet to be completed in India. Though the new cases stepped down, over 25,000 new cases are reported on a regular basis. The Health experts warned of a possible third wave of coronavirus in September and October. The Centre is now extra cautious and it also intensified the vaccination drive in India. As per the recent study, close to 1.6 crore Indians have missed their second dose of coronavirus shot and the study revealed that it has been 16 weeks after these people took the first dose of vaccination. The report also said that one crore people are elderly and the rest of them are youngsters aged below 45 years.

The study has been derived from the statistics as per the first shot take as of May 2nd in India which is 16 weeks now. The Union Health Ministry issued an official statement about the same. On May 13th, the Indian government announced a gap of 12-16 weeks for the second dose of Covishield which accounts to 85 percent of the vaccinations in the country. For Covaxin, the duration is 4-6 weeks between both the doses. As per the duration and the statistics, the Union Health Ministry confirmed that 1.6 crore Indians have never taken their second dose of vaccine. The report also said there are 3.9 crore Indians who are yet to get fully vaccinated and it has been 12 weeks since they took their first vaccination dose.

As per the reports, 48 percent of the Indians aged above 18 years received the first dose of vaccination and 14 percent of them received both the doses.
(Image source from: Twitter.com/IPRTelangana)

Telangana Launches Special Vaccination Drive For Hyderabad:- Telangana government recently made an official statement that the situation of coronavirus is completely under control. KCR, the Chief Minister of the state reviewed the situation in the state and he ordered reopening of the schools, colleges and other educational institutions from September 1st. A special vaccination drive has been launched in Greater Hyderabad yesterday to vaccinate all the people of the state's capital. Special vaccination centres are traced to make the drive comfortable and available for everyone. A total number of 26,892 people got vaccinated in the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on the first day of the special vaccination drive.

Chief Secretary Sri @SomeshKumarIAS visited a vaccination center at the Old CIB quarters in Khairatabad to oversee the arrangements made for the special mop-up vaccination drive which started across the GHMC and Cantonment Board areas in the city from today. pic.twitter.com/VvYk5G8KtI  IPRDepartment (@IPRTelangana) August 23, 2021

A sticker will be pasted on the door of every household in which all residents have been vaccinated. Chief Secretary said that the main objective of this special mop-up vaccination drive is to make Hyderabad a 100 percent Covid Vaccinated city.  IPRDepartment (@IPRTelangana) August 23, 2021

KCR directed the officials to overlook this special vaccination drive in 4846 colonies of the city. He wanted the entire population in the city to get vaccinated before the end of this month at least with the first dose of vaccine. 264 colonies in the limits of GHMC are totally vaccinated and the officials appreciated their efforts. 175 teams are formed to conduct special camps across GHMC. As per the count, 23,651 people took their second dose of coronavirus vaccine on Monday and 3241 people took their first dose of the vaccine. KCR conducted a review meeting with the officials of the Telangana Health Department and came to a conclusion that the situation of coronavirus is under control in the state. The officials are instructed to reopen the schools and colleges from September 1st in Telangana.

(Video Source: 10TV News Telugu)
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(ANSA) - AGRIGENTO, AUG 24 - Over 500 migrants have landed on the stepping stone island of Lampedusa between Sicily and north Africa in the last 24 hours, local sources said Tuesday.

From midnight to dawn there were 13 landings bringing a total of 272 migrants to the island, which is closer to Libya than it is to Italy.

On Monday there were 10 landing with a total of 235 migrants.

Therefore, the total arrivals in the last 24 hours are 507.

The island's migrant hotspot, which has a capacity of 250, is now playing host to some 865 guests.

The renewed flood of migrants into Italy has sparked concern, voiced most frequently by rightwing politicians like the League's Matteo Salvini who accuses Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese of inaction on the issue. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 24 - Some 3,741 Afghans have been evacuated from Kabul, on 44 flights, and 2,659 of them are already in Italy, Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini told a joint session of the parliamentary foreign and defence committees on Tuesday.

Italy has been evacuating Afghans who worked with the Italian mission and are at risk of Taliban reprisals. (ANSA).


Palestinian teen killed by soldiers in West Bank Israeli army says teen was throwing large object at soldiers

(ANSAmed) - RAMALLAH, 24 AGO - A Palestinian teenager was killed by Israeli military fire during clashes in the West Bank, said the Palestinian health ministry.



It said the victim was 15-year-old Emad Hashash, who was hit during clashes at the Balata refugee camp near Nablus.



The Israeli army said there was a "firefight" and confirmed that it fired to counter a direct threat "in the direction of a person who was trying to throw a large object at soldiers from a roof".



Israel said the episode took place during operations to arrest a person at the Balata camp. (ANSAmed).




Covid: Israel, third Pfizer dose extended to over-30s So far 1.6 mn Israelis have received booster

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, 24 AGO - The Israeli health ministry announced that starting Tuesday it would extend administration of a third dose of Pfizer vaccine to Israelis over age 30 who received their first two doses at least five months ago, thus further lowering the minimum age for the booster shot.



As of the end of July, a third dose had been administered to nearly 1.6 million people.



On Monday, Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horovitz launched a mass vaccination campaign focused on outlying areas of Israel, with the intention of completing the immunization of three million people within a month. (ANSAmed).




Tunisia: Saied suspends parliament until further notice Will address the country in coming days

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, 24 AGO - Tunisian President Kais Saied extended the suspension of the Tunisian Parliament until further notice, the president's office said in a statement on Wednesday.



The suspension was initially ordered on 25 July for one month.



The president's office said the order to revoke parliamentary immunity is also being extended, and the president "will address the nation in the coming days".



The exceptional measures to sack the prime minister, suspend the work of parliament and revoke parliamentary immunity were ordered by Saied on 25 July based on Article 80 of the Tunisian Constitution.



The article states: "in the event of imminent danger that threatens the nation's institutions and the security and independence of the country and hinders the regular functioning of public powers, the President of the Republic can adopt measures required in such an exceptional situation, after contacting the head of the government and the speaker of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, and after having informed the president of the Constitutional Court".



"At any time, thirty days after the measures go into effect, and by request of the speaker of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People or of 30 members of said Assembly, the Constitutional Court is called upon to verify whether the exceptional situation persists".



Despite the fact that the Constitution calls for it, the Court was never established, and this is cause for significant problems in interpretation.



Saied's move in taking executive power himself was denounced by his opponents - in particular by the Islamic party Ennahda, the majority in parliament - as a "coup d'etat".



Since announcing the exceptional measures, President Saied still hasn't named a new head of government, nor has he presented his "roadmap", as requested by the parties, unions and civil society.



Rather, he has undertaken a significant review of the leaders of many governorates and ministries and started a strong anti-corruption campaign, which thus far has culminated in the arrest of a dozen members of parliament, among others.



Various countries, including first and foremost the United States, have put strong pressure to "restore the Tunisian democratic path". The White House said in a statement on 14 August that a senior US official met with President Saied in Tunis to call on him to urgently appoint a new prime minister and get his country back on track towards parliamentary democracy.



In an official statement, however, Saied indicated that the "exceptional measures" adopted on 25 July "fall within the framework of the application of the Constitution and respond to the expectations of the people in a context of political, economic and social crisis".



Moreover, the Tunisian president still enjoys enormous popular consensus, confirmed by a recent poll in which 94.9% of Tunisians (87% in a previous survey) are in favor of Saied's decisions of 25 July and 91.9% would vote for him in the event of new presidential elections. (ANSAmed).




An Afghan army captain has described the humanitarian disaster she witnessed in Taliban-controlled areas as she fled to Kabul airport before being evacuated to the UK.

Captain Muraal, a 26-year-old captain in the Afghan army, has been evacuated as part of the UK Governments Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap).

Footage released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) shows the officer boarding a British military plane with others fleeing Afghanistan, after passing through checks with UK armed forces at Kabuls Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Capt Muraal, whose surname is not being released for security reasons, has been evacuated alongside her immediate family due to the danger they also faced.

Captain Muraal at Kabul airport as she boards a British military plane to be evacuated to the UK from Afghanistan (Ministry of Defence/PA)

She said: We were accepted for relocation to the UK. It has been difficult to get to safety but we made it through because of the British military. We are safe here at the airbase and we will be safer still in the UK.

Capt Muraal continued: The route to safety was harsh  a humanitarian disaster.

People waited many nights as the Taliban controlled the first gate. There was a lot of suffering.

The captain served in the Afghan National Army for eight years, having been trained at the United Kingdoms Defence Academy in Shrivenham.

She also studied for a Masters in military and security studies at Kings College London.

To board an evacuation flight, the captain had to cross a number of Taliban checkpoints to reach British troops at Kabul airport.

In a video released by the MoD which shows Capt Muraal at Kabul airport, she said: We had a lot of challenges, the first challenge was how to get out of our house because all of the city is controlled by the Taliban and finally the gates are very crowded and they were also controlling the gates and were not letting people in.

With the support of British forces we have made it through here today and I am really glad for that.

Captain Muraal as she boards a British military plane (Ministry of Defence/PA)

I feel very relieved and my concern is now trying to get inside the airport to get out of here and I am fully happy we are able to make it today.

She added: It feels great and I am relieved to be here inside the airport and I think my family are safe now.

More than 7,000 Afghans who were eligible to apply for relocation to the UK under Arap have arrived safely in the UK since April 2021, according to the MoD.

More than 5,000 of those have been evacuated from Afghanistan by the armed forces since August 13.

Capt Muraal said she plans to continue her studies in the UK and wants to help the British military in any capacity that I can.

The UKs programme to evacuate Afghans and British nationals from Kabul airport is known as Operation Pitting.

On Monday, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stressed the urgency of the operation, saying there were hours not weeks to evacuate as many UK passport holders and Afghans from the country as possible.

Captain Muraal plans to continue her studies in the UK (Ministry of Defence/PA)

On Tuesday the US government, which has led the international military coalition in Afghanistan, said it was not prepared to extend its withdrawal date beyond August 31.

Once the evacuation operation is finished, the UK Government intends to start a second phase of its resettlement programme for Afghans who do not want to live under Taliban rule.

On Monday, armed forces minister James Heappey said Afghans would be able to apply for resettlement to the UK in refugee camps or at British embassies in countries neighbouring Afghanistan in the near future.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf.

Court action is to be taken against a nursery in Dundee which allegedly rejected the daughter of Scotlands Health Secretary and his wife.

Humza Yousaf and Nadia El-Nakla applied for a place for young Amal at the Little Scholars Day Nursery in Broughty Ferry, but were turned down with the facility claiming there was no space.

But just two days later a white friend of the couple was told there were spaces for her son on three afternoons every week.

Mr Yousaf and Ms El-Nakla reported the nursery to the Care Inspectorate but also instructed solicitor Aamer Anwar to initiate legal proceedings  which are now being taken to court.

A statement from Mr Anwar said: On Monday August 9 2021, a claim was intimated on the Little Scholars Day Nursery, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, for a breach of the Equality Act 2010, in respect of alleged discrimination suffered by Nadia El-Nakla and her daughter, Amal Yousaf.

We received a response from those acting for the nursery on Monday August 23 2021.

This response refutes that there has been any discriminatory behaviour, but fails to provide a reasoned explanation as to why there were repeated refusals to accommodate children with Muslim/minority ethnic names, whilst at the same time children with white/Scottish names were offered nursery places.

This is all despite the fact that other bodies including the Care Inspectorate and the Equality and Human Rights Commission have expressed an interest in this case.

Under the circumstances, Nadia El-Nakla has no option but to proceed with court action against the nursery.

Aamer Anwar will raise the action at Dundee Sheriff Court (Jane Barlow/PA)

The nursery was given 14 days (until Monday) to provide full settlement proposals, a public apology and compensation to be paid to an anti-racist charity of our clients choosing choosing or court action would be raised at Dundee Sheriff Court.

Mr Yousaf contacted the Daily Record newspaper who submitted fake queries from a Muslim family and white family, with the same results as before.

A spokesperson for the nursery previously told the Daily Record: Our nursery is extremely proud of being open and inclusive to all and any claim to the contrary is demonstrably false and an accusation that we would refute in the strongest possible terms.

In addition to our owners being of Asian heritage, across more than a decade we have regularly welcomed both children and staff from a range of different religious, cultural, ethnic and racial backgrounds including two Muslim families currently.

We have also regularly made arrangements to accommodate different lifestyles by, for example, providing a halal menu for those children who come from Muslim families.
Two companies linked to a power station near Manchester are to pay 6 million after breaking market manipulation laws.

For more than a year, ESB Independent Generation Trading (ESBIGT) and Carrington Power pushed up costs for households by sending inaccurate data to the grid.

Between March 2019 and September 2020 the more than 800-megawatt plant in Carrington routinely sent inflated data to the grid at the request of traders at ESBIGT.

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It said in filings to the grid that the minimum amount of power it was able to produce was higher than was the case.

It also inflated the amount of time that the plant, which can supply around one million homes, would have to run once it was started up.

The actions took advantage of a system designed to ensure there is enough power in the grid to feed all of Britains needs at any given time.

Because it is difficult to store electricity at scale, the grid needs to make sure that as much electricity is going into the system as is coming out.

Once, this was a matter of changing how much coal was being burnt at power plants, but now the grid has less control over electricity production, as much of it relies on the sun shining or the wind blowing.

So, when the wind stops blowing, the grid needs to be able to tell gas plants, such as the one at Carrington, to fire up quickly to meet the shortfall.

It is therefore important that the grid knows exactly how much energy the gas plants and others can produce at a minimum, or how long they need to run for once started.

Ofgem regulatory director Cathryn Scott said: Ofgem has taken strong action against another generator for submitting inaccurate data to National Grid Electricity System Operator.

Data accuracy is essential for keeping the costs of running the electricity system as low as possible for consumers.

This case sends a clear signal to all generators that we are closely scrutinising their conduct and will not hesitate to act if they fall short of the standards we expect.

The companies recognised that they had inadvertently breached European rules by giving false or misleading signals.

They agreed to pay 6 million into a fund managed by Ofgem which supports charities that help vulnerable energy customers.

By doing so they avoided a formal enforcement investigation from Ofgem.

The companies said: Compliance with its regulatory obligations is a priority for ESBIGT. We take this breach extremely seriously and apologise for the inadvertent breach of our obligations. We were disappointed not to have met our own high standards and took immediate steps to comply with Ofgems guidance.

Corrective actions have been taken to prevent reoccurrence, with new governance arrangements in place to ensure ongoing compliance.

Although this breach was inadvertent and ESBIGT believed the dynamic parameters it submitted would contribute to lower costs to balance the system, we have taken the engagement with Ofgem extremely seriously and co-operated fully with Ofgem throughout this process.
Development work at the site of the proposed Cambo oil field has been delayed until next year, it has been confirmed.

Jonathan Roger, chief executive of Siccar Point Energy, said operational issues and a closing weather window in the area, west of Shetland, were behind the hold-up.

But environmental campaigners at Greenpeace noted the move was announced after a protest by its activists against the controversial development.

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Demonstrators in kayaks paddled out to a ship being used by Siccar Point in a dock near Stavanger, Norway, and held up a banner demanding action from the UK Prime Minister.

The protesters told the PM: Boris: Stop Cambo.

Mel Evans, head of oil and gas transition at Greenpeace UK, said: Johnson must stop Cambo, or he will be remembered as a climate coward.

Environmental campaigners have already warned that the Cambo site could yield as many as 255 million barrels of oil, and the estimated 132 million tonnes of CO2 emissions that could be produced would require an area of land 1.5 times the size of Scotland to counteract them.

Mr Roger said contractors had applied for a separate consent to install constructor anchor nodes as part of the preparatory work.

He said: This work needs to be carried out before well construction and so can legally sit out with the full field development environmental consent process.

Work would only ever begin with the appropriate regulatory approvals in place and a decision has been made to delay this until 2022 due to operational issues and given the closing weather window west of Shetland for this kind of operation.

A spokewoman for the UK Governments department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: Final consent for preparatory work at the Cambo field must first be granted by the Oil & Gas Authority. Without this consent, the work cannot commence. Ministers are not involved in this process.

Cambo is not a new oilfield  it was licensed in 2001. Oil production from this field is already factored into our projections of future supply.

Without a domestic source of oil and gas while we transition to a low carbon future, the UK would be even more reliant on imports from other countries.
New confirmed cases of COVID-19 and resulting hospitalizations are skyrocketing in Florida, and the mayor of Fort Lauderdale would like Governor Ron DeSantis to rethink some of the policies contributing to elevated transmission.

If theres an ultimate political agenda trying to appeal to some sort of outlier group thinking thats going to advance a person politically, I just think theyre misjudging what people really want, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said on Yahoo Finance Live (video above). And I think that its ok to step back. Its OK to say all right, maybe we should change course.

DeSantis, a staunch Republican who is eyeing a 2024 election bid, enacted policies banning masks in schools and downplayed the latest Delta variant-driven surge while newly confirmed cases, hospitalizations, and deaths rose to new pandemic highs in the state.

No one is going to blame anybody for doing the wrong thing because look, in government, we dont always make the right choices, said Trantalis, a Democrat. But we do know that if we do make a wrong choice, we need to live by it and we need to accept the wrong choice and try to do the right thing. Id ask the governor to rethink his agenda and try to work with all of the local communities in trying to keep people safe here.

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Hospitals in Florida are running out of ICU beds as they're being inundated with COVID patients, most of them unvaccinated. (Floridas overall vaccination rate is 51.6%, which is on par with the nations average of 51.5%.) The city of Orlando is now asking its residents to restrict their water use in order to make sure there's enough to use as liquid oxygen for COVID patients.

"Our hospitals are experiencing the highest number of unvaccinated, critically ill patients at this point as any other point during the pandemic," Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said at a press conference on Friday. "Many of these patients require liquid oxygen."

Over the last 18 months, Florida has seen 3,040,590 total cases and 42,252 deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. The Sunshine State also ranks fifth overall in terms of the number of cases per 100,000 people at 14,157.

Keep in mind that its not just older people that are getting this disease, Trantalis said. We just had a recent death in our own police department, a 27-year-old young woman with a newborn child, a new husband, and tomorrow is her funeral. 27 years old, not vaccinated.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference to announce the opening of a monoclonal antibody treatment site for COVID-19 patients at Lakes Church in Lakeland, Florida, on August 21, 2021. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

'We have a public to protect'

Conservatives have praised Gov. DeSantis throughout the pandemic for keeping the states economy going, while health officials have criticized his moves as dangerous to public health.

According to Trantalis, you would have to ask DeSantis what his ultimate goal is with his attitude towards the pandemic.

All I know is that as I listen to the folks around the country, those in the medical community, theyre insisting that masks are important to prevent the spread of the disease and that vaccinations are clearly the best choice in terms of whether or not this disease is going to ever achieve the herd immunity that were hoping to achieve, Trantalis said.

DeSantis has come out strongly against mask mandates, going as far as threatening to withhold funding from schools that mandate students to wear masks.

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School-age children are proving to be more vulnerable to the Delta variant, which has become the dominant strain of coronavirus circulating in America. Cases in children have risen substantially since the beginning of July and now account for 18% of newly confirmed weekly cases, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), indicating an increased going into the new school year.

The reality is we have a public to protect, Trantalis said. Governments sole purpose is to protect its citizens. If we fail in that, then we fail in our responsibility. The school board made the right decision. The school board is now being assisted by the federal government in any way that it can to draw up any of the resources that might be denied as a result of the state trying to take some sort of action against it.

Broward County recently approved a mask mandate for schools and is now facing threats from the Florida Education Commissioner, who has warned that board members could start losing their salaries if they refuse to include an opt-out clause for parents in any county-level masking policy.

We cannot tolerate this as a community, as a society, knowing that theres a possible cure out there and then to ignore it, Trantalis said. Its just playing Russian Roulette with our society.

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'The message of getting vaccinated just doesnt seem to penetrate the culture here'

In addition to encouraging mask wearing, Trantalis is also working towards getting more of his constituents vaccinated.

In Broward County, in particular, just over 50% of the people are actually vaccinated fully, Trantalis said. So whats the message we have to make? What do we have to say to convince people that vaccination is the way out of this pandemic? Were looking for ways.

The foundation of his efforts centers around one key course of action: Following the science.

Weve talked about that since day one, Trantalis said. Last year in March, we closed our beaches for spring break because that was the science back then: Avoid close contact, try to get people out of cramped quarters in these hotel rooms where all these kids were visiting our state.

Since then, he said, theyve learned that there are more efficient courses of action. Beaches and hotels have since reopened, but Fort Lauderdale is strongly encouraging vaccinations.

We have free vaccination sites all over the city, Trantalis said. We even started pop-up sites in places that we find that the vaccination rate is least utilized  for example, in many of our churches, especially some of our fundamentalist folks who seem to have an aversion to this vaccine. Were going to their pastors and setting pop-up vaccination sites at their churches.

A man talks with a health worker as he waits to be inoculated against COVID-19 during a vaccination event at FTX Arena in Miami, August 5, 2021. REUTERS/Marco Bello

The city is specifically reaching out to the homeless and Black communities. (Black Americans are less likely to have received a COVID-19 vaccine than their white counterparts, despite being disproportionately hit harder by the pandemic.)

This includes setting up pop-up vaccination sites, asking their pastors to spread the word, to preach the word to say that vaccinations are the right thing to do, Trantalis said. But were doing it without fanfare. Were doing it on a community-by-community basis. But were getting it done.

The state as a whole, however, is struggling to break down cultural and politcal barriers to successfully fight off the latest surge.

Unfortunately, Florida is a hot spot here in the nation, Trantalis said. One out of every five new cases is in Florida. Its really difficult to have to deal with that because it impacts so many people. It impacts schoolchildren. It impacts our hospitality business. It impacts people just coming to and from work because the message of getting vaccinated just doesnt seem to penetrate the culture here.

Adriana Belmonte is a reporter and editor covering politics and health care policy for Yahoo Finance. You can follow her on Twitter @adrianambells and reach her at adriana@yahoofinance.com.

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(Reuters) - The Taliban said on Tuesday they had not agreed to an extension of the Aug. 31 deadline set by the United States to pull out of Afghanistan and that they wanted all evacuations to end by that date.

Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the crowds of Afghans thronging Kabul airport seeking a flight out of the country could go home.

"We guarantee their security," he told a news conference. He also said there was no list of people targeted for reprisals. "We have forgotten everything in the past," he said.

(Reporting by Raju Gopalakrishnan; Writing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. A group of United States Congressmen and a number of Washington-based organizations in person of the Armenian, Greek, Kurdish, Jewish and Indian communities, the In Defense of Christians (IDC) and other human rights organizations are demanding the US government to stop exporting drone technologies used by Turkey in producing its military UAVs, and to investigate the Turkish drone programs destabilizing role in the region.

According to Armenian and Greek community leaders and activists, there is high likelihood that eventually Washington will cease supplying American technologies which are used by Turkey for its infamous Bayraktar drones  the combat UAVs widely used in the 2020 Artsakh War and deployed by Turkey to bomb not only Armenian military positions but also civilians in peaceful settlements.

Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian told ARMENPRESS in an interview that Armenian, Greek, Kurdish, Indian, Jewish groups, the Middle East Forum, IDC, other Christian and human rights organizations  in other words all organizations that are interested in security and stability in regions surrounding Turkey  the Eastern Mediterranean, Caucasus, the Middle East - are all fighting against the Turkish drone program in the United States.

Senator Menendez asked about this during a congressional hearing, he didnt get an answer yet but he asked. And then there was this letter sent, a letter signed by 28 members of congress asking the administration to investigate the Turkish drones. This is becoming a big issue in D.C., Hamparian said.

In turn, Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council Endy Zemenides told ARMENPRESS that the Turkish drone program must stop because these UAVs are used not for defense but for attack  thus playing a destabilizing role in several conflict zones, including in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone.

Zemenides finds the Turkish drone program inadmissible not only because of its destabilizing impact on regional security, but also because it made Turkey resort to war more easily by not worrying about casualties because they dont have to send in a single soldier.

Here is my big problem with it. First of all because as I have told people when you go to war as a country you say how much blood and treasure am I going to sacrifice? And when Turkey doesnt have to sacrifice blood, when they are sending drones and Syrian mercenaries they resort to war more easily. When the whole world was looking for a diplomatic conversation, a solution to the tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Artsakh, when you dont have to worry about losing a life you dont care if the other people die. So this is one of my first problems with the drones. The drones are not used to stabilize, they are not used to get to diplomatic solution, they are inherently a destabilizing factor and because we know what the nature of internal politics is in Turkey its an easy thing to say ok we have a problem lets send drones and kill people.

Unfortunately war has become much of a video game, he continued, mentioning that even the Americans are debating how a lot of people in the American society are starting not to care about sending the military due to the narrower demographics that serves in the armed forces. But think about this in Turkey, they dont have to send a single soldier, they dont have to risk a single Turkish life, so I think that makes war more likely, thats the danger. These are not defensive weapons, these are offensive weapons, they have not used them to protect within the borders of Turkey, they have used them in Artsakh, they have used them in Libya, they have used them in Syria and everywhere else they say they are using them.

According to Zemenides, if before there was some political expedience in Washington ignoring its values because Turkey was serving some interests, then now, especially after Turkey bought the Russian S-400 missile systems, Turkey doesnt serve these interests any longer.

Not only didnt we share fundamental values, we had a clash on fundamental interests. And this is the same thing on the drones. When the US is searching for diplomacy in Artsakh you cannot introduce drones in there, Zemenides said, referring to the Turkish deployment of Bayraktars to attack Armenians in Artsakh. When the US wants foreign armies out of Libya and the new Libyan constitution, you cannot have foreign armies there. When the US wants to fight ISIS, you cannot use the drones to hit Kurds, when the US wants stability, you dont introduce a destabilizing factor of these drones. So to me the drones is like a second awakening after the S-400s and F35s, that this blank check that Turkey has been getting in the US defense industry should be scrutinized, he added, concluding that the destabilizing Turkey is directly contradicting the interests of stability-seeking United States.

Earlier in August, 27 U.S. Representatives demanded an investigation into the Turkish drone program. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the congressmen expressed alarm and concern over the Turkish drone program which has destabilized multiple regions of the globe and threatens U.S. interests, allies, and partners.

Interview by Aram Sargsyan

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. The Parliament of Armenia is holding a session today.

The lawmakers will debate the governments 2021-2026 action plan during todays session.

The Cabinet approved the action plan on August 18.

The action plan consists of 6 sections  security and foreign policy, economy, infrastructure development, human capital development, law and justice, and institutional development.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that his administration has two obligations before the majority of voters  to establish a dictatorship of law and rights, and to open a peaceful era of peaceful development for Armenia and the region.

This is the brief description of the mandate which the government formed by the results of the peoples vote received. We must note that the governments action plan was developed in the context of these very two actions. All others are essentially directly or indirectly related to these two cornerstones, and the government will act in this logic, Pashinyan said in parliament during debates of the governments program.

The establishment of national unity based on law and rights, mutual respect, exclusion of hate and humiliating speech is one of the primary objectives of the government. At the same time, the misconception of democracy as fertile ground for impunity is creating the most serious dangers to law and order, public safety and the rule of law. The Civil Contract party, the government formed by it have received from the people a mandate to establish a dictatorship of law and rights in Armenia and will steadily fulfill this mandate, Pashinyan quoted the action plans introduction.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Minister of High Technological Industry Vahagn Khachaturyan received Ambassador of China to Armenia Fan Yong and his delegation, the ministry told Armenpress.

Highlighting Chinas great role and experience in development of world economy and high technologies, the minister stated that the development of bilateral cooperation is very important for Armenia.

He noted that the ministry is providing support to the private sector to develop in the high-tech industry.

Our country is in such situation when there is a need to change the logic of the development of the economy. We must turn from an importing country to an exporting country, also in terms of advanced technologies, he said.

The Chinese Ambassador congratulated the minister on assuming office and stated that the development of cooperation of the Armenian high-tech ministry with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technologies is very prospective.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. The post-war recovery of Artsakh, the activeness of economic life, solution of social problems of displaced persons and the preservation of its cultural and religious heritage will be under the spotlight of the Armenian government, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in the Parliament today.

All efforts will be made to create dignified and normal conditions in Artsakh. The government will achieve this goal by deepening the joint cooperation with the authorities of Artsakh, as well as creating new partnership formats with Artsakh, the PM said.

He recalled his roadmap released on November 18, 2020, where he emphasized the importance of assisting Artsakh.

He stated that as of this moment the government has provided 82 billion 863 drams to Artsakh.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Nicholas Brendon has been arrested for allegedly using false information to obtain prescription drugs.

The former 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' actor - who played Xander Harris throughout the show's entire run from 1997 to 2003 - has been charged with prescription fraud and was being held at the Vigo County Jail.

He has since been released, and the 50-year-old actor jail records obtained by TMZ show he has also been charged with a misdemeanour for allegedly not properly identifying himself to police.

It's claimed he showed officers a California ID bearing the name Kelton Schultz, who he said was his brother.

Although Brendon does have an identical twin, his name is Kelly Donovan.

It's not yet known if he's entered a plea on either of the two charges.

On August 18, he was pulled over by police in Terre Haute after he allegedly failed to signal and was serving.

According to the report, he "appeared nervous due to a visibly racing pulse on his neck and shaking hands".

After searching the car, officers found one pill bottle with medication prescribed to him, and another for amphetamine salts prescribed to Kelton Schultz.

The actor has also been serving a three-year probation service after he pleaded guilty last year to domestic battery for an alleged domestic altercation with his girlfriend.

And in 2015, Brendon pleaded guilty to criminal mischief after allegedly grabbing his girlfriend, stealing her car keys and smashing her phone.

That year, he was arrested four times and went checked into rehab in the summer to receive treatment for substance abuse, depression and alcoholism.

Then, in the October, he once again went into rehab and thanked his fans for their "love and support".

He said at the time: "Well my beautiful people I'm off to Florida for 90 days of treatment.

"I love you all so much and I truly do appreciate all of your love and support. We're going to beat this.

"#kickingdepressionintheballsack #loveyou #huglife (sic)"
The other interesting aspect of recent years is the introduction of new laws that have taken India in a particular direction

I had written a couple of weeks ago about how Indias middle class has completely stopped growing in recent years. The leading indicators of our economy  the sales of residential properties, cars, two-wheelers, consumer durables (fridges, washing machines, televisions)  have been flat. The borrowing by businesses of money from banks has been at less than a third of what it was a decade ago. The governments periodic labour force survey released a few weeks ago showed that, for the first time, more people were employed in agriculture than in the previous period. Meaning that people had left their jobs in manufacturing or in services, or they had been sacked, and had gone to work on the farm.

Manufacturing jobs in the formal sector have reduced rather than increased in the last few years. Perhaps in a parallel development, tens of thousands of dollar millionaire Indians, meaning those worth `7 crores or more, have left India in the last four years. I have examined the things above in my next book and have written about this in this column too. The other interesting aspect of recent years is the introduction of new laws that have taken India in a particular direction. The Gujarat high court criticised some parts of a so-called love jihad law a few days ago. But similar laws have been enacted in several states since 2014. The laws are aimed at making marriage difficult if not impossible between Hindus and Muslims by criminalising conversion, which is ostensibly a fundamental right of all Indians.

These are the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act 2018, the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 2019; the Uttar Pradesh Vidhi Viruddh Dharma Samparivartan Pratishedh Adhyadesh 2020 (Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance); Madhya Pradesh Dharma Swatantreya Adhyadesh 2020; and the Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Act 2021.

All these laws have come in BJP-ruled states, all of them have come in the last three years and none of them has been justified by any data.

Before this, the BJP states were passing laws against beef possession. The laws were the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act 2015 (passed by the Devendra Fadnavis government); the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act 2015; the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill 2017; and the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Ordinance 2020.

In Gujarat, the punishment for cow slaughter is life imprisonment. No other economic crime attracts this sentence, and Indian law says cow slaughter is not a religious crime but an economic one. Once again, all these laws came after 2014 and in this instance began a spate of lynchings of Muslims that the world noticed.

Readers may have heard of the UAPA law under which Stan Swamy was jailed and died in custody. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act 2019 allows the government to categorise any individual as a terrorist, on suspicion. Such an individual need not have any affiliation with any terrorist organisation to be called a terrorist and jailed. The amendment defines a terrorist act as one which causes injuries to any person, damage to any property, an attempt to overawe any public functionary by means of criminal force and any act to compel the government or any person to do or abstain from doing any act etc. It also includes any act that is likely to threaten or likely to strike terror in people, giving absolute power to the government to brand any citizen or activist a terrorist without these acts being actually committed.

The Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Act 2019 is a law that keeps Gujarati Muslims segregated and ghettoised. People are required by law to reveal their religion while selling and purchasing property. In areas that were declared disturbed by the state, Hindus cannot sell to Muslims and vice versa without government permission. The amendment that was cleared in 2019 gave the district collector the authority to determine if the sale of a property would lead to the improper clustering of Muslims.

It also gave the government further powers to review the decision of the collector, even if the buyer and seller made no appeal. In effect, even foreigners can lease and buy property in those parts of Gujarats cities where Indian Muslims cannot. These laws are used in India quite freely, and there is no real restriction or curbs on the government because misuse is not punished and there is no accountability even for deaths in custody.

I do not know how many readers are familiar with these laws, and if they are, whether they are surprised by these changes that have come to India since 2014.

The curious thing for me as a writer is that there is no real debate on what these laws have done to this country. There is not even any comment on them in our newspapers. This is similar to the facts and data on the economy.

These numbers quoted above are not disputed by the government or by anyone who supports it. They are merely not commented on, and it is assumed to be fine that Indias middle class has stopped growing. Similarly, it is assumed to be fine that since 2014, India has left its moorings as a pluralist, modern, secular state because that is how the BJP would like it to be.
Indias first real brush with the Taliban came during the December 1999 Indian Airlines IC-814 hijacking

The consistent stand of India, whether it was that of the BJP-led NDA or the Congress-led UPA, was that there are no good Taliban or bad Taliban, and that the Taliban as Islamic terrorists were all bad. Representational Image. (PTI)

There are some genuine problems plaguing Indias relationship with the Taliban, though the Indian strategic games in this matter have been quite clumsy. That the Taliban have been fully supported by Pakistan is the biggest hurdle in all India-Taliban interactions. That is why, in 1996 and later India, bent over backwards to support the Northern Alliance of Ahmad Shah Masoud. Even as the Taliban had control over 95 per cent of Afghan territory in 1996, India was making a desperate bid to prop up the Northern Alliance. India had maintained a military field hospital in Mazar-e-Sharif, and airbases in Tajikistan were also being used to reach Mazar-e-Sharif. Even as some of Indias top strategy experts visited Mazar-e-Sharif, a few Indian journalists travelled to Kabul and saw the emergence of the Taliban. Parliament had roundly condemned the wanton destruction of Bamiyan Buddha statues in March 2001 because the Taliban were indulging in in-your- face fanaticism and cultural terrorism.

Indias first real brush with the Taliban came during the December 1999 Indian Airlines IC-814 hijacking, where the airliner was diverted from Delhi to Lahore to Dubai and finally to Kandahar, as it was refused permission to land in Lahore, a cunning ploy by Pakistan. Kandahar was the base of the Taliban. They did not negotiate because they did not have to. They guarded the plane even as the terrorists bargained for the release of Masood Azhar and the others. When Azhar and the two others were taken to Kandahar, from where his fellow terrorists whisked them away in a jeep, the Taliban played a dubiously neutral role throughout the hijack drama.

India had no means of dealing with the Taliban and then external affairs minister Jaswant Singh had even contemplated seeking Irans mediation to get the help of the Taliban as India could not have asked Pakistan to mediate with the Taliban, barely six months after the May-July Kargil war. It was also clearly implied that the Taliban had facilitated the safe passage of Masood and his fellow terrorists, even as they played a neutral role of safeguarding the plane, allowing the Indian team to land there and arrange for the Indian Airlines aircraft to be flown back. They paid an unacknowledged debt of sorts to Pakistan.

The consistent stand of India, whether it was that of the BJP-led NDA or the Congress-led UPA, was that there are no good Taliban or bad Taliban, and that the Taliban as Islamic terrorists were all bad. The position of all governments was clear: there cannot be any dialogue with the Islamic terrorists. In May 2011, when Osama bin Laden was killed by American special forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, many Indian diplomats who had been taking part in Track Two discussions had been saying that Islamabad was trying to persuade New Delhi to talk to the Taliban, saying that the Taliban were not what they were in 1996-2001. But India seemed to have stuck to its position of having nothing to do with Islamic terrorists.

Were the Taliban really Islamic terrorists? Strictly speaking, they were a fanatical lot, and though they unleashed a reign of terror against fellow Afghans, they did not carry out terror attacks outside their own land. But India was also not too off the mark to believe that the Taliban were at least partners in Islamic terrorism. After all, their refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden to the Americans after the September 11, 2001, attacks on America proved that. The Taliban now say that they would not allow terrorist organisations to use Afghanistan as a base, perhaps a bitter lesson they have learnt from 2001.

The dilemma for India on how to deal with the Taliban remains even after 20 years. Though the Taliban are the rulers of Afghanistan, they still carry the tag, at least in the context of India-Pakistan relations, of being proxy players for Pakistan. The Taliban are sure to insist that they are only for Afghanistan and that they are not batting for Pakistan. But there is a symbiotic relationship between the two, and it seems that its more with Pakistan PM Imran Khan, a Pashtun himself, in the saddle in Islamabad. Pakistan has already begun to play a mediatory role in trying to convince other nations to recognise the Taliban government in Kabul. Pakistans close ally, China, has taken the initiative of establishing an equation with the Taliban. The Russians are keen to get back to their old role of influencing events in Afghanistan. This time it is a nationalist, traditional Russian Orthodox Church government of President Vladimir Putin that has decided to play ball with the Islamist Taliban, in contrast to the Communist and atheistic Soviet Union of the 1980s. Shia Iran, despite doctrinal differences with the Sunni fundamentalist Taliban, is not averse to keep the links with the Taliban. And because of Russia, Afghanistans northern neighbours, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, are forced to adopt a neutral stance towards the Taliban. India remains isolated once again in Afghanistan, with the Taliban at the helm and Pakistan in a position of advantage.

It is hard to ignore the fact that a majority of educated, urban Afghans are opposed to the Taliban and to Pakistans intrusive role in the countrys affairs through the Islamist organisation, and clearly prefer the benign and democratic presence of India.

Afghanistan has been traditionally friendly towards India, much before the Soviet Union and the United States made it their playground, and Afghanistan has always been wary of Pakistan. It is the refugee problem arising out of the Soviet occupation that gave Islamabad the leverage and opportunity to set up the mujahideen groups with the help of the American government and its CIA and play a subversive role in Afghanistan.

Even after losing ground after the defeat of the Taliban in 2001, Pakistan vigorously opposed Indias role in Afghanistan, especially in security matters. The Americans were thus forced to push India to the margins, confining Indias role to economic reconstruction activities. With the return of the Taliban, transformed or not, and an Imran Khan government leaning towards Sunni fundamentalism, India again loses its toehold in Afghanistan. India will have to bide its time as the people of Afghanistan still look up to democratic India than to a hostile Pakistan.
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With nothing except for some black tape on its lower sides and blacked-out rear windows, how can we tell? Well, here is a tip from our spy photographers . Companies that are testing vehicles with high voltage technology need to let rescue specialists know that those prototypes feature that kind of setup, so they place one or more stickers on the vehicle.As you may have seen in our spy shot galleries, some prototypes have a sticker that says "Hybrid Test Vehicle" on their bumpers, which is the system preferred by the BMW Group.Meanwhile, at Porsche, it appears that the company prefers a yellow round sticker on the front and rear windows. It is believed that the blacked-out rear windows conceal various sensors and their corresponding computers placed behind the front seats, as well as the battery for the hybrid system. The former will go away for the production model, while the battery will be concealed.The hybrid version of the 911, based on the 922 generation, is reportedly set to become the version of the model that will provide the highest performance. The former Is not a rumor, but a statement previously made by Porsche CEO Oliver Blume. The hybrid version would come without a charging plug, and it is reportedly using a 400-Volt electrical system.So, do not expect the upcoming 911 hybrid to be a fuel-sipping variant meant to be as economical as possible. Instead, expect it to be quicker than the Turbo model it is based on. A hefty price tag is also to be expected, but we are about a year away from the moment that version will be released. The hybrid version of the 911 is expected to be called 911 Turbo E-Hybrid. Porsche is expected to reveal the hybrid version of the 911 with the model's facelift, codenamed 992.2 . That means we should see more prototypes like this later this year, as well as ones that are closer to production spec as we move closer to 2022.
Sky watching is fun no matter where you are. I took this short time lapse movie to watch for clouds, and caught something else: look closely and youll see Deimos, one of two moons of Mars.



More on this tiny moon: https://t.co/TzHMc0aIS3 pic.twitter.com/akfbhfsw33  NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) August 20, 2021

So far, the rover has captured over 75,000 photos, showing incredible views of mystery rocks, cliffs, and its little helicopter buddy Ingenuity in flight. As Perseverance is paving the way for future human missions on Mars, the rover showcases technologies that could be employed to aid astronauts. These include looking up sometimes to study the weather, dust, and other potential environmental factors that could affect future astronauts living and working on the Red Planet.Recently, as the rover was taking a short time lapse movie to watch for clouds, it caught something else with its onboard camera: one of the two Martian moons hovering in the sky. Named after the god of fear and terror in Greek mythology, Deimos is truly a tiny moon compared to our planet's natural satellite, measuring only 2.3 km (1.4 miles) in diameter.It is crisscrossed by dozens of impact craters, yet the partial filling of some of the craters gives it a smooth appearance. Because that moon's surface lacks the gravitational pull to hold the ejecta, dust and debris will leave the moon after a collision. However, Mars' gravitational pull will keep a ring of material around the planet in roughly the same orbit as Deimos. That's how the debris gets redeposited as a dusty layer on the moon's surface as it revolves around the Red Planet. Perseverance will continue its mission on Mars. The rover recently attempted to gather up samples by drilling up a hole in the soil. Because the initial attempt failed, the rover is gearing up for its second try, this time in another location called Citadelle.
Well, it is complicated, as it was Hyundai's brand and communications design that were awarded by the Red Dot.So, how does that work? Well, Red Dot judged all the technology campaigns on the market and found Hyundai's Little Big e-Motion as Best of Best in the Film and Animation category.What was that campaign about? It was based on the company's Emotion Adaptive Vehicle Control tech, which helps young patients go from their hospital beds to their treatment rooms and back. The same technology was distinguished with a Silver by the 2021 New York Festival Advertising Award committee.The Ioniq 5 's Infotainment system's Jong-e (paper in Korean) theme was also considered to be the Best of Best in the Interface and User Experience category, which marks a first win for the marque in this class. The jurors of the Red Dot awards awarded it with the distinction due to the various interior ambiance settings, the exuberant color gradients, its parametric pixel design elements, and the delicate way all those were put together on a screen.Fifteen other campaigns and designs from Hyundai were awarded across seven categories of the Red Dot Design Awards for Brands and Communication Design. "This is Us", Hyundai's campaign that shows hope and solidarity to overcome Covid-19, won the Film and Animation category.The Aqua Theme Design of Hyundai's infotainment system also won a Red Dot Award, which is the second distinction in the field this year for the same element, after it received the iF Design Award. Hyundai 's creative teams were also awarded for their advertising campaigns, like the Q Ambient for the London Eye , but also the H2U campaign.
HP

Commissioned by the Japanese automaker from European artists, the series was inspired by vintage travel posters. Each creator used different styles and materials to highlight the LC Convertible, with their designs complementing the smooth lines of the car.Artists such as Rebecca Pymar (UK), Hans Christiansen (Sweden), Marc Lamers (The Netherlands), David de la Heras (Spain), Danii Pollehn (Germany), and Matthieu Forichon (France), as well as Windfors Tbilisi ad agency (Georgia), have each signed one poster, and their creations can be viewed in our image gallery.Toyotas luxury auto brand is encouraging its fanbase to vote for their most popular travel posters. Web surfers can do so on Lexus official social media channels in Europe or at this link . Voting is open from August 23 to September 5. Each participant will have the option to sign up and enter a prize draw to win one of the ten framed prints of the most popular poster, and a selection of Lexus goodies that has yet to be detailed.Launched in 2020 for global markets, the LC Convertible is also available in the United States. Lexus is offering it in two special versions named the LC 500 Convertible and LC 500 Convertible Inspiration Series, with MSRPs of $101,100 and $119,900 respectively.Both use the same naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces 471and 398 lb-ft (540 Nm) of torque, and is paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. The 0 to 62 mph (0-100 kph) sprint is dealt with in 4.6 seconds, and on a long straight, they will eventually max out at 168 mph (270 kph).The LC 500 Coupe starts at $93,050, and for the LC 500h, customers are looking at a minimum of $97,610 before destination, dealer fees, and options.
One team keeping up with technological advancements in the RV industry is Wingamm. If youve never heard of this team, dont worry, its one reason why autoevolution is here, to inform. Back in 1977, the Turri brothers decided they would start producing their own outfitted vans. Years later, in 1982, this Italian manufacturer started including full-blown motor homes and the Oasi(s) line was created.Today, this team includes an array of RVs and other vehicle add-ons or towables that are the peak of modern Italian design and lifestyle. Heck, check out the Oasi 540 that we recently featured, its bonkers to say the least.But, in the time this team has been around, theyve also brought to light another desired construction, the travel trailer. The trailer youll be getting to know today is known as the Rookie 3.5. Why bring to light another travel trailer? Simple. This one seems to be using some of the freshest building techniques around and, as a result, yields quite the capable construction. I mean, it even includes a friggin wet bath. Yes, in that small of a build.What makes this puppy really special is the monocoque fiberglass body. These sorts of constructions ensure that your mobile home experiences as little deterioration as possible; there are no seams or joints that water or other elements can leak through or affect.To ensure a warm dwelling, the 3.5 is also equipped with polyurethane foam insulation and completely free of any metallic objects that may act as a thermal bridge. For lack of better words, youd better keep this puppy aerated as it sounds impervious.But being weather-tight is not the only benefit of this camper's construction. Because one continuous piece of fiberglass is used, the end product is a rather light one that can even be towed by a Fiat 500 Abarth , according to the images provided by Wingamm. With a weight ranging between 750 kg (1,653 lbs) and 1,000 kg (2,204 lbs), based on the options you choose, the interior is mind-blowingly packed.At the front of the 3.5, a modular dinette is large enough to accommodate four guests during a meal or chat, and when its time to go to bed, this area transforms into a double bed suitable for two sleepy guests. Oh, the cushions to this dinette are completed from eco-leather.Center the trailer, a storage cabinet and kitchen viz-a-vis include features a sink and a two-burner stovetop, not to mention a 70-liter (18.5-gallon) trivalent fridge. The storage cabinet includes several drawers and plenty of prep space above, and even a TV above the area. That last one is probably optional.As for the final feature inside this seemingly small trailer, its a bathroom. A full-size wet bath with a cassette toilet, sink and faucet, and separate shower corner, is the sort of comfort that older travel trailers could have only dreamed of including, someday. Well, that someday is here, and it looks quite nice. There's even room for a wardrobe in this sucker.Even though Wingamm makes no mention of what other features youll find in a Rookie 3.5, but judging by the images in the gallery, this sucker can be tuned to be the vehicle of your dreams. Take the massive skylight overhead, or the large lateral windows. I bet that if you told this team what your dream trailer looks like, theyd do everything in their power to make it happen , after all, its good business to do so. But remember, a customization process will cost you a pretty penny.Now, these babies arent cheap with some dealers and distributors pushing their rates well into the 25,000 ($29,369 at current exchange rates) and above range, so be prepared with a decent wad cash.But, with building techniques and features like these, its a travel trailer to consider for future acquisitions. Even if you dont buy one, you now know the direction things are heading for the RV industry and what sort of prices to expect.
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Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will introduce a new Iran policy when he meets with President Biden on Thursday.

Why it matters: With nuclear talks stalled and the White House consumed by the crisis in Afghanistan, Israeli officials worry that Iran will continue to develop its nuclear program without any pressure from the U.S. or its European allies.

The state of play: Efforts to return to the nuclear deal are now in limbo with a new hardline government in Tehran and no talks for several weeks.

Israeli officials worry that the U.S. and its European allies aren't working on a "Plan B" should diplomacy fail.

Bennett's government feels that a return to the 2015 deal is already useless because the Iranian advances in enrichment and nuclear research and development will mean a revived deal won't provide the same non-proliferation benefits, an Israeli official told reporters on Thursday.

Bennett intends to register those concerns while also signaling a break from his predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu's policies.

What they're saying: We got a very difficult inheritance from the previous government about Iran. After all of the rhetoric (by Netanyahu), Iran is closer than ever to a nuclear weapon. There was a disconnect between the previous governments rhetoric and the results," the Israeli official said.

The new Israeli government has just completed an Iran policy review and developed "a holistic strategy" to deal with Irans uranium enrichment, nuclear weaponization efforts and regional aggression, the official said.

It's unclear exactly how the policy differs from Netanyahu's, though Bennett has been far more cautious about picking a public fight with the U.S. administration.

Driving the news: Bennett will arrive in Washington on Tuesday evening for his first visit as prime minister.

He faces growing criticism at home for his handling of COVID-19. President Biden, meanwhile, is focused on the Afghanistan crisis.

Bennett wanted to make the trip now, despite those challenges, because of the sense of urgency around Iran's nuclear acceleration in recent months, the Israeli official said.

When efforts to arrange the meeting began, it appeared that a U.S. return to the 2015 nuclear deal was imminent. That seems increasingly unlikely under Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, according to the official.
Cruise lines are tightening pandemic protocols as the Delta variant of COVID-19 surges globally, with Carnival Cruise Line the latest to tighten vaccine requirements.

Why it matters: Cruise ships were a coronavirus epicenter early in the pandemic, and the CDC advised last Friday that people at increased risk of severe illness from the coronavirus should avoid traveling on cruises.

What's happening: The Bahamas' government imposed an emergency order last Thursday banning ships from the country unless everyone over 12 was inoculated against the virus, effective Sept. 3.

Royal Caribbean imposed this vaccination requirement the same day.

Carnival announced Sunday that from Sept. 3 all guests over 12 years old on cruise lines calling on ports in the Bahamas must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 unless they have a medical exemption.

"Effective Aug. 28 through October, for departures from all Atlantic and Gulf homeports, only children under 12 and adults with a medical condition that prohibits their vaccination are exempt from vaccination requirements to sail," Carnival added in its statement.

For the record: The Carnival Vista saw the biggest outbreak of coronavirus cases since cruises resumed in the U.S. and Caribbean last June, with 27 people testing positive for COVID-19 after sailing out from Galveston, Texas, in late July and early August, per the New York Times.

One of those passengers later died of the virus in an Oklahoma hospital, though Carnival spokesperson Chris Chiames said in an emailed statement to Axios that the woman "almost certainly did not contract COVID on our ship."

Royal Caribbean saw six guests test positive for the virus on the Adventure of the Seas ship, the NYT notes.

Both cruise companies responded by further tightening measures.

Of note: Several cruise companies are defying Florida's vaccine passports ban  notably Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which has filed a lawsuit challenging the order by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

What they're saying: "Carnival has implemented a suite of protocols that are designed to flex up as needed to adapt to the changing public health situation related to COVID-19," Chiames said.

"We meet the standards for a vaccinated cruise as defined by the CDC, with at least 95 percent of our guests and all of our crew being vaccinated, and then implemented additional measures, as we are now requiring vaccinated guests to present both proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test at check-in.

"Those few guests who cannot be vaccinated are tested twice before boarding the ship, and again at debarkation. And all guests must wear masks in the indoor areas of the ship where people gather, such as dining rooms, theaters and casinos," Chiames added.

"Unfortunately, no venue on land or at sea is COVID-free right now, but we are committed to protecting the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we visit and have not hesitated to act quickly and go beyond existing public health guidelines."
On August 23, the Armenian defense minister attended the opening ceremony for the Army-2021 military-industrial exhibition and the International Army Games that was held at the Russian Patriot Center near Moscow.

According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, on the same day Karapetian held a number of meetings with the heads of major Russian military-industrial companies to discuss a number of issues of mutual interest.

Karapetian then discussed the whole range of issues of Armenian-Russian military-technical cooperation with director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev and director of the Rosoboronexport Company Alexander Mikheyev, the Armenian ministry said.

Talking to media while in Russia, Karapetian said that Armenia intends to purchase only modern types of weapons. It is better for us to have fewer, but quality weapons to know for sure that these weapons will work, he stressed.

The minister also said that Armenia will seek to have its own weapons production, adding that in this the country has support in terms of joint ventures. We will do it quickly. As a nation we should be able to produce our own weapons, Karapetian said.

On August 23, the ministry also reported that Deputy Defense Minister Karen Brutian was in Moscow to sign contracts in the military-technical sphere and negotiate deliveries.

The contacts of Armenian officials with representatives of major Russian arms industry companies come after an August 11 meeting between Karapetian and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu in Moscow.

During that meeting Shoygu said that Russia will continue to help Armenia reform and modernize its armed forces. We can consider that the process of arms supplies to Armenia has started, the Russian defense minister said as he handed a dagger as a gift to his Armenian counterpart.

The announcement apparently angered Azerbaijan, which defeated Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh in last years 44-day war and now objects to Russias continuing to arm Armenia.

In an interview to CNN Turk television on August 14 Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev argued that while the Armenian people and their leadership have put up with the defeat in the war, continuing to arm Armenia appears illogical.

We expect that Russia will stop arming Armenia, we dont see it at the moment, Aliyev said.

Responding to Aliyevs remarks, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that supplying weapons to other countries was Moscows sovereign right.

At a news briefing in Moscow on August 19 she reminded that Russia has supplied weapons not only to Armenia, its key military and political ally in the South Caucasus, but also to Azerbaijan.

It is Russias sovereign right, and the Russian side always takes into account the need to maintain a balance of military power in the region, Zakharova said.

Russia deployed about 2,000 peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh after brokering a ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan to put an end to six weeks of deadly fighting in the region last November.
In presenting his governments action plan for 2021-2026 in the National Assembly, Pashinian spoke about opportunities of ending Armenias transport blockade that has lasted for three decades due to a protracted conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

One of the provisions of the November 9, 2020 trilateral statement of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia that put an end to six weeks of deadly fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh mostly on Bakus terms commits the sides to unblocking all economic and transport links in the region. The document specifically refers to a link between mainland Azerbaijan and its western exclave of Nakhichevan.

Azerbaijan has interpreted this provision as an opportunity to get a corridor via Armenias southern Syunik region to Nakhichevan and farther to Turkey. Armenia has insisted, however, that no transport link should have the status of a corridor.

This is a serious opportunity to break the blockade of the Republic of Armenia that has been going on for about 30 years. This is not a simple process; it is aggravated by the provocative statements of the Azerbaijani side about corridors, Pashinian said in parliament, again emphasizing that neither the November 9, 2020 nor the January 11, 2021 trilateral statements contain any expression, reference or wording about a corridor through the territory of Armenia.

It is about something else. Just as Armenia should get a road through Azerbaijan to be linked with Russia and Iran, so Azerbaijan should get a road through Armenia as a transport link between its western regions and Nakhichevan, the Armenian prime minister said.

Pashinian acknowledged that opening up regional transport links contains certain risks for Armenias interests.

That is why we have mentioned in the governments program that while this unblocking should be one of the priorities of Armenias foreign policy, the process should not take place at the expense of the security and vital interests of Armenia and Artsakh (the Armenian name for Nagorno-Karabakh), Pashinian said. If we want to create a favorable regional environment around Armenia, we ought to make Armenia a favorable environment for the region, but on the principle of reciprocity -- no more, no less. This is our strategic security challenge.

The Armenian premier said that stability and peace in the region are his governments long-term strategy, while the deepening and normalization of relations with neighboring countries will be one of the major directions of its foreign policy.

The deepening of hostility is a threat to the stability and security of the region. Overcoming hostility can become an axis of the regional foreign policy agenda, Pashinian said.

Pashinian also said that it is necessary to start the process of border delimitation and demarcation with Azerbaijan as soon as possible, for which purpose he again called for a mutual withdrawal of Armenian and Azerbaijani forces from areas near the Sotk-Khoznavar section of the border.
Speaking to lawmakers on August 24 to introduce the governments new five-year plan, Pashinian said that the fate of another 243 soldiers remains unknown, while some captives held in Azerbaijan have yet to return home.

He added that thousands were displaced as a result of the fighting, causing extraordinary socio-economic damage as part of the severe consequences of the war.

Armenia-backed ethnic Armenian forces established control over Nagorno-Karabakh and some surrounding areas in a war with Azerbaijan in the early 1990s. The two sides have skirmished regularly over the years, but a major fighting that broke out in the region last September resulted in Baku regaining control of the surrounding districts, and much of Nagorno-Karabakh itself.

Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to a Russian-brokered cease-fire in early November 2020, resulting in the deployment of 2,000 Russian peacekeeping forces to the conflict zone.

Azerbaijan has reported 2,783 of its soldiers were killed in the fighting.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) - The Scottsdale Unified School District sent a letter to parents and staff Monday explaining some of the changes that will be made for their regular board meeting Tuesday.

A special meeting was held last week, where board members voted 4-1 in favor of a mask mandate. The letter sent out today states, "in the intervening days, there has been some confusion regarding the difference between a public hearing and a public comment that we would like to clarify. It is SUSD's practice to take public comment only at the regular meetings of the Governing Board. The district does not take public comment at special meetings, and it is not required to do so under Arizona Open Meetings Law."

When public hearings are required, those are conducted separately on the agenda and any member of the public can speak to the specific topic that is being discussed.

To keep the peace and stay the course of the discussion, the Governing Board held a virtual public hearing this evening to discuss the Instructional Time Model, which will be voted on Tuesday. At the end of the meeting, parents and staff could call in with any questions regarding that topic. For the most part, the two callers stayed the course, but one couldn't hold back on how they felt.

"It's an absolute disgrace that you guys are not holding meetings in person. Let's get back to in person meetings. The parents want to interact in person and not online," the parent said.

For the regular board meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 24, it will be held in-person at Coronado High School. Staff members who are needed to address specific agenda items will be allowed in the room, however the public will not be allowed inside. Once the public comment section of the meeting starts, one individual at a time will be invited in to address the Governing Board. Masks are required inside the boardroom.

SUSD said they came up with this decision after discussions with Scottsdale police in light of past experiences.

In May, the Governing Board had to recess its meeting after members of the public refused to wear a mask as required by the district.

Last week, during the special meeting that was being held virtually, one person was arrested during the protest outside of the district headquarters. SUSD said that person was not an SUSD parent and was not a Scottsdale resident.

SUSD also said in their letter that "many of the people who created disruption at the May 18 meeting were also not from Scottsdale, and social media chatter indicates that it is likely they will return for tomorrow's meeting.

The meeting Tuesday starts at 6 .pm.
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - Fifth-grade student Gabriel Robbins is taking classes online through the Arizona Virtual Academy. His first grade sister Anina is learning online, as well.

Their parents decided virtual learning is a better option right now, with so many students catching COVID-19 in Arizona classrooms. "It seems with the Delta variant going on, there are more cases that involve children," said parent Souraya Robbins. "My children are seemingly healthy, but so are other kids that have been getting really sick. It's not a risk I am willing to take."

The push for in-person instruction has been front and center to start the new school year, but the pandemic and latest spike in COVID-19 cases has a lot of moms and dads re-evaluating what's best for their children.

Bailey Badillo doesn't want her 6-year old son Mateo getting sick, and doesn't like the idea of him wearing a mask, so she enrolled him into an online program with Primavera Online School. "The idea of wearing a mask all day long is a tough thing to ask of a kid," said Badillo. "To have him be able to be at home and be a little more comfortable made more sense to us."

The recent rash of COVID-19 cases among children has brought online schools back into the spotlight.

Amy Discher is director of guidance with Primavera Online School. She said one of the biggest things they can offer parents right now is stability: not having to worry about positive cases on campus, possible quarantines, or a sudden shift to online instruction. "The great thing about online is that you're at home, not having to worry about other students and their germs, or teachers not really having to worry about Covid cases," said Discher. "One of the great things about being online is that you are not having the mask policy issue or the debate. It's just a non issue."

A number of parents claim full-time, online schools are better equipped to provide virtual learning than traditional public and charter schools, which offer it as a secondary option. However, critics of virtual learning insist there is no substitute for the social benefits of children interacting with friends and teachers.

Most public and charter schools in Arizona offer an online option. However, students are not allowed to switch back and forth from in-person learning to virtual instruction.

Students have to wait until after the semester or quarter before going online, or returning to the classroom.

Another issue that has popped up is that public schools do not allow kids to switch back and forth from virtual to in-person education. Kids must commit to one or the other for an entire semester or quarter.

Critics of virtual learning say there's no replacement for kids being in class interacting with other students and teachers.
Requirements of stipulated judgment

BPD must:

Revise use-of-force policies and principles to include focusing on the concepts of necessity, proportionality, and de-escalation; require officers to intervene; define an imminent threat justifying lethal force that is consistent with current California law; prohibit the use of electronic control weapons on handcuffed individuals and children; require employees to avoid restraining a subject face down whenever possible; and provide that the conduct of both the officer and subject leading up to a use of deadly force must be included in evaluating the incident;

Modify canine-related policies and training, ensuring that canine deployments are carried out in a manner consistent with bark and hold techniques to search for and locate subjects, rather than immediately resorting to force;

Expand and improve use-of-force reporting, requiring anything above a standard hand-cuffing to be reported, and holding officers accountable for material omissions or inaccuracies in use-of-force statements;

Require supervisory investigations for all reportable uses of force, taking steps to hold supervisors accountable for not detecting, adequately investigating, or responding to force that is unreasonable or otherwise contrary to policy;

Strengthen use-of-force training, working with the independent monitor to enhance de-escalation techniques and interactive exercises that illustrate proper use-of-force decision-making;

Regularly assess trends in use-of-force data, and meet with a community advisory panel to receive input on policies and procedures from community representatives and organizations;

Analyze the Racial and Identity Profiling Act data on a semi-annual basis and consult with the monitor to develop any necessary improvements to policies and procedures related to bias-free policing;

Ensure stops, searches and seizures comply with the law, as part of an effective overall crime prevention strategy that does not contribute to counter-productive tension with the community;

Enhance and revise training with respect to investigatory stops, reiterating that race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, or sexual orientation are not to be used as a factor in establishing reasonable suspicion or probable cause, except as part of actual and credible descriptions of a specific suspect;

Provide crisis intervention training to all dispatchers and their supervisors, as well as establishing a preference for peace officers who are specifically trained in dealing with individuals in mental health crisis or suffering from a mental health disability to respond to such calls for assistance;

Take steps to ensure timely and meaningful access to police services to all members of the Bakersfield community, regardless of their ability to speak, read, write, hear, or understand English;

Review and revise as necessary the recruitment, hiring, and promotion program, in order to maintain high-level, quality service through efforts to successfully attract, hire, and promote qualified officers who reflect the diversity of the Bakersfield community;

Develop a community engagement plan, continuing to constructively engage with the community to ensure collaborative problem-solving and bias-free policing, as well as to increase transparency and community confidence; and

Ensure all allegations of personnel misconduct are received, documented, investigated, and adjudicated, publishing an annual report of personnel complaint data to be made publicly available by April 1 of each year.

Source: California Office of the Attorney General
Bluefield, WV (24701)

Today

Cloudy this morning with showers during the afternoon. High 68F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Showers early with some clearing overnight. Low 53F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Bluefield, WV (24701)

Today

Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High 68F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Low 53F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Decades of slow growth in Southeast Texas affordable rental and housing markets has come to a head for low-income renters, leaving many that finally have the opportunity to land their own apartment without a place to stay.

The pandemic brought instability to several key parts of the U.S. economy  simultaneously impacting vulnerable families reeling from illness or missed paychecks and driving up housing prices as low-interest rates fuel a buying frenzy.

For Beaumont, that means there are more people approved for federally-subsidized housing and fewer landlords willing to participate in government programs.

Beaumont Housing Authority CEO Allison Landrum said storm damage and slow investments in new construction has been a problem for several years, but there seems to be fewer partnering properties than ever after the prolonged pandemic. This issue is then exacerbated by a federal government policy that only allows housing authorities to pay 110% of fair market value for an apartment  still below what most local landlords expect in the current market.

In our program, we have the capacity to serve about 2,000 people with the funds we have available, Landrum said. Right now, we have about 200 people with a Section 8 voucher in hand that cant find a suitable place to live.

These families searching for rental properties could have for months been waiting for final aid approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. But the state of the market could mean they ultimately lose out on the opportunity.

Landrum said people usually have about 60 days after approval to find an apartment, but extensions of up to 120 days are available if they cant find any renter willing to accept their voucher.

There are now approved families reaching that deadline that will have to start over once their time has expired.

Besides potentially starting over the lengthy process, they face another major problem: BHAs waiting list of thousands of applicants is now closed due to the high demand.

BHA does have a plan to solve this short-term crisis, and judging by the number of calls since it began earlier this month, it seems to be paying off, Landrum said.

The housing authority has available money from the CARES Act earmarked for housing that it will put toward incentives for qualified landlords to start accepting Section 8 tenants.

When a potential renter with a voucher negotiates with an interested landlord, they will be invited to participate in the program  potentially landing them a one-time payment of up to $2,500, depending on if its in a HUD-deemed high-opportunity zone. Landlords outside the zone would receive $1,000.

Local government bodies also have been using other federal COVID-relief dollars to keep qualified people in their homes through utility- and rental-assistance programs.

In Beaumont, struggling renters have utilized the emergency rent assistance program by the thousands.

The citys assistance program has been managed since last May by the administrative staff of Some Other Place, a non-profit relief organization formed by local religious organizations and one of the few resources in the city for those facing housing insecurity.

Executive Director Paula ONeal said the program, which is able to cover as much as three months of rent for an individual, has helped around 700 families  so far.

In the beginning, we were overwhelmed by the demand, but it has started to stabilize, ONeal said. The lack of affordable housing really does cause a lot of problems in the community, and it helps contribute to homelessness.

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And theres plenty of aid left to assist more individuals and families, said Beaumont Director of Planning and Community Development Chris Boone.

The third round of funding for the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program is well on the way to being completed, Boone said in an email to the Enterprise.

Specifically, around $359,000 remain of the nearly $1.3 million allocated to the program.

Boone said most of the families assisted by the program already have met their aid cap of $3,000. From there, theyre referred to Jefferson Countys program, which has a higher maximum.

Jefferson Countys rental assistance program, which has a budget of around $14 million, is being managed by the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  A fourth business executive faces criminal charges stemming from a federal investigation into a failed multibillion-dollar project to build two nuclear reactors in South Carolina, authorities announced Wednesday.

Jeffrey A. Benjamin was a former senior vice president for Westinghouse Electric Co., the lead contractor to build two new reactors at the V.C. Summer plant. South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. parent company SCANA Corp. and state-owned utility company Santee Cooper spent nearly $10 billion on the project before halting construction in 2017 following Westinghouses bankruptcy.

He now faces multiple felony counts of fraud, according to an indictment.

Benjamin, who supervised all nuclear projects for Westinghouse, received information throughout 2016 and 2017 that the two V.C. Summer reactors were behind schedule and over budget, prosecutors said.

But he repeatedly told SCANA and Santee Cooper that the project was on schedule, hiding the construction's true timeline from the utility companies, the indictment alleges.

He was fired from Westinghouse in March 2017, shortly before the company filed for bankruptcy.

The collapse of the V.C. Summer project spawned multiple lawsuits, some by ratepayers who said company executives knew the project was doomed and misled consumers and regulators as they petitioned for a series of rate hikes. The failure cost ratepayers and investors billions and left nearly 6,000 people jobless.

Benjamin could face up to twenty years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine if convicted.

Three top-level executives have already pleaded guilty in the multi-year federal fraud investigation, and all are awaiting sentencing as they cooperate with investigators.

Former SCANA Corp. Executive Vice President Stephen Byrne agreed last summer to tell investigators everything he knows about the lies and deception SCANA and its subsidiary South Carolina Electric & Gas used to keep regulators approving rate increases and maintain support from investors.

Kevin Marsh, SCANAs former CEO, signed a plea deal on felony fraud charges in November.

And Carl Churchman, another Westinghouse official, pleaded guilty in June to lying to federal authorities.
The Mariposa, Calif., home of John Gerrish and Ellen Chung was quiet on Aug. 16 when their 1-year-old daughter's nanny arrived. The family - including the dog, Oski - was nowhere to be found. Their truck was missing, too. As the hours wore on without a word from Gerrish or Chung, who had set out for a hike the day before, a sense of panic began to set in.

The couple's house sat near the head of Hites Cove Trail, and hours after the family was reported missing at about 11 p.m., the trailhead is where police started looking. A sheriff's deputy found the couple's truck parked near the trail's entrance around 2 a.m., the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Nine hours later and 1.5 miles from the family's truck, in an area known as Devil's Gulch, a search-and-rescue team found Gerrish, Chung, their daughter, Miju, and the dog.

They were all dead.

Gerrish was in a seated position with the baby and dog beside him, according to the Chronicle. Chung was a little farther up the hill.

Authorities still don't know how it happened. An autopsy recently completed on the bodies yielded no conclusive results about the cause of the deaths, CNN reported. A toxicology report, which could take several weeks, is pending.

A necropsy is being performed on Oski, the dog, but the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office said no other animals were found dead in the immediate area.

"It's just so tragic and mysterious," a close family friend, Steven Jeffe, told The Washington Post on Sunday evening.

Gerrish and Chung moved to Mariposa from San Francisco in March 2020, Jeffe said. The pandemic made the slow life look increasingly attractive for the young professionals. Gerrish worked at Snapchat, and Chung was working toward a master's degree in family therapy, he said.

When they lived in San Francisco, the couple enjoyed DJing and going to clubs, Jeffe said. But since moving out to Mariposa - about a three-hour drive east of the city and a 40-mile drive to Yosemite - they became "avid outdoor people."

When police found their bodies, there were no signs of trauma, the Fresno Bee reported. There was no suicide note or indication that the deaths were intentional, according to CNN. Although temperatures reached as high as 109 degrees the day the family hiked, dehydration was deemed unlikely because there was still water in the family's hydration pack, the Chronicle reported.

Snakebites have not been ruled out, although that cause is unlikely because there was no physical evidence of wounds, the sheriff's office told CNN.

The lack of definitive answers has led investigators to imagine other, more unusual causes. Carbon monoxide poisoning from a mine or toxic algae in the nearby Merced River are among the leading theories.

"At this point we can't rule out anything," Mariposa County sheriff's deputy Kristie Mitchell said, according to the Fresno Bee.

About a month before the family was found dead, the U.S. Forest Service warned that "a high concentration of algae bloom" had been found in the Merced River near Hites Cove, where Gerrish and Chung were hiking. The Forest Service warned visitors not to swim or let their pets "enjoy" the water.

But reported human deaths from freshwater algal blooms are rare, the Chronicle reported. David Caron, a University of Southern California biological sciences professor, told the newspaper that while freshwater bacteria are a threat to people and animals, it would take high concentrations to kill humans rapidly.

"It's conceivable that it is the cause," Caron said. "But a lot needs to be done forensically to tie it to toxins."

Poisoning from mines are also a possibility. When the family was found Tuesday, first responders treated the scene as a hazmat site because carbon monoxide may have leaked out from nearby mines. But the hazmat declaration was lifted on Wednesday, and the cause is looking less likely, Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese told the Fresno Bee. The closest mine Briese told the paper he knew of was three miles from where the family was found.

"We have not found any old mine shafts near the area," he added. "There are some mine shafts, but we can't confirm if that's the cause yet."

Meanwhile, Jeffe and Mariposa residents remain frustrated by the lack of answers.

"We're just devastated by the loss," Jeffe told The Post. "But I think the community is more like, 'What the heck happened?' It's just so crazy."
A debris fire was sparked Tuesday afternoon at a tank inside of ExxonMobils downtown Beaumont complex.

The company said the tank already was out-of-service, and it doesnt expect to see any disruptions to its contractual obligations as a result of the fire.

There were no injuries, and all appropriate notifications will be made, representatives for the company said in a statement.

The company was still working to provide additional information about the cause of the fire by Tuesday afternoon, but representatives said that it occurred during routine maintenance.



A company representative told the Enterprise that air monitoring was conducted at the facility's fence line after the fire was discovered, and readings were below detection limits.

A report about any air emissions associated with the fire wasnt yet available through the Texas Commission on Environmental Qualitys reporting database.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
With Kathy Hochul officially taking the reins as New York's governor, a historic number of women are currently leading U.S. states  a push towards equality and representation that could continue into next years midterm elections.

There are now nine women serving as governor in the U.S. That ties a record that was set in 2004 and matched in 2007 and 2019, but its still well shy of gender proportionality.

Taking over on short notice for a scandal-plagued predecessor in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Hochul began her tenure Tuesday with more than enough challenges for a new administration. She also began with an historic opportunity: Hochul is the first woman to hold one of the most prominent governorships in the U.S.

New York as a whole has been a tough place for women to break into the highest levels, because there is very much a tight set of powerful gatekeepers," said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

"And unfortunately  even in 2021  women are still seen, in effect, as newcomers, she said.

A century after women gained the right to vote, 19 states still have never been led by a woman. That includes some of the most populous states, such as California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Illinois. Even if it succeeds, California's recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom next month doesn't appear likely to elevate a woman to the state's top job.

Hochul had served as New York's lieutenant governor until succeeding fellow Democrat Andrew Cuomo, who resigned after a decade in office. Cuomo had faced a potential impeachment battle after an attorney general's investigation said he had sexually harassed or inappropriately touched 11 women. Among other things, Cuomo also had faced a legislative investigation into whether he misled the public last year about COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.

Hochul pledged a dramatic change in culture that will include mandatory ethics courses and improved sexual harassment training for state employees.

I want people to believe in their government again, Hochul said Tuesday while outlining her top goal.

Hochul already has announced she will seek a full four-year term in 2022.

Taking over in a crisis could benefit her politically, especially since women can face greater scrutiny when running for office, said Betsy Fischer Martin, executive director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University.

It gives her an automatic way to shine in the office," Fischer Martin said.

Next year could be a pivotal one for women running for governor. Democratic Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon will be the only female incumbent barred from seeking re-election by term limits. Six male governors also will be term-limited, opening a path to office for fresh candidates from both parties.

In Arizona, where Republican Gov. Doug Ducey can't run again, the field already has several candidates who are women, including Republican state Treasurer Kimberly Yee and Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. Arizona already holds the record for the most women who have served as governor  four. Kansas has had three.

In Arkansas, which has never had a woman serve as governor, a high-profile Republican primary pits Attorney General Leslie Rutledge against Sarah Sanders, press secretary for former President Donald Trump and daughter of former Gov. Mike Huckabee. The incumbent, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, will be termed out.

In 2018, women's political advocates also thought they were primed for success with a record number of candidates for governor. But they did not ultimately set a new record for victories.

Women currently hold 18% of governors' offices  significantly less than this year's new records of 27% of U.S. congressional seats and 31% of state legislative seats. In addition, Vice President Kamala Harris also became the first woman in that role this year.

Part of the challenge in electing women as governors is overcoming stereotypes of men as stronger, more decisive leaders, Walsh said.

Another challenge is deepening the pool of women willing to enter politics, said Wendy Doyle, president and CEO of the Kansas City, Missouri-based nonprofit United WE.

The organization is coordinating an effort to get more women appointed to positions on state, county and city boards and commissions. It's working with local officials in California, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania Texas and Washington. The idea is that some women appointed to positions eventually will run for elected offices.

Its a long game, Doyle said. "But weve got to build the pipeline; weve got to build the bench.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Gina Solomon, University of California, San Francisco

(THE CONVERSATION) On Aug. 18, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it will end use of chlorpyrifos  a pesticide associated with neurodevelopmental problems and impaired brain function in children  on all food products nationwide. Gina Solomon, a principal investigator at the Public Health Institute, clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco and former deputy secretary at the California Environmental Protection Agency, explains the scientific evidence that led California to ban chlorpyrifos in 2020 and why the EPA is now following suit.

1. What is chlorpyrifos, and how is it used?

Chlorpyrifos is an inexpensive and effective pesticide that has been on the market since 1965. According to the EPA, approximately 5.1 million pounds of chlorpyrifos have been used annually in recent years (2014-2018) on a wide range of crops, including many different vegetables, corn, soybeans, cotton and fruit and nut trees.

Like other organophosphate insecticides, chlorpyrifos is designed to kill insects by blocking an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase. This enzyme normally breaks down acetylcholine, a chemical that the body uses to transmit nerve impulses. Blocking the enzyme causes insects to have convulsions and die. All organophosphate insecticides are also toxic and potentially lethal to humans.

Until 2000, chlorpyrifos was also used in homes for pest control. It was banned for indoor use after passage of the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act, which required additional protection of childrens health. Residues left after indoor use were quite high, and toddlers who crawled on the floor and put their hands in their mouth were found to be at risk of poisoning.

Despite the ban on household use and the fact that chlorpyrifos doesnt linger in the body, over 75% of people in the U.S. still have traces of chlorpyrifos in their bodies, mostly due to residues on food. Higher exposures have been documented in farm workers and people who live or work near agricultural fields.

2. Whats the evidence that chlorpyrifos is harmful?

Researchers published the first study linking chlorpyrifos to potential developmental harm in children in 2003. They found that higher levels of a chlorpyrifos metabolite  a substance produced when the body breaks down the pesticide  in umbilical cord blood were significantly associated with smaller infant birth weight and length.

Subsequent studies published from 2006 to 2014 showed that those same infants had developmental delays that persisted into childhood, with lower scores on standard tests of development and changes that researchers could see on MRI scans of the childrens brains. Scientists also discovered that a genetic subtype of a common metabolic enzyme in pregnant women increased the likelihood that their children would experience neurodevelopmental delays.

These findings touched off a battle to protect children from chlorpyrifos. Some scientists were skeptical of results from epidemiological studies that followed the children of pregnant women with greater or lesser levels of chlorpyrifos in their urine or cord blood and looked for adverse effects.

Epidemiological studies can provide powerful evidence that something is harmful to humans, but results can also be muddled by gaps in information about the timing and level of exposures. They also can be complicated by exposures to other harmful substances through diet, personal habits, homes, communities and workplaces.

3. Why did it take so long to reach a conclusion?

As evidence accumulated that low levels of chlorpyrifos were probably toxic to humans, regulatory scientists at the EPA and in California reviewed it  but they took very different paths.

At first, both groups focused on the established toxicity mechanism: acetylcholinesterase inhibition. They reasoned that preventing significant disruption of this key enzyme would protect people from any other neurological effects.

Scientists working under contract for Dow Chemical, which manufactured chlorpyrifos, published a complex model in 2014 to estimate how much of the pesticide a person would have to consume or inhale to trigger acetylcholinesterase inhibition. But some of their equations were based on data from as few as six healthy adults who had swallowed capsules of chlorpyrifos during experiments in the 1970s and early 1980s  a research method that now would be considered unethical.

California scientists questioned whether risk assessments based on the Dow-funded model adequately accounted for uncertainty and human variability. They also wondered whether acetylcholinesterase inhibition was really the most sensitive biological effect.

In 2016 the EPA released a reassessment of chlorpyrifoss potential health effects that took a very different approach. It focused on epidemiological studies published from 2003 through 2014 at Columbia University that found developmental impacts in children exposed to chlorpyrifos. The Columbia researchers analyzed chlorpyrifos levels in the umbilical cord blood at birth, and the EPA attempted to back-calculate how much chlorpyrifos the babies might have been exposed to throughout pregnancy.

On the basis of this analysis, the Obama administration concluded that chlorpyrifos could not be safely used and should be banned. However, the Trump administration halted this decision one year later, arguing that the science was not resolved and more study was needed. The Trump administration subsequently abandoned the human epidemiological studies and reverted to using the Dow-sponsored model and acetylcholinesterase inhibition endpoint that was used back in 2014.

History indicates that both political and scientific considerations likely accounted for the long delays. Although the conclusions clearly shifted with different federal administrations, the epidemiological studies and the acetylcholinesterase model also pointed in different directions  one suggested high health risks in humans, and the other suggested relatively lower risks. Policy conclusions thus depended partly on which data scientists chose as the basis for evaluating health risks.

4. What convinced California to impose a ban?

Three new papers on prenatal exposures to chlorpyrifos, published in 2017 and 2018, broke the logjam. These were independent studies, conducted on rats, that evaluated subtle effects on learning and development.

The results were consistent and clear: Chlorpyrifos caused decreased learning, hyperactivity and anxiety in rat pups at doses lower than those that affected acetylcholinesterase. And these studies clearly quantified doses to the rats, so there was no uncertainty about their exposure levels during pregnancy. The results were eerily similar to effects seen in human epidemiological studies, vindicating serious health concerns about chlorpyrifos.

California reassessed chlorpyrifos, using these new studies. Regulators concluded that the pesticide posed significant risks that could not be mitigated, especially among people who lived near agricultural fields where it was used. In October 2019, the state announced that under an enforceable agreement with manufacturers, all sales of chlorpyrifos to California growers would end by Feb. 6, 2020, and growers would not be allowed to possess or use it after Dec. 31, 2020.

Two months after the California decision, the European Union voted to ban chlorpyrifos due to concerns about neurodevelopmental harm. New York, Hawaii, Oregon and Maryland also moved to end use of the pesticide within their borders. On the same day that California sales of the pesticide ceased, the main manufacturer of chlorpyrifos, Corteva Agrosciences, announced that it would stop producing the chemical.

5. Why is the EPA acting now?

This saga began in 2007, when the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Pesticide Action Networkformally petitioned the EPA to ban chlorpyrifos, citing epidemiological evidence that the chemical caused harm to brain development. (I worked at NRDC at the time and reviewed scientific studies on chlorpyrifos, but was not directly involved with the petition.)

Over a decade passed while the agency reevaluated the science, studying multiple ways of analyzing the data. In 2016 the EPA proposed to grant the petition and ban chlorpyrifos, but did not complete this action by the end of the Obama administration.

In July 2019, under the Trump administration, the EPA denied the petition, saying that claims about neurodevelopmental toxicity were not supported by valid, complete and reliable evidence. Nonetheless, a new EPA risk assessment released in 2020 identified significant risks associated with combined exposures to chlorpyrifos from multiple sources, including food and drinking water.

In late April 2021, a federal court in California ordered the agency to either ban use of chlorpyrifos on food within 60 days or show that it was safe. The EPA has had nearly 14 years to publish a legally sufficient response to the 2007 Petition, the ruling stated. During that time, the EPAs egregious delay exposed a generation of American children to unsafe levels of chlorpyrifos.

With the agencys Aug. 18 announcement, that delay is finally over.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on Jan. 23, 2020.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/the-epa-is-banning-chlorpyrifos-a-pesticide-widely-used-on-food-crops-after-14-years-of-pressure-from-environmental-and-labor-groups-166485.
Thrill seekers, SeaWorld San Antonio announced a new world record ride on Monday, August 23.

SeaWorld San Antonio will soon feature the world's tallest and "fastest screaming" swing. The attraction's pendulum-like arms will soar progressively higher to a staggering height of 135 feet at its peak.

According to the release, Tidal Surge, the ride's name, will open in the spring of 2022.

Tidal Surge will seat 40 riders and feature two arms that will alternate sides and sway back-and-forth at 68 mph, according to the amusement park.

Riders' legs will dangle and hang as they soar over the waterski lake and take in the beautiful views of the park, SeaWorld states. It creates multiple airtime moments that will levitate guests out of their seats, the attraction adds.

Tidal Surge will mark a major addition to SeaWorld San Antonio's thrill ride portfolio, which currently includes four roller coasters, a high swing, two animal rescue adventure experiences, and a family coaster.
It's been a while since we made a visit to the circus, so let's talk about Dan Patrick, who got himself into a bit of a mess Thursday night. It's a mess he's spent the better part of Friday trying to clean up, but instead is just making worse.

It began, as messes do, with an appearance on Fox News.

The radio host turned lieutenant governor was on Laura Ingraham's show on August 19 when he was asked a question about Texas' increased COVID-19 numbers. If you're just joining us, things in the Lone Star State are pretty grim. Hospitalizations are surging and the state continues to hit terrible milestone after terrible milestone. Meanwhile, the Texas Trio  Patrick; his boss, Gov. Greg Abbott; and Attorney General Ken "Wasn't Me" Paxton  refuse to do anything to help mitigate the crisis, even as Abbott himself remains quarantined in the Governor's Mansion fighting his own COVID-19 battle.

Surprising absolutely no one, Patrick took his moment on Fox News not to reflect, but to make false claims based on a racist theory.

"The biggest group in most states are African Americans who have not been vaccinated and last time I checked, over 90 percent of them vote for Democrats in their major cities and counties," Patrick chirped on the broadcast. "So it's up to the Democrats to get, just as it's up to Republicans, to try to get ... people vaccinated."

Ingraham then cut him off by mumbling nonsensically about TikTok videos. (Oh, how I wish this was a joke, but alas it is not.)

Patrick's statement is untrue. Outlets like the Houston Chronicle and the Washington Post have already fact-checked it and determined it false. Even the Fort Worth Telegram editorial board went so far as to issue a thoughtful op-ed, which outlined the facts and deemed his wildly inaccurate claims "racist."

At best, this is Patrick's poor attempt to play politics amid what is (hopefully) the deadliest crisis of his career. At worst, it's a dangerous rant that shifts attention away from the governor's refusal to allow mask mandates and Paxton's lawsuits by baiting the entire news cycle into a round of race wars. The most likely case? It's something in the middle.

When this story was pitched to me this morning, I passed on it, having learned that a clown of Patrick's proportion should never be taken seriously. But then the lieutenant governor issued a statement Friday afternoon, effectively doubling-down on his rant last night:

"Democrats continue to play politics with peoples' lives, pandering to rather than servicing certain constituencies."

As my grandfather, a lifelong Republican, would say: What a load of horsesh*t.

My colleagues and I are now on month 17 of covering the COVID-19 crisis in Texas. You, dear reader, are now on month 17 of living through this crisis. Sure, we got that week-long reprieve in February, but that was because most of us didn't have power. Parents spent the past two weeks agonizing over whether to send their kids to school. And imagine the absolute horror of working in hospitals? The mind reels.

But yet so many of our elected leaders  on both sides of the aisle  are acting like this is politics as usual. They know the midterms are right around the corner, so they play on. Democrats take off their masks long enough to issue surly sound bites while the GOP thinks it's perfectly acceptable to send unvaccinated children to school without face coverings because it might play well in a handful of Republican districts.

But playing politics with peoples' lives? There was only one party in power when 55,000 Texans died. And it wasn't the Democrats.
Now that the House Democratic walkout appears to be over, the Texas Legislature will presumably resume debate over the voting restrictions that caused the walkout that deprived that chamber of a quorum. We have said before that this elections bill is a solution in search of a problem, and we hope that some kind of agreement can be reached on this issue by both parties  even though compromise is frankly unlikely. That issue is important in its own right, but the House and Senate also have several other important matters to consider in these special sessions.

One of them, unfortunately, is not on the agenda, but Gov. Greg Abbott should add it. Were talking about a provision that would allow public school districts to offer virtual learning this year if Covid numbers spike and cause long-term closures in some districts.

The Legislature discussed this common-sense option in the regular session at the start of this year but couldnt come to an agreement. Part of the reason was that it seemed unnecessary at the time because the vaccines had just started being administered and Covid numbers were falling sharply. But part of it was the whistling-past-the-graveyard attitude of some Republicans who didnt want to concede that Covid could be a threat again. If there were no virtual learning, they reasoned, schools wouldnt close for outbreaks, and in-person education could continue.

But that kind of backward logic ignores the possibility that the infection levels, which are already pretty high in some places, could get even worse. If that happens, schools might have no option but to close their doors for a few days  or weeks. If that occurs, they need to be able to offer online classes as a stopgap.

Last years experience showed that virtual learning wasnt a good substitute for in-person classes before a committed professional. But online learning is better than nothing, and for a few days or weeks it might not be too bad at all.

School districts are banned  so far  from requiring their students to wear masks even though some superintendents want to use this option. Thats not very logical, and taking away their option for online learning is doubly wrong.

Texas lawmakers are flirting with a major education crisis here. We fervently hope that Covid numbers will decline, but they are headed in the wrong direction now, and theres no telling where they could be in November or December. Smart planning provides as many options as possible in case problems occur  in this case, problems that are very real and edging toward worrisome conditions.

If the Texas House and Senate have enough time to pass new legislation that focuses on voting fraud in a state where virtually none of it occurred, they have time to authorize something much more important like this. If they dont, they are putting public education in jeopardy that it just doesnt have to face.
Fewer topics provoke more fear and trembling than suicide. Just the word itself fills one with sadness and heartache. Its even more terrifying when friends, family and others we care about confide in us that they are struggling. How do you help someone that is in the darkest place of their life? As Christians, we know that healing and hope can be found with God. Though His guidance and help, we can provide aid to the distraught. The Holy Spirit wants to remind us that the dark times we go through will not be forever. Our forever home is in heaven with Him, but God will bring us there when its the correct time. The sadness we feel on earth can be healed through various efforts such as therapy and medication, but one of the best ways to help others is to simply be a good friend. The fact that you want to help someone struggling with suicidal thoughts already shows how much you care. God can help you from there.

Make Sure Theyre Safe Shutterstock.com If someone confides in you that they are suicidal, the very first step is to make sure they are safe. Do not take what they say lightly in hopes that they wont go through with their actions. Is the person alone at home? Go over and sit with them. Are they threatening to harm themselves or others immediately? Dont hesitate to call for help from the police. Call their family, roommate, or someone else you trust so that you can have extra hands on deck. While they might be angry at first, you cannot help a friend who is struggling that is no longer here on earth. Take away any sharp objects, remove medicines or alcohol from the home, and the like to make sure they arent tempted or have options. Listen to what they have to say and keep any records if you can. You can offer them the Suicide Prevention Lifeline if they are unwilling to talk to you. The hotline has professionals that can help guide the person back to some stability during these types of episodes.

Pray Shutterstock.com Prayer is a great way for your friend to be reminded that God is with them through this difficult time. You can start by praying for hope, healing and happiness, and you can ask God to give your friend guidance during this time. From there, invite your friend to speak. Sit back and listen, and let them reveal their truth to God. You can encourage them to speak about the specific things that might be hurting them, tell them to share a list of reasons they are grateful, or ask what they want out the conversation with God. Be quiet as they answer, and let them open up to God. It can be very therapeutic and help give them some hope for the future. In addition, you can pray to God for guidance. You probably dont always know what the right thing to say is or how to help your friend. God, however, does. He is a fantastic teacher and will be able to work through you to give your friend hope. Ask God to help guide you through the process, and He will give you the knowledge you need.

Help Them Find Help Shutterstock.com When someone is at such a low point in their life that they are having thoughts of death, its important that they try and get help. Some people will be very afraid to ask for help, because they are scared, feel they can handle it themselves, think they are worthy of help, and more. No matter the reason, youre willingness to aid them might be the only thing that pushes them to make that leap. Gently ask and encourage them to get some help, and have options of how they can. You might even offer to help with specific tasks, like looking up therapists in the area or making a list of questions to ask a doctor. To someone with depression, these first steps can seem insurmountable. Your church may even have options to help them. There are so many other Christians that are struggling with depression, so look for support groups if they are willing to go. There are also many Christian therapists that will incorporate God into their sessions.

Be Informed Shutterstock.com There is a lot of confusion and stigma that surrounds depression and suicidal thoughts. This comes from misinformation and ignorance that can easily be solved by a little research. For example, your friend may be feeling ashamed or guilty about their mental illness struggles. However you can teach them that depression is a medical condition just like cancer or diabetes. Its not a weakness or bad personality trait. They should never feel that they should just get over it because its a real chemical imbalance in the brain. We wouldnt tell someone with a broken arm to just deal with it, so its not something we should say to someone struggling with their mental health. The more you understand about suicidal thoughts, the better you can understand the pain they are going through and how to support them. Talk with others openly about mental health. There is so much stigma surrounding it that further spreads bad information. Open conversations about mental illness help erode stigma, and make it easier for people to ask for help. Furthermore, the more patients seek treatment, the more scientists will learn about depression, and the better the treatments will get.

Christians are not immune to experiencing mental health issues, and its important to check on your friends and family. They might be struggling and you dont even know it. God walks with each of these people and you can help remind them of that fact. Be a true friend, offer them help, and make sure they are safe if they are struggling with suicidal thoughts. You might just be the beacon of light they needed to climb out of their dark, scary cave.
Local-news

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Beloit police chief calls on public for input in fatal shooting

Austin Montgomery/Beloit Daily News Beloit Police Chief Andre Sayles (at right) speaks to the media during a news conference on Monday regarding a 72-hour period over the weekend in Beloit that saw three shootings, including one homicide, and six reports of shots fired citywide. Armstrong Brock Cordier Gosha Rocha

BELOIT  Five suspects in one of three shootings reported between Friday and Sunday have been identified by the Beloit Police Department while no suspects have been named in the fatal shooting on Fayette Avenue.

Beloit Police Chief Andre Sayles said during a news conference on Monday the department investigated three shootings and six reports of shots fired across the City of Beloit in a 72 hour period over the weekend.

The acts of violence over the last 72 hours will not be tolerated in the City of Beloit, Sayles said. This is unacceptable. I would like to say that a small fraction of Beloit residents are responsible for the acts that are occurring. To those individuals, the Beloit Police Department is coming at you full force. To residents, please trust in us and understand we are working tirelessly to ensure these acts of violence do not occur any longer.

My department and staff will come up with investigative techniques and tactics to bring these individuals to justice, Sayles continued. We are currently working on changing the hours of our detective bureau and teaming up with other local agencies who have also suffered from the increase in gun violence.

At around 9:18 p.m. on Friday, officers responded to the 1800 block of Fayette Avenue for a report of a gunshot victim. Officers found a 20-year-old Beloit man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Life saving efforts were made and the man was transported to a local hospital where he later died.

This is a current homicide investigation, Sayles said. Our detectives are actively working on this case, and they worked throughout the weekend and will continue to work until we bring justice to the family of the victim. The City of Beloit Police Department offers its condolences to the family and we will continue to work hard to make sure that justice is brought forward.

Less than two hours later at around 11 p.m., another shooting was reported in the 600 block of Woodward Avenue. At the scene, officers found a 25-year-old Beloit woman had been struck by gunfire with non-life threatening injuries. Two other individuals were injured at the scene but not by gunfire, Sayles confirmed, noting that a 30-year-old woman fell off an e-scooter during the incident. A third individual received minor abrasions and both individuals were treated and released.

The department initially announced the Fayette Avenue and Woodward Avenue shootings appeared related, with Sayles saying on Monday that a suspect vehicle was seen at both locationsprompting the connection. A description of the vehicle is being withheld for the time being, with investigators still following leads in the case, Sayles said.

A third shooting was reported at around 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the 1600 block of Dewey Avenue. Two people, a 27-year-old Beloit woman and a 48-year-old Beloit man were injured by gunfire. A suspect vehicle was spotted in the area and a brief police chase followed.

The pursuit resulted in the arrest of four individuals, some of whom had alleged past ties to other gun-related crimes in Beloit, Sayles said.

Sayles also confirmed that five firearms were also recovered from the suspect vehicle.

Tarious L. Armstrong, 19, Steve A. Brock, 23, Raymond J. Gosha, 21, and Garrett X. Rocha, 22, all were arrested on various charges.

Armstrong was arrested on three counts of attempted homicide as a party to a crime; Brock was arrested on three counts of attempted homicide as a party to a crime and felon in possession of a firearm; Gosha was arrested on three counts of attempted homicide as a party to a crime, felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to deliver THC, possession of cocaine, resist/obstruct, and felony bail jumping; and Rock was arrested on three counts of attempted homicide as a party to a crime and felon in possession of a firearm and a parole hold from the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to Beloit police.

A fifth suspect, Devonte R.M. Cordier, 22, was arrested by South Beloit police on Monday afternoon in the 600 block of Winfield Drive in South Beloit. Cordier was arrested on three counts of attempted homicide-party to a crime and fleeing an officer.

Sayles declined to comment on the nature of the shootings or possible motives, saying the department was unaware of any potential connections to possible gang-related activity or territorial dispute.

The shootings were not drive-by shooting incidents, Sayles added.

To the general public, Sayles urged those with information to come forward.

There are individuals out there with the information that we need to make sure that we bring these individuals to justice, Sayles said. Please help us out. I understand the culture of no snitching but as we can see there are young people in the City of Beloit and County of Rock that are losing their lives.

If anyone has information pertaining to this ongoing investigation, please contact the Beloit Police Department at 608-364-6801 or contact the department through the Greater Beloit Area Crime Stoppers at 608-362-7463.
Police officers scuffle with an Afghan refugee during a rally by refugees demanding justice and resettlement in a third country, outside the building that houses the United Nations refugee agency representatives office, in Jakarta, Aug. 24, 2021.

Hundreds of Afghan refugees in Indonesia  most of them from the Hazara ethnic minority  condemned the Talibans forcible return to power in their homeland as they rallied in Jakarta on Tuesday to demand resettlement to a third country.

Demonstrators gathered outside the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) office here and held up placards that read Resettle Afghan refugees from Indonesia, and SOS Afghanistan is not safe.

Afghan refugees stage a rally outside the UNHCR representatives office building, in Jakarta, Aug. 24, 2021. [AP]

The ethnic Hazaras, who are Shia Muslims, are persecuted in Sunni-majority Afghanistan. Many of these refugees have been sheltering in Indonesia for years as they wait to be resettled in a third country, such as Australia.

An Afghan refugee reacts during a rally, in Jakarta, Aug. 24, 2021. [Reuters]

Indonesia is not a party to the U.N.s 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, and prohibits refugees from obtaining jobs and attending formal schools while staying in the Southeast Asian country.

Afghan nationals sit on a street as police officers try to disperse them during a rally outside the UNHCR office in Jakarta, Aug. 24, 2021. [AP]

One refugee, Hakmat Ziraki, said he was grateful to the Indonesian people and government for hosting the thousands of them, but they needed to move on.

We came here to ask  to know about our future, we are tired of waiting in limbo. We have waited about eight to ten years, Ziraki told the Reuters news agency in a video clip.

We want the world to hear our voices and we are really thankful to Indonesian people, to the Indonesian government for understanding us. We are really sorry, we are really, really, sorry to have broken this COVID-19 lockdown.

Afghan refugees talk to a police officer, who is wearing COVID-19 personal protective equipment, in Jakarta, Aug. 24, 2021. [Reuters]

The demonstration, which started out peacefully, became chaotic as security forces began to disperse the protesters for violating pandemic controls. Some demonstrators were seen being arrested by the police for resisting.

An Afghan refugee shouts from inside a police vehicle as he is detained during a rally asking for justice and resettlement, outside the UNHCR office in Jakarta, Aug. 24, 2021. [Reuters]
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Low around 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Pittsfield officials expect to receive an additional $4 million in federal pandemic money, bringing the total to over $40 million. Residents want the city use some of the money for affordable and accessible housing opportunities, mental health services and better supports for families with "at-risk" children or youths.
State police said two drivers died Sunday after being involved in a head-on collision on Interstate 91 in Holyoke. A passenger in one of the vehicles was seriously injured.
Ice-T is grieving the loss of his good friend Joseph Taheim Bryan.

On Saturday, Aug. 21, the two-time Grammy Award winner wrote in an Instagram post that hes not in a good place right now.

Bryan was gunned down in his car Thursday night (Aug. 19) on a dead-end street in Long Island City, New York.

MFs Killed my friend last night. Im not in a good place behind this, Ice-T wrote.

He continued: Taheim was a GOOD dude making Positive moves. He wrote and we made the film Equal Standard together. He has a wife and beautiful daughter. Dirty MFs followed him home and Murdered him.
Humanitarian groups working in Haiti are hopeful that a proposed gang truce will hold, enabling them to get aid to where its needed in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake and tropical storm.

Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizier called Sunday (Aug. 22) for a halt to organized crime activity and promised to help communities in southwestern Haiti recover, CBS News reported.



RELATED: Haiti In Crisis: 5 Things To Know About The Horrifically Devastating Earthquake

"We want to tell them that the G9 Revolutionary Forces and allies, all for one and one for all, sympathize with their pain and sorrows," Cherizier said in a Facebook video, according to CBS.

He added, "The G9 Revolutionary Forces and allies ... will participate in the relief by bringing them help. We invite all compatriots to show solidarity with the victims by trying to share what little there is with them.
On Sunday (August 22), U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said nobody predicted that the Afghan government would fall in such a short amount of time.

It was very difficult to predict with accuracy. This all occurred in a span of about 11 days. Nobody predicted that, you know, the government would fall in 11 days, Austin told ABC News This Week.

Assessments taken prior to the Talibans sweeping seizure of control Austin says was estimated at several months or even years. He told ABC News that U.S. officials saw Afghan military forces surrendering and evaporating as the insurgent group began making gains.

When asked whether the U.S.s planning for the withdrawal was acceptable and appropriate, Austin responded, I do based upon, you know, what we were looking at and the inputs to the plan. He also criticized the Trump administration for creating a situation in which there were no good options.

But I think you have to go back and look at what the administration inherited. I mean, we came in. We were faced with a May 1 deadline to have all forces out of the country. This deal had been struck with the Taliban. And so he [President Biden] had to very rapidly go through a detailed assessment and look at all options in terms of what, you know, what he could do. And none of those options were good options, Austin said.

RELATED: Rep. Barbara Lee Looks Back At Her Lone Vote Against the War in Afghanistan

He continued: He went through a very rigorous process, very detailed process. He listened to the input that was provided by all of the stakeholders in the interagency process. And so, at the end of the day, the president made his decision. But again he was faced with a situation where there were no good options. All were very tough.

On Saturday, the Pentagon announced that roughly 17,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan in the past week with around 22,000 being pulled from the region since the end of July.

A week of turmoil has engulfed the Middle Eastern country as reports reveal American and Afghan citizens have faced instances of violence and harassment as they make their way toward the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.

The Biden administration has been facing criticism for its handling of the situation in Afghanistan. Many are questioning whether the president should have proceeded with his decision to pull American troops from the region, which came before the Talibans offensive. Several officials are also calling on the administration to do more to pull Americans and Afghan refugees from the region.
Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, were responding positively to treatments for COVID-19 and remained under observation Sunday (Aug. 23) at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, The Associated Press reported.

Both are resting comfortably and are responding positively to their treatments, the couples son Jonathan Jackson said in a statement, according to the AP. My family appreciates all of the expressions of concern and prayers that have been offered on their behalf, and we will continue to offer our prayers for your family as well.
Angela West said in a statement that she only had water and lemonade at dinner on the night that she was pulled over, according to Dallass WFAA-TV .

Texas gubernatorial candidate Allen West , a Black Republican, and his wife, Angela West , spent part of their Sunday (Aug. 22) denying that Angela had any alcohol before her DUI arrest on Friday (Aug. 20).

Allen West, the former Texas Republican Party chairman, said in an Instagram video Saturday morning that his wife had not been drinking. https://t.co/mJP2szzr1p

According to the police, an officer pulled over West because the cop had reason to believe the driver was intoxicated. West failed a field sobriety test and was taken to the Dallas County jail. While in custody, authorities took a blood specimen, but the results were not immediately available.

Angela West argued in her statement that she was stopped for failure to use a turn signal. West told the officer that she had suffered an aneurysm that would likely cause her to be a little off balance for the sobriety test.

She said the cops took her to jail and left her young grandson, who was in the care with her, with another officer until his parents picked him up.

She also claimed to have taken a breathalyzer test, but the police could not confirm any information about that test, WFAA reported.

Authorities released her from jail after an arraignment on Saturday morning.

In a video, Allen West berated the police.

I support the thin blue line, but this is insidious, he raged

I am beyond livid, he added. Im telling you something, the Dallas County Sheriffs Office, the Dallas police chief  I want an explanation for this.

He posted the video to Twitter.
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FILE - In this April 7, 2021, file photo, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks to reporters at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky. The Kentucky governor's efforts to aggressively combat COVID-19 suffered a landmark legal defeat Saturday, Aug. 21, as the state's high court cleared the way for new laws to rein in his emergency powers.
FILE - In this June 28, 2021, file photo, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown visits the Bly Fire Camp on the southern edge of the Bootleg Fire, in Klamath County, Ore. People in Oregon, regardless of vaccination status, will be once again be required wear masks in most public outdoor settings, including large outdoor events where physical distancing is not possible, beginning Friday, Aug. 27, 2021.
Spearfish, SD (57783)

Today

Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 79F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
KAMIAH - Idaho Fish and Game staff are continuing to monitor the extent of the disease causing deer to die across the Clearwater Region. Test results have not yet confirmed which type of hemorrhagic disease is causing deer deaths in the Kamiah area. As of last week, approximately 250-300 dead whitetail deer had been reported.

According to the IDFG, deer death numbers are also increasing in other areas throughout the region. Hemorrhagic disease is not uncommon to white-tailed deer.

Fish and Game wildlife staff anticipated the potential for a disease outbreak due to the nature of this year's extended hot and dry weather. This summer created ideal conditions for deer to congregate at water sources where the disease carrying biting gnat resides. The number of dead deer is expected to continue to increase until the first hard frost kills gnat populations.

Due to the potential deer-to-deer transmission route, Fish and Game officials continue to encourage people to remove food and water sources that attract and congregate deer.

The following are frequently asked questions regarding hemorrhagic diseases.

Q: What are clinical signs of HD in deer?

A: Infected deer become lethargic and lose their appetite, become weak, can have bloody diarrhea, and show excessive salivation. They develop a rapid pulse and respiration rate along with fever, which is why they are frequently found lying in bodies of water to reduce their body temperature.

Q: How is HD spread?

A: Hemorrhagic diseases can be spread to deer via the bites of Culicoides gnats (biting midges, no-see-ums) or deer to deer. Low water conditions and stagnant pools and ponds provide ideal breeding conditions for the gnats that transmit HD. No prevention methods exist. Deer death numbers are likely to continue to increase until the weather cools and a hard frost kills biting gnat populations.

Q: What time of year is HD usually observed?

A: Hemorrhagic diseases are not uncommon to the Clearwater region. These disease outbreaks usually occur in late summer or early fall when warm and dry conditions cause animals to congregate at limited water supplies where the gnats also like to breed.

Q: Can HD be spread to humans or pets?

A: Humans and domestic pets such as dogs and cats cannot be infected with the HD disease. White-tailed deer are particularly susceptible, but it can affect mule deer. Cattle and sheep can be exposed to the virus but they rarely exhibit clinical signs to the varieties of HD that typically affect wildlife.

Q: What is the impact to deer in our area? How will this affect my hunting season?

A: We do not know yet. Big game hunters should have good hunting for 2021, but there are some disease concerns. As of now, we estimate that several hundred deer have died in our region. We anticipate the death toll to increase into the next month or so until we experience cold enough weather conditions to kill the disease carrying gnat. Fish and Game is monitoring the disease closely and will assess deer numbers as disease issues subside.

Q: Is the meat of an infected deer safe to eat?

A: Our veterinary staff never recommends eating an animal with a fever and a widespread systemic infection. Deer that survive a HD infection are safe to eat. These animals may exhibit a dark gritty liver. Our veterinary staff also always recommends thoroughly cooking all game meat.

Q: What is IDFG doing to monitor the disease?

A: IDFG veterinarians and biologists are monitoring the extent of this disease. Fish and Game asks the public to contact the wildlife health lab online at https://idfg. idaho.gov/conservation/wildlife-health/add to report sick and injured wildlife.

Q: If I have a dead deer on my property, what do I do?

A: At the expense of Idaho Fish and Game, dead deer can be taken to Simmons Sanitation, 3226 Highway 12, Kamiah, ID (208) 935-2617 Idaho Fish and Game encourages neighbors to help neighbors. If you or you know of someone that has a dead deer on their property, please assist them with removal.

Q: What can I do to help?

A: Due to the potential deer-to-deer transmission route, Fish and Game officials continue to encourage people to remove food and water sources that attract and congregate deer.

Dead deer can be taken to Simmons Sanitation for disposal at the expense of Fish and Game. Idaho Fish and Game officers are stretched thin and are not able to keep up with all the reports. Please assist your friend or neighbor with disposing of animals that they may have on or near their property.

Please report dead or sick deer online at the Wildlife Health webpage. Contact Idaho Fish and Game Clearwater region office for more information (208) 799-5010.
BOISE - On Monday, August 23, 2021, Idaho Governor Brad Little addressed Idahoans in a video message following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcing its full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Little called the announcement "a significant milestone" for the United States.

Governor Littles full message to the people of Idaho can be read below:

The United States of America reached a significant milestone today  the FDA announced it fully approved the first COVID-19 vaccine.

Close to 800,000 Idahoans and more than 200 million Americans have received the COVID-19 vaccine safely, and the FDA full approval for the Pfizer vaccine helps impart additional confidence for Idahoans still on the fence about getting the shot.

Experts in science and medicine rigorously evaluated the safety of the vaccine in accordance with very high standards.

President Donald Trump last year boldly moved our country forward with Operation Warp Speed  the first-ever public-private partnership of its kind  to enable faster approval and production of COVID-19 vaccines during the global pandemic.

Today, we reached the culmination of President Trumps leadership.

It is a proud moment in our nations history.

America is the best country in the world. We are able to offer our citizens a free, convenient, life-saving vaccine. Many people across the globe are not as fortunate.

To our friends and neighbors still waiting to receive the vaccine, the time to get the shot is NOW.

By getting the shot now, you can protect yourself and others and ensure healthcare access remains available for everyone.

By getting the shot now, you can ensure a strong, healthy workforce and continued economic prosperity in our state.

And, importantly, by getting the shot now, you can ensure our students have a productive, successful school year.

Thank you and God Bless.

To watch the the video of Little making his comments, click HERE.
COVID-19 Mental Wellness Taskforce proposes recommendations

The COVID-19 Mental Wellness Taskforce (CoMWT), which was convened in October 2020, has completed its review of the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population.



Amongst its findings, the CoMWT has identified three key issues that require a whole-of-government (WOG) approach to address. These three issues are- Need for Overarching Whole-of-Government Strategy; Need for Better Signposting Given Wealth of Resources; and Better Alignment of Mental Health Training Resources and More Trained Mental Health Professionals.

The taskforce has therefore made recommendations to address these issues- Develop an Overarching Strategy on Mental Health and Well-being; Develop a One-stop Online Portal for National Mental Health Resources; and Develop a National Mental Health Competency Training Framework.

Moving forward, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will act on the CoMWTs recommendations and enlarge the Taskforce into an inter-agency platform to oversee the development of a national overarching mental health and well-being strategy.

Named the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being, the platform will also coordinate interagency efforts and monitor outcomes, focusing on cross-cutting issues that require multi- and inter-agency collaboration. The new platform will be chaired by Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Health, Dr Janil Puthucheary.
Pretoria-based sisters Morongwe (Mo) Mokone and Michelle Mokone lead the all-woman team behind Mo's Crib, a South African home decor business creating stylish products from recycled materials, and creating employment for women by equipping them with artisanal skills.

Michelle and Morongwe Mokone, owners of Mos Crib. Source: Supplied

Source: Supplied

From side hustle to success

What inspired you to launch your own decor products business?

Congrats on the partnership with Crate and Barrel. What does it entail, and how did it come about?

How have you gone about getting noticed by retailers and getting your products stocked in their stores? What has this process been like for you?

The Mo's Crib brand seems strongly aligned to its 'handmade in South Africa' ethos. Why was this approach important to you?

In light of Women's Month and as female founders yourselves, what do you think is the biggest misconception about women in leadership roles?

What's been the most rewarding part of following your dreams?

What advice do you have for aspiring South African designers, particularly women, trying to make a career out of their work?

Mo's Crib specialises in proudly South African handmade homeware products made from recycled PVC. Attractive, durable and multi-purpose baskets and planters are created using PVC water pipes, which Mo's Crib employees source and collect from landfills and construction sites around the country. These are then cut into strips and woven over the course of a workday to create the brand's signature PVC product range.After finding success among local home retailers, Mo's Crib has set its sights abroad, securing a partnership with popular US home decor store Crate and Barrel, which will begin stocking the locally-made recycled PVC range.What began as a side hustle for Mo, who sold just one product at local markets in 2016, has evolved into a successful business with a growing range currently comprising 36 products. In 2017, Michelle joined Mo in the venture, and by July 2019 both sisters had resigned from their full-time corporate jobs and made Mos Crib their sole focus.The business is 100% self-funded, and driven by the sisters' mission to use Mo's Crib products to highlight and provide a solution to environmental and social issues. In a sentence, Mo's Crib seeks to create sustainable products made using sustainable material, to create sustainable jobs.The company is staffed entirely by women, who are trained as artisans and provided with educational opportunities and access to a number of workplace benefits, including housing, meals, transportation allowance, and an on-site health clinic for basic medical needs.In light of Women's Month , Michelle shares more on the Mo's Crib vision and the company's journey to success.If we consider the homemade craft of crocheting strips of reused plastic bags into rugs, which Mo used to do as a little girl, then the idea for Mos Crib dates back to the 90s. The actual business, however, started off as a hobby in 2016 when we took part in an annual Christmas market while working full-time in our corporate jobs.The first product sold was origami art, which Mo learnt in London, and what we thought would be a slow sale fast became a phenomenon, selling out within days of the market. We introduced new products every year for two years until we decided to quit our full-time jobs in 2019 and get into the business full-time. We are both inspired by homeware and we wanted to create a design unit that offers well-crafted homeware for customers' homes.Our entire business model is premised around providing goods that are environmentally friendly, sustainable and recyclable. This is supported by our slogan 'Redesigning sustainable living' because we envision a future where customers begin sourcing products that are eco-friendly or address current environmental impacts faced globally.This is indeed aligned to Crate and Barrels environmental initiatives, which prioritise developing new products and manufacturing processes to expand the responsible choices it offers its customers.As we are constantly looking at opportunities to ensure our products are accessible globally, it was a well-aligned decision to collaborate with a retail store that is globally inspired and is not limiting the reach of its design to only the US but incorporating African design, and an overall commitment to sustainability. This was well demonstrated when they fell in love with this unconventional craft of the recycled PVC range.The relationship started during the national lockdown over emails to various homeware stores internationally, and Crate and Barrel was more eager to explore the opportunity further.Our first distribution channel was direct to consumer through local markets. While this valuable model served us in the beginning stages, as we worked full-time, it was not feasible when we decided to go into business full-time. While we remained consistent with our product offering, we wanted more people to have access to our products, so we decided to approach homeware stores with our products and had a positive response.The process is not easy because you need to quickly transition from selling low volumes to high volumes, which require maximum quality and all the other added requirements  such as packaging and tags  which we did not worry about when operating at a small scale.We first broke into retail in March 2020, the same week that South Africa announced its first Covid case. This was a challenging time but with some marketing, our products sold out once restrictions eased and this let us know that we were on the right track.This speaks to the sustainability principle at Mos Crib. Our goal stems from creating sustainable products, using sustainable material to create sustainable jobs. The use of handmade techniques ensures that we provide a significant number of jobs to our South African community members, creating skills and preserving talent.While machinery ensures productivity, we would like to incorporate the artisanal element in all our products. 'Handmade in South Africa' also speaks largely to the sustainability of the environment, as electricity is not required to make some of our products, which preserves our carbon footprint.The biggest misconception is around fixed narratives around gender roles, and due to this old traditional way of thinking, when a woman occupies the leadership role, which comes with delegating, making decisions and leading a team, this is often looked down upon and thus not taken seriously. We have to learn to move away from narratives and embrace the changes that women and men are making in the modern world we live in today.Being able to share the success of Mos Crib with our employees. Being able to make a difference in the lives of those that are employed by Mos Crib has been the most rewarding part because the small steps we took have now created an impact in the communities that we serve, and in the homes of our dedicated team members.Be unique, have a product that tells a story and be willing to go beyond the standard practices as it pertains to design and art in the home space. Expose yourself to new ideas and look beyond the basic forms of art and creativity presented to you in your immediate environment.
Head of the Competition & Antitrust Practice at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg, Lerisha 'Lee' Naidu is a torchbearer for diversity and inclusion with a deep social conscience. It was this principle which sparked her interest in law, and following some sage advice from Dikgang Moseneke - then-deputy chief justice of the Constitutional Court - decided to use her talents to advance corporate social transformation from the inside out, rather than battle it on the surface. This has paved the way for her many successes. Now 36, Naidu was appointed as one of Baker McKenzie's youngest partners when she was only 32, and is currently the youngest member of the Johannesburg office's management committee - proving that just because you're young and a woman, it doesn't mean you can't be successful.

Lerisha Naidu, head of the Competition & Antitrust Practice at Baker McKenzie, Johannesburg

Tell us a little bit about yourself...

In a country with a progressive Constitutional dispensation but deep divisions and inequality, I find it important for me to recognise my privilege, encouraging a constant dialogue with myself around learning and unlearning. I believe that we should all make an effort to pay it forward. In this sense, I try to be human first.

What are some of the challenges facing women in the legal industry today?

What do you think is the most important piece of legislation affecting women that has been passed  either locally or internationally - within the last 20 years?

If you could create one law to either assist women empowerment or protect them, what would it be?

Take gender-based violence violations more seriously;



Require firms to submit vetted inclusion plans;



Prescribe targets around leadership gaps;



Legally prohibit pay gaps (although there is likely constitutional and employment law recourse for this, more can be done to require proactive enforcement);



Address the impact of the pandemic on women, including, for example: measures that focus on support grants for female-led households;



Offer business stimulus packages for women running small businesses;



Implement employment initiatives that focus on representation and leadership opportunities for women;



Offer services to address social support for women at home, including ensuring women are able to connect to the right help; and



Offer health protection packages aimed at women.

If you could have dinner with any three women  dead or alive  who would they be and why?

What is your message to young women this Womens Month?

And her achievements don't stop there. Naidu is also a Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South African, an Avance Media Top 100 Influential Young South African, a Chambers and Legal 500 ranked practitioner and an alumnus of the International Visitors Leadership Program hosted by the United States Government. She was also invited to participate in BMs global LIFT programme for high performing women partners, which she says "is just one of the notable opportunities afforded to me during my time at a firm that has stretched and moulded me."This Women's Month, we chat to Naidu about her work, the challenges women in the legal industry face today and her vision for gender equality.I am a proud South African and African, believing passionately in the uniqueness and magic of this continent and its people. I started out my career wanting to become a human rights lawyer and an advocate for change, but soon came to understand that the transformative project is not confined to NGOs and civil society groups.I am exceptionally proud of the team of which I form a part, comprising a group of impressive lawyers that have, together and individually, made notable strides in the market (in our representation of clients on pioneering and precedent-setting cases). I believe that the mandate of the competition authority is at the forefront of the national transformative project in South Africa and, to this end, I am a passionate advocate for its importance.While I lead the Diversity and Inclusion portfolio in Johannesburg, as well as its pro bono and corporate social responsibility pillars, I do not believe that these projects can be assigned to a specific office or person to be meaningfully achieved, lest it descends into a tick-box effort without any authenticity.I would characterise the challenges, without seeking to simplify them, into two categories: (i) the measurable ones; and (ii) the subliminal, less tangible ones.In relation to the measurable ones, it is clear that the legal sector is characterised by gender gaps in relation to leadership positions, career progression and pay. Of course, these challenges should not be overcome by tokenising female staff without ensuring genuinely inclusive cultures that ensure retention, including access to opportunities, fair measurement of performance and internal policy reform that enable women to combine family and work.Real inclusion helps to overcome both the measurable and the less tangible challenges that women face in the legal sector. Of course, it is also important to take an intersectional approach to the inclusion project, factoring in all important aspects of identity, as well as socio-economic factors, in developing inclusion strategies. For example, the additional burdens placed upon women during the pandemic, job insecurity as well as the rise in domestic violence and sexual and other forms of harassment, should not be ignored in understanding the full suite of the challenges that persist.As part of the Baker McKenzie's Diversity & Inclusion initiative, the firm has set aspirational, measurable targets for gender, that focus on increasing female representation in partner and leadership roles. The firm announced in 2019 that it had set new global aspirational targets at 40:40:20 percent gender diversity, to represent 40% women, 40% men and 20% flexible (women, men or non-binary persons). This target applies to partners, senior business professionals, firm committee leadership and candidate pools for recruitment. Globally, nearly 40% of the firms 3,800 lawyers are women. In South Africa, around 61% of the firms staff is female. To empower female leaders, the firm also has an intensive mentorship programme to support and help female lawyers rise through the ranks, so that they can take up leadership positions in the future.To be able to answer this question with any modicum of credibility, I would need to be better informed in relation to local and international legislative history - I cannot profess to be so informed. Having said that, I believe that an important development to date arises from United Nations' (UN) efforts to achieve gender equality by 2030 (Goal 5 of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals). This is indeed an excellent aspirational target and one that I wholeheartedly support. I intend for that support to extend to active contributions, minor as they may be, towards the project for change. Aspirations are important but actions more so.There are a myriad of challenges that require action and resolution, none more important and/or valid than the other. I would legislate for measures that are in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals at a domestic level, and other additional ones that I can (non-exhaustively!) think of. These measures would -Where do I begin?Nina Simone - as an avid music lover and one seeking to always have regard to my social conscience (including on race discourse), this is a no-brainer;Virginia Wolfe - she was a literary genius whose work I devoured voraciously in my formative years. She had a feminist voice and is a notable case study on the importance of prioritising our mental health. We also share a birthday;Caster Semenya - the epitome of courage and resilience.There are innumerable others - Brene Brown, for her discourse on vulnerability and courage; Ruth Bader Ginsberg for her inspirational role in the profession and the equality project; Christine Lagarde, a once-Baker McKenzie antitrust lawyer and now the MD of the IMF, whose continued impact is palpable; Lauryn Hill, so that I can talk about one of the greatest albums of all time; the pioneers of the 1956 South African women's march, whose change agency helped secure our democracy. I could go on. This bears testimony to the greatness that this world, both past and present, offers from its women.I have a framed quote in my office. It reads: "Speak the truth even if your voice shakes". When I look at it every now and again, I read it as: "Speaktruth even if your voice shakes".
Having served on the judges' panels of some of the most prestigious awards in the industry, Mpume Ngobese has an impressive portfolio that includes working on some of South Africa's most iconic brands such as Nedbank, British American Tobacco, and South African Breweries' corporate brand.

Mpume Ngobese, co-MD at Joe Public

Can you tell us a bit about who Mpume Ngobese is?

You're the co-MD at Joe Public. Tell us more about your role here

Can you briefly share your journey of how you entered into the industry?

What are some career highlights for yourself?

In 2019, Joe Public United did a transformation deal that took Joe Public from being the largest independently owned agency to becoming the largest independent, Black-owned agency in the country, with 60% of its ownership being in Black hands.

You're quite an influential figure in the advertising industry. A creative, part-time lecturer and board member. How do you juggle all of this?

As a female, have you faced any challenges in the industry? If so, how did you overcome them?

Comment on the gender pay gap in the advertising industry.

What more would you like to see happen in this industry?

We make ads. We tell stories. We shape culture. We delight. We inspire.

What advice do you have to share with the future generation of females entering the advertising industry?

As we celebrate Women's Month in South Africa. Do you have any words of encouragement for all the women out there? Own yourself. Have a passion. Have a point of view. Be brave. Dare to grow. Always be kind. And do you, boo.

What is your involvement in the Pendoring Awards 2021? and what are you looking forward to most about the awards this year?

We chat with Ngobese to find out about how she got into the industry, some highlights and some of the real challenges females face in the advertising industry...I am a Zulu girl from Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal, who grew up in a convent, graduated from the University of Natal a hundred years ago and I am now the co-MD at Joe Public . I am also a shareholder and partner in the Joe Public United group.I joined Joe Public in 2013 as business unit director and, having joined an agency that places the growth of people as its number one pillar, over the years I was able to work my way up to this role.As co-MD, my primary role is to champion client relationships by ensuring that we deliver the right product for the brand, at the right time and on budget, through excellent service.The role also requires excellent project management skills, an excellent understanding of strategy and media, an obsession for creativity, and the courage to do whatever (good) it takes to deliver an excellent creative product.This involves mastering a delicate balancing act between client pressure and excellent product delivery.I stumbled upon this industry, actually. After graduating from university, I started my career at Johnnic Publishing, working in the group editorial office. The publishing group at the time owned a lot of magazines, newspapers and books publishing houses.So, I was drawn to the advertising side of the business, through adverts placed in magazines and newspapers. I then moved to the agency world, where I was involved in both trade and customer marketing, then branched off to brand strategy and design, which then led me to the integrated communications space at Joe Public United.I have had loads of highlights over the years, from winning pitches and new accounts to getting great jobs, and working with great people, but because I have spent most of my working life at Joe Public, Ill mention one key highlight from Joe.The notable thing about this transformation deal is that through Ikamva Lakusasa, a company that my Black partners and I created, we own 26% of Joe Public United shares. We are active board members, which gives us rights to vote and make decisions on behalf of the business.Thank you! Yes, and I also judge quite a lot of creative and business awards.Confucius once said, choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. I really find this to be true. I manage to juggle work responsibilities through my routine, which I see as a reward to myself. If I am not working, I give myself time to sleep a lot, read a lot and watch a lot of movies, just to feed my mind and soul so that when I need to get going with work again, I do so with much energy and ambition.I wouldnt say that the challenges I have faced are unique to our industry. They are more social norms where womens choices are generally questioned. In addition to that, I would say I personally continue to experience the challenges that Black women face whilst navigating through life in general. Black women have to navigate the intertwined barriers at the intersection of race and gender. That intersectionality is a tricky reality to navigate, but I would say that the courage to own who I am is what is helping me navigate through life.This is actually a global issue and across all industries. In South Africa, it is reported that this challenge seems to affect women in the middle and upper wage bands the most.According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the average global gap is about 20%, with the World Economic Forum having recently stated that closing the gender pay gap will take an extra 36 years, due to Covid-19.A sad reality of South Africa was recently published by Prof Anita Bosch and Shimon Barit from the University of Stellenbosch Business School. In their report , they declared that South Africa has a stagnant median gender pay gap of between 23% and 35%. This is supported by the respective 2020-2021 body of research done by PwC, Ipsos and the Stats SAs Inequality Trends in SA report.Zooming into our industry, I must highlight that through our industry regulatory body, the Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA), the industry continues to address this challenge in an equitable manner. Salary reports, surveys and audits by member agencies continue to be prioritised. The various remuneration and benefit scales are made transparent and implementation by human resource practitioners is strongly encouraged in order for our industry to be properly balanced.I would love to see the industry going back to basics.If our industry spends an average of R40bn in media advertising per year, let us refocus our energies towards our refining craft so that the work that we do generates business value. Let us avoid being trapped in the deadly cycle of overprocessing work that ultimately devalues the media space we are filling.Be unapologetically you. Women bring a different perspective, an essential perspective to a team. Have a passion for creativity. It is said that creativity impacts the world. I agree that it does.In this month of August 2021, I was one of the speakers at the Pendoring students webinar. The aim was to inspire students at creative institutions to create pioneering work that heroes South Africas indigenous languages. The importance of creating a multilingual society is a subject that is close to my heart.Oh, and I hope that the Pendoring board asks me to adjudicate again this year as I had an incredible experience as Jury President at the 2020 Pendoring Awards.
Thirty-three-year-old Sulungeka Faltein is the software engineer team lead at Wonga Online. She shares some of her experiences of working in the fintech space.

Sulungeka Faltein, software engineer team lead, Wonga Online

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started in fintech?

Why did you decide to move into fintech?

Whats your current role in tech? Can you tell us a bit about what you do?

What hurdles have you overcome to get where you are today? Who helped you along the way?

Whats the most exciting thing about working in the sector; what are you excited about for the future?

What recommendations would you make to other women in FinTech to help them grow their career?

What single motto do you apply to your professional career?

What technology could you not live without?

I am from the town of Butterworth in the Eastern Cape. After high school, I majored in communication and information systems at the University of the Western Cape. Following this, I completed a post-graduate course in software development. My internship as a programmer in software development at a retail group was my first introduction to the working world.During the time that I was job hunting, I did a lot of research on different industries. fintech really excited me as at the time, many different innovative technological solutions were being launched, particularly in the banking and financial sector. This saw industry players migrating from the old to the new, and offered me an opportunity to have access to the latest and greatest technology.My role is to lead the software engineering team at Wonga Online. This requires me to be hands on with engineering, coding and design. I also focus on the people management side by supporting my team of three software engineers and developers. One of the most exciting parts of my job is the design of new features to enhance our customers experience. We are also responsible for maintaining the systems to ensure that they are always available to customers and are working smoothly.As a young woman, I had big dreams about what I wanted to achieve in my life. When I first started working in fintech, I had to break into the boys club as the industry was dominated by men. I went about this by proving that I was capable and knowledgeable, and I grabbed every opportunity to showcase my abilities.Information technology used to be the support role of the business, however it is now considered to be one of the pillars of business success. In South Africa, the possibilities of growth as an individual in fintech are endless. Companies are increasingly leaning towards innovation, and are creating new and exciting roles for developers. Businesses are moving more towards the digital space, and this has been brought more into focus during the ongoing pandemic. There is far more representation in the tech industry by women than when I first started working in this space, and it is encouraging that women are being assigned to leadership and principal roles.Do not get discouraged by the nay-sayers. Be confident in your abilities and your role, and believe in your capabilities.There is no glass ceiling!My cellular phone and my PC.
As an internationally renowned events director who's put on events for up to 60,000 people, she's now spearheading a business called Salute. With two decades' experience in the industry from South Africa to Nigeria, The DRC to Zimbabwe /Botswana, and Dubai to Abu Dhabi among others, she's got a hands-on approach from ideation and conceptualisation right to the event finish line.

Maria Steyn

Shes an accomplished individual who seems to have been born to succeed. With a strong focus on out-there creative, shes got a handle on everything from suppliers and logistics to hospitality and accreditation as well catering and security. She brings her cool demeanor and ability to pull the proverbial rabbit out of a hat to the Salute fold, a business that offers comprehensive bar- and events management support and infrastructure to all tiers of events.Steyns business prowess was recognised by the trio driving Cascade holdings, who chose to have her head up one of its business divisions, as shes known for pulling rabbits out of hats. With world economies in lockdown, even the disrupters have become disrupted. Falls true with the event industry too.Post-pandemic etiquette at events.Absolutely! I dont think its a question of if, its a question of when. Its going to come back in full force when it does. Why - because people have and will always want to be at events. Having endured over months of isolation and restrictions people are frothing to be together with friends to celebrate.The world was moving more and more into the virtual and hybrid events space but Covid-19 has pushed the industry in this direction faster than expected. Virtual events have certainly provided a lifeline for many through this pandemic. I think theres huge scope for this hybrid model that combines elements of a physical and virtual event and is delivered in one unified experience.Those who choose not to be vaccinated may face limitations in terms of attending actual eventsThose that still do not feel comfortable being at in-person events still have the ability to be a part of themCapacity limitations can be mitigated by having virtual attendeesPost pandemic budgets will probably be tighter and actual event costs will be reduced due to fewer attendeesEveryone will have different levels of comfort and desire to travel as the world reopens. Clearly articulating the health and safety protocols at your event will be critical to increasing attendance over the next few years.Key will be working closely with event partners to secure the event ecosystem and being clear of your policies about non-compliance. But I imagine going forward, because at this stage with no major events have taken place, that the following factors would be of key importance:Making sure guests attending a major event have proof of either vaccination or a negative Covid-19 testRapid on-site testing before entry as an alternativeEnsuring that all Covid-19 protocols continue to be followed, especially wearing masks and sanitizingStrict cleaning and sanitising protocols in bathrooms, bars, and food areasIdeally, all staff working should only be allowed to work with proof of a negative Covid-19 test resultIn my experience, that glass ceiling is pretty much a thing of the past. The majority of key industry players that I deal with in the events industry (clients and suppliers) are in fact women, so in my opinion, women are shining!In all honesty, theyve been minimal. Having started in this industry about 16 years ago, Ive had to work very hard to get to where I am today. My approach has always been on working hard and working smart. Everything I do, I do without the fear of failure, which already makes things far simpler from the onset.I pride myself in working with the best, at the best price. Women have done the promoting themselves, as they hold most of the key roles in our industry today. In my direct space - I have always given a woman and a man the same chances and opportunities.Balance is undoubtedly the most stressful element of my workday. On a day-to-day basis, challenges are what I love the most as Im constantly learning. Each event we quote or work on is different from the next which keeps me on my toes.For example, when we do Ultra Music Festival, its the fact that there were no glitches and all guests arrived home safely, despite the volume of planning, effort, and time that went into creating the event. And that sense of achievement is incredibly rewarding.Keep doing what youre doing ladies - this industry is ours for the taking.When it comes to a mentor - Desti Loeijs. When I started in the event industry, she hired me as a runner and driver on her big stadium shows. I then spent about 12 years working under her wing. Everything I am today, and everything I have learned and achieved, can be greatly attributed to her!Right under our very own roof at Salute is a youngster attracting the spotlight - Kat Sharman. This woman is capable of anything - continuing to grow from strength to strength. I know well see great things from her.Twenty-twenty-two is going to hit us hard - itll be exciting to see the volume of virtual and hybrid events as people are hungry to get back to life as we knew it.Some of my fondest event memories were made in this venue, and this was such sad news for the industry as a whole. These types of venues catered to so many different types of events and this is a huge loss. At the end of the day, change is not always a bad thing - I am sure we will see new venues popping up post-pandemic, that will give the industry a fresh platform with which to work.
Flow Communications is one of South Africa's leading independent marketing and communications agencies with a full suite of services, including brand, print, digital, development, social media, PR and media training.
According to a senior diplomat in the region and another source familiar with the matter, the CIA Chief William Burns secretly met with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar.

The meeting was first reported by The Washington Post. The news comes as US President Joe Biden is expected to decide whether to extend the Aug. 31 deadline for U.S. troops to withdraw from the country amid growing pressure from key allies.

That expected decision comes as thousands desperately await evacuation in the wake of the militant groups rapid takeover of the country.

The Taliban have warned any delay in the withdrawal would cross a red line and threatened consequences.

In a press conference Tuesday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid accused the U.S. of instigating Afghans to leave the country, particularly skilled people, and said they would prevent Afghans from heading to the airport in Kabul but allow foreigners to go.

The U.S. will now have to contend with Baradar and other senior Taliban leaders, who are in the process of choosing a new government Baradar is expected to lead, a commander with the militant group told NBC News.

Baradar was arrested more than a decade ago in a joint U.S.-Pakistani operation and held for eight years in Pakistan.

He was released from prison in 2018 and served as the Talibans chief negotiator in peace talks in Qatar that produced an agreement with former President Donald Trumps administration to withdraw U.S. military personnel by May 1 of this year.

After he was inaugurated, Biden said the withdrawal would be completed by the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.

He then moved that forward to Aug. 31 but is now facing pressure from international allies to delay in order to allow more evacuations to take place.

Cables of the Afghan war leaked by WikiLeaks have exposed intimate cooperation of the CIA with Osama Bin Laden as well.

Complex underground fortresses were built in the 1980s with Osama bin Laden and CIA cooperation.

Tora Bora was known to be a stronghold location of the Taliban, used by military forces against the Soviet Union during the 1980s.

Tora Bora and the surrounding Safed Koh range had natural caverns formed by streams eating into the limestone that had later been expanded into a CIA-financed complex built for the Mujahideen.

According to current and former military officials the Taliban have seized U.S. military biometrics devices that could aid in the identification of Afghans who assisted coalition forces.

With NATO forces out of Afghanistan, the Russians will largely provide security in the region and China will be exploring the possibility of restructuring Afghanistans supply and trade chains after twenty years of war.

Although several potential routes exist along the Wakhan Corridor and via Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, here is why China is planning to link CPEC to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, after the humiliating exit of American troops, the US Treasury has frozen $9.4 billion of Afghanistans Central Bank reserves.
FBI informant Joshua Caleb Sutter was "paid handsomely" by the feds to lead the "neo-nazi terrorist group" known as Atomwaffen Division, according to newly released court documents.



Atomwaffen Division under Sutter's leadership became a Satanic death cult that targeted troubled youth for radicalization so the feds could set them up to advance their false narrative that "white extremists" are America's greatest terror threat.





Remarkable filing in the case of high-level Atomwaffen member Kaleb Cole outs Joshua Caleb Sutter, the publisher of Martinet Press (Iron Gates, Liber 333, Bluebird), AWD member & a key figure in the O9A Tempel ov Blood, as an FBI informant. Since '03 https://t.co/WDZNx5Eeen  Ali Winston (@awinston) August 21, 2021

Cole is charged with leading a conspiracy to intimidate reporters across the US, along with other AWD members. Every one of them has since plead guilty aside from him. The allegation is that Sutter's role in building intel was never disclosed.  Ali Winston (@awinston) August 21, 2021

There's more in this filing, including the original FBI affidavit for the search of the AWD TX house, which has never been made public before. Bottom line is this: Martinet Press has been essentially bankrolled by the feds, pumping out a steady stream of extremist lit  Ali Winston (@awinston) August 21, 2021

Sutter, according to the filing, earned more than $140,000 from the feds, including $80,000 since 2018, when AWD came under heavy federal investigation following my ProPublica investigation with @Jake_Hanrahan & AC Thompson https://t.co/UlUWBx2IKw pic.twitter.com/AGvoX1UZ0V  Ali Winston (@awinston) August 21, 2021



This is where our tax money is going!





This is potentially massive. It's been confirmed in court documents that Joshua Sutter, one of the Atomwaffen leaders (and one of the biggest O9A proponents), is an FBI informant.



More here: https://t.co/joTSqc2Led pic.twitter.com/chA1bBAmdS  Jake Hanrahan (@Jake_Hanrahan) August 21, 2021

Sutter runs "Tempel ov Blood" with his wife. ToB promotes pedophilia, psychotic violence, and rape, and has even led to Atomwaffen cells convincing young girls to self-harm based off of the ToB ideology. This group is run by an FBI informant. https://t.co/Qk2Yv3mGSP  Jake Hanrahan (@Jake_Hanrahan) August 21, 2021

Here's some Tempel ov Blood footage. Sutter has been an FBI informant since 2003. This was filmed well after that.



Documents here: https://t.co/GWayOCdW4i pic.twitter.com/wPRqhJksLH  Jake Hanrahan (@Jake_Hanrahan) August 21, 2021

The FBI was paying Sutter as he was doing this kind of shit. It would be interesting to know if the $200,000+ he was paid contributed directly to the promotion of this totalitarian occultist ideology... pic.twitter.com/i0eFaYtxnw  Jake Hanrahan (@Jake_Hanrahan) August 21, 2021

One more thing: The O9A killer from Canada uploaded a ritual video before he killed a Muslim man outside a mosque in 2020. The song is the O9A chant by Nameless Therein, who made Sutter / Tempel ov Blood a specific song when they were flush with FBI cash. https://t.co/eQxNgi0TzC pic.twitter.com/RbrBBgWAzy  Jake Hanrahan (@Jake_Hanrahan) August 21, 2021



The feds reportedly brainwashed a group of troubled patsy youth using "illegal psychedelic drugs" "in what can only be described as a psychological warfare operation."





"Government operatives utilized the media, illegal psychedelic drugs, and brainwashing techniques to take a small group of friends ... and transform them into boogeymen in what can only be described as a psychological warfare operation."https://t.co/oMFvChKwS6  Keith Woods  (@KeithWoodsYT) August 22, 2021



As the supply of "white supremacist domestic terrorists" has failed to meet the feds' demand, the feds have decided to create the "white supremacist domestic terrorists" themselves.



The leader of the other most prominent media-hyped "neo-nazi terror group" known as "The Base" last year was outed as an intelligence contractor and suspected federal agent who had worked for Homeland Security.





The leader of the Neo-Nazi terror group "The Base" was a fed. Imagine my shock. https://t.co/d9EtslUhzZ  Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) January 26, 2020

The leader of a terror group the Base once worked for an agency tasked with coordinating the U.S. governments counterterrorism efforts. https://t.co/MMb5ZFXuyP  VICE News (@VICENews) February 17, 2021



The FBI was also recently caught having allegedly organized the Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot "starting with its inception."







The feds are creating terrorists to justify their new domestic "War on Terror" wherein opponents of the DC regime will be put on the No Fly List or terror watchlist and stripped of their rights with no due process.







They're partnering together with the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center to label all dissent as "terrorism" and spy on the American people and even members of the military for signs of "extremism."





The Pentagon under Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is working to partner with the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League and spy on members of the military for signs of "extremism," according to documents leaked to The Intercept. https://t.co/gDwZCjCUD6  Chris Menahan  (@infolibnews) May 20, 2021



America is an empire in decline and the regime in Washington is rapidly losing legitimacy. Our ruling oligarchs are now lashing out at the American people and blaming them for all our nation's woes while they loot the country and run it into the ground!



If our "leaders" want to find radical extremists hell bent on destroying America from within all they need to do is look in the mirror!



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Premier Brian Pallister opened the piggy bank on Monday morning in Brandon to announce hundreds of millions of dollars in health-care spending.

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Premier Brian Pallister opened the piggy bank on Monday morning in Brandon to announce hundreds of millions of dollars in health-care spending.

Standing in front of the Brandon Regional Health Centre, Pallister announced how the facility will benefit from the $812 million announced in this years budget in health-care infrastructure spending that will renovate, expand and build new facilities in 38 locations across the province.

"It will form the foundation of Manitobas new provincial clinic network," Pallister said of the funding. "This is a system that will allow health services to be more accessible, enhance the quality and reliability of care and reduces our provincial wait times."

Approximately $70 million will be used to turn the BRHC into a centralized health-care hub for western Manitoba.

The hospital will get approximately 30 new medicine beds, a new intensive care unit and renovations and an expansion to the existing neonatal intensive care unit.

Additionally, the adjacent Western Manitoba Cancer Centre will get a 650-square-metre expansion and a new medical linear accelerator for external beam radiation treatments.

Construction will begin next year and finish by summer 2025, with announcements for other communities across the province coming over the next several months.

Addressing members of the Winnipeg media who made the trip out to Brandon for the announcement, the premier said the same trip they made is a lot harder for someone travelling to Winnipeg to get health care.

"Our vision for the future of health care involves a lot less of that," Pallister said.

The premier also said the initiatives coming out of the $812 million will help address wait times, which have gotten worse because of the

COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are celebrating, here in Brandon today, investments that will build up critical care capacity in our province overall, but will also allow us to provide care for our sickest and smallest patients in Brandon through the skilled teams working in the ICU as well as the NICU," chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa said at the announcement.

"These ICU investments, by allowing services to expand here, will also have ripple effects on the types of surgery we provide and the capacity for surgical patients will also be enhanced."

As a result of the improvements to cancer care in Brandon, more patients would be able to receive treatment closer to home, she said.

Joining the premier were several MLAs including Brandon East Progressive Conservative MLA Len Isleifson, representatives of city council like Mayor Rick Chrest, Prairie Mountain Health CEO Brian Schoonbaert, Siragusa and provincial oncology and hematology lead Dr. Piotr Czaykowski.

TIM SMITH/THE BRANDON SUN Premier Brian Pallister listens as Lanette Siragusa, chief nursing officer and provincial lead of health service integration and quality for Shared Health, speaks during an announcement of nearly $70 million in improvements to the Brandon Regional Health Centre on Monday.

Talking about the new medical linear accelerator, Czaykowski said it would allow patients to undergo shorter and more convenient treatments with the added effect of fewer patients having to go to Winnipeg for treatment.

"We are very excited to have recruited an enthusiastic, western Manitoba-born and -bred medical oncologist who will be starting his practice alongside our two radiation oncologists and alongside our outstanding crew of family physicians in oncology," he said. "In the future, we envision bringing additional cancer and blood disorder specialists to Manitobas second-largest population hub."

These projects are part of the Manitoba Clinical and Preventive Services Plan first announced by then-Health Minister Cameron Friesen in November 2019 as a five-year plan for health care in the

province.

"Detailed planning looked at population growth and community health needs, distance to specialized 24-7 health services and the stability and reliability of the provinces health workforce," Health Minister Audrey Gordon said during the announcement.

Gordon was appointed minister of mental health in January and was given the rest of the cabinet health responsibilities last week after Heather Stefanson resigned from cabinet to pursue a leadership bid for the Progressive Conservatives.

Schoonbaert said some of these announcements will be for other communities in Westman.

Later Monday, Pallister and Gordon appeared in Portage la Prairie to announce the construction of a new $283-million hospital in that city. Its expected to be built by 2025.

At both stops, the premier was asked if he supported a renewed mask mandate with COVID cases rising at other provinces. He deferred, saying he and chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin would be making some kind of announcement today.

In a statement sent after the announcement, Manitoba NDP health critic Uzoma Asagwara expressed doubt that the current provincial government is going improve the health-care system.

"In 2017, the PCs made a $1-billion cut to health capital spending, and after five years of their cuts to hospitals, critically ill Manitobans are waiting hours for care in our crowded ERs and over 100,000 Manitobans are waiting for surgery," Asagwara wrote. "Manitobans will never forget that PC cuts to ICU beds forced us to send our sickest patients out of province for care during the third wave. The PCs need to increase staffing and capacity across the province today to improve outcomes and equity for all Manitobans."

In a phone interview with the Sun, Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said the focus for the provinces health-care system needs to be staffing.

"We desperately need the investments in health care," he said. "The problem with these investments is more a question of priority. We need to be investing in people right now, especially getting ready for a potential fourth wave and get rid of the backlog for surgeries. Thats not what todays announcement really is. Its much more focused on putting money into buildings when we really need to be putting money into people."

While he agrees health-care buildings across the province do need improvements, he worries the centralized approach the government is taking will cause communities in rural Manitoba to lose even more local services.

Finally, he said its hard to know if the province is making the right decision surrounding health care right now given that they have not released projections for how severe the fourth wave is expected to be.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
VICTORIA - British Columbia is reintroducing a public health order requiring people to wear masks in all indoor public spaces including malls, grocery stores and on transit starting Wednesday to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry looks on during a press conference at provincial legislature in Victoria, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 and those attending post-secondary schools in British Columbia will get the COVID-19 lesson plan on health and safety today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

VICTORIA - British Columbia is reintroducing a public health order requiring people to wear masks in all indoor public spaces including malls, grocery stores and on transit starting Wednesday to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The order will also extend to students in Grade 4 and up at the start of the school year, and the face coverings will be encouraged for younger children, with a return to protocols that began last spring. Students will no longer be grouped in so-called learning cohorts.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the mask order will be reassessed in mid-October when the province fully implements a card showing proof of immunization for those entering restaurants, theatres and events.

About 75 per cent of eligible B.C. residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but Henry said Tuesday that number needs to be higher as the Delta variant drives up case counts, putting those who are unvaccinated at greater risk of becoming ill.

The province reported 641 new cases Tuesday and said 138 people are in hospital, 78 of them in intensive care.

Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside said vaccines have made it possible for students to look forward to the resumption of safe in-person, full-time learning and extracurricular activities.

She encouraged eligible students to get vaccinated, saying only 57 per cent of youth between 12 and 17 are fully immunized while 72 per cent have had one dose of a vaccine.

Post-secondary students living on campus will have to be vaccinated, and Henry said colleges and universities have the option of requiring faculty and staff to be immunized.

Health sciences students will need to be vaccinated because they do practicums and training in health-care settings including long-term care facilities where staff must be immunized to protect vulnerable residents, she said.

Mandatory vaccination will not be required of teachers because the overall risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools is very low, and vaccination rates have climbed significantly in recent months, Henry said.

"We know that even a 10 per cent increase per age group makes a big difference in blunting the impact of even the Delta variant that we're seeing being transmitted right now."

However, BC Teachers' Federation president Teri Mooring said mandatory vaccination would be an important measure to keep everyone safe.

"We are quite concerned about the low vaccination rates among the 12-to-17-year-olds," she said. "That 57 per cent is lagging behind quite significantly the rest of the public."

The union has previously called for vaccination clinics at schools, and Mooring said that's all the more important now due to the highly transmissible Delta variant.

She questioned why kindergarten-to-Grade 3 students are not required to wear masks, saying that would put pressure on teachers to encourage students to use the face coverings.

"It doesn't seem like these plans that were announced today are based on the changing factors with the Delta variant. It seems there was a lot of reference to schools from last year when it was COVID-19, the original virus," Mooring said in an interview on Tuesday.

Michael Byers, a political science professor at the University of British Columbia, said the lack of a vaccine mandate for post-secondary students means he won't be teaching large groups of students.

"I have informed my department head that I will not teach 100 students in a lecture room without a vaccine mandate," he said in a tweet directed at Advanced Education Minister Anne Kang and Health Minister Adrian Dix.

Byers declined a request for an interview.

Unlike in B.C., Alberta announced earlier this month that COVID-19 vaccines will be available through temporary clinics in schools for students in Grades 7 to 12 as well as teachers and staff.

However, Alberta will not be requiring post-secondary institutions to mandate vaccines on campus, including for students living in residence, saying any such measures would be at the discretion of each institution.

The Education Ministry in Ontario said it will announce an immunization disclosure policy for all school employees and staff at licensed daycare settings for the start of the school year and that rapid testing will be done for those who are not immunized.

"Further details and guidance will be provided to support school boards in implementing the proposed policy, testing approach and reporting expectations for early fall 2021," it said in a statement.

Ontario's chief medical health officer has announced a vaccine mandate for all post-secondary students, faculty and staff, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities said.

 By Camille Bains in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said 38 people were in intensive care.
KELOWNA, B.C. - The British Columbia prosecution service says an RCMP officer in Kelowna has been charged with assault in connection with a wellness check last year.

Nursing student Mona Wang waits to to be interviewed during a demonstration in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, July 11, 2020. The British Columbia prosecution service says an RCMP officer in Kelowna has been charged with assault in connection with a wellness check of Wang early last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

KELOWNA, B.C. - The British Columbia prosecution service says an RCMP officer in Kelowna has been charged with assault in connection with a wellness check last year.

The prosecution service says in a statement that Const. Lacey Browning faces one count of assault after a wellness check in Kelowna on Jan. 20, 2020.

A civil lawsuit was settled this year between Browning and Mona Wang, who was a nursing student at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus.

Wang's statement of claim alleged Browning's conduct was "abusive" after the officer found the student lying in a state of semi-consciousness in her apartment.

Statements of defence filed by Browning, the Attorney General of Canada and B.C.'s minister of public safety and solicitor general denied any wrongdoing, saying the officer used no more force than was reasonable and necessary in the situation.

None of the allegations in the lawsuit were proven in court.

Browning is set to appear in Kelowna provincial court on Sept. 24.

In an emailed statement, the B.C. RCMP said the member is on administrative duties and the officer's duty status is continually assessed. The Mounties say an internal code of conduct matter in the case remains ongoing.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2021.
FREDERICTON - New Brunswick is expanding COVID-19 vaccination eligibility to include children who are turning 12 this year.

New Brunswick Education Minister Dominic Cardy releases the provinces back to school plan on Friday, Aug. 20, in Fredericton. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Bissett

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick is expanding COVID-19 vaccination eligibility to include children who are turning 12 this year.

Education Minister Dominic Cardy said today the change will help support healthy and safe schools by allowing a greater number of students to be vaccinated.

Ontario has also announced that kids turning 12 in 2021 can get vaccinated. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for use in Canada for people 12 and older, while the other vaccines are only authorized for use on adults.

As of today, 73.8 per cent of New Brunswickers aged 12 and older are fully vaccinated and 83.8 per cent have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The province is reporting 15 new cases of COVID-19 today. Ten new cases are in the Moncton region, while there are three in the Miramichi area and two in the Fredericton region.

There are 167 active reported cases of COVID-19 in the province and three people are hospitalized with the disease.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.
OTTAWA - A day after throwing a line to private-sector union workers, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole is digging in against what the party calls "corporate elites" in a pitch to Canadian seniors and working-class voters.

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole leaves after his news conference 23, 2021 in Ottawa. A day after throwing a line to private-sector union workers, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole is digging in against what he calls "corporate elites" in a pitch to Canadian seniors. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

OTTAWA - A day after throwing a line to private-sector union workers, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole is digging in against what the party calls "corporate elites" in a pitch to Canadian seniors and working-class voters.

At an announcement from his virtual broadcast studio in Ottawa, O'Toole pledged to give priority to pensioners over most other creditors during bankruptcy or restructuring proceedings.

He also said a Conservative government would amend legislation to prevent executives from paying themselves bonuses while steering a company through restructuring unless the pension plan is fully funded.

"As Ive met with Canadian workers and labour unions across the country, Ive heard the same thing over and over again: After working hard their whole career, people should be able to look forward to financial security in retirement," O'Toole said Tuesday.

"Canadian workers whove paid into a pension plan on every paycheque should be able to rely on it actually being there when they retire."

The Tory leader, who on Monday promised union representation on federally regulated big companies' boards, says workers have been forced to take major cuts to pensions when their former employer goes bankrupt, with Sears as a recent example.

The Canadian Labour Congress cast doubt on O'Toole's pledge, citing his track record as a cabinet minister under Stephen Harper. The former prime minister cut the corporate tax rate to 15 per cent from 22 per cent and replaced lifetime pensions for wounded veterans with lump-sum payments that some ex-soldiers said resulted in less money, noted president Bea Bruske.

Conservative Erin OTooles rhetoric just doesnt match his record, she said in a release.

Time and time again Mr. OToole failed to support pensioners  and even wrote a law to make it easier for corporations to walk away from pension obligations.

O'Toole tabled a private member's bill in 2018 that he has said was meant to give pension administrators more leeway to preserve remaining funds and beef up returns for pensioners. It also sought to limit payments to executives during insolvencies, he said.

"But it would have actually allowed executive bonuses to rise by a factor of 10 once a company entered creditor protection," Bruske stated.

O'Toole's pension pitch has striking similarities to recent legislation proposed by the New Democrats and builds on his push for trade union votes as he seeks to nab support from that party's traditional turf.

In December, NDP MP Scott Duvall tabled a basket of bills that sought to shore up worker protections, including around pensions and benefits in bankruptcy proceedings.

The bill, which died on the order paper after the federal election was called for Sept. 20, would have required companies to provide termination and severance pay before secured creditors got their cash.

Erin OToole can try and pretend hes got workers' backs this election, but hes spent his entire political career throwing them under the bus," NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said in a statement.

For seniors, the Liberals pledged $3 billion over five years in their budget from the spring to support long-term care and another $90 million over three years to help low-income seniors age at home.

New Democrats have proposed universal pharmacare and a national seniors strategy that would target dementia and elder abuse and suspend clawbacks to the guaranteed income supplement for low-income seniors who received emergency benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Statistics Canada figures, about 1.3 million of the country's more than 13.5-million private-sector employees have a defined-benefit pension plan, where employers pay workers a specified amount in retirement  unless bankruptcy sabotages the scheme.

This will be the death knell to defined-benefit pension plans," said Ian Lee, an associate professor at Carleton University.

He predicted that knocking secured creditors, such as banks, down the priority ladder below pensioners would trigger a rush of conversions to defined-contribution plans  where a set amount for retirement is not guaranteed  or simply a phaseout of defined-benefit plans.

Nonetheless, he noted the apparent interest for pensioners facing bankruptcy scenarios. They usually get diddly squat because theres no money left."

Lee approved of the Tory pledges to block bonuses for executives during restructuring, require companies to report their pension plans' funding status to employees and no longer force underfunded pension plans to be converted to annuities.

That last practice, which sees financial assets sold for an insurance product in order to reduce risks, often occurs in a recession when markets are depressed, locking in losses and leaving less money for pensioners, the Conservatives say.

In 2018, Sears retirees learned they would receive 30 per cent less than their promised monthly pension benefits after the retail giant's insolvency, despite millions in bonuses for executives.

Nortel pensioners in Ontario also saw a roughly 30 per cent reduction in their pensions more than a decade ago.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.
MONTREAL - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh focused on the environment as he campaigned in central Montreal, where his party hopes to regain seats it lost in the past two elections.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh responds to questions during a news conference on climate change in Montreal, on Monday, August 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

MONTREAL - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh focused on the environment as he campaigned in central Montreal, where his party hopes to regain seats it lost in the past two elections.

An NDP government would eliminate subsidies for oil and gas companies, replacing them with direct funding for renewable energy projects, Singh promised during a campaign stop in the riding of Outremont, once held by Thomas Mulcair and now represented by Liberal Rachel Bendayan.

"What we'd like to do is invest directly into remediation of oil wells. We'd like to invest directly in retrofitting some of these oil wells into geothermal plants," he said.

A February report from the International Institute for Sustainable Development shows Canada spent at least $1.9 billion in direct aid to the traditional energy sector last year, up from $600 million in 2019.

More than three-quarters of that  $1.5 billion  was to help companies restore abandoned oil wells in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, which are a significant source of methane emissions.

That type of funding doesn't guarantee that public funds are used to help preserve jobs or protect the environment, Singh said during the campaign stop in Montreal's Plateau-Mont-Royal borough, an area known for bike lanes and pedestrianized streets that has elected environmentally focused candidates at the provincial and municipal levels.

Speaking near where Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau participated in a massive march against climate change in 2019, Singh said the Liberals had promised to end subsidies to oil and gas companies but had instead increased them, though he didn't offer specific dollar amounts.

"We want to make sure that instead of these vague promises or these broken promises, we are committed to immediately ending those fossil fuel subsidies," Singh said.

The NDP is running a targeted campaign in Quebec, focused on six to 10 ridings, said Alexandre Boulerice, who has represented the neighbouring riding of RosemontLa Petite-Patrie since 2011.

Four of those, including Outremont, are central Montreal ridings won by the NDP  or include parts of former ridings won by the party  during the 2011 "Orange wave" but are now represented by Liberals.

Other targeted ridings include the cities of Trois-Rivieres and Sherbrooke, which have large student populations, as well as two more rural ridings, Drummond and Saint-Hyacinthe-Bagot, where former NDP MPs who lost their seats to the Bloc Quebecois in 2019 hope to regain them, said Boulerice, the sole NDP member elected in the province that year.

Boulerice said Singh is connecting with voters in Montreal because he has the same kind of charisma as Jack Layton, who was the party's leader during its breakthrough in Quebec.

"I've worked with both men and they have the same kind of positive vibes," he said. "They can connect to people, they are genuine, people relate to them, people like them."

Singh also promised to spend $500 million on Indigenous-led conservation programs. He said many Indigenous communities face an "impossible decision" between creating good jobs in industries like logging and conserving their land.

"What we want to do is create a fund so that Indigenous communities that choose to conserve their land have an opportunity to do that with resources and the tools to actually make that decision."

Singh didn't outline the criteria that would determine which projects would be funded or how they would receive funds.

Speaking to a supporter critical of how the provincial NDP government in British Columbia has handled protests against logging in the Fairy Creek Watershed area on Vancouver Island, Singh said the fund would help avoid similar disputes in the future, by giving Indigenous communities the means to protect traditional land.

Singh made the comment as he visited small businesses in the Papineau riding currently held by Trudeau.

Local NDP candidate Christine Pare, who is running again after placing second in 2019 with 19.2 per cent of the vote, said she wouldn't be running if she didn't think she could win.

While climate change is important because it affects everyone, she said in an interview Monday that a lack of social housing is the biggest issue in Papineau, which includes some of Montreal's poorest neighbourhoods.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2021.

---

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version had the wrong first name for NDP candidate Christine Pare.
CANMORE, Alta. - The Alberta government says a prominent landmark in the Rocky Mountains has been renamed in the spirit of reconciliation.

A prominent landmark, top centre, near the summit on Mount Charles Stewart in the Alberta Rocky Mountains, is shown near Canmore, Alta., on Sept. 3, 2020. The feature, whose old name was considered by many to be misogynistic and racist, will now be known by its original name "Anu Katha Ipa," or Bald Eagle Peak. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CANMORE, Alta. - The Alberta government says a prominent landmark in the Rocky Mountains has been renamed in the spirit of reconciliation.

The offensive name for the feature on Mount Charles Stewart combines a derogatory term for an Indigenous woman and slang for a woman's breast. The name had been used since the 1920s and many considered it to be racist and misogynistic.

The formation, visible from the mountain town of Canmore, will now be known by its original name Anu Katha Ipa, or Bald Eagle Peak. It is the traditional name used by the Stoney Nakoda Nation. Elders had already revealed the name change last September.

In a statement, Chiniki First Nation Chief Aaron Young said the Stoney Nakoda people have a "deep and lasting respect" for women in their community and are happy the racist term has been cast aside.

An official name change means the landmark will be updated on provincial and federal place name databases and maps.

The fight to change the name went on for many years. Two Canmore lawyers had been working since 2014 to find a formal name for the landmark.

There were also at least two attempts to change the name but both were rejected by the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation board. One contained the second half of the former name and another was not a traditional Indigenous name.

The derogatory nickname for the landmark has been used in several hiking and climbing guides, on Google maps and on many trail websites, although some sites have removed it.

A mountain in Banff National Park with a name Indigenous communities find offensive is also to be renamed. The province says it is working with Parks Canada and First Nations to come up with a replacement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2021.
OTTAWA - While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered Tuesday to keep Canadian military personnel in Afghanistan after Aug. 31, his fellow G7 leaders were not able to persuade President Joe Biden to extend the American deadline for withdrawal.

OTTAWA - While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered Tuesday to keep Canadian military personnel in Afghanistan after Aug. 31, his fellow G7 leaders were not able to persuade President Joe Biden to extend the American deadline for withdrawal.

Trudeau, emerging from a virtual summit with his G7 counterparts, said Canada would keep special forces operatives and aircrews at the airport in Kabul past the end of the month. The leaders met to discuss the crisis and the re-emergence of the Taliban as the country's rulers.

In this satellite photo released by Maxar Technologies, Kabul's international airport is seen amid evacuations on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who hosted the summit, and France's Emmanuel Macron were among those calling for an extension in order to more fully evacuate all foreign nationals and vulnerable Afghans who helped the Americans and the NATO allies before the country's recent fall to the Taliban.

A readout from the White House made clear they had failed to persuade Biden  at least for now  to open the door to staying longer.

"During a meeting this morning with the G7 leaders, the president conveyed that our mission in Kabul will end based on the achievement of our objectives. He confirmed we are currently on pace to finish by Aug. 31," the statement said.

"The completion of the mission by Aug. 31 depends on continued co-ordination with the Taliban, including continued access for evacuees to the airport," it continued. "In addition, the president has asked the Pentagon and the State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timeline should that become necessary."

During a media briefing Tuesday that had been delayed for several hours, White House press secretary Jen Psaki refused to say explicitly whether Biden was open to extending the deadline, but pointed repeatedly to the conditions noted in the statement.

"He asked for contingency plans," Psaki said, "but believes we continue to be on track to accomplish our mission."

The president himself emerged later Tuesday, five hours behind schedule, to drive home the point that the U.S., the G7, NATO, the European Union and the United Nations had all agreed to continue pulling in the same direction.

"We will stand united in our approach to the Taliban," Biden said.

"We agreed the legitimacy of any future government depends on the approach it now takes to uphold international obligations, including to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a base for terrorism. And we agreed that none of us are going to take the Taliban's word for it. We will judge them by their actions."

Biden also told his fellow leaders that each day on ground added to the risk from troops posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant  Khorasan Province, the terrorist organization active in Central Asia. The Taliban has also said that the deadline is firm and hinted at consequences if it is not met.

Johnson called the "urgent" summit of G7 leaders to discuss the evacuation crisis and plot longer-term engagement with Afghanistan's new Taliban leaders, as well as deal with the humanitarian crisis for refugees. The leaders' communique did not address the issue of an extension.

But they called on the Taliban to respect human rights, especially those of women and minorities, and allow unfettered humanitarian access.

"Afghanistan must never again become a safe haven for terrorism, nor a source of terrorist attacks," it said.

After the meeting, Trudeau said Canada would be prepared to stay longer, if that were possible, beyond Aug. 31.

"The commitment by our fellow G7 nations is clear: we're all going to work together to save as many people as possible," Trudeau said as he was about to board a federal election campaign bus in Hamilton.

Canada is one of a dozen allied countries taking part in the evacuation of people facing Taliban reprisals from Kabul's chaotic airport, which American-led forces have secured for the time being. A Canadian military plane departed Kabul with over 500 evacuees on board on Monday, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said in a tweet.

"Our commitment to Afghanistan doesn't end when this current phase, this current deadline comes. We will continue to put pressure on the Taliban to allow people to leave the country," Trudeau said after the meeting.

"We will continue to ensure that we're doing everything we can to get them to respect human rights and give opportunities for all Afghans."

The G7 said it was throwing its support behind the UNs "unfettered humanitarian" access to help the Afghan people.

The United Nations World Food Program warned Tuesday that its food supply for Afghanistan was due to run out by October and that it needed more international support to keep that from happening.

Mary-Ellen McGroarty, the WFP's Afghanistan director, said her organization hasn't stopped delivering food, and doing drought assessments. So far this year, it has helped 5.5 million Afghans, including 400,000 who have been internally displaced from their homes.

"The week of 15 August alone  one of the most dramatic in Afghanistan's recent history  WFP managed to reach 80,000 people with life-saving food and nutrient-dense foods to treat and prevent malnutrition," McGroarty said in an email.

Before the meeting, Trudeau said the return of the Taliban would have to prompt a broader rethinking of Canada's aid spending in Afghanistan.

"That is absolutely something we're looking at right now, obviously, with the Taliban in control of the country. Our regular aid, investments and agencies need to be looked at carefully to make sure we are not supporting, indirectly, the Taliban," Trudeau said.

"We will be there for greater financial commitments because that's what Canadians expect, for us to continue to fight for a better Afghanistan and continue to be there for Afghans fleeing for a better life."

In January, a federal review gave a mixed grade on the effectiveness of the close to $1 billion in development assistance that Canada funnelled into Afghanistan in the six years following the complete withdrawal of the country's military forces in 2014.

The review also found that Global Affairs Canada was not adapting to Afghanistan's changing needs as the Taliban began gobbling up territory between 2017 and 2020 from the Afghan government, which has since fallen.

In November, Canada made a further three-year, $270-million aid commitment to Afghanistan.

All of Canada's aid spending has been channelled through international organizations and has not been given directly to any Afghan government.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.

 With files from James McCarten in Washington, D.C.
In a statement issued on Monday, Doctors Manitoba threw its support behind mandatory vaccinations for all health-care workers in the province, and urged all workplaces  private and public  to at least strongly consider requiring employee vaccinations.

In a statement issued on Monday, Doctors Manitoba threw its support behind mandatory vaccinations for all health-care workers in the province, and urged all workplaces  private and public  to at least "strongly consider" requiring employee vaccinations.

And up to a point, it seems that Manitobas chief provincial public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, agrees with that position. In remarks made to media on Monday afternoon, Roussin said Doctors Manitoba has "a reasonable position" on mandatory vaccinations.

But he stopped short of saying whether the province was going to act upon that recommendation, stating only that he and Premier Brian Pallister would be discussing publicly later today, some of the public health restrictions and measures "moving forward."

Presumably, Manitobas health officials will also be considering whether to reinstate a mask mandate in the province, even as cases of the more infectious Delta variant of COVID-19 rise across the country. When asked about the possibility of reinstating the mask mandate during his stop in Brandon on Monday morning, Pallister suggested that Roussin might be speaking to this later today.

There are a great many Manitobans who will be less than thrilled with that possibility, but the reality of the situation is that colleges and universities see the need for vaccination mandates, and both post-secondary and public school divisions believe mask mandates are still necessary to protect staff and students.

To our minds, these are discussions that should be taking place in our various workplaces  whether they move forward or not  because the pandemic is far from over. The United States, for example, is seeing a surge in Delta variant cases, and the U.S. Centre for Disease Control has urged increasing COVID-19 vaccination coverage and recommended that everyone in areas of substantial or high transmission wear a mask in public indoor places, even if they are fully vaccinated.

Seemingly in response to Canadas own rise in COVID cases, last week the federal government announced that federally regulated industries will require staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

All things considered, as Roussin says, the Doctors Manitoba position is not unreasonable, particularly when it comes to Manitobas health-care workers and the need to demand that hospital and care home employees are vaccinated  at least those who can be.

In June, The Brandon Sun brought you the story of Lori Grebinski, who was unhappy that the province was allowing only those family members who had been double vaccinated to visit their loved ones. At the time of the announcement, Grebinskis mother was a resident of the Hillcrest Place Personal Care home, which had issued a letter stating this decision.

While she was not unhappy about the provincial requirement, Grebinski believed there was a double standard at play, because the change applied to general visitors, but not caregivers. Grebinski had been told that several staff members at the care home had not been vaccinated, whether because they could not be or out of choice. Others had vaccinations scheduled, but had not yet had their second shot.

"They cant force staff members to get vaccinated. The RHA (Regional Health Authority) cant have it both ways," Grebinski told the Sun.

"If you feel that you dont need to be double vaccinated working in a personal care home, I think you need to find a new job. Its part of your due diligence of being a nurse and a health-care provider. At the end of the day, if everybody was vaccinated, things would change."

That double standard could be addressed by the province mandating that all health-care workers in Manitoba be double vaccinated.

In its statement on Monday, Doctors Manitoba also suggested that any workplace that implements a vaccine mandate must also consider those who cannot be vaccinated for "legitimate reasons." In these cases, Doctors Manitoba recommends frequent testing, continued use of protective gear and use of physical distancing or barriers to separate workers.

But the organization also stated those who could get vaccinated but choose not to should face repercussions  though they were not calling for people to be terminated from their positions.

Its a heavy-handed approach, to be sure. But if we already have a province that has set a precedent by using provincial vaccination cards to limit access to sporting and other public events to those who can prove their vaccination records, why would we not consider such a move within our public and private workplaces?

Nevertheless, while health officials and our elected officials may well agree on the need to bring about both mask and vaccination mandates within our society, there is a highly vocal minority of people in this province who believe our province, like others in the country, would be abusing its emergency powers with such decisions. And this goes far beyond mere COVID-weariness that most of us have been feeling for months ad nauseam.

Considering some of the volatile anti-vaccination and anti-mask rhetoric that has been flying around social media these days, government and business will have an uphill battle getting that certain percentage of our population on board should they consider any further mandates.
Only last week China approved tough new laws that impose stringent controls on the private sectors management of individuals information (without limiting the governments access to it). Abuse of users digital data  exploiting it, selling it or using it to protect and extend monopolies  has been a theme in some of the regulatory actions this year. Theres also been a conviction that the data has significance for national security and geopolitical competition and that access to it, particularly for Chinese companies listed in the US, needs to be tightly controlled. There must have been some private encouragement given ahead of the formal adoption of the new policies because Chinas billionaires, having already lost tens of billions of dollars from the impact of the crackdown on tech on their companies share prices, have been lining up to demonstrate their philanthropic credentials in recent months. In many respects, Chinas approach to its tech sector this year reflects the similar issues that Western governments are grappling with as they try to develop regulatory and tax frameworks that capture their mega-techs like Google and Facebook. Instead of the endless lobbying and negotiation that characterises efforts to regulate tech companies in the West, however, Chinas just done it. Last week the crackdown on big tech  which has seen more than $US1 trillion wiped from the listed companies market capitalisations  was put into a wider context; one that suggests China has reached an inflection point in economic management, shifting from the Deng philosophy of socialism with Chinese characteristics which used market mechanisms and private wealth creation to generate the growth that would lift living standards for all to a purer form of socialism.

Xi Jinpings strategy for achieving common prosperity, according to reports in the state-owned media of a mediating of the Communist Partys Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, has a far greater emphasis on redistribution than on wealth creation. According to the reports, the party officials have committed to strengthen the regulation and adjustment of high-income groups and enterprises to give back to society more. President Xi Jinpings strategy for achieving common prosperity, according to reports in the state-owned media, has a far greater emphasis on redistribution than on wealth creation. Credit:AP That would include changes to the tax and social security systems and fiscal transfers to promote greater access to education and upwards mobility. Excessive and unreasonable income would be regulated and the wealthy individuals and companies would be encouraged to give back more to Chinas society.

There must have been some private encouragement given ahead of the formal adoption of the new policies because Chinas billionaires, having already lost tens of billions of dollars from the impact of the crackdown on tech on their companies share prices, have been lining up to demonstrate their philanthropic credentials in recent months. Tencents Pony Ma initially promised to donate $US7.7 billion improving society and reducing poverty and then doubled that pledge last week; online retailer and food delivery giant Meituans founder donated $US2.3 billion of his shares in the company to his foundation and smart device maker Xiaomis founder distributed $US2.2 billion of shares in his company to two foundations. The risk for China, of course, is that restricting excessively high incomes, coercing the wealthy to donate their wealth for the common good and enmeshing their most successful entrepreneurial companies in regulatory nets could impact entrepreneurial activity, wealth creation and productivity in sectors that are critical to Chinas ambition of dominating this centurys key technologies. They are among a host of Chinese billionaires and millionaires scrambling to give away their money. Openly being discussed in the state media are capital gains, wealth, property and inheritance taxes in what appears to be a dramatic shift from the emphasis on creating wealth  in an economy where the private sector is materially larger than the state-owned or controlled enterprises and where its digital economy accounted for nearly 40 per cent of its GDP last year  to redistributing it.

There are still a lot of blanks to fill in within the new strategies Xi is pursuing. What do a commitment to reasonably adjust high incomes and to encourage high-income groups and enterprises to give back to society more actually mean in practice? Will China, as it has done to its $US100 billion private education sector, simply nationalise some of its largest enterprises? Is Xi proposing a radical shift in the nature of Chinas economy towards a significantly more socialist one with far fewer of those Chinese characteristics or does he envisage just some finessing of the economic model around its edges? For the moment it doesnt appear that the party is going to completely abandon Dengs formula of letting some people get rich first but is targeting the wealth and power of those who have become too rich and powerful to help address the widening inequality and reduce the threats to the party from social unrest and from powerful independent-minded entrepreneurs that the gulf between the wealthiest and poorest citizens could generate.
He had his eccentricities  Watts liked to collect cars even though he didnt drive and would simply sit in them in his garage. But he was a steadying influence on stage and off as the Stones defied all expectations by rocking well into their 70s, decades longer than their old rivals the Beatles. Watts didnt care for flashy solos or attention of any kind, but with Wyman and Richards forged some of rocks deepest grooves on Honky Tonk Women, Brown Sugar and other songs. The drummer adapted well to everything from the disco of Miss You to the jazzy Cant You Hear Me Knocking and the dreamy ballad Moonlight Mile. Charlie Watts and Mick Jagger perform at the Super Bowl in the US in 2006. Credit:AP Jagger and Richards at times seemed to agree on little else besides their admiration of Watts, both as a man and a musician. Richards called Watts the key and often joked that their affinity was so strong that on stage hed sometimes try to rattle Watts by suddenly changing the beat  only to have Watts change it right back. Watts did occasionally have an impact beyond drumming. He worked with Jagger on the ever more spectacular stage designs for the groups tours. He also provided illustrations for the back cover of the acclaimed 1967 album Between the Buttons and inadvertently gave the record its title. When he asked Stones manager Andrew Oldham what the album would be called, Oldham responded Between the buttons, meaning undecided. Watts thought that Between the Buttons was the actual name and included it in his artwork.

To the world, he was a rock star. But Watts often said that the actual experience was draining and unpleasant, and even frightening. Girls chasing you down the street, screaming...horrible!... I hated it, he told The Guardian newspaper in an interview. In another interview, he described the drumming life as a cross between being an athlete and a total nervous wreck. Watts found refuge from the rock life, marrying Shirley Ann Shepherd in 1964 and having a daughter, Seraphina, soon after. While other famous rock marriages crumbled, theirs held. Jagger and Richards could only envy their bandmates indifference to stardom and relative contentment in his private life, which included happily tending horses on a rural estate in Devon, England. Author Philip Norman, who has written extensively about the Rolling Stones, said Watts lived in constant hope of being allowed to catch the next plane home. On tour, he made a point of drawing each hotel room he stayed in, a way of marking time until he could return to his family. He said little about playing the same songs for more than 40 years as the Stones recycled their classics. But he did branch out far beyond Satisfaction and Jumpin Jack Flash by assembling and performing with jazz bands in the second half of his career.

Charles Robert Watts, son of a lorry driver and a housewife, was born in Neasden, London, on June 2, 1941. From childhood, he was passionate about music  jazz in particular. He fell in love with the drums after hearing Chico Hamilton and taught himself to play by listening to records by Johnny Dodds, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington and other jazz giants. He worked for a London advertising firm after he attended Harrow Art College and played drums in his spare time. London was home to a blues and jazz revival in the early 1960s, with Jagger, Richards and Eric Clapton among the future superstars getting their start. Watts career took off after he played with Alexis Korners Blues Incorporated, for whom Jagger also performed, and was encouraged by Korner to join the Stones. Watts wasnt a rock music fan at first and remembered being guided by Richards and Brian Jones as he absorbed blues and rock records, notably the music of bluesman Jimmy Reed. He said the band could trace its roots to a brief period when he had lost his job and shared an apartment with Jagger and Richards because he could live there rent-free. Keith Richards taught me rock and roll, Watts said. Wed have nothing to do all day and wed play these records over and over again. I learned to love Muddy Waters. Keith turned me on to how good Elvis Presley was, and Id always hated Elvis up til then.
Victorian health authorities listed dozens of new exposure sites on Wednesday, including a hospital in Melbournes southeastern suburbs and a tier 1 site in Shepparton.

The Monash Medical Centre Emergency Department in Clayton, in the clinic waiting room, at the fast track section, was visited by a positive case on August 20 and 21 and is now listed as a tier -1 and tier-2 site.

As of 10pm on Wednesday, the total number of exposure sites stood at 811.

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As the situation on the ground in Shepparton becomes more urgent, the Sir Ian McLennan Sports Centre in Mooroopna, in Sheppartons west, was listed as a tier-1 (close contact) site after being visited by a positive case each day between August 13 and 16.

A smash repair business in Williamstown was also listed as a tier-1 site for an exposure between 8.50am and 5.30pm on August 20.

Also listed as a tier 1 was the food court at Shepparton Marketplace on August 19 between noon and 1pm

Anyone who visited a tier-1 sites at the specified time needs to isolate for 14 days even if they test negative for the virus.

Additionally, Shepparton Automotives, the KFC in Shepparton City, the Woolworths in Shepparton East, Australia Post at Shepparton South, Big W at Shepparton Marketplace and Golistan Groceries & Bakery are all tier-2 exposure sites.

The Shepparton cluster grew to 66 positive cases on Wednesday, with 50 of them based in the city, and exposure sites in the city and surrounding areas had passed 100 by Wednesday evening.

In Melbourne, the Drummond Rise Apartment Complex in Oakleigh, in Melbournes southeast, was listed as a tier-2 site each day from August 20 to 24. Another apartment complex in Brighton, called Bay Street, was also visited by a confirmed COVID case every day from August 19 to 25.

The Brunswick Street Residential Towers in Fitzroy were also added as a tier-2 site for exposures between August 18 to August 25.

Anyone who has visited a tier-2 site needs to isolate until they test negative for COVID-19.

The Chemist Warehouse Spencer Outlet Centre, in Docklands, was listed as a tier-2 site on August 21.

The Chemist Warehouse Spencer Outlet Centre, in Docklands, was also listed as a tier-2 site on August 21. Authorities also added several new locations in Melbournes west.

In Footscray, Coles in the Footscray Plaza Shopping Centre and 7-Eleven West Footscray was a tier-2 site on August 22 and the Chemist Warehouse in Footscray a tier-2 on August 23.

In Tarneit, authorities identified Western Quality Meats Wyndham, Western Fresh Fruit & Veg, Coles Wyndham Village and the Wyndham Village Shopping Centre as tier-2 exposure sites on August 23.

Other tier 2 sites added on Wednesday night were the IGA at Brunswick East on August 22, Park St Cafe in Carlton North on August 21, Pepper44 in Flemington on August 19 and Smith and Deli in Fitzroy on August 20.

Three tier 2 locations were listed in Hoppers Crossing Shopping Centre all on August 21: Advantage Pharmacy, Bakers Delight and Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses.

Other sites were Woolworths Millers Junction in Altona North on August 21 and Chemist Warehouse in Bay Street Brighton on August 24.

But it was not all bad news. Health authorities said that from this morning through to 4pm, more than 95,000 people have booked a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, adding demand had remained high throughout the day, with 6700 online bookings made between 2pm and 3pm.

You can read the full list of exposure sites here.
A joint-government-funded project to upgrade a notorious Brisbane roundabout is expected to cost almost $60 million more than first budgeted because of pandemic-related supply chain issues and a broadened scope.

Brisbane City Council released the business case for its $126 million Indooroopilly roundabout upgrade late last year, with work tipped to start in mid-2021 for an early 2024 completion.

The notorious Indooroopilly roundabout already supports more than 55,000 vehicles a day.

The growing western-suburb bottleneck already supports more than 55,000 vehicles a day, and demand is expected to increase. Between 2014 and 2019, 32 crashes were recorded on the roundabout, at the intersection of Moggill Road and Coonan Street.

Under the councils initial plan, which has drawn a $50 million funding commitment from the federal government, Coonan Street will be modified to create an overpass for inbound traffic to clear an uninterrupted Moggill Road before merging safely.
An Australian fugitive wanted for murder is now begging to return home and face his fate after being holed up in Afghanistan for the past four years.

In a disturbing indication of the fear held by millions of Afghans now under the Talibans rule, Saied Sam Hussaini, 32, is desperate to return to Perth despite knowing he faces the prospect of life behind bars on his arrival.

The dual national fled Australia in August 2017 after becoming a suspect in the alleged murder of friend Dejan Dimitrovski, 36, who was tortured and killed inside his Balga home over a likely drug debt.

Mr Hussaini was arrested at the scene of the killing and questioned by WA Police before fleeing the country two weeks later.
On Monday, the neighbour was home all day but did not hear the occupants of the home or the sound of any children. Just before 7pm, she heard police arrive. We were having dinner and all of a sudden ... a car roared. I thought what the hell? Its such a small laneway. And that was the police, she said. I could see the lights, and straight away they were telling them to get out, to get on the ground. One of them arrested was howling and crying. Just kept whimpering and crying. She said she then saw the children being carried to a car by police officers.

I saw the kids carried away, you could see the police carrying them and saying, Youll be fine, youll be safe now, she said. I dont think they were crying, I didnt hear the kids crying. On Tuesday morning police said they were still investigating whether there was any relationship between the four people they arrested and the victims, but at this stage there seemed to be no connection. I dont think it was random and I dont think the community needs to be concerned, we have everyone relevant to the inquiry in custody, Victoria Police Commander Mick Frewen said. Clearly this family and the children have been picked out for a particular reason and its going to take a while for us to get behind with the family to better understand what might sit behind by way of vulnerability, what others might see as opportunity, and what they would be blind to that we might be able to shed some light on.

He told radio station 3AW that the family had been victims of a terrible crime and they were still trying to understand the motive behind the incident. Commander Frewen said the children were in good spirits and had been reunited with their parents. The sister and brother were not tied up when police found them in the home and had been about to get back into their familys stolen black Mercedes when officers arrived. They displayed resilience well beyond their years, he said. They were really quite remarkably docile and at peace with things. Police at the Blackburn North home on Tuesday. Credit:Eddie Jim The children are now staying in accommodation with their parents while their home remains a crime scene. Police say English is the second language of the family. Cantonese interpreters were used on Tuesday.

Commander Frewen said the family had no idea why they were targeted. They are bewildered, he said. Detectives remained at the Mitcham property where the children had been found on Tuesday morning. A tow truck collected the black Mercedes in the early afternoon. Commander Frewen said he didnt believe the property had attracted police attention previously and those who lived there werent known to police. Police also attended the Blackburn North home on Tuesday afternoon, taking evidence bags from the property, as well as a laptop, some childrens shoes and a suitcase.

Loading Commander Frewen said the 32-year-old mother of the children had been the victim of a terrible assault. Obviously being removed from her children in such violent circumstances is enough to tear the heart out of any parent and she is no exception, he said. The family home in Blackburn North. Credit:Edie Jim She was so uplifted to have them reunited with her and her husband last night, but she is still traumatised by what has happened.
Victorian primary school students achieved the best NAPLAN results in the country this year, despite many spending more than 120 days learning from home since the pandemic started.

Australian students literacy and numeracy skills did not suffer because of last years lockdowns, the annual test shows, but experts warn it is too early to conclude that their education emerged unscathed.

Australian students literacy and numeracy did not suffer during the pandemic.

Victorian schools were closed for much of last year but improved on 2019s results in year 3 and 5 reading and year 7 writing. The 2020 NAPLAN tests were cancelled due to COVID-19 lockdowns.

The only domain in which the states students have gone significantly backwards compared with the first year of NAPLAN in 2009 is year 9 writing.
Have you seen the Qantas ad yet?

It tells three stories in 90 seconds: a mum reminiscing about her own childhood trip to Disneyland, her daughter asking when they can go; a young couple jetting off to Singapore to be married; a dad flying to London to be reunited with his daughter.

Qantas is said to be burning $50 million cash a week. Credit:James Brickwood

There are masks, there are jabs, there are friendly Qantas flight crew. Yes, its advertising, but its a tearjerker because it connects with what so many of us took for granted but have lost and missed over the past 18 months of the pandemic.

Interestingly, the ad is not really about promoting holidays, but families, which is why I suspect it works so effectively on those who have suffered the agony of separation from those they love.
Australias Childrens Commissioner fears a lost generation of children will never recover from the disruption to their education over the past two years and wants a national plan to keep schools open through the rest of the pandemic.

Students in year six and above will be able to start booking vaccinations within weeks, with a senior federal government source confirming appointments will be opened to 12 to 15-year-olds pending health authorities approval later this week.

The federal government has been urged to make a plan for returning kids to school as the country starts to live with the pandemic. Credit:Louise Kennerley

But National Childrens Commissioner Anne Hollonds said the situation for many children was dire as they had missed out on the foundations of their academic, social and emotional development.

Victorian students have already missed more than 120 days of face-to-face learning since March 2020 while kids in Greater Sydney are in their ninth consecutive week of lockdown. Schools across both Sydney and Melbourne are currently shut, except for children of permitted essential workers.
Singapore: Exiled Hong Kong MPs have urged Australian actor Nicole Kidman to talk to them about the consequences of filming her new series Expats in the city, warning she appeared to be collaborating with Beijing at the same time as thousands of Hongkongers feared returning to their homes.

The 54-year-old came under fire from artists and residents last week after being granted a quarantine exemption by the Hong Kong government to begin filming the Amazon Prime series about the daily lives of the three privileged foreign women living in the former British colony.

Nicole Kidman received a rare quarantine exemption from the Hong Kong government to fly into the city last week to begin filming Expats Credit:Bloomberg, AP

Kidman and Amazon have not returned multiple requests for comment about how the series will navigate the new political challenges of Hong Kong, where activists, journalists and politicians have been imprisoned for dissent.

The Hollywood star featured on the cover of Marie Claire Australia over the weekend as her production company, Blossom Films, which owns the rights to Expats, went into a publicity blitz for the release of a separate series on American streaming service Hulu, Nine Perfect Strangers.
A former Afghan interpreter for the Australian Defence Force says his parents and siblings are being hunted in Kabul by the Taliban and is pleading for assistance to help get them out of the war-torn country.

As Australia faces a race against time to evacuate the remaining Afghans with Australian visas before the Talibans August 31 deadline, the extremist groups promises of amnesty for those who worked for foreign forces and their families is being held up as a lie.

Four RAAF flights and one New Zealand Air Force flight managed to land at Kabul Airport on Monday night and rescued 650 people as part of Australia evacuation operation, bringing the total number of those rescued to almost 1700 since the Talibans takeover. Another RAAF C-130 was seen flying out of Afghanistan on Tuesday afternoon.

But still hundreds of Afghans with Australian visas are stranded as they struggle to navigate increasingly dangerous Taliban checkpoints, gunfire and tumultuous crowds to get to the airport.
Washington: The lightning-fast changes in Afghanistan are forcing the Biden administration to confront the prospect of a resurgent al-Qaeda, the group that attacked America on September 11, 2001, at the same time the US is trying to stanch violent extremism at home and cyber attacks from Russia and China.

With the rapid withdrawal of US forces and rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, I think al-Qaeda has an opportunity, and theyre going to take advantage of that opportunity, says Chris Costa, who was senior director for counter-terrorism in the Trump administration.

Counter-terrorism experts say that after the withdrawal of allied troops and the disbandment of Afghan forces, the country could again become a hotbed for terrorists. Credit:Getty Images

This is a galvanising event for jihadists everywhere.

Al-Qaedas ranks have been significantly diminished by 20 years of war in Afghanistan, and its far from clear that the group has the capacity in the near future to carry out catastrophic attacks on America such as the New York strikes, especially given how the US has fortified itself in the past two decades with surveillance and other protective measures.
Lansdale, PA (19446)

Today

Cloudy early followed by heavy thunderstorms this afternoon. Potential for flooding rains. High around 75F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers early, then overcast overnight with occasional rain. Low near 60F. SE winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
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: As uncertainty looms large in Afghanistan, exporters are apprehensive to send goods to the war-torn country and the target of exporting USD 126 million worth of pharmaceutical goods to the Taliban-ruling nation now depends on the future outcome.

Udaya Bhaskar, Director General of Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) body under the Department of Commerce on Tuesday said as the situation is grim over there and India have cordial relations with

"The projected target for 2021-22 is USD 126.22 million. The majority of it would be formulations and after that vaccines. Now with the present situation, exporters are apprehensive with regards to how the new regime will act upon. It is too early to comment on export targets," the official told PTI on Tuesday.

He, however, said there was no instruction from the centre to suspend exports to

According to the statistics supplied by Pharmexicl, India exported nearly USD 90 million and USD 97 worth of pharma products to in 2019-20 and 2020-21 respectively and became the second largest exporter after Pakistan.

Afghanistan has accepted Indian Pharmacopeia and the drugs manufactured in India are accepted there, Udaya Bhaskar said.

"A team of Afghan officials and trade representatives visited and held discussions with their counterparts in India in 2019 stemming the cordial relations," he said.

Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai recently said domestic exporters should follow caution looking into the political development in Afghanistan, particularly with regard to payments, for which adequate credit insurance may be availed by them.

According to a pharma trade expert, exports comprises 20 per cent vaccines. Though Afghanistan does not receive all its required vaccines from India directly, several non-governmental organisations procure them from Indian firms and send them to that country.

(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.)
Wholesale, the digital B2B marketplace of e-commerce company Group, has announced the launch of industry-first credit programs which aim to help kiranas manage their working capital requirements and grow their business.Over 1.5 million kiranas and retailers will be able to avail credit in just two minutes through Wholesales partnership with lending partners and fintech institutions.

Flipkart Wholesales credit offerings, including Easy Credit in partnership with IDFC FIRST Bank, are in line with a series of initiatives undertaken to solve local pain points of kiranas in India. The firm said it aims to boost prosperity for them by making their business easier using technology.

Through these new offerings, kiranas can avail credit in just two minutes at zero cost, through end-to-end digital onboarding in partnership with our preferred lending partner, IDFC FIRST Bank and other esteemed fintech institutions. The credit line will range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 2 lakh with an interest-free period of upto 14 days. Kiranas can also avail the benefits of flexible repayment options through cash and online transfers as well as instant refunds in case of order cancellation. They can seamlessly keep a tab on their credit balance and bills.

Our key goal at Flipkart Wholesale is to make business easier for kiranas and retailers and boost their growth journey, said Adarsh Menon, senior vice president and head - Flipkart Wholesale. We believe our new credit plan is tailored to solve local challenges that kiranas in India face and will help them manage their cash flow and improve their purchase experience on our platform, thereby ensuring that the benefits of digitisation trickle to the entire B2B retail ecosystem.

Flipkart Wholesale serves over 1.5 million members across the country, which include kiranas and retailers, HoReCa (hotels, restaurants and cafeterias) and O&I (offices and institutions).

Flipkart Wholesale customers have access to an array of value propositions. These include a wide range of Flipkart-assured quality products, simple and convenient order returns and speedy product delivery directly to their shops with an easy order tracking facility and better margins on every product.

Amit Kumar, head-retail liabilities and branch banking  IDFC FIRST Bank, said Indias account for over two-thirds of the countrys retail landscape. This traditional trade is now evolving in terms of retail formats and business models.

As a bank with a digital-first approach and focus on serving the retail ecosystem, we are keen to contribute to the growth of this segment, said Kumar. The partnership with Flipkart gives us an opportunity to enable kiranas to access formal credit and scale up business.

With the change in consumer behaviour after the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), offline retail is becoming the new battleground for e-commerce giants such as Amazon, Flipkart, Reliances JioMart and Udaan.

This year Amazon Pay, the digital payment arm of the e-commerce giant, said that it ill facilitate small loans and insurance for kirana shops. The company had said it has empowered over 5 million neighbourhood stores and businesses with its digital payments infrastructure. These SMBs (small and medium businesses), most of whom earlier transacted only in cash, can accept payments from their customers using Amazon Pays QR (quick response) code.

Bengaluru-based business-to-business e-commerce start-up Udaan is eyeing to tap a $100 billion opportunity in the next few years. The aim is to have 10 per cent of the total transactions ($1 trillion) on the Udaan platform in the next few years. Most of this growth would come from Bharat, where most of the kiranas are based. It has built scale and created logistics and lending capabilities such as UdaanExpress and UdaanCapital.UdaanCapital has grown 30 times in AUM (assets under management) and 40 times in credit lines over the last 2 years.

Flipkart Wholesale, recently announced its plans to more than triple its geographical footprint in India to close to 2,700 cities. The aim is to make business easier and bring prosperity to lakhs of small businesses and Kiranas across the country.
Eldeco Infrastructure and Properties said today that it has partnered with Affordable Fund 1 (H-CARE 1), a fund managed by Advisors Limited, to form a platform focused on the development of low-rise plotted development projects in tier-2 cities in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The proposed projects will be undertaken by a special purpose vehicle, Eldeco Greens Infrastructure Private Limited, set up with an initial investment of Rs 150 crore. Currently, two projects have been identified in Panipat and with combined saleable area of approximately 1.5 million sq ft and sales revenue of approximately Rs 500 crore, it said.

Renu Sud Karnad, managing director, HDFC, said, In line with the Housing for all 2022 vision of the Government of India, HDFCs endeavour is to help address the demand-supply gap in affordable housing in India by providing flexible, long-term capital to leading developers across India. We are committed to partnerships with trusted brands like Eldeco with a good track record of development and delivery.

Vipul Roongta, MD & CEO of Advisors, added, Our endeavour is to act as an enabler to the growth of affordable and mid-income housing in the country. Through our partnership with Eldeco Group, we will focus on meeting the increasing demand for high-quality low-rise and plotted development at affordable prices. This inline with HDFC Capitals strategy of partnering with top-rated developers to increase the supply of affordable and mid-income housing in India while ensuring quality and timely construction.

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HDFC Capital Advisors is the investment manager to HDFC Capital Affordable Fund 1 (H-CARE 1) and HDFC Capital Affordable Real Estate Fund 2 (H-CARE 2), both Sebi-registered Category II Alternative Investment Funds. The primary investors in the H-CARE funds include a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).

H-CARE 1 and H-CARE 2 combine to create a US$1.1 billion platform targeting affordable and mid-income residential projects in Indias leading 20 cities.

HDFC Capital Advisors recently launched the HDFC Affordable Real Estate and Technology Program (H@ART). H@ART seeks to mentor, partner and invest in real estate technology that drive innovation and efficiencies within the affordable housing ecosystem.
The central government has agreed in-principle to employees' main demands. It fears an industrial dissension now could impede the process of privatisation. It has agreed to bear the cost of liquidation loss on account of transfer to the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) from company-owned trusts, inclusion of employees in the central government health scheme (CGHS), and encashment of leaves.

The template of the process will be followed for other public sector undertakings up for privatisation at a later date.

The ministerial panel on has agreed to most demands. If required, budgetary support will be provided before transfer of ownership takes place, said a government official involved in the process.

Home Minister Amit Shah-led Group of Ministers met last week and decided to release budgetary support to meet the demands. Sources said the total outgo is projected to be around Rs 250 crore.

These issues had been snowballing. Had some employees moved court, that could have thrown a spanner in the works. The government, in fact, is looking to conclude the sale process by the end of this year, said Department of Investment and Public Asset Management Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey.

Air Indias eight employee unions have been urging the government to iron out the kinks in matters concerning human resources, including provident fund (PF), medical, and other welfare benefits.

Reports said the Tatas were already concerned over the lawsuit filed against the company by Scottish energy company Cairn Plc and have sought an indemnity clause in the share purchase agreement.

Air India has 16,077 employees, of which 9,617 are permanent, entitled to gratuity and other benefits.

The government has put 100 per cent stake of the airline on the block, including its low-cost international subsidiary Air India Express and 50 per cent in the ground-handling subsidiary Air India SATS.

The issue over PF arose after the airline management decided to transfer PF accounts to the before transferring ownership of the airline.

However, the process requires premature liquidation of securities held by trusts, which would have resulted in either surplus or shortfall in the corpus - depending upon prevailing market conditions. Both trusts have already incurred significant losses in their corpus due to investments in bankrupt companies, such as Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services and Dewan Housing Finance Corporation.

As part of the share transfer agreement, the government will mandate that the new owners of Air India will have to take on the liabilities against gratuity of employees, who retire after the privatisation of the airline.

"Gratuity is a statutory payment. In all mergers and acquisitions, gratuity is taken care of. It will not be a burden since it will be 0.5 per cent of the company's total revenue," said the official quoted earlier.

Similarly, another primary demand by employees seeking continuance of medical benefits has been given in-principle approval as well. Sources said the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has resumed talks with the CGHS officials.

Under CGHS, deduction is made from the salary, which depends upon the pay grade of the serving employee.

In order to provide medical benefits to retired and retiring Air India beneficiaries by the government, provision of these benefits through CGHS would be explored. The share purchase agreement should clearly indicate that this liability will not be borne by the company after disinvestment, read an order issued by the MoCA and reviewed by Business Standard.

The ministerial panel, said sources, has asked the Air India management to calculate the amount to be paid with regard to encashment of leave. Air India employees are entitled to encashment of 300 days leave.

Concurrently, the panel has also accepted that employees may be allowed to stay in the residential colonies for six months after There are multiple residential colonies built for Air India staff - the largest of which is in New Delhi's Vasant Vihar. These housing properties are not part of the sale and will be monetised to service debt of around Rs 30,000 crore, which the government has hived off into a special purpose vehicle to sweeten the deal for bidders.

The process of has reached the third stage, with the bidders completing the due diligence process. The Tatas had appointed Bain & Company and Seabury Group for the process. Government officials said the financial bidding will start by the second week of September.

The selected financial bids will have to be approved by a committee of secretaries and then the ministerial panel. There may be a requirement to take approval from the Central Vigilance Commission if the government receives only a single bid.

Tata Sons is the front runner to take over the national carrier, which has accumulated losses of over Rs 70,000 crore till March 31, 2020.
said Tuesday that it is working to set up a software lab in Ahmedabad, in India.

In a meeting, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani, Sandip Patel, Managing Director, India and Gaurav Sharma, Vice President, India Software Labs discussed the role of technology in accelerating the states digital mission.

During the meeting, Rupani shared his vision on making a transparent, sensitive, decisive and progressive government, pivoted on technology.

He also stressed on the importance of collaboration between industries, government and the academia to drive growth opportunities within the state.

During the meeting, Gaurav Sharma discussed the proposed expansion of IBM India Software Labs operations in including establishing a state-of-the-art product engineering, design and software development center in Ahmedabad.

The center will focus on developing solutions while leveraging global design techniques, agile methodologies and advanced technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), security and automation to support the requirements of the government and global customers.

IBM India is the microcosm of the IBM corporation and we are committed to furthering the countrys vision of Make in India, for India and the World. IBM brings its leading technologies and global best practices to India, including in product engineering and software manufacturing domain and we hope to do that in Gujarat as well. Our expansion in Gujarat would provide us access to world-class skills and diversity of talent, drive skills development and enhance employability, said Patil.

The proposed expansion is aligned with IBMs vision to shape the future of software development through an open, secure, decentralized architecture that helps clients automate, secure, modernize and predict.

Currently IBM Software Labs operate from Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai in India.

Technology development centres are important for the states economy and act as a catalyst for creating a robust IT ecosystem in Gujarat. We are happy with IBMs proposed expansion plan in the state and we will extend our full support to IBM to start its Development Center in Gujarat. Im confident that the proposed center will have a far-reaching impact by creating employment opportunities, making the citizens future-skills ready and providing a strong foundation for the IT/ITeS sector which will further drive digital transformation in the state, said Rupani.
Swedish home furnishings retailer on Tuesday said it is going to open its first-ever city store in India at Mumbai, which would be more accessible to its customers in the city.

After opening a large-format store in Navi last year, is now opening a small city store at Worli, Mumbai, located at Kamala Mills, said a statement.

"In line with IKEA's long-term commitment to Maharashtra and India, the Worli store will be the first of its kind in India, following cities such as Paris, Moscow and Shanghai," said a statement.

The Worli City Store will be followed by a second city store in Mumbai, said IKEA, adding that it believes strongly in the Indian market potential and there will be further store openings in the next year.

The city store format allows to be adapted to smaller spaces in an urban context, which is between 50,000 - 100,000 sq ft, whereas the traditional big IKEA blue box, is typically 400,000 - 500,000 sq ft.

"The store in Worli will be 80,000 sq ft and will open towards the end of 2021, complete with all safe shopping measures in place," it said.

The city store would have a restaurant and services such as remote planning, personal shopper besides Click & Collect under its omnichannel landscape.

Market and Expansion Manager Per Hornell said is one of our most important markets.

"With our first city store in Worli, we will continue to meet many more people in with our beautiful, affordable and sustainable home furnishings solutions for creating a better everyday life at home," he said.

This store will be the third physical store that IKEA opens in India. IKEA had opened its first store opened in Hyderabad in 2019, followed by its Navi Mumbai in December 2020 and the third large IKEA store is expected to open in Bengaluru next year.

Earlier this year, it launched IKEA shopping app and has extended it to several cities as part of its omni-channel expansion.

"IKEA has an ambition to meet 200 million people in India over next few years with an omnichannel approach," the statement 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.)
Taiwanese giant is expanding its business to go beyond manufacturing mainly iPhones in India following an agreement with Optiemus Electronics to make mobile devices, IT hardware and telecom products and is now exploring electric vehicles.

Wistron, a $30 billion original design manufacturer (ODM), is not new to the world of electric vehicles. Many years ago, it had teamed up with Chinese automaker NIO to make the electric control systems of cars.

Delhi-based Optiemus is eligible for incentives under the Indian governments production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for mobile devices and IT hardware. This is an advantage that could leverage to manufacture mass-priced products for its customers across the globe from India.

The strategic alliance will design and manufacture tablets, laptops, hearables, wearables, telecom products, Internet of Things/industrial Internet of Things, smart meters and automotive-electric vehicle products under contract manufacturing.

As part of the deal with Wistron, Optiemus will invest over Rs 1,350 crore over five years. It is aiming at a revenue of Rs 38,000 crore across all products. It will be working out details, initially on the revenue share and financial details of the alliance, with soon.

David Shen, president and CEO of Wistron Smart Devices, said: We wanted an Indian partner to grow the business in the country. PLI will be a key enabler to bridge any gaps in developing the ecosystem for the next decade. It is time to extend our support to our Indian partner as we embark on a wonderful and exciting journey.

Wistron has a manufacturing plant exclusively for Apple in Karnataka and is among a clutch of global who are eligible for the The others include Foxconn, Pegatron and Samsung. Wistron also manufactures some laptops for Xiaomi, Dell and Acer in India.

Sources said Wistron invested Rs 1,250 crore between August 2020 and March this year, exceeding its commitment to the Indian government, under the PLI investment requirements, by around 25 per cent.





Unlike Foxconn (the worlds largest maker of the iPhone), Wistron did not go in for two separate applications under the  one for Apple and the other for non-Apple manufacturers. However, its agreement with Optiemus allows it to continue manufacturing for Apple.

Earlier Wistron had had a joint venture with Optiemus to manufacture only mobile phones for leading global brands in India like HTC and LG. Optiemus, which is promoted by Ashok Gupta, bought Wistrons 19.91 per cent stake in the joint venture company this year as most of these mobile brands had reduced or stopped production due to competition from the Chinese and Koreans.

We have had a long relationship with Wistron, but it was only for manufacturing mobile devices. We have now extended that relationship to include a range of electronics products. Also, together, we are going to make India a design hub, said A Gururaj, Optiemus MD.

He was non-committal on whether Wistron will once again take a stake in his company and said they 'will see' in the future. He merely said that the investment will be made by Optiemus but did not give any detail on how the money will be raised.

Gururaj, who has earlier worked for Wistron, said the latter could leverage the PLI eligibility of Optiemus to enter the affordable end of the market in mobile devices and IT hardware.

Unlike Wistron, domestic players eligible for PLI do not have to manufacture phones with a production value of over $200. Therefore, for Wistron which is looking at making phones which are less than $200 which accounts for the bulk of the market, the alliance provides them with a great opportunity to do so. And we are looking at both the domestic as well as the global market, said Gururaj.

But Wistron already has competition, at least in electric vehicles in the global arena. A month ago, another key Apple ODM vendor, Foxconn, unveiled its own plans to assemble 250,000 electric vehicles per year for Fisker Inc, a US-based start-up.
on Tuesday said it has signed a new minimum three-year contract with UCAS, the admissions service for UK higher education.

UCAS and have been engaged in a technology partnership since 2015 but following an extensive tender process, the new contract represents a major step change in the relationship, a statement said.

The partnership will focus on delivering seamless customer service experiences through greater automation, innovation and efficiency, it added.

UCAS provides vital admission and information services to students, schools, advisers, and higher education providers, offering over 30,000 courses to prospective applicants each year. The service delivers the single biggest infrastructure event within the UK education sector annually on results days every August.

UCAS supports approximately seven lakh applicants every year - with 60,000 more this year than in 2020, and current predictions suggest that there will be one million applicants to higher education in the UK by 2025, the statement said.

"As part of the new agreement, will provide a wide range of digital services that will enable UCAS to further develop the capabilities that connect learners to universities, awarding bodies, schools, and other organisations, built on a dynamic digital suite of systems able to rapidly respond to the evolving UK higher education sector," it added.

Infosys will continue to concentrate on helping UCAS achieve its ambitious targets on lowering costs, optimizing, and enhancing services for students, delivering more robust security, and providing business-as-usual (BAU) services between legacy and new digital systems, the statement noted.

I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this new agreement with Infosys, and the benefits to UCAS staff and customers. It represents a real shift in our partnership, and will focus extensively on automation, innovation, and efficiency across the business, which is key to delivering on our strategy for the future," UCAS Chief Operations Officer Sander Kristel said.

Ashiss Kumar Dash, EVP and Segment Head - services, utilities, resources, energy at Infosys, said the relationship with UCAS spans the last six years, and the renewed partnership is testament to the success it has achieved in that time, delivering on UCAS' digital vision.

"In the next three years, we will continue to bring together industry leading capabilities, ecosystems and talent to deliver new experiences that reflect the growing expectations and changing dynamics in the higher education sector. With a focus on delivering greater innovation and seamless customer service experiences, we look forward to supporting UCAS retain its position as a highly trusted and accessible service, he added.

(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.)
today said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), a global marine transport group, to develop and deploy environment friendly shipping solutions.

The move by the countrys oldest steel producer is in line with its larger sustainability objective and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chain, said the company in its release.

The objective of the agreement is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the ocean transportation of raw materials for production of steel. In the initial stage, the partnership will explore the environmental benefits and commercial and operational feasibility of various technologies, the release quoted Peeyush Gupta, Vice President, Supply Chain, as saying.

MOL has been jointly studying the technology with cross-industrial partners and the first vessel is slated to start operation in 2022.

"We have recently established MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.1, wherein we have announced that MOL Group will make a concerted effort throughout the Group, to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050. There would be a long, long pathway to achieve the Vision 2.1, and we believe that working collaboratively with a good partner is important. The partnership with Tata Steel, a leading global steel company, encourages MOL to challenge goals for the Vision 2.1. We are very much happy to have this opportunity, Toshiaki Tanaka, senior managing executive officer and chief environment and sustainability officer at MOL was quoted as saying.
Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and V Muraleedharan on Tuesday received three copies of Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib and 44 Afghan Sikhs who reached India from Kabul via Dushanbe in Tajikistan on a special Air India flight.

The three copies of Guru Granth Sahib will be taken to Guru Arjan Dev Ji Gurdwara in New Mahavir Nagar here, according to people coordinating the evacuation efforts with the Indian government.

"The Afghan Sikhs will stay at a hotel in Karol Bagh till further arrangements are made," said Kanv Bhalla, an entrepreneur coordinating rehabilitation efforts on behalf of New York-based philanthropist Mandeep Singh Sobti.

Sobti and Paramjeet Singh Anand through their Sobti Foundation have undertaken the rehabilitation of these distressed Afghans in coordination with and under the guidance of the government of India, he said.

Puri, Muraleedharan, government officials and BJP leaders reached the Indira Gandhi International Airport here in the morning to welcome the Afghan nationals.

"Today, I got the privilege to serve three 'swaroop' of Guru Granth Sahib ji that arrived in Delhi from Kabul," Puri, the minister for housing and urban affairs, tweeted in Hindi.

He also shared a video that showed him carrying a copy of the scripture.

On Monday, 78 people, including the 44 Afghan Sikhs, were flown to Dushanbe from Kabul on an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft. They arrived in Delhi on an Air India flight around 9.50 am (Tuesday), said Puneet Singh Chandhok, president of the Indian World Forum, an organisation coordinating the evacuation efforts with the Ministry of External Affairs and the IAF.

The three copies of Guru Granth Sahib will be taken to Guru Arjan Dev Ji Gurdwara in New Mahavir Nagar, Chandhok said.

Nearly 200 more Afghan Sikhs and Hindus are still stranded in These people have taken shelter at the Karte Parwan gurdwara in Kabul, which is close to the airport, he added.

According to people sheltered in the gurdwara, the 10-km drive to the international airport through various checkpoints is one of the biggest challenges in the rescue efforts.

Around 75 more Afghan Sikhs and Hindus are likely to be evacuated soon, Chandhok said.

Till Monday night, India had brought around 730 people from as part of the evacuation mission that began on August 16, a day after Kabul fell to the

Thousands of Afghans have been crowding around the Kabul airport for nearly a week in a desperate attempt to flee the country fearing the Taliban's brutality.

India is carrying out the evacuation missions in coordination with the US and several other friendly countries.

(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.)
Medical infrastructure being ramped up and 37,000 beds in total dedicated for COVID-19 patients are being set up to tackle the anticipated third wave of the pandemic in the city, health minister Satyendar Jain said on Tuesday.

He also underlined that though the positivity rate has shown a downward trend and the number of fatalities has been zero in the past few days, the government is not dropping its guard.

Jain on Tuesday inspected the healthcare facilities to see preparations being done for the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the national capital.

The positivity rate in the capital stood at a low of 0.04 per cent on Monday with 17 Covid cases and no deaths being reported for the past three days, he said.

On Tuesday too, no fresh death was reported, according to the latest health bulletin.

He said 37,000 beds, including 12,000 ICU beds, dedicated for COVID-19 patients are being prepared and medical oxygen capacity along with essential drugs supply are also being "appropriately boosted".

Special arrangements are being made for children and the elderly as well, and the government is monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely, he was quoted as saying in the statement issued by the health department.

Even though the positivity rate is very low, the Delhi government has not dropped its guard and is consistently working to avoid a possible outbreak of the third COVID-19 wave in Delhi, he said.

The Kejriwal government is concerned about the health and safety of children and elderly. We are constantly monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Delhi and also observing the situation of other states that have reopened schools, he added.

The Delhi government is determined to provide a safe and healthy environment to the people of Delhi, he asserted.

The second wave swept the city during April-May period.

"We are making all necessary arrangements, but our focus is on ensuring that an outbreak of the third wave doesn't arise in Delhi. However, vaccination is the prime key to make the situation better. With each passing day, the supply of vaccines should be increased and vaccinations should be done expeditiously to make the prevailing COVID-19 situation better in Delhi," Jain added.

He also said the Kejriwal government has asked the manufacturers to boost manufacturing of drugs being used for the treatment of COVID-19, and that no company should charge an extra amount for any drug.

"We are working with all our might to ramp up the medical infrastructure and prepare it for a possible outbreak of the third wave in Delhi. We are working on all fronts, but our primary focus is to ensure that a third wave doesn't even arise in the first place," he added.

Delhi had reeled under the brutal second wave of the pandemic that swept the country recently, claiming a massive number of lives daily, and the oxygen supply shortage issue at various hospitals had added to the woes.

(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 on Tuesday reported a net decrease of 14,373 in active cases to take its count to 319,551. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 1.78 per cent (one in 56). The country is tenth among the most affected countries by active cases. On Monday, it added 25,467 cases to take its total caseload to 32,474,773 from 32,449,306  an increase of 0.1%. And, with 354 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 435,110, or 1.34 per cent of total confirmed infections.

With 6,385,298 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Monday, Indias total count of vaccine shots so far reached 588,997,805. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 31,720,112  or 97.68 per cent of total caseload  with 39,486 new cured cases being reported on Tuesday.

Now the tenth-most-affected country by active cases, third by deaths, second by total cases, and first by recoveries, India has added 224,094 cases in the past 7 days.

India now accounts for 1.78% of all active cases globally (one in every 56 active cases), and 9.77% of all deaths (one in every 10 deaths).

India has so far administered 588,997,805 vaccine doses. That is 1813.7 per cent of its total caseload, and 42.21 per cent of its population.

Among Indian states, the top 5 in terms of number of vaccine shots administered are Uttar Pradesh (69081345), Maharashtra (58600617), Gujarat (46815524), Rajasthan (44730226), and Madhya Pradesh (42881268).

Among states with more than 10 million population, the top 5 in number of vaccine shots per one million population are Kerala (808568), Uttarakhand (746180), Gujarat (732954), Delhi (721971), and J&K (602459).

Backwards from here, the last 1 million cases for India have come in 27 days.

The count of active cases across India on Tuesday saw a net reduction of 14,373, compared with 19,474 on Monday. States and UTs hat have seen the biggest daily net increase in active cases are Mizoram (346), Tripura (40), Rajasthan (7), Lakshadweep (5), and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (2).

With 39,486 new daily recoveries, Indias recovery rate stands at 97.68%, while fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.34%.

The Indian states and UTs with the worst case fatality rates at present are Punjab (2.72%), Uttarakhand (2.15%), and Maharashtra (2.12%). The rate in as many as 14 is higher than the national average.

Indias new daily closed cases stand at 49,840  354 deaths and 39,486 recoveries. The share of deaths in total closed cases stands at 0.88%.

Indias 5-day moving average of daily rate of addition to total cases stands at 0.1%.

Indias doubling time for total cases stands at 883.5 days, and for deaths at 851.6 days.

Overall, five states with the biggest 24-hour jump in total cases are Kerala (13383), Maharashtra (3643), Tamil Nadu (1604), Karnataka (1151), and Andhra Pradesh (1002).

Among states with more than 100,000 cases, the five with worst recovery rates at present are Kerala (95.44%).

India on Monday conducted 1,647,526 to take the total count of tests conducted so far in the country to 509,391,792. The test positivity rate recorded was 1.5%.

Five states with the highest test positivity rate (TPR)  percentage of tested people turning out to be positive for Covid-19 infection (by cumulative data for tests and cases  are Goa (14.83%), Dadra & Nagar Haveli-Daman & Diu (14.72%), Sikkim (12.81%), Kerala (12.65%), and Maharashtra (12.25%).

Five states with the highest TPR by daily numbers for tests and cases added  are, Mizoram (40.37%), Meghalaya (18.62%), Kerala (15.63%), Manipur (11.06%), and Sikkim (6.12%).

Among states and UTs with more than 10 million population, five that have carried out the highest number of tests (per million population) are Delhi (1343417), J&K (951633), Kerala (847369), Karnataka (622696), and Telangana (610111).

The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (6428294), Kerala (3827688), Karnataka (2939767), Tamil Nadu (2602489), and Andhra Pradesh (2003342).

Maharashtra, the most affected state overall, has reported 3643 new cases to take its tally to 6428294.

Kerala, the second-most-affected state by total tally, has added 13383 cases to take its tally to 3827688.

Karnataka, the third-most-affected state, has reported 1151 cases to take its tally to 2939767.

Tamil Nadu has added 1604 cases to take its tally to 2602489.

Andhra Pradesh has seen its tally going up by 1002 to 2003342.

Uttar Pradesh has added 7 cases to take its tally to 1709126.

Delhi has added 17 cases to take its tally to 1437334.
People infected with the more transmissible Delta variant have a viral load 300 times higher than those with the original version of the COVID-19 virus, when symptoms are first observed, a study found.

But the amount gradually decreased over time - to 30 times in four days and over 10 times in nine days - and it matched levels seen in other variants after 10 days, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said on Tuesday.

The higher load https means the virus spreads far more easily from person to person, increasing infections and hospitalisations, a health ministry official Lee Sang-won told a news conference.

"But it doesn't mean Delta is 300 times more infectious...we think its transmission rate is 1.6 times the Alpha variant, and about two times the original version of the virus," Lee said.

The Delta variant of the novel was first identified in India and the Alpha variant in the UK.

To avoid the spread of the Delta variant, now the dominant strainworldwide, the KDCA urged people to immediately get tested when developing COVID-19 symptoms and avoid in-person meetings.

The rapid spread of the Delta variant and low vaccination rates have caught much of Asia off-guard, especially in emerging markets, even as economies in Europe and North America reopen.

The study compared the viral load of 1,848 patients infected with the Delta variant with 22,106 people who had other strains.

reported 1,509 new cases for Monday, raising the total to 239,287 infections, with 2,228 deaths.

It has vaccinated 51.2% of its 52 million population with at least one dose of a vaccine, while 23.9% have been fully vaccinated.

(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 accounts for more than a third of the global excess infant deaths in 2020 due to the economic slowdown caused by Covid-19, according to a study led by World bank researchers.

The study, published in the online journal BMJ Open, showed that the economic downturn caused by Covid-19 resulted in an additional 2,67,208 infant deaths in low- and middle-income countries in 2020.

The highest numbers of estimated excess infant deaths were in South Asia (8 countries), totalling 1,13,141, with more than a third of the excess projected to be in India (99,642).

India has the highest number of annual births (2,42,38,000) as well as a particularly large projected economic shortfall of minus 17.3 per cent for 2020.

The global death toll is 7 per cent higher than expected for the year, the researchers said. The reason: the world economy is expected to have contracted almost 5 per cent in the first year of the pandemic, increasing the numbers of people living in poverty by 120 million.

"Regardless of the exact number of projected deaths, the large number of excess infant deaths estimated in our analysis underscores the vulnerability of this age group to negative aggregate income shocks, such as those induced by the Covid-19 pandemic," they researchers wrote.

"Several mechanisms are likely driving this increase in mortality among children 0-1 year of age: impoverishment at the household level will lead to worse nutrition and care practices for infants and reduced ability to access health services, while the economic crisis might also affect the supply and quality of services offered by the health systems," they explained.

For the study, the researchers looked at the impact of the aggregate aincome shock' represented by the projected fall in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) -- the total value of a country's annual goods and services -- on the survival of children aged up to 12 months in low- and middle-income countries.

They linked data on GDP per head of the population to 5.2 million births, reported in Demographic and Health Surveys between 1985 and 2018. Most (82 per cent) of these births were in low- and lower middle-income countries.

They then applied International Monetary Fund economic growth projections for 2019 and 2020 to predict the effect of the economic downturn in 2020 on infant deaths in 128 countries.

The study also acknowledged several limitations to their projected figures, including that their calculations drew on retrospective data, and that they only considered the short-term impact of GDP fluctuations on infant death rates.

--IANS

rvt/dpb

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Union minister was arrested on Tuesday after sparking off a row over his remarks about slapping Chief Minister for what he claimed was the latter's ignorance of the year of India's independence.

Rane was taken into custody by police in coastal Ratnagiri district, where he is travelling as part of the Jan Ashirwad Yatra, an official said.

Rane was taken to the Sangameshwar police station after being taken into custody, the official said.

There were reports that the BJP leader complained of high blood pressure and sugar levels and a doctor was called to examine him.

It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap, Rane said in adjoining Raigad district on Monday.

The former chief minister claimed Thackeray forgot the year of independence during his August 15 address to the people of the state. Thackeray had to check the year of independence with his aides midway during the speech that day, Rane said.

Rane on Tuesday defended his remarks against Thackeray, saying he hasn't committed any crime by making them.

On media reportage of his 'imminent arrest' in the case, Rane said - hours before his arrest - that he was not a normal' man and cautioned the media against such reportage.

I haven't committed any crime. You should verify and show it on TV or else I will file a case against you (media). Despite not committing any crime, the media is showing speculative news about my 'imminent' arrest. Do you think I am a normal (ordinary) man? Rane said.

Rane's remarks drew sharp reactions from Shiv Sena, whose workers put several posters in Mumbai and other places, calling him a kombdi chor' (chicken stealer), a reference to the poultry shop he ran in Mumbai's Chembur area five decades ago, during the initial part of his over four-decades-old stint with the Bal Thackeray-led party.

Activists of Shiv Sena and its youth wing staged protests in various cities across against Rane.

Maharashtra: Police detained Union Minister and BJP leader in Ratnagiri



Rane had made remarks against CM yesterday pic.twitter.com/C3xP843iwV  ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021

In Pune's Deccan Gymkhana area, Sena workers slapped posters of Rane with footwear. Yuva Sena workers staged a demonstration in Hadapsar.

A stone was hurled at a mall located on JM Road in Pune, a police official said.

In Amravati, Sena workers vandalised the BJP office located in the Rajapeth area and also set various posters installed in front of the office on fire in protest against Rane's remarks.

No BJP office-bearer or party worker was present in the office at the time of the incident.

Sena activists poured petrol, brought by them in bottles, on the posters installed outside the office and set them afire around noon. They also hurled stones at the office.

Heavy police security was deployed outside Rane's residence in Mumbai in the wake of his remarks against Thackeray, an official said.

BJP workers gathered outside Rane's residence on Juhu Tara Road in Santacruz (West) in the morning in support of their party leader.

Shiv Sena workers carrying placards and shouting slogans against Rane assembled in Juhu area.

Police personnel, including women cops, were deployed outside Rane's residence to prevent any untoward incident, the official said.

BJP president Chandrakant Patil distanced himself from Rane's remarks. I am not defending Rane's comments, but I will also not express regret," Patil said.

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said the BJP does not support Rane's comments, but the "party stands behind him 100 per cent".

Alleging that the state police force was being used as a tool for "vendetta politics", the former chief minister said there should be law and order and "not Taliban-like governance".

Union minister Ramdas Athawale said Rane didn't intend to insult Thackeray and will clarify his statement.

"Rane only meant that Thackeray is not doing anything for the development of Maharashtra and he seldom steps out of his residence 'Matoshree' in Mumbai to understand the problems faced by the people. Rane meant that such a chief minister does not have the right to occupy the chair. This was his feeling," he said.

Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding sacking of Rane over his remarks against the Maharashtra chief minister.

Raut said it was beyond his comprehension what message Rane would give to the society when he himself was using such language.

"It is also an insult to the prime minister of this country, Raut said in the letter.

Talking to reporters later, Raut said Rane should resign from the Modi ministry.

Nashik Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey on Tuesday issued orders for the immediate arrest of Rane and a team of city police left for Konkan region.

Rane approached the Bombay High Court, challenging the FIRs registered against him in parts of Maharashtra over his remarks against Thackeray, and sought protection from arrest.

The BJP leader also sought an interim order granting him protection from arrest or any coercive action.

The petition was mentioned before a division bench of Justices S S Shinde and N J Jamadar, seeking urgent hearing on Tuesday itself.

The bench, however, refused to hear it and said mentioning (of the petition) was not allowed and asked the lawyer to follow the procedure.

"File an application before the Registry department seeking urgent hearing and then we will consider," the court said.

"Everyone has to go through the process. Don't make us do the job of the Registry," the HC said.

The petition has challenged three FIRs lodged against Rane in Pune, Nashik and Mahad in Raigad.

A court in Ratnagiri rejected Rane's anticipatory bail application.

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Trinamool Congress Tuesday lashed out at the newly unveiled Monetisation Pipeline calling it a "dangerous bid" by the "bankrupt" Narendra Modi government to raise money by gradually handing over sectors like rail, road, airport, mining to the corporates.

TMC deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy told a press meet here that the Monetisation Pipeline is an "unprecedented anti-people move" which did not figure in the BJP election manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

There had neither been any discussion in the Parliament about the move, Roy, who is also TMC chief whip in Rajya Sabha, said.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had unveiled a four-year NMP worth Rs 6 lakh crore on Monday.

"The NMP is a dangerous bid by the bankrupt Modi government ... highways measuring 26,700 km will be privatised, along with 400 rail stations, 150 trains. a staggering 42,300 km transmission line, 8000 km-long GAIL pipeline, 4000 km-long oil pipeline, BSNL and MTNL towers are going to be handed over to corporates for 25-30 year lease which will be extended afterwards," Roy said quoting from some documents.

Referring to the provision in the NMP for extension of the lease, he said "The Modi government will be there till 2024. How can it decide what wil be done after the next Lok Sabha elections?"



The lease will become a perpetual lease, he claimed and added that a total 160 coal mining projects, 21 airports and 31 ports will be handed over to private companies in a similar manner, Roy said.

Expressing outrage that such a central policy had been announced on the 75th year of Independence and terming it an "unprecedented anti-people move", he said the Modi government has earned the moniker of "government of corporates, for the corporates and by the corporates."



Describing the situation as an "economic disaster", the TMC MP said "While the Modi government is selling off everything to raise money to meet the Centre's financial bankruptcy, there is no explanation why the central vista project is being commissioned at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore and Rs 190 crore is being spent to build new house for the vice-president".

To a question, Roy said TMC will chalk out a future course of action against the NMP in consultation with other opposition parties and after holding parleys within Trinamool Congress.

He alleged that the financial bankruptcy of the Centre was triggered by the demonetisation in 2016 against which TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had launched strong protest.

He apprehended this would make employees in both organised and unorganised sectors vulnerable to retrenchment by new corporate owners.

On Monday Sitharaman had unveiled the National Monetisation Policy that talked about unlocking value of Centre's brownfield projects by involving private companies across infrastructure sectors - from passenger trains and railway stations to airports, roads and stadiums.

As many as 25 AAI airports, including those at Chennai, Bhopal, Varanasi and Vadodara, as well as 40 railway stations, 15 railway stadiums and an unidentified number of railway colonies have been identified for getting private investments.

Stating that there will be no transfer of ownership or land, she had said "The NMP talks about brownfield infra assets where investments have already been made, where there is a completed asset which is either languishing or which is remaining not fully monetised or which is remaining underutilised."



TMC had on Monday claimed that the NMP is an example of government getting privatised by crony capitalists and demanded the immediate rollback of the "anti-people decision".

Roy had said that never before in the history of independent India, a union government has "so helplessly surrendered to the corporate".

"This BJP government is run by the corporate, of the corporate and for the corporate. This government has been completely privatised by crony capitalists ... Under the garb of National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), it is actually a programme," he had said.

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Prime Minister spoke to Russian President on Tuesday, and the two leaders had a detailed discussion on the evolving situation in

Modi tweeted, "Had a detailed and useful exchange of views with my friend President Putin on recent developments in We also discussed issues on the bilateral agenda, including India-Russia cooperation against COVID-19. We agreed to continue close consultations on important issues."



Modi had on Monday spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel over the situation and its implications on the region and the world. Both leaders had emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and security.

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Defence Minister on Tuesday hailed the public-private collaboration in defence manufacturing and exuded confidence that soon India will make military products not just for domestic use, but for the entire world. He said handing over of Multi-Mode Hand Grenades (MMHG), manufactured by a Nagpur-based private firm and considered highly lethal, but safer to use, to the Indian Army was a big step towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing and a shining example of the increasing collaboration between public and private sectors. Singh said value of India's defence exports stood at over Rs 17,000 crore in the last two years. The first batch of one lakh MMHG, manufactured by Economic Explosives Ltd (EEL) following transfer of technology from Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), was handed over to the Army in the presence of Singh at a function here, a PIB (Defence Wing) press release said. Speaking at the function,



Singh said, Today is a memorable day in the history of sector. Our private industry is coming of age when it comes to defence production. "It is an important milestone not only in the field of defence manufacturing, but also in achieving 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) as envisioned by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Singh lauded DRDO and EEL for the speedy delivery of the MMHG order amidst COVID-19 restrictions and hoped of a faster delivery of the next lot of the explosive weapon, which will replace grenades of World War I vintage still used by the Army. He listed the measures undertaken by the Centre to transform the defence sector into a self-reliant industry which can cater to the present and the future needs of the armed forces.

These included setting up of defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, formulation of draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) 2020, earmarking around 64 per cent of its modernisation funds under capital acquisition budget for 2021-22 for procurement from domestic companies. Other steps mentioned by Singh included notifying two positive indigenisation lists of over 200 items to promote self-reliance and defence exports, corporatisation of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), increasing FDI limit from 49 to 74 per cent under automatic route and beyond 74 per cent through government route. The defence minister also made special mention about another initiative taken by the government - that is technology transfer to Industries by DRDO.

Describing these measure as the "backbone" of the defence industry, he lauded DRDO for being an incubator which is undertaking free of cost transfer of technologies as well as providing access to testing facilities and over 450 patents.

This has not only enabled the industry to use ready-to-use technologies, but has also saved time, energy and money, Singh said.

Singh spoke about the importance of Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), saying it aims to achieve self-reliance, foster innovation and technology development in defence and aerospace sectors by engaging industries, including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes and academia.

Under this initiative, problems being faced by the armed forces, defence PSUs and OFB are identified and brought before entrepreneurs, MSMEs, start-ups and innovators through Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC) to find solutions, he said.

Singh commended the Indian industry for indigenously developing products like 'Multi-Mode Grenade', 'Arjun-Mark-1' tank, 'Unmanned Surface Vehicle' and 'See Through Armor'.

Such products are not just being produced, but also exported on a large scale. The number of online export authorisations during 2016-17 and 2018-19 was 1,210. It has increased to 1,774 in the last two years. This has resulted in defence exports of over Rs 17,000 crore in the last two years, he added.

Singh exuded confidence that soon India will manufacture defence products not just for domestic use, but for the whole world. "The grenade (MMHG) is not just more lethal, but is safer to use. It has a distinctive design that gives flexibility of employment in both defensive (fragmentation) and offensive (stun) modes. It has a highly accurate delay time, very high reliability in usage and safe for carriage. "These new grenades will replace Grenade No 36 of World War I vintage design, which had been continuing in service till date," he said.

EEL had signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence on October 1, 2020, to supply 10 lakh modern hand grenades for the Army and the Indian Air Force.

The deliveries would be spread over two years from the bulk production clearance, which was accorded to EEL in March 2021, the release said. The first order has been delivered within five months, it added. Singh was handed over a scale replica of MMHG by chairman of EEL S N Nuwal to mark the first delivery of ammunition from the private sector to the armed forces, it said.

Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane, Chairman of DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy and Infantry DG Lt Gen AK Samantra were present on the occasion.

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leader on Tuesday slammed the Centre's move to monetise its assets across key sectors, saying the Modi dispensation is in the process of selling India's "crown jewels" built by previous governments with public money over 70 years.

Addressing a press conference here with former Union finance minister P Chidambaram, he said the has claimed that nothing happened in India for 70 years, but now all assets created in all these years are being sold.

Gandhi alleged that the government's plan was aimed at creating monopolies in key sectors which will kill jobs.

He alleged that the government was indulging in creation of monopolies in the formal sector and elimination of the informal sector.

What this country has built over the last 70 years, is being given away. There is an excuse they have come up with that "we are leasing these"...The government clearly mishandled the economy & doesn't know what to do: leader (1/2) pic.twitter.com/g9VOzHEpvS  ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021

Chidambaram said that raising funds cannot be the sole aim for selling assets built over 70 years.

The former Union minister felt that all stakeholders, including employees, worker unions, farmers, must be consulted before embarking on such large sale of assets.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday unveiled an ambitious Rs 6 lakh crore Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) that included unlocking value by involving private companies across infrastructure sectors -- from passenger trains and railway stations to airports, roads and stadiums.

As many as 25 Airports Authority of India (AAI) airports, including ones at Chennai, Bhopal, Varanasi and Vadodara, as well as 40 railway stations, 15 railway stadiums and an unidentified number of railway colonies have been identified for getting private investments.

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Rishad Rahmani, who moved to India from in 2019, carries on the side of his neck a tattoo depicting flight of a pigeon, symbolising a desire of freedom for Afghans, but his mind bears the scars of his uncle's killing at the hands of the a few years ago.

The 22-year-old Afghan, who hails from Mazhar-i-Sharif, capital of Balkh province in northern part of the war-torn country, detests the mention of the word 'Taliban', which ironically, in Pashto means students.

"We have a bad feeling about the situation in since the took over. People there are scared and we in India are also tense, as many of our family members are there. So, many Afghans are fleeing their homeland left with no choice," Rahmani told PTI.

He was among hundreds of Afghan refugees, drawn from Delhi and neighbouring cities, who vociferously protested in front of the UNHCR office here, demanding safety for themselves and their compatriots in

"The claim they will not cause any harm to Afghans. But, they are already targeting people who worked for the government they just toppled, or those who were associated with the US Army when it was present in Afghanistan. They are shooting people who carry the Afghan flag," he said.

While sharing his thoughts on the current situation, Rahmani, who lives in an enclave of Afghan in Noida, points to his pigeon tattoo, and says, "I carry this as a desire for freedom for us Afghans and for our beloved Afghanistan, which has seen decades of fractured peace due to civil war and the Taliban".

"My mother and other family members, living in India, are tense right now. My mother is under depression thinking about the fate of Afganistan. Her brother who was a translator was killed by the Taliban a few years ago. We had left our homeland seeking peace and better future," he recalled.

The Taliban swept across the country this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities in the backdrop of withdrawal of the US forces that began on May 1.

On August 15, the capital city Kabul also fell to the Taliban, even as a large number of Afghans attempted in vain to flee the war-torn nation.

The insurgent forces have now sought to portray themselves as more moderate than when they had imposed a brutal rule in the late 1990s. But many Afghans remain sceptical of this and fear the return of the "regressive" regime.

Anjam Ahmad Khan, 28, another Afghan refugee, who lives with his wife and three children in Delhi, has grown pessimistic after the Taliban recaptured Afghanistan, swiftly and without much force.

"I spoke to my mother in Kabul a few days ago, she was crying. She mostly cries now. We are worried about her and other family members, as the Taliban are going after various families. With the Taliban in control, no have no hope left for Afghanistan or its people now. Taliban is not the rule of Islam, it's just sheer terror," he rued.

Khan had lost an immediate family member, who worked in the country's army, to the bullets of the Taliban, a few years ago, and its return scares him.

"They are keeping a sham of reformed Taliban with rights for women, just to form a government. They will go back to their old ways, once they are legitimately in power. We can't trust this regressive Taliban, which opposed learning of English by Afghans as anti-Islam, and suppressed women and girls," he lamented.

Khan is also a member of the Afghanistan Solidarity Committee, an umbrella outfit of Afghan in India, which organised the protest in Delhi in front of the UN Refugees Agency in Vasant Vihar.

The protestors also demanded release of "support letters" from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), seeking to migrate to other countries for better opportunities.

Many other refugees, men and women, echoed the woeful tales narrated by Rahmani and Khan, and for some it triggered the 1990s era when the Taliban had run riot, and later even blown up the world heritage site of the iconic Bamiyan Buddhas statutes in 2001.

"All beautiful lands are mostly a troubled paradise. I hanker for my country, but the Taliban will not let it be our homeland. We don't want to live like slaves in our own country. This 'pigeon' (tattoo) with me keeps reminding me that I will have to keep striving for my freedom too," Rahmani said, before returning to the protesting crowd to chant slogans.

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on Tuesday recorded 389 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the tally to 6,55,732, while the toll rose to 3,862 with the death of one more person.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for most number of cases with 70, followed by Karimnagar (36) and Nalgonda (28) districts, a state government bulletin said, providing details as of 5.30 PM on Tuesday.

Recoveries outnumbered fresh cases with 420 people recuperating from the infectious disease.

The cumulative number of recoveries till date was 6,45,594, it said.

Active cases stood at 6,276.

It said 88,347 samples were tested on Tuesday, taking the total number of specimens examined so far to 2,41,04,984.

The samples tested per million population was 6,47,635.

The Case Fatality Rate (CFR) in the state was 0.58 per cent, while it was 1.3 per cent at the national level.

The recovery rate in was 98.45 per cent, while it was 97.65 per cent in the country, the bulletin said.

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24,296 Covid-19 cases, 173 deaths in Kerala; TPR crosses 18%

on Tuesday reported 24,296 COVID-19 cases and 173 deaths, pushing the total infection count to 38,51,984 and fatalities to 19,757 till date.

The Test Positivity Rate (TPR) jumped to 18.04 per cent from 15.63 per cent on Monday. Read more

SC provides temporary relief to over Videocon's AGR dues

The Tuesday directed DoT not to invoke the bank guarantees (BGs) of Bharti for three weeks for recovering Rs 1,376 crore in AGR-related dues of Videocon Telecom Ltd (VTL) which had sold its spectrum to the Bharti group.

The top court, which refused to entertain Airtel's plea that VTL dues are not payable by it, permitted the telecom major to approach the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) with the grievances. Read more

Hyundai unveils i20 N-Line, betting on fun-to-drive performance cars

Even as luxury carmakers stir the pot of alphabet soup with BMW's performance M Series, Audi's RS variants, Mercedes-Benz's AMG Sport line-up, Hyundai, too, has joined the tribe by launching the N-Line brand in India.

Hyundais N represents two elements: Namyang district in South Korea, the birthplace of the N brand and location of its global research and development centre; and the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany, home to its technical centre where N vehicles are tested. Read more

India's GDP likely to grow at 18.5% in Q1FY22: SBI report

The country's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow at around 18.5 per cent with an upward bias in the first quarter of the current financial year, according to SBI research report Ecowrap.

This estimate is lower than the Reserve Bank of India's GDP growth projection of 21.4 per cent for the April-June quarter. Read more
The Tuesday referred the pleas challenging the 2018 verdict of the Kerala High Court which had set aside the Employees' Pension (Amendment) scheme 2014, to a larger three-judge bench for adjudication.

The high court had held as arbitrary the amendments to the scheme which capped the maximum pensionable salary to Rs 15000 per month.

A bench of Justices U U Lalit and Ajay Rastogi said the submissions advanced before it touching upon the applicability of principle laid down in the verdict delivered by a two-judge bench of the apex court in 2016 goes to the very root of the matter and the logical course would be to refer these pleas, including the one filed by the Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), to a larger bench.

The apex court directed the registry to place these matters before Chief Justice of India N V Ramana for obtaining requisite directions so that the pleas could be placed before a larger bench.

Sitting in a bench of two judges it would not be appropriate for us to deal with said submissions. The logical course would be to refer all these matters to a bench of at least three judges so that appropriate decision can be arrived at, the bench said in its order.

The principal questions that arise for consideration are whether there would be a cut-off date under paragraph 11(3) of the Employees' Pension Scheme and whether the decision in R C Gupta (2016 verdict) would be the governing principle on the basis of which all these matters must be disposed of, it said.

The Kerala High Court had delivered its verdict in 2018 on a batch of pleas in which some of the petitioners had contended that the amendment had capped the maximum pensionable salary to Rs 15,000 per month and it was against the spirit of the scheme.

The high court had also set aside the proceedings issued by the EPFO declining to grant opportunities to the petitioners to exercise a joint option along with other to remit contributions to the Employees' Pension Scheme on the basis of actual salaries drawn by them.

In April 2019, the apex court had initially dismissed the appeal filed by the EPFO against the high court verdict.

Later, in January this year the top court had recalled the order dismissing the petition against the 2018 verdict of the high court.

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The government is considering to introduce bonds as an alternative to bank guarantees, Finance Secretary T V Somanathan said here on Tuesday.

Somanathan made the announcement during a meeting between industry captains and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is on a two-day visit to the financial capital.

"Government is exploring on instituting bonds as alternatives to bank guarantees," an official statement said.

Bank guarantees are usually asked for while extending a loan and typically require a collateral. An bond is also a surety but it does not require any collateral.

As per reports last year, insurance regulator Irdai was also looking at the option of insurers offering surety bonds in the context of road projects.

Sitharaman, who met the industry captains in the evening, said the government is committed to working towards ensuring policy certainty, adding that the regulators also have a key role in ensuring the same.

She said the government is working with the regulators on this "important issue", as per the statement.

The finance minister emphasised the importance of 'India's own equity capital' while addressing the industry and assured government facilitation for sunrise sectors and startups.

Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj said his department was working on tax-related issues of startups and sought industry inputs on the same.

Sitharaman also assured the industry of addressing issues related to competitiveness, including high power tariffs, and matters related to cumbersome regulatory compliances, the statement said.

The economy is moving gradually from a bank-led lending model to a more market-based finance model and the operationalisation of the Development Finance Institution (DFI) will ensure long-term lending for projects, Sitharaman said.

The DFI will increase competition for banks and also improve their efficiency, the statement quoted her as saying.

In the meeting, which comes in the wake of a controversy caused by her cabinet colleague Piyush Goyal's reported remarks about disenchantment with the industry for not keeping the nation's interest in mind, Sitharaman said, "This government believes in listening, working and responding and would extend all possible support."



Tata Steel's T V Narendran said for growth to take deep roots, sustained demand is critical, and the immediate source of demand has to be government expenditure.

Narendran also recommended frontloading of the committed capital expenditure, especially on infrastructure, adding that the first quarter's handsome revenues create a room for the same, as per the statement.

On the issue of arbitration awards being appealed, Somanathan said there is a need for a behaviourial change and added that the government trusts wealth creators.

The constraint on vaccination is on the supply side and the same is likely to be addressed soon, he further said.

Sitharaman met officials from income tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and customs departments in two separate meetings in what is her maiden visit to the financial capital since the second wave of COVID-19.

She is scheduled to address chiefs of state-run banks at a meeting on Wednesday.

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Road Transport and Highways minister along with other Union ministers on Tuesday discussed various issues related to infrastructure development, including ways to expedite forest clearances for highway and other infrastructure projects.

Gadkari chaired a meeting of the ninth Group of Infrastructure Committee to address existing inter-ministerial issues with regard to implementation of infrastructure projects.

He reiterated his commitment to infrastructure development while giving due importance to protection of environment and ecology, and also suggested the idea of having a tree bank similar to the concept of carbon credit, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.

Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw , environment, forest and climate change minister Bhupender Yadav, officials from various ministries and representatives from a few states, among others, participated in the meeting.

Vaishnaw underlined the importance of new technologies and financial models for railways' infrastructure enhancement and offered to work in close association with MoRTH (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways) on similar lines.

The minister also mentioned that he would like to examine the feasibility of working out a plan to lay the railway lines along the highways in the already acquired land in order to make the projects viable, as per the statement.

A major issue raised during the meeting pertained to forest clearances regarding highways and other infra projects, and the officers concerned were directed to expedite the process for the same immediately.

Land/ RoW (Right of Way) policies of railways and MoRTH, and making comprehensive guidelines for environment and forest clearance were also discussed at length, the statement said.

The ministers agreed to look into the matters raised by various agencies and resolve the same in order to expedite infrastructure projects, it added.

Several issues had been placed on the agenda for deliberation for expediting the progress of on-going infrastructure projects by resolving the issues related to NOCs (No Objection Certificates), facilitating working permissions/approvals, ensuring land allocation/transfer and release of funds.

Among others, pending forest and environment clearances, pending DPR (Detailed Project Report) approvals and issues of alignment of RoW policy were on the meeting agenda.

Senior officers from MoRTH, ministries of finance; port, shipping and waterways; environment, forest and climate change; railways; electronics and information technology; power and civil aviation participated in the meeting.

Officers from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) and representatives from Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh were also present.

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More than 5,000 kms of avenue plantation works worth Rs 650 crore have been executed so far under the National Green Mission (NGHM), as per an official document.

According to the Road Transport and Ministry document, national highway stretches identified for plantations include NH-707 (103.55-km Poanta Sahib-Gumma Fediz stretch in Himachal Pradesh), NH-158 (116.75-km Ras-Beawar-Mandal stretch in Rajasthan) and NH-70 (109.41-km Hamirpur-Mandi stretch of Himachal Pradesh), among others



"The government plans to carry out plantations along the NHs with participation of the local communities, farmers, NGOs, private sector, government agencies and Forest Departments (state level).

"So far, more than 5,000 km of avenue plantation works worth INR 650 Crore (about USD 90 million) have been executed," it said.

Green corridors, relevant from both climate mitigation and adaptation perspective, are being seen as a solution to fulfil India's commitment for voluntary reduction of carbon emissions, it added.

The ministry had launched the National Green Mission following the promulgation of a 'Green Highways Policy' in September 2015.

This was done considering the importance of road network in economic growth, employment generation and poverty reduction on one hand and the need to reduce adverse effects of vehicular pollution, forest diversion and felling of trees.

Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had on August 21, 2020 launched a mobile app 'Harit Path' to monitor the plantation along the national highways.

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India stands committed to working with the US on clean energy, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Tuesday after a telephonic conversation with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC) John Kerry.

During the conversation with Kerry, the minister discussed the Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD) Track under the India-US Climate, Agenda 2030 Partnership, and other related issues, the said in a statement.

"Had a telephonic conversation with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Mr @JohnKerry and discussed at length how the largest and oldest democracies can set examples for other countries on climate action. India stands committed to working with the US on Clean Energy," Yadav tweeted.

Kerry is likely to visit India in September to further India-US partnership on clean energy, the ministry said.

"Both sides agreed that India and the US, will engage for a constructive engagement under the India-US Climate and Agenda 2030 Partnership. The environment minister stated that these platforms provide greater opportunities for working together for climate actions and emphasised that India stands committed to working with the US on Clean Energy," it said.

During the call, Kerry mentioned about the launch of the CAFMD to enhance actions in the current decade to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, the ministry said.

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India is likely to record exports worth $46 billion to the region, Minister of State of Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel said on Tuesday.

Addressing the India- Engineering Partnership Summit organised by EEPC India, she noted that as one of the largest destinations for Indian exports, the Association of South East Asian Nations will be an important region for India in meeting the global export target of $400 billion in financial year 2021-22.

"ASEAN, with over 15 per cent share in India's global engineering shipments, is likely to be a key region to focus with a target of around $16 billion of exports for 2021-22," she said.

India's engineering exports to the world during the first four months (April-July) of fiscal 2021-22 was recorded at $35.3 billion and is expected to achieve the target set for fiscal 2021-22 at $105 billion.

The minister emphasised on the need for opening up new avenues of bilateral cooperation in order to enhance engineering trade and investments between India and the

"This will be instrumental in achieving the landmark export target set by the government both in terms of engineering as well as merchandise exports," she said.

In his inaugural address, EEPC India Chairman Mahesh Desai said that with both ASEAN and India fast becoming prominent in the regional value chain on the global trade map, the time is apt for developing a well-structured bilateral relationship focusing on engineering goods.

"Going forward we need better integration between MSMEs from the two sides to tap the full potential of the bilateral relations. Nearly 60 per cent of our member-exporters come from the MSME sector," he said.

India's bilateral trade with ASEAN economies is expected to reach $300 billion by 2025, and it is the fifth largest trading partner for India following North America, EU, North-East Asia and GCC-West Asia.

ASEAN is India's third largest engineering export market and the fifth largest trade partner. Engineering goods account for 40 per cent share in India's total exports to ASEAN.

"The role of engineering in taking the India-ASEAN bilateral relation to its full potential is instrumental as engineering contributes around one-fourth of merchandise exports for both sides," Territorial Committee on Trade with ASEAN Chairman T.S. Bhasin said.

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The authority for advance rulings (AAR), Mahashtra has ruled that services rendered to the head office of the (WEF) by the liaison office (LO) in India are not liable for goods and services tax (GST) since the services are not for furtherance of its business.

WEF's liaison office is a public interest, not-for-profit organisation, established to assist the forum undertake fourth industrial revolution activities in India.

AAR holds that so long as the services imported by the LO from its head office are not used in the course of furtherance of business, it is not liable to pay on such transactions. The LO can take only specified activities, according to clearance given by the (RBI) for its establishment.

Also, the applicant wouldnt be required to obtain registration in India under the Central Act, AAR ruled.

Earlier AARs had given divergent rulings depending on the nature of the work of liaison offices.

"Therefore, one needs to understand the exact nature of activities undertaken in India and evaluate whether the LO qualifies as an intermediary, before finalizing the tax position," said Harpreet Singh, indirect tax partner at KPMG.

For instance, Maharashtra AAR in case of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry had held that the LO of the chamber has to pay since it provides services of connecting business partners in Dubai with businesses in India for a consideration from the Dubai Head Office (HO). As such, it is an intermediary as defined under the Integrated GST Act, AAR had ruled.

On the other hand, the Karnataka Appellate AAR, in the matter of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung took a contrarian stand that activities of the LO located in Bengaluru do not amount to supply of services. It had set aside the AAR ruling that held that liaison activities amount to supply under the CGST Act and hence the LO is required to pay GST and undertake registration.

The Tamil Nadu AAR, in case of Takko Holding GmbH, had held that liaison activities undertaken by LO while acting as communication channel between parent company and Indian supplier of goods does not constitute supply under GST law.

Abhishek Jain, tax partner at EY, said," The ruling provides requisite clarity on non levy of GST on such offices which are restricted to conduct any business activity under the regulations."
Formulation of the new National Policy (NEP) is a live example of cooperative federalism to achieve a common goal of making India a global hub of knowledge, Union Minister said on Tuesday.

Pradhan was addressing the launch of a booklet detailing initiatives taken in one year since the the roll out of the NEP.

"NEP is a guiding philosophy to transform the hopes and aspirations of millions of youth to reality and making India self-reliant. Formulation of NEP is also a live example of cooperative federalism to achieve a common goal of making India a global hub of knowledge. When we look back at the progress of NEP, we get more confident about the future of our students," he said.

" is not merely a competition to acquire degrees, but is a transformative tool to leverage knowledge for character building and eventually nation building. The government is working to facilitate upgradation of infrastructure in schools, such as ensuring that internet reaches village schools across the country," he added.

Besides the booklet of achievements, the minister also launched initiatives such as NIPUN Bharat FLN tools and resources on DIKSHA; Virtual School of NIOS; alternate academic calendar of NCERT and released "Priya", an accessibility booklet developed by the NCERT and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.

"Priya -The Accessibility Warrior", which is the outcome of collaborative efforts of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Department of School Education and Literacy.

It provides glimpses into the world of a girl named Priya who met with an accident and could not walk, due to a plastered leg. The story depicts how she manages to participate in all activities at school, and in the process learns the importance of accessibility. Priya, therefore, takes the pledge of being an accessibility warrior. The comic book is also available with Indian Sign Language (ISL) explanatory videos.

The minister, while launching the Virtual School of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), said that this school is a new model of learning and is an example of how leveraging technology and innovation can facilitate greater inclusion in education. The school is first-of-its-kind initiative in the country which will provide advanced digital learning platforms through Virtual Live Classrooms and Virtual Labs.

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar said that accessibility opens doorways to opportunity and growth, thus, reinstating the importance of creating an accessible environment for everyone. He further said that awareness and a sensitised community are the essential fuels driving any revolutionary change.

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Minister will meet heads of public sector (PSBs) on Wednesday to review the financial performance of the lenders and progress made by them in supporting the pandemic-hit economy, sources said.

The meeting with MD and CEOs of PSBs assumes significance given the importance of the banking sector in generating demand and boosting consumption.

Recently, the minister had said the government is ready to do everything required to revive and support economic growth hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting is expected to take stock of the banking sector and progress on the restructuring 2.0 scheme announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the sources said, adding that may be nudged to push loan growth in productive sectors.

The revamped Rs 4.5 lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) would also be reviewed during the meeting likely to be held in Mumbai, the sources said.

Besides, the minister is expected to take stock of the bad loans or non-performing assets (NPAs) situation, and discuss various recovery measures by banks, they said.

As a result of the government's strategy of recognition, resolution, recapitalisation and reforms, NPAs have shown a declining trend, from Rs 7,39,541 crore on March 31, 2019 to Rs 6,78,317 crore on March 31, 2020 and further to Rs 6,16,616 crore as on March 31, 2021 (provisional data).

At the same time, comprehensive steps were taken to control and to effect recovery in NPAs, which enabled PSBs to recover Rs 5,01,479 crore over the last six financial years, the government informed Parliament recently.

Besides, Sitharaman is expected to declare the results of Ease 3.0 Index for 2020-21, they said, adding that PSBs would be rated on various indexes for the year.

Launched in January 2018, Enhanced Access and Service Excellence (Ease) is the common reform agenda for all public sector aimed at institutionalising clean and smart banking.

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and org said on Tuesday that the firms non-profit arm will provide temporary housing to 20,000 Afghan worldwide, and the cost of this will be funded through contributions to org from Airbnb and co-founder Brian Chesky, as well as donors to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund.

Airbnb.org is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in moments of crisis. It has helped shelter people displaced by natural disasters, and offered thousands of places to stay and peace of mind to frontline workers at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Starting today, Airbnb will begin housing 20,000 Afghan globally for free, tweeted Chesky. The displacement and resettlement of Afghan in the US and elsewhere is one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time. We feel a responsibility to step up, he added.

Last week, Airbnb.org gave emergency funding and support to the Rescue Committee (IRC), HIAS and Church World Service to provide immediate temporary stays via the Airbnb platform for up to 1,000 arriving Afghan refugees.

Over the past weekend, Airbnb.org worked with partners to place 165 refugees in safe housing shortly after touching down in the US, the firm added.
Chinese technology stocks rallied for a second day as bargain hunters returned, emboldened by Tencent Holdings Ltd.s share buyback and strong results from JD.com, which drew Cathie Wood back into the market.

The Hang Seng Tech Index advanced more than 7%, adding to a 2% gain on Monday, after a five-week rout that took the gauge to the lowest level since its inception last year. Heavyweights Tencent and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. climbed 8.8% and 9.5%, respectively.

While theres no indication that the nations regulatory crackdown will ease, the absence of significant new initiatives in recent days opened the door to investors who see longer-term value in China stocks. Some are also taking a cue from technical charts that show the index plunged into oversold territory last week.

We are seeing lots of bottom-fishing activities in the market, including strong buying of Tencent and Alibaba, said Jackson Wong, asset management director at Amber Hill Capital Ltd. Companies that have fallen the most and prove to have solid fundamentals will lead the rebound.

Woods Ark Investment Management bought American depository receipts of JD.com on Monday after its quarterly sales beat estimates. The purchases by the thematic tech-focused global investment firm come after it had earlier this year reduced its China holdings to a negligible amount.

The e-commerce companys revenue jumped 26% in the three months through June, while company executives said they didnt see a major impact coming from new curbs on data collection and usage.

JD.com shares closed 15% higher on Tuesday, their biggest gain ever.

The gain in Tencent stock Tuesday was the largest July 29 and followed its buyback of 230,000 of its own shares on Monday.

Alibabas advance came after it dropped to a record low in Hong Kong on Monday. Food delivery giant Meituan climbed 14% while live-streaming platform Kuaishou Technology rose 15%, the most since February.

While investors are still concerned about regulations, earnings such as those from JD.com have partly offset some of the worries, said Linus Yip, a strategist at First Shanghai Securities in Hong Kong. Valuations look appealing if investors want to hold for 6 months or longer.

Tencent is Cheaper Than Days of Trade War Doldrums: Chart

MSCI Inc., the worlds biggest index provider, shook off concerns about the investability of Chinese stocks, citing previous instances where rebounded in the aftermath.

Regulatory compliance has weighed on China every three, four, five years and obviously the have sold off at the time. But very quickly afterwards, the have recovered and gone through to new heights, MSCI Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Henry Fernandez told Bloomberg Televisions Haidi Lun and Shery Ahn in an interview.

Thats a view echoed by Gabriela Santos, a global market strategist at JPMorgan Chases asset management unit.

We had this in 2018, 2015 and 2011 and its unrelated to the economic cycle -- its related to Chinas regulatory and reform campaigns, she said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Saturday. It takes time to rebuild confidence, but three months out Chinese equities tend to trend up.

Some investors have taken the opportunity to buy during the selloff. Veteran fund manager Hugh Young of Aberdeen Standard Investments said earlier this month that his firm bought the dip in Tencent and kept most of its other big-tech holdings largely unchanged.


Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will travel to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran this week to discuss the evolving situation in Afghanistan, Foreign Office said on Tuesday.

The seized power in on August 15, two weeks before the US was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war. This forced Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to flee the country to the UAE.

"Foreign Minister Qureshi will share Pakistan's perspective on the latest developments in Afghanistan," Foreign Office said in a statement.

During his August 24-26 visit, Qureshi will have high-level interactions to exchange views on the evolving situation in and on enhancing bilateral relations, it added.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Qureshi said that the objective of his visit is "to hear their assessment and see what immediate challenges the neighbours are facing and can face."



believes that the neighbouring countries have a vital stake in the peace, security and stability of and the region and it is important to coordinate closely with them to address common challenges and advance shared goals of peace, security, stability and regional connectivity.

In the bilateral context, the foreign minister's visit to these countries will build on the recent high-level exchanges to further intensify close cooperative relations, the FO said.

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Group has unveiled a 240-trillion won ($205-billion) expansion that will entail hiring 40,000 people over three years, a sprawling investment blueprint intended to build the South Korean conglomerates lead in next-generation technologies.

Electronics and affiliates such as Biologics aim to lead research and spending in areas from telecommunications and robotics to corporate acquisitions. The countrys largest conglomerate is setting aside 180 trillion won for its home country alone and now aims to hire another 10,000 people over the period, on top of 30,000 new jobs already planned, the group said in a statement. Samsung Electronics shares finished Tuesday 3.1 per cent higher.

The envisioned spending includes expenditures outlined previously, such as Samsung Electronics long-term goal of investing $151 billion through 2030 to delve deeper into advanced chipmaking. But the announcement comes days after Samsung scion Jay Y. Lee walked out of jail. The conglomerates de facto leader, who was serving a sentence on graft charges, won release on parole just months ahead of South Koreas presidential election.

Lee, 53, was sent back to jail for a second time in January, after he was convicted of using bribery to win support for his formal succession at the conglomerate. The billionaire had served six of the 18 months he had been expected to spend behind bars during his second stint, on top of the year he was incarcerated before his initial release in 2018.

In the months after his imprisonment, a supply crunch in the global semiconductor industry and Samsungs role in facilitating a Covid-19 vaccine deal with the US fanned calls from business leaders and politicians to free Lee. Still, activists have criticized the decision, saying it was proof of preferential treatment for the powerful tycoon class known as chaebols.

Samsung Electronics, the worlds largest memory chip maker, said the group plans to solidify technology and market leadership through mergers and acquisitions. It did not provide a breakdown of the investment figures.

The firm did not say whether the latest investment figure includes the $17 billion it was reportedly spending on a new US chip contract chip factory.

The plan is 30 per cent larger than Samsung's previous three-year strategy floated in 2018. The group decided to increase investment to retain technological leadership, especially during emergency situations at home and abroad.

The chip industry is the safety plate of the Korean economy... Our aggressive investment is a survival strategy in a sense that once we lose our competitiveness, it is almost impossible to make a comeback, said in a statement. Chip rivals including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and Intel Corp are making large amid a global chip shortage and intensifying competition in the advanced chip segment.
doesnt know what to make of the Asked in an ABC News interview last week if he thought the Afghan insurgents had changed, the U.S. president gave a tortured answer that amounted to, Yes, no and maybe.

It is worth examining his exchange with George Stephanopoulos in some detail for a full appreciation of Bidens self-delusion:

Q: What happens now in Do you believe the have changed?

A: No. I think let me put it this way: I think they're going through sort of an existential crisis about do they want to be recognized by the community as being a legitimate government. I'm not sure they do.

Q: They care about their beliefs more?

B: Well, they do. But they also care about whether they have food to eat, whether they have an income that they can provide for their that they can make any money and run an economy. They care about whether or not they can hold together the society that they, in fact, say they care so much about.

Im not counting on any of that. But that is part of what I think is going on right now. Im not sure I would've predicted, George  nor would you or anyone else  that when we decided to leave, that theyd provide safe passage for Americans to get out.





ALSO READ: Latest news LIVE updates: US, UK forces must leave by Aug 31, says Taliban

This is, to put it most charitably, a case of presidential projection. There is no meaningful evidence that the are feeling any existential crisis, much less that they care about making money or running an economy. Unlike American politicians, the Afghan insurgents rarely feel the need to claim they care so much about society.

Any reading of the Talibans actions, remote and recent alike, makes it clear that self-doubt is not their strongest suit. Whereas they do plainly care about making money to keep fighting, largely from drug-smuggling, they have shown little interest in running an economy for the material well-being of Afghan society. In parts of the country that have been under Taliban control for an extended period of time, they have demonstrated, if anything, a tenacious fidelity to their old worldview.

We should not, then, be surprised if the Taliban decide that they dont need recognition or legitimacy, much less aid and trade, and instead revert to the status of a hermit emirate: a North Korea, with terrorist enclaves. Isolation would bring great hardship upon Afghan society, but the Taliban leadership might not  to use Bidens term of choice  care.

But the president clearly hopes the Taliban have changed. Indeed, he may need for them to have changed. His gamble in is predicated on the insurgents behaving like reasonable and responsible political actors with whom the U.S. can do business  or at least cut deals  in the expectation that agreements will be honored and promises kept.

To make such a calculation is to willfully disregard the Talibans behavior, from last year and the last century. The ink was not yet dry on the 2020 peace deal with President Donald Trump, when the Taliban resumed their military operations. This was entirely in character for the insurgents, whose rise to power in the 1990s was characterized by the opportunistic making and breaking of deals. Biden, a Washington foreign-policy veteran, can hardly be unaware of the Talibans history of duplicity and doubletalk.

Nor can he miss the message being sent right now by the tens of thousands of Afghans who are fleeing the country, despite the Talibans promises of amnesty and tolerance. They remember, if he doesnt, what happened when the students, as the insurgents are known, first conquered Kabul in 1996: Promises of peace and order, and amnesty for Afghans who had served in the government of President Mohammad Najibullah, were swiftly broken. The score-settling started at the top: The president was castrated and hung from a Kabul lamp post, his genitals stuffed into his mouth.

As Biden noted in his interview, the Taliban have, for the most part, restrained themselves from attacking Americans since their second triumphant return to Kabul. But the city fell sooner than the insurgents had expected, and they didnt have the numbers to directly challenge the U.S. military, especially after 3,000 additional Marines were flown in to manage the evacuations.

The Taliban have themselves been reinforced, and the security in the capital is now under the charge of the Haqqani Network, the most rabid and refractory of the groups many factions. How long they will observe the previously agreed niceties is anybodys guess. The Haqqanis wont have forgotten that they are designated a terrorist organization by the very country whose president now expects them to guarantee safe passage for its citizens and allies.



ALSO READ: Taliban name obscure official to lead central bank in economic crisis

One potential flashpoint is coming soon: Even as Biden acknowledged that the evacuation might take longer than expected, the Taliban said they would not budge on the Aug. 31 deadline for the final withdrawal.

Meanwhile, the Haqqanis are conducting door-to-door manhunts across the city, seeking to avenge themselves on those who worked against them. Girls and women are already being dissuaded from returning to school and work. Gunmen flanked imams during last Fridays prayers. If there is an existential crisis in Afghanistan, it is being felt with those Biden has abandoned to the Taliban.
PRI GEN INT .TORONTO FGN24 AFGHAN-TALIBAN-BIOMETRIC-DATA The may have access to the of civilians who helped the By Lucia Nalbandian, Researcher, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Ryerson University Toronto, Aug 24 (The Conversation) In 2007, the United States military began using a small, handheld device to collect and match the iris, fingerprint and facial scans of over 1.5 million Afghans against a database of The device, known as Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment (HIIDE), was initially developed by the US government as a means to locate insurgents and other wanted individuals. Over time, for the sake of efficiency, the system came to include the data of Afghans assisting the US during the war. Today, HIIDE provides access to a database of biometric and biographic data, including of those who aided coalition forces. Military equipment and devices including the collected data are speculated to have been captured by the Taliban, who have taken over This development is the latest in many incidents that exemplify why governments and organizations cannot yet securely collect and use in conflict zones and in their crisis responses. Building biometric databases Biometric data, or simply biometrics, are unique physical or behavioural characteristics that can be used to identify a person. These include facial features, voice patterns, fingerprints or iris features. Often described as the most secure method of verifying an individual's identity, biometric data are being used by governments and organizations to verify and grant citizens and clients access to personal information, finances and accounts. According to a 2007 presentation by the US Army's Biometrics Task Force, HIIDE collected and matched fingerprints, iris images, facial photos and biographical contextual data of persons of interest against an internal database. In a May 2021 report, anthropologist Nina Toft Djanegara illustrates how the collection and use of biometrics by the in Iraq set the precedent for similar efforts in There, the US Army Commander's Guide to Biometrics in advised officials to be creative and persistent in their efforts to enrol as many Afghans as possible. The guide recognized that people may hesitate to provide their personal information and therefore, officials should frame biometric enrolment as a matter of protecting their people.' Inspired by the US biometrics system, the Afghan government began work to establish a national ID card, collecting biometric data from university students, soldiers and passport and driver license applications. Although it remains uncertain at this time whether the has captured HIIDE and if it can access the aforementioned biometric information of individuals, the risk to those whose data is stored on the system is high. In 2016 and 2017, the stopped passenger buses across the country to conduct biometric checks of all passengers to determine whether there were government officials on the bus. These stops sometimes resulted in hostage situations and executions carried out by the Taliban. Placing people at increased risk We are familiar with biometric technology through mobile features like Apple's Touch ID or Samsung's fingerprint scanner, or by engaging with facial recognition systems while passing through borders. For many people located in conflict zones or rely on humanitarian aid in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, biometrics are presented as a secure measure for accessing resources and services to fulfil their most basic needs. In 2002, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) introduced iris-recognition technology during the repatriation of more than 1.5 million Afghan refugees from Pakistan. The technology was used to identify individuals who sought funds more than once. If the algorithm matched a new entry to a pre-existing iris record, the claimant was refused aid. The UNHCR was so confident in the use of biometrics that it altogether decided not to allow disputes from refugees. From March to October 2002, 396,000 false claimants were turned away from receiving aid. However, as communications scholar Mirca Madianou argues, iris recognition has an error rate of two to three per cent, suggesting that roughly 11,800 claimants out of the alleged false claimants were wrongly denied aid. Additionally, since 2018, the UNHCR has collected biometric data from Rohingya refugees. However, reports recently emerged that the UNHCR shared this data with the government of Bangladesh, who subsequently shared it with the Myanmar government to identify individuals for possible repatriation (all without the Rohingya's consent). The Rohingya, like the Afghan refugees, were instructed to register their biometrics to receive and access aid in conflict areas. In 2007, as the U.S. government was introducing HIIDE in Afghanistan, US Marine Corps were walling off Fallujah in Iraq to supposedly deny insurgents freedom of movement. To get into Fallujah, individuals would require a badge, obtained by exchanging their biometric data. After the US retreated from Iraq in 2020, the database remained in place, including all the biometric data of those who worked on bases. Protecting privacy over time Registering in a biometric database means trusting not just the current organization requesting the data but any future organization that may come into power or have access to the data. Additionally, the collection and use of biometric data in conflict zones and crisis response present heightened risks for already vulnerable groups. While collecting biometric data is useful in specific contexts, this must be done carefully. Ensuring the security and privacy of those who could be most at risk and those who are likely to be compromised or made vulnerable is critical. If security and privacy cannot be ensured, then biometric data collection and use should not be deployed in conflict zones and crisis response. (The Conversation) CPS 08241631 NNNN

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The have appointed a new finance minister, an intelligence chief, and an acting interior minister in Afghanistan, the Pajhwok news agency reported on Tuesday.

It said Gul Agha would be the finance minister and Sadr Ibrahim would be the acting interior minister. Najibullah would be intelligence chief, while Mullah Shirin would be Kabul governor and Hamdullah Nomani the mayor of the capital. The appointed an obscure official as acting central bank governor as signs emerge of a financial crunch in Afghanistan, with ATMs running out of cash and prices of essential goods spiraling.

Mohammad Idris, who headed the Talibans economic commission, will address the looming banking issues and the problems of the people as head of Da Bank, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said on Twitter.

No evacuation extension



Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers said on Tuesday they wanted all foreign evacuations from the country completed by an August 31 deadline and they would not agree to an extension.

The Taliban's Mujahid said the group had not agreed to an extension of the deadline and it wanted all foreign evacuations to be completed by August 31.

He also called on the United States not to encourage Afghan people to leave their homeland.

Taliban also added that the group is no longer allowing Afghan nationals to go to and called on crowds at the airport to go home.

News agency AFP also reported that the Taliban have asked the US to stop evacuating skilled Afghans.

CIA director meets Taliban leader



US President Joe Biden sent CIA Director William Burns to meet Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul on Monday in the highest-level official encounter since the militant group took over the Afghan capital, a US official and a source familiar with government activity told Reuters on Tuesday.

Pak urges inclusive deal with Taliban



Pakistan's foreign minister said on Tuesday that an inclusive political settlement is the best way forward for peace and stability in following the Taliban takeover. Pakistan fully supports efforts in that direction, he added.

UK to discuss criminalising entering Afghanistan: Report



The British government will discuss proposals to blacklist Afghanistan, which would allow its authorities to jail people for up to 10 years if they were proven to have visited the outlawed territory, The Telegraph newspaper reported.

We're looking at every option available at this stage about how we proceed in the future. This is one of the options, the newspaper quoted a source as saying. The proposals will be discussed later this week.
and Iran both have denied reports of hijacking of a Ukrainian evacuation plane from Afghanistan, reported The Jerusalem Post.

Tehran and Kiev denied hijacking of any Ukrainian evacuation plane in Afghanistan, The Jerusalem Post added.

Earlier in the day, Ukraine's deputy foreign minister Yevgeny Yenin claimed that a Ukrainian plane was hijacked in by unidentified people who flew it into Iran, TASS news agency reported.

"Last Sunday, our plane was hijacked by other people. On Tuesday, the plane was practically stolen from us, it flew into Iran with an unidentified group of passengers onboard instead of airlifting Ukrainians. Our next three evacuation attempts were also not successful because our people could not get into the airport," he said, reported TASS.

The Iranian Civil Aviation Authority denied the report, saying that the plane refuelled in Mashhad and then flew to Kiev.

According to the RBC news agency, Oleg Nikolenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry denied the report as well, saying "There are no captured Ukrainian planes in Kabul or elsewhere. The information about the 'captured plane' that is being circulated by some media outlets is not true."

Nikolenko clarified that Yenin was only generally explaining the unprecedented level of difficulties that diplomats had to face in evacuating Ukrainians. It is unclear why Yenin said that plane was hijacked by armed persons and "actually stolen" if this was not the case, The Jerusalem Post added.

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Yale University named an alumnus and protege of late investment chief David Swensen to run the universitys $31 billion endowment and carry out the legendary money managers legacy.

Matthew Mendelsohn, 36, will head the second-largest private college endowment in the U.S. -- one thats the envy of peers and institutional He joined the fund after graduating from Yale in 2007 and most recently managed its venture capital assets, which make up more than 25% of the fund. Mendelsohn begins as chief investment officer on Sept. 1.

In addition to being an exceptional institutional investor, Matt is widely recognized for his ability to build and lead teams and for his devotion to mentoring aspiring investors, Yale President Peter Salovey said in a message to the New Haven, Connecticut-based university.

Mendelsohn takes over after Swensen, who died in May, transformed the endowment through savvy and turned it into one of the best-performing nationwide. Swensen diversified the portfolio, adding private equity, hedge funds and real estate while moving away from plain vanilla assets. The result: Yale ranks first among its peers over the past decade with a 10.9% average annual return, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

I couldnt have asked for a better set of to learn from and work alongside for the past 14 years, Mendelsohn said in a statement.

Mendelsohn will confront rapidly evolving markets as Yales CIO, with booms and busts in cryptocurrencies and special purpose acquisition companies, a crackdown in China and other flooding hedge funds and private equity firms with cash in an attempt to capture higher returns. Meanwhile, university fund managers face pressure from activists, students and faculty to scrap controversial assets and diversify their ranks.

Mendelsohn is a senior leader of Yales asset allocation team and spent nearly a decade helping oversee the endowments leveraged buyouts portfolio. He previously helped manage Yales domestic and foreign equities, absolute return and natural resources asset classes.

Like Swensen, Mendelsohn is from the Midwest, having been born and raised in St. Louis. After graduating from Yale with a physics degree, he was hired by Swensen. He lives in the New Haven area with his wife, Lauren Martini, who earned a Ph.D. from Yale, and two children.

From 2013 to 2018, Mendelsohn co-taught a course on endowment management at the Yale School of Management with Dean Takahashi, a former senior director in the schools office and now executive director of Yales Carbon Containment Lab.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts will be included in the indices from September 30, according to new eligibility criteria announced by the NSE.

Vinod Rohira, CEO, Mindspace Business Parks REIT called it a very encouraging step from NSE.

"This would enable wider investor participation in and consequently increased volumes, liquidity and better price discovery. merit to be on the indices, and this move will assist in widening investor participation for at par with other equity options in India," he added.

In a statement on Monday, the exchange said all equity shares, REITs and that are traded (listed and traded and not listed but permitted to trade) at the NSE are eligible for inclusion in the indices.

Under the current rules, only shares traded on NSE are eligible for inclusion in the Nifty indices.

REITs and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) are relatively new investment instruments in the Indian context but extremely popular in global

While an REIT comprises a portfolio of commercial real assets, a major portion of which are already leased out, comprise a portfolio of infrastructure assets such as highways, power transmission assets.

As at March-end, total 15 and four REITs were registered. Of these, six InvITs and three REITs were listed on the stock exchanges.

These investment vehicles collectively raised close to Rs 55,000 crore in 2020-21, taking their net assets to Rs 1.64 lakh crore.

The funds were raised through initial offer, preferential issue, institutional placement and rights issue.

In addition, the eligibility criteria for Nifty pharma index has been revised.

In the semi-annual review of indices, Bank of Baroda, Cholamandalam Investment Fin Co, Jindal Steel & Power, PI Industries and Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) will be included in the Nifty Next 50 index.

Abott India, Alkem Labs, MRF, Petronet LNG and United Breweries will be dropped from the Nifty Next 50 index.

Apart from Nifty Next 50, changes have also been made in several indicies including Nifty 500, Nifty 100, Nifty Midcap 150 and Nifty Smallcap 250.

The index maintenance sub-committee of NSE Indices has decided to make the changes in eligibility criteria of Nifty indices and replacement of stocks in various indices. These changes will become effective from September 30, 2021.

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Maruti Suzuki India said that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a fine of Rs 200 crore on the company for anti-competitive practices related to how it forced dealers to discount cars.

In an exchange filing on Monday, Maruti Suzuki India said, The CCI has passed an order on 23 August 2021 for the alleged contravention of section 3 of the Competition Act 2002 against the company in relation to implementing discount control policy vis-a-vis its dealers and has imposed a penalty for an amount of Rs 200 crores on the company.

The company will take necessary steps under the law after examining the order fully, Maruti Suzuki said.

Shares of Maruti Suzuki were trading 0.5% lower at Rs 6,792.70 on BSE.

Maruti Suzuki India is engaged in the manufacture, purchase and sale of motor vehicles, components and spare parts (automobiles).

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The auto maker said that its board on Monday (23 August 2021) unanimously decided to reappoint Siddhartha Lal as managing director, with effect from 1 May 2021.

The company held its 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 17 August 2021. At the AGM, the company's shareholders rejected a special resolution to reappoint managing director Siddhartha Lal for five years with effect from 1 May 2021. Of the total 21.74 crore votes cast, around 15.88 crore were in his favour while 5.86 crore were cast against him.

The shareholders also rejected the payment of remuneration to Lal. The shareholders, however, approved reappointment of Siddhartha Lal as a director of the company.

As per media reports, Lal's reappointment as MD was voted down by the shareholders over a 10% hike in his salary proposed amid the COVID-19 pandemic when the revenues and profits have been slow.

Lal's salary of Rs 21.13 crore in FY21 was 340 times the average employee salary and grew at a compound annual growth rate of 28% over the past three years, while the company's operating profit and net profit declined by 14% and 8%, respectively, over the same period, reports indicated.

At the meeting held on Monday, 23 August 2021, the company's board discussed the outcome of the AGM. The matter pertaining to the appointment of Siddhartha Lal as managing director and the remuneration proposal was discussed comprehensively, and the board unanimously decided to reappoint Siddhartha Lal as managing director, with effect from 1 May 2021.

The board will now go back to shareholders for approval through postal ballot.

S Sandilya, chairman of Eicher Motors, said, The nomination and remuneration committee (NRC) of the company has considered all the factors, including inputs from various stakeholders including institutional investors before recommending remuneration for key managerial persons. The primary concern with investors was not Siddhartha's reappointment as managing director or the proposed compensation; it was the lack of clarity regarding the enabling provision that potentially allowed payment of remuneration upto 3% of profits.

Over the last four years, we have had the same limit of 3%, but in reality, we have paid only a fraction of that amount. The actual remuneration during FY2021 was at 1.04% of profits, with the preceding years being at a lower percentage."

Given the background of actual remuneration paid to the managing director in preceding years, the board has now approved a revised remuneration structure for the managing director, with a maximum cap of 1.5% of profits as per the Companies Act.

Clarifying the MD's remuneration increase for FY 2021, Manvi Sinha, independent director, and chairperson of the nomination and remuneration committee at Eicher Motors, said, The remuneration increase in FY2021 is in line with the average 9.7% increment given to all company employees for the year. The median, which is a measure of central tendency, is impacted by entry and exits of employees.

During FY 2021, 267 employees joined the company, out of which 77% were hired at below the median salary and 284 employees exited the company out of which 66% were drawing higher than the median salary. Owing to this, despite there being a 9.7% average increase in salaries at EML in FY2021, the median shows an increase of just 1%.

The board fully supports Siddhartha's appointment as managing director and his proposed compensation, and we are confident that our shareholders will support these resolutions as well."

Eicher Motors is the listed parent of Royal Enfield, the global leader in middleweight motorcycles. In addition to motorcycles, Eicher has a joint venture with Sweden's AB Volvo - Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles which operates in India's commercial vehicle space.

The company posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 237 crore in Q1 FY22 compared with net loss of Rs 55.18 crore in Q1 FY21. For the quarter ended 30 June 2021, Total revenue from operations was recorded at Rs 1,974 crore, up 141% compared with Rs 818 crore in the corresponding quarter of FY 2020-21.

The scrip rose 0.90% to currently trade at Rs 2566.50 on the BSE.

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Punjab & Sind Bank, with the approval of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has appropriated accumulated losses amounting to Rs 3,577.55 crore from share premium account (SPA) of the bank on Monday, 23 August 2021.

Punjab & Sind Bank received the approval from shareholders on 20 July 2021 by the way of special resolution to set-off accumulated losses from share premium account of the bank.

Punjab & Sind Bank reported a net profit of Rs 173.85 crore in Q1 FY22 as compared to a net loss of Rs 116.89 crore posted in Q1 FY21. Total income rose 4.4% to Rs 2,039.61 crore in Q1 FY22 over Q1 FY21.

Punjab & Sind Bank's business segments include treasury operations, corporate/wholesale banking, retail banking and other banking operations. The bank offers international banking and domestic banking services.

As of 30 June 2021, the Government of India held 97.07% stake while Life Insurance Corporation of India held 1.04% stake in the bank.

Following the update, shares of Punjab & Sind Bank rose 1.92% to Rs 15.95 on BSE.

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The domestic equity barometers were currently at the day's high in mid afternoon trade. The Nifty was trading above the 16,600 mark. Pharma shares were in demand.

At 13:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 434.59 points or 0.78% to 55,990.38. The Nifty 50 index added 129.60 points or 0.79% to 16,626.05.

The broader indices outperformed the barometers. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 1.26%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 1.45%.

In the broader market, Jindal Stainless (up 16.03%), Indo Count Industries (up 13.02%), Suprajit Engineering (up 8.44%), Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (up 7.86%) and Burger King India (up 7.25%) rallied.

The New India Assurance Company (down 5.96%), KPIT Technologies (down 4.91%), Mahindra Logistics (down 4.15%), Dixon Technologies (India) (down 3.22%) and IPCA Laboratories (down 3.20%) were major losers.

Buyers outpaced sellers. On the BSE, 2020 shares rose and 1102 shares fell. A total of 126 shares were unchanged.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 1,363.36 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net buyers to the tune of Rs 1,452.51 crore in the Indian equity market on 23 August 2021, provisional data showed.

Economy:

Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman launched the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) on Monday, 23 August 2021. NMP comprises a four-year pipeline of the Central Government's brownfield infrastructure assets. Besides providing visibility to investors, NMP will also serve as a medium-term roadmap for the asset monetisation initiative of the government.

The government has planned a Rs 6 lakh crore pipeline of assets that can be monetised, which will include a range of assets put on the block for private sector participation. The government has also developed an asset monetisation dashboard for monitoring real-time progress of NMP. Policy think tank NITI Aayog has finalised the NMP of potential brownfield infrastructure assets that has been created for a four-year period from financial year 2021-22 to 2024-25.

Giving a presentation, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said, infra assets worth Rs. six lakh crore across rail, road, power sectors to be monetised over four years.

The NMP will serve as a roadmap for asset monetisation of various brownfield infrastructure assets across sectors including roads, railways, aviation, power, oil and gas, and warehousing.

Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday that foreign direct investments (FDI) into the country is on the rise, jumping to $2.1 billion in May this year. He also said the government is working on a mission mode to achieve exports target of $400 billion in 2021-22.

"India has received the highest ever FDI inflow in 2020-21. It surged by 10% to $81.72 billion and FDI during May 2021 is $12.1 billion, i.e. 203% higher than May 2020," he said while addressing a meeting of different industry associations on promoting exports.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Pharma index rose 1.14% to 13,856.55, amid bargain buying. The index had declined by 2.63% in the past two sessions.

Biocon (up 4.13%), Cipla (up 2.03%), Sun Pharma (up 1.82%), Dr. Reddy's Labs (up 1.25%), Alkem Laboratories (up 0.77%) and Cadila Healthcare (up 0.18%) advanced.

Lupin rose 1.64% to Rs 939.90. Lupin Healthcare (UK), the company's wholly-owned subsidiary, announced that following the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approval earlier this year, it has launched Luforbec (beclometasone/formoterol) 100/6 dose pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI), making it available now to patients in the UK, with the potential to offer significant cost savings for the NHS. Luforbec is indicated for the treatment of adult asthma and for the symptomatic treatment of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Numbers to Track:

In the foreign exchange market, the partially convertible rupee rose to 74.1650 from its previous closing of 74.22.

MCX Gold futures for 5 October 2021 settlement shed 0.18% to Rs 47,500.

The US Dollar index (DXY), which tracks the greenback's value against a basket of currencies, was up 0.10% to 93.05.

In the commodities market, Brent crude for October 2021 settlement added 73 cents or 1.06% to $69.48 a barrel.

The yield on 10-year benchmark federal paper rose to 6.253% from its previous close of 6.243%.

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The key indices traded with decent gains amid bouts of volatility in morning trade. The Nifty was trading above the 16,500 mark. Metal shares snapped a four-day losing streak.

Domestic sentiment was upbeat after Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman launched the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) on Monday. Through the NMP, the government will be listing out its infrastructure assets worth Rs 6 lakh crore to be sold over the next four years.

At 10:23 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 121.74 points or 0.22% to 55,677.53. The Nifty 50 index added 42.50 points or 0.26% to 16,538.95.

IT major Infosys was down 0.09% at Rs 1737.60. It hit a record high of Rs 1755.60 in morning trade today. The counter clocked a market capitalisation of Rs 7,37,066.94 crore.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.54% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 0.55%.

The market breadth was positive. On the BSE, 1446 shares rose and 1361 shares fell. A total of 113 shares were unchanged.

Economy:

Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman launched the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) on Monday, 23 August 2021. NMP comprises a four-year pipeline of the Central Government's brownfield infrastructure assets. Besides providing visibility to investors, NMP will also serve as a medium-term roadmap for the asset monetisation initiative of the government.

The government has planned a Rs 6 lakh crore pipeline of assets that can be monetised, which will include a range of assets put on the block for private sector participation. The government has also developed an asset monetisation dashboard for monitoring real-time progress of NMP. Policy think tank NITI Aayog has finalised the NMP of potential brownfield infrastructure assets that has been created for a four-year period from financial year 2021-22 to 2024-25.

Giving a presentation, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said, infra assets worth Rs. six lakh crore across rail, road, power sectors to be monetised over four years.

The NMP will serve as a roadmap for asset monetisation of various brownfield infrastructure assets across sectors including roads, railways, aviation, power, oil and gas, and warehousing.

COVID-19 Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 212,511,054 with 4,440,962 global deaths.

India reported 319,551 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 435,110 deaths, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

New Listing:

Shares of Aptus Value Housing Finance India were currently trading at Rs 340.60 per share, a discount of 3.51% compared with the issue price of Rs 353 per share.

The scrip was listed at a price of Rs 329.95 per share, at a discount of 6.53% to the initial public offer (IPO) price. The stock has hit a high of Rs 348.80 and a low of Rs 329.95 so far. On the BSE, 5.68 lakh shares of the company were traded in the counter.

The IPO of Aptus Value Housing Finance received bids for 94.82 crore shares as against 5.51 crore shares. The issue was subscribed 17.20 times. The issue opened for bidding on 10 August 2021 and closed on 12 August 2021. The price band of the IPO was fixed at Rs 346-353 per share.

Shares of Chemplast Sanmar were currently trading at Rs 532.55, a discount of 1.56% compared with the issue price of Rs 541 per share.

The scrip was listed at Rs 525 per share, a discount of 2.95% to the initial public offer (IPO) price. So far the stock has hit a high of Rs 550 and a low of Rs 522.80. On the BSE, over 1.74 lakh shares of the company were traded in the counter.

The IPO of Chemplast Sanmar received bids for 8.66 crore shares as against 3.99 crore shares on offer, according to stock exchange data. The issue was subscribed 2.17 times. The issue opened for bidding on Tuesday (10 August 2021) and closed on Thursday (12 August 2021). The price band of the IPO was fixed at Rs 530-541 per share.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Metal index rose 1.69% to 5,380.70, amid some bit of value buying. The index tumbled 10.09% in the past four sessions.

National Aluminum Co. (up 6.22%), Welspun Corp (up 3.91%), Hindalco Industries (up 3.20%), NMDC (up 2.79%), Vedanta (up 2.57%), SAIL (up 2.82%), Tata Steel (up 2.70%), Jindal Steel & Power (up 2.52%) and Coal India (up 1.80%) advanced.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Maruti Suzuki India shed 0.41% to Rs 6799. Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 200 crore upon Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) for restricting discounts by dealers. The CCI passed the order against the company for indulging in anti-competitive conduct of resale price maintenance in passenger vehicle segment by implementing discount control policy.

Adani Green Energy added 0.80% to Rs 938. The company said that its board will meet on 26 August 2021 to consider raising upto $75,00,00,000 via issue of debt securities on a private placement basis.

Eicher Motors rose 0.20% to Rs 2548.60. The auto maker said that its board on Monday (23 August 2021) unanimously decided to reappoint Siddhartha Lal as managing director, with effect from 1 May 2021.

The company held its 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 17 August 2021. At the AGM, the company's shareholders rejected a special resolution to reappoint managing director Siddhartha Lal for five years with effect from 1 May 2021.

As per media reports, Lal's reappointment as MD was voted down by the shareholders over a 10% hike in his salary proposed amid the COVID-19 pandemic when the revenues and profits have been slow. Lal's salary of Rs 21.13 crore in FY21 was 340 times the average employee salary and grew at a compound annual growth rate of 28% over the past three years, while the company's operating profit and net profit declined by 14% and 8%, respectively, over the same period, reports indicated.

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chief Bhupen Borah has met Raijor Dal supremo to evaluate possibilities of jointly fighting the assembly bypolls likely to be held by the end of this year.

However, the late-night deliberations at Sivasagar on Monday remained inconclusive and both parties vowed to carry forward the discussions in the coming days.

"It was just a courtesy meeting as I am in his (Gogoi's) constituency for our party meeting...we both are against the BJP's divisive policies. We discussed how we will fight the saffron camp in future," Borah told reporters.

He appreciated Gogoi, an Independent MLA from Sivasagar, for joining hands with the inside the Assembly to raise voice against the "anti-people decisions" of the state government.

"Earlier, we had tried to be united against the BJP and we will try again in future," Borah said without elaborating.

On the other hand, Gogoi said that the two anti-BJP parties should unite for a long term instead of a shorter period.

"We discussed how to defeat the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and how to form a government in after the 2026 Assembly elections. We also evaluated options regarding the bypolls, but nothing has been decided yet," he said.

This was the second round of meetings between top leaders of the two parties. On August 8, working presidents Rana Goswami and Jakir Hussain Sikdar had visited the Raijor Dal's headquarters in Guwahati to meet Gogoi and other senior leaders.

On August 16, another opposition party Jatiya Parishad's vice presidents Shamsher Singh and Kamal Nayan Choudhury had met Borah and discussed a proposal to put up common candidates against the BJP-led alliance in the Assembly bypolls.

AJP and Raijor Dal had formed a 'Regional Alliance', which was not part of the Congress-led 'Grand Alliance' in the assembly election this year. The Raijor Dal won one seat, while AJP drew a blank.

Before the assembly polls, both the groupings had called for establishing a united platform of all opposition parties but the 'Regional Alliance' had shied away from joining the 'Grand Alliance' due to the presence of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in it.

The Congress, which was in power for 15 years in Assam since 2001, formed the 'Grand Alliance' with AIUDF, BPF, CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML), Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM), RJD, Adivasi Party (ANP) and Jimochayan (Deori) Peoples Party (JPP).

In the 126-member Assam Assembly, the BJP bagged 60 seats, while its allies AGP won nine and UPPL six. In the opposition camp, the Congress won 29, AIUDF 16, BPF four and CPI(M) cornered one seat. Raijor Dal won one seat as an Independent.

As per the seat arrangements of assembly at present, byelections will take place in five seats. One MLA each of United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) and Bodoland People's Front (BPF) has died, while two Congress legislators have resigned to join the BJP.

Former chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who joined the Union Cabinet as a minister, is yet to submit his resignation paper in the assembly, but is likely to do so in the coming days.

(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.)
Amid rift in Chhattisgarh Congress, former President on Tuesday met Chief Minister and Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo, but no discussion took place on change of leadership in the state.

The meeting lasted for over two and a half hours at the residence of here. After the meeting, Chhattisgarh in-charge P.L. Punia speaking to the media said, "There was no discussion on change of leadership in Chhattisgarh."

Punia also attended the meeting along with the state Chief Minister and the health minister.

The meeting of these two leaders with came amid Deo's reported claims for the top post in the state, demanding rotational chief ministership.

Both Baghel and Deo met with Rahul Gandhi as the infighting in Chhattisgarh threatens to boil over.

The Congress had earlier faced similar situation in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and some northeastern states.

There were several reports of differences between Baghel and Deo, with the latter lobbying hard for months to replace Chief Minister Baghel. On July 27, Deo walked out of the Assembly saying, "it is too much" after the opposition created an uproar demanding a House panel probe into Congress MLA Brihaspat Singh's charge that the Minister was behind an attack on him.

Deo and Baghel have been making several trips to the capital. Deo, for the record, maintains that "Sonia Gandhiji and Rahul Gandhiji will decide." Following his visit, Baghel also rushed to the capital in July this year.

During his Delhi visit, Baghel said he would abide by the decision of the leadership and returned to Raipur in the same plane with Deo.

After the 2018 Assembly elections, names of Baghel, Deo, Charan Das Mahant and Tamradhwaj Sahu were doing the rounds for the post of the chief minister in the state. However, Baghel emerged as the winner after having several meetings with the Congress top leadership.

The Congress has completed two and half years in the state in June this year.

--IANS

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Congress leader on Tuesday slammed the Centre's move to monetise its across key sectors, saying the Modi dispensation is selling India's "crown jewels" built in the last 70 years and "gifting" them to their 2-3 businessmen "friends".

Addressing a press conference here with former Union finance minister P Chidambaram, the former Congress chief said the BJP has claimed that nothing happened in India for 70 years, but now all created in all these years with public money are being sold.

Gandhi alleged that the Narendra Modi government's privatisation plan was aimed at creating monopolies in key sectors that will kill jobs, eliminate the informal sector and will destroy small businesses.

He said the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has clearly mishandled the economy that was built by the UPA government and is now resorting to selling the country's as a "last resort" to generate some money.

"The prime minister and the BJP used to say that the Congress party has done nothing in 70 years....Now, the prime minister is in the process of selling the crown jewels of this country," he told reporters.

"This entire privatisation, monetisation of assets is designed to create monopolies. The whole idea behind this exercise is to create monopoly for 3 or 4 people," he told reporters.

He alleged that the youth who are today searching for jobs will not find any as the small and medium industries have been destroyed, since the prime minister insists on building 2 or 3 monopolies that own everything in this country.

"This is not just a gifting of India's assets, this is going to ensure that the young people in India will not be able to find employment in the future," he said.

The former Congress chief said he had warned about coronavirus bringing a disaster but was ridiculed. He warned that this monetisation will ensure that the youth do not get jobs and that the entire industrial structure is controlled by 2 or 3 people.

"So as a youngster, it is your duty and my duty to fight this and to make people understand, what our prime minister is doing. The prime minister is not working for the people of India. The prime minister is working for 2 or 3 monopolies," he alleged.

The Congress leader listed out the assets that this government planned to sell out to its businessmen "friends", saying one can guess what is being sold to which monopolist.

He said the Congress party is not against privatisation, but there has to be a strategy and no strategic asset should be sold.

Chidambaram said that raising funds cannot be the sole aim for selling assets built over the last 70 years.

"They are indulging in, what I would call a grand bargain sell, a grand closing down sale," he said, adding, "This is all hatched in secrecy in this wonderful organisation call NITI Aayog."



The former Union minister said that all stakeholders, including employees, worker unions, farmers, must be consulted before embarking on such large sale of assets.

"This exercise has been designed without any ex-ante criteria. The government should have spelt out, what its criteria is and what its goals were. You don't embark upon such a big exercise without first setting out the criteria and what your goals are," he said.

Chidambaram said one does not embark on such an exercise without any consultation with stakeholders.

Taking a swipe at the government, he said, "I know that there are many magicians in this country but I ca''t imagine a greater magician in this government. I think this is a scandal."



Urging people to discuss and debate this monetisation plan, he said, "I think this is a dangerous slide and I wish the country wakes up to what these guys are up to."Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday unveiled an ambitious Rs 6 lakh crore Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) that included unlocking value by involving private companies across infrastructure sectors -- from passenger trains and railway stations to airports, roads and stadiums.

As many as 25 Airports Authority of India (AAI) airports, including ones at Chennai, Bhopal, Varanasi and Vadodara, as well as 40 railway stations, 15 railway stadiums and an unidentified number of railway colonies have been identified for getting private investments.

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At least three complaints have been filed against Union MSME Minister for allegedly threatening to 'slap' Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, sparking fresh tensions between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena, here on Tuesday.

Irate Shiv Sena and Yuva Sena activists retaliated by erecting a hoarding in Dadar with a picture of Rana and a cocky caption -- 'Kombdi Chor' (Chicken Thief) -- and others lodged police complaints against him in Pune, Nashik and Raigad districts.

The Union Minister, who hails from the state, is currently on a 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' from Mumbai to Sindhudurg and the alleged comments came during a rally in Chiplun (Ratnagiri) on Monday night.

While Sena and its affiliated wings have reacted sharply to Rane's comments, the local BJP leaders sought to defend him saying it was made in a typical 'Thackeray-style language'.

Even as the police beefed up security for Rane's home in Mumbai, Sindhudurg and a resort where he was camping, his son Nitesh Rane said that they are consulting legal advisors in the matter.

This is the second major brush between the former allies turned enemies BJP-Sena in a week. Last Wednesday, Sena activists 'cleaned and purified' the late Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial at Shivaji Park after Rane paid obeisance there prior to launching his yatra.

However, despite the police complaints, Rane's team has made it clear that the ongoing 'Yatra' will continue undisturbed till August 27 as originally planned.--IANS

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(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.)
Nashik Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey on Tuesday issued orders for the immediate arrest of Union minister after an FIR was registered against him in the north Maharashtra city over his remarks against Chief Minister

Accordingly, a team of Nashik Police left in the morning for Ratnagiri district, where Rane is currently carrying out his 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra', an official said.

Rane had sparked off a row over his remarks about slapping Chief Minister Thackeray for what he claimed as the latter's ignorance of the year of India's independence.

"It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap, Rane said during his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Raigad district on Monday.

The BJP leader and former chief minister claimed Thackeray forgot the year of independence during his August 15 address to the people of the state. Thackeray had to check the year of independence with his aides midway during the speech that day, Rane said.

Following his remarks, a complaint was lodged against Rane by Nashik city unit chief at the Cyber police station there.

Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered against Rane in Nashik under IPC sections 500 (defamation), 505(2) (mischief), 153-B (1)(c) (remarks likely to cause disharmony, or feeling of enmity or hatred or ill-will), a police official said.

Considering the law and order situation across the state and in Nashik in the wake of Rane's remarks, Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey ordered an investigation into the matter and immediate arrest of the Union minister.

Accordingly, a team, led by Nashik DCP (crime) Sanjay Barkund and comprising police inspector Ananda Wagh and other officers, was formed and it rushed to Chiplun in Ratnagiri to arrest Rane, the official said.

The team was asked to arrest Rane and produce him before a court in Nashik, the official said, adding the team was also directed to follow the due procedure for arresting the Union minister.

Meanwhile, in Aurangabad , Shiv Sena's spokesperson Ambadas Danve lodged a complaint against Rane at Kranti Chowk police station over the latter's remarks against the CM.

Danve said Rane's remarks were "objectionable", and demanded action against the BJP leader.

Talking to reporters after lodging the police complaint, Danve said, "Earlier, supremo Bal Thackeray used to call as 'Naru', which is the name of a disease in Marathi. The Shiv Sena has a remedy for this disease."



He claimed Rane made the statement to provoke the Shiv Sena.

The Shiv Sena will protest against Rane's statement through the constitutional process as well as by taking to roads, the MLC said.

An official at the Kranti Chowk police station in Aurangabad said they have received the Shiv Sena's complaint and action will be taken as per the instructions of senior officials.

(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.)
Heavy police security was deployed outside Union minister Narayan Rane's residence in Mumbai on Tuesday in the wake of his remarks against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, an official said.

BJP workers gathered outside Rane's residence on Juhu Tara Road in Santacruz (West) in the morning in support of their party leader.

Besides, Shiv Sena workers, including women, carrying placards and shouting slogans against Rane, assembled outside an office of the Yuva Sena (the party's youth wing), located nearby in Juhu.

A posse of police personnel, including women cops, were deployed outside Rane's residence to prevent any untoward incident, the official said.

Rane, who was recently inducted into the Union cabinet, had sparked off a row over his remarks about slapping Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, for what he claimed as the latter's ignorance of the year of India's independence.

It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap, Rane said during his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in adjoining Raigad district on Monday.

Nashik Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey on Tuesday issued orders for the immediate arrest of Rane and a team of the city police left for Chiplun in Konkan region, where Rane is present now, after a complaint against the Union minister over the remarks.

A case was also registered against Rane in Pune, while the Shiv Sena lodged a complaint against him at a police station in Aurangabad.

(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 has launched a 100-day campaign to train its office bearers under the 'Prashikshan Se Parakram' programme from Tuesday.

The party will organise 700 training camps in which about two lakh office bearers from the grassroots level will be given training.

The organisation building programme of the party is in its final stages. Block committees of the party have been constituted at all 823 blocks in the state and also 8134 Nyay Panchayats. The process of selecting gram sabha heads in on.

The 'Prashikshan Se Parakram' programme which began on Tuesday at the district level will ensure the participation of district and city committee members and various frontal organizations.

"After the district training camps, the programme will be held in every Assembly segment and only authorised persons will attend the camps," said a party functionary.

The topics that will be discussed include booth management, better utilization of social media, focus on ideology and exposing the true face of the BJP-RSS.

Another topic that will be discussed will be the role of parties like the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party in derailing the development of

--IANS

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(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 complex mission to evacuate its citizens and Afghan partners from Kabul after its swift takeover by the last week has been named as "Operation Devi Shakti".

The name of the operation was known when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar mentioned it in a tweet on Tuesday while referring to the arrival of a fresh batch of 78 evacuees in Delhi.

"Op Devi Shakti continues. 78 evacuees from Kabul arrive via Dushanbe. Salute @IAF_MCC, @AirIndiain and #TeamMEA for their untiring efforts. #DeviShakti," he said.

India began the complex evacuation mission by airlifting 40 Indians from Kabul to Delhi on August 16, a day after the seized control of the Afghan capital city.

So far, India has evacuated over 800 people amid a deteriorating security situation in Kabul and scramble by various nations to rescue their citizens.

Thousands of Afghans have been crowding around the Kabul airport for over a week, in a desperate attempt to flee the country fearing the Taliban's brutality.

At a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 17 directed officials to ensure the safe evacuation of all Indians from and provide refuge to Afghan Sikhs and Hindus wanting to come to India.

In the last few days, India stepped up its efforts to evacuate Indians and its Afghan partners from Kabul amid increasing hostilities by the

After India evacuated the Indian embassy staff from Kabul on August 17, Jaishankar had described the mission as a "difficult and complicated" exercise.

On Tuesday, India brought back 78 people, including 25 of its nationals and a number of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus from Dushanbe, a day after they were evacuated from Kabul to the Tajik city.

(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.)
Tech giant on Tuesday unveiled details of the upcoming new Telum Processor, designed to bring deep learning inference to enterprise workloads to help address fraud in real-time.

Telum is IBM's first processor that contains on-chip acceleration for AI inferencing while a transaction is taking place.

"The newly launched Telum, Z Series chip is designed to cater to the volume, while enabling applications to run efficiently where their data resides. The chip will also allow businesses to capture insights and fight fraud in real-time," Ravi Jain, Director - Server Sales, India South Asia, said in a statement.

According to the company, the new chip design unlocks the ability to leverage deep learning inferencing on high-value transactions, designed to greatly improve the ability to intercept fraud, among other use cases.

It features an innovative centralised design, which allows clients to leverage the full power of the AI processor for AI-specific workloads, making it ideal for financial services workloads like fraud detection, loan processing, clearing and settlement of trades, anti-money laundering and risk analysis.

With these innovations, clients will be positioned to enhance existing rules-based fraud detection or use machine learning, accelerate credit approval processes, improve customer service and profitability, identify which trades or transactions may fail, and propose solutions to create a more efficient settlement process.

The chip contains 8 processor cores with a deep super-scalar out-of-order instruction pipeline, running with more than 5GHz clock frequency, optimized for the demands of heterogeneous enterprise-class workloads.

The completely redesigned cache and chip-interconnection infrastructure provides 32MB cache per core and can scale to 32 Telum chips. The dual-chip module design contains 22 billion transistors and 19 miles of wire on 17 metal layers.

--IANS

vc/dpb

(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.)
is tipped to announce pre-bookings for its newly-launched Galaxy Watch4, Galaxy Watch4 Classic and Galaxy Buds2 in India this week, industry sources told IANS on Tuesday.

The Galaxy Watch4 is likely to start retailing between Rs 28,000 and Rs 30,000, while the Classic variant could end up above Rs 40,000 in India. The Galaxy Buds2, which comes with enhanced ANC (Active Noise Cancellation), is likely to start under Rs 15,000, the sources added.

Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic are the first to feature the new Wear OS which is built jointly with Google. The biggest USP of the devide is that it allows users to monitor their blood pressure on the go, at work or at home.

Galaxy Watch4 is equipped with Samsung's groundbreaking BioActive Sensor.

This new 3-in-1 sensor uses a single chip to precisely run three powerful health sensors -- Optical Heart Rate, Electrical Heart and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis - so users can monitor their blood pressure, detect an Fib irregular heartbeat, measure their blood oxygen level, and, for the first time, calculate their body composition.

The all-new 'Body Composition' measurement tool gives users a deeper understanding of their general health and fitness, with key measurements like skeletal muscle, basal metabolic rate, body water and body fat percentage.

Some of the new features like BP monitoring will be available in select markets to begin with.

Galaxy Watch4 series boasts the first 5nm processor in a Galaxy Watch -- with 20 per cent faster CPU and 50 per cent more RAM, and a GPU 10 times faster than the previous generation, said the company.

"We also upped the resolution on the display, up to 450 x 450 pixels, so visuals are crisper and more distinctive. And with an impressive 16GB of memory, you'll have enough storage to download and store," informed.

The user can have up to 40 hours of battery life, and 30 minutes of charging can provide up to 10 hours of battery.

--IANS

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(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.)
As we enter the 75th year of India's independence, it is important to recognise the 6.3 crore plus SMEs who are the second-largest employers of India after agriculture. They provide 80% of jobs with just 20% investment. They contribute around 31% to nations GDP and 45% of the overall exports and 34% of manufacturing output. SMEs including start-ups are India's growth engine, and they are increasingly becoming more vulnerable to a higher level of risk from digital frauds, ransomware attacks and stolen proprietary information as they increase their level of digitisation.

Indians have lost over Rs. 1.25 lakh crore due to cyber fraud and this is only by far, what has been reported[1]. India saw a 37% increase in data breaches, cyber-attacks during 2020[2] as per these reports.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a number of SMEs and start-ups to speed up their technology adoption and rethink on their use of technology. Data showed that the SMEs who did well during the pandemic added E-commerce channels or enabled a digital sales channel. They had to adopt digitisation in their operations and financials processes. However, this is exposing the businesses to new age threats which they are not aware of as they lack the resources or knowledge to understand and address risks, like

Ransomware attacks: Where hackers on the internet take control or block access of the business to their systems until they are paid a large sum.

Internal digital frauds: Where employees take disadvantage of weak or non-existing controls siphoning off funds. There have been cases of employee frauds like these in companies like Wipro. Which goes to show that even large companies are vulnerable. An SME with limited staff and knowledge can be exposed more so.

External frauds: Where hackers can easily find weakness in digital sales channels to harm a company by placing fake orders, rerouting orders, faking reviews etc.

Reliance on cloud and software: As a server is exposing them to risks they have never dealt with before.

Founders & promoters of SMEs & start-ups can take very simple steps to help them minimise the risks to a degree. These include

Training: Which ensures that all their employees are aware of information security and cyber fraud related risks. They know what precautions to take and how to recognise potential threats. History has proven that employees have always been the weakest link when it comes to information security and this is a key step that organisations can take.

For SMEs this is also highly cost effective to implement.

Access Control: This is when the company restricts access to an IT resource. This is basically like using a safe to secure the cash in the office. Just like cash is locked up or hidden access to information should also be controlled using access controls provided in the applications and software used.

The key principle, companies should apply when thinking about access control is, does someone need that access to do their job? If they don't then they should not have access.

Another key principle where a lot of SMEs stumble when it comes to information technology is segregation of duties. This is precisely about ensuring that one person does not have control on a full transaction and that there are checks and balances in place before funds or assets leave the company. A solid example of this is when goods receipt, purchase invoice recording and payments to a vendor cannot be all done by a single person.

European power and robotics firm ABB recorded a loss of USD 100 Million due to one such instance in the company. Also, the now infamous Satyam fraud happened due to this.

Basic security to be implemented includes:

Firewall: which is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted network and an untrusted network, such as the Internet.

Changing of default user names and passwords: Hackers take advantage of user names and passwords that come preconfigured with devices, such as Wi-Fi routers and laptops.

Change Management: Every change introduces risk and businesses need to make sure that when they change anything in the software or computer systems that they use, there is an understanding of the new risks and new controls are added.

Vendor Management: SMEs should ensure that they engage with the right vendors especially when it comes to technology vendors. This can be a challenge when it comes to SMEs as they have more cost pressures and look for low-cost options.

Product selection: Companies should ensure that they do a proper review of the software products they are implementing. They should not just go by recommendations from vendors.

When it comes to SaaS based products, they should ensure that the vendors have some basic security controls in place and check if the vendor has ISO27001 certification in place as this tells everyone that they take information security seriously.

Successful transition to digitisation cannot happen unless the business can navigate the technology waters confidently and the promoters feel confident of the technology being used. As per our experience if a promoter/founder attempting to implement a new system experience any of these frauds/issues they should not venture out and try to digitise again. This would be really harmful to their growth and the overall growth of the SME Sector in India.

As a result, it is really important for the promoters to think about the technology they are going to implement and the risks that change will bring before doing the implementation.

A detailed assessment can be taken using this link.

(https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/technology/cyber-crimes-in-india-caused-rs-1-25-lakh-crore-loss-in-2019-official/2110242) [1]

(https://www.theweek.in/news/biz-tech/2020/11/17/india-sees-37-increase-in-data-breaches-cyber-attacks-this-year.html) [2]

This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian rose in tandem with global stocks on Monday as bargain buying returned to the Street.

However, investor interest remained skewed as they lapped quality large-cap stocks like HCL Tech, TCS, Bajaj twins and Reliance Industries, but offloaded mid-, and small-cap stocks such as Aditya Birla Capital, Biocon, JSW Energy, Ujjivan Financial Services, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, and Capacite Infraprojects.

Overall, the frontline S&P BSE Sensex climbed 226 points to settle at 55,556 levels while the Nifty50 closed below the 16,500-mark at 16,488. On the flipside, the BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices fell 0.9 per cent and 1.5 per cent, respectively.

Given the risk-aversion in markets, trading in equities may remain range-bound on Tuesday with stock-specific action in focus.

Two new companies -- Aptus Value Housing Finance and Chemplast Sanmar -- are eyeing market debuts today. However, market fatigue and investors' distance from broader may result in a tepid listing, believe analysts.

Nuvoco Vistas, which debuted on the bourses on Monday, too, listed at a 17 per cent discount at Rs 471 on the BSE as against an issue price of Rs 570. The stock, however, rebounded from lows and closed 7 per cent lower at Rs 531 per share.

That apart, shares of Maruti Suzuki could also be on investor radar today as the Competition Commission of India has asked the company to deposit Rs 200 crore as penalty.

Infrastructure and capital goods-related stocks shall also be in focus after the government unveiled its Rs 6-trillion asset monetisation pipeline late on Monday.

Lastly, Indian Hotels has approved to raise Rs 3,000 crore by way of Rights issue.

Globally, will react to Euro Area Markit Manufacturing PMI Flash data for August, and will track updates on Covid-19, dollar index movement, and foreign fund flow.
The China Manned Space Engineering Office released a series of photos taken by Shenzhou-12 crew members on Tuesday, attracting great interest online. The aerial photos present overhead views of different continents as seen from space, including the Ethiopian highlands and the Pacific Ocean. Crew members completed their second spacewalk on Aug. 20. The three astronauts  Tang Hongbo, Nie Haisheng, and Liu Boming  are set to return to Earth in mid-September

Sep 01, 2021 05:36 PM
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This undated image provided by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California shows two fake CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards that are part of a criminal complaint. With more than 600 colleges and universities now requiring proof of COVID-19 inoculations, an online industry has sprung up offering fake vaccine cards. Dozens of students interviewed by the Associated Press said they were aware of fake covid-19 vaccination cards, though none admitted to actually using one. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California via AP)
The entrance to The Grounds, an industrial site in Concord that formerly housed a cigarette plant but is slated to soon host a trio of corporate markers producing canned beverages. Arturo Pineda / Carolina Public Press
The Carolina Ale House at 4512 Falls of Neuse Road in Raleigh was one of hundreds of restaurants which had to halt dining service with little warning at 5 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day. (CJ photo by Don Carrington)
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Photo: Amnesty International

Chad's former dictator Hissene Habre, the first former head of state to be convicted of crimes against humanity by an African court after his government was accused of killing tens of thousands of people, has died in Senegal. He was 79.

Habre, whose case for years showcased Africas reluctance to put its despots on trial as he lived in luxurious exile, had recently contracted COVID-19 according to local media reports. His death Tuesday at a Dakar hospital was confirmed by Jean Bertrand Bocande, director of the penitentiary administration.

The former dictator, first arrested in 2013, had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2016 but ultimately served about five years in prison following his conviction.

Human rights activists say Chad was a ruthless, one-party state under Habres rule from 1982 to 1990. A fearsome security service headed by members of Habres Gorane ethnic group was placed in every village, documenting even the slightest transgressions against the regime, they said.

The list of offenses meriting arrest included speaking ill of Habre, listening to enemy radio stations or performing magical rites to aid the enemy, according to a truth commission appointed shortly after Habre fell from power.

The commission concluded that Habres government oversaw 40,000 killings.

Hissene Habre will go down in history as one of the worlds most pitiless dictators, a man who slaughtered his own people, burned down entire villages, sent women to serve as sexual slaves for his troops and built clandestine dungeons to inflict medieval torture on his enemies, tweeted Reed Brody, a Human Rights Watch lawyer who worked for years to bring Habre to justice.

Earlier this year he wrote that five years after Habres conviction torture survivors and families of the dead have not seen one penny.

The African Union has failed even to establish the court-mandated trust fund to search for Habres assets and solicit contributions, Brody wrote. The Chadian government, ordered by its own court to erect memorials and compensate victims, has also turned its back on them. And Habre himself has never accounted for the tens of millions of dollars he allegedly looted from the Chadian treasury.

For Younous Mahadjir, who was held for four months at the end of Habres rule for distributing anti-regime pamphlets, the overwhelming impression of the period was fear.

At any moment they could arrest you, said Mahadjir, who while in detention had water poured down his throat until he lost consciousness. During Habres time, to be prudent, when you slept you wore your clothes, because you never knew when they might come for you.

Detainees were subject to a wide range of torture techniques. Some were burned, others were sprayed with poison gas and still more were forced to put their mouths around the exhaust pipes of running vehicles, causing severe burning when the motor accelerated.

Habre was born the son of a farmer in the northern Chadian town of Faya-Largeau in 1942. The country was still under French colonial rule, and he worked as a civilian for the French military before being selected to study in France, where he earned a law degree.

He returned in 1971 to work for Chads foreign affairs ministry, but he soon became involved in a peasant rebellion of Muslim northerners against the largely southern-dominated Christian government.

His rise did not seem driven by ideology. The final report of the truth commission sharply criticized Habres opportunism, describing him as a man without scruples motivated by power alone. Thus he would join with the armed rebellion one moment and with the government the next. To win over public sympathy, he portrayed himself by turns as a convinced Maoist and a fervent Muslim, the report said.

In a later passage, the report said that despite Habres education, his comportment and thinking are not much different from those of a camel thief.

Habre became prime minister under then-President Felix Malloum in 1978, but Malloum fell from power the following year.

In 1982, Habre deposed President Goukouni Oueddei, beginning his eight years as head of state. Aware that his regime was under threat from Libya, Habre created his security service known as the Directorate of Documentation and Security, or DDS, not long after becoming president.

He received substantial support from the United States and France because he was seen as a bulwark against former Libya dictator Moammar Gadhafi, according to Human Rights Watch. Habre received hundreds of millions of dollars in American aid and was invited to the White House, HRW says, while support from France came in the form of arms and logistical support.

Habre fled to Senegal after being overthrown in December 1990. For 22 years, he lived freely and comfortably even during the periods he was technically under house arrest, splitting his time between two large villas in the seaside capital of Dakar  one for his Chadian family, the other for the family he started with a Senegalese woman he took as a second wife.
Photo: Glacier Media

Former owners of properties being redeveloped to build the Mount Pleasant subway station in Vancouver are suing a Crown corporation of the B.C. government in an attempt to win further compensation for land they gave up so the project could proceed.

Broadway Main Investments Ltd. and Choo Brothers Investments Ltd., which are owned by two brothers, along with 2501 Main Street Holdings Ltd. all filed claims in B.C. Supreme Court this summer against the B.C. Transportation Financing Authority.

The claims concern five properties at or near the southwest corner of Main and Broadway, where Tim Hortons and adjacent businesses that included Verdura Salads, Noodle Box, Rosemary Rocksalt Bagels and La Taqueria Taco Shop used to operate.

All buildings have been demolished to prepare the site for the Mount Pleasant station, which is one of six new underground stations being built to accommodate the 5.7-kilometre extension of the Millennium Line.

The claim with the most money tied to it  almost $14 million  is a joint action from Broadway Main Investments Ltd. and Choo Brothers Investments Ltd. for a property at 2509 Main St. and three parcels contiguous to it on Broadway.

Erik Choo and Brian Choo are the directors and operating minds of both companies, the shareholding of which is held through family companies and trusts, according to the claim filed in court July 21.

The claim indicates a cheque for $13,740,000 was paid on Aug. 14, 2020 to Broadway Main Investments. But the company says in the document that it is not adequate compensation when considering what it could have received in the market for an assembly of its four pieces of land.

The acquisition of the land has resulted in the loss in value associated with the enhanced market arising out of the assembly for development of the land and the contiguous lands, which loss has been suffered by the plaintiffs, the claim said.

In a separate claim filed Aug. 11, 2501 Main Street Holdings Ltd. makes a similar argument, saying the $4,265,000 cheque it received Aug. 21, 2020 for its property on the southwest corner of Main and Broadway was less than the market value of the land and the required compensation under the Expropriation Act.

Harvey Yen is listed as the president and director of the holding company.

Lawyer Ted Hanman is acting on behalf of both property owners at Main and Broadway. Hanman said the main argument put forward by his clients is that they see opportunity to negotiate potential redevelopment of the space "in and around and over" the Mount Pleasant station.

That would mean reacquiring the properties as part of a final settlement, he said, noting the station will not occupy the entire five properties when completed and there is room on the Main Street side for footings for redevelopment.

"These landowners were not holding the land for a Tim Hortons, they were holding it because they expected they would be able to build," he said, noting his clients don't have specific plans for redevelopment. "They're not even dreaming about that. They're simply looking for the ability to reacquire those interests.

Added Hanman: "I'm pretty confident the City of Vancouver would not be happy to have that area left dead. The layout of the station was specifically done to permit cantilevering over the building. So that's already been designed into the station."

The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said in an email that it wouldnt comment on specific cases before the courts. But the ministry emphasized it did not expropriate any property for the subway project, with all acquired rights reached by consensual agreement under section 3 of the Expropriation Act.

As with all our projects, any property purchases are made in compliance with legislation and at market value, said the ministry, noting the governments authority to acquire land derives from the Transportation Act, with processes and compensation regime outlined in the Expropriation Act.

This Act provides the ability, by agreement, to allow the transfer of the property to the project to happen early, but also provides extended time for both parties to quantify the appropriate amount of compensation and resolve matters.

Under a section 3 agreement, which all parties involved in the cases in question agreed to, the government pays the owner an advanced payment which represents the compensation that can be quantified at the time, the ministry said.

An owner then has one year after the advance payment is made to file a civil claim, which preserves an owners right to continue to determine compensation  which is what lawyer Evan Cooke did on behalf of his clients, 396 East 2nd Avenue Holdings Ltd.

Cooke filed a civil claim July 15. The three directors  Cam Grieve, Shenoor Jadavji and Steve Krilanovich  are associated to Lotus Capital Corp., according to a property ownership search conducted by Glacier Media.
Photo: The Canadian Press Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau makes a campaign stop in Hamilton, Ont., on Tuesday, Aug 24, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

TORONTO - Liberal leader Justin Trudeau unveiled his party's housing plan Tuesday, but real estate industry members are concerned it won't do much to alleviate a lack of supply.

Trudeau's plan, announced at a Tuesday campaign stop in Hamilton, Ont., is built around helping renters become homeowners through $1 billion in loans and grants, but also involves a two-year moratorium on foreign buyers, banning blind bidding and a Bill of Rights creating a legal right to a home inspection.

The Liberals plan to help young, first-time buyers with a new savings account allowing Canadians under 40 to save up to $40,000 toward their first home, and withdraw it tax-free to put toward their purchase, with no requirement to repay it.

The plan also includes a Housing Accelerator Fund, which would make $4 billion available for large cities to speed up their housing plans, in hopes of building 100,000 new middle-class homes by 2024-25.

"They're treating the symptom of the problem and not the real problem, which is the supply," said Ben Young, the senior vice-president of development at Southwest Properties in Halifax.

With the number of available homes failing to keep up with demand in recent years, he would like to see federal and provincial government lands opened up for development, which could boost housing inventory.

He also thinks parties should be less focused on housing tax incentives, even though he admitted they garner broad appeal, because he said they don't often help supply.

"It's like saying, 'come on in my store it's 100 per cent off, but I don't have any inventory," he said.

Davelle Morrison, a Toronto broker with Bosley Real Estate Ltd., thinks the Liberal's incentive for people under 40 is "nice to have," but "doesn't really move the needle."

She believes the country's housing sector would be better off if it had a 30-year amortization rate, more attention paid to Indigenous needs and more allowances for laneway housing and basement apartments.

She also wants politicians to stop fixating on foreign buyers, who some have blamed for driving up home prices in recent years.

"We need to stop making foreign buyers the Bogeyman and saying that everything is their fault," said Morrison, noting studies show they account for less than five per cent of homes owned in the Greater Toronto Area.

"We have had very few foreigners buying into the market because of COVID-19, and real estate prices have still climbed."

The average price of a home sold reached $662,000 in July, up 15.6 per cent from the same month last year, the Canadian Real Estate Association said earlier this month.

The average price of a Toronto home was just over $1 million in July, up 12.6 per cent compared to a year ago, the city's local board said.

As those prices climbed, bidding wars intensified, brokers complained of a lack of supply and prospective buyers felt pressure to stretch their budget and drop more cash on already expensive homes.

The Liberals want to take some of the pressure out of that process by banning blind bidding, but Morrison said open auction systems, where all parties know each others offices, have done little to cool the Australian market.

The Ontario Real Estate Association made the same observation.

"Auction fever creates a three-ring circus on front lawns, as hopeful buyers crowd in front of a home with a live auctioneer, or online, and the bidding begins," said OREA President David Oikle in a statement.

"Far from making homes more affordable, auctions can drive prices higher, and dangerously push buyers to make rushed decisions involving tens of thousands of dollars in just minutes."

While blind bidding is often criticized because of its secrecy, Halifax broker Sandra Pike said her region differs from many others because people can readily access plenty of data to make informed offers.

Local real estate websites, she said, share when a home was listed, how many days its been on the market, when and for what price a home was sold for and what nearby listings are priced at.

She said, "Our consumers here have all that transparency already."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.
Photo: The Canadian Press In this satellite photo released by Maxar Technologies, Kabul's international airport is seen amid evacuations on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021.

While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered Tuesday to keep Canadian military personnel in Afghanistan after Aug. 31, his fellow G7 leaders were not able to persuade President Joe Biden to extend the American deadline for withdrawal.

Trudeau, emerging from a virtual summit with his G7 counterparts, said Canada would keep special forces operatives and aircrews at the airport in Kabul past the end of the month. The leaders met to discuss the crisis and the re-emergence of the Taliban as the country's rulers.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who hosted the summit, and France's Emmanuel Macron were among those calling for an extension in order to more fully evacuate all foreign nationals and vulnerable Afghans who helped the Americans and the NATO allies before the country's recent fall to the Taliban.

A readout from the White House made clear they had failed to persuade Biden  at least for now  to open the door to staying longer.

"During a meeting this morning with the G7 leaders, the president conveyed that our mission in Kabul will end based on the achievement of our objectives. He confirmed we are currently on pace to finish by Aug. 31," the statement said.

"The completion of the mission by Aug. 31 depends on continued co-ordination with the Taliban, including continued access for evacuees to the airport," it continued. "In addition, the President has asked the Pentagon and the State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timeline should that become necessary."

During a media briefing Tuesday that had been delayed for several hours, White House press secretary Jen Psaki refused to say explicitly whether Biden was open to extending the deadline, but pointed repeatedly to the conditions noted in the statement.

"He asked for contingency plans," Psaki said, "but believes we continue to be on track to accomplish our mission."

Biden also told his fellow leaders that each day on ground added to the risk from troops posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant  Khorasan Province, the terrorist organization active in Central Asia. The Taliban has also said that the deadline is firm and hinted at consequences if it is not met.

"We have increasing concerns about the threat," Psaki said. "That is certainly a part of the president's assessment and decision making."

Johnson called the "urgent" summit of G7 leaders to discuss the evacuation crisis and plot longer-term engagement with Afghanistan's new Taliban leaders, as well as deal with the humanitarian crisis for refugees. The leaders' communique did not address the issue of an extension.

But they called on the Taliban to respect human rights, especially those of women and minorities, and allow unfettered humanitarian access.

"Afghanistan must never again become a safe haven for terrorism, nor a source of terrorist attacks," it said.

After the meeting, Trudeau said Canada would be prepared to stay longer, if that were possible, beyond Aug. 31.

"The commitment by our fellow G7 nations is clear: we're all going to work together to save as many people as possible," Trudeau said as he was about to board a federal election campaign bus in Hamilton.

Canada is one of a dozen allied countries taking part in the evacuation of people facing Taliban reprisals from Kabul's chaotic airport, which American-led forces have secured for the time being. A Canadian military plane departed Kabul with over 500 evacuees on board on Monday, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said in a tweet.

"Our commitment to Afghanistan doesn't end when this current phase, this current deadline comes. We will continue to put pressure on the Taliban to allow people to leave the country," Trudeau said after the meeting.

"We will continue to ensure that we're doing everything we can to get them to respect human rights and give opportunities for all Afghans."

The G7 said it was throwing its support behind the UNs "unfettered humanitarian" access to help the Afghan people.

The United Nations World Food Program warned Tuesday that its food supply for Afghanistan was due to run out by October and that it needed more international support to keep that from happening.

Mary-Ellen McGroarty, the WFP's Afghanistan director, said her organization hasn't stopped delivering food, and doing drought assessments. So far this year, it has helped 5.5 million Afghans, including 400,000 who have been internally displaced from their homes.

"The week of 15 August alone  one of the most dramatic in Afghanistan's recent history  WFP managed to reach 80,000 people with life-saving food and nutrient-dense foods to treat and prevent malnutrition," McGroarty said in an email.

Prior to the meeting, Trudeau said the return of the Taliban would have to prompt a broader rethinking of Canada's aid spending in Afghanistan.

"That is absolutely something we're looking at right now, obviously, with the Taliban in control of the country. Our regular aid, investments and agencies need to be looked at carefully to make sure we are not supporting, indirectly, the Taliban," Trudeau said.

"We will be there for greater financial commitments because that's what Canadians expect, for us to continue to fight for a better Afghanistan and continue to be there for Afghans fleeing for a better life."

In January, a federal review gave a mixed grade on the effectiveness of the close to $1 billion in development assistance that Canada funnelled into Afghanistan in the six years following the complete withdrawal of the country's military forces in 2014.

The review also found that Global Affairs Canada was not adapting to Afghanistan's changing needs as the Taliban began gobbling up territory between 2017 and 2020 from the Afghan government, which has since fallen.

In November, Canada made a further three-year, $270-million aid commitment to Afghanistan.

All of Canada's aid spending has been channelled through international organizations and has not been given directly to any Afghan government.
Photo: Contributed Vancouver police watch over the scene at East Hastings and Princess Streets.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO BC) has cleared Vancouver police officers of any wrongdoing in the Jan. 5, 2021 shooting death of a Downtown Eastside resident.

The agency, which investigates police incidents in B.C. that involve significant injuries or deaths, has determined that the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officers involved in the incident committed no offences, according to a report released today (Aug 24).

"As a result, the only realistic course of action was to use deadly force themselves," writes Ronald MacDonald, the chief civilian director at the IIO BC. "That use of force was justified on SO1's (Subject Officer) part in self-defence, and on SO2's in defence of SO1. The only other force options available to thempepper spray, police baton or bare handswould almost certainly have been ineffective against the charging, sword-wielding Affected Person."

The incident started around 4:40 a.m. Jan. 5, 2021, at a Salvation Army facility called Grace Mansion, when an employee called the VPD to report a resident was banging on windows, apparently intoxicated, states the report. Police were busy elsewhere and weren't able to immediately respond; the situation seemed to de-escalate when the resident went to his room.

Around 6 a.m. police were called again after the resident threw a piece of furniture out his window and had started shouting out the window about how he wanted to die. He was then seen in the building, naked and carrying a large sword. He smashed the sword on someone else's door.

The report states that according to video footage and witness statements he went next door, smashed the glass door and went inside briefly. The resident, who the report refers to as the Affected Person or AP, went back outside, where people backed or ran away.

After attempting to break back into Grace Mansion and stating he wanted to die, two officers arrived (SO1 and SO2 in the report).

"AP quickly got to his feet, picked up the sword, swung it, and then advanced on SO1 with the sword raised in his right hand, the blade held back over his shoulder," states the report. "Officers shouted repeated commands for AP to stop, drop the sword and get down on the ground but AP, swearing and shouting 'What you gonna do?' continued to come rapidly and aggressively towards and to gain on SO1, who was backing away with her firearm pointed at AP."

In their own reports, both officers stated they feared the man would seriously injure or kill someone with the sword, states the IIO BC report. Neither officer had a TASER and no beanbag shotguns were near to the scene.

As the man advanced to within 10 feet of SO1 both officers fired shots, totalling five rounds.

The whole sequence, from the officers getting out of the vehicle to the man being shot, was less than six seconds.

Other officers started to arrive shortly after. Police kicked the sword away, handcuffed the man and attempted first aid on the man. Paramedics subsequently arrived and took the man to a hospital where he was declared dead.

MacDonald's report states the officers "were responding appropriately" and had very little time to react to the charge with "a deadly weapon."

"Simply put," he writes, "they had no choice."
Photo: The Canadian Press Conservative Leader Erin OToole takes part in a virtual telephone townhall meeting with voters in Ontario from the partys studio, in Ottawa, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Canadians will vote in a federal election Sept. 20th. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

The Truth Test is a project of The Canadian Press that examines the accuracy of statements made by politicians. Each claim is researched and analyzed to provide Canadians with facts instead of spin.

STATEMENT

"I support a public and universal system. Full stop." Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, Aug. 23, 2021.

BACKGROUND

O'Toole repeatedly stressed Monday his "100 per cent support" for Canada's universal public health-care system, saying Liberal suggestions to the contrary were divisive and "misleading."

His comment followed a tweet Sunday from the Liberals' Chrystia Freeland, which included an edited video clip of O'Toole saying "yes" when asked during last year's Conservative leadership contest if he supports "the provision of private, for-profit and non-profit health care options within the universal health system."

"Last year, even as COVID-19 raged, Erin O'Toole was asked if he would bring private 'for profit' health care to Canada. He responded unequivocally: yes," Freeland tweeted.

Twitter slapped a warning label on the tweet, calling it "manipulated media."

Conservatives accused the Liberals of editing the video clip to remove O'Toole's qualification that the health system needs to "make sure that universal access remains paramount" even as it employs "public-private synergies" to bring innovation to the system.

They accused the Liberals of employing "American-style divisive politics" and spreading "misinformation" and they wrote the commissioner of Canada elections, demanding an investigation.

The Liberals challenged Twitter's label and noted that Freeland also tweeted the full video clip of O'Toole's comments. Leader Justin Trudeau encouraged Canadians to view the clip in its entirety and see O'Toole "double-down on his belief in a two-tiered, private, for-profit system."

ANALYSIS

The issue comes down to the question of whether more private, for-profit health services can be offered without undermining Canada's universal public health-care system.

Advocates for a universal public system say it can't.

"I would say that introducing more private pay into the health system undermines our universal public health care, regardless of whether or not you're saying you're still going to allow for universal access," says Dr. Melanie Bechard, chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare.

"Using our limited resources to serve a select few patients who can actually afford to pay privately leaves less resources for everyone else in the system and worsens things off for the vast majority of Canadians."

It is "essentially" creating a two-tier health system  one for those who can afford to pay for private service and another for everyone else, Bechard adds.

In the video, O'Toole raises the example of Saskatchewan, which allows private clinics to provide magnetic resonate imaging (MRI) scans. He calls it a "brilliant" innovation that uses private sector investment to increase the number of MRI machines in the province, thereby "making sure that wait times for everyone go down."

But Bechard says experience has shown that allowing private services actually increases wait times  except for those who can afford to pay for private services  as health professionals leave the public system for private clinics.

"We have a limited number of doctors, nurses, health professionals in Canada. So, when you create these private clinics, you're not actually taking pressure off the public system, you're taking professionals away from the public system  which then leads to longer wait times in the public system which is the point of access for far more Canadians," she says.

Proposing a parallel private system to reduce wait times "is like seeing your house is on fire and throwing a bucket of gasoline on it," Bechard adds.

Steven Staples, national director of policy and advocacy for the Canadian Health Coalition, points to a British Columbia Supreme Court ruling last September that dismissed a challenge from private health-care advocate Dr. Brian Day, who had argued that patients have a constitutional right to pay for private care due to lengthy wait times in the public system.

The court ruled "that increases in privatization will not only benefit those who can afford to jump the queue, but it increases inequalities in the system, in particular by lengthening wait times for everybody else," Staples says.

Saying the Conservatives support universal public health care at the same time as they support allowing more private delivery of some medical services amounts to them "trying to have it both ways and they can't," he says.

"By increasing for-profit players into the health-care system, you will create a greater two-tier system."

O'Toole dodged repeatedly Monday when asked what other health services he believes could be privatized. He said only that a Conservative government would increase unconditional annual health-care transfers to the provinces and would "respect their jurisdiction" by not trying to dictate how the money should be spent.

That would appear to mean that O'Toole would scrap the Trudeau government's policy of penalizing a province that allows patients to be charged a fee for privately provided medically necessary diagnostic imaging services. Under a policy adopted in April 2020, the government can deduct those patient charges from a province's share of annual health transfer payments.

If re-elected, a Liberal spokesperson said the Trudeau government would enforce that policy when it comes to Saskatchewan's private MRI clinics.

"If the patient charges in Saskatchewan are not eliminated, a clawback will occur," Thierry Belair said.

CONCLUSION

O'Toole has not explained how his support for allowing more private, for-profit medical services squares with his assertion that he fully supports universal, public health care. Public health-care advocates say he can't have it both ways.
Photo: pixabay

B.C.s Human Rights Tribunal has dismissed another claim from a person claiming their rights were violated in a situation requiring them to wear a mask.

Tribunal chair Emily Ohler said in an Aug. 20 decision that Ian Christiansen had gone to MedRay Imaging, which operates in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, to get an x-ray of a broken foot.

The problem with the case, Ohler said, was that Christiansen claimed he could not walk 30 feet to a pharmacy yet walked both to and from the clinic.

The clinic had in place a policy mandating mask use in response to the COVID-19 pandemic but Christiansen arrived at the clinic without one.

An employee told Christiansen he would need a mask and that he could obtain one at the neighbouring pharmacy.

Christiansen refused to wear a mask, resulting in MedRay refusing him entry, Ohler said.

And, the decision said, Christiansen claimed he could not go to the pharmacy because it would exacerbate the pain from his broken foot.

As such, Christiansen filed his complaint against MedRay alleging discrimination in the provision of a service on the basis of physical disability contrary to B.C.s Human Rights Code.

That disability was his broken foot, he said.

The company had initiated the mask policy to ensure the safety and comfort of staff and clients.

A senior staff member was called to handle the situation and later told the tribunal Christiansen didnt say he was unable to wear a mask, nor that he was unable to walk any distance without pain. Ohler noted Christiansen did not dispute that.

However, Christiansen argued that any reasonable person would conclude there was something wrong with him by virtue of his being there for an x-ray in the first place.

Mr. Christiansen says that MedRay should have known that he had something wrong with him that required accommodation because he was seeking an x-ray, but his having walked up to the clinic and subsequently walked away with no apparent difficulty undermines his assertion that MedRay should have inferred he was unable to go to the pharmacy 30 feet away in order to obtain a mask, Ohler said.

Ohler said MedRay would have needed to accommodate Christiansen if they had known a disability created a barrier to his wearing a mask.

It is undisputed that he never informed MedRay that he needed accommodation, Ohler said. Rather, Mr. Christiansen says he informed MedRay of his view that his human rights were being violated.

The decision is similar to one released Aug. 20 where the tribunal said it wouldn't hear a complaint from a woman who alleged her human rights were violated when she was asked to don a mask at a New Westminster jeweller. She said she had a breathing disability but had not informed the business of that.
Who are the Taliban and how did they take control of Afghanistan so swiftly?
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Information about "lights out" in Danville; Gov. Northam today pardoned seven Martinsville men who were executed for rape; Traffic advisories go up for events at the Blue Ridge Amphitheater; Lynn Street Market has shut down its store in Danville's River District.
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce recognized outstanding volunteer leaders from tge community at todays Annual Meeting.



The Midtown Council shows what it takes to support their neighbors in times of need, said Christy Gillenwater, president and CEO, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, when she named MidTown Council the Chattanooga Chamber Council of the Year today.



Award recipients include:



 Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Council of the Year: Midtown Council. During an unprecedented year of uncertainty and challenge, the Midtown Council fulfilled their business plan by creating a community food bank with other local organizations and churches. They successfully implemented a food pantry that has continued to grow and support neighbors in their footprint.



 Chattanooga Chamber Council Membership Award: East Ridge Council. The East Ridge Council surpassed its annual membership goal to reach a total of seven new members totaling $3,300 in revenue. Businesses in and around East Ridge are continuing to grow and prosper.



 Chamber Ambassador of the Year: Simeon Baskerville, Bushings Unlimited, LLC. Simeon joined the Chamber Ambassadors in December of 2019. Over the course of his time here he has managed to rack up a total of 7,415 points. That is no small feat to have obtained in such a short amount of time. Simeon exemplifies what it means to be an ambassador. He carries out the Chambers mission by helping each member he encounters prosper and find connections.



Annual Meeting also recognized outgoing board chair Valoria Armstrong and incoming board chair Jim Haley.



As part of the meeting, the Chamber also released its Annual Report which can be read here.


Have we moved away from a COVID-19 pandemic to a pandemic of fear? Having seen many people wearing masks while walking outside with no one within 100 yards of them as well as seeing individuals driving by themselves in their cars wearing masks I have to wonder. Are we in fact so afraid of dying that we forgot how to live?

If you go to the CDC website and do a little arithmetic, you will discover that there is less than a 1 percent chance of dying from the COVID virus. If you are vaccinated the chance of dying from COVID is statistically zero.

As far as children 18 and under they have a greater chance of dying from an accident or suicide than COVID. Yet there are heated discussions over whether these same children should wear masks to school. We know the cloth masks have very limited benefit (if any) against the COVID virus and it's spreading but yet we still have people trying to mandate them.

If you listen the the media and our government experts, COVID is a horrible virus causing masses about of deaths in the U.S. and we should all be fearful of it. In looking at the data though a different picture shows up. In 2020 with all the fear of millions of U.S. citizens dying from this the true picture is that COVID deaths were the 3rd leading cause of deaths behind heart disease and cancer. Still a high number of deaths but not the millions predicted. In looking at the 2021 numbers (Peterson Health Systems Tracker dated July 1) COVID deaths rank #7 right behind Alzheimer's. Yes, COVID is still causing deaths but putting it into perspective we should not be upending our entire life for something that is less problematic than Alzheimer's.

The bottom line is we will all die of something with the overwhelming chance that it will not be COVID related. As with the flu virus we will not eradicate this virus and will need to learn how to live with it. Humans were not made to wear masks nor stay six feet apart from everyone. There is a risk in everything we do and we need to stop living in fear and start actually living.

Michael Heinichen

* * *

You are so right. It is a pandemic of fear. I just have different reasons:

I am fearful for my young grandchildren who cannot be vaccinated yet.

I am fearful as I am vaccinated but have underlying health conditions.

I am fearful for the mental and physical health of our doctors and nurses as they are exhausted from this pandemic.



I am fearful for all the people who need ICU beds but there are none because of unvaccinated people.



I am fearful for the parents who cannot afford to stay home with their quarantined school children.



I am even fearful for the Mississippians who are taking horse deworming medicine promoted by some news channels to combat COVID.

I am fearful of the statistics every day for new COVID cases and ICU occupants.

I am sure I can think of more but I fear I am too tired to go on.

Vicki Hill

* * *

Mrs. Hill, with all due respect, I believe you just made Mr. Heinichens point.

I am fearful for my young grandchildren who cannot be vaccinated yet.

Why? The chance of them dying from COVID is nil. According to the CDC the survival rate of those aged 19 and under is 99.997 percent, 20-49 99.98 percent, 50-69 99.5 percent.

I am fearful as I am vaccinated but have underlying health conditions.

Why? You have been vaccinated. According to the CDC the chance of death for those vaccinated is extremely low.

I am fearful for the mental and physical health of our doctors and nurses as they are exhausted from this pandemic.

I know plenty of medical professionals and maybe you should worry more about what this is doing to our children and their development as well as education.

This isnt the Black Plague, it isnt Ebola, and its not even the Spanish Flu, the sky is not falling. Protect the vulnerable and let the rest of us live our lives.

David Rutledge
A suspicious person was reported at 17620 Interstate 24 EB. Officers located a woman walking on the Interstate shoulder turning cartwheels in the grass. Police identified the woman and she was provided water and given a ride downtown near Carter Street to catch a bus.

* * *

An anonymous called reported suspicious activity at E J's Tavern, 4205 Rossville Blvd. The caller said there were two males loading junk onto a truck at the tavern. Police spoke with two white males who were positively identified. The two were securing belongings on top of their vehicle, a gray GMC van (TN tag). Both men were checked for warrants with negative results. They said they had permission from the business owner at the tavern to keep their van there. The caller in the incident was anonymous and not identified as the owner of the the tavern. There was no indication any criminal activity had taken place and no business owner to indicate the two could not remain on the property. Both men were allowed to remain at this location and tend to their vehicle and belongings.

* * *

A woman at the Mapco, 5500 Highway 153, told police that a homeless man was walking around the shopping plaza acting erratic. Police found the man near Little Caesars sitting on the sidewalk. The man was charging his phone and was asked to leave by police. He gathered his belongings and left without incident.

* * *

Found property was reported at 902 Mccallie Ave. Police found a black powder revolver on the sidewalk. Police ran the serial number, but there was no registered owner. Police placed the revolver in Property.

* * *

An employee at Pediatric Healthcare, 103 Jordan Dr., told police she parked her vehicle in the back lot around 8:15 a.m. when she got to work the day before. When she got back out to the vehicle at 12:20 p.m., she discovered that her vehicle was making a very loud noise and then later realized that the catalytic converter had been cut off of it. She had gotten an estimate for $500 for repairs.

* * *

A caller reported property found at Comtrust Federal Credit Union, 1620 Gunbarrel Road. Police discovered an open book bag on the sidewalk that had miscellaneous clothes coming out of it. Police conducted an inventory and were not able to identify an owner. Police turned the book back over to Property and listed it as found.

* * *

A man on Hearthstone Circle told police his ceramic mailbox had been shattered. He said that it appears to have been hit by a car, but he found no tire marks on his yard. He says his neighbor told him that he heard a loud noise about 2:30 a.m. and he assumes that is the time his mailbox was destroyed.

* * *

A woman on 5th Avenue Court told police that her drive out tag for her 2008 Chevy Impala was stolen while parked legally in her residence parking lot. There is no suspect information.

* * *

A woman on Arlington Avenue pointed at a neighbor woman who was next door getting ready to leave. She said she was under the impression that the neighbor had a warrant over their encounter on an earlier date. The neighbor had no warrants and was allowed to leave.

* * *

A woman on Andrews Way told police that sometime overnight someone broke into her Hyundai Sonata and stole her employer's laptop computer. She said that her vehicle was locked. She said she found no damage and does not know how entry was made.

* * *

Police received a call about a suspicious person at 1161 W. 40th St. Police spoke with a man who was asleep in a Millennium Cab behind the address given. The man was released without incident once it was determined he was physically okay and had no active warrants.

* * *

A woman reported a theft at the Chattanooga Zoo. She said she got to the Zoo around 9 a.m. the day before and left her car parked in the parking lot. She said she had left her ring in a purse under the front seat. She said about 30 minutes later she realized she had forgotten to lock the car and then locked it remotely by phone. She said she then left there around noon and went back home. That morning she said she checked for the ring and it was gone and she said the Zoo is the only place this could have happened. She said there was no damage to the vehicle, so she believes someone must have gotten into the vehicle before she was able to lock it by phone.

* * *

A security officer for the Community Kitchen, 727 E 11th St., told police he was informed that someone observed a known homeless man urinating on a building. Police spoke to the man about the matter, but he denied the allegation. Police informed the man he could be arrested for indecent exposure for urinating in public. The man was checked for warrants, which came back negative, and he was asked to leave the area and go to another destination. The security guard was told to call back at any time.

* * *

A man on E. Abercrombie Circle told police that sometime during the night a vehicle hit his mailbox, knocking it off the post. He said it was not damaged; that it is made of plastic and snapped back together. He said that a car mirror was lying on the ground beside the mailbox. He also said that his neighbor's mailbox was flattened. He was told that his neighbor would have to file a report for that.

* * *

While on routine patrol, police observed a man standing on the side of the exit ramp at 4700 N. Terrace on the left side of the roadway holding a cardboard sign panhandling. After parking and walking towards the man, he began walking down the on ramp attempting to get donations from motorists exiting the Interstate. Finally a motorist honked at him and pointed in the officer's direction. The man walked back to the intersection and was told to get his bicycle, which he had dumped in the grass. The man was reminded that he was told not to panhandle here in the end of June. When asked if he remembered, he said he did not know he could go to jail and that he was only trying to get money for medications. The man was informed it was a misdemeanor with up to 11 months 29 days of jail time if convicted and given the maximum sentencing. He apologized to police and said he would never return. He was given a pamphlet for local resources that assist the homeless population.

* * *

A woman on Towne Hills Drive told police that earlier this month a copy of a check she wrote for rent in May was stolen from where she pays her rent and changed to date 07/20/2021 and made payable to another woman in the amount of $575. She said that TVFCU could not tell her where the check was cashed, nor could she tell from the copy she obtained. She said that TVFCU is waiting for a police report to return the money to her account. She said she has no other helpful information.

* * *

A man told police that while working on a house on Lookout Street, someone entered his unlocked 2015 GMC truck and stole his watch, his money and his company checkbook. He said he has been to First Horizon and closed the checking account.

* * *

Police were called to an address on River Street regarding a parking lot crash. The driver told police that she and her friend were backing from their parking spot. She said she did not see the silver KIA parked behind her and struck the back of the vehicle with the spare tire on her Jeep. She said she pulled forward and called her mother who called police. While speaking with the Jeep driver, the driver of the KIA walked up. Police explained what had taken place and she said that she would call her father. Police spoke with her father and he said that he was fine with not making a crash report. He said he wanted a report completed so that his vehicle could be fixed at the Jeep driver's expense. Both drivers agreed that the Jeep driver will be responsible for the damage and will pay to have it repaired.

* * *

A woman on Boynton Drive told police that she got her light bill and it was $508. She said that she called EPB and they told her that her information was used at an address in North Chattanooga, but would not tell her what the address was. She said all they would tell her was that she needs to file a police report. She said that this was recent, as the amount is due next month.
ChaTech, the Chattanooga Technology Council, announces the winners of the second annual Technology Excellence Awards (TechX). These awards recognized individuals and regional companies for outstanding involvement, achievements and accomplishments in the

Chattanooga technology community. Across the 10 categories, there were 62 nominations

among 35 companies.



The 2021 Winners are:

CxO of the Year - Steve Hitchings, Kenco Logistics

Recognized in part, for successfully migrating the business to the Cloud to improve Disaster Recovery, Recovery Time Objectives, Recovery Point Objectives, dramatically decreasing customer startup times and implementing innovative technologies that bring value to customers.



Data Analyst or Data Analytics Leader of the Year - Tanya Mathur, TVA

Recognized for an extraordinary portfolio of projects at TVA that touch many business units. Her projects included: The Materials Intelligent Catalog Assistant (MICA) and a COVID impact analysis of smart meter data to capture energy demand in the residential and commercial sectors. Tanya was instrumental in developing TVAs first Enterprise Analytics group, the first enterprise analytics strategy, and the Data & Analytics Center for Excellence.

Early Innovator Award - Safe Power Networks, Hayden Data Systems

Safe Power Networks is being recognized for multiple innovations combined into one system. Their sensor hardware in installed on power poles. The sensors are connected to a wireless network. The hardware can be configured to collect multiple types of data tailored to the clients needs. This can include data on pole movement; wind; rain; temperature and humidity; gases or smoke in the air; photos of vegetation, ice or other visual information. Clients access this information on a web dashboard or mobile app so technicians receive near-real-time data and alerts from each location.



Infrastructure Leader or Engineer of the Year - Jason Flis, Kenco Logistics

Jason is being recognized for collaborative work and upgrades--both within the IT shop at Kenco and in conjunction with customers during a busy-season breakdown.



IT Champion for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - Brenda Hoyle, Stratera Technologies

Recognized for going beyond representing diversity to actively reaching out to under-represented

groups and helping them connect to employment opportunities. Brenda mentors rising professionals and has been active in multiple employer-based and community-based initiatives to bring awareness of opportunities to the Latinx and other under-represented communities.



IT Team of the Year - End-User Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee

Recognized for the extraordinary teamwork demonstrated when they moved a massive workforce to a remote work environment in an extremely short timeframe.



Technology Company of the Year - Freightwaves

Recognized for introducing their SONAR Supply Chain Intelligence platform which provides shippercentric supply chain benchmarking, analytics, monitoring, and forecasting capabilities. FreightWavesTV is the only daily streaming video site dedicated to logistics and supply chain news and content. Since its launch in April 2020, they have had more than 9 million views. The company has experienced astonishing growth in the last year and is the recipient of numerous awards.



Unsung Tech Hero of the Year - Dwight Watt, Georgia Northwestern Technical College

Recognized for his commitment to serving his students and for successfully navigating the challenges faced by IT educators this past year.



Most Impactful Project of the Year - HCS EdConnect, EPB

Recognized for partnering with Hamilton County Schools (HCS), the Enterprise Center, Hamilton County, the City of Chattanooga and other public and private community partners to provide K-12 students in need with access to high speed internet at home. Galvanized by the beginning of the pandemic, HCS EdConnect has provided fiber fast internet service with symmetrical speeds and no data caps at no charge to more than 14,000 students. Including these students and their families, HCS EdConnect has impacted more than 25,000 people so far and enrollment continues. These students and their families will stay connected year-round, including summers, for up to 10 years, as long as they have a child enrolled in Hamilton County Schools and maintain eligibility.



Software Developer/Engineer or Leader of the Year - Anna Sherman, Zillion

Anna is the leading architecture decisions on a business integration system and then coding the solutions for the plan Gathering metrics on customer behavior and mistakes then creating a simple solution to prevent future errors.



ChaTech Marketing Associate Jen LaRose said We would like to have gathered in person, but of

course we are happy over 200 people attended our virtual event. A big congratulations to all the

finalists and our winners. We would also like to thank our amazing sponsors for helping us with

100 Cherokee Blvd. Chattanooga, TN 37405 jen@chatechcouncil.org www.chatechcouncil.org

this event, AWS - Premier Sponsor, Freightwaves, Unum, Kenco Logistics, EPB, CMAC, Arista,

Syssero, Red Hat, DC Blox, CGI and the Chattanooga Airport.



The winners were announced at a virtual celebration last Wednesday at noon.



For more information and to watch the awards ceremony, visit www.chatechcouncil.org.
New business filings in the second quarter of 2021 grew a remarkable 61.6 percent from second quarter filings in 2020. This marks the second quarter in a row where Tennessee broke the previous record of year-over-year gain in the 28-year history of the data being collected.



The Tennessee Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators report issued by Secretary of State Tre Hargetts office shows that 70,118 businesses filed over the past year and 19,983 entities filed in the second quarter of 2021, the highest quarterly total ever recorded.



The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Tennessee. Our business-friendly environment encourages investment and jobs, said Secretary Hargett. The record number of firms choosing to establish in Tennessee is a testament to the stewardship of our state leaders and an encouraging sign for the future.



The second quarter of 2021 is the fourth straight quarter where new establishments grew by over 30 percent from the prior-year quarter. This level of growth is roughly two to four times larger than strong quarters in the past. Tennessee has seen positive year-over-year growth in initial filings for 38 consecutive quarters.



"Typically, growth in business filings leads to growth in jobs, personal income and state revenue," officials said.

The largest number of filings were in Shelby County, followed by Davidson, Knox and Hamilton counties. These four most populous counties accounted for 48.9 percent of new filings state-wide.

Tennessees June unemployment rate (4.9 percent) continued to decline from its pandemic high of 15.8 percent and remains below the national rate of 5.4 percent. In June, employment in Tennessee grew by 22,100 jobs, but total employment remained below the pre-pandemic peak in February 2020.



To see more than 60% growth in new entity filings over the past year is just staggering, Boyd Center Director Bill Fox said. Though the COVID-19 pandemic surely played a role in this huge increase, almost 20,000 new business filings really show just how business-friendly Tennessee is. The state is recovering from the pandemic-induced recession and should see strong economic growth in the quarters to come.



This report provides a snapshot of the states economy based on key indicators, including new business data from the Secretary of States Division of Business Services. It is published through a partnership with the University of Tennessee Knoxvilles Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research and the Secretary of State.



To review the complete Q2 2021 Tennessee Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators report, past reports and a teleconference recording about the report with Secretary Hargett and Dr. Fox visit, sos.tn.gov.
Senator Marsha Blackburn and Senator Bill Hagerty sent a letter to the Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Secretary of State Antony Blinken "demanding answers to key questions on the crisis in Afghanistan."

Senator Blackburns office has received questions from constituents in Tennessee and over 2,000 people on the ground in Afghanistan, it was stated. She said, "In addressing these inquiries, top leaders within the Department of Defense and Department of State have failed to be transparent or responsive."

The senators wrote, For two decades, the American people - particularly those in the U.S. Armed Forces - have been dedicated to the cause of fighting terrorism and providing a better future for the people of Afghanistan. However, as the Taliban rapidly consolidate control over Afghanistan at the expense of the freedom and rights of the Afghan people, particularly women, girls, and those in minority groups, the American people demand answers.

The letter says:

Dear Secretary Austin and Secretary Blinken:

We write to express our grave concern and deep disappointment about the entirely avoidable crisis unfolding currently in Afghanistan. As the Article I branch of the United States government, Congress is willing, ready, and able to conduct its oversight responsibilities on behalf of the American people.

For two decades, the American peopleparticularly those in the U.S. Armed Forceshave been dedicated to the cause of fighting terrorism and providing a better future for the people of Afghanistan. However, as the Taliban rapidly consolidate control over Afghanistan at the expense of the freedom and rights of the Afghan people, particularly women, girls, and those in minority groups, the American people demand answers. To that end, we ask that you respond to the following questions immediately:

(1) With President Bidendespite public statements suggesting otherwiseapparently unwilling to move back his deadline to withdraw all U.S. forces from Afghanistan no later than August 31, 2021; what is the Administrations plan to evacuate any remaining American citizens, including from the outlying provinces, who seek evacuation from Afghanistan after the deadline?

(2) What is the current status of or result of talks between the United States and the Taliban as it pertains to operations to evacuate Americans and appropriate Afghan civilians?

(3) With the United States freezing over $9.5 billion in Taliban assets, what is the Biden Administrations sanctions policy toward the Taliban? Will the Biden Administration commit to not provide any relief of U.S sanctions and U.N. sanctions against the Taliban?

(4) With reports that U.S.-supplied weapons and vehicles in Afghanistan have fallen into Taliban hands, what will the Biden Administration do to counter the threat posed by this development?

(5) Can you confirm that all classified documentation and data storage devices at the embassy have been either accounted for or destroyed?

We welcome an open dialogue, including ongoing regular principal-level classified and unclassified briefings to Senators, with Secretaries of the Department of Defense and the Department of State on these matters. In the near-term, we look forward to a detailed response that addresses each of the above questions.

Thank you for your attention.
Celebrities enjoy fine dining and simple pleasures as much as anyone. Therefore, there are many restaurants in New York City that you may find them relaxing with their meal. As proof of this, we have found the 10 restaurants that celebrities are obsessed with.

New York is known for fine dining experiences. However, not all of them will be great places for you to go stargazing for your favorite celebs. To help you seek the stars, we feel you should check out these restaurants.

1. New Yorks IL Buco

If you love Mediterranean meals and an old-world feel, you may fall in love with the IL Buco. It is a place that was inspired by Edgar Allan Poes, The Cask of Amontillado. You will find candles and kerosene lighting, pasta, and an assortment of entrees to choose from. The menu is one that changes daily.

Meghan Markle and Kerry Washington at Il Buco Alimentari | Anna Webber/Getty Images

There have been several celebrity sightings. Some of the most impressive include Angelina Jolie and Taylor Swift.

2. The Odeon

The impressive menu of The Odeon is filled with French comfort foods. It includes everything from strip steak Frites and yellowfin tuna to steak tartare and French onion dip. Built and opened in the 80s, it is a bistro that has 20th-century aesthetics, which makes it very casual.

If you visit this restaurant bistro in the heart of TriBeCa, you will be walking where celebrities have been. Emily Ratajkowski has been seen here.

3. The Downtown IL Mulino

When you are in the mood for Italian cuisine, this is a great choice. There are a variety of pastas on the menu including Linguine ai Frutti de Mare or Spaghetti al Pomodoro. If you want something a little more sophisticated to dine on, there is Piccata di Vitello al Limone or Filetto di Mango.

This is a place where the guys from Gossip Girl were spotted.

4. Balthazar

This impressive restaurant features signature red leather banquettes, a large bar, and aged mirrors. However, the setting is only part of what you will enjoy about this bistro-style restaurant. Menu options include red onion confit, grilled country-bred, braised potatoes, steak Frites, or the Balthazar burger, among other things.

Some of the most notable celebrities to visit include Robert De Niro and David Beckham. We wonder if they enjoy the seafood towers that are on the menu.

5. Masa Takayamas-Masa

Masa Takayamas is the top of the line for restaurants as far as some people are concerned. It is a place that brings home the outstanding flavors of Japan. Each entre is filled with seafood, sushi, and seasonal selections.

Chef Takayama is a celebrity in his own right. He is famous for the meals that he creates and the bare minimum price for his food is proof that celebrities who enjoy only the best will want to sample it, mostly in private groups.

6. Caffe Reggio

The Caffe Reggio is loved by both celebrities and residents of New York. No matter who you are, you can feel like an A-lister when you visit this casual dining establishment. It is one of the most affordable places to eat on our list. You can choose Panini, sandwiches, soups, salads, and more.

They have a large variety of desserts including cannoli, cheesecakes, and pastries. This restaurant has been enjoyed by David Bowie who said it was one of his favorite spots to visit in NYC.

7. The Standard Grill

This restaurant is located on the first floor of a hotel. It has the feel of a high-end steakhouse when you walk in, but you will be surrounded by white-jacket servers to ensure you want nothing while you are there. At the Standard Grill, you can enjoy Italian cuisine, seafood, steaks, and much more. They serve a baked Alaska that is set on fire right beside your table.

Both Cindy Crawford and Cameron Diaz have visited The Standard Grill.

8. ABC Kitchen

The ABC Kitchen has a cozy atmosphere that serves locally grown, organic foods. This means you will get to enjoy seasonal vegetables and other treats. You can have a kale salad and crab toast or fried organic chicken if you choose. You will find wood oven-roasted Maine lobsters on the entree menu.

Britney Spears has been seen here as well as many others.

9. Minetta Tavern

What would you expect to get at a tavern? This one has everything from porterhouse steak to grilled shrimp, lobster bisque, and chives. You can enjoy black olives tapenade, Risotto, and even roasted bone marrow.

At Minetta Tavern, there have been numerous celebrities. They include names like Brooke Shields and Ernest Hemingway.

10. Monkey Bar

Located inside the Hotel Elysee, you will enjoy the atmosphere of this restaurant. It has an extensive history that matches its impressive menu. You can opt to enjoy grilled chicken, salmon filets, or even a grilled cheese sandwich with cheddar and Gruyere, sourdough tomato bisque, or mixed greens.

Some of the famous guests who have enjoyed dining here include Kim Kardashian West and Heidi Klum.

Related: Restaurant Secrets: Top Spots Celebrity Chefs Visit in New York
Kathy Griffin thrives on comedy. But her 2017 photoshoot scandal was no laughing matter  nor was the fallout. In the wake of her inexplicable lung cancer diagnosis and subsequent disclosures about addiction and depression, were taking a look back at her most terrifying ordeal as a celebrity.

Kathy Griffin shocked the nation with a grotesque image

Kathy Griffin never made any secret of how she feels about former president Donald Trump. And in 2017, months after he took office, she made a strong but silent statement. She appeared in an image, taken by celebrity photographer Tyler Shields, holding a mask in the image of Donald Trumps bloodied head.

The blood wasnt real. It was ketchup. But the backlash was real. And it was brutal. Conservative Twitter erupted in outrage, with everything from insulting recriminations to full-blown death threats. Industry professionals both left and right distanced themselves from Griffin. The government got involved.

My little story is historic, Griffin told CBS News in 2019. Whether you like it or not, its the first time a sitting United States president has used the full power of the Oval Office, the first family, the right-wing media and, more importantly, two departments within the Department of Justice to open an investigation on a private citizen who did nothing wrong. Didnt violate the First Amendment, didnt break the law.

Griffin later explained that the photo was her reaction to infamous comments Trump made about then Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly.

How much for the head? Asking for a friend. https://t.co/gICNrR5Rs4  Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 9, 2021

An apology didnt stop death threats

In the immediate aftermath, Griffin buckled down into crisis management mode, issuing a swift video apology. I sincerely apologize, Griffin said. I am just now seeing the reaction to these images. Im a comic. I crossed the line. I moved the line, then I crossed it. I went way too far.

But the apology did little to calm growing conservative anger. Trump himself stoked the flames, tweeting that Griffin should be ashamed of herself and relentlessly insulting her in public forums. Trump has since been permanently banned from Twitter.

According to her 2019 CBS News interview with reporter Luke Burbank, the My Life on the D-List star was horrified when the FBI informed her of an imminent threat after her name was dropped by the MAGA bomber Cesar Sayoc.

Griffin also said she continues to get death threats, both online and in person.

There are tweets I wasn't even aware of until @KFILE reached out to me. How the bomber was allowed to keep his account is beyond me, truly horrible. https://t.co/45YhXFT63f  Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) October 31, 2018

I was in London a month ago and I had a driver who took myself and my assistant from London Heathrow to the hotel, and he recognized me from the photo and he said that he was from Morocco and that if we were in Morocco he would cut my tongue off, she told Burbank.

Griffin remains defiant

Kathy Griffin | Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Despite a cancer diagnosis, a bout with severe depression, and a prescription pill addiction, all of which Griffin publicly disclosed in August of 2021, the comedian remains unapologetic. She told Burbank what she did about the driver who threatened her  I called the president of the company and had him fired!  and retracted her initial apology over the Trump debacle.

I am no longer sorry. The whole outrage was B.S., Griffin said several months later on Australian TV program Sunrise. The whole thing got so blown out of proportion, and I lost everybody.

Shes since risen, yet again, to meet her challenges and conquer them. Griffin said on social media that shes been clean and sober for a year following an overdose attempt. Shes healing after an inexplicable lung cancer diagnosis and following surgery. And she recently announced a recurring role on Search Party in season 5.

It appears that nothing can keep Kathy Griffin down.

RELATED: Following Surgery For Lung Cancer, Kathy Griffin Refuses Narcotic Painkillers

How to get help: In the U.S., contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to step down as senior royals and leave their life in the U.K. behind, news about a rift with other royals has been a topic of discussion. Reports of feuds with certain members of the family intensified when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sat down with Oprah Winfrey for their explosive primetime special.

Now an updated version of the biography Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of A Modern Royal Family details what has gone on since that chat with the legendary talk show host. But claims are being made that the Sussexes have reignited a rift with Queen Elizabeth II. This has caused the couple to hit back and call their lawyers.

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Queen Elizabeth II sitting next to each other at the Queens Young Leaders Awards Ceremony | John Stillwell  WPA Pool/Getty Images

A year after Finding Freedom first hit bookshelves an updated version is set to be released and already its making news following an excerpt that was published in People Magazine. The extract from the book discusses the accusation the Sussexes made in their sitdown with Oprah that a senior royal inquired about and voiced concerns about what Archies skin color would be. It claims that the duke and duchess are not happy that there has been no accountability taken within the family.

Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand wrote: The queens recollections may vary comment did not go unnoticed by the couple, who, a close source said, were not surprised that full ownership was not taken. Months later and little accountability has been taken, a pal of Meghan added. How can you move forward with that?

According to the New Zealand Herald, attorneys for Meghan and Harry decided to distance them from those claims and threatened legal action should any media outlet suggest they had reignited a rift with the queen.

What author Omid Scobie tweeted about the excerpt

Back at this rodeo and, predictably, words are being twisted again.



The comments made by a SOURCE (a detail some outlets have purposefully ignored) were about a lack of ownership from the royal institution as a whole. There is no attack against the Queen anywhere in the book.  Omid Scobie (@scobie) August 19, 2021

Scobie has long been thought of as the pairs spokesperson. The journalist has said that is not the case, however, hes believed to be a confidant of Meghan and Harrys and was even attended their private farewell engagement in the U.K.

He took to Twitter to reinterate that the information in the new chapter is merely from a source.

An insider told the Daily Beast: [The Sussexes] created this issue themselves. As they talk to Scobie, theyve made him their unofficial spokesman, so people buy into him.

This has left some to wonder if the prince and his wifes threat of legal action is just something to generate buzz around the latest edition of the biography or put the Sussexes allegations of racism against a senior royal back in the news.

Were Prince Harry and Meghan the sources for the book?

Copies of Finding Freedom are stacked up in Waterstones Piccadilly store in London | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

This news and the reissue of Finding Freedom brings up the question again about where the majority of information in the book actually came from. Because Scobie is the co-author of the book many believe Meghan and Harry were the sources due to the amount of detail that cant come from just anyone.

The duke and duchess have denied that they were involved as did Scobie who told The Times: The book doesnt claim to have any interviews with Harry and Meghan. And nor do we.

But many royal fans arent buying that especially after it was revealed that Meghan did pass information onto the authors to correct the narrative about her father, Thomas Markle, because she didnt want any misrepresentation. A number of royal watchers have pointed out that since the duchess gave that information she could have certainly given much more considering that Finding Freedom is such a pro-Sussex biography.

RELATED: Flight Attendant Says Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Didnt Pay Their Bill on Plane
Netflix shared its release schedule for the rest of 2021, and Dont Look Up is set to drop in December. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence as leads with some other famous names in the cast. Written and directed by Adam McKay, its a project unlike anything DiCaprio has ever done. But what is it about?

Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence on location filming Dont Look Up in Boston, 2020 | David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Dont Look Up is a dark comedy with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence

Fans arent used to seeing DiCaprio display his comedy chops, but in this upcoming movie, he and Lawrence go full satire. Thrust into a catastrophe as Dr. Randall Mindy and doctorate student Kate Dibiasky, the pair embark on a presidential-level mission to save the world.

According to Netflixs press announcement, Dont Look Up tells the story of two low-level astronomers, who must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching asteroid that will destroy planet earth.

When Adam McKay appeared on the Happy Sad Confused podcast back in April, he told host Josh Horowitz that Lawrence was on board from the beginning as the two have known each other for a few years. Shes a fan of Step Brothers. However, DiCaprio took a little convincing, and him signing on was a pleasant surprise. McKay said DiCaprio is incredibly funny in the film.

I just thought theres no way hes going to do this because if I could only work with Martin Scorsese, I would only work with Martin Scorsese, he said. I would be Martin Scorseses assistant on set. So why would he do this with me? But as it turns out he really loved the script. We went back and forth on it. It was about a four-to-five month process with us just kicking around ideas. We took a break for the quarantine, and lo and behold once we figured out a theoretically safe way to shoot this movie, he was in. I couldnt believe it. Its no surprise hes fabulous in the movie.

The cast of Adam McKay's DON'T LOOK UP is absolutely iconic:



Leonardo DiCaprio joins

Jennifer Lawrence &

Rob Morgan alongside

Meryl Streep

Cate Blanchett

Jonah Hill

Himesh Patel

Timothee Chalamet

Ariana Grande

Kid Cudi

Matthew Perry

Tomer Sisley pic.twitter.com/UODRd7r2t8  NetflixFilm (@NetflixFilm) October 14, 2020

Filming for Dont Look Up took place in Boston

Boston became filming headquarters for Dont Look Up in late 2020, and the cast was spotted at various locations around town including Wheaton College, South Station, and DCU Center. According to Boston.com, the crew shot footage throughout Massachusetts, so locals will see some familiar sites in the movie such as Salisbury Beach.

McKay and crew had to observe strict protocols while filming during the pandemic, and health consultants were on site to ensure everyone stayed in the bubble.

Meryl Streep, Ariana Grande and other stars are in the cast

When we say the cast is star-studded, we mean it. Meryl Streep plays the president in Dont Look Up, and shes joined by pop stars, superheroes, a rapper, and some fellow actors. Ariana Grande, Timothee Chalamet, Captain America Chris Evans, Cate Blanchett, Kid Cudi, Jonah Hill, Matthew Perry, and Tyler Perry are part of the lineup.

Rumor has it the entire Netflix production clocked in at $75 million. Stream Dont Look Up to see DiCaprio and Lawrence as professor and student on Dec. 24.

RELATED: Jennifer Lawrence Will Make Her First True Comedy in 2020 with Adam McKay
Was Geillis Duncan in Outlander based on a real person? To put it simply, yes. The real Geillis Duncan is known for her involvement in Scotlands witch trials. But Outlander author Diana Gabaldon didnt explicitly base the character on the historical figure. The inspiration behind Geillis plot in Outlander is much more meta.

[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for Outlander books so far undepicted in the STARZ series.]

Lotte Verbeek as Geillis Duncan in Outlander Season 1 | STARZ

What happens to Geillis Duncan in Outlander?

Geillis is one of the first friends Claire Fraser makes in Outlander Season 1. The women share an interest in herbs and their medicinal qualities, although Claires interest is more science-based than Geillis. Played by Lotte Verbeek, the character is thought to be a witch by the townspeople. And she doesnt really shy away from the label. Geillis definitely believes in magic. And Claire witnessed her out late at night performing what looked like a magical ritual.

In Outlander Season 1 Episode 11, The Devils Mark, Geillis and Claire were on trial for witchcraft in Cranesmuir. To save Claire, Geillis showed her smallpox vaccination scar, claiming it was the mark of the Devil. But this is where Claire learned the real truth: Geillis was a time traveler. Amid the chaos of the Devils mark reveal, Geillis told Claire she had traveled back in time from 1968.

In the Outlander Season 2 finale, Dragonfly in Amber, Claire and Brianna run into Geillis the same fateful day she traveled back in time through the stones at Craigh na Dun. This is where they learn her given name was Gillian. Geillis then returns in Outlander Season 3. She reemerges in Jamaica and is responsible for Young Ians kidnapping and near murder. Still committed to the Scottish independence cause as ever, Geillis is convinced traveling to the future to kill Brianna will get a Scottish king on the throne. Claire kills Geillis before she can kill Ian and travel back to the 1960s to kill Brianna.

RELATED: Outlander Season 6 Cast: 2 Characters Were Impossible to Bring Back, EP Says

Who was Geillis Duncan based on?

Geillis Duncan is a real person. She was a teenage maid from Tranent, Scotland, who worked for David Seton. Seton was a big part of the North Berwick Witch Trials in the 16th century. He accused Geillis of witchcraft because of her ability to heal the sick. She also garnered suspicion for wandering around late at night. (Sound familiar?)

Geillis was tortured because of the accusations against her. Her abusers also found a mark on her neck that they called the Devils mark. (The Outlander witch trial episode has the same title.) The brutal treatment and the assumption about the mark resulted in Geillis ultimately making a confession. But of course, many women were violently manipulated into making false confessions of witchcraft during the global witch hysteria.

Gabaldon said Gillian knew what she was doing when taking the name Geillis. She wrote in the Outlander character description section of her website:

Theres a real female witch (late 16th century) named Geilis Duncane in Daemonologie, a treatise on witches by King James of Scotland (later James I of England.)the book is about the trial of a coven of witches whom James believed tried to assassinate him via black magic. (You know how women are always teaming up with the Devil to do things like that). I figured anybody up on Scottish witchcraft would know the name, and for anyone who wasnt, it didnt matter.

Gabaldon continued:

It is, of course, not the Outlander witchs real namewe meet her in DRAGONFLY under (what we suppose is) her original name of Gillianshe took Geillis deliberately as a name, because of the original, whom she of course was familiar with, owing to her researches into witchcraft.

Lotte Verbeek as Geillis Duncan in Outlander Season 3 | STARZ

RELATED: Outlander Season 6 Cast: Will Duncan Lacroix Return as Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser?

Will Geillis Duncan return to Outlander?

Geillis death in Outlander Season 3 will make it tricky for Verbeek to come back to the show. But Geillis illegitimate son with Dougal Mackenzie could be the reason she returns. William Buccleigh Mackenzie was introduced in Outlander Season 5. Fans were delighted that he was played by Graham McTavish, who played Dougal in Outlander Seasons 1 and 2.

Geillis survived the witch trial because she was pregnant with Buck. But once she gave birth, Dougal gave the baby to another couple. And then, he found a dead body that could pass as Geillis to burn at the stake. In the Outlander books, Geillis and Dougals son can time travel like his mother. He travels to the future to see his mother in Outlander book eight, Written in My Own Hearts Blood.

Given that Geillis comes back in the books in the future, it seems Outlander could reasonably bring Verbeek back in future seasons. Outlander Season 6 will be based on Outlander book six, A Breath of Snow and Ashes. And Outlander Season 7 will be based on the subsequent installment, An Echo in the Bone. Buck Mackenzie appears in books 7 and 8, which means McTavish could return in future seasons as well.

Outlander Season 6 airs in early 2022.
Power Book III: Raising Kanan is the coming-of-age story of Kanan Stark, the villainous drug dealer portrayed by Curtis 50 Cent Jackson in the original Power. In Raising Kanan, 15-year-old Kanan (Mekai Curtis), stands in the spotlight. We watch as he navigates his teen years in the 90s in Queens while trying to convince his drug queenpin mother, Raquel Raq Thomas (Patina Miller), to teach him about the drug game.

While this is a coming-of-age story, its also a mother/son drama. However, it was important to Miller that Raq was more than just a single mom.

Patina Miller as Raq Thomas, London Brown as Marvin and Malcolm Mays and Lou Lou in Power Book IIII: Raising Kanan | Starz

RELATED: Power Book III: Raising Kanan: Everything You Need to Know Before Watching the New Series

Patina Millers character Raq in Power Book III: Raising Kanan is based on 50 Cents mother

Raising Kanan is loosely based on 50 Cents real-life and as a result, Millers character Raq is based on the rappers late mother, Sabrina who died in a fire when he was just eight. Like Raq, the Queen-born rappers mother was a single mom who sold drugs to make a living.

Miller said she also pulled inspiration from her own mother. You know, what I love about this character is that shes a bit of my mom, Miller told the New York Daily News of her mother, who was a single teen mom in the South. Shes a bit of a lot of peoples moms Its a story about a single Black female making the st work. And she just happens to be in the crime business. Its a mother-son tale. Its about that unbreakable bond that love between these two people. And I think thats the story that were telling. Yes, its a crime drama, but it is a family drama as well.

RELATED: Power Book III: Raising Kanan: Will the Show Crossover With Power Book II: Ghost?

Raq is more than just a single mom on Power Book III: Raising Kanan

When it came to Raq, Power creator Courtney Kemp wanted to share an authentic story about a single mother. Even though Kanan is the titular character, the phrase Raising Kanan is about someone rearing him and thats this person, the Power universe co-creator told TV Line. Theres really something great there. Im a single mom and Im always trying to write and talk about that. What is it like to be a Black single mom? What does that mean?

For Miller, it meant that Raq got to be more than just a mother. Shes also a CEO, a sister, and a lover. Raq is so three-dimensional. She is a hard woman, but shes also loving and vulnerable, she explained. Shes a business woman who goes nonstop like a boss. She also goes out on dates, because she is a woman who wants to flirt too and shes a mom. All of those things jumped off the page and made me excited. I am incredibly humbled and so blessed that I got the opportunity to flex all of these muscles and put all of the life drama I could into Raq.

RELATED: Power Book III: Raising Kanan: Mekai Curtis Studied 50 Cent to Transform Into Kanan Stark

Power Book III: Raising Kanan star Patina Miller reveals why Raq isnt afraid of anyone

We know that Raq has been around the drug business since she was a teen and she dated that man Kanan knew as his father, Def Con. However, she became a queenpin in her own right around 1985 when she was dating a dealer named, High Post. After High Posts death, she and her brothers took over his empire, much to rival dealer Uniques (Joey Bada$$) disgust.

Its clear, however, that Raq has never been afraid of anything, which is why she thrives in the volatile male-dominated industry.

You really get to see what power means to Raquel Shes thinking about her legacy, shes thinking about how to finesse all the men, and shes not afraid of anyone, Miller told Digital Spy. I think there is nothing that this woman [Raq] has not seen. They live in Southside, Jamaica, Queens, you know what I mean? There is nothing that she hasnt seen before. She ran with a really crazy crew and so shes seen a lot of things and she knows how to assert herself, but she tries to withhold the violence of it all, because shes a thinker.
One Tree Hill star Sophia Bush has several tattoos, but many people might not notice at first glance. Thats because she received most of them in white ink. During an episode of her One Tree Hill rewatch podcast with Hilarie Burton Morgan and Bethany Joy Lenz, Drama Queens, the actor discussed her tattoos and shared the story of her first ink. How many tattoos does Bush have in total?

Sophia Bush | Emma McIntyre/WireImage

Sophia Bush told the story of her first tattoo on Drama Queens

Drama Queens Aug. 23 episode analyzed One Tree Hill Season 1 Episode 9, in which character Lucas Scott (played by Chad Michael Murray) received a tattoo. In the spirit of the topic, the Drama Queens hosts shared some of their own tattoo stories. For Bush, her first tattoo appointment came when she was 23 years old.

You guys, I love Goldie Hawn so much, she explained. I was closing a personal chapter in my life at the time.

The False Positive star didnt elaborate on the chapter she closed. However, at the time, she had just ended her marriage with Murray. The One Tree Hill co-stars separated five months after their wedding.

Bush continued on to say that she read Hawns 2005 memoir, A Lotus Grows in the Mud, and it changed my life. The Overboard actors book told stories about the various people Hawn met in her life.

Bush did not reveal what the tattoo was, but she did note that she received it in Los Angeles at the Shamrock on Sunset.

I got my next couple [tattoos] in Wilmington, [North Carolina], she added. Yeah, man, I just kind of racked them up ever since.

Sophia Bush has gotten six more tattoos since then

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the #FalsePositive @Tribeca premiere. The celebrate creativity & filmmaking after the last year and a half  and to be able to do so safely  felt like such a gift. I love being a storyteller now more than ever. https://t.co/yEJ0rQaPyc pic.twitter.com/3DntTEimaj  Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) June 20, 2021

In total, Bush has seven tattoos, as she revealed during the podcast. However, many people dont notice them at first because six of them are in white ink. According to Bush, the white ink is easier to cover up.

The Chicago P.D. star hasnt publicly shown off all her tattoos, but she has posted a few on social media. For example, in 2017, she celebrated her birthday by getting part of the Voyager Golden Record on her forearm, as Refinery29 reported.

Bush received matching ink with her best friends, Ruthie Linsday and Jedidiah Jenkins. According to Refinery29, the tattoos serve as a reminder that the three friends would never find themselves truly alone.

Some of her tattoos relate to social justice topics

Years earlier, in 2013, Bush commemorated another tattoo with a post on Instagram, as seen above. This time, she went to Speakeasy Custom Tattoo in Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune. She received a white equal sign on her finger to represent equal marriage rights.

The pride is a rainbow. This fight matters. I am so grateful to love, be loved, and witness the love of others. And our love is the same love. Macklemore on repeat today, she wrote in the caption.

In 2012, Bush also wore a temporary forearm tattoo at the Do Something Awards, Refinery29 noted. The ink showed the Triangle of Freedom in honor of the Invisible Children Uganda charity.

RELATED: One Tree Hill: Hilarie Burton Morgan Says Filming Was Interrupted by a Man With a Weed Wacker
While competing on The Circle season 2, Chloe Veitch and Mitchell Eason became interested in each other and quickly hit it off after the show wrapped. Although she claimed they video chatted often and talked about their future, he insisted they didnt have an official romantic relationship. After three months, the British reality star revealed the two decided they are better off as friends.

The Circle season 2 contestants, Chloe Veitch and Mitchell Eason | Netflix

Chloe Veitch and Mitchell Eason hit it off after The Circle

During her time on the reality competition series, 22-year-old Too Hot to Handle star Chloe Veitch became closely aligned with Trevor, and the two often flirted with each other.

After finding out Trevor was actually his wife, DeLeesa St. Agathe, she set her sights on 22-year-old Pennsylvania native Mitchell Eason. The two hit it off following their time on the show, and she shared they kissed off-screen at the finale.

RELATED: The Circle: Chloe Veitch Says This Was the Most Disingenuous Contestant From Season 2

During the May 2021 update, Veitch also said the two video chat very often. However, while answering questions on YouTube, he insisted they werent official but have a relationship. Additionally, the former contestant praised Veitch, calling her beautiful inside and out while still noting the pair hadnt figured anything out yet.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan, the British reality star claimed she and Eason had conversations about the future and stated they havent put a label on their relationship yet due to the distance as they live in different countries. However, she insisted their connection is romantic and more than a friendship.

Three months later, in Aug. 2021, Veitch shared a statement on her Instagram Story, updating the fans on their current romance.

She explained the two have decided the long-distance and pressure has caused them to take a step back romantically but promised they would always be in each others lives and stay the best of friends.

Chloe has finally arrived in the USA and look who she is hanging out in LA with!!!! #ByeTrevor #HelloMitchell pic.twitter.com/KFwxw4JX4i  The Circle on Netflix (@CircleNetflix) August 11, 2021

As she lives in Essex, London, and he resides in Los Angeles, the two concluded that living so far apart proved harder than it seems to continue a romantic relationship.

A couple of weeks before announcing their split, Veitch met with Eason in LA to collaborate with style influencer Lucas Castellani. Following the announcement, he has continued to leave flirty comments on her Instagram posts.

They met while contestants on The Circle

After appearing on Too Hot to Handle, Veitch tried her hand at reality competition series, The Circle, joining from the first episode. She became close with Trevor, portrayed by his wife, and 28-year-old LA native Courtney Revolution.

When Eason joined the chat during the fifth episode, he and Veitch hit it off, but he became a target after revealing his doubts about Trevor. He also had difficulty getting into an alliance or receiving votes to become an Influencer, ultimately getting blocked by River (Lee Swift) right before the finale.

RELATED: The Circle Season 3 Confirmed; Everything We Know About the New Season

Eason complimented Veitch several times during his time on the show and made it known he was interested in her. However, she preferred flirting with Trevor at the time. Even though she and Eason seemingly tried, the long distance between the lovebirds proved too complicated, and they decided to continue as friends.

The Circle returns to Netflix in Sept. 2021.
Pioneer Woman star Paige Drummond has marked a milestone moment in her life. The 21-year-old, a senior at the University of Arkansas, entered a new chapter and took to Instagram to document the last/first day of this important moment.

Paige Drummond | Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Paige Drummond is the middle daughter of Ree and Ladd Drummond

Drummond is one of four natural children of Ree and Ladd Drummond. She is the middle daughter, right behind older sister Alex and before younger brothers Bryce and Todd. The family also has a fifth member, bonus son Jamar, whom they have fostered for two years.

Drummond has grown up in front of the cameras. At the age of 11, she was thrust into the spotlight with her siblings as her mother filmed episodes of The Pioneer Woman for The Food Network. She was seen assisting her father on the familys cattle ranch in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, in episodes that featured the children as they homeschooled and celebrated special occasions such as birthdays.

Paige Drummond regularly shares important moments on social media

RELATED: The Pioneer Woman: What Ree Drummond Is Like as a Boss, According to Alex Drummond

Like many other young women her age, Drummond uses her social media account to mark many of her lifes most important moments. Throughout her college years, Drummond has documented some of her most exciting and embarrassing moments on Instagram. These included her time as a member of the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. On Aug 22, 2021, Drummond posted photos of her last bid day for the sorority. Bid days are when potential new members receive bids to join chapters and become new members.

In the photographs seen above, Drummond and several of her sorority sisters posed for pictures outside the main sorority house.

This was only one of the milestone moments Drummond recently added to her social media account. The other was two images posted to her Instagram story where she said it was her last first day of school. After 16 years, Drummond will end her formal education and move forward into the next chapter of her life.

Paige Drummond still finds time for mom Ree

RELATED: The Pioneer Woman: Ree Drummond Details What It Was Like to Drop Her Son, Bryce, Off at College

In March of this year, Ree visited her daughter at her college abode. In an Instagram post seen above, she shared a photograph of the two women with a caption that read, Me & Paige, Paige & me. Keep in mind as you look at this photo that I am 59. Anyway, I got to go see my girl at college for an unofficial moms weekend, and I loved every minute.

Ree Drummond joked that Paige and her roommates had houseplants and didnt remember ever having a houseplant when she was in college. She also wrote that Paige had also prepared a charcuterie board and made her bed. I dont remember ever making my bed in college. Anyway, it was a short but oh-so-sweet time with one of my favorite people in the universe. I love you, Paige!

Paige Drummond helped younger brother Bryce during his college move-in

Drummond assisted with the move-in of her younger brother Bryce to the University of North Texas and joined her mother on the trip, which was a 500 mile drive each way, reported The Pioneer Woman Magazine.

During the drive home, mom and daughter entertained one another by playing a game of Instagram Q&A with Rees followers. Drummond answered a strange question of if she would have fingers for toes or toes for fingers. She admitted, I would have toes for fingers because imagine trying to find shoe sizes if you had fingers for toes.

The young woman also said she absolutely refuses to read her moms book Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, the story of her love affair with husband Ladd, and admitted that the 2005 version of the film Pride and Prejudice will always be a favorite.

The Pioneer Woman airs new episodes Saturdays at 10/9c on Food Network.
Matt Damons Actor Loki returns in Thor: Love and Thunder along with Luke Hemsworths Actor Thor. Joining them this time is a new Asgardian actress played by Melissa McCarthy as Actor Hela. Rumors of the actors flying to the Australian set caused speculation, but behind-the-scenes photos confirmed it.

Luciana Barroso and Matt Damon | Rich Polk/Getty Images for Disney

A surprise cameo that demanded more

The initial gag originated in Thor: Ragnarok when Tom Hiddlestons Loki took over Asgard, disguised as Anthony Hopkins Odin. Watching a play recounting Lokis death in Thor: The Dark World, Actor Loki was surprisingly played by Damon.

Whats more, Chris Hemsworths real-life brother played Actor Thor.

While some theories speculated wildly about how the unexpected cameos came about, the real explanation boiled down to the existing friendship between Director Taika Watiti and Damon.

Chris just called me up, and Taika called me up, and Im friends with those guys, Damon said in an interview with Collider. They pitched me the idea and I just thought it was hysterical, the idea of basically an intergalactic community theater actor kind of living out Tom Hiddlestons characters fantasy.

"Thats a wrap on Thor Love and Thunder, its also national dont flex day so I thought this super relaxed photo was appropriate Lots of love, lots of thunder!" (via @ChrisHemsworth on Instagram) pic.twitter.com/0c7tGwmnGT  Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) June 1, 2021

And audiences loved it. Before Chris Hemsworths Thor and Hiddlestons Loki dealt with their villainous sister Hela, played by Cate Blanchett, Hiddlestons Loki enjoyed a play about himself.

Damon performed a dramatized death scene in Luke Hemsworths arms. It left such an impact, news articles popped up whether or not the Asgard actors survived the infamous snap in Avengers: Infinity War.

Watiti looks to bring these characters back in an even bigger way, this time with McCarthy as Actor Hela.

McCarthy as Actor Hela in New Asgard

For Thor: Love and Thunder, there still was not much convincing involved. Insider reported that Damon revealed details on SiriusXMs The Jess Cagle Show via Insider.

I went down there [to Australia] to shoot, Damon said. Watiti wanted to run that joke back and upgrade it a little bit.

Melissa McCarthy as Fake Hela in Thor: Love and Thunder



(via Daily Mail: https://t.co/M0s3C9ObtJ) pic.twitter.com/hLDNv7sk24  Thor: Love and Thunder News (@lovethundernews) March 2, 2021

And it looks like that upgrade will be McCarthys Actor Hela.

While theres no word on how they roped McCarthy into the increasingly elaborate cameo subplot, photos of McCarthy sporting Helas green and black armor from Thor: Ragnarok have already excited fans.

Actor Hela, the Asgardian actors and beyond

Following the gag in Thor: The Dark World, the three actor characters will likely recreate the events of Thor: Ragnarok in a brief light-hearted scene. Depending on which stage play scene, who knows if a surprise Surtur cameo waits for fans.

However, with the acting troupe returning at all, will they have bigger roles outside of actors acting as other actors?

Perhaps, but dont expect a Luke Hemsworth, Damon, and McCarthy Disney+ spinoff.

Watch their journey over and over again. All episodes of Marvel Studios' #Loki are now streaming on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/T3jFDJ7NOl  Loki (@LokiOfficial) July 23, 2021

Marvel is no stranger to making sure their most popular characters get in front of audiences. Hiddlestons performance as the God of Mischief led to him being featured more prominently in the MCU as a whole.

Even earning his own Disney+ show that is absolutely vital to the franchise going forward.

If fans want more Actor Loki, Actor Thor, and Actor Hela, Marvel will make certain that they are seen again. Especially if its as easy as phoning in favors to friends and family.

Related: 2 Hemsworth Brothers Have Played Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
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Some Christian leaders have spoken out alongside the public officials, doctors, and other community figures who are helping people circumvent COVID-19 precautions.

An Oregon school superintendent is telling parents they can get their children out of wearing masks by citing federal disability law. A pastor at a California megachurch is offering religious exemptions for anyone morally conflicted over vaccine requirements. And Louisianas attorney general has posted sample letters on his offices Facebook page for those seeking to get around the governors mask rules.

While proponents of these workarounds say they are looking out for childrens health and parents rights, others say such stratagems are dishonest and irresponsible and could undermine efforts to beat back the highly contagious delta variant.

Mask and vaccine requirements vary from state to state but often allow exemptions for certain medical conditions or religious or philosophical objections.

Just as health experts question the guidelines for determining whether a childs condition would merit an exception to mask requirements, some Christian legal experts say it is troublesome to require churches provide documentation for a persons religious exemption.

A church would want to be cautious regarding who would be providing such support. Would it be coming from the elders as a whole? The pastor? One leader?, said Erika Cole, a Christian and attorney based in Maryland. The question of who would have the authority to provide such support is another issue that would have to be considered.

In Oregon, Superintendent Marc Thielman of the rural Alsea School District told parents they can sidestep the governors school mask requirement by applying for an accommodation for their children under federal disabilities law.

The majority of my parents are skeptical and are no longer believing what theyre told about COVID-19, said Thielman, whose district in the states coastal mountains begins classes Monday. Ive got a majority of my parents saying, Are there any options?

In a letter to educators this past week, Democratic Gov. Kate Brown said she was shocked that Thielman was undermining her policies by instructing students to lie about having a disability.

Brown has mandated masks in schools and vaccinations for all school staff amid a surge in infections that is clobbering Oregon.

In Kansas, the Spring Hill school board is allowing parents to claim a medical or mental health exemption from the countys requirement that elementary school students mask up. They do not need a medical provider to sign off.

Board member Ali Seeling said the idea is to give parents the freedom to make health decisions for their own children.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican who regularly spars with Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, posted sample letters that would allow parents to seek a philosophical or religious exemption from Edwardss mask rule at schoolsor from a vaccine requirement, if one is enacted. The letters have been shared by GOP lawmakers and thousands of others.

Louisiana is not governed by a dictatorship. The question is: Who gets to determine the healthcare choices for you and your child? In a free society, the answer is the citizen  not the state, Landry wrote on Facebook.

Edwards accused the attorney general of creating confusion and defended his policy on face coverings.

By adopting these measuresand ignoring those that are unwilling to acknowledge the current crisiswe can keep our kids in school this year and keep them safe, the governor said.

Legal experts suggested that both officials and pastors themselves should be cautious about the parental exemption letters.

The Louisiana Attorney Generals suggested letters attempt to fill the guidance void regarding religious exemptions to government mandates. Government regulators face the difficult task of discerning when an individual possesses a sincerely held religious belief and should be exempt. As with any readily available form, nonqualified individuals may attempt to use them, said Frank Sommerville, a Texas-based attorney and CPA who serves as a senior editorial advisor with ChurchLawAndTax.com, a CT sister site.

But the potential for abuse does not automatically negate actions that preserve constitutional rights. Government officials should approach this topic with caution and err on the side of preserving constitutional rights rather than destroying them.

Sommerville said pastors should support members who truly possess a sincerely held belief but not endorse those who seek to take advantage of the religious exemption without the corresponding beliefs.

In California, the state medical board is investigating a doctor who critics say is handing out dozens of one-sentence mask exemptions for children in an attempt to evade the statewide school mask requirement.

Dr. Michael Huang, who has a practice in the Sacramento suburb of Roseville, declined to answer questions from The Associated Press but told other news outlets that he examines each child and issues exemptions appropriately. The California Medical Association issued a statement condemning rogue physicians selling bogus exemptions.

In a neighboring suburb, Pastor Greg Fairrington of Rocklins Destiny Christian Church has issued at least 3,000 religious exemptions to people with objections to the vaccine, which is becoming mandatory in an increasing number of places in California.

He said in a statement that his church has received thousands of calls from doctors, nurses, teachers, and first responders terrified of losing their jobs because they dont want to get vaccinated. His office declined to share the exemption letter.

We are not anti-vaccine, he said. At the same time, we believe in the freedom of conscience and freedom of religion. The vaccine poses a morally compromising situation for many people of faith.

Cole, another ChurchLawAndTax.com advisor, says that some employees seeking religious exemptions from COVID-19 requirements have also been asked to provide documentation from their church, but under Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines, its individuals, not their churches, who hold the beliefs used as the basis for refusing vaccination.

The church, as a whole, may not be against vaccination. In fact, in one case in which a church member requested a supporting letter, the church had heldon its 5-acre propertyCOVID-19 vaccination clinics for several months, she said. To provide a letter of support against the vaccination would be incongruent, if not disingenuous.

With reporting for CT by Matt Branaugh.
Thomas McKenzie, a popular Nashville priest and author of The Anglican Way, died on Monday alongside his 22-year-old child Charlie McKenzie.

They were driving from their home in Tennessee to St. Johns College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the younger McKenzie was set to start their senior year. The car collided with a tractor trailer near Burns, Tennessee, about 20 minutes west of Nashville, a little before 10 a.m.

It was the first day of Thomas McKenzies sabbatical. He planned to take his eldest to college, then take his wife to England to celebrate his 50th birthday, and then travel to France to trek the Camino, a medieval pilgrimage trail. He was going to walk from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the Pyrenees mountains to the tomb of St. James the Great on the coast of Spain before rejoining his church on All Saints Sunday.

Im excited about my upcoming travels, McKenzie wrote on Twitter the day before his death, but I know Ill miss my community. I feel sadness and some anxiety as I prepare for this mornings Eucharists.

As news of his death spread, Anglicans and a broad swath of evangelicals expressed shock and sadness. Several people recounted how McKenzie had generously reached out to them when they were interested in Anglicanism and offered to guide them in the process.

McKenzie spent his adult life promoting Anglicanismas the pastor of a church, as an opponent of liberal Episcopal theology, and finally as someone who articulated the essence of Anglicanism in a way that was attractive to many evangelicals.

There are people who call themselves Anglican who simply arent Anglican by any respectable definition of that word, he wrote in his 2014 book, The Anglican Way. They remind me of that famous line from the movie The Princess Bridethey keep using the word Anglican, but it doesnt mean what they think it means.

According to McKenzie, Anglicanism in America went from a sleepy and mostly self-satisfied community drifting towards liberalism in the mid-20th century to a vibrant, growing, orthodox, and evangelical movement at the start of the 21st. New people were drawn to the tradition for many different reasons, he said, ranging from liturgy to community to the place of emotions in the worship service. What they ultimately found, though, was a stable spiritual footing.

The Anglican way of faith is, at best, a way of balance, he said. Were only radical about one thing: the redeeming love of God in Christ.

McKenzie was born to Thomas and Ginger Kelley McKenzie in the Texas Panhandle in 1971. The oldest of four children and the only son, he grew up in the town of Canyon, which had about 8,000 residents and was primarily known for a 47-foot sculpture of a cowboy named Tex Randall. McKenzies father was an artist who founded an artist colony before turning his attention to business and interior decorating.

The family was not religious, but McKenzie started attending a campus ministry of the Episcopal Church at the University of Texas at Austin. He had what he later described as a life-changing encounter with Jesus.

After college, McKenzie attended seminary at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pennsylvania. Trinity was a conservative Episcopal institution founded by charismatics, low church evangelicals, and liturgical traditionalists, joined together in their opposition to what they saw as heretical liberal revisionist theology. When McKenzie was there, the school was run by Peter C. Moore, who sought to defend the tradition by defining essential Anglicanism.

McKenzie was first ordained as a deacon in 1998 by Robert Duncan, who at that time was the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, but later became the first archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).

Of all the men I have known in my life, Bishop Duncan is one of the finest, most loving, most noble, McKenzie said. He has not always moved as fast as I would like. He has not always done things the way I wish he would. But he is a man who has earned my respect and love.

After finishing his masters of divinity and becoming a priest, McKenzie was placed as assistant rector at St. Bartholomews Episcopal Church in Nashville. In 2003, he was one of 14 priests in Middle Tennessee who signed a public statement condemning the General Conventions confirmation of the consecration of an openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson. This was the beginning of the largest split of conservative congregations from the Episcopal Church.

Certainly, the actions of the General Convention were schismatic and fractured our national denomination, he told The Tennesseean newspaper. Were hoping to be able to respond in a creative and constructive way to their destructive action.

The next year, McKenzie planted Church of the Redeemer about four miles from St. Bartholomews. The new church was part of the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA), which rejected the authority of the Episcopal Church and placed itself under the authority of the more conservative and traditionalist Anglican bishops in Rwanda.

McKenzie was deposed by his Episcopal bishop on the grounds he had abandoned the Communion. He, however, rejected the charge.

When the Episcopal Church speaks of the Communion they are not referring to the Anglican Communion, he said, or the Communion of the universal Church, or the Communion of Saints, or the Communion of Christ. They are referring to the communion of their denominational bureaucracy.

Church of the Redeemer grew under McKenzies leadership, attracting not only disaffected Episcopalians but increasingly Christians with no exposure to Anglicanism. McKenzie found himself frequently explaining the tradition, its theological emphases and spiritual practices, and guiding evangelicals through the process of confirmation into Anglicanism.

This was an occasionally bumpy processsuch as one time when a visiting bishop instructed a group of evangelicals preparing for confirmation to kiss his ringbut more often it was exciting. The church saw itself as part of a vibrant renewal movement with a potential to unify much of American Christianity.

McKenzie was particularly thrilled with the formation of ACNA. He thought a US Province could bring together the many groups that had been driven from the Episcopal Church and present a strong example of the Anglican way, even if the organization itself was relatively weak.

He attended the consecration of Duncan as the first archbishop of ACNA in 2009 and talked jubilantly about how the service brought together Anglicans he had known in college, seminary, his first youth group, the Episcopal diocese in Middle Tennessee, and from across the country.

This was an historic event, McKenzie wrote to his congregation, and you are part of it. We are weak in many ways, but we have the love of God in Christ and a deep commitment to one another. We have a great future, a future of both suffering and triumph, of Cross and Resurrection.

Some of that suffering came a few years later when Church of the Redeemer got caught in the middle of divisions between the leaders of AMiA and the Rwandan bishops. McKenzie blamed the Americans for separation from the Africans in blunt terms.

Its sinful, its ugly, its wrong, and it doesnt bring honor to the name of Christ, he told The Tennesseean.

Church of the Redeemer left AMiA, placing itself exclusively under ACNA in 2012. It continued to grow, attracting more and more evangelicals with no commitment to an Anglican faction or any background in Anglicanism. Many came from evangelical megachurches, disaffected by what they saw as cults of personality and performance. Others came from conservative churches that felt legalistic. Some were not necessarily committed to an Anglican identity at all, but merely seeking refuge from the quarrels and conflicts in their own denomination.

McKenzie said he knew some people saw the new interest in Anglicanism as a liturgical fad. But he thought it was more than thatand also less.

The Church only has two things to offer the world: Word and Sacrament, he said. These two, together, are how we proclaim the Gospel. The Word is the voice of the Gospel, the Sacraments are the body. The only reason for the Church to exist is to proclaim the Gospel, in word and deed. Weve been about this work for 2,000 years, and I dont expect us to stop until Christs return.

McKenzie is survived by his wife Laura and daughter Sophie.
Beloved Anglican pastor killed in crash with daughter mourned across denominations

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The Rev. Thomas McKenzie, a beloved Anglican pastor who founded the Church of the Redeemer in Nashville, Tennessee, is being mourned by Christians across denominational lines after he was killed with his daughter Charlie in a tragic rear-end crash with a tractor-trailer Monday morning.

Tennessee Highway Patrol confirmed that the crash happened around 9:50 a.m. Monday, according to WKRN. The wreck occurred just 30 minutes after the 50-year-old pastor announced on social media that he was on his way to New Mexico with his 22-year-old daughter, who was about to begin her senior year at St. Johns College.

First day of sabbatical. Driving with my kid to New Mexico. Charlies senior year at St Johns College, Santa Fe campus. Todays goal? Shamrock, Texas, he noted on Facebook.

Authorities say the crash happened on I-40 westbound at mile marker 178. The tractor-trailer driver was reportedly slowing down due to traffic when the pastors Nissan Versa rear-ended the tractor-trailer while changing lanes. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.

Rev. McKenzie, who leaves behind his wife and another daughter Sophie McKenzie, revealed on Twitter Sunday Morning how excited he was for his road trip but opined about how much he would miss his church family.

Today is my last day of work before my sabbatical begins," he tweeted. "Im excited about my upcoming travels, but I know Ill miss my community. I feel sadness and some anxiety as I prepare for this mornings Eucharists."

In an email statement to congregants following the founding pastors death, Church of the Redeemer Associate Pastor Kenny Benge said the congregations sadness was deep.

Thomas was just beginning his well-deserved sabbatical. Thomas wife Laura and their daughter Sophie are now home in Nashville," Benge wrote. "Please keep Laura and Sophie in your prayers as they navigate this agonizing time. I and the staff, as well as the broader leadership of the church, are shocked and deeply saddened, as Im sure you are as well in hearing this news."

Russell Moore, the former leader of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission who is now a public theologian with Christianity Today, was a good friend of the late pastor. Moore publicly mourned McKenzie on Twitter as a great and faithful and kind man.

All of us who loved this great and faithful and kind man are grieving. @thomasmckenzie ministered to countless of us of various denominations, and we all respected him," Moore wrote in one tweet. "Pray for his family and church at this moment of great sadness."

On Tuesday morning, Moore elaborated on his experience with McKenzie in a series of tweets.

Several years ago, my friend Randall Goodgame asked @russramsey1 @thomasmckenzie and me to do an episode of @slugsandbugsofficial on An Anglican, a Baptist, and a Presbyterian Walk into a Monkey Bar. We sat in kids chairs, at a kids table, literally coloring with crayons and playing with Play-Doh, while talking about Jesus call to childlikeness. We were goofing off, making jokes. But it also happened to be the worst day of my life until that point. I drove there from a horrific meeting and was in great pain, Moore revealed.

What I remember about that day is the way father Thomas, @russramsey and @randallgoodgame stood around, laying hands on me and praying for me. And then Thomas told a dry joke that made me laugh. When this Baptist was facing some awful stuff from (some of) my own people, the Anglican and the Presbyterian were brothers to me."

Moore said the "childlikeness" he experienced that day "had nothing to do with the crayons or the swing set."

"Ive thought about that day a lot over [the] last 24 hrs," Moore stressed. "I keep remembering his gravity and his care. Hes the only man I ever looked up to for his maturity and grace while shooting water pistols at each other. He took time in that moment [to] help me w the strength to go on. I can only imagine the ministry for those in his parish. No wonder there is such grief all around the country by Anglicans, Baptists, Presbyterians, and beyond."

Congregant Susan Williams confirmed Moores assessment of McKenzies ministry in a post on Facebook in which she revealed the death of her pastor broke her heart into a million, zillion pieces.

Father Thomas gave me hope, that godly men would rise up, and call corruption what it was, and point us all back to the salvation available through our magnificent, compassionate, gracious God. He called sin, sin, but caused me to wonder at the immeasurable grace of God that reaches out to us in our weakness, enveloping us in forgiveness and mercy, Williams wrote.

I pray I will never forget the lesson he taught last Sunday, on the humility that holds the person who aspires to be useful in the Kingdom together. May humility always characterize me, and compassion, and gratefulness for the grace, and mercy, and love of my blessed Redeemer, who paid the highest price to buy my soul back out of slavery to sin.

More reactions to Rev. Thomas McKenzie's death:

Listen @thomasmckenzie was the best of us. He was all I hoped our tradition could be faithful, courageous, and generous orthodoxy. When my friends were often few, I could count on his support. Ill see him again at the resurrection of the just. Well done. You finished the race.  Esau McCaulley, Ph.D (@esaumccaulley) August 24, 2021

So heartbroken last night over the deaths of @thomasmckenzie & his daughter in a car crash, grieved for his wife & their remaining daughter & all who are devastated by the news, all I could think about was the day when God will wipe away every tear. I was moved this morning when pic.twitter.com/j9meYPN6KU  Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) August 24, 2021

I just heard of the loss of my dear friend, and brother priest @thomasmckenzie . I am heartbroken and speechless. He was a gift. He and his daughter were taking a road trip when the accident happened. Say a prayer for them, their family, their church, and all who loved them.  Father Dale - chaplain on the street (@FriarDale) August 24, 2021

Father Thomas McKenzie died in a car accident today. He was my friend, and he taught me of God.  Stephen Mansfield (@MansfieldWrites) August 24, 2021
Movement combats decline in teen church attendance by helping youth see more than just an institution

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CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee  As Generation Z marks the first truly post-Christian generation, with studies showing young people dropping out of Church in droves, a movement has spread to hundreds of churches to foster intergenerational relationships in hopes of keeping young people in the Church.

With Bible reading, church attendance and religious affiliation steadily declining for decades, the Church continues to experience what can only be described as a crisis.

According to Tony Souder, CEO of One Hundred Years and the Pray for Me Campaign founder, the need for intergenerational relationships within the Body of Christ has never been greater.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Souder said that overwhelmingly, young people connected with other adults in Church have a much higher percentage of remaining with the faith  yet such relationships are woefully lacking within the Body of Christ.

Young people are exiting the Church because it's easy to leave an institution, Souder, who has served in youth ministry for nearly three decades, explained. It's not easy to leave a family. Young people need to experience that the Body of Christ is a family, not just an institution. Unfortunately, most young people arent experiencing that. They dont get the fullness of what the Body of Christ has to offer them because they dont know adults are on their team.

Were trying to change that because investing in a young person's life is a real catalyst for them to stay connected to the Church and flourish in their faith.

To help foster unity across generational lines, Souder created the Pray for Me Campaign, a Church-wide initiative that equips adult believers to pray for children and students. Since 2014, the ministry has helped over 650 churches across the denominational spectrum globally create over 150,000 intergenerational relationships.

The way the campaign works is simple: a local Church holds a launch event where a student asks three adult believers from different generations to be his or her "prayer champions" for the school year.

These adults  all of whom have been vetted and approved by their local church  then use the prayer guide provided by the ministry to help them as they pray Scripture-based prayers over the student. The prayers focus on the biblical principles found in Luke 2:52 and 1 Timothy 4:12: favor, wisdom, love, faith, purity, speech and conduct.

Equipping young people to approach an adult instead of the other way around, the Chattanooga native said, mitigates the awkwardness and builds an invisible bridge between the generations.

Theres something beautiful when a young person extends the invite. The reality is, there are barriers to creating these relationships. On the adult side, they're often intimidated. They care about the next generation. They just don't know how to get there. On the young person side, they often just dont know how to approach adults, yet theyre craving that kind of relationship, Souder stated.

The campaign has long-lasting effects, Souder said, explaining that a child that begins the Pray for Me Campaign at age 5 could have as many as 45 adults praying for them by the time they graduate high school.

Over the years, Souder said hes heard countless stories of how the campaign has transformed the lives of those who participate.

In one case, an elderly man who had prayed for a young student for years was moved to tears when he learned that the student had been praying for him, too, as he battled cancer.

In another situation, a young man struggling to pay his college tuition was floored when he learned his debt had been paid by his prayer champions.

Here are two people that would have had no reason really to connect. But because theyd been doing the Pray for Me Campaign, it gave them a simple way for their lives to be radically changed, Souder posited. There's something powerful and clearly supernatural when people pray. When I pray for you, God's not just changing you; He's changing me.

This year, the ministry launched the Grandparent Legacy Edition of the Pray for Me Prayer Guide to help grandparents leave a spiritual legacy for generations to come.

Every young person in the Church is the grandchild of somebody, Souder said. And if we can help grandparents pray well for their grandchildren, then we can actually be instrumental in helping change future generations. When they're long gone, the prayer that they've been praying for their grandchildren dont go away because they're not rooted in us. They're rooted in God.

Souder, a father of two adult daughters, said that the issues facing young people today are unprecedented  from the rise of social media to the gender confusion swirling in culture.

Its up to the Church, he said, to teach young people to think differently than mainstream culture.

It is such a convoluted world we live in. The moorings have been obliterated. Nobody has any kind of common morals, he stressed.

What makes it so concerning is, this is the only world theyve ever known. Young people are being discipled by their phones. As a Church, we have to be able to think differently and help them differently than we ever even imagined. The Church has to come alongside young people in a different way. If we dont do something different, were going to miss an entire generation. We have to create intergenerational relationships so they will have the resources they need to flourish in faith and life.

Young people are also struggling with mental illness like never before. Studies show teens and young adults are the most anxious and depressed in history.

There's so much happening with young people that put them in jeopardy today because the world is so confusing, he added. If more people could gather around them in a natural, winsome way along with the supernatural component of asking the God of the universe to invade their lives for good, its a win across the board for everybody involved.

Through the Pray for Me Campaign, Souder said his goal is that one generation will commend the greatness of God to each emerging generation. He cited Psalm 71:17, which reads: O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous works and miraculous deeds.

We want believers to grow up and say, Ive tasted God from my youth, he said. We want them to say, God, give me one more chance to tell all that I've tasted and seen of Who you are and share that with emerging generations. Our goal is that there wouldn't be a Church or Christian ministry that doesn't have access to the Pray for Me Campaign to help them build those natural, winsome relationships within the Church between young people and adults.
What do the Taliban believe?

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There are few people who would argue with the fact that, since 9/11, the Taliban have become synonymous with Islamic-based extremism and acts of terror. Waging convert-or-die campaigns, brutalizing their Muslim minorities, and burning young girls with acid for attending school have been usual and customary for the terror group.

With the recent meteoric fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, fears of an ISIS 3.0 are rising, with many asking questions about the global plans of the Taliban and what will happen next. Lets take a quick look at how the Taliban formed, who they are, what they believe and why.

The beginnings

When Muhammad died in AD 632, a dispute raged over who would lead Islam. One side believed anyone could assume leadership whereas another side argued only someone from Muhammads family should rule.

The first group won out and were referenced as the Sunnis (followers of the way) with the other group being labeled Shiites (the party of Ali, a member of Muhammads family). From a national perspective, Saudi Arabia and Iran are the leading powers of the two branches of Islam, with the heart of Sunni Islam being Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, and Iran being home to the Shiites.

The Taliban are Sunni Muslims and adherents to the Salafist doctrine, which looks back to the early years of Islam to understand how Muslims today should practice their faith. They reject any kind of religious innovation with one practical outworking of that being the implementation of Sharia (Islamic law).

Always remember that Islam, especially to groups like the Taliban, is more than a personal religion: it dictates the social and political culture as well. Of the three different Salafist categories (the quietists, activists and jihadists) the Taliban fall squarely into the third.

Talib, the singular form of Taliban, means student, especially a religious learner. The term references the role of their religious school in Pakistan, called a madrassa, that has helped shape the group. As for the teachings logical outworking, their use of violence has been on display for everyone to see, with Afghans, in particular, having experienced the groups brutality firsthand.

Choosing which Islam to practice

In his excellent book, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, Nabeel Qureshi chronicles his conversion from Islam to Christianity. Qureshis story is a good example of how many Muslim families live and pass on their faith without gifting their offspring with AK-47s and training them to hate people, but rather wisely educating and loving them and teaching that Islam is a religion of peace.

Later in life, Qureshi began wrestling with verses from the Quran that prescribed violence against non-Muslims. Unlike the Bible where historical context can be used to interpret such things, Qureshi points out that attempting to use context and historical setting for interpreting verses in the Quran the same way is impossible.

Qureshi describes how this causes the great divide in Islam: Through selective quotation, Muhammad becomes the picture-perfect prophet. ... If a Western Muslim wants to paint a peaceful portrait of Muhammad, all they have to do is quote peaceful hadith and verses of the Quran to the exclusion of the violent ones. If an Islamic extremist wants to mobilize his followers to acts of terrorism, he will quote the violent references, to the exclusion of the peaceful ones.

This being true, there is no getting around the fact that Islam is logically inconsistent in what it teaches where peace and violence are concerned. This naturally leads to the worry of which side will ultimately rule in the Muslim world.

The Talibans view of Jesus

The Taliban, being Quran purists, will tell you things about Jesus that make him sound a lot like the Christ of the New Testament. They say Jesus was born of a virgin (Sura 3:47), proclaimed to be the Messiah (Sura 3:45), performed miracles (Sura 3:49), was confirmed to be righteous (Sura 6:85), sinless (Sura 3:46), had disciples (Sura 3:52-53), was sent with a Gospel (Sura 5:46), his words should be believed (Sura 4:171), was taken to Heaven by God (Sura 4:156-159), and will come again (Sura 3:55).

But they will also tell you that Jesus was created out of dust (Sura 3:59), is not the Son of God or God (Sura 4:171), was not crucified and did not die (Sura 4:157), was not resurrected (because he did not die), was not a Jew nor were his disciples (Sura 5:48, 53, 5:111), prophesied the coming of Muhammad (Sura 61:6), should not be worshipped (Sura 5:116), and will return, die and be judged (Sunan Abu Dawud Book 37, Number 4310).

Clearly, the Talibans Islamic Jesus is a fabrication and what the Apostle Paul calls another Jesus (2 Cor. 11:4).

Should we be afraid?

We are indebted to people like Qureshi who show us that Muslim families like his should worry no one. They have the right to take their Islamic beliefs and enter into dialogue with all other faiths and philosophies in the worlds marketplace of ideas, which, if you read Qureshis book, is all they ever did.

You and I should not be afraid of Muslim people, but we should very much be afraid of false teachings about God and Christ, which bring with it eternal consequences, and the violent prescriptive teaching found in Islamic texts that extremists carry out.

Winston Churchill said decades ago, The empires of the future are the empires of the mind. He meant that ideas have consequences; good ideas benefit society whereas bad ideas generate negative outcomes.

All people should be respected and each person is created equal, but we also must understand that not all ideas are. And when flawed ideas are combined with sinful hearts (Jer. 17:9), as is the case with the Taliban, the results are catastrophic.
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Like many Afghan War Veterans, I have watched the rapid Taliban seizure of Afghanistan with much deep emotion. I left my wife and three young children for a 15-month combat mobilization as an Infantry officer adviser to Afghan National Security forces fighting the Taliban. I was fully prepared to give my life, as with the other veterans who served there. Some did not return, and many returned with wounds seen and unseen. During my time there primarily as the Senior US military adviser to Helmand Province, many of our Afghan allies were killed or wounded. To now see the Taliban sweep into the places I served, and seize the capital within weeks, I cannot remain silent. I do not believe this had to happen, and the Biden Administration made some catastrophic mistakes. Let me explain.

First, the Taliban followed a seasonal pattern of fighting throughout the war in Afghanistan. They primarily fought from late April with what we called the Taliban Spring/Summer Offensive, to peak fighting by August and tapering until around late October. They dont completely stop fighting, but during the late Fall and Winter the Taliban pull back to Pakistan or go quiet in remote locations. In a criminal lack of judgment, Joe Biden announced and began the unilateral American withdrawal at the start of the fighting season in April. Even worse, Biden planned the complete pullout during the height of the Taliban offensive in August. This meant that the most substantial change of the war, the removal of the critical American support, was made at the height of the Taliban surge.

What should have happened was a conditions-based plan to withdraw US forces during the Winter. The withdrawal should have been complete by the start of the Taliban Spring offense (Trump set a date of May 1). Additionally, the Afghan National Security Forces should have been set up for success to fight without the support they relied upon for two decades. We should have kept a few thousand Americans in place during the first fighting season on standby, and those to be withdrawn the next non-fighting season. Those Americans would allow the Afghans to completely and solely execute the fight, though with access to air support. Those Americans would also ensure American equipment did not fall into the hands of the Taliban.

We should not have withdrawn from Bagram Air Base until the absolute end of American presence, and yet withdraw early on. Reason: The Kabul Airport is unique in being in the middle of the city, and therefore vulnerable to being overrun by refugees if the Taliban came toward Kabul. It is also in a vulnerable position due to the terrain allowing it to come under indirect artillery and direct fire from high ground. It has limited runway capability, which could easily be put out of commission. Bagram was only 40 miles away and in a secure location with multiple runways. Bagram would have allowed support to the Kabul Airport, including ferrying people by helicopters back to Bagram. Instead, the Kabul Airport appears to be overwhelmed with refugees and our troops and Embassy staff in a vulnerable position near the Taliban. Additionally, we kept thousands of terrorist prisoners at Bagram, which were released when we left Bagram. Those fighters have helped take Kabul and pose a threat to the US.

Another mistake was in not developing a conditions-based plan which relied on the threat of punishing the Taliban if they violated conditions set. That punishment would have included massive airstrikes against Taliban formations and the targeting of Taliban leadership. Instead, the Taliban are creating havoc in their advance, murdering surrendering commando troops, murdering pilots, murdering civilians associated with helping Americans. We should not be tolerating this travesty of human rights. It will only get worse, and we will be forced to watch and suffer humiliation. We knew the Taliban was a criminal organization, and should have been ready to prevent this catastrophe.

As a result of the mistakes, we all face a heightened terrorist threat. A reason I volunteered for Operation Enduring Freedom was due to the terror emanating from Afghanistan on September 11, 2001. Thats why most of us sacrificed in Afghanistan, with many giving their lives. The Taliban will likely allow terror groups to again operate and plan attacks against America. Now, they will have China as an ally to help fend off Americans coming back.

This catastrophe demands accountability, starting with the Biden Administration. After Americans withdrew from Vietnam, South Vietnam held out for over two years before falling. Afghanistan has fallen within weeks, due to incompetence. Interestingly, then Senator Joe Biden voted against providing South Vietnam promised support before Saigon Fell. He has learned nothing, and created a much worse situation with this lack of judgment. America and her allies deserve much better.
House Democrats push FDA to lift safety protocols for abortion drugs

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Pro-abortion legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives are calling on the Food and Drug Administration to permanently discard safety protocols for dispensing drugs that induce a miscarriage to terminate an early first-trimester pregnancy, commonly referred to as the Risk, Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies.

A group of more than six dozen House Democrats, led by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., introduced a resolution Thursday that would express the sense of the House of Representatives that policies governing abortion care should be equitable and based on science. The resolution specifically focused on the abortion pills, also referred to as a chemical abortion or medication abortion. A chemical abortion has two components: mifepristone and misoprostol.

The lawmakers claim that the REMS have no medical basis and echoed the FDAs analysis that abortion pills efficacy and safety have become well-established both by research and experience, and serious complications have proven to be extremely rare. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., a co-sponsor of the resolution, elaborated on their goal in a statement.

As chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, we are committed to eliminating all unnecessary barriers to abortion care, including the onerous and unnecessary restrictions on the use of medication abortion, she said. We look forward to working with the FDA to ensure any policies regarding the use of mifepristone are based solely on science and evidence, not policy or ideology.

The resolution comes after the FDA approved the temporary suspension of the REMS earlier this year, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for such a decision. Pro-abortion politicians and activists believe women should have the ability to obtain abortion-inducing drugs in the mail because of the dangers posed by the pandemic. The pro-abortion lawmakers who co-sponsored the resolution indicated their desire to make these changes to the REMS permanent.

As explained in the resolution, the REMS require that it be dispensed to patients in person, that healthcare providers who prescribe mifepristone receive certification before doing so, and that certified prescribers obtain a signed safety agreement from patients before prescribing mifepristone to them.

The lawmakers' resolution noted that on May 7, 2021, the FDA indicated that it is conducting an evidence-based review of the REMS for mifepristone, the lawmakers argued that policies surrounding the distribution of the abortion pill should be grounded in science and based on a scientific review of available medical evidence and ensure equitable access for patients harmed by restrictions ..."

This is not the first time the FDA has been pushed to change its safety guidelines for the use of abortion-inducing drugs.

When mifepristone first came out, the FDA had a protocol for it to be used through seven weeks of pregnancy, or 49 days from conception, according to Sue Turner, director of Physicians for Life.

Because many abortion clinics in the U.S. were ignoring the FDAs protocol and using the drug in chemical abortions up to 60 days, states began passing regulations saying they had to follow the FDAs protocol. They didnt want to have to follow the FDA protocol, so [then President] Obama made the FDA change it to the later date, the 60 days, to match up with what the abortion providers were doing, Turner told The Christian Post in a previous interview.

The drug was less effective," she said, and abortionists then had to also perform a surgical abortion, which meant that women were being charged for both chemical and surgical procedures.

Mifepristone, which blocks the pregnancy hormone progesterone, constitutes one dose of the abortion bill. Patients have the option to reverse the effects of mifepristone before taking misoprostol, but once they take misoprostol, which induces contractions and a miscarriage, the effects are irreversible.

While pro-abortion lawmakers maintain that abortion pills are safe, pro-life groups have repeatedly warned that abortion pills have adverse side effects. Students for Life of America partnered with Charlotte Pence Bond, daughter of former Vice President Mike Pence, to create a new docuseries titled This is Chemical Abortion, designed to put a spotlight on the dangers of chemical abortions.

Last year, the pro-life group Live Action put together an investigative report titled, Abortion Pill Kills, which highlighted complications that women can experience after taking abortion pills.

These side effects include severe cramping, contractions, and heavy bleeding. According to the report, the bleeding can often last from nine to 16 days, but in 8% of cases, the bleeding continues for more than 30 days.

The debate about the abortion pill and the safety protocols in place regulating its administration has accelerated over the past year. As Democrats and pro-abortion activists pushed for loosening the REMS, Republican lawmakers wrote a letter to the FDA, asking the government agency to label the abortion pill as deadly and classify it as a threat to womens health.

While a federal judge struck down the REMS last summer, enabling women to obtain the abortion pill by mail, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated it about a week before the Trump administration left office in January. In response to the Democrats push to ensure easy access to abortion drugs, several states have passed laws imposing restrictions on the availability of chemical abortion.
Mother of baby nearly hit in face by Antifa flash bomb at prayer rally slams media for ignoring violence

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A Christian mother of eight whose baby was nearly wounded when Antifa threw a flash bomb in the direction of the child's face is speaking out against the media's failure to cover the violence that's long been perpetrated by the far-left group in Portland and across the U.S.

Were it not for a friends intervention, Jamee Anatellos 8-month-old daughter could have faced serious injury from a flash bomb that Antifa threw at Christians attending a rally in Portland, Oregon, on Aug. 7. Anatellos friend put her arm in front of the infants face, suffering bruises as well as welts and blisters on her arm, hands and feet.

Pastor Artur Pawlowski, who's gained notoriety for documenting his encounters with law enforcement officials who've been accused of selectively enforcing COVID-19 gathering restrictions in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, headlined the Courageous Truth Conference, a prayer and worship event that took place at Tom McCall Park on the Portland waterfront.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Anatello, who attended the event with five of her eight children, recalled how the presence of Antifa at the gathering caught her by surprise: Ive always judged the events really well  whats safe to take my kids to, whats not.

It never once crossed my mind that this would be an event they would show up to, she added. Anatello told CP that Antifa militants showed up at Tom McCall Park before the event even started. Noting that she arrived 20 to 30 minutes early, Anatello estimated that there was probably more Antifa there than Christians gathered for the event.

Anatello lamented the local medias lack of interest in her story. Describing Antifa as dangerous and stressing that they need to be stopped, Anatello said local media elected to focus on the alleged presence of the Proud Boys  a group frequently labeled by critics as a white supremacist organization, even though they are less white than Antifa and led by an Afro-Cuban  at the event in the days following the attack.

No local media has taken my story. I spoke with two different stations and they rejected it, she said. I believe that the reason they have not taken my story is because the narrative around here is that the Proud Boys are white supremacists when theyre not. And people around here just refuse to name Antifa as dangerous.

Anatello slammed the media for perpetuating what she characterized as an inaccurate portrayal of Antifa: Antifa has been praised as being  not just anti-fascist  they care about Black Lives Matter.  Theyve been seen on video harassing and being violent toward gay people, Asians, black people, transgenders, and the media has stayed silent toward that.  I want people to know that  that is who they are. They are racist and  dangerous.

Anatello confronted the local media as they gathered to cover a city press conference on Friday: Every single local news station denied my story! she exclaimed. You rejected it in favor of one man with an airsoft gun. No Proud Boys were present that day.

She mentioned that Antifa has been working to get her husband, who has a show on Facebook and YouTube called "The Black Conservative Preacher," to lose his job. A man with Antifa, whose supporters were among the audience, shouted at Anatello, saying, your husband is very dangerous, a claim that she firmly pushed back on.

Anatello and her husband, who were both at the prayer event, started recording video after a flash bomb nearly struck their daughter. They also captured footage showing Antifa throwing numerous flash grenades at the crowd.

The traumatic experience also had an impact on some of Anatellos older children, which she elaborated on during her interview with CP: It sent my 7-year-old into a state of shock. My 9-year-old was covered in pepper gas, and he touched his eye and it began burning and he was crying in a panic, not knowing what to do.

Before Antifa deployed a flash bomb that nearly struck her daughter, Anatello reported that they were chanting hail Satan and screaming, Wheres your God now? The mother responded to the militants by declaring: Hes watching every move you make.

Anatello remains unsure if the flash bomb was targeted at her and her family in retaliation for her remarks because we were already under attack.

My husband was standing in front of me and our children, and he was actually trying to catch some of the eggs and other things they were throwing to stop them from hitting us. And in the video, I show that we are dead center to the place that they were directing their projectiles, whatever they were throwing. They were throwing several different things: eggs, paint, bottles filled with feces and explosives.

Anatello explained that despite Antifas efforts to shut down the event, Pawlowski and others still addressed the crowd. By the time he had started speaking, however, she had already left to go to a coffee shop to wash up and seek safety. Her husband remained at the event and live-streamed Pawlowskis speech.

As a resident of Portland, Anatello has had frequent encounters with Antifa. After telling CP that every encounter has been verbally abusive in some way, she detailed a specific exchange where she made close contact with the militants last year.

We went downtown last year  this was during the day so everybody was at work but already after the downtown parks had been .... destroyed and burned and we took our Trust Jesus banner down there, she recalled. The Antifa members saw us out and started spray-painting on the ground in front of us, and they kept getting closer and closer and I asked them to please stop because the spray-paint was going into my childs face and they blamed me for  being in downtown.

Anatello, born and raised in Portland, has seriously considered moving out of the city, which was a hotspot for violence last summer, including the murder of a Trump supporter at the hands of a man who identified as an Antifa and BLM activist.

Clashes between right-wing and left-wing groups have become a common occurrence in Oregons largest city. Just this past weekend, Fox 12 Oregon reported that left-wing protesters descended on a right-wing Summer of Love rally where the two groups threw fireworks, smoke bombs and paintballs at each other.

This was the scene just a few mins ago along NE 122nd/Skidmore. Group of about 50 counter protestors came to cause trouble at the right-wing Summer of Love rally where about 100 were gathered. Some fireworks, smoke bombs, paintballs being fired back and forth @fox12oregonpic.twitter.com/p4JFZPdte9  Camila Orti (@CamilaOrtiTV) August 22, 2021
Officer who fatally shot Ashli Babbitt at US Capitol in Jan. 6 riot acted lawfully: police

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Authorities have cleared an unnamed police officer of wrongdoing in the death of Ashli Babbitt who was shot and killed while attempting to enter the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

In an announcement on Monday, the U.S. Capitol Police said they were not going to discipline or release the name of the officer that killed Babbitt, an unarmed U.S. Air Force veteran who attempted to climb through a smashed door pane into the House. She was shot in the neck by the plainclothes officer who was inside the chamber.

The USCP Office of Professional Responsibility determined that the officer acted lawfully and within Department policy as an officer may use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes that action is in the defense of human life, including the officers own life, or in the defense of any person in immediate danger of serious physical injury.

The actions of the officer in this case potentially saved Members and staff from serious injury and possible death from a large crowd of rioters who forced their way into the U.S. Capitol and to the House Chamber where Members and staff were steps away, stated the Capitol Police.

USCP Officers had barricaded the Speakers Lobby with furniture before a rioter shattered the glass door. If the doors were breached, the rioters would have immediate access to the House Chambers. The officers actions were consistent with the officers training and USCP policies and procedures.

The announcement comes months after the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice likewise announced that they would not pursue criminal prosecution of the officer who fatally shot Babbitt.

The focus of the criminal investigation was to determine whether federal prosecutors could prove that the officer violated any federal laws, concentrating on the possible application of 18 U.S.C.  242, a federal criminal civil rights statute, stated the Justice Department in April.

The Justice Department went on to state that the investigation revealed no evidence to establish that, at the time the officer fired a single shot at Ms. Babbitt, the officer did not reasonably believe that it was necessary to do so in self-defense or in defense of the Members of Congress and others evacuating the House Chamber.

On Friday, Reuters reported that the FBI had found no evidence to suggest that the Capitol riot was a coordinated attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

"Ninety to ninety-five percent of these are one-off cases," a former senior law enforcement official told Reuters. "Then you have five percent, maybe, of these militia groups that were more closely organized. But there was no grand scheme with Roger Stone and Alex Jones and all of these people to storm the Capitol and take hostages."

Babbitt, 35, was unarmed when she joined hundreds of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol during a joint session of Congress meant to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. While some people forced their way into the Capitol, others were allowed in by Capitol police without incident.

She was shot and killed by the unnamed police lieutenant when she and others tried to get into the Speakers Lobby outside of the House chamber, which had been barricaded for the sake of protecting the members of Congress.

Some critics, among them retired police sergeant Betsy Smith, spokeswoman for the National Police Association, have questioned if the shooting of Babbitt was justified.

In an interview with NTD's The Nation Speaks back in April, Smith argued that there were many unanswered questions regarding the circumstances of the shooting.

I think that if the Justice Department has said that that officer should not be charged, then thats fine. But I think that the American public deserves to know the details of why deadly force was deployed, because there are very strict rules when we use deadly force, she stated at the time.
David Benham, pro-life activists move ahead in legal battle over unlawful arrests

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David Benham and other pro-life activists have filed an amended complaint against North Carolina officials in response to their arrests last year while outside an abortion clinic.

Amid a statewide lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Benham and a small number of sidewalk counselors went to an abortion clinic in Charlotte last year to try and persuade mothers seeking an abortion to change their minds. While there, they were cited by police and subsequently arrested.

On Monday, as part of the ongoing litigation over the incident, Benham and the other plaintiffs filed an amended complaint against the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte Division.

The pro-life activists are being represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative law firm that has successfully argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Denise Harle, senior counsel with ADF, told The Christian Post on Tuesday that their decision to file the amended complaint was strengthened by the fact that the charges against Benham and the others were later dropped.

The dropping of the charges actually underscores why this amended complaint should prevail, said Harle. What weve added in this amended complaint is Fourth Amendment claims, based on the unlawful stop, unlawful detention, and unlawful arrests, the fact that the city and the county dropped the charges against David Benham shows that those arrests were improper.

She continued, The fact that theyre not even pursuing the charges is a pretty clear admission that theres no there, there. And thats exactly what were bringing to the federal court in this amended complaint is that those arrests themselves were a violation of the Fourth Amendment.

Harle also told CP that she believed the arrests of Benham and the sidewalk counselors were a violation of the First Amendment and motivated by a targeting of free speech and animosity toward certain religious views.

The government certainly is welcomed to protect public health, but if it is going to do that, it needs to do so in an evenhanded way that has a rational basis, she continued.

What it cant do is enact a law and then apply it unfairly only to select groups of people whose viewpoint the government disagrees with.

The city of Charlotte declined to comment about the litigation when contacted by The Christian Post.

According to authorities, the April 2020 arrests were made because Benham and the others were allegedly violating state lockdown orders.

Benham, Cities4Life and Global Impact Ministries, also called Love Life, denied any wrongdoing and filed a lawsuit against Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

The suit claimed the police selectively enforced the orders, noting that the abortion clinic began filling up with clients and numerous people roamed the parks and sidewalks for recreation and exercise.

[We] were praying on the sidewalk, maintaining a safe distance from one another and others, and helping women interested in the important charitable services they offered, stated the complaint.

Despite the health and safety motivations underlying the COVID-19 restrictions, government officials cannot and should not selectively enforce those regulations. Nor should they prohibit constitutionally protected activities that do not endanger public health or safety.
Pro-life group backs FDA's ban on online abortion pill sales amid lawsuit

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A national pro-life organization says it supports the Food & Drug Administration's ban on online abortion pill sales following a lawsuit filed by an abortionist whose best known for her Women on Waves abortion ship.

Abortionist Rebecca Gomperts, who's a registered physician in Austria, and founder and director of Women on Waves and Women on Web, filed a complaint last week against the FDA in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho on behalf of Aid Access, an additional site she operates that also sells abortion pills online.

Randall K. O'Bannon, director of education and research at the National Right to Life Committee, told The Christian Post that "the evidence out there of the risks and dangers associated with these pills show that the FDA is more than justified in maintaining strict controls on their distribution and use."

"Gomperts' lawsuit may serve to advance her group's agenda, but it will not serve the health and safety interests of women  or their unborn babies," O'Bannon said.

O'Bannon said Gomperts' lawsuit is part of an effort to reduce the FDA's rules and regulations on abortion drugs, even though regulations were already loosened under the Obama administration.

"They considered any regulation requiring a pregnant mom to actually visit the clinic or preventing a prescriber from sending the pills by mail burdensome and unnecessary," O'Bannon said.

Sue Turner director of Physicians for Life, told CP in a recent interview that when mifepristone first came out, the FDA's protocol was for it to be used through seven weeks, or 49 days from conception. However, since many abortion clinics were ignoring the FDAs protocol and using the drug up to 60 days, states began passing regulations saying they had to follow the FDAs protocol. Subsequently, "the Obama administration made the FDA change it to 60 days to match up with what the abortion providers were doing," Turner said.

The U.S. is not the only country that prohibits online sales of abortion inducing drugs. Ireland, among many other countries, also bans the sale of abortion-inducing drugs via the internet.

In their lawsuit, Gomperts and Aid Access said they were filing the complaint on behalf of American women seeking to terminate their pregnancies via drugs acquired over the internet.

Defendants are actively using the power of the U.S. government to deny Plaintiffs patients their constitutionally protected right to terminate their unwanted pregnancies prior to viability, the complaint says.

At issue is the FDAs restrictions on mifepristone and misoprostol, marketed in the U.S. as Mifeprex, which can only be dispensed by a physician.

Mifepristone, also called RU-486, and misoprostol are used in medical abortions. Mifepristone works by blocking the effects of progesterone, the natural pregnancy hormone, and Misoprostol induces a miscarriage.

Access to medical abortions is most restricted in geographically large and primarily rural states like Idaho where the number of physicians certified to prescribe Mifeprex is small, Gomperts says in her complaint. The burden of these restrictions imposed by the FDA on medical abortions falls primarily on women who live in rural or medically underserved areas, have low income, are experiencing domestic abuse and/or are young.

Richard Hearn, an attorney for Gomperts, told National Public Radio that the lawsuit was aimed at preventing Aid Access and its patients from being prosecuted for using abortion pills ordered online.

Some women in the United States can exercise that right just by going down the street if those women happen to live in New York or San Francisco or other major metropolitan areas on either one of the coasts, Hearn told NPR. But women in Idaho and other rural states, especially conservative states ... cannot exercise that right.

In March, the FDA sent a warning letter to Aid Access, noting that the website had introduced misbranded and unapproved new drugs in interstate commerce in violation of federal law.

Two specific examples cited by the FDA were mifepristone and misoprostol, which they said were not generally recognized as safe and effective for their labeled use.

Aidaccess.org facilitates the sale to U.S. consumers of unapproved mifepristone in a regimen with unapproved misoprostol labeled for the termination of pregnancy, the letter says in part. No approved applications pursuant to section 505 of the FD&C Act are in effect for this product. Accordingly, its introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce violates" federal law.

In response, Gomperts stopped selling the drugs for a month-and-a-half after she received the letter, NPR reports.

According to an FDA report last updated in April, from September 2000 to New Year's Eve 2018: "There were reports of 24 deaths of women associated with Mifeprex since the product was approved in September 2000, including two cases of ectopic pregnancy resulting in death; and several cases of severe systemic infection (also called sepsis), including some that were fatal.

"The adverse events cannot with certainty be causally attributed to mifepristone because of concurrent use of other drugs, other medical or surgical treatments, co-existing medical conditions, and information gaps about patient health status and clinical management of the patient," the FDA added.

Turner told CP in an earlier interview that mifepristone can be less effective when used later in a pregnancy. She noted that when abortionists dispense the drugs later on in a pregnancy, such as around 60 days, that can lead to abortion providers having to perform a surgical abortion and thus women "being charged for both chemical and surgical procedures.

Turner warned that there are many websites that encourage women to take misoprostol to induce an abortion despite the documented risks.

I shudder to think what happens to her and what she goes through in that process because in about 30 minutes she starts having horrific contractions. And women can die. If the cervix doesnt open it can cause all kinds of horrible problems for her, Turner told CP.
Sutherland Springs church to demolish sanctuary where 26 people were killed in mass shooting

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The First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, which saw a shooter enter its sanctuary in 2017 and kill 26 people, has decided to demolish the building where the tragedy occurred.

At a business meeting held on Sunday after worship, members of the congregation voted 69 to 35 to demolish their former sanctuary, which had been converted into a memorial for the victims.

The church has not released a statement explaining the reasoning for the vote, but according to news station KTSA in San Antonio, the building was considered structurally unsafe.

During the worship service just before the meeting, former associate pastor Mark Collins preached the sermon, discussing how the practices of the early church are remembered, even though their physical buildings have long been lost.

Collins also said near the end of his sermon that however the congregation decided to vote on the status of the building, Gods going to use it.

I pray that the joy of this church will be full, he declared. I pray that after we have this vote, and however we vote, this old associate pastor will be here to do whatever you guys are doing.

If its to paint that old sanctuary, Gods going to use it. If its to build something new there, Gods going to use it  whatever comes of this meeting here in a few minutes, the main thing is that we honor God.

On Nov. 5, 2017, Devin Patrick Kelley, who was discharged from the U.S. Air Force after serving one year in military prison, entered FBC Sutherland Springs during a Sunday worship service and killed 26 people, including the pastor's daughter.

Kelley, who fled the scene, was then wounded by Stephen Willeford, a neighbor and National Rifle Association instructor. He later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Although Kelley had a history of anti-religious social media posts, authorities concluded that his primary motive was because his ex-wife had family who regularly attended the church.

In 2018, the congregation began to build a new worship space, which was completed a year later and held its first worship services on May 19, 2019, with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other elected officials giving remarks.

This is a tangible sign as people drive through Sutherland Springs in the future they will know that this is a place where goodness triumphed over evil, said Abbott, as reported by The Associated Press at the time.

The Southern Baptist Conventions North American Mission Board, which helped to raise funds for the new worship building, took to Twitter to offer their support for the opening.

Pray for the members of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs this morning as they dedicate their new worship facility. Thank you Southern Baptists for making this possible, tweeted NAMB in 2019.

There had been some talk about demolishing the former church building early on, as Pastor Frank Pomeroy told The Wall Street Journal soon after the shooting that it might be torn down.

"There's too many that do not want to go back in there," he told WSJ in 2017. "We will probably turn it into a memorial for a while. We're playing it day by day right now."
Why churches should stop paying hush money

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What is hush money?

It is money paid so that someone will keep certain information a secret.

Orpah Winfrey recently created a whole multi-season show called Greenleaf that airs on Netflix. This fictional show chronicles the ways churches try to bury the truth. Unfortunately, way too many real-life examples prove the truths in this series.

In my own hometown of Colorado Springs, New Life Church and Pastor Brady Boyd paid a sex abuse victim of Ted Haggards to keep quiet about the details of the very public fallout. When asked about it in a public interview, Pastor Brady said, It was compassion assistance. However, this is not a biblical term nor are there any positive examples of this in the Bible.

Since then, we have seen this same scenario play out with Ravi Zacharias, Brian Houston, Bill Hybels, Jerry Fallwell Jr, and the list goes on and on. We are learning each day more and more that churches and ministries have seen this nondisclosure practice as acceptable.

However, Scripture teaches just the opposite. Every example of hush money in Scripture is ungodly and used in some capacity to suppress the truth and not allow the real story to be public.

Balak paid the prophet Balaam to silence Gods blessing over His people and curse them instead. Numbers records Balak saying to Balaam: I will make sure you are richly rewarded, and I will do whatever you ask. Please, come and curse these people for me (Numbers 22:17).

Balaam ultimately wouldnt do it because, even as a pagan prophet, he feared the God of Israel.

Balak was livid. Scripture says, And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, 'I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. Therefore, now flee to your own place. I said, I will certainly honor you, but the Lord has held you back from honor.' And Balaam said to Balak, 'Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord?' (Numbers 24:10-13)

Apparently, Balak failed to get a nondisclosure agreement from Balaam. He obviously didnt understand the power of God over the power of money, at least in Balaams life.

In the New Testament, Judas was paid to hush speaking the truth of who Jesus is in Matthew 26:14-16. He suppressed the truth for the sake of a bribe.

In God's eyes, this is not an acceptable practice to handle matters.

It is legal but it is not godly or biblical. So why do church leaders and boards do this?

Boards have a lot of pressure on them to do the right thing and yet feel the need to suppress the truth for the sake of the Gospel. Oftentimes, the point leaders take the fall for the suppression when it becomes publicly known. However, boards are just as much to blame when they use truth suppression for the good of the Gospel.

What does the Bible have to say about leaders and boards suppressing the truth and paying brides to suppress the truth?

Ecclesiastes 7:7 says, a bribe corrupts the heart.

Instead of using money to hush the truth, the Bible actually tells us to buy the truth. God wants us to live with full disclosure.

Proverbs 23:23 says, Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

There is not one example in the Bible to support this practice.

The holiness of God and his Church must matter more to us than the reputation of the Church.

The Church is not ours, its His. The Church is Christs bride, and He wants her back. Paying someone to suppress the truth is a sin. The Bible makes it clear that, in time, the suppression of truth will be exposed.

Controlling the narrative with money is never Gods way of going about things.

The Bible makes this very clear that God does not want the victim or anyone to take a bribe to hide the truth. Proverbs 17:23 says, The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.

If anyone needed a nondisclosure statement it would be King David after he confessed to Nathan the prophet that he had committed adultery with another mans wife and had her husband murdered. But instead, King David allowed the real story of his life to be plastered all over the world and throughout history through the book of Samuel.

A man after Gods own heart is not a man who doesnt sin but a man who doesnt try to cover up his sin. When confronted, he repents and forsakes it and doesnt try to control the public narrative through nondisclosure agreements tied to money.

I am afraid the heart of God has left the building of a lot of churches in America due to the leaderships willingness to hide and bury the truth of what has happened.

I think Moses made it clear what God thinks of this in Deuteronomy: For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe (Deuteronomy 10:17).

I believe the church of America is dying like Ananias and Sapphira did in Acts 5:1-11 because it is hiding the truth of what has happened in its churches and creating a narrative that is a lie.

May God do what He must to humble us so that we will turn, repent, and seek His face for His glory and for the true good of the Gospel of Jesus to go forth to all in Jesus name. Amen.
5th Circuit upholds Texas dismemberment abortion ban, says providers can't 'set their own rules'

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The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has ruled that a Texas law banning second-trimester dismemberment abortions can be enforced, reversing earlier rulings.

In an en-banc decision released Wednesday, the 17-member circuit court upheld Texas Senate Bill 8, which bans the dilation and evacuation abortion procedure. Critics of the law argue that what is commonly referred to as dismemberment abortion is the most common abortion procedure for terminating second-trimester pregnancies.

Physicians that violate the law can be punished by a minimum of 180 days to a maximum of two years in jail.

The majority of the circuit court concluded that previous decisions on the 2017 law presented a false dichotomy in their reasoning, namely that either D&Es can be done only by live dismemberment or else women cannot receive abortions in the second trimester.

Instead, the record shows that doctors can safely perform D&Es and comply with SB8 using methods that are already in widespread use, reads the majority opinion authored by Trump-appointee Don R. Willett and George W. Bush-appointee Jennifer Walker Elrod.

The plaintiffs have failed to carry their heavy burden of proving that SB8 would impose an undue burden on a large fraction of women.

Circuit Judge James L. Dennis, a Clinton appointee who had previously ruled against the law as part of a three-judge panel in 2020, authored a dissenting opinion and joined two other circuit judges.

Today, in a Sisyphean return to form, our court upholds a Texas law that, under the guise of regulation, makes it a felony to perform the most common and safe abortion procedure employed during the second trimester, dissented Dennis.

Further burdening abortion access, many abortion providers will likely decline to perform later-term abortions rather than face the dilemma todays ruling foists upon them: become a felon or do a risky procedure that is contrary to the doctors medical judgment regarding the patients best interests.

The majority argues, however, that the abortion industry should not be allowed to "set their own rules."

"[The district court] did so by holding that SB8 was unconstitutional because live dismemberment is a common abortion method in the second trimester," the ruling states. "This was exactly backwards. Since Casey, we have recognized that abortion doctors do not get to set their own rules. They are not permitted to self-legislate or self-regulate simply by making an abortion method 'common.'"

Dennis argues that the majority "misconstrues the district courts reasoning, which merely considered what proportion of abortions would be affected by SB8 in evaluating the burden the legislation places on a womans right to choose."

For pro-life activists, the Fifth Circuit decision is a long-awaited victory," according to Texas Right to Life Director of Media and Communication Kimberlyn Schwartz.

Anyone can see the cruelty of dismemberment abortions, ripping a childs body apart while her heart is still beating. Were grateful the judges recognized this horror, Schwartz said in a statement.

Whole Womans Health, an abortion provider that was a plaintiff in the case, argues that the law is focused on "cutting off abortion access, and nothing else.

It should never be a crime for doctors to use their best medical judgment and follow the most current science," Whole Woman's Health President Amy Hagstrom Miller said in a statement. "Texans deserve the best care available, and this law prevents that.

The law was signed in June 2017 by Gov. Greg Abbott and includes an exception for when "dismemberment abortion is necessary in a medical emergency.

The term does not include an abortion that uses suction to dismember the body of an unborn child by sucking pieces of the unborn child into a collection container, the law reads.

The term includes a dismemberment abortion that is used to cause the death of an unborn child and in which suction is subsequently used to extract pieces of the unborn child after the unborn child's death.
Biden says Taliban not a threat; Americans not blocked from getting to airport, despite reports

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President Joe Biden said the Taliban is not a major threat to the United States and is allowing American citizens to get to the airport unimpeded for evacuations from Afghanistan, despite reports to the contrary.

At a press conference Friday, the president talked about the evacuation of Americans and Afghans amid the quick takeover by the Taliban.

Biden began by touting the significant progress made in getting people evacuated, stating that around 5,700 people, including 169 Americans "who got over the wall using military assets," were flown out of the country on Thursday.

As many as 10,000 to 15,000 Americans have yet to be evacuated from Afghanistan.

The president said the U.S. government "doesn't have the exact number" of Americans who are in Afghanistan or where they're located and is working to "verify" their whereabouts.

On Friday, the Kabul airport was shut down for more than eight hours amid concerns that the U.S. evacuation base in Qatar was quickly becoming overcrowded with Afghan refugees.

Weve secured the airport, enabling flights to resume, said Biden. Now we have almost 6,000 troops on the ground, including the 82nd Airborne, providing runway security.

This is one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history. And the only country in the world capable of protecting this much power on the far side of the world with this degree of precision is the United States of America.

Biden said around 18,000 people had been evacuated from Afghanistan since July and 13,000 since their airlift began on Aug. 14., when the Taliban seized control of key areas in Afghanistan before taking control of Kabul on Sunday.

Biden took five questions from reporters, one of whom asked the president whether he will commit troops to Kabul to rescue Americans who have been unable to get to the airport to leave the country.

He responded by saying, we have no indication that Americans seeking to flee the country have been unable to safely reach the airport in Kabul.

Weve made an agreement with the Taliban, answered the president. Theyve allowed them to go through. Its in their interests to let them go through. We know of no circumstance where American citizens are carrying an American passport, are trying to get through to the airport. But we will do whatever needs to be done to see to it that they get to the airport.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul sent out a security alert published online, noting that the U.S. cannot ensure safe passage to the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

In response to a separate question about rescuing Americans stuck behind Taliban checkpoints, Biden said they are considering ways to evacuate those citizens, but added the U.S. wouldn't be expanding the securing perimeter outside the airport.

For his part, Biden said that the U.S. and allies will still stay vigilant regarding Afghanistan, both regarding potential terrorist threats and human rights abuses.

According to Biden, this would include bringing international pressure on the Taliban with respect to the treatment of Afghan people overall, but including Afghan women and girls.

When asked whether the aftermath of the withdrawal had damaged America's reputation, Biden replied: "Ive seen no questioning of our credibility from our allies around the world. In fact, I've seen the exact opposite."

The question came after a former Obama administration official criticized those advising the president, even calling for their firing.

President Biden needs to fire his national security adviser and several other senior leaders who oversaw the botched execution of our withdrawal from Afghanistan, Brett Bruen, who served as the director of global engagement in the Obama White House, wrote in a USA Today op-ed on Monday. He has to restructure how and with whom he is making foreign policy decisions, allowing for more input from career experts.

In an interview with Fox News Thursday, Bruen added: What were seen at the NSC (National Security Council) is a lot of political appointees, but not the folks who have the relevant experience.

After a Cobra emergency committee Friday, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the fallout from the U.S. withdrawal has left Afghanistan in a precarious" situation.

So when the U.S. decides emphatically to withdraw in the way that they have then clearly we are going to have to manage the consequences, Johnson said, according to The Telegraph.

The president was also asked about a leaked classified cable sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken in July signed by 23 U.S. Embassy staffers in Kabul, raising concerns about a collapse of Afghan security forces and a Taliban takeover.

Biden said: "We got all kinds of cables, all kinds of advice. ... I took the consensus opinion ... that, in fact, it would not occur, and if occurred until later in the year."

Following the drawing down of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the Taliban quickly seized control of much of the country, eventually taking the capital Kabul and forcing the government to flee.

In response to the unexpected speed at which they retook the nation, large numbers of Americans, Afghan allies, and others have desperately tried to leave the country.

A return to Taliban rule for Afghanistan has led many to express concern over the treatment of women, as well as religious minorities, such as the small Christianity community.

On the website of the missionary group Frontier Alliance International, an anonymous pastor posted a statement saying the Taliban was already cracking down on Christians.

The Taliban has a hit list of known Christians they are targeting to pursue and kill. The U.S. Embassy is defunct and there is no longer a safe place for believers to take refuge, stated the figure, known only as Pastor X.

All borders to neighboring countries are closed and all flights to and from have been halted, with the exception of private planes. People are fleeing into the mountains looking for asylum. They are fully reliant on God, who is the only One who can and will protect them.
Tropical Storm Henri slams New England, causes flooding in NYC

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Tropical Storm Henris outer bands started moving over the Northeast Sunday morning, bringing heavy rain hours before its expected landfall in southern New England as more than 35 million people remained under a flood watch in the region.

The Weather Channel said early Sunday that Henri, which had strengthened into a hurricane Saturday morning, has weakened from a Category 1 hurricane to a strong tropical storm and was located about 50 miles southeast of Montauk, New York.

However, its impacts are expected to be the same, even with Henri at tropical storm strength.

Dangerous storm surge inundation is expected to begin this morning in portions of Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, where a Storm Surge Warning has been issued, the National Weather Service of the Eastern Region wrote on Twitter early Sunday.

Tropical storm conditions will begin in [portions of Long Island, Connecticut and Rhode Island] within the next couple of hours, it added.

Henri is likely to make landfall on Sunday afternoon but heavy rain had caused flooding from New York City to parts of Long Island by Saturday night, the Weather Channel said, adding that Henri is likely to be a strong tropical storm because the system will encounter cooler waters and some possible increased wind shear as it nears the Northeast.

CNN said a broad area from New York City into New England, which are likely to have strong wind and rain, could witness days of power outages and falling trees as the area is saturated from recent rain.

Were going to see power outages, we're going to see downed trees, and even after the storm has passed, the threat of falling trees and limbs is still out there, Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell was quoted as saying.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Saturday declared a state of emergency, urging everyone to stay indoors.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned people in flood-prone areas to move to safety.

If you know you are in an area that tends to flood ... get out of that area now, please, he said in a news briefing Saturday. If you have to get to higher ground it has to be today.

Over 35 million people remained under a flood watch across the Northeast as the hurricane center has warned that the expected heavy rain may cause considerable flash, urban and small stream flooding" and create the potential for "widespread minor and isolated moderate river flooding.
Texas pastor sentenced to 30 years after using hidden cameras to secretly film child porn at church

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A former Texas pastor has been sentenced to 30 years of federal prison after he pleaded guilty to using hidden cameras to record sexually explicit material of underage children at church and other locations.

David Pettigrew, ex-pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Denison, Texas, was sentenced to 360 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on Monday. He pleaded guilty in April for using hidden cameras to record sexually explicit material of underage children at church and other locations.

According to the Department of Justice, Pettigrew confessed to secretly taping naked minors in Collin and Grayson counties, including at his church, using cameras disguised as hooks, clocks, a picture frame, a smoke detector, an AC wall adapter, charging blocks and a pen.

The children, ages 11 to 14-years old, had no idea they were being recorded while they were reportedly undressing, bathing and toweling off at the Denison Church of the Nazarene in Grayson County.

David Pettigrew is a predator who used his position to exploit children for his own gratification, said acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei in a statement.

Parents and kids in Grayson County trusted Pettigrew as an educator, pastor and friend, all the while unaware of his criminal intent. Working with children is nothing short of a privilege, and EDTX is committed to ensuring that those who assume responsibility for children do not violate that position of trust."

The Christian Post reached out to Denison Church of the Nazarene for comment. A response is pending.

Law enforcement officials started investigating Pettigrew after they received referrals sent by two electronic surveillance providers and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children," according to the Justice Department. The referrals identified a computer user who uploaded suspected child pornography onto their online platforms.

Homeland Security Investigations agents executed federal search warrants at Pettigrews residence and the Denison Church of the Nazarene On Aug. 6, 2020.

Following the searches, Pettigrew was arrested.

Pettigrew has three children and began working for the church in 2006, according to a local CBS News affiliate.

Collin County chiropractor Chad Michael Rider is also being investigated for allegedly conspiring alongside Pettigrew to film undressed minors. Pettigrew admitted to conspiring with Rider to record minors.

Agents also executed a search warrant at Riders residence on Aug. 21, 2020.

According to information detailed in various court documents reported by News 12, there was an instance where cameras were set up in a room at the Denison church and Pettigrew and Rider allegedly instructed several minors to stand in a plastic wading pool, undress and use buckets of water to clean themselves.

Ryan L. Spradlin, special agent in charge of HSI Dallas, said in a statement that Pettigrews actions against minors are "unforgivable and repulsive."

The actions and the emotional trauma Pettigrew caused to the innocent children he preyed upon is devastating and life-altering, Spradlin said in the statement. Protecting those most vulnerable is a top priority for HSI and we will never relent in our pursuit of characters like Pettigrew who breach their positions of trust to exploit minors.

The case against Rider is ongoing as Homeland Security Investigations and the Grayson County Sheriffs office continue investigating.

The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, which was launched in 2006 by the Justice Department to combat child sexual exploitation.
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There is a group of former church members in my community, the pastor said, that is causing me great pain. They are regularly posting negative and divisive words on Facebook about my church, my family, and me. I have engaged them twice, and it only got worse. When you wrestle with a dirty pig, you get dirty yourself.

His story is one of many we hear at Church Answers regularly. Pastors of twenty years ago had to deal with the occasional anonymous hate mail, but today, pastors can get hit daily with negative social media posts. While there are many options for these critics on social media, Facebook is the vehicle of choice for most of them.

This toxic behavior hurts churches, and it hurts pastors. Here are just six of the ways pastors are hurt.

1. It discourages the pastor. Criticism usually stings. Criticism on a public forum stings even more.

2. It is an unbiblical way to handle conflict. These presumed Christians are not following biblical paths to discuss differences with the pastor. Matthew 18 is but one example of a biblical principle that could be violated. Also, check Ephesians 4: 29 for further guidelines on how a Christian should communicate.

3. It discourages the church. Church members read these attacks on pastors. Many become discouraged and disillusioned by the vitriol. Those who attack pastors on social media are directly attacking the church, the bride of Christ.

4. It does not allow for a response. Even if pastors do respond, many people do not read their comments. And there is hardly ever a response that does not generate another attack. There is no way pastors can articulate their perspective in a fair and godly context.

5. It hurts the testimony of Christians and the church. The world is watching us Christians on social media. Unfortunately, what the world sees is often a blight on our witness. Just recently, I was getting my hair cut when the stylist somewhat abruptly commented, You Christians are mean and nasty on Facebook. I could not argue otherwise.

6. It is a cowardly act. These critics of pastors dont often have the courage to speak directly with a pastor. They are keyboard cowards. It is hard to respond to such venom.

What often bothers pastors even more is the unwillingness of church members to defend pastors who are unfairly attacked. Perhaps the best place to offer support and a defense of the pastor is not on social media but in person.

Even more, pastors are often deeply hurt when church members assume the vitriol is true. It is painful to be attacked by a critic. It is even more painful when church members assume the worst in a pastor.

Its a sad and difficult reality. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue.

Originally published at Church Answers.
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We recently sat down with Craig Huey to discuss how Christians can vote their values in elections. Huey is an author and a political commentator who has run for Congress, and his newest book, The Christian Voter: 7 Non-Negotiables For Voting For, Not Against, Your Values, released last year.

This conversation has been edited for clarity and length. You can watch the full conversation at My Faith Votes here.

At My Faith Votes, we equip and empower Christians to pray for our leaders, think biblically and vote consistently. You address those three issues in The Christian Voter: 7 Non-Negotiables for Voting For, Not Against, Your Values. So lets begin with thinking biblically. How would you describe that?

A Christian worldview is based upon the Bible, and so you have to know what the Bible is saying about some key things. In my book, I identified 7 key biblical worldview non-negotiables.

For example, every Christian should be able to understand the importance of life, of being able to protect the unborn based upon Psalm 139 and other portions of Scripture. Protection of life is absolutely critical.

And what about the persecuted church, our brothers and sisters throughout the world? They endure torture, slavery, death; horrific things. Where do the politicians stand on advocating for religious freedom worldwide? Never before has the [global] church been under such a great attack as it is today in the area of holding on to our conscience, of being able to express our Christian beliefs without intimidation and fear that were going to violate some law thats going to end up with us receiving a fine or going to jail.

So those are a couple of key issues every Christian needs to take a look at. And if a candidate does not stand in alignment with biblical values and you vote for that candidate, then youre voting against your values. You want to vote for your biblical values.

How can pastors help their congregations understand these 7 non-negotiables in the context of what theyre hearing in the media?

Pastors need to stand up. The church in America is under attack like never before. Basically, were in a post-Christian society. Were in a culture thats becoming more and more hostile to Christianity.

And what do we see in Scripture? If you read through the New Testament, you see that Paul and the apostles and Christians were constantly under attack by their culture. And they were people who stood firm.

There were so many pastors in this last election who never talked about the election. In fact, they should have talked about the election and how to vote your values, not Democrat, not Republican, but key issues based upon a biblical worldview.

In your book, you talk about the war on Christianity. What are some examples of that?

There are so many examples. Jack Phillips, the Christian baker, when he was asked to do a cake that violated his conscience, a cake decorated for a gay couple, he stood firm and didnt compromise. And he's been in the court at least 8 times.

And theres Barronelle Stutzman, a florist in Richland, Washington. When a gay couple asked her to do their wedding, she said she couldnt use her creative talents because she believes marriage is between a man and woman in America. She went to court, but the Supreme Court decided not to hear her case. Shes going to lose her house, her retirement and her business just for standing firm in the values of her faith.

Schools cannot tell kids that we believe in the sanctity of marriage. This new promotion that undermines biblical teaching is being forced upon Christians. It's a religion of the left, of secularism, of atheists, and its treating Christianity as an enemy of people. And we're being marginalized that way in so many different areas of life. That's why Christians need to vote.

One reason we started My Faith Votes is because we learned that there were millions of Christians not voting in elections. Some feel they dont have enough information about candidates, especially when it comes to judicial elections. How do you help people make decisions in those instances?

Judges are critical in fighting for freedom because so many judges are what we call judicial activists. They legislate from the bench; theyre transforming government and society from the bench.

A strict constructionist is one who believes in following the Constitution, not what they think or believe in politically, but what the Constitution says. Thats the type of judge you want. At craighuey.com we have researchers who study voting records and voluntary questionnaires for judicial candidates. We gather this data and we rate the judges nationwide on whos a judicial activist, whos a strict constructionist and how to vote your values.

Most people, when they see ballots for judicial races, they leave them blank. Who then is able to win the election? Those who want to destroy freedom, to attack Christians. Theyre the winning judges because the left is so mobilized and organized. Take a look at the campaign donations and endorsements. The donations to these judicial races are huge. Its a planned, coordinated campaign to really stuff the judiciary during the elections. So, you want to make sure you vote for the good ones.

AtMy Faith Votes, we encourage you to stand for both high voter participation and voting your values. Upcoming elections include gubernatorial races in California (Sept. 14) and Virginia and New Jersey (Nov. 2). Learn more about the candidates and access Christian Voter Guides here.
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Every time that I remember what Christ has done for me, I keep on thinking how to reciprocate this incredible love. Jesus picked me up from the dust bin and washed me clean. I was on my way to destruction and was totally engrossed in sin when I had an encounter with Him. He nurtured me in His arms and commissioned me to proclaim His name among those who have never heard about Him.

I am sure that there are other Christians whose hearts are focused on how to reciprocate this love of Christ towards humanity. Everyone who has accepted Jesus as a Savior has the desire to love Him back. If a public opinion poll was carried to ascertain the number of Christians who love Jesus, it is safe to assume that those who love Jesus will be the majority, especially if the survey question is, "Do you really love Jesus?"

However, the real question is, how do we prove our love for Him? The Scripture says that, "For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). God proved that He loves us by sacrificing His son for us in order to save us. We are sure that God loves us by what He did for us. He did not just tell us that He loves us, but He did something outstanding to prove His love for us.

In our songs and praises, we eulogize Him. In our testimonies we tell of His wondrous works. Even in our prayers, we express how dear He is to our hearts and how we are ready to love Him until the end of time. If we are to be rated by our verbal expression of our love for Jesus, every Christian would pass the test. But a careful search for proofs of our love for Jesus may leave much to be desired. The challenge with merely confessing love for Christ is that it usually results only in lukewarmness and egotism.

It was obvious that all Jesus' disciples loved Him, but He demanded that they prove their love for Him through obedience to His commands: If you love me, obey my commandments" (John14:15). Jesus gave many commands to the disciples, but the most important one is The Great Commission.

The Great Commission is the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to His disciples that they spread His teachings to all the nations of the world (Mathew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47, John 20:21, Acts1:8). Jesus laid emphasis on this command because of its urgent importance to Him. If we do confess our love for Jesus daily, how many of us have obeyed this command?

We really need to prove our love for Jesus in a time like this because the devil and his cohorts are really out to stop the advancement of the Gospel. Afghanistans recent takeover by the Taliban is a great example of this, and its hardly the only one. Nigerian Christians fear that Boko Haram and ISWAP will soon overrun Aso Rock and take over the Nigerian seat of power.

Who are these people? Are they created by the devil? Are we sure that we have not Gospel-starved them? Or are they not part of those whom Jesus died for? Honest answers to these questions will expose our complacency, disobedience and negligence of the last command which Jesus gave to us. The harvest is indeed plenteous, but the laborers are few. If these attackers have been evangelized, don't we think that some of them would have become Christians? And if they are Christians, will they terrorize us anymore?

There is no doubt that we are living in the end time and should expect all these things, but the Bible says that Christ will not return until we take the Gospel of the kingdom to all the world as a witness to all nations (Matthew 24:14). Should we fold our hands and wait until we are all consumed? Or should we take a bold step like the four lepers in the Bible: "There were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, Why stay here until we die? (2 King 7:3). The story of the 4 lepers ended in abundance of foods for the famished people of Samaria. If we can trust God on our mission to reach the world with the Gospel, our story also might end in abundance of souls won for the Kingdom.

If there is any time that we need to take risks to prove our love for Christ, it is now. Christians should take risk to fast and pray continually for the souls of every lost person, including terrorists and enemies of the Gospel. We should risk our money to support missionaries and mission projects even when we are not a hundred percent sure of their genuineness. We should risk our lives and move to all the cities, towns and villages of every continent of the world, even when we are not sure about coming back alive. We cannot continue to sit in our churches confessing how wonderfully we love Jesus; time has come for us to work.



Jesus knew of the dangers associated with this command and assured us that He will be with us till the end of age (Mathew 28:20). If we love Him, let us obey His command and give ourselves for His Kingdom.
Christian group witnesses spiritual hunger in Haiti amid tragedies; death toll rises to 2,100

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Five days after an earthquake struck Haiti's southern coast, the death toll has risen to more than 2,100 and the number of people injured has surged to over 12,000. With an estimated 684,000 people in need of immediate assistance, several Christian charities are providing basic provisions and medical care for those devastated by the recent disasters.

Haitis Civil Protection Agency said late Wednesday that dozens of people are still missing and confirmed that 2,189 have been found dead, while those wounded had risen to 12,268.

Just two days after Saturday's 7.2 magnitude earthquake near Les Cayes, the country was hit with heavy rains from Tropical Storm Grace that brought flooding and hindered search and rescue efforts.

Among the tragedies to befall the nation is the two-day closure of a hospital in the nation's capital of Port-au-Prince, where some of the injured were transported. It was shut down Thursday to protest the kidnapping of two doctors, The Associated Press reported.

Several Christian organizations are assessing the damages and providing disaster relief. Those include Samaritan's Purse, which sent medical teams and water filtration units, and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, which was among the first to reach Saint-Louis de Sud. On Thursday, the group Free Wheelchair Mission announced its plans to send 2,500 wheelchairs to Haiti.

LiveBeyond, a Christian nonprofit organization that's been operating in Haiti for over a decade, said in a post on Twitter Monday that its operations in the Thomazeau region were not affected and urged people worldwide to pray for Haitians mourning the loss of loved ones and for the nation's recovery. The nonprofit is providing medical care for many who suffered injuries from the earthquake near Les Cayes.

Dr. David Vanderpool, the founder of LiveBeyond, said he's working to get back to Haiti, as LiveBeyond has opened its hospital to receive the injured by helicopter as part of a disaster relief group working under the Haitian Ministry of Health. They anticipate expenses nearing $200,000 to provide medical care and disaster relief assistance to those in need.

Saturday's earthquake is the deadliest to hit the Caribbean nation since January 2010, when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake claimed 316,000 lives and left more than 1.5 million homeless.

The impoverished nation was already struggling in the social and political aftermath of the assassination of President Jouvenal Moise last month.

Haiti has also seen an increase in crime since last year. The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti stated in a February report that there were 234 kidnappings in the previous 12 months, an increase of 200% from the previous year.

In a recent interview with The Christian Post, Vanderpool, who launched LiveBeyond in 2005 to provide disaster relief in response to Hurricane Katrina and then went to Haiti in 2010 to help relief efforts after that earthquake, said many Haitians of faith "have turned to God more now than ever."

Vanderpool, a trauma surgeon, and his wife, Laurie Vanderpool, were already short-term missionaries working around the world for LiveBeyond when they followed God's call to expand the organization to Haiti, where they provide healthcare, nutrition and educational resources for women and children.

After the couple moved to Haiti, Vanderpool said he and his wife bought 63 acres of land where they built The Scott & Tracie Hamilton Guest House and a medical clinic.

Since 2010, LiveBeyond has provided medical care to thousands of residents in the Thomazeau area of Haiti who had no access to healthcare, and drilled 97 water wells to provide safer drinking water. These wells provide over 200,000 gallons of water to area residents each day.

Along with spiritual support through Scripture, prayer and discipleship training, LiveBeyond serves thousands of meals daily to children and families. It also estimates that 300 lives have been saved through its maternal health program.

Community healthcare worker programs are also offered, where workers go out in the community daily and care for the sick. LiveBeyond also provides educational programs for children in first through the 11th grade, including for students with special needs.

Through their organization, the Vanderpools have increased nutritional support from 6,400 children per day to nearly 7,500. Vanderpool said he estimates that his organization would need to expand to feeding roughly 10,000 children each day to fully provide for all the hungry children in Thomazeau.

Although LiveBeyond is fulfilling its mission in Haiti, it has also come with risks.

Five years after the Vanderpools moved to the Caribbean island, five armed gang members attempted to kidnap Laurie Vanderpool while she was standing outside the couple's home.

Both David and Laurie Vanderpool ran to escape. Laurie, however, was severely injured by the attackers who dragged and beat her. As a trauma surgeon, Vanderpool said he had no choice but to perform multiple surgeries on his wife on-site at the medical clinic on their property. She was later transported to the U.S.for further medical treatment.

Although Laurie Vanderpool didn't require any long-term hospitalization and she has no permanent injuries, it took nearly a month for her to fully recover.

Following his wifes attack, Vanderpool said they had no hesitation in their minds about continuing God's mission for them in Haiti.

Vanderpool said he has seen violence firsthand, particularly gang-related violence, which has escalated since the assassination of Moise on July 7, he added. Yet, the increase in crime and facing natural disasters has led to a rise in spiritual hunger and growth among Haitians.

Even though Im not currently there now, our base is operating completely normal, and our staff have reported that we are feeding more people because marketplaces and ports have been shut down in Haiti, so food is scarce, he said. Typically, persecution increases faith for those who have faith."

Introducing people to the Christian faith is a real challenging situation because many people respond differently. But many Haitians with faith have turned to God more now than ever, he said.

Even with the rising number of Haitians turning to God, Vanderpool said thatduring the decade he's been doing missions work in Haiti, he has learned and seen firsthandthat many Haitians practice Voodoo as a religion.

Haiti's former minister of tourism, Colombe Emilie Jessy Menos, who now serves as minister delegate to the prime minister, described the stronghold Voodoo has in many Haitians lives.

In an interview with "This Is America & The World" host Dennis Wholey in 2018, two years after the country was recovering from Hurricane Matthew, Menos described Voodoo as the center of Haitian culture. She asserted at the time that even many Catholic and Protestant Haitians incorporate Voodoo practices in their daily lives.

Vanderpool told CP that there are many Voodoo priests who have influence over people because they are known for "casting spells and asserting their power in Haitis villages," and "they often are well-off."

Many people in Haiti worship the devil through Voodoo and they understand there are bad spiritual forces in the world, and that when bad things are happening its due to the evil that Satan brings about, Vanderpool said. Many Haitians have a clear picture of the spiritual realm and they know God is a God of love.

"But on the one hand, Satan has power in this world because he can do things in this world and God doesnt necessarily stop him. And the Haitians that worship Satan tap into the power that Satan has, and that is the attraction.

"It's a complex issue, and our goal is to continue to preach about the truth that can be found in God only, while doing the work we were called by God to do for the purpose of aiding in humanitarian development to improve people's physical and spiritual lives," Vanderpool added.

Even with the increased levels of violence in Haiti, Vanderpool said he and his wife plan to return to advance the mission work of their nonprofit.

But he cautioned church missions groups against traveling to Haiti at this time and instead give to organizations that are already operating on the ground.

Before the earthquake, the U.S. State Department had already raised its travel advisory to a level four "due to kidnapping, crime and civil unrest."

I would discourage any short-term mission trips to Haiti at this time because of the increased danger," Vanderpool said of the gang violence. "The way people can help is to find a good organization that is feeding children and support it."

Another way Vanderpool said people can help Haiti is by praying for the country.

We are asking people to pray that the peace of God will permeate Haiti, that God will allow His peace to reign in Haiti, and godly leaders will be raised up in the country, he said. Pray that the corruption that exists in Haiti will be eliminated and that godliness will then reign. Our hopes and dreams are to continue to expand our mission and to be able to take care of more people and that more Haitians will follow a godly path.

Our message as we go out into the communities has always been to preach that God is a God of peace and justice and we hope to keep taking care of Haitis physical needs because we were called to go to Haiti and that calling supersedes danger, he said, adding that more than 100 LiveBeyond employees are keeping their operations going in Haiti.

Vanderpool's book, Live Beyond: A Radical Call to Surrender and Servedetails the couple's work in Christian missions.
Christian MP urges Boris Johnson to rescue over 200 missionaries from Afghanistan

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A member of the U.K. Parliament has implored Prime Minister Boris Johnson to rescue 228 Christian missionaries who need to evacuate Afghanistan.

As the Taliban has taken control of Afghanistan, over 10,000 American citizens and Afghanis fearful of the Taliban are also desperately trying to flee the country.

Ian Paisley, a member of the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland, spoke before the House of Commons on Wednesday, stressing the need to get missionaries to safety in light of the Taliban takeover.

"He [Johnson] will be aware that there are 228 missionaries in Afghanistan currently under sentence of death, those missionaries need to be taken out of Afghanistan, said Paisley, as reported by the Belfast Telegraph.

Will the prime minister assure the house every effort will be made to bring back to safe haven, people whose lives are under threat as a result of the catastrophe and foreign policy episode that has gone on in that country?

For his part, Johnson responded that the government would do everything we can to successfully evacuate people from Afghanistan, pledging to resettle at least 5,000 Afghans, possibly as many as 20,000 altogether.

"I'm sure that colleagues across the house, literally every member I imagine, has received messages from people who know someone who needs to get out of Afghanistan, and I can tell the right honorable gentleman that we are doing everything we can to help out of that country, those people to whom we owe a debt of obligation."

Johnson added, "I can tell the House that we have so far secured the safe return of 306 U.K. nationals and 2,052 Afghan nationals as part of our resettlement program, with a further 2,000 Afghan applications completed and many more being processed."

On the same day, First Minister Paul Givan and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill of the Northern Ireland Executive released statements expressing their support to help Afghan refugees.

Givan remarked that the pain and suffering we see in Afghanistan among those desperately trying to escape Taliban rule is truly profound.

Northern Ireland has not been found wanting when it comes to those seeking refuge or fleeing persecution. In the wake of the Syrian conflict, Northern Ireland took in more than 1,800 people  a higher proportional share than anywhere else in the U.K., stated Givan.

And yet, we have all been moved once again by the scenes in Afghanistan. I am pleased to see a collective will across political parties to address the current situation. We are determined to work with our many partners across society and fellow administrations to offer what sanctuary we can.

Open Doors USA, a U.S.-based Christian persecution watchdog group, ranks Afghanistan at No. 2 on its list of the worst countries for Christians to live.

It is impossible to live openly as a Christian in Afghanistan. Leaving Islam is considered shameful, and Christian converts face dire consequences if their new faith is discovered, stated Open Doors earlier this year.

All Christians in Afghanistan are extremely vulnerable to persecution. Areas controlled by the Taliban are particularly oppressive, but there is no safe way to express any form of Christian faith in the country.
Uganda: Father murders son for refusing to forsake his faith in Jesus

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A 20-year-old man in Uganda who had converted from Islam to Christianity was tied up and murdered by his own father after he refused to forsake his faith in Jesus, according to a report.

The victim, identified as Tabiruka Tefiiro from Bupalama village in Kibuku districts Buseta sub-county, was murdered by his Muslim father, Kasimu Kawona, on Sunday, Morning Star News reported.

Tefiiro had been living and working in Kampala since he put his faith in Christ in 2019. Amid pressure from family members to return to Islam, Tefiiro agreed to come back on Aug. 1 but continued to refuse to recant his faith in Christ.

His father, who was away, returned on Saturday and called a family meeting to question Tefiiro about whether he had come back to Islam.

I am mature enough to join any religion that I feel like because I am above 18 years old, Tefiiro told his father. I want to confirm that I am saved by the grace of God. I cant renounce my Christian faith now or in the future, the victim added, according to his aunt.

Kawona left home and returned on Sunday with a knife and hoe and struck Tefiiro, who managed to escape to a neighbors house.

He followed Tefiiro and forcefully entered the house and forced him back to the homestead, where he tied him up and started beating him with the hoe, the relative added. He fell down unconscious. He then hanged him up.

Kawona was not charged with murder but a lesser charge of manslaughter because he killed his son in anger for leaving Islam, sources told MSN.

Muslim neighbors and local leaders condemned the murder, however.

In June, 39-year-old Abudlawali Kijwalo from Kibuku Districts Nankodo area was attacked by his brother wielding a machete as punishment for putting his faith in Christ and listening to gospel music. Kijwalo survived but remained hospitalized for a long time.

While most people in Uganda are Christian, some eastern and central regions have higher concentrations of Muslims.

The Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project shows that about 11.5% of Ugandas population is Muslim. Muslims in Uganda are primarily Sunni. Armed attacks and murders of converts are not uncommon in the region.

Radical Islams influence has grown steadily, and many Christians within the majority-Muslim border regions are facing severe persecution, especially those who convert from Islam, a Voice of the Martyrs factsheet explains.

Despite the risks, evangelical churches in Uganda have responded by reaching out to their neighbors; many churches are training leaders how to share the Gospel with Muslims and care for those who are persecuted after they become Christians.
Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Tuesday:

Best Buy Inc., up $9.33 to $121.49.

The nations largest consumer electronics chain raised its full-year sales forecast after reporting strong quarterly results.

Palo Alto Networks Inc., up $69.30 to $441.87.

The cybersecurity company released results that beat analysts' forecasts and issued a strong outlook for the full year.

Walmart Inc., down $1.55 to $148.90.

The company said it will open up its delivery service to other retailers, allowing them to send goods directly to their customers homes.

Advance Auto Parts Inc., up 1 cent to $207.78.

The auto parts seller's latest profit report easily beat analysts' expectations, and the company also increased its stock buyback program.

Peloton Interactive Inc., up $7.12 to $113.71.

The at-home exercise company said it would release a new version of its Tread workout machine on Augsust 30.

Wynn Resorts Ltd., up $6.51 to $99.44.

The casino operator rose on news that China was easing covid testing requirements for travel to Macau from mainland China.

Southern Co., down 94 cents to $65.73.

Utilities and other safe-play stocks lagged the rest of the market.

Medtronic PLC, up $4.09 to $132.57.

The medical technology company reported earnings that came in ahead of what Wall Street analysts were looking for.
Who was the true creator of the Flamin 'Hot Cheetos ? The origin of this popular fry became a topic of discussion this year.

The story that had endured since the early 2000s - and has inspired entrepreneurs of all ages - has all the makings of a Hollywood-worthy story of self-improvement. It said that Richard Montanez , the son of Mexican migrants in California, invented the Cheetos variant when inspired by Mexican corn while working as a janitor in a Frito-Lay factory and that this creation led him to become vice president of multicultural sales. and promotions of the PepsiCo-owned company until 2019 when he left the company.

In his autobiography titled "A Boy, a Burrito and a Cookie" ( "A child, a burrito and a biscuit"), Montanez that is inspired to see the preparation of a seller of corn Mexican style (with chili powder) it was near his house. One day when the Cheetos gang broke down, he decided to take a bag that was not yet ready to experiment with frying. The first to try his new creation were his colleagues, who really enjoyed the snack. After good reviews, the book tells that Montanez decided to present his idea to Roger Enrico, the president of the company and that is how the Flamin 'Hot Cheetos were created.

Richard began giving motivational talks about success and how to achieve it. In addition to his autobiography, this summer another book went on sale ( Flamin 'Hot ) that talks about how Montanez went from being a janitor to an executive and in 2019 the production of a film about history was announced, which would be directed by Eva Longoria .

What the LA Times Said

In May 2021, Montanez's story was clouded by an LA Times report called The Man Who Didn't Invents Flamin 'Hot Cheetos, which points out that there is no evidence that Mexican-Americans were the sole inventor of spicy Cheetos.

Based on several interviews with employees who worked at the same time as Montanez and the archives of the same company, the Los Angeles newspaper pointed out that there is no proof that the Flamin 'Hot Cheetos were his invention. According to his report, the product was created in 1989 in Texas and was designed to compete with spicy snacks sold in the city. The one who actually ran the entire line of Flamin Hot products, according to an LA Time quote from a Frito-Lay spokesperson, was Lynne Greenfeld, a junior employee at the time.

The LA Times reported that the snack company asserted that they valued Richard's numerous contributions to the company, "especially his knowledge of Hispanic consumers, but we do not credit him with the creation of Flamin 'Hot Cheetos or any Flamin' Hot product."

Six people confirmed this story, but according to the Californian newspaper , the only employee who supported Richard's version was Al Carey , another executive who was present at Montanez's development, but says he does not remember that Enrico, president of the company , was present at that product presentation meeting.

By the count, it was until 2018 that Lynne Greenfeld spoke with and the company began a serious investigation into the origin of the cheese snacks. They found no evidence that Montanez had invented the product or that such a meeting with Enrico had happened.

However, Montanez answered the report through an interview with Variety where he confirmed his version of events and reaffirmed that he came up with the idea during one of the "method improvement programs" that the company had to search for new ideas for products. .

"I was his greatest ambassador," Montanez told Variety . But I'll tell you one thing: You come to love a company more than they love you. Keep that in mind.

Montanez claimed that he does not know Greenfeld, but remembers testing Cheetos seasoning in his garage. However, he said he was "kicked out" from product testing in the market.

And what then PepsiCo said

A few days after the initial LA Times report , PepsiCo, the parent company of which Frito-Lay is part, came out to defend Montanez through a statement (here reproduced by Variety ) before various media. In it, he says that es Montanez was invaluable to the company and to the Flamin 'Hot Cheetos product, although he did not confirm as such if the Mexican American was the sole creator of the fritters.

There's been a lot of talk lately about the origin of Flamin 'Hot Cheetos. The information we gave to the media has been misinterpreted by some, leading to confusion about our position, the company said.

Frito-Lay noted that his previous statements had unleashed "a variety of emotions among our employees and consumers, and caused tension in our valued friendship with Richard Montanez and the Latino community" (as reported by the Latin Heat site) . PepsiCo praised Montanez for his more than 40-year career with the brand, saying that his contribution to the company in understanding Hispanics had been "invaluable."

The multinational remarked that they have no reason to doubt Montanez's version of how he contributed ideas for new products for the Cheetos brand, but he did emphasize that, at the time of the creation of the Flamin 'Hot, there was another team that was not related to Montanez who was developing other spicy versions of the cheese snack.

Occasionally it happened that there were several workflows on the same product without interacting, when the divisions were working independently of each other and were not the best at communicating. However, because we cannot draw a clear link between them does not mean that we do not value all their contributions and ingenuity, including those of Richard, the company said.

Longoria retweeted PepsiCo's statement about Montanez and the film, which will be produced by Searchlight Pictures, appears to be still in development and already has a cast.

What do you think is the reason for the confusion? Do you believe in the story of Montanez?

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Carnival Cruise Line is tightening its vaccine mandate beginning this week, announcing that vaccination will be required for all passengers except children under 12 and adults with medical conditions that prohibit inoculation.

The move came Sunday, three days after the Bahamas issued an emergency order barring cruise ships from entering the country's ports beginning Sept. 3 unless all passengers over 12 have gotten the shots. An exception is made for those with medical issues that preclude inoculation.

Carnival cited the order in announcing the updated vaccination rules, saying it was adapting to "evolving requirements of some of its destinations."

The mandate applies to departures from all Atlantic and Gulf homeports, the company said. Previously, Carnival followed U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines requiring at least 95% of all guests and crew be fully vaccinated; the cruise line said all of its crew members have gotten the shots. The new rule is effective Aug. 28 through October.

"The requirements for cruise ships to enter ports outside the U.S. continue to evolve, and Carnival Cruise Line must operate in full compliance with these regulations," Carnival brand ambassador John Heald wrote on Facebook. He added, "We believe these will be will temporary measures and apologise for any disruption caused to our guests."

Other major cruise lines had already imposed strict inoculation requirements, despite a Florida law that bans companies from demanding proof of vaccination against the coronavirus.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings sued Florida over the law, which has been championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. A federal judge sided with Norwegian earlier this month, and the company became the first to require every person on board in Florida to be fully vaccinated.

Royal Caribbean also updated its vaccination policy to comply with the Bahamas order. For cruises departing from any U.S. port, the shots are required for all guests over 12.
The Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Monday, making it one of the most important days in the history of the pharmaceutical company.

But, since nothing can be purely good on the Internet, the company immediately became a punchline.

We regret to inform you, dear reader, that they named the vaccine Comirnaty.

Comirnaty?

Yes, Comirnaty.

As one user put it, "Achievement unlocked: full FDA approval. Also unlocked: crappy hard-to-pronounce word - Comirnaty. Thanks, marketing."

Indeed, though the FDA announced that it's pronounced "koe-mir'-na-tee," much has been made about the difficulties in actually saying it aloud. Writer Drew Magary likened it to "a Philly resident trying to say 'community.' " He also suggested it would "be amusing if Pfizer did a big ad blitz for Comirnaty without mentioning it's the COVID vaccine AT ALL. Like if they just said 'Promotes lung girth!' and jabs suddenly went up nationwide by 60%." - which naturally led to a flood of jokes about Viagra, which is also produced by Pfizer.

Almost immediately, Twitter users piled on to point out the absurdity of Comirnaty. CNN editor Ariel Edwards-Levy implored everyone to "not lose sight of the fact that 'Comirnaty' is an objectively hilarious brand name."

"Every vaccine should get a name like someone pronouncing 'community' with three or four deviled eggs in their mouth," added another user.

Many imagined the meeting that led to that letter salad.

"I feel like the brainstorm session that came up with the name 'Comirnaty' either ended too soon or went on way too long," tweeted Seattle pulmonologist Nick Mark.

"The person(s) who came up with this name should never be allowed to name anything ever again. They shouldn't even be allowed to name their pets," said entrepreneur Christopher Bouzy in a particularly harsh tweet.

Meanwhile, Ryan Henyard, co-host of the "Black Movie Podcast," found some inspiration in the name - albeit not the kind the vaccine's marketing team might appreciate. He tweeted, "If someone can come up with the name 'Comirnaty' for the most important pharmacological advance in a century and not get laughed out of the room. I guess I should be less shy about my work and ideas that are actually good."

So, what did happen?

The brainstorming session that produced the name Comirnaty was actually led by the aptly named marketing agency the Brand Institute.

"The name is coined from covid-19 immunity, and then embeds the mRNA in the middle, which is the platform technology, and as a whole the name is meant to evoke the word community," Scott Piergrossi, the company's president of operations and communications, told the trade publication Fierce Pharma in December 2020. The name has already been in use in several countries since the drug was approved by Swiss and European regulators last year.

Unfortunately for the Brand Institute, this mash-up of community, immunity, mRNA and covid seemed to be lost on most U.S.-based Twitter users on Monday. Instead, many of their minds drifted to pop culture.

The name reminded many of them of the beloved NBC sitcom "Community." Others imagined Don Draper from "Mad Men" unveiling the new brand name. "Don Draper pitching a rapt boardroom, everyone's eyes brimming with tears," tweeted Slate editor Sam Adams. " 'It isn't just people. It's . . . Comirnaty.' "

"Comirnaty my cage, and I've been doin' just fine," tweeted one user, referencing the Killers's hit song "Mr. Brightside," which begins, "Coming out of my cage, and I've been doin' just fine."

Not helping Pfizer/Comirnaty's case is that, in reality, the Moderna vaccine will have the objectively cooler name: SpikeVax. How utterly metal. As Seth Trueger, an emergency physician at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, put it, "squares can get the now-FDA-approved Pfizer Comirnaty or be a rebel and get the EUAed Spikevax."

Insider columnist Josh Barro echoed the thought: "TIL the Moderna shot has a cool brand name ('Spikevax') and the Pfizer shot has a loser brand name ('Comirnaty')"

Talking Points Memo founder Josh Marshall tweeted, "seriously why even have a name if that's the name. Just go with Pfizer."

In the end, like or hate it, "Comirnaty" is here to stay. Perhaps Patrick deHahn, a homepage editor for the National News, summed up the way everyone seems to be feeling about the name best with his simple, straightforward tweet.

"I'm still stuck on the Comirnaty name," he said.
LONDON (AP)  Charlie Watts, the self-effacing and unshakeable Rolling Stones drummer who helped anchor one of rocks greatest rhythm sections and used his day job to support his enduring love of jazz, has died, according to his publicist. He was 80.

Bernard Doherty said Tuesday that Watts passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.

Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones, one of the greatest drummers of his generation, Doherty said.

Watts had announced he would not tour with the Stones in 2021 because of an undefined health issue.

The quiet, elegantly dressed Watts was often ranked with Keith Moon, Ginger Baker and a handful of others as a premier rock drummer, respected worldwide for his muscular, swinging style as the Stones rose from their scruffy beginnings to international superstardom. He joined the band early in 1963 and remained for almost 60 years, ranked just behind Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as the groups longest lasting and most essential member.

Watts stayed on, and largely held himself apart, through the drug abuse, creative clashes and ego wars that helped kill founding member Brian Jones, drove bassist Bill Wyman and Jones replacement Mick Taylor to quit and otherwise made being in the Stones the most exhausting of jobs.

A classic Stones song like Brown Sugar and Start Me Up often began with a hard guitar riff from Richards, with Watts following closely behind, and Wyman, as the bassist liked to say, fattening the sound. Watts speed, power and time keeping were never better showcased than during the concert documentary, Shine a Light, when director Martin Scorsese filmed Jumpin Jack Flash from where he drummed toward the back of the stage.

Watts didnt care for flashy solos or attention of any kind, but with Wyman and Richards forged some of rocks deepest grooves on Honky Tonk Women, Brown Sugar and other songs. The drummer adapted well to everything from the disco of Miss You to the jazzy Cant You Hear Me Knocking and the dreamy ballad Moonlight Mile.

The Stones began, Watts said, as white blokes from England playing Black American music but quickly evolved their own distinctive sound. Watts was a jazz drummer in his early years and never lost his affinity for the music he first loved, returning to it during the long breaks between Stones tours.

Charles Robert Watts, son of a truck driver and a homemaker, was born in Neasden, London, on June 2, 1941. From childhood, he was passionate about music  falling in love with the drums after hearing Chico Hamilton and teaching himself to play by listening to records by jazz giants like Johnny Dodds, Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington.

Watts career took off after he played with Alexis Korners Blues Incorporated, for whom Jagger also performed, and was encouraged by Korner to join the Stones.

Watts wasnt a rock music fan but was guided by Richards and Brian Jones as he absorbed blues and rock records. He said the band could trace its roots to a brief period when he had lost his job and shared an apartment with Jagger and Richards because he could live there rent-free.

Watts was the final man to join the Stones; the band had searched for months to find a permanent drummer and feared Watts was too accomplished for them. Richards recalled the band wanting him so badly to join that members cut down on expenses so they could afford to pay Watts a proper salary. Watts said he believed at first the band would be lucky to last a year.

Every band Id ever been in had lasted a week, he said. I always thought the Stones would last a week, then a fortnight, and then suddenly, its 30 years.

He found refuge from the rock life, marrying Shirley Ann Shepherd in 1964 and having a daughter, Seraphina, soon after. While other famous rock marriages crumbled, theirs held.

Watts generally resisted the excesses of his bandmates, but fell into heroin addiction in the mid-1980s. He credited his stable relationship with his wife for getting him off drugs.

With his financial future secure because of the Stones status, Watts was able to indulge his passion for jazz by putting together some of the most talented players in Britain for a series of recordings and performances.

His first jazz disc was 1986s Live at Fulham Town Hall by the Charlie Watts Orchestra. Others by the Charlie Watts Quintet followed, and he then expanded that group into the Charlie Watts and the Tentet.

He was stricken with throat cancer in 2004. After extensive treatment he made a full recovery and resumed touring with both the Stones and his jazz band.

By then, hed evolved into a craggy, white-haired, impeccably dressed senior statesman of rock. It was not unusual to see him wearing a custom-made suit and polka dot tie while his bandmates wore grungy jeans and T-shirts.

In the tumultuous, extremely competitive world of rock and roll, Watts seemed to make few enemies.

It all seems to boil down to a certain quality which is as rare as hens teeth in the music business, but which Charlie Watts is perceived to have in abundance. In a word, decency, columnist Barbara Ellen wrote after interviewing Watts in 2000. Youve got to hand it to a ... man whos played with the worlds most influential rock n roll band ... and stayed happily married to his wife, Shirley. ... A man who, moreover, remains resolutely determined not to take his elevated position too seriously.

____

Katz contributed to this report before his death. Former Associated Press Writer Janelle Stecklein compiled biographical material.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

SpongeBob Squarepants has a better chance of getting his boating license than this Houston pop-up has of getting away with knocking off the franchise.

Houston's own The Rusty Krab Experience has been slapped with a copyright infringement lawsuit from Viacom, the media corporation that owns Nickelodeon and the under-the-sea cartoon. The company wants upwards of $250,000 from Kefi HTX and Sanju Chand, the company and owner behind the experience.

The pop-up, located at 711 Main Street in downtown, bills itself as an "artistic adaptation recreation" of the beloved kids series that offers slightly altered references to the show. Of course, Krusty Krab is changed to "Rusty Krab."

SpongeBob is instead called "The Big Sponge," Patrick is now "Pinky," and Bikini Bottom is called "Bottom of the Bikini." Squidward is "Octoward," Mrs. Puff is "Professor Pufferfish" and Plankton is "Tiny Cyclops."

Worst of all? Fictional Texas native Sandy Cheeks was changed to the "Cheeky Texan."

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

The pop-up even has this disclaimer (or admission of guilt, depending on who you ask) at the bottom of its website:

"We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with NICKELODEON, or the SPONGEBOB BRAND DIRECTLY, or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates. This is Kefi HTX's artistic adaptation recreation of an amazing series that added value to our childhood! Enjoy the story telling from OUR eyes in the most FUN WAY!"

Charging for someone's child to have a knock-off experience sure sounds like a "fun way" to make a quick buck. The rest of the website is a treasure trove of red flags.

Viacom caught wind of the pop-up and filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Kefi HTX violated the law and Viacom's own licensing guidelines, particularly by associating the brand with alcoholic drinks, according to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by Chron.

Viacom has a strict policy against using its SpongeBob Squarepants brand, marketed to kids six and up, to sell alcohol. It also said the name and logo design of Rusty Krab was "confusingly similar" to the actual Krusty Krab name.

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Attorneys tried to settle things out of court by sending the company a cease and desist letter in May 2021, but the company didn't comply.

Chand, the owner being sued, instead reached out to Viacom to "partner up," according to the lawsuit. Viacom declined.

It's unclear who exactly the experience is marketed to. Its drink menu is just as large as its food menu, but tickets for kids are discounted.

Parents complained in online reviews, one saying that her child was "verbally and then physically assaulted" by a large group of adults who were apparently intoxicated, according to the lawsuit.

Other reviews on Facebook were just as negative:

Kefi HTX has yet to formally respond to the lawsuit, and an employee at The Rusty Krab Experience told Chron the pop-up had no comment when reached by phone. Viacom is seeking a $250,000 payout from the company, a transfer of all assets and all of the profits the pop-up has made so far.

What do you think? Is this good parody or blatant infringement? Let me know on Twitter: @jayrjordan
Registration: Open now

Program Runs: Sept. 1-30

Contact: Billy Pounds, 936-522-3944, bpounds@cityofconroe.org

The Conroe Aquatic Center offers a monthly program that provides swimming workouts for children up to age 16. Those interested in taking part in this program must pass a swim test. The cost is based on the number of days of participation per week. For more information about this program, please call 936-522-3930 or visit cityofconroe.org.

Senior Dances

Event Dates: Aug. 27, Sept. 3, 10, 17 & 24

Contact: Kellie Hall, 936-522-3906, khall@cityofconroe.org

Join the fun at the Senior Dances. Couples and singles are welcome to dances featuring bands from Country & Western to Golden Oldies. Line dances and mixers get everyone involved. Dances are held every Friday evening at the City of Conroe Activity Center, 1204 Candy Cane Lane. Cost is $5 per person at the door. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dance starts at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m. Upcoming bands are Texas Ramblers on Aug. 27, Texas Holdem on Sept. 3, Jem Dandy on Sept.10, Whisky Bent on Sept. 17 and Loose Change on Sept. 24. Contact the C.K. Ray Recreation Center at 936-522-3900 or online at cityofconroe.org for more information.

Learn to Swim Skill Evaluations

Program Runs: Saturday, Aug. 28

Contact: Billy Pounds

Phone: 936-522-3930

Email: bpounds@cityofconroe.org

The fall session of our Learn-to-Swim program is just around the corner! There are many different levels of swimming programs offered in the Citys progressive swim lesson program. Individuals age three and older and new to our program should plan to attend one of the scheduled skills evaluation sessions before registering into a class. The evaluation session will provide direction and assistance in getting registered into the proper level of the program. There is no additional charge for attending an evaluation session. You may register on-line or in-person at the Conroe Aquatic Center. For more information call 936-522-3930 or visit cityofconroe.org.

Youth Dance

Registration: Through Aug. 30

Program Runs: Sept. 7 through Oct. 7

Contact: Kellie Hall, 936-522-3906, khall@cityofconroe.org

Youth Dance classes are now open for fall session one enrollment at the C.K. Ray Recreation Center. Tap, ballet and jazz programs offer students ages 18 months to 16 years an opportunity to experience dance for the first time or continue to advance their skills. Classes are offered Tuesday and Thursday at various times. The registration fee is $56 for City of Conroe residents and $70 for non-residents. For more information call the C.K. Ray Recreation Center at 936-522-3900.

First Thursday Free Concert Series

Event Date: Sept. 2

Contact: Kellie Hall, 936-522-3906, kahll@cityofconroe.org

Enjoy the sounds of Hamilton Loomis (blues/jazz) on Thursday, Sept. 2. Music begins at 7 p.m. Outside food and beverages (nonalcoholic) are permitted. Beer and concessions are available for sale on site. This is the last concert of the series. Contact the C.K. Ray Recreation Center at 936-522-3900 or online at cityofconroe.org for more information.

Learn to Swim - Fall Session Group Lessons

Registration: Sept. 8-15

Program Runs: Sept. 20 through Oct. 21

Contact: Billy Pounds, 936-522-3944, bpounds@cityofconroe.org

The Conroe Aquatic Center offers American Red Cross Learn to Swim classes for everyone over the age of six months. Conroe residents can register online beginning Wednesday, Sept. 8, and non-residents Friday, Sept. 10. The cost is $40 for Conroe residents and $50 for non-residents. Classes begin on Sept. 20. Morning and afternoon classes are being offered. Residents are reminded to update their residency status once a year by visiting the Aquatic Center to verify their resident address. For more information about Learn to Swim classes or assistance setting up your online account, please call 936-522-3930 or visit cityofconroe.org.

KidFish

Event Date: Sept. 11

Contact: Kellie Hall, 936-522-3906, khall@cityofconroe.org

KidFish is a free event for children age 16 and younger. All fishing participants must register at the event. Limited poles and bait are provided. Participants may use their own fishing gear. The event is free, and we hope that through participation in the event, kids gain an appreciation for the sport of fishing as well as awareness for the environment and its natural resources. Trophies will be awarded immediately following the final measuring of the fishes. The event is from 9 a.m. to noon at Carl Barton, Jr. Park. KidFish is a nonprofit outreach program designed to educate and provide a hands-on fishing experience and memories for children and families. Donations to help expand the KidFish program are accepted at the event. Contact the C.K. Ray Recreation Center at 936-522-3900 or online at cityofconroe.org for more information.
MIAMI (AP)  A group of Haitian migrants was taken into federal custody after coming ashore Tuesday afternoon in South Florida, federal authorities said.

Federal officers and local law enforcement took 42 migrants into custody near Key Biscayne, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Chief Patrol Agent Thomas Martin posted on social media.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Patricia A. O'Brien, Georgetown University

(THE CONVERSATION) Seventy years after the U.S., Australia and New Zealand signed a treaty committing them to defend one another and work together to ensure a peaceful Pacific, the alliance has assumed new and crucial relevance as all three countries face economic, political and diplomatic challenges from China.

The ANZUS Treaty, named with the initials of the three countries, emerged in 1951 from the nations shared history and became an important element of post-World War II international relations. Now, as the Pacific region is ominously poised on the brink of war, the alliance is again a key part of international relations and power struggles.

Deep shared pasts

Beyond the ancient connections between Indigenous Hawaiians and New Zealands Maori people, the three nations stories have been intertwined for centuries.

Britain began colonizing Australia in 1788 because of the loss of the American colonies. Some advocates wanted to relocate American loyalists, as well as indentured servants once destined for North America, to the South Pacific instead. Exiled British loyalists scattered around the empire, with only some reaching the South Pacific. But for 160,000 convicts, Australias colonies became their place of banishment over the next 80 years.

At the end of the 18th century, New England whalers and sealers began arriving in New Zealand and Australia. Complex ongoing connections spanned the Pacific over the subsequent years from trade, idea flows and movements of people, fueled especially by Pacific gold rushes. All three societies developed similiar nation-founding myths out of their parallel experiences of conquering Indigenous peoples to form their respective white nations.

Complex interconnections reached new heights during World War II. In 1940, spurred by impending war, the U.S. recognized Australia as an independent nation, distinct from the United Kingdom. Two years later, the U.S. did the same for New Zealand, while the three nations military forces were joined in fighting a war against imperial Japan.

The Cold War birth of ANZUS

All three nations played critical roles in bringing about Japans 1945 surrender, and all were transformed by that experience. More than a million U.S. troops were stationed in Australia and New Zealand to defend those countries against feared Japanese invasions. The sheer numbers of them, among the countries combined 8.6million residents, reshaped the provincial societies, Americanizing their music and romantic rituals. Australia and New Zealand were also transformed by 17,000 women leaving their homelands to become American wives and mothers.

Then from 1949, when Communists took over China, the Pacific region was plunged into the Cold War. The outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 further escalated anxieties about communisms spread. Yet Australia and New Zealand still felt threatened by a rearmed, aggressive Japan.

There was a complication, though: The U.S. wanted to rapidly rebuild Japan to help defend democracy and peace in the North Pacific. This objective was to be enshrined in a proposed mutual security alliance with the former bitter enemy.

The U.S. had been ambivalent about formalizing security arrangements with only Australia and New Zealand. As the U.S. advanced its Japan treaty in 1951, however, Australia and New Zealand met this development with what the U.S. State Department called great suspicion and disapproval. So the three nations devised a compromise to placate Australia and New Zealands concerns.

That compromise was a trilateral agreement, the ANZUS Treaty. It guaranteed each nations security and set up ongoing regional cooperation to protect peace in the Pacific. The ANZUS Treaty was signed in San Francisco on Sept. 1, 1951, seven days before the signing of the Japan-U.S. treaty.

ANZUS strained and repaired

In the U.S., ANZUS is little known. But in Australia and New Zealand, the treaty has been a defining part of national security for 70 years. Its popularity has shifted based on public opinion about the U.S. president at the time, or his wars.

In the 1980s, stark differences over nuclear power led the pro-nuclear U.S. to suspend its alliance commitment to the anti-nuclear New Zealand. Tensions eased during the wars in Iraqand Afghanistan, and the military relationship was strengthened with formal agreements in 2010and 2012. Relations have largely been normalized in the subsequent years.

In more recent years, emphasis has shifted to the many unifying facets of the nations rather than points of difference. In 2021, as when ANZUS was born in 1951, the activities of China are reshaping the alliance. This has been evident in a renewed stress on long-standing friendships, cultural common ground and regional partnerships on defense matters.

New tensions with China

Both Australia and New Zealand had been economic beneficiaries of the rise of China, both nations largest tradingpartner, while pragmatically maintaining close ties with the U.S. as well.

The balance shifted in 2020, when Australia led calls for investigations into Chinese accountability for the COVID-19 pandemic. Chinas response was quick: It suspended economic dialogues, targeted trade reprisals on some Australian exports and, most alarming, threatened missile strikes.

Amid these escalating tensions, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison made an ominous speech evoking a region eerily haunted by similar times many years ago in the 1930s that led to the Pacific war.

Even so, the value of Australias exports to China actually increased 33% over the past year, in part thanks to rising prices of Australian iron ore.

Though Australia is again closely aligned with the U.S., there is one major caveat. Australias ongoing fossil-fuel-friendly policies differ from the Bidens administrations sweeping climate agenda. Biden has pledged not to pull any punches, even with Australia, to solve a global problem.

New Zealand is still trying to balance Chinese and U.S. interests. Rapidly rising regional tensions over Taiwan, the South China Sea and Chinas hand in eroding human rights and democracy, not to mention its treatment of Australia, are testing the nations leaders.

Shifting focus to the Pacific region

Because of China, the U.S. is increasing its attention to the Pacific at levels not seen since World War II. Two recent bipartisan congressionalbills address Chinese influence in multiple arenas, including scientific research security and Chinas economic, political and military efforts.

In related efforts, the U.S. military has announced plans to build new bases in three strategically located Pacific island countries. The countries  the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau  were U.N. trusts administered by the U.S. but are now independent nations freely associated with the U.S.

ANZUS is fundamental in this U.S. strategy. Both Australia and New Zealand are substantially increasing defense spending in ways that further bind the three nations militaries together. Also key is the intelligence-sharing agreement dating back to World War II, Five Eyes, which also includes Canada and the U.K.

In addition, the U.S. and Australia are part of The Quad, a four-nation group, with Japan and India, building on Cold War security agreements to meet Chinas rise in the Indo-Pacific region.

While military tensions in the mid-2021 Pacific are high around Taiwan, Hong Kong and the South China Sea, the U.S. has just concluded Operation Pacific Iron in Guam and the Northern Marianas, a huge demonstration of air, land and sea power. Also, biennial joint exercises called Talisman Sabre recently concluded in Australia, involving include 17,000 troops from U.S. and allied nations. These exercises were also aimed at demonstrating power and battle readiness. China watched these activities closely.

As ANZUS turns 70, the deep, entwined pasts of New Zealand, Australia and the U.S. will continue to fundamentally shape the Pacifics uncertain future.

This story was updated Aug. 25, 2021, to more accurately reflect the nature of U.S.-New Zealand relations since 2010.

[The Conversations Politics + Society editors pick need-to-know stories. Sign up for Politics Weekly._]

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/anzus-at-70-together-for-decades-us-australia-new-zealand-now-face-different-challenges-from-china-163546.
PHOENIX (AP)  Cyber Ninjas will not need to imminently release records of their review of the 2020 vote count in Arizonas most populous county.

Arizona Supreme Court Justice Kathryn King put a hold Tuesday on a lower court order for the records to be released by Aug. 31 while the high court considers an appeal.
A knock at the door could spell doom. Every passing hour seems endless. That's the new reality for many Afghans who feel they have most to fear from the Taliban and have gone into hiding or are staying off the streets since the fighters swept to power this month.

Those hunkering down include employees of the collapsed government, civil society activists and women. They are desperate for news that they might be granted asylum somewhere else.

They fear a massive rollback of women's rights, or they are distrustful of the Taliban's promises that they won't seek revenge on former adversaries and that they want to form an inclusive government as the U.S. ends its 20-year war.

One of those in hiding is Mobina, 39, a journalist from the city of Mazar-e-Sharif. After the Taliban overran her city, she fled with her two children and has found refuge in a safe house in Kabul.

We are asking ourselves What is next? We are crying because nothing can be fixed, Mobina said.

Elsewhere in the Afghan capital, Mumtaz is huddled with his family in their apartment. His father worked for the government and his brother was killed in a grenade attack in 2010 in Laghman province, where the Taliban have long been active. The family made a run to Kabul's airport after the Taliban entered the city on Aug. 15, but they encountered huge crowds, chaos and gunfire and went back home.

They haven't left the apartment since. Their anxiety grew after a neighbor warned them a group of armed men were looking for them. It is not always clear whether those knocking on doors or spreading fear are Taliban or criminals freed from prison during their sweep through the country.

We cant go out. We just ask our neighbor to bring us food.  We are really scared, said Mumtaz, 26, who recently graduated from law school. He said he has lost all sense of time.

Mobina and Mumtaz spoke on condition they be identified only by their first names, fearing reprisals. Both said they have not received threats directly from the Taliban so far.

Taliban fighters have set up checkpoints throughout Kabul, stopping motorists to ask where they are headed or checking car papers. There have also been some reports of Taliban going door to door in search of former government workers and civil activists.

Such reports could not always be independently verified, and it's not clear if they indicate that Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if some on the ground are taking matters into their own hands. There is no indication of large-scale house-to-house searches.

Taliban commanders have said they have instructions to confiscate government property, including weapons and cars, but that they have told their men to respect private property. Taliban leaders have also encouraged government workers to return to work.

Still, there are growing signs of restrictions.

In the province of Sar-e-Pol, the Taliban issued a list of directives. They included banning music, Western-style dress, and jobs that require women to appear in public. The punishment for transgressions is beating. Girls in the city of Herat, the countrys third-largest, meanwhile, were allowed to return to school as long as their teachers were women, or elderly men.

Some say it is in the interest of the Taliban not to revert to the brutality they displayed when they ruled from 1996 to 2001. In those years, they denied girls and women the right to an education, barred them from the public life, meted out brutal punishments, such as cutting of the hands of thieves, and carried out public executions.

Today, the Taliban will depend on foreign donor assistance to run the country, and may have a motive not to alienate the international community.

But those looking to leave the country fear that may not be enough, expressing concern what will happen as time passes and international focus falls elsewhere.

Mobina, the journalist, is in hiding with 25 people. The others include heads of civil society groups, womens rights defenders and leaders of development projects.

They are too scared to leave the safe house. They say they hear Taliban fighters are roaming the streets, stopping women and asking them where their male escort is. Under the Talibans previous rule, women were required to have such an escort.

Our friends are sending us money so we can afford to eat, Mobina said. That is how we know we arent forgotten."

And yet, the way out of Afghanistan is also treacherous.

Evacuations are being organized largely by embassies prioritizing their own nationals and the Afghans who worked directly with them. But thousands of other at-risk Afghans don't immediately qualify.

Those who are approved for evacuation face huge crowds at the airport, and Taliban patrols make it difficult for travelers to reach the gates. Stories abound of failed attempts over successive days.

Many others struggle to even reach the airport. Humaira Sadeq, the co-founder of the Afghan Womens Media Network, said women who fear they are on the Talibans radar are advised to take precautions when they travel to Kabul from the outlying areas, including leaving behind mobile phones and covering up with a burqa.

Sadeq managed to get out of Afghanistan after the Taliban seizure of the capital and traveled to another country. She spoke on condition that country was not named.

Now she spends sleepless nights fighting to get her fellow activists out. She submitted 22 names to an organization helping people leave, but none have made it onto evacuation lists yet. Sadeq said that some of the women dont have passports or are stuck in the provinces.

Women's rights activists say the world's seeming disregard for their fate was apparent when the United States, starting under then-President Donald Trump, negotiated a deal directly with the Taliban, bypassing Afghan political leaders and civil society groups. The deal, signed more than a year ago, included the terms and timetable for a withdrawal of foreign troops.

The U.S. made a deal with the Taliban on our behalf, said Zubaida Akbar, an activist now based in the U.S. She works with FEMENA, a women's organization that is helping Mobina and others with temporary housing and trying to get them on evacuation lists.

President Joe Biden called the anguish of trapped Afghans gut-wrenching and insisted that the U.S. would work to help get vulnerable Afghans, including women leaders and journalists, out of the country.

Mobina said she can't bring herself to tell the young women who looked to her for inspiration that she is trying to leave.

If there was any chance for me to stay, I would, she said.

___

Kullab reported from Baghdad and Ganley from Paris.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  A state Senate hearing on how racial concepts are taught in North Carolina classrooms devolved into chaos Tuesday when one of the state's highest-ranking Republicans shouted at a prominent Democratic lawmaker and stormed out of the room.

Despite the uproar, the Senate Education Committee ultimately advanced the measure, which would bar teachers from compelling students to personally adopt any of 13 beliefs. North Carolina is one of more than two dozen states where GOP lawmakers have moved to define how racism and sexism can be taught in schools.

An hour before the hearing, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson held a news conference with other top Republicans and released an 831-page task force report highlighting instances when teachers allegedly assigned inappropriate reading materials on racism and sexuality to young pupils.

Democrats on the committee grilled Robinson, saying he and other Republicans could not identify a single case where the bill  if signed into law  would prevent such cases of indoctrination from taking place. Senate Democratic Whip Jay Chaudhuri accused Robinson and his task force of threatening educators.

This week marks the first week of our kids going back to school, and I feel that we should be spending time this week honoring our children, and instead, we're spending time debating a Fox News-driven issue that's more about fear-mongering and has turned into a fishing expedition of our public school teachers, Chaudhuri said.

Robinson took issue with Chaudhuri's assertion the conservative network is driving the discussion.

For you to call it that is an insult, an absolute insult, Robinson exclaimed. You know where my office is and you know that this task force is going on. When did you contact me?

When the Republican chairing the committee interjected to stop the conversation from escalating, Robinson stormed out, saying, All of this is driving me nuts." Chaudhuri said afterward that he was taken aback by Robinson's comments. He accused Republicans of "political posturing going into the 2022 and 2024 election.

This bill is in search of a problem that does not exist in our classrooms, Chaudhuri said.

Robinson later said he found Chaudhuri's remarks disrespectful."

He chose to criticize the work my office has done without ever reaching out to provide his input or concerns, Robinson said in an email.

The education committee approved the measure, which now heads to the Senate Rules Committee before an expected floor vote. If approved, the bill would need final approval from the GOP-controlled House, which previously backed an earlier version.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has criticized the measure and would almost assuredly veto it. Republicans would likely lack the votes to override Cooper's decision.

During the hearing, conservative members of the public often referenced critical race theory, a framework legal scholars developed in the 1970s and 1980s centering on the idea that racism is systemic in the nations institutions and serves to maintain the dominance of whites in society. Conservatives have used the term as somewhat of a catchall phrase to describe racial concepts they find objectionable, such as white privilege, systemic inequality and inherent bias.

The theory drew the ire of former President Donald Trump after a conservative activist appeared on Fox News and discussed racial bias training programs within the federal government that Trump found objectionable. Trump subsequently issued an executive order barring federal contractors from conducting racial sensitivity training.

Twenty-six states have considered legislation or other steps to limit how racism and sexism can be taught, according to an Education Week analysis, as of Aug. 12, with several states adopting language from Trump's executive order.

When House Republicans in North Carolina introduced the measure in May, they referenced the need to combat the theory, though their bill did not mention critical race theory by name.

Republican Senate leader Phil Berger revised House Bill 324 last month to add five prohibited concepts and clarify that such ideas could still be taught as long as educators did not promote the beliefs by forcing pupils to personally adopt them. Demi Dowdy, a spokeswoman for GOP House Speaker Tim Moore, said the chamber will review the changes once it clears the Senate but noted Moore certainly agrees with the fundamental premise of the bill.

While there is no evidence of K-12 teachers in North Carolina explicitly teaching the theory to students, Republicans have previously pointed to left-leaning districts hosting trainings, workshops or guest speakers espousing beliefs the GOP argues are central to the theory.

Tuesdays task force report identified cases of some teachers offering questionable class assignments, including a book called George about a transgender child coming to terms with gender identity and a vocabulary sheet that mentions Trump in a sentence describing the term xenophobia.

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Follow Anderson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BryanRAnderson.

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Anderson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
DETROIT (AP)  A Catholic school in Lansing has lost an appeal over a Michigan policy that required masks on young kids earlier in the pandemic.

Although the statewide mandate ended, some counties are stepping in and requiring masks in schools when the 2021-22 year starts.

Resurrection School and some parents sued in 2020, saying a state mask order violated the free exercise of religion, among other objections. A judge, however, refused to intervene and issue an injunction.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that decision Monday.

U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney correctly concluded that because the requirement to wear a facial covering applied to students in grades K5 at both religious and non-religious schools, it was neutral and of general applicability, the court said.

Attorney General Dana Nessel, whose department defended the policy, praised the decision.

As science has proven and now the 6th Circuit agrees, enacting a mask mandate in the manner in which MDHHS did so does not violate ones rights  it is a measure by which we can better protect public health," Nessel said, referring to the health department.

Separately, the state had argued that the school's appeal was moot and meaningless because a statewide mask rule had ended by summer. But the appeals court disagreed and still heard the case.

The Michigan health department could revive a mask mandate if COVID-19 cases get worse, the court noted.

Meanwhile, in the Flint area, a prosecutor made clear that Genesee County officials cannot overrule a K-6 school mask order by the local health officer. Hundreds of protesters have been upset with Dr. Pamela Hackert, MLive.com reported.

"Its the power given to the public health officer and only the public health officer, David Leyton said, referring to state law.

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Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwritez
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Steven Boivie, Texas A&M University

(THE CONVERSATION) In December 2001, Enron Corp. collapsed into bankruptcy  at the time the biggest U.S. publicly traded company to ever do so  following years of fraudulent accounting. Two decades later, Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes faces criminal charges that she defrauded investors as she built her blood-testing startup.

In both cases, the companies respective boards of directors have been blamed for allowing misdeeds to happen  or not doing more to prevent them.

Thats because boards are broadly seen by regulators, governance experts, lawmakers, newspaper reporters and the public as the main body meant to hold senior executives accountable. Legally, their role as overseers is baked into the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which is the most recent major legislation targeted at boards, and written into the guidelines of major stock markets like the New York Stock Exchange.

It may come as a surprise, then, that board members view their role very differently.

Inside the boardroom

I have been studying executives and corporate governance for nearly 20 years. I have always been fascinated by boards of directors and wanted to better understand what they actually do, as well as whether they approach their jobs the same way external observers believe they should.

But most research on boards has relied on assumptions about what directors believe. And those assumptions have been shaped by agency theory.

Agency theory stresses that there is always a risk of managers being self-interested and using a companys resources to enrich themselves. Because of this risk, scholars have long assumed that directors need to exercise careful oversight and control over their decisions.

The problem is, scholars werent asking directors what they actually believe their role is.

In a new study with fellow management professors Mike Withers, Scott Graffin and Kevin Corley, I conducted extensive interviews with 48 corporate directors  some of whom were also executives at other companies. For the study, we also interviewed two executives who have never served as directors.

The directors we interviewed sit on the boards of more than 140 different companies  both large and small  in pretty much every industry. Some of them were veterans with nearly 30 years of corporate director experience behind them, while others were relative newbies serving on their very first board.

The interviews resulted in more than 1,000 transcribed pages, which we coded and analyzed, in the most extensive data collection effort involving corporate boards in over 30 years.

Supporting CEOs

Our overarching finding was that directors generally said they viewed their jobs as primarily supporting managers, not monitoring them. In fact, we were surprised by just how uniform this sentiment was among directors, regardless of demographics like gender or time spent on a board.

In practice, this means they rarely seek to vote down management decisions. Rather, directors seek to become partners with executives and provide input and improve decision-making. Many directors said that the best way to protect shareholder value or help their company thrive was by collaborating with the chief executive officer.

To be a board of directors, in my mind, youve (got) to understand where management is coming from, one of our interviewees said. But your job is to ask a lot of questions and focus what they are telling you and not to step into the role of management.

When we asked about monitoring the work of CEOs and other executives, most of the directors said it wasnt possible to do this effectively  even if they wanted to. Our interviewees said this is because of the simple fact that CEOs know a lot more about their company than the directors do.

When we pushed directors on this point, they confessed that they do not even want to monitor the CEO. We interpreted their view as basically: Either trust the chief executive officer and give him or her your total support, or fire the CEO and hire someone you can trust.

You dont go back to  the CEO, and say, You know what, that strategy is wrong. Wed like you to do this strategy. Thats not what youre paying him for, one director told us. Youre paying him to make the decisions. And if he is consistently making wrong decisions, you find somebody else to make the decisions.

Our other main finding was that directors tend to see their jobs as a form of service, even though they get paid as well. That is, they said they feel like they are giving back by serving on corporate boards.

Its a way to engage and serve, and learn about different industries and businesses, one director said. Its rewarding to be able to take things that youve learned over many years and apply them.

Our interviews suggest that this feeling of service makes them unwilling to tolerate conflict or tension in the boardroom.

[Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.]

Realistic expectations

When a company runs aground or faces scandal, investors, workers, local politicians and others with a stake in its operation often look for someone to blame. That someone is usually the companys board of directors.

But our study shows investors and regulators need to reconcile their expectations of directors with the realities of the boardroom. A boards ability to monitor for fraud, corruption or other problems is limited at best, especially given the information gap between managers and boards. And since directors say they see their role as helping CEOs increase profits, it seems unlikely to expect them to clash with executives over how they go about it.

If investors or others believe companies need oversight, theyll probably need to do it themselves.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/corporate-directors-dont-see-stopping-wayward-ceos-as-their-job-contrary-to-popular-belief-165788.
RENO, Nev. (AP)  U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto told a group of battery manufacturers, conservationists and developers on Monday that the infrastructure bill passed by the U.S. Senate earlier this month will boost efforts to grow the renewable energy sector in Nevada and throughout the country.

Speaking at the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, Cortez Masto said infrastructure investments, tax credits for renewable energy projects and incentives to site solar and wind projects on former mines would create jobs and protect the environment for future generations.

Questions about infrastructure investment and renewable energy projects also laid bare divisions among Democrats regarding environmental policy. Cortez Masto attempted to find middle ground as she heard from solar and wind developers frustrated by the project permitting process on federal lands and conservationists worried about the effect that projects like solar farms or lithium mines will have on the ecosystems they're built around.

Making these investments in these critical minerals that are necessary for the technology thats going to bring us the clean (energy) economy is important. We can actually look at mining in a responsible way  still protect the environment, still protect the outdoors  as we look at extracting these minerals. It can be done, she said.

Nevada has an abundance of resources needed to transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. The state has some of the world's largest deposits of lithium, which is a key component in the batteries that power electric vehicles. Its deserts are prime environments for wind and solar developments.

But many progressives have opposed lithium mining at places like Thacker Pass and Rhyolite Ridge due to its potential effect on native species. And some communities are opposed to renewable energy development in their backyards, including in the Moapa Valley where developers abandoned plans to build what would have been the United States largest array of solar panels last month.

Its incredibly important to us that green energy build-out does not sacrifice the ecosystems that we are trying to protect in the long term, Mauricia Baca, the Nevada director of the Nature Conservancy, told Cortez Masto.

American Battery Technology CEO Doug Cole said the United States was quickly losing its competitive advantage to countries like China because people don't want mines in their backyards, just like solar and everything else.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, known as one of Congress's most centrist Democrats, was originally scheduled to join Cortez Masto, who is up for reelection next year. But Manchin, who chairs the Senate's Energy and Natural Resources committee, had travel difficulties due to the wildfire smoke blanketing northern Nevada.

Cortez Masto said the mining industries was a critical part of both Nevada and West Virginia's economies, although the hard rock minerals extracted in Nevada differ from the coal mined in West Virginia. She said she had looked forward to taking Manchin  who, in 2013, criticized then-President Barack Obama for waging a war on coal  across rural Nevada to explain the connection between mining for critical minerals like lithium and protecting the environment.

The two senators were scheduled to tour a gold mine near Elko on Tuesday.

Cortez Masto noted how the infrastructure bill would benefit national security by leveling the playing field with China, which produces much of the world's critical minerals.

This innovation economy is bringing that critical supply chain back in the United States  American jobs. Because we are competing with China and competing with other countries that really are not a benefit to us economically. So we want to have a competitive advantage, she said.

Republican Adam Laxalt, who is challenging Cortez Masto in next year's election and received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump on Friday, said he opposed the infrastructure bill because of its price tag and scope beyond traditional infrastructure like roads and bridges. Cortez Masto noted Republican support for the bill and said Laxalt's position wouldn't help bolster Nevada's economy

If youre against this bipartisan infrastructure package, then youre against new jobs for Nevada and economic growth in Nevada, she said.

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Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
SALIDA, Colo. (AP)  Male DNA that corresponds with partial profiles found in three unsolved sexual assault cases was found in the car of a missing Colorado woman whose husband is charged with killing her, an investigator testified Tuesday.

The partial DNA profile created from DNA left on Suzanne Morphew's glovebox matched profiles developed in sexual assault cases in Chicago, Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona, Colorado Bureau of Investigation agent Joseph Cahill said, The Denver Post reported. DNA from Barry Morphew was not found in the DNA sample, according to his lawyers, KUSA-TV reported.

Cahill's testimony came as he was questioned by one of Morphew's lawyers during the final day of a hearing to determine whether Morphew will stand trial for murder and other charges in his wife's presumed death.

Morphew, 53, was charged in May after pleading for his wife's safe return on social media soon after she was reported missing by a neighbor on Mother's Day in 2020. He has not yet been asked to enter a plea.

According to their questioning during the four-day hearing, prosecutors believe Morphew killed his wife, Suzanne Morphew, on the evening of May 9, 2020, before leaving for work in the Denver area the following day, which was Mother's Day. Her body has not been found.

On Tuesday, Barry Morphew's lawyers also asked investigators about statements he had made about how much he loved his wife and how he said he had searched nearly 200 square miles (518 square kilometers) looking for her after her disappearance.

Barry Morphew held back tears as his attorney Dru Nielsen questioned retired FBI Agent Jonathan Grusing about statements Barry Morphew made to him. The husband continued to say he loved Suzanne Morphew after investigators told him she was having an affair.

He said, 'It doesnt mean I dont love her, Grusing said.

On cross examination, Grusing also said multiple dogs trained to detect decomposing bodies did not react to any such evidence in Barry Morphew's truck.

While the prosecution repeatedly brought up a tranquilizer gun and accessories found in the couple's home, the defense played body camera footage that showed Chaffee County sheriff's deputies saying they did not believe the gun worked. Prosecutors have not explained whether or how the tranquilizer gun and parts may have been involved in Suzanne Morphew's death.

Judge Patrick Murphy said he would rule on whether there was enough evidence for Barry Morphew to stand trial at a hearing on Sept. 17.
OAKRIDGE, Ore. (AP)  A firefighter who died Monday while battling a wildfire southeast of Eugene, Oregon has been identified as Frumencio Ruiz Carapia of Medford.

Ruiz Carapia, 56, was working along the eastern edge of the Gales fire when he was struck by a falling tree, according to a news release Tuesday from Lane County Sheriff's Sgt. Tom Speldrich.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP)  Ash rained down on Lake Tahoe on Tuesday and thick yellow smoke blotted out views of the mountains rimming its pristine blue waters as a massive wildfire threatened the alpine vacation spot on the California-Nevada state line.

Tourists ducked into cafes, outdoor gear shops and casinos on Lake Tahoe Boulevard for a respite from hazardous air coming from an erratic blaze less than 20 miles (32 kilometers) away.

The Caldor Fire erupted over the course of a week into the nations No. 1 firefighting priority and was knocking on the door of Tahoe, said Thom Porter, Californias state fire chief. A major wildfire has not penetrated the Lake Tahoe Basin since 2007.

Tourists typically come to swim and hike, relax along the lakes calm shores or take their chances gambling, not risk their lives in the face of a potential disaster.

Although there were no evacuations ordered and Porter said he didn't think the fire would reach the lake, it was impossible to ignore the blanket of haze so thick and vast that it closed schools for a second day in Reno, Nevada, which is about 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the fire.

Visitors wore masks outdoors  not because the coronavirus pandemic, but because of the toxic air and inescapable stench of fire. The gondola that ferries summer passengers to the summit of the Heavenly Mountain ski area was closed until winter due to the wildfire risk.

Cindy Osterloh, whose husband pushed a relative in a wheelchair beneath the idled cables, said she and family members visiting from San Diego were all on allergy medications to take the sting out of their eyes and keep their noses from running so they can ride out the smoke for the rest of their vacation.

We got up and it was a lot clearer this morning. We went for a walk and then we came back and now its coming in again, she said of the smoke. Were going to go and see a movie and hopefully it clears up enough that we can go do our boat rides.

An army of firefighters worked to contain the blaze, which has spread explosively in a manner witnessed in the past two years during extreme drought. Climate change has made the West warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make the weather more extreme and wildfires more destructive, according to scientists.

Massive plumes have erupted in flames, burning embers carried by gusts have skipped miles ahead of fire lines, and fires that typically die down at night have made long runs in the dark.

Northern California has seen a series of disastrous blazes that have burned hundreds of homes and many remain uncontained. On Tuesday, President Joe Biden declared that a major disaster exists in California and ordered federal aid made available in four northern counties ravaged by blazes dating back to July 14.

The Caldor Fire had scorched more than 190 square miles (492 square kilometers) and destroyed at least 455 homes since Aug. 14 in the Sierra Nevada southwest of Lake Tahoe. It was 11% contained and threatened more than 17,000 structures.

Nationally, 92 large fires were burning in a dozen states, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. Although many fires are larger, the Caldor Fire has become the top priority to keep it from sweeping into the Tahoe.

As the fire grew last week, politicians, environmentalists, and policy makers gathered on the shore for the 25th annual Lake Tahoe Summit dedicated to protecting the lake and the pine-covered mountains that surround it.

With the Caldor Fire burning to the southwest and the Dixie Fire, the second-largest in state history with a 500-mile (804-kilometer) perimeter, burning about 65 miles (104 kilometers) to the north, the risk to the lake was top of mind.

"The fires that are raging all around us nearby are screaming this warning: Tahoe could be next, said Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif.

The last major blaze in the area took South Lake Tahoe by surprise after blowing up from an illegal campfire in the summer of 2007. The Angora Fire burned less than 5 square miles (13 square kilometers) but destroyed 254 homes, injured three people and forced 2,000 people to flee.

Scars from the fire can still be seen not far from the commercial strip where South Lake Tahoe meets the Nevada border in Stateline, where tourists go to gamble.

Inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, cocktail waitresses in fishnet stockings and leopard-print corsets served customers playing slots and blackjack who said they werent overly concerned about the fire.

Sitting at a slot machine near a window looking out at cars driving through the haze on Lake Tahoe Boulevard, Ramona Trejo said she and her husband would stay for their 50th wedding anniversary, as planned.

Trejo, who uses supplemental oxygen due to respiratory problems, said her husband wanted to keep gambling.

I would want to go now, she said.

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Melley reported from Los Angeles.

Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
MAYFIELD, N.Y. (AP)  A funeral service will be held next week for a New York state trooper who drowned Sunday while on duty at a lake in the Adirondack Mountains.

The service for Trooper James Monda is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at St. John the Evangelist Church in Schenectady, state police said. Visitation will be at the church the day before from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  A landmark decision by the Kentucky Supreme Court has largely shifted responsibility for the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic from Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear to Republicans in control of the legislature.

Now, after mostly watching from the sidelines as Beshear waged an aggressive response during much of the pandemic, the lawmakers will have to own it.

The shift comes as the virus surges. It means Republican lawmakers, who criticized the governor for what they viewed as overly broad and stringent restrictions on Kentuckians, will decide on mask mandates and vaccine incentives going forward.

Beshear, who is expected to seek re-election in 2023, vowed to stay involved. He raised the possibility of calling a special legislative session to address virus-related issues.

Im going to do the very best I can in the framework thats been provided, the governor said. I can still work my tail off every day with the tools that I have to protect people the very best that I can.

Kentucky set another record Tuesday for virus patients in hospitals and intensive care units and on ventilators. The 4,638 new cases statewide were the fifth-highest daily total of the pandemic, and Beshear said the state is in its most dangerous time weve seen in this pandemic.

Kentucky has reported at least 7,575 virus-related deaths. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the state's death count is the 27th highest in the country overall and the 30th highest per capita.

Now Republican lawmakers will bear much of the accountability if those numbers change significantly.

At a time when the pandemic is hotter than ever, it gets tossed into the lap of the legislature, said political commentator Al Cross. They will have to now do more than talk. They will have to make some tough decisions. Theyve had the luxury of taking potshots at Beshear, who has kept them at arms length, I think unwisely. But now they have to work together.

On Monday, Beshear discussed the potential need to reinstate a statewide mask mandate as hospitals and intensive care units fill with COVID patients. The Republican leader of the state Senate quickly declared such a blanket approach would stand a very limited chance" to win over the legislature's GOP supermajorities.

The state's Supreme Court on Saturday gave lawmakers the upper hand when it cleared the way for new laws to limit the governors emergency powers, which he used to impose pandemic restrictions. The justices said a lower court had wrongly blocked the Republican-backed measures.

With the pandemic-related state of emergency ending, Beshear is weighing whether to convene a special legislative session. If he does so, he has the authority to set the agenda. The governor lifted most of his virus-related restrictions in June.

Beshear acknowledges the changing dynamics while pressing the need to consider a new statewide mask mandate as the delta variant adds pressure on beleaguered hospitals. He conceded that a masking requirement now needs legislative approval.

Ive been willing to run the ball for these last 18 months and to make those tough calls, the governor told WKYT-TV. Moving forward, what the Supreme Court has said is those calls are going to have to be made by the legislature.

So, my hope is that they will have the courage to do the hard things, he added. As our hospitals are filling up, as were running out of ICU beds, were going to have to strongly consider a statewide mask mandate.

State Senate President Robert Stivers downplayed prospects for such a mandate.

A blanket mask mandate, I think, would have very limited chance, Stivers said. Now if youre talking about something targeted, that might be a little bit different.

He said GOP lawmakers are ready to present their plan if reconvened by the governor.

We have been formulating for quite some time things that we think would be effective, he said Monday. And if the governor decides to call us into special session, well be prepared to roll those things out. Hopefully well do it in collaboration with the governors office.

Lawmakers might need to take action on things like emergency certifications for out-of-state health care providers and non-traditional instruction days for K-12 schools hit by the virus, Stivers said.

He followed up Tuesday by highlighting a vaccination promotion effort in his native Clay County. It features testimonials from local elected leaders, teachers and other influencers to encourage people to get the shots. Similar grassroots efforts can be emulated elsewhere and can be done without legislative action, Stivers said.

The Senate president has stressed that COVID is very real and that we need to do everything we can do to give people the incentive to get the vaccinations.

Beshear's office has followed a similar strategy since early in the pandemic, showcasing Kentuckians to promote mask wearing, social distancing, hand washing and now vaccines.

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Follow more of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
HONOLULU (AP)  Hawaii tourism industry officials are having a mixed reaction to Gov. David Ige's plea that people not travel to the islands because of a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The governor made the comments Monday as hospitals across the state fill up with a record number of coronavirus patients.

It is a risky time to be traveling right now," Ige said. We do know that it is not a good time to travel to the islands.

Officials from the Hawaii Tourism Authority plan to discourage travel, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Tuesday.

Our community, residents and the visitor industry are responsible for working together to address this crisis," said John De Fries, the organization's president and CEO. "As such, we are strongly advising visitors that now is not the right time to travel, and they should postpone their trips through the end of October."

But others in the industry are reluctant to hit the brakes after the economy rebounded with eased restrictions earlier this summer.

Ive got thousands of people booked to come between now and 2022," said Jack Richards, president and CEO of Pleasant Holidays, a Hawaii travel agency. Im certainly not going to contact them and say, Dont go.'
HONOLULU (AP)  Honolulu's prosecutor on Monday said his office will not appeal a judge's decision to reject murder and attempted murder charges filed against three police officers in the fatal shooting of a teenager.

Steve Alm defended his office's decision to pursue charges against the officers, saying its investigation found the officers' use of deadly force wasn't justified. He said the officers hadn't followed the Honolulu Police Department's use of force policy and that they didn't use self-defense.

Now the court system has spoken. I understand that. I accept that the prosecution of those three officers by this office is over, Alm said at a news conference.

His office had charged Geoffrey Thom with murder for the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap on April 5. Prosecutors charged Zackary Ah Nee and Christopher Fredeluces with attempted murder for also opening fire.

The charges came after prosecutors took their case to a grand jury but failed to win an indictment there.

Alm said he knew the decision to bring charges against the officers would not be popular with some in the community, but he said prosecutors have a job to do.

We do an objective investigation of the facts. And if laws are broken, that person or persons is held accountable. No one is above the law and nobody should be given a pass on being held accountable, he said.

District Court Judge William Domingo ruled against the charges on Wednesday after listening to several days of preliminary hearing testimony to determine whether the officers should be tried. He also reviewed footage from video cameras worn by several police officers.

Domingo found the officers were in danger when they approached the car Sykap was driving after he lead police on a high-speed chase up to 80 mph (130 kph) on highways and city streets.

Domingo said Sykaps car started to move and could have hit the officers. The judge said the officers were standing in a zone of danger near Sykaps car, a white Honda that had been reported stolen a few days prior. The police had issued an all points bulletin warning officers about the car, which had been involved in a purse snatching, burglary and armed robbery in the days after it was stolen.

Alm, echoing arguments made by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Van Marter, said it didnt matter whether Sykap had committed any crimes in the past or whether he might do so in the future.

Rather, the question is whether Mr. Sykaps actions at the time posed any immediate threat. At issue, then, is whether the officers use of deadly force at the time they fired was justified based on self defense or defense of others, Alm said.

Alm said his office would continue to conduct independent reviews of shootings by Honolulu police officers.

Alm said the Sykap case demonstrated the importance of such independent investigations. He related how preliminary hearing testimony revealed that after the shooting, the officers gathered in the same room to review body-worn camera footage and write their reports about the incident.

That procedure  getting together  would never be allowed in other cases involving suspects in any other crime, Alm said.

He said this process, along with the inconsistencies between these officer accounts and the body camera footage, contributed to his office filing charges.
ALBANY  I was almost the victim of a rental scam, but they messed with the wrong woman.

I was days away from moving to the Capital Region to start working at the Times Union when the apartment I was moving into fell through. Fearing Id have nowhere to stay, I rushed to find a new place to call home.

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A listing I found on Realtor.com  a reputable realty site  seemed perfect, and more than I needed. It was a beautifully remodeled home at 24 Belvidere Ave. in Albany listed for rent at $800 a month with all utilities included.

The listing described three bedrooms and bathrooms accompanied by what looked like professionally taken photos showing bright, airy rooms full of natural light. It seemed too good to be true.

I contacted the property through realtor.com and received an automated response that said someone would get back to me soon, and waited.

The scheme unravels

The next day I received a long-winded email riddled with poor grammar from a Gmail account named Trust God. A person who identified himself as the homes owner said he taught at several universities in Michigan and Illinois and was currently working at an organization called Warriors Ascent, helping veterans and first responders cope with post-traumatic stress disorder; he said he'd be living in Texas for the next three years.

He and his wife had failed to sell the house, he said, and were looking for someone to take care of it in their absence. They strayed away from working with an agent or property management firm and said they were taking time out of their busy schedule to find the right tenant. They sent over an application.

Under pressure due to my lost housing, I hastily applied  in part because the information the form asked for was generic and not too intrusive. But there was a red flag: They asked how much I would be willing to put down if I had to buy the house. This didnt sit right with me but, I ignored my instinct and figured I would ask about it when I saw the house in person.

The next day, the person emailed me again with another laughably long message telling me theyd accepted my application.

My wife and i have thought about you and we are so much excited to accept you as our new home tenant because you really sounds like kind of person that we are looking to rent our home, he wrote.

The strong discomfort I had with his turnaround time and atrocious grammar made my gut scream This is wrong." I ignored the email and decided to cut ties.

The person sent me a text the next day from a 712 number  an Iowa area code, as opposed to Michigan, Illinois, Texas or New York  about renting the house. Just for a giggle, I responded.

Hi, before choosing to rent it, I would like to see it, I replied. Can that be arranged?

The person never answered. I looked up the home again and found a Zillow listing that showed it was for sale by a local Realtor, Bryon Phelps. Phelps had no idea about the scam until I contacted him.

He and his partner, Matt Baker, bought the home in August 2020 and listed it for sale this month, according to property records.

Its horrible," Baker said. "Its unfortunate that we have people in our world today that are just out there looking to scam people, take their money."

Baker and Phelps did not, in fact, try to rent the home out.

I later called the 712 number; it went straight to an automated voice that said it could not confirm my call and hung up on me. I emailed the Trust God address and told the person I was a reporter working on a story about the rental and a potential scam. They never answered.

The darling Belvidere home is now under contract by Phelps, and the mystery poser is in the wind and maybe realizing the jig is up.

Real estate scams are more common than you think

Warriors Ascent, the small, Kansas City-based nonprofit this person claimed to work for, is a real organization. Christy Cook, its operations director, said she had never heard of the man who was trying to rent out the home. But the scheme wasnt totally unfamiliar to her.

Cook said she has received calls from all over the country about a person scamming people, identifying as a Warriors Ascent member. People have forwarded their emails from the scammer, but so far the group's attempts to identify the person have hit dead ends.

Its extremely frustrating, Cook said. We are trying to save the lives of veterans and first responders suffering from PTSD, and someone using that to try and gain peoples trust is wrong.

The New York State Department of Consumer Protection has received about 239 real estate complaints since 2018. Department spokesperson Erin McCarthy said the schemes are executed in different ways but have the same goal: bilk consumers out of as much money as possible.

The scammers take legitimate rental postings and re-post or advertise them with their own contact information, often at enticing, lower rates than the original advertisement, McCarthy said. The transactions are generally conducted by phone or email with the scammer asking for a wire transfer, prepaid debit card or method of payment that is not traceable.

Jennifer Vucetic, president-elect of the New York State Association of Realtors, described it as a long-time Craigslist scam thats been going on for forever. She hears of a real estate scam at least once a week, which makes her think its happening more frequently.

People fall for it all the time because theyre so desperate to get into a rental, Vucetic said.

A Realtor.com spokesperson agreed, deeming it a common problem the site faces. The site obtains rental listings from third-party data feeds, and its site terms note Realtor.com is not responsible for confirming the accuracy or reliability of listings; users agree to release it from all liability in such cases.

Officials and Realtors alike urge prospective renters and buyers to stay abreast of scams and report any they find. The state provides resources on classic signs of a housing scam and how to report them.
ATLANTA (AP)  Georgia's highest court on Tuesday upheld a lower court's ruling rejecting an election challenge by an unsuccessful county probate court judge candidate.

Bobby Harrison Smith had filed a petition to contest the June 2020 election results for Long County Probate Court judge after results showed him losing to Teresa Odum by a narrow margin. He alleged that election officials committed irregularities, illegal votes were cast and votes were wrongfully rejected.

In a 7-0 Georgia Supreme Court decision published Tuesday, Justice Carla Wong McMillian wrote that the evidence presented supports the lower court's finding that among the challenged votes, only the ballots of six people who were found to have voted twice and one person who doesn't live in the county should be rejected.

Those seven ballots are not sufficient to place the results of the Election in doubt given the nine-vote margin of victory in this case, McMillian wrote.

Aside from the voter who was found not to be a resident of Long County, the trial court found no evidence that any voter or election official knowingly acted with possible fraudulent intent, McMillian wrote. The county election board acknowledged that the six double-voters voted in person without their absentee ballots being properly canceled.

The election results were initially certified on June 19, 2020, 10 days after the election. They showed a total of 2,735 votes  1,372 for Odum and 1,363 for Smith, a nine-vote margin favoring Odum.

The county election board then did a recount, which led to additional absentee ballots being found and a provisional ballot being reallocated to Smith. The new results, certified on June 26, 2020, showed 2,741 votes cast  1,375 for Odum and 1,366 for Smith, again a nine-vote margin for Odum.

In Smith's petition contesting the results, he said there were 30 votes cast improperly or irregularly. The trial court denied the petition after finding there wasn't enough evidence to cast doubt on the results of the election.
HANOI (AP)  U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' trip from Singapore to Vietnam was delayed several hours Tuesday by an investigation into two possible cases of the so-called Havana Syndrome in Hanoi, administration officials said.

The investigation was in its early stages and officials deemed it safe for Harris to make her scheduled stop in Vietnam, which is part of her trip across Asia meant to reassure allies about American foreign policy amid the tumultuous evacuation of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. The Havana Syndrome is the name for a rash of mysterious health incidents first reported by American diplomats and other government employees in the Cuba capital beginning in 2016.

U.S. officials "take any reported incident of Havana syndrome seriously, press secretary Jen Psaki said at a White House press briefing later Tuesday.

U.S. officials had not yet confirmed the latest reported case, and it did not involve anyone traveling with Harris, Psaki said. In light of the reports, there was an assessment done of the safety of the vice president, and there was a decision made that she could continue travel along with her staff, Psaki said.

There have been two separate cases of unexplained health incidents reported by U.S. personnel in Vietnam within the past week, the officials said. It was not immediately clear who was impacted by the syndrome, though officials said it was not someone who worked for the vice president or the White House, according to the officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation.

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi issued a statement saying the delay was because Harris office learned about a report of a recent possible anomalous health incident in the Vietnamese capital. The embassy provided no details, but said Harris office decided to travel to Hanoi after careful assessment.

The U.S. government uses anomalous health incident to describe the syndrome. Some of those impacted report hearing a loud piercing sound and feeling intense pressure in the face. Pain, nausea, and dizziness sometimes followed.

Similar, unexplained health ailments have since been reported by Americans serving in other countries, including Germany, Austria, Russia and China. A variety of theories have been floated to explain the incidents, including targeted microwaves or sonic attack, perhaps as part of an espionage or hacking effort.

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. Administration officials have speculated that Russia may be involved, a suggestion Moscow has denied.

Harris was set to depart for Hanoi on Tuesday evening after delivering a speech in Singapore, castigating China for its incursions into the South China Sea, and a discussion of supply chain issues with business leaders.

But the flight was delayed for more than three hours and Symone Sanders, Harris chief spokesperson, refused to explain. Unprompted, Sanders volunteered that Harris was well although reporters had seen the vice president several times Tuesday and had no reason to be concerned about her health.

Congress has raised alarms over such attacks, finding rare bipartisan support in House and Senate for continued government-wide investigation into the syndrome, response as well as millions in support for American personnel medical monitoring and treatment.

The Biden administration is facing new pressure to resolve the mystery as the number of reported cases of possible attack has sharply grown. But scientists and government officials arent yet certain about who might have been behind any attacks, if the symptoms could have been caused inadvertently by surveillance equipment  or if the incidents were actually attacks.

Whatever an official review concludes could have enormous consequences. Confirmation that a U.S. adversary has been conducting damaging attacks against U.S. personnel would unleash calls for a forceful response by the United States.

For now, the administration is providing assurances that it takes the matter seriously, is investigating aggressively and will make sure those affected have good medical care.

One key analysis identified directed, pulsed radio frequency energy as the most plausible culprit. Published in December by the National Academy of Sciences, the report said a radio frequency attack could alter brain function without causing gross structural damage. But the panel could not make a definitive finding on how U.S. personnel may have been hit.

And a declassified 2018 State Department report cited a lack of senior leadership, ineffective communications, and systemic disorganization in responding to the Havana cases. The report says the cause of the injuries was currently unknown. The document was published by George Washington Universitys National Security Archive.

Chris Miller, the acting defense secretary during the last months of the Trump administration, created a Pentagon team to investigate the suspected attacks. That was after he met a soldier late last year who described how, while serving in a country Miller wouldnt identify, he had heard a shrieking sound and then had a splitting headache.

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Lemire reported from Lowell, Mass. Additional reporting contributed by Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Lisa Mascaro in Washington
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Louisiana State University announced it will use federal coronavirus aid to forgive more than $7 million in student debt for about 4,000 students.

In an effort to continue providing access to an LSU education, we have made the decision to clear all unpaid prior tuition and fee balances for LSU students who enrolled at any point during the COVID-19 pandemic period, LSU Vice President for Enrollment Management Jose Aviles said in a statement Monday. We are committed to ensuring that students have every opportunity to continue their educational pursuits.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A Madison high schooler has won an award for building his own lightsaber.

Wisconsin Public Radio reported that Madison Country Day School senior Kaebren Walkers creation earned him a gold medal at the NAACPs Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. The 43rd annual event involved about 500 students competing in categories including science, engineering and the humanities. The winners were announced during the NAACP convention in July.

Jedi Knights in the Star Wars movie saga use lightsabers, described by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi as an elegant weapon for a more civilized age. Walker said he got the idea to build a lightsaber while watching Return of the Jedi.

It took him 18 months to build the lightsaber and used approaches detailed on You Tube. His creation ignites acetone and methanol, which evaporates in a 3-foot span that becomes the blade. He said it looks like a thin flamethrower.

It was surreal because I never thought that I would be among these amazing other competitors who genuinely had amazing projects, Walker said about the competition. They were working with VR, cameras . . . sensory technology, and here I am. I mean, I made a lightsaber. It came off really complex to other people, and I feel that that kind of gave me a little confidence boost because I'm like, Man, I feel like an actual Jedi.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP)  A man stopped his capital murder trial Tuesday with a guilty plea to the 1974 killing of a 17-year-old Texas girl.

Glen McCurley, 78, of Fort Worth, was immediately sentenced to life imprisonment for the abduction, torture, rape and killing of Carla Walker.

Prosecutors had said they would not seek the death penalty for McCurley, who admitted to police that he had killed Walker. A video recording of that interview was played for jurors.

The Fort Worth high school student was in a car with her boyfriend outside a Valentines Day party at a bowling alley the night of Feb. 17, 1974, when a man pistol-whipped the boy and grabbed Walker. Her body was found three days later stuffed in a culvert near Lake Benbrook, which is near where the abduction happened.

McCurley had been one of a number of people under suspicion since the crime occurred, but investigators had been unable to link him definitively to Walkers death.

The case had gone unsolved for 46 years before investigators reopened it in 2019. Only when DNA technology advanced to the point where a complete genetic profile could be developed from evidence gleaned from the girls clothing could a solid link be made and McCurley be charged a year later, police had said.
PLYMOUTH, Ind. (AP)  A man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a neglect charge in the death of an 11-month-old northern Indiana girl found dead in a wooded area.

Justin Miller, 37, of Hamlet faces one count of neglect of a dependent resulting in death after leading police to Mercedes Lains body last week.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  A growing number of school districts in South Carolina are defying a provision from state lawmakers banning mandatory face coverings for students.

But not all are following suit. Many districts remain afraid that the General Assembly will withhold state budget money if they defy the order that was passed mostly along party lines in June, when the state was seeing 20 times fewer new COVID-19 cases.

With the latest surge of coronavirus cases upon them, some lawmakers are having second thoughts about that vote. They and many school leaders are hoping a state Supreme Court challenge to the rule will settle the issue. And yet there is no indication when the justices might rule  or that their decision will provide clarity.

I think this is a big deal, and we need all the information on the table before we make this decision, Beaufort County School Board member Ingrid Boatright said Monday before successfully asking the board to delay requiring masks amid the uncertainty.

School districts in Colleton, Marlboro, Chester and Florence have decided to require masks, at least for now. Charleston County schools passed a mask mandate, but then told schools they could not punish students who didn't wear face coverings.

To help districts skirt the state order, both the capital of Columbia and surrounding Richland County passed their own mask mandates for all children under 12 in schools. But some districts in the county, including Lexington-Richland 5, have rejected mask requirements for any students in school or day care.

Even if some lawmakers wanted to now repeal the ban, leaders have said there arent enough Republicans ready to undo the previous 71-37 vote in favor of it.

The COVID-19 pandemic was in a much different place when that vote was taken by the House on June 9: South Carolina was averaging about 150 new COVID-19 cases a day. The state is now averaging 3,600 new cases a day, a pace that shows no signs of slowing. After seeing only two or three virus-related deaths a day in midsummer, the state is now averaging 25 a day.

Attorneys for Richland School District 2 sued the state last week. They are asking Supreme Court justices to allow mask mandates immediately while they consider whether the General Assembly overstepped its authority when it included a non-monetary issue in a budget bill that is supposed to be limited to spending.

On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit saying the ban on masks in South Carolina schools prevents vulnerable students from attending class and disproportionately affects those with underlying health conditions or disabilities.

Republican state Education Superintendent Molly Spearman said schools should be able to require masks. She has been joined this month by the states health agency, pediatrician organizations, House Democrats, teachers groups, an association of school board members and a group of two Democratic and two Republican state senators, among others.

The state's most visible opponent to mask mandates is Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who has repeatedly said that parents should decide whether children wear masks. The governor has suggested that face coverings dont stop COVID-19s spread and harm children from learning and socializing. Public health officials nationwide have said repeatedly that masks can help stop the virus's spread.

In a presentation to the board of the Department of Health and Environmental Control last week, two top public health and infectious disease experts also noted that masks dont reduce the amount of oxygen children breathe or prevent them from interacting with teachers and friends.

McMaster has not changed his mind.

Parents know what impact wearing a mask in school has on those children better than anyone else, he said in a clip sent out by his office on Twitter about five hours after the board meeting.

The governor also said in the clip that bureaucrats in Washington are making a drastic error with mask mandates.

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Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.

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Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  A Forest Lake Police Department sergeant is dead after his utility-terrain vehicle crashed in Wisconsin.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Tuesday that Kurt Kowarsch was visiting his cabin Saturday night in Burnett County, Wisconsin. Authorities there say he apparently lost control of the vehicle and hit multiple trees before the vehicle caught fire. A preliminary autopsy report showed that he died before the vehicle burned.

The 42-year-old Kowarsch served as a patrol officer, trainer, investigator and SWAT team member. He also was a firearms instructor.

His infant daughter, Brooke, died in 2011 at a home day care in Lindstrom. The unlicensed provider was charged with murder and manslaughter but was later acquitted by a Chisago County District Court jury.
LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP)  Law enforcement officers recovered 11 pounds of fentanyl during a traffic stop on Interstate 80, the Nebraska State Patrol said Tuesday.

A trooper stopped a car late Monday on the interstate about 2 miles west of Lexington because it had defective lighting, the patrol said.

The trooper and a Dawson County Sheriff's deputy saw marijuana in the car and found the fentanyl during a search, according to the patrol.

The driver, Alexis Murillo Godoy, 27, of Long Beach, California, was arrested and held in Dawson County on possible counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver, and other charges.

The patrol said the Drug Enforcement Administration estimates 11 pounds of fentanyl contain about 2.5 million lethal doses.
LES CAYES, Haiti (AP)  A Haitian justice official has appointed a new judge to oversee the investigation into the killing of President Jovenel Moise, acting more than a week after his predecessor withdrew from the case and as the country struggles with recovering from the devastating magnitude 7.2. earthquake that killed hundreds and injured thousands.

Magistrate Bernard Saint-Vil, dean of the Court of First Instance in Port-au-Prince, confirmed Monday to The Associated Press that he chose judge Garry Orelien to be in charge of the case.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  North Dakotas Senate majority leader said Tuesday he expects fellow Republican Gov. Doug Burgum to call a fall special session for legislative redistricting, which would give lawmakers as much time as they need to finish North Dakotas new political map.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner said Tuesday he and GOP House Majority Leader Chet Pollert have been meeting with Burgum in recent weeks to discuss the possibility of a special session in early November.

Burgum has yet to agree to a special session, spokesman Mike Nowatzki said.

There are ongoing discussions but no formal agreement, Nowatzki said Tuesday. Its still very much in flux.

The North Dakota Constitution limits the Legislature to 80 days of meetings every two years, and last springs regular session used 76 days. That means if the Legislature calls itself back into session, lawmakers will have to squeeze the redistricting job into just four days.

Wardner said lawmakers have a host of issues besides redistricting to deal with, including how to spend $1 billion in federal coronavirus relief funding. The Legislature will likely reconvene sometime next year with its remaining days to address that and other issues that arise.

We only have four days left, Wardner said. Its not worth burning four days we think we might need next year.

A special session called by the governor has no time restriction and may last indefinitely. Former Gov. Jack Dalrymple called a special session to deal with redistricting in 2011, and John Hoeven did so in 2001.

If the Legislature calls itself into session, a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate would be required for the new redistricting plan to take effect quickly. Its unclear if the plan would get two-thirds support in both chambers.

A special session allows lawmakers to specify, on a majority vote, when any state laws they approve will go into effect, said John Bjornson, who heads the nonpartisan Legislative Council, the Legislatures research arm.

Legislative redistricting happens every 10 years after a federal census. It aims to ensure each lawmaker represents about the same number of people. When the Legislature completed its last redistricting plan a decade ago, district populations averaged about 14,500 people. The new plan will likely add about 2,000 people to that.

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows most of North Dakotas growth occurred in the western part of the state and in the states bigger cities. That means when North Dakotas new legislative map is drawn later this year, Fargo and Bismarck will have more power in the Legislature, while North Dakotas rural areas will have less.

North Dakota currently has 47 legislative districts, and each is represented by two House members and a senator. The North Dakota Constitution allows for as few as 40 legislative districts and as many as 54.

A redistricting committee of 14 Republicans and two Democrats was picked in June and must craft a plan to reflect the states new population numbers and districts. The panel is holding its first meeting Thursday. Several other meetings will be scheduled

The full Legislature has to approve the new redistricting plan, and the governor must sign off on it. Any new districts would be reflected in the June 2022 primary.
Recently-elected Nuevo Laredo Mayor Dr. Carmen Lilia Canturosas was recognized by Webb County Commissioners on Monday, as officials spoke of the bond between the sister cities and what the future holds for the interconnected communities.

Canturosas said that as an elected official  friend and ally of Laredo  she can be counted on to see the mutual benefit of both cities. She also welcomed the community and said she will be working adamantly to make the city as safe as possible.

Canturosas won the election against Yahleel Abdala in June, and she has a family history of political service including a father and brother who were also elected to lead years prior.

Today we make history of this binational municipality region between Nuevo Laredo, Webb County, Canturosas said. Its the biggest in South Texas, integrated with the El Cenizo, Rio Bravo and Laredo.

Born in Victoria, Tamaulipas, Canturosas said that she was honored to receive the commissioners court recognition and added that the brotherhood between Nuevo Laredo and Laredo have strengthened one another throughout history.

Canturosas highlighted that as many residents from the sister cities have family throughout both regions and the economic impact is seen from both cities on their respective countries, these sister cities are highly distinct from other cities.

The fraternity and solidarity between the nations, as well as hope, permits the construction of a better world, she said.

Commissioner Rosaura Wawi Tijerina brought the item forward to the court and said that she was excited to invite and see Canturosas be recognized for her accomplishment. Additionally, the rest of the commissioners also gave their congratulatory words to Canturosas.

We are excited to work with you and keep moving forward with the doors wide open, Tijerina said.

This was not the only recognition she received. In June, Mayor Pete Saenz also extended his congratulations over her victory and added that there were multiple projects and goals they could both work toward.

My sincere congratulations to the incoming mayor Carmen Lilia Canturosas of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas on her campaign victory, Saenz said previously. I have spoken to her over the phone and expressed my good wishes and desire to work very closely with her and all the elected officials of Nuevo Laredo under her leadership so that our binational region Los Dos Laredos continues to grow and prosper for the mutual benefit and livelihoods of our people and our families.

This region is unique, intricate and tightly woven by our history, culture, family values, international trade, commerce, bridges and overall economies.

cocampo@lmtonline.com
OAKRIDGE, Ore. (AP)  A firefighter died Monday while battling a wildfire southeast of Eugene, Oregon, officials said.

Bryan Cutchen, Oakridge city administrator and acting fire chief, said the death is suspected to have been caused by a tree falling on the firefighter, The Register-Guard reported.

Cutchen said the victim was a young man.

The Lane County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Monday night that deputies along with partners from numerous other agencies were on scene investigating. Authorities were also working to notify the man's family, according to the agency.

No other injuries were reported.

The man was working on the eastern edge of the Gales Fire at the time of the incident, according to Larry Nickey, deputy incident commander liaison for Pacific Northwest Team 13.

We dont have any information we can release right now because of the investigation, Nickey said on Monday afternoon.

The Gales Fire is within the Middle Fork Complex of fires that started in the Willamette National Forest the week of July 26. More than 500 personnel are working at the complex.

The fires are about 9 miles (14 kilometers) north of Oakridge and have burned about 24 square miles (63 square kilometers) and have prompted evacuations.
PHOENIX (AP)  An Oklahoma man seen on video pushing an Associated Press photographer over a wall outside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot has been arrested, authorities said Tuesday.

Benjamen Scott Burlew of Miami, Oklahoma, is the second person to be charged with attacking photographer John Minchillo, who was documenting the mob of former President Donald Trump's supporters that day.

Burlew is accused of yelling at, grabbing, dragging and ultimately pushing Minchillo over a low stone wall on the Capitol grounds.

Authorities say Burlew was among several people who attacked Minchillo, who was wearing a helmet-style gas mask and was dragged by another person down the exterior stairs by his lanyard with Associated Press lettering.

At the bottom of the stairs, Burlew and three other people grabbed the photographer and pushed, shoved and dragged him again, the FBI said.

Minchillo later found himself backed up against a stone wall by the attackers. The FBI said Burlew lunged toward the photographer and shoved him over the wall, causing Minchillo to land on his back. Burlew leaned over the wall to witness Minchillos fall, according to court records.

Burlew is charged with assault in special territorial jurisdiction and committing acts of physical violence on restricted grounds, according to court records released Tuesday. He was arrested on Thursday.

Burlews attorney didnt respond to requests to comment Tuesday on the allegations against his client.

Associated Press spokesperson Lauren Easton said it is deeply troubling when journalists are targeted for simply doing their jobs.

These charges are an encouraging sign that those who attacked journalists on Jan. 6 will be held accountable, she said in an email.

Last month, Alan William Byerly of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, was arrested on charges of assaulting Minchillo and police officers during the riot.

Several other people have been charged with assaulting journalists, inciting violence against members of the press or destroying camera equipment belonging to journalists covering the riot, including an AP video crew.

A Pennsylvania woman has been accused of filming an attack on  and allegedly yelling for the attackers to mace  a New York Times photographer during the Jan. 6 riot.

Nearly 600 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the riots in the six months since the siege. Dozens have been charged with assaulting police officers who were trying to protect the Capitol.
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has authorized the killing of two more wolves in eastern Oregon, several weeks after the state fatally shot two young wolves from the same pack.

The Lookout Mountain pack was suspected of injuring or killing five cows over two weeks in July, and the state on Monday authorized ranchers to kill up to four of the wolves, excluding the breeding pair. Another cow was attacked Friday, and the state approved an extension of the original permit, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

The pack consists of the breeding pair, both of whom are fitted with radio tracking collars, two yearlings and five 4-month-old pups. Their territory is primarily in Baker County, near the Idaho and Washington borders.

Two of the packs seven pups were shot by state officials using a helicopter earlier this month.

Officials said the amount of time between attacks showed their strategy worked.

We had five dead cows on the landscape over 14 days, said Derek Broman, a carnivore biologist for the state, who noted the pack moved some 15 miles (24 kilometers) after the two wolves were killed. We took action, and then we had no dead animals for 18 days.

Wolf conservation advocates say they are shocked that the state agency wants even more wolves dead.

Amaroq Weiss, senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement that the assertion that the pups death resulted in a greater lag time before the next conflict occurred is not credible.

Any scientist knows that correlation is not causation, he said.

Ranchers grazing livestock near the Lookout Mountain pack previously tried nonlethal ways to prevent their animals from being attacked by wolves, including moving their animals farther from the wolves and using radio sensors that set off bright lights and loud sirens when the wolves' collars were detected, according to Broman.

Because none of those methods prevented further attacks on livestock, Broman said the state was forced to consider other ways to change the packs behavior.

This tool is not retribution, he said. Its a tool to prevent conflict.

Broman said the extreme drought affecting Oregon, along with recent heat waves, could be pushing the canids to seek out easier prey, a point echoed by Sristi Kamal, senior Northwest representative for Defenders of Wildlife. Kamal strongly disagrees with the states solution, however.

Instead of killing wolves (the state) should be prioritizing coexistence tools and methods, especially as our vulnerable wolf population is already facing threats from the ongoing drought and water crisis, Kamal said in a statement.

As of April, the state had 173 wolves in 22 identified packs.

Gray wolves were removed from the federal Endangered Species list in January, allowing Fish and Wildlife to take over the management of their population.

A coalition of 70 groups filed a formal petition to re-list the gray wolf as an endangered species throughout the West. Last week, however, attorneys for the Biden administration asked a federal judge in California to reject the lawsuit from wildlife advocates.

Gary Frazer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service assistant director for Ecological Services, suggested last week the federal government could still take steps to restore protections if population declines put wolves back on the path to extinction.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP)  The leader of a local ministry was charged with stalking a Walmart employee in Tennessee and was also accused of resisting arrest after trying to bite police officers, officials said.

Timothy Meyer, 46, of the Birchwood community north of Chattanooga, was arrested at a Chattanooga Walmart and charged with stalking, criminal trespassing and resisting arrest, the Times Free Press reported.
PIERRE, S.D. (AP)  The South Dakota Supreme Court Tuesday weighed whether to unseal a search warrant and affidavits in an investigation into billionaire banker-turned-philanthropist T. Denny Sanford for possible possession of child pornography.

The court documents are sealed and refer only to an implicated individual," and attorneys did not name Sanford as they made their arguments. However, one person briefed on the case by law enforcement told The Associated Press that the hearing involved Sanford and a legal effort by media organizations to unseal court records in the investigation. The person demanded anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.

The attorneys at the hearing also matched the lawyer representing Sanford, former South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, and those for two media outlets  ProPublica and the Sioux Falls Argus Leader  that reported last year Sanford had been investigated for possession of child pornography.

Sanford has not been charged with any crime.

The 85-year-old is the state's richest man, worth an estimated $2.8 billion, but has vowed to die broke, and his name adorns dozens of buildings and institutions in South Dakota and beyond.

Even after the investigation was reported last year, Sanford donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the South Dakota government and the state's largest employer, Sanford Health. Some of the state's top lawmakers, including Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, have not distanced themselves from Sanford.

ProPublica first reported that South Dakota investigators had obtained a search warrant, citing four unidentified sources. Two people briefed on the matter by law enforcement confirmed the investigation to the AP. They demanded anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it.

Sanfords electronic devices came to the attention of investigators with the South Dakota attorney generals office after a technology firm reported that child pornography had either been sent, received or downloaded on his device, according to one of the people who spoke to AP.

Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg determined there was sufficient evidence to move toward prosecuting Sanford, but passed the case to the U.S. Department of Justice because it spanned to Arizona, California and Nebraska, according to both people. Federal prosecutors have given no indication that they are bringing charges against Sanford, and Ravnsborg has not dropped plans to prosecute him if the Justice Department declines, according to both people.

The Justice Department and the South Dakota attorney general's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the investigation.

Jackley argued Tuesday that South Dakota courts had ultimate authority over court records and should not heed a state statute that presumes them to be open to the public. He pointed out there has never been a complaint or indictment filed against the implicated individual. He said he could not comment on whether the case involved Sanford.

Jackley said in a statement after the investigation was reported last year: Although we know very little about any state or federal inquiry relating to Mr. Sanford, we do know those authorities responsible for investigating allegations obviously did not find information or evidence that supported or resulted in any criminal charges.

Jon Arneson, an attorney for the Argus Leader, told the state Supreme Court that the case boiled down to the public's right to access court documents.

Jeffrey Beck, an attorney for ProPublica, said: This is a citizen, saying, I want my name removed from it because its embarrassing,."

Immediately after the investigation was revealed, organizations, universities and governments stopped accepting Sanford's donations. But in South Dakota  where his name adorns the largest employer, the largest indoor arena, and the largest charitable checks  the distancing was short-lived.

This year, Noem spearheaded an effort to create a scholarship endowment with $100 million from Sanford and First Premier Bank, the financial institution he founded. He attended a bill signing for it in March with Noem and several top state lawmakers.

First Premier is known for issuing high-interest credit cards to those with poor credit. Sanford, now retired, started it in 1986 amid a rush by lenders to take advantage of South Dakotas lax lending laws.

Sanford told the AP in 2016 that he wanted his fortune to have a positive impact on children after his hardscrabble childhood in St. Paul, Minnesota. His mother died of breast cancer when he was 4, and by the time he was 8, Sanford was working in his fathers clothing distribution company. He, along with two siblings, lived in a small apartment.

Stanford has since given away close to $2 billion.

You can only have so many cars and all of that kind of stuff so put it into something in which you can change peoples lives, Sanford said in 2016.

Sanford Health CEO Bill Gassen announced in March that the billionaire was donating an additional $300 million to the hospital system that bears his name. He told South Dakota Public Broadcasting at the time that it took the reports of the investigation seriously, but was satisfied that they were not substantiated.

Sanford has given periodically to Republicans, including Donald Trump. In November 2019 -- before the investigation was reported -- Sanford donated $20,600 to a joint fundraising committee for Sen. Mike Rounds and the states Republican party, as well as $10,000 directly to the South Dakota GOP and $5,600 to Rounds reelection campaign.

Last year, he gave $6,000 to a fundraising committee for former Georgia Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler. The committee returned half of that, according to the Federal Election Commission.

But Sanford's largest checks have gone to universities, health care organizations and childrens charities. He started his major charitable giving in 1999 with a $2 million donation to the Childrens Home Society of South Dakota, which aides victims of domestic violence, abuse and neglect. He has since given $69 million to the organization.

The state Supreme Court has not given a timeline on when it will rule on the case.

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This story was first published on Aug. 24, 2021. It was updated on Aug. 25, 2021 to correct the attribution of a quote to ProPublica attorney Jeffrey Beck.

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Associated Press reporter Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix, Arizona, contributed to this report.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)  A Black resource officer at a Florida high school who was fired earlier this year after a random audit of his body-worn camera captured him using a racial slur multiple times was rehired Monday.

Tampas Civil Service Board voted 3-0 that police Chief Brian Dugan had just cause to fire Delvin White in March for using the racial slur on two separate occasions in November 2020, but that firing the beloved school resource officer at Middleton High School was too harsh a punishment, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
In a mountain valley north of Kabul, the last remnants of Afghanistan's shattered security forces have vowed to resist the Taliban in a remote region that has defied conquerors before. But any attempt to reenact that history could end in tragedy  or farce.

Nestled in the towering Hindu Kush, the Panjshir Valley has a single narrow entrance and is the last region not under Taliban control following their stunning blitz across Afghanistan. Local fighters held off the Soviets in the 1980s and the Taliban a decade later under the leadership of Ahmad Shah Massoud, a guerrilla fighter who attained near-mythic status before he was killed in a suicide bombing.

His 32-year-old foreign-educated son, Ahmad Massoud, and several top officials from the ousted Western-backed government have gathered in the valley. They include Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who claims to be the caretaker leader after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.

They have vowed to resist the Taliban and are calling for Western aid to help roll them back.

I write from the Panjshir Valley today, ready to follow in my fathers footsteps, with mujahideen fighters who are prepared to once again take on the Taliban, Massoud wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Post. We have stores of ammunition and arms that we have patiently collected since my fathers time, because we knew this day might come.

But experts say a successful resistance is highly unlikely  and could potentially aggravate Afghanistan's already considerable problems.

While the Panjshir Valley remains as impregnable as ever, its unclear how long its residents can hold out if the Taliban besiege the area or attack it using the U.S.-supplied armaments they have seized in recent weeks. Western countries, stunned by the collapse of a costly, two-decade attempt at remaking Afghanistan, are unlikely to invest in another proxy war.

Ahmad Shah Massoud, nicknamed the Lion of Panjshir, was one of the main leaders of the Afghan mujahedeen, self-styled holy warriors who defeated the Soviets in 1989. His Northern Alliance included fellow Tajiks as well as fighters from other ethnic groups, in keeping with his vision of an independent, multi-ethnic Afghanistan under a moderate form of Islamic rule.

But as the country slid into war in the early 1990s, he found himself battling rival warlords and eventually the Taliban, who seized power in 1996. During their five-year rule his forces were confined to Panjshir and other remote areas in northeastern Afghanistan.

Two days before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, al-Qaida militants disguised as Arab journalists who had come to interview Massoud killed the commander in a suicide bombing.

His forces remained intact, however, and partnered with the U.S. when it invaded Afghanistan weeks later, scattering al-Qaida, which orchestrated the 9/11 attacks, and driving the Taliban from power. Along with other former warlords, they went on to form the core of the government and security forces that the U.S. and its allies would spend the next two decades arming and training, at a cost of billions of dollars.

Those forces, which from the beginning were rife with corruption, collapsed in a matter of days earlier this month, as the Taliban captured most of the country less than three weeks before the U.S. was set to withdraw its last troops.

The younger Massoud, who was just 12 when his father was killed, trained at the British military academy at Sandhurst and also earned a master's degree in international politics from the City University of London.

He has little, if any, combat experience. Sandy Gall, a veteran foreign correspondent who wrote Afghan Napoleon: The Life of Ahmad Shah Massoud, described his son as "a very personable young man with political ambitions."

Massoud says he has been joined by highly-trained Afghan special forces and other soldiers disgusted by the surrender of their commanders," but neither proved to be any match for the Taliban elsewhere in the country.

Torek Farhadi, an Afghan analyst and former government adviser, said the group poses little threat to the Taliban, and he cast doubt on Salehs claims that he could lead a resistance, calling him a social media person.

If he was a real threat he should have stayed the day Ghani fled and defended the palace. He was the vice president and soldiers were under his order, said Farhadi.

But even the specter of such a standoff, he said, risks plunging the country into another period violence and turmoil, with dire consequences for ordinary Afghans.

The Associated Press contacted several people close to both Massoud and Saleh in order to seek comment, but was unable to reach them. Many Afghans with ties to the ousted government have fled the country or gone into hiding.

The ousted leaders holed up in Panjshir may end up joining the negotiations that the Taliban are holding with other former Afghan officials. The Taliban have said they want an inclusive, Islamic government but will hold off on forming one until the U.S. completes its withdrawal.

We must use our weight with the international community to get guarantees from the Taliban for an all-encompassing government that includes women and non-Taliban, said Farhadi.

Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, a senior Taliban official, said their forces have surrounded Panjshir.

We are doing our best to solve the issue through negotiations, but if they dont accept the talks, we are ready to fight, he said.

In an interview with the Al-Arabiya news network over the weekend, Massoud said he would not surrender territory but could support a broad-based government.

A resident of Panjshir reached by phone said Massoud had warned people that the Taliban might attack and said families could leave if they wished. Those who stayed would prefer a negotiated solution but are loyal to Massoud and prepared to fight if necessary, the man said on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

Panjshir people are used to this, he said. They have gone through these situations several times and they are ready for it once again.

___

Krauss reported from Jerusalem and Faiez reported from Istanbul.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  At the request of Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, a special prosecutor has been appointed to investigate the fatal police shooting of a Kansas City man that has been criticized by some area clergy and civil rights activists.

St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bells office announced Tuesday that Rachel Smith will be as special prosecutor to determine if the police shooting of Malcolm Johnson, 31, was justified, The Kansas City Star reported.
PHILADELPHIA (AP)  A teenager has been arrested in connection with shots fired at Philadelphia police officers, one of whom suffered a graze wound on the head, authorities said.

Police said two uniformed officers were responding to a carjacking report in north Philadelphia shortly after 8 p.m. Monday. The officers found the stolen car and saw a man getting out of a vehicle parked in front of it, and the officers were trying to turn around to investigate further when they came under fire, police said.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  A company that designs and builds digital solutions for global brands plans to set up operations in South Carolina's Charleston County, state officials said Tuesday.

The $3.4 million investment by TELUS International will create nearly 1,200 new jobs by 2022, Gov. Henry McMaster said in a news release.
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP)  Tunisias president has prolonged the special powers he granted himself a month ago when he began ruling by decree after firing the prime minister, freezing parliament and lifting the immunity of lawmakers.

President Kais Saied had been expected to step back within 30 days, the time the Tunisian Constitution allows for such special measures. On Friday, Saied assured that changes would be made in the coming days, while adding that the institutions of state are functioning normally.

As the 30-day deadline approached, the president issued a decree late Monday saying that exceptional measures would remain in place until further notice. Saied did not give a reason for his action but said he would address the nation in the days ahead.

The president moved to consolidate power in his hands on July 25, after nationwide, sometimes violent protests against worsening social and economic conditions exacerbated by the spread of the coronavirus. Other nations have since poured vaccines and oxygen equipment into Tunisia, which had few resources with which to fight the pandemic.

Since he took full charge of the country, Saied fired top government ministers, along with a handful of regional governors, while police went after lawmakers and other officials for alleged corruption.

The president blamed corruption on 10 years of theft and non-application of the law, a reference to Tunisia's governance following the revolution that ousted its long-time autocratic leader and sparked the Arab Spring a decade ago. The North African nation was widely seen as a model for budding democracies but has failed to cure chronic unemployment and other social ills, especially in neglected provinces.

Saied was in part pointing a finger at the moderate Islamist Ennahdha party, which has shared power since the 2011 revolution. Ennahdha leader Rachid Ghannouchi, who also was parliament speaker before the legislature, accused the president of mounting a coup d'etat by taking on all executive powers.

The president of Tunisia's legal bar, Brahim Bouderbala, is among those who think the president's decision to assume exceptional powers a month ago was positive and that prolonging the measure was to be expected because one month is not enough time to lay the groundwork for change.

Bouderbala, who has met with the president, told Radio Mosaique that Saied has a project" targeting the political system, voting and the running of state institutions,

Bouderbala said he said he paid a visit to show support for Chawki Tabib, a lawyer and former head of Tunisia's anti-corruption body. Tabibm who was placed under house arrest Friday, is among the officials swept up in the anti-corruption campaign. Details of the allegations against him were not known.

Saied has received emissaries from Tunisia's regional allies and elsewhere over the past month. Some voiced full support for him, while others, notably Western nations, urged a quick return to the democratic process.

Inside Tunisia, the powerful UGTT union and others asked the president to provide a roadmap for the future.

___

This version has been corrected to show that the president acted to consolidate power on July 25, not July 26.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden has decided to stick with his deadline next week for completing the U.S.-led evacuation from Afghanistan, an administration official said Tuesday. The decision reflects a growing fear of extremist attacks at the Kabul airport but also opens Biden to domestic political complaints of caving to Taliban demands and of potentially leaving some Americans and Afghan allies behind.

A Taliban spokesman, speaking prior to word of Biden's decision, said anew that the militant group would oppose any extension of the Aug. 31 deadline. It has allowed the airlift to continue without major interference.

Pressure from U.S. allies, Democratic and Republican lawmakers, veterans groups and refugee organizations has grown for Biden to extend his deadline, which he set well before the Taliban completed its lightning takeover of Afghanistan on Aug. 15. It remains unclear whether the airlift from Kabul's international airport can get out all American citizens and other foreigners by next Tuesday, as well as former translators and other at-risk Afghans who fear for their lives under Taliban rule.

Some Republicans bristled Tuesday at the U.S. seeming to comply with a Taliban edict. We need to have the top priority to tell the Taliban that were going to get all of our people out, regardless of what timeline was initially set," said Rep. Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican.

And Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, chairman of the House intelligence committee, told reporters after a committee briefing Monday on the Afghanistan withdrawal that it was hard for me to imagine wrapping up the airlifts by the end of the month. He also said it was clear there had been any number of warnings to the administration of a very rapid takeover by the Taliban.

Biden asked his national security team to create contingency plans in case a situation arose for which the deadline needed to be extended slightly, the official said.

The chief Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby, said Aug. 31 leaves enough time to get all Americans out, but he was less specific about completing the evacuation of all at-risk Afghans.

We believe we have the ability to get that done by the end of the month, he said, referring to the unspecified number of American citizens who are seeking to leave. He said several hundred were evacuated on Monday and that several thousand have gotten out since the airlift began. He would not be more specific.

The U.S. has repeatedly stressed the risk of continuing the airlift, due to threats of violence by the Islamic State group's Afghanistan affiliate. Germanys top military commander, Gen. Eberhard Zorn, said Tuesday the United States and Germany were particularly concerned about ISIS suicide bombers possibly slipping into crowds in Kabul.

The U.S. ramped up its round-the-clock airlift of evacuees from Afghanistan to its highest level yet on Tuesday. About 21,600 people were flown out in the 24-hour period that ended early Tuesday, the White House said. That compares with about 16,000 the previous day.

Thirty-seven U.S. military flights  32 C-17s and 5 C-130s  carried about 12,700 evacuees. An additional 8,900 people flew out aboard 57 flights by U.S. allies.

Biden had considered whether to extend his self-imposed deadline, taking into account the continued security threats by extremist groups in the Afghan capital, the Taliban's resistance to an extension and the prospect that not all Americans and at-risk Afghan allies can be evacuated by next Tuesday.

At a news conference in Kabul, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Tuesday his group will accept no extensions of the deadline.

Later Tuesday, Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, said the military will need at least several days to fully withdraw its several thousand troops and their equipment from Kabul.

NATO partners and other countries say they will have to shut down their own evacuations if the U.S. withdraws the 5,800 troops it has flown in to run and protect the massive airlifts out of Taliban-ruled Kabul.

British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said earlier that no country would have time to complete evacuations by Aug. 31.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had pressed Biden via an emergency virtual G-7 leaders meeting Tuesday to stay, said British evacuations will go on right up until the last moment that we can."

Amid the tense operation to get people out of the country, CIA Director William Burns secretly swooped into Kabul on Monday to meet with the Taliban's top political leader, Abdul Ghani Baradar, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.

.The Washington Post first reported Burns' meeting. The U.S. official later confirmed the meeting for the AP.

A 2020 deal struck by President Donald Trump and the Taliban initially set a May deadline for U.S. troops to fully withdraw from Afghanistan, after nearly 20 years of war there. Biden extended the deadline to Aug. 31 but is adamant he, too, wants to end the U.S. military role in Afghanistan, and he is rejecting criticism following the Taliban's sudden conquest of the country this month and the collapse of the U.S.-backed government and military.

With access to the airport still dangerous, U.S. helicopter crews have been carrying out sorties beyond the airport walls to retrieve evacuees, including 16 Americans on Monday.

Since Aug. 14, the U.S. has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of more than 58,000 people.

___

Associated Press writers Nomaan Merchant, Padmananda Rama, Darlene Superville, Aamer Madhani, Frank Jordans, Lolita C. Baldor, Hope Yen, Alexandra Jaffe, James LaPorta, Matthew Lee and Dan Huff contributed to this report.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP)  The U.S. Embassy in El Salvador issued a warning Monday against swimming off the countrys Pacific coast beaches, citing a high number of deaths.

The embassy wrote that in 2021, an elevated number of U.S. citizens (and persons of other nationalities) have lost their lives due to rip currents and other dangerous conditions at El Salvadors beaches.
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)  The Vermont Department of Health is increasing its contact tracing staff as COVID-19 cases increase.

State epidemiologist Patsy Kelso said that before the delta variant caused a surge in cases in Vermont earlier this summer, many health department employees who had done contact tracing returned to the jobs they had before the pandemic.

The surge has been a challenge," Kelso told the Rutland Herald. There are a lot of cases and contacts to reach out to and so, were still doing contact tracing (but) some of it has not been as timely in recent days and weeks but we are staffing back up."

The health department is hiring new employees, using some federal funding, and assigning some existing staff to contact tracing, she said.

The new contact tracers need to be trained, which can take several weeks.

Kelso said she didn't know if the health department had a specific goal of how many new contact tracers it would like to hire.
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP)  The Chesapeake School Board has not adopted policies to protect transgender students, despite a state law requiring policies to be in place by the start of the school year.

The board did not even vote on the proposed policies at a meeting Monday night, news outlets report. Board member Dr. Patricia King moved to consider the policies, but her motion failed because no one seconded it.
Michael P. King/AP

MADISON, Wis. (AP)  The office of a Wisconsin lawmaker who has been an outspoken critic of vaccine and mask mandates declined to update his condition on Tuesday, even as a fellow legislator asked for prayers, saying the state senator was hospitalized with COVID-19-induced pneumonia.

Wisconsin state Sen. Andre Jacque was hospitalized on Aug. 16 after he tested positive for COVID-19. Jacque, a Republican from De Pere, is one of the Legislature's most conservative members and a vocal opponent of mask and vaccine mandates.
Over the weekend, an alumna of Antonian College Preparatory High School shared rules inscribed in the school's 2021-2022 student handbook, which threaten to expel transgender students, among other policies.

In an Instagram post, Gabi Antuna, now a senior at the University of Texas at Austin, uploaded a screenshot of the printed policy admonishing students from expressing and celebrating "same sex attraction" and prohibiting the use of students' preferred pronouns at the institution.

"All students are expected to conduct themselves at school in a manner consistent with their biological sex," reads a passage addressing "gender dysphoria." The policy goes on to state a student may be expelled from the institution if they present otherwise.

"If a student's expression of gender, sexual identity, or sexuality should cause confusion or disruption at the school, or if should mislead others, cause scandal, or have the potential for causing scandal, then the matter will first be discussed with the student and his/her parents," the policy says. "If the issue is not resolved to the satisfaction of Antonian, whose primary goal is to always uphold Catholic truths and principles, then the student may be dismissed from the school, after the parents are first given the opportunity to withdraw the student from the school."

Antuna, who graduated in 2018, came across the new handbook by way of a former student.

"I was prompted to speak out because I remember what it was like to attend these faith-based institutions as an LGBTQIA+ member without these policies. I remember the constant harassment, inappropriate comments, and harmful teachings that I encountered. LGBTQIA+ students were outed to their parents by faculty when found holding hands in the halls and we constantly were taught that our identity was a 'sin'" Antuna tells MySA.

"These schools were always openly homophobic and transphobic, but it was never written in policy until now."

Antuna, who is pansexual, says it is important to speak out because students' mental health should come first, and environments like this can be deeply detrimental at a crucial juncture of self discovery. Antuna adds that calling out her alma mater, and other schools in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, is long overdue. She feels there is room to balance faith and inclusivity in these schools, and points to St. Lukes Episcopal School, a faith-based campus that was praised for its support of an openly transgender student in 2015.

Since posting Antonian's policy on August 20, Antuna has received both support and backlash in her comments section, with some feeling the rules are appalling, saying it perpetuates harmful ideologies, while others claim the institution shouldn't change their beliefs to meet students needs.

Along with others in the community, Antuna created a survey to gather signatures and feedback from students across the city's Catholic schools to send to the Archdiocese of San Antonio. So far, the form has amassed over 360 engagements.

Another former Antonian student, Grace Kemmy, class of 2019, expressed concern and anger at the policy, citing student mental health concerns. "I hope and pray that leaders in the community realize the dangerous effects this has on so many students," Kemmy tells MySA.

Kemmy says her interpretation of Catholic teachings meant "standing for the marginalized, as Jesus chose to do over and over."

"Yet the Archdiocese has decided to make a point to do the opposite," she adds.

While much of the social media conversation surrounds Antonian, Jordan Mcmorrough, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of San Antonio, tells MySA that the policies are system-wide and schools are encouraged to "reaffirm" the rules. He says the social media conversation is "an incomplete and inaccurate portrayal of this policy." While the screenshots Atuna and others shared across social media mirror the official documents the Archdiocese sent to MySA, the expanded version includes more guidance for schools.

The complete version includes a section prohibiting bullying based on a student's perceived sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity, in accordance with its commitment to providing a safe learning environment for all. However, schools must uphold Catholic teachings.

"Thus, when a person experiences same-sex attraction or some form of gender dysphoria, such struggles do not change the biological fact of how God created that person, and it would be untruthful of the Catholic Church or our Catholic schools to pretend otherwise," the section reads. "The policies of our Catholic schools, therefore, must reflect these fundamental truths."

Atuna says she does remember staff members she is "eternally grateful for" during her time at Antonian.

The archdiocese recognizes such issues are "undoubtedly challenging."

"That is why the new archdiocesan policy will help our faculties to provide clarity to truly assist people who are in difficult circumstances," the statement adds. "We encourage each school to reaffirm this approach, while providing education consistent with Catholic teachings."

The archdiocese says the policy shared with MySA was established before this school year and has not been revised in response to the social media reaction. Mcmurrough adds that practice of archdiocesan Catholic schools has been in place, but the policy was included "to address the issues must navigate in a more holistic approach."
Houston might be out of Hurricane Grace's crosshair, but we're not out of the woods entirely.

The storm is expected to hit Central Mexico in the coming days, missing Houston and Southeast Texas by hundreds of miles. But that doesn't mean we won't feel the effects of the storm, which could cause hazardous rip currents and tall waves along the Gulf Coast.

High tide Friday and Saturday could also lead to minor coastal flooding, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologists say this could be dangerous for those in the water or visiting the coast this weekend. Anyone caught in rip current should swim parallel to the coast until they're able to swim ashore.

The hurricane is projected to make landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula early Thursday morning and weaken to a tropical storm. It will move into the Bay of Campeche on Friday, regain strength into a hurricane once again and slam into eastern Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Grace is the seventh named storm of the 2021 season, and an eighth  Tropical Storm Henri  is expected to strengthen into a hurricane and die out hundreds of miles off the East Coast.

This season is predicted to be active, according to the hurricane center.

In total, meteorologists predict 15 to 21 named storms. Of those, seven to 10 are thought to become hurricanes, while including three to five major hurricanes.

What's the must-have item in your hurricane kit? Let me know on Twitter: @jayrjordan
Nearly 11 months after Attorney General Ken Paxtons former top aides accused him of accepting bribes, Paxtons office on Tuesday published a 374-page internal report that concludes he's innocent of the allegations.

Last October, seven former employees told authorities that they believed Paxton was using his power as attorney general to aid Nate Paul, a campaign donor and Austin real estate developer, who whistleblowers have said helped Paxton remodel his home and gave a job to a woman with whom Paxton allegedly had an affair. All of those employees were either fired or left the office under pressure after their complaint. Four of the employees filed a whistleblower lawsuit saying Paxton used his position to help Pauls business interests, investigate his foes, and help settle a lawsuit.

But in Tuesdays report, Paxtons office said there was no basis for a criminal complaint against their boss, a second-term Republican.

AG Paxtons actions were lawful, and consistent with his legal duties and prior actions taken by Attorneys General of Texas, the report said. AG Paxton committed no crime.

The report also said it found no evidence that Paxton had taken a bribe or that there was a quid pro quo relationship between Paxton and Paul. And it accuses three of the Paxton aides who reported him of breaking the law.

In a statement, attorneys for the whistleblowers, said the takeaway from this internal report is that, although Ken Paxton remains under active federal investigation, the people who still work for Paxton say he did nothing wrong. The FBI is reportedly investigating the claims by Paxtons former employees.

Notably, whoever in Paxtons office wrote this report was not willing to put their name on it. Of course, the one-sided internal report is full of half-truths, outright lies, and glaring omissions, the statement read. It is a half-baked self-exoneration by Paxton, who continues to use taxpayer dollars to delay and hide from simple document requests and depositions and pay private lawyers to keep the federal investigation quiet. The truth will come out, but you wont get it from Ken Paxton.

Alejandro Garcia, a Paxton spokesperson, did not respond to a question about who had worked on the report and what level of independence the person or persons had from the attorney general. The report states it is rooted in documents, third-party interviews and the application of Texas law.

But it also states that the report is limited to events that occurred before Oct. 5, 2020, when the internal investigation began, and the office reserves the right to update and modify the report and its conclusions.

The report does not impact the whistleblower lawsuit, which is currently awaiting a hearing at the 3rd Court of Appeals after Paxton asked the court to throw out the case. The four whistleblowers  Ryan Vassar, Mark Penley, James Brickman and David Maxwell  have asked the court to reinstate them and compensate them for lost wages, future loss of earnings and damages for emotional pain and suffering.

Paxton has denied wrongdoing and said he fired the whistleblowers because they had gone rogue and made unsubstantiated claims against him.

The report claims that the former employees who reported their concerns to authorities ignored facts and sometimes willfully obfuscated them. It also pushes back against claims that Paxton accepted bribes and accuses some of the former employees of illegally sharing grand jury information with a private lawyer and getting rid of evidence.

The criminal complaint by former employees alleges that Paxton pressured staff to help Pauls attorney get information through records requests he had filed with other state agencies. The attorney general is charged with resolving disputes on open records laws. Paul was seeking information related to an August 2019 raid by state and federal authorities on his home office.

The employees also alleged that Paxton took an interest in a routine lawsuit between an Austin charity, the Roy R. and Joann Cole Mitte Foundation, and Pauls real estate firm. The attorney generals office had already declined to get involved in the case, but Paxton directed the agency to reverse itself and intervene. The effort, according to the whistleblowers and an attorney for the charity, was intended to help Pauls interests at the expense of the philanthropic group.

Last July, Paxton directed top aides to issue a legal opinion on foreclosure sales during the COVID-19 pandemic that the whistleblowers said would help Paul stave off foreclosure sales of some of his properties.

And most troubling for the whistleblowers, Paxton hired a 34-year-old Houston defense attorney named Brandon Cammack to investigate claims by Paul that he had been mistreated during the 2019 raid of his home and office.

Two Paxton aides at the time, Maxwell and Penley, had been charged with looking into Pauls claims but had found no credible evidence existed to support any state law charges. Penley tried to close the investigation but Paxton, Paul and his attorney pushed back. Paxton eventually hired Cammack.

The internal report addresses each of the concerns presented in the criminal complaint, saying the attorney generals office ruled against people connected to Paul in open records disputes multiple times. The report says the office also took a position in the lawsuit involving the Mitte Foundation that was adverse to Nate Paul who would have had to pay a higher settlement under its guidance.

The report states that the foreclosure opinion was in response to a request for guidance from state Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it does not state that Hughes has publicly said he filed his request for an attorney general opinion at Paxtons behest, with the attorney generals office even providing the wording for it.

The report also said Cammack legally and properly exercised authority given to him by the attorney generals office and the Travis County District Attorneys office, even though some of the employees who filed a complaint against Paxton said they had no knowledge of the hiring of Cammack as an outside counsel for the office. The report says some of the employees signed off on the hire and should have known about Cammacks work for the office.

The report alleges that Penley, who the report says should have known about the hire because he had signed off on it, misinformed the district attorneys office that Cammack was not working for the attorney general and violated Texas law. It also alleges that Vassar committed a crime when he shared information about subpoenas Cammack had filed with a private lawyer who previously worked as a state and federal attorney. The report says Penley also shared subpoena information with the lawyer.

In an email included in the report, Penley asks the lawyer to forward the subpoenas to a law enforcement agency.

The attorney Penley asked previously served as a federal prosecutor, and the internal report says that because Cammack was investigating the raid of Pauls home by federal authorities, he could have had personal and professional relationships with possible defendants. The whistleblowers statement Tuesday did not directly address the allegations made by Paxtons in the report.

Separately, Paxton has been indicted for felony securities fraud. He is seeking a third term in office in 2022 and has already drawn two Republican opponents in Land Commissioner George P. Bush and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman.
Lake Tahoe is situated in the worst possible place for wildfire smoke right now: immediately downwind from the Caldor Fire.

According to air quality officials, the Reno Tahoe region and the central Sierra Nevada may even have the most toxic air in all of North America right now.

Since Friday, a southwesterly wind has been directing the huge plume of smoke from the Caldor Fire directly into the Lake Tahoe basin, saturating the region with thick, toxic air that measures beyond hazardous on the Air Quality Index.

On Monday morning, readings on AirNow showed a 620 AQI in Tahoe City. The Air Quality Index goes up to 500. Anything above 500 is labeled as beyond index.

Anything beyond 500, there isnt really a number that can be calculated, said Brendan Schnieder, air quality specialist at the Washoe County Health District in Reno, Nevada. Its really 500-plus. Its the worst it can get.

When the Air Quality Index goes above 300, the air is considered hazardous, which AirNow describes as a health warning of emergency conditions that affects everyone.

Everyone should avoid outdoor activity, Schnieder said. And even if youre inside your home, you should be doing light activity. It can cause a variety of health issues.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, wildfire smoke can trigger a wide range of health issues, from acute to very serious issues. Breathing toxic air from wildfire smoke can cause irritation in your lungs and eyes. It can reduce lung function, exacerbate asthma and heart failure. It can cause premature death. The EPA says that children, pregnant women and the elderly are especially vulnerable.

Anecdotally, many people in Lake Tahoe and Reno say that this is the worst wildfire smoke theyve ever experienced. Schnieder, who has lived in the Reno area since 2004, said he hasnt been able to see the mountains in a long time. On Tahoes West Shore, in Tahoma, longtime resident Ed Miller compares it to the smoke he experienced during 2013s Rim Fire in Yosemite. But he doesnt remember the smoke lasting for as long or with the kind of intensity as it has this summer.

Its changed our lives, Miller said. Our everyday activities. For example, we used to take our puppy swimming almost every day in Homewood. And were not doing that anymore. We just canceled an appointment in Truckee, because we dont want to go out. Its very gloomy. Its depressing. Its anxiety producing.

Lake Tahoe and parts of northern California and northern Nevada have some of the worst measurements on the Air Quality Index in North America right now. Schnieder said that virtually everywhere else in North America has a better AQI reading  that is to say, healthier and cleaner air  than the central Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe, Carson Valley and Reno area.

Sunday even set a new record for air quality in Reno: The 24-hour average for Renos AQI was at 251, said Schnieder. On a typical summer day, without wildfires, Renos 24-hour average AQI hovers around 25 to 30. Sunday was the worst day on record for particulate matter 2.5, or PM 2.5, which is a measurement of the fine particles in the air from wildfire smoke.

PM 2.5 is the more concerning of the particulates because it can coat further down into your lungs, Schnieder said.

The record-breaking measurement in Reno comes from air monitors that are regulated by the EPAs National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which Schnieder said is a separate source of records than AirNow and PurpleAir. The data for daily average on air quality goes back to the late 1990s, Schnieder said.

Schnieder also said that air quality in the Reno Tahoe region has developed a disturbing pattern that gets worse every year because of wildfires.

Since 2013, weve had wildfire smoke impacts every summer, Schnieder said. 2018 was notable. 2020 was even worse. And now 2021 is even worse than 2020. So it does appear to be this sort of pattern of more wildfire smoke-affected days. But also, those wildfire smoke-affected days are worse than they have ever been.

Given how bad the air is in Reno, the Lake Tahoe Basin is located in closer proximity to the Caldor Fire, and many of the residents on the south and west shores are likely seeing even worse air quality. On Monday, AirNow maps showed hazardous air quality levels for many locations around the Tahoe Basin. SFGATE called El Dorado County air quality officials for comment about the smoke in South Lake Tahoe, but the health district was not available. (Mass evacuation orders due to the Caldor Fire have been issued near the El Dorado county seat in Placerville.)

For about 36 hours last week, Tahoe saw a brief reprieve from the wildfire smoke, which has been sitting in the basin for several weeks straight. On Thursday and Friday, a shift of winds graciously cleared the air; you could actually see the mountains on the other side of Lake Tahoe. There were blue skies. Tahoe residents and visitors were finally free to be outside, to go hiking, to swim in the water.

But the taste of summer was short-lived. Winds from the southwest picked up, blowing all the smoke from the Caldor Fire into Tahoe.

Were right in the worst-case scenario spot, said Scott McGuire, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Reno, which forecasts for northern Nevada and the Sierra Nevada. Were sandwiched between the Dixie Fire to the north thats been burning for quite some time now, and then the Caldor Fire, southwest of Lake Tahoe.

McGuire said that winds are going to stay consistent, blowing from that unfortunate southwestern direction, for the first part of this week. Later in the week, he said some signs are starting to show that winds may shift. But smoke forecasts depend on myriad factors, including the fire itself.

At this point, the message is, we unfortunately are going to be dealing with some sort of smoke and haze issues for the foreseeable future, McGuire said.

In Tahoma, Miller is the president of the Meeks Bay Fire Protection District. He said hes getting many calls from fellow community members, neighbors and friends, regarding the Caldor Fire and the smoke. He has two air filters in his house and he said his street has vacated because so many of his neighbors have left their homes. The visuals caused by the smoke are apocalyptic, he said.

When you see the sun rise or the sun set, Miller said. Were known for our spectacular sunsets, and when they turn to this hazy orange glow, it looks unearthly.
Florida, FL (34429)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. High 79F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 74F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Florida, FL (34429)

Today

Thunderstorms, accompanied by locally heavy rainfall at times. High 78F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 74F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Approved permanent residents with expired documents have no answers to when they will be able to travel to Canada.

Future Canadians still cannot immigrate despite eased travel measures Approved permanent residents with expired documents have no answers to when they will be able to travel to Canada.

Future Canadians still cannot immigrate despite eased travel measures Approved permanent residents with expired documents have no answers to when they will be able to travel to Canada.

Future Canadians still cannot immigrate despite eased travel measures Approved permanent residents with expired documents have no answers to when they will be able to travel to Canada. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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The Abdeali family had made all the arrangements to come to Canada this year, as they finally received their approval for permanent residency during the pandemic. However, their travel documents expired before they were allowed to come to Canada. Now, they are among many approved permanent residents who have given up everything to come to Canada only to be told to wait for an indefinite amount of time.



Zainab Abdeali, a school teacher, gave her notice that she would not be returning for the next school year, as she and her family had been approved to come to Canada. Her husband dissolved his business. The couple sold their possessions and pulled their two children out of school.

Learn about Canadas immigration system

Due to the travel restrictions, they could not travel to Canada to complete the final step in the immigration process. Between March 18, 2020 and June 21, 2021, approved permanent residents were not allowed to come to Canada. The only exceptions were for U.S. residents coming from south of the border and approved permanent residents who fell under another exemption.

The Abdeali family live in India, and they did not fall under another exemption. Now, they are among many Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) holders who are running into the same problems that pre-March-18 COPR holders had amid travel restrictions. Their documents expired while the border was closed to them, and the government does not allow for approved permanent residents to complete the landing process with invalid COPRs. As a result, future Canadian immigrants cannot take the last step to permanent residency, even though they have passed every other step in the process.

For the Abdealis their immigration process began in 2018.

Weve gone through everything. All ground checks. All the eligibility requirements. The medical is passed. Were already approved. And again we are waiting for the immigration asking us if we want to move, Zainab said.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)s solution has been to contact clients individually, rather than providing a blanket exemption.

Each clients situation is unique and needs to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ensure that they have valid visas for travel. In order to minimize the chance that they will encounter issues when they seek admission as permanent residents at the border, a broad extension for expired COPRs is not feasible, IRCC media relations said.

They also stopped issuing COPRs for 90 days starting in March 2021, in an effort to curb the number of people whose documents would expire before travel restrictions were lifted. IRCC did not say how many post-March-18 COPR holders there are, as they are still calculating and verifying the data.

The official instructions for post-Mar-18 with expired documents say to wait for IRCC to contact them, and requests that they not contact IRCC. Instead, IRCC will send an email asking expired COPR holders if they still want to travel, then give them 10 days to respond. Eventually, IRCC will ask them for medicals and passports, if required. Individuals will have to respond to the requests, then IRCC will issue their renewed documents.

But the dont-call-us-well-call-you approach has left many in immigration limbo. With the expectation that they would be immigrating to Canada, many quit their jobs, pulled their kids out of school, and sold their possessions.

Akshya Shivkumar and her husband both quit their jobs in anticipation of immigrating to Canada. Their COPR expired shortly before travel restrictions on lifted in June. Since then, Shivkumar says she has been checking her email every day searching for answers, as her and her husbands settlement funds slowly dwindle.

We are all stuck in this waiting game, all for an email of instructions that would take weeks? Months? Years? Shivkumar said, We are desperate for concrete information on processing timelines so we can get out of this limbo and mental distress.

Many expired COPR holders, report feeling mentally distressed while waiting for their documents to be approved. The lack of available information means they cannot make plans for their future in their home country, nor in Canada.

My kids are asking again and again when are they able to travel to Canada, said Avtar Singh, another approved permanent resident. The mental stress is way too much to handle. Im losing weight.

Singh gave up a senior position at his company in February 2020 in anticipation that he would arrive before his COPR expired two months later. Amid the height of the pandemic, and severe restrictions in India, there was no way for Singh, his wife and kids to come to Canada in time.

There is no fixed timeline for how long expired COPR holders will have to wait for IRCC to reissue their documents. IRCC suggested it would be months in an email to CIC News:

Individuals with expired COPRs issued after March 18, 2020, can expect to receive instructions from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in the coming months about what they need to do if they would like to have their COPR reissued. Family class applicants will be prioritized, after which clients will be contacted based on the date they applied for permanent residence.

For pre-March-18 COPR holders, it took 10 months to contact roughly 10,000 individuals. IRCC started issuing renewals in September 2020, officials said in a government committee meeting. As of July 11, 2021, all pre-March-18 COPR holders who were eligible for an extension have been contacted, according to an IRCC spokesperson.

Without a firm timeline, and no answers, many approved permanent residents have attempted to contact IRCC and other officials anyway, including Zainab.

I called [the high commissioner of Canada to India] asking them what can be provided to us, wherein I know in a month or two months or what at least I have a timeframe in which I can do something for my children, Zainab said. I can [go back to work at] a school again, I can get my children into school again.

Her 15-year-old son Murtza, also sent a video to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino, asking them to allow him and his family to travel to Canada.

Its so unfair to us that were abiding by everything and theyre processing other files like work permits, Murtza told CIC News, referring to work and study permit holders who are allowed to travel to Canada. On September 7, even tourists are going to be allowed but not us. Were waiting for three years  we applied in 2018. It is very unfair.

The current situation of expired COPR holders . This is a message to the honourable prime minister of Canada Mr. Justin Trudeau and immigration minister Mr. Marco medicino to acknowledge EXPIRED COPR appli

Learn about Canadas immigration system

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
In earlier posts, weve discussed a number of the characteristics associated with successful robotic process automation (RPA) initiatives. Among those characteristics: the use of cutting-edge RPA platforms, the creation of an automation pipeline, and the establishment of a strong change management program.

Arguably, however, there is one essential element to RPA initiatives that supersedes all others: the recruitment of executive sponsors and participants. While CIOs and automation center of excellence experts will have responsibility for much of the automation planning and execution, the breath and impact of transformational automation efforts requires early and ongoing backing from the C-suite on down.

The best way for CIOs to generate executive support for enterprise-wide automation is to emphasize the many business benefits that pervasive automation can deliver. Some of the most impactful benefits include:

Increased employee productivity and satisfaction as automation speeds many laborious and time-consuming processes.

Lower error rates, improved security, and stricter compliance thanks to the standardization and auditing improvements that RPA can deliver.

Lower operating costs and increased revenue driven by productivity gains, operational speed, and faster time to market.

Greater innovation and competitiveness as employees, freed from many burdensome rote tasks, are able to focus on more valuable and strategic activities.

Of course, CEOs and other executives may rightly view these and many other asserted RPA benefits as little more than wishful thinking unless CIOs and other RPA advocates can back up their claims with hard numbers. To that end, it can be tough to deliver convincing metrics unless the advocates can first establish baseline data about the speed, error rates, and other characteristics of existing manual processes. Without such baseline data, there is no way to prove the benefits that task automations subsequently deliver.

RPA backers must also choose their initial proof-of-concept pilot programs with an eye toward identifying those that offer the fastest and largest payoffs. Identifying the best task automation candidates across an entire organization and the many employee activities within it can seem a daunting mission at first glance. Fortunately, there are now intelligent tools that can help CIOs as well as business managers identify the processes with the greatest potential for  and need of  automation.

Finally, in seeking to enlist CEOs and other C-suite executives to the automation cause, its important not to focus solely on the broad business benefits RPA can deliver. Dont forget that, like all employees, executives also perform many repetitive tasks as part of their daily routines and requirements.

Savvy CIOs know that one of the best ways to convince these executives of RPAs power and potential is by automating some of the executives own most-onerous and time-consuming tasks. CEOs and others who personally experience the benefits of task automation will become much more-committed advocates and allies when it comes to scaling up automation initiatives enterprise wide.

UiPath provides a broad RPA platform that addresses every aspect of task and process identification, analysis, automation, and life-cycle management. UiPath also has a broad array of services and resources to help CIOs make the business case for enterprise-wide RPA.

For further information, go to https://www.uipath.com/.
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The remnants of Hurricane Ida have moved out of the area and along with it most of any threats that could have possibly came with the monster storm that battered Louisiana and Mississippi.
Recently, Ben Smith, the media columnist at the New York Times, traveled to Riga, the capital of Latvia. He was there to profile Meduza, a news site that covers neighboring Russia and still has reporters on the ground in Moscow, but has been based in Riga since its founding in 2014, and, per Smith, has settled into a kind of exile there. Meduza is one of a growing number of independent digital outlets to have produced riveting scoops on Russia, holding officials to account in a country whose every major broadcaster is a highly produced, pro-government analogue of Fox Newsbut the government is now hitting back, designating its highest-impact critics as undesirable, or as foreign agents, or both. Journalists and outlets tagged with the latter label, including Meduza, have tried to make light of it (incorporating foreign-agent crush Instagram posts in a fundraising campaign; starting a podcast called Hi, Youre a Foreign Agent) but the consequences are very serious. The designation places onerous bureaucratic requirements on its subjects, even requiring reporters to append disclosures to their personal social-media posts. Its also a reputational black mark that repels advertisers, partners, and sources, and, as Smith notes, carries the unmistakable connotation of a dark, Stalinist past.

Russia has long been hostile to independent journalists, and in recent years, instances of high-profile reporters being targeted have proliferated. In 2019, Ivan Golunov, an investigative reporter who has worked for Meduza, was jailed on bogus drugs charges. (He was quickly released following an unusually-sharp public outcry.) Last year, Svetlana Prokopyeva, of the US-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was convicted of justifying terrorism over comments she made about a suicide bombing, and Ivan Safronov, a former military correspondent who had recently gone to work for Russias space agency, was charged with spying and jailed. One year ago last Friday, the Russian state poisoned Alexei Navalny, an opposition leader who has also dabbledhighly effectivelyin investigative journalism about President Vladimir Putin and his cronies; in January, Navalny was arrested on his return to Russia after a spell convalescing abroad, sparking historic protests that were in turn met with mass arrests, including of reporters. Since then, numerous journalists have been detained and/or prosecuted for participating in protests, including ongoing pro-Navalny demonstrations.

ICYMI: Biden, Trump, and the missing big picture in Afghanistan coverage

As I wrote in January, the Navalny protests exposed a problem of narrative control for Putin, who had not only failed to silence Navalny himself, but had to contend with the wave of bold online news reporting noted by Smith and changing media-consumption habits among the Russian population; Meduza reported, for example, that ten times as many people watched protest coverage on the YouTube channel of TV Rain, an independent broadcaster, as watched the feed of RT, the state propaganda network. Arrests, clearly, were not stemming the tide. And so Putins regime has since intensified its regulatory crackdown on such outlets. This campaign has made room for more classic, in-person harassment: since April, officials have raided the homes of at least five senior journalists linked to at least three news sitesiStories, Proekt, and The Insiderconfiscating equipment and, in at least the latter two cases, also raiding the home of a journalists parents. It has also made prolific use of the foreign-agent designation, applying it to iStories and The Insider, as well as Meduza, TV Rain, a business site called VTimes, and PASMI, which covers corruption (and has denied having any foreign ties). In the space of eight days in July, the authorities listed thirteen individual journalists as foreign agents, including nine tied to Proekt.

The foreign agent label is all about creating stigma, like a rash on your face, Tikhon Dzyadko, the editor in chief of TV Rain, said after the channel was tagged late last week. We arent anyones agents, and work every hour in the interests of Russia alone. The designation has had unsupportable costs for some outlets; in June, VTimes shuttered, citing the threat of prison time for its staff and the destruction of its commercial business model.

Other outlets have been attacked with even blunter regulatory instruments. Two sites founded by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a Putin critic, shut down after Russias communications watchdog accused them of hosting unspecified extremist content and blocked access. Last month, regulators blocked dozens of sites linked to Navalny on similar grounds. The most heavy-handed treatment was, perhaps, reserved for Proekt, which became the first Russian news organization ever to be tagged as undesirablea designation that effectively criminalized its operations and banned other sites from quoting or linking to its work, even historically. Proekt vowed to continue publishing, but Roman Badanin, the sites top editor, who was on vacation in the US when the designation came down, decided not to return to Russia and moved to evacuate his staff. Badanin told Smith that he expects the authorities to block Russians from accessing Proekts website sooner rather than later. He is now working to launch a new media company. (Its name? Agentstvo.)

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The Putin regime is clearly trying to silence Navalny, in particular, and independent voices, in general, ahead of key parliamentary elections that are slated to take place a month from now. But, of course, its crackdown on independent journalism has much longer-term ramifications. Broadly speaking, violations of press freedom tend to grab the most international attention when they are gruesome or brazeninvolving dismemberment, or an aerial kidnapping, or poison. More often, they take subtler formsnesting, for example, in cronyistic business transactions and between the blurry lines of arcane legal codes. Russias crackdown is a reminder that these insidious methods can do immense damage, and demand scrutiny. Its a reminder, too, that regulatory and physical threats exist on a continuum, and cant easily be separated. Recently, Safronov, the former military correspondent, wrote an op-ed from jail criticizing Russias treatment of supposed spies. The websites of Vedomosti, which published it, and Meduza, which quoted from it, subsequently were taken offline. Safronov was moved to a punitive isolation cell.

Broad crackdowns have a habit, too, of expanding yet further. Russia has recently weaponized the charge of foreign collusion to crack down on domestic (or domestic-facing) media. But international outlets are not immune. RFE/RL has been tagged as a foreign agent since 2017; this year, Russian authorities have harshly punished the broadcaster for failing to comply with the terms of its designation, levying hundreds of fines totaling millions of dollars and freezing its local bank accounts. RFE/RL has pledged to fight to maintain a bureau in Moscow, but, as the BBC has reported, it has already moved some staff and equipment out of the country to ensure the continuity of its operations. Recently, the BBC itself took a hit, learning that Russia will not be renewing the visa of Sarah Rainsford, its Moscow correspondent, when it expires at the end of the month. (Officials cast the move as a response to British discrimination against Russian reporters; Britain called this nonsense.) Rainsfords impending expulsion has come as a shock. There have been really serious problems recently for Russian independent journalists, she said. But until now, for the foreign press, wed somehow been shielded from all of that.

Below, more on Russia:



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: In Kosovo, everybody has their own truth

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Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
Attorneys for the Boy Scouts of America are postponing a key bankruptcy hearing that was scheduled to start this week, following a court ruling that casts uncertainty on the future of the case.

Attorneys on Friday filed court papers postponing a hearing until Sept. 21 that had been set to begin Wednesday. The hearing is to determine whether the judge approves a disclosure statement that explains the Boy Scouts reorganization plan to creditors. Approval of the disclosure statement is required before creditors can vote on the plan.

The move comes one day after the judge approved BSAs proposal to enter into an agreement that includes an $850 million fund to compensate tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as youngsters by Scout leaders and others. Importantly, however, she rejected two key provisions of the deal, potentially jeopardizing the agreement that the Boy Scouts had been hoping to use as a springboard to emerge from bankruptcy later this year.

The agreement involves the national Boy Scouts organization, roughly 250 local Boy Scout councils, and attorneys representing some 70,000 men who say they were sexually abused as youngsters decades ago while engaged in Boy Scout-related activities. It is opposed by insurers who issued policies to the Boy Scouts and local councils, attorneys representing thousands of other abuse victims, and various church denominations that have sponsored local Boy Scout troops.

In her ruling, Judge Laura Selber Silverstein refused to grant a request that the Boy Scouts be allowed to pay millions in legal fees and expenses of attorneys hired by law firms that represent tens of thousands of abuse claimants.

Silverstein said she had several concerns about the fee request, including whether an ad hoc group called the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice is duplicating efforts by the official victims committee appointed by the U.S. bankruptcy trustee, and whether the coalition is making a substantial contribution to the case. She also noted that any payment of legal fees by the Boys Scouts, or by the victims fund, to attorneys for abuse claimants comes directly or indirectly out of their clients pockets, and indeed the pockets of all abuse victims.

Silverstein also denied the BSAs request under the agreement for permission to withdraw from an April agreement in which insurance company The Hartford would pay $650 million into the fund for abuse claimants in exchange for being released from any further liability. The judge said the Hartford settlement was a separate issue from the agreement, and that the BSAs attempt to use the agreement as a vehicle to back out of that deal was improper.

The ruling was a setback for the Boy Scouts and supporters of the agreement, who argued that the fee arrangement and withdrawal from The Hartford settlement were critical components of the deal.

The Boy Scouts, based in Irving, Texas, sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020 in an effort to halt hundreds of individual lawsuits and create a huge compensation fund for thousands of men who were molested as youngsters by scoutmasters or other leaders. Although the organization was facing 275 lawsuits at the time of the filing, it is now facing some 82,500 sexual abuse claims in the bankruptcy case.

Under the agreement, the Boy Scouts would contribute up to $250 million in cash and property to a fund for victims of child sexual abuse. The local councils, which run day-to-day operations for Boy Scout troops, would contribute $600 million. In addition, the national organization and local councils would transfer their rights to Boy Scout insurance policies to the victims fund. In return, they would be released from future liability for abuse claims.

Attorneys for insurance companies and organizations that have sponsored local Boy Scout troops argue that the agreement and proposed reorganization plan strip them of their rights to defend themselves against abuse claims. They also say the Boy Scouts have failed to provide critical information that claimants and other creditors need to see before deciding whether to approve any reorganization plan.

Top Photo: In this Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 file photo, Boy Scouts lead the Pledge of Allegiance to begin a Veterans Day ceremony in Wrightwood, Calif. (James Quigg/The Daily Press via AP)

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Hurricane Laura made landfall in Southwest Louisiana nearly a year ago but local officials and state insurance regulators say the area still has a long way to go to recover.

Laura, which made landfall on August 27, 2020, displaced 2005s Hurricane Rita as the second most costly storm in Louisiana history, the Louisiana Department of Insurance said.

Most of the 175,160 total insurance claims resulting from Hurricane Laura were residential property claims, according to the LDI. Total paid losses plus reserves on reported claims for Hurricane Laura as of the end of June were $8.6 billion, accounting for the vast majority of the estimated $10 billion in insured damage from the historic 2020 hurricane season in Louisiana.

Laura was one of three hurricanes, along with two tropical storms, that hit the state in 2020, making last years storm season the most active ever in Louisiana. According to the LDI, insurance companies reported $10 billion for claims in Louisiana from Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta through June 30.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon reminds policyholders affected by the hurricanes that their struggle has not been forgotten.

For those Louisiana citizens who were affected by Hurricane Laura and are having issues with their insurer, the Department of Insurance can still help you. And for those of us throughout the state that did not bear the burden of the 2020 hurricane season, now is the time to help our fellow Louisianians, Donelon said in a media release. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter and all the representatives of the Lake Charles area have been sounding the alarm that Southwest Louisiana needs assistance to recover from hurricanes Laura and Delta.

The Help Southwest Louisiana Now campaign was created and launched as a grassroots effort to advocate for federal supplemental disaster relief funding. According to a press release from the City of Lake Charles, within the City of Lake Charles alone, housing damages are estimated at $235 million, less than 13% of residential buildings have pulled permits to begin reconstruction or rehabilitation, 60% of public housing is still offline, average rental costs have risen by 22%, and 21% of businesses have not renewed occupational licenses for 2021.

During the 2021 legislative session, the insurance department worked with lawmakers, including former Lake Charles Sen. Ronnie Johns, who sponsored an amendment to the annual state budget bill to appropriate funds to perform market conduct examinations on five insurers that received a disproportionate share of complaints after the 2020 storms.

The results of market conduct examinations can trigger regulatory action in the form of fines or other punitive measures if the examinations reveal that improper activity has occurred. LDI is conducting thorough examinations of these insurers to protect policyholders affected by Hurricane Laura.

LDI has received over 1,700 complaints related to the 2020 hurricane season and has recovered more than $50.4 million on behalf of policyholders through mid-August.

Policyholders have filed 316,879 claims of all types from the three 2020 hurricanes as of the end of June 2021. Of those, 205,554 claims, or 65%, were closed with payment as of June 30, garnering $7.8 billion in payments for damage caused by the three hurricanes. Insurers have reserved an additional $2.2 billion to pay on those claims.

Payments from private insurers do not include claims or payments from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). They also do not include uninsured losses and what people paid out of pocket to cover the deductibles on their insurance policies. As such, the true cost of the three storms is much higher, according to the LDI.

The 2020 storm season was the most active ever in Louisiana, with three hurricanes plus tropical storms Cristobal and Marco striking the state. The 2020 storm season was also the second most expensive for Louisiana behind the 2005 storm season. Hurricane Laura has displaced Hurricane Rita in 2005 as the second most costly storm in Louisiana history.
As Taliban insurgents swept through Afghanistan this month on their brutal quest to return that country to the 7th century, ceremonies were held in neighboring Pakistan to commemorate the 6th anniversary of the death of a man dubbed the father of the Taliban.

Gen. Hamid Gul, who died in 2015, was the former head of Pakistans terror-soaked spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence. Much of his career was spent fighting the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, when the ISI worked closely with the American CIA. With the collapse of the Soviet occupation, swiftly followed by the collapse of the actual Soviet Union, the ISI began backing Islamist groups across the region, from Kashmir to Afghanistan, where the Taliban first came to power in 1996, about two years after they were fostered by the ISIs secret Directorate S with funding, weapons and military training.

The tributes to Gul in Pakistan last week centered on a television interview he gave just more than a year before he died, in which he predicted the humiliation of the U.S. military and its Afghan government allies at the hands of the ISIs Taliban proxies. When history will be written, it will be said that ISI defeated the Soviet Union in Afghanistan with Americas help, Gul remarked. But it will also be added that ISI defeated America (in Afghanistan) with Americas help.

Guls devotion to the Taliban exemplified the divide within Pakistans intelligence establishment over its relationship with U.S. agencies. Pakistans alliance with the U.S. against the Taliban irked many former army generals who had supported the Islamists, Farooq Sulehria, a Pakistani expert on the Taliban, explained to the German broadcaster DW shortly after Guls death from a brain hemorrhage. These divisions within the army still persist. While some military generals think that a double game with the West  kill some Taliban and save some  is a good strategy, people like Gul wanted Islamabad to support Islamists wholeheartedly.

By 2021, it was clear that Guls position had won out, as evidenced by the horror of the revived Taliban conquering cities like Faizabad, Kandahar, Mazar-e-Sharif and finally Kabul, 20 years after they were banished from the Afghan capital. That fact should stick in the craw of most Americans, because weve been pouring aid money into Pakistan year upon year, despite the nefarious role played in Afghanistan by its military and espionage services. In 2020, the U.S. was once again the top donor country to Pakistan of financial assistance that always takes the form of a grant, so as not to add to Pakistans debt burden or balance of payments struggles. Yet from our point of view, this was hardly money well-spent.

According to Chris Alexander, who spent six years as Canadas ambassador to Afghanistan followed by a stint as a U.N. envoy, the Talibans return represents a Pakistani invasion. Apart from being Pakistans mercenaries, the Taliban are U.N.-listed terrorists, Alexander recently told an Indian newspaper. Anyone cozying up to them is playing a dangerous game.

Thanks largely to Alexanders efforts, the hashtag #SanctionPakistan has gone viral over the last fortnight as the Taliban has tightened its grip, and growing segments of public opinion have grasped this reality. In an interview with Foreign Policy magazine, Pakistani ambassador to the U.S. Asad Majeed Khan flatly denied that Islamabad was still supporting the Taliban, going on to make the laughable claim that Pakistan is a free and democratic country, and there are a whole range of views for and against the policies of the government. But when asked what exactly Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had meant when he gushed that the Taliban had broken the shackles of slavery, the good ambassador answered only that it was really hard to keep track of what gets reported on social media, before offering the reassurance that Pakistan wants inclusive government in Afghanistan.

Nobody should be fooled by these rather amateur attempts to prettify the historically destructive role played by Pakistan in Afghanistan. To many Americans, the events of the last month suggest that we sacrificed troops and spent billions of dollars on a country that is no more united in purpose now than it was 20 years ago, in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks carried out by Al Qaeda, the Talibans partner in crime. But from the perspective of ordinary Afghans, that is a harsh judgment on the quiet progress they have made.

Life expectancy has risen by 10 years, to the age of 65  still woeful, by international standards. When the U.S. invaded, little more than 20% of Afghan children were enrolled in primary school, a figure that now stands at 100%. Literacy among female adults has risen from 17% to 30%  and will likely recede once again as soon as the Taliban reimposes gender apartheid by excluding girls from school.

Most of all, Afghans overwhelmingly reject the regime that has effectively been imposed upon them by the U.S. withdrawal on the one hand, and Pakistani support for the Taliban, backed politically by Russia and China, on the other. While generally conservative in their Muslim faith, Afghans have consistently demonstrated in poll after poll that they want nothing to do with the pathological pseudo-theology the Taliban continue to enforce wherever they gain ground, the Canadian commentator Terry Glavin, a frequent visitor to Afghanistan, observed in the National Post. The latest Asia Foundation polling shows that 82% of Afghans say they have no sympathy whatsoever for the Taliban.

Sanctions against Pakistans ruling elite would provide the west with some leverage in pushing back against the Taliban on two fronts: its never-ending reign of terror, currently being expressed in house-to-house searches for thousands of beleaguered Afghans who worked for the U.S. or other foreign governments during the occupation, and its revival of the country as a base for Islamist terrorist groups.

If robustly applied, the pain caused by sanctions could push the Pakistanis into curbing the worst tendencies of the Taliban. Pakistani Ambassador Khan pithily explained why: The United States is still the largest export destination for Pakistan  It is the third-largest remittance sender to Pakistan  The United States has also been one of the top five investor countries in Pakistan.

Anyone tempted to think that a more enlightened Taliban is in the offing regardless of what the outside world does might reflect that the man slated to become Afghanistans next president, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, is more commonly known as Butcher Baradar. It was Baradar who directed Taliban operations against the international force in Afghanistan from his base in Pakistans Quetta province in the late 2000s. Captured by the reluctant Pakistanis at the CIAs behest in 2010, Baradar was released from prison in 2018 at the request of Zalmay Khalilzad, the former Trump administrations Afghan envoy, in order to participate in what were creepily described as peace negotiations. Three years on from those shameful talks in Doha, Qatar, the appropriate term is capitulation.

For those who argue that foreign interventions are the height of irresponsibility and naivete, there remains the knotty question of what to do in the event that a terrorist like Baradar becomes the leader of a sovereign state like Afghanistan.

Invariably, the answer of these isolationists is this: We shouldnt concern ourselves overly, all is under the control, they dont want us over there anyway, and a hundred other platitudes, all of which collapse when an atrocity like 9/11 occurs, and Western publics are reminded of Soviet Red Army founder Leon Trotskys dictum: You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.

Ben Cohen is a New York City-based journalist and author who writes a weekly column on Jewish and international affairs for JNS.
The transformation of the 1950s-era Van Aken Shopping Center to todays Van Aken District  with apartments that will rise 199 feet, 6 inches into the air in the citys tallest building  took shape from planning efforts that go back more than two decades.
COFFEY, Mo. [mdash]John Nelson Eacret, 73, Coffey, MO passed away Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at his home. He was born on September 16, 1947 in Portland, Oregon the son of Earnest and Rachel (Stone) Eacret. On July 7, 2007, he married Joan A. Hughes in Tracy, Missouri. She survives of the home.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. is expecting more vaccine deliveries to the country from different manufacturers by September and October.

Ang majority ng ating mga procured vaccine, including Pfizer, Sinovac, at saka 'yung Moderna and maybe 'yung Gamaleya [Majority of the vaccines we procured, including Pfizer, Sinovac, Moderna, and maybe from Gamaleya], they might increase their deliveries this coming September and October, said Galvez in a Palace briefing on Monday.

Galvez said the country has so far secured 165.4 million vaccine doses, where around 100 million were procured by the government. The rest were from the Covax facility, donations from other countries, and the procurement of private sectors and local government units, he added.

The vaccine czar said the country is also expecting more vaccine donations from three countries, though he did not provide details.

Moreover, Galvez said the country is in talks with some vaccine makers for the purchase of booster doses and vaccines that are effective against COVID-19 variants.

We are now coordinating with some manufacturers, four or five manufacturers, for second-wave procurement of either booster or second-generation vaccines that can handle variants, said Galvez.

The government has earmarked 45.37 billion for booster doses under unprogrammed appropriations in the proposed 2022 budget. However, experts are still studying whether booster shots are necessary.

The Food and Drug Administration also recently approved for emergency use of Sputnik Light, the single-dose vaccine of Russias Gamaleya Institute.

The government said it has so far administered more than 30 million COVID-19 vaccines, adding that some 13 million Filipinos are now fully vaccinated against the disease.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24)  A policeman is now facing murder and administrative complaints for allegedly killing a farmer in Marinduque, the Philippine National Police said.

In a statement, PNP Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Police Cpl. Jay Anthony Custodio is currently under a pre-charge investigation for allegedly killing Alberto delos Reyes, a farmer, during an anti-illegal logging operation last July 13.

According to the victims family, Delos Reyes 10-year-old son witnessed the murder.

The PNP said the administrative complaint was filed by the family. They also filed a similar complaint against former Buenavista Municipal Police Station officer-in-charge Police Lt. Marson Lontoc.

A thorough investigation is still being conducted to determine the extent of the administrative liability of the accused police officer, said Eleazar.

Custodio claimed that he only shot Delos Reyes in self-defense.

The suspect was relieved of his post and reassigned to the Marinduque Provincial Police Office under restrictive custody pending a probe on the incident, the PNP added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24)  The government must raise its herd immunity target and prepare for upcoming surges after the country logged a record-high tally of new COVID-19 infections, a former health secretary said on Tuesday.

Former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral told CNN Philippines' The Source that while she acknowledges the efforts of the government to control the pandemic, she did not see any improvements in its testing,tracing, and isolation capacity.

"Unfortunately, we sound like a broken record at this point," said Cabral, a renowned cardiologist and clinical pharmacologist. "It's still the same."

"We still have not improved in our testing capacity, certainly not in our contact tracing capacity," she pointed out. "We are not able to look for the virus, where it is and how many people have it adequately."

She added: "Each surge that we have, the same thing happens. What does this say? It says that after the surge, instead of taking the time to improve our health capacity, we relax and hope that nothing else is going to happen. Unfortunately, that is not the way it is."

Cabral said the government should instead utilize the strict quarantine to prepare for rising cases since "after one surge, there is going to be another."

She also noted that the herd immunity target must be further raised to curb the dreaded variant.

"With the Delta variant which is much more transmissible than the ordinary, original strain we have, we need to increase vaccination from 70% to 85% or even higher to reach herd immunity," Cabral said.

The Philippines registered a new all-time high increase in COVID-19 daily tally after reporting 18,332 new infections on Monday.

OCTA Research said daily cases may even surge to 20,000 within the month.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24)  There may soon be a downtrend in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila, but OCTA Research said it will likely happen around September as cases in the capital region and other areas remain high for now.

"We are projecting the decrease in cases in NCR will happen maybe around the first or second week of September," OCTA Research fellow Guido David told CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday. He said, however, that this will still depend on the trend and government interventions on quarantine restrictions.

David said Metro Manila's active cases may even reach 60,000 or up to 70,000 before the end of September. The Metro Manila Development Authority said as of Aug. 21, there were 21,765 active cases in the capital region.

But David noted that they are already seeing a decrease in the region's growth rate and reproduction number so far.

He also noted that they are already seeing Metro Manila's reproduction number  or the number of people who can get the virus from a COVID-19 positive person  dropping to 1.64. Reproduction number has to be less than 1 to confirm a downward trend in cases, he noted.

The COVID-19 watchdog said Metro Manila is currently averaging over 3,965 cases a day, a bit higher than its last published report. In its August 22 report covering August 15 to 21, OCTA said the region still averaged 3,819 daily cases over the past seven days, with a 24% growth rate (down from 48%), and a 1.67 (down from 1.90) reproduction number during this period.

Meanwhile, OCTA maintained that its projected 20,000 new cases in the Philippines will likely happen "this week or next week," since cases in Cagayan, Tuguegarao, and other areas are still rising.

"We think that we will reach 20,000 cases, it could happen this week or by next week. Cases will continue to rise. As I have mentioned before, it will get worse before it gets better," David said.

The Philippines registered a new all-time high increase in its COVID-19 daily tally after reporting 18,332 new infections on Monday.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24) -- One more Filipino was flown out of Afghanistan, while more than 30 evacuees are expected to arrive home on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in its latest advisory.

The DFA said 22 Filipino evacuees will arrive from the United Kingdom, nine from Singapore, and five from Doha, Qatar.

A total of 183 Filipinos have been evacuated from Afghanistan so far, said the DFA.

It added that 16 of the 26 Filipinos still left in the country have already requested repatriation.

The Philippine government earlier ordered the mandatory repatriation of Filipinos after Taliban forces swept into the capital Kabul and seized control of the government.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24) The Philippine General Hospital will temporarily stop accepting new patients in its emergency room amid the rising number of admissions in the facility.

Malalagay lang sa peligro ang kapakanan ng mga pasyente, at pati na rin ng aming mga kawani, kung ito ay hahayaan naming madagdagan pa, the COVID-referral hospital said in an advisory on Tuesday, adding that a number of hospitalized patients need intensive care, high-flow oxygen, and ventilators.

[Translation: The patients and staff will only be put in danger if we admit more patients.]

The PGH appealed for the publics understanding and urged concerned camps to coordinate with the hospitals Transfer Command Center.

Earlier this month, the state-run facility said it would also stop accepting patients who were not infected with COVID-19.

Nationwide, coronavirus infections climbed to 1,869,691 after the Department of Health reported 12,067 additional cases on Tuesday. Of this number, 127,703 or 6.8% are active cases.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24)  Two members of the House of Representatives have asked the state health insurer to revisit its primary care benefit package, dubbed Konsulta, after noting that the program has a "very dismal" number of beneficiaries and few participating doctors.

During a House hearing Tuesday on the implementation of Universal Health Care law and other health policies, Rep. Helen Tan said that some medical facilities find it difficult to convince doctors to participate in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) program, possibly because of professional fee issues.

Tan said that PhilHealth pays P500 per capita to health facilities authorized to offer the Konsulta package, and it is up to them how much will be set aside for a doctor's professional fee.

"Ang feedback ng mga health facilities, wala silang makitang (According to feedback from health facilities, they cannot find) doctors who will participate in the program. And maybe that is the reason why currently, very few ang nag-participate sa inyong (have participated in your) program on Konsulta package," she told PhilHealth officials.

Konsulta so far has 118 accredited healthcare providers, with 30,084 registered beneficiaries, including 7,709 dependents, PhilHealth spokesperson Shirley Domingo said in the same hearing.

Rep. Stella Quimbo said this translates to a 0.027% coverage rate, which she described as a "very dismal number, considering that the [universal health care] law provides that every Filipino must be registered to any public or private primary care provider."

In response, Domingo said the registration documents of other beneficiaries were being validated.

Domingo also said: "The ratio we envisioned for a primary care provider to the population is 1:20,000, and therefore, we need 5,500 healthcare providers for the Konsulta."

This prompted Quimbo to ask PhilHealth to review the Konsulta package, saying this ratio implies that each doctor has to take care of 55 patients a day for one year, which is "way too much."

She said: "I think it has to be reviewed because that means seeing 55 patients only for PhilHealth kasi (because) doctors have other things to do, right?"

"Sana po ma-review natin (I hope we can review this) for a more realistic planning and rollout of Konsulta," she added.

PhilHealth officials said they will conduct a review as requested.

"We will be reviewing the package by the end of the year, and we will see if there is a need for adjustment," Rizza Herrera, PhilHealth's Quality Assurance Group vice president said.

She added they are already gathering information on how to improve the program's services.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 25)  President Rodrigo Duterte has confirmed he will run for vice president in the 2022 elections.

Duterte made the confirmation before ending his late night address to the nation on Tuesday after he was asked by Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.

"Tatakbo ako ng bise presidente (I will run for vice president). Then, I will continue the crusade...Number one is insurgency. Then criminality, drugs," the President said.

PDP-Laban earlier released a statement saying Duterte has accepted the ruling party's endorsement for him to run for vice president next year.

RELATED: Duterte accepts PDP-Laban call for 2022 VP run

"I may not have the power to give the direction or guidance. But I can always express my views in public. For whatever it may be worth in the coming days, nasa Pilipino na yan (it's now up to Filipinos)," the President added.

Duterte's possible vice presidential bid was floated as early as May, when PDP-Laban members adopted a resolution pushing him to run for the post.

Earlier this month, the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi formally endorsed Duterte as its vice presidential bet, with Senator Bong Go eyed as the standard bearer.

The 1987 Constitution does not categorically prohibit a sitting president from running for lower positions.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 25)  President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated on Tuesday that he will continue to support embattled Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III but will accept the latter's voluntary resignation.

Ngayon, kung si Duque will offer to resign voluntarily, tatanggapin ko. Pero kung sabihin mo ako ang magsabi sa kanya Magresign ka, that will never happen, the President said during his weekly address.

[Translation: Now, if Duque will offer to resign voluntarily, I will accept it. But if you tell me I should tell him 'You resign,' that will never happen.]

This is amid controversies surrounding the Health chief following an audit report that found 67 billion worth of deficiencies in the DOHs COVID-19 pandemic response funds in 2020.

However, the latest statement is contrary to what Duterte said last week. The president had said he has turned down Duque's offer to quit twice and will reject outright any offer of resignation from the Health chief.

RELATED: Duterte: I will stand by Duque even if it will bring me down

Meanwhile, the President also said that he will not remove Duque from office just because it is the clamor of the public.

Maski kaming dalawa na lang ni (Even if it's just me and) Duque and the rest of the Philippines, I will stand by him. Pag nasira ako eh di nasira (If this destroys me, then so be it), but I will never abandon a person just like that, he added.

Clarify your audit reports

Duterte also told the Commission on Audit to put a preamble in its audit reports to immediately inform its readers of their findings.

Ang akin lang (For me it) is the presentation. Dapat diyan, in your findings there is sort of a preamble na (that) this is an audit report tapos wala kaming nakita (we did not find anything),there is no corruption, there is no loss of funds tapos tsaka nyo isummarize lahat (then that's when you summarize everything), Duterte explained.

During a taped address aired on Saturday, Duterte already advised COA to reconfigure its reports on government agencies in a way that will immediately say there are no irregularities found.

Prior to this, the President blasted the state auditors after they uncovered "deficiencies" in the DOHs management of pandemic budget, emphasizing that it is impossible to steal billions of government funds. He later on clarified that he was not criticizing the agency as he recognizes its constitutional mandate.

He also told COA to refrain from publishing findings since this would taint the agencies with corruption by perception.
Every spring, the Regal Awards are presented by the Builders & Remodelers Association of Delaware to highlight excellence in the Delaware 
After requiring all students who did not provide proof of vaccination to take a coronavirus test upon arrival or provide a negative coronavirus test from the 90 days before moving into on-campus housing, Penn State announced the testing results Monday.

Out of approximately 14,000 students who moved into University Park residence halls, 2,639 students were subject to testing, and 18 were confirmed positive for coronavirus, measuring up to a 0.7% positivity rate, according to a release.

As of Monday, Penn State said 83% of on-campus students provided proof of coronavirus vaccination.

Students who tested positive during their coronavirus test upon arrival had to choose between on-campus isolation for 10 days or going home and isolating for 10 days. An additional positive PCR test was needed to confirm the students' test results, the release said.

Penn State previously said students and faculty who do not provide proof of vaccination with the university will be required to take a weekly coronavirus test. Students on and off campus will be tested weekly until they can provide proof they are fully vaccinated.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE

Blue Burrito reopens in Penn State's HUB-Robeson Center Blue Burrito has reopened in Penn State's HUB-Robeson Center after temporarily closing last 
Michael Christiano has been named the new museum director at Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College. He previously worked as deputy director and curator of public practice at Smart Museum of Art in Chicago, Ill. He'll start Sept. 27. Courtesy Fine Arts Center
This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong!
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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 319-352-3334 or email legals@waverlynewspapers.com.
Apple will reshape business communications when it rolls out new operating systems this fall, forcing a slew of industry changes, particularly around email marketing.

The pandemic boost to digital

Whether you run a huge blue chip company or a smaller mom-and-pop shop, you cant ignore how much the pandemic has driven distanced communications. This has boosted delivery services, online sales, and online customer comms.

Mailing lists have become super important, as have messaging apps. Zendesk Snapshot claims the pandemic drove U.S. smartphone users to spend 20% more of their time in messaging apps than before.

When it comes to Apple, its important not just to note that iPhone users tend to spend more than those on other platforms, but that they tend to be more engaged in existing communication systems. It matters to every business that an astonishing 90.5% of all mobile email opens take place on an iPhone.

The cost of privacy

This is also the upcoming pain point for many enterprises, as Apple will soon introduce new features that will help users stay private but also add new challenges to online customer communications.

Not only will these changes obliterate support for the open pixels many marketing systems (including affordable systems such as Mailchimp) use to monitor open rates, but they will also give consumers an efficient way to generate unique single-use emails.

These changes have generated a wave of protests, but most businesses should look to the opportunity. After all, once customers feel private and protected, they will be more likely to engage in emails from their favorite brands, even (or perhaps especially) from smaller companies. While the ease with which consumers can unsubscribe from lists is a risk, the challenge for most brands will be to build authentic communications.

Plus, of course, the most important metric  click rates  will still be visible on traffic logs. We all know that a marcomms list of six million means very little if you cant persuade people on that list to click on links in your mail. Clicks are arguably a better opportunity for customer conversion than open rates.

Small companies seeking to build digital communications with customers will need to focus on their customers, reach out to build relationships, and work to invest real value in the emails they send.

That much hasnt changed. Its just that creativity becomes more critical than ever.

What about Apple Business Chat?

The focus on digital communications in the new era of remote working extends to messaging, also. Thats why Apple Business Chat should become another pillar in terms of building and maintaining customer engagement. Launched in 2018, it lets people request information and schedule appointments using Messages on their Apple device. (Canadian carrier Rogers recently enabled support for Business Chat.)

The carrier joins a growing list of big names to offer the service, including Vauxhall, Zendesk, First Direct, BestBuy, and American Express. They support it because Messages accounts for 25% of the global messaging market  and even more in the lucrative US market.

The mantra of meeting customers where they are continues. As Jonathan Evans, Digital User Experience & E-Commerce Manager of Vauxhall Motors, said: A lot of our customers prefer using iOS, and we always want to exceed their expectations when connecting with us. Apple Business Chat makes communicating with Vauxhall as easy as messaging a friend.

Such ease of contact should become a new touchpoint for customer communications. It makes sense to consider introducing support for it, in part because doing so reflects the importance of Apples customer demographic to so many businesses.

Small businesses have the toughest challenge

The problem is that this is not an equal world. Smaller enterprises do seem to be at a disadvantage when attempting to make use of Business Chat.

In part, this is because Apple insists providers should offer a combination of bots and human operatives. Thats an opportunity for companies such as CM.com, Freshchat, Conversocial, and others who offer access to this kind of infrastructure to smaller businesses for a fee. The problem is that these fees may be higher than some small enterprises  particularly small retailers struggling through the pandemic  can afford.

This means small retailers are likely to be most hurt by Apples move to change the way email works on its platforms. In many cases, given that such enterprises may manage smaller lists comprising local and regular customers, it's possible that a focus on local relationships (including local search SEO) and partnerships with key local groups will help. Thats certainly how most such businesses already operate.

It is, of course, important for every business to continue to explore ways to invest in remote communication channels as when (and if) things return to "normal," the trend to social distancing is likely to stick around.

Many have become quite comfortable with online interaction, in part because it reduces travel time and lets consumers make contact when it makes sense to them. All the same, these changes have accelerated the evolution of business communications, exacerbating the need for creative ways to build close bonds with local customers you may never again get to see.

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.
The fight against COVID-19 has become as much a war against misinformation as it is against the virus itself. We have the tools to stop COVID-19s spread and save countless lives: vaccines and masks. But we also need to provide people with accurate information to stop the spread of disinformation so that theyll use those tools.

While there's been a lot of attention on how social media needs to do more to police itself, little has been written about whether digital personal assistants like Cortana provide accurate information about how vaccines and masks can protect against the virus.

Ive just finished researching whether Cortana does that. The answer is dispiriting. Microsofts digital assistant doesnt provide even the barebones basics about protecting against COVID-19. Want to know whether getting vaccinated will protect you? Cortana wont give an answer. Will masks help? Dont bother asking Cortana. Even more astonishing, if you want the truth about some of the outlandish lies about the COVID-19 vaccine  such as whether it will implant a microchip in you  don't look to Cortana for help. Microsofts digital assistant simply refuses to answer the question.

Its hard to believe, but its true. Read on for details on Cortana in inaction.

Taking the Fifth on vaccinations and masks?

I discovered all this when I wanted to find where I could buy effective facemasks against the coronavirus. Microsoft touts Cortana as being an able personal assistant, helping you with things like weather forecasts, a movie playing near you and pretty much anything else. So I thought Id get its help finding masks.

My query: Where can I buy an effective mask against COVID-19? Cortana came right back with its non-answer: Im sorry, but I cant help with that.

Maybe the question was too broad, I thought. So I followed up with, Where can I get a KN95 mask? Without a moments hesitation Cortana replied: Sorry, Im not able to help with this one.

IDG/Preston Gralla Cortana doesn't answer whether masks and vaccines protect against COVID-19, or even whether COVID-19 vaccines implant microchips.

That made me wonder whether Cortana would evade all important COVID-19-related questions. So I got down to brass tacks: Are masks effective against COVID-19? Cortana didnt hesitate with its response: Sorry Im not able to help with this one.

I tried again: Do scientists say masks help stop the spread of COVID-19? Cortana side-stepped that one, too, telling me, Sorry, Im not able to help with this one.

At this point, it was clear Cortana wouldnt provide the basic facts about how masks can stop the spread of COVID-19. But certainly, I thought, it would have correct info about the vaccine itself. After all, earlier this month Microsoft announced that starting in September, anyone who wants to enter a Microsoft office in the U.S. will have to provide proof they were vaccinated.

So I asked: Do scientists say the COVID-19 vaccine is effective? Cortana, replied, Sorry I dont know the answer to this one.

Would Cortana tell the truth about some of the conspiracy theories about the vaccine? I queried, Will the COVID-19 vaccine implant a microchip in me? I was stunned when Cortana demurred.

Sorry I dont know the answer to this one.

How about measles and polio vaccines  or the common cold?

The current battle over vaccines and masks isn't new. Anti-vaxxers dont confine themselves to COVID-19. For years theyve targeted other vaccines as well.

So I asked, Does the measles vaccine work?

Cortanas answer: Im sorry, but I cant help with that.

Next: Does the polio vaccine work?

Cortana: Sorry I don't know the answer to this one.

I found this difficult to believe. Surely, there must be a logical explanation about why Microsoft refuses to provide simple facts that can save hundreds of thousands or millions of peoples lives. Maybe Microsoft decided it simply wouldnt allow Cortana to provide any health information at all.

To test that out that theory, I questioned Cortana, What should I do if I get a cold?

Here, Cortana sprung into action, offering precise, useful, scientifically based information from a trustworthy health site, explaining that because a cold is a viral infection, antibiotics are not effective at treating it. However, it added, various over-the-counter medications can relieve congestion, aches, and other cold symptoms. And it gave every mothers advice as well, to drink plenty of fluids.

So we can thank Microsoft for allowing Cortana to help us get over our sniffles. But when it comes to getting help against more serious killers, including COVID-19, the measles and polio, the company has decided to stay on the sidelines.

Evidence this is no accident

Could all this be a simple mistake on Microsofts part, an overlooked programming error? Thats possible, but I dont believe its likely. To understand why, lets look at how Cortana gets the information it uses to answer your questions.

If you ask Cortana to do something for you, such as put an appointment on your calendar, Cortana works directly with Windows. But when you ask it a factual question, such as the population of Columbus, Ohio, what to do if you get a cold, or whether the COVID-19 vaccine will implant a microchip, it sends that question to Bing, Microsofts search engine. Bing searches the Internet, finds the information, and then sends the information and link to the information back to Cortana. Cortana then reformats the information and displays it on your computer and/or reads it to you. It also provides the link so you can click to get more information.

IDG/Preston Gralla Heres the information Bing provides about treating a cold

I decided to query Bing on the same questions I asked Cortana and compare the results. If Bing found answers, but Cortana refused to use them, it likely means that Microsoft had made a decision not to allow Cortana to display the results Bing sends to it for those particular questions.

IDG/Preston Gralla And heres Cortana doing what it was programmed to do: Display and/or read Bings results.

I did Bing searches on the same questions I had asked Cortana. I started with What should I do if I get a cold? As you can see in the nearby screenshots, Bing showed me the exact information Cortana displayed and/or read.

Thats as it should be. Thats how Bing and Cortana were designed to work together.

Then I had Bing perform searches on all the other questions I had asked Cortana and that Cortana refused to answer. In all those instances, about whether masks are effective, where I could buy them, whether vaccines work, whether COVID-19 vaccines implant microchips into people, and my other questions Bing did what it was designed to do: Provided links to trustworthy information. But Microsoft wouldnt allow Cortana to display and read that information onscreen.

Following is a screenshot showing just one example, the responses to my question about whether the COVID-19 vaccine implants a microchip in you. (For the record, it doesn't.)

When I asked Bing that question, it returned accurate information about microchips and the COVID-19 vaccine. But even though the search engine was on target, the information was lost in translation. As you can see, Cortana would not provide that information.

IDG/Preston Gralla Cortana doesn't deliver information that Bing finds.

Note that when Cortana doesnt provide an answer it does provide a link to a Bing search for your question. However, if youre asking Cortana a question, you have made a conscious decision not to do a search using a search engine like Bing or Google. So youre not likely to click that link. You would have initially gone straight to a search engine, and not asked Cortana the question.

How do other digital assistants do?

Finally, I wondered whether Cortana was an outlier among digital assistants. What would Apples Siri, Amazons Alexa, and Google Assistant do when I asked these questions?

Siri answered with accurate, scientifically based information to every query. Google Assistant also answered all the questions accurately, with one exception: It didnt answer whether masks were effective in protecting against COVID-19, although it offered to search the web for an answer and provided accurate information when it did.

Alexa was a mixed bag, although most of the time it was on target. It wouldnt answer whether the COVID-19 vaccine would implant a microchip in you. When I asked multiple times and in multiple ways whether the polio vaccine worked, it instead answered that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was effective. And when I asked where I could buy KN95 masks, for some odd reason it recited for me how far away several radio stations were from me. Other than that, though, it provided helpful, accurate answers to all my other questions.

Why this matters

Its not clear whether Cortanas non-response to questions about COVID-19 is a case of Microsofts incompetence or a decision that Cortana should withhold potentially life-saving information about the virus, the effectiveness of masks and the COVID-19 vaccines, and why it wont debunk anti-vaccination conspiracy theories. I reached out to Microsoft on Monday for an explanation; a spokesperson late in the day said the company is having its engineering team look into the issue.

If its a conscious decision, its not clear why the company made it. It may be that Microsoft doesnt want to anger anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers for business reasons. But I have no proof of that.

No matter the motives or cause, in the disinformation fight, anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers have an ally in Cortana, which is built directly into Windows 10, the operating system on 1.3 billion computers around the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic will only be brought under control when people get the right information about vaccines and masks and act accordingly. By not providing that information, Microsoft is doing a disservice to its users and passively allowing misinformation and disinformation to spread.

Standing on the right side of this battle should be easy for Microsoft to do. Its baffling that it wont.
08/24/2021

Photo (c) da-kuk - Getty Images There are another six destinations the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning Americans they should avoid -- vaccinated or unvaccinated.

The most-traveled spot added to the CDCs "Level 4: Covid-19 Very High" list is The Bahamas. Historically, most of the nearly 6 million tourists who visit The Bahamas each year come from the United States. So far in August, The Bahamas has recorded 2,625 COVID-19 cases -- an increase of 20% since last month.

Joining The Bahamas on the list is its Caribbean neighbors Saint Maarten and Haiti, along with Morocco, Kosovo, and Lebanon.

Countries with uncertain COVID-19 conditions

The CDC is doing its best to keep tabs on the COVID-19 situation in all countries so that international travelers can stay safe. However, ConsumerAffairs found that the agencys list is far from complete. There are currently 37 countries in which the CDC says the situation with COVID-19 is unknown. Those countries include:

Algeria

Antarctica

Azores

Bhutan

Canary Islands

Christmas Island

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Cook Islands

Eritrea

Kiribati

Macau SAR

Marshall Islands

Mayotte

Monaco

Nauru

Niue

Norfolk Island

North Korea

Pitcairn Islands (U.K.)

Saint Helena

Samoa

San Marino

Solomon Islands

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Sudan

Syria

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Tokelau

Tonga

Turkmenistan

Tuvalu

Uzbekistan

Vanuatu

Venezuela

Wake Island

Yemen

U.S. citizens who plan to visit any of those countries should check the websites of the U.S. State Department and the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) for a complete list of travel advisories and alerts.

It would also be a good idea to sign up for the State Departments Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Once signed up, consumers will automatically receive important information from the U.S. Embassy about safety conditions in other countries so that they can make more informed decisions about travel plans.

Take precautions

The CDC has no power to prevent someone from traveling, but its in a good position to keep a watchful eye out for Americans. The agency suggests that everyone should avoid traveling to locations designated with the "Level 4: Covid-19 Very High. If travel to one of these places is unavoidable, the agency says consumers should get fully vaccinated for COVID-19 first.

The U.S. Embassy in Nassau, Bahamas, added another reason why Americans should curtail their Bahamian travel plans.

Moreover, even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some COVID-19 variants, and we recommend US citizens delay travel unless absolutely necessary, it said.
08/24/2021

Photo (c) anyaberkut - Getty Images According to researchers, an estimated 38 million records from more than 1,000 apps that use Microsoft's Power Apps portals platform have been exposed. Those records are not only jam-packed with the typical personal data like phone numbers and addresses, but it also includes data from COVID-19 contact tracing efforts, vaccine registrations, and employee databases.

The security leak also reportedly exposed data from large companies and agencies alike, including Ford, American Airlines, logistics company JB Hunt, the Indiana Department of Health, and New York City public schools, according to Wired magazine.

Caught in the nick of time

Research analysts from security risk platform company UpGuard first uncovered the issue in May when they found unprotected data from several Microsoft Power Apps portals online.

After investigating the matter further, UpGuard sent a vulnerability report to Microsoft in late June. The researchers showed what specific pieces of data were accessible and made suggestions about what Microsoft could do to disable anonymous access to it.

By mid-July, Microsoft said it had the situation under control and that most of the data from the Power Apps portals had been made private.

Indiana consumers luck out

In the Indiana Department of Healths (IDOH) situation alone, there were nearly 750,000 Hoosiers whose data from the states COVID-19 online contact tracing survey was accessed. The information supposedly included names, addresses, emails, genders, ethnicities and races, and dates of birth.

While that might seem dire, those people were actually pretty lucky. According to an announcement made by the state, it was able to get the company that accessed the data to sign a certificate of destruction. The agreement confirms that the data was not released to any other entity and was destroyed by the company.

We believe the risk to Hoosiers whose information was accessed is low. We do not collect Social Security information as a part of our contact tracing program, and no medical information was obtained, said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. We will provide appropriate protections for anyone impacted.
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Corsicana, TX (75110)

Today

Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. Hot and humid. High 99F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 76F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
According to an Aug. 5, 2021, report by Bloomberg Law, a jury in Alameda County, California, found Johnson & Johnson (J&J) liable for negligence, design defect, failure to warn and concealment claims of potential asbestos exposure from its baby powder.

Plaintiff and cancer patient Teresa Elizabeth Leavitt was awarded $29.4 million in compensatory damages. Leavitt reported her mother used J&J baby powder on her as an infant, and she continued using the product as a face powder and dry shampoo for more than 30 years. She was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2017.

See related: Talc Results Are In; FDA Releases 6-part Report

J&J challenged the testimony, stating Leavitt could not establish exposure without samples from the bottles of products she used. Materials scientist William Longo, Ph.D., however, testified finding asbestos in baby powder samples derived from the same talc mines Leavitt used for decades.

This suit follows the rejection of a separate talc-cancer suit against J&J by an Illinois court. The company still faces some 29,000 similar suits over its talc-based powders.

See also: Johnson & Johnson Ends Talc-based Baby Powder Sales in North America
A Letter to the Editor published in Chemical Research in Toxicology highlights several flaws in the presentation of sunscreen research gaining recent media attention.

As previously reported, a paper by Downs, et al., also published in Chemical Research in Toxicology, made headlines as the authors detected benzophenone content in octocrylene-containing sunscreens. This prompted them to call on regulators to remove octocrylene-containing products from the market.

Christian Surber, Ph.D., senior fellow scientist of the University Hospital of Zurich, responded to the study by outlining several crucial areas where the science presented was incomplete or misleading.

See related: Neutrogena Faces Suit Over Benzene in Sunscreen

Cited Flaws

In brief, Surber highlights:

Failure to discuss the presence of benzophenone in the context of safe concentration threshholds;

A misleading reference showing percutaneous absorption of benzophenone wherein the solvent used was a penetration enhancer, and lack of consideration for application procedure, vehicles and exposure/concentration;

Lack of evidence for dermal carcinogenicity of benzophenone/octocrylene and dismissal of other researchers' findings for octocryelene's safe use; furthermore, failing to distinguish endocrine activity versus endocrine-disrupting effects and to consider the entire toxicological data available (i.e., presenting a hazard, not a risk assessment); and

Referencing only one law (Proposition 65, California) prohibiting the presence of benzophenone from sunscreens and anti-aging creams. The authors did not discuss other relevant documents such as the updated (March 2021) Opinion on octocrylene of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) of the European Commission; SCCS opinions are based on holistic risk analyses.

Downs Responses

In brief (see the full article for proper context), in his August 11, 2021, "Response to the Letter to the Editor by Dr. Christian Surber," Downs asserts, in response to one point by Surber, that "[t]he 'comprehensive risk assessment' noted [by Surber] is unfortunately conducted in a vacuum, meaning the risk is normally reduced when exposure is from only one source..."

Responding to another point, Downs states, "Toxicology is a science of worse-case scenarios ... With that said, it is not unusual, and is often a justified default position when conducting a hazard or risk assessment, to exaggerate test conditions to understand the maximum absorption potential of a substance..."

Downs also points to how "the industry manipulates Proposition 65," and how the European Chemicals Agency and U.S. Food and Drug Administration rely on the industry to supply data to substantiate product safety. He likened it to the "fox guarding the hen house."

See the complete response in Chemical Research in Toxicology.

Additional Commentary

In response to Downs's rebuttals, in correspondence with Cosmetics & Toiletries, Surber stated, "They did not really answer my questions, but instead obfuscated with wordy and digressive explanations."

Beyond Surber's critiques, additional industry expert David Steinberg weighed in regarding Downs's reference of Proposition 65.

"When benzophenone went on Proposition 65, I wrote that this is not benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone), and further that it is not the starting material in oxybenzone. It is the starting material for making octocrylene and was used as a UV absorber for nail polishes when we used toluene as the solvent. When toluene was discontinued, we could use other UV absorbers [to protect nail polish colors] in its place."

He continued, "I spoke with the largest producer of octocrylene about the levels of free benzophenone. They checked their last 16 batches and showed very low levels on some batches and high [levels] in others. They checked their production batch records and saw the difference. They changed their procedure to the way that gives very low benzophenone."

Finally, he added he would not be surprised if there were high levels present if the material was made in Asia. "Caveat emptor. It may be cheaper, but ..."
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North Alabama Christian Childrens Home will host its 6th Annual Ride to the Home on Saturday, August 28 from 11am-1:30pm. The Childrens Home is located at 6372 County Road 63 in the Greenhill area.
Charles E. Moore will have a signing Saturday for his latest books, The Long Road to Mabila, de Sotos expedition into the interior of the United States and Come Tell Me How You Lived - Indian history of the Tennessee Valley. (THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED AS A COVID-19 PRECAUTION)
Weather Alert

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Heat index values of near to just over 105 expected. * WHERE...Portions of central, southeast, southwest and western Arkansas. * WHEN...From noon today to 7 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
In 2013, the Miss World beauty pageant proudly announced that Uzbekistan was joining the competition for the first time. This surprised lots of people around the world, who thought Uzbekistan didn't hold beauty contests like that. It especially surprised Uzbekistan, who knew Uzbekistan didn't hold beauty contests like that.

The contestant was named Rakhima Ganieva, and she claimed she'd won some kind of national qualifying competition. That was good enough for the organizers of Miss World, but not for the international news media.

Ganieva did come from the Uzbek capital of Tashkent like she claimed, as the media were able to track down an agency whose course she took as a teen. But there was no such "national qualifying competition," and even that modeling agency weren't too keen to support their alum.

"If there had been a process to choose a young lady for this competition, I can assure you that a much more beautiful model would have been chosen," said a rep. Meanwhile, the president's daughter, who had ties to the fashion industry, called Ganieva a "Tajik-looking girl" (we're guessing Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are bitter rivals and each call the other ugly).

Qualifying for international beauty pageants is confusing. It's not like one single organization holds contests in every single country. In the US, for example, there's currently a national pageant called Miss World America to decide who goes, but in previous years, the winner of some other pageant got the chance, or a runner-up did, or there was no contest at all and some modeling agency got to choose whomever they wanted. So, you can imagine someone in the Miss World Organization hearing about a new entrant and just accepting her with a shrug.

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Ganieva didn't make it past the first round, so her fraud didn't earn her eternal glory. The only news we have on her since then is from her personal Facebook page. Uzbekistan, however, did go on to enter beauty pageants. Not Miss World, but they did crown a Miss Intercontinental Uzbekistan, who'll compete in Miss Intercontinental, a pageant which apparently exists.

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For more imposters, see also:

5 Insane Cases of Imposters Passing for World Leaders

The Crazy Story of the Fake Burger King In Pittsburgh

7 Celebrity Fakers You Won't Believe Fooled The World

Follow Ryan Menezes on Twitter for more stuff no one should see.

Top image: Miss World
For the past decade, online advertising has wreaked havoc on the internet and also the world as we know it. The collection of our online data for the purpose of behavioral targeted advertising has led to everything from dividing and isolating us both socially and politically to other horrors like learning Uncle Jerry's online shenanigans after he asked the group chat, "Why is Instagram trying to sell me this leather gag thingamajig?!" (We're not kink-shaming, Uncle Jerry, but we also didn't need to know that.)

But the internet knows. Oh, it knows so many, many things about you, Uncle Jerry, and also all of us. Going online means being followed and harassed by every click you've ever made, purely because some marketer wants to see what you like and feed you their shit so the money machine can keep on rolling.

For too long a time, this business model was sold to both publishers and users as a major success and the best way for everyone to just live with intrusive advertising online. In 2019, Google did a study that claimed disabling third-party cookies on websites could reduce publishers' revenues by more than 50% because fear of going bankrupt is the best way to make people shut up and stop questioning you. Never mind that an independent team of economists did their own study and found that targeted ads only caused around a 4% increase in revenue. Google said it's vital, so it had to be true, regardless of the fact that they themselves pocket most of those ad revenues and would just really love to continue doing so, you guys.

Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash Hand. Cookie Jar. You get it.

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Media companies, however, are proving that Googles claim about publishers lost revenue is hokey and biased. When the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation privacy law went into effect in 2018, the Dutch public broadcaster called the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (pretty much the BBC of the Netherlands) decided they would test these claims for themselves. They gave their users the option to opt out of cookies entirely, and, unlike other sites, their default setting automatically opted users out, too. Not that it was needed, because a whopping 90% of their users opted out themselves, and guess what? Their revenue has gone way up, even in the midst of a pandemic that has seen many publishers buckle under financial pressure. The same thing happened to The New York Times when they cut behavioral targeting ads from their business model in Europe and opted for direct-selling ads instead.

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The BS rhetoric from Google and Facebook surrounding the use and supposed need for internet cookies is, at last, coming to a head, it seems, as more pressure is being put on these advertising giants to just freaking quit it. Google says it'll start blocking cookies on its Chrome browser, but that plan has already been pushed back, and it seems like they don't really know how to fix the problem that has made them so much money. Facebook, of course, doesn't give a flying fork, but with the antitrust folks relentlessly going after them, they might be forced to admit somewhere in the near future that their entire digital advertising model is bunk, anyway.

Zanandi is on Twitter and wrote a comic for Trailer Park Boys that you can order here.

Top Image: ThisIsEngineering/Pexels, Firmbee/Pixabay

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Wiley Franklin Smith Sr., 88, of Crossville, passed away Aug. 24, 2021, at his home in Crossville. He was born March 22, 1933, in Crossville, son of Virgil Smith and Bessie (Emery) Smith. Wiley worked as a merchant for a retail sales business and was of the Baptist faith. He is survived by h
By Cynthia Hubert

Sacramento State President Robert S. Nelsen will welcome the campus community back to the University on Wednesday in a Fall Address that promises to be unlike any he has delivered.

Assessing the previous year and looking toward the coming one, Nelsen will mine themes that continue to emerge from unprecedented times: progress and setbacks, achievement and challenges, joy and sadness, celebration and contemplation  and, ultimately, resilience, determination and hope.

Watch the livestream

Students, faculty and staff who for more than a year had to study, teach, and work from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic finally are returning to Sac State in significant numbers. They will find a University clearly commited to the communitys health and safety.

We have accomplished so much while we were alone, Nelsen said in a message to the campus community earlier this month. We will accomplish even more in the coming year together.

The address begins at 9 a.m. in the University Union Ballroom. Attendees are asked to RSVP online. The address also will be streamed online. Following his remarks, Nelsen will answer questions about how we will move forward as a Hornet Family for an hour.

Sac State classrooms closed their doors and the campus emptied in March 2020 to help curb the spread of the surging coronavirus. The University plunged into uncertainty, but today can claim many successes despite difficult circumstances.

Enrollment remains robust, and few students have dropped out despite the pivot to mostly virtual learning. The University continues to improve its graduation rates.

During its unprecedented transition to the online world, Sac State helped secure laptops and internet hotspots for students, offered support to employees forced to work remotely, and assisted faculty with virtual teaching.

Sac State is taking steps toward normalcy, Nelsen said. The campus, normally home to more than 30,000 students, will operate this fall at about 50% capacity.

Strict safety measures are in place, including mandated face coverings for indoor gatherings and mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. Nelsen also will share details about safety upgrades made to classrooms and elsewhere throughout the University.

There will also be plenty of financial information, including a breakdown of this years budget and federal support that came to students. Nelsen will also talk about the success of the Universitys comprehensive fundraising effort, On The Rise: The Campaign for Sacramento State, and the importance of ongoing robust philanthropic support.

In addition, Nelsen will spend time discussing important initiatives in support of antiracism and Sac States push to further establish itself as the regions anchor university.

The themes of student success and support will underpin Nelsens presentation.

I acknowledge that we do not have all the answers, he said. But I look forward to being a family again.

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Related Topics: Hornet Family
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  Kathy Hochul became the first female governor of New York on Tuesday and in her first hours on the job sought to bring a sense of urgency to tackling big problems that went unaddressed during Andrew Cuomos distracted final months in office.

In an afternoon speech in which she laid out her initial priorities, the Democrat promised swift action to improve COVID-19 safety in schools, a fix for broken aid programs for people hit by the pandemic and improved government ethics.

Hochul said she was directing state health officials to make masks mandatory for anyone entering public or private schools. Her administration will also work, she said, to implement a requirement that all school staff statewide either be vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.

None of us want a rerun of last years horrors with COVID-19, Hochul said. Therefore we will take proactive steps to prevent that from happening.

Hochul pledged quick action to unstick an application bottleneck that has kept federal aid money from flowing to renters who suffered financially because of the pandemic. She said she's readying the state to distribute vaccine booster shots, when they become widely available, including possibly reopening mass inoculation sites. And she said New Yorkers can expect new vaccine requirements, though she didn't specify what those might be.

More on that soon, she said.

Hochul, a former member of Congress from western New York, took the oath of office just after midnight in a brief, private event overseen by the states chief judge, Janet DiFiore.

At a ceremonial swearing-in later Tuesday morning at the State Capitol, Hochul promised a fresh, collaborative approach to government. She said she had already begun speaking with other Democratic leaders who have, for years, complained about being shut out of key decisions and of being bullied by Cuomo, including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Therell be no blindsiding; therell just be full cooperation, Hochul said.

Over the next few months, Hochul, who was little known as lieutenant governor, will have an opportunity to reshape Albany, where Cuomo dominated decision-making before being felled in a sexual harassment scandal.

For generations, it's been said that all real decisions in the state government were made by three men in a room"  the governor and the leaders of the state Senate and Assembly.

Now, for the first time, two of those three  Hochul and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins  are women. Only the state Assembly is led by a man, Speaker Carl Heastie.

Hochul, her daughter and her daughter-in law all wore white to her ceremonial swearing-in Tuesday to honor suffragists who fought to get women the right to vote.

On her first day, Hochul said she was ordering an overhaul of state government policies on sexual harassment, including requiring that all training be done live, instead of allowing people to click their way through a class" online. And she said she would order ethics training for every state government employee.

Cuomo left office at midnight, two weeks after announcing he would resign rather than face an impeachment battle that appeared inevitable after a report overseen by state Attorney General Letitia James concluded he had sexually harassed 11 women.

On his final day Monday, Cuomo, who denies the allegations, released a recorded farewell address in which he portrayed himself as the victim of a media frenzy.

Over the spring and summer, the embattled Cuomo administration struggled to get pandemic aid out the door. Little of the $2 billion set aside last winter by the federal government to help New Yorkers pay off rent debt was distributed. Thousands face the possibility of eviction after state and federal protections expire.

Hochul also pledged quick action to distribute money from a new $2 billion state fund intended to benefit unauthorized immigrants who didn't qualify for federal pandemic relief aid.

The moneys there," Hochul said. These people are not eligible for other forms of assistance, and theyre hurting and they're part of the New York family.

Republicans wished Hochul luck, but questioned why she hadnt met with GOP leaders Tuesday.

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said preventing COVID-19 outbreaks in schools is a laudable goal, but pushed back on the idea of statewide mandates.

I would strongly urge Gov. Hochul to learn from the mistakes we witnessed over the course of the pandemic. New Yorkers do not need an extension of the heavy-handed, blanket mandates that used a one-size-fits-all approach and virtually eliminated all local decision-making authority, he said.

The leaders of groups representing teachers and superintendents voiced support for universal masking in schools. New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta said the union also supported Hochuls move to require regular testing for unvaccinated staff, but said it is critical that educators continue to have a voice in the implementation of vaccine requirements and other COVID policies at the local level.

New York City this week announced a mandatory vaccination policy for all school staff, with no way to opt out through frequent testing.

Former New York Gov. David Paterson, who, like Hochul, unexpectedly became governor when his predecessor resigned, said one of her tasks will be to restore faith in government.

Theres going to be some pressure on Gov. Hochul, as there was on me, to kind of restore the values and to restore the conduct and the decorum that bespeaks a governor," Paterson said.

She'll have to work quickly. Hochul has already said she intends to run for a full term and will have just months to establish herself before a spring Democratic primary.

In the meantime, she'll be building an administration  a task that began in the first minutes of Tuesday with the oath of office, hours ahead of the restaging of the event for television cameras in mid-morning.

DiFiore administered the oath in the Capitol in front of a stone fireplace, atop which were placed family pictures.

Hochul, her husband and DiFiore entered the room wearing masks, taking them off when the ceremony began. Hochul placed her hand on a Bible held by her husband, Bill Hochul, a former federal prosecutor and current general counsel for the food service and hospitality company Delaware North.

Hochul signed a pile of papers, including the oath, using a set of 10 pens dated August 24, 2021, while her family stood behind her, looking on.
WAVERLY, Tenn. (AP)  Crews with chainsaws and heavy equipment cleared their way through trees densely matted with vegetation, garbage and building debris Tuesday as searchers scoured a normally shallow creek for more flooding victims in rural Tennessee.

Even cars and sheds were woven into the tangle of debris lining Trace Creek in Humphreys County, where the town of Waverly saw the most death and destruction from Saturdays flooding that killed 18 people. Three people remained unaccounted for Tuesday.

At one bridge, an excavator crawled into the creek to dig through a debris plug that included large trees, huge spools of cable, panels of wooden fencing and chunks of concrete. Officers watched from above and downstream in case a body was uncovered.

Other crews were working with chainsaws along the banks, clearing smaller objects. Several miles downstream, officers had deployed drones to help with the search. Its difficult to know how far the bodies might have been carried, but one car was found about a half-mile from where it had been parked, Humphreys County Chief Deputy Rob Edwards said.

Sheriffs deputies and police were aided by crews from agencies all over the state, he said. The teams have cadaver dogs at the ready if they suspect a body might be nearby. With the heat in the mid-80s and rising, it was not difficult to detect the odor of decay, Edwards said, although crews also were finding animals.

As the search for the missing continues, officials have started to comprehend the scope of devastation in the community. The Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency said in a news release that more than 270 homes had been destroyed and 160 have major damage.

Some are just gone  off the foundation  twisted, turned," Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said at the news conference. "They would probably have to be totally destroyed before they could be built back.

The sheer devastation that we saw in that helicopter ride yesterday has made me realize that we have got an extremely long road to go in all of this, he said.

Authorities revised the confirmed death toll to 18 people Tuesday, a drop from as high as 22. Waverly police Chief Grant Gillespie said that one person in the emergency room who died of natural causes was mistakenly added to the count and John and Jane Doe victims were not crossed off the list once they were identified.

Gillespie said authorities had detectives follow up on each case and confirm the numbers, which now line up with the state tally.

Just an honest mistake, and I hope everybody understands that, Gillespie said. Its still a tremendous loss of life. I hope that number doesnt grow.

Three people are still on the list of those missing who witnesses said they saw in the water, he said.

The flooding took out roads, cellphone towers and telephone lines in the county of about 18,000 people, leaving some uncertain about whether family and friends survived the unprecedented deluge, with rainfall that more than tripled forecasts and shattered the state's one-day record.

It also left large swaths of the community about 60 miles (96 kilometers) west of Nashville suddenly displaced, leaving many to sort through difficult decisions about what comes next. GoFundMe pages sought help for funeral expenses for the dead, including 7-month-old twins swept from their fathers arms as they tried to escape.

Matthew Rigney and Danielle Hall described to WTVF-TV how the water began to rage through their apartment as he held onto their twins and two other young children.

The water, when it hit us it just pulled us under, all of us and we were trapped underneath a bed, Rigney told the station, his voice trembling behind tears.

The other two children survived.

I was trying to find all of them, and Leah came up like a big girl. You swam like a big girl, and Im so proud of you, Rigney said to 5-year-old Maleah, who sat with her family during the interview.

A neighbor helped Rigney and the two children up to the roof. Hall was ultimately rescued from a tree by boat.

School was canceled for the week, according to the sheriffs office. Waverly Elementary and Waverly Junior High had extensive damage, according to Kristi Brown, coordinated health and safety supervisor with Humphreys County Schools.

About 750 customers were without power Tuesday, down from 2,000 the night before, utility officials said.

Meanwhile, the state received approval from President Joe Biden for a major disaster declaration, which frees up federal aid to help with recovery efforts in Humphreys County, the White House said in a statement Tuesday.

Sheriff Davis told reporters Tuesday, You've seen us get a little emotional. You have to remember, these are people we know, people's families, people we grew up with  just the people of our small town. It's just very close to us.

___

Associated Press writer Julie Walker contributed from New York. Mattise reported from Nashville, Tennessee.
SEOUL, South Korea  South Korea has reported 2,155 new coronavirus cases, nearly matching a record daily increase set earlier this month amid an alarming spread of infections.

With Wednesday's report, the country has tallied more than 1,000 new cases for 50 consecutive days, including a record 2,221 on Aug. 11.

The virus has shown no signs of slowing despite officials enforcing strong social distancing restrictions short of a lockdown in Seoul and other large population centers where private social gatherings are banned after 6 p.m.

The Health Ministry is concerned that transmissions could further increase during next months Chuseok holidays, the Korean version of Thanksgiving when millions of people travel across the country to meet relatives. It is considering measures to reduce travel during the period, such as limiting train occupancy.

___

MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

 Georgia Gov. Kemp orders National Guard to overwhelmed hospitals

 US outbreaks force early reversals on in-person learning at schools

 ACLU sues over South Carolina ban on school mask mandates

 Dr. Fauci recommends hospitals, doctors use more antibody treatments

___

Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

___

HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

SYDNEY  Australias New South Wales state has recorded another new daily high of 919 coronavirus infections. It also has had two more deaths related to COVID-19.

New South Waless previous high for a 24-hour period was 830 infections reported Sunday.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said Wednesday that the health system in Australias most populous state is under pressure but is coping.

The COVID-19 death toll has reached 76 in New South Wales since the outbreak of the delta variant was first detected in Sydney on June 16.

Neighboring Victoria, Australia second-most populous state, reported 45 new infections Wednesday.

Both states are locked down.

___

BOISE, Idaho  State leaders in Idaho are urging people to volunteer at hospitals to help health workers who are being swamped by a rising number of COVID-19 cases.

Idaho Public Health Administrator Elke Shaw-Tulloch says hospitals need help with everything from housekeeping to delivering care, which could be provided by retired health workers.

The director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says volunteer help is badly needed to keep the states medical facilities operating.

Dave Jeppesen says that their level of capacity is so strained that we are talking about crisis standards of care  were dangerously close to that as this point in time.

As of Friday, the number of coronavirus infections statewide had increased 31% compared to the previous week, and hospital admissions for COVID-19 were up about 30%, according to data from the CDC.

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JACKSON, Miss.  Mississippis top health official says he has received threats from people who are spreading lies accusing his family of receiving payments for him urging the public to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Mississippi has seen a rapid increase in cases since early July, driven by the highly contagious delta variant of the virus and the states low vaccination rate. State health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs has been imploring people for months to get vaccinated.

On Tuesday, Dobbs wrote on Twitter that he has gotten threatening phone calls from people repeating unfounded conspiracy theories involving him and his family.

Dobbs says one lie is that his son, who is also a physician, receives a World Bank-funded kickback whenever Dobbs urges people to get vaccinated. In Dobbs words: I get zero $ from promoting vaccination.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala.  A poison control hotline in Alabama is fielding increasing calls about possible poisoning with ivermectin poisoning, an animal de-wormer that doctors are warning people not to try as a home remedy for COVID-19.

The Alabama Poison Information Center at Childrens of Alabama has fielded 24 ivermectin exposure cases so far this year, of which 15 were related to COVID-19 prevention and treatment. It says there have been five other calls seeking information about ivermectin.

By comparison, the center had six total calls involving the de-wormer in 2019 and 12 in 2020.

Federal regulators have approved ivermectin to treat people and animals for some parasitic worms and for head lice and skin conditions, but the drug is not approved for COVID-19. The human and animal formulations are not the same, and doctors say it is dangerous for people to self-dose, particularly with the large quantities given to animals.

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JACKSON, Miss.  More than 1,000 out-of-state medical workers are starting to deploy to 50 Mississippi hospitals to help with staffing shortages as the state deals with a surge of COVID-19 cases.

Gov. Tate Reeves said Tuesday that 808 nurses, three certified nurse anesthetists, 22 nurse practitioners, 193 respiratory therapists and 20 paramedics have been hired under 60-day contracts that could be extended if needed.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency awarded contracts to four companies of the 19 that submitted proposals when the state sought medical workers earlier this month.

Mississippi will pay $80 million for the contracts, and Reeves says he expects the federal government to reimburse the state for the entire expense.

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DALLAS  Texas hospital systems are increasingly closing off-site emergency rooms and moving their staff to hospitals to help with a flood of COVID-19 cases.

Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston closed three suburban emergency rooms in Kingwood, Spring and Sienna to help ease the burden on its hospital staffs. St. Lukes Health in Houston closed its Conroe ER to help meet surging admissions at its hospital in nearby The Woodlands.

Texas Health Hospital Rockwall near Dallas has moved the staff at its satellite ER to the hospitals ER, and it also put up an air-conditioned tent outside to accommodate 10 to 15 overflow patients.

Of the 7,258 ICU beds in Texas hospitals, 6,746 were filled Wednesday. Of those, 3,592 were COVID-19 cases.

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HOUSTON  The National Rifle Association has canceled its annual meeting, which had been set to be held next month in Houston, due to concerns over the pandemic.

The NRAs meeting had been set for Sept. 3 through Sept. 5 and would have been attended by thousands of people taking part in social gatherings and other events on acres of exhibit space.

The organization said Tuesday it made the decision after analyzing relevant data regarding COVID-19 in Harris County, where Houston is. Houston, like other Texas cities and communities, has seen a jump in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus.

The NRA says impacts from the virus could have broader implications for those attending if the event went forward.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif.  A summer coronavirus surge driven by the delta variant is again straining some California hospitals, particularly in rural areas, but the trend shows signs of moderating and experts predict improvement in coming weeks.

The pattern is similar to the infection spikes California experienced last summer and much more severely over the winter, when intensive care units were overflowing. But this time the surge has come without the shutdown orders that previously hobbled Californias economy, businesses and schools.

The state epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said Tuesday that were hopeful, definitely. Pan says the states latest projection does look encouraging that we are plateauing and or peaking.

More than 8,200 people are hospitalized for COVID-19 across California, with nearly 2,000 in intensive care. Deaths have begun increasing and state models project nearly 2,000 people will die within the next three weeks.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio  Ohio State University will require all students, faculty and staff to complete the full coronavirus vaccination process by Nov. 15.

School President Kristina Johnson said Tuesday that the requirement is based on the decision by the Food and Drug Administrations decision to grant full approval to the Pfizer vaccine.

Ohio State is one of the countrys largest universities and a major employer in the state capital, Columbus.

Johnson says the vaccination requirement coupled with Ohio States mask mandate provides the best chance of continuing to enjoy the traditions that we love throughout the academic year with higher vaccination rates in our campus community.

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OFALLON, Mo.  Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop school districts from enforcing mask mandates, requirements aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

A spokesman said Tuesday that the lawsuit names Columbia Public Schools along with the districts Board of Education and board members, but is a class action lawsuit that would apply to school districts across the state that have a mask mandate for schoolchildren.

The new school year began Monday in several districts across the state, and with the delta variant causing a big spike in cases, hospitalizations and deaths, more than four dozen districts are requiring students, teachers and staff to wear face coverings.

The lawsuit cites the low death rate among school aged children.

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SALEM, Ore.  People in Oregon, regardless of vaccination status, will once again be required wear masks in most public outdoor settings  including large outdoor events where physical distancing is not possible  beginning on Friday.

The outdoor mask mandate, which was announced Tuesday by Gov. Kate Brown, is part of a growing list of statewide measures implemented in Oregon in an attempt to slow the rapid spread of COVID-19. There was already an indoor mask mandate.

Over the past month coronavirus cases, fueled by the highly transmissible delta variant, have overwhelmed hospitals in the Pacific Northwest state.

Health officials say part of the reasoning for the new mandate is because they are seeing instances where cases are clustering around outdoor events, such as music festivals.

On Monday there were just 47 adult intensive care unit beds available in the state, with 937 COVID-19 patients hospitalized. Currently more than 90% of the states ICU and hospital beds are full.

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MILWAUKEE  Milwaukees mayor has ordered mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for city employees. Mayor Tom Barrett made the announcement Tuesday afternoon. The requirement applies to general city employees as well as temporary employees and interns.

We have an obligation to provide a safe workplace for all employees, and a vaccinated workforce is part of that, Barrett, a Democrat, said in a news release.

The mandate will go into effect Sept. 1. Unvaccinated employees will receive up to two hours of paid leave to get vaccinated and will have until Oct. 29 to produce proof of vaccination. Workers who wont comply will face 30-day unpaid suspensions. Workers who continue to refuse to get the shots will be fired. The city will provide exemptions from the shots based on medical or religious reasons.

The mandate doesnt apply to unionized city workers. The mayors office says the city is negotiating with the unions on how the requirement will apply to members.

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OMAHA, Neb.  The health department for Nebraskas most populous county has asked the state for approval to issue a countywide mandate requiring people to wear face masks indoors.

If approved, the order would apply not only to businesses, but to schools within the countys borders, as well.

Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse told the County Board on Tuesday that she had sought the approval for the mask order from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Huse said the order, if approved, would require masking until community transmission drops below the substantial category and until eight weeks past the time a COVID vaccine is approved for children between the ages of 5 and 11.

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WASHINGTON  Dr. Anthony Fauci is urging hospitals and doctors to make greater use of antibody treatments for people infected with COVID-19 as hospitalizations and deaths rise due to the spread of the delta variant.

Infusions of antibody drugs can keep patients who are experiencing mild-to-moderate symptoms from getting so sick they need hospitalization, the governments top infectious disease specialist said at Tuesdays White House coronavirus briefing. They also can serve as a preventive treatment for people exposed to someone with a documented infection.

Three antibody products are available under emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, and theyre free thanks to taxpayer support. But Fauci says they remain a much-underutilized intervention.

However, demand for the drugs increased five-fold last month to nearly 110,000 doses, with the majority going to states with low vaccination rates. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has been among the patients treated with antibodies.
Last summer, Gov. Ned Lamont had strong words for Eversource, which supplies electricity to nearly 1.3 million customers in Connecticut, for its reponse to Tropical Storm Isaias, saying it was wholly inadequate and calling for an investigation.

But the utility companys preparedness for Tropical Storm Henri on Sunday, a far less severe storm than forecast, has drawn praise from the governor and other critics of its Isaias response.

Were holding the utilities accountable. We have performance-based regulation thats in place but a little credit where credit is due. I think they stepped up, Lamont said Monday after touring storm damage in Canterbury, one of the hardest hit towns in the state.

They had twice as many folks on the ground ready to go this time as last time, and thats the way weve got to do it, the governor said. Lets make this the norm.

Joe Nolan, Eversources president and CEO, acknowledged Sundays storm was as much a test of the companys preparedness as its reputation as it works to win back the hearts and minds of its customers and state and local officials.

I spent the entire storm in Connecticut, Nolan said in a phone interview late Monday afternoon. I made a commitment I wouldnt leave until the last customer was on.

While, yes, that was a deliberate decision heading into Henri, Nolan said, its also my style. A career employee at Eversource, Nolan came up through customer service.

Im an out front focused person, he said. I want to motivate the troops.

But how good of a test was Sundays storm? It caused about 60,000 total outages, 33,000 at one time during the peak, as opposed to the maximum of 870,000 that Eversource had prepared for.

Its a dress rehearsal, Lamont said in Canterbury. But you could be sitting around with 50 percent of the houses without power, so we did better on that front. We didnt know what the problem was going to be two days ago. We thought it might be Hurricane Sandy.

Eversource had issued a warning and planned for a so-called Level 2 emergency  meaning 625,000 to 870,000 customers could be out of power for up to 21 days. The company had 9,300 of its own employees and trucks full of out-of-state workers at the ready Sunday, so much so that it diverted 600 crews to Rhode Island, which was worse off.

Nolan, who said he had a room through Thursday at the Hartford Marriott, said with most outages in Connecticut resolved  less than 1,000 customers remained without power  he was planning to return to Boston on Monday night.

In calls with several dozen community leaders and legislators on the companys Henri response, Nolan said he received positive feedback including from the governor and strong critics in the General Assembly such as state Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex, who stood next to Nolan as he briefed reporters on the storm Sunday night and applauded the companys efforts.

They performed as they should have in my opinion, Needleman, co-chairman of the legislative Energy & Technology Committee, said by phone Monday. There was no forecaster that said this was just going to be a rain event.

Eversource never downgraded the level of the event, even when it was clear the forecast had changed and the outages and damages would not be as bad as expected. Craig Hallstrom, Eversources president of regional electric operations, said Sunday there was no operations need to do so because the levels are used more as a planning tool to ensure adequate crews and supplies are in place

Following the Isaias debacle, Eversource was fined $30 million and the General Assembly passed a law, which imposes stiffer penalties on utilities if outage responses are lacking. Under the law, cutomers who lose food and medicine during outages that last more than 98 hours are entitled to credits. Eversource is appealing the fine in court.

Needleman said the new law makes clear we want them to be on the slightly overprepared side, not the underprepared side.

Eversources handling of Henri showed to me that theyre taking our criticism and comments seriously, he said.

But, he added, its going to take more than one event to tell for sure.

Needlemans co-chair, State Rep. David Arconti, D-Danbury, agreed the utilities prestaged appropriately for what all the meteorological reports were.

There was no prestaging last year and there was poor communication, he said Monday. This time there were damage assessors in place. Linemen cant safely perform their work until the damage assessment is done.

He noted the changing directions of the hurricane that turned back into a tropical storm, sparing Connecticut from more damage.

Thats the conundrum preparing for this stuff: It is that this will happen and it will look like they overstaged.

Henri was also a test for Gov. Ned Lamont, who appeared at briefings from the states emergency operations center in Hartford in a rain jacket, joking that he has become an amateur meteorologist, as he eyes reelection.

The storm provided a check on whether regulatory measures he supported are having any teeth and making a difference.

I think they are, he said.

Lamont was joined in Canterbury on Monday by U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, who also issued strong rebukes of Eversource following Isaias.

There is still a lot to be assessed as to whether or not Eversource is going to be responsive in future years, Blumenthal said. I welcome their responsiveness this time around, but Im going to keep the pressure on.

Staff Writer Ken Dxon contributed to this story

julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com
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MONTGOMERY, Ala (AP)  Alabama now ranks fourth in the country for the most new COVID-19 cases per capita, as medical officials hoped full federal approval of the Pfizer vaccine will persuade people to get vaccinated.

According to numbers compiled by Johns Hopkins University, Alabama ranked behind Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida,for the most new cases per capita in the past 14 days.

The Gulf states are pretty much continuing to be on fire, Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The FDA gave full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine Monday, potentially boosting public confidence in the shots. Alabama has one of the lowest vaccinations rates in the country, ranking slightly below Mississippi in the percentage of people fully vaccinated.

Dr. Paul Goepfert, director of the Alabama vaccine research clinic, said it will be hard to predict the impact of the approval, but added it might improve the vaccination rates by a few percentage points.

People can no longer say with a straight face that they won't take it because of lack of FDA approval, Goepfert said.

State health officials on Monday urged people to get vaccinated.

We have high levels of disease transmission in every county throughout the state. COVID-19 vaccination will help keep our communities safe and our children in school, State Health Officer Scott Harris said in a statement Monday.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Alabama has risen over the past two weeks from 2,829.14 new cases per day on Aug. 7 to 4,024.00 new cases per day on Aug. 21.

The Alabama Hospital Association on Monday said that 84% of adults hospitalized for COVID-19 in the state are unvaccinated.

Intensive care units, particularly in some areas of the state, are being stressed by the wave of mostly unvaccinated patients. A little more than half of all intensive care unit beds in the state are filled with someone with COVID-19.

Hospital officials as Springhill Medical Center in Mobile last week told WKRG that out of 102 hospitalized patients, seven were vaccinated.

Between breaths, they beg me for the vaccine. They beg me to save them. I just have to look at them and say, Its too late right now. We cant right now, but you keep fighting, nurse manager Abby Wilson told the station.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  The number of COVID-19 patients on ventilators in Arkansas reached a new high on Monday as Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he hoped the full approval of Pfizer's vaccine would encourage more people in the state to get the shots against the virus.

The Department of Health said the number of virus patients on ventilators rose by 12 to 349, surpassing the previous high reached Saturday. The number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital increased by 42 to 1,411.
BRIDGEPORT  Bridgeport schools welcomed teachers and staff back for the 2021-22 academic year this week with many thanks and an acknowledgment of the challenges still to come.

But the back-to-school event, held at the Harding High School auditorium on Monday and streamed on the Teams platforms, managed an optimistic feel, despite the obstacles the more contagious delta variant of COVID-19 present for K-12 schools.

Lets make sure we do everything we can to get through the challenges of this year, said Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, and look back at it as something we not only overcame, but exceeded in  beyond expectations.

And though convocations mark the start of a new school year, this years ceremony dedicated significant airtime to looking back on schools since the pandemic began in spring 2020.

The last 18 months have been difficult for all of us, said John Weldon, chair of the school board, myself included, everyone in their own way.

But you especially, as you juggled remote learning, hybrid learning and learning a new way of doing your job, he said, addressing teachers. I thank you for everything that youve done.

The local teachers union, too, celebrated educators hard work over the last school year.

Simply put, without you, the Bridgeport Public Schools would not have survived the 2020-21 school year, said Ana Batista, president of the Bridgeport Education Association. Childrens education wouldve been stalled, their dreams deferred.

I hope you had the summer to refresh and renew your energy for the coming year, she said.

Batista took time at the podium to highlight some of the unions demands for the school year. She emphasized the need for facility repairs and improvements, impacting room temperature and indoor air quality. She also asked that the district adequately staff custodial teams to keep schools clean and safe during a public health crisis.

The union president also called for smaller class sizes and case loads to meet student need, and more substitutes and paraprofessionals. She asked that funding go toward increasing educator salaries to help recruit and retain teachers, including those of color. These steps, she said, could stop the exodus of city teachers to affluent, better-paying school districts nearby.

Last year presented a number of challenges, but a few things really shined through: compassion, generosity and adaptability to a constantly changing environment, said Christina McCabe, a teacher at Columbus School, a veteran teachers and a nominee for Connecticut Teacher of the Year.

Derrick Gay, a diversity and inclusion consultant whose clients include schools, delivered a few thoughts and advice to the educators in the room and those who tuned in virtually.

Gay encouraged teachers: Reflect on the insights we might leverage from last year  not only from the challenges, but also from the positives  keeping in mind that there was incredible innovation during the pandemic.

The keynote speaker added that while the pandemic significantly impacted students, it also took a toll on teachers and will continue to do so this school year.

Each one of us has the responsibility to take care of yourself before attempting to take care of others, said Gay. For those of us who work in schools, this may feel counter-intuitive because we are so trained  it is so ingrained into us, and its really the impetus of why we go into education  to center students and to put students first.

But Gay emphasized the importance of focusing efforts on what we can control, and creating a support network and self-care routine.

If baking banana bread centers you, go buy some bananas, he said.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Testani thanked teachers for working through the pandemics many challenges, and celebrated staff working behind the scenes to make buildings safe, whom he called the unsung heroes.

Convocation marks the beginning of a new school year, a fresh start for everyone, said Testani. It brings with it a sense of excitement and anticipation for the new year. This year is extra special as we will be welcoming back all our students for the first time in well over a year.

Despite the many questions which remain to be answered, he said, and the challenges we will all face, Im confident in our ability as a school community to meet these challenges head on and overcome all obstacles.
CHICAGO (AP)  A gunshot detection system that has cost Chicago tens of millions of dollars and is touted as a critical component of the police department's effort to combat gun violence rarely produces evidence of gun-related crime in the city, Chicago's nonpartisan watchdog agency concluded.

In a scathing report released Tuesday, the Office of Inspector General's Public Safety section said the police department data it examined does not support a conclusion that ShotSpotter is an effective tool in developing evidence of gun-related crime." And, the office concluded, if the department has information that shows ShotSpotter plays a key role in developing such evidence, its record-keeping practices are obstructing a meaningful analysis of the effectiveness of the technology.

The inspector generals office found that between Jan. 1, 2020, and May 31 of this year, over 50,000 ShotSpotter alerts were confirmed as probable gunshots, but that actual evidence of a gun-related crime was found in about 4,500 instances, or only about 9%.

The report is the latest blow to a system that has come under scrutiny, particularly in Chicago, after it set in motion the fatal police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo in March. Although the boy appeared to be holding a gun right before police shot him, community groups argued afterward that the system sends officers to predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods for unnecessary and hostile encounters with residents and asked a judge to scrutinize the algorithm-powered technology to determine if it is trustworthy.

Last week, The Associated Press reported that its review of thousands of internal documents, emails, presentations and confidential contracts, along with interviews with dozens of public defenders in communities where ShotSpotter has been deployed, found serious flaws in the use of ShotSpotter as evidentiary support for prosecutors.

According to the AP investigation, the system can miss live gunfire right under its microphones and misclassify the sounds of backfiring cars or fireworks as gunshots. It also found that forensic reports prepared by ShotSpotter employees have been used in court to improperly claim that a defendant shot at police, or provide questionable counts of the number of shots allegedly fired by defendants. Judges in a number of cases have thrown out the evidence.

Chicago prosecutors partially relied on audio evidence picked up by ShotSpotter sensors to charge 65-year-old Michael Williams with murder last year for allegedly shooting a man inside his car. Williams spent nearly a year in jail, but late last month a judge dismissed his case at the request of prosecutors, who said they had insufficient evidence.

Following the AP investigation, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, of Oregon, said the U.S. Justice Department needs to look into whether the algorithm-powered police technologies it funds, including some that integrate gunshot detection data, contribute to racial bias in law enforcement.

ShotSpotter vigorously defended the reliability and validity of its system on Tuesday, and pointed to an audit that the company commissioned to study the effectiveness of its technology.

The OIG report does not negatively reflect on ShotSpotters accuracy which has been independently audited at 97 percent based on feedback from more than 120 customers, ShotSpotter said in a statement.

Chicago Police Department spokesman Tom Ahern said Tuesday that ShotSpotter has detected hundreds of shootings that otherwise would have gone unreported.

The system gives police the opportunity to reassure communities that law enforcement is there to serve and protect them and helps to build bridges with residents, Ahern said.

The American Civil Liberties Union, meanwhile, published a blog post critiquing ShotSpotter's system that cited the AP's investigation.

ShotSpotters methodology is used to provide evidence against defendants in criminal cases, but isnt transparent and hasnt been peer-reviewed or otherwise independently evaluated, wrote Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at ACLU's Speech, Privacy and Technology Project. That simply isnt acceptable for data that is used in court.

In San Diego, the city council was set to vote last month on renewing its own contract with ShotSpotter and instead decided to send it to staff for further review after community activists raised questions about its use.

Chicago's Office of Inspector General is a taxpayer-funded independent watchdog that has subpoena power but no authority to change or eliminate city programs.

According to the OIG report, late last year the police department asked for and received an extension of its three-year, $33 million ShotSpotter contract, the company's largest, that was set to expire this month. The city exercised an option to extend it, setting a new expiration date for August 19, 2023, it said.

Some aldermen expressed surprise that Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration renewed the contract, with one saying he would introduce an ordinance requiring City Council approval on the renewal of any contract over $1 million. Lightfoots office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

ShotSpotter has won praise from law enforcement agencies that say it puts officers on the scene far faster than if they had waited for someone to call 911 to report gunfire. While, for example, there have been questions about whether the police shooting of Toledo was justified, authorities said that an instant before he was shot, the teen was holding a gun that another man had fired minutes earlier.

Lightfoot has weighed in as well, calling the technology, along with cameras and high-tech support centers staffed with police, "a lifesaver.

On its website, the California-based company says ShotSpotter helps stop gun violence by using sensors, algorithms and artificial intelligence to classify 14 million sounds in its proprietary database as gunshots or something else. In a recent interview, CEO Ralph Clark declined to discuss specifics about the companys use of artificial intelligence, saying its not really relevant, and instead emphasizing the importance of ShotSpotter employees, who listen to sounds picked up by the sensors and help classify them.

According to the inspector generals report, the use of the ShotSpotter system is changing the way officers respond to calls, and is being used to form the basis for an investigatory stop or as part of the rationale for a pat down once a stop has been initiated.

If the Department is to continue to invest in technology which sends CPD members into potentially dangerous situations with little information  and about which there are important community concerns  it should be able to demonstrate the benefit of its use in combatting violent crime," the office reported. The data we analyzed plainly doesnt do that.



Burke reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writer Juliet Linderman in Baltimore contributed to this report.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)  The coronavirus is disrupting more classrooms in Florida while lawyers for Gov. Ron DeSantis argue against school mask mandates in a Tallahassee courtroom. Three more school districts held hearings Tuesday to discuss stricter mask policies to avoid more disruptions as more staff and students are sent home due to COVID-19 infections and exposures.

School boards in Orange, Pinellas and Monroe counties were discussing whether to join at least eight other districts in defying the Republican governor, whose executive order gave parents the power to decide whether a child wears a mask to school. Together the three districts have more than 3,000 students who were abruptly told not to come back to their classrooms after positive tests or exposure.

School board members in Orange County, where Orlando is located, didn't vote on a policy change but directed their superintendent to impose a 60-day mandate under the districts existing mask policy. Starting Monday, all students will be required to wear a mask unless they have a medical exemption. With nearly 200,000 students in Orange County, more than 1.4 million of Florida's 2.7 million students will be under a mask mandate.

Meanwhile, the school board in Pinellas County, where St. Petersburg and Clearwater are located, voted 4-3 against scheduling an emergency meeting later this week to consider a 90-day student mask mandate. Dozens of people spoke on both sides of the mask issue before the vote.

Pinellas board member Bill Dudley cited several studies indicating little difference in coronavirus infection spread among children whether they wore masks or not.

If it doesn't make a difference, why do it? Dudley said. We have a mandate, and that mandate is choice. Do what you think is best for your child.

The three-day hearing that started Monday before Leon County Circuit Judge John C. Cooper pits pro-mask parents against the DeSantis administration and state education officials who contend that parents, not schools, should choose whether their children cover up in classrooms.

The highly contagious delta variant led to an acceleration in cases around Florida and record high hospitalizations just as schools prepared to reopen classrooms this month. By mid-August more than 21,000 new cases were being added per day, compared with about 8,500 a month earlier. The state said 16,820 people were hospitalized on Tuesday, down from a record of more than 17,000 last week.

Dr. Mona Mangat, a St. Petersburg physician who specializes in pediatric immunology, testified Tuesday on behalf of the lawsuit plaintiffs that face coverings remain essential in classrooms because children 12 and under aren't yet eligible to get their shots.

That leaves us with vaccination where we can and masking everybody, Mangat said. Masking of any sort that you can get your hands on is better than no masking.

Other testimony Tuesday featured a Stanford University medical professor and researcher who supports DeSantis and state education officials in contending there's little science to warrant a mask requirement for all students.

I don't think the evidence exists," said Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who has appeared on several DeSantis roundtable discussions and advised the governor about the virus. Children are inefficient transmitters of this disease."

Testimony in the court hearing resumes Wednesday.

Some districts, such as the one that covers Jacksonville area schools, began the semester with a parental opt out for masks. The board agreed late Monday to adopt a stricter, 90-day mask policy beginning Sept. 7. That's in keeping with recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to wear masks at all times when indoors among groups of people.

State education officials have vowed to financially punish districts that dont comply with the governor's executive order, contending they are violating state law unless they allow parents to opt-out their children for any reason. A lawyer for the defendants  DeSantis, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, the state school board and education department  said the order heeds the state constitution and the Parents Bill of Rights law that took effect in July.

Orange County's board has been pressured by pro-mask parents and teachers to follow the federal health guidance. The board in Pinellas County faced calls from a coalition of groups for a 60-day mask mandate. And in the Florida Keys, Monroe County's board began discussions about a mask policy Tuesday.
HANOI (AP)  U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a sharp rebuke to China for its incursions in the South China Sea, warning its actions there amount to coercion and intimidation and affirming that the U.S. will support its allies in the region against Beijings advances.

We know that Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea, she said in a foreign policy speech Tuesday in Singapore in which she laid out the Biden administrations vision for the Indo-Pacific. Beijings actions continue to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations.

Harris, who is on a weeklong swing through Southeast Asia, declared that the U.S. stands with our allies and our partners in the face of threats from China. Her subsequent stop in Vietnam was delayed several hours due to an investigation into two possible incidents of the so-called Havana syndrome  a mysterious health ailment plaguing U.S. diplomats  in Hanoi.

The speech sought to cement the U.S. commitment to supporting its allies in an area of growing importance to the Biden administration, which has made countering Chinas influence globally a centerpiece of its foreign policy. And it came during a critical moment for the United States, as the Biden administration seeks to further solidify its pivot toward Asia while Americas decades-long focus on the Middle East comes to a messy end with the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Harris underscored this shift, calling the Indo-Pacific critically important to our nation's security and prosperity. She said that while the U.S. is focused on closing out its Afghanistan engagement by evacuating as many people as possible, it is also imperative that as we address developments in one region, we continue to advance our interests in other regions, including this region.

Her rebuke to Beijing amounted to her sharpest comments yet on the U.S. foe. And China hit back, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin invoking Afghanistan in his response to a question about Harris comments, saying the messy withdrawal from Kabul showed the U.S. had lost credibility. He charged that the U.S. can smear, suppress, coerce, and bully other countries at will in order to maintain America first, without paying any price.

"This is the order that the U.S. wants. The U.S. always tries to make use of the rules and order to justify its own selfish, bullying and hegemonic behavior, but who still believe it now? Wang said.

In her remarks, Harris was careful to emphasize that the U.S. is seeking greater engagement in the Indo-Pacific region not just to counter China, but to advance an optimistic vision that we have for our participation and partnership in the region." In deference to Singapore's staunch neutrality in the U.S.-China dispute, Harris also affirmed that the U.S. isn't looking to make anyone choose between countries."

Speaking in a country that serves as the anchor of the U.S. naval presence in Southeast Asia, Harris emphasized the significance the region holds for U.S. defense. She also emphasized the significant U.S. economic ties there, noting that Southeast Asia represents America's fourth largest export market.

After the speech Tuesday, Harris held a roundtable discussion with business leaders on supply chain issues. And after a delay of several hours that her staff refused to explain, Harris departed for Vietnam, the trip's second and final stop. She meets with top Vietnamese officials on Wednesday.

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi issued a statement saying the delay was because Harris office learned about a report of a recent possible anomalous health incident in the Vietnamese capital. The embassy provided no details, but said Harris office decided to travel to Hanoi after careful assessment.

The cause of the delay was two reported, separate cases of the so-called Havana Syndrome, according to an administration official not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation. The people potentially afflicted were not immediately identified.

The U.S. government uses anomalous health incident to describe the syndrome, a rash of mysterious health incidents first reported by American diplomats and other government employees in Havana, Cuba, beginning in 2016. Some of those impacted report hearing a loud piercing sound and feeling intense pressure in the face. Pain, nausea, and dizziness sometimes followed.

Similar, unexplained health ailments have since b een reported by Americans serving in other countries. Administration officials have speculated that Russia may be involved, a suggestion Moscow has denied.

President Joe Biden himself has repeatedly emphasized his focus on China as one of Americas main adversaries. In recent months, his administration has ramped up outreach to the Indo-Pacific region, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman both visiting the area in the spring and summer. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also held a number of virtual meetings with Southeast Asian officials earlier this month.

The chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, however, complicated that message of support to the region, raising questions about the U.S. commitment to its allies. While Biden said last week that an indefinite engagement would have benefited true strategic competitors China and Russia, China has seized on the images of violence from the evacuation to slam the U.S. for its engagement there.

___

Additional reporting contributed by Associated Press writers Jonathan Lemire in Lowell, Mass. and Matthew Lee and Darlene Superville in Washington.
ISABELLA, Minn. (AP)  Authorities ordered more evacuations Monday near a quickly spreading wildfire that's one of several burning in northeastern Minnesota.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said the new evacuations were happening near Grouse Lake and Mitewan Lake because of the growing Greenwood Lake fire, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southwest of the town of Isabella in the Superior National Forest. Around 50 homes and cabins were covered by the order.

The evacuations follow the clearance of more than 100 homes and cabins in the area last week. The lightning-caused fire, which was first detected Aug. 15, had burned around nearly 14 square miles (36 square kilometers) as of Monday morning, which was unchanged from Sunday. But Clark McCreedy, public information officer for the interagency team managing the fire, said there was substantial fire growth Monday afternoon.

Th Greenwood Lake fire is one of several fires burning within the Superior National Forest. They prompted the closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Saturday for the first time in 45 years. Authorities said the closure allows crews to focus on existing and new fires and not camper safety. Rangers continued Monday to paddle and hike out to visitors in the vast wilderness area to alert them of the closure, which is scheduled to run at least through Friday.

Meanwhile, firefighters were working Monday to contain a dozen large northern California wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee to safety. And a wildfire thats burned about 200 acres on Michigans remote Isle Royale prompted the National Park Service to close some trails and campground areas on the wilderness island in Lake Superior.

The Greenwood Lake fire was threatening to cross Minnesota Highway 1, an east-west route through the forest that connects Ely with Lake Superior near Silver Bay. The highway had been closed near the fire as a precaution since last week. Also closed is Lake County Highway 2, which the fire jumped Friday.

A new Red Cross evacuation center was opened at the ice arena in Babbitt, well west of the fire, to complement one set up last week in the town of Finland, safely east of the fire.

The Forest Service said it brought in local contract loggers on Monday to work on fuel break projects at key locations to help stop the fire's spread.

The main worry that led to the Boundary Waters closure was the separate John Ek fire, which has burned about 800 acres (324 hectares) within the wilderness since it was detected Aug. 14. It was caused by a lightning strike south of Little Saganaga Lake. Because it's difficult to access by land or water, no crews are directly fighting it, save for some aerial water drops.

Forest Supervisor Connie Cummins elaborated Monday on her decisions to close the BWCA, saying in a video posted to social media that drought conditions have continued to worsen to levels we have not seen to date.

Its not a decision I make easily, Cummins said, acknowledging the impacts to businesses, visitors whove spent months planning trips and forest employees who've come to help from all over the country. The decision will be re-evaluated daily she said, and some areas may reopen sooner than others.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP)  Charges have been filed against a North Carolina man who is believed to have stabbed his 81-year-old grandfather after an argument, police said.

Greenville police officers were dispatched to a residence on Friday in response to a report of a stabbing, news outlets reported. Dispatchers were told Wheeler Brown, 81, had been stabbed following an altercation. Brown was rushed to a local hospital with life-threatening wounds.
BRIDGEPORT  Police said a local man claimed he was just helping out, rushing a stabbing victim to the hospital.

Only it turned out he had been the one that stabbed the victim, police said.

Jose Bucardo-Murillo, 24, was charged Monday with first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and carrying a dangerous weapon.

The victim suffered very serious injuries, said Assistant States Attorney Justina Moore during Bucardo-Murillos arraignment Monday afternoon. She urged Superior Court Judge Kevin Doyle to set a high bond.

But Bucardo-Murillos lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Anne Marie Kindley, urged leniency for her client, arguing that he is a father.

These are very serious allegations, the judge agreed and ordered Bucardo-Murillo held in lieu of $150,000 bond. He continued the case to Sept. 14.

According to police, on June 6, officers responding to St. Vincents Medical Center on a call of a stabbing, were met by Bucardo-Murillo. He told them the 28-year-old victim had been jumped and stabbed multiple times during a cookout, police said.

Bucardo-Murillo told officers he had rushed the bleeding victim to the hospital in his car, police said.

Police said the victim was treated at the hospital for stab wounds to his left shoulder, neck and face and was in serious condition.

However, police said when officers were later able to speak to the victim, he immediately identified Bucardo-Murillo as his assailant.

Police said the victim told detectives he had been attending a cookout at a Worth Street home when a fight broke out. The victim told police he had been standing next to Bucardo-Murillo when the defendant suddenly began stabbing him.

The victim went on to state he realized the stab wounds were bad because there was blood spurting from his neck, the arrest warrant affidavit states.

The victim stated that Bucardo-Murillo was the only one at the party to volunteer to drive him to the hospital so he let him, the affidavit states.
TRUMBULL - Starting Aug. 24, anyone entering any town building must wear a face mask, regardless of vaccination status, according to First Selectwoman Vicki Tesoro.

Fairfield County, where Trumbull is located in, is now listed in the high transmission category by the CDC.

Tesoro said the mandate had been issued to ensure the safety of town staff.

I need to make sure that we are keeping our employees safe, and our visitors safe in order to be able to deliver our services in town, Tesoro said.

Despite the new policy, Tesoro said she is not planning on issuing a town-wide mandate and private business owners can continue to enforce their own mask policies.

The Trumbull Police Department has already posted a notice on its Facebook page, advising visitors to wear face coverings. Any individual detained at the police station will have a mask provided to them by the department if they do not have one.

Visitors refusing to wear a mask will not be allowed inside the department, but because the department responds to emergencies, enforcement of the mandate will be on a case-by-case basis. Lieutenant Brian Weir, the public information officer for the department, said that certain situations may arise where the department will need to tend to those who dont have a mask on.

Were not going to turn complaints away. So we would accommodate as best we can, Weir said.

Tesoro said that she was not issuing a town-wide mandate because Trumbull still has relatively low cases.

I monitor our numbers every day, our positivity rate is still low in Trumbull and our vaccination rate remains high, she said. So unless something changes with that, at this point, I wont make that mandate for all indoor public places.

Tesoro said she would continue to monitor COVID-19 cases in town and would adjust the policy if necessary.

Mark Block, who is the Republican candidate for first selectman, has been critical of Tesoro for her actions on COVID last year. He said he favored the municipal building mandate. He mentioned his own battle with the virus that resulted in him having to be placed on a ventilator.

He also said he isnt sure a town-wide mandate would be a good idea, but he cautioned against instituting too many new restrictions.

We also have to be careful about being overly reactive, at the same time, so its a balance, Block said.

The COVID case rate for Trumbull is 15.8 per 100,000 people as of August 14, according to the states COVID data portal. Vaccinations are available at the Trumbull Health Department. Both the Moderna vaccine (approved for those 18 and older) and Pfizer vaccine (approved for those 12 and older) are available.

Call 203-638-5230 for an appointment
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  A New Jersey man allegedly strangled one person and killed another with multiple chop wounds in a double homicide at a New Hampshire hotel, the New Hampshire attorney generals office said Monday.

Theodore Luckey, 42, of Asbury Park, New Jersey, was arrested over the weekend on second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a deadly weapon charges. Police responding to multiple 911 calls went to the Country Inn and Suites hotel in Bedford at about 7 p.m. Saturday where they found two dead men, one in the lobby and one in a guest room.
While Tropical Storm Henris path largely spared Connecticut from devastating outages, the drenching rain that flooded roads Sunday circled back Monday for a second hit.

Henri, which had been downgraded to a tropical depression, hung near the western border of the state before dropping rain to the east. Forecasters said it had the potential for another 1 to 3 inches, and issued flash flood watches for the entire state.

Gov. Ned Lamont again stressed the dangers the new rain Monday posed for some in the state.

The ground is so saturated with water that every inch of rain creates immediate floods and flash floods, Lamont said. The state was tracking storms and potential runoff through the day to let local leaders know where the issues may crop up.

Despite the threat of flooding, there were fewer incidents Monday than the day before when roads flooded across towns in central Connecticut and Interstate 91 was closed in Hartford and Wallingford for water covering the lanes, according to National Weather Service reports.

On Monday, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection had crews monitoring dams to ensure they could withstand additional water.

The Connecticut National Guard kept high-wheeled evacuation teams stationed at nine armories across the state on Monday to respond to the latest threat from Henri.

We are being diligent ... until the storm truly passes, Adjutant Gen. Francis Evon said in an appearance with Lamont in Norwich. Teams had previously been stationed in eastern Connecticut and along the shoreline, but shifted west to respond to potential flooding along the Interstate 84 corridor, he said.

The track of the storm proved to limit Henris damage. While still a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, the storm started to track farther east.

The storm, forecasters said, then hit some cold water and lost strength. It was downgraded to a tropical storm before Henris center made landfall in Rhode Island, where Lamont said outages were nearly triple what Connecticut saw when it hit land.

Wind speeds were high in Rhode Island, with reports of gusts of 70 mph at Point Judith. The winds quickly lost strength and were about 50 mph when it moved into Connecticut. By the time the storm reached central Connecticut, winds were about 40 mph.

Much of the tree damage from winds was limited to eastern Connecticut, according to weather service reports. But the storm still packed powerful rain that spread throughout Connecticut.

While many towns and cities along the coast saw between 1 and 2 inches of rain from the storm, central and western Connecticut saw dramatically higher amounts.

Near Hartford, and other towns like Manchester and South Windsor, saw about 5 inches of rain Monday.

The storm came as Connecticut has been experiencing total precipitation this summer that is well above average. In July, most of Connecticut got about 6 inches more rain than in a typical year. Already in August, some parts of Connecticut have seen about 5 inches more rain than usual.

Much of that has fallen in less than a week between steady rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred last week and then Henri.

While heavy rains proved to be one of the most prolonged issues in Connecticut, much of the focus when the storm was heading toward Connecticut was on power outages.

Overall outages fell well below estimates from the power companies. Eversource, the states largest power company, made quick work of 60,000 outages during the storm.

By Monday afternoon, they had restored all but 1,800 outages, and most were expected to be cleared up by Tuesday. Eversource officials cautioned that some outages would take additional time given their complexity.

The last outages of a large restoration like this are labor intensive and time consuming. Were also watching the forecast with an eye on the additional thunderstorms expected [Monday], said Craig Hallstrom, president of regional electric operations for Eversource. These could cause more outages that our team will address as quickly and safely as possible until every home and business in the state has power back.

United Illuminating, which provides powers to portions of Fairfield and New Haven counties, did not experience a surge of outages, given the new track of the storm.

Reflecting on the initial response to the storm, Lamont said much has changed since last year, which saw a tropical storm quickly sweep through Connecticut and cut power to 800,000 people.

The decision making was not centralized, it was decentralized. ... I think that made a big difference in having twice as many people on the ground, deployed and ready to go, Lamont said.

There were emergency operations centers across the state that, Lamont said, had direct connections to the power and telecommunications companies.

Its really important that utilities know that electricity is absolutely life giving. Last time was tough, power was out four, five, six days, Lamont said, referencing last summers tropical storm. Youve got generators that are running out of juice. ... Theyve got to realize how absolutely vital it is we get this stuff up within 72 hours. Dont underestimate the storm, overestimate it, so youre prepared.
Jessica Hill / Associated Press

With the final approval of the Pfizer vaccine by the federal Food and Drug Administration on Monday, Gov. Ned Lamont said he hopes that businesses will now consider more stringent requirements for employee inoculations for returning to the workplace.

There was some hesitancy because they wanted to wait until the FDA gave the final approval for the Pfizer vaccine and they have done that now, Lamont said during an afternoon news conference on coastal resiliency in New London. More importantly you know, for me, I think anybody who had just a little bit of hesitancy....I think that question is off the table.
The power of learning comes from opening your mind and heart to other cultures and people. The Global Bridges initiative by the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions is a powerful tool to unlock that learning.

Engaging with credit union systems around the world has provided me with the opportunity to witness firsthand new ways in serving members and communities, utilizing technological advancements, and experiencing the passion of early credit union founders.

From my earliest field engagement in Ecuador to my current Global Bridges experience with South Korea, the worldwide credit union movement has provided lifelong learning and networking opportunities. These global experiences, when applied to my local community, have been a catalyst for collaboration and ultimately providing an empathetic approach to serving members and communities.

Credit unions in South Korea operate under a unique umbrella of an association and regulator, and have gained significant efficiencies in core banking technology, movement of real-time payments, marketing or brand development, and training.

Through a partnership among four credit unions in Oregon, we are diving deep into these subjects, learning from this model and developing a collaborative action plan that will propel our credit unions forward. This partnership has given us an appetite to learn more and develop empathic ties to another culture as we not only learn about their successes but also their challenges.

In hosting exchanges, we have been able to share with participants the approach Unitus Community Union has taken in providing services back to the community through a comprehensive staff volunteer program. Best practices to state and national legislative advocacy are shared that provide a model framework for credit unions to thrive and work with regulators. These concepts have now been taken back to other countries and credit union systems that can in turn assist their models.

The challenges that societies face around the world are very similar; however, the solution is often very different. In Ecuador, for example, credit unions have built a powerful network of member committees that work in individual communities granting credit and monitoring loan performance. In action, these committees can reach underserved individuals, assist in creating sustainable business operations and uplift their community. In turn, many members of the credit union participate in its governance through annual meetings, public forums, and education programs.

In a unique challenge today, credit unions in Ecuador and Peru are working with Venezuelan refugees by providing financial education, integration into the financial system, and access to credit and deposit products. This assistance is a tremendous help to those individuals that allows them to find financial independence and sustainability. The experience and empathic approach gained through this initiative can be used as a model for similar displaced individuals in the United States.

While our challenges in each of our communities may be slightly different, the process, determination, and empathy that our peers have in other countries allow for a unique perspective and innovative approach to collaborative solutions. Collaborative approaches by credit unions in Colombia have assisted in fortifying the fishing industry and tackled environmental issues such as reforestation. Credit unions in Guatemala have worked together to invest in a university that provides affordable higher education for its members. Uniquely, these credit union systems have the foresight that they alone cannot tackle these issues, but can make a real difference through collaboration.

Learning is only powerful if it is applied. The Worldwide Foundation Global Bridges initiative is a first step in that learning process. It opens a world to innovative and empathetic solutions in tackling some of the worlds greatest challenges and empowers individuals, communities, and generations with financial well-being.

I encourage you to explore a Global Bridges journey that delivers a learning journey to your credit union. Discover what Global Bridges has to offer by reaching out to the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions at foundation@woccu.org.
Two of the biggest wireless carriers in the US have been breached, resulting in millions of records of customer information being stolen and sold on the dark web. On August 16th, T-Mobile was hacked, and malicious actors got away with anywhere from 50 to 100 million records containing personal information like phone numbers, addresses, SSNs, potential billing information, etc.

Allegedly, late this week, AT&T was also victim of a similar breach, exposing around 70 million records  at the time of this publication, AT&T had not confirmed this.

IMPACT

While these breaches may not directly impact an organization, the personal data obtained can be leveraged as a very effective social engineering tool. Malicious actors could use the data to easily impersonate someone (sending a text with your name/phone number) and to authenticate themselves by providing accurate personal information. Besides the latent threat of identity theft, the repercussions of how this data could be misused could be disastrous on both a personal and a corporate level.
STORY LINK GBP/AUD Forecast: Pound Australian Dollar Exchange Rate Weakens as 'Aussie' Soars

Pound (GBP) Dips on Lack of Economic Data

The Pound has dipped against the Australian Dollar throughout the day as a lack of economic data did little to support Sterling appeal.



A lack of data has seen the Pound looking towards coronavirus developments from the UK to drive movement in GBP exchange rates throughout the day.



It comes as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) report on the latest coronavirus figures from the UK.



Coronavirus-related deaths have risen to their highest level since March as cases across the UK remain around the 30,000 daily level.



First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon is expected to give a scheduled coronavirus briefing later today as cases rise across Scotland.



Scotlands national clinical director Prof Jason Leitch this morning stated:



We are concerned. It's principally young people, but not only young people. But a big percentage are under 40, so that means the harm is not as significant, but people are still harmed by this virus, either the older people who get it or some small proportion of those younger people.



Australian Dollar (AUD) Strengthens on Risk-On Trade

The Australian Dollar has soared today as a pullback in the US Dollar and risk-on trade pushed the risk-correlated Aussie higher.



Though Australia continues to deal with a coronavirus outbreak across the country, a more positive tone surrounding the FDAs full approval of the Pfizer vaccine has bolstered equity markets.



The Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, today continued to reiterate that Australians will need to learn to live with the virus:



Mr Speaker, the national plan provides ... the safety for Australians to move forward out of the lockdowns that we see before us now, which are necessary for this time. But enables them to see past the lockdowns, it enables them to see their ability to live with the virus in the future.



The national plan means we will get out of this, Mr Speaker, we will move forward. Our plan is to get there and we need to support and stick to that plan, not stand in the way ... like those opposite.



Pound Australian Dollar Exchange Rate Outlook: UK CBI Distributive Trades Eyed by Investors

For Pound investors, tomorrow investors will keep an eye on the latest CBI distributive trades survey from the UK.



If the survey softens as forecast the Pound could find itself weakening against many of its major rivals in the coming.



Australian Dollar traders will continue to keep an eye on the global market mood alongside domestic coronavirus developments in the coming days.











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The Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate has weakened today on an absence of economic data from the UK to support GBP exchange rates.At the time of writing the GBP/AUD pairing are trending around the AU$1.8951 level as the Aussie finds support on the back of risk-on trade.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

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Business Leaders Can Make Big Mistakes About Cyber Security

The past two years of Coronavirus been very challenging for many businesses, both large and small. Some had to close their offices and rapidly convert the workforce to remote working for their employees, pushing through frequently incomplete digital transformation strategies to make it happen as quickly as possible.

Many of these business discovered that protecting their operations from from cyber threats suddenly became much more urgent and business leaders were hard -pressed to get up to speed in understanding and dealing with their organization' heightened level of cyber risk.

Today, every business needs to address cyber security to operate in the online world and regardless of the size of the business, the reality is that cyber security is not just the domain of security professionals or its executives. Every single employee within a company has a hand in the protection of the business, as they handle company data, manipulate it, and communicate it as part of their jobs.

Business leaders must trust their employees with sensitive data to ensure they can effectively do their jobs. But a data breach involving sensitive board information can result in costly litigation and devastate an organisations reputation. Cyber criminals are acutely aware of the gateway that employees create for malicious activity. This is evidenced by the fact that long weekends and public holidays are the preferred time for cyber criminals to attack, as IT staff are unlikely to be monitoring activity, making it more difficult for companies to react quickly.

At the same time, company Boards and Senior Executives have experienced a much higher level of personal jeopardy, with CEOs forced out of their jobs as a result of inadequate performance when confronted with cyber security issues, like breaches, data loss, heavy ransom demands, reputational damage and often crushing financial consequences.

Although cyber security is now most definitely on the boards agenda in most organisations, it is rarely a fixed item. More often than not, it makes appearances at the request of the Audit & Risk Committee or after a question from a non-executive director, or in response to a security incident or a near-miss. All this hides a pattern of recurrent cultural and governance attitudes which could be hindering cyber security more than enabling it.

There are three big mistakes the business leaders need to avoid to promote cyber security and prevent breaches .

Downgrading

Every organisation is different and the COVID crisis is affecting each one differently, but pretending that the protection of the business from cyber threats is not a relevant board topic is both negligent and consequently an issue r of poor governance which non-executive directors have a duty to recognise and and address.

Cyber attacks are in the news every week and have been the direct cause of millions in direct losses and hundreds of millions in lost revenues in many large organisations across almost all industry sectors.

Data privacy regulators have suffered setbacks in 2020: They have been forced to adjust down some of their fines, and we have also seen a first successful challenge in Austria leading to a multi-million fine being overturned. Regulatory fines are now becoming very costly , potentially reaching 4% of global turnover under GDPR regulations and the risks should certainty register with most company boards.

The Coronavirus crisis has made most businesses heavily dependent on digital services, the stability of which is built on sound cyber security practices, in-house and across the supply chain. Cyber security has become as pillar of the new normal and even more than before, should be a regular board agenda, clearly visible in the portfolio of one member who should have part of their remuneration linked to it.

Treating It As Exclusively An IT Problem

This is a dangerous mistake to make at a number of levels. Cyber security has never been a purely technological matter and the protection of the business from cyber threats has always required concerted action at people, process and technology level across the organisation. Reducing it to a technical issue downgrades the subject, and as a result the calibre of talent it attracts.

In large organisations it can led to a persistent failure to address cross-silo issues around identity or vendor risk management, in spite of the millions spent on those matters with tech vendors and consultants. It should not be left to the CIO to deal with, unless their profile is sufficiently elevated within the organisation.

Alternative organisational models don't necessarily deal with the challenges of the digital transformation and the prioritisation of data privacy, even taking proper account GDPR. It is quite easy, in particular in large firms, to over-engineer the three lines of defence and to build monstrous and inefficient control models. Proper cyber security depends upon trust, and must bring a visible benefit to each part of the control organisation to avoid creating a culture of blame and finger-pointing.

Throwing Money At The Problem

Protecting an organisation from cyber threats is a mindset that is best ingrained in an organisation's culture, not something you can simply purchase of the shelf. Indeed, most of the breached organisations of the past few years would have spent collectively tens or hundreds of millions on cyber security products over the last decade.

A lack of adequate investment in workforce skills and cybersecurity training is certainly risky, as IT teams struggle to keep corporate networks operational and secure when the rise in remote working is adding to their security challenges.

CISOs need to be in communication with the board in order to ensure that they understand the needs of cyber security and that they are making the right levels investment, but where the level of cyber security awareness among the workforce is low and a major change in culture and attitude is required, just spending money at the problem is not the answer. It is more important to focus on a providing leadership in building cyber security awareness.

This needs to start at the top of the organisation, with a highly visible and credible board commitment, that can be promulgated throughout the organisation.

Technative: HelpNetSecurity: Information-Age: DLA Piper: ZDNet: Image: Unsplash

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Cyber Security Is The CEOs Biggest Problem:
The Iroquois County Public Health Department is asking for assistance from the public in the collection of dead birds found in Iroquois County.

3 R's of precaution

The Iroquois County Department of Public Health suggests residents take these three precautionary measures:

Reduce

 Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.

 Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings.

 Try to keep doors and windows shut.

 Eliminate, or refresh each week, all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in birdbaths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires, and any other artificial containers.

Repel

 When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt.

 Apply insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR 3535 according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.

Report

 Report locations where you see water sitting stagnant for more than a week such as roadside ditches, flooded yards, and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.

 Monitoring for West Nile virus in Illinois includes laboratory tests for mosquito batches, dead crows, blue jays, robins, and other perching birds as well as testing humans with West Nile virus-like symptoms. People who observe a sick or dying crow, blue jay, robin, or other perching bird should contact their local health department, which will determine if the bird will be picked up for testing.
Elizabeth City, NC (27909)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms and becoming windy. High 88F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Elizabeth City, NC (27909)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms and becoming windy. High 88F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
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THE MACRO SETUP OVERVIEW:

US stocks set another round of all-time highs

Gold prices move back into consolidations after a false bearish breakout

Fed rate hike odds lag US Treasury yield curve movement

JACKSON HOLE GOES VIRTUAL, AGAIN

In this weeks edition of The Macro Setup, featuring Dan Nathan and Guy Adami, we discussed the impact of the Federal Reserves upcoming Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium across various assets classes, including gold, Bitcoin, and stocks.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell is due to speak at Jackson Hole this Friday, August 27 at 10 ET/14 GMT, but the announcement that the event would be moving to a virtual setting may have taken some wind out of the speculative sails that a taper announcement would be coming. After all, if the Fed doesnt feel comfortable having its annual meeting in person, policymakers likely feel like its enough of a threat to the US economy that stimulus efforts are still required.

US rates markets are acting consistent with this hypothesis. Tapering isnt tightening, and while throughout 2021, particularly the past few months, the US Treasury yield curve has been behaving if tapering may be coming soon, Fed rate hike odds (vis-a-vis Eurodollar spreads) have not. Now that the 2s5s10s butterfly is flattening again, markets are downgrading the likelihood that a taper announcement is imminent.

Reduced odds of an imminent Fed taper announcement have spilled across asset classes. The US Dollar (via the DXY Index) may have experienced a false bullish breakout after hitting fresh yearly highs last week, substantiated by the reversal in EUR/USD rates. Ultimately, the rally in EUR/USD may be short-lived, but nothing may frustrate traders more than USD/JPY, which is struggling to produce gains alongside rallying US stock markets as taper odds decline.

*For commentary from Dan Nathan, Guy Adami, and myself on the US Dollar (via the DXY Index), the US S&P 500, gold prices, among others, please watch the video embedded at the top of this article.

CHARTS OF THE WEEK

Eurodollar Futures Contract Spread (September 2021-DECEMBER 2023) versus US 2s5s10s Butterfly: Daily Rate Chart (January 2021 to August 2021) (Chart 1)

GOLD PRICE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (JULY 2020 TO AUGUST 2021) (CHART 2)

EUR/USD PRICE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (MARCH 2020 TO AUGUST 2021) (CHART 3)

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Strategist
Gregory (Greg) Boggs of Greenup, age 68, died on August, 20 2021, at Kings Daughters Memorial Center.. Gregory is survived by his wife of 43 years, Tina (Madden) Boggs; his daughter Jennifer (Boggs) Brown and son in law Bill Brown, of South Portsmouth; his daughter Anna Collister and son in 
Sunbury, PA (17801)

Today

Periods of rain. Rain becoming heavy at times this afternoon. Potential for flooding rains. High 67F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Cloudy and damp with rain early...then becoming partly cloudy. Low near 55F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Sunbury, PA (17801)

Today

Periods of rain. Rain becoming heavy at times this afternoon. Potential for flooding rains. High 67F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Becoming partly cloudy after some evening rain. Low near 55F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
An NHS doctor has revealed the early morning habits that will actually leave you with less energy throughout the day.

Dr Karan Raj, from London, informed his 4.1million TikTok followers of the three morning mistakes people make that can drain them of energy.

He explained that drinking coffee, hitting the snooze button and checking your phone first thing could all have an adverse impact.

Karan, who is a surgeon as well as a clinical Lecturer at Imperial College London and University of Sunderland, warned that doing any or a combination of these habits could get you off to a bad start in the video which received more than 119,000 likes.

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Dr Karan Raj points to pictures in his viral TikTok video as he explains the morning habits that could be hindering you after your wake up

The London doctor warns his followers that continually pressing snooze will make us sleepier when we eventually get out of bed

In the video titled, 'Do you do this?' the first mistake Karan mentions is a common habit; pressing snooze on your wake-up alarm.

The energy-zapping mistakes to avoid each morning 1. Don't drink coffee until midday Our bodies naturally produce the stress hormone cortisol at 8-9am to keep us alert and when we drink coffee too soon after waking up the stimulants in caffeine won't have the desired effect. 2. Never snooze your alarm The doctor warned that delaying getting out of bed by pressing snooze enters your body back into the sleep cycle which causes it to release hormones which aid sleep. 3. Avoid checking your phone first thing The doctor said that as we wake up our brains gradually go from what's called 'delta to theta to alpha brain wave activity.' This means your brain is becoming more alert through gradual stages, but if you interrupt that cycle by using your phone, it will skip straight to the alpha phase and become alert too quickly. Advertisement

The doctor warned that delaying getting out of bed by pressing snooze enters your body back into the sleep cycle.

He said this causes it to release hormones which aid sleep, making you more tired.

The expert also advised that when you eventually do get up, your body is full of chemicals that could be making you tired for up to four hours.

Checking your phone as soon as you wake up is also a flawed morning routine, said Karan.

He explained in his video that as we wake up our brains gradually go from what's called 'delta to theta to alpha brain wave activity.'

What this means is your brain is becoming more alert through gradual stages, but if you interrupt that cycle by using your phone, your brain will skip straight to the alpha phase and become alert too quickly.

Karan warned this will keep you on edge 'all day.'

The third no-no Karan mentions is drinking coffee first thing.

Cortisol is the primary stress hormone produced in our bodies, it keeps up alert and increases sugars in our bloodstream.

However, as Karan explained in his video, our bodies naturally produce cortisol at 8-9am.

As such, when we drink coffee too soon after waking up the stimulants in caffeine won't actually have the desired effect.

Instead, he advised, we should wait until our natural cortisol levels have dropped later in the day to drink coffee, when we could do with a pick-me-up.

Our brains need time to wake up and Karan advises that skipping straight to the 'alert' phase will leave us feeling uneasy - potentially all day

Karan advised in his TikTok video that we should all wait for a significant portion of time before delving into our first cup of coffee

Karan advocates for the simple way of waking up in the mornings, admitting that he used to make these mistakes too

A TikTok commenter jokes that hitting the snooze button multiple times while waking up is the best part of their morning
Long Lost Family viewers were left in tears last night after a man adopted at six-weeks-old was finally reunited with his birth mother 48 years later - only to be unable to hug one another due to Covid restrictions.

Jonathan Gaskarth, 48, from Birmingham, had a happy adoption and for most of his life, never felt the need to search for his birth mother or father.

But that all changed five years ago following the breakdown of his marriage which left him struck by what his birth parents must have been through losing him.

The father-of-three decided to search for his birth mother, Carol James, and with the help of the Long Lost Family team finally met her once again.

However, ITV viewers were torn at seeing the two unable to hug upon their reunion because of Covid restrictions in place at the time of filming.

One viewer said: 'How tough and how difficult it must have been for families to meet and not hug, shows how we need interaction with people #longlostfamily.'

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Jonathan Gaskarth (pictured left), 48, from Birmingham, had a happy adoption and for most of his life, never felt the need to search for his birth mother (pictured right) or father

Long Lost Family viewers were left in tears last night after a man adopted at six-weeks-old was finally reunited with his birth mother 48 years later - only to be unable to hug one another because of Covid restrictions (pictured)

'I never yearned for something that I didn't have because I had everything I needed,' admitted Jonathan when speaking about his adoption.

'I felt like my heart had been ripped out,' he recalled. 'It did make me wonder how hard it must have been for my birth parents to give up a child.

'I don't know what the situation was for them, but I wanted to find out,' said the father-of-three.

With his adoptive parents' support, Jonathan turned to Long Lost Family for help and the team traced his birth mother, now Carol Hosker, to Stratford-Upon-Avon.

But that all changed when five years ago his own family unit split up following the breakdown of his marriage and he was struck by what his birth parents must have been through losing him. Pictured, Jonathan as a baby with his adoptive mother, left, and his adoptive father, right

The father-of-three (pictured) decided to search for his birth mother, Carol James, and with the help of the Long Lost Family team finally met her once again

Poignantly, when researchers accessed Jonathan's adoption file, they found a letter Carol had written to him 10 years ago, to tell him that she longed to meet him.

When co-presenter Nicky Campbell went to meet Carol, she told him how she felt about Jonathan, admitting: 'I've always loved him and that's what hurts the most.

'It's the guilt thinking he wouldn't know that I had loved him or that I had wanted to keep him.'

She said that when she gave Jonathan up for adoption she didn't stop crying for a week, recalling: 'I think it was just unbearable. It was the hardest sort of thing that I've ever done in my life.'

Carol was just 16-years-old when she fell pregnant, having met Jonathan's birth father, her childhood sweetheart, at school.

However, ITV viewers were torn at seeing the two unable to hug upon their reunion because of Covid restrictions in place at the time of filming. Pictured, Carol

The birth mother, who said they both regretted giving Jonathan up for adoption, recalled: 'He was a good person; he felt really sad and helpless really. We were both young and didn't really know how to cope.'

After their son was adopted, the couple got back together and got engaged but tragically, Jonathan's birth father died in a road accident aged 20.

Co-host Davina McCall travelled to the Midlands to deliver the news to Jonathan that his birth mother had been found and, not only was she desperate to meet him, but she'd spent years waiting for him to come and find her.

When he heard the news, he said 'the first thing I'd like to do is make sure she knows there's no resentment there.'

Having been told the sad news about his birth father off camera, Jonathan was moved to learn that his parents had been engaged prior to the birth father's passing.

With his adoptive parents' support, Jonathan turned to Long Lost Family for help and the team traced his birth mother, now Carol Hosker (pictured), to Stratford-Upon-Avon

Poignantly, when researchers accessed Jonathan's (pictured) adoption file, they found a letter Carol had written to him 10 years ago, to tell him that she longed to meet him

When co-presenter Nicky Campbell went to meet Carol, she told him how she felt about Jonathan (pictured), admitting: 'I've always loved him and that's what hurts the most'

Jonathan empathised with Carol, who went on to marry her husband Paul and have two children, Rebecca and Simon, saying: 'That's hard. I wanted them to go on... to have happy lives. That's tragic. I feel so sorry for her.'

The next day, Jonathan met them all for the first time, admitting: 'It's hard to put into words what that meant to me. It's wonderful to know, you know, that you were never forgotten.'

Carol, who brought a box of letters she penned to Jonathan over the years, added: 'To have all three of them together is wonderful.'

However, upon reuniting the two were unable to hug because of Covid restrictions in place at the time of filming.

Reaction: Viewers were quick to react to the heartbreaking scenes after the mother and son were forced to follow social distancing rules

Entering the room where his birth mother sat, Jonathan said: 'I can't hug. I'm really sorry about that, because I would love to give you a big hug'

Viewers were quick to react to the scenes, writing: 'Surely they could have tested them so they could hug?'

Another condemned the show, saying: 'Long Lost Families is borderline cruel with them not being able to hug each other. I understand the reason but God love them - years yearning for that connection wishing them all the best for the future.'

A third heartbroken viewer added: 'No hugs allowed between mother and son reuniting is wrong.'

Another simply Tweeted: 'Imagine not being able to hug your mum whom you hadnt seen for 48 years #longlostfamily."
A new Netflix docuseries is set to lift the lid on the case of a serial rapist who was famously found not guilty of his crimes by reason of insanity after he claimed to have 24 personalities living inside of him.

Billy Milligan was diagnosed with multiple personality disorder (now known as dissociative identity disorder) after he was arrested in 1977 for kidnapping, robbing, and raping three women on the Ohio State University campus.

Premiering on September 22, Monsters Inside: The 24 Faces of Billy Milligan explores how he became the first defendant in the U.S. to successfully use the diagnosis as a legal defense.

The four-episode series directed by Olivier Megaton features interviews with Milligan's family members and friends, as well as medical experts and law enforcement professionals who are familiar with the case.

In depth look: The upcoming Netflix docuseries Monsters Inside: The 24 Faces of Billy Milligan explores the highly-publicized defense of rapist Billy Milligan

The trailer for the upcoming series also includes archival videos of Milligan, including footage of him taken over by one of his personalities.

'It still bugs me when they call me Billy, but I don't say much,' he says. 'I don't say anything really. But I'm not Billy.'

Some cast doubt on whether Milligan really had multiple personalities, claiming he was a sociopath and a liar.

Milligan was born in Miami, Florida, in 1955, the youngest child of John Morrison and his mistress Dorothy Sands. Sands and Morrison had two other children together, an older son, Jim Milligan, and a daughter, Kathy Jo Milligan, despite him being married to another woman.

Morrison killed himself when Milligan was four years old, and his mother moved their family back to Ohio, where she remarried her ex-husband and divorced him about a year later. In 1963, Sands married Chalmer Milligan, and they moved to Lancaster.

Psychiatric reports based on Milligan's memory stated that his stepfather repeatedly sodomized him and tortured him by burying him alive and hanging him by his toes and fingers, The Columbus Dispatch reported in 2007.

Looking back: Milligan, then 22, was arrested in 1977 for kidnapping, robbing, and raping three women on the Ohio State University campus

Diagnosis: Milligan was diagnosed with multiple personality disorder (now known as dissociative identity disorder)

A psychiatrist said the alleged abuse was what caused Milligan's personality to splinter, though Chalmer Milligan denied the accusations and was never charged.

Milligan was a troubled teen and was committed to a state mental hospital, where he was diagnosed with hysterical neurosis. Three months later, he was kicked out of the hospital for his disruptive behavior.

After getting expelled from Lancaster High School in 1972, he joined the Navy, but he only lasted a month before he was discharged.

That same year, Milligan and his friend were found guilty of rape, and he served six months in a Zanesville youth camp.

In 1975, he was sentenced to prison for armed robbery and was released on parole two years later in April 1977  six months before the rapes on OSU's campus.

On October 14, 1977, he pointed a gun at an optometry student in the campus parking lot and took her to a wooded area. After he raped her, he made her write a check and cash it for him.

In less than two weeks, he committed two more rapes before one of the victims identified him out of a group of mug shots in 1977. One of the women told investigators that the rapist had a German accent, while another said he was nice and acted childlike.

Personalities: Psychiatrists said he had at least 24 distinct 'multiples' in his mind, including a Yugoslavian named Ragen and a 19-year-old lesbian named Adalana

Defense: It was argued he was under the influence of two personalities, Ragen and Adalana, when he committed the crimes

Milligan was arrested after law enforcement found that a print on one of the victim's cars matched one of his fingerprints on file, but he claimed to have no recollection of the crimes.

'I guess every time I wake up, somebody said I did something bad,' he says in the trailer for the series.

Milligan's public defenders, Judy Stevenson and Gary Schweickart, had him evaluated by psychiatrists who diagnosed him with dissociative identity disorder, saying he had at least 24 distinct 'multiples' in his mind.

A psychiatrist testified that he was not responsible for the crimes when they occurred because of his multiple personalities.

A psychiatric report stated that Milligan's consciousness was taken over by a 23-year-old Yugoslavian named Ragen when he decided to commit robbery, but then a 19-year-old lesbian named Adalana took over his body and raped the women, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Milligan's lawyers pleaded insanity at the trial, and he was ultimately acquitted. He is believed to be the first person to use dissociative identity disorder as a defense and be found not guilty.

Making history: Milligan's lawyers pleaded insanity, and he is believed to be the first defendant in the U.S. to successfully use dissociative identity disorder as a legal defense

Free: Milligan spent 11 years in mental hospitals in Ohio and was released in 1988 after experts determined that his personalities had 'fused' together. He died in 2014 at age 59

The highly-publicized court case led to Ohio changing the law so that the defense had a greater burden to prove insanity, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

Milligan spent 11 years in mental hospitals in Ohio and was released in 1988 after experts determined that his personalities had 'fused' together. In 1991, he was discharged from the Ohio mental health system.

He moved to California to work on a movie about his life, but it never got made, and then he faded into obscurity. On December 12, 2014, he died of cancer at age 59 in a nursing home in Columbus, Ohio.

There have been numerous attempts from Hollywood to make a movie about Milligan's life. In the early '90s, James Cameron and Todd Graff co-wrote a film adaptation of a biographical book about Milligan titled A Crowded Room.

Cameron intended to direct the film, but he dropped the project after a series of legal disputes. A number of actors and directors have been attached to the film over the years, including Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, and David Fincher.

In 2015, it was reported that Leonardo DiCaprio would be taking on the role of Milligan in A Crowded Room, but the film never came to fruition.

Earlier this year, it was announced that The Crowded Room would be adapted into a television series for Apple TV+ titled A Crowded Room, starring Tom Holland.
A mum has wowed thousands with her quick and easy 'toddler snack hack', but not everyone is impressed with her ingenuity.

Carolina McCauley, from Perth, shared a clip of the food hack on TikTok, where she explained she freezes blueberries and yoghurt topped with hundreds and thousands in a plastic toy.

She then breaks them off into bars for her kids when the yoghurt and fruit have frozen.

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A mum has wowed thousands with her quick and easy 'toddler snack hack', but not everyone is impressed with her ingenuity (the finished result pictured)

Carolina McCauley (pictured), from Perth, shared a clip of the food hack, where she explained she freezes blueberries and yoghurt topped with hundreds and thousands in a plastic toy

'This was oddly satisfying and totally worth a try,' Carolina posted.

The mum said her kids love the snack when they are in need of a sweet treat, and you can easily forgo the hundreds and thousands to make it healthier.

Many were impressed with the snack and said they would 'definitely be trying it' with their own children.

'Oooh, great idea - I love this,' one woman posted.

'Finally a good use of those pop things!' another added.

To make the snack, Carolina combines blueberries and yoghurt, which is then frozen; she adds sprinkles to make it tasty but you can leave them out if you want it to be healthy (pictured)

But not everyone was on board with the idea, with some saying they didn't think the toy containers were food-safe.

'Not food grade,' one woman posted.

'Materials must meet specific standards to be eaten off,' another added.

Others didn't like the fact that she 'ruined a healthy snack' with sprinkles:

'Without the sprinkles, this could be for a dog,' one woman wrote.

While many said they loved the idea, others said they weren't convinced the plastic toys were food safe (pictured being made)

Previously, the mum-of-two has revealed her three favourite uses for bicarbonate of soda around the home, including on her rugs and in her kitchen sink (pictured)

Finally, she filled a large bowl with water and mixed it with baking soda so she could soak her fresh fruits and vegetables to remove pesticides (pictured)

Carolina McCauley has built up a huge following on TikTok, predominantly for sharing handy household tips and tricks.

Previously, the mum-of-two has revealed her three favourite uses for bicarbonate of soda around the home, including on her rugs, in her kitchen sink and to wash her fruit and veg.

In a recent video, Carolina sprinkled a generous amount of baking soda all over her rugs and carpets before running a vacuum cleaner over the surface to 'clean and deodorise'.

Carolina suggested mixing baking soda with dishwashing liquid to create a paste.

Using a brush, she applied the paste to her kitchen sink, then she rinsed it with water, leaving the surface sparkling clean.

'Apply to your sink and watch it shine,' she said.

Finally, she filled a large bowl with water and mixed it with baking soda so she could soak her fresh fruits and vegetables to remove pesticides.

For a mixing bowl, add one teaspoon of baking soda to every two cups cold water.

Studies have found that submerging fruits and vegetables in the baking soda water for up to 15 minutes can remove common pesticides.
Ben Fogle has told how the stillbirth of son Willem almost 'broke' him - but added the anniversary reminds him to be 'grateful and happy' for what he's got.

The New Lives in the Wild presenter, 47, and his wife Marina, were heartbroken by a miscarriage in 2008 before having their son Ludo in 2009 and daughter Iona in 2011, while their son Willem was then tragically stillborn in 2014 at 33 weeks.

In a touching Instagram post, the adventurer shared a sweet photo of his wife and their puppy, alongside a poignant caption which read: 'Every year I dread August 24th. The date looms like a mighty wave that threatens to hold me under with a suffocating pain.'

'It is the date we lost our son, Willem. It changed us forever. But then the day arrives and it isn't so bad. We remember. We mourn. We reflect.'

Ben Fogle, 47, has told how the stillbirth of son Willem almost 'broke' him and wife Marina - but added the anniversary reminds him to be 'grateful and happy' for what they've got. Pictured, together at the River Cafe in London on 17 June, 2018

In a touching Instagram post, the adventurer penned: 'Every year I dread August 24th. The date looms like a mighty wave that threatens to hold me under with a suffocating pain' (pictured)

Ben goes on to explain that it reminds him to be 'grateful' for what they have, and not just mourn what they have lost.

He continued: 'I have a beautiful, kind, loving wife and two amazing children. The anniversary signifies sadness but it reminds me that I must be grateful and happy for what I have, not just a sadness for what I have lost. It nearly broke us but we are stronger.'

'Perspective is important in life. It teaches us the values of love and family and friendship. Don't waste a single day. Don't forget to tell those close to you how much you love them. Don't waste a single hug or kiss.'

Ben signed off the post with: 'Love, peace and puppy licks.'

The adventurer shared a sweet photo of his wife Marina and their puppy (pictured) alongside the poignant caption

Appearing on Loose Women in March, the adventurer revealed how he felt 'helpless' as his wife Marina was hospitalised in another country during the stillbirth of their son.

Marina had been visiting Austria with family when she tragically lost her baby son Willem, with Ben having to rush from Canada to be by his wife's side.

'It was hard,' said Ben. 'I dont think Ill ever forgive myself being in Canada and being so helpless.

'But when I finally got to Austria, which was traumatic in itself, going into the hospital with the children weve always lived a very open and honest life.

'We were told at a very early stage to make sure we talked to our children because the fear of the unknown is far worse, so if we suddenly said he disappeared and was taken up into the sky they would take that very literally. So we told them.'

Marina was on holiday in Austria when she began feeling cramps and was advised by her father and sister, both doctors, to go to hospital immediately.

Ben and Marina had already been heartbroken by a miscarriage in 2008 before having their son Ludo in 2009 and daughter Iona in 2011

In hospital Marina discovered that had experienced a placental abruption, where the placenta detaches from the side of the mother's uterus and can deprive the baby of oxygen and nutrients and cause heavy bleeding in the mother.

'It's something really unusual', said Marina. 'Really rare and it does mean that Willem was sadly still born and so Ben was actually in Canada when it happened it was very difficult for him.'

Ben admitted that he struggles to speak about the loss, but continues to speak out to help all other parents who have experienced similar tragedy.

'One of the reasons we share this with people is to turn what is a taboo subject into something we have conversations about', said Ben.

He went on: 'All of those things you dont think about, how youre going to bury your son, how youre going to tell all your friends, how youre going to tell everyone when they ask "What did you have" when they no longer see the baby bump, all of those things are difficult to wade through

'I've done some difficult things in my life, but I dont think anything really prepared me for this. I hate talking about this - but I do for Marina and charities we support and for all the other mums and dads out there.'

For confidential support freephone baby charity Tommys on 0800 0147 800 or click here
A Trinity College Cambridge student has been hailed 'one of the most relatable' contestants ever to appear on University Challenge after 'tuning out' of a question.

Navonil Neogi, a Maths student from Surrey, left viewers in hysterics after he admitted to host Jeremy Paxman that he had no idea what question he had just asked.

Despite the blunder, Trinity College beat Durham University 190-90 points during last night's episode of the BBC2 quiz show and will be progressing to the next round.

Viewers found the moment hilarious, with several praising his honesty and saying the contestant was 'speaking for us all at some point'.

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Navonil Neogi, a maths student from Surrey, left viewers in hysterics after he admitted to host Jeremy Paxman that he had no idea what question he had just asked

How many Starter for Ten questions can YOU answer? What middle letter is common to five letter words with the meanings, a young eel, a bone also known as the incus, a point on which a mechanism turns, an abnormally high temperature Bonus - The ideas of differential and integral calculus were founded independently in the 17th century were founded by Isaac newton and which German polymath What form of number representation did Leibniz describe in the 10701 essay the new science of numbers Dr Pangloss is a character in which satire of 1959 by Voltaire Which political organisation takes it's name from a roman general whose agnomen the delayer refers to his gradual wearing down of Hannibal's army John Williams scored which 2002 film dramatisation of the life of the conman Frank Abagnale Williams also scored which 1997 film, a dramatisation of a legal case over african slaves who staged a mutiny over a spanish slave ship The technique known as ben day dots is characteristic of which artist born in 1923, New York The Don Pacifico affair concerned a claim for compensation after an antisemitic mob committed violence in 1847 and arose between Britain and which country? The affair was an oratorical triumph for which foreign secretary? After a British Naval blockade Greece paid compensation. What two word term has come to mean conspicuous displays in naval power in the pursuit of foreign diplomacy Advertisement

Asking a bonus question on zoology, the host quizzed the team: 'In contrast to metazoa, what animal subkingdom contains multicellular organisms that lack clearly defined tissues and organs?'

A startled Neogi admitted: 'I tuned out for that question, sorry.'

Viewers quickly took to Twitter to share their amusement, with one writing: 'I'm sorry I tuned out for that question' is possibly one of the most honest comments made in a question consultation on #UniversityChallenge Well done Neogi from Trinity, Cambridge'

Viewers quickly took to Twitter to share their amusement, with one writing: 'I'm sorry I tuned out for that question' is possibly one of the most honest comments made in a question consultation on #UniversityChallenge Well done Neogi from Trinity, Cambridge.'

'This is the most relatable University Challenge moment of all time. #UniversityChallenge', wrote one user.

'Neogi admitting he'd tuned out for a question is so relatable in this era of online meetings. I've definitely been known to say 'I'm sorry, I wasn't listening...' #UniversityChallenge', wrote a third.

Another viewer commented: 'Neogi speaking for us all at some point 'I'm sorry, I tuned out for that question' #universitychallenge.'

Trinity was also represented by Hatty Innes, Ludvig Brekke, and Luke Kim while Durham was represented by Jack Griffiths, Charlie Hetherington, Emily Mitchell, and Isaiah Silvers

Trinity was also represented by Hatty Innes, Ludvig Brekke, and Luke Kim - with Kim becoming another favourite of viewers thanks to his constant grin while answering questions.

One viewers wrote: 'OK I love #Kim. He's so good but just looks like he's having the best time as well. #TrinityKim #UniversityChallenge'.

Another said: 'was dreadful this evening, but enjoyed the happiness of Kim #UniversityChallenge'.

'Kim looks so happy to be here, I already like him #UniversityChallenge', wrote a third.

Representing Durham was Jack Griffiths, Charlie Hetherington, Emily Mitchell, and Isaiah Silvers.
For many it would be challenging to go even 24 hours without a smartphone or any other form of technology including mains electricity and gas. But six months?

That's the prospect facing 24 Britons who have headed to Ohio in the US to live with an Amish family-of-five on a 40-acre farm - who have chosen to disregard the majority of modern values.

The group of participants  including a social media content creator, a rapper, a former soldier, and a gay couple with two adopted children  are tasked with working the farm without the aid of machinery.

They are being monitored by psychologist Barry Schwartz and a team of scientists for a six-part Channel 4 series called The Simple Life which is currently being recorded and will air early next year. Their return to normal life after six months will also be followed by camera crews.

The group  including a social media content creator, a rapper, a former soldier, and a gay couple with two adopted children  will work the farm without the aid of machinery (pictured)

While the farm is complete with a lake and a wood, the participants are expected to take trips to the local town by horse and cart.

There, they will pick up supplies and trade or sell results of the cottage industries they have started.

They are also faced with having to raise a barn and build a pig ark for the impending arrival of their livestock in addition to harvesting over three acres of hay  all in the traditional Amish way.

The documentary aims to explore whether modern life is bad for us.

The participants are faced with having to raise a barn and build a pig ark for the impending arrival of their livestock in addition to harvesting over three acres of hay  all in the traditional Amish way

The applicants were chosen after Channel 4 took to TikTok and asked members of the public: 'Are you dreaming of a holiday from the real world? An escape from scary news and social media? A simple life?'

Will there be a positive impact on the mental and physical health of those taking part or is there a desperate need to get back to their consumerist packed lifestyles?

The Amish are a traditionalist Christian group who eschew the trappings of modern life, placing importance on self-sufficiency and community.

The applicants were chosen after Channel 4 took to TikTok and asked members of the public: 'Are you dreaming of a holiday from the real world? An escape from scary news and social media? A simple life?'

'Channel 4 is looking for families, couples and singles of all ages...Who would like to live a simpler life for a number of months in 2021.'

Gilly Greenslade, of Channel 4, said she hopes the show will help the volunteers to 're-evaluate what matters in life'.

Stephen Day, Executive Producer added: 'This is an extraordinary chance to cast aside technology, social media, credit cards, fashion, news  almost everything that defies modern life  and to see what that does to us and how that makes us feel.'
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A woman who wed the man convicted of murdering her brother protested her husband's innocence as she said she loves him with 'all her heart'.

Crystal Straus, of Ohio, married John Tiedjen, 57, earlier this month after he was freed on bond awaiting a retrial for murdering her half-brother Brian McGary, 18, in April 1989.

Tiedjen was McGary's stepbrother and roommate and at the time of his fatal shooting and stabbing the men had spent a night drinking heavily and smoking weed.

Appearing on This Morning today, Straus said that while they acknowledge their relationship will be 'challenging', she is certain of her partner's innocence and thinks their relationship will be 'stronger in the long run'.

Crystal Straus married John Tiedjen, 57, earlier this month after he was freed on bond awaiting a retrial for murdering her half-brother Brian McGary, 18, in April 1989

Appearing on This Morning today, Straus said that while they acknowledge their relationship will be 'challenging', she is certain of her partner's innocence

'There's two people that lost their life that night, my brother and unfortunately Johnny lost 32 years of his life,' she said.

'I love Johnny with all my heart. I'm not saying this relationship will be easy, this relationship will be extremely challenging, it's a huge rollercoaster with the court dates, we'll get through this and it will just make us stronger in the long run.'

Tiedjen was 25 years old when McGary was found dead in the apartment they shared and served 32 years for the murder.

He confessed to killing McGary in an act of self-defense after an intensive interrogation by detectives. However, in 1987, Tiedjen claimed his innocence for the murder charge by saying that McGary had committed suicide at the time.

Straus's romance with Tiedjen began in 2016 with a letter she wrote to him in prison in which she offered forgiveness in her brother's death. The pair started talking, and eventually, exchanged vows at Tiedjen's home (pictured L-R), where he is currently on house arrest while awaiting a new trial.

Straus's romance with Tiedjen began in 2016 with a letter she wrote to him in prison in which she offered forgiveness in her brother's death.

When he replied insisting he was innocent, the pair started talking, and eventually, exchanged vows at Tiedjen's home, where he is currently on house arrest while awaiting a new trial.

She recalled: 'One day I was driving to the lake, and he came into my mind and I wrote him a letter saying I forgave him and he ended up writing me back and saying "Thank you for the letter, but I did not do this".

Tiedjen's original conviction was overturned in June this year when it was revealed prosecutors did not hand over relevant crime scene photographs at the time of the trial.

Straus is certain of her husband's innocence, insisting: 'As far as him being my brother's killer, that's not an accurate statement. That title is not accurate, he obviously did not kill my brother, that is why there is a new trial.'

Straus protested her husband's innocence to hosts Eammon Holmes and Ruth Langsford as she said she loves him with 'all her heart'

Straus is certain of her husband's innocence, insisting: 'As far as him being my brother's killer, that's not an accurate statement. That title is not accurate, he obviously did not kill my brother, that is why there is a new trial

Speaking of her brother Brian, Straus said: 'He was a little rebel; he was a tom-boy, he liked motorcycles and he was a rebel teenager.'

Tiedjen added: 'He was my best friend, we rode motorcycles together, did everything. '[if] you've seen him you've seen me.'

When asked how it felt to be accused and convicted of the crime, he went on: 'Couldn't believe it ever happened like that. I didn't do the crime; how do you end up in prison for something you didn't do?'

The couple admitted that it's been difficult convincing their families of their union, but Tiedjen insisted that he has done 'nothing to be forgiven for'.

'There's mixed emotions on both sides of our family', said Straus. 'It's a hard thing to come to terms with with. Everything going on, it's kind of mind blowing for them. But I've said people are not going to completely understand our relationship.

Tiedjen added: 'It's not about forgiveness here, I had nothing to be forgiven for. I didn't do the crime. We put it in God's hands, he's made everything come to light.'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made a donation to a non-profit organisation which is distributing hot meals to hospitals and shelters across Haiti following the devastating earthquake.

The Duke, 36, and Duchess of Sussex, 40, who are currently living in their 11million mansion in California, donated to the World Central Kitchen (WCK) via their Archewell Foundation.

The organisation - run by their friend, Spanish chef Jose Andre - works globally 'using food to empower communities and strengthen economies' by providing hot meals to people in need around the world.

Jose is a personal friend of the Sussexes - as well as appearing on the first episode of the couple's podcast, alongside other prolific figures like Sir Elton John - the chef took part in Meghan Markle's recent birthday campaign. Called 40x40, the initiative called on 40 of her friends to give 40 minutes of their time to help mentor women who lost their jobs due to Covid.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (pictured in March 2020) have made a donation to a non-profit organisation which is distributing hot meals to hospitals and shelters across Haiti following the devastating earthquake

World Central Kitchen (WCK) thanked Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their Archewell foundation for making the donation which is helping their relief efforts in Haiti

Posting about the donation on Instagram, the group said: 'With support from around the world  and our partners The Duke and Duchess of Sussex & Archewell Foundation joining the relief effort  WCK is now delivering thousands of hot, nutritious meals daily to hospitals & shelters caring for Haitians impacted by the earthquake. Thank you!'

The non-profit is currently in Haiti following its recent 7.2 magnitude earthquake which killed more than 2,000 people and devastated prominent areas.

Rescue teams and local communities 'continue to dig through rubble in search of loved ones', according to WCK.

This is not the first time Archewell has worked with WCK. The non-profit was the first of Archewell's charitable partnerships, which was announced back in December 2020.

Chef Jose Andre is a personal friend of the Sussexes, who appeared on the first episode of the couple's podcast

Earlier this year, WCK announced it had finished creating the first of the centres, which is in the Caribbean island nation of Dominica, with Archewell's support.

News of the latest donation follows a recent statement Prince Harry and Meghan posted on their website, describing the world as 'fragile right now' due to the earthquake in Haiti, as well as other major events, including the current situation in Afghanistan.

Titled 'A Message from The Duke and Duchess of Sussex', the statement said about Haiti: 'The world is exceptionally fragile right now...As we all watch the growing humanitarian disaster in Haiti, and the threat of it worsening after last weekends earthquake, we are left heartbroken.'

Harry and Meghan posted a lengthy statement on their Archewell website calling on people to donate to charities and organisations doing 'critical work'

The pair came in for criticism on social media after publishing it, as they called on people to make donations to charitable organisations, while failing to disclose how much they themselves would give.

The lengthy statement was also criticised by royal expert Angela Levin, best known as Prince Harry's biographer, who called it 'phoney'.

She told FEMAIL: 'I think Harry and Meghans grandiose, comfy and caring comments about the situation in Afghanistan, the disaster in Haiti and new Covid variants is another example of them trying to set up some sort of alternate woke royal family.

'Like most of their "compassionate" gestures there is no indication about what they themselves will do and whether any donations will be going through Archewell Foundation.

'Their comment that they want to "alleviate suffering among those we know and those we may never meet  that will prove our humanity," sounds so similar to their recent comment we must be compassionate "to those we know and those we dont know" that makes it sound equally phoney.'
Paul Burrell has shared his disappointment that Prince Harry has not condemned the portrayal of his nephew Prince George in the controversial animated series The Prince.

Talking to Closer magazine, Princess Diana's former butler, 63, criticised HBO Max's 12-part series, which has sparked a backlash over its decision to mock George, eight, and his siblings Charlotte, five, and Louis, three, as well as its depiction of the late Duke of Edinburgh.

The show centres around a fictional version of George as a child tyrant with expensive taste, a withering sense of humour and a dim view of his family, while Prince Harry is played by Orlando Bloom and depicted as an inattentive father who has to work at a coffee shop to pay the bills after his TV projects fail.

Paul said he believes it could be 'extremely damaging to target a young boy and mock him' in the way the cartoonists have, and suggested Harry should 'speak up and defend his family'.

He added that he was shocked to see The Prince creator Gary Janetti claim on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen earlier this month, that Harry 'seemed to have a sense of humour about' it all.

Paul Burrell has shared his disappointment that Prince Harry has not condemned the portrayal of his nephew Prince George in the controversial animated series The Prince (pictured)

The show centres around a fictional version of George as a child tyrant with expensive taste, a withering sense of humour and a dim view of his family, while Prince Harry (pictured) is played by Orlando Bloom and depicted as an inattentive father who has to work at a coffee shop to pay the bills after his TV projects fail

Paul suggested that if it 'were Archie and Lilibet being mocked' - Harry's two children with his 40-year-old wife Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex - then legal action would've followed. However, Archie does feature in the show.

Paul said: 'It seems ironic to me that while Meghan and Harry are happy to lend their voices to supporting mental health charities, they can't seem to speak up and defend their family.

'I've seen The Prince and it's extremely damaging to target a young boy and mock him in the way the cartoonists have done.

The Duke of Edinburgh, voiced by Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens, is portrayed as drooling and vacant, and at one point collapses onto the floor while the family continues to talk around him

'Prince Harry is said to have viewed the programme "with a sense of humour". I can't quite believe that  if it were Archie and Lilibet being mocked, I suspect there would be a lawsuit.'

Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, also have six-year-old daughter Princess Charlotte and three-year-old son Prince Louis together.

The Prince boasts a star-studded voice cast with the late Prince Philip voiced by former Downton Abbey' actor Dan Stevens, Orlando Bloom as Prince Harry and Sophie Turner as Princess Charlotte.

Talking to Closer magazine, Princess Diana's former butler (pictured), 63, criticised HBO Max's 12-part series, which has sparked a backlash over its decision to mock George, eight, and his siblings Charlotte, five, and Louis, three, as well as its depiction of the late Duke of Edinburgh

Bloom previously admitted he was initially wary of accepting a role in the series, because he's 'very proud' of his British roots, and didn't want to take part in a show that could be seen as cruelly mocking the UK's royal family.

However, the 43-year-old actor soon realised Family Guy co-executive producer Janetti was presenting the series in a 'very affectionate and witty way', and he was encouraged to accept the role by his fiancee Katy Perry.

Bloom said: 'I don't know if you've seen Gary's Instagram but he's incredibly funny and has a very affectionate and witty way of commenting on the royal family.'
What would you do if you spotted your classroom tormentor, years after you'd left school?

Turn the other cheek, exchange fierce words or buy them a drink?

One such encounter ended up in court this week when a man was prosecuted for assaulting someone who had bullied him 15 years earlier.

Kevin Blatchford punched his old foe to the ground, leaving him with a black eye, after he spotted him walking by.

But not everyone gets to confront their bully, and those encounters don't always end in violence.

Here, six FEMAIL writers pen letters to their bullies to finally lay their ghosts to rest...

What would you do if you spotted your classroom tormentor, years after you'd left school? Below, six FEMAIL writers pen letters to their bullies to finally lay their ghosts to rest...

HOW SATISFYING IT WAS TO TURN YOU DOWN FOR A JOB

Petronella Wyatt

You know who you are, because you were so toxic they could have dropped you on Hiroshima.

Even today  and you must be pushing 53  I imagine that people have to approach you wearing full PPE.

Someone who saw you recently said that your lovely blonde hair had thinned and that your face was lined. I was thrilled.

You tormented me for three and a half years.

Perhaps I was skinny, dark and a trifle beetle-browed, but was it really necessary to give me the nickname 'Petros**t' and then announce it at morning assembly?

Was is really so amusing to slip vodka into my glass of orange juice, so that I was so drunk at choir practice I fell off the stage?

Did you have to make fun of me because shyness caused me to enunciate words very slowly?

Petronella Wyatt: You know who you are, because you were so toxic they could have dropped you on Hiroshima

Did you have to call me a 'greasy-haired snail' and my eyebrows 'black slugs'.

True, I lacked your prowess at sport, but did you have to hit me over the head with your lacrosse stick, causing me to vomit?

Ah, but then things started to go wrong for you, didn't they?

When we left school, I won a place to study at Oxford while you remained coy on the subject of your further education and took a year off.

You ended up on a mango farm in India, from which you had to be rescued after someone stole your backpack. Then there was a long silence.

I did think of you  every time I had my eyebrows plucked.

My confidence grew and despite you having told me that I looked like a female impersonator or a pet gorilla, men seemed to find me attractive.

There were moments when your toxicity lingered, however, and it took a long time before I could consider you 'safe'.

Then, one morning, when I was working at The Spectator, a call came through.

It was you, dear bully. You were polite. You asked me for a drink. I decided to lay you to rest once and for all, and agreed to meet you.

You were unemployed and asked if I could get you a job, or recommend you to another publication.

Oh, bully. Had you ever said a kind word to me, I might have crawled over glass to help you.

As it was, I suggested you try to find work in a charity shop.

It was a moment of exquisite satisfaction.

I'VE NEVER MET ANYONE MORE VILE

Shona Sibary

Even though it's been 38 years since I last saw you, I can't help but think of you far too often.

Which is annoying because you are probably the one person on the planet I would have liked to forget for ever.

Yet, here I am, a perfectly sane adult woman, still shamefully hoping that you are leading an unfulfilled, miserable life.

With three daughters of my own, I have had more than my fair share of exposure to schoolgirls and how awful they can be.

Saying that, I have yet to come across one who is quite as vile as you were to me when we were 13.

I was a new girl  having left my convent school in the UK to join my parents in their move to Sydney, Australia.

Shona Sibary: Even though it's been 38 years since I last saw you, I can't help but think of you far too often

It was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime for me, and I was so excited to be starting at an all girls' private school, just a stone's throw from one of the greatest surfing beaches in the world.

But from day one I stuck out like a sore thumb.

My mother insisted I wear my blazer buttoned up, and my school skirt skimmed my knees.

The rest of you had skirts that barely skimmed your bottoms  plus long, tanned legs and that effortless Aussie confidence.

I felt awkward, boring and a bit of a geek  something you zoomed in on like a guided missile intent on destroying its target.

You terrorised me for months. Mainly psychologically, but it also wasn't beneath you to continuously kick me in the small of my back from your chair behind me . . . for an entire one-hour lesson.

You stole my lunch (and pocket money) every day, throwing it from an upper-floor window and smashing so many flasks I lost count.

Your favourite brand of bullying was one of humiliation  laughing at something about my appearance  my crooked teeth, my obvious squint  in front of other pupils until I would flee to the changing rooms burning with embarrassment and shame.

Today, with the maturity to step back, I wonder whether perhaps you were unhappy?

But then I feel annoyed with myself for trying to find a way to forgive you all these years later when, actually, what I should be doing is thanking you for making me stronger.

No one has, or will, ever make me feel small again.

THE LESSONS I LEARNED SET ME UP FOR LIFE

Samantha Brick

Thirty-three years have passed since we last saw one another, but I haven't forgotten you and I imagine you've been reminded of me, too, at times over the years.

I've changed, haven't I? I'm no longer that plump, mousey girl with the squint who was rubbish at games. Instead, I have a glitzy career in the media.

I know why I became the target of you and your toxic gang. I was good at English. Did you overhear when our teacher commended me on one of my essays?

Was that why you decided I needed to be brought down a peg or two? It's the only answer I can think of.

Samantha Brick: Thirty-three years have passed since we last saw one another, but I haven't forgotten you and I imagine you've been reminded of me, too, at times over the years

When you and your clan cornered me and told me I was being ostracised, I panicked.

When 'Tracey' said I'd be better off being pushed under a bus, I barely slept for weeks.

But what was truly unforgivable was when you banned anyone else in our year from speaking to me.

I invented all sorts of stomach upsets to avoid going to classes that you were in.

Things came to a head when my mum found out and pulled me out of the school.

Yes, you were suspended, but I was the one who had to start again elsewhere at 15.

Thankfully, I found a lovely set of friends with whom I'm still in contact today.

But in many ways, your actions set me up for life. Granted, it was a tough lesson, but I recognised that not everyone is going to like me  and that actually it's OK.

During life's twists and turns, it has stood me in good stead when my opinion pieces have gone viral or I've appeared on TV tackling controversial subjects.

I pay zero attention to what anyone says about me. When I'm attacked online, I know they're like you, under all the puff and bravado  just jealous. I've survived it all and I have got you to thank for that.

DROPPED AS I NEEDED YOU ALL THE MOST

Jessica Fellowes

It may have been 30 years ago, but I can still feel the sting of the confusion and embarrassment when I realised the three of you had 'dropped' me.

Until then, we had gone out for lunch every day, for chips or toasted cheese sandwiches at the local cafe.

Free periods were spent in the common room, playing records, and after school we'd be in each others' houses, trying out Goth eyeliner and red lipstick.

As a young girl, I had not played with other children easily. I wore hearing aids and found it hard to follow conversations in a large group.

So when you three found me, I was so happy finally to be accepted. We were so close  until it was over.

Jessica Fellowes: It may have been 30 years ago, but I can still feel the sting of the confusion and embarrassment when I realised the three of you had 'dropped' me

One day I came out of a history class to find that you had all gone for lunch already.

It happened the next day, and the next, until I learned not to look for you any more.

I didn't have the courage to confront you, and in any case we were all soon caught in the whirlwind of revision, A-levels and the summer holidays.

It was a tough time, made tougher by the fact my parents had separated six months earlier and my mother became very ill with what turned out to be early-onset dementia.

Not having you to turn to made it very hard.

I once wrote a letter to one of you, asking for a book to be returned and took the chance to let you know my bewilderment and pain. But I only received the book in an envelope, with no note.

Bullies are only ever unhappy people, holders of inescapable anger and shame, meted out to others.

A friend of mine recently confessed his shame at having been the school bully, hitting and threatening anyone younger and smaller than him.

He had been deeply unhappy at his parents' separation and being sent away to boarding school.

But, I should mention that I am not entirely blameless. Others were bullied at my school, too, and I didn't have the courage to stand up for them.

There was one particular girl who, due to her weight, her German heritage or her glasses, never found favour.

She may not have been physically assaulted (so far as I know), but nor was she invited to any birthday parties or to anyone's house  mine included.

I recall her shock when I once complimented her on her skirt, only for her to assume I was being sarcastic.

Who could blame her?

I haven't seen that poor girl since we left school, but I did bump into one of you ten years later.

I asked why and if you were even aware of what you'd done.

Yes, you said, you knew. What was happening to me with my family had felt too huge for you all to take on. It was easier to put it all to one side.

I understand it now. I know more about the difficulties of being a teenager, of making our way in life, of the fallibilities of even the best of people.

And I know that even when you want to help someone, sometimes you feel helpless and it's easier to vanish. I forgive all three of you, and I forgive myself.

I HOPE YOU LEARNED TO BE KIND

Rebecca Wilcox

My goodness how we've all grown. Well I hope you have, since when I knew you, you were extraordinarily immature, small-minded people.

Is that mean of me to say? Should I instead say 'I'm writing this letter to say I forgive you. It's fine, I'm over it'? Except I'm not.

Most days, I don't think about you, but then my children will get in a fight and say horrible things to each other, or I'll catch sight of my bottom and I'll remember all the nasty things you said and did to me.

You used to call me 'Nappy Bum', do you remember? Because my PE shorts were a bit baggy around my bottom. Did you know I had body issues for years after that?

Rebecca Wilcox: My goodness how we've all grown. Well I hope you have, since when I knew you, you were extraordinarily immature, small-minded people

Or perhaps I could tell the charity where some of you work that you were not always so sweet and philanthropic.

I know I should move on, but it would be so satisfying to walk into one of the charity events you're always posting on Facebook and give a speech listing all the things you did and said, making fun of my dyslexia or my squint, for instance.

That would not go over well in today's cancel culture. But I wouldn't be invited to one of your events, would I?

A bit like the birthday parties the year we all turned 14. Or when you had sleepovers but only girls who had kissed a boy were invited.

Apparently, that specifically meant not me.

Do you regret your behaviour and tell your own children to be kind? It's what I always say to mine. It was you who taught me that, so I guess I should thank you.

Because being kind and finding kindness in return is why I have achieved so much happiness in my life  my life after you, that is.

YOU'RE A NICE GUY NOW - I'M GLAD I MET YOU

Charlie Hoare

It's been more than 20 years since we were at school together, but neither of us can forget those two years. You bullied me so badly I ended up leaving the school.

With an August birthday, I was the youngest boy at our boarding school. I was also small, geeky, naive, and not particularly good at any sports. I was an easy target.

You didn't do all the bullying, but you were the ring-leader, admired and feared by most. I was punched, shoved around and teased.

But being socially excluded was the worst. With an MSc in psychology, I can say that the parts of the brain that fire up when you're excluded are the same as those that fire up when you're in physical pain.

Charlie Hoare: It's been more than 20 years since we were at school together, but neither of us can forget those two years. You bullied me so badly I ended up leaving the school

It's traumatic and the effects can be long-lasting.

I had no friends, I felt like an outcast. I was convinced that the problem was with me, and I became shy and withdrawn.

Luckily I changed schools, but I was scarred. I struggled to trust people, to form close friendships and romantic relationships.

I wrote to you a couple of years ago, and asked you to meet up, and it was healing for both of us.

I was able to let go of all the anger I'd held against you. You were just a troubled teenager, taking out your own issues on an easy target.

You're a nice guy now, and I respect you for helping me to process the experience.

Man Down: A Guide For Men On Mental Health by Charlie Hoare is on sale at Amazon.
Joe Swash has been branded 'arrogant' and 'rude' after mocking his fellow Celebrity MasterChef contestants.

The London-born actor and presenter, 39, who is known for his 'cheeky chappy' persona, won the hearts of the nation playing Mickey Miller in EastEnders.

But last night, viewers were left seething after the father-of-two called fellow contestant's dishes 'a mess' and 'bad'.

Viewers branded him 'graceless,' 'nasty' and 'exhausting to watch' with one writing: 'How rude is Joe Swash! Pointing fingers and saying that someone else did rubbish so he's okay'.

Joe Swash has been branded 'arrogant' and 'rude' after mocking his fellow Celebrity MasterChef contestants

For the first 'Under the Cloche' challenge, contestants were each given an ingredient to create a dish with, with Joe being given pigeon while fellow contestant Will Kirk (star of The Repair Shop) was given chickpeas which he served with chicken.

Despite other contestants being supportive of one another and saying they were 'all did a good job' after the first challenge Joe told Will: 'Because your chicken was so bad, I feel like there's no pressure'.

In a second challenge, the contestants were asked to recreate Jamaican street food dish Escovitch fish and festival dumplings.

While judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace praised actress Melissa Johns dish, Joe disparaged his fellow contestants, writing: 'I looked around and there were some right messes on the plate, mine was decent'.

For the first 'Under the Cloche' challenge, contestants were each given an ingredient to create a dish with, with Joe being given pigeon while fellow contestant Will Kirk (star of The Repair Shop, pictured) was given chickpeas which he served with chicken. Despite other contestants being supportive of one another and saying they were 'all did a good job' after the first challenge Joe told Will: 'Because your chicken was so bad, I feel like there's no pressure'.

Viewers branded him 'graceless,' 'nasty' and 'exhausting to watch' with one writing: 'How rude is Joe Swash! Pointing fingers and saying that someone else did rubbish so he's okay'

On the third challenge, contestants were tasked with making a dish of their choice, with judges praising Joe's lamb kofta with tzatziki while they were less favourable towards Will's duck which was undercooked.

'As long as I'm not the worst review I'm happy. Will did another bit of raw meat, he dug us all out of a hole hasn't he,' Joe said through laughter.

Viewers were left seething at Joe's comments, with one writing: 'There's no need to be so nasty about another contestant's effort.'

'Joe Swash mocking Will for not cooking his duck properly is not nice,' added another.

The actor and presenter, 39, who is known for his 'cheeky chappy' persona, won the hearts of the nation playing Mickey Miller in EastEnders. But last night, viewers were left seething after the father-of-two called fellow contestant's dishes 'a mess' and 'bad'

'I never had a particular opinion about Joe Swash but seeing him being so nasty about the other contestants has given me one! Not nice at all,' wrote a third.

A fourth penned: ' Was thinking Joe Swash was quite funny, but two digs at a fellow contestant hope he goes home next. Not deserving. Not funny.'.

At the end of the episode, Will left the show with Joe joining contestants Katie Price, Melissa Johns and Dion Dublin to advance to the next round.

On advancing to the next round, Joe added: 'Stacey and the kids will definitely be happy for me. But they'll be surprised. Thing is, they have terrible palates, They don't appreciate what's put on the plate'.
People infected with the more transmissible Indian 'Delta' variant have a viral load 300 times higher than those with the original version of the COVID-19 virus, a new study finds.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced the findings on Tuesday.

Viral loads were highest when symptoms are first observed, and then gradually decreased over time.

The higher load means the virus spreads far more easily from person to person, increasing infections and hospitalizations, a health ministry official Lee Sang-won told a news conference.

Researchers also found that the variant is twice as infectious as the original virus strain.

Korean health officials found that COVID-19 patients with the Indian 'Delta' variant have viral loads that are 300 times higher and they are twice as contagious as people with the original strain of the virus (File Photo)

'It doesn't mean Delta is 300 times more infectious...we think its transmission rate is 1.6 times the Alpha variant, and about two times the original version of the virus,' Lee said.

The Delta variant is a highly contagious strain of the virus that originated in India and was first discovered in Maharashtra, where Mumbai is located.

It has since swept across the world, and is now the dominant strain in the U.S., making up 99 percent of all new cases.

The Delta variant is more contagious than the British Alpha variant, which was first detected in Kent, a county in the southeast of England.

It is considered more contagious that the original strain of the virus that appears in late 2019.

The South Korean study compared the viral load of 1,848 patients infected with the Delta variant with 22,106 people who had other strains.

Researchers found that viral loads when infected with the Delta variant are 300 times higher when symptoms first appear.

Viral loads decrease from 300 times as large on the first day a person feels symptoms, to 30 times in four days and over ten times in nine days - and it matched levels seen in other variants after ten days.

A viral load is the density of virus found within the blood and other fluids of an infected person.

The more viral load there is, the more likely a person is to transmit the virus to another person.

The viral loads of the Delta variant are also the same amount in vaccinated and unvaccinated people, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Because of this, the variant is believed to be able to cause breakthrough cases at an increased rate when compared to other variants.

Hospitalizations still remain low among vaccinated people, though, even when they do contract the Delta variant.

Korean researchers finding that the viral load is highest when a person first starts experiencing symptoms matches the findings of a recent Chinese study, which suggested people with COVID-19 are most contagious around the time they first feel symptoms.

To avoid the spread of the Delta variant the KDCA urged people to immediately get tested when developing COVID-19 symptoms and avoid in-person meetings.

The rapid spread of the Delta variant and low vaccination rates have caught much of Asia off-guard, especially in emerging markets, even as economies in Europe and North America reopen.

South Korea reported 1,509 new coronavirus cases for Monday, raising the total to 239,287 infections since the pandemic began, with 2,228 deaths.

Officials have vaccinated 51.2 percent of its 52 million population with at least one dose of a vaccine, while 23.9 percent have been fully vaccinated.

In the U.S., cases have grown by 30 percent over the past two weeks, from 116,000 new cases a day on August 9 to 150,00 new cases a day on August 23.

It is the first time the country has eclipsed the 150,000 new daily case average since late January.

Just over 71 percent of the America's vaccine eligible population, anyone aged 12 or older, have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

More than 60 percent of eligible Americans are fully vaccinated.
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The U.S. is recording more than 1,000 average COVID-19 deaths for the first time in five months as the fourth wave of the pandemic continues to sweep across the country.

On Monday, officials reported 908 virus-related fatalities with a seven-day rolling average of 1,011 - the third consecutive day that the average has topped four figures, which has not been seen since late March.

It also marks a 307 percent increase from the 248 average deaths reported four weeks ago, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of Johns Hopkins data.

Experts say that deaths are lagging indicator, meaning they tend to rise weeks after COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations do.

Coronavirus cases also continue to rise with 229,831 new cases reported on Monday and a seven-day rolling average of 150,098, which is a 161 percent increase from the 57,446 average seen 28 days prior.

The average is also the highest number reported since January 30, when the average sat at 150,960, according to the DailyMail.com analysis.

Meanwhile, hospitals are at their breaking points with doctors saying they are completely overwhelmed with patients and are struggling to find available beds.

Kentucky and Tennessee officials reveal they are seeing record numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations and Alabama says infected people are filling half of all intensive are unit (ICU) beds in the state.

On Monday, the U.S. recorded 908 new COVID-19 deaths with a seven-day rolling average of 1,011, which marks the third consecutive day the average has topped 1,000 - the first time since March

COVID-19 cases also increased with 229,831 new infections reported on Monday and a seven-day rolling average of 150,098, a 161% rise from four weeks prior

In Tennessee, average cases have risen over the last month from an average of 1,425 per day to an average of 6,870 per day - a jump of 382 percent, according to data from Johns Hopkins.

Hospitalizations have also surged over the same time period to a record-high of 2,802 patients, a 340 percent increase from 636 patients.

According to data from the Tennessee Department of Health, only 12 percent of hospital beds are available and just seven percent of ICU beds are available.

Last week, officials with the Tennessee Hospital Association released a statement saying the lack of beds may prevent residents from getting the care they need.

'If you or a loved one need treatment for any type of serious healthcare problem like a severe injury, heart attack, or stroke, you may not be able to access the care you need, when you need it,' the statement read.

At least 88 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations and 94 percent of COVID-19 deaths are among unvaccinated Tennesseans, according to the THA.

'The number one tool we have to protect ourselves and our community from COVID is vaccination,' the statement read.

'COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Tennessee since late last year and have been proven safe and effective.'

In Tennessee, average COVID-19 cases have risen from 1,425 per day to 6,870 per day - a jump of 382% in one month (left). Hospitalizations have also surged over the same time period to a record-high of 2,802 patients, a 340% increase from 636 patients (right)

In Alabama, average COVID-19 cases have increased over one month by 149% from 1,592 per day to 3,978 per day (left). COVID-19 hospitalizations have also skyrocketed by 276 percent from 733 patients on July 23 to 2,762 as of Sunday (right)

Kentucky recorded 2,596 new COVID-19 cases, a pandemic high for any Monday (left). Meanwhile, a record 1,893 virus patients are hospitalized in the state (right)

Meanwhile, in Alabama, average COVID-19 cases have increased over one month by 149 percent from 1,592 per day to 3,978 per day, Johns Hopkins data show,

At the same time, COVID-19 hospitalizations have skyrocketed by 276 percent from 733 patients on July 23 to 2,762 as of Sunday.

Alabama Hospital Association's Dr Don Williamson told the Montgomery Advertiser on Monday that 53 percent of ICU beds in the state are filled with COVID-19 patients.

'We're now using as many ICU beds as we did in January, but we still have roughly 300 less people in the hospital,' Williamson said.

'It's not rising as fast as it was. The rate of rise may have slowed, but ICU demand continues to increase.'

There are currently 'negative' beds available in the state with every one of the 1,536 staffed ICU beds full, but 1,589 patients in need of critical care.

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, between April 1 and August 18, 89.8 percent of COVID-19 cases and 94.1 percent of COVID-19 deaths have occurred in unvaccinated residents.

'Current data shows that fully vaccinated persons who get COVID-19 are much less likely to get severely ill, go to the hospital, or die from COVID-19,' the health department said on Monday. 'The COVID-19 vaccines are working.'

Kentucky was also hit with record numbers of COVID-19 patients in hospitals and intensive care units as cases are driven up by the fast-spreading Indian 'Delta' variant, Gov Andy Beshear said on Monday.

As of Monday, 1,893 virus patients were reported hospitalized, including 529 in intensive care units, of whom 301 are on ventilators.

Additionally, the state recorded 2,596 new COVID-19 cases - a pandemic high for any Monday in Kentucky - and 17 more virus-related deaths.

More than 20 hospitals in the state confronting critical staffing shortages, and some hospitals are converting space to treat the influx of ICU patients, the governor said.

'Our hospitalizations have been doubling just about every two weeks,' Beshear said at a news conference.

'And folks, that means we are getting really close to every single bed across the entire commonwealth that we can staff being full.'

Beshear also said he is submitting a request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for additional health care professionals to help where they are most needed.

Kentucky would receive eight teams comprised of eight registered nurses and two certified nursing assistants if the request is granted.

The teams would travel to Kentucky hospitals experiencing staffing and resource shortages. The request also would include two certified Emergency Management Services 'strike teams' to transport patients if they need care and the hospital where they seek it is full or under-resourced.

'It appears that we are moving from alarming to a critical stage, and the future next couple weeks to couple months look like they're going to be very, very rough,' Beshear said.

'Our hospital systems are reaching capacity while patient needs continue to rise exponentially.'
The director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said he believes COVID-19 originated in animals, but did not rule out the theory that the virus was created in a lab.

In an appearance on CNBC's Squawk Box on Monday, Dr Francis Collins said the coronavirus does not have 'earmarks' indicating human creation.

However, he said he cannot yet dismiss a scenario in which scientists were studying the pathogen at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and it accidentally escaped.

Collins' statement comes on the deadline set by President Joe Biden for the intelligence community to investigate the origins of the virus.

Findings by officials will largely be private, though some results will be made public.

Dr Francis Collins, director of the NIH, told CNBC on Monday (pictured) that he believes COVID-19 originated in animals, but did not dismiss the lab leak theory

Allegations that COVID-19 leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology began in May, when it was reported that employees at the lab contracted the virus before Chinese officials reported the earliest cases. Pictured: A French doctor assists a patient in a COVID-19 ward in Paris.

'The vast evidence from other perspectives says no, this was a naturally occurring virus,' Collins said.

'Not to say that it could not have been under study secretly at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and got out of there, we don't know about that.

'But the virus itself does not have the earmarks of having been created intentionally by human work.'

Collins did criticize Chinese officials for not assisting World Health Organization (WHO) officials in a separate investigation.

'I think China basically refused to consider another WHO investigation and just said 'nope not interested',' Collins said.

'Wouldn't it be good if they'd actually open up their lab books and let us know what they were actually doing there and find out more about those cases of people who got sick in November of 2019 about which we really don't know enough.'

For the past several months, there has been back-and-forth speculation about the origins of COVID-19 and whether it came from wild animals or was manufactured in and accidentally escaped from a laboratory.

In May, a report from The Wall Street Journal, citing a previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence report, detailed how three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the COVID-19 pandemic,

The newspaper said the report - which provides fresh details on the number of researchers affected, the timing of their illnesses, and their hospital visits - may add weight to calls for a broader probe of whether the COVID-19 virus could have escaped from the laboratory.

Officials from around the world - including the United States - called to investigate the origins of the virus.

Mike Ryan, director of health emergencies at the WHO, called some of the allegations 'disturbing' in May, criticizing countries for politicizing the virus.

'Over the last number of days, we have seen more and more and more discourse in the media, with terribly little actual news, or evidence, or new material,' he said.

President Biden then opened the door for intelligence officials to investigate the lab leak theory, giving them 90 days from May 26 to research and make a conclusion.

Tuesday marks the final of the 90 days.

While a lab leak has not been ruled out, many scientists believe that the virus was transmitted to humans from an animal naturally.

It is common for many viruses that cause human outbreaks to start with animals - like H1N1 (originated in pigs) and avian influenza (birds).

Still, though, many have theorized that the institute may be behind the virus.

The Wuhan lab had been studying SARS-related viruses since 2005.

Some virologists have pushed back on these theories becayse there are virology institutes everywhere looking at all kinds of viruses.

'Nine out of ten times, when there's a new outbreak, you'll find a lab that will be working on these kinds of viruses nearby,' Vincent Munster, a virologist at an NIH lab in Montana told Nature.

Dr Anthony Fauci (pictured) denied that NIH funding was used for 'gain of function' research in Wuhan, China.

Coronaviruses are also common in China, Munster notes, and with Wuhan being a location vulnerable to virus outbreaks due to its location as a transit hub, it makes sense it would be performing research on these types of infections.

Some conservative American figures have also accused the NIH and Fauci of assisting the Wuhan institute.

Allegations that the NIH helped fund 'gain of function research' - in which scientists amplify traits of viruses to further study them - at the Chinese lab have been made by some.

Sen Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, accused Fauci of lying about NIH funding to Wuhan in a tense exchange during a senate hearing in July.

'Fauci, as you are aware it is a crime to lie to Congress,' Paul told Fauci after the latter denied the NIH funding.

'Sen. Paul, you do not know what you are talking about, quite frankly, and I would like to say that officially. You do not know what you are talking about,' Fauci said.

The NIH previously sent money through a non-profit that helped the Wuhan Institute investigate bat based coronaviruses.

The funds were not used for gain of function research.
The nation's top infectious disease expert says the U.S. should expect more vaccine mandates now that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 shot.

In an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Tuesday, Dr Anthony Fauci said he thinks approval will help push more Americans to get the Covid vaccine because it might reduce their fears about the safety of the shot.

But he added that businesses and schools may feel more comfortable requiring workers or students to get a jab that has full authorization.

'You're gonna see a lot more [vaccine] mandates because there will be institutions and organizations which previously were reluctant to require vaccinations, which will now feel much more empowered to do that,' Fauci said.

'That could be organizations, businesses, colleges, universities. We're even seeing it with the military already.'

However, mandates are a contentious topic with many states outright banning laws that would require workers to be vaccinated.

Dr Anthony Fauci said on Tuesday (pictured) that the U.S. should expect to see more vaccine mandates now that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine receive full approval from the FDA

Fauci explained that organizations were likely hesitant to require vaccines only approved for emergency use. Pictured: A student receives a first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the California State University Long Beach campus, August 11

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine was the first to receive emergency use authorization from federal regulators in December 2020 and will now be first to be licensed.

Approval for use on an emergency basis means it was considered somewhat experimental despite data showing it is safe and effective.

Emergency use authorization (EUA) requires less clinical trial data, with the FDA only requiring two months of follow-up before approving the shot for those 16 and older last year compared to six months for full approval.

Experts believe the full approval will help boost vaccination numbers even further.

Fauci referenced a recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation that found three in ten unvaccinated adults said they would be more likely to get vaccinated if one of the vaccines were fully approved.

'I think that's gonna be an important group because if you talk about 30 percent of the unvaccinated, that's a lot of people,' he told Morning Joe.

About 90 million Americans who are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine have not yet done so, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If 30 percent of that group decided to get vaccinated, that would mean 27 million additional Americans would be getting shots in arms.

Fauci added that more organizations will require mandates either for their workers or for customers to conduct business.

At a news conference on Monday morning, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby confirmed that the full approval will lead to COVID-19 vaccines being mandated for the U.S. military.

'Now that the Pfizer vaccine has been approved, the department is prepared to issue updated guidance requiring all service members to be vaccinated. A timeline for vaccinated completion will be provided in the coming days,' he said.

And Louisiana State University President William Tate announced two weeks ago that the school will mandate that students receive the vaccine following full FDA authorization.

The topic of mandates has been a contentious one with many lawmakers arguing that requiring inoculations infringes on civil liberties.

According to the National Academy for State Health Policy, four states have banned vaccine mandates for health workers, seven states have banned mandates for state workers and five states have banned private employers from instituting mandates.

However, some of these laws only applied to vaccines that are approved under emergency use, meaning they will no longer apply now that Pfizer has received full approval.

Fauci also addressed the fact that Pfizer's vaccine can now be marketed directly to consumers, which the company will do so under the name Comirnaty.

'The companies can now officially advertise the vaccine, which you're not allowed to do unless you get full approval,' he told Morning Joe.

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said he expects the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines to be fully approved too.

'I think it's gonna be relatively soon because if you look at the temporal sequence of when the companies got their EUAs - and then went ahead and collected the data to submit to the FDA - that Modena is a bit behind Pfizer and J&J a bit behind Moderna,' he said.

'So I think sequentially you're going to see that within a reasonable period of time. I hesitate to predict...but I would imagine it would be a matter of several weeks to a month or so.'
The effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines fell dramatically after the Indian 'Delta' variant became the dominant strain the U.S., a new report finds.

When the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines first rolled out in December 2020, the shots were determined to be 91 percent effective.

However, after a fourth surge fueled by the variant hit the U.S., vaccine effectiveness fell as low as 66 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

While the vaccines are still effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19, the data implied the Delta variant may have more of an ability to cause breakthrough infections.

The new report comes after the White House announced plans last week to roll out vaccine booster shots in September.

It has long been speculated that the immunity provided by the vaccines would eventually wane, eventually causing the need for booster shots.

The CDC finds that the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines dropped from 91 percent to 66 percent when the Indian 'Delta' variant become predominant in the U.S. Pictured: A woman in Los Angeles, California, receives a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on Monday

The Delta variant (orange) and its sub lineage, AY.3, now accounts for almost every single new COVID-19 case in the United States, according to CDC data

For the study, published on Tuesday, the CDC gathered data from 4,217 frontline workers for the study, of whom 83 percent - 3,483 - were vaccinated.

Researchers adjusted data to account for infection rates, local COVID-19 transmission and occupation.

Before the rise of the Delta variant, the vaccines were found to be very effective in preventing breakthrough cases.

The team created two different data sets, one for Delta variant-predominance, in which more than 50 percent of cases in the area where a subject lived here believe to be the Delta variant.

The other was for when the variant was not considered predominant.

There was a median of 20 days of not being vaccinated across all participants in the study during times where the variant was not predominant.

Researchers found 194 positive COVID-19 cases among the unvaccinated group, with nearly 90 percent being symptomatic.

Out of a median 177 fully vaccinated days among participants who did eventually receive the shots, only 34 infections were found.

Just over 80 percent of the breakthrough cases were symptomatic.

Researchers estimated that vaccine effectiveness was somewhere around 91 percent before the Delta variant.

Things changed once the variant started to account for more cases, however.

There was a median of 48 days of not being vaccinated amid Delta predominance among 488 participants.

During this time, 19 infections were found, with around 95 percent being symptomatic.

Of the 2,352 full vaccinated participants, there was a media of 49 days of full vaccinated amid Delta predominance and 24 infections detected.

Three-quarters of breakthrough cases were symptomatic.

After adjusting data, researchers found that the COVID-19 vaccines were only 66 percent effective at preventing infection from the virus.

The overall efficacy of the vaccines throughout the entire study was 80 percent.

The Delta variant is now the dominant strain all over America, and accounts for nearly all new cases recorded.

There is some disagreement on whether the variant's ability to cause breakthrough cases is a feature of the variant itself, or a matter of the vaccine's declining efficacy.

Either way, the number of breakthrough cases around the country are growing.

Previous CDC research has found that the viral loads of the Delta variant are also the same amount in vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

This means that vaccinated people that are infected can spread the virus to unvaccinated people very easily.

Last week, the White House announced that COVID-19 booster shots will soon become available to shore up protection against the virus.

All Americans who received the Pfizer or Moderna shots will be eligible for a third shot eight months after receiving the second.

Those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are still awaiting the approval of booster shots.

Rolling out booster shots may be controversial with some international health leaders are calling for wealthy nations like the U.S. to instead donate vaccine doses to low income nations.

All Americans 12 or older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Around 71 percent of the eligible population has received at least one shot of the vaccine, and 60 percent are fully vaccinated, CDC data show.
Americans who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 are much more likely to infected or hospitalized with the virus, a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds.

The report found that unvaccinated residents of Los Angeles had five times as many cases of Covid and 29 times as many hospitalizations than fully vaccinated people.

What's more, if fully vaccinated people were hospitalized, they were much less likely to be admitted to intensive care units or placed on mechanical ventilation.

The CDC team says the findings show the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, even as the Indian 'Delta' variant became the dominant strain in the U.S.

A new CDC study looked at more than 43,000 confirmed infections in Los Angeles between May 1 and July 25. Pictured: Nurse Kim Dimaunahan Telemetry Oncology (left) checks the blood sugar level of Covid positive patient Jorge Hernandez, 64, inside Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, California, July 30

COVID-19 incidence rate was 315.1 per 100,000 people for unvaccinated people compared to 63.8 per 100,000 for the vaccinated - a 4.9-fold difference (left). Hospitalization rates among the unvaccinated were 29.2 times more than those in fully vaccinated people at 29.4 per 100,000 versus 1.0 per 100,000 (right)

For the report published on Tuesday. the CDC team looked at data from May 1, 2021 to July 25, 2021 in Los Angeles County.

Of 43,127 confirmed COVID-19 infections, 71.4 percent, or 30,801 were among unvaccinated individuals.

A total of 3.3 percent, or 1,431, were among partially vaccinated people and 25.3 percent, were in fully vaccinated residents.

After adjusting for age, the researchers found that the COVID-19 incidence rate was 315.1 per 100,000 people for the unvaccinated compared to 63.8 per 100,000 for the vaccinated - a 4.9-fold difference.

When it came to hospitalizations, 3.2 percent of fully vaccinated people - 350 - were admitted compared to 7.6 percent - 2,355 - unvaccinated people.

Once hospitalized, fully vaccinated patients were much less likely to be admitted to intensive care units or require mechanical ventilation at 0.5 percent or 0.2 percent, respectively.

By comparison, 1.5 percent of unvaccinated patients needed to be admitted to the ICU and 0.5 percent needed mechanical ventilation.

The researchers determined that hospitalization rates among the unvaccinated were 29.2 times more than those in fully vaccinated people at 29.4 per 100,000 versus 1.0 per 100,000.

What's more, 0.2 percent, or 24, vaccinated patients died of COVID-19 compared to 0.6 percent, or 176, of those without their shots.

The researchers note the rates of incidence and hospitalization among the unvaccinated may be higher because, over the course of the study period, the Indian 'Delta' variant became the dominant strain in the U.S.

CDC data show the highly transmissible strain and its sub-lineages now make up nearly all cases in the country.

'The results of this...analysis...indicate that fully vaccinated persons aged with SARS-CoV-2 infection were less likely than unvaccinated persons to be hospitalized, to be admitted to an intensive care unit, to require mechanical ventilation, or to die from SARS-CoV-2 infection during a period when the Delta variant became predominant,' the authors wrote.

'These data indicate that authorized vaccines protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19, even with increased community transmission of the newly predominant Delta variant.

'Efforts to enhance COVID-19 vaccination coverage, in coordination with other prevention strategies, are critical to preventing COVID-19related hospitalizations and death.'
COVID-19 patients and survivors are at an increased risk of developing dangerous blood clots after surgery, a new study finds.

Researchers from the University of Birmingham, in England, found a link between a past, or active, Covid diagnosis and venous thromboembolism (VTE), a dangerous form of blood clots, after having a procedure.

People who had contracted COVID-19 in the previous six weeks before an operation were nearly twice as likely to develop VTE.

The condition is a known complication of surgery, though researchers can not determine why the virus causes it.

Researchers found that COVID-19 patients and survivors were more at risk of developing VTE, a blood clotting condition, after surgery. (File photo)

For the study, published in Anaesthesia, the team gathered data from 128,013 patients who underwent different types of surgery in 1,630 hospitals across 115 countries.

They categorized patients into four categories: control group that never had COVID-19, a group that had an active Covid case, a group of 'recent' cases who had contracted the virus in the past six weeks, and a 'previous' case group of people who had the virus seven or more weeks ago.

Their goal was to find how many patients developed VTE within the 30 days following their operations.

In the control group, 666 out of 123,591 - 0.5 percent - developed VTE.

Of those who received surgery with an active case of COVID-19, 50 out of 2,317 were found to have the blood clots, or 2.2 percent.

Among the 953 patients with recent - but recovered - cases of COVID-19, a total of 15 developed VTE, or 1.6 percent.

Finally, around one percent of patients with a previous Covid case - or 11 out of 1,148 - developed VTE.

Researchers adjusted the data for other factors that could lead to the development of the blood clots such as age and previous blood clotting.

After adjustment, they found that those with a recent case of COVID-19 were most at risk of VTE, seeing a 90 percent increased chance.

People with active Covid cases were 50 percent more likely to develop VTE and patients with previous cases were 70 percent more likely.

Across the board, there is a link between contracting the virus at some point and later developing the complication after surgery.

'People undergoing surgery are already at higher risk of VTE than the general public, but we discovered that a current or recent [COVID-19] infection was associated with greater risk of postoperative VTE,' said Dr Elizabeth Li, co-author of the study and general surgery registrar at University Hospital Birmingham.

'Surgical patients have risk factors for VTE, including immobility, surgical wounds and systematic inflammation - and the addition of [COVID-19] infection may further increase this risk.'

COVID-19 patients are also at a 450 percent increased risk of death if they have VTE.

Of 76 patients in the study with Covid and VTE, 31 ended up dying - 40.8 percent - compared to only 319 of 4,342 patients who did not develop VTE - or 7.4 percent.

One form of VTE is pulmonary embolism, when a blood clot becomes lodged in someone's lungs. Pictured: An MRI scan of a lung with pulmonary embolism

VTE forms when blood clots form deep in a person's veins, often in the legs or thighs, called deep vein thromboses.

There is another form of the condition called pulmonary embolism, where one of the clots becomes lodged in a person's lungs.

It usually forms after a person recovering from surgery spends a long time laying in bed stagnant.

The lack of movement allows the clots to form, while a person who is active often has their blood circulating at a higher rate.

Experts recommend a person recovering from surgery often go on regular walks whenever possible to prevent the clots from forming.

The condition affects 900,000 Americans every year, and people who have previously suffered with blood clotting are more likely to suffer from VTE.

Around 100,000 people in the U.S. die of all blood clot related conditions combined.

The Birmingham research team advises doctors to keep a closer eye on their patients to detect when VTE is forming.

'Increased awareness and surveillance should be considered,' they wrote.

'At a minimum, we suggest close adherence to routine standard VTE prophylaxis for surgical patients, including the use of anti-clotting medication when bleeding risk is minimal, and increased vigilance and diagnostic testing in patients presenting with signs of VTE, such as swelling in one calf, right sided chest pain and shortness of breath.'

'...Routine postoperative care of surgical patients should include interventions to reduce VTE risk in general, and further research is needed to define the best protocols for VTE prevention and treatment in this setting.'
Power supplier Outfox The Market's website is plastered with eco-friendly claims.

'You don't have to choose between the planet and your pocket,' reads the marketing copy, adorned with a cartoon image of wind turbines on a green field. 'Do the right thing. Go green, go clean.'

Like many other cheap energy brands, the supplier is capitalising on a growing appetite for clean, renewable electricity.

Yet closer inspection of the small print shows these green tariffs are no more environmentally friendly than ordinary energy deals.

Green washing: 'Clean' energy suppliers can continue to supply customers with electricity from fossil fuels by purchasing a Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin certificate

The supplier may purport to offer '100 per cent clean wind electricity', but the only thing it needs to make such a claim are certificates that cost as little as 1.45 per customer.

To state that a tariff is green, suppliers have to prove they have generated the renewable electricity themselves, bought it from a plant, or purchased a Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (Rego) certificate.

The vast majority  including Outfox The Market  choose the last of these options, as it is typically the cheapest and easiest.

Each certificate guarantees that a supplier will match its customer's electricity usage by investing a similar amount in green energy produced by a renewable generator.

But suppliers continue to source energy from the wholesale market  the National Grid  which uses fossil fuels, all the while claiming to be '100 per cent renewable'.

Firms are not obliged to reveal how much of their 'green' energy comes from the purchase of these certificates, or how much is bought directly from renewable sources.

So customers can think the energy they use is purely green, when it is actually generated from a combination of gas, solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass and nuclear sources.

Regos  issued by the energy watchdog Ofgem  have come under increasing scrutiny, and earlier this month ministers pledged to clamp down on 'greenwashing' firms that exaggerate their eco-friendly credentials.

Concerns about greenwashing were highlighted this year in a major report by the consultancy Baringa.

Report author Vlad Parail says: 'People might switch to a green tariff, then feel they can relax about their carbon footprint. In reality, when they buy from a firm backed by Regos, the direct impact a customer has on the environment is very small.'

Energy firm Utilita estimates that three in five customers would take action against their supplier if they had been misled.

Saving the planet doesn't come cheap Paying a premium: Aimee Higgins opted for a genuinely green tariff Two years ago, Aimee Higgins started reading more about climate change and wanted a more eco-friendly lifestyle. A big part of that, the 39-year-old says, was having a greener energy supplier, even though it didnt come cheap. She was used to paying 50 a month for her three-bedroom home, which she occupies alone. But now she pays 80 a month for a genuinely green tariff  a rise of more than 50 per cent. Aimee, co-founder of a non-profit environmental organisation called Every One of Us, insists it is worth it. She says: I realise I am in a privileged position to be able to pay more for energy that is genuinely green. Our green energy infrastructure is still growing and as it improves, prices will come down for everyone, provided people like me start investing in it now. Aimee is a customer of Good Energy, which has a gold accreditation under Uswitchs Green Tariff system.

Some 58 per cent say they would want to be compensated for the premiums they paid for so-called green energy  meaning firms could be left repaying 144 a year to customers as a result of misleading '100 per cent renewable energy' claims.

Analysis by Money Mail found that of the 20 cheapest energy tariffs currently available on Uswitch, 14 hold a 'bronze' score for green credentials. The remaining six are not even accredited.

To achieve a 'bronze', a brand can rely solely on Regos certificates. If more than 42.9 pc of its electricity is bought direct from a renewable generator, it gains 'silver' status.

'Gold' suppliers must prove 100 per cent of their electricity is bought in this way. Yet if you look on the cheapest suppliers' websites, you could easily think you were buying wholly guilt-free energy.

For example, Bulb, which has more than 1.6million customers, says on its website: 'We make energy greener  so we help protect our planet.

We provide 100 per cent renewable electricity and 100 per cent carbon-neutral gas to all our members as standard.'

But according to the Baringa report, 96 per cent of Bulb's green power was sourced through Regos certificates last year. Only 4 per cent was bought direct from renewable generators.

Utility Point, which offers the fourth cheapest tariff, claims to provide '100 per cent renewable' energy.

But its cheapest tariff holds only a 'bronze' award from Uswitch.

Britain has set itself a target to completely switch its economy away from fossil fuel by 2050

A Utility Point spokesperson says every supplier provides a mix of fossil fuel and renewable supplies, as green tariffs simply 'encourage more green generation'.

Bulb points out that some firms rely on annual Rego certificates, which allows them to invest in lots of renewable energy during the summer  when it is most plentiful  to greenwash their winter months, when they are likely to rely almost exclusively on non-sustainable sources.

Bulb says its Regos certificates are renewed monthly, to make sure they accurately reflect the energy being consumed in the market.

There is additional confusion as some firms may buy the European equivalent of a Rego, called a Guarantee of Origin (GoO).

This means that when a UK customer pays for a green tariff, they are actually funding renewable energy projects in France or Germany, for example.

Continental suppliers cannot reciprocate this investment, as Europe stopped recognising Rego certificates after Brexit.

Doug Stewart, chief executive of Green Energy UK, compares greenwashing to the 2013 scandal when supermarkets were found to be selling 'beef' containing horse meat.

He says: 'If you're paying 10p for a lasagna, what do you really expect to be in it? The same goes for energy. If a deal is ultra-cheap while claiming to be "green", it probably isn't that green at all. Regos are currently too cheap to make any significant impact.'

The row follows a sharp rise in demand for green energy. There are now about nine million UK households on tariffs branded as 100 per cent renewable or eco-friendly.

Britain has an ambitious target to fully switch its economy away from fossil fuels by 2050. And at this year's United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, the UK will be under pressure to show it is cleaning up its act.

Last week, the Government revealed plans to ramp up our hydrogen industry. But this could cause energy bills to rise, as hydrogen is costlier to produce than less green alternatives.

Of the green tariffs that score best under Uswitch's system, not one appears in the top 20 list of cheapest deals. Scottish Power has seven 'silver' tariffs, while British Gas's Green Future May 2023v2 tariff holds a 'gold' status.

But a silver tariff with Scottish Power costs about 1,388 a year  326 more than Outfox The Market's cheapest tariff at 1,062.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is planning a consultation on the Rego system, and Ofgem has pledged to work with it.

An Ofgem spokesperson says: 'Suppliers must not make unfounded or confusing claims about the energy provided to their customers.'

Outfox The Market was contacted for comment.

h.kelly@dailymail.co.uk
As the world's second- biggest economy, China has long been a country of interest to investors.

Chinese stock markets have boomed in recent years but look less positive now because of unfolding events.

A resurgence of Covid, which had been suppressed there, has led to economists downgrading China's growth forecasts.

Stock slump: Chinese stock markets have boomed in recent years but a resurgence of Covid has led to economists downgrading growth forecasts

Now, fears of a clampdown on business, particularly in the thriving tech sector, have sent share prices tumbling.

Tech unicorns Alibaba and Tencent  both popular choices for UK fund managers  fell 6 per cent and 12 per cent last week, before recovering slightly.

Meanwhile, the Shanghai Composite Index, a measure of China's overall stock market, has fallen more than 2 per cent since the start of the year.

China-focused equity funds are down an average 19.2 per cent since February, with trusts falling even lower at 27.2 per cent.

The falls come after UK investors ploughed 638.9 million into China funds between last September and March this year.

So will Chinese stocks continue to fall? And what might it mean for investors?

The economic rise of China has been one of the biggest stories of the 21st century  and not just for investors.

As its economy has grown, reforms have slowly opened it up to outside investment. In Britain, China-focused funds have performed well, with many doubling investors' cash in the past five years.

That said, Chinese stock markets are more restrictive than their Western counterparts and the country is still designated a riskier 'emerging market'.

The past year's events have given investors a sharp reminder of just why that is. It all began last November, when Chinese authorities halted the planned initial public offering (IPO) of the Ant Group  the $300 billion e-commerce group whose founder, Jack Ma, had reportedly fallen out with China's communist rulers.

The surprise move saw Chinese tech stocks fall 8 per cent in days, though this was eventually reversed.

This year, Beijing has stepped up its tough approach to business, promising to bring in tough new data protection rules for firms.

The Communist Party is also cracking down on the private education market, banning tutoring firms from making profits.

The moves are seen as President Xi Jinping reminding firms they should prioritise Chinese rules over foreign shareholders.

Whatever the truth about the crackdowns, investors seem to think they are not good news. Tech companies, in particular, have lost speed, with Tencent and Alibaba now down 24 per cent and 33 per cent since the beginning of January.

Companies in the hardest-hit sector  education and tutoring  have fallen 90 per cent, including New York-listed TAL Education.

Tech unicorns Alibaba and Tencent  both popular choices for UK fund managers  fell 6 per cent and 12 per cent last week, before recovering slightly

UK investors holding China-focused funds, Asia (excluding Japan) or emerging markets may have felt the impact of the sell-off.

In three months, Fidelity's China Special Situations fund is down 16 per cent, while iShares Core Emerging Markets ETF is down 4 per cent.

And what of Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, which has long advocated China's tech sector?

Despite large holdings in Tencent and Alibaba, the trust has weathered the storm thanks to stronger performance elsewhere, including vaccine-maker Moderna (up 248 pc this year).

The trust is up 1.5 per cent on last month, though its price is still down (by 4 per cent) on its February high.

But the trust, like others, is still exposed to future uncertainty in China, so its price may drop if Beijing's clampdown continues.

The August sell-off has confirmed what many investors think about China: that it's a market influenced more by political decisions than by market economics.

For investors holding China funds, it could be a long wait to recovery. When the funds fell about 25 per cent in 2018, it took a year for them to make up their losses. Of course, that isn't guaranteed.

Experts, though, agree that investors should have some exposure to China, even if just to diversify their portfolio.

'We think a great starting point is to invest in countries relative to the weighting given to their stock market,' says Vanguard's James Norton.

'This means having some exposure to emerging markets, of which China is an important part.

'We know, over the long term, emerging markets can offer higher returns, but this comes with additional risk around governance.'

Investors looking for Chinese exposure won't find this hard when it comes to UK-based funds.

Baillie Gifford's China fund invests in retail and tech platforms, plus big alcohol firm Kweichow Moutai.

A 10,000 investment five years ago now is worth 21,600.

Of course, China remains a specialist, complicated market, so it should form only a small part of a larger, diversified portfolio.

Investors may want to reduce the risk further by getting exposure to Chinese shares through Asia or emerging market funds. These also invest in countries such as India, Taiwan and Korea.

JP Morgan's Emerging Market Investment Trust backs Tencent, plus Indian giants Tata and Infosys, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

In five years, it has turned a 10,000 investment into 18,300 and hasn't taken a big hit from the China sell-off.

moneymail@dailymail.co.uk
South Korean giant Samsung plans to plough 150billion into cutting-edge technologies over the next three years.

The electronics company said it would focus investment on artificial intelligence, advanced microchips, robotics and biopharmaceuticals.

It intends to hire 40,000 people globally and wants to strengthen its standing in certain industries through mergers and acquisitions.

Investment drive: South Korean electronics giant Samsung said it will plough 150bn into cutting-edge technologies over the next three years

The spree by South Korea's largest conglomerate was revealed days after de facto boss Jay Lee was released from jail on parole.

Lee, known as 'the crown prince of Samsung', has been in charge of the group since his father had a heart attack in 2014.

His family controls Samsung Electronics through shareholdings in Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung C&T Corp, both of which have holdings in the firm.

But the 53-year-old has been in and out of jail since 2017 amid allegations of bribery and corruption, which he denies.

Bribery rap: Samsung's de facto boss Jay Lee (pictured) has been released from jail on parole

He was jailed for five years for bribing government officials with horses and cash, to win support for a merger of two subsidiaries that would strengthen his grip over the group  a scandal that brought down then South Korean president Park Geun-hye.

Lee's sentence was reduced and suspended in 2018.

However a retrial was ordered the next year and Lee was jailed again in January 2021 until his parole due to his 'contribution to the national economy'.

As the heir apparent at Samsung, he is seen as the only person with enough heft to push through risky investment decisions that could decide the company's future but he is banned from employment due to embezzlement charges he faces.

That has not stopped Lee in the past two years though  he has effectively run the conglomerate without even holding a board seat.

Samsung did not spell out where its investments would fall but the proposals expand on plans first laid out in 2018.

It is aiming, in part, to maintain dominance in areas it leads in, including memory chips. 'The chip industry is the safety plate of the Korean economy,' Samsung said.

'Our aggressive investment is a survival strategy in a sense that once we lose our competitiveness, it is almost impossible to make a comeback.'

Chip rivals including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Intel are making large investments amid a global shortage and intensifying competition.

South Korea tycoons have a history of becoming embroiled in corruption or sleaze, but many have escaped severe punishment with reduced or suspended sentences.
Shares in Marks & Spencer rallied for a third day after two brokerages heaped praise on the retailer.

Credit Suisse and Berenberg increased their target prices  the amount they think the company's shares are worth  after M&S took the market by surprise with a profit upgrade on Friday.

M&S signalled that revamps of its food and clothing divisions and changes to working practices were paying off.

On the rise: Marks & Spencer signalled that revamps of its food and clothing divisions and changes to working practices were paying off

It was its first upgrade this century and follows years of struggles and constant restructuring that saw it booted out of the FTSE 100 in 2019. Credit Suisse brokers raised the target price from 185p to 215p.

Analysts there believe it will be a big beneficiary of the post-Covid reopening, in addition to its now-thriving online business.

Brokers at Germany's Berenberg highlighted M&S's improved online trading, after it teamed up with Ocado for home deliveries.

Stock Watch - Mediazest Investors piled into touchscreen maker Mediazest after it said business was thriving. The AIM-listed firm makes interactive screens and moving wall displays typically used in shops. Clients include Lululemon, Hyundai and Samsung. Mediazest stopped short of upgrading its earnings forecasts, but said a combination of new work and several contracts being renewed meant there had been a notable improvement in its performance during the second half. It added that the outlook beyond September is encouraging. Shares rose 12.5 per cent, or 0.01p, to 0.07p.

They took a slightly more conservative approach, raising its targets from 195p to 200p. They too have a 'buy' rating on the company.

After shooting to the top of the FTSE 250 leaderboard early in the day M&S later pared back gains.

It still finished among the biggest risers, climbing 4.2 per cent, or 6.8p, to 170.7p, while Ocado rose 1.7 per cent, or 33.5p, to 1992p.

After rocketing on Monday on the back of reports it could be a private equity takeover target, Sainsbury's lost steam yesterday, falling 4.9 per cent, or 16.5p, to 323.5p.

It was a good day across the board for reopening travel and leisure stocks, which took a knock recently when fears about the spread of the Delta variant were taking hold.

On the FTSE 100, Premier Inn-owner Whitbread gained 4.5 per cent, or 138p, to 3183p and British Airways-owner IAG rose 2.7 per cent, or 4.28p, to 164.74p.

Meanwhile, on the mid-cap index cruise operator Carnival added 5.2 per cent, or 76.6p, to 1554.4p, Easyjet jumped 5.3 per cent, or 42.6p, to 843.4p and train station cafe owner SSP rose 4.1 per cent, or 10.8p, to 276.8p.

It was a good day for the two main indexes too. The FTSE 250 closed 0.61 per cent higher, up 145.52 points, at a record 23,886.01.

And the FTSE 100 rose 0.24 per cent, or 16.76 points, to 7125.78 amid gains among the index's heavyweight miners, which often push the index higher.

Rising commodity prices were behind the miners' advances, which also saw oil prices jump for a second day.

Brent crude was back at the $70 a barrel mark, which sent BP 1.3 per cent higher, up 3.85p, to 298.85p, while Royal Dutch Shell rose by 0.9 per cent, or 120p, to 1425.8p.

This no doubt gave energy industry services group Hunting a boost but it was also on the up after it bought a stake in a 3D-printing company based in Texas for 3.6million.

Bosses said the investment in Cumberland Additive was spurred by a growing interest in components made by 3D printing from customers in sectors including oil, space, aerospace and defence. It rose 2.2 per cent, or 4.4p, to 202p.

Defence contractor Babcock International rose 3.2 per cent, or 11.6p, to 371.6p after it teamed up with online security-focused tech company Arqit.

Over on AIM, Abingdon Health had a topsy-turvy day after the launch of an at-home Covid antibody test. It is manufacturing the biosure test, which requires only a small finger prick of blood and provides a result in 20 minutes.

Abingdon soared dramatically to over 80p, before plummeting back to its starting point  60p.

And My Health Checked, which sells at-home Covid tests, rose 10.5 per cent, or 0.3p, to 3.15p after the Government cracked down on companies overcharging for their services.

The Department of Health has said 82 providers  around 18 per cent of testing groups  have been displaying lower prices on the Government's website than customers are charged.
Amazon is offering to pay up to 1,000 joining bonuses for new warehouse workers in the UK as it looks to meet a boom in demand and battle a worsening shortage of staff.

The online giant is advertising for 'urgently needed' warehouse pickers and packers across the country, offering hourly rates of up to 11.10 an hour for daytime shifts, rising to 22.20 an hour for overtime.

The roles up for grabs at Amazon span warehouses nationwide, including Darlington, Dartford, Swansea, Redditch, Coventry and Redruth as well many London locations, including Croydon, Enfield and Luton.

In demand: Amazon is advertising for 'urgently needed' warehouse pickers and packers

Job ads on the Indeed website reveal that workers who are taken between now and September 18 are eligible for the bonus.

Full-time and temp contracts are being advertised on the site, with 'immediate starts' and no prior experience required.

It comes as UK firms are struggling to fill roles across a number of industries as a result of gaps left by EU workers who have returned home because of Brexit and the pandemic, as well as people having to self-isolate because of Covid.

Some workers also still remain on the furlough scheme, which is due to end in September, meaning they will also be unlikely to look for work for another month.

There are crippling shortages of lorry drivers, while hospitality firms have also struggled to fill roles since reopening after lockdown.

The huge shortage of delivery drivers has disrupted supplies to supermarkets and hospitality.

That has prompted supermarkets such as Tesco and Asda to also recently offer lorry drivers 1,000 'golden hello' bonuses for workers who join the company before the end of September.

Joining bonus: This ad from Indeed's website is for jobs at Amazon's depot in Redditch

McDonalds became the latest restaurant chain in the UK to be hit by supply shortages yesterday with no milkshakes or bottled drinks available in any of its outlets.

Today, the British Retail Consortium warned the industry faced a shortfall of 90,000 lorry drivers and called for the Government to act to help solve the shortage of drivers.

Official data last month showed there were 953,000 vacancies in the three months to the end of June - with vacancies passing one million for the first time ever in July.
A fixed-rate bond frenzy among banks vying for our money has pushed up rates to as high as 1.35 per cent for one year.

This is more than double what was on offer in April, when rates were at their lowest, and twice the amount of interest paid by the best easy-access accounts. Experts say savers should consider locking in to avoid missing out.

There have been 400 rate increases since the start of last month as banks compete to top the best-buy tables, according to research by website Savings Champion.

Top deals: Fixed-rate bonds have crept up as high as 1.35 per cent for one year - more than double what was on offer in April

Last week the pace quickened as rates burst through the 1.3 per cent barrier for those tying up their money for 12 months.

Meanwhile, the number of one-year bonds on offer has soared by a fifth to 163, up from 134 earlier this year.

Rachel Springall, Moneyfacts finance expert, says: 'Banks have been leapfrogging each other to offer top one-year bonds. Rates could rise further but savers run the risk of missing out if they wait and see.'

Savers had turned their backs on fixed-rate bonds after rates tumbled.

About 7.9billion has come out of the accounts so far this year, while 189billion went into easy-access accounts.

A year ago, the best one-year bond with Paragon Bank paid 1.2 per cent. But by April, the best deal paid just half this at 0.6 per cent.

Yet since the start of the summer holidays, rates have been on the rise again.

Last week Tandem Bank launched a one-year bond at 1.31 per cent but it didn't hold the best buy spot for long. Investec raised its rate to 1.33 per cent, its second rise this month.

Allica Bank trumped that hours later with 1.35 per cent. Tandem Bank quickly followed by raising its rate to 1.35 per cent. Yesterday, Allica upped its rate again to 1.38 per cent while the Tandem rate rose again to 1.37 per cent.

Some banks, including OakNorth, Allica, Tandem and Investec, have raised their rates twice or more since the start of this month, when rates stood at 1 per cent at best for one year.

Last week, United Trust Bank upped its rates twice in 24 hours to pay 1.25 per cent for a year and 1.3 per cent for 15 months.

The best two-year rate emerged yesterday at 1.66 per cent from Allica Bank, topping the 1.57 per cent from Tandem.

But many savers will be wondering if they should hold off locking up their cash in case rates rise further.

James Blower, founder of consultancy Savings Guru, says: 'There is competition for our cash from banks.

'They want to encourage savers away from easy-access accounts, so they have to pay for it. It's hard to predict whether they will go any higher. But I would be surprised if they went as high as 1.5 per cent for one year.'

Kevin Mountford, co-founder of savings platform Raisin UK, says: 'Banks need to raise money and rates are changing daily.

'Grab these rates while you can.'

Whatever savers do, they should ditch the big banks, which pay just 0.15 per cent at best on their one-year bonds.

They do not have to compete as hard for cash, as savers tend to use their current account provider as a home for their savings. Their rates for easy-access accounts are as low as 0.01 per cent.

Savers have the same level of protection with smaller banks as with the major players. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme covers sums up to 85,000 per person if the bank runs into trouble.

sy.morris@dailymail.co.uk
Kathy Hochul became the first female governor of New York at the stroke of midnight Tuesday, taking control of a state government desperate to get back to business after months of distractions over sexual harassment allegations against Andrew Cuomo.

The Democrat from western New York was sworn in as governor in a brief, private ceremony in the Red Room of New York State Capitol overseen by the states chief judge, Janet DiFiore.

Hochul's ascent to the top job was a history-making moment in a capital where women have only recently begun chipping away at a notoriously male-dominated political culture.

She joined Kate Brown of Oregon, Kay Ivey of Alabama, Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Laura Kelly of Kansas, Janet Mills of Maine, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Michel Lujan of New Mexico and Kristi Noem of South Dakota in the short list of nine serving female governors in the US.

Those nine now represent highest number of female governors the country has had, tying with the record set in 2004 and matched in 2007 and 2019, but still well shy of gender proportionality.

New York Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, left, swears in Kathy Hochul, right, as the first woman to be New York's governor while her husband Bill Hochul holds a bible during a swearing-in ceremony in the Red Room at the state Capitol

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Husband William J. Hochul Jr., leave their hotel to go get sworn in as the new First Family of New York. Hochul wore a blue dress and navy high heals while William wore a black suit

The couple was escorted by a three suv security team from the hotel to the capital where she was sworn in just before midnight

Cuomo left office at 11:59pm, two weeks after he announced he would resign rather than face a likely impeachment battle. He submitted his resignation letter late Monday to the leaders of the state Assembly and Senate.

On his final day in office, Cuomo released a pre-recorded farewell address in which he defended his record over a decade as New Yorks governor and portrayed himself as the victim of a 'media frenzy.'

Hochul was scheduled to have a ceremonial swearing-in event Tuesday morning at the Capitol, with more pomp than the brief, legally required event during the night.

Hochul already has announced she will seek a full four-year term in 2022.

She planned to meet with legislative leaders later in the morning and make a public address at 3 p.m.

Hochul will inherit immense challenges as she takes over an administration facing criticism for inaction in Cuomos final months.

COVID-19 has made a comeback, with new cases up nearly 1,370% since last June. Hospitalizations are climbing even as schools prepare to go back into session.

Big decisions lay ahead on whether to mandate masks or vaccines for certain groups, or whether to reinstate social distancing restrictions if the states latest wave of infections worsens.

Hochul has said she favors making masks mandatory for schoolchildren, a contrast with Cuomo, who said he lacked that authority.

The economy remains unsettled, with jobs lost during the pandemic coming back, but unemployment remaining double what it was two years ago.

New York has also struggled to get federal relief money into the hands of tenants behind on their rent because of the pandemic, releasing just six per cent of the budgeted $2billion so far.

Thousands of households face the possibility of losing their homes if the state allows eviction protections to expire.

Hochul faces questions about whether shell change the culture of governance in New York, following a Cuomo administration that favored force over charm.

Hochul will inherit immense challenges as she takes over an administration facing criticism for inaction in Cuomos final months

She said she didnt work closely with Cuomo and wasnt aware of the harassment allegations before they became public, and vowed no one will ever call her workplace 'toxic'

Hochul has reputation as a 'moderate' democrat and once served a conservative district in Western New York

For the first time, a majority of the most powerful figures in New York state government will be women, including state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Attorney General Letitia James and the chief judge, DiFiore. The state Assembly is led by a man, Speaker Carl Heastie.

Women hold 18 per cent of governors' offices in the US- significantly less than this year's new records of 27percent of U.S. congressional seats and 31% of state legislative seats.

Cuomos resignation comes after an independent investigation overseen by state Attorney General Letitia James concluded there was credible evidence hed sexually harassed at least 11 women.

In his farewell remarks, Cuomo struck a defiant tone, saying the attorney general's report that triggered his resignation was designed to be 'a political firecracker on an explosive topic, and it did work.'

'There was a political and media stampede,' he said.

Cuomo also touted himself as a bulwark against his partys left wing, which he said wants to defund the police and demonize businesses, and boasted of making government effective in his years in office.

He cited his work battling the COVID-19 pandemic, legalizing same-sex marriage and hiking the minimum wage to $15.

'I tried my best to deliver for you,' Cuomo said.

Some critics jumped on Cuomos remarks as self-serving.

Assembly member Yuh-Line Niou, a fellow Democrat, tweeted he had a hundred million opportunities to improve as a leader and 'Chose himself every time. Goodbye, Governor Cuomo.'

Cuomos top aide, Melissa DeRosa, released a statement saying the governor was exploring his options for his post-gubernatorial life but had 'no interest in running for office again.'

Cuomos resignation wont end his legal problems.

An aide who said Cuomo groped her breast has filed a complaint with the Albany County Sheriffs Office.

Separately, Cuomo was facing a legislative investigation into whether he misled the public about COVD-19 deaths in nursing homes to protect his reputation as a pandemic leader and improperly got help from state employees in writing a book that may net him $5million.

Hochul already has announced she will seek a full four-year term in 2022

This image made from video provided by the New York Governor's Office shows New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo giving a farewell speech, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021 in New York

Former Gov Cuomo cited his work battling the COVID-19 pandemic, legalizing same-sex marriage and hiking the minimum wage to $15 in his farewell speech. 'I tried my best to deliver for you,' Cuomo said (FILE PICTURE)

Governor Kathy Hochul is sworn-in as New York State's 57th Governor by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore during a midnight ceremony at the New York State Capitol

The switch in leadership was happening in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Henri, which narrowly missed Long Island on Sunday but dumped rain over the Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley.

Hochul will need to quickly build her own team of advisers to steer the administration for at least the next 16 months.

She said she didnt work closely with Cuomo and wasnt aware of the harassment allegations before they became public, and vowed no one will ever call her 'toxic' in the workplace.

'I have a different approach to governing,'

'I get the job done because I dont have time for distractions, particularly coming into this position,' Hochul said Wednesday in Queens.

She announced the planned appointments Monday of two top aides- Karen Persichilli Keogh will become Secretary to the Governor and Elizabeth Fine will be Hochuls chief legal counselor.

She plans to keep on Cuomo-era employees for 45 days to allow her time to interview new hires, but said she will not keep anyone found to have behaved unethically.

Hochul is expected to pick a left-leaning New York City politician as her lieutenant governor, but she once represented a conservative Western New York district in Congress for a year and has a reputation as a moderate.

State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs praised Hochul as 'formidable.'

'Shes very experienced and I think shell be a refreshing and exciting new governor,' he said.
New witnesses claim corrupt LAPD cops were involved in the killing of rapper Biggie Smalls in a new documentary released Friday.

Last Man Standing, which premiered August 20, points the finger for the 1997 drive-by shooting at two LAPD officers allegedly acting on the orders of then-Death Row Records chief Suge Knight.

Witnesses came forward on camera to place the two cops, David Mack and Rafael Perez, at the scene of the crime and gave evidence that they were gang members moonlighting as bodyguards for Knight - contradicting previous statements from then-police chief Bernard Parks.

Among the revelations in the documentary are claims that an LAPD lawyer told a witness to 'keep your mouth shut' to avoid implicating more cops in an alleged cover-up of the rapper's murder.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV, documentary director Nick Broomfield claimed Suge ordered the hit on Biggie from prison in retaliation for the murder of his label's star rapper Tupac Shakur six months earlier.

Scroll down for video

New documentary, Last Man Standing, explores claims that two LAPD officers were responsible for the 1997 killing of rapper Biggie Smalls (left) - in retaliation for Tupac's murder months earlier

According to the film, Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight (pictured with Tupac in 1996) ordered the hit when he was in prison as revenge for Tupac being killed months earlier in September 1996

Witnesses told documentary director Nick Broomfield two LAPD officers David Mack (left) and Rafael Perez (right) were at the scene of the crime and gave evidence that they were gang members moonlighting as bodyguards for Knight

After decades investigating the two murders and reviewing both LAPD and FBI probes on the case, Broomfield believes the department concealed and withheld evidence to prevent the embarrassing truth emerging: that two corrupt, gang-affiliated officers orchestrated a high-profile murder on their city streets.

Emotional interviews and graphic pictures in the documentary also lay bare the descent of Death Row Records into a debauched hub for gang members, including unseen pictures of Tupac and Knight partying with naked women in the label's offices.

'Biggie and Tupac got caught up in a gang war that had nothing to do with either of them, but they got subsumed by it. They were sacrificial victims in this dispute that went on between the Crips and the Pirus on the West Coast and the East Coast,' Broomfield told DailyMailTV.

Director Nick Broomfield (pictured in the film) told DailyMailTV he believes Tupac and Biggie became victims of a gang war 'that had nothing to do with either of them'

'Their deaths were really a complete tragedy and still very haunting, because they've never been satisfactorily resolved as to who was responsible.

'Particularly in the case of Biggie Smalls, there are strong indications that LAPD police officers were involved in that hit.

'The killing was orchestrated and the hit was put out by Suge Knight. At the time he was in prison, but he placed the hit. He did that as a revenge killing for Tupac being killed.

'I think the connection between Suge Knight and the rogue police officers who were working off-duty for Death Row is undoubtedly completely established, despite the claims to the contrary by the LAPD who carried on their own separate investigation.'

The theory that LAPD officers were involved in Biggie's killing was first proposed by Russell Poole, a detective for the department assigned to the original murder investigation.

Poole, who was played by Johnny Depp in the 2021 movie City of Lies, was stymied and discredited by his superiors and eventually left the department in disgrace  but continued to pursue the case until his death in 2015.

Broomfield (pictured during a 2001 jailhouse interview with Knight) said the connection between Knight and the rogue police officers who were working off-duty for Death Row is 'undoubtedly completely established'

Knight is currently serving time in a California prison for a 2015 hit and run killing. He is eligible for parole in October 2037

Pictured: Suge and Tupac in an undated photo. Suge is accused of hiring a hitman who allegedly worked with Mack and Perez to execute Biggie

Poole's account is now supported by former FBI agent Phil Carson, who conducted his own investigation into the alleged LAPD cover-up around the killing for the bureau after seeing Broomfield's first documentary on the case, Biggie & Tupac, released in 2002.

Carson, Poole and Broomfield believed Knight hired a hitman called Amir Muhammad, who changed his name from Harry Billups when he joined the Nation of Islam, to execute Biggie.

Muhammad was allegedly assisted by David Mack and Rafael Perez.

Perez was already notorious for his involvement in the Rampart corruption scandal, selling drugs from police evidence lockers and framing suspects.

Knight's bodyguards and associates interviewed in the documentary claim they saw Mack and Perez regularly moonlighting at Death Row, dressed head to toe in red Blood gang colors, and even placed them at the Petersen Automotive Museum where Biggie was shot on March 9, 1997.

One Last Man Standing interviewee, Leia Steinberg, trained Olympic track and field athletes in the 1990s and had a close relationship with Mack, who was an Olympic runner before joining the force.

In the documentary, Steinberg told Broomfield she went on to become Tupac's manager, introduced Mack to Death Row rappers and said he was hired at the record label.

One startling allegation came from 30-year LAPD veteran Xavier Hermosillo, who presided over internal disciplinary hearings related to the murder investigation in his role as an LAPD Board of Rights judge.

Hermosillo told Broomfield that detectives had visited witnesses in prison and threatened them that if they gave evidence implicating Mack and Perez in Biggie's murder, friends of the two allegedly corrupt cops would kill them.

The film also unveils unseen pictures of Tupac and Knight partying with naked women in the label's offices

Photos show the late rapper surrounded by several scantily clad women at a party

In another photo, both Tupac and Suge are seen drinking and smoking with naked women

People close to Tupac described the descent of Death Row Records into a debauched hub for gang members

Photos show Tupac and Knight partying with naked women in a hot tub, egging on scantily clad girls performing sex acts on each other and even hosting sex parties

'We heard it for the first time when [witness] Kenny Boagne sort of blurted it out. I asked him a question and he started shaking a little bit,' said Hermosillo.

'Then the advocate for the department who's like the prosecutor, jumps up and gets in his face and says '"Keep your mouth shut, you were told not to talk about that."

'That was so unreal, I'd never seen that in all the years of being involved with the department.'

The LAPD was later fined $1.1million by a superior court judge for concealing Boagne's testimony from Wallace's family in a $500million civil lawsuit brought by Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace, against the department.

In an interview included in Last Man Standing, FBI agent Carson revealed he also was stonewalled by the police department and prevented from testifying in the Wallace lawsuit.

Dropping another bombshell, Hermosillo claimed he saw a photo of Mack and Perez in Blood gang colors posing with then-police chief Bernard Parks's daughter  and added that the photo mysteriously disappeared from police files.

'It's just an example of how far the LAPD have gone to salvage their reputation rather than dealing with what happened and seeing justice done,' Broomfield told DailyMailTV.

Detective Russell Poole (pictured) the original detective in the case, Poole, was the first to present theories about the LAPD cops' involvement. He was later stymied and discredited by his superiors and eventually left the department in disgrace  but continued to pursue the case until his death in 2015

Former FBI agent Phil Carson conducted his own investigation into the alleged LAPD cover-up after seeing Broomfield's first documentary on the case, Biggie & Tupac, released in 2002

'[Perez and Mack] were both members of the Mob Piru gang, which operated in the area in which Suge Knight had operated and grown up.

'Their first loyalty in many ways was to the gang, rather than the LAPD.

'After the LA riots they opened the ranks up of the LAPD and there was a lot of new recruitment.

'There was not the normal vetting checks. A lot of people got in who should not have been police officers.

In the documentary, Leila Steinberg (pictured) revealed she introduced Mack to Death Row rappers and said he was hired at the record label

'There was very widespread corruption, not just confined to Death Row Records. The LAPD have done everything possible to protect their reputation.

'I think the involvement of the LAPD officers needs to be seen within that context.'

As well as delving into the murder probes, Broomfield sought to paint a picture of the fall of both superstar rappers Tupac and Biggie into gang warfare.

'Biggie and Tupac are arguably two of the most accomplished hip-hop artists who wrote incredibly profound lyrics about their lives, and both of whom in a sense paid for their art by being killed,' he said.

Yaasmyn Fula, Tupac's 'second mother' told the documentary that she tried to stop her surrogate son's descent into debauchery.

'Things were totally out of control. It was very sad. I always had that dark sense and I always seemed to be the one to kill the joy,' she said.

Voletta Wallace, the mother of Biggie Smalls (real name Christopher Wallace) launched a $500million civil lawsuit after her son's death

'Everybody wanted to be happy and high and drinking and I felt like they smoked too much weed. The whole atmosphere was one of total disconnect to reality.'

Photos obtained by Broomfield show Tupac and Knight partying with naked women in a hot tub, egging on scantily clad girls performing sex acts on each other and even hosting sex parties in the Death Row offices.

'They have a get rich or die ethos on the West Coast. Doesn't matter what you're doing as long as you're making money,' Fula said.

Knight is currently serving time in a California prison for a 2015 hit and run killing. He is eligible for parole in October 2037.

The theater schedule and streaming options for Last Man Standing can be found at Dogwoof.com/lastmanstanding.
A 97 year-old World War II veteran was reunited with the three children he found hiding in a basket in an Italian village as the Nazi retreated in 1944 thanks to his daughter's social media sleuthing.

For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a black-and-white photo of himself as a 20-year-old American soldier with a broad smile sitting behind three impeccably dressed Italian children.

On Monday, the 97-year-old met the three siblings - now octogenarians themselves - in person for the first time since the war.

Adler held out his hand to grasp those of Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana Naldi for the joyful reunion at Bologna's airport after a 20-hour journey from his home in Boca Raton, Florida.

Martin Adler (rear) sits behind Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana Naldi in Monterenzio, Italy in 1944

Adler (second from left) reunited with the three siblings at the airport in Bologna on Monday

Then, just as he did as a 20-year-old soldier in their village of Monterenzio, about 19 miles south of Bologna, he handed out bars of American chocolate.

'Look at my smile,' Adler said of the long-awaited in-person reunion, made possible by the reach of social media.

It was a happy ending to a story that could've easily been a tragedy.

The very first time the soldier and the children saw each other, in 1944, the three faces peeked out of a huge wicker basket where their mother had hidden them as soldiers approached.

Adler thought the house was empty, so he trained his machine gun on the basket when he heard a sound, thinking a German soldier was hiding inside.

Adler (center) found the three siblings hiding in a wicker basket as the Nazi retreated from Italy

He said the 'real hero' is the Naldis' mom, who stood in front of his gun after he aimed it at them

'She put her stomach right against my gun, yelling, "Bambinis! Bambinis! Bambinis!" pounding my chest,' Adler recalled

On Monday, Adler traveled to Monterenzio, where he took the 1944 photo with the Naldis, and touched a rock where he sat to pose with the children

'The mother, Mamma, came out and stood right in front of my gun to stop me (from) shooting,' Adler recalled.

'She put her stomach right against my gun, yelling, "Bambinis! Bambinis! Bambinis!" pounding my chest,' Adler recalled.

'That was a real hero, the mother, not me. The mother was a real hero. Can you imagine you standing yourself in front of a gun and screaming, "Children! No!"' he said.

Adler still trembles when he remembers that he was only seconds away from opening fire on the basket. And after all these decades, he still suffers nightmares from the war, said his daughter, Rachelle Donley.

The children, aged 3 to 6 when they met, were a happy memory. His company stayed on in the village for a while and he would come by and play with them.

In April 1945, Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini was captured by the Italian resistance and executed. German forces in Italy finally surrendered on May 2, 1945, two days after the collapse of Berlin, according to the History Channel.

Giuliana Naldi, the youngest, is the only one of the three who remembers Adler and the basket. She recalls climbing out and seeing Adler and another US soldier, who has since died.

'They were laughing,' Naldi, now 80, remembers. 'They were happy they didn't shoot.'

She, on the other hand, didn't quite understand the close call.

'We weren't afraid for anything,' she said.

She also remembers the soldier's chocolate, which came in a blue-and-white wrapper.

'We ate so much of that chocolate,' she laughed.

Donley, Adler's daughter, decided during the COVID-19 lockdown to use social media to try to track down the children in the old black-and-white photo, starting with veterans' groups in North America.

Adler still trembles when he remembers that he was only seconds away from opening fire on the basket. Above, he holds the hand of Giuliana Naldi, the only one who remembers him

Adler was reunited with the children, now in their 80s, thanks to his daughter's social media sleuthing during the COVID-19 pandemic

During his trip, Adler will travel to Florence, Naples and Rome - and he hopes to meet the pope

Eventually the photo was spotted by an Italian journalist who had written a book on World War II.

He was able to track down Adler's regiment - the 339th Infantry, according to the New York Times - and where it had been stationed from a small detail in another photograph.

The smiling photo was then published in a local newspaper, leading to the discovery of the identities of the three children, who by then were grandparents themselves.

They shared a video reunion in December, and waited until the easing of pandemic travel rules made the trans-Atlantic trip possible.

'I am so happy and so proud of him. Because things could have been so different in just a second. Because he hesitated, there have been generations of people,' Donley said.

The serendipity isn't lost on Giuliana Naldi's 30-year-old granddaughter, Roberta Fontana, one of six children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who descended from the three children hidden in the wicker basket.

'Knowing that Martin could have shot and that none of my family would exist is something very big,' Fontana said. 'It is very emotional.'

During his stay in Italy, Adler will spend some time in the village where he was stationed, before traveling on to Florence, Naples and Rome, where he hopes to meet Pope Francis.

'My dad really wants to meet the pope,' Donley said. 'He wants to share his message of peace and love. My dad is all about peace.'
The granddaughters of one of America's most notorious gangsters - Al Capone- are putting a treasure trove of the mobster's personal items, including his favorite .45 automatic pistol and a letter he wrote to his son Sonny from Alcatraz, on the auction block.

The prized pistol is expected to fetch the biggest haul, with a started price of $50,000, and his private correspondence is listed for $12,500.

In all, there will be 174 items on sale in the collection entitled 'A Century of Notoriety: The Estate of Al Capone' in Sacramento, California, on October 8.

The former possessions of feared mobster Al Capone go up for auction in Sacramento on Oct. 8

Capone's prized .45 automatic pistol will be sold at the auction, starting at $50,000

A letter written from Alcatraz to Capone's son Sonny will start at $12,500

The other items include vintage photos, the bed he shared with his wife Mae at their Florida mansion, his platinum Patek Philippe pocket watch and various other possessions.

'It gives us a glimpse into this American legends lifestyle, probably more than has ever been given before. And its hands-on. Its material culture at its finest,' consignment director Brian Witherell told KRON4.

Witherell will be heading the event and believes it will be one of the most important celebrity auctions ever held.

The items were previously owned by granddaughters Diane and Barbara Capone.

Bidding for platinum Patek Phillippe watch owned by Capone will begin at $12,500

A series of vintage photos of Capone and his family that will be sold at the Sacramento auction

Capone's 21 single cut diamond tie will begin selling at $1,250

Dirigold Sweden flatware used by Capone starts at $500

Sonny's daughter Diane Capone, 77, said that they planned on selling the estate because the aging sisters were worried they would not be able to save the collection in case of a future California wildfire.

She told The San Francisco Chronicle that she hoped that the possessions would reveal the softer side of the infamous gangster.

'It was very much like a double life. I really dont know anything about his public life other than what Ive read, she said.

'Its a riddle, a conundrum. Its hard to believe that some of things weve been told about his public life could have been done by the same person we knew as this loving, gentle grandfather figure.'

'Its a riddle Ill have to figure out when I go to heaven  I hope.'

Diane Capone, the mobster's granddaughter, owned the haul with her sister Barbara

Capone described her grandfather as a family man and hopes the items will reveal a softer side. This is the last photo taken of Al Capone with his wife Mae and grandchildren Diane, Barbara and Ronnie is being sold starting at $1,250

Vintage photo of Al Capone and Sonny is on the block for $5,000

She further described her grandfather as a family man who cared for Diane as well as his son and other grandchildren.

Diane Capone wrote the 2019 book Al Capone: Stories My Grandmother Told Me and will be holding a preview event at The Sutter House in Sacramento on October 7.

Al Capone was one of the most feared figures in organized crime during the Prohibition Era, when the sale or production of alcohol was banned in the United States.

Born in 1899 to Italian immigrants, the Brooklyn-born Capone became influenced by a life of crime by friend Johnny Torrio.

He earned the nickname 'Scarface' in 1917 after getting into an altercation with a man at a bar that left three scars in his face.

He married wife Mae Coughlin in 1918 and his son Sonny was born on December 4 of that year.

He was the boss of the Chicago Outfit, a 1920s gang that beat out rivals in bootlegging and racketeering with increasingly brutal methods.

These culminated in the 1929 St Valentine's Day Massacre, when seven members of a rival gang were executed, dubbing him 'Public Enemy Number One'.

He was indicted in 1931 on 22 counts of tax evasion and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

He ultimately ended up in Alcatraz, a San Francisco island fortress prison in 1934.

He died on January 25, 1947 at the age of 48 after developing dementia as a result of a syphillis contraction.

Capone was considered one of the most notorious gangsters of the Prohibition era and was the mob boss of the Chicago Outfit. This photo of Capone and his associates in Hot Springs, Arkansas, will begin at $1,250
Elon Musk has admitted that his electric-car company Tesla's new self-driving software is 'not great' but the firm is trying to fix it.

The billionaire entrepreneur, 50, tweeted on Monday that the company was working on improving the much-awaited update to its self-driving software, Full Self-Driving (FSD), 'as fast as possible'.

FSD is an upgrade package to Autopilot, the company's suite of of advanced driver-assistance system features.

Musk's tweet follows scrutiny from US safety regulators, who opened an investigation into Tesla's driver assistant system earlier this month following a string of crashes in the past few years.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is pictured at a press event at the Tesla Gigafactory site

Tesla Inc's Chief Executive said that the Full Self-Driving Beta version 9.2 is 'actually not great' in a tweet, after the system has come under scrutiny

Musk wrote: 'FSD Beta 9.2 is actually not great imo [in my opinion], but Autopilot/AI team is rallying to improve as fast as possible.

'Were trying to have a single stack for both highway & city streets, but it requires massive NN [neural network] retraining.'

The company sells a FSD capability package for $10,000 or $199 per month in the US.

The feature is sold with the promise of enabling a Tesla vehicle to automatically change lanes, navigate on the highway and move into a parking spot without anyone behind the wheel

How does Tesla's Autopilot work? Autopilot uses cameras, ultrasonic sensors and radar to see and sense the environment around the car. The sensor and camera suite provides drivers with an awareness of their surroundings that a driver alone would not otherwise have. A powerful onboard computer processes these inputs in a matter of milliseconds to help what the company say makes driving 'safer and less stressful.' Autopilot is a hands-on driver assistance system that is intended to be used only with a fully attentive driver. It does not turn a Tesla into a self-driving car nor does it make a car autonomous. Before enabling Autopilot, driver must agree to 'keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times' and to always 'maintain control and responsibility for your car.' Once engaged, if insufficient torque is applied, Autopilot will also deliver an escalating series of visual and audio warnings, reminding drivers to place their hands on the wheel. If drivers repeatedly ignore the warnings, they are locked out from using Autopilot during that trip. Any of Autopilot's features can be overridden at any time by steering or applying the brakes. The Autopilot does not function well in poor visibility. Advertisement

This driver assistance system does not make Tesla electric vehicles safe for use without an attentive driver behind the wheel, according to CNBC.

FSD Beta, which features new or newly revised functionality, is only available to Tesla employees and some drivers who previously purchased FSD.

The feature is sold with the promise of enabling a Tesla vehicle to automatically change lanes, navigate on the highway and move into a parking spot without anyone behind the wheel.

Tesla says later this year FSD will also include the ability to automatically steer on city streets, which is included with FSD Beta.

Musk has previously outlined the improvements that come with 9.2, which include the ability to reason about the causes for a lead vehicle being slow if it's holding up traffic.

Tesla and other manufacturers warn that drivers using the systems must be ready to intervene at all times, however.

Scrutiny from US safety regulators, who opened an investigation into its driver assistant system, follows 11 accidents feared to have been caused because the system has trouble spotting parked emergency vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the investigation covers 765,000 vehicles, nearly everything Tesla has sold domestically since 2014.

Of the 11 crashes that have been identified over the past three years, 17 people were injured and one was killed.

That deadly accident happened in Interstate 70 in Cloverdale, Indiana, in December 2019 and saw passenger Jenna Monet, 23, killed after the Tesla being driven by her husband Derrick slammed into the back of a parked fire engine.

Two US senators also called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Tesla, saying it misled consumers and endangered the public by marketing its driving automation systems as fully self-driving.

The 11 crashes have occurred when Teslas on Autopilot or Traffic Aware Cruise Control hit vehicles at scenes where first responders have used flashing lights, flares, an illuminated arrow board or cones warning of hazards.

Musk said the company was working on improving the much-awaited update to its self-driving software 'as fast as possible'

Shares of Tesla fell more nearly 4.5 percent to $685.20 in trading earlier this month on back of the news.

But the company's billionaire owner Elon Musk has claimed in recent months the function was safer than ever.

In April, he tweeted: 'Tesla with autopilot engaged now approaching ten times lower chance of accident than average vehicle.'

The crashes into emergency vehicles cited by NHTSA began on January 22, 2018 in Culver City, California, near Los Angeles.

That incident saw Tesla using Autopilot struck a parked firetruck that was parked partially in the travel lanes with its lights flashing. Crews were handling another crash at the time.

Since then, NHTSA said there were crashes in Laguna Beach, California; Norwalk, Connecticut; Cloverdale, Indiana; West Bridgewater, Massachusetts; Cochise County, Arizona; Charlotte, North Carolina, Montgomery County, Texas; Lansing, Michigan; and Miami, Florida.
In the multiple days of dramatic preliminary hearings, authorities have presented a mountain of evidence against Barry Morphew, evidence the believe is convincing enough to prove he murdered his missing wife Suzanne.

Scratches on his hands and arms, a bullet found in the couple's home and a tranquilizer dart located in the dryer are among the most damning pieces of evidence against the Colorado husband and father-of-two.

Barry, 53, stands accused of first-degree murder, evidence tampering and other charges in connection with the disappearance of his 49-year-old wife, whose body has never been found. According to Barry, Suzanne - who was having a two-year affair with married dad-of-six Jeff Libler - disappeared last May after going for a bike ride.

Barry's defense lawyer Dru Nielsen has questioned police's timeline of events leading up to the disappearance as he argues that the case should be thrown out before it goes to a full-scale murder trial.

But investigators have revealed holes in Barry's story that they say prove he murdered his wife.

Investigators presented stunning evidence during days of preliminary hearings that could be damning to Barry Morphew's defense in the disappearance of his wife Suzanne

Here are the 10 most damning pieces of evidence so far:

Scratches to Barry's hands and upper arms

Undersheriff Andy Rohrich told how Barry was interviewed and photographed on May 13 - three days after Suzanne vanished.

The photos show barely-healed cuts to both Barry's arms and what Rohrich described as 'fingernail marks' to his upper left arm.

Barry (seen in a mugshot) owns a .22 caliber pistol which he says he uses to shoot chipmunks

Tranquilizer dart found in the dryer

An empty tranquilizer dart was found in the dryer of the home, along with a pair of khaki shorts.

Barry was caught on security footage in khaki shorts on May 9.

He claimed he has the darts to tranquilize deer in order to cut off their horns. But Rohrich said no cut horns were found in the home.

Bullet by the bed

Rohrich testified that a .22 caliber round was found on the floor of Suzanne Morphew's bedroom next to her side of the bed.

Barry owns a .22 caliber pistol which he says he uses to shoot chipmunks.

Damaged door

Rohrich also spoke of cracks in the door of the master suite at the Morphew home where Suzanne and Barry slept.

He said he spoke to the former owners who said there was no damage to the door when he sold the Morphews the home.

Rohrich said based on his police experience, the door appeared to have been battered down.

Missing 15 minutes

On the morning of May 10, data from Barry's truck shows the door was opened seven times between 3.25am and 3.49am.

At 5am, the truck left the Morphew home and was picked up on camera in Poncha Springs at 5.14am as he drove to Broomfield for a job.

But Barry admitted in an interview that he first made a detour that took him close to the remote Garfield Mine after allegedly seeing a herd of elk.

Police believe he was doing something else.

On the morning of May 10, data from Barry's truck (pictured) shows the door was opened seven times between 3.25am and 3.49am

Barry Morphew (pictured in court in May) is being held in jail without bond. An undersheriff said he saw photos of barely-healed cuts to both Barry's arms and what was described as 'fingernail marks' to his upper left arm

Deer discrepancies

Barry learned his wife Suzanne had been having a two-year affair with one of her high school classmates, Jeff Libler (pictured), in the days before allegedly killing her

Barry has said he followed the elk because he was hoping to see where they stopped so he could collect fallen horns.

But police said deer don't shed their horns in May and that it would have been pitch black at 5am that day.

Police also disputed his story about using his tranquilizer to stun a deer in April to cut the horns off.

No cut horns were found in the Morphew home  and Rohrich pointed out that deer don't grow horns until much later in the year.

Deleted texts

Barry admitted to deleting texts on his phone between him and Suzanne on May 21  after the police investigation had begun.

Agent Johnny Grusing told court that he claimed to have done so to avoid hurting daughters Mallory and Macy.

One of the texts he deleted was unearthed in July 2020 and read 'I'm done'.

Police confronted him with the text and he claimed she wouldn't have left because she loved her family too much.

Debris in the fireplace

Police said they found the remnants of a piece of lacquered wood in the fireplace at the Morphew home - despite a stack of firewood nearby.

Also found in the fireplace were the remains of burned documents and books. Police had been told Suzanne always kept a bible and her journal by her bed.

They found the Bible but didn't find the journal.

Undersheriff Andy Rohrich spoke of cracks in the door of the master suite at the Morphew home where Suzanne and Barry slept. Rohrich said based on his police experience, the door appeared to have been battered down

The couple with their two daughters, Mallory and Macy, who have been supporting their father

Trash runs

Barry was repeatedly caught stopping as he made his way to Broomfield to dispose of trash, including at a McDonalds and at a dumpster outside a Men's Wearhouse where he purchased a new outfit.

He had claimed to be tidying his truck.

But when he arrived back at the Morphew home on May 10, police said his truck was still filled with clutter and bits of trash, and showed photos to prove it.

Stinking hotel room

Barry had a job in Broomfield, Colorado, on May 11 and was due to collect employee Morgan Gentile at 5.30pm on May 10.

But instead, he suddenly decided to go on May 10  arriving in Broomfield early that morning.

According to Gentile and co-worker Jeff Puckett, he left the room reeking of chlorine and littered with wet towels.
Confronting footage has captured the moment a Sydney cafe owner was locked out of his own business after he was unable to pay rent during the city's lockdown.

Chris Bull was last week given only 24 hours to pay $13,000 in owed rent for his Goodbye Horses cafe in Summer Hill in Sydney's inner-west.

Video taken by his staff the next day showed a locksmith changing the locks despite Mr Bull's plea for his landlord to wait until Covid-19 small business relief arrived from the NSW government.

'You are fully aware what you're doing is illegal?' one of his staff members can be heard saying.

Chris Bull was last week given only 24 hours to pay $13,000 in owed rent for his Goodbye Horses cafe in Summer Hill in Sydney's inner-west

'I'm acting under the instruction of a solicitor,' a man inside the doorway responded.

The business owner said he expected more 'wiggle room' from his landlord given the dire situation facing hospitality businesses across NSW.

'We have no idea why they would want to get rid of a business that would be guaranteed government assistance,' he told the Today show.

Bars and cafes have been open for takeaway service only since June 26 and the business has been doing only 40 per cent of its normal trade since that date.

He and his colleague got most of their belongings out of the property before the locks were change, but he said the equipment left behind will now be sold off by his creditors to pay back the rent.

'We thought that we would be protected by the moratorium on evictions,' Mr Bull said. 'But it doesn't seem to be anything that anybody can enforce.'

NSW tenancy law during the latest lockdown stipulates commercial landlords and tenants must first attempt to re-negotiate the rent and attempt mediation before an eviction can take place.

Video taken by his staff the next day showed a locksmith changing the locks despite Mr Bull's plea for his landlord to wait until Covid-19 small business relief arrived from the NSW government

The business owner has launched a GoFundMe page to help fund his legal battle to keep his cafe open and his staff employed.

'They've all come together, it's a pretty tight-knit team,' he said.

The page has so far raised $25,000 and Mr Bull plans to use the money to support his now-unemployed staff and to start a case with the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The business owner has launched a GoFundMe page to help fund his legal battle to keep his cafe open and his staff employed

'We have lost not only our income but a shop we called home for five years,' the fundraising page reads.

'Shame on the NSW government for not providing legislation that can be enforced on a timely basis.

'What good are grants if they arrive after our doors have closed?'
Radio personality Gus Worland has called on politicians to set a 'Freedom Day' for vaccinated Australians in an impassioned plea about the impact of lockdowns on suicide rates.

The Triple M host on Monday said putting a date in the diary would provide a light at the end of the tunnel for those suffering with their mental health.

Worland, who founded the mental health charity GOTCHA4LIFE, said Australians needed to know exactly when authorities expect to hit the 70 and 80 per cent Covid-19 vaccination coverage targets.

'We are losing way more people to suicide than we are to Covid and we need to start looking after people who are doing the right thing,' he said in a video shared to Instagram.

Pictured are residents exercising at Rushcutters Bay in Sydney's east early on Monday morning. Radio personality Gus Worland has called on politicians to set a 'Freedom Day' for vaccinated Australians to give hope to those suffering with their mental health during lockdowns

'We need to have a day in our diary we can work to so we can get back to some kind of normal.

'We need to start having some hope.'

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has hinted areas of Sydney under lockdown with high vaccination rates and low case numbers could have some restrictions lifted once there are six million jabs in arms across the state.

Worland called on politicians to focus on vaccination levels - rather than how many cases there are each day - to give hope to Australians struggling in lockdown.

'It's great to hear politicians talk about vaccinations rates - lets talk about that - not case numbers, but the day that we can open,' he said.

'What date will we be at 70 per cent and what will that mean to us.

'We're doing too much worrying at home. We lose seven blokes a day to suicide [in Australia], and three ladies.'

'Give us a date': Worland said Australians needed to know exactly when authorities expect to hit the 70 and 80 per cent Covid-19 vaccination coverage targets

According to Lifeline, nine Australians take their own lives every day, with suicide the leading cause of death in people aged 15 to 44.

There have been 74 deaths as a result of the latest Delta outbreak in Sydney, which started in late June, and a total of 984 deaths since the first Covid case in Australia in January 2020.

On Monday, there were three deaths from Covid-19 reported across NSW - well below the average suicide rate in Australia.

Worland has been a strong advocate for those suffering from mental health problems during the pandemic.

'Do you have any idea... how many people are taking their own lives? How many people who are depressed and anxious?' he told the Today show last week.

'Their numbers are bigger than the numbers that are dying through COVID.

Police at Sydney's 'Freedom Day' rally in the city on Saturday. Worland called on politicians to focus on vaccination levels - rather than how many cases there are each day

'At what stage are we going to turn that narrative around and really find out what the real numbers are, which is Australians dying in a lot of other ways because of the lockdowns?'

Mental health support services have meanwhile experienced a surge in calls for help during the Covid-19 pandemic as Australians struggle to cope with the crippling cycle of lockdowns.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said calls made to Lifeline and Beyond Blue have increased by 30 per cent since the pandemic first hit Australian shores in March 2020.

The pleas for help come despite an extra $74million in government funding being invested in Australia's mental health services in the past year.

The mulit-million dollar funding boost came in response to the World Health Organisation urging countries to increase investment in mental health services in a May 2020 report.

'The impact of the pandemic on people's mental health is already extremely concerning,' Director-General of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

'Social isolation, fear of contagion, and loss of family members is compounded by the distress caused by loss of income and often employment.'
Military officials have warned Joe Biden he must decide whether to keep US troops in Afghanistan by Tuesday - otherwise they will miss his August 31 deadline to leave.

CNN reported that the withdrawal decision must come within hours, to give them time to remove all 5,800 US service personnel currently on the ground in Kabul, as well as their equipment and weaponry.

Any decision is likely to be made at the president's daily security briefing, scheduled for 9am EST.

If Biden does decide on Tuesday that the August 31 withdrawal date is final, troops will spend just 'a few more days' evacuating Americans, as well as Afghans with special interest visas (SIVs).

Biden, pictured on Monday, will have to decide by Tuesday whether to withdraw from Kabul as planned by August 31 or keep troops there beyond the deadline

A military transport plane launches off while Afghans who cannot get into the airport to evacuate look on, while stranded outside, in Kabul on Monday

They will then begin to draw down troops and fly them out of the Taliban controlled country, with a military source telling CNN those departures could begin by the end of this week.

Biden will address the nation at noon on Tuesday, after a meeting with G7 leaders which is likely to see him come under fire from other leaders over the United States' sudden decision to withdraw from Afghanistan.

He is coming under pressure from US allies, and from some within the US, to extend the self-imposed deadline but is not going to make a decision until his 9am Tuesday security briefing, CNN reported.

On Monday, Biden spoke to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the crisis. A readout of the call said the leaders 'discussed the ongoing efforts by our diplomatic and military personnel to evacuate their citizens, local staff, and other vulnerable Afghans.'

It continued: 'They also discussed plans for the G7 virtual leaders' meeting tomorrow, underscoring the importance of close coordination with allies and partners in managing the current situation and forging a common approach to Afghanistan policy.'

Biden refused to be drawn on talk of extending the deadline Sunday, as the Taliban warned of 'consequences' if US forces remain in Afghanistan.

He told reporters: 'There's discussions going on in the military about extending. My hope is we will not have to extend, but they are going to be discussions.'

Biden said any decision on staying on into September depended on the number of Americans still to be evacuated. So far, the United States has evacuated 37,000 people.

The US is unable to say how many Americans and Afghans eligible for SIVs remain in Afghanistan, although Biden last week estimated that up to 15,000 Americans required evacuation, as well as 65,000 Afghans.

Rear Adm. Peter G. Vasely, a former member of the Navy SEALs who is now the top US military officer in Afghanistan, talks daily or near daily with his Taliban counterparts regarding security measures at the airport, Pentagon officials said on Monday.

A British soldier and a member of the US armed forces are seen working around the perimeter of Kabul airport on Sunday

Admiral Vasely and Taliban commanders have worked together since the fall of Kabul on August 15 to agree terms by which Americans and some Afghan allies could reach Kabul's airport.

Admiral Peter Vasely, a former Navy SEAL who is now the top US commander in Afghanistan, is in daily talks with the Taliban

Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the head of the military's Central Command, first spoke to senior Taliban commanders on August 15 when he was in Doha, Qatar, to help get the evacuation effort off the ground.

The White House on Monday repeatedly refused to address the August 31 deadline to get US troops out of Afghanistan, dodging questions on the subject and snapping at reporters who asked how the government planned to save the remaining Americans stuck in Kabul.

The Taliban's spokesman issued the sternest threat yet to Biden on Monday morning, saying there will be 'consequences' if US troops - who are holed up at the airport in Kabul evacuating tens of thousands of people and fending off an increasingly desperate crowd - don't leave in the next eight days.

Biden and his administration have no idea how many Americans remain trapped in Afghanistan, unable to get to the airport to get on an evacuation flight out.

Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit monitor the air traffic control center at the airport in Kabul on Sunday

A family walks towards a US Air Force plane on Sunday at Kabul airport for evacuation from Afghanistan

US soldiers supervise the boarding of passengers at Kabul's airport on Saturday

With no numbers on how many Americans remain in the country, much less where those Americans are, it's growing increasingly unlikely that they will be able to fulfill their promise of getting everyone out in eight days. The longer the US citizens remain behind enemy lines in Kabul, the more perilous their situation becomes.

But the president is refusing to address the increasingly dangerous situation and his team of advisors are not offering any solid information on how they're going to address it either.

Biden turned his back on reporters again on Monday after giving a speech on the FDA's approval of the Pfizer vaccine, walking away while the angry journalists shouted for answers on what he was doing to solve the escalating crisis.

He has only given a handful of remarks on the crisis, claiming he made the right decision to withdraw in every one, and insisting his administration has it under control while forgetting basic details of operations.

Shortly afterwards, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan swerved the issue again at a briefing and Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, snapped at Fox News reporter Peter Doocy for referring to Americans still in Kabul as 'stranded'.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan refused to say whether US troops would stay in Afghanistan after the Taliban's August 31 deadline, instead passing the issue off to President Biden who is refusing to take questions on the subject or address it

'I think it's irresponsible to say that Americans are stranded. They are not. We are committed to bringing Americans who want to come home, home,' she said.

No one in the administration could confirm how many Americans are still on the ground in Afghanistan and there are believed to be 20,000 SIV applicants waiting to get out.

Sullivan said it would be down to Biden whether troops stayed past the August 31 deadline and then refused to give information on what kind of talks US military bosses were having with Taliban chiefs to diffuse the situation. He repeated his previous warning that there was a growing threat from ISIS and Al Qaeda at the airport, but offered no solution.

Sullivan did admit that the reason they don't know how many Americans are still in Afghanistan is that the only way they keep track of them is by email and if a person leaves the country without 'checking out' officially with the embassy first, they don't know if they're still on the country or not.

'We ask them to register with the embassy...many have left without de-registering,' he said.

Despite not knowing how many there were still there or where they are, he then said: 'We believe we have the wherewithal to get Americans out.'

President Biden spoke briefly about COVID on Monday but refused to address the Afghanistan crisis or take reporters' questions. He walked away as journalists cried out for answers

As the White House refuses to answer questions, time is running out on the ground to get Americans in Kabul out and any vulnerable Afghan who wants to escape before the August 31 deadline. Above, US Marines at the airport on Sunday

There are thousands of people still at the airport waiting to be put on flights out to anywhere before the Taliban takes over for good. Many aren't being allowed on because they don't have the right paperwork

While US officials race to try to track down the remaining citizens, there is a crowd of 20,000 at the airport demanding to be put on flights out of the area.

Thirty-three C-17 jets are on the way to the airport that could carry 600 passengers each - 19,800 total - out of the dangerous city, but CNN cites an unnamed official who said the policy was changing to only allow US citizens, foreign citizens from other NATO countries, or Green Card holders through the gates.

No one from the White House, State Department or Pentagon has been able to give a number for how many American citizens remain in Afghanistan. It's unclear if or when the US will start flying Afghans out again.

Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen (pictured) has warned of 'consequences' if Western forces stay beyond the end of the month

'We've been able to evacuate several thousand Americans,' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Monday morning, without giving a number for how many remain stuck.

He added that Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans would still be processed to put vulnerable Afghans on flights.

'Afghans in need are still being processed and facilitated.

'The goal is to get as many people out as fast as possible.

'The focus is on doing this as best we can by the end of the month,' he said.

Biden had said he was confidant he would be able to rescue all remaining US citizens by August 31 and that he would do his best to get as many vulnerable Afghans out as possible, but there has been no promise the US will stay past the deadline to save Afghan refugees once all Americans are out.

Between Sunday morning and Monday morning, 10,400 people were removed from Kabul on 28 US flights - an average of 371 passengers per plane on flights that can hold 600.

This letter is a Taliban death warrant for the brother of an Afghan translator who helped the US in the war

Other NATO flights evacuated another 5,900 people.

On every US evacuation flight so far, the majority of the passengers have been Afghans. Some went to Qatar, others are in Germany and the first planes have now arrived at airbases in Texas, where refugees will be housed at Fort Bliss.

Despite the huge numbers of people leaving every day, the crowd size at the airport in Kabul is unrelenting and becoming more aggressive.

The hold-up is largely down to paperwork backlogs on the ground, with some people unable to board flights unless they are given visas. An unnamed source cited by CNN on Monday said it would take four days to make a dent in the numbers outside the airport walls.

The chaos was worsened over the weekend when the State Department started administering nameless, digital SIV visas to Afghan refugees on smartphones and computers.

The refugees screenshotted the documents and shared them with friends and family, which resulted in thousands turning up with approval to board flights.

'I don't think consular, or the administration frankly, realizes how badly they f*****d up by sending that stupid visa and letting everyone in for 24 hours straight.

'Some people are saying there's no way they'll get even those currently on airport out of here in four days,' the source said.

In the city, the Taliban - which had promised to be more moderate and modern - is already resorting to medieval violence.

Leaders have issued a death sentence for the brother of one Afghan translator who was able to get out.

Taliban fighters stand guard as Afghans gather outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport to flee the country, in Kabul on on August 21

A group of Taliban fighters recreated a fame U.S. WWII photo in a collection of propaganda footage they released this week. In their recreation (above), a group of soldiers is seen hoisting the Taliban flag while sporting U.S. weapons and gear

Taliban fighters in a vehicle patrol the streets of Kabul on August 23, 2021 as in the capital, the Taliban have enforced some sense of calm in a city long marred by violent crime, with their armed forces patrolling the streets and manning checkpoints

A family walks towards a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, August 22, 2021

There are now Taliban fighters stationed directly outside the airport (shown), working alongside NATO troops

It reads: 'You have been accused of helping the Americans. You are also accused of providing security to your brother, who has been an interpreter.'

This morning, the German military tweeted that one member of the Afghan security forces at the airport in Kabul had been killed and three others were wounded by 'unknown attackers'.

Speaking last night about the situation in Afghanistan, Biden turned on his heel and ignored a reporter who shouted 'Mr President what about ISIS and the threat Americans face now?' at the conclusion of the press conference about the crisis.

Moments before the reporter asked her question, the president said 'Thank you,' in an apparent signal that the press conference had ended.

But he has since taken heat from viewers and commentators who said the question was a sufficiently important one to merit an answer.

Biden's snub came just hours after his own national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC News that there is a 'genuine threat' ISIS could attack the evacuation effort at Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul.

Sullivan, who also raised the prospect of sending US troops back into Kabul, said: 'I know that the scenes around the airport are heartbreaking, large crowds of people wanting to leave.

'I know that there is complexity and there is turbulence on the ground and in Kabul, and it's very risky and dangerous because there's a genuine threat from ISIS. That is the reality of what we are up against, and I'm not going to sugarcoat that reality.'

The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world, as Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths. At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed on Sunday.

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military, saying there's no need for Afghans to fear them, even though their fighters shoot into the air and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport perimeter.

US and German forces joined in a gun battle this morning at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed, the German army said. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers help an Afghan climb up on the wall of a canal at Kabul Airport this morning

Kabul airport has seen chaotic scenes as tens of thousands of foreigners and Afghans seek to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban swept back to power more than a week ago. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers stand guard near a canal at Kabul airport as a crowd of Afghans wait nearby

The shooting near the military side of the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters to the north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this mont

The Taliban have pledged amnesty to those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government, but many Afghans still fear revenge attacks. There have been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies. It's unclear if Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters are taking matters into their own hands.

US soldiers engage in deadly dawn firefight at Kabul airport US and German forces joined in a gun battle this morning at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed, the German army said. The gunfire broke out near the airport's northern gate, where at least seven Afghans died a day earlier in a panicked stampede of thousands of people trying to flee the country. The circumstances of the shooting, which occurred around dawn, remained unclear. The U.S. military and NATO did not immediately acknowledge the shooting. There was no comment from the Taliban. The shooting near the military side of the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters to the north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month. The Taliban said they retook three districts that fell the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control. It follows an address last night by President Biden in which he revealed U.S. forces may stay beyond his evacuation deadline of August 31 during a speech last night as he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport. The President confirmed during the press conference that as many as 11,000 people had been evacuated from the airport in the last 36 hours - and that the US has so far transported around 33,000 to safety, including 2,500 Americans. He said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians. Advertisement

Over the weekend, Biden also revealed US forces may stay beyond his deadline of Aug. 31 during a speech on Sunday evening he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport.

He said that US forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

But things were moving in the right direction with some 33,000 people brought to safety, he said.

'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful,' Biden said during a speech in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

'No matter when it started, when we began, it would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television. It's just a fact.'

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period.

Defense officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation, he added, but 'there are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.'

It comes as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pleaded with Biden to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

As the desperate evacuation continues, the British PM will use a virtual meeting of world leaders tomorrow to push for more time to save people from the clutches of the - something the president has so far refused to commit to.

James Heappey, Britain's junior minister for the Armed Forces, said on Monday that 1,800 eligible citizens and 2,275 local allies had been identified, but more were coming forward all the time.

'We will get out as many as we possibly can,' he told Sky News.

However, ministers admitted the rescue mission is reliant on the American military retaining control of Kabul airport.

Along with losing key air support, British military officials fear Islamic State may also target UK soldiers at Kabul airport in suicide bomb attacks.

Mr Johnson said on Sunday night: 'It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years.'

As the airlift continues, the US government has activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, requesting 18 aircraft from US carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees after they are evacuated to other countries.

The voluntary program, born in the wake of the Berlin airlift, adds to the military's capabilities during crises.

Early on Monday morning, a Delta Air Lines flight landed in Dubai and later took off for Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where evacuees are crowded into hangars.

A steady stream of military transport planes continue to fly people out of Kabul to airfields across the Mideast.

There also have been concerns that a local Islamic State affiliate might target the crowds outside the airport with suicide bombers or fire missiles at U.S. aircraft. Military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff, measures used to prevent missile attacks.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban have faced limited armed resistance from fighters in Baghlan province, some 75 miles north of Kabul.

The fighters claimed to have seized three districts in the Andarab Valley on Sunday, but the Taliban said Monday that they had cleared them out overnight.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group's forces have surrounded nearby Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistan's 34 provinces yet to fall to the militants.

Several Taliban opponents have gathered there, including Amrullah Saleh, the vice president in the toppled government who claims to be the acting president under the constitution.

Ahmad Massoud, son of the murdered commander of the Northern Alliance militias that partnered with the U.S. to drive the Taliban from power in 2001, is also in Panjshir.

In interviews with Arab media outlets over the weekend, Massoud said his fighters would resist any attempt to take the province by force but were open to dialogue with the Taliban.

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period. He also said that as many as 2,500 Americans have already been transported to safety

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said there had been no fighting in Panjshir yet and that his group is seeking a 'peaceful solution' to the standoff.

It comes as damaging US cables revealed staff working at the American Embassy in Kabul are 'deeply disheartened' by the Biden administration's withdrawal, with some even saying 'it would be better to die under the Taliban's bullet' than attempt to flee to safety.

The jarring statement was part of a diplomatic cable from Afghan US Embassy staff, who said they've been separated from their children, according to NBC News, which obtained the message.

'Happy to die here, but with dignity and pride,' another embassy staffer said, while a third accused the US of prioritizing Afghan government elites with vast wealth and the connections to safely flee.

Another message sent via cable shared the horror would-be evacuees were met with when they arrived at Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport. Staff were warned to prepare for 'difficult conditions,' with the cable adding: 'However, no one anticipated the brutal experience that occurred.'

Disturbingly, one Afghan embassy staffer revealed his home had been vandalized with spray paint, in what he fears was a marking left by a Taliban fighter to flag the property up for a future visit.

The cables were exposed after it was revealed around 300 Afghans asked to get out of Kabul airport and return to their Taliban-run cities because the conditions have spiraled out of control, a State Department official said.

Temperatures have been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit around the airport - essentially a dustbowl - nearly every day as the desperate mob of tens of thousands of people with young kids try to save their families from Taliban attacks, stampedes or being crushed against the airport gates.

A child drinks water in Kabul, which has been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit nearly everyday for the last two weeks, as dehydration and heat exhaustion set in

Pictures like this of a US Marine comforting an infant while they wait for the mother during the evacuation is the seldom scenes glimpses of humanity during dangerous times

A child and a US Marine pour water on each other to protect against dehydration and heat exhuastion as temperatures in Kabul climb over 90 degrees Fahrenheit

US troops are doing what they can to help US civilians and their Afghan allies prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion, with items like water bottles in short supply and needing to be rationed out.

One US Marine filmed giving water to six young children is being hailed as a hero, but many say that small act of kindness further serves to emphasize the scale of the human catastrophe unfolding.

Another picture that has been widely shared on Twitter and other social media platforms shows a different Marine assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) comforting an infant while they wait for the child's mom during processing.

But these fleeting moments are like specks of light swallowed up by a black hole.

'We've seen wrenching images of people hurt, even killed that hit you in the gut,' Secretary Blinken told FOX News.

'And it's very important to make sure to the best of our ability, because it's such a volatile situation, that we do something about the crowding at the gates of the airport, and that's exactly what we're doing.'

Biden said during a Sunday press briefing that about 11,000 people have been evacuated in the last 36 hours, but at least seven people have been crushed to death, including a two-year-old child.

And now terrorist threats - particularly from the local affiliate of ISIS, which are enemies of both the U.S. and the Taliban - are making the evacuation more complicated, the scene tenser and ramping up the urgency to get people out of the country.

There's concern that ISIS leaders see this as an opportunity to kill Americans while challenging Taliban for control of Afghanistan.

That threat prompted the US Embassy to issue a warning on Saturday telling Americans not to brave the chaos around the airport unless they have been told to report.

In the ensuing hours, details emerged that evacuation flights were dropping flares and making steep combat landings after warnings that terrorists of the Islamic State might try to shoot down a plane.

To hasten the evacuation pace, six commercial airlines have agreed to help the US government transport people out of Kabul.

On Sunday, the US called up 18 civilian aircraft from United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air and others to carry people from temporary locations after they landed on flights from Afghanistan, leaning on the industry it last called on during the Iraq War in 2003, Reuters reported Sunday evening.

The move highlights the difficulty Washington is having carrying out the evacuations following the Taliban's swift takeover.

American and Delta said they would start relief flights on Monday.

Meanwhile, British soldiers desperately shouted for medics and stretchers, as unconscious people were carried away, many being pronounced dead and covered in white sheets, according to a Sky News report on Saturday.

Other paratroopers tried to pull people - including young children - from the chaos, and stood atop compound walls, spraying the crowd with hoses to try and cool them down, as medics dashed between casualties.

There were also scenes of people left injured and bloodied, sat amongst piles of papers and discarded clothes near the site, while others stood shoulder to shoulder, amid sounds of screams and gunshots, the Sun reports.

Tweeting from the airport this afternoon, journalist Kim Sengupta said he had witnessed 'four people, all women, die from the heat and crush'.

Sky News' chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay also reported that people at the front of the crowd of thousands were being 'crushed to death', in what he described it as 'the worst day by far' at Kabul airport.

In a sign the crisis at Kabul is deepening, Germany's government today warned that access to the airport is not often possible' and that the area remains 'extremely dangerous'.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan insists he's 'not heard' if anyone will be fired for the Afghanistan mess amid calls for him to resign for 'ignoring Taliban warnings because he wanted to do what Biden wanted'

Jake Sullivan: Biden national security adviser who helped negotiate Iran nuclear deal for Barack Obama in secret US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan President Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, was a senior policy advisor to Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential election campaign and her deputy chief of staff at the Department of State when she was Secretary of State. Mr Sullivan was also a senior advisor to the Obama administration for the Iran nuclear negotiations, which began in secret throughout 2013. He and US officials including Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, Senior White House Iran Advisor Puneet Talwar had met with the Iranian regime at least five times faece-to-face in Oman over the prospect of an agreement over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Those efforts paved the way for the Joint Comprehensive, which critics say created the conditions in which Iran could develop nuclear weapons after the deal expired. Republicans also say the deal did nothing to contain Iranian terrorism in the Middle East, its ballistic missile programme, the regime's policy towards Israel or its support for Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine and President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. Advertisement

The Biden administration has taken heat from all sides for its messy withdrawal from Afghanistan and blame has increasingly shifted to a key voice in the president's ear, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who is tasked with warning the president of the consequences of such decisions.

A reporter squarely asked Sullivan if anyone on the national security team would be replaced for the bungled response 'Does the president intend to fire, reassign or ask for the resignation of any White House personnel or administration officials who handled the situation in Afghanistan?'

'I have not heard him say so,' replied Sullivan.

'It's, of course, your job to ask those kinds of questions. It's my job just to keep doing what we're doing, which is, every day, trying to get as many people out as possible.'

Calls have grown for the national security adviser to be fired.

'In a national security adviser you absolutely need someone who is able to execute and ensure that any potential problems are identified early and addressed or prepared for. That didn't happen in this case,' Brett Bruen, former director of global engagement for President Obama's national security council, told DailyMail.com.

'Ultimately it falls on the national security advisor to tell the president, I understand what you want to achieve, but we have information, we have serious concerns. Let's explore how we navigate through this. What clearly happened was Jake dismissed those and instead pressed ahead because that was what the boss wanted,' Bruen continued.

On Sunday, the New York Times reported that a number of Democratic lawmakers have weighed whether calling for Sullivan's resignation would help Biden 'reset the narrative,' after the administration's hasty withdrawal that seemed to lack meticulous planning.

'This was an abject failure. People should be held accountable. There's no way to spin it,' Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis told The Hill. 'It's not about whether we stay or go. This is about how we left. And you don't leave like that.'

He noted that Sullivan's 'primary job is to forecast ahead the potential of any consequences the president makes.'

Biden, who prides himself on loyalty to those in his inner circle, is reportedly committed to not firing anyone on his national security counsel. To make replacements would be to admit mistake.

But Bruen, who worked with Sullivan during the Obama years, made the case for his ouster.

'While Biden may prize loyalty, our allies also prize loyalty and reliability, both of which are severely strained right now, and they're going to have a problem dealing with Sullivan. They're going to be reluctant to bank on his word.'

Sullivan, 44, is the youngest national security adviser to a president in more than 60 years. The foreign policy veteran used to advise Hillary Clinton when she served as secretary of state, and Clinton has sung Sullivan's praises. She called him a 'once-in-a-generation talent' and a 'potential future president.'

Sullivan was also a senior advisor to the Obama administration for the Iran nuclear negotiations, which began in secret throughout 2013.

Bruen argued Sullivan, having no previous experience at an embassy overseas, lives in 'Beltway bubble.'

'He has never worked overseas at an embassy or on a military base so he lives in this Beltway bubble where things sound smart, but when it comes time to implementing them there are a whole lot of challenges he has failed to account for.'

Calls have grown for Sullivan, left, a top adviser to the president, to be fired as a way to 'reset the narrative' after the messy Afghanistan withdrawal

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan's experience Earned an undergraduate degree at Yale before winning a Rhodes scholarship to attend Oxford, before heading back to Yale for a law degree

Clerked for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer before serving as chief counsel to Sen. Amy Klobuchar

Began advising Hillary Clinton during the primary cycle in 2008 before jumping to Barack Obama's campaign

When Clinton became secretary of state, Sullivan became her deputy chief of staff and director of policy planning

When Clinton stepped down in 2013, Sullivan became national security advisor to then-Vice President Joe Biden

Had key role in shaping US foreign policy to Libya, Syria and Myanmar, as well as Iran under the Iran deal

Worked as Clinton's chief foreign policy adviser during the 2016 election

Joined the private sector following Clinton's loss until he was tapped for NSA in November 2020 Advertisement

DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House and National Security Council for comment.

The most recent mess in the Middle East is not what Biden promised during his campaign, when he touted decades of experience in his 'first love,' foreign policy.

'Biden and Sullivan, they worked in a very different world. Things have so radically changed,' Bruen said.

'A strongly worded statement from Washington ain't what it used to be. It doesn't send chills down the spines of our adversaries or warm the cockles of our allies.'

In a series of meetings leading up to the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline, military and intelligence officials warned Biden that the consequences of swift withdrawal could include that Afghanistan would capitulate in a matter of days. But ultimately, neither Sullivan nor Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed back on the president's desires, knowing where he stood.

The Sunday Telegraph reported over the weekend that senior White House aides had suggested there was not much pushback on the withdrawal plan because concerned administration staffers were 'too afraid' of challenging Biden and Sullivan.

An administration official said the Biden administration functions 'like an autocracy' and stifles internal dissent.

Marc Thiessen, speechwriter under President George W. Bush, wrote in the Washington Post last week that Biden's 'sycophants' had enabled him to move forward with the bungled withdrawal and questioned 'where are the adults in the room?'

And over the weekend, Sullivan essentially admitted defense officials had warned Biden of the consequences of his plan, but he had not heeded their concerns.

'So you followed the military advice on closing Bagram but the same military advisers were telling you to keep a force on the ground, they told you not to pursue this withdrawal agreement with the Taliban correct?' MSNBC's Chuck Todd asked Sullivan on Sunday.

'There are strategic judgments that a president makes and there are tactical judgments that you give absolute premium to commanders on the ground to make,' Sullivan replied.

'When it comes to the fundamental question of whether the US should remain in a civil war in Afghanistan ... for a third decade, that is a presidential call, not a call by anyone at the State Department or the Pentagon or any of the intelligence agencies.'

Sullivan has also been working to clean up the president's public statements.

On Friday, Biden said that there were no reports of Americans having a difficult time getting to the Kabul airport for their evacuation flight and that al-Qaeda did not have a presence in Afghanistan.

'Why is he misleading with his words here?' CNN's Brianna Keilar asked the national security advisor.

'I reject that characterization. With respect to al Qaeda, right now our intelligence community does not believe al Qaeda in Afghanistan represents a threat to United States homeland, Sullivan said.

He added that al Qaeda could become a threat in the future, which is why the US was committed to over-the-horizon capabilities.

At the same time, Sullivan admitted that US forces on the ground in Afghanistan face an immediate threat from ISIS.

'I know that the scenes around the airport are heartbreaking, large crowds of people wanting to leave,' Sullivan said. 'I know that there is complexity and there is turbulence on the ground and in Kabul, and it's very risky and dangerous because there's a genuine threat from ISIS-K. That is the reality of what we are up against, and I'm not going to sugarcoat that reality.'

Months ago, Sullivan promised the US would have 'months of warning' of an attack from ISIS upon leaving Afghanistan.

'We will not have the same level of daily intelligence,' he said in April of the withdrawal. 'But at a strategic level, in terms of being able to know whether or not al-Qaeda or ISIS is developing an external plotting capability, which they do not currently possess ... we will have months of warning.'

Bruen argued that Sullivan's failures are endemic.

'What we saw before Afghanistan was a crisis on the border. We saw the miscues on refugee admission, we saw problems with Israel and Cuba. So this isn't new.

We're focused on Afghanistan but they keep making these unforced errors. That's what's really concerning - while Biden wants to suggest his goal was the right one even if the execution was flawed, the errors in execution keep happening. I worry what the next crisis is going to bring.'
A tradesman had been staring at the winner's banner at his local newsagency for a week without realising he had the $2million winning Lotto ticket at home.

The man in his 60s from Perth packed in his job as a truckie where he had worked for four decades when he realised that he was in possession of the winning ticket.

He had purchased the ticket from the Newpark Lottery Centre and News in Girrawheen but didn't check the ticket immediately after the draw, not realising for almost two weeks that he had won.

A truckie has won a $2million Lotto jackpot after not realising he had been holding the winning ticket (stock image)

He remarked that his weekly routine is to check his Saturday Lotto tickets on the weekend but he happened to miss the week he had won.

He also admitted that while he knew that a Division One ticket had been sold at the store he purchased his ticket at, he hadn't got around to checking the ticket until the following week.

'I had been looking at the winner's banner in the store all week,' he said.

'They told me I had won $2million and I thought I was good, but then broke down five seconds later,' he commented.

The winning ticket was purchased at Newpark Lottery Centre and News in Girrawheen (pictured) but wasn't checked until two weeks later

'I've given my notice.'

A spokesperson for Lotterywest, Sam Clarke, commented that the man was celebrating after 40 years of working as a truckie.

'Their son was in the winner's room with the couple and he was so happy to see his father celebrate the life-changing win after working so hard for more than 40 years,' he said.

'This year we have celebrated 49 division one winners across our state and we would love to see this number continue to grow.'
A cold front sweeping across NSW has ended a record run of warm winter days and brought the promise of snow and heavy rainfall to parts of the state.

Sydney will be soaked with a month's worth of rain in one day, with more wild weather set to cause havoc in the coming days.

Sydneysiders in lockdown woke up to gloomy skies and heavy rain on Tuesday with up to 75mm set to drench the Harbour City on Tuesday.

A severe weather warning has been issued for powerful surf and damaging winds to pound the Sydney coast, Illawarra and northern parts of the south coast from late Tuesday.

Winds will reach up to 100km/h while waves in excess of five metres could reach up to a whopping eight.

The wild conditions are part of a massive weather bomb that will batter Australia's east coast for the next two days, bringing thunderstorms, gales and torrential rain as temperatures plummet.

Sydney will cop a month's worth of rain in a day on Tuesday with more wild weather on the way

Storm clouds swept across the city late Monday afternoon, bringing the city's 15 day run of winter sunshine to an end

Sydney can expect at least another 20mm of rain with up to 40mm along the coastal fringe, Bureau of Meteorology's Melody Strum told Daily Mail Australia.

'The showers will continue for the rest of the day before easing on Wednesday,' she said.

'The Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra fringes will see the most amount as a cold front moves off-shore and turns into a low pressure system.'

Much of NSW has enjoyed a stint of unusually warm weather, with Sydney setting a new winter record of 15 days above 20C.

It's the longest streak of warm days since 1859, when 10 consecutive days were above 20C.

But a cold snap has reversed that trend, with temperatures plummeting and snow expected in parts of the state.

"In Sydney, we're seeing a peak of 14 degrees today, which is very different than the 27 or 28 recorded over the weekend," Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Hugh McDowell told AAP on Tuesday.

"There will be a kind of a slow recovery in temperatures in the latter part of the week... (but in Sydney) we don't see anything above 20C until Sunday."

Winds hitting 90km/h will blast the harbour city with relentless rain as temperatures plunge to just 9C with a high of 14C on Tuesday.

The rest of NSW is bracing for the same potential 'bomb cyclone' as wind, rain and thunderstorms start to build over eastern Australia.

'Significant wave heights could reach in excess of five metres for much of the southern and central NSW coast, including Sydney,' Bureau of Meteorology's Miriam Bradbury said.

'Conditions will gradually start to ease during Wednesday as the low moves into the Tasman Sea.

'But strong and southerly gusty winds may continue to far southeastern Australia until late in the day.'

Flood warnings have been issued for the Belubula River at Canowindra in the central-west NSW, along with the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan rivers elsewhere in NSW.

Parts of the south coast could get up to 90mmm of rain.

Snow is likely across much of the tableland areas, with places like Katoomba and Guyra expected to receive a dusting.

Large swathes of Australia's east coast will cop a soaking on Tuesday (regions in blue)

Victorians are also on wild weather alert with scattered showers, storms, possible hail, strong winds and snow in alpine areas on Tuesday as temperatures plummet.

Melbourne will reach a top of 13C, while the north-eastern ranges will cop the state's biggest soaking of 15-25mm.

It comes just two days after Melbourne recorded its warmest August day in seven years.

After weeks of unseasonably warm temperatures in what was the hottest winter since records began in Sydney, millions across locked down NSW and Victoria will endure days of wild weather.

Weathermen fear a developing cyclone in the Tasman Sea is set to become a perfect storm of both an east coast low and a weather bombing event, with torrential rain and high winds having started on Monday night.

They've dubbed it a 'bombing east coast low' and warned residents to prepare for a week-long wintry blast all the way from central NSW down to Melbourne.

The megastorm is set to bring roof-ripping 100km/h winds, floodwater deluges, hazardous surf with 5m waves and send the mercury down to just 4C in Melbourne.

Australia's east coast is braced for a massive weather bomb to hit in the next 48 hours, bringing thunderstorms, gales and torrential rain as temperatures plummet

The current cold front that swept across NSW on Monday evening is expected to move offshore on Tuesday where it will then deepen and strengthen.

The Bureau of Meteorology warns that the developing east coast low is now likely to see the barometer rapidly fall in 24 hours to create the lethal weather bomb.

The so-called bombing cyclones - also known as explosive cyclogenesis - develop rapidly and create extreme weather events on nearby coastlines.

The megastorm is tipped to generate apocalyptic weather for NSW and Victoria as it sits over the sea and gets stronger while wreaking havoc on the east coast.

Weathermen fear a developing cyclone in the Tasman Sea is set to become a perfect storm of both an east coast low and a weather bombing event (pictured, a woman in Sydney's CBD ahead of a developing storm)

The megastorm is set to bring roof-ripping 100km/h winds, floodwater deluges, hazardous surf with 5m waves and send the mercury down to just 4C in Melbourne (pictured, a woman caught in a downpour in Sydney's CBD in May)

Up to 100mm of rain is expected to hit on Tuesday and Wednesday between the Central Coast and South Coast, with Sydney likely to bear the brunt with the eye of the storm lying just offshore.

Sydney CBD is braced for up to 40mm of driving rain each day as the storm passes over while coastal suburbs will be pounded by massive swells which weathermen warn could wash away beaches, affecting seafront homes.

Weathermen warn the deluge of rain could cause some flash flooding, especially in some inland areas where the ground is already saturated.

Sydney has enjoyed the hottest winter since records began, but millions across locked down New South Wales and Victoria will now endure days of wild weather (pictured, sunbathers enjoying the winter warmth at Sydney's Bronte Beach on Sunday)

Sydney CBD is braced for up to 4cm of driving rain each day as the storm passes over while coastal suburbs will be pounded by massive swells (pictured, a bicyclist exercising in Sydney on Monday ahead of the storm)

Sydney CBD is braced for up to 4cm of driving rain each day as the storm passes over while coastal suburbs will be pounded by massive swells which weathermen warn could wash away beaches, affecting seafront homes (pictured, how the Bureau of Meteorology believes the storm will develop)

The Bureau of Meteorology warn that the developing east coast low is now likely to see the barometer rapidly fall in 24 hours to create the lethal weather bomb (pictured, a Sydneysider in the rain)

In Victoria, the storm will also see 100km/h gales blast the Alpine region and Gippsland while Melbourne will shiver in wintry 4C temperatures from Thursday.

Conditions are expected to start to ease in New South Wales late on Wednesday, but the BoM warn extreme weather could still blast the south-east tip late into the night.

The BoM say further extreme weather warnings will be issued as the storm develops.
A father had no idea he won $150,000 during a visit to his local pub before he spotted a Facebook post about a mystery Keno winner four weeks later.

The man scored the Keno spot 9 prize after enjoying a beer and lunch at the Roxby Downs Tavern in the South Australian outback on July 16.

His initial ticket didn't win a cent, but he replayed his numbers before leaving the venue and heading home - oblivious to the results of the next draw.

A month later, a chance scroll over social media changed his life.

'It wasn't until I had heard on Facebook that they were still on the hunt for the mystery Roxby Downs winner, that I even remembered I had a ticket,' the lucky punter said.

'I checked the numbers online and that's when I realised I was the winner. I was so shocked! I was on my own, so I couldn't go and scream and tell anyone, but I just sat there gobsmacked.

'I had been so close before, so I am so glad it's finally happened! I had a few beers that night to celebrate.'

The man scored the Keno spot 9 prize drawn after enjoying a beer and lunch at the Roxby Downs Tavern in the South Australian outback on July 16 (stock)

Roxby Downs Tavern gaming manager Sam Irvine said the entire venue was ecstatic about the big win.

'It was so exciting when the win went off! Everyone was running around the venue, checking their tickets, hoping it was them,' she said.

Ms Irvine sold the winning ticket and said the man visited the tavern shortly after discovering his win to thank her.

'He seemed like such a deserving winner, and he was so kind, so I really hope he truly enjoys his prize and it makes a positive difference to his life,' Ms Irvine said.

The father said he would give most of his winnings to his kids and possible buy himself a new car (stock)

The father thought of his family first when sharing how he planned to enjoy his windfall.

'Well, I will give most of it to my kids,' he said.

'I might get myself a new car or something as well, but I am not too sure just yet.'
Australians by early 2022 could be flying directly to Los Angeles as Perth remained cut off from big cities on the east coast.

Jane Halton, who chairs the global Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, predicted some states could resort to keeping their borders shut even as Australians were allowed to travel overseas again for a holiday.

'It seems a little odd that by next year, early next year, potentially you might be able to fly from Sydney to Los Angeles, but you can't fly from Sydney to Perth,' she told the ABC's 7.30 program.

'So I do think it's time that maybe for some very honest talking about what we think we can achieve and then when we can achieve it, so that we can all stick to that.'

Western Australia's Labor Premier Mark McGowan has vowed to keep his state cut off from other parts of Australia where there was a Covid outbreak even if 80 per cent of the population aged 16 and over was fully vaccinated.

A hard border with New South Wales was introduced on June 23, three days before Sydney was placed into lockdown following a Delta outbreak in the eastern suburbs that spread to the city's south-west.

Queensland's Annastacia Palaszczuk has also hinted at keeping the border closed to states where Delta case numbers had surged.

Meanwhile, Victoria's Daniel Andrews was until this week vowing to keep imposing lockdowns with a small number of cases, even when 70 per cent of Australia's working age and population had received two doses of either AstraZeneca or Pfizer.

State Labor leaders are vowing to continue with default lockdowns despite the Doherty Institute recommending this practice end once there was a 70 per cent vaccination rate.

They are vowing to continue the Covid elimination strategy, despite the modelling presented to National Cabinet and the federal government on July 30 showing a plan for managing the virus.

Australians by early 2022 could be flying directly to Los Angeles (pictured in August 2021) as Perth remained cut off from big cities on the east coast

The Doherty Institute released a statement on Monday explaining why lockdowns were no longer necessary with a high vaccination rate.

'There is light at the end of the tunnel  once we achieve 70 per cent to 80 per cent vaccination we will see less transmission of Covid-19 and fewer people with severe illness, and therefore fewer hospitalisations and deaths,' it said.

'This level of vaccination will make it easier to live with the virus, as we do with other viruses such as the flu.

'However, it wont be possible to maintain a situation where there are no cases at all.

'The focus will shift to keeping the number of people going to hospital and dying at a minimum.'

So far, 30.3 per cent of Australians are fully vaccinated with NSW on 31.5 per cent, Department of Health data for August 22 said.

But WA is lagging behind on 27.2 per cent with Queensland on 27.9 per cent.

Jane Halton, who chairs the global Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, predicted some states could resort to keeping their borders shut even as Australians were allowed to travel overseas again for a holiday

Ms Halton, a former federal Department of Health secretary, said political leaders were pursuing a fundamentalist Covid zero approach which wasn't envisaged in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic.

'Well, zero Covid I think has a broad understanding in the community of there being no Covid in our community, but some people also mean elimination of Covid and no, it is not actually the policy,' she said.

'We've had a suppression policy in Australia.'

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is so frustrated with the states he last week hinted the federal government could refuse to provide welfare support if premiers and chief ministers kept resorting to lockdown with 80 per cent of the population vaccinated.

Australians have been banned from travelling overseas for a holiday or a social visit since March 2020 when the pandemic began.

But some epidemiologists, including Professor Greg Dore at the University of New South Wales, are calling for fully vaccinated Australians to be allowed to travel overseas now.

Qantas is proposing vaccination certificates to allow passengers to board and has released a new TV ad campaign promoting the return of immunisation.

Western Australia's Labor Premier Mark McGowan has vowed to keep his state cut off from other parts of Australia where there was a Covid outbreak even if 80 per cent of the population aged 16 and over was fully vaccinated (pictured is Perth's Cottesloe Beach)
United States Senator Lindsey Graham slammed President Joe Biden's August 31 deadline to evacuate Americans and Afghanis from the country, and warned it will see the Taliban attack those left behind, and take 'thousands of hostages.'

In an interview with Fox and Friends on Sunday, the South Carolina Republican said the United States and allied forces will not be able to get all of the Americans and Afghanis who helped Americans over the 20-year war out of the country by next Tuesday. He said people will inevitably be left behind to live under Taliban rule.

'I think I know what he's going to do,' Graham said of Biden. 'He's going to let the Taliban run out the clock. And come August 31st, we're going to start leaving. And, Pete, we're going to leave a lot of people behind who fought for us so bravely.

'If you believe in merit-based immigration, which I do, the people who served with us in Afghanistan should be at the top of anybody's list,' he added. 'You know you get points for joining the American military. How many points should you get to serve with Pete Hegseth and all these other people for years risking your life?'

'So I think the Taliban is slow-walking us,' Graham said. 'They're going to give us an ultimatum [of] August 31st, and Biden will blink, and they'll have thousands of hostages to bribe us and hold us hostage down the road.'

Senator Lindsey Graham on Sunday slammed President Joe Biden's plan to end evacuations from Afghanistan on August 31, saying it will only lead to ISIS attacks and the Taliban taking prisoners from those the Americans left behind

Its imperative we extend the August 31 deadline.



President Biden cant give in to the Talibans ultimatum. It would result in tens of thousands being left behind.



Clearly the Taliban are slow-walking to create a hostage situation. pic.twitter.com/6Yj2DVEBdc  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 23, 2021

Graham also warned of a 'bottleneck at the airport' in Kabul, where Afghanis are penned-in up hoping to escape, 'that is ripe for a suicide bombing attack by ISIS.'

Graham explained that the Taliban and ISIS are enemies, 'so if they could attack the US, ISIS, that would be a twofer. (two-for-one)

'And there's a jihadist Olympics going on throughout the world between al Qaeda and ISIS and other groups,' he continued, 'and the gold medal goes to the group that can do the most damage to us.'

'I think ISIS is going to hit us on the way out if we don't change our footprint and our strategy, and this will haunt us for decades,' Graham said. 'Jihadists will be on steroids all over the world.

'I would say this, without soldiers on the ground with a CIA presence helping them, the likelihood of another 9/11 has gone up by 70 or 80 percent.'

Graham continued to say that former President Donald Trump 'would give the Taliban an ultimatum were he still in power.

'He'd have a situation up where it would be hard for them to attack us,' Graham claimed. 'People respected him, they feared him, and the problem we have as a country is our commander in chief, Joe Biden, is the intelligence failure. The intelligence failure regarding Afghanistan and Iraq is Joe Biden himself.

'He doesn't have the ability to put [the] puzzle together,' Graham said. Trump originally vowed to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan by May 1, with Biden following-through on a delayed timescale.

In a series of tweets that day, he said Biden should have taken civilians out of the country before withdrawing American troops

Graham has been critical of the president's evacuation plans over the past few days, as many Afghanis continue to struggle to get out of the country.

On Friday, he told Fox and Friends, he thought Biden should be impeached for his evacuation plans, saying: 'If we leave any Americans behind - if we leave thousands of those Afghans who fought along our side behind bravely - Joe Biden deserves to be impeached for a higher crime and misdemeanor of dereliction of duty.

'If we leave one American behind, if we don't get al those Afghans who stepped up to the plate to help us out, then Joe Biden, in my view, has committed a high crime and misdemeanor under the Constitution and should be impeached,' he later clarified, asserting that it is the United State's duty to get every American out of the country, but the US is also 'honor-bound' to do the same for all the Afghanis who fought alongside American soldiers.

Then on Sunday, following a news conference in which President Joe Biden said he was considering extending the August 31 deadline, Graham tweeted: 'I could not believe what I heard President Biden say this afternoon.

'He said it would have been hard and painful to withdraw from Afghanistan whether we did it a month ago or a month from now. How about this idea: You should've taken the civilians out before the military left!

'An ROTC cadet can understand that the day you pull the plug on our military presence, you made this evacuation into the disaster of all disaster,' he continued.

'Just remember when Joe Biden tells you this was well-executed, he's the same man who said 48 hours ago there was no al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.

'The ultimate intelligence failure is Joe Biden himself.'

A military transport plane launches off while Afghans who cannot get into the airport to evacuate, watch and wonder while stranded outside

U.S. citizens and their families process through the passenger terminal in Germany on their way home to the United States. Officials said the government has prioritized the evacuation of Americans and green-card holders

Paratroopers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, facilitate the safe evacuation of US citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants, and other at-risk Afghans out of Afghanistan from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul

A young refugee looks out the front window of a bus as she and other people arrive at a processing center for refugees in Virginia on Monday

On Monday, officials told the Wall Street Journal, about 10,900 people were evacuated from Kabul, with 48,000 people evacuated from the country since August 14.

The country is currently prioritizing American citizens, green card holders, their spouses and their children, the Journal reports, with many of the Afghans who were employed by the embassy or other U.S. agencies still waiting to be rescued.

'They're getting very worried,' an unnamed official told the Journal. 'These are the people we could have helped out weeks ago.

'Unless we evacuate within a day or two, it's not going to end well.'

The official added that the Taliban are already screening documents outside the Kabul airport, and there is concern that the group may raise objections when it comes time to evacuate locally-employed Afghan staff in higher numbers.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the administration is now working to expedite the screening process for Afghans, but said the 'rigorous vetting' required before getting admission to the United States takes some time.

'That vetting, by and large, is taking place in third countries,' Price said.

On Sunday, President Joe Biden announced that his administration is discussing a possible extension of the August 31 deadline, and he is set to speak with leaders of the Group of Seven about the evacuation procedures on Tuesday

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden announced on Sunday his administration is discussing a possible extension of the August 31 deadline.

He is set to convene a virtual meeting with the Group of 7 on Tuesday to discuss coordination and evacuation plans, as well as the need for humanitarian assistance.

But the Taliban has warned that it would not recognize any extension of the United States' evacuation plans, nor would it ensure that forces that stay beyond August 31 won't be subject to attack.

'We are well aware of the stated desire of the Taliban to have this mission completed by the 31st,' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told the Journal on Monday.

He said they are aiming to have the mission completed by then, and any need for an extension would be assessed in the coming days as officials try to work out how many Americans are actually in Afghanistan.

Some have estimated there were 10,000 to 15,000 in the country before the evacuations began, but National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that the exact number is hard to assess because many Americans did not register with the embassy when they arrived in the country and didn't de-register when they left.

In the meantime, Kirby said, the US will continue talks with the Taliban.

'Ultimately, it will be the president's decision how this proceeds, no one else's,' he said, adding: 'We believe that we have time between now and the 31st to get out any American who wants to get out.'

The final evacuation was initially intended to ramp up around August 27, the Journal reports, ince it take several days to get thousands of troops, personnel and their equipment out of the country, but the withdrawal initiation date was pushed back on Monday to August 29, further suggesting the withdrawal could extend beyond August 31.

A young Afghani girl waited with her family to board a plane at Qatar, where space is filling up with refugees in need

Evacuees have been waiting to board planes at the airport in Kabul

But the country is already struggling to find destinations for the refugees, as bases in Qatar and Germany are quickly filling up.

To date, the Journal reports, eight transit hubs in six countries are hosting more than 17,000 evacuees and have beds available to accept more.

That capacity is expected to increase as hubs open in more countries, with another 8,000 beds available within the next day, State Department officials report.
Scott Morrison has urged residents in lockdown-free Queensland and Western Australia to get vaccinated now because 'Covid is coming'.

Australia's two largest states are lagging behind the rest of the nation in their vaccination rates, with 47 per cent of Queenslanders and 46 per cent of Western Australians having had at least one dose.

The ACT and NSW are leading the country with 59 per cent of residents on at least one dose, according to official figures released on Monday.

A young couple are seen walking along Cottesloe Beach foreshore in virus-free Perth

In an interview with KIIS FM on Tuesday morning, Mr Morrison said residents in WA and QLD were less fussed about getting the jab because their lives are largely normal.

Queensland recently eliminated a small outbreak and removed restrictions and WA has not had a locally acquired Covid-19 case since August 5.

'I was talking to people there yesterday,' Mr Morrison said, referring to WA's relatively low vaccination rate.

'Because they've had no Covid cases, because they're not in lockdown, they may be thinking ''well I don't have to get it''.

'But the truth is this, Covid is coming. Eventually with Delta it gets there. It's inevitable,' he said.

Tasmania is also Covid free but has vaccinated 55 per cent of over 16s due to its older population.

People wait inside the mass vaccination hub at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Brisbane

The NT is on 51 per cent, SA is on 49 per cent and Victoria is on 51 per cent.

Under Australia's national re-opening plan, states agreed to stop trying to eliminate Covid once 70 per cent are vaccinated.

But cautious governments in Queensland and WA have threatened to renege on the plan as cases soar in Victoria and NSW.

The Prime Minister compared Australia's situation to the 2013 children's movie The Croods about a family which survives natural disasters by sheltering in a cave.

'You've eventually got to get out of the cave,' he said.

'There's always someone who wants to stay in the cave - and then there's the young girl who wants to live outside the cave and move on. Call it The Croods plan: we're getting out.'

Mr Morrison said the national plan will give freedom back to millions of Australians. The country's two biggest cities of Sydney and Melbourne are in lockdown.

'It won't be normal as we knew it but it will be a new normal because Covid will still be there,' he said.

Mr Morrison on Monday said lockdowns will do 'more harm than good' once 70 per cent are vaccinated.

The national plan states that Australians will be free to leave the country - possibly with home quarantine on return - once 80 per cent are vaccinated, making it very difficult for premiers to continue eliminating Covid.

Fired-up Scott Morrison slams rogue states who threaten to keep Covid-19 restrictions beyond 70% jab rate and says we must live with the virus

A fired-up Scott Morrison has slammed rogue states who are threatening to keep Covid-19 restrictions even after high vaccination rates are achieved as he declared 'this Groundhog Day has to end'.

Queensland has joined Western Australia in threatening to maintain restrictions such as border closures even after 80 per cent of the population is vaccinated.

The move contradicts the re-opening plan, agreed by all premiers at National Cabinet, which says Australia will relax restrictions once 70 per cent are vaccinated and stop minimising cases once 80 per cent are jabbed.

The Prime Minister defended his plan - which is based on scientific modelling - in a press conference on Monday morning and said Australia must learn to live with Covid-19.

Sydney's lockdown will last until at least October. Pictured: Sydney residents exercising on Monday

'It does puzzle me - it puzzles me - why anyone would want to go against a plan that has been so carefully prepared,' he said.

Referring to lockdowns in Melbourne and Sydney, he said: 'This is not a sustainable way to live in this country, without those freedoms that we all cherish.'

And in a warning to overly cautious states, he said there is no alternative to opening up once vaccination rates are high.

'Because if not at 70 per cent and 80 per cent, then when? Then when?

'We have to deal with it. Otherwise we stay in the cave forever. That's not a sustainable solution,' he said.

'I understand people will be concerned that cases may rise... the task is not to delay, the task is not to fear, the task is to embrace, prepare, plan, ensure that we are in a position to [open up].'

The Prime Minister said that once 70 per cent of Australians are vaccinated then lockdowns will do more harm than good.

'There will be risk attached to [opening up], but there is also risk being stuck where we are. This Groundhog Day has to end,' he said in reference to the 1993 film where the lead character gets stuck in a repeating 24-hour cycle.

Mr Morrison said Labor was deliberately undermining the re-opening plan for its own political purposes. Anthony Albanese on Sunday falsely said the plan could only go ahead if Covid-19 case numbers were low.

Anti-lockdown protesters take to the streets of Melbourne on Saturday, August 21

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles on Sunday said the state may keep its border closed to NSW if the southern state has high case numbers, regardless of vaccination rates.

'We're not going to get ahead of ourselves. We look to what's happening in New South Wales every day and adjust our posture accordingly,' Mr Miles said.

He falsely suggested the national plan was no longer valid because NSW was recording such high case numbers, with 830 on Sunday.

'We're signed up and committed to the plan that national cabinet endorsed but that was a plan that was endorsed before the New South Wales outbreak,' he said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also said there would be ongoing restrictions after 80 per cent are jabbed, claiming 'the goalposts have changed'.

Queensland has threatened to renege on the national re-opening plan. Pictured: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

'Our aim is always to suppress that virus but even 70 per cent and 80 per cent vaccination rates, as I have said and as is in the modelling as well, there will be some limited restrictions and some limited, or specified, lockdowns.'

The Prime Minster has been at pains to point out that the plan is not predicated on case numbers and can go ahead regardless of infection rates.

Victoria recorded 71 new cases on Monday, its highest total in the most recent outbreak, while NSW recorded 818 new infections.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has even vowed to turn off financial support for any state that goes rogue and keeps trying to eliminate Covid even after 80 per cent are jabbed.

Mr Morrison refused to say if that was a bluff, dismissing the scenario as 'hypothetical'.

WA Premier Mark McGowan threatened to keep restrictions in place last week, telling Sky News: 'Our preferred option is zero Covid obviously and that's what we'll attempt to do.

'We don't want to have deaths and we don't want to have any spread of the virus.'
A university student was left speechless after realising the guest lecturer on a class Zoom call was the same man who saved her life 20 years ago.

Doctors discovered Jacinda Holtsmark had cancerous tumours on both of her kidneys when she was one.

The now 21-year-old underwent chemotherapy and was almost forced to have a kidney transplant too but Professor Ralph Cohen at Sydney's Westmead Children's Hospital was able to remove the cancer while keeping her organs intact.

Now two decades later, Ms Holtsmark, who is studying law and medical science at the University of Sydney, was watching an online lecture last week only to see Professor Cohen for the first time since he operated on her.

Sharing footage of the emotional Zoom call, the young student is seen wiping away tears while informing Prof Cohen they had met before.

Jacinda Holtsmark, 21, was able to reconnect with the surgeon who saved her life when tumours were found on her kidneys when she was just a baby

'I'm quite shocked right now, you were actually my surgeon in 2001 and operated on me for a bilateral Wilms tumour and this is insane that I'm now being taught by you so I just wanted to say thank you so much,' she is heard saying in the Zoom conference.

'I'm absolutely honoured right now.'

The professor admitted he was floored by Ms Holtsmark's appearance and asked her to send him an email about the dates of her surgery and what she was now doing with her life.

'That's very touching, it caught me completely off guard,' he said.

'This is one of the great privileges of being a paediatric surgeon, you have the opportunity to do something for somebody later in life.'

He revealed he had actually written a paper on Ms Holtsmark's cancer to which the 21-year-old admitted she had read.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the cancer survivor said she was 'overcome with thankfulness' upon seeing her hero's face.

'I just started crying, I couldn't even focus on what he was saying because I was just thinking ''Is that the man who saved my life?'',' she said.

Professor Ralph Cohen was a guest speaker for a University of Sydney lecture that Ms Holtsmark happened to be attending

She said the lecture went on for around an hour before Prof Cohen took questions which Ms Holtsmark knew was the perfect time to tell him of their history.

The student said while she had no idea he was going to be on the Zoom, she recognised his name and his role at Westmead and pieced two and two together.

'My parents recognised him and my dad said ''there's no way I can forget him'',' she said.

While working up the courage to tell her former surgeon in the midst of an 80-person Zoom call, Ms Holtsmark said she was struggling to keep it together.

'I was just sitting there crying and shaking and wondering if I should say something,' she said.

Ms Holtsmark had to undergo surgery to have tumours removed from her kidneys at just one-year-old. She is now living a healthy and happy life

She was just a baby when her mother noticed a 'bulge' on the side of her body which x-rays would later confirm to be tumours on her kidneys.

The cancer survivor spent one and a half years at the The Children's Hospital at Westmead for treatment, including the surgery by Prof Cohen.

The surgery went so well that only portions of her kidneys had to be removed and the pair now operate as one.

Since the Zoom call, Ms Holtsmark and Professor Ralph Cohen have been speaking regularly

Since the Zoom call, Ms Holtsmark and Prof Cohen have been speaking regularly.

'We've been emailing back and forth about how grateful we are for one another,' she said.

'At a time like this, it's just been one of the greatest gifts in my life to talk to this man and say how grateful I am for him and for how I am able to live out my passions because without him I wouldn't be here.'

Prof Cohen told the young woman the main reason he does his work is the prospect of what his patients could become in the future.

'They're not doing what they do for themselves, they are doing it for the children's future, which I think is the most admirable quality,' Ms Holtsmark said.

The 21-year-old is now living a happy and healthy life, and goes for health check-ups once a year.

Her experience at such a young age has pushed her to be like her heroes and work in the medical industry.

'Growing up in hospital I would always say to my doctors I want to be just like you,' she said.

'For as long as I can remember I've wanted to do something for cancer research.'
The Democratic chairman of the committee investigating the January 6th MAGA riot in the Capitol revealed on Monday he'll seek phone records from several hundred people, including Republican members of Congress, as part of the probe.

Rep. Bennie Thompson declined to identify which lawmakers would be sought but told reporters on Capitol Hill his committee is reaching out to tech and communications companies as well as social media platforms for hundreds of records from that day.

'We have quite an exhaustive list of people. I won't tell you who they are, but it's several hundred people that make up the list of people we are planning to contact,' he said when asked if the list included family members of former President Donald Trump.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, chair of the committee investigating the January 6th riot in the Capitol, said he was ready to subpoena records from Republican lawmakers

He confirmed it also includes some Republican lawmakers.

While it's unclear which lawmakers are on Thompson's list, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Republican Rep. Jim Jordan both have said they spoke to then-President Trump that day.

Other Republican lawmakers could also face the congressional subpoena. Two Democratic lawmakers claim they saw Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado with a 'large' group of people in a tunnel connected to the Capitol days before the January 6th riot.

Boebert said she had taken family members for a tour.

Additionally, footage from the January 6 riot showed a close ally of Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia on the Capitol grounds.

Anthony Aguero, a conservative activist and associate of Greene, was also seen in the building.

Greene and Aguero worked closely together over the years on causes such as immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border wall.

Democrats have also accused some of their Republican colleagues of interacting with individuals who stormed the Capitol prior on January 6th in an attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory. The ensuing violence left five people dead and a trail of destruction in the historic building.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Jim Jordan have said they talked to Donald Trump on the day of the MAGA riot

The House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol held its first hearing on July 27th where law enforcement officers testified on their experiences that day.

Much of the panel's work has been behind closed doors but staff were expected to use the August congressional recess to prepare subpoenas for the next stage of the investigation.
A vehicle has been rear-ended by a driver who refused to let him merge into the left lane, smashing into the car's back bumper as it turned into a side street.

Footage posted to TikTok on August 23 shows the collision between a black Toyota and a silver Hyundai in Bankstown, south-west Sydney.

While the merging motorist doesn't give the black hatchback much room to brake, the driver clearly speeds up in an attempt to block the car from joining the left lane before smashing into the Hyundai's back right corner.

Both cars stop in the intersection, pressed against each other as the driver of the black sedan gets out to signal to the person capturing the vision, asking if he was a witness of the crash after yelling at the other motorist.

The user captioned the footage: 'Got what he deserves, the black Toyota man', suggesting the driver who refuses to allow the merging vehicle in is at fault.

But others have pointed out the Hyundai is to blame for cutting across and slowing down to make the turn, sparking an argument in the comments section of the video.

According to Transport NSW, drivers should always keep a three-second crash avoidance space, in order to react and respond safely, but some would argue the driver of the Toyota had no chance to give space.

NSW road rules also state: 'If a vehicle is moving into your lane, you should leave a suitable gap.'

About 6500 users have voiced their opinion on the crash, and the video has been watched over 5.6 million times in 24 hours.

A TikTik video showing a collision in Sydney's south-west has sparked a huge debate as to which driver in the wrong, as over 6000 users have voiced their opinion

The video shows a silver Hyundai merge across from the middle lane to turn left, as the driver of the black Toyota refuses to slow down smashing into the back corner of the mans car

'Silver car turning left from a middle lane and then stopping and you think it's the guy in the black car who is wrong? Please hand back your license,' one user commented.

Poll WHICH DRIVER WAS AT FAULT? black Toyota silver Hyundai WHICH DRIVER WAS AT FAULT? black Toyota 156 votes

silver Hyundai 303 votes Now share your opinion





'It's the silver cars fault, they're literally in the right lane making a left turn, how can you disagree?' another user asked, prompting viewers to reply.

Other viewers defended the turning driver: 'Black car has no case. Simply too close and couldn't stop in time, therefore at fault.'

'Black car's fault, unfortunately he didn't keep a safe distance,' another user added.
A mother-of-two who landed in hospital after catching Covid has lashed virus-deniers for spreading 'sickening' misinformation about the pandemic online.

Lorraine was rushed to hospital on Saturday morning after she, her mother, husband and two children were all tested positive after an outbreak at her autistic daughter's specialist school in Sydney.

She developed pneumonia across both of her lungs as a result of the virus.

Lorraine told Daily Mail Australia she burst into tears when she saw posts on her Facebook feed suggesting the pandemic was 'a hoax' while she was struggling to breathe in her hospital bed.

She saw another Covid-denier make the ridiculous claim that vaccinations were the cause of the current outbreak in Sydney - and another who said: 'Covid is everywhere and so is God'.

'It's starting to make me lose hope in humanity,' she said.

'I'm devastated at the insensitivity and disrespect of the ill informed commentary for those suffering, their families and those on our frontlines.'

Lorraine (pictured) was hospitalised after contracting Covid from an outbreak at her daughter's school. She is not vaccinated

Lorraine still needs help to breathe and is connected to a high-flow oxygen machine.

She wanted to share her family's story to clear up the misinformation and dangerous, false claims spreading on social media.

'You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant,' Lorraine shared on Facebook, quoting American writer Harlan Ellison.

Alongside the quote Lorraine wrote: 'Being hospitalised with Covid has just got me thinking... I've never seen so many self-proclaimed doctors, epidemiologists, forensic pathologists etc as I have over the last year. When did the value of experts deteriorate in society?

'When did the opinions of graduates of Dr Google and Dr social media suddenly think their opinion is of the same or unbelievably MORE value in their minds than those who have dedicated their life to education and research in a particular area?'

Lorraine said when she asked a friend about the pandemic they told her everyone in hospital with Covid had the vaccine and those who were dying had two doses.

In reality, 27 of the 34 patients in ICU across NSW are unvaccinated. The remaining seven have received one dose.

There are zero fully vaccinated patients in ICU.

From her hospital bed, Lorraine penned a Facebook post (pictured) speaking out against the misinformation regarding the virus on social media

Lorraine was due to have her first dose of Pfizer the week after her family contracted the virus.

Her husband had already received his first Covid vaccine before contracting the virus. He only developed mild symptoms and was not admitted to hospital.

'I'm scared at the effects of the uninformed and ignorant opinions on fighting this pandemic,' she said.

Lorraine also addressed the effect misinformation about the vaccine has had on those in the autism community she belongs to.

This topic is particularly painful because a study was released in 1998 from disgraced former doctor Andrew Wakefield alleging a link between autism and vaccinations.

Lorraine (pictured) said that while speaking to friends two were severely misinformed about the Covid vaccine and its effects

Despite the study being disproven and refuted widely by medical professionals, some Australians still wrongly believe the findings to be true.

'While I don't deny there are some individuals who have underlying issues which might make them unsuitable for vaccines or susceptible, I don't believe they cause autism and I found the scaremongering, misinformation and information taken out of context a nightmare as a parent of a newly diagnosed child with autism,' Lorraine told 9Honey.

Lorraine's doctors have told her that she is healing slowly but is still seriously ill.

Her fevers have broken overnight so she won't have to be admitted to the ICU.

'Just praying we all pull though and I get to breathe unassisted again soon,' she said.
As I came to the end of my teens, I longed more than ever for love. But the idea of having sex made me nervous  and I felt I couldn't possibly live up to any man's expectations.

Since the age of 13, I'd been a Disney child star, making popular family films such as Pollyanna and The Parent Trap.

Adolescence, however, had hit me hard, sapping my confidence and rendering me paralytically shy.

At home, it felt like my parents  the actor John Mills and writer Mary Hayley Bell  told me a thousand times a day how young and irresponsible I was, yet they would never let me make my own decisions.

Their control over my life was becoming suffocating.

Well, all that was about to change! In December 1965, I flew to New York on my own for a week of adventure. I was 19 years old, with money in my pocket, completely independent for the first time in my life and ready to shake off my wholesome Disney image.

Since I was alone in the city, my sister Juliet had given me the phone number of an old friend of hers called Joe. So I called him up and we arranged to meet in a bar.

Going out with Joe, who turned out to be a plainclothes detective with the NYPD, bore no relation to anything I'd ever experienced before.

I started fantasising that we were in some black-and-white romantic movie, like Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday.

Hayley Mills with her husband, film director and producer Roy Boulting at Heathrow Airport in 1971

We'd fall in love, then I'd fly away, back to my real life, tears streaming down my face, and never see him again.

I decided to sleep with Joe. I just needed to jump through that final hoop and move on with my life.

So on my last day in the city, I went to Bloomingdale's and found a Grecian, off-the-shoulder, long white silk nightdress.

Back at my hotel, I lit some candles and asked Joe to stay. Almost immediately, I regretted it.

I suddenly realised that the nightdress had been a mistake  it wasn't me and it felt ridiculous.

Not knowing what to do next, I attempted to strike what I hoped was a seductive pose by the bathroom door  but found myself thinking, 'What am I doing?' Then the truth rushed in. 'I'm not in love with this man, this isn't right . . . I don't want to do this!'

To make matters worse, as I stood there in that ridiculous Greek nightie, I started to laugh and simply couldn't stop. Needless to say, Joe didn't stay the night.

So much for my first attempt to lose my virginity...

At the age of 20, for the first time in my sheltered life, I took all my clothes off for the camera.

It was for a British film called The Family Way, in which I was appearing along with Hywel Bennett, Wilfred Pickles  and my father, John Mills.

If there was ever a moment that marked the end of my career as a child star, this was it. My chance to grow up.

Hayley Mills in the British film The Family Way - in which she appeared alongside Hywel Bennett, Wilfred Pickles and her father John Mills

The director was Roy Boulting, known with his identical twin brother John as the Boulting Brothers.

As a producer-director team, they had been responsible for some of Britain's most successful films, launching the careers of stars like Richard Attenborough and Peter Sellers.

Taking my clothes off was an extraordinarily awful and rather hysterical experience from start to finish.

I had agreed to it in principle because the scene wasn't gratuitous and the story justified it  the tense and awkward moment when new wife Jenny is caught bathing in a hip bath in the family's kitchen by her husband Arthur's younger brother, played by Murray Head.

HOW THE TAXMAN TOOK MY MILLIONS When I turned 21, I knew I'd finally have access to the trust Daddy had got his lawyer to set up for me. It contained all the money I'd earned in my eight years of child labour. The lawyer, Stanley Passmore, now in his 70s, reminded me of an aged Mr Banks from Mary Poppins. 'Well, my dear,' he said, looking at me across his desk, 'basically the Revenue have attacked your trust company. 'They're going to tax you at the full rate: 91 per cent of the entire trust.' I felt the blood drain from my face. Stanley gave a rattling laugh. 'Well, nothing you can do, really. You could contest it but if I were you, I'd leave the country!' He laughed again. I stared blankly, my mind reeling. 'Ideally,' Stanley added, 'you should have repudiated the trust before you reached 21, but I'm afraid it's too late for that now.' Later, I was advised to sue either my father or the lawyer. Well, suing Daddy was out of the question; as for Stanley, he'd been my parents' solicitor for decades. I'd named my first pet white mouse after him, for goodness' sake! The idea of suing an old boy I'd known all my life was unthinkable. I waited two years for a tax appeal to be heard  and lost. Three years later, in 1971, the case went before a High Court judge  and I lost again. I must take it even higher, said Stanley. To the Court of Appeal! I wrote another huge cheque to his firm of solicitors and waited another year. In October 1972, my tax case went up before the Master of the Rolls, Lord Denning. Pointing out that I'd already paid tax on my earnings and shouldn't have to pay a surtax, he ruled that the money belonged to me. I couldn't believe it. I'd won! I was so exhilarated I could have flung my arms around his Lordship's neck! Shortly afterwards, the tax commissioners decided to fight me to the last ditch  the House of Lords. In 1974, I lost for the final time, which meant I had to pay a surtax of 106,598 (2 million today). The state had plundered my trust like a horde of pirates. The Disney money was all gone and I'd have to continue to work, like everyone else, for the rest of my life. Of course, I mourned the loss of the freedom my small fortune might have given me  but not the money itself. How can you miss something you never had? Advertisement

At first we rehearsed without any water at all. Clanking around in a tin hip bath, which was more of an oversized bucket, I felt so acutely self-conscious that I must have been scarlet with embarrassment.

Then the scene took three days to complete. So I sat there for hours and hours like a skinned rabbit, feeling hideously undignified, my legs screwed up in front of me, the puddle of water getting colder by the minute.

It may have been my nightmare in the hip bath that set me off, but my fragile self-confidence took a nosedive. I began to dread going to the studios.

'She's really not very good, is she? Oh dear...' I imagined the other actors saying.

It got to the point that I seriously doubted whether Roy was bothering to put film in the camera for my close-ups.

On my way to Shepperton Studios one morning, I felt so desperate, so hopeless and wretched, so utterly consumed with gloom, that I resolved to end my life.

'At the next corner, I won't turn,' I decided. 'Whatever happens, I'll just put my foot down and accelerate, I'll close my eyes and just keep driving. And that will be that...'

At the next corner, I drove straight into a large hedge. It wasn't a very impressive crash.

I sat there for a minute or two staring through the windscreen at a lot of tangled greenery. I was numb.

With a lot of noisy grinding of the gears, I managed to back out of the little ditch and drive through the studio gates, oblivious to the fact that half the hedge was sticking out of my radiator.

Even my half-hearted attempt at killing myself had been a joke.

Roy Boulting intrigued me. Along with his brother, he was without question one of the most striking-looking men I'd ever encountered.

In his mid-50s, he still had a good head of hair that flopped over his bright blue eyes.

On the night before The Family Way opened in cinemas, he took me to see the film.

I was astonished: it was deeply moving and Paul McCartney had done a soulful musical score. I didn't even mind my own performance.

So my heart was lighter as we walked back to my flat, across a deserted Trafalgar Square, down The Mall.

On a pedestrian crossing, in front of Buckingham Palace, Roy kissed me.

The Family Way opened the following evening to a rapturous reception, and we celebrated far into the night.

Then we slept together. I adored him; I simply didn't care that he was 32 years older than me.

That same week, the BBC rang to tell me that Walt Disney had died. He was just 65 and had been suffering from lung cancer.

I simply wasn't able to process the information. Walt Disney was larger than life; he couldn't just die!

He'd been my boss, my mentor, my friend throughout half of my childhood, and I'd genuinely loved him.

With Walt's passing, I felt like my childhood had finally disappeared over the horizon. One life had ended, a new one was opening up.

So 1967 dawned with great expectations, most of them centred on Roy. I just hadn't told my parents yet.

I decided to surprise them, very early, at Heathrow when they flew back from America, where Daddy had been making a TV series.

After exchanging hugs, we shuffled off to find a cafe. They were both bleary-eyed and jet-lagged but twigged something was up.

When I told them I was in love with Roy, there was a stunned silence.

My father's stool tilted, his elbow nudged a plate of scrambled eggs  and the next moment he was flat on the floor, covered in egg.

Daddy pushed his hat on to the back of his head. 'Well . . . I'm poleaxed!' he said.

I turned to Mummy. She fixed me with her gimlet eye. 'So. You've finally been in the hay!'

She snorted knowingly and lit herself a cigarette.

This was not the conversation I had imagined.

'Darling, I do like Roy, I really do,' said Daddy, 'but  really, darling, he's as old as me! Just think, when you're 40, Roy will be 72! And all his friends will be, too. What will that mean for you?'

'Oh, we've talked about that,' I said, trying to laugh it off. 'We have a joke that I'll have to push him along the seafront in a wheelchair!'

They stared back, horrified.

Of course, the awkward truth was that Roy was my father's contemporary; the Boulting Brothers were as much of a British institution as he was.

Ms Mills and the TV Choice Awards in London in 2019

But when you're truly, madly, deeply in love, you believe no obstacle is insurmountable.

Roy was a man with a considerable past. He had six sons  two of them older than me  from three earlier marriages and another relationship, so it took time for me to meet them all.

I often had the impression that he had absolutely no idea what his children were up to, or even where they were.

As for me, I was barely an adult myself and unsure how to behave with them.

Meanwhile, I started appearing in a series of Roy's films. The first of them, Twisted Nerve, was an unmitigated disaster. Roy plunged into depression.

The experience did me no favours either: it wasn't my kind of film, playing victim to a prowling maniac.

No one wanted to see Disney's Pollyanna being stalked by a pervert. The next, in 1969, was Take A Girl Like You, with Jonathan Miller making his directorial debut.

He was a brilliant man  not only the creator of Beyond The Fringe with Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Alan Bennett, but also an actor and a doctor, specialising in neurology.

He'd often come on set without any plan for the scene we were about to shoot. Instead, he would spend hours talking with great erudition about whatever interested him at the time  like diseases and disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system.

My co-star was Oliver Reed  playing a schoolmaster who seduced an inexperienced girl and I didn't warm to him.

I really disliked the way he talked about women as if they were a lower species.

Maybe I was a bit of a prude but I found his constant sexual innuendos tiresome.

Sadly, the film was a total non-event. It probably didn't help that Jonathan spent half the shoot talking about neurosurgery and autopsies.

The following year, Roy gave me a part in Mr Forbush And The Penguins, about a vain, frivolous young biologist, played by John Hurt, who is sent to Antarctica.

Ms Mills dons a white dress in a portrait issued for the Walt Disney film Pollyanna in 1960

Even then, John was apt to over-indulge. In a restaurant one day, I suddenly I became aware that he was sinking down into his seat.

First, his face landed in his plate, then he slid very slowly under the table and disappeared from view.

I gave a little squeak as I felt something bite my ankle, before feeling the dead weight of John's head settle on my foot, where he promptly fell asleep.

In the end, Mr Forbush And The Penguins was my third consecutive flop. By now, though, Roy considered me his employee.

The next film, Endless Night  an Agatha Christie adaptation that subsequently became a cult classic  was shot on location on the Isle of Wight, where the actress Britt Ekland and I spent a lot of time hanging out.

She introduced me to her favourite drink: vodka and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.

'It won't make you fat or your breath smell, darling,' she said. 'No one will even know you've been drinking!'

I TURNED DOWN A CLASSIC OUT OF GUILT I'd seldom seen my sister Juliet, who's also an actress, so excited. To her delight, she was on the shortlist for the lead part in a forthcoming movie adaptation of Doctor Dolittle, starring alongside Rex Harrison. Then something truly awkward happened  quite horrible, in fact. The role wasn't offered to her, as everyone expected; instead they offered it to me. I should have been thrilled; instead, I felt like c**p. When I told my sister about the offer, she smiled lovingly and was wonderful about it, which only made it worse. How could I possibly take the role she wanted so much? I was scared it might damage our relationship  though I know now that it wouldn't have been affected. So I turned the offer down. Looking back, that was obviously a blunder. I should have taken my career more seriously and done what would turn out to be a classic (the role went to Samantha Eggar). Ultimately, I made the wrong decision for the wrong reasons: guilt and embarrassment. Advertisement

We spent hours together in her trailer, often talking about her four-year marriage to Peter Sellers. He was an old friend of the Boulting Brothers, who had helped to catapult his film career with the enormously successful I'm All Right Jack.

Britt's relationship with him had been stormy. Much older than her, Peter was convinced she was flirting with everyone behind his back, which made him manic and intensely controlling.

The final straw, she said, came when he chopped up all her clothes and, in retaliation, she hit him over the head with a photograph of his beloved mother, then stamped on it.

I should have left Roy in 1970. The age difference was becoming a problem because I had so many more things I wanted to do, whereas Roy had seen and done it all before.

I had no friends and no freedom. It was the Disney years all over again.

In May 1971, I realised I couldn't go on like this. So one day I told Roy we should either separate or get married.

As soon as I said the word 'married', I wondered why it had popped out of my mouth.

He opted for marriage  a shabby affair in the South of France with just my French solicitor and his wife doubling as guests and witnesses.

Life went on. Soon, Roy was questioning my every move and censoring any new friends. 'Let me have my freedom,' I told him.

I didn't mean freedom to have other relationships, just the freedom to be young and have friendships. But he was fearful. He tightened his hold and shortened the lead.

We bought a house next door to Lord Lucan's on Lower Belgrave Street, and I'd often see Lady Lucan out walking, always on her own and always wearing the same pink, sleeveless wool dress by Mary Quant.

She was very thin, with bony white arms, and her mousecoloured hair was pushed off her face by a thick blue Alice band.

There was something very strange about her. Sometimes, when I was in our basement kitchen, I'd see her crouch down and peer in through the railings, like a child.

We were in on the night the respectable calm of Belgravia was ripped apart by Lady Lucan running down the street screaming hysterically 'Murder! Murder!' Her husband, Lord Lucan, had attacked the family nanny in their basement and battered her to death with a metal pole.

Our son Crispian was born in January 1973. I remember standing with my baby in my arms, looking out of the hospital window.

Life was carrying on as normal, yet it was a new world  because the baby changed everything.

Not only was I no longer a child, I realised, but I had finally joined the human race. It was a fleeting moment of clarity, but something I will always remember.

I also finally came to accept the hard truth: my marriage to Roy was over. So one day, I just walked out of the door.

I left with nothing but my baby. At 28, I knew my life would probably be full of many more mistakes and failures.

But, for better or for worse, they would be my choices now. So I moved on and began a new life . . .

Adapted by Corinna Honan from Forever Young, by Hayley Mills, to be published on September 2 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 20.  2021 Hayley Mills. To order a copy for 18, go to mailshop.co.uk/book or call 020 3308 9193. Offer valid until August 28, 2021. p&p free on orders over 20.
Every Muslim in Britain is celebrating the return to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan. That's what Khola Hasan of the Islamic Sharia Council suggested on BBC Radio 4 at the weekend.

Even as she was speaking, thousands of Afghans were trying to escape the country. People were being trampled to death in the stampede for places on flights out of Kabul airport.

For Ms Hasan to proclaim that Muslims in the UK are united in welcoming this seizure of power by religious zealots, and the resulting chaos, is both obscene and an affront to the British Muslim community. It is insulting, a travesty and a sign of just how pitifully ignorant she is.

But for the BBC to give her a platform to air her doctrinal falsehoods, without then demolishing them with the real facts, is unforgivable.

Tripe

The broadcaster has failed in its duty to address the news impartially. Instead, the BBC appeared terrified of contradicting Ms Hasan, simply because she is a Muslim woman and should therefore be allowed to assert any nonsense she likes without fear of contradiction.

'Every single person that I know as a Muslim,' she said on the Sunday programme, presented by William Crawley, 'whether on social media, I don't know them personally but I know them on social media or as friends, are celebrating and saying, "Give them a chance".'

Every Muslim in Britain is celebrating the return to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan. That's what Khola Hasan (pictured) of the Islamic Sharia Council suggested on BBC Radio 4 at the weekend

I listened to that inarticulate tripe, wishing that the BBC still employed rigorous journalists instead of 'wokelings' who are afraid to question anything for fear of seeming sexist or racist.

The show did feature a courageous campaigner for Afghan women's rights, the filmmaker Diana Saqeb Jamal, who dismissed Hasan's claims as 'insane'.

But Ms Hasan ignored her, and was permitted the last word. She was also allowed to assert that oppression of women in France was worse than in Afghanistan, and that negative accounts of life under the Taliban were all lies: 'Western media loves misrepresenting Muslims.'

So let me spell this out. I have not met a single person in Britain who welcomes the return of the Taliban, not online, at the mosque or anywhere else.

British Muslims are sickened at the horrific news coming out of Kabul, and deeply distressed at the prospects for ordinary people in Afghanistan, especially women and girls.

Dr Taj Hargey (pictured): For Ms Hasan to proclaim that Muslims in the UK are united in welcoming this seizure of power by religious zealots, and the resulting chaos, is both obscene and an affront to the British Muslim community

The surrender of Kabul to the Taliban marks not only the effective end of Anglo-U.S. occupation but also the restoration of theological tyranny.

The retributive campaign launched by Tony Blair and George Bush to avenge 9/11 has failed miserably, after 20 years of nation-building.

The only beneficiaries are the new fanatical masters of Afghanistan and other militant Jihadist groups throughout the Middle East, Africa and south-east Asia.

For the delusional Khola Hasan to applaud this is shameful. Virtually everything the Taliban stands for is in clear contravention of the Koran and is a betrayal of authentic Islam.

Ms Hasan and the Islamic Sharia Council (ISC) operate in a theological bubble. The ISC is self-appointed, founded by her father Sheikh Suhaib Hasan in 1982 to promote sharia law in Britain.

For readers who might not be Islamic scholars, a quick summary: Muslims follow the teachings of the Koran, Islam's Bible, teachings which were revealed by the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad between 610-632 CE.

A US Navy corpsman hands out water to children during an evacuation at the airport in Kabul

Evacuations have been underway in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country on August 13 after American troops were pulled from the country

But over the following centuries, hundreds of thousands of snippets and quotations attributed to the Prophet were collected in manufactured volumes known as the Hadith.

Many of these supposed sayings are apocryphal and were invented to support patriarchal, tribal and sexist societies, stripping away the rights of women and religious minorities. These suspect reports became a handbook for ideological intolerance and authoritarian governance.

All the abhorrent aspects of populist Islam, from its insistence that women must be covered from head to foot, to violent jihad and brutal traditional punishments for gay sex, stem from the Hadith.

The Hadith is not the Koran. The two are like night and day: completely opposite.

In addition, the ISC champions their narrow and bigoted interpretation of Sharia law and risible fatwas.

An RAF plane was filled to capacity with embassy staff, British nationals and any Afghans able to settle in the UK

Everyone who remembers how Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini imposed a sentence of death on novelist Salman Rushdie knows what a fatwa means, but few people understand it represents only the personal opinion of an individual cleric. These are categorically not divine diktats.

As a Muslim scholar myself, I regard the Hadith, Sharia law and fatwas as a toxic triad. But these are the cornerstones not only of Taliban theology and thinking but also of self-serving Islamic organisations that Ms Hasan is part of.

Wicked

Understand that, and you realise what an atrocious lie it is to say that 'all British Muslims celebrate the resurgence of the Taliban'. Only religious militants and Sharia fanatics welcomed the Taliban's assumption of power.

It is an outrageous libel on the whole British Muslim community, and one that grieves and insults me deeply.

I am aghast that the BBC should air Khola Hasan's words without explaining how erroneous and wicked they are, or have a local expert present to balance and counter her tendentious assertions.

The full extent of the lie will soon be apparent even to Ms Hasan. The Taliban have one supreme goal: to recreate the idealised desert utopia of a mythical 7th century  albeit one with online social media, which they find convenient to promote their pernicious sectarianism.

A Pakistani paramilitary soldier, right, and Taliban fighters stand guard on their respective sides at a border crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in Torkham, in Khyber district, Pakistan

No one can bring back the past, but the Taliban will try, by subjecting women, minorities and other religious opponents in Afghanistan to merciless persecution.

All the hard-won freedoms of the past 20 years, which Allied soldiers made so many sacrifices to establish, will be eradicated. There will be no custody rights for women in fractured families, no divorces, no freedom for girls to refuse a husband  even one who is much older and already married to several other women.

There will be no legal rights for girls to be educated and reach their full potential.

At a press conference last week, Taliban spokesmen claimed women would have equal rights. If you're tempted to believe that, ask yourself why there were no women at the table of that ostensibly landmark press conference.

Tyrants

'The problem is, we don't give them a chance,' Ms Hasan claimed on Radio 4.

'The kind of language that came out from Western media when the Taliban took over... civil war, monsters, they're going to slaughter people, it's going to be awful, poor women, oh blah blah blah, we're going to cry our eyes out, poor women are going back into medieval times.

'It's been misrepresented for so long that I've got used to it; I don't even blink an eyelid any more.'

Taliban fighters stand guard on their side at a border crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in Torkham, in Khyber district, Pakistan

Ms Hasan went on to complain that France is the real enemy of Muslims, because women are not allowed to wear certain clothes on the beach or the hijab headscarf in public buildings.

Such rubbish would be comical, if the situation in Kabul were not so tragic.

'Twenty years is a long time,' she added. 'We've matured, I hope, all of us. We've evolved our thinking and I hope the same thing has happened with the Taliban. The Taliban have grown up.'

Over the next weeks and months, we will see exactly how much the Taliban have grown up and matured.

The only change in two decades that I can see is the development of a sophisticated Jekyll-and-Hyde double personality that will say one thing and do another.

The Taliban tyrants of Afghanistan might have learned to disguise the monster. But behind their flimsy facade, the cruel reality remains as horrifying as ever.

Dr Taj Hargey is Provost of the Oxford Institute for British Islam.
A Melbourne man who blamed a drunken lockdown attack against his family on Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been jailed.

Tyre salesman Steven Mason, 30, of Pakenham blew his stack on October 25 last year after his wife accused him of too much boozing and neglecting their child during lockdown.

It was the day before Victoria was to finally come out of a whopping 112 day lockdown, which at the time was the longest of its kind on the planet.

Tyre salesman Steven Mason (left) threatened to kill his wife and then bashed down his neighbour's front door with a pick axe. He blamed Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews

Steven Mason had only married his long time partner in April last year. By October, after 111 days in lockdown, he went on the rampage with a pick axe

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews had locked Melburnians up for 112 days by the time he released them in October last year. Some say the damage done at home from lockdown could be worse than the lockdown itself

By then, the virus had decimated the state and had accounted for more than 90 per cent of the country's 905 deaths.

Mason's wife had accused him of leaving their toddler unaccompanied while he got on the beers.

The frazzled father angrily denied the assertion, but his wife had noticed a steep decline in his behaviour during the long months locked-up together.

'You're partner told you to get help for your drinking. You blamed your drinking on Daniel Andrews and told your two-year old son that his mother was a c**t,' County Court of Victoria Judge Justin Hannebery said on Monday.

The sentence comes amid concern from health and welfare workers that women have suffered in silence throughout Victoria's six lockdowns.

On Monday, court sources told Daily Mail Australia court-imposed courses to assist with changing abusive men's behaviour have all but been abandoned during the pandemic.

Completion of the courses are routinely made a requirement of community correction orders dished out to violent offenders across multiple courts.

'While some programs are working online, they're inherently difficult to access and participation is less than effective because Zoom is hopeless,' the source said.

Tyre salesman Steven Mason went at his son's mother with a pick axe during a violent rampage last year

Steven Mason told doctors he had previous issues with booze before lockdown, but they blew out of control after being locked-up for months

National Homeless Collective founder Donna Stolzenberg told Daily Mail Australia Victoria's lockdowns were having a tragic effect on domestic violence cases.

'Domestic violence rates escalate in all times of crisis and also at times of celebration such as Christmas. We know this. Its no secret. And we know lockdown has an awful toll on mental health and violence escalation,' she said.

Ms Stolzenberg said it was imperative that men be able to receive appropriate education when it comes to breaking toxic behavioral patterns.

'It is an essential service,' she said.

Steven Mason was sentenced to more than two years in jail for his lockdown rampage

WOMAN TRAPPED IN VIOLENT RELATIONSHIP HAS NO ESCAPE IN LOCKDOWN Daily Mail Australia received this account from a Melbourne woman trapped in an abusive relationship during lockdown. 'When I tried to call the emergency line for help it went to a voice message. 'It always goes to a voice message in lockdown,' she said. 'But I have to go to the shops to call them because hes home, and if he hears me call them I cop a belting. 'But theres only so many times I can make excuses to go to the shops. 'But every time I call for help no one picks up the phone. 'I left a message once because I was desperate and they called me back 4 days later when he was home. 'I couldnt answer the call. He later went through my phone and saw it was a private number had called and accused me of cheating on him. 'I got another hiding that day.' Advertisement

The court heard Mason's wife warned her belligerent husband she would call police on him if he continued to abuse her.

But things just went from bad to worse.

Mason told his wife he would 'stab her in the heart and kill her' if she followed through with her threat.

'You told her that she would not be able to take care of your son,' Judge Hannebery said.

The court heard Mason stormed out of the family home and into the garage where he appeared to fly into a fit of rage.

Mrs Mason sent a text message to her neighbour before rushing over there with the couple's young son.

Locked next door, Mason called on the phone and told his wife he would 'kill them all with a machete'.

He appeared at the door moments later and demanded to be let inside.

The terrified neighbours pleaded with him to go home and 'sleep it off'.

Mason returned with a pick axe and proceeded to hack his way in through two doors before chasing his wife and neighbours into the backyard.

Cornered, Mrs Mason's brave neighbour defended them with a log splitter as the drunken dad continued to stalk them.

'Go for it, I'll f**k you up,' Mason shouted.

Given the chance, the neighbour spirited Mason's toddler away to a hiding spot before police finally arrived.

Mason later told detectives he couldn't believe what he had done.

'I left straight away. That's all I remember, that's - the first thing I remember is seeing the look on their faces and I'm like, "Oh, my God. What have I done?" and I left,' he told detectives.

National Homeless Collective founder Donna Stolzenberg says domestic violence incidents are going unreported during lockdown

Melburnians hit the streets on Saturday to protest against their latest lockdown

Judge Hannebery said he accepted Victorians had struggled throughout repeated lockdowns

Mason spent 51 days in even harsher lockdown conditions in jail before pleading guilty to making threats to kill, aggravated burglary and drug possession.

His wife, who is expecting the couple's second child in February, refused to provide a victim impact statement.

In passing sentence, Judge Hannebery said he accepted Victorians had struggled throughout repeated lockdowns.

'I accept that like many, you were struggling with the pressure of pandemic restrictions, but this in no way excuses your behaviour,' he said.

Judge Hannebery condemned Mason for what he described as a very serious incident of domestic violence in front of a young child.

Doctors had found while Mason had a history of abusing alcohol, it had blown out of control during lockdown, which saw him picked up for drink-driving in June.

Judge Hannebery convicted and sentenced Mason to two-years and one month in jail, with a non-parole period of one year and three months.
Dominic Cummings engaged in a three-hour political debate with unhappy restaurant staff while on a Scottish getaway with his family, it has been claimed.

The former Downing Street aide is said to have entered into a lively back-and-forth with waiters at The Celidh Place in Ullapool, Scotland, after they told bosses they were not keen on serving the Vote Leave maestro.

In order to placate staff, restaurant owner Jock Urquhart is said to have taken it upon himself to serve the Prime Minister's former chief advisor.

But when he spilled the beans about his staff's displeasure, Mr Cummings is said to have offered a private debate.

According to the Inverness Courier, the strategist, who was holidaying in the Scottish Highlands with his family at the time, returned to the restaurant alone the next day.

Dominic Cummings (pictured during his interview with Laura Kuenssberg last month) engaged in a three hour political debate with unhappy restaurant staff while on a Scottish getaway with his family, it has been claimed

The former Downing Street aide is said to have entered into a lively back-and-forth with waiters at The Celidh Place (pictured) in Ullapool, Scotland, after they told bosses they were not keen on serving the Vote Leave maestro

He is then said to have had a three hour debate - with topics ranging from Brexit to the Scottish referendum.

While restaurant owner, Mr Urquhart, said neither side was won-over by the other, he claimed Mr Cummings returned the next day for a meal. And Mr Urquhart said his staff did serving Mr Cummings this time.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Urquhart, who is the son of a former SNP MSP, said: 'It was quite an experience to get one of the big beasts.

'He was slippery  he didn't give anything away and he was not telling tales out of school.

'We didn't change our minds on Brexit and I didn't convert him to the cause of Scottish independence.'

After staff grumbled about serving the Vote Leave mastermind, Mr Urquhart (pictured) is reported to have stepped in and offered to do it himself.

The extraordinary set of events reportedly began last week when Mr Cummings turned up at the venue, billed as a 'literature-themed hotel and restaurant with views of the Fannichs mountains'.

On the first night the strategist came for dinner, on August 8, Mr Urquhart was out. But he returned on August 11.

After staff grumbled about serving the Vote Leave mastermind, Mr Urquhart is reported to have stepped in and offered to do it himself.

'Refusal of service on the grounds of political belief is a dangerous slippery slope,' he told the Courier.

But after being told of the staff's objections, Mr Cummings then offered to come back the following day and speak to staff.

Mr Urquhart said: 'Mr Cummings was aware of this animosity, but he chose to dine with us and offered to spend some of his own time in a robust and frank exchange of views with those members of staff less enamoured with his presence.

'That meeting took place later in the week and it was a very interesting experience for all concerned.'

According to the Telegraph, Mr Cummings returned the following day with his family for another meal, his fourth to the restaurant during his holiday, and this time the staff served him.

Mr Cummings was the mastermind behind Vote Leave - a campaigning organisation that played a key role in the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Mr Cummings left Downing Street last November (pictured left) after losing a power struggle within Number 10. Since leaving he has become a vocal critic of the Government, including on its handling of Covid and in particular of Mr Johnson (pictured right)

Scotland, where Mr Cummings was on holiday at the time of his debate, voted 62 per cent in favour of remain, which has given rise to calls for a new Scottish referendum.

After his Vote Leave success, Mr Cummings later became Boris Johnson's top aide and was credited as a key player in helping the Tories to win an 80 seat majority in the 2019 election.

But he left Downing Street last November after losing a power struggle within Number 10.

Since leaving he has become a vocal critic of the Government, including on its handling of Covid and in particular of his former boss, Mr Johnson.

In May he branded Boris Johnson 'unfit for the job' of PM while delivering an extraordinary condemnation of the 'disastrous' coronavirus response during a seven-hour evidence session with MPs.

And last month he followed up his criticism with an hour-long bombshell interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, in which he claimed the PM 'doesn't have a plan' for government.

He also accused Mr Johnson's wife Carrie, a former Tory Comms chief, of 'trying to appoint clowns to key positions'.
Outgoing NY Governor Andrew Cuomo has been blasted by victims' groups for commuting the murder sentence of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin's dad over an armored car robbery that killed three.

Cuomo announced Monday evening that he was commuting the prison sentences of David Gilbert, 76, Greg Mingo, 68, Robert Ehrenberg, 62, Ulysses Boyd, 66, and Paul Clark, 59.

All five have murder convictions, with Gilbert - Boudin's father - the only killer still incarcerated with no possibility of parole over a deadly 1981 hold-up of a Brinks cash truck, that left a security guard and two cops dead.

He served as a getaway driver for the crime, with Cuomo saying Monday his crime 'related to an incident in which he was the driver, not the killer.'

Gilbert was convicted of three counts of second-degree murder in 1983 over the killings, with Cuomo's commutation meaning his 75 year minimum sentence has been lowered to 40 years time served. Although Cuomo said he had commuted Boudin's sentence, he added that the case had been referred to the parole board, for 'potential release,' meaning he will not be freed immediately.

Cuomo ordered the release of the other four men whose sentences he also commuted.

Boudin shared his joy on Twitter upon learning about his father's commutation, writing: 'My heart is bursting. On the eve of my first child's birth, my dad - who's been in prison nearly my entire life - was granted clemency. He never intended harm, yet his crime devastated many families,' he added.

But the clemency was received with backlash from elected officials in Rockland and family of the victims.

The Rockland County Patrolmen's Benevolent Association has opposed to previous attempts of clemency for Gilbert.

State Assemblyman Michael Lawler said the commutation was a 'disgusting betrayal to the people of Rockland County, the families of Peter Paigere, Edward O'Grady, and Waverly Brown, and law enforcement officers everywhere.'

And Rockland County Executive Ed Day had even harsher words for Cuomo - accusing the governor of 'debasing his office.'

Andrew Cuomo has commuted the sentence of terrorist killer David Gilbert - the father of San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin, pictured, left, with his father in an undated photo

He told LoHud: 'I did not think that Andrew Cuomo could debase his office or this state any more than he did,' a reference to Cuomo's resignation over claims he sexually harassed 11 women.

'My thoughts are with the families of the victims of the Brinks robbery and every person of Rockland County who has insulted by the governor today.'

This October will mark the 40th anniversary of the 1981 Brink's robbery, in which Gilbert and his wife, Kathy Boudin were involved.

Gilbert's wife, Kathy Boudin, was also involved in the incident and served as a lookout at the moment two of her accomplices shot the two police officers dead.

She struck a plea deal that saw her admit felony murder in exchange for a 20 year sentence, and was released in 2003. She is now an adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of Social work in New York.

Gilbert was a member of 1960s far-left revolutionary group the Weather Underground. He and his cronies would hold up Brinks trucks filled with cash taken from stores to fund their ideology.

Chesa Boudin, son of David Gilbert, shared on Twitter his joy after Cuomo granted his father clemency. He addressed the family of the victims heartbreak, but said his 'heart is bursting'

Boudin was just 14 months old when his parents, David Gilbert and Kathy Boudin were arrested for the 1981 Brink's robbery that left two cops and one security guard dead

David Gilbert and wife Kathy Boudin were convicted after a heist gone wrong left two cops and a truck guard dead. Kathy Boudin was released in 2003

Boudin is facing a recall as San Francisco DA over claims he is too soft on crime, and advocated for his dad's release from jail

In this May 1985 photo provided by Chesa Boudin, his father, David Gilbert, makes fists as his father holds him during a prison visit at Auburn Correctional Facility in Auburn

The heist which landed him in jail started at the Nanuet Mall in upstate New York, when security guard Peter Paige was killed during the robbery. His colleague Joseph Trombino was seriously wounded, and later died in the 9/11 terror attacks.

Police later stopped the robbery's getaway drivers in nearby Nyack, with Nyack Police Sergeant Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly 'Chipper' Brown both killed.

Two other cops were badly injured at the roadblock set up to try and catch Gilbert and his fellow robbers.

Gilbert requested clemency in March, and was backed by his son - who faces a recall in San Francisco over claims he is soft on crime - as well as Kathy.

When Gilbert and Kathy Boudin were arrested, their son, Chesa Boudin, who would go on to become San Francisco District Attorney, was just 14 months old.

Boudin was adopted by fellow members of the Weather Underground, who raised him in Chicago.

Other elected officials in Rockland Country have also expressed their solidarity with the families of the victims.

County Legislator Charles Falciglia told lohud that someone like Gilbert who was guilty of a 'heinous crime like murder deserves life in prison.'

In the tweet, Cuomo disclosed the names, ages, and convictions of the sic men he granted commutations and pardons to

Officer Waverly Brown was one of the fatal victims of the 1981 Brink's robbery, for which David Gilbert was convicted

Officer David O'Grady was also killed in the Brink's 1981 robbery. DA Chesa Boudin's parents Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert participated in the robbery

The sister of late officer O'Grady (left) has said that she is disappointed and saddened by Cuomo's decision, while elected officials in Rockland County have also shown their commendation

Peter Paigere was a security guard who lost his life in the 1981 Brink's robbery

Mary Crowley, the sister of one of the killed cops, said she was saddened and disappointed by Cuomo's decision.

While in prison, Gilbert also worked as a a student tutor, law library clerk, paralegal assistant, teacher's aide, and an aide for various additional facility programs. Parole board will oversee his potential release.

He was granted the commutation for his contributions to AIDS education and prevention programs, the Gov said.

Cuomo said: 'I am granting clemency to 6 people. These individuals have shown remorse, rehabilitation and commitment to their communities. I thank all the volunteer attorneys representing clemency applicants for their dedication and service to justice.

Commutations are intended to reward prisoners who have shown good behavior, or to reduce sentences that are too harsh for the crimes committed.

They are different from pardons because the sentence is shortened instead of the conviction being removed.

In the state level, only governors are entitled to grant commutations and they can't be revoked, unless they have been grated on the basis of inaccurate evidence.

The governor will step down from his position at 11:59pm EST Monday night after being accused of sexual harassment by 11 women. He denies their claims.

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will replace him.

She is scheduled to be sworn in at 12.01am Tuesday.

Cuomo announced two weeks ago that he will resign from office rather than endure a likely impeachment battle in the state legislature over sexual harassment allegations.

David Gilbert, 76, has served 40 years of the 75-years-to-life after he was convicted of three counts of second-degree murder and four counts of first-degree robbery in 1983

Ulysses Boyd served 35 years of a 50 years-to-life sentence. While incarcerated, Boyd served as a clerk for the facility branch of the NAACP and as a DOCCS transitional services coordinator for over a decade. Upon release, Boyd will be reunited with his wife

Greg Mingo assisted over a thousand of other incarcerated people after earning his GED and a paralegal certification, and taught an eight-week legal research

The other five men granted commutations or a pardon by Cuomo were...

Lawrence Penn

Lawrence Penn, 51, admitted a fraud charge in 2015, but was pardoned by Cuomo on his last day in office

A pardon was also granted to Lawrence Penn, 51, who admitted a fraud charge in 2015.

Penn, the founder of a New York private equity firm called Camelot Acquisitions, admitted to have spent $9.3million he stole from investors in jewelry and an expensive car.

The West Point graduate took a plea deal that allowed him to serve three years.

Penn allegedly created a scheme with pal Michael Ewers-who was also convicted-in which they siphoned money to a shell company.

The diverted cash was made to look like service payments but in reality went to credit card payments and other luxuries.

Explaining the decision to pardon Penn, Cuomo said: 'A West Point graduate and a veteran, Penn continues to be active in his community and a full pardon will allow him to fully re-engage in a meaningful way with society.'

Robert Mingo

Greg Mingo has assisted over a thousand of other incarcerated people after earning his GED and a paralegal certification, and taught an eight-week legal research

Robert Mingo served 39-and-a-half years of the 50 years-to-life he was convicted to.

He was involved in a 1980 double-robbery in Queens, in which a couple was killed.

Mingo always maintained his innocence and had an alibi witness who was not called to testify by his lawyer.

A judge who used the N-word just five month after Mingo's trial convicted him to two life sentences in 1982.

Mingo's commutation was given on the grounds that he assisted over a thousand of other incarcerated people after earning his GED and a paralegal certification. He also taught an eight-week legal research while in prison.

He now plans to work as a counselor to help individuals dealing with addiction, anger, and domestic violence.

Robert Ehrenberg

Robert Ehrenberg earned an associate's degree from SUNY Sullivan and a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Thomas Aquinas College while he was in prison

Ehrenberg earned an associate's degree from SUNY Sullivan and a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Thomas Aquinas College while he was in prison.

'I'll never be able to forgive or forget my terrible actions and can only try to atone for them through my actions during my 50-years-to-life prison sentence,' Ehrenberg wrote in an op-ed for Times Union in 2020.

He has worked as a tutor, designed an 16-week algebra course, and helped charitable groups for causes like childhood cancer research, animal rescue and sanctuary efforts.

Ehrenberg served 28-and-a-half years of the 50-and-a-half sentence he got after he killed a man in a robbery.

Announcing his release, Cuomo said: 'Mingo also became a dedicated and respected peer counselorfounding programs focused on fatherhood, family relationships, and domestic violence and abuseand has facilitated thousands of hours of counseling programs.

'Upon release, Mingo plans to live with family and work as a full-time counselor helping individuals struggling with addiction, anger, and domestic violence.'

Ulysses Boyd, 66, was convicted of one count of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for an incident in which he was not the gunman

Ulysses Boyd

Boyd, 66, was convicted of one count of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

He served 35 years of a 50 years-to-life sentence.

He worked as a clerk for the NAACP branch on the facility where he was imprisoned and as a DOCCS transitional services coordinator for over a decade.

The statement commuting Boyd's sentence read: 'While incarcerated, Boyd served as a clerk for the facility branch of the NAACP and as a DOCCS transitional services coordinator for over a decade. Upon release, Boyd will be reunited with his wife.'

Paul Clark

Paul Clark, 59, has served 40 years of a 58 years and 4 months-to-life sentence. While incarcerated, Clark earned a GED degree, an associate's degree, and a variety of vocational certificates. Upon release, Clark will be reunited with his wife

Clark has served the most years from the group of men- 40 of his 58 years and 4 months-to-life sentence.

He has also earned a GED degree, an associate's degree, and a variety of vocational certificates.

Clark was convicted of three counts of second-degree murder, one count of second-degree attempted murder, and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

He maintained he was innocent of one of the murders he had been accused of, the killing of a 60-year-old cabby. Clark's prosecutor was later convicted for committing eight murders for a mafia mob.

Clark did admit to have killed a 17-year-old when he was 18 at a block party.

Cuomo said that a pardon will 'allow him to fully re-engage in a meaningful way with society.'

Lat week, Gov Cuomo also granted clemency to 10 people, among them a man whose unsuccessful campaign for exoneration in a 1998 killing was championed by actor Martin Sheen.
This is the incredible moment two screaming eagles clashed in mid-air over a Scottish loch.

The white-tailed sea eagles  the UK's largest bird of prey  were hovering at almost 100ft when the talons came out on the Isle of Mull in the Hebrides last week.

The image of the predators, which have a wingspan of up to 8ft, was captured by photographer Gary Jones from Buckley in North Wales.

Two giant eagles became embroiled in a bout of 'air-rage' - locking talons and appearing to 'shout' at each as they tussled in a mid-air scrap

It lasted only a few seconds before one eagle chased the other away

The white-tailed sea eagles  the UK's largest bird of prey  were hovering at almost 100ft

The disagreement unfolded as the birds became territorial over the area, locked talons and snapped at each other with their beaks.

It lasted only a few seconds before one eagle chased the other away.

Although feathers were ruffled, this was a joyous moment for the 52-year-old dad, who was leading a two-day wildlife photography trip with five others.

Gary has been visiting the Isle of Mull for 10 years, but has never been so lucky to capture a mid-air eagle scrap on camera before.

Gary said: 'It was two males getting territorial.

'Generally the eagles tend to stick to their own territories and these two eagles from different territories came together over the boat and there was a bit of territorial argy bargy going on which you don't see very often.

'Sometimes sea eagles will lock talons and fall together but this time it was pretty brief, lots of calling and squawking, they locked talons for a few seconds and then one chased the other one off.

'It wasn't as violent as it could have been as one decided he wasn't going to argue.

Gary has been visiting the Isle of Mull for 10 years, but has never been so lucky to capture a mid-air eagle scrap on camera before

'I didn't think I was going to get the shot, I've been photographing sea eagles for years and this was the first time I had two coming together locking talons.

'It was an amazing feeling that I got that shot but it happened really quick.

'That was the highlight of the trip - that's not something you see everyday - it doesn't happen very often.

'It's not an image you can go out and plan to get, you just hope you're right in the right place at the right time and I think it makes it more special.

'I was pretty excited and got quite a buzz.

'I've seen it before but it's always been too far away to photograph.'
A fisherman has filmed the moment a juvenile great white shark swims towards an unsuspecting paddle boarder off the coast of a popular tourist haven.

Laurie Debono posted footage of an encounter with the three metre shark off Shoal Bay in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, showing how the great white glides past his boat before heading in the direction of the boarder.

'Watch out mate there's a big great white just here!' Mr Debono screams to the person paddling in the shallows nearby.

Laurie Debono posted footage of an encounter with the three metre shark off Shoal Bay showing the great white glide past his boat before heading in the direction of the boarder

The footage of the juvenile curiously swimming by was captured on Sunday from Mr Debono's fishing boat.

'Whoa, that is magnificent,' he said as the shark gets up close to the side of the vessel before turning and gliding away.

The keen fisherman told Daily Mail Australia the shark was likely coming out of its juvenile stage, measuring between 2.5 metres to three metres.

Mr Debono, who has been fishing in the area for 45 years, said he 'wasn't threatened' at all by the shark but wanted to alert the boarder of the 'beautiful creature'.

'I could easily speak to the paddle board rider and advised him that there was a decent size shark there,' he said.

'At first he thought I was kidding... then I advised him to swim back to shore... there were also bathers behind me as well.

'I then spoke to these guys and told them to stay out of the water as they were on the rock area up to their waist.'

'I could easily speak to the paddle border rider and advised him that there was a decent size shark there,' Mr Debono said

The keen fisherman told Daily Mail Australia the shark was likely coming out of its juvenile stage, measuring between 2.5 metres - 3 metres

Mr Debono said he doesn't see a huge number of great whites in the area but this one was particularly curious.

'I am on the water a lot and a lot of the time I burley up while fishing and I don't see a great deal of them at all,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'This fish wasn't a monster by all means but it wasn't a baby. They are such beautiful creatures and I wasn't threatened at all by it.

'I hate shark culling methods all together. My saying is if you are happy to run across a freeway all day every day, then surely one day you would expect to get hit it's there environment not ours so let them be.'
School student Osama Suduh, 15, died after catching Covid and meningitis. Osama is the only child who has died after catching Covid in Australia to date

Since the pandemic began only one Australian child has died after catching Covid - and his death was officially caused by viral meningitis.

The revealing statistic comes as many parents fret about Scott Morrison and Gladys Berejiklian's plan to re-open Australia when 80 per cent of adults are vaccinated.

New South Wales looks likely to hit the target by about mid-November and the PM has warned lockdowns 'must' end when the target is hit.

But there is growing anxiety over whether the plan could place children at risk, given there isn't yet a vaccine for kids aged under 12.

So should parents be worried when the months-long lockdowns gripping 16 million Australians eventually lift? And what do doctors say about the risk of Delta to children?

Some 8,581 Australians aged under 20 have tested positive to Covid since the pandemic began, according to the Federal Department of Health. However, there has been only one death associated with Covid in that age group.

Osama Suduh, 15, died at Westmead Children's Hospital on August 15. Osama was suffering both Covid and pneumococcal meningitis, and meningitis was listed as his formal cause of death.

Armies of forensic cleaners have been a more common sight than students at schools in the country's biggest states of late

Some 16 million Australians are in lockdown due to the Delta variant, including Australia's two biggest cities. Above, a Sydney woman pops into the shops for lettuce and veggie crisps

'We are not seeing more severe illness with Delta, we are just seeing so much more of it

There has been an uptick in cases of young people testing positive to Covid in this year's Delta wave. At the weekend NSW authorities reported 204 cases of Covid in children aged up to nine, plus 276 aged between 10 and 19.

However, during Sydney's outbreak, no child under nine has been in an intensive care unit, and the hospitalisation rate for that age group is less than two per cent, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Meanwhile, in the US, the number of American children hospitalised from Covid has climbed to 277 a day on average, according to Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

While more children are getting infected because Delta is more contagious and as they can't be vaccinated, doctors so far don't believe the variant is more lethal.

Dr Ritu Banerjee, from Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Tennessee, told the ABC's 7.30 program his hospital had to open a second Covid ward due to the surge.

Tennessee has a transmission rate about nine times that of NSW, but Dr Banerjee's hospital has recorded just two Covid-related child deaths during the pandemic.

'We are not seeing more severe illness with Delta, we are just seeing so much more of it,' Dr Banerjee said.

'So the overall number of children in the hospital is greater than we were seeing earlier.'

Infectious diseases expert Professor Sharon Lewin helped produce the Doherty Institute report which Australia's opening up plan is based upon.

Prof. Lewin said: 'Covid is a nasty illness and we don't want children to get it. But very few children end up with severe disease in hospital.'

As for fears children will contract 'Long Covid' - where symptoms linger long after the initial infection - Prof. Lewin told The Drum the condition is more common in people with severe disease, 'so I expect we would see much lower levels of Long Covid in children.'

Doherty Institute Professor Sharon Lewin (above) says Australia doesn't want kids to catch Covid - but has argued very few children end up in hospital suffering severe disease as a result of it

Australia has delivered more than 15 million jabs and the vaccination program is escalating quickly

Meanwhile, the return to school will be staggered for children in NSW, authorities have confirmed, and kids of all ages are likely to be vaccinated eventually, with clinical trials underway.

NSW top doctor Kerry Chant told a parliamentary hearing on Monday that she anticipates 12-to-15-year-olds will be vaccinated 'quite quickly'.

Vaccinations for all 12 to 15-year-olds are expected to get the greenlight from federal authorities as early as Friday.

'The other children will have access to vaccine in the new year,' Dr Chant said.

Ms Berejiklian will announce plans for when students will return to the classroom later this week.

Nine newspapers have tipped that students from kindergarten to Year 2, in Year 11 and potentially Year 6 will go back to school in October.

When the rest of the cohort goes back will depend on case numbers. NSW recorded 753 cases overnight.
Labour demanded an inquiry last night into whether Boris Johnson broke the ministerial code by flying in to campaign in a by-election.

The Prime Minister used his taxpayer-funded official private plane to travel to Hartlepool in April.

Deputy leader Angela Rayner requested the probe after it emerged the Conservatives had declared they spent 'nil' on transport.

The rules say ministers 'must not use Government resources for party political purposes'.

But the Tories denied breaking the code as Mr Johnson flew to the North-East for a Government visit to Middlesbrough.

He was then driven to Hartlepool in an official car, which a spokesman said is allowed for security reasons.

Mr Johnson flew to Teesside on April 1, five days after the campaign for Hartlepool began.

Deputy leader Angela Rayner (pictured) requested the probe after it emerged the Conservatives had declared they spent 'nil' on transport

The Tories denied breaking ministerial code as Boris Johnson (pictured) flew to the North-East for a Government visit to Middlesbrough, before later being driven to Hartlepool

He travelled by motorcade to a B&Q in Middlesbrough to promote a rise in the minimum wage then later met Tory candidate Jill Mortimer to visit a local company and a housing estate for door-knocking, leafleting and to chat to voters.

Yesterday Miss Rayner wrote to the Government's ethics adviser Lord Geidt to demand an investigation.

'Yet again the Prime Minister behaves like the rules don't apply to him,' she said. 'Taxpayers' money should not be abused to fund the Conservative Party's election campaigns.

'The Prime Minister has clearly broken the Ministerial Code, and this time he can't play ignorant and pretend that he didn't know what was going on.

'The contempt with which the Prime Minister treats the laws governing election expenses and the rules that are supposed to uphold standards in our public life shows that he is only ever interested in helping himself, not acting in the interests of the British people.'

A Tory spokesman said: 'CCHQ [Conservative Central Headquarters] covered all relevant costs associated with the political visit on 1st April in accordance with the Ministerial Code, and reported relevant candidate spending in accordance with the Representation of the People's Act 1983.'

He said the Ministerial Code allows the use of a government car by the PM for political visits, for security reasons.
Sydney is one step closer to freedom with Gladys Berejiklian's target of six million Covid vaccines hit today - even as 753 new cases were recorded.

On Tuesday morning, she said 60 per cent of the state's population has had at least one jab and 32 per cent have had two - 48,761 vaccines were administered on Monday.

The NSW premier has long promised the target of six million jabs would trigger 'greater freedoms', at least for the 32 per cent in the state fully vaccinated.

But those will not be announced until later this week, close to the August 28 target date NSW beat by four days, and are likely to be extremely limited.

This is because NSW has recorded more than 800 cases a day, with the vast majority of cases in western Sydney, over most of the past week.

'I'm so pleased and grateful NSW has had six million jabs,' Ms Berejiklian told reporters on Tuesday morning.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian promised on Monday that fully vaccinated NSW residents that they will have 'at least one' freedom restored. Pictured: a woman in exercising in Sydney

Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) announced 753 new Covid cases on Tuesday, with no deaths recorded

'We have hit the milestone and I look forward to making the announcement on Thursday or Friday this week as to what fully vaccinated people will be able to do from the month of September because of the target we have set.'

However, chief health officer Kerry Chant warned the sharp drop in cases did not mean NSW had seen the peak of the outbreak, and cases could still go up again.

'We are here for the long haul. I'd love to believe that we are on the trend down. That would give me joy... but one day is not a trend,' she said.

'We all have to work so hard over these next weeks I don't expect to see the impact of the vaccine, so let's declare, the impact of vaccination takes a while.

'It takes at least two to three weeks for vaccines to work. The impact on transmission will not appear for two to three weeks.'

While speaking about managing the Delta variant, Dr Chant warned that the virus may 'throw us a curve ball'.

'You know, we've got the Delta variant. God help us if we have another variant. This is not a one-size-fits all,' she said.

The Delta variant is considerably more infectious than the original Covid-19 virus and entered Australia via international travellers.

New variants have emerged overseas but have not yet entered the country.

Dr Chant also explained the modelling predicting that deaths can be kept to a minimum if the majority of adults are vaccinated is based on an assumption that some restrictions remain in place for years to come.

'It may be that we actually have indoor mask-wearing for years in certain settings,' she said.

'We may have factors that you're only permitted to go to certain high risk venues if you're vaccinated and show proof of vaccination.'

NSW Health deputy secretary Susan Pearce announced a bizarre Olympic-style competition among the 12 local councils in Sydney's west under ultra-hard lockdown, to see which could get the highest vaccination fastest.

Pictured: A member of the Australian Defence Force assisting people as they arrive at the mass vaccination hub in Homebush, western Sydney, on August 23

Pictured: People arrive to be vaccinated at the NSW Health mass vaccination hub in Homebush on August 23, as state authorities push for people to get jabs as soon as possible

NSW recorded 753 new Covid cases on Tuesday, which is a significant drop from the 818 cases on Monday

The health body partnered with sporting groups and urged fans to wear their team colours when they get the jab.

'Take a selfie on the selfie wall as you are leaving and the sporting codes will be announcing a competition to see which code to get the most vaccination is completed,' she said.

'NSW Health will provide a vaccination championship cup. It feels like the Olympics of vaccination for us at the moment.

'We are keen for people to do whatever it takes to get those doses into arms and we look forward to seeing everyone have a bit of fun while they're at it.'

Ms Berejiklian warned many businesses will likely enforce vaccination requirements to use their services in the future.

'NSW has developed technology to allow us to check in and show our vaccine that is in one go,' she said.

'My message to everyone is if you want to get back to normal, get your vaccine.

'It is your choice if you don't, but we can say in the strongest possible terms that if you want to do some things vaccination will be key as part of that process.'

NSW has now exceeded the record number of daily cases set by Victoria at the height of its second wave last year. Pictured: Women exercising in Sydney on Monday

Pictured: Commuters in Sydney walking to work in the rain. The state has reached its target of six million jabs

The premier also said no state or nation 'on the planet' has managed to escape the Delta strain, and Australia would be no different.

'We have to be real about that. It is confronting, that is what we are in. It is a plague, a contagious strain of a contagious disease which is sweeping the world. Australia has done very well compared to the rest of the world,' she said.

'I look forward to us moving forward as a nation because every state, no matter what stage every state is up to, some states have zero cases and border closures but every state will have to come out of that eventually.'

Ms Berejiklian said states that have enjoyed zero, or close to zero, case numbers for many months will see a rise in Delta cases.

'When they do, they will all be confronted,' she added.

Dr Chant said there has been a 'high uptake' of vaccines among school teachers, but Ms Berejiklian would not say whether the jab will be compulsory for them.

'We are working on our plan as to what school looks like returning' she said.

'There are a number of very good vaccines available so we are asking everybody to come forward to get their vaccine especially if you are can occupation with contact with a lot of people.'

Pictured: a man closing his shop at 9pm in Merrylands, south-west Sydney, to comply with curfews enforced in the area

Pictured: Medical workers at the vaccination hub in Homebush, Sydney, on Monday August 23

Of the locally acquired cases, 134 are linked to a known cluster, 108 are household contacts and 26 are close contacts.

The source of infection for 619 cases is under investigation, and no deaths were recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday.

Seventy-three cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and 22 were in isolation for part of their infectious period.

There are 608 Covid-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 107 people in intensive care, 34 of whom require ventilation. None of those in ICU are fully vaccinated.

Thirty-six new cases were recorded in far west NSW, including 23 in Dubbo, 14 in Wilcannia and five in Parkes.

The 12 local councils of concern in the city's west woke up to their second day of even harsher restrictions on Tuesday, including a curfew and one-hour exercise limit.

Sydneysiders are only allowed to exercise outside for one hour under tightened restrictions across the city

Pictured: People moving around in the suburb of Merrylands as the 9pm curfew approaches on August 23

Dr Chant singled out Auburn, Maryland, Yagoona, Guildford, Bankstown, Punchbowl, and Blacktown as particularly worrying suburbs with growing case numbers.

She also dodged a question comparing the exposure to coronavirus of a hairdresser to residents of western Sydney only being allowed outside to exercise for an hour a day.

'We have a set of rules in place. They are amongst the toughest, and what we're at the moment doing is trying to drive case numbers down and we are also trying to increase the opportunities for access to vaccination,' she replied.

But Ms Berejiklian thanked people in those suburbs for booking jabs, specifically residents of Blacktown.

'We've seen Blacktown go from one of the lowest rates of vaccination to the highest in the state,' she said.

Speaking to the Nine Network on Tuesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his home state had managed to keep cases low - as it had to - while vaccination rates ramped up.

'Overseas they've got tens of thousands of cases every day,' he said.

'I was talking to Boris Johnson the other day (and) he's amazed that our cases are that low. It's all relative.'

Lockdown will remain in place until at least August 28 in regional NSW and at least September 30 in Sydney and surrounds.
An ex-Royal Marine has accused the Ministry of Defence of blocking an evacuation flight from Kabul that he organised for himself, his staff and his rescued animals.

Paul 'Pen' Farthing, 52, said he has been 'left to fend for myself' after the MoD allegedly stopped his privately rented plane from taking off.

He thought he would be evacuated from the country on a privately rented plane with his 25 Afghan staff as well as the charity's dogs and cats. He announced the UK Government granted visas for all of his staff and their dependents.

Mr Farthing said the evacuation flight had been 'blocked' and that he was 'cut off' from a Ministry of Defence (MoD) helpline.

Paul 'Pen' Farthing, 52, said he has been 'left to fend for myself' after the MoD allegedly stopped his privately rented plane from taking off

He told Good Morning Britain: 'Today we still do not have anything from the MoD, in fact they cut me off.

'I did have an emergency line that I could call if I was in trouble or needed to report something that's going on but that's been cut so I've been literally left now on my own in enemy-held territory. I just can't get my head around that.

'We've got a privately-funded plane that can take 250 passengers out, 69 of them would be me and the staff, but we've got an empty cargo hold. I don't understand the problems here, I'm not asking the MoD to give me a plane I just need to have a call sign.'

Mr Farthing claimed he had not received documents from the Home Office that would allow his staff to get past Taliban checkpoints and leave the country.

But today Defence Minister Ben Wallace called his comments 'utter nonsense' and said he would not prioritise 'pets over people' when there were thousands of other desperate people waiting to leave.

He told Sky News: 'He could get through the gates as a British passport holder. He was called forward on Friday and I recommend he takes that.

'His workforce have been offered, as entitled personnel, places and they will be able to be called forward, but I can't guarantee in this window they will be processed onto aircraft, all I can say is they qualify.

'As for the animals that he was rescuing... it is just not going to be the case that I will prioritise them over the men, women and children we see in desperate need at the gate.'

He previously managed to get his 30-year-old wife Kaisa out of the country and shared a shocking image appearing to show her on a near-empty evacuation flight.

In an interview with Sky News, he said: 'I can't get into the airport because the MoD won't talk to me. That is beyond the pale, somebody somewhere is playing with people's lives.'

Mr Farthing goes on to describe the emotional rollercoaster he and his staff were forced to go through today.

He said: 'You've not idea of the elation in our office this morning when our staff knew [they could come to the UK].'

He previously managed to get his 30-year-old wife Kaisa out of the country and shared a shocking image appearing to show her on a near-empty evacuation flight (pictured)

Outraged social media users have taken to Twitter to vent their frustrations at the Government's alleged actions

But the joy his staff felt soon turned to despair after Mr Farthing said the Ministry of Defence refused to let his privately funded commercial plane land in the Kabul military airfield.

He said: 'It's a privately funded aircraft, I only want to take out 69 people and the cargo hold is empty so we're going to put dogs and cats into it.

'No taxpayer money will go into this. We've got 130 spare seats on that aircraft we can fill with people entitled to come to Britain.'

He went on to claim the reason his flight had been blocked is that the Ministry of Defence doesn't want people to see animals getting on a flight.

While holding back tears he added: 'I am behind enemy lines now, the Taliban are here. I cannot get into the airport because the MOD won't talk to me. They're playing with people's lives.

'I wasn't frightened because I knew I had this lifeline but that's just been cut off. I am now on my own here.

An RAF plane was filled to capacity with embassy staff, British nationals and any Afghans able to settle in the UK

Evacuations have been underway in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country on August 13 after American troops were pulled from the country

'The very people that I was part of have cut me off. You have no idea of the emotion that's going through me right now.'

Outraged social media users have taken to Twitter to vent their frustrations at the Government's alleged actions.

One wrote: 'Dear British Government, the eyes of the world are watching, not just those of the UK. It is absolutely essential this life saving flight goes ahead without delay and with all onboard (including animals). I would urge you to ensure everything is in place without delay.'

Thousands of Afghans could be left behind in Kabul as ministers push to extend the deadline for the last British evacuation flight beyond Tuesday. Pictured: British citizens catching a flight earlier this week

Taliban fighters stand guard on their side at a border crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in Torkham, in Khyber district, Pakistan

While another said: 'Furious and feel sick. How can people be so evil!!! Boris Johnson GET THIS SORTED! I can't believe we were all praising you this morning, we thought you were doing the right thing!!!!'

And another wrote: 'This is horrendous. Heartbreaking. The UK government have failed in every aspect and I am so sorry to see it now affecting you and #nowzad. I am praying for you, your staff and animals to get back safely. Stay safe.'

The MoD refused to comment on Mr Farthing's accusations last night.
Legendary children's writer Judith Kerr very nearly did not survive to write any of her beloved books.

Her father, a Jewish newspaper columnist in Weimar Germany and an outspoken critic of the Nazis, was forced to flee Berlin with his family in 1933. As Hitler rose to power, Alfred Kerr was thrown out of work and Josef Goebbels ordered his books to be burned.

A child of nine at the time, Judith did not realise how desperate their plight was until much later when she found a letter her despairing father had written to a friend. Her mother Julia, much younger than Alfred, was talking constantly of suicide, he said  and of 'taking the children with her'.

They escaped to Switzerland and then to France, but Alfred still found it impossible to earn a living because he was Jewish and couldn't write well in French. In desperation he wrote a film script, imagining the rise of Napoleon from the viewpoint of the dictator's mother, and sent it to celebrated film-maker Alexander Korda. Though the movie was never made, the 1,000 that Korda paid for the rights enabled the Kerrs to get to Britain and safety.

These traumatic years left a deep mark on Judith, who never forgot how political upheaval looked through the eyes of a child. On the day she and her older brother Michael had to flee Berlin, she was told she could take just one toy.

After a childhood of terror and death threats in Nazi Germany, Judith (pictured aged six) escaped first to Switzerland and France before being moving with her family to Britain in 1933. She was nine years old at the time

Judith chose a woolly dog that she had recently been given. Before long, she was tearfully regretting her decision  she had left behind a pink cloth rabbit that was her favourite comforter from babyhood. Her sense of injustice at the loss lasted all her life: when she wrote the first volume of her autobiography in 1971, she called it When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit.

By then, she was already drawing avidly. Her earliest memory was of sitting on a kerb aged two, ignoring the children playing around her and drawing in a puddle of oil with a stick.

A few years later, she presented her mother with a drawing of the Garden of Eden. A figure in a beret stood under one of the trees. 'That's God,' explained Judith. Even as a small girl, she had a knack of creating improbable images that somehow made perfect sense.

After the war, she won a scholarship to the Central School of Arts and Crafts, where she met lifelong friend Peggy Fortnum  who went on to draw Paddington Bear.

Her initial success came when she won first prize in a Daily Mail art competition in 1949.

She spent the money on a trip to Spain, to see Goya's masterpieces, and then got a job teaching at a college in Lime Grove, close to the BBC studios that she would sometimes visit to eat in the canteen.

Judith Kerr, author of The Tiger Who Came To Tea, died in 2019 aged 95 following a short illness

It was there she bumped into a writer, Nigel 'Tom' Kneale, and fell in love almost instantly: 'There was total recognition,' she said.

Kneale was in demand, the creator of the sci-fi scientist Quatermass, and he helped Judith get work as a script editor. They married in 1954, at Chelsea Register Office.

They bought a flat in Kensington and painted all the walls in bright colours, as a protest against the drabness of the times  'nothing to eat except dried egg, but you hadn't been killed and you could work at anything you liked'.

When her children Tacy and Matthew were born, she tried her hand at textile design, selling patterns for children to John Lewis. To entertain her toddlers, she began making up stories.

Their favourite was the one about the hungry 'tiger who came to tea', which they wanted to hear again and again. 'Talk the tiger!' Tacy would demand. Her favourite part was the ending, when Daddy came home and took the family out 'in the dark' for sausage, chips and ice cream.

The book sees the visitor, a tiger, politely inviting itself into the kitchen. It proceeded to eat the family out of house and home, even guzzling 'all Daddy's beer' and 'all the water in the tap'.

Judith (pictured receiving the BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award) loved to work, and always said her greatest fear was becoming too old to write

The Tiger Who Came To Tea has a happy ending though and so, despite all the odds, did the story of Judith Kerr herself.

Many parents might suppose the appeal of the Tiger image lay in a takeaway supper. Judith, with her instinctive understanding of a child's mind, saw that the real excitement was the thought of an adventure in the dark.

She drew the illustrations, basing the father on her husband, and then faced three years of rejections from publishers before the story was published in 1968.

It has been subjected to intense analysis ever since by readers trying to understand its magical appeal.

The former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen drew parallels, in a 2013 BBC documentary, between the book and the author's life: she was no stranger, he pointed out, to the knock on the door, the monster tearing her world apart.

Newsnight's Emily Maitlis admitted she asked the author 'if the tiger symbolised the 1960s revolution where normal mores and suburban life became upended by this wild creature'. Judith's patient answer to these theories was always the same. The tiger was just a tiger. It was hungry, and it wanted its tea.
Joe Biden has said that children should wear face masks whenever they leave the house - even if outdoors - to try and stop the spread of COVID-19.

The president on Monday held a press conference to celebrate the FDA's final approval of the Pfizer vaccine.

But even as he delivered good news, he angered some with his advice.

'So let me say this to parents. You have the tools. You have the tools to keep your child safer. And two of those tools above all are available to you,' he said.

'One: make sure everyone around your child who can be vaccinated is vaccinated. Parents, adults, teens.

'Two: make sure your child is masked when they leave home. That's how we can best keep our kids safe.'

Biden issued the advice despite research showing it is far harder to catch COVID outdoors, and that kids are much less likely to fall seriously-ill or die from it.

Dr Muge Cevik, a virologist from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, told the New York Times in May that the likelihood of contracting COVID from an infected person outdoors is below one per cent, and could even be as low as 0.1 per cent.

And recent statistics from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) revealed that between 0.2 per cent and 1.9 per cent of COVID cases in children recorded across all 50 states resulted in hospitalization.

The same set of statistics revealed that between 0.00 per cent and 0.22 per cent of all COVID deaths were among kids, with seven states so-far reporting zero COVID deaths among children.

Joe Biden on Monday said that children should wear face masks when leaving the house

Children in Miami are pictured on Monday wearing face masks as they return to school. Miami-Dade County has defied Governor Ron DeSantis's orders, and insisted that schoolchildren wear face masks. Biden on Monday said all children should, when leaving the house

Despite those figures, Biden said that he was aware that 'parents are concerned about COVID-19 cases among their children', and said that he and Education Secretary, Miguel Cardona, are discussing 'how to get our kids back to school safely.'

He continued: 'Cases among children are still rare. And severe cases among children are very, very rare.

'I know that for parents thinking about their own kids, it's not as reassuring as anyone would like it to be.'

The president also urged American companies to begin ordering staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Major companies like Amtrak, Walt Disney and Walmart have already required their workers to be immunized and the Pentagon have said they will mandate all troops.

But Biden's calls for all companies to make their requirements stricter is likely to face calls of federal government overreach and legal challenges.

A mobile billboard truck displays messages for the Orange County Public Schools board during a protest in favor of masks, in front of the OCPS headquarters in downtown Orlando on Monday

Winston Wallace, 9, raises his hand in class at iPrep Academy on the first day of school in Miami on Monday

Students at Barbara Coleman Senior High School in Miami walk to the campus on their first day of school on Monday

States including Florida and Texas have already fought back against vaccine mandates, saying people should not be forced to get the shots.

Biden, speaking at the White House, portrayed Monday's official approval as a huge victory, even though it will be of limited practical value months after the vaccination received emergency approval.

Even so, he spoke directly to what he said were 'millions' of Americans who may have been waiting for full approval before trusting the jab - even though the shots have been going in arms since December 2020.

Speaking on CNN Monday evening, White House COVID tsar speculated that up to 30 per cent of Americans who still aren't vaccinated were holding out for this formal approval to have their shot.

'It has now happened,' Biden said. 'The moment youve been waiting for is here. Its time for you go get your vaccine.

'Get it today.'

Joe Biden urged Americans to get vaccinated amid FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine

After delivering his good news on vaccinations, Biden headed straight for the exit ignoring questions about Afghanistan

The FDA announcement was a welcome bit of good news for an administration that has been battered by weeks of negative headlines and remains under intense pressure as the clock runs down on the president's August 31 deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan

He pointed to a pickup in the pace of vaccinations amid a spike in hospitalizations and deaths among the unvaccinated.

'The FDA approval is the gold standard,' Biden said, amid information showing about a third of eligible Americans have declined to get the vaccine.

Dorit Reiss, a professor of law at UC Hastings College of the Law, told CNBC that firms may have felt wary of implementing full vaccine mandates until the shot got approval, even though they had the legal authority.

But he also avoided the ongoing Afghanistan withdrawal fiasco, and ignored shouted questions from reporters at the end of the briefing.

Among the questions Biden didn't take: How many Americans are still stuck in the country, as the U.S. military provides security in a tense situation, with Afghan forces manning security checkpoints.

With Biden walking away from shouted questions on Afghanistan, he left it to his national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, and his press secretary to field questions later in the day.

Sullivan deflected questions about whether U.S. troops would stay beyond an August 31 deadline after the Taliban said they were not willing to consider an extension.

'We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through both political and security channels, I'm not going to get into the details of those discussions here to protect those discussions, which are covering a wide range of issues,' he said in the White House briefing room.

That left the president to talk up progress on COVID-19.

Biden touted the 71 per cent vaccination rate, and even noted an uptick in shots in hard hit Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

He also sought a silver lining in the reduced death rate amid the campaign to push out vaccines, saying the death rate is 'still 70 percent lower than it was last winter.'

And he used the moment to urge private companies to issue vaccination mandates for staff.

'As I mentioned before, I've imposed vaccination requirements that will reach millions of Americans,' he said.

'Today I'm calling on more companies ... in the private sector to step up with vaccine requirements that will reach millions more people.

'If you're a business leader, a nonprofit leader, state or local leader, who has been waiting for FDA approval to require vaccinations, I call on you now to do that, require it.'

The administration already requires federal employees and onsite contractors to attest that they are vaccinated or if they are unvaccinated to submit to regular testing.

He spoke soon after the Pentagon announced it would press ahead with moves to order personnel to be vaccinated following full approval of the Pfizer shot.

'We're going to move forward making that vaccine mandatory, we're preparing the guidance for the force right now,' he said during a news briefing.

Earlier, the FDA granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for those aged 16 and older on Monday. The two-dose regimen was the first to receive emergency use authorization from federal regulators in December 2020 and will now be first to be licensed.

Pfizer said on Monday the vaccine will continue to be available for 12-to-15-year-olds and as third doses for immunocompromised people under emergency use only.

On Monday Dr Anthony Fauci backtracked on his claim the US will 'get control' of the coronavirus pandemic by the fall of 2022, saying he 'misspoke' and the country can actually beat the COVID-19 by spring next year.

After apologizing for his latest gaffe, the top infectious disease expert caused further confusion by warning there is 'no guarantee' the spring deadline will be met if not enough people get vaccinated and another variant develops.

The director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases told Anderson Cooper on CNN Monday evening that COVID was a 'a very wily virus' that could 'linger on' if more people did not get vaccinated.

Fauci, who is Biden's chief medical advisor, had told NPR that coronavirus would still be a problem by next fall.

Just hours later, Fauci flip-flopped on the deadline when questioned on 'Anderson Cooper 360,' telling the host the error was 'my bad'.

Dr. Anthony Fauci (right) told Anderson Cooper (left) on CNN Monday evening that COVID was a 'a very wily virus' that could drag on if more people did not get vaccinated

"It's up to us," says Dr. Anthony Fauci of the effort to control the Covid virus.



"If we keep lingering without getting those people vaccinated that should be vaccinated, this thing could linger on, leading to the development of another variant which could complicate things." pic.twitter.com/pIQv3ilAom  Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) August 24, 2021

Fauci clarified: 'I have to apologize... I meant to say the spring of 2022, so I did misspeak.

He added: 'If we can get through this winter and get the overwhelming majority of the 90 million people who have not been vaccinated, vaccinated, I hope we could start to get some good control in the spring of 2022. I didn't mean the fall. I misspoke, my bad.'

The White House COVID tsar said 'control' of the virus would come from the 'overwhelming majority' of the population getting the vaccine, including those who have already been infected with the coronavirus.

'If we can do that with the people who have been infected, get them revaccinated, the people who are unvaccinated now, that 90 million people... I think we can get a degree of overall blanket protection of the community.'
Queensland has recorded two new cases of Covid-19 after two truck drivers who travelled into the state from NSW tested positive.

However, both drivers are considered 'low risk' as they were relatively contained and returned negative results on follow-up tests.

'We aren't overly concerned about these two,' Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said at Queensland's Tuesday Covid briefing.

Exposure sites in St George and the Balonne region, where the drivers stopped for for fuel, food, and accommodation, are expected to be listed later on Tuesday.

The truck drivers entered Queensland from NSW in the St George area in the state's far west

Other than the transit stops, both drivers are believed to have mainly stayed at home with their families.

One of the drivers lives in the Somerset region and the other on the Sunshine Coast.

Chief health officer Jeannette Young said the cases were reported to Queensland by NSW Health late on Monday.

'These were two truck drivers were tested as part of the surveillance program that we have in place in Australia now.'

Truck drivers need to be tested every seven days under the program.

'These two truck drivers were superb, doing their routine testing and extra testing and maintained social distancing at all times, stayed at home when they weren't driving the trucks,' Dr Young said.

'The risk is very low.'

Strict border controls between Queensland and NSW are in place as the Delta outbreak in NSW continues to spread

Border residents protest the current restrictions on NSW residents entering Queensland at Coolangatta last weekend

She said the pair were retested in Queensland and both results came back negative.

Dr Young said the households of both drivers were now undergoing 14 days quarantine.

She said plans to further ease some Covid restrictions in Queensland from Friday would not as yet be threatened by the two new cases.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said 5,000 vehicles were intercepted at the NSW-Queenslander border on Monday.

They included heavy haulage vehicles, with 199 refused entry and 17 who were essential workers that had not yet been vaccinated.

New border rules introduced from last weekend require any essential workers entering Queensland from NSW to have had at least one dose of a vaccine.

Ms Palaszczuk urged Prime Minster Scott Morrison to provide new Doherty Institute modelling on vaccinate rates to state premiers before national cabinet on Friday

Queensland Police stop vehicles on the Queensland-NSW border. Queensland has tightened border controls in the past week as the Delta outbreak in NSW crept further north

Ms Palaszczuk was asked whether she was worried about reports some truckies were planning a blockade of the NSW-Queenslander border to protest border controls.

'They can come in,' she said of the truck drivers. 'Freight has to be distributed around the country and there's a national freight protocol in place, so I don't see what the issue would be.

'Have a look at the number of cases in NSW and Queenslanders don't want to see those numbers coming into Queensland, that's why there's a border closure.'

Ms Palaszczuk also pressured Prime Minster Scott Morrison to provide the new Doherty Institute modelling to state premiers before National Cabinet on Friday.

'I haven't seen the modelling,' she said. 'Apparently the PM has seen the modelling - share it with us, don't just drop it on Friday morning. Share it with us so we can all have a look at it.'

She pushed back at the prime minister's comments that people needed to 'get out of the cave' and open up the country once vaccination rates reach 80 per cent.

The premier said unlike some other states, Queenslanders were already living in relative freedom.

'Have a look at in Queensland at the moment: you can go to work and go to school, you can go watch sport, you can play community sport, you can go to a restaurant, you can go out, we haven't given up,' she said.

Ms Palaszczuk downplayed suggestions Queensland was keen to host this season's AFL Grand Final, as it did for the first time last year

Ms Palaszczuk said she wanted to see state-specific modelling on what load would be placed on her state's public health system if the country incrementally opened up at 80 per cent.

'Everyone's worried about the impact it has on hospitals, I mean we're seeing large numbers of people are presenting with serious illness, dying in hospitals, you know, hospitals are going to be stretched,' she said.

'We've seen the examples around the world.'

The premier downplayed suggestions the state was keen to host this season's AFL Grand Final, as it did for the first time last year.

'I think we've got enough sport here at the moment,' she said.

'Let Western Australia have one, eh.'
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Kamala Harris discussed Christmas shopping and climate change but failed to mention the current crisis in Afghanistan during her major foreign policy speech on Monday.

Harris, addressing a roundtable of business leaders before her speech, warned that climate change and the pandemic have contributed to supply chain issues, The New York Times reported, and suggested parents should consider getting Christmas presents now.

'The stories that we are now hearing about the caution that if you want to have Christmas toys for your children, it might now be might be the time to start buying them, because the delay may be many, many months,' she said.

'So across the board, people are experiencing the issue.

'And, of course, the climate crisis is fueling a lot of this. When we look at the stronger typhoons that have disrupted shipping lanes and sea level rise, which threatens port infrastructure as an example. So these are the many issues that are that are causing these disruptions.'

The Vice President who kicked off her week-long Asia tour on Sunday, also delivered a sharp rebuke to China for its incursions in the South China Sea, warning its actions there amount to 'coercion' and 'intimidation' and affirming that the U.S. will support its allies in the region against Beijing's advances.

But she once again dodged the most weighty international issue of the moment: Afghanistan. Harris has been criticized in the U.S. for her silence on the issue, leaving the remarks to figures such as Jake Sullivan, the National Security Adviser; Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin; and Joe Biden himself.

Harris also failed to address comments made by Adam Schiff, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee on Monday, that US citizens will remain behind enemy lines because he believes it is unlikely that President Biden will complete the evacuation of of Americans and their allies from Afghanistan before the August 31 deadline.

Schiff said a full evacuation was 'possible' but 'very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIV's, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders, women leaders.'

Despite not mentioning the unfolding catastrophe in Kabul during her address in Singapore, Kamala Harris was praised by President Biden during a visit by the WNBA - during which he joked he may need a job soon.

Elsewhere Fox News host Sean Hannity condemned President Biden on Sunday for creating 'a hostage situation on a massive scale' over his seemingly unmovable August 31 deadline.

The vice president is pictured holding a roundtable meeting with business leaders - a meeting at which she warned of threats to the supply chain from the pandemic and climate change, and recommended parents consider buying Christmas presents now

Harris is pictured speaking during the roundtable discussion with business leaders

Adam Schiff warns it's 'unlikely' Biden will rescue all Americans and Afghan allies before August 31 Mr Schiff claimed that President Biden is 'unlikely' to meet his August 31 deadline to evacuate US citizens and their allies from Afghanistan. Schiff said a full evacuation was 'possible' but 'very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIV's, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders, women leaders.' Speaking outside the US Capitol, Schiff continued: 'I am encouraged to see the numbers of people evacuated, increasing readily to the point where we evacuated 11,000 people in a single day,' Schiff continued. 'Nonetheless, given the logistical difficulties of moving people to the airport and the limited number of workarounds, it's hard for me to see that being fully complete by the end of the month. And I'm certainly of the view that we maintain a military presence as long as it's necessary to get all U.S. persons out and to meet our moral and ethical obligation to our Afghan partners.' He added: 'Given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIVs, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders women leaders, it's hard for me to imagine all of that can be accomplished between now and the end of the month,' he said. Advertisement

In what was billed as a major foreign policy speech, Vice President Kamala Harrissaid: 'We know that Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea. Beijing's actions continue to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations.'

Harris, who later today will travel on to Vietnam, declared that the U.S. 'stands with our allies and our partners' in the face of threats from China.

The speech sought to cement the U.S. commitment to supporting its allies in an area of growing importance to the Biden administration, which has made countering China's influence globally a centerpiece of its foreign policy.

But it comes as America's decades-long focus on the Middle East comes to a messy end with the chaotic withdrawal from Kabul.

As Kamala appeared to dodge the Afghanistan catastrophe during her speech, Adam Schiff, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said it was 'unlikely Joe Biden would be able to evacuate every US citizen and their allies before his August 31 cut-off point.

Speaking outside the US Capitol, Schiff said: 'I am encouraged to see the numbers of people evacuated, increasing readily to the point where we evacuated 11,000 people in a single day,' Schiff continued.

'Nonetheless, given the logistical difficulties of moving people to the airport and the limited number of workarounds, it's hard for me to see that being fully complete by the end of the month. And I'm certainly of the view that we maintain a military presence as long as it's necessary to get all U.S. persons out and to meet our moral and ethical obligation to our Afghan partners.'

He added: 'Given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIVs, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders women leaders, it's hard for me to imagine all of that can be accomplished between now and the end of the month,' he said.

Harris underscored this shift, calling the Indo-Pacific 'critically important to our nation's security and prosperity.'

She said that while the U.S. is focused on closing out its Afghanistan engagement by evacuating as many people as possible, 'it is also imperative that as we address developments in one region, we continue to advance our interests in other regions, including this region.'

Her rebuke to Beijing amounted to her sharpest comments yet on the U.S. foe.

But Harris was careful to emphasize that the U.S. is seeking greater engagement in the Indo-Pacific region not just to counter China, but to advance an 'optimistic vision that we have for our participation and partnership in the region.'

In deference to Singapore's staunch neutrality in the U.S.-China dispute, Harris also affirmed that the U.S. isn't looking to 'make anyone choose between countries.'

Speaking in a country that serves as the anchor of the U.S. naval presence in Southeast Asia, Harris emphasized the significance the region holds for U.S. defense.

She also emphasized the significant U.S. economic ties there, noting that Southeast Asia represents the America's fourth largest export market.

The vice president is on her second foreign trip, after a visit to Guatemala and Mexico in June

Harris's trip will move on on Tuesday to Vietnam. It is designed to show U.S. commitment to the region, in the face of multiple crises - not least in Afghanistan

Harris speaks to troops on Monday as she visits the USS Tulsa in Singapore - the first stop of her week-long Asia trip

Harris speaks to troops on Monday in Singapore, telling them they are carrying out a vital strategic job

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin (pictured) said on Monday that the U.S. had done 'unscrupulous and dishonest things' in Afghanistan and called on the nation to help rebuild

Fox News host blasts Joe Biden for capitulating to Taliban Fox News host Sean Hannity condemned President Biden for creating 'a hostage situation on a massive scale' over plans to withdraw from Afghanistan by August 31 despite warnings that not all Americans will be rescued. 'Our fellow Americans are behind enemy lines and the hard Taliban deadline is approaching in eight days. A horrific crisis, no end in sight,' he said on his show Monday night. Hannity says the speed of the rescue efforts is falling short. 'Every American who wants to get home can get home, but then Joe Biden said last week I can't guarantee the outcome,' Hannity said. 'You know it's irresponsible? Abandoning the Air Force base leaving thousands of unarmed fellow citizens helpless to the whims of the radical terrorist group and the Taliban. The only way any American can even make it to the airport is if, and only if, the Taliban allows them and they're not allowing everybody.' He continued: 'You know what else is irresponsible? Abandoning interpreters and translators and drivers, each one that put their necks on the line to help US troops over the 20-year period of time. Now the French President Emmanuel Macron is now lecturing and accusing him of moral cowardice that reminded Mr. Biden of the collective moral responsibility towards the Afghan men and women, we cannot abandon them.' Advertisement

On Monday, Harris told sailors aboard a U.S. combat ship at the Changi naval base in Singapore that 'a big part of the history of the 21st century will be written about this very region' and that their work defending the region was pivotal.

'It is in our vital interest to stand united with our allies and our partners in Southeast Asia in defense of a free and open Indo-Pacific,' she said.

Harris also met Monday with Singapore President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The vice president's office announced a number of agreements out of that meeting aimed at combating cyberthreats, tackling climate change, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and alleviating supply chain issues.

After her speech Tuesday, Harris held a roundtable discussion with business leaders on supply chain issues.

Later, she planned to travel to Vietnam, where she will meet with top officials Wednesday.

President Joe Biden himself has repeatedly emphasized his focus on China as one of America's main adversaries.

In recent months, his administration has ramped up outreach to the Indo-Pacific region, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Austin both visiting the area in the spring and summer.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken also held a number of virtual meetings with Southeast Asian officials earlier this month.

The chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, however, complicated that message of support to the region, raising questions about the U.S. commitment to its allies.

While Biden said last week that an indefinite engagement would have benefited 'true strategic competitors' China and Russia, China has seized on the images of violence from the evacuation to slam the U.S. for its engagement there.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday that the U.S. had done 'unscrupulous and dishonest things' in Afghanistan and called on the nation to help rebuild.

'The United States is the root cause and the biggest external factor in the Afghan issue,' Wenbin said.

'It cannot just run away like this.'

But Harris, during a joint news conference with Prime Minister Lee on Monday, said that her presence in the country, combined with the agreements around greater cooperation that the Biden administration has pursued with Indo-Pacific countries, speak 'volumes in terms of the integrity of the relationships that the United States has around the world on many issues.'

While back in the US, Fox News host Sean Hannity condemned President Biden for creating 'a hostage situation on a massive scale' over plans to withdraw from Afghanistan by August 31 despite warnings that not all Americans will be rescued.

President Joe Biden poses with the Seattle Storm after their 2020 WNBA Championship win at the White House

President Biden speaks with point guard Sue Bird during an event to honor the 2020 WNBA champions Seattle Storm in the East Room of the White House on Monday

Biden praises Kamala Harris during WNBA visit President Biden praised Kamala during an event with the WNBA champions Seattle Storm on Monday and joked he may need a job soon, volunteering his services as ball boy. Biden thanked the four-time championship women's basketball team for being an inspiration to women and girls around the world, saying it was important because 'until they see it, till they watch, it becomes real.' 'That's why we have a female vice president,' he added, saying he expects 'we're going to have some presidents pretty soon.' Biden was in a jovial, relaxed mood as he praised the basketball team, who stood behind him, wearing face masks as he honored them during an event at the White House. He even joked: 'I may need work after this. I'd make a good ball boy.' Advertisement

'Our fellow Americans are behind enemy lines and the hard Taliban deadline is approaching in eight days. A horrific crisis, no end in sight,' he said on his show Monday night.

Hannity says the speed of the rescue efforts is falling short.

'Every American who wants to get home can get home, but then Joe Biden said last week I can't guarantee the outcome,' Hannity said.

'You know it's irresponsible? Abandoning the Air Force base leaving thousands of unarmed fellow citizens helpless to the whims of the radical terrorist group and the Taliban. The only way any American can even make it to the airport is if, and only if, the Taliban allows them and they're not allowing everybody.'

He continued: 'You know what else is irresponsible? Abandoning interpreters and translators and drivers, each one that put their necks on the line to help US troops over the 20-year period of time. Now the French President Emmanuel Macron is now lecturing and accusing him of moral cowardice that reminded Mr. Biden of the collective moral responsibility towards the Afghan men and women, we cannot abandon them.'

As criticism was being levelled his way, President Biden was busy praising Kamala during an event with the WNBA champions Seattle Storm on Monday and joked he may need a job soon, volunteering his services as ball boy.

Biden thanked the four-time championship women's basketball team for being an inspiration to women and girls around the world, saying it was important because 'until they see it, till they watch, it becomes real.'

'That's why we have a female vice president,' he added, saying he expects 'we're going to have some presidents pretty soon.'

Biden was in a jovial, relaxed mood as he praised the basketball team, who stood behind him, wearing face masks as he honored them during an event at the White House. The president has been dealing with the Taliban take over of Afghanistan and a revolt by moderate Democrats against his expansive $3.5 trillion budget plan on Capitol Hill.

But he was in a jokey mood with the Seattle Storm, telling them: ''I may need work after this. I'd make a good ball boy.'
A mother-of-three whose baby boy caught Covid-19 from a teacher at his childcare centre has revealed how the virus quickly ripped through her family, as she urged Sydneysiders to 'follow the rules' and stop it 'spreading like wildfire'.

Ebony and partner Scott rushed their 16-month-old son Arthur to The Children's Hospital at Westmead on Saturday after noticing he had had a runny nose and was burning up.

Their worst fears were confirmed via a NSW Health text message on Monday.

The toddler had caught the virus from his daycare teacher last Wednesday and had been infectious for close to a week.

Now Ebony fears the toddler could pass the virus onto the rest of the family, including his brothers Zachary, 6, and Lochlan, 15.

Her partner and eldest son have since developed 'full-on' symptoms including body aches, headaches and nausea.

Ebony, who is fully vaccinated, has already tested negative twice but will get tested a third time on Tuesday after developing soreness at the back of her throat.

Baby Arthur (pictured with mum Ebony) was still all smiles on Tuesday, despite developing a bad cough a day after he tested positive to Covid-19

Ebony said she was 'devastated' after learning her baby boy had Covid-19.

'I had a rush of adrenaline as I was letting my family and workplace know,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'It didn't hit me until the kids were in bed later that night that this was real. There's a sense of helplessness as there's nothing you can do.

'It's really, really scary.'

The family were still waiting for further advice from NSW Health when Arthur woke up with more worrying symptoms the next day.

'He's not too bad but he woke up with a croup cough, which has made everything a bit more real,' she said.

'I'm worried what will happen if he gets worse and ends up in hospital as it will split up the family.'

The family live in the Covid-ravaged Cumberland local government area, one of Sydney's worst hit hotspots now living under strict new restrictions, including a night curfew and one hour daily exercise limit.

Arthur was among 753 new cases recorded in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm Monday, after a bumper weekend with almost 500 of the new infections found in children.

His worrying infection comes amid repeated warnings that Covid-19 is rapidly spreading through entire households in the city's west and south-west due to the high transmissibility of the Delta strain.

'Clearly the picture with Delta is that once it's introduced to a household, it's inevitable that everyone gets the Delta strain,' NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said on Monday.

Her other sons Lochlan (left) and Zachary (back) and partner Scott got tested again on Monday after Arthur tested positive. Lochlan and Scott have since developed 'full on' symptoms

Ebony (left) has started posting a video diary of her baby son's Covid-19 battle, as she suffers a sore throat despite two negative Covid tests

Arthur's diagnosis has been a huge wake-up call for the family, who were already doing as much as they could to protect themselves.

'I didn't know anyone with Covid and was so far removed from it until it hit close to home,' Ebony said.

'We're strict with our routine and stay home as much as we can, which has been a challenge.'

'We go to the shops as little as possible. My partner works from home, our kids are being home-school and I was only going into work occasionally.'

Another case at Arthur's daycare has since tested positive. It's unknown whether they are a child or employee.

Toddler Arthur (pictured) got the virus after attending daycare last Wednesday

'They had a great Covid plan in place and have been very supportive, calling several times a day to check up on Arthur,' she said.

She's infuriated a minority continue flout the rules as the state's outbreak continues to grow and issued an passionate plea.

'The virus wouldn't be spreading like wildfire and we wouldn't be in this situation if everyone followed the rules.'

'My message to everyone is please to stay at home.'

She added many are in the community while infectious due to the high workloads of the state's contract tracers working tirelessly around the clock interviewing thousands of cases and their contacts.

'We heard from the daycare on Friday but we weren't notified by NSW Health to get tested and isolate until the Sunday,' she said.

There are now fears Arthur will pass the virus onto his parents and brothers. He's pictured with brother Zachary, dad Scott and Luna the dog

The shock Covid-19 diagnosis of Arthur (pictured with brother Zachary) has been a wake-up call for the family.

She hopes Covid jabs will eventually open up to children and plans to get her sons vaccinated as they become eligible.

Ebony has begun documenting Arthur's journey via daily video diaries on TikTok.

Day one showed Arthur gurgling in his highchair happily eating a chocolate muffin and appeared to show no symptoms just hours after testing positive,

'He had a high temperature and runny nose but he appears okay,' his mum explained.

Despite developing a cough the following day, Arthur was still happy and eating on day two of his Covid-19 battle.

Ebony is grateful for the supportive message she's been inundated with on her daily videos.
Some of Australia's most prominent diseases experts have insisted the country must stop tying to eliminate Covid-19 and learn to live with the virus once vaccination rates are high enough.

Under Scott Morrison's national re-opening plan, all states and territories agreed to move out of the 'suppression' phase, which requires sweeping lockdowns, once 70 per cent of over 16s are vaccinated, and to further relax rules when 80 per cent are jabbed.

But cautious governments in Queensland and WA have threatened to renege on the plan as cases soar in Victoria and NSW.

Professor Sharon Lewin (pictured), director of the Peter Doherty Institute which came up with the plan to open up at 70 per cent, says the plan does not depend on low case numbers

Leading psychiatrist and former Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry (pictured) said he feared for people's mental health if lockdowns go on too long

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said 'the goalposts have changed' because Sydney was suffering such high case numbers - with 753 on Tuesday - and ACT First Minister Andrew Barr pointed out the plan was 'subject to change'.

However, the director of the Peter Doherty Institute, which came up with the program to open at 70 per cent, said the plan is still valid regardless of case numbers.

'I can reiterate what was in the original advice still holds,' Professor Sharon Lewin told ABC radio on Monday evening.

'Once we move to Phase B, when we have 70 per cent vaccination and then to Phase C with 80 per cent vaccination, we no longer have zero Covid as a goal,' she confirmed.

Professor Lewin is among several diseases experts who say Australia must learn to live alongside coronavirus.

Australian National University infectious disease specialist Peter Collignon told the AFR on Monday that opening up is not contingent on low case numbers.

Greg Dore of the Kirby institute says maintaining Covid zero is 'la la land'

'We are going to get increasing numbers whether you start [opening up] at 30 cases or 100 cases, you are just delaying the peak- [if you wait],' he said.

UNSW Professor Gregory Dore also says keeping Covid out forever is impossible.

'Long-term zero Covid is a public health la la land,' he wrote on Twitter earlier this month.

'Need to keep cases low as possible until high population vaccine coverage (80%+), but can't keep virus out'.

Mental health campaigners have also warned that lockdowns are taking a devastating toll on young people.

Leading psychiatrist and former Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry told the Sydney Morning Herald: 'The zero-Covid idea in the long run, once all the vaccines are available, it seems to me like it's very unrealistic and the consequences of it, including for mental health, would be something I'd be concerned about.'

Lifeline has been recording 3,500 cases a day, up from 2,500 in 2019.

On Tuesday morning Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the ongoing outbreak of 107 cases in New Zealand, a country which shut itself off from the world, shows that eliminating Covid long-term is impossible.

Earlier he compared Australia's situation to the 2013 children's movie The Croods about a family which survives natural disasters by sheltering in a cave.

'You've eventually got to get out of the cave,' he told KIIS FM.

'There's always someone who wants to stay in the cave - and then there's the young girl who wants to live outside the cave and move on. Call it The Croods plan: we're getting out.'

Mr Morrison said the national plan will give freedom back to millions of Australians. The country's two biggest cities of Sydney and Melbourne are in lockdown.

'It won't be normal as we knew it but it will be a new normal because Covid will still be there,' he said.

Mr Morrison on Monday said lockdowns will do 'more harm than good' once 70 per cent are vaccinated.

The national plan states that Australians will be free to leave the country - possibly with home quarantine on return - once 80 per cent are vaccinated, making it very difficult for premiers to continue eliminating Covid.

On Monday the Prime Minister defended his plan - which is based on scientific modelling - in a press conference on Monday morning and said Australia must learn to live with Covid-19.

'It does puzzle me - it puzzles me - why anyone would want to go against a plan that has been so carefully prepared,' he said.

The national plan states that Australians will be free to leave the country - possibly with home quarantine on return - once 80 per cent are vaccinated. Pictured: Sydney residents on Tuesday morning

Referring to lockdowns in Melbourne and Sydney, he said: 'This is not a sustainable way to live in this country, without those freedoms that we all cherish.'

And in a warning to overly cautious states, he said there is no alternative to opening up once vaccination rates are high.

'Because if not at 70 per cent and 80 per cent, then when? Then when?

'We have to deal with it. Otherwise we stay in the cave forever. That's not a sustainable solution,' he said.
Hairdressers will be booked out until Christmas amid a wave of pent-up demand when lockdowns end in Melbourne and Sydney, a top finance boss has predicted.

Latitude CEO Ahmed Fahour said the personal lender expects a repeat of what happened in Victoria in November 2020 - when its loan volumes increased by 43 per cent at the end of the state's second wave of Covid-19 cases.

He said those living in Australia's two largest cities will want to get out and 'enjoy life' again once shops and restaurants re-open.

Hairdressers and salons will be booked out until Christmas amid a wave of pent-up demand when lockdowns end in Melbourne and Sydney, a top finance boss has predicted. Pictured is a hairdresser in Brisbane during the Covid-19 pandemic

Australians are set to enjoy a wave of 'revenge spending' when lockdowns in Melbourne and Sydney end - where consumers try to make up for lost time by buying items or experiences they missed out on during the pandemic. Pictured are Sydneysiders in Bondi on August 14

'Hairdressers, beauty salons, all these things  you will not be able to get an appointment in NSW. It will be booked out,' Mr Fahour told The Australian Financial Review.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has flagged easing restrictions significantly when 80 per cent of adults are fully vaccinated - which she forecasts will happen by mid-November.

Mr Fahour said the rising vaccination figures and low levels of consumer debt in Australia gave him confidence the market would rebound post-lockdown.

'Once we get out of this environment, you will see a huge explosion in growth because people want to enjoy life, they want to enjoy Christmas,' Mr Fahour said.

The trend is known as 'revenge spending' - where consumers try to make up for lost time by buying items or experiences they missed out on during the pandemic.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is pinning hopes on the national plan to open up the economy once vaccination rates of 70 and 80 per cent are met.

Just over 30 per cent of Australians are fully vaccinated at present.

Latitude CEO Ahmed Fahour said Australians living in the country's two largest cities will want to get out and 'enjoy life' again once shops and restaurants re-open. Pictured are pedestrians in Lakemba in Sydney's locked-down south-western suburbs on August 20

On Monday, he hit out at rogue states who are threatening to keep Covid-19 restrictions even after high vaccination rates are achieved as he declared 'this Groundhog Day has to end'.

Queensland has joined Western Australia in threatening to maintain restrictions such as border closures even after 80 per cent of the population is vaccinated.

'It does puzzle me - it puzzles me - why anyone would want to go against a plan that has been so carefully prepared,' he said.

Referring to lockdowns in Melbourne and Sydney, he said: 'This is not a sustainable way to live in this country, without those freedoms that we all cherish.'
Joe Biden is 'unlikely' to meet his August 31 deadline to evacuate US citizens and their allies from Afghanistan, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee said Monday.

Adam Schiff made the grim prediction after an intelligence briefing Monday evening, as the Taliban rejected a mooted extension to the withdrawal date.

Schiff said a full evacuation was 'possible' but 'very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIVs, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders, women leaders.'

Speaking outside the US Capitol, Schiff continued: 'I am encouraged to see the numbers of people evacuated, increasing readily to the point where we evacuated 11,000 people in a single day, Schiff continued.

'Nonetheless, given the logistical difficulties of moving people to the airport and the limited number of workarounds, it's hard for me to see that being fully complete by the end of the month. And I'm certainly of the view that we maintain a military presence as long as it's necessary to get all U.S. persons out and to meet our moral and ethical obligation to our Afghan partners.'

He added: 'Given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIVs, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders women leaders, it's hard for me to imagine all of that can be accomplished between now and the end of the month,' he said.

He also said that he was troubled by the idea that the Islamic State could attack the crowds massed outside Kabul airport.

'I think the threat to the airport is very real and very substantial and this has been a concern of mine for, for some days now that this would make a very attractive target for ISIS,' he said.

Adam Schiff, chair of the House Intelligence Committee, is pictured on Monday discussing the Afghanistan evacuations. He said he does not believe the process will be completed by August 31 - Joe Biden's deadline

Schiff also said that he believed there had not been an intelligence failure about the Taliban's capacity to overrun the country - implying that the Biden administration knew the risks, yet plowed ahead regardless.

'The intelligence agencies assessments of the Afghan government's ability to maintain itself became increasingly pessimistic,' he said.

'Over the course of the last six months. And there were any number of warnings that the Taliban might take over - and some that included the potential for it to be very rapid.'

Schiff spoke as military officials have warned Biden he must decide whether to keep US troops in Afghanistan by Tuesday - otherwise they will miss the deadline to leave.

CNN reported that the withdrawal decision must come within hours, to give them time to remove all 5,800 US service personnel currently on the ground in Kabul, as well as their equipment and weaponry.

Yet Schiff said he thought that was unlikely given the numbers of US citizens and those with SIVs - Special Immigrant Visas, issued to Afghans who have worked as US translators.

Schiff, a Democrat representing California, said that he did not believe there had been an intelligence failure - suggesting that the Biden administration ignored warnings about the Taliban threat

Biden, pictured on Monday, will have to decide by Tuesday whether to withdraw from Kabul as planned by August 31 or keep troops there beyond the deadline

A military transport plane launches off while Afghans who cannot get into the airport to evacuate look on, while stranded outside, in Kabul on Monday

Any decision is likely to be made at the president's daily security briefing, scheduled for 9am EST.

If Biden does decide on Tuesday that the August 31 withdrawal date is final, troops will spend just 'a few more days' evacuating Americans, as well as Afghans with special immigrant visas (SIVs).

They will then begin to draw down troops and fly them out of the Taliban controlled country, with a military source telling CNN those departures could begin by the end of this week.

Biden will address the nation at noon on Tuesday, after a meeting with G7 leaders which is likely to see him come under fire from other leaders over the United States' sudden decision to withdraw from Afghanistan.

He is coming under pressure from US allies, and from some within the US, to extend the self-imposed deadline but is not going to make a decision until his 9am Tuesday security briefing, CNN reported.

On Monday, Biden spoke to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the crisis. A readout of the call said the leaders 'discussed the ongoing efforts by our diplomatic and military personnel to evacuate their citizens, local staff, and other vulnerable Afghans.'

It continued: 'They also discussed plans for the G7 virtual leaders' meeting tomorrow, underscoring the importance of close coordination with allies and partners in managing the current situation and forging a common approach to Afghanistan policy.'

Biden refused to be drawn on talk of extending the deadline Sunday, as the Taliban warned of 'consequences' if US forces remain in Afghanistan.

He told reporters: 'There's discussions going on in the military about extending. My hope is we will not have to extend, but they are going to be discussions.'

Biden said any decision on staying on into September depended on the number of Americans still to be evacuated. So far, the United States has evacuated 48,000 people.

The US is unable to say how many Americans and Afghans eligible for SIVs remain in Afghanistan, although Biden last week estimated that up to 15,000 Americans required evacuation, as well as 65,000 Afghans.

Rear Adm. Peter G. Vasely, a former member of the Navy SEALs who is now the top US military officer in Afghanistan, talks daily or near daily with his Taliban counterparts regarding security measures at the airport, Pentagon officials said on Monday.

A British soldier and a member of the US armed forces are seen working around the perimeter of Kabul airport on Sunday

Admiral Vasely and Taliban commanders have worked together since the fall of Kabul on August 15 to agree terms by which Americans and some Afghan allies could reach Kabul's airport.

Admiral Peter Vasely, a former Navy SEAL who is now the top US commander in Afghanistan, is in daily talks with the Taliban

Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the head of the military's Central Command, first spoke to senior Taliban commanders on August 15 when he was in Doha, Qatar, to help get the evacuation effort off the ground.

The White House on Monday repeatedly refused to address the August 31 deadline to get US troops out of Afghanistan, dodging questions on the subject and snapping at reporters who asked how the government planned to save the remaining Americans stuck in Kabul.

The Taliban's spokesman issued the sternest threat yet to Biden on Monday morning, saying there will be 'consequences' if US troops - who are holed up at the airport in Kabul evacuating tens of thousands of people and fending off an increasingly desperate crowd - don't leave in the next eight days.

Biden and his administration have no idea how many Americans remain trapped in Afghanistan, unable to get to the airport to get on an evacuation flight out.

Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit monitor the air traffic control center at the airport in Kabul on Sunday

A family walks towards a US Air Force plane on Sunday at Kabul airport for evacuation from Afghanistan

US soldiers supervise the boarding of passengers at Kabul's airport on Saturday

With no numbers on how many Americans remain in the country, much less where those Americans are, it's growing increasingly unlikely that they will be able to fulfill their promise of getting everyone out in eight days. The longer the US citizens remain behind enemy lines in Kabul, the more perilous their situation becomes.

But the president is refusing to address the increasingly dangerous situation and his team of advisors are not offering any solid information on how they're going to address it either.

Biden turned his back on reporters again on Monday after giving a speech on the FDA's approval of the Pfizer vaccine, walking away while the angry journalists shouted for answers on what he was doing to solve the escalating crisis.

He has only given a handful of remarks on the crisis, claiming he made the right decision to withdraw in every one, and insisting his administration has it under control while forgetting basic details of operations.

Shortly afterwards, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan swerved the issue again at a briefing and Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, snapped at Fox News reporter Peter Doocy for referring to Americans still in Kabul as 'stranded'.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan refused to say whether US troops would stay in Afghanistan after the Taliban's August 31 deadline, instead passing the issue off to President Biden who is refusing to take questions on the subject or address it

'I think it's irresponsible to say that Americans are stranded. They are not. We are committed to bringing Americans who want to come home, home,' she said.

No one in the administration could confirm how many Americans are still on the ground in Afghanistan and there are believed to be 20,000 SIV applicants waiting to get out.

Sullivan said it would be down to Biden whether troops stayed past the August 31 deadline and then refused to give information on what kind of talks US military bosses were having with Taliban chiefs to diffuse the situation. He repeated his previous warning that there was a growing threat from ISIS and Al Qaeda at the airport, but offered no solution.

Sullivan did admit that the reason they don't know how many Americans are still in Afghanistan is that the only way they keep track of them is by email and if a person leaves the country without 'checking out' officially with the embassy first, they don't know if they're still on the country or not.

'We ask them to register with the embassy...many have left without de-registering,' he said.

Despite not knowing how many there were still there or where they are, he then said: 'We believe we have the wherewithal to get Americans out.'

President Biden spoke briefly about COVID on Monday but refused to address the Afghanistan crisis or take reporters' questions. He walked away as journalists cried out for answers

As the White House refuses to answer questions, time is running out on the ground to get Americans in Kabul out and any vulnerable Afghan who wants to escape before the August 31 deadline. Above, US Marines at the airport on Sunday

There are thousands of people still at the airport waiting to be put on flights out to anywhere before the Taliban takes over for good. Many aren't being allowed on because they don't have the right paperwork

While US officials race to try to track down the remaining citizens, there is a crowd of 20,000 at the airport demanding to be put on flights out of the area.

Thirty-three C-17 jets are on the way to the airport that could carry 600 passengers each - 19,800 total - out of the dangerous city, but CNN cites an unnamed official who said the policy was changing to only allow US citizens, foreign citizens from other NATO countries, or Green Card holders through the gates.

No one from the White House, State Department or Pentagon has been able to give a number for how many American citizens remain in Afghanistan. It's unclear if or when the US will start flying Afghans out again.

Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen (pictured) has warned of 'consequences' if Western forces stay beyond the end of the month

'We've been able to evacuate several thousand Americans,' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Monday morning, without giving a number for how many remain stuck.

He added that Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans would still be processed to put vulnerable Afghans on flights.

'Afghans in need are still being processed and facilitated.

'The goal is to get as many people out as fast as possible.

'The focus is on doing this as best we can by the end of the month,' he said.

Biden had said he was confidant he would be able to rescue all remaining US citizens by August 31 and that he would do his best to get as many vulnerable Afghans out as possible, but there has been no promise the US will stay past the deadline to save Afghan refugees once all Americans are out.

Between Sunday morning and Monday morning, 10,400 people were removed from Kabul on 28 US flights - an average of 371 passengers per plane on flights that can hold 600.

This letter is a Taliban death warrant for the brother of an Afghan translator who helped the US in the war

Other NATO flights evacuated another 5,900 people.

On every US evacuation flight so far, the majority of the passengers have been Afghans. Some went to Qatar, others are in Germany and the first planes have now arrived at airbases in Texas, where refugees will be housed at Fort Bliss.

Despite the huge numbers of people leaving every day, the crowd size at the airport in Kabul is unrelenting and becoming more aggressive.

The hold-up is largely down to paperwork backlogs on the ground, with some people unable to board flights unless they are given visas. An unnamed source cited by CNN on Monday said it would take four days to make a dent in the numbers outside the airport walls.

The chaos was worsened over the weekend when the State Department started administering nameless, digital SIV visas to Afghan refugees on smartphones and computers.

The refugees screenshotted the documents and shared them with friends and family, which resulted in thousands turning up with approval to board flights.

'I don't think consular, or the administration frankly, realizes how badly they f*****d up by sending that stupid visa and letting everyone in for 24 hours straight.

'Some people are saying there's no way they'll get even those currently on airport out of here in four days,' the source said.

In the city, the Taliban - which had promised to be more moderate and modern - is already resorting to medieval violence.

Leaders have issued a death sentence for the brother of one Afghan translator who was able to get out.

Taliban fighters stand guard as Afghans gather outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport to flee the country, in Kabul on on August 21

A group of Taliban fighters recreated a fame U.S. WWII photo in a collection of propaganda footage they released this week. In their recreation (above), a group of soldiers is seen hoisting the Taliban flag while sporting U.S. weapons and gear

Taliban fighters in a vehicle patrol the streets of Kabul on August 23, 2021 as in the capital, the Taliban have enforced some sense of calm in a city long marred by violent crime, with their armed forces patrolling the streets and manning checkpoints

A family walks towards a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, August 22, 2021

There are now Taliban fighters stationed directly outside the airport (shown), working alongside NATO troops

It reads: 'You have been accused of helping the Americans. You are also accused of providing security to your brother, who has been an interpreter.'

This morning, the German military tweeted that one member of the Afghan security forces at the airport in Kabul had been killed and three others were wounded by 'unknown attackers'.

Speaking last night about the situation in Afghanistan, Biden turned on his heel and ignored a reporter who shouted 'Mr President what about ISIS and the threat Americans face now?' at the conclusion of the press conference about the crisis.

Moments before the reporter asked her question, the president said 'Thank you,' in an apparent signal that the press conference had ended.

But he has since taken heat from viewers and commentators who said the question was a sufficiently important one to merit an answer.

Biden's snub came just hours after his own national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC News that there is a 'genuine threat' ISIS could attack the evacuation effort at Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul.

Sullivan, who also raised the prospect of sending US troops back into Kabul, said: 'I know that the scenes around the airport are heartbreaking, large crowds of people wanting to leave.

'I know that there is complexity and there is turbulence on the ground and in Kabul, and it's very risky and dangerous because there's a genuine threat from ISIS. That is the reality of what we are up against, and I'm not going to sugarcoat that reality.'

The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world, as Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths. At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed on Sunday.

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military, saying there's no need for Afghans to fear them, even though their fighters shoot into the air and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport perimeter.

US and German forces joined in a gun battle this morning at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed, the German army said. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers help an Afghan climb up on the wall of a canal at Kabul Airport this morning

Kabul airport has seen chaotic scenes as tens of thousands of foreigners and Afghans seek to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban swept back to power more than a week ago. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers stand guard near a canal at Kabul airport as a crowd of Afghans wait nearby

The shooting near the military side of the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters to the north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this mont

The Taliban have pledged amnesty to those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government, but many Afghans still fear revenge attacks. There have been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies. It's unclear if Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters are taking matters into their own hands.

US soldiers engage in deadly dawn firefight at Kabul airport US and German forces joined in a gun battle this morning at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed, the German army said. The gunfire broke out near the airport's northern gate, where at least seven Afghans died a day earlier in a panicked stampede of thousands of people trying to flee the country. The circumstances of the shooting, which occurred around dawn, remained unclear. The U.S. military and NATO did not immediately acknowledge the shooting. There was no comment from the Taliban. The shooting near the military side of the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters to the north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month. The Taliban said they retook three districts that fell the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control. It follows an address last night by President Biden in which he revealed U.S. forces may stay beyond his evacuation deadline of August 31 during a speech last night as he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport. The President confirmed during the press conference that as many as 11,000 people had been evacuated from the airport in the last 36 hours - and that the US has so far transported around 33,000 to safety, including 2,500 Americans. He said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians. Advertisement

Over the weekend, Biden also revealed US forces may stay beyond his deadline of Aug. 31 during a speech on Sunday evening he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport.

He said that US forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

But things were moving in the right direction with some 33,000 people brought to safety, he said.

'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful,' Biden said during a speech in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

'No matter when it started, when we began, it would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television. It's just a fact.'

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period.

Defense officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation, he added, but 'there are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.'

It comes as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pleaded with Biden to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

As the desperate evacuation continues, the British PM will use a virtual meeting of world leaders tomorrow to push for more time to save people from the clutches of the - something the president has so far refused to commit to.

James Heappey, Britain's junior minister for the Armed Forces, said on Monday that 1,800 eligible citizens and 2,275 local allies had been identified, but more were coming forward all the time.

'We will get out as many as we possibly can,' he told Sky News.

However, ministers admitted the rescue mission is reliant on the American military retaining control of Kabul airport.

Along with losing key air support, British military officials fear Islamic State may also target UK soldiers at Kabul airport in suicide bomb attacks.

Mr Johnson said on Sunday night: 'It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years.'

As the airlift continues, the US government has activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, requesting 18 aircraft from US carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees after they are evacuated to other countries.

The voluntary program, born in the wake of the Berlin airlift, adds to the military's capabilities during crises.

Early on Monday morning, a Delta Air Lines flight landed in Dubai and later took off for Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where evacuees are crowded into hangars.

A steady stream of military transport planes continue to fly people out of Kabul to airfields across the Mideast.

There also have been concerns that a local Islamic State affiliate might target the crowds outside the airport with suicide bombers or fire missiles at U.S. aircraft. Military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff, measures used to prevent missile attacks.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban have faced limited armed resistance from fighters in Baghlan province, some 75 miles north of Kabul.

The fighters claimed to have seized three districts in the Andarab Valley on Sunday, but the Taliban said Monday that they had cleared them out overnight.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group's forces have surrounded nearby Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistan's 34 provinces yet to fall to the militants.

Several Taliban opponents have gathered there, including Amrullah Saleh, the vice president in the toppled government who claims to be the acting president under the constitution.

Ahmad Massoud, son of the murdered commander of the Northern Alliance militias that partnered with the U.S. to drive the Taliban from power in 2001, is also in Panjshir.

In interviews with Arab media outlets over the weekend, Massoud said his fighters would resist any attempt to take the province by force but were open to dialogue with the Taliban.

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period. He also said that as many as 2,500 Americans have already been transported to safety

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said there had been no fighting in Panjshir yet and that his group is seeking a 'peaceful solution' to the standoff.

It comes as damaging US cables revealed staff working at the American Embassy in Kabul are 'deeply disheartened' by the Biden administration's withdrawal, with some even saying 'it would be better to die under the Taliban's bullet' than attempt to flee to safety.

The jarring statement was part of a diplomatic cable from Afghan US Embassy staff, who said they've been separated from their children, according to NBC News, which obtained the message.

'Happy to die here, but with dignity and pride,' another embassy staffer said, while a third accused the US of prioritizing Afghan government elites with vast wealth and the connections to safely flee.

Another message sent via cable shared the horror would-be evacuees were met with when they arrived at Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport. Staff were warned to prepare for 'difficult conditions,' with the cable adding: 'However, no one anticipated the brutal experience that occurred.'

Disturbingly, one Afghan embassy staffer revealed his home had been vandalized with spray paint, in what he fears was a marking left by a Taliban fighter to flag the property up for a future visit.

The cables were exposed after it was revealed around 300 Afghans asked to get out of Kabul airport and return to their Taliban-run cities because the conditions have spiraled out of control, a State Department official said.

Temperatures have been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit around the airport - essentially a dustbowl - nearly every day as the desperate mob of tens of thousands of people with young kids try to save their families from Taliban attacks, stampedes or being crushed against the airport gates.

A child drinks water in Kabul, which has been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit nearly everyday for the last two weeks, as dehydration and heat exhaustion set in

Pictures like this of a US Marine comforting an infant while they wait for the mother during the evacuation is the seldom scenes glimpses of humanity during dangerous times

A child and a US Marine pour water on each other to protect against dehydration and heat exhuastion as temperatures in Kabul climb over 90 degrees Fahrenheit

US troops are doing what they can to help US civilians and their Afghan allies prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion, with items like water bottles in short supply and needing to be rationed out.

One US Marine filmed giving water to six young children is being hailed as a hero, but many say that small act of kindness further serves to emphasize the scale of the human catastrophe unfolding.

Another picture that has been widely shared on Twitter and other social media platforms shows a different Marine assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) comforting an infant while they wait for the child's mom during processing.

But these fleeting moments are like specks of light swallowed up by a black hole.

'We've seen wrenching images of people hurt, even killed that hit you in the gut,' Secretary Blinken told FOX News.

'And it's very important to make sure to the best of our ability, because it's such a volatile situation, that we do something about the crowding at the gates of the airport, and that's exactly what we're doing.'

Biden said during a Sunday press briefing that about 11,000 people have been evacuated in the last 36 hours, but at least seven people have been crushed to death, including a two-year-old child.

And now terrorist threats - particularly from the local affiliate of ISIS, which are enemies of both the U.S. and the Taliban - are making the evacuation more complicated, the scene tenser and ramping up the urgency to get people out of the country.

There's concern that ISIS leaders see this as an opportunity to kill Americans while challenging Taliban for control of Afghanistan.

That threat prompted the US Embassy to issue a warning on Saturday telling Americans not to brave the chaos around the airport unless they have been told to report.

In the ensuing hours, details emerged that evacuation flights were dropping flares and making steep combat landings after warnings that terrorists of the Islamic State might try to shoot down a plane.

To hasten the evacuation pace, six commercial airlines have agreed to help the US government transport people out of Kabul.

On Sunday, the US called up 18 civilian aircraft from United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air and others to carry people from temporary locations after they landed on flights from Afghanistan, leaning on the industry it last called on during the Iraq War in 2003, Reuters reported Sunday evening.

The move highlights the difficulty Washington is having carrying out the evacuations following the Taliban's swift takeover.

American and Delta said they would start relief flights on Monday.

Meanwhile, British soldiers desperately shouted for medics and stretchers, as unconscious people were carried away, many being pronounced dead and covered in white sheets, according to a Sky News report on Saturday.

Other paratroopers tried to pull people - including young children - from the chaos, and stood atop compound walls, spraying the crowd with hoses to try and cool them down, as medics dashed between casualties.

There were also scenes of people left injured and bloodied, sat amongst piles of papers and discarded clothes near the site, while others stood shoulder to shoulder, amid sounds of screams and gunshots, the Sun reports.

Tweeting from the airport this afternoon, journalist Kim Sengupta said he had witnessed 'four people, all women, die from the heat and crush'.

Sky News' chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay also reported that people at the front of the crowd of thousands were being 'crushed to death', in what he described it as 'the worst day by far' at Kabul airport.

In a sign the crisis at Kabul is deepening, Germany's government today warned that access to the airport is not often possible' and that the area remains 'extremely dangerous'.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan insists he's 'not heard' if anyone will be fired for the Afghanistan mess amid calls for him to resign for 'ignoring Taliban warnings because he wanted to do what Biden wanted'

Jake Sullivan: Biden national security adviser who helped negotiate Iran nuclear deal for Barack Obama in secret US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan President Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, was a senior policy advisor to Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential election campaign and her deputy chief of staff at the Department of State when she was Secretary of State. Mr Sullivan was also a senior advisor to the Obama administration for the Iran nuclear negotiations, which began in secret throughout 2013. He and US officials including Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, Senior White House Iran Advisor Puneet Talwar had met with the Iranian regime at least five times faece-to-face in Oman over the prospect of an agreement over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Those efforts paved the way for the Joint Comprehensive, which critics say created the conditions in which Iran could develop nuclear weapons after the deal expired. Republicans also say the deal did nothing to contain Iranian terrorism in the Middle East, its ballistic missile programme, the regime's policy towards Israel or its support for Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine and President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. Advertisement

The Biden administration has taken heat from all sides for its messy withdrawal from Afghanistan and blame has increasingly shifted to a key voice in the president's ear, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who is tasked with warning the president of the consequences of such decisions.

A reporter squarely asked Sullivan if anyone on the national security team would be replaced for the bungled response 'Does the president intend to fire, reassign or ask for the resignation of any White House personnel or administration officials who handled the situation in Afghanistan?'

'I have not heard him say so,' replied Sullivan.

'It's, of course, your job to ask those kinds of questions. It's my job just to keep doing what we're doing, which is, every day, trying to get as many people out as possible.'

Calls have grown for the national security adviser to be fired.

'In a national security adviser you absolutely need someone who is able to execute and ensure that any potential problems are identified early and addressed or prepared for. That didn't happen in this case,' Brett Bruen, former director of global engagement for President Obama's national security council, told DailyMail.com.

'Ultimately it falls on the national security advisor to tell the president, I understand what you want to achieve, but we have information, we have serious concerns. Let's explore how we navigate through this. What clearly happened was Jake dismissed those and instead pressed ahead because that was what the boss wanted,' Bruen continued.

On Sunday, the New York Times reported that a number of Democratic lawmakers have weighed whether calling for Sullivan's resignation would help Biden 'reset the narrative,' after the administration's hasty withdrawal that seemed to lack meticulous planning.

'This was an abject failure. People should be held accountable. There's no way to spin it,' Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis told The Hill. 'It's not about whether we stay or go. This is about how we left. And you don't leave like that.'

He noted that Sullivan's 'primary job is to forecast ahead the potential of any consequences the president makes.'

Biden, who prides himself on loyalty to those in his inner circle, is reportedly committed to not firing anyone on his national security counsel. To make replacements would be to admit mistake.

But Bruen, who worked with Sullivan during the Obama years, made the case for his ouster.

'While Biden may prize loyalty, our allies also prize loyalty and reliability, both of which are severely strained right now, and they're going to have a problem dealing with Sullivan. They're going to be reluctant to bank on his word.'

Sullivan, 44, is the youngest national security adviser to a president in more than 60 years. The foreign policy veteran used to advise Hillary Clinton when she served as secretary of state, and Clinton has sung Sullivan's praises. She called him a 'once-in-a-generation talent' and a 'potential future president.'

Sullivan was also a senior advisor to the Obama administration for the Iran nuclear negotiations, which began in secret throughout 2013.

Bruen argued Sullivan, having no previous experience at an embassy overseas, lives in 'Beltway bubble.'

'He has never worked overseas at an embassy or on a military base so he lives in this Beltway bubble where things sound smart, but when it comes time to implementing them there are a whole lot of challenges he has failed to account for.'

Calls have grown for Sullivan, left, a top adviser to the president, to be fired as a way to 'reset the narrative' after the messy Afghanistan withdrawal

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan's experience Earned an undergraduate degree at Yale before winning a Rhodes scholarship to attend Oxford, before heading back to Yale for a law degree

Clerked for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer before serving as chief counsel to Sen. Amy Klobuchar

Began advising Hillary Clinton during the primary cycle in 2008 before jumping to Barack Obama's campaign

When Clinton became secretary of state, Sullivan became her deputy chief of staff and director of policy planning

When Clinton stepped down in 2013, Sullivan became national security advisor to then-Vice President Joe Biden

Had key role in shaping US foreign policy to Libya, Syria and Myanmar, as well as Iran under the Iran deal

Worked as Clinton's chief foreign policy adviser during the 2016 election

Joined the private sector following Clinton's loss until he was tapped for NSA in November 2020 Advertisement

DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House and National Security Council for comment.

The most recent mess in the Middle East is not what Biden promised during his campaign, when he touted decades of experience in his 'first love,' foreign policy.

'Biden and Sullivan, they worked in a very different world. Things have so radically changed,' Bruen said.

'A strongly worded statement from Washington ain't what it used to be. It doesn't send chills down the spines of our adversaries or warm the cockles of our allies.'

In a series of meetings leading up to the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline, military and intelligence officials warned Biden that the consequences of swift withdrawal could include that Afghanistan would capitulate in a matter of days. But ultimately, neither Sullivan nor Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed back on the president's desires, knowing where he stood.

The Sunday Telegraph reported over the weekend that senior White House aides had suggested there was not much pushback on the withdrawal plan because concerned administration staffers were 'too afraid' of challenging Biden and Sullivan.

An administration official said the Biden administration functions 'like an autocracy' and stifles internal dissent.

Marc Thiessen, speechwriter under President George W. Bush, wrote in the Washington Post last week that Biden's 'sycophants' had enabled him to move forward with the bungled withdrawal and questioned 'where are the adults in the room?'

And over the weekend, Sullivan essentially admitted defense officials had warned Biden of the consequences of his plan, but he had not heeded their concerns.

'So you followed the military advice on closing Bagram but the same military advisers were telling you to keep a force on the ground, they told you not to pursue this withdrawal agreement with the Taliban correct?' MSNBC's Chuck Todd asked Sullivan on Sunday.

'There are strategic judgments that a president makes and there are tactical judgments that you give absolute premium to commanders on the ground to make,' Sullivan replied.

'When it comes to the fundamental question of whether the US should remain in a civil war in Afghanistan ... for a third decade, that is a presidential call, not a call by anyone at the State Department or the Pentagon or any of the intelligence agencies.'

Sullivan has also been working to clean up the president's public statements.

On Friday, Biden said that there were no reports of Americans having a difficult time getting to the Kabul airport for their evacuation flight and that al-Qaeda did not have a presence in Afghanistan.

'Why is he misleading with his words here?' CNN's Brianna Keilar asked the national security advisor.

'I reject that characterization. With respect to al Qaeda, right now our intelligence community does not believe al Qaeda in Afghanistan represents a threat to United States homeland, Sullivan said.

He added that al Qaeda could become a threat in the future, which is why the US was committed to over-the-horizon capabilities.

At the same time, Sullivan admitted that US forces on the ground in Afghanistan face an immediate threat from ISIS.

'I know that the scenes around the airport are heartbreaking, large crowds of people wanting to leave,' Sullivan said. 'I know that there is complexity and there is turbulence on the ground and in Kabul, and it's very risky and dangerous because there's a genuine threat from ISIS-K. That is the reality of what we are up against, and I'm not going to sugarcoat that reality.'

Months ago, Sullivan promised the US would have 'months of warning' of an attack from ISIS upon leaving Afghanistan.

'We will not have the same level of daily intelligence,' he said in April of the withdrawal. 'But at a strategic level, in terms of being able to know whether or not al-Qaeda or ISIS is developing an external plotting capability, which they do not currently possess ... we will have months of warning.'

Bruen argued that Sullivan's failures are endemic.

'What we saw before Afghanistan was a crisis on the border. We saw the miscues on refugee admission, we saw problems with Israel and Cuba. So this isn't new.

We're focused on Afghanistan but they keep making these unforced errors. That's what's really concerning - while Biden wants to suggest his goal was the right one even if the execution was flawed, the errors in execution keep happening. I worry what the next crisis is going to bring.'
A bike-riding prankster has been filmed riding along the streets of western Sydney pretending to be the police while demanding everyone stays inside their homes.

The video posted to Facebook on Monday night shows the man riding on a road in Guildford while blasting a siren and shouting through a megaphone.

'In your houses please, we have a curfew,' he is heard saying.

'Everybody must be locked up. This is the government, NSW police.'

The man cycled further down the dark and quiet street as the siren echoed through the neighbourhood.

The prankster gave a final warning from his bike as he shouted into the megaphone: 'NSW police, get in your house right now.'

The video posted to Facebook on Monday night shows the man in a street in Guildford blasting a siren and shouting through a megaphone

The man was widely praised on Facebook for doing his part to 'assist' with Covid restrictions.

'This made my night,' one commented on the video, while another said: 'Citizens on patrol.'

'Unmarked coppers are really blending in these days,' a third joked.

Twelve LGAs of concern in Sydney's west and south-west have been subjected to some of the toughest Covid-19 restrictions the world has seen.

They include Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and some suburbs of Penrith.

Curfews are now in place in those areas from 9pm to 5am, except for authorised workers, in a bid to reduce the movement of young people.

New South Wales recorded 753 new locally acquired cases on Tuesday, with at least 49 infectious in the community.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has fired a shot at Scott Morrison as he ramps up the state's vaccination rollout.

The prime minister abruptly declared on Thursday that all Australians aged 16-39 would be eligible for a Pfizer vaccine from August 30.

The controversial announcement blindsided state premiers who were encouraged by the large number of people rolling up their sleeves to get AstraZeneca jabs.

In a fiery press conference on Tuesday, Mr Andrews revealed 15,000 people had cancelled their AstraZeneca appointments on Monday after realising they would soon be eligible for Pfizer instead.

'I did not make announcements about Pfizer last Thursday that saw some 15,000 AstraZeneca appointments cancelled yesterday,' Mr Andrews said.

He also took at swipe at Covid-ravaged NSW, which he blamed for Victoria's latest outbreak, saying he would 'send it [Delta outbreak] back to where it came from' if he could.

Mr Andrews also revealed every Victorian aged 16 and above would be able to book for a jab with 830,000 new appointments across the next month.

Victorians aged 16 and 17 will be offered the Pfizer vaccine, while those aged between 18 and 39 will be able to get either Pfizer or Astra Zeneca.

Victoria has ramped up its vaccination rollout with 830,000 new appointments open up from 7am Wednesday

Victoria is in a harsh lockdown with masks required at all times outside, with no end in sight at least until there are much higher vaccination rates

The Premier doubled down on his criticism of Mr Morrison as he pleaded with Victorians to keep their AstraZeneca bookings to ensure six million jabs don't go to waste.

'It is not for politicians to tell you what vaccine to get, the doctor should tell you,' he said.

'If you havent got a GP and come to our clinics, Ive made sure all of those clinics, there is a senior health professional who can sit with you and talk with you about which vaccine is best for you.

'You can make an informed choice.

'An appointment today is better than an actual appointment to get the job today is better than a booking and/or four weeks. But the bookings are unimportant.'

The additional bookings will be available online from 7am Wednesday.

Those with existing AstraZeneca appointment will get the option of having Pfizer instead.

Mr Andrews lost his cool after a reporter accused him of delving into the existing limited Pfizer supplies.

'I'm getting it into people's arms fast I can. I did not do the ordering. And I don't provide the medical advice on what safe is and what isn't. That's for others,' Mr Andrews hit back.

'But I won't stand here and say to people you must get Astra today, when I've got Pfizer in the fridge. That wouldn't be right. That would not be right.

'I didn't make those announcements last week. Others did. But I can't change that. So there is a choice available. And I would encourage people to come and get vaccinated as fast as they can.'

Victoria recorded 50 new cases on Tuesday as the Shepparton outbreak in regional Victoria grows (pictured locals being tested)

Premier Dan Andrews (left) slammed PM Scott Morrison in a fiery press conference on Tuesday as he ramped up the state's vaccine rollout

The Premier added the number of Victorians aged 18 to 59 far outweighed the Pfizer doses available from the Commonwealth.

'There isn't, at this stage, enough (Pfizer doses) for every single person who will want to come forward and make a booking,' he conceded.

'But if we can get these appointments out the door, if we can get these jabs into arms over the next four weeks we will achieve our target of one million doses.'

'Please, if you haven't had your vaccination yet, just book it in today to protect yourself and your loved ones.'

He called on other leaders at state and federal level to work together.

'New South Wales kind of sets the tone for all, this seems like there are in fact national decisions  Ive made the point theyre not just New South Wales cases theyre in fact Australian cases.'

Victoria recorded 50 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, including an outbreak at a major hospital that forced dozens to isolate.

COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said 40 of the new cases were linked to known outbreaks, while the source of the remaining 10 infections were under investigation.

Authorities believe four of the mystery cases are associated with an outbreak in the Altona North and Wyndham area, three with the Carlton and Fitzroy area, two in Thomastown and one in Southbank.

Thirty-nine cases were infectious in the community.

Victoria has recorded 71 new cases of coronavirus , its biggest increase in a single day since the tail end of the state's second wave last September. Pictured are health workers at a drive-through COVID-19 Vaccination Centre in Campbellfield.

Hundreds of staff from Royal Melbourne Hospital (pictured) have been plunged into isolation as the outbreak grew to 10 cases

The new infections bring the total number of active cases in the state to 522, of which 113 are children aged under nine. There's 193 cases in people aged between 10 and 29.

Seven of the new infections live in Shepparton, about 180 kilometres north of Melbourne, bringing the outbreak to 44 cases.

Mr Weimar confirmed the Shepparton cluster is genomically linked to an earlier outbreak in Melbourne's Glenory.

One in 10 people living in the Shepparton area have been forced into self-isolation after visiting exposures sites, which include several schools.

Goulburn Valley Health on Tuesday says more than 17,000 people require COVID-19 testing, a figure they anticipate will increase as more exposure sites are added, but daily capacity is in the order of 3500 tests.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) has urged states to 'live with the virus'

They are asking only those with COVID-19 symptoms and those in priority groups who have received direct communication from authorities to come forward for testing on Tuesday.

People who do not have COVID-19 symptoms and have been to an exposure site should remain in quarantine and present for testing from lunchtime Wednesday.

Meanwhile, police have issued fines totalling $305,312 to the hosts and guests of an illegal engagement party held earlier this month at Caulfield North.

Victoria Police on Tuesday confirmed they had completed their investigation into the event, fining 56 fines adults $5452 each. Children at the party were not fined.

After revealing on Monday that officers were investigating reports hundreds of people including some from NSW went to a funeral in Shepparton, police on Tuesday said no breach of COVID-19 restrictions was found.
Police are searching for a 13-year-old girl who went missing from her family home in the Hunter region.

Tylah Weatherburn was last seen at about 8.30pm on August 22 at a home on Bower Road in Medowie.

Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District have begun an investigation to locate the missing teenager.

Police are searching for 13-year-old Tylah Weatherburn (pictured) who was last seen on Sunday August 22 at about 8.30pm, and anyone who may have seen Tylah is being urged to call Crime Stoppers

She is known to visit the Raymond Terrace, Medowie and Tenambit areas and her family are extremely worried due to the girl's young age.

The missing teenager is described as caucasian appearance, 155cm tall, a thin build with long blonde hair and green eyes.

She is believed to be wearing a black Tommy Hilfiger jumper, grey track pants and black Nike shoes.

Police are urging anyone who may have seen Tylah or know of her whereabouts to call Crime Stopper.
Scammers are going to extraordinary lengths to trick unsuspecting Australians by impersonating police and tax officials.

Australian Taxation Office Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh said criminals were now getting more aggressive by demanding cash and gift cards as payment for a non-existent tax debt.

'The most common type of scam is the fake tax debt phone call,' he said.

'Scammers will threaten victims with things like arrest if they don't immediately pay a tax debt.'

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Scammers are going to extraordinary lengths to trick unsuspecting Australians by impersonating police and tax officials. Australian Taxation Office Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh (pictured) said criminals were now getting more aggressive by demanding cash and gift cards as payment for a non-existent tax debt

In one case, a young woman in NSW was lured to a local hardware store car park to drop off $30,000 in cash.

A scammer had masqueraded as an Australian Federal Police Officer, who falsely told her that her tax file number had been compromised.

The duped woman provided her driver's licence and Medicare card details.

In Victoria, a man paid $50,000 to a scammer who visited his front door after demanding over the phone his address with a false promise of getting the money back.

Mr Loh said scammers were now commonly pretending to be tax office officials and were doing this via email and text messages with links to dubious websites designed to look like a MyGov account or the Australian Taxation Office.

'Never click these links,' he said.

In one case, a young woman in New South Wales was lured to a local hardware store car park to drop off $30,000 in cash (pictured is a stock image of a Bunnings warehouse car park)

Since July, Australians have been fleeced of $116,300.

During the 2019-20 financial year, there were 63 cases of a scammer impersonating a tax official with victims robbed of close to $1million.

Individuals have until October 31 to lodge their tax return online if they are doing it themselves.

Failure to do so by Halloween means someone faces a $222 fine for each 28-day period beyond this deadline up to a maximum of $1,110.

Tax agents can lodge tax returns on your behalf by May 15, 2022 but taxpayers have to register with an accountant by October 31.

The tax office already receives employer group certificates, banks and private health funds from the end of July, which means individuals no longer have to supply this information linked to a a tax file number.

A scammer had masqueraded as an Australian Federal Police Officer, who falsely told her that her tax file number had been compromised (pictured are NSW Police patrolling Maroubra in Sydney's south-east)

The tax office is this year targeting Australians who fail to declare cryptocurrency like Bitcoin and exorbitant working-from-home expenses.

Individuals filling out a tax return for 2020-21 can claim a flat 80 cents for every hour they work from home or claim the lower 52 cents-an-hour rate and manually add up phone, internet and electricity expenses.

Tax agent H&R Block said someone who spent a whole financial year working from home typically stood to be able to claim between $2,550 and $2,700 by claiming the lower 52-cent rate compared with $1,536 for the more convenient 80-cent rate.

Work-related items costing up to $300 can be claimed in one year.

Mr Loh cautioned Australians against claiming food on their tax return.

'You can't claim anything that's a personal expense,' he said.

'That includes tea, coffee and biscuits, kids' school books and occupancy costs like rent.'

Anyone who receives a suspicious phone call is advised to hang up and call the tax office on 1800 008 540 to report a scam
One Afghan man granted permission to fly to the US is said to have turned around over fears he would be trampled

CNN reporter Sam Kiley said entrance gates have been closed for last 48 hours

Kabul airport has closed its gates to Afghans for the past two days, it has been claimed, despite the White House claiming at-risk locals were still free to leave.

CNN reporter Sam Kiley - who is based in the Afghan capital - reported that the airport's gates have been shuttered for the last 48 hours.

Reporting from the evacuation zone Monday night, Kiley said: 'All of the gates are officially closed to Afghans, even those carrying Special Immigrant Visas.

'That's been the case now for about 48 hours.

Addressing claims from the White House that the evacuation is ongoing, he added: 'Lot of political spin involved there. What there is is an estimate of some thousands of Americans who -- some of whom -- or many of whom want to get back to the United States or get out of Kabul.

'The authorities here, at the moment, are struggling to get them safely into this location. All of the Gates are officially closed to Afghans.

'Even those carrying the special immigrant Visas in order to try to facilitate this. They are prioritizing here the bringing in of people with permanent residence in the United States or United States passports

'But to do so, they have had to use what they call alternative routes which are essentially special forces operations try and go grab them and find safe routes for them in through Taliban lines and into the headquarters here.'

CNN reporter, pictured right with Anderson Cooper, center, and Clarissa Ward, left, said the gates to Kabul airport's evacuation center have been closed for 48 hours

Referring to sporadic gunfire heard in the vicinity, Kiley added: 'The more it grows, Anderson, the harder it's going to be to get them in.'

One Afghan man who said he had the proper travel documents and had been summoned to the airport to board an evacuation flight, told The New York Times he gave up because he had four children under the age of six, and could not risk them getting lost or trampled in the heaving crowd outside the gates.

'There is no way for families with kids,' said the man.

Those claims were in stark contrast to comments made by the White House on Monday insisted that evacuations from Kabul, which fell to the Taliban on August 15, were running smoothly.

U.S. government officials said on Monday that 47,000 Americans have been evacuated so far, including 10,900 on Monday.

Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, on Monday angrily rejected the idea that Americans were 'stranded' in the country, and the State Department denied the accounts of Afghans' being turned away.

In a statement responding to questions from The New York Times, the department said: 'Our overriding priority remains to put as many people as possible on departing planes as quickly as possible.'

General view of the crowds of people near the airport in Kabul on Monday. As many as 20,000 are waiting at the airport and 33 C-17 jets are on the way which could carry almost all of them but US officials are said to have changed the policy to only allow through US citizens

General view of the crowds of people near the airport in Kabul on Monday. An unnamed official cited by CNN on Monday said the troops on the ground were going to start only allowing US citizens or citizens of NATO countries through airport gates

John Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, has been among the administration officials insisting that Afghans are being allowed to pass through Kabul airport. Yet reporters on the ground say that the gates have been closed for 48 hours

Large crowds are seen outside Kabul airport in aerial scenes captured on Monday

Crowds of people are seen waiting on the tarmac in Kabul on Monday, with a US Air Force plane nearby

'I couldn't bring them with me because of the crush. We tried for almost a week but couldn't reach the gate.'

Jake Sullivan, the National Security Adviser, claimed the Biden administration 'shaved months' off the slow visa process for Afghans who helped US troops and blamed the Trump administration for not filing a 'single application' from March 2020 during his press briefing.

There are still around 20,000 Afghans waiting for their SIVs to be processed so they can escape the Taliban in Kabul after fighting alongside American forces.

They are now facing death threats from the Taliban and are struggling to get through checkpoints on the way to Kabul airport.

Sullivan and the administration are being accused of potentially stranding a substantial cohort of those allies  even as Biden and the White House vow that every American who wants to leave Afghanistan will be able to do so.

'When we took office in January, the Trump Administration had not processed a single Special Immigrant Visa since March of 2020,' said White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan on Monday

Sullivan, who spoke to reporters at the White House on a day Biden didn't take questions on Afghanistan, said those visas were ' never designed for mass evacuation circumstances.'

He said they typically took 18-24 months per person to get through vetting requirements.

'When we took office in January, the Trump administration had not processed a single Special Immigrant Visa since March of 2020  in nearly a year,' he said.

It was under Donald Trump that the original May 1 withdrawal date was negotiated with the Taliban.

Sullivan's swipe came after Biden himself last week pointed out that Trump had negotiated the withdrawal that he decided to maintain after he took office.

Sullivan said the administration moved 'as rapidly as possible to process as many applications as possible as fast as possible, trimming months and months and months off that process' and working with Congress to change the law.

US officials claim they will be able to get every remaining American out of Afghanistan by August 31, even though they have no idea how many remain in the country.

Afghans walk along fences as they arrive in Pakistan through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman on Monday

There has been less certainty about the commitment to the Afghans.

A senior State Department official said at a briefing on Monday: 'Our commitment to at-risk Afghans doesn't end on August 31,' suggesting the possibility that the U.S. would continue efforts after the military departs.

'We've heard from the Taliban ... that they want a functioning airport well after the U.S. military has left,' the official continued.

'The Taliban has also agreed to permit safe passage to the airport and this commitment doesn't have an expiration date on it.'

Sullivan's swipe at Trump came as the White House repeatedly refused to address the Taliban's August 31 deadline to get US troops out of Afghanistan.

Biden has reportedly been told by his top military commanders that he must make a decision on Tuesday, to give them time to prepare the 5,800 troops either to depart or to extend their stay.

The Taliban's spokesman issued the sternest threat yet to Biden on Monday morning, saying there will be 'consequences' if US troops - who are holed up at the airport in Kabul evacuating tens of thousands of people and fending off an increasingly desperate crowd - don't leave in the next eight days.

With no numbers on how many Americans remain in the country, much less where those Americans are, the government is under intense pressure to explain how it will meet the deadline.

Even removing the estimated 5,800 troops providing security would take precious time off the clock.

Following Sullivan's comments, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki snapped at Fox News reporter Peter Doocy for referring to Americans still in Kabul as 'stranded'.

'I think it's irresponsible to say that Americans are stranded. They are not. We are committed to bringing Americans who want to come home, home,' Psaki said.

In another sign of the challenges on the ground, a veterans' group is using an online network of allies to help guide Afghan interpreters to safety.

The 'Digital Dunkirk' campaign is comprised of a network of 'hundreds of thousands of people' and utilizes satellite imagery and other intel to locate Taliban checkpoints.

Matt Zeller, an Afghanistan war veteran and former CIA analyst, told Fox News the interpreters were essential allies to U.S. troops, serving as America's 'eyes and ears on the battlefield'.

Officials have ordered troops to only allow American citizens, Green Card holders and other foreign nationals through the gates of Kabul airport to board evacuation flights, leaving tens of thousands of vulnerable Afghan refugees stranded outside while the Taliban tightens its grip, CNN has reported.

Troops have been processing both Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans for translators or others who helped in the war.

'We've been able to evacuate several thousand Americans,' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Monday morning, without giving a number for how many remain stuck.

'We've been able to evacuate several thousand Americans,' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Monday morning without giving a number for how many remain stuck. No one from the Pentagon, White House or State Department can say how many Americans are still in Afghanistan, but they insist they'll get them all out by August 31

He added that Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans would still be processed to put vulnerable Afghans on flights.

'Afghans in need are still being processed and facilitated. The goal is to get as many people out as fast as possible. The focus is on doing this as best we can by the end of the month,' he said.

Biden had said he was confidant he would be able to rescue all remaining US citizens by August 31 and that he would do his best to get as many vulnerable Afghans out as possible, but there has been no promise the US will stay past the deadline to save Afghan refugees once all Americans are out.

Despite the huge numbers of people leaving every day, the crowd size at the airport in Kabul is unrelenting and becoming more aggressive.

This letter is a Taliban death warrant for the brother of an Afghan translator who helped the US in the war

The hold-up is largely down to paperwork backlogs on the ground, with some people unable to board flights unless they are given visas.

An unnamed source cited by CNN on Monday said it would take four days to make a dent in the numbers outside the airport walls.

The chaos worsened over the weekend when the State Department started administering nameless, digital SIV visas to Afghan refugees on smartphones and computers.

The refugees screenshotted the documents and shared them with friends and family, which resulted in thousands turning up with approval to board flights.

'I don't think consular, or the administration frankly, realizes how badly they f*****d up by sending that stupid visa and letting everyone in for 24 hours straight,' said the source.

'Some people are saying there's no way they'll get even those currently on airport out of here in four days.'

In the city, the Taliban - which had promised to be more moderate and modern - is already resorting to medieval violence.

Leaders have issued a death sentence for the brother of one Afghan translator who was able to get out.

It reads: 'You have been accused of helping the Americans. You are also accused of providing security to your brother, who has been an interpreter.'

US and German forces joined in a gun battle this morning at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed, the German army said. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers help an Afghan climb up on the wall of a canal at Kabul Airport this morning

Kabul airport has seen chaotic scenes as tens of thousands of foreigners and Afghans seek to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban swept back to power more than a week ago. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers stand guard near a canal at Kabul airport as a crowd of Afghans wait nearby

The shooting near the military side of the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters to the north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month

Afghanistan's security forces collapsed in the face of the Taliban advance, despite 20 years of Western aid, training and assistance.

But some armed Afghans remain at Kabul airport assisting Western evacuation efforts.

Sullivan, who raised the prospect of sending US troops back into Kabul, said: 'I know that the scenes around the airport are heartbreaking, large crowds of people wanting to leave.

'I know that there is complexity and there is turbulence on the ground and in Kabul, and it's very risky and dangerous because there's a genuine threat from ISIS. That is the reality of what we are up against, and I'm not going to sugarcoat that reality.'

The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world, as Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths.

At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed on Sunday.

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military, saying there's no need for Afghans to fear them, even though their fighters shoot into the air and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport perimeter. Pictured: Afghans wait outside the military-controlled area of the airport in Kabul as they attempt to flee the Taliban

Pictured: Members of the British and US armed forces pose together for a photo while working together at Kabul Airport yesterday

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military, saying there's no need for Afghans to fear them, even though their fighters shoot into the air and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport perimeter.

The Taliban have pledged amnesty to those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government, but many Afghans still fear revenge attacks.

There have been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies.

It's unclear if Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters are taking matters into their own hands.

The Taliban said they retook three districts that fell the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control. Pictured: Taliban fighters are seen sitting on top of storage containers at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, with a line of British soldiers beneath them

Biden said on Sunday evening that U.S. forces may stay beyond his deadline of August 31

In a shining moment, a US Marine is seen on video handing out water to children

Smiles are the rarest site in and around the Kabul airport over the last two weeks, but it was all over this viral video of a Marine helping children

A child drinks water in Kabul, which has been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit nearly everyday for the last two weeks, as dehydration and heat exhaustion set in

Pictures like this of a US Marine comforting an infant while they wait for the mother during the evacuation is the seldom scenes glimpses of humanity during dangerous times

A child and a US Marine pour water on each other to protect against dehydration and heat exhuastion as temperatures in Kabul climb over 90 degrees Fahrenheit

A woman and children wait for transportation to the terminal at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Missing child posters like this one are on the fences of Kabul airport today

Taliban fighters stand guard as Afghans gather outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport to flee the country, in Kabul on on August 21

Dusty, rubbish strewn street filled with thousands of people desperate to take the steps needed to get into Kabul airport and out of the Taliban-run country

Taliban fighters on containers overlook the streets outside of Kabul airport

And now terrorist threats - particularly from the local affiliate of ISIS, which are enemies of both the U.S. and the Taliban - are making the evacuation more complicated, the scene tenser and ramping up the urgency to get people out of the country.

There's concern that ISIS leaders see this as an opportunity to kill Americans while challenging Taliban for control of Afghanistan.

That threat prompted the US Embassy to issue a warning Saturday telling Americans not to brave the chaos around the airport unless they have been told to report.

In the ensuing hours, details emerged that evacuation flights were dropping flares and making steep combat landings after warnings that terrorists of the Islamic State might try to shoot down a plane.

To hasten the evacuation pace, six commercial airlines have agreed to help the US government transport people out of Kabul.

On Sunday, the US called up 18 civilian aircraft from United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air and others to carry people from temporary locations after they landed on flights from Afghanistan, leaning on the industry it last called on during the Iraq War in 2003.

The move highlights the difficulty Washington is having carrying out the evacuations following the Taliban's swift takeover.

American and Delta said they would start relief flights on Monday.

A U.S. Marine carries a girl to the gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport, August 20
Liberal chat show host Bill Maher has announced he has no plans to get a COVID vaccine booster shot - and said he only got vaccinated in the first place to 'take one for the team.'

On Friday's episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, the 64 year-old said: 'I never wanted the vaccine, I took one for the team.

'And by the way, do you know who doesn't get a lot of vaccines? Millennials,' Maher said. 'I know a lot of millennials, especially the 20 year-olds, they don't think they need it, they're probably right. But I tell them I didn't want it either - I took one for the team.

'But every eight months you're going to put this sh*t in me?' he asked, rhetorically. 'I don't know about that.

'Maybe I don't need one,' he said. 'I don't want a one-size fits all. My body may be different than your body.'

President Biden meanwhile was busy celebrating the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine being approved by the FDA.

Biden, speaking at the White House, portrayed it as a huge victory even though it will be of limited practical value months after the vaccination received emergency approval.

Even so, he spoke directly to what he said were 'millions' of Americans who may have been waiting for full approval before trusting the jab - even though the shots have been going in arms since December 2020.

'It has now happened,' Biden said. 'The moment youve been waiting for is here. Its time for you go get your vaccine. Get it today.'

The celebratory dust had not even settled though, before Biden urged American companies on Monday to begin ordering staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

However, Fox News host Tucker Carlson hit out at the hypocrisy shown by Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.

Carlson showed footage of Pelosi attending a fundraising event without wearing a face mask, despite having previously told Capitol staffers that face-coverings would be required at all times, and claiming that 'real men wear masks.'

On his show Friday, Bill Maher said he does not plan to get a booster shot, drawing backlash from former Congressman Max Roe

Biden tells companies to start mandating vaccines in speech as he celebrates FDA approval of Pfizer shot President Joe Biden urged American companies on Monday to begin ordering staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as he celebrated the FDA's final approval of the Pfizer vaccine. After delivering the much needed good news he exited the White House auditorium sharply, without stopping to answer questions about the crisis in Afghanistan. Major companies like Amtrak, Walt Disney and Walmart have already required their workers to be immunized and the Pentagon have said they will mandate all troops. But Biden's calls for all companies to make their requirements stricter is likely to face calls of federal government overreach and legal challenges. States including Florida and Texas have already fought back against vaccine mandates and believe it is a personal choice to get the shot. Even so, he spoke directly to what he said were 'millions' of Americans who may have been waiting for full approval before trusting the jab - even though the shots have been going in arms since December 2020. 'It has now happened,' Biden said. 'The moment youve been waiting for is here. Its time for you go get your vaccine. Get it today.' Advertisement

Maher's comments on Friday provoked the ire of former New York Congressman Max Rose, who was part of Maher's round-table discussion on the topic.

He replied: 'Yeah, I lost you man. That's crazy.'

'My body isn't different? Everybody's body isn't somewhat different?' Maher asked in response. 'I just read the statistics about who dies from this -

'You're trying to be cute, you're rolling the dice,' Rose said.

'I'm not trying to be cute,' Maher shot back.

'I know I'm in your house,' Rose told Maher, 'I'm not trying to step over the line here, but genuinely, genuinely, people's lives are on the line - and just as significantly our very way of life is on the line here.

'It's very important that people get vaccinated. It's very important that-'

'Right, I'm saying get vaccinated,' Maher said.

'But if there's a need for boosters, particularly, particularly as the evidence is showing, amongst those who have underlying conditions, amongst the elderly, so on and so forth, it's important they take them, and it's important they trust those who are urging them to do it,' Rose said.

'OK, OK,' Maher replied, 'but you just said underlying condition and elderly - I don't count myself either, so is my body different? Can I have some medical autonomy?'

'No, look, no one is mandating it for you in your particular position,' Rose said, 'although they might, but I do think it's very dangerous to enter into a conversation here about personal responsibility when the truth of the matter is this is a collective responsibility.

'If large groups of people do not get vaccinated, they go to the hospital, and our hospitals get overrun,' said Rose. 'You can't get a mammogram, you can't get a biopsy and so many other things - literally society as we know it can't function.

'So this is important that people are urged to get vaccinated - it's important that they do give back.'

'That's why I said "the team,"' Maher responded, 'because I did it for the team.'

His other guest, Andrew Sullivan, a British-American author, meanwhile, said he did get a booster shot as he is HIV positive.

Maher has previously tested positive for the virus, despite being fully vaccinated. He was asymptomatic.

Maher has previously tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated

The CDC is now recommending anyone who received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine get a booster shot eight months after receiving their second dose, with the first scheduled to be administered in late September.

Officials have said that people who have received the vaccines appear to be losing some of the immunity they gained initially, and say the boosters should offer further immunity as winter approaches, amid fears of a fresh COVID spike.

'Based on our latest assessment, the current protection against severe disease, hospitalizations and death could diminish in the months ahead, especially among those who are at higher risk or were vaccinated during the earlier phases of the vaccination rollout,' United States health officials said in a statement on August 18.

'For that reason, we conclude that a booster shot will be needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability.

'Our top priority remains staying ahead of the virus and protecting the American people from COVID-19 with safe, effective and long-lasting vaccines, especially in the context of a constantly changing virus and epidemiologic landscape,' they added.

The goal is for people to start receiving a COVID booster shot in the fall, the CDC explains in an FAQ on its website.

The CDC maintains that COVID vaccines are working 'very well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death even against the Delta variant.

'However, public health experts are starting to see reduced protection against mild and moderate disease. For that reason, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service is planning for a booster shot so vaccinated people maintain protection over the coming months.'

Brandon Rivera, a Los Angeles County emergency medical technician, gave a second does of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to Aaron Delgado, 16, at a pop up vaccine clinic on Wednesday

Some five million Americans will be eligible for boosters by late September, the New York Times reports, and the Biden administration has more than 100 million doses that could be used for boosters, plus tens of millions more in freezers at pharmacies and other locations.

The administration has also purchased more supply for delivery this fall.

And the discussion around booster shots comes after President Joe Biden urged American companies on Monday to begin ordering staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as he celebrated the FDA's final approval of the Pfizer vaccine.

After delivering the much needed good news he exited the White House auditorium sharply, without stopping to answer questions about the crisis in Afghanistan.

It was a welcome moment for an administration battered by weeks of negative headlines, from spiking cases of COVID-19 to the collapse of the Afghan government and plunging poll numbers.

Joe Biden urged Americans to get vaccinated amid FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine

After delivering his good news on vaccinations, Biden headed straight for the exit ignoring questions about Afghanistan

Major companies like Amtrak, Walt Disney and Walmart have already required their workers to be immunized and the Pentagon have said they will mandate all troops.

But Biden's calls for all companies to make their requirements stricter is likely to face calls of federal government overreach and legal challenges.

States including Florida and Texas have already fought back against vaccine mandates and believe it is a personal choice to get the shot.

Biden, speaking at the White House, portrayed it as a huge victory even though it will be of limited practical value months after the vaccination received emergency approval.

Even so, he spoke directly to what he said were 'millions' of Americans who may have been waiting for full approval before trusting the jab - even though the shots have been going in arms since December 2020.

'It has now happened,' Biden said. 'The moment youve been waiting for is here. Its time for you go get your vaccine. Get it today.'

The FDA announcement was a welcome bit of good news for an administration that has been battered by weeks of negative headlines and remains under intense pressure as the clock runs down on the president's August 31 deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan

He pointed to a pickup in the pace of vaccinations amid a spike in hospitalizations and deaths among the unvaccinated.

'The FDA approval is the gold standard,' Biden said, amid information showing about a third of eligible Americans have declined to get the vaccine.

However, meanwhile, Tucker Carlson hit out at Nancy Pelosi for going maskless at a lavish Democrat fundraiser where all servers were made to cover their faces.

The Fox News Host blasted the Speaker of the House of Representatives on his show Monday night, after images of Pelosi at Sunday's Napa bash - which cost up to $29,000 to attend - appeared online.

Carlson said: 'This is footage shot at a Democratic fund-raiser yesterday morning in Napa just north of San Francisco. Nancy Pelosi was there and has an estate right nearby. So were other Democratic officials on the party's biggest donors.

'They paid $30,000 per ticket to be there. Now looking at the picture, the first thing you notice about the group other than how strikingly homogenous and non-diverse it is, is that none of them are wearing masks.

'They are breathing all the fresh air they like as if it's 2019 again. The only people there wearing masks are their servants, the faceless brown serfs scurrying back and forth to bring them things.

Tucker Carlson took aim at Nancy Pelosi after she was filmed going maskless at a lavish Democrat fundraiser

Pelosi was filmed addressing donors at the lavish outdoor fundraiser, which cost up to $29,000 to attend

The House Speaker has previously spoken strongly in support of masks, and imposed a rule making the compulsory on the floor of the House of Representatives

'There's nothing worse than having the help breathe on you. That's not a problem for Nancy Pelosi, as you can see.'

Carlson continued: 'It's repulsive, but revealing. It's pretty clear at this point that Nancy Pelosi, our chief COVID enforcer, doesn't believe a word she says about the virus.

'Now, Pelosi is 81 years old and deep in the risk range for coronavirus. She's standing at a crowded event in Napa which according to the Biden administration's color-coded map of the country is one of the riskiest places in America for coronavirus transmission.

'And yet Pelosi is not social distancing she's wearing a face shield, she doesn't even have a mask on. Why is that? Well clearly, she understands she is not in danger. and since there are no Republican present, she has no reason to pretend otherwise.'

Carlson then shared clips of Pelosi espousing the benefits of mask wearing - including the speaker telling Capitol staffers that face-coverings would be required at all times, and claiming that 'real men wear masks.'

Meanwhile, the United States has seen a slight dip in cases, with 43,222 reported on August 22, down from 155,496 new cases reported just two days earlier, according to CDC data.

The death rate has also declined, with 164 deaths reported on Monday, down from 375 on Saturday

About 60.8 percent of all Americans have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, with just over half reporting that they are fully vaccinated.
Daniel Andrews has unleashed on the federal government over its new visa scheme for migrant workers which he claims the states can't possibly quarantine.

Migrant farm workers from Asian nations will be offered a path to permanent residency under a long-awaited agriculture visa.

The visa, which will be in place from September 30, will apply to skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers, Agriculture Minister David Littleproud announced.

But the Victorian premier said no state had a enough quarantine facilities to house those arriving in Australia - labelling the plan a 'fantasy'.

'The notion that there is an unlimited capacity to quarantine people... no,' he said during Tuesday's Covid-19 press conference.

Daniel Andrews has unleashed on the Federal Government over its new visa scheme for migrant workers which he says will put a huge strain on state quarantine facilities

'Apparently we have to quarantine them all in some unlimited capacity quarantine facility somewhere. Like, it's fantasy.'

Mr Andrews said instead if countries in the Pacific Islands had a higher testing rate, a travel bubble could be set up between them and Australia and therefore quarantine wouldn't be needed.

'I have talked about flying samples back and testing here, why do we not set up testing clinics and some of these countries?' he said.

'It will always be limited by the number of quarantine spots we have.

'I say to Minister Littleproud, I don't think any agriculture minister knew about this and if you know of some unlimited quarantine facility somewhere, please let me know about it and we will be sure to use it.

'If not, this sort of grandstanding achieves nothing, nothing at all. They are just words.'

Mr Andrews said during the National Cabinet meeting on Friday there was 'no mention' at all of the need to quarantine the influx of workers in specific states.

He said though he was grateful for the migrant workers to help the agriculture industry as border closures prevented overseas seasonal workers, the pressure on quarantine facilities would be heightened.

'Instead of playing games and standing up and doing announcements, work with your colleagues,' the premier said.

Migrant farm workers from Asian nations will be offered a path to permanent residency under a long-awaited agriculture visa. Scheme will offer work like meat processing, fisheries and forestry sectors, as well as fruit and vegetable picking and other farm jobs

Mr Andrews bristled at suggestions farmers should look for local workers, saying the visa scheme wouldn't be necessary if they hadn't tried.

'I would encourage all of us to work together and not play silly political games, because they don't achieve anything,' he said.

'They reckon farmers and regional communities have tried very hard to get locals to do some of this work or people from Melbourne, there is a reason why this work is done by seasonal workforces every year.'

The premier got even more cranky at suggestions the farmers wanted to employ overseas workers because they could pay them less than Australians.

'There are many things, there are many things that you might have a crack at me about... The fact of the matter is that some work is done by seasonal labour every year,' he said.

'The borders have shut, we have a way forward with some Pacific Islanders who are very, very low risk and we are grateful for them to come here and the work, I would expect they would be paid a proper rate and a fair rate for the work they do.

'Beyond that, just issuing visas to people, they have got to be quarantined and there isn't unlimited quarantine capacity.

'There is going to be a limiting factor there. Instead of playing games and standing up and doing announcements or prerecords on Landline, work with your colleagues.'

Vietnam, Thailand, The Philippines, South Korea and other Asian nations are expected to be among the first included

Mr Littleproud said the government would negotiate with individual countries to join the scheme.

Vietnam, Thailand, The Philippines, South Korea and other Asian nations are expected to be among the first included.

'Ones that we have already got very close and long-lasting immigration arrangements with will be the easiest for us to sign up as quickly as we can,' Mr Littleproud told the ABC.

The agriculture visa will initially be created under a tweak to regulations around another category while legislation is drafted.

Mr Littleproud said it would exist alongside Pacific farm labour schemes.

'This is the biggest structural reform to Australian agricultural labour in our nation's history,' he said.

'It's also about bringing the next generation of migrants to rural Australia, to grow agriculture and grow regional Australia.'

The program will offer a path to settle in regional Australia for migrant farm workers who enter on the visa.

Around 40,000 overseas backpackers are estimated to be in Australia in 2021, compared to 140,000 in 2020. Pictured is an orange picker

It will include meat processing, fisheries and forestry sectors, as well as fruit and vegetable picking and other farm jobs.

While there is no cap on agriculture visa places, coronavirus travel restrictions could prevent large numbers of people entering under the category.

Mr Littleproud urged state governments to make more quarantine places available for farm employees.

'If it wasn't for resources and agriculture, our economy would be buggered during Covid-19,' he said.

'They were the ones that kept on going when everyone else was put under the doona.

'They kept on making a quid for this nation and we just need to repay that now with some courage and conviction.'

The Nationals are claiming the visa category as a major win after years of coalition in-fighting.

Liberals relented after Australia agreed to scrap the requirement for UK backpackers to do an 88-day work stint in regional areas to extend working holidays.

The scheme is beneficial for farms which have struggled to find workers amid the border shutdowns (pictured Covid testing clinic in Victoria)

National Farmers' Federation president Fiona Simson said workforce shortages were putting a handbrake on regional economies.

'The Covid-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus, farmers' reliance on an international workforce, particularly during the peak seasonal work periods,' she said.

'The onus is now on state and territory governments and their chief health officers to approve quarantine arrangements to safely house incoming foreign workers.'

Ms Simson urged all sides of politics to back the legislation when it comes before parliament.

Australian Fresh Produce Alliance chair Anthony Di Pietro said all states should follow the lead of Queensland and Tasmania in quarantining overseas farm workers.

'Now that we have an agriculture visa and expansion of the Pacific programs, we need all states and territory governments to work with industry to develop quarantine solutions,' he said.
Australians could be forced to wear masks 'for years' even when the country hits its vaccination targets and starts to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said on Tuesday some level of restrictions would still be needed even when 80 per cent of the state's population is vaccinated against the virus.

Australia as a whole is forecast to reach that level at the start of 2022, but Dr Chant said even then residents may still have to wear masks in high-risk indoor settings.

'The Doherty Report modelling says that at 80 per cent you have options and choices - but that's not to say you're not going to have to respond with a level of restrictions,' she said.

'It may be that we actually have indoor mask-wearing for years in certain settings.

A masked woman checks in for a Covid-19 vaccination at the mass vaccination hub in Homebush in Sydney's west on August 23. Australians have been warned they could be forced to wear masks 'for years' even when the country hits its 80 per cent vaccination target

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said on Tuesday some level of restrictions would still be needed even when lockdowns are no longer necessary - such as mask-wearing in indoor settings

'It could be you're only permitted to go to certain high-risk venues if you're vaccinated and can show proof of vaccination.'

The Doherty Report - which is guiding Australia's route out of the pandemic - has said measures such as testing and self-isolation will still be needed even when a high percentage of the population are vaccinated.

Dr Chant added the emergence of a new Covid variant could push back how long it takes to return to normal life in Australia.

'The world is grappling with how we co-exist with Covid-19 and the virus may throw us curve balls,' she said.

'We've already got Delta - god help us if we have another variant.'

Pictured: A queue to be vaccinated at the NSW Health mass vaccination hub in Homebush on Monday. 'It may be that we actually have indoor mask-wearing for years in certain settings,' Dr Chant said

The Doherty Institute said on Monday night 'generalised lockdowns' would likely not be needed once Australia has vaccinated 70 and 80 per cent.

'Once we reach 70% vaccine coverage, opening up at tens or hundreds of cases nationally per day is possible,' the institute said in a statement on Twitter.

'However, we will need vigilant public health interventions with higher case loads.

'As vaccination rates increase, we'll be able to ease up further and it is unlikely that we will need generalised lockdowns.'
Sean Hannity condemned President Joe Biden for creating 'a hostage situation on a massive scale' over plans to withdraw from Afghanistan by August 31 despite warnings that not all Americans will be rescued.

'Our fellow Americans are behind enemy lines and the hard Taliban deadline is approaching in eight days. A horrific crisis, no end in sight,' the Fox News host said on his show Monday night.

The US says it's difficult to count the number of US citizens still in Afghanistan, since not all of them registered with the embassy. Meanwhile, Taliban leaders have also indicated they'll run out of patience with evacuation efforts if they continue beyond August 31.

'Now, it's our responsibility to find them,' National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Monday.

Hannity's comments came after US House Intelligence Committee chair Adam Schiff revealed it was 'unlikely' that everyone who needed to be rescued would leave the Taliban-run country before Biden's deadline.

Fox News' Sean Hannity slammed Biden's decision not to extend withdrawal from Afghanistan

He criticized the Biden administration for scrubbing the contents of a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, in which Macron called on the US not to 'abandon' allies

They include Afghans who helped the US and the Afghan military, along with their families, activists, journalists, and others.

According to the White House, 10,900 people were evacuated from Kabul between 3am and 3pm on Monday.

They got out on 15 US military flights carrying 6,660 evacuees, plus 34 coalition flights carrying 4,300 people - that puts the number of people evacuated from Afghanistan since August 14 at 48,000.

The US evacuated close to 11,000 people on Monday, and 48,000 since August 14. President Biden has said he is negotiating with the Taliban to extend the perimeter around the airport

Hannity says the speed of the rescue efforts is falling short.

'Every American who wants to get home can get home, but then Joe Biden said last week I can't guarantee the outcome,' Hannity said.

'You know it's irresponsible? Abandoning the Air Force base leaving thousands of unarmed fellow citizens helpless to the whims of the radical terrorist group and the Taliban. The only way any American can even make it to the airport is if, and only if, the Taliban allows them and they're not allowing everybody.'

He continued: 'You know what else is irresponsible? Abandoning interpreters and translators and drivers, each one that put their necks on the line to help US troops over the 20-year period of time. Now the French President Emmanuel Macron is now lecturing and accusing him of moral cowardice that reminded Mr. Biden of the collective moral responsibility towards the Afghan men and women, we cannot abandon them.'

Hannity called the Taliban 'evil killers.' Above, Taliban patrol the streets of Kabul on Sunday

Taliban forces, above in a vehicle, patrol the streets of Kabul and man checkpoints, some of which lead to the airport, which is the center of US evacuation efforts

Hannity referenced an August 19 call between Biden and Macron.

The French president spoke about the two countries' 'collective responsibility' to not 'abandon' the Afghans who 'share our values,' according to an official summary of the call written by Macron's office.

The US readout did not include the remarks about abandonment, instead focusing on the 'importance of continued close coordination among allies.'

'In the White House, how did they respond? They alter the conversations of Americans couldn't see that part,' Hannity said.

'Make no mistake, they are evil killers. A few days ago, one woman was being to death for refusing to cook for Taliban fighters. One local Afghan police chief was executed after surrendering to the Taliban. Religious and ethnic minorities are frequently killed and tortured. Don't forget ISIS and Al Qaeda now reemerged in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,' Hannity added, referencing the new name of the Afghan state under Taliban rule.

Speaking outside the US Capitol after an intelligence briefing on Monday evening, Schiff said some people may stay behind if Biden doesn't extend the deadline to evacuate the country after 20 years of US occupation.

'Given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIVs (special interest visas), the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders women leaders, it's hard for me to imagine all of that can be accomplished between now and the end of the month,' Schiff said.

The fate of evacuees also likes in the hands of the Taliban, who remain opposed to an extension.

'You can say it's a red line,' Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Sky News in an interview Monday about US forces staying after the 31st.

'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no,' Shaheen said. 'Or there would be consequences.'

Biden began talks about evacuation efforts outside of the airport last week, though the US has declined to reveal specific sites out of security concerns.
A young woman who didn't 'believe in Covid' before she was rushed to the emergency room with the virus has blogged about the 'horrible' symptoms she suffered from her hospital bed.

Katie Puffett shared footage to her TikTok account on Sunday showing the harrowing reality of life being treated for Covid in several Sydney hospitals, commenting that her symptoms were more serious than others who tested positive in her family.

She detailed how her time was spent managing headaches, sore eyes, coughing, body pain, difficulty breathing and pain when taking deep breaths.

'I'm alright,' she replied to one commenter on Sunday.

'Hurts to breathe and I can't stand up without needing to faint but I'll be okay.'

Katie Puffett (pictured) has described her symptoms to TikTok viewers as she contracted Covid after not believing the virus was real

In the video she includes a number of short clips and images of herself in hospital beds, being transported in ambulances, and of the medical instruments recording her vitals.

She has so far been admitted to Campbelltown Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital while fighting the disease.

She revealed images of her crying alone in the confined hospital rooms, saying that Covid was not at all like a normal cold.

Katie Puffett is being treated for Covid in a number of Sydney hospitals. She recently uploaded a TikTok (pictured) showing her experience

'I'm not going to sugarcoat it. For me, it has been horrible.'

In a previous video posted on Thursday, Ms Puffett admitted that she thought Covid was fake and that she would never get it because it wasn't a 'thing.'

'We jinxed it,' said one friend.

She was sick for about three days before she received a positive result for the virus, remarking that the symptoms hit her 'like a train.'

She said that she was sick for three days before returning a positive result and that the virus hit her 'like a train'

Ms Puffett also stated that she had not been vaccinated prior to contracting the virus and will now have to wait over three months to be able to get the jab.

She currently isn't able to step foot out of her room due to the high risk of transmission.

Many of the comments beneath her videos wished the young woman a safe and swift recovery from the virus.

She commented on the video that she was not able to set foot outside her hospital room door due to the high transmission rates of the virus

'Praying for your speedy recovery. Lots of love and strength,' one wrote.

'Love you so much my beautiful girl. Stay strong,' said another friend.

One commented: 'I hope you get better soon lovely. Sending you love and strength.'
An animal shelter worker has accused a regional council of lying about its attempts to rehome dogs, which it shot dead in a ridiculous Covid overreaction.

The Bourke Shire Council killed the pets last week to prevent volunteers travelling from a shelter in Cobar, in western NSW, to pick them up, over Covid fears.

But Lorraine Knezevic, a volunteer with Rural Outback Animal Respite/Rescue, said she arranged with the council to pick up the 15 dogs, including 10 puppies.

Vulnerable rescue dogs have been shot dead by a regional NSW council in a shocking interpretation of Covid rules, despite volunteers offering to care for the animals (stock image)

The Bourke Shire Council in the north-west of NSW shot the dogs to prevent Cobar-based volunteers risking infection by travelling to the regional town to pick them up (pictured, a volunteer at the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home in 2018)

Ms Knezevic said her organisation was contacted by the council twice last week about collecting of the dogs and she agreed volunteers would pick them up on Thursday evening.

But the council then refused to let them, citing concerns over people from outside Bourke entering the town fearing they would bring in coronavirus.

'For them to say that we were contacted several times is a blatant lie,' Ms Knezevic told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'We had to tell [other dog-rehomers), "these dogs that you thought you were getting, are getting killed".'

Bourke Council said it contacted its regular dog re-homer 'on two occasions, however the re-homer was unavailable'.

The council's statement claimed the local pound had five holding pens and homed five dogs since early August before one dog had a litter of 14 pups, four of which died.

Two of the five dogs at the pound were aggressive towards staff, the council claimed.

'With these pens having been at capacity, and with two of the dogs constantly being very aggressive against each other, concerns were raised by staff,' it said.

Office of Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock (middle) has previously said she would be concerned if cats and dogs were being shot as a way to euthanise them

Bourke Council said it euthanise the dogs due to the time they were held in the pens and 'to stop people from other communities entering Bourke, given the level of vulnerability in the community'.

The council said it would continue to rehome dogs in the future.

'Council's euthanising rates have dropped from around 95 percent a few years ago, to near zero such that it is now approaching nearly 100 per cent of dogs being rehomed, up until this required action,' it said.

The shootings were slammed by animal activists and prompted intervention from the council's watchdog, the NSW Office of Local Government.

The OLG said its investigation will find out whether 'companion dog or cruelty prevention laws' were broken.

'OLG has been informed that the council decided to take this course of action to protect its employees and community, including vulnerable Aboriginal populations, from the risk of Covid-19 transmission,' it said.

Ms Knezevic said the outrage at the shooting of the dogs ignored the fact the lack of vets in the area meant this method was not unusual, and her volunteers were 'in tears' at the frequent killed of dogs.

Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock, who has previously been peppered with questions in Parliament over the shooting of animals in shelters, did not comment.

She said she was unaware of councils shooting dogs to euthanise them when asked in a budget estimates hearing in March.

'If it was a practice, I would be concerned about it  if it was a cat or a dog,' she said.

The Western NSW Local Health District that includes Bourke and Cobar (pictured) had 36 new cases of the 753 locally acquired cases reported in NSW to to 8pm last night

However, a later answer revealed councils were not required to tell the government how they kill shelter animals.

Animal Liberation regional campaign manager Lisa Ryan requested an urgent investigation into the shootings.

'We are deeply distressed and completely appalled by this callous dog shooting and we totally reject council's unacceptable justifications that this killing was apparently undertaken as part of a Covid-safe plan,' she said.

Greens animal welfare spokeswoman Abigail Boyd echoed Ms Ryan's sentiments, and said more dogs were dying while the government 'twiddled its thumbs'.

Ms Boyd said nothing had been done to protect the lives of vulnerable animals since the parliamentary hearing in March.

'Council pounds are paid for by local communities, and it is clear that shooting lost and unclaimed dogs housed in these publicly-funded facilities falls far short of community expectations,' she said.

According to NSW Health, there are no active cases in Cobar, but there are 10 in Bourke as of Tuesday.

Residents in NSW can keep adopting animals from pounds, shelters and rescues during the latest Covid-19 outbreak (pictured, a dog seized by the RSPCA in Queensland)

The Western NSW Local Health District that includes Bourke and Cobar had 36 new cases of the 753 locally acquired cases reported in NSW on Tuesday.

Covid-19 particles were detected in Cobar's sewage system on Friday at a plant that services around 4,000 people.

NSW Health said these detections were of 'particular concern' and asked residents to self-monitor for any onset symptoms of the virus.

The OLG said it offered advice to council-run pounds during the most recent Covid-19 outbreak, including changes to procedures to ensure dogs could continue to be adopted while keeping volunteers safe.

Residents in NSW can continue to adopt animals from pounds, shelters and rescues, provided the services comply with the authorised worker restrictions.

The health department recommends residents collect the animal in from their LGA or within 5km of their homes, unless the pet is not reasonably available locally.

The OLG said councils were encouraged to continue to work with re-homing organisations and volunteers to care for animals, as long as practices remain consistent with NSW Health advice.

'Accordingly, prospective new owners should still be encouraged to 'adopt not shop', consistent with NSW Health advice,' it said.
One of Sydney's largest hospitals has hit a terrifying 'crisis point' as overwhelming numbers of Covid-infected patients leave others without a bed.

A surgeon working at Westmead Hospital in the city's Covid-hit western suburbs confessed they hold grave concerns for patients requiring urgent surgeries.

Radio host Ray Hadley revealed he had received word from medical specialists at the busy hospital that staff felt 'fearful' of the situation they were confronting.

'We are reaching crisis point at the moment at major Sydney hospitals and it's all related to Covid,' the host said on Tuesday morning.

A surgeon working in Sydney's western suburbs have warned the Westmead Hospital has hit a terrifying 'crisis point' as patients sit on waitlists for urgent surgeries

Mr Hadley said hospital staff were doing an 'absolutely incredible job' in the dire circumstances but admitted the virus was overwhelming everyone.

Mr Hadley said his source at Westmead Hospital expressed particular concern for those awaiting urgent surgery, most notably cardiac patients.

He said a large number of hospital beds have been quarantined for Covid patients, leaving little space for those awaiting potentially life-saving surgeries.

The medical specialist revealed theatre lists are being cut by at least ten operations per week due to the limited amounts of beds.

While pre-pandemic the hospital was operating on 18 to 20 people a week these numbers have now dwindled to around 4 to 8, if hospital beds are available.

'Surgeons at Westmead are very concerned that people will die waiting for surgery,' the radio host said.

Mr Hadley said it wasn't just patients who were suffering from heart disease that had been left in the dark but others with life-threatening conditions.

'The only way to save them is by operating on them,' he said.

There are fears cardiac patients will have a heart attack and die as they wait for life-saving surgery due to a limited amount of beds (pictured, a health worker in Summers Hill in Sydney)

He reminded listeners that during the outbreak last year, the federal government had offered to fund public patients in private hospitals.

He recommended this practice was urgently reintroduced as privatised hospitals were operating on less patients and had additional theatres available.

'At the moment there are no plans from NSW Health to do that and things are going to get worse in western Sydney particularly,' the radio host warned.

'Some of these people on the waitlist, particularly for cardiac procedures may have a heart attack and die waiting for this to happen.'

The radio host said he had alerted the Prime Minister's office to the 'crisis point' many Sydney hospitals had reached due to the sheer volume of Covid patients.

'It's simple. We need to make sure people don't die because of the crisis,' he said.

'The federal government needs to go to the private operators and say we need some help and they'll get that help for sure, as they got last year.'

From Monday, private hospitals in Greater Sydney will postpone non-urgent elective surgeries so medical staff can help support the public system in fighting the virus.

However, Premier Gladys Berejiklian denied claims Sydney hospitals have hit a breaking point during her Covid update on Tuesday morning.

'Regarding the strain on public hospitals, Westmead Hospital, we've been told by surgeons, their cardiac surgeons, the list has been halved because beds are set aside for Covid,' the premier said.

The Premier has denied claims public hospitals have hit a breaking point and said her government anyone who needs medical attention in NSW will receive it

'They are concerned patients will suffer from heart attacks and potentially die. With the private sector to get involved like last year to take it over.

'Anybody who needs medical attention in New South Wales will get attention. We know some hospitals have greater pressure on them than others.'

Ms Berejiklian said her government was in a position where it was managing capacity and challenges brought forth by the virus as best it could.

'Our system is tested in the best of times, least of all in epidemic but all things considered, we are managing the system well and making sure people's public health needs are met.'

There are currently 608 patients receiving treatment in Sydney hospitals for Covid-19, with 107 in intensive care, 34 of whom require ventilation.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Westmead Hospital for comment.
A grieving mother has recalled the tragic final conversation she had with her son before he died.

Blaze Hoskins, 18, was heading to work on Sunday morning when he fell asleep at the wheel of his beloved Holden Commodore on the Sturt Highway in South Australia.

The popular teenager, from the Barossa Valley, collided into a truck on the stretch at Kingston-on-Murray near the bridge west of Cobdogla and died at the scene.

The truck driver involved in the smash was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Adelaide teenager Blaze Hoskins (pictured) died on Sunday after falling asleep at the wheel of his Holden Commodore

The tragedy has left his mother Mel without her only child (pictured, Blaze as a youngster with his mum)

The crash has left Blaze's single mum Mel mourning the loss of her only child.

'It's just been us really for 18 years,' she told 7NEWS.

'It was hard enough when he went away for work for two weeks, now he's not ever coming back.'

In the lead up to the fatality, the 18-year-old told his mum he was exhausted.

She told him to just pull over, and work wasn't that important - but he thought otherwise.

Mel is now pleading with other drivers to learn from Blaze's fateful mistake, because if 'at least one life is saved, he didn't die in vain.'

Blaze's grandfather John Hoskins posted on Facebook that 'it was the worst possible wake up this morning... my beautiful grandson Blaze killed  this is so wrong... he should be at my funeral.'

The youngster will be remembered by family and friends for his happy go lucky nature, as well as his fascination for dirt bikes and his pride and joy vehicle, which he only bought a year ago.

Those close to him will hold a memorial drive this weekend at the scene of the tragedy.

All funds raised from the drive will help pay for Blaze's funeral.

Blaze will be remembered by family and friends for his happy go lucky nature, as well as his fascination for dirt bikes and his car, which he only bought a year ago (pictured with his mum Mel)
Almost half of Sydney's population could miss out on Covid-19 vaccine incentives long-promised to be doled out when the state reached six million doses.

At a press conference on Tuesday announcing 753 new cases, Premier Gladys Berejiklian again told fully vaccinated NSW residents they will have 'at least one' freedom restored by week's end.

But, when asked twice, the premier did not say whether people in the 12 local government areas of concern would be granted any extra freedoms with the rest of Sydney.

'We're having those conversations now,' she said.

It's understood one of the first 'freedoms' set to be offered to fully-vaccinated NSW residents will be haircuts.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Tuesday that fully vaccinated NSW residents will have 'at least one' freedom restored by the end of the week

At least 2.5 million people in the areas of concern - which include Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Canterbury-Bankstown, Campbelltown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and some suburbs of Penrith - are already under a stricter lockdown.

Residents are subject to a curfew, most cannot leave their LGA for work, and cannot leave their homes for outdoor recreation.

When asked the same question, Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the situation was 'very, very complex'.

The Premier did not say whether fully vaccinated Sydneysiders in the 12 LGAs of concern will be granted extra freedoms

While the hotspots are among areas with the biggest increases in vaccine uptake, that is yet to have a big impact on transmission.

'It takes at least two to three weeks for vaccines to work,' Dr Chant said.

'This big push in southwest Sydney, we're not expecting to see the impact of that until mid-September.

'We are working this through in a very considered way, recognising the fact the community has been doing the hard yards.'

The hotspot areas have seen the biggest increases in vaccine uptake, but it has yet to make a big impact on transmission

Six million doses have been administered across the state, with two million people fully vaccinated.

NSW Health on Tuesday also announced a competition between different sporting codes to see which one can get the most jabs.

People from the 12 LGAs of concern getting vaccinated on Sunday are urged to wear the colours of their favourite sport team and take a selfie.
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has denied rumors that he abandoned his dog Captain and said some people 'can't just get the facts straight.'

The rumors started after Cuomo left Captain, a Northern Inuit dog, in the state executive mansion while he stayed at his sister's Westchester home.

The Albany Times Union reported he had been asking staff at the mansion if anyone would like to keep Captain, a shepherd, Siberian and malamute mix.

But Cuomo turned to Twitter to deny the claims at 10:10pm Monday night - less than two hours before his term as governor ended.

'Some people just can't get the facts straight,' he wrote.

'Yes, I was downstate monitoring storm response for a few days, but Captain and I are a man and his dog.

'He is part of our family and thats the way it will always be,' he wrote on the social media platform.

Cuomo stepped down on Monday, in the aftermath of a report by the state attorney general that found he sexually harassed 11 women.

While some Tweeter users were supportive to Cuomo, one user remained skeptical and noted that the photo he shared was in fact from June 2020.

Cuomo denied claims that he had abandoned his dog Captain on a tweet

Outgoing Gov. Andrew Cuomo has reportedly abandoned his dog, Captain, as the final belongings were moved out of the governor's mansion Monday

Responses to his tweet from support and gratitude for Cuomo's service as Governor, to disgust and references to sexual harassment allegations against him

New York State's new governor Kathy Hochul is pictured being sworn in shortly after midnight Tuesday

'If you change your mind theres a spot for him with 5 acres of dog heaven in Voorheesville! Hed have two sisters: Lady Anna BiggieSmallz Barkingham, and Dilly Pickles,' shared a Tweeter user who was apparently offering to adopt the dog.

Other replies were less cordial and more accusing, even referencing the allegations against the former governor.

'Captain was trying to get away from you anyway. Inappropriate petting,' read a tweet reply in an apparent reference to the allegations against Cuomo, which he denies.

Cuomo adopted the dog as a puppy in 2018, with Captain repeatedly nipping people during his time at the mansion.

One mansion staff member reportedly took Cuomo up on an offer to care for Captain, and brought the pet home with them, but the he proved too much to handle, two state police sources told the Times Union.

Richard Azzopardi, senior advisor for Cuomo denied the reports, saying that Captain was always meant to stay with the staff member temporarily.

Captain was seen being walked by a staffer at the executive mansion Sunday. A state police source said the dog is unruly and that a staff member who offered to take ownership of him had to return him. The dog remains there, the source said

Captain is been known to have bitten people at the mansion. Cuomo's chief aide Richard Azzopardi denies the reports that his former boss wants to give him away

'Captain is part of the governor's family and for nameless ill-informed sources to imply they've been trying to give him away is untrue,' he told DailyMail.com in an emailed statement.

'Someone offered to watch him for a few days while the transition was ongoing but for that to be weaponized and morph from a game of telephone into the press is simply absurd. This is palace intrigue gone amok.'

That ran counter to reports from one of the state police sources.

'He tried giving the dog to the (a mansion employee). ... Apparently (the employee) took the dog home and it didn't work  the dog walks him, he don't walk the dog,' the source told the Times Union on Saturday.

The source also said captain had nipped at a number of state police officers and mansion staffers, and that when it happened, 'the governor would just laugh,' and that the dog remains at the mansion.

Meanwhile Cuomo gave an emotional farewell speech at around noon, Monday. He will be replaced at 12.01am on Tuesday morning by Kathy Hochul, his Lt. Governor

Meanwhile movers with New York State Archives Records Center and The New York State Department of Education logged and removed artifacts from the mansion Monday morning.

They were likely the final belongings to be taken out of the storied residence.

Later, at around noon Monday, Cuomo, 63, choked back tears as he gave his final address as governor and slammed the sexual harassment report authored by state attorney general Letitia James.

He claimed he was the victim of a political attack, saying: 'Allegations must still be scrutinized and verified whether made by a woman or man that is our basic justice system

'I understand there are moments of intense political pressure and media frenzy that causes a rush to judgement that is not right, fair or sustainable.

'Facts still matter. A firecracker can start a stampede but at some point everyone looks around and says "why are we running?"

'The Attorney General's report was designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic.

'And it worked. There was a political and media stampede. The truth will out in time,' he said.

The home is said to be worth close to $3 million dollars and is located in Purchase, New York

His sister's house, in the town of Purchase, is owned by Maria Cole and her fashion designer husband, Kenneth Cole

Cole's house is only a short distance from the home Cuomo had once lived at with his ex-longtime girlfriend Sandra Lee. The pair broke up in 2019 and it was at that point Cuomo moved into the Governor's Mansion, a 165-year-old residence.

A U-Haul arrived at the property first thing Friday morning from the back of the house. The driver then pulled the truck around the side of the house so that it was barely visible from the street.

Cuomo was nowhere in sight as two more pickup trucks pulled up and at least six workers were seen unloading dollies and carts from the trucks before heading inside.

The outgoing governor was the last of his family to move out of the mansion. His daughters Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo (left), 23, and Cara Kennedy-Cuomo (right), 26, were spotted loading boxes of things and leaving the mansion in a black SUV earlier in the month

The trucks left Albany at around 11:30am, arriving in Purchase at 2:15pm.

Although it is not yet clear where Cuomo will be living now that he has moved out of the mansion, it is clear that his sister will be storing at least some of his things, for now.

Those delivering the boxes to Cole's home told the New York Post they had no idea who they were working for with one saying they were simply told to 'drive to the Tappan Zee' bridge before being given an address shortly before arriving.

The Cole's home, said to be worth close to $3 million, is equipped with all manner of amenities including a pool and a backyard with a barn and guest house.

The governor appears to be the last of the Cuomos to pack up and move out. Earlier this month two of Cuomo's three daughters - Michaela, 23, and Cara, 26 - were spotted moving their things out of the Executive Mansion.
Tucker Carlson hit out at Nancy Pelosi for going maskless at a lavish Democrat fundraiser where all servers were made to cover their faces.

The Fox News Host blasted the Speaker of the House of Representatives on his show Monday night, after images of Pelosi at Sunday's Napa bash - which cost up to $29,000 to attend - appeared online.

Carlson said: 'This is footage shot at a Democratic fund-raiser yesterday morning in Napa just north of San Francisco. Nancy Pelosi was there and has an estate right nearby. So were other Democratic officials on the party's biggest donors.

'They paid $30,000 per ticket to be there. Now looking at the picture, the first thing you notice about the group other than how strikingly homogenous and non-diverse it is, is that none of them are wearing masks.

'They are breathing all the fresh air they like as if it's 2019 again. The only people there wearing masks are their servants, the faceless brown serfs scurrying back and forth to bring them things.

'There's nothing worse than having the help breathe on you. That's not a problem for Nancy Pelosi, as you can see.'

Tucker Carlson took aim at Nancy Pelosi after she was filmed going maskless at a lavish Democrat fundraiser

Pelosi was filmed addressing donors at the lavish outdoor fundraiser, which cost up to $29,000 to attend

Carlson continued: 'It's repulsive, but revealing. It's pretty clear at this point that Nancy Pelosi, our chief COVID enforcer, doesn't believe a word she says about the virus.

'Now, Pelosi is 81 years old and deep in the risk range for coronavirus. She's standing at a crowded event in Napa which according to the Biden administration's color-coded map of the country is one of the riskiest places in America for coronavirus transmission.

'And yet Pelosi is not social distancing she's wearing a face shield, she doesn't even have a mask on. Why is that? Well clearly, she understands she is not in danger. and since there are no Republican present, she has no reason to pretend otherwise.'

Carlson then shared clips of Pelosi espousing the benefits of mask wearing - including the speaker telling Capitol staffers that face-coverings would be required at all times, and claiming that 'real men wear masks.'

He added: 'So the real justification for mask mandates was right in the middle of that montage of clips, "Failure to wear a mask is a serious breach of decorum," Nancy Pelosi says. She means it, and that's why at Napa, her little brown servants wear masks as they bring her wine.

The House Speaker has previously spoken strongly in support of masks, and imposed a rule making the compulsory on the floor of the House of Representatives

'Decorum demands that they do. If there has ever been a clear window into their plans, into the society they are trying to build now, we are not aware of it. Our formerly middle-class nation now has a serf class and they are the ones wearing the masks and being forced to take drugs they don't want, being told not to communicate with one another except through the digital channels the party controls.

'Social distance. We now have two groups of Americans, not a broad middle, we have the favored in the unfavored, the savored and damned, we have the vaccinated and unvaccinated.

'That is exactly how the architects of all of this the country. Michael Hayden once ran the two most powerful spy agencies in America, the CIA and NSA. Yesterday, a Twitter user asked him this question "Can we send the convex to Afghanistan? Yes, good idea.

'That's how contemptuous they feel about you. Shut up and fetch another grass of Riesling serf and be sure not to breathe on me or you will be deported. These are bad attitudes and they are accelerating.'

The 19-second video clip taken shortly around 11:30am West Coast time - when the balmy weather was in the 70s and sunny - pans the event and shows over a hundred maskless people sitting shoulder to shoulder.

Pelosi - the Speaker of the House of Representatives - and third in line to be president if Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were incapacitated, was filmed addressing guests about the aims of the fundraiser.

This appears to be a video of @SpeakerPelosi talking to donors at the @dccc retreat this weekend in Napa. pic.twitter.com/YsqRvM16ex  Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) August 22, 2021

What looks like over a hundred people are sitting shoulder to shoulder and maskless during the Democrat's fundraiser led by Pelosi

Guests are spending between $100 to $29,000 per person in donations

A lush nature scene with a gazebo serves as the backdrop to the event, and colorful floral arrangements liven the the tables.

The event had a country-club-like feel, where well-dressed guests chit chatted amongst themselves while caterers served their food.

Guests were filmed eating what appeared to be a fresh fruit and vegetable plate, on tables groaning with fresh flowers, and laid out with snowy white linen, as well as expensive-looking cutlery.

They were prepared to dole out between $100 to $29,000 each in donations to the DCCC - the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

'All the servants fully masked,' journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted. 'The almost-entirely old, white, rich crowd of DCCC donors free to go maskless as theyre served.'

Nancy and her donors were filmed enjoying themselves as her close ally President Biden faced ongoing fury amid the United States' chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, amid hellish scenes at Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport.

Pelosi has previously faced claims she is out of touch after going for an indoor haircut in her home city of San Francisco in September 2020 - while indoor beauty services were banned because of COVID.

The House Speaker later claimed she was set up. And in April 2020 - as COVID began to ravage the US - she sparked fury after appearing on Stephen Colbert's late-night talk show to share the designer ice cream brands she keeps stocked in her $25,000 freezer.
Hollywood film maker Spike Lee says he believes in 9/11 conspiracy theories - including the claim that one building in the World Trade Center was brought down by a controlled demolition and not a terror attack.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, Lee discussed his new eight-hour documentary series 'New York Epicenters: 9/11 - 2021 1/2.' The four part installment, which first premiered on HBO on Sunday, focused primarily on New Yorkers and their reactions to the 9/11 terror attacks and the COVID pandemic.

It includes interviews with New York politicians like Senator Chuck Schumer and Mayor Bill de Blasio, along with various health care workers, firefighters and activists.

He said the New York Police Department declined to be interviewed in his documentary due to his views on police.

But the last episode also includes several members of the conspiracy group Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth - a group that has suggested the United States government was involved with the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

When Times reporter Reggie Ugwu asked Lee about the group's inclusion in the documentary series, Lee responded: 'I mean I got questions, and I hope that maybe the legacy of this documentary is that Congress holds a hearing, a congressional hearing, about 9/11.'

In a recent interview, director Spike Lee said he believes 9/11 conspiracy theories

He was discussing his new documentary series New York City Epicenters 9/11 to 2021 1/2, which includes interviews with a conspiracy theory group

Ugwu then asked Lee if he believes the 'official explanations' for the World Trade Center collapse on September 11, to which Lee claimed: 'The amount of heat that it takes to make steel melt, that temperature's not reached.

'And then the juxtaposition of the way Building 7 fell to the ground - when you put it next to other building collapses that were demolitions, it's like you're looking at the same thing,' Lee said in the interview.

'But people [are] going to make up their own mind,' he said. 'My approach is to put the information in the movie and let people decide for themselves. I respect the intelligence of the audience.'

The original WTC 7 was a 42 story building constructed in 1987, which was filmed tumbling to the ground after the Twin Towers collapsed. Some angles showed the seemingly undamaged tower collapse onto its own footprint sparked, which controlled demolition claims. But footage from the other side of the building shows a huge gash caused by falling debris.

At that point, Ugwu asked Lee why he believes in 9/11 conspiracies but does not support conspiracy theories about vaccines or the 2020 election, to which Lee quipped: 'People are going to think what they think, regardless.

'I'm not dancing around your question,' he said. 'People are going to think what they think.'

He noted: 'People have called me a racist for Do the Right Thing. People said in Mo' Better Blues, I was anti-Semitic, She's Gotta Have It that was misogynist.

'People are just going to think what they think,' Lee said. 'And you know what? I'm still here, going on four decades of filmmaking.'

The September 11 attacks began when a plane flew into the south tower of the World Trade Center in New York City

Smoke and flames were seen billowing out of the twin towers before they ultimately collapsed

All that was left of the Twin Towers in the aftermath was steel

The wreckage of WTC7 is pictured after the 9/11 attacks - the way in which it collapsed after the Twin Towers sparked conspiracy theories it had been brought down by explosives

The new building which replaced the original World Trade Center 7 is pictured here, but the conspiracy theories continue

The controlled demolition theory has been around since the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks, when Building 7 was hit by debris from the Twin Towers and was damaged by fires, which burned for seven hours until it was completely destroyed at about 5:20 p.m.

Some proponents of the theory suggest the building was demolished because it may have served as an operational center for the demolition of the Twin Towers, while others suggest that government insiders may have wanted to destroy files about corporate fraud.

Loose Change film producer Dylan Avery once said he thought the destruction of the building was suspicious because it housed a CIA office, an outpost of the Secret Service, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the city's emergency command center.

But United States Special Operations Command has said anyone could have rented space in the building.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology also investigated the claims and 'found no corroborating evidence for alternative hypotheses suggesting that the World Trade enter towers were brought down by controlled demolition using explosives planted prior to September 11, 2001.'

'Instead, photographs and videos from several angles clearly show that the collapse initiated at the fire and impact floors, and that the collapse progressed from initiating floors downward until the dust clouds obscured the view.'

Lee has been a top Democratic donor and has campaigned for far left politicians over the past few years.

Lee has been a major Democratic donor and has campaigned for far left politicians

In 2012, FOX reports, he hosted Obama in a fundraiser at his Manhattan home, then in 2016, he campaigned for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders ahead of the primaries, even appearing in a radio ad for the senator.

Then in 2019, Lee hosted a sold-out fundraiser for now vice president Kamala Harris in Martha's Vineyard.

He has said the NYPD declined to be interviewed in his new documentary due to his unflattering portrayal of the police in the past.

'The only people who said no was NYPD,' Lee said in the interview. 'They don't look good in this.

'And that footage [of police officers assaulting Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020] does not lie. They were cracking heads.'
A private school has been forced to rubbish claims one of its students died from the Covid-19 vaccine after anti-vaxxers spread fake rumours about the cause of his death.

St Pius X College student Tom Van Dijk, 17, died at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest during a swim with his family on August 21.

False reports have since circulated online that the champion swimmer and musician died shortly after receiving a dose of Pfizer vaccine.

The Chatswood school's principal John Couani on Tuesday though revealed the student had not even received his first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

The death of Tom Van Dijk (right) has been hijacked by anti-vaxxers wrongly claiming he died after receiving a dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine

'We have had a tragic loss [but] he did not have Covid-19 and did not die as a result of the vaccine,' Mr Couani told The North Shore Times.

'We are a community in terrible grief and sorrow, but there is a lot of misinformation that needs to stop.'

Mr Couani said other rumours on social media that the school pressured students to get vaccinated against the virus were overwhelming and 'horrific'.

False reports circulated online after his death that the champion swimmer and musician had died shortly after receiving a dose of Pfizer vaccine

'The school did not force students to be vaccinated... the school is not in a hotspot or local government area of concern... weve made no statement calling for vaccinations of students,' he said.

One bizarre post on Facebook falsely claimed a 'suppression order' was preventing the school or the media from identifying the teenager.

Another post incorrectly stated the 17-year-old died 'shortly after' receiving a jab of the Pfizer vaccine at western Sydney's Homebush mass vaccination centre.

Mr Couani described Tom in a letter sent to the wider school community as an 'incredible young man who was loved by all'.

Tom Van Dijk (left) had not even received his first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, his school's principal said. The teenager died at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest during a swim with his family on August 21

Tom Van Dijk pictured left with his father. St Pius X College principal John Couani said in a letter to the school community that the 17-year-old was an 'incredible young man who was loved by all'

'He helped others, was a friend to everyone in Year 12 and had some many incredible gifts as a high achieving academic student, champion swimmer and an accomplished violinist,' Mr Couani said in the statement.

'There are many students in the younger grades who would know Tom, and all will attest to his strong but gentle nature and the care he gave to younger student.'

He said the teenager had told his parents before his death he wanted to donate his organs to help others in need.
A US Army nurse and two others helped deliver a baby girl inside a plane full of 300 Afghanistan evacuees shortly after it landed in Germany on Saturday.

Registered nurse and US Army Capt. Erin Brymer was called to help 10 minutes before the C-17 transport aircraft landed at the US Ramstein Air Base in Germany after the unnamed Afghan woman went into labor.

The plane flew in from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, part of the US's hurried efforts to evacuate translators, allies and others who helped the US during their 20-year occupation of the country against the Taliban, which has now taken over the country.

Upon landing, Brymer and two people from the 24/7 women's health team helped deliver the baby on the plane as it sat on the tarmac at Ramstein.

She said afterwards: 'I think all Army medical personnel are trained to work  in a field hospital setting. It was the coolest moment of my life.'

US Army Capt. Erin Brymer said the woman who gave birth was 'past the point of no return' by the time she reached the C-17 transport aircraft at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany

The woman gave birth on a plane of 300 people fleeing Afghanistan as it falls to the Taliban. She is pictured being stretchered off afterwards

Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing carry the new mother from the plane on Saturday

'We were past the point of no return,' she told military newspaper Stars and Stripes.

The mother - whose identity is not known - was sitting on a shawl near the doors of the aircraft, Brymer said.

'It looked just like the picture in the news,' she said. 'It was a plane full of 300 people sitting on the ground.'

Four Afghan women held up shawls for privacy as the woman crowned at the front of the plane.

Brymer was helped by Maj. Kristin Blouin, an Air Force neonatal nurse, and Staff Sgt. Lamaar Melvin, an aerospace medical technician.

'I was just trying to make eye contact with her and let her know that everything was OK, that she can deliver this baby safely and that we were ready for her,' Brymer said, adding that conditions aboard the evacuation plane are not ideal for pregnant women.

'A lot of these women have not eaten and are not well-hydrated,' she said. 'And that can definitely induce labor.'

Brymer called the delivery 'picture perfect,' and said the best moment was 'when the baby came out screaming and we were able to put her directly on Mom's chest and get her breast feeding right away.'

The baby was born within 10-15 minutes of the airplane touching down at 3.19pm local time.

The head of US Transportation Command, Gen. Steve Lyons, told reporters Monday that two other babies have been born at Ramstein, according to CNN, though he offered no details.

'Just an incredible, incredible operation ongoing, you know. Just impressive work by our great airmen,' Lyons said.

Brymer said helping deliver the baby girl was the 'coolest moment of my life'

U.S. Army Capt. Erin Brymer, a clinical staff nurse in the Labor & Deliver ward at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, said she was 'honored' and 'humbled' to be part of the birth

The identity of the mother, seen above, is not known. Brymer says conditions aboard the plane were not ideal for pregnant women, as many were hungry and 'not well-hydrated'

A total of 7,100 evacuees from Afghanistan have arrived at the German base so far.

The base is nearing its capacity of 7,500 after 36 flights carrying evacuees landed in recent days, according to CNN.

Evacuation efforts are speeding up as the Taliban lose patience with US procedures. A spokesman for the group said that there would be 'consequences' if Biden extends his August 31 withdrawal deadline.

According to the White House, 10,900 people were evacuated from Kabul between 3am and 3pm on Monday. The US has evacuated 48,000 people from Afghanistan since August 14.

Capt. Brymer says she felt 'honored' and 'humbled' to help usher in a new life amid the crisis.

'And just kind of - the sheer humanity of this. I mean, we're people, they're people. We both want the same things, healthy and strong mamas and babies.'
A young mum-of-three who was found dead in her home in Sydney's western suburbs died after testing positive to coronavirus, NSW Health has confirmed.

Ianeta Isaako, 30, is the youngest woman in NSW to have died with Covid, with her husband Sako now fighting for life in hospital after also being infected.

Ms Isaako, her husband and their three children lived in the house next to other family members and she had tested positive for Covid just days ago.

NSW Police said officers were called to a property on Helena Avenue in Emerton, Blacktown, at about 3pm on Monday, following reports a woman was found unresponsive.

'Sadly, NSW Health has been notified of the death of a person who had Covid-19,' a spokesperson said. 'A woman in her 30s from Sydney's west died at home.'

Ianeta Isaako (pictured with her husband Sako) passed away after she was infected with Covid-19 NSW Health confirmed. He is n ow fighting for life in hospital

NSW Health has confirmed a woman, aged in her 30s, died of Covid-19 at her home in Emerton in Sydney's western suburbs (pictured, PPE-clad emergency workers at the scene)

Police were called to the residence on Helena Avenue in Emerton around 3pm on Monday, following reports a woman was found unresponsive (pictured, ambulances outside the home)

Neighbours said they would often see the family in the street.

'There was a few of them in there, I think they might have lived next to their grandparents,' one neighbour told The Daily Telegraph.

'They were a nice young family, you'd always see them playing out the front with their kids... very sad she was in her 30s I think, it's way too young.'

Tributes have also begun to flow online for the beloved mum-of-three.

'Till we meet again my dear sister. Our babies are safe sissy. I love and miss you so much,' one said.

'Thank you to all our family and friends who have reached out, this was our final goodbye to our sweet Ianeta, ohh too soon  way too soon,' a relative wrote.

'My heart is broken,' another simply said.

'I know there is nothing in this world matters anymore, when death takes the most beautiful part of your heart. I want you to think of what she would've wanted you to do,' another added.

One neighbour claimed to have witnessed police and ADF personnel on the street in recent days.

The family live in Blacktown (pictured) one of the areas being most badly hit by a wave of Covid cases

Bright yellow biohazard bags (pictured) were seen tied to the fence outside the property while several ambulances lined the street outside

A group of PPE-clad emergency workers were seen entering the home, about 46km west of Sydney's CBD, on Monday.

Bright yellow biohazard bags were seen tied to the fence outside the property while several ambulances lined the street outside.

An assortment of medical supplies and equipment were also seen sitting on the nature strip in front of the home.

A spokesperson said NSW Health extended their deepest sympathies to the woman's loved ones.

'This tragic death is being investigated by the Western Sydney Local Health District and has been referred to the coroner,' a statement from the department read.

Earlier on Tuesday, no Covid-related deaths were reported, however by 3pm NSW Health had confirmed the passing of the western Sydney woman.

The mum-of-three lives in Blacktown (pictured) - one of the Sydney suburbs most badly hit by the Covid outbreak

An assortment of medical supplies and equipment were also seen sitting on the nature strip in front of the home (pictured)

The state reported 753 new local Covid cases on Tuesday, down on the three-day average of 824.

Most new cases remain in western and southwestern Sydney.

One of the city's largest hospitals has called a 'yellow emergency' as it struggles under the weight of growing COVID-19 cases in the city's west.

The Western Sydney Local Health District's executive team sent an email to staff on Tuesday indicating the change in settings at Westmead Hospital.

The email said the hospital was 'standing up an emergency operations centre' to grapple with the increase in COVID-19 cases at the facility.

The hospital would immediately reduce ambulance arrivals for COVID-19 patients for a 24-hour period, seek to transfer several critical patients to other Sydney metropolitan hospitals and conduct urgent critical care reviews.

NSW Police have commenced an investigation into the woman's death with a report to be prepared for the coroner

The LHD would also work with private hospitals to open up 100 more beds.

'We acknowledge that we are not longer operating in a business as usual environment and careful assessment and response is required to manage future demand for our services,' the email, seen by AAP, says.

NSW Health data shows almost 4,000 COVID-19 cases have been uncovered in the past four weeks in the Western Sydney LHD.

There are currently more than 600 people with COVID-19 in hospital in NSW and 107 in intensive care.

NSW Health says it currently manages about 500 intensive care beds but has a surge capacity of about 2000 when required. The government has repeatedly said the hospital system is coping with the increased workload.
Councils are set to get grants from the government to rent or buy large homes for thousands of Afghan refugees.

The average size of the families coming to the UK is thought to be seven, but at least one family is believed to be made up of 12 people.

So far local authorities have offered to host up to 2,500 people, but the numbers seeking refuge under the scheme for Afghans who helped British forces could reach five times that level.

Thousands more are expected to come to the UK under a separate longer-term resettlement scheme for those vulnerable to persecution by the Taliban.

Although the details are unclear, the suggestion of grants to buy homes could spark resentment in local communities, with many Britons struggling to afford such properties.

It comes amid fears more than 1,000 Afghans who assisted British troops face being left behind when mercy flights cease in the coming days.

A Government source told the Times: 'The greatest challenge is that councils simply don't have enough vacant properties.

Councils who have agreed to help house Afghan refugees will be given grants to rent and buy large family homes to fill the demand. Pictured: Evacuation charter flight arrives from Kabul

More than 100 councils have so far agreed to help house refugees. Pictured: An RAF aircraft, believed to be carrying passengers repatriated from Afghanistan, lands at RAF Brize Norton

'We are looking at other options which could see councils renting properties of the right size or even purchasing them and adding them to their long-term housing stock.'

More than 100 local councils have pledged their support in rehoming displaced Afghans since the first RAF rescue mission for those fleeing Kabul landed in the United Kingdom last week.

Local authorities across the country, from Wiltshire to Northumberland, have committed to taking in displaced Afghans as Boris Johnson launched plans to resettle up to 25,000 refugees over five years.

Families fleeing Afghanistan have been rehomed in West Yorkshire, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Surrey and Melton in Leicestershire.

Council leaders and mayors in Liverpool, London, Kent and Essex have all shared strong statements promising to provide support in their communities in the wake of the Taliban's devastating advance to Kabul.

Councils have already been offered about 10,000 per Afghan refugee to help provide them with accommodation and support.

The Government is offering councils 10,000 per Afghan refugee but reports suggest this could increase. Pictured: Hundreds of people gather outside the international airport in Kabul

But the Government has put up a further 5million, according to the Times, which could increase in the coming months.

Women, girls and those facing persecution will get priority as some 20,000 are granted the right to live in the UK  with 5,000 expected in the first year.

Local authorities have been asked to support efforts to relocate approximately 3,000 displaced Afghans in the coming weeks.

Downing Street has already received more than 2,000 accommodation promises from 104 councils.

Afghans allowed to come to the UK will be distributed across the country, the Government previously indicated.

A spokesman said it would work with the devolved administrations and local councils to make sure Afghans get help to rebuild their lives.

With hopes fading of an extension to President Joe Biden's August 31 deadline, sources said that the 'freedom flights' may only continue until Thursday  even under the best case scenario

The Government wants more councils to come forward with 'hard offers' of accommodation amid concerns about the number of refugees in temporary accommodation.

Boris Johnson said last week as plans were drawn up to resettle refugees: 'We owe a debt of gratitude to all those who have worked with us to make Afghanistan a better place over the last 20 years.

'Many of them, particularly women, are in urgent need of our help. I am proud that the UK has been able to put in place this route to help them and their families live safely in the UK.'

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said: 'There is already an enormous effort under way to support those arriving from Afghanistan, with close to a third of councils already stepping up to support new arrivals.

'However, we urgently need more offers of support to welcome Afghan families who have stood shoulder to shoulder with the UK, serving our troops and our country so bravely in recent years.

'With this extra support in place I'm calling on all councils who have not yet come forward to contact us with a firm offer of support to help our Afghan friends and their families as they build a new life in safety here.'

MailOnline understands that there are at least approximately 2,000 Afghan refugees already being housed in temporary emergency accommodation - mainly in hotels - across the UK.

Manchester is currently home to approximately 1,000 displaced Afghans, while West and North Yorkshire, Hertfordshire and a handful of other counties are housing hundreds of refugees.

It comes amid fears that up to 1,000 Afghan refugees face being left behind as desperate scenes continue to unfold outside a temporary British processing unit at Kabul's airport, illustrating the lottery faced by those trying to reach the UK.

As the evacuation operation entered its final hours, sources told the Mail that several hundred workers and their families are likely to be left in the country because they cannot get through the chaos in Kabul.

With hopes fading of an extension to President Joe Biden's August 31 deadline, sources said that the 'freedom flights' may only continue until Thursday  even under the best case scenario.

Yesterday, ministers outlined plans to extract another 6,000 UK nationals and eligible Afghans - roughly the same as have already been taken out - before the operation is wound up.

But there are about 7,000 who Britain would ideally like to rescue  a scenario which could result in more than 1,000 being left behind.

Many have already tried to get to sanctuary at Kabul airport but have been unable to make it through the chaotic queues or have simply been turned away. Others are still in hiding, unwilling to run the gauntlet of Taliban checkpoints.

Among the 1,000 whose fate is uncertain are as many as 100 interpreters who served with British forces.

According to campaigners, these translators and their families could number 600 in total.

About another 50 translators have not replied to requests from UK officials to report to Kabul airport, raising fears they are missing or may too scared to travel.
A jilted lover who made 104 threatening phone calls to her ex-boyfriend in a single hour left the man needing psychological treatment and time off work.

Kathleen Biscocho, 24, escaped with a good behaviour bond and no conviction after pleading guilty to stalking in the Melbourne Magistrates Court last week.

The court heard the dental assistant verbally abused her ex-boyfriend in one of 104 calls she made to him between 9.34pm and 10.46pm on July 6 last year.

Kathleen Biscocho, 24, was handed a good behaviour bond without conviction after pleading guilty to charges including stalking

'I will f**king end you and make sure you get fired from f**king work,' she said in a voicemail she left the victim.

'You wanna make me wait tonight c**t, f**k, I will end you, yeah. You dont make me f**king wait. Tomorrow I bring my parents to the f**king cops, go to your house and check up on you and f**king make sure you get fired from your PC job c**t bag.

'You wanna f**king keep making me wait and f**king doing this to me d**khead, you dont f**king make me wait. I will f**king end you.'

On another occasion, the man, from Brunswick in Melbourne, had police escort him home after expressing fears Ms Biscocho would attack him, only to find her in his bedroom.

She claimed to police she had been invited to the man's home to try and resurrect their relationship.

The dental assistant verbally assailed her ex-boyfriend in one of 104 calls she made to him between 9.34pm and 10.46pm on July 6 last year

The victim told police the pair had an 'on again, off again' three-year relationship which ended early in 2020, after which he received multiple threats from Ms Biscocho.

He sought psychological counselling and took unpaid leave from work as a result of Ms Biscocho's abuse, the court heard.

She claimed their relationship lasted four years when arrested at Point Cook in December last year, and admitted the man was 'probably scared' as a result of her bombardment of calls.

Ms Biscocho's defence lawyer said a conviction would affect her aspiration to become a dentist but that she had deferred her studies to concentrate on her mental health.
Sydney's lockdown is causing a surge in callouts for flat batteries as more people leave their cars in the garage for weeks at a time.

New NRMA data showed a 29 per cent surge in calls to replace a battery in July and August this year when compared with the same months in 2020.

In 12 council areas of concern, where residents can't venture more than 5km from home in any direction, the increase was 35 per cent compared with 22 per cent in the rest of greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains.

Battery issues topped the list of mechanical problems as more people worked from home and stopped visiting family and friends.

This was an even bigger issue than flat tyres, electrical faults, coolant reservoir problems and fuel system failures.

Sydney's lockdown is causing a surge in callouts for flat batteries as more people leave their cars in the garage for weeks at a time. New NRMA data showed a 29 per cent surge in calls to replace a battery when July and August this year were compared with the same months in 2020

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said calls for roadside assistance had increased despite a sharp fall in traffic volumes.

'Sydney's traffic volumes during this lockdown have plummeted by as much as 50 per cent on pre Covid levels, however the NRMA has not seen similar falls in demand for roadside assistance,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

The NRMA is recommending motorists drive their car for at least 30 minutes at least every fortnight, pointing out five minutes a day was not enough time.

Outside Covid hotspots, residents can go anywhere within their local government area.

That means someone living at Hornsby can drive 50km to Wisemans Ferry while a resident of Manly can travel 30km to Palm Beach.

Those in a hotspot council area who can't venture far are urged to use a battery charger.

In 12 council areas of concern, where residents can't venture more than 5km from home in any direction, the increase was 35 per cent compared with 22 per cent in the rest of greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains

Car workshops are classified as essential business and can still operate in NSW.

In Sydney's Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield and parts of the Penrith council areas, residents can't go more than 5km from home for exercise or groceries.

They are also subjected to a 9pm to 5am curfew.

In the rest of NSW, with regional areas also now in lockdown, residents can go anywhere within their local government area but not more than 5km in a neighbouring council area.
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Once the jewel in Melbourne's shopping district crown, business owners along trendy Chapel Street claim they are now surviving on 'food scraps'.

Chapel Street, which runs through South Yarra, Windsor and Prahran, has been a 'destination' for decades and the strip represents Melbourne's unique cafe, dining and retail culture.

But as Melbourne endures its sixth lockdown with no end in sight, shop owners are calling on the State Government for help.

'We need a lifeline like New South Wales - Melbourne has now spent more than 200 days in lockdown and businesses here are still fighting for support while in Sydney their tiered structure support scheme makes Melbourne look like the poor cousin surviving on food scraps,' Chapel Street Precinct chairperson Justin ODonnell said on Tuesday.

Abandoned shop premises dot the former bustling prime site shopping and dining street in the heart of Melbourne

Chapel Street in better days. Now business owners are struggling to survive

Struggling business owners in Melbourne's once-vibrant Chapel Street have condemned Premier Dan Andrews. Pictured left to right: Dom Mezzatesta from Rise Nation gym, Nicola Cuiper from Xtend Barre, Natalie Guest From Green Cup cafe and Drew Westfield from Gript gym

Natalie Guest, of Chapel Street health food cafe, Green Cup, resorted to takeaway operations during the city's repeated lockdowns in June with revenue falling by 20 per cent

Chapel Street continues to be among Australias largest shopping precincts, made up of 2,200 small businesses.

In its prime, it was the place to be seen day and night and was legendary for its bustling street scene and tireless nightlife.

Business owners, many whom were close to hitting the wall after Melbourne's fourth lockdown in June, are calling for answers amid fears they are well and truly cooked.

'If you have a business in Sydney, you are eligible for financial support as soon as you have a downturn of 30 per cent,' Mr ODonnell told Daily Mail Australia.

'So many businesses on Chapel Street are on life support and the oxygen is running out with so many falling through the gaps without support, different to Sydney.'

Struggling business owners fear Melbourne is just four weeks behind Sydneys Covid-19 case numbers and worry unlike owners north of the border, they will not survive.

'Sydney businesses are surprising and unfairly better off,' Mr ODonnell said.

'Sydney has based theirs on business downturn, on a tiered structure starting from 30 percent.

'Victoria has based theirs on a few selected ABN business categories that the Victorian Government believes have been impacted.

'The rest who miss out can only get support if they have had a 70 per cent downturn or more. Which is actually the top tier of the business support in NSW, if you are 69 per cent down in Victoria you get zero support.'

Lockdown six and Chapel Street is a shadow of its former self, with businesses closing down

Drew Westfield poses at Gript Gym in South Yarra after the Victorian Government announced that gym would not be opening after another lockdown

Sarah Lowe, owner of South Yarra XTEND Barre studio, called Dan Andrews and his government 'completely incompetent and inept'

Chrissie Maus, who acts as the precinct general manager, described the situation as 'crazy'.

'Chapel Street Precinct businesses are getting a big fat zero unless they can prove a 70 per cent downturn or more. This is crazy. A business on Chapel Street with a 69 per cent downturn gets zip, nothin, zilch. Thanks for nothing, Dan, ' she said.

'Trigger happy Dan has seen us endure six lockdowns compared to Sydneys two. These harsh lockdowns come with a steep price  not only to a business owner's bottom line, but to their mental health as well.'

Ms Maus said many business owners had struggled mentally through the previous lockdowns and risked meeting their breaking point.

Chapel Street business owners say Dan Andrews has abandoned them

Don't get me started on Dan Andrews and his government. They're completely incompetent and inept. They've clearly failed the state. Sarah Lowe, owner of South Yarra XTEND Barre studio

'We have PTSD and businesses are scared. Businesses need a proper lifeline if theyre ever to reopen once vaccination rates reach 80 per cent - click and collect for retailers or takeaway options for restaurants are just not cutting it,' she said.

'Even with strict, fast-acting lockdowns, Dan Andrews has lost control of the virus and our businesses are once again paying the price for his incompetence and haemorrhaging money.'

The pain faced by Chapel Street traders was first documented by Daily Mail Australia during Melbourne's fourth hard lockdown in June.

Back then, traders questioned why the government had taken them to the edge without reason.

'He's killing the state and he's killing Chapel Street,' Drew Westfield, owner of South Yarra boutique training studio, GRIPT said at the time.

His business has had to cancel all subscriptions for his 250 members for the duration of every lockdown, costing him more than $20,000 a week in income.

'Dan Andrews has got a problem with honesty and accountability,' he said. 'What he's really good at is deflecting and putting the blame and criticism on others.

'They've got no confidence in their competence to get us through this and they're scared. They're afraid, so they make the worst possible decisions to protect themselves.

'They don't take into consideration what damage these harsh decisions they're making are having on the people they're meant to be looking after.'

October 20 last year and business owners celebrated what they hoped would be the last lockdown. They have endured four more since

Ghost town: Business owners spoke to Daily Mail Australia about the devastating impact of repeated lockdowns

Drew Westfield (far left), owner of South Yarra boutique training studio, GRIPT, says he's losing more than $20,000 a week as a result of the lockdown

But the spectre of a fifth lockdown looms large over every Victorian business owner (empty streets pictured on Thursday)

Natalie Guest, of Chapel Street health food cafe, Green Cup, has transitioned to a take-away operation during the repeated lockdowns, costing them 20 per cent in lost revenue - but has seen others pay a far higher price.

'It's really quite scary when you see so many empty shops on the strip,' she told Daily Mail Australia in June. 'There's 10-15 empty shops every 200m on Chapel Street now.

'It's had a massive impact. In those areas where there should be office workers, it's all closed, and retail business has taken a huge hit.

'It's certainly not the appealing place it used to be.'

Watching the way other states handle Covid breakouts has merely added to the anger and frustration, Ms Guest said at the time.

'There's got to be a better way of doing it than locking down the whole state, and putting everyone's mental health and their livelihoods at stake,' she added.

'They've got to look at what the other states are doing to have things better under control.'

Mother-of-three Sarah Lowe opened her South Yarra XTEND Barre studio in December 2019 - and has been shut by lockdowns for more than 45 per cent of the time ever since.

She abandoned Victoria in January to run the studio by remote control from New South Wales after the stress of the constant lockdowns became too much.

'It's just devastating,' she said. 'There are no words for the predicament I'm in, to be honest. I'm in a franchise so I can't just close the doors and walk away.

'I have obligations - rental obligations, franchise agreement obligations - and 18 months after I first opened, it's nowhere near where it should be.

'All the working capital I had set aside when we opened - which all new businesses have to get them through that start up phase - was eaten up through franchise fees during lockdown periods... with no income.'

Ms Lowe added: 'Don't get me started on Dan Andrews and his government. They're completely incompetent and inept. They've clearly failed the state.'?'
Annastacia Palaszczuk has fired back at the Prime Minister's criticism of states obsessed with attaining Covid-zero, boasting how great the state is doing without lockdown.

Scott Morrison urged lockdown-free states like Queensland to 'get out of the cave' after the Premier threatened to keep draconian restrictions including border closures even once 80 per cent of the population is vaccinated.

The Queensland leader rebuked Mr Morrison's statement during Tuesday morning's Covid press conference, saying unlike other states Queenslanders were enjoying living in relative freedom.

'Have a look at Queensland at the moment: you can go to work and go to school, you can go watch sport, you can play community sport, you can go to a restaurant, you can go out, we haven't given up,' she said.

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The Premier boasted unlike other states Queenslanders were enjoying living in relative freedom after recently eliminating a small outbreak and removing restrictions (pictured, residents enjoying an ease of health orders on the Gold Coast)

Queensland recently eliminated a small outbreak and removed restrictions, and despite two truck drivers testing positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, Ms Palaszczuk said plans to further ease rules from Friday have not been threatened.

'We aren't overly concerned about these two,' the Premier said.

Despite Ms Palaszczuk's confidence the state still lags desperately behind the rest of the nation in immunisation rates, with only 47 per cent of residents receiving at least one dose of the vaccine.

Under Australia's national re-opening plan, state leaders agreed to stop trying to eliminate Covid once 70 per cent of residents are vaccinated.

But Queensland has remained wary, threatening to renege on its agreement with Deputy Premier Steven Miles warning it may keep borders shut regardless of vaccination rates, as cases soar in Victoria and NSW.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) has hit back at Scott Morrison during Tuesday morning's Covid-19 briefing saying: 'Have a look at Queensland at the moment'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) urged states lockdown-free states to 'get out of the cave' as Queensland threatened to maintain border closures, going against the national re-opening action plan

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The Prime Minister compared the situation to the 2013 children's movie 'The Croods' about a family which survives natural disasters by sheltering in a cave.

'You've eventually got to get out of the cave,' Mr Morrison said.

'There's always someone who wants to stay in the cave - and then there's the young girl who wants to live outside the cave and move on. Call it The Croods plan: we're getting out.'

The Prime Minister defended the national plan, which is based on scientific modelling, stressing Australia must learn to live with Covid-19.

However Ms Palaszczuk hit back pressuring the Prime Minister to provide the new Doherty Institute modelling to state premiers before National Cabinet on Friday.

'I haven't seen the modelling,' she said.

'Apparently the PM has seen the modelling - share it with us, don't just drop it on Friday morning. Share it with us so we can all have a look at it.'

Ms Palaszczuk said she wanted to see state-specific modelling on what load would be placed on her state's public health system if the country incrementally opened up at 80 per cent.

Queensland leaders have threatened to keep the border to NSW closed regardless of reaching the vaccination milestone as cases skyrocket amid Sydney's Covid-19 outbreak (pictured, Sydney's George St during lockdown)

Two truck drivers entered Queensland from NSW's St George area in the state's far west (pictured, police border patrol checks) before testing positive

'Everyone's worried about the impact it has on hospitals, I mean we're seeing large numbers of people are presenting with serious illness, dying in hospitals, you know, hospitals are going to be stretched,' she said.

The state's two new cases, a pair of truck drivers, are considered 'low risk' as they were relatively contained and returned negative results on follow-up tests.

Exposure sites in St George and the Balonne region, where the drivers stopped for for fuel, food, and accommodation, are expected to be listed later on Tuesday.

Other than the transit stops, both drivers are believed to have mainly stayed at home with their families.

One of the drivers lives in the Somerset region and the other on the Sunshine Coast.

Strict border controls between Queensland and NSW are in place as the Delta outbreak in NSW continues to spread (pictured, border control signage at the QLD/NSW border)

Chief health officer Jeannette Young said the cases were reported to Queensland by NSW Health late on Monday.

'These were two truck drivers were tested as part of the surveillance program that we have in place in Australia now.'

Truck drivers need to be tested every seven days under the program.

'These two truck drivers were superb, doing their routine testing and extra testing and maintained social distancing at all times, stayed at home when they weren't driving the trucks,' Dr Young said.

'The risk is very low.'

Border residents (pictured) protest the current restrictions on NSW residents entering Queensland at Coolangatta last weekend

She said the pair were retested in Queensland and both results came back negative.

Dr Young said the households of both drivers were now undergoing 14 days quarantine.

She said plans to further ease some Covid restrictions in Queensland from Friday would not as yet be threatened by the two new cases.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said 5,000 vehicles were intercepted at the NSW-Queenslander border on Monday.

They included heavy haulage vehicles, with 199 refused entry and 17 who were essential workers that had not yet been vaccinated.

New border rules introduced from last weekend require any essential workers entering Queensland from NSW to have had at least one dose of a vaccine.

Ms Palaszczuk (pictured) urged Prime Minster Scott Morrison to provide new Doherty Institute modelling on vaccinate rates to state premiers before national cabinet on Friday

Queensland Police stop vehicles on the Queensland-NSW border (pictured), Queensland has tightened border controls in the past week as the Delta outbreak in NSW crept further north

Ms Palaszczuk was asked whether she was worried about reports some truckies were planning a blockade of the NSW-Queenslander border to protest border controls.

'They can come in,' she said of the truck drivers.

'Freight has to be distributed around the country and there's a national freight protocol in place, so I don't see what the issue would be.

'Have a look at the number of cases in NSW and Queenslanders don't want to see those numbers coming into Queensland, that's why there's a border closure.'
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Joe Biden today shrugged off pleas from Boris Johnson and other allies to extend the Kabul evacuation after the Taliban warned it will not tolerate delay to the August 31 deadline for troops leaving.

And the White House signalled late this evening that U.S. troops were starting to withdraw, with press secretary Jen Psaki saying the Pentagon was 'on pace' to withdraw by the deadline.

U.S. officials also acknowledged on Tuesday that the U.S. troops deployed at the airport would need to begin their own deployment in advance of the August 31st withdrawal date, which President Biden has decided to stick by despite allies urging a delay to facilitate further evacuations.

Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel had used a G7 meeting to urge the US President to keep the operation going longer, but the entreaties appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

White House sources said Mr Biden had instead agreed with the Pentagon that there would be no change to the timeline of the mission.

And in a live TV address at the White House tonight Mr Biden confirmed the US was now 'on pace to finish by August 31'.

He said more than 70,000 people been evacuated since August 14. And he said 12,000 people had been evacuated by western forces in the last 12 hours alone.

However the President turned the spotlight on the Taliban, who earlier today reiterated their insistence that western troops to leave by the end of this month, saying it was down to militants to allow the evacuation process to go smoothly.

He said the completion of operations in Kabul 'depends upon the Taliban continuing to cooperate', adding there will be contingency plans to 'adjust the timetable should that become necessary'.

Speaking during the conference, which he left without answering questions from reporters, President Biden said: 'We (the G7) agreed we would continue our close co-operation to get people out as efficiently and safely as possible.

'We are currently on pace to finish by August 31. The sooner we can finish the better. Each added day brings a risk to our troops.

But the completion by August 31 depends on the Taliban's continued co-operation and allow access to the airport - no disruption to our operations.'

He said the added risk came from a 'very real' threat from terrorist group ISIS K - a self-proclaimed branch of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant active in parts of Afghanistan.

It comes as a humiliated Mr Johnson said after the G7 summit that the UK will continue to conduct airlifts from the country 'right up until the last moment' as he pleaded with the Taliban to let people leave after the deadline.

He said the leaders had agreed that the 'number one condition' that the Taliban must meet moving forward is to 'guarantee right the way through August 31 and beyond safe passage for those who want to come out'.

The Prime Minister insisted the G7 nations have 'huge leverage' over the Taliban because of the threat of sanctions as he said funding for the country would only be made available in the future if it meets the West's expectations.

'If those huge funds are going to be unfrozen eventually for use by the government and people of Afghanistan then what we are saying is Afghanistan can't lurch back into becoming a breeding ground of terror, Afghanistan can't become a narco state,' he said.

The comments came after the Taliban repeating blood-curdling warnings of consequences if there was an attempt to cling on, saying no-one will be permitted to leave. 'All people should be removed prior to that date,' a spokesman told a press conference in the capital. 'After that we do not allow them. We will take a different stance.'

According to Reuters, the Pentagon has told Mr Biden the risks to American forces are too high if they defy the Taliban. It means troops will have to abandon the humanitarian operation and start focusing on their own exit plan as soon as tomorrow.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has warned of the danger of a 'shooting war' at the airport as the deadline approaches, after the RAF extracted another 2,000 people in the past 24 hours. Berlin and Paris have also been ramping up their evacuation, but there are still thousands of desperate people waiting to be taken to safety.

Efforts have been continuing on both sides of the Atlantic to get Mr Biden to change his approach, after he faced a furious backlash for his hamfisted handling of the crisis. The US chair of the House Intelligence Committee has said the current timetable for evacuating America citizens and their allies is almost certain to fail.

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat  who served as an Army officer in Afghanistan  said all the UK could do was 'ask the Americans if they're willing to stand with us'.

He added: 'If they're not then we can't secure the perimeter and we can't manage air traffic control, so if the Americans decide to go now I'm afraid that is it. But we can ask.'

Mr Tugendhat said he understands Mr Biden has to make 'a very difficult decision', but said many families are struggling to get through the gate and 'a day, maybe two days longer, would help just a few more'.

In other developments in the Afghanistan crisis today:

The Ministry of Defence says 8,458 people have been evacuated by the RAF since August 13, including 5,171 Afghan locals who supported Western forces;

CIA Director William J Burns is reported to have held a secret meeting in Kabul on Monday with the Taliban's de facto leader Abdul Ghani Baradar - the highest level contact between the US and extremist regime so far;

Mr Wallace today rebuked a former Royal Marine for complaining that UK forces are blocking a charter flight from taking his staff and rescue dogs out of Kabul;

Councils are set to get grants from the government to rent or buy large homes for thousands of Afghan refugees coming to the UK;

Afghanistan faces an 'humanitarian catastrophe' this winter, the UN World Food Programme has said as it called for 145million in donations.

Biden said U.S. troops were 'on pace' to leave by August 31 so long as the Taliban kept its word to allow Afghans and Westerners to reach Kabul airport

The White House tried to put a brave face on Joe Biden's position, saying the G7 had talked about the 'continuation of our close coordination'

Boris Johnson today pleaded with the Taliban to allow people to leave Afghanistan after the US has completed its withdrawal on August 31

Joe Biden addresses a virtual meeting of G7 leaders this afternoon. He is said to have spoken for seven minutes

A picture released by the German government of Angela Merkel taking part in the G7 discussion this afternoon

CIA Director William Burns (left) went to Kabul on Monday for a secret meeting with the Taliban's de facto leader Abdul Ghani Baradar (right)

An aerial view shows the roads heading towards the airport near a Taliban airport filled with cars amid the chaotic rush to flee the country

Diplomats insist that the situation on the ground has improved since the weekend with more people being allowed into the airport, but satellite images showed huge crowds continuing to mass

The US said some 16,000 people were flown out of Kabul between Sunday morning and Monday afternoon, with thousands more due to leave the country today (pictured, a satellite image shows people boarding a military plane)

A satellite image reveals thousands of people standing in huge queues trying to get into Kabul airport with just a week left until evacuation flights out of Afghanistan are due to stop

Hopes that Joe Biden (left) will extend America's August 31 deadline to leave Afghanistan are fading, with Boris Johnson (right) making a last-ditch plea today

There are still huge crowds around the airport at Kabul with people desperately trying to get out of the country

Taliban fighters stand guard on cargo crates near the airport in these stills from footage taken by ITN News

Biden 'unlikely' to meet target of getting US citizens out by Aug 31 Joe Biden is 'unlikely' to meet his August 31 deadline to evacuate US citizens and their allies from Afghanistan, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee said Monday. Adam Schiff made the grim prediction after an intelligence briefing Monday evening, as the Taliban rejected a mooted extension to the withdrawal date. Schiff said a full evacuation was 'possible' but 'very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIV's, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders, women leaders.' Speaking outside the US Capitol, Schiff continued: 'I am encouraged to see the numbers of people evacuated, increasing readily to the point where we evacuated 11,000 people in a single day,' Schiff continued. 'Nonetheless, given the logistical difficulties of moving people to the airport and the limited number of workarounds, it's hard for me to see that being fully complete by the end of the month. And I'm certainly of the view that we maintain a military presence as long as it's necessary to get all U.S. persons out and to meet our moral and ethical obligation to our Afghan partners.' Advertisement

Pentagon chiefs have poured cold water on an extension by insisting they are 'focused on getting this done by the end of the month'.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the President was 'taking this day by day' and will make his decision on an extension 'as we go'.

But he said the President still believes 'we have time between now and August 31 to get out any American who wants to get out'.

The Taliban has warned that any Western military operation in Afghanistan that continued into September would breach a 'red line' and would 'provoke a reaction'.

At a press conference this afternoon the group's spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid urged the West not to 'encourage' highly skilled people to leave Afghanistan.

He warned that the US should not be removing 'our doctors, engineers, our educated elite' from the country.

According to translation on Sky News, he said: 'We need those people in the country, we do not want them out of the country to work in their institutions.'

He urged Afghans to 'return to their homes and resume their calm everyday lives' by the Taliban.

Mr Mujahid said crowding at the airport was dangerous and 'people could lose their lives'.

In an apparent sign of the US administration's desperation to find a way out of the mess, CIA Director William J Burns is reported to have held a secret meeting in Kabul yesterday with the Taliban's de facto leader Abdul Ghani Baradar - the highest level contact between the US and extremist regime so far.

The Washington Post said the discussions were thought to be over the US withdrawal deadline.

Mr Wallace said the danger at Kabul airport will rise the closer the evacuation effort gets to the departure deadline.

'As we get closer to the deadline I think it's correct to say the security risk goes up,' he said.

'It just gets more and more dangerous as add-on groups and other terrorist groups such as IS (so-called Islamic State) would like to be seen to take greater credit, or like to be seen to chase the West out of the airport, that is inevitably going to feed their narrative and their ambitions.

'We are very mindful that we are very, very vulnerable should these terrorists choose to do something.'

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said this morning it is 'unlikely' the deadline will be extended, after the RAF extracted another 2,000 people in the past 24 hours

US marines man a checkpoint during evacuations at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, on Monday

Taliban guards marshal crowds outside the airport where it is thought 6,500 people are now waiting to board flights

A line of people are led through a military checkpoint at Kabul airport which has witnessed frantic scenes over the last 10 days as people try to flee Afghanistan and Taliban rule

Where do each of the G7 countries stand on extending the Afghanistan withdrawal deadline? US: President Joe Biden has set a deadline of August 31 for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. But there are concerns that will not provide enough time to evacuate all US citizens from the country. Mr Biden has been reluctant to extend the deadline and while discussions are ongoing in Washington over the feasibility of pushing the date back, the US's European allies fear the President will not budge. Mr Biden is under domestic pressure to stick to the date amid fears the security situation in Afghanistan could deteriorate still further should US forces stay on. UK: Boris Johnson has asked Mr Biden to push back the withdrawal deadline because of concerns the current timeline will not be sufficient to complete the evacuation effort. Mr Johnson was expected to use today's G7 meeting to push Mr Biden on the issue. However, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said he believes it is 'unlikely' that the US will agree to keep its troops in the country past August 31. Mr Johnson and Mr Biden spoke about Afghanistan on the phone last night but a Downing Street summary of the call made no mention of a possible delay. France: Emmanuel Macron's administration has adopted a similar stance to the UK, arguing that more time is needed beyond August 31 so that the evacuation can continue. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said yesterday that he believed 'more time is needed to complete the current operations'. Germany: Angela Merkel is also pushing for the US to delay its withdrawal beyond the current deadline, citing similar concerns that there is not enough time to complete the evacuation process. Germany has also said it is looking at how it could continue to extract people from Afghanistan beyond the deadline, should the situation on the ground allow flights to continue. Italy: Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi is also in favour of delaying the withdrawal of US forces to allow more time for evacuation flights to take place. He is also reportedly pushing for an imminent summit of the G20 - which includes China and Russia - to agree a global plan for responding to the Taliban taking power in the country. Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has so far kept his powder dry on whether he is in favour or against extending the US withdrawal deadline. He has refused to be drawn on the matter, instead insisting that his government's focus is on 'getting people out to safety as quickly as possible'. Canada has been the most vocal of the G7 nations on the subject of sanctions, with Mr Trudeau keen for the group to impose new penalties on the Taliban. Japan: Japan has said it intends to complete its evacuation efforts before Mr Biden's withdrawal deadline. Tokyo has therefore not joined the calls for an extension. It closed its Kabul embassy back on August 15, setting up a temporary replacement hub in Turkey. However, some Japanese nationals and Afghans who worked for the embassy and other agencies are still on the ground in the country. Three military planes are due to extract those people from the country before the deadline. Advertisement

Mr Wallace warned that there was a risk it would turn into a 'shooting war' as tensions rise in the coming days.

'Obviously, all military personnel have the right of self-defence to protect themselves and protect civilians immediately near them,' he told LBC.

'I suspect that it will be a mixture of- well I can't speculate what we would do but we certainly have plans, if we're attacked, to defend ourselves.

'I don't think anyone wants this to turn into a shooting war in the last few days.'

Ben Wallace warns on risk of 'shooting war' at Kabul airport The Defence Secretary today warned of the risk of a 'shooting war' at Kabul airport as tensions rise in the coming days. Ben Wallace voiced concerns about the danger of escalation as he said the atmosphere could turn nasty very quickly with troops having to pull out. 'Obviously, all military personnel have the right of self-defence to protect themselves and protect civilians immediately near them,' he told LBC. 'I suspect that it will be a mixture of- well I can't speculate what we would do but we certainly have plans, if we're attacked, to defend ourselves. 'I don't think anyone wants this to turn into a shooting war in the last few days.' He added: 'I don't think they want a shooting war either. They want us out as quickly as possible and we want to get out with as many people as possible.' Advertisement

He added: 'I don't think they want a shooting war either. They want us out as quickly as possible and we want to get out with as many people as possible.'

The Ministry of Defence said nearly 8,500 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan by the UK since August 13.

In a update on Operation Pitting, the MoD said on Twitter: '8,458 people have been evacuated by the UK since 13 August. 5,171 of those people are Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy claimants. Nine UK military flights have left Kabul in the last 24 hours.'

The US has ramped up airlifts to evacuate more than 17,000 people in a day and Joe Biden has finally ordered troops to rescue Americans outside the airport in a race against time before the August 31 deadline.

Washington pulled off its biggest haul of evacuations since the crisis started over the last 24 hours to early Monday morning, with 28 military jets rescuing around 10,400 people. Another 15 C-17 flights over the next 12 hours brought out another 6,660.

Meanwhile, US Special Operations rescued 16 Americans from an unspecified location around two hours outside Kabul. The Pentagon revealed it was carried out by helicopter without disclosing further details.

It has emerged that Mr Biden told military officials he was reluctant to deploy US forces outside the Kabul airport perimeter over fears of a Black Hawk Down-style tragedy.

In a video conference last week, the president also negatively commented on how quickly the Afghan government fell apart and told commanders he wanted them to be focused on beefing up security at the airport.

During the call, the president alluded to the 'Black Hawk Down' tragedy of the Somali Civil War, which saw 18 US personnel killed.

Thousands of Afghans are due to fly out of Kabul airport today as huge crowds continued to swarm military checkpoints (left and right) with the August 31 deadline for mercy flights now looming large

Zakia Khudadadi, 23, would have been the first female to represent Afghanistan at the Paralympics

Mr Tugendhat told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: 'We're all asking for the same thing. I support the Prime Minister completely on this, but let's recognise what we're asking  we're not just asking the Americans, although clearly they'll have a major role, we're actually asking the Taliban, and that's a really difficult thing, because bluntly, they're not exactly trustworthy.'

It emerged last night that Western powers are negotiating with the Taliban on the possibility of civilian flights being used in the evacuation, even if the military flights stopped.

German foreign minister Heiko Maas said: 'We are holding talks with the US, Turkey and other partners with the goal of allowing the airport to continue to operate a civilian operation to fly these people out.'

Germany will 'also continue to talk to the Taliban about this and will do this after the withdrawal of US troops', he added.

Mr Wallace said: 'I don't think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States.'

Armed Forces minister James Heappey conceded that the Taliban 'gets a vote' on the evacuation deadline.

'We have the military power to just stay there by force, but I don't know that the humanitarian mission we're embarked on... is helped by Kabul becoming a war zone,' he said.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the President was 'taking this day by day' and will make his decision on an extension 'as we go'

Asked about the Taliban spokesman's remarks, the Prime Minister's spokesman said: 'I don't think we've had any direct communication to that end.'

He added that 'discussions on the ground' have been held with the Taliban over extending the deadline.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said: 'We're focused on getting this done before the end of the month.'

But he said the US would 'absolutely consider the views' of allies.
Staycationers are being urged to take a Covid test before travelling to Cumbria by the region's top health chief after a spike in cases in the area.

With international travel all but grinding to a halt this summer amid a slew of restrictions, many Britons have instead decided to travel to some of the UK's most desirable locations.

Cumbria and the Lake District is a popular destination, with millions of people flocking there every year.

However, Colin Cox, director of public health for the region, has now pleaded with tourists to take a lateral flow test before visiting.

He told BBC Radio Cumbria yesterday: 'Please come because it is a beautiful place and you'll have a lovely time in Cumbria. But please do test before you travel.

'Take a lateral flow test to make sure that, as you're coming here, you are clear of the virus. We'd really appreciate it if you did that.'

It comes amid a surge in cases in the area, with Cumbria recording 228 new cases of coronavirus yesterday, the most since mid-July and far higher than the 179 recorded the Monday before.

Cumbria and the Lake District is a popular destination, with millions of people flocking there every year. However, it is now experiencing a spike in Covid cases

Colin Cox, director of public health for the region, has now pleaded with tourists to take a lateral flow test before visiting

Meanwhile, cases in the district of Eden tripled and numbers continue to rise in four other areas.

The latest Public Health England data showed Eden's weekly case numbers shot up from 72 to 221 in the week ending August 19.

Britain's coronavirus outbreak continued to trend upwards yesterday as another 31,914 people tested positive for the virus.

Department of Health figures showed cases had risen 12 per cent from last Monday, when 28,438 were recorded. There were also another 40 deaths  up 54 per cent in a week.

Latest hospital data revealed that 948 people were admitted with the virus on August 17, which was almost eight per cent higher than the week prior.

It comes after more grim news about the green list this week with few countries expected to be added.

Analysts said only a handful of countries look likely to go green, while popular destinations such as Croatia, Madeira and Antigua could slip off the list and turn amber.

Caribbean islands Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Dominica could be heading for the red list. The analysis also suggests Turkey, which Britons visited more than 2million times a year pre-pandemic, will stay red.

There had been hopes it would be moved to amber, opening up quarantine-free holidays for the double-jabbed.

Government sources yesterday stressed no decisions have yet been made ahead of the review this week. But they indicated additions to the green list will be limited.

Ministers will not make any final decisions until looking at the most recent data today or Wednesday.

There are 36 destinations on the green list, 16 of which are on a 'watchlist' meaning they could turn amber at short notice.

It is thought some families, particularly those with adult children not yet double-jabbed, have been holding out for more countries going green and potentially booking last-minute break before the end of the school summer holidays.

Children will start returning either next week or the week after.

Tiers for fears: Some of the countries that could move on the government's 'traffic lights' list

Non-fully vaccinated people can only enjoy quarantine-free holidays to green countries.

Travel chiefs say the failure to expand the green list significantly throughout summer has dented confidence in booking trips.

According to analysis by Paul Charles of travel consultancy The PC Agency, Croatia, Madeira and Israel are at risk of turning from green to amber, along with the Caribbean islands of Anguilla and Antigua and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Meanwhile Jamaica, St Lucia, Dominica and Morocco could go on the red list, meaning anyone returning would have to quarantine in hotels for 11 nights at a cost of more than 2,000.
The rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan is forcing the Joe Biden administration to confront the prospect of a resurgent Al Qaeda.

Following the rapid withdrawal of US forces, the terror group responsible for 9/11 has an opportunity to rebuild under the rule of the Taliban, who sheltered Osama Bin Laden's fighters before the 2001 attacks.

Chris Costa, who was senior director for counterterrorism in the Trump administration, said: 'I think Al Qaeda has an opportunity, and they're going to take advantage of that opportunity.

The rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan is forcing the Joe Biden administration to confront the prospect of a resurgent Al Qaeda, whose current leader is Ayman al-Zawahiri (pictured)

'This is a galvanizing event for jihadists everywhere.'

Al Qaeda's ranks have been significantly diminished by 20 years of war in Afghanistan, and it's far from clear that the group, whose current leader is Ayman al-Zawahiri whose whereabouts is unknown, has the capacity in the near future to carry out catastrophic attacks on America.

But a June report from the UN Security Council said the group's senior leadership remains present inside Afghanistan, along with hundreds of armed operatives.

It noted that the Taliban and Al Qaeda 'remain close, based on friendship, a history of shared struggle, ideological sympathy and intermarriage'.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby acknowledged Friday that Al Qaeda remain a presence in Afghanistan, though quantifying it is hard because of a reduced intelligence-gathering capability in the country and 'because it's not like they carry identification cards and register somewhere'.

Al Qaeda and the Taliban represent only two of the urgent terrorism concerns in Afghanistan, as evidenced by unease about the potential for ISIS attacks at Kabul airport.

The Taliban and ISIS have fought each other in the past, but the worry now is that Afghanistan could again be a safe harbor for multiple extremists determined to attack the US or other countries.

Biden has spoken repeatedly of what he calls an 'over-the-horizon capability' that he says will enable the US to keep track of terrorism threats from afar.

The terror group responsible for 9/11 has an opportunity to rebuild under the rule of the Taliban, who sheltered Osama Bin Laden's fighters before the 2001 attacks

His national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Monday that Biden has been clear that counterterrorism capabilities have evolved to the point where the threat can be suppressed without a strong boots-on-the-ground presence.

He said the intelligence community does not believe Al Qaeda currently has the capability to attack the US.

The US is also anticipating that strengthened airport screening and more sophisticated surveillance can be more effective than 20 years ago in thwarting an attack.

But experts worry that intelligence-gathering capabilities needed as an early-warning system against an attack will be negatively affected by the troop withdrawal.

An added complication is the sheer volume of pressing national security threats that dwarf what the US government was confronting before 9/11.

These include sophisticated cyber operations from China and Russia that can cripple critical infrastructure or pilfer sensitive secrets, nuclear ambitions in Iran and an ascendant domestic terrorism.

FBI Director Chris Wray has described that home-grown threat as 'metastasizing,' with the number of arrests of white supremacists and racially motivated extremists nearly tripling since his first year on the job.

'My concern is that you can't compare 2001 to today,' said Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University. There's a 'much vaster and better organized bureaucracy,' he said, but it's burdened with demands not specifically tied to terrorism.

Al Qaeda's ranks have been significantly diminished by 20 years of war. Pictured: Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan

Hoffman said that although he didn't think Al Qaeda would be able to quickly use Afghanistan as a launchpad for attacks against the US, it may re-establish 'its coordinating function' in the region to work with and encourage strikes by its affiliates - a patient strategy that may yet be vindicated.

'Terrorist groups don't conform to train timetables or flight schedules,' Hoffman said. 'They do things when it suits them and, as Al Qaeda was doing, they quietly lay the foundation in hopes that that foundation will eventually affect or determine their success.'

The concern is resonant enough that Biden administration officials told Congress last week that, based on the evolving situation, they now believe terror groups like Al Qaeda may be able to grow much faster than expected.

In June, the Pentagon's top leaders said an extremist group like Al Qaeda may be able to regenerate in Afghanistan and pose a threat to the US homeland within two years of the American military's withdrawal.

The 9/11 attacks made Al Qaeda the most internationally recognizable terror group, but in the past decade at least, the most potent threat inside the US has come from individuals inspired by the Islamic State, resulting in deadly massacres like the ones in San Bernardino, California, and Orlando.

But Al Qaeda hardly disappeared. US authorities alleged last year that a Saudi gunman who killed three sailors at a military base in Florida in 2019 had communicated with Al Qaeda operatives about planning and tactics.

Last December, the Justice Department charged a Kenyan man with trying to stage a 9/11-style attack on the US on behalf of the terrorist organization al-Shabab, which is linked to Al Qaeda.

Now it's possible that other extremists will find themselves inspired by Al Qaeda, even if not directed by it.

'Until recently, I would have said that the threat from Al Qaeda core is pretty modest. They didn't have safe haven in Afghanistan, their senior leadership was scattered,' said Nathan Sales, former coordinator for counterterrorism at the State Department.

But, now with the Taliban back in control, 'all of that could change and could change very rapidly.'
Do YOU know who the swimmer is? Get in touch: tips@dailymail.com Advertisement

A swimmer stranded two and a half miles from shore in the icy waters of Tralee Bay, Ireland, was rescued on Sunday in what an RNLI volunteer called a 'miracle'.

The man, believed to be in his early 30s, was hauled out of the freezing water by a Fenit RNLI lifeboat at 8.30pm, aided by a pod of dolphins who lifeboat crew believed 'helped him'.

The hypothermic and exhausted man, who is thought to be from Derry, said he had attempted to swim over 5 miles off the coast of Castlegregory beach in southwest Ireland to Mucklaghmore Rock, but he was sorely unprepared.

He was found more than 12 hours after he had set off, wearing nothing but a pair of skimpy swimming trunks and surrounded by dolphins, thanks to RNLI coxswain Finbarr O'Connell's excellent knowledge of the bay's tides and currents.

Fenit RNLI volunteer Jackie Murphy said it was a 'miracle' the man had survived the ordeal, and credited O'Connell with his rescue thanks to his ability to calculate the swimmer's likely position.

Coxswain Finbarr O'Connell, the man credited with the swimmer's rescue, stands on the left next to colleagues of Fenit RNLI

The hypothermic and exhausted man said he had attempted to swim over 5 miles off the coast of Castlegregory beach in southwest Ireland to Mucklaghmore Rock

The man was rescued two and a half miles off the coast of Tralee Bay in southwestern Ireland after spending 12 hours in the icy waters

The man's salvation came after crews from Fenit RNLI and R118 coastguard conducted an intensive search and rescue operation across Tralee Bay, according to the Irish Independent.

A Facebook post by Fenit Lifeboat Station said the Irish coastguard requested a rescue mission as early as 11am after the swimmer's clothes were discovered on the beach.

The search operation was called off after several hours in the afternoon, but was reactivated at 6pm as lifeboats were joined by helicopters to aid the search.

Fenit RNLI said the crew spotted 'a pod of dolphins about two and a half miles off Castlegregory beach', which led them to discover the desperate swimmer.

The crew pulled the man, who was incredibly still conscious, from the water and ferried him back to shore, where he was met by an ambulance and promptly transported to hospital.

RNLI coxswain O'Connell said: 'He was very, very lucky. There is no doubt about it. Another half an hour, and he was a goner.

'It is literally beyond us all (how he survived), he had no wetsuit, nothing.

'His body temperature was so low. It dropped way down. The medics were amazed with him. It's incredible, really.'

Coxswain O'Connell also made a point of noting the dolphins who had reportedly circled the swimmer but were not acting aggressively, perhaps in an effort to protect him or herd him back to safety.

'There were 'a lot of dolphins around,' he exclaimed. 'Maybe they helped him in some way or another - who knows?'

RNLI crew said they spotted a pod of dolphins about two and a half miles off Castlegregory beach, which led them to discover the desperate swimmer

Rescuers who first saw the man when they arrived at the scene thought they had spotted a seal drifting in the water, but the hypothermic and fatigued swimmer managed to raise an arm to signal for help.

'It was a great, great moment for us,' said O'Connell.

'The elation of seeing somebody floating alive in the water, rather than the other way, is so great.

'We have had too many bad outcomes, so it was absolutely fantastic to pick him up.'

'Normally we go out, and it mightn't be that positive. We are all just elated.'

Fenit RNLI lifeboat operations manager Gerard O'Donnell echoed coxswain O'Connell's statements of elation at finding and saving the swimmer, but warned of the dangers of swimming in the sea.

'Even at this time of year, the water can be very cold. When the lifeboat crew found [the swimmer] they were a good distance from the shore and were exhausted.'

O'Donnell advised anyone going for a swim to take all necessary precautions and to let people know where they are going and when they are expected back to avoid being stranded for long periods of time.

Water Safety Ireland is urging people going to the beach or paddling in the sea to swim within their depth following the incident.

'Many people are swimming for the first time this year and have not had swimming classes for more than 15 months.

'Swim at a lifeguarded waterway. Otherwise swimming areas that are known locally as safe and where there are ring-buoys present for rescues.

'Make sure that the water's edge is shallow shelving so that you can safely enter and exit.'

Do YOU know the rescued swimmer? Get in touch: tips@dailymail.com
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Al-Qaeda has been given an 'opportunity and they'll take advantage' after the US suddenly withdrew from Afghanistan, counter-terror experts have warned Joe Biden.

The President today defied international pressure to extend his August 31 withdrawal deadline, despite warnings from fellow Democrats that it is 'unlikely' that all American and allied personnel will get out in time.

Biden spoke with G7 world leaders on a conference call, many of whom are reliant on US military backing to get their people and refugees out of Kabul after it fell to the Taliban.

It comes as it was reported that CIA Director William Burns went to Kabul on Monday for a secret meeting with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar. The discussions were likely to have centered around the August 31 date, according to The Washington Post.

The Taliban had threatened 'consequences' for the US if they violated the 'red line' of the agreed withdrawal date.

Biden will now continue with the hasty withdrawal and has been emphatic: America is leaving Afghanistan.

That fact concerns national security experts who believe the country will once again become a cradle for al-Qaeda, the terror group which were sheltered by the Taliban as they planned the 9/11 attacks.

'I think al-Qaeda has an opportunity, and they're going to take advantage of that opportunity,' says Chris Costa, who was senior director for counter-terrorism in the Trump administration. 'This is a galvanizing event for jihadists everywhere.'

Others believe that ISIS might even post an immediate threat to troops at the airport.

Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff told Fox News: 'I think the threat to the airport is very real, very substantial ... this would make a very attractive target for ISIS ... Whenever you have a mass gathering like that, it is an opportunity for improvised and other explosive devices.'

Crowds of people outside Kabul airport on Tuesday, some holding children, others holding papers (left) and another group standing inside a moat around the perimeter

Joe Biden has been warned by national security experts that Afghanistan will become a cradle for al-Qaeda terrorists when the US withdraws fully

Crowds of people near the airport in Kabul on Sunday. People are desperately trying to escape the country on British and American planes before the end of August

CIA Director William Burns held a secret meeting with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar on Monday CIA Director William Burns (left) went to Kabul on Monday for a secret meeting with the Taliban's de facto leader Abdul Ghani Baradar (right) Joe Biden's CIA Director William Burns went to Kabul on Monday for a secret meeting with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar, U.S. officials familiar with the matter told The Washington Post. The discussions, the Tuesday report notes, likely involved the August 31 deadline for all U.S. military presence to be out of Afghanistan  including ending the evacuation of U.S. citizens and Afghan allies. Burns was dispatched to the capital city of Afghanistan as the administration continues to grapple with a chaotic scene at the airport and struggles to evacuate Americans from Kabul. Biden said last week that he will keep U.S. forces in Afghanistan past the impending deadline for complete withdrawal if necessary to continue evacuating as many Americans as possible. 'If there's American citizens left, we're going to stay until we get them all out,' Biden told ABC News in an interview taped at the White House Wednesday. Advertisement

Washington pulled off its biggest haul of evacuations since the crisis started over the last 24 hours to early Monday morning, with 28 military jets rescuing around 10,400 people. Another 15 C-17 flights over the next 12 hours brought out another 6,660.

American troops also completed their first mission to rescue people outside the airport - something which their allies have been doing since they arrived but which Biden had refused to allow because he feared it might lead to an incident like Black Hawk Down, when US helicopters were shot down over Mogadishu in 1993.

However, Schiff, who is chair of the House Intelligence Committee, also warned that Biden is 'unlikely' to meet the August 31 deadline to evacuate all US citizens and their allies from Afghanistan.

He told reporters after a committee meeting Monday that a full evacuation was 'possible' but 'very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIV's, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders, women leaders.'

Al-Qaeda's ranks have been significantly diminished by 20 years of war in Afghanistan, and it's far from clear that the group has the capacity in the near future to carry out catastrophic attacks on America, especially given how the U.S. has fortified itself in the past two decades with surveillance and other protective measures.

But a June report from the U.N. Security Council said the group's senior leadership remains present inside Afghanistan, along with hundreds of armed operatives. It noted that the Taliban, who sheltered al-Qaeda fighters before the September 11 attacks, 'remain close, based on friendship, a history of shared struggle, ideological sympathy and intermarriage.'

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby acknowledged Friday that al-Qaeda remains a presence in Afghanistan, though quantifying it is hard because of a reduced intelligence-gathering capability in the country and 'because it's not like they carry identification cards and register somewhere.'

Even inside the country, al-Qaeda and the Taliban represent only two of the urgent terrorism concerns, as evidenced by unease about the potential for Islamic State attacks against Americans in Afghanistan that over the weekend forced the U.S. military to develop new ways to get evacuees to the airport in Kabul. The Taliban and IS have fought each other in the past, but the worry now is that Afghanistan could again be a safe harbor for multiple extremists determined to attack the U.S. or other countries.

President Joe Biden has spoken repeatedly of what he calls an 'over-the-horizon capability' that he says will enable the U.S. to keep track of terrorism threats from afar. His national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters Monday that Biden has been clear that counter-terrorism capabilities have evolved to the point where the threat can be suppressed without a strong boots-on-the-ground presence. He said the intelligence community does not believe al-Qaeda currently has the capability to attack the U.S.

Taliban check vehicles at a check point in Kandahar, Afghansitan, 22 August 2021. The Afghan interim council, formed to assist in the power transfer following President Ashraf Ghani's escape, has met several Taliban leaders to discuss issues related to control and security during the transition process

Taliban fighters in a vehicle patrol the streets of Kabul on August 23, 2021 as in the capital after their takeover of Afghanistan

A military plane takes off from the Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, today as the evacuation continues

The scene outside Afghanistan's Kabul airport yesterday where the chaos has led to a person banned from Britain being allowed to fly in

A full flight of 265 people supported by members of the UK Armed Forces on board an evacuation flight out of Kabul airport

Taliban threatens 'consequences' if airlift deadline extended The Taliban has threatened 'consequences' if the US or UK do not leave Afghanistan by August 31 and extend the deadline for the withdrawal of troops. President Joe Biden wants all Americans to have left the country by the end of the month next Tuesday although he admitted on Sunday night that an extension was under discussion, while this morning UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the evacuation effort is 'down to hours now, not weeks'. Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said the group will not accept an extension to the deadline and warned of retaliation if Western forces extend their 'occupation' since the group dramatically swept to power. He told Sky News: 'It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that. 'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences. 'It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.' Advertisement

The U.S. is also presumably anticipating that strengthened airport screening and more sophisticated surveillance can be more effective than 20 years ago in thwarting an attack. But experts worry that intelligence-gathering capabilities needed as an early-warning system against an attack will be negatively affected by the troop withdrawal.

An added complication is the sheer volume of pressing national security threats that dwarf what the U.S. government was confronting before the Sept. 11 attacks. These include sophisticated cyber operations from China and Russia that can cripple critical infrastructure or pilfer sensitive secrets, nuclear ambitions in Iran and an ascendant domestic terrorism threat laid bare by the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

FBI Director Chris Wray has described that home-grown threat as 'metastasizing,' with the number of arrests of white supremacists and racially motivated extremists nearly tripling since his first year on the job.

'My concern is that you can't compare 2001 to today,' said Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University. There's a 'much vaster and better organized bureaucracy,' he said, but it's burdened with demands not specifically tied to terrorism.

Hoffman said that although he didn't think al-Qaeda would be able to quickly use Afghanistan as a launchpad for attacks against the U.S., it may re-establish 'its coordinating function' in the region to work with and encourage strikes by its affiliates - a patient strategy that may yet be vindicated.

'Terrorist groups don't conform to train timetables or flight schedules,' Hoffman said. 'They do things when it suits them and, as al-Qaeda was doing, they quietly lay the foundation in hopes that that foundation will eventually affect or determine their success.'

The concern is resonant enough that Biden administration officials told Congress last week that, based on the evolving situation, they now believe terror groups like al-Qaeda may be able to grow much faster than expected. In June, the Pentagon's top leaders said an extremist group like al-Qaeda may be able to regenerate in Afghanistan and pose a threat to the U.S. homeland within two years of the American military's withdrawal.

Members of the UK Armed Forces taking part in the evacuation of entitled personnel from Kabul airport in Afghanistan

Desperate British citizens are being blocked from escaping Afghanistan and are waving their passports at officials in a bid to flee

Two children were apparently left at Kabul airport after their parents were one of the few allowed to evacuate amid the chaos

The September 11 attacks made al-Qaeda the most internationally recognizable terror group, but in the past decade at least, the most potent threat inside the U.S. has come from individuals inspired by the Islamic State, resulting in deadly massacres like the ones in San Bernardino, California, and Orlando.

But al-Qaeda hardly disappeared. U.S. authorities alleged last year that a Saudi gunman who killed three U.S. sailors at a military base in Florida in 2019 had communicated with al-Qaeda operatives about planning and tactics.

Last December, the Justice Department charged a Kenyan man with trying to stage a 9/11-style attack on the U.S. on behalf of the terrorist organization al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda.

Now it's possible that other extremists will find themselves inspired by al-Qaeda, even if not directed by it.

'Until recently, I would have said that the threat from al-Qaeda core is pretty modest. They didn't have safe haven in Afghanistan, their senior leadership was scattered,' said Nathan Sales, former coordinator for counterterrorism at the State Department.

But, now with the Taliban back in control, 'all of that could change and could change very rapidly.'
A former Navy Seal has revealed how he believes the evacuation of Afghanistan by US forces should have been conducted - in a video address pretending to be Commander-in-Chief.

Jocko Willink assumed the role of President in a 3-minute 30-second video shared on his Instagram account, in which he accepts responsibility for the mistakes in dealing with Afghanistan.

He also laid out clearly a plan to fix the mistakes made by the actual President which have caused scenes of panic and chaos, even resulting in the deaths of some of the people seeking safety.

Speaking in the video, Jocko starts by admitting the errors made during the early stages of the Afghanistan withdrawal.

Jocko Willink (pictured) assumed the role of President in a 3-minute 30-second video shared on his Instagram account, in which he accepts responsibility for the mistakes in dealing with Afghanistan

Jocko Willink's speech in full Good evening, I wants to give you an update on the current situation in Afghanistan. As you know, we were set to leave Afghanistan this month and as we began the final draw down, I made some critical errors. Namely, I underestimated the strength of the Taliban, and I overestimated the strength and capability of the friendly Afghan forces. This was my fault  and due to my mistake, the Taliban has taken control of Afghanistan. There are reports now that ISIS and al-Qaeda are working alongside them. Unfortunately, there are tens of thousands of Americans on the ground there, as well as friends and allies of America on the ground. These people, Americans and our allies, are all stranded, and that is my fault. But they will not be stranded for long. In the next 48 hours, America will be in control of most major airports in Afghanistan. Any resistance we meet from the Taliban or otherwise when we seize these airports will be destroyed completely and without mercy. From those airports, we will conduct rapid strike rescue missions until we have recovered and evacuated all our citizens, allies and friends. Any person that interferes with these operations will be killed. We will also recover or destroy all aircraft, vehicles, weapons and sensitive equipment we left behind. Any person utilizing, guarding, or located within close proximity to these weapons or equipment will be killed. Once we have evacuated all friendly personnel and recovered or destroyed the weapons and equipment left behind, we will depart Afghanistan. But we will continue to monitor everything that happens in Afghanistan through our ground and airborne surveillance equipment. Terrorist training camps or activity will be targeted and destroyed. Gross violations of human rights will be stopped through overwhelming force. And any group in Afghanistan fighting for freedom, liberty and basic human rights will be supported through special operations forces and ruthless precision air power. We will continue that dedicated support until the enemy is no longer a threat to humanity or to the good people of Afghanistan. May God bless America, and my God have mercy on the souls of our enemy because we will not. That is all. Advertisement

He said: 'As you know, we were set to leave Afghanistan this month and as we began the final draw down, I made some critical errors.

'Namely, I underestimated the strength of the Taliban, and I overestimated the strength and capability of the friendly Afghan forces. This was my fault  and due to my mistake, the Taliban has taken control of Afghanistan.'

Jocko also made reference to the huge number of American citizens, soldiers and allies who have found themselves stuck at the airport in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

He said: 'Unfortunately, there are tens of thousands of Americans on the ground there, as well as friends and allies of America on the ground.

'These people, Americans and our allies, are all stranded, and that is my fault.'

However, the ex-Navy Seal then moved on to address these failings and laid out the plan he has thought up to help solidify the situation in Kabul and help ensure everyone who needs to leave Afghanistan is able to do so.

Jocko said: 'In the next 48 hours, America will be in control of most major airports in Afghanistan.

'Any resistance we meet from the Taliban or otherwise when we seize these airports will be destroyed completely and without mercy.

'From those airports, we will conduct rapid strike rescue missions until we have recovered and evacuated all our citizens, allies and friends. Any person that interferes with these operations will be killed.

'We will also recover or destroy all aircraft, vehicles, weapons and sensitive equipment we left behind. Any person utilizing, guarding, or located within close proximity to these weapons or equipment will be killed.

'Once we have evacuated all friendly personnel and recovered or destroyed the weapons and equipment left behind, we will depart Afghanistan.'

The military veteran then continued on by saying that his imagined administration would continue to monitor the situation in Afghanistan even after the complete withdrawal, and would offer assistance to any forces remaining in the country fighting for 'freedom, liberty and basic human rights'.

He ended his address by saying: 'May God bless America, and my God have mercy on the souls of our enemy because we will not. That is all.'

President Biden has been criticized for his handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Last week, Republicans ramped up their vocal criticism of the President after he sat down for an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos.

'Incompetent. Unhinged. Incoherent. Unfit,' tweeted Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott, sharing a clip from the Stephanopoulos interview. Earlier this week, Scott floated that Biden should be removed from office over the Afghanistan debacle.

President Biden (pictured) has been criticized for his handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan

Ohio Rep Steve Chabot, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee with jurisdiction over Afghanistan, told DailyMail.com: 'No matter how much President Biden makes excuses for his bungled withdrawal and rationalizes the consequences, the simple fact is that we are witnessing a truly monumental failure of leadership and planning that will haunt America for some time.

'Many predicted a rapid Taliban takeover, and the fact that we didnt get everyone to safety, or even have a plan to get everyone to safety, before the Taliban took Kabul is simply inexcusable.'

And President Biden was also criticized for the 'bizarre' messaging his team has been putting out about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.

A panel on CNN's 'Inside Politics' show on Sunday were discussing the gulf in narrative between how the operation was being described by the White House, and how it was being depicted on the ground in Kabul.

Images and videos shared on social media in recent days have shown huge crowds of Afghans who worked with U.S. military forces, as well as US nationals, camped outside the airport in Kabul and the clock ticks down to Biden's exit ultimatum.

A panel on CNN's 'Inside Politics' show on Sunday were discussing the gulf in narrative between how the operation was being described by the White House, and how it was being depicted on the ground in Kabul

And when the evacuation operation first began, harrowing images of Afghans attempting to flee the Taliban by clinging to the underside of aircraft also laid bare the situation in Kabul.

Despite this, on Friday, President Biden claimed that he has 'seen no question of our credibility from our allies around the world.'

Jeff Zeleny, CNN's chief national affairs correspondent, described the President's comment as 'bizarre'.

He said: 'You have to question, is the president insulated, isolated? On Friday it was almost bizarre. What he was saying did not match the reality of what some of his other advisers were saying.

'I think this will be a very defining moment in the Biden presidency about what we learn of him as president, but it seems to me he's a bit insulated or isolated inside the White House.'

On Friday, President Biden claimed that he has 'seen no question of our credibility from our allies around the world'

It comes as the President is 'unlikely' to meet his August 31 deadline to evacuate US citizens and their allies from Afghanistan, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee said Monday.

Adam Schiff made the grim prediction after an intelligence briefing Monday evening, as the Taliban rejected a mooted extension to the withdrawal date.

Schiff said a full evacuation was 'possible' but 'very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIVs, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders, women leaders.'

Speaking outside the US Capitol, Schiff continued: 'I am encouraged to see the numbers of people evacuated, increasing readily to the point where we evacuated 11,000 people in a single day, Schiff continued.

'Nonetheless, given the logistical difficulties of moving people to the airport and the limited number of workarounds, it's hard for me to see that being fully complete by the end of the month. And I'm certainly of the view that we maintain a military presence as long as it's necessary to get all U.S. persons out and to meet our moral and ethical obligation to our Afghan partners.'

Adam Schiff, chair of the House Intelligence Committee, is pictured on Monday discussing the Afghanistan evacuations. He said he does not believe the process will be completed by August 31 - Joe Biden's deadline

Schiff, a Democrat representing California, said that he did not believe there had been an intelligence failure - suggesting that the Biden administration ignored warnings about the Taliban threat

Biden, pictured on Monday, will have to decide today whether to withdraw from Kabul as planned by August 31 or keep troops there beyond the deadline

He added: 'Given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIVs, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders women leaders, it's hard for me to imagine all of that can be accomplished between now and the end of the month,' he said.

He also said that he was troubled by the idea that the Islamic State could attack the crowds massed outside Kabul airport.

'I think the threat to the airport is very real and very substantial and this has been a concern of mine for, for some days now that this would make a very attractive target for ISIS,' he said.

Schiff also said that he believed there had not been an intelligence failure about the Taliban's capacity to overrun the country - implying that the Biden administration knew the risks, yet plowed ahead regardless.

Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen (pictured) has warned of 'consequences' if Western forces stay beyond the end of the month

'The intelligence agencies assessments of the Afghan government's ability to maintain itself became increasingly pessimistic,' he said.

'Over the course of the last six months. And there were any number of warnings that the Taliban might take over - and some that included the potential for it to be very rapid.'

Schiff spoke as military officials have warned Biden he must decide whether to keep US troops in Afghanistan by Tuesday - otherwise they will miss the deadline to leave.

CNN reported that the withdrawal decision must come within hours, to give them time to remove all 5,800 US service personnel currently on the ground in Kabul, as well as their equipment and weaponry.

Yet Schiff said he thought that was unlikely given the numbers of US citizens and those with SIVs - Special Immigrant Visas, issued to Afghans who have worked as US translators.

Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers help an Afghan climb up the wall of a canal near the airport in Kabul yesterday morning

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to press Biden and other G7 leaders to delay the final withdrawal in a virtual call today, despite his armed forces minister warning Kabul will become a 'warzone' if the West stay and ignore the Taliban's demands

The date of August 31 was set as the point at which US troops would be removed from Afghanistan, meaning any evacuations need to be completed by this point. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers patrol the perimeter of the airport in Kabul near the military-controlled section

Meanwhile, conditions at the Kabul airport continued to deteriorate over the weekend, with Americans on the ground being told not to try to brave the chaos around the airport unless they have been told to report.

And it emerged that evacuation flights were dropping flares and making steep combat landings after warnings that terrorists of the Islamic State might try to shoot down a plane.

While the uneasy agreement between the US and Taliban that would see the militant group leave the airport and evacuation effort alone has also been tested.

Despite the agreement that the Taliban would not encroach on NATO efforts to evacuate their people, US and German soldiers were involved in a gunfight during the early hours of yesterday morning after shots were fired by 'unknown attackers'.

And yesterday, in the face of NATO allies urging President Biden to extend his August 31 deadline, Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said there will be 'consequences' if the US does not leave Afghanistan on the agreed date.

Biden is still facing questions about why his administration did not have a better evacuation plan after being warned that the Taliban could sweep into Kabul within days.
Gladys Berejiklian has remained tight-lipped about whether children will be allowed to return to the classroom as the state's crisis cabinet prepares to discuss the matter on Wednesday.

The New South Wales Premier has been privately pushing for the return of in-person learning on October 5 when term four commences.

But with school-aged children now making up about 25 per cent of all new Covid cases it remains to be seen whether that will be possible.

Ms Berejiklian refused to say if an alternate date had been discussed but did reveal the state's Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant had 'signed off' on 'major new freedom for the fully vaccinated with the details set to be unveiled later this week.

Gladys Berejiklian (pictured on Nine News speaking to Peter Overton) has remained tight-lipped about whether children will be allowed to return to the classroom as the state's crisis cabinet prepares to discuss the matter on Wednesday

'That is what is causing me the greatest stress, making sure we can get kids back to school as safely as possible,' the Premier told Nine News.

'We will have something to say about it at the end of the week but getting kids back to school is an absolute priority for us.

'But we also know the Delta strain is affecting children in a different way than other strains of Covid did and that is why we need to be really careful when we release our plans.'

Delta-ravaged NSW recorded a further 753 infections on Tuesday, with Sydneysiders battling through their ninth consecutive week under stay-at-home orders.

Ms Berejiklian in the past few days has spoken bluntly about how the state's only chance to get out of lockdown is to achieve a vaccination rate above 70 per cent - as outlined in the Doherty Institute roadmap.

While the target is not expected to be reached until October, the Premier promised double-dosed residents would be given one extra freedoms when NSW completes six million jabs.

Many political insiders have tipped the fully-vaccinated will finally be able to get a hair cut after months in lockdown, others have suggest it may be the reopening of beauty and nail salons (pictured, a Sydney salon before lockdown)

Ms Berejiklian said: 'We will have something to say about it at the end of the week but getting kids back to school is an absolute priority for us' (pictured, students in Strathfield)

That target was hit on Tuesday, one week earlier than than scheduled, after a huge vaccination drive, particularly in south-west Sydney where daily Covid cases are in their hundreds.

Many political insiders have tipped the fully-vaccinated will finally be able to get a hair cut after months in lockdown, others have suggest it may be the reopening of beauty and nail salons.

But the Premier says she's not yet ready to reveal what the 'major new freedom' will be with further details still be ironed out.

'The positive thing is Dr Chant has agreed to give our citizens that extra bit of freedom,' Ms Berejiklian said.

'Our public health teams have been working really hard to bring that to fruition and we want to make sure as many people as possible have that extra glimmer of hope during September because everybody has worked so hard.

'As much as I'd like to give details today, we are still finalising them and we will be able to say something on Thursday or Friday.'

Ms Berejiklian in the past few days has spoken bluntly about how the state's only chance to get out of lockdown is to achieve a vaccination rate above 70 per cent - as outlined in the Doherty Institute roadmap. Pictured: A Year 12 HSC students receives the Covid vaccine in Sydney

Since the pandemic began only one Australian child has died after catching Covid - and his death was officially caused by viral meningitis.

The revealing statistic comes as many parents fret about Scott Morrison and Ms Berejiklian's plan to re-open Australia when 80 per cent of adults are vaccinated.

NSW looks likely to hit the target by about mid-November and the PM has warned lockdowns 'must' end when the target is hit.

But there is growing anxiety over whether the plan could place children at risk, given there isn't yet a vaccine for kids aged under 12.

Some 8,581 Australians aged under 20 have tested positive to Covid since the pandemic began, according to the Federal Department of Health. However, there has been only one death associated with Covid in that age group.

Osama Suduh, 15, died at Westmead Children's Hospital on August 15. Osama was suffering both Covid and pneumococcal meningitis, and meningitis was listed as his formal cause of death.

Armies of forensic cleaners have been a more common sight than students at schools in the country's biggest states of late (pictured, deep cleaners at Carlton Public School in Sydney on Monday)

'We are not seeing more severe illness with Delta, we are just seeing so much more of it

There has been an uptick in cases of young people testing positive to Covid in this year's Delta wave. At the weekend NSW authorities reported 204 cases of Covid in children aged up to nine, plus 276 aged between 10 and 19.

Meanwhile, in the US, the number of American children hospitalised from Covid has climbed to 277 a day on average, according to Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

While more children are getting infected because Delta is more contagious and as they can't be vaccinated, doctors so far don't believe the variant is more lethal.

Dr Ritu Banerjee, from Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Tennessee, told the ABC's 7.30 program his hospital had to open a second Covid ward due to the surge.

Tennessee has a transmission rate about nine times that of NSW, but Dr Banerjee's hospital has recorded just two Covid-related child deaths during the pandemic.

Doherty Institute Professor Sharon Lewin (above) says Australia doesn't want kids to catch Covid - but has argued very few children end up in hospital suffering severe disease as a result of it

'We are not seeing more severe illness with Delta, we are just seeing so much more of it,' Dr Banerjee said.

'So the overall number of children in the hospital is greater than we were seeing earlier.'

Infectious diseases expert Professor Sharon Lewin helped produce the Doherty Institute report which Australia's opening up plan is based upon.

Prof Lewin said: 'Covid is a nasty illness and we don't want children to get it. But very few children end up with severe disease in hospital.'

As for fears children will contract 'Long Covid' - where symptoms linger long after the initial infection, as seen in millions living overseas - Prof. Lewin told The Drum the condition is more common in people with severe disease, 'so I expect we would see much lower levels of Long Covid in children'.

Australia has delivered more than 15 million jabs and the vaccination program is escalating quickly

Meanwhile, the return to school will be staggered for children in NSW, authorities have confirmed, and kids of all ages are likely to be vaccinated eventually, with clinical trials underway.

NSW top doctor Dr Chant told a parliamentary hearing on Monday that she anticipates 12-to-15-year-olds will be vaccinated 'quite quickly'.

Vaccinations for all 12 to 15-year-olds are expected to get the greenlight from federal authorities as early as Friday.

'The other children will have access to vaccine in the new year,' Dr Chant said.

Ms Berejiklian will announce plans for when students will return to the classroom later this week.

Nine newspapers have tipped that students from kindergarten to Year 2, in Year 11 and potentially Year 6 will go back to school in October.

When the rest of the cohort goes back will depend on case numbers.
Australian taxi company 13Cabs is driving a customer-led push that will open the door for passengers to book a trip with a fully vaccinated cabbie.

The cab company says they've been inundated with calls from customers asking if they could request drivers who have received the Covid jab, which substantially decreases the chance an infected person can pass the virus on.

Chief operating officer Stuart Overell took the idea directly to the fleet's 10,000 drivers to see if they wanted to be part of the groundbreaking scheme which will prioritise vaccinated workers - and he said they 'overwhelmingly' jumped at the chance.

Compulsory jabs and vaccine passports have been a hot-button topic of late with many businesses around the country reluctant to mandate Covid vaccinations for their staff.

But with the meter running on national vaccine targets as a way to avoid the relentless cycle of lockdowns and interstate border closures, it appears demand for double-dosed employees may start to be led by customers, not employers.

Australian taxi company 13Cabs is driving a customer-lead push that will open the door for passengers to book a trip with a fully vaccinated cabbie (stock image)

Chief operating officer of 13Cabs Stuart Overell took the idea directly to the fleet's 10,000 drivers who 'overwhelmingly' jumped at the chance

'The enthusiasm of 13Cabs drivers to provide their Covid-19 vaccination certificate has overwhelmed our staff processing their applications, with 20 per cent of drivers providing proof of vaccination in the first two days,' he said.

Poll WILL YOU CARE IF YOUR TAXI DRIVER IS VACCINATED? Yes - it keeps us both safe No - it's their choice WILL YOU CARE IF YOUR TAXI DRIVER IS VACCINATED? Yes - it keeps us both safe 20 votes

No - it's their choice 25 votes Now share your opinion





'We are currently tracking towards having the vaccination status of all our drivers within two weeks.'

The survey found that just 5.9 per cent of drivers did not want to be part of the plan and get the jab.

The company said customers will soon be able to book a fully vaccinated driver through the 'VAX' option on the app when all of the driver's details are finalised.

In the meantime passengers calling 13Cabs can ask the operator for a double-dosed driver.

'We know many of our drivers have already been vaccinated and 13Cabs is proud to play its part in supporting safer travel for the community by clearly making the option available for passengers and providing an incentive for drivers not already vaccinated to go get the jab,' Mr Overell said.

The company said customers will soon be able to book a fully vaccinated driver through the 'VAX' option on the app when all of the driver's details are finalised

Taxi driver George Valiotis is one of the thousands who have backed the decision saying its a necessary step during 'challenging times'.

'We look after our communities, which includes vulnerable passengers and essential workers,' Mr Valiotis said.

'It's also vital we look after ourselves, our passengers and our communities. We know being vaccinated supports our important work to continue safely.'

But the taxi firm are not the first cab off the rank when it comes to pushing for their workers to vaccinated.

With the meter running on national vaccine targets as a way to avoid the relentless cycle of lockdowns and interstate border closures, it appears demand for double-dosed employees may start to be led by customers, not employers. Pictured: A man receives a Covid vaccine in Dubbo NSW

Qantas announced plans to make Covid vaccinations mandatory for all employees giving staff three months to roll up their sleeves.

Frontline staff like cabin crew, pilots and airport workers numbering approximately 2000 employees will have until November 15 to get jabbed, while the 20,0000 remaining workers have until March 31 next year.

The airline announced the decision for mandatory vaccinations was made 'as part of the national carrier's commitment to safety'.

'Frontline employees  including cabin crew, pilots and airport workers  will need to be fully vaccinated by 15 November 2021 and the remainder of employees by 31 March 2022,' Qantas said in a statement.

'There will be exemptions for those who are unable for documented medical reasons to be vaccinated, which is expected to be very rare.'

Australian airline Qantas has announced vaccinations will be mandatory for all frontline staff by November 15, with the 20,000 remaining employees to have until March 2022 to get jabbed (pictured, a Qantas plane taking off from Sydney airport in May 2021)

Qantas boss Alan Joyce (pictured) said a fully-vaccinated workforce would keep not only employees safe but their customers and the communities they fly to

The airline said the decision was made after a survey was presented to 22,000 Qantas and Jetstar employees to get their opinion on mandatory jabs.

Of the 12,000 employees who responded to the survey, 89 per cent said they had already been jabbed or had booked one.

Of that group, 60 per cent were fully vaccinated, 77 per cent had received one dose and 12 per cent were booked in or planned to do so.

Just four per cent of people were unwilling or unable get the jab, with seven per cent undecided or preferring not to say.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce said having a fully vaccinated workforce will not only keep staff safe from the virus but also their customers and the communities they fly to.

'One crew member can fly into multiple cities and come into contact with thousands of people in a single day,' the chief executive said.

'Making sure they are vaccinated given the potential of this virus to spread is so important, and I think it's the kind of safety leadership people would expect from us.'

Of the 12,000 Qantas and Jetstar employees who responded to a survey on mandatory vaccinations, 89 per cent said they had already been jabbed or had booked one (pictured, passengers at Sydney airport in June 2021)

Of that group, 60 per cent were fully vaccinated, 77 per cent had received one dose and 12 per cent were booked in or planned to do so (pictured, passengers at Sydney airport in July)

Mr Joyce said the airline had a responsibility as an essential service to help defend against snap lockdowns and border closures that came with outbreaks of the virus.

The carrier said three-quarters of its staff backed the move towards mandatory vaccines and said they would feel concerned working alongside unvaccinated colleagues.

'Many of our people said they would feel concerned about working with unvaccinated colleagues, which is something that many workplaces across the country are grappling with,' Mr Joyce said.

'We understand there will be a very small number of people who decide not to get the vaccine, and that's their right, but it's our responsibility to provide the safest possible environment for our employees and for our customers.'

Qantas said three-quarters of its staff backed the move towards mandatory vaccines and said they would feel concerned working alongside unvaccinated colleagues (pictured, masked passengers and flight crew on a Qantas flight to Auckland from Sydney in April 2021)

Qantas is the second major Australian employer to announce mandatory vaccinations for all of its staff, following food manufacturer SPC who became the first earlier this month (pictured, passengers boarding a Qantas flight to New Zealand in April 2021)

Qantas is the second major Australian employer to announce mandatory vaccinations for all of its staff.

Earlier this month food manufacturer SPC became the first company to make a Covid-19 vaccine mandatory for all workers and visitors to its site.

The firm announced all staff and contractors at the company's factory in Shepparton in regional Victoria must be fully vaccinated by the end of November.

Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie praised SPC for 'having the guts' to make vaccinations mandatory for its staff.

'The last thing we need is for food suppliers, which are so crucial, to be shutting down,' she told the Today show.

'I applaud them, [for] having the guts to come out and do that.'

SPC's edict followed tech giant Microsoft announcing all employees must show proof of vaccination before entering its US offices from September.

Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie praised SPC for 'having the guts' to make vaccinations mandatory for its staff (pictured, a health care worker fills a syringe with a Pfizer vaccine)

SPC is Australia's primary producer of packaged fruit and its brands include Ardmona, Goulburn Valley, SPC, ProVital, Kuisine, and PomLife.

Chairman Hussein Rifai said the emergence of the highly contagious Delta variant prompted the move - which is a first in Australia for non-health-related businesses.

'Lockdowns are not a sustainable solution and the Australian economy needs to open up again,' he said.

'The Delta variant poses a significant threat to our people, our customers and the communities we serve.

'The only path forward for our country is through vaccination.'

All SPC workers will be offered paid time off to get their vaccinations, and two days special paid leave if they become unwell afterwards.

SPC is Australia's primary producer of packaged fruit and its brands include Ardmona, Goulburn Valley, SPC, ProVital, Kuisine, and PomLife (pictured, SC Ardmona factory)

The canned fruit and vegetable processor announced all staff and contractors at the company's factory in Shepparton in regional Victoria must be fully vaccinated by the end of November (pictured, SPC employees leaving the Ardmona factory in Shepparton, Victoria)

SPC chief executive Robert Giles said the company was setting an example for others.

'Australian companies must go further by rapidly vaccinating their staff,' he said.

'We firmly believe that it will be manufacturers and innovators like SPC who will help drive Australia's post-Covid economic recovery.'

Last month the FairWork Ombudsman updated its advice on whether companies could mandate vaccinations among their employees.

Previously the watchdog released guidance saying that businesses were 'overwhelmingly' unable to require staff to get the jab.

However, the Ombudsman has now said businesses in key industries such as border control, quarantine, healthcare and aged care organisation are 'more likely' to enforce vaccinations for their workers.
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The Ministry of Defence today hit back against criticism from allies of animal charity boss Pen Farthing after footage emerged of a car being airlifted out of Kabul, as an official insisted it had been filled with cargo rather than more passengers so it could meet its time slot.

The ex-Royal Marine was rebuked by Ben Wallace this morning for complaining UK forces were stopping his private charter plane from taking his staff and rescue dogs out of Kabul, with the politician saying he would not 'prioritise pets over people'.

But a Sky News video of a Vauxhall hatchback entering a military cargo jet prompted a counter-blast from animal rights activists including the comedian Ricky Gervais and actor Peter Egan, who accused the MoD of caring more about a car than 'sentient animals.

In response to the anger, an MOD source said today: 'The car was a civilian armoured vehicle (probably part of the UK Embassy fleet).

'Priority on all flights is given to passengers, but flights have to take off in their allocated time-slot to keep traffic moving, so on the flight featured by Sky, there were 134 people processed at the time allocated for take-off, and because that left some room, it was filled with cargo, including the car.'

Mr Gervais wrote in response to the video: '@PenFarthing is brave and kind. Such honour should be rewarded. He's still trying to save others in the face of grave danger. He shouldn't be left behind. And they rescued a f*****g car? Shame.'

Actor Peter Egan added: 'Can it be possible that @BWallaceMP is ok about airlifting a car but not sentient animals!!'

Mr Farthing, 52, has complained about being 'left to fend for myself' after organising the flight for his 25 Afghan staff as well as the charity's dogs and cats. He announced the UK Government granted visas for all of his staff and their dependents.

But Mr Wallace - himself a former soldier - told LBC that Mr Farthing's claim about being abandoned by the MoD was 'b******s'.

In a round of interviews, the clearly frustrated politician said that while the animal charity boss had done 'amazing' work, all the plane would achieve if it landed in Kabul was to 'block the airfield' and 'sit there empty'.

'There is a confusion, I am afraid some of the campaigners have latched on to the fact they have chartered a plane, as if this somehow is the magic wand,' he said.

'The magic wand is whether people can get through Kabul through the Taliban checkpoints and then through the 3,000-plus people, some of whom are waiting in front of the queue because they are under real threat, direct threat right now from the Taliban.'

He added: 'I am not prepared to prioritise, for example, pets over people.'

Mr Wallace said that Mr Farthing himself could get through the gates and his staff were entitled to refuge in the UK, but he could not 'guarantee' they would be airlifted 'in this window'.

But a video of the Vauxhall entering the cargo jet prompted comedian Ricky Gervais to tweet: 'Urgent: @PenFarthing is brave and kind. Such honour should be rewarded. He's still trying to save others in the face of grave danger. He shouldn't be left behind. And they rescued a f*****g car? Shame. #OperationArk'

Actor Peter Egan added: 'Can it be possible that @BWallaceMP is ok about airlifting a car but not sentient animals!!'

Paul 'Pen' Farthing, 52, said he has been 'left to fend for myself' after the MoD allegedly stopped his privately rented plane from taking off

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace insisted he will not 'prioritise pets over people' in the evacuation

Pen Farthing is founder of the Nowzad charity which he set up after befriending a stray dog while serving in Helmand in 2006

Former Royal Marine Commando Pen Farthing has been working with his Norwegian wife Kaisa Helene (above) and their team in Kabul

Mr Farthing with dogs RPG and Jena, who were destined to die from starvation or dog fights in Afghanistan until he stepped in

Celebrities including actor Ricky Gervais and Dragons Den star Deborah Meaden, who back the Nowzad charity, today slammed the Government's attitude towards evacuating animals

An MoD spokesman said: 'We are aware of reports around vehicles being loaded onto flights leaving Afghanistan. 'Cleared passengers are always loaded as an absolute priority and any spare capacity is used for operational freight. No flight has left Kabul empty.

'In the last 24 hours, 9 flights have left with over 1800 people on board.'

Celebrities including actor Mr Gervais and Dragons Den star Deborah Meaden, who back the Nowzad charity, today slammed the Government's attitude towards evacuating animals.

Writing on Twitter, Gervais said: 'Dear stupid c**ts saying we shouldn't put animals before people.. 1. The animals go in the hold where people can't go. 2. This is an extra, privately funded plane that will allow MORE people to be saved. #OperationArk'.

Meaden added: 'So.. Pete Quentin (Tory candidate for Camberwell and Peckham) why on Earth would you put these lives at risk? Everything arranged and you pull it??? Are we dithering with peoples lives @PenFarthing #nowzad #operationark'.

It's a no from Joe: US president set to reject pleas to delay Kabul withdrawal deadline Ministers have dismissed hopes that Joe Biden will extend the August 31 deadline for withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan as the UK, France and Germany prepare to make a last-ditch plea in G7 talks today. Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel are expected to push the case for keeping the evacuation operation in place longer with thousands of desperate people still flocking to Kabul airport. However, Mr Johnson and Mr Biden discussed the airlift in a call last night without making any progress, and the Taliban has warned of 'consequences' if there is an attempt to cling on. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said this morning it is 'unlikely' the deadline will be extended, after the RAF extracted another 2,000 people in the past 24 hours. 'I think it is unlikely. Not only because of what the Taliban has said but if you look at the public statements of President Biden I think it is unlikely,' Mr Wallace said. 'It is definitely worth us all trying, and we will.' With the prospects of maintaining the military action receding, attention is turning to plans after August 31, with suggestions the Taliban could allow civilian evacuation flights to continue. Advertisement

The comments came after Mr Farthing told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'Today we still do not have anything from the MoD, in fact they cut me off.

'I did have an emergency line that I could call if I was in trouble or needed to report something that's going on but that's been cut so I've been literally left now on my own in enemy-held territory. I just can't get my head around that.

'We've got a privately-funded plane that can take 250 passengers out, 69 of them would be me and the staff, but we've got an empty cargo hold. I don't understand the problems here, I'm not asking the MoD to give me a plane I just need to have a call sign.'

Mr Farthing claimed he had not received documents from the Home Office that would allow his staff to get past Taliban checkpoints and leave the country.

But Mr Wallace told Sky News: 'He could get through the gates as a British passport holder. He was called forward on Friday and I recommend he takes that.

'His workforce have been offered, as entitled personnel, places and they will be able to be called forward, but I can't guarantee in this window they will be processed onto aircraft, all I can say is they qualify.'

He added on LBC radio: 'I have some really desperate people in that queue who are really under threat of life and death, and if we don't get them out their future is very, very bleak.

'I simply have to prioritise those people over pets, very important. It doesn't mean we don't care about animals, we're all an animal loving nation.'

Mr Farthing previously managed to get his 30-year-old wife Kaisa out of the country and shared a shocking image appearing to show her on a near-empty evacuation flight.

In an interview with Sky News, he said: 'I can't get into the airport because the MoD won't talk to me. That is beyond the pale, somebody somewhere is playing with people's lives.'

Mr Farthing goes on to describe the emotional rollercoaster he and his staff were forced to go through today.

He said: 'You've not idea of the elation in our office this morning when our staff knew [they could come to the UK].'

He previously managed to get his 30-year-old wife Kaisa out of the country and shared a shocking image appearing to show her on a near-empty evacuation flight (pictured)

Outraged social media users have taken to Twitter to vent their frustrations at the Government's alleged actions

But the joy his staff felt soon turned to despair after Mr Farthing said the Ministry of Defence refused to let his privately funded commercial plane land in the Kabul military airfield.

He said: 'It's a privately funded aircraft, I only want to take out 69 people and the cargo hold is empty so we're going to put dogs and cats into it.

'No taxpayer money will go into this. We've got 130 spare seats on that aircraft we can fill with people entitled to come to Britain.'

He went on to claim the reason his flight had been blocked is that the Ministry of Defence doesn't want people to see animals getting on a flight.

While holding back tears he added: 'I am behind enemy lines now, the Taliban are here. I cannot get into the airport because the MOD won't talk to me. They're playing with people's lives.

'I wasn't frightened because I knew I had this lifeline but that's just been cut off. I am now on my own here.

An RAF plane was filled to capacity with embassy staff, British nationals and any Afghans able to settle in the UK

Evacuations have been underway in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country on August 13 after American troops were pulled from the country

'The very people that I was part of have cut me off. You have no idea of the emotion that's going through me right now.'

Outraged social media users have taken to Twitter to vent their frustrations at the Government's alleged actions.

One wrote: 'Dear British Government, the eyes of the world are watching, not just those of the UK. It is absolutely essential this life saving flight goes ahead without delay and with all onboard (including animals). I would urge you to ensure everything is in place without delay.'

Thousands of Afghans could be left behind in Kabul as ministers push to extend the deadline for the last British evacuation flight beyond Tuesday. Pictured: British citizens catching a flight earlier this week

Taliban fighters stand guard on their side at a border crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in Torkham, in Khyber district, Pakistan

The former Royal Marine Commando runs an animal rights charity in Afghanistan and is now trying to evacuate dogs and cats

Mr Farthing said staff at the charity were working on plans to evacuate 100 cats and 100 dogs on a 200,000 charter plane

While another said: 'Furious and feel sick. How can people be so evil!!! Boris Johnson GET THIS SORTED! I can't believe we were all praising you this morning, we thought you were doing the right thing!!!!'

And another wrote: 'This is horrendous. Heartbreaking. The UK government have failed in every aspect and I am so sorry to see it now affecting you and #nowzad. I am praying for you, your staff and animals to get back safely. Stay safe.'

The MoD refused to comment on Mr Farthing's accusations last night.

How a deadly deployment in Afghanistan's Helmand province turned Royal Marine into animal saviour when he realised he couldn't leave his new canine pal behind

By JACK WRIGHT FOR MAILONLINE

Tough guy Paul Farthing arrived with the men of Kilo Company of 42 Commando Royal Marines in the war torn town of 'Now Zad' in Helmand Province - one of the most dangerous places in Afghanistan - in 2006.

Tasked with providing stability for the local people in the early years of the Western intervention triggered by the 9/11 attacks in the US, the Marines soon realised it wasn't just local people who needed their help - but stray dogs.

The idea of an animal clinic was first born when Farthing - a Royal Marine Sergeant who goes by the nickname Pen - broke up a dog fight, a popular 'sport' in Afghanistan, taking place outside their remote compound.

Tough guy Paul Farthing arrived with the men of Kilo Company of 42 Commando Royal Marines in the war torn town of 'Now Zad' in Helmand Province - one of the most dangerous places in Afghanistan - in 2006

Former Royal Marine commando Paul 'Pen' Farthing, who runs an animal sanctuary in Kabul, has been separated from his wife Kaisa Helene in Kabul

He was befriended by one of the dogs, who became his companion and he was named Nowzad. The Marines built a run and mortar shelter to provide the dogs with some safety and shelter and when the commando force left, Farthing decided he couldn't leave 'those sad big eyes' behind.

With the help of animal lovers Nowzad, several other dogs and 14 puppies befriended by Marines were taken on an epic journey to safety. Within months, the charity was formed with the aim of helping the animals of Afghanistan and educating the local people about the care and treatment of dogs as well as reducing rabies, a major problem in the country.

According to the Nowzad website, the clinic has reunited over 1,600 soldiers with the dogs and cats they rescue and bond with on the frontlines in Afghanistan, and 'continue to be there for the brave men and women who show compassion to animals'.

'The relationships built up between a dog and soldier on bases can be very special,' Farthing said, 'A dog can ease the stress and provide five minutes of normality that is hugely important in that kind of environment, it can provide a bond that is hard to break.

'Dogs have been proven to help post-traumatic stress and the soldiers who adopt them are addressing this.'

Undated handout photo of Pen Farthing, founder of animal rescue charity Nowzad

The US-backed authorities in Kabul undertook a brutal operation of poisoning with thousands of stray dogs on the streets but Nowzad implemented an extensive programme of humane trap, neuter, vaccinate and release as an organised and effective way of controlling the dog population - and countering canine rabies.

In parallel, they helped to educate local Afghan children how to avoid feral dogs and the humane treatment of animals. One dog at the clinic in particular carried the scars of brutality - Atish, brought in by a US aid worker who found him in agony of the streets.

'His back side had been dipped in battery acid, we think,' said Louise Hastie, the former British soldier running Nowzad's operations, 'we amputated most of the tail and he is making a good recovery.'

'We have made real progress here in terms of both care and education and it is thanks to the support of all those people who donate.

'Every penny they give is genuinely helping the lives of Afghan animals and that is something we are proud of. 'For soldiers and others out here that we have helped there has been a special bond built-up with an animal here that they can't give up.
The prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case has released a twisted cartoon in which he mocks the German investigators who want him behind bars.

Convicted paedophile and rapist Christian Brueckner, 44, is currently being held in a high security prison in Oldenburg, near Bremen in northern Germany.

Investigators believe he abducted and killed three-year-old Madeleine in Portugal in 2007.

In the cartoon the chief public prosecutor, Hans Wolters, wearing a black legal gown and brandishing a five euros note, desperately whispers 'is there anything new?' to a person in sitting behind a blue curtain with crystal ball.

Security is supposedly so tight at the JVA Oldenburg prison that it is locally dubbed 'Alcatraz of the North', but Brueckner has somehow managed to leak his sketches to the press.

In Brueckner's cartoon obtained by German newspaper BILD, the convicted paedophile taunts the public prosecution office with a drawing of the chief prosecutor consulting a clairvoyant for evidence. Brueckner is pictured in the bottom right, looking on bemused

Christian Brueckner, a convicted paedophile and rapist, is currently being held in a high security prison in Oldenburg, Germany. He is pictured here after being arrested in Italy in 2018

German investigators believe Brueckner murdered Madeleine, then three (pictured), after abducting her from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in May 2007, but are yet to bring the case to court

The cartoon is believed to refer to the German clairvoyant Michael Schneider, who provided the German investigators and the BKA, Germany's FBI, with co-ordinates of where he believes Madeleine is buried in Portugal.

Brueckner even included a small drawing of himself in the cartoon as a blonde-haired onlooker seemingly bemused by what he sees in front of him, while the rest of the courtroom sleeps soundly at their desks.

This cartoon comes two months after Brueckner released his first sketch in May, claiming his innocence in the case while depicting two prosecutors in a restaurant ordering the 'filet forensics'.

Despite having been a suspect for years, the public prosecution office have still not officially brought the case to court and are still gathering evidence against Brueckner, who has still never been questioned or charged in relation to the McCann case.



Three-year-old Madeleine McCann vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal's Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007.

Her parents Kate and Gerry had put her and her siblings to bed in the flat before meeting friends for dinner at a nearby tapas restaurant.

Brueckner was living in a camper van near Praia da Luz at the time of the disappearance.

Last June, German and UK police revealed Brueckner as a suspect after first becoming aware of his potential connection to the case in 2017, but he has not yet been interrogated by police.

He is currently serving seven years in prison for raping an elderly woman in Praia da Luz, the same area where Madeleine McCann disappeared, and is also being investigated for allegedly exposing himself in a playground while children were present.

Brueckner is already serving a seven-year sentence in Germany's 'Alcatraz of the North' for raping an elderly woman in Portugal, and is under investigation for exposing himself to children in a playground

Security is supposedly so tight at the JVA Oldenburg prison that it is locally dubbed 'Alcatraz of the North', but Brueckner has somehow managed to leak his sketches to the press

Christian Brueckner is the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007. Pictured: A timeline showing his movements up until 2020, when he was sentenced to prison for rape

Brueckner's first cartoon was published in May but released to press in June, along with a letter which read: 'Charging an accused is one thing. It is something completely different, namely an unbelievable scandal, when a public prosecutor starts a public pre-judgement campaign before the main proceedings are opened.

'Freedom of expression is not a basic right so that everyone can say and write what they want. Freedom of expression does not protect the majority.

'It protects the minority. It does not protect the most logical, most convincing or most popular views, but rather the outsider position.

'I call on the Brunswick public prosecutors Wolters and Lindemann to resign from their offices.'

Chief prosecutor Wolters said: 'I never said we couldn't charge him. We have no pressure at the moment. As it looks, he'll be in custody for the next few years.

Chief prosecutor in the Madeleine case, Hans Wolters, has previously conceded that there was no forensic evidence against Brueckner but said 'he's not going to run away from us, he'll be in custody for the next few years'

'That means he's not going to run away from us. We will take the time we need.'

Wolters added that the situation is 'a two-way street', and that Brueckner has thus far taken no action to exonerate himself by reaching out to the prosecution.

'He knows that we are investigating him. He can contact us at any time.'

When contacted, Brueckner's lawyer, Friedrich Fulscher in the northern port town of Kiel, declined to comment.

Investigators have interviewed a number of potential witnesses in Germany and Portugal, including Brueckner's British ex-girlfriend, who claims he assaulted her.

Wolters, who believes Madeleine is dead, said authorities have not spoken to her parents Kate and Gerry McCann.

The McCanns said in May they 'hang on to hope, however small' that they will see their daughter again as they marked the 14th anniversary of her disappearance.

In a message shared online, they noted that this year's anniversary was even more poignant because it would have been their daughter's 18th birthday.

The message, which was shared on the Find Madeleine website, read: 'Every May is tough  a reminder of years passed, of years together lost, or stolen.

'This year it is particularly poignant as we should be celebrating Madeleine's 18th birthday. Enough said.'
Residents in an upmarket apartment tower have been left without access to their cars for almost two months after a six-storey car stacker went haywire - crushing one car and trapping 30 more.

The residents of Melbourne's Bond Quarter building were startled by huge bang which shook the walls as one car was dropped by the car lift moments after the owner got out of the way.

Almost two months on from that July 4 mishap the cars remain inaccessible and frustrated residents still have no answers as to when they will be able to use their vehicles again despite being told a full investigation was held days later on July 7.

Currently they remain piled in the car-stacker, with the owners of the building on Spencer Street in the CBD still assessing how to get them out.

The car lift malfunctioned and dropped one car - crushing the vehicle and trapping the remaining 30 (pictured)

One resident said he and his partner - both essential workers - now have to pay for Ubers to and from work each day which is costing about $750 a month.

'I can't afford to sustain it... It's just been a blame game about what's happened and who's responsible,' Corey Dickson told A Current Affair.

He said he's still waiting to hear if a solution has been organised and was told a crane would need to be brought in to the basement to lift the cars out of the stacker one by one.

A problem with large motor that powers the car lift was apparently responsible for the car dropping, he added.

Resident Corey Dickson (pictured) said he and his partner are spending $750 a month on Ubers to get to their essential work

Some of the building's residents (pictured) stand outside the door to the car stacker but have no way of getting their vehicles out

Other residents have bought bicycles to cycle to work and medical student Bowen Lim added he has had to pay extra cash to get to his job as a Covid contact tracer.

Another resident John said they have not been offered rental cars and has not idea if there will be any compensation offered.

Emergency nurse Dayne Jackson said with her shift work hours public transport is not feasible and the ordeal has added to her stress.

'I've had to rely on Ubers which is becoming a really large expense,' she said.

She said she had not been given an idea when she would be able to get her car back.

The owners' corporation of the building SOCM told ACA via their lawyers that the process was taking so long because they had brought in engineers to assess the situation and were also dealing with the insurance company.

The owners' corporation of The Bond Quarter in Melbourne (pictured) said they were in talks with engineers and insurers
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A family due to make their annual trip to Reading Festival have complained that their hotel booking was unilaterally cancelled with just a week's notice after the Home Office requisitioned all the rooms available to house refugees fleeing Afghanistan.

The unnamed family said they had booked two rooms at the Mercure George Hotel in King Street more than a year ago and had been due to travel down from Doncaster in Yorkshire on Sunday, August 29 for the music event when their stay was cancelled.

In an email sent to the family on Sunday, August 22 seen by BerkshireLive, the four-star hotel said: 'We are sure you have been watching the recent turn of events with horror and disbelief and maybe have at times thought if there was some way to help them.

'As the scale of the crisis in Afghanistan grows, the Home Office are struggling with the number of refugees to re-home. They have started to reach out to local authorities to ask for help within their communities for housing.

'We have been approached by the Home Office to house these people, after much deliberation we have agreed to house these people for the interim.

'We have not taken this decision lightly and know the effect it has on you and your plans, however we feel it was the right decision to make in view of the humanitarian crisis facing these people.'

The Tudor-style Mercure owned by hotel chain Accor has 76 rooms. It is not known how long the refugees will be housed in the hotel, or how many other hotels have been approached and taken over by the Government to resettle fleeing Afghans.

However, a Home Office spokesman refused to 'provide a running commentary on accommodation that may or may not be under consideration for those claiming asylum or arriving in the UK from Afghanistan for safeguarding reasons' when approached by MailOnline.

A source added: 'People are going to die if we don't do this.

The family had apparently booked two rooms at the Mercure George Hotel in King Street (pictured) a year ago and had been due to travel down from Doncaster on August 29 for the music event when their stay was cancelled

A family heading to Reading Festival have complained that their hotel booking was unilaterally cancelled after the Home Office took over the building to house refugees fleeing Taliban-controlled Afghanistan (stock image of Reading Festival in 2019)

An RAF plane was filled to capacity with embassy staff, British nationals and any Afghans able to settle in the UK

Afghan refugees arrive at RAQF Brize Norton airbase in the UK early today after being evacuated from Afghanistan

Graph showing the number of people evacuated from Kabul, Afghanistan, by country as of August 23, 2021 at 1700 GMT

Councils 'will get special grants to rent or buy large homes' for big Afghan refugee families - some with as many as TWELVE people in Councils are set to get grants from the government to rent or buy large homes for thousands of Afghan refugees. The average size of the families coming to the UK is thought to be seven, but at least one family is believed to be made up of 12 people. So far local authorities have offered to host up to 2,500 people, but the numbers seeking refuge under the scheme for Afghans who helped British forces could reach five times that level. Thousands more are expected to come to the UK under a separate longer-term resettlement scheme for those vulnerable to persecution by the Taliban. Although the details are unclear, the suggestion of grants to buy homes could spark resentment in local communities, with many Britons struggling to afford such properties. It comes amid fears more than 1,000 Afghans who assisted British troops face being left behind when mercy flights cease in the coming days. Advertisement

'It is a staggered process, I cannot say how long they will be there. It depends on the local authority, the first people in the hotel might get some housing for them to move into and then as the process goes on it might bottleneck but it is impossible to say.

'We are doing everything we can to support people in life threatening situations, we will support them in hotel accommodation and that will be until they can be moved to more permanent accommodation.'

The mother told BerkshireLive: 'Experience says it's impossible to get taxis when the festival is on, so one of us will have to not drink for the day and park in one of the local multi-storeys. It sounds incredibly privileged and makes me feel quite uncomfortable to complain about this.

'I know what these people are going through is thousands of times worse than us losing our hotel booking. But at the same time, I feel the bookings should've been honoured. At this time of year, most of the people there would've been only there for this weekend.'

A Home Office spokesman told MailOnline: 'The UK has a proud history of protecting people in life-threatening situations and we are determined to help as many Afghans as possible through the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme.

'We do not provide a running commentary on accommodation that may or may not be under consideration for those claiming asylum or arriving in the UK from Afghanistan, for safeguarding reasons.'

MailOnline has contacted Accor and the Mercure George Hotel for comment.

Councils are set to get grants from the government to rent or buy large homes for thousands of Afghan refugees. The average size of the families coming to the UK is thought to be seven, but at least one family is believed to be made up of 12 people.

So far local authorities have offered to host up to 2,500 people, but the numbers seeking refuge under the scheme for Afghans who helped British forces could reach five times that level.

Thousands more are expected to come to the UK under a separate longer-term resettlement scheme for those vulnerable to persecution by the Taliban.

Although the details are unclear, the suggestion of grants to buy homes could spark resentment in local communities, with many Britons struggling to afford such properties.

It comes amid fears more than 1,000 Afghans who assisted British troops face being left behind when mercy flights cease in the coming days.

A Government source told the Times: 'The greatest challenge is that councils simply don't have enough vacant properties. We are looking at other options which could see councils renting properties of the right size or even purchasing them and adding them to their long-term housing stock.'

More than 100 local councils have pledged their support in rehoming displaced Afghans since the first RAF rescue mission for those fleeing Kabul landed in the United Kingdom last week.

Local authorities across the country, from Wiltshire to Northumberland, have committed to taking in displaced Afghans as Boris Johnson launched plans to resettle up to 25,000 refugees over five years.

A member of the RAF escorts a group of children who arrived at Brize Norton airbase early on Tuesday morning

An elderly woman is helped across the tarmac at RAF Brize Norton today after arriving on a flight from Afghanistan

Diplomats insist that the situation on the ground has improved since the weekend with more people being allowed into the airport, but satellite images showed huge crowds continuing to mass

Evacuations have been underway in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country on August 13 after American troops were pulled from the country

Thousands of Afghans could be left behind in Kabul as ministers push to extend the deadline for the last British evacuation flight beyond Tuesday. Pictured: British citizens catching a flight earlier this week

'I'm not prepared to prioritise pets over people': Ben Wallace rebukes 'confused' Pen Farthing after former Royal Marine complained that charter flight to take his staff and rescue animals out of Kabul is being blocked Ben Wallace today rebuked a former Royal Marine for complaining that UK forces are blocking a charter flight from taking his staff and rescue dogs out of Kabul. The Defence Secretary insisted he will not 'prioritise pets over people' after Paul Farthing - known as Pen - vented fury that he was being prevented from using the privately-funded plane. The 52-year-old said he had been 'left to fend for myself' after organising the flight for his 25 Afghan staff as well as the charity's dogs and cats. He announced the UK Government granted visas for all of his staff and their dependents. But in a round of interviews a clearly frustrated Mr Wallace while Mr Farthing had done 'amazing' work, all the plane would achieve if it landed in Kabul was to 'block the airfield' and 'sit there empty'. 'There is a confusion, I am afraid some of the campaigners have latched on to the fact they have chartered a plane, as if this somehow is the magic wand,' he said. Advertisement

Families fleeing Afghanistan have been rehomed in West Yorkshire, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Surrey and Melton in Leicestershire.

Council leaders and mayors in Liverpool, London, Kent and Essex have all shared strong statements promising to provide support in their communities in the wake of the Taliban's devastating advance to Kabul. Councils have already been offered about 10,000 per Afghan refugee to help provide them with accommodation and support.

Evacuation flights out of Kabul have been stepped up on to a 'war footing' with time fast running out to rescue people as an August 31 deadline for all forces to be out of the country looms large.

The United States said some 16,000 people boarded mercy flights between Sunday morning and Monday afternoon while Britain managed to air-lift 2,000 in the last 24 hours.

NATO now puts the total number of people evacuated since the Taliban took power 10 days ago at 50,000, but that is still well short of the more-than 100,000 refugees that western nations had promised to take.

G7 leaders including Britain, France and Germany are set to pressure US President Joe Biden into extending the August 31 deadline today - though British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said he does not expect the date to budge.

Jean-Yves le Drian, the French foreign minister, said his country would be forced to stop flights on Thursday this week if America sticks with the August 31 date - while Spain warned today that citizens will get left behind unless the deadline is extended.

He spoke as a NATO diplomat said flights are now being conducted on a 'war footing' amid a race to get everyone who has been promised sanctuary out of the country before August 31.

The diplomat said the situation at Kabul is calming down as Taliban guards allow more people into the airfield and some Afghans without travel paperwork head home - though images and footage from the ground today suggest thousands are still crammed up against military checkpoints.

Democratic US Representative Adam Schiff, chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, told reporters after a briefing by intelligence officials that he did not believe the evacuation could be completed in the eight remaining days.

'I think it's possible but I think it's very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated,' Schiff said.

A Taliban official said on Monday an extension would not be granted, though he said foreign forces had not sought one. Washington said negotiations were continuing.

And now the UN has raised fears of famine and economic ruin awaiting even those who escape the worst effects of Taliban rule, with the region in a drought and aid shipments into the country halted.

Leaders of the United States, Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Canada, and Japan who meet virtually later on Tuesday may use the possibility of unified official recognition, or renewed sanctions to push the Taliban to comply with pledges to respect women's rights and international relations.

'The G7 leaders will agree to coordinate on if, or when to recognise the Taliban,' said one European diplomat. 'And they will commit to continue to work closely together.'
Travelling to Afghanistan could be made a criminal offence under a potential Government anti-terror crackdown.

Ministers are considering banning Brits from entering the country amid fears some could try to join Islamist terror groups.

Under the proposals, anyone caught trying to travel to Afghanistan or returning from the country could face up to 10 years in prison.

The withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover have sparked concerns that terror groups could gain a foothold, capitalising on the chaos.

Taliban fighters on patrol in Kabul yesterday after the extremists took control of the country

The Government is reportedly looking at blacklisting travel to parts of the country or potentially even the whole of Afghanistan.

A Government source told The Telegraph: 'We're looking at every option available at this stage about how we proceed in the future. This is one of the options.'

It is thought the blacklisting plans will be discussed further in Whitehall in the coming weeks.

The current focus remains on the ongoing evacuation from Kabul.

The powers to blacklist countries or territories are set out in the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019.

There are some exemptions from the travel ban, including for humanitarian workers and journalists.

Lord Carlile of Berriew, a former government anti-terror tsar, said the powers were 'designed for circumstances that include what is happening in Afghanistan'.

'It is obviously contrary to the public interest and to national security for British people to travel out to participate in the activities of either the Taliban or al-Qaeda or for that matter the so-called Islamic State,' he told The Telegraph.
A babysitter has been charged with a multitude of horrific child sex crimes including the alleged abuse of a one-year-old baby.

The 23-year-old man from Bennett Springs, Western Australia, had advertised his babysitting services online to allegedly gain access to his victims.

Parents had innocently hired the man under the false pretense he would care for their children, police claim.

A 23-year-old man from Bennett Springs in Western Australia has been charged with 14 offences including child sexual abuse (pictured, stock image)

The alleged crimes were committed between June and August this year against three children aged between four and ten, and a baby as young as 12 months old.

Police claim the man sexually assaulted the infant while photographing and filming the shocking acts.

The Western Australia Child Abuse Squad raided his home on Sunday, recovering child pornography, a gel blaster and weapons.

The man is now facing up to 14 charges including; sexual penetration of a child under 13, indecently dealing with a child under 13, possessing and producing child exploitation material, and possessing prohibited and controlled weapons.

Police have since issued a warning for parents using the internet to access babysitting services, advising the safest way is to ensure workers have a current working with children check, first aid training, and public liability insurance.

The man has been refused bail and is due to appear at Perth Magistrates Court on September 20.
A mother and her boyfriend have been accused of abusing her 3-year-old son for weeks before killing him as prosecutors seek death penalty.

Erica Dotson, 27, and Joshua Manns, 25, were indicted on first-degree murder charges in July after the death of Dotson's son Jameson Nance.

On August 19, the state attorney's office filed a motion of intent to seek the death penalty against the pair, who investigators say are responsible for the child's death, according to Click Orlando.

Erica Dotson, 27, was indicted on first-degree murder charges in July, alongside her boyfriend, after the death of her son Jameson Nance

Joshua Manns, 25, reportedly called Dotson on June 11, while she was at work, and told her Jameson had drowned in the bathtub

Prosecutors described the murder as 'especially heinous, atrocious and cruel' and said it was committed after the child had suffered abuse.

No trial date has been set, but in addition to the murder charges, both face charges of aggravated child abuse and neglect of a child with great bodily harm.

Manns reportedly called Dotson on June 11, while she was at work, and told her Jameson had drowned in the bathtub.

Manns (pictured with his son) reportedly called Dotson on June 11, while she was at work, and told her Jameson had drowned in the bathtub

But when Dotson (pictured with her son) got back to her apartment in West Melbourne , Florida, she found that Manns was nowhere to be seen and had never called for medical assistance

But when she got back to her apartment in West Melbourne, Florida, she found that Manns was nowhere to be seen and had never called for medical assistance.

Instead, authorities say, he left her a handwritten note saying he had a seizure while Jameson was in the tub, resulting in him drowning.

Authorities said he wrote in the letter: 'No one would believe him and he did not want to spend his life in prison for something he did not do.'

The medical examiner, though, did not find any evidence that the young boy had drowned, saying he actually suffered from battered-child syndrome, suffering from weeks-old injuries, including a broken rib, stab wounds to the head and brain swelling.

An autopsy later determined that the child had been abused for at least three weeks prior to his death, according to the affidavit.

The medical examiner did not find any evidence that three-year-old Jameson, pictured, had drowned, saying he actually suffered from battered-child syndrome

Jameson had also suffered a broken leg last March, and the Florida Department of Children and Family Services investigated another broken leg he had when he was just 1-year-old

The medical examiner said there were significant signs of hemorrhaging and bruising that were in various states of healing, according to police.

Jameson had also suffered a broken leg last March, and the Florida Department of Children and Family Services investigated another broken leg he had when he was just 1-year-old, according to WESH.

And shortly before he died, the department had gone to his daycare to investigate 'suspicious injuries,' like burn marks on his arm.

Manns was arrested in Georgia on June 29, and Dotson was arrested on July 13.

Police believe she knew the abuse was taking place and did nothing to protect the child.
Hello. As you probably know I'm stepping aside as your governor.

I wanted to share some thoughts with you that I've been thinking about over the past few days.

There will be another time to talk about the truth and ethics of the recent situation involving me, but let me say now that, when government politicizes allegations and the headlines condemn without facts, you undermine the justice system - and that doesn't serve women and it doesn't serve men or society.

Of course everyone has a right to come forward and we applaud their bravery and courage in doing so, but allegations must still be scrutinized and verified whether made by a woman or a man. That is our basic justice system.

I understand that there are moments of intense political pressure and media frenzy that cause a rush to judgment. But that is not right. It's not fair or sustainable. Facts still matter.

A fire cracker can start a stampede but at one point everyone looks around and says, why are we running? The truth is ultimately always revealed.

The Attorney General's report was designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic. And it worked. There was a political and media stampede. But the truth will out in time - of that I am confident.

Now there are moments in life that test our character, that ask us, are we the person we believe we are? Or are we the person we try to be at our best? You know me. I am a fighter and my instinct is to fight this because it is unfair and unjust in my mind. But you also know that I love New York and I serve you. That is the oath that I took, and in this moment I believe the right thing is that my service come first.

Prolonging this situation could only cause governmental paralysis and that is just not an option for you and not an option for the state, especially now. There is real work to be done and it will require government to function at the highest level. What we do now is more important than what we have done as a society in generations. What will New York State be in the future? No one can tell us because it depends on what we do now. Our actions will determine our future.

We must keep people and businesses thriving in this state. Crime must be controlled and we have to be smart about it.

No governor in the nation has passed more progressive measures than I have, but I disagree with some people in my own party who called to defund the police. I believe it is misguided. I believe it is dangerous.

Gun violence and crime are savaging inner cities. Look at New York City. The majority of victims are poor, Black and brown. Reforming police must be the goal. Ending discrimination by the police, ending the unnecessary use of force, and then building back trust and respect between the police and the community they serve. That's the real answer and that is easier said than done, but it's also the truth and the right way forward.

Our state's economic competitiveness is vital. Demonizing business is against our collective self-interest. Taking actions that cause businesses to flee the state, taking jobs with them, only weakens our tax base and our ability to do good things for people.

We can address income inequality without ending incomes. Taxes can be reduced right away if Washington does what they promised New Yorkers they would do and repeal the so-called SALT tax. That would lower New York's taxes $15 billion per year. That would make a major difference and frankly dwarf all of the other federal aid programs.

It should have been done eight months ago. We're going to have to fight to make it happen, but we must wage that fight. Let's remember what made New York State the Empire State in the first place. New York's historic success was not a process of evolution. It didn't just happen. We weren't born this way. We were born of vision and daring and competence. We built the canals, the roads, the bridges, and education system and the economy that made us the greatest state in the nation. Somewhere along the way, government lost its competence and then people lost confidence in government.

But today is a different day. We have reason to believe in New York's future based on what we have accomplished together. We've shown potential. We've shown that the New York spirit that reached for the skies, that refused to accept defeat, that challenged possibility, that said no to the status quo, that took on the bureaucracy that still exists. And we must demand that government continue to perform and achieve and accomplish.

We've embarked on the most aggressive green energy plan in the nation. Not talk, action. Hundreds of projects all across the state, starting now. New transmission lines for a green grid. We are rebuilding our upstate airports. Buffalo is building back. A new LaGuardia Airport, first new airport in the nation in 25 years, a new JFK Airport, a new Penn Station to end the hellacious conditions of Penn Station, more affordable housing than ever before. These projects are underway and essential to complete quickly and effectively because they are literally building our future. We cannot go back to the old days when government talked, and government debated, and government issued a lot of press releases about what they were doing, but they never made a difference in people's lives, and they never improved, and they never built.

It's not what we say in life that matters. It's what we do. And the same is true for our elected officials and our government. We have developed, over the last decade, a new paradigm of government in this state, a government that actually works and actually works for people. It sounds simple, but it's all the difference in the world. We cannot go backwards.

We must focus on the immediate threat, which is the Delta variant and COVID. And I'm very concerned about this personally. Please don't forget what we learned together last year, and don't forget what we accomplished. We went from the highest infection rate in the nation to the lowest. We did what no one thought could be done. Why? Because when the rest of the nation put their head in the sand, and denied science, and played politics, we faced up to the facts and we made the tough but necessary decisions. And while our infection rate went down, other states have been going up.

And now the situation is reversed. New York has one of the lowest infection rates in the nation, and other states are seeing rapid increases. It's sweeping Florida, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, South Dakota, and more. So now we must realize the reality that the spread will inevitably affect us, and we have to act before it becomes critical.

Here's my advice. School opening is approaching. Teachers must be vaccinated for their protection and for our children's protection. Masks must be required in high-risk areas and private businesses must mandate proof of vaccination for large gatherings. Now, this simply will not happen without a state law mandating that it happen. Local politics are too intense. Private businesses cannot and will not enforce the law. Local police must be mandated to do that, but we must take these actions. Let us remember political procrastination is COVID collaboration. We know the choice is between the politically contentious or the medically infectious. You decide, which is worse.

The most important lesson I've learned in the past 15 years and the one that gives me the most hope is my belief in the essential intelligence and goodness of the people of this state. I said, when I started, I work for the people. I work for you. And to me, that is everything. My faith has been in the people, not the politicians and not even the political system. I know too well the flaws of the political system. I believed and still believe that New Yorkers informed with the facts when they believe the facts, when they believe they're told the truth, they will do the right thing. Even when it's hard.

I went to you when we had to tackle the moral and legal question of marriage equality and equal rights for the LGBTQ community. And you made the right decision and you led the nation in changing policy. I went to you when we needed to address the difficult issue of gun safety and mass killings and banning assault weapons. And yes, it was hard and you did it. And we saved lives. I went to you when we needed to address the problem of struggling families to raise the minimum wage for millions of New Yorkers, so they could have a better life and you did it. And the overall state economy grew. I went to you when we had to stand together to attack racism and antisemitism, because that's not who we are and it's not what we believe.

I went to you when we needed to stand strong against the COVID beast. I went to you to wear a mask and stay home and take a test and get the vaccine and you did. Every time, without fail, the people of New York have done the right thing. They have chosen inclusion over exclusion, hope over fear and love over hate.

It's not easy, but it's possible. And I know it's true because you proved it. You are the u in unity and New York chooses unity over division every time. I believe that for New York, the best is yet to be, because I believe you will make it so.

In sum, we didn't get everything done that we wanted to, or even everything we should have done. And we didn't always get it quite right. But I want you to know from the bottom of my heart, that every day I worked my hardest. I gave it my all and I tried my best to deliver for you. And that is the God's honest truth.

I want to thank my team, the best ever assembled because they are the most accomplished ever assembled.

I want to thank my family for their sacrifice and help in serving you. For the Cuomos, public service is a family affair. Kathy Hochul will become governor and I believe she will step up to the challenge. We all wish her success. Eric Adams will be the next mayor of New York City. I think he'll bring a new philosophy and competence to the position which can give New York City residents hope for the future.

And finally, thank you. Thank you for the honor of serving as governor of New York. Thank you for allowing me to represent you. Thank you for empowering me to fight for you. Thank you for trusting me through COVID. Thank you for making New York State, the progressive Capitol of the nation. Thank you for vindicating E.B. White's words, often quoted by my father, God, rest his soul. When he said, "New York is to the nation what the white church spire is to the village, the visible symbol of aspiration and faith, the white plume saying the way is up."

Thank you for the honor of serving you and never forget, always stay New York tough, smart, united, disciplined and loving. It's the essence of what makes New Yorkers so special. God bless you.
The US could release an Afghan drug lord to the Taliban in exchange for their last American hostage - but only if they provide a confirmation of life.

Drug lord Bashir Noorzai, who is a top figure in the Pashtun tribe which elusive Taliban Supreme Commander Hibatullah Akhundzada belongs, has been held in a federal prison for the last 16 years.

He travelled to the US in 2005 under the pretext of diplomatic talks, but upon arrival he was arrested by the DEA for his role in a global heroin trade.

President Biden could release an Afghan drug lord to the Taliban in exchange for their last American hostage - but only if they provide a confirmation of life

And now, Newsweek reports that President Biden is prepared to swap Noorzai with the Taliban in exchange for Mark Frerichs, who was the last American to be taken hostage by the group.

Frerichs was taken hostage by the Taliban in January last year by a group believed to be associated with the Haqqani network - who are a militia group positioned on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and who are aligned with the Taliban.

Speaking to the publication, a government official, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'We are eager to explore ways to bring Frerichs back. But these explorations are predicated on receiving a recent proof of life. The bottom line is that any progress moving forward lies in receiving a proof of life.'

A swap deal involving Frerichs and Noorzai has been welcomed by Charlene Cakora, who is Frerichs' sister.

Drug lord Bashir Noorzai (pictured), who is a top figure in the Pashtun tribe which elusive Taliban Supreme Commander Hibatullah Akhundzada belongs, has been held in a federal prison for the last 16 years

She said in a statement sent to the publication that although she didn't like the idea of letting Noorzai go, it was worth it to have her brother released.

And she urged President Biden to move quickly to ensure a deal can be struck.

However, a former senior U.S. official has said that the foundation of any hostage swap is a solid proof of life which is 'itself is sort of its own art form'.

The potential hostage swap comes as the chair of the House Intelligence Committee warned that President Biden is 'unlikely' to meet his August 31 deadline to evacuate US citizens and their allies from Afghanistan.

Now, reports suggest the President is considering the possibility of trading Noorzai with the Taliban in for Mark Frerichs, who was the last American hostage taken by the group

Who is Bashir Noorzai? Haji Bashir Noorzai is a drug lord and financial backer of the Taliban. In 2005, he flew from Dubai to the US under the pretext of diplomatic talks. However, upon his arrival in New York City, he was arrested by the DEA for his role in the establishment of a global heroin trafficking operation - the funds of which had been helping the Taliban. After a trial, he was sentenced to life in a US federal prison. Advertisement

Adam Schiff made the grim prediction after an intelligence briefing Monday evening, as the Taliban rejected a mooted extension to the withdrawal date.

Schiff said a full evacuation was 'possible' but 'very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIVs, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders, women leaders.'

Speaking outside the US Capitol, Schiff continued: 'I am encouraged to see the numbers of people evacuated, increasing readily to the point where we evacuated 11,000 people in a single day, Schiff continued.

'Nonetheless, given the logistical difficulties of moving people to the airport and the limited number of workarounds, it's hard for me to see that being fully complete by the end of the month. And I'm certainly of the view that we maintain a military presence as long as it's necessary to get all U.S. persons out and to meet our moral and ethical obligation to our Afghan partners.'

He added: 'Given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIVs, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders women leaders, it's hard for me to imagine all of that can be accomplished between now and the end of the month,' he said.
A young girl was left fighting for her life after contracting a rare Covid-related condition.

Madison Carey, from Tamworth tested positive for Covid-19 back in June but did not ever fully recover and gradually went downhill until she collapsed on a holiday to London last month.

The 11-year-old was rushed to hospital and medics told her parents she was even 'touch and go' at one point after discovering she had a condition called Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome.

The condition was first discovered last year after medics found some children with Covid had serious inflammation throughout their body.

Inflammation is a normal response of the bodys immune system to fight infection but the condition sees the immune system can go into overdrive and begin to attack the body.

Madison Carey was left fighting for life after contracting a rare Covid-related condition which meant her immune system attacked her body and left her needing emergency treatment

Her parents Elizabeth and Simon (pictured with Madison) say they were told by medics it was touch and go at one point and now want to warn other families about the signs to look out for

Madison's mother Elizabeth admitted: 'They wanted to transport her from Charing Cross to St Mary's in an ambulance with a doctor but they wanted a specialist team so she went to The Royal Brompton, which deals with hearts and lungs.

'If they didn't make that decision to take her there then she wouldn't be with us now. She would have gone. It is the hardest thing we will ever go through.'

After receiving emergency treatment, including being put on a ventilator, Madison has recovered but her parents want to warn other families of the signs to look out for.

Father Simon added: 'Because this is so rare and Covid is still rife in the Tamworth area we want to raise the understanding and awareness.

PIMS: rare immune condition in children linked to Covid-19 In April 2020, doctors in the UK first started to see children with serious inflammation throughout their body, which seemed to be linked to COVID-19. Inflammation is a normal response of the bodys immune system to fight infection. But sometimes the immune system can go into overdrive and begin to attack the body. Symptoms are wide-ranging and many of them can also be found in children with other, less serious conditions but doctors say all children with PIMS will have a fever which persists for several days. Other symptoms include tummy pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, rash, cold hands and feet and red eyes. While most wont be seriously unwell, some children may be severely affected by the syndrome. If this happens, it is important that children receive urgent medical attention. Source: RCPCH Advertisement

'If you see any of these signs in your children please get them to the hospital as soon as possible.

'There are that many people who don't take Covid seriously and it could be another child's life on the line. Even if this saves one child's life it has worked.'

Madison complained of being tired and had a temperature after contracting Covid - but she was never really back to 100 per cent afterward.

Her mother said: 'We went to London on Wednesday. She was feeling a bit iffy but she said she still wanted to go.

'We stayed in the hotel that night because she was tired. She woke up fine. We went to Madame Tussauds on Friday and she was walking around like she was drunk, she had gone like a yellow colour and was very lethargic.

'There was no first aider, so obviously we tried to get through as quickly as we could.

'We got her out to where the Star Wars bit was and she sort of collapsed down the stairs. We picked her up and sat her down outside thinking she was hungry or thirsty but she couldn't eat or drink.

'We got to Hammersmith tube station and she collapsed there. The workers were brilliant and got her a chair and glass of water.

'My partner phoned 999, explained the situation but they said it wasn't an emergency. We had to walk about 15 minutes to get to the hospital.

'They rushed her straight through to resus and literally pumped her full of God knows what.

'That is when they said it was either sepsis of PIMS-TS. They wanted to transport her from Charing Cross to St Mary's in an ambulance with a doctor but they wanted a specialist team so she went to The Royal Brompton.

'When they did the swap she went into something called peri-arrest so her blood pressure dropped completely, she had got no pulse and a little heart rate. She was seconds from going into cardiac arrest.

'They managed to pump some adrenaline and some sort of drug into her.

'That is when they decided they were going to put her to sleep, put a tube down her throat and she was on that machine for 55 hours.

'I was told on my birthday that they were taking the machine out on the 2nd.

'It was hard and we were so far away from home. She was eventually transferred over to Heartlands.

Pictured: Madison, 11, has since recovered but her parents say she will need to be monitored by the team at the hospital for any lasting damage from the condition for the next five years

'She is back home and is a lot better now. We went to the hospital on Tuesday and she is better than what they thought she would be.

'She will have to stay with the hospital for the next five years at least just to keep an eye on her heart and her valves and things. They are using Madison as a case study.

'We have been very transparent with her and she knows what she has been through. People have been amazing. Tamworth FC Women all signed a shirt for her. Her family and friends have been golden.'

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome is very rare and occurs in less than 0.5 per cent of children who have or have had Covid-19.

Most will not be seriously affected but, in a very small number of cases, it can be life-threatening.

Children and young people who are seriously affected will have symptoms that are very similar to other potentially fatal conditions such as sepsis or meningitis.

It added: 'Researchers are working to find out more about PIMS and which treatments are the most suitable treatments for each patient.'
Antwerp Zoo has banned a woman from visiting a male chimp because their 'close relationship' is causing him to be ostracised from the other apes.

Adie Timmermans has been visiting Chita, a 38-year-old male chimpanzee, on a weekly basis for four years and is now having what she described as 'a relationship' with the animal.

But zoo workers have told Adie she can no longer be in contact with the animal as other chimps have excluded him from their group, causing him to be alone for up to fifteen hours a day.

Adie strongly opposed the ban, saying: 'I love that animal and he loves me. I haven't got anything else. Why do they want to take that away?'

She said the ban was unfair as it applies only to her, while other visitors are allowed to visit the chimp freely.

Adie Timmermans has been visiting Chita, a 38-year-old male chimpanzee, on a weekly basis for four years

Adie strongly opposed the ban, saying: 'I love that animal and he loves me. I haven't got anything else. Why do they want to take that away?' as she began crying

Zoo workers have told Adie she can no longer be in contact with Chita (pictured) as other chimps have excluded him from their group, causing him to be alone for up to fifteen hours a day.

Adie's relationship with Chita sees the pair waving and blowing kisses to each other through the glass of the chimp enclosure every week, and Adie steadfastly believes the chimp loves her.

However, while their exchange through the glass appears to be little more than a playful interaction, zoo officials say their relationship between Adie and Chita means the primate spends the 15 hours a day outside of visiting hours completely alone because the other chimps won't allow him into the group.

'When Chita is constantly surrounded by visitors, the other animals ignore him and don't consider him part of the group,' zoo curator Sarah Lafaut told Belgian channel ATV.

'He then sits on his own outside of visiting hours. An animal that is too focused on people is less respected by its peers and we want Chita to be a chimpanzee as much as possible.'

'When Chita is constantly surrounded by visitors, the other animals ignore him and don't consider him part of the group,' zoo curator Sarah Lafaut said

Adie said the ban was unfair as it applies only to her, while other visitors are allowed to visit the chimp freely

Chita has reportedly spent 30 of his 38 years at the zoo.

Lafaut said that the chimp was initially being kept as someone's pet, but as he grew older became 'unmanageable' and his owners donated him to the zoo.

Though he has adapted to life in the chimpanzee enclosure, he has always had trouble ingratiating himself with other animals and was seriously injured in a fight with other male chimps in 2008.

Despite the zoo's decision to ban Adie from visiting Chita, there are fears that the chimp will never be able to integrate well with the other chimps.

In 2014, Director of the Lester Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes Stephen Ross and Hani Freedman conducted a study which found that chimps separated from their mothers at a young age and raised primarily by humans showed 'social deficiencies' with other chimps as they became older.

Though his relationship with Adie is special, Chita is known to be very interactive with other humans, while he remains ignored by his fellow chimps.

'We found chimpanzees that were around humans a lot early in life tended not to do a lot of this behavior, even much later, after they learned to live with other chimpanzees,' said Ross in 2014.
British travel PCR test providers are operating unregulated despite the Government promising to crackdown on 'cowboy' firms, it was claimed today.

The medical director of DAM Health, one of the UK's largest providers, said the company has had to resort to self-regulation due to a lack of guidance from officials.



Professor Frank Joseph, whose firm has more than 40 clinics across the UK, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Unfortunately theres no regulation for us and we would welcome it.

'We've had conversations with local councillors in Liverpool to say "look you know there is no regulation but we have to self-regulate".'

He admitted there were 'no check ups' at any of DAM's clinics and nothing in place to verify that tests have been properly processed.

It comes despite Sajid Javid promising that the Department of Health was clamping down private firms.

Just 2 per cent of firms have been struck off the Government's approved list so far despite a review finding that a fifth were peddling false claims and charging extortionate prices.

The medical director of DAM Health, one of the UK's largest providers, said the company has had to resort to self-regulation due to a lack of guidance from officials. Professor Frank Joseph, whose firm has more than 40 clinics across the UK, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Unfortunately theres no regulation for us and we would welcome it'

The Government requires international travellers arriving in England to test before travel, and on arrival in the UK. Pictured: a medic conducting a PCR test at one of DAM's clinics

British holidaymakers could be paying 20 times more than the 'fair' price for PCR Covid tests required for travel abroad, it has been revealed. Graphic shows: The step-by-step process of a PCR test

Travellers have been left livid after prices for the tests rocketed despite poor service from many of the 400-plus government-approved companies.

The Government requires international travellers arriving in England to test before travel, and on arrival in the UK.

The number of tests that are needed is dependent on your arrival from either a green or amber country or your vaccination status. Arrivals from red countries must still use quarantine hotel facilities.

Piled high: A Randox drop-off bin earlier this month in London filled with uncollected PCR tests, showing the demand in the privately-run holiday testing system

To help travellers with the process, the Government website features a list of test providers which travellers can use.

But a recent Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) review discovered they were displaying lower prices on the gov.uk site, which lists a variety of providers who are available, than people would have to pay in reality once they get to the checkout.

It highlighted 82 private travel testing firms who are to be issued with a two-strike warning and could be struck off the official gov.uk list.

Companies will be removed from the website list if they fail to take action within three days of strike one as part of the new two-strike policy.

A further 57 firms are set to be removed from the list either because they no longer exist or do not provide the necessary tests.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said it is 'absolutely unacceptable' for companies to take advantage of holidaymakers and the action is part of a clampdown on 'cowboy behaviour'.

Regular spot checks of testing providers advertised and actual prices will be carried out this week, he said.

DAM Health was not one of the companies targeted by the Government.

Professor Joseph told BBC's Radio 4 Today programme DAM charges 99 for PCR tests at one of their 43 clinics in the UK after finding out that people faced test costs of up to 300 to travel.

THE RULES FOR RED, AMBER AND GREEN-LISTED COUNTRIES RED Before travel to England you must: take a Covid-19 test  children aged 10 and under do not need to take this test

book a quarantine hotel package, including 2 Covid-19 tests

complete a passenger locator form On arrival in England you must: quarantine in a managed hotel, including two Covid-19 tests AMBER Before you travel to England you must: take a Covid-19 test  you must take the test in the three days before you travel to England

book and pay for Covid-19 tests  to be taken after arrival in England

complete a passenger locator form You must do these things whether you are fully vaccinated or not. On arrival in England If you are fully vaccinated After arrival in England, you must take a Covid-19 test on or before day two. This applies if you're fully vaccinated under either: the UK vaccination programme

the UK vaccine programme overseas

an approved vaccination programme in Europe or the USA - not all are recognised in England It also applies if you are: taking part in an approved Covid-19 vaccine trial in the UK or the USA

under 18 and resident in the UK, a UK Overseas Territory, the USA or one of the specified European countries If you are not fully vaccinated If you do not qualify under the fully vaccinated rules, on arrival in England you must: quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days

take a Covid-19 test on or before day two and on or after day eight If you are in England for less than 10 days, you need to quarantine for the time you are here. You need to book day two and day eight travel tests. You only need to take the tests if you are still in England. GREEN Before you travel to England you must: take a Covid-19 test  children aged 10 and under do not need to take this test

book and pay for a day 2 Covid-19test  to be taken after arrival in England

complete a passenger locator form On arrival in England You must take a Covid-19 test on or before day two after you arrive. Children aged four and under do not need to take this test. You do not need to quarantine unless the test result is positive. You must quarantine if NHS Test & Trace informs you that you travelled to England with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. If you have been in a country or territory on the red or amber list If you have also been in or through a country or territory on the red list in the 10 days before you arrive in England, you must follow the red list rules. If you have also been in or through a country or territory on the amber list in the 10 days before you arrive in England, and have not visited a country on the red list, you must follow the amber list rules. Source: FCDO. Used under the Open Government Licence. Advertisement

Responding to whether testing providers could receive a test from customers, throw it out and give them made up results, he said: 'There's been lots of stuff on social media alluding to that type of stuff.

'Obviously I can't comment on that and what's the veracity and truth in any of that.'

People returning to the UK have to take a PCR or antigen test within three days of arriving and then take one PCR test within two days of being in the country and another within eight days, depending on vaccination status.

People arriving in the UK must purchase a PCR test from a private company and then either go to one of their clinics to be tested, or do the swab test themselves at home.

The sample is then sent to a lab, which tests it for Covid. The testing companies should then contact customers with the results.

But the system has received a myriad of criticism in recent weeks.

Randox, one provider of Covid tests, was slated for having overflowing 'drop bins' where customers were supposed to leave their completed Covid test to be sent to a lab.

And Lord Tyrie, the ex-chair of the Competition and Markets Authority, blasted the 'exploitative practices' for companies charging up hundreds of pounds for travellers arriving in the UK.

He said the competition regulator has been 'too slow to react' to the problems.

Questions are being raised about the need for such stringent testing after it emerged around a quarter of the Covid tests carried out on travellers arriving from overseas fail to record where they have come from.

Critics of the costly tests last night questioned how officials could make decisions about which destinations should be listed as green, amber and red when such a large chunk of crucial information was missing.

They also claimed the figures meant many travellers were paying for the costly post-holiday PCR checks unnecessarily

The figures came as it was revealed the average cost of a single Covid traveller test remained above 90  despite a vow two weeks ago by Health Secretary Sajid Javid to drive down prices.

A Daily Mail analysis of NHS Test and Trace figures shows that, of more than 742,650 tests booked by travellers, the country they arrived from is known for around 558,640.

For the remaining 184,000 swabs, the words 'unknown' or 'multiple-unknown' appear where the place they arrived from is supposed to be listed.

The data also shows the number of 'unknowns' has more than doubled in recent months as travel restrictions have eased.

Ministers insist post-arrival tests must be taken to help build a picture about where infections are coming into the country from and to detect variants of concern.

But Tory MP Henry Smith, chairman of the Future of Aviation Group of MPs, called for an overhaul of the system, including allowing arrivals to take rapid tests rather than 'gold standard' PCR swabs. Those who test positive could then take a PCR swab, but the price of these should also be capped, he said.

He added: 'These figures show that testing has become little more than an expensive disincentive for international travel and has only succeeded in holding back the recovery of our aviation sector as well as leaving many travellers feeling that they have shelled out for costly tests for little or no reason.'

Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, who sits on the Commons transport committee, said: 'No other country in the developed world has travel restrictions as opaque, complex and expensive as ours.'

Sarah Olney MP, Liberal Democrat transport spokesman said: 'How can the Government claim to make informed decisions about what countries are high risk when they don't know where a quarter of travellers taking Covid tests have flown in from?'

It was unclear why the country travellers are arriving from is not recorded. The Health Department was contacted for comment.

One theory, according to experts, is that private testing firms, which some travellers book, may not always be passing on all the information to health officials.

The figures relate to July 22 to August 11, the latest for which data is available. Analysis also shows just 0.7 per cent of travellers arriving from green countries are testing positive. For amber countries the rate is 1.3 per cent.

The Health Secretary vowed two weeks ago to 'ensure high quality tests are available at a reasonable price.' He said the NHS would drop its prices from 88 to 68 for a single-test package and 170 to 136 for a two-swab kit.

The hope had been that private firms would follow suit. But yesterday the average price for a single travel test among private providers listed on the Government website was 93, up on 90 when Mr Javid spoke out.
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Retail bosses today warned the industry faces a shortfall of 90,000 lorry drivers as a perfect storm of Covid and Brexit strangles supply chains and threatens a shortage of popular gifts and staple foods.

Britons are now being warned to buy Christmas presents early, as issues with shipping from Asia means shoppers may soon be offered a smaller range of products, with demand for best-selling items like Playstation 5s and Barbies threatening to outstrip supply.

Meanwhile, a dearth of workers in the UK means meat processors are already six weeks behind with their preparations - which typically start in July - raising the spectre of labour-intensive items like pigs in blankets not being ready in time.

Some producers are responding by cutting the number of animals they rear for the festive period, with the supply of turkeys set to be 20percent lower than last year, according to the British Poultry Association.

The impact of supply chain shortages is already being felt on the ground, with McDonald's running out of milkshakes and bottled drinks this week, while Nando's and KFC have reported a shortage of chicken.

As the crisis worsens, the boss of the British Retail Consortium has called for the Government to act to help solve the shortage of drivers.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: 'The UK faces a shortfall of 90,000 HGV drivers and it is consumers who will ultimately suffer for this.

'So far, disruption has been minimal thanks to the incredible work by retailers and their suppliers.

'Retailers are increasing pay rates, offering bonuses and introducing new driver training schemes, as well as directly supporting their suppliers in the movement of goods, but Government will need to play its part.

'We are calling on the Government to rapidly increase the number of HGV driving tests taking place, provide temporary visas for EU drivers, and to make changes on how HGV driver training can be funded.'

The supply of popular Christmas products is likely to be hit by domestic labour shortages and issues with global shipping

There have also been some issues with the availability of potatoes, according to catering firm Lynx Purchasing, which said this had been driven by floods in producing countries such as Germany and the Netherlands.

A lack of lorry drivers and food processors is being partly blamed on the new Brexit visa regime introduced on January 1, which penalises lower-skilled migrants in favour of those with qualifications.

But global factors are relevant too, bosses say, including Chinese port closures and a lack of shipping containers. US Vice President Kamala Harris yesterday urged Americans to buy Christmas toys early due to a shortage there.

Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Meat Processors Association, said a labour shortage meant the industry was already 'well behind' on getting ready for Christmas.

He told MailOnline: 'You'd normally start to prepare pigs in blankets and gammons at the beginning of July and they'd go into the freezer and come out at Christmas time, but we're six weeks behind and not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel.

'The shelves aren't going to be empty but it's hard to see how there won't be shortages of these things and the choice will get less.'

Britain has so far been unable to shake its dependency on EU workers who have been leaving due to the pandemic, Mr Allen explained, while the supply of new workers is being held back by stricter visa rules introduced on January 1.

'Covid is one of the reasons why people are going home and not going back again but it fundamentally down to our post-Brexit immigration policy,' he said.

'I try to avoid blaming Brexit - our politicians gave us an immigration policy and it was their choice. With a million job vacancies in the country its night on impossible to fulfil all our needs.'

The most common complaint among UK retailers and food producers is the shortage of lorry drivers, which the Road Haulage Association currently puts at 100,000.

Thousands of prospective drivers are waiting for their HGV tests due to a backlog caused by lockdown, while many existing ones have left the UK after Brexit or to be back with their families during Covid.

The supply of turkeys set to be 20percent lower than last year, according to predictions from the British Poultry Association

Dixons Carphone is attempting to fill 180 driver vacancies by offering applicants a 1,500 signing-on bonus and a 1,500 retention bonus, while salaries have been boosted by at least 9%, The Sunday Times reported.

Importers are also suffering a financial hit, with dramatically rising transport costs caused by a global lack of shipping containers and a slowdown in freight movements resulting from port closures.

Chinese authorities recently shut Ningbo-Zhoushan port, which is one of the world's largest container terminals, due to a Covid outbreak.

Gary Grant, founder and executive chairman of toy chain the Entertainer, said the cost of shipping a container from Asia had increased from $1,700 to more than $13,000 (8,000) over the past year.

'The cost of containers - as well as a shortage of them - is proving very difficult across many industries, not just ours,' he told MailOnline.

'What is unique to us is that Christmas is a fixed date, so we are under extreme pressure at the moment to move as much stock as we can but are significantly behind with the shipment of products.

'There's not a shortage of toys, but what will happen as when we get nearer to Christmas the suppliers will not have to back-up stock that we've previously relied upon. So the range of stock we have may be narrower.'

Mr Grant said the products most likely to be impacted were the ones already selling well, including Paw Patrol, Barbie and Rainbocorns.

'Shoppers need to buy early. I'm a retailer, so sceptics would say that I'm going to tell people to do that,' he said.

'I'm not encouraging people to go and panic buy. But there is going to be shortage of certain goods, so the way to get around that is to buy early.'

McDonald's became the latest restaurant chain in the UK to be hit by supply shortages yesterday with no milkshakes or bottled drinks available in any of its outlets

Global shipping demands on maintaining a steady flow of containers from Asia to the West, including the return of empty ones.

This is currently being disrupted by the slow processing of shipments in Europe and the US, as well as port closures in China.

Alex Veitch, general manager of public policy at Logistics UK, said: 'Shippers around the world have been affected by a number of factors, most notably the impact of COVID-19 which has led to port closures, the subsequent displacement of containers, rising costs and difficulties securing capacity.

'Many shippers have shifted their goods to air or rail freight where possible, but shipping dominates the global freight market and we call on shipping lines to do all they can to improve the situation for their customers.'

McDonald's became the latest restaurant chain in the UK to be hit by supply shortages yesterday with no milkshakes or bottled drinks available in any of its outlets.

The fast-food giant, which has 1,250 restaurants, has stopped serving the drinks this week but said staff are 'working hard to return these items to the menu as soon as possible'.

A spokesman told The Independent it was 'experiencing some supply chain issues'.

A shortage of delivery drivers has disrupted supplies to supermarkets and hospitality.

Fresh food and drink supplies to Beefeater pubs and Subway outlets were also affected yesterday.

Industry experts say the lack of drivers is a result of Brexit and the pandemic.

A spokesman for Beefeater said supply chain issues had led to shortages of bottled beer and chicken.

Subway outlets in London and Norfolk have reportedly put up posters about a lack of ingredients  but this was not confirmed by the company.
An ex-army interpreter has made a desperate plea for the US army to rescue his sister who became stranded in Afghanistan following the Taliban's take over.

Hamidullah Ehsan, who now lives in Modesto, California, with his wife and two children, said he wants the US government 'to ask her to come to the airport'.

He managed to get his mother and two siblings out of Afghanistan two weeks before the Taliban forces marched into Kabul earlier this month.

An ex-army interpreter has made a desperate plea for the US army to rescue his sister who became stranded in Afghanistan following the Taliban's take over (file image)

They are now registered with the United Nations refugee agency in neighboring Tajikistan.

Ehsan, who translated for multiple army units in Kandahar from 2008 to 2012 during the 20-year war against the Taliban, fears reprisals from the militants.

One of his sisters is still in Kabul with her husband and infant child. Ehsan has put her name on an evacuation list and is prepared to do whatever it takes to get her out.

'All I want from the U.S. government is to call her and ask her to come to the airport. I'm ready to pay her tickets back here,' he said. 'All I want is for her to be safe.'

'They're asking for interpreters, asking for people that are in the military, asking for all those people and they're going to kill them,' he said, citing videos online showing what he said were militants going door-to-door.

Ehsan lives in America after securing a Special Immigrant Visa, designed for people who worked with the U.S. military, in 2015.

Thousands of desperate Afghans and foreigners have crowded the airport in the capital Kabul, where U.S. and Western military forces are keeping open a last avenue of escape.

Ehsan is most concerned for the women like his sister who remain in the country under new Taliban rule.

Hamidullah Ehsan, who now lives in Modesto, California, with his wife and two children, said he wants the US government 'to ask her to come to the airport' (file image)

He believes a return to the harsh version of Islamic law the Taliban enforced while in power from 1996 to 2001 will be disastrous for women's rights.

The Taliban barred girls from school, kept women from working and forced them to cover their faces and be accompanied by a male relative outside their homes.

'There was a lot of progress that happened back in Afghanistan but now everything will be zero,' Ehsan said.

'What are they doing to do, stay at home? Nothing. No school. No universities. No talking. Just covering themselves up.'

In their first news conference after taking Kabul, the Taliban said women would be allowed to work and study 'within the framework of Islam.'

Ehsan vehemently disagrees, saying the Taliban are the same as before.

'They've never been changed,' he said. 'I cannot compare them to any human being on the planet. They're more dangerous than anyone you think of.'
New Zealand has recorded its highest increase in Covid cases since April 2020, just a day after Jacinda Ardern extended the country's draconian lockdown in a move branded 'absurd' by Australia's prime minister.

Infections grew by 41 on Tuesday, taking the total infections in the recent outbreak to 148, with health officials already warning the Delta variant would be like dealing with a whole new virus.

Ardern was slammed for the 'unfathomable' decision to extend the harsh lockdown on Monday in response to the rising cases, which has led to a total of eight people being hospitalised.

Critics said the strategy of trying to totally eradicate the virus through lockdown measures was always destined to fail when confronted with the more contagious Delta variant, particularly with the slow vaccination rollout in New Zealand.

Australian PM Scott Morrison, who has presided over similarly harsh lockdowns in response to relatively few cases, told the 9News breakfast show: 'Any state and territory that thinks that somehow they can protect themselves from Covid with the Delta strain forever, that's just absurd.

'I mean, New Zealand can't do that. They were following an elimination strategy. They're in lockdown. The way through is to get to those 70 per cent and 80 per cent (vaccination) marks and open safely.'

New Zealand's nation's virus-free run since February ended last week after the outbreak of the Delta variant erupted in Auckland. The nation on Tuesday recorded its highest increase in COVID-19 cases since April 2020

An outbreak was recorded in Sydney over the weekend as cases grew by more than 800, near record levels. Health authorities said Monday an outbreak centred in Melbourne also grew by 71 cases and another in the capital, Canberra, grew by 16 cases.

On Monday, Jacinda Ardern extended New Zealand's harsh level 4 lockdown until at least Friday, and until the end of the month in Auckland

The South Pacific nation's virus-free run since February ended last week after an outbreak of the Delta variant erupted in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, and quickly spread to the capital Wellington.

The health ministry said a cluster of at least 58 people of Samoan ethnicity linked to the Samoan Assembly Of God Church in Auckland were among the infected, and that the community had received racist messages via social media.

'The virus is the problem, not people,' the ministry said on Twitter.

Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said: 'Delta is unlike our previous experience. It is, as we know, highly infectious and transmissible and, as we have seen, spreads rapidly.'

Jacinda Ardern had garnered global praise for stamping out Covid in the country, but her reliance on strict border controls and snap lockdowns has been called into question amid the latest outbreak, which has occurred while only 20 per cent of the population has been vaccinated.

Opposition leader Judith Collins on Monday said: 'At a time when New Zealanders have the harshest lockdown in the world and have lost our freedoms because of the government's failure to vaccinate and secure the border, [the lockdown extension] by Jacinda Ardern is unfathomable.'

Though most of the country will remain in level 4 lockdown until Friday 27 August, Auckland is destined to stay fully locked down until the end of the month

Scott Morrison declared on Monday that Australian states must open their borders once vaccination rates reach 80 per cent of the population aged 16 years and older.

But in Western Australia, where there are no community infections, premier Mark McGowan said his government would not reopen at the 80 per cent vaccination level if it meant reintroducing the virus.

Around 24 per cent of Australians are fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Morrison's remarks came following an outbreak in Sydney over the weekend as cases grew by more than 800, near record levels.

Health authorities said an outbreak centred in Melbourne also grew by 71 cases and another in the capital, Canberra, grew by 16 cases.

All three cities remain in lockdown despite widespread protests which have left a number of police officers injured in violent clashes with protestors.

Violence erupted when police attempted to control protesters with pepper spray during the Freedom protest on August 21, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia

Police used tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets on demonstrators in Melbourne and arrested more than 200 people after an anti-lockdown rally on Saturday descended into a riot.

More than 4,000 people turned up to the 'freedom rally' in the Australian city on Saturday morning, and by late afternoon six officers has been hospitalised - including two with suspected broken noses, one with a broken thumb and the others with concussions - and 218 protesters arrested.

Police issued 236 fines for breaching coronavirus restrictions, and have three people in custody for assaulting police.

Smaller protests also erupted in Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns.
A former deputy headmaster and a head of care at a special needs school who raped and assaulted pupils have been jailed for more than 23 years.

David Taylor, 71, and Raymond Longley, 86, subjected eight young victims to a string of sexual offences covering a period between 1983 and 1995, a court heard.

The vile duo's offending first came to light after a complaint of sexual assault was made by a former pupil of Stubton Hall School, near Grantham, Lincs.

An investigation by Lincolnshire Police revealed evidence of non-recent sexual offences, assault and ill-treatment by the two former members of staff against a number of pupils at the boarding school.

Stubton Hall School opened in 1952 as a boy's school and became a school for boys and girls in 1982. It was shut down in 2003.

The school was a local authority maintained special educational needs school, under the governance of Lincolnshire County Council.

David Taylor, 71, (left) and Raymond Longley, 86, (right) have been jailed for more than 23 years after being found guilty of sexually assaulting female pupils over a 20 year period while working at Stubton Hall School, near Grantham, Lincs, during a period between 1983 and 1995

Taylor worked at the school between 1975 to 1995, and held the position of Deputy Headmaster between 1982 to 1995.

Longley worked at the school between 1982 to 1997 and held the position of Head of Care between 1982 to 1984. He remained at the school as a member of the care team until he retired in 1997.

Taylor previously appeared at Lincoln District Magistrates Court on Sep 7, 2020, where he denied the charges.

But following a five-week trial at Lincoln Crown Court, Taylor was found guilty of three counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault against five girls.

He was jailed for a total of 19 years and six months.

Longley appeared at Lincoln District Magistrates Court on October 2, 2020, where he pleaded not guilty to four charges of indecent assault on a girl.

Taylor and Longley were jailed for 19 years and four years respectively at Lincoln Crown Court (pictured) after being found guilty of historic sex offences including rape and indecent assault

He was found guilty of all four offences after a trial at Lincoln Crown Court which related to three female victims, and was jailed for four years on Monday.

During the police investigation more than 460 former pupils were contacted, and more than 200 engaged with officers investigating the crimes, police said.

Detective Superintendent Richard Hatton said he hoped the convictions would help the victims of these crimes in some way.

Mr Hatton said: 'The courage to come forward and be prepared to give evidence in court should never be underestimated.

'We have completed a detailed and through investigation but this was only possible because of the evidence given by others.

'I want to pay tribute to the victims and witnesses whose evidence has brought these two men to face justice.'

Lincolnshire Police stated that the current owners of Stubton Hall are in no way connected to this inquiry.
This is the shocking moment two 'idiotic' tourists were spotted dicing with death as they peered over the edge of a 120ft cliff.

The two men were spotted teetering on the edge of the chalk cliffs at Old Harry Rocks near Swanage, Dorset, after straying off the coastal path to walk out to the narrow ledges.

The scenes come just months after a 28-year-old man narrowly avoided death after he slipped and plunged 120ft off the cliff after reportedly getting too close to the edge while taking a selfie.

He was saved by landing in four feet of water, with rescuers saying it was a 'miracle' he survived.

In recent months, coastguards have warned about the dangers of tourists getting too close to the cliff edges.

The two men (circled) were spotted close to the edge of the chalk cliffs at Old Harry Rocks near Swanage, Dorset

The tourists has strayed off the coastal path to walk out to the narrow ledges on the chalk cliffs

Speaking about the latest photos taken at Old Harry Rocks, a Swanage coastguard spokesman said: 'It is really disappointing that someone has done this despite all the signs and warnings about the dangers there.

'The rocks here are very loose and crumbly - we have a real problem with erosion there because of footfall, so it is concerning seeing people get so close to the edge.

'If this behaviour continues we are going to see a serious injury or a death.

'I just don't understand why people are putting themselves at risk. These cliffs are very loose and it only takes a small slip for you to go over the edge. It just isn't worth the risk.

'On average there are one or two incidents of people falling at that exact location every year. A man almost died at there in May.

'The cliffs may look beautiful but they are very dangerous. 'People need to keep a distance from them, both at the top and at the bottom because of rock falls.'

Following the scenes, people took to Facebook to describe the two men as 'stupid and irresponsible' and 'flipping bonkers.'

One local posted: 'It's like they come down here and leave their brains behind.'

In May, a 28-year-old man suffered cuts and bruises after he fell off the cliff Old Harry Rocks after reportedly getting too close to the edge while taking a selfie.

Luckily, a group of kayakers witnessed the incident and paddled towards the man, who had landed in shallow water.

The two tourists (circled) were pictured dangerously close to the cliff edge despite warnings from coastguards

In recent months coastguards have warned tourists about the dangers of getting to close to the cliff edge

They helped him on to the rocky shore at the foot of the chalk cliff and gave him first aid

The inshore Swanage lifeboat arrived at the scene and placed the man on a stretcher before ferrying him to the all-weather lifeboat.

He was taken to the Swanage lifeboat station where an ambulance rushed the man to hospital to check for internal injuries.

In 2017, a woman in her 30s suffered minor injuries after she plunged from the cliff into the water below.

She was able to swim towards the rocks where she held on for safety and a helicopter arrived to take her to Southampton Hospital for treatment.

Last month a holidaymaker in his 40s died in front of his family after he slipped and fell while climbing up 200ft tall Stair Hole at Lulworth Cove, Dorset.

An air ambulance, coastguards, a lifeboat crew and police rushed to the scene and the man received medical treatment from paramedics but his injuries were so severe he was pronounced dead at the scene.

In June, mother-of-five Tahira Jabeen, 46, had been taking a short cut down a steep cliff that is close to Durdle Door when she plunged about 100ft at nearby Man O' War Bay.
The UN has warned the Taliban are already carrying out severe rights abuses in Afghanistan including 'summary executions' of civilians, the recruitment of child soldiers and restrictions on the rights of women and girls.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged the Human Rights Council to take 'bold and vigorous action' after the Taliban's stunning takeover raised fears that they will return the country to the brutal rule they imposed when they were last in power.

Taliban leaders have promised to restore security and tried to project an image of moderation, but many Afghans are skeptical and are racing to the leave the country, leading to chaos at Kabul's international airport.

The UN has warned the Taliban are already carrying out severe abuses in Afghanistan including 'summary executions' of civilians

Afghan children leave the school after a class in Zabul as the Taliban starts to implement its new regime

Amid scattered reports, it has been difficult to determine how widespread abuses might be and whether they reflect that Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters on the ground are taking matters into their own hands.

Leaders from the G7 nations plan to meet later Tuesday to discuss the burgeoning refugee crisis and the collapse of the Afghan government amid wrangling over whether the full US withdrawal of troops could be extended beyond the end of the month to allow more time to evacuate those desperate to leave.

US administration officials have refused to be pinned down about whether an extension is likely or even possible given that a Taliban spokesman has warned that August 31 is a 'red line' and that extending the American presence would 'provoke a reaction'.

On Tuesday, Bachelet called for strong action to investigate reports of rights abuses, as she sought to ensure that international attention on the country doesn't wane.

'At this critical moment, the people of Afghanistan look to the Human Rights Council to defend and protect their rights,' she said.

'I urge this council to take bold and vigorous action, commensurate with the gravity of this crisis, by establishing a dedicated mechanism to closely monitor the evolving human rights situation in Afghanistan.'

The High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet (pictured) urged the Human Rights Council to take 'bold and vigorous action'

When the Taliban last ruled Afghanistan in the late 1990s, the group largely confined women to their homes

By 'mechanism,' Bachelet was referring to the possibility that the council might appoint a commission of inquiry, special rapporteur or fact-finding mission on the situation in Afghanistan.

Bachelet cited reports of 'summary executions' of civilians and former security forces who were no longer fighting, the recruitment of child soldiers, and restrictions on the rights of women to move around freely and of girls to go to school. She cited repression of peaceful protests and expressions of dissent.

Bachelet did not specify what time timeframe she was referring to or the source of her reports.

Days earlier, a Norway-based private intelligence group that provides information to the UN said it obtained evidence that the Taliban have rounded up Afghans on a blacklist of people they believe worked in key roles with the previous Afghan administration or with US-led forces. Several Afghans are in hiding, saying they fear such reprisals.

Bachelet cited reports of 'summary executions' of civilians and former security forces who were no longer fighting, the recruitment of child soldiers, and restrictions on the rights of women

When the Taliban last ruled Afghanistan in the late 1990s, the group largely confined women to their homes, banned television and music, chopped off the hands of suspected thieves and held public executions.

Bachelet noted that Taliban leaders have recently pledged to respect the rights of women, girls and ethnic minorities and refrain from reprisals.

'The onus is now fully on the Taliban to translate these commitments into reality,' she told the 47-member-state council, which is the UN's top human rights body.

Countries at the council pulled together a joint resolution, likely to be accepted by consensus, that stops far short of calls from some advocacy groups for the appointment of a rights expert to monitor the situation.

It only calls for Bachelet's office to issue a report only early next year.

She stressed that indulging in rights violations would 'undermine the legitimacy of the perpetrators, both vis-a-vis the people, and also with respect to regional and international institutions and other states.'

'A fundamental red line will be the Taliban's treatment of women and girls,' she said, urging 'respect for their rights to liberty, freedom of movement, education, self expression and employment.'

Nasir Ahmad Andisha, the Afghan ambassador to the UN in Geneva appointed under the now collapsed government of ex-president Ashraf Ghani and who continues to represent his country, made clear that he wanted to see strong action.

Taliban leaders have promised to restore security and tried to project an image of moderation, but many Afghans are skeptical

He urged council members to deliver 'a strong message to all parties including the Taliban that abuses and violations of human rights... will have consequences.'

Rights groups had called for the council to establish an international fact-finding mission to assess the situation on the ground and seek to document violations, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, with the view to ensuring accountability.

But a draft resolution presented on Monday to the council only recommended that Bachelet present a report on the rights situation in Afghanistan during the main annual council session next March, drawing condemnation.

A number of countries who otherwise would have pushed for the resolution to go further had held back for fear that a stronger response could anger the Taliban and jeopardise access for evacuations from the country, according to several diplomatic sources.
Stephen Kish (pictured) is seen arriving at Hove Crown Court in 2019

A CBBC TV presenter sobbed in the dock as he admitted having a stash of extreme animal porn on his phone.

Stephen Kish, 32, known as Sizzlin Steve when he was a host on CBBC show Officially Amazing, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing extreme images.

Police found six grossly offensive images on his phone and computer showing a person having sex with an animal, Lewes Crown Court heard.

The former TV presenter took off his glasses and cried into his facemask before a hearing in Chichester, West Sussex.

Kish, who ran Brighton dog boarding business Tails of Love, spoke only to confirm his name and enter his guilty plea.

The charge states he possessed extreme pornographic image, which portrayed in an explicit and realistic way, a person performing an act of intercourse or oral sex with an animal.

A judge heard police found the images in September 2018.

Kish, of Hove, East Sussex, who also runs dog-walking firm Tails of Love and Pet Care, was bailed to appear for sentencing in October

The former TV presenter took off his glasses and cried into his facemask before a hearing in Chichester, West Sussex

Kish was previously the star of Officially Amazing, representing the UK as 'Sizzlin' Steve' while trying to beat Guinness World Records.

He holds more than 50 world records including high scores on Angry Birds and Pac Man. Kish once held the record for fastest time to sort 500g of Peanut M&Ms and currently holds the record for most toots of a party blower in 30 seconds.

Officially Amazing is made by independent production company Lion TV for CBBC. No further series have been commissioned and all episodes were removed from BBC platforms when the corporation became aware of the allegations.

The former kids TV presenter, from Hove, was bailed and will be sentenced in October.
A young boy with autism has been left heartbroken by the theft of his beloved assistance dog Blue from his south-east Queensland home.

Xavier Buckley was left devastated when his six-month old Brittany spaniel was taken from the family's Bellmere property just north of Brisbane, on Friday.

The seven-year-old had been given Blue in April with his mother Sarah Rodgers training the spaniel as a support dog to help her son, who has autism.

'Blue' a six month old Brittany spaniel (pictured) went missing from the family's Bellmere property, north of Brisbane, on August 20

Despite being only in the early stages of training, her son's life had improved noticeably, with Xavier appearing more settled, especially at school.

After notifying police, his crestfallen mother took to her Facebook to appeal for any public information on Blue's whereabouts.

'Our sons assistance dog in training has been stolen from our residence, 6 month old Brittany Spaniel, missing between 08:30-11:00 Friday 20/08/2021. This is when she was last seen by us at 08:30,' Ms Rodgers wrote.

The spaniel was being trained as an Autism support dog for seven year old Xavier Buckley (pictured)

'We walked the creek lines and canvassed all neighbours today. Unfortunately she was seen with a lady on a lead.'

'If she is returned there will be no questions asked. Please help me reunite a little boy with his world!'

Ms Rodgers, who works and travels with horses, said Blue was an important support for her son, offering him security as he struggles to cope with noise and lots of activity that comes with her job.

'Blue just gives him that moment to centre. When he gets overwhelmed ... Blue would come up and lick him in the back of the head and go, "hey, it's OK,"' Ms Rodgers told 7News.

'If he was walking through a crowd and was starting to get overwhelmed, Blue would be walking in front of him and go, "hey, it's OK".'

Ms Rodgers struggled to deliver the devastating news to her son, saying it's been 'really hard'.

Blue (pictured) went missing on Friday during a school run with mother Sarah Rogers claiming a woman was last seen leaving the area with the spaniel that morning

The spaniel was taken from the family's Bellmere property in the Moreton Bay region during a school run on Friday morning.

Desperately searching along creek lines and neighbouring residences the family failed to locate the dog.

However Ms Rodgers told the news outlet a witness last reported seeing a woman carrying the spaniel down the road that same morning.

Police are currently investigating the incident while Xavier anxiously awaits to be reunited with his beloved Blue.
Researchers say the Government should prioritise these groups for booster jabs

Meanwhile, three in 10 generated very low responses after both Covid vaccines

One in 10 immunosuppressed people failed to produce any antibodies after jabs

Four in 10 people who have weakened immune systems show 'low or undetectable' levels of Covid immunity after being double vaccinated, a major UK study has found.

The finding will put pressure on the Government's scientific advisers to green light a booster jab programme for the most vulnerable Britons this autumn.

Researchers from the Universities of Glasgow and Birmingham measured antibody levels in 600 immunosuppressed people and compared them to healthy volunteers.

About one in 10 in the vulnerable group failed to generate any detectable Covid antibodies four weeks after their second dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca.

A further 30 per cent generated a significantly lower antibody response than healthy people, according to the study published as a pre-print in The Lancet.

The scientists stressed that almost all of the people who did not show an antibody response had vasculitis, a condition which causes inflammation of blood vessels.

They added that across almost all patients, the T cell response was similar to healthy adults, indicating that they were at least partially protected against Covid.

While antibodies are the most obvious indicator of immunity, T cells - a type of white blood cell - also play a crucial role in priming the body against the disease.

The experts behind the study have called for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to approve booster doses for the immunocompromised in the coming weeks.

Britain's daily Covid infections, deaths and hospital admissions have been climbing slowly but steadily for several weeks which has raised fears of a fresh wave when schools go back and strengthened the argument for boosters.

Researchers from the Universities of Glasgow and Birmingham measured antibody levels in 600 immunosuppressed people and compared them to healthy volunteers. About one in 10 in the vulnerable group failed to generate any detectable Covid antibodies four weeks after their second dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca . A further 30 per cent generated a significantly lower antibody response than healthy people, according to the study published as a pre-print in The Lancet

Immunosuppressed people include those with certain types of arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and some cancers.

Sources say the JCVI is prepared to rollout third doses to this group from September, but will hold back on a mass booster campaign to entire age groups and wait on more evidence of the benefit.

To determine how much protection immunosuppressed people had from the vaccines, researches examined the antibody and T cell levels in 600 of them before a vaccine, after one dose and after both jabs. They compared this with samples taken from 231 healthy individuals.

Four weeks after receiving a second dose, 100 per cent of healthy Brits produced antibodies.

Weekly Covid deaths in England and Wales reach highest level since March as number of victims rises 8%, official data reveals The number of people dying from Covid every week in England and Wales has risen to the highest level since March, official data shows. A total of 571 people had the virus mentioned on their death certificates last week, according to the Office for National Statistics, which was up eight per cent on the previous seven-day spell. This was the highest number since the week ending March 26, at the end of the second wave and when the countries were still in lockdown. At that time, the virus was behind 719 deaths. The latest figures mean Covid was behind one in 18 total fatalities last week. While it marks a near five-month high, the rate at which Covid deaths are increasing appears to have slowed. The eight per cent rise last week was the lowest in nearly two months. And deaths are still a far cry from the levels seen in previous waves, thanks to the vaccine rollout. Seven out of nine regions in England saw their Covid deaths rise in the latest week compared to the previous seven-day spell. They only fell in the West Midlands and the North West. Flu and pneumonia were involved in nearly three times more deaths last week than Covid. Meanwhile, the number of 'excess deaths' from all causes is at its highest since February. These are the number of fatalities above the average for the corresponding period in the non-pandemic years of 2015-19. A total of 10,372 deaths in England and Wales were registered in the week ending August 13, according to the ONS, which was 14 per cent above the five-year average, or 1,270 more deaths. Excess deaths have not been this high since the week ending February 19, when 2,182 extra deaths were registered, 18.8 per cent above the five-year average. Some of the increase in excess deaths can be explained by the recent rise in deaths involving Covid-19, all of which are classed as excess deaths. Advertisement

But just 89 per cent of immunosuppressed people did - meaning more than one in 10 of them people had zero antibodies to protect against the virus.

And there was even less in some sub-groups of people who are immunosuppressed.

For example, 72 per cent of individuals with vasculitis did not produce antibodies after two doses.

The researchers said these patients were on medication that shuts down the production of antibodies to calm their immune system, making it very difficult for them to mount a response from the vaccine. Patients with solid cancers tended to have high levels of antibodies.

They claimed their findings 'strongly' supports giving booster doses to people with chronic diseases or on immunosuppressant drugs.

Professor Iain McInnes, an expert in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis at the University of Glasgow and leader of the study, said the absence of an antibody response among some vulnerable was worrying, but he said there were positives to draw from the study.

He noted that it is unclear what correlation there is between antibody response and the likelihood of getting an infection or how serious the infection could become.

Professor McInnes said: 'I would emphasise that the group of patients who did not make antibodies was mostly contained in the vasculitis group, and the vasculitis group is a rare disease group in this country.'

And the 'vast majority' of people who have a solid cancer - a cancerous growth rather than one in the blood - as well as those have an immune disease, inflammatory bowel disease or arthritis 'are probably going to be fine, but more work is required to be absolutely reassured', he said.

The researchers also found that both healthy and immunosuppressed patients - including those with vasculitis - had similar T cell responses to the jabs.

And Professor McInnes said the majority of immunosuppressed patients mounted an immune response that looks 'remarkably similar' to a healthy control group.

Some 60 per cent of participants with 'rather significant conditions are in fact looking effectively the same as people who are otherwise have an unimpaired immune system', he added.

Britain is under mounting pressure to launch its own mass rollout.

The JCVI is expected to only green light third doses for vulnerable adults with suppressed immune systems.

The boosters will almost certainly be offered to the 3.7million Britons classified as 'clinically extremely vulnerable', with diseases such as cancer.

But originally it was hoped that the programme would be open to all over-50s, key workers and sick patients - which would have included as many as 32m people.

Some scientists have said vaccines should be used to administer first doses to people in other countries before third doses are offered in the UK.

Professor Eleanor Riley, an immunology and infectious disease expert at the University of Edinburgh, said the findings are 'unsurprising' but 'important'

It is not surprising that many at-risk groups have lower antibody responses after two doses than healthy people, she said.

But it is promising that many did have a detectable antibody response after one dose that increased after a second jab, Professor Riley said.

She added: 'It is quite possible that they will make an even better response after a third dose of vaccine.

'These data therefore offer support for the notion that people with specific co-morbidities should be prioritised for a booster dose of vaccine in the next few weeks.'

Professor Neil Mabbott, chair in immunopathology at the University of Edinburgh, said the findings suggests boosters should be given to those who have weakened immune responses.

He said: 'There is much debate in the UK about whether we should be rolling out booster jabs to adults who have already received two doses.

'Of course, we dont currently have a reliable serum marker that can tell us whether and how well an individual is protected from developing serious Covid disease after vaccination.

'Despite this, the results in this study provide useful evidence to inform these decisions.

'This study supports the suggestion that if booster jabs are to be used, they should be prioritised to those such as individuals in this study, who have weakened immune responses and responded poorly to their previous vaccinations.'
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Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Tuesday the group will not extend the August 31 deadline for all U.S. troops to withdraw from Afghanistan

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Tuesday they will not extend the August 31 deadline for all troops to leave Afghanistan - just 24 hours after Joe Biden sent his CIA director to negotiate with the militant group in a bid to get the remaining American citizens and Afghan allies out.

'We will not extend the deadline for the presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan,' Myjahid said in a Tuesday press conference as G7 leaders met with Biden to push him to keep troops in Afghanistan to evacuate the maximum number of westerners and locals.

'They are capable of evacuating their citizens and troops by August 31', the defiant Taliban spokesman said. 'All people should be removed prior to that date. After that we do not allow them. We will take a different stance.

The threat means that unless Biden opts to use military might to enforce control of the area, troops will have to abandon the humanitarian operation and start focusing on their own exit plan as soon as tomorrow.

The Biden administration ramped up their airlift at Kabul airport by evacuating 21,600 people in the last 24 hours and the Pentagon insisted on Tuesday they can still get everyone out in the next seven days.

But the administration has still not been able to give an exact number of how many Americans and Afghan allies are still waiting to be evacuated and even Democrats including Rep. Adam Schiff have said it is 'highly unlikely; they will all be flown out in time.

The statement from the insurgents comes after CIA Director William Burns went to Kabul on Monday for a secret meeting with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar, U.S. officials familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.

Burns was dispatched to the capital city of Afghanistan as the administration continues to grapple with a chaotic scene at the airport and struggles to evacuate Americans from Kabul.

Baradar is now playing the role of the Taliban's counterpart to Burns 11 years after he was arrested in a joint CIA-Pakistani operation, which put him in prison for eight years.

The president joined other G7 leaders on a virtual call Tuesday morning for an emergency meeting on Afghanistan amid intense pressure from NATO and world leaders for the U.S. to keep their troops on the ground and prevent a humanitarian disaster.

After the meeting, Biden delivered a snub to his international allies by dismissing the desperate pleas of G7 leaders and refusing to extend the Kabul evacuation beyond August 31.

The reversal gives the Biden administration just seven days to evacuate thousands of American citizens and local allies still stranded on the ground. It also means that officers will have to begin ordering U.S. troops home within days in order to meet the deadline for clearing the airport.

It also comes after Biden said he wasn't ruling out staying past August.

'If there's American citizens left, we're going to stay until we get them all out,' Biden told ABC News in an interview taped at the White House Wednesday.

Taliban leaders warned of 'consequences' if the U.S. doesn't keep to its August 31 deadline. The discussion between Burns and Baradar on Monday likely involved the deadline for all U.S. military presence to be out of Afghanistan  including ending the evacuation of U.S. citizens and Afghan allies, the report notes.

In other developments in the Afghanistan crisis today:

Washington pulled off its biggest haul of evacuations since the crisis started over the last 24 hours to early Tuesday morning, with 37 military jets evacuating 21,600 people from Kabul.

The US still does not know the exact number of how many Americans or Afghan allies on the ground that need evacuating.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said there is 'no change' to the military deadline of August 31 and the aim is to get everyone out in seven days.

Kirby also said there is 'not much distance' between what the Taliban is saying publicly and what they are saying privately about wanting westerners out by August 31

G7 leaders are today expected to press Biden to extend the August 31 deadline to get the maximum number of westerners and Afghan allies out as possible

The comments come less than 24 hours after President Joe Biden sent CIA Director William Burns (left) went to Kabul on Monday for a secret meeting with the Taliban's de facto leader Abdul Ghani Baradar (right)

Likely discussed at the meeting Monday was the August 31 deadline for total troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. U.S. soldiers guard Kabul airport on Tuesday as thousands of desperate Afghans crowd at the gates in the hopes of fleeing the Taliban

An aerial picture taken Monday shows crowds and traffic outside the Kabul airport as Americans and Afghan allies attempt to flee Afghanistan

Satellite images from Monday show a massive crowd around a gate near a military checkpoint outside the Kabul airport

President Joe Biden said U.S. military would stay in Kabul past the deadline if needed to continue evacuating Americans stranded in Afghanistan

Taliban fighters stand on top of containers doing crowd control outside the Kabul airport

Washington pulled off its biggest haul of evacuations since the crisis started over the last 24 hours to early Tuesday morning, with 37 military jets evacuating 21,600 people from Kabul, the White House announced.

But they still don't know the number of American citizens and Afghan allies stranded on the ground that need evacuating.

'Since August 14, the U.S. has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of approximately 58,700 people. Since the end of July, we have re-located approximately 63,900 people,' a White House official said.

From Sunday to early Monday morning, 28 military jets rescued around 10,400 people. The latest numbers reveal that over half of the total evacuations from Afghanistan have taken place in the last two days.

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby assured in a briefing Tuesday: 'There's been no change to the timeline of the mission which is to have this completed by the end of the month.'

'We continue to make progress every day in getting Americans, as well as SIV applicants and vulnerable Afghans out,' he added.

'We still believe  certainly now that we have been able to increase the capacity and the flow  we believe that we have that we that we have the capability, the ability to get that done by the end of the month.'

The president is still hesitant, however, to deploy troops outside the Kabul airport because he doesn't want a Black Hawk Down-style incident, he told commanders last week of the incident where 18 Americans were killed in 1993 during the Somali Civil War.

Suhail Shaheen, a member of the Taliban delegation in Qatar's capital city Doha said Monday U.S. military continuing to evacuate past this month would amount to 'extending occupation' and that is 'a red line'.

'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations  the answer is no. Or there would be consequences,' he told Sky News in an interview. '

'It will create mistrust between us,' Shaheen continued. 'If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.'

After the interview Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said: 'We have seen the public statements by the Taliban spokesman about their views on 31 August, I think we all understand that view.'

'The goal is to get as many people out as fast as possible,' he added, 'and while we're glad to see the numbers that we got yesterday, we're not going to rest on any laurels.'

'The focus is on trying to do this as best we can by the end of the month and as the Secretary [of Defense] said, if there needs - if we need, if he needs - to have additional conversations with the Commander in Chief about that timeline, he'll do that but we're just not at that point right now.'

Monday's warning signals the Taliban could seek to shut down the airlifts out of the Kabul airport in just over a week. Lawmakers, refugee groups, veterans' organizations and U.S. allies have said ending the evacuation on August 31 could strand countless Afghans and foreigners still hoping for flights out.

Before details of Burns' secret meeting, State Department spokesperson Ned Price was asked on Monday why no senior U.S. officials had engaged with Baradar yet.

'Our discussions with the Taliban have been operational, tactical,' Price said. 'They have been focused largely on our near-term operations and near-term goals what is going on at the airport compound.'

'That is what we're focused on at the moment.'

Burns also made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan in April as concerns mounted about the Afghan government's ability to fend off the Taliban after the U.S. withdrawal.

Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said there will be 'consequences' if Western forces stay after August 31

During a congressional hearing earlier this year, Burns said neither the Islamic State nor al-Qaeda in Afghanistan has the capability to mount attacks inside the U.S.  but admitted that during a troops withdrawal, the ability to act on threats will be depleted.

'When the time comes for the U.S. military to withdraw, the U.S. government's ability to collect and act on threats will diminish,' Burns said at the time. 'That's simply a fact.'

During the G7 meeting on Tuesday morning, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to press Biden for an extension to get out the maximum number of foreigners and Afghan allies possible.

The U.S. has ramped up airlifts to evacuate more than 17,000 people in a day and Biden finally ordered troops to rescue Americans outside the airport in a race against time before the withdrawal deadline.

Meanwhile, U.S. Special Operations rescued 16 Americans from an unspecified location around two hours outside Kabul. The Pentagon revealed it was carried out by helicopter without disclosing further details.

It comes after it emerged that the President told top commanders last week that he was wary of deploying soldiers outside the airport because he didn't want a Black Hawk Down-style incident. Eighteen Americans were killed when their helicopters were shot down over Mogadishu in 1993 during the Somali Civil War.

A military plane takes off from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Monday

Washington pulled off its biggest haul of evacuations since the crisis started over the last 24 hours to early Tuesday morning, with 37 military jets evacuating 21,600 people from Kabul. Here families board a C-17 evacuation flight on Monday

CIA director Bill Burns - the veteran US diplomat who oversaw US relations in the Middle East and negotiated with Iran and Libya over weapons deals On Monday, President Biden's top spy William Burns held a secret meeting with the Taliban's de facto leader Abdul Ghani Baradar. Burns was thought to have broached the subject of extending the deadline for US troop removal beyond Aug. 31 to get out more Americans and allies, a proposal the Taliban have scoffed at. The group warned about 'consequences' if the deadline is extended. Who is Burns, Biden's CIA director and the highest level official to meet face-to-face with the Taliban amid the chaos unfolding as they take over Afghanistan? A career foreign service officer, Burns previously served as deputy secretary of state, under secretary of political affairs, US ambassador to Russia, assistant secretary of near eastern affairs and ambassador to Jordan. In 2013, Burns, alongside national security adviser Jake Sullivan, led secret negotiations with Iran and Libya that ultimately led to the Iran Nuclear Deal. Burns was reportedly in the 'driver's seat,' of negotiations, meeting with Iranian officials with only a tight circle of officials in the know. Burns had reportedly been meeting with Iranian officials as early as 2008, when President George W. Bush dispatched him. In April 2021, Burns had told the US Senate Intelligence Committee that '[t]here is a significant risk once the U.S. military and the coalition militaries withdraw' but added that the U.S. would retain 'a suite of capabilities.' 'When the time comes for the U.S. military to withdraw, the U.S. government's ability to collect and act on threats will diminish. That's simply a fact,' Burns said at the time, adding that neither the Islamic State nor al-Qaeda had capabilities to launch attacks on the US homeland. That same month, Burns had made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan as concerns mounted about the Afghan government's ability to fend off the Taliban after US withdrawal. Burns oversees a spy agency that trained Afghan special forces in their now-defunct battle against the Taliban. Advertisement

Rescue efforts became increasingly urgent on Tuesday as Spain warned it would have to leave people behind and France said it would stop airlifts on Thursday - five days before the deadline.

The airport has become a relative safe haven but accessing it has proven near impossible due to Taliban checkpoints and chaos among the crowds outside the perimeter.

While Biden and his administration have said the Taliban has promised safe passage to the airport for American citizens, there are reports that Americans are being assaulted as they try to reach Hamid Karzai International.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin admitted over the weekend that American citizens still trapped in Kabul are being beaten by these Islamic militant fighters and prevented from reaching the airport.

James Miervaldis, Chairman of No One Left Behind, told DailyMail.com: 'We have at least 1,200 families with Special Immigrant Visas in hand stuck outside the airport. How is the State Department going to evacuate them?'

The veteran nonprofit charity is working to get Afghan translators and others who worked with the U.S. over the last two decades out of the country.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said negotiations with the Taliban are continuing as the administration looks for additional ways to safely move more Americans and others into the Kabul airport.

'We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through both political and security channels,' he said.

Kirby also said Tuesday: 'There's no question that ... as we work through this that the daily communication with Taliban commanders is going to have to continue.'

'That's just, that's just a hard fact there,' he added.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken didn't dispute on Sunday that the U.S. does have to ask the Taliban for 'permission' to conduct evacuations.

'Someone in our audience might listen to you, Mr. Secretary, and say, 'Oh, so we have to ask the Taliban for permission for American citizens to leave.' True or not true?' CBS News' Face the Nation fill in host Major Garrett asked Blinken of the 'agreement' between the Islamic militant group and Washington.

'They are in control of Kabul. That is the reality,' Blinken responded without denying the claim Garrett detailed.

'That's the reality that we have to deal with,' he added.

'How comfortable are you with that, Mr. Secretary?' the host questioned the State Department chief.

He continued to deflect in saying: 'What I am focused on, what we're all focused on, is getting people out and making sure that we're doing everything possible to do that.'

After more than a week of evacuations plagued by major obstacles, including Taliban forces and crushing crowds that are making approaching the airport difficult and dangerous, the number of people flown out met - and exceeded - U.S. projections for the first time.

The Pentagon said it added a fourth U.S. military base, in New Jersey, to three others - in Virginia, Texas and Wisconsin - that are prepared to temporarily house arriving Afghans.

Major General Hank Taylor, the Joint Staff deputy director for regional operations, told reporters there are now about 1,200 Afghans at those military bases. The four bases combined are capable of housing up to 25,000 evacuees, Kirby said.

Afghan evacuees continued to arrive at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington on Monday. Exhaustion clouded the faces of many of the adults.

Taylor said at a Pentagon briefing Tuesday: 'It has been challenging to keep up with the flow.'

'We have made progress in caring for and safeguarding these vulnerable individuals and getting them moving on where we are committed to doing more,' he added, 'and to continue to expand and improve our facilities from adding shelter to additional sanitation, hand washing stations refrigerator trucks, providing cold water, and the appropriate food, and we're working with our partners to increase this capacity, as soon as possible.'

Kriby, who also spoke at the briefing Tuesday gave an update on the babies who were pictured being taken care of by U.S. military.

'I just have a slight update on the, on the baby count,' Kriby said, confirming there are three  one on a C-17 and two others who already arrived in Rammstein, Germany.

'I am told that moms and dads and babies are all fine and healthy,' he said.

How does it feel to be here, a journalist asked one man arriving in D.C.

'We are safe,' he answered.

Airbnb also announced on Tuesday that it is dedicated to allocating enough room to house 20,000 Afghan refugees in locations nationwide, partially funded through donations to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund.

'As tens of thousands of Afghan refugees resettle around the world, where they stay will be the first chapter in their new lives,' founder and CEO Brian Chesky said in a statement on the initiative.

'For these 20,000 refugees, my hope is that the Airbnb community will provide them with not only a safe place to rest and start over, but also a warm welcome home.'

'We're in danger Mr. President, please help us!' American woman trapped in Kabul sends desperate plea as Biden bows to the Taliban and rejects pleas from G7 leaders to extend Afghan evacuation beyond August 31st An American woman stranded in Kabul is begging Joe Biden to help her get back home to her children in the United States as the president rejected pleas from G7 allies to extend the evacuation beyond the August 31 withdrawal deadline. 'We are in danger. We are in danger Mr. President, please help us,' the mother, identified by the pseudonym Fatima, pleaded. It comes as the U.S. ramped up airlifts by evacuating 21,600 people in the last 24 hours from Kabul airport, which remains besieged by thousands of desperate Afghans trying to flee the Taliban. The militant group said it will not tolerate delay to the withdrawal for troops leaving and warned of 'consequences' if the U.S. doesn't keep to its August 31 deadline. This means there are now seven days to evacuate Americans from Afghanistan. Fatima is just one of an unknown number of Americans who remains trapped in the country. Officials say they do not know exact number of citizens that still need to be flown out - and now time is rapidly running out. Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel used a G7 meeting to urge Biden to keep the operation going longer, however, White House sources confirmed Tuesday that the president had instead agreed with the Pentagon that there would be no change to the timeline of the mission. Even Democrats, including U.S. House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff has said it is 'unlikely' that everyone who needs to be rescued would leave the Taliban-run country before Biden's deadline. The woman has described the evacuation process as lacking guidance and being full of miscommunication. She also says its nearly impossible to get to the airport in Kabul (pictured above on Tuesday as thousands wait to flee Afghanistan) 'We are stranded at home,' Fatima told Fox News. 'We can't get to the airport. When we try to get to the airport, we either get beaten up or we are afraid for our lives.' Fatima said she, like many others, has contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United States government asking for assistance, only to be told officials would 'likely 'escalate' the situation on the ground'. However, she fears help cannot come quick enough. 'This needs to get better and this needs to get better faster because we are running out of time,' she said. 'Our lives are in extreme danger and I don't know how long it's going to continue. [The Taliban] are going to people's homes at night and they are just taking them away.' Fatima, whose two children remain stateside, says the evacuation process has lacked guidance, noting that there is 'a lot of miscommunication going on'. 'Imagine being stranded in the situation like this and not receiving anything for three, four days from U.S. embassy or the State Department,' Fatima explained. 'And then they're saying to go to the airport, but we're not being given clear guidance. They are saying one thing and the next day they come and say something else. So you really exactly don't know what to do.' It is unclear if American citizens can get to the airport amid the crowds and traffic. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, declare the chaos outside the airport a 'dangerous problem' and have blocked access to the facility. Taliban leaders claim this will not impact evacuation efforts of foreign citizens. 'The road that ends at the Kabul airport has been blocked. Foreigners can go through it, but Afghans are not allowed to take the road,' Mujahid said.

Fox News Privacy Policy Taliban fighters patrol the streets of Kabul Fatima does not know if she will make it out of Afghanistan or see her children again. 'I can't talk to my kids [on the phone] anymore because I don't know, it makes my fear worse,' she said. 'I am afraid for my life.  I don't know, you know, how things are going to go. But I really need  I really need our president to really consider this serious.' The Biden Administration was blasted by Fox News Host Sean Hannity in wake of the situation. Hannity blamed the president for creating 'a hostage situation on a massive scale'. 'Our fellow Americans are behind enemy lines and the hard Taliban deadline is approaching in eight days. A horrific crisis, no end in sight,' Hannity said on his show Monday night, noting that the speed of the rescue efforts is falling short. 'Every American who wants to get home can get home, but then Joe Biden said last week I can't guarantee the outcome,' Hannity said. 'You know it's irresponsible? Abandoning the Air Force base leaving thousands of unarmed fellow citizens helpless to the whims of the radical terrorist group and the Taliban. The only way any American can even make it to the airport is if, and only if, the Taliban allows them and they're not allowing everybody.' He continued: 'You know what else is irresponsible? Abandoning interpreters and translators and drivers, each one that put their necks on the line to help US troops over the 20-year period of time. Now the French President Emmanuel Macron is now lecturing and accusing him of moral cowardice that reminded Mr. Biden of the collective moral responsibility towards the Afghan men and women, we cannot abandon them.' Advertisement
A Russian man swam 12 miles from the Russian controlled island of Kunashir to the Japanese coastal town Shibetsu on the island of Hokkaido to ask for political asylum on Sunday.

Japanese authorities have not yet provided official confirmation of the Russian asylum seeker's identity, but an unnamed source close to the investigation named the man as Vaas Feniks Nokard, a 38-year-old native of Izhevsk.

He was detained by Japanese authorities and taken to a police station in Hokkaido where he was interrogated about his journey.

The unnamed source told Russia state-run outlet RIA Novosti: 'It looks like he got there in a wetsuit. He just crossed the 12 mile-strait by swimming.'

Nokard was allegedly deported by Japanese authorities in 2011 for breaking visa rules, and has a track record for forging official documents which saw him deported from Thailand and Bali.

Kunashir island is located around 12 miles off the coast of Hokkaido. The refugee arrived in Shibetsu, a small fishing town on the coast, on Sunday

Kunashir, the closest of the Kuril islands to Japan, is visible off the coast of Hokkaido

The source who revealed the refugee's identity painted a damning picture of his character.

'He lived in the Kuril Islands for three years, didn't work anywhere, lived in Golovino [village], slept in a tent or settled with whomever he met,' they added.

Japan's chief cabinet secretary Katsunobu Kato said Monday that the government will 'take appropriate measures' after confirming the details of the Russian national's arrival, according to RIA Novosti.

Shibetsu, the location at which the refugee reportedly arrived, is a small fishing town with a population of only a few thousand people and is one of few places left in Japan that is inaccessible by train.

Russian media in 2019 profiled Nokard as a native of Izhevsk, a city in the Urals around 600 miles from Moscow, who moved to the Kurils after receiving free land as part of Russia's 'Far Eastern Hectare' program.

A report by Novaya Gazeta newspaper described Nokard as a man who adored Japanese culture and had attended Japanese language classes to better understand the country's customs.

Kunashir is part of the Kuril islands, a small cluster of land which is under Russian control but whose ownership is disputed by Japan

Aerial video shot of Cape Stolbchaty on Kunashir Island at low tide on a sunny day. Free land on the island was given to some Russian citizens as part of a programme to rejuvenate its Far East regions

Authorities in the Yuzhno-Kurilsk region said the refugee had received free land on Kunashir as part of Russia's programme to rejuvenate its Far East regions.

Kunashir is part of the Kuril islands, a small cluster of land which is under Russian control but whose ownership is disputed by Japan.

The dispute has prevented the two nations from signing a WWII peace treaty to this day, after the Soviet Union seized the strategically-located islands in the final days of World War II and has maintained a military presence there ever since.

Russia's TASS state news agency reported earlier this month that Russia plans to build 51 new pieces of military infrastructure on the Kuril islands, and area in which they have long conducted military training drills.

Russia's defence ministry reported August 9 they had already erected more than 30 buildings on the islands, including seven living quarters for military servicemen.
The luxury Greek hotel where Dominic Raab went on holiday during the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has been deluged by a wave of fake TripAdvisor reviews mocking the under-fire Foreign Secretary.

Mr Raab has faced calls to resign after allegedly defying orders from Downing Street to cut his holiday in the Mediterranean short by two days before returning to London while Kabul fell into the hands of jihadists.

Instead, he was accused of topping up his tan at the Amirandes Hotel in Crete, a five-star resort which boasts its own private beach and 'one of the biggest pools you'll ever see,' according to its website.

But the boutique hotel has now been hit by a slew of spoof TripAdvisor reviews - since deleted - after the Foreign Secretary got into hot water at home over his handling of the international crisis.

One troll, who amusingly gave their name as Dom R, gave the plush Amirandes Hotel a five-star rating, before writing: 'I hadn't quite understood the full extent of getting away from it all until now.

'Quite honestly, there could be a war going on outside, and you'd barely notice it. Bliss! P.S Terrible mobile signal on the beach but suited me just fine.'

Dominic Raab, leaving Downing Street, following a meeting, as he rejected calls to quit as Foreign Secretary after failing to make a call to help translators flee Afghanistan

Mr Raab was accused of topping up his tan at the Amirandes Hotel in Crete, a boutique resort which boasts its own private beach, fine dining and 'one of the biggest pools you'll ever see,' according to its website

The luxury Greek hotel where Dominic Raab went on holiday during the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has been deluged by a wave of fake TripAdvisor reviews mocking the under-fire Foreign Secretary

The luxury Crete hotel where Dominic Raab 'was staying as Taliban went on the rampage in Afghanistan' It styles itself as a 'sparkling boutique resort for the privileged and perceptive' It styles itself as a 'sparkling boutique resort for the privileged and perceptive'. But after Dominic Raab admitted being 'caught off-guard' by the Taliban rampage, the luxury Crete hotel where he apparently stayed last week may wish to rethink the final word of its boast. Mr Raab was spotted at the five-star Amirandes Hotel Mr Raab was spotted at the five-star Amirandes Hotel, just before he jetted back into Britain to help deal with what has been described as the biggest foreign policy disaster since Suez. The Amirandes, which is situated on its own private beach, says it has 'a first-class dining scene and one of the biggest pools you'll ever see'  and is said to be 'inspired by the palaces of Minoan kings'. The Amirandes, which is situated on its own private beach, says it has 'a first-class dining scene' Advertisement

Hilariously, the hotel's general manager Vassilis Minadakis appears to have been duped by the bogus review.

He replied: 'Dear Dom, Thank you very much for taking the time to write us a review about your recent stay on TripAdvisor. We are very happy to read that you enjoyed your time with us in order for you to relax and escape from everyday life.

'We hope to welcome you again soon in our resort and wish you a nice remaining summer.'

Another troll, Lan, gave the hotel just three stars, quipping: 'Too busy working to relax'.

They added: 'As a very important minister of a very important island nation off the coast of north Europe I obviously have to conceal my identity by writing under a pseudonym.

'Far from being able to relax and enjoy the amenities of this excellent hotel I was stuck in my room on the phone 24/7 coordinating evacuation efforts required by a major unfolding international crisis.

'Some uncharitable people have been saying I was lounging on the beach as the situation rapidly deteriorated.

'Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is I suddenly remembered I had left my water wings on the beach after my regular 6am swim before starting work and merely rushed down to retrieve them.

'My friend Boris will back me up on this.'

In another three star review, entitled 'for a friend', Nicholas stated: 'My pal Dom came here recently.

'He is a busy foreign secretary of an independent island nation with a great history and, according to him, a great future.

'He was planning to relax and take things easy but got completely overwhelmed by the NATO evacuations from Afghanistan which he was completely taken by surprise despite being the foreign secretary of a NATO member.

'Nevertheless, Dom's stay was excellent. He was rarely distracted or disturbed and he had time to completely download from work.

'He relaxed so much that he overlooked the abject failure of U.K. foreign policy that had occured during his stay - 100 per cent relax, 100 per cent foreign policy failure.'

Mr Raab has faced a torrent of criticism for staying on holiday as the Afghan capital was seized by the Taliban, and for omitting to call the Afghan foreign minister to seek help for trapped interpreters stranded in the country.

The claim is strongly denied by his friends, who insist that he was assured by Prime Minister Boris Johnson that he could stay with his family until the end of the weekend.

The saga has led to sniping at the Cabinet Minister from within his own party and calls from Labour for him to resign, though Mr Johnson has said that he 'absolutely' has full confidence in his Foreign Secretary.

It has, however, undoubtedly strained relations between Downing Street and the Foreign Office.

A source told the Mail on Sunday: 'There is no doubt that Raab was told to come back on that Friday.

There was then a significant amount of surprise when he appeared on the Cobra on the Sunday down the line from Crete. He must have nobbled Boris and asked for permission to finish his holiday'.

Mr Raab told the MoS that he had enjoyed a 'wave of support', and denied that there was pressure from within his party to resign.

He added: 'I've not heard any of my Conservative colleagues call for me to resign, but I have had a wave of support.

The hotel claims it has 'a first-class dining scene and one of the biggest pools you'll ever see'

The Amirandes Hotel in Crete, Greece. Senior officials in the Foreign Secretary's department advised last Friday that he should make immediate contact with Afghan foreign minister Hanif Atmar as the Taliban advanced on Kabul

The Amirandes, which is situated on its own private beach, says it has 'a first-class dining scene and one of the biggest pools you'll ever see' - and is said to be 'inspired by the palaces of Minoan kings'

'There is no doubt that, like all countries, there is a measure of surprise at the rapidity of the Taliban takeover.

'But as the Foreign Secretary travelling around the world, whether I am on leave or I'm travelling for work purposes, I am always set up to be able to grip things'.

A close ally of Mr Raab insisted that No10 had not 'ordered' him to return on the Friday. The ally said: 'The suggestion was that he should make plans to come back.

'They said that if things get worse then he needed to be ready to come back at a moment's notice. He then talked it through with the PM and it was agreed that he would came back on Sunday'.

The ally strongly denied reports that Mr Raab had spent most of last Sunday on the beach: 'That is just not true. He based his family on the beach in a gazebo precisely so that he could go back and work at the hotel, while checking in on them every now and again'.
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The prices of Britain's most expensive beach huts are on course to break through the 400,000 barrier due to the huge demand for them by rich staycationers.

The wooden cabins at Mudeford in Christchurch, Dorset, have always commanded premium prices but they are now selling for more than people pay for a four bedroom house in many parts of the country.

This week a hut went on the market for an asking price of 355,000.

Just two weeks ago one sold within hours of being listed for 350,000. It is thought the final sale price was well above this figure due to the amount of potential buyers vying for it.

There are about 360 huts on the Mudeford sandbank that is so remote it requires a 20 minute walk to get to, a ride on a land train or a short ferry ride across Christchurch Harbour.

The huts have no running water, mains electricity or toilets and washing facilities are in a communal shower block.

The prices of Britain's most expensive beach huts on the exclusive Mudeford Sandspit in Dorset (pictured) are on course to break through the 400,000 barrier due to the huge demand for them by rich staycationers looking to get away this summer

There are about 360 huts on the Mudeford sandbank that is so remote it requires a 20 minute walk to get to, a ride on a land train or a short ferry ride across Christchurch Harbour (pictured) and none of the wooden huts have electricity or toilets

Yet the prices for the highly desirable holiday boltholes have rapidly increased over the past 20 years due to demand far outstripping supply.

And since the start of the pandemic last year that demand has surged to a new high.

Tim Baber is a former owner of a beach hut at Mudeford. His family cashed in on theirs in 2002 when it sold for 120,000.

The 65-year-old said: 'When we sold ours I didn't think the prices would go any higher but I was quickly proved wrong.

'Most people who are going to sell their huts have sold out by now and so you don't get that many that come back on the market.

'When one does become available I would guess that the estate agent has between 15 to 20 names on a waiting list and so the sale becomes something of a telephone auction with the richest person outbidding all the others.

It is understood there is a lengthy waiting list for the desirable huts with available properties going to highest bidder

Would-be owners have to be cash buyers and have to stump up 4,500 a year to the local council in fees. Pictured: Mudeford

'When we sold ours we just said we would sell it to the first person to come up with 120,000. We weren't interested in gazumping.

'At the time I couldn't explain why the huts were so valuable but in a lot of cases they are bought by people who work in the City spending their big bonuses. We sold ours to a guy from London who was a BBC manager.'

The huts can be slept in from April to October and they generally sleep up to six people, with four mattresses on a mezzanine level in the roof and the seating areas downstairs doubling as extra beds.

Buyers are attracted to the spit's remote location as cars are banned.

Because it is not possible to secure a mortgage for the beach huts, would-be owners have to be cash buyers. They also have to stump up about 4,500 a year to the local council in fees.

In 2002 the humble huts were selling for 73,000 but by the following year, one broke the six-figure mark for the first time, selling for 100,000.

Desirable: Locals believe the high prices could be down to the limited number available and the secluded, idyllic location

By 2005 they were up to 135,000, but following the credit crunch in 2008 they dropped back to just 90,000.

This drop didn't last long though and by January 2012 a hut was on the market for 145,000 and just six months later one sold for 170,000.

In July 2014 one was up for 225,000 and a few weeks later another went on for 270,000.

By January 2018 a hut had sold for 295,000 and another hit the 300,000 mark in March that year.

Last year there was a bidding war over a hut that sold for 325,000.

Mudeford beach hut owner Stephen Bath, former managing director of Bath Travel, said the high prices could be explained by the limited number available and the secluded, idyllic location.

He said: 'There have only been about 10 huts added to the spit in 60 years so it is a question of supply, compared to Bournemouth where there are 1,500 huts and Brighton where there are 2,000.

'These are enormous huts with amenities which you can live in for eight months of the year and it is a beautiful, peaceful location with the sea on one side and the harbour on another.

'You feel like you are on a little island.

'Obviously, the uncertainty over foreign travel will also help drive up prices with people growing fed up of government regulations.'

The UK's 'most expensive' beach hut sells for 330,000 after bidding war breaks out to buy wooden cabin in Dorset for more than the average house price in England

Britain's 'most expensive beach hut' sold last year after receiving offers of 330,000 following an intense bidding war.

The wooden cabin at Mudeford Spit in Christchurch Harbour, Dorset, was listed for sale for the same asking price as a five bedroom detached house in Hull last June.

Four potential buyers put in offers on the 12ft by 10ft hut - two of them without even viewing it.

The final sale price smashed the record amount paid for a beach hut on the exclusive sandy peninsula.

A second hut, that was also listed for 325,000, sold for just under that amount after being on the market for just a few days.

In 2018 another property on Mudeford became the country's most expensive beach hut after selling for 295,000.

The average price of a house in the UK is 231,185, according to recent Government data from January this year.

The wooden cabin at Mudeford Spit in Christchurch Harbour, Dorset, was listed for sale for the same asking price as a five bedroom detached house in Hull last Friday

Cars are banned from the remote spit which has to be reached by a ride on a novelty land train, a short ferry crossing or a 30 minute walk

The huts at Mudeford have no mains electricity or running water and shower facilities are in a shared communal block.

Cars are banned from the remote site which has to be reached by a ride on a novelty land train, a short ferry crossing or a 30-minute walk.

But its isolated position is what attracts wealthy people to buy the cabins which can sleep up to six people each.

The demand for them has never been greater due to people being put off travelling abroad last summer.

Andy Denison, of Christchurch-based Denisons estate agents, said: 'The demand for the beach huts at Mudeford is the highest I have ever known it right now. It has gone crazy.

The interior of the 325,000 currently on sale. The huts at Mudeford have no mains electricity or running water and shower facilities are in a shared communal block

The demand for them has never been greater due to people being put off travelling abroad this summer

'We have sold two. One was on for 275,000 but the other had an asking price of 325,000 and it went for just under that.

'We took on another one last Friday for 325,000, we arranged for two viewings that afternoon.

'Since then we have had four parties putting in offers. Negotiations are ongoing but it will sell for over that asking price which will be a record.

'These people are cash buyers from out of the area who want to enjoy the English seaside this year and maybe rent the hut out to other holidaymakers as well.

'It is all down to the increase in staycations. People are throwing in the towel on foreign holidays this year, they are very wary of them.

'The cost of flights and hotels is starting to get expensive and people don't know what it will be like in the resort when they get there in terms of being restricted in hotels and restaurants.'

There are about 360 beach huts at Mudeford, all of which are privately owned. Pictured: The beach hut's loft

There are about 360 beach huts at Mudeford, all of which are privately owned.

The hut that was being fought over was in an 'excellent' position on the spit, with uninterrupted views of the Isle of Wight to the front and Christchurch Harbour.

It has a small kitchen that has a fridge freezer and a cooker run on Calor gas and hot water from a pump powered by solar panels on the roof.

The front half of the hut has the lounge area that doubles as a bedroom which can sleep four people.

A small set of wooden steps leads to a small sleeping area in the loft space for two more people.

It also has a chemical toilet and double glazed windows and double doors that lead out to a small decking where there is a barbecue.

As well as the eye-watering purchase price, the owners have to pay annual rates to Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council of about 4,500 a year.

Owners can only sleep in the huts from March to October but can visit any time of year.
A temp worker quit on his first day then hounded his recruiter with foul-mouthed hate messages and threats of sabotage after she threatened him with bailiffs if he didn't pay a 175 training bill.

Leanne Makinson, 37, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, thought she'd found 'one of her nicest ever' applicants to train as a courier last week, but was shocked when he called her to brand the company's induction staff 'all morons' on his first day on the job.

She said he had only been in the job for five hours when he contacted her complaining about the company, before saying that he had quit.

He then turned on Leanne, who owns Hargreaves Recruitment in Wakefield, when she reminded him of the 175 training fee he'd have to pay to quit.

Text message screengrabs Leanne posted to LinkedIn show him labeling her a 'stuck up little b****' and a 'disgusting person' for 'threatening him' with debt collectors if he didn't cough up.

He also said she 'owes him a day's work' and that he told the employer what a 'first-class a******e she is' - while promising to 'do whatever it takes to lose her the contract'.

Leanne said he also threatened to 'knock on her door'.

Leanne Makinson, 37, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was shocked when a temp worker called her to brand his company's induction staff 'all morons' on his first day on the job

Leanne shared screengrabs of the texts the worker sent to her after she reminded him of the 175 training fee

Text message screengrabs Leanne posted to LinkedIn show him labeling her a 'stuck up little b****' and a 'disgusting person' for 'threatening him' with debt collectors

Despite Leanne informing him the messages had been passed to police, she said she felt vulnerable after the 'dark' exchange and shared it to condemn his threatening actions.

The man has since been blacklisted by Hargreaves Recruitment.

Leanne said: 'I've had my fair share of morons in my 20 years working in recruitment, but never anything like this before.

'He applied for a role about a week ago. We had a really good chat and he was one of the nicest candidates I've ever spoken to.

'He wanted to reschedule an interview, and there were a couple of people who we could have given the job to, but the company hung on for him because I said he was really good.

'Then on Monday he just called to say the induction's a joke and that it's boring. He started kicking off, calling everyone a moron. It was really disrespectful.

'I've not had anyone say that about this company. They're a really nice company to work for. It's paid training they get to do and they invest a lot into it.

'He'd only been there for five hours of the two week. He mustn't have a very long attention span.

'He'd told me he'd left by the time I'd spoken to the operations manager, then he started kicking off about covering the training costs, calling me incompetent and a disgrace.

'I put a clause in [the contract] that if they leave within an eight-week period they have to cover the training costs, and I go through that with them. I don't just chuck it at them.

'You don't expect someone to go from zero to 100 in swearing and aggression on the phone and then afterwards on texts. I think we've all dodged a bullet really.

'I'm happy I stayed professional, because there's no point in aggravating someone. It's good to keep your cool when other people are losing their head.

Leanne said he also threatened to 'knock on her door' during his foul-mouthed text exchange

'He called me about 30 times on Tuesday and I just ignored them because I don't want to be abused down the phone anymore.

'I'm worrying about what might happen if we get to payday on Friday and he realises he hasn't been paid. He was threatening to come and knock on my door.'

Leanne confirmed she hasn't contacted the police or debt collectors yet, but she's going to see if the man continues to abuse her and whether her client wants to push for the 175 training costs.

She started Hargreaves Recruitment around four years ago and says she isn't worried about her relationship with the courier company.

Leanne's LinkedIn post said: 'So I had a bit of a dark day on Monday. One of the temps I had left the role towards the end of his first day as the induction wasn't for him.

'That's ok, I get it, we don't get it right every time. But the way this candidate handled the situation left me feeling probably the most vulnerable I've felt in a long time.

'The two messages in green are the only ones I sent but as you can see this guy goes offffffffff! I told him he needed to pay for the training course which they commit to in their offer letter.

'This went down like a sh** sandwich!! He even went on to call my client once he had left to cause even more trouble.

'I get people have stuff going on that we don't know about and to be fair, and I haven't heard from him since, but it does make me look over my shoulder when I go out and about.

'This kind of behaviour is disgusting. It should never happen. It's not OK.'

Director of Fox planning LTD Ashley Fox said: 'Wow, I wanted to ignore this post because these things frustrate the hell out of me. But I had to read and reply.

'Some people will never change. The main thing I would say to you is don't let it get to you. It's not you. Grrrrrrrr haha.'

Leanne replied: 'Honestly - what a nut job. He went from zero to a**hole super fast and very angry too - hopefully this will be the last I hear from him!'

Fellow recruiter Bethany Rucklidge said: 'When all you want to say is 'Do you kiss your mum with that mouth?'* but you handled it with complete professionalism, I hope you're ok!'

Leanne replied: 'I was dying to say 'cool story bro', 'are you finished yet', 'do you feel better now?!'. Probably best I didnt [winking emoji].'

HR specialist Rob Jones said: 'Absolutely disgusting behaviour!! Regardless of what is going on with anyone personally, you didn't deserve that and had provided an opportunity to this person and done your part.

'Just because it was not for them it does not give them the right to treat anyone like that. There is utterly no need for a barrage of threats and insults.'

Creative lead James Ashberry added: 'I'd share his details and these messages with every recruiter in town. Ensure everyone knows what a vile person they're dealing with.'

Leanne replied: 'The thought has crossed my mind but I would get a slap from the GDPR police!'

Office manager Dawn Scott said: 'What a charming individual, I hope the police catch up with him. Nobody should have to put up with that abuse. I pity the next company who hires him [angry face emoji].'
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A leaked memo from an official at US Central Command reportedly describes the Biden administration's housing situation for Afghan refugees at the Al Udeid air base in Qatar as a 'living hell' where 'trash, urine, fecal matter, spilled liquids and vomit cover the floors.'

'Hangar update. They now have a rat problem,' the message obtained by Axios states.

The memo, sent last Friday by Supervisory Special Agent Colin Sullivan, was written to State Department and Pentagon officials with the subject line 'Dire conditions at Doha.'

US evacuation flights to the base were temporarily halted that same day due to overcrowding.

A total of 57 coalition flights and 37 US military flights evacuated roughly 21,600 people from Kabul within 24 hours as of 3 a.m. this morning, according to White House numbers released early Tuesday.

Since August 14 58,700 people have been evacuated.

Al Udeid has the capacity to accommodate roughly 10,000 people.

An image posted to Facebook shows the crowded conditions inside Al Udeid Air Base

Hangars at Al Udeid Air Base filled with refugees late last week. The leaked memo claimed at least one hangar has a 'rat problem'

US military service members prepare a facility housing refugees with generators and air conditioning. A leaked memo from last week indicated the base, located in a desert, had no air conditioners set up

The White House has been touting its ramped-up evacuation effort this week after President Joe Biden was widely criticized for leaving American citizens, vulnerable Afghans, Afghans who aided US forces, and US military technology to the Taliban.

But the memo indicates that the government wasn't ready for the influx of people fleeing the militant group.

Sullivan included excerpts from 'Doha Embassy staff communications' that described squalid conditions for Afghans who escaped the Taliban.

'Another flight arrived and there's no resources to solve the sanitation problem,' the message reads.

'These human beings are in a living nightmare.'

Service members prepare to board evacuees onto a C-17 at Al Udeid Air Base. The State Department has said 'more than 3,700' people were sent to the US, Germany and Italy after staying at Al Udeid

'We're in the middle of humanitarian crises [sic] that compounds itself with every flight that lands in Doha.'

One official described conditions as 'brutally hot' and 'in the middle of a desert.'

A Facebook user described horrific conditions in the Al Udeid Air Base

A Facebook user named Ajmal Shahab who claims to be at the military base sent a desperate plea for help and called the conditions 'horrific.'

He said the facility has only 'one toilet and one shower and few Portal potties outside' and no blankets for the thousands of refugees located there.

'This place is like Covid haven. Nobody answers us. They just say we don't have any info. We have been awake for days,' Shahab writes. 'Women and children are crying and are in need of medical health. We have to ass for permission just to get some fresh air outside in this sweltering heat.'

'I don't care for us guys but all the ladies and children and elderly are cramped in.'

Sullivan insisted that he was not 'downplaying the conditions in Kabul' or the circumstances Afghans 'are escaping from,' but points out that 'the current conditions in Doha are of our own doing.'

'I want to make sure all of you are fully tracking' the 'life-threatening humanitarian disaster,' he wrote to officials.

Major General Hank Taylor appeared to indirectly address the situation at Al Udeid, vowing in a press briefing Tuesday that the Pentagon is 'focused on building capacity' at staging areas like the Qatar bases.

'We are committed to doing more, and to continue to expand and improve our facilities- from adding shelter, to additional sanitation, handwashing stations, refrigerator trucks, providing cold water and the appropriate food, and we're working with our partners to increase this capacity.'

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby later added the Defense Department is 'aware of and as concerned as anybody' about the 'terrible sanitation conditions at Qatar.'

The Biden administration has touted its ramped-up evacuation efforts after bipartisan criticism

He blamed the number of people arriving at the base in a short time period - but conceded the US could have done better.

'Nobody here wants anyone to be less than safe, secure, comfortable and well cared for, as they go through this process. We take it very seriously. But we'll be the first to admit that, that there were conditions at Al Udeid - could have been better, they are improving now,' Kirby said.

'I'm not going to stand up here and tell you they're perfect, because they're not.'

When asked about COVID concerns over the thousands of refugees and US military personnel in crowded conditions, Kirby didn't go into specifics but said people were being screened 'at every stage of the process' but said the 'focus is on getting the numbers out.'

'We're not taking it for granted, we're taking it seriously.'

He didn't answer whether people who test positive are being pulled from flights.

The Pentagon still has no idea how many Americans or Afghan allies are left to evacuate in Afghanistan, but said 'hundreds' of Americans were evacuated in the last reported 24-hour window.

A child waits with her family from Afghanistan to board a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster lll at Al Udeid Air Base

The Pentagon installed more than 100 toilets in the area and is offering 7,000 traditional Afghan meals three times per day in an effort to improve conditions, the department told Axios.

The State Department told DailyMail.com in a statement it is 'working quickly to alleviate bottlenecks and are surging consular personnel in Qatar, in addition to expediting manifesting, to alleviate current conditions.'

Leaked memo contains accounts of Al Udeid Air Base from Doha embassy staff "A humid day today. Where the Afghans are housed is a living hell. Trash, urine, fecal matter, spilled liquids and vomit cover the floors." "I spent an hour in there picking up trash... almost suffocated." "Another flight arrived and there's no resources to solve the sanitation problem." "These human beings are in a living nightmare." "No A/C." "We're in the middle of humanitarian crises [sic] that compounds itself with every flight that lands in Doha." "Hangar update. They now have a rat problem." source: Axios Advertisement

'The State Department and Department of Defense have been in incredibly close coordination at every level, along with the rest of the interagency, to stand up these transit points and ensure that they are safe and have adequate provisions for those temporarily being housed. We have also worked closely to address issues as they arise and improve conditions as we learn of concerns,' a State Department spokesperson said.

They said the department is trying to process refugees for onward destinations within a few days of their arrival.

But an anonymous government official told Axios the State Department has not properly advised the Pentagon on housing facilities for refugees.

They accused the department and the White House of 'inadequate forethought and contingency planning.'

Al Udeid is one of the closest staging areas the US has to Afghanistan.

US flights there were temporarily halted Friday - the same day Sullivan sent the memo - after it reached capacity and officials labeled it a 'humanitarian disaster.'

But domestically, the US is looking to expand its intake of Afghans after they're processed at staging areas like Al Udeid.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that about 25,000 Afghan special immigrant visa (SIV) applicants will likely be resettled in the US along with their relatives.

The number is slightly higher than 22,000 SIVs the Pentagon said would be resettled last week.

Meanwhile US military bases in Wisconsin, Virginia, Texas and New Jersey are working to increase capacity for thousands of refugee arrivals.

'Our installations continue to rapidly build out capacity as needed to ensure reception, and providing humanitarian assistance,' Major General Hank Taylor said at the briefing with Kirby.

On Tuesday Kirby said the use of additional military installations is 'very well possible' to handle the influx.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin authorized the addition of 18 commercial aircraft from six airlines including United, American and Delta expedite the process.

At Wisconsin's Fort McCoy Army base, nearly 1,000 service members across multiple units are working on getting refugees adequate housing and support, a local NBC affiliate reports.

The base began taking in Afghan refugees on Sunday and is housing SIVs, their families and other vulnerable civilians.

At least 3,300 Americans have been evacuated since August 14. The Associated Press reported last week that up to 15,000 US nationals could still be in Afghanistan.
A waiter at an upmarket restaurant has won a claim of unfair dismissal after his 'childish' boss broke wind and wafted the smell towards him in front of customers.

Edgar Simplicio claimed Alessandro Cretella, owner of the Italian restaurant L'antipasto in Battersea, south west London, also burped in his face and asked him whether he would like to see a picture of his faecal matter during his employment.

In one incident, Mr Simplicio alleged the boss broke wind loudly in front of customers and wafted the smell towards him - leaving him 'frozen' for a few moments.

Following a massive row in the restaurant, loud enough to be overheard by customers, Mr Simplicio resigned.

An employment tribunal has now ruled that the waiter was unfairly dismissed due to the 'unreasonable conduct' of his boss leaving him no option but to quit.

The waiter claimed Alessandro Cretella (pictured), owner of the Italian eatery L'antipasto in Battersea, south west London, broke wind and wafted the smell towards him in front of customers

Former employee Edgar Simplicio said he resigned after he had a massive row at L'antipasto (pictured) with the boss

Mr Simplicio started working at L'antipasto as a waiter in September 2007.

The tribunal heard Mr Cretella, who took over the restaurant in October 2016 from his father Alfonso, suffered from oephophagitis which causes him to have excessive gas.

While Mr Simplicio knew about Mr Cretella's medical condition, he described his boss as 'disgusting and puerile'.

He told the tribunal Mr Cretella broke wind loudly in front of customers and wafted the presumed smell towards him while grinning in late 2019.

Mr Cretella denied that the incident took place but admitted he did have a 'childish sense of humour'.

Mr Simplicio also told the tribunal that Mr Cretella called him over on a number of occasions and deliberately burped loudly, sometimes into his face.

He recalled an occasion early in 2020 when Mr Cretella said in a light-hearted way to his wife 'Edgar doesn't like my burps'.

Mr Simplicio added his boss approached him at the beginning of 2020 and asked 'if he would like to see a photo of his faecal matters', which he declined.

He said Mr Cretella often used 'unfiltered language about his own bodily functions and other inappropriate subjects'.

In evidence, Mr Cretella denied the incidents regarding breaking wind and burping but the tribunal ruled that they probably did take place, 'given Mr Cretella's childish sense of humour'.

The tribunal also heard Mr Cretella 'had the habit of lying down' on one of the restaurant's side benches in full view of customers while they were eating.

Mr Simplicio took a photograph of Mr Cretella asleep in March 2020 and added that his boss sometimes walked around with no shoes while serving in the restaurant.

Mr Cretella denied that the incident took place but he admitted he had a 'childish sense of humour'

An employment tribunal at the South London tribunal centre in Croydon ruled that the waiter was unfairly dismissed due to the 'unreasonable conduct' of his boss

He added he would come across Mr Cretella's used toothpicks and dental floss littering the bar area and it was left to him and colleagues to clear these away.

The former employee was highly critical of Mr Cretella to the tribunal, calling him 'unprofessional and inept'.

The tribunal heard the pair came to a head in August 2020, after Mr Simplicio had been underpaid for a year. The tribunal described this as the 'final straw'.

Following the loud row, Mr Simplicio responded: 'I can't have you speaking like that to me.'

He was signed off work for stress and anxiety for a week until August 10, 2020 when his three week holiday began.

When he returned, the pair had a meeting which Mr Simplicio resigned at the end of.

The panel ruled that the resignation was the result of a constructive dismissal and was therefore unfair, entitling Mr Simplicio to compensation.

In its judgement it said: 'Mr Cretella's evidence that he tried not to dwell on his medical issue so as to maintain a level of confidence as it was a bit embarrassing goes some way to explaining (but does not fully) what he described as his childish sense of humour.

'The Tribunal concludes that burping near [Mr Simplicio], loudly breaking wind and wafting the smell and asking [Mr Simplicio] if he wanted to see a photo of his faecal matters were inappropriate and amounted to unreasonable conduct.'

Regarding the angry row, the judge added: '[Mr Simplicio] cannot be expected to put up with the behaviour Mr Cretella displayed on that day.

'This conduct is so serious as to be likely to seriously damage the relationship of trust and confidence, there was no reasonable and proper cause for such an extreme reaction. Mr Cretella later apologised but by then it was too late.'

Compensation will be decided at a later hearing.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday reached a deal with moderates in her party that cleared the way for passage of President Joe Biden's $3.5 trillion budget framework and set a Sept. 27 House vote on infrastructure.

'I am committing to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill by September 27. I do so with a commitment to rally House Democratic support for its passage,' Pelosi said in a statement.

The deal quelled a war between moderates and liberals in the House that threatened to derail Biden's domestic agenda.

The House on Tuesday afternoon passed the budget in a measure that also allows for future votes on both the infrastructure bill and on a voting rights measure that was on track to pass later Tuesday.

Democrats approved the measure on a 220-212 party line vote.

President Biden used the start of his Afghanistan speech to praise Democrats in the House for passing his agenda and thanked Nancy Pelosi for being 'masterful in her leadership'.

These investments are going to lower out of pocket expenses for families, and not just give them a little more breathing room. In addition we're going to make long overdue much needed investments in basic hard infrastructure of this nation, he said in remarks at the White House.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday reached a deal with moderates in her party that cleared the way for passage of President Joe Biden's $3.5 trillion budget framework and set a Sept. 27 House vote on infrastructure

President Biden praised Democrats in the House for passing his agenda at the start of his Afghanistan speech and thanked Pelosi for being 'masterful in her leadership'

The bottom line is, in my view, we're a step closer to truly investing in the American people, positioning our economy for long-term growth, and building an America that outcompetes the rest of the world. My goal is to build an economy from the bottom up and middle out, not just the top down, and that's what we're on our way of doing, he added.

He specifically praised Pelosi and her leadership team for shepherding the deal through the House. He also thanked all the Democrats in the House for their work  an olive branch to both the moderates and liberals in the party whose squabbling put his agenda in danger.

Look, I want to thank Speaker Pelosi who was masterful in her leadership on this, he said.

Democrats' budget framework allocates billions of dollars to Senate committees to begin drafting proposals for final bill Agriculture: $135 billion for conservation, drought, and forestry programs to reduce carbon emissions and prevent wildfires; clean energy investments; agricultural climate research; Civilian Climate Corps funding, child nutrition and debt relief Banking: $332 billion for housing programs, including down payment and rental assistance and community investment Commerce: $83 billion for technology and transportation; coastal resilience and oceans; funding for the National Science Foundation. Energy: $198 billion for clean electricity; rebates to weatherize and electrify homes; financing for domestic manufacturing of clean energy and auto supply chain technologies; federal procurement of energy efficient materials; climate research Environment and Public Works: $67 billion for low-income solar and climate-friendly technologies; clean water affordability and access; EPA climate and research programs; federal investments in energy efficient buildings and green materials Finance: At least $1 billion in deficit reduction. 'This will provide the Committee with flexibility to make investment, revenue and offset decisions consistent with the policy recommendations,' the instructions state. Offsets to include: Corporate and international tax reform; taxing high-income individuals; IRS tax enforcement Health, Education, Labor and Pensions: $726 billion for universal pre-K for 3 and 4-year olds; child care; tuition-free community college; investments in HBCUs, MSIs, HSIs, TCUs, and ANNHIs; increase the maximum Pell grant award; School infrastructure, student success grants, and educator investments; Investments in primary care; pandemic preparedness Homeland Security: $37 billion for electrifying the federal vehicle fleet; electrifying federal buildings; improving cybersecurity infrastructure; border management investments; investments in green materials and resilience Judiciary: $107 billion for lawful permanent status for qualified immigrants and border security Indian Affairs: $20.5 billion for native health, education, housing, energy and climate programs and facilities Small Business: $25 billion for small business access to credit, investment, and markets Veterans Affairs: $18 billion for upgrades to VA facilities Advertisement

He downplayed the tensions among Democrats to focus on the final passage.

I also want to thank every Democrat in the House who worked so hard over the last few weeks to reach an agreement and who supported the process for House consideration of the jobs and infrastructure plan, he added. There were differences, strong points of view. The difference is we came together to advance our agenda.

The Senate approved the budget resolution earlier this month.

Budget resolutions do not become law but act as a framework for the policies within.

The resolution passed in both chambers sets up the budget resolution to pass the 50-50 Senate without a single Republican vote.

Pelosi on Monday night delayed a procedural vote on the budget, sending lawmakers home after midnight when she failed to reach a deal with 10 moderate members of her party who were holding up the process.

'We will come back tomorrow,' Pelosi told reporters as she left the Capitol shortly after midnight. She was on the phone with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer as she left the building.

Negotiations continued behind closed doors in the Capitol on Tuesday morning as Democratic leaders tried to broker a deal that appeased both the moderate and liberal wings of the Democratic Party and that would allow passage for the budget and a bipartisan infrastructure plan.

House leaders rescheduled the vote for Tuesday afternoon in a second attempt - a sign that a deal has been made.

'When we bring up the bill, we will have the votes,' Pelosi told reporters upon her return to the Capitol on Tuesday morning.

Pelosi hoped to pass the $3.5 trillion budget quickly, which would allow lawmakers to begin filling in the details on a sweeping package that would include sweeping social programs such as free pre-K, free community college, expanded paid family and medical leave and climate change programs. It would also raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations.

But moderate Democrats, led by Representative Josh Gottheimer announced they would not support the budget until the House first passed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill that has already won approval by Republicans and Democrats in the Senate.

Liberals said they won't support the smaller infrastructure package without the larger budget deal.

Democrats hold a narrow 220-212 majority in the House and Republicans have said they will not support the budget plan. Pelosi cannot afford to lose votes from either wing if she wants both pieces of legislative - top priorities of President Biden's - passed.

Democrats leaders worked on a 'rule' to govern the passage of both pieces of legislation that would have the budget 'deemed' passed.

House Rules Chairman Jim McGovern told reporters it would also set up an agreement to vote on the infrastructure deal by late September, which would appease moderates.

Democrats huddled behind closed doors in the basement of the Capitol for more than hour on Monday night as Pelosi, Hoyer and other leaders pleaded with the party to come together.

The internecine battle has threatened to derail Biden's domestic agenda.

'Right now, we have an opportunity to pass something so substantial for our country, so transformative we havent seen anything like it,' Pelosi said, a source told the Associated Press.
Ben Wallace today warned of the risk of a 'shooting war' at Kabul airport as tensions rise over the deadline for troops withdrawing.

The Defence Secretary raised fears that the Taliban could start mortaring the runway to cripple the evacuation if the timetable is moved.

And he said that there is a real danger the situation could turn nasty in the final few days of the airlift.

The grim assessment came as it emerged the RAF has now flown more than 8,500 people out of Kabul since August 13, including around 2,000 in the last 24 hours.

There has been an uneasy cooperation between Taliban forces and Western troops on the ground amid the frantic effort after the Afghan government collapsed.

Extremist fighters are in control of all the access points to the airport, but have mostly been letting foreign nationals and Afghans through checkpoints.

There has been an uneasy cooperation between Taliban forces and Western troops on the ground amid the frantic effort after the Afghan government collapsed

Ben Wallace raised fears that the Taliban could start mortaring the runway to cripple the evacuation if the timetable is moved.

'Obviously, all military personnel have the right of self-defence to protect themselves and protect civilians immediately near them,' he told LBC.

'I suspect that it will be a mixture of - well I can't speculate what we would do but we certainly have plans, if we're attacked, to defend ourselves.

'I don't think anyone wants this to turn into a shooting war in the last few days.'

He added: 'I don't think they want a shooting war either. They want us out as quickly as possible and we want to get out with as many people as possible.'

Pressed on what action the Taliban could take, Mr Wallace said: 'If you start mortaring an airport, for example, the runway closes and then you all end up going nowhere.

'I absolutely don't take that as a clever play on words, using the word 'consequences'.

'This is the Taliban we're talking about and I think what they're trying to say is, 'you agreed on a 31st deadline originally' - I think August 31st was a selected deadline originally by the United States - and they expect us to stick to it.

'They may change their mind and we'll see what the G7 does today.'
A 40-year-old is accused of hacking and stealing 620,000 iCloud photos from users to search for nude images of women after pretending to be Apple tech support in emails.

Hao Kuo Chi, 40, of La Puente, California, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and three counts of gaining unauthorized access to a protected computer, according to court records.

He reached an estimated 620,000 photos of at least 306 victims, the majority of them being young women, the FBI estimated. He reached 200 of his victims online after he marketed himself as someone who could hack into iCloud accounts. He used the user name 'iclouddripper4you.'

The FBI said it found two Gmail addresses attached to the user names Chi used during his scam - 'applebackupicloud' and 'backupagenticloud' - with more than 500,000 emails and 4,700 iCloud IDs and passwords.

'Customers' would request he hack into certain iCloud accounts and he responded with a Dropbox link, according to a court statement by FBI agent Anthony Bossone.

Hao Kuo Chi, 40, of La Puente, California, hacked into 306 Apple users' iCloud accounts in search of nude images and videos of young women

His Dropbox account contained roughly 620,000 images and 9,000 videos from his customers.

The content was organized, in part, based on which item contained nude images.

He communicated with his unnamed co-conspirators via foreign encrypted emails and considered finding a nude image 'a win', authorities said. They collected and shared the nude images and videos with one another.

The FBI estimated that Chi had more than 620,000 images and 9,000 videos from his victims and he and his unnamed co-conspirators considering finding nude images a 'win.' Chi pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and three counts of gaining unauthorized access to a protected computer

He admitted he didn't even 'know who was involved,' Chi told the Los Angeles Times.

The scam started to fall apart in March 2018 when a popular California company, known for removing celebrity images from the internet, notified an unnamed public figure in Tampa, Florida, about their nude images appearing on pornographic sites.

The images were stored on their iPhone and had been uploaded to iCloud.

Bossone reported investigators later discovered the victim's iCloud had been accessed from Chi's home.

The FBI got a search warrant and raided Chi's home on May 19.

Before this, investigators found Chi's Dropbox, Apple, Google and Facebook accounts, and had a record of his online activities.

How avoid scams as an Apple user With the increase in data breaches and the need to protect one's privacy, identity, and information, users cannot solely rely on Apple to protect them. Here's how to protect yourself from scams: Never share credit card or personal information unless the recipient is verified

Use two-factor authentication

Never share Apple ID information or verification codes

Be careful of suspicious emails, phone calls, or text messages

Don't interact with pop-up boxes offering free prizes or prompting you to download software Source: Apple Advertisement

On August 5, Chi pleaded guilty to four charges and faces up to five years in prison for each charge.

In a similar 2007 instance, several Geek Squad members from around the country admitted they saw co-workers saving users' personal photos and videos onto DVDs.

Former Geek Squad member Brett Haddock told the Baltimore Sun at the time, 'Any attractive young woman who drops off her computer with the Geek Squad should assume that her photos will be looked at.'

Apple has faced backlash for years over the ongoing privacy and security issues with user information.

Recently, an Israel NSO Group delivered malware directly to users' phone via text, bypassing Apple's security features.

Pegasus, their surveillance tool, was able to collect emails, call records, social media posts, user passwords, contact lists, pictures, videos and more from 23 users.

It also could activate microphones and cameras, and collect fresh data, including location, without the user interacting or knowing it was on their phone.

More than 50,000 phone numbers from more than 50 countries had been collected, according to the Washington Post.

This damaged Apple's reputation of being secure and safe for its users.
The New York City subway rider who survived being bludgeoned with a hammer over the weekend has said that in a matter of seconds he found himself bleeding on the tracks, with a train fast approaching the station.

Rakesh Sharma, 44, was pulled to safety by good Samaritans a minute before the first car of the train reached the Union Square station on Saturday night.

Jamar Newton, a 41-year-old homeless man from Brooklyn, was arrested the following today in connection with the hammer attack, and also for allegedly stealing a $200 gold chain from 18-year-old Noel Rosado, who then gave chase and helped police apprehend the suspect.

Newton was previously arrested in April on five misdemeanor charges, including menacing, petit larceny, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of stolen property, but was released without bail, court records show

He was then arrested again in late June and charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, but was released.

Caught: The NYPD have arrested 41-year-old Jamar Newton (left) for allegedly bashing a subway rider with a hammer and then stealing this $200 gold chain from Noel Rosado, 18 (right), on a platform Sunday

Sharma, from Manhattan, told the New York Daily News that he was standing on the northbound N/Q/R/W platform at around 9pm on Saturday and waiting for a train to take him home after a shopping trip when he caught Newton's eye.

Police said Newton did not like the way Sharma was looking at him.

'Don't look at me. If you come any closer, I'm going to hit you,' Newton told the victim, according to cops.

Sharma said he was merely scanning his surroundings when Newton began shouting and charging at him 'like a crazy man.'

Not wanting to get into an argument, Sharma said he averted his eyes and tried to walk away, but he said the stranger continued yelling at him. The 44-year-old said he then folded his arms and decided to ignore Newton.

The next thing I knew I was on the tracks, blood was oozing from my head and the train lights were in the distance, Sharma recounted to the news outlet.

Surveillance footage shows the suspect take something out of his bag and twirl it around as he walks across the platform, where he seems to strike another person, off-screen.

He was then seen on surveillance video calmly walking out of the subway station.

Sharma speculated that his attacker pushed him onto the tracks because he knew there was a train arriving in a minute.

The victim recalled seeing the lead car of the train about 300 feet away while he was bleeding on the tracks.

He knew the train was coming, Sharma told the Daily News. Im pretty sure of that, Im guessing he strategically hit me then because he knew the train would come.

After being pulled out of harm's way by bystanders, Sharma was taken to a hospital to be treated for his head wound. He said that he still suffers from severe headaches and cannot move his neck.

Sharma said he has lived New York City since 2014 and has always relied on the subway to get around, but he never thought he would be brutally attacked during his commute.

Police say surveillance footage shows Newton man twirling an object - believed to be a hammer - in his hand as he walks over to a man off-screen on the other side of the platform at Union Square on Saturday night

Less than 24 hours after the hammer attack, Noel Rosado, from The Bronx, was standing on the northbound D train platform at the 125th Street subway station in Harlem with a female companion, when Newton allegedly walked up to him and snatched a gold chain from his neck.

Speaking to the Daily News, Rosado said Newton than displayed a hammer and asked him: Want me to take more things from you?

Rosado led the girl he was with upstairs to safety, and by the time he returned to the platform, the hammer-wielding thief had fled.

Determined to track down the perpetrator, Rosado said he travelled uptown to fetch his friends and then led the group back to the 125th Street station, where they spotted Newton there 'just chilling.'

When Rosado and his friends surrounded Newton, the man jumped onto the tracks and ran into the train tunnel toward the 116th Street station, according to Rosado.

The teen and his companions made their way to the 116th Street station but could not find Newton, so they returned to 125th Street, where Rosado said he ultimately came face-to-face with the suspected crook.

He pulls out a hammer, Rosado recalled to the outlet. Me and my four friends were waiting for an opportunity to get him without the hammer. We started getting close and I got his bag.'

As soon as Newton dropped his hammer, Rosado chased him down and hurled him to the ground.

Police officers who happened to be in the vicinity saw the commotion and stepped in, with one of the officers allegedly throwing Rosado against a car to stop him from attacking Newton.

The 18-year-old said he does not blame the police for manhandling him.

'They didn't know what was happening,' he said. 'They thought we were just jumping an old man.'

Investigators quickly realized that Newton was being sought in connection with Saturday's brutal hammer attack, and arrested him.

Newton was charged with assault, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a weapon and robbery.

Rosado, from the Bronx, pursued Newton with his friends after having his chain stolen and being threatened with a hammer. The teen was able to corner the suspect and throw him to the ground, allowing police to arrest the suspect

People familiar with Newton said he is homeless and suffers from mental health problems.

His mother, Tanya Newton, from Maryland, told the newspaper that her son was previously in a treatment program but either left or was ejected. She had not heard from him for a month and was prepared to file a missing person report.

I feel so sorry that this happened to this gentleman, the mother said of the hammer attack victim. My son was probably just acting out because he was going through what he was going through.

What he did was wrong, but the world is going to look at it like he wanted to hurt someone, Tanya added. When I look at it, I look at it that my son needs help.

Newton was arraigned on Monday morning. He is due back in court on October 25.

The suspect then starts swinging the apparent weapon - leaving the victim bleeding in the subway tracks at around 9 p.m. Saturday night

The suspect was later seen calmly leaving the Union Square Station. He was arrested less than 24 hours in Harlem

The hammer attack came just one day after another woman was randomly attacked on a subway platform - on Friday morning, police said, a woman was beaten with a metal pole while waiting for the G train.

And just last week, another man was randomly attacked by an alleged Iraq War veteran swinging a hatchet, hitting him three times in the head and once in the leg.

The victim, Miguel Solorzano, 50, was left bleeding on the sidewalk until medics were able to bandage his head and transport him to Bellevue Hospital for his injuries.

He had undergone two surgeries, and is in stable condition, but still could not process why the suspect - believed to be Aaron Garcia, 37, of Yonkers - would target him.

Solorzano said he saw the suspect outside of the Chase Bank in Lower Manhattan last weekend before entering the ATM vestibule to deposit a check, when the suspect started attacking him.

'He didn't even rob me,' Solorzano told the New York Daily News in Spanish on Wednesday. 'He took nothing. Nothing. He was crazy.'

Garcia was arrested last Tuesday, after allegedly going through a rampage around town. He was charged with attempted murder and assault.

Surveillance footage from a Chase Bank in lower Manhattan shows the moment an attacker - later identified as Aaron Garcia - suddenly walks up behind Miguel Solorzano, 50, and begins swinging his weapon in the violent attack

Terrified and bloodied, Solorzano desperately tries to grab the weapon away from his attacker

Eventually, Solorazano, severely bloodied, flees, and his attacker does not follow. Police say they have the charged Garcia with assault and attempted murder in connection to the attack

City police officers responded to the scene, speaking to Solorzano who sat bleeding on the sidewalk outside of the Chase Bank in lower Manhattan

Authorities wrapped Solorzano's head in bandages as blood dripped down his face following the assault on Sunday night

Throughout the city, crime has been increasing in almost all categories.

According to NYPD data, felony assaults are up 5.3 percent from last year, as of August 15, with misdemeanor assaults up 2.1 percent.

Murders have also increased, from 275 reported during the same time frame in 2020 to 277 reported thus far in 2021.

There have also been 10.7 percent more shooting incidents, with 7 percent more victims.

And grand larcenies have also increased 1.6 percent, with grand larcenies from automobiles skyrocketing 20.2 percent.

Rapes have increased 8.6 percent and hate crimes have nearly doubled.

Crime rates throughout New York City have been increasing over last year

Earlier this month, de Blasio proudly proclaimed that the 'Safe Summer' program has been effective and said in July the NYPD curved violent crime

Despite these staggering statistics, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced earlier this month that his 'Safe Summer' program has driven down murder and gun attacks in the city.

The mayor debuted the Safe Summer program in April as a way to end gun violence by creating disincentives for young people looking to turn to guns by offering them positive alternatives.

At a press briefing on August 5, de Blasio proudly proclaimed that the program has been effective and said in the month of July the NYPD saw 'extraordinary successes' to curve violent crime.

Listing statistics from July, de Blasio noted that the NYPD made 383 gun arrests in July alone, up 133.5 percent compared to last July, the mayor said, while gun arrests in general have gone up 44.5 percent in 2021.

According to the mayor, the summer month of July is usually one of the most violent in the city but the NYPD 'rose to the challenge' and was able to suppress gun violence and executed an impressive number of gang takedowns.

'The gang takedowns mean taking a lot of bad guys off of the streets and at the same time a lot of shooters off the streets, this is crucial,' de Blasio noted.

Overall since the safe summer program was launched in May, murders have gone down 26 percent, shootings decreased 10 percent and shooting victims are down 11 percent.

'There is more to do,' he said, 'but the NYPD is moving and making an impact.'
Nearly 100 dogs and two cats were rescued from a feces- and filth-filled home - and the owners taken into custody - after neighbors reported a foul smell and incessant barking from the dilapidated Pennsylvania house, officials said.

Rescue workers from an animal shelter stumbled upon a scene from a horror movie, with one dog giving birth, others dead in a corner and the rest malnourished when they arrived at the Uniontown home on August 23, members of Cross Your Paws Rescue said.

'When we were finally allowed into the house, I opened the door and there were three puppies being born right when I was walking in,' said Julie Cole, who works at the Irwin, Pa., shelter.

'One still had the umbilical cord attached. I instantly started tearing up. It was so hard to see.'

The Cross Your Paws Rescue and Uniontown Police discovered the animals in a filth-covered home both scared and malnourished

The home was covered in feces, urine, and other filth as the owners, who are currently undergoing mental evaluation, never let most of the animals out of the house

The mother and son who owned the home were reportedly hoarding the animals, who were trapped inside and 'never saw the light of day.'

Cole told DailyMail.com that the unidentified homeowners were taken out with some resistance but eventually complied and have been taken in for medical evaluation.

The homes has been condemned by the Uniontown code enforcement and the incident is still under investigation, police officials said.

Uniontown Police Lieutenant Thomas Kolencik told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 the number of animals rescued were confirmed to be 99 dogs and two cats.

Three puppies were seen being born with several also dead when the rescue crew arrived

The police were notified of the incident after neighbors reported foul smells and intense barking coming from the home

The team managed to get all the remaining dogs out of the home and into the care of Cross Your Paws.

'After a full day of respirators and assistance from authorities, we have all of the dogs out of this hell they had been living in for far too long', the organization said on Facebook.

The two cats were also taken in by the organization, with one being medically examined after it was believed to be bitten by one of the dogs.

The foul smelling home made the rescue difficult as the team altered going every 10 minutes in with protective gear

The animals were taken in and medically evaluated by the Cross Your Paws Rescue in Irwin, Pennsylvania, with some being reunited with their mothers

99 dogs and two cats were rescued from a home in Uniontown, Pennsylvania on August 23

The animals have been medically evaluated by Cross Your Paws with no plans of adoption at the moment but are in need of funds to support the animals.

Cole told IBT: 'Once we finally got them back to the kennel where they are being boarded, we looked for the mamas with milk and we found them. We have five litters of puppies today.'
Fifty years after her death, famed Jazz Age poet Dorothy Parker (pictured) received an official headstone Monday

Fifty years after her death, famed Jazz Age poetess Dorothy Parker received an official headstone Monday, after her remains were left at a crematorium then dumped in a filing cabinet for 15 years.

Although the literary icon's ashes were buried last year at Woodlawn Cemetery, Parker didn't receive an official tombstone until yesterday, in a ceremony that featured a jazz band and readings from her work, as attendees poured masses of gin on her grave.

Parker was a fan of a gin martini.

'This is finally her homecoming to her beloved New York City,' said Kevin Fitzpatrick, president of the Dorothy Parker Society, a non-profit promoting works of the Algonquin Hotel's famed Round Table of authors, humorists and actors.

Parker, who died of a heart attack in 1967, left the majority of her estate to Martin Luther King Jr. It was supposed to pass on to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) after he died. King was assassinated in 1968.

Although the literary icon's ashes were buried last year at Woodlawn Cemetery, Parker didn't receive an official tombstone until Monday

Because Parker's will left no instruction regarding her ashes, they remained in a Westchester crematory for six years before being transferred to the Manhattan office of her lawyer, languishing in a filing cabinet for an additional 15 years

Because Parker did not leave instructions regarding her ashes, they remained in a Westchester crematory for six years before being transferred to the Manhattan office of her lawyer, where the languished in a filing cabinet for an additional 15 years.

Parker was born to a Jewish father and Scottish-American mother in 1893 at her family's summer home in New Jersey. Her mother died just before her fifth birthday; her father died in 1913.

She supported herself as a dancing school pianist shortly before entering the world of New York magazine publishing.

Parker's fierce wit immediately earned her notoriety among her colleagues; her first break came when she sent a poem to Vanity Fair magazine editor Frank Crowninshield.

American writer Dorothy Parker reviews a draft copy of a manuscript at her home

Parker (left) is pictured at a restaurant with her then-husband, Alan Campbell

It didn't take long for Parker to climb through the ranks of the literary realm, progressing from caption writer at Vogue to staff writer at Vanity Fair, later becoming the publication's drama critic.

The legendary wit that earned Parker praise among her peers became her downfall.

She was eventually fired from Vanity Fair after making a joke at the expense of actress Billie Burke, who also happened to be the wife of one of the magazine's biggest advertisers.

But that minor setback didn't deter Parker.

It didn't take long for Parker to climb the ranks within the literary realm, progressing from caption writer at Vogue to staff writer at Vanity Fair, and later becoming the publication's drama critic

Parker went on to publish around 300 poems and free verses in various magazines, later publishing her first volume of poetry, 'Enough Rope,' in 1926

Parker eventually earned a coveted spot in the literary luncheon club known as the 'Algonquin Round Table.' regulars included Fritz Foord, Wolcott Gibbs, Frank Case and Dorothy Parker (seated left to right) and Alan Campbell, St. Clair McKelway, Russell Maloney and James Thurber (standing left to right)

She would go on to publish around 300 poems and free verses in various magazines, later publishing her first volume of poetry, 'Enough Rope,' in 1926. It went on to become a bestseller despite being criticized as 'flapper verse' by the New York Times.

Parker would eventually go on to contribute short stories for The New Yorker, later earning a coveted spot in the literary luncheon club known as the 'Algonquin Round Table.'

The group - fueled by alcohol and witty banter - consisted of writers, critics and entertainers who congregated at New York City's Algonquin Hotel for over a decade, eventually launching into a cultural legend.

Regulars included Woollcott, Parker, Robert Benchley, Heywood Broun, Franklin Pierce Adams (known as F.P.A.), George S. Kaufman, Herman Mankiewicz, Robert Sherwood and Harold Ross.

She married her first husband, Wall Street stockbroker Edwin Pond Parker II, in 1917. They divorced in 1928.

Parker is pictured on board an ocean liner in 1939

Parker is pictured at a meeting of the Temporary National Economic Committee before which she delivered an address in which she described what she saw during a recent four-week's visit to war-torn Madrid

She would go on to marry her second husband, Alan Campbell, an actor and writer 11 years her junior, in 1933, and she divorced him in 1947. They later remarried in 1950.

In addition to her literary work, Parker was actively involved in campaigning for social justice.

In 1927, she was fined $5 for protesting the execution of anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, in addition to traveling to Europe to further the anti-Franco cause and become national chairman of the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee.

She was initially supposed to have a proper burial on her birthday Sunday, but due to inclement weather brought on by Hurricane Henri, organizers were forced to postpone the event for one day.
A fisherman in the Philippines has died after being pulled beneath the water by a huge fish and hitting his head on a rock before drowning.

Jovy Baldado Narciso, 31, had been harpoon fishing in the Negros Oriental province on August 9 when he was pulled beneath the waves.

The fisherman had impaled a two-foot long fish with a spearfishing gun before the animal darted beneath a collection of rocks.

Jovy Baldado Narciso, 31, (pictured) has died after being pulled beneath the water by a huge fish and hitting his head on a rock before drowning

The 5Kg fish (pictured) darted off and pulled Jovy underwater, but refused to come out of a hiding spot, leaving the fisherman unable to return to the water's surface for air

The act of swimming off so quickly caused the rope attached to the harpoon to tangle itself around Jovy's legs and pull him into the water, where he hit his head on a rock.

With the 5Kg fish refusing to come out from its hiding place, Jovy struggled to free himself and reach the surface of the water - but was unable to get loose and drowned.

An officer from the Manjuyod Police Station said: 'Worried relatives reported that the man was missing the next morning. We did a search and rescue operation immediately found his body.

'The rope was still tied around the man's body while the fish was still under the rock with the harpoon. They were both dead when we arrived.'

A rescue team recovered Jovy's body, which was then transported to hospital before being turned over to his family

Superstitious neighbours believed that the fish that killed the fisherman was 'evil' because Jovy's death was the second drowning incident that happened in the lake after a 14-year-old also died in the area last week.

A neighbour said: 'You should be careful in a lake because the creatures have strange behaviour compared to the sea. Just like this evil fish.'

The fisherman's body was taken to the hospital before being turned over to devastated relatives for funeral arrangements.
A mum-of-three who became the youngest Australian woman to fall victim to Covid-19 had rapidly deteriorated just days after her diagnosis, with her husband now fighting for his life in hospital.

Ianeta Isaako, 30, was found dead in her home at Helena Avenue in Emerton, Blacktown, after she tested positive for the virus only a few days prior, NSW Health has confirmed.

Paramedics rushed to the Western Sydney home on Monday after Mrs Isaako's condition had rapidly deteriorated.

It is understood her husband Sako is currently in hospital battling the virus while grief-stricken family and friends mourn the death of his wife and care for the couple's three young children.

Ianeta Isaako died from Covid-19 on Monday after her condition rapidly deteriorated, while her husband Sako Isaako fights for his life in hospital (pictured, Sako and Ianeta Isaako with family)

The Western Sydney community has been left shattered by the sudden death sending an influx of tributes for the family on social media.

'Our hearts are breaking and our thoughts are with your beautiful children, loving husband and wider family. May you rest in perpetual light and love,' the Penrith Junior Rugby Union Club wrote.

'We also ask that everyone keeps husband Sako Isaako in our thoughts and prayers as he is currently fighting illness in hospital. One Club, One Family, One Vision,' the post continued.

Western Vikings JRLC also sent their condolences to the family, who appeared to be well-known in the Western Sydney rugby league community.

'Our hearts go out to the family in this time of sorrow as our collective hearts are heavy with sympathy. Our rugby family are sharing the sorrow with love and friendship. Words fall short of expressing our sorrow,' the club wrote.

Tributes flowed for the Isaako family, who appear well-known in the rugby league community, on social media (pictured)

'We will always be there for the family in this hour of need. May her soul Rest In Peace, we also ask that everyone keeps husband Sako in your thoughts and prayers as he is currently fighting illness in hospital,' the club posted.

Close friends and relatives continued to extend an outpouring of grief for the beloved mother-of-three.

'Thank you to all our family and friends who have reached out, this was our final goodbye to our sweet Ianeta, ohh too soon  way too soon,' one relative wrote.

'My heart is broken,' another simply said.

'I know there is nothing in this world matters anymore, when death takes the most beautiful part of your heart. I want you to think of what she would've wanted you to do,' another added.

Mrs Isaako, her husband and their three children lived in a small flat next to other family members, and were often seen playing in the front yard with their kids.

NSW Police said officers were called to a property on Helena Avenue in Emerton, Blacktown, at about 3pm on Monday, following reports a woman was found unresponsive.

An ambulance since returned to the property on Tuesday to check up on relatives still staying at the home.

'Sadly, NSW Health has been notified of the death of a person who had Covid-19,' a spokesperson said. 'A woman in her 30s from Sydney's west died at home.'

Mrs Isaako is the 75th person to succumb to Sydney's Delta Variant outbreak.

Ianeta Isaako (pictured with her husband Sako) passed away after she was infected with Covid-19, NSW Health confirmed. He is now fighting for life in hospital

NSW Health has confirmed a woman, aged in her 30s, died of Covid-19 at her home in Emerton in Sydney's western suburbs (pictured, PPE-clad emergency workers at the scene)

Police were called to the residence on Helena Avenue in Emerton around 3pm on Monday, following reports a woman was found unresponsive (pictured, ambulances outside the home)

Neighbours said they would often see the family in the quiet suburban street.

'There was a few of them in there, I think they might have lived next to their grandparents,' one neighbour told The Daily Telegraph.

'They were a nice young family, you'd always see them playing out the front with their kids... very sad she was in her 30s I think, it's way too young.'

One neighbour claimed to have witnessed police and ADF personnel on the street in recent days.

The family live in Blacktown (pictured) one of the areas being most badly hit by a wave of Covid cases

Bright yellow biohazard bags (pictured) were seen tied to the fence outside the property while several ambulances lined the street outside

A group of PPE-clad emergency workers were seen entering the home, about 46km west of Sydney's CBD, on Monday.

Bright yellow biohazard bags were seen tied to the fence outside the property while several ambulances lined the street outside.

An assortment of medical supplies and equipment were also seen sitting on the nature strip in front of the home.

A spokesperson said NSW Health extended their deepest sympathies to the woman's loved ones.

'This tragic death is being investigated by the Western Sydney Local Health District and has been referred to the coroner,' a statement from the department read.

Earlier on Tuesday, no Covid-related deaths were reported, however by 3pm NSW Health had confirmed the passing of the western Sydney woman.

The mum-of-three lives in Blacktown (pictured) - one of the Sydney suburbs most badly hit by the Covid outbreak

An assortment of medical supplies and equipment were also seen sitting on the nature strip in front of the home (pictured)

The state reported 753 new local Covid cases on Tuesday, down on the three-day average of 824.

Most new cases remain in western and southwestern Sydney.

One of the city's largest hospitals has called a 'yellow emergency' as it struggles under the weight of growing COVID-19 cases in the city's west.

The Western Sydney Local Health District's executive team sent an email to staff on Tuesday indicating the change in settings at Westmead Hospital.

The email said the hospital was 'standing up an emergency operations centre' to grapple with the increase in COVID-19 cases at the facility.

The hospital would immediately reduce ambulance arrivals for COVID-19 patients for a 24-hour period, seek to transfer several critical patients to other Sydney metropolitan hospitals and conduct urgent critical care reviews.

NSW Police have commenced an investigation into the woman's death with a report to be prepared for the coroner

The LHD would also work with private hospitals to open up 100 more beds.

'We acknowledge that we are not longer operating in a business as usual environment and careful assessment and response is required to manage future demand for our services,' the email, seen by AAP, says.

NSW Health data shows almost 4,000 COVID-19 cases have been uncovered in the past four weeks in the Western Sydney LHD.

There are currently more than 600 people with COVID-19 in hospital in NSW and 107 in intensive care.

NSW Health says it currently manages about 500 intensive care beds but has a surge capacity of about 2000 when required. The government has repeatedly said the hospital system is coping with the increased workload.
A family in Alabama is mourning after a pregnant nurse, who refused to get vaccinated, died of COVID-19 along with her unborn child.

Haley Mulkey Richardson, 32, was a registered nurse working in a labor and delivery unit at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida.

Three weeks before her passing, Richardson had contracted COVID-19, most likely in late July or early August, a friend - Jason Whatley - told Alabama.com.

At the time, she was living at home with her husband Jordan and young daughter Katie in Theodore, a suburb of Mobile, Alabama.

PICTURED: Haley Mulkey Richardson (left), daughter Katie (center) and husband Jordan Richardson (right) celebrating Christmas in 2019. The Richardson's were expecting a second child before COVID-19 tore the family apart

She was living at home with her husband Jordan and young daughter Katie in Theodore, a suburb of Mobile, Alabama

It is unclear as to whether she became ill while working at the hospital or elsewhere before contracting the virus.

The mother-of-one previously decided to not receive the COVID-19 vaccine as she was scared of suffering life-threatening allergic reactions after hearing unproven claims that the jab could affect fertility.

Richardson's mother, Julie Mulkey, told Alabama.com: 'Haley had anaphylaxis reactions in the past. So for that reason, she felt that it was not safe for her.

'And then, of course, with all the negative reporting that has gone on, what was she to believe about what the vaccine would do to reproduction?

Richardson (center) was a nurse at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, before her COVID-19 related death

'Stuff about that it would destroy a female's eggs and that kind of thing, and she wanted to have her second baby. That made her afraid to get it.'

Pregnant or soon-to-be pregnant women are strongly advised to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which mentioned that there 'is currently no evidence' the vaccine causes fertility problems in women or men.

Richardson's unborn child, named Ryleigh Beth, died on August 18 around the six months pregnancy mark. Richardson, herself, died two days later on August 20.

'It's really hard. It's hard to accept, it's hard to face. We're glad she's not suffering anymore,' said Mulkey.

'After about three or four days in the hospital, the [obstetrician] told her that she was going to lose the baby. And she continued to get worse and worse.'

'At some point, they basically told her that we've got to start treating you as if you didn't have a child. We've got to do what we can for you because the baby is going to pass anyway,' Mulkey added.

In critical condition, Richardson was quickly transferred to USA Health Children's and Women's hospital in the state's capital, Mobile, where she wasn't allowed to receive any visitors.

Mulkey told the outlet: 'Haley did call me crying, that she was going to lose the baby. And that she was down there by herself when that happened.'

Before her unborn child's passing, Richardson wrote a post on Facebook, saying: 'Here in the dark, in the wee hours of the morning, it is so easy to pretend that all of this was just a nightmare or that I'm just here in this hospital bed due to my own issues with COVID.'

'Not for anything being wrong with my sweet baby girl whom I thought I was protecting in my own womb. I know the prognosis and I know the reality.'

'And while part of me may start to acknowledge this, the other part of me still believes God is still the God of miracles and is in control above all else.'

She ended the post, saying: 'I hope and pray for miracles, but having said that I am also praying for his will to be done. If there has ever been a time to ask for something to be taken out of my own hands and put in his, it is now.'

The mother-of-one wrote a Facebook post, nine days before her unborn child's passing, saying that 'if there has ever been a time to ask for something to be taken out of my own hand and put in [God's], it is now.'

After his wife's death, husband Jordan shared his devastation on Facebook

Mulkey told Alabama.com that she was able to say goodbye to her daughter along with Richardson's husband Jordan, Katie and Jordan's mother Donna.

After Richardson's passing, Jordan grieved the lost of his wife on Facebook, sharing: 'Words cannot describe the devastation that I feel so I will not try to explain it. I know you are now watching over Katie and I and will continue to help guide us on our path.'

'I love you so much and will always love you. So this is just goodbye to your earthly life but I know one day I will be able to say hello to your heavenly one, and that day shall be the happiest of all of my life. So until then just know I love you with everything that I am.'

Mulkey told Alabama.com that she was able to say goodbye to her daughter along with Richardson's husband Jordan, Katie and Jordan's mother Donna

Whatley, who co-created a GoFundMe campaign for Jordan and Katie, described Richardson as 'easy to love.'

He said: 'Her spirit lit every room she ever walked into, her laugh brought a celebration to any moment, and her hearther heart was as pure, and as kind, and as loving, and as selfless as anyone you have ever known or ever will meet again.'

The fundraiser raised $19,050 out of $20,000 total as of Tuesday morning.

Since the start of the pandemic, Alabama, one of the states with the worst vaccination rates in the country, has lost 12,000 people to COVID-19, according to data collected by the New York Times.
The Taliban has banned all Afghan citizens from trying to flee the country from Kabul airport effective immediately and ordered women to stay at home after again warning Western forces to depart by the August 31 deadline.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Islamists' chief spokesman, said in a press conference today the group will 'not accept' any extension to the deadline, and from now on only stranded foreigners will be able to reach the airport in the coming week to board Nato and Western planes.

He said: 'The road to Kabul airport is closed for locals and open to foreigners.

'We fully assure the locals and tell them to return to their homes. We are not in favour of allowing Afghans to leave.'

He added that women have been told to stay at home for their own safety, saying: 'It's currently for their benefit to prevent any ill treatment.'

Mujahid also refused to deny the Taliban held a secret meeting with the CIA after reports emerged that the Islamists met with the agency's director in Kabul yesterday.

He said he is 'not aware' of the meeting but did not deny that it had taken place.

CIA director William Burns is thought to have met with the Taliban's de-facto leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul to discuss - among other things - the August 31 deadline to withdraw foreign forces from the country.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesman, refused to confirm or deny a meeting with senior CIA bosses at a press conference in Kabul today

Angela Merkel speaks with G7 leaders in a virtual meeting to discuss the evacuations from Afghanistan

Speaking about foreign citizens in Afghanistan, Mujahid reiterated the deadline implemented by Joe Biden which other world leaders fear is too soon to carry out the evacuations.

He said: 'All people should be removed prior to that date. If [western countries] wish to remove people before then, they can.

'[But] after that we will not allow people to leave, we will take a difference stance.'

He spoke a day after another Taliban spokesman - Suhail Shaheen - warned of 'consequences' if western soldiers overstay their welcome.

Joe Biden had been under pressure from other world leaders to extend the deadline, with France, the UK, Spain and Germany all warning that it does not give them long enough to evacuate all those they promised sanctuary to.

Speaking in Kabul today, Mujahid urged thousands of people trying to flee the country via Kabul airport to 'go home' - adding: 'We guarantee your safety'.

William Burns, director of the CIA (left), was said to have met with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar (right) in Kabul on Monday to discuss evacuations

A female journalist took part in the press conference held by the Taliban in Kabul amid fears of a crackdown on women's rights in the new regime

Mujahid said America and other western governments should stop evacuation flights immediately and accused them of taking the 'educated elite' out of Afghanistan which he said will hurt the rebuilding effort.

'Unfortunately the Americans are still... taking Afghan people out of the country to an uncertain future,' he said.

'We would like to say to the Americans - our doctors, our engineers, our educated elite, we need those people in the country.

'We do not want them out of the country to work in [American] institutions, or work as plain laborers in those countries.'

Mujahid continued to deny reports of Taliban reprisal attacks against those who worked with western forces, insisting there had been an 'amnesty' and that everyone will be allowed to return safely to their lives before the conflict.

'I can reassure you that no-one has been targeted anywhere in the country,' he said.

'I would like to reassure everyone in the country to stay calm and that nobody is being targeted or is under investigation because there has been a general amnesty.

'We want peace stability and to improve our country.'

Taliban fighters pose on the streets of Kabul as the Islamist group says no Afghan citizens will be allowed to leave the country after August 31

Quizzed by journalists about the repression of women under Taliban rule, Mujahid insisted restrictions on their movements are 'temporary' while security is fragile.

Asked about atrocities being reported to the UN since the Islamists took power, he suggested this was the result of fighters not being 'trained' properly.

Biden will be forced to make a decision later today after an emergency G7 call with world leaders including Britain's Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel who are expected to urge the president to extend the deadline.

But the Taliban has warned of 'consequences' if the US crosses that 'red line' and today doubled-down on its threat, telling foreign nations: 'Don't encourage Afghans to leave.'

A White House official on Monday told Reuters that Biden will make his decision within 24 hours to give the Pentagon time to prepare.

Rescue efforts became increasingly urgent today as Spain warned it would have leave people behind and France said it would stop airlifts on Thursday - five days before the deadline - if the US could not secure an extension.

About 50,000 foreigners and Afghans have fled the country from Kabul's airport since the Taliban swept into power nine days ago, according to the US government.

Many Afghans fear a repeat of the brutal interpretation of sharia law that the Taliban implemented when first in power from 1996-2001, or retribution for working with the US-backed government over the past two decades.

The Taliban, who ended two decades of war with an astonishingly swift rout of government forces, has been publicly tolerant of the evacuation effort.

The Taliban achieved their stunning victory thanks to Biden pulling out nearly all American troops from Afghanistan, following through on a deal struck with the movement by then-president Donald Trump.

However, Biden was forced to redeploy thousands of troops after the fall of Kabul to oversee the airlift.

French President Emmanuel Macron (right) is pictured during a virtual meeting of G7 leaders (left, on the screen) where Afghanistan will top the agenda

Joe Biden is being pressured by allies including France to keep troops in Afghanistan beyond the August 31 deadline to help get everyone with visas out of the country

The rush to leave Kabul has sparked harrowing scenes and left at least eight people dead.

Some have been crushed to death and at least one, a youth football player, died after falling off a plane.

The German defence ministry said Monday an Afghan soldier was killed and three others wounded in a firefight with unknown assailants.

Margarita Robles, the Spanish defence minister, said the security situation was getting worse.

'The Taliban are becoming more aggressive, there is gunfire, violence is more obvious,' she said in an interview with news radio Cadena Ser.

'The situation is frankly dramatic and besides, with each passing day, it is worse because people are conscious that time is running out.'

The Taliban have repeatedly claimed to be different from their 1990s incarnation, and have declared an amnesty for government forces and officials.

But an intelligence assessment conducted for the United Nations said militants were going door-to-door hunting former government officials and those who worked with US and NATO forces.

In the capital and other cities, the former insurgents have enforced some sense of calm, with their fighters patrolling the streets and manning checkpoints.

The Taliban are also intent on quashing the last notable Afghan military resistance to their rule, made up of ex-government forces in the Panjshir Valley, north of the capital.

The Panjshir has long been known as an anti-Taliban bastion.

One of the leaders of the movement, named the National Resistance Front, is the son of famed anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans support sending away migrants who test positive for Covid-19, a new survey found.

About 72% of Americans surveyed by Echelon Insights either strongly or somewhat support deporting those apprehended at the southern border who test positive for Covid-19. Only 17% oppose doing so.

Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) is not testing all migrants they apprehend at the southern border, as border patrol agents say that doing so would only slow down processing even more. Cities, counties and NGOs are leading testing efforts for adults released by Border Patrol.

Unaccompanied children transferred to Health and Human Services (HHS) and adults transferred to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are tested and quarantined by the government.

Migrants arrive to El Ceibo, Guatemala, on August 19, 2021, after being deported from the US and Mexico. Border Patrol agents are grappling with a record number of crossings that DHS Sec. Mayorkas has privately called 'unsustainable'

About 72% of Americans surveyed by Echelon Insights either strongly or somewhat support deporting those apprehended at the southern border who test positive for Covid-19.

Migrants are seen in a shelter in El Ceibo, Guatemala on August 18, 2021, after being deported from the US and Mexico. - Dozens of migrants, mostly Central Americans, who arrived in the United States in search of shelter and employment but were expelled to Mexico, are forced to head to Guatemala

At the same time, only 41% of respondents approved of Biden's handling of the southern border and 52% disapproved.

The report, conductioned by Echelon Insights and commissioned by Washington Examiner, surveyed 1,016 registered voters from Aug. 13-18. Republicans made up 36% of respondents and Democrats made up 45%.

In other Covid prevention measures, 67% of respondents supported requiring masks in schools for children and 27% were against doing so, and 64% supported requiring everyone to wear masks indoors in public.

The pandemic continues to weigh heavily on public consciousness, where 23% said coronavirus was the most important issue facing the country today, making it the top pick, and 16% picked jobs and the economy and 11% picked immigration.

Of the Republicans who were surveyed, 23% said that if Trump did not run again in 2024, they would vote for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and 23% said former Vice President Mike Pence. DSen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, scored favor with 9% and Donald Trump Jr., 5%.

The Biden administration has undid most Trump-era migration policies, but has kept in place Title 42, one of Trump's most limiting measures which allows US authorities to expel migrants caught crossing the southern border back to Mexico due to coronavirus health concerns.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that CBP encountered more than 212,000 migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border in July.

'Allow me to share with you the CBP enforcement numbers for July  212,672 persons were encountered attempting entry along the southwest border, a 13 per cent increase over June 2021.'

From January to May, 711,784 migrants were encountered by Customs and Border Protection at the southern border  five times the amount during the same period in 2020  and the Biden administration encountered a staggering 1 million by the end of July.

Mayorkas admitted in leaked audio last week that the migrant crisis is 'unsustainable.'

Last week, a federal judge ruled that Biden must reinstate Trump's 'Remain in Mexico' policy, or the Migrant Protection Protocols, where those seeking asylum at the border are required to wait in Mexico until their hearing. The Biden administration appealed the order, and its appeal was rejected by a circuit court, and they've now asked the Supreme Court to weigh in.
A headteacher who carried on teaching after she was convicted of running an illegal Islamic private school has been warned she faces jail.

Nadia Ali, 40, denied that Ambassadors High School in Streatham was a full-time school on the basis that it only offers 18 hours of education per week.

Pupils were charged 2,500 a year at the institution which had 45 students.

Ali and her father Arshad Ali, 74, were first convicted of running an unregistered school following one of the first prosecutions of its kind in September 2019.

Nadia Ali, 39 (pictured), who carried on teaching after she was convicted of running an illegal Islamic school has been warned she faces jail after a judge said actions were 'contemptuous'

Magistrates heard the school failed to promote fundamental British values or carry out proper background checks on teachers.

But a month later Ms Ali told BBCs Victoria Derbyshire programme she wanted to continue operating and would apply for registration.

Ive been teaching for 15 years and Ive seen how children need a different approach and that's what were trying to do at Ambassadors, she said.

This is why I believe in what were trying to do because weve seen a lot of results within our children. Theyre happy learners.

Ms Ali claimed her school was not breaking the law because it was open for just 18 hours a week.

Nadia Ali, 40, and her father denied that Ambassadors High School in Streatham was a full-time school on the basis that it only offers 18 hours of education per week

She said the school had applied for an Ofsted registration but failed an inspection because of safeguarding concerns.

Ms Ali continued to run the school between September 8, 2019 and March 3, 2020, when an inspection revealed classes were still being held in the building.

She appeared back at Westminster Magistrates Court via video-link wearing a tan headscarf.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram told Ms Ali she could now be jailed for continuing to operate the school since her first prosecution.

District Judge Ikram said: In defiance of your previous conviction you gave an interview in which you said you intended to carry on.

I find that very serious, and contemptuous. I have already indicated what Im thinking on sentencing you.

Ms Ali, of Streatham, admitted breaching regulation provisions contrary to the Education and Skills Act 2008.

She remains on bail ahead of sentencing on a date to be fixed.

Despite Ofsted flagging almost 300 suspected unregistered schools since 2016, only a handful of cases have ever been brought to court because of the regulators limited investigatory powers.
Former president and dictator of Chad Hissene Habre died on Tuesday in Senegal at the age of 79.

Habre, who was serving a life sentence for crimes against humanity, was taken to a clinic in the capital Dakar ten days ago, where he reportedly caught the virus.

Habre's rule from 1982-1990 saw an estimated 40,000 people killed, many by his infamous political police who rounded up opponents and held them in secret detention centres.

In eight years, tens of thousands were killed, tortured and raped before he was overthrown.

After a landmark trial in 2016 in Senegal, where he fled after being chased out of office by Sudan-based forces, Habre was sentenced to life in prison for rape and ordering the killing and torture of thousands of political opponents.

The verdict was seen by rights groups as a watershed moment in African justice, as it marked the first time in modern history that a country's domestic courts have prosecuted the former leader of another country for crimes against humanity.

It also capped a 16-year battle by victims and rights campaigners to bring the former Chadian autocrat to justice.

Prior to that however, Habre had enjoyed a life of relative luxury in Senegal for over two decades, escaping from Sudanese forces in 1990 and living off his millions in exile.

Habre's rule from 1982-1990 saw an estimated 40,000 people killed, many by his infamous political police who rounded up opponents and held them in secret detention centres

Habre steadfastly denied his role in the killings. At the start of his trial in 2015, he had to be carried into court in his long white robes, and restrained by masked security guards

In eight years, tens of thousands were killed, tortured and raped before he was overthrown (Pictured: Habre in 1980)

Habre was bornin the northern Chadian town of Faya-Largeau in 1942.

The country was still under French colonial rule at the time, and Habre worked as a civilian for the French military before earned a law degree in France.

He returned in 1971 to work for Chad's foreign affairs ministry and became prime minister under then-president Felix Malloum in 1978, who fell from power the following year.

In 1982, Habre deposed president Goukouni Oueddei, beginning his ruthless eight-year rule.

'Hissene Habre will go down in history as one of the worlds most pitiless dictators,' said Reed Brody, a Human Rights Watch lawyer and part of the International Commission of Jurists, who has worked with Habre's victims since 1999.

'Habre was a man who slaughtered his own people, burned down entire villages, sent women to serve as sexual slaves for his troops and built clandestine dungeons to inflict medieval torture on his enemies.'

His reputation for bloodlust earned Habre the nickname of 'Africa's Pinochet' in reference to the Chilean dictator.

Meanwhile, there are still some in Chad who supported Habre. The head of Chad's ruling military junta, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, offered his 'sincere condolences' to Habre's family 'and the Chadian people.'

'To God we belong and to Him we return,' Deby said on Twitter, while Ali Younouss Mahamat, a 30-year-old teacher in the Chadian capital N'Djamena, said Habre was a 'fair and honest statesmen who fought against corruption.'

Habre steadfastly denied his role in the death of thousands of his countrymen.

At the start of his trial in 2015, he had to be carried into court in his long white robes, and restrained by masked security guards.

He shouted 'Shut up! Shut up!' when the clerk read out his indictment.

Despite his lamentable reputation, Habre enjoyed support as a Western ally during his time in office.

France and the US in particular supported his grip on power as they were fearful of Muammar Gaddafi's plans to expand out of the neighbouring Libya.

That support waned as Habre faced growing resistance from armed groups, including his eventual successor Idriss Deby, who attacked from Sudan and eventually overthrew the dictator.

Habre was sentenced to life in prison in 2016 for crimes against humanity, including rape and ordering the killing and torture of thousands of political opponents

In this 1987 photo, President Ronald Reagan talks with the then Chadian President Habre in the White House Oval Office. Despite his crimes, he enjoyed support from Western countries during his rule, particularly from the US and France

In 2000, a group of victims filed a complaint against Habre in Senegal and a court charged him with torture and crimes against humanity, but an appeals court ruled he could not be tried in the West African country.

After another group of victims came forward in Belgium, the country issued an international arrest warrant in 2005 holding Habre responsible for mass murder and torture.

Senegal declined to extradite Habre and the African Union asked it to pass legislation giving its courts jurisdiction for foreign crimes.

It was not until Senegal President Macky Sall took office in 2012 that the process picked up speed.

In 2013, the Extraordinary African Tribunal was created and Habre was arrested, before being convicted and handed a life sentence in 2016.

Until that point however, Habre had enjoyed a life of relative luxury in Senegal, and Reed Brody wrote earlier this year that 'torture survivors and families of the dead have not seen one penny'.

'The African Union has failed even to establish the court-mandated trust fund to search for Habre's assets and solicit contributions,' Mr Brody wrote.

'The Chadian government, ordered by its own court to erect memorials and compensate victims, has also turned its back on them.'

French president Francois Mitterrand welcomed Habre at the Elysee palace in France in 1989 before he was overthrown. Habre obtained a law degree in France before moving back to Chad and becoming involved in government
Surveillance footage captured the final moments of a slain couple before they disappeared, as the two women laughed and joked about the 'weirdo' camping next to them in the Utah wilderness.

Just five days later, on August 18, the bodies of Kylen Schulte, 24, and Crystal Beck, 38, were found in the La Sal Mountains, the second-highest range in Utah.

The married couple's friend Kayla Borza, one of the last people to see them alive, had been with them in the tavern in the town of Moab.

'We were just having a great time, having a couple drinks, and all they said was there was a creep [staying] next to them,' said Borza, who believes that creep is the man that killed Schulte and Beck.

Surveillance footage captured the final moments of a slain couple, Kylen Schulte, 24, and Crystal Beck, 38, before they disappeared, as the two women laughed and joked about the 'weirdo' camping next to them in the Utah wilderness

The married couple's friend Kayla Borza, one of the last people to see them alive, had been with them in the tavern in the town of Moab

Footage, first obtained by the Daily Beast, showed them laughing over drinks with Borza and enjoying their evening together.

The couple, who got married in April, were semi-regular customers at Woodys Tavern in Moab, said bar manager Arielle Beck.

Beck (unrelated to Crystal Beck) said the couple were there from around 6pm to 9pm on August 13 and that was the last time they were seen at Woody's, even though police and local media reported there were seen there again the next evening. Arielle Beck claims she worked both nights and didn't see them again after Friday.

Schulte (right) and Beck (left) were found shot dead four days after going missing while camping in Utah mountains

Cindy Sue Hunter said she discovered the bodies of her friends, Schulte, 24, and Beck, 38, after receiving a frantic call from Schulte's father, Sean-Paul, she told ABC4 News Friday.

Schulte's father, who lives in Montana, called Hunter after he hadn't heard from the couple in three days following a disturbing call from his daughter, he reportedly told Hunter.

'He said 'I just found out that there was a creeper dude that they were scared of. That they needed to move their camp,' Hunter said. 'All of a sudden I had such a sense of urgency.'

Hunter was able to locate the couple's campsite in Moab on Wednesday, remaining on the phone with Kylen's father while she searched the area.

'Then I saw her body and I turned away,' Hunter said. 'I think something inside me didn't want to acknowledge what I had seen so I was looking at the beauty of the creek and everything and talking to the father the whole time and I turned around again to make myself see and it was her.'

Kylen Schulte (left) and Crystal Beck, who married recently, were found dead in the Moab mountains of Utah after being reported missing four days earlier

Aunt Bridgit Calvert started a GoFundMe page to help Sean-Paul pay for funeral expenses for the two girls

On Wednesday, the Grand County Sheriff's Office in Moab released a statement saying: 'At this time the Grand County Sheriff's Office is conducting an ongoing homicide investigation.'

When speaking with ABC4 News Friday, Cindy Sue Hunter (pictured) said she discovered the bodies of her friends, Kylen Schulte, 24, and Crystal Beck, 38, while speaking to Schulte's father on the phone

The Sheriff's Office continued by saying they believe 'there is no current danger to the public in the Grand County area.'

Hunter, on the other hand, doesn't find the sheriff's statement comforting.

'How are we safe if you have a double homicide?' Hunter asked. ' You don't have a suspect in custody. You're not claiming it was a murder-suicide so how are we possibly safe? It honestly feels like they're just trying to protect the tourism industry in Moab.'

Schulte's and Beck were camping in the Moab mountains about a week ago when they reportedly vanished.

Their bodies were discovered near the South Mesa area of La Sal Loop Road and police identified them as the missing women Thursday evening.

Their bodies were transferred to the state medical examiner's office.

The two reportedly were last seen on August 14 after telling close friends they moved campsites because they had been 'spooked' by a 'weirdo' man camping near them.

Their bodies were found near the South Mesa area of La Sal Loop Road on August 18

Schulte's father Sean-Paul asked the people of Moab to help find his daughter's killers on Facebook as the police's person of interest has been released and no arrests have been made

Schulte's father called for the Moab community to help find 'my girls' on August 17 in a Facebook post after not hearing from them.

He reported that the girls, 'Haven't been to work. Haven't called. Not in hospital. Not in Moab jail,' but police were searching for them.

The dad posted again a day later reporting the girls had been missing for four nights and days.

He said: 'Moab PLEASE PLEASE FIND MY GIRLS.'

In an updated post, he begs Moab not to give up on finding his daughter's killer and asked them to interview everyone who was on the mountain.

He wrote: 'Moab. This is Kylen and Crystals dad. Please please

'DO NOT STOP !!!!'

The sheriff's office released a statement saying they are looking into all avenues provided by those who come forward.

Schulte's (left) and Beck (right) were camping in the mountains of Moab, Utah, about a week ago when they reportedly vanished. Their bodies were discovered Wednesday night near the South Mesa area of La Sal Loop Road

'We are currently following up with what comes to our attention during this investigation and will continue to be available to people to come forward with information,' the sheriff's office told local NBC-affiliated television station KSL-TV.

The father reported that a person of interest had been questioned and released by police, but his daughter's killer was still out there.

The family called Schulte the 'moon and the stars since the day she was born' on the GoFundMe page created to help Sean-Paul pay funeral expenses for the two women.

The couple - who was recently married - spent a lot of time camping.

Their aunt wrote on a GoFundMe page, 'They found their way from the best campsite to the next.'
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Detectives looking for missing university chef Claudia Lawrence today announced that they have begun a new search operation in gravel pits around eight miles from her home in York following the 35-year-old's disappearance twelve years ago.

Miss Lawrence, who lived by herself in the Heworth area of York, failed to arrive for work at the University of York on March 18, 2009 and was reported missing by her father Peter Lawrence two days later, after her friends said they had not heard from her.

Claudia's mother spoke of her distress today as police made the dramatic announcement, explaining she had no idea what prompted the new search.

She said: I have been waiting for closure for a long time but I remain in the dark about what has sparked this investigation and it's obviously a very distressing time.

In the twelve years since her disappearance, nine people have been questioned, but no charges have ever been brought. The case - which is being treated as a suspected murder - has never been closed by North Yorkshire Police.

Her father Mr Lawrence - who campaigned tirelessly for Claudia's Law, which allows relatives to control of their missing loved ones' financial matters - died in February aged 74, without finding out what happened to her. His friend Martin Dales said earlier this year that there could be one or more people 'at large' who knew what happened to her.

Now police have confirmed that an operation has begun to search gravel pits at Sand Hutton, to the east of York.

Speaking at the site, Detective Superintendent Wayne Fox, senior investigating officer in the case, said: 'The searches which have commenced here today at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits are in relation to the disappearance and suspected murder of Claudia Lawrence more than 12 years ago.

'While I cannot say at this stage how long the search may take, I do anticipate that a number of specialist officers and staff, including underwater search teams, and forensic experts are likely to be at this location for a number of days.

'Whilst I am unable to disclose what brought us to this location, I would like to stress that the searches that you will see in coming days are just one of several active lines of inquiry which are currently being investigated and pursued by North Yorkshire Police Major Investigation team in our efforts to establish what happened to Claudia and to identify any person responsible for causing her harm.

Claudia Lawrence, 35, failed to arrive for work at the University of York on March 18, 2009 and was reported missing by her father two days later

Police officers searching the land at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits near York in connection with the disappearance of missing Claudia Lawrence

In the twelve years since her disappearance, nine people have been questioned, but no charges have ever been brought. The case - which is being treated as a suspected murder - has never been closed by North Yorkshire Police. Pictured: Police launching a new search on land at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits

Miss Lawrence, who lived by herself in the Heworth area of York, failed to arrive for work at the University of York on March 18, 2009 and was reported missing by her father Peter Lawrence two days later, after her friends said they had not heard from her

Police have confirmed that an operation has begun to search gravel pits at Sand Hutton, to the east of York

The investigation is one of the largest North Yorkshire Police has ever undertaken, with thousands of interviews, statements and searches, and received extensive media attention

Undated North Yorkshire Police handout of Claudia Lawrence with her father Peter

Claudia Lawrence's route home from work and matched by her now missing mobile phone

A CCTV image shows a man walking near the house of murdered chef Claudia Lawrence

This person has never been identified and is still being hunted by investigating officers

'I can confirm Claudia's family are aware this activity is taking place.'

The investigation is one of the largest North Yorkshire Police has ever undertaken, with thousands of interviews, statements and searches, and received extensive media attention.

The disappearance of Claudia Lawrence 2009 March 18 - Miss Lawrence speaks with her parents over the phone and, at 8.23pm, sends her friend a text. She has not been seen or heard from since. March 20 - Miss Lawrence's father, Peter, contacts North Yorkshire Police after his daughter fails to keep an arrangement to meet a friend at the Nags Head pub. She also fails to attend work. March 23 - Mr Lawrence describes his daughter's disappearance as a 'living nightmare' during a news conference in York. April 24 - Detectives say that Miss Lawrence's disappearance is being treated as a suspected murder investigation. A 10,000 reward is offered for information that could lead to the conviction of those responsible. 2010 May 6 - Mr Lawrence calls for an urgent independent inquiry into the police investigation of his daughter's disappearance and suspected murder. July 29 - Police confirm they are reducing the number of officers dedicated to the inquiry into Miss Lawrence's disappearance. 2013 October 29 - A new forensic search of Miss Lawrence's home is announced as police launch a fresh review of the case. 2014 March 19 - Five years on from Miss Lawrence's disappearance, officers discover at her home the fingerprints of people who have still not come forward to the investigation. May 13 - A 59-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder. He is released on police bail and eventually released without charge on November 17, 2014. 2015 March 23 - A man in his 50s is arrested on suspicion of murdering Miss Lawrence and is released on police bail the following day. April 22 - Three more men, all in their 50s and from the York area, are arrested on suspicion of murder and are released on bail. September 17 - A file of evidence on four men arrested on suspicion of murder is sent by North Yorkshire Police to the Crown Prosecution service (CPS) so it can consider whether to bring charges. 2016 March 8 - Police say the CPS has decided the four men will not face charges. 2017 January 17 - Mr Lawrence says he is 'hugely depressed and disappointed' as the investigation into his daughter's disappearance is scaled down. 2019 March - Nearly a decade on from her disappearance, Miss Lawrence has still not been found. Her father says in an interview that 'it's very difficult' to conceive of her still being alive. July - The Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill, also known as Claudia's Law, came into force. This followed years of campaigning by Mr Lawrence and allows relatives to take control of their missing loved ones' financial matters. 2021 February 15 - The death of Peter Lawrence in announced. March 18 - Speaking after taking over the police investigation, Detective Superintendent Wayne Fox said it is not too late for people to come forward and stop the 'unrelenting anguish' caused to the chef's loved ones. August 24 - A new search operation is announced at the gravel pits at Sand Hutton, about eight miles from York. Advertisement

North Yorkshire Police announced new leads had led to the search at Sand Hutton gravel pits involving teams on land and divers.

A team of police officers could be seen working in a line, methodically searching the undergrowth at Sand Hutton gravel pits.

The beauty spot, popular with anglers, is around a mile off the A64 arterial road which leads out of York towards the town of Malton.

The large York Biotech plant, a centre for agricultural and food technology, is nearby having been established 20 years ago.

The spot where the police search is underway is 5.6 miles away from where Claudia was last seen on Wednesday March 18th 2009 near her home in Heworth, York.

Locals described the area as "a fishing pond" where anglers come all year round.

Earlier this year, Mr Fox repeated North Yorkshire Police's believe that several people know, or have suspicions about, what happened to Miss Lawrence.

He said some of the information received by the force 'appears extremely interesting and sparks a whole new line of investigation', and he urged anyone providing this information to get back in touch with as much detail as possible.

Miss Lawrence's silver Samsung D900 phone and blue and grey Karrimor rucksack have never been found.

Detectives have previously said that they 'strongly suspect key and vital information' which would offer a breakthrough was being 'withheld' and that the answer to her disappearance lies 'locally'.

They have vowed not to quit, saying: 'North Yorkshire Police will never give up on Claudia until it is known who is responsible for her disappearance and suspected murder.'

Miss Lawrence never turned up to her 6am shift at the university's Goodricke College on March 19. The day before, she left work at 2.30pm and started walking the three-mile trek home, which she had been doing for weeks while her car was unavailable.

A friend driving past spotted her on Melrosegate and offered her a lift, which she accepted, and she was then dropped off at her cottage on Heworth Road at around 2.50pm.

A friend later saw Miss Lawrence returning home at 3.05pm and there was a reported sighting in between of her posting a letter nearby.

At around 8pm she texted a friend and then half an hour later she received a call from her mother, who described her as sounding 'cheerful and relaxed'.

The last text Miss Lawrence received was from a male friend in Cyprus who worked in a bar.

After failing to turn up for her morning shift on the 19th, her manager attempted to call her mobile but did not receive an answer. At 12.08pm Miss Lawrence's phone switched off, with later investigations showing that this was done deliberately.

In the evening she was scheduled to meet her friend Suzy Cooper but didn't turn up. Ms Cooper then contacted Mr Lawrence, who went round to the house with a spare key to check on his daughter.

He then reported his daughter to North Yorkshire Police as a missing person.

A man seen standing outside Miss Lawrence's house between 6.45am and 6.55am that day has never been identified by police.

Another male filmed by a CCTV camera in Lime Court, Heworth Road very close to her house has also never been traced.

On June 2, 2009, the case was covered on an episode of BBC's Crimewatch in which Detective Sergeant Ray Galloway, then leading the search, said they were without any strong leads.

After presenter Kirsty Young pushed him to talk about the 'areas of Claudia's life that are delicate to say the least and definitely complex' which had not yet been touched on, Mr Galloway said: 'It's become apparent that some of Claudia's relationships had an element of complexity and mystery to them'.

Amid suspicions that Miss Lawrence had suspicious relationships unknown to her friends or family, her father refuted the claims on the Today Programme.

Mr Lawrence said: 'We really wonder whether, certainly recently, she had time to form any relationships other than those about which we know. She saw her best friend, Suzy, and myself very regularly and she worked in quite a strenuous job. We wonder about it.'

In September 2009, detectives said the search had been extended to Cyprus, with Mr Galloway stating Miss Lawrence 'knew several people who live on the island' and that she may have 'received job offers' while there.

Mr Galloway later stated that interviewees had been 'reluctant and less than candid' when spoken to, and that officers had been sent to Cyprus to interview people whom she had met there.

In March 2010, police began searching various areas of York including Heslington and land near the university, including a children's play area, upon receiving new information.

However, officers did not find any new leads from these searches.

In 2013, North Yorkshire Police set up a new Major Crime Unit, which was established specifically to look into kidnaps, rapes and 'stalled' cases.

Using advanced techniques not previously available, the MCU found additional fingerprints and a man's DNA on a cigarette end in her car. Work surrounding her Samsung D900 mobile phone showed from cell site activity that she was in the Acomb area of York in the weeks leading up to her disappearance and that the phone was deliberately turned off by someone at about 12:10pm on Thursday, March 19, 2009.

A number of arrests were then carried out in relation to the investigation, including six men on suspicion of murder. However, none were charged.

In June 2019, the Government introduced the Guardianship (Missing Person's) Act 2017, informally known as Claudia's Law.

A fresh appeal for answers about Miss Lawrence's case was made in March this year, on the eve of the 12th anniversary of her disappearance.

Detective Superintendent Wayne Fox, Head of the North Yorkshire Major Investigation Team, said: 'In October last year, following the retirement of Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, I was appointed as the new Senior Investigating Officer in charge of the Claudia Lawrence case.

Peter Lawrence at York Police Station for a press conference in April 2009 alongside Superintendent Ray Galloway

Peter Lawrence holding up poster of his daughter outside the Houses of Parliament in 2011

Claudia's Law Peter Lawrence received an OBE for helping to shape the 2017 Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act, known informally as Claudia's Law. The law, known informally as Claudia's Law, created a new legal status of guardian of the affairs of a missing person, allowing someone to act in their best interests after they have been gone for 90 days or more. The new legislation means families can oversee the financial and property affairs of their missing loved one, if the person has been missing for 90 days - lessening what can be a huge burden at a traumatic time. Advertisement

'I share his determination and sincerely hope that one day we will find Claudia and bring to justice those responsible for her suspected murder.

'In my view, there are likely to be several people out there who either know or have strong suspicions as to what happened to Claudia.

'For whatever reason, they have maintained a silence for 12 years.

'That is an awfully long time to carry such a burden of guilt. The longer you carry it, the greater the anguish you are causing to Claudia's family and friends.

'Please do the right thing, come forward and speak to me.'

Miss Lawrence's mother Joan Lawrence earlier this year said she cried when she heard about the disappearance of Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped and murdered by a Metropolitan Police officer in London.

She told the Mirror: 'It brought back all the memories of the weekend when Claudia went missing. I know exactly how her parents are feeling... It's the worst possible pain'.

Mr Dales added: 'I think these things, the strain of it is palpable. In this case, obviously trying to help people with the legislation side of things, it's not straightforward.

'Most missing people cases are solved, most people come back quite quickly, but you do have people for which that's longer.

'He (Peter Lawrence) was a man of faith, he did practise that and he always said that helped him hugely, as it would be helpful for everybody. The key thing is that this needs closure, for his sister, his mother, his friends, everybody.

'The police can only act on information that is passed to them. We all feel that there is someone withholding information in all of this.'

Mr Lawrence received an OBE for helping to shape the 2017 Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act, known informally as Claudia's Law.

The law, known informally as Claudia's Law, created a new legal status of guardian of the affairs of a missing person, allowing someone to act in their best interests after they have been gone for 90 days or more.

The new legislation means families can oversee the financial and property affairs of their missing loved one, if the person has been missing for 90 days - lessening what can be a huge burden at a traumatic time.

Nine suspects quizzed. A 1.5m cold case probe. Now, hope of an answer at last

By Beth Hale

For 12 long years, the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence has remained one of Britains most perplexing unsolved mysteries.

During that time, the smiling face of the York University chef has been burned into public consciousness, frozen in time as the woman of 35 who vanished in March 2009.

Hopes of a breakthrough have been raised many times  to date, nine people have been arrested or interviewed under caution, files have been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to several individuals, but no charges brought. No trace of Claudia.

More than 2,500 statements taken, more than 1,700 vehicles checked, dozens of homes and business premises examined, more than 200 items tested for DNA. No trace of Claudia.

Despite an extensive suspected murder investigation and a cold case review costing a reported 1.5million, no one has been able to explain how Claudia simply vanished or tell her heartbroken family where she is. Could that finally be about to change?

For 12 long years, the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence has remained one of Britains most perplexing unsolved mysteries. Pictured: Joan Lawrence, Claudia's mother

Should yesterdays developments finally lift the veil on what happened to the woman who apparently left the home, on the outskirts of York, where she lived alone, leaving her bed made, dirty plates in the sink and her slippers lined up in the hall, it would be the moment Claudias loved ones have been waiting for all these years.

Only two years ago, on the tenth anniversary of her disappearance, her mother Joan, 78, spoke about her continuing hope.

As her mum, I feel no cut-off. I cant believe she is dead, she told the Mail. I am never, ever giving up hope. Someone knows the truth.

Fresh hope will be welcome. But hopes have been raised and dashed many times before, and this time there is a painful twist in the agonising mystery.

Her father Peter, a solicitor, campaigned tirelessly for answers and spent years arguing for what became the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill  also known as Claudias Law  which allows relatives to take control of their missing loved ones financial matters.

Peter died in February, aged 74, never knowing what happened to his daughter. So what do we know of what happened to Claudia Lawrence?

Nobody has seen or heard from her since she came home from work on Wednesday March 18, 2009. Close to her family, shed grown up with her parents and older sister Ali in the pretty North Yorkshire market town of Malton. Her parents were divorced, and shed spoken to each of them that evening, sounding cheerful and relaxed.

But she never arrived for her early shift at work the following day. It was Peter who reported her missing on the Friday after one of his daughters female friends alerted him when Claudia didnt turn up to meet her in the pub, as theyd agreed, on Thursday night, and phone calls the next morning went straight to voicemail.

Mr Lawrences first action was to go to his daughters house with a spare key to check on her. She wasnt there. He reported his daughter to North Yorkshire Police as a missing person, and the investigation began.

At Claudias home there was precious little evidence, no signs of a break-in or disturbance.

Her passport, bank cards and jewellery were still there  but her mobile phone, chefs whites and a small Karrimor rucksack were all gone.

Her father Peter, a solicitor, campaigned tirelessly for answers and spent years arguing for what became the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill  also known as Claudias Law  which allows relatives to take control of their missing loved ones financial matters

Following a TV appeal, one witness came forward to say they had seen a woman matching Claudias description talking to a left-handed smoker in the street. Another told police they had seen a couple arguing near the campus.

Then, a reconstruction of Miss Lawrences last known movements and possible witness sightings was screened on the BBC Crimewatch programme. To the distress of the Lawrence family, the course of the investigation suddenly altered.

Under questioning by Kirsty Young, Detective Supterindent Ray Galloway, since retired, who was leading the inquiry described Claudias love life as complex and mysterious .

Early police inquiries revealed that Claudia, like many attractive single women, had dated a number of men: around 12 over a five-year period. At least one of them was married.

Suddenly Claudias busy social life, which centred largely on the Nags Head pub, her local, just a few doors down from her house, was in the spotlight  a source of pain and frustration for her family, who were grieved by the false impression of Claudia.

As Joan put it in a 2019 interview: Why is it always the woman who is judged? Everyone who knew Claudia  all her real friends in Malton  didnt recognise her from how shed been portrayed.

Detectives have previously said they strongly suspect key and vital information which would offer a breakthrough was being withheld and that the answer to her disappearance lies locally.

Claudias mobile phone never left the local area and was deliberately switched off some hours after she failed to turn up for work. There have been various theories, various dead ends.

In a Channel 5 documentary called Missing or Murdered, one of Claudias work colleagues  speaking for the first time  suggested that shortly before her disappearance she had hinted at a new lover whom no one yet knew about.

Then there is the name Christopher Halliwell: he is the taxi driver who is serving a full life sentence for the sexually motivated murders of Becky Godden and Sian OCallagan in Wiltshire.Could he be responsible?

North Yorkshire Police have investigated the link with Halliwell, who had family connections in Yorkshire, but have not found any evidence to support the theory.

There was speculation she could have been sex trafficked, more speculation about a moonlight flit to Cyprus, despite leaving her passport at home.

But her father Peter Lawrence gave this short shrift. She was not a mastermind or a master criminal who would have been able to devise a way of going abroad not using a passport or bank account, he said.

The police investigation was dramatically scaled back in July 2010, then in 2013, North Yorkshire Police set up a new Major Crime Unit, specifically to look into stalled cases such as Claudias.

A fresh forensic search of her home was launched, and in early 2014, fingerprints were found of people who have still not come forward.

A series of arrests followed in 2014 and 2015, but all were released without charge.

By 2017, police had announced the investigation, which by this time had cost 1million, was being scaled down. And yet, the hope has steadfastly remained.

Earlier this year, Joan said: I have a gut feeling this year will bring something that could lead us to discover what has happened to Claudia. I pray for that each day.

Whatever this latest police investigation reveals, it may not salve the anguish, but perhaps answers to this heartbreaking mystery may finally be near.
A pastor in Zambia has died after an attempt to recreate the Resurrection of Jesus failed and he was left tied up and buried underground for three days.

James Sakara, 22, was found dead after being dug back up in the Zambian town of Chadiza in the country's eastern province.

Sakara, the pastor of the Zion church in the town, had convinced his congregation that he could resurrect in three days, mimicking Jesus Christ, and requested he be buried beneath the earth.

James Sakara, 22, was found dead after being dug back up in the Zambian town of Chadiza in the country's eastern province

Local media reports that he he convinced three church members to assist his resurrection attempt by helping dig a grave.

Before attempting the resurrection, Sakara quoted from the Bible and explained that Christs instruction to his disciples to do this in remembrance of me on the night he was betrayed actually referred to his resurrection, not just the use of bread and wine at Holy Communion.

His three assistants tied his hands together and buried him alive, where he remained for three days.

Upon returning to dig the pastor back up, his congregation discovered his lifeless body and attempted to conduct spiritual rituals.

Sakara, the pastor of the Zion church in the town, had convinced his congregation that he could resurrect in three days, mimicking Jesus Christ, and requested he be buried beneath the earth. Pictured: The grave the pastor was buried in

However, when Sakara remained lifeless, his following realised his resurrection attempt had proved fruitless.

Of the three church members who volunteered to assist the pastor with his recreation, one has handed himself over to the police.

The other two assistants are still wanted and are believed to be on the run.

The pastor left behind a young wife who is pregnant, according to reports.
People infected with the Delta Covid variant have a viral load 300 times higher than those with the original version of the virus, a South Korean study has found.

The viral load  the amount of virus in a person's blood  is highest in Delta patients when they first start showing symptoms.

But it gradually decreases to levels on par with other variants 10 days after the infection peaks, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

The researchers stressed this 'does not mean Delta is 300 times more infectious' than the virus that emerged in Wuhan in 2019.

They added: 'We think its transmission rate is 1.6 times the Alpha [Kent] variant, and about two times the original version of the virus.'

A higher viral load increases the chance of an infected person passing it on to others.

The Delta variant, first identified in India, is behind almost every Covid infection in the UK and has become the world-dominant strain.

Scientists think the variant is more transmissible because of differences on its spike proteins - which it uses to invade cells

The Indian 'Delta' variant is now behind the majority of Covid cases in both the UK and South Korea. It is more transmissible than other strains of the virus

Covid cases in South Korea are rising after the Delta variant reached the country. But the UK's number of infections is still much higher

The Korean study compared the viral load of 1,848 patients infected with the Delta variant, to 22,106 people who had other strains.

It also found the viral load of the Delta variant falls 30 times higher than the original virus in the four days after reaching its peak, as the body fights off the infection.

Another pandemic on the scale of Covid could strike in the next 60 years, scientists say Another pandemic on the scale of Covid-19 is likely to strike the world within the next 60 years, researchers have warned, and they could become much more common. Covid-19 is one of the deadliest viral outbreaks in more than a century, according to a team led by experts from the University of Padua in Italy, who studied the spread of diseases around the world over the past 400 years to predict future risk. They found that statistically, extreme pandemics aren't as rare as previously assumed, becoming more likely, and the next one will happen by 2080. The US researchers found that the likelihood of a pandemic with similar impact to Covid-19, and on a similar global scale, is about two per cent in any year. This means that someone born in the year 2000 would have about a 38 per cent chance of experiencing one, and will experience another by their 60th birthday. They didn't explore the reason behind the increasing risk, but say it is likely due to population growth, changes in food systems, environment degradation and more frequent contact between humans and disease-harbouring animals. The team also found that the probability of another major pandemic is 'only growing,' and that we should be better prepared for future risks. Advertisement

The KCDA urged people to immediately get tested - preferably using a postal swab - if they develop Covid symptoms, as this is when they are most infectious.

The rapid spread of the Delta variant and low vaccination rates have caught much of Asia off-guard, especially in emerging markets, even as economies in Europe and North America reopen.

South Korea reported 1,509 new coronavirus cases for Monday, raising the total to 239,287 infections, with 2,228 deaths.

It has vaccinated 51.2 per cent of its 52 million population with at least one dose of a vaccine, while 23.9 per cent have been fully vaccinated.

A Chinese study published last month suggested that the Delta variant has a 1,000 times higher viral load than the original virus.

The study tracked 62 people who were infected with the Delta variant, and compared the results to 63 people who caught the original strain.

In their pre-print paper, Chinese scientists said the virus was first detectable in people infected with the Delta variant four days after they were infected.

But for comparison, it took an average of six days among people who caught the original virus.

It comes after scientists warned that another pandemic on the scale of the Covid outbreak could strike the world within the next 60 years.

Covid is one of the deadliest viral outbreaks in more than a century, according to a team led by experts from the University of Padua in Italy, who studied the spread of diseases around the world over the past 400 years to predict future risk.

They found that, statistically, extreme pandemics aren't as rare as previously assumed, becoming more likely, and the next one will happen by 2080.

They didn't explore the reason behind the increasing risk, but say it is likely due to population growth, changes in food systems, environment degradation and more frequent contact between humans and disease-harbouring animals.

The team also found that the probability of another major pandemic is 'only growing,' and that we should be better prepared for future risks.
A premature baby who mistakenly was pronounced dead after delivery - then found alive at the morgue - in a Mexico hospital last week has died of multiple heart attacks.

Daniela Hernandez, who was 23 weeks pregnant, spent a week hospitalized before she went into labor at the Mexican Social Security Institute No. 16 General Hospital in Torreon, Coahuila, Wednesday.

Moments after she gave birth to Jesus Sebastian, Hernandez said doctors erroneously informed her that the child was dead.

The concerned mother then spotted Jesus moving and told one of her doctors that her son was indeed alive.

'I saw that he took him to an incubator and I saw that my baby was moving,' Hernandez told Milenio TV last Thursday.

But the doctor subsequently explained that what she observed was just her son's reflex movement after death.

Daniela Hernandez said she repeatedly told physicians assigned to her delivery last Wednesday at a hospital in Torreon, Mexico, that her son was alive and moving inside an incubator after one of them had informed her that her son Jesus Sebastian was stillbirth.

Jesus spent about four hours inside the morgue when workers allowed the family to enter the room after they vehemently requested to check if he was still alive before they shockingly found him breathing

Jesus was transferred to the hospital morgue after the parents signed a death certificate. But four hours later, the family insisted on checking to see if he still was alive.

Shockingly, they found him breathing at the morgue, they said.

Jesus was reported in stable condition, but then suffered two heart attacks and died Sunday evening, family lawyer Jesus Jasso told the Mexican news channel Tele Diario.

Jasso said the parents filed a complaint with the hospital Monday and that the treating physicians could be tried for malpractice or homicide.

The hospital responded: "The (Mexican Social Security Institute) in Coahuila deeply regrets the death of the minor, sympathizes with the parents and reiterates its position to make sure a full investigation is being carried out."

The Coahuila Human Rights Commission said in a statement that it is looking into an investigation.

'We regret the suffering that the family of the minor went through, first assuming his death and then realizing that he had vital signs when they noticed it was medical negligence,' director Hugo Morales said.

The incident could be prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General of Mexico.
A Chicago police officer left partially paralyzed in a shooting that killed his partner was moved to a rehabilitation center Sunday, but still faces 'a long road ahead,' the city's police superintendent says.

Officer Carlos Yanez, Jr.'s move out of the hospital on August 22 marks 'a major step in his recovery process,' Chicago police Superintendent David Brown said Monday.

Yanez, 39, lost an eye and was left partially paralyzed when he was shot three times on Aug. 7 in a shooting during a routine traffic stop that killed his 29-year-old partner, officer Ella French. They had pulled over a vehicle for expired plates when a passenger in the vehicle opened fire.

'He still has a long road ahead, but we are grateful for the progress he is making,' Brown said.

'We suspect home modifications, accommodations, and transportation needs to increase accessibility and quality of life,' wrote sister Nicole Yanez on a GoFundMe for Yanez's treatment, which has raised $315,815 since it was launched on August 15.

In a Facebook post August 23, Yanez wrote that her brother 'can almost do a left thumbs up and moved his left pinky toe,' since moving to rehab.

'He reports he was able to lift his right leg a bit as well.'

The shooting suspect, 21-year-old Emonte 'Monte' Morgan, was shot in the abdomen by a third officer. He has been arrested and is charged with first-degree murder of a peace officer and attempted murder.

His brother, 22-year-old Eric Morgan, who prosecutors say was driving the vehicle, also was arrested. He faces gun charges and an obstruction of justice charge. Both were being held in Cook County Jail without bail.

The Cook County State's Attorney did not return a call requesting an update on the brothers' court case.

A third man accused of acting as a straw purchaser to buy the gun used in the shooting faces federal gun charges.

Carlos Yanez Jr. (left) with his mother and father - Carlos Yanez Sr., a retired Chicago police officer (right)

'He's still fighting. He's still trying to live for his son  3-year-old son, Carlos III,' Yanez's father, Carlos Yanez Sr., said at the wake for Ella Fitzgerald on August 18.

Eric Morgan (left) and Emonte 'Monty' Morgan were said to have been driving with expired license plates, prompting police to pull them over

Another GoFundMe for French's family and funeral expenses has raised $13,050 since August 8.

Yanez and his partner, 29-year-old Ella French, (pictured) were shot in the West Englewood neighborhood on August 7

A doctor, Nicole Yanez is coordinating her brother's medical care team and sending updates on Facebook.

When Yanez was first moved from the ICU on August 15, Nicole said he could not move his right leg or the left side of his body. Each day, per her updates, he is able to move more and more and his speech improves.

Today, she wrote that it was 'really nice to see Carlos in his own clothes' after his long hospital stay.

'He knows therapy will be a lot of work and he is ready to do it. He is starting to move left fingertips and working on right hip and upper leg.'

'He knows therapy will be a lot of work and he is ready to do it. He is starting to move left fingertips and working on right hip and upper leg,' wrote injured officer Carlos Yanez Jr.'s (pictured) sister, Nicole Yanez, in an August 22 update on her brother's condition

Known to his family as 'CJ,' Yanez's GoFundMe money will also go to his son, who was born with a condition called craniosynostosis. The child has undergone multiple cranial surgeries and needs ongoing therapy.

'He's still fighting. He's still trying to live for his son  3-year-old son, Carlos III,' Yanez's father, Carlos Yanez Sr., said at the wake for Ella Fitzgerald on August 18.

Known to his family as 'CJ,' Yanez's GoFundMe money will also go to his son, who was born with a condition called craniosynostosis. The child has undergone multiple cranial surgeries and needs ongoing therapy.

The difficult road ahead of Yanez is not only physical - he is fighting to stay positive, his sister said, and mourning the loss of his partner.

At one point, Nicole wrote, she heard her brother murmuring 'get better for both of us.'

Carol Yanez Sr., the father of cop who survived shooting that killed Ella French, speaks during her wake on August 18 and said people in attendance 'will never forget Ella or the other officers who came before her or my son. But the people will because they don't feel the pain we feel'

'He asked specifically about Blas and French and was informed of what happened - no details but that Ella didn't make it,' Nicole wrote on August 17.

'It was really hard but we were advised ahead of time by a clinician to be honest.'

'Carlos thinks about Ella French and in waves it hits him,' she wrote the next day. 'He is grieving for her family. He is sad for her dog.'

The pair were both assigned to a special 'Community Safety Team' organized by Brown.

Yanez Sr., blamed embattled mayor Lori Lightfoot for his son's injuries and his partner's death, saying her police reforms prohibit cops from drawing their weapons until it's too late.

'She wants police to fight with a hand tied behind their backs, and you can't fight evil crime, brute force, with one hand tied behind their backs,' said Yanez Sr.

Evidence from prosecutors showed that neither French nor Yanez Jr. drew their weapons before they were shot.

Yanez Sr. said his son had little choice but to keep his weapon holstered, calling it one of many policy changes that embolden criminals and rendering police sitting ducks, according to the The Chicago-Sun Times.

'There wasn't a day that I didn't draw my weapon, have it behind my leg or behind my thigh,' Yanez Sr. told the paper.

Officer Ella French was the first female police officer to be killed in Chicago since 1988, and the first officer killed during Lightfoot's tenure

Over a thousand people attended Ella French's wake on August 18, which included first responders, civilians and fellow officers from around the state

Chicago police officers gather to remember Ella French, who was shot and killed in the line of duty, during her wake on August 18

The mayor's police reforms haven't made a dent in the Windy City's skyrocketing crime numbers.

Data from August showed murders in the city were nearly the same as the number reported last year, but shootings increased by 15 percent. Chicago Police Department said there were 105 homicides recorded in July.

Yanez Sr. told the Chicago Sun Times that his son doesn't want to see the mayor because Yanez is 'no fan' to 'put it mildly.'

MailOnline was unable to contact Yanez Sr. on Facebook.

On August 18, his family put out a video of him moving from his hospital bed to thank supporters for 'your donations and your prayers' in an emotional video which shows him recuperating in a hospital bed.

'I love you all', he says. 'To my son CJ and my wife Brenda, I do this all for you', he adds before blowing air kisses towards the camera.

Yanez was shot multiple times in the face and shoulder after he and partner French approached a car during what-appeared-to-be a routine traffic stop.

Eric Morgan is pictured moments before the fatal shooting in police body cam footage

One of the suspects was seen on video running from the scene as local residents chased them down

'Monte Morgan exited that vehicle with a drink in one hand and a cell phone in the other. He refused repeated instructions to set those items down,' said Risa Lanier, Interim First Assistant State's Attorney, Fox 32 reported.

'He began physically jerking his arms away from those officers.'

Morgan then pulled a .22 caliber handgun on the officers and fired several shots towards the pair, hitting French in the head and Yanez in the right eye and shoulder.

'Defendant Monte Morgan fired multiple shots, striking both Officer French and Victim 2. After being fired upon and struck, Officer French and Victim 2 both fell to the ground between the stopped car and the curb,' Lanier said.

French and Yanez had their guns holstered the 'entire time' during the incident, prosecutors said.

Most of Yanez Jr.'s face and eye socket were fractured during the shooting. He received surgical treatment to repair it.

'We remain hopeful for a miraculous recovery but have to prepare for what's to come,' the GoFundMe page says.

Meanwhile, over a thousand people - including first responders and civilians from all over the state - attended French's wake at St. Rita Cascia Shrine Chapel Wednesday.

Yanez Sr. spoke during the wake and said people in attendance 'will never forget Ella or the other officers who came before her or my son.'

'But the people will because they don't feel the pain we feel.'

Mario Ponce and Abel Mercado, who both worked with French when she was a Cook County sheriff's correctional officer, told The Chicago Sun Times that were heartbroken to have to visit one of their own at such a young age.

'You could feel the energy from her just looking down on law enforcement and other first responders,' Ponce told the paper.

'It was a sad moment, but it was good to see everyone come together as one to support not only her, but her family.'

Emonte has been connected to an unsolved hit-and-run case from April in which a walker was struck in a crosswalk and sent flying against a stop sign.

According to ABC 7, Morgan didn't stop driving until he struck a parked car nearly a mile and a half away.

He was freed on a personal recognizance bond in the wake of the hit and run - despite being on probation for a 2019 robbery conviction at the time.

French's death was the first fatal shooting of a Chicago officer in the line of duty since 2018 and the first female officer fatally shot on the job in 33 years.

She was one of 10 people killed and 64 wounded by gun violence in the city last weekend. Chicago police union boss John Catanzara told Fox News that Lightfoot had to shoulder some of the blame for French's death due to the city's soft stance on crime.

Lightfoot also was criticized for incorrectly referring to French as 'Ella Franks' and siding with First Deputy Police Supt. Eric Carter in dismissing a traditional bagpipe service for French outside the medical examiner's office.

Carter allegedly demanded that the ambulance carrying French go directly into the medical examiner's office without stopping for the ritual, saying, 'We don't have 20 minutes for this s**t.'
Around 100 people attended his service at a church near Portsmouth today

Royal Marines Association and Forgotten Veterans UK appealed for public help to fund a proper funeral

He had no next of kin so doctors contacted a local armed forces charity for help

Veterans turned out in force today to attend the funeral of a former Royal Marine after a public appeal saved him from having a pauper's funeral.

Soldier John Harley Campbell, known as Ian, died aged 78 on July 14 and it was thought he would be given an unmarked grave.

But two Armed Forces charities stepped in to give the ex serviceman - who was known as Johnny Cash's number one fan - the funeral send off he deserved complete with bagpipes and buglers.

The Royal Marines Association together with Forgotten Veterans UK arranged the send off which was attended by around 100 people in Portchester near Portsmouth, Hants.

During his time in the service, Mr Campbell served in Northern Ireland, Borneo, Aden, on the HMS Belfast and in Fort Cumberland in Portsmouth, Hants.

Armed forces charities and 100 mourners today attended a service for former Royal Marine John Harley Campbell after launching an appeal to save him from a pauper's funeral

When former Royal Marine John Harley Campbell died in hospital in July aged 78, it was thought he would be buried in an unmarked grave without a next of kin to organise his funeral

The Royal Marines Association together with Forgotten Veterans UK arranged the send off which was attended by around 100 people in Portchester near Portsmouth, Hants

For his service, Mr Campbell had been awarded the Saudi Arabia Medal, the Long Service Medal, the General Service medal and the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal.

After retiring, he lived on his own. He had no wife or children.

Gary Weaving, CEO and founder of Forgotten Veterans UK said: 'It was me who was called into the hospital on the 14 July.

'The staff were very concerned that he had just no one, he had no friends or family listed as his next kin.

'All they had was his address so I put a post on Facebook to ask people who may have known him.

'Through the power of Facebook, we managed to put on a wonderful display. He was destined for a pauper's funeral and I said to the council I would be going into that unmarked grave before he did.'

Mr Campbell died of Covid and pneumonia as he caught the virus in Queen Alexander Hospital in Portsmouth, Hants after he was admitted for liver and kidney problems.

Gary Weaving, CEO and founder of Forgotten Veterans UK said: He was destined for a pauper's funeral and I said to the council I would be going into that unmarked grave before he did'

Andrea Phillips, 53, from Portsmouth, was very close friends with Mr Campbell. She said: 'Ian would be so proud of the funeral - he would shed a tear or two...'

Hayley Thornhill, a funeral arranger at Forever Together Funeral Care, helped organise Mr Campbell's final journey.

She said: 'It's a lovely thing to do - these two charities have stepped in and made sure that he gets the honour that he deserves as a Royal Marines veteran.'

Andrea Phillips, 53, from Portsmouth, was very close friends with Mr Campbell.

The pair became friends 31 years ago when Mr Campbell helped Andrea move into her flat.

They lived next door to one another and stayed in touch for more than three decades.

Hayley Thornhill, a funeral arranger at Forever Together Funeral Care who helped organise Mr Campbell's final journey said: 'It's a lovely thing to do - these two charities have stepped in and made sure that he gets the honour that he deserves as a Royal Marines veteran'

Mr Campbell died of Covid and pneumonia as he caught the virus in Queen Alexander Hospital in Portsmouth, Hants after he was admitted for liver and kidney problems

Ms Phillips said: 'Ian knew his own mind, and he would do anything for anyone when he was well. A good friend.

'When I lost somebody, he was the one I could talk to. He helped carry my partner's coffin. You could rely on him to do anything.

'We used to watch Billy Connolly together, and Ian was Johnny Cash's number one fan. When Johnny Cash died, we thought it would be the finish of him.

'He loved kids and he loved animals - he loved to walk, when he was still able. We used to go out for rides and have lunch.

'Ian would be so proud of the funeral - he would shed a tear or two..'

Andrea said that Ian, from Kirkaldy, was a 'very proud Scotsman' despite living in Portsmouth for decades.

She is pleased that the two charities have stepped forward to pay for Ian's funeral.

Andrea added: 'I think it's great - I can't really afford it, but there's no way Ian was going to be given a council burial, he deserved better.'
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A Royal Navy aircraft has helped to 'turbo charge' humanitarian aid efforts in Haiti after the country was hit by a devastating earthquake that has killed more than 2,000 people.

The Ministry of Defence said the crew of a Wildcat helicopter, usually based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, have been assessing the damage by surveying the area around the epicentre of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in the Tiburon Peninsula in the south west of the Caribbean country.

The aviators in the helicopter are locating villages, towns and infrastructure in need of help and are often in the air from dusk to dawn, according to the Ministry of Defence.

'Knowing that my work is being used to assess the areas damaged by last week's earthquake is humbling,' task group photographer Leading Seaman Rory Arnold said.

'It's great to see my training being used to help those affected'.

A Wildcat helicopter, usually based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, have been assessing the damage by surveying the area around the epicentre of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in the Tiburon Peninsula in the south west of Haiti

The aviators in the helicopter are locating villages, towns and infrastructure in need of help and are often in the air from dusk to dawn, according to the Ministry of Defence

On Tuesday, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office said the UK had sent 20 metric tonnes of aid items to Haiti following the earthquake

The aircraft is from Royal Navy support ship RFA Wave Knight, which was sent to bolster the international aid effort following the disaster on August 14

The aircraft is from Royal Navy support ship RFA Wave Knight, which was sent to bolster the international aid effort following the disaster on August 14.

The earthquake has so far left more than 2,000 people dead, 344 people missing, 12,000 injured and more than 100,000 destroyed or damaged homes.

The RFA Wave Knight has been providing fuel for US Army Black Hawk helicopters, which are involved in relief efforts on the ground and providing rest for crews and a space for mechanical repairs.

The Royal Navy ship is a flagship of the Royal Navy's Caribbean task group, which also includes the patrol vessel HMS Medway.

On Tuesday, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office said the UK had sent 20 metric tonnes of aid items to Haiti following the earthquake.

The earthquake has so far left more than 2,000 people dead, 344 people missing, 12,000 injured and more than 100,000 destroyed or damaged homes

The quake struck Haiti amid a period of extreme political upheaval following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise last month which led to rising levels of civil unrest

Recovery efforts have been impeded by flooding and damage to access roads, feeding tensions in some of the hardest-hit areas

The shipment, which is due to arrive in Haiti early on Wednesday, included shelter kits and solar powered lanterns for up to 1,300 families, with more such support to follow later in the month.

The items are arriving as part of the 1m in support to Haiti announced by the UK Government last week.

The quake struck Haiti amid a period of extreme political upheaval following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise last month which led to rising levels of civil unrest.

Recovery efforts have been impeded by flooding and damage to access roads, feeding tensions in some of the hardest-hit areas.

Tropical Storm Grace battered the south of Haiti on August 15 and 16, preventing rescuers from carrying out extensive rescue missions and officials said some areas were hit by several inches of rainfall before the storm moved on.

Exasperation over delays in assistance has boiled over, with residents looting food packages and gangs hijacking aid trucks in an attempt to round up supplies for profit.
Israel's Covid R rate has fallen below one among the over-60s just three weeks after booster shots were dished out, in the clearest sign yet that the programme is working.

Health Ministry officials say the R rate  which signals how fast the virus is spreading  has dropped below the crucial level, suggesting the outbreak is now shrinking in that age group.

Israel became the first country in the world to start rolling out booster shots to over-60s last month  and more than half have already got their third dose.

The country has expanded the programme to over-30s, after previously making all over-40s, teachers and frontline medics and carers eligible.

Israeli Government adviser and data scientist Professor Eran Segal said infection rates in over-60s are still 'very high' but that the increase in the rate of infections... has diminished'.

'This is likely due to the third booster shots,' he said, 'an uptick in people taking the first dose and the high number of people infected per week who now have natural immunity.'

Britain is under mounting pressure to follow suit because infections, hospitalisation and deaths are all rising as we head into autumn, when school and university students will begin mixing again and more people opt to socialise in doors.

But the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises No10 on the roll out, is only expected to green light third doses for very vulnerable adults and the very elderly, citing a lack of evidence of benefit for re-jabbing healthy adults.

Israel's Covid cases appear to be plateauing almost four weeks after the booster programme began. Health Ministry data showed the country's infection rate was 842 cases per 100,000 people on August 23, down from 844.5 the day before

But Covid deaths in the country are continuing to rise. Deaths lag behind cases by around three weeks

Israeli data suggests booster shots slash the risk of infection among the double-vaccinated four-fold. Pictured above is a woman receiving her third Pfizer vaccine in Israel

Israel's Covid cases may now be falling after surging since June when the Indian 'Delta' variant first arrived in the country.

Health Ministry data showed the country's infection rate nationally was 842 cases per million people on August 23  the most recent data  compared to 687 per million one week earlier.

Despite rising in the last seven days, cases appear to have peaked at 844 per million on August 22.

However, one day of dropping infection rates is not indicative of a trend and cases could begin to rise again.

But promisingly, the R rate dropped below one among over-60s last Thursday and continued to fall for the rest of the week, according to data from the Health Ministry.

And nationally, the R rate dipped to 1.14 from 1.36 at the start of the month.

This means every 10 infected people will infect around 11 other people, down from 13 to 14 others at the beginning of the month.

But the rate is still above one, suggesting the outbreak was still growing across the country, but lower than previously suggesting the rate of increase had slowed.

Booster jabs were offered to those aged 60 and over first before being expanded to the over-50s and over-40s more recently.

But it takes 10 days to three weeks for immunity to develop after a Covid vaccine, so it is not yet expected for infection rates to begin tumbling in younger age groups.

Taiwan has started administering its own Covid vaccine Taiwan yesterday began dishing out its own homemade Covid vaccine. The Medigen jab received emergency approval for use from the island's health authorities last month. And more than 700,000 residents have already signed up to receive it. Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen got her first dose yesterday. Taiwan has been accused of rushing its rollout because the jab is yet to complete stage three trials in Panama. But Medigen  the biotech firm behind the vaccine  says there are no safety concerns and results show antibodies from the jab are 'as good' as those from AstraZeneca vaccines. Taiwanese receive the Medigen vaccine yesterday in Taipei, the capital The jab is is a recombinant protein vaccine, similar to the vaccine developed by Novavax which trials have shown to be up to 89 per cent effective. It uses a more traditional method by recreating part of the spike protein of the virus to stimulate an immune reponse. Advertisement

More than a million people have got a third dose since the drive was expanded to adults.

Israeli Government Covid adviser and Hebrew University expert Doron Gazit said the rise in hospitalisations among over-60s has been slowing over the last ten days.

'We attribute this to the booster shots and to more cautious behaviour recently,' he said.

The rate of new severe cases among unvaccinated patients 70 and older is now seven times that of vaccinated patients, and the gap will continue to grow as long as infections rise, according to Gazit. Among those over 50, that gap is four-fold.

'We are optimistic, but very cautious,' Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz told public broadcaster Kan on Sunday.

'It gives us more time, slows the spread and we're moving away from lockdown.'

But even if the boosters are slowing the pandemic's pace, it is unlikely to fend Delta off entirely.

Dvir Aran, biomedical data scientist at Technion  Israel's Institute of Technology , said that while cases are retreating, other measures are needed alongside boosters to stop the pandemic.

'It will take a long time until enough people get a third dose and until then thousands more people will getting seriously ill.'

Since Delta's surge, Israel has re-imposed indoor mask wearing, limitations on gatherings and ramped up rapid testing.

Its 'living with Covid' policy will be tested come September, when schools reopen after summer break and when the Jewish holiday season starts, with families traditionally gathering to celebrate.

It comes after an Israeli study yesterday suggested a third dose of Pfizer's Covid vaccine significantly improves protection against infection and serious illness in the over-60s.

It found that people given a booster shot were four times less likely to catch the virus after 10 days compared to those only given two doses.

A third jab also enhanced protection from serious illness and hospitalisation in the over-60s by five to six times, according to the study by the Israeli Health Ministry.

The findings, believed to be based on real-world data, were presented at a meeting of a ministry panel of vaccination experts on Thursday. But full details of the study are yet to be released.

They are in line with separate data reported by Israel's Maccabi healthcare provider last week which found the boosters to be highly effective.
The founder of an Illinois militia group, who was found guilty in connection to the bombing of a Minnesota mosque in 2017, now wants to be legally declared a transgender woman claiming the 'inner conflict' of her gender dysphoria and online right-wing conspiracy theories led up to the attack.

Michael Hari, who now identifies as Emily Claire Hari, 50, is asking to be legally recognized as a transgender woman and for an amended prison placement based on her transgender identity as federal Minnesota assistant public defender Shannon Elkins argues Hari's 'inner conflict' should allow for the minimum sentencing of 30 years, according to a recent filing.

Elkins is asking US District Judge Donovan Frank to grant her client the minimum sentence rather than the life sentence that is being sought by prosecutors.

'She strongly desired making a full transition but knew she would be ostracized from everyone and everything she knew,' Hari's defense attorney, Shannon Elkins, wrote in court documents obtained by The Star Tribune.

A jury convicted Michael Hari (pictured), 50, the leader of an Illinois anti-government militia group, of several civil rights and hate crime charges in the 2017 bombing of a Minnesota mosque

Hari in an undated image possibly from around the time when he was found guilty of kidnapping his daughters and taking them to a Mennonite colony in northern Mexico in 2005

'Thus, as she formed a ragtag group of freedom fighters or militia men and spoke of missions to Cuba and Venezuela, Ms. Hari secretly looked up 'sex change,' 'transgender surgery,' and 'post-op transgender' on the Internet. As she purchased military fatigues for their 'missions' she also purchased dresses and female clothing for a planned trip to Bangkok, Thailand, for male-to-female surgery. She was living a double life.'

Hari continues to deny taking part in the bombing of which she's been convicted. Her sentencing is scheduled for September 13.

In 2020, a jury convicted the leader of the Illinois anti-government militia group of several civil rights and hate crime charges in the 2017 bombing of a Minnesota mosque.

But in the recent filings, Elkins describes Hari as a 'pacifist' who peacefully lived in Anabaptist communities around the world and among other cultures. Claiming that, 'She is not a 'White Nationalist,' a 'Neo Nazi,' a 'Skinhead,' a 'Boogaloo Boi,' nor part of the 'Arian [sic] Brotherhood.'

Elkins insist Hari was influenced by misinformation and right-wing conspiracies writing: 'This degrading, anti-Muslim, and Islamophobic rhetoric and misinformation has spread throughout the United States over the past several years through social media and the internet,' naming sites such as Breitbart, World Net Daily and Jihad Watch.

'Emily Hari is more than a one-note caricature,' Elkins said. 'She is a complex human being who has been convicted by a jury of her peers. She will stand before this Court for sentencing, facing life in prison. She asks the Court to consider a sentence that is just and proportionate rather than vindictive or symbolic.'

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence to jurors that included phone records and testimony of federal investigators who tracked Hari down to Clarence, Illinois, a rural community about 120 miles south of Chicago where Hari and two co-defendants lived after a seven-month investigation.

Prosecutors outlined Hari's hatred for Muslims as her motivation for the bombing during the trial, citing anti-Islam excerpts from Hari's manifesto known as 'The White Rabbit Handbook', named after her militia group.

The bombing at the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center took place on August 5, 2017, when the pipe bomb exploded in the imam's office as worshipers gathered for early morning prayers.

No one was hurt in the explosion, though community members where shaken by the incident and the mosque's executive director testified last month that it has led to diminished attendance due to fear.

Local faith leaders gathered in front of the federal courthouse building in St Paul and thanked prosecutors and the jury during a press conference after the verdict was delivered.

Abdulahi Farah, a program director at Dar Al-Farooq, said the mosque's sense of community was 'shattered' after the attack, but the guilty verdict sends a 'strong message' to their congregants and other Muslim communities across the state.

The bombing at the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center took place on August 5, 2017, when the pipe bomb exploded in the imam's office (pictured) as worshipers gathered for early morning prayers

No one was hurt in the explosion, though community members where shaken by the incident and the mosque's executive director testified last month that it has led to diminished attendance. A man leaves a sign of support near the damaged area at the mosque in 2017

Hari was found guilty on all five counts, which include using explosives, damaging property because of its religious character and obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs. She faces a mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison. FBI agents at the scene on August 15, 2017

'Our community members definitely have been sharing messages of hope instead of fear and isolation,' Farah said last year. 'Many more members are slowly coming back and feeling like this is the place where we belong, this is our home and we're not going anywhere.'

Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said during the press conference that while justice has been served in this individual case, the threat of violence toward Muslim communities by white supremacist groups still exists.

Hussein said these groups were galvanized by President Donald Trump's administration and that he was concerned the groups would take out their frustration with the president's loss in November's election on Muslim communities across the nation.

'We urge, as we celebrate today's verdict, that law enforcement and particularly state and federal leadership do not ignore ... the potential for more severe crimes like this happening moving forward,' he said ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

US Attorney Erica MacDonald said in a press release at the time that Hari's goal was to undermine the Dar Al-Farooq congregation's right to practice their religion with violence 'driven by hatred and ignorance'.

'Today's guilty verdicts represent a condemnation of that hatred and uphold our fundamental right to live and worship free from the threat of violence and discrimination,' she said.

Hari was found guilty on all five counts, which include using explosives, damaging property because of its religious character and obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs.

The Star Tribune reported that Hari called the newspaper from jail a few hours after her conviction to say she was beginning a hunger strike.

The testimony by Hari's co-defendants, Joe Morris (right) Michael McWhorter (left), described how Morris viewed Hari as a father figure, and how Hari instructed them to throw the pipe bomb into the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center as Hari waited in the car

'I am protesting my sham trial by submitting to a trial by ordeal in the form of a hunger strike to prove my innocence and my sincerity,' Hari said, according to the newspaper.

Hari also said she was embarking on the strike for people wrongly convicted of drug-related crimes, the newspaper reported.

The testimony by Hari's co-defendants, Joe Morris and Michael McWhorter, described how Morris viewed Hari as a father figure, and how Hari instructed them to throw the pipe bomb into the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center as Hari waited in the car after driving up from Illinois in a truck rented by Hari.

Morris, who along with McWhorter pleaded guilty in January 2019 to their role in the attack, testified that Hari said the mosque trained ISIS fighters.

Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors failed to produce forensic evidence putting Hari at the suburban Minneapolis mosque on the day of the attack and attempted to discredit Morris and McWhorter with what they said were inconsistencies in their testimony. Hari refused to testify in his own defense.

Prosecutors refuted the defense's claims, citing Hari's past as a former sheriff's deputy that investigated crimes as how she knew not to leave forensic evidence behind.

But Hari's trouble with the law came long before the bombing of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in 2017.

In 2006, Hari was found guilty of child abduction for which he was sentenced to 30 months probation

Hari fled to a Mennonite colony in Northern Mexico with his two daughters Mollie Hari, 15, and Allene Hari, 13, fearing he was about to lose custody

Hari's ex-wife, Michelle Frakes, went on the Dr. Phil show in 2005 to share her story and her concerns that she would never see her daughters again. Dr. Phil and an investigator tracked Hari and the girls down in Central America after 10 months of their disappearance

The former Ford County sheriff's deputy served 30 months probation after being found guilty of abducting her two young daughters in 2005. His ex-wife, Michelle Frakes, appeared on the Dr. Phil show sharing her story and concerns that she would never see her daughters again.

She told the story of her life with Hari saying 'Michael would get angry if he didn't think I was living up to the expectations of a wife.'

'In his eyes, I could never do anything right. Michael teased me a lot throughout our marriage. He said he was testing my moods, if I could take it or not. He would point a finger at me like he was going to poke it in my eye and just do it over and over and over, and I would beg him to stop.'

But his 'teasing' wasn't only aimed at Michelle, 'Michael teased my daughters too. He would hold them upside-down when they were infants, ask them to hug him, and if they refused him, he would threaten to spank them.'

Hari was a a federal fugitive of the law and was later discovered to have taken her two daughters, Mollie Hari and Allene Hari- 15 and 13 at the time- to a Mennonite colony in Central America when he feared he would lose custody of the girls to Michele.

At the time, Hari was a apart of the Old German Baptist Brethren, which does not believe that girls should be educated after the age of 13-years-old.

It was Dr. Phil and his investigative team who convinced Hari to return to Illinois after 10 months.

Then in 2017, she began posting on YouTube under the name 'Illinois Patriot.' In her videos he spews far-right conspiracy theories and called for a rebellion.

In 2017, Hari began posting radical rants on YouTube under the username 'Illinois Patriot.' He posted his last video one day before he was arrested for the Minnesota bombing

Hari was the leader of the White Rabbit militia group. His manifesto was known as 'The White Rabbit Handbook', named after the group

That year a month before the bombing of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center, Hari was arrested for the alleged assault of a neighbor, according to the Ford County Record.

The Ford County Sheriff's Office released a report detailing how Hari allegedly used an 'arm-bar takedown' maneuver on his neighbor to restrain him and then pressed an airsoft handgun against the back of his head as he was being held face-down against the back of Hari's car amid an argument with his neighbor.

After a witness stepped in and tore the men apart, Hari attacked Jon-Michael O'Neill a second time.

In a video posted to her YouTube account in 2018 titled 'A Cry for Liberty', Hari wearing a mask to conceal most of her face, calls viewers to 'take a stand for liberty right now.'

Despite an earlier claim in the video of support for then-president Donald Trump, Hari continues to rant about the 'illegitimate' government. 'It's time for resistance. It's time for people to resist the unlawful government that we have now. This government is completely illegitimate.'

She perpetuates the false narrative of rigged elections falsely claiming, 'Our elections have been undermined through illegal votes, through surveillance, through blackmail. There's nothing left friends. Anybody who thinks that there's not a puzzle piece left that's gonna demand rebellion is living in a fantasy land and they need to wake up to the truth.'

'You need to be there with a rifle in your hand.'

Hari was arrested by the FBI on March 13, 2018, two days after posting 'A Cry for Liberty,' in connection to the Minnesota bombing.
Civil servants will 'feel guilt and responsibility' forever over the death of a five-year-old Afghan boy who fell from a hotel window, a senior Home Office official has said.

Mohammed Munib Majeedi fell from the window of the Sheffield Metropolitan Hotel in Blonk Street on August 18.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, Emma Haddad, director general of asylum and protection at the Home Office, said the boy's family had 'recently' been moved from Afghanistan by her team.

'We are all heartbroken. We have all been in tears,' Dr Haddad said.

Director of asylum at the Home Office, Emma Haddad, has defended her staff over the tragic death of an Afghan boy who fell from a hotel window saying her team are 'heartbroken' and have all been 'in tears'

But she also criticised some of the media coverage and a 'desire to score political points', and defended her team's work.

She wrote in the Telegraph: 'Some of the media coverage of the death of the little boy has hurt my team a lot.

'It is totally misleading to suggest that the Home Office does not take our responsibilities towards children in our care seriously.

'And more than that - among the desire to score political points are dedicated civil servants who will feel guilt and responsibility for this tragic death forever.

'Many of us are also parents. We are not faceless bureaucrats with no empathy - the emotions are overwhelming us.'

Dr Haddad said her team has been working 'round the clock' to provide safe refuge to people fleeing Afghanistan, an operation she described as 'hugely complex and incredibly pressurised'.

Mohammed Munib Majeedi (pictured) fell from the window of the Sheffield Metropolitan Hotel on August 18 after the boy's family had 'recently' been moved from Afghanistan

This comes following claims asylum seekers were previously removed from the Sheffield Metropolitan Hotel (pictured) because it was unfit for refugees to stay in

She said her staff do not want to use hotels for relocation, but offers of housing have not kept pace with the numbers arriving.

All hotels used by the Home Office must meet 'stringent' health and safety checks and provide detailed risk assessments, she said, adding the sites used to accommodate unaccompanied asylum-seeking children have trained support workers available at all times.

She was speaking after claims that asylum-seekers had previously been removed from the hotel involved because it was unfit for refugees to stay in.

Labour MPs in the city demanded a 'full, urgent, independent inquiry into the circumstances that led to Mohammed's death, but also into the placement of vulnerable refugees in this accommodation'.

Shadow frontbencher Louise Haigh, who is MP for Sheffield Heeley, told the PA news agency: 'We know that the Home Office placed some refugees there last August, in 2020, and then moved them following concerns about the suitability of that accommodation.

Emergency services were called to the OYO Sheffield Metropolitan Hotel on Blonk Street in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, at around 2.30pm on August 18 (scene pictured above)

'So why vulnerable families from Afghanistan, involving children, were placed in this accommodation again this year is a very serious question that they have to urgently answer.'

It is understood previous concerns surrounded fire safety.

Sheffield City Council confirmed that the Home Office had stopped using the hotel in November.

The Home Office did not deny the claims, but said: 'We are extremely saddened by the tragic death of a child at a hotel in Sheffield. The police are providing support to the family while the investigation continues and we are providing accommodation and support.

'We are absolutely committed to ensuring that Afghan refugees are appropriately accommodated and supported and we are working hard with local authorities to deliver this.'

Witnesses said the boy's father had worked in the British Embassy in Kabul.

It is understood the family came to the UK three or four weeks ago after fleeing the Taliban to reach the UK, landing at Birmingham Airport, then staying in Manchester during quarantine for Covid.

The family, including the parents and three boys and two girls, then moved to the hotel in Sheffield in the week before the fall.
A group of Republican lawmakers including military veterans tore into President Joe Biden over his handling of the Afghanistan crisis and demanded he extend the evacuation deadline past August 31 during a press briefing outside the Capitol on Tuesday.

'We're going to leave Americans behind 11 days before the 20th anniversary of September 11? Are you kidding me?' Rep. Mike Waltz said. 'The Taliban taking over means Al Qaeda 3.0 comes roaring back, except we're in a worse position than before.'

'Are we going to have another pulse night club? Are we going to have another San Bernardino? Are we going to have another 9/11 because of that incompetence?'

'That blood is and will be on Joe Biden's hands.'

Their threat comes as the Taliban announced they are blocking Afghan citizens from accessing Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul after allowing evacuations for little more than a week.

Biden initially seemed open to extending the deadline if necessary. As of Tuesday morning he is standing firm on the August 31 date, Reuters reports after the president's emergency meeting with other G7 leaders.

The GOP lawmakers said blood would be on Biden's hands if he doesn't extend the August 31 deadline to get all Americans and Afghan allies out of Afghanistan

Waltz, the first Green Beret special forces veteran to serve in Congress, served multiple tours in Afghanistan.

He said not extending the deadline means leaving Americans and allies 'stranded' - seemingly taking a shot at White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

Psaki on Monday called out a reporter who asked about Americans 'stranded' in Kabul - telling him using the term was 'irresponsible.'

At one point Waltz displayed a framed letter he said hangs on his office wall, claiming it was sent by the Taliban to a school principal.

The Taliban allegedly threatened 'if he didn't get out of town he would be beheaded within 24 hours' for running a school for girls.

At one point Rep. Waltz, a Green Beret, held up a letter from the Taliban to an Afghan school principal, warning he would be beheaded for running a girls' school

'I leave this up as a reminder of the evil we're dealing with, and what we're condemning these people to,' Waltz said.

Rep. Ronny Jackson, former White House physician and also an Afghanistan veteran, said the Biden administration 'betrayed' the people of Afghanistan.

'We are at the very beginning of this crisis that Biden has created,' he said. 'We need him and we need his team to resign.'

The Pentagon said in a press briefing Tuesday that it did not have a number for how many Americans or Afghan allies are still in the country.

'We are on the cusp of the biggest mass hostage crisis this country has ever seen,' Waltz warned.

He said the looming threat would make the Tehran embassy hostage crisis in 1979 'look like a sleepover.'

A total of 57 coalition flights and 37 US military flights evacuated roughly 21,600 people from Kabul within 24 hours as of 3 a.m. this morning, according to White House numbers released early Tuesday.

Since August 14 58,700 people have been evacuated - but according to a Washington Post reporter, only 4,000 are Americans.

Washington Post's Olivier Knox first tweeted that around 4,000 Americans have been evacuated since August 14

Former President Trump joined in on the criticism of Biden's Afghanistan crisis

Former President Donald Trump lashed out at Biden on Tuesday afternoon, referencing the figure and accusing Biden of having 'surrendered Afghanistan to terrorists and left thousands of Americans for dead by pulling out the Military before our citizens.'

'You can be sure the Taliban, who are now in complete control, didnt allow the best and brightest to board these evacuation flights. Instead, we can only imagine how many thousands of terrorists have been airlifted out of Afghanistan and into neighborhoods around the world,' Trump wrote.

'What a terrible failure. NO VETTING. How many terrorists will Joe Biden bring to America? We dont know!'

Meanwhile the Taliban released political prisoners across the country, with 220 inmates freed in Kandahar province on Tuesday.

The group also is now in control of billions of dollars of US military technology that was in the Afghan government's possession, which could include more than 150 aircraft.

The US gave the Afghan military roughly $28 billion in weapons technology between 2002 and 2017.

An inspector general's report from 2020 states the US gave more than 7,000 machine guns and nearly 1,400 grenade launchers to Afghanistan from 2017 to 2019, among other weapons.

The Taliban announced Tuesday that Afghan citizens will no longer be permitted through Kabul airport

The Taliban released political prisoners over the last week, including these former inmates who are seen leaving a prison in Kandahar on August 24

Waltz was outraged at the Taliban's military acquisition on Tuesday.

'The Taliban are going to be armed to the teeth, so when future American soldiers have to go back to deal with the problem...how many are going to die now, because they're going to have to fight their way through our own equipment - our own damn equipment!'

'This is a terrorist organization, the Taliban, and they now have control of a country because of President Biden's failed policy,' House Minority Whip Steve Scalise said at the event.

He said the Taliban's control of Afghanistan would mean a heightened risk of terrorists coming to the US by crossing the southern border.

'We want President Biden's focus on rescuing every American who he left behind enemy lines, and to give us an accounting of who they are,' Scalise said.

The Associated Press reported last week that up to 15,000 US nationals could still be in Afghanistan.

Republican leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy also publicly urged Biden to rethink this August 31 deadline, stating in a press conference that 'we should stay until every single American is able to get out of Afghanistan.'

'We should not negotiate it. We should explain that this is what is going to happen and anybody in our way to stop us from bringing Americans out will be in danger.'

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also joined in bashing Biden over his decision to maintain the August 31 deadline.

'The president needs to forget about the August 31st deadline. We need to send enough American personnel, military personnel to rescue our people, and by the way, there are more American soldiers there now than before the president made the decision to leave. Extend the deadline. Get outside the perimeter, make sure that every single American who wants to leave is able to get out with our assistance, and our Afghan allies,' he said on Fox News.

'Having made that decision, youd have to conclude these guys couldnt organize a two-car funeral.'
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Britain's Covid outbreak continued to grow today as daily infections, deaths and hospital admissions all trended upwards.

The Department of Health said there were another 30,838 infections in the past 24 hours, marking a rise of nearly 15 per cent in a week.

There were also 174 deaths within 28 days of a positive test registered overnight, an increase of 2 per cent and the highest number since March when the country was in lockdown.

Latest data on Covid hospital admissions shows 858 patients were taken ill with the disease on August 20 in a 10 per cent rise week-on-week.

The rising statistics came as separate figures revealed the number of people dying from Covid every week in England and Wales has ticked up to its highest level since March.

A total of 571 people had the virus mentioned on their death certificates last week, according to the Office for National Statistics, which was up eight per cent on the previous seven-day spell.

This was the highest number since the week ending March 26, at the end of the second wave and when the countries were still in lockdown. At that time, the virus was behind 719 deaths.

The latest figures mean Covid was behind one in 18 total fatalities last week. While it marks a near five-month high, the rate at which Covid deaths are increasing appears to have slowed.

The eight per cent rise last week was the lowest in nearly two months. And deaths are still a far cry from the levels seen in previous waves, thanks to the vaccine rollout.

Seven out of nine regions in England saw their Covid deaths rise in the latest week compared to the previous seven-day spell. They only fell in the West Midlands and the North West.

Flu and pneumonia were involved in nearly three times more deaths last week than Covid.

Meanwhile, the number of 'excess deaths' from all causes is at its highest since February. These are the number of fatalities above the average for the corresponding period in the non-pandemic years of 2015-19.

A total of 10,372 deaths in England and Wales were registered in the week ending August 13, according to the ONS, which was 14 per cent above the five-year average, or 1,270 more deaths.

Is this why Delta is so infectious? Patients with mutant Covid variant have a viral load 300 times higher than those with original virus People infected with the Delta Covid variant have a viral load 300 times higher than those with the original version of the virus, a South Korean study has found. The viral load  the amount of virus in a person's blood  is highest in Delta patients when they first start showing symptoms. But it gradually decreases over time as the body fights off the infection. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) found the viral load of Delta patients only matched other variants 10 days after symptoms first appeared. But the researchers stressed this 'does not mean Delta is 300 times more infectious' than the Wuhan virus. They added: 'We think its transmission rate is 1.6 times the Alpha [Kent] variant, and about two times the original version of the virus.' A higher viral load means a virus spreads more easily from person to person. This will lead to a higher number of infections and hospitalisations because more people are catching the virus. The more transmissible Delta variant, first identified in India, is behind almost every Covid infection in the UK and the majority in South Korea. Advertisement

Excess deaths have not been this high since the week ending February 19, when 2,182 extra deaths were registered, 18.8 per cent above the five-year average.

Some of the increase in excess deaths can be explained by the recent rise in deaths involving Covid-19, all of which are classed as excess deaths.

But Covid deaths do not account for the majority of excess deaths, suggesting there are still many more people than normal dying of other causes  a trend that has been evident since the early weeks of the pandemic.

This is particularly true for deaths in private homes, which have been well above the 2015-19 average almost every week since April 2020.

The number of excess deaths in private homes in England and Wales since the start of the pandemic now stands at 66,941, according to analysis by the PA news agency.

Of this number, just 8,152, or 12 per cent, were deaths that involved Covid-19. The recent rise in Covid-19 deaths reflects the impact of the third wave of coronavirus, which began in the UK in May and has led to a jump in the number of new cases as well as a smaller rise in hospital patients.

While the 571 deaths in the latest week is the highest since late March, it is still well below the level seen at the peak of the second wave.

Some 8,433 deaths involving Covid-19 were registered in England and Wales in the week to January 29.

The relatively low number of deaths in the third wave so far, when compared with the second wave of the virus, reflects the success of the rollout of coronavirus vaccines across the country.

Vaccinations in England are now estimated to have prevented between 91,700 and 98,700 deaths, according to Public Health England.

Overall, 156,958 deaths have occurred in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, the ONS said.

The highest number on a single day was 1,484 on January 19. During the first wave of the virus, the daily toll peaked at 1,461 on April 8 2020.

Covid deaths rose in seven of England's nine regions last week, according to the ONS data.

The North West recorded the highest number of Covid fatalities (101 deaths linked to the disease), followed by Yorkshire and the Humber (78) and London (72).

Only the West Midlands (nine per cent drop) and the North West (seven per cent drop) saw their Covid fatalities fall compared to the same time the previous week.

Covid fatalities also fell in Wales where 19 were recorded, compared to 22 in the previous seven-day spell.

Across the UK there were 652 deaths involving the virus, which was 41 more than in the previous period. There were also 11,700 deaths from all causes.

Covid was mentioned on 571 death certificates in the week to August 13, according to the Office for National Statistics. This was the highest number since late March when the second wave was dying down. Covid deaths remained above average for the fifth week in a row

Deaths from all causes (dark blue line) remained above average in England and Wales for the fifth week in a row. There were 10,300 recorded (Dark blue line), which was above the number expected at this time of year (light blue line)

Travel PCR provider claims firms are being left to self-regulate with NO check-ups from officials The medical director of DAM Health, Professor Frank Joseph British travel PCR test providers are operating unregulated despite the Government promising to crackdown on 'cowboy' firms, it was claimed today. The medical director of DAM Health, one of the UK's largest providers, said the company has had to resort to self-regulation due to a lack of guidance from officials.

Professor Frank Joseph, whose firm has more than 40 clinics across the UK, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Unfortunately theres no regulation for us and we would welcome it. 'We've had conversations with local councillors in Liverpool to say "look you know there is no regulation but we have to self-regulate".' He admitted there were 'no check ups' at any of DAM's clinics and nothing in place to verify that tests have been properly processed. It comes despite Sajid Javid promising that the Department of Health was clamping down private firms. Just 2 per cent of firms have been struck off the Government's approved list so far despite a review finding that a fifth were peddling false claims and charging extortionate prices. Advertisement

Covid was the underlying cause of death  the factor that sparked the fatality  on 512 death certificates last week, or nine in ten, of the 571 fatalities it was involved in.

For comparison, flu and pneumonia were the underlying cause of death in 260 fatalities  or almost one in five of the 1,400 death certificates that mentioned this common respiratory illness.

The number of deaths where flu and pneumonia was the underlying factor has fallen over the latest two weeks.

Some 57 care home resident deaths involving Covid in England and Wales were registered in the week to August 13, up from 50 the previous week.

In total, 42,805 care home residents in England and Wales have had Covid-19 recorded on their death certificate since the pandemic began.

The ONS figures cover deaths of care home residents in all settings, not just in care homes.

The slowdown in the rise in Covid deaths comes after Department of Health data also suggested fatalities linked to the virus were slowing.

On August 8, Department of Health data showed there were around 86 Covid deaths a day on average which was up 14 per cent on the same time the previous week.

But by August 13  which the ONS data goes up to  deaths increased by almost five per cent week-on-week. The average number of daily fatalities was 89 on this date.

It came as British travel PCR test providers are operating unregulated despite the Government promising to crackdown on 'cowboy' firms, it was claimed today.

The medical director of DAM Health, one of the UK's largest providers, said the company has had to resort to self-regulation due to a lack of guidance from officials.



Professor Frank Joseph, whose firm has more than 40 clinics across the UK, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Unfortunately theres no regulation for us and we would welcome it.

'We've had conversations with local councillors in Liverpool to say "look you know there is no regulation but we have to self-regulate".'

He admitted there were 'no check ups' at any of DAM's clinics and nothing in place to verify that tests have been properly processed.

It comes despite Sajid Javid promising that the Department of Health was clamping down private firms.

Just 2 per cent of firms have been struck off the Government's approved list so far despite a review finding that a fifth were peddling false claims and charging extortionate prices.
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The White House said Tuesday that the U.S. 'expectation' is that U.S. citizens and and Afghans applying for special visas will be able to reach the packed airport in Kabul  amid the first signs of the the beginning of the departure of U.S. troops from the country.

U.S. officials acknowledged on Tuesday that troops deployed at the airport to provide security and facilitate the evacuation would need to begin their own deployment in advance of the August 31st withdrawal date, which President Biden has decided to stick by despite allies urging a delay to facilitate further efforts.

A diplomatic source in Washington said allies had been warned to expect that U.S. forces would begin their 'retrograde' from Hamid Karzai Airport on Tuesday in order to be out by the end of the month.

'We expect that they will be able to reach the airport,' said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki at a briefing that was delayed by more than an hour amid the turmoil  despite the Taliban saying it would no longer allow Afghans to leave the country and media reports that Taliban checkpoints have stopped people at the airport gates.

Her comments came on a day when President Biden's own speech on the constantly changing situation in Afghanistan originally set for noon was delayed by more than four hours amid the drama.

Psaki was confronted with a series of questions about whether Biden would honor the deadline, after a Taliban spokesman said the U.S. would provoke a reaction by staying beyond the deadline. And she again flat-out rejected the notion that Americans were 'stranded' in the war-torn country.

President Joe Biden will stick to his August 31 deadline to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan despite pressures from G7 leaders to extend it

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki

She also repeatedly pointed to the threat by ISIS-K, a local affiliate of the terror group, calling the threat 'quite real' amid the U.S. troop presence.

She bristled when confronted with an anecdote about an Afghan woman in the country who said she had been unable to contact the U.S. government about her desire to depart.

'I would welcome you providing their phone number and we will reach out to them today, and I can assure you of that,' she told Peter Doocy of Fox News.

'If we are not in touch with this individual, give me her contact information, and we will get in touch with them. If any of you are hearing from American citizens who can't reach us, give me their contact information, and we will get in contact with them,' she told reporters.

She also defended th operation on a whole, on a day when President Biden announced evacuations had topped 70,000.

'I would say that this is now on track ... to be the largest airlift in US history. So and that is bringing American citizens out, it is bringing our Afghan partners out, so no I would not say that is anything but a success.'

She was emphatic that Afghans who assisted U.S. forces would be able to reach the airport as well.

'We have been in direct contact, not just with American citizens, but with ... Special Immigrant Visa applicants, whose departure we are facilitating, about how and when to come to the airport, and our expectation, which we've also conveyed to the Taliban, is that they should be able to get to the airport,' she said.

She also issued a security assurance amid the rush to get people out of the country, following a report that at least one Afghan taken to Qatar has potential ties to ISIS.

'No one is coming to the United States who has not gone through a security vetting process,' Psaki said.

She was also pressed on how the U.S. would respond even even a single U.S. citizen remained in Afghanistan even after the withdrawal and then wanted to be brought out. 'We expect there could be some, but I'm not going to get into it further,'

President Joe Biden delivered a snub to his international allies on Tuesday, dismissing the desperate pleas of G7 leaders to extend the Kabul evacuation beyond August 31, after the Taliban issued a chilling warning to western forces who stay and banned Afghans from leaving.

The move gives the Biden administration just seven days to evacuate thousands of American citizens and local allies still stranded on the ground.

And it means that officers will have to begin ordering U.S. troops home within days in order to meet the deadline for clearing the airport.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the president told allies the evacuation was 'on pace' to end on August 31 and any delay increased the risks to troops.

'He also made clear that with each day of operations on the ground, we have added risk to our troops with increasing threats from ISIS-K, and that completion of the mission by August 31 depends on continued coordination with the Taliban, including continued access for evacuees to the airport,' she said.

But she added that the president had asked the Pentagon and State Department for contingency plans in case the departure had to be delayed.

The US ramped up the airlift by evacuating 21,600 people in the past 24 hours, but they still don't know the exact number that need to be rescued - and now time is rapidly running out.

A senior State Department Official said the U.S. had evacuated more than 4,000 Americans plus their families in all.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were among the leaders who urged Biden to keep boots on the ground longer during the Tuesday meeting. European leaders are worried there is not enough time to evacuate everyone who wants out.

Biden spoke for seven minutes during the virtual meeting, according to officials.

He was scheduled to deliver an update on progress at midday, but the time came and went without word from the White house.

It suggested a frantic atmosphere behind the scenes as aides and advisers juggled logistics and coordinated with the Pentagon and State Department after Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid refused to extend the troop deadline despite secret talks with CIA Director Bill Burns.

'They are capable of evacuating their citizens and troops by August 31', the defiant Taliban spokesman said. 'All people should be removed prior to that date. After that we do not allow them. We will take a different stance.

Biden met with G7 leaders on Tuesday morning to discuss Afghanistan

An aerial picture taken Monday shows crowds and traffic outside the Kabul airport as Americans and Afghan allies attempt to flee Afghanistan

Satellite images from Monday show a massive crowd around a gate near a military checkpoint outside the Kabul airport

The Pentagon recommendation was made on Monday based on concerns about security risks to American forces, a senior administration official said. Biden had asked the Pentagon for contingency plans to stay longer should it be necessary, the official noted.

American officials told the Taliban that the U.S. withdrawal by Biden's Aug. 31 deadline is contingent on the group's cooperation in facilitating evacuations, the official said.

Former President Trump kept up his critical commentary claiming, without evidence, that terrorists were arriving on evacuation flights.

'Biden surrendered Afghanistan to terrorists and left thousands of Americans for dead by pulling out the military before our citizens,' he said.

'Now that out of the 26,000 people who have been evacuated, only 4,000 are Americans.

'You can be sure the Taliban, who are now in complete control, didnt allow the best and brightest to board these evacuation flights.'

Officials say they are doing their best to screen evacuees before they ever set foot inside the U.S. but the first step is getting people of Afghanistan.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Tuesday the group will not extend the August 31 deadline for all U.S. troops to withdraw from Afghanistan

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday the United States would evacuate any American who wants out.

And the Pentagon said it was confident it had the planes and manpower to rescue thousands more Afghans who had fought alongside Americans or offered other critical services.

But panic rippled around Kabul on Tuesday when the Taliban refused to extend the deadline and told Afghan citizens not to travel to the airport.

'The road to Kabul airport is closed for locals and open to foreigners,; said Mujahid.

It suggested CIA chief Burns had failed in his mission to extend the timetable after flying into Kabul on Monday for a secret meeting with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar, according to The Washington Post.

Burns was dispatched to Afghanistan as the administration continues to grapple with a chaotic scene at the airport and struggles to evacuate Americans from Kabul.

Baradar is now playing the role of the Taliban's counterpart to Burns 11 years after he was arrested in a joint CIA-Pakistani operation, which put him in prison for eight years.

The president joined G7 leaders on a virtual call Tuesday morning for an emergency meeting on Afghanistan amid intense pressure from NATO and world leaders for U.S. to stay and prevent a looming humanitarian disaster.

Washington pulled off its biggest haul of evacuations since the crisis started over the last 24 hours to early Tuesday morning, with 37 military jets evacuating 21,600 people from Kabul, the White House announced.

But they still don't know the number of American citizens and Afghan allies stranded on the ground that need evacuating.

'Since August 14, the U.S. has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of approximately 58,700 people. Since the end of July, we have re-located approximately 63,900 people,' a White House official said.

The comments come less than 24 hours after President Joe Biden sent CIA Director William Burns (left) went to Kabul on Monday for a secret meeting with the Taliban's de facto leader Abdul Ghani Baradar (right)

Likely discussed at the meeting Monday was the August 31 deadline for total troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. U.S. soldiers guard Kabul airport on Tuesday as thousands of desperate Afghans crowd at the gates in the hopes of fleeing the Taliban

President Joe Biden said U.S. military would stay in Kabul past the deadline if needed to continue evacuating Americans stranded in Afghanistan

Taliban fighters stand on top of containers doing crowd control outside the Kabul airpor

From Sunday to early Monday morning, 28 military jets rescued around 10,400 people. The latest numbers reveal that over half of the total evacuations from Afghanistan have taken place in the last two days.

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said in a briefing: 'There's been no change to the timeline of the mission which is to have this completed by the end of the month.'

'We continue to make progress every day in getting Americans, as well as SIV applicants and vulnerable Afghans out.'

He said that the increased flow meant that the U.S. had the capability to get everyone out by the end of teh months.

All evacuees are being tested on arrival in the U.S. for COVID-19, according to a senior administration official.

'We're also in the process of figuring out exactly how and when we'll offer vaccination to those arriving from Afghanistan and obviously the goal is to get that process finalized and up and running as quickly as possible, and we expect exactly that,' the official added.

They also undergo security screening at transport hubs outside the country before boarding flights to the U.S.

'That process involves biometric and biographic security screenings, conducted by our intelligence, law enforcement and counter terrorist professionals who are working quite literally around the clock to vet all of these Afghans before they're allowed into the United States,' he said.

The president is still hesitant, however, to deploy troops outside the Kabul airport because he doesn't want a Black Hawk Down-style incident, he told commanders last week, referring to a botched mission in Somali when 18 Americans were killed in 1993.

Meanwhile, congressional Republicans raised fears that Kabul's collapse would allow Al Qaeda to find new safe haves in the country where Osama bin Laden planned the 9/11 attacks.

Rep. Mike Waltz, a former Green Beret, said: 'The Taliban taking over means Al Qaeda 3.0 comes roaring back, except we're in a worse position than before.

'Are we going to have another pulse night club? Are we going to have another San Bernardino? Are we going to have another 9/11 because of that incompetence?

'That blood is and will be on Joe Biden's hands.'

Suhail Shaheen, a member of the Taliban delegation in Qatar's capital city Doha said Monday U.S. military continuing to evacuate past this month would amount to 'extending occupation' and that is 'a red line'.

'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations  the answer is no. Or there would be consequences,' he told Sky News in an interview. '

'It will create mistrust between us,' Shaheen continued. 'If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.'

After the interview Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said: 'We have seen the public statements by the Taliban spokesman about their views on 31 August, I think we all understand that view.'

'The goal is to get as many people out as fast as possible,' he added, 'and while we're glad to see the numbers that we got yesterday, we're not going to rest on any laurels.'

'The focus is on trying to do this as best we can by the end of the month and as the Secretary [of Defense] said, if there needs - if we need, if he needs - to have additional conversations with the Commander in Chief about that timeline, he'll do that but we're just not at that point right now.'

Monday's warning signals the Taliban could seek to shut down the airlifts out of the Kabul airport in just over a week. Lawmakers, refugee groups, veterans' organizations and U.S. allies have said ending the evacuation on August 31 could strand countless Afghans and foreigners still hoping for flights out.

Before details of Burns' secret meeting, State Department spokesperson Ned Price was asked on Monday why no senior U.S. officials had engaged with Baradar yet.

'Our discussions with the Taliban have been operational, tactical,' Price said. 'They have been focused largely on our near-term operations and near-term goals what is going on at the airport compound.'

'That is what we're focused on at the moment.'

Burns also made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan in April as concerns mounted about the Afghan government's ability to fend off the Taliban after the U.S. withdrawal.

During a congressional hearing earlier this year, Burns said neither the Islamic State nor Al Qaeda in Afghanistan had the capability to mount attacks inside the U.S.  but admitted that during a troops withdrawal, the ability to act on threats will be depleted.

'When the time comes for the U.S. military to withdraw, the U.S. government's ability to collect and act on threats will diminish,' Burns said at the time. 'That's simply a fact.'

During the G7 meeting on Tuesday morning, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to press Biden for an extension to get out the maximum number of foreigners and Afghan allies possible.

Even his own ministers said they knew that Biden's previous comments made it unlikely he would bend.

'It is definitely worth us all trying, and we will,' said British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace.

Meanwhile, U.S. Special Operations rescued 16 Americans from an unspecified location around two hours outside Kabul. The Pentagon revealed it was carried out by helicopter without disclosing further details.

CIA director Bill Burns - the veteran US diplomat who oversaw US relations in the Middle East and negotiated with Iran and Libya over weapons deals On Monday, President Biden's top spy William Burns held a secret meeting with the Taliban's de facto leader Abdul Ghani Baradar. Burns was thought to have broached the subject of extending the deadline for US troop removal beyond Aug. 31 to get out more Americans and allies, a proposal the Taliban have scoffed at. The group warned about 'consequences' if the deadline is extended. Who is Burns, Biden's CIA director and the highest level official to meet face-to-face with the Taliban amid the chaos unfolding as they take over Afghanistan? A career foreign service officer, Burns previously served as deputy secretary of state, under secretary of political affairs, US ambassador to Russia, assistant secretary of near eastern affairs and ambassador to Jordan. In 2013, Burns, alongside national security adviser Jake Sullivan, led secret negotiations with Iran and Libya that ultimately led to the Iran Nuclear Deal. Burns was reportedly in the 'driver's seat,' of negotiations, meeting with Iranian officials with only a tight circle of officials in the know. Burns had reportedly been meeting with Iranian officials as early as 2008, when President George W. Bush dispatched him. In April 2021, Burns had told the US Senate Intelligence Committee that '[t]here is a significant risk once the U.S. military and the coalition militaries withdraw' but added that the U.S. would retain 'a suite of capabilities.' 'When the time comes for the U.S. military to withdraw, the U.S. government's ability to collect and act on threats will diminish. That's simply a fact,' Burns said at the time, adding that neither the Islamic State nor al-Qaeda had capabilities to launch attacks on the US homeland. That same month, Burns had made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan as concerns mounted about the Afghan government's ability to fend off the Taliban after US withdrawal. Burns oversees a spy agency that trained Afghan special forces in their now-defunct battle against the Taliban. Advertisement

A military plane takes off from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Monday

Washington pulled off its biggest haul of evacuations since the crisis started over the last 24 hours to early Tuesday morning, with 37 military jets evacuating 21,600 people from Kabul. Here families board a C-17 evacuation flight on Monday

Rescue efforts became increasingly urgent on Tuesday as Spain warned it would have to leave people behind and France said it would stop airlifts on Thursday - five days before the deadline.

The airport has become a relative safe haven but accessing it has proven near impossible due to Taliban checkpoints and chaos among the crowds outside the perimeter.

While Biden and his administration have said the Taliban has promised safe passage to the airport for American citizens, there are reports that Americans are being assaulted as they try to reach Hamid Karzai International.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin admitted over the weekend that American citizens still trapped in Kabul are being beaten by these Islamic militant fighters and prevented from reaching the airport.

James Miervaldis, Chairman of No One Left Behind, told DailyMail.com: 'We have at least 1,200 families with Special Immigrant Visas in hand stuck outside the airport. How is the State Department going to evacuate them?'

The veteran nonprofit charity is working to get Afghan translators and others who worked with the U.S. over the last two decades out of the country.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said negotiations with the Taliban are continuing as the administration looks for additional ways to safely move more Americans and others into the Kabul airport.

'We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through both political and security channels,' he said.

Kirby also said Tuesday: 'There's no question that ... as we work through this that the daily communication with Taliban commanders is going to have to continue.'

'That's just, that's just a hard fact there,' he added.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken didn't dispute on Sunday that the U.S. does have to ask the Taliban for 'permission' to conduct evacuations.

'Someone in our audience might listen to you, Mr. Secretary, and say, 'Oh, so we have to ask the Taliban for permission for American citizens to leave.' True or not true?' CBS News' Face the Nation fill in host Major Garrett asked Blinken of the 'agreement' between the Islamic militant group and Washington.

'They are in control of Kabul. That is the reality,' Blinken responded without denying the claim Garrett detailed.

'That's the reality that we have to deal with,' he added.

'How comfortable are you with that, Mr. Secretary?' the host questioned the State Department chief.

He continued to deflect in saying: 'What I am focused on, what we're all focused on, is getting people out and making sure that we're doing everything possible to do that.'

After more than a week of evacuations plagued by major obstacles, including Taliban forces and crushing crowds that are making approaching the airport difficult and dangerous, the number of people flown out met - and exceeded - U.S. projections for the first time.

The Pentagon said it added a fourth U.S. military base, in New Jersey, to three others - in Virginia, Texas and Wisconsin - that are prepared to temporarily house arriving Afghans.

Major General Hank Taylor, the Joint Staff deputy director for regional operations, told reporters there are now about 1,200 Afghans at those military bases. The four bases combined are capable of housing up to 25,000 evacuees, Kirby said.

Afghan evacuees continued to arrive at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington on Monday. Exhaustion clouded the faces of many of the adults.

Taylor said at a Pentagon briefing Tuesday: 'It has been challenging to keep up with the flow.'

'We have made progress in caring for and safeguarding these vulnerable individuals and getting them moving on where we are committed to doing more,' he added, 'and to continue to expand and improve our facilities from adding shelter to additional sanitation, hand washing stations refrigerator trucks, providing cold water, and the appropriate food, and we're working with our partners to increase this capacity, as soon as possible.'

Kriby, who also spoke at the briefing Tuesday gave an update on the babies who were pictured being taken care of by U.S. military.

'I just have a slight update on the, on the baby count,' Kriby said, confirming there are three  one on a C-17 and two others who already arrived in Rammstein, Germany.

'I am told that moms and dads and babies are all fine and healthy,' he said.

How does it feel to be here, a journalist asked one man arriving in D.C.

'We are safe,' he answered.

Airbnb also announced on Tuesday that it is dedicated to allocating enough room to house 20,000 Afghan refugees in locations nationwide, partially funded through donations to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund.

'As tens of thousands of Afghan refugees resettle around the world, where they stay will be the first chapter in their new lives,' founder and CEO Brian Chesky said in a statement on the initiative.

'For these 20,000 refugees, my hope is that the Airbnb community will provide them with not only a safe place to rest and start over, but also a warm welcome home.'

Biden is ready to strike deal with Taliban to pardon Afghan drug lord who has been in US prison for 16 years in exchange for the last American hostage abducted last year but demands proof of life first The US could release an Afghan drug lord to the Taliban in exchange for their last American hostage - but only if they provide a confirmation of life. Drug lord Bashir Noorzai, who is a top figure in the Pashtun tribe which elusive Taliban Supreme Commander Hibatullah Akhundzada belongs, has been held in a federal prison for the last 16 years. He travelled to the US in 2005 under the pretext of diplomatic talks, but upon arrival he was arrested by the DEA for his role in a global heroin trade. And now, Newsweek reports that President Biden is prepared to swap Noorzai with the Taliban in exchange for Mark Frerichs, who was the last American to be taken hostage by the group. Frerichs was taken hostage by the Taliban in January last year by a group believed to be associated with the Haqqani network - a militia group based on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and who aligned with the Taliban. Speaking to the publication, a government official, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'We are eager to explore ways to bring Frerichs back. But these explorations are predicated on receiving a recent proof of life. The bottom line is that any progress moving forward lies in receiving a proof of life.' A swap deal involving Frerichs and Noorzai has been welcomed by Charlene Cakora, who is Frerichs' sister. Drug lord Bashir Noorzai (pictured), who is a top figure in the Pashtun tribe which elusive Taliban Supreme Commander Hibatullah Akhundzada belongs, has been held in a federal prison for the last 16 years She said in a statement sent to the publication that although she didn't like the idea of letting Noorzai go, it was worth it to have her brother released. And she urged President Biden to move quickly to ensure a deal can be struck. However, a former senior U.S. official has said that the foundation of any hostage swap is a solid proof of life which is 'itself is sort of its own art form'. The potential hostage swap comes as the chair of the House Intelligence Committee warned that President Biden is 'unlikely' to meet his August 31 deadline to evacuate US citizens and their allies from Afghanistan. Now, reports suggest the President is considering the possibility of trading Noorzai with the Taliban in for Mark Frerichs, who was the last American hostage taken by the group Adam Schiff made the grim prediction after an intelligence briefing Monday evening, as the Taliban rejected a mooted extension to the withdrawal date. Schiff said a full evacuation was 'possible' but 'very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIV's, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders, women leaders.' Speaking outside the US Capitol, Schiff continued: 'I am encouraged to see the numbers of people evacuated, increasing readily to the point where we evacuated 11,000 people in a single day,' Schiff continued. 'Nonetheless, given the logistical difficulties of moving people to the airport and the limited number of workarounds, it's hard for me to see that being fully complete by the end of the month. And I'm certainly of the view that we maintain a military presence as long as it's necessary to get all U.S. persons out and to meet our moral and ethical obligation to our Afghan partners.' He added: 'Given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIVs, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders women leaders, it's hard for me to imagine all of that can be accomplished between now and the end of the month,' he said. Who is Bashir Noorzai? Haji Bashir Noorzai is a drug lord and financial backer of the Taliban. In 2005, he flew from Dubai to the US under the pretext of diplomatic talks. However, upon his arrival in New York City, he was arrested by the DEA for his role in the establishment of a global heroin trafficking operation - the funds of which had been helping the Taliban. After a trial, he was sentenced to life in a US federal prison. Advertisement

Trump tears into Biden for surrendering to terrorists and leaving thousands of Americans for dead with his plan to get all US troops out in just seven days

Trump lashed out at Biden soon after reports that the president is keeping his August 31 deadline for a full US withdrawal, on the Pentagon's recommendation

He said terrorists were being 'airlifted out of Afghanistan' and sent around world

A group of House Republicans, including veterans, held a news conference Tuesday to push President Biden to extend his August 31 evacuation deadline

Rep. Mike Waltz, a Green Beret, called the Taliban's resurgence 'Al Qaeda 3.0'

He said the US would have 'another 9/11' and that blood 'will be' on Biden's hands

House Republican Whip Steve Scalise demanded Biden focus on Americans 'he left behind enemy lines' and called for a full account of who they are

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Former President Donald Trump lashed out at President Joe Biden on Tuesday for 'surrendering to terrorists' after Biden made the decision to hold firm on an August 31 deadline for a full US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

'Biden surrendered Afghanistan to terrorists and left thousands of Americans for dead by pulling out the Military before our citizens,' Trump wrote in a statement shortly after noon on Tuesday.

'Now we are learning that out of the 26,000 people who have been evacuated, only 4,000 are Americans. You can be sure the Taliban, who are now in complete control, didnt allow the best and brightest to board these evacuation flights.

'Instead, we can only imagine how many thousands of terrorists have been airlifted out of Afghanistan and into neighborhoods around the world. What a terrible failure. NO VETTING. How many terrorists will Joe Biden bring to America? We dont know!'

The 4,000 figure references reporting from Politico journalist Alex Ward.

Ward wrote on Twitter that a total of 4,407 Americans have been evacuated from Kabul since the operation began.

Former President Trump joined in on the criticism of Biden's Afghanistan crisis (pictured in New York on August 22)

'Total = 6,916 Total manifested since op began: 4,407 AMCITS, 21,533 Afghans, 642 TCNs. Total = 26,582,' Ward reported.

He added that 128 evacuation flights were planned for the next 48 hours and that around 13,000 people are currently at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

The Taliban announced they are blocking Afghan citizens from accessing the Kabul after allowing evacuations for little more than a week, likely complicating efforts to rescue Afghans who worked with the US military.

Trump referenced reporting from a Politico journalist, who said roughly 4,400 Americans have been evacuated since the operation began

A group of Republican lawmakers including military veterans also tore into President Joe Biden over his handling of the Afghanistan crisis and demanded he extend the evacuation deadline past August 31 during a press briefing outside the Capitol on Tuesday.

'We're going to leave Americans behind 11 days before the 20th anniversary of September 11? Are you kidding me?' Rep. Mike Waltz said. 'The Taliban taking over means Al Qaeda 3.0 comes roaring back, except we're in a worse position than before.'

'Are we going to have another pulse night club? Are we going to have another San Bernardino? Are we going to have another 9/11 because of that incompetence?'

'That blood is and will be on Joe Biden's hands.'

Biden initially seemed open to extending the deadline if necessary. As of Tuesday morning he is standing firm on the August 31 date, Reuters reports after the president's emergency meeting with other G7 leaders.

The GOP lawmakers said blood would be on Biden's hands if he doesn't extend the August 31 deadline to get all Americans and Afghan allies out of Afghanistan

Waltz, the first Green Beret special forces veteran to serve in Congress, served multiple tours in Afghanistan.

He said not extending the deadline means leaving Americans and allies 'stranded' - seemingly taking a shot at White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

Psaki on Monday called out a reporter who asked about Americans 'stranded' in Kabul - telling him using the term was 'irresponsible.'

At one point Waltz displayed a framed letter he said hangs on his office wall, claiming it was sent by the Taliban to a school principal.

The Taliban allegedly threatened 'if he didn't get out of town he would be beheaded within 24 hours' for running a school for girls.

At one point Rep. Waltz, a Green Beret, held up a letter from the Taliban to an Afghan school principal, warning he would be beheaded for running a girls' school

'I leave this up as a reminder of the evil we're dealing with, and what we're condemning these people to,' Waltz said.

Rep. Ronny Jackson, former White House physician and also an Afghanistan veteran, said the Biden administration 'betrayed' the people of Afghanistan.

'We are at the very beginning of this crisis that Biden has created,' he said. 'We need him and we need his team to resign.'

The Pentagon said in a press briefing Tuesday that it did not have a number for how many Americans or Afghan allies are still in the country.

'We are on the cusp of the biggest mass hostage crisis this country has ever seen,' Waltz warned.

He said the looming threat would make the Tehran embassy hostage crisis in 1979 'look like a sleepover.'

A total of 57 coalition flights and 37 US military flights evacuated roughly 21,600 people from Kabul within 24 hours as of 3 a.m. this morning, according to White House numbers released early Tuesday.

Since August 14 58,700 people have been evacuated - but according to a Washington Post reporter, only 4,000 are Americans.

Washington Post's Olivier Knox first tweeted that around 4,000 Americans have been evacuated since August 14

The Taliban announced Tuesday that Afghan citizens will no longer be permitted through Kabul airport

Meanwhile the Taliban released political prisoners across the country, with 220 inmates freed in Kandahar province on Tuesday.

The group also is now in control of billions of dollars of US military technology that was in the Afghan government's possession, which could include more than 150 aircraft.

The US gave the Afghan military roughly $28 billion in weapons technology between 2002 and 2017.

An inspector general's report from 2020 states the US gave more than 7,000 machine guns and nearly 1,400 grenade launchers to Afghanistan from 2017 to 2019, among other weapons.

The Taliban released political prisoners over the last week, including these former inmates who are seen leaving a prison in Kandahar on August 24

Afghan families board a US Air Force evacuation flight on August 23. On August 24 the Taliban announced no more Afghan citizens will be allowed to go to the airport

Waltz was outraged at the Taliban's military acquisition on Tuesday.

'The Taliban are going to be armed to the teeth, so when future American soldiers have to go back to deal with the problem...how many are going to die now, because they're going to have to fight their way through our own equipment - our own damn equipment!'

'This is a terrorist organization, the Taliban, and they now have control of a country because of President Biden's failed policy,' House Minority Whip Steve Scalise said at the event.

He said the Taliban's control of Afghanistan would mean a heightened risk of terrorists coming to the US by crossing the southern border.

'We want President Biden's focus on rescuing every American who he left behind enemy lines, and to give us an accounting of who they are,' Scalise said.

The Associated Press reported last week that up to 15,000 US nationals could still be in Afghanistan.

Republican leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy also publicly urged Biden to rethink this August 31 deadline, stating in a press conference that 'we should stay until every single American is able to get out of Afghanistan.'

'We should not negotiate it. We should explain that this is what is going to happen and anybody in our way to stop us from bringing Americans out will be in danger.'

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also joined in bashing Biden over his decision to maintain the August 31 deadline.

'The president needs to forget about the August 31st deadline. We need to send enough American personnel, military personnel to rescue our people, and by the way, there are more American soldiers there now than before the president made the decision to leave. Extend the deadline. Get outside the perimeter, make sure that every single American who wants to leave is able to get out with our assistance, and our Afghan allies,' he said on Fox News.

'Having made that decision, youd have to conclude these guys couldnt organize a two-car funeral.'
A former police PR chief has been attacked outside court after he avoided being jailed for possessing child abuse images.

John William Green, known as Will Green, was head of corporate communications at Cleveland Police when he accessed indecent pictures of youngsters.

He was spared jail at Teesside Magistrates' Court today but as he left the building an attacker grabbed his head and his mask then chased him up the court ramp as Green shouted 'help, help'.

John William Green, known as Will Green, was head of corporate communications at Cleveland Police when he accessed indecent pictures of youngsters. An attacker grabbed his head and his mask then chased him up the Teesside Magistrates Court ramp

The assault came to an end when security guards pinned the assailant down.

Green, 42, was charged with making indecent images of children in May. He later pleaded guilty and was suspended from his role upon arrest before resigning from his position. The charges relate to off-duty conduct.

Superintendent Paul Waugh, of the forces Directorate of Standards and Ethics said: 'This is not a victimless crime and behind every illegal image of a child is a victim of child sexual abuse and exploitation who endures a lifetime of trauma.

Green, 42, (pictured at a previous hearing) was charged with making indecent images of children in May

'These victims are often not identified and do not have the ability to speak out about their abuse in court.

'As soon as Cleveland Police was made aware of these allegations, swift action was taken by specialist detectives and a warrant was executed at an address in the Cleveland area during which computers and other items were seized.

'Whilst the offences are not linked to his role, he was in a trusted position in policing, communicating about the core values that he did not uphold.

'He has let his colleagues, partner agencies and local communities down.

'The public may be concerned that a Cleveland Police staff member has been found to have committed these offences, but I hope our actions to bring this person before the courts provides reassurance and highlights that we do everything in our power to seek justice for these crimes, without fear or favour, even when the suspect works for the same police force. The level of sentence given is a matter for the judge.

Green, of Hebron, Morpeth, was sentenced to a 24 month community order.

He must also complete 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days and the 'Maps for Change' programme.

Green will also be subject to notification requirements for five years and pay a court bill of 180.

Green was not accompanied by anyone during his appearance and the hearing lasted less than five minutes.
Former President Trump reportedly asked a Florida judge for a preliminary injunction that would compel YouTube to reinstate his access on Monday.

Trump's lawyers argued that failure to issue an injunction would cause irreparable harm to the former president as a potential political candidate down the line and to the Republican Party as a whole.

Trump's lawyers said they will make similar requests in cases involving Facebook and Twitter in the coming weeks, according to the New York Post.

The injunction would be a huge boon to Trump's fundraising efforts as it would allow him to keep selling merchandise on YouTube.

Trump remains banned indefinitely on YouTube, permanently from Twitter and Facebook will reassess his ban again in 2023. The former president was deplatformed after he Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Susan Wojcicki, CEO of Googles parent company, Alphabet, which also owns YouTube, said in March that the former presidents channel remains suspended due to the risk of incitement to violence and would be reinstated if that risk lessened.

Trump filed the class-action suits against the Big Tech Titans last month, where he sought damages that could amount to 'trillions' for an alleged violation of his First Amendment rights.

Trump remains banned indefinitely on YouTube, permanently from Twitter and Facebook will reassess his ban again in 2023

Trump has repeatedly hinted that he is planning a run but insiders say no announcement is expected until after next year's midterms

The lawsuit alleges First Amendment violations by YouTube because it claims the video platform banned the former president at the behest of Democratic members of Congress.

He filed the suits in collaboration with the America First Policy Institute, founded by former members of his administration.

All three suits, filed in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., also ask federal judges to declare Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act unconstitutional. The immunity protections clause protects social media platforms from being treated as publishers and held liable for their site's content.

Last week Trump condemned Twitter for banning him but allowing members of the Taliban a platform as they violently usurped the Afghan government in Kabul.

'It's disgraceful when you think that you have killers and muggers and dictators and horrible ... some horrible dictators and countries, and they're all on but the president of the United States, who had hundreds of millions of people, by the way, he gets taken off,' Trump told Newsmax in a telephone interview.

In contrast, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has been allowed to post updates on the jihadist movement's advance, describing how military units had captured Kabul.

Other platforms, such as Facebook, ban posts that glorify violence including sanctioned terrorist organizations such as the Taliban.

But by Wednesday, Mujahid's account remained active with more than 322,000 followers.

A spokesman for Twitter said: 'The situation in Afghanistan is rapidly evolving, and we're witnessing people in the country using Twitter to seek help and assistance.

Trump's lawyers also argued the Big Tech companies were in violation of a Florida state law that was to allow private citizens to sue them if they felt they'd been 'unfairly censored,' but that law was blocked by a federal judge from taking effect.

Trump has repeatedly hinted that he is planning a run but insiders say no announcement is expected until after next year's midterms.

He dangled the idea once again this week when Sean Hannity asked him the question live on Fox News.

'So, because the campaign finance laws are extremely complicated and unbelievably stupid, I am actually not allowed to answer that question, can you believe that? I would love to answer it,' he said.

'But let me put it this way, I think youll be happy and I think a lot of our friends will be very happy.'
This is the moment a massive black bear was captured in the driveway of a Connecticut home with an Amazon package that contained toilet paper in its mouth.

Bristol homeowner Kristin Levine was shocked to discover the furry menace when she saw the surveillance footage after her package was stolen.

The 15-second video captured the bear in action as it had Levine's package clenched between it's teeth.

The bear - which obviously didn't heed the famed slogan, Please Don't Squeeze the Charmin - roamed around the driveway before taking off.

Levine shared the video on Facebook, saying: 'Yea so if anyone sees an Amazon package in the Chippens Hill area with my name on itfeel free to bring it back?'

The package was later found in a neighbor's yard.

'Amazon had dropped off the packages maybe five minutes before and I got the alert on my security camera and then I got a second alert five minutes later and I was like taken aback because I wasnt expecting anyone else in my driveway', Levine told NBC Connecticut.

The 'paw-ch pirate' must have been disappointed when the package contained not honey - but a pack of scented toilet paper.

Levine added on Facebook: 'Perhaps the bear just wanted a lavender scented tush?'

The 15-second footage captured the black bear with the Amazon package between its teeth

The bear made off with the package as it left the driveway towards the end of the video

Viewers commented on Levine's video, sharing her humor in the situation.

One viewer said: 'Amazon is coming up with new ways to make money.

'The driver delivers your package (and) teach the Bears how to steal it, so you have to buy another one.'

Levine's husband, Adam, responded: 'Omg- thankfully I was at work - my wife needs to have all you guys on speed dial when I am at work-,

Bristol homeowner Kristin Levine shared the footage on Facebook

Levine revealed the package contained not honey but toilet paper

Levine told McClathy News: 'Were definitely used to bears around our neighborhood.

'Although Ive never actually had one take a package out of my garage before! And this guy was quite a big one!'

As Levine said, black bear sightings are becoming extremely common in Connecticut as the population continues to grow, according to the state's website.

Bears are drawn to homes near their habitats and often will go searching for food within residential neighborhoods.

People are advised not to go near them, especially if they are trying to take a photo or video.

If a black bear is seen, report the sighting to the DEEP Wildlife Division at 860-424-3011 or DEEP Dispatch at 860-424-3333
A teenage extremist who 'hated Jews and Muslims' didn't realise he was discussing his plans for a racist revolution with an undercover officer, a court has heard.

Matthew Cronjager, 18, of Ingatestone, Essex, is accused of drawing up plans for a storage bunker and giving instructions and funds for the manufacture of two firearms - an 'FGC-9' and a 'Cheetah' - using a 3D printer.

Alistair Richardson, prosecuting, said: 'He made plans for storage of firearms, in preparation for his violent acts, and he provided instructions and funds to others, in order to secure the manufacture of a firearm.

'Unknown to him, the person he was providing instruction to and funds to, was, in fact, an Under Cover Law Enforcement Officer (a UCO).'

Cronjager is said to have transferred funds to help purchase materials to build weapons between 31 October and 19 December 2020.

Teenage extremist Matthew Cronjager, 18, allegedly drew up plans for a storage bunker and provided instructions for the manufacture of two firearms. Pictured: The Old Bailey

Mr Richardson, prosecuting, told a jury at the Old Bailey: 'As of 2019-2020 he held radical, extreme right wing beliefs. To use his own words, fascist, beliefs.

'He wanted to bring about a change of government by violence.

'He hated people of different colour skin, he hated Jews, he hated Muslims, he hated people of different sexual orientation to his own.

'He hated Asians who had sexual intercourse with white people. He wanted to bring about his own revolution, based on his own racist ideology. To that end, he sought to produce a firearm, using a 3D printer.'

Cronjager allegedly collected extreme right-wing propaganda and manuals to help him spread his radical views on a Telegram channel called 'Exiled 393 library'.

Mr Richardson added: 'Some of the manuals he downloaded provided real and practical guidance to those who would wish to commit terrorist atrocities.

Cronjager, who is said to have transferred funds to help purchase materials to build weapons between 31 October and 19 December 2020, was added to a messaging group on Telegram called 'Exiled 393 UK'. (Stock image)

'In furtherance of his cause, he set up an online library, where he, and those of a like mind, could store their propaganda, and their manuals in furtherance of their cause.'

Cronjager denies engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts.

The charge alleges that 'with the intention of committing acts of terrorism engaged in conduct in preparation for giving effect to that intention, namely, drew up plans for a storage bunker, provided information for the manufacture by a 3-D printer of two firearms, namely a FGC-9 and a Cheetah and transferred funds to another for the purchase of materials to manufacture those firearms'.

The teenager also denies dissemination of terrorist publications in relation to the 'Exiled 393 library' Telegram channel.

He admitted four counts of collecting information likely to help others preparing an act of terrorism - including 'The KGB Alpha Team Training Manual'; Workbench Silencers - The Art of Improvised Designs' by George Hollenback; 'Ragnar's Big Book of Homemade Weapons.pdf and;Expedient Homemade Firearms'.
A yakuza boss has been sentenced to death in Japan in what is believed to be a first after his criminal organisation murdered and attacked other citizens.

Satoru Nomura, 74, told the judge Fukuoka District Court, in western Japan, on Tuesday: 'I asked for a fair decision... You will regret this for the rest of your life,' Nishinippon Shimbun newspaper reported.

It is believed to be the first time a senior yakuza member has been sentenced to death, the BBC reported.

Nomura, the head of the 'Kudo-kai' crime syndicate in southwest Japan, denied accusations he had masterminded the violent assaults. Kudo-kai is often described as Japan's 'most violent' yakuza gang.

According to Japanese broadcaster NHK, there was no direct evidence that Nomura had ordered the attacks.

However, in handing down the sentence, the judge said that the gang operated under such strict rules that it was unthinkable that attacks could have been carried out without its leader's authorisation.

The trial revolved around attacks carried out by Kudo-kai members between 1998 and 2014. During that time, a former head of a fishing cooperative was shot and killed, and three others - including a nurse and former police officer - were injured by shooting or stabbing.

Satoru Nomura, 74, (pictured) is the head of the Kudo-kai crime syndicate, often described as Japan's 'most violent' yakuza gang

Defence lawyers for Nomura plan to appeal the ruling, according to Kyodo news agency. Nomura's number two, Fumio Tanoue, was jailed for life on Tuesday, the court said.

The yakuza mafia were long tolerated in Japan as a necessary evil for ensuring order on the streets and getting things done quickly, however dubious the means.

But in recent decades, stiffer anti-gang regulations, waning social tolerance and a weak economy have resulted in steadily falling yakuza memberships.

Nomura was found guilty of ordering the fatal 1998 shooting of an ex-boss of a fisheries cooperative who exerted influence over port construction projects, major media outlets said.

He was also behind a 2014 attack on a relative of the murder victim, and a 2013 knife attack against a nurse at a clinic where Nomura was seeking treatment, the court reportedly said.

The 2012 shooting of a former police official who had investigated the Kudo-kai was also deemed Nomura's responsibility. The official survived with serious injuries to his waist and legs, media said.

Pictured: Police officers enter Nomura's Kitakyushu house in September 2014 to arrest him [File photo]

The yakuza grew from the chaos of post-war Japan into multi-billion-dollar criminal organisations, involved in everything from drugs and prostitution to protection rackets and white-collar crime.

Unlike the Italian Mafia or Chinese triads, yakuza have long occupied a grey area in Japanese society - they are not illegal, and each group has its own headquarters in full view of police.

With more than 100 inmates on death row, Japan is one of few developed nations to retain the death penalty.

Public support for capital punishment remains high despite international criticism, including from rights groups.
Boris Johnson today pleaded with the Taliban to allow people to leave Afghanistan after the US has completed its withdrawal on August 31.

Mr Johnson, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel used a G7 summit to urge Joe Biden to extend the deadline to provide more time for airlifts from Kabul airport to take place.

But the entreaties appear to have fallen on deaf ears with the Mr Biden expected to stick to his exit date for US forces.

A humiliated Mr Johnson said after the summit that the UK will continue to conduct airlifts from the country 'right up until the last moment' as he called on the Taliban to guarantee 'safe passage' for anyone who wants to leave after August 31.

Boris Johnson today pleaded with the Taliban to allow people to leave Afghanistan after the US has completed its withdrawal on August 31

Mr Johnson, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel used a G7 summit to urge Joe Biden to extend the deadline to provide more time for airlifts from Kabul airport to take place

The Taliban today repeated blood-curdling warnings of consequences if there was an attempt to extend the deadline as the group said no-one would be permitted to leave.

'All people should be removed prior to that date,' a spokesman told a press conference in the capital. 'After that we do not allow them. We will take a different stance.'

According to Reuters, the Pentagon told Mr Biden the risks to American forces are too high if they defy the Taliban.

White House sources said Mr Biden had agreed with the Pentagon that there would be no change to the timeline of the mission.

It means troops will have to abandon the humanitarian operation and start focusing on their own exit plan as soon as tomorrow.

Mr Johnson said the UK's own emergency airlifts would continue for as long as possible.

He said: 'This is an extraordinary airlift, we have evacuated 9,000, the UK alone has taken 9,000 people out of Kabul, I think 57 flights.

'A huge, huge effort by our military and we will go on right up until the last moment that we can.

'But you have heard what the President of the United States has had to say, you have heard what the Taliban have said.'

The PM said the situation at Kabul airport is 'not getting any better' with ongoing 'public order issues'.

He said the G7 had agreed a 'number one condition' that the Taliban must stick to in the coming weeks.

'What we have done today at the G7 is we have got together the leading Western powers and agreed not just a joint approach to dealing with the evacuation but also a roadmap for the way in which we are going to engage with the Taliban, this probably will be a Taliban government in Kabul,' he said. Japan, an Eastern power, is also part of the G7 and was represented at the virtual meeting.

Joe Biden addresses a virtual meeting of G7 leaders this afternoon. He is said to have spoken for seven minutes

'And the number one condition we are setting as G7 is that they have got to guarantee right the way through August 31 and beyond safe passage for those who want to come out.'

Mr Johnson also insisted the G7 nations have 'huge leverage' over the Taliban because of the threat of sanctions as he said funding for the country would only be made available in the future if it meets the West's expectations.

He said: 'The G7 has huge leverage and today the G7 agreed, we brought them together, and they agreed a roadmap for future engagement with the Taliban.

'If those huge funds are going to be unfrozen eventually for use by the government and people of Afghanistan then what we are saying is Afghanistan can't lurch back into becoming a breeding ground of terror, Afghanistan can't become a narco state.'

Tuesday's virtual meeting of the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US served not only as a bookend to the West's 20-year involvement in Afghanistan that began as a response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks but also a resigned acknowledgment from European powers that the U.S. calls the shots.

'Our immediate priority is to ensure the safe evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have partnered with us and assisted our efforts over the past twenty years, and to ensure continuing safe passage out of Afghanistan,' the leaders said in a joint statement that did not address precisely how they would guarantee continuing safe passage without any military presence.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (pictured) said the US 'has the leadership' regarding Afghanistan [File photo]

Going forward, the leaders said they would 'judge the Afghan parties by their actions, not words,' echoing previous warnings to the Taliban not to revert to the strict Islamic form of government that they ran when they last held power from 1996 until the U.S.-led invasion that ousted them in 2001.

'In particular, we reaffirm that the Taliban will be held accountable for their actions on preventing terrorism, on human rights in particular those of women, girls and minorities and on pursuing an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan,' the leaders said.

'The legitimacy of any future government depends on the approach it now takes to uphold its international obligations and commitments to ensure a stable Afghanistan.'

Yet, individual leaders offered less sanguine descriptions of the meeting as well as the state of affairs in Afghanistan, which have dramatically changed since the bloc last met in England in June.

At the time of that summit, Afghanistan had been almost an afterthought with the leaders more concentrated on the coronavirus pandemic, China and Russia. Although Biden had announced his plan for complete withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Cornwall meeting did not anticipate Taliban's rapid takeover.

'I want to stress again that of course the United States of America has the leadership here,' German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters in Berlin after the meeting.

'Without the United States of America, for example, we - the others - cannot continue the evacuation mission.'

A senior French official, speaking anonymously in accordance with the French presidency's customary practices, said President Macron had pushed for extending the Aug. 31 deadline but would 'adapt' to the American sovereign decision. 'That's in the hands of the Americans,' he said.

On Monday, CIA chief William Burns met with Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul in talks in which the Taliban underscored they would not accept a U.S. military presence at the airport beyond Aug. 31.

And, just minutes after the G7 leaders finished their meeting on Tuesday, a White House official confirmed that Biden planned to stick to that date. Biden addressed the leaders for several minutes near the start of the meeting that lasted less than an hour, according to the White House.

Ahead of the meeting, British defence secretary Ben Wallace said he was doubtful that Biden would agree to extend the deadline. And Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday said his group would accept 'no extensions' to the deadline.
A 77-year-old Oklahoma woman, who was among 27 fully vaccinated passengers to test positive for COVID-19 aboard a Carnival cruise, died last week from respiratory complications.

Marilyn Tackett, a retired Sunday school teacher, departed Galveston, Texas aboard the cruise ship on July 31. She died August 14, several days after testing positive on the Carnival Vista ship.

It is unclear how she contracted the virus. On August 3, Tackett went on an excursion in Roatan, when the ship docked at the island about 40 miles off the northern coast of Honduras.

Marilyn Tackett, 77, (pictured) passed away on August 14 after testing positive for the virus onboard the Carnival Vista cruise ship days after it made a stop in Belize City

Tackett was among 27 passengers to test positive for the virus aboard the Carnival Vista cruise ship carrying over 1,400 crew and nearly 3,000 passengers

On August 4, when the ship arrived in Belize, Tackett decided to forgo an excursion with her family members. When Tackett's family returned, she was having difficulty breathing.

Her family immediately called the ships medical personnel, who administered a COVID test that came back positive, the Amandala of Belize reported. Tackett was diagnosed with COVID-19.

According to a GoFundMe page created by Tackett's family, the 77-year-old was admitted to a hospital in Belize and put on a ventilator.

Her condition worsened and she was taken to a hospital in Tulsa where she was treated but eventually died August 14.

The cruise was her first trip outside the U.S.

'We just wanted to get on here and thank all of you for your support, love and prayers. Memaw fought as long as she could. To know she's reunited with lost loved ones and that she's basking in The Lord's presence now is a huge comfort,' Tara Cameron, one of Tackett's grandchildren, wrote on the page.

'We'll continue to walk in Faith like she taught us and try to spread love and kindness like she did.'

A request for comment from DailyMail.com to Tackett's family wasn't immediately answered.

The ship departed from its port in Galveston, Texas, before arrival in Belize on Wednesday

The ship was carrying 1,300 crew members and 3,000 passengers, all who had to provide negative COVID-19 test results to board and re-enter the ship

Tackett was among 27 passengers to test positive for the virus aboard the Carnival Vista cruise ship, which carried more than 1,400 crew members and nearly 3,000 passengers.

While the cruise line did not test vaccinated passengers before they embarked for the cruise, Carnival said it is 'highly unlikely' Tackett contracted the virus while onboard the ship.

'The guest almost certainly did not contract COVID on our ship, and she was assisted with expert medical care on board and was ultimately evacuated from Belize after we provided a resource to her family,' Carnival said in a statement.

All 27 people were vaccinated, and most had mild or no symptoms and were in isolation, according to the statement from the Belize Tourism Board.

The tourism board said 99.98% of the ship's crew was vaccinated, as well as 96.5% of its passengers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigated the ship and said it 'remains under observation.'

In a statement August 4, Carnival announced that beginning August 14, passengers must wear a mask in certain indoor areas of ships, and provide a negative COVID test within three days of embarkment for cruises

On August 22, the cruise line announced that beginning August 28, it will require vaccination proof for all passengers 12 and over.

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis had signed into law the 'vaccine passport' ban

The number of deaths from coronavirus in the US since the start of the pandemic has surpassed 619,000

Beginning Sept. 3, the Bahamas is restricting cruise ships from entering the country's ports unless all passengers over 12 have been vaccinated.

An exception is made for those with medical issues that preclude inoculation.

'Effective Aug. 28 through October, for departures from all Atlantic and Gulf homeports, only children under 12 and adults with a medical condition that prohibits their vaccination are exempt from vaccination requirements to sail,' a Carnival statement about the new Bahamas restriction read.

'Carnival is advising guests of this update, and any guests that have received an exemption applicable through October have been informed of this change and that exemptions beyond these two categories are rescinded.'

In May, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis banned cruise lines departing from ports there from requiring vaccine passports for passengers.

Norwegian Cruise Line battled the governor in court and challenged the vaccine passport ban. A judge temporarily blocked the Florida law.

The cruise line argued that the law is an unconstitutional infringement on First Amendment free speech. But the state's attorney said the law's aim is to prevent discrimination against passengers who don't get the shot.

Cruise ships were the first super-spreaders when the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020. The enclosed environment and contact between travelers from different countries were main factors contributing to the severity of the outbreak.

The CDC reported that more than 800 confirmed cases occurred on just three cruise ship voyages in the U.S. during the initial weeks of the pandemic.

Ocean voyages were suspended in March last year as the pandemic cut a devastating path around the world, with hubs like Florida losing an estimated $5.6 billion.

The cruise industry is hugely important to the Florida economy, generating yearly revenues of $9 billion and providing jobs for 160,000 people, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

Ships started sailing again earlier this year after the CDC released comprehensive guidelines, which included a fully vaccinated crew and requirements for everyone over 16 to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
A former police officer who shot dead an unarmed 16-year-old graffiti artist has finally been arrested in Colombia after spending the last four years on the run.

Wilmer Alarcon was taken into custody Sunday after security forces raided a home in the city of Yupal.

Alarcon was wanted for shooting Daniel Felipe Becerra on August 19, 2011.

The arrest came days after family and friends gathered for a vigil to mark the 10th year anniversary of the teens murder, Colombian newspaper El Tiempo reported.

Gustavo Trejos told El Tiempo that he had taken his son to buy paint at a shop in Bogota after the pair had lunched together.

We return (home) at night, Trejos recalled. I has some movie theater tickets and he told me no, to go with my (wife).'

Becerra stayed home, then went with friends to do a rendering of Felix the Cat at the base of a bridge in downtown Bogota.

Former cop Wilmer Alarcon was taken into custody without incident Sunday after security forces raided a home in Yupal, Colombia. He was convicted in January 2017 for the August 2011 killing of 16-year-old Diego Felipe Becerra.

Diego Felipe Becerra was shot dead by a police officer in Bogota, Colombia, on August 19, 2011

According to investigators, Alarcon and his partner were investigating a robbery and were looking for the suspects when they got to the bridge where Becerra and his friends were painting.

Fearing that Alarcon and his partner were going to confiscate their paint and supplies, Becerra and the others ran away. Alarcon fired and struck Becerra on his back and shoulder.

Trejos remembered that his sons friend recognized Alarcon at the hospital the night of the shooting. He said both cops told them, And if it was like that, then what?

When Trejos visited the murder scene, he said it was partially cordoned off, but that there were no signs of blood.

Daniel Felipe Becerra was at the base of a bridge painting when he ran from police and was shot to death.

Ex-cop Wilmer Alarcon evaded capture for four years following his conviction in 2017. He had been sentenced to 37 years and six months for killing Diego Felipe Becerra in 2011

Detectives questioned Trejos about whether he or Becerra owned a gun after the cops claimed the teenager was carrying a Sterling .22 chrome pistol at the time of the shooting.

Alarcon was placed under arrest on February 7, 2012, amid an investigation into Becerra's death and charged with killing the teen.

In 2013, authorities discovered the police officers and their superiors had altered the scene of the shooting by placing the firearm there. Furthermore, the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences found that Becerras body did not have traces of ammonium, lead or barium, which would indicate whether he had a gun, thus ruling out the officers claims that Alarcon acted in self-defense because the teenager was armed.

Former cop Wilmer Alarcon is questioned Sunday after his arrest in Yopal, Colombia

In the following months, authorities arrested nine other law enforcement agents - including two who planted the gun on Becerra - and a lawyer. Authorities also apprehended the bus driver and his wife for making false statements.

Alarcon was found guilty of aggravated homicide on August 19, 2016. He was sentenced to 37 years and six months of prison on January 18, 2017 but was allowed to leave court under the condition that he would turn himself in to be sent to prison three days later.

He failed to show up and went on the lam. On Sunday, he finally was arrested.

In 2018, the city of Bogota removed one of the colonels and six police officers from the force.

In all, 21 people have been linked to Becerras death. At least 13 are still facing hearings and four others have been sentenced.
A former Guantanamo Bay detainee has been appointed as the Taliban's acting defence minister after the group's takeover of Afghanistan, according to reports.

Mullah Abdul Qayyum Zakir, who was born in 1973, was released from the notorious Cuba-based camp, which is run by the US, during George W Bush's Presidency in 2007, according to Arab news sources.

He was originally arrested by US forces after their invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

Zakir reportedly carried the number eight while in prison. He is said to have been released after telling American officials he had no intention of returning to the battlefield.

However, on being freed, he is believed to have directed military operations in Helmand before taking over as the Taliban's general military commander.

On Tuesday, Arab news channel cited Al-Jazeera cited Taliban sources and reported that Zakir is now to become the group's defence minister.

Zakir is said to be a 'personal friend' of Ismail Qaani - the head of Iran's elite Quds force - and has previously received sophisticated weapons systems from the Middle East neighbour.

According to Arab news site Alarby, Zakir was in charge of the force who entered the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul earlier this month after the official government led by president Ashraf Ghani collapsed.

Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mullah Abdul Qayyum Zakir has been appointed as the Taliban's acting defence minister after the group's takeover of Afghanistan, according to reports. Above: Zakir is believed by online sources to be the man fifth from left in this image, which shows Taliban fighters after they had stormed the presidential palace in Kabul last week. According to Arab news site Alarby , Zakir was in charge of the force who entered the palace

Zakir (believed to be pictured centre during his internment at Guantanamo), who was born in 1973, was released from the notorious Cuba-based camp, which is run by the US, in 2007, according to Arab news sources

Zakir is also said to have been a vehement opponent of peace talks which took place between the Taliban and the Afghan government before the takeover.

Born in Helmand Province, Zakir reportedly emigrated from Afghanistan to Pakistan after finishing school.

He is said to have then joined one of the political parties fighting against Soviet occupation of the country, which came to an end in 1989.

Zakir then joined the newly-formed Taliban after it emerged under the leadership of Mullah Omar.

Syria commentator Charles Lister said on Twitter this evening that, according to Afghan journalist Bilal Sarwari, Zakari is friends with Iran's Qaani and has received some of the country's 'most sophisticated weapons systems' in the past.

U.S. Army Military Police escort a detainee to his at cell at Guantanamo in January 11, 2001

Lister added that the appointment was a 'sign of things to come' and said Zakir had reportedly been a 'vehement' opponent of peace talks with the Afghan government.

When he was captured in 2001, Zakir was the new deputy chief of the Taliban and was then known as Abdullah Ghulam Rasoul, according to the New York Times.

Taliban fighters to have been imprisoned at Guantanamo are seen as heroes by their comrades.

At a 2007 hearing, Zakir had told American officials that he wanted to 'go back home and join my family and work in my land and help my family'.

He reportedly also told the hearing: 'I have seen pictures that Afghanistan is being rebuilt, and I am happy that Americans are rebuilding my country.

'I see no reason why I should be against the Americans'

A 2010 profile in CS Monitor described Zakir as having 'tremendous power' in the Taliban.

He was known for his tactical abilities on the battlefield and had enormous influence in southern Afghanistan during the Taliban's insurgency against British, US and other Western troops.

Zakir was reportedly arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2010 before being released without explanation.

By then, he was believed to have become the deputy to Mullah Omar after the earlier arrest of the former second-in-command Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

Zakir is said to be a 'personal friend' of Esmail Qaani - the head of Iran's elite Quds force - and has previously received sophisticated weapons systems from the Middle East neighbour

Former Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Salaam Rocketi, who went on to become a member of the Afghan parliament, previously said that Zakir was a 'legendary battlefield commander'.

'His fame brought him to the attention of Mullah Omar, and the two became close over time,' he added.

Another former commander said in CS Monitor that Zakir was 'very well versed in sharia [Islamic] law.

He has also been injured several times, including in the late 1990s by a bomb which also killed four of his close friends.

News of Zakir's promotion comes after Joe Biden today shrugged off pleas by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other allies to extent the Kabul evacuation deadline to beyond August 31.

The Taliban warned it will not tolerate delay Western troops' departure.

Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel used a G7 meeting to urge the US President to keep the operation going longer, but the entreaties appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

White House sources said Mr Biden had instead agreed with the Pentagon that there would be no change to the timeline of the mission.

A humiliated Mr Johnson said after the G7 summit that the UK will continue to conduct airlifts from the country 'right up until the last moment' as he pleaded with the Taliban to let people leave after the deadline.

He said the leaders had agreed that the 'number one condition' that the Taliban must meet moving forward is to 'guarantee right the way through August 31 and beyond safe passage for those who want to come out'.

The Prime Minister insisted the G7 nations have 'huge leverage' over the Taliban because of the threat of sanctions as he said funding for the country would only be made available in the future if it meets the West's expectations.

'If those huge funds are going to be unfrozen eventually for use by the government and people of Afghanistan then what we are saying is Afghanistan cant lurch back into becoming a breeding ground of terror, Afghanistan cant become a narco state,' he said.

Boris Johnson today pleaded with the Taliban to allow people to leave Afghanistan after the US has completed its withdrawal on August 31

The comments came after the Taliban repeating blood-curdling warnings of consequences if there was an attempt to cling on, saying no-one will be permitted to leave.

'All people should be removed prior to that date,' a spokesman told a press conference in the capital. 'After that we do not allow them. We will take a different stance.'

According to Reuters, the Pentagon has told Mr Biden the risks to American forces are too high if they defy the Taliban.

It means troops will have to abandon the humanitarian operation and start focusing on their own exit plan as soon as tomorrow.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has warned of the danger of a 'shooting war' at the airport as the deadline approaches, after the RAF extracted another 2,000 people in the past 24 hours.

The White House tried to put a brave face on Joe Biden's position, saying the G7 had talked about the 'continuation of our close coordination'

Berlin and Paris have also been ramping up their evacuation, but there are still thousands of desperate people waiting to be taken to safety.

Efforts have been continuing on both sides of the Atlantic to get Mr Biden to change his approach, after he faced a furious backlash for his ham-fisted handling of the crisis.

The US chair of the House Intelligence Committee has said the current timetable for evacuating America citizens and their allies is almost certain to fail.

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat  who served as an Army officer in Afghanistan  said all the UK could do was 'ask the Americans if they're willing to stand with us'.

He added: 'If they're not then we can't secure the perimeter and we can't manage air traffic control, so if the Americans decide to go now I'm afraid that is it. But we can ask.'

Mr Tugendhat said he understands Mr Biden has to make 'a very difficult decision', but said many families are struggling to get through the gate and 'a day, maybe two days longer, would help just a few more'.
The New York Police Department commissioner implored the state's new governor to roll back disastrous crime reform laws, calling the 'soft-on-crime experiment' a failure that has led to the city's runaway crime.

'This city is built on public safety,' NYPD top cop Dermot Shea told NY1 on Tuesday. 'We're probably about two years into this soft-on-criminals experiment.  Show me a New Yorker that thinks this experiment has worked.

'It's been a disaster. By any definition, it's been a disaster.'

Shea made the comments after an innocent bystander was wounded Monday during a 5:42 p.m. shooting near West 31 Street and Seventh Avenue. Police said the gunman meant to strike a man inside Penn Station who he'd been arguing with over food.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea says recent criminal reforms have been 'a disaster'

Officials are calling on newly-appointed New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to crack down on crime

'Common sense is what we need,' Shea said. 'Reforms are good, but let's do reforms that are calibrated in such a way with the input of law enforcement. We all work for the same person: the public. These laws over the last couple of years have been a disaster.'

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was sworn into office Tuesday, has yet to outline her approach to controlling the crime-ridden city. It will be up to her to decide whether to continue New York's state of emergency over gun violence, issued in July by disgraced Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Shea said Monday's daylight shooting was just the start of a broken, revolving-door justice system that allows criminals to return to the streets without being adequately punished.

Last week, he said, a career criminal who had been arrested about 50 times was escorted by an officer to a courthouse to answer to six of his latest charges. Rather than locking the man up, the judge let him go and instructed him to return in a few days later, Shea said.

The man never returned.

'Nobody is advocating to throw everyone in jail, but what we have right now by definition is insanity,' Shea said.

Earlier this year, long-time New York City Sergeants Benevolent Association president Ed Mullin blamed Mayor de Blasio, then-governor Andrew Cuomo, and others for the city's apparent state of bedlam.

Shootings in NYC are up 45 percent since 2013 and seven percent year-over-year, a trend that continues to spark calls for gun control

The man who allegedly bashed his victim's head with a hammer was on parole at the time of the crime

Arrest, Release, Repeat: Career criminals allowed to go free and roam streets for new victims March 25: Brandon Elliot, a NYC man on lifetime parole for stabbing his mother to death in 2002 was charged with beating up an elderly Filipina on her way to church June 12: Raymond Wilson (right), a serial burglar who was arrested 19 times in the past eight months was free on bail when he allegedly broke into a child's Greenwich Village bedroom and molested her June 17: Michael Lopez (right), the alleged Bronx sidewalk shooter who nearly killed two kids was out on parole despite five prior arrests August 22: James Newton (right), who was previously charged in April with five misdemeanors, was arrested after allegedly bashing a stranger's head with a hammer at a NYC subway station Advertisement

'The city is in a freefall and there is no one in charge,' Mullin said in a Mailonline.com essay. 'The politicians who enacted the imbecilic reform laws are too proud or embarrassed to admit that they made a mistake.'

A state-wide bail law that took effect in early 2020 requires those charged with misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies to be released without having to pay bail. (De Blasio objected to that law and pushed for changes in Albany.)

Meantime, violent crime continues to soar in the city, with homicides up 32 percent since 2013. (They are down one percent year-over-year.) Shootings are up 45 percent since 2013, and have increased by seven percent year-over-year.

De Blasio in April attributed the spike in gun violence to a court system that's been brought to a standstill by the ongoing pandemic.

'I can tell you that there are people out right now who would normally be going through a trial process and if that trial meant that they had to have a consequence they would be receiving that consequence,' the mayor told NY1. 'I think it is one of the factors that's contributed to why we're having this uptick in violence.'

De Blasio will term out of his position Dec. 31, and criminal reform promises are at the heart of many campaigns to replace him.

Mayoral candidate Eric Adams said he has a plan to reduce crime in New York City through legitimate police reform, transparency, and diversity.

If elected, he vowed to strengthen handgun laws so that 'New York City residents are not put at risk by lax laws in other counties and municipalities.'

Other campaign promises included turning the anti-crime unit into an anti-gun unit, empowering communities, and 'civilianizing' areas of the city that aren't staffed by police.

While Shea blasted some of the outgoing leaders over crime reforms, he said he's hopeful the incoming politicians bring change.

'Marches are great, but we don't need marches anymore,' Shea told reporters gathered outside the Penn subway station following Monday's shooting. 'We need action. We need laws that help the police, rather than hurt and take tools away form the police. I view this incident today as the confluence if a series of bad policies and this is what you get when you get them.'
Chilling surveillance footage shows the moment a knife-wielding man stabbed a 25-year-old in broad daylight on a sidewalk in Brooklyn.

Video shows the victim holding a pizza box and chatting with another individual when the suspect, who appeared to be passing with a group of friends, casually walks over and begins stabbing him repeatedly.

The attack is just the latest in a string of violent crime vanquishing New York City.

New York Police Department Commissioner Dermot Shea has called for reform amid the crime surge, arguing that the 'soft on criminals experiment' has been a disaster.

Surveillance cameras captured the moment a knife-wielding man stabbed a 25-year-old in broad daylight on a sidewalk in Brooklyn

Police say the incident occurred at approximately 5.22pm Saturday in Brooklyn's Brownsville neighborhood

The attacker, seen wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, stabbed the victim in his face and abdomen before fleeing the scene

Police say the latest incident occurred at approximately 5.22pm Saturday in Brooklyn's Brownsville neighborhood.

The attacker, seen wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, stabbed the victim in his face and abdomen before fleeing the scene.

The victim was taken to Brookdale Hospital and is currently in stable condition, FOX 5 reported.

NYPD Crime Stoppers is offering a $3,500 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest.

NYPD Crime Stoppers is offering a $3,500 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest

Throughout New York, crime has been increasing in almost all categories. New York Police Department Commissioner Dermot Shea has called for reform amid the crime surge, arguing that the 'soft on criminals experiment' has been a disaster

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea says recent criminal reforms have been 'a disaster'

Officials are calling on newly-appointed New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to crack down on crime

Tips can be submitted to NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), online or via Twitter @NYPDTips.

NYPD did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

Throughout New York, crime has been increasing in almost all categories.

'This city is built on public safety,' Commissioner Shea said during a Monday evening interview with Spectrum News.

'We're probably about two years into this soft-on-criminals 'experiment' if you will, 'let's empty out the jails, and show me a New Yorker that at this point and time thinks this experiment has worked. It's been a disaster.'

Police say surveillance footage shows Newton man twirling an object - believed to be a hammer - in his hand as he walks over to a man off-screen on the other side of the platform at Union Square on Saturday night

The suspect was later seen calmly leaving the Union Square Station. He was arrested less than 24 hours in Harlem

Surveillance footage from a Chase Bank in lower Manhattan shows the moment an attacker - later identified as Aaron Garcia - suddenly walks up behind Miguel Solorzano, 50, and begins swinging his weapon in the violent attack

Eventually, Solorazano, severely bloodied, flees, and his attacker does not follow. Police say they have the charged Garcia with assault and attempted murder in connection to the attack

NYC's 'soft on criminals experiment' has been a disaster: NYPD commissioner blames crime reforms for emptying jails The New York Police Department commissioner implored the state's new governor to roll back disastrous crime reform laws, calling the 'soft-on-crime experiment' a failure that has led to the city's runaway crime. 'This city is built on public safety,' NYPD top cop Dermot Shea told NY1 on Tuesday. 'We're probably about two years into this soft-on-criminals experiment.  Show me a New Yorker that thinks this experiment has worked. 'It's been a disaster. By any definition, it's been a disaster.' Shea made the comments after an innocent bystander was wounded Monday during a 5:42 p.m. shooting near West 31 Street and Seventh Avenue. Police said the gunman meant to strike a man inside Penn Station who he'd been arguing with over food. 'Common sense is what we need,' Shea said. 'Reforms are good, but let's do reforms that are calibrated in such a way with the input of law enforcement. We all work for the same person: the public. These laws over the last couple of years have been a disaster.' New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was sworn into office Tuesday, has yet to outline her approach to controlling the crime-ridden city. It will be up to her to decide whether to continue New York's state of emergency over gun violence, issued in July by disgraced Governor Andrew Cuomo. Shea said Monday's daylight shooting was just the start of a broken, revolving-door justice system that allows criminals to return to the streets without being adequately punished. Advertisement

Shea said he hopes New York's new governor, Kathy Hochul, will make necessary changes to increase safety across the city.

'Common sense is what we need. Reforms are good, but let's do reforms that are calibrated in such a way with the input of law enforcement,' he argued.

'It's time to fix these laws and get back to where we all need to be.'

According to NYPD data, felony assaults are up 5.2 percent from last year, as of August 22, with misdemeanor assaults up 2.4 percent.

Murders have decreased, from 291 reported during the same time frame in 2020 to 287 reported thus far in 2021.

There have also been 7.1 percent more shooting incidents, with 4.4 percent more victims.

Grand larcenies have also increased 1.6 percent, with grand larcenies from automobiles reaching an increase of 19.3 percent.

Rapes have increased 6.1 percent and hate crimes have nearly doubled.

The Brooklyn attack comes amid a growing crime wave in the Big Apple, with more and more assaults happening in broad daylight.

Also on Saturday, a man bludgeoned a subway passenger with a hammer, purportedly for looking at him 'the wrong way'.

The attack took place at the Union Square station around 9pm.

The suspect, since identified as Jamar Newton, 41, allegedly struck the 44-year-old victim in the back of the head after an argument, causing him to fall onto the tracks.

The victim was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he required seven stitches to close his head wound. He was listed in stable condition.

Newton was arrested at around 6pm Sunday when officers spotted him running away from an 18-year-old boy in the 125th Street subway station in Harlem. He was charged with assault, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a weapon and robbery.

Last Friday morning a woman was beaten with a metal pole while waiting for the G train.

And earlier in the month another man was randomly attacked by an alleged Iraq War veteran swinging a hatchet outside of the Chase Bank in Lower Manhattan.

The suspect struck the 50-year-old victim three times in the head and once in the leg.

The victim was left bleeding on the sidewalk until paramedics were able to bandage his head and transport him to an nearby hospital where he underwent two surgeries. The man is now in stable condition.

His attacker  believed to be Aaron Garcia, 37, of Yonkers  was arrested after allegedly going through a rampage around town. He was charged with attempted murder and assault.
A French widower has discovered the remains of three young children at his home after clearing the property following his wife's death.

The unidentified man, 41, called police after finding remains in a closet, German news website RTL reported.

Officers then discovered a further two sets of remains in bags, as well as two kitchen knives in a shed, according to RTL.

French channel BFMTV reported that the man found the first set of remains in a locked cabinet in a garage and that the other two sets were then found in 'a locked cabinet, in a shed away from the house'.

The outlet said that the remains did not appear to date from the same period.

The frightening discoveries were made at a property in Mezeray, near the city of Le Mans, on Monday.

It is not yet clear whether the remains are those of newborns, infants, or foetuses and their advance state of decomposition may make this impossible to determine, according to BFMTV.

A French widower has discovered the remains of three young children at his home after clearing the property near the city of Le Mans following his wife's death

Autopsies have been ordered to determine the cause of death of each child, a public prosecutor announced on Tuesday, adding that an investigation had been opened into the discoveries.

The autopsies should also make it possible to identify the children's parents,' the prosecution said, adding that no hypothesis has been ruled out by investigators.

Technical examinations were carried out at the site, where officers also took statements from the man and other relatives.

BFMTV reported that the man's wife had died suddenly of cancer on August 10, aged 44, and that he had been clearing the property following her death when he made the discovery.

The couple were childless and the woman had two children from a previous relationship, RTL reported.
Several House Democrats, including military veterans, called on President Joe Biden on Tuesday to extend the August 31 deadline for American troop withdraw in Afghanistan.

Their concern comes as Biden told G7 leaders on Tuesday that he was holding firm to the date despite pressure from world leaders to keep boots on the ground to avoid a humanitarian crisis as thousands seek to flee Kabul.

But Democrats echoed the concerns of several European leaders, who worry there is not enough time to evacuate all the Afghanis who aided the United States in its battle against al Qaeda.

Biden now faces criticism from his own party, Republicans, and the international community about the deadline. Questions have been raised about why the evacuation wasn't started sooner. The president, in remarks on Tuesday, blamed his predecessor Donald Trump for destroying the refugee process, saying his administration had to rebuild it.

The White House is working to quell the storm even as the criticism grows.

House lawmakers received a briefing from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Tuesday in the basement of the Capitol, where several Democrats emerged unconvinced.

They called for an extension of the August 31st deadline even as the administration made it clear they were holding firm.

Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a former Army Ranger who served two tours in Afghanistan, said troops need to stay on the ground longer.

'The deadline is when the mission is accomplished, and we bring our people home,' he said.

Several House Democrats, including military veteran Rep. Jason Crow (above), called on President Biden to extend the August 31 deadline for American troop withdraw in Afghanistan

Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, a former Navy pilot, and Democratic Rep. Andy Kim of New Jersey also called for the August 31 deadline to be extended

If Biden holds firm to the August 31 date, that gives the administration just seven days to evacuate thousands of American citizens and local allies still stranded on the ground.

The U.S. ramped up the airlift by evacuating 21,600 people in the past 24 hours, but they still don't know the exact number that still need to be flown out - and now time is rapidly running out.

'It is not possible for us to evacuate all American citizens and our Afghan partners and their families by the end of the month,' Crow said. 'The deadline must be extended.'

'The bottom line is, these are our people. These are our citizens. These are our Afghan partners,' he noted of those waiting to evacuate.

Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, a former Navy helicopter pilot, also pushed back against August 31 deadline.

'I think it is critically important to ensure our military has the tools it needs to complete the mission. I do not believe that this can be accomplished by the 31st,' she said, noting she told that to Austin and Blinken during the briefing.

Democratic Rep. Andy Kim of New Jersey also pushed for the deadline to be extended, saying even if all Americans are evacuated there still needs to be humanitarian help for Afghans who aided the U.S. military.

'I, for one, would have them reconsider just for our Afghan partners,' he said.

Biden defended his actions in a speech at the White House on Tuesday afternoon, arguing the evacuations would be completed by August 31st so no extension was necessary.

'We are currently on a pace to finish by August the 31st. The sooner we can finish the better. Each day of operations brings added risk to our troops, but the completion by August 31st depend upon the Taliban continuing to cooperate and allow access to the airport for those we're transporting out, and no disruptions to our operations,' he said.

'In addition, I've asked the Pentagon and the state department for contingency plans to adjust the timetable should that become necessary. I'm determined to ensure that we complete our mission, this mission,' he added.

He blamed delays on his predecessor, Donald Trump.

'We must all work together to resettle thousands of Afghans who ultimately qualify for refugee status. The United States will do our part and we are already working closely with to build the system destroyed by my predecessor,' he noted.

And White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki defended the administration's decision to stick to the deadline. She said the president told allies the evacuation was 'on pace' to end on August 31.

She argued any delay increased the risks to troops.

'He also made clear that with each day of operations on the ground, we have added risk to our troops with increasing threats from ISIS-K, and that completion of the mission by August 31 depends on continued coordination with the Taliban, including continued access for evacuees to the airport,' she said.

Republicans have been piling on Biden for holding fast to his August 31 date, arguing it's too soon.

'We have been given every indication that evacuation efforts cannot be concluded by August 31,' Republican Sen. Mitt Romney said in a statement Tuesday. 'Americans are still stranded in the provinces outside of Kabul and it's unacceptable that there is still no plan to get these individuals to safety.'

Concerns from Democrats come after Rep. Adam Schiff, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said Biden is 'unlikely' to meet his August 31 deadline to evacuate U.S. citizens and their allies.

Schiff said on Monday a full evacuation was 'possible' but 'very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIVs, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders, women leaders.'

'Given the logistical difficulties of moving people to the airport and the limited number of workarounds, it's hard for me to see that being fully complete by the end of the month. And I'm certainly of the view that we maintain a military presence as long as it's necessary to get all U.S. persons out and to meet our moral and ethical obligation to our Afghan partners.'

He added: 'Given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIVs, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders women leaders, it's hard for me to imagine all of that can be accomplished between now and the end of the month,' he said.

A Marine fist bumps a child waiting evacuation at the Kabul airport

Biden delivered a snub to his international allies on Tuesday, dismissing the desperate pleas of G7 leaders to extend the Kabul evacuation beyond August 31, after the Taliban issued a chilling warning to western forces who stay and banned Afghans from leaving.

The Taliban refused to extend the deadline and told Afghan citizens not to travel to the airport.

'The road to Kabul airport is closed for locals and open to foreigners,' Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said.
Former President Donald Trump lashed out at President Joe Biden on Tuesday for 'surrendering to terrorists' after Biden made the decision to hold firm on an August 31 deadline for a full US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

'Biden surrendered Afghanistan to terrorists and left thousands of Americans for dead by pulling out the Military before our citizens,' Trump wrote in a statement shortly after noon on Tuesday.

'Now we are learning that out of the 26,000 people who have been evacuated, only 4,000 are Americans. You can be sure the Taliban, who are now in complete control, didnt allow the best and brightest to board these evacuation flights.

'Instead, we can only imagine how many thousands of terrorists have been airlifted out of Afghanistan and into neighborhoods around the world. What a terrible failure. NO VETTING. How many terrorists will Joe Biden bring to America? We dont know!'

The 4,000 figure references reporting from Politico journalist Alex Ward.

Ward wrote on Twitter that a total of 4,407 Americans have been evacuated from Kabul since the operation began.

Former President Trump joined in on the criticism of Biden's Afghanistan crisis (pictured in New York on August 22)

'Total = 6,916 Total manifested since op began: 4,407 AMCITS, 21,533 Afghans, 642 TCNs. Total = 26,582,' Ward reported.

He added that 128 evacuation flights were planned for the next 48 hours and that around 13,000 people are currently at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

The Taliban announced they are blocking Afghan citizens from accessing the Kabul after allowing evacuations for little more than a week, likely complicating efforts to rescue Afghans who worked with the US military.

Trump referenced reporting from a Politico journalist, who said roughly 4,400 Americans have been evacuated since the operation began

A group of Republican lawmakers including military veterans also tore into President Joe Biden over his handling of the Afghanistan crisis and demanded he extend the evacuation deadline past August 31 during a press briefing outside the Capitol on Tuesday.

'We're going to leave Americans behind 11 days before the 20th anniversary of September 11? Are you kidding me?' Rep. Mike Waltz said. 'The Taliban taking over means Al Qaeda 3.0 comes roaring back, except we're in a worse position than before.'

'Are we going to have another pulse night club? Are we going to have another San Bernardino? Are we going to have another 9/11 because of that incompetence?'

'That blood is and will be on Joe Biden's hands.'

Biden initially seemed open to extending the deadline if necessary. As of Tuesday morning he is standing firm on the August 31 date, Reuters reports after the president's emergency meeting with other G7 leaders.

The GOP lawmakers said blood would be on Biden's hands if he doesn't extend the August 31 deadline to get all Americans and Afghan allies out of Afghanistan

Waltz, the first Green Beret special forces veteran to serve in Congress, served multiple tours in Afghanistan.

He said not extending the deadline means leaving Americans and allies 'stranded' - seemingly taking a shot at White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

Psaki on Monday called out a reporter who asked about Americans 'stranded' in Kabul - telling him using the term was 'irresponsible.'

At one point Waltz displayed a framed letter he said hangs on his office wall, claiming it was sent by the Taliban to a school principal.

The Taliban allegedly threatened 'if he didn't get out of town he would be beheaded within 24 hours' for running a school for girls.

At one point Rep. Waltz, a Green Beret, held up a letter from the Taliban to an Afghan school principal, warning he would be beheaded for running a girls' school

'I leave this up as a reminder of the evil we're dealing with, and what we're condemning these people to,' Waltz said.

Rep. Ronny Jackson, former White House physician and also an Afghanistan veteran, said the Biden administration 'betrayed' the people of Afghanistan.

'We are at the very beginning of this crisis that Biden has created,' he said. 'We need him and we need his team to resign.'

The Pentagon said in a press briefing Tuesday that it did not have a number for how many Americans or Afghan allies are still in the country.

'We are on the cusp of the biggest mass hostage crisis this country has ever seen,' Waltz warned.

He said the looming threat would make the Tehran embassy hostage crisis in 1979 'look like a sleepover.'

A total of 57 coalition flights and 37 US military flights evacuated roughly 21,600 people from Kabul within 24 hours as of 3 a.m. this morning, according to White House numbers released early Tuesday.

Since August 14 58,700 people have been evacuated - but according to a Washington Post reporter, only 4,000 are Americans.

Washington Post's Olivier Knox first tweeted that around 4,000 Americans have been evacuated since August 14

The Taliban announced Tuesday that Afghan citizens will no longer be permitted through Kabul airport

Meanwhile the Taliban released political prisoners across the country, with 220 inmates freed in Kandahar province on Tuesday.

The group also is now in control of billions of dollars of US military technology that was in the Afghan government's possession, which could include more than 150 aircraft.

The US gave the Afghan military roughly $28 billion in weapons technology between 2002 and 2017.

An inspector general's report from 2020 states the US gave more than 7,000 machine guns and nearly 1,400 grenade launchers to Afghanistan from 2017 to 2019, among other weapons.

The Taliban released political prisoners over the last week, including these former inmates who are seen leaving a prison in Kandahar on August 24

Afghan families board a US Air Force evacuation flight on August 23. On August 24 the Taliban announced no more Afghan citizens will be allowed to go to the airport

Waltz was outraged at the Taliban's military acquisition on Tuesday.

'The Taliban are going to be armed to the teeth, so when future American soldiers have to go back to deal with the problem...how many are going to die now, because they're going to have to fight their way through our own equipment - our own damn equipment!'

'This is a terrorist organization, the Taliban, and they now have control of a country because of President Biden's failed policy,' House Minority Whip Steve Scalise said at the event.

He said the Taliban's control of Afghanistan would mean a heightened risk of terrorists coming to the US by crossing the southern border.

'We want President Biden's focus on rescuing every American who he left behind enemy lines, and to give us an accounting of who they are,' Scalise said.

The Associated Press reported last week that up to 15,000 US nationals could still be in Afghanistan.

Republican leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy also publicly urged Biden to rethink this August 31 deadline, stating in a press conference that 'we should stay until every single American is able to get out of Afghanistan.'

'We should not negotiate it. We should explain that this is what is going to happen and anybody in our way to stop us from bringing Americans out will be in danger.'

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also joined in bashing Biden over his decision to maintain the August 31 deadline.

'The president needs to forget about the August 31st deadline. We need to send enough American personnel, military personnel to rescue our people, and by the way, there are more American soldiers there now than before the president made the decision to leave. Extend the deadline. Get outside the perimeter, make sure that every single American who wants to leave is able to get out with our assistance, and our Afghan allies,' he said on Fox News.

'Having made that decision, youd have to conclude these guys couldnt organize a two-car funeral.'
Morphew's adult daughters Mallory and Macy - who reported their mother missing last year - were seen leaving the court on Tuesday

Barry Morphew was back in court today for the final day of a preliminary hearing that will decide if he goes on trial for the murder of his wife Suzanne.

His daughters Macy and Mallory - who reported their mother missing on Mother's Day 2020 - were seen leaving court Tuesday along with their grandmother Shirley Morphew, 75, who wiped away tears.

The Colorado dad-of-two sat stone-faced wearing a light gray suit, black tie and white shirt as his attorneys Dru Nielsen and Iris Eytan began making the case for his defense.

The preliminary hearing concluded with Judge Murphy postponing a decision on whether to send it to trial for September 17. Morphew's attorneys declined to comment on the outcome of the four-day hearing when approached by DailyMail.com outside court.

Morphew's defense team insisted he's innocent and revealed to the court that male DNA was found on the glovebox of Suzanne's Range Rover that partially matches an unsolved sexual assault case in Tempe, Arizona.

Defense attorney Iris Eytan grilled CBI agent Joseph Cahill about the DNA investigation he led, flagging up the DNA match to the Arizona case where a woman was sexually assaulted outside a convenience store.

Suggesting another person could have murdered Suzanne, Eytan said another partial match was found between a sample obtained in Chicago and the DNA in Suzanne's car.

Cahill said investigators initially followed up to see if Morphew could be a suspect in the sexual assault case but found his DNA was not present in the Arizona case, opening up the defense's argument that another suspect could still be out there.

Barry Morphew's mother Shirley, 75, is seen wiping away tears as she leaves court with her granddaughters (foreground) and another woman on Tuesday

Barry and Suzanne Morphew's adult daughters Mallory (left) and Macy (right) - who reported their mother missing - were seen leaving the court for a lunch break on Tuesday

Morphew's daughters are seen leaving the court after Judge Patrick Murphy announced he will not make a decision today on whether to send the case to trial

Barry Morphew was back in court Tuesday for the final day of a preliminary hearing that will decide if he goes on trial for the murder of his wife Suzanne

Morphew's legal team, defense attorneys Dru Nielsen (left) and Iris Eytan (right) , are pictured arriving to court on Tuesday

Cahill said there were two suspects in the sexual assault case and while the lab found a partial DNA match between the sample found in Suzanne's car and a third subject, it didn't add up with either of the two main suspects.

He also insisted that the matches were not complete, saying there were doubts over whether the DNA from Tempe and Chicago were an exact match to the DNA found in Suzanne's car  saying court forensic investigators flagged it up as a potential lead rather than a match.

Police believe Morphew (pictured in his mugshot) could have hidden Suzanne's body in the abandoned lead mine which sits 10,000ft above sea level in the mountains outside Salida

DA Jeff Lindsey, for the prosecution, countered that Morphew's DNA was also found in his wife's car on the front driver door and the pocket behind the seat, as well as on the seat of her bike.

The judge in the Morphew case said he does not plan to make a decision over whether to send the case to trial today  citing the 25 pages of notes and 20 hours of testimony he needs to review.

Judge Patrick Murphy has now ordered a recess lasting for 30 minutes while he plots the next steps, with Morphew's attorneys asking him to free him from jail today.

Judge Murphy declined the request and said he would leave the decision to a later date.

Morphew's attorney Eytan told the court that she does not believe the prosecution has met the burden of proof to convict Morphew of Suzanne's murder.

Although the attorneys have remained inside the courtroom, Morphew's daughters Mallory and Macy have left and declined to comment when asked how they felt about the revelations of the past two days by DailyMail.com.

Morphew told police that wife Suzanne's fling with married lover Jeff Libler 'hurt me to the bone' during an interview revealed in court Tuesday.

Morphew's attorney Dru Nielsen also told how he broke the news of Suzanne's affair to their daughters Mallory and Macy  telling cops 'it's the hardest thing I've ever had to do'.

The court heard that Morphew, when asked where his wife could be, told cops: 'I think she left.'

Morphew has offered a series of different explanations for Suzanne's disappearance, beginning with the theory that she was taken by a mountain lion and then, a few weeks later, that she had been abducted by a local drug dealer he named as 'CBD Jeff.'

Earlier, the court had resumed a discussion over DNA evidence with Agent Joseph Cahill who said his team had attempted to identify the unknown male DNA found in Suzanne's car.

Suzanne Morphew was reported missing on May 10 after daughters Mallory and Macy were unable to get in contact with her.

Morphew, 53, made an anguished video begging for Suzanne to come home two days later but was charged with her murder a year later along with tampering with a corpse and voter fraud.

Grilling CBI agent Johnny Grusing, defense attorney Nielsen talked about Suzanne's drinking and said Morphew had tried to hide the extent of her boozing from their daughters  both of whom were in court to hear the arguments, along with Morphew's mother Shirley, 75.

She also insisted Morphew had no idea Suzanne was having a two-year affair with married dad-of-six Jeff Libler until informed by Grusing during one of several interviews totaling 24 hours.

Nielsen also disputed the police's case that Morphew disposed of Suzanne at the Garfield Mine, saying no sign of the mom-of-two has ever been found near the area.

She also asked Grusing about his interview with Morphew when the 53-year-old mooted getting immunity from prosecution.

Grusing said Morphew brought up the topic during a conversation in the DSI [Morphew's workplace] parking lot, telling Grusing: 'And what about immunity? Can you give me immunity if I sit and just open up my life to you?'

Grusing told the court: 'I was understanding Mr. Morphew was asking if he disclosed things to me, he would not be prosecuted for what we were speaking about which is Suzanne's disappearance and death.'

Morphew, 53, made an anguished video begging for Suzanne to come home two days later but was charged with her murder a year later along with tampering with a corpse and voter fraud

Morphew (pictured in court in May) is being held in jail without bond. The dad-of-two sat stone-faced on Tuesday wearing a light gray suit, black tie and white shirt as his attorneys began making his case for the defense

The couple with their two daughters, Mallory and Macy, who have been supporting their father

Morphew admitted to striking wife Suzanne during the months leading up to her disappearance  but told law enforcement it was an accident.

During dramatic testimony, CBI agent Grusing recounted how Morphew had kept tabs on his wife's phone  calling into question his surprise at her affair  and said she had written a list of grievances about her marriage shortly before she vanished.

Barry learned his wife Suzanne had been having a two-year affair with one of her high school classmates, Jeff Libler (pictured), in the days before allegedly killing her

The court also heard that Morphew was left hurt when Suzanne failed to tell him not to kill himself after he threatened suicide when she said their marriage was over.

DA Jeff Lindsey also noted that neighbor Jean Ritter was told to look for Suzanne's bicycle by Morphew before police were informed.

The court was then shown bodycam footage and heard from Deputy Scott Himschoot who found a dart gun cap inside the Morphew's dryer on May 19.

In the footage, Himschoot can be seen picking up the cap which came from a tranquilizer needle sheath.

Himschoot was also seen in the footage questioning whether the dart gun had been recently fired but DA Lindsey pointed out Morphew had admitted to shooting the weapon in April  a few weeks before Suzanne went missing.

On Monday, District Attorney Jeff Lindsey outlined the case for the prosecution  telling the court Morphew had murdered his wife with animal tranquilizer after she tried to leave him for another man.

The court heard how Morphew's phone was put into airplane mode at 2.47pm on May 9  15 minutes after wife Suzanne sent her final message.

His phone was switched back on at 10.17pm before being put back into airplane mode at 3.25am on May 10.

In the early hours of the morning, data from his truck showed the doors were opened seven times and showed he left the home at 5am.

Morphew claimed he was driving to an urgent job in Broomfield, Colorado, 150 miles away, but admitted in police interviews he had initially driven in the opposite direction towards the remote Garfield Mine.

Police believe he could have hidden Suzanne's body in the abandoned lead mine which sits 10,000ft above sea level in the mountains outside Salida.

Morphew said he had gone that way after seeing a bull elk and followed because he wanted to see where it dropped its horns  even though that only happens in the Fall.

He then drove to Broomfield, making frequent stops to dispose of trash, and checked into the Holiday Inn hotel.

Co-workers Morgan Gentile and Jeff Puckett told police that he left his hotel room reeking of chlorine and covered with wet towels.

Morphew has consistently denied the allegations and, according to Agent Grusing, appeared shocked when he was arrested on May 5

CBI agent Kevin Kobak told court Gentile and Puckett had been surprised by Morphew's early trip to Broomfield  saying they had been expecting to leave at 5.30pm that afternoon for a job the following day.

Police also told how they discovered an empty animal tranquilizer dart in the Morphew's dryer and said they found a .22 caliber round on the floor of the master bedroom in the noticeably clean home.

Testifying on Monday, Undersheriff Andy Rohrich said police had also found cracks in the door of the master bedroom consistent with a forced entry.

Only Suzanne's bike and bike helmet have ever been found  the latter discovered by a search and rescue team hidden in the undergrowth on a verge close to Garfield Mine.

Police said her purse containing her ID, wads of cash and all her credit cards was discovered inside her white Range Rover SUV parked at the Morphew home.

The car also contained two empty bottles of pool chemicals.

Morphew has consistently denied the allegations and, according to Agent Grusing, appeared shocked when he was arrested on May 5.
Republican lawmakers are tearing into President Joe Biden over his handling of the Afghanistan crisis, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy blasted the president for hiding as the Taliban take over Afghanistan and US allies scramble to escape.

'Other countries are questioning whether we have the resolve to honor our word because of the bungled withdrawal. President Biden magnified this damage over the past week by hiding at Camp David. Delivering incoherent speeches,' McCarthy said.

The Taliban said that the Aug. 31 deadline was a 'red line' and promised consequences' if US troops stayed longer in Afghanistan. President Biden, despite pressure at home and abroad, heeded the Taliban's demands and said US troops would vacate the nation within one week.

'We should laugh at them when they say, 'Oh well that's a red line for us [and] you need to be out by August 31.' No,' an incredulous Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, told Politico. 'And if you get in our way when we are extracting Americans, we will kill you. That is the only message that Biden should be delivering to the Taliban.'

'The only proper response from America to these dirty savage terrorists should be: Go f*** yourself,' Crenshaw wrote on Twitter when the Taliban said Aug. 31 was a 'red line.'

'We need to send a very clear message to the Taliban: We're not negotiating about our deadline. That should be the message,' Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL in Afghanistan, said.

He blasted the president for ''failing to contact a single foreign leader for 36 hours.'

'We're going to leave Americans behind 11 days before the 20th anniversary of September 11? Are you kidding me?' Rep. Mike Waltz said. 'The Taliban taking over means Al Qaeda 3.0 comes roaring back, except we're in a worse position than before.'

'Are we going to have another pulse night club? Are we going to have another San Bernardino? Are we going to have another 9/11 because of that incompetence?'

'That blood is and will be on Joe Biden's hands.'

Their threat comes as the Taliban announced they are blocking Afghan citizens from accessing Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul after allowing evacuations for little more than a week.

Biden initially seemed open to extending the deadline if necessary. As of Tuesday morning he is standing firm on the August 31 date, Reuters reports after the president's emergency meeting with other G7 leaders.

In this White House handout, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris (on screen) hold a video conference with the national security team to discuss Afghanistan on August 16, 2021 at Camp David. Biden hesitated to return to the White House even as chaos unfolded

The GOP lawmakers said blood would be on Biden's hands if he doesn't extend the August 31 deadline to get all Americans and Afghan allies out of Afghanistan

Waltz, the first Green Beret special forces veteran to serve in Congress, served multiple tours in Afghanistan.

He said not extending the deadline means leaving Americans and allies 'stranded' - seemingly taking a shot at White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

Psaki on Monday called out a reporter who asked about Americans 'stranded' in Kabul - telling him using the term was 'irresponsible.'

At one point Waltz displayed a framed letter he said hangs on his office wall, claiming it was sent by the Taliban to a school principal.

The Taliban allegedly threatened 'if he didn't get out of town he would be beheaded within 24 hours' for running a school for girls.

At one point Rep. Waltz, a Green Beret, held up a letter from the Taliban to an Afghan school principal, warning he would be beheaded for running a girls' school

'I leave this up as a reminder of the evil we're dealing with, and what we're condemning these people to,' Waltz said.

Rep. Ronny Jackson, former White House physician and also an Afghanistan veteran, said the Biden administration 'betrayed' the people of Afghanistan.

'We are at the very beginning of this crisis that Biden has created,' he said. 'We need him and we need his team to resign.'

The Pentagon said in a press briefing Tuesday that it did not have a number for how many Americans or Afghan allies are still in the country.

'We are on the cusp of the biggest mass hostage crisis this country has ever seen,' Waltz warned.

He said the looming threat would make the Tehran embassy hostage crisis in 1979 'look like a sleepover.'

A total of 57 coalition flights and 37 US military flights evacuated roughly 21,600 people from Kabul within 24 hours as of 3 a.m. this morning, according to White House numbers released early Tuesday.

Since August 14 58,700 people have been evacuated - but according to a Washington Post reporter, only 4,000 are Americans.

Washington Post's Olivier Knox first tweeted that around 4,000 Americans have been evacuated since August 14

Former President Trump joined in on the criticism of Biden's Afghanistan crisis

Former President Donald Trump lashed out at Biden on Tuesday afternoon, referencing the figure and accusing Biden of having 'surrendered Afghanistan to terrorists and left thousands of Americans for dead by pulling out the Military before our citizens.'

'You can be sure the Taliban, who are now in complete control, didn't allow the best and brightest to board these evacuation flights. Instead, we can only imagine how many thousands of terrorists have been airlifted out of Afghanistan and into neighborhoods around the world,' Trump wrote.

'What a terrible failure. NO VETTING. How many terrorists will Joe Biden bring to America? We don't know!'

Meanwhile the Taliban released political prisoners across the country, with 220 inmates freed in Kandahar province on Tuesday.

The group also is now in control of billions of dollars of US military technology that was in the Afghan government's possession, which could include more than 150 aircraft.

The US gave the Afghan military roughly $28 billion in weapons technology between 2002 and 2017.

An inspector general's report from 2020 states the US gave more than 7,000 machine guns and nearly 1,400 grenade launchers to Afghanistan from 2017 to 2019, among other weapons.

The Taliban announced Tuesday that Afghan citizens will no longer be permitted through Kabul airport

The Taliban released political prisoners over the last week, including these former inmates who are seen leaving a prison in Kandahar on August 24

Waltz was outraged at the Taliban's military acquisition on Tuesday.

'The Taliban are going to be armed to the teeth, so when future American soldiers have to go back to deal with the problem...how many are going to die now, because they're going to have to fight their way through our own equipment - our own damn equipment!'

'This is a terrorist organization, the Taliban, and they now have control of a country because of President Biden's failed policy,' House Minority Whip Steve Scalise said at the event.

He said the Taliban's control of Afghanistan would mean a heightened risk of terrorists coming to the US by crossing the southern border.

'We want President Biden's focus on rescuing every American who he left behind enemy lines, and to give us an accounting of who they are,' Scalise said.

The Associated Press reported last week that up to 15,000 US nationals could still be in Afghanistan.

Republican leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy also publicly urged Biden to rethink this August 31 deadline, stating in a press conference that 'we should stay until every single American is able to get out of Afghanistan.'

'We should not negotiate it. We should explain that this is what is going to happen and anybody in our way to stop us from bringing Americans out will be in danger.'

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also joined in bashing Biden over his decision to maintain the August 31 deadline.

'The president needs to forget about the August 31st deadline. We need to send enough American personnel, military personnel to rescue our people, and by the way, there are more American soldiers there now than before the president made the decision to leave. Extend the deadline. Get outside the perimeter, make sure that every single American who wants to leave is able to get out with our assistance, and our Afghan allies,' he said on Fox News.

'Having made that decision, you'd have to conclude these guys couldn't organize a two-car funeral.'
The wife of civil rights icon the Reverend Jesse Jackson has been hospitalized with COVID after refusing to get a vaccine..

Jacqueline Jackson, 77, received oxygenat Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after being admitted Saturday, although she is now breathing independently.

Her family revealed Tuesday that Jacqueline had refused to have the shot because of an underlying condition, but offered no further information on what it was.

Jacqueline and her husband, 79, both tested positive for the virus over the weekend, even though he is fully-vaccinated against COVID.

Rev Jackson, who has Parkinson's disease, and who received his Pfizer shot in January, said he is doing 'fairly well' during a phone call with The Associated Press Tuesday.

He received his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at a public event in January where he encouraged others to do the same.

She received oxygen but is now breathing on her own without a respirator, according to family members.

Generally, public health experts strongly encourage people with existing health conditions, such as cancer or diabetes, to get vaccinated as they are at increased risk of serious COVID-19 symptoms.

Rev Jesse Jackson has said he is doing 'fairly well' after receiving treatment for his breakthrough COVID-19 infection at Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Rev. Jesse Jackson receives the Pfizer's BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from Dr. Kiran Chekka, Covid Administration Physician at the Roseland Community Hospital in Chicago on January 8

Rev. Jesse Jackson, 79, and his wife, Jacqueline, 77, are seen in 2013. Jacqueline has reportedly not received the COVID-19 vaccine because of an unspecified 'pre-existing condition'

Family members have said the Jacksons were admitted to the hospital in part because of their age and that both have been responding positively to treatment.

The couple have been married for nearly 60 years.

Over the weekend, Jonathan Jackson, one of their five children, said that doctors were 'carefully monitoring the conditions' of his parents.'

'My family appreciates all of the expressions of concern and prayers that have been offered on their behalf, and we will continue to offer our prayers for your family as well,' read the statement, released via the younger Jackson's Rainbow/Push Coalition.

'The health status of both my parents is unchanged.

'They continue to rest comfortably and to receive treatment,' Jonathan Jackson added in a Tuesday statement.

'We are continuing to remember you, and we are praying for all who are suffering from the COVID-19 virus. We will have nothing further to say until tomorrow's update,' he concluded.

Rev Jackson, who was hospitalized early this year for gallbladder surgery, has remained active and continued traveling and advocating for voting rights and other causes.

The prevalence of so-called 'breakthrough cases' - those which infect people who've been fully-vaccinated - is causing concern as the Indian Delta variant drives a surge in cases nationwide.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that vaccines greatly reduce the risk of hospitalization and death, even if they don't prevent all cases among the vaccinated.

'While these vaccines are effective, no vaccine prevents illness 100% of the time. For any vaccine, there are breakthrough cases,' the CDC website acknowledges.

'However, fully vaccinated people are much less likely to be hospitalized or die than people with similar risk factors who are not vaccinated,' the agency said.

Jonathan Jackson, one of the couple's five children, said in a Sunday statement that doctors were 'carefully monitoring the conditions' of his parents, 'especially because of their ages'

'My family appreciates all of the expressions of concern and prayers that have been offered on their behalf, and we will continue to offer our prayers for your family as well,' read the statement, released via the Jonathan Jackson's (pictured) Rainbow/Push Coalition.

A protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson was key in guiding the modern civil rights movement on numerous issues, including voting rights.

Jackson has remained active, most recently advocating for COVID-19 vaccines for black people, who lag behind other racial groups in the United States' vaccination drive.

In the past month, Jackson has been arrested twice participating in protests demanding the passage of the Democrats' voting bill.

In late July, he was arrested during a sit-in at Senator Kyrsten Sinema's office in Phoenix, where protesters demanded the moderate Democrat withdraw her support for the Senate filibuster.

On August 2, Jackson was arrested with 200 other demonstrators during a protest at the U.S. Capitol .

The protest, organized by Poor People's Campaign, was part of a series of events to demand the passage of Democrats' new election rules, an end to the filibuster, a $15 hourly minimum wage and protection for immigrants.

Speakers at the rally - that began in Washington DC in front of Union Station, and ended on the Capitol - included Lyndon B. Johnson's daughter Luci Baines Johnson.

Her father signed the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which organizers say 'has since been gutted.'
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been found not guilty - by his own office - on accusations of bribery made by eight former aides in a report released Tuesday.

Paxton has denied the allegations and has cast blame on those eight employees, all of whom resigned or were fired from the agency. Four of them are currently suing Paxton for retaliation.

The aides accused Paxton of allowing improper influence from real estate investor Nate Paul, who donated to the attorney general's 2018 re-election campaign.

They claimed Paxton granted a series of favors for Paul, allegedly in return for a job for a woman the AG was having an affair with, according to the Dallas Morning News.

'Paxton and [the Office of Attorney General] misused the funds, services and personnel of his office to personally benefit Nate Paul and to benefit himself,' the February 9 complaint alleged.

'Plaintiffs reasonably concluded that Paxton's bizarre, obsessive use of the power of his office to help Nate Paul was an effort to repay Paul for Paul's help with Paxton's home remodel and/or to silence or repay Paul for helping or paying Paxton's mistress, and/or to encourage Paul not to reveal that Paxton had had an affair.'

Paxton's wife, Angela, has served Texas as a state senator since 2019. According to Angela Paxton's campaign website, she and the attorney general have been married since 1986 and have four adult children.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been found not guilty - by his own office - on accusations of bribery made by eight former aides in a decision released Tuesday

Paxton, seen here with his wife State Senator Angela Paxton, is under investigation for granted a series of favors for businessman Nate Paul, allegedly in return for a job for a woman AG Paxton was having an affair with

Paul has been under a lengthy FBI investigation, and the investor's properties in Austin were raided on Aug. 19, 2020.

In a 374-page report with multiple exhibits, Paxton's office found his former employees alleging otherwise have 'no evidence' of a 'quid pro quo.'

'There is no evidence that Nate Paul attempted to bribe AG Paxton,' the report said. 'The Complainants attempt to use a campaign donation as proof of the bribe, however, Paul has made only one campaign donation to AG Paxton in 2018  not only well before the allegedly improper actions taken by AG Paxton in 2020, but even before the FBI's 2019 raid that formed the gravamen of Nate Paul's criminal complaints.'

Paxton himself speaks out against the former aides accusing him in the report.

'Some of the Complainants operated in an unaccountable manner by not documenting their actions, instructing subordinates not to document their actions, dismissing other employees so that they could have secret meetings, deleting emails, and potentially other acts taken to conceal behaviors, processes, and evidence,' he said.

An attorney for several of the aides, who refer to themselves as 'whistleblowers,' told the Daily Mail in a statement that they were dismissing the credibility of the AG office's report.

'The takeaway from this internal report is that, although Ken Paxton remains under active federal investigation, the people who still work for Paxton say he did nothing wrong,' TJ Turner said on behalf of their legal team.

Paul has been under a lengthy FBI investigation, and the investor's properties in Austin were raided on Aug. 19, 2020

Paxton's ties to former President Trump have extended into his own 2022 re-election bid, in which he faces a tight fight against George P. Bush. Trump endorsed Paxton in the Republican primary

'Notably, whoever in Paxton's office wrote this report was not willing to put their name on it. Of course, the one-sided internal report is full of half-truths, outright lies, and glaring omissions. It is a half-baked self-exoneration by Paxton, who continues to use taxpayer dollars to delay and hide from simple document requests and depositions and pay private lawyers to keep the federal investigation quiet. The truth will come out, but you won't get it from Ken Paxton.'

As Turner says, despite the attorney general's office finding no wrongdoing, the lawsuit against Paxton remains active, though he has recently tried to have it thrown out in court, saying his aides had gone 'rogue' and made 'unsubstantiated claims.'

Paxton is also currently being investigated by the Texas State Bar over whether his failed efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election based on bogus claims of fraud amounted to professional misconduct.

Jenna Ellis, a Newsmax commentator, former legal counsel to President Trump and a supporter of Paxton, called the attacks and the complaint 'politically-motivated.

'I'm glad Texas has my friend Ken Paxton fighting against tyranny and NOT backing down.'

Jenna Ellis, a Newsmax commentator, former legal counsel to President Trump and a supporter of Paxton, called the attacks and the complaint 'politically-motivated.

Antonio Arellano, Interim Executive Director of Jolt Texas, a group that calls itself 'the largest Latino progressive organization in Texas,' restated the events of the investigation in an attempt to show that it was ridiculous

Antonio Arellano, Interim Executive Director of Jolt Texas, a group that calls itself 'the largest Latino progressive organization in Texas,' restated the events of the investigation in an attempt to show that it was ridiculous.

'Y'all, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton conducted an internal investigation against himself that concluded with him clearing himself of the allegations that he repeatedly abused the power of his office,' he wrote.

Paxton's ties to Trump have extended into his own 2022 re-election bid, in which he faces a tight fight against George P. Bush, Texas' Land Commissioner and son of former Florida Governor and presidential candidate Jeb Bush, as well as former State Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman.

Trump endorsed Paxton for a third term despite Bush's clamor for Trump's backing and the former president calling him the only Bush who 'got it right.'

'Attorney General Ken Paxton has been bravely on the front line in the fight for Texas, and America, against the vicious and very dangerous Radical Left Democrats, and the foolish and unsuspecting RINOs (Republicans in name only) that are destroying our Country,' Trump said in a written statement of support.

Paxton also once faced a First Amendment lawsuit that forced him to stop blocking people on Twitter.
As the number of migrants crossing the Mexico-U.S. border hits record breaking numbers this year, so too, has the number of dead immigrants, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

As of July, Border Patrol officials have found 383 dead migrants in 2021, the highest total in a decade, and already far surpassing the 253 recovered last year.

The real figures could be even higher as some bodies aren't discovered for years, while Border Patrol's figures do not include bodies found by other law enforcement agencies, such as local sheriff's offices.

Sheriff Oscar E. Carrillo, serving Culbertson County in West Texas, has personally found the bodies of 19 migrants this year, many who died due the baking summer heat, up by two from the total of corpses he found in 2020.

Pictured: Culberson County Sheriff Oscar Carrillo shows photos of the work his office does in answering calls involving undocumented migrants crossing the border from Mexico into the United States through Culberson County

This year, he decided to carry a new piece of gear with him at all times: a corpse trolley.

'It's so we don't have to hand carry the remains anymore,' Sheriff Carrillo, 56, said as he described the amount of dead migrants turning up on his watch.

'I used to request regular stuff like bulletproof vests,' he added. 'Now I'm asking for more body bags.'

In addition to often finding dead corpses in the Chihuahuan Desert, his other tasks include fighting crime on a daily basis, such as burglaries and cattle thefts, with just ten deputies on watch in Culberson County, which contains a population of a little more than 2,000 people.

Although it is located in the middle of the desert, surrounded by mountainous terrain and shrublands, the county is more than three times the size of Rhode Island.

Forensic technicians and members of the Mexican National Guard carry the body of Armando Tejeda, a Honduran migrant who died when he tried to cross the border into the U.S. from Mexico, seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

In the past, political leaders, such as Texas Governor Greg Abbott and former President Donald J. Trump, have argued that more migrants are taking the dauting risk of crossing the border.

President Biden disagreed and one of the first things he did after taking office was to relax some of Trump's strictest immigration policies.

He also promised to put an end to Title 42 while running for office, but recently announced he was going to keep it in place as the contagious 'Delta' variant continues to spread nationwide.

To add to that, the crisis at the southern border continues to surge past unprecedented levels as concerns over the influx of unaccompanied minors and others are compounded by COVID-19 fears.

The number of children under age 18 apprehended at the border was 834 on August 5, according to Health and Human Services. The 30-day average is just 512.

Just 612 children in HHS custody were released to parents and guardians, meaning the total number of migrant children held by the US increased by more than 200.

The number of children traveling alone who were picked up at the border reached an all-time high of more than 19,000 in July, according to preliminary numbers shared with the Associated Press by David Shahoulian, assistant secretary for border and immigration policy at DHS.

It's just a sign of a greater influx - 210,000 migrants crossed into the US along the southern border in July.

A new report says encounters at the border reached 210,000 in July alone

The numbers from CBP show more migrants crossing in 2021 than recent years

It's the highest one-month total in 21 years, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

More than 188,000 migrants were encountered by law enforcement in June - compared to 33,000 in June 2020.

Drugs gangs and hunger in Central America are factors that some would lay the blame on for the recent surge, or the extreme weather caused by climate change.

While all these factors could be interconnected, there is another component to take into consideration: the border wall.

The Trump administration's biggest projecting concerning the southern border has made some migrants think they could cross in exceptionally prohibited areas where there is no wall, like remote stretches around Culberson County.

Sheriff Carrillo, who has been involved in law enforcement for 21 years, said he tries to avoid all the on-going political debate around immigration.

A U-Haul moving van was discovered on June 15 after it exited Interstate 10 and parked behind an open lot behind the McDonalds in Van Horn. Border Patrol found it to be carrying more than 30 undocumented immigrants, who were locked in the back of the truck

The immigrants were in a serious state of dehydration. All occupants were transported to the Culberson County hospital

Sheriff Carrillo advised a driver was taken into custody and hopes the federal prosecutors criminally charge the driver

'I've got a job to do,' the sheriff, who grew up in El Paso, told the New York Times in an interview conducted entirely in Spanglish, the hybrid language established along much of the border.

He worked in the Texas oil fields before the collapse on oil prices in the 1980s.

'I told myself I need something that's going to be around,' he said, 'like law enforcement or funeral work.'

Now, as the number of dead migrants at the border increases, Sheriff Carrillo finds himself in an uneasily doing both simultaneously.

According to him, most of the migrants attempting to cross the border come from three of Central America's poorest countries: Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, although the sheriff has also identified bodies of Ecuadoreans and Mexicans.

Contrary to those seeking asylum at other cross-border locations, those making the clandestine journey in this part of West Texas are what border officials call 'Title 42s,' referring to a program executed by the Trump administration that allows authorities to expulse people recently coming from a country where a communicable disease was present.

Pictured: Culberson Deputies working in the area were alerted of the presence of migrants and rescued them from the 100 degree temperatures, providing them with water and meals-ready-to eat. Border Patrol were notified and will assume custody.

After being sent to the south of the border, Mexico, many of the migrants try to ride their luck once more , sometimes in extraordinarily isolated areas in the Chihuahuan Desert.

In July, more than 200,000 migrants were arrested along the border, which is a 13 percent increase from June and the second-highest number on record, according to Border Patrol figures.

More than a quarter of those who had been arrested last month had been previously detained.

The spiking number of migrant deaths isn't only happening in Texas though as it is also happening in neighboring border states.

In the first half of this year, remains of 127 migrants were discovered in Arizona, up from 96 in the same period of last year according to Humane Borders, a group focusing on human rights and that documents migrant deaths using data from the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner in Tucson.

A truck pulling a horse trailer was stopped south of Van Horn Texas along Texas Highway 90 by Border Agents and discovered it contained more than horses on June 18

An estimated 40 undocumented persons were hidden in the trailer along with some narcotics

An estimated 40 undocumented persons were hidden in the trailer along with some narcotics. All persons including the driver were taken into custody with out incident and pending an investigation

From October until July, 69 bodies of migrants were found in the Rio Grand Valley in South Texas, in comparison with 57 over the same period a year earlier, according to Border Patrol figures.

The agency's Del Rio sector in Val Verde County, located in southwestern Texas had an even bigger leap, to 71 bodies from 34.

Sheriff Carrillo explains that the majority of causes of migrants' deaths are from heatstroke or dehydration, as they are often left behind by smugglers trying to bring in groups of border-crossers.

However, there are many ways to die in the desert, according to the sheriff.

Once in late July of this year, he was called on duty at around 3a.m. after an Ecuadorian migrant had been ran over by an eighteen-wheel when she tried to cross Interstate 10 close to Van Horn, the county's biggest city.

He said that mainly teeth and a couple of body parts had been retrieved, reviewing photos of the gruesome crash.

'No quedo mas nada,' he added, translating to 'nothing else was left.'

In another gruesome incident, he was called to the scene on a cattle ranch which had an empty water tank, where he happened to have found a migrant who had hanged himself on a mesquite tree.

Sheriff Oscar Carrillo (left) with former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions (right)

'He made it all this way only to find the tank empty,' the sheriff said. 'What would have been going on in his mind at that point?'

For a while, these grim scenes seemed to have haunted Sheriff Carrillo as he stared at the pile of manila envelopes on his desk.

Each envelope included letters detailing the death of a migrant in his county this year, according to him.

Isolated counties, such as Culberson, cannot afford its own medical examiner, so authorities drive the bodies to El Paso, approximately 160 miles west, where they are charged a hefty $3,500 fee for each autopsy.

In the meantime, Sheriff Carrillo's jail is filled up with smugglers to a point of turning away those brought over to him by state troopers or National Guard personnel who are part of Gov Abbott's immigration crackdown.

'When someone shows up with a criminal, I'm not taking them,' Sheriff Carrillo said. 'There's no bed space anymore.'

When he initially joined the police force, Sheriff Carrillo had never thought he would see the day when he would have to turn away criminals.

He said he 'knew his aim of making smugglers accountable' didn't solely depend on his capabilities as a Sheriff. However, he is hoping to bring some form of justice to the families of dead migrants with some form of closure.

A portrait of U.S. President Donald Trump hangs over empty frames at the U.S. Border Patrol office on November 22, 2017 in Van Horn, Texas

Many of the body parts of those dead migrant remain unidentified, so he thought about posting details about some cases on his personal Facebook page.

People from Central and South America reach out to him, desperate to find out what happened to their loved ones.

In one case, a woman in California asked if he had found the body of her brother, who could be identifiable with an owl tattoo on his leg and often wearing a Chicago White Sox cap.

Using the detailed bit of information, the sheriff was able to confirm that the remains of a migrant found in June were those of a 28-year-old man from the Mexican state of Veracruz  the woman's brother, according to the New York Times.

'We were able to get the body back to the familia,' the sheriff said. 'At least we could do that for them.'

On Sheriff Carrillo's desk, near the manila envelopes that hold information about the bodies he sends for examination to El Paso, are pleas for help from the consulates of Central American countries to identify migrants who have gone missing while trying to cross the border.

'These people are out there somewhere,' he said. 'I hope that someday we'll find them.'
Jen Psaki pushed back on Tuesday against criticism over her claim at Monday's press briefing that no Americans are 'stranded' in Afghanistan and asked for contact information for those on the ground who aren't able to get out.

Fox News' Peter Doocy asked the White House press secretary what word she would use to classify Americans in Afghanistan who say they are stuck at home and unable to get to the airport for evacuation.

Psaki deflected by explaining the process for which Americans register to let the State Department know they are in a foreign country should there be an emergency.

She also insisted that 'for months the [State] Department has been telling Americans to leave Afghanistan for their own safety.'

Since the U.S. is 'committed' to getting all U.S. citizens out of Afghanistan and is in contact with them, Psaki said they are not 'stranded.'

The press secretary also said that she would 'welcome' contact information from any Americans who are unable to get in contact with the State Department.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki pushed back on Tuesday on the criticism over her claim that Americans are 'not stranded' in Afghanistan

She posted parts of her answer to a question on stranded Americans on Monday where she said the administration is 'in touch with' Americans in Afghanistan

'What do you say to the American citizen in Kabul that Fox spoke to this morning she says: 'We are stranded at home. For four days, three days, we didn't hear anything from anywhere and they're saying to the airport but we're not being given clear guidance. Our emails are getting ignored,' Doocy asked Psaki.

'Well why don't I convey to you exactly what we are doing  and I think what's important to note that I also said yesterday in the full context of my answer, which I put out today, was that we are committed to bringing Americans home who want to leave and that is the president's commitment,' Psaki said.

'So let me explain to you how our process works,' she continued. 'It is our responsibility and our role to work with and help American citizens who want to leave. In recent days they have reached out to every American citizen registered in Afghanistan multiple times.'

'If we are not in touch with this individual, give me their contact information and we will get in touch with them,' she directed to Doocy, then saying to the rest of reporters in the room: 'If any of you are hearing from American citizens who can't reach us, give me their contact information and we will get in contact with them.'

'You're saying no Americans are stranded,' Doocy shot back.

'This is someone in Kabul who says 'I am stranded.' So, is there a better word for somebody who can't leave the house to get to the airport because Jake Sullivan says ISIS is outside the airport?' he asked.

'I would welcome you providing their phone number and we will reach out to them today. And I can assure you of that,' she again deflected.

During Monday's White House press conference, Doocy asked about Americans unable to get to the Kabul airport for evacuation from the country.

'Does the president have a sense that most of the criticism is not of leaving Afghanistan, it's the way that he has ordered it to happen  by pulling the troops before getting these Americans who are now stranded. Does he have a sense of that?' Doocy asked.

'First of all, I think it's irresponsible to say Americans are stranded. They are not.,' Psaki shot back.

Those comments were widely criticized by those who point to the thousands of Americans who are still in Kabul and President Joe Biden's reiteration on Tuesday that all U.S. military presence will be out of Afghanistan by August 31  even if that means leaving U.S. citizens behind.

The White House press secretary posted on Twitter more context to her comments.

'Add[itiona]l context on American citizens of what I said: 'We are committed to bringing Americans, who want to come home, home. We are in touch with them via phone, via text, via e-mail, via any way that we can possibly reach Americans to get them home if they want to return home we are not leaving Americans who want to return home. We are going to bring them home. And I think that's important for the American public to hear and understand.'

Doocy tried to get more context from Psaki during the briefing on Monday.

She said at the Monday briefing it's 'irresponsible to say Americans are stranded. They are not'

Americans have expressed obstacles getting to the Kabul airport  currently the only way to be evacuated from Afghanistan by the military. Here U.S. military stands guard near the airport

'There are no Americans stranded,' is the White House's official position on what's happening in Afghanistan right now?' Doocy pushed the press secretary.

'I'm just calling you out for saying that we are standing Americans in Afghanistan when I said  we have been very clear that we are not leaving Americans who want to return home. We are going to bring them home,' Psaki said.

The deflection in claiming Americans will get out if they want to leads to more questions of how they are supposed to evacuate in the next 11 days as the Taliban maintains control of Kabul and the areas around the airport.

Americans have expressed troubles getting through Taliban checkpoints to the airport and have detailed making it to the gates and not being let through.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also revealed over the weekend that U.S. citizens still stuck in Afghanistan are being beaten and assaulted by Taliban fighters as they try to flee to the airport.

Biden previously said he wasn't ruling out staying in Afghanistan past the August 31 deadline to make sure all Americans were evacuated, but reversed that possibility on Tuesday by insisting all forces will be out of the country by the end of the month.

The Taliban said if any U.S. forces are still in Afghanistan after August there will be 'consequences'.

Pentagon Spokesperson John Kirby declined to say during Tuesday's briefing how many Americans have been evacuated from Afghanistan, saying that 'the number literally changes almost by the hour.'

The White House, DoD and State Department all continue to deflect when asked how many Americans are on the ground in Afghanistan and how many still need evacuating.
A left-winger is on course to defy the odds and snatch the leadership of one of Britain's most powerful unions.

Insiders said Sharon Graham, who was backed by the Socialist Workers Party, is on course to succeed Len McCluskey as general secretary of Unite.

However, although she is from the left, the result would be a blow for Mr McCluskey and the hard left who have been campaigning for former Militant member Steve Turner to take over the role.

Ms Graham is expected to work more closely with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer than Mr Turner would have done.

Insiders said Sharon Graham, who was backed by the Socialist Workers Party, is on course to succeed Len McCluskey as general secretary of Unite

She has said she accepts the Corbyn era is over and is seen as being more interested in workplace conditions than internal Labour Party politics.

The result will not be announced until tomorrow but sources said she was set to win by as many as 7,000 votes.

It is not yet known who will come third: Mr Turner or the centrist candidate, Gerard Coyne.

A spokesman for Ms Graham said: 'As more and more votes are counted we are more and more confident that Sharon is going to win.

'If that turns out to be the case this will be a truly historic victory.

Although she is from the left, the result would be a blow for Mr McCluskey and the hard left who have been campaigning for former Militant member Steve Turner to take over the role.

'We have fought against the odds on all fronts. Unite members across the UK and Ireland have spoken and it looks like they have rallied, in their tens of thousands, to our demand that Unite should get back to the workplace and deliver what it says on the trade union tin - a relentless fight for jobs, pay and conditions.'

Unite is the countrys second largest union, and the biggest donor to the Labour Party.

It has been led for the last 10 years by Len McCluksey, often dubbed 'Red Len' for his hard right views.

Mr McCluskey was been an avid supporter of Jeremy Corbyn during his failed Labour leadership.

More than one million Unite members were eligible to vote in the contest.

However it is believed about 124,000 ballot papers were returned  a turnout of approximately 12 per cent.

If Ms Graham does succeed in her bid to seize control of Unite, she will become the union's fist ever female general secretary.
Summertime monsoons blasted through a portion of former president Donald Trump's border wall near San Bernardino National Wildlife Reserve in Arizona.

Photos shared on social media show the wall is disrepair after storms knocked the floodgates off their hinges.

Since it's erection, the barrier lining the US-Mexico, which Trump has previously described as being 'virtually impenetrable,' has struggled to withstand the power of wind, rain and manmade power tools.

The damage that took place near San Bernardino was the result of downpour of rain, totaling about 2.15 inches, that funneled washes and flooding across the region.

A portion of Trump's border wall was damaged in Arizona last week as monsoons blasted through the borderlands region

A photograph shared by an Arizona-based environmentalist Kate Scott shows the portion of wall, located in in Silver Creek, about 17 miles northeast of Douglas, Arizona, with floodgates open and lined with debris including large trees.

The barrier did not withstand the 'several feet of rising water' that traveled through the area last week, according to Border Report.

The National Weather Service recorded 2.5 inches of rain in the area on Aug. 17.

A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson confirmed to the Associated Press on Monday that the floodgates had been opened in wake of the rainfall, which is said to be 'far above normal' amounts.

The gates are intended to prevent the build-up of boulders, branches and other debris during heavy rains. CBP says it is typical for the gates to be opened when major rainfall is predicted.

The National Weather Service recorded 2.5 in. of rain in Arizona's borderlands area on Aug. 17

Homes in the borderlands region were hit by a flash flood from a monsoon rainstorm, which was made worse by the quick runoff from the denuded landscape of the burn scar of a major wildfire upslope

The government agency is currently assessing the damage along the wall and plans to repair it in the future.

Trump, who focused heavily on the border wall during his presidential campaign, built just three miles of primary wall on the U.S.-Mexico border where no barrier existed while in office.

While 194 miles of wall had been built by May 2020, the vast majority of 'new' wall was replacing old wall. Only 16 miles of the 194 represented construction in places a wall didn't exist, and of that tally, 13 miles were new secondary wall, while three were primary.

Now, as the wall faces flood damage, critics argue Arizona's weather was not extreme but, instead, the wall was poorly built.

Center for Biological Diversity Borderlands Campaigner Laiken Jordahl claims is common amid the state's monsoon season.

'For years, we have been warning and predicting that exactly this would happen and while this was a significant rainfall, it wasn't atypical. We always have heavy rains in the monsoon season,' Jordahl told Border Report.

'This was a highly predictable occurrence. The construction of this wall was so ill-advised and ill-conceived and rushed and inflicted a huge amount of damage for a wall that washed away in its first summer.'

Scott Nichol, self-proclaimed artist, educator and 'hater of border walls,' echoed Jordahl's assertion, saying that for over a decade the same style of barrier has been washed away by weather events.

Scott Nichol shared of photo of a portion of a border wall near Arizona's Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument that was allegedly 'swept away' by flooding in 2011

He shared of photo of a portion of a border wall near Arizona's Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument that was allegedly 'swept away' by flooding in 2011.

'Border walls have been washing away regularly for over a decade,' he tweeted. 'The same contractor that built was awarded the wall contract through San Bernardino.'

Several other Twitter users expressed their frustrations surrounding the border wall.

'Border wall masterminds were never serious about it being a practical deterrent. It has always been a symbol of xenophobia, white supremacy and fear of being "replaced". May these ugly ideas deteriorate into oblivion asap, just like this wall is deteriorating from elements,' wrote @mamabea67607755.

'Just askingbut is there any quality control.or any corruption control in the spending of tax payers money.I mean any? At all?' questioned @getamop.

'The border wall was a way for preferred contractors to make money hand over fist. I still do not understand why this travesty is not being investigated,' argued @ItsLisaRice.

Several Twitter users expressed their frustrations surrounding the border wall

Last year, a portion of the border wall got blown over by high winds, reaching speeds of 37mph, causing it to fall onto the Mexican side of the border.

The portion of the wall that fell ran roughly 130ft in length and, at the time, was part of an ongoing project to improve existing sections of the wall.

CBP shared that the section that fell had been set in a new concrete foundation which had not yet been cured, thus making it that so the panels were unable to withstand the harsh winds.

In 2019, the barrier was breached by smuggling gangs from Mexico who sawed through the wall using every day power tools, including a popular cordless reciprocating saw that could be purchased for less than $100.

The security breaches were then used to open gaps large enough for people and drug loads to filter through.

After the breach, CBP allegedly beefed up security at in San Diego and El Centro, areas of California that were prone to smuggling.

The portion of the wall that fell in Mexicali, Mexico in January 2020 ran roughly 130ft in length
Boris Johnson made a dramatic offer on behalf of the G7 to the Taliban last night, saying the West would unfreeze hundreds of millions of pounds in funding if the group agreed to a string of conditions.

Despite failing to secure an extension to the August 31 withdrawal deadline, the Prime Minister claimed the G7's 'considerable influence' could help bring the Taliban to heel.

Mr Johnson, who hosted an emergency virtual G7 meeting last night, said the powers would allow Afghanistan's new leaders to access frozen funds if they allowed girls to be educated, prevented the country from becoming a breeding ground for terror and cracked down on the heroin trade.

He added that the G7's 'number one condition' was 'safe passage' for those who wanted to leave beyond the end of the month when Western troops pull out.

Despite failing to secure an extension to the August 31 withdrawal deadline, the Prime Minister claimed the G7's 'considerable influence' could help bring the Taliban to heel

Downing Street said it was too early to say how much funding could be extended to the country and what it would be spent on. However, a statement from all G7 leaders suggested it would include humanitarian assistance.

It was reported earlier this month that the International Monetary Fund had blocked Afghanistan's access to 330million in emergency reserves. Yesterday  despite the West's demands  a Taliban spokesman said working women must stay at home for now for their own 'safety'.

Mr Johnson spoke after the meeting of G7 leaders, at which US President Joe Biden was said to have ignored pleas to extend the US evacuation beyond the end of the month.

The Prime Minister said: 'Today the G7 agreed a roadmap for future engagement with the Taliban,' adding: 'If those huge funds are going to be unfrozen eventually for use by the government and people of Afghanistan, then what we're saying is Afghanistan can't lurch back into becoming a breeding ground of terror, Afghanistan can't become a narco state, girls have to be educated up to the age of 18, and so on.'

Mr Johnson, who hosted an emergency virtual G7 meeting last night, said the powers would allow Afghanistan's new leaders to access frozen funds if they allowed girls to be educated, prevented the country from becoming a breeding ground for terror and cracked down on the heroin trade. Pictured: Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid

He said: 'Those are important things that we value as G7, those are things that unite us in the West, those are things for which we fought for years in Afghanistan, and for which people in this country gave their lives. The point that was made today by G7 leaders is that we remain committed to those values and we remain committed to Afghanistan.

'But the number one condition that we are insisting upon is safe passage beyond the 31st, beyond this initial phase, for those who want to leave Afghanistan.'

A joint statement from G7 leaders, along with the secretary generals of the UN and Nato, pledged to contribute to humanitarian efforts in the region  and demand that women's rights be respected.

They said: 'We call for adherence to obligations under international human rights law, including the rights of women, girls, and minority groups, and that international humanitarian law is upheld in all circumstances.'

Members of the UK Armed Forces continue to take part in the evacuation of entitled personnel from Kabul airport

The statement went on: 'We support the UN in coordinating the immediate international humanitarian response in the region, including unfettered humanitarian access in Afghanistan, and will contribute collectively to that response.'

The global leaders said they would work with allies, G20 nations, the UN and countries neighbouring Afghanistan to address the 'critical questions' facing the new regime.

'As we do this, we will judge the Afghan parties by their actions, not words,' they said.

'In particular, we reaffirm that the Taliban will be held accountable for their actions on preventing terrorism, on human rights in particular those of women, girls and minorities, and on pursuing an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan.

'The legitimacy of any future government depends on the approach it now takes to uphold its international obligations and commitments to ensure a stable Afghanistan.'

Yesterday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a press conference that women would be allowed to return to work when it was safer for them to do so. 'Our security forces are not trained (in) how to deal with women  how to speak to women,' he said.

'It's currently for their benefit to prevent any ill-treatment.'

Mujahid told reporters last week that women would be allowed to work and study and were a 'very important part of society'.

'We are guaranteeing all their rights, within the limits of Islam,' he added.

When the Taliban last ruled Afghanistan in the late 1990s, women were confined to their homes and banned from going to school and work.
An Australian fugitive who fled to Afghanistan to avoid murder charges is desperate to return to home despite the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars.

Perth man Saied 'Sam' Hussaini, 32, is among thousands gathered at Kabul Airport as they try to flee the country more than a week after Taliban fighters descended on the capital and reclaimed power.

Hussaini fled to Afghanistan in 2017 using his brother's passport following the alleged murder of his friend Dejan Dimitrovski, 36, who was allegedly tortured and killed in his Balga home in Perth's north.

It's understood the dual citizen has already obtained clearance through the heavily guarded airport gates and is waiting for an evacuation flight, Nine News reported.

Perth man Saied 'Sam' Hussaini, 32, is trying to get on an evacuation flight home four years after he fled to Afghanistan

Hussaini's barrister Jeremy Noble is working hard to get his client on a plane home, Nine News reported.

'All Australian citizens are entitled to the safety that they deserve by right of their citizenship,' Mr Noble said.

'This man will face due process when he comes back to Australia.'

GAP Veteran & Legal Services lawyer Glenn Kolomeitz wasn't shocked by Hussaini's decision to return home to face the music.

'As a former policeman and former prosecutor, I can say with some certainty, life in prison in Australia and facing the Australian justice system would be far preferable to facing Taliban justice, if I can use that term, and facing a life under a Taliban regime,' he told Nine News.

Hussaini is wanted by police over the alleged murder of his friend, Perth father Dejan Dimitrovski (pictured) four years ago

Hussaini is currently at Kabul Airport (pictured) trying to get home after the city was taken over by the Taliban

WA Police plan to arrest Hussaini and charge him with murder when he returns home.

In February, four men faced a Supreme Court trial over Dimitrovski's death.

Two were sentenced to nine and 10 years' jail for manslaughter.

A third was jailed for four years for being an accessory after the fact while the fourth man was acquitted.

Justice Anthony Derrick noted during sentencing that Hussaini was still a suspect in Mr Dimitrovski's unlawful killing.

Another rescue flight from Afghanistan with 100 passengers on board touched down in Adelaide early on Wednesday.
A casino featured in the James Bond film Dr No has taken a Chinese tycoon to court to recover 10million after cheques he cashed bounced.

Yu Songbo spent 19million on gambling chips in just five days at the exclusive Les Ambassadeurs Club in London's Park Lane, it was revealed yesterday.

The casino, which also featured in the Beatles film A Hard Day's Night, wants the High Court to force Yu Songbo to repay an outstanding debt of 10million.

It asked for a worldwide freezing order on his assets while it recovered the money.

Mr Yu, a property developer from Zhoushan in the east of China, bought Grade I-listed Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire and was once said to be one of the 150 richest people in China.

A casino featured in the James Bond film Dr No has taken Chinese tycoon Yu Sangbo to court to recover 10million after cheques he cashed bounced

He spent 19million on gambling chips in just five days at the exclusive Les Ambassadeurs Club in London 's Park Lane, it was revealed yesterday

His family had an estimated fortune of 1billion in 2014 when he became a member at Les Ambassadeurs.

The High Court heard he cashed cheques for 19million at the casino between April 27 and May 1 in 2018 to buy gambling chips.

In a ruling yesterday, the court said all the cheques were 'subsequently dishonoured'.

After the casino served legal proceedings on him through the Chinese messaging app WeChat, he reduced the debt to 6.54million.

But his payments stopped in December 2019, the court was told.

The casino's lawyers said it heard nothing more apart from a Lunar New Year greeting a month later.

At the Les Ambassadeurs Club in Dr No, star Sean Connery (pictured) uttered his immortal introduction for the first time

A judge ruled it was owed 10million, including its legal costs and interest, but rejected its application for a global freezing order, saying there was insufficient evidence that Mr Yu would hide his assets to avoid repaying the debt.

Yesterday, the Court of Appeal also rejected the order. A panel of three Appeal Court judges said there was 'undoubtedly evidence that Mr Yu was disinclined to pay his gambling debts voluntarily'.

But they added: 'There was no evidence that Mr Yu had ever taken any steps to put his assets out of the reach of creditors.'

Les Ambassadeurs previously took legal action against Sheikh Salah Hamdan Albluewi, chairman of a Saudi Arabian construction and property empire, over claims he reneged on a 2million debt by sending 17 cheques that bounced.

A global freezing order imposed on his assets was lifted last year.
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President Joe Biden told the Taliban on Tuesday that U.S. would stick to its promise to lead Kabul by Aug. 31 if it stuck to its agreement to allow Westerners and vulnerable Afghans free passage to the airport.

The U.S. has ramped up its airlift in recent days amid fresh reports of human rights abuses that will fuel fears for the fate of people who worked with American troops.

Adding to the sense of urgency, the country's new Taliban rulers said that all evacuations must be completed by the end of the month and announced a ban on Afghans traveling to the airport.

Biden said the U.S. was 'on pace' to complete its mission by Aug. 31 but said he had asked officials to draw up contingency plans if U.S. troops had to stay longer.

'Each day of operations brings added risk to our troops, but the completion by the 31st depends upon the Taliban continuing to cooperate, allow access to the airport for those who are transporting out and no disruptions to our operations.

'In addition, I've asked the Pentagon and the State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timetable, should that become necessary.

'I'm determined to ensure that we complete our mission.'

Witnesses said the Taliban blocked roads to the airport and fired in the air to disperse crowds. And Politico reported that American citizens were turned away from the airport.

The Biden administration is under intense pressure to wrap up a chaotic evacuation without leaving Americans or Afghans with visas behind. The president's hurried withdrawal has drawn criticism from all sides: Republicans, Democrats, foreign policy hawks, humanitarian group sand international allies, who said they felt blindsided.

He had been due to deliver the update at midday but - in a sign of a White House trying to keep abreast of a fast moving scene in Kabul - he did not begin his remarks until after 5pm.

He began with the good news, welcoming a vote in the House to pass his huge $3.5 trillion spending plan.

But after offering an update on progress in Kabul he walked out the Roosevelt Room without responding to journalists' shouted questions.

Biden said U.S. troops were 'on pace' to leave by August 31 so long as the Taliban kept its word to allow Afghans and Westerners to reach Kabul airport

Biden delivered his remarks and then left the Roosevelt Room of the White House without responding to reporters' questions

Thousands of people are making their way through Hamid Karzai International Airport as the U.S. and an international coalition rescues foreign nationals and their Afghan allies as the clock ticks down to Biden's August 31 deadline

A U.S. Air Force airman directs evacuees on to a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at Hamid Karzai International Airport

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki

Earlier he spoke with leaders of the G7 major industrialized nations - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan - telling them that completing the operation depended on continued cooperation with the Taliban.

Biden said they agreed that the Taliban must be made to keep its word not allowing terrorist safe havens.

'We agreed the legitimacy of any future government depends on the approach it now takes to upholding their international obligations including to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a base for terrorism and we agreed that none of us are going to take the Taliban's word for it,' he said.

'We will judge them by their actions and stay in close co-ordination on any steps that we take moving forward in response to the Taliban's behavior.'

He said the leaders also committed to help the thousands of people fleeing, taking a potshot at former President Trump as he did so.

'The United States will do our part and we are already working closely with refugee organisations to rebuild a system that was purposely destroyed by my predecessor,' he said.

Even before the president confirmed his timetable it emerged that the U.S. had already begun reducing the military presence at the airport.

A diplomatic source in Washington said allies had been warned to expect that U.S. forces would begin their 'retrograde' from Hamid Karzai Airport on Tuesday in order to be out by the end of the month.

Former President Trump continued his withering criticism of Biden's handling of the withdrawal.

'How dare Biden force our military to run off the battlefield in Afghanistan and desert what now have become many thousands of American hostages,' he said in an emailed statement.

'We had Afghanistan and Kabul in perfect control with just 2,500 soldiers and he destroyed it when it was demanded that they flee.'

The Aug. 31 departure gives the Biden administration just seven days to evacuate thousands of American citizens and local allies still stranded on the ground.

The US ramped up the airlift by evacuating 21,600 people in the past 24 hours, but they still don't know the exact number that need to be rescued - and now time is rapidly running out.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were among the leaders who urged Biden to keep boots on the ground longer during the Tuesday meeting. European leaders are worried there is not enough time to evacuate everyone who wants out.

Biden spoke for seven minutes during the virtual meeting, according to officials.

Afterwards, Merkel said it was clear that the evacuation could not continue if it was not supported by the U.S.

And Johnson said the leaders discussed how to ensure people could continue to flee after American troops departed.

'The number one condition that we are insisting upon is safe passage beyond the 31st, beyond this initial phase, for those who want to leave Afghanistan,' he said.

Biden's long delayed appearance after the virtual meeting (and a postponed Pentagon briefing) all suggested a frantic atmosphere behind the scenes as aides and advisers juggled logistics and coordinated with the Pentagon and State Department after Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid refused to extend the troop deadline despite secret talks with CIA Director Bill Burns.

'They are capable of evacuating their citizens and troops by August 31', the defiant Taliban spokesman said. 'All people should be removed prior to that date. After that we do not allow them. We will take a different stance.

President Joe Biden will stick to his August 31 deadline to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan despite pressures from G7 leaders to extend it

Biden met with G7 leaders on Tuesday morning to discuss Afghanistan

An aerial picture taken Monday shows crowds and traffic outside the Kabul airport as Americans and Afghan allies attempt to flee Afghanistan

Satellite images from Monday show a massive crowd around a gate near a military checkpoint outside the Kabul airport

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Tuesday the group will not extend the August 31 deadline for all U.S. troops to withdraw from Afghanistan

He also said the road to the airport had been closed and that Afghans should not try to leave the country.

'The road to Kabul airport is closed for locals and open to foreigners,' said Mujahid.

But White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said U.S. officials believed Americans and Afghan allies were still able to reach the airport.

'I think that's safe to say what I'm talking about is the individuals we have prioritised, those who have fought alongside us, who are eligible for some special immigrant visas, otherwise wise we are facilitating their departure and that our expectation is that they will be able to reach the airport,' she said.

Meanwhile officials tried to address concerns that the evacuees could include terror suspects of people with COVID-19.

They said they were doing their best to screen evacuees before they ever set foot inside the U.S. but the first step is getting people of Afghanistan.

All evacuees are being tested on arrival in the U.S. for COVID-19, according to a senior administration official.

'We're also in the process of figuring out exactly how and when we'll offer vaccination to those arriving from Afghanistan and obviously the goal is to get that process finalized and up and running as quickly as possible, and we expect exactly that,' the official added.

They also undergo security screening at transport hubs outside the country before boarding flights to the U.S.

'That process involves biometric and biographic security screenings, conducted by our intelligence, law enforcement and counter terrorist professionals who are working quite literally around the clock to vet all of these Afghans before they're allowed into the United States,' he said.

Even so, the Taliban warning sent fresh panic around Kabul on Tuesday.

It suggested CIA Director William Burns had failed in his mission to extend the timetable after flying into Kabul on Monday for a secret meeting with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar, according to The Washington Post.

Burns was dispatched to Afghanistan as the administration continues to grapple with a chaotic scene at the airport and struggles to evacuate Americans from Kabul.

Baradar is now playing the role of the Taliban's counterpart to Burns 11 years after he was arrested in a joint CIA-Pakistani operation, which put him in prison for eight years.

Washington pulled off its biggest haul of evacuations since the crisis started over the last 24 hours to early Tuesday morning, with 37 military jets evacuating 21,600 people from Kabul, the White House announced.

But they still don't know the number of American citizens and Afghan allies stranded on the ground that need evacuating.

'Since August 14, the U.S. has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of approximately 58,700 people. Since the end of July, we have re-located approximately 63,900 people,' a White House official said.

The comments come less than 24 hours after President Joe Biden sent CIA Director William Burns (left) went to Kabul on Monday for a secret meeting with the Taliban's de facto leader Abdul Ghani Baradar (right)

Likely discussed at the meeting Monday was the August 31 deadline for total troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. U.S. soldiers guard Kabul airport on Tuesday as thousands of desperate Afghans crowd at the gates in the hopes of fleeing the Taliban

President Joe Biden said U.S. military would stay in Kabul past the deadline if needed to continue evacuating Americans stranded in Afghanistan

Taliban fighters stand on top of containers doing crowd control outside the Kabul airpor

A military plane takes off from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Monday

From Sunday to early Monday morning, 28 military jets rescued around 10,400 people. The latest numbers reveal that over half of the total evacuations from Afghanistan have taken place in the last two days.

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said in a briefing: 'There's been no change to the timeline of the mission which is to have this completed by the end of the month.'

'We continue to make progress every day in getting Americans, as well as SIV applicants and vulnerable Afghans out.'

He said that the increased flow meant that the U.S. had the capability to get everyone out by the end of the months.

The president is still hesitant, however, to deploy troops outside the Kabul airport because he doesn't want a Black Hawk Down-style incident, he told commanders last week, referring to a botched mission in Somali when 18 Americans were killed in 1993.

Suhail Shaheen, a member of the Taliban delegation in Qatar's capital city Doha said Monday U.S. military continuing to evacuate past this month would amount to 'extending occupation' and that is 'a red line'.

'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations  the answer is no. Or there would be consequences,' he told Sky News in an interview. '

'It will create mistrust between us,' Shaheen continued. 'If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.'

Rescue efforts became increasingly urgent on Tuesday as Spain warned it would have to leave people behind and France said it would stop airlifts on Thursday - five days before the deadline.

The airport has become a relative safe haven but accessing it has proven near impossible due to Taliban checkpoints and chaos among the crowds outside the perimeter.

While Biden and his administration have said the Taliban has promised safe passage to the airport for American citizens, there are reports that Americans are being assaulted as they try to reach Hamid Karzai International.
A 31-year-old woman convicted for her role in the 2007 kidnappings of two men linked to a Mexican cartel will continue to serve a life prison sentence after a California court rejected her appeal.

Lawyers on behalf of Nancy Mendoza filed a habeas corpus claim in June and called for a new trial due to the ineffectiveness of her former team of attorneys during her August 2013 court hearing in which she was sentenced to life in jail without the possibility of parole.

The Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District Division One ruled that 'a resentencing hearing does not constitute a new trial.'

Mendoza was just 19 years old at the time when she helped members of Los Palillos - a gang that was once linked to the Arellano-Felix Cartel - lure wealthy, high-profile men, including some who were associates of the same criminal organization.

Nancy Mendoza is serving life in prison for her helping a gang in the San Diego area kidnap two men in 2007 who were reportedly linked to the Arellano-Felix Cartel. In June, a California appeals court rejected her petition for a new trial despite an argument from her defense team who claimed on her behalf that she had not received adequate support from her former lawyers

Nancy Mendoza was only 19 years old at the time she helped the Los Palillos gang abduct two men in San Diego. The victims, wealthy Mexican businessmen with alleged ties to the Arellano-Felix Cartel were beaten and held for ransom

According to authorities, the gang was involved in a string of murders and abductions throughout San Diego County between 2004 and 2007.

One of the victims, J orge Garcia Vasquez, 58, met Mendoza at a San Diego-area 24-hour fitness center and convinced him to become her personal trainer.

While they were running an errand some time later, the gang members stopped them at a traffic signal and kidnapped Vasquez. He was later freed without being killed.

But the kidnapping incident that eventually led to Mendoza's downfall involved Eduardo Gonzalez-Tostado, a wealthy Mexican businessman and drug trafficker who had been cooperating with U.S. federal agents.

She met Gonzalez-Tostado in a Starbucks and asked him to come to her aunts house a few days later on June 8, 2007, according to the prosecution.

Nancy Mendoza was sentenced in August 2013 to life in prison without the chance for parole

He arrived at the home with flowers and a bottle of brandy, but became suspicious when he spotted a vehicle slowly following him. Mendoza invited him inside the residence and was beaten moments later by five masked gunmen wearing police uniforms. The suspects turned out to be members of the Los Palillos.

Gonzalez-Tostado testified at her trial that she asked the kidnappers after they had bound and gagged him: 'Can I go home?' and 'What car should I take?'

He was beaten up and stored in a pantry for eight days while gang members demanded $2million ransom money from his wife.

The gang members were caught when the family put a tracking device in with the suitcase containing $194,000 ransom. The five men were arrested by a SWAT team when the money was passed over.

Moreno had long fled San Diego to Tijuana by the time the gang members were caught.

She was only arrested by Mexican authorities in August 2010 while she was working in a law office and was extradited to the U.S.
Penned between shipping containers and a concrete wall in 32C heat  its hard to believe they are the lucky ones.

And yet these desperate Afghans, many seeking a new life in Britain, still remain surrounded by enemy forces as they attempt to get into Kabul airport.

Just to reach this point, those fleeing have been forced to navigate Taliban checkpoints, where volatile low-level fighters are reportedly prone to attacks on women and locals trying to make it to the airport.

1. Intimidating Taliban guard armed militia keep watch on the crowd

2. Cramped Queueing Passage Afghans line up in sweltering heat behind ship containers

3. British soldier checks papers Troops wait at end of the passageway

The astonishing images show the journey Afghans with links to the UK must take just to make it on to precious RAF flights out of the country. The havoc has already led to the deaths of at least seven people, crushed in stampedes to flee.

One Taliban commander  attempting to control crowds alongside the British Army  admitted the militia were making it up as they went along as they had never been forced, in 20 years of conflict, to deal with crowd control.

It came as the new regime said yesterday that Afghan nationals will no longer be allowed to leave the country. However, hope remained last night that individuals already in the queues around the airport may still be able to escape.

Yesterday, many entitled to return to Britain were struggling to make any progress. Mohammad Tanai, 29, returned to his native Kabul from Luton  where he has lived for the past decade and has a residence permit  in June to visit his wife, Farida.

4. on the runway awaiting flights Groups, circled, make it on to the tarmac

Taliban fighters control crowds approaching the British controlled gate at Kabul Airport, Afghanistan

With a return flight to London booked for September, he attempted to leave early last week with his three-year-old daughter Sufia when the Taliban seized Kabul. However, after six days sleeping in his car near the airport compound and attempting to reach British officials, he remains stuck in the Afghan capital.

Mr Tanai, who works in a takeaway restaurant, said: I came here with my mum for a holiday and we left my dad and brothers at home. I have witnessed beatings, people getting hurt as others rush in.

As soon as crowds move the Taliban start firing their weapons and it is scary. I want to leave but I also dont want to leave my wife here as I can see the situation.

Ayesha, from Manchester, held her six-month-old baby and a British passport as she waited to be processed at Kabul airport. After attending a wedding in Afghanistan, she now cannot return home.

I have been coming to the airport for the past three days as me and my children are terrified of the Taliban roaming in the streets with guns, she said. The extraordinary photos from Hamid Karzai International Airport were captured by an ITV News team.
For 12 long years, the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence has remained one of Britains most perplexing unsolved mysteries.

During that time, the smiling face of the York University chef has been burned into public consciousness, frozen in time as the woman of 35 who vanished in March 2009.

Hopes of a breakthrough have been raised many times  to date, nine people have been arrested or interviewed under caution, files have been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to several individuals, but no charges brought.

No trace of Claudia.

More than 2,500 statements taken, more than 1,700 vehicles checked, dozens of homes and business premises examined, more than 200 items tested for DNA.

No trace of Claudia.

Peter Lawrence holding up a poster of his daughter outside the Houses of Parliament, London, in 2011

Despite an extensive suspected murder investigation and a cold case review costing a reported 1.5million, no one has been able to explain how Claudia simply vanished or tell her heartbroken family where she is. Could that finally be about to change?

Should yesterdays developments finally lift the veil on what happened to the woman who apparently left the home, on the outskirts of York, where she lived alone, leaving her bed made, dirty plates in the sink and her slippers lined up in the hall, it would be the moment Claudias loved ones have been waiting for all these years.

Only two years ago, on the tenth anniversary of her disappearance, her mother Joan, 78, spoke about her continuing hope.

As her mum, I feel no cut-off. I cant believe she is dead, she told the Mail. I am never, ever giving up hope. Someone knows the truth.

Fresh hope will be welcome. But hopes have been raised and dashed many times before, and this time there is a painful twist in the agonising mystery.

Pictured: Claudia's mother Joan Lawrence

Her father Peter, a solicitor, campaigned tirelessly for answers and spent years arguing for what became the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill  also known as Claudias Law  which allows relatives to take control of their missing loved ones financial matters.

Peter died in February, aged 74, never knowing what happened to his daughter. So what do we know of what happened to Claudia Lawrence?

Nobody has seen or heard from her since she came home from work on Wednesday March 18, 2009. Close to her family, shed grown up with her parents and older sister Ali in the pretty North Yorkshire market town of Malton. Her parents were divorced, and shed spoken to each of them that evening, sounding cheerful and relaxed.

But she never arrived for her early shift at work the following day. It was Peter who reported her missing on the Friday after one of his daughters female friends alerted him when Claudia didnt turn up to meet her in the pub, as theyd agreed, on Thursday night, and phone calls the next morning went straight to voicemail.

Mr Lawrences first action was to go to his daughters house with a spare key to check on her. She wasnt there. He reported his daughter to North Yorkshire Police as a missing person, and the investigation began.

At Claudias home there was precious little evidence, no signs of a break-in or disturbance.

Her passport, bank cards and jewellery were still there  but her mobile phone, chefs whites and a small Karrimor rucksack were all gone.

Following a TV appeal, one witness came forward to say they had seen a woman matching Claudias description talking to a left-handed smoker in the street. Another told police they had seen a couple arguing near the campus.

Then, a reconstruction of Miss Lawrences last known movements and possible witness sightings was screened on the BBC Crimewatch programme. To the distress of the Lawrence family, the course of the investigation suddenly altered.

Under questioning by Kirsty Young, Detective Supterindent Ray Galloway, since retired, who was leading the inquiry described Claudias love life as complex and mysterious .

North Yorkshire police search team at the search site at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits, Sand Hutton, North Yorkshire

Early police inquiries revealed that Claudia, like many attractive single women, had dated a number of men: around 12 over a five-year period. At least one of them was married.

Suddenly Claudias busy social life, which centred largely on the Nags Head pub, her local, just a few doors down from her house, was in the spotlight  a source of pain and frustration for her family, who were grieved by the false impression of Claudia.

As Joan put it in a 2019 interview: Why is it always the woman who is judged? Everyone who knew Claudia  all her real friends in Malton  didnt recognise her from how shed been portrayed.

Detectives have previously said they strongly suspect key and vital information which would offer a breakthrough was being withheld and that the answer to her disappearance lies locally.

Claudias mobile phone never left the local area and was deliberately switched off some hours after she failed to turn up for work. There have been various theories, various dead ends.

In a Channel 5 documentary called Missing or Murdered, one of Claudias work colleagues  speaking for the first time  suggested that shortly before her disappearance she had hinted at a new lover whom no one yet knew about.

Then there is the name Christopher Halliwell: he is the taxi driver who is serving a full life sentence for the sexually motivated murders of Becky Godden and Sian OCallagan in Wiltshire.Could he be responsible?

North Yorkshire Police have investigated the link with Halliwell, who had family connections in Yorkshire, but have not found any evidence to support the theory.

There was speculation she could have been sex trafficked, more speculation about a moonlight flit to Cyprus, despite leaving her passport at home.

But her father Peter Lawrence gave this short shrift. She was not a mastermind or a master criminal who would have been able to devise a way of going abroad not using a passport or bank account, he said.

The police investigation was dramatically scaled back in July 2010, then in 2013, North Yorkshire Police set up a new Major Crime Unit, specifically to look into stalled cases such as Claudias.

A fresh forensic search of her home was launched, and in early 2014, fingerprints were found of people who have still not come forward.

A series of arrests followed in 2014 and 2015, but all were released without charge.

By 2017, police had announced the investigation, which by this time had cost 1million, was being scaled down. And yet, the hope has steadfastly remained.

Earlier this year, Joan said: I have a gut feeling this year will bring something that could lead us to discover what has happened to Claudia. I pray for that each day.

Whatever this latest police investigation reveals, it may not salve the anguish, but perhaps answers to this heartbreaking mystery may finally be near.
Scott Morrison has been accused of insulting an entire state after using a bizarre analogy to liken Western Australians to cavemen.

The prime minister was discussing Australia's Covid exit strategy on the Today show and his government's plans for interstate travel to resume when 80 per cent of the population is vaccinated.

Mr Morrison said it was 'absurd' any state could think it could protect itself from the Delta strain, in a jab at states including WA which support a tough approach to border restrictions to keep them Covid-free.

'Now its like that movie The Croods,' he told host Karl Stefanovic on Tuesday, in reference to the DreamWorks childrens film about cavemen.

'Some wanted to stay in the cave and the young girl wanted to deal with the challenges of living in a different world. Covid is a different world and we need to get out and live in it.

'We can't stay in the cave.'

WA Premier Mark McGowan hit back just hours later, slamming Mr Morrison's comments as an 'odd thing to say'.

'We are not in lockdown, we are the freest community anywhere in Australia, perhaps anywhere in the world. We dont have any restrictions,' he told reporters.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Today host Karl Stefanovic states need to 'get out of the cave' and open up borders

'Sometimes people are too focused on where they are and they dont realise that outside of NSW its a very different situation. Australia is bigger than just NSW.

'We are not living in caves  we are living a normal life.'

Meanwhile, amused Australians fired up their social media accounts to weigh in on the peculiar reference.

'Our PM can join the rest of the Croods and jump across that chasm, far far away from Australia. Would be fine with me. He fits right in,' one person wrote.

'The cave dwellers in The Croods were not modern humans. No wonder Scott Morrison felt a great affinity for this family and their "story",' another Tweeted.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan hit back, telling reporters Mr Morrison's reference was 'an odd thing to say'

'So Morrison gets his inspiration from The Croods. A children's movie about cave dwellers being swept from one disaster to another with no idea what's happening. Metaphorically, this is befitting of the chaotic Morrison government,' a third said.

The war of words came after Mr Morrison warned ongoing lockdowns will cause more harm than benefit when coronavirus vaccination coverages reaches 70 per cent.

The prime minister insisted high case numbers will not derail a national plan despite some states warning Doherty Institute modelling needs updating.

Under the agreement, lockdowns will be less likely at 70 per cent and become highly targeted at 80 per cent.

Mr Morrison said negative economic and mental health impacts would outweigh benefits when 70 and 80 per cent immunisation coverage is reached.

'That's the advice, that's the basis for the plan. We've all signed up to it, we need to get on with it,' he told the Seven Network on Tuesday.

Mr McGowan wants new modelling given high levels of virus circulating in NSW which reported 753 new local cases on Tuesday.

The Croods (pictured) is a 2013 children's movie by DreamWorks about a family who embark on a journey to find a new home after their cave is destroyed

Australians flocked to social media to poke fun at the prime minister's bizarre reference to the animation

Victoria is having a hard time getting on top of an outbreak with another 50 new cases, while the ACT had its worst daily rise since the start of the pandemic with 30 new infections.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk argues the initial research was based on having 30 cases in the community.

The Doherty Institute will provide updated advice to national cabinet on Friday.

In a statement, the Doherty Institute said opening up at hundreds of cases nationally a day would be possible at 70 per cent vaccination coverage.

'However, we will need vigilant public health interventions with higher case loads,' it said.

The institute said hitting that vaccination rate would make it easier to live with the virus, similar to the flu.

'However, it won't be possible to maintain a situation where there are no cases at all.'

Labor leader Anthony Albanese accused the prime minister of pretending the report ruled out lockdowns at 70 per cent coverage.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said she expects certain restrictions to remain in place even once Australia reaches 70-80percent vaccination rates

'Mr Morrison is a barrier to the end of the tunnel, not the light. He's the gaslight on the hill,' Mr Albanese told Labor MPs and senators in Canberra.

He said Mr Morrison desperately wanted to argue he was pro-freedom while casting everyone else as being against reopening.

The prime minister insists the opposition leader is undermining the plan and hoping the government fails for political gain.

Mr Morrison remains optimistic the Queensland government won't keep its border shut with NSW if high case numbers continue.

'It doesn't matter whether it's 30 cases or 800 cases, the conclusions are the same and that's what the Doherty Institute said last night,' he told the Nine Network.

He dismissed the federal-state bickering as a 'bit of noise' with the vaccination targets still months away from being reached.

'We can't stay in the cave and we can get out of it safely.'

The Doherty modelling recommends a staged reopening at 70 and 80 per cent with high-quality preventative measures remaining in place.

Australia has fully vaccinated 30.27 per cent of its population aged 16 and over and 52.78 have received one jab.
A teen woman who was cleared of charges tied to the murder of disabled woman last year has been charged with murder for dousing a couple with a flammable fluid and setting them on fire in their home.

Emma Presler, 19, has not yet been taken into custody but has been charged with murder and a warrant has been issued for her arrest, the Houston Police Department said in a news release.

Presler is believed to have thrown a flammable substance on Devin Graham, 33, and lit him on fire in a home in the Houston suburb of Kingwood around 10 p.m. on August 6, cops said in the release.

His girlfriend Karissa Lindros, 26, was also severely burned - and the couple was taken by helicopter to a local hospital, where Graham died from his injuries two days later and Lindros remains fighting for her life weeks later, according to a GoFundMe.

Emma Presler, 19, left, has been charged with murder for the death of Devin Graham, right, who was killed when Presler allegedly lit him and his girlfriend Karissa Lindros, right, on fire

Presler was cleared of charges tied to the murder of disabled woman last year

Graham has three children left without a father and Lindros hopes to recover to return home to her little girls soon

Karissa Lindros is pictured before the horrific incident left her fighting for her life

It was not immediately clear what has led to Presler being named as a suspect for the burning death of Graham.

The charges against Presler, filed by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office with murder in the 435th District Court, come after Presler was accused of being involved in the murder of another woman with cerebral palsy last year.

Presler was cleared of her charges for the death of Sierra Rhodd, 20, when a judge found that there was no probable cause in her case.

Rhodd was sleeping on September 13 when a volley of bullets were fired into her Cyprus home, killing her. Her parents and brother were home but were not hit.

The alleged shooters took off in a number of vehicles after the drive-by, and Presler was allegedly found driving a red pickup truck owned by her boyfriend Austin McCalla nearby.

'Just because I drive a red truck doesn't mean I'm involved in a murder,' the judge told prosecutors in court, according to KTRK-TV.

'There's a lot of things that indicate she may be involved, but until you have something that goes beyond reasonable suspicion, you don't have probable cause.'

Krystalee Rhodd, Sierra's mother, told the outlet that Presler escaped justice for her daughter's case because of a 'failure of the system.'

'These monsters took her from me,' she said. 'I think that they all need to be in jail for it, including [Presler].'

Presler was cleared of her charges for the death of Sierra Rhodd, pictured, when a judge found that there was no probable cause in her case

Rhodd was sleeping on September 13 when a volley of bullets were fired into her Cyprus home, killing her

Lindros' aunt Lisa Sherlock told KTRK-TV that the family is relieved Presler has been named as the suspect, and noted that the two know each other - though further details about the relationship remains unclear.

'We actually have a name now, and a face, of who did this,' Sherlock said.

She urged anyone who knows where Presler may be to come forward so that cops can arrest her.

'Oh God, please, if you know where she is, if you know anything about where she's staying, please, please come forward,' Sherlock said. 'Karissa and Devin did not deserve this.'

Sherlock said that Graham has three children left without a father and that Lindros hopes to recover to return home to her little girls soon.

Residents in the neighborhood where Presler lives with her grandparents told Daily Beast that they have seen evidence of prostitution and drug deals at the home.

'It never stops,' said a neighbor who identified herself as Aline.

She added: 'I hope the cops will finally start believing us. We're hoping that they get out of the neighborhood.'

Tonya Woods, 57, told the outlet cops have often been called to the home, for incidents including 'shootings, assaults, and at least one suspicious fire.'

'It's absolutely crazy. But it's also very sad,' Woods told Daily Beast. 'God only knows what else is going on in that house.'

Presler has previously faced numerous other charges, including theft, drug possession, evading arrest, and failure to appear in court. She has an additional felony warrant outstanding for meth possession.
An Army Drill Sergeant has been found guilty of third-degree assault and battery and can choose to either spend 30 days in jail or pay a $1,087.50 fine over a widely-shared video showing him shoving a black man in his gated community.

Jonathan Pentland, 42, was caught on video back in April shouting at Deandre Smith 22, who was walking past his house in Lakes at Barony place - a gated community in Richland County, South Carolina.

'You came to the wrong neighborhood motherf****r,' he said.

Army Drill Sergeant Jonathan Pentland (left), 42, has been found guilty of third-degree assault and battery after a video of him shoving Deandre Williams (right), 22, went viral. They are both pictured leaving court on Monday where Pentland was told he can choose to either spend 30 days in jail or pay a $1,087.50 fine

At the trial Pentland (pictured leaving court) said he received 'thousands' of death threats after the video went viral and his wife had to find a new job and his daughter a different school

Pentland (in mug) testified himself and said his threatening demeanor and strong language stemmed from his military training to deescalate situations and was a result of fear that his family would be hurt

At the trial witnesses testified that they saw Pentland shove and hit Williams on the arm, who said he was trying to avoid confrontation.

The officer who arrested Pentland testified that the video of the confrontation spoke for itself. Pentland weighs about 100 pounds more than Williams and was towering over the other man while yelling.

The Richland County Sheriff's Department charged Pentland days after the video was posted to social media. He faced civilian - not military court - on assault charges after his commander said he trusted the justice system to bring a 'fair resolution.'

After a two-day trial, magistrate Judge Diedra Hightower (pictured) gave a guilty verdict. It was a bench trial, meaning there was no jury and only the judge determined the outcome

Prosecutor Paul Walton said Pentland broke the law three times: When he shoved Williams before the video started; again as Williams took an awkward step toward the Army veteran's wife; and then when he slapped Williams's cellphone out of his hand as he held it up trying to record the encounter.

Walton attributed Pentland's actions to the fact that 'his pride is hurt'.

'He's a drill sergeant and he's used to people doing what he says,' the prosecutor added.

Several witnesses said Williams was acting 'erratic' or volatile before the incident. Another neighbor, Kimberly Hernandez, claimed that Williams had harassed her family in the run-up to the confrontation with Pentland, and said he had disturbed her daughter-in-law by picking up the woman's baby.

On Monday, after a two-day trial, magistrate Judge Diedra Hightower gave a guilty verdict. It was a bench trial, meaning there was no jury and only the judge determined the outcome.

Williams's father testified that his son, once a high-performing student, suffered potential brain damage after being diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of cancer.

Williams, who is now in remission, suffered swelling throughout his lymph system and in his brain, according to his father's testimony. He cried as he said that as a result of the cancer Williams struggles to complete basic tasks, such as getting groceries, without assistance.

The three-minute clip shows Pentland repeatedly screaming at Williams. 'You came to the wrong neighborhood motherf****r,' he said

In the video Pentland denied that he hit Williams, who clarified that he was actually pushed

Pentland's attorney, Benjamin Allen Stitely, said that the three-minute video was only a small part of an altercation that lasted 20 minutes.

He argued that Pentland was justified in his actions and the guilty verdict was not based on Williams's behaviors before cameras were turned on.

Stitley believed officials jumped to conclusions after public reaction to the video instead of fully investigating the incident.

'They didn't want the truth. They wanted to make up a bully for TV's sake,' Stitely said.

The officer that signed the arrest warrant testified that he never listened to the 911 calls about Williams's odd behavior, which included allegedly touching a stranger's baby.

Stitley said people labeled Pentland as a 'bully and a racist' when he was actually 'defending his family and friends'.

Williams said after the verdict: 'As a young man, if I go on a walk, I shouldn't feel any form of pressure.'

Black Lives Matter protesters were seen rallying outside the South Carolina home the day after the video was posted to social media

Pentland was seen fleeing his home in the early hours of the day following the BLM protest

Images posted on social media show at least three dozen people outside the drill sergeant's home on Wednesday

Pentland testified himself and said his threatening demeanor and strong language stemmed from his military training to deescalate situations and was a result of fear that his family would be hurt.

He said he was acting in self-defense and not 'trying to pick a fight'.

'It's embarrassing to the community,' Pentland testified.

'I'm sorry for the way it escalated. Anybody looking back at this, you can watch that video and 100 per cent see that it looks worse than it is. I did what I felt I had to do to protect my friends and family,' he added.

Pentland said he received 'thousands' of death threats after the video swept the internet and his wife had to find a new job and his daughter a different school.

In the clip seen by millions, Pentland is seen telling Williams: 'You're in the wrong neighborhood... You either walk away or I'm going to carry your a** out of here.'

Pentland followed Williams and he told the officer: 'You better not touch me... I live here, sir.'

Fort Jackson's Commander Brig Gen Milford Beagle Jr (pictured) said in a statement that the Army will leave the prosecution of Jonathan Pentland to the civilian criminal system

The confrontation happened on Tuesday April 12, 2021. Dozens of Black Lives Matter protesters rallied outside Pentland's home on Wednesday night, holding signs and chanting on the street outside his gated-community home.

One woman is heard shouting: 'I'm on your yard! We just want to talk, we want to understand some things, that's it.'

Others in the crowd are heard saying: 'No justice, no peace!'

Footage of the protest was posted on Facebook by Alexis Sincere, who brought a sign that read: 'We can walk around this [home] if we want to.'

Most of the demonstrators were African Americans. A few were seen speaking through bullhorns and most were recording the event on their cell phones.

In the early hours of the following day, footage was posted to social media showing Pentland leaving his home.

Pentland was a drill instructor at Fort Jackson, a US Army installation located in South Carolina where soldiers undergo basic combat training.

The Army veteran was suspended from his duties after video of the incident went viral.

'Soldier conduct on and off duty must be exemplary to retain the trust of our communities and our nation,' Beagle said.

Pentland pictured in uniform. He was a drill sergeant at Fort Jackson in South Carolina

Cassie Pentland, his wife, could also be heard shouting at Williams and telling him police have already been called

Pentland is seen above with his wife, Cassie Dawn Dalrymple, after announcing their engagement
Beavers are set to make a comeback to rivers across England under Government plans.

They will be given legal protection as a 'native species' with licences granted to allow their release into the wild.

Supporters of 'rewilding' beavers, following a successful reintroduction on the River Otter in Devon, say 'nature's engineers' can help in the fight against flooding.

But farmers warn there is a risk that beavers could threaten their livelihoods by destroying crops.

Beavers will be given legal protection as a 'native species' with licences granted to allow their release into the wild

The creatures had been extinct in the UK for around 400 years before being reintroduced in small areas in 2009.

Environment Secretary George Eustice will today launch a 12-week consultation over the plans and said the Government would take a 'cautious approach' to ensure all potential impacts were considered.

Under the plans, applications for licences to release beavers into the wild would need to meet certain criteria such as making sure support for landowners and river users is put in place.

Conservationists argue that beavers would boost eco-tourism and create important wetlands.

The animals could even cut the flow of water from flooding by up to 60 per cent via the dams they create, according to one study.

Supporters of 'rewilding' beavers, following a successful reintroduction on the River Otter in Devon, say 'nature's engineers' can help in the fight against flooding

But farmers warn there is a risk that beavers could threaten their livelihoods by destroying crops

Rob Stoneman, of The Wildlife Trusts, said: 'Beavers can help to improve the quality of rivers and wetlands and the wildlife they support, improve water quality, and reduce flood risk, as well as contributing to carbon storage.'

Richard Bramley, chairman of the National Farmers Union's environment forum, said: 'Any impact on a farmer's ability to produce food needs to be included as part of a full impact assessment carried out before any licence is issued.

We must remember that beaver reintroductions can have negative impacts; potentially undermining riverbanks, damaging trees, impeding drainage and causing low-lying fields to flood.'

The first urban beavers are set to be introduced in Shrewsbury next year.
A same-day test for potentially fatal pre-eclampsia will spare 65,000 pregnant women a year lengthy hospital stays.

The NHS is rolling out the new test  the first kind in the world  to speed up diagnosis and reassure soon-to-be mothers.

The condition causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and if left untreated, the mother can suffer fits, organ failure and a stroke.

It can also stunt a baby's growth or result in stillbirth.

Currently, thousands of women spend more than three days in hospital being monitored for pre-eclampsia. But the new test gives a result in as little as an hour.

During the test, women with symptoms  such as high blood pressure, headache and protein in the urine  will have a sample of blood taken so doctors can look for a protein called placental growth factor (PLGF).

A same-day test for potentially fatal pre-eclampsia will spare 65,000 pregnant women a year lengthy hospital stays

If the PLGF levels are high, it is highly likely they do not have the condition and can return home.

If their levels are low, it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia and further tests would be needed to confirm.

Three-quarters of maternity units in England are now using the test and the NHS said it will be available nationwide within two years.

Sun may cut premature birth risk Sunshine in the first three months of pregnancy may reduce the risk of giving birth prematurely. A study of almost 400,000 new mothers found those in parts of the country with the most hours of sunshine in their first trimester of pregnancy were 10 per cent less likely to have a premature baby. That was compared to those mothers living in areas with the least sunshine. Experts believe sun rays may reduce blood pressure and top up vitamin D, which are important in early pregnancy. The risk of a premature birth was lower for women in sunny areas, even when age and financial situation were taken into account. The research tracked more than 393,000 mothers in Scotland between 2000 and 2010. Among more than 556,000 babies born, 6 per cent were premature  born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. The premature birth risk was 10 per cent lower in mothers exposed to the most sunshine, based on weather records from their postcodes in their first trimester. This ranged from an hour-and-a-half a day in the winter to almost six-and-three-quarter hours in summer. The study, from the University of Edinburgh's Usher Institute, was published in journal Frontiers. Advertisement

Rebecca Sanderson had the test in her third pregnancy after she was diagnosed with the condition in her first and was in and out of hospital for monitoring during her second.

The 32-year-old, from Doncaster, said: 'The frequent monitoring and sometimes long stays in hospital waiting for results meant I had a lot of disruption to my home and work life.

'This time I had a simple and quick blood test. The test showed that I didn't need to be admitted to hospital and I was able to go home and be with my family with the peace of mind that I was okay.'

Jenny Myers, professor of obstetrics and maternal medicine at The University of Manchester, described the test as 'transformative'.

She said: 'I'm a real advocate for the test as it makes such a big difference to women.

'In terms of ruling out pre-eclampsia, there will be lots of women that come to us with a high blood pressure reading at some point during their pregnancy and although this is a potential sign of pre-eclampsia, in many cases the woman isn't developing pre-eclampsia.

'If the PLGF-based test is normal, then we can be confident that pre-eclampsia is not developing over the next seven to 14 days and we can safely let that woman go back to her routine antenatal surveillance. Most importantly we can reassure her that everything is looking fine.'

Nadine Dorries, minister for maternity safety, added: 'Pregnancy is both a uniquely wonderful and uniquely stressful time in a woman's life and it is impossible to put a price on the peace of mind this kind of test will provide to future mothers.'

Pre-eclampsia occurs in about one in 12 pregnancies. The condition is thought to be due to a problem with the development of the placenta.

It is only cured once the baby has been delivered  although women may be given medication to lower their blood pressure and prevent convulsions.

Women with diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease before pregnancy are more likely to have the condition.
Victoria's health minister says the government are re-directing staff to under-manned supermarkets in Covid-hit regional areas as 45 new infections were confirmed in the state on Wednesday.

Authorities say 36 of the new cases are linked to known outbreaks, while the source of the remaining nine infections are still under investigation.

Twenty-eight cases were infectious in the community and weren't isolating while they were deemed positive.

In the state's daily coronavirus press conference health minister Martin Foley says the Andrews government is sending workers from council, aged care services, school services, civic support groups and food supply groups out to areas like Shepparton after short-staffed supermarkets saw people unable to access food.

He admitted the state could be forced to use the Australian Defence Force to assist at-risk areas.

'We're working through all of those issues. It's a challenge I know that the people of Shepparton - and the people of Victoria - are up to,' he said.

'If the call is made for further ADF support, it will be provided.'

He also said the Victorian government are not ruling out further border closures with NSW as the risk of spread continues and that the target of an 80 per cent vaccination rate would not immediately spell the end of restrictions.

Health mininster Martin Foley says they are sending workers out to areas like Shepparton after short-staffed supermarkets saw people unable to access food

Victoria's health minister has dismissed claims the state could move out of lockdown on time if they can stop further mystery Covid cases as 45 new infections were confirmed on Wednesday

Foley said the Victorian government are not ruling out further border closures with New South Wales and that the magic 80 per cent vaccination rate would not be the end of restrictions

The health department on Wednesday confirmed 36 cases were linked to known outbreaks, while the source of the remaining nine infections are under investigation

Deputy Premier James Merlino said their priority is now to have all Year 12 students vaccinated before their end of year exams, which start on October 4.

'That is our priority. Everyone 16 and over - but particularly those Year 12 students - we want to make sure that they're vaccinated before their exams start,' he said.

The deputy premier also said they are targeting all children over the age of 12 to at least have their first dose of the vaccine by the end of the year, but that senior school students were the immediate priority.

'Whether that's through the many state vaccination hubs we've got across Victoria, whether it's through GPs, or whether it's through participating pharmacies,' he said on Wednesday.

'We want to see that kids 12 and older are vaccinated at least with their first dose by the end of the year.'

Senior officials inside the Andrews government told the Herald Sun on Wednesday morning the current lockdown - which is due to end on September 2 - could be lifted if there are no mystery cases, even if daily numbers are still double digits.

Minister Foley however poured water over those suggestions saying there is 'still a lot of work to do' and identified vaccination rates as the key to moving forward.

'It is the trend that the public health officials in particular frame their advice to government and their decisions around,' he said.

'It's our public health officials who still tell us there is a lot of work to do to make sure that as we take vaccination rates up we bring infection levels down.'

The health department on Wednesday confirmed 36 cases were linked to known outbreaks, while the source of the remaining nine infections are under investigation

Victoria is on track to reach 80 per cent vaccinations on November 16, but state leaders are quietly confident they will be able to open up faster if they can control mystery cases

Premier Andrews said on Tuesday he was confident Victoria would 'have options that Sydney won't have' before the September 2 lockdown cut-off

Wednesday's additional cases brings the total number of active infections in the state to 538.

Of the 538 cases there are 101 aged between 10 and 19, with 89 in their 20s.

Victoria is on track to reach the 80 per cent vaccination number on November 16, but state leaders are quietly confident they will be able to open up faster.

A figure of 70 per cent vaccination is now being targeted, in accordance with the Doherty Institute modelling, which is being used by state and federal governments.

The state should hit that number on October 13, which could see a number of restrictions lifted.

Premier Andrews said on Tuesday he was confident Victoria would 'have options that Sydney won't have' before the September 2 lockdown cut-off.

'We've got a chance of having some options and some choices to make between now and 70 per cent,' he said.

'That's what we're working towards.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has repeatedly referred to the Doherty modelling, saying: 'at 70 and 80 per cent you can reopen safely.'

The state government's vaccination website crashed on Wednesday morning when thousands of young people tried to secure a booking.

Victoria had a record number of vaccinations on Tuesday with 31,629 jabs handed out.

It comes as Pfizer eligibility was expanded to people aged 16 to 39 across Victoria's 55 vaccination hubs on Wednesday morning, as supply ramps up courtesy of 175,000 doses imported from Poland.

Premier Andrews said more than 830,000 vaccination bookings over the next four weeks will be made available from 7am on Wednesday, including 450,000 first-dose Pfizer appointments.

But within minutes of bookings opening, the website appeared to buckle.

Many young people reported receiving a '500 internal server error' after waiting in the queue to book their appointment, while others were told they were ineligible for the vaccine.

Health minister Foley urged Victorians to continue checking back on the website as the state ironed out the small glitches occurring.
A police disciplinary panel has allowed a special constable who called himself 'Weed Boss' and was found at the scene of a cannabis farm to keep his identity secret.

The volunteer officer was banned from working in policing and would have been sacked if he had not resigned.

He claimed to be oblivious to the drugs factory in his girlfriend's garage containing cannabis worth up to 21,000 even though there was a strong smell in the house and the electricity had clearly been bypassed.

But a misconduct hearing panel ruled that the Cleveland Police special constable should remain anonymous.

Chairman John Bassett said the ruling was 'not to spare Cleveland Police embarrassment', but it would be 'inappropriate' to name him.

The officer  whose phone was found to contain a picture of a cannabis leaf with the words 'Weed Boss' on it  was not charged in relation to the cannabis farm as there was insufficient evidence. The special constable did not attend his misconduct hearing in Middlesbrough.

Stephen Morley, for Cleveland Police, told the hearing police 'mistakenly' discovered the Middlesbrough cannabis farm in May 2019 when they went to the 'wrong address' following an emergency call.

A police disciplinary panel has allowed a special constable who called himself 'Weed Boss' and was found at the scene of a cannabis farm to keep his identity secret [Stock image]

The special constable  known as Officer A  was parked outside the house when officers arrived. A woman  Ms R  left the property and sat in the car with Officer A. She 'told lies to police' and Officer A allowed his colleagues to be misled, Mr Morley said.

He added that Officer A did not identify himself as a police officer until he was confronted about a warrant card found in the bedroom. He was found guilty of misconduct on three of six charges: In April 2019 he sent texts to his girlfriend in which he used inappropriate and discourteous language about his colleagues and disclosed what he was doing.

In May 2019 he was outside his girlfriend's home when officers discovered a cannabis factory in the garage. He did not volunteer that he was an officer and he allowed others to lie to officers at the scene. On a date unknown in 2019 he hid a knife under his girlfriend's bed for her to use as a weapon 'just in case something happens'. The hearing was told Officer A resigned in June last year.

Superintendent Paul Waugh, directorate of standards and ethics at Cleveland Police, said: 'Today's hearing determined breaches of professional conduct by this individual were so serious they have been assessed as gross misconduct.

'The individual has already ceased to act as a special constable but had they still been serving it would have led to dismissal without notice.

'The former special constable will now be placed on the College of Policing barred list so they cannot work in policing again.'
Heavy rainfall in Western Europe in July, which led to severe and fatal flooding, was made nine times more likely by climate change, a new study claims.

Almost 40 researchers from six European countries and the US calculated that downpours of the kind that caused last month's floods are now 1.2 to nine times more likely  and this will increase further if the planet continues to heat up.

Flooding from July 14 to 15 this year resulted in at least 184 fatalities in Germany and 38 in Belgium and catastrophic damage to infrastructure, including houses, motorways, railway lines, bridges and key income sources.

Swollen streams turned into raging rivers, sweeping away houses, roads and bridges, and causing billions of euros in damage.

Road closures left some places inaccessible for days, cutting off some villages from evacuation routes and emergency response efforts.

But the study suggests global warming makes the kind of extreme rainfall that caused the deadly flash flooding more likely.

People check for victims in flooded cars on a road in Erftstadt, Germany on July 17, following heavy rainfall that broke the banks of the Erft river, causing massive damage

MAIN FINDINGS - In the current climate, for a given location within this larger region, experts expect one such event every 400 years on average. - Climate change increased the intensity of the maximum one-day rainfall event in the summer season in this large region by about 3 to 19 per cent compared to a global climate 2.2F cooler than today. - The likelihood of such an event to occur today compared to a 2.2F cooler climate has increased by a factor between 1.2 and 9 for the one-day event in the region. - In a climate 3.6F warmer than in preindustrial times models suggest that the intensity of a 1-day event would increase by a further 0.8-6 per cent and the likelihood by a factor of 1.2 to 1.4. Advertisement

Extreme rainfall occurred in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and neighbouring countries from July 12 to 15, leading to severe flooding, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany and along the river Meuse and some of its tributaries in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In the current climate, for a given location within the larger Western European region, one such event will happen every 400 years on average, say the experts, who form part of the University of Oxford-backed World Weather Attribution group.

Frank Kreienkamp of Germany's nation weather service DWD, one of the authors on the study, said the findings supported forecasts in a recent UN climate report.

'Humans are clearly changing and warming up the Earth's climate,' he said. 'And with this warming we are also seeing a change in weather extremes.'

The authors said the damage and loss of life last month highlight how nations need to do more to curb greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for such disasters.

'These floods have shown us that even developed countries are not safe from severe impacts of extreme weather that we have seen,' said Friederike Otto, associate director of the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University.

'This is an urgent global challenge and we need to step up to it. The science is clear and has been for years.'

Left, precipitation accumulated over two days (July 13 and 14). Right, precipitation accumulated over 24 hours for each of the individual days

For the study, researchers looked at two small regions where the recent flooding was most severe  the the Ahr and Erft rivers in Germany and on the Meuse in Belgium.

In the Ahr-Erft region, 3.66 inches of rain fell in a day, while in the Meuse region, more than four inches fell over two days.

They used historical records and computer simulations to examine how temperatures affected rainfall from the late 19th century to the present.

A regional train in the flood waters at the local station in Kordel, Germany on July 15, after it was flooded by the high waters of the Kyll river

A street is flooded with dirty water following heavy rainfalls in Erftstadt, Germany, as seen on July 16 this year

While the study hasn't been assessed by independent scientists yet, its authors used widely accepted methods to conduct rapid assessments of specific weather events such as floods, droughts and heat waves.

It found that across a large strip of western Europe  stretching from the Netherlands to Switzerland  the amount of rainfall in a single day increased by 3 per cent to 19 per cent over the period, during which global temperatures increased by 2.2F (1.2C).

For every 1.8F (1C) the planet warms, the air can absorb seven per cent more water, and when that water is released, it causes more extreme rainfall.

Flooding was caused by very heavy rainfall over a period of one to two days, as well as wet conditions already before the event, as soils were already saturated.

A man rows a boat down a residential street after flooding in Angleur, Province of Liege, Belgium in July 16

Photo taken on July 17 shows river and houses severely damaged after flooding in Pepinster, Belgium

The team also predicted what would happen if humanity failed to achieve the primary aim of the Paris Agreement, signed in 2016, which aims to keep the global average temperature rise to below 3.6F (2C) compared to pre-industrial levels.

In a climate 3.6F warmer than in preindustrial times, models suggest the intensity of a one-day event would increase by a further 0.8 to 6 per cent, the experts found, and the likelihood of such an event by a factor of 1.2 to 1.4.

In summary, the researchers say human-induced climate change 'has increased the likelihood and intensity of such an event to occur and these changes will continue in a rapidly warming climate'.

'Given the rarity of the event it is clear this is a very extreme event that is reasonably likely to cause negative impacts,' they say.

'However, especially given events like this will occur more frequently in the future, examining how vulnerability and exposure can be reduced becomes critical to reducing future impacts.'
Scientists are investigating uranium cubes that may have formed part of Hitler's plot to build a nuclear bomb during World War II.

Hundreds of the cubes were used by the Nazis in their efforts to build a nuclear reactor that was close to being full operational.

As neutrons bombarded the uranium-235 atoms in the cubes, the atoms would have split, releasing enormous amounts of energy.

The Nazis ultimately wanted to develop nuclear bombs that could have been dropped on the Allied nations during the war.

The reactor was dismantled by Allied forces at the end of WWII, and the 664 uranium cubes were shipped to the US before many were lost and sold on the black market.

Today, scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) report initial results from new methods being developed to confirm their provenance.

The techniques might also help with investigations into illicit trafficking of nuclear material, they claim.

Brittany Robertson with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's (PNNL) cube, which is in a protective case

The core of the reactor was surrounded by a metal-encased graphite shell, which in turn sat inside a concrete-lined tank of water. As neutrons bombarded the uranium-235 atoms in the cubes, the atoms would have split, releasing enormous amounts of energy

It is known that Hitler pursued the goal of developing a nuclear bomb and wanted his V-2 rockets to be able to carry them to destroy Britain.

Luckily, the Nazis ultimately failed in the quest to achieve a breakthrough in nuclear technology by the time the war ended.

'I'm glad the Nazi program wasn't as advanced as they wanted it to be by the end of the war, because otherwise, the world would be a very different place,' said Brittany Robertson at PNNL.

In the early 1940s, several German scientists were competing to exploit nuclear fission to produce plutonium from uranium for the war.

At the heart of the reactor were 664 uranium cubes that had been strung together in chandelier-type arrangement. Pictured, a replica of the German experimental nuclear reactor captured and dismantled at Haigerloch

The core of the reactor (reconstruction, pictured) was surrounded by a metal-encased graphite shell, which in turn sat inside a concrete-lined tank of water. This uranium 'chandelier' itself was hung in heavy water, which would have acted to regulate the nuclear reaction

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NUCLEAR FUSION AND NUCLEAR FISSION Both are nuclear processes, in that they involve nuclear forces to change the nucleus of atoms. Fusion joins two light elements (with a low atomic mass number), forming a heavier element. For fusion to occur, hydrogen atoms are placed under high heat and pressure until they fuse together. Meanwhile, fission splits a heavy element (with a high atomic mass number) into fragments. In both cases, energy is freed because the mass of the remaining nucleus is smaller than the mass of the reacting nuclei. The reason why opposite processes release energy can be understood by examining the binding energy per nucleon curve. Both fusion and fission reactions shift the size of the reactant nuclei towards higher bounded nuclei. Source: International Atomic Energy Agency Advertisement

One of the teams attempting to do so was led by Heisenberg in Berlin (which later moved to Haigerloch to try to avoid Allied troops).

The experimental laboratory in Haigerloch was small, located underneath the town's castle church in a converted potato and beer cellar.

Another team, based in Gottow, was heralded by physicist Kurt Diebner. Uranium cubes were produced to fuel nuclear reactors at both these sites.

Measuring about two inches on each side, hundreds of the cubes were hung on cables in a chandelier-like arrangement.

This uranium 'chandelier' itself was submerged in 'heavy' water  water that contains heavy hydrogen (also known as deuterium) in place of regular hydrogen  which would have acted to regulate the nuclear reaction.

The German scientists had hoped radioactive decay of the uranium in the assemblies would unleash a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction  but the design failed.

Before the Nazi nuclear programme could succeed, it was disrupted by Allied forces, who confiscated some of the cubes of uranium at the heart of it.

The ultimate fate of most of that uranium is unknown, but a few cubes thought to be associated with the program are in the US and Europe.

Some may have been used in the US nuclear weapons effort  launched in part due to fears that Germany was developing nuclear weapons  and a few belong to collectors.



It is known that Hitler (pictured) pursued the goal of nuclear technology and wanted his V-2 rockets to be able to carry them to destroy the UK

One cube, sealed in a protective case, is at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) based in Richland, Washington, but no one is sure how it got there.

To prove the cube's origins, Robertson began modifying some analytical techniques to combine with forensic methods.

Robertson turned to radiochronometry, the nuclear field's version of a technique that geologists use to determine the age of samples based on radioactive isotope content.

Among the German scientists who worked on the reactor was Werner Heisenberg (pictured, in 1930). A theoretical physicist, Werner is credited with the creation of the field of quantum mechanics

When the cubes were first cast, they contained fairly pure uranium metal, but as time passed, radioactive decay transformed some of the uranium into thorium and protactinium.

Robertson is adapting a radiochronometry procedure to better separate and quantify these elements in PNNL's cube.

Their relative concentrations will show how long ago the cube was made. Robertson is also refining this method to analyse rare-earth element impurities in the object.

They could reveal where the original uranium was mined, which might indicate whether it was produced for the Heisenberg or Diebner group.

Through collaborators, including Timothy Koeth at the University of Maryland, the lab also has access to a few other cubes.

'We don't know for a fact that the cubes are from the German program, so first we want to establish that,' said PNNL's Jon Schwantes, the project's principal investigator.

'Then we want to compare the different cubes to see if we can classify them according to the particular research group that created them.'

Meanwhile, Robertson and Schwantes are collaborating with PNNL's Carlos Fraga to test the cubes' coatings, which the Germans applied to limit oxidation.

The PNNL team recently discovered that a cube at the University of Maryland is coated in styrene  a colourless, flammable liquid.

On April 20, 1945, the Alsos mission captured the town of Haigerloch and dismantled the nuclear reactor (pictured)

This is an unexpected finding since Heisenberg's group used a cyanide-based coating.

However, the team has now learned that some of the cubes from Diebner's group, which used a styrene-based coating, were sent to Heisenberg, who was trying to amass more fuel for his reactor.

'We're curious if this particular cube was one of the ones associated with both research programs,' Schwantes said.

'Also, this is an opportunity for us to test our science before we apply it in an actual nuclear forensic investigation.'

The researchers will present their results at ACS Fall 2021, the autumn meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), which is being held this week.
Just as it does on Earth, it snows on Mars. However, scientists have found that Martian snow is 'dustier' than it is on Earth, which could mean it's warmer and more likely to melt into water, a new study suggests.

Using data from NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, the Reconnaissance Orbiter, along with computer simulations, researchers were able figure out that Martian snow is darker than it is on Earth due to the high levels of dust on the planet.

As such, it's also more likely to melt and turn into water, given the right conditions.

Scientists have found Martian snow is 'dustier' (blue) than Earth snow, which could mean it's warmer and more likely to melt into water

'There is a chance that this dusty and dark ice might melt a few centimeters down,' said the study's lead author, Aditya Khuller, in a statement.

'And any subsurface liquid water produced from melting will be protected from evaporating in Mars' wispy atmosphere by the overlying blanket of ice.'

Given that Earth's oceans are 'teeming with life,' according to NASA, the presence of liquid water on any body in the solar system suggests it may have once been home to life or may yet still be.

In June, a separate study suggested that there may be more water on the Red Planet than previously thought, including 'dozens' of lakes less than a mile beneath the surface of the Red Planet.

Experts used past data to determine Martian snow is darker than Earth's and more likely to melt, given the right conditions

The scientists believe that the ice that was dug up by the Phoenix lander in 2008 (and subsequent falling snow) occurred from a snowfall sometime over the past million years.

'It is widely believed that Mars has experienced multiple ice ages throughout its history, and it looks like the ice being exposed throughout the mid-latitudes of Mars is a remnant of this ancient dusty snowfall,' Khuller added.

If researchers are able to better learn about the prospects of water on Mars, then they may be able to better learn about its prospects for once hosting life.

'Characterizing these properties can significantly improve models of ice stability on Mars and inform us about its age and origin,' the researchers wrote in the study.

Last month, NASA's Perseverance rover started its science missions, looking for signs of ancient, fossilized signs of life.

They believe the ice dug up by the Phoenix lander in 2008 may have occurred from a snowfall sometime over the past million years

The researchers say that more work is required to determine if the ice actually melts into water.

'We are working on developing improved computer simulations of Martian ice to study how it evolves over time, and whether it might melt to form liquid water,' Khuller added.

'The results from this study will be integral to our work because knowing how dark the ice is directly influences how warm it gets.'

If researchers can learn more about water on Mars, it could help them learn about its ability to host life

The research was published earlier this month in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.

Although scientists confirmed in 2018 that Mars still has lakes filled with liquid water, it has been somewhat elusive to find.

In February, scientists discovered water vapors rising from Mars after the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter made the discovery by measuring light as vapor passing through the atmosphere.

In April, a separate study suggested that microbes may be living underneath the Martian surface, thriving on chemical energy from nearby groundwater.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has asked for patience as it wades through more than 23,000 astronaut applications, including 1,979 from the UK.

ESA says the number of applicants far exceeded even its most optimistic forecasts, describing it as a positive indication of the level of interest in space activities.

The agency is looking for six full time astronauts and up to 20 reservists that will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) and one day on to the NASA Lunar Gateway, in orbit around the moon.

It had hoped to begin moving candidates on to the next stage by this point, but that has slipped until November due to the sheer volume of applicants.

The final six will be announced by the end of 2022, early 2023, at which point they will begin their training with ESA for a future trip to the ISS or the moon.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has asked for patients as it wades through more than 23,000 astronaut applications, including 1,979 from the UK

ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet is currently on the ISS, becoming the first European to fly to the station on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule

Astronaut criteria To be eligible to file an application, an individual must: have a master's degree (or higher) in Natural Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Mathematics or Computer Sciences

OR be qualified as an experimental test pilot

be fluent in English

Good knowledge of a second language

be calm under pressure and be willing to participate in life science experiments

Flexible with regards to place of work Advertisement

Head of space medicine for the European Space Agency, Guillaume Weerts, says it will take some time to work through all of the applications.

'At ESA, we firmly believe that every application should receive the attention it deserves. With the considerable number of applicants, it simply takes more time than initially foreseen,' he explained.

ESA has completed the initial 'pre-screening stage' where it found 20 per cent of the candidates didn't fulfil the requirements and have already been told.

However, the remaining 80 per cent, or about 17,000 people are fully eligible for the role, and so their applications are 'still under review' by ESA.

The next step for successful candidates is an invitation to a day of testing at a facility in Europe, which kicks off an 18 month process of gradually reducing the list.

This has already started, but due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, candidates are being invited on a gradual process, rather than as a large group.

'If you have not yet been invited, it does not necessarily mean that your application is not being considered,' explained Antonella Costa, from ESA.

'We really want to thank everyone who did put themselves forward. We fully understand how important these applications are to candidates.

France had the highest number of applications, at 7,137 and a quarter of all applicants were women, up from 15 per cent during the last round in 2008. The brighter the colour in this graphic the more applications from that country

'And we are working to let everyone who applied know the outcome of their application as soon as possible.'

Under the revised processing timeline, it is expected that all candidates will be notified of the outcome of their application by the end of November 2021.

Applications to become an astronaut closed on June 18 and the total number applying, and able to provide a medical certificate, was up from 8,413 in 2008.

The 2021 astronaut selection is the first time ESA has issued a vacancy for an astronaut with a physical disability and 200 applied.

If one of the British candidates is successful they will be the third British astronaut after Helen Sharman and Tim Peake - who was the first British ESA-astronaut

Candidates will go through a rigorous selection process including screening, psychological testing, medical testing and interviews

PARASTRONAUT: ESA SEARCHING FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED CANDIDATE The European Space Agency is looking for a parastronaut that could travel to the ISS in the future. The person selected will join the reserve crew while ESA work with partners to find a safe way to travel. Individuals with missing feet or lower legs, either from amputation or birth defects, are eligible, as too are people who are shorter than 130 cm (4ft 3in). Tim Peake says he 'wouldn't have any reservations travelling to space with someone with disabilities'. ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti said we 'didn't evolve to be in space'. She said we're 'all disabled in space' and it is just a case of perfecting the technology to take candidates who would otherwise be selected to be an astronaut if it were not for a disability. Advertisement

It is anticipated that the successful candidate will work with ESA to determine the adaptations required for such an astronaut to serve as a professional crew member on a future space mission, working on scientific research on an equal footing.

Applications have been received from all Member and Associate Member states including 80 from Lithuania who only joined ESA early in 2021.

France had the highest number of applications, at 7,137 and a quarter of all applicants were women, up from 15 per cent during the last round in 2008.

If one of the British candidates is successful they will be the third British astronaut after Helen Sharman and Tim Peake - who was the first British ESA-astronaut.

Peake is expected to return to the ISS in the coming years, so the successful candidates could be sent to the station at the same time.

ESA's astronaut selection process consists of six key stages.

The first stage involves more detailed screening of the thousands of applicants, during which their applications will be assessed on the basis of all documents submitted, the application form and the screening questionnaire completed as part of the application process.

Candidates will be notified at the end of each stage as to whether their application has been successful in progressing to the next step. However, patience is a virtue because the entire selection process will take one and a half years.

ESA says the number of applicants far exceeded even its most optimistic forecasts, describing it as a positive indication of the level of interest in space activities

ESA has purchased a number of flights to the upcoming NASA Lunar Gateway (artist impression) - a project it has partnered on with NASA, JAXA and CSA

Applicants are only eligible if they are either qualified as an experimental test pilot or hold a master's degree or higher in Natural Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Mathematics or Computer Sciences.

Fluency in English is essential, as too is the ability to be calm under pressure and a willingness to participate in life science experiments.

A number of European Space Agency astronauts have already been to the ISS and the new cohort will also travel to a new space station around the Moon within the decade

The agency is looking for six full time astronauts and up to 20 reservists that will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) and one day on to the NASA Lunar Gateway, in orbit around the moon

LIST OF APPLICANTS TO BE AN ESA ASTRONAUT BY COUNTRY Country Male Female Total Austria 349 115 464 Belgium 785 234 1019 Czech Republic 165 37 202 Denmark 110 36 146 Estonia 35 22 57 Finland 248 59 307 France 5475 1662 7137 Germany 2663 1037 3700 Greece 220 60 280 Hungary 116 34 150 Ireland 194 76 270 Italy 1507 353 1860 Latvia 60 21 81 Lithuania 62 18 80 Luxumberg 53 12 65 Netherlands 698 300 998 Norway 258 55 313 Poland 421 128 549 Portugal 256 61 317 Romania 199 56 255 Slovenia 49 13 62 Spain 1045 299 1344 Sweden 232 52 284 Switzerland 551 119 670 UK 1419 560 1979 Total 17170 5419 22589

ESA has secured three astronaut trips to the Lunar Gateway due to be built in orbit around the moon, and hopes to be able to send Europeans to the surface of our natural satellite in the future.

'Astronauts will fly further away from Earth than anybody has ever been' when they go to the Gateway as it will be further from Earth than the Moon, says Frank De Winne from the ESA astronaut training centre.

'The first five to ten years will see astronauts fly to the ISS, but after that there will be opportunities to fly to the Moon and further than the Moon.'
Cristiano Ronaldo is 'key' in the future of wantaway PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe, according to a sensational new report.

Both Ronaldo and Mbappe could leave their respective clubs this summer, with the latter seemingly unwilling to sign a new contract in France as Real Madrid remain interested, and they may even help each other in a surprising turn of events.

As revealed on the front page of AS this morning, Ronaldo's reported desire to quit Turin over the coming days may see PSG's hierarchy soften their stance on selling Mbappe now, and they may swoop for the Portuguese icon.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be key in deciding Kylian Mbappe's future this summer, reports claim

Mbappe has just one year left on his PSG deal and Real Madrid are reportedly stepping up a bid

This would see the two players achieve their goals, and also strengthen the attack of two of the heavyweight clubs in Europe. However, the same report describes the possibility of both deals happening as just 'a train of thought' currently.

Ronaldo has just one year left on his contract at Juventus and, as Sportsmail has recently reported, was offered to Manchester City this summer for just 25million. He was brought off the bench against Udinese.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that Ronaldo's absence from the starting XI was because he 'hopes to find a solution' over a move, but also added that no official bids have been lodged as of yet.

AS's front page headline translates as 'the key to Mbappe'. Also mentioned is the dream frontline Ronaldo would join at PSG, and the new five-year deal Mbappe has rejected

Ronaldo asked Juventus to bench him at the weekend as he reportedly works to leave the club

Having seemingly stepped up his efforts to push for a new challenge, Ronaldo may find himself joining PSG and pushing through the double switch with Mbappe in the process. AS say nothing has been confirmed or denied.

It is believed that Real Madrid are ramping up their bid to swoop in for Mbappe during the final days of the window. Their hopes have been handed a boost, too, after the striker reportedly turned down PSG's latest contract offer.

According to radio station RMC, PSG tabled a new five-year deal in a final bid to convince him to stay, only for Mbappe to reject it. The club, who were initially determined to stop him leaving, may now be open to selling.

PSG are said to believe that the best way out of the dilemma would be for them to sell Mbappe now, rather than lose him for free next year, and Real Madrid are ready to negotiate with around 128m (150m).

Mbappe could leave on a free transfer in 2022 with striker reportedly turning down new terms

The good relationship between Florentino Perez and his counterpart in Paris, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, may also help grease the wheels for this switch - and, as a result, optimism is rising that a deal is there to be done.

The prospect of PSG bringing in Ronaldo as a replacement would certainly sweeten the move. AS also claim that Juventus won't be an obstacle for the move, as they believe allowing the talisman to leave would herald in a new chapter.

PSG have already enjoyed a stellar summer, having brought in Lionel Messi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos and Georginio Wijnaldum all for nothing. Achraf Hakimi was snapped up from Inter Milan for a 60m fee.

Ronaldo would top off perhaps the most remarkable array of signings in history, but the indications from figures at Juventus have been solely focused on the belief that the former Manchester United man will still stay.

Juventus have been adamant that Ronaldo will stay at the club despite his reported wish to exit

After boss Massimiliano Allegri reiterated that Ronaldo will remain in his squad, vice-chairman Pavel Nedved doubled down on his remarks. He told DAZN: 'We've decided together with Ronaldo. It's normal. Ronaldo will 100 per cent stay.'

Questioned on the choice to bench Ronaldo, Nedved added: 'It was a shared decision with the player. We have to start [the] season, [but] you can't be at the top.

'It's a decision for the good of the team. [Giorgio] Chiellini, a European champion, also starts from the bench today. Will CR7 stay at Juventus? Absolutely yes.'

Ronaldo came on against Udinese but saw a stoppage-time winner ruled out for a tight offside

Tuttosport in Italy have suggested the agreement between Ronaldo and Allegri for him not to start may have been part of a plan to manage his body, and also a warning that the all-time great isn't as touchable in Turin anymore.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid were reportedly offered Ronaldo - their record goal scorer - back, but both the player and Carlo Ancelotti quickly spoke out publicly to wave away the prospect of a reunion.

In a 286-word social media post, Ronaldo brushed off the speculation linking him to a host of clubs around Europe. He labelled the talk 'disrespectful', and insisted he was 'focused' on Juventus for the start of the new season.
More than 30 million people are descended from its passengers today

The Mayflower has roots in Nottinghamshire villages like Scrooby and Babworth

Celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the Mayflowers pioneering voyage to America are finally under way  a year later than planned due to the pandemic.

The plucky merchant ship sailed west from Plymouth, Devon, on September 16, 1620, carrying 102 passengers seeking religious freedom and a new start over the Atlantic.

They arrived 66 days later in what is now Massachusetts, establishing a fledgling colony at Plymouth that is a cornerstone in the story of modern America.

Separatists settled in the Dutch city of Leiden, pictured, before they joined with other groups in England to plan their voyage to the New World

More than 30 million people are descended from these founding families and Thanksgiving, which celebrates the Pilgrims first harvest, is now a major holiday in the United States. It falls on November 25 this year.

As the commemorations show, this epic story has links across England, the Netherlands and the USA. Heres whats happening and where to see it.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROOTS

The Mayflowers tale begins in 1600, two decades before the ship sailed, in North Nottinghamshire villages such as Scrooby and Babworth. Here dissenters, then known as Separatists, were opposed to the authority and practices of the Church of England.

John Robinson, considered the pastor of the Pilgrim Fathers was born in Sturton-le-Steeple. William Bradford, the colonys second governor, who wrote a valuable journal, came from Austerfield, just across the border in South Yorkshire.

WHAT TO SEE: Devoted to local history, Bassetlaw Museum in Retford, Nottinghamshire has a new Pilgrims Gallery focusing on William Brewster, who was born in Scrooby, sailed on the Mayflower, and became a prominent member of the colony. It is also the starting point for a self-drive trail to see villages and churches with a Mayflower connection, backed up with videos and podcasts (pilgrimroots.co.uk).

The Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, but its sister ship, the Speedwell, didn't make the voyage. Pictured are the ships' journeys from the Netherlands and around the coast of England

Pilgrims progress: Settlers depicted arriving in the New World on the Mayflower

JUST SO YOU KNOW... Just under half the passengers on Mayflower were religious pilgrims, called Saints. The rest, called Strangers, were there to build the colony. There were 31 children, including a baby boy born at sea, named Oceanus.

Stars said to be descended from the Plymouth colony include Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, Orson Welles and Clint Eastwood.

Thanksgiving, held on the fourth Thursday in November, became a fixed federal holiday in the U.S. in 1942, thanks to President Roosevelt, another descendant.

In Dorking, Surrey, the tenement home of Pilgrim Father William Mullins is now a coffee shop (mullins coffeeshop.co.uk).

The Pilgrim 400 is a new variety of apple that commemorates this anniversary  40 trees have been planted, mostly in the Plymouth area (pilgrim400.co.uk). Advertisement

LINKS TO LINCS

Separatists are thought to have worshipped in secret at Gainsborough Old Hall, a medieval manor in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. Its merchant owner William Hickman was a sympathiser.

In autumn 1607 some of them tried to escape to the more-tolerant Netherlands, but were caught and jailed in Boston. The next spring they finally sailed from Immingham to Amsterdam.

WHAT TO SEE: Gainsborough Old Hall is now an English Heritage site (english-heritage.org.uk).

In Boston (which gave its name to the U.S. port), the Guildhall still has the cells and courtroom where the dissenters were held and tried. A free exhibition there, Boston: The Pilgrims And The Thread To America, runs until August 31 (visitbostonuk.com).

DUTCH COURAGE

The Separatists set up home in Leiden, 30 miles west of Amsterdam, and stayed for 12 years. In 1619, when war with Spain threatened, they planned to join with other groups in England and make a fresh start in the New World.

WHAT TO SEE: The Leiden American Pilgrim Museum evokes life in the city at that time. A two-hour, self-guided Pilgrims Route walking tour is available from the tourist office (leidenamericanpilgrimmuseum.org, visitleiden.nl).

PORT IN SOUTHAMPTON

On July 22, 1620, the Dutch contingent set sail from Rotterdam aboard Speedwell, meeting up in Southampton with Mayflower, which brought 65 pilgrims from Rotherhithe, London.

The Mayflower and Speedwell convened in Southampton harbour and eventually set sail together in August 1620

On August 15, 1620, the two ships set sail together for the New World.

WHAT TO SEE: In Rotherhithe, the 16th-century riverside Mayflower pub celebrates this historic departure.

It is just a few steps from St Marys Church where Christopher Jones, who captained the ship, is buried, although his grave has been lost (mayflowerpub.co.uk).

In Southampton, a free exhibition at Westgate Tower, open on Sundays, tells the story of Mayflower and Speedwells departure from the city with an optional guided walk (mayflower400southampton.co.uk).

FAREWELL PLYMOUTH

The voyage did not go well and the two ships were forced to call into the Devon port of Dartmouth for repairs to Speedwell, which was leaking badly.

After setting off once again, the same ship ran into difficulties near Lands End, forcing a return to Plymouth.

The Mayflower finally set sail from Plymouth, Devon, on September 16, 1620. Pictured are the city's Mayflower Steps by the harbour

Eventually it was decided that only the Mayflower would proceed, finally setting sail on September 16, 1620.

WHAT TO SEE: The Box, a new 40 million cultural complex, is staging a major exhibition Mayflower 400: Legend And Legacy, until January 2, 2022. The city also has a self-guided Mayflower Trail available on the free Plymouth Trails app (visit plymouth.co.uk).

CAPE COD AND BEYOND

The Mayflower intended to make landfall in Virginia, but rough seas forced it to drop anchor further north at Cape Cod.

The Mayflower's intended destination was Virginia, but choppy waters meant it was forced to drop anchor near Cape Cod. Pictured is the replica ship, the Mayflower II, at Plymouth Harbour, Massachusetts

The Pilgrims first settlement, Plymouth, was established on the other side of the bay with help from the Native American Wampanoag people.

As more settlers followed, Boston was founded in 1630.

WHAT TO SEE: About 40 miles south of Boston, Plymouth rejoices in its role in the birth of a nation. Key sights are a replica ship, Mayflower II, the Pilgrim Hall Museum and Plimoth Plantation, where costumed interpreters recreate life in 1627 (seeplymouth.com).
Seven miles of golden sand and two fine piers have long given Bournemouth classic British beach resort status. Certainly, it's not known for contemporary artworks.

While other southern coastal towns, such as Margate and Hastings, have become synonymous with modern culture, Bournemouth has been associated with stag and hen dos and rich retirees. Not so much hip as hip replacement.

But thanks to the opening this month of GIANT, a new, independently funded 15,000 sq ft contemporary gallery in the old Debenhams building in the town centre, those perceptions are about to change.

The golden sands of Bournemouth Beach have long attracted visitors from across the UK

GIANT is the brainchild of local artist Stuart Semple, who returned from London seven years ago, determined to reposition his hometown as a creative hub.

'Bournemouth has everything going for it,' Semple says. 'We've got amazing beaches, great food and nightlife, a university, an art college and an airport.

'The one thing we've never had is a contemporary gallery, and we have been seen as a bit of a cultural desert.' Semple is interested in providing diversity.

'You may not want to listen to an opera,' he says, 'but you are desperate to see Jay-Z in concert. That's how I feel about what we're doing. We want to contribute to the artistic scene and make it inclusive.'

The inaugural show at GIANT is called Big Medicine and features works by such major international artists as Jake and Dinos Chapman, Gavin Turk and Jim Lambie.

Visual artists the Chapmans, whose work is deliberately shocking, are showing suicide vests cast in bronze, which carry hand-painted art materials rather than explosives.

'It's a big deal for us and Bournemouth that they decided to present them here,' says Semple.

There is a medicine cabinet by Turk, a play on one by Damien Hirst, and Glasgow artist Lambie has created one of his sensational stripy floors, like others in the Victoria & Albert Museum and Tate.

An inflatable sculpture at Big Medicine, the gallery's inaugural show

TRAVEL FACTS For more information about events at GIANT, visit giant.space. Advertisement

'This is essentially a line that creates ripples from the architecture,' Semple explains. 'It's analogous to how this gallery could ripple through Bournemouth.'

Other arts organisations pushing for a place in the new cultural line-up include Pavilion Dance South West, with its world-class programme and vision that dance touches everyone's lives.

And the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, which won awards and praise from the Government last year, thanks to its online work reaching a new audience in lockdown.

It's not just art that's changing the town; Southbourne, with a quieter beach to the east, is becoming a foodie haven.

Terroir Tapas is a trendy sustainable restaurant headed up by an ex-Lime Wood chef. The Larder House is a more traditional restaurant but also aims to keep food miles low.

Let the cultural renaissance commence.
Holidaymakers have been subjected to 50 changes in the rules for international travel since the first coronavirus lockdown, according to new analysis.

The travel industry expressed dismay at the 'constant rollercoaster' of alterations and called for regulations to be simplified.

A Government spokesman said protecting public health is 'our top priority' and an 'unprecedented package of support' has been given to the travel sector.

Holidaymakers have been subjected to 50 changes in the rules for international travel since the first coronavirus lockdown, according to new analysis

Analysis by the PA news agency found that the testing and quarantine rules for people arriving in England since March last year have been altered 50 times.

A similar number of changes have occurred in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as the devolved administrations have largely mirrored England's rules.

The green, amber and red travel lists have been updated every three weeks since they were introduced in May.

The list of quarantine-free travel corridors changed nearly every week during its existence between July 2020 and January 2021.

Many holidaymakers have been forced to cut trips short and rush home before tougher rules for arrivals from their destination were introduced.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps was among the thousands of UK holidaymakers caught out when Spain was removed from the travel corridors list after being on it for just 16 days.

The Cabinet minister travelled home early from his family holiday to begin self-isolating.

Mark Tanzer, chief executive of travel trade association Abta, said fears about the status of a destination being changed are 'reducing the public's confidence about taking an overseas break'.

The list of quarantine-free travel corridors changed nearly every week during its existence between July 2020 and January 2021

He acknowledged that 'public health must come first', but urged the Government to be 'much clearer about the data and rationale behind these decisions'.

Derek Jones, boss of luxury travel company Kuoni, said international travel rules are 'as changeable as the British weather in August', and the complexities have created 'enormous challenges for holiday companies like ours'.

He added that customers are desperate to understand 'the hoops they need to jump through'.

Whether travellers need to self-isolate on arrival, and what tests must be taken and when, depends on their vaccination status and if they have been in a location on the green, amber or red list.

Every time there's a change in the traffic lights or the policy itself, that has a huge impact not just on consumers, but also on the travel sector itself, which has had to go through this turmoil over the last 18 months or so Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency

EasyJet boss Johan Lundgren said: 'It is no wonder that consumers in the UK are confused.

'Now is the time for Government to simplify the rules around travel, make green truly green and restriction-free, remove expensive and unnecessary testing requirements for the fully vaccinated travelling from amber countries, and put an end to this constant rollercoaster of changes.'

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, described the number of changes to the travel rules as 'absolutely staggering'.

He said: 'Every time there's a change in the traffic lights or the policy itself, that has a huge impact not just on consumers, but also on the travel sector itself, which has had to go through this turmoil over the last 18 months or so.

'It has been one of the worst Government policies ever.'

A Government spokesman said: 'Our top priority is to protect public health. Decisions on our traffic light system are kept under regular review and are informed by the latest risk assessment from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and wider public health factors.

'We know this is a challenging time for the travel industry which is why we are providing an unprecedented package of support to protect jobs and businesses.'

The next update to the traffic light lists is due next week.
He swooned fans with his stellar performance as Simon Basset in Bridgerton.

And now Rege-Jean Page is preparing to soothe his admirers with his voice after launching a new sleep story, exclusively on the guided mediation app Calm.

The actor, 31, narrates the recording titled The Prince & The Naturalist, which takes listeners on an illuminating journey through Olde England.

Lullaby: Rege-Jean Page is preparing to soothe fans with his voice after launching a new sleep story exclusively on the guided mediation app Calm

It follows the journey of a naturalist and his royal pupil as they discover the wisdom of nature.

'I know how valuable relaxation is for us all' Rege-Jean said in an official statement. 'Especially in trying times, so I couldnt be more glad to lend my voice to a sleep story'.

The star joins a cohort of narrators on the platform including Harry Styles, Idris Elba and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

According to reports published in July, the actor has landed his next major role in the reimagination of the 1997 film The Saint, which originally featured Val Kilmer in the lead role.

Gig: The actor, 31 - who played Simon Basset in Bridgerto - narrates the recording titled The Prince & The Naturalist, which takes listeners on an illuminating journey through Olde England

The 31-year-old is set to feature as both an executive producer and starring character in the reboot of the film, according to Deadline.

Although no specific details about the plot have been released at this stage, the project is set to be part-based on Leslie Charteris' 1920s book series, and the following TV series in the 1960s starring Sir Roger Moore.

The Saint focuses on a character named Simon Templar, who goes by the alias of The Saint, and presents as a modern-day Robin Hood-style figure.

Back in the day: According to reports, Rege-Jean has landed his next major role in the reimagination of the 1997 film The Saint, which originally featured Val Kilmer (pictured)

Deadline claim the reboot will be a fresh take on the classic character. MailOnline has approached representatives of Rege-Jean for comment.

Earlier this year, the actor claimed he was 'not at all' nervous about leaving Bridgerton.

The actor announced his departure from the Netflix hit in April, much to the shock of viewers, but told Variety in May how his character was only meant to be in one season.

When asked if he was nervous about leaving the role of Simon Basset The Duke Of Hastings behind, he said: 'Not at all, because that's what was meant.

Actively involved: The 31-year-old is set to feature as both an executive producer and starring character in the reboot of the film (pictured at the SAG Awards earlier this year)

'Simon was this bomb of a one-season antagonist, to be reformed and to find his true self through Daphne.

'I think one of the bravest things about the romance genre is allowing people a happy ending.'

Rege-Jean added that after his announcement was made public he made sure to keep his phone 'across the room' so he didn't have to see their reaction immediately.

He also compared leaving the raunchy period drama to graduating from High School, saying he was 'afraid of the unknown' and not making good friends like he did on the Bridgerton set, but has since learned otherwise.
Emma Appleton and Bel Powley have been cast as the leads in the upcoming TV adaptation of Dolly Alderton's novel Everything I Know About Love.

The actresses will star as childhood best friends Maggie and Birdy respectively as the bestselling book is transformed in a seven-part BBC series directed by Choo Moo-Young and produced by Working Title Television.

Emma (Maggie) and Bel (Birdy), both 29, will be joined by the likes of Marli Siu playing Nell and Jordan Peters as Neil in the TV version of Dolly's 'wildly funny, occasionally heart-breaking, internationally bestselling memoir'.

New role: Emma Appleton (pictured) and Bel Powley have been cast as the leads in the upcoming TV adaptation of Dolly Alderton's novel Everything I Know About Love

While making their TV debuts in the series are Aliyah Odoffin (Amara), Connor Finch (Street) and Ryan Brown as Nathan.

Emma is known for her roles as Feef Symonds in spy thriller Traitors and for playing Princess Renfri in Netflix series The Witcher.

She has also appeared in and short film Dreamlands and is set to feature in upcoming Sex Pistols miniseries Pistol, where she plays Nancy Spungen.

Star: The actresses will star as childhood best friends Maggie and Birdy respectively as the bestselling book is transformed in a seven-part BBC series directed by Choo Moo-Young and produced by Working Title Television (Bel Powney pictured)

Meanwhile, Bel has had roles in Apple TV+ series The Morning Show, BBC drama Informer and coming-of-age film Diary of a Teenage Girl in which she played the lead role as Minnie Goetze.

The actress became engaged to actor beau Douglas Booth in July this year.

Journalist and author Dolly's memoir Everything I Know About Love is a funny and personal account of surviving your 20s, with the semi-fictionalised adaptation focusing on friends Maggie and Birdy.

Actors: Emma (Maggie) and Bel (Birdy), both 29, will be joined by the likes of Marli Siu (left) playing Nell and Jordan Peters (right) as Neil in the TV version of Dolly's 'wildly funny, occasionally heart-breaking, internationally bestselling memoir'

Newcomer: While making their TV debuts in the series are Aliyah Odoffin (Amara), Connor Finch (Street) and Ryan Brown as Nathan (Aliyah pictured)

The show, set in 2012 and featuring flashbacks to their adolescences in the early noughties, will see the girls navigate questionable flat-shares, terrible dates, heartache and the difficulties facing an 'unbreakable' friendship when one of them gets a boyfriend.

The show is described by the BBC as 'a generous, funny, warm-hearted and uplifting Sex & The City for Millennials.'

On the casting, author Dolly, 32, said: 'I am beyond thrilled with every actor we have on board for Everything I Know About Love.

Busy girl: Emma is known for her roles as Feef Symonds in spy thriller Traitors and for playing Princess Renfri in Netflix series The Witcher

Career: Meanwhile, Bel has had roles in Apple TV+ series The Morning Show, BBC drama Informer and coming-of-age film Diary of a Teenage Girl in which she played the lead role as Minnie Goetze

Congratulations: The actress became engaged to actor beau Douglas Booth in July this year

'Aisha Bywaters has helped us find our dream cast and we are so excited to see them inhabit the world of the show and bring its stories and relationships to life.'

While the show's director China Moo-Young saying: 'We have a sublime cast for Everything I Know About Love and I'm so excited to see them bring all the heart and humour of Dolly's scripts to life on screen.

Jo McClellan, Commissioning Editor, BBC Drama also said: 'The BBC are incredibly excited to have this talented young cast join Dolly, China and the Working Title team to create this funny, uplifting and big-hearted show about friendship and love.'

Adaptation: Journalist and author Dolly's memoir Everything I Know About Love is a funny and personal account of surviving your 20s, with the semi-fictionalised adaptation focusing on friends Maggie and Birdy

While Surian Fletcher-Jones, Executive Producer for Working Title Television, added: 'We at Working Title are incredibly proud to be working with the phenomenally talented Dolly Alderton.

'It has been a real joy helping to bring her vision to life alongside our brilliant lead director, China Moo-Young and producer, Simon Maloney. We cant wait to get going with this genuinely hilarious and heartfelt show.'

Filming for Everything I Know About Love will begin imminently in Manchester and London, and will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2022.
Amy Adams looked stylish when she was spotted out on a shopping trip with her family in Los Angeles.

On Monday morning, the 46-year-old two-time Golden Globe winner was seen with her husband Darren Le Gallo, 47, and 11-year-old daughter Aviana.

Amy donned a long button-down short-sleeved dress and sported a pair of black thong Birkenstock sandals.

Out and about: Amy Adams looked stylish when she was spotted out on a shopping trip with her family in Los Angeles

The Arrival star wore her signature red tresses parted in the middle and pulled back in a low ponytail. Amy shielded her eyes with brown cat-eye sunglasses.

She carried a black and white leather bag that hung from a long brown shoulder strap and tucked a laptop under her arm.

Adams covered her face with a black mask decorated with palm fronds. During their outing, she picked up a white shopping bag.

Family shopping trip: On Monday morning, the 46-year-old two-time Golden Globe winner was seen with her husband Darren Le Gallo, 47, and 11-year-old daughter Aviana

Darren was clad casually in a black t-shirt and light-wash straight-leg blue jeans with white sneakers. He pulled his silver-streaked hair back in a topknot and donned black shades.

The German artist and actor wore a black face mask and toted a black and brown backpack.

Aviana sported an oversized beige vintage t-shirt and wide leg bright blue jeans which she paired with white sneakers. The preteen wore her strawberry blonde waves down and covered her face with a white surgical mask.

Casual: Amy donned a long button-down short-sleeved dress and sported a pair of black thong Birkenstock sandals as she strolled with her family

Amy and Darren met in 2001 when they enrolled in the same acting class. They got engaged in 2008 and the Sharp Objects actress gave birth to Aviana in May 2010.

On Father's Day, Adams paid tribute to her husband on her Instagram page. She posted a cute photo of her family laying in a field with their heads together with the caption, 'Happy Fathers Day to an artistic, sensitive, beautiful man. We love you! @darrenlegallo.'

Amy recently played an agoraphobic psychologist in the 2021 Netflix thriller The Woman in the Window. She is reprising her role as Princess Giselle in the sequel to the beloved 2007 fantasy romance Enchanted.

Earlier this month, director and producer Adam Shankman announced that filming for the much-anticipated follow-up, titled Disenchanted, had completed filming in Ireland.

Sweet: On Father's Day, Adams paid tribute to her husband on her Instagram page. She posted a cute photo of her family laying in a field with their heads together with the caption, 'Happy Fathers Day to an artistic, sensitive, beautiful man. We love you! @darrenlegallo.'

Exciting: Earlier this month, director and producer Adam Shankman announced that filming for the much-anticipated follow-up, titled Disenchanted, had completed filming in Ireland

Shankman shared an image of himself on Instagram in which he was seen from behind as he posed with Adams in a field.

'Myself and Giselleerrrr.@amyadams would just like to say: And that's a wrap. #Disenchanted Coming to you in #2022 @disney @disneyplus @disneystudios,' Adam wrote in the caption.

In the original film, Amy played a young maiden who was banished from her animated kingdom Andalasia on the eve of her wedding to a prince. She was transported to New York City where she fell in love with Robert (Patrick Dempsey), a divorce lawyer, and befriended his daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey).

Modern fairytale: In the original film, Amy played a young maiden who was banished from her animated kingdom Andalasia on the eve of her wedding to a prince. She was transported to New York City where she fell in love with Robert (Patrick Dempsey), a divorce lawyer. Seen in 2007

Disenchanted will take place 15 years after the events of the first film and will follow Giselle as she moves to the suburbs with Robert and Morgan. As Giselle begins to question her happy-ever-after, she accidentally sets off a chain of events that threaten her family and her animated homeland.

Dempsey, James Marsden, Idina Menzel, and Susan Sarandon are all returning to reprise their roles. Maya Rudolph is also set to star as the villainous Malvina Monroe.

Disenchanted will be released on Disney+ in 2022.
Former Married At First Sight star Tracey Jewel has expressed her concerns over an uncertain future amid Australia's harsh lockdowns.

The 38-year-old, based in Perth, shared an Instagram post on Monday where she admitted that the measures have started taking their toll on her.

'My heart is hurting,' the mother-of-two began in the caption of her post.

'I feel so deeply right now': Former Married At First Sight star Tracey Jewel penned an emotional post on Instagram on Monday about the uncertainty of life in lockdown

'Hurting because I feel so deeply right now for everyone stuck in lockdown in our beautiful country, with so much uncertainty, what is it going to take for this to end?

'Hurting because of the situation in Afghanistan with so many stuck with no way out and an uncertain future for the women and children there,' she said.

The former reality TV star also wrote she was upset to see small businesses that she loves and supports closing down.

Emotional: Tracey said she asked herself if her feelings toward the issues were 'serving' a purpose and if it was just further heightening her anxiety. The brunette beauty said that it was important to check in with ones emotions

Tracey said she asked herself if her feelings toward the issues were 'serving' a purpose and if it was just further heightening her anxiety.

'Me being stuck in hurt isn't going to serve myself or anyone else. Me projecting that hurt onto others is going to make things worse too,' she wrote.

The brunette beauty said that it was important to check in with ones emotions.

Motherhood: Tracey's feeling aren't unwarranted as she became a mother for the second time after giving birth to her son Frankie earlier this year with her husband Nathan Constable

'Be honest and check the origin of our feelings so we can move through them with self love, self care and grace,' she said.

'Be compassionate with yourself - this is a time where we need more love for ourselves, and for others,' she added.

Tracey became a mother for the second time after giving birth to her son Frankie back in March with her husband Nathan Constable.

Baby joy: Frankie was taken to ICU shortly after his birth due to breathing difficulties. She is also mother to 10-year-old daughter Grace from a previous marriage. Pictured is Tracey and Nathan with Frankie

Frankie was taken to ICU shortly after his birth due to breathing difficulties.

In an Instagram post at the time, she wrote: 'Hes a strong feisty little man (no wonder with his hard kicks).'

Tracey appeared on season five of Married At First Sight. She was paired with Dean Wells, who infamously cheated on her with Davina Rankin.
It's gone down in history as one of the most awkward celebrity interviews of all time.

Now, 18 years on, Sir Michael Parkinson has apologised to Meg Ryan for their car crash encounter and confessed to being angry and pompous.

The talk show legend, 86, also admitted that he would be taken off air now in todays ultra-sensitive world.

Sir Michael Parkinson has apologised to Meg Ryan for their car crash encounter and confessed to being angry and pompous

The talk show legend, 86, (left) also admitted that he would be taken off air now in todays ultra-sensitive world after he clashed with Meg (right) in 2003

Sir Michael clashed with the Hollywood star in 2003 when talking about her poorly reviewed film In The Cut.

BBC ageism isnt fixed The BBC has a serious problem with older women on screen and does not appear to have the will to fix it, axed Countryfile presenter Miriam OReilly has claimed. Miss OReilly won a 150,000 age discrimination tribunal case against the broadcaster after being dropped from the programme, aged 52, in 2009. Writing in the latest Radio Times, the presenter said: The corporation is still resisting putting older women on TV. The BBC has had ten years since the promises made after my tribunal win to put its house in order So, what has happened? Not a lot. She added: I do not believe this is a problem to be fought out in employment tribunals This is a problem the BBC could fix but it does not appear to have the will. Advertisement

A frosty Miss Ryan, 59, replied to his questions with one-word answers and ended up telling him to wrap it up.

While Sir Michael has always claimed the actress was rude and difficult, he has admitted he did not react in the right way.

I wish I hadnt lost my temper with Meg Ryan. I wish Id dealt with it in a more courteous manner, he told Radio Times.

I was obviously angry with her and its not my business to be angry towards the guests.

'I came across as kind of pompous and I could have done better.

Asked what he would say to her now, he replied: Im sorry. But you played a part in it too. Neither of us were on top form.

Sir Michael hosted his BBC chat show for nearly two decades in two spells to 2004.

But he said: In this ultra-sensitive world I doubt I could do an interview nowadays without being sent off. There are so many pitfalls and booby traps.

In 2006 Miss Ryan said: I felt he was berating me for being naked in the movie.

'He said something like, You should go back to doing what you were doing. I thought, Are you like a disapproving dad? Back off, buddy. I was so offended.

Sir Michael was called a sexist old fart by Helen Mirren after a 1975 interview.

He introduced the actress, then 30, as the sex queen of the Royal Shakespeare Company and asked if her equipment distracted audiences.

He has since said that the interview was of its time.
An Australian newsreader working in Tel Aviv has urged Aussies to get the widely available AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, saying it won't limit their international travel.

There are concerns about America and some European countries not recognising the Australian-manufactured AstraZeneca vaccine, but journalist Sarah Williamson says her fellow countrymen don't have to worry.

Williamson, who works for Israeli news channel i24 News, said on Monday she wasn't even asked to show her vaccine records when she recently travelled to the U.S.

Why you don't need the 'right' vaccine to visit America: Tel Aviv-based Aussie journalist Sarah Williamson claims she travelled to the U.S. without once having her records checked

'Yo Australia. If you're concerned about not being able to travel to the U.S. if you get the AZ jab, I just went through two separate airports and nobody even asked if I was vaccinated. Simmer down guys,' she wrote on Instagram.

It comes after Williamson slammed Australia's lockdowns earlier this month.

The 30-year-old shared a post to Instagram saying 'brainwashed' Aussies were 'living in a totalitarian society'.

'Yo Australia. If you're concerned about not being able to travel to the U.S. if you get the AZ jab, I just went through two separate airports and nobody even asked if I was vaccinated. Simmer down guys,' Williamson wrote on Instagram on Monday

'I never thought I would say this... I'm not proud to be Australian at the moment, considering the mindset of the government and the majority of the people living inside the country. I'm sorry,' she wrote.

'I'm well aware I'm about to receive a barrage of abuse by brainwashed Aussies. I'm sorry you feel this way,' she continued.

'I'm sorry you live in a totalitarian society.'

No dramas! There are concerns about America and some European countries not recognising the Australian-manufactured AstraZeneca vaccine, but Ms Williamson says her fellow countrymen don't have to worry

The reporter recently captured attention for her glamorous looks while covering the Israel-Palestine crisis in Tel Aviv.

When she's not reporting on geopolitical conflicts, Sarah works as a bikini model.

She also an aspiring actress and has even appeared in a major campaign for an Israeli footwear brand.
OnlyFans is set to ban sexually explicit content from October 1, which will leave countless sex workers without an income.

But Gina Stewart, who became one of the platform's biggest stars after being dubbed the 'World's Hottest Grandma', isn't going anywhere.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the 50-year-old model said she plans to keep creating 'Playboy-esque' content on the platform, but is concerned about the growing dangers of online censorship.

EXCLUSIVE: The World's Hottest Grandma Gina Stewart, 50, is refusing to leave OnlyFans following the website's crackdown on sexually explicit content

'It doesnt surprise me in this day and age where it seems censorship is rife and everything is changing so fast,' she said.

'I will still stay with the site for my thousands of fans as it has been a good platform for my supporters who want to pay a subscription to see into my daily life.

'My page is a Playboy-esque style - lots of glamour [and] stylish nudity. I've tamed down my image on Instagram because of the censorship, so OnlyFans is the perfect platform for girls and guys to offer their fans an edgier experience without the risks of account deletions.'

The mature model also said that many of her fellow OnlyFans performers are struggling after having their Instagram accounts banned, and are now being forced to deal with their OnlyFans pages going too.

'It can be devastating for girls to lose their accounts especially after thousands of hours of photography and work behind-the-scenes is gone in seconds,' she said.

'It has a huge psychological impact.'

Concerned: Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the 50-year-old model said she plans to keep creating 'Playboy-esque' content on the platform, but is concerned about the growing dangers of online censorship

Luckily for the doting grandmother, she's still able to share her signature Playboy-inspired photos because the OnlyFans ban doesn't include nudity.

However, she will no longer be able to upsell more explicit content to her subscribers like she has before once the crackdown comes into effect.

Gina currently offers her most loyal fans access to X-rated videos from her private catalogue at a higher price point.

Unfortunately, performers who rely on hardcore content for their following will be left without their OnlyFans income from October 1.

'I will still stay with the site for my thousands of fans as it has been a good platform for my supporters who want to pay a subscription to see into my daily life,' Gina said

'For the girls that are purely into making adult content it is a massive shock because they rely on that income especially during these amazingly hard times,' Gina said.

'It's just another stress where they have to suddenly find another way to continue to make a lucrative income. OnlyFans created a niche market where hundreds of thousands of people created an income working from home and their families rely on that income.'

The social media platform, which is used by sex workers but also celebrities, musicians and comedians, allows 'creators' to share pictures and videos with their paying subscribers.

Under the new guidelines, people will still be able to post nude content on the site but it will need to be consistent with the company's updated policies, which the firm said are being implemented at the request of its financial partners.

The London-based company said in a statement: 'In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of our platform, and continue to host an inclusive community of creators and fans, we must evolve our content guidelines.

No choice: The grandmother was forced to turn to OnlyFans after Instagram kept shadow-banning her account

'These changes are to comply with the requests of our banking partners and payout providers.

'We will be sharing more details in the coming days, and we will actively support and guide our creators through this change in content guidelines.'

According to the OnlyFans website, creators receive 80 per cent commission on their earnings, while the remaining 20 per cent covers 'referral payments, payment processing, hosting, support, and all other services'.

The platform has about 130 million users and two million creators who post content for subscribers.

OnlyFans says these creators have earned more than $7billion through the service.

'For the girls that are purely into making adult content it is a massive shock because they rely on that income': Gina said that X-rated performers like Renee Gracie (pictured) will have their incomes slashed due to the new measures

The BBC reported that the change comes after the broadcaster approached the company over concerns about its handling of accounts posting illegal content.

According to a BBC investigation, content moderators for the platform are told to give multiple warnings to accounts that post illegal content before the site decides to close them, and it claims that staff are asked to be more lenient towards successful accounts on the service.

The investigation also claims to have seen a number of examples of banned content on the site and says it was told by moderators that prostitution services have been found advertising on the platform.

In response, OnlyFans said it 'remains committed to the highest levels of safety and content moderation of any social platform'.

It added: 'All creators are verified prior to being able to upload any content to OnlyFans, and all uploaded content is checked by automated systems and human moderators.'

Empowering: The social media platform, which is used by sex workers but also celebrities, musicians and comedians, allows 'creators' to share pictures and videos with their subscribers

But one sex worker and former OnlyFans user warned the ban on sexually explicit content was 'awful' because it would push those working in the sex trade who used the platform to other, less safe, spaces.

Tilly Lawless said many sex workers used the platform, particularly during lockdown, as a vital source of income.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that OnlyFans was under pressure from its banking partners and payment providers to 'clean up their act'.

She added: 'I understand why they're doing it from a financial perspective  they now have the platform they wanted, they can kick sex workers off now they've got influencers on it, they've got celebrities on it, they've got fitness people on it.

'They can make money that way, they don't need sex workers like they did when they started.

'But I can't understand it from a wiping out (sex) trafficking perspective, because getting rid of platforms like this, none of that actually stops people in dangerous scenarios, it actually just makes it harder for sex workers who are using those platforms to work safely.'
Addison Rae certainly looked smitten as she held hands with her rumored new boyfriend Omer Fedi after enjoying a lunch date in West Hollywood.

For their outing, the 20-year-old TikToker rocked a blue Superman t-shirt and tiny, cut-off denim shorts, which showcased her incredibly toned legs.

The pair, who sparked dating rumors earlier this month, couldn't stop smiling as kept the conversation going while walking down the street.

Going public: Addison Rae certainly looked smitten as she held hands with her rumored new boyfriend Omer Fedi after enjoying a lunch date in West Hollywood

Fedi, best known for producing Lil Nas X's Montero (Call Me By Your Name), wore a white Suicidal Tendencies band t'shirt, skinny jeans and laceless Converse.

He also sported a black face mask amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as cases rise in California due to the highly-transmissible Delta variant.

Rae was previously in a high-profile relationship with fellow internet celebrity Bryce Hall, which came to an end earlier this year.

Giddy: For their outing, the 20-year-old TikToker rocked a blue Superman t-shirt and tiny, cut-off denim shorts, adding a Strathberry bag to complete the look

Last week, before grabbing dinner together in West Hollywood, Fedi shared a mirror selfie of them together on Instagram.

He made a joking reference to his outlandish bottoms in a text graphic that was added to the shot that read: 'she's wearing the pants in this relationship.'

Rae and Fedi were initially romantically linked this past May when the two were spotted leaving a party in each other's company.

Holding hands: The pair, who sparked dating rumors earlier this month, couldn't stop smiling as kept the conversation going while walking down the street

In June, they shared the same video to their respective Stories, fueling speculation about their connection.

The two later attended a rooftop concert that was given by Machine Gun Kelly that same month.

The pair appeared to confirm that they were dating earlier this month when they were spotted kissing while stepping out on a lunch date in Los Angeles.

An inside look: Fedi previously shared a photo of the two posing for a picture to his Instagram Story last week

Rae was previously involved with Hall, whom she began dating in 2020 after having known the 22-year-old for an extended period of time.

The two fended off dating rumors for much of 2020, although they separately alluded to having been in a relationship during the year and later confirmed that they had maintained an on-off partnership.

That November, they publicly confirmed that they had reunited and that they were looking forward to their future as a couple.

However, Hall was faced with rumors about infidelity the following February, and the pair separated for good the following March.

Former flame: Rae was previously linked to fellow TikTok star Bryce Hall, although they split up earlier this year; he is seen in June

Rae went on to become the subject of intense speculation when she was linked to rapper Jack Harlow earlier this year.

The two were spotted spending time together at several events in Los Angeles, although they never confirmed that they were dating.

Several of their respective fans reacted with concern regarding the rumors, with many labeling them an awkwardly paired couple.

However, Rae later wrote that she was single this past April, putting the speculation about her love life to bed.
Love Island fans were left fuming as Tyler Cruickshank and Kaz Kamwi finished in fourth place in the final, before the couple awkwardly talked about their relationship status with host Laura Whitmore.

Viewers were left astounded that the couple finished fourth out of the couples left standing - finishing behind Faye Winter and Teddy Soares, Chloe Burrows and Toby Aromolaran and series winners Millie Court and Liam Reardon.

Fans of the show declared they would complain to Ofcom as they praised the couple for their appearance on the show.

Fourth place:Love Island fans were left fuming as Tyler Cruickshank and Kaz Kamwi finished in fourth place in the final, before the couple awkwardly talked about their relationship status with host Laura Whitmore

One user wrote: 'Thank u ofcom for receiving my complaint about how kaz and Tyler shouldn't be last' [sic]

Another penned: 'im going to ofcom, HOW weren't kaz and tyler top 2??' [sic]

'Its time to make an Ofcom complaint, Kaz and Tyler are the real winners' another wrote.

While one more added to the onslaught: 'Not Kaz and Tyler or Chloe and Toby. nonsense. NONSENSE. Complaining to Ofcom.'

Outrage: Viewers were left astounded that the couple finished fourth out of the couples left standing, especially since Faye Winter received a record breaking amount of Ofcom complaints following her angry outburst

Unbelievable: Fans of the show threatened to file their own complaints with the television regulators after the final while outrage ensued on Twitter

Viewers also could not believe that they came in a lower position than Faye and Teddy, after their explosive fight sparked over 24,000 complaints to Ofcom.

One Tweeted: 'HOW HAVE FAYE AND TEDDY BEATEN KAZ AND TYLER WHEN FAYE LED TO 24,000 OFCOM VOTES???? WHAT THE HELL?'

Another, 'Kaz and Tyler in fourth place? Behind Faye and Teddy? The UK will always be the UK.'

Astounded: Viewers also could not believe that they came in a lower position than Faye and Teddy Soares, after their explosive fight sparked over 24,000 complaints to Ofcom

One simply conveyed their disappointment by writing: 'Kaz and Tyler got screwed over for weeks man. They deserved better.'

While another wrote a rather more optimistic take on the situation by writing: 'You know what guys. Kaz and Tyler have a certain freedom not being winners. Their relationship has less pressure too. But I am fuming still because fourth???????????'

The couple sat down to chat about their relationship status with Laura after they came in fourth, with the conversation starting out awkwardly, before Kaz admitted they're still going to take things at their own pace.

Saddened: One simply conveyed their disappointment by writing: 'Kaz and Tyler got screwed over for weeks man. They deserved better'

'What's the next step outside of the villa?' The Irish host asked.

After the pair stopped giggling, Kaz cleared things up by stating: 'We're still going to take things at our own pace. Obviously both of our families have met now'

Tyler agreed saying: 'Yeah yeah yeah, you know we're on the same page, erm, we're taking our time, really taking our time, I said in my speech that I want my next relationship to be my last, so I really want to get it right.'

Laura then cheekily interrupts him by saying: 'right thing to say Tyler - right thing to say!'

Later in the programme, it was revealed that Millie Court and Liam Reardon received the most votes so they picked up first place in the grand final of the reality show.

Toby Aromolaran and Chloe Burrows were the runners-up, while Teddy and Faye came in third place.

Taking things slow: They sat down to chat about their relationship status with Laura later in the show, with the conversation starting out awkwardly, before Kaz admits they're still going to take things at their own pace

Forever: Tyler agreed saying: 'Yeah yeah yeah, you know we're on the same page, erm, we're taking our time, really taking our time, I said in my speech that I want my next relationship to be my last, so I really want to get it right'

Millie gushed about winning the crown: 'Cannot believe we've just been crowned the winners of Love Island. Thank you so much everybody who voted for us. It means the world. We've had literally the summer of our lives. We're gonna leave here and now explore our future together, we can't wait can we.'

Liam added: 'Thank you everyone. We're leaving together and [we'll] continue our journey, so thank you.'

Controversial coupling Faye and Teddy found themselves in third place, with Faye awkwardly having to watch back her now-infamous scene from Mad Movie Night.

When asked by Laura if she overreacted, she admitted 'absolutely', and joked that she'd practically boarded a first-class flight out of the villa and gone home. She also admitted she hated the first few weeks of the show, prior to Teddy's arrival, and had wished her parents had flown over to bring her home.

Chloe Burrows and Toby Aromolaran made their coupling official at the summer ball climax of the show.

First place: Later in the programme, it was revealed that Millie Court and Liam Reardon received the most votes so they picked up first place in the grand final of the reality show

Final couples: Toby Aromolaran and Chloe Burrows were the runners-up, while Teddy and Faye came in third place

Love Island 2021 - the contestants

Which Love Island Series 7 couples are still together?

Where are the Love Island winners now - and what are they worth?

Which Love Island couples are still together?
They know how to put together a gorgeous look.

And Love Island stars Arabella Chi, 30, and Georgia Harrison, 26, simply stunned on Monday night as they arrived in style to the reality star-studded finale party in Manchester.

Arabella looked a vision in a cropped white blouse and tiered gold mini skirt, adding to her height in leg-wrap heels.

Gorgeous: Love Island's Arabella Chi (right) and Georgia Harrison (left) arrived in style to the reality star-studded finale party in Manchester on Monday

Arabella's golden pins were on full display in the chic outfit, as she styled her blonde tresses loose and accessorised with a summery shoulder bag.

Georgia also incorporated white into her ensemble - a busty crop top that she teamed with dazzling blue trousers.

Like Arabella, she colour-coordinated her top with a gorgeous mini handbag - and the pair were not afraid to flaunt their style as they linked arms.

Gal pals: Arabella looked a vision in a cropped white blouse and tiered gold mini skirt, with Georgia also incorporating white into her ensemble - a busty crop top that she teamed with dazzling blue trousers

Show-stopping: Arabella's golden pins were on full display in the chic outfit, as she styled her blonde tresses loose and accessorised with a summery shoulder bag

Party time! It wasn't just in Manchester that the parties were kicking off, with BOXPARK Croydon also hosting a viewing event that was hosted by BBC 1 Xtra DJ Nadia Jae

Singing sensation: Season four Islander Jack Fowler was the special guest in attendance and performed his new single Foolish featuring Tom Zanetti for the crowds

Both girls applied faultless makeup that contributed to their overall glow.

It wasn't just in Manchester that the parties were kicking off, with BOXPARK Croydon also hosting a viewing event that was hosted by BBC 1 Xtra DJ Nadia Jae.

Season four Islander Jack Fowler was the special guest in attendance and performed his new single Foolish featuring Tom Zanetti for the crowds.

Georgia rose to fame in series three of Love Island, back in 2017, whilst Arabella hit the famous villa in series 5, which aired in two summers ago.

They were not the only Love Island alums who arrived in Manchester for the event, as a whole host of them gathered to watch the final unfold.

Throwback: Georgia rose to fame in series three of Love Island, back in 2017

Entrance: Arabella hit the famous villa in series 5, which aired in two summers ago

Liam Reardon and Millie Court were crowned Love Island winners on Monday night.

The final saw the pair's very rocky journey end in glee as they won 50k, and split the money between them, with Liam asking Millie to be his official girlfriend during their live exit interview.

Toby Aromolaran and Chloe Burrows were the runners-up, while Teddy Soares and Faye Winter came in third place. Kaz Kamwi and Tyler Cruickshank were booted from the villa first, placing fourth.
Tory Lanez had his bail increased Monday after prosecutors claimed he violated a court-issued protective order to stay away from Megan Thee Stallion.

The 29-year-old rapper attended a court hearing in Los Angeles where his criminal case remains pending after he was charged with felony assault for allegedly shooting Megan, 26, in the foot in July 2020.

A judge increased his bail from $190,000 to $250,000 for violating a protective order to stay away from Megan with his surprise appearance last month at the Rolling Loud concert in Florida where she also performed, according to an article by TMZ.

Bail increased: Tory Lanez, shown in June in Miami, had his bail increased Monday after prosecutors claimed he violated a protective order to stay away from Megan Thee Stallion

The bail conditions were modified by the judge to specifically prohibit Tory from attending events where Megan will be present.

The judge also warned Tory, real name Daystar Shemuel Shua Peterson, that if the issue arises again he will be remanded into custody.

Prosecutors filed a motion earlier this month to hold Tory in contempt of court for violating the restraining order.

DaBaby, 29, performed a controversial set laced with homophobic remarks as the next act after Megan at Rolling Loud and was joined by Tory who took the stage in costume before revealing his identity and performing with DaBaby.

Shooting victim: Megan Thee Stallion, shown in June in Los Angeles, was shot in the foot in July 2020 and prosecutors charged Tory with several felony counts including an allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury with a gun

Tory got within 100 yards of Megan at the event in violation of the protective order.

Prosecutors charged Tory in October with felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, personal use of a firearm, and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle.

He also faced an allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury with a gun.

Surprise appearance: Tory is shown performing last month at Rolling Loud right in Florida after Megan performed

If convicted, Tory faces a possible maximum sentence of 22 years and eight months in state prison.

Megan was shot in the foot in July 2020 after leaving a house party in the Hollywood Hills and accused Tory of being the shooter in August on Instagram Live.

Tory released his fifth album Daystar in September 2020 and denied shooting Megan as he referenced the shooting on nearly every song.

He pleaded not guilty in November to charges related to the shooting.
Married At First Sight star Elizabeth Sobinoff has spoken candidly about her lengthy battle with self-esteem and chronic illness.

And the 30-year-old revealed on Monday she has discovered a newfound confidence recently and feels she can finally let go of her past.

She wrote in an emotional post on Instagram: 'Feeling more like myself than I have in an extremely long time.'

Confident: Married At First Sight's Elizabeth Sobinoff revealed on Monday she has discovered a newfound confidence recently and feels she can finally let go of her past health struggles

Lizzie explained that she no longer views herself as 'the sick girl' who was on a disability pension for years, or 'the girl from a reality show'.

Now she is able to be her true self.

'I might be more boring than the amplified version I was on TV so very long ago.. and yes, that is one of the first things people say to me, that I'm not what they thought, it's TV though' she said.

She concluded by telling fans she's more comfortable in her skin than ever before.

Happy: She wrote in an emotional post on Instagram, 'Feeling more like myself than I have in an extremely long time'

Her post coincidentally came just hours after her ex Seb Guilhaus, whom she met during last year's season of MAFS, told Daily Mail Australia he was dating again.

'Ania is a beautiful girl with a heart of gold and we are just starting to get to know each other,' he said after a photo surfaced of him cosying up to a mystery brunette.

Lizzie confirmed her split from Seb on January 11, after dating for about a year.

Hmm: Lizzie's post coincidentally came just hours after her ex Seb Guilhaus, whom she met during last year's season of MAFS, told Daily Mail Australia he was dating again

Splitsville: Lizzie confirmed her split from Seb on January 11, after dating for about a year

'We have mutually decided to end our relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend,' they announced in identical Instagram posts.

Lizzie previously described her health troubles as a 'horror story', explaining her condition was so bad she couldn't even work.

'Before I went on Married At First Sight, I hadn't worked for more than a decade. I was on a disability pension because I had a misdiagnosis and everything,' she told ex-Big Brother star Garth Saville on his podcast In the Bath with Aunty Garth.

'It was a horror story come to life, what had happened,' she added.

'I've actually had a problem with being underweight most of my life': Elizabeth recently spoke about the controversy surrounding her extreme weight loss. Pictured in 2020
Angelina Jolie was spotted for the first time since she made the rare move of joining Instagram for a good cause.

On Monday the 46-year-old actress stepped out in Beverly Hills wearing a chic black dress and stilettos as she got into an SUV.

Over the weekend the Girl, Interrupted star became the fastest user to gain 1M followers on the social media platform with a heartbreaking letter from a girl in Afghanistan.

Her current follower count now stands at a whopping 8.8M in just three days.

Making her mark: Angelina Jolie, 46, was spotted out for the first time since she broke the Instagram record for faster user to gain 1M followers with a heartbreaking letter from an Afghan girl

Jolie looked effortlessly chic in a flowing black long sleeve dress with a high neck that fell below her ankles and a pair of nude pumps.

She looked to be in good spirits as she flashed a wave while wearing a black face covering, and carried a bag of takeout in hand.

The striking beauty wore her brown tresses down and looked to be wearing a bit of eye makeup for the outing.

And she was was joined by her daughter Zahara, 16, and her usual body guard as they were seen emerging from an office building before they left in a black SUV.

Stylish: Jolie looked effortlessly chic in a flowing black long sleeve dress with a high neck that fell below her ankles and a pair of nude pumps

Out and about: The actress was seen stepping out of an office building with her daughter Sahara and a bodyguard while carrying a bag of takeout

Over the weekend, Angelina decided to use her star power for a good cause as she joined Instagram for the first time to spread awareness about the situation in Afghanistan.

After the Taliban took over the country in what has marked a human rights crisis threatening the freedom of its inhabitants  namely women  under Islamic fundamentalism, Jolie decided to amplify the voices of refugees.

'Right now, the people of Afghanistan are losing their ability to communicate on social media and to express themselves freely. So I've come on Instagram to share their stories and the voices of those across the globe who are fighting for their basic human rights,' her caption read in excerpt.

Angelia posted a heartbreaking letter from a teenage girl who wrote about living in fear of the Taliban and her rights regressing under their rule, as she said 'we think all our dreams are gone.'

Activist: After the Taliban took over Afghanistan in what has marked a human rights crisis threatening the freedom of its inhabitants  namely women  under Islamic fundamentalism, Jolie decided to amplify the voices of refugees

Though some words of the letter were blurred out to protect her safety the letter read in excerpt:

'Before Taliban came in we all went to work, school. We all had rights, we was able to defend our rights freely, but when they came, we are all afraid of them, and we think all our dreams are gone.

'We think our rights have been violated, we can not get out. Studying in working is too far away.'

In the letter the teenager continued to say '...We have no rights the life of all of us is dark, we all lost our freedom and are imprisoned again.'

First post: Angelina's post caused her to break the record for fastest user to gain 1M followers and her current follower count currently stands at 8.8M

Heartbreaking: She posted a heartbreaking letter from a teenage girl who wrote about living in fear of the Taliban and her rights regressing under their rule, as she said 'we think all our dreams are gone'

A source explained to PEOPLE why Angelina decided to join the popular social media platform for the first time.

'Angie felt compelled to join in a moment when women and young people in Afghanistan are losing the ability to communicate on social media and express themselves freely.

'From her point of view, if she's able to be a part of the effort to amplify their voices, then she felt it was reason enough to join and use her platform.'

Upon joining she gained 2.1 million new followers in under three hours, beating famed English broadcaster David Attenborough's four hours 44 minutes, and Harry Potter star Rupert Grint's four hours and one minute.

Speaking out: Jolie, the special envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has spoken out about the plights of many refugees; pictured in Goudebo, a camp that welcomes more than 11,000 malian refugees in northern Burkina Faso; June 20, 2021

As of Monday August 23 a White House official said in a statement that 10,900 people have been evacuated from Kabul on 15 military aircrafts  including American citizens and interpreters in the country as well as Afghans.

'From August 23 at 3:00 AM EDT to August 23 at 3:00 PM EDT, a total of approximately 10,900 people were evacuated from Kabul. This is the result of 15 U.S. military flights (all C-17s), which carried approximately 6,660 evacuees, and 34 coalition flights, which carried 4,300 people.'

The initial date for the US military to leave Afghanistan was originally set for May 1 by former President Donald Trump in a deal he signed with the Taliban.

President Joe Biden announced in April that he was pushing the final date to August 31 but according to CNN, several of his advisers 'have advised against an extension, citing the security situation on the ground.'
She shot to fame on series 5 of the ITV2 reality show.

And Love Island's Joanna Chimonides continued to command the spotlight on Monday as she put on a sizzling display at the I Saw It First Love Island final party at Boujee in Manchester.

The beauty, 24, stunned in a busty black crop top teamed with a daring thigh-high split midi skirt as she posed up a storm at the star-studded bash.

Wow: Love Island's Joanna Chimonides continued to command the spotlight on Monday as she put on a sizzling display at the I Saw It First Love Island final party at Boujee in Manchester

Joanna oozed confidence as she flaunted her cleavage and toned midriff in the barely-there top which featured a hoop detail at the bust.

She teamed her top with a matching black skirt which allowed her to flash plenty of leg.

The stunner boosted her height with a pair of pale orange, lace-up heels and added a further splash of colour with a green handbag.

Work it: The beauty, 24, stunned in a busty black crop top teamed with a daring thigh-high split midi skirt as she posed up a storm at the star-studded bash

Joanna allowed her sleek blonde tresses to cascade over her shoulders, while she upped the glamour with a sleek palette of make-up.

Joanna was in good company on the night as other Love Island stars including Francesca Allen and Georgia Steel were in attendance to watch the conclusion of the latest series.

While the likes of Arabella Chi, Georgia Harrison and Kaz Crossley also joined in the fun.

The nail-biting final saw Liam Reardon and Millie Court eventually be crowned the winners of the 2021 series.

Smokin': Joanna oozed confidence as she flaunted her cleavage and toned midriff in the barely-there top which featured a hoop detail at the bust

Pals: Joanna was in good company on the night as other Love Island stars including Francesca Allen (centre) and Georgia Steel (left) were in attendance to watch the conclusion of the latest series

The final saw the pair's very rocky journey end in glee as they won 50k, and split the money between them.

The result was announced just minutes after the Welshman asked the Essex beauty to be his girlfriend in a sweet moment.

Toby Aromolaran and Chloe Burrows were the runners-up, while Teddy Soares and Faye Winter came in third place.

Kaz Kamwi and Tyler Cruickshank were booted from the villa first, placing fourth.

Winners! The nail-biting final saw Liam and Millie eventually be crowned the winners of the 2021 series
Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi revealed she and her husband Jionni LaValle want a fourth child while giving a tour of her $865,000 waterfront home with a massive pool and a private dock in New Jersey on MTV's Cribs.

As she gave fans an inside look at her spacious bedroom, the 33-year-old reality star showed off her large bed with a fuzzy leopard blanket on top, massive white mirror and tons of natural light.

'I definitely want another baby, so this is where it's gonna be. This is where it's gonna take place,' she joked, while patting the top of her bed as she held onto a glass of red wine.

Come on in: Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi revealed she and her husband Jionni LaValle want a fourth child while giving a tour $865,000 waterfront home with a massive pool and a private dock in New Jersey on MTV's Cribs

Quickly pivoting from the subject of expanding her family, the Jersey Shore alum pointed to a unique painting on her wall, which paid tribute to her late cat Rocky.

'When people do come in my room and they're like, 'Why do you have a picture of your cat? This is my best friend,' she explained of a piece of art inspired by her beloved orange and white kitty, who passed away in 2018.

She continued: 'I got Rocky when I was 13. And then he died, so anytime that I'm like sad or upset I just turn around and look at Rocky and he's watching over me in his angels.'

Cozy: As she gave fans an inside look at her spacious bedroom, the 33-year-old reality star showed off her large bed with a fuzzy leopard blanket on top, massive white mirror and tons of natural light

'I definitely want another baby, so this is where it's gonna be. This is where it's gonna take place,' she joked, while patting the top of her bed

One-of-a-kind: Quickly pivoting from the subject of expanding her family, the Jersey Shore alum pointed to a unique painting on her wall, which paid tribute to her late cat Rocky, as she held onto a glass of red wine

For her appearance on the Cribs reboot, the mother-of-three rocked a short black minidress and long duster coat.

Her light brown hair was styled in a chic half-up, half-down pigtails and complimented her glamorous makeup look.

In February, she gave fans a glimpse of her bedroom after she was diagnosed with COVID-19 ahead of Valentine's Day and had to remain 'isolated' in her room away from family and friends.

'When people do come in my room and they're like, 'Why do you have a picture of your cat? This is my best friend,' she explained of piece of art inspired by her beloved orange and white kitty, who passed away in 2018

Stylish: For her appearance on the Cribs reboot, the mother-of-three rocked a short black minidress and long duster coat

'My family & I have been super cautious & careful, so this is super scary,' Polizzi wrote on Instagram at the time.

After 'napping all day' and 'feeling super tired,' the star got tested and found out she contracted the novel coronavirus.

'Today I just feel groggy. I ended up losing my taste and smell last night. Its fricken weird. I had a greasy cheese pizza & couldnt taste a damn thing. WHAT A SIN,' she captioned a slideshow of her wearing a pair of pajamas.

Peaceful: In February, she gave fans a glimpse of her bedroom after she was diagnosed with COVID-19 ahead of Valentine's Day and had to remain 'isolated' in her room away from family and friends

She continued: 'The rest of my family tested negative, so i am here hiding out in my bedroom until this is over. Slide over to the next pic.'

'I woke up to roses and chocolates thrown on my floor from my family. Still showing my quarantine a** Love on Valentines Day!' she gushed of her man and their kids eight-year-old Lorenzo, Giovanna, six, and Angelo, two, who surprised her with a few sweet gifts.

'Appreciate all of your concerns, but I am ok! Please stay safe everyone!' the beauty continued.
Elliot Page has credited the 1999 film But I'm a Cheerleader for inspiring him at a young age, explaining that movies celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community helped him accept his identity.

Page, 34, a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, appeared virtually Sunday in Los Angeles to collect the Achievement Award in wrapping up the Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, Variety reported.

Page, in his acceptance speech from location in Toronto, credited the dramatic comedy, which starred Natasha Lyonne at Megan Bloomfield, a high schooler who's sent to a gay conversion program when her parents suspected her of being gay (she subsequently falls for another teen girl named Graham, portrayed by Clea DuVall.)

The latest: Elliot Page, 34, credited the 1999 film But I'm a Cheerleader for inspiring him at a young age as he appeared virtually Sunday in Los Angeles to collect the Achievement Award in wrapping up the Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQIA+ Film Festival

Page, who came out as gay in 2014, and transgender in late 2020, said that the motion picture was a scarce depiction of a young LGBTQ person at the time.

'I for one know that without the various representation that I was able to stumble upon as a kid and a teenager - there was very little - I just don't know if I would have made it,' Page said.

'I don't know if I would have made it through the moments of isolation and loneliness and shame and self-hatred that was so extreme and powerful and all-encompassing that you could hardly see out of it.'

The Oscar-nominated actor continued: 'And then, you know, at 15, when you are flipping through the channels and you stumble on But I'm a Cheerleader and the dialogue in that film, and scenes in that film just transform your life.

'I almost think we don't talk enough about how important representation is and enough about how many lives it saves and how many futures it allows for.'

The 1999 movie starred Natasha Lyonne at Megan Bloomfield, a high schooler who's sent to a gay conversion program when her parents suspected her of being gay

In the film, Lyonne's Megan subsequently falls for another teen girl named Graham, portrayed by Clea DuVall

Page, who's been seen in recent years on shows including The Umbrella Academy and Tales of the City, said that it's 'infuriating' that LGBTQ people continue to be underrepresented in the arts.

He credited Outfest and similar organizations 'that are completely changing that ... and helping get stories out in the world that I know are reaching people in moments where they feel desperately alone and afraid and like they have no sense of community.

'And it offers somebody a lifeline. And I know that representation has done that for me.'

Page said he identified as transgender in a December post on social media.

'Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot,' Page said. 'I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life.'

Cute: Page as seen in an Instagram post in June posing with his dog

Page also mentioned his 'overwhelming gratitude for the incredible people who have supported me along this journey.'

He continued: 'I cant begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self. Ive been endlessly inspired by so many in the trans community.

'Thank you for your courage, your generosity and ceaselessly working to make this world a more inclusive and compassionate place. I will offer whatever support I can and continue to strive for a more loving and equal society.'
Married at First Sight star Tracey Jewel has been slammed by small Australian businesses for failing to deliver them thousands of followers in exchange for free products.

Ebonnie Masini, the owner of Masini Sleepwear, claims 38-year-old Jewel contacted her on Instagram on June 30 with a business proposal.

In messages seen by Daily Mail Australia, Jewel offered Ms Masini a spot in a mass giveaway, indicating she would gain anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000 followers if she were to participate.

The catch was that she'd be required to 'gift' Jewel and 10 other influencers products from her line as well as pay a $299 'buy in' fee.

Ms Masini refused, citing the pressures of a Covid downturn for being unable to afford the participation fee.

Former Married at First Sight contestant Tracey Jewel has been slammed by small Australian businesses for failing to deliver them thousands of followers in exchange for free products. Pictured wearing a Masini Sleepwear robe, surrounded by gifted products for the giveaway

Ebonnie Masini (pictured), the owner of Masini Sleepwear, claims 38-year-old Jewel contacted her on Instagram on June 30 with a business proposal

She claims Jewel then amended the conditions and accepted Masini Sleepwear into the competition without a fee, so long as she and three other influencers were gifted products.

Ms Masini, along with other small business owners who agreed to participate, was under the impression that all 11 influencers would promote the brand both on their stories and on grid posts.

The competition ran from August 15 to 21, and in the week since, Masini Sleepwear gained just 40 followers.

Ms Masini said 40 followers was 'about the average' of what each of the female-led brands gained.

Several other influencers have since claimed they were not made aware of the giveaway in advance and failed to receive the products

Ms Masini, along with other small business owners who agreed to participate, was under the impression that all 11 influencers would promote the brand both on their stories and on grid posts

While the businesswoman understands promoting products via Instagram influencers never guarantees sales, she feels the competition was poorly executed.

'We were lucky to have only gifted four items, however, these items all retail for $189 hence its not an insignificant amount for us as a small business,' she said.

'All brands involved have copped losses.'

Ms Masini said she'd tried to contact Jewel to ask what went so wrong and point out that only three of the promised 11 influencers promoted her product, but she's been met with legal threats.

'This is harassment, bullying, defamation and cybercrime and my lawyers will be contacted on Monday morning if this does not stop. This is your first and final warning,' Jewel wrote in an email to all of the businesses involved.

'I understand a few of you are unhappy with the lack of results with this giveaway. I am too... Sometimes things just don't get the high return.'

In messages seen by Daily Mail Australia, Jewel offered Ms Masini a spot in a mass giveaway, indicating she would gain anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000 followers if she were to participate

Jewel has been at the centre of several controversies since appearing on Married At First Sight

She has since been in touch with several other influencers listed on the promotion, some of whom claim they had no idea it even existed.

Others say they were aware of the giveaway but either never received the products or received damaged goods with no instructions as to how or when to promote them.

'Many of them have since reached out embarrassed, apologetic and devastated that through no fault of their own their names have been tied to this,' Ms Masini said.

Jewel told Daily Mail Australia she was simply involved in the giveaway but did not organise the details of the agreement.

She later revealed that she had in fact created the giveaway and hoped to support small businesses.

'I fulfilled my role in promoting these businesses and in light of the giveaway results, the company I'm involved with decided in good faith to refund 33% of the fees they paid.

'We deny any wrongdoing... In advertising and marketing there are no guarantees and I wish these businesses all the best.'
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Following an unauthorized trailer leak over the weekend that was promptly snuffed out, Marvel Studios unveiled the first trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home.

The trailer was first unveiled during Sony Pictures' CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas on Monday night, before it arrived online at Sony Pictures YouTube.

The trailer confirms a number of rumors about the superhero sequel, namely that the multiverse will play a large role in the sequel, and that villains from previous Spider-Man movies will be present, including Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) and Electro (Jamie Foxx).

First trailer: Following an unauthorized trailer leak over the weekend that was promptly snuffed out, Marvel Studios unveiled the first trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home

Presentation: The trailer was first unveiled during Sony Pictures' CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas on Monday night, before it arrived online at Sony Pictures YouTube

Villains: The trailer confirms a number of rumors about the superhero sequel, namely that the multiverse will play a large role in the sequel, and that villains from previous Spider-Man movies will be present, including Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) and Electro (Jamie Foxx)

The trailer begins with Peter Parker (Tom Holland) lying on a rooftop with MJ (Zendaya), who is reading rumors about Peter ever since he was unmasked as Spider-Man by Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) in the last Spider-Man film, 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home.

MJ reads one rumor that claims one of Parker's powers may be, 'the male spider's ability to hypnotize females,' which Peter dismisses.

Peter asks if they can just 'stay up here all day, it's so crazy down there,' referring to the media circus around his unmasking as Spider-Man.

MJ and Peter: The trailer begins with Peter Parker (Tom Holland) lying on a rooftop with MJ (Zendaya), who is reading rumors about Peter ever since he was unmasked as Spider-Man by Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) in the last Spider-Man film, 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home

Powers: MJ reads one rumor that claims one of Parker's powers may be, 'the male spider's ability to hypnotize females,' which Peter dismisses

So crazy: Peter asks if they can just 'stay up here all day, it's so crazy down there,' referring to the media circus around his unmasking as Spider-Man

The voice of The Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons, who portrayed the character in Tobey Maguire's original Spider-Man trilogy) is heard saying that, 'Spider-Man is in fact Peter Parker,' as Spidey flies by a video that says he's, 'Public Enemy #1.'

Peter is then seen handcuffed in a police interrogation room, stating that he did not kill Mysterio, the 'drones did,' when one detective says, 'the drones that are yours?'

Peter and MJ are then talking on the phone when MJ asks if there is, 'any part of you that is relieved by all this' since he doesn't have to 'hide or lie' about being Spidey.

Public enemy: The voice of The Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons, who portrayed the character in Tobey Maguire's original Spider-Man trilogy) is heard saying that, 'Spider-Man is in fact Peter Parker,' as Spidey flies by a video that says he's, 'Public Enemy #1'

Mysterio: Peter is then seen handcuffed in a police interrogation room, stating that he did not kill Mysterio, the 'drones did,' when one detective says, 'the drones that are yours?'

Hide or lie: Peter and MJ are then talking on the phone when MJ asks if there is, 'any part of you that is relieved by all this' since he doesn't have to 'hide or lie' about being Spidey

Peter makes it clear that he, 'never wanted to lie to you... but how do you tell someone that you're Spider-Man?'

Peter is seen walking through the halls of his high school as he's filmed by students everywhere he walks.

He says that being exposed as Spider-Man is 'hurting a lot of people' as we see glimpses of his friend Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) and his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei).

How: Peter makes it clear that he, 'never wanted to lie to you... but how do you tell someone that you're Spider-Man?'

Filmed: Peter is seen walking through the halls of his high school as he's filmed by students everywhere he walks

Exposed: He says that being exposed as Spider-Man is 'hurting a lot of people' as we see glimpses of his friend Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) and his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei)

He adds that he's trying to figure out a way to fix all of this, which leads him to pay Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) a visit at his Sanctum Sanctorum.

The good Doctor asks, 'To what do I owe the pleasure?' and when Peter calls him sir, he responds, 'Please. We saved half the universe together, I think we're beyond you calling me sir.'

Peter then calls him Stephen, which the Doctor acknowledges, 'That feels weird, but I'll allow it.'

What's up Doc: He adds that he's trying to figure out a way to fix all of this, which leads him to pay Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) a visit at his Sanctum Sanctorum

Beyond: The good Doctor asks, 'To what do I owe the pleasure?' and when Peter calls him sir, he responds, 'Please. We saved half the universe together, I think we're beyond you calling me sir'

Weird: Peter then calls him Stephen, which the Doctor acknowledges, 'That feels weird, but I'll allow it'

Peter says that, 'When Mysterio revealed my identity, my entire life got screwed up. I was wondering if you could make it that he never did?'

Strange's mystical cohort Wong (Benedict Wong) angrily tells him, 'Strange, don't cast that spell. It's too dangerous.'

Stephen tells him, 'Fine, I won't,' before Wong takes some luggage and walks into a portal... though Strange winks at Peter when he's gone.

Screwed up: Peter says that, 'When Mysterio revealed my identity, my entire life got screwed up. I was wondering if you could make it that he never did?'

Too dangerous: Strange's mystical cohort Wong (Benedict Wong) angrily tells him, 'Strange, don't cast that spell. It's too dangerous'

Fine: Stephen tells him, 'Fine, I won't,' before Wong takes some luggage and walks into a portal... though Strange winks at Peter when he's gone

Stephen takes Peter into the bowels of the Sanctum Sanctorum, where he conjures a spell where nobody in the entire world will know that Peter Parker is Spider-Man.

Naturally, Peter isn't a fan of this, asking, 'Can't some people still know?' but Strange retorts, 'That's now how the spell works.'

Peter frets that MJ will forget everything they've been through and Ned is his best friend but Stephen tells him to, 'stop tampering with the spell.'

Spell: Stephen takes Peter into the bowels of the Sanctum Sanctorum, where he conjures a spell where nobody on Earth will know that Peter Parker is Spider-Man

Some people: Naturally, Peter isn't a fan of this, asking, 'Can't some people still know?' but Strange retorts, 'That's now how the spell works'

Tampering: Peter frets that MJ will forget everything they've been through and Ned is his best friend but Stephen tells him to, 'stop tampering with the spell'

Peter adds that his Aunt May, 'should really know' and Stephen yells for him to 'stop talking' when the spell takes effect, as Peter asks, 'What just happened?'

Peter is then seen taking a leap in his Spidey costume as New York City starts folding under itself, as Strange says, 'The multiverse is a concept about which we know frighteningly little.'

Lightning bolts are then seen striking a few NYPD cruisers, teasing the return of Jamie Foxx's Electro, the villain from 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Stop talking: Peter adds that his Aunt May, 'should really know' and Stephen yells for him to 'stop talking' when the spell takes effect, as Peter asks, 'What just happened?'

Multiverse: Peter is then seen taking a leap in his Spidey costume as New York City starts folding under itself, as Strange says, 'The multiverse is a concept about which we know frighteningly little.'

Electro: Lightning bolts are then seen striking a few NYPD cruisers, teasing the return of Jamie Foxx's Electro, the villain from 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Strange is then seen standing atop a train, as the cars start folding on top of each other, while Stephen gives Peter a bit of a lecture.

'The problem is you trying to live two different lives,' Strange says, as we see the sorcerer pushing Peter's soul out of his body, replicating a shot from 2016's Doctor Strange.

Peter is then seen in his iconic Iron Spider suit plus a glimpse of Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), as Strange says, 'The longer you do it, the more dangerous it becomes.'

Train: Strange is then seen standing atop a train, as the cars start folding n top of each other, while Stephen gives Peter a bit of a lecture

Shot: 'The problem is you trying to live two different lives,' Strange says, as we see the sorcerer pushing Peter's soul out of his body, replicating a shot from 2016's Doctor Strange

Happy: Peter is then seen in his iconic Iron Spider suit plus a glimpse of Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), as Strange says, 'The longer you do it, the more dangerous it becomes'

Another lightning storm hits teasing Electro, along with an unmistakable glowing green ball, hinting at the return of the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe).

A mysterious voice is heard saying, 'Be careful what you wish for, Parker,' as the arm of Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) is seen clamping onto the bridge.

Goblin: Another lightning storm hits teasing Electro, along with an unmistakable glowing green ball, hinting at the return of the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe)

Arm: A mysterious voice is heard saying, 'Be careful what you wish for, Parker,' as the arm of Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) is seen clamping onto the bridge

The arm pulls back as fans see Doc Ock offering a big smile, stating, 'Hello Peter,' as Peter quickly transforms into his Spidey suit, as the trailer comes to an end.

There have long been rumors that Tobey Maguire, who played Peter/Spider-Man in Sam Raimi's original trilogy, and Andrew Garfield, who starred in 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man and 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2, will reprise those characters, though they weren't shown in this trailer.

Spider-Man: No Way Home is slated to hit theaters nationwide on December 17.

Spidey suit: The arm pulls back as fans see Doc Ock offering a big smile, stating, 'Hello Peter,' as Peter quickly transforms into his Spidey suit, as the trailer comes to an end

Multi-Spidey: There have long been rumors that Tobey Maguire, who played Peter/Spider-Man in Sam Raimi's original trilogy, and Andrew Garfield, who starred in 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man and 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2, will reprise those characters, though they weren't shown in this trailer
Jesinta Franklin has used her platform to help find a missing Sydney Swans fan in Langwarrin, Victoria.

The 30-year-old model and wife to Sydney Swans star Lance Franklin, shared a missing persons post from fellow model Teah Foot to her Instagram Stories.

The post detailed the disappearance of Foot's father, who went missing on Monday afternoon at 2pm near Lysterfield Lake in Greater Melbourne.

Considerate: Jesinta Franklin has lent her support to help find a Sydney Swans fan who has gone missing

'My beautiful dadda (sic) was last seen at Lysterfield Lake in Victoria yesterday at around 2pm and has been missing since,' Teah wrote.

'If anyone lives or know anyone who lives in the Lysterfield/Rowville area, please direct (sic) message me or share this to anyone that may be (sic) (have) a chance of potentially seeing him so we can get him home safe.'

The model stated that her father was wearing a 'cream cardigan, black top, track pants and runner's and urged Langwarrin residents to be on the lookout.

'Let's bring him home safe:' The model, and wife to Sydney Swans star Lance Franklin, shared a missing persons post from Teah Foot, whose father went missing on Monday

Jesinta broadcasted Teah's post on Monday night to her 377,000 followers on Instagram.

'Please keep a lookout out for @teahfoot dad. Let's bring him home safe,' she said.

The missing man was reported to have been found 'safe' by his daughter on Tuesday.

Reach: Jesinta broadcasted Teah's post on Monday night to her 377,000 followers

Teah confirmed in a post that her father was no longer missing and thanked the 'beautiful Rowville community and surrounding.'

'I am beyond overwhelmed by the amount of people that came forward the past couple of days to assist in finding my beautiful dadda (sic).'

She explained that her family could 'not even begin to explain how relieved (and) thankful we are for the help we have received.'

'Please all go home and hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight for me, life is too short,' she added.
Influencer Nadia Fairfax has breached the Australian Association of National Advertisers' (AANA) distinguishable advertising rules.

The 32-year-old socialite's post promoting Samsung flip phones was last month found by Ad Standards to have not 'been properly declared' as advertising.

However, Samsung argued that no breach had taken place, given the company had not paid Fairfax to make the June 2 post on their behalf.

Whoops! Influencer Nadia Fairfax has breached the Australian Association of National Advertisers' (AANA) distinguishable advertising rules. Pictured on May 19 in Sydney

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Nadia Fairfax for comment.

The post in question showed three women, one being Fairfax, looking at their phones.

The original caption read: 'Z FLIP(ing) around FW with these two.... @galaxybysamsung @_yanyanchan @sarahellen Hello!? #WorkingWithSamsung #GalaxyZFlip #NadiaTakesSamsung.'

It also tagged the official '@galaxybysamsung' account.

Fixed: The 32-year-old's post promoting Samsung phones was found by Ad Standards to have not 'been properly declared' as advertising. She later added the #BrandedContent hashtag

Ad Standards included an excerpt from the complaint about the post, which read in part: 'It hasn't been properly declared. Very irresponsible.'

In its response to the complaint, Samsung revealed Fairfax had been engaged by the company as an influencer for seven years.

However, the tech company claimed 'the Post was outside the terms of Ms Fairfax's engagement with Samsung'.

Off the clock: The tech company claimed 'the Post was outside the terms of Ms Fairfax's (centre) engagement with Samsung'

The electronics manufacturer then argued the post was not advertising, while also contesting it was clearly distinguishable as such.

'Samsung's position is that the Post is not advertising. However, if the Post is deemed to be advertising, Samsung submits that it is appropriately distinguishable as advertising,' it said.

But Ad Standards ultimately concluded the advertisement breached section 2.7 of the code relating to distinguishable advertising and was 'not organic content'.

On August 12, Fairfax added the #BrandedContent hashtag to the post's caption.

Sponsored: In its response to the complaint, Samsung revealed Fairfax had been engaged by the company as an influencer for seven years. Seen here in another ad for the company

The panel also found that another influencer, Sarah Day, did not clearly mark her Instagram Stories about hair products from Tropeaka as advertising.

The Stories, which have since expired, included the text: 'I feel like my hair has already come such a long way! Ive been taking these [for] over a month now! @tropeaka.'

Ad Standards determined that 'the placement of the product, highlighting the products ingredients and sharing before photos did amount to material which would draw the attention of the public in a manner designed to promote the brand'.

Tropeaka has not provided a response to the determination.
Francesca Packer visited a popular cosmetic clinic in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Monday.

The billionaire heiress, 26, arrived at the Double Bay clinic, which was open for limited appointments during the city's Covid lockdown, at about midday.

She left an hour later and was whisked away in a waiting car.

Outing: Francesca Packer visited a cosmetic clinic in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Monday

The socialite niece of casino mogul James Packer dressed casually for the occasion in a black hoodie, trackpants and matching face mask.

She accessorised her look with a Christian Dior tote bag worth about $5,000 and a pair of $400 Valentino slides.

Francesca chose not to wear makeup, and swept her dark locks into a sleek chignon.

Visit: The billionaire heiress, 26, arrived at the Double Bay clinic, which was open for limited appointments during the city's Covid lockdown, at about midday

Ride: She left an hour later and was whisked away in a waiting car

The sighting comes just weeks after Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed Francesca had split from her personal trainer boyfriend Adam Cooper, seven months after going public with their romance.

A well-placed insider revealed the couple had quietly parted ways, saying: 'It was great for a while, but they had different lifestyles. In the end, it just didn't work out.'

Francesca hadn't featured on Adam's Instagram profile since he shared a selfie of the pair enjoying a romantic getaway on April 19.

Understated: The socialite niece of casino mogul James Packer dressed casually for the occasion in a black hoodie, trackpants and matching face mask

Expensive taste! She accessorised her look with a Christian Dior tote bag worth about $5,000

She has kept a low profile throughout most of 2021, after deactivating her Instagram account one month after posting a Valentine's Day tribute to Adam.

The fashionista, who lives in a $16million penthouse in Darlinghurst, had confirmed in December she and Adam were a couple, but didn't offer many details.

'Adam is a really great guy. We've been dating for a while,' she told The Daily Telegraph at the time.

The heiress' previous boyfriends include Van Hoorn guitarist Joshua Mullane and Melbourne property developer Kelli Holland.
Actress Isla Fisher is known for her hilarious movie roles.

And proving she can be just as funny off screen, the 45-year-old posted a glamorous photo to Instagram on Monday of herself sporting bright red lipstick.

Alongside it, she shared a picture of an orangutan with a similar pout.

Who wore it better? Proving she can be just as hilarious off screen, actress Isla Fisher shared a series of funny 'who wore it better' pictures on Instagram on Monday

'Who wore it better?' she wrote in the caption.

Fans praised the Confessions of a Shopaholic star, with one commenting below the post: 'You always wear it better.'

'Tough choice,' another joked, adding a series of laughing emojis.

Several fans responded 'Amy Adams', referring to the American actress who bears a striking resemblance to Isla and for whom she is often mistaken.

This isn't the first time Isla has made fans giggle with her outrageous comparisons.

Why the long face? In addition to her orangutan comparison, Isla also posted this side-by-side shot with a buck-toothed horse on Saturday

On Saturday, she pulled a funny face with her teeth on full display beside an image of buck-toothed horse.

Isla's pal Courteney Cox commented: 'It's close, but you need to work on your mane.'

The Aussie star lived in U.S. for years but relocated to Sydney with her husband, Sacha Baron Cohen, and their children several months ago.

The notoriously private actress spoke to Marie Claire Australia in May about their decision to relocate Down Under.

Isla, who grew up in Perth, rubbished reports she and Sacha had wanted to escape 'Trump's America', saying their relocation from LA to Sydney was a personal rather than a political decision.

She added that it 'feels very magical' to be back home after spending so long in the U.S. and that she can 'be herself' in Australia.
Jasmine Stefanovic (nee Yarbrough) is doing whatever she can to stay sane while in hotel quarantine with her 15-month-old daughter, Harper.

In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, the 37-year-old shoe designer shared a photo of her young daughter sitting in a sandpit, which had been set up in their bathroom.

'Eight days to go in quarantine - "do whatever gets you through",' she captioned the ingenious photo.

Drastic measures: Jasmine Stefanovic (nee Yarbrough) is doing whatever she can to stay sane while in hotel quarantine with her 15-month-old daughter, Harper (pictured)

It's been a testing experience, with Jasmine sharing a photo of Harper sitting in her doll's pram mid-tantrum in a separate post on Instagram Stories on Monday.

'Triggered her majorly bringing out the dolly pram!! Ooooppsss (Mum take me on a f**king walk),' she captioned the post.

It was revealed last Thursday that Jasmine and Harper were in mandatory hotel quarantine after travelling from Sydney to Brisbane.

'Eight days to go in quarantine - "do whatever gets you through",' Jasmine Stefanovic (pictured) captioned the ingenious photo

Ready to go: It's been a testing experience, with Jasmine sharing a photo of Harper sitting in her doll's pram mid-tantrum in a separate post on Instagram Stories on Monday

Speaking on the Today show, Jasmine's husband of almost three years, Karl Stefanovic, revealed his wife and daughter had flown interstate to be with her 'really sick' grandmother.

The 47-year-old TV host explained that Jasmine is 'incredibly close' to her 95-year-old grandmother, who had become unwell.

'I want to talk about this because this is really big, where Jasmine and Harper are right now and what they're doing,' Karl began.

Emergency trip: Speaking on the Today show, Jasmine's husband of almost three years, Karl Stefanovic (left), revealed his wife and daughter had flown interstate to be with her 'really sick' grandmother

'So she's had to go to Brisbane because her very dear, dear Nan, who she's incredibly close with, is really, really, really sick.'

Jasmine received a special exemption from Queensland Health to travel from COVID-stricken Sydney to the Sunshine State to care for her ailing grandmother.

'This is going on with families right around the country. It's not easy,' he added.
She's in the running to win Jimmy Nicholson's heart on The Bachelor.

But on Tuesday, a source close to rumoured finalist Jacinta 'Jay' Lal claimed the 31-year-old nutritionist now regrets signing up for the Channel 10 dating show.

She is apparently 'gutted' that some fans think she only applied for self-promotion.

Regrets? A source close to rumoured Bachelor finalist Jacinta 'Jay' Lal has claimed the 31-year-old nutritionist now regrets signing up for the Channel 10 dating show

'Jay regrets going on The Bachelor. She is gutted that people think she is only on there for clout and is worried about her image,' the insider told Daily Mail Australia.

'She has been reading the comments about her on the fan sites, and people think she only went on the show for her [Instagram] blue tick and that's not true.'

According to the source, Jay went to great lengths to convince producers to let Jimmy meet her dad, who is based in New Zealand, in person during the pandemic.

'Producers told her it wasn't necessary, but she really wanted to show [them] she was serious,' they said.

Upset: She is apparently 'gutted' that some fans think she only applied for self-promotion

Committed: According to a source, Jay went to great lengths to convince producers to let Jimmy meet her dad (left), who is based in New Zealand, in person during the pandemic

Proof she's the real deal: 'Producers told her it wasn't necessary, but she really wanted to show [them] she was serious,' the insider told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday

The source decided to speak out after rumours surfaced Jay had said she would prefer to place second because runners-up 'do better' after the show.

Meanwhile, Jay recently admitted it wasn't 'love at first sight' when she met 31-year-old Bondi pilot Jimmy on the red carpet.

'I have never ever experienced love at first sight,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

The plot thickens: The source decided to speak out after rumours surfaced Jay had said she would prefer to place second because runners-up 'do better' after the show

'I can see an attractive guy and know he is good looking or hot, but it is not until I really get to know the person that I can see whether there will be a future.'

'I don't know if I can answer that,' she said.

Glamorous marketing manager Holly Kingston, 27, remains the bookies' favourite to win Jimmy's heart, according to both Sportsbet and TAB.

As of Tuesday, her odds of winning are $1.42 on Sportsbet and $1.15 on TAB.
OnlyFans star Renee Gracie has revealed she's made almost $10million since joining the subscription-based adult website early last year.

The former V8 Supercars driver, 26, made the extraordinary claim during an interview with 2Day FM's The Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed & Erin on Tuesday.

'How much do you reckon you've made on OnlyFans?' host Erin Molan asked.

Money matters: OnlyFans star Renee Gracie has revealed she's made almost $10million since joining the subscription-based adult website early last year

'It's in the millions. More than one,' she replied, which prompted comedian Dave Hughes to ask: 'More than $10million?'

'It's under that but not far off,' Renee said. 'Give me another 12 months.'

Renee went on to speak about how she was planning to use her earnings to buy her own team for the Bathurst 1000 touring car race.

'It's in the millions': The former V8 Supercars driver, 26, made the extraordinary claim during an interview with 2Day FM's The Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed & Erin on Tuesday

'I just think about all the cool, fun stuff I will be learning from my team,' she said. 'When I did it, everyone was so serious.

'It is going to be a fun event and I won't let professionalism stress me out. It will be lighthearted and a bit of fun.'

Renee announced her ambitions to 'buy her own team' to enter the Bathurst 1000 during an interview with The Daily Telegraph last week.

Motorsports comeback: Renee announced her ambitions to 'buy her own team' to enter the Bathurst 1000 during an interview with The Daily Telegraph last week. Pictured in 2016

'I am looking to buy my own team,' she said. 'I get offers every second day to go and race in somebody else's car.'

Renee said she wanted to keep her own dream alive by getting a wildcard entry.

Wildcard entries are given to promising crowd-pleasers or retired racers to help attract more attention to the sport.

All girls: Renee was part of an all-female team that competed at Bathurst in 2015

Renee said she could revive the 'boring sport' given the amount of interest she would attract on the race track.

'I think it is completely possible that I would be considered for a wildcard,' she said.

The adult entertainer added: 'There aren't too many females that have raced  let alone one that has raced before and done porn.'

A return to V8 Supercars would cost an estimated $1million.

Renee was part of an all-female team that competed at Bathurst in 2015, and she also raced with Simona de Silvestro in 2016.

Renee is pictured with female V8 Supercars driver Simona De Silvestro (left) in October 2015

Meanwhile, OnlyFans has announced it will be banning 'sexually explicit' content from October 1 due to pressure from financial backers.

Renee, who became an OnlyFans creator in early 2020, told Daily Mail Australia earlier this week she suspected the website's founders were just looking for free publicity by going public with the 'porn ban'.

'OnlyFans did something similar a while back. They made an announcement of clamping down on adult content, but it never happened,' she said.

Changes: OnlyFans has announced it will be banning 'sexually explicit' content from October 1 due to pressure from financial backers

'It could just be the company looking for attention.'

Renee said porn is a multibillion-dollar industry for OnlyFans, which takes a 20 per cent commission from creators, meaning the company is unlikely to abandon it.

'Porn is a trillion-dollar industry. It's never going away,' she said. 'The age of selling content is here.'
Emma Willis has become the latest star to try out facial acupuncture, joining the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston.

The TV presenter, 45, shared a photo to Instagram Stories on Monday of herself with various needles inserted into her skin, while undergoing the treatment by UK-based specialist Sarah Bradden.

It's understood the cosmetic procedure costs 300 for a 90 minute session, and is a painless alternative to Botox and fillers, resulting in a radiant and glowing visage.

A-list beauty treatment: Emma Willis (pictured), 45, resembled a human pin cushion as she became the latest star to have facial acupuncture. The TV presenter shared this photo to her Instagram Stories on Monday

Emma took the picture from above, showing off her already radiant complexion and decolletage as she got comfortable while her therapist got to work.

'Watering my roots according to @sarahbradden... me time,' the mother of three captioned the snap.

Emma, who is known for her presenting roles on The Voice and The Circle, ensured she could breathe during the procedure with an oxygen tube up her nose.

Rejuvenated: 'Watering my roots according to @sarahbradden... me time,' the mother of three captioned the snap. Pictured in July

A-list fan: Cosmetic acupuncture is considered a tool in reducing the signs of ageing, and is a favourite among stars such as Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston. Gwyneth took to Instagram in 2018 to share a photo from one of her hour-long weekly sessions

Cosmetic acupuncture claims to work by targeting pressure points with the needles to release energy and endorphins.

This is said to improve blood flow, stimulate cell regrowth and encourage the production of collagen  the protein that helps keep the skin youthful and elastic.

Cosmetic acupuncture is considered a tool in reducing the signs of ageing, and is a favourite among stars such as Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston.

Family: Emma shares Isabelle, 12, Ace, nine and Trixie, five, with husband Matt Willis (pictured)

Gwyneth took to Instagram in 2018 to share a photo from one of her hour-long weekly sessions.

In the snap, the Hollywood actress sat in a chair in a beauty salon, with several needles inserted into her skin.

Paltrow's go-to practitioner, New York City-based Paul Kempisty, told Glamour that facial treatments focus on 'supporting connective tissue, circulation and detoxification of the face'.

Emma is married to Matt Willis, and the couple share three children - Isabelle, 12, Ace, nine, and Trixie, five.

She is best known for her presenting work on The Circle and The Voice.

Fame: Emma is most known for her work on The Circle and The Voice
An American comedian has claimed Australians have 'lost their f**king minds' amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

On Thursday, Tim Dillon, 36, took aim at the country's harsh lockdown regulations on Twitter, after sharing a clip from Nine News which highlighted those who had flouted restrictions in New South Wales.

Re-posting the video to his 433k followers, the New York based comic wrote: 'Australia has completely lost their f**king minds. Theres like 12 cases of Covid, one of them is a koala bear, and the country has gone full 1984.'

Speaking out: US comic Tim Dillon, 36, took aim at Australia's harsh lockdown regulations in force across the states, as he shared a clip from Nine News which highlighted those who had flouted restrictions in New South Wales

The clip, which has now gone viral with over 2.5million views, first discussed a Covid-positive man who is currently eluding police after defying orders to isolate.

It then showed eight boys being placed in handcuffs and handed a $1000 fine for a secret party in Bondi, while a third clip showed a live report of a construction worker being sent home because he failed to have the right paperwork to be on-site.

NSW Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said in the clip: '681 penalty infringement notices have been issued in the last 24 hours. More than 400 of those notices were again for those being outside of their home without a reasonable excuse.'

Opinion: Re-posting the footage to his 433,000 followers, the New York based comic wrote: 'Australia has completely lost their f**king minds. Theres like 12 cases of Covid, one of them is a koala bear, and the country has gone full 1984'

On Tuesday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian revealed the state had recorded 753 new cases, as lockdown continues to protect residents from the contagious Delta strain of the virus.

In total, Australia has seen just under 45,000 Covid cases across the country - while the US have endured more than 38million.

It's not the first time Tim has publicly lashed out at Australia.

Earlier this month, he joked Australians 'like lockdowns' because they're 'perpetually lazy, descendants of criminals' who don't want to work.

'Australia has like 12 cases and they're literally chaining people,' he said. 'But Australians like that, they like the government, they trust the government. The government has been good to Australia.

'People asking why Australians aren't angry, they're perpetually lazy, descendants of criminals.'

Second wind: Earlier this month, Tim Dillon joked Australians 'like lockdowns' because they're 'perpetually lazy, descendants of criminals' who don't want to work

Tim, who says he visited Australia and has a lot of Aussie friends, laughed that the lockdown isn't really preventing the normal way of life.

'Australians are simple people, all they want to do is get drunk and grill,' he said, referring to barbecuing. All they want to do is get hammered in their backyards and put meat on a grill.'

He said Australians only 'recently' learned to use knives and forks and that ongoing lockdowns were met with universal support.

'This is the best case scenario for them, they don't have to work, they're descendants of criminals.'
Daisy Lowe put on an affectionate display with her estate agent beau Jordan Saul, as they attended the Smoked & Uncut festival in Kent on Sunday.

In photos shared to Instagram on Monday, the model, 32, showed off her cleavage and leggy figure in a floral thigh-split dress while posing next to a 'swines' bottle.

The brunette also packed on the PDA with Jordan as they dined with pals at an outdoor bar, nestling in close and nuzzling into his neck.

'Living that happy pig life!' Daisy Lowe showed off her cleavage and leggy figure in a thigh-split dress, as she cosied up to beau Jordan Saul while at the Smoked & Uncut festival in Kent on Sunday (pictured)

Daisy teamed her eye-catching ensemble with a black studded biker jacket and combat-style boots.

Her tresses were styled out, and she looked to have worn minimal makeup, allowing her natural beauty to shine through.

Jordan cut a cool figure in an all-black ensemble, and appeared relaxed and at ease, pulling a number of animated poses as they stood next to the 'swines' bottle.

Enjoying herself: In photos shared to Instagram on Monday, the model, 23, looked sensational as she posed with Jordan next to a 'swines' bottle. She teamed her eye-catching look with a black studded jacket and combat-style boots

Affectionate: The brunette also packed on the PDA with Jordan as they dined with pals at an outdoor bar, nestling in close and nuzzling into his neck

Sharing a slew of snaps to her Instagram page, Daisy wrote online: 'By God, you gotta have a swine to show you where the truffles are.... Thank you @the_pig_hotels @smokedanduncut for such a brilliantly British & delicious festival.'

Daisy also shared one of the photos of herself and Jordan posing next to the 'swine' bottle on her Stories, and joked: 'Living that happy pig life.'

Last week, Daisy posted a slew of sun-soaked snaps on Instagram from her family holiday, including an image where she planted a sweet kiss on Jordan's cheek.

Gorgeous: Daisy styled her tresses out and looked to have worn minimal makeup, allowing her natural beauty to shine through

Having a laugh: Daisy also shared one of the photos of herself and Jordan posing next to the 'swine' bottle on her Stories, and joked: 'Living that happy pig life'

She looked as happy as ever in the snap with her beau, as they posed on the Greek island of Corfu.

The raven-haired beauty was pictured with other members of her family, including a snap with a younger male relative, Etienne Maclaine, as she posed for a windswept snap on a boat.

In another, she looked gorgeous as she donned a black and yellow granny square crochet dress with her arm around her younger half sister, Betty Goffey.

Travels: Last week, Daisy posted a slew of sun-soaked snaps on Instagram from her family holiday, including an image where she planted a sweet kiss on Jordan's cheek. She looked as happy as ever in the snap with her beau, as they posed on the Greek island of Corfu

Betty, 16, is from Daisy's mother, Pearl Lowe's marriage to Supergrass drummer Danny Goffey.

The family were in good spirits as they posed for a photo while enjoying some time at a restaurant.

Daisy's last image in the 'photo dump' was a snap of the harbour where the family were staying.

Glowing: The raven-haired beauty was pictured with other members of her family, including a snap with a younger male relative, Etienne Maclaine

The family seemed to have given a warm welcome to Daisy's beau Jordan, who works as a new home consultant for an estate agent.

They were spotted for the first time together in June 2020 - despite being under government-ordered lockdown for 10 weeks.

Daisy took to Instagram in June to mark their first anniversary and reveal to her followers how she met her beau with a sweet post where she called Jordan her 'hero'.

Sisters: In another, she looked gorgeous as she donned a black and yellow granny square crochet dress with her arm around her younger half sister, Betty Goffey

She captioned the upload: 'A year ago today I went to meet @misstilda for a walk on the Heath. But I was running a little late- Mercury was in retrograde [crying laughing emoji].

'When I arrived, Monty ran straight towards a very handsome Belgium shepherd, attached to this handsome dog was a rather handsome man.

'I dawdled around having some dog chat we ended up walking together for a couple of hours, what a dog walk!'

Stunning: The last image in the 'photo dump' was a snap of the harbour where the family were staying. The location looked idyllic with clear still water at sunset with boats on the jetty

She continued: 'Here we are a year later, through countless lockdowns, adventures, disasters and triumphs. You @jordanjaysaul have been my hero.

'Through and through. Thanks for feeling like home & always making me giggle even when I really dont want to! Its my absolute favourite making you laugh so much your legs give way.

'I am very happy I was 5 mins late to meet Tilds that day & I am so very grateful you are mine. Happy anniversary my pain in the ass. I love you .' [sic]
Emily Atack and her former fling Seann Walsh were seen enjoying a friendly catch up at a Nando's in Clapham, London, on Monday afternoon.

The TV star, 31, and the comedian, 35, are said to have enjoyed a brief romance where they went on a string of dates during the summer of 2016, while he was still in a relationship with his ex Rebecca Humphries - unbeknown to Emily.

However since then the duo appear to have remained firm friends, as they were spotted out on giggly lunch date together this week.

Catching up: Emily Atack and her former fling Seann Walsh were seen enjoying a friendly catch up at a Nando's in Clapham, London, on Monday afternoon

Emily and Seann could be seen chatting and laughing together before heading into a local Nando's, where they tucked into a spot of lunch.

It appeared to be a working lunch for the duo, as MailOnline understands that Seann is working as one of the writers on Emily's show - The Emily Atack show.

An insider said: 'Seann is part of the writing team helping with some of the stand up elements on the latest series of the Emily Atack show which is currently in production.'

Once inside the chicken restaurant, Emily appeared to be having a fantastic time as she threw her head back and roared with laughter while out with the funnyman.

The Celebrity Juice panellist looked typically stylish for their outing in a beige overcoat, which she styled with a pair of blue jeans and a white blouse.

Emily threw her blonde locks into a chic up do and accentuated her pretty features with a natural pallet of make-up.

Former flame: The TV star, 31, and the comedian, 35, are said to have enjoyed a brief romance where they went on a string of dates during the summer of 2016

Friends: However since then the duo appear to have remained firm friends, as they were spotted out on giggly lunch date together this week

Lunch time! Emily and Seann could be seen chatting and laughing together before heading into a local Nando's, where they tucked into a spot of lunch

Glam: The Celebrity Juice panellist looked typically stylish for their outing in a beige overcoat, which she styled with a pair of blue jeans and a white blouse

Meanwhile, Seann also opted for casual attire as he sported a plaid shirt and black jeans with a pair of trainers.

It was claimed in October 2018 that Seann and Emily enjoyed a 'string of dates' after clicking at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016.

British comedian Seann - who came under fire for kissing his Strictly co-star Katya Jones - was dating ex-girlfriend Rebecca Humphries at the time.

Emily, who is now in a relationship with boyfriend Jude Taylor, was said to be keen to put the 'whole dalliance behind her' after an intimate snap of the two of them in bed together surfaced online.

So chic: Emily threw her blonde locks into a chic up do and accentuated her pretty features with a natural pallet of make-up

Lol! Once inside the chicken resturant, Emily appeared to be having a fantastic time as she threw her head back and roared with laughter while out with the funnyman

Low-key: Meanwhile, Seann also opted for casual attire as he sported a plaid shirt and black jeans with a pair of trainers

An insider told the Sun at the time: 'Emily is mortified that this picture has appeared. She had wanted to put the whole dalliance behind her and is keen to forget about it.'

The source went on to explain the I'm A Celebrity star now 'regrets ever using her camera in the bedroom' after the 'personal image' was leaked.

'At the time, she and Seann were totally wrapped up in each other. But she's over it now,' the insider added.

Representatives for Emily and Seann were contacted for comment at the time.

The pair became 'totally wrapped up in each other' and enjoyed 'secret liaisons at pubs and hotels' at the time of their rumoured fling, sources said last year.

Past daliance: It was claimed in October 2018 that Seann and Emily enjoyed a 'string of dates' after clicking at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016

Claims: British comedian Seann - who came under fire for kissing his Strictly co-star Katya Jones - was dating ex-girlfriend Rebecca Humphries at the time

Emily reportedly told friends she was 'in love with Seann', who she first met on E4 show Virtually Famous in 2014 before reconnecting in Edinburgh where their 'friendship took off'.

'That is where they properly clicked,' a source told the Sun. 'She liked the fact that he was a little bit older and more experienced than her, so seemed like a man of the world.'

Sources added that Seann was 'extremely evasive' when asked about his relationships and 'Emily was under the impression he was single'.

Moving on: Emily, who is now in a relationship with boyfriend Jude Taylor, was said to be keen to put the 'whole dalliance behind her'

An insider told the Sun at the time: 'Emily is mortified that this picture has appeared. She had wanted to put the whole dalliance behind her and is keen to forget about it'

The pair were also linked following Seann's kiss with Katya, when pictures emerged of the star putting on a cosy display with actress Emily in a pub in London.

Seann and Emily were pictured flirting and holding hands while enjoying a drink in December 2016 - four months after their Edinburgh trip.

A source told MailOnline: 'I was in a pub in central London and saw him flirting with Emily. I knew he had a girlfriend so thought it was a bit out of order as they were getting very close.'
He was crowned the winner of Love Island 2021 alongside girlfriend Millie Court.

And Love Island star Liam Reardon's family celebrated his victory in stellar fashion as they threw a wild party in his hometown of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales on Monday.

In a slew of videos shared to the hunk's Instagram Stories, Liam's loved ones could be seen dancing around the pub with a cardboard cutout of him after he was announced as the series winner.

Celebration: Love Island winner Liam Reardon's family celebrated his victory in stellar fashion as they threw a wild party in his hometown of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales on Monday.

The videos showed Liam's loved ones singing and dancing around the pub together to the Tom Jones hit It's Not Unusual.

The delighted group passed around the cutout of the hunk as they celebrated his victory before spraying a bottle of champagne around the room.

Liam and Millie were crowned the winners of this year's Love Island after he surprised the Essex beauty by asking her to be his girlfriend.

Amazing: The hunk was crowned series champion alongside Millie Court, who chose to split their 25,000 prize money

Hilarious: In videos shared to Liam's Instagram Stories, his friends and loved ones could be seen dancing around the pub after learning he was the series champion

Having fun? A cardboard cutout of Liam was passed around by his pals as they boogied to Tom Jones' It's Not Unusual

The romantic moment was almost overshadowed by a very awkward wardrobe malfunction as a braless Millie almost exposed more than she intended as Liam swooped in for a hug.

During the final moments of the show, Laura interviewed the pair and runners-up Chloe Burrows and Toby Aromolaran about their experience in the villa and their relationship journeys.

As Laura probed: 'Is a girlfriend on the cards? Are you going to do a Chloe and Toby and get married, I don't know?'

Loving it! Liam's social media with flooded with videos and messages celebrating his win, as he prepares to return home to the UK after appearing on the show

Party time! The fun videos showed the group dancing around the pub in celebration after tuning into the final

Good night? They were seen singing along to the same Tom Jones hit that Liam performed during his time in the villa

Millie responded: 'Yeah. we'll definitely will be one day, won't we?' as she turned to her beau.

To which he then said: 'Well it's been on my mind for a while', with Laura adding: 'Oh, has it?'

Then looking at Millie, he asked: 'So, will you be my girlfriend?' as the audience and their fellow islanders cheered.

Lovely: Love Island's grand final also saw Liam Reardon ask Millie Court to be his girlfriend just minutes before they were crowned the winners

After an ecstatic Millie recovered from the shock, she said 'yes', before Liam swooped in to give a kiss and a hug.

Elsewhere, after being crowned the winners, Millie proved that she was there for love as she later opted to split the 50,000 prize money with her new boyfriend, leaving Liam delighted.

The happy couple saw off stiff competition from runners-up Chloe and Toby, while Faye and Teddy came third while Kaz and Tyler finished in fourth place.

Eight's a crowd: [L-R] Teddy Soares and Faye Winter came in third place. Toby Aromolaran and Chloe Burrows were the runners-up. Kaz Kamwi and Tyler Cruickshank were booted from the villa first, placing fourth. Millie and Liam won the show

Love Island 2021 - the contestants

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Ore Oduba's wife Portia has admitted she's struggling to accept her body changing in pregnancy.

The TV researcher shared a candid Instagram post on Monday as she confessed that although she felt 'guilty' for feeling such way, she couldn't help but feel 'meh' about herself.

She teamed the honest caption with images showing off her burgeoning baby bump as she posed in a yellow crop top.

'I feel so guilty': Ore Oduba's pregnant wife Portia admitted she's struggling to come to terms with her 'out of control' body in a candid Instagram post on Monday

Portia penned: 'PREGNANCY GUILT I was going to post these pictures with a simple emoji or a line about nearing the end and feeling good etc etc..

'but in true honesty the past few weeks Ive been feeling really MEH.. within myself at pictures of myself I see and about my out of my control changing body..

'this is in no means a post looking for likes or comments saying you look great.. its more about being honest and just saying how Im feeling

'I feel so guilty writing this as I know there will be many women out there who will be thinking how lucky I am, and cant understand why I feel this way.. and I do know that, I promise I do! [sic]'.

Cute couple: Ore and Portia announced they were expecting their second child back in May, marking the 10th anniversary of their first date

Portia continued: 'Its so hard to write into such a small space what you go through mentally through pregnancy and it feels its only socially acceptable on social media to show the positives all the time..

'but I just wanted to share how Ive been feeling incase you are struggling a little too 

'#mypregnancyjourney #mybody #33weeks [sic]'.

Speaking out: The TV researcher shared a candid post as she confessed that although she felt 'guilty' for feeling such way, she couldn't help but feel 'meh' about herself

The following day, Ore, 35, also took to Instagram to reveal how proud he was of his wife as he shared snaps of Portia beaming at their son Roman, three, as he cradled her bump.

He wrote: 'No filter, just my growing family @portiajett #feelinglucky #notlongnow'.

Ore and Portia announced they were expecting their second child in an interview with Hello! magazine back in May, marking the 10th anniversary of their first date.

He said: 'We're thrilled. I never thought I was going to find the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with so when I think that 10 years on from our first date, we've got one amazing little boy and another baby on the way, I get quite emotional. This is the life I've always dreamt of.'

Revealing that the child's due date falls in October, Ore added: 'The last year has been the biggest test of our entire relationship.

'I thought I'd be terrified (at having a second child), but after this year I say bring it on.'

Sweet: The following day, Ore, 35, also took to Instagram to reveal how proud he was of his wife as he shared snaps of Portia beaming at their son Roman, three, as he cradled her bump

This comes as Ore recently shared how parenting in lockdown had tested his marriage to wife Portia.

The couple who have been together for nearly ten years welcomed their son Roman, in 2018.

And in an interview on Good Morning Britain recently, Ore spoke about how the past 12 months have been particularly 'challenging' and that he and Portia have to 'remember we love each other'.

Host Kate Garraway said to the presenter, who appeared on GMB to talk about starring in the Rocky Horror Show: 'It's not easy when you go from 2 to 3 and become a family.'

Ore replied: 'Yeah, he came along and knocked all our plans up, that's what kids do.

'My wife and I will be ten years together next month and weve never done anything more challenging than the last 12 months. There were tears, tantrums.

'Roman has enhanced our world more than we could have dreamt but there are times we have to remember that we love each other and whats why hes here. He's been our guardian angel in lockdown but he's also been the cause of a few little tiffs.

'It's just finding that time for each other. Every household is different. Communication is the key. We don't go to bed in an argument.'
She bagged a share of the 50,000 prize fund with her boyfriend Liam Reardon after being crowned queen of the Love Island villa during Monday night's finale.

Yet Millie Court is predicted to rake in far more in the coming months, as sources reveal she could 'easily' make 1million, if she plays her cards right with brand deals and endorsements with the right companies.

Fashion buyer's administrator Millie, 24, is set to make thousands from Instagram deal and clothing and beauty brands and endorsements, after her popularity soared while appearing on the ITV2 dating show.

Easy money! Millie Court is predicted to rake in far more in the coming months, as sources reveal she could 'easily' make 1million

However despite coming out top, PR expert Mark Borkowski has admitted he thinks Millie's earning potential could be eclipsed by Liberty, 22.

A source said: 'Millie is going to be cashing in after the final and will easily make 1 million in a year if she is clever about her next move.'

The source added to The Sun newspaper: 'She'll make thousands from Instagram deals and there are clothing and beauty brands clamouring to get her on board for big-money endorsements.'

A marketing expert has predicted that Millie will partner with ASOS following her win, after wearing 13 items of their clothing across the series.

As an ex-employee of ASOS, Millie's odds of representing them is even higher.

Shining brighter? However despite coming out top, PR expert Mark Borkowski has admitted he thinks Millie's earning potential could be eclipsed by Liberty, 22

Tyler Woodward, Brand Specialist and CEO of Eden's Gate, said: 'Millie worked as an Established Buyers Administrator at ASOS for three years prior to entering the villa.

'She is also the islander to be seen wearing the brand the most, sporting items from ASOS 13 times during her stint in Mallorca.

'An ASOS and Millie collab is a given in my opinion!'

Winners! bagged a share of the 50,000 prize fund with her boyfriend Liam Reardon after being crowned queen of the Love Island villa during Monday night's finale

Liberty, who was previously coupled up with Jake Cornish, 24, quit the show after ending her romance in favour of 'self-love', when she felt the spark with her villa boyfriend was no longer there just three days before the final.

Liberty's bold move suggested that she was on the hunt for love over money, but Mark admitted he doesn't think the decision will affect her future earnings - if anything it will benefit them.

It has been reported that the Birmingham beauty has already been offered a book deal as well as being approached by a selection of fashion and beauty brands.

Mark told the Mirror: 'Liberty's timing and tactics have chimed with a post-Covid world. She will be a multi-millionaire.'

Bold: Liberty, who was previously coupled up with Jake Cornish, 24, quit the show after ending her romance in favour of 'self-love', when she felt the spark with her villa boyfriend was no longer there just three days before the final

Liberty received a Tweet of support from the In The Style CEO, indicating a brand deal is on the cards.

Tyler said: 'Although none of the islanders, including Liberty, were seen wearing In The Style more than once or twice this season, the message of support Liberty received on Twitter from their CEO indicated there is a surefire brand deal on offer now she's left the villa.'

Analsys at SlotsUp.com also predicted that Liberty will be able to command the highest price for sponsored Instagram posts.

They estimated she will be able to ask for 5,500. They also stated that Millie is likely to make around 4,9000 per post.

As well as securing big money deals, the Islanders will also have the chance to live rent-free, as landlord Get Living is offering the finalists a chance to keep their passions ignited in free accommodation for the next two-months.

A source said: 'Millie is going to be cashing in after the final and will easily make 1 million in a year if she is clever about her next move'

For long-distance lovers Liam and Millie, it might be just what they need to keep the love alive as they face a 3.5hour commute from Romford to Merthyr Tydfil, Gavin and Stacey style, if they want to keep things going.

Millie and 21-year-old Liam's journey to the final has been a rocky road, but ultimately love championed as they found their way back together following his wandering eye to Lillie Haynes in Casa Amor.

The couple were in the final two with Chloe Burrows and Toby Aromolaran, who finished runners up, as well as third place pair Faye Winter and Teddy Soares, and Kaz Kamwi and Tyler Cruickshank, who finished fourth.

Love Island serves as only a stepping stone to successful careers in online influencing, clothing lines, club appearances and TV, meaning finalists can rake in megabucks once the show is over - amounts that make 50k look like a drop in the ocean.

Money maker! For most, Love Island serves as only a stepping stone to successful careers in online influencing, clothing lines, club appearances and TV

While those who make fleeting appearances in the reality show tend to return to their day jobs, some former stars have managed to earn millions of pounds thanks to their overnight fame.

However, this year Love Island cast members are reportedly banned from making TV appearances for eight months after appearing on the show, according to their leaked contracts.

According to The Sun, this year's stars could face tough restrictions when it comes to capitalising on their newfound fame after leaving the villa, with bosses warning they must seek approval before signing any brand deals.

Before jetting to Majorca, all of this year's Islanders had to sign a lengthy contract which detailed limitations they may face once they leave the villa.

Big bucks! Finalists can rake in megabucks once the show is over - amounts that make 50k look like a drop in the ocean (Pictured Faye Winter , 26, and Teddy Soares , 26)

Will it impact their earnings? However, this year Love Island cast members are reportedly banned from making TV appearances for eight months after appearing on the show

It allegedly states that they 'must not apply, audition for, or appear on any other programme until February 22'.

ITV bosses have also been given a veto over any commercial deals the cast may wish to sign for a month after the series ends, regardless of how long they were on the show.

The contract also reportedly states this year's stars 'cannot contribute or appear on any podcast without approval,' meaning ITV bosses have full control over any future deals Love Island stars may wish to sign.

A source told the publication: 'Islanders will have been able to read what they are signing up for but it's one of the strictest contracts I've ever seen - they have no experience of the industry so I doubt they would have understood the implications.

'Everyone knows as soon as you leave any reality show you have to strike while the iron is hot but ITV's demands make that really hard.'

Oh no! 'Everyone knows as soon as you leave any reality show you have to strike while the iron is hot but ITV's demands make that really hard' said an insider (Pictured Kaz Kamwi, 26)

Eyes on the REAL prize: Clothing collaborations with fast fashion brands are easily the most coveted deal for Love Island stars to land (Kaz pictured with Tyler Cruickshank , 26)

Indeed, clothing collaborations with fast fashion brands such as InTheStyle, MotelRocks, PrettyLittleThing, MissPap, Quiz, BooHoo, boohooMAN and Topshop are easily the most coveted deal for Love Island stars to land once they leave the villa.

Molly-Mae landed a reported 500,000 deal with PrettyLittleThing - and she didn't even win the reality show.

Ambassador deals can also bring in the big bucks, with the likes of Isle of Parasite and Beau Avenue stumping up to have ongoing endorsement from the hottest Love Islanders.

Megan Barton Hanson and Maura Higgins both became Ann Summers ambassadors after leaving the villa.

In fact, glamour model Megan's proud stance on her sexuality has landed her a lingerie edit, Megan Loves, with Ann Summers, as well as her own collection of sex toy picks with the multinational retailer company - said to be worth six figures.

Million follower girl: Currently, Liberty Poole can ask for the most per Instagram post as the first girl on the current series to reach over 1 million followers, despite leaving before the final

Night out with Chloby? Personal appearances at nightclubs and at venue openings can land the new reality thousands for just an hour's work (Chloe pictured with Toby Aromolaran, 22)

Brand deals with the likes of Mark Hill, JustEat, McDonalds and other big brands are also top of the wish list for many Love Islanders.

Personal appearances at nightclubs and at the opening of venues can land the new reality thousands for just an hour's work.

Instagram posts from a wide range of lifestyle companies offer regular income for the newbie social media influencers.

And the more followers a Love Islander has, the higher fee they can command to promote products on their grid.

For example, it's thought that Molly-Mae can earn up to 10,000 per social media post with her 4.2million followers.

Currently, Liberty Poole can ask for the most money as the first girl on the current series to reach over 1 million followers, despite leaving the show before the final.

Love Island's Richest Contestants 1. Alex and Olivia Bowen - 4.5m 2. Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury, Amber Gill and Megan Barton Hanson - 2m 3. Dani Dyer - 1.7m 4. Amber Davies - 1.6m 5. Kem Cetinay - 1.5m 6. Chris Hughes - 1.4m 7. Gabby Allen and Kady McDermott - 1.3m Advertisement

Magazine deals for big milestone moments can also bring in a pretty penny; whether it's a baby or engagement announcement, or exclusive coverage of a wedding.

And, now that podcasts are the hot new thing, Love Islanders have quickly jumped on the bandwagon.

Amber Gill launched an agony aunt-style podcast, Reality Check, with co-stars Anna Vakili and Yewande Biala, while Megan Barton Hanson has her own sex-positive podcast, You Come First, and Kem Cetinay co-hosts the Love Island morning after podcast.

Former winner Dani Dyer even went on to write her own book, What Would Dani Do? My Guide to Living Your Best Life, while Chris Hughes released his autobiography You Bantering Me? and Gabby Allen penned her own cookbook.

And of course, TV appearances on the likes of Loose Women, GMB and Lorraine offer a tidy sum, with some contestants even securing short-term hosting gigs as showbiz correspondents on daytime TV.

Some Love Islanders are given their own spin-off shows, such as Chris Hughes and Olivia Attwood with Chris & Olivia: Crackin' On, while others try again at finding love on Celebs Go Dating.

Spin-off show? Some Love Islanders are given their own spin-off shows (Millie pictured with Liam Reardon, 22)

Music career for Millie? Of course, those Love Islanders with talent have been quick to put them to good use and earn as much as possible in the process

Some former islanders have gone on to appear on Dancing On Ice and Celebrity Hunted, with their agents demanding high fees for their clients to be involved.

A few former contestants joined the cast of TOWIE including Kady McDermott, Olivia Attwood and married couple Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde, which helped to keep their profiles in the public eye and the money rolling in.

Of course, those Love Islanders with talent have been quick to put them to good use and earn as much as possible in the process.

Four islanders: Zara McDermott, Eyal Booker, Wes Nelson and Samira Mighty, teamed up to unsuccessfully compete on Celebrity X Factor as No Love Lost, while Amber Davies' stint on the reality show paved her way to a fortune as she took to the West End stage.

The media personality, who worked as an entertainer for London's circus themed club night Cirque Le Soir, landed a role in Dolly Parton's musical 9 To 5 and filmed her own ITVBe show off the back of it.

What's next for the Love Island 2021 finalists? The most business savvy stars create their own independent ventures, starting up clothing labels, fake tan brands and more

Amber's ex Kem launched a brief rap career alongside his close pal Chris Hughes by releasing their song Little Bit Leave It, which topped the charts on iTunes and Spotify, and the duo also released a fitness DVD.

Lifelong horse fan Chris now regularly presents the racing coverage with ITV.

Personal trainer Gabby Allen profited off her love for fitness by launching her own app, and reportedly signed another 100,000 deal with another app too.

She was embroiled in a public spat with fellow Love Islander Kady McDermott who also released a fitness programme, Body Goals By Kady.

The most business-savvy stars create their own independent ventures such as these, with others starting up clothing labels, fake tan brands and more.

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He played Robbie Jackson in the BBC soap EastEnders.

And Dean Gaffney appears to be enjoying his new role as a grandfather as he shared a sweet photo of his daughter holding his grandchild.

The actor, 43, took to his Instagram on Monday to post a snap of Chloe, 24, holding Mimi, now six-weeks-old.

New role: Dean Gaffney appears to be enjoying his new role as a grandfather as he took to Instagram on Monday to share a sweet photo of his daughter holding his grandchild

The blonde beauty beamed as she was pictured holding her little one, sweetly wrapped up in a blanket.

The new mother smiled adoringly as she posed with her baby, wearing a black long sleeved T-shirt and sporting a natural palette of makeup - including a slick of pink lipstick and a sweep of mascara.

Dean previously revealed on the platform that his daughter had welcomed her little one in July.

'Welcome to this crazy wrorld': Dean previously revealed on the platform that his daughter had welcomed her little one in July

'Proud': I cant believe my baby is now a mother, proud is an understatement', he wrote

The soap opera star penned: Welcome to this crazy world, my beautiful granddaughter Mimi.'

'I am very happy to announce I am a GRANDAD  I cant believe my baby is now a mother, proud is an understatement.'

He gushed: 'Chloe and Declan youre going to be amazing parents. X Baby Mimi, born: 07.07.2021.. 7 pound 14oz.'

Dean then joked: 'Just to thank everyone in advance, I know I dont look old enough to be a father let alone a grandfather!'

Dean Gaffney vowed to be a handsome grandpa to the new member of the family,before joking he'll be looking to Danny Dyer for tips.

The EastEnders star joked to The Sun last month: 'I'll be one of the best-looking grandpas in town.'

The silver fox added: 'The only person I know who's in the same boat as me is Danny Dyer, who has a grandchild at 43. I'll be calling him for tips.

'I'll be calling him for tips': Dean has become a grandad at the same age as his EastEnders co-star Danny Dyer and joked he wants to form a 'granddaddy day care' group with him

Danny is grandfather to his daughter Dani's baby boy, Santiago, who she welcomed in January.

'We could do grandaddy day care together,' Dean cheekily added of his former EastEnders co-star.

The actor admitted that while he's excited to become a grandad aged 43, he won't be helping with changing baby Mimi's nappies.

He said he'd struggle to stomach the nasty chore because he has the 'worst gag reflex,' and would need a 'peg on his nose.

Dean took part in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2006 and struggled with the gruelling eating challenges.
Executives from Jeopardy! are doing all they can to accommodate Mayim Bialik's schedule as they would like her as permanent host after Mike Richards' unceremonious exit.

Sony production sources told TMZ on Tuesday morning that executives from the iconic game show 'are doing everything possible' to work around the 45-year-old actress and neuroscientist's schedule with the ultimate goal of her taking over full time.

Mayim is certainly in-demand as she has been filming her Fox sitcom Call Me Kat and as shooting schedules are set, it is quite the task squeezing in filming episodes of the classic competition show.

In her court: Executives from Jeopardy! are doing all they can to accommodate Mayim Bialik's schedule as they would like her as permanent host after Mike Richards' unceremonious exit according to a Tuesday report from TMZ

In order to make it work, Sony bosses have even offered the possibility of shooting on weekends and normal hiatus weeks to bank in as many episodes as they can with Mayim.

It was reported a day prior that Sony Pictures Television, which produces the long-running quiz show, announced that Bialik is scheduled to tape three weeks of episodes when production resumes this week for a total 15 episodes.

Additional guest hosts will be announced at a later date, the studio also shared.

One interesting thing is that TMZ reports that their insiders claim there is 'mutual interest' from the actress to become permanent host as Fox is also being cooperative with her interim hosting gig so there is an actual path for her to become the full-time presenter.

Uh oh: Last week Mike Richards, 46, quitted the Jeopardy! hosting gig amid a scandal over his past sexist comments, he is seen in June

Last week Mike Richards, 46, quitted the Jeopardy! hosting gig amid a scandal over his past sexist comments.

It was previously announced that Bialik would host primetime Jeopardy! specials when Richards was chosen as the full-time host.

However, Richards released a statement on August 20 that he would step down from hosting the show, nine days after he was chosen. He will remain with the show as an executive producer.

Richards' unceremonious exit from the hosting gig came after episodes of a podcast he hosted while an executive producer on The Price Is Right resurfaced.

Busy: Mayim is certainly in-demand as she has been filming her Fox sitcom Call Me Kat and as shooting schedules are set, it is quite the task squeezing in filming episodes of the classic competition show

What is interesting?TMZ's insiders claim there is 'mutual interest' from the actress to become permanent host as Fox is also being cooperative with her interim hosting gig so there is an actual path for her to become the full-time presenter

In the podcast, Richards repeatedly made disparaging comments about women.

During the segment, Triffon was discussing working as a model at the annual CES tech show event in Las Vegas, when Richards dubbed her a 'booth ho,' 'booth slut' and 'boothstitute.'

In another episode, the host commented that one-piece swimsuits made women look 'really frumpy and overweight,' while in January 2014, he responded to a remark about big noses saying, 'Ixnay on the ose-nay. She's not an ew-Jay.'

Out: Richards released a statement on August 20 that he would step down from hosting the show, nine days after he was chosen. He will remain with the show as an executive producer. Seen in 2014

In a segment when Triffon was outlining issues with her apartment, Richards responded, 'Does Beth live, like, in Haiti? Doesn't it sound like that? Like, the urine smell, the woman in the muumuu, the stray cats.'

In a statement to The Ringer, Richards apologized for the inappropriate comments saying, 'It is humbling to confront a terribly embarrassing moment of misjudgment, thoughtlessness, and insensitivity from nearly a decade ago.'

'Looking back now, there is no excuse, of course, for the comments I made on this podcast and I am deeply sorry,' Richards added.

Richards' apology has fallen largely flat, prompting the Anti-Defamation League on Thursday to call for a formal investigation into his 'pattern' of offensive comments.

'New Jeopardy! host Mike Richards' disparaging remarks about Jews, women & Asians are no laughing matter,' the pro-Jewish organization tweeted. 'Stereotyping is an entry point to hate and his apology lacks acknowledgment of its harm.'

This came on the heels of revelations that Richards was named in a lawsuit by former Price Is Right models who accused him of making insensitive statements and taking other questionable actions around models on the show who became pregnant.

At the time of his exit, Richards had already taped multiple episodes, which will air as scheduled to maintain continuity with the contestants who won on those episodes.

The one everyone loved: Alex Trebek poses on the set of his game show Jeopardy in 2012

Richards and Bialik were two of the guests hosts for Jeopardy! as the show sought a permanent for replacement long-time host Alex Trebek after his death due to pancreatic cancer in November 2020.

Others included LeVar Burton, Savannah Guthrie, Aaron Rodgers, and Ken Jennings.

Richards' selection as host was met with backlash from fans of the show, who believed that he had used his position as executive producer to influence the process in his favor.
Dog The Bounty Hunter's daughter Bonnie Chapman claims her support of Black Lives Matter was part of what lead to her falling out with her father.

Bonnie, biological daughter of Dog and the late Beth Chapman, explained why she thinks she wasn't invited to her dad's upcoming wedding, telling TMZ her activism along with her connection to dad Duane Chapman's former network UnleashedTV sparked the rift.

According to Dog's daughter, UTV fired the reality star for using racial and homophobic epithets. She also claims he called BLM protesters 'thugs.'

Disagree: Dog The Bounty Hunter's daughter Bonnie Chapman claims her support of Black Lives Matter was part of what lead to her falling out with her father

Bonnie still works with UTV on their own show The System, which focuses on dismantling systemic racism.



And that connection seemed to make things tense between the family this weekend when Chapman's fiancee Francie Frane texted Bonnie to accuse her and step-sister Cecily of betraying their father by working with the network.

'Bonnie, First I'd like to say that playing dumb does not suit you AT ALL, You are WAY WAY SMARTER than that,' Frane wrote in a text given to TMZ.

'And Cecily's statement is absolutely INCORRECT !!!! We Love How the two of You in different ways are like your mom.

'So let's not beat around the bush, You & Cecily both known you haven't been invited to the wedding because your living under the same roof with the people who stabbed in the back, robbed, lied, manipulated, smeared his name and tried to ruin his career.

Rift: Bonnie, biological daughter of Dog and the late Beth Chapman, thinks she wasn't invited to her dad's upcoming wedding to Francie Frane because of her activism and her connection to dad Duane Chapman's former network UnleashedTV

Better times: The Chapmans are seen together in 2019

'You and Cecily have chosen to align yourselves with this and my job is to AT ALL COSTS protect you dad !!! I Love You Bonnie, And I truly hope with all my heart that You and Cecily find what your searching for and find happiness, true happiness in your life.'

Dog - who is a father of 13 - denied his daughters claims he was fired over using racist/homophobic language, calling the accusations a 'false' attempt to mess with the wedding.

He also told TMZ his daughters are being 'groomed' by his shady former associates, pleading: 'Please pray for Bonnie and Cecily to be released from whatever hold these people have on them.'

'Despite the sadness, we feel at this rift in our family, Francie and I are looking forward to celebrating our wedding next week with the rest of our family and close friends.'

The day earlier Bonnie and Cecily told TMZ a slightly different story, saying they think they have not been asked to attend the nuptials and they think it is because they resemble his late wife Beth and the star perhaps does not want to be reminded of her.

Dog and Francie responded that they 'love Cecily and Bonnie very much' but they 'wish to keep any family issues private.'

Late wife: Beth died at a hospital in Hawaii after a long battle with cancer on June 26, 2019. She was 51. Seen in 2017 above

Other reasons: The day earlier Bonnie and Cecily told TMZ a slightly different story, saying they think they have not been asked to attend the nuptials and they think it is because they resemble his late wife Beth and the star perhaps does not want to be reminded of her

Beth died at a hospital in Hawaii after a long battle with cancer on June 26, 2019. She was 51.

She and Dog had been married since 2006 and she co-starred alongside her husband on Dog the Bounty Hunter, Dog and Beth: On the Hunt and Dog's Most Wanted.

Chapman has been married five times and has 13 children.

His first child is Christopher Michael Hecht, whose mother is Debbie White.

He two children with his first ex-wife, La Fonda Sue Darnell: they are sons Duane Lee Chapman, II (born in 1973) and Leland Blane Chapman (born in 1976).

The family: Duane 'Dog' Chapman (C) and family arrive at Nickelodeon's 26th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at USC Galen Center in 2013 in Los Angeles, California

With second ex-wife Ann Tegnell, Dog welcomed three children: Zebadiah Chapman (born in 1980, but is deceased) Wesley Chapman (also born in 1980), and James Robert Chapman (born in 1982).

With third ex-wife, Lyssa Rae Brittain, he had daughter Barbara Katie Chapman (born 1982; she is deceased), son Tucker Dee Chapman (born 1983) and Lyssa Rae Chapman (born 1987).

Dog had two children with Beth: Bonnie (born 1998) and Garry (born 2001).

He adopted Cecily Barmore-Chapman (born 1993) who Beth had with her ex-husband.

The 68-year-old reality television star - who has been married five times previously - will be marrying 52-year-old rancher Francie next week.





He said this summer: 'I'm getting married. We went to the venue, picked it out yesterday, looked at it. Man, it costs a lot to get married.'





They began dating in March 2020 which was 10 months after his wife Beth died.
Mark Wright was spotted living it up at his sister Jessica's fiance William Lee Kemp's stag do at Blue Malin in sun-soaked Ibiza on Sunday afternoon.

The TV star, 34, showed off his toned frame in just a pair of swimshorts as he went shirtless while sipping on a drink and enjoying the rays.

Mark - who was joined by his father Mark Snr - and his pals appeared to be having a laugh on the day out, and even convinced the groom to dress up as a lobster.

Bottoms up! Mark Wright was spotted living it up at his sister Jessica's fiance William Lee Kemp's stag do in sun-soaked Ibiza on Sunday afternoon

William was spotted poolside slipping into the bright red costume which resembled the sea creature - while his aviator shades poked through the eye holes.

While William was happy to have a joke at his own expense, Mark looked typically cool in a pair of white and navy swimshorts.

He also added a gold chain necklace and chunky watch to his look.

Ha! Mark - who was joined by his father Mark Snr - and his pals appeared to be having a laugh, and even convinced the groom to dress up as a lobster

Bride to be! William is set to marry former TOWIE star Jessica in September

Living large: Mark - who was joined by his father Mark Snr - and his pals appeared to be having a laugh, and even convinced the groom to dress up as a lobster

Easy does it: William was spotted poolside slipping into the bright red costume which resembled the sea creature - while his aviator shades poked through the eye holes

Cheers! Mark refreshed himself with a cloudy lemon drink while enjoying the heat

Sip, sip, hooray! The former TOWIE star could be seen chugging the drink

Chilling: Mark Snr looked totally chilled while perched on a sun lounger

All smiles: Mark flashed a beaming smile while conversing with his dad

Bartender: The group appeared to have their own personal bar near their section

Catching up: They were approached by a blonde female in the section

Looking good: Mark showcased the results of his grueling fitness regime

Blue Malin: The servers wore shirts showing off where the group were partying

Thoughtful: Mark looked deep in thought while sat on a sunbed

The lads' holiday comes more than a week after Jessica and her pals headed to the White Isle to celebrate her hen do in glamorous fashion.

Jessica documented snippets from the hen party on her Instagram Story, looking a vision as she enjoyed the festivities with her loved ones.

Jess and William were forced to postpone their June dream wedding in Mallorca to William due to the pandemic.

Who's that? William was completely disguised in the hilarious costume

Party time! The stag comes more than a week after Jessica celebrated her hen do in Ibiza

Acting the fool: He succumbed to the stag tradition of dressing in an embarassing costume

Chatting: The group could be seen holding court beside the pool

Mixing it up! William stood by a nearby bar and made up a fresh drink

Lol: They had a laugh while chatting around the bar

In he goes! William could be seen putting on his costume

Father-in-law! William and Mark had a discussion

Haha! William appeared in great spirits on the day

The reality star recently revealed she will now walk down the aisle with William in September.

In an interview with Hello! Magazine she admitted she and William had considered scrapping plans to exchange nuptials in Mallorca and have a smaller ceremony in England, as pandemic regulations affect travel.

Noting that she's far from alone in her dilemma, Jessica told the publication: 'I really feel for all brides out there. Every day, we have been back and forth trying to decide what to do  I've been driving myself insane with it.'

Joking: The group larked around together beside the pool

What a day! The group of men stood shirtless in swimshorts

In he goes! William cooled off by taking a dip in the sea

Lads, lads, lads! Many of the group sported funky patterned swim shorts

Cool dude: William looked hilarious in the novelty costume

She continued: 'We always wanted to get wed abroad with all our family and friends, but we have explored every option, different dates, different places. A few weeks ago I said to Will: "Shall we have a smaller wedding here in England?"

Of their autumn wedding, she explained: 'It gives more time for things to get back to normal and for all our nearest and dearest to be there. I have definitely relaxed since setting the new date. I can't wait to wear my dress  I just want to do it now.'

William popped the question on the snow capped peaks of Courchevel, France, in February 2020 after 13 months of dating.

Jess previously told Hello! that her sister-in-law Michelle Keegan, the actress wife of her brother Mark, would be one of bridal party, as well as her sister Natalya.

Just keep swimming! Some of the group plunged into the water for a swim

Hanging out: Mark and his dad appeared to be enjoying chilling together

Alright lads? William certainly stood out from the crowd in his ensemble

Chatting: The group were seen lounging about on plush sunbeds

Something in your teeth? Mark pulled a questionable facial expression

Taking it easy: Mark appeared happy taking in the sights

Tanned: The group appeared to have caught the rays judging by their sun-kissed skin

Another! Mark reached for a top up
They've been wed since 2020.

And John Cena proved his was ever the helpful husband while walking wife Shay Shariatzadeh through JFK Airport in New York on Monday.

The WWE wrestler-turned-actor, 44, looked ready for some fun in the Big Apple, donning a blue New York Yankees cap and smart button-up during arrival.

New York City! John Cena and wife Shay Shariatzadeh were spotted at JFK airport on Monday

Doing the heavy lifting, the The Suicide Squad actor took care of both suitcases and a black leather overnight bag.

Shay went with a more casual look, opting for a snug grey tee-shirt and blue jeans while carrying just a purse.

For accessories, the beauty went with white sneakers and a flashy gold watch.

She had a makeup-free glow and wore her raven locks down long and loose.

City pride: The WWE wrestler-turned-actor, 44, donned a blue New York Yankees cap and smart button-up during arrival

Baggage: Doing the heavy lifting, the The Suicide Squad actor took care of both suitcases and a black leather overnight bag

John and Shay were in NYC just days after his bout at WWE SummerSlam in Las Vegas last weekend, where he was defeated by Roman Reigns.

The couple was first romantically linked in March 2019 after meeting when he was filming Playing with Fire in Canada where she resides.

They made their official red carpet debut at that film screening the following October, where he publicly gushed that she was 'someone special' and called her his 'beautiful date.'

Meet cute: The couple was first romantically linked in March 2019 after meeting when he was filming Playing with Fire in Canada where she resides. They're seen in August 2021 above

In October 2020 they officially tied the knot in a small courthouse ceremony in Tampa, Florida.

The once-divorced actor had previously said 'I don't want marriage.'

Prior to meeting Shay he was in a long-term relationship with Nikki Bella.
Jessica Chastain's skin has been left in bad shape following her transformation into Tammy Faye Bakker.

The 44-year-old Zero Dark Thirty actress stars as the late televangelist, who was known for caking her face in make-up, in The Eyes Of Tammy Faye.

And Jessica has revealed wearing the heavy film makeup left her skin stretched out. 'I think for sure I've done some permanent damage to my skin on this,' she told The Los Angeles Times.

Sacrificing for the role: Jessica Chastain's skin has been left with 'permanent damage' following her transformation into Tammy Faye Bakker. Seen in 2019

Damage: Jessica has revealed wearing the heavy film makeup left her skin stretched out

'Listen, I eat very pure and I take very good care of my skin and I stay out of the sun and all that stuff. But it's heavy,' said the redheaded beauty.

'And when you're wearing it all day every day  the weight of it on your body, it stretches your skin out,' added the red carpet fixture.

'I finally took it off and I was like, "I look 50 years old!"' Jessica said with a laugh.

The REAL Tammy: Jessica said, 'By the time I got on set that first day that was 7 and a half hours, I was like, 'I have no energy left.' And she's supposed to show up with so much energy.' Tammy Faye Bakker pictured in 1996

'No, I'm kidding. But it's fine. It's for my art.'

The California native admitted she 'freaked out' and didn't think she would be able to wear the 'heavy' make-up at first, because it was making it challenging for her to act.

She continued: 'The very first test I did was difficult, honestly. I mean, we fixed it. But I was freaked out. I was like, "I don't know how to act like this."'

Challenging: The California native admitted she 'freaked out' and didn't think she would be able to wear the 'heavy' make-up at first, because it was making it challenging for her to act

Tough: The Molly's Game star revealed it took her seven-and-a-half hours to have the make-up applied, and it to got 'so heavy and hot', Jessica worried about her circulation

'People think it's easier, but it's not. You have to reach through the makeup  you can't let the make-up be the performance.'

The Molly's Game star revealed it took her seven-and-a-half hours to have the make-up applied, and it to got 'so heavy and hot', Jessica worried about her circulation.

She said: 'I got to set and I was so panicky. 'I started to have hot flushes because it's so heavy and hot. I was afraid. It was like going on a long-distance flight every day. Because if it takes seven and a half hours to put on, it's going to take at least two hours to get off.

'It was concerning to me.'

Adaptation: The upcoming film is based on the 2000 documentary of the same name, and the cast also includes Andrew Garfield as Jim Bakker

Coming soon: The Eyes of Tammy Faye will be released in theaters on September 17

In June, Chastain told People magazine that getting into character required intense makeup, prosthetics and wigs. Jessica's makeup team for the film included her longtime makeup artists Stephanie Ingram and Linda Dowds as well as Justin Raleigh.

She told People, 'Every moment, I had something on my face.'

'I have a dimple in my chin that she didn't have, so we would seal that up,' Chastain continued. 'Her face was more round than mine, so I would have things on my cheeks. Their expertise just helped me so much with my confidence in playing her.'

'I was worried about my circulation. By the time I got on set that first day that was 7 and a half hours, I was like, 'I have no energy left.' And she's supposed to show up with so much energy.'

The upcoming film is based on the 2000 documentary of the same name, and the cast also includes Andrew Garfield as Jim Bakker. The Eyes of Tammy Faye will be released in theaters on September 17.
Lisa Armstrong rocked sequin face art on Tuesday for social media snaps after a weekend festival with pals, while her ex-husband Ant McPartlin remains on his honeymoon.

Ant, 45, tied the knot with Anne-Marie Corbett earlier this month, a year after his divorce from his ex-partner of 23 years, Lisa, was finalised.

However the professional make-up artist, 44, appeared unfazed by news of his honeymoon and instead swept up in the excitement of her weekend vacation as she declared she had 'such a fun weekend'.

Festive chic: Lisa Armstrong rocked sequin face art on Tuesday for social media snaps after a weekend festival with pals, while her ex-husband Ant McPartlin remains on his honeymoon

Elaborate gems lined Lisa's forehead and temples in numerous snaps, complementing her flattering make-up look.

In one Instagram photo, Lisa was seen wearing a leopard print dress in a pink hue before changing into a denim shirt and white tee for pictures with her friends.

'Such a fun weekend #Festiebesties #memories..,' she wrote online while tagging her pals.

Also on the weekend, her former husband Ant revealed his new heartfelt tattoo tribute to his wife Anne-Marie.

Moving on: Ant, 45, (pictured on Friday) tied the knot with Anne-Marie Corbett earlier this month, a year after his divorce from his ex-partner of 23 years, Lisa, was finalised

The couple are enjoying a sun-drenched honeymoon in Portugal, where he debuted a new chest tattoo of a heart with a circle and the letter 'A' inside, a tribute to his new wife Anne-Marie, 43.

Reported by The Sun, Ant told the 100 guests at their wedding reception earlier this month how Anne-Marie 'saved' his life.

After warming up the audience by joking: 'My name is Ant, and I'm an alcoholic', he went on to talk about how Anne-Marie had 'put him back together again' after his life fell apart.

Ant tied the knot for a second time with Anne-Marie in Hampshire in early August. He was previously married to Lisa who he separated from in 2018.

'Such a fun weekend': However the make-up artist, 44, appeared unfazed by news of his honeymoon and instead swept up in the excitement of her weekend vacation

Held at St Michael's Church in Hampshire, Ant and Anne-Marie's star-studded guest list included Best Man Declan Donnelly, Phillip Schofield, Stephen Mulhern and Alesha Dixon.

Anne-Marie looked stunning in a bespoke 15,000 floor-length dress by designer Suzanne Neville that featured an off-the-shoulder design with lace detailing.

She wore a long veil which flowed down the back of her dress, and pinned her blonde tresses back in a chic up-do while opting for glowing makeup as she carried a beautiful bunch of white and purple roses.

Ant cut a dapper figure in a black suit and bow tie as he headed into the service alongside Best Man Declan Donnelly.

Stand out from the crowd: Elaborate gems lined Lisa's forehead and temples in numerous snaps, complementing her flattering make-up look

Emotional Ant told how he 'fought to hold it together' when his new wife walked down the aisle during their nuptials.

The TV star spoke candidly about the moment, and said: 'When Anne-Marie walked into the church, I had to fight to hold it together as she looked so beautiful,' reported The Sun.

Following rehab, Ant took a year out from TV as he and Lisa parted ways, with their divorce being finalised in April 2020.

According to reports, during his heartfelt monologue, Ant also thanked Anne-Marie's mother for allowing him to marry her daughter, as well as honouring his own mum.

Dec told guests how Ant was the 'best friend a man could have', and also read aloud a prayer.

Glamourpuss: In one Instagram photo, Lisa was seen wearing a leopard print dress in a pink hue before changing into a denim shirt and white tee for pictures with her friends

Girls trip: 'Such a fun weekend #Festiebesties #memories..,' she wrote online while tagging her pals

Ant was married to Lisa Armstrong for 12 years. The pair, who were together for 23 years, confirmed their split in 2018, following Ant's stint in rehab the previous year where he sought treatment for his painkiller addiction.

Last year, Saturday Night Takeaway host Ant was reported to have handed over 31 million to Lisa, including their 5million home in West London, after an 'eight-hour negotiation'.

Lisa, a make-up artist on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing, is understood to have felt that Ant 'got away with a lot' following their split.

She was also believed to have been dismayed and deeply hurt that he moved on so quickly when he started a new relationship with Anne-Marie.

A source close to the couple said at the time: 'Ant has been very generous in terms of the financial settlement but Lisa is totally the opposite of someone who is motivated by money. She doesn't care about that  she earns her own. But she has been so hurt by all of this.'

Newlyweds: Ant tied the knot for a second time with Anne-Marie in Hampshire in early August, he was previously married to Lisa, whom he separated from in 2018
She's set to make her Netflix debut later this month.

And on social media, Addison Rae didn't let a little thing like rain stop her from enjoying herself or showing off her killer curves.

The 20-year-old starlet shared a series of new bikini-clad snaps from a recent rainy day to her Instagram account on Tuesday.

Wet and wild: Addison Rae didn't let a little thing like rain stop her from enjoying herself or showing off her killer curves in a series of new Instagram photos shared on Tuesday

Addison donned a cowboy hat in a series of wet and wild photos that the actress posted to her 38.8 million Instagram followers.

'Uh oh rain time,' she captioned the photos.

Showcasing her curves the beauty posed in the rain on a brick front porch wearing cheeky black string bikini bottoms and a triangle string bikini top worn upside down in the current fashion.

Her perky bottom was on full display in two images taken from behind and she flaunted her flat tummy in a front-facing photo where she kneeled and looked off camera.

Pretty! Showcasing her curves the beauty posed in the rain on a brick front porch wearing cheeky black string bikini bottoms and a triangle string bikini top worn upside down in the current fashion

'Uh oh rain time,' she captioned the photos.

Addison has been busy promoting her upcoming feature film He's All That which debuts on Netflix this Friday.

The teen rom-com is a long-awaited sequel to the Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook 1999 flick She's All That.

It sees Rae in the Prinze Jr. role taking on the task of transforming the class outcast, played by Cobra Kai star Tanner Buchanan.

Her close personal friend Kourtney Kardashian will make a cameo appearance in the gender swap reboot.

Leading lady: Addison has been busy promoting her upcoming feature film He's All That which debuts on Netflix this Friday

Meanwhile, off camera, the TikTok sensation is rumored to be dating Omer Fedi, whom she was spotted out with in Hollywood earlier this week.

Last week, before grabbing dinner together in West Hollywood, Fedi shared a mirror selfie of them together on Instagram.

He made a joking reference to his outlandish bottoms in a text graphic that was added to the shot that read: 'she's wearing the pants in this relationship.'

Rae and Fedi were initially romantically linked this past May when the two were spotted leaving a party in each other's company.
Kylie Jenner posted several images of her mini-me daughter Stormi dancing away to her Instagram account on Tuesday.

The child was in a black vintage Space Jam T-shirt as she wore baggy jeans and Nike sneakers in the hallway of her Hidden Hills, California home.

The Life Of Kylie star also shared video of the three-year-old checking out a large yellow school bus that dad Travis Scott had rented. Stormi is apparently fascinated with school bused.

Rock out: Kylie Jenner posted several images of her mini-me daughter Stormi dancing away to her Instagram account on Tuesday

She has talent: The child, age three, was in a black Space Jam T-shirt as she wore baggy jeans and Nike sneakers in the hallway of her Hidden Hills, California home

A bump? While fans undoubtedly enjoy new images of the child, they are most likely hoping for confirmation that the Keeping Up with The Kardashians child is pregnant with her second child, which both People and TMZ have claimed; seen in June

Stormi had her hair up as she seemed joyful in the six photos shared to Kylie's 260m followers.

Mom said, 'My favorite girl' in the brief caption. Hailey Bieber added, 'Cooler than anyone I know.'

The child was also seen next to the large yellow school bus as Kylie explained her mini-me girl loves them. And then Stormi was seen inside the bus that had maroon seats.

'All Stormi has been talking about is riding a big yellow bus. Daddy surprised her,' wrote Kylie over the photo.

Cool kid: Stormi had her hair up as she seemed joyful in the six photos shared with Kylie's 260m followers

While fans undoubtedly enjoy new images of the child, they are most likely hoping for confirmation that the Keeping Up with The Kardashians child is pregnant with her second child, which PageSix, People and TMZ have all claimed.

Last week PageSix said the beauty was pregnant with her on-again rapper boyfriend Scott.

Kylie has not publicly confirmed the news and her representative declined to comment when contacted by DailyMail.com on Friday.

Baby on board: Kylie is said to be in the 'very early stages' of pregnancy, according to TMZ. Page Six was the first to report the news, citing multiple sources; Kylie seen with Travis and Stormi in June in NYC

Caitlyn Jenner set off the speculation while out on a campaign stop on Thursday amid California's gubernatorial recall election.

The 71-year-old Olympian claimed while visiting The Toy Store in Northern California's Quincy that her nineteenth grandchild was on the way.

Citing multiple sources, the site said that the entire family was 'thrilled at her news.'

So far, the reality star doesn't know the sex of her child, and it's unclear when she's due.

The Stormi vibe: Mom said, 'My favorite girl' in the brief caption. Hailey Bieber added, 'Cooler than anyone I know'

And others sources told PEOPLE that she is already showing and was 'thrilled' to be pregnant again. 'Kylie is a few months along. She has a cute bump. She is beyond excited.

'She has been enjoying her pregnancy in private. She has only spent time with close friends and family.'

It was added: 'She has been wanting to give Stormi a sibling for a while. She loves being a mom. She is thrilled that she and Travis are pregnant again.'

Her very own bus: Stormi got a chance to get close to a yellow school bus in her driveway

No other kids on the bus though: Stormi was all alone on the bus that her dad Travis Scott rented for his little one

On Friday morning a video emerged showing Caitlyn bragging to people in the establishment that she has '18 grandkids.'

'I keep telling the girls  they're not too excited about this  but we want to go for 30,' she says while grinning, adding that it's a 'round number.'

'I just found out the other day that I have another one in the oven,' she continued, potentially meaning she'll soon have 19 grandchildren.

Caitlyn has multiple children she could have been hinting was expecting, but sources close to her claim she wasn't even talking about Kylie.

Drop-dead gorgeous: Kylie shared several new images to her Instagram page on Monday that showed her in revealing swimwear

Her son Burt Jenner is expecting his third child with his girlfriend, sources told Page Six, claiming that that's who Caitlyn was referring to.

It's unclear if Caitlyn knew of Kylie's pregnancy, though her fuzzy math may have been a hint.

She said she was going to have 19 grandchildren with Burt's future child, but then she added that she was only ten grandchildren away from her goal of 30.

However, if she was also counting a grandchild from Kylie, bringing the total up to 20, then her math would make more sense.

On Monday Kylie shared several new images to her Instagram page on Monday that showed her in revealing swimwear.

Letting slip: While campaigning for California's gubernatorial recall election in Quincy, California, Caitlyn said she had another grandchild 'in the oven'

The reality TV veteran looked sensational in a lime green monikini, a fuchsia bikini and an orange two piece as she wore her raven hair down.

But there was not even a hint of a baby bump as the daughter of Kris Jenner is reportedly pregnant with her second child.

The star looked to be very toned in the new images that had her in a studio as she struck sexy poses while her hair was wet. It is likely the images were taken months ago.

All the Life Of Kylie star, 24, said in her caption was, '@kylieswim KylieJenner.com.' On Instagram Stories she added, 'KylieSwim, I can't wait.'

In May Kylie filed legal documents to trademark the brand name Kylie Swim by Kylie Jenner. TMZ added this includes a line of sunglasses, swimming googles, beach bags, cover-ups, and footwear.

Kylie, who often sizzles in bikinis on social media, is also said to be preparing to launch headwear, towels and outdoor blankets under the brand.

She already oversees Kylie already runs Kylie Cosmetics and Kylie Skin.
She looked less than impressed on Monday night as she watched 'Milliam' being crowned champions of 2021's Love Island - after he ditched her to be with Millie.

But Lillie Haynes, 22, appeared to put the drama behind her on Tuesday as she joined her fellow dumped islanders for a fun-filled group lunch in Manchester.

Exiting American restaurant Menagerie alongside Brad McClelland, 26, Jack Barlow, 26, Joanna Chimonides, 24, and Francesca Allen, 25, the blonde bombshell looked ever-stylish in an eye-popping orange-and-black plaid overshirt.

Happy: Love Island's Lillie Haynes appeared to be in good spirits as she joined her fellow dumped contestants for a group lunch... following Millie and Liam's win where she couldn't contain her fury

Squad: Exiting American restaurant Menagerie alongside her was Brad McClelland, 26, Jack Barlow, 26, Joanna Chimonides, 24, and Francesca Allen, 25

Underneath the vibrant number, the accountant paired an onyx bra top with a pair of denim hotpants, which showcased her bronzed pins.

The influencer accessorised her outfit with a neon orange Jacquemus hangbag and bounced her way through the city in a pair of white trainers.

Sparking rumours of a new romance among onlookers, she cosied up to Jack as he strolled along the street in a casual black sweatshirt and grey jogger combination.

Beau? Sparking rumours of a new romance among onlookers, she cosied up to Jack as he strolled along the street in a casual black sweatshirt and grey jogger combination

Fashion forward: The blonde bombshell looked ever-stylish in an eye-popping orange-and-black plaid overshirt

Appearing to be in high spirits, the South Shields lass couldn't wipe the smile from her face as she headed home after the meet-up.

Joanna and Francesca looked equally delighted as they shared a warm embrace while beaming from ear-to-ear.

Mimicking them was Jack, who leapt onto Brad's back while wrapped his arms around his shoulders.

Lillie entered Love Island as a Casa Amor bombshell and turned Liam Reardon's head, causing him to question his romance with love interest Millie Court.

Alumni: The group appeared to have had a whale of a time over lunch

Having fun: Joanna and Francesca looked delighted as they shared a warm embrace while beaming from ear-to-ear

Copycats: Mimicking them was Jack, who leapt onto Brad's back while wrapped his arms around his shoulders

On Monday night she attended a Love Island finale watching party with some of her former co-stars, as they all arrived to see who would take home the 50,000 prize fund this year.

However during the moment where Millie and Liam were announced as the winners, rather than celebrating like the rest of her pals, Lillie hilariously turned her head away from the TV screen - pulling a furious expression.

Another attendee at the party - likely unknowlingly - captured the moment on their Instagram Story, and posted for their followers to see.

Is that lillie in the black absolutely raging?  #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/5OPfIir94H  p a u l a s l o s s  (@paulaslossx) August 23, 2021

Ouch! Lillie looked less than impressed as she watched the moment 'Milliam' were crowned champions of the 2021, after he ditched her to return back to the main villa to be with Millie

After seeing the clip on Instagram, one person wrote: 'DEAD at Lillie's reaction to them winning #LoveIsland.'

Another noted: 'Is that Lillie in the black absolutely raging?'

One other agreed and wrote: 'I was absolutely raginnn that Liam won hahaha.'

Champions! Millie and Liam were crowned champions of the 2021 summer series

Awkward! Another attendee at the party - likely unknowlingly - captured the moment on their Instagram Story, and posted for their followers to see

A different person joked: 'The video of Lillie looking away from the TV when William won was honestly better than the final. Let the drama never end I say.'

Another said: 'Lillie looked shocked when she found out Liam and Millie have won.'

While someone else said: 'Lol I've just seen Lillie's reaction to Millie and Liams win on an influencers story, awkward. #loveisland.'

One other person quipped: 'My love island winners are whoever posted the video which you see Lillie about to cry over Liam and Millie winning.'

One other person quipped: 'My love island winners are whoever posted the video which you see Lillie about to cry over Liam and Millie winning'

Lillie previously revealed her shock that Liam didn't bring her back from Casa Amor and says she felt 'misled' by the Welsh hunk.

The blonde beauty headed home after her dumping was aired and has now admitted she 'definitely thought she was going to get picked' by the bricklayer.

She fumed she had become 'convinced he was the one' after he 'told her what she wanted to hear' during her time in the second villa designed to test the couples.

Oh dear: Lillie previously revealed her shock that Liam didn't bring her back from Casa Amor and says she felt 'misled' by the Welsh hunk

During a dramatic recoupling Liam returned to the main villa to reunite with former partner Millie, despite having spent four days cracking on with Lillie, sleeping in a bed with her and kissing outside of challenges.

Lillie from Newcastle told The Sun: 'When I found out Liam hadn't chosen me, I felt misled. He'd been giving me what I wanted to hear and I was convinced he was the one.

'He made me feel as if I had a really strong chance of going back to the villa with him. He was very hands-on  we were like a couple in there.

Close: The blonde beauty headed home after her dumping was aired and has now admitted she 'definitely thought she was going to get picked' by the bricklayer

'So I definitely thought I was going to get picked. When he chose to go back alone, I was shocked.

'Then when I walked into the villa with the other girls, I didn't like how Liam had Millie's necklace and his arm around her after how he'd been with me.'

She added that it wouldn't have been nice of her to have let Millie carry on unaware of their fling to prevent her from 'being mugged off'.

Lillie added that she 'spoke up' so that Millie would 'put a question mark in her head' about Liam, before adding that the tradesman might not have told her the 'whole truth'.

She continued, saying that she didn't reveal the news to be 'petty' but to encourage her to be 'wary'.

Shock: Millie was left in tears after Liam returned from Casa Amor alone to recouple with her - only for his disloyalty to soon be revealed

Unimpressed: Lillie spilled the beans on what had happened in Casa Amor, telling the Islanders she was shocked to have not been picked by Liam after their steamy kisses and sharing a bed

Millie was left in tears after Liam returned from Casa Amor alone to recouple with her - only for his disloyalty to soon be revealed.

The blonde beauty declared she was 'over the moon' to be reunited with her partner after four days apart when he walked back in solo.

However in a shock twist just moments later, Lillie appeared at the fire pit and explained she'd shared kisses outside of challenges and a bed with the hunk during the 'lads holiday'.

Asked how she was feeling about not being picked by host Laura Whitmore, a very unimpressed Lillie said: 'I felt like we had a good connection in there.

'I feel like it was very reciprocated, very 50/50 and it's really surprising now. The actions were pretty equal, we shared a bed and kissed outside of the challenges.'

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Paul McCartney has paid tribute to Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts after his death aged 80 on Tuesday.

Sharing a video on Twitter, Paul, 79, addressed his followers in the candid clip, hailing Charlie as 'a rock' and 'fantastic drummer' before revealing: 'I knew he was ill, but I didn't know he was this ill.'

Charlie's death was confirmed shortly before Beatles rocker Paul released his clip, with a statement confirming he had 'passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his family'.

Tribute: Paul McCartney, 79, has paid tribute to Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts after his death aged 80 on Tuesday in a new Twitter video

Sitting at home, Paul said in full: 'So sad to hear about Charlie Watts. He was a lovely guy, and I knew he was ill, but I didn't know he was this ill.'

He continued: 'So lots of love to his family and condolences to the Stones. It will be a huge blow to them because Charlie was a rock and a fantastic drummer.'

The rockstar concluded: 'Love you Charlie. I'll always love you. Beautiful man. Great condolences and sympathies.'

Charlie joined the then-fledgling Rolling Stones in 1963 after meeting Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones while playing in rhythm and blues clubs.

Rest In Peace: Celebrities including Elton John, Bryan Adams and Beatles legend Ringo Starr have paid tribute to Rolling Stones drummer Charlie after his death aged 80 (Charlie pictured in 2017)

Fantastic drummer: Paul addressed his followers in the candid clip, hailing Charlie as 'a rock' and 'fantastic drummer' before revealing: 'I knew he was ill, but I didn't know he was this ill'

Along with Jagger and Richards, he featured on every one of the band's studio albums and was widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time.

Watts was due to tour the US with the band later this year. But it was announced earlier this month he would not feature due to a recent emergency surgery.

Watts' London publicist, Bernard Doherty, said in a statement on Tuesday: 'It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts.

'He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.

'Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation.

Sad: The death of the London-born drummer was announced on Tuesday - with a statement saying he had 'passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his family (pictured with the Rolling Stones in 2016)

'We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members and close friends is respected at this difficult time.'

He leaves behind his wife Shirley (nee Shepherd), daughter Seraphina, born in 1968, and granddaughter Charlotte, born in 1996.

Celebrity tributes flooded in once the news of the iconic drummer's death broke, with the likes of Elton John, Ringo Starr and Ben Stiller all sharing their condolences.

Watts (pictured left in 2007) was due to tour the US with the band later this year. But it was announced earlier this month Watts (pictured right with The Rolling Stones in 1969) would not feature due to a recent emergency surgery

Elton, 74, took to Instagram to pen a heartfelt message to Charlie, accompanied by a throwback snap of the pair in the 1970s, branding him 'the ultimate drummer.'

He wrote: 'A very sad day. Charlie Watts was the ultimate drummer. The most stylish of men, and such brilliant company. My deepest condolences to Shirley, Seraphina and Charlotte. And of course, The Rolling Stones.'

Beatles drummer Ringo, 81, also posted a poignant snap of the pair comparing drumsticks, and wrote: 'God bless Charlie Watts we're going to miss you man peace and love to the family Ringo.'

Actor Ben, 55, also shared his condolences on social media.

Missed: Elton, 74, took to social media to pen a heartfelt message to Charlie, accompanied by a throwback snap of the pair in the 1970s, branding him 'the ultimate drummer'

Condolences: Actor Ben Stiller also shared his condolences on social media
They reignited their romance this past year, 17 years after calling off their engagement.

And Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck looked like the ultimate power couple as they enjoyed a day of retail therapy on Tuesday.

The songstress, 52, and her beau, 49, were spotted wearing matching black as they linked hands while arriving to the Westfield Mall in Los Angeles.

It takes two! Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck looked like the ultimate power couple as they enjoyed a day of retail therapy at the Westfield Mall in Los Angeles on Tuesday

Jennifer looked like she meant business in a fitted black turtleneck tank top and curve-clinging plaid skirt that showcased her toned legs.

The Waiting For Tonight songstress was a vision of sophistication as she confidently strode outside with a pair of chic sunglasses concealing her eyes.

A pair of semi transparent black heels further accentuated her toned legs.

She wore her honey hued tresses up into a messy bun along while a slew of glittering jewelry dressed up the look.

Loved-up! The couple arrived to the mall with the hands interwoven

Looking good! Lopez was a vision in her fitted turtleneck and curve-clinging plaid skirt

Dashing: The Good Will Hunting actor sported a black button down shirt and jeans

Ben was a vision of cool wearing a black button down shirt, grey jeans, and slick leather shoes.

The dashing actor styled his hair into a smart do while concealing his eyes with a pair of aviator shades.

Despite being A-listers, the dup looked like any other couple in love as they enjoyed just another day at the mall together.

Smart and sharp: The actor styled his hair into a smart do while concealing his eyes with a pair of aviator shades

Back on! The lovebirds have been going strong ever since reigniting their romance earlier this year, almost two decades after calling it quits

Public displays of affection: The connection between the two was evident as they arrived to the mall holding hands

The duo tightly held hands as they approached a small staircase, with Ben lovingly leaning close to his leading lady.

Even with their hands interwoven, Jennifer's vibrant ruby red manicure was visible.

The lovebirds have been going strong ever since reigniting their romance earlier this year, almost two decades after calling it quits.

Recently, Ben sparked proposal speculation after he was spotted browsing engagement rings at Tiffany & Co. - however an insider has claimed that the actor was actually at the jewelry store completing a scavenger hunt with his family.

She means business! Lopez was also spotted heading to a meeting in Los Angeles on Monday

Well heeled! Lopez rocked a pair of semi-transparent black heels, further accentuating her toned legs

Armed with a pen and piece of paper, the actor was spotted gazing at a display of diamond rings while inside the store with his mother Chris and son, Samuel, age nine, on Friday.

'They split into teams with his daughters on one team and Ben, Sam and his mom on the other,' an insider told E! of the scavenger hunt.

'They went all around the mall and into various stores crossing off each of the items they found. One of the stops was into Tiffany and they had to find something in the store. Ben walked in with his son and his mom and they quickly found what they needed and walked out. Ben held a pen and crossed it off his list.'

Looking good! She wore her honey hued tresses up into a messy bun along while a slew of glittering jewelry dressed up the look

If you've got it! The songstress exuded confidence strutting outside of her car

When Ben first asked Jennifer to marry him back in 2002, he gave her a 6.1-carat pink diamond in a radiant cut that cost a reported $1.2million USD  and it turned out to be quite the investment.

Not only is the couple back together, but the ring is also believed to be worth ten times more than it was nearly two decades ago as the price of the rare coloured diamond has soared.

H&T Pawnbrokers expertly values the much-talked-about ring at nearly $12million USD (8.8million), with over a 1,069 per cent sale increase since the early 2000s, PopSugar previously reported.

It's unclear if Jennifer still has the ring from 2002, but her former publicist Rob Shuter doesn't think she ever gave the sparkler back to her former fiance.

'As far as I know, Jen has never returned the ring!' he told Access Daily. 'So if things move forward with these two, gosh she's already got the most beautiful ring I've seen. It's absolutely stunning.'

Jennifer showed off the spectacular ring on the red carpet at the Gigli premiere in July 2003, but the couple never made it down the aisle. A day before their wedding in September of that year, they announced they had postponed the ceremony. By January 2004, it was confirmed they had split.
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Demi Moore showcased her incredible bikini body as she relaxed on holiday in Croatia on Monday.

The Striptease actress, 58, exuded confidence as she displayed her washboard abs and ample cleavage in a black bikini top, while taking in the scenic sights.

The beauty made the most of her bronzed legs and pert derriere in matching bottoms as she chatted with friends, florist Eric Buterbaugh and cinematographer Patrick Hilgart

Wow: Demi Moore showcased her incredible bikini body as she relaxed on holiday in Croatia on Monday

Demi wore her tresses in loose waves before tying them up in a ponytail and accessorising with shades.

The film star made the most of her natural beauty by going make-up free.

The Ghost star looked in great spirits as she chatted with her friends, did some sunbathing and took in the views.

Wow: The beauty made the most of her bronzed legs and pert derriere in matching bottoms as she chatted with friends, florist Eric Buterbaugh and cinematographer Patrick Hilgart

Fun: The star looked in great spirits as she chatted with her friends on holiday

Bikini babe: The film star made the most of her natural beauty by going make-up free

And relax: The group were seen enjoying a spot of lunch during the day

Demi has been keeping busy after enjoying a Greek vacation with her daughters earlier in the summer.

She recently posed with her oldest daughter Rumer Willis, 33, as they celebrated the July 4 holiday when cruising in a boat near Santorini.

Demi also shares two other daughters with her ex-husband Bruce Willis: Scout, 29, and Tallulah, 27.

The film actress was married to the Glass star from 1987 to 2000.

Stunning: Demi looked incredible as she soaked up the sun with her pals abroad

Bronzed: The star showcased her enviable frame as she relaxed in the sunshine abroad

Chic: Demi slipped on a chic pair of shades as she relaxed on a terrace in Croatia

While abroad, Demi put her outstanding figure on view in a sleek black two-piece suit from Andie Swim, a company she has invested in.

The Ghost star put on a busty display in the skimpy suit and highlighted her flat tummy.

'Getting ready for another day in paradise,' she captioned the snap.

Busty: Demi displayed her cleavage as she caught some ray while chatting to her friends

Demi and her daughters were recently featured in a campaign for the beachwear brand in which they modeled a variety of swimsuits and bikinis.

She invested in the company back in 2018.

Andie Swim was founded by Melanie Travis in 2017 as a direct-to-consumer swimwear company which allows buyers to try on and return as many items as they need via shipping.

Radiant: Demi looked to be having the time of her life as she relaxed in the sunshine

Last week, Demi was featured in a nostalgic array of throwback photos from her daughter Rumer's childhood that she posted to Instagram.

Her father Bruce was seen in one photo as he sweetly cradled baby Rumer while sporting a thick handlebar mustache and a soul patch.

Demi looked almost the same as today in a cute picture of her holding her first child aloft with a faux-shocked expression on her face.

Another photo appeared to catch the actress with the iconic pixie cut that she wore for her 1990 hit romance Ghost.

Snack: The star and her friends enjoyed an alfresco lunch as they relaxed in the sun
Troubled former AFL star Darren Jolly alarmed his social media followers on Tuesday when he seemingly revealed he'd been hospitalised a day after receiving the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

But he clarified just hours later he was doing better and his symptoms fell within the category of normal, temporary side effects associated with the jab.

Jolly, who competed on The Block twice in 2014 and 2015, shared a photo on Instagram at about 5pm of the emergency department of Maroondah Hospital in Ringwood East, Melbourne, and captioned it: 'Not the place we planned on visiting after our first AstraZeneca jab.'

Worrying post: Troubled former AFL star Darren Jolly (pictured with his ex-wife Deanne in May 2016) alarmed his social media followers on Tuesday when he seemingly revealed he'd been hospitalised a day after receiving the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine

While he referred to 'we', Jolly did not clarify who he was with.

The photo of the hospital ER combined with the unclear caption left fans concerned, with many encouraging him to be more specific about what was going on.

Some followers told him his post risked encouraging vaccine hesitancy if he didn't clarify what had happened to him.

What's going on? Jolly, 39, shared this photo on Instagram at about 5pm of the emergency department of Maroondah Hospital in Ringwood East, Melbourne, and captioned it: 'Not the place we planned on visiting after our first AstraZeneca jab'

The retired Sydney Swans and Collingwood player, 39, shared another post two hours later clarifying he had experienced common - albeit unpleasant - side effects, and was back home in Badger Creek, north-east of Melbourne.

Jolly shared a screenshot from a government health website listing the common side effects after getting the AstraZeneca shot, including pain at the injection side, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, and fever and chills.

He explained he'd contacted a nurse via telephone and, based on his description of his symptoms, was advised to go to hospital out of an abundance of caution.

Fears: But he clarified just hours later he was doing better and that his symptoms, while unpleasant, fell within the category of normal, temporary side effects associated with the jab

But he was soon discharged when hospital staff concluded his side effects weren't anything to worry about.

'Just to let everyone know that we're okay and home now,' Jolly began his caption.

'After receiving our first AstraZeneca jab yesterday we both experienced very different side effects that really knocked us around.

Precaution: Jolly explained he'd contacted a nurse via telephone and, based on his description of his symptoms, was advised to go to hospital out of an abundance of caution. He was soon discharged when hospital staff concluded his side effects weren't anything to worry about

'Extreme hot/cold shivers, body aches, sore arm, bad headaches and feeling very nauseous. I have to admit, I didn't think we'd feel this bad after receiving it.

'I suppose everyone is different and reacts to vaccinations differently, whether that's AstraZeneca or Pfizer. Some people have no side effects; some people do.'

He continued: 'Going to hospital was a precaution following the advice from a health nurse on the phone.

'We don't regret receiving AstraZeneca and we will receive our second dose of AstraZeneca as we both want to do our bit to help reopen [Victoria] and get us all back to some normality.'

TV stars: Jolly and his ex-wife Deanne (pictured with their children in January 2017) were contestants on The Block, appearing twice in 2014 and 2015, and winning the latter season

Separation: The couple hit headlines two years ago, when they sadly announced they had ended their 15-year marriage. Jolly is pictured on Nine's The Block

Jolly and his ex-wife Deanne were popular contestants on The Block, appearing twice in 2014 and 2015, and winning the latter season.

But the couple hit headlines two years ago, when they sadly announced they had ended their 15-year marriage.

After their split, Jolly claimed on Instagram in October 2020 he hadn't been in contact with his two daughters since splitting from Deanne in September 2019.

Footy star: Jolly played for the Sydney Swans and Collingwood Magpies during his AFL career

Fast forward to January 2021 and he set off alarm bells when he shared a troubling Instagram post in which he claimed he could not 'go on much longer'.

He was found safe, with his girlfriend later taking to Instagram to advise Jolly was 'receiving the best care he needs right now'.

The coronavirus vaccine is a vital measure being taken to protect the community from the spread of the virus.

Covid-19 can cause serious illness, ongoing health problems and even death.

The vaccines being rolled out in Australia are designed to ensure that even if you do contract Covid, you won't get seriously ill.

Essential: Covid-19 can cause ongoing health problems and even death. The vaccines being rolled out in Australia ensure that even if you do contract Covid, you won't get seriously ill
Hugh Jackman reconciled with the mother who abandoned him at the age of eight after having children of his own helped him better understand her private struggles.



The Hollywood actor, 52, went viral this week after sharing a sweet photo on Instagram with his mum, Grace McNeil, which led fans to discover the heartbreaking story behind their relationship.

And an interview from 2012 has now resurfaced in which Hugh spoke about his personal journey to making peace with his mother.

Empathy: Hugh Jackman reconciled with the mother who abandoned him at the age of eight after having children of his own helped him better understand her private struggles. Pictured: the actor with his mother, Grace McNeil, in an undated photo

The X-Men star told The Australian Women's Weekly he felt traumatised and ashamed for years after his mother left his family in Australia and returned to the UK.

But he came to realise over time that she was struggling with postnatal depression without a proper support system.

'At the time, it was difficult,' he said. 'One of the main things I remember is that horrible feeling that people were talking about you and looking at you because it was odd for the mother to leave.

'For many years, I thought it was not going to be forever, so I clung on to that. Up until about the age of 12 or 13, I thought mum and dad would get back together... Realising it wasn't going to happen was probably the toughest time to be honest.'

Forgiveness: The actor, 52, went viral this week after sharing this sweet photo on Instagram with mum Grace, which led fans to discover the heartbreaking story behind their relationship

Years later Hugh spoke to his mother about her decision to leave, and realised she had her own battles he wouldn't have been able to understand as a child.

'I know she was struggling. She was in hospital after I was born suffering from post-natal depression,' he said.

'And then you add five kids into the mix and the fact she had emigrated from England and there wasn't a support network for her here, plus the fact that dad was at work all day - and you realise that as parents we make mistakes.'

Hugh explained that having children of his own with wife Deborra-Lee Furness - they share son Oscar, 21, and daughter Ava, 16, both adopted - gave him 'another level of empathy and understanding' that allowed him to build bridges with his mother.

'There comes a certain point in life when you have to stop blaming other people for how you feel or the misfortunes in your life,' he added.

Meanwhile, fans in their thousands have praised Hugh for finding the strength to forgive his mother for walking out on him, after his heartwarming photo of the pair - simply captioned 'Mum' - made headlines on Tuesday.

One wrote on Facebook: 'It's amazing that you have come to accept and forgive your mother. You're such a great person, because you not only lost your mother at such a tender age but your two sisters as well. Thank God you had such a lovely father.'

Learning: Hugh explained that having children of his own with wife Deborra-Lee Furness - they share son Oscar, 21, and daughter Ava, 16, both adopted - gave him 'another level of empathy and understanding' that allowed him to build bridges with his mother. High is pictured with his wife on children on the day of his son Oscar's graduation

Another added: 'What people don't realise is he would have had to do a lot of work on himself and his feelings of abandonment to get to this point.

'He could have stayed angry and scared, but I am so glad he has chosen healing, as he is now free to love her.'

A third fan commented: 'I wish I could be more like him but unfortunately I will never forgive my "mother" for walking out and abandoning us. I just can't bring myself to do it. This man [Hugh] is clearly a better person than me for it.'

Others said they hoped Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would read Hugh's story and one day reconcile with the families they pushed away.

'What a beautiful man. God bless you': Fans in their thousands have praised Hugh for finding the strength to forgive his mother for walking out on him

Take notes: Others said they hoped Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would read Hugh's story and one day reconcile with the families they pushed away

Hugh told Australia's Who magazine in January 2018 that his mother abandoning him as a child was 'traumatic'.

The Broadway star was an eight-year-old schoolboy when Grace left him without even saying goodbye.

She left Australia and returned to her native England in the late '70s, leaving her husband, Christopher Jackman, to raise their children alone.

Scars: The Broadway star said in January 2018 that his mother abandoning him as a child was 'traumatic'. Grace left Australia and returned to her native England in the late '70s, leaving her husband, Christopher Jackman, to raise their children alone. Pictured: Hugh as a toddler

After the couple divorced, Hugh's sisters, Zoe and Sonya, went to live with Grace in the UK; Hugh and his brothers, Ian and Ralph, stayed in Sydney with their father.

'It was traumatic,' Hugh said, recalling his difficult childhood. 'I thought she was probably going to come back. And then it sort of dragged on and on.'

The Greatest Showman star added that after his mother left the family, he saw her about 'once a year'.

It wasn't until he was '12 or 13' that it dawned on him his mother would never return.

In December 2012, Hugh told Australia's 60 Minutes program that he still vividly remembered 'the morning she left'.

'I remember her being in a towel around her head and saying goodbye. [It] must have been the way she said goodbye,' he said.

'As I went off to school, when I came back, there was no one there in the house.'

He added: 'The next day there was a telegram from England. Mum was there. And then that was it. Dad used to pray every night that mum would come back.'

Hugh once told an Australian magazine: 'The thing I never felt - and I know this might sound strange - I never felt that my mum didn't love me.'

Divided family: After Grace and Christopher divorced, Hugh's sisters, Zoe and Sonya, went to live with their mother in the UK. Hugh and his brothers, Ian and Ralph, stayed in Sydney with their father. Pictured: Hugh and his father

Fortunately, Hugh and his mother reconciled years later.

He told The Sun newspaper in October 2011: I am 43 now and we have definitely made our peace, which is important.

'I was always quite connected with my mum. I have a good relationship with her.'
Billie Eilish fans got their first full look at her upcoming concert doc Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter To Los Angeles.

The songstress, 19, performs her latest album track-by-track at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in the music movie, directed by Robert Rodriguez and Patrick Osborne.

'It's a concert film but it's also a story at the same time,' the LA native explained in the trailer for the film, which premieres September 3rd.

Love letter: Billie Eilish's concert documentary Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter To Los Angeles released its first full-length trailer on Tuesday

The trailer opens to Billie spinning around, letting her retro blonde locks sweep over her shoulders as she says: 'I definitely have fantasies about LA.'

'A whole different world interwoven with my world,' she went on.

'It's a concert film but it's also a story at the same time,' Billie added of the piece.

The doc will feature guest performances from Eilish's brother and collaborator Finneas, the Los Angeles Childrens Chorus, the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, and Brazilian guitarist, Romero Lubambo, with orchestra arrangements by David Campbell.

Billie described the mood of the movie as 'This kind of beautiful version of old Hollywood' set at the 'timeless' Hollywood Bowl.

Unique: 'It's a concert film but it's also a story at the same time,' the LA native explained in the trailer for the film, which premieres September 3rd

Legendary location: The songstress, 19, performs her latest album track-by-track at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in the music movie, directed by Robert Rodriguez and Patrick Osborne

Guests: The doc will feature guest performances from Eilish's brother and collaborator Finneas, the Los Angeles Childrens Chorus, the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, and Brazilian guitarist, Romero Lubambo, with orchestra arrangements by David Campbell

'I've never done anything like this,' she continued about the concert flick.

Reflecting on the process, Billie noted: 'We all have these idealized versions of ourselves in our head.'

Finishing, she said: 'This is a dream come true.'

Billie released her sophomore album Happier Than Ever on July 30th.

The album was an instant success, topping the U.S. Billboard 200 and charts in 19 other countries.

Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter To Los Angeles comes out on Disney+ on September 3rd.
PETA is calling on U.S. Dept. of Agriculture authorities to probe a recent incident in which Tiger King personality Bhagavan 'Doc' Antle oversaw Chris Brown's seven-year-old daughter diving off on an elephant's head.

The incident was seen in an Instagram clip last week posted by Antle, 61, documenting the trip Royalty, seven, and her mom Nia Guzman had at his South Carolina park, Myrtle Beach Safari.

In a letter sent to agriculture authorities reviewed by TMZ, PETA officials said that Antle's actions in the clip breached multiple rules, including the Animal Welfare Act, citing a sequence in the social media clip Antle shared in which Royalty was seen taking a dive off of Bubbles, one of the elephants.

The latest: PETA is calling on U.S. Dept. of Agriculture authorities to probe a recent incident in which Tiger King personality Bhagavan 'Doc' Antle, 61, oversaw Chris Brown's seven-year-old daughter diving off on an elephant's head

PETA officials said that the incident was dangerous, as federal rules mandate animals like elephants need to be kept at a distance from people, with barriers in place.

USDA officials told the outlet that they were 'looking into' the allegations.

Antle told TMZ that a previous visit from rapper Lil Pump that the animal rights organization complained about was 'a huge waste of time and resources for the federal veterinarians who have to check out these erroneous allegations.'

He added: 'Not a thing came of that elephant complaint after USDA investigated it. We are in no ways in violation of the animal welfare act. We have continuously perfect inspections.

Antle reposted a shot Brown shared of his daughter's trip to the safari park

The celebrity family's trip to the park garnered scrutiny from PETA officials

The organization has previously clashed with the animal trainer

'We are well aware of the USDA protocols to conduct this type of filming; as we have been involved in film work of this nature for decades, including more than 500 films, documentaries, television productions and advertisements.'

Antle told the outlet that 'animal Rights activists that are unfamiliar with USDA film protocols routinely report these regulated activities to federal and state regulators as if there has been a violation,' but that his organization remains 'in full compliance with all federal and state regulations.'

He added 'USDA is our partner in animal welfare and we share a passion and commitment to providing the highest possible care for our animal ambassadors at the preserve.'

Antle last fall was indicted in Virginia in connection with animal cruelty and wildlife trafficking, as prosecutors said a probe revealed that he had worked with a Virginia zoo to traffic lion cubs to his location.

Antle gained prominence last year as he was featured in the popular Netflix doc Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.
Treading lightly on Tanna We go on a new ecotourism adventure tour in North Tanna
Following a unique season in which it went 3-1 in front of an empty stadium, the No. 20 Washington football team is back with fans in the stands. The Huskies have a full schedule ahead, including a premier nonconference matchup in week two when they travel to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan.
HARTFORD  As many as 200 Connecticut residents are stuck in Afghanistan, with Taliban troops swarming all over Kabul preventing them from reaching the safety of the airport, a refugee resettlement agency head and U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy warned Tuesday.

Most are Afghan citizens who worked with U.S. forces and resettled over the last five years in Connecticut, many around New Haven, said Chris George, executive director of the New Haven-based nonprofit Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services. They hold U.S. green cards and live here on a path to U.S. citizenship.

Many are women and children who traveled to Afghanistan for family visits or other events, believing they would be able to return home. Some of the young children are U.S. citizens, having been born in Connecticut.

I cant tell you the anguish and the fear and also the guilt that Afghans living in Connecticut have in regard to their relatives who are left behind, George said. Theyre being tracked down by the Taliban for the very fact that they are just here in this country, and that they might have driven a truck for the U.S. military, or did laundry at a military base, or served as an interpreter.

George said his agency knows directly of 65 people, and he believes there are between 100 and 200 who are trapped in Afghanistan, among about 1,000 Afghan people resettled in Connecticut over the last several years.

We need to get them out, George said. And if our military isnt going to figure out a way to extract them, then we need to ask other governments to help out, or the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide safe convoys. That is the urgent life-and-death before us right now.

George estimated that as many as 600 Afghan refugees will come into Connecticut under several resettlement programs.

The two senators said they are involved in a variety of individual cases, from U.S. citizens and green card holders, to Afghan translators and security officials along with those who have already obtained special visas to enter the U.S., in attempt to airlift them from the country.

Blumenthal, during a noontime news conference on the steps of the state Capitol, said that 21,600 people were evacuated during the previous 24 hours, bringing the recent total to 58,000 airlifted. There are thousands more American citizens, including potentially hundreds from Connecticut, he said.

George, appearing with the two senators, said the flurry of texts, emails and phone calls over the last couple of weeks from emotional Afghans who have family overseas, indicate that Taliban troops are going door-to-door looking for people who were associated with the 20-year American presence.

Theres no way they would have gone if there had been any thought that this would happen, George said. Like anyone else, they did not think Afghanistan would fall this quickly.

A harrowing escape

Getting people to the airport safely is the main impediment, Murphy said. Understandably, there are thousands of Afghans and U.S. citizens who are reluctant to leave their house and make their way to the airport.

George said he spoke with one Connecticut resident about a harrowing escape. The man and his family were making their way to the airport in Kabul, and were in touch with U.S. soldiers.

Troops sent a drone overhead, close enough to him, and then hit him with an infrared pointer and said, Is that you? And he over the phone said Yeah, this is me, and they sent troops out to get him and his family, George said.

The problem is, that is not very scalable, he said.

The numbers of evacuees are increasing by the day, Murphy said. Right now, the U.S. State Department and the Department of Defense are facilitating the evacuation of 10,000 individuals per day, but thats not good enough. We make a commitment as a country to leave no one behind in a war zone. We have to make good on that commitment here.

The CT Mirror reported Tuesday that Murphy, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on Afghanistan. intends to convene congressional hearings on how the catastrophe happened, how we spent a trillion dollars in Afghanistan, how we lost so many lives and were left with an Afghan government and an Afghan military that folded overnight.

Preparing Connecticut for hundreds of refugees

The two senators are concerned about President Joe Bidens Aug. 31 deadline for clearing the American military presence from the 20-year war in Afghanistan.

While Biden on Tuesday said he still has a hard deadline of next week to end the U.S. presence in Afghanistan, Murphy and Blumenthal insisted that that facts on the ground will likely justify an extension  and they believe the president has made contingencies for that to happen.

Our priority has to be in getting everybody out, Murphy said. Arbitrary deadlines put on the United States by the Taliban should be of no relevance. Our mission should be to get our people out of there. If that means we have to go beyond Aug. 31, then we should do everything we need to in order to honor the commitment we have made.

The senators asked Connecticut residents to prepare to help as many as 600 Afghans resettle in the state.

Murphy said recent immigrants from other countries in the Middle East are thriving here in civic and business life. My hope is that Connecticut is going to open its arms wide again as Afghan families come here to Connecticut, especially those Afghans who worked with us, Murphy said.

Blumenthal said the message to people with families who are isolated in Afghanistan, is that the United States wants to help.

The focus right now is evacuating American citizens and our Afghan allies, he said. We have a moral imperative. Its not only the right thing to do, its the smart thing to do. The Afghan refugees and asylum seekers are our future doctors, nurses, scientists. Their children are the reason why we are so proud to be a nation of immigrants.

IRIS is one a small handful of resettlement agencies in Connecticut, among them, Catholic Charities and the Bridgeport-based Connecticut Institute for Immigrants and Refugees. Even before the crisis in Afghanistan, George said Tuesday, We told the State Department that IRIS would be prepared to resettle a total of 400.

Now, that number is higher, he said.

We will welcome them, provide housing, connect them to health care, enroll the kids in school, help them learn English, help them get jobs and integrate into the communities where we have resettled them, George said, calling on local civic, religious and educational institutions to come forward and IRIS will place an Afghan family with them.

Theres no better way for Americans to understand whats going on around the world than to help a refugee family get off to a good start, George said. We need all the help we can get. And please do whatever you can to remind people in government, including these two senators behind me, that we cannot leave people behind in Afghanistan.

kdixon@ctpost.com
To the Editor:

As World Duchenne Day (Sept. 7) approaches, I want to share my familys deep appreciation to the Darien community for the outpouring of support weve received in the year since our son Charlies diagnosis with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

From friends and neighbors to local business owners, our schools, the St. Lukes Parish, the Darien Police Association and the editors of this newspaper who shared our story, so many of you have demonstrated a generosity of spirit that has touched us immeasurably.

With this community rallied behind us, we will fuel the research that is still urgently needed to cure Charlie and make Duchenne history.

Jennifer Handt

Darien


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On the second day of her visit, Sitharaman would meet chief executive officers of public sector banks (PSBs) to review annual financial performance of the state-run lenders and launch EASE 4.0 (Enhanced Access and Service Excellence), which is aimed at institutionalising clean and smart banking.  PTI

Mumbai: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be on a two-day visit to Mumbai, beginning Tuesday. Her schedule includes interaction with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the launch of EASE 4.0 Indexa reform agenda for 2021-22 for public sector banks.

Tuesdays interaction would be with senior officials of the Income Tax Department at the agency's office at Bandra Kurla Complex followed by a meeting with senior officials of Customs and Goods and Service Tax departments. Sitharam-an is also scheduled to meet a delegation of CII.

On the second day of her visit, Sitharaman would meet chief executive officers of public sector banks (PSBs) to review annual financial performance of the state-run lenders and launch EASE 4.0 (Enhanced Access and Service Excellence), which is aimed at institutionalising clean and smart banking.

According to agencies, co-lending with non-banking firms, digital, agriculture financing, and technological resilience for 24x7 banking are expected to be part of Ease 4.0 Index. The Ease Index was launched in January 2018. The FM is expected to declare the results of Ease 3.0 Index for 2020-21. PSBs would be rated on various indexes for the year.

This year PSBs will focus on introducing and promoting new analytics-based offers to existing retail customers like pre-approved car loans, EMI offers on e-commerce purchases and also for existing MSME customers. Such offers will be based on bank transactions, income tax and GST returns, transactions on e-commerce portals, and other operational data.
Chiranjeevi recently celebrated his 66th birthday with his family and colleagues in the industry, but Allu Arjun was conspicuous by his absence at the gathering.

All the actors from his extended family were present at the gathering, but Bunny only conveyed his wishes to Chiranjeevi over social media.

The stylish stars absence has become a hot topic of debate in the industry and on social media, more so as he has been in the city, shooting for Pushpa. Bunnys younger brother Sirish was part of the do, though he arrived late for the event.

Meanwhile, in a series of tweets, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has said that the Ala Vaikuntapuram Lo stars absence from the birthday celebrations was an intelligent move. He described Allu Arjun as the Megastar of the current generation.

The intelligence of @alluarjun is in not to attend @KChiruTweets celebrations is becos he is a self made star and shouldnt join family parasites like @IAmVarunTej @IamSaiDharamTej @PawanKalyan @AlwaysRamCharan etc etc who just exist by sucking the success of MEGA @KChiruTweets.
In this Aug. 22, 2021, image provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, a Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command provides water to families during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Sgt. Samuel Ruiz/U.S. Marine Corps via AP)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday directed the ministry of external affairs (MEA) to brief parliamentary floor leaders of various political parties, including the Opposition, on the recent developments in Afghanistan even as efforts to repatriate and evacuate Indian nationals from the strife-torn nation continued. The briefing is likely to take place on August 26, sources said.

As many as 164 Indian nationals who had been earlier evacuated to Qatars capital Doha from Kabul by American and NATO forces were repatriated to India on Monday through several commercial flights. Sources said that IAF special flights are likely late on Monday night to evacuate the remaining Indian nationals in Afghanistan who are estimated to be only about 20 to 30 in number now after evacuation flights were undertaken over the weekend.

A number of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus along with other Afghans who had worked in India-assisted development projects in the strife-torn nation are also likely to be brought back. Over the weekend, Indian nationals had been brought back to India directly from Kabul as well as from both Doha and the Tajik capital Dushanbe where they had been airlifted to.

On Monday, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar tweeted, In view of developments in Afghanistan, PM @narendramodi has instructed that MEA brief floor leaders of political parties. Minister of parliamentary affairs @JoshiPralhad will be intimating further details.

On Monday, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also tweeted, Bringing Indians back from Afghanistan. 2nd batch of 146 Indian nationals, who were evacuated from Afghanistan to Doha, being repatriated today to India. Thank everyone involved for their support.

Earlier on Sunday, in a series of tweets, the MEA spokesperson had said, Evacuation continues! IAF special repatriation flight with 168 passengers onboard, including 107 Indian nationals, is on its way to Delhi from Kabul. He had further tweeted, Bringing Indians home from Afghanistan! AI 1956 carrying 87 Indians departs from Tajikistan for New Delhi. Two Nepalese nationals also evacuated. Assisted and supported by our embassy @IndEmbDushanbe. More evacuation flights to follow. He had added, first batch of 135 Indians who were evacuated from Kabul to Doha over past days being repatriated tonight to India. Embassy officials provided consular and logistics assistance to ensure their safe return. We thank Qatar authorities and all concerned for making this possible.
Bengaluru: Amid row over water sharing with neighbouring States, including a proposed dam on Cauvery water at Mekedatu, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said he is likely to meet the Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi on August 26.

Bommai said he will also hold a meeting with the State's legal panel headed by the Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi and other senior lawyers to chalk out strategies to tackle the water sharing disputes with neighbouring states.

Besides Shekhawat, Bommai told reporters here he has sought appointment from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

He added that most probably he would go to Delhi on August 25 evening and meet the Ministers the next day.

On his meeting with advocates, the CM said, "The Advocate General and senior lawyers, who represent Karnataka, will be present in the meeting. I am trying to get information about the way to proceed further in view of the existing water disputes."

Asked whether he would also discuss with the BJP central leadership filling the remaining four ministerial slots, Bommai said he would do so with the party president J P Nadda if he gets an opportunity to meet him and will take steps after seeking his opinion.

Regarding the JD(S) planning to launch a march demanding "justice" for the State in the water disputes, Bommai said "history is witness that all the political parties fought and worked together when it comes to water and land related disputes (faced by the State)".

Noting that the JD(S) has got freedom to go ahead with its programme, Bommai assured people not to panic as the government in the past had made every effort to claim its rights with regard to the water and land disputes and will continue to do so in future.

Karnataka is locked in a dispute with neighbouring Maharashtra over sharing the Krishna river water and Mahadayi river to tackle with water crisis during summer in North Karnataka region.

The state also had a discussion with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra's Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil recently.

Karnataka is also pushing for the ambitious balancing reservoir at Mekedatu at Kanakapura in Ramanagara district of Karnataka, which Tamil Nadu is opposing saying that it will hamper the interests of the State, especially the farmers.

The State wanted the Mekedatu project to utilise the "balance" water to meet the drinking water requirement for Bengaluru and neighbouring regions.
In view of the pandemic, which has badly hit the tourism industry, his ministry could not officially invite tourists to visit various places, he said. (DC Image)

Hyderabad: Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday hoped that tourism activity in the country, badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, would resume next year with most people expected to receive the vaccination by December 2021.

"If vaccination is completed (for most people) by December, we wish to officially invite tourists from January 1....invite tourists, either people of the country or foreigners," he told reporters here.

In view of the pandemic, which has badly hit the tourism industry, his ministry could not officially invite tourists to visit various places, he said.

He said he had held a series of meetings with various stakeholders, including hotel associations, tour operators and guides during the last fortnight.

The minister said a new scheme 'Dekho apna desh' , aimed at promoting domestic tourism, is being worked out.

Reddy, who is also the Minister for Culture and Development of North Eastern Region (DONER), said steps would be taken to promote Buddhist legacy in the country and to strengthen academic institutions (related to Buddhism) which are under the Culture Ministry.

An international conference would be organised in October or November, he said.

The Minister also said the government has decided to highlight the stories of 'unsung heroes' of the freedom movement to make the younger generation aware of their greatness and contributions to the country.
Justice Reddy drew the notice of the Chief Justice to a news report that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had announced that GO 111 would be revoked within six months, and sought a clarification from the government. (DC Image)

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has sought clarification from the state government if it has any proposal to revoke Government Order (GO) 111, dated March 8, 1996, on measures to protect the Osmansagar and Himayatasagar.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Vijaysen Reddy was dealing with a batch of PILs and petitions related to issues of GO 111 and challenging the auction of Kokapet lands. Justice Reddy drew the notice of the Chief Justice to a news report that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had announced that GO 111 would be revoked within six months, and sought a clarification from the government.

The bench, expressing its surprise, directed Additional Advocate General Ramachander Rao to get clear instructions from the office of the CM on this matter within 24 hours.

Is it true, or the report may be misleading. Better find out what is going on and what is in the minds of the state administration at its higher levels about continuance of GO 111, Chief Justice Kohli said.

The CJ observed, Why are we doing this exercise? If the government is thinking of revoking GO 111, then there is no point in adjudicating the writ petitions and the PILs. It is not proper on the part of the government to take such an action please check and come back thoroughly with full details, Chief Justice directed Ramachander Rao.

Replying to a query from the Chief Justice, the additional AG stated that he was not aware of the news report and assured the court that he would ask the CM about this and come back with a reply on Wednesday.

In reply to Mondays court queries about the non-catchment area in Vattinagulapally village, in terms of ETPRI, the additional AG furnished the details. It was stated that 87 land parcels spread across 948 acres, divided among 377 owners, was the non-catchment area in the village, but has been included in purview of GO111.

Vivek Reddy, senior counsel appearing for one of the petitioners in the writ petition, who owned 17 acres of land in Vattinagulapally opposite the US consulate, stated that the petitioner had been denied permission to construct high-rise buildings due to GO 111. Counsel informed the court that the government has taken a decision on August 18, 2021, permitting construction of high-rise buildings beside the US consulate, which stood diagonally opposite to his petitioners lands.

He submitted that the recently auctioned land parcels, measuring 49 acres and 94 guntas at Kokapet, are just 700 metres away from the full-tank level of the Osmansagar, whereas his petitioners lands were 3.5 km away from the lake. The government is allowing construction of the high-rise buildings in the auctioned land but not on his clients land for the past 25 years, citing G O111, counsel Vivek Reddy submitted.

While taking a serious note of the double-standard of the, Chief Justice Kohli observed, When you want to act, you act with alacrity; and when you dont want to act, even four and a half years is not good enough for you to act. You started it because you were mentally prepared for it. You want comprehensive development of the entire area (Kokapet lands). For this, you appoint a consultant, the report is considered and an agency is identified for taking up different works. Parties are identified and tenders floated stating that it is the intention of the state government to encourage development."

"But, when the government does not want to accord permissions to other private landowners, then the state sits back, constitutes committees. Then, these committees call for report No.1, 2, 3 and so on, and then the government expands the scope of the body that was constituted, the CJ added.

The bench directed senior counsel Niranjan Reddy appearing for the HMDA to make aware all the purchasers of auctioned Kokapet lands that they will not be permitted to commence high rise building constructions till construction of the sewerage treatment plant, as also the sewage and storm water facilities are created and that the terms of GOs135 (as regards the setting up of own sewerage treatment plant) and 168 will be applicable to all the purchasers. The case was adjourned to Wednesday.
HYDERABAD: Union minister for tourism and culture G. Kishan Reddy stated that the Centre will shortly come up with a Covid vaccine for children.

On an inspection visit to Gandhi Hospital here on Monday, he spoke to the hospital superintendent Dr Raja Rao about the functioning of oxygen plants.

He also took treatment for a small wound that he sustained on his head during his recent Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Andhra Pradesh.

He said that 1,222 oxygen plants have been set up in the country under PM Cares funds. Six of them were functioning in Gandhi Hospital, where another six have been lined up. He said steps were being taken to set up oxygen plants at 41 places in Telangana.

Reddy pointed out that the Centre has so far sent 1,68,61,809 doses of vaccine to the state and another 13,18,000 doses were in storage. He said that distribution of free rice to 80 crore people will continue till October and be continued further if required.

The minister said that during the Jana Ashirwad Yatra, he advised people to take Covid precautions. He thanked party karyakartas and well wishers who had graced the yatra, which helped him to spread the message of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas. He said he had noticed overwhelming support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his initiatives.

He said that they were vaccinating even those without Aadhaar card and also foreigners out of humanitarian considerations. He made it clear that the vaccine would be exported only after it is received free of cost by everyone in the country.
The small island nation of Taiwan remains the principal thorn in the side of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and its supreme overlord  CPC general secretary and Chinas President-for-life Xi Jinping  posing the most formidable challenge for the fulfilment of national unity in the CPCs centenary year. The so-called autonomous region of Tibet is the second headache for the distant Hans of the Hwang Ho Valley. This was made clear by the CPC itself after Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, visited Lhasa on August 18 to celebrate the seventieth anniversary of its alleged peaceful liberation. Despite the 70 years of uninterrupted peace, the party boss made it clear: Only by following the CPC leadership/pursuing socialism path can Tibet achieve development/prosperity. That begs a curious, but politically incorrect, question: Is Tibet still falling short of CPCs expectations for the amalgamation of its distinctly identifiable Buddhism despite the high-decibel propagation of superior CPC culture?

Tibet also cropped up on the worlds radar with President Xis secret trip recently when he toured areas just 15 km from the Kameng sector of India (India-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction), arguably the closest any Beijing czar has come near the Indian border in living memory. This was a clear message to Delhi, coming just a year after the bloody Galwan clash in Ladakh in June 2020 leading to the death of 20 Indian soldiers, including a colonel. The sullen but simmering Tibet-India border remains volatile, despite the charm offensive by some Chinese figures ahead of the CPC centenary, and the standoff that began in May 2020 continues, despite pullbacks in some areas.

The concept of trust, faith and confidence in India-China ties have all but evaporated. The betrayal began almost six decades ago, when the CPC rudely snubbed Jawaharlal Nehrus warm embrace of Mao Zedong, spearheading the 1962 conflict, and despite the ups and downs and some positive signals in the Deng Xiaoping years, its been pretty much downhill all the way. This was clearly spelt out in former IB boss B.N. Mullicks aptly-titled The Chinese Betrayal. Beijings brawny behaviour towards India began long before todays CPC-led teeth showing diplomacy. The Dragons trademark has changed little  economics, commerce, foreign trade, banking, polity, threats to the Indian press, espionage and cyber fraudsters  all are fair game, and the means dont matter.

In fact, national frontiers have always been a nebulous concept to the Chinese, as a sort of grey area in the CPC psyche rather than as a fixed boundary line between neighbours. A look back at history would make that clear. China today shares a land border with 14 countries, of which eight are landlocked: Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Laos. The six others are North Korea, Russia, India, Pakistan, Myanmar and Vietnam. Understandably, the biggest of these, Russia and India, continue to pose the most serious problems. While there is a lull now in the Russia-China frontier, the Indian border heated up just a year ago, though talks are currently underway to de-escalate tensions.

Chinas northern border row got aggravated with the ideological clash of the Beijing-Moscow comrades over the differing perceptions of Mao and Khrushchev in the 1950s, with the CPC accusing the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) of forced annexation of Chinese land by czars of an earlier era and imposition of unjust, unequal treaties. The Kremlin countered in 1963, asking Red China if it would defend the territorial conquests of past Chinese emperors. The CPSU said: Historically formed boundaries between states now exist. Any attempt to ignore this can be the source of misunderstanding and conflict. The Soviet logic proved irrefutable. China accepted it and responded in February 1964: Although the old Sino-Russian boundary treaties are unequal, the Chinese government is nevertheless willing to respect them and take them as the basis for a reasonable settlement. The Jawaharlal Nehru government in India made the same argument but was rebuffed. And despite China conceding Soviet point on the border issue, the most serious Moscow-Beijing clash occurred in the spring of 1969 at the Amur, Ussuri rivers on their shared border.

Today, although the changed global geopolitics has brought Beijing and Moscow together, given its 145 million population that is diminishing, a truncated Russia remains mortally scared of the CPCs 1.45 billion heads, particularly given its critical manpower shortages in the resource-rich Siberian land mass.

In India, however, the chaotic and fractious polity gives China leverage of some kind. While Delhi wisely stayed out of the Belt and Road system and refused to be a part of RCEP, Beijings pressure points are many, both internally and externally. India has its own views on Afghanistan, which is at wide variance with the Beijing-Islamabad axis, so a new pressure point has arisen with the Talibans capture of power in Kabul. Beijing now has an enlarged terrain, with Taliban-run Afghanistan next door to Tibet, so coupled with the Americans departure from the neighbourhood China hopes its closer to reaching its strategic goals.

Thats why New Delhi needs to exercise even greater care in any deal or agreement it reaches with the Chinese side in Ladakh or related to the Line of Actual Control. Any positive gesture by China on the Himalayan border must be closely scrutinised. Historically, as well as today, the Chinese arent known to respond positively to any boundary proposal by India. The acceptance of traditional and customary boundary lines, characterised by natural features, were used in resolving border disputes with Myanmar and Nepal. The Chinese even accepted the McMahon Line in relation to Myanmar. In March 1963, China reached border pacts with both Pakistan and Afghanistan using large-scale maps it had refused to produce in the 1960 negotiations with India. Clearly, theres a problem.

Contextually, one is constrained today to refer to a 1952 book A Short History of Modern China, edited by Liu Pei-hua, which had a map on Page 253 titled Chinese territories taken by imperialists in old democratic revolutionary era, showing 19th century China with superimposed nineteen legends, each a region lost to European powers. It covered Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Assam, Burma, Andaman archipelago, Malaya, Thailand, French Indochina, Taiwan, Pescadores, Sulu archipelago of the Philippines, Ryukyus (Okinawa), and Korea, and five portions captured by Russia, including Sakhalin, divided between Russia and Japan. But the most striking was Tibet and Mongolia, that were fully absorbed into China. Is there any doubt what awaits India tomorrow? With a friendly Taliban right next to Tibet, and a watery Taiwan waiting to happen?

The writer is an advocate practising in the Supreme Court.
Last week, Xiaomi confirmed to host Smarter Living 2022 event this month on August 26. It is slated to unveil a new line of Internet-of-Things (IoT) gadgets in addition to smart TVs, fitness trackers, and more.

Now, Xiaomi has revealed it has plans to bring another device, a handset to be precise to India. However, it will be coming in early September.

Xiaomi's sub-brand Redmi will launch the much-awaited Redmi 10 Prime. It has already launched more than four variants of the Redmi Note 10 series and now, the company is bringing the Redmi 10 Prime, which will be more affordable than the Note series.

It has opened the dedicated website suggesting that the upcoming phone will have a MediaTek Helio series chipset, the screen will support a high refresh rate, and adaptive display feature. The device will also good set of camera hardware, stereo speakers, and have fast charger in-box.

Must read | Xiaomi to launch new line of IoT devices this month

Xiaomi has been ruling the market with feature-rich offered at dirt-cheap prices and now, with the Redmi 10 Prime, it will further up the ante against rivals particularly Realme and Samsung, which have been releasing a series of budget and mid-range phones between Rs 8,000 and Rs 20,000 price range.

The previous generation Redmi 9 Prime was one of the best budget mobiles in the market. It had a long-lasting battery, a great camera, and a powerful processor, yet the starting price was below Rs 10,000.

Read more | Xiaomi Redmi 9 Prime review: Undisputable budget phone champion

As per the countdown timer set on the Redmi webpage, the device is slated to make its debut on September 3.

Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech.
A boat crowded with dozens of migrants capsized off Libya, and at least 17 people were presumed dead, a U.N. migration official said Monday. It was the latest disaster in the Mediterranean Sea involving migrants seeking a better life in Europe.

The accident happened Sunday night off the western town of Zuwara, said Safa Msehli, a spokeswoman for the International Organization for Migration.

She said around 70 migrants were on the rubber boat and the Libyan coast guard managed to rescue 51 Egyptians. One body was recovered and at least 16 other migrants were missing and assumed to have drowned, Msehli said.

The capsizing was the latest sea disaster off the Libyan coast involving Europe-bound migrants. Around 80 migrants were presumed dead in two separate shipwrecks off Libya last month.

There has been a spike in crossings and attempted crossings from Libya in recent months. Amnesty International has said that in the first six months of this year, more than 7,000 people intercepted at sea were forcibly returned to detention camps in Libya.

The deadliest shipwreck so far this year took place April 22 off Libya, when 130 people drowned despite the ship sending multiple distress calls.

Libya has in recent years emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. The oil-rich country plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

Rights groups and officials at U.N. agencies that work with migrants and refugees have for years cited survivor testimony about systematic abuse in detention camps in Libya. These include allegations of forced labor, beatings, rapes and torture. The abuse often accompanies efforts to extort money from families before migrants are allowed to leave Libya on traffickers' boats.
Asked about plummeting poll numbers, Joe Biden flashed his megawatt smile and laughed. The Afghanistan exit may look like a disaster but the US president exudes confidence that he will be proved right in the end.

"I think when this is over, the American people will have a clear understanding of what I did," he told reporters this weekend. "That's the job. My job is to make judgments. My job is to make judgments no one else can or will make."

When the Taliban completed their surge across Afghanistan by taking over Kabul in the middle of August, the Biden administration had the appearance of a deer in the headlights.

In Kabul, there was chaos as panicked Afghans mobbed the airport, leading to horrific scenes of people trying to hold on to airplanes and falling to their deaths.

Back home, Biden was initially invisible, prompting a torrent of criticism from Republicans and some of his own allies.

Also read: UK to urge extension of Kabul evacuations at G7 talks

Now, though, the White House is trying to wrest back control of the narrative, insisting that Americans are witnessing not a debacle but a bravely executed withdrawal from a war that had to end regardless.

So far, the spin is not helping Biden's political standing, already hammered by the coronavirus Delta variant and a civil war over masks and vaccines.

An NBC poll published Sunday gave Biden a 49 percent approval rating, down from 53 percent four months earlier. Disapproval for the Democrat had shot up from 39 to 48 percent.

On his handling of Afghanistan, disapproval was a stunning 60 percent.

Biden, though, is the model Washington "happy warrior" -- a politician whose default setting is on optimistic.

Confronted with the dark poll numbers by reporters, he just smiled and laughed.

"I haven't seen that poll," he said.

If there is anyone working hardest to rewrite the script for the embarrassed US government it's the military, which so far has mounted a remarkably efficient airlift from Kabul.

Latest figures showed US aircraft had evacuated more than 37,000 people just since August 14 and 42,000 since July.

Biden, uncharacteristically terse in the first days of the evacuation, is feeding off those numbers to sound increasingly hopeful and proud about the "incredible operation."

But mixed with the patriotism and a return to his trademark empathy when talking about the refugees is a newer element: tough love.

Biden's argument is that, yes, there may be a mess but a mess is inevitable when you exit a civil war -- and exiting is the only goal that really matters.

"There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss, of heartbreaking images you see on television. It's just a fact. My heart aches for those people you see," he said.

But while Biden says he is confident in the longterm outcome of the drama, time may not be on his side.

In the most immediate sense he is racing to complete the mass evacuations by an August 31 deadline agreed with the Taliban, who are effectively standing back to allow their enemy to get out.

Also read: 16,000 evacuated from Kabul airport in past 24 hours: Pentagon

And the clock is running down on Biden's ability to steer the political ship in a town where his opponents are circling and his allies are nervous.

A pair of giant infrastructure spending packages that were meant to be the legislative crown jewels of the first term are now on hold while Democratic congressional leaders continue to try to ensure enough votes in the closely divided House of Representatives.

Just a little further on the horizon looms the potentially game changing test of the midterm elections when the Democrats may well lose even the narrow majorities they now hold in Congress.

Still, Press Secretary Jen Psaki was as upbeat as her boss on Monday, telling reporters that "you're not elected president expecting to do easy things."

"The test of leadership is not about how you operate on your best day, it's about how you operate when the chips are down, when things are difficult."
A Ukrainian plane that reached Afghanistan to evacuate Ukrainians has been hijacked by unidentified people, who flew it into Iran, Russian news agency TASS reported quoting Ukraines Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin.

Last Sunday, our plane was hijacked by other people. On Tuesday, the plane was practically stolen from us, it flew into Iran with an unidentified group of passengers onboard instead of airlifting Ukrainians. Our next three evacuation attempts were also not successful because our people could not get into the airport, he said.

The deputy minister believed the hijackers were armed, TASS reported.

However, the Tehran Times reported the Ukraine FM spokesperson denying reports of any hijacking.

#BREAKING

Ukrainian FM spokesperson has denied any hijacking of a Ukrainian evacuation plane.  Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) August 24, 2021

More details awaited.
The Panjshir based anti-Taliban movement in Afghanistan has made gains in the northern Baghlan province as talks to form a new government continue.

Fighters of the self-styled "Resistance-2" against the Taliban in Panjshir said that they have managed to retake Salah and Banu districts in Baghlan after killing "dozens" of Taliban fighters.

Track latest updates from Afghanistan here

Panjshir is the only one of Afghanistan's 34 provinces that is yet to fall to the militants, TRT World reported.

The Taliban have reportedly surrounded Panjshir as the insurgents and the resistance movement continue talks to negotiate a stand-off.

With the anti-Taliban movement retaking Pul-e-Hisar over the weekend, at least three districts of Baghlan province to the north of Panjshir are with the Massoud forces. Baghlan is some 120 km north of Kabul.
Western countries worked at a war-footing pace" on Tuesday to get people out of Afghanistan, a NATO country diplomat said, as US President Joe Biden looked set to come under pressure from other G7 leaders to seek more time to complete the airlift.

Widespread chaos punctuated by sporadic violence has gripped Kabul's airport, with Western troops and Afghan security guards driving back crowds desperate to flee following the Taliban's take over of the Afghan capital on Aug. 15.

Countries conducting the evacuations are trying to meet a Aug. 31 deadline agreed earlier with the Taliban for the withdrawal of foreign forces, a NATO diplomat told Reuters.

"Every foreign force member is working at a war-footing pace to meet the deadline," said the official, who declined to be identified.

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries - Britain, Canada, France Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States - will meet virtually later on Tuesday to discuss the crisis.

Biden, who has said US troops might stay beyond the deadline, has warned the evacuation was going to be "hard and painful" and much could still go wrong.

Also Read  US says it is focused on completing evacuation from Afghanistan by August 31

Democratic US Representative Adam Schiff, chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, told reporters after a briefing on Afghanistan by intelligence officials that he did not believe the evacuation could be completed in the eight days remaining.

"I think it's possible but I think it's very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated," Schiff said.

A Taliban official said on Monday an extension would not be granted, though he said foreign forces had not sought one. Washington said negotiations were continuing. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said ahead of the G7 meeting: "I will ask our friends and allies to stand by the Afghan people and step up support for refugees and humanitarian aid."

"The Taliban will be judged by their deeds and not their words."

Britain's defence minister, Ben Wallace, told Sky News he was doubtful there would be an extension "not only because of what the Taliban has said but also if you look at the public statements of President Biden, I think it is unlikely".

'Does it still hurt? Yes'

Many Afghans fear reprisals and a return to a harsh version of Islamic law that the Taliban enforced while in power from 1996 to 2001, in particular the repression of women and freedom of speech.

There have been isolated but numerous incidents of Taliban aggression and intolerance reported on social media, as well as reports of Taliban searches for old enemies, fanning those fears.

Track latest updates from Afghanistan here

Nevertheless, thousands of Afghans have returned to their homes in the provinces after learning that the situation there was "relatively calm", said the NATO diplomat, while cautioning that scant intelligence and security reports were coming in from remote districts.

Australia evacuated more than 50 female Afghan Paralympians, athletes and their dependents after securing visas for them, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported on Tuesday.

The G7 leaders could discuss taking a united stand on the question of whether to recognise a Taliban government, or alternatively renew sanctions to pressure the Islamist militant movement to comply with pledges to respect women's rights and international relations.

"The G7 leaders will agree to coordinate on if, or when to recognise the Taliban," said one European diplomat. "And they will commit to continue to work closely together."

Leaders of the Taliban, who have sought to show a more moderate face since capturing Kabul, have begun talks on forming a government, that have included discussions with some old enemies from past governments, including a former president, Hamid Karzai.

Recognition of a Taliban government by other countries would have important consequences, like allowing the Taliban access to foreign aid that previous Afghan governments have depended upon.

Biden will face pressure from other leaders to extend the Aug. 31 deadline for evacuations. France has said more time was needed, and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday the G7 needed to consider whether to remain beyond that date.

Biden has faced widespread criticism over the withdrawal, which was initiated by his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, under a deal struck with the Taliban, and his opinion poll ratings have slipped.

For its part, the powerful US military has been grappling with the collapse of US-backed Afghan forces after 20 years of training. "Was it worth it? Yes. Does it still hurt? Yes," General David Berger, the commandant of the Marine Corps, wrote in a memo to Marines.
As foreign governments, aid institutions and companies scramble to evacuate staff from Afghanistan, a crucial question is emerging: should they engage with the ruling Taliban or abandon years of investment in the country and 38 million Afghans?

The Taliban in the past week has pledged peaceful relations with other countries, women's rights and independent media but some former diplomats and academics said the Islamist militant group, while more media and internet savvy than the Taliban of the 1990s, is just as brutal.

Track latest updates from Afghanistan here

The Taliban barred women from work, girls from school and killed or disfigured dissenters in public. It also harbored al Qaeda, which plotted the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked plane attacks on New York and Washington that prompted a US-led invasion.

For foreign aid agencies the situation presents "a paradox," said Robert Crews, a Stanford University history professor and author of the 2015 book Afghan Modern: The History of a Global Nation.

"If you are an aid worker at a state hospital, you are serving a regime whose legitimacy is in the balance," he said. "But if everybody goes home, will the state collapse?"

Afghanistan's government budget is 70 per cent to 80 per cent funded by international donors, including the US Agency for International Development (USAID), said Michael McKinley, who served as ambassador to Afghanistan in 2015 and 2016. The country faces economic collapse without that aid.

Also Read  Afghanistan's media enters the unknown under Taliban rule

"The Taliban is going to require substantial outside funding, unless they retreat to what they did from 1996 to 2001, which was essentially run the government to minimalist levels," said McKinley, now with the Cohen Group consultancy. "Living off the narcotics trade did not provide them a path towards staying in power."

International failure to engage with the Taliban could set up an even larger crisis, some warn. "There will be enormous temptation to just pull the plug and walk away, but we did that in 1989 and 9/11 happened 12 years later," Daniel Runde, a development expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Billions invested

While foreign governments and aid groups evacuate thousands of people, they're leaving billions of dollars in projects hanging in the balance, much of it through the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund.

The United States has allocated $145 billion towards Afghan reconstruction since 2002, a July 30 report from the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction shows.

The World Bank is contributing more than $2 billion to fund 27 active projects in Afghanistan, from horticulture to automated payment systems, part of more than $5.3 billion the development lender has spent on development and reconstruction of the country.

Also read: Biden fights to regain control of Afghanistan narrative

On Friday a flight from Kabul landed in Islamabad with 350 evacuees, including employees from the World Bank Group and other international institutions. A World Bank internal memo viewed by Reuters confirmed that its Kabul-based staff, including Afghan employees, had been evacuated with their immediate families.

"Our work in Afghanistan has been critical for development across the region. I am hopeful we will be able to have a positive impact once the situation stabilizes," president David Malpass wrote.

The Asian Development Bank, also with extensive operations in Afghanistan, remains "committed to supporting Afghanistans economic and social development," the group said in a statement.

Myanmar, upended by a military coup last year, provides some parallels. In February the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund suspended all disbursements and projects there, a freeze that continues despite a worsening spread of Covid-19 in the country.

Both organisations said they are guided by their membership when dealing with such abrupt changes of government and the United States holds dominant shares in both.

Citing a lack of clarity over its members' recognition of the Afghan government, the IMF suspended Afghanistan's access to Fund resources, including some $440 million in new monetary reserves that the IMF allocated on Monday.

Companies, including the US's big social media firms and natural resources groups are split in how to deal with the Taliban, a microcosm of wider inconsistencies in how the international community classifies the group.

"We ought to take at some level of face value the statements that are coming out of Taliban leadership," Runde, of CSIS argues. "They're going to have to prove they're serious about this."

Ryan Crocker, who served as ambassador to Afghanistan in 2011-2012, and who has sharply criticized the US military exit from the country, said trusting the Taliban should not be an option.

"The Taliban are back in control, and they will bring their al-Qaeda allies with them," Crocker said in a blog post on the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace website. "This is not a hypothetical security threat. These are the groups that brought about 9/11, and they have not become kinder and gentler in the interim."
The Biden Administration Monday said it is now focused on completing its evacuation mission from Afghanistan by August 31, the deadline for removing all American troops from the country.

However, a final decision to extend the evacuation mission from the Kabul airport would be taken by President Joe Biden, according to officials from the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon.

Ultimately, it will be the President's decision how these proceeds, no one else's, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters at a White House news conference.

Track latest updates from Afghanistan here

He was responding to questions on the August 31 deadline set by the Taliban for the US troops to leave the country.

The US currently has 5,800 troops at the Kabul airport, who are mainly engaged in evacuating its citizens and all those Afghans who helped the United States during its stay in the country for the last 20 years.

The President believes we are making substantial progress. Dozens of flights, thousands -- now tens of thousands of people evacuated from the country. We believe today will be an efficient and effective day and tomorrow and the next day as well. And as I said, he is taking this day by day and will make his determinations as we go, Sullivan said.

Also Read  Forced to leave home, former president Karzai remains in Kabul despite risks

At the Pentagon, Defense Department Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters they have seen the public statements by the Taliban spokesman about their views on the 31st of August. I think we all understand that view, he said.

The goal is to get as many people out as fast as possible. And while we're glad to see the numbers that we got yesterday, we're not going to rest on any laurels. The focus is on trying to do this as best we can by the end of the month, he said.

And as the (defense) secretary said, if their needs to have additional conversations with the commander in chief about that timeline, he'll do that. But we're just not at that point right now, Kirby said.

Echoed the State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, President Biden will ultimately have to decide when this operation will come to a close. I can tell you that it is our goal to move as quickly as we can and as efficiently as we can to bring to safety as many people as we can.

And I think you are seeing in the metrics in recent days and certainly over the past 24 hours that we are making good progress on that, he said.

It is not our goal to be there one day, one hour, one minute longer than is absolutely necessary, but not going to get ahead of that, he told reporters at a State Department news conference.

Also read: Biden fights to regain control of Afghanistan narrative

As of Thursday morning, within the last 24 hours, 25 US military C-17s, three US military C-130s, and then a combination of 61 charter commercial and other military flights departed Kabul.

The total passenger count for those flights was approximately 16,000. Of that number, the US military transported just under 11,000 personnel, said Major Gen Hank Taylor who has been tasked with the responsibility of airlifting American citizens out of Afghanistan during the Taliban crisis. He described it as a worldwide effort, with several countries, multiple commands, and thousands of servicemembers across the joint force. Over the weekend, the airport in Kabul remains secure, he added.

Today, the number of troops at the airport continues to stand at 5,800. Commanders on the ground continue to actively monitor threats. They are empowered to make the appropriate force protection decisions. As always, US forces retain the inherent right to use force in self-defense. We're using all of our available tools to maintain the highest threat awareness, both in Afghanistan and throughout the globe. While this mission is not without risk, the safety of our personnel, American citizens, and Afghan evacuees at risk is of paramount importance, he said.

The US, he said, continues to make progress in the completion of this mission.

Since the end of July, we have relocated approximately 42,000 people. Since the beginning of evacuation operations on August 14, we've evacuated approximately 37,000. All of this progress stems from the teamwork, professionalism, and dedication of our military, our interagency colleagues, and our allies, and partners, he added.
Former Chadian president Hissene Habre, who was serving a life term in Senegal for war crimes and crimes against humanity, has died, Senegalese Justice Minister Malick Sall said Tuesday. He was 79.

"Habre is in his Lord's hands," Sall told the television channel TFM.

Local media said he had died of Covid-19.

Habre seized power in Chad in 1982, fleeing to Senegal in 1990 after he was in turn overthrown.

The former leader was jailed in Senegal's capital Dakar in 2016 after an African Union-backed trial over abuses committed during years of iron-fisted rule in Chad.

Some 40,000 people are estimated to have been killed under Habre's leadership of the semi-desert country.

Habre's supporters continued to lobby for his freedom while he was in prison in Dakar, however.

The ex-dictator was released on a two-month furlough last year, designed to protect him from the coronavirus.

Reed Brody, a lawyer who represented Habre's victims, said in a statement on Tuesday that there had been calls for the former leader to be vaccinated against the virus.

He nonetheless added that Habre will "go down in history as one of the world's most pitiless dictators, a man who slaughtered his own people to seize and maintain power".
Pakistan has raised objections to the design of India's Kiru hydroelectric plant, a mega 624 MW project over the Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir, but New Delhi asserts that the project is fully compliant with the Indus Water Treaty, officials said on Tuesday.

Confirming this development, India's Indus Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Saxena told PTI that his Pakistani counterpart Syed Muhammad Meher Ali Shah raised the objections last week.

Saxena, however, asserted that the design of the project is fully compliant with the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). It has been certified by the Central Water Commission, an apex organisation of the country in the field of water resources.

This run-of-river project is being implemented by Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited, a joint venture of the National Hydropower Company and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC).

"As a responsible upper riparian state, India is committed for full utilisation of its rights and believes in an amicable resolution the issues raised by Pakistan side in letter and spirit of the treaty.

"Pakistan's objections on this project may come up for discussions in the next meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission scheduled this year in Pakistan. In the forthcoming meeting, the Indian side will explain its position and hope that Pakistan will appreciate the same and its apprehensions will be addressed through discussions," Saxena said.

The treaty provides Pakistan the right to raise objection on Indian design within three month of the receipt of the information. India has supplied the information on this project in June to Pakistan.

Under the IWT signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of the eastern rivers -- Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi -- amounting to around 33 million acre feet (MAF) annually is allocated to India for unrestricted use. The waters of western rivers -- Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab -- amounting to around 135 MAF annually has been assigned largely to Pakistan.

According to the treaty, India has been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run-of-the-river projects on the western rivers subject to specific criteria for design and operation.

The treaty also gives right to Pakistan to raise objections to designs of Indian hydroelectric projects on the western rivers.

India is permitted to construct the run of the river plants on western rivers with limited storage as per criteria specified in the treaty, Saxena said.

Earlier this year, during the meeting between Indus Commissioner of India and Pakistan, Shah also raised objections on the designs of Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir. To this, India said the designs are fully compliant with the treaty.

Pakistan has also raised objections on hydropower projects in Chilling (24 MW), Rongdo (12 MW) and Ratan Nag (10.5 MW) are in Leh; while Mangdum Sangra (19 MW), Kargil Hunderman (25 MW) and Tamasha (12 MW) are in Kargil. India had said the designs of these projects are also fully compliant with the treaty.

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The Taliban on Tuesday said they would not agree to an extension of a looming deadline to evacuate Afghans from Kabul airport, even as Western countries said they were running out of time.

European nations have said they would not be able to airlift at-risk Afghans before the August 31 cut-off, and United States President Joe Biden has faced calls from all corners to extend the evacuation window.

But speaking at a press conference in the capital Kabul, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the Islamist group would not agree to an extension, and told the US to stop evacuating skilled Afghans.

Read more: Afghanistan's Hazaras call on Taliban to set up inclusive government

Mujahid also said female Afghan government workers should stay home until security conditions in the country improve.

US-led troops have ramped up operations to get thousands of people out of Kabul, after the Taliban warned they would not allow the US to extend the deadline for a complete withdrawal.

President Biden has said he would stick to the schedule, but faced growing pressure to negotiate more time for the evacuations.

Germany said on Tuesday that Western allies simply cannot fly every Afghan who needs protection out of Kabul before the cut-off date.

"Even if (the evacuation) goes on until August 31 or even a few days longer, it will not be enough to allow those who we, or the United States, want to fly out," Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told Bild TV.

Earlier France said it would have to end evacuations from Kabul's airport on Thursday if the US stuck to the deadline, and Spain said it would not be able to rescue all Afghans who served Spanish missions.

Britain, meanwhile, has said it will lobby for an extension at a virtual G7 summit later Tuesday.

Read more: The Taliban may have access to the biometric data of civilians who helped the US military

About 50,000 foreigners and Afghans have fled the country from Kabul's airport since the Taliban swept into power nine days ago, according to the US government.

Many Afghans fear a repeat of the brutal interpretation of sharia law that the Taliban implemented when first in power from 1996-2001, or retribution for working with the US-backed government over the past two decades.

The Taliban, who ended two decades of war with an astonishingly swift rout of government forces, has been publicly tolerant of the evacuation effort.

But on Tuesday Mujahid reiterated an earlier Taliban warning against extending the airlift.

He also said Americans were taking "Afghan experts" such as engineers out of Afghanistan.

"We ask them to stop this process," he said.

The Taliban achieved their stunning victory thanks to Biden pulling out nearly all American troops from Afghanistan, following through on a deal struck with the movement by then-president Donald Trump.

However, Biden was forced to redeploy thousands of troops after the fall of Kabul to oversee the airlift.

According to the Washington Post, US Central Intelligence Agency chief William Burns held a secret meeting in Kabul on Monday with Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, although no details were reported and neither the CIA nor the Taliban confirmed it.

Read more: Taliban appoint finance minister, intelligence chief in Afghanistan

The rush to leave Kabul has sparked harrowing scenes and left at least eight people dead.

Some have been crushed to death and at least one, a youth football player, died after falling off a plane.

The German defence ministry said Monday an Afghan soldier was killed and three others wounded in a firefight with unknown assailants.

Margarita Robles, the Spanish defence minister, said the security situation was getting worse.

"The Taliban are becoming more aggressive, there is gunfire, violence is more obvious," she said in an interview with news radio Cadena Ser.

"The situation is frankly dramatic and besides, with each passing day, it is worse because people are conscious that time is running out."

The Taliban have repeatedly claimed to be different from their 1990s incarnation, and have declared an amnesty for government forces and officials.

But an intelligence assessment conducted for the United Nations said militants were going door-to-door hunting former government officials and those who worked with US and NATO forces.

In the capital and other cities, the former insurgents have enforced some sense of calm, with their fighters patrolling the streets and manning checkpoints.

The Taliban are also intent on quashing the last notable Afghan military resistance to their rule, made up of ex-government forces in the Panjshir Valley, north of the capital.

The Panjshir has long been known as an anti-Taliban bastion.

One of the leaders of the movement, named the National Resistance Front, is the son of famed anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud.
Attorney General K K Venugopal on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to overturn the Bombay High Court's judgement which held that sexual assault offences under the POCSO would not be attracted if there was no direct 'skin to skin' contact between the accused and the child.

Calling the verdict a "dangerous and outrageous precedent", he contended before a bench of Justices U U Lalit and Ajay Rastogi that the judgment would mean that a man who sexually abused a child after wearing a pair of surgical gloves will be acquitted.

"If tomorrow a person wears a pair of surgical gloves and feels the entire body of a woman, he won't be punished for sexual assault as per this judgment. This is outrageous. Saying that skin-to-skin contact is required would mean a person wearing gloves getting an acquittal. The judge clearly didn't see the far-reaching consequences," he said.

Justice Pushpa Ganediwala of the HC's Nagpur Bench had acquitted an accused observing that groping of the breasts of a minor girl over her clothes will not amount to the offence of 'sexual assault' under Section 8 of the POCSO.

Maintaining that there should be 'skin to skin' contact to attract the offence, the High Court held that the act in question will only amount to a lesser offence of 'molestation' under Section 354 IPC.

Also read: Bombay HC judge who delivered controversial verdicts gets 1 year fresh term as additional judge

The Attorney General said that the High Court's judgment was contrary to the legislative intent.

"There are 43,000 POCSO offences in the last one year," the A-G said.

He was arguing on the appeal filed by him against the High Court's judgment.

Maharashtra's counsel supported the A-G's arguments.

The state government's appeal against another controversial judgment of the Bombay High Court was also put before the top court. The HC had then held that the act of holding a minor girl's hands and opening the zip of pants would not come under the definition of "sexual assault" under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

As no counsel appeared for the accused, the bench directed the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee to make available the services of two senior advocates along with Advocates-on-Record from its panel to represent the accused in both the appeals.

The matters have been posted for final hearing on September 14.
The credibility of Washington's foreign policies has come under a cloud with the unfolding of events in Afghanistan following the pull-out of US troops from the country. After the humilating Afghan debacle, can the US be trusted with their other initiatives such as the QUAD or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue on the global stage?

As the world watched the developments in Afghanistan with disbelief, the US will have to fight the rapidly growing trust deficit, which would be felt among its post-war allies including Japan, Korea and the 10-nation Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

At a time when India-US relations have been cementing amid the changing geopolitical landscape, pressure is building on the South Block to revisit its overall foreign policy in the wake of the Afghanistan crisis.

Read more: Taliban issue new warning against airlift extension as deadline looms

"New Delhi should keep all channels of co-operation (with other countries) open. Already, we have suffered considerably due to US sanctions on Iran which led to confusions with Tehran. Besides, there have been setbacks over the Chabahar project as well," an analyst told India Narrative.

The Narendra Modi government stopped oil imports from Iran in early May, 2018 after the US sanctions on Tehran kicked in.The Observer Research Foundation (ORF) said in its report that across the world there are worries about the reliability and credibility of the US as a guarantor of security.

"It would be foolhardy to take American credibility on external commitments as a given. While there are fewer doubts about US commitments to Europe and the NATO, the looser arrangements in the Indo-Pacific leave open many questions," the ORF paper stated.

Many have also opined that this is a "Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh) moment" for the US. Gerald Ford, then US President announced in April 1975 that for Washington, the Vietnam war, which it was spearheading was "finished."

According to Al Jazeera, "the president's words landed like shells of cold indifference on the ears of the South Vietnamese who had been promised support by successive US administrations, including Ford's."

Following the US withdrawal, Saigon fell and the Communists assumed power.Though US President Joe Biden has made it clear that he has no regrets in withdrawing from Afghanistan as "the objectives of the war have been met," "the goals of wiping out terrorism, nation building, political stability and peace stand like a ruin in the face of the empire," the news organisation said.

While many eyebrows have raised over India's US policy, Shakti Sinha, Hony Director, AB Vajpayee Institute of Policy Research and International Studies told India Narrative that the move should not come as a surprise to the world.

"The US has been talking about pulling out its troops, the world including India should have been prepared for this though from a humanitarian point it is an extremely sad episode."

Sinha, who served as head of the governance and development section of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2008, said.

The Doha Peace Agreement was signed last year in February. The agreement signed by the US--under the Donald Trump regime -- and Taliban got the support of China, Pakistan and Russsia. Under the agreement, the US and NATO forces committed to pulling out of Afghanistan.

Several experts also said that the exit of the US from Afghanistan will allow Washington to focus more on China.

"The US is withdrawing from Afghanistan because it wants to concentrate its resources against China," Satoru Nagao, fellow at Hudson Institute, told India Narrative.

Irrespective of the course that the US charters once it closes the Afghanistan chapter, it will have to seriously look at rebuilding its credibility as a world power.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to amend the Citizenship Amendment Act so that Afghan Sikhs and Hindus can get Indian citizenship.

In a letter written to Shah, Sirsa thanked the Centre for evacuating members of Sikh and Hindu community from war-torn Afghanistan.

"Your good self is humbly requested to make necessary amendments and provision(s) in (the) Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) law so that Afghan Sikhs and Hindus who have taken refuge in India in the year 2020 and 2021 may also get benefited," the letter stated.

He said the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) is also making "all necessary arrangements to rehabilitate these Afghan Sikhs and Hindus in India".

Also read: Can India and the world trust the US after its Afghan debacle?

"Their religions and lives were under constant threat in the regime of Taliban. As there is no scope for them to return back to their country, they and their children have to face many challenges to resettle in India until Indian citizenship is granted to them. They are desperately looking up to (the) Indian Government as a beacon of hope," he said.

Sirsa urged the home minister to consider the issue on priority to make the necessary amendments and provisions in the CAA in the interest of Afghan Sikh and Hindu migrants.

The Taliban swept across Afghanistan earlier this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities in the backdrop of withdrawal of the US forces that began on May 1.

On August 15, the capital city Kabul also fell to the Taliban. A large number of Afghans attempted in vain to flee the war-torn nation.

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India on Tuesday brought back 78 people, including 25 of its nationals and a number of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus from Dushanbe, a day after they were evacuated from Taliban-besieged Kabul to the Tajik city.

The group along with three copies of the Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, was airlifted from Kabul to Dushanbe by a military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force on Monday.

With Tuesday's evacuation, the number of people brought back to Delhi reached over 800 since August 16 when the first group was airlifted from Kabul, a day after the Taliban seized control of the Afghan capital city.

Track latest updates from Afghanistan here

The evacuees were received at the Indira Gandhi International Airport by Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and V Muraleedharan.

"Blessed to receive & pay obeisance to three holy Swaroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from Kabul to Delhi a short while ago," Puri tweeted.

Union Minister @HardeepSPuri received the Sikh holy book of Shri Guru Granth Sahib, brought from Kabul in #Afghanistan, at Delhi airport. Minister carried the holy book. He said, he is blessed to receive and pay obeisance to the Shri Guru Granth Sahib.pic.twitter.com/LNpFJDtzMY  All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) August 24, 2021

An Air India flight brought back the people from Dushanbe.

"Joined Minister Shri @HardeepSPuri ji at Delhi Airport in receiving Swaroop of Shri Guru Granth Sahib ji arrived from Afghanistan along with evacuees," Muraleedharan tweeted.

Earlier, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said 78 people are being brought to Delhi on an Air India flight.

"Helping in the safe return from Afghanistan. AI 1956 en route to Delhi from Dushanbe carrying 78 passengers, including 25 Indian nationals. Evacuees were flown in from Kabul on an @IAF_MCC aircraft," he said on Twitter.

Helping in the safe return from Afghanistan.

AI 1956 enroute to Delhi from Dushanbe carrying 78 passengers, including 25 Indian nationals. Evacuees were flown in from Kabul on an @IAF_MCC aircraft.@IndEmbDushanbe pic.twitter.com/BcIWLzSLrL  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) August 24, 2021

On Monday, India brought back 146 of its nationals to Delhi in four different flights from the Qatari capital Doha, days after they were evacuated from Kabul by NATO and American aircraft.

India has stepped up efforts to evacuate its citizens as well as its Afghan partners from Kabul in view of the deteriorating security situation in the Afghan capital and other parts of the country after the Taliban swept to power last week.

On Sunday, India evacuated 392 people including two Afghan lawmakers in three different flights under the evacuation mission.

Also Read  Afghanistan's media enters the unknown under Taliban rule

The Taliban seized control of Kabul on August 15. Within two days of the Taliban's capture of Kabul, India evacuated 200 people, including the Indian envoy and other staffers of its embassy in the Afghan capital.

The first evacuation flight brought back over 40 people, mostly staffers at the Indian embassy on August 16.

The second aircraft evacuated around 150 people including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians from Kabul on August 17.

India carried out the evacuation missions in coordination with the US and several other friendly countries.

The Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities, including Kabul, in the backdrop of the withdrawal of the US forces.
Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday held discussions with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his detractor  senior minister in the state government T S Singh Deo  as Congress appeared hurtling towards another crisis even before it put its house in order two other states: Punjab and Rajasthan.

While Baghel flew from Raipur on Monday evening a hours after Singh Deo reached the national capital from Bhopal on Monday afternoon. The two leaders were rivals for quite some time but the rumblings grew after June this year when the Baghel government completed two and half years in office.

This was because of the purported promise of rotational Chief Ministership formula that was speculated to have been agreed between them by the Congress high command when the party had formed a government in the state, winning Assembly polls after a gap of 15 years.

Also Read | Punjab bothers Congress again; rumblings in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan as well

AICC general secretary for Chattisgarh, P L Puniya, had, in June itself, denied that there was any such half-half-CM formula in the state, indicating that Baghel would continue in the post. Baghel in July said he was ready to step down if the high command asked him to do so but also indicated that such formula generally exists in a coalition government of two parties while Congress has a clear majority on its own in the state.

While many in the party agree that such an informal proposal did exist, there was no written or public announcement of any such formula. While Baghel is 60, Singh Deo is 68.

In 2018 when the Chhattisgarh polls took place, Baghel was the state Congress chief and after elections named the Chief Minister with majority MLAs supporting him.

The two leaders, Baghel and Sindh Deo met Gandhi at his official residence, where Puniya was also present.

After a long time, I am going to Delhi. (Last month) I visited Himachal Pradesh to take part in the funeral of Virbhadra Singh ji as a representative of Sonia Gandhi during which I met Priyanka (returning to Delhi). This time the meeting is with Rahul Gandhi. There will also be a meeting with AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal and state's incharge PL Punia, Baghel had said on Monday before leaving for the national capital. He had also feigned ignorance about Singh Deo also meeting Gandhi saying he has information of "meeting with Rahul ji only.

Baghel, Singh Deo and Tamradhwaj Sahu were in contention for the Chief Minister's post after the election results and when the CM post went to Baghel, the other two were inducted as Cabinet ministers in the state.
BJP on Tuesday hit out at the Congress, accusing it of political hypocrisy for its claims that the Modi government was selling national assets through the Rs 6 lakh crore monetisation pipeline.

Union Minister Smriti Irani cited the Congress-led UPA initiatives of privatisation of airports, monetisation of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, and redevelopment of the New Delhi Railway Station through private partnership.

Is this Rahul Gandhi's allegation that a government whose 'mukhia' was his mother had sold rail, road and airport, Irani asked.

This man's politics begins with hypocrisy, is sustained through arrogance and ends with contempt, she said, adding the Congress leader today displayed all of it.

Congress leaders Gandhi and P Chidambaram had accused the Modi government of selling all the national assets that were created over the past 70 years.

It again proves that Rahul Gandhi had shamelessly tried to target the Central Government which has brought the entire monetisation process in a transparent manner and fill coffers of the country and saved the country from the thieves of the Congress party, said Irani, who defeated Gandhi in the Lok Sabha elections from Amethi.

Read more: Assets created in last 70 years being sold: Rahul on National Monetisation Pipeline

With Gandhi accusing the Modi government of promoting a few select corporates and alleging that the country was heading towards "enslavement", Irani shot back, saying "enslaved" are those who, under a family rule, speak of breaking the country, a reference to controversial comments on Kashmir and Pakistan by two advisors of Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Asked about Rahul Gandhi's claim that he had warned the government of the Covid-19's dangers too, the BJP leader and Amethi MP shot back saying there was not even a district hospital and CT scanner in the constituency he represented for 15 years.

BJP leader and Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the opposition party is a "non-performing asset" that has no value.

Speaking to reporters, Naqvi took a swipe at the Congress, calling it a "depressed defaulter dynasty" and a "champion of confusion and contradiction".

While the Modi government and the BJP are engaged in the "construction of the country, the Congress is involved in the "destruction of the country", he alleged.

(With PTI inputs)
The administration in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur district on Tuesday acceded to the demand of an ex-army jawan, who had kept the body of his dead son in a deep freezer for 24 days and refused to cremate him until a second post-mortem was conducted as he suspected that his son had been murdered.

According to the police sources, the ex-army man, identified as Subedar (retd) Shiv Prasad Pathak, has agreed to cremate his son after the postmortem.

Sources said that Pathak's son Shivank, who worked in Delhi, had died on August 1, 2021, under suspicious circumstances.

Though Pathak alleged that his son had been murdered and demanded registration of cases against some of his colleagues, the Delhi police refused to lodge any case and handed over Shivank's body to him after the autopsy.

Demanding a second postmortem, Pathak refused to cremate the mortal remains of his son and had kept his body in a deep freezer since then.

The district administration had on Sunday warned Pathak of legal action if he failed to cremate the body immediately. ''I am happy that the administration has agreed to conduct another postmortem,'' Pathak, a resident of Saraiya Majahoa village in the district, said.

He said that he had also approached the local police to register a case in this regard but they also refused.

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The Haryana assembly on Tuesday passed a Bill aimed at creating a unique identification number for each family and preparing their database to enable them to access various government services.

The Haryana Parivar Pehchan Bill, 2021, was passed by the state assembly amid strong opposition by the Congress, which questioned its need, raising concerns over the security of data collected for preparing Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP or the family IDs).

Demanding the withdrawal of the Bill, senior Congress leader Kiran Choudhary described it as a draconian law, which will have serious ramifications.

This is being brought in haste. The intention of this bill is insidious. It will end the privacy of common citizens, she claimed in the House. A common hacker can breach the data. The law is an infringement of privacy rights, she further alleged.

We are guiding ourselves towards a totalitarian regime. The common man will be exposed to snooping. This is an infringement of our fundamental rights, Choudhary alleged.

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is also the leader of the Opposition, demanded that the bill be withdrawn, saying it is not in the interest of democracy.

Congress member Geeta Bhukkal questioned the need of bringing the law, saying we already have multiple IDs including Aadhaar. Who is going to benefit from this entire mega exercise of collecting data?

She also demanded that the Bill be withdrawn. Responding to the opposition's charges, Chief Minister M L Khattar, who is also the leader of the House, said the right to privacy issue which is being raised by the opposition members is not an issue for the poor and added only those who have something to hide have this concern.

On opposition members' concerns, Khattar told them that the PPP is not mandatory. Kiran Choudhary, however, contended that it will virtually become mandatory to avail various government services including its use in land registries.

As per the Bill, a Haryana Parivar Pehchan Authority will be established. Every family, being a resident of Haryana, shall be entitled to obtain a Parivar Pehchan number by providing, submitting or updating on the designated portal, information comprising of such data fields, as may be notified by the Authority with the prior approval of the state government, the Bill said.

The Parivar Pehchan number would be for determining the eligibility for or the provision of any scheme, service, subsidy or benefit provided or implemented by or on behalf of state government or any government agency or local authority, the Bill added. T

argeting opposition, Khattar said the Haryana government is coming up with reformative schemes, which, it seems, are not acceptable to the opposition parties and making them feel jittery.

No one built a system for the state benefits reaching the last person standing in the queue. Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) scheme (family IDs) has been formulated to deliver the benefits of the schemes to that last person, he said. He said that work is being done on this scheme for the last three years and 64 lakh families in the state have been registered in the PPP so far.

The family ID will help citizens of Haryana to take advantage of and avail government services, he said.

The chief minister said the data is needed to facilitate the citizens of Haryana. He said different departments have their own data which sometimes does not match with each other. The PPP scheme has been prepared, keeping this in mind and it will help consolidate various data.

The chief minister said the birth, death and marriage registrations would also be linked with the PPP. With this, real-time data will be available to us. It will make planning and the implementation of various welfare schemes easier, he said, adding that out of 3.3 lakh government employees of Haryana, 2,98,274 employees have got their PPP made.

He insisted that the data will remain completely safe and secure. "IT security features have been used to secure the data of the PPP. No one can use this information without permission. If there is any kind of theft of this data, a provision of punishment has also been made," he sought to assure the assembly.

Khattar also said recently German ambassador to India during a meeting with him had praised the state government's PPP project.
Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Tuesday adopted a resolution for restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir along with full statehood.

The PAGD leaders held a meeting at the Gupkar residence of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah which was attended by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and other second-rank leaders of the political parties which are part of the alliance.

Unconstitutional decisions of August 5, 2019, taken in the Parliament to nullify Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution of India and the damaging legislation which dismembered the historic state and created two Union Territories  Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh  has created a big political void and deep uncertainty in the erstwhile state," the resolution reads.

It is most unfortunate that the judicial challenges against this abrogation as a violation of the Constitution continue to remain pending before the Supreme Court even after two years, it said.

The PAGD also demanded the release of all political prisoners immediately and an end to Indiscriminate use of draconian laws".

The resolution also expressed dismay over the June 24 meeting of J&K leaders with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

Also read: PAGD reiterates its demand for restoration of special status of J&K

Nothing substantial emerged after the Prime Ministers Dilli ki Doori and Dil ki Doori. No confidence-building measures have been taken to provide some relief to the distressed people of the region, the resolution reads.

It also said the successive executive orders post-August 2019 like domicile laws, curbs on media, intimidation of government employees, discriminatory rules on employment are some of the authoritarian diktats that have been imposed on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The alliance leaders firmly resolved to uphold the glorious traditions of unity, amity and brotherhood of the people of different regions and communities.

We assure our people that we shall remain on their side under all circumstances for their better future and dignified life, they resolved.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Tarigami, who is the spokesperson of the alliance, said the voices of people are being muzzled. This has never been witnessed. But, it cannot sustain for long, he said and warned that the silence in J&K should not be taken as normalcy.

Tarigami asserted that the alliance will not act as mute spectators over the humiliation being faced by the J&K people.

The PAGD meeting was held despite authorities not giving permission for it in view of the Covid-19 protocols.

The PAGD is an alliance of six mainstream political parties seeking the restoration of the special status of J&K which was revoked by the Centre on August 5, 2019.
The government is very sensitive to the issue of the rise in fuel prices, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday, asserting that people will get some relief in the coming months.

International oil prices are slowly coming down and stabilising, the minister added, addressing a press conference.

"The central government is very sensitive to this issue...I see that in the coming months, relief will come," he told reporters, replying to a query if any relief can be expected in the near future.

Puri, however, defended the government on the consistent rise of fuel prices in the country, saying the Centre imposes an excise duty of Rs 32 per litre and the revenue thus generated is spent on various welfare schemes.

"The central government is also very sensitive to other responsibilities that we have...the government provided free rations to 80 crore people, free vaccines, all other facilities. So it's a part of that picture," he said.

Also read: BJP leader tells journalist to go to 'Taliban' for cheaper petrol

The minister said the excise duty levied by the central government continues to remain the same today as it was in April 2010.

"For example, when international price was 19 dollar 60 cents or 64 cents per litre, then also we used to impose Rs 32 per litre. Now when it is 75 dollar per litre, we are still imposing the same Rs 32 per litre," he said.

Fuel prices in India are determined by the international market since the Congress-led UPA deregulated oil pricing in 2010, Puri said.

Besides the excise duty imposed by the central government on fuel, the states also levy VAT, he added.

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The Delhi High Court was informed on Tuesday that a petition challenging the appointment of Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as Delhi Police Commissioner has also been filed before the Supreme Court.

The submission was made in response to the High Courts August 18 query on whether any other plea concerning Asthanas appointment is pending before any court.

The query was raised while hearing a petition by an advocate challenging Asthanas appointment as Delhi Police Commissioner and extension of his service by one year.

At the outset, advocate Prashant Bhushan informed a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh that he has filed a petition on behalf of NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) before the Supreme Court on August 10 challenging Asthanas appointment and it is likely to come up for hearing on Wednesday.

Also Read  Delhi vs Centre? Assembly passes resolution against Asthana's appointment as Delhi Police Commissioner

It is informed to this court that on very same appointment under challenge, already a writ petition has been preferred before the Supreme Court and the said matter is coming up for further hearing, the bench said while dictating the order.

To this, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing the Centre, said the plea has not yet been heard by the Supreme Court and it will be the first hearing on Wednesday.

It is not before the court, it is before the registry. There is a marked distinction between the two, he said, adding that they have not been served with the copy of the petition.

The Central government standing counsel Amit Mahajan said they are not aware of such a litigation.

The bench asked Bhushan to give a copy of the petition to the Centres counsel and listed the petition filed before it by Sadre Alam, a practising advocate, for hearing on September 24.

The bench said it had raised the query if any such petition concerning Asthanas appointment was pending in any other court as it was in its mind that some matter was there. There cannot be two orders in a similar matter. What if there are contradictory orders or observations, it said.

The 1984-batch IPS officer, serving as the director general of Border Security Force, was appointed the Delhi Police Commissioner on July 27, four days before his superannuation on July 31.

In his petition before the high court, Alam has sought quashing of the July 27 order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs appointing Asthana as the Delhi Police Commissioner and also the order granting inter-cadre deputation and extension of service to him.

Also Read | Congress attacks Centre over Rakesh Asthana's appointment as Delhi Police Commissioner

Advocate B S Bagga, representing Alam, has argued that Asthana's appointment was in violation of the existing service law.

Four days before retirement he was appointed to the post, he has stated as he claimed that the service conditions mandate a minimum residual tenure of six months.

ASG Sharma had contended that this petitioner has no locus standi to challenge Asthana's appointment.

The plea also sought initiation of steps for appointing the Delhi Police Commissioner strictly in accordance with the direction issued by the Supreme Court earlier. The impugned orders (of MHA) are in clear and blatant breach of the directions passed by the Supreme Court of India in Prakash Singh case as (i) respondent no.2 (Asthana) did not have a minimum residual tenure of six months; (ii) no UPSC panel was formed for appointment of Delhi Police Commissioner; and (iii) the criteria of having a minimum tenure of two years has been ignored, the plea said.

It claimed the High-Powered Committee comprising the Chief Justice of India, Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition, in its meeting held on May 24, 2021, rejected the Central government's attempt to appoint Asthana as the CBI Director on the basis of the six-month rule as laid down by the Supreme Court in Prakash Singh.

The appointment of Asthana to the post of Commissioner of Police, Delhi must be set aside on the same principle, it said.

The petition with similar prayers which has been filed by CPIL before the Supreme Court has urged to direct the central government to produce the July 27 order it issued, approving the inter-cadre deputation of Asthana from Gujarat cadre to AGMUT cadre.

The petition has also urged the apex court to set aside the Centre's order to extend Asthana's service period.

A contempt plea in the apex court by advocate M L Sharma has been filed against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for appointing Asthana as Delhi Police Commissioner in alleged violation of the judgement in Prakash Singh case.

In his petition, Sharma has said that according to the apex court's judgement of July 3, 2018, the process of appointment should begin three months prior to the vacancy and the person being appointed must have a reasonable period of service left.
The Supreme Court was on Tuesday asked to set up a monitoring committee headed by a former judge of the top court or chief justice of a High Court to evaluate the reasons for the delay in investigation of cases lodged by the CBI and the ED against sitting and former MPs and MLAs.

The panel, also comprising the heads of the CBI, and the ED and Home Secretary, may issue directions for timely completion of the investigation.

Notably, a total of 121 cases are pending against sitting and former MPs/ MLAs in Special Courts, CBI, across the country, and as many as 58 cases are punishable with life imprisonment.

Senior advocate and amicus curiae Vijay Hansaria along with advocate Sneha Kalita made the suggestion to the top court in a status report indicating as many as 37 CBI cases against former and sitting MPs/MLAs were pending investigation.

Out of 121 cases before the court, in nearly one-third of cases, the trial was moving at snails pace as charges have not been framed, though offences were committed several years back.

The report was filed in a 2016 petition by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking direction to fast-tracking criminal trials against sitting and former MPs/MLAs.

The fourteenth report stated out of 121 cases pending trial before the Special Courts, CBI, even the charges have not been framed in 45 cases, though the offences alleged to have been committed several years back.

The report highlighted the inordinate delay in several cases pending trial before CBI courts in different parts of the country.

According to Enforcement Directorates status report, a total number of 51 Members of Parliament (MP/ex MPs) are accused in cases arising out of offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

However, the report does not show as to how many MPs/MLAs are sitting and/or former legislators.

The report suggested that courts before whom the trials are pending may be directed to expedite the proceedings in all pending cases on a day-to-day basis in terms of Section 309 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The report asked the top court to constitute a monitoring committee within two weeks for expediting the pending investigations.

It also said, in the case, additional courts were required, the High Courts and the appropriate state government should constitute such courts. Further, the CBI should ensure that public prosecutors do not seek adjournment and the witnesses are produced on the dates fixed. In case, the accused persons do not cooperate with the trial, the court may consider cancellation of bail, it added.

It also said the trial courts may be directed to proceed with the cases, notwithstanding the interim order of the High Court, in view of the top court's orders of September 16, 2020 and November 04, 2020, in the case of Asian Resurfacing of Road Agency Private Limited Vs CBI, (2018).
Heavy police security was deployed outside Union Minister Narayan Rane's residence in Mumbai on Tuesday in the wake of his remarks against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, an official said.

BJP workers gathered outside Rane's residence on Juhu Tara Road in Santacruz (West) in the morning in support of their party leader.

Also Read  'Would have slapped Uddhav': Narayan Rane's remark sparks row

Besides, Shiv Sena workers, including women, carrying placards and shouting slogans against Rane, assembled outside an office of the Yuva Sena (the party's youth wing), located nearby in Juhu. A posse of police personnel, including women cops, were deployed outside Rane's residence to prevent any untoward incident, the official said.

Rane, who was recently inducted into the Union Cabinet, had sparked off a row over his remarks about slapping Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, for what he claimed as the latters ignorance of the year of Indias independence. It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap, Rane said during his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in adjoining Raigad district on Monday.

Nashik Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey on Tuesday issued orders for the immediate arrest of Rane and a team of the city police left for Chiplun in Konkan region, where Rane is present now, after a complaint against the Union Minister over the remarks.

A case was also registered against Rane in Pune, while the Shiv Sena lodged a complaint against him at a police station in Aurangabad.
Activists of the Shiv Sena's youth wing and the BJP clashed with each other near Union minister Narayan Rane's residence in Mumbai on Tuesday in the wake of his comments against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, police said.

Stones were pelted from both the sides, following which police used cane-charge to disperse the agitators, an official said.

The Shiv Sena workers sat on the Juhu Tara Road in Santacruz (West) near Rane's residence, and activists from both the sides shouted slogans against each other, the official said. Following the incident, the road was blocked from two sides, disrupting traffic in the area. Additional police force was deployed in the area, the official said.

Also Read  Security beefed up oustide Narayan Rane's Mumbai residence after his remarks against Maharashtra CM

The clash took place during a protest organised by activists of the Yuva Sena (the Shiv Sena's youth wing) against Union minister Rane, he added.

Isko bolte hai Shiv prasad! pic.twitter.com/I6FgxXHH9u  nitesh rane (@NiteshNRane) August 24, 2021

BJP workers had gathered outside Rane's residence in the morning in support of their party leader, while Shiv Sena activists, including women, carrying placards and shouting slogans against Rane, had assembled outside an office of the Yuva Sena (the party's youth wing), located nearby in Juhu.

Also Read  'Would have slapped Uddhav': Narayan Rane's remark sparks row

Heavy police security was deployed outside Rane's residence, the official said.

According to police, Shiv Sena and BJP supporters also clashed at Chiplun in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district. Besides, stones were hurled at the BJP's office in Nashik city, while Shiv Sena workers held agitations in Nagpur, officials said.

Rane, who was recently inducted into the Union Cabinet, had sparked off a row over his remarks about slapping Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, for what he claimed as the latters ignorance of the year of Indias independence. It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap, Rane said during his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in adjoining Raigad district on Monday.

Nashik Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey on Tuesday issued orders for the immediate arrest of Rane and a team of the city police left for Chiplun in Konkan region, where Rane is present now, after a complaint against the Union minister over the remarks.

A case was also registered against Rane in Pune, while the Shiv Sena lodged a complaint against him at a police station in Aurangabad.
Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association President Shifa-Ur-Rehman, who was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the Delhi riots asked in the court on Tuesday why no FIR was registered against Union Minister Anurag Thakur, BJP leader Kapil Mishra, and others for allegedly instigating riots.

During the bail hearing, Shifa's lawyer, Abhishek Singh, showed Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat a complaint filed by him on January 30, 2020, seeking registration of FIR against Thakur, Mishra, another BJP leader Parvesh Sharma, and Jamia Shooter Ram Bhakt Gopal for allegedly instigating riots.

Did the prosecution even bother to call them as witnesses or accused or issue a notice that we want to know something? Because they said 'shoot xyz' so they know who those people are. They will at least have some evidence. Why was no FIR registered against them? This was the complaint I was pursuing, Singh said.

Read more: Umar Khalid calls Delhi riots conspiracy case 'cooked up', points to contradictions

According to the complaint, as read by the lawyer in the court, Shifa mentioned that Mishra took out a rally in which slogans to shoot were raised, following which Thakur on January 28, 2020, said: desh ke gaddaron ko...

In January 2020, Thakur had reportedly egged on participants of an election rally to raise an incendiary slogan. While the minister raised the slogan "Desh ke gaddaron ko... (the traitors of the country)", the crowd responded by chanting "shoot them."

Shifa is accused of collecting money to fund various sit-in protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). He, along with several others, has been booked under the anti-terror law in the case for being the "masterminds" of the February 2020 violence, which had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured.

Alluding to the alleged funding, the lawyer affirmed that Shifa had made "some financial arrangements" but questioned whether paying some protestors make it an offence under the stringent UAPA.

Advocate Singh further emphasized that being a member or president of the alumni association or a protester is not an offence as people are entitled to their opinion and can peacefully protest against anything.

Why have I been roped in? I fail to understand. There is a fundamental right to protest. If a certain section of society is aggrieved by certain legislation and protest against it, that is not a crime. They can protest, the lawyer told the court.

Furthermore, Shifa's counsel sought bail for him saying that there has been a systematic violation of his fundamental rights and that he cannot be put in the bracket of rioters. He also read his WhatsApp chats to show that there was no instigation of violence.

Besides him, former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, JNU students Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita, Jamia Coordination Committee members Safoora Zargar, former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and several others have also been booked under the stringent law in the case.
Reacting to the developments in Afghanistan and the ongoing repatriation efforts, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the Afghanistan crisis is "precisely why" the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act was necessary.

Read more
Karnataka Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai will convene a meeting of legal experts and senior lawyers in Delhi on September 26 to discuss various water disputes of the state.

Bommai, who is expected to fly to Delhi on September 25, will also meet senior ministers of the Union Cabinet and BJP national president J P Nadda.

Speaking to reporters, Bommai said that Advocate General and senior lawyers who represent Karnataka in cases regarding water disputes will be present at the meeting. "I will collect feedback from them on how to move ahead with regard to these cases," he said.

The meeting gains significance following Tamil Nadu's vehement opposition to Mekedatu project proposed by the state. Opposition JD(S) has also announced a statewide padayatra over these issues.

The CM said that he has also sought appointments with the Union Finance, Health, Jal Shakti, Defence and Agriculture ministers to discuss various projects of the state on September 26.

On whether the four vacant berths in his Cabinet would be filled soon, Bommai said that he would meet Nadda in Delhi. "Based on his (Nadda) views, we will decide (about expanding the Cabinet)," he said.

On the padayatra announced by JD(S), Bommai said that it was not appropriate to politicise land and water issues. "We will do our best to uphold the interest of the state when it comes to these issues," he said.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said his government is planning five lakh vaccinations every day against Covid-19, in the month of September, and expressed hopes of getting an adequate quantity of vaccines from the centre.

"Vaccination is the only solution for the future waves (of Covid). So, the more population we vaccinate the safer India is. Karnataka has been at the forefront in vaccination, we have got vaccination centres throughout the state and we are planning to vaccinate five lakh every day in the month of September," Bommai said.

Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, he said, presently the state govt is vaccinating about 3.5 to 4 lakh doses, and wants to scale it up.

"The government of India has assured us all help and I'm confident that they will give 1.5 crore vaccines so that we can vaccinate five lakh persons every day. If this is done for the next three to four months, probably 80 per cent of our population will be vaccinated. That's the target we are trying to achieve," he added.

Also read: Covid-19 lab leak theory highly unlikely, scientists say

The Chief Minister was speaking at 'Vaccinate India Programme,' an initiative of the Department of Planning, Government of Karnataka in collaboration with the Give India Foundation, that was attended by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.

Bommai said he discussed with Naidu regarding vaccination and that the Vice President has assured him that he would personally speak to the Union Health Minister and will do everything possible to help Karnataka in getting adequate vaccines.

He further said, "Once the availability is assured, I'm going to change the dynamics of vaccination in the state, aimed at reaching the last person, those who cannot afford. We will see to that across the state vaccination is done and we will have a safe society and safe Karnataka."

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Stating that philanthropy is our culture and probably without philanthropy the world would not have been what we are, the Chief Minister called on philanthropists and companies to come forward to help the government in vaccinating the poor and the downtrodden through CSR.

"Together we have to fight. Karnataka will support all the CSR activities regarding Covid with open arms. We want to see the end of Covid," he said.

Noting that a Covid third wave is expected in October, Bommai said, the government is taking all the precautionary measures like surveillance in border districts, building infrastructure like child paediatric centres and teams, ICUs, extra beds, etc.
FOLCROFT  Steven Mullan counts himself among the luckiest of Delcos residents today, having survived a terrifying attempt on his life Friday afternoon at his place of business.

Thats what Ive been saying: Im lucky, Im grateful and Im happy, said Mullan, owner of the iconic Leos Steak Shop at 1403 Chester Pike. The Lord was with me. Im so tripped out. Im almost like a walking miracle, honestly.

Mullan was upbeat and positive during a phone interview Monday afternoon, cracking jokes and laughing. Without seeing him, one would scarcely guess that just a few days ago he was in the back of an ambulance with a kitchen knife lodged in his neck.

It was some kind of disgruntled employee who, unprovoked, stabbed the owner in the back of his neck when he wasnt looking, said Folcroft Deputy Police Chief Chris Eisermen. He took a 10-inch steak knife and stabbed it in the base of his neck, and the tip was coming out the front of his throat. The handle was all the way down to the neck. I dont know how he survived.

That employee has been identified as Sean David Walklett, 43, whose address is listed on an affidavit of probable cause for his arrest as an apartment at the same location as the steak shop.

Walklett is facing charges of attempted murder of the first degree, aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangerment, harassment and possession of a weapon.

According to the affidavit written by Folcroft Detective Cpl. Daniel White, Sharon Hill Police Officer Christopher Huganir was near the shop about 2:06 p.m. Friday when an employee flagged him down and reported that another employee had just stabbed Mullan. Other officers were dispatched to the location at about the same time, the affidavit says.

The employee who alerted Huganir pointed out Walklett as the offender, according to the affidavit. Walklett allegedly refused Huganirs commands and advanced towards him in an aggressive manner, the affidavit says.

Huganir fired his Taser at Walklett, who went to the ground before being placed into custody by assisting officers, according to the affidavit.

White and fellow Folcroft Detective Tom Kesser arrived and found Mullan being treated by paramedics with a large black handle to a knife protruding from his upper back or neck area before he was taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center for emergency treatment, the affidavit says.

In video surveillance obtained from the business, the affidavit indicates Mullan can be seen standing in a doorway with his back to Walklett. The video allegedly shows Walklett approach Mullan with the knife and stab him once, leaving the knife in Mullans neck. Mullan and Walklett then shove each other before Walklett exits the business, according to the affidavit. Several witnesses later positively identified Walklett as the person who had stabbed Mullan.

I would think the last person he would want to stab and kill would be me, honestly, said Mullan. Whenever I spoke to him, I spoke to him in a mild manner, but for some reason, he decided he was taking me out that day.

Mullan said Walklett had worked at Leos for about a year with no problems. Mullan said he was aware that Walklett had some mental health issues and might not have been taking his medications in the last few months.

I tried to help the man, said Mullan. I gave him a job, I let him live in one of my apartments, and then I guess he stopped taking his medicine. Hes been back to mental facilities several times, but they keep letting him go. He keeps signing himself out. He doesnt belong on the streets, thats all I can say.

Mullan said Walklett was working the early shift that day and had been doing prep work in the rear, cutting onions, as he was supposed to. Mullan said some employees had commented that Walklett appeared off that day, but neither he nor anyone else at the shop was afraid of him.

There was no confrontation before the attack, said Mullan, who believes he might have been targeted simply because he is the authority figure at the business.

Mullan thanked the police and emergency services personnel for their quick response, as well as the doctors at the Crozer trauma unit that treated him. He noted the ambulance went about 10 miles per hour to the hospital so there were no bumps, and someone held his head the entire ride to keep the knife still.

Mullan said it was his lucky day because there was a visiting doctor from Chicago who is only in town about once a month and was familiar with removing knives like the one stuck in his neck.

I was calm the whole time, said Mullan. They said that was a factor, I never went into shock  I just wanted to live. My main goal was getting through it.

Mullan said he was joking with medical staff that he is low-key Delco famous, so they better save his life or they would get a bad review.

I said, You guys want me to live, you dont want bad PR for this place, you gotta get me to live today, he said. They busted out laughing. I said, I need every angle I can get!

Not to worry, though  Mullan said he would be giving Crozer five stars for excellent medical care. He was released from the hospital Saturday night and his prognosis for a full recovery is good. Mullan said he is currently on the mend, but feels more or less OK, if a little sore. He goes in to have his stitches removed Friday, but does not know yet when he will be cleared to return to work. He planned on doing payroll from home Monday.

I feel like I had a miracle, I really do, that Im here talking about it, he said. My family members, my friends, they all said, You have such a good attitude about it, that you can laugh about it, I say, Yeah, because Im here! I made it!

Walklett was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Steven A. Sandone, who set bail at 10% of $950,000. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Stone Sept. 14. No defense attorney is listed on electronic court records.
County Derry recorded its highest weekly number of people testing positive since postal area data began to be recorded in October 2020.

1,939 people tested positive for Covid-19 last week, a 26.6% increase on the previous week's figure, while the number of tests carried out also rose by 9% to 10,193.

Positive results rose in almost every area of the county compared with the previous seven days, with BT49 (Limavady) and BT51 (Garvagh) the only exceptions.

The county's rate per 100,000 of population has now risen to 781.6, well in excess of the overall NI figure of 630.7, while BT48's 1,143.6 figure is the fourth highest in Northern Ireland.

Derry City's figures are the highest in the county, with BT47 sitting at 911.6, while Maghera (BT46) has the lowest rate at 447.4.

19% of all people in County Derry tested for the virus recorded a positive result, an increase from last week's figure of 16.4%. The highest percentage of positive tests came in BT48 (25%).

There were 12 Covid-related deaths across the county's three local government districts last week, an increase from last week's figure of three new deaths.

Five people died after testing positive for the virus in Causeway Coast and Glens and two in Derry City and Strabane, while a further three people died in Mid Ulster.

There have also been a dozen more admissions to the area's local hospitals over the last week, an increase on last week's figure of nine.

34 patients (+1) are currently being treated for the virus in Altnagelvin Area Hospital, with 43 (+6) in Antrim Area Hospital and 19 (+5) in Causeway Hospital.

1,258,640 people have now received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, representing 66% of the NI population, while 1,136,902 (60%) have received both doses.

Health Minister Robin Swann has hailed the success of last weekend's 'Big Jab Weekend' and outlined the next phase of the vaccination drive.

This next phase will include a focus on localised pop-up walk-in clinics, both in high footfall locations and in areas where accessibility issues and other barriers may have impacted on take-up, he said.

The Big Jab Weekend has proven that there is still a strong demand for vaccination. Our aim will be to be bring forward a series of further opportunities at community level.

There will also be a big focus on further and higher education in September, as well as other take-up promotions.

The number of participating pharmacies offering vaccination appointments will also be expanding.

A number of vaccination opportunities are listed on the Department of Health website and the Health Minister paid tribute to everyone involved in the vaccination programme.

It is a huge collective effort to bring protection against COVID-19 to as many people as possible, said Robin Swann.

My thanks go to everyone who played a part in the Big Jab Weekend. That includes, of course, the vaccinator teams as well as all those who worked behind the scenes to organise and promote it.

There was a major and concerted effort to publicise the promotion and it worked.
A Derry man has been rescued after 12 hours in the water off the coast of County Kerry.

The man, who is believed to be in his early 30s, was rescued from Tralee Bay on Sunday evening.

According to a report in today's Irish Independent, when rescuers reached the man, who the paper says is from Derry, he was surrounded by a pod of dolphins.

Rescuers say it was a 'miracle' that he was found after so long in the water.

RNLI coxswain Finbarr O'Connell has been praised for using his expert knowledge of the area to pinpoint where he believed the man would be located.

His suggestion proved crucial in him being rescued.

After being taken from the water, the man told rescuers he had intended to swim out to Mucklaghmore Rock which is 9km from where he set off at Castlegregory beach.
The North West Migrants Forum has launched an information booklet to help people navigate politics in Northern Ireland.

The organisation is well known for promoting inclusive political involvement with an emphasis on enhancing racial equality, advancing race relations legislation, and improving representation for Black and Minority Ethnic communities.

The toolkit has been produced as part of the organisation's Effective Activism and Campaign for Change project, focusing on the Common Travel Agreement which discriminates against many residents of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The launch was held at the City Hotel Derry on Sunday the 22nd of August as part of the North West Migrants Forum's Effective Activism, Supporting Intercommunity Practice Summer School.

Launching the booklet, veteran activist and former MLA Eamon McCann said he was honoured to help launch the toolkit.

"As always, I have learned a lot from listening to young people from all backgrounds," he said.

"I have been reminded that its only the young who can teach the older generation how to organise society in a better and fairer way. Today has confirmed my belief that the voting age should be reduced to 15.

Director of Programmes Lilian Seenoi-Barr said the toolkit was part of the group's effective activism programme.

"This was developed to support effective political action and It is targeted at those who may find political activism daunting," she said.

As someone who migrated to Northern Ireland, I am acutely aware of how intimidating the political scene can seem here, not just for those who have chosen to make Derry their home, but all those in Northern Ireland who feel detached from politics or feel politics is not something they want to get involved in as it's too divisive.

The informative booklet covers a number of topics including the political system in NI, levels of government, political parties and how to register to vote.

"It also highlights our Common Travel Area campaign to raise awareness and end discrimination against residents of NI in citizenship categories who cannot avail of cross border travel under the CTA.

Throughout the week, the group's young activists will be distributing copies of our guide across the city as a practical exercise during summer school.

They are hoping to inspire a new generation of people to see and believe in the power of politics to change peoples lives. If you want to see change happen in this country, learning about and getting involved is a great step in the right direction.

An online copy can be downloaded from their website- North West Migrants Forum  Politics In Northern Ireland Booklet Launch  North West Migrants Forum (nwmf.org.uk).
A County Derry principal has published an open letter laying out a number of concerns over how the Church of Ireland (CoI) handled the closure of a local school.

Fiona Brown, principal of Desertmartin Primary School, which will close officially at the end of this month, says the Church of Ireland, who ran the school, have refused to engage with parents and staff.

Writing in a personal capacity, Mrs Brown said there had been a lack of transparency and openness from some church officers, and that they had ignored a Freedom of Information request.

Requests to meet with representatives of the CoI are just being ignored, she said.

Most recently, at the end of May, I emailed both Archbishop McDowell & Bishop Forster. Both their secretaries replied to say the emails had been received.

Over two months on there has been nothing further from either. This has happened on at least six occasions.

Desertmartin PS will close for good at the end of this month.

25 questions have been asked of the Church of Ireland, many on two or three occasions. These have been straightforward like dates of decisions or copies of minutes. There have been no answers.

When a Freedom of Information request was sent to the Church, the response came back that Churches do not have to respond to Freedom of Information requests.

We have since discovered this is not even legally accurate in our case, as a publicly funded body.

Another phrase that has been offered as an explanation several times is thats not the way we do things in the Church of Ireland.

It is a further reality that when put together, the various scraps of concrete information we have been able to gather do not even add up to the same story, which is very concerning indeed.

One of the most frequent comments parents and others in the community have made to me has been you wouldnt believe a church would treat people like this'.

The actions of some representatives of the Church of Ireland have left the parents, pupils and staff of Desertmartin PS feeling as if nobody in that body has any concern or care for them as people.

Mrs Brown concluded the letter by calling on the Church of Ireland to simply acknowledge the 'hurt' caused by their perceived lack of engagement.

If church representatives were willing to actually listen to and acknowledge the hurt there is, it would go a long way to reaching a sense of closure, she added.

When contacted by the County Derry Post, the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe declined to comment.
A County Derry planner has indicated he will seek legal advice if the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) do not withdraw a recent planning advice notice (PAN).

Chris Cassidy, of CMI Planners, Magherafelt, says the PAN is the 'worst bit of guidance' published by the department in some time.

It is quite correct, the policy has not changed, but the problem lies in the interpretation this advice is giving on the policy, he told the County Derry Post.

The guidance brings in a lot of interpretation that is going to stop a lot of people from getting houses.

It's taking the flexibility that each council has and it's removing that. The councillors know the area and what's needed in the area, but this is now coming from central Belfast.

This review was done six years ago. They consulted with everyone under the sun, except members of the public and local agents.

All the councils west of the Bann, asked that the policies be relaxed so a farmer could build away from his farm, without the clustering aspect.

They were ignored and the guidance brought in has tightened this policy up to an extent that I imagine 70% of approvals going through at the minute will be refused.

Chris Cassidy

The DfI advice specifically references farm dwellings, with developments required to be set next to two existing farm buildings.

Chris says the restrictions will prevent young people being able to live on the land on which they were reared.

It's a major problem for anybody that is trying to stay on their family land. It's not going to happen any more, he said.

This is going to be a disaster for people in the countryside. It's preventing growth and young people staying on the ground where they were born, and driving them into cities and towns.

The Magherafelt planner has indicated he will seek a judicial review if the new planning advice is not withdrawn by the Department.

We're very serious about it. I have a number of Freedom of Information requests (FOIs) in with the Department, he said.

If this is still on the table when I get the answers, I will certainly be taking a judicial review on this, because there are so many flaws in this, that it's wide open for judicial review.

However, DfI has hit back at claims the PAN has made restrictive changes to its planning policy.

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon

In a letter to Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone, seen by the County Derry Post, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said the purpose of the PAN was to 're-emphasise' and 'clarify' existing policy.

I want to assist councils as planning authorities and all users of the planning system in the interpretation and implementation of this important policy area, said the Minister.

I believe the SPPS does provide opportunities for development in the countryside, striking a balance between supporting and sustaining rural communities and protecting the countryside from inappropriate development.

This PAN should assist in this overall objective. It reaffirms and clarifies my commitment to sustainable development in the countryside which is particularly important as we seek to address the climate emergency.

It is important to understand that this PAN provides advice which councils, as planning authorities in their own right, will take into account in plan-making and decision-taking, along with all other material planning considerations.

Ultimately the interpretation, relevance and weight to be accorded to all material planning considerations, including this guidance, will be a matter for each planning authority to determine in any specific case.

Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone

Mr McGlone welcomed the clarification from the Minister.

This planning advice notice provides advice which councils as planning authorities in their own right will take into account when making their decisions as well as other considerations.

It has been confirmed to me that ultimately the interpretation, relevance and weight of planning considerations including this guidance is a matter for each council in any specific case.

This confirmation will provide reassurance to many after others have pushed inaccuracies over the past days which has only misrepresented the purpose of this advice note.
Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif had a heated discussion before the latter left for Tiger 3 shoot in Russia?

Just a few days back, rumours of Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif's engagement had started doing the rounds on the internet. It was being said that the couple, who have not yet gone public with their relationship, have taken a step ahead in their relationship. However, Katrina's spokesperson said that this was untrue and later Vicky Kaushal's father Shyam Kaushal had also denied such reports. However, this might have caused a tiff between the couple.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09)

According to a report in Bollywood Life, both Vicky and Katrina had been affected by these reports and have been trying to understand how such a report came out in the public. They had a heated discussion as to whose team might be behind all this. The report further mentioned that both the stars are currently focusing on their careers.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Katrina Kaif (@katrinakaif)

Vicky and Katrina have never made their relationship public. However, they have been spotted together at various events. Also, in a recent interview, Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor had said, "Vicky and Katrina are together, that's true... Am I going to get in trouble for saying this? I don't know. I think they're quite open about it." While Katrina is currently shooting for Tiger 3, Vicky was busy with Ashwatthama, which seems to have been delayed for sometime now.
Google Chrome's upcoming update is a bag full of wonders that keeps getting better by the minute.The first update of Chrome browser will consist of multiple windows for Android users that you are used to of seeing on Microsoft Windows OS on desktop, meaning you will be able to open up various windows on the Google Chrome on mobile, not just on the web, in addition to the previous multiple tabs available.As you all might have already experienced, Google Chrome on web browser gives you the opportunity to browse through multiple windows at once. This has not been possible on the mobile since Chrome only allows users to open up multiple tabs, however that story is going to change soon since with the Android 12 comes the ability to support multi-windows as well as the access to a windows manager.This news was brought about by XDA Developers who discovered a button labeled as new window but that can only be used when the screen is split. When you tap on that button, a new Chrome window will appear accompanied by yet another context menu window. This window will go by the title of 'manage windows'. This will be the control box of the windows, consisting of all the current activities taking place.Google decided not to limit the number of tabs however the number of windows is limited to 5 unlike the web where you can open up as many as you'd like, as long as your PC doesn't slow down. Furthermore, a reboot will not affect the state of these windows due to the presence of 'SharedPreferences'. Moreover, each window will appear as a new listing in your app list to keep track of all applications. Although this is a trick from the past Google believes it is the best way to manage the windows.You can test this feature right now too if you have the Android 12 beta available however keep in mind you'll need to be in the split screen mode. As soon as you exit the mode, one of the windows will stop displaying, merging the tabs in one instance of Chrome. If you want to experience a much better version with no defects like this, you will have to wait for Android 12 to launch.Android 12 is also working on revamping your usual themes and styles to much more vibrant and quirky ones. Furthermore, the update will enable users to be armed with better security features, for instance, your location will now be sent as an approximate one instead of a precise one to app developers that request for location.With the redesign, Android 12 has yet another change however this one is reversible unlike any other updates we've seen so far. The redesign is related to Chrome's new tab page that was previously isolated and simple, and is now crowded with different elements with slightly shorter dimensions, as spotted by 9to5G . The feature hasn't been widely observed yet, meaning it's close to launch.The New Tab page works more like a surface now. We were reminded of the widgets present on a single page in mobiles as well as Yahoo's home page. The new Google Chrome's front page still harbors the Google logo but it is much smaller now and fits right in the app bar. The open tab count and switch bar option has been replaced by the user account profile icon and the tabs can now be observed on the bottom.Beneath the search bar present below the Google are your favorite bookmarks. Present yet beneath them, you will find the new feature labeled as 'continue browsing'. This consists of all your already opened tabs. A new tab option can also be seen below.Since the new design might be conceived as unconventional, Google does allow users to change back into the old format by disabling the start surface option in the experiential flags section (chrome://flags/#enable-start-surface). Some Chrome users may like it and others don't but at least this the new design still has the reversible option present.The wonders of Chrome don't end just yet as it also added a mute button for the Chrome Global Media controls while a volume slider and device selector were also enabled. These features, as per Leo Varela , can only be observed on the Chrome Canary for now but we hope they will roll out to everyone soon.Read next: Taking Screenshots on Chrome for Android Just Got Way Easier
Harrisonburg, VA (22801)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms likely. High 74F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Harrisonburg, VA (22801)

Today

Showers and thundershowers likely. High around 75F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Govt sets up committee to find ways of doubling production, quadrupling exports of handloom textiles

The government has constituted a committee headed by Sunil Sethi, chairman, Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), New Delhi, to suggest a roadmap to achieve the twin targets of doubling production, quadrupling exports of handloom textiles in the next three years.

This follows the announcement made on the occasion of National Handloom Day on 7 August 2021 for doubling the production and quadrupling the exports of handlooms in a span of 3 years.

The committee with following composition is constituted to suggest a roadmap to achieve these targets:

The committee, with Sunil Sethi, chairman, FDCI, New Delhi as its chairman, has Sudha Dhingra (Professor, NIFT, New Delhi), Shefali Vaidya (Freelance writer, Pune), Anagha Gaisas (Owner, Saudamini Handlooms, Pune), Suket Dhir (Fashion Designer, New Delhi), Sunil Alagh (MD, SKA Advisors Pvt Ltd & Former MD and CEO of Britannia Industries Ltd, Mumbai), KN Prabhu (Paradigm International, Karur), Hetal R Mehta (Chairman, Science Engineering & Technological Upliftment Foundation (SETU), Surat) as members.

Zonal directors, Manoj Jain and S Bandyopadhyay will be associated with the committee to facilitate in providing necessary inputs.

The committee will suggest the strategy and policy framework for doubling production and improving quality of handloom products with the aim of enhancing income of the weavers.

The committee will suggest ways of partnering and collaboration of handloom weavers agencies with the designers, buying houses and institutions, organisations and exporters.

It will suggest ways and means for improving the marketing of handloom products in domestic market as also measures for quadrupling exports of handloom products.

Besides, the committee will suggest measure for improving the input supplies (raw materials, credit, technology upgradation, skilling, designs etc).

The committee will submit its preliminary recommendations within 30 days and final report within 45 days from the date of constitution.
ADA [ndash] Services for Joyce Evelyn Summers, 82, of Ada are 10 a.m. Friday at the Criswell Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. Harold Holt will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends Thursday, from 5-7 p.m., at Criswell Funeral Home. Mrs. Su
Bus Eireann are encouraging people in Dundalk who use their 100X Expressway service to prebook their seats as schools and colleges return, due to capacity remaining at 75%.

The 100X Expressway, which operates on a route between Dundalk and Dublin, is urging people to prebook their seats due to a reduced capacity on board, due to ongoing public health restrictions on public transport capacity.

According to Bus Eireann, some of the demand for the service has exceeded the availability of seats.

"As the Irish economy continues to open up and as students across the country prepare to return to academic life, we would advise our passengers to avoid disappointment and book their ticket online at expressway.ie to guarantee a seat, said Eleanor Farrell, Chief Commercial Officer, Bus Eireann.

"Id like to thank our customers for their continued understanding of the Covid19 prevention measures in place on all our services.

"Bus Eireann continues to operate at a maximum of 75% capacity, meaning the service can carry up to 63 people, depending on the vehicle."

Ms Farrell also said that passengers should remember that face masks are required on all public transport services and that deep cleaning is carried out on all Bus Eireann vehicles.

According to Bus Eireann, passengers who have a valid ticket for travel, like the Free Travel Scheme, Taxsaver or 10 Journey tickets can reserve places on certain service for a 2 fee.

There are 14 100X Expressway services each day between Dundalk and Dublin, starting at 4:30am, with the route going between Dundalk, Drogheda, Dublin Airport and Dublin City centre.
Over 200,000 has been allocated to a community outreach project in Muirheavnamor, as part of funding from the International Fund for Ireland (IFI).

The funding is set to go to Ait na Daoine, which is based in Muirheavnamor, which works with people in the local community who have been directly affected by the Troubles.

In total, 201,867 is being provided to Ait na Daoine by IFI, with over 2.6 million being provided to peace and reconciliation initiatives along the border.

12 projects were selected as part of the latest funding round.

The IFI was originally set up by both the Irish and British governments in 1986 as an independent organisation.

Peace and reconciliation work is experiencing a particularly challenging period. The long-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic are just beginning and social impact issues such as mental health, employment and financial struggles are affecting many, said Paddy Harte, chairman of the IFI.

Genuine fears presenting themselves in this post-pandemic society alongside the ongoing fallout from Brexit are creating uncertainty.

This year we have had significant centenaries, anniversaries, increased calls for a Border Poll and dissatisfaction from some on how the Good Friday Agreement hasnt delivered for all communities here.

Mr Harte says that the IFI is enabling organisations to have difficult but necessary conversations within discontented communities and that they are trying to continue to operate positive conversations that push progress forward on reconciliation.

The IFI will continue to encourage community development and leadership giving each generation the tools and opportunities they need to prosper and grow, said Mr Harte.
Claremont, NH (03743)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers this afternoon. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
North Andover, MA (01845)

Today

Rain. High 73F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Rain may be heavy late. Low around 60F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
North Andover, MA (01845)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 72F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Rain becoming heavy at times overnight. Low near 60F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
One in five Irish teenage boys do not believe consent is always necessary before engaging in a sexual activity with someone, new research reveals.

The study, carried out by NUI Galway, involved more than 600 transition and fifth-year students.

It found a significant gap between the perceptions of consent held by males and females.

Consent was viewed as a necessary precursor to sexual activities by 93 per cent of teenage girls, compared to 79 per cent of teenage boys.

On verbal consent, 58 per cent of males and 67 per cent of females said it was necessary before sexual acts.

Fifty nine per cent of males and 61 per cent of females agreed that non-verbal cues were a valid form of consent some of the time.

While the majority of respondents were attentive to the presence of a no, more indirect comments or body language were not considered strong signals, according to researchers.

Many teenagers said their peers were less supportive of consent than they were themselves.

The report, which will be launched by the Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon, found: There was a significant gender gap in personal comfort with being sexually intimate with someone they had just met at a party, with females less likely to be comfortable than males. While 7 per cent of females were comfortable with intimate touching, 51 per cent of males said they were comfortable.

There was also a significant gap among females between their personal levels of comfort with being intimate with someone they just met at a party, and how comfortable they thought other teenagers were with it.

While 7 per cent of females were comfortable with intimate touching, 42 per cent of females agreed that other teenagers would be comfortable with this.
BETWEEN lockdowns and travel restrictions, most of us have had little opportunity for real, uninhibited adventure out in the wilderness over the past year-and-a-half.

While staying home was often necessary during the pandemic of course, the absence of boots-in-the-mud adventure hasnt just made life boring, it may have impacted our wellbeing too  according to explorer and writer, Belinda Kirk.

When youre halfway up a mountain, you get this natural high and a feeling of extreme empowerment, says Kirk.

Its not just taking part in adventures thats beneficial, but its the gifts youre equipped with that you bring back to your ordinary life.

You become more brave and confident, and you think, Well if I can climb that mountain, what else can I do?, and thats the really powerful part of regularly going on adventures.

Kirk is an explorer who, over the past 25 years, has led numerous personal expeditions, youth development treks, biological research missions, and remote filming trips for the BBC.

Belinda Clark shooting in Kenya for the BBC.

Her appetite for adventure has taken her across the remote desert of Nicaragua on foot, on the search for camels in Chinas Sea of Death desert, uncovering ancient rock paintings in Lesotho, and shes even nabbed a Guinness World Record for rowing unsupported around Britain.

Now shes swapped death-defying feats for deadlines and has written a book  Adventure Revolution  which delves into how exploration is essential to human wellbeing, helping us face our deepest fears, manage anxiety and find self-worth.

It was on an expedition to Tanzania to study monkeys, aged 18, that she first discovered adventures transformational power.

I went off to Africa and I came back a completely changed person, Kirk recalls.

Throughout my teens and early-20s, I realised that adventure had been my therapy; It was helping me to flourish, to be confident and to live my best life. The more expeditions that I led in my 20s, the more I saw it working for other people. I saw them transforming in front of me, and I was often contacted years later by students whose lives have changed completely.

Nineteen years ago, she recalls standing in the rain outside of the Royal Geographical Society, when a mother of one of her expedition students approached her and gave her a hug. The previous summer, shed led her 17-year-old daughter Alice and a group of other young people through the Amazon.

Belinda Clark hiking in Scotland.

Shy, with low-self confidence and a history of self-harm, Alice had become a different person after the trip, finding new friends, and even improving her grades at school.

That was a huge turning point, says Kirk. It was the moment I knew that it wasnt just something that worked for me; it could help others in a really impactful and long-lasting way.

She says the great thing about adventure is that it can be everyones therapy, and you dont have to be at a low point to benefit either.

As well as being a soothing balm for issues like anxiety and depression, she reckons it can also help people who are mentally well to flourish in work and relationships.

Its such a natural thing to do, says Kirk, who is also a huge advocate for facing your fears and booking a solo travel trip.

Weve evolved to be adventurous but weve taken it out of our modern lives, and by choosing it and seeking it out, its a perfect fit for returning to what weve lost.

If you look at tribes, they have ceremonies and rites of passage, she adds, concerned that children arent growing up with enough adventure in their lives.

We dont give our kids a way of becoming adults. Before we became so modernised, wed have these adventurous challenges for young people There are so many traditions that are about being on your own in the wilderness, and weve just really lost that.

So why is it that adventure feels so good, on a basic, human level?

Its just a natural fit. All the research I packed into the book backed up my initial assumptions about adventure and how [humans] are hardwired to do it.

Then theres the element of being out in nature. One study by University of East Anglia found that exposure to green space can reduce blood pressure, and another published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology found just 20 minutes of immersion in nature can help us feel less stressed.

Its really gone mainstream, this idea of the nature effect, which suggests that if you spend time in nature its good for your physical and mental wellbeing, says Kirk.

I reckon theres the next level though, which I call the adventure effect. Part of adventuring is being out in nature, but you also get the benefit of exercise, travel, and the actual adrenaline rush of adventure itself.

Adventure Revolution: The life-changing power of choosing challenge by Belinda Clark.

This, she says, is the magic, soul-stirring ingredient.

Youre out there challenging uncertainty, discomfort or adversity. Its like the holy trinity of all the good things. It impacts everything because it changes who you see yourself as. 

Finding herself in some of the most remote regions on the planet has been a way for Kirk to get to know herself better, and now she wants to encourage others to do the same.

By going away and climbing a mountain or kayaking for days on end, you have time to reflect, and I think we just dont allow ourselves that in the modern-day.

I always find my best thinking moments are when Im plodding one foot in front of the other up a mountain. Its when you can have great ideas creatively too, she adds.

You just have space, because theres no social media notifications or children asking you questions.

Adventure Revolution: The Life-Changing Power Of Choosing Challenge, by Belinda Kirk is published by Piaktus, out now.


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Policymakers should be fostering the use of artificial intelligence in making workforce decisions, not inhibiting it, according to the Center for Data Innovation.

In a report released Monday, the global think tank called on governments to encourage AI adoption and establish guardrails to limit harms.

"The dominant narrative around AI is one of fear, so policymakers need to actively support the technology's growth," the report's author, policy analyst Hodan Omaar, said in a statement. "It is critical for lawmakers to avoid intervening in ways that are ineffective, counterproductive, or harmful to innovation."

The report explained that AI-enabled tools can support workforce decisions by helping businesses manage their existing employees, as well as recruit and hire new ones.

They can also boost productivity among employers, such as by reducing the time needed to hire new employees, increasing retention rates, and improving communications and team dynamics among workers.

In addition, the report continued, these tools may help employers reduce human biases when hiring, decide on compensation, and make other employment-related decisions.

AI Concerns To Address

The report maintained that to successfully deploy AI for workforce decisions, employers will need to address potential concerns.

Some of those concerns include ensuring that the increased use of AI does not exacerbate existing biases and inequalities, metrics AI tools produce are fair and accurate, increased monitoring of employees is not unduly invasive, and processing of biometric does not reveal sensitive personal information about employees that they may wish to keep private, such as data about their emotions, health, or disabilities.

To address these concerns, the report continued, several policymakers and advocacy groups have called for new public policies that apply the "precautionary principle" to AI, which says that government should limit the use of new technology until it is proven safe.

"In short, they favor restricting the use of AI because they believe it is better to be safe than sorry," Omaar wrote. "But these policies do more harm than good because they make it more expensive to develop AI, limit the testing and use of AI, and even ban some applications, thereby reducing productivity, competitiveness, and innovation."

"Instead," she noted, "policymakers should pave the way for widespread adoption of AI in the workplace while building guardrails, where necessary, to limit harms."

Employer and Employee Benefits

Artificial intelligence can benefit both employers and employees, added Julian Sanchez, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a public policy think tank in Washington, D.C.

"Ideally AI can help businesses make both more efficient decisions -- by synthesizing and analyzing much more granular data than human managers are able to process -- and also more fair decisions, by providing a uniform mechanism for evaluating employees that can help filter out the biases of individual managers," he told TechNewsWorld.

"Plenty of real-world applications of workplace AI are beneficial for employees as well -- finding ways to reduce on-the-job injuries or burnout, not just ramp up productivity," he added.

When AI systems can become a problem is when people become too dependent on them, noted Craig Le Clair, a vice president and a principal analyst at Forrester Research.

"The system becomes a black box to humans," he told TechNewsWorld. "They can't explain how a decision was made so they don't know if it was biased or not."

Algorithm Bias

Sanchez explained that algorithms can have biases in a number of ways. They can replicate biases in the data they're trained on. They can also be insensitive to circumstances humans would be aware of.

"When that's the case, the bias gets scaled across the entire firm or even a whole sector, if a particular tool is widespread -- though when biases are identified, they're usually easier to correct than their human counterparts," he said.

"The ability to process granular data can also be a double-edged sword, because it enables a level of minute monitoring that can feel dehumanizing," Sanchez continued.

"It can feel like important decisions about your career depend on an opaque algorithm that may not be intelligible to the employee in the way we expect supervisors' decisions to be," he explained.

John Carey, managing director in the technology practice at AArete, a global management consulting firm, added that AI can't easily match experience or instinct around employees, making sure that they are treated with empathy.

"We, as humans, can detect far more about a behavioral issues from a conversation rather than relying on just data," he told TechNewsWorld. "So it's important that AI is used as a support tool rather than be relied on exclusively."

Data Quality Important

Jim McGregor, founder and principal analyst of Tirias Research, a high-tech research and advisory firm in Phoenix, Ariz. explained that how an AI tool performs depends on the quality of the data it's given and the bias of that information.

"A lot of the information going into AI systems will be coming from employees," he told TechNewsWorld. "Everyone, no matter who you are, has biases. It's hard to break those biases."

"AI is a tool," he said. "It should not be the only tool that any employer uses for hiring, firing or advancing people."

"AI has the potential to improve workforce decisions," he added, "but you have to be conscious of its upside and downside when using it as a tool."

Advice for Policymakers

In her report, Omaar proposed eight principles to guide policymakers when making decisions about AI:

Make government an early adopter of AI for workforce decisions and share best practices;

Ensure data protection laws support the adoption of AI for workforce decisions;

Ensure employment nondiscrimination laws apply regardless of whether an organization uses AI;

Create rules to safeguard against new privacy risks in workforce data;

Address concerns about AI systems for workforce decisions at the national level;

Enable the global free flow of employee data;

Do not regulate the input of AI systems used for workforce decisions; and

Focus regulation on employers, not AI vendors.

Light Touch

Sanchez endorsed the light government touch advocated in Omaar's recommendations.

"I'm inclined to agree with the CDI report that we probably don't need AI-specific rules in most cases, though it may take some time to figure out how to apply existing rules to decisions made with AI assistance," he said.

"If there are things we want to require or forbid employers to do, then at some level it shouldn't matter whether they do those things with microprocessors or human brains -- trying to directly regulate software design is usually a mistake," he observed.

"Anyone who thinks they can regulate AI is foolish," added McGregor.

"If you start slapping regulations on it, you're going to make it ineffective and limit innovation," he said. "You're going to have more downside than upside."

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.


Major/Minor:

Pharmaceutical Science

Classification:

Sophomore

Hometown:

Elizabeth City

Hobbies/Interests:

Golf, chess, fishing, and dancing

Dream Job:

My dream job is to work in research facilities within pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. An alternative would be to work in a lab or other clinical settings.

Campus Events You Enjoyed Participating In and The Reason(s):

The campus events I enjoyed participating in would be the New Student/First-Year Orientation. I got to observe the new students thoughts and perspectives on attending the Elizabeth City State University. I was there as a resource for students. I could answer their questions, give them advice, and show them around campus.

Plans After Graduating From ECSU:

Attend medical school.

Plans For the Future:

Find a career that incorporates the core principles of pharmacology in a clinical setting.

Your words to live by:

If you are in the room, you deserve to be there, and your voice matters.

Favorite Place on Campus



My favorite place on campus would be the library and the new student center. Although those places have two different dynamics, they serve a purpose. The library is a good place for me because I can find resources, focus on my studies in a quiet setting, and have access to electronic services. The new student center is a good place for students to interact, have events, and study.

Professors Who Have Influenced You



Dr. Andre Stevenson. Dr. Stevenson has gotten me involved in various activities on and off-campus. I was allowed to moderate a panel about the Gilman International Scholarship program, set up a LinkedIn profile, volunteered at different events on campus, and attended an Honors Convocation where I was honored for being a part of the University Honors Program.

Advice for Freshmen



Take no as a comma and not a period. There might have been an opportunity, internship, or job opportunity that you didnt get. Its important to know that thats not the end. There will always be more opportunities, so take the rejection and keep moving forward.
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INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Spatial, the audio simulation platform that powers real-time immersive sound experience, is pleased to announce that the company has been named a winner of the 2021 CE Pro BEST Awards at CEDIA Expo in both the Outdoor A/V and Wellness categories. As a four year old company that publicly launched in March of this year, these accolades are a tremendous proof point of Spatial's ability to transform any type of space, unlock creativity across many different industries, and impact people's everyday lives
Bobby Leo Dean, 78, of Athens passed away August 26, 2021, at his residence. A celebration of life service will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, September 5, 2021, at the Elk River Mills Memorial Cemetery, with Bro. Jim Clutter officiating. The family asks that you please wear a mask if you are in clo
Athens, AL (35611)

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Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

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Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 62F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Last year, Peloton introduced its new lower-cost Peloton Tread to the market, which was around $1,800 cheaper than the original Tread+ ($4,295). It was then sold for a short period of time in the UK, Canada and the US, where it had a limited invitation-only release. Then the company had to halt sales of the Tread and recall both its connected treadmills after reports of several injuries and one fatality. The Tread in particular had to be recalled because its touchscreen console could detach and fall. The issues have since been fixed, but the incident obviously delayed the broader release of the Tread.

Now, the company is ready for a redo of sorts with a much wider launch. Peloton announced today that the newer, safer Tread will be available in the US, Canada and the UK on August 30th, while those in Germany will have to wait until later this fall. The Peloton Tread is priced at $2,495 USD ($3,295 CAD / 2,295 / 2495).

As a reminder, the Tread includes many of the same features of the Tread+, albeit in a more affordable package. It has a 23.8-inch HD touchscreen instead of the 32-inch on the Tread+, and it uses a traditional running belt instead of a shock-absorbing slat belt. The Tread also has a slightly smaller footprint; its 68 by 33 inches, rather than 72.5 by 36.5 inches.

Peloton also emphasized software and hardware safety features in the new Tread, which helps address the recall concerns. One of them is Tread Lock, a mandatory four-digit digital passcode. Tread Lock will be available for both All-Access members as well as those without. Theres also a physical safety key that a runner can pull to quickly stop during a class.

Additionally, as you'd expect, Peloton said that all Treads from here on out will have the improved hardware and software installed. That means that the touchscreen console is now securely attached to the Tread at all times, according to the company. As previously announced, existing Tread users can have this repair done for free.
Spotify is expanding paid podcast subscriptions to all US creators as a means of monetizing more content. Since its launch with a dozen indie publishers in the Spring, the premium option has been activated on 100 podcasts, according to the Sweden-based streaming service. On September 15th, subscriber-only content will be made available to international listeners. While overseas creators will have to wait a tad bit longer to get their hands on the monetization tools.

The program itself is available through Anchor, the podcast creation platform Spotify acquired alongside podcast network Gimlet for just shy of $340 million in 2019. The company has billed the service as a win-win for its entire user base, giving publishers the chance to reap subscription fees with no commission (for the first two years) from avid listeners. Spotify will start taking a cut of 5 percent in 2023. Comparatively, Apple charges a $20 annual fee for its program and takes a 30 percent cut of subscriptions for the first year and 15 percent thereafter.

Based on learnings from its test period, Spotify is introducing 20 new pricing options for podcasts to offer creators more flexibility. It's also allowing publishers to download a list of contact addresses for their subscribers so they can better engage with them. That should help creators to further promote their content using email marketing and notifications.
Chinese electronics manufacturer Xiaomi recently passed Apple to become the worlds second-largest phone maker. Its now banking on the fact its products are recognizable enough they dont need additional branding. As first reported by XDA Developers, the company will phase out its Mi branding over the coming months, with new products slated to carry the Xiaomi name instead.

Starting in 2021 Q3, Xiaomi's product series Mi will be renamed to Xiaomi, a spokesperson for the company told Engadget. This change will unify our global brand presence and close the perception gap between the brand and its products. The Mi branding isnt going completely away. The companys Mi Home stores will continue to carry the name. Xiaomi will also continue selling Redmi devices, with those targeted at consumers who want to save money on their next phone purchase.

In fact, it sounds like well see the Redmi branding appear on more devices before too long. The product series naming convention  Xiaomi and Redmi  will also be applied to our ecosystem and IoT products over time, the spokesperson said. The possibility that Xiaomi was planning to retire the Mi name came out earlier this month when the companys new Mix 4 phone didnt feature the branding.
As Prince Andrew continues to hide and not face the sexual abuse allegations being thrown his way, an analyst claims that this just shows the kind of man he is. The analyst says that even before a court verdict, his character can already be described as flawed.

The analyst in particular claims Prince Andrew seems to be living in the dark ages, and have not evolved like the rest of the human population.

According to the royals historian, who did not hold back about his opinions on Prince Andrew and the case he's now facing,

Queen Elizabeth's son's "absolute inability" to be more empathic for Jeffrey Epstein's victims just revealed immensely the Duke's lack of understanding for the "revolution in thinking" that has occurred in the past decade. This revolution in thinking has to do with how women should be treated.

According to Royal historian Dr Tessa Dunlop, who gave her insights to Mail+'s Palace Confidential, "It's quite extraordinary the level of that man's hubris."

"One of the main criticisms of his trial by media is that dreadful car crash Newsnight interview, his absolute inability to show any empathy for the victims," she started. "Remember it was all about his pain, injury done to him, and by saying you're cheerful when these women are currently going through the trial that is bringing something to court, resurfacing their real pain," she added.

"It just looks so uncaring, he hasn't got it - how can he have two daughters and not get it?," she finished with a jab.

She then proceeded to hurle insults at the royal and claims he's stuck in the Dark Ages.

"It's interesting because he's born in an era when women who complain about inappropriate behaviour are sidelined and shuttled off, but there's been a revolution in thinking and behaviours over the last ten years, it's like he's still living in the Dark Ages," she said.

She then highlighted the urgency of recognizing Prince Andrew's flawed character as he continues to resist cooperation on the investigation. "The longer he doesn't do what he'd said he'd do which was fully cooperate, the drips are becoming great puddles and it's a huge problem for the Royal Family," she warned.

ALSO READ: Little Mix Remaining Members Decided Jesy Nelson Should Leave The Band?

Prince Andrew has to respond to this harsh criticism. He likely would not as he continues to hide, as reported by Express UK.

Virginia Giuffre is the one who filed the civil lawsuit under New York's Child Victims Act on August 10 against the Duke. She claims being abused by Prince Andrew, detailing how the acts have taken place at the London home of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell as well as in various Epstein's homes around the US.

READ MORE: Jennifer Garner Worried About Ex Ben Affleck: Jennifer Lopez Might Cause Actor to Relapse?
Did Prince Philip himself never want to reach the age of 100?

Before his death in April, Prince Philip said several times how he lived long enough to serve Queen Elizabeth II and the monarchy. As he reached the age of 99 before his passing, he became the longest-serving British consort in history.

He almost reached his 100th birthday, but a new book revealed that Prince Philip never wanted to reach that age at all.

The Duke of Edinburgh's longtime biographer Gyles Brandreth recently published her book "Philip: The Final Portrait." She quoted in the material how Prince Philip said he did not want to last until 100.

"I certainly don't want to hang on until I am a hundred like Queen Elizabeth [the Queen Mother]," the late royal reportedly said. "I can't imagine anything worse. I'm already falling to pieces as it is. Bits keep dropping off. I have absolutely no desire to cling on to life unnecessarily. Ghastly prospect."

Like Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip pledged to dedicate his life serving the monarchy. Although he retired from his public duties in 2017, he remained the Queen's most important support until death.

Prince Philip Served Well

The publication of the new book came after Prince Philip's only daughter, Princess Anne, stoically remembered him during his supposed 100th birthday.

The royal princess sat for an interview with ITV, where he honored her late father. According to her, everyone needs to move forward without him. However, she added that it is also important to remember.

"There were not many people who understood just how broad his interests were and how supportive he was to an astonishingly wide range of organizations," she said.

READ ALSO: Jimmy Hayes' Cause of Death Suspicious? Ex-NHL Player Pronounced Dead at Home

She also noted that Prince Philip witnessed many life experiences before applauding his capacity to ask more questions than give opinions when he was still alive.

This resonated with what Brandreth mentioned in the introduction of her book, saying that the late duke was more thoughtful and kinder than what people think so.

According to the author, it has been a privilege for her part to be able to score a special access in writing Prince Philip's life. Although he did not see the final version of the book anymore, Brandreth expressed her hopes the book to do him justice.

The book serves as the revised and updated version of the 2004 book "Philip and Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage."

READ MORE: UB40 Brian Travers Dead After Heroic Battle: Cause of Death Confirmed
Bill Clotworthy, an executive of "Saturday Night Live" for standards and practices, has passed away at 95.

According to his son Robert Clotworthy, as reported by Deadline, the writer died on Thursday in a hospice located in Salt Lake City, Utah. His cause of death remains unknown; however, it was reported that he was living with Type 2 diabetes for 40 years, but it wasn't confirmed whether this is the reason behind his death.

Born William Griffith Clotworthy, the executive spent his early days in Westfield, New Jersey. He was born on January 13, 1926. He attended Westfield High School and became a U.S. veteran as he served for the Navy at the end of World War II.

While serving for the country, he studied at Wesleyan University and Yale. He finally got his theatre degree at Syracuse University in 1948.

Clotworthy is known as "Dr. No" by "SNL's" cast and crew members as he's in charge of on-set censor for more than a decade until he decided to retire.

During his time in the comedy program, he also handles other shows such as "Late Night With David Letterman" and "The Cosby Shows."

Clotworthy is also known for working in the field of advertising before going back to NBC as he spent over three decades at Madison Avenue firm, BBDO.

The executive is also a renowned writer as he already published several books in the past like "Saturday Night Live: Equal Opportunity Offender," "In The Footsteps of George Washington, "Censurato! Come ho messo il bavaglio ai," and many more.

READ NOW: Leaked MET Gala Invite List of Attendees Got Fans Enraged-Here's Why

#RIP Bill Clotworthy, 95; he spent 13 years as the Studio 8H on-set censor for 'Saturday Night Live,' where the cast & crew lovingly called him "Doctor No." Fun story in here about a farting sketch that never made it on the air. https://t.co/xbI1NF0dJG  Mike Barnes (@MikeBarnes4) August 23, 2021

Per Hollywood Reporter, in his memoir, Clotworthy opened up the importance of censors in television shows. He mentioned that executives from the field of standards and practices like him are trying to make TV "acceptable to a large and culturally diverse audience."

In addition, he stated that it is not easy to work in the field of censorship because there's a hindrance from the creative community that wants to "push the envelope."

In a 2002 interview, he recalled one hilarious "SNL" skit that was never broadcasted. He said that the sketch was about a bunch of fraternity boys "trying to light farts."

"You didn't see anything, but you heard the voiceover and then there was this big explosion, and Joe Piscopo was dressed as Smokey the Bear, and he came out and said that should be a lesson to everyone - don't fart with fire." He recalled.

READ ALSO: Snoop Dogg Spams Followers with 'The Milk Crate Challenge' Video Compilations Amid Warnings of Its Dangers
The lack of information about Jimmy Hayes' cause of death made fans start speculating what truly happened.

On Monday, first responders visited Hayes' home, where they pronounced him dead. Before his passing, he was seen looking fine while celebrating his son's birthday in an arcade.

This led the authorities to allege that his death is not suspicious at all. Meanwhile, some of his fans asked the public to respect the family's privacy by not speculating over the cause of death or post rumors.

However, Twitter users shared their own thoughts about Hayes' death, suggesting some potential causes that led to his tragic passing.

Jimmy Hayes' Cause of Death

One user said that he might have died due to cardiac arrest. It resonated with the recent athlete deaths that provide no concrete information about the cause of their passing.

"I'm thinking I have a idea what Jimmy Hayes cause of death is since sudden cardiac arrest sadly is quite common in current and former athletes and a Boston article said he was out celebrating his one child's bday last night," the user said.

READ ALSO: Jimmy Hayes' Cause of Death Suspicious? Ex-NHL Player Pronounced Dead at Home

Another suspected that the COVID-19 vaccine has something to do with it, saying, "Jimmy Hayes got the vaccine right? Weird a healthy guy just suddenly dies for no apparent reason."

Amid these claims, fans slammed them for causing buzzes while the family is still grieving over his death. Still, these resonated with what others theorized about other athletes' deaths.

More Athletes Are Dying?

Hayes' death came after a number of athletes also succumbed this year.

For what it's worth, Jake Ehlinger caused massive talks when he was found dead near the University of Texas. At that time, the Austin Police Department reportedly received a call about the death of a young man. The report detailed that the body was found on the 1200 block of West 22nd Street.

His friends then confirmed the identity to KXAN. Like Hayes, Ehlinger's death also gave birth to speculations, saying that his death could be because of a drug overdose or a suicide.

Other people talked about Marfan syndrome, which could lead to a person's unexpected death.

According to marfan.org, the disease is a genetic disorder that targets the body's connective tissue. It plays an important role in assisting the body to develop its parts properly. If left undetected, it could lead to a person's death.

READ MORE: Prince Philip Predicted His Death? Late Royal Did NOT Want to Live Until 100
2021-08-23

Maeci

Today, Deputy Minister Benedetto Della Vedova has taken part in the Crimean Platform Summit in Kiev. This event has been promoted by Ukraine to keep the international communitys attention on the illegal annexation of Crimea, which took place in 2014. Those attending the Summit include the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the Deputy President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, the American Secretary of State for Energy, Jennifer Granholm, and Heads of State and Government, as well as Ministries from 45 Countries.

More than 7 years after the illegal annexation of Crimea, we are still concerned about respecting human rights and the possible adverse impacts on the regional situation said the Deputy Minister. We are aware of the suffering that the Tartar population of Crimea face and wish to stress the importance of fully respecting and protecting the basic human rights and liberty of all minorities.

Deputy Minister Della Vedova has gone on to reiterate Italys support of Ukraines territorial integrity, its sovereignty, and its independence, as well as our unequivocal condemnation of the illegal annexation of Crimea. He also stressed Italys determination to maintain the non-recognition policy agreed at an EU level, with the aim of achieving a peaceful end to the occupation.

The Deputy Minister has reiterated these concepts in the bilateral meetings held with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Viktor Bodnar, and the Home Affairs Minister, Denys Monastyrskiy. With them, he has also referred to the excellent bilateral ties between Italy and Ukraine, as well as the opportunities for further increasing the already fruitful economic and trade relations.
2021-08-24

Maeci

The Italian Cultural Institute in Buenos Aires presents an original series of concerts via streaming, celebrating Italy by means of piano music. As part of its traditional #Vivacissimo online cycle, now in its fourth season, it has organised three sessions, to be held on 27 August and 9 and 10 September (at 6.30 p.m.).

The three concerts are set in the marvellous setting of Vicenzas Teatro Olimpico, a Palladio masterpiece, and will be performed by three of the most active Italian pianists: Roberto Prosseda, Alessandro Marangoni, and Costanza Principe.The three artists have chosen a varied repertoire that share an Italian identity. They are all pieces written by Italians, or by foreign composers inspired by Italy.

It should be recalled that the piano was invented in Florence, Italy, to be precise by Bartolomeo Cristofori in 1699, and still today one of the best pianos made is that built by the Fazioli Company, which will naturally be used by the three pianists.

For the first concert on 27 August, on the occasion of the Dante anniversary, Roberto Prosseda will present Liszts great Fantaisie apres une lecture de Dante, preceded by Liszts Tre Sonetti del Petrarca. He will also perform two rare pieces by Ennio Morricone, to whom Prosseda dedicated a Decca CD, with his piano music. The video will also enable you to listen to an original work by Morricone, never recorded before: Rimembranze (1946), the first piece registered by Ennio Morricone with the SIAE, the manuscript for which the Morricone family generously made available to Roberto Prosseda.

The concert on 9 September, by pianist Costanza Principe, includes two famous masterpieces by Bach, deemed to be the father of Western music, linked to Italy for different reasons. In the Italian Concerto of 1735 Bach transfers the dynamic and dramatic contrasts, typical of Italian style Baroque Concertos. The famous Chaconne from Partita for violin No. 2, is presented here in the form of the monumental piano transcription by Ferruccio Busoni, progenitor of modern piano music.

The concert on 9 September, by pianist Costanza Principe, includes two famous masterpieces by Bach, deemed to be the father of Western music, linked to Italy for different reasons. In the Italian Concerto of 1735 Bach transfers the dynamic and dramatic contrasts, typical of Italian style Baroque Concertos. The famous Chaconne from Partita for violin No. 2, is presented here in the form of the monumental piano transcription by Ferruccio Busoni, progenitor of modern piano music.

The concert on 10 September by pianist Alessandro Marangoni, will be dedicated entirely to piano music by Italian composers. In particular, the artist will play a repertoire by another great father of the piano, Muzio Clementi: the rare Variations on Batti Batti, o bel Masetto, from Mozarts Don Giovanni. His concert will continue with other rare original piano pieces by Rossini, Busoni, Castelnuovo Tedesco, and De Sabata, taking us on a journey of varied listening, full of new discoveries.

Registration is obligatory: click here
2021-08-24

Maeci

The Italian Institute of Culture in Vilnius and the Regional Museum of Lazdijai have organized an exhibition entitled Leonardo da Vinci. The Gentle Genius to celebrate the Italian artist on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of his death. The exhibition travels to the city of Lazdijai, in southern Lithuania, after touring other cities in the country, including Vilnius.

The exhibition will be held at the Regional Museum, Via Seinu 29. It will be inaugurated on August 26 and will be open to the public until September 11. Admission is free.

Fourteen panels make up the exhibition, illustrating the life and personality of Leonardo, his art and his discoveries. Each panel reveals not only curiosities about the man, but also about the historical context and period, the Renaissance, in which he lived and was able to express and create his works.
SE for ALL Logo - SE FOR ALL/PR NEWSWIRE (LOGO)

- With support from UN-Energy, SEforALL and Google plan to build a global coalition of companies, governments and others interested in fully decarbonizing their energy consumption, starting with the launch of the 24/7 Carbon-free Energy Compact.

VIENNA, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A carbon-free electricity sector is the foundation for reaching a net-zero global economy. Electricity generates 25% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, and is key to decarbonizing other sectors of the economy, including buildings, transport, and industry. To achieve net-zero emissions across the global economy by 2050, electricity must become the core of the energy system and be decarbonized even faster, while expanding to meet the increasing demands of millions who lack adequate access to electricity today.

Google is building on its three-decades long commitment to sustainability for people and planet by aiming to operate on carbon-free energy - every hour of every day, at all of its data centers and office campuses around the world, by 2030. This more ambitious commitment will be captured in an Energy Compact, an innovation introduced by SEforALL and backed by UN-Energy as a key outcome of the upcoming UN High-level Dialogue on Energy in September, The Energy Compacts are public and trackable commitments, with specific actions, made by governments, companies and others to achieve energy transition goals by 2030  including universal access to affordable and clean energy.

Google and SEforALL will leverage Google's experience to build a global Compact for 24/7 Carbon-free Energy (CFE). Google and SEforAll are calling on companies, governments and other stakeholders who commit to the principles of 24/7 CFE to join the Compact and work together to enact the policies critical to fully decarbonize the world's electricity systems.

"We are eager to work with Sustainable Energy for All and the world's governments and corporations to fully decarbonize grids and support a carbon-free economy. With this global Compact, we have a unique opportunity to transform energy policies, technologies, and procurement practices- but only if we work together." said Kate Brandt, Chief Sustainability Officer of Google.

"This partnership with Google sends a powerful signal that none of us alone can achieve the scale necessary to tackle the double crisis of climate and energy poverty. The only hope we have to heal our planet and to provide opportunities for billions is together through partnerships like this that can pave the way for others to follow." said Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All.

Google and SEforALL recognize the need for urgent action now. This is punctuated by the troubling new IPCC report on climate change showing that we must dramatically transform our energy systems to operate on carbon-free energy to avoid warming the planet beyond the global target of 1.5 degrees Celsius. Getting there will require a rapid acceleration in the pace of clean energy deployment, the development of advanced carbon-free energy technologies, and significant policy changes. All stakeholders - from energy consumers to energy providers to policymakers and civil society - must work to advance the decarbonization of the world's electricity systems in a just and fair way. This is why a global coalition is needed now, more than ever.

To drive action on this urgent issue, Google and SEforALL are co-hosting a workshop on 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy as the Path to Net-Zero on Tuesday 24 August at 11:00 EST, to demonstrate the concept and how energy consumers everywhere can support electricity decarbonization, which means that every kilowatt-hour of electricity demand is served by carbon-free electricity sources, every hour of every day, everywhere. The workshop will also provide an overview of Energy Compacts and show how participants can themselves create and commit to one.

You can register for the virtual workshop on 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy as the Path to Net-Zero taking place on Tuesday 24 August at 11:00 EST here.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Contact:

For further details on the reports or any interview requests, please contact: Sherry Kennedy, Sustainable Energy for All: Sherry.Kennedy@SEforALL.org / Media@SEforALL.org | +43 676 846 727 237

About Sustainable Energy for All Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an international organization that works in partnership with the United Nations and leaders in government, the private sector, financial institutions, civil society and philanthropies to drive faster action towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7)  access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030  in line with the Paris Agreement on climate. SEforALL works to ensure a clean energy transition that leaves no one behind and brings new opportunities for everyone to fulfill their potential.

SEforALL is led by Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy. Follow her on Twitter @DamilolaSDG7. For more information, follow @SEforALLorg.

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Tuesday, August 24, 2021

We are pleased to bring you a two-part guest post by Sriya Sridhar, analysing the judgement passed by the Madras High Court today in a case where the petitioner seeks his name to be redacted from a judgment in a case where he was ultimately acquitted. Sriya graduated from Jindal Global Law School in 2020, and is now a lawyer specialising in IP and Technology law.

Madras HC on the Right to be Forgotten: A Welcome Development? (Part I)



Sriya Sridhar

In my previous post for this blog (see here), I discussed an interim order passed by the Delhi High Court (HC) recognising the petitioners right to be forgotten (RTBF). In doing so, I examined the state of law on the RTBF, judgments of various High Courts and the implications of the matter before the Delhi HC for the future of the right to privacy vis-a-vis judicial transparency and public access to information.

Carrying forward from my last post, I examine an interim order issued on July 16th, and judgment issued by a Single Bench of the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) today, in a case where the petitioner seeks his name to be redacted from a judgment in a case where he was ultimately acquitted. I consider the implications of this matter for the RTBF, essential questions it raises, why the judgment is a positive step, and aspects that still require clarity.

The Interim Order

In this case, the petitioner claimed that he had been acquitted by the High Court on an appeal from a conviction and sentence passed by the Trial Court, for offences under Section 417 (Cheating) and Section 376 (Rape) of the IPC. He claimed that he is entitled to redaction of his name from the judgment given that he is identified as the accused even after being acquitted, which has caused harm to his reputation. Unlike the petitioner before the Delhi HC, his relief was claimed against the Additional Registrar Generals of the Court and the Registrar for IT in addition to Indian Kanoon.

Like the Delhi HC, this Court also found that there is a prima facie case to uphold the petitioners RTBF, although the reliefs are different. The reasoning for a potential relief in the Madras HC seemed to be based on (1) the protection of his right to privacy and reputation both online and offline, and (2) providing an acquitted person the right to have their name redacted and stop being identified as an accused person.

While the Court did not frame the issue as one of right to privacy weighed against judicial transparency, it located the petitioners Right to be Forgotten in Article 21 and a post Puttaswamy framework. However, there were several causes for concern, which I will elaborate on in the following sections.

Readers may also note that there is a similar writ petition currently admitted in the Kerala HC, which I mentioned in a comment to my previous post. However, the Kerala HC does not seem to have made any observations like the Madras HC, and the matter is at the stage of a counter affidavit filed by IndianKanoon at the moment.

Final Arguments

I attended the final arguments of the matter on the 28th of July. A number of arguments were made, drawing from judgments in the EU, the USA, and articles of the GDPR and sections of the PDP Bill. The counsel for the petitioner and other interested parties interpreted the right of privacy as absolute, and that the petitioner is entitled to the removal of his name which serves no other purpose in the public interest and has caused harm to his reputation in the past. They emphasized the right of a person to have his dignity restored and drew upon previous cases where Courts agreed to mask names, although not going into important distinctions. Counsels also argued that the right to privacy should be placed on a higher pedestal than the right to information, and that a perception of false guilt is not to be perpetuated given the prevalence of social media screening.

Counsel for the respondents left it up to the Court to create guidelines, while parties against the redaction largely called for a balancing act between the right to privacy of the petitioner and the right to information, and freedom of speech, as well as pointed out that a judgment forms part of the public record which should not be redacted post facto, especially given that the petitioner hasnt faced any harm with respect to any serious matter such as seeking public employment and the fact that court records are essentially public documents (which I agree with). They also (correctly, in my opinion), pointed out that a general principle is likely to open the floodgates to future cases where acquitted persons ask the court to alter the content of the judgment in itself, which necessitates the need for safeguards and a procedure established by law which considers the circumstances of the acquittal and public interest.

The Court also explicitly said that the intent of inviting members of the Bar is not to confine the matter to the petitioner in question, rather to lay down principles for future cases of acquittals and redaction.

In Part II of this post, I will be covering the final judgment of the Court, and my analysis on the positive aspects of its deviation from the interim order (which I find to be problematic). I will also cover the missed opportunities for providing clarity on important aspects pertaining to the RTBF and the Courts own observations.
It was a Whataburger lovefest at San Antonio International Airport early Tuesday as officials announced plans to add the San Antonio burger chain to the roster of restaurants in Terminal A.

Whataburger is expected to open next spring in the space originally slated for Chick-fil-A.

As they made the announcement, city officials and Whataburger brass avoided any mention of Chick-fil-A or the controversy that blew up in March 2019 when a divided City Council barred the chicken sandwich chain from opening a location at the airport.

Council members balked at Chick-fil-As selection because of past donations by the companys charitable foundation and its founder, the late Truett Cathy, to organizations opposed to LGBTQ rights.

Councils 6-4 vote touched off a firestorm among conservatives who accused the city of trampling the companys religious freedom. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the Federal Aviation Administration opened investigations into the decision. Texas lawmakers subsequently passed the so-called Chick-fil-A Law, which bars discrimination against companies or individuals based on their religious beliefs.

In the 2019 mayors race, then-Councilman Greg Brockhouse bludgeoned Mayor Ron Nirenberg  whod supported the resolution blocking Chick-fil-As airport location  with the issue. Nirenberg narrowly won re-election in a June runoff.

But that was ancient history  at least at Tuesdays news conference at San Antonio International.

This is a big day, Whataburger CEO Ed Nelson said. After 71 years, we finally have a Whataburger at our hometown airport.

Nelson paid homage to the Dobson family, which founded Whataburger in 1950, and the chains 51,000 employees.

Whataburger currently operates restaurants at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Love Field in Dallas and at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

The Whataburger location in Terminal A wont open till 2022 because of construction. The company is also finalizing a lease agreement with Paradies Lagardere Travel Retail, the airports concessionaire.

The restaurant will be located in the space once occupied by fast-food chain Raising Canes, which lost its lease after Paradies Lagardere Travel Retail won the concession contract for the airport.

Nirenberg, who was not present at Tuesdays announcement, had championed Whataburger as a replacement for Chick-fil-A after the 2019 council vote. The burger chain confirmed at the time that it was in negotiations with Paradies Lagardere for the spot.

But the company later withdrew from the talks because of a lawsuit  since dismissed  brought by religious-freedom activists in state court against the city of San Antonio and Paradies Lagardere.

Defending his support for the resolution by then-District 1 Councilman Roberto Trevino, Nirenberg argued the restaurant would be closed on Sunday  Truett, a devout Southern Baptist, kept his restaurants shuttered on Sundays  depriving the airport of revenue on a busy travel day. But an airport analysis showed Chick-Fil-A would bring in more revenue than any other fast-food restaurant at the airport, even operating just six days a week.

Last September, San Antonio was forced to offer Chick-Fil-A its spot back at the airport, a condition set by the FAA to drop its investigation into City Councils decision.

San Antonio spent $290,000 in legal fees defending itself in the probe, which could have resulted in the loss in millions in federal funding to airport.

Chick-Fil-A declined the citys offer, sayings customers could patronize its 30-plus locations elsewhere in the San Antonio area.

At Tuesdays ceremony, city Aviation Director Jesus Saenz Jr. noted travelers have said in surveys for San Antonio International that they wanted tasty food offerings, especially burgers.

So having a hometown favorite in the airport is a win for the community, he said.

Saenz didnt say how chicken sandwiches fared in the survey results.

randy.diamond@express-news.net
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District will begin offering COVID-19 booster shots Sept. 20, the agency chief told Bexar County commissioners Tuesday.

In addition, starting in late September, Metro Health may offer $100 gift cards as an incentive for people to become fully vaccinated. By that time, U.S. officials are expected to have approved the use of federal funds to pay for the incentives, said Claude Jacob, the new director of the city-run health district.

University Health President and CEO George Hernandez, during a COVID-19 update Tuesday for Bexar County Commissioners Court, told commissioners the county hospital system is working to reopen a vaccination megasite at Wonderland of the Americas Mall in Balcones Heights to administer booster shots.

Public health and medical experts said last week that a vaccine booster can be given to people eight months after they receive the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines to strengthen protection against the now dominant delta strain of the coronavirus.

Under a plan for nationwide administration of booster shots announced last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal agencies, the first ones to receive boosters would be health care workers, nursing home residents and other older Americans, who were first vaccinated beginning last December.

Studies show that protection against coronavirus decreases over time after the initial vaccination.

While there is plenty of evidence that vaccinations work, some fully vaccinated people will become infected and some of them will need hospitalization; a few have died from COVID-19.

As of Tuesday, about 15% of COVID-19 patients in San Antonio-area hospitals had been vaccinated and contracted the virus anyway.

According to Julys epidemiology report, since the beginning of the year, roughly 2% of all COVID-19 cases, 2% of hospitalized COVID-19 cases, and about 1% of people who died from the disease were fully vaccinated.

Currently, there are 1,418 COVID-19-positive patients in area hospitals. On July 11, there were only 216.

Of those hospitalized, 407 are in intensive care units and 245 are relying on mechanical ventilators to breathe. One in three patients admitted to the hospital is infected with the virus.

Jacob said private providers would play a big role in providing booster shots to the public.

We know that a number of providers and area pharmacies are already booking appointments, he said.

Calling the current surge a crisis of the unvaccinated, Hernandez said 93 of the 100 people who have been in intensive care at University Hospital with the virus since June 1 were not vaccinated.

On ExpressNews.com: 'Our hospitals are full of remorse': S.A. doctor says many COVID patients regret skipping vaccine

County commissioners during their briefing urged Metro Health to pay more attention to bolstering vaccination rates in outlying areas of the county and to use federal funds if necessary to increase staffing.

Commissioner Tommy Calvert, who represents Precinct 4 on the East Side, said Metro Health needs to target remote ZIP codes with low vaccination rates with more urgency.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Trish DeBerry, whose constituency is on the North Side, said the agency should provide more robust collaboration with the county and University Health.

You guys are doing a great job for the city, DeBerry said. But this is not a Metro Health for the entire county.

Jacob, who took the helm of Metro Health in July as San Antonio began to experience a third surge of COVID-19, welcomed the commissioners feedback and expressed support for serving the entire county.

Once youre in a pandemic, its too late to build partnerships, said Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores, who worked for Metro Health before she was elected last year to represent Precinct 1, which covers much of the South and West sides. Residents in her district have suffered disproportionately high mortality from COVID-19.

Jacob emphasized that he is new to San Antonio but not to public health, having worked most recently as a public health administrator in Massachusetts. He said hell work to eliminate the gaps in service.

I hear you loud and clear, he told DeBerry. We realize there are still some gaps that we need to address.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

During the separate, televised city-county COVID briefing on Tuesday night, officials reported five new deaths.

Metro Health also determined that 36 deaths from a backlog of nearly 180 were caused by COVID-19, bringing the Bexar County death toll since the start of the pandemic to 3,772.

The positivity rate has dropped to 13.6 percent, although theres been more testing coinciding with the beginning of the school year. But overall, theres been a higher number of positive cases.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said whats different during this surge is that more hospitalized COVID-19 patients are 20 to 29 years old. He urged this age group to get vaccinated as hospitals reach capacity.

There are 24 pediatric patients being treated in local hospitals. Children under 12 are not eligible to be vaccinated.

Mayor Ron Nirenbegs message to vaccine holdouts: You are prolonging this crisis.

laura.garcia@express-news.net

shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
The Chair packs a lot into what amounts to about three hours of television.

At first glance, the Netflix series seems like a Veep-esque send-up of higher education. But its critiques arent as biting and its central relationship is too sweet to come anywhere near the level of depravity that HBO comedy reached.

Dive deeper into The Chair and youll find a fairly nuanced examination of not just the inner workings of a university English department, but also white male privilege, the difficulties of navigating bureaucracies, accountability, forgiveness, family, the modern cultural relevancy of Chaucer and much more.

All that is crammed into six half-hour episodesthat largely take place in the hallowed halls and courtyards of Chatham University in Pittsburgh and Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. These two western Pennsylvania institutions stand in quite ably for the fictional Pembroke University, a small liberal arts school somewhere in New England.

The new department chair is Ji-Yoon Kim (Sandra Oh), who is still getting used to being her colleagues boss. Shes immediately inundated with a host of drama starting with a dean-mandated need to downsize. Then, one of the English departments brightest stars, Bill Dobson (Jay Duplass), spirals out of control after his wifes death and the departure of his daughter to attend college elsewhere.

The Chair Where: Streaming on Netflix ***1/2 (out of 5) See More Collapse

No one seems interested in making Ji-Yoons life any easier, including the rigid dean, Paul Larson (David Morse), and longtime professor Elliot Wentz (Bob Balaban), who feels threatened when fresh faces like Yaz McKay (Nana Mensah) draw more students to lectures than he does. As the rare woman of color in her position, Ji-Yoon wants to help Yaz and Joan Hambling (Holland Taylor) succeed, but Bill ends up taking most of her attention.

On top of all that, Ji-Yoon is having difficulties at home relating to her adopted daughter, Ju-Hee (Everly Carganilla), who is forming an attachment to Bill.

Theres simply a lot going on in The Chair, and its difficult to tell what the show is most interested in exploring. Some story threads are fleshed out in an interesting and satisfying manner, while others feel shortchanged. The shows brevity is actually more of a strength than a weakness, and its success in neatly tying up so many plot lines in such a short period is worthy of praise.

A main focus seems to be Ji-Yoon balancing her personal and professional lives, followed closely by Bill trying to save his job after committing an unforced error that lands him in hot water with students. The two have a complicated relationship that wanders into strange territories on occasion while mostly remaining sweet and supportive. Bills bonding with Ju-Hee is also done tenderly, though its a little alarming juxtaposed with how she treats Ji-Yoon.

Even if the material is sometimes tough to grasp, the acting is uniformly excellent and engrossing. Oh is the ever-reliable central presence who anchors The Chair in reality as she deals with the weirdos that populate Pembrokes English department. Despite being put through the ringer, she steps up at every chance to show that Ji-Yoon isnt going down without a fight.

Duplass has the unenviable task of illustrating Bills brokenness while not using his heartache as an excuse for his more destructive actions. He manages that balancing act well, and he and Oh do great work together. Among the supporting cast, Taylor stands out as the fierce but farcical Joan, who has been at Pembroke for 32 years and wants some damn respect. Her comic intensity and big college professor energy add a delightful layer of levity to the whole project.

The Chair also excels at showing off Pittsburgh; its mostly an on-screen brochure for Chatham and W&J. Even the gray dreariness of a Steel City winter cant make these campuses look any less regal. In addition to one notable scene at Pittsburgh International Airport, the show makes use of various city streets. I experienced a very Pittsburgh moment when I thought excitedly, Ive been to that Brueggers in Shadyside!

Though slightly disjointed, the journey eventually leads to a fulfilling enough destination that, if the show ends up returning for a second season, leaves just enough room for more story.

Anything this lovingly crafted that was made here and can be binged in approximately the time it would take to watch Avengers: Endgame is worth a look.
A year ago, Mike Hixenbaugh and Antonia Hylton didnt know much about Southlake, the upscale suburb of around 31,000 people 25 miles northeast of Fort Worth.

That all changed when Hixenbaugh, a former Houston Chronicle reporter whos now an NBC News national reporter and host of the Do No Harm podcast, was working on a piece about how demographically shifting Texas suburbs were becoming flash points in the culture wars. While interviewing then Texas Republican Party chairman and current gubernatorial candidate Allen West, the name of Southlake came up.

He told me, basically, theres these parents who banded together and prevented this Black Lives Matter attempted takeover of their school district, says Hixenbaugh. I was like, whats he talking about?

What he was talking about was the furor that erupted in 2018 after a video went viral showing white students from Southlakes Carroll High School at a party shouting the N-word. The ensuing controversy caused the school board  operating in a city that is roughly 78 percent white, under 2 percent African American with the remainder Asian and Latino  to initiate diversity and inclusion training for all K-12 students, which in turn sparked a loud backlash among some white parents who claimed the plan was an overreaction. Meanwhile, many parents and students of color in Southlake said the video was just the tip of a very toxic iceberg that seemed to be only visible to them.

Thats the setup for Southlake, a deep-dive, six-part podcast from Hixenbaugh and NBC News correspondent Antonia Hylton that begins streaming Aug. 30. What was really interesting is this was all before anyone was saying anything about critical race theory, says Hixenbaugh. We basically stumbled into a town that had a two-year head start on the fight that is now spread across the country.

In early 2021, Hixenbaugh wrote a story about the controversy for NBC News and Hylton filmed a report for NBC Nightly News, both touching off a torrent of response from readers and viewers. Our email boxes filled up with people from all over the country saying, Hey, this same thing is happening in my school district, says Hixenbaugh. By then, critical race theory had become a very popular phrase on Fox News and in other conservative media, and school board battles were quickly becoming ground zero.

Courtesy NBC

So they pitched the idea of working together for something more in-depth, and a podcast seemed to be the best way to do that. The medium itself allowed us to get access to people and to tell the story, Hylton says. As much as I love (visual documentaries), when you put a camera or multiple cameras in a room, it changes the dynamic and it changes the environment. Some people are just not comfortable with that.  We have some pretty harrowing, gut-punching stories of whats happened with students in this district, including some students whose identities we keep secure because of the nature of whats happened to them.  As much as I love the stories I do for Nightly, two minutes and 30 seconds doesnt do a story like this justice.

Hixenbaugh and Hylton say it was sometimes tough to earn the trust of those involved. Its always difficult to get people whove been through anything traumatic to open up, says Hixenbaugh. And it was very challenging to get parents who are opposed to the diversity plan  to speak with us.  Their voices are very well-represented in the podcast because theyve done so much talking in public.  There was a lot of people turning us away because they just did not trust that the mainstream media would tell their story without painting them as racists.

Hylton says the students were often easier to talk to than the adults. What I consistently hear from young kids in Southlake is that its very strange to them how angry and animated the adults are, she says. Of course, theyre the ones actually living these incidents. Theyre the ones who hear the N-word in the classroom. They were the ones who were called the F-word. Theyre living it but theyre less emotional than the adults who they see fighting with each other at these meetings every month.

Courtesy NBC

cary.darling@chron.com
BERLIN (AP)  Seven people at a university in western Germany have received medical treatment after showing symptoms of poisoning, and prosecutors have opened an investigation into suspicions of attempted murder, authorities said Tuesday.

The employees and students at the Technical University in Darmstadt, south of Frankfurt, experienced medical problems on Monday. Police say that milk cartons and water containers in one of the buildings on the campus appear to have been contaminated with a harmful substance between Friday and Monday. The contaminated liquid was said to have a powerful smell.
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP)  Algeria formally broke off diplomatic relations with neighboring Morocco on Tuesday, with the foreign minister citing a series of alleged hostile acts.

The move culminates a period of growing tension between the North African countries which are mired in a decades-long feud, with their borders closed to each other. There was no immediate reaction from Morocco.

Algeria has decided to break diplomatic relations with Morocco starting today, Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said at a news conference, in which he read a statement from the president.

The announcement comes nearly a week after President Abdelmadjid Tebboune told a meeting of Algeria's High Security Council that incessant hostile acts perpetrated by Morocco have meant the need for a revision in relations between the two countries and the intensification of security checks" at the western borders with Morocco, the official APS news agency reported.

Both countries are allies of western nations, and the move risked complicating diplomacy in the region. Both are important in the fight against terrorism in the nearby Sahel region.

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abdul Gheit called on both to avoid further escalation. He expressed hope the two countries can maintain a minimal level of ties to ensure stability for themselves and within the region.

The Algerian foreign minister cited an accumulation of grievances against Morocco leading to Tuesday's decision.

He also denounced massive and systematic acts of espionage by Morocco, a reference to allegations that the kingdoms security services used Israeli-made Pegasus spyware against its officials and citizenry, APS said. Morocco adamantly denies such claims.

Other criticism ranged from reported remarks by Moroccos U.N. ambassador in mid-July to recent comments by the Israeli foreign minister on an historic visit to Morocco as part of their normalization of ties.

Morocco has turned its territory into a platform allowing foreign powers to speak with hostility about Algeria, APS quoted Lamamra as saying. For the official news agency, he was alluding to a remark by Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in Morocco this month in which he referred among other things to Algerias effort to stop Israel from having observer status in the African Union.

Since 1948, no Israeli official made a hostile declaration to an Arab country from another Arab country, APS quoted Lamamra as saying.

Moroccos U.N. ambassador allegedly said that the people of Algerias Berber region of Kabyle should have the right to determine their status. He also cited Algerias claims that Morocco backs a separatist group in Kabyle, known as MAK, which Algiers has placed on a terrorism list. Algeria has suggested that MAK had a role in wildfires this month in the Kabyle region that killed scores of people, including more than two dozen soldiers.

The issue of Kabyle recalls Algerias support for a bid by the Polisario Front, a pro-independence movement based in southern Algeria, for self-determination in the disputed Western Sahara that was annexed by Morocco in 1975.

Morocco wants autonomy for the region under its supervision, while Algeria wants self-determination via a referendum.

For all these reasons, based on the facts ... I have announced, Algeria has decided to break relations, Lamamra said.
Bexar County Sheriff's Office

A former Bexar County Sheriff's deputy was arrested Monday night after surveillance footage showed him assaulting an inmate last year, the sheriff's office said.

Jaime Soto, 42, was charged with official oppression in connection with a December 2020 incident in which he is accused of knocking an inmate to the ground without justification. Soto was a 14-year veteran with BCSO at the time of the incident.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Naomi Cahn, University of Virginia and Dena Sharp, University of California, Hastings

(THE CONVERSATION) When embryologist Joseph Conaghan arrived at work at San Franciscos Pacific Fertility Center on March 4, 2018, nothing seemed awry. He did routine inspections of the facilitys cryogenic tanks, which store frozen embryos and eggs for clients who hope to someday have biological children.

But what he found was not routine; it was an emergency. Almost all of the liquid nitrogen inside Tank 4 had drained out. Conaghan and his staff tried to save 80 metal boxes of frozen reproductive material, but it was too late. The contents had warmed, damaging or destroying 1,500 eggs and 2,500 embryos.

Some belonged to a couple who traveled cross-country from their farm in Ohio, hoping to build their family from frozen embryos. A single woman in her early 40s was hoping to soon use her preserved eggs with Mr. Right.

For many, infertility is a significant challenge: In 2018, 12.7% of American women sought infertility services, according to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. As experts on regulation of the fertility industry, we are concerned about protecting those who need these interventions. There is little oversight in the U.S. of the industry, with no requirement that clinics report problems  including tank failures. As Professor Dov Fox of the University of San Diego Law School told a reporter: These tanks specifically, theyre not regulated any better than kitchen appliances or farm tools.

Reproductive innovations

The current age of reproductive technology dates to 1944, when lab technician Miriam Menkin successfully fertilized a human egg in a petri dish. She made history, creating a new method of human conception.

That year, 30 fertility experts founded the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Today it is a global organization of about 8,000, including doctors, nurses, health care professionals and others.

But it wasnt until 1978 that in vitro fertilization emerged as a groundbreaking and controversial technology. That year marked the birth of Louise Brown, the first test tube baby.

Since then, the procedure has produced more than 8 million children worldwide. Some 80,000 children are born yearly in the U.S. through IVF, accounting for 1.9% of births.

Little regulation

Assisted reproduction is now a multibillion-dollar industry, with more than 440 U.S. clinics. In other industrialized nations, including the U.K., fertility treatment is monitored by independent, comprehensive regulators. In the U.S., government regulation is so light that the U.S. fertility industry has been called the Wild West. U.S. lawmakers have largely steered clear: The contentious battle over abortion has created a political minefield around any issue concerning conception or embryos.

Minimal regulations are scattered among federal, state and professional entities. Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers limited oversight, auditing or inspecting only a sample of clinics each year, mostly to validate data.

Under a 1992 U.S. federal law, clinics must report assisted reproduction success rates to the CDC. Labs can be certified by one of twoaccrediting, nonprofit organizations. While some states require fertility labs to be accredited, others do not; certification requires the monitoring of tanks.

Without comprehensive monitoring, there is little known about problems within this industry. Some of the most complete information on frozen embryo mishaps comes from a study analyzing lawsuits from 2009 through 2019.

The authors reported 133 cases of embryo loss. More than half were related to two catastrophic freezer failures, including the San Francisco event and another that occurred, in a bizarre coincidence, on the same day at Ohios Ahuja Medical Center. The Ohio malfunction thawed 4,000 eggs, affecting more than 900 women or families.

But this study only includes cases that can be tracked because of legal filings. Clinics often require patients to sign arbitration agreements that keep cases out of court and out of the public eye.

The Pacific Fertility Center case

Cryogenic tank failures should never happen. Although they store often irreplaceable genetic material, this equipment is minimally regulated.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration categorizes these tanks as Class II devices and exempts them from premarket scientific and regulatory review on safety and effectiveness.

There is also little oversight on the equipment while its in use. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine issued guidance on best practices for cryopreservation in 2020, noting that a known source of potential mishaps included human errors, such as a lack of quality control including liquid nitrogen filling schedule and inadequate inventory records.

Basic federal standards for the manufacturing and use of cryopreservation tanks would prevent future storage tank failures and the loss of frozen eggs and embryos. In lieu of federal action, New Jersey became the first state to regulate embryo storage through a law enacted in December 2019.

But ultimately, we believe only federal regulations can ensure uniformity so that standards dont vary from state to state. Clinics also need greater government oversight to ensure prompt communication about errors.

Many who hope to someday have a genetically related child  like the couple from Ohio and that single woman looking for the right partner  must place their trust in fertility specialists, clinics and equipment manufacturers that provide needed services and devices. Even minimal regulation would help ensure that others are spared from devastating losses in the future.

[Get our best science, health and technology stories. Sign up for The Conversations science newsletter.]

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/the-fertility-industry-is-poorly-regulated-and-would-be-parents-can-lose-out-on-having-children-as-a-result-163792.
U.S. President Joe Biden declared Tuesday he is sticking to his Aug. 31 deadline for completing a risky airlift of Americans, endangered Afghans and others seeking to escape Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The decision defies allied leaders who want to give the evacuation more time and opens Biden to criticism that he caved to Taliban deadline demands.

Every day were on the ground is another day that we know ISIS-K is seeking to target the airport and attack both us and allied forces and innocent civilians, Biden said at the White House, referring to the Islamic State group's Afghanistan affiliate, which is known for staging suicide attacks on civilians.

He said the Taliban are cooperating and security is holding despite a number of violent incidents. But its a tenuous situation, he said, adding, We run a serious risk of it breaking down as time goes on.

The United States in recent days has ramped up its airlift amid new reports of rights abuses that fuel concern about the fate of thousands of people who fear retribution from the Taliban and are trying to flee the country. The Pentagon said 21,600 people had been evacuated in the 24 hours that ended Tuesday morning, and Biden said an additional 12,000 had been flown out in the 12 hours that followed. Those include flights operated by the U.S. military as well as other charter flights.

Biden said he had asked the Pentagon and State Department for evacuation contingency plans that would adjust the timeline for full withdrawal should that become necessary.

Pentagon officials expressed confidence the airlift, which started on Aug. 14, can get all Americans out by next Tuesday, the deadline Biden had set long before the Taliban completed their takeover. But unknown thousands of other foreign nationals remain in Afghanistan and are struggling to get out.

The Taliban, who have wrested control of the country back nearly 20 years after being ousted in a U.S.-led invasion after the 9/11 attacks, insist the airlift must end on Aug. 31. Any decision by Biden to stay longer could reignite a war between the militants and the approximately 5,800 American troops who are executing the airlift at Kabul airport.

In Kabul, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a news conference the U.S. must stick to its self-imposed deadline, saying after that we wont let Afghans be taken out on evacuation flights. He also said the Taliban would bar Afghans from accessing roads to the airport, while allowing foreigners to pass in order to prevent large crowds from massing.

At the Pentagon, spokesman John Kirby said Aug. 31 leaves enough time to get all Americans out, but he was less specific about completing the evacuation of all at-risk Afghans. He said about 4,000 American passport holders and their family members had been evacuated from Kabul as of Tuesday.

We expect that number to grow in coming days, Kirby said.

With the full U.S. withdrawal looming, the Pentagon said several hundred U.S. troops have been withdrawn because they are no longer needed to complete the evacuation mission. Kirby said these are headquarters staff, maintenance personnel and others. It will have no impact on the mission at hand," he said.

It's unclear how many Americans who want to leave are still in the country, but their status is a hot political topic for Biden. Some Republicans bristled Tuesday at the U.S. seeming to comply with a Taliban edict. We need to have the top priority to tell the Taliban that were going to get all of our people out, regardless of what timeline was initially set, said Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana.

And Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, told reporters Monday that it was hard for me to imagine wrapping up the airlifts by the end of the month.

One of the main refugee groups resettling Afghan evacuees in the United States said many people, including some American citizens, still were finding it impossible to get past Taliban checkpoints and crushing throngs outside the airport.

The United States cannot pat itself on the back for a job half-done," said Krish OMara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.

Biden decided in April that he was ending the U.S. war, which began in October 2001. Former President Donald Trump had earlier agreed in negotiations with the Taliban to end the war in May.

However, Biden waited until the Taliban had swept to power this month, following the collapse of the U.S.-backed government and its army, to begin executing an airlift.

Tragic scenes at the airport have transfixed the world. Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths. At least seven people died that day, and another seven died Sunday in a panicked stampede. An Afghan solider was killed Monday in a gunfight.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Group of Seven nations will not recognize a Taliban government unless it guarantees people can leave the country if they wish, both before and after the August deadline. A day earlier, the director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, William Burns, met with a top Taliban leader in Kabul. The extraordinary meeting reflected the gravity of the crisis and America's need to coordinate with a Taliban group it has accused of gross human rights abuses.

For now, the U.S. military coordinates all air traffic in and out of the Kabul airport, but the Taliban will take over there after the U.S. pullout.

Meanwhile, a U.S. official said Burns, the CIA director, met with Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar  an extraordinary moment for the U.S. spy agency, which for two decades targeted the Taliban in paramilitary operations. It was not clear what exactly they discussed.

The CIA partnered with Pakistani forces to arrest Baradar in 2010, and he spent eight years in a Pakistani prison before the Trump administration persuaded Pakistan to release him in 2018 ahead of U.S. peace talks with the Taliban.

Mujahid, meanwhile, pushed back on the idea that Afghans need to flee, arguing that the Taliban have brought peace and security to the country. He said the main problem was the chaos at the airport, and he accused the U.S. of luring away engineers, doctors and other professionals on which the country relies.

Earlier, U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said she had credible reports of summary executions of civilians and former security forces who were no longer fighting, the recruitment of child soldiers and restrictions on the rights of women to move around freely and of girls to go to school.

She did not specify the timing or source of her reports.

It has been difficult to determine how widespread abuses might be and whether they contradict the Talibans public statements or reflect disunity in its ranks.

From 1996 until the 2001 U.S.-led invasion, the Taliban largely confined women to their homes, banned television and music, chopped off the hands of suspected thieves and held public executions.

___

Burns reported from Washington, Lemire from Lowell, Massachusetts., Faiez from Istanbul. Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer and Matthew Lee in Washington, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.
The venerable Southwest School of Art and the University of Texas at San Antonio will combine their art programs to create a new school within UTSA that is scheduled to open in fall 2022.

Officials of the two institutions announced Monday that they had signed a letter of intent to carry out the merger. Their governing bodies will consider the proposal in November.

The new school will be part of UTSAs College of Liberal and Fine Arts. Over the next year, officials will develop a curriculum that will draw on faculty and resources at both schools and add new courses in communications and in digital and visual arts.

The merger will preserve the Southwest School of Arts bachelor of fine arts degree program, expand its free studio classes and other community programs, and preserve its historic buildings, galleries and studios, officials of the two schools said in their announcement.

The merger also will add momentum to UTSAs expansion of its downtown campus, an effort that has spawned entire square blocks of new construction.

The combined school will be based at Southwest School of Arts historic campus near the River Walk. UTSA promised to maintain the schools name and branding in the combined program.

The opportunity to create a new school allows us to serve our students and the community with a great foundation to create a bigger impact, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said in an interview. This institution will be bigger than the sum of its parts and be deeply beneficial for our students. We are so excited for the future.

The integration will allow UTSA to expand its fine arts program with the aim of attracting a broader range of students, university Provost Kimberly Andrews Espy said.

Officials hope the schools downtown location will be a draw for students and will inspire graduates to open businesses and contribute to the citys art scene.

It has been over a year since we started talking about possible partnerships in the future, and the more we talked, we started to understand that together our two institutions could create something quite wonderful, bigger and better than what we have now, said Paula Owen, president of Southwest School of Art.

Owen said her school and UTSA have robust arts programs but that the merger will allow us to include more interdisciplinary programming and technological development in the arts.

The potential for this is hard to describe because there are so many hopes, dreams and open-ended possibilities for our future, she added.

Southwest School of Art, established in 1965, offers studio programs that serve more than 4,000 adults, children and teenagers each year. It also hosts art exhibitions, offers educational programs and operates a small history museum.

Since 2014, the school has offered a bachelor of fine arts degree program, making it the only independent college of art in Texas. To date, 36 students have graduated with BFA degrees. The school currently has 31 degree-seeking students and eight arts faculty members.

The school has studios and equipment for printmaking, painting and ceramics as well as jewelry-making, weaving, papermaking, book arts and darkroom photography. Its facilities also allow artists to employ advanced techniques including welding, 3D printing and digital design.

What (the School of Art) has been able to accomplish in their existence is stupendous. Their reputation, the quality of their staff and their studios are world-class, Eighmy said. We want to make sure we honor the past and ideate the future.

The new school will retain the Southwest School of Arts name, but students will graduate with degrees from UTSA.

The two institutions have built a strong relationship over the years. Many School of Art students have gone on to pursue masters degrees in fine arts at UTSA, and several teachers at the school are UTSA graduates. Members of the UTSA faculty have showcased their work at the School of Art.

Current School of Art students will have to transfer formally to UTSA, but the university will waive transfer fees, Espy said. The schools are working to arrange a smooth transition for nearly 300 faculty members at the two institutions.

The School of Art occupies the former Ursuline Convent & Academy, founded in 1851 as San Antonios first school for girls. The site at Augusta and Navarro, across from the Central Library, is a Texas Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In announcing the planned merger, UTSA pledged to continue the free public classes, events, lectures, exhibitions and other programs offered by the art school.

The university also promised to preserve the schools building, grounds and studios and its named spaces and galleries, including Club Giraud, a members-only dining establishment that occupies the Ursuline Academys former kitchen, carriage sheds and laundry.

The two institutions said they would form an advisory council to advance and support the new school. Members of the Southwest School of Art board of trustees will be invited to participate, the joint announcement said.

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net
It was a moment most Texas House Democrats had hoped would not come to pass  not this soon, anyway.

A top Texas House committee Monday appeared ready to advance the controversial elections bill that twice motivated Democrats to flee the chamber to avoid a vote on it.

Democratic members on the committee lamented that it was as if the past six weeks hadnt even happened: The bill offered up Monday was identical to a version that passed out of the same committee back in July.

With less than two weeks left in the special legislative session that Gov. Greg Abbott called on Aug. 7, Republicans will have to move with urgency if they hope to pass the legislation, which is one of Abbotts 17 priority items.

Despite a group of 32 Democrats insisting they would not return to the House on Monday, enough members of the caucus returned to allow the House to vote on legislation. A verification requested by Democratic Rep. Erin Zwiener, D-Driftwood, confirmed 100 members were present, including a couple dozen Democrats. Another dozen Democrats showed up in the chamber after the roll call vote.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

The elections bill, which Democrats have denounced as an instrument of voter suppression, has already been approved by the Senate. Republicans say the measure is necessary to maintain election integrity. They have shamed the Democrats for nearly two months for fleeing, accusing them of shirking their duties to taxpayers.

Several provisions that drew the strongest objections in May have been stricken from the legislation. But Democrats say it would still disenfranchise Black and Latino Texans by restricting voting hours, expanding the role of partisan poll watchers, and requiring mail-in voters to include their drivers license number or a portion of their Social Security number on their ballots.

Make no mistake  our work to protect the freedom to vote is not over, Texas House Democratic Chair Chris Turner said in a statement. With a quorum established, the Texas House floor is the frontline, and we will fight - alongside countless advocates and allies - with everything we have to stop Texas Republicans continued attempts to undermine our democracy.

In an interview at the Capitol, Turner was asked if seeing the very same legislation again disappointed the Democrats.

Were disappointed the bill even exists in the first place, he said.

'Picking up where we left off'

The bill was poised to pass out of committee on a party line vote by Monday evening. Five out of six Democratic members of the Select Committee on Constitutional Rights and Remedies were present with the exception of Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas.

On Friday, the House achieved a quorum for the first time in six weeks after three Houston Democrats fell out of line with the rest of the party and appeared in the chamber. Some Democrats have alleged the quorum was illegitimate because some members were not physically there but were voted as present by other members.

There were significantly fewer people at the Capitol to testify Monday than at the last hearing on the elections bill, which ran more than 14 hours long  79 compared to more than 400. Like last session, most were against the bill.

Democrats on the committee expressed their frustration that after hours of testimony last month  a Senate committee had a similarly long, overnight hearing  the authors had not taken it into account and changed the bill.

KEN ELLIS

House bill author Andrew Murr, R-Junction, said Monday, as he said last month, that he preferred to leave amendments for the House floor, not in committee. He added that the House is picking up where we left off.

I thought we would have some positive changes since (the July hearing), but we have the same bill," Bucy said. The committee is supposed to have a voice, too."

Reps. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, and Joe Moody, D-El Paso, asked Murr whether he had thought about the impact the bill might have on minority voters, noting that Harris County data showed that Black and Brown voters were disproportionately more likely to use 24-hour and drive-thru voting. The legislation would ban both.

No, I have not, Murr said, adding  after Moody asked why not  that he was unsure of where to obtain such information but was open to the advice of colleagues.

At one point, Rep. Matt Shaheen seemed to ridicule Democrats contention that the bill constitutes voter suppression.

Fifteen hours of voting per day for two weeks of early voting and Election Day is voter suppression, Shaheen asked one witness to clarify.

The Legislature choosing to cut the number of early voting hours after a county has chosen to do it and combined with the fact that we know this was used disproportionately by voters of color is voter suppression, replied James Slattery, senior staff attorney with the nonprofit Texas Civil Rights Project.

Shaheen, whose grandparents were immigrants from Lebanon, responded: My skin is darker than yours and I dont vote at 3 a.m., so Im not sure the relevance of that.

'Eyes of the citizens'

Much of the testimony Monday echoed that of last months hearing. Witnesses testified that the limitations on 24-hour and overnight voting would make it harder for minorities to vote. They also again brought attention to provisions that create new paperwork requirements and potential penalties for assistants of voters with disabilities.

Courtney Pugh, a member of the Arc of Texas, a nonprofit that advocates for Texans with disabilities, said she lives with paralysis due to a progressive health condition and worries about finding an assistant to vote in the future.

"Now, more than ever, it can be hard to find available assistance in this nurse and caregiver shortage," Pugh said. "With the passage of SB1, it will be even harder to find people willing to help me exercise my right to vote if they are risking a felony because a poll worker misjudges my supporters assistance as misconduct."

Anne Robinson, president of the Texas chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America, who is a quadriplegic injured in active duty, testified in favor of the bill but explained some concerns she had about signature verification requirements.

The likelihood that her signature would be rejected if she voted by mail because she signs with her mouth and her signature looks different every time.

If perhaps a provision could be made for those of us that have established disabilities or diseases that prevent matching signatures, such as a one-time voting code or unique identifier that would maybe match to something at the voting clerks office, it would lessen the chance of a ballot being rejected because of signature, Robinson said.

Many others testified about their concerns about giving poll watchers free movement in the polling place and not allowing them to be removed until their second violation of law, after a warning by an election judge.

John Bolgiano, a retiree, disagreed and said poll watchers need that access to do their jobs correctly.

Poll watchers are an important part of ensuring the integrity of our elections, Bolgiano said. They are eyes of the citizens on elected and appointed officials carrying out the voting process and should have the ability to go and see and hear what they need to verify the process is being carried out properly.

Jasper Scherer contributed reporting.

taylor.goldenstein@chron.com
Squatting in shin-deep river water, Shaun Donovan pushes his hands into a combination of sediment, mud and rock, and pulls out a glistening, blueish mussel. Longer than an avocado and as thick as a bulging wallet, it could be mistaken for a stone until it shows its alive. As Donovan sets it aside, its shell opens slightly and a pearly white glob peeks out.

Thats its leg, Donovan said before plunging his hands into the mud again, searching for another.

Donovan knows freshwater mussels and the strip of the San Antonio River where they live. Along the Mission Reach, just downstream from Espada Dam on the South Side, biologists and scientists from the San Antonio River Authority have placed a cage containing about 20 mussels in the middle of the canal. And much to Donovans delight, the little freshwater mollusks have been doing incredibly well.

Urbanization and flood controls have all but wiped out the native mussel population in San Antonio. Since 2017, Donovan  the environmental sciences manager at the River Authority  and others have been conducting a study to determine whether mussels can be reintroduced into parts of the watershed after losing their place in the river nearly 100 years ago.

The results from the study, the first of its kind in Texas, were well beyond the teams expectations. Not only did the mussels survive in their new environment, they thrived.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

Because of this, now we have the confidence that we can start repopulating, Donovan said as he tossed sediment from the cage into the river. Its been more of a success than we thought.

Why mussels?

Donovan and the team at the River Authority understand that few people give any thought to mussels, as they lay  mostly invisibly  in the mud.

But, unknown to most, freshwater mussels are integral to ecosystems. Large native mussel populations make the bodies of water they inhabit stronger, with more bugs, fish and plants along the banks. They stabilize sediment at the bottom of a river, which keeps bugs at the bottom of the food chain healthy and numerous, and they feed on algae and E. coli that may develop in freshwater systems over time.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio River Authority halts geese removal program before it starts

Mussels are also an indicator species. By filtering water as they feed and accumulating contaminants in their system, they reflect their environments health. A sick or dead mussel can be a sign of excessive pollution.

Mussels are also vital parts of the nutrient cycle  the movement of nutrients from the environment into living things and back again  and the nitrogen cycle, another crucial process for healthy ecosystems.

Theyre a part of all these cycles that we dont ever see, Donovan said. But none of those things are sexy, so its hard for people to care about it. The question becomes: How do people value wild spaces here? How do people value ecological integrity here?

History shows that indigenous people in this region ate freshwater mussels, gathering them from the natural watershed. But in the 1930s, after years of debilitating and perilous flooding across the city, San Antonio created a modernized river system to protect people and property. While the work, which implemented wider waterways and installed dams, prevented further flooding catastrophes, it disrupted the natural ecosystem and displaced the mussels.

Now, Donovan and the River Authority believe they can bring them back.

We obviously dont want all that flooding to happen again, Donovan said. But we can have both  ecological restoration and flood conveyance, and a mussel population.

On ExpressNews.com: Medina Lake is now one of 27 in Texas 'fully infested' by zebra mussels, officials say

Freshwater mussels are the most threatened group of freshwater organisms in the world, along with snails. There are more than 50 species of mussels in Texas, with 17 of them extinct, critically endangered or on the candidate species list for federal endangerment.

The Golden Orb  a mussel only found in Texas  was once endangered, but it was removed from the list in 2012.

Ecosystem pride

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

Donovan puts the mussels he removed from the cage back inside, pulling the cover over and locking it. From above, the mussels are hidden, nestled flat in the river mud. Theyve grown a lot since the River Authority team took them from their home in Goliad County in the Lower San Antonio River  an area of the river where mussels still exist.

Now, three years later, the ones at Mission Reach are stronger than the control group at Goliad. Theyre survival rate is over 75%, compared to the others at 50%.

This fall, the mussel team will start a new project: repopulating. This means no cage, just mussels in the open, reproducing and surviving naturally as they did years before. The process will be long, and reintroducing mussels to places like Mission Reach is complicated and detailed. But Donovan, who grew up in San Antonio, is excited for the project, even with a measure of trial and error likely.

The river has come a long way, he said.

Elena Bruess writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. elena.bruess@express-news.net
City budgeting is a zero-sum game.

Deficit spending isnt an option for local governments, so they have to work within the limits of the revenue they receive. Every dollar earmarked for one department means one less dollar available for another department.

In that zero-sum game of municipal government, public safety has always been the dominant player. Historically, its been a political winner for council members to get funding for more police officers to patrol the citys neighborhoods.

That issue is more complicated these days. Partly because of high-profile cases of police misconduct (namely, the 2020 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on Floyds neck for more than eight minutes). And partly because of a growing movement in favor of a holistic approach to criminal justice that concentrates on the root causes of crime.

Jalen McKee-Rodriguez is a foot soldier in this movement. Thats why the freshman East Side councilman used the citys Aug. 17 budget work session to make a statement.

Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer

Since honesty and integrity matter, I know that people are going to say that our constituents will feel safer if there are more officers, McKee-Rodriguez said.

People will also feel safer if theyre not at risk of being evicted. People would feel safer if they could walk on roads with sidewalks and street lights at night, instead of on damaged, bumpy, unlit roads. People would feel safer if there werent shootings happening at after-hours clubs.

In an obvious reference to Matthew Luckhurst, a former San Antonio police officer accused of giving a feces sandwich to a homeless man, McKee-Rodriguez also said residents would feel safer if they knew that police officers would be punished for abusing their authority.

The councilman suggested the time had come to stop reflexively throwing more money into policing, at least until a city study can determine whether our approach is working.

Whether or not you agree with McKee-Rodriguezs argument, its healthy for policy makers to challenge old preconceptions.

The stakes are fairly modest in this case, however, because Gov. Greg Abbott and Republican state lawmakers recently stripped control from cities over their police budgets. Cities with populations of more than 250,000 will lose sales-tax revenue and see their property taxes frozen if they make cuts in police funding.

Given those conditions, the most McKee-Rodriguez could hope for is to keep the police budget at its existing level. Under the proposed fiscal-year 2022 city budget, the police budget would go up about $15 million, roughly a 3-percent hike. That would include the addition of 12 community-oriented San Antonio Fear Free Environment (SAFFE) officers and three additional downtown bike cops.

At last weeks work session, McKee-Rodriguez couldnt hide his frustration with the whole situation.

He said the crime statistics provided in the budget report (which showed a drop in violent crime this year) were deceptive, because they emphasized short-term rather than long-term trends. He also expressed astonishment that women make up only 12 percent of SAPD personnel.

McKee-Rodriguez, a former high-school math teacher, pointed out that from 2015-2020, SAPDs budget grew by 19 percent while reported incidents of violent crime went up 30 percent.

At what point, he asked, will we begin to say, This isnt working?

Councilman Manny Pelaez took issue with McKee-Rodriguezs premise.

Pelaez said it was either obtuse or intellectually dishonest of McKee-Rodriguez to isolate crime statistics without taking into account this citys explosive population growth or the way that additional police staffing can reduce emergency response times and caseloads.

During a Tuesday interview, Pelaez said he thought McKee-Rodriguez was disrespectful to Police Chief William McManus.

Sometimes my fellow council members, and Ive been guilty of this in the past too, treat (city staffers) like theyre this shadowy cabal of people who are trying to ruin our lives and pull a fast one on us, Pelaez said. And theyre not. Theyre trying to run the city the same way we are.

Pelaez said McKee-Rodriguez is a really smart guy, but added, I think hes better than the fallacious argument he was making.

Pelaez said crime numbers shouldnt be the only metric the council considers when evaluating police staffing and added that even with crime numbers, correlation doesnt mean causation.

I think its also fallacious to say we wont solve crime until we do our own internal study to figure out what the root cause of crime is, Pelaez said. Were not that different than any other city on the planet. And every other city on the planet has some of these same issues and they all result in crime.

Its a debate thats playing out in cities across the country, with no simple resolution in sight.

ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
On the morning of Aug. 10, San Antonio and Bexar County jointly sued Gov. Greg Abbott over his ban on mask mandates.

We believe his order unconstitutionally usurped the authority of our communitys public health authority, Medical Director Dr. Junda Woo, who has issued a health directive instructing school districts to require masks.

In the lawsuit, we also assert our right to require masks in county and city facilities.

Challenging the governors emergency order wasnt a casual decision. On the day we filed our lawsuit, 1,242 COVID-19 patients were in local hospitals, nearing the highest level recorded during the entire pandemic.

The fast-spreading delta variant of COVID-19 is taking a toll on children far more than previous variants.

To protect unvaccinated children who must spend school days in close quarters with their classmates, we had to require face masks, particularly for those younger than 12 who are not eligible to be vaccinated. The benefits of requiring masks in schools are clear. Masks provide important protection from COVID-19, a fact that is scientifically undeniable.

On Aug. 16, Judge Antonia Toni Arteaga granted a temporary injunction against Abbotts emergency order blocking mask mandates.

On Aug. 19, the 4th Court of Appeals ruled that the injunction will stay in place while the issue is considered on appeal. That same date, the Texas Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal by Attorney General Ken Paxton seeking to reverse three separate restraining orders issued in Travis County challenging Abbotts order. The Texas Education Agency also announced it would not enforce the GA-38 due to the pending litigation.

While Dr. Woos order may be the law, it really is up to the school districts to enact and enforce the face mask requirement. At the end of last week, the Texas Tribune reported 58 school districts had instituted mask mandates. They were taking that action knowing that the governor could sue them.

We are especially proud of the school districts in Bexar County that have mandated face masks. They stood with us in trying to protect schoolchildren as they successfully did when face masks were mandatory during the surge last summer.

We have been urging everyone to get vaccinated. About 87 percent of the COVID-19 patients in hospitals recently have not been vaccinated. The city and county have instituted an advertising program to encourage people to get vaccinated.

We all have an interest in getting as many Texans vaccinated as possible. We must stop the spread of the virus to prevent additional mutations. The next mutation may be stronger and make our vaccines less effective. Stopping the spread stops the mutations. A new coronavirus variant that overpowers our vaccines would be a catastrophe of frightening proportions.

Remember, fighting COVID-19 is not just about you. It is about protecting all of us from an increasingly dangerous illness. It is about making sure our schools can continue to operate. Its about reviving our economy.

When you consider how much is at stake, challenging the governors emergency order was absolutely necessary to protect our community.

Ron Nirenberg is mayor of San Antonio. Nelson Wolff is the county judge of Bexar County.
Female genital mutilation is a horrific practice with no medical reason or religious sanction, performed solely for the subjugation of women.

Every year, 4 million girls around the world are at risk of having forced upon them the partial or total removal of external genitalia. An estimated 200 million girls and women have been the victims of such a procedure, the primary purpose of which is to suppress the sexuality of women and, somehow, make them more suitable for marriage.

No consideration is given to the immediate and long-term physical and psychological harm afflicted on the victims. No consideration is given to the victims.

The World Health Organization says female genital mutilation, or FGM, reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women.

It is nearly always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children, the WHO says. The practice also violates a persons rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death.

On ExpressNews.com: Gov. Abbott plans to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth

Organizations such as the program jointly led by UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund are making progress against FGM, but it remains an urgent human rights issue. UNICEF reports that progress must be accelerated 10 times faster if female genital mutilation is to be eliminated by 2030.

Texas, despite a subjective and political new redefinition of genital mutilation pushed by Gov. Greg Abbott, isnt one of the places where genital mutilation is practiced much, if at all.

As he is inclined to do, Abbott is exploiting a critical issue for political gain. On Aug. 6, he asked Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Jaime Masters to determine whether gender transitioning through reassignment surgery for a child constitutes genital mutilation and abuse under Texas law.

This is part of an ongoing agenda of Abbott and Republicans in the Texas House and Senate to target transgender youth, including with legislation that would deny transition-related health care to them. So far, none of this legislation has passed. Its a brutal and cynical brand of politics, one that bullies a vulnerable and small group of people.

Less than a week after submitting his inquiry, Abbott received the answer he sought. Masters said gender-affirming surgery is a form of child abuse because it constitutes gender mutilation.

Genital mutilation is abuse, and when performed on underage minors it is child abuse. Thats what UNICEF is trying to eliminate. But Abbott and Masters are conflating this involuntary and barbaric practice with genital surgery for transgender people, a voluntary decision transgender children, their parents and doctors carefully navigate.

Beyond this, genital surgery for transgender minors is almost nonexistent. Under its standards of care, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, says that surgery, should not be carried out until (i) patients reach the legal age of majority in a given country, and (ii) patients have lived continuously for at least 12 months in the gender role that is congruent with their gender identity.

On ExpressNews.com: Two dozen bills and hours of testimony over the rights of transgender people

As is Abbotts inclination, hes bucking the expertise of medical experts to score cheap political points, regardless of harm. Earlier this year, the American Medical Association advised governors to oppose legislation that would prohibit medically necessary gender transition-related care for minor patients. Such efforts, the AMA said, represent a dangerous intrusion into the practice of medicine.

In equating voluntary transition-related surgery with the continuing and widespread horror of child abuse, Abbott is using inflammatory rhetoric to stoke bigotry.

The scourge of genital mutilation needs many champions to help erase it from the earth. And transgender children need many champions to encourage acceptance. On both issues, Abbott is no champion.
Bexar County commissioners got their first chance to weigh in Tuesday on a nearly $2.8 billion draft budget for 2022 that includes a proposed 5 percent pay raise for county employees  including elected officials.

County leaders said theyll likely want numerous changes to the spending plan before its considered for final adoption Sept. 14.

Commissioner Trish DeBerry sounded a call for homeowner tax relief and said shell turn down a pay raise.

I just think the optics of it look bad, DeBerry said, later adding, I dont think its appropriate for elected officials to be accepting a pay increase right now.

On ExpressNews.com: Pandemic expected to cost Bexar County some $200 million in revenue

DeBerry said she would not accept a raise during the pandemic and amid a sluggish economy, but she was completely supportive of those that have been showing up to work and stand to get a raise. She also asked county staff and University Health officials to conduct a cost analysis on a homestead property tax exemption that the county could begin offering homeowners in fiscal year 2023.

The 5 percent employee raises, aimed at matching inflation rates over the past year, are estimated to cost $5.5 million. Also proposed is a $1,000 lump-sum payment for non-exempt workers at a cost of $2.7 million. There are no proposed increases in health care premiums or out-of-pocket costs to county employees.

Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores said she supports the employee salary increase, but she would like a higher lump sum for hourly employees who wont feel it as much when the pay raise kicks in Oct. 1.

The total budget figure includes nearly $1.3 billion in roads, flood-control and other capital projects and $389 million in federal funds under the American Rescue Plan Act that must be spent by the end of 2026. It also includes $659 million in operating expenses, $282 million in reserves and carry-forward balances, $147 million in debt service and $29 million in contingencies.

Commissioners are scheduled to hold budget work sessions on Sept. 8 and Sept. 13 before a public hearing and adoption of a final budget and tax rate on Sept. 14. The budget would be supported with the existing tax rate of 30.1 cents per $100 property valuation.

Commissioner Tommy Calvert said he was disappointed that the capital projects in the proposed budget did not include some in his precinct that weve been working on all year.

Theres a lot of work to do on the amendment process, Calvert said.

The countys human resources department will send notices to the 19 elected officials, who then have five days to respond regarding the proposed raises. They can opt out of the raise, present a grievance to a committee or do nothing and the raises will be adopted. District court and county court judges, whose salaries are statutorily capped, are not included in the pay raises proposed for elected officials.

The two highest paid elected officials, County Judge Nelson Wolff and Sheriff Javier Salazar, would receive $180,427 and $166,880, respectively. Salazar said he will decline the raise. The staff also is recommending reducing the Precinct 1, Place 2 justice of the peace position held by Ciro Rodriguez from full- to part-time, cutting his salary in half from $125,792 to $62,869.

Rodriguez, a former U.S. congressman and brother of former County Commissioner Sergio Chico Rodriguez, did not return a call for comment Tuesday.

On ExpressNews.com: Abbott loses first round in court on mask mandates

University Health

Commissioners also set a public hearing for Sept. 14 on a proposed tax rate for fiscal 2022 of 27.6 cents per $100 property valuation for University Health, which is considering a $2.27 billion budget. DeBerry and Calvert said they support the concept of homestead exemption that will make homeownership more affordable, but they do not want to hurt the hospital systems plans for capital projects to expand services to Selma, Shavano Park and other locations outside of San Antonio.

Justice system IT

A contract amendment with Tyler Technologies was also approved to provide a $2.26 million technology upgrade to serve the countys four justice of the peace courts, public defenders office, child support probation and constables offices. The work is part of a multi-year effort to replace the countys mainframe computer system, which has been used for more than 30 years in some cases. A new integrated network has begun serving the Sheriffs Office, District Attorneys Office, district and county courts and other entities tied to the justice system.

Toyota supplier expansion

Commissioners supported nomination of a $60 million expansion of the Toyotetsu Texas auto-parts manufacturing plant for the Texas Enterprise Zone program, which provides state sales tax refunds for projects that generate jobs. The project would add 60,000 square feet and 25 positions, in addition to about 400 that already exist near Toyota Motor Manufacturing on the South Side. If approved by the governors office, the nomination would provide up to $1.125 million in refunds from the state, but it would not have a local fiscal impact.

County officials said the plant provides salaries ranging from $37,000 to $125,000 and is raising its base hourly wage from $15 to $16.50.

shuddleston@express-news.net


easyJet will enter the Macedonian market this coming winter season with the low cost carrier to introduce services between Geneva and Skopje. Flights will be inaugurated on November 1 and initially run twice per week, each Monday and Friday, before increasing to three weekly from December. The airline faces no direct competition on the route. It will become the only budget airline to serve Skopje Airport together with Wizz Air and Pegasus Airlines. The CEO of Turkey's TAV, which runs Macedonia's two airports, Sani Sener, recently said that despite being a Wizz Air stronghold, there is room for more low cost players in the country. "Skopje is already a successful Wizz Air base, but we think there is considerable opportunity for more low cost operators", Mr Sener said.





Based on OAG data, a total of 3.923 passengers travelled indirectly between the Macedonian capital and Geneva in the pre-pandemic 2019, while the figure stood at just over 600 last year. These figures only include travellers who flew on a single itinerary via another point to reach either Geneva or Skopje. Wizz Air, which dominates in Skopje, is unable to maintain services between Switzerland and Macedonia as flights between the two are regulated through bilateral agreements. Its operations to Basel are considered as being performed to France. On the other hand, easyJet has a Swiss subsidiary.





easyJet previously said it was unfazed by Wizz Air's presence on the Macedonian market and would only operate flights to the country if there were sufficient demand. easyJet is focused on its successful strategy to expand across Europe and operates in the best interests of the company and its customers ensuring the attractiveness of its network. This means the airline concentrates its efforts on maintaining and developing routes which prove popular with passengers. We consider competition only in regards of tactic opportunities that can be complementary to our strategy, the airline said. As a result of the new service, Bosnia and Herzegovina will become the only market in the former Yugoslavia not to be served by easyJet.





Further details for the new Geneva - Skopje service can be found here








The Belgian Police warned about the return of the 'Joker' virus , which attacks Android devices and hides itself in various applications on the Google Play Store . This malware is capable of subscribing the user to payment services without their authorization and emptying their bank accounts without them noticing.

"This malicious program has been detected in eight Play Store applications that Google has suppressed," say the Belgian authorities in a statement published this Friday on their website.

It may interest you: Did you get a free ebook for Kindle from Amazon? This new hacking method can access your bank details

The 'Joker' malware became famous in 2017 for infecting and robbing its victims by hiding in different applications. Since then, the Google Play Store defense systems have removed around 1,700 apps with the 'Joker' malware before they were downloaded by users.

In September 2020, the 'Joker' virus was found in 24 Android applications that registered more than 500 thousand downloads before being removed. It is estimated that that time it affected more than 30 countries including the United States, Brazil and Spain. Through unauthorized subscriptions, hackers could steal up to $ 7 (about 140 Mexican pesos) per subscription weekly, a figure that has most likely increased in recent months.

How does the Joker virus work in Android apps?

The 'Joker' Trojan virus belongs to a family of malware known as Bread , whose objective is to hack cell phone bills and authorize operations without the user's consent.

Researchers from the cybersecurity company Quick Heal Security Lab, cited in the statement, explain that this virus can enter text messages , contacts and other information on the infected smartphone.

Also read: So you can detect and delete spy apps on your Smartphone

What makes this malware more dangerous is its ability to subscribe the affected Android user to paid services , usually Premium or the most expensive version, without their prior authorization.

In the beginning, apps infected with 'Joker' or another Malware from this family carried out fraud via SMS , but then began to attack online payments . These two techniques take advantage of the integration of telephone operators with vendors, to facilitate the payment of services with the mobile bill . Both require verification of the device, but not the user, thus they manage to automate payments without requiring any user interaction.

#FinanzasPersonales The excess of streaming platforms, apps, online services and others, they make a hole in your portfolio. See how to do a subscription 'detox' to have a healthier monthly budget and take care of your money. https://t.co/8hX4qDIY3P - Entrepreneur in Spanish (@SoyEntrepreneur) August 23, 2021

"You risk a big surprise at the end of the month in your bank account or on your credit card," said the Belgian police, referring to the unknown charges that the victim will see at the end of the month.

In fact, it is very common for those affected by 'Joker' to become aware of the theft until they review their account statement in detail. This is because the bank does not suspect an apparently 'normal' subscription and, generally, the charges are so small that they are not detected as unusual movements, so they do not even send a usage alert to the account holder.

In which Android apps could the 'Joker virus be?

On this occasion, the harmful applications that the Google Play Store eliminated after detecting that they contained the 'Joker' virus are:

Auxiliary Message

Element Scanner

Fast Magic SMS

Free CamScanner

Go Messages

Super Message

Super SMS

Travel Wallpapers

However, other specialists warn that more apps are affected and, therefore, millions of users who do not know that they are already victims of this cyber fraud.

The cybersecurity company Zscaler, cited by La Razon , made public the names of 16 other apps that, according to their analysis, also contain this malicious code:

Private SMS

Hummingbird PDF Converter - Photo to PDF

Style Photo Collage

Talent Photo Editor - Blur focus

Paper Doc Scanner

All Good PDF Scanner

Care Message

Part Message

Blue Scanner

Direct Messenger

One Sentence Translator - Multifunctional Translator

Mint Leaf Message-Your Private Message

Unique Keyboard - Fancy Fonts & Free Emoticons

Tangram App Lock

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HONOLULU  Hawaiis governor is urging residents and potential visitors to limit travel to the islands to essential business while the state struggles to control outbreaks of the delta variant of the coronavirus.

Gov. David Ige wants to curtail travel to Hawaii through the end of October. In his words, It is a risky time to be traveling right now.

He says restaurant capacity has been restricted and there is limited access to rental cars.

But Ige is stopping short of last years strict travel rules that required quarantining and essentially shut down Hawaiis tourism industry. He notes the CDC says fully vaccinated people can travel domestically.

Hawaiis seven-day average of new daily cases hit 671 on Monday, more than triple the level four weeks earlier.

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MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

 Lockdowns or vaccines? 3 Pacific nations try diverging paths

 U.S. mask, vaccine conflicts descend into violence and harassment

 Pandemic fiction: Fall books include stories of the virus

 The Rev. Jesse Jackson, wife Jacqueline, hospitalized for COVID

 Hurricane Henri thwarts Central Park concert hailing NYC virus rebound

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Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand  New Zealand has reported 41 new coronavirus infections, which is the countrys highest daily total since an outbreak of the delta variant last week prompted the government to put the nation into a strict lockdown.

Health officials said Tuesday that they are confident the country remains on track to quell the outbreak.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says most of the new cases appeared linked and officials arent seeing an exponential rise in infections.

New Zealand is scheduled to remain in lockdown until at least Friday, while the city of Auckland where most of the cases have been found will stay in lockdown until at least the end of the month.

The outbreak is the first in New Zealand in six months.

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SYDNEY  An Australian state leader is indicating that a slight easing of pandemic restrictions is coming for Sydney after achieving a vaccination milestone.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Tuesday she will announce before the weekend a new freedom for fully vaccinated people now that 6 million vaccine doses have been administered across the state. She said that equates to 60% of the population having at least one dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca and 32% being fully vaccinated.

Australias most populous state is in lockdown because of the virus outbreak, as is Victoria, which is the countrys second most populous state.

Government leaders hope the lockdowns will end in October once 80% of people 16 years and older are fully vaccinated. Only 24% of the Australian population is fully vaccinated.

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FRANKFORT, Ky.  Kentuckys governor says a flood of COVID-19 patients is stressing the states hospitals and intensive care units.

Gov, Andy Bashear said Monday that more than 20 Kentucky hospitals are confronting critical staffing shortages and some hospitals are converting space to treat the influx of ICU patients.

Beshear says Kentucky reported 2,596 new coronavirus infections Monday  a pandemic high for any Monday so far. He says there were 17 deaths related to COVID-19.

More than 1,890 patients with COVID-19 were in hospitals, including 529 in intensive care units. A record 301 virus patients were on ventilators.

The surge comes as the legislature assumes considerably more control over Kentuckys response to the pandemic. The state Supreme Court on Saturday cleared the way for laws limiting the governors emergency powers.

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SAN RAMON, Calif.  Chevron Corp. is requiring some of its employees to become vaccinated against the coronavirus as the oil industry struggles with rising infections among its unvaccinated workers.

The oil giant is requiring its workers who travel internationally, live abroad or work on its offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as some onshore support staff, to be vaccinated.

A spokeswoman for the San Ramon-based oil and gas company said Monday that vaccinations are the strongest safeguard against the virus, and the company will continue to carefully monitor medical data and guidance of health authorities to protect its workforce.

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OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The head of Washington states wildfire response is urging federal agencies to require coronavirus vaccinations for their wildland firefighting forces.

State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz also called on Monday for the deployment of federal resources to make vaccinations available at all fire camps on federal land.

The Washington Department of Natural Resources is making vaccines available within its jurisdictions at fire camps amid the rapidly spreading delta variant. Franz on Monday directed all his agencys employees including firefighters to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18.

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HONOLULU  Honolulu's mayor says he will restrict indoor gatherings to 10 people and outdoor gatherings to 25 in an effort to control the coronavirus as the highly contagious delta variant spreads in the community.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi says the rules take effect Wednesday and will cover weddings and other events.

The citys emergency management director cites a mathematical modeling tool from the Georgia Institute of Technology to illustrate risks the community faces from large gatherings.

The modeling says there is a 20% chance that someone in a group of 10 will be infected, based on the number of cases on Oahu now. It says that in a group of 100, there is a 90% chance someone will catch the virus.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  One of Missouris biggest hospital systems says it require its employees to get vaccinated against the coronavirus now that the FDA has given full approval to Pfizers vaccine.

CoxHealth has several hospitals in southwestern Missouri and it said hours after the FDAs announcement Monday that its workers will be required to have at least one dose of a vaccine by Oct. 15. CEO Steve Edwards says in a statement that careful consideration will be given to requests for exemptions for religious or health reasons, and that anyone granted an exemption will be required to undergo regular testing for the virus.

CoxHealth officials say about 70% of its employees are already vaccinated, including more than 90% of its physicians.

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VICTORIA, British Columbia  The Canadian Pacific coast province of British Columbia is bringing in a vaccine card for residents to get access to restaurants, clubs, sporting events and other activities.

Premier John Horgan says the card will give people the confidence to attend events and businesses knowing that others are protected around them.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says starting Sept. 13 a new order will require proof of having had a single dose of a vaccine to access certain social and recreational activities, as well as businesses. After Oct. 24, Henry says entry to the same settings will require those 12 years and older to be fully vaccinated.

The French-speaking province of Quebec already announced a similar measure while Ontario, Canadas largest province, has declined to introduce a vaccine passport.

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RICHMOND, Va.  Democrat Terry McAuliffe urged all Virginia employers on Monday to require the coronavirus vaccine for their workers who are eligible, sharpening a policy debate in the closely watched governors race over how best to deal with the pandemic.

McAuliffes call followed a decision by federal regulators to give full approval to Pfizers vaccine and marked an escalation of his advocacy for obligatory vaccines as a condition of employment. The former governor now seeking a second term has previously urged Virginia health systems and school divisions to issue mandates, and required his own campaign staff to be fully vaccinated.

McAuliffe is facing Republican Glenn Youngkin, a former business executive and political newcomer, in the November general election. Youngkin, who is vaccinated, has consistently urged Virginians to get the shot but has said he opposes vaccine or mask mandates.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D.  South Dakota House lawmakers have tried to pressure Gov. Kristi Noem to call a special session to pass a ban on employers requiring COVID-19 vaccinations even as virus cases climbed on Monday.

Several Republicans in the House of Representatives have circulated drafts of bills that would stop employers from mandating vaccinations against the virus, stepping up pressure on Noem to call a special session for them to approve the bills. But she has resisted those calls, saying there is not widespread support for a special session.

The issue has Noem, who has carved out a nationwide following for her hands-off approach to the virus, being pushed from the right to intervene on the states largest employer, Sanford Health.

House Speaker Spencer Gosch said late Friday he wanted the governor to call a special session as he released a draft of a bill that would make COVID-19 vaccination status strictly confidential medical information that would be off-limits to employers.

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PORTLAND, Maine  Some emergency medical service workers in Maine spoke out against a coronavirus vaccine mandate because of concerns it will lead to ill-timed staff shortages.

The Maine Board of Emergency Medical Services held a public hearing on the subject Monday. Gov. Janet Mills announced new rules earlier in August that require all health care workers to be vaccinated against the virus by Oct. 1.

More than 600 people participated in the virtual meeting, and most who spoke were against the mandate. A common concern among the speakers who opposed the mandate was that would exacerbate emergency worker shortages.

Mills has said the health worker mandate is about protecting health care workers, their patients, including our most vulnerable, and our health care capacity.

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BATON ROUGE, La.  The announcement that Pfizers coronavirus vaccine received full federal approval triggers new vaccine and testing mandates in Louisiana.

Louisianas universities will soon start requiring tens of thousands of students to get the shots. Gov. John Bel Edwards intends to begin mandatory, regular COVID-19 testing for thousands of state workers who arent immunized.

But just how many people the vaccine and testing mandates will cover and when theyll take effect remains uncertain.

University inoculation requirements may not be enforced for months on campuses, and students will be able to seek exemptions.

Meanwhile, the Edwards administration said its crafting its testing plans, uncertain when theyll be released.

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WICHITA, Kan.  Debates about mask mandates and vaccine requirements are intensifying in Kansas as the delta variant sends cases soaring.

In the Topeka area, board members for the Auburn-Washburn district voted 6-0 Sunday to approve a mask mandate, effective immediately, for all students, staff and visitors inside district facilities.

Meanwhile, Sedgwick County Commissioners on Friday voted down a mandate along party lines after a heated debate in which an anti-mask activist said that he and other opponents would show up outside commissioners homes with megaphones if they passed the measure.

More companies, universities and local governments are expected to require vaccinations now that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine.

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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden is celebrating the full FDA approval of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine and is urging the unvaccinated to go get their inoculations.

Biden on Monday addressed those who were waiting on the full approval and declared it is now happened, the moment youve been waiting for is here.

He also used the moment to call on private companies to require their employees to get vaccinated. The president made clear: its time to get your vaccination and warned that the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus was causing COVID cases to rise nationwide.

The FDA had previously approved three vaccines  Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson  under an emergency use authorization. Pfizer is the first to receive full FDA approval, which Biden dubbed the gold standard.

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JACKSON, Miss.  Mississippi Poison Control officials say they are receiving an influx of calls from people trying to treat COVID-19 by using anti-parasite medicine purchased at livestock stores.

At least 70% of recent calls to the Mississippi Poison Control Center have been related to ingestion of livestock or animal formulations of ivermectin purchased at livestock supply centers, Mississippi Department of Health officials said.

Some of the symptoms associated with ivermectin toxicity include rash, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, neurologic disorders, and potentially severe hepatitis requiring hospitalization.

No hospitalizations have been reported. Most callers  85%  have had mild symptoms, according to the Department of Health. One individual was advised to see a physician because of the high dosage they reportedly took.
The American Civil Liberties Union, representing disability rights groups and parents of children with disabilities, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday over a South Carolina law that bans school districts from requiring face masks, arguing the ban excludes vulnerable students from public schools.

The plaintiffs allege that the ban on mask mandates disproportionately affects students with underlying health conditions or disabilities, who are at risk of becoming seriously ill if they contract COVID-19.

South Carolina legislators included a provision in the states general budget, passed in June, that prevented school districts from using state funding to require masks in schools. But some school districts and cities have disregarded the ban and gone forward with implementing a school mask mandate.

The ban on mask mandates is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act, the plaintiffs allege in the lawsuit.

Under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act, public schools cannot exclude students with disabilities or segregate them unnecessarily from their peers. Schools are also required to provide reasonable modifications to allow students with disabilities to participate fully.

By making schools a dangerous place for these students with disabilities, they are essentially forcing their parents to choose between their childs education and their childs health, said Susan Mizner, director of the ACLU's Disability Rights Project. And that is going to exclude them from their public education.

Offering students with disabilities or medical conditions a remote option is not a good alternative, Mizner said. Limiting medically fragile students and those with disabilities to a remote-only education denies them equal opportunity, she said.

We know from this past year that for many, many, many students, a remote education is not an equal education to in-person, she said. That would be denying them equal access to their education.

The lawsuit names top state officials including Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, the attorney general and the schools superintendent, and seeks to overturn the law banning mask mandates.

Amanda McDougald Scott, one of nine named plaintiffs in the lawsuit, has a 5-year-old son with asthma who is too young to be vaccinated. The family was told that online learning was full for the school year that is beginning, leading them to enroll in a private school 30 minutes away.

Samantha Boevers, another plaintiff, has a child in elementary school with autism spectrum disorder, making it hard for her son to adhere to COVID-19 mitigation measures such as handwashing and social distancing. The family's pediatrician advised them to send their son back to in-person learning only in a fully masked environment, according to the lawsuit.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, McMaster defended the ban.

I think its totally inaccurate," he said of the lawsuit. We received a letter from the secretary of education about that and what we are doing here is perfectly legal in my opinion.

The lawsuit from the ACLU is not the first time South Carolina's ban on mask mandates has ended up in court. Earlier, state Attorney General Alan Wilson sued the city of Columbia, which required masks in schools after declaring a COVID-19 emergency.

Current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone in a school building, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors. Public health officials have pleaded with the governor and legislators to lift the ban on mask mandates.

In a video his office tweeted Friday, McMaster said that he believes the decision to wear a mask should be left to parents.

To suggest that bureaucrats in Washington should tell parents that they must force their children to wear a mask in school against the wishes and wisdom of the parent is a drastic error, McMaster said. "I believe it is wrong.

Critics of deferring to individual parent choice on face coverings say that letting some people in school buildings unmasked endangers those around them. McMaster has urged South Carolinians to get vaccinated from COVID-19, though children under the age of 12 are not yet eligible.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden directed education secretary Miguel Cardona to explore possible legal action through the Education Department's civil rights division against states that have blocked school mask mandates and other public health measures meant to mitigate the risk of COVID-19.

Similar to the ACLU lawsuit, the Education Department has said that policies that ban mask mandates could be considered discriminatory if they result in unsafe conditions that prevent students from attending school.

South Carolina is one of seven states that have implemented a ban on mask mandates. The other six are Florida, Texas, Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Iowa. Arizona's prohibition on mask mandates takes effect Sept. 29.

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Ma covers education and equity for APs Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/anniema15

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The Associated Press reporting around issues of race and ethnicity is supported in part by the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
FAIRFIELD  As COVID-19 cases continue to climb due to the delta variant, some worry what it could mean for already struggling industries.

Fairfield, Easton and Westports mask mandates went into effect on Monday as a regional approach to the more contagious delta variant and officials are encouraging people to get vaccinated.

Clara Cavalli, owner of the Brick + Wood restaurant in Fairfield, said the restaurant plans to do anything they can to protect their staff and patrons, however, she admits that she has already seen a change over the last few weeks with the rise of the delta variant.

Im hoping that it is not a step backwards, Cavalli said. Im hoping that we can progress forward, but I think you are going to have patrons that are going to not want to dine-in and do the outdoor dining and takeout once again. Weve already seen our takeout increase by at least a 20 percent percentage already in the past few weeks.

Its the shortage of workers that is the true point that is hurting all of the businesses, she added. We just cant find enough people to fulfill the shortage and I think that is hurting the businesses more than any mask mandate.

Sands Cleary, Fairfields health director said he hopes restaurants and other businesses wont struggle.

I hope people will be compliant and wear their mask, he said. As long as people are wearing masks, those restaurants can operate as they are now.

Cleary said that the state and town have been encouraging residents to wear masks inside, whether vaccinated or not, for the last few weeks. However, since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moved Fairfield County into the most-severe high transmission category and the state moved the town into the red category last week, a mask mandate had to be implemented.

Yes were having to put the mask back on, but with the change in the situation we have the delta variant thats twice as transmissible and causing more hospitalizations so we want to make sure were taking a step to alleviate that and prevent it from becoming worse, Cleary said.

Over the last few weeks, the amount of new cases have steadily been increasing within the state. As of Tuesday, Connecticut had more than 368,000 positive cases and a daily positivity rate of 3.83 percent, according to Governor Lamonts recent press release. Fairfields average daily rate was 15.7 with 55 cases reported in the first week and 81 reported in the second, according to the state Department of Public Health.

Hospitalizations are increasing as well. A total of 391 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, 95 patients coming from Fairfield County, according to the state.

Fairfields mask policy came as a regional response to this spread of the delta variant, as well as nearby cities, including Norwalk, Bridgeport and Stamford already putting mask policies in place. Cleary said despite what may seem like a set back, the community is going forward by way of vaccinations.

We need to encourage people to get vaccinated, he said. Thats really whats going to put an end to this, people getting vaccinated.

Nearly 70 percent of Fairfield residents are vaccinated, according to recent state data.

When broken down by age group, residents 12 to 17 years old are 62 percent vaccinated, ages 18 to 24 are 53.8 percent vaccinated, ages 25 to 44 are nearly 75 percent vaccinated, ages 45 to 64 are just under 86 percent vaccinated and residents 65 and older are 93 percent vaccinated.

Generally, Cleary believes people are getting the shot, but said more can always be vaccinated.

He said he understands the skepticism around the vaccine, especially with the number of breakthrough cases that have occurred, but maintains vaccines are still the best defense.

Vaccines are designed to prevent severe illness and deaths and its doing just that, Cleary said. The vast majority of people with breakthrough cases, have mild cases.

Unvaccinated people are five times more likely to be hospitalized and ten times more likely to be admitted to the ICU, Gov. Ned Lamont said in a recent press conference.

Just that in and of itself shows that it is effective, Cleary said. It was never said that it prevents all infections. The goal is to prevent hospitalizations and deaths and its doing just that.

Despite the promotion of vaccines, the increasing fear of the delta variant has some worried that this rise of cases could lead the state and country back into a lockdown.

During the initial lockdown in 2020, almost every industry felt the impact of COVID-19. With the emergence of the delta variant, a lockdown could prove detrimental to these already struggling industries.

The Connecticut Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association and 50 other state restaurant association partners sent a letter to Congressional leadership on Tuesday in response to the delta variant uptick. The organizations are urging the government to step in and help the industry through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

There are thousands of Connecticut small business owners stuck in limbo waiting to find out if Congress will act to provide the stability they need to make it through this new pandemic threat and into the future, Connecticut Restaurant Association Executive Director Scott Dolch said in a statement. The rise of coronavirus variants like delta threaten to push these restaurants closer to permanently closing their doors. Its time for Congress to step in and fulfill the promise of the RRF.

Cleary is skeptical another lockdown will happen and said the health department has looked to other countries. He said that in England, the country had a quick peak, but then the number of cases came down dramatically and leveled out. Now the health department is looking to the events of Israel where the numbers are currently rising.

No one is entirely clear how quickly this wave will pass through our area, Cleary said.
RENO, Nev. (AP)  Dense smoke from massive wildfires burning in neighboring California created hazardous air quality in the Reno-Tahoe area on Monday, canceling flights and forcing the closure of schools, parks and popular summer beaches.

Government air monitors were recording some of the region's most hazardous conditions in years. Weather forecasters and health officials said little relief is expected in western Nevada through mid-week.

The National Weather Service also issued an air quality alert for parts of northeast Nevadas Elko County more than 300 miles (482 kilometers) east of the closest California fires.

The Washoe County School District closed all public schools Monday in the district serving 67,000 students in Reno, Sparks and Incline Village at Lake Tahoe.

District spokeswoman Victoria Campbell said a decision about reopening on Tuesday would be made early in the morning.

We know this is a hardship for our families, students and staff, but winds are unpredictable and we want to make the very best decision with the information we have available, the district said in a message sent to students' families.

Several flights were canceled Monday at Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Nevada State Parks closed its land around Lake Tahoe on the California line until Friday, depending on conditions, including at a popular beach at Sand Harbor near Incline Village.

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada also canceled several outdoor food deliveries in Reno and surrounding rural areas through Wednesday.

Smoke blowing from the Dixie and Caldor fires in California has blanketed northern Nevada on and off for weeks, leaving particulate matter in the air and causing ash to rain on cars in some areas.

In Las Vegas, more than 400 miles (644 kilometers) south of Reno, Clark County air quality officials issued a smoke advisory for Tuesday.

More than 13,500 firefighters were working to contain a dozen large California blazes that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee to safety. New concerns were developing at the explosive Caldor Fire southwest of Lake Tahoe, the famed alpine lake surrounded by peaks of the Sierra Nevada and resort communities.

The Washoe County School District delayed start times at K-12 schools due to the smoke last Tuesday to wait for winds to clear the fumes.

Last August and September, the districts schools were closed six times in four weeks due to smoke.

In an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, the district installed commercial-grade HVAC systems in its schools last year to help ventilate hallways and classrooms. But it has expressed concerns about juggling wildfire smoke outside and the risk of the coronavirus inside.

On Monday, government air monitors for the region measured high levels of particulate matter with diameters smaller than 2.5 microns, spiking the air quality index to 331. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers measurements above 300 to be emergency conditions hazardous to everyones health.

The Washoe County Health District said the air quality index was expected to be very unhealthy to "hazardous at times on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the Reno-Sparks area.

It said it declared a Stage 3 Emergency Episode on Monday for the first time in its history because the air quality index had remained above 200 for 24 hours.

The alert means all residents should stay indoors as much as possible, the district said.

Although the health district has not taken such action, a Stage 3 episode allows the district control officer to issue a shelter-in-place or evacuation order. It also provides authority for the officer to curtail operations for specific public, commercial and industrial establishments which are deemed not necessary for public health and safety and are contributing to the declared emergency episode.

Under Stage 4, the highest level, the officer may curtail operations at all such businesses and establishments.

The National Weather Service said significant smoke and air quality impacts will continue across the Sierra from south of Yosemite National Park to north of Susanville, California, and parts of western Nevada at least through Wednesday.

The greatest potential for hazardous levels are in Reno, Carson City, Minden, Lake Tahoe, Susanville and Truckee, California, the service said.

It said theres potential for some temporary improvements in air quality each late afternoon and early evening for some areas, but shifting winds make it difficult to say exactly where and for how long.

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Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
HELENA  The commission tasked with dividing Montana into two U.S. House districts for the first time since the 1980s has a Nov. 14 deadline to submit a final district map to Montanas secretary of state. To help it do that, the commission is seeking public input in the form of written comments and specific mapping proposals.

The five-member Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission formally acknowledged receipt of detailed data from the 2020 U.S. census at a meeting last week, kicking off a 90-day process for drawing new congressional districts for the first time since Montana lost its second seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 1990 count.

Commission Chair Maylinn Smith said in an interview this week that the commission has the option of drawing its own maps, but will consider using elements of public-submitted districting plans  or potentially adopt a map proposed by an individual or entity wholesale.

We could arguably get a perfect map that satisfies everybodys needs, she said.

Montanans can also provide feedback about proposed maps, which will eventually be posted to the districting commissions website. Smith said maps that divide the state on a north-south and an east-west basis have already been submitted.

The commission has laid out the following tentative timeline for the congressional districting process:

n Sept. 15  Soft deadline for receipt of public-generated proposed maps

n Sept. 16 or 17  A meeting to review proposed maps submissions

n Oct. 5  A meeting to select specific maps for further discussion

n Oct. 19  A hearing to hear public feedback on selected maps

n Oct. 21  A meeting to select a single map proposal

n Oct. 30  A hearing to hear public feedback on the proposed map and potentially take a final vote.

Montanas political maps are redrawn every 10 years following decennial censuses. While many states assign district-drawing authority to partisan state legislatures, Montanas 1972 Constitution delegates the task to an independent five-member commission with two Republican appointees, two Democratic appointees and a committee chair. Smith, who serves as a tiebreaker vote, was appointed by the Montana Supreme Court.

The new congressional maps produced by the districting commission will be used starting in next years election. In a separate process next year, the commission will also redraw the districts used to elect the Montana Legislature starting in 2024.

The districting commission previously adopted formal criteria for the new congressional map. Those criteria require that the new districts split the states population evenly, be compact and contiguous, and also comply with the Voting Rights Act, the civil rights movement-era law that was passed to guarantee minority groups fair political representation. The commissions criteria also articulate secondary goals such as minimizing the extent to which district lines split counties, cities and Indian reservations, and specify that No plan may be drawn to unduly favor a political party.

The commission specifies that map proposals developed by organizations or individual members of the public should be based on the Census Bureaus official geographic boundaries. The proposals should also comply with the commissions adopted criteria and be submitted along with contact information and written information indicating what the plan intends to accomplish.

The commission will accept public map proposals in the form of paper submissions. However, it prefers emailed computer-generated data files such as ESRI shapefiles (a .shp file extension) or so-called block equivalency files, which list the specific census blocks included in proposed districts.

Written comments can be emailed to the commission at districting@mt.gov or submitted via a form on the commission website. The commission is also accepting comments by mail at P.O. Box 201706, Helena, MT 59620, and by fax at 406-444-3036.

Multiple third-party resources are available for Montanans looking to understand the district-drawing process, including some that offer free tools for drawing maps and exporting them to the commissions preferred file formats:

Districtr

provides a free web-based tool for drawing districts using demographic data from the 2020 census. Users can export maps as PDFs or data files usable by GIS software.

District Builder

provides a web-based tool for drawing and exporting maps. Additionally, it presents information on user-generated districts partisan leanings using data from past presidential elections.

Daves Redistricting presents several possible congressional maps for Montana, including a hypothetical gerrymander tilted in favor of Democrats and a map that purports to have the most geographically compact districts possible
(The Center Square)  As demand and scarcity drive property values up, Montanas property tax structure may get a second look.

Attorney and former Montana state lawmaker Matthew Monforton is proposing an acquisition-value property tax system, the Missoula Current reported. Such a system would keep property taxes from inflating along with market property values by allowing increases only when the property changes hands.

Kendall Cotton, CEO of the Frontier Institute, said something has to be done to address Montanas property taxes.

This is something I hear is a number one issue from Montanans that I talk to across the state, Cotton told The Center Square. Certainly, placing limits on the growth of taxation  thats one way to address this growing problem, and it could probably do some good.

Currently, Montanas property taxes are assessed every two years with a new appraisal. An influx of out-of-state property investors and urban dwellers seeking refuge from pandemic-ridden cities is driving property values up quickly, leaving some Montanans who have owned their home for ages with inflating property taxes.

Monforton told MTN News that his proposal will help engender neighborhood stability by making it advantageous to stay in ones home longer. In addition, since property tax increases are usually passed on to renters, it would also help stabilize rent in high-growth areas, he said.

Cotton pointed out that in general it is lower-income individuals who suffer most from high property taxes.

One of the problems with property taxes is that they are one of the most regressive forms of taxes, and so it does burden lower-income people more, Cotton said.

While capping property taxes could be helpful, he adds, that spending at the local government level is the real issue that needs to be addressed. Otherwise, officials will simply find other ways to extract revenue, he said.

The issue is local governments in the driving seat for spending local tax dollars  theres not a lot of tools state legislators have to address property taxes because local governments are spending them all, Cotton said. The state doesnt really spend property taxes  they kind of pass them back on to local governments and schools. So this is really a local government issue and something needs to be done.

Another facet to the issue is housing regulations  also the purview of local governments, Cotton points out.

One of the things that really constrains the supply of housing and exacerbates this crisis of affordability and drives up property values, fundamentally its a supply issue and housing regulations at the local level are a big contributor to that, he said. So local building and zoning ordinances that put limits on development and slow down new housing developments with long permitting processes, those types of things are really contributing to this boom were seeing in housing values because supply is not keeping up with demand.

To get a spot on the ballot in November 2022, Monfortons proposal needs to garner at least 60,357 signatures from registered voters with no less than 10% of those voters spread across 40 state House districts.
On this date in 1869, a handful of soldiers and officers who'd fought on the storied fields at Gettysburg returned to the scene of the decisive battle. Although this would change in years to come, four years after the end of the Civil War only a few Southern combatants made the return trip to the rolling Pennsylvania countryside. For one thing, the barriers to travel were formidable. Complimentary train tickets were offered to Union veterans, but rail service in the South was spotty in 1869. It was also apparently too soon for the men who fought in Robert E. Lee's shattered army to be attending reunions.

In the fullness of time, all that would change, as I wrote five years ago in this space. Gettysburg would be an iconic destination for veterans on both sides -- and for millions of Americans not yet born. It would become one of the first four national battlefield parks and eventually a national park itself.

The idea for the 1869 Gettysburg reunion apparently originated with a Republican lawyer and local politician named David McConaughy. A Gettysburg College alum, McConaughy served in the Union Army as a scout and an intelligence officer. He was a committed abolitionist who'd supported Abraham Lincoln early in the 1860 election cycle. After the war McConaughy took the initiative in preserving Gettysburg's battlefields in a way that furthered reconciliation and that I believe would have pleased Lincoln. Those efforts really reached critical mass in 1888, the 25th anniversary of the battle.

Here, from a National Park Service webpage devoted to the Gettysburg park, is a description of that occasion:

The veterans, averaging in their fifties, began arriving in Gettysburg in the last week of June 1888. Over the next several days, thousands of Union veterans once again descended upon the town, but just a little more than three hundred Confederates were able to attend. For most Confederate veterans, the journey was either too far, too expensive, or the invitations had arrived too late for some to make plans to attend. One newspaper estimated that there were up to 30,000 veterans, soldiers and civilians, on the battlefield. It was noted that no gathering since the battle "has equaled that of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the great event."

The most notable headliner at the 1888 reunion was former Confederate general James Longstreet. The unofficial masters of ceremonies for each side were former Union Army general Daniel E. Sickles, a polarizing and controversial former (and future) congressman whose nickname ("Devil Dan") said it all, and Georgia Gov. John B. Gordon, who had commanded a brigade at Gettysburg as one of "Lee's Lieutenants."

When Gordon spoke, he expressed the hope that Gettysburg would become "a Mecca" for Southerners as well as Northerners. If these officers carried great inner burdens about what they had ordered their men to do on the first three days of July in 1863, they also bore visible evidence of their own combat experiences. Gov. Gordon's handsome face had been rendered cruel-looking courtesy of a deep scar from a Yankee bullet. Devil Dan lived half his life with one leg: He'd lost the other one at Gettysburg.

"Twenty-five years have passed, and now the combatants of '63 come together again on your old field of battle to unite in pledges of love and devotion to one constitution, one Union and one flag," Sickles told the crowd. "Today there are no victors, no vanquished."

Under Sickle's leadership on Capitol Hill and David McConaughy's on the ground in Pennsylvania, the historic fields of Gettysburg were in the process of being acquired by the federal government. After a local railway company objected, eminent domain was invoked, and the case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Writing for a unanimous high court, Justice Wheeler Peckham provided a nice description of why Gettysburg belongs to all the people of this country -- and why we have a national park system itself:

The battle of Gettysburg was one of the great battles of the world.  The existence of the government itself, and the perpetuity of our institutions depended upon the result. ... Can it be that the government is without power to preserve the land, and properly mark out the various sites upon which this struggle took place? Can it not erect the monuments provided for by these acts of Congress, or even take possession of the field of battle, in the name and for the benefit of all the citizens of the country, for the present and for the future? Such a use seems necessarily not only a public use, but one so closely connected with the welfare of the republic itself as to be within the powers granted Congress by the Constitution for the purpose of protecting and preserving the whole country.

Carl M. Cannon is the Washington bureau chief for RealClearPolitics. Reach him on Twitter @CarlCannon.
Farmers in Northern Ireland have been given a new opportunity to influence the future of a TB eradication strategy in the region.

The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) has urged farmers to 'take a hard look' at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) latest bTB eradication plans.

This document was launched in July and remains open for comment before plans are finalised.

The consultation focuses on enhanced cattle measures and testing, the expansion of molecular techniques and legislation to enable the department to test non-bovines.

The document also outlines herd health management and biosecurity improvements, badger intervention and compensation payments.

But UFU animal health and welfare chairman, Andrew McCammond said it was 'vital' for farmers to read the plans as they had 'far reaching implications' for the industry.

"Debate is crucial and farmers must be fully engaged, given the financial and mental health impact of TB across Northern Ireland," he added.

All these issues have far-reaching implications and are by their nature long term, given that a quick fix is impossible.

"This is the first opportunity farmers have had to influence the future of a TB eradication strategy in Northern Ireland.

"I would encourage every farmer to respond to the consultation."

The Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said it wanted to hear the views of all stakeholders.

To eradicate TB, all factors which contribute to the spread and maintenance of the disease in the environment must be addressed through a holistic approach," farming minister Edwin Poots said.

The annual cost of the TB programme is around 36-40m, almost half of which is paid in compensation for infected cattle, something Mr Poots said was 'simply not sustainable'.

"We cannot continue to use the same strategy yielding poor results for the taxpayer, industry and animal disease," he said.

"Therefore, I am also proposing changes to the level and rates on which compensation is paid and will seek views on this."
Parsons, KS (67357)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. Hot and humid. High 89F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 69F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
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Written for Fethiye Times and with photos by Mike Vickers

Feature photo above: Graceful Fairy Chimneys in Cappadocia

I can honestly say that my love affair with Turkey began in 1996 when I arrived in Ovacik for a weeks holiday at the Yakamoz Hotel with Jan, then my travelling partner and friend from Gloucester. I was smitten immediately by this charming, beautiful, friendly and cheerfully quirky country, and by the end of the holiday, although unaware at the time, some subtly indefinable but wonderful addiction for Turkey had wormed its way into my heart.

Its still there!

So, after multiple visits over the decades since, and after a six-year spell of owning Yakamoz, and having married Jan ten years ago, when retirement finally beckoned, we both knew where we wanted to settle. Arriving in 2019, we set up home firstly in Kayakoy and then later in Fethiye, where we now currently live.

Faces from the past! Sections of decorative frieze salvaged from the Portico of Tiberius at Aphrodisias.

Ive always enjoyed taking photographs, and one of my tasks, when we were downsizing our chattels (what a great word!) prior to our departure from the UK, was to haul down my great big box of old photos from the attic to see what could go and what could stay. Up until that moment, I must admit Id never thrown away a photo. Ever.

For a start, all the negatives were no longer needed  photos can now be scanned and digitized, so theres no point in keeping them. Next to go were the shots of mysterious objects I could not identify, of people I no longer recognized and everything that was out of focus, plus my surprisingly extensive collection of accidental photos of my feet. All went, just leaving me with whats precious, now housed in a much smaller box!

The digital revolution has changed photography beyond recognition and actual cameras are something of a rarity these days. I do admit that I prefer to use one by choice, even though most people now take and store their photos on their phones. The internet has also allowed everyone to share their images through social media, plus there are now some amazing services that were unimaginable twenty years ago, including website design.

Looking up into the geometrically exquisite brick dome at the Esrefoglu Camii in Beysehir.

Mick Vick Travels

So, with the thick end of 16,000 photos on my computers hard drive going back to 2005, I thought it was now a good time for me to share as well. The result is mickvicktravels.com

I feel quite strongly that it is my obligation, as well as my real pleasure, to show those coming along after me some of the wonderful things Ive seen myself over the years. Perhaps this is one of the most significant responsibilities of us more mature folk  to offer our accumulated knowledge(er), wisdom(?) and experience(youre kidding!) to the younger generations. Whether or not they choose to take any notice is up to them, of course, but in this particular instance, all Im simply saying is, Go look at this or that. Its wonderful, so get out there and see it for yourself. Youll have a great time.

Hermione taking it easy on a hot summers afternoon in Cenger. She used to enjoy a bath, but its a bit of a tight squeeze nowadays. Love the tiara!

Almost all of the articles Ive written for Fethiye Times over the last few years are going onto the website and Ill be adding new content in due course, including stories and photos from some of the other countries Jan and I have visited, such as Portugal, Sri Lanka, Malta and even Belgium! I invite you all to drop by and take a look and I hope very much that youll find the website is full of light, colour and smiles. Especially smiles.

The mickvicktravels.com website has been constructed by Adam and I think hes done a superb job. If youre thinking of pursuing a similar course, or indeed have any technical problems or questions on matters digital, theres not much he doesnt know. Adam can be contacted on 0546 210 1262.
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ARNPRIOR, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 23, 2021 / Plaintree Systems Inc. (CSE:NPT) ("Plaintree" or the "Company").

Quarterly Statements for the First Quarter of Fiscal 2021 ending June 30, 2021.

Plaintree announced today that it has released its unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related management discussions and analysis for the three months ending June 30, 2021.

During the first three months of fiscal 2022 ending June 30 2021, Plaintree realized revenues from operations of $3,643,370 comparable to $2,671,774 for the same period in fiscal 2021.

Net income was $262,145 in the three month period ending June 30, 2021 as compared to net income of $350,055 for the same period a year earlier.

"Covid related Government support is tapering off around the world and despite this Plaintree's financial performance continues to improve and we have just finished another profitable quarter." said David Watson CEO. "Our greatest challenge are our supply chains with critical components escalating in price and with much longer delivery lead times."

About Plaintree Systems

Plaintree has two diversified product lines consisting of Specialty Structures and Electronics.

The Specialty Structures Division includes the former Triodetic Group with over 40 years of experience, is a design/build manufacturer of steel, aluminum and stainless steel specialty structures such as commercial domes, foundations for unstable soil conditions and flood zones, for free form structures, barrel vaults, space frames and industrial dome coverings and Spotton Corporation, a design and manufacturer of high end custom hydraulic and pneumatic valves and cylinders.

The Electronics Division includes the legacy Hypernetics and Summit Aerospace USA Inc. businesses. Hypernetics was established in 1972 and is a manufacturer of avionic components for various applications including aircraft antiskid braking, aircraft instrument indicators, solenoids, high purity valves and permanent magnet alternators. Summit Aerospace USA Inc. provides high precision machining to the aerospace and defense markets. Our facility includes 5 axis CNC precision machining of complex castings and large ring parts such as turbine and assembly shrouds as well as assembly & pressure seals. Summit will support requirements from concept, prototype and throughout production.

Plaintree's shares are traded under the symbol "NPT". Shareholders and Investors can access Company information on CSE's website and receive full Company disclosure monthly. For more information on Plaintree or to receive stock quotes, complete with trading summaries, bid size and ask price, brokerage house participation, insider reports, news releases, disclosure information, and CSE and SEDAR filings, visit the CSE website at www.cnsx.ca or the Company's website at www.plaintree.com.

Plaintree is publicly traded in Canada on the CSE (NPT) with 12,925,253 common shares and 18,325 class A preferred shares outstanding.

This press release may include statements that are forward-looking and based on current expectations. The actual results of the company may differ materially from current expectations. The business of the company is subject to many risks and uncertainties, including changes in markets for the company's products, delays in product development and introduction to manufacturing and intense competition. For a more detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties related to the company's business, please refer to documents filed by the company with the Canadian regulatory authorities, including the annual report of the Company for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 and related management discussion and analysis.

Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

For further information:

Lynn Saunders,

CFO

(613) 623-3434 x2223

SOURCE: Plaintree Systems Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/661014/Plaintree-Systems-Inc-Announces-First-Quarter-Fiscal-2021-Results
Spirent Federal Systems announces a collaboration with Xona Space Systems to develop simulation and test capabilities for Xona signals produced by small satellites (smallsats) operating in low Earth orbit (LEO). Xona is a San Mateo-based startup developing a smallsat constellation for a dedicated positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) service.

Xona's patent-pending approach using small satellites in LEO is intended to improve global PNT resilience and accuracy by both enhancing GNSS and operating as an independent system. Xona's high-power signals utilize advanced signal structure and security techniques, improving jamming and spoofing resistance as well as multi-path mitigation.

"We do all we can to protect, toughen, and augment PNT and are eager to work with emerging companies like Xona who are developing a next-gen navigation and timing architecture," said Jennifer Smith, Senior Director of Business Development at Spirent Federal. "Our simulators provide critical support to developers and integrators by enabling testing and validation before the product deploys."

The space and defense sectors also benefit from Spirent Federal's expertise in generating high fidelity RF signals using quadrature (I/Q) data. Spirent test tools allow the full customization of I/Q data. Customers can generate unique I/Q data corresponding to experimental modulation schemes and use Spirent Federal's signal generation capabilities to create the corresponding RF. Such rapid prototyping allows for quick turnaround times and shorter iteration cycles. Alternatively, scenarios created using Spirent Federal's proprietary SimGEN software can be saved as I/Q data which can be processed by software-implemented receivers.

"Building a new generation of satellite navigation and timing services goes far beyond just the satellites," said Brian Manning, CEO of Xona Space Systems. "It requires building an entire ecosystem from ground stations to chipset manufacturers to end users and systems integrators. Having reliable and trusted simulation capabilities is critical to support all of these areas, which is why we are thrilled to be working with Spirent to provide a robust solution to our partners."

Contact Spirent Federal to discuss testing requirements. Contact Xona to learn more about their PNT service.

About Xona Space Systems, Inc.

Xona Space Systems is developing the first ever independent high-performance satellite navigation and timing system designed to meet the needs of intelligent systems. Delivered via a secure, high-power signal from Xona's low Earth orbit satellites, the patent-pending Pulsar service aims to enable the next wave of connected technology. Learn more at www.xonaspace.com or follow Xona Space Systems on Twitter @XonaSpace.

About Spirent Federal Systems

Spirent Federal Systems was formed in July 2001 by Spirent Communications as a wholly owned subsidiary and U.S. proxy company. Spirent Federal markets and sells Spirent Communications' products in North America. The company also provides value-added features and ongoing customer support. Spirent Federal Systems is headquartered in Pleasant Grove, UT, with support and sales offices throughout the US. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Spirent

Spirent Communications plc. (LSE: SPT) is the leading global provider of automated test and assurance solutions for networks, cybersecurity, and positioning. The company provides innovative products, services and managed solutions that address the test, assurance and automation challenges of a new generation of technologies, including 5G, SD-WAN, cloud, autonomous vehicles and beyond. From the lab to the real world, Spirent helps companies deliver on their promise to their customers of a new generation of connected devices and technologies. For more information, please visit www.spirent.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005656/en/

Contacts:

Jeff Martin

Spirent Federal Systems

801-787-1207

jeff.martin@spirentfederal.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 23, 2021) - Benchmark Botanics Inc. (CSE: BBT) ("Benchmark" or the "Company") announces the temporary layoff of three Peachland employees while the Company continues to have discussions with a group of current shareholders regarding securing long term financing.

The Company announced on March 9, 2021 that it was actively exploring various options to address the Company's financial liquidity issues. The Company has since completed an assessment of its operations and has identified various options regarding the future direction of the Company. Benchmark continues to have financing discussions with a group of current shareholders regarding securing long term financing to both address the Company's financial liquidity issues as well as to fund strategic growth opportunities. Until long term financing can be secured, the Company continues to implement cost saving measures such as headcount reductions by way of termination, not back-filling certain positions of departed employees, and announcing employee layoffs. Today, the Company announced the layoff of three employees from its Peachland facility. The result of this layoff is that Peachland will temporarily cease all cultivation and harvesting activities, and seek to generate revenue by processing and selling cannabis purchased from other licensed cannabis producers. Restarting cultivation and harvesting activities in Peachland will be contingent, in part, on the Company obtaining the necessary financing to be able to fund the Peachland operations.

About Benchmark

Benchmark is a diversified multi-licensed cannabis producer in British Columbia. The Company's 100% owned subsidiary, Potanicals Green Growers Inc. ("Potanicals") is a Health Canada licensed producer under the Cannabis Act and its regulations. Potanicals owns an indoor facility in Peachland, BC. The Company also owns a greenhouse facility in Pitt Meadows, BC through its 51% ownership in 1139000 B.C. Ltd.

For more information about Benchmark, please refer to information available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the CSE website.

Mike Cosic

Chief Executive Officer

Benchmark Botanics Inc.

mike.c@bbtinc.ca

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including the risk factors discussed in this news release and in the Company's disclosure documents, which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com and on the CSE website. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94155
Thunder Bay Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 23, 2021) - Metals Creek Resources Corp. (TSXV: MEK) (OTCQB: MCREF) (FSE: M1C1) (the "Company" or "Metals Creek") is pleased to announce that the company will receive 1,250,000 Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Limited shares for 100% interest in the 20 claim units totaling 500 hectares, in the River Valley area of Ontario (See Metals Creeks' New Release dated 28 January 2020). The claims are located in Crerar Township approximately 70km east of Sudbury, and approximately 4.5 km west of the town of River Valley, Ontario. Year-round access to the property from Sudbury is available via Highway 17 to Warren, and Highway 539 to River Valley. Metals Creek will also retain a 2% net smelter returns royalty on the Claims, one half (1%) of which may be purchased at any time by NICO for $1,000,000.

"The sale of this property allows Metals Creek to remain focused on the Ogden Gold Property and the Dona Lake Gold Property while allowing Metals Creek and its Shareholders exposure to Copper/Nickel/PGE exploration," states Alexander (Sandy) Stares, President and CEO of Metals Creek.

In addition to its portfolio of projects, Metals Creek also holds a position of equities in other companies such as O3 Mining, Sokoman Minerals, Quadro Resources, Anaconda Mining, Benton Resources, White Metal Resources, Trifecta Gold, Manning Ventures, Magna Terra Minerals, Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Limited as well as others.

About Metals Creek Resources Corp.

Metals Creek Resources Corp. is a junior exploration Corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, is a reporting issuer in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, and has its common shares listed for trading on the Exchange under the symbol "MEK". Metals Creek has earned a 50% interest in the Ogden Gold Property from Newmont Corporation, including the former Naybob Gold mine, located 6 km south of Timmins, Ontario and has an 8 km strike length of the prolific Porcupine-Destor Fault (P-DF). In addition, Metals Creek has signed an agreement with Newmont Corporation, where Metals Creek can earn a 100% interest in the past producing Dona Lake Gold Project in the Pickle Lake Mining District of Ontario.

Metals Creek also has multiple quality projects available for option in Ontario and Newfoundland which can be viewed on the Corporation's website. Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact the Corporation at the number below.

Additional information concerning the Corporation is contained in documents filed by the Corporation with securities regulators, available under its profile at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Alexander (Sandy) Stares, President and CEO

Metals Creek Resources Corp

telephone: (709)-256-6060

fax: (709)-256-6061

email: astares@metalscreek.com

www.MetalsCreek.com

Twitter.com/MetalsCreekRes

Facebook.com/MetalsCreek

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94146
MioTech to scale its sustainable technologies to serve financial institutions, corporations, and individuals.

HONG KONG, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MioTech, the AI-based sustainability data and solutions provider, announced today that it has raised investments from Guotai Junan International (1788:HK) and GIC in its latest series B+ funding round. The company's earlier investors include ZhenFund, Horizons Ventures, TOM Group, Moody's, and HSBC.

The latest funding will be used to expand and accelerate MioTech's product development, cementing MioTech as the leading sustainability data and solutions provider for financial institutions, corporations, and individuals around the world. In addition to its unrivaled ESG data serving financial institutions, MioTech has developed advanced technical solutions to help corporations with ESG data reporting, energy efficiency management, carbon data tracking, and carbon reduction. MioTech has also recently launched its app Mio within WeChat to build green-conscious communities and promote low-carbon lifestyles among individuals.

"MioTech is committed to sustainable technology," said Jason Tu, Co-founder and CEO of MioTech. "With more and more world-renowned investors backing us, we look forward to scaling our technologies to serve more industries together with our investors and partners."

Peter Chiu, Managing Director of Guotai Junan International Private Equity Fund, said, "while ESG concepts have rapidly emerged, MioTech has endeavored to make ESG data and sustainable technologies better defined and more efficient. Equipped with industry-leading artificial intelligence technologies such as natural language processing (NLP), MioTech has greatly reduced the difficulty of collecting and processing underlying data in such fields. MioTech further refines ESG evaluation criteria and provides comprehensive technical solutions for financial institutions and corporates. We trust MioTech will play an indispensable role in the sustainable development and carbon reduction movement in China and worldwide, as well as promote corporate governance and the implementation of ESG concepts. We recognize the vision and expertise of MioTech in ESG and sustainability and look forward to continuing our support of the company in the capital markets. Meanwhile, we would like to extend our strategic layout in the ESG field and work with MioTech together with our peers to draw a broader blueprint for ESG finance in the future."

ABOUT MIOTECH

MioTech uses artificial intelligence to solve the sustainability, climate change, carbon emissions reduction, and social responsibility challenges faced by financial institutions, corporations, and individuals. Its comprehensive coverage of ESG data helps financial institutions make the right decisions in green finance and responsible investments. Its software helps corporations manage ESG reporting, improve energy efficiency, track and reduce carbon emissions. Its app builds green-conscious communities and promotes low-carbon lifestyles among individuals.

MioTech has offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, and Singapore. Its world-renowned investors include ZhenFund, Horizons Ventures, TOM Group, Moody's, HSBC, Guotai Junan International, and GIC.

Press inquiries: pr@miotech.com

For more information, please visit https://www.miotech.com

ABOUT GUOTAI JUNAN INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE EQUITY FUND

In 2020, Guotai Junan International (1788.HK) set up its Private Equity Fund to lead investment in scientific research and innovation, and to participate in strategic mergers and acquisitions. Due to technological advancements and structural changes in China's economy, explosive growth is expected in industries that relate to artificial intelligence, big data, autonomous driving, and biomedicine, among others where Guotai Junan International Private Equity Fund observes investment opportunities. Thus, Guotai Junan International Private Equity Fund especially invests in projects pertaining to these areas. Guotai Junan International is the first Chinese securities company to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is also included in the FTSE Social Responsibility Index of the London Stock Exchange. Based in Hong Kong, it provides comprehensive financial services to its customers, and has been awarded "Baa2" and "BBB+" long-term issuer ratings by Moody's and Standard & Poor's respectively. Its controlling shareholder Guotai Junan Securities (601211.SS/ 2611.HK) is a leading financial services provider in China.

For more information about Guotai Junan International, please visit: http://www.gtjai.com

ABOUT GIC

GIC is a leading global investment firm established in 1981 to secure Singapore's financial future. As the manager of Singapore's foreign reserves, it takes a long-term, disciplined approach to investing, and are uniquely positioned across a wide range of asset classes and active strategies globally. These include equities, fixed income, real estate, private equity, venture capital, and infrastructure.

GIC's long-term approach, multi-asset capabilities, and global connectivity enable it to be an investor of choice. It seeks to add meaningful value to their investments. Headquartered in Singapore, it has a global talent force of over 1,800 people in 10 key financial cities and have investments in over 40 countries.

For more information about GIC, please visit: https://www.gic.com.sg

For GIC's Linkedin page, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gic
San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - August 23, 2021) - Sigyn Therapeutics, Inc. (OTC Pink: SIGY) today announced that Jim Joyce, Chairman & CEO will be attending the Q3 Virtual Investor Summit.

Event Q3 Investor Summit Date August 17-18th, 2021 Presentation August 17th at 4:15 PM ET Location https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xbV-kd8KTn-zQAXO9iNqrQ

About Sigyn Therapeutics, Inc.

Sigyn Therapeutics is focused on a significant unmet need in global health; the treatment of life-threatening inflammatory conditions that are precipitated by Cytokine Storm Syndrome. To calm the Cytokine Storm, Sigyn Therapy extracts pathogen sources of inflammation, deadly toxins and relevant inflammatory mediators from the bloodstream. In vitro blood purification studies have validated the ability of Sigyn Therapy to address viral pathogens (including COVID-19), bacterial endotoxin, relevant inflammatory cytokines (Interleukin-6, Interleukin-1b, tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and hepatic toxins (ammonia, bilirubin, bile acid). An additional study modeled the ability of Sigyn Therapy ability to address CytoVesicles that transport inflammatory cargos throughout the bloodstream. The Company also conducted a first-in-mammal pilot study that demonstrated the safe administration of Sigyn Therapy during six-hour treatment exposures. Sigyn Therapy is a single-use blood purification technology designed for use on the established infrastructure of hemodialysis and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) machines located in hospitals and clinics worldwide. In contrast to blood purification therapies that concentrate inflammatory targets in the blood-path, Sigyn Therapy extracts targets out of the bloodstream to eliminate any continued interactions with blood cells. Incorporated within Sigyn Therapy is a formulation of adsorbent components that provide more than 170,000 square meters of surface areas on which to adsorb and remove bloodstream targets. This equates to more than 40 acres of surface adsorption area in each Sigyn Therapy device. The Company plans to submit an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) to The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to support the potential initiation of human clinical studies in 2022.Cytokine Storm Syndrome is often induced by an infectious pathogen. The hallmark indicator of the Cytokine Storm is an uncontrolled release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can destroy tissue, cause multiple organ failure and lead to death. The annual market opportunity to address Cytokine Storm related indications exceeds $20 billion and includes sepsis, the most common cause of hospital deaths. Virus-induced Cytokine Storm Syndrome is a leading cause of death resulting from severe SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infections.To learn more, visit www.SigynTherapeutics.com.

For further information:

Sigyn Therapeutics, Inc.

Jim Joyce

619.368.2000

jj@sigyntherapeutics.com

About the Investor Summit

The Investor Summit is an exclusive, independent conference dedicated to connecting smallcap and microcap companies with qualified investors. The Q3 Investor Summit will take place virtually, featuring 80+ companies and over 800 investors, consisting of institutional investors, family offices, and private wealth.

To request complimentary investor registration: please click here: Complimentary Investor Registration

Contact:

Sasha Murray at sasha@investorsummitgroup.com
Developers can easily connect with PERA HUB's APIs to access a global network of remittance partners, banks, ewallets, foreign exchange, digital and over-the-counter partners. Sign up now for early access.

SINGAPORE, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PERA HUB, the Philippines' foremost consumer financial services center, has joined forces with Brankas, a leading Open API technology provider, to launch Southeast Asia's first API Developer portal and digital platform to empower the next generation of fintech solutions.

PERA HUB Conex, a Digital Remittance Platform (DRP) serves foreign and local remittance companies, fintech partners, banks, ewallets, brick-and-mortar retailers, and any other business looking to offer their customers world-class digital remittance services. Services include:

International and domestic remittances

Over the counter sending and pickup from more than 3000 locations in the Philippines

Sending remittances for direct credit to bank account or e-wallet

Account validation and KYC

Instant bill payments

Digital micro-insurance

And much more

As PERA HUB's technology partner, Brankas is implementing its world-class Open Finance system to unlock new digital remittance channels for Filipinos at home and abroad. Brankas provides a modern and secure API developer portal that enables partners to access the PERA HUB network with just a few lines of code.

"We're very excited to introduce the very first digital remittance platform in the market, providing a hub where businesses can offer their services to multiple communities," shares Ian Ocampo, President and CEO of PERA HUB. "Through our open and cost-efficient platform, we will provide remittance brands with safe & scalable solutions. But at the core of it all is our desire to empower customers to send and receive remittances, in the most convenient way possible."

Brankas CEO Todd Schweitzer commented: "At Brankas, our vision is to make modern financial services available to everyone. We are committed to driving Open Finance adoption in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, and by partnering with PERA HUB, we can help millions of Filipinos to safely and affordably access digital financial services in new ways. We also hope that the DRP will unlock a new generation of "fintech" startups in the Philippines that can use PERA HUB APIs to build new products to serve Filipinos around the world."

Get early access and learn how to use PERA HUB Conex to power your remittance business

Sign up for free and get early access to PERA HUB's Developer Portal and PERA HUB's API system. PERA HUB and Brankas will be hosting a webinar on 14th Sept, Tuesday at 4pm (GMT +8) sharing a preview of PERA HUB Conex, its features, who are the remittance partners onboard, and how it can empower businesses. Register today.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1599576/Virtual_signing_ceremony_between_Brankas_and_PERA_HUB.jpg


From left: Co-founder Mohd Nizam Abdul Rahim, and Co-founder Choong En Han.

PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA, Aug 24, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Kitakerja.my, a social initiative focusing on matching Malaysian jobseekers in the Bottom-40 ("B40") income bracket to domestic employers, is calling for more Malaysians to join hands in building an ecosystem of jobseekers and employers while at the same time assisting in the economic recovery one job at a time.Kitakerja.my is the brainchild of two young Malaysians pooling their resources together to help fellow Malaysians in the B40 bracket who lost their jobs.Kitakerja.my co-founder Choong En Han said, "Over the past 18 months, our whole nation has been focused on two numbers, COVID-19 new cases and death rates, but there is another number that has slipped into our lives without many people realizing it, and that is the nation's unemployment rate."There are more than 770,000 unemployed Malaysians now in the country according to the Department of Statistics June 2021 report. It was also reported that about 100,000 Malaysians lost their jobs in 2020 due to the pandemic, according to former Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan in a report dated Dec. 9, 2020."We started kitakerja.my to give unemployed Malaysians primarily in the B40 income bracket a platform in which they can be matched to jobs offered by employers. Jobs have become scarcer given all the lockdowns we have endured since March 2020. Together with employers and jobseekers, we can assist each other while in our own way, help the economy to recover and progress, one job at a time," Choong explained."We have seen firsthand how severely businesses have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Retrenching employees is always the last resort for any business. We want to do our part in helping Malaysians affected by the pandemic to rebuild their lives, particularly those in the B40 group who are most vulnerable to financial shocks," Choong added, "We need to act now and be a part of the solution and be the movement for a better Malaysia, otherwise, Malaysian household income levels will continue to deteriorate."Mohd Nizam Abdul Rahim, fellow co-founder who mooted the initiative with Choong, said, "Our resources are limited, and we really need the help of fellow Malaysians who have the skills to help us build, promote and develop this initiative. Currently, kitakerja.my is matching jobseekers and employers manually but we are seeking solutions to automate the process.""We are inviting tech-based experts, trainers and Malaysians in general to become a part of this movement. If you have the skills and ideas to make kitakerja.my a better platform to help Malaysians in need, please talk to us. Your contribution can also be as simple as sharing our website kitakerja.my or message via WhatsApp to keep the conversation going.""Many are suffering silently, but it should not be this way. Malaysians should come together this time with the aim to rebuild the nation as we celebrate the country's 64th National Day. Hopefully employers that are hiring could give our fellow Malaysians a chance in getting employed. With jobseekers being employed, the multiplier effect of increased private consumption would be kickstarted and ultimately everyone wins in the country," Nizam said.Besides matchings for B40 jobseekers, kitakerja.my also has plans to make them more employable through training and development programmes in which vocational skills will be emphasized.Kitakerja.my is a nation-building and social initiative by Malaysians for Malaysians. Kitakerja.my will be a social enterprise once all the infrastructure is in place. Choong and Nizam are open to discussing possibilities that can help B40 jobseekers upskill or reskill. jomkitakerjabersamaPlease contact the below for more information:Choong En HanTel: +60 12-540 8338Email: han@kitakerja.mySource: Kitakerja.myCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
On August 13, 2021, China-Chongqing (Wulong) Green Development Practice Forum was grandly held in Fairy Mountain, Wulong District, Chongqing, which was jointly sponsored by the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party and the Standing Committee of Chongqing Municipal People's Congress. In the forum, a lot of domestic well-known and dominant academicians and experts, industry elites through ways of "online offline" combination shared their opinions about the concept of green development, and explored together the new path to practicing and innovating the construction of ecological civilization. It is reported that the forum has been successfully held for two sessions since it was firstly held in 2019, and this is the third forum.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005699/en/

Fairy Mountain Scenic Spot, Chongqing, China (Photo: Business Wire)

Wulong, located in the southwestern part of Chongqing, in which the Wuling Mountains and the Ta-Lou Mountains meet, is famous as a "World Natural Heritage Site," "National All-For-One Tourism Demonstration Area" and "National AAAAA Level Tourist Attraction," these four names are regarded as its golden brands. In addition, Wulong is also known as the "World Karst Ecological Museum" for it owns abundant and various karst-feature lands. And, more than 690 ecological and cultural tourism scenic spots, such as Wujiang River, Furong River, Fairy Mountain, Baimashan Mountain, Three Natural Bridges and Longshui Gorge Seam, are densely distributed throughout the territory, which forms the tourism pattern of "one cave, two rivers and two mountains" in Wulong. In recent years, we have been expanding the idea of cultural tourism integration development, and a few of cultural tourism projects have been built in succession, such as "Flying Kiss" in Baimashan Mountain, Lanba Earth Art Park, Treetop Walk, Boxiang Art Museum, and Guiyuan Town. The "Impression of Wulong" large-scale landscape live-action show created by Zhang Yimou's team has livelily presented, which bring the audience into the natural live-action scenery to experience the magnificent beauty of nature and the unique customs of the land of Bashu (Sichuan, the southwestern area of China). Since the public performance got start in 2012, there have been more than 2,900 performances in total, and more than 3.7 million people have attended the show to feel its beauty. At present, Wulong tourism is marching on the way of internationalization and high quality.

With the sound development of tourism, the past "poor countryside" has become today's "fairyland on earth" and is assuming a better and better future.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005699/en/

Contacts:

Contact: Zhang Chao

Email: 40828205@qq.com

Country: China
Swiss subsidiary is headquartered in Zurich

Beat Fruhauf will be advising professional investors in the Swiss market

Golding Capital Partners GmbH, one of Europe's leading independent asset managers for alternative investments, is expanding into Switzerland. Beat Fruhauf has been in charge of the new Zurich office since the beginning of August and in his position as Managing Director, Head of Switzerland, is responsible for advising professional investors. Golding Capital Partners is one of the leading providers of non-listed investments for professional investors in Germany with more than 11 billion in assets under management and over twenty years' experience of the market and focuses on private debt, infrastructure and private equity. It is also currently setting-up its own impact investing division. Professional investors in Switzerland can now benefit from its proven expertise in private investment markets via the new Zurich office. Attractive returns and broad diversification mean that private markets are becoming increasingly popular in Switzerland too.

"We are scaling up our existing presence in Switzerland by opening our own office in Zurich to meet the tremendous demand, particularly for infrastructure and private debt. Many local investors want to increase their allocation to infrastructure assets and diversify even further, especially as a result of the changes to the BVV2 regulation for company pensions. That also applies explicitly at the fund management level. We aim to make our long-standing track record in alternatives available to as many professional investors as possible. The Swiss market is of great strategic importance for us", says Jeremy Golding, Founder and Managing Partner of Golding Capital Partners GmbH.

"By opening an office in Zurich we want to establish our local credentials and create a basis for providing personal, dependable services to Swiss investors", adds Hubertus Theile-Ochel, Managing Partner of Golding Capital Partners GmbH. "Beat Fruhauf is an experienced expert with a local network who is attuned to the particular needs of Swiss investors. Our proven funds-of-funds offer maximum diversification across asset classes for limited investment volumes, which is especially interesting for many small and medium-sized professional investors. But investors can also choose a specific managed account with us or a co-investment fund in the established asset classes. Whatever the structure, we always to cater to individual investors and speak their language", sums up Theile-Ochel.

Beat Fruhauf has been advising Swiss investors for more than 21 years. Most recently he was at BNP Paribas Schweiz AG as Head of THEAM Quant Funds Switzerland, where he was responsible for leading all client segments and the sales team. Previously he worked at BlackRock Asset Management Schweiz AG as Head of iShares for institutional clients, focusing on investment solutions for pension funds and insurance companies, as well as sustainable investments.

His other professional experience includes 14 years in sales at UBS Investment Bank in Zurich, where he was responsible for derivatives and structured products, as well as Swiss equities for pension funds, family offices and banks. Before that he worked for three years in auditing at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Zurich. Beat Fruhauf has a banking apprenticeship, holds a degree in business studies and is a certified Swiss financial analyst and portfolio manager (CIIA).

Link press photo Beat Fruhauf

About Golding Capital Partners GmbH

Golding Capital Partners GmbH is one of Europe's leading independent asset managers for alternative investments, focusing on the asset classes infrastructure, private debt, private equity and impact. With a team of over 130 professionals at its offices in Munich, Luxembourg, London, Zurich, New York and Tokyo, Golding Capital Partners helps institutional and professional investors to develop their investment strategy and manages more than 11 billion in assets. Its more than 200 investors include pension funds, insurance companies, foundations, family offices and ecclesiastical institutions, as well as banks, savings banks and cooperative banks. Golding became a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) in 2013.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005333/en/

Contacts:

Further information

Golding Capital Partners GmbH

Susanne Stolzenburg

Manager Marketing Communication

T +49 (0) 89 419 997 553

stolzenburg@goldingcapital.com



PB3C GmbH

Johannes Braun

PR Director Real Assets

T +49 (0) 30 726276 1544

braun@pb3c.com
Procuritas Capital Investors V ("Procuritas"), the private equity investor focused on investing in and growing Nordic mid-market companies, today announced that it has sold Dantherm Group ("Dantherm"), the leading provider of climate control products and solutions, to German private equity fund, DBAG Fund VIII, advised by Deutsche Beteiligungs AG.

Headquartered in Denmark, Dantherm has more than 60 years' experience in designing and manufacturing high quality and energy efficient equipment for heating, cooling, drying, cleaning and ventilation for a wide range of portable and installed applications.

After acquiring the business in 2016, Procuritas invested in Dantherm to enable it to expand the geographical presence, to expand the product range and to take a leading market position in its core businesses in Europe.

Alongside the expansion of the business' sales capabilities, strengthened senior management team and investment in its own manufacturing capacity, Procuritas utilized its extensive value creation expertise and network to partner with the Group to implement an active buy and build strategy. Under Procuritas' ownership, Dantherm acquired close to 20 entities in its core markets of the UK, Italy, Denmark, Germany, France, Poland, Russia, Switzerland and Spain, realizing considerable integration synergies and significantly expanding the group's capabilities and scale, resulting in a more than threefold rise in revenues and EBITDA growth of almost 700%.

Dantherm now operates in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Poland, Russia, France and China, where its strong brands Aerial, Aircenter, BioCool, Calorex, Dantherm, Heylo, Master, SET and Sovelor have well-established market positions. The group's customers benefit from a comprehensive knowledge base and the experience and expertise from more than three million climate control products and solutions sold worldwide.

Hans Wikse, Partner at Procuritas, commented: "We are delighted to have sold Dantherm to DBAG Fund VIII, advised by Deutsche Beteiligungs AG, having received keen interest from several parties. We think it is a great fit for the company and they will have a great future. Dantherm has been a classic buy and build investment for Procuritas and our strategy was implemented following the methodical process we have undertaken with many other investments over the years."

Bjarke Brns, CEO of Dantherm commented: "Over the past six years we have transformed Dantherm to become a market leading provider of selected climate control solutions. Procuritas has been a great partner to work with and their expertise in transforming companies through acquisition and by institutionalizing the business has been a great support as we have grown the Group. We see continued and extended market opportunities within our business and are excited to continue the development of Dantherm in the future with DBAG."

Oskar Lindholm-Wu, Partner at Procuritas, commented: "It has been a pleasure to work with the Dantherm team, putting our passion for building strong sustainable businesses through transformational growth to work. Together, we have achieved remarkable growth, transforming the group into the leader in all its core markets across Europe. We wish Dantherm a prosperous future."

DC Advisory served as M&A advisor, Kromann Reumert as legal advisor and EY as financial due diligence advisor to Procuritas and Dantherm in connection with the transaction.

About Procuritas

Procuritas is a private equity investor, focused on investing in and growing Nordic mid-market companies. With a passion for business, hands-on active ownership approach and more than thirty-year record from a large variety of transactions, it has supported more than 45 companies in accelerating their growth and realizing their true business potential. As owners, Procuritas is characterized by its enthusiasm, commitment, and strong belief that it is an ally in the quest to build strong and sustainable businesses. Read more at www.procuritas.com.

About Dantherm Group

Headquartered in Skive, Denmark, the Dantherm Group is a European leader in portable and installed climate control solutions for a wide range of industries within heating, drying, cooling, cleaning and ventilation. Dantherm has subsidiaries in Norway, Sweden, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Russia and China. In 2016 the Dantherm Group was acquired by Procuritas Capital Investors V LP. Read more at www.danthermgroup.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005375/en/

Contacts:

Hans Wikse

+46 708 61 2377 hans.wikse@procuritas.com

Oskar Lindholm-Wu

+46 706 97 0176 oskar.lindholm-wu@procuritas.com

Media Kepler Communications:

Charlotte Balbirnie

+44 7989 528421 CBalbirnie@keplercomms.com

Caroline Villiers

+44 7808 585184 CVilliers@keplercomms.com
Hunting PLC (LSE: HTG), the international energy services group, today announces that it has invested $5.0 million in Cumberland Additive Holdings LLC, ("CAH") to become a 27% holder in the capital of CAH, following completion of the transaction. The parties have also agreed to certain customary minority rights and obligations in connection with Hunting's equity interest in CAH, including representation on CAH's board of directors.

Headquartered in Pflugerville, Texas, CAH offers engineering design services and production of parts via additive manufacturing in both metals and polymer materials using powder bed fusion technology. CAH holds AS9100D and ITAR accreditations, supporting customers in the aerospace, defense, space, oil and gas and energy sectors who demand strongly quality assured components to operate in high performance environments. CAH currently occupies 30,000 square feet at their Texas location. CAH is in the process of establishing their second location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which will improve supply chain efficiency.

The investment in CAH provides Hunting with access to the fast growing additive manufacturing sector, which is increasingly being adopted by many of the Group's current oil and gas clients, while also providing opportunities for Hunting to enter new sectors complementary to the Group's current customer profile.

Jim Johnson, Chief Executive of Hunting, commented:

"Hunting's investment in CAH is a key part of our strategy to access new manufacturing technologies which are being adopted by our current customers, but also provides new market and customer opportunities in sectors complementary to our core competencies of precision engineering and strongly quality assured products and procedures, including aerospace and defense. The Group was attracted by CAH's materials and process engineering know-how and expertise which we believe will complement our existing engineering and manufacturing leadership in our chosen sectors of focus. We look forward to building a strong collaboration with our existing businesses in the coming years."

Dawne Hickton, Chair and Lead Investor of CAH, added:

"The investment by Hunting will assist CAH in achieving its growth ambitions, while providing new customer opportunities through their global operating footprint

Notes to Editors:

About Additive Manufacturing

Additive Manufacturing (AM) describes processes and technology that build 3D objects by adding material layer by layer using plastics, metals or other suitable materials. AM is particularly efficient for low-volume manufacturing to minimize waste.

Metal additive manufacturing benefits complex designed parts or components where lighter weight is advantageous in the end application and can include automotive, aerospace or medical components.

About Hunting PLC

Hunting PLC is an international energy services provider to the world's leading upstream oil and gas companies. Established in 1874, it is a premium listed public company traded on the London Stock Exchange. The Company maintains a corporate office in Houston and is headquartered in London. As well as the United Kingdom, the Company has operations in China, Indonesia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America.

The Group reports in US dollars across four segments: Hunting Titan, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa ("EMEA") and Asia Pacific.

Hunting PLC's Legal Entity Identifier is 2138008S5FL78ITZRN66.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005098/en/

Contacts:

Hunting PLC

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7321 0123

Jim Johnson, Chief Executive

Bruce Ferguson, Finance Director

Tarryn Riley, Investor Relations

Buchanan

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000

Ben Romney

Chris Judd


LONDON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Body Shop has issued a strong statement following signing an open letter to the Home Secretary led by Cruelty Free International.

The letter calls for action to challenge a potential u turn on the ban on animal testing on cosmetic ingredient following a series of regulatory decisions made by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), with support from the European Commission and ECHA's own Board of Appeal. The decision means that animal testing will be required on a number of widely used cosmetic ingredients and those used in many other types of consumer products.

Chris Davis, Director of Sustainability, Activism & Corporate Communications at The Body Shop, said:

"We are saddened and angered that the UK Government is open to changing a policy that may result in cosmetics ingredients being tested on animals for the first time in 23 years. The Body Shop was the first global beauty brand to fight on this issue and we successfully campaigned to ban animal testing in cosmetics in the UK in 1998 and our commitment to end this unnecessary and cruel practice remains at the heart of our company to this day. We urge the UK government to consider their position and do the right thing."




HELSINKI (dpa-AFX) - Finland's jobless rate declined in July, figures from Statistics Finland showed on Tuesday. The unemployment rate for the 15 to 74 age group fell to 7.1 percent in July from 7.5 percent in the same month last year. In June, jobless rate was 7.6 percent. The number of unemployed persons decreased by 5,000 to 202,000 in July from 206,000 in the last year. The employment rate rose to 74.9 percent in July from 72.6 percent in the same month last year. The number of employed persons grew by 86,000 from a year ago to 2.63 million. On a seasonally adjusted basis, unemployment rate fell to 7.9 percent in July from 8.0 percent in June. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Australian and NZ dollars strengthened against their major counterparts in the Asian session on Tuesday amid rising risk appetite, as U.S. authorities gave full approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine.



The new authorization grant final approval for Pfizer's vaccine in the United States for people aged 16 and older.



Growing cases of Delta variant virus dampened hopes for an early tapering of the Fed's bond buying program.



Market participants have scaled down their expectations that Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech at Jackson Hole this week will indicate a timeline for winding down the Fed's bond-buying program.



Data from Statistics New Zealand showed that New Zealand retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 3.3 percent on quarter in the second quarter of 2021 - accelerating from 2.8 percent in the three months prior.



The total value of retail sales rose 4.0 percent on quarter (NZ$1.1 billion).



The aussie appreciated to 5-day highs of 0.7238 against the greenback, 79.52 against the yen and 1.6225 against the euro, up from its prior lows of 0.7201, 79.01 and 1.6302, respectively. The aussie is seen finding resistance around 0.75 against the greenback, 82.00 against the yen and 1.60 against the euro.



The aussie rebounded to 0.9147 against the loonie, up from a 15-month low of 0.9114 seen at 9 pm ET. On the upside, 0.93 is possibly seen as its next resistance level.



The kiwi firmed to 6-day highs of 0.6943 against the greenback, 76.28 against the yen and 1.6914 against the euro, from its early lows of 0.6879, 75.50 and 1.7064, respectively. The next possible resistance for the kiwi is seen around 0.71 against the greenback, 78.00 against the yen and 1.66 against the euro.



The kiwi edged up to 1.0423 against the aussie, off its early low of 1.0471. Next key resistance for the kiwi is seen around the 1.03 level.



Looking ahead, U.S. new home sales for July will be featured in the New York session.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
24 August 2021

ANANDA DEVELOPMENTS PLC

("Ananda" or the "Company")

Board Change

Ananda announces that Peter Redmond has stepped down as a non-executive Director of the Company with effect from 23 August 2021. Mr Redmond was appointed to the Board of Ananda in June 2019, to represent the interests of URA Holdings plc ("URA") following URA's investment in the Company. Following the May 2021 distribution of URA's interests in Ananda to its shareholders, Mr Redmond has decided to leave the Company to pursue his other business interests.

The Directors of Ananda thank Mr Redmond for his contribution to the Company.

-Ends-

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

ANANDA DEVELOPMENTS PLC

Chief Executive Officer

Melissa Sturgess



Investor Relations

Jeremy Sturgess-Smith +44 (0)7717 573 235

ir@anandadevelopments.com PETERHOUSE CAPITAL LIMITED

Corporate Finance

Mark Anwyl



Corporate Broking

Lucy Williams

Duncan Vasey +44 (0)20 7469 0930

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
SODANKYLA, FINLAND / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2021 / FireFox Gold Corp. ("FireFox" or the "Company") announces the commencement of systematic mechanized exploration on its 100%-controlled Sarvi Project, which adjoins Rupert Resources' Area 1 discovery zone. FireFox geologists began ground geophysics during the winter of 2021, followed immediately by mapping and sampling earlier this summer, and they have now escalated work to include: bottom-of-till (BOT) sampling and excavator trenching at high-priority targets on the newly granted exploration permit.

The expansion of work at Sarvi comes immediately on the heels of two permit issuances by the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes). This level of permit allows mechanized exploration, including drilling. The applications for exploration permits at the Sarvi and Lehto properties were made in November 2019 after preliminary interpretations of regional data and reconnaissance traverses yielded several attractive targets warranting follow-up. The Sarvi permit encompasses 944 hectares and is accessed via all-season secondary roads from the Sodankyla - Kittila highway. The Lehto permit covers approximately 494 hectares and is also accessible by road. There remain several FireFox permit applications surrounding Sarvi, and new reservations farther north tie the area together into a very large holding (See Figure 1: https://bit.ly/3y9tPCj).

Carl Lofberg, FireFox's President and CEO, commented on the significance of the Sarvi Project, "The granting of the exploration permit at Sarvi marks our fourth drill-ready project, and the team is already hard at work confirming and expanding upon several prospects. Sarvi hosts an attractive interaction of multiple episodes of structure with favorable host rocks. We are very excited to deploy our teams with drills and excavators to investigate the several gold and arsenic anomalies we have been developing. We expect to finalize initial targets and commence core drilling at Sarvi by November."

Summary of Sarvi and Lehto Properties

The Sarvi and Lehto properties are key parts of the Company's large Northern Group land package in the eastern succession of the Kittila Suite mafic volcanic rocks. Both properties are subject to the Seuru Option agreement with Magnus Minerals (See Company news release dated August 30, 2018), and FireFox expects to vest in 100% equity under the agreement early in 2022.

In August 2020, FireFox completed a detailed unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV) magnetic survey over the Sarvi Project. Integrating these data with other regional surveys and data from the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), FireFox interpreted several possible NW-SE trending structures intersecting E-W and NE-SE structures that are believed to be older. The youngest major event in this area may be the prolific D3 structures that appear to control much of the gold in the Central Lapland Gold Belt (CLGB), but additional work is required to confirm this. Several gold and arsenic anomalies at Sarvi are related to the northwest trending faults. Similar structural trends have been reported by Rupert Resources across Area 1 and in particular at the Ikkari Discovery, which lies only 5km south of the tenement boundary.

FireFox cautions that proximity to a discovery or mineral resource, does not ensure that mineralization will occur on FireFox's property, and if mineralization does occur, that it will occur in sufficient quantity or grade that would result in an economic extraction scenario.

In early 2021, FireFox augmented the already-extensive magnetics data at Sarvi with a detailed ground magnetic survey on 50-metre line spacing. This detailed approach to magnetics has led to drilling success at the Company's Mustajarvi Gold Project, where the fine-scale magnetic lows have proven to host high-grade vein systems. FireFox geologists believe that detailed ground geophysical surveys play an important role in focusing upcoming BOT sampling, trenching, and diamond drilling where glacially-deposited sediments cover the bedrock.

While FireFox's structural model is evolving, the intersection of D3 or D4 with earlier brittle faulting has led to numerous discoveries in the CLGB. Till sampling and prospecting at Sarvi have already identified gold and arsenic anomalies, most of which are associated with interpreted major faults. Highlights so far include rock chip samples of 1.47 g/t gold and 1.86% copper, and highly anomalous counts of gold micro-nuggets (accompanied by arsenic) in heavy mineral samples and till (See Figure 2: https://bit.ly/3mrCrlG).

This part of the CLGB is nearly unique in the FireFox portfolio as having an association of very high arsenic with gold in mafic volcanic rocks, without the high bismuth and tellurium that occurs at Mustajarvi and other prospects. This is the geochemical signature of the orogenic gold deposits at the Kittila Mine, and the presence of graphite-bearing tuff in both areas is also noteworthy. The abundant mafic lithologies that are mapped at Sarvi, including tholeiitic basalt, are encouraging because these rocks can be excellent hosts of gold mineralization due to how they accommodate deformation and react with mineralizing fluids.

FireFox's fall and winter drill program is to commence in early October. The current plan is to test new targets at Sarvi with a modest sized program starting in November and a second follow-up program in Q1 2022.

Patrick Highsmith, Certified Professional Geologist (AIPG CPG # 11702) and director of the Company, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Highsmith has helped prepare, reviewed, and approves, the technical information in this news release.

About FireFox Gold Corp.

FireFox Gold Corp is listed on the TSX Venture stock exchange under the ticker symbol FFOX. FireFox also trades on the OTCQB Venture Market Exchange in the US under the ticker symbol FFOXF. The Company has been exploring for gold in Finland since 2017 where it holds a project portfolio that includes over 80,000 hectares of prospective ground.

Finland is one of the top mining investment jurisdictions in the world as indicated by its multiple top-10 rankings in recent Fraser Institute Surveys of Mining Companies. Having a strong mining law and long mining tradition, Finland remains underexplored for gold. Recent exploration results in the country have highlighted its prospectivity, and FireFox is proud to have a Finland based CEO and technical team.

For more information, please refer to the Company's website and profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Carl Lofberg"

Chief Executive Officer

CONTACT:

FireFox Gold Corp.

Email: info@firefoxgold.com

Telephone: +1-778-938-1994

Forward Looking Statements

The information herein contains forward looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, the extent of work stoppage and economic impacts that may result from the COVID 19 virus, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry.

Forward-looking statements in this release may include statements regarding: the current and future work program, including the extent and nature of exploration to be conducted in 2020, as well as the planned drilling meterage on the properties described. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, results may vary. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the expectations of FireFox as of the date of dissemination and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking statements and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. FireFox does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

SOURCE: FireFox Gold Corp

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/661049/FireFox-Gold-Commences-Detailed-Exploration-on-Its-Sarvi-Project-Finland
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global medical device packaging market size is expected to reach USD 48.97 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2020 to 2028. The market growth is attributed to the growing demand for medical devices, such as surgical implants and instruments, medical supplies, electro-medical equipment, and in-vitro diagnostic equipment. The increasing aging population that requires advanced medical treatments, coupled with the unhealthy lifestyles of people, has been resulting in the high prevalence of chronic diseases.

Key Insights & Findings:

In terms of material, metal is expected to register the highest growth rate of 7.2% over the forecast period. The aluminum-based boxes, trays, and flexible pouches are prominently used products in the industry and offer an effective barrier against moisture, oxygen, and light

By product, pouches and bags dominated the market with a share of over 35.0% in 2020. This is attributed due to the flexible feature that can accommodate medical devices of various shapes and sizes. Their small size and high product-to-package ratio enable easy storage and handling of medical devices

In terms of application, IVDs are expected to expand at the fastest CAGR from 2020 to 2028 due to the increasing demand for infectious disease diagnostic instruments and reagents. This is due to the high demand for the aforementioned medical devices during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

Europe emerged as the dominant regional market in 2020. This is due to the presence of several medical device producers that manufacture IVD test kits, ventilators, and other diagnostic devices in the countries, such as the U.K. and Germany

Key players in the market are involved in mergers and acquisitions and geographical expansions

Read 136 page market research report, "Medical Device Packaging Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Material (Plastic, Metal), By Product (Pouches & Bags, Boxes), By Application (Equipment & Tools, IVD), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2028', by Grand View Research

These medical device packaging products are manufactured through various technologies, such as heat seal and sterilization, in order to ensure product safety and convenience in use. Furthermore, several other technologies such as seal peal and counterfeit have been utilized by the manufacturers in order to hinder counterfeit and duplicate products in the market. These counterfeit technologies are also used to track the products and offer complete protection against counterfeiting through unique numbering/ serialization.

The medical device packaging industry is concentrated in the developed countries, including the U.S., Germany, the U.K., and China. due to the large production volumes of medical devices in the aforementioned countries. However, the investments in the medical device industry in developing countries, such as India and Brazil, have been growing in recent years, which is expected to benefit the market growth in the coming years.

In vitro diagnostic (IVD) devices witnessed a massive spike in demand in 2020 amid the COVID-19 outbreak. This was due to the amplified demand for infectious disease tests undertaken by countries, such as the U.S., India, China, and the U.K. The countries significantly invested in COVID-19 testing to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The key companies operating in the market are involved in the acquisition of medium and small size companies aiming to expand their product portfolio and increase manufacturing capacity. For instance, in October 2020, CCL Industries signed an agreement to acquire Denmark-based Graphic West International ApS. The acquisition was aimed to expand the capability to serve healthcare customers in Europe and North America.

Grand View Research has segmented the global medical device packaging market on the basis of material, product, application, and region:

Medical Device Packaging Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

Plastic



Paper & Paperboard



Metal



Others

Medical Device Packaging Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

Pouches & Bags



Trays



Boxes



Clamshells



Others

Medical Device Packaging Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

Equipment & Tools



Devices



IVD



Implants

Medical Device Packaging Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

North America



U.S.





Canada





Mexico



Europe



Germany





France





Italy





U.K.





Spain



Asia Pacific



China





Japan





India





Australia



Central & South America



Brazil



Middle East & Africa

&

Saudi Arabia

List of Key Players of Medical Device Packaging Market

Amcor plc

Sonoco Products Company

Mondi

CCL Industries

Constantia Flexibles

WestRock Company

Berry Global Inc.

Glenroy Inc.

SteriPack Group

Riverside Medical Packaging Company Ltd.

Check out more studies related to medical device packaging, conducted by Grand View Research:

Medical Plastics Market - Global medical plastics market size was valued at USD 25.3 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% from 2021 to 2028. Enforcement & upgrading of various infection prevention standards coupled with a growing volume of surgical, hospital, and outpatient procedures are anticipated to drive the market growth.

- Global medical plastics market size was valued at in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% from 2021 to 2028. Enforcement & upgrading of various infection prevention standards coupled with a growing volume of surgical, hospital, and outpatient procedures are anticipated to drive the market growth. Medical Flexible Packaging Market - Global medical flexible packaging market size was valued at USD 15.8 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% from 2021 to 2028. The growing pharmaceutical market in emerging economies and the growth of drug delivery systems are driving the market.

- Global medical flexible packaging market size was valued at in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% from 2021 to 2028. The growing pharmaceutical market in emerging economies and the growth of drug delivery systems are driving the market. Medical Polymers Market - Global medical polymers market size was valued at USD 15.01 billion in 2020. It is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0% from 2021 to 2028. Increasing demand for medical polymers in the manufacturing of medical devices and equipment and medical packaging is expected to drive growth.

Browse through Grand View Research's coverage of the Global Plastics, Polymers & Resins Industry.

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About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

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Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Handelsbanken, a leading Swedish bank claiming the best customer satisfaction in annual survey, will outsource all card personalization processes to IDEMIA.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005389/en/

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To cope with constantly changing global market trends and services, banks need to invest in personalization technologies if they want to meet future challenges and stay one step ahead in the innovation game. IDEMIA, Augmented identity world leader, has been selected by Handelsbanken as outsourcing partner for Handelsbanken's card personalization.

IDEMIA's cutting-edge technology in card personalization will be available for Handelsbanken customers, as well as future online services such as customer on-boarding mobile identity to activate a card or provide secure customer authentication by tapping the card on the phone.

IDEMIA will support Handelsbanken to deliver best-in-class customer service and stay true to their world-class reputation. IDEMIA will start to convert all the bank's embossed cards by adopting the latest 'Lazer-Pro' techniques. With longstanding card manufacturing experience, IDEMIA will be a one-stop shop for all Handelsbanken's current and future card needs.

IDEMIA's Financial Institutions Service Line Vice President, Alex Nolan said: "We're thrilled Handelsbanken have selected us to take care of their card personalization. We will bring them both our in-depth know-how in card manufacturing and personalization as well as our digital services offering

Handelsbanken's Head Development of Payments Kajsa Bohr said: We are pleased that IDEMIA has demonstrated that they can meet our high demands on quality and future proof services and we are looking forward to our cooperation."

About IDEMIA

IDEMIA, the global leader in Augmented Identity, provides a trusted environment enabling citizens and consumers alike to perform their daily critical activities (such as pay, connect and travel), in the physical as well as digital space. Securing our identity has become mission critical in the world we live in today. By standing for Augmented Identity, an identity that ensures privacy and trust and guarantees secure, authenticated and verifiable transactions, we reinvent the way we think, produce, use and protect one of our greatest assets our identity whether for individuals or for objects, whenever and wherever security matters. We provide Augmented Identity for international clients from Financial, Telecom, Identity, Public Security and IoT sectors. With close to 15,000 employees around the world, IDEMIA serves clients in 180 countries.

For more information, visit www.idemia.com Follow @IDEMIAGroup on Twitter

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005389/en/

Contacts:

Press contact

IDEMIA

Hanna Sebbah

idemia@havas.com

+33 (0) 6 63 73 30 30
HIROSHIMA, Japan, Aug 24, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda), Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd. (CA) and China FAW Corporation Limited (FAW), today, have issued the following joint statement.In response to FAW participating in and winning the bid for a capital increase project implemented by Changan Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd. (CMA), a joint venture between Mazda and CA, on the China Beijing Equity Exchange, the three companies agreed that FAW would invest in CMA. Based on this agreement, FAW will make use of the total 60% share it owns in FAW Mazda Motor Sales Co., Ltd. (FMSC) to purchase the new shares.Upon completion of the examination procedures by relevant authorities of the Chinese government in accordance with laws and regulations, CMA will become a new joint venture company (new CMA)1 whose shareholders will be Mazda, CA and FAW. Mazda and CA will each own 47.5 percent of shares while FAW will own 5 percent. New CMA will continue to be responsible for the operations of former CMA and other Mazda-related business. FMSC will also continue to be engaged in Mazda brand vehicle business as a joint venture owned by new CMA and Mazda.With the change in the investment structure, the three companies aim to utilize every strategic and managerial opportunity in the new joint investment company and strive to make its business and management system optimal to adapt to the needs of the expanding Chinese market.(1) Herein, referred to as new CMA for clarity, but the name of the company will remain CMA.Source: MazdaCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
CHONGQING, China, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- iChongqing- The China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on the Digital Economy Industry and the Smart China Expo 2021 (SCE 2021) opened in Chongqing on August 23th. The opening ceremony and main forum were held together with an offline exhibition, while an online exhibition opened the SCE official website.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the China-SCO forum on digital economy and 2021 Smart China Expo, which take place from August 23-25 as a mutual platform to share resources, planning and integration in the smart industry.

Themed with Developing the Digital Economy and Promoting Common Prosperity, the China-SCO Forum also features signing ceremonies for cooperation projects, sub-forums, and themed exhibitions attended by all 18 SCO countries including China.

SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Imamovich Norov stated that the development experience of China in the digital economy and cross-border e-commerce has provided an invaluable model for SCO countries to follow.

Nikolai Snopkov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus addressed the opening ceremony to emphasize his conviction that the 2021 China-SCO Forum will explore new opportunities for regional cooperation.

The Turing Award Winner John Hennessy rounded off a successful grand opening by stating the SCE 2021 will lead us unto a new frontier.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the digital economy has played an ever important role in prevention and control whilst promoting economic and social recovery. As a result, the switch to digital technology has become an urgent goal, and Chongqing has continued to make rapid progress in this field.

Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Singapore, addressed the audience at the opening ceremony online. She emphasized that technology is one of the four pillar sectors in the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative, and a key driver in modern connectivity and services.

Under this context, the 2021 China-SCO forum aims to construct a broader platform for strengthening exchange and cooperation between Chongqing and SCO countries, especially in frontier areas such as the digital economy and artificial intelligence.

The SCE 2021 is continuing on the established theme of Smart Technology: Empowering the Economy and Enriching Life, and holds 6 forums, 5 competitions, over 100 release events, and is attended by over 610 enterprises from 31 countries both on and offline.

In-depth cooperation and exchange is to be held on the theme of economics and trade involving countries and top enterprises along the Belt and Road, while international organizations, sister cities, and industry leaders will actively participate.

Additionally, the event is an ideal platform to present the latest advances in technology and products in the smart industry, thanks a physical exhibition area of 70,000 square meters.

The online exhibition platform features a digital sand table model that guides visitors through a series of immersive and scenario-based experiences, which present the impressive feats achieved in the development of smart technology.

For more information please visit:

https://www.ichongqing.info/special/smart-china-expo-2021/, and https://www.ichongqing.info/special/2021sco/

Contact: Cao Xiangyi

Tel.: 0086-1862-3565-606

E-mail: caoxy@ichongqing.inf

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Furniture on Rent Demand to Skyrocket in U.S. and Canada, Catapulting North America at the Fore of Global Demand

A Fact.MR survey on furniture on rent demand outlook offers detailed analysis on the key growth drivers and trends affecting sales in the market through 2031. The survey also provides insights into the competitive landscape of global furniture on rent market, identifying key market players and analyzing the impact of their growth strategies

NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fact.MR - A Market Research and Competitive Intelligence Provider: The global furniture on rent market is anticipated to grow at 6.8% CAGR between 2021 and 2031.It is estimated that furniture on rent market share will grow 1.9X from 2021 to 2031, surpassing US$ 10 Bn in 2031.The market valued at US$ 5.3 Bn in 2020. Historically, Sales registered at 3.8% CAGR between 2016 and 2020.

Market participants have transformed furniture-on-rent industry, which has received over US$ 100 million in investments from various investor archetypes in 2021. The rental furniture industry grew as living rooms and bedrooms became workplace and millennial consumers showcased greater inclination for 'sit and shop' trends across the world.

According to Huurwoningen, a Dutch house planning firm, the Netherlands has over 3 million rental dwellings, with housing associations accounting for 75% of them. Low-income residents often look for accommodation in these homes.

The Netherlands has therefore emerged as a highly lucrative market for the furniture on rent industry, with low-income groups having a limited budget for purchasing household assets and housing associations preferring to furnish dwellings with low-maintenance household assets.

Request a report sample to gain comprehensive insights at

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Furniture renting has been common in the U.S. and Canada hence both these countries exhibit the presence of several companies offering renting solutions in these countries. Some of the leading players in these markets are CORT, Aaron's LLC, Rent-A-Center, Feather, Brook Furniture Rental, Inc., Fernish, American Furniture Rental, and Fashion Furniture Rental, among others.

In Europe, Germany will emerge as a highly lucrative market backed by the presence of some of the leading brands in cities such as Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich, Heidelberg, Berlin, and Frankfurt.

"With the rising cost of home assets, it is likely that next generation will rely heavily on renting their furniture to save cost of living. In addition, the rising interest of tier-2 city inhabitants in furniture rental is opening up new revenue streams for furniture on rent suppliers," said a Fact.MR analyst.

Key Takeaways from Furniture on Rent Market

The Netherlands is estimated to account for over 30% of overall Europe furniture on rent revenue owing to presence of leading furniture manufacturers and rental providers such as IKEA and JMT International.

is estimated to account for over 30% of overall furniture on rent revenue owing to presence of leading furniture manufacturers and rental providers such as IKEA and JMT International. North America is anticipated to account for over 30% of total market share.

is anticipated to account for over 30% of total market share. By rental model, furniture subscription generated over 3/4 of total revenue in 2020.

By rental cycle, long rental cycles accounts for over 60% of overall furniture on rent revenue.

By user type, commercial users are estimated to account for over 55% of total market share.

By business model, furniture on rent revenue through the buy and rent business model is expected to swell at a CAGR of 7.2%.

Growth Drivers:

Migration of national residents between states and cities is propelling furniture on rent market.

Rising inclination towards affordable furniture alternatives will drive market growth.

To gain in-depth insights of Furniture on Rent Market, request methodology at

https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RM&rep_id=6820

Competitive landscape:

Key players are focusing on investment and various strategies to increase market revenue.

Tech-based start-ups like Credit Suisse, Zinnia Global Fund, CE Ventures, Lightbox, and Great North Labs, the industry is gaining traction and attracting investments from key propellers like Credit Suisse, Zinnia Global Fund, CE Ventures, Lightbox, and Great North Labs. Fulenco, Feather, Inhabitr, and RentoMojo are among players showcasing inclination for investment.

Furlenco secured US$ 140 million in a Series D investment round led by Mauritius -based Zinnia Global Fund, with CE Ventures and Lightbox as the other two investors, in July 2021 .

in a Series D investment round led by -based Zinnia Global Fund, with CE Ventures and Lightbox as the other two investors, in . Rentomojo secured US$ 1.3 million in Series C investment from two returning investors in March 2021 .

in Series C investment from two returning investors in . Feather, a furniture-on-rent company based in the United States , got US$ 30 million in Series B investment from Credit Suisse in August 2020 . Feather has previously raised $46 million in stock and loan funding.

, got in Series B investment from Credit Suisse in . Feather has previously raised in stock and loan funding. RentoMojo secured US$ 2.9 million in a Series C investment round from Pratithi Investment Trust in June 2020 .

Key players operating in the furniture on rent market include

CORT

JMT International

Aaron's, LLC

Rent-A-Center

Thomas Rentals

Feather

Brook Furniture Rental, Inc.

IKEA

Fernish

Lyght Living furniture leasing GmbH & Co. KG

American Furniture Rental

Fashion Furniture Rental

Charter Furniture Rental

Furniture Rentals

Custom Furniture Rental

The Attic

Furlenco

CityFurnish

Inhabitr

Fabrento

Others

More Insights on Furniture on Rent Market:

Fact.MR provides an unbiased analysis of furniture on rent market, presenting historical demand data (2016-2020) and forecast statistics for the period from 2021-2031. The study divulges compelling insights on the furniture on rent market with a detailed segmentation on the basis of:

Rental Model

Individual Furniture

Living Room Furniture



Bedroom Furniture



Dining Room Furniture



Other Furniture Categories

Furniture Subscription

Rental Cycle

Short Cycle Furniture on Rent

Day-based Furniture on Rent



Monthly Furniture on Rent



Quarterly Furniture on Rent



Bi-Annually Furniture on Rent



Annually Furniture on Rent

Long Cycle Furniture on Rent

18 Months Furniture on Rent



2 Years Furniture on Rent



2.5 Year Furniture on Rent



3 Years Furniture on Rent



More than 3 Years Furniture on Rent

Custom Cycle Furniture on Rent

User Type

Furniture on Rent for Residential Users

Furniture on Rent for Commercial Users

Corporate Users



Hotels and Restaurants



Educational Institutions



Other Commercial Users

Furniture on Rent for Occasion-based Users

Business Model

Buy and Rent



Rental Intermediates



Manufacture and Rent

Key Questions Covered in the Global Furniture on Rent Market Report

The report offers insight into furniture on rent demand outlook for 2021-2031

The market study also highlights projected sales growth of furniture on rent market between 2021 and 2031

Furniture on rent sales survey identifies key growth drivers, restraints, and other forces impacting prevailing trends and evaluation of current market size and forecast and technological advancements within the industry

Furniture on rent market share analysis of the key companies within the industry and coverage of strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations or partnerships, and others

Explore Fact.MR's Coverage on the Consumer Goods Domain -

Home Furniture Market- One of the key elements driving up demand for premium quality home furniture is a growing emphasis on adorning living spaces with imaginative furniture. Furthermore, the market is benefiting from the use of smart sensing technology in furniture, as well as more comfortable designs. The global market for home furniture is expected to rise significantly as a result of the aforementioned trends and increased offers. Multi-purpose home furniture are becoming increasingly popular, especially among private buyers. Couch cum beds, water-driven beds, foldable tables, and other multi-purpose furniture are examples.

Office Furniture Market- Small, medium-sized enterprises and commercial infrastructures require a lot of office furniture. The office furniture market is highly fragmented, and manufacturers' efforts to organize the industry have steadfastly supported the global supply chain. As a result, consumers are exposed to a wide choice of office furniture from which to pick, whether in a physical store or online. The ergonomics of workplace furniture have evolved significantly in recent years. During the forecast period, rising awareness of the possible health risks associated with poor posture is expected to enhance demand for ergonomic office chairs.

Kids Furniture Market- The demand for kid's furniture is predicted to rise as real estate prices rise in tandem with rising buying power. There is a surge in demand for furniture that can store clothes, books, toys, and other items in a space-saving manner. The growing preference for efficient and dedicated, themed places for kids in the shape of nurseries, playrooms, and study rooms is driving up demand for kids furniture. New tactics for constructing end-to-end home infrastructures are being adopted by housing contractors. One of the main trends pointing to growth potential is the installation of necessary and visually appealing kid's furniture by housing contractors.

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FRISCO, Texas, Aug. 24, 2021, a leading provider of cloud-enabled, AI-optimized assurance, analytics, and automation software that monitors and manages the performance of critical networks and services for many of the world's largest service providers and enterprises, announced today that EWE TEL GmbH has selected Assure1 - Federos' flagship Unified Service Assurance solution - to transform their network operations with a focus on improving operational efficiency and providing high quality services.



EWE TEL offers high-speed internet, mobile and landline telephone services, online TV, and corporate and computing center services in Germany. It is a subsidiary of the Oldenburg-based energy and telecommunications group EWE AG.

Assure1 combines fault, performance, topology, and service management into a single, unified platform, which will allow EWE TEL to detect incidents promptly and proactively across all network domains, solve service issues faster, and increase customer satisfaction.

"We selected Assure1 from Federos to leverage the solution's real-time intelligence to understand and address any degradation of service before it impacts our customers. Our teams will be able to better understand network activities and service status in real-time so appropriate actions can be taken quickly," said Mitja Thomas, project manager for the modernization of the OSS stack, EWE TEL. "With Assure1's end-to-end, cross-domain view of the entire network, we expect to improve our MTTI/MTTR, which is crucial to providing outstanding customer experience."

"We are honored to have EWE TEL select Federos to streamline its network operations environment," said Keith Buckley, CEO, Federos. "We look forward to helping EWE TEL realize the benefits of Assure1, and are confident its new actionable intelligence will help them to simplify and transform their network operations."

About Federos

Federos is a leading provider of cloud-enabled, AI-optimized assurance, analytics, and automation software that monitors and manages the performance of critical networks and services.

Our solutions ensure the delivery of digital services that businesses rely on. They accomplish this by observing, analyzing, and acting on incidents that can cause widespread outages, SLA violations, and customer churn.

Our customers are global Communications Service Providers (CSPs), Managed Service Providers (MSPs), and other enterprises with complex and large-scale networks. We help them simplify, automate, and transform their operations to reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, and deliver exceptional customer service.

For more information on Federos, visit: https://www.federos.com

About EWE

EWE is an innovative service provider active in the business areas of energy, telecommunications and information technology. With over 9,100 employees and sales of EUR 5.6 billion in 2020, EWE is one of the largest utility companies in Germany. The company, based in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, is primarily owned by the local government. It provides electricity to around 1.4 million customers in northwest Germany, Brandenburg and on the island of Rugen, as well as parts of Poland, and supplies natural gas to almost 0.7 million customers. It also provides approximately 0.7 million customers with telecommunications services. EWE plays a pioneering role in the areas of climate protection and digital participation. To this end, the Group will invest over one billion euros in the expansion of the fibre-optic infrastructure in the coming years and four billion euros in the erection of new wind turbines. It is also a leader in the development of hydrogen infrastructure. More information on EWE can be found at https://www.ewe.com/en/.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2021 / Sativa Wellness Group Inc. (CSE:SWEL) ("Sativa Wellness" or the "Company") is pleased to announce today that it has signed a distribution agreement with German partners Lexamed GMBH ("Lexamed"). This exclusive agreement will allow both parties to work together to build the Goodbody CBD brand within Germany with plans to expand this to other European countries in the future. The German market has a strong CBD market, and this is a great opportunity for both companies. The existing Goodbody range will be offered through a number of channels in Germany and the companies will also work together to develop new products for the European market in conjunction with Sativa Wellness's polish extraction and manufacturing facility.

Sativa Group Limited and Lexamed currently share ownership of a joint venture company, Sativa GMBH. As part of this agreement the Company will transfer full ownership of Sativa GMBH to Lexamed and Sativa GMBH will be renamed as Lexalife GMBH ("Lexalife"). Lexalife will act as the distribution partner in Germany for Goodbody Botanicals Limited, Sativa's CBD production and distribution subsidiary.

Geremy Thomas, Executive Chairman, says; "We are really excited about this new development with an existing partner which opens up so many opportunities and helps Sativa to deliver its strategic plan of increasing our footprint in Europe."

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Marc Howells Chief Executive Officer Sativa Wellness Group Inc. +44 (0) 20 7971 1255 enquiries@sativawellnessgroup.com www.sativawellnessgroup.com Anne Tew Chief Financial Officer Sativa Wellness Group Inc. +44 (0) 20 7971 1255 enquiries@sativawellnessgroup.com www.sativawellnessgroup.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains certain 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Sativa's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'plans', 'expects' or 'does not expect', 'is expected', 'budget', 'scheduled', 'estimates', 'forecasts', 'intends', 'anticipates' or 'does not anticipate', or 'believes' 'plan is' or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might' or 'will be taken', 'will continue', 'will occur', 'will be achieved' or 'shortly'. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to the existing Goodbody range will be offered through a number of channels in Germany and the companies will also work together to develop new products for the European market in conjunction with Sativa Wellness's polish extraction and manufacturing facility and that Sativa GMBH will transfer fully to Lexamed and be renamed as Lexalife GMBH, to act as the distribution partner in Germany for Goodbody Botanicals Limited.

Although Sativa believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this press release, and include but are not limited to the existing Goodbody range will be offered through a number of channels in Germany and the companies will also work together to develop new products for the European market in conjunction with Sativa Wellness's polish extraction and manufacturing facility and that Sativa GMBH will transfer fully to Lexamed and be renamed as Lexalife and this will open up so many opportunities and helps Sativa to deliver its strategic plan of increasing our footprint in Europe. Sativa does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Sativa Wellness Group Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/661022/Sativa-Wellness-Group-Announces-German-Distribution-Agreement-for-Goodbody-Brand
The training, conducted by Fluence, represents a best-in-class approach for psychotherapy that will accompany the administration of psilocybin for overeating disorders

San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - August 24, 2021) - Tryp Therapeutics (CSE: TRYP) (OTCQB: TRYPF) ("Tryp" or the "Company"), a pharmaceutical company focused on developing psilocybin-based compounds for diseases with unmet medical needs, announced today it has completed the training of psychotherapists for its upcoming Phase 2a clinical trial using synthetic psilocybin in combination with psychotherapy for overeating disorders. The training was conducted by Fluence, which is led by researchers and psychotherapists with direct experience in psychedelic clinical trials and is the foremost provider of psychotherapeutic training for health professionals that are administering psychedelic compounds to patients.

Tryp believes that both pharmaceutical and psychological processes will play a synergistic role to determine outcomes for TRP-8802, an oral formulation of synthetic psilocybin. Psychotherapy is an integral part of Tryp's novel treatment methods to create the proper mindset for the neuroplasticity benefits of psilocybin to take full effect. Participants will undergo preparatory psychotherapy sessions with trained therapists leading to two dosing sessions in the upcoming Phase 2a clinical trial for eating disorders, conducted at the University of Florida with Jennifer Miller, M.D. Following the administration of the drug, patients will also benefit from multiple integration sessions with the therapists.

Commenting on the recent psychotherapy training, Jesse Dallery, Ph.D., Director of the Behavioral Health and Technology Research Clinic and professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Florida, said, "Establishing definitive guidelines and training for the psychotherapy portion of psychedelic therapies is essential to minimizing variability and optimizing the patient experience. I was thoroughly impressed with the rigor and scientific basis of the training provided by Fluence for our upcoming study with Tryp Therapeutics and look forward to initiating our work with patients later this year."

Tryp Therapeutics, Fluence and the University of Florida have collaborated to create a comprehensive training manual for the psychotherapy portion of Tryp's psychedelic treatment regimen that will be adapted for subsequent clinical trials in fibromyalgia and other chronic pain indications.

"We continue to be amazed by the complexity of neural networks and the array of biological and behavioral factors that influence the healthy functioning of the brain and body," said Jim Gilligan, Ph.D., President and Chief Science Officer of Tryp Therapeutics. "Our partners at the University of Florida have shown tremendous commitment to the effective administration of psychotherapy for our upcoming Phase 2a clinical trial, and Fluence continues to be an exceptional partner for the design and implementation of this important component of our therapies. The completion of this psychotherapy training marks a significant milestone for Tryp, as it remains an integral part of our novel treatment."

About Tryp Therapeutics

Tryp Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company focused on developing psilocybin-based compounds for the treatment of diseases with unmet medical needs through accelerated regulatory pathways. Tryp's Psilocybin-For-Neuropsychiatric Disorders (PFN) program is focused on the development of synthetic psilocybin as a new class of drug for the treatment of chronic pain and other indications. The Company has announced upcoming Phase 2a clinical trials with the University of Michigan and the University of Florida to evaluate its drug products for fibromyalgia and overeating disorders, respectively. Tryp is also developing a proprietary psilocybin-based product, TRP-8803, that uses a novel formulation and method of delivery to improve the patient experience. For more information, please visit www.tryptherapeutics.com.

Investor Inquiries:

Joe Green

Edison International

investors@tryptherapeutics.com

Media Inquiries:

Joy Willis

Tryp Therapeutics

media@tryptherapeutics.com

1-833-811-8797

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking information. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "targets," "expects" or "does not expect," "is expected," "an opportunity exists," "is positioned," "estimates," "intends," "assumes," "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes," or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might," "will" or "will be taken," "occur" or "be achieved." In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events.



Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Tryp as of the date of this news release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to the factors described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of Tryp's final prospectus available at www.sedar.com. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect Tryp; however, these factors should be considered carefully. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Tryp expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94046
Highlights:

Company to immediately commence trading under its new U.S. ticker symbol, "VIBEF"

Vibe Growth also announces application for uplisting to OTCQX

Sacramento, California--(Newsfile Corp. - August 24, 2021) - Vibe Growth Corporation (CSE: VIBE) (OTC PINK: VIBEF) (FSE: A061) ("Vibe" or the "Company"), a leading vertically integrated California cannabis enterprise, is pleased to announce that effective today, the Company will commence trading on the OTC Pink market under its new ticker symbol, "VIBEF". The Company will continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under its symbol "VIBE" as well as on the Frankfurt Exchange under its symbol "A061". Additionally, the Company announces that it is applying for the listing of its common shares on the OTCQX Best Market ("OTCQX"), a U.S. trading platform operated by the OTC Markets Group in New York. The Company will provide further updates once they become available.

The OTCQX is the platform's premier marketplace for companies already listed on a qualified international stock exchange and enables global companies to provide a high-quality trading and information experience for their U.S. investors. The OTCQX quality standards provide a strong baseline of transparency as well as the technology and regulation to improve the information and trading experience for investors. The Company believes that trading on the OTCQX will provide additional liquidity and increase its visibility within the U.S. capital markets.

Vibe CEO Mark Waldron stated, "We have had significant interest from U.S.-based investors in gaining exposure to the growth potential of the cannabis market and in particular, California, the world's largest cannabis market. Listing on the OTCQX will allow us to engage new investors and expand our shareholder base, allowing U.S. investors to more easily invest in our Company."

About Vibe Growth Corporation

Vibe Growth Corporation and its cannabis retail brand, Vibe By California, is a trusted, California focused, multistate (MSO) cannabis enterprise with retail dispensaries; cannabis greenhouse cultivation; premium indoor cultivation; commercial cannabis distribution; brand sales and marketing; e-commerce platform; home delivery; and Hype Cannabis Co. marijuana and Vibe CBD products. In California, Vibe is focused on maximizing shareholder value through accelerating organic growth, opportunistic acquisitions, distressed workouts, and new license applications. The Company operates retail and e-commerce under its iconic Vibe by California brand.

To learn more about Vibe, please visit: www.vibebycalifornia.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Product & Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the parties' current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events, and may be impacted as a result of general economic conditions or the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the Company's expectations of revenue, EBITDA profitability and adjusted funds flow, higher sales volumes, and the company's retail operations. Actual future results may differ materially.

The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the parties are not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Risk factors related to the Company are described in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any State securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. securities laws.

Unlike in Canada which has Federal legislation uniformly governing the cultivation, distribution, sale, and possession of medical cannabis under the Cannabis Act (Federal), readers are cautioned that in the U.S., cannabis is largely regulated at the State level. To the knowledge of Vibe Growth Corporation, there are to date a total of 33 states, plus the District of Columbia, that have legalized cannabis in some form. Notwithstanding the permissive regulatory environment of medical cannabis at the State level, cannabis continues to be categorized as a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act in the U.S. and as such, cannabis-related practices or activities, including without limitation, the manufacture, importation, possession, use or distribution of cannabis are illegal under U.S. federal law. Strict compliance with state laws concerning cannabis will neither absolve Vibe of liability under the U.S. Federal law nor will it provide a defense to any Federal proceeding, which may be brought against Vibe Growth Corporation. Any such proceedings brought against Vibe may adversely affect its operations and financial performance.

Company Contact

Bill Mitoulas

Phone: +1 416.479.9547

Email: ir@vibebycalifornia.com

Website: www.vibebycalifornia.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94189
ZUG, Switzerland, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bitcoin Association, the Switzerland-based global industry organisation that works to advance business with the Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain and digital currency, has today announced the three finalists for the 4th Bitcoin SV Hackathon who will compete for a USD $100,000 prize pool (paid in BSV) at CoinGeek New York, October 5-7, 2021.

Bitcoin SV Hackathons are global coding competitions designed to challenge developers to learn about the technical and scaling power of Bitcoin's original protocol, as well as innovate on the fly. Within a set time period, participants - either as individuals or as part of a team - are tasked with developing an application on the BSV blockchain within the parameters of an overarching theme announced at the start of the competition.

The theme for this iteration of the competition is 'peer-to-peer' applications - not just payments, but any type of application that involves direct interaction between participants on the Bitcoin network. Entrants are tasked with leveraging the recently released SPV Channels service as part of their application to facilitate communication across the network, as well as interacting with the Bitcoin network directly via the Merchant API (mAPI). Both SPV Channels and mAPI are tools uniquely offered on the BSV network.

After announcing a shortlist of six semi-final entries last week, the judging panel has confirmed that the three entries progressing to the final round are:

- Bitcoin Phone - an app for broadcasting voice data over the Bitcoin network that leverages the non-finality of nSequence to enable close to real-time data streaming.

[Joe Thomas - Canada]

- CATN8 - a micropayment-enabled online video platform with a full peer-to-peer SPV wallet implementation.

[Marcel Gruber - Canada; Dave Foderick - United States; Thor]

- TKS Pnt - a point tokenisation system for use by merchants and their customers.

[Meta Taro - Japan]

The three finalists are invited to each send a member of their team to present their projects at the upcoming CoinGeek New York conference, October 5 - 7 (or can present virtually). The Hackathon final round presentations will be on Day 1 (October 5) of the conference, with winners announced on Day 3 (October 7). The finalists will compete for a share of a USD $100,000 prize pool, paid in BSV - $50,000 for 1st place, $30,000 for 2nd, and $20,000 for 3rd.

Final placings will be determined by a combination of a final round judging panel and audience voting. To watch the final round presentations and have your say in who goes home with first prize and $50,000 in BSV, register to attend CoinGeek New York in-person or online at coingeekconference.com.

Commenting on today's announcement, Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen said:

"The peer-to-peer nature of Bitcoin's original design is one of its most important features to efficiently enable scaling to high transaction volumes, yet is all-too-often overlooked by developers and commentators who retconned BTC into a digital store of value which is not used for daily activity. That is precisely why we chose to make peer-to-peer functionality an integral component for all entries in this year's Bitcoin SV Hackathon - and with impressive results. The final three entries each have a unique take on what unique functionalities can be achieved with a peer-to-peer distributed payment and data network, which is sure to make for a fascinating final contest at CoinGeek New York in October."

Also commenting, nChain CTO Steve Shadders said:

"Participants in our Bitcoin SV Hackathons have never failed to impress, and this year has been no exception. Working with SPV Channels - a brand new feature set and one entirely unique to the Bitcoin SV network - and other direct peer communications mechanisms, each of our finalists have demonstrated just how broad the capabilities of this new technology are. Starting with a blank slate is no easy task, which makes the standard of entry from each of our three finalists all the more impressive, any of whom would make for a deserving winner in October at CoinGeek New York."

About Bitcoin Association

Bitcoin Association is the Switzerland-based global industry organisation that works to advance business on the Bitcoin SV blockchain. It brings together essential components of the Bitcoin SV ecosystem - enterprises, start-up ventures, developers, merchants, exchanges, service providers, blockchain transaction processors (miners), and others - working alongside them, as well as in a representative capacity, to drive further use of the Bitcoin SV blockchain and uptake of the BSV digital currency.

The Association works to build a regulation-friendly ecosystem that fosters lawful conduct while facilitating innovation using all aspects of Bitcoin technology. More than a digital currency and blockchain, Bitcoin is also a network protocol; just like Internet protocol, it is the foundational rule set for an entire data network. The Association supports use of the original Bitcoin protocol to operate the world's single blockchain on Bitcoin SV.
Provider of SmartHub Customer Data Platform hires Europe and APAC executives and launches data hosting in Europe

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blueshift , the leading AI-Powered Customer Data Platform, today announced the expansion of its SmartHub Customer Data Platform (CDP) in Europe and Asia Pacific (APAC) regions, adding to its proven success in North America. The company appointed two highly experienced executives, Stuart Gordon and Sumit Ramchandani to lead the expansion into Europe and Asia-Pacific (APAC) respectively. Additionally, Blueshift is launching an option for customers to host their data on European soil, further enabling customers to be compliant with the evolving privacy and security frameworks. The expansion to these new regions comes on the heels of Blueshift's $30M Series C financing round earlier this year.

Blueshift's SmartHub CDP has been adopted by leading global brands including LendingTree, Discovery Inc., Udacity, and BBC among others, and has been shown to deliver 781 percent ROI in a recent study conducted by Forrester Research. Blueshift was recently named among the fastest-growing companies on Deloitte's Fast 500 Technology Awards , which lists the fastest growing technology companies in North America. Blueshift has been recognized as a leader in the CDP and Marketing Automation categories by G2.com.

Based in London, Gordon will oversee Blueshift's expansion efforts in the UK and Europe. He previously held leadership positions at iAdvize, Koomo, and Certona. Enabling European brands to activate their customer data with confidence, Blueshift is also announcing that new customers will have the option of hosting their data in Europe.

Ramchandani, who will spearhead Blueshift's APAC expansion efforts, will be based in Singapore. Prior to joining Blueshift, Ramchandani was the CEO at Air Asia Media, and previously held leadership roles at Leo Burnett, Ebay, and Macy's.

Blueshift currently works with several fast-growing companies in the Europe and APAC regions, including Discovery Inc, Paypal, Groupon, and many others. In a recent conversation with Gordon , on the topic of using customer data to drive higher engagement, Fredrik Salzedo, the Director of Retention at Discovery said, "Blueshift has increased our show-to-show engagement by 3X by personalizing the content at a 1:1 level."

"As brands across the world are experiencing an increased urgency towards digital transformation, we saw a great opportunity to introduce the SmartHub CDP to the Europe and Asia Pacific regions," said Blueshift's Co-Founder & CEO, Vijay Chittoor. "The deep expertise and impressive track records Stuart and Sumit bring to Blueshift align perfectly with our mission, and we are excited to have them come aboard at this time of explosive growth."

About Blueshift

San Francisco-based Blueshift helps brands deliver relevant, connected experiences across every customer interaction. The Blueshift SmartHub CDP uses patented AI technology to unify, inform, and activate the fullness of customer data across all channels and applications. Through unified data, omnichannel orchestration, intelligent decisioning, and unmatched scale, Blueshift gives brands all the tools they need to seamlessly deliver 1:1 experiences in real-time across the entire customer journey.

The company is backed by leading venture capital investors, including Fort Ross Ventures, Avatar Growth Capital, SoftBank Ventures Asia, Storm Venture Partners, and Nexus Venture Partners. For more information visit blueshift.com .

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1600265/Stuart_Gordon.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1600266/Sumit_Ramchandani.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/844872/Blueshift_Logo.jpg
The Beaufor Mine technical report shows an estimated Measured Mineral Resource of 328,500 tonnes grading at 5.7 g/t Au for a total of 59,900 ounces of gold and an estimated Indicated Mineral Resource of 956,400 tonnes grading at 5.2 g/t Au for a total of 159,300 ounces, a significant increase compared to the previous mineral resource estimate (see press release dated January 28, 2021 ).

Inferred resource estimated at 818,900 tonnes grading 4.7 g/t Au for a total of 122,500 ounces, a 307% increase (+92,400 ounces) versus the resource estimate announced in January 2021.

Mineral resource estimate (MRE) developed for an underground scenario using cut-off grades of 2.8 g/t Au (>=45 degree dip) and 3.2 g/t Au (<45 degree dip). The cut-off grades were calculated using a gold price of US$1,550 per ounce.

The new MRE includes 166 mineralized zones with a minimum true thickness of 2.4 m.

Compared to the previous MRE, the new MRE incorporates a part of the 2020?2021 drill results (+ 5,066.6 m of drilling in 22 surface diamond drillholes (DDH), and + 12,729.3 m in 131 underground DDH) and uses a block modelling methodology with the interpretation and 3D modelling of 166 mineralized zones. In the previous MRE, the mineral resource was estimated using the polygonal methodology in 2D with a total of 63 mineralized zones.

Approximately 24,700 metres of the ongoing 42,500-metre diamond drilling program are not included in the current MRE.

MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2021 / MONARCH MINING CORPORATION ('Monarch' or the 'Corporation') (TSX:GBAR) (OTCQX:GBARF) announces that it has filed on SEDAR a National Instrument 43-101 technical report for its Beaufor Mine project. Monarch published a press release on July 28, 2021 (see press release), which summarized the assumptions and key results contained in the technical report. There are no material differences between the assumptions and estimates contained in Monarch's press release dated July 28, 2021, pertaining to this property, from those contained in the technical report that was filed today, and which is available on Monarch's website (see technical report).

The technical and scientific content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Christian Tessier, P.Geo., the Corporation's qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.

About Monarch

Monarch Mining Corporation (TSX:GBAR) is a fully integrated mining company that owns four advanced projects, including the fully permitted past-producing Beaufor Mine, which has produced more than 1 million ounces of gold over the last 30 years. Other advanced assets include the Croinor Gold, McKenzie Break and Swanson properties, all located near Monarch's wholly owned and fully permitted Beacon 750 tpd mill. Monarch owns 28,702 hectares (287 km2) of mining assets in the prolific Abitibi mining camp that host 714,982 ounces of combined measured and indicated gold resources and 421,793 ounces of combined inferred resources.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements in this press release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Monarch's actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied therein. Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jean-Marc Lacoste, 1-888-994-4465|

President and Chief Executive Officer, jm.lacoste@monarchmining.com

Mathieu Seguin, 1-888-994-4465

Vice President, Corporate Development, m.seguin@monarchmining.com

Elisabeth Tremblay, 1-888-994-4465

Senior Geologist - Communications Specialist, e.tremblay@monarchmining.com

www.monarchmining.com

Table 1: Monarch combined gold resources

Tonnes

(metric) Grade

(g/t Au) Ounces Beaufor Mine1 Measured Resources 328,500 5.7 59,900 Indicated Resources 956,400 5.2 159,300 Total Measured and Indicated 1,284,900 5.3 219,200 Total Inferred 818,900 4.7 122,500 Croinor Gold2 Measured Resources 80,100 8.44 21,700 Indicated Resources 724,500 9.20 214,300 Total Measured and Indicated 804,600 9.12 236,000 Total Inferred 160,800 7.42 38,400 McKenzie Break3 In-pit Total Indicated 1,441,377 1.80 83,305 Total Inferred 2,243,562 1.44 104,038 Underground Total Indicated 387,720 5.03 62,677 Total Inferred 1,083,503 4.21 146,555 Swanson4 In-pit Total Indicated 1,864,000 1.76 105,400 Total Inferred 29,000 2.46 2,300 Underground Total Indicated 91,000 2.86 8,400 Total Inferred 87,000 2.87 8,000 TOTAL COMBINED5 Measured and Indicated Resources Inferred Resources 714,982 421,793 1 Source: Mineral Resource Estimate of the Beaufor Mine Project, July 23, 2021, Val-d'Or, Quebec, Canada, Charlotte Athurion, P. Geo., Clovis Auger, P. Geo. and Dario Evangelista P. Eng., BBA Inc. 2 Source: Monarch Gold prefeasibility study (January 19, 2018) and resource estimate (January 8, 2016). This resource estimate was prepared for Monarch Gold and has not been reviewed by a qualified person for Monarch Mining as required under National Instrument 43-101 and is thus considered as an historical estimate. 3 Source: NI 43-101 Technical Evaluation Report on the McKenzie Break Property, February 1, 2021, Val-d'Or, Quebec, Canada, Alain-Jean Beauregard, P.Geo., Daniel Gaudreault, P.Eng., Geologica Groupe-Conseil Inc., and Merouane Rachidi, P.Geo., Claude Duplessis, P.Eng., GoldMinds GeoServices Inc. 4 Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Swanson Project, January 22, 2021, Val-d'Or, Quebec, Canada, Christine Beausoleil, P. Geo. and Alain Carrier, P. Geo., InnovExplo Inc. 5 Numbers may not add up due to rounding.

SOURCE: Monarch Mining Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/660915/Monarch-Mining-Files-a-Technical-Report-for-Its-Beaufor-Mine-Project
Ralphs Grocery Company Is A Division Of The Kroger Company Based In Cincinnati , Ohio; Kroger Is The Largest General Grocery Retailer In The US

WATERLOO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2021 / SponsorsOne Inc., (CSE:SPO) (Frankfurt:5SO), (OTC PINK:SPONF), a company that utilizes its proprietary platform that combines digital marketing, wholesale and retail distribution, branding, and operational & funding capital, giving it a competitive first-mover advantage in rapidly growing its proprietary brands focused in the Alcohol, Functional Beverage and Hemp Sectors, is pleased to announce that Doc Wylder's has been authorized by Ralphs in Southern California. The product for the initial orders is currently in production in Southern California.

Myles Bartholomew, CEO of SponsorsOne, said: "The largest retailers in the USA are beginning to carry Doc Wylder's; this is a testament to the quality of the product. Drinking less but drinking better is a long-term trend that has been shaping the spirits industry for the last ten years, and it has been amplified and accelerated as people looked to trade up as a way of treating themselves. We expect outdoor socializing to be big as the world begins to open up again. As such, the appreciation for premium is also trickling into other drinks categories, particularly in the ready-to-drink (RTD) space. The demand for Doc Wylder's is growing daily."

IWSR1 notes: "RTD innovation has been driven by consumer-centric, as opposed to product-centric, trends, allowing the category to expand its appeal and gain a robust relevance in a variety of consumption occasions. Principally, brands have capitalized on the health and wellness movement by creating iterations that are low in sugar and alcohol and contain natural or organic ingredients." Doc Wylder's capitalizes on this trend with no sugar, gluten-free, and only one carb, combined with premium craft alcohol: vodka, tequila and bourbon.

Ralphs Grocery Company operates a supermarket chain in California. The Company operates 465 'Ralphs' stores in the Southern and Northern regions of California and the Midwest. Ralphs also operates 800 food and drug stores in 11 states through its Fred Meyer, Inc. subsidiary.

Ralphs is a subsidiary of Kroger, which has nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states under two dozen banners and annual sales of more than $132.5 billion; Kroger today ranks as one of the world's largest retailers.

For more information on Doc Wyler's, go to www.docwylders.com

1 https://www.theiwsr.com/wp-content/uploads/IWSR-Global-Alcohol-Forecasts-Press-Release-June-2021_Final.pdf

About SponsorsOne Inc.

SponsorsOne is the leader in the next evolution of brand creation and digital marketing through influencer marketing, storytelling, and digital-commerce with the SponsorCoin platform and its highly scalable - smart contract-based digital currency. Combined, this allows the brands to build and manage exclusive and highly engaged communities of influencers (from pro to micro-influencers) within the social realm. The SponsorCoin platform provides data-driven marketing campaigns that will change the way brands connect with their customers. SponsorCoin is a tool for brands to inspire real movements around their products and services. Their most valuable customers become their best salespeople, producing far higher ROI than current social media advertising methods. SponsorsOne, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SponsorsOne Media Inc., provides full creative and Brand building/management services to all our Brands and manages the influencer communities for each Brand. For making the Brand big, our wholly-owned subsidiary S1 Brands Inc., builds wholesale/retail distribution channels for the Brand, acting as a master distributor. S1 Brands provides sales and marketing on behalf of the Brand to its vast network of national wholesalers and retailers and provides purchase order financing to assist the Brand in fulfilling every order. Premier Beverage Consortium LLC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary and is brand building for the global spirits market with its flagship 'Ready to Drink' product called Doc Wylder's. Ownership of the Brand combined with distribution, digital marketing innovation, and capital is the winning formula to build the next billion-dollar Brand. To learn more, please visit www.sponsorsone.com

Contact: info@sponsorsone.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Gary Bartholomew, Executive Chairman

The Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this Press Release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Company's current expectations. When used in this news release, the words "estimate," "project," "belief," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "plan," "predict," "may," or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology, are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company with respect to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks:

 risks associated with marketing and sale of securities

 the need for additional financing requirements and access to capital, reliance on key personnel

 the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers or directors with certain other projects

 the volatility of the volume and price of the Common Shares, the failure of the business strategy, the integrity of the Company's patents and proprietary intellectual property and competition.

The Company cautions that the foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors, and other uncertainties and potential events, including the risk factors, set out in the Company's Listing Statement. The Company has assumed a certain progression, which may not be realized. It has also assumed that the material factors referred to above will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS NEWS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE SECURITIES LEGISLATION.

SOURCE: SponsorsOne Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/661107/SponsorsOne-Announces-Its-Doc-Wylders-Alcohol-Infused-RTD-Ready-to-Drink-Lemonades-Will-Be-Carried-By-Krogers-Subsidiary-Ralphs-In-California
Macrae, a premier transatlantic legal search firm that places partners and groups at the world's leading law firms, is pleased to share the news that Lawdragon has recognized six recruiters as 2021 Global 100 Leaders in Legal Strategy Consulting. The partners featured in the publisher's annual guide to the "cream of the crop" advisors to law firms include Lauren Drake, Natasha Innocenti, Joe Macrae, Jane Sullivan Roberts, Andy Russell, and Melinda Wallman. Russell appears on the list for the first time, while his colleagues are repeat honorees.

The Lawdragon accolades come amid another banner year for Macrae. The firm has achieved many of the largest lateral partner deals in its history and handled a record number of new office openings for Am Law 50 and UK 20 firms. Revenue for the first half of 2021 is more than double that of the same period last year, with the firm on track to continue the trend through the rest of the year making 2021 the second year in a row the firm has grown at this clip.

"It's an honor for Macrae to have such a significant presence on the Lawdragon 100, and even more so that these talented recruiters represent each of our geographic markets," said CEO Carter Brown. "Our goal when we began executing our strategic expansion plan in 2017 was to create a very different elite recruiting firm one in which shared knowledge, teamwork and transparency take center stage. We aimed to bring together top partner-level recruiters in Northern California, New York, D.C., and London, and leverage the collective intelligence of the group to benefit our clients and candidates across markets. Lawdragon's recognition that more than half of our recruiters are among the world's best is testament to the success of our strategy. We look forward to adding more exceptional talent to the Macrae team in the months ahead."

Lauren Drake (Washington, D.C./New York): Drake was named to the Lawdragon 100 for the second consecutive year; she was recently profiled by the publication here. She specializes in representing and placing partners, groups and senior government lawyers into top law firms. She joined Macrae in 2019 from Major, Lindsey Africa, prior to which she enjoyed a 16-year tenure at McKinsey Company. Drake is the founder and leader of the Female Law Firm Leaders Roundtable in D.C. and the Women Practice Group Leaders Roundtable in New York, and is the D.C. Co-Chair of the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF). She holds a J.D. from William Mary Law School.

Natasha Innocenti (Northern California): Innocenti was named to the Lawdragon 100 for the third consecutive year; she was recently profiled by the publication here. She has nearly 25 years of experience placing law firm partners, groups and senior government attorneys into leading law firms and helping firms open California offices. Innocenti joined Macrae in 2017 from Innocenti Partners, which she founded following a 13-year tenure at Major, Lindsey Africa. She serves as a Board Member of the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, a leading legal charity serving the community focused on children, health and housing. She earned her master's degree in Philosophy from the University of London.

Joe Macrae (Northern California/New York/London): Macrae, the firm's Founder and Chairman, was named to the Lawdragon 100 for the third consecutive year;he was recently profiled by the publication here. He founded Macrae, then known as Mlegal, in 2001. He splits his time between the West Coast, East Coast and the U.K., serving as a career advisor to partners and teams and working closely with Am Law 50 and UK 20 firms to develop and implement strategic expansion plans. Macrae transitioned from law to legal recruitment in 1988 and co-founded ZMB, now Hays Legal, several years later. He holds a law degree from Manchester University.

Jane Sullivan Roberts (Washington, D.C.): Roberts was named to the Lawdragon 100 for the fifth consecutive year. She advises high-profile law firm partners and groups on lateral moves as well as senior government attorneys transitioning to the private sector. She opened Macrae's D.C. office in 2019 following a decade at Major, Lindsey Africa. Roberts transitioned to recruiting after a 20-year career at Pillsbury, where she was a partner in the Global Technology Group and held the position of Executive Partner for Talent Development. Roberts was a Founding Member and former Co-Chair of the WILEF's D.C. chapter. She earned her J.D. at Georgetown Law.

Andy Russell (London): Russell has more than 25 years of experience placing law firm partners and teams into the leading law firms in London and Europe. He also specializes in new office openings. He joined Macrae in 2017 to open the firm's London Office, having previously served as Managing Director of Fox Rodney Search, which acquired his own firm Abrahams Russell in 2003. Prior to co-founding that firm, Russell worked alongside Joe Macrae at ZMB, now Hays Legal. He holds a law degree from Sheffield University. He was a litigator at Freshfields before transitioning to legal recruitment.

Melinda Wallman (London): Wallman was named to the Lawdragon 100 for the second consecutive year; she was recently profiled by the publication here. She focuses on the recruitment of partners into leading U.S. and UK law firms in the UK and Europe. She joined Macrae in 2018 from Major, Lindsey Africa, where she founded the firm's Hong Kong and London offices and led its EMEA Partner Practice Group. Wallman serves as Deputy Global Chair, International for WILEF, is on the advisory board of Black Women in Asset Management, and in 2018 founded Reignite Academy, a unique collaboration between London firms that provides opportunities for women lawyers to return to practice after a career hiatus. Melinda practiced with Gilbert Tobin, Sydney before going into search. She holds a law degree from the UNSW Sydney.

About Macrae

Macrae is a transatlantic legal search and placement firm with offices in London, New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Palo Alto. Macrae works with the most successful and innovative law firms in the United States and Europe to bring on top lateral partners and groups and open new offices. Its expertise also includes representing elite partners seeking to make strategic moves and senior government attorneys transitioning to private practice. Macrae was founded in 2001 by Joe Macrae, and prior to its 2020 rebrand was known as Mlegal. To learn more about the firm, visit Macrae.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005244/en/

Contacts:

Lauren Gard

lauren.gard@macrae.com

(510) 246-1366
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 24, 2021) - Entheon Biomedical Corp. (CSE: ENBI) (OTCQB: ENTBF) (FSE: 1XU1) ("Entheon" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company focused on developing psychedelic medicines to treat addiction, is pleased to announce that its common shares are now eligible for electronic clearing and settlement through the Depository Trust Company ("DTC") in the United States.

The DTC is the largest securities depository in the world and facilitates electronic settlement of stock certificate transfers in the United States. The shares of the Company, trading on the OTC under the symbol "ENTBF", are now eligible to be electronically cleared and settled through the DTC and are therefore considered "DTC eligible". This electronic method of clearing securities accelerates the settlement process for investors and brokers. DTC eligibility is expected to simplify the process of trading and enhance liquidity for the Company's common shares.

"We are excited that the Company has secured DTC eligibility, providing Entheon with increased accessibility to a broader range of investors, while simplifying trading for both current and new US investors," said Timothy Ko, Chief Executive Officer of Entheon.

About Entheon Biomedical Corp.

Entheon is a biotechnology research and development company committed to developing and commercializing a portfolio of safe and effective N,N-dimethyltryptamine based psychedelic therapeutic products ("DMT Products") for the purposes of treating addiction and substance use disorders. Subject to obtaining all requisite regulatory approvals and permits, Entheon intends to generate revenue through the sale of its DMT Products to physicians, clinics and licensed psychiatrists in the United States, certain countries in the European Union and throughout Canada.

About Depository Trust Company (DTC):

The Depository Trust Company (DTC) was founded in 1973 and is a New York corporation that performs the functions of a Central Securities Depository as part of the US National Market System.

For more information, please contact the Company at:

Entheon Biomedical Corp.

Joseph Cullen, Investor Relations

Telephone: +1 (778) 919-8615

joe@entheonbiomedical.com

https://entheonbiomedical.com/

For media inquiries, please contact Crystal Quast at:

Bullseye Corporate

Crystal Quast

Telephone: +1 (647) 529-6364

quast@bullseyecorporate.com

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This news release contains forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Some of the specific forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the accessibility of the Company's stock to US investors; the eligibility of shares to be electronically cleared and settled through the DTC; acceleration of the settlement process for investors and brokers; and future growth of the Company and its global investor base. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including: the Company's stock will continue to be DTC eligible and such eligibility will increase accessibility for US investors; clearing and settlement will be accelerated; and DTC eligibility will assist with US investors participating in the growth of the Company and its investor base.

Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include: the Company ceasing to be DTC eligible; the benefits of DTC eligibility may not be realized as expected or at all; the continued availability of capital and financing; general economic, market or business conditions; changes in legislation and regulations; increase in operating costs; failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations; litigation; the loss of key directors, employees, advisors or consultants; and fees charged by service providers. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94188
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 24, 2021) - LaSalle Exploration Corp. (TSXV: LSX) ("LaSalle" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from 104 additional samples from bedrock exposures in the Goldhawk target area on its 100% owned Radisson Property ("Radisson" or the "Property") located in the Eeyou Istchee - James Bay Territory, Quebec. Goldhawk was discovered late in the 2020 field season (December 7, 2020 press release) and occurs within a gold bearing structural corridor, extending several kilometres to the east-southeast and onto the adjoining Harfang Exploration Inc. ("Harfang") property where it was originally identified. To date, the Goldhawk target has been prospected over roughly a 3.25 kilometre2 area (Figure 1).

Highlights include:

Twelve grab samples returned assays ranging from 12.70 g/t to 90.70 g/t gold from the Goldhawk Main Shear.

from the Goldhawk Main Shear. Goldhawk Main Shear has been extended to 500 metres and is open in both directions along strike.

Discovered two new parallel mineralized shear zones 200 metres south and 50 metres north of the Goldhawk Main Shear.

A new gold showing has been discovered, 600 metres north of the Goldhawk Main Shear that returned assays of 6.46 g/t, 1.39 g/t and 1.36 g/t gold from initial prospecting.

Commented Ian Campbell, President and CEO, "The results announced today continue to demonstrate the excellent prospectivity of the Radisson Property. We have added additional field crews to expand our efforts in both the Goldhawk and Goldfang target areas, as well as other high priority areas throughout the Property. Based on the success of our recent financing, we are fully funded to expand these gold discoveries."

Most of the field work to date has been focused at and around the Goldhawk Main Shear. The 2021 mapping and prospecting program has outlined a 25-metre wide, west-northwest striking shear zone hosted by strongly deformed diorite over a strike length of 500 metres (Figure 2). 36%, or 29 out of 80 grab samples collected from the Goldhawk Main Shear returned grades in excess of 1.0 g/t gold and 12 of those samples returned assays ranging from 12.70 g/t to 90.70 g/t gold.

The gold assays reported today have extended the strike length of the high-grade portion of this shear from the original 100 metres to the current length of 300 metres (Figure 2). This zone consists of 1-5%, laminated sheared quartz veins. The dominant sulphide in the quartz veins is 1 to 5% pyrite with up to 15% pyrite in the altered diorite wallrock. Locally, 0.5% fine grained tourmaline is associated with the quartz veins. The mineralized diorite is characterized by intense potassic alteration (secondary biotite) and saussuritization, along with hematite staining.

Two additional parallel striking shear zones have also been discovered in the current field program. The first zone occurs 50 metres north of the Goldhawk Main Shear along the edge of a swamp covered area (Figure 2). This North Shear is 5 metres wide and has been traced over 300 metres with assays of the 4 grab samples taken to date ranging from 2.30 to 4.00 g/t gold (Figure 2). Another parallel shear zone ("South Shear") discovered 200 metres south of the Goldhawk Main Shear has been traced over 250 metres of strike and contains assays up to 1.34 g/t gold with associated molybdenite up to 583 ppm. Despite having only collected 16 grab samples, widespread anomalous gold values of 0.2 to 0.5 g/t gold have been recovered from this new target.

Both the newly discovered North and South Shear zones have the same style of quartz vein mineralization in sheared diorite as occurs at the Goldhawk Main Shear and all of the shear structures remain open in both directions along strike. Both discoveries are currently being investigated in the field with follow-up prospecting work.

Additionally, a broad anomalous target area has been identified to the north of the shear zones (Figure 1, 2) that has returned scattered anomalous gold grades ranging from 0.05 to 1.0 g/t from limited prospecting to date. While much of this area is covered in swamp, foliation of the rock outcrops is parallel to the shears to the south. Further to the north, parallel lineaments interpreted from the magnetic and LiDAR surveys are targeted for field follow-up.

New "Talon Zone"

A new gold showing called the Talon Zone has been discovered in a vein exposure 600 metres north of the Goldhawk shear (Figure 1). This exposure returned grab sample grades of 6.46 g/t, 1.39 g/t and 1.36 g/t gold and importantly is aligned with the regional gold corridor to the southeast as documented by Harfang (see news release "Harfang Intersects 3.61 g/t Au over 5.90m and Announces a Second Drill Program at Serpent (Quebec)," dated July 13, 2021).

Several noteworthy metal associations with gold at the Goldhawk area include silver with grades in grab samples up to 14.9 g/t, anomalous tungsten, molybdenite and lead. These shear zones correspond to a moderate IP chargeability anomaly on the north edge of a magnetic high consistent with the overall trend of the structural corridor.

Ongoing Diamond Drilling Program

The drilling program that commenced in mid-July is nearing completion with initial drill testing completed on the Goldhawk, Goldfang, MM5, Eli and Whist Zones. The high-grade southeast extension of the Goldhawk Main Shear is currently being drilled. Assays will be released once they become available.

Ongoing Field Work

Concurrent with the diamond drill program, field crews are continuing to conduct systematic prospecting, geological mapping and bedrock sampling along the northwest extensions of the broader Goldhawk target area. Work will also be completed on several other high-priority targets such as the Tamarac-South Flank-Leo trend, which had returned grab samples grading up to 4.17 g/t gold, 3.36% copper and 21.20 g/t silver. Late last year, wide zones of sericite schist, interpreted by the Company to be favourable structures to host gold mineralization, will also be evaluated.

August 18, 2021 Press Release Correction

The press release of August 18, 2021 erroneously reported that a total of 19,443,750 Units were issued. The correct total number of Units issued in the private placement financing was 10,443,740 at $0.16 per Unit, for total proceeds of $1,671,000.

Field Work and COVID-19 Protocols

The health and safety of the staff at site, and the communities in which the Company operates, is of paramount importance to LaSalle. All employees and contractors work according to the most recent government protocols on COVID-19 restrictions, which define the measures and constraints to be adopted in order to limit the risks associated with COVID-19, ensuring the health and safety of everyone involved in the exploration programs.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Alan Sexton, P.Geo., Vice-President, Exploration of LaSalle Exploration Corp., who is a non-independent qualified person for the technical disclosure as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

The rock samples reported above were delivered to ALS of Rouyn-Noranda, a certified and accredited laboratory service provider, for sample preparation, with analyses being carried out by ALS in Vancouver. All rock samples were prepared by procedures CRU-31 (crush entire sample to 70% <2mm), SPL-21 (split 250 grams from the entire sample using a riffle splitter) and PUL-32 (pulverize 1000 grams to 85% <75 microns). A 30 gram sub-sample of all rock samples was analysed for gold by FA/AA (method Au-AA23), with any samples returning values of 10 g/t or higher being re-assayed by FA with a gravimetric finish (method AA-GRA21). All rock samples were also analysed for 33 elements by 4-acid ICP-AES (method ME-ICP61) and any base metals that returned values of 10,000 ppm or greater were assayed by a 4-acid ore grade (method Cu-OG62). No standards or blanks were inserted by LaSalle. ALS routinely inserts certified gold and base metal standards, blanks and pulp duplicates, and results of all ALS QA/QC samples are reported. The standard, blank and duplicate samples used by ALS were considered sufficient QA/QC for LaSalle's sample analysis.

About LaSalle Exploration Corp.:

LaSalle Exploration Corp.is an exploration company focused on less explored districts of the Abitibi, recognized for mining investment based on mineral potential, policy and success, and the developing Eeyou Itschee-James Bay region in Quebec as well as the high-grade gold Blakelock and Egan properties located in northeastern Ontario. LaSalle Exploration Corp. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") under the symbol "LSX". Additional information about LaSalle can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.lasallecorp.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

LASALLE EXPLORATION CORP.

"Ian Campbell"

President and Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (604) 647-3966

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.





Figure 1



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Figure 2



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Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting, and business process services company, today announced that it has been awarded a strategic multi-year contract to partner with E.ON in their digital transformation journey in the financial area. Wipro will provide Application Maintenance Support Services (AMS) for innovative projects on SAP S/4HANA.

As part of the contract, Wipro will manage E.ON's new IT system that will support more than 16,000 users spread across eight countries in Europe. Wipro will provide E.ON, Application technology services for business-critical application portfolios leveraging its experience and capability in providing flexible and efficient cost saving solutions. E.ON is building the framework for group wide, harmonized processes in the commercial area, and this partnership will help lay a strong foundation for E.ON's digital transformation journey.

Michael Seiger, Country Head Germany, Wipro Limited, said,"Technology convergence and operational agility have become strategic needs for organisations in the energy industry to improve efficiency and effectiveness. We are delighted to be selected as E.ON's strategic partner for this important milestone in our existing relationship. E.ON is driving the green energy transition in Europe and we look forward to supporting them with innovative technologies to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing prosumer world."

Michael Syring, Head Corporate Digital Technology, E.ON Digital Technology GmbH, said, "The S4U Program is a key element of our digital transformation. It is the common platform for highly automated and excellent commercial processes. We are confident that Wipro as a strategic partner will accompany us in executing our Digital Transformation strategy reliably and efficiently."

Frank Wendiggensen, Vendor Transformation Manager, E.ON Digital Technology GmbH, said, "Wipro's deep expertise in new technologies like SAP S/4 HANA backed by extensive global experience, will support us in delivering this crucial part of E.ON's Digital Transformation."

Note: This deal was signed in February 2021.

About E.ON

E.ON is an international investor-owned energy company, which focuses on energy networks and customer solutions. As one of Europe's largest energy companies, E.ON plays a leading role in shaping a clean, digital, decentralized world of energy. To this end, around 78,000 employees develop and sell products and solutions for private, commercial and industrial customers. More than 50 million customers purchase electricity, gas, digital products or solutions for electric mobility, energy efficiency and climate protection from E.ON. E.ON is headquartered in Essen, Germany. For more information, please visit www.eon.com.

About Wipro Limited

Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have over 200,000 dedicated employees serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements contained herein represent Wipro's beliefs regarding future events, many of which are by their nature, inherently uncertain and outside Wipro's control. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Wipro's growth prospects, its future financial operating results, and its plans, expectations and intentions. Wipro cautions readers that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in our earnings, revenue and profits, our ability to generate and manage growth, complete proposed corporate actions, intense competition in IT services, our ability to maintain our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which we make strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, war, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our business and industry. The conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could decrease technology spending, adversely affect demand for our products, affect the rate of customer spending and could adversely affect our customers' ability or willingness to purchase our offerings, delay prospective customers' purchasing decisions, adversely impact our ability to provide on-site consulting services and our inability to deliver our customers or delay the provisioning of our offerings, all of which could adversely affect our future sales, operating results and overall financial performance. Our operations may also be negatively affected by a range of external factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic that are not within our control. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Annual Reports on Form 20-F. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005531/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Purnima Burman

Wipro Limited

purnima.burman@wipro.com


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The ODP Corp. (ODP), which is in the process of splitting into two independent, publicly-traded companies, announced Monday the selection of the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and company names for each of the two companies, which would become effective upon the completion of the spin-off.



In May 2021, ODP Board of Directors unanimously approved a plan to separate ODP into two independent, publicly-traded companies by means of a tax-free spin-off to ODP shareholders. The separation of ODP's consumer business from its B2B operations is expected to be completed in the first half of 2022.



The two entities to be formed through the separation are The ODP Corp. and Office Depot. Gerry Smith will continue to serve as CEO of The ODP Corp. following the separation. Meanwhile, Kevin Moffitt, currently EVP, Chief Retail Officer of The ODP Corp., will be appointed CEO of Office Depot upon completion of the spin-off.



The separation is expected to allow ODP and Office Depot to pursue unique market opportunities and growth strategies, improving the value for shareholders and stakeholders.



The Company anticipates that the separated companies will be capitalized to provide the financial flexibility to take advantage of future strategic opportunities.



The transaction is subject to certain conditions, including final approval by ODP's Board of Directors. However, the separation will not require a vote of ODP shareholders.



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YVERDON-LES-BAINS, Switzerland and OSLO, Norway, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leclanche SA (SIX: LECN), one of the world's leading energy storage companies, has appointed Guillaume Clement, a highly experienced technology business leader with experience in the maritime sector, as vice president of its e-Marine business group.

The company also announced the opening of its first office in The Nordics in recognition of the region's critical importance in the maritime industry. e-Marine is the fastest-growing part of Leclanche's e-Transport Business. In recent years, Leclanche has emerged as a critical supplier of advanced electric and hybrid-electric power systems for ferries and an assortment of other marine applications including container vessels and oil and gas platforms.

"We're pleased to welcome Guillaume to our e-Transport team and head of the e-Marine market segment, which has been exhibiting dramatic growth and increasing long-term opportunities for Leclanche," said Anil Srivastava, CEO, Leclanche. "Guillaume brings a strong background in strategy and international business development experience; and his last position was based in Oslo. These are vital pre-requisites for the business he now leads.

"The Nordic region is one of the most important global markets in the maritime industry with significant concentrations of ship builders, owners, designers and third-party influencers. As the region recovers from the current global pandemic, Guillaume and our team will serve as a local resource to current clients as well as to the design and shipbuilding community leveraging the full breadth of our battery storage technology and solutions for next-generation electric, non-polluting and sustainable vessels."

The new Oslo office is located at Karenslyst Alle 53 in Olso's Skyen neighborhood. Guillaume's team includes Harald Kulsrud, key account manager, who recently joined Leclanche. Harald has deep knowledge of the battery industry with direct experience in industrial batteries in the Nordic and Baltic regions. The company's Nordic team is now staffed by colleagues located in Denmark, Finland and Norway; they will be joined by other members of the Leclanche team as appropriate.

Prior to joining Leclanche, Guillaume served in a variety of capacities in a 15-year career with Schneider Electric. He rose from international project manager through a variety of roles culminating as segment director for the company's Marine business group. He has a master's degree in business administration, legal and financial engineering from L'IGR-IAE Rennes, in Rennes, France, and an engineering diploma from Centrale Supelec Ecole Superieure d'Electricite near Paris.

"Leclanche's e-Marine business has been in a steep growth mode with projects underway or near approval for a wide range of marine applications," said Guillaume Clement, vice president for Leclanche's e-Marine Business. "Norway and the greater Nordic market is filled with early adopters and innovators. We hope to develop our presence into a center of excellence and local knowledge hub when it comes to battery storage technology and the electrification of all types of marine vessels. Our team on the ground is smart, experienced and energetic; we look forward to getting beyond our planet's health challenges to contribute to a brighter, cleaner and more sustainable maritime industry."

For companies in the region seeking to contact the Leclanche Nordic team, they can be reached at e-marine@leclanche.com.

Editor's Note: A photo of Leclanche's new vice president, e-Marine is available on the following link.

About Leclanche

Headquartered in Switzerland, Leclanche SA is a leading provider of high-quality energy storage solutions designed to accelerate our progress towards a clean energy future. Leclanche's history and heritage is rooted in over 100 years of battery and energy storage innovation and the Company is a trusted provider of energy storage solutions globally. This coupled with the Company's culture of German engineering and Swiss precision and quality, continues to make Leclanche the partner of choice for both disruptors, established companies and governments who are pioneering positive changes in how energy is produced, distributed and consumed around the world. The energy transition is being driven primarily by changes in the management of our electricity networks and the electrification of transport, and these two end markets form the backbone of our strategy and business model. Leclanche is at the heart of the convergence of the electrification of transport and the changes in the distribution network. Leclanche is the only listed pure play energy storage company in the world, organised along three business units: stationary storage solutions, e-Transport solutions and specialty batteries systems. Leclanche is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX: LECN).

SIX Swiss Exchange: ticker symbol LECN | ISIN CH 011 030 311 9

Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to Leclanche's business, which can be identified by terminology such as "strategic", "proposes", "to introduce", "will", "planned", "expected", "commitment", "expects", "set", "preparing", "plans", "estimates", "aims", "would", "potential", "awaiting", "estimated", "proposal", or similar expressions, or by expressed or implied discussions regarding the ramp up of Leclanche's production capacity, potential applications for existing products, or regarding potential future revenues from any such products, or potential future sales or earnings of Leclanche or any of its business units. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Leclanche regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Leclanche's products will achieve any particular revenue levels. Nor can there be any guarantee that Leclanche, or any of the business units, will achieve any particular financial results.

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VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PODA LIFESTYLE AND WELLNESS LTD. ("Poda" or the "Company") (CSE: PODA) (FSE: 99L) (OTC: PODAF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a professional services agreement (the "Consulting Agreement") with NKO Consulting Corp. ("NKO") to actively manage the application process for the Company to obtain marketing authorization for certain Poda products pursuant to the Premarket Tobacco Product Application ("PMTA") program of the US Food and Drug Administration ("US FDA").

Under section 910(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act, anyone can submit a PMTA for any new tobacco product seeking a US FDA marketing order. A PMTA must provide scientific data that demonstrates a product is appropriate for the protection of public health. In order to reach such a decision and to authorize marketing, the US FDA considers, among other things:

Risks and benefits to the population as a whole, including people who would use the proposed new tobacco product as well as non-users;

Whether people who currently use any tobacco product would be more or less likely to stop using such products if the proposed new tobacco product were available;

Whether people who currently do not use any tobacco products would be more or less likely to begin using tobacco products if the new product were available; and

The methods, facilities, and controls used to manufacture, process, and pack the new tobacco product.

Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, NKO will help to coordinate and oversee the entire PMTA process for certain Poda products. It is anticipated that the entire PMTA process will take at least 18 months. Prior to receiving PMTA approval, however, Poda may be able to sell certain of its products in the USA that are not subject to PMTA authorization requirements.

NKO is a consulting company founded by Mr. Nicholas ("Nick") Kadysh. Nick is a member of Poda's Global Advisory Board. With over a decade of experience as a public affairs and regulatory expert, Nick has led government relations and regulatory departments for a number of large corporations, including acting as Head of Corporate Affairs for JUUL Labs Inc., as Government Affairs & Public Policy Leader for General Electric Canada, and as Director of Public Affairs for Red Bull Canada. Through NKO, Nick is able to deliver a wide range of services and expertise that will be invaluable for Poda during the PMTA process.

Ryan Selby, CEO, commented, "Obtaining PMTA approval in the USA for certain Poda products is an important goal for the Company. NKO has the experience and expertise needed to make the PMTA process as fast and effective as possible, and I am very pleased to have entered into this Consulting Agreement with them. Poda is committed to the goal of making our revolutionary heat-not-burn products available to every current adult smoker globally, and the USA contains a large population of adult smokers who I believe could benefit from access to a wide variety of Poda's potentially reduced-risk products. Obtaining marketing authorization under the PMTA for certain Poda products in the USA will allow us to expand our offerings in this Country."

On Behalf of the Board,

Ryan Selby

CEO, Director, and Chairman of the Board

Poda Lifestyle and Wellness Ltd.

Toll-free North America: +1-833-TRY-PODA (879-7632)

Outside North America: +1-406-TRY-PODA (879-7632)

investors@podalifestyle.com

www.podalifestyle.com

ABOUT PODA LIFESTYLE

Poda Lifestyle is actively engaged in the global commercialization of HNB smoking products, which have the potential to reduce the risks associated with combustible smoking products. The Company has developed a patented HNB system that uses proprietary biodegradable single-use pods, which are both consumer and environmentally friendly. The innovative design of the Company's HNB platform prevents cross-contamination between the heating devices and the pods, eliminating all cleaning requirements and providing users with the most convenient and enjoyable potentially-reduced-risk smoking experience. Poda Lifestyle's HNB system is fully patented in Canada and is patent pending in over 60 additional countries, covering almost 70% of the global population. The Company's Poda Pods are the first and only cigarettes to have a completely closed end. This exclusive design eliminates all cleaning requirements and provides a truly ashless HNB cigarette. Poda Lifestyle's fully patented system is one of a kind and solves the major pain-point that ALL other HNB products suffer from: daily cleaning requirements. The Company's flagship Beyond Burn Poda Pods contain a unique tobacco-free blend of pelletized tea leaves infused with synthetic nicotine, which provides adult smokers with a smoke-free alternative to their regular habit without sacrificing satisfaction. Beyond Burn Poda Pods have been expertly crafted to mimic the sensorial experience of traditional cigarettes without the smoke, without the smell, and without the tobacco.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Although Poda Lifestyle believes in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Poda Lifestyle can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. Poda Lifestyle undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of Poda Lifestyle, its securities, or financial or operating results (as applicable). Poda Lifestyle disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.
- Automotive industry makes widespread use of powder coatings and is anticipated to offer advantageous opportunities through 2026

- Powder coatings are gaining traction among end-use industries due to their performance and environmental advantages and growth of end-use industries in developing regions

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Powder coatings have gathered immense traction in the coatings industry, especially to impart protection to substrate surfaces and enhancing their aesthetics. Thermosetting powder coatings were extensively used in coating appliances, where the objective is to protect them against abrasion, chemical degradation, corrosion, fading, and wearing due to environmental exposure.

Advancements in equipment used for applying coatings notably in electrostatic sprays have enriched an array of products and have opened new opportunities for the powder coatings market players to cater to a wide-cross section demand. New chemistries incorporated in powder coatings include range of polymers to boost the storage criteria and performance of the products, notably in terms of reduced volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions. The versatility of powder coatings across various types of surfaces has underpinned the sales in end-use businesses in general metals, automotive, and medical industry, find research analysts at TMR.

All these macroeconomic & microeconomic factors and trends in applications are expected to propel the powder coatings market at a CAGR of 6% from 2018 to 2026.

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Key Findings Powder Coatings Market Study

Advancements in Products Chemistries Meet Performance Requirements in Key Applications: The powder coatings market ecosystem has steadily expanded with the growing array of products based on thermoset and thermoplastics. A number of polymer systems in thermoplastic powder coatings is polyvinyl chloride, polyolefin, polyvinylidene fluoride, and nylon, with polypropylenes finding widespread use. Advancements in chemistries have driven powder coatings market players to develop products with better durability, mechanical performance, and superior weatherability. The weatherability is key to fueling the demand for epoxy-based powder coatings. These characteristics have been utilized extensively in architectural applications. Furthermore, in recent years, the demand has risen on account of recent buoyancy in general metals segment, as research on powder coatings market finds. The rise in the use of powder coatings in automotive sector has also spurred revenue generation in the past few years.

The powder coatings market ecosystem has steadily expanded with the growing array of products based on thermoset and thermoplastics. A number of polymer systems in thermoplastic powder coatings is polyvinyl chloride, polyolefin, polyvinylidene fluoride, and nylon, with polypropylenes finding widespread use. Advancements in chemistries have driven powder coatings market players to develop products with better durability, mechanical performance, and superior weatherability. The weatherability is key to fueling the demand for epoxy-based powder coatings. These characteristics have been utilized extensively in architectural applications. Furthermore, in recent years, the demand has risen on account of recent buoyancy in general metals segment, as research on powder coatings market finds. The rise in the use of powder coatings in automotive sector has also spurred revenue generation in the past few years. Compliance to Environmental Norms Drives Coatings Manufacturers to Constantly Innovate: The powder coatings market players have been increasingly leaning on launching products that promise high environmental safety and less emission of by-products. The emission norms pertaining to the coatings industry have been at the forefront of driving product innovation, asserts a market study on powder coatings. Mostly, the products in the powder coatings market have gained preference over wet paints among end-use industries due to minimal emission of VOC and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), thus making them less hazardous than wet paints or solvent-containing coatings. This has fueled their demand in various applications; a case in point is the furniture industry. Many manufacturers and suppliers have also emphasized on the aspect of compliance with environmental regulations across key markets such as in the U.S., Asia Pacific , and Latin America .

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Powder Coatings Market: Key Drivers

Growth of end-use industries and focus on improving esthetics and durability of substrate surfaces in products are propelling powder coatings market

Rise in demand for coating metals in various manufacturing industries has expanded the growth avenues for chemical companies in powder coatings market. Emerging economies have witnessed notable expansion of manufacturing industries.

Powder Coatings Market: Regional Landscape

Asia Pacific held majority of market share in 2017. Rise in demand in China , Singapore , Malaysia , Vietnam , and Japan to offer sizable opportunities to chemical manufacturers in the powder coatings market.

held majority of market share in 2017. Rise in demand in , , , , and to offer sizable opportunities to chemical manufacturers in the powder coatings market. North America holds a sizable market share, with the widespread demand underpinned by the need for coatings that meet regulations on emissions from the paint & coating industry

holds a sizable market share, with the widespread demand underpinned by the need for coatings that meet regulations on emissions from the paint & coating industry Latin America to expand at a promising pace during the forecast period of 2018 - 2026, increasingly fueled by the rising demand for coatings in the automotive sector

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Powder Coatings Market: Key Industry Participants

Some of the prominent players in the powder coatings market are Sherwin-Williams Company, DuluxGroup Limited, BASF SE, Kansai Paint Co., Ltd., The Valspar Corporation, Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd., Kansai Paint Co., Ltd., The Sherwin-Williams Company, and Akzo Nobel N.V.

Powder Coatings Market: Segmentation

Powder Coatings Market, by Type

Thermoset

Epoxy



Polyester



Epoxy Polyester Hybrid



Acrylic



Others ( includes Silicones and Urethanes)

Thermoplastics

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)



Nylon



Polyolefin



Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF)

Powder Coatings Market, by Coating Method

Electrostatic Spray

Fluidized Bed

Powder Coatings Market, by Application

General Metals

Metal Furniture

Agriculture, Construction, and Earthmoving Equipment (ACE)

Automotive

Architectural

Appliances

Others( includes Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), Plastic, and Glass)

Powder Coatings Market, by Region

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

Germany



U.K.



France



Spain



Italy



Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

India



China



Japan



Australia & New Zealand

&

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

& GCC Countries



South Africa



Rest of Middle East & Africa

Chemical & Materials Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Chemicals & Materials Industry:

Hydrocarbon Solvents Market - The global hydrocarbon solvents market was valued over US$ 6.2 Bn in 2019 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 4% during the forecast period. Hydrocarbon solvents are used to dissolve oil. They are also employed in the formulation of various solutions and processes. They add value to paints & coatings, cosmetics, adhesives, and lubricants due to their high solvency rate. Some hydrocarbon solvents are produced from natural resources such as sugarcane and vegetable oils. Their high rate of adoption is a key factor that increases the demand for bio-based paints, printing inks, and coatings.

Graphite Coatings Market - The global & U.S. graphite coatings market is broadly affected by several factors, including increase in demand for graphite coatings in the automotive sector and rise in usage of graphite coatings in the electronics sector. Thus, rise in usage of graphite coatings in different sectors is propelling the global & U.S. graphite coatings market. Graphite coatings are essential in environments where there is a need to reduce reactivity and permeability of a part toward oxygen, as it could lead to oxidation. This is anticipated to propel the demand for graphite coatings in the automotive industry.

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Along With Key Security and Solutions Partners, New Initiative Available at GetRScore.Org. Companies Now Have Easy to Use Way to Measure Ransomware Recovery

BOSTON, Aug. 24, 2021, a pioneering enterprise software company specializing in multi-cloud data backup and recovery as a service, announced today a new public service to help organizations identify and measure their ability to effectively recover in the inevitable event of a ransomware attack. Ransomware attacks have been occurring at an alarming rate over the past 18 months with an attack happening on average every 11 seconds1. Available as a free service, directly from www.GetRScore.org, R-Score is the culmination of months of work with leading data protection and cybersecurity experts and partners.



"It's become a tired cliche that it's not a matter of if but when a company will be faced with a ransomware recovery incident," said Simon Taylor, Founder and CEO at HYCU, Inc. "As much as all of us in technology would like to believe we can eliminate ransomware attacks, the focus needs to be on rallying the industry around a way of quantifying and measuring what steps can, and should, be taken to avoid having to pay exorbitant ransoms for companies to get their data back. Today we are extremely excited to announce R-Score along with our supporting partners."

In less than ten minutes, any organization that is interested in understanding how ready they are to recover from a ransomware attack can get their R-Score at GetRScore.org. R-Score represents a first of its kind assessment tool that scores an organizational ransomware recovery readiness similar to the way Fair and Isaac set up the FICO scoring system more than thirty years ago.

R-Score uses entered data to assess an organization's preparedness to repel and recover from ransomware attacks in five key categories:

Backup Process

Backup Infrastructure

Security and Networking

Restore Processes, and

Disaster Recovery



Once the questions are answered, an R-Score is generated within a range of 0 to 1,000. In addition to the score, users will get steps to take to improve their overall score. No user data or information related to generating the initial R-Score is stored or captured in any user identifiable form. A free consultation is available to better understand what measures and steps could be taken to improve an organization's overall R-Score.

"There has always been more of a focus around backup in the industry versus what companies really care about which is recovery," said Enrique Salem, Partner at Bain Capital Ventures, which led HYCU's $87.5M Series A round earlier this year. "Industry-wide initiatives like R-Score that allow organizations to better prepare themselves in the inevitable event of a recovery in light of ransomware need to be more widely adopted and applauded."

To learn more about HYCU's multi-cloud backup and recovery as a service solutions, visit www.hycu.com. To learn more about R-Score, visit www.getrscore.org.

What The Industry is Saying About R-Score

"Ransomware has reached intolerable levels and is a risk that every company needs to address," said Kevin Mandia, CEO, FireEye Mandiant. "R-Score is designed to provide a framework to measure resiliency and recovery. These are critical components to combatting ransomware actors and giving business leaders confidence that they are prepared to operate in the current threat environment."

"Carahsoft is honored to be involved in the R-Score public service initiative to support ransomware recovery," said Craig P. Abod, President, Carahsoft. "As the Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, we support an ecosystem of 200+ cybersecurity and data protection vendors, including HYCU. While there are a variety of resources, reports, and ways to learn how to protect at-risk data, an agency's ability to recover should a ransomware attack happen is often left under-addressed or untested. R-Score focuses on these issues, helping agencies develop a current security and data protection strategy. We're excited to work with HYCU and all the supporting companies on ransomware recovery and the launch of R-Score."

"To solve the toughest business challenges and transform the way in which we all work, there are no simple cookie cutter solutions," said Tony Safoian, President and CEO, SADA. "If dealing with the pervasive nature of ransomware has taught us anything, it's that you need to be ready and prepared in the event of a recovery. We're proud to support the introduction of R-Score. R-Score is bringing the best and brightest minds together across the industry to help educate, manage and ready companies in the inevitability of an attack. As we work with our customers to address security at scale, this will become a useful way in which we monitor and measure progress."

"Ransomware is the most significant cyber-threat faced by private and government organizations," said Kevin Powers, JD, Founder and Director, Cybersecurity Graduate Programs, Boston College and Cybersecurity Research Affiliate, MIT Sloan School of Management (CAMS). "And that is exactly why cybersecurity experts and leaders from private industry, government, and academia came together to develop "R-Score" - a free, online service to assist all organizations in protecting their business operations, customer and employee sensitive personal data, intellectual property, and other confidential and proprietary information. By using R-Scores' interactive platform, information security teams, and, most importantly, senior executives and Boards of Directors, will be able to get key insights as to their cyber-readiness through R-Scores' easy to follow dashboards and grading system. No doubt, the free R-Score service is a much welcome and needed tool for all private and government organizations in defending against today's unrelenting cyber and ransomware attacks."

"Rackspace Technology is very excited to partner with and support HYCU's launch of R-Score to help customers understand their preparedness for data loss and recovery," said Zachary Symm, Product Manager, Public Cloud, Rackspace Technology. "Data recovery is paramount to companies when it comes to ransomware and for far too long it has been overlooked."

"ESG Research shows that cyber risk and Ransomware are top of mind for IT professionals," said Christophe Bertrand, Senior Analyst, ESG Global. "Yet also an area of technology faced with many challenges. It is only a matter of time before a remedial recovery from Ransomware is needed, and that's why it is key to build a cyber resilience infrastructure with strong recovery capabilities. It starts with knowing what to do, understanding the strengths and vulnerabilities of the current recovery processes and how to evolve them to support cyber resilience.

"Every organization has minimally heard about ransomware and too many have been affected by it," said Jerome Wendt, Founder and President, DCIG, LLC. "However, knowing how best to shore up your internal data protection and recovery solutions to defend and recover from ransomware presents major challenges. R-Score addresses these concerns. Organizations may assess their ransomware readiness preparedness capabilities in about 15 minutes. Once completed, organizations get a list of key vulnerabilities and steps they can take to counter ransomware's impact."

"With ransomware constantly in the news, many organizations simply don't know where to even begin a comprehensive risk assessment to determine their overall susceptibility to becoming the next victim, let alone create a full mitigation plan," said Scott D. Lowe, CEO and Co-Founder, ActualTech Media. "R-Score provides a framework for organizations of any size and complexity to quickly gauge their risk and get actionable direction that can help them take immediate steps to improve their risk profile. R-Score takes tried and true ransomware defense strategies and boils them down into a clear, coherent series of steps based on an abundance of expertise from the service's network of partners."

About HYCU

HYCU is the fastest-growing leader in the multi-cloud backup and recovery as a service industry. By bringing true SaaS-based data backup to both on-premises and cloud-native environments, the company provides unparalleled data protection, migration, and disaster recovery to more than 2,700 companies worldwide. HYCU's award-winning, purpose-built solutions eliminate the complexity, risk, and high cost of legacy-based solutions, providing data protection simplicity in a hyper-connected, multi-cloud world. Customers experience frictionless, cost-effective data backup and recovery, no matter where their data resides. Based in Boston, Mass., the company employs 250 people across the globe. Learn more at www.hycu.com.

For further information, please contact:

Don Jennings

HYCU, Inc.

Tel:

1 Cybersecurity Ventures, Cybercrime Magazine, 2019
DataArt, a global software engineering firm, today announced that it expanded global operations in Europe and Central Asia launching new offices in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Tbilisi, Georgia, as well as expanded in existing locations with new R&D centers in Poland, Bulgaria and Russia.

This expansion is a direct response to rapidly growing demand for IT services. The firm is reimagining how employees work, expanding its engineering base in new locations, and fueling cultural diversity.

DataArt's business model has always been centered around having a presence in many locations around the world. This approach has allowed the company to be diverse and distributed, which as the COVID-19 pandemic has shown is the only way to work effectively in IT. Operating from a wide variety of locations also makes it possible for DataArt to access the most skilled and entrepreneurial talent, meet growing client demand, and scale up quickly.

Over the past year, DataArt experienced particularly rapid growth, now employs 5000+ professionals, and continues to expand. Given this consistent pattern of growth, DataArt is well-suited to serve clients of any size, bringing to bear significant resources, reach and infrastructure, as well as comprehensive security and compliance processes.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan has significant potential for IT development, given its strong focus on technological education and infrastructure. The R&D center in Almaty is DataArt's first location in Central Asia. Thanks to Kazakhstan's unique geographic position, DataArt can effectively serve clients in Europe, the Middle East, and in Asia. The plan is to hire the core team in 2021, integrating them into distributed development teams with colleagues from other countries.

Mikhail Zavileysky, Head of Organizational Development at DataArt, said: "When opening in a new location, we first recruit a team of like-minded people, leaders, and experts in their field. We hope to replicate the success of DataArt in Voronezh, Kharkov, Buenos Aires, Sofia, and other cities, where many of our first employees joined the ranks of DataArt's top management a few years later."

Kainar Mardenov, Head of DataArt's Kazakhstan R&D center, said: "It's very exciting for me to witness the launch of DataArt Kazakhstan. We are ready to embark on large-scale, significant outsourcing projects, as DataArt offers diverse experience and exposure to the best development practices and clients across industries."

Georgia

DataArt's research indicated that Georgia was a promising destination for IT, given its climate of entrepreneurship, the democratic transformation of recent years, and its favorable policies for IT companies. Tbilisi, the capital, has recently witnessed significant investment in IT at the government level, as well as from large public and private companies.

Salome Melkadze, Head of HR at DataArt Georgia, said: "Building the very first team here and supporting employees on a global journey with a people-centric company like DataArt, is a great honor. IT specialists in Georgia already recognize DataArt as a leading emerging employer and are eager to work with us. They are largely encouraged by the company culture, including our flexible working conditions, and the myriad opportunities that a large international company can offer."

Expansion in Existing Locations

DataArt is also continuing to grow and develop in its existing locations. The company has launched several new R&D offices across Russia: in Krasnodar, Moscow, and Rostov-on-Don, and will open R&D offices in Krakow (Poland) and Plovdiv (Bulgaria) later this year.

About DataArt

DataArt is a global software engineering firm that takes a uniquely human approach to solving problems. With over 20 years of experience, teams of highly-trained engineers around the world, and deep industry sector knowledge, we deliver high-value, high-quality solutions that our clients depend on, and lifetime partnerships they believe in.

www.dataart.com

@dataart

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005550/en/

Contacts:

Media:

USA, UK Germany

Anni Tabagua

+49 89 74539931

anni.tabagua@dataart.com
STOCKHOLM, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eshani Jha from the USA receives the prestigious 2021 Stockholm Junior Water Prize for research on how to remove contaminants from water. HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden announced the winner on 24 August during an online award ceremony as part of World Water Week.

Stockholm Junior Water Prize is an international competition where students between the ages of 15 and 20 present solutions to major water challenges.

The winner Eshani Jha is a student at Lynbrook High School in San Jose, California. She has done research on how to remove key classes of contaminants from our freshwater in a simple and cost-effective way. The process involves replacing active carbon with biochar for use in efficient and cheap water filters.

"I am honoured to receive this prize, particularly with so many excellent contributions from around the world. I hope we can work together in the years to come for a better water world. We really are the future of water-related science," said Eshani Jha.

The Jury noted that: "water contamination is a growing problem around the world, with new contaminants discovered and increasing concentrations of existing pollutants being recorded. The simplicity of this solution is that it addresses multiple, varied contaminants with a single device, and that device is potentially scalable to global use, with the added benefit of localized manufacture."

The winner was announced by HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, the Prize's Official Patron, who also expressed great admiration for all the finalists.

A Diploma of Excellence was awarded to Thanawit Namjaidee and Future Kongchu from Thailand, for developing a way to use organic waste material for moisture retention, thereby accelerating plant growth. The People's Choice Award went to Gabriel Fernandes Mello Ferreira from Brazil for developing a microplastic retention mechanism for water treatment. Over 55,000 people voted in the People's Choice Award.

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize has been organized every year since 1997 by the Stockholm International Water Institute, SIWI, with Xylem as Founding Partner. This year the event was held online.

"This Prize inspires students - 125,000 of them in 25 years - to propose solutions to the world's great water challenges," said Xylem CEO, Patrick Decker. "We're so proud to be a part of it."

For more information: www.siwi.org/prizes.

Press Contact: Andreas Karlsson, SIWI, +46-720 506004, andreas.karlsson@siwi.org


SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Coffee major Starbucks Corp.'s fall menu favorites with Pumpkin is returning to stores across the United States and Canada starting Tuesday.



Signaling the start of the fall season, Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and more will be available in both countries.



The Pumpkin Spice Latte combines Starbucks signature espresso and steamed milk with the flavor combination of real pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. It can be enjoyed hot or iced and topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices.



Further, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, which is returning to the menu for a third year, combines Starbucks Cold Brew, sweetened with vanilla flavored syrup, topped with a pumpkin cream cold foam made with real pumpkin, and dusted with a pumpkin spice topping.



Both products are available in the U.S. and Canada stores for a limited time, while supplies last.



In addition, seasonal fall bakery items Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin and Pumpkin Scone will also return to join the Pumpkin Loaf.



Starbucks Spiced Pumpkin Scone is topped with sweet icing; Spiced Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin is topped with a sweet cream cheese filling and a sprinkling of chopped, spiced pepitas; and Pumpkin Loaf is the gently spiced bread with pumpkin flavors and pepitas.



Starbucks Pumpkin Loaf is available in the U.S. year-round and offered in Canada for a limited time, while supplies last.



In addition, Starbucks is introducing two exquisite Starbucks Reserve whole bean coffees to 3,200 company-operated stores in the U.S. - Starbucks Reserve Vietnam Da Lat and Starbucks Reserve Costa Rica Naranjo. They are roasted daily at Starbucks Reserve Roasteries located in Seattle, Shanghai, Milano, New York, Tokyo and Chicago.



The company is also offering Nitro Cold Brew Duo - Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew and Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew. They are available year-round at most U.S. Starbucks locations.



Starbucks also offers seasonal flavors with a variety of pumpkin spice-flavored ground, packaged, and ready-to-drink products as well as the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Flavored Non-Dairy Creamer and Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew Concentrate. They are available online and where groceries are sold across the country.



The customers can enjoy Starbucks fall menu through various ways, including using the Starbucks app for order ahead and pick-up options: grab and go in-store, drive-thru, and curbside pick-up, where available.



Starbucks fall favorites can also be enjoyed with delivery order on Uber Eats with limited menu.



Further, Starbucks offers new Pumpkin Love O' Meter, a fun and quirky digital pumpkin personality quiz helping Starbucks customers to find out their pumpkin interest.



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PARK CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2021 / NRP Stone, Inc. (OTC PINK:NRPI) - Uplift Aerospace, a subsidiary of NRP Stone, Inc., announced the launch date of its upcoming 'Suborbital Triptych' project on a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket. The 'Suborbital Triptych' series is a collaboration between Uplift Aerospace, a pioneering technology company in the aerospace industry, and Blue Origin, a privately-funded space company and manufacturer of reusable launch vehicles and engines.

The Suborbital Triptych series commissions top international artists for historic artworks that provide valuable long-term investments for the company. The Suborbital Triptych is the first of a series of projects that Uplift Aerospace is developing to establish commerce in space with the launch of the first marketplace into low Earth orbit in 2022.

At 8:35 am CDT on August 26, 'New Shephard', Blue Origin's reusable suborbital rocket, will travel into space with a specially commissioned triptych by the renowned Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo painted on the top of the crew capsule on the main chute covers. When this triptych of painted rocket panels launches, Boafo will be the first artist from the African continent to have created an artwork propelled into space.

Time: Launch targeting Thursday, August 26, at 8:35 am CDT / 2:35pm BST / 9:35 pm HKT

Location: Launch Site One in West Texas

Watch: The Blue Origin launch LIVESTREAM starts T-30 minutes on www.upliftaerospace.com

ABOUT UPLIFT AEROSPACE

Uplift Aerospace is a subsidiary of NRP Stone, which is a publicly traded company on the OTC under the symbol NRPI. As an emerging leader in the rapidly transforming space industry, Uplift Aerospace is pioneering revolutionary systems to manufacture, trade, and deliver products for commerce in space. For more information visit https://www.upliftaerospace.com/investors.

MEDIA CONTACT: press@upliftaerospace.com

US OTC Symbol: NRPI; CUSIP: 62940J200. For the latest updates, visit upliftaerospace.com and follow @upliftaerospace on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Disclosures and Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Expressions of future goals and similar expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of products and technologies, economic and market factors, successful integration of acquisitions, the ability to secure additional sources of financing, the ability to reduce operating expenses and other factors. The actual results that the company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. The Company, its management, or affiliates, undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

SOURCE: NRP Stone, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/661080/NRP-Stone-Subsidiary-Announces-Launch-Date-on-Blue-Origin-New-Shepard-Rocket
Company set to be exclusive Canadian distributor for female-focused cannabis brand

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 24, 2021) - Ayurcann Holdings Corp. (CSE: AYUR) (FSE:3ZQ0) (the "Company" or "Ayurcann") a Canadian cannabis extraction company specializing in the processing of cannabis and hemp for the production of oils and various derivative product, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a manufacturing and distribution agreement with Her Highness NYC ("Her Highness"), the premier purveyors of female-forward cannabis couture products that are inspired and engineered by women, for women. Under this agreement, Ayurcann will serve as an exclusive manufacturer and distributor of Her Highness branded products for the Canadian adult use market.

Her Highness' accessories and CBD line retails online with their THC line available in California, Nevada, Massachusetts and soon, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Their curated collection of cannabis essentials includes low-dose fat-free mints, chic gold electroplated vape pens, proprietary slim, elongated pre-rolls housed in a gold cigarette box with the brand's signature gold lighter, and a coveted THC "pleasure oil" for enhanced pleasure. With an elevated range of thoughtfully reimagined cannabis products for enjoyment and self-care. Her Highness satisfies every woman's cannabis curiosity and craving in a way that's true to her lifestyle and in sync with the way women live and play.

Her Highness co-founders, Laura Eisman and Allison Krongard, noticed a gap in the market and craved a premium cannabis experience that was infused with a sense of play and delivered with style. The duo brought to the table their experience and successes with launching female minded companies and set out to reverse the stigma and create a full-scope lifestyle brand for the canna-curious, experienced users, and CBD advocates.

Her Highness Co-founder Allison Krongard states "We're thrilled to partner with Ayurcann to bring Her Highness products to Canada, a goal since our inception. We knew after our first phone call that we found the right partner. Our shared passion for quality, integrity in products and bringing real joy to women through cannabis, was evident in the first 10 minutes."

"Our partnership with Ayurcann marks Her Highness' first international brand presence, an important milestone in our company's growth trajectory, extending our reach as the trusted household name for women and cannabis," adds Laura Eisman Co-founder. "We can't wait to let our Canadian fans know they'll have access to the Her Highness products they covet."

The Chairman and CEO of Ayurcann, Mr. Igal Sudman stated "This new partnership presents a great opportunity to bring another well-recognized and trusted brand to the Canadian market, and we are proud to announce another remarkable growth opportunity for Ayurcann." Mr. Sudman further commented, "There is currently a lack of cannabis products that speaks to the needs of the female consumers, and we are thrilled to be introducing Her Highness branded products to women in the adult use market across Canada."

For further information, please contact:

Igal Sudman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Ayurcann Holdings Corp.

Tel: 905-492-3322

Email: info@ayurcann.com

Investor Relations:

Ryan Bilodeau

Tel: 416-910-1440

Email: ir@ayurcann.com

About Ayurcann Holdings Corp.

Ayurcann is a leading post-harvest solution provider with a focus on providing and creating custom processes and pharma grade products for the adult use and medical cannabis industry in Canada. Ayurcann is focused on becoming the partner of choice for leading Canadian cannabis brands by providing best-in-class, proprietary services including ethanol extraction, formulation, product development and custom manufacturing.

About Her Highness

Backed by Merida Capital, Her Highness is a female-first lifestyle cannabis brand based in New York, designed for the modern cannabis consumer. With an elevated brand aesthetic, a sophisticated collection of cannabis and CBD products and stylish consumption accessories, Her Highness is created for the feminine lifestyle.

Her Highness' accessories and CBD line retails online with their THC line available in California, Nevada, Massachusetts and soon, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Curated with female-friendly effects like clear head, sans-munchies, anxiety-free and high-functioning, Her Highness products are developed to benefit women, addressing specific needs in their daily lives. To learn more about Her Highness' elevated experience, visit www.herhighness.com and follow along on Instagram and Twitter at @herhighnessnyc.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward- looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This press release contains forward looking statements, including but not limited to statements relating to the Company's expansion plans and future production capacity. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, failure to obtain regulatory approval, ability to increase production at the Company's facilities, the continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the statements will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, Further, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended and such changes could be material. Public health crises, including the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, could have significant economic and geopolitical impacts that may adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and/or results of operations. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94200
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - August 24, 2021) - Elixxer Ltd. (TSXV: ELXR) (OTCQB: ELIXF) ("Elixxer" or the "Company) is pleased to announce its intention to consolidate all of its issued and outstanding common shares (the "Consolidation") on the basis of one new common share (each, a "New Share") for every 100 existing common shares (each, an Existing Share").

The Consolidation was previously approved by the Company's shareholders at the annual and special meeting held on June 15, 2021.

The intended Consolidation would result in the number of issued and outstanding common shares being reduced from 1,121,016,031 Existing Shares to approximately 11,210,160 New Shares. The exercise or conversion price of, and the number of common shares issuable under, any convertible securities of the Company will also be proportionately adjusted upon the completion of the Consolidation.

No fractional shares will be issued as a result of the Consolidation. All fractions of New Shares will be rounded down to the next lowest whole number if the first decimal place is less than five and rounded up to the next highest whole number if the first decimal place is five or greater. No cash consideration will be paid in respect of fractional shares.

The Company's board of directors believes that the Consolidation will provide the Company with greater flexibility for the continued development of its business and the growth of the Company, including financing arrangements and future acquisitions.

The Consolidation is subject to the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, the provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act and the articles of the Company. The Company will be obtaining a new set of CUSIP and ISIN numbers for the Consolidation. The effective date for the Consolidation and the new CUSIP and ISIN numbers will be disclosed in a subsequent press release. The Company anticipates that its current name and trading symbol will remain unchanged. The board of directors may, at its discretion, determine to amend the terms of the Consolidation or to not move forward with the Consolidation.

About Elixxer Ltd. (www.Elixxer.com)

Elixxer is a Canadian public company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: ELXR) and the US OTCQB exchange (OTCQB: ELIXF).

Through its partners, Elixxer presently has significant interests in Australia, Jamaica, Switzerland, Italy and Canada.

For further information please contact:

Ferras Zalt, Chairman and Interim CEO: +44 20 7409 6680; ferras@elixxer.com

Caution Regarding Press Releases

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to Elixxer and its operations, strategy, investments, financial performance and condition. These statements can generally be identified by use of forward-looking words such as "may", "will", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intends", "believe" or "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The actual results and performance of Elixxer could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Some important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, among other things, general economic and market factors, competition, government regulation and the factors described under "Risk Factors and Risk Management" in Elixxer's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to Elixxer and persons acting on its behalf. Unless otherwise stated, all forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Elixxer has no obligation to update such statements, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94203
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 24, 2021) - Bayhorse Silver Inc. (TSXV: BHS) (the "Company" or "Bayhorse") is pleased to announce that its shares will commence trading under the symbol "BHSIF" on the OTCQB effective August 24, 2021. The Company has also received The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") full service eligibility in the United States.

DTC settlement services provide a more efficient and lower cost settlement process for investors and brokers trading Canadian securities in the United States. DTC eligibility enables shares of Bayhorse to be distributed, settled and serviced through DTC's automated processes, thereby taking advantage of the efficiencies created in the electronic method of clearing securities and the resulting cost benefits that DTC provides through accelerated settlement processes.

Bayhorse CEO, Graeme O'Neill, comments that, "Listing on the OTCQB, along with our Frankfurt, Germany, listing enables our U.S and European shareholders to more effectively participate in trading in the Company's shares. Both the OTCQB and Frankfurt listings complement our main listing on Canada's TSX-V Exchange."

This News Release has been prepared on behalf of the Bayhorse Silver Inc. Board of Directors, which accepts full responsibility for its content.

On Behalf of the Board,

Graeme O'Neill, CEO

company@bayhorsesilver.com

1-866-399-6539

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Bayhorse Silver Inc.

Bayhorse Silver Inc. is an exploration and production company with a 100% interest in the historic Bayhorse Silver Mine located in Oregon, USA, and an option to acquire an 80% interest on the Brandywine, precious metals rich, volcanogenic massive sulphide property, located in B.C., Canada. The Company has an experienced management and technical team with extensive mining expertise surrounding exploration and building mines.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94173
-High ROI attracts stakeholders to explore scope of growth in industrial robotics amid economic development in emerging economies

-Demonstrated advantages of increased output and improved quality garner interest in integration of next-gen technologies

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The growth of the industrial robotics market is stimulated by accelerated deployment of industrial robots for factory automation. Moreover, with prospects of continued utilization and growth in the human-machine coherence for division of roles in factory automation, along with the integration of the cloud technology to improve control of hardware deems attractive for the industrial robotics market. Thus, the industrial robotics market is foreseen to rise at a CAGR of 9% during the forecast period, finds TMR.

The scope of deployment of industrial robots is not limited to automation of processes. For instance, in the manufacturing sector, industrial robots are used in place of human labor to perform hazardous or repetitive tasks with a high degree of accuracy.

Furthermore, industrial robots offer cost advantages. The high cost of hiring human labor, along with miscellaneous costs of health insurance, compensation, paid leaves, training, and promotions are driving the interest of industry owners in industrial robots, as these robots offset these costs significantly. Thus, several industry verticals are increasingly deploying industrial robots on a large scale.

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Industrial Robotics Market - Key Findings of Report

Rising Demand for Collaborative Robots to Accelerate Growth

Collaborative robots are built to work with humans through interaction in a shared work environment. Collaborative robots have the ability to automate work easily; hence, they are used in a number of applications primarily in the manufacturing sector. Packaging, pick & place, assembly, screw driving, lab testing, and quality inspection are some applications of collaborative robots for industrial processes.

Moreover, collaborative robots help improve the safety aspect, along with improved production output. Collaborative robots can perform repetitive tasks at a faster rate.

Retail, automotive, and healthcare are some other industry verticals that are increasingly adopting collaborative robots. Thus, to serve this, several manufacturers in the industrial robotics market such as KUKA AG, Universal Robots, and Franka Emika GmbH are striving to create various types of collaborative robots.

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Prospects of Adoption by SMEs in Emerging Economies of Asia Pacific to Bolster Market Growth

Stakeholders in the industrial robotics market are benefitting from high ROI of deployment of industrial robots. This is garnering the interest of industry stalwarts in developing economies to explore the gains of industrial robotics for several industry verticals.

Rapid economic growth in several economies of Asia Pacific is driving stakeholders in the industrial robotics market to leverage the business opportunities in the region. The adoption of robotics in SMEs in the region is anticipated to strengthen the industrial robotics market in the near future. In addition, the widening scope of application of industrial robots in consumer electronics and automotive is creating lucrative opportunities for the industrial robotics market players in the region.

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Advantages of Superior Ancillary Tasks Favor Deployment

The need to formulate innovative approaches for production cycle in the manufacturing sector is expanding the applications of industrial robotics. The need to limit waste, reduce defects, and minimize downtime is leading to the use of industrial robots for these objectives. The industrial robotics technology helps overcomes the limitations of conventional processes in industrial environments and improves the capacity of operators.

Furthermore, industrial robots provide an advantage by influencing business processes to be more unique. This is favorable for the growth of the industrial robotics market.

Industrial Robotics Market - Growth Drivers

Key role in the automation of industries wherein several major operations are performed by industrial robots is driving the industrial robotics market

Effectiveness to improve the capacity of operators to improve output of production cycles favors deployment

Industrial Robotics Market - Key Players

Some well-entrenched players in the industrial robotics market are;

Yaskawa Motoman Robotics

Denso Corporation

Fanuc Robotics

Kawasaki Heavy Industries

Toshiba Machine Co. Ltd.

KUKA Robotics

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Global Industrial Robotics Market: Segmentation

Industrial Robotics Market, by Type

Cartesian

Articulated

Cylindrical

SCARA

Others

Industrial Robotics Market, by Industry

Electrical & Electronics

Machinery

Automotive

Chemical

Rubber & Plastics

Food & Beverages

Metals

Precision & Optics

Others

Industrial Robotics Market, by Function

Materials Handling

Milling

Cutting & Processing

Soldering & Welding

Painting

Dispensing

Assembling & Disassembling

Others

Industrial Robotics Market, by Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Joe Biden is all set to meet virtually with G7 leaders to ensure the world's leading democracies are aligned and united on the way forward to address the evolving situation in Afghanistan.



At 9.30 AM ET today, Biden will also discuss continuing Washington's close coordination on the Afghanistan policy, acute humanitarian needs of the Afghan people, and evacuating U.S. citizens, the White House said.



Biden is expected to address the media on the outcome of the talks at 12 PM ET. 'The President delivers remarks on our ongoing efforts in Afghanistan to evacuate American citizens, SIV applicants and their families, and other vulnerable Afghans, and his meeting with fellow G7 leaders on how our nations can come together in support of the Afghan people,' says an update on the President's public schedule for Tuesday.



The G-7 summit is to hear allies press Biden to delay the withdrawal of US forces beyond the August 31 deadline set by the Taliban, reports say.



US troops control Kabul airport from where tens of thousands of people, mainly Afghans working for foreign forces, have been evacuated.



Thousands of people are stranded outside the airport to flee the country fearing reprisals from the Taliban militants now in power.



At a White House press briefing, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that U.S. troops have facilitated the evacuation of more than 37,000 people out of the country since August 14.



'In the last 24 hours alone, 28 U.S. military flights have evacuated approximately 10,400 people from Kabul. In addition, 61 coalition aircraft have evacuated approximately 5,900 additional people. That is more than 16,000 people in 24 hours. And the flights are continuing hour by hour as we speak,' he told reporters.



'We have established a network of transit centers in multiple countries in the Gulf and Europe, where we are getting U.S. citizens on flights home and we are running biometric and biographic background checks on Afghan evacuees before bringing them to the United States or having them relocated to a third country,' she added. In all, 26 countries on four continents are contributing to this effort - one of the largest airlifts in history.



Sullivan said that amidst these operations, the U.S. troops are sustaining the highest level of vigilance for an attack against the Kabul airport by Islamic State or another terrorist group. 'Our commanders on the ground have taken every step they can to prepare for such an attack. Our President has authorized every capability that those commanders have asked for to protect the airfield against such an attack,' the top U.S. security official said.



He said the Biden administration remains in close touch with allies and partners to coordinate the evacuation of their own citizens and their priority personnel, as well as to respond to the ongoing political and security situation in Afghanistan.



The President has spoken with the British Prime Minister, the German Chancellor, the French President, the Spanish President, the Italian Prime Minister, the Emir of Qatar, and the Crown Prince of the UAE.



Asked if the government is engaged in talks with the Taliban over extending the August 31 deadline for the U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan, Sullivan replied, 'We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through both political and security channels'.



The Taliban have warned of consequences if foreign troops are not withdrawn from the war-ravaged country by the agreed deadline.



US allies have already made it clear that they will not be able to evacuate all Afghans fleeing the country by August 31.



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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 24, 2021) - Canadian Silver Hunter Inc. (TSXV: AGH.H) ("Canadian Silver Hunter" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that permitting has been approved for Company's planned drill program at the Lost Dog property in Denton Township west of Timmins, Ontario. Rock, soil and till sample assay results have also been received by the Company.

Results from the soil sample programs identified five clusters of anomalous values on the property. Anomalous values in gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc provided excellent targets for follow up work. Just over 500 samples were collected on the property. Highlights included analysis results of 112 ppb gold, 13 g/t (ppm) silver, and another sample that returned 416 ppm copper (CSH PR, February 09, 2021).

Past geophysical surveys have identified a consistent magnetic low that crosses the property associated with Induced Polarization chargeability anomalies. The magnetic low may be an expression of an extension or splay of the Destor Porcupine Fault that has been linked to numerous gold deposits in the prolific Timmins Gold Camp. Drill targets for the upcoming program will be identified using these geophysical and soil geochemical survey results.

Drilling on the Lost Dog property will commence in early September 2021.

The contents of this press release have been reviewed by Wayne Holmstead, P.Geo, Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Canadian Silver Hunter Inc.

Canadian Silver Hunter Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on gold, silver and cobalt exploration in Ontario and Quebec. Canadian Silver Hunter currently owns three properties: the Silver-Centre property which includes the prolific past producing Keeley and Frontier mines, located near Cobalt, Ontario; the Lac Lachance property, located in the Windfall Lake area near Lebel sur Quevillon, Quebec; the Dark Horse and Whitesides property located near West Timmins, Ontario, and has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Lost Dog property, located near Timmins, Ontario.

For further details about Canadian Silver Hunter's projects, plans and results please visit Canadian Silver Hunter Inc. website at www.canadiansilverhunter.ca.

For more information please contact:

Jeffrey Hunter

President & CEO

(416) 707-4230

jhunter@cshi.ca

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory approvals, and commodity prices. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking information. The parties undertake no obligation to update forward-looking information except as otherwise may be required by applicable securities law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94210
BAY AREA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2021 / Recently, Golden Gate Lending Group has announced that the company moves into powerhouse of customized bridge loans business which can be used to meet needs that are no more than a dream.

The American dream has always been closely associated with the ability to buy people's own home. Golden Gate Lending Group (https://www.gglendinggroup.com/) is one of the firms that makes this dream a reality for many people who thought it couldn't be. Their secret sauce: offering bridge loans to homeowners and real estate professionals. In 2020 alone, Golden Gate Lending Group closed 44 Bridge Loans, representing 88 realtors that closed on deals that would not have been able to close otherwise

GG Lending Group is a California-based firm founded by Sofia Nadjibi (https://www.instagram.com/snadjibi/?hl=en), who has been working in the mortgage industry for over 20 years. She has helped over 1000 homeowners become cash buyers and has closed $400 million loans over the past decade. Through her hard work, she has built a network of clients and earned a trustable name in the market.

The Generation of Bridge Loans

A bridge loan is a short-term loan used until a person or company secures permanent financing or removes an existing obligation. People who want to buy a property but don't have enough available cash can unlock the equity tied up in their current homes and leverage it into buying before they sell, literally acting as a bridge. Here's what that means: if somebody feels stuck in their home with no realistic lending solutions, or they have no down payment, that can be solved with a Bridge Loan.

This type of loan is helpful for people who are ready to upgrade from their first home, want to reap the benefit of current market prices, or want to move fast; a much smoother option than selling, finding temporary housing, and then purchasing. Bridge loans, provided by Golden Gate Lending Group, solve this problem. It saves the buyer from the hassle of changing houses.

The PowerHouse of Bridge Loans

Sofia Nadjibi has been in the mortgage business for over 25 years and has seen every kind of crash or bubble that has existed. She started her career as a commercial mortgage underwriter before moving on to be a loan adviser. Sofia first found out how powerful Bridge Loans could be through her own personal experience of buying her 'perfect home'. Sofia was amazed: there was no sale contingency, she got a discount on the home, and even was able to end up netting money in the end because of the Bridge Loan. Sofia realized that Bridge Loans could be an exceptional tool for homeowners and pivoted her career to focus on providing Bridge Loans.

Sofia has provided Bridge Loans ever since, helping many families move into their 'perfect home'. Now an industry leading expert, she plans to help more families and change more lives with Golden Gate Lending Group

Sofia has been on both sides of the deal, takes care of her customers, and understands the ins and outs of very complicated lending scenarios. The firm is focused on keeping the loan process simple, meeting their customer's needs, and making dreams come true. People can learn more about the company and its procedure through their official website here.

Social Links

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/goldengate_bridgeloans/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/golden-gate-lending-group/

Media Contact

Company: Golden Gate Lending Group

Contact: Sofia Nadjibi

E-mail: sofia@gglendinggroup.com

Website:https://www.gglendinggroup.com/

Telephone: (415) 706-8465

Address: 1680 TIBURON BLVD UNIT 9, TIBURON, CA 94920

SOURCE: Golden Gate Lending Group

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/661121/Golden-Gate-Lending-Group-Moves-into-the-Powerhouse-of-Bridge-Loans-in-2021
Results demonstrate favorable tolerability of TQL-1055 at all dose levels

Adjuvance Technologies Inc., a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing saponin adjuvants and vaccines for infectious disease and immuno-oncology, announced that its adjuvant TQL-1055 was safe and well-tolerated with a co-administered pertussis vaccine. This is the first clinical trial of a candidate from the company's adjuvant and vaccine portfolio.

"The usefulness of saponin adjuvants has been constrained by dose-limiting tolerability and manufacturing challenges. Our semi-synthetic molecule is designed to overcome these limitations," said Tyler Martin M.D., Chief Executive Officer at Adjuvance. "These promising interim results demonstrate the potential of TQL-1055, including its ability to be used in a broader dose-range without compromising its excellent tolerability."

Interim data from the trial show that TQL-1055 was generally well tolerated across all dose levels, with an overall safety profile similar to a commercial pertussis vaccine. Solicited events reported by subjects included mild to moderate injection site reactions and mild or moderate systemic symptoms at a frequency similar to the commercial vaccine. No serious adverse events were reported.

The ongoing phase 1, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, dose-escalation study is assessing the safety and immunogenicity of Pertussis Acellular Vaccine Adjuvanted with TQL-1055 (PAVA). It has fully enrolled 72 healthy adults 18-50 years of age and is evaluating six escalating dose levels from 25 to 800 mcg of TQL-1055, co-administered with a commercial pertussis vaccine. The primary endpoints of the study are safety and tolerability. Further data will be presented at IDWeek 2021.

About Pertussis: Commonly known as whooping cough, pertussis is a respiratory illness that spreads from person to person. Vaccination against pertussis occurs throughout life and is recommended in many countries for all children and adults. Reported annual cases of pertussis in the United States have increased 10-fold between the 1970s and 2010s, revealing the need for more effective vaccines and vaccination.

About TQL-1055: TQL-1055 is a rationally designed, semi-synthetic analogue of the saponin adjuvant QS-21 that is designed to have improved tolerability and provide the same strong immune response as QS-21. Adjuvance has retained the desirable properties of, and eliminated several challenges with QS-21. TQL-1055 is a semi-synthetic molecule whose efficient synthesis uses raw material from leaves and branches of the Quillaja saponaria tree, making it available in greater quantities than the source material for other saponin adjuvants. TQL-1055 has shown favorable tolerability and a strong immune response in a clinical trial. With TQL-1055 as the foundation, Adjuvance is designing new combination adjuvants to produce different types of immune responses.

About saponin adjuvants: Saponin adjuvants are potent immune stimulators and important components of licensed and clinically-advanced infectious disease vaccines including those against shingles, malaria, COVID-19 and influenza. Saponin adjuvants have also been studied in immuno-oncology applications. Existing saponin adjuvants are limited by poor clinical tolerability and inefficient manufacturing requirements. The natural source material in most saponin adjuvants is extracted from the inner lining of the bark of the Quillaja saponaria tree, resulting in a terminal harvest.

About Adjuvance Technologies: Adjuvance Technologies is a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to empowering health through fundamental breakthroughs in adjuvant design, vaccine development, and manufacturing. Adjuvance creates and manufactures next generation proprietary adjuvants as the foundation of its vaccine pipeline and for other developers through licensing partnerships. Our vaccine candidates in pertussis and herpes zoster aim to provide a better experience for the recipient and the same protection against disease.

Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, the company has received grant funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and closed a Series A investment by Morningside Venture Investments. For more information, visit www.adjuvancetechnologies.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005212/en/

Contacts:

Investors

Tyler Martin

Chief Executive Officer

+1 402-817-5050

Media

Melissa Malhame

mmalhame@adjuvancetechnologies.com

+1 531-530-1287
Shape Memory Medical Inc., developer of innovative therapies for cardiovascular and neurovascular markets, announced the initiation of AAA-SHAPE Netherlands, the Company's prospective, multicenter early feasibility study of the IMPEDE-FX RapidFill Device when used for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) sac management during elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The Dutch study's first procedure was performed by Professor Michel Reijnen, MD, PhD, vascular surgeon at Rijnstate Hospital in Arnhem, the Netherlands.

Ted Ruppel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Shape Memory Medical Inc. said, "We would like to congratulate Professor Reijnen and the clinical study team at Rijnstate Hospital for a successful first AAA-SHAPE case in the Netherlands. The addition of Dutch sites to the AAA-SHAPE program accelerates our ability to evaluate IMPEDE-FX RapidFill and its potential to improve sac regression in AAA patients following EVAR." The study will enroll up to 15 patients across three centers in the Netherlands, contributing to the AAA-SHAPE safety study which is also currently enrolling up to 15 patients in Auckland, New Zealand.

The IMPEDE-FX RapidFill Device contains five IMPEDE-FX, 12mm embolization plugs preloaded into a single delivery introducer for fast and efficient delivery of the embolic material. This high volume platform incorporates the novel Shape Memory Polymer, a porous, embolic scaffold that is crimped for catheter delivery and self-expands upon contact with blood for rapid conversion to organized thrombus. Pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown that Shape Memory Polymer offers effective and predictable space filling, stable clot formation for sac embolization, and progressive healing as the material biodegrades.

"We are excited to contribute to AAA-SHAPE," said Professor Reijnen, principal investigator for AAA-SHAPE Netherlands. "Patients who develop aneurysm sac shrinkage following EVAR have better outcomes than patients with a stable or growing aneurysm sac. We look forward to learning how the use of IMPEDE-FX RapidFIll in combination with EVAR influences sac behavior," continued Reijnen.

"We are very pleased to be working together with colleagues from the Netherlands to add to our growing experience with AAA-SHAPE," said Andrew Holden, MBChB, interventional radiologist at Auckland City Hospital. "Our preliminary experience with AAA-SHAPE has been very encouraging, and the first few patients have shown a reduction in AAA sac diameter at early follow-up," continued Holden.

About Shape Memory Medical

Shape Memory Medical Inc. is dedicated to developing innovative therapeutic solutions with its proprietary shape memory polymers. Neurovascular embolization products include the TrelliX Embolic Coil, which is CE marked for use in the EU. Peripheral embolization products include the IMPEDE and IMPEDE-FX Embolization Plugs and IMPEDE-FX RapidFill Device. In countries recognizing CE marking, the IMPEDE and IMPEDE-FX Embolization Plugs and the IMPEDE-FX RapidFill are indicated to obstruct or reduce the rate of blood flow in the peripheral vasculature. In the United States, the IMPEDE Embolization Plug is indicated to obstruct or reduce the rate of blood flow in the peripheral vasculature, and the IMPEDE-FX Embolization Plug is indicated for use with the IMPEDE Embolization Plug to obstruct or reduce the rate of blood flow in the peripheral vasculature. The IMPEDE and IMPEDE-FX Embolization Plugs are PMDA approved in Japan. For more information, visit www.shapemem.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005571/en/

Contacts:

Mary Dennehy

m.dennehy@shapemem.com

602-908-9812
Gains visibility to achieve reliable performance at scale

HAIFA, Israel, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- proteanTecs, a global leader in deep data solutions for advanced electronics, announced today that Uhnder, a pioneer in digital imaging radar sensors for ADAS and next-generation mobility applications, has selected the company's Universal Chip Telemetry (UCT) monitoring solution to provide actionable insights and predictive data about the performance, quality, and reliability of its radar-on-chip, through all product development and usage cycles.

proteanTecs provides deep data based on Universal Chip Telemetry (UCT), introducing visibility from within. Their cloud-based analytics platform applies machine learning algorithms to measurements extracted from on-chip monitors, strategically placed during design to provide a high coverage, high resolution picture of the system's health and performance throughout its lifecycle. Chip manufacturers and Tier1s can reduce DPPM (defect parts per million), optimize system performance, and manage reliability margins. Once deployed in the field, OEMs can perform data-driven OTA updates, ECU fault diagnostics, and predictive maintenance, with alerts on faults before failures.

Curtis Davis, Uhnder CTO and co-founder, said: "The automotive industry needs better sensing with high reliability to reach truly effective ADAS and full autonomy. proteanTecs' UTC deep-data monitoring provides Uhnder with critical visibility, along with predictive performance tracking, during production and while the system is in mission mode."

"Uhnder has built the power and flexibility of digital processing into their radar sensors," said Gal Carmel, proteanTecs GM Automotive. "This enables complete programmability, while allowing for precise digital imaging radar perception. By embedding proteanTecs' UCT, Uhnder will be able to reinforce the performance and reliability profiles needed for series production at scale."

About Uhnder

Uhnder is the leader in digital perception radar technologies for automotive and next-generation mobility applications. Based on digital code modulation, Uhnder's fully software-defined radar-on-chip (RoC) and sensor modules enable highest-resolution digital perception for ADAS, AV, and logistics automation systems. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Uhnder is the only supplier of digital imaging radar chips and systems. For more information, visit www.uhnder.com and follow Uhnder on LinkedIn.

About proteanTecs

proteanTecs develops revolutionary Universal Chip Telemetry (UCT) for electronic systems throughout their entire lifecycle, increasing their performance and reliability. By applying machine learning to novel data created by on-chip UCT Agents, proteanTecs provides meaningful insights and visibility unattainable until today, leading to new levels of quality, reliability and scale. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Israel with offices in New Jersey, California and Taiwan. For more information, visit: www.proteanTecs.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1600798/proteanTecs_UCT.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/844547/proteanTecs_Logo.jpg



Press Contact

Tamar Naishlos, Media Relations

tamarn@proteanTecs.com
Third Stage Consulting Group Cites High Solution Value and Aptean's Industry Leadership and Commitment

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Aug. 24, 2021, a global provider of mission-critical enterprise software solutions, announced that it ranked first on Third Stage Consulting Group's recently published list of the top 10 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems for food and beverage companies. Key factors cited by the group in determining Aptean's top placement included the unmatched value provided by Aptean Food and Beverage ERP to its customers, its purpose-built, industry-specific features and the company's strategic commitment to serve food and beverage manufacturers.



Third Stage Consulting Group is an independent consulting firm that has helped clients, including those in the food and beverage industry, implement ERP software and digital transformation initiatives for over 20 years. Third Stage regularly evaluates ERP systems with that particular industry in mind to help ensure they recommend systems which go beyond standard ERP features, such as materials and routing functionality, and that include additional features required by food and beverage companies, such as capabilities that enhance regulatory and safety compliance and traceability.

Third Stage's criteria for selecting the leading food and beverage ERP included total cost, value, functionality for food and beverage manufacturers, and overall implementation and functionality. Aptean's food and beverage ERP was revealed as Third Stage Consulting Group's top choice due to the focused nature of the product and value for customers, as well as faster than average implementation timelines.

"Third Stage is comprised of qualified ERP consultants and digital transformation experts. Our experience coupled with our industry knowledge provides us with a uniquely qualified perspective to evaluate top ERP vendors within the food and beverage community," said Eric Kimberling, CEO of Third Stage Consulting Group. "We selected Aptean as the leader in the food and beverage ERP space because their solution offers quick implementation, unmatched value and top-notch functionality that can help our customers deliver digital transformation."

"At Aptean, we have a made a commitment to providing outstanding, industry-specific solutions designed especially for the needs of our customers," said TVN Reddy, CEO at Aptean. "We believe that designing our products and services for tailored industries, such as food and beverage manufacturing, is an important differentiator that enables our customers to attain faster and better return on investment on their systems. We're pleased to have a leading consulting firm such as Third Stage Consulting Group recognize the quality of our solutions and the commitment Aptean has made to serving this important and unique industry."

To learn more about Aptean Food and Beverage ERP, click here.

View Third Stage Consulting Group's Top 10 list for Food and Beverage and other industries here.

About Third Stage Consulting Group

Third Stage was founded with the vision of providing unparalleled experience, thought leadership, and toolsets to help clients launch into the Third Stage of digital transformation. Due to our extensive industry experience, we have a deep bench of ERP consultants and business transformation experts, with three offices across the globe. These resources are the best in the industry -trained in Third Stage's thought unparalleled leadership and proven methodology. We also take pride in the fact that our CEO and Founder, Eric Kimberling, personally works with each and every one of our clients. We provide the talent of a large consultancy but combine expertise with a personal touch and leadership from the industry's premier innovators within the digital transformation industry.

About Aptean

Aptean is one of the world's leading providers of purpose-built, industry-specific software that helps manufacturers and distributors effectively run and grow their businesses. With both cloud and on-premise deployment options, Aptean's products, services and unmatched expertise help businesses of all sizes to be Ready for What's Next, Now. Aptean is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com.

Aptean is a trademark of Aptean, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

For Media Inquiries Please Contact

Nicole O'Rourke

Chief Marketing Officer

Nicole.Orourke@aptean.com

(770) 715-0362
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 24, 2021) - Blue Heron Creamery, ("Blue Heron" or the "Company") a global leader in the production of next generation of plant-based dairy alternatives is pleased to provide an update on the progress of its growth initiatives regarding retail distribution, expanded management team, capital raising and updated web presence.

Save-On-Foods & Improved Retail Packaging

Blue Heron is pleased to announce a relationship with Save-On-Foods ("SOF"), owned by the Overwaitea Food Group, an established retail grocer that serves approximately two million people per week from its locations across Western Canada. Blue Heron has launched four of its most popular SKU's; Herb & Garlic, Cormorant, Le Bleuet, and Crown cheese across all of Save-On-Foods 110+ locations in British Columbia, with an additional 70+ locations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Yukon to be added as soon as the week of August 20th.

Through efforts undertaken with SOF, Blue Heron was able to successfully showcase its collection of premium plant-based cheeses in the deli area alongside traditional cheese products, rather than being placed separately as a cheese alternative. Pilot projects have concluded that consumers are more likely to purchase plant-based cheese when it is located in the dairy section of supermarkets. Save-On-Foods is intent on relaunching their deli area, which will have a section featuring premium plant-based offerings, of which Blue Heron will be the category leader, to meet the evolving taste preferences of their customers.

In conjunction with the increased distribution, the Blue Heron is excited to announce the creation of new retail packaging for the four SKU's launched in the SOF network. Additionally, the Company will be offering its products in larger packaging formats which will result in a greater contribution margin per kilogram.

Blue Heron and Save-On-Foods are both well attuned to evolution of consumer and consumption preferences. These changes are consistent with the trends outlined in a recent research study conducted by Research and Markets ("Vegan Cheese Market to 2027 - Global Analysis and Forecast - by Product Type, Form, Source, and Distribution Channel") the Non-Dairy Cheese Market Size was valued at US $2.7 billion in 2019, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% during 2020-2027 to reach US $4.65 billion by 2027.

Livleen Veslemes joins Blue Heron as President

Blue Heron is thrilled to announce that Livleen Veslemes will join Blue Heron as President effective August 16, 2021. Livleen is a seasoned leader, executive and entrepreneur in both the retail food and beverage and medical sciences industries in Canada and the United States having been a key leader in the exponential growth of a number of companies over the past 15 years. Livleen is a Chartered Professional Accountant ("CPA") and has multiple years of public company experience in both an operational and financial role. Karen McAthy, Blue Heron Founder & CEO commented, "Blue Heron could not be more excited to have Livleen join our growing business. Her experiences will no-doubt help to successfully drive Blue Heron's immediate growth plans, both in food production and distribution and our science led R&D work. Additionally, Livleen's outlook on life and the purpose of business is completely aligned with the values of our Company and how we are looking to make a positive, and long-lasting, impact on the communities and industries we serve."

Equity Financing and Accelerator Grant

To fund Blue Heron's aggressive growth strategy the Company has completed a non-brokered financing of $1,203,027 through the issuance of 4,063,423 shares at $0.30 per share. Funds were raised privately through Blue Heron's board of directors network and closed on August 9, 2021.

The Company has also been approved for a significant non-dilutive capital injection through a British Columbia-based grant program which will provide Blue Heron with $250,000 towards capacity expansion costs associated with key equipment purchases, new packaging and aging caves. The funds raised between the equity financing and government grant will be allocated general operating expenditures and small capital investments in equipment for the production facility. "We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation," says Karen McAthy.

Updated Blue Heron Web Presence

The Company has also launched its newly rebranded website and brand, which can be viewed at https://www.blueheroncheese.com and across the Company social media channels. The website features improved user functionality, bold branding and improved imagery. Blue Heron aims to use this website to share its story in a functional way so new and existing customers can be better informed about the Company's unique offerings and compassion to create food for the greater good.

About Blue Heron Creamery

Blue Heron Creamery is an award-winning, next-generation plant-based innovator and producer of 100% dairy-free, vegan artisan cheeses. Blue Heron uses true cheese-making methodologies by utilizing a proprietary science-first approach with active bacterial cultures and enzymes specific to plant-based protein reactions.

For further information please contact:

Karen McAthy

Chief Executive Officer

Chef@blueheroncheese.com

604-710-6846

Kevan Matheson

Corporate Communications and Investor Relations

Invest@blueheroncheese.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

In the interests of providing Blue Heron Creamery Ltd. ("Blue Heron " or the "Corporation") potential investors with information regarding Blue Heron, including Management's assessment of future plans and operations relating to the Corporation, this document contains certain statements and information that are forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, and which are collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements in this document include, but are not limited to statements and tables (collectively "statements") with respect to: capital projects and expenditures; strategic initiatives; anticipated activity and industry trends; and anticipated performance. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, as well as known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur and which may cause Blue Heron's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things: Blue Heron's ability to successfully implement strategic initiatives and whether such initiatives yield the expected benefits; future operating results, Blue Heron's ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet its current and future obligations; its ability to access external sources of debt and equity capital; economic conditions; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the reports and filings made with securities regulatory authorities by Blue Heron. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date of this document or the dates specifically referenced herein. All forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Any financial outlook or future-oriented financial information, as defined by applicable securities legislation, has been approved by management of Blue Heron. Such financial outlook or future-oriented financial information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and goals relating to the future of Blue Heron. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Corporation is not a "reporting issuer" in any province or territory in Canada or equivalent in the United States. There is no guarantee that a going public transaction will be completed or that the Corporation will become listed on any stock exchange. Accordingly, the Corporation may never complete a going public transaction and may never become a "reporting issuer" in any jurisdiction in Canada or the elsewhere.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94219
24thAugust 2021

Dear Shareholder,

You may have received a letter from Philip J Milton of Philip J Milton & Company plc. Mr. Milton has not provided a copy of his letter to the Company although other shareholders did on the day they received it. We are grateful to them for that. The Board's advice is that you ignore it. It misrepresents the facts, and we refute his assertions.

In particular, the Board would like to refute the following points in the order that they appear in the letter:

Contrary to the statement in Mr. Milton's letter, all of the directors own shares in the Company, either directly or indirectly, as disclosed in the 2021 Annual Report and one director purchased shares during that year.

Your Board and Company Secretary have at all times engaged fully with Mr. Milton. The information provided to him was not to his liking.

On 5th August 2021 Mr. Milton completed a proper purpose form requesting a copy of the Company's share register. He was provided with a copy of the register on 12th August, within the deadline stipulated in the Companies Act 2006.

On 20 th May 2021 , some nine weeks prior to Mr. Milton's request for the share register, your Company served a Section 793 notice on Philip J Milton & Company plc. This is a provision of the Companies Act 2006 that compels nominee accounts to disclose who the beneficial owners of a company's shares are. We wanted to know who Mr. Milton's clients were (our shareholders) so that we could communicate with them. Because of his failure to comply with that s793 notice, the majority of the shares he claims to have in his control are now disenfranchised in accordance with the Company's Articles of Association. When Mr. Milton provided the requested information in relation to shares owned by him and his company those shares were re-enfranchised. He has, however, refused to provide any information on his client's shareholdings in the Company, and as consequence is now in breach of the Companies Act 2006. This is a matter we hope will be resolved by Mr. Milton providing the information that we have requested regarding his clients. To be clear, your Company is entitled to this information by law and failure to comply with the Act is an offence.

, some nine weeks prior to Mr. Milton's request for the share register, your Company served a Section 793 notice on Philip J Milton & Company plc. This is a provision of the Companies Act 2006 that compels nominee accounts to disclose who the beneficial owners of a company's shares are. We wanted to know who Mr. Milton's clients were (our shareholders) so that we could communicate with them. Because of his failure to comply with that s793 notice, the majority of the shares he claims to have in his control are now disenfranchised in accordance with the Company's Articles of Association. When Mr. Milton provided the requested information in relation to shares owned by him and his company those shares were re-enfranchised. He has, however, refused to provide any information on his client's shareholdings in the Company, and as consequence is now in breach of the Companies Act 2006. This is a matter we hope will be resolved by Mr. Milton providing the information that we have requested regarding his clients. To be clear, your Company is entitled to this information by law and failure to comply with the Act is an offence. As regards our share price, the best way to improve that is by growing the net asset value, which we are doing. It rose 31.2% last year. Furthermore, our new focus on technology will almost certainly make the fund more appealing to many more investors and we intend to start marketing it as an alternative to established technology funds that sell on net asset value or above while having less good performance. This should attract new buyers for our shares and narrow the discount. As to the spread in our shares this, unfortunately, is not something that we can control. We, like all shareholders, resent it. We have written to the London Stock Exchange and complained in the hope that they will do something about it. We would urge all shareholders to do the same.

Mr. Milton notes the Company's investment policy and its objective. He then goes on to copy sections of Blue Planet Investment Management Ltd's website (www.blueplanet.eu) relating to the services they can provide to their clients. Those sections have nothing whatsoever to do with your Company. This has been made clear to Mr. Milton.

It is noted that Mr. Milton has used his letter to you as an opportunity to sell his services, boasting about his "best investment period", without substantiating any of it. This marketing of services was not noted in the proper purpose request that Mr. Milton was required to complete prior to receipt of confidential data regarding our shareholders (i.e., the share register). It is there to ensure that confidential data is only released for what the Companies Act calls a "proper purpose" and to ensure compliance with both the Data Protection Act and the Companies Act 2006. The fact that Mr. Milton, a regulated person, chose to omit that he wanted to use the data for what would be regarded as an improper purpose under the Act, is concerning.

As far as the Board is aware Mr. Milton does not have any experience as an investment manager of listed investment trusts and most of his investment of client funds is in other investment funds and trusts, rather than directly in companies providing goods or services. He also fails to mention that in 2013 (Decision reference: DRN0445269) and again in 2021 (Decision reference: DRN3501256) the Financial Ombudsman Service found that Philip J Milton & Company had put clients into inappropriate, high risk, investments and ordered them to pay compensation to those clients for the losses they suffered as a result of the firm's failure to adhere to their clients instructions. The Financial Ombudsman rulings can be found on their website www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk. Simply search "decisions" and type in the company name.

Additional Matters

To provide shareholders with more background on Mr. Milton's investments in the Trust we are providing information on the communications that took place in early 2021, the subsequent actions by Mr. Milton and his company and the effects of these.

As it was entitled to, your Board changed the Trust's asset allocation in October 2020 to concentrate more on capital growth, including more technology stocks and fewer bonds. This change was welcomed and supported by shareholders. In so doing, it inadvertently created a problem for Philip J Milton & Co because it altered the risk profile of our shares, as perceived by Mr. Milton, to a level that was incompatible with his client's stipulated risk requirements. This change and our focus on capital growth no longer suited his clients.

On the 8th of February 2021, Mr. Milton wrote to Kenneth Murray complimenting him on the Trust's investment performance and expressing his concerns regarding our increased focus on capital growth. In conversation he told Kenneth Murray that because of our change in focus, our shares were no longer suitable for his clients and in consequence, his firm would be selling them.

That should have been straightforward, but they were unable to do so. The position they had built up was so large and illiquid that they could not sell it. Having been unable to sell their clients' shares and ensure compliance with client agreements and their clients' instructions that way, Mr. Milton then embarked on a series of attempts to get out of what is a problem of his own creation by other means.

Mr. Milton wrote to Kenneth Murray again on the 5th of March 2021 expressing his view that as a result of the new asset allocation "the risk to investors in the Trust are immense" and asked the Board to consider changing the name of the Trust to the "Blue Planet Ethical Tech Trust" which he hoped would attract new buyers for the shares and allow him to exit the investment. That idea did not appeal to the Board and was rejected. Mr. Milton then asked us to revert to our previous asset allocation to give him time to find a buyer for his shares. The Board declined that as well but offered to help him find a buyer for his shares. Eventually after a series of other attempts to get out of his predicament, all of which the Board rejected, he sought to cajole then bully the Trust's investment manager into transferring the management of the Trust to his firm, presumably so that he could change the Trust's asset allocation policy and get out of his predicament that way. The manager notified the Board of the Trust about this.

It would appear what Mr. Milton wanted was for your Board to run your Company for his benefit and not for that of all shareholders. We are never going to accept that. Having been unable to sell their clients' shares or get your Board to fix their problem for them, what Philip J Milton & Company did next was concerning. They bought more shares. This was despite Mr. Milton, who is also the firm's Compliance Officer, concluding that those shares carried "immense" risks and were unsuitable for his clients.

Wealth managers typically have standard agreements with their clients. A copy of Philip J Milton & Company's client agreement can be found at:

https://www.miltonpj.net/documents/Discretionary%20Client%20Agreement.pdf

Appendix 2. Section D2. of that agreement states that:

"The Company has discretion to act on behalf of Clients within the given investment aims. There are no restrictions whatsoever on the type of investment which may be considered in fulfilling Clients' objectives except thatthe purchase of non-readily realisable investments.... is not permitted".

The term "non-readily realisable investments" is not defined in Philip J Milton & Company's client agreement. What it would commonly be understood to mean, and which it is likely that most of Milton's clients will have taken it to mean is, investments that cannot readily be sold and turned into cash.

On the 18th of March 2021, we were notified that Philip J Milton & Company had acquired an additional 663,729 shares in the Trust, taking their shareholding from 17.09% to 18.43% of our share capital. Those shares were acquired on the 24th of February 2021, two weeks after they had notified us that they were unsuitable for their clients and would have to be sold and one month after the Financial Ombudsman had, for a second time, censured the firm and ordered it to pay compensation for putting its clients into unsuitable investments that carried more risk than those clients had stipulated they were prepared to tolerate.

Philip J Milton & Company have now built up a 19.1% stake in the Company using their clients' money. That would take 323 trading days, at average trading volumes, to sell. Few would consider waiting for well over a year to achieve a sale as being readily realisable and we are concerned that their clients may now effectively be trapped in an investment they should not be in.

Another point of concern to the Board relates to Philip J Milton & Company compliance, or apparent lack of it, with Clause D3 of the agreement they have with their discretionary clients. This states that:

"Underlying beneficial ownership remains with the client who retains all rights attributable to Investments held (such as voting)."

We have therefore requested evidence that the clients have explicitly given permission to Mr. Milton to cast their votes. We have yet to receive a satisfactory response.

In summary, Mr. Milton's motives are not to further your interests. Nothing could be further from the truth. He is attempting to use you and the Company to get himself and his firm out of a serious problem of his own making. His clients are now collectively trapped in an illiquid investment that according to Mr. Milton they should no longer be in and which he cannot easily get them out of.

In him we have a managing director and compliance officer of a regulated business who is in breach of the Companies Act and has been for months, who has twice been found by the Financial Ombudsman to have failed to adhere to his clients' instructions and who shows an apparent disregard for the agreements he has entered into with his clients. His implication that he somehow is "in liaison with the regulatory authorities" is wrong and an improper suggestion.

Your Board is committed to creating value for you, our shareholders. We have a clear, carefully thought-out strategy that last year delivered a NAV total return of 31.6%. Our highest ever. We have a portfolio of carefully researched, exciting, rapidly growing companies in new and evolving markets. We are invested in the technologies of the future and are confident that our portfolio will produce exceptional returns for our shareholders over the coming years. In addition, we have since our merger in 2012 paid our shareholders dividends totalling 24.13p, the equivalent of 134% of our share price at the time of the merger.

We hope you will continue to support your Board and ignore Mr. Milton's letter. Our future is very bright together. We wish you well and thank you for your support.

Your sincerely,

The Board of Blue Planet Investment Trust plc


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Joe Biden said the overwhelming majority of Americans who have been hospitalized with COVID-19 and almost all of those dying from the disease are not vaccinated.



Biden made this claim while delivering remarks on his administration's COVID-19 Response and the Vaccination Program.



'While we're starting to see initial signs that cases may be declining in a few places, nationwide cases are still rising, especially among the unvaccinated,' he noted.



'Across the country, virtually all of the COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths continue to be among the unvaccinated. That's worse in states where vaccination rates are overall low,' he added.



There are cases where vaccinated people do get COVID-19, but they are far less common than unvaccinated people getting COVID-19. And most importantly, their conditions are far less severe, the President explained.



Overall weekly new vaccinations are up more than 56 percent from where they were a month ago, according to him.



'If you're fully vaccinated - both shots, plus two weeks - your risk of severe illness from COVID-19 is very, very, very low.'



The President said he knows that parents are concerned about COVID-19 cases among their children. 'I'll be addressing this soon with Secretary Cardona to discuss how to get our kids back to school safely,' he told reporters.



The President pleaded in earnest to those who haven't received vaccinated, to get it now.



The president claimed that new federal requirements and incentives in some states such as offering $100 for getting vaccinated are accelerating vaccinations once again, 'giving us the hope that we can put this Delta variant behind us in the weeks ahead.'



Citing the examples of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, Biden said that states that had been lagging are seeing their vaccination rates grow faster.



According to the experts from the Yale School of Public Health, the pace of U.S. vaccination effort has saved more than 100,000 lives and has prevented more than 450,000 hospitalizations. 'This is critical progress, but we need to move faster,' Biden said.



As per the latest data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 171,088,954 people in the United States, or 51.5 percent of the population, have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. This includes 81.2 percent of people above 65.



With 229831 new cases of coronavirus infections reporting in the United States on Monday, the national total has increased to 37,941,620, as per the latest data from Johns Hopkins University.



910 additional casualties took the national COVID death toll to 629,564.



A total of 30,570,229 people have so far recovered from the disease in the country.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
The next-generation Cellvizio platform is now cleared for use with fluorescein dye to image blood flow in the microvasculature and capillaries as a combination drug-device

Regulatory News:

Mauna Kea Technologies (Euronext: MKEA) (Paris:MKEA) (OTCQX:MKEAY) inventor of Cellvizio, the multidisciplinary probe and needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (p/nCLE) platform, today announces that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for its next-generation Cellvizio platform and all associated Confocal Miniprobes for a new clinical indication for visualization of blood flow when used in conjunction with a fluorescent dye, fluorescein, as a drug-device combination (K212322). This marks the 19th U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance of the Cellvizio p/nCLE platform.

The next-generation Cellvizio platformhas already been cleared by U.S. FDA 510(k) for the vizualisation of the internal microstructure of tissues including, but not limited to, the identification of cells and vessels and their organization or architecture (K193416). Building upon the success of the previous models, the new generation of Cellvizio equips physicians with the most advanced cellular imaging technology to improve patients' lives. The platform includes several new features: an all-new workflow for endoscopic, bronchoscopic, or operating environments via integrated connectivity; enhanced capabilities enabling artificial intelligence (AI) for assisted pattern recognition; and a small footprint and slim profile allowing easy maneuverability within the procedure room. The Cellvizio real-time in vivo cellular imaging platform is used in the fields of gastroenterology, pulmonology, and urology during endoscopic procedures, as well as laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgeries.

"This new FDA clearance of our next-generation Cellvizio platform in combination with a fluorescent dye is an additional validation of Cellvizio's unique capability to image, in real time, in vivo and at the cellular level, blood flow in the microvasculature and capillaries and represents a major regulatory milestone for Mauna Kea Technologies" commented Robert L. Gershon, Chief Executive Officer of Mauna Kea Technologies. "Our next-generation Cellvizio platform will be presented, in-person, to the international community of gastroenterologists and GI surgeons during the American Foregut Society (AFS) and Viszeralmedizin (DGVS) conferences in September in Nashville, Tennessee, and Leipzig, Germany, respectively, and is now available to order as part of our formal commercial launch."

About Mauna Kea Technologies

Mauna Kea Technologies is a global medical device company that manufactures and sells Cellvizio, the real-time in vivo cellular imaging platform. This technology uniquely delivers in vivo cellular visualization which enables physicians to monitor the progression of disease over time, assess point-in-time reactions as they happen in real-time, classify indeterminate areas of concern, and guide surgical interventions. The Cellvizio platform is used globally across a wide range of medical specialties and is making a transformative change in the way physicians diagnose and treat patients. For more information, visit www.maunakeatech.com.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Mauna Kea Technologies and its activities. Such forward looking statements are based on assumptions that Mauna Kea Technologies considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that the anticipated events contained in such forward-looking statements will occur. Forward- looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties including the risks set forth in the Universal Registration Document of Mauna Kea Technologies registered by the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des marches financiers (AMF)) on June 17, 2021 and available on the Company's website (www.maunakeatech.com), and to the development of economic situation, financial markets, and the markets in which Mauna Kea Technologies operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are also subject to risks unknown to Mauna Kea Technologies or that Mauna Kea Technologies does not consider material at this time. The realization of all or part of these risks could lead to actual results, financial conditions, performances or achievements by Mauna Kea Technologies that differ significantly from the results, financial conditions, performances or achievements expressed in such forward-looking statements. This press release and the information it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or to subscribe for, or a solicitation of an order to purchase or subscribe for, Mauna Kea Technologies shares in any country.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005647/en/

Contacts:

United States

Mike Piccinino, CFA

Westwicke, an ICR Company

443-213-0500

France and Europe

NewCap Investor Relations

Thomas Grojean

+33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

maunakea@newcap.eu
ABOUT ACTIVEPURE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC: Privately held ActivePure is the global leader in active, continuous surface and air disinfection systems for healthcare and educational institutions, commercial and public facilities and hospitality and residential applications, since 1924. ActivePure includes the patented ActivePure Technology, the most powerful surface and air purification technology ever discovered that is safe for use around people, pets and plants. It is the only one in its class recognized by the Space Foundation as Certified Space Technology and included in the Space Foundation Hall of Fame. ActivePure Technology is engineered based on technology originally developed by NASA that has evolved to reduce exposure to diseases, including RNA and DNA viruses, bacteria and molds, by 99.9% . ActivePure's eight brands include Aerus Enterprise Solutions, Aerus Global , ActivePure Medical , ActivePure Technology , Allergy Buyers Club, Beyond by Aerus , The Pure Company and Vollara . Additionally, the ActivePure Medical Guardian is registered and cleared as an FDA Class II Medical Device. For more information, please visit ActivePure.com , or call 888-217-4316.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Regulatory News:

Total Gabon (Paris:EC):

Main Financial Indicators

Q2 21 Q1 21 Q2 21 vs. Q1 21 H1 21 H1 20 H1 21 vs. H1 20 Average Brent price $/b 69.0 61.1 +13% 65.0 40.1 +62% Average Total Gabon crude price (1) $/b 65.1 54.4 +20% 61.5 30.7 +100% Crude oil production from fields operated by Total Gabon kb/d (2) 14.4 18.5 -22% 16.4 20.3 -19%. Crude oil production from Total Gabon interests (3) kb/d 22.6 26.8 -16% 24.7 26.6 -7% Sales volumes (1) Mb (4) 2.34 2.08 +13% 4.40 5.18 -15% Revenues (5) M$ 172 139 +24% 311 187 +66% Funds generated from operations (6) M$ 34 88 -61%. 122 85 +44%. Capital expenditure M$ 18 18 0% 36 16 +125% Net income M$ 13 -1 n.a 12 -59 n.a

Excluding profit oil reverting to the Gabonese Republic as per production sharing contracts. kb/d: Thousand barrels per day Including profit oil reverting to the Gabonese Republic as per production sharing contracts. Mb: Million barrels. Revenue from hydrocarbon sales and services (transportation, processing and storage), including profit oil reverting to the Gabonese Republic as per production sharing contracts. Funds generated from operations are comprised of the operating cash flow, the gains or losses on disposals of assets and the working capital changes.

Second quarter and first half 2020 statements

Selling Price

The selling price of the crude oil grade marketed by Total Gabon averaged $65.1 per barrel, during the second quarter 2021, up 20% compared to first quarter 2021.

The selling price for the first half 2021 averaged 61,5 $/b, up 100% compared to the first semester 2020, reflecting the increase in the average Brent price as well as a the significant improvement in crude oil differentials from fields operated by Total Gabon.

Production

Total Gabon's equity share of operated and non-operated oil production(1) amounted to 22,600 barrels per day during the second quarter 2021 up 16% compared to the first quarter 2021, mainly due to:

the five-year shutdown of the Torpille field in May.

Total Gabon's equity share of operated and non-operated oil production(1) amounted to 24,700 barrels per day during the first half 2021 up 7% compared to the first half 2020, mainly due to:

the five-year shutdown of the Torpille field in May;

a partial production unavailability on the Baudroie operated field due to damage to an evacuation line;

the natural decline of the fields.

This was partly offset by:

the gains on the non-operated Grondin sector, from the conversion campaign of well activation from gas-lift to electrical submersible pumps.

The five-year shutdown of the Torpille field took place in May in line with the planned program and schedule. During this shutdown, regulatory inspections and maintenance activities were carried out, as well as efficiency improvement works on the main compressor reliability and performance.

Revenues

Despite the production drop during Torpille field planned shutdown, average selling price improvement allows second quarter 2021 revenues to increase by 24% to $172 million compared to the first quarter 2021.

Revenues amounted to $311 million in the first half 2021. Although impacted by less favorable lifting program, they increased by 66% compared to the first half 2020 due to average selling price strong improvement.

Funds generated from Operations

Cash flow from operations amounted to $34 million in the second quarter 2021, down 61% compared to the first quarter 2021. The variance is mainly explained by the higher need in working capital, notably driven by the increase in receivables driven by the increase of prices during the period.

Cash flow from operations amounted to $122 million in the first half 2021, up 44% compared to the first half 2020.

Capital Expenditure

Capital expenditure amounted to $36 million during the first half 2021, up 125% compared to the first half 2020. This includes, mainly five-year shutdown of Torpille field and integrity works on the operated sector; mainly the completion of the conversion campaign of well activation from gas-lift to electrical submersible pumps and the installation of a gas pipeline on Grondin non-operated sector.

Net Income

Net income for the second quarter 2021 amounted to $13 million and $12 million for the first half 2021, sharp increase compared to the first quarter 2021 and the first half 2020. The increase is mainly explained by the average selling price improvement.

Highlights since the beginning of second quarter 2021

Corporate governance

Total Gabon's ordinary Shareholders' Meeting was held on May 27, 2021 in Libreville and approved the payment of a net dividend of $4.50 per share related to the financial year 2020, representing $20.25 million.

This dividend was paid on June 10, 2021 in an equivalent amount of 3.69 per share based on the European Central Bank's rate of $1.2198 for one euro on May 27, 2021.

Societe anonyme incorporated in Gabon with a Board of Directors and share capital of $76,500,000

Headquarters: Boulevard Hourcq, Port-Gentil, BP 525, Gabonese Republic

www.total.ga

Registered in Port-Gentil: 2000 B 00011

(1) Including profit oil reverting to the Gabonese Republic as per production sharing contracts.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005776/en/

Contacts:

actionnariat-totalgabon@total.com
BEIJING, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 2021 is a crucial year for advancing climate action. To mobilize, showcase, and maximize young people's strength in tackling climate change, the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) announces the ClimateX Summit - a global initiative led by GAUC to engage youth around the world.

ClimateX aims to help move the world towards a Net-Zero Carbon Future. The summit will be held from October 25 to 29, building on the momentum of global climate events scheduled for this fall, including the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

ClimateX will focus on climate and four areas: Nature & Biodiversity, Food & Health, Energy, and Transportation, through three distinct tracks: Academic, Action and Voices.

Academic papers, policy proposals, and short videos, showcasing efforts by young people to mitigate climate change, will be shared with global policy makers during the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

-Academic: Hosted by Tsinghua, Oxford, Yale and Columbia, the Academic Track calls for papers from graduate students who attend schools in GAUC, and from students at non-member universities. (Abstract submission deadline is September 5 )

-Action: Students from different GAUC universities will brainstorm climate solutions during a 5-day, 7-hour Hackathon.

-Voice: In partnership with the COP26 Universities Network, this track calls for short video clips from global youth, communicating their thoughts on climate change. (Video submission deadline is by August 31)

Young people who are interested in viewing or participating in ClimateX events for this year can go to http://climatex2021.gauc.net/

For more enquiries of the Summit, please email: gaucevent@tsinghua.edu.cn

GAUC was initiated in January 2019, when eight universities made a joint statement at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

Currently, GAUC has 15 member universities and the mission of the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate is to advance climate change solutions through research, education, and public outreach, and to partner with industry, non-profit and government organizations to promote rapid implementation from a local to a global scale.

GAUC will pursue this mission by promoting exchange and cooperation among member universities and providing leadership in global higher education efforts to address climate change.

Check out The China Report, our new weekly newsletter. Subscribe here!

https://newsus.cgtn.com/news/2021-08-24/GAUC-to-hold-global-youth-summit-on-a-zero-carbon-future-12YqO6YSU5q/index.html

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1601044/image.jpg
CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - US President Joe Biden is reportedly set to conduct a meeting with the heads of the world's largest tech companies on Wednesday to discuss about the country's cybersecurity. According to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) Tim Cook, Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) Satya Nadella and Amazon.com Inc.'s (AMZN) Andy Jassy plan to attend the event scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in White House. The report says that the executives would discuss about efforts taken by big companies, including those in the banking, energy and water utility sectors, to improve cybersecurity. The tech executives will discuss how software can be used to improve security. CEOs of companies including Alphabet Inc.'s (GOOG) Google, International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), Southern Co. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. have also been invited. The meeting comes at a time when cybersecurity has become a big issue due to massive cyber and ransomware attacks on energy infrastructure, including that of Colonial Pipeline Co. Cyber hacking groups based in Russia were largely behind those attacks. In July, it was also revealed that China-based hackers had attacked 23 U.S. pipeline companies from 2011 through 2013. Russian hackers even hacked government systems, including the Department of Defense, in December 2020. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 24, 2021) - Deveron Corp. (TSXV: FARM) ("Deveron" or the "Company"), a leading agriculture digital services and analytics provider in North America, is pleased to announce that further to its press releases of August 3 and 17, 2021, the Company has closed the final tranche of its $8,210,957 private placement, through the issuance of 1,229,620 units in the capital of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.65 per Unit for gross proceeds of $799,253 (the "Offering"). Each Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one-half of one whole Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.85 per Common Share for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance.

"We are pleased to see significant investor demand for our financing, raising in total over $8 million," commented David MacMillan, Deveron's President and CEO. "We remain focused on consolidating the independent agriculture crop consultant market under Deveron's banner. We will continue investing significantly in our digital ecosystem where our clients and partners amass significant amounts of unique data, leading to increased yields, reduced costs and improved outcomes on the farm."

All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation. Gross proceeds raised from the Offering will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid certain eligible persons (the "Finders") a cash commission in total of $33,606.25, equal to 8% of the gross proceeds of the Offering delivered by Finders and issued a total of 51,701 non-transferable broker warrants ("Broker Warrants"), equal to 8% of the Units delivered by Finders pursuant to the Offering. Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share for a period of two years from the closing of the Offering at a price of $0.65 per Common Share.

The Offering constituted a related party transaction within the meaning of TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as insiders of the Company subscribed for 25,000 Units pursuant to the Offering. The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on a specified market and the fair market value of the participation in the Offering by the insider does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company in accordance with MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the of the Offering, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the Offering in an expeditious manner.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons as defined under applicable United States securities laws unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Deveron: Deveron is an agriculture technology company that uses data and insights to help farmers and large agriculture enterprises increase yields, reduce costs and improve farm outcomes. The company employs a digital process that leverages data collected on farms across North America to drive unbiased interpretation of production decisions, ultimately recommending how to optimize input use. Our team of agronomists and data scientists build products that recommend ways to manage fertilizer, seed, fungicide and other farm inputs better. Additionally, we have a national network of data technicians that are deployed to collect various types of farm data, from soil to drone, that build a basis of our best in class data layers. Our focus is the US and Canada where 1 billion acres of farmland are actively farmed annually.

For more information and to join our community, please visit www.deveronuas.com or reach us on Twitter @DeveronUAS or @MyVeritas_HQ

David MacMillan

President & CEO Deveron Corp.

416-367-4571 ext. 221

dmacmillan@deveronuas.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under Canadian securities laws. Without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involve various degrees of risk. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current views with respect to possible future events and conditions and, by their nature, are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of agricultural commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in agriculture, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. Additional information regarding the material factors and assumptions that were applied in making these forward looking statements as well as the various risks and uncertainties we face are described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of our annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis of our financial results and other continuous disclosure documents and financial statements we file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update this forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward looking statements.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94285
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 24, 2021) - Green Rise Foods Inc. (TSXV: GRF) ("Green Rise" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Enrico "Rick" Paolone as the Chair of the Company's Board of Directors.

A co-founder, Mr. Paolone has advised the Green Rise Board since the Company's inception in 2017. In July 2020, he became a Board member serving on the Company's Audit Committee. With over 30 years of Capital Markets experience, Mr. Paolone has consulted and advised some of the leading portfolio managers in both Canada and the USA. He specializes in identifying high-growth emerging companies. A founding partner of the Haywood Capital Markets Division ("Haywood"), Mr. Paolone also held several leadership roles at Haywood including Executive Vice President and Branch Manager of the Toronto Office. Mr. Paolone holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation as well as degrees in Economics and Finance.

Stepping down as Chair but remaining as a Director and the Company's Chief Executive Officer and co-founder is Vincent Narang. "On behalf of the Board I would like to congratulate Rick on his appointment to Chair," said Vincent Narang.

ABOUT GREEN RISE

Green Rise is a grower of fresh produce with 73 acres of greenhouse ranges located in Kingsville, Ontario. Poised to be the "best-in-class" contract grower of fresh produce, the Company takes pride in providing high-quality, consistent and reliable product to meet the growing consumer demand for locally grown fresh produce. By leveraging innovative growing solutions and embracing technology, Green Rise seeks to optimize its operations to generate improved product quality, expand profit margins, and provide investors with meaningful and growing returns. The company is proud to be an environmentally sustainable investment, producing locally grown, pesticide-free, bee-pollinated fresh produce using 90% less water. The company is proud that its first range is EFI (Equity Food Initiative) certified.

Contact Information

For further information, please contact:

Green Rise

George Hatzoglou

Phone: +1-416-551-5015

E-mail: info@greenrisefoods.ca

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94296
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 24, 2021) - Andean Precious Metals Corp. (TSXV: APM) ("Andean" or the "Company"), a Latin-American focused, precious metals production and exploration company, today reported its operational and financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021. All amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars unless indicated otherwise.

Q2 2021 Highlights

Revenues of $38.0 million, an increase of $25.4 million compared to Q2 2020;

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") ( 1) of $10.3 million, an increase of $8.1 million compared to Q2 2020;

of $10.3 million, an increase of $8.1 million compared to Q2 2020; Net income of $3.9 million;

Free cash flow ( 1 , 2 ) of $10.3 million;

of $10.3 million; Ending cash balance of $79.0 million, compared to $38.5 million as at December 31, 2020;

Silver equivalent production(3) of 1.4 million ounces and sales of 1.3 million ounces at an all-in sustaining cost of $18.97 per ounce of silver.

Luis da Silva, the Company's President and CEO, stated, "Our strong financial results continue to enhance Andean's treasury position whilst maintaining a clean capital structure. During such time as we review sector diversification opportunities, we shall build on our strong cash position, which is rather unique among junior producers. For the second half of 2021, we will continue to advance our exploration program and the evaluation of the tailings reprocessing opportunity at the San Bartolome plant."

Operational and Financial Results

Financial Performance(4) Q2 2021 Q2 2020 Revenue $ 38.0 $ 12.6 Cost of sales $ 24.4 $ 7.6 Income from mine operations $ 11.3 $ 2.9 Net income (loss) $ 3.9 $ (0.3) Operating cash flow $ 11.4 $ (0.1) Free cash flow(1,2) $ 10.3 $ (0.2) Adjusted EBITDA(1) $ 10.3 $ 2.2 Ending cash and cash equivalents $ 79.0 $ 9.4 Capital expenditures $ 1.1 $ 0.2 Cash operating costs ("COC")(1) $ 16.47 $ 13.35 All-in sustaining costs ("AISC")(1) $ 18.97 $ 15.65

Revenue for the second quarter of 2021 was $38.0 million compared to $12.6 million in the second quarter of 2020. Revenue growth was driven by a year-over-year increase in silver equivalent sales volumes of 92% to 1.4 million silver equivalent ounces and higher realized prices of $26.71 per ounce of silver in the second quarter of 2021 compared with $17.00 per ounce of silver for the second quarter of 2020. Cost of sales, including direct costs and mining royalty taxes, were $24.4 million compared to $7.6 million in the second quarter of 2020, corresponding to the increase in sales. As a result, income from mine operations increased to $11.3 million from $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2020.

General and administrative costs increased to $2.2 million compared to $1.2 million in the second quarter of 2020. The significant components of these expenses include the costs of salaries and office administration, management fees, and community relations expenses. Deferred income taxes of $7.1 million were recorded during the second quarter of fiscal 2021, relative to none during the second quarter of fiscal 2020. Overall, the net income for the second quarter of 2021 totaled $3.9 million.

Operational Performance Q2 2021 Q2 2020 Mined ore(1) (k dmt) 473 342 Average ore mined grade (Ag g/t) 96 102 Purchased ore(2) (k dmt) 136 18 Average purchased ore grade (Ag g/t) 198 283 Ore milled(3) (k dmt) 430 271 Daily average throughput (k dmt) 4,888 4,670 Average head grade (Ag g/t) 115 111 Silver recovery (%) 84 92 Silver production (k ozs) 1,326 888 Silver equivalent production (k ozs) 1,415 886 Silver sales (k ozs) 1,334 703 Silver equivalent sales (k ozs) 1,424 740

(1) Mined ore includes ore from permitted mineral reserve areas, including the Pallacos areas (Santa Rita, Huacajchi and Antuco) and mine waste stockpile areas (El Asiento and Tatasi-Portugalete). Mined ore is reported as +8 mesh.

(2) Purchased ore includes ore purchased at Cachi Laguna and oxide purchases from local mining cooperatives.

(3) Ore milled includes ore processed from mined, purchased, and stockpiled ore.

Silver equivalent production by source (k ozs) Q2 2021 Q2 2020 Pallacos 526 711 Mine waste stockpiles 200 35 Cachi Laguna 128 - Oxide purchases 561 142 Total silver equivalent production 1,415 886

2021 Outlook Update and Guidance

The Company produced 2.9 million silver equivalent ounces from its operations during the first half of 2021 from its mineral reserves and its third-party ore sourcing business. During the remainder of 2021, the Company will focus mining production at the Santa Rita Pallacos area. Mining will also continue at the Company's high-grade mine waste stockpile areas. In July 2021, production commenced at the Monserrat mine waste stockpile area, which contains higher grade material than the Company's Pallacos areas.

The Company has commenced sonic drilling of the tailings facility which will inform a mineral resource estimate followed by a technical study on the economic viability of reprocessing approximately 10 million tonnes contained in its tailings facilities. Manquiri's production records suggest potentially economic quantities of recoverable silver and tin exists in the tailings.

The Company continues to expand its third-party ore sourcing business from locations outside Cerro Rico. As the San Bartolome operation contains the only large-scale commercial oxide plant in the country, the Company is leveraging this advantage with its strong working capital position and actively reviewing additional purchasing opportunities throughout Bolivia. The Company currently purchases ore from 32 out of approximately 1,700 mining cooperatives within Bolivia.

The following table sets out Andean's first half 2021 results against its full-year 2021 production and cost guidance:

YTD 2021

Actual FY 2021

Guidance(1) Silver equivalent production 2.9M oz 5.8M to 6.1M oz AISC (by-product) $ 18.15/Ag oz $ 17.50 to $19.50/Ag oz

(1) Andean's assumed commodity prices supporting this estimate are $24.00/ounce silver and $1,750/ounce gold.

Growth Program

In addition to Andean's production profile and ore sourcing business, the Company also has an active exploration program for two highly prospective properties that Andean owns: Rio Blanco and San Pablo.

At Rio Blanco, Andean began a diamond drilling campaign comprising 22 holes over 5,500 metres with three drill rigs in July 2021. The Company also advanced reconnaissance geological work including trenching totaling 1,500 metres replicating the historic work performed in 1998. This work programme is intended to supplement the drilling campaign.

At San Pablo, Andean completed the first phase of a 10,000 metre diamond drilling campaign, drilling 12 holes totaling 3,580 metres at varying depths in May 2021 with multiple gold bearing zones encountered. The Company also seeks to complete ground-based geophysical surveys in its second phase. The Company expects to release results on the first phase in due course.

Qualified Person Statement

Donald J. Birak, Registered Member SME and Fellow AusIMM and independent qualified person as defined under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information presented herein.

About Andean Precious Metals Corp.

Andean Precious Metals (TSXV: APM) is a Canadian, growth-focused silver producer operating in Bolivia. The Company produced 5.9M silver equivalent ounces in 2020 at an all-in sustaining cost of $14.75 USD per ounce from its own mineral claims, contracts with the state mining company of Bolivia (COMIBOL), and from a high margin third-party ore sourcing business. All processing takes place at the Company's 1.65M tonne per year San Bartolome plant which has the capacity to produce silver dore bars. Andean Precious Metals is committed to fostering safe, sustainable and responsible operations. For more information, please visit www.andeanpm.com.

Company Contact

Luis da Silva

Chief Executive Officer

ir@andeanpm.com

T: +44 7788 640696

Investor Contact N.A.

Daniel Weinerman

NATIONAL Capital Markets

dweinerman@national.ca

T: 416 848 1715

Media Contact Eur.

Oliver Lamb

Consultant

Tavistock

andean@tavistock.co.uk

T: +44 20 7920 3150

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of Andean with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions.

Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but instead reflect Andean's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although Andean believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of Andean. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements are the following: changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws and regulations both locally and in foreign jurisdictions; compliance with extensive government regulation; the risks and uncertainties associated with foreign markets. These forward-looking statements may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of Andean and general market conditions, including COVID-19.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although Andean has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended and such changes could be material. Andean does not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update the forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.

____________________

(1) Free cash flow, Adjusted EBITDA, COC and AISC are measures of financial performance with no prescribed definition under IFRS. Please refer to the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 filed at www.sedar.com for a reconciliation of these items to the Company's financial statements.

(2) Free cash flow is defined as operating cash flow less capital expenditures.

(3) Silver equivalent ounces include gold ounces produced or sold and are converted to a silver equivalent based on a ratio of realized silver and gold prices during the periods discussed.

(4) Figures are presented in US millions, other than COC, AISC and per share figures.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94248
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2021 / Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSXV:PX)(OTC PINK:PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company") today announced that the Board of Directors has approved the grant of 2,050,000 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company. The stock options are exercisable into common shares of the Company at a price of $0.115 per share. Subject to the rules of the TSX Venture Exchange and the Company's Stock Option Plan, the options have a term of five years and will expire on August 24, 2026.

Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Pelangio

Pelangio acquires and explores prospective land packages located in world-class gold belts in Ghana, West Africa and Canada. In Ghana, the Company is exploring its two 100% owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km2 Manfo property, the site of eight near-surface gold discoveries, and the 284 km2 Obuasi property, located 4 km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine, as well as the newly optioned Dankran property located adjacent to its Obuasi property. In Canada, the Company is currently focused in Ontario at its Dome West property, situated some 800 meters from the Dome Mine in Timmins; at its Gowan polymetallic project, located 16 km east of the Kidd Creek Mine, and is exploring its Hailstone property in Saskatchewan. See www.pelangio.com for further detail on all Pelangio's properties.

For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com, or contact:

Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO

Tel: 905-336-3828 / Toll-free: 1-877-746-1632 / Email: info@pelangio.com

SOURCE: Pelangio Exploration Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/661209/Pelangio-Exploration-Grants-Stock-Options
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2021 / Sphinx Resources Ltd. ("Sphinx" or the "Corporation") (TSXV:SFX) is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Deschambault as Chief Executive Officer and President, effective immediately. He is also being appointed a Director. Jeremie Ryan has resigned as Chief Executive Officer and President as well as Director, but will remains available for the transition process.

Mr. Deschambault is a member of the Chartered Public Accountants for 35 years and was a Certification Partner for 22 years for a major Canadian firm. He has acquired good experience in the mining field and more particularly in mineral exploration and also participated in mergers and acquisitions and sale of companies.

Sphinx will continue to evaluate any business opportunities that could improve the return for its shareholders.

On behalf of the Board, Pierre-Andre Viens stated: "We are pleased to have Mr. Deschambault take on the role of CEO and President, and also to welcome him as a member of the Board. We would like also thank Mr. Ryan for his involvement in the Corporation since 2018".

Sphinx is pleased to announce that 3,000,000 stock options (the "Options") have been granted to Mr. Deschambault. These Options have an exercise price of $0.05 per share and are exercisable during a 10-year period. All Options will vest in three equal tranches. These Options have been granted in accordance with Sphinx's stock option plan.

About Sphinx

Sphinx is a mineral exploration company that focuses its activities in southwestern Quebec in search of deposits of precious metals (gold, silver, palladium and platinum) and base metals (copper, zinc and lead).

For further information, please consult Sphinx's website or contact:

Daniel Deschambault

President and Chief Executive Officer

819-860-1016

info@sphinxresources.ca

www.sphinxresources.ca

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and activities to vary materially from targeted results and planning. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in Sphinx's periodic reports including the annual report or in the filings made by Sphinx from time to time with securities regulatory authorities.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Sphinx does not undertake to update any such forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Sphinx Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/661196/Sphinx-Appoints-Daniel-Deschambault-as-CEO-and-Director
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 24, 2021) - CARLYLE COMMODITIES CORP. (CSE: CCC) (FSE: 1OZA) (OTC Pink: DLRYF) ("Carlyle" or the "Company") would like to announce and welcome Mr. Inar Kamaletdinov as its new Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Kamaletdinov is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 9 years of finance experience. He obtained his CPA designation articling with Ernst & Young (EY) Canada and managed assurance engagements for publicly traded companies operating within the natural resource, technology, and manufacturing industries. He has considerable experience in financial reporting under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Post-articling, Mr. Kamaletdinov has worked in financial reporting for Canadian junior mining companies, as well as for a publicly traded asset management solutions organization. Mr. Kamaletdinov graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) with concentration in Accounting from Simon Fraser University.

Furthermore, Carlyle would like to announce the resignation of its current Chief Financial Officer, Bennett Liu. The Company thanks Mr. Liu for his many efforts and support and wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.

About Carlyle

Carlyle is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties. Carlyle owns 100% of the Newton Gold Project in the Clinton Mining Division of B.C, as well has formed a strategic partnership with HDI (The Hunter Dickinson Group) and has formed a 50-50 joint venture with HDI affiliate United Mineral Services Ltd. on the Mack Project located in B.C. The Company has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Cecilia Gold-Silver Project located in the State of Sonora, Mexico. The Company also holds an option to earn a 100% interest in the promising Sunset property located in the Vancouver Mining Division near Pemberton, B.C. Carlyle is based in Vancouver, B.C., and is listed on the CSE under the symbol "CCC."

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

CARLYLE COMMODITIES CORP.

"Morgan Good"

Morgan Good

Chief Executive Officer

For more information regarding this news release, please contact:

Morgan Good, CEO and Director

T: 604-715-4751

E: morgan@carlylecommodities.com

W: www.carlylecommodities.com

The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94255
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - New Zealand will on Wednesday release July figures for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In June, imports were worth NZ$5.69 billion and exports were at NZ$5.95 billion for a trade surplus of NZ$261 million. Australia will see Q2 figures for construction work done, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 2.5 percent on quarter - up from 2.4 percent in the three months prior. Japan will see final June results for its leading and coincident economic indexes; the previous readings were 102.6 and 92.1, respectively. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
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Truke, a German audio brand, has expanded their lineup of truly wireless earbuds in India with the launch of two new gaming-focused earbuds, namely the BTG1 and BTG2. The two earbuds boast a high-performance game core chipset for audio processing, ultra-low latency Bluetooth 5.1 transmission, dual-mic noise cancellation and more.

The BTG1 and BTG2 both feature 13mm Titanium drivers, with support for dual mode configurations that allows users to switch between music and gaming mode. In gaming mode, the earbuds offer an ultra-low latency of 60ms, and they come with special tuning that enhances audio in gaming for positional accuracy and improved gunshot effects.

Each earbud is lightweight, weighing about 4gms, and comes with dual mics with Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) technology for clear calls. For battery life, both the BTG1 and BTG2 offer 10 hours of listening time on a single charge, and a total of 48 hours with the included USB-C charging case.

The BTG1 is available at Flipkart and BTG 2 is available on Amazon, and both are priced at Rs. 1999.

Commenting on the launch, Pankaj Upadhayay, Founder & CEO, Truke, said:
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that six Southern California companies, including a warehousing company based in Fontana, were found guilty of fraud by a federal jury.
Rancho Cucamonga man who is a member of Navy is arrested for allegedly trying to meet a minor for sexual acts
(Meredith)  A 77-year-old woman who was a passenger on a Carnival Cruise ship has died after contracting COVID-19, the cruise line confirmed Tuesday.

The woman was traveling on the Carnival Vista ship that departed from Galveston, Texas on July 31 for Belize and died Aug. 14.

The womans vaccination status was not given, but Carnival said that since ships started sailing again in July, more than 95 percent of passengers have been vaccinated.

The New York Times identified the deceased passenger as Marilyn Tackett of Oklahoma.

Carnival said in a statement that the woman received medical care while on the ship but then was taken off the ship in Belize to receive emergency medical care, where she was put on a ventilator, according to a GoFundMe page set up by her family to help with the cost of medical care. She later was flown back to Tulsa, Oklahoma via air ambulance to receive further care, the Belize Tourism Board said in a press release.

When the ship arrived in Belize, it was reported that 27 people had contracted COVID-19  26 crew members and one passenger.

However, Carnival said the passenger who died almost certainly did not contract the virus on the ship but did not elaborate further. The cruise line said its COVID protocols prevented further spread on the ship.

Carnival implemented a mask mandate on Aug. 7 for anyone in elevators and in designated indoor areas. It also began requiring guests be fully vaccinated and provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding. The company will allow guests who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons to board its ships; however, unvaccinated guests must provide two negative COVID-19 tests before boarding. These new policies were put into place after the Carnival Vista set sail July 31.
PORTLAND, Oregon (KPTV) -- A woman was arrested for attempting to kidnap a child in downtown Portland on Sunday, according to Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.

Portland police responded to the area in front of the Voodoo Donuts at 22 Southwest 3rd Avenue where a woman was attempting to kidnap a child while threatening the parents with a machete. They arrived and took Elizabeth Ann Zurcher-Wood into custody in the area of Southwest 1st and Southwest Ankeny.

Alexandra Perez, the child's mother, told police that she was getting pizza with her 6-year-old son and a group of friends near 3rd Avenue. According to court documents, Zurcher-Wood walked up to them, talking to herself and accused them of kidnapping her son. Perez, her son and group, tried to get away, but Zurcher-Wood followed them, saying that Perez's son was hers and that they had kidnapped him.

Court documents said Zurcher-Wood then reached out and tried to grab the boy. Perez threw her pizza at Zurcher-Wood and told her to leave them alone. Zurcher-Wood pulled out a machete, threatened Perez, who is Black, and called her a racial slur. A second person in the group confirmed the incident to the police.

Zurcher-Wood was arrested and charged with second-degree attempted kidnapping, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, first-degree bias crime and unlawful use of a weapon.
FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2015, file photo, a riverboat glides through Lake Mead on the Colorado River at Hoover Dam near Boulder City, Nev. The key reservoir on the Colorado River is expected to match its record low level on Thursday, June 10, 2021. The dropping surface elevation of Lake Mead along the Arizona-Nevada border is the another sign of the drought's grip on the region. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Yes! Ive really missed regular library visits during the pandemic.

Im excited, but I dont think Im ready to make a full return to the library just yet.

Ive shifted to using the libraries virtual and curbside services, and itll probably stay that way.

I dont use the local library.

Vote

View Results
Keep the conversation about local news & events going by joining us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Recent updates from The News-Post and also from News-Post staff members are compiled below.
The Cooke County Commissioners Court - (left to right) Leon Klement, Adam Arendt, Judge Steve Starnes, Jason Snuggs and Gary Hollwell (not pictured) set the county's 2022 general fund budget at $30 million Monday, after considerable discussion about seven percent employee raises for employees. The county property tax rate will drop one cent per $100 of assessed valuation, and the budget will be augmented with federal American Rescue Plan Act money, but around $9.5 million from the county's roughly $20 million general fund balance.
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 91F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 84F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Some sunshine with a thunderstorm or two possible this afternoon. Hot and humid. High 92F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 84F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing has filed an update to its lawsuit against Activision Blizzard, accusing the company of stonewalling the state regulator and shredding documents relevant to its investigation.

The court filing, first spotted by Axios, includes a broad swath of notable updates to the State of Californias case. Most notably, it includes new accusations about Activision Blizzards conduct both after the suit was first filed, and its practices for handling paperwork and e-mails that relate to alleged instances of harassment or discrimination.

Firstly, the DFEH is accusing Activision Blizzard of using law firm WilmerHale to stonewall the department and prevent it from talking to employees.

The firm has apparently been hosting listening sessions with employees to hear their complaints, but the DFEH claims that this practice directly interferes with the DFEHs ability to investigate, prosecute, and remedy workplace discrimination and harassment violations on behalf of employees and contingent or temporary workers."

How does WilmerHales presence interfere with the DFEHs process? The DFEH claims that employees who speak with WilmerHales representatives are treated as having spoken confidentially to an attorney.

Activision Blizzard then allegedly turned around and told the DFEH that, because the WilmerHale investigators are attorneys, work related to receipt or investigations of discrimination or harassment complaints is privileged.

The amended claim also states that the department was made aware that that documents and records have not been maintained as required by law or by the DFEHs Document Retention Notice, including but not limited to documents related to investigations and complaints were shredded by human resource personnel and emails are deleted thirty (30) days after an employees separation.

The DFEH claims this violates California State law, which states that its unlawful for employers to not maintain and preserve employment records for a minimum of two years after their creation.

Todays filing also includes good news for current and former temporary Activision Blizzard employees as wellthey are now included as a represented class in the States lawsuit.

An Activision Blizzard spokesperson provided the following statement in response to our queries about the DFEH's filing today. It does not directly acknowledge the new accusations.

Throughout our engagement with the DFEH, we have complied with every proper request in support of its review even as we had been implementing reforms to ensure our workplaces are welcoming and safe for every employee. Those changes continue today, and include:

Several high-level personnel changes;

Revamped hiring and recruiting practices requiring diverse interview panels;

Greater transparency on pay equity;

Expanded and improved training and investigative capabilities for human resource and compliance staff;

Created investigation teams outside of business units to support greater independence;

Restructured divisions to support greater accountability;

Enhanced review processes to include evaluation of managers by employees;

Clear boundaries on workplace behavior with a zero-tolerance approach to harassment and other actions that diminish or marginalize.

We strive to be a company that recognizes and celebrates the diverse talents and perspectives that lead to the creation of great, globally appealing entertainment. We have provided the DFEH with clear evidence that we do not have gender pay or promotion disparities. Our senior leadership is increasingly diverse, with a growing number of women in key leadership roles across the company.

We share DFEHs goal of a safe, inclusive workplace that rewards employees equitably and are committed to setting an example that others can follow.

Update: An Activision Blizzard spokesperson has also pushed back against the allegations that the company destroyed information relevant to the lawsuit by shredding documents.

"With regards to claims that we have destroyed information by shredding documents, those claims are not true. We took appropriate steps to preserve information relevant to the DFEH investigation," they said.

If you are an Activision Blizzard employee and wish to share your story confidentially with Gamasutra, you can e-mail the site here, or contact us securely using ProtonMail here.
Phoenix, Arizona, (August 23, 2021) -

The official Alpha One testing for Eden Falling is ending on Saturday, August 28th of 2021. Steam keys distributed through third-party giveaway sites will be revoked at this time.

However, Razor Edge Games will reward loyal testers who signed up to test on the website, got a key through the ongoing ARG, or request an Alpha 2 key with extended key availability.

For everyone else, the Closed Alpha 2 testing period will begin the week of September 5th, kicking off with another round of third-party Steam Key giveaways partnered with iGames.gg.

Players can look forward to more game rules implemented and more exciting content to test and give feedback on. Razor Edge Games is grateful for everyones feedback and eager to make it actionable.

About Razor Edge Games

Razor Edge Games is an independent gaming studio with artists and gamers from around the world dedicated to creating games for gamers, by gamers.

Razor Edge Games first production Eden Falling is a turn-based sci-fi survival RPG that finally brings the tabletop gaming experience into the digital world. Join the AfterFall and choose your Faction allegiance at https://store.steampowered.com/app/727660/Eden_Falling/

For the latest news and developments:

Website: http://razoredgegames.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdenFallingGame/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdenFalling

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/razor.edge.games/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/razoredgegames

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/razoredgegames
A Corvallis man is suspected of numerous instances of sex abuse.

Lawrence John Lemaster, 64, was arrested on Friday, according to a news release from the Benton County Sheriffs Office.

On Monday afternoon, Lemaster was charged in Benton County Circuit Court for 15 counts of first-degree sex abuse, two counts of first-degree sodomy, two counts of second-degree unlawful sexual penetration, one count of public indecency and one count of private indecency, according to Oregons online court database.

Lemaster pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was represented by retained defense attorney Nicolas Ortiz, and the next hearing in the matter was scheduled for Sept. 27.

The crimes allegedly occurred between 2010 and 2017. One of the accusers is a male who was under the age of the 12 during that time period, and another was a female who was under the age of 14 when the crimes reportedly occurred.

BCSO and the Corvallis Police Department had been simultaneously working on investigations into Lemaster since April 2021, when information surfaced that he committed sexual abuse to two unrelated children, the news release states.

A grand jury returned an indictment in the matter on Aug. 17.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times.
We put on safety glasses, Lisa said. And we took plates and we shattered them. And I kept going back. I kept going back, and they told me I had enough turns.

She said one advantage over last year's surge is that she's vaccinated, so she is not as scared of dying. Another improvement is that there are plenty of masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment.

Other than the beeping monitors, the ICU was quiet. The COVID-19 patients are heavily sedated and behind closed doors. Outside their rooms stand poles draped with IV bags, the tubes running through a crack in the door so nurses can change the bags without exposing themselves to the virus.

Beds outside the unit can be upgraded to ICU-level care by adding monitors and life-support machines, said Martin Johnson, the ICU medical director. A rapid-response team composed of an ICU nurse and an ICU-level respiratory therapist provide backup support, he said, stressing that the hospital can still take in patients.

After conferring on each patients medical status, ICU team members, who have spent a year and a half trying to keep COVID-19 patients alive, stand in a circle, sometimes holding hands, and try to come up with positive things to say.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Gettysburg, PA (17325)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Potential for flooding rains. High 73F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Rain early. Decreasing clouds overnight. Low 58F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Gillette, WY (82718)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 84F. S winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 53F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.
Gillette, WY (82718)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 84F. S winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 53F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.
TORRANCE, CA, Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Video River Networks, Inc. (OTC PINK:NIHK) (the "Company")



Dear NIHK, GMPW, DRNG Shareholders and the Communities We Serve,

I'm writing this letter in response to some completely biased, liable and unfair attacks on Twitter against both me and my wife generated by George Sharp @GeorgeASharp.

It's unfortunate I need to take time out to address these ridiculous allegations, but out of respect for my Shareholders and the communities we serve, I feel these attacks necessitate a swift and definitive response.

As many of you are already familiar, the OTC 'Over the Counter stock exchange is filled with companies that begin as a dream; as a vision to try and find a way to make the world around us a better place. Many OTC companies fail over time, but with hard work and perseverance a handful emerge victorious, up-listing the OTC exchanges and eventually landing the dream of all OTC stocks: a listing on a more prestigious exchange.

The pathway from OTC dream to a more prestigious exchange is fueled by the passion of the community, both the early employees of these fledgling companies and the early stockholders who seize hold of the dream and share in the vigilance to bring that dream to life.

As a CEO, I take great pride in listening to the needs of everyone involved in bringing these fledging dreams to reality: I communicate and listen to my employees, my clients, my customers and of course from my Shareholders as well.

As equity holders in my companies, my Shareholders have placed their hard earned money -- sometimes their only few extra dollars they have left -- into my companies and they deserve my attention and respect.

Whether a Shareholder has one Twitter follower or a million Twitter followers, it is completely irrelevant and I treat all of my Shareholders with the same attention and respect. I encourage all of my Shareholders to bring ideas for each of my companies.

As a CEO of OTC companies, our initial financial resources are notoriously limited, making the minds and suggestions of my Shareholders one of our greatest assets to building pathways to future success.

When I sign my name CEO Frank, I make a commitment to learn from the challenges in front of me in order to do everything I can to bring both passion and value to the companies I serve.

I will always stand by my commitment to listen to the OTC community: my employees, my clients, and of course my valued Shareholders.

Together, we can achieve great success. Yours sincerely,

CEO Frank

About Video River Networks, Inc.

Video River Networks, Inc. is an Electric Vehicles and Battery Technology holding company that operates and manages a portfolio of Electric Vehicles, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Robotics ("EV-AI-ML-R") assets, businesses and operations in North America. The Company's current and target portfolio businesses and assets include operations that design, develop, manufacture and sell high-performance fully electric vehicles and design, manufacture, install and sell Power Controls, Battery Technology, Wireless Technology, and Residential utility meters and remote, mission-critical devices mostly engineered through Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Robotic technologies. NIHK's current technology-focused business model is a result of our board resolution on September 15, 2020 to spin-in/off our specialty real estate holding business to an operating subsidiary and then pivot back to being a technology company. The Company has now returned back to its original technology-focused businesses of Power Controls, Battery Technology, Wireless Technology, and Residential utility meters and remote, mission-critical devices. For more information and the latest updates check the company's Twitter account at https://twitter.com/NIHKEV

CONTACT:

Video River Networks, Inc.

370 Amapola Ave., Suite 200A

Torrance, CA 90501

contact@videorivernetworks.net

SOURCE Video River Networks
Cave Creek, AZ, Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Endexx Corporation (OTC: EDXC), a provider of innovative Hemp-derived wellness and nutritional products, is pleased to announce the soft launch of a new Herb House in Ocho Rios, Jamaica through its international subsidiary, Go Green Global Enterprises, Inc. (G3) and its partner Go Green Global Limited (a Jamaican Corporation).



In the heart of the Taj Mahal Shopping Center in Ocho Rios and as a year-round tourist destination, the store is now unveiled as Go Green Globals first licensed store to carry premium medical marijuana, ganja, and other superior products available for purchase. The store features an Herb House Lounge for on-site consumption, products for sale, and serve as a premium location for customers to experience and enjoy while shopping. In addition to being a high-end commercial real estate location, the store is located conveniently as a last stop for tourists before they depart on vacation cruise ships and daily adventure tours to the nearby Ocho Rios waterfall attractions. The shop is ideally located with a restaurant and bar directly upstairs and high foot traffic premium goods and gift shops as its neighbors.

On August 16, 2021, Carnival Cruise Line docked at the Port of Ocho Rios in St Ann. This is the first international cruise to visit Jamaica since the start of Covid-19. More premium cruise lines are anticipated to slowly re-enter the Caribbean waters and ports of Jamaica. This is the beginning of the return of tourism to Jamaica and the Caribbean.

We are thrilled to officially commence business in Jamaica and initiating the global market revenue growth phase. As a foundation for international markets, we believe that Jamaica is the perfect place to originate and develop a primary global brand and retail footprint. As we continuously research innovative ways to reach consumers, we are confident that we will achieve significant revenue growth in our new business endeavors in the global cannabis industry, commented Mr. Todd Davis, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Endexx. Davis added, Through 2021/2022, Go Green Global (G3) will continue to offer tremendous growth opportunities that we plan to take, while adding more distribution and wholesale channels for our global customers. Our global mission is to reach millions of consumers with our scientific and medical approach as we kick-off our new venture into the international marketplace. Davis concluded, Go Green Global was acquired in 2018, and we filed for our Dispensary and Cultivation licenses with the CLA division of Jamaica. After three years of working diligently with the CLA and our team in Jamaica, the accomplishment is significant and potentially a big boom for our global initiative.

About Endexx

Endexx develops and distributes all-natural products from the cannabis sativa-L plant (Hemp) with less than 0.01% THC (legal limit is 0.3%). Its products range from topicals, capsules, oil tinctures, and pet products, to consumables like tea, coffee, and health drinks, all with the shared purpose of achieving high therapeutic value and improved quality of life. Since 2014, the science behind these products involves six years of research and clinical observations as a foundation to produce the accuracy in dosage per each serving and targeted-delivery systems.

Safe Harbor Notice

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to financial results and plans for future development activities and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding intent, belief or current expectations of the company, its directors or its officers. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the companys ability to control. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties associated with the companys business and finances in general, including the ability to continue and manage its growth, competition, global economic conditions and other factors discussed in detail in the Companys periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Contact:

For further investor and media information, contact:

Endexx

Todd Davis

Chairman CEO

endexx@endexx.com

480-595-6900
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Lightning eMotors, Inc. ("Lightning" or the "Company") (NYSE: ZEV) investors that the firm has initiated an investigation into possible securities fraud, and may file a class action on behalf of investors.



Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy , by phone 310-692-8883 or email : lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case via www.portnoylaw.com . The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.

After the market closed on August 16, 2021, Lightning eMotors announced its second quarter 2021 financial results, reporting a net loss of $46.1 million, in comparison with a net loss of $2.8 million during the prior-year period. Lightning also withdrew its fiscal 2021 guidance, and stated that it no longer expects to meet full year guidance citing among other things chassis production disruptions. On August 17, 2021, Lightnings share price fell $1.63, or 17%, on this news, to close at $8.00 per share.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims arising from corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.

Admitted CA and NY Bar

lesley@portnoylaw.com

310-692-8883

www.portnoylaw.com

Attorney Advertising
NEW YORK, NY, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bendheim Wall Systems Inc., the exterior arm of the leading North American architectural glass supplier, is marking its 20-year anniversary in the specialty glass facades industry. The company became the first to introduce Lamberts channel glass to North America and establish it as the go-to solution for high-performance translucent glass envelopes. It was also the first to introduce North American architects to clipped ventilated glass facades.

Key Developments:

In channel glass design:

Evolution from a product for cult architecture to a solution for everyday settings, from parking garages to office interiors

Shift towards more complex wall geometries

Commitment to sustainability, from the glass high percentage of post-consumer recycled content to its lower carbon footprint (EPD)

In glass rainscreen design:

Evolution from a quick solution for commercial facade facelifts to a key design element in a broad range of building types, from museums to schools

An expanded range of aesthetic options with a high degree of customization

A shift towards design assist to satisfy unique applications and increasingly complex requirements

The project that launched Bendheims channel glass in North America  and set the tone for its design trajectory for years to come  was the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, MO by Steven Holl Architects. It features glass channels that reach continuous heights up to 23 feet and form five luminous glass structures, appearing to float over the landscape.

Channel glass design has become democratized over the past two decades, said Robert Jayson, Bendheim Co-Owner and Partner. We have contributed to the shift by collaborating with architects to maximize the value of each design. For example, we provided the channel glass facade for the Schermerhorn affordable housing project in Brooklyn, and it was on a very tight budget.

Architects continue pushing the envelope into increasingly complex shapes, added Michael Tryon, General Manager of Bendheim Wall Systems. We recently completed our first helically curved channel glass walls at Steven Holls Franklin & Marshall College, and we look forward to the next challenge.

Building on its expertise in specialty glass exteriors, in 2014, Bendheim launched North Americas first line of fully engineered clipped glass facades. The unique systems use compression fittings to cleanly and elegantly mount any type of glass to any building substructure. Engineered with several inches of field adjustability in all directions, they also speed facade fabrication and installation.

Bendheims first clipped glass projects were quick, budget-friendly commercial facelifts. Over the years, new systems, glass innovation, and the companys growing expertise drove a shift towards a broader range of building types. The most recent projects include a museum, an educational facility, an airport, and a parking structure. The latest product launch is an award-winning projectable glass rainscreen system that turns the building facade into a monumental video display. More than a protective decorative glass skin, the product has evolved into a key design feature, contributing to the art of the building.

According to Said Elieh, VP of Systems & Innovation, the increasing complexity of project designs and objectives constantly drives the team to develop new solutions. More than 90% of our projects are fully customized, and the majority are design-assist. We work collaboratively with the architect to realize the design goals on budget, said Elieh. We also coordinate closely with the general contractor and installer. Its important to create a unique and beautiful facade, but it also has to be easy and fast to build.

As it celebrates its 20-year milestone, Bendheim Wall Systems team foresees a strong demand for increasingly complex facade geometries and the use of jumbo glass panels. Sustainability will continue to drive other requirements, including bird-friendly glass designs, glare reduction, and photovoltaic integration, among others.

For more information on Bendheims glass facade systems, please visit https://bendheim.com/professional/systems/.

Attachments
New York, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Biologics Fill / Finish Services Market by Type of Primary Packaging Container, Type of Biologic, Scale of Operation, Key Therapeutic Areas, Geographical Regions : Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2021-2030" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06130491/?utm_source=GNW

The overwhelming success of this upcoming class of products has prompted both established and novice pharmaceutical innovators to develop assets in this arena. Currently, there are close to 400 approved products and more than 4,000 biologic candidates in clinical trials, being developed for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases. , As the number of commercialized products and clinical stage therapy candidates increases, the demand for adequate manufacturing capacities and affiliated capabilities is also on the rise. In the production cycle, the (aseptic) fill / finish process is a crucial step. Biopharmaceutical fill / finish operations are relatively more complicated, involving sterilization of all affiliated components before use, filling in a sterile environment, and the use of appropriate post filling sterilization methods. Even minute errors during the aforementioned step can have catastrophic consequences, resulting in heavy losses for the innovator company. Therefore, it is important for companies to establish fill / finish related expertise and build / maintain the necessary infrastructure.



To meet some the abovementioned challenges, drug developers have not hesitated to outsource fill / finish operations to capable contract service providers. Currently, around 170 companies claim to be actively providing fill / finish services for biologics. As is generally the trend among service providers, stakeholders in this domain are making active attempts to adopt the latest technological innovations, in order to meet the growing demand for fill / finish services, reduce cost of operation / increase efficiency, and comply to evolving safety and regulatory requirements, and thereby, differentiate themselves amidst the competition. Over the last few years, the fill / finish services industry has witnessed more than 120 instances of expansion, most of which were intended to increase capacity. We believe that the companies involved this segment of the industry are likely to continue to undertake similar initiatives to cater to the growing needs of their clientele. In addition, significant partnership activity between sponsors and services providers has also been reported in the recent past; a substantial number of deals were observed to have been inked between vaccine developers and CMOs, focused on the fulfilment of fill / finish requirements for multiple vaccines against COVID-19. Considering the anticipated growth in the biologics market, the corresponding opportunity for fill / finish service providers is expected to grow at a steady pace over the coming years.



SCOPE OF THE REPORT

The Biologics Fill / Finish Services Market (2nd Edition) by Type of Primary Packaging Container (Ampoules, Cartridges, Syringes and Vials), Type of Biologic (Antibodies, Cell Therapy, Gene Therapy, Oligonucleotides, Recombinant Proteins, Vaccines and Others), Scale of Operation (Preclinical / Clinical and Commercial), Key Therapeutic Areas, Geographical Regions (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, MENA and Latin America and Rest of the World): Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2021-2030 report features an extensive study on the biologics fill / finish service providers. The study features an in-depth analysis, highlighting the diverse capabilities of stakeholders engaged in this domain. Amongst other elements, the report includes:

 A detailed review of the overall landscape of the companies offering fill / finish services for biopharmaceuticals / biologics, along with analyses based on a number of relevant parameters, such as year of establishment, company size, location of headquarters, location of fill / finish facilities, types of packaging form (ampoules, cartridges, syringes and vials), type of biologic filled (ADC, antibodies, biosimilars, cell therapies, gene therapies, oligonucleotides, peptides / proteins, vaccines, viral products, and others), scale of operation (preclinical, clinical and commercial), type of additional services offered (lyophilization, labelling, quality testing, storage and distribution services) and including details on fill / finish capacity and fill volume range.

 A detailed competitiveness analysis of the fill / finish service providers based in different geographies offering services across various packaging types, based on supplier strength (in terms of experience and company size), service strength (in terms of number of fill / finish facilities, geographical reach and scale of operation) and types of biologics handled.

 Elaborate profiles of key players based in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Each profile provides an overview of the company, information on its service offerings, fill / finish facilities, financial information (if available), details on partnerships, expansions and recent awards and accolades, and an informed future outlook.

 An analysis of the partnerships and collaborations focused on the fill / finish operations of biologic drug products, which were established since 2013, based on year of agreement, type of agreement, scale of operation, types of services mentioned in the deal, types of biologics involved and location of fill / finish facilities involved.

 A review of the recent expansions (since 2015) undertaken by biologics fill / finish service providers, including a detailed analysis based on various parameters, such as year of expansion, type of expansion (capacity expansion and new facility), type of packaging form, types of services offered, types of biologics involved, scale of operation (preclinical, clinical and commercial), the most active players and geographical location of the added facility.

 An estimate of the global fill / finish capacity for filling of biologics, by taking into consideration the capacities of various fill / finish service providers. The fill / finish capacity has been analyzed in terms of number of units and volume of biologics filled, across various type of packaging containers (ampoules, cartridges, syringes, and vials), for the service providers distributed on the basis of company size (small, mid-sized and large) and geographical location (North America, Europe and Asia Pacific).

 An informed estimate of the annual demand for fill / finish of the top 25 biologics, based on various relevant parameters, such as target patient population, dosing frequency, dose strength, type of packaging container and volume of the packaging container of these products.

 A regional capability assessment framework, which compares the fill / finish capabiility across key geographies, based on a number of parameters, such as the number of biologic fill / finish service providers, number of biologic fill / finish facilities, number of biologic fill / finish partnerships inked in that particular geographical region, number of facility expansions and installed biologic fill / finish capacity in that particular geographical region.

 An analysis to identify the key performance indicators for service providers engaged in this domain, based on information gathered via secondary research and primary research.

 A case study to highlight the benefits of using robotic / automated equipment for aseptic fill / finish processes, providing a list of equipment manufacturers providing robots suitable for pharmaceutical operations.

 A case study to highlight the role of ready-to-use packaging containers in aseptic fill / finish operations, providing a list of suppliers providing the ready-to-use components.

 A discussion on the potential growth areas, such as growing biopharmaceutical pipeline, increasing outsourcing of fill / finish operations, rising focus on self-administration enabling drug delivery devices and growing opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.

One of the key objectives of this report was to estimate the current market size and the future opportunity in the biologics fill / finish services market, over the coming decade. Based on parameters, such as growth of the overall biopharmaceutical market, cost of goods sold, direct manufacturing costs, share of drug product manufacturing costs and outsourcing trends related to fill / finish operations, we have provided an informed estimate of the likely evolution of the market in the short to mid-term and long term, for the period 2021-2030. In order to provide a detailed future outlook, year-wise projections of the current and future opportunity have been further segmented on the basis of [A] types of packaging containers used for fill / finish (ampoules, cartridges, syringes and vials), [B] scale of operation (preclinical, clinical and commercial), [C] types of biologics (antibodies, cell therapy, gene therapy, oligonucleotides, recombinant proteins, vaccines and others), [D] key therapeutic areas (autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disorders, infectious disorders, oncological disorders and other disorders), and [E] key geographical regions (North America (US, Canada), Europe (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and rest of the Europe), Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, South Korea, India and Australia), MENA, Latin America and Rest of the World). To account for the uncertainties in the market and to add robustness to our model, we have provided three forecast scenarios, portraying the conservative, base and optimistic tracks of the markets evolution.

The opinions and insights presented in this report are backed by a deep understanding of key insights generated from both secondary and primary research. The perceptions presented in this study were also influenced by discussions held with senior stakeholders in the industry. The report features detailed transcripts of interviews held with the following industry and non-industry players:

 Gregor Kawaletz (Chief Commercial Officer, IDT Biologika)

 Matt Delaney (Vice President Business Development & Marketing, ?Cytovance Biologics)

 Purushottam Singnurkar (Research Director and Head of Formulation Development, Syngene International)

 Ales Sima (Business Development Manager, Oncomed Manufacturing)

 Amit Chandra (Technology Watch Manager, Yposkesi)

 Jos Vergeest (International Business Developer, HALIX)

All actual figures have been sourced and analyzed from publicly available information forums and primary research discussions. Financial figures mentioned in this report are in USD, unless otherwise specified.



KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED

 Who are the leading contract service providers with expertise in fill / finish services for biologics?

 In which regions are majority of the biologic fill / finish facilities located?

 What percentage of ampoules, cartridges, vials and syringes are filled annually with biologics?

 Which partnership models are most commonly adopted by stakeholders in this industry?

 What type of expansion initiatives are being carried out by players in this domain?

 What is the current, global demand for biologic fill / finish services?

 How is the current and future market opportunity likely to be distributed across key market segments?



RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The data presented in this report has been gathered via secondary and primary research. For all our projects, we conduct interviews with experts in the area (academia, industry, medical practice and other associations) to solicit their opinions on emerging trends in the market. This is primarily beneficial for us to draw opinion on how the market may evolve across different regions and technology segments. Wherever possible, the available data has been validated from multiple sources of information.



The secondary sources of information include:

Annual reports

Investor presentations

SEC filings

Industry databases

News releases from company websites

Government policy documents

Industry analysts views



While the focus has been laid on forecasting the market over the time period 2021-2030, the report also provides our independent views on various technological and non-commercial trends emerging in the industry. The opinion is solely based on our knowledge, research and understanding of the relevant market gathered from various secondary and primary sources.



CHAPTER OUTLINES

Chapter 2 is an executive summary of the key insights captured in our research. It offers a high-level view on the likely evolution of the biologics fill / finish service providers market in the short to mid-term, and long term.



Chapter 3 provides a general introduction to biopharmaceuticals and contract manufacturing. The chapter features a detailed discussion on the need for outsourcing within the biopharmaceutical industry and highlights the key operations outsourced by the biologic drug developers, including fill / finish. Additionally, the chapter highlights the key considerations for selecting a fill / finish service provider, along with the benefits and risks associated with outsourcing fill / finish operations.



Chapter 4 provides an overview of the overall biologics fill / finish contract services landscape. It includes information on close to 170 contract service providers currently engaged in this domain. Additionally, it features an in-depth analysis of service providers, based on a number of relevant parameters, such as year of establishment, company size, location of headquarters, location of fill / finish facilities, types of packaging form (ampoules, cartridges, syringes and vials), type of biologic filled (ADC, antibodies, biosimilars, cell therapies, gene therapies, oligonucleotides, peptides / proteins, vaccines, viral products, and others), scale of operation (preclinical, clinical and commercial), type of additional services offered (lyophilization, labelling, quality testing, storage and distribution services) and including details on fill / finish capacity and fill volume range.



Chapter 5 features a detailed competitiveness analysis of the service providers based in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The companies within each geography have been compared on the basis of the type of packaging used for fill / finish services, supplier strength (considering experience and company size of service provider), service strength (considering number of fill / finish facilities, geographical reach, number of additional services offered and highest scale of operation) and type of biologics involved.



Chapter 6 includes detailed profiles of the key players in the biopharmaceutical fill / finish contract services market in North America. Each profile features a brief overview of the company, its overall contract service offerings highlighting the capabilities of fill / finish facilities (if available), financial information (if available), recent developments and an informed future outlook.



Chapter 7 includes detailed profiles of the key players in the biopharmaceutical fill / finish contract services market in Europe. Each profile features a brief overview of the company, its overall contract service offerings highlighting the capabilities of fill / finish facilities (if available), financial information (if available), recent developments and an informed future outlook.



Chapter 8 includes detailed profiles of the key players in the biopharmaceutical fill / finish contract services market in Asia-Pacific. Each profile features a brief overview of the company, its overall contract service offerings highlighting the capabilities of fill / finish facilities (if available), financial information (if available), recent developments and an informed future outlook.



Chapter 9 features a detailed analysis of the various collaborations and partnerships that have been inked amongst players since 2013. It includes a brief description of the partnership models (including acquisition, supply agreement, service alliance, merger and joint venture) adopted by stakeholders in this domain. Further, it comprises of analysis based on year of agreement, the scale of operation of the project, focus area, types of services provided, types of biologics and location of the facilities where the project is to be executed.



Chapter 10 presents a detailed analysis of the expansions undertaken by various service providers to enhance fill / finish capabilities, based on various parameters, including year of expansion, type of expansion, geographical location of the facility, type of packaging container involved, scale of operation (as mentioned in the expansion terms), types of services offered, types of biologics filled, and expansion details (in terms of new area added to the existing facilities). It also highlights the most active players (in terms of number of instances) in the domain.



Chapter 11 features a comprehensive analysis of the global fill / finish capacity, by taking into consideration the container processing capacities of various fill / finish service providers (as available on respective company websites). The global biopharmaceutical fill / finish capacity has been distributed across number of packaging units, type of packaging container (ampoules, cartridges, syringes and vials), company size of the manufacturer (small, mid-sized and large) and geographical location (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific).



Chapter 12 provides an estimate of the annual demand for fill / finish of top 25 biologics (in number of units of packaging containers), based on various relevant parameters, such as target patient population, dosing frequency, dose strength, type of packaging container and volume of the packaging container of the abovementioned products.



Chapter 13 features an analysis on the key performance indicators of service providers based on information available for top-ten biopharmaceutical players on various public platforms, as well as inputs obtained from primary research.



Chapter 14 presents a regional capability assessment framework, which compares the fill / finish capability across key geographies, based on a number of parameters, such as the number of biologics fill / finish service providers, number of biologics fill / finish facilities, number of biologics fill / finish partnerships inked in that particular geographical region, number of facility expansions and installed biologics fill / finish capacity in that particular geographical region.



Chapter 15 presents a comprehensive market forecast analysis, highlighting the likely growth of the biologics fill / finish services market till the year 2030. In order to provide an informed future outlook, our projections have been segmented on the basis of [A] types of primary packaging containers used for fill / finish (ampoules, cartridges, syringes and vials), [B] scale of operation (preclinical, clinical and commercial), [C] types of biologics filled (antibodies, cell therapy, gene therapy, oligonucleotides, recombinant proteins, vaccines and others), [D] key therapeutic areas (cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases and other indications, and [E] key geographical regions (North America (US, Canada), Europe (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and rest of the Europe), Asia (Japan, China, South Korea and India), MENA and Latin America and Rest of the World).



Chapter 16 includes a discussion on the various potential growth drivers for the biologics fill / finish services market, which takes into account the opportunities associated with the growing biopharmaceutical pipeline, increase in outsourcing of fill / finish operations, rising focus on self-administration of drugs / therapies and opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.



Chapter 17 is a case study focused on use of robotic systems in fill / finish operations. It provides a list of equipment used by the service providers (wherever specified) for fill / finish operations, highlighting the purpose of robotics in various manufacturing operations. It also includes a list of companies providing robots for use in manufacturing processes carried in the pharmaceutical sector.



Chapter 18 is a case study on the use of ready-to-use packaging components in the aseptic fill / finish operations. It also provides a list of suppliers providing ready-to-use components.



Chapter 19 is a summary of the overall report wherein we have mentioned all the key facts and figures described in the previous chapters. The chapter also highlights important evolutionary trends that were identified during the course of the study and are expected to influence the future of the biologics fill / finish services market.



Chapter 20 contains the transcripts of interviews conducted with representatives from renowned organizations that are engaged in the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing and fill / finish domain. In this study, we spoke to Gregor Kawaletz (Chief Commercial Officer, IDT Biologika), Matt Delaney (Vice President Business Development & Marketing, ?Cytovance Biologics), Purushottam Singnurkar (Research Director and Head of Formulation Development, Syngene International), Ales Sima (Business Development Manager, oncomed manufacturing), Amit Chandra (Technology Watch Manager, Yposkesi) and Jos Vergeest (International Business Developer, HALIX).



Chapter 21 is an appendix, that contains tabulated data and numbers for all the figures provided in the report.



Chapter 22 is an appendix that provides the list of companies and organizations that have been mentioned in the report.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06130491/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
Pune, India, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global dental burs market size is anticipated to showcase substantial growth in the foreseeable future backed by growing awareness of dental hygiene. This information is published by Fortune Business Insights in its report, titled "Dental Burs Market, 2021-2028". These are some of the most common equipment in the dentist's office that is used for cutting hard teeth and bones. Their utilization also includes preparing cavities for filling, removal of old fillings, shaping, removing the decay, cutting, polishing, and others. The rising awareness of dental hygiene is anticipated to showcase market growth.





Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/dental-burs-market-101861





Unstable Demand to Dampen Business amid COVID-19

During the lockdown induced by the coronavirus pandemic, many dentists shut down their offices. Despite all this, the production of dental burs faced some logistic issues due to border closures in many regions. Moreover, even in the lockdown situation, patients could only visit the clinics in emergency situations. This was owing to several government norms to curb the spread of the virus. As the pandemic started to be organized and managed by various government bodies, the dentist clinics started opening up for business. In spite of all these factors, the growing awareness of dental hygiene, and relaxing lockdown norms are anticipated to facilitate market growth for dental burs.

What Does the Report Contain?

The report has details on all the latest technology available in the market. The technological advances made in the industry have been highlighted and the potential opportunities associated with that. The report establishes the challenges of the market and advises various solutions to them. It also mentions the growth stimulating factors, the restraints, consumption pattern, distribution channels, and all other vital information associated with the market.





Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this market.

Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/dental-burs-market-101861





Dental Hygiene Awareness Campaigns to Boost Market Demand

The rising awareness of dental hygiene by various government initiatives, as well as prominent companies, is anticipated to propel dental burs market growth. Moreover, many companies associated with dental hygiene such as Colgate conduct dental hygiene awareness campaigns across various dental clinics for free. Such initiatives by government and private companies are contributing significantly to the market growth for the product.

Also, the increasing number of dental disorders among the geriatric population is predicted to you positively affect the market. Along with this, the rising number of skilled professionals associated with dentistry is also a major driver for the product demand.

Investment in R&D by Prominent Companies to Gain Market Traction

The prominent players of the market for dental burs have a strong portfolio and a history of continuous investment in research and development. They devise strategic product launches along with advanced solutions to propel their product sales. With the wide range of potential opportunities in this market, even the new entrants of the market can easily stabilize their position. This has resulted in the entrance of several domestic players into the market





Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/dental-burs-market-101861





Increased Consumption of Unhealthy Food in North America to Propel Market

North America is projected to showcase considerable growth and hold the largest dental burs market share in the foreseeable future. This is because of the high consumption of unhealthy food and sweets in the region. For instance, the USA has a significant percentage of its population suffering from obesity which is indirectly linked to dental issues. The growing confectionery and candy industry in the region is expected to propel the product demand.

Europe is likely to hold a significant market share during the forecast period. This is due to favorable healthcare policies in the region and the booming bakery and confectionery industry.

List of Manufacturers in the Dental Burs Market include:

Kerr Corporation

Komet

Diatech

DynaFlex

Midmark Corporation

Dentsply Sirona

AMERICAN ORTHODONTICS

Medical Precision Implants S.A.

MIS Implants Technologies Ltd.

Aceton Inc.

Market Segmentation

By material type, the market for dental burs is segmented into carbide burs, diamond burs, stainless steel burs, and ceramic burs. On the basis of application, the market is divided into oral surgery, implantology, orthodontics, cavity preparation, and others. By end-user, the market is trifurcated into hospitals, dental clinics, and others. Based on geography, the market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.





Get your Customized Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/dental-burs-market-101861





SECONDARY RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED TO DERIVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

Details such as revenues, market share, strategies, growth rate, product & their pricing by region/country for all major companies

Details in relation to prevalence, incidence, patient numbers, distribution of patients, average price of treatment, etc.

Number of end user facilities by region/country and average annual spending or procurement of devices by type of end user facility

Number of procedures and average price of procedures

Replacement rate and pricing of capital equipment

Market dynamics in relation to the market under focus  Drivers, restraints, trends, and opportunities

Market & technological trends, new product developments, product pipeline.





About Us:

Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data.

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DENVER and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Koios Beverage Corp. (CSE: KBEV; OTC: KBEVF) (the "Company" or "Koios") is pleased to announce that pursuant to a one-year renewable agreement finalized on August 12, 2021, Koios has entered into a partnership with Blackbeard Beverage Company ("Blackbeard'), who is a distributor for Carolina Canners Inc. (Carolina Canners), an independent bottler for Pepsi beverages on the east coast of the United States. Carolina Canners and Blackbeard will each respectively provide full-service manufacturing and distribution of all four Fit Soda flavours east of the Mississippi River. Blackbeard has already confirmed an order of 216 pallets of Fit Soda (each containing 104 cases and 2,496 cans) valued at USD $575,000, the largest single wholesale order of canned beverages in the Companys history.



Blackbeard has already started to procure raw materials for the production, canning, and packaging of Fit Soda at Carolina Canners, to fill an order for 54 pallets of each flavour, which Carolina Canners is to manufacture. Subsequently, Blackbeard is to distribute this order to its accounts in the grocery category to include more than 1,000 supermarket locations of Food Lion located in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern regions of the United States. Following the Companys February 18, 2021 press release in which it announced its own in-house canning facility located in the Denver, Colorado area, Koios has started to explore opportunities to further expand its manufacturing pipeline as its beverage products such as Fit Soda continue to build sustained popularity among consumers in the United States. More than 700,000 units of Fit Soda were sold in 2020 after being launched in July of the prior year.

In the 1960s, Carolina Canners was formed through the amalgamation of several bottlers, including two bottlers for Pepsi, who created a joint venture in 1968 to capitalize on growing demand for packaged beverages including canned sodas. After choosing Cheraw, South Carolina as its principal location in which to operate, Carolina Canners began manufacturing beverages for clients to include Pepsi. In 1972 Carolina Canners added a bottle line for non-returnable bottles, and in 2013 made a USD $26 million investment into injection moulding and blow moulding machinery to produce its own plastic bottles. Carolina Canners has also established several distribution relationships with wholesalers and grocers in several states to provide greater value to the beverage brands it services.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/de58bc0b-1235-47de-94db-60a40e61c393

Blackbeard, who is a beverage distributor for Pepsi Bottler Carolina Canners, has placed a USD $575,000 purchase order for all four varieties of Fit Soda to distribute to accounts on the east coast of the United States to include more than 1,000 Food Lion supermarkets

Readers using news aggregation services may be unable to view the media above. Please access the Companys profile on SEDAR for a version of this press release containing all published media.

With two canning lines, Carolina Canners facility in Cheraw has the capacity to produce more than 1.15 million beverage cans in an eight-hour shift, and currently produces more than 9.1 million cases of beverage cans per year in addition to over 14.65 million cases of bottled products per year. This capacity could prove instrumental in satisfying continued demand for Fit Soda with sustained interest in eastern regions of the United States.

Koios Chief Executive Officer Chris Miller commented, This business relationship with Blackbeard and Carolina Canners is a major development for us because Fit Soda can now be manufactured and distributed from the same production facility as some of the nations largest beverage brands. Furthermore, to have secured the largest purchase order in the Companys history through Blackbeard before production has even started is a magnificent validation of the Fit Soda product as a relevant beverage to a large segment of the U.S. population. Placing Fit Soda in Food Lion supermarkets will also boost our store count by about 25%, increasing our footprint to more than 5,000 points of sale across the country. We look forward to working with Blackbeard and Carolina Canners, as established players in the Pepsi ecosystem. We believe they can be key partners in helping build Koios market share as we continue our launch of Fit Soda.

Sterling Whitley, CSO of Blackbeard commented, We are enthusiastic about working with Koios because their Fit Soda functional beverage product offers a new dimension of value to consumers in the carbonated beverages category. The general public is far more conscious nowadays about what their beverages contain both in terms of specific attributes they want (e.g., electrolytes) as well as ingredients they want to cut down on or avoid (e.g., sugar). In just its second year, Fit Soda has performed exceptionally well as a new beverage product, and we take pride in being Koios newest partner to both distribute and facilitate manufacturing of their entire line of Fit Soda functional beverages. Starting later in 2021 we intend to start shipping Fit Soda made in Carolina Canners production facility to several of our accounts throughout various markets on the east coast, which we anticipate could help to scale Fit Sodas market presence and build momentum as Koios and its distribution partners continue to roll Fit Soda out across the United States.

The Company also announces that Mr. Theo van der Linde has resigned as the Companys Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Chris Miller will continue on as the Companys interim Chief Financial Officer while a suitable replacement is being sought. Koios would like to thank Mr. van der Linde for his time and contributions made to the Company.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

KOIOS BEVERAGE CORP.

Chris Miller

Chris Miller, CEO, and Director

For further information, please contact:

Gina Burrus

844-255-6467

gina@koiosbeveragecorp.com

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (CSE) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.

About Koios Beverage Corp.

The Company is an emerging functional beverage company which has an available distribution network of more than 4,400 retail locations across the United States in which to sell its products. Koios has relationships with some of the largest and most reputable distributors in the United States, including Europa Sports, Muscle Foods USA, KeHE, and Wishing-U-Well. Koios uses a proprietary blend of nootropics and natural organic compounds to enhance human productivity without using harmful chemicals or stimulants. Koios products have been shown to enhance focus, concentration, mental capacity, memory retention, cognitive function, alertness, brain capacity and create all day mental clarity. Its ingredients are specifically designed to target brain function by increasing blood flow, oxygen levels and neural connections in the brain.

Koios produces one of the only drinks in the world infused with MCT oil. MCT oil is derived from coconuts and has been shown to help the body burn fat more effectively, create lasting energy from a natural food source, produce ketones in the brain, allowing for greater brain function and clarity, support healthy hormone production and improve immunity. For more information, please visit our website: https://www.koiosbeveragecorp.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding: Potential outcomes from Blackbeards 216-pallet order of Fit Soda including successful manufacture by Carolina Canners and distribution by Blackbeard in markets in the eastern United States. The forward-looking information reflects management's current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include: (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) changes to the growth and size of the functional beverage markets; and (iii) other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Companys management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward- looking information included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The statements in this news release have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As each individual is different, the benefits, if any, of taking the Companys products will vary from person to person. No claims or guarantees can be made as to the effects of the Companys products on an individual's health and well-being. The Companys products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This news release may contain trademarked names of third-party entities (or their respective offerings with trademarked names) typically in reference to (i) relationships had by Koios with such third-party entities as referred to in this release and/or (ii) client/vendor/service provider parties whose relationship with Koios is/are referred to in this release. All rights to such trademarks are reserved by their respective owners or licensees.
New York, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - Market Insight, Epidemiology and Market Forecast - 2030" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06129787/?utm_source=GNW



The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market report provides current treatment practices, emerging drugs, and market share of the individual therapies, current and forecasted 7MM Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market size from 2018 to 2030. The Report also covers current Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) treatment practice, market drivers, market barriers, SWOT analysis, reimbursement, and market access, and unmet medical needs to curate the best of the opportunities and assesses the underlying potential of the market.



Geography Covered

 The United States

 EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom)

 Japan



Study Period: 20182030



Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Disease Understanding and Treatment Algorithm

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, preventable, and treatable disease characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases.

The most common respiratory symptoms include dyspnea, cough, and/or sputum production; these symptoms may be under-reported by patients. The main risk factor for COPD is tobacco smoking, but other environmental exposures such as biomass fuel exposure and air pollution may contribute. Besides exposures, host factors predispose individuals to develop COPD. These include genetic abnormalities, abnormal lung development, and accelerated aging. COPD may be punctuated by periods of acute worsening of respiratory symptoms, called exacerbations. In most patients, COPD is associated with significant concomitant chronic diseases, which increase its morbidity and mortality. COPD is a long-lasting lung disease where the small airways in the lungs are damaged, making it harder for air to get in and out.

Continued in the report..

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Diagnosis

COPD should be considered in any patient who has dyspnea, chronic cough or sputum production, and/or a history of exposure to risk factors for the disease. Spirometry is required to diagnose in this clinical context; the presence of a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.70 confirms the presence of persistent airflow limitation and, thus, COPD in patients with appropriate symptoms and significant exposures to noxious stimuli. Although an important part of patient care, a physical examination is rarely diagnostic in COPD. Physical signs of airflow limitation are usually not present until significant lung function impairment has occurred, and detection based on physical examination has relatively low sensitivity and specificity. Several physical signs may be present in COPD, but absence does not exclude the diagnosis.

Spirometry is the most reproducible and objective measurement of airflow limitation. It is a noninvasive and readily available test. Despite its good sensitivity, peak expiratory flow measurement alone cannot be reliably used as the only diagnostic test because of its weak specificity. Good quality spirometric measurement is possible in any healthcare setting, and all health care workers who care for COPD patients should have access to spirometry.

Continued in the report..



Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Treatment

Medical treatments of COPD include drugs, for example, nicotine replacement therapy, beta-2 agonists and anticholinergic agents (bronchodilators), combined drugs using steroids and long-acting bronchodilators, mucolytic agents, oxygen therapy, and surgical procedures such as bullectomy, lung volume reduction surgery, and lung transplantation. The goals of COPD treatment are to reduce hospitalizations, reduce and prevent exacerbations, decrease dyspnea, improve quality of life, slow disease progression, and reduce mortality. The mainstays of treatment are smoking cessation, when applicable, and pharmacotherapy with inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Additional therapies include oral phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors, vaccinations, pulmonary rehabilitation, and long-term oxygen therapy in hypoxic patients. Bronchodilators are used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The medicines come in many forms, with some forms requiring special instructions. There are several short-acting bronchodilators for COPD.

Continued in the report..



Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Epidemiology

The disease epidemiology covered in the report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology segmented by Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Gender-specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Age-specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of COPD Based on Severity of Airflow Limitation, and Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of COPD Based on Symptoms and Exacerbation History scenario in the 7MM covering the United States, EU5 countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) and Japan from 2018 to 2030.



Key Findings

 The total diagnosed prevalent population of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in seven major markets was found to be 31,730,590 in 2020 and is anticipated to increase in 2030.

 The estimates suggest a higher diagnosed prevalence of COPD in the United States with 17,455,605 diagnosed cases in 2020, which might increase in 2030.

 The majority of cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are female as compared to male, in the US. But in EU-5 and Japan the diagnosed cases of males represents majority of the cases.



Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Epidemiology

The epidemiology segment also provides the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) epidemiology data and findings across the United States, EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and Japan.



Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Drug Chapters

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Marketed Drugs

Anoro Ellipta: GlaxoSmithKline/Theravance/Innoviva

Anoro Ellipta is a combination of umeclidinium, an anticholinergic, and vilanterol, a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA), indicated for the maintenance treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (FDA, 2013). Anoro Ellipta is a once-daily product approved in the US that combines two long-acting bronchodilators in a single inhaler for the maintenance treatment of COPD.

Products detail in the report

Incruse Ellipta/Encruse Ellipta: GlaxoSmithKline

Incruse Ellipta is an anticholinergic approved for the long-term once-daily maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with COPD, including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. GSKs once-daily anticholinergic, a type of bronchodilator also known as a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), is contained in the Ellipta inhaler. The FDA-approved strength is 62.5 mcg.

Products detail in the report

List to be continued in the report



Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Emerging Drugs

Itepekimab (SAR440340/REGN3500/Anti-IL-33 mAb): Sanofi/Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

REGN3500 is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits interleukin-33 (IL-33), a protein that is believed to play a key role in type 1 and type 2 inflammation. The drug is administered subcutaneously. Preclinical research showed REGN3500 blocked several markers of both types of inflammation. Regeneron and Sanofi are currently studying REGN3500 in respiratory and dermatological diseases where inflammation plays an underlying role.

Products detail in the report

Dupixent (Dupilumab): Regeneron Pharmaceuticals/Sanofi

Dupixent (dupilumab) is a monoclonal antibody targeting ? chain of the interleukin (IL)-4 receptor. It inhibits the biological effects of the cytokines IL-4 and IL-13, which are key drivers in the TH2 response (Sastre, 2018). Dupilumab is approved in the US to treat patients aged ?12 with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin (topical), or who cannot use topical therapies.

Products detail in the report

List to be continued in the report



Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Market Outlook

Many people with COPD have mild forms of the disease for which little therapy is needed other than smoking cessation. Even for more advanced stages of the disease, effective therapy is available that can control symptoms, slow progression, reduce the risk of complications and exacerbations, and improve the ability to lead an active life. The goal in treating COPD is to help the person breathe easier and get back to regular activities; many treatments and lifestyle approaches can help. The patient may also try some natural and alternative treatment options. COPD treatment focuses on relieving symptoms, such as coughing, breathing problems, and avoiding respiratory infections. The treatments are often based on the stages of COPD.

There are certain lifestyle changes required to prevent COPD. Quitting smoking is the essential step in any treatment plan for COPD. Stopping smoking can keep COPD from getting worse and reducing the ability to breathe. In addition to this, physical activity can strengthen the muscles that help breathe and improve overall wellness.

Pharmacotherapy for COPD consisted of maintenance and reliever medications. Maintenance medications included inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), long-acting beta-agonist (LABA), fixed-dose combination ICS + LABA, tiotropium (TIO), and inhaled ipratropium or fixed-dose combination ipratropium + albuterol (collectively referred to as ipratropium [IPR]) etc. Reliever medications included short-acting beta-agonist (SABA), oral corticosteroid (OCS), nebulized ipratropium or combination ipratropiumalbuterol (collectively referred to as nebulized ipratropium [nebIPR]), and antibiotics.

Several kinds of medications are used to treat COPDs symptoms and complications that include bronchodilators, which relax the muscles around the airways. This helps open the airways and makes breathing easier. Most bronchodilators are taken through an inhaler. In more severe cases, the inhaler may also contain steroids to reduce inflammation. Some of the short-acting and long-acting bronchodilators that are used in management include Albuterol (ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, and others), Ipratropium (Atrovent HFA), Levalbuterol (Xopenex), Aclidinium (Tudorza Pressair), Arformoterol (Brovana), Formoterol (Perforomist), etc.

Continued in the report..



Key Findings

 The market size of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in seven major markets was estimated to be USD 12,134 million in 2020, for the study period (20182030).

 The United States accounts for the largest market size of COPD, in comparison to EU5, and Japan.

 The expected Launch of potential therapies may increase market size in the coming years, assisted by an increase in the diagnosed prevalent population of COPD.

 Among the EU5 countries, Germany had the highest market size with USD 617 million in 2020, while United kingdom had the lowest market size of COPD with USD 274 million each, in 2020.



With the need to develop more advanced and specific treatment approaches, new treatments that go further than conventional therapeutical approaches (i.e., bronchodilators and classical anti-inflammatory drugs) have been developed for COPD. Bronchodilators are used to try to increase the size of the airway and improve symptoms, while anti-inflammatories, mainly corticosteroids and phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors, are aimed at reducing inflammation, one of the most significant pathogenic mechanisms in COPD.

The market size of the COPD has been categorized into three groups based on the type of therapies that are used and that might get launched, i.e., Monotherapies, Double combination therapies, and Triple combination therapies. The monotherapies are further categorized into Long Acting Bronchodilators (LABDs), Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS), Phosphodiesterase Type 4 Inhibitors, and other monotherapies. In LABA, drugs like Striverdi Respimat, Arcapta/Onbrez, Serevent, and Brovana are there, and in LAMA class, molecules such as Spiriva (Spiriva HandiHaler and Spiriva Respimat), Tudorza Pressair, Incruse Ellipta, Yupelri, Seebri Neohaler, Lonhala Magnair etc. are included.

Among all LABAs, Tudorza is expected to experience a decline in sales in the US, due to the federal purchase, as Circassia discontinued its agreement with AstraZeneca in April 2020, under which Circassia has the commercial rights to sell Tudorza and Duaklir, in the US. But after the termination of this agreement the rights for these products are again transferred to AstraZeneca. Apart from Tudorza, several other therapies, like Incruse Ellipta, Lonhala Magnair, and Spiriva, are also expected to experience a market decline probably due to the more prescription of double and triple therapies. Spiriva was one of the leaders in the COPD market, but due to launch of double and triple therapy, and the entry of generics in the market, its market size started decreasing.

Those patients who fail to respond to monotherapies are then prescribed double or triple therapies. Among double therapies, the highly recommended combination that is being used by most patients is LABA+ICS. The double combination includes LABA+ICS (Symbicort, Breo Ellipta, Advair etc), and LABA+LAMA (Anoro Ellipta, Stiolto Respimat, and Bevespi Aerosphere). There are currently two triple combination therapies that are marketed in the US, i.e., Breztri and Trelegy Ellipta. It is expected that these triple combination will replace the usage of double combination as well as monotherapy.



The United States Market Outlook

This section provides the total Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market size and; market size by therapies in the United States.



EU-5 Market Outlook

The total Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market size and market size by therapies in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom are provided in this section.



Japan Market Outlook

The total Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market size and market size by therapies in Japan are provided.



Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Drugs Uptake

This section focuses on the rate of uptake of the potential drugs recently launched in the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market or expected to get launched in the market during the study period 20182030. The analysis covers the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market uptake by drugs; patient uptake by therapies; and sales of each drug.

This helps in understanding the drugs with the most rapid uptake, reasons behind the maximal use of new drugs, and allows the comparison of the drugs based on market share and size which again will be useful in investigating factors important in market uptake and in making financial and regulatory decisions.



Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Development Activities

The report provides insights into different therapeutic candidates in phase II, and phase III stages. It also analyzes key players involved in developing targeted therapeutics.



Pipeline Development Activities

The report covers the detailed information of collaborations, acquisition, and merger, licensing, and patent details for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) emerging therapies.

Reimbursement Scenario in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Approaching reimbursement proactively can have a positive impact both during the late stages of product development and well after product launch. In the report, we consider reimbursement to identify economically attractive indications and market opportunities. When working with finite resources, the ability to select the markets with the fewest reimbursement barriers can be a critical business and price strategy.



Competitive Intelligence Analysis

We perform competitive and market Intelligence analysis of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market by using various competitive intelligence tools that includeSWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, Porters five forces, BCG Matrix, Market entry strategies, etc. The inclusion of the analysis entirely depends upon the data availability.



Scope of the Report

 The report covers the descriptive overview of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), explaining its causes, symptoms, pathophysiology, genetic basis, and currently available therapies.

 Comprehensive insight has been provided into the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) epidemiology and treatment.

 Additionally, an all-inclusive account of both the current and emerging therapies for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is provided, along with the assessment of new therapies, which will have an impact on the current treatment landscape.

 A detailed review of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market; historical and forecasted is included in the report, covering the 7MM drug outreach.

 The report provides an edge while developing business strategies, by understanding trends shaping and driving the 7MM Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market.



Report Highlights

 The robust pipeline with novel MOA and oral ROA, increasing prevalence, effectiveness of drugs as both mono and combination therapy will positively drive the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market.

 The companies and academics are working to assess challenges and seek opportunities that could influence Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) R&D. The therapies under development are focused on novel approaches to treat/improve the disease condition.

 Major players are involved in developing therapies for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The launch of emerging therapies will significantly impact the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market.

 Our in-depth analysis of the pipeline assets across different stages of development (phase III and phase II), different emerging trends and comparative analysis of pipeline products with detailed clinical profiles, key cross-competition, launch date along with product development activities will support the clients in the decision-making process regarding their therapeutic portfolio by identifying the overall scenario of the research and development activities.



Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Report Insights

 Patient Population

 Therapeutic Approaches

 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Pipeline Analysis

 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Market Size and Trends

 Market Opportunities

 Impact of upcoming Therapies



Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Report Key Strengths

 10 Years Forecast

 7MM Coverage

 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Epidemiology Segmentation

 Key Cross Competition

 Highly Analyzed Market



 Drugs Uptake



Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Report Assessment

 Current Treatment Practices

 Unmet Needs

 Pipeline Product Profiles

 Market Attractiveness

 Market Drivers and Barriers

 SWOT analysis



Key Questions



Market Insights:

 What was the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market share (%) distribution in 2018 and how it would look like in 2030?

 What would be the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) total market size as well as market size by therapies across the 7MM during the forecast period (20212030)?

 What are the key findings pertaining to the market across the 7MM and which country will have the largest Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market size during the forecast period (20212030)?

 At what CAGR, the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market is expected to grow at the 7MM level during the forecast period (20212030)?

 What would be the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market outlook across the 7MM during the forecast period (20212030)?

 What would be the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market growth till 2030 and what will be the resultant market size in the year 2030?

 How would the market drivers, barriers, and future opportunities affect the market dynamics and subsequent analysis of the associated trends?



Epidemiology Insights:

 What are the disease risk, burdens, and unmet needs of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?

 What is the historical Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patient pool in the United States, EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK), and Japan?

 What would be the forecasted patient pool of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) at the 7MM level?

 What will be the growth opportunities across the 7MM with respect to the patient population pertaining to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?

 Out of the above-mentioned countries, which country would have the highest prevalent population of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) during the forecast period (20212030)?

 At what CAGR the population is expected to grow across the 7MM during the forecast period (20212030)?



Current Treatment Scenario, Marketed Drugs, and Emerging Therapies:

 What are the current options for the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) along with the approved therapy?

 What are the current treatment guidelines for the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in the US and Europe?

 What are the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) marketed drugs and their MOA, regulatory milestones, product development activities, advantages, disadvantages, safety, and efficacy, etc.?

 How many companies are developing therapies for the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?

 How many emerging therapies are in the mid-stage and late stages of development for the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?

 What are the key collaborations (IndustryIndustry, Industry-Academia), Mergers and acquisitions, licensing activities related to the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) therapies?

 What are the recent novel therapies, targets, mechanisms of action, and technologies developed to overcome the limitation of existing therapies?

 What are the clinical studies going on for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and their status?

 What are the key designations that have been granted for the emerging therapies for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?

 What are the 7MM historical and forecasted market of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?



Reasons to buy

 The report will help in developing business strategies by understanding trends shaping and driving Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

 To understand the future market competition in the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market and an Insightful review of the key market drivers and barriers.

 Organize sales and marketing efforts by identifying the best opportunities for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in the US, Europe (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom), and Japan.

 Identification of strong upcoming players in the market will help in devising strategies that will help in getting ahead of competitors.

 Organize sales and marketing efforts by identifying the best opportunities for the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market.

 To understand the future market competition in the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) market.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06129787/?utm_source=GNW



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FRISCO, Texas, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Federos , a leading provider of cloud-enabled, AI-optimized assurance, analytics, and automation software that monitors and manages the performance of critical networks and services for many of the worlds largest service providers and enterprises, announced today that EWE TEL GmbH has selected Assure1  Federos flagship Unified Service Assurance solution  to transform their network operations with a focus on improving operational efficiency and providing high quality services.



EWE TEL offers high-speed internet, mobile and landline telephone services, online TV, and corporate and computing center services in Germany. It is a subsidiary of the Oldenburg-based energy and telecommunications group EWE AG.

Assure1 combines fault, performance, topology, and service management into a single, unified platform, which will allow EWE TEL to detect incidents promptly and proactively across all network domains, solve service issues faster, and increase customer satisfaction.

We selected Assure1 from Federos to leverage the solutions real-time intelligence to understand and address any degradation of service before it impacts our customers. Our teams will be able to better understand network activities and service status in real-time so appropriate actions can be taken quickly, said Mitja Thomas, project manager for the modernization of the OSS stack, EWE TEL. With Assure1s end-to-end, cross-domain view of the entire network, we expect to improve our MTTI/MTTR, which is crucial to providing outstanding customer experience.

We are honored to have EWE TEL select Federos to streamline its network operations environment, said Keith Buckley, CEO, Federos. We look forward to helping EWE TEL realize the benefits of Assure1, and are confident its new actionable intelligence will help them to simplify and transform their network operations.

About Federos

Federos is a leading provider of cloud-enabled, AI-optimized assurance, analytics, and automation software that monitors and manages the performance of critical networks and services.

Our solutions ensure the delivery of digital services that businesses rely on. They accomplish this by observing, analyzing, and acting on incidents that can cause widespread outages, SLA violations, and customer churn.

Our customers are global Communications Service Providers (CSPs), Managed Service Providers (MSPs), and other enterprises with complex and large-scale networks. We help them simplify, automate, and transform their operations to reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, and deliver exceptional customer service.

For more information on Federos, visit: https://www.federos.com

About EWE

EWE is an innovative service provider active in the business areas of energy, telecommunications and information technology. With over 9,100 employees and sales of EUR 5.6 billion in 2020, EWE is one of the largest utility companies in Germany. The company, based in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, is primarily owned by the local government. It provides electricity to around 1.4 million customers in northwest Germany, Brandenburg and on the island of Rugen, as well as parts of Poland, and supplies natural gas to almost 0.7 million customers. It also provides approximately 0.7 million customers with telecommunications services. EWE plays a pioneering role in the areas of climate protection and digital participation. To this end, the Group will invest over one billion euros in the expansion of the fibre-optic infrastructure in the coming years and four billion euros in the erection of new wind turbines. It is also a leader in the development of hydrogen infrastructure. More information on EWE can be found at https://www.ewe.com/en/.
New York, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The purchase of bread by private households in Germany in the year 2020 grew by around 4% from the previous year to reach close to 1.7 million tons. Moreover, the average amount of bread purchased per household was close to 38kg in the same year. On the other hand, the export of food and drinks in the European Union over the last decade has doubled, accounting to approximately 105 Billion.

Research Nester published a report titled  Europe Tamarind Gum Market  which offers a detailed description of the latest market trends, growth drivers, opportunities, and the challenges associated with the growth of the market in the forthcoming years. The report also contains comprehensive insights adopted by key market players to enhance their performance in this competitive landscape.

The food culture in the European countries majorly includes the utilization of different types of ketchup and sauces. Also, the consumption of baked food items, meat products, and other instant foods in the region has also grown significantly over the years. Tamarind gum is widely utilized in the manufacturing of such food products. Backed by the growing demand for food products in the region, the Europe tamarind gum market is projected to attain a market revenue of USD 15.8 million by the end of 2028 by growing with a CAGR of 7.7% during the forecast period, i.e., 2020-2028.

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Tamarind gum powder is widely used in pharmaceutical applications. According to the statistics by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, the growth in production sector in the pharmaceutical industry in the region was around USD 298000 million in 2018, up from about USD 119000 million in 2000. Amongst all the end-use sectors, the pharmaceutical sector is a major consumer of tamarind gum as the product plays an essential role in disease treatment and drug development. Europe is witnessing progression of several major health implications such as arthritis, high blood pressure, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. As per the National Health Service (NHS), in the U.K., more than 10 million people suffer from arthritis. In addition, another report from the same source stated that 1 in 2 people in the region will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime. Moreover, with the openness of the people in this region to try alternative treatment methods, the demand for organic medication is assessed to witness notable growth in the near future. Apart from these factors, there is a rapid increase in the sales of natural cosmetics along with high requirement for natural products such as tamarind gum in the personal care & cosmetics industry in Europe for the production of lotions, balms, creams and other skin care products. CBI, the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries stated that in 2018, natural cosmetic products contributed to around 10% of total cosmetic products sold in Germany. The total sales value of natural and organic cosmetics market in the region was estimated at around USD 1.48 billion in the same year. Furthermore, the recent government approval for the utilization of tamarind seeds powder in the cosmetics industry is further evaluated to benefit the use of the product in this industry.

Get a Sample PDF of Europe Tamarind Gum Market Report 2020

The market is also expected to grow on the back of the growing pet food industry in the region. According to the statistics by the European Pet Food Federation (FEDIAF), pet food sales worth 8.5 billion tonnes was registered in the year 2019. The statistics also stated that 85 million households in the region owned a pet. Furthermore, tamarind gum has been used extensively in place of guar gum in recent years owing to its cost-effectiveness during manufacturing processes, which is also anticipated to contribute to the market growth.

However, the COVID-19 outburst, which resulted in factory shutdowns and disruption of the supply chain processes all around the world, has massively impacted the imports of goods in the nation, which according to the European Commission witnessed fall from around USD 162 billion in March 2020 to USD 136 billion in the month of April of the same year. Further, dip in retail sales in Europe, owing to the coronavirus pandemic, has also negatively impacted the industries that utilize tamarind gum. In other statistics by the European Commission, due to this crisis, in 2021, the total retail sales from March to April in the European Union decreased by 3.1%.

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The Europe tamarind gum market is segmented by countries into Denmark, Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Rest of Europe. Among these countries, the Germany held the largest market (34%) for tamarind gum, followed by Norway and Netherlands. Moreover, the market in France also offers ample growth opportunities to the market owing to the strong presence of cosmetic manufacturers and increasing sales of natural cosmetics in the nation. For instance, more than 55% of French women purchased organic cosmetics in 2018, an up from 30% in 2010.

Do You Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement? Ask to Our Expert

Some of the major industry leaders mentioned in our report that are associated with the Europe tamarind gum market are The Mysore Starch Manufacturing Company, Adachi Natural Polymer Limited, Premcem Gums Private Limited, Qingdao Libangda Marine Technology Co., Ltd., DSP Gokyo Food & Chemical Co., Ltd., Mahesh Agro Food Industries, Hindustan Gum & Chemicals Ltd., Chhaya Industries, JD Gums & Chemicals, and others.

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CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Arctic Energy Services Inc. (TSX: HWO) (High Arctic or the Corporation) is pleased to report exceptional operational safety performance ahead of mobilizing Rig 115 to commence work on a remote exploration well abandonment.

High Arctic's Papua New Guinea ("PNG) operations has reached the world-class milestone of five years Total Recordable Incident Free, after marking 2.5 million work hours without a significant injury earlier this August. Not one person has required medical treatment or missed any work time because of a workplace incident while working at High Arctic in PNG during the past 5 years.

Mike Maguire, CEO stated: This sustained performance excellence in a place as geographically challenging as Papua New Guinea is a credit to the Corporations highly trained and skilled workforce from local PNG communities and around the world. It is also reflective of the shared values and stable long-term relationships we have built with our top-tier customer base.

I am very pleased we continue to expand our employee count in PNG as we undertake the necessary work to ensure a safe and successful restart of Rig 115, build on our safe work legacy and continue the development and advancement of our local workforce.

Building upon recent momentum, we are also pleased that the PNG Governments State Negotiating Team and PNG-LNG operator ExxonMobil jointly announced that they have restarted negotiations over the development of the Pnyang natural gas resource. Negotiations, reportedly, aim at signing a Pnyang Heads of Agreement as early as the end of September, with a definitive gas agreement thereafter.

About High Arctic

High Arctics principal focus is to provide drilling and specialized well completion services, equipment rentals and other services to the oil and gas industry. High Arctic is a market leader providing drilling and specialized well completion services and supplies rig matting, camps and drilling support equipment on a rental basis in Papua New Guinea. The western Canadian operation provides well servicing, well abandonment, snubbing and nitrogen services and equipment on a rental basis to a large number of exploration and production companies.

For further information, please contact:

Mike Maguire

Chief Executive Officer

1.587.318.3826

1.800.668.7143

High Arctic Energy Services Inc.

Suite 500, 700  2nd Street S.W.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 2W1

website: www.haes.ca

Email: info@haes.ca
Chicago, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), www.ncsbn.org, met virtually Aug. 18-19, 2021, to consider pertinent association business with its members. There were 58 member nursing regulatory bodies (MNRBs) represented by delegates.

NCSBN Board of Directors President Jay Douglas, MSM, RN, CSAC, FRE, executive director, Virginia Board of Nursing, noted, NCSBNs 43rd annual meeting, the second held virtually, provided critical insights into leadership during turbulent times and a reminder that we are more alike than we might think we are. The pandemic, devastating to many, reminds us of the necessity and advantages of global engagement. Delegates demonstrated visionary leadership in the adoption of revised NCSBN Model Act and Rules and the Next Generation NCLEX test design. Both are examples of nursing regulators attention to the future while continuing to stay focused on the mandate of public protection.

Significant actions approved by the MNRBs include:

Adopted the proposed revisions to the NCSBN Model Practice Act & Rules, which provide an evidence-based framework of nursing statutes and regulations for nursing regulatory bodies to utilize during policy and advocacy discussions.

Approved the Next Generation NCLEX  (NGN) test design and polytomous scoring methods

(NGN) test design and polytomous scoring methods Elections to the Board of Directors: President-elect, Phyllis Johnson, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, executive director, Mississippi Board of Nursing Treasurer, Adrian Guerrero, CPM, director of operations, Kansas State Board of Nursing Area I Director, Susan VanBeuge, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, board president, Nevada State Board of Nursing Area II Director, Lori Scheidt, MBA-HCM, executive director, Missouri State Board of Nursing Area III Director, Karen C. Lyon, PhD, RN, ACNS, NEA, executive director, Louisiana State Board of Nursing Area IV Director, Karen Evans, MSN, RN-BC, SD-CLTC, CLC, executive director, Maryland Board of Nursing

NCSBN delegates also elected a member of the Leadership Succession Committee (LSC): Area III Member, Janice Hooper, PhD, RN, FRE, CNE, FAAN, ANEF, lead nursing consultant for education, Texas Board of Nursing



About NCSBN

Empowering and supporting nursing regulators across the world in their mandate to protect the public, NCSBN is an independent, not-for-profit organization. As a global leader in regulatory excellence, NCSBN champions regulatory solutions to borderless health care delivery, agile regulatory systems and nurses practicing to the full scope of their education, experience and expertise. A world leader in test development and administration, NCSBNs NCLEX Exams are internationally recognized as the preeminent nursing examinations.

NCSBNs membership is comprised of the nursing regulatory bodies (NRBs) in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories. There are three exam user members and 27 associate members that are either NRBs or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories.

The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not individual members.

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OAKVILLE, Ontario, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Terrestrial Energy Inc. today announced its 100th hire at its Oakville, Ontario headquarters where the company is developing its proprietary Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR), a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) power plant design that uses next-generation Generation IV reactor technology. The companys Oakville operations are complemented by many more engineers supplied by local engineering firms, as well as other companies in the Canadian supply chain that are now contributing to IMSR development. Terrestrial Energy is actively recruiting for 27 positions and anticipates adding 80 more engineers and scientists to its Oakville operation over the next 12 months.

Terrestrial Energy represents world-leading technology that can make a major contribution to averting climate change globally, said Simon Irish, CEO of Terrestrial Energy. The development of this technology in Oakville is a source of great pride for our community, and our local economy is benefitting tremendously from the significant investments being made by Terrestrial Energy. We are proud to add more Ontario-based professionals as we continue expanding.

The companys latest employee, a safety analyst with a PhD in nuclear engineering from McMaster University, joins an Ontario-based team helping create an exciting new industry. Terrestrial Energy is hiring talented and high-performing individuals with diverse backgrounds reflecting todays modern Canadian workforce who are passionate about advancing the companys engineering, regulatory, component-testing and procurement programs.

These include testing activities at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories at Chalk River, Stern Laboratories in Hamilton and McMaster University, along with engineering programs to support Terrestrial Energys submissions to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for Phase 2 of CNSCs Vendor Design Review of the IMSR. Leading firms in the Canadian nuclear supply chain, including L3Harris, Aecon, Hatch, BWXT and others, are assisting the company with this effort.

The Terrestrial Energy IMSR is one of three SMRs being considered for deployment at Ontario Power Generations Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, and it is the only Canadian technology candidate. Terrestrial Energys Oakville operation represents the largest SMR power plant development in Canada. The companys IMSR incorporates the latest in nuclear technology to provide cleaner, safer, more reliable and cost effective energy.

We congratulate Terrestrial Energy on achieving this milestone, said Rob Burton, Mayor of Oakville. Oakville is home to many members of Canadas nuclear community, including Promation Nuclear and BWXT Laker, and we are delighted to have Terrestrial Energy as one of our important corporate citizens.

Since early 2016, when it became the first Generation IV reactor developer to submit a SMR power plant design for Phase 1, Terrestrial Energy has been committed to CNSCs Vendor Design Review process. It completed Phase 1 in 2017 and expects to complete Phase 2 by the start of 2022. Since late 2019, the company has been further engaged with the CNSC, as well as the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), as the two regulatory agencies collaborate to develop licensing efficiencies to support the review of Generation IV nuclear power plants.

Terrestrial Energy uses Generation IV reactor technology to achieve a 50 per cent increase in thermal efficiency of power plant operation and electric power generation over conventional nuclear technologies, which are those that use water as a coolant. By extension, IMSR Generation IV technology offers a 50 per cent improvement in the cost competitiveness of nuclear power. This step-change in thermal efficiency equally reduces waste and spent-fuel footprints. When combined with design objectives focused on meeting market needs in a compelling timeframe, Terrestrial Energy has created a nuclear power plant with transformative commercial characteristics that cannot be matched by SMR power plant designs that use conventional nuclear technologies.

The IMSR power plants use of previously demonstrated molten salt Generation IV technology and nuclear fuel at standard enrichment  the only Generation IV SMR power plant designed to do this today  removes design hurdles and hastens the power plants potential for near-term deployment. The company announced an agreement on August 17 with Westinghouse and the UKs National Nuclear Laboratory to provide the IMSRs nuclear fuel supply, the first Generation IV SMR to do so.

About Terrestrial Energy

Terrestrial Energy is a developer of Generation IV advanced nuclear power plants that use its proprietary Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) technology. IMSR technology represents true innovation in cost reduction, versatility and functionality of nuclear power plants. IMSR power plants will provide zero-carbon, reliable, dispatchable, cost-competitive electric power and high-grade industrial heat for use in many industrial applications, such as chemical synthesis and desalination, and in so doing extend the application of nuclear energy far beyond electric power markets. They have the potential to make important contributions to industrial competitiveness, energy security, and economic growth. Their deployment will support rapid global decarbonization of the primary energy system by displacing fossil fuel combustion across a broad spectrum. Using an innovative design, and proven and demonstrated molten salt reactor technology, Terrestrial Energy is engaged with regulators and industrial partners to complete IMSR engineering and to commission first IMSR power plants in the late 2020s.

Website: www.terrestrialenergy.com

E-mail: info@terrestrialenergy.com

Social Media

LinkedIn: Terrestrial-Energy-Inc

Twitter: TerrestrialMSR

YouTube: Terrestrial Energy

Instagram: Terrestrial.Energy

Facebook: TerrestrialMSR
PHOENIX, AZ, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Triumph Real Estate Investment Fund I (Triumph), a Canadian investment fund based in Calgary, Alberta, is pleased to announce the sale of a Metro Phoenix shopping center Triumph Glendale Northwest for $6,600,000.00 in August 2021. This 16,706 sf retail center was originally purchased by Triumph in 2018. The property, which was 100% leased at the time of the sale, has several outstanding tenants, including First Watch Restaurants, One Stop Nutrition and Simple Pure Aromatherapy.

We are very pleased with this sale as it reflects an excellent return for our Investors, said David Wallach, President and Founder of Triumph. The result of the sale demonstrates the success of Triumphs strategy; purchasing multi-tenant income producing properties and increasing value by increasing rents, leasing vacancies and replacing tenants with stronger tenants. We are working to acquire additional properties in the U.S.A. through Triumph Real Estate Investment Fund II that fit our fundamentals. Our goal within Triumph Real Estate Investment Fund II is to increase our presence in the Phoenix and Denver markets as well as other states throughout the Central and Western U.S.

Both the purchase in 2018 and sale of the property in 2021 were handled by Keri Davies, Jason Reddington and Jon Rosenberg of LevRose Commercial Real Estate/TCN Worldwide in Scottsdale, AZ.

About TCN Worldwide

An extensive range of real estate services coupled with a personal commitment to exceed client expectations is what allows TCN Worldwide to be a leader in the commercial real estate industry. With over 1,500 commercial real estate professionals serving more than 200 primary and secondary markets worldwide, TCN Worldwide ranks as one of the largest and most comprehensive service providers in the CRE industry.

TCN Worldwide provides complete integrated commercial real estate solutions across North America, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia.

For more information on TCN Worldwide, contact H. Ross Ford at 972-769-8701 or visit www.TCNWorldwide.com



About Levrose Commercial Real Estate/TCN Worldwide

LevRose Commercial Real Estate is a market leader in commercial real estate services in the Greater Phoenix metro area. Since 1992, Levrose has been helping clients with every aspect of leasing, buying, selling and managing Commercial properties. With some of the top professionals in the industry, Levrose takes a higher level of accountability for each client. Commercial Property management is handled through affiliate firm MODE Real Estate Management Services. MODE has a unique, professional approach to the management of office, retail and medical properties.

For further information visit: www.levrose.com

About Triumph Real Estate Investment Trust

Triumph Real Estate Investment Trust was created in order to offer investors the opportunity to strategically invest in multi-tenant industrial, retail and office buildings alongside a strong and experienced management team with over 60 years combined experience.

The Trust will focus on identifying undervalued and undermanaged properties located in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta in the Canadian Market, as well as Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington in the U.S.A. Market.

For further information visit: www.triumphref.com

Attachments
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sabina Gold & Silver Corp (SBB.T/SGSVF.OTCQX), (Sabina or the Company) is pleased to report on progress on pre-construction activities for its proposed Goose Mine on the 100%-owned Back River Gold Project (Back River or the Project) in Nunavut, Canada.

Tremendous work has been completed during the first nine months of 2021 as we propel the Project towards a production decision, said Bruce McLeod, President & CEO. We have been advancing the underground exploration ramp at Umwelt, have completed critical civil works at the Goose site, and have prepared the Sabina Port facility to receive the largest sealift planned to date, which is now offloading the first ship. We have also completed detailed engineering and received issued for construction drawings for the process plant. In parallel we continue to work towards Project financing in order to make a production decision.

Our Back River camps are working safely under Sabinas COVID-19 Protocol Operational Framework. Sabina continues to engage with relevant authorities to modify protocols based on new information to ensure our measures are protective. Testing remains in place for all upon deployment and once on site. To date there have been zero cases of COVID-19 or any variants at camp.

Over the last 17 months, as a result of Territorial regulation, Sabina has been unable to utilize any of our Inuit employees. For those long-term employees, we have maintained a food support program during this time. The Company is now in discussions with the Government of Nunavut and the Government of Northwest Territories on a back to work program that will safely see our Inuit employees back at work at Back River in the near future.

Project Development Update

Engineering and Procurement

Sabina has continued to advance engineering activities for the plant process component and has now finalized these issued for construction (IFC) packages with Sacre Davey. The Company has also progressed detailed engineering on the balance of the plant and ancillary facilities.

Additionally, detailed engineering design for the Goose fuel farm is complete. Detailed design of site-wide water management structures such as the plant site pond, emergency discharge pond and creek crossings are anticipated by the end of 2021.

Sabina has also advanced vendor certified engineering drawings (CE) packages with FLSmidth for all process plant equipment, Toromont for the main power generation and Industrial Equipment Manufacturing for conveyor and tower packages. A contract to provide drawings for the recently purchased permanent accommodation complex is also underway. Armtec Inc. has been contracted to design and supply a multiplate tunnel feature below the fine ore stockpile. In addition to the CE drawings FLSmidth is providing, Sabina has procured several long lead items for the crushing plant, all enroute to the Port Facility via the current sealift program.

The Company has submitted all IFC packages to CGT Industrial, a prominent Arctic constructor, who are completing their scope and constructability review which will culminate in a fixed price lump sum bid with price certainty on all direct & indirect manhours with a commodity rise & fall mechanism. The rise and fall mechanism is required at this time due to current market volatility, remaining vendor pricing validity and timing of project financing. Tentative submission of this proposal is expected at the end of Q3 2021.

Sabina has purchased the design packages for the process plant and truck shop structures along with associated cranes and materials, which are enroute to the Port facility via the sealift program.

Sabina has also procured the phase 1 open pit mining equipment required for early stripping which has the first pieces have now arrived at our Port facility.

Sabinas procurement strategy in 2021 has focused on supporting the following critical path activities, which are targeted to be completed in 2022:

Have sufficient civil works completed such that concrete foundations can be commenced for the process plant and truck shop, and that the permanent camp laydown area is of sufficient size to install the permanent camp complex; Have all equipment in place by YE 2021, in preparation for a decision to commence construction of a winter ice road, working from both the Goose and Port sites; and Ensure the open pit mining fleet is available to begin work in Q2 2022.



Figure 1: Goose Site Layout

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fcb14cac-3993-4389-b5a0-6bfbbbea3867

Figure 2: IFC Plant site layout

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e737fd9c-2d9b-4bb4-9137-88687a60a65f

Umwelt Exploration Ramp

After the successful completion of the box cut for establishing a portal face, Sabinas underground (UG) exploration decline team focused on establishing services and commissioning of the mining equipment utilizing the newly erected portal area workshop. Sabinas first UG portal blast occurred on May 31st and underground development is well underway with the portal entrance and 130 meters of development completed by Sabinas development crews.

Figure 3: Umwelt UG Exploration Portal

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1ec94cd-0559-493e-b146-b2ad3bf9a313

Figure 4: Inside Umwelt UG Exploration Portal

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Figure 5: Umwelt UG Portal and Decline and supporting shop structures built this year

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Sabina has completed the UG workshop and dry storage areas. The heated workshop is equipped with a dedicated generator system and mine load centers used to power the underground development, a compressed air system, offices, tool crib, hose fabrication room and a workers dry.

Pre-development Construction Activities

Sabinas site crew and earthworks contractor have focused on upgrading roads, infrastructure, building laydown pads and crushing and screening activities. To date, 10,000m3 of esker material has been harvested from a nearby site location which will be used for the preparation of concrete aggregates and pond liner underlay.

The earthworks contractor is a Kitikmeot qualified business and has been engaged to complete the drill/blast rough grading program at the plant site area. The team is currently moving ahead with the rough grading of the plant site area, and pad area for permanent fuel storage tanks which will eventually be used to store fuel for the entire site.

Figure 6: Road Work Construction and Plant Laydown Area

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Sealift

Sabinas sealift this season is in excess of 25,000 revenue tons, including two vessels from Becancour, Quebec and six barges from Hay River, NWT. At the consolidation points, the team successfully completed the collection and seaworthy packaging of all equipment to ensure safe transport. The vessels and barges are in motion and the first ship has reached the Port facility and has commenced offloading operations. To facilitate the sealift, Sabina has prepared laydown storage areas at and fuel tank containment at the Port site with all sealift activities anticipated to be completed by the end of September.

The cargo is comprised of cement, ammonium nitrate, mining equipment, tires, spares and lubes, winter ice road construction and transport equipment, multiplate tunnels, creek crossing culvert, building foundation and erection construction equipment steel and plates and the permanent accommodation facilities.

Figure 7: MV Nunalik loading at Becancour, Quebec departed August 11, 2021 to Port Facility

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6f4c270c-9250-4a8c-b36d-a368073df3ab

Figure 8: Accommodation Complex units being loaded

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Figure 9: Fuel Containment Liner for 10 million litre tank at Port facility

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Figure 10: Equipment off loaded

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Click here for photo gallery of site activities and procured equipment.

https://www.sabinagoldsilver.com/assets/docs/Picture%20Gallery%20August%202021.pdf

Alternative Energy Opportunity

Since 2019, Sabina has been working on alternate energy opportunities including wind, solar and battery configurations that would reduce the reliance on diesel for power generation. Sodar (wind condition testing units) have been in place at site for 2 years with results showing that the Goose Project shows excellent potential for the installation of wind turbines for power generation. Sabina is working with a large-scale alternative energy provider and is commencing advanced studies which if successful may ultimately see Back River utilize a wind-battery-generator power combination.

Qualified Persons

Mr. Vincy Benjamin, P. Eng., and Director of Engineering for Sabina, is a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved of the technical content of this press release as it relates to the Back River Project.

Sabina Gold & Silver Corp.

Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. is well-financed and is an emerging precious metals company with district scale, advanced, high grade gold assets in Nunavut, Canada.

Sabina recently filed an Updated Feasibility Study (the UFS) on its 100% owned Back River Gold Project which presents a project that will produce ~223,000 ounces of gold a year (first five years average of 287,000 ounces a year with peak production of 312,000 ounces in year three) for ~15 years with a rapid payback of 2.3 years, with a post-tax IRR of ~28% and NPV 5% of C$1.1B. See National Instrument (NI) 43-101 Technical Report  2021 Updated Feasibility Study for the Goose Project at the Back River Gold District, Nunavut, Canada dated March 3, 2021.

The Project received its final major authorization on June 25, 2020 and is now in receipt of all major permits and authorizations for construction and operations.

In addition to Back River, Sabina also owns a significant silver royalty on Glencores Hackett River Project. The silver royalty on Hackett Rivers silver production is comprised of 22.5% of the first 190 million ounces produced and 12.5% of all silver produced thereafter.

For further information please contact:

Nicole Hoeller, Vice-President, Communications: 1 888 648-4218

nhoeller@sabinagoldsilver.com

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (the forward-looking statements), including, but not limited to, statements related to the expected use of proceeds of the Offering and the projections and assumptions of the results of the UFS. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. While we have based these forward-looking statements on our expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee that such future events will occur and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and assumptions include, among others, the uncertainty of production, development plans and costs estimates for the Back River Gold Project; discrepancies between actual and estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources, between actual and estimated development and operating costs; the interpretation of drill, metallurgical testing and other exploration results; the ability of the Company to retain its key management employees and skilled and experienced personnel; exploration, development and mining risks and the inherently dangerous nature of the mining industry, and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks and other risks and uncertainties; property and mineral title risks including defective title to mineral claims or property; the effects of general economic conditions, commodity prices, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government and regulatory authorities; and misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking statements. In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Known risk factors include risks associated with exploration and project development; the need for additional financing; the calculation of mineral resources and reserves; operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing; fluctuations in metal prices; title matters; government regulation; obtaining and renewing necessary licenses and permits; environmental liability and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain of our officers or directors; the absence of dividends; currency fluctuations; labour disputes; competition; dilution; the volatility of the our common share price and volume; future sales of shares by existing shareholders; and other risks and uncertainties, including those relating to the Back River Project and general risks associated with the mineral exploration and development industry described in our Annual Information Form, financial statements and MD&A for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.

Bruce McLeod, President & CEO

Suite 1800  Two Bentall Centre

555 Burrard Street

Vancouver, BC V7X 1M7

Tel 604 998-4175 Fax 604 998-1051

http://www.sabinagoldsilver.com




Mont Belvieu, Texas, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Has your attic been infested with bats? It starts with a few fleeting glances of bat silhouettes at sundown. Then you start to hear chirping and scratching. Head up to your attic, and if you see droppings and damage, then you most likely have a bat problem.

Unlike your usual rodent or bug infestation, bats are a challenging creature to remove and can bring danger to your home. Nobody knows this better than Richard Lisenby, proud owner of AAAC Wildlife Removal of Texas Gulf Coast. Richard specializes in bat removal and attic restoration. As a veteran owned and operated business, having served in the U.S army, and as the proud father to two beautiful daughters, he knows how important it is to provide a safe and secure home and operate a business with integrity.

The family-based business has been helping homeowners safely remove bats and restore peace and security to their homes for many years. While you can try to remove them yourself, its never worth the risk, and its best to call in expert Richard and his specialist team.

Below, Richard outlines 5 tips for removing bats from homes and properties:

Always remove, rather than exterminate (its the law)

When bats take hold of your attic, destroy insultation and leave hazardous waste all over your walls and floors, its easy to become frustrated and look at ways of exterminating. However, you should never, ever exterminate.

The fact is that it is illegal to eliminate a bat. They are protected in most parts of the country and require expert handling to be removed.

Identify how the bats got in (cracks, openings, broken seals)

Bats are very nimble creatures that can slip in through even the smallest of cracks or openings. Once they determine that your attic would make the perfect home for their colony, they invite the whole family over and unless correctly dealt with, will stay for a long, long time.

Finding the entry points that bats use can be difficult. Often there isnt one single access that they are entering through, and it will require some serious detective work to find all the potential access points that the bats are using.

Wait for the bats to leave (it sounds crazy, but they need to hunt, and will leave)

Its incredibly difficult to trap bats. Unlike rodents, raccoons, or squirrels, they provide a much greater challenge, not just in terms of numbers, but in agility. Trying to trap a bat is a hopeless endeavor and youre better off waiting for them to leave on their on accord.

The bats will go hunting during the dead of night, and this is your opportunity to barricade your home and ensure they cannot return.

Seal up the access points the bats are using

Our experts at AAAC Wildlife Removal of Texas Gulf Coast install one-way doors at all the access points identified. Ideally this step would be taken before the bats leave to go hunting, as the doors do not allow reentry, however, you may not have access to such specialist equipment.

If thats the case, youll need to act fast once the bats have left the attic. First, check that all the bats have left, and there are no stragglers left behind. Now youll need to seal up all your home entry points. While this isnt a surefire way to deal with the problem, its the best approach when trying to address the issue yourself.

Clean up the mess the bats left (be careful, it can be harmful to humans)

The mess that bats can leave behind isnt only unpleasant to look at, but it can be dangerous to inhale. Their mess is called guano and can transmit a fatal fungal infection referred to as histoplasmosis.

You should not try to clean up bat guano up without having expertise in this area. Leave this task to a bat control expert such as AAAC Wildlife Removal of Texas Gulf Coast. Gloves and protective wear are an absolute must, as you can inhale it by simply being near it. Dont run the risk  call an expert.

Removing bats from a home or property is tricky business  let the experts take care of it

AAAC Wildlife Removal of Texas Gulf Coast can take away the burden of trying to remove pesky bats from your home. They are the local experts, and have a tried, tested, and non-harmful removal process that follows these steps:

Identify each bat entrance hole into your home (a thorough examination can take many hours, but this gives you the best chance of securing your home) Set up one-way doors at each access point Confirm that every bat has been removed from your attic Seal all the entry points Clean all the harmful bat guano in the attic utilizing protective devices Replace insulation (if needed) Fix any kind of interior or outdoor damage (Richard is an attic restoration specialist)

To learn more about bat control, or to enquire about bat removal services, visit the AAAC Wildlife Removal of Texas Gulf Coast website or call 832-662-7677.

AAAC Wildlife Removal of Texas Gulf Coast team also service the following cities:

South Houston

Baytown

Galveston

Beaumont

Clear Lake

Webster

League City





More Information:

AAAC Wildlife Removal of Texas Gulf Coast:is a proud member of the AAAC Wildlife Removal family of franchise companies. Our wildlife operators are trained with the most up to date techniques to handle all of your wildlife needs. If youve got a wildlife problem, we can fix it! Learn more via the website: https://txgulfcoast.aaacwildliferemoval.com/

https://thenewsfront.com/aaac-wildlife-removal-of-texas-gulf-coast-5-tips-for-removing-bats-from-homes-and-properties-from-expert-richard-lisenby/
English Danish

COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT

Odense, August 24th, 2021

Company Announcement no. 29. 24-08-2021



Danish Aerospace Company A/S issues Interim report for 2021

The Board of Directors of Danish Aerospace Company A/S (DAC) have today approved interim report for 2021. The report has not been audited.

Key points from the 2021 Interim report

Revenue totaled DKK 10.3 million.

Profit before depreciation (EBITDA) amounts to DKK 0,3 million.

Expectations for revenue and profit for 2021, as noted in DACs 2020 Annual report, still stands.

NASA/Jacobs has ordered one more of DACs FERGO ergometers.

ESA expanded the E4D contract and has announced they will order an additional E4D flight model.

DAC has received subsidy from EUs defense fund for participation in the CUIIS project (Comprehensive Underwater Intervention Information System) to develop underwater technology with sensors, monitoring- and control system for military divers.

NORDIN 2020 cohort project, exploration of opportunities for wearables- and space technology in India continues despite delays due to the COVID-19 situation in India.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused minor delays on some projects and business development activities in the first half of 2021.

CEO, Thomas A. E. Andersen:

The first half of 2021 has seen a number of new contracts and supplement contracts which helps ensure the company going forward. It is great to see the interest which ESA and NASA/Jacobs have shown for our new exercise technologies.

In 2021, we have once again been affected by COVID-19. A few of our DAC projects are still affected due to delays from our collaborators, however, we have once again been lucky that no projects or contracts have been cancelled.

That the CUIIS project has been selected by the EUs defense fund has made it possible for DAC to place extra focus on this strategic area. According to our strategy, DAC now, for the first time, steps beyond the space arena and will utilize our experience and technology in the area of extreme environments on Earth. In due time, we hope this will give rise to further opportunities where we can bring our know-how down to Earth and into extreme environments, such as; for fighter jets, motorsports and mountain climbing etc.

Management Review of the 2021 Interim report

In March, the US space agency NASA ordered for an additional FERGO ergometer from DAC. NASA has now ordered 4 of DACs new custom-made space ergometers. FERGO (Flight ERGOmeter) is the second generation of DACs ergometers. It will replace the current CEVIS-ergometers which, among other, has been a permanent part of the exercise equipment on the International Space Station (ISS) since 2001 and is due to retire after 20 years faithful service. The first FERGO-ergometer is expected to be launched for ISS at the end of 2021 or beginning of 2022.

In the spring, ESA expanded the contract with DAC for the newly developed E4D (Enhanced European Exploration Exercise Device) multi-function/cross-trainer which will benefit astronauts on manned spaceflights. The ESA contract has been both expanded and extended in terms of developmental activities. The equipment must now meet a long series of additional requirements and include additional functions, furthermore it is supplemented by a set of specific software tools which will make utilization easier for NASAs and ESAs flight surgeons and exercise specialists. The new contract expansion will run untill 2025 and is an increase of the contract by 16%.

In June, ESA asked DAC for a quote on another flight model of the companys E4D exercise device, as this will give them a complete extra backup model at their disposal, when the equipment will be included in the standard selection of exercise equipment for astronauts on the Space Station.

Initially, the E4D equipment was to be used as a technology demonstrator on the International Space Station ISS and thereby be a frontrunner for subsequent versions to be used on the coming space station by the Moon Lunar Gateway, and manned spaceflights for Mars. Now, NASA has expressed a wish to also subsequently use the equipment operationally which means, as a complete operational exercise equipment for all non-Russian astronauts on ISS. DAC has compiled a quote for ESA which, which in our experience, normally leads to a contract. The final contract is expected signed by the fall when ESAs internal processes have been concluded.

In June, DAC was awarded a subsidy from EUs Defense fund for participation in the CUISS project (Comprehensive Underwater Intervention Information System) along with companies and research institutions from six other countries. The project is part of the EU Commissions recently published results for the European Defense Industrial Development Program 2020 (EDIDP), under the theme "Underwater control contributing to resilience at sea". DAC will be responsible for the sensors and the underwater technology for monitoring the health of the divers. The project is expected to start in the autumn of 2021 and run for three years and consists of development, design, prototyping and a test phase.

DAC has internal development projects with different wearable sensors for health monitoring of e.g., astronauts and persons in other extreme environments on Earth, such as divers, mountain climbers, fighter pilots and race car drivers.

Development, production, and testing of FERGO ergometers for Jacobs/NASA and of E4D for ESA, including other contracts, continued as planned, though with minor delays. Despite the effects of COVID-19, DAC shows a revenue for the first half of 2021 at the same level as the corresponding period in 2020.

Promotional and business development activities have once again been affected by COVID-19 in the first half of 2021, nevertheless, DAC has seen a steady increase in new contracts, expansions and additions to current development- and service contracts.

DAC continues the work with the NORDIN 2020 cohort project to further explore the opportunities for corporation regarding wearables- and space technology in India, however this has also been affected by the COVID-19 situation in India.

Once again, in the first half of 2021, DAC passed its regular certification audit, which monitors the companys AS/EN9100 standard, rev. D Quality Management System approval by Bureau Veritas.

Expectations for the year

The expectations for the years revenue and profit as presented in DACs Annual Report 2020 are maintained:

Revenue of DKK 22-25 million; and

positive EBITDA of DKK 3-5 million.

There are some uncertainties associated with the timing of certain projects between 2021 and 2022 which may impact the financial results. The COVID-19 pandemic may also still affect the remainder of 2021, primarily as certain activities may take longer than originally anticipated, furthermore, with limits in business development due to travel restrictions.

The Interim report can be found on our website: http://www.danishaerospace.com/en/investor-relations/annual-reports

Note: This is a translation of the corresponding Company Announcement in Danish. In case of discrepancies between the Danish wording and the English translation, the Danish wording prevails.

For further information, please contact:

Danish Aerospace Company A/S:

Chairman of the Board of Directors Niels Heering

Mobil: +45 40 17 75 31

CEO Thomas A.E. Andersen

Mobil: +45 40 29 41 62

Certified Adviser:

Gert Mortensen, Partner

Baker Tilly Corporate Finance P/S

Poul Bundgaards Vej 1

DK-2500 Valby

Tlf.: +45 33 45 10 00

www.bakertilly.dk

About Danish Aerospace Company A/S:

Danish Aerospace Company is a high-tech company operating in the area of advanced medical instrumentation and other engineering fields primarily within space applications. Our products are based on many years of specialized research and development. These consist of developing, integrating, and applying new as well as established medical technologies to the challenges of functioning and remaining reliable in space. These products and services bring the potential of space research and experience from space operations down to Earth for the benefit of all Mankind.

Danish Aerospace Company employs engineers and technicians who deliver full engineering, production and technical services for our customers. We have specialized in customer specific design, development, manufacturing, certification, maintenance, testing, and operations.

The company has developed five generations respiratory equipment for spaceflight, bicycle ergometers for astronauts, countermeasures, adapted several commercial medical equipment for spaceflight and has participated in the development of the minus eighty degree-celsius freezers.

The Companys quality system is certified in obligation to BS EN ISO 9001:2015, BS EN 9100:2018 technical equivalent to AS9100D that is the acknowledged standard in the area.
Dallas, TX , Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In Texas, domestic violence, or family violence, is any act of violence that would be legally classified as an assault committed against a family member or intimate partner. This area of law is taken very seriously in Texas, to the extent that even an accusation of domestic violence can follow the accused for decades to come.



The consequences when law enforcement are summoned to the home for a domestic violence call, whether made by a neighbor or a spouse; can potentially change the family unit forever. Once the 911 call for the domestic dispute is recorded and the police are called, it is very difficult to reverse the momentum.

Domestic violence is also unique, in that, as a matter of policy, prosecutors often disregard the wishes of the victim when it comes to prosecuting cases, notes Mr. Helms. In other words, a victim of domestic violence does not have the ability to stop the prosecutors from taking legal action against the perpetrator; it is the prosecutors themselves who decide whether an alleged perpetrator will have charges pressed against them.

One misconception about misdemeanor charges in domestic violence cases is that charges will be dropped if the alleged victim submits an affidavit of non prosecution to the district attorneys office. In many, if not most, cases, the charges are not dismissed. This is because the affidavits the prosecutors use will usually say that the domestic violence occurred, but the alleged victim does not want the defendant to be prosecuted. Under the law, though, it is up to the prosecutornot the alleged victimto decide whether to pursue the case This is why any attempts to persuade a prosecutor to dismiss charges should be coordinated by a criminal defense lawyer familiar with Texas State laws.



Making a statement to the police and then recanting or modifying that statement is a delicate matter. Prosecutors are always wary of these statements, because the state has a responsibility to protect the victim from the perpetrator of the violence and from the victims themselves, due to the phenomena of abuse in intimate relationships victims returning to their abuser.(1)

Says Mr. Helms, One of the biggest mistakes you can make if you are accused of domestic violence is to try to handle it by yourself. If you do, you will almost always make it worse.

To help demystify the nature of domestic violence law, criminal defense legal expert John Helms, whose high profile case wins have made him one of the most renowned defense attorneys in Dallas, has created a resource answering frequently asked questions on the topic. The page includes insights gained from his decades of experience in both defense and prosecution, as well as breakdowns of relevant sections of the Texas Penal Code, which is written in complex legal language that is not always easy to understand.

As a Texas criminal defense lawyer, I have seen the impact that domestic violence accusations can have on the accused and their family, says Mr. Helms, whose experience as a former federal prosecutor gives him unique expertise in building a defense strategy.

Mr. Helms emphasizes that the information he has provided is not a substitute for legal counsel.

Domestic violence is a unique area of Texas law for several reasons. First, Mr. Helms explains, many district attorneys offices in larger counties in Texas have divisions devoted entirely to the prosecution of domestic violence cases. It is also exceptional in that domestic disturbance calls usually lead to one party being arrested and jailed so that all involved parties have a cool-down period.



Read the full Texas domestic violence law page here.

About Dallas Defense Attorney John Helms

John Helms is a Dallas criminal defense attorney who specializes in both trials and appeals. He graduated from Dartmouth College and from the University of Texas School of Law, where he was on the Editorial Board of the Texas Law Review. He was admitted to legal practice in 1990. He then clerked for the Honorable Charles Clark, Chief Judge of the Fifth Circuit District Court of Appeals. He next worked for one of the most prestigious litigation boutique firms in the country, Susman Godfrey, where he made partner a year early. He then became a federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney's office for the Northern District of Texas, in Dallas. While there, he never lost a trial or appeal. Mr. Helms has been a trial lawyer for more than three decades. He has represented some of the biggest corporations in the country, such as Microsoft, Bank of America, ACE Cash Express, and Philip Morris. In 2021, John was designated by his peers as a SuperLawyer.

https://johnhelms.attorney/

To request a consultation and have Mr. Helms contact you, please fill out this form or call (214)-666-8010

Media Contact:

R. William

Source:

1) https://kcadv.org/content/why-do-victims-stay-or-return-abusers

2)https://dallascrimenews.johnhelms.attorney/john-helms-a-top-rated-criminal-defense-attorney-in-dallas-is-selected-to-super-lawyers_19925.html?preview=7d734584-ba66-11eb-b92e-525400bbad9d











Attachment
Dallas, TX , Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sexual assault is, rightfully, taken incredibly seriously in the United States and in Texas. Victims of sexual assault have to deal with lifelong emotional main and psychological distress as a result of their trauma.

However, false accusations of sexual assault, whether intentional or mistaken (for example, a victim who was incapacitated at the time of their assault may mistakenly accuse the wrong person) can be life-ruining when they occur.

Clint Broden and Mick Mickelsen, Dallas criminal defense attorneys with decades of combined experience providing representation for Texans accused of sexual assault and related crimes, have published an article clarifying the differences between sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault.

This is an important distinction for the accused to understand. While sexual assault is a second degree felony, aggravated sexual assault is a first degree felony that can carry a lifetime prison sentence, depending on the circumstances of the alleged crime. The article discusses differences in sentencing for sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault convictions, the definitions of the two crimes, what constitutes an aggravating factor in the state of Texas.

The American justice system guarantees that everyone accused of sexual assault is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, the court of public opinion can pass judgment much more swiftly, notes Mr. Mickelsen.

What this means for the accused is that even though they have access to the same rights as alleged perpetrators of any crime with the justice system, allegations of sexual assault alone are enough to destroy a persons personal relationships, reputation, career, and other aspects of their life. It is therefore essential to seek experienced legal counsel if you have been accused of sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, or any related crimes.

About Broden & Mickelsen

Experienced sex criminal defense lawyers in Dallas, Broden & Mickelsen are dedicated to providing aggressive and ethical representation to individuals and businesses charged with criminal offenses. Both partners play an active role in each case and are committed to the belief that when a person is charged with a crime, he or she deserves to be represented by attorneys that provide a vigorous defense. By evaluating each case individually and by using all the resources available to achieve a favorable resolution. Read more about selecting an attorney, or schedule a consultation for your case.





Broden Mickelsen - Dallas Criminal Defense Law Firm

https://www.brodenmickelsen.com/

214-720-9552

Attachment
TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Platinex Inc. (CSE: PTX) (the "Company" or "Platinex") is pleased to announce the acquisition of additional mining claims in Shining Tree and provides an update on the on-going work at Shining Tree.



Platinex has consolidated the former Ronda mine which is the largest former producer at Shining Tree providing virtually 100% ownership of the mine workings, depth and strike extensions by acquiring the Trillium Mining Corp. (Trillium) claims. Trillium is a 100% owned subsidiary of Alamos Gold Inc. (Alamos). The claims include ground over a large portion of the historical workings and directly at the surface area of these claims (see image). Platinex currently owns the down dip potential below 200m and controls the two historical shafts. The claim package is located near the centre of the 220 square km Shining Tree property (see image).

James R. Trusler, Chairman and CEO of Platinex stated, There have been no previous attempts to bring the Herrick Gold Mine and the Ronda Mine together even though the workings are separated by a mere 1.2 km. The Ronda Mine was in production for a short period in 1939 and 1940 before shutting down for WWII. Recorded production from the 22,309 tonnes milled was 2,727.2 oz of gold and 4,830 oz of silver. Establishing resources will now be a priority of Platinex following the consolidation of these strategic properties.

The transaction provides Alamos with an equity position in Platinex and greater regional participation in the developing Shining Tree camp which is experiencing increased activity including IAMGOLD and Sumitomos Cote Gold development project, Ore Finders Knight Project, and Aris Golds recent acquisition of the Juby gold project.

Terms of the Transaction are as follows:

The purchase price by the Company to the Seller for the Mining Claims shall be:

five million (5,000,000) common shares of the Purchaser (the  Platinex Shares );

); the shares will be subject to a six month hold period.; and

a two percent (2%) net smelter returns royalty on the Mining Claims (the Royalty).



Project Update :

The Company has undertaken an extensive work program commencing in September, 2020 and is ongoing including a program of linecutting, DHIP inversion study of the Herrick drilling done in 2008-2011, an IP survey covering 28.5 line km of the grid including parts of the Caswell and Ronda Mine area, and areas south of and through the Herrick Mine and Churchill Mine where it has now been confirmed the Ridout-Tyrrell Deformation Zone separates older volcanic rocks on the south from a large area of Porcupine sedimentary rocks and possible Temiskaming sedimentary rocks on the northeast. The IP survey identified 25 IP chargeability anomalies including 16 identified as high priority.

The long awaited LIDAR work, Magnetic Data synthesis and the Geochemical analysis from the gold in till program have all been completed on a property wide basis. The data is currently being compiled and analysed and more results from this work will be released in the next few weeks.

Drilling Results  A total of 1,250m of the Phase 1 drilling program was completed in June this year The results will be reported in the context of the target areas as all assays are received in a timely manner.

Planned Work

Herrick Resource Estimate  Since the Herrick deposit is a short distance from the Ronda Mine a resource estimate has become a priority including historical and current drilling by Platinex. It is anticipated the resource will be announced in October with recommendations for additional definition drilling.

Ridout-Tyrrell Deformation Zone (RTDZ):

The longer term and high priority RTDZ area, which potentially is the host of a major deposit, will be explored using progressively applied gold in till work, line cutting, prospecting, geological mapping, geochemical surveys and IP then channel sampling and/or drilling. Many of the IP anomalies identified this year coincide with the RTDZ between the Herrick and the Ronda Mines and are currently being investigated to prioritize drill targets.

All exploration activities including drilling, line cutting, and IP are being designed and will be implemented within COVID-19 safety guidelines for the province of Ontario.

The information presented in this news release has been reviewed and approved by James R. Trusler, P.Eng., Chairman and CEO of the Company and the Qualified Person for exploration at the Shining Tree property, as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

To receive Company press releases please subscribe at the Companys website.

Lori Paradis

Assistant Secretary

Tel: (416) 268-2682

Email: lparadis@platinex.com

James R. Trusler

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (416) 565-5616

Email: jtrusler@platinex.com



Web: platinex.com

About Platinex Inc.  Advancing a District Scale Project in an Abitibi Gold Camp

Platinex is focusing its efforts on the exploration of its property in the Shining Tree District. Platinex has created the largest combined gold focused property package in the Shining Tree District, northern Ontario, which has received little modern exploration compared to other gold camps in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. Shares of Platinex are listed for trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "PTX".

To receive Company press releases, please subscribe at the Companys new website.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Such statements include use proprietary data to seek financial backing to advance its platinum group properties, submission of the relevant documentation within the required timeframe and to the satisfaction of the relevant regulators, completing the acquisition of applicable assets and raising sufficient financing to complete the Company's business strategy. There is no certainty that any of these events will occur. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be correct. We assume no responsibility to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Investing into early stage companies, inherently carries a high degree of risk and investment into securities of the Company shall be considered highly speculative.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any province in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities issued, or to be issued, under the Private Placement have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not passed upon the merits of the Private Placement and has not approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/46d5fca0-c136-47c6-acfd-3ff450acb6a9

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1a6d4c15-f50a-4667-b4e5-6cf723fc69b9
English French

MONTREAL, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HPQ Silicon Resources Inc. (HPQ or the Company) ( TSX-V: HPQ ) (OTCQX: HPQFF) ( FWB: UGE ), an innovative silicon solutions and technology development company, is pleased to announce the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (Agreement) with EBH 2 Systems SA, (EBH 2 ) a Swiss company that possesses a proprietary electrolysis technology that can efficiently extract, from virtually any water source including salt water, a Clean Hydrogen also called Green Hydrogen that can be used to create low-cost electricity with no environmental impact.



EBH 2 SYSTEMS SA DEVELOP A GREEN AND SCALABLE PROCESS TO PRODUCE CLEAN HYDROGEN

EBH 2 has filled a provisional patent for its new and novel process to make Green Hydrogen, a process that is scalable and adaptable to numerous applications from various modes of land and sea transport to single home dwellings, district wide power generation and large-scale industrial applications. EBH 2 first successfully tested prototype model has a clean energy production capacity starting at 1 Megawatt of power that can be produced over 7 days from 2 litres of water; sufficient energy to power a typical three (3) bedroom suburban house. (LINK TO VIDEO)

WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP AN INDUSTRIAL SCALE EBH 2 SYSTEM TO PRODUCE GREEN SILICON

EBH 2 believes it can scale to power the planned high purity silicon and Nano silicon production by HPQ. If successful, HPQ proposes to bundle the energy production capability of EBH 2 systems with its silicon production to further reduce the environmental footprint of its developing high purity silicon, nano powders, and other Renewable Energy products. Under the Agreement HPQ can acquire a perpetual world-wide license to sell or deploy the bundled HPQ Technologies - EBH 2 generator-based systems anywhere in the world.

COMBINING FORCES TO ESTABLISH A NORTH AMERICAN EBH 2 GENERATOR SALES CAPABILITY

The Agreement establishes the terms of the creation of a new Joint venture Company (NEWCO) owned by HPQ and EBH 2 that will market, sell and service EBH 2 systems and products in North America (Canada, Mexico, and the United States). The potential cost and GHG reduction benefits of the EBH 2 first commercial size model are huge plus the units could readily replace solar panels or standby generators for homeowners. The global standby generator market is anticipated to grow by 4.9% CAGR between 2021 and 2025, attaining US$ 1.3 billion by 2025. North America has the largest market share at 33.87% in 2019, a market expected to grow with a CAGR of 3.7% to 2025.1

US DOE PUSHING FOR A REDUCTION IN CLEAN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION COST TO US$1 PER KILOGRAM To encourage new and creative solutions to bolster clean energy production, the U.S. Department of Energy has just launched what is described as an ambitious Hydrogen Earthshot Program aimed at reducing the cost of clean hydrogen by 80% to $1 per 1 kilogram in 1 decade (by 2030).

EBH 2 SYSTEMS PRODUCE CLEAN HYDROGEN FOR LESS THAN US$ 1 PER KILOGRAM

Currently, production of Clean Hydrogen from renewable energies (Green Hydrogen), cost about US$5 per kilogram, giving Clean Hydrogen a cost disadvantage compared to hydrogen produced using fossil fuels (Grey and Blue Hydrogen) which have a US$1 per kilogram cost2. EBH 2 is confident its cost per kilogram to produce its Clean Hydrogen is less than US$1, indicating that the EBH 2 module already surpasses the Hydrogen Earthshot program goals and is cost competitive compared to fossil fuels base hydrogen.

HPQ has been at the forefront of Silicon innovation development since 2015, yet the fact remains that converting quartz into silicon is a highly energy intensive process. EBH2 Systems SA, with their unique process to extract hydrogen from water to generate cheap green energy present HPQ with one of these games changing synergetic opportunities that we simply could not overlook, said Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon. When EBH 2 demonstrates that the system can do what they say it will, HPQ will be incredibly well positioned to reduce the cost and environmental footprint of making its silicon materials all the while opening up new, and massive addressable markets for a system that can produce cheaply green hydrogen, on demand.

ABOUT GREEN HYDOGEN

According to Haim Israel, head of Thematic Investing Strategy at BofA Global Research and lead author of its 103-page primer on hydrogen, this time the excitement is justified. We think were reaching an inflection point where green hydrogen could supply our energy needs, fuel our cars, heat our homes and be used in industries that have no economically viable alternative to fossil fuels, he says. Together with renewable electricity, green hydrogen gives us a shot at attaining a zero-carbon-emission global economy by 2050.3

Green hydrogen could provide up to 24% of our energy needs by 2050, helping to cut emissions by around a third. In doing so, the transition to green hydrogen could provide $11 trillion of infrastructure investment opportunities over the next 30 years and direct annual revenues of $2.5 trillion.4

According to the latest Hydrogen Insights Updates from the Hydrogen Council in collaboration with McKinsey & Company5. the deployment of hydrogen projects has seen significant momentum as the technology is being considered a major factor in the clean energy transition. In that regard, and as of February 2021, over 131 large-scale Hydrogen projects have been announced, bringing the current project pipeline to 359 with investment along the value chain coming to an estimated $500 billion through 2030,

To date, ninety countries, comprising 80% of the worlds GDP, now have commitments to meet net-zero emissions in the coming decades, and more than 30 countries have hydrogen-growth strategies. Favourable government commitments to fostering hydrogen innovation combined with concerns over greenhouse gas emissions are expected to continue to drive the demand for hydrogen, specifically green hydrogen, forward.

SALIENT POINTS OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN HPQ AND EBH 2 :

The transaction is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approvals. HPQ will be granted by EBH 2 a perpetual world-wide license to sell products where EBH 2 generators are incorporated into all HPQ Technologies, if the EBH 2 generators are used exclusively to autonomously power HPQ Technology or HPQ Technologies. (The HPQ-EBH 2 Bundle License). HPQ and EBH 2 agree to establish a new 50/50 joint enterprise (NEWCO) that will be responsible to market, sell and service EBH 2 systems and products in North America. NEWCO will be granted by EBH 2 a perpetual exclusive licence to market, sell and service EBH 2 systems and products in North America. (Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America). HPQ will set up NEWCO as a Canadian corporation, with both HPQ and EBH2 having fifty percent (50%) shareholding.

OPTION TO ACQUIRE HPQ EQUITY STAKE IN NEWCO. HPQ agrees that starting 5 years, but not exceeding 10 years, from the date of the receipt of the first Commercial shipment of EBH 2 systems ready for sales in North America by NEWCO, EBH2 can at any time and at its sole discretion, elect to buy HPQ equity stake in NEWCO by exchanging HPQ Equity stake in NEWCO for a perpetual eight percent (8%) royalty, on the gross sales of NEWCO (HPQ ROYALTY), royalty that shall be paid monthly, the 15th day of each month for the gross sales made in the previous month.

ACQUISITION COST. HPQ agrees to pay EBH 2 the HPQ-EBH 2 Bundle License in accordance with the payment schedule and terms set forth below: HPQ will make a cash payment to EBH 2 of Five Hundred Thousand US dollars (US$ 500,000) (The Cash Component of the transaction), HPQ will issue to EBH 2 of 10,000,000 units (Unit) at a price of C$0.70 Per Unit. (The Equity Component of the transaction). Each Unit is comprised of one (1) common share and one (1) common share purchase warrant (Warrant") of HPQ. Each Warrant will entitle EBH 2 to purchase one common share of the capital stock of HPQ at an exercise price of $ 0.75 for a period of 36 months from the date of closing of the Transaction. Each common share issued pursuant to the Units will have a mandatory four (4) month and one (1) day holding period from the date of its issuance. The Equity Component of the transaction is subject to TSX Venture Exchange and to standard regulatory approvals. SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS. EBH2 agrees that both the Cash Component of the transaction and the Equity Component of the transaction will be paid after an independent third-party has validated that the EBH2 process works and can be scaled up to meet the energy requirement of HPQ Technologies, based on the following milestones: An independent third-party, chosen by the Parties, will be mandated to confirm that the EBH 2 travel demonstration module can generate 1,000 Watts per hour (1 Kw per hour), 24 Kw per day, 168 Kw or 0.17 Mw of energy over 7 days from 1 litre of water (H2O). Upon receipt of confirmation that the production and other milestones has been met, the Cash Component of the transaction will be paid to EBH 2 and 5,000,000 units of the Equity Component of the transaction will also be issued to EBH 2 . An independent third-party, chosen by the Parties will be mandated to confirm that the EBH 2 system can be scaled up to meet the energy requirement of HPQ Technology. Upon receipt of a confirmation that the production and other agreed milestones have been met, 4,000,000 units of the Equity Component of the transaction will also be issued to EBH 2 . Upon a successful demonstration that a EBH 2 system can produce the energy required to power up HPQ PUREVAPTM QRR pilot plant, the remaining 1,000,000 units of the Equity Component of the transaction will be issued to EBH 2 .

About EBH 2 Systems SA.

EBH 2 Systems SA is a Swiss company located in Lausanne area which is working on Hydrogen solutions that will be Powering a Healthier future. Together with a researcher that has dedicated his life to develop green Hydrogen technologies, EBH 2 has found the solution to produce Hydrogen from virtually any water source including salt water. EBH 2 is scalable with no limits. It can power a small domestic generator up to ships, factories, buildings, cryptocurrency mines with high energy consumption and even cities. EBH 2 is one of the solutions to reduce more than 15% of the emissions for 2021. For more information, please visit EBH 2 web site.

About HPQ Silicon Resources

HPQ Silicon Resources Inc. ( TSX-V: HPQ ) is a Quebec-based innovative silicon solutions company that offers innovative silica (SiO 2 ), silicon (Si) based solutions and is developing a unique portfolio of high value-added silicon (Si) products sought after by battery and electric vehicle manufacturers.

Silicon (Si), also known as silicon metal, is one of todays key strategic materials needed for the decarbonization of the economy and the Renewable Energy Revolution (RER). However, silicon does not exist in its pure state and must be extracted from quartz (SiO 2 ) in what has historically been a capital and energy-intensive process.

With PyroGenesis Canada Inc. ( TSX: PYR ) ( NASDAQ: PYR ) , HPQ is developing:

the PUREVAPTM Quartz Reduction Reactors (QRR), an innovative process (patent pending), which will permit the one-step transformation of quartz (SiO 2 ) into high purity silicon (Si) at reduced costs, energy input, and carbon footprint that will propagate its considerable renewable energy potential. Through its 100% owned subsidiary, HPQ NANO Silicon Powders Inc., the PUREVAPTM Nano Silicon Reactor (NSiR) is a new proprietary process that can use material produced by the QRR as feedstock, to make a wide range of nano/micro spherical powders of different sizes and nanowires. Through its second 100% owned subsidiary, HPQ Silica POLVERE Inc., HPQ is developing a new plasma-based process that will allows a direct Quartz to Fumed silica transformation, removing the usage of hazardous chemical in the making of Fumed silica and eliminating the Hydrogen Chloride Gas (HCI) associated with its manufacturing.



For more information, please visit HPQ Silicon web site .

Disclaimers:

The Corporations interest in developing the PUREVAP QRR and any projected capital or operating cost savings associated with its development should not be construed as being related to the establishing the economic viability or technical feasibility of any of the Companys Quartz Projects.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's ongoing filings with the securitys regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This News Release is available on the company's CEO Verified Discussion Forum , a moderated social media platform that enables civilized discussion and Q&A between Management and Shareholders.

Source: HPQ Silicon Resources Inc.

For further information contact:

Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman, President and CEO Tel +1 (514) 907-1011

Patrick Levasseur, Vice-President and COO Tel: +1 (514) 262-9239

Email: Info@hpqsilicon.com


Waterloo, Ontario, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- eSentire, recognized globally as the Authority in Managed Detection and Response (MDR), announced today that it has achieved Amazon Web Services (AWS) Level 1 Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) Competency status. This new baseline standard of quality for managed security services was introduced by AWS to benefit cloud environments of any size and it spans six security domains: vulnerability management, cloud security best practices and compliance, threat detection and response, network security, host and endpoint security, and application security. The six domains contain multiple MSSP services, each with technical skillset and operational process requirements specific to AWS.

eSentire simplifies multi-cloud security by defending environments from advanced persistent threats and sophisticated attackers. Its multi-signal Managed Detection and Response offering delivers advanced detection, rapid human-led investigation and response capabilities through a combination of Machine Learning, Team and Operational Leadership:

Machine Learning: Powerful XDR Platform  eSentires cloud-native Atlas XDR Cloud Platform is the foundation of eSentire MDR, providing security, reliability and redundancy at scale & on demand, so eSentires services can grow in alignment with customer business transformations. Leveraging patented machine learning and artificial intelligence models, Atlas ingests over 20M signals daily, automatically disrupting 3M threats to filter out high fidelity malicious events so its 24/7 SOC and Threat Response Unit can deliver 6000 daily human-led threat investigations, with a Mean Time to Contain of 15 minutes.

Team: 24/7 Cloud Security Posture Management  eSentire actively manages the cloud security posture of organizations globally, reducing risk by improving cloud visibility, tracking assets and monitoring for security vulnerabilities & potential misconfigurations. The firms 24/7 SOC Cyber Analysts and Elite Threat Hunters detect emerging cloud threat tactics before they impact resources. They are supported by eSentires Threat Response Unit (TRU) who identifies the latest attacker techniques with proprietary cloud detectors mapped against the MITRE ATT&CK framework.

Operational Leadership: Proven Processes  eSentire delivers effective analysis, investigation, escalation and response processes refined over a two-decade history of delivering Managed Detection and Response services to high-value targets. Its experts rapidly remediate cloud misconfigurations and neutralize attackers that have potentially gained access to resources.

eSentire is proud to be one of the first AWS Partners to achieve AWS Level 1 MSSP Competency status. We are dedicated to helping businesses globally secure their multi-cloud environments with improved threat detection, 24/7 threat hunting, deep investigation capabilities and a 15-minute Mean Time to Contain, says C.J. Spallitta, eSentire Chief Product Officer. We have supported over 1,000 organizations globally in achieving their business transformation goals, and we look forward to leveraging the agility, breadth of services and pace of innovation that AWS provides as we expand our support for additional AWS services.

Global creative communications network, M&C Saatchi Group, works with eSentire to help protect its cloud workloads. I need to know were defended 24/7 by the best in the business, said Neil Waugh, Chief Information Officer for M&C Saatchi. With eSentire Managed Detection and Response, my team is supported around the clock by highly skilled security analysts and Elite Threat Hunters. I know that my cloud environment is being continuously monitored and potential vulnerabilities or misconfigurations are being addressed.

eSentires achievement of the AWS Level 1 MSSP Competency is fresh off the heels of eSentire being named an IDC Managed Detection and Response Leader and announcing the acquisition of digital forensics technology leader CyFIR. Following the acquisition, eSentire introduced its complete Cyber Investigations Portfolio, which includes Emergency Incident Response, Security Incident Response Planning Services and an Incident Response retainer offering which is disrupting the market with a 4-hour remote threat suppression service level agreement. For more information visit www.esentire.com.

About eSentire

eSentire, Inc., is the Authority in Managed Detection and Response, protecting the critical data and applications of 1000+ organizations in 70+ countries from known and unknown cyber threats. Founded in 2001, the companys mission is to hunt, investigate and stop cyber threats before they become business disrupting events. Combining cutting-edge, machine learning XDR technology, 24/7 Threat Hunting, and proven security operations leadership, eSentire mitigates business risk, and enables security at scale. The Team eSentire difference means enterprises are protected by the best in the business with a named Cyber Risk Advisor, 24/7 access to SOC Cyber Analysts & Elite Threat Hunters, and industry-leading threat intelligence research from eSentires Threat Response Unit (TRU). eSentire provides Managed Risk, Managed Detection and Response and Incident Response services. For more information, visit www.esentire.com and follow @eSentire.

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TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following an overwhelmingly positive response to its return to service on July 30, Sunwing has announced it will be offering Canadians even more ways to head to the tropics this fall. The tour operator will be adding several new routes from its two largest gateways, Toronto and Montreal, with direct flights to the vacation hotspots of St. Maarten, Aruba and Los Cabos.



Following positive customer demand for our initial destinations of Cancun, Punta Cana and Montego Bay, and based on increasing demand to travel in the early fall, we decided to expand our flight service and destination offerings ahead of schedule, commented Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations at Sunwing. Our customers are looking for even more choice and flexibility. Were excited to help them plan their dream getaway with ease under our wing, and we look forward to announcing additional flight routes in the near future.

In addition to seeking out the frictionless travel experiences we provide, were seeing more Canadians searching for bucket list destinations and exotic islands that are off the beaten path, commented Samantha Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer at Sunwing. By adding Los Cabos, Aruba and St. Maarten to our offerings, customers will have even more options to choose from so they can personalize their vacation to their travel style.

The flight schedule for the three additional destinations will be as follows:

Between Toronto and Los Cabos, Thursdays starting September 16, 2021

Between Toronto and Aruba, Mondays starting September 20, 2021

Between Toronto and St. Maarten, Thursdays starting September 30, 2021

Between Montreal and St. Maarten, Thursdays starting November 4, 2021

Between Montreal and Los Cabos, Thursdays starting November 11, 2021



Vacationers can choose from a range of popular resorts across these exotic destinations. In Aruba, guests can stay on the world-famous shores of Palm Beach at Riu Palace Aruba, an elegant resort offering activities and amenities for all ages. Sun-seekers can explore all that St. Maarten has to offer while staying at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort Casino and Spa, an all inclusive oasis just steps from local shops and nightlife. Couples and friends headed to Los Cabos can stay at the adults only Riu Palace Baja California, where they can lounge by glamorous infinity pools overlooking the coast and enjoy complimentary access to the weekly RIU Pool Parties.

To help Canadians make their return to paradise, Sunwing is offering incredible last minute vacation deals. Travellers can enjoy flexible booking options including reduced deposits of just $100 per person (down from $250 per person), an extended final payment window of 25 days before departure and monthly payment options through Uplift.

Plus, customers who book their getaway by September 9, 2021 for departures between now and October 31, 2021 will receive complimentary COVID-19 Coverage underwritten by Manulife included in their package (terms and conditions apply).

About Sunwing

The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from airports across Canada to popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing customers benefit from the assistance of the companys own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. The company supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid.

For more information:

Melanie Anne Filipp

Director, Corporate Communications & Media Relations

Sunwing Travel Group

1-800-387-5602 | media@sunwing.ca

https://www.facebook.com/SunwingVacations

https://twitter.com/SunwingVacay

https://www.instagram.com/sunwingvacations

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzjZ-lcuaqBQH7Sq0u3ru7A

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1e755443-329a-47b5-9d63-43d839aac6ef
New York, US, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UAV Market Overview

According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR),  UAV Market Information by Type, Component, Application and Region - Forecast till 2028, the market is projected to Grow at a 24.13% CAGR from 2021 to 2028.

Market Scope

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are aircraft or airborne systems that are controlled remotely by a human or autonomously by an onboard computer. Several firms are investigating the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for commercial and military applications. Oil rigs are being inspected, agriculture fields and mines are being monitored, and telecom towers are being checked with UAVs equipped with cameras. Next-generation industrial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have recently been launched to deliver packages or assist in search and rescue missions. An industrial UAV is a valuable instrument with data-gathering capabilities and near-limitless mobility.

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Competitive Landscape

Aero Vironment Inc. (US)

DJI (China)

Parrot Drones (France)

Precisionhawk (US)

3D Robotics (US)

Airbus SAS (Netherlands)

Boeing (US)

General Atomics (US)

Lockheed Martin Corporation (US)

Northrop Grumman Corporation (US)

Textron Inc (US)

Thales Group

Market Drivers

With several technological advances, the commercial drone market has seen rapid expansion. Miniaturization and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies are enabling business operators to purchase even the tiniest UAVs on the market, resulting in a mini- and micro-UAV procurement frenzy. Small UAVs are largely being offered by the vendors for agricultural, aerial photography, and data collection purposes. Artificial intelligence in UAVs has improved their capabilities while also allowing them to do tasks such as takeoff, navigation, data capture, data transfer, and data analysis without the need for human intervention.

Market Restraints

Even though UAVs are a fantastic technology, they can be dangerous if they fall into the hands of radicals. Terrorists can utilize them to carry out many assaults at the same time, resulting in an enhanced effect. Terrorist organizations use them as a weapon of choice because they are low-cost aircraft with simple operations that can quickly reach tough terrain.

Browse In-depth Market Research Report (134 Pages) on UAV: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/uav-market-1131

COVID-19 Analysis

COVID-19 has had a moderate impact on the market in focus because UAV purchase is a direct proponent of the sanctioned annual military budget of the nations. On a short-term basis, the ongoing global economic recession is expected to result in a reduction in defense spending. Major US-based military manufacturers, on the other hand, are less likely to be affected by the pandemic's larger supply chain disruption due to current laws and safeguards.

Market Segmentation

The market has been divided into fixed wing and multi rotor segments based on type. The fixed wing segment held a greater market share in 2018 and is predicted to grow at a faster rate from 2019 to 2028. Fixed-wing UAVs have a number of advantages, including long endurance, wide coverage, and quicker flight speeds. As a result, they are commonly used in surveillance missions.

The market has been divided into four segments based on component: airframe, payload, guidance navigation and control, and propulsion system. In 2018, the airframe category had the biggest market share. During the projected period, however, the payload segment is expected to increase at the fastest rate of 24.13 percent. The payload is the total weight that a UAV can carry, excluding the items that help it fly or hover. Cameras, sensors, and other components are usually included in the payload segment. It changes depending on the application. UAVs deployed in the military, for example, have substantially greater payloads that include armament systems and missiles.

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The market has been divided into two categories based on application: military and commercial. Agriculture and industry are sub-segments of the commercial segment. In 2018, the military category took a bigger part of the market. During the projected period, however, the commercial category is expected to grow at a faster rate. This sector includes the market for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) utilized in commercial applications such as industrial, retail, government, and others. Commercial unmanned aerial vehicles are proving to be effective commercial tools, with high demand in the construction, agriculture, and infrastructure inspection industries. As a result, over the projection period, the category is expected to grow.

Regional Analysis

The market has been divided into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.

Asia-Pacific, on the other hand, is predicted to develop at the fastest CAGR from 2019 to 2028. The rising number of territorial disputes and insurgencies, as well as the resulting demand for unmanned systems to undertake ISR, target recognition, damage assessment, and other duties. The UAVs have shown to be effective in combat operations in high-risk areas including the India-China border, the India-Pakistan border, and the South China Sea. In addition, the increased use of UAVs for commercial purposes is propelling market expansion in the region.

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About Market Research Future:

Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis with regard to diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.
New York , Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Proactive, provider of real-time news and video interviews on growth companies listed in the US and Canada, has covered the following companies:

About Proactive 

With six offices on three continents and a team of experienced business journalists and broadcasters, Proactive works with innovative growth companies quoted on the worlds major stock exchanges, helping executives engage intelligently with investors.

Proactives platform delivers the right message to the right audience, digitally and in real time, leveraging a range of media, investment research, digital investor targeting and website development services to support over 1,000 fast-growing companies globally.

Proactives network reaches over 12 million engaged private, professional and institutional investors looking for opportunities.

 Our written and video content is published on Proactive sites that collectively attract up to 10 million views per month.

 We syndicate our content to hundreds of mainstream and specialist news sites that expand our reach into networks that can be difficult for press releases to penetrate.

 We custom build corporate websites from the ground up, empowering clients and their brands with a modern online presence and the latest insight on effective SEO strategy

 Our news coverage ranks high on the worlds most popular search platforms, and we can further amplify online presence and outreach with sophisticated digital investor targeting.

 We help the world understand what makes companies stand out from the crowd with in-depth investment research from a team of experienced analysts.

For more information on how Proactive can help you make a difference, email us at action@proactiveinvestors.com




Dallas, TX, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alternet Systems, Inc. (OTC Pink: ALYI) (ALYI) today announced the company expects to exceed its first million in revenue prior to the end of the year from the electric vehicle ecosystem the company has been constructing over the last few years.

Instead of introducing a single EV product, ALYIs business focus is on the introduction of an EV Ecosystem that addresses the entire EV adoption environment, from the perpetual design of best in class vehicles to the perpetual design of the myriad of mechanical and digital systems that go into a best in class vehicle; from the charging and maintenance infrastructure that goes into supporting consumer and commercial vehicles, to the EV value proposition itself that drives consumers and businesses to transition from combustion engines to electric powered vehicles.



ALYI has seeded an overall EV Ecosystem Business Strategy with the development of its own EV motorcycle business.

The company launched a pilot in Kenya in July in conjunction with a 2,000 electric motorcycle order. CEO Dr. Randell Torno expects to begin delivering on the 2,000 electric motorcycle order before the end of the year. The company intends to publish a specific revenue target shortly after Labor Day which falls on September 6, 2021.

Earlier today, the company announced an expansion of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Rideshare Business Pilot into Ethiopia. The pilot expansion in Ethiopia has been in the works for approximately the last year. Dr. Torno visited Addis Ababa earlier this month to finalize expansion plans.

Africa has millions of motorcycles, both two wheeled and three wheeled, deployed as taxis or boda-bodas and tuk tuks, and ALYI, as one part of its overall EV Ecosystem Business Strategy, is engaged in a project to replace combustion engine motorcycles with electric motorcycles.

The global motorcycle taxi market was valued by Verified Market Research at $16 billion in 2018 and expected to grow to over 29 billion by 2026.

Ultimately, ALYI does not intend to go it alone on the overall development and rollout of its overall EV Ecosystem Business Strategy. ALYI is building a core element into its Ecosystem that attracts, if not compels the participation of all would be brand name EV industry leaders in an annual EV symposium and conference. The EV symposium and conference will be anchored by an EV race event in Kenya that comes with a substantial brand name.

The EV race market was valued in 2019 at over $80 billion dollars and is anticipated to grow to over $200 billion by 2025 .

ALYIs EV Ecosystem is founded on building participation in an EV race event as a central component in advancing EV technology and EV branding.

ALYI has been developing a partnership with a major EV racing brand for more than two years now. Over a year ago, ALYI entered into a formal partnership agreement that includes that EV racing brand. The first milestone objectives contemplated under the agreement have been achieved and the next steps are imminent. ALYI expects the next steps to include naming the EV racing brand at which time, ALYI management anticipates ALYIs overall visibility within the global EV market to be substantially elevated.

The objective of the EV symposium and conference anchored by an EV race is to advance EV technology by building EV solutions for the African market  a power constrained, rugged environment with one of the lowest per capita transportation deployments in the world. EV solutions for the African market will be applicable the world around. EV solutions designed and built in Africa also contribute to building an autonomous African economy.

ALYI has designed its EV ecosystem solution to include democratized participation. ALYI has partnered with RevoltTOKEN to finance ALYIs growth by offering participation in the EV ecosystem through the sale of Revolt Tokens.

To learn more about RevoltTOKEN and how to participate in ALYIs electric vehicle ecosystem through the purchase of Revolt Tokens, visit https://rvlttoken.com/ .

ALYI plans to make a major announcement later this month regarding the EV race that management expects will garner substantial attention to ALYIs overall EV Ecosystem strategy.
TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX: DGS, DGS.PR.A GDV, LBS, LCS, PWI, SBC)  Brompton Funds announces distributions payable on September 15, 2021 to class A shareholders of record at the close of business on August 31, 2021 for each of the following funds:



Fund Name Ticker Amount Per Share Dividend Growth Split Corp DGS $ 0.10 Global Dividend Growth Split Corp. GDV $ 0.10 Life & Banc Split Corp. LBS $ 0.10 Brompton Lifeco Split Corp. LCS $ 0.075 Sustainable Power & Infrastructure Split Corp. PWI $ 0.06667 Brompton Split Banc Corp. SBC $ 0.10

Brompton Funds also announces distributions payable on September 15, 2021 to preferred shareholders of record at the close of business on August 31, 2021 for the following fund:

Fund Name Ticker Amount Per Share Dividend Growth Split Corp. DGS.PR.A $ 0.1375

The funds noted above offer distribution reinvestment plans (DRIP) for class A shareholders which provide class A shareholders with the ability to automatically reinvest distributions, commission free, and realize the benefits of compound growth. Class A shareholders can enroll in a DRIP program by contacting their investment advisor.

About Brompton Funds

Founded in 2000, Brompton is an experienced investment fund manager with income focused investment solutions including exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other TSX traded investment funds. For further information, please contact your investment advisor, call Bromptons investor relations line at 416-642-6000 (toll-free at 1-866-642-6001), email info@bromptongroup.com or visit our website at www.bromptongroup.com.

You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell shares of the investment funds on the Toronto Stock Exchange or other alternative Canadian trading system (an exchange). If the shares are purchased or sold on an exchange, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying shares of the investment fund and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them.

There are ongoing fees and expenses associated with owning shares of an investment fund. An investment fund must prepare disclosure documents that contain key information about the funds. You can find more detailed information about the funds in the public filings available at www.sedar.com. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to matters disclosed in this document and to other matters identified in public filings relating to the funds, to the future outlook of the funds and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the future financial performance of the funds. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as may, will, should, expect, plan, anticipate, believe, intend, estimate, predict, potential, continue or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.




Santa Fe, NM, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After more than a century at its current location on Santa Fe's historic downtown Plaza, the New Mexico Museum of Art prepares for a renaissance and expansion to The Railyard. The Museum embarked on a journey beginning in 2014 to reengage its founding vision and explore future opportunities. The outcome was a transformational idea for an additional space specifically for contemporary art to complement the historic location on the Plaza, creating One Museum, Two Locations.

New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary

Through a generous $4 million gift from Santa Fe philanthropists Ellen and Bob Vladem, a powerful public-private partnership resulted in the New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary now under construction in The Railyard.

"Future generations will know and appreciate Ellen and Bob Vladem's generosity within the Santa Fe community and New Mexico," said Mark White, the executive director of the New Mexico Museum of Art. "Their gift enables the museum to attain its vision for a modern, cutting-edge, and world-class center for learning and art appreciation."

By integrating modern technology and concepts into the New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary, Santa Fe will be home to one of North America's most innovative spaces for creating, learning, and appreciating contemporary art. What the original 1917 building did for Santa Fe in the 20th century, the New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary will do for the 21st century.

New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary will have a dynamic Education Center where artmaking, classes, hands-on activities, and performance-based arts can occur. The original 1917 building lacks a dedicated education area. The new space will allow the museum to pursue its educational mission with modern exhibition spaces suited for contemporary art, a dedicated artist studio, expanded collection storage, and a remarkable collection viewing area.

"Expansive and flexible exhibition space is transformative to our mission of art appreciation and education. Large-scale installations, immersive multimedia projects, performance-based works, and increased storage capacity are central to 21st-century artistic practice. These enhancements will preserve New Mexico's cultural treasures for future generations," said White.

The Vladem Contemporary will feature:

Nearly 10,000 square feet of new exhibition space in two separate galleries;

A new artist in-residence program utilizing an on-site artist studio welcoming five artists each year, including two New Mexico artists along with three United States- or internationally based artists;

An Education Center accommodating up to 100 people for an array of programming;

Exterior Displays to include a dynamic video projection system for public outreach and a Window Box Project featuring three installations per year with local emerging artists that advance the mission of promoting accessible and inclusive contemporary art;

State-of-the-art climate-controlled collection storage, including cold storage for photography that will extend the lifespan of the museums expanding 8000-piece collection;

Visible storage available to visitors with behind-the-scenes accessibility; and

Outdoor spaces for community gatherings, including a spectacular second floor terrace with city and mountain views.

"The Vladem Contemporary's programs and amenities are sure to inspire artists and audiences looking to engage with contemporary art in a fresh, fun, and a vibrant new setting," added White.

New Location: The Railyard

The New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary brings a complementary focus to the thriving cultural community already located on The Railyard.

Like other railroad-related locales around the U.S., Santa Fe's station, tracks, equipment, and neighborhood declined during the latter half of the 20th century. By 1987, the area required redevelopment; a renewal plan began the same year. The intent was to maintain the rugged, industrial look of the old rail complex. At the same time, it would provide local business opportunities and create a series of vibrant public spaces.

Today, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express commuter service harkens a romantic bygone era as trains regularly arrive and depart from the historic Santa Fe Depot. The 90-minute trip from Downtown Albuquerque passes through tranquil landscapes that have made New Mexico iconic for centuries. Soon, The Railyard will be home to a restored historic Santa Fe Southern Railway as a revamped interactive sightseeing train owned and operated by notable author George R. R. Martin, creator of the Game of Thrones phenomenon, and two other private investors.

More than 100 years since its inception, the City of Santa Fe is the owner of the railyard property, which is now home to an eclectic mix of tenants serving the diverse interests of the community, from deeply rooted nonprofits such as the Santa Fe Farmers Market, the Railyard Performance Center, the internationally renowned SITE Santa Fe, and El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe, to an array of restaurants, shops, contemporary art galleries, and the 11-screen Violet Crown Cinema.

Future housing developments include a new dormitory for students attending the New Mexico School for the Arts, the only four-year public high school serving artist-scholars across New Mexico, which provides a rigorous, award-winning pre-professional arts and academics program.

The New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary design blends the old and the new. The museum honors the historic 1930s railroad-adjacent Ilfeld Warehouse, which was later a state archives building, but adds a new second story crossing the original structure. The warehouse footprint aligns with the historic railroad tracks, while the new addition aligns with the current streetscape. The design features a large outdoor courtyard and rooftop deck with sweeping views of Santa Fe and the nearby Sangre de Cristo Mountains. These spaces are sure to become a favorite for community gatherings and events.

"As a northern anchor to The Railyard, the New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary will draw community, artists, and audiences from across the city, region, and beyond, added White, We are dedicated to bringing the museum to the center of New Mexico's dynamic, diverse, and visionary creative community."

The Vladem Contemporary, currently under construction, is scheduled to open in August 2022.
NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenbacker Capital Management, LLC (Greenbacker Capital or Greenbacker), announced today that, through an affiliated fund (the Fund), it is increasing its investment in Clear Energy Renewables (Clear Energy), an owner-operator of hydroelectric power generation facilities in New York. The expanded investment provides growth capital to the company and will enable Clear Energy to acquire additional hydro facilities in the Empire State. This expanded partnership with Clear Energy demonstrates Greenbackers strong, ongoing commitment to clean energy alternatives to fossil-burning power generation.



The transaction follows Greenbackers initial investment in Clear Energy in late 2020, which the latter used to acquire and modernize two hydro assets in New York, while upgrading a third facility in the state that it already owned. Clear Energy will use the proceeds of Greenbackers additional investment to finance the acquisition and upgrade of two more hydro facilities in New York.

The Funds Managing Director and Principal, Benjamin Baker said, This expanded investment is an indication of our confidence in Clear Energys ability to operate small-hydro facilities efficiently and profitably, as well as our ongoing belief in the promise of distributed hydroelectric power, both as an investment that generates solid, consistent returns and as a viable alternative to other, more polluting forms of generation. Our initial engagement with Clear Energy in 2020 exceeded our expectations, and we are thrilled to deepen our relationship in a way that we expect will drive long-term benefits for our investors.

Headquartered in the Denver area and led by partners Matthew Wenger and Michael Prendergast, Clear Energy acquires existing hydropower facilities and invests in their modernization.

Wenger, Clear Energys CEO, said, With its financial strength, strategic insight and engineering expertise, Greenbacker is an ideal partner for us, one with whom we have successfully collaborated to support the greater adoption of sustainable generation. We are thrilled that Greenbacker is adding to its initial investment, and we look forward to working together towards even greater success in the future.

Greenbacker established the Fund in 2020 to invest in companies that are focused on sustainable infrastructure development serving high-value markets across the United States. Since inception, the Fund has made investments in half a dozen such companies.

About Greenbacker Capital Management

Greenbacker Capital Management LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser that provides advisory and oversight services related to project development, acquisition, and operations in the renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainability industries.

For more information, please visit www.greenbackercapital.com.

About Clear Energy Renewables

Clear Energy Renewables is an independent green power producer that acquires and modernizes small, distributed hydropower sites. The company leverages advanced technologies, best-in-class engineering, and socially conscious capital to transform the untapped capacity of water into social, environmental, and economic benefits for its communities. The company is based in Castle Rock, Colorado.

For more information, please visit www.clearenergyrenewables.com.

Media Contact

Greenbacker:

Chris Larson

Senior Writer & Media Communications

847.313.9035

c.larson@greenbackercapital.com








NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guggenheim Investments announced today the results and adjournment of the joint special meeting of shareholders (the Special Meeting) of Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund (NYSE: GOF), Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (NYSE: GPM) and Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (NYSE: GGM), each a closed-end fund (each, a Fund and together, the Funds), to approve the mergers of GPM and GGM with and into GOF (each, a Merger and together, the Mergers).



Acquired Funds Ticker Acquiring Fund Ticker Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund GPM Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund



GOF



Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund GGM

At the Special Meeting, shareholders of GPM and GGM voted to approve the Mergers. The Special Meeting was adjourned with respect to GOF in order to allow GOF shareholders additional time to vote on the Mergers. Although the substantial majority of GOF's shareholders who have voted their shares in connection with the Special Meeting have voted to approve the Mergers, GOFs Special Meeting will adjourn temporarily in order to achieve the necessary quorum.

The Special Meeting with respect to GOF will reconvene on Tuesday, September 14 at 10:00 a.m. Central time. The reconvened Special Meeting will be held in a virtual format. Shareholders will not be able to attend the reconvened Special Meeting in person.

Each Merger will be consummated only if GOFs shareholders vote to approve each Merger. Approval of the Merger of GPM into GOF is not contingent upon approval of the Merger of GGM into GOF, and likewise, approval of the Merger of GGM into GOF is not contingent upon approval of the Merger of GPM into GOF. Upon closing of the Mergers, GOF would continue to be subject to its current investment objectives, policies and restrictions. Shareholders of GPM and GGM would receive newly issued common shares of GOF, the aggregate net asset value (not the market value) of which will equal the aggregate net asset value of their common shares held immediately prior to the Merger(s).

The Mergers are intended to provide potential benefits to common shareholders, including enhanced investment opportunities and greater secondary market liquidity for each Funds common shareholders, among other things.

Additional Information

This press release is not intended to, and does not, constitute an offer to purchase or sell shares of any of the Funds; nor is this press release intended to solicit a proxy from any shareholder of any of the Funds. The solicitation of proxies to effect each merger was made by a final, effective Registration Statement on Form N-14, which included a definitive Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus, after the Registration Statement was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC).

This press release references a Registration Statement, which includes a Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus, filed by the Funds.

The Funds and their respective trustees, officers and employees, and Guggenheim Investments, and its shareholders, officers and employees and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the mergers. Investors and shareholders may obtain more detailed information regarding the direct and indirect interests of the Funds' respective trustees, officers and employees, and Guggenheim Investments and its shareholders, officers and employees and other persons by reading the Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus relating to the mergers.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE FUNDS ARE URGED TO READ THE COMBINED PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGERS. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSIDER THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, RISKS, CHARGES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUNDS CAREFULLY. THE COMBINED PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS CONTAINS INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, RISKS, CHARGES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUNDS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS.

The Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell securities, nor does it constitute a solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

Shareholders may obtain free copies of the Registration Statement and Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, free copies of the Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC may also be obtained by directing a request to Guggenheim Investments at 800-345-7999.

Each Fund also files annual and semi-annual reports and other information with the SEC. Filings made with the SEC by a Fund are also available to the public from commercial document-retrieval services and at the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

About Guggenheim Investments

Guggenheim Investments is the global asset management and investment advisory division of Guggenheim Partners, LLC (Guggenheim), with over $255 billion* in assets under management across fixed income, equity, and alternative strategies. We focus on the return and risk needs of insurance companies, corporate and public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, consultants, wealth managers, and high-net-worth investors. Our 275+ investment professionals perform rigorous research to understand market trends and identify undervalued opportunities in areas that are often complex and underfollowed. This approach to investment management has enabled us to deliver innovative strategies providing diversification opportunities and attractive long-term results.

Guggenheim Investments includes Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC (GFIA), Guggenheim Partners Investment Management (GPIM), and Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC (GFD). GFD serves as servicing agent for AVK. GFIA serves as Investment Adviser for FMO, GBAB, GGM and GOF. GPIM serves as Investment Sub-Adviser for GBAB, GGM and GOF. Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. serves as Investment Sub-Adviser for FMO and is not affiliated with Guggenheim. The Investment Adviser for AVK is Advent Capital Management, LLC and is not affiliated with Guggenheim.

* Assets under management are as of 06.30.2021 and include leverage of $16.3bn. Guggenheim Investments represents the following affiliated investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Corporate Funding, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited, Guggenheim Partners Fund Management (Europe) Limited, Guggenheim Partners Japan Limited, GS GAMMA Advisors, LLC, and Guggenheim Partners India Management.



There can be no assurance that the Funds will achieve their investment objectives. Investments in the Funds involve operating expenses and fees. The net asset value of the Funds will fluctuate with the value of the underlying securities. It is important to note that closed-end funds trade on their market value, not net asset value, and closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset value. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements speak only on the date at which such statements are made and Guggenheim undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statement.

Investors should consider the investment objectives and policies, risk considerations, charges and expenses of any investment before they invest. For this and more information, visit www.guggenheiminvestments.com or contact a securities representative or Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60606, 800-345-7999.

Analyst Inquiries

William T. Korver

cefs@guggenheiminvestments.com

Not FDIC-Insured | Not Bank-Guaranteed | May Lose Value

Member FINRA/SIPC (8/21) 49443
Atlanta, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rheumatic diseases are lifelong conditions that affect over 54 million Americans, often during their childbearing years. Rheumatic diseases disproportionately impact women and certain rheumatic diseases are more prevalent in minority populations than they are in the general population.

On Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at 7pm EDT, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and its Simple Tasks campaign will host a FREE webinar for patients, health care professionals, media and the general public on reproductive health and rheumatic disease. Attendees can expect discussion and resources from a panel of leading experts in rheumatology care, reproductive health, and parenting.



To register for the webinar, please visit rheum4you.org.



During the 90-minute webinar, experts will cover:

Family planning with rheumatic disease , including fertility, contraception, male reproductive health, treatment considerations for men and women, and medication compatibility.

, including fertility, contraception, male reproductive health, treatment considerations for men and women, and medication compatibility. Pregnancy and rheumatic disease , including the impact of pregnancy on rheumatic disease, the role of the rheumatology provider in your care during pregnancy, genetic factors, and medication compatibility.

, including the impact of pregnancy on rheumatic disease, the role of the rheumatology provider in your care during pregnancy, genetic factors, and medication compatibility. Parenting with rheumatic disease , including tips for managing the treatment of a child with rheumatic disease, parenting while managing a chronic disease, breastfeeding, compatible medications, and occupational and physical therapy tips for caring for your child.

Panelists:

Dr. Lisa Sammaritano  Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, Attending Physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and Director of the Rheumatology Reproductive Health Program at the Barbara Volcker Center

Dr. Arthur Kavanaugh  Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego

Dr. Megan Clowse  Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Immunology, Director of the Duke Autoimmunity in Pregnancy Clinic

Rebecca Gillett  Occupational Therapist, MS OTR/L, Arthritis Foundation Director of Content Strategy & Planning and Live Yes with Arthritis Podcast Host

Mariah Leach  Founder of Mamas Facing Forward

Webinar Moderator:

Cheryl Crow  Occupational Therapist, OTR/L and Founder of Arthritis Life multi-media platform and Podcast Host

# # #

Founded in 1934, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is a not-for-profit, professional association committed to advancing the specialty of rheumatology that serves over 7,700 physicians, health professionals, and scientists worldwide. In doing so, the ACR offers education, research, advocacy and practice management support to help its members continue their innovative work and provide quality patient care. Rheumatology professionals are experts in the diagnosis, management and treatment of more than 100 different types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases.
Gloucester, MA (01930)

Today

Rain. High 72F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Periods of rain and becoming windy. Rain may be heavy late. Low 62F. NE winds at 10 to 20 mph, increasing to 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Ernest Hollis looks for items at his granddaughter's house that was devastated by floodwaters, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Waverly, Tenn. Heavy rains caused flooding in Middle Tennessee days ago and have resulted in multiple deaths, and missing people as homes and rural roads were also washed away.
TOPEKA [mdash] Ervin H. Fry, 82, Topeka, died at 12:10 p.m., Monday, Aug. 30, at his residence after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on April 2, 1939, in Yoder, Kansas, to Harvey and Elizabeth (Miller) Fry. On Dec. 13, 1962, in Topeka, he married Barbara Ellen Frey. She survives
The Formula 1 season resumes this weekend after the annual three-week summer break. The exciting battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will start again on the beautiful track of Spa-Francorchamps. A track where Verstappen can always count on a lot of support from Dutch fans thanks to its location.

Orange wall

In the F1 Nation Podcast Tom Clarkson and Damon Hill recall footage from previous editions at the Belgian circuit, when the Dutchman also received a lot of support from large groups of fans, many of whom were dressed in orange.

Tom Clarkson says: "Max will be cheered on by the thousands of Dutch fans. It will be an orange wall to Les Combes. It has been that way since Max has been in F1." For that matter, father Jos could always count on a lot of fans at Spa as well, although the numbers from back then are of course not at all comparable anymore. Since Verstappen junior drove in F1 the sport has exploded in the Netherlands.

Cheers

Hill agrees: "We just have to hope we don't see a repeat of the boos that Lewis got because of the massive support Max is getting everywhere. Jan Lammers has appealed to the public and supporters in the Netherlands to give Lewis a good welcome."

Read more F1 will award overtake award in partnership with crypto company
Education

featured

Education

Favorite day of the year: GHCS kicks off new school year

matthewehler / Tribune photos / Matthew Ehler Grand Haven Christian School Principal Tim Annema gives students a spin on the merry-go-round during recess on the first day of school Monday afternoon. matthewehler / Tribune photo / Matthew Ehler Students line up at Grand Haven Christian School to go back inside after their recess break on the first day of school on Monday. Masks are required inside the building.

Familiar sounds of playground giggles and freshly sharpened pencil scribbles flooded Grand Haven Christian School on Monday, officially commencing its 2021 school year.

Despite the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, including the new rampant delta variant, GHCS Principal Tim Annema said he is exhilarated to be using the best possible way of instruction to students  in person.

Summer had its challenges and difficulties along the way, but we are trying to see everything as an opportunity, the third-year principal said. From our perspective, God has blessed us as weve put in the work over the past year.

Annema also confirmed that the school is following the recent order by the Ottawa County Department of Public Health in masking up inside preschool through sixth-grade classrooms. This is the goal to help protect vulnerable people and those who cant get vaccinated from the virus, slow the spread of the virus, and keep kids in classrooms, health department officials said.

Our kids are in many ways used to the protocols and guidelines, Annema said. Were distancing as much as we can, making sure our classrooms are spread out but still providing a similar educational experience.

Annema says GHCS classrooms will receive sanitation twice each school day, with staff rotating throughout the building.

The private school does not offer virtual learning due to the size of its staff, and Annema feels their in-person instruction is very challenging to reciprocate.

The Grand Haven and Spring Lake public school districts have mandated mask policies throughout their school buildings, but Grand Haven Christian is not requiring masks past sixth grade.

Annema said GHCS has experienced growth throughout the summer of incoming students, up by about 80 students from last school year.

Were tremendously blessed with the growth, and seeing that speaks to the dedication of the work of our staff, he said. Educating minds shapes this world, and weve remained faithful to that, making sure we are fulfilling students and families.

This is probably my favorite day of the year, the principal said Monday. A lot of the preparation work is complete and now its up to the staff. Were really excited for the group of teachers at Grand Haven Christian and the passion for teaching, excitement for kids and love for Jesus. Most importantly, we cant wait to share His story with students and classrooms.

Today is the first day back for Spring Lake Public Schools. Wednesday is the first day for Grand Haven Area Public Schools.
Daniel Smith is the president and CEO of the Cooperative Network, an association of cooperatives based in Madison, Wisconsin, and St. Paul, serving cooperatives with government affairs, advocacy, communications and support. Prior to joining the Cooperative Network, Smith served as the administrator for the Division of Agricultural Development at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, as well as CEO of Midwestern BioAg, a national farm-supply company based in Wisconsin. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Smith owned and operated a dairy farm in northwestern Illinois for 30 years.
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PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  Some emergency medical service workers in Maine spoke out against a COVID-19 vaccine mandate because of concerns that it would lead to ill-timed staff shortages.

The Maine Board of Emergency Medical Services held a public hearing on the subject on Monday. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills announced new rules earlier in August that require all health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 1.

Kyle Baker, a paramedic with Winthrop Ambulance Service, said there are people who are willing to walk away over the mandate. The new rules apply to firefighters and ambulance crews, as well as other health workers.

More than 600 people participated in the virtual meeting, and most who spoke were against the mandate. A common concern among the speakers who opposed the mandate was that would exacerbate emergency worker shortages.

Some speakers said they also feared burned-out workers who have complied with vaccine guidelines might quit because of an even heavier work burden.

The board later agreed to give emergency service workers an extra month to get shots, and said it wont require the shots for dispatchers or students who wont work directly with patients, the Sun Journal reported.

Mills has said the health worker mandate is about protecting health care workers, their patients, including our most vulnerable, and our health care capacity.

The debate is taking place as the state grapples with rising cases of the coronavirus.

In other pandemic news in Maine:

THE NUMBERS

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Maine has risen over the past two weeks from 120.43 on Aug. 7 to 162.57 on Aug. 21. The seven-day rolling average of daily deaths in Maine has risen over the past two weeks from 0.14 on Aug. 7 to 2.86 on Aug. 21.

The AP is using data collected by Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering to measure outbreak caseloads and deaths across the United States.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Monday that there have been more than 73,000 positive cases of the virus in the state since the start of the pandemic. There have also been 924 deaths.

Maine officials also reported that more than 70% of the states eligible population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Mills said the federal government's full approval of the Pfizer vaccine for coronavirus is a very welcome milestone in our battle against this pandemic, reaffirming that the vaccine is safe and highly effective.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended indoor mask use in counties with high or substantial transmission of coronavirus. On Monday, the agency listed five Maine counties as high and seven as substantial. The only counties not listed in those categories were Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Kennebec and Androscoggin.

___

FAIR SHOTS

A new fixture at Maine's agricultural fairs alongside the harness racing, farm animals and food is the COVID-19 vaccination clinic. And health care workers say any dose delivered is a victory.

Relatively few shots have been given so far at fairs in Skowhegan and Bangor, but many have gone to vulnerable or previously skeptical Mainers.

Craig Moore, 50, of Sumner, rolled up his sleeve at the 203rd Skowhegan State Fair.

Moore said he'd just been told by his doctor that he should get the shot because his liver condition makes him vulnerable to the virus.

You always hear about side effects, and with my liver failure, Im not sure how Ill react, he said told the Bangor Daily News. But my doctor told me I should.

Clinics will continue this fair season.

A clinic run by the University of New England School of Pharmacy and Northern Light Health gave out vaccines at the Bangor State Fair. The Union Fair that begins on Thursday will offer a clinic.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Bulbul Ahmed, Bangladesh University of Professionals

(THE CONVERSATION) An armed conflict in Kashmir has thwarted all attempts to solve it for three quarters of a century.

Kashmir, an 85,806-square-mile valley between the snowcapped Himalaya and Karakoram mountain ranges, is a contested region between India, Pakistan and China. Both India and Pakistan lay claim to all of Kashmir, but each administers only part of it.

During the British rule of India, Kashmir was a feudal state with its own regional ruler. In 1947, the Kashmiri ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, agreed that his kingdom would join India under certain conditions. Kashmir would retain political and economic sovereignty, while its defense and external affairs would be dealt with by India.

But Pakistan, newly created by the British, laid claim to a majority-Muslim part of Kashmir along its border. India and Pakistan fought the first of three major wars over Kashmir in 1947. It resulted in the creation of a United Nations-brokered ceasefire line that divided Indian and Pakistani territory. The line went right through Kashmir.

Despite the establishment of that border, presently known as the Line of Control, two more wars over Kashmir followed, in 1965 and 1999. An estimated 20,000 people died in these three wars.

International law, a set of rules and regulations created after World War II to govern all the worlds nation-states, is supposed to resolve territorial disputes like Kashmir. Such disputes are mainly dealt with by the International Court of Justice, a United Nations tribunal that rules on contested borders and war crimes.

Yet international law has repeatedly failed to resolve the Kashmir conflict, as my research on Kashmir and international law shows.

International law fails in Kashmir

The U.N. has made many failed attempts to restore dialogue after fighting between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, which today is home to a diverse population of 13.7 million Muslims, Hindus and people of other faiths.

In 1949, the U.N. sent a peacekeeping mission to both countries. U.N. peace missions were not as robust as its peacekeeping operations are today, and international troops proved unable to protect the sanctity of the borders between India and Pakistan.

In 1958, the Graham Commission, led by a U.N.-designated mediator, Frank Graham, recommended to the U.N. Security Council that India and Pakistan agree to demilitarize in Kashmir and hold a referendum to decide the status of the territory.

India rejected that plan, and both India and Pakistan disagreed on how many troops would remain along their border in Kashmir if they did demilitarize. Another war broke out in 1965.

In 1999, India and Pakistan battled along the Line of Control in the Kargil district of Kashmir, leading the United States to intervene diplomatically, siding with India.

Since then, official U.S. policy has been to prevent further escalation in the dispute. The U.S. government has offered several times to facilitate a mediation process over the contested territory.

The latest U.S. president to make that offer was Donald Trump after conflict erupted in Kashmir in 2019. The effort went nowhere.

Why international law falls short

Why is the Kashmir conflict too politically difficult for a internationally brokered compromise?

For one, India and Pakistan dont even agree on whether international law applies in Kashmir. While Pakistan considers the Kashmir conflict an international dispute, India says it is a bilateral issue and an internal matter.

Indias stance narrows the purview of international law. For example, regional organizations like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation cannot intervene on the Kashmir issue  by convening a regional dialogue, for example  because its charter prohibits involvement in bilateral and contentious issues.

But Indias claim that Kashmir is Indian territory is hotly debated.

In 2019, the Indian government abolished the 1954 law that gave Kashmir autonomous status and militarily occupied the territory. At least 500,000 Indian troops are in Kashmir today.

Pakistans government denounced the move as illegal, and many Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control say India violated its 1947 accession deal with Maharaja Singh.

The U.N. still officially considers Kashmir a disputed area. But India has held firm that Kashmir is part of India, under central government control, worsening already bad relations between India and Pakistan.

Military coups and terror

Another obstacle to peace between the two nations: Pakistans military.

In 1953, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammad Ali Bogra agreed in principle to resolve the Kashmir problem through a U.N. mediation or with an International Court of Justice proceeding.

That never happened, because the Pakistani military overthrew Ali Bogra in 1955.

Several more Pakistani military regimes have interrupted Pakistani democracy since then. India believes these non-democratic regimes lack credibility to negotiate with it. And, generally, Pakistans military governments have preferred the battlefield over political dialogue.

Terrorism is another critical factor making the Kashmir situation more complex. Several radical Islamist groups, including Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, operate in Kashmir, based primarily on the Pakistani side.

Since the late 1980s the terrorist groups have conducted targeted strikes and attacks on Indian government and military facilities, leading the Indian military to retaliate in Pakistani territory. Pakistan then alleges that India has breached the borderline, defying international treaties like the 1972 Simla Agreement to conduct its anti-terror attacks.

Intractable struggles

In many cases, treaties and international court decisions cannot be enforced. There is no international police force to help implement international law.

If a country ignores an International Court of Justice ruling, the other party in that court case may have recourse to the Security Council, which can pressure or even sanction a nation to comply with international law.

But that rarely happens, as such resolution processes are highly political and any permanent Security Council member can veto them.

And when conflicting parties are more inclined to view a conflict through the lens of domestic law  as India views Kashmir and Israel views the Palestinian territories  they can argue that international law simply does not apply.

[Over 100,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletter to understand the world. Sign up today.]

Kashmir is not the only contested territory where international law has failed.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the Gaza and West Bank territories is another example. For decades, both the U.N. and the United States have repeatedly and unsuccessfully intervened there in an effort to establish mutually acceptable borderlines and bring peace.

International law has grown and strengthened since its creation in the 1940s, but there are still many problems it cannot solve.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/india-and-pakistan-fought-3-wars-over-kashmir-heres-why-international-law-and-us-help-cant-solve-this-territorial-dispute-164672.
SRINAGAR, India (AP)  Indian government forces killed two senior rebel commanders and three other militants in two separate counterinsurgency operations in disputed Kashmir, police said Tuesday.

The killings come during an intensified government offensive against anti-India rebels in Kashmir, which is divided between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan and claimed by both. Rebels have also killed several members of India's governing party in the region and carried out attacks on Indian troops.

Police and soldiers raided a village in the northwestern Sopore area late Monday and engaged at least three militants hiding in a house in a gun battle, police said.

Three militants were killed in the clash, which ended Tuesday, police said. They said troops recovered a rifle and two pistols from the site.

Residents said troops used explosives to blast a civilian house during the fighting, a common anti-militancy tactic employed by Indian troops in Kashmir.

On Monday, a team of 10 counterinsurgency police dressed in civilian clothes fatally shot the chief of The Resistance Front rebel group and his deputy in the regions main city of Srinagar, officials said.

Inspector-General Vijay Kumar said the two, Abbas Sheikh and Saqib Manzoor, fired at the police but were killed in a brief retaliatory shootout. He called the killings a big success against militants in Kashmir.

Witnesses, however, said armed men cornered the two in a playground and killed them at close range in assassination style.

Police say the group is a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, which India blames for a series of attacks, including a deadly assault in Mumbai in 2008 that killed at least 166 people.

Abbas was a senior rebel commander who had been arrested twice by government forces but rejoined militants fighting against Indian rule in the region. A police statement said he helped revive militancy in Srinagar and recruited at least seven men to his group.

Police said the two were involved in the killings of several pro-India political activists, police officials and civilians and also carried out attacks on government forces.

Rebels in Indian-controlled Kashmir have been fighting New Delhis rule over the region since 1989. Many Kashmiris support the rebel goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.

India insists the Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and most Muslim Kashmiris consider the insurgency a legitimate freedom struggle.

Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Poland plans to build a fence along its border with Belarus and deploy more soldiers there to stop migrants seeking to enter the European Union nation.

The government on Monday also offered to send humanitarian aid to a migrant group stuck at the border for more than two weeks.

Poland and the three Baltic states  Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia  accuse Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of sending migrants across their borders, which also form part of the EU's eastern border, in what they call a hybrid war. The migrants are mostly from Afghanistan and Iraq.

All four EU nations believe the surge in migrants is Minsk's revenge for the EU's sanctions against the autocratic regime in Belarus.

Using immigrants to destabilize neighboring countries constitutes a clear breach of the international law and qualifies as a hybrid attack against ... Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and thus against the entire European Union, they said in a joint statement Monday.

From Geneva, the U.N.'s Refugee Agency's spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said the organization has been closely following the situation.

We have been very concerned by developments at the borders resulting in people being stranded for days, Mantoo said.

The Polish government said last week that 2,100 migrants had tried to enter Poland illegally from Belarus so far in August. Almost 800 of them got in and have been placed in state-run centers.

In response to the migrants' arrival, Poland said it had deployed over 900 soldiers to the border with Belarus and was reinforcing the border with 150 kilometers (93 miles) of barbed wire. On Monday, Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said more soldiers would be sent and a fence 2.5 meters (8 feet) tall would be erected on the border.

Blaszczak said the new border fence would be modeled on the one Hungary erected against migrants years ago on its border with Serbia, which is reinforced with coils of razor wire.

We are dealing with an attack on Poland. It is an attempt to trigger a migration crisis, he said at a news conference at the border.

Noting that Lukashenko's regime has ties to the Kremlin, Blaszczak said: We will not allow the creation of a route for the transfer of migrants via Poland to the European Union.

Meanwhile, political tensions are growing in Poland over 30 migrants who became stuck on the border with Belarus. A refugee rights group says the group includes people from Afghanistan and some who need medical attention. Poland insists they are on Belarusian territory, but has still faced criticism for not allowing the migrants to apply for asylum.

On Monday the Polish Foreign Ministry said it submitted a diplomatic note to Belarus offering to provide food and medicine for the group, as well as tents, beds, sleeping bags, blankets and pajamas.

Lukashenko, who had spiked an agreement with the EU on stemming illegal migration in response to Western sanctions, assailed Polish authorities later Monday for reportedly using force to push migrants back to Belarus.

They caught 50 people heading to Germany ... and pushed them to the border with Belarus by firing shots in the air, Lukashenko claimed.

In Warsaw, about two dozen protesters chained themselves to a fence in front of the Border Guards headquarters and put barbed wire on its gates to protest the behavior of Polish authorities along the border.

Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Jablonski said the border situation was testing how the country would react to more serious acts of hybrid warfare.

The statements and behavior of a significant number of Polish politicians, journalists and NGO activists show that a scenario in which a foreign country carrying out such an attack against Poland will receive support from allies in our country is very real, Jablonski said on Twitter.

He said authorities should use this situation to better prepare for similar threatening actions in the future."

Lithuania has seen similar tensions triggered by a surge of migrants on its border.

Lukashenko isn't only using migrants as a hybrid weapon to take revenge against the West, he is trying to provoke a division and an internal political crisis in Poland and Lithuania, said independent Belarusian political analyst Valery Karbalevich. Lukashenko is playing a dangerous game, trying to test the limits of the West's patience.

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Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine contributed to this report.

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Follow all AP stories on Belarus at https://apnews.com/hub/Belarus.

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Follow all AP stories on global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration.
CANBERRA, Australia  Australia's prime minister says Australian and New Zealand officials evacuated more than 650 people from Kabul Airport over Monday night.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Tuesday five flights had left the airport in the busiest day of Australian involvement in evacuations since the Taliban took control of the country.

Morrison told Nine Network television that the evacuated people included Australians, New Zealanders and Afghans.

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MORE ON THE CRISIS IN AFGHANISTAN:

 Deadly gunfire at airport; Taliban insist on US pullout date

 UK struggles for influence as Afghan crisis strains US ties

 Kabul airlift is accelerating but still hampered by chaos

 When the music stops: Afghan happy place falls silent

 For Afghan refugees in India, hopes dim for returning home

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 Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

CAIRO  Egyptian state media say the government has evacuated more than 40 of the countrys citizens from Afghanistan.

The official MENA news agency says a military plane carrying Egyptian citizens from Afghanistan landed in Cairo late Monday.

The 43 evacuees include the staff from the Egyptian Embassy in Kabul and clerics from Al-Azhar, which is the Sunni Muslim worlds foremost religious institution.

A local TV station showed footage for the returnees carrying Egyptian flags as they landed in an airport in Cairo. They were received by military and health officials.

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BOCA RATON, Florida  Senior U.S. military officials in Afghanistan say U.S. Special Operations retrieved 16 American citizens from outside the Kabul airport early Monday morning.

The military officials would not detail where in Afghanistan the Americans were rescued from but they said it was about two hours outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport. The Americans were brought back to Kabul for evacuation processing.

The officials, who commented only on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations, said the rescue missions that go beyond the walls of the Kabul airport require the approval of a four-star officer and are handled on a case-by-case basis.

On Monday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed that the U.S. military had launched at least one additional rescue by helicopter but declined to offer further details. Its unclear if Kirby was referring to Mondays special operations mission or a separate flight.

On occasion, as needed, our commanders have the authority they need to use their assets and their forces to help assist Americans who need to get to the airport, get to the airport, on a case-by-case basis, said Kirby.

The Associated Press first reported on the sortie flights outside Kabul airport on Friday. The officials would not detail where these airlift sites were for security reasons.

In a video conference last week, President Biden and White House officials spoke with commanders in Afghanistan about sortie flight missions outside the Kabul Airport. The president said he wanted to avoid a Black Hawk Down incident, according to U.S. military officials on the conference call and briefed on what was said.

U.S. military officials described President Bidens demeanor as calm and pleasant during discussions about the progress that had been made in evacuating both Americans and Afghan nationals. Biden negatively commented on how quickly the Afghan government fell apart and told commanders he wanted them to be focused on beefing up security at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

On Sunday, the AP reported that potential Islamic State threats against Americans in Afghanistan are forcing the U.S. military to develop new plans to get evacuees to the airport in Kabul. U.S. Central Command on Monday said an exchange of gunfire at the airport broke out at the north gate of the Kabul Airport. No U.S. or coalition forces were hurt, but one member of the Afghan security forces was killed. The Pentagon said they do not know at the moment if the gunman was a member of the Taliban or ISIS.

Last week, the Defense Department publicly disclosed that three Army chinooks picked up 169 Americans just outside the walls of the Kabul Airport. The AP also reported that a helicopter from the 82nd Airborne Division airlifted Afghans from Camp Sullivan, near the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

 By James LaPorta

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PARIS  French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has ordered five men who were evacuated from Afghanistan placed under surveillance in France for possible links to the Taliban.

France is human but it is also vigilant, the minister tweeted Monday, along with a story by the French news agency quoting him about the suspicions.

One man in particular slipped through the cracks during the chaotic evacuations in Kabul but admitted working for the Taliban. He arrived over the weekend with three of the other men now under watch. According to a ministry official contacted by The Associated Press, the mans wife and children also were on the flight, but not under suspicion.

The man admitted to belonging to the Taliban and to bearing arms at a blockade in Kabul that was under his responsibility, Agence France-Presse, which saw the ministers written decision, reported.

Even if this person very widely helped in the evacuation of the French Embassy, we think this person may be linked to the Taliban, the minister was quoted as saying. It was not immediately clear if his responsibilities went beyond manning a blockade. The French Embassy has served as a holding area for evacuees waiting to make the trip to the Kabul airport, where the French ambassador and a reduced staff now work.

Given the extremely tough difficulties of making security checks of people to be repatriated, French authorities accepted to board this person and his family, the minister said. The security checks were done, instead, in Abu Dhabi, where the French have transferred evacuees before the onward journey to Paris. The other men were not, for now, directly suspected.

The fifth person concerned came on a separate flight but had links to the family, Darmanin said.

The five men are currently under surveillance in a hotel in the Paris region where they are in quarantine, like all evacuees who arrive in France without having been fully vaccinated, the Interior Ministry official said. He was not authorized to speak to the press so could not be identified by name.

Darmanin, clearly seeking to assure the French about potential risks concerning arrivals, said in his tweet that the government will continue to take all needed measures to ensure the security of the French.

By Tuesday, 2,000 people will have made the journey out, mainly Afghans, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Monday during a visit to the base in Abu Dhabi with Defense Minister Florence Parly.

 By Elaine Ganley

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GENEVA  A top World Health Organization official says the agency only has a few days left of supplies for Afghanistan and wants help to ferry in 10 or 12 planeloads of equipment and medicine for its beleaguered people.

Dr. Rick Brennan heads WHOs eastern Mediterranean region that includes Afghanistan. He said from Cairo that the U.N. health agency is negotiating with the U.S. and other countries to help efforts to replenish strained stockpiles.

We estimate weve only got a few days left of supplies, Brennan said, alluding to a distribution center in Dubai that has whats needed. We have 500 metric tons ready to go, but we havent got any way of getting them into the country right now.

Brennan said U.S. and other authorities have encouraged WHO and partners to look to other Afghan airports than Kabuls, which is facing a crush of thousands of people trying to get out of Afghanistan after a Taliban takeover.

He said those authorities have suggested that itll be too difficult a logistics exercise and security exercise to bring supplies into Kabul, where teams would be required to unload planes and allow in trucks to carry out the supplies  which could complicate the evacuations.

Needed supplies include emergency kits and essential medicines for treatment of chronic diseases, like diabetes, WHO said.

Were cautiously optimistic that we might need to get something done in the coming days, Brennan said, before adding: We need a consistent humanitarian air bridge into the country ASAP.

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BERLIN  German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says the majority of local staff who worked for his country in Afghanistan havent yet been evacuated.

The German government has granted about 10,000 local staff and family members in Afghanistan the right to come to Germany, but so far only about 1,800 have made it out.

We dont currently know how many days we can keep flying (people) out, so we want to use those days effectively, he said Monday.

Maas called Tuesdays G-7 meeting on Afghanistan very important for discussing international access to the Kabul airport beyond Aug. 31, the day when the U.S. plans to pull its last troops out of Afghanistan.

Coordinating aid for migrants from Afghanistan would be another key issue at the meeting, he said.

Maas said the firefight overnight at Kabul airport showed once more under what dangerous conditions our soldiers and the embassys core staff on the ground are working.

The situation around the airport had become more chaotic in recent hours and he said Germany doesnt currently recommend that anyone make their own way to the site, he said.

Germany will continue to fly out as many people as it can, said Maas, but added that we know the current evacuation operation isnt open forever.

Among the measures being pursued and discussed with the Taliban is the possibility of enabling civilian flights from Kabul once the last U.S. troops leave the country, he said.

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WASHINGTON  White House officials say every Afghan being newly granted admission to the United States is undergoing biometric and biographic security screening at stops overseas before arrival in the United States.

The officials spoke Monday on condition of anonymity to brief reporters on details of the processing. From the single arrival point of Dulles International Airport, new Afghan arrivals were going on to military bases around the United States for further processing. They do not include U.S. citizens, green card holders or their families.

Each person was undergoing a COVID-19 test on arrival in the U.S. and officials were working on arranging COVID vaccinations for those who want them. Each new Afghan arrival was being connected to a refugee organization that would help them resettle in homes around the United States.

 By Robert Burns

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MADRID  The Spanish government says it has evacuated more than 800 Afghans from Kabul, among them more than 100 Afghans who have worked with the United States and who will stay in Spain temporarily.

More than 550 Afghans have arrived in Spain so far, the statement from the prime ministers office said Monday, with a flight of 260 more due to land at the Torrejon de Ardoz air base near Madrid in the next few hours.

Around 560 of the arrivals, including those on the arriving flight, are Afghans who worked with Spain in their home country, while 150 were attached to the EUs External Action Service. A hundred worked with Americans in Afghanistan.

On Saturday, President Joe Biden thanked Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for the assistance in temporarily housing Afghans at risk who are bound for the United States.

According to the El Pais newspaper, hundreds more Afghans who worked with U.S. military and diplomatic outfits in Afghanistan are expected to arrive in Spain in the upcoming days.

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ISLAMABAD  Pakistans foreign minister has urged the Taliban and other leaders in neighboring Afghanistan to try to reach an inclusive political settlement as soon as possible.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi issued the appeal Monday at a news conference ahead of his upcoming visit to several regional countries.

Qureshi will leave for Uzbekistan on Tuesday on a trip that will also include stops in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Iran to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. He said he had already spoken with officials in China by phone.

Qureshi said it was a good sign that the Taliban were already talking to some other Afghan leaders, including former president Hamid Karzai. Qureshi said Pakistan will continue to play its role for a peaceful and politically negotiated solution of the Afghan issue.___

MADRID  Spains defense minister says there is a real risk of a terror attack against Western troops helping to evacuate people at Kabuls international airport.

Defense Minister Margarita Robles said Monday the hasty withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan has been an unmitigated failure."

Both the U.S. troops and our soldiers are reckoning on that (threat of attack), because it exists, she said.

Robles said in an interview with Spains La Sexta television channel that both NATO and the European Union should learn lessons from their 20-year presence in Afghanistan.

She recalled that 102 Spanish troops had given their lives during NATOs operation.

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MILAN  The Italian charity Pangea says all of its dozens of female activists and over 200 family members have reached safety inside the Kabul airport, and some have boarded planes for Italy.

Pangea says they all were in the airport by dawn Monday.

The activists of Pangea are strong and resisted. They fought like lionesses to enter in that airport, the charity said in an Instagram post.

Pangea founder Luca Lo Presti has been working for a week to evacuate the activists and their families, saying their work to provide microloans to female-run businesses was a direct threat to the Taliban.

The women identified themselves to Italian military at the Kabul airport by writing a P on the palm of their hands as a password. Video posted by Pangea shows some of the women boarding a military transport filled with men, women and children, some strapped into seats but many more seated on the floor.

Pangea said in all some 30 activists and over 200 family members were being evacuated.

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BERLIN  Germanys top military commander says he believes that about 5,000 people are waiting at the Kabul airport to be flown out.

Gen. Eberhard Zorn said Monday the figure has declined from about 7,000 at the weekend. He says: We are now trying internationally to reduce this number as far as possible to make room for others  and above all, ultimately to cushion somewhat the precarious accommodation and waiting situation there.

Zorn said he couldnt say what proportion of people at the airport are children or families. But he said on Germanys flights, about 50% of the Afghans evacuated were women.

Germany flew in supplies Sunday in an effort to help improve the situation inside the airport. Zorn said they included diapers, pacifiers and cuddly toys for small children, as well as food for children. More supplies are in the pipeline.

The situation in front of the gates remains difficult, Zorn said. I would also call it dramatic, because the accumulation of people interested in getting into the airport grounds is enormously high (and) additional potential for violence is arising on the ground in this group.

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PARIS  Frances foreign affairs and defense ministers have arrived at a military air base in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, where French planes are carrying people evacuated from Kabul.

Jean-Yves Le Drian and Florence Parly are to meet with diplomats, soldiers, police officers and other staff involved in evacuation operations, the ministries said in a statement Monday.

More than 1,000 Afghans, almost 100 French and more than 40 people from other nationalities have been evacuated by France over the past week, authorities said.

A seventh plane landed in Paris airport Monday, carrying 246 Afghans and five French.

The ministers trip is also aimed at praising the support of the UAE, where France has a permanent military base, the statement said.

Le Drian and Parly are to meet with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabis crown prince, to have talks over the situation in Afghanistan and how to preserve the regional security and stability.

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KABUL, Afghanistan  The Talibans longtime spokesman has urged imams in Afghanistan to give assurances to Afghans about their security and safety.

Zabihullah Mujahid said Monday at a gathering of clerics in the capital Kabul that they are responsible for keeping their constituents calm.

He also urged them to clear the baseless propaganda he says is being disseminated by the U.S. about the Taliban.

He says: Imams, keep your people calm, we should indoctrinate people to support the Islamic government and Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan.

Mujahid said government employees will soon be able to return to work and Afghans will remain safe under a previously announced amnesty.

The Taliban have pledged amnesty to those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government, but many Afghans still fear revenge attacks. There have been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies.

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AMMAN, Jordan  Jordans Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it will allow 2,500 Afghan nationals fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country to transit through its territory en route to the U.S.

Ministry spokesman Ambassador Daifullah Al-Fayez said Monday the decision was made for purely humanitarian reasons to help with the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

He said arrangements for the transit of Afghan citizens who are evacuated through Jordan have been agreed upon with the U.S.

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ROME  Some 662 people fleeing Afghanistan have arrived at the U.S. naval air base in Sicily. The U.S. is working to ramp up evacuations following the Taliban takeover of the country by using overseas military bases as temporary transit points.

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender, followed by two C-17 Globemaster III, arrived Sunday at the Sigonella air base from Qatar, according to a statement from the U.S. base. Located on Sicilys eastern coast near Catania, Sigonella is home to an Italian and NATO base as well as the U.S. Naval Air Station, the U.S. Navys only overseas air station.

The U.S. statement said Sigonella was being used as a transit location for evacuees before they are transferred elsewhere and it quoted the base commander, Capt. Kevin Pickard, as saying the Afghans will be joining our American family.

The evacuees for now were being housed in two barracks on the base, where anti-COVID-19 measures are being followed, and are being provided with medical care, Halal food, religious and recreation areas, the statement said.

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BERLIN  Germany says it has evacuated 2,725 people from Afghanistan as of Monday  1,787 Afghans, 282 Germans and the rest from elsewhere. The people it has evacuated come from 43 nations in total.

Two more flights, with 198 and 180 evacuees on board respectively, left Kabul on Monday afternoon, the military said.

The government said it cant say precisely how many Germans are left in Kabul because there is no obligation for Germans abroad to register with their countrys authorities, and also no obligation for people evacuated by other means -- or who are also citizens of another country -- to inform German authorities.

But Foreign Ministry spokesman Christofer Burger said we believe at the moment  this is an estimate  that a low three-digit number of German citizens is still in Afghanistan.

Interior Ministry spokesman Steve Alter said there have been a few cases  fewer than 10  in which people have turned out on arrival in Germany to have been on polices radar.

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MOSCOW  Russia says it will not interfere in the stand-off between the Taliban and their opponents in Afghanistan.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization member states discussed the standoff and its implications of another civil war in Afghanistan. He says that, Of course, no one is going to intervene in these events.

Taliban spokesman said Monday the groups forces have surrounded Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistans 34 provinces that has not yet fallen to the Taliban. Several Taliban opponents have gathered in Panjshir.

They include Amrullah Saleh, the vice president in the toppled government who claims to be the acting president, and Ahmad Massoud, son of the slain commander of the Northern Alliance militias that partnered with the U.S. to drive the Taliban from power in 2001.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Moscow fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Soviet troops withdrawal in 1989 and has made a diplomatic comeback as a mediator, jockeying with the U.S. for influence in the country. It has hosted several rounds of talks on Afghanistan, most recently in March, that involved the Taliban  even though Russia has labeled them a terrorist organization.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark  A 23-year-old man who had been deported from Denmark because of several criminal convictions, managed to sneak back on an evacuation plane from Afghanistan by pretending he was his brother.

Danish broadcaster DR said the man, who was not identified, was recognized by police for being member of an outlawed criminal gang, and arrested on arrival in Denmark. He is faces preliminary charges of violating an entry ban.

The man who was sent back to Afghanistan in July, was among the last people to have been deported from Denmark, DR said.

The BT newspaper said the man arrived in Denmark on an evacuation plane on Sunday and was arrested then. The DR and BT reports said he faced a pre-trial detention hearing on Monday.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Monday that Denmark has evacuated some 650 people from Kabul.

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ISLAMABAD  Pakistans interior minister says the Taliban have assured his country they will not allow the outlawed Pakistani Taliban  a separate militant group from the one in Afghanistan  to use Afghan soil for attacks against Pakistan.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Monday that his ministry has information that amid the Taliban sweep across Afghanistan, some of the leaders and members of the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, were freed from Afghan prisons.

Ahmed said Islamabad was in contact with the Taliban over the matter.

The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for several past attacks, including the 2014 deadly attack on a Peshawar school that killed 154 people, mostly schoolchildren.

Islamabad alleges the Pakistani Taliban have been hiding in Afghanistan for the past several years, after fleeing military operations launched against them inside Pakistan.

Ahmed also said that since last week, Pakistan has helped more than 2,000 foreigners and Pakistanis leave Afghanistan by air and land routes. Pakistan is issuing visas upon arrival to all diplomats, foreigners and journalists seeking to leave Kabul over security concerns.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands  Dutch authorities say that a temporary accommodation center for Afghan evacuees at an army barracks in the northern Netherlands is full and a second location is being opened.

The government agency that houses asylum seekers said on Monday that the camp in the remote village of Zoutcamp reached its capacity on Sunday night, with the arrival of 178 Afghan evacuees.

A new accommodation center is being opened to house more Afghans at another military barracks in the central town of Zeist.

The Dutch defense ministry says it has completed nine flights out of Kabul to airports in the region since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan. Six flights carrying evacuees from Afghanistan have arrived in the Netherlands carrying a total of more than 800 people. That number includes Dutch nationals, Afghans and citizens of other countries.

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BEIJING  China is once again criticizing the United States over Afghanistan, saying America cannot simply abandon the war-torn country.

The United States is the root cause and the biggest external factor in the Afghan issue, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday. It cannot just run away like this.

He called on the U.S. to help maintain stability, avoid chaos and rebuild Afghanistan.

I hope the U.S. side can match its acts with words, take on its responsibilities in Afghanistan and put into practice its commitments to Afghanistan in terms of development and reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance, he told a daily briefing.

China has expressed readiness to work with all parties in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, to rebuild the war-torn nation.

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WARSAW, Poland  A deputy foreign minister says Poland has so far evacuated over 400 people from Kabul, including Poles and Afghans who worked for Polands diplomatic mission or pro-democracy efforts, with their family members. More flights are planned.

Marcin Przydacz said on Polish Radio 24 Monday that the situation at the Kabul airport was getting ever more tense, adding further pressure on the evacuations.

The International Monetary Fund thanked Poland for a successful evacuation of its staff from Kabul, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Twitter, following a phone call with the IMF managing director, Kristalina Georgieva. Poland is also to evacuate some 300 staff working for NATO in Afghanistan.

Seven planes have already brought evacuees to Poland and another one, with some 70 Afghan evacuees, was expected in Warsaw on Monday, according to Morawiecki's top aide, Michal Dworczyk.

Dwroczyk said the plane was delayed in Uzbekistan for several hours due to problems at the site, which he did not describe.

Another passenger plane is on the way to Uzbekistan, a stopover on the evacuation route. Evacuees from Kabul are brought there on military planes and then flown to Warsaw by the national carrier, LOT.

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LONDON  Britain is urging the United States to extend its evacuation effort in Kabul beyond the current Aug. 31 deadline, saying without the Americans other countries will have no choice but to stop their own operations to help people fleeing the Taliban takeover.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to press President Joe Biden at an emergency meeting of Group of Seven leaders on Tuesday convened by Britain.

Some U.K. military leaders have said Britain should keep troops at Kabul airport to continue the evacuation effort even if the Americans leave. But Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said Monday that there is a hard reality that there would be no international airlift without the way that the U.S. are underpinning it.

He said that whether or not the U.S. can be persuaded to stay is a matter for the prime minister tomorrow in the G-7 meeting. He said that an agreement from the Taliban would also be needed for an extension.

Biden has not ruled out extending the airlift beyond the Aug. 31 deadline he set before the Talibans swift takeover in Afghanistan, but he said he hoped it would not be necessary.

Britain says its forces have evacuated more than 5,700 people  chiefly U.K. citizens and Afghans  from Kabul in the last 10 days, 1,821 of them in the past 24 hours.

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UNITED NATIONS  The U.N. agency for children expects the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan to worsen due to a severe drought, the onset of winter and the coronavirus pandemic.

UNICEF says 10 million children in Afghanistan already survive on humanitarian assistance and around a million are expected to suffer from life-threatening malnutrition this year. It says some 4.2 million children, including 2.2 million girls, are out of school.

Afghanistan was a poor country, reliant on international aid, even before the Taliban took over earlier this month.

UNICEF director Henrietta Fore said in a statement on Monday that this is the grim reality facing Afghan children and it remains so regardless of ongoing political developments and changes in government.

She says the agency is committed to remaining in Afghanistan and is scaling up its operations. UNICEF hopes to provide aid in areas that were unreachable because of the ongoing war.

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KABUL  Frances envoy to Afghanistan says French special forces backed by the U.S. army have helped 260 Afghans who worked with the European Union delegation to get to Kabul airport.

Ambassador David Martinon said in a tweet early on Monday that they have been welcomed at the French Embassys waiting area prior to boarding. Bravo to the EU.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says around 400 Afghans who worked with the blocs delegation are to be granted protection in Europe. Theyre being sent to Spain for screening before being shared out among EU countries willing to grant them visas.

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BERLIN  The German military says a firefight broke out at the Kabul airports north gate early on Monday between Afghan security forces and unknown attackers.

The military said in a tweet that one Afghan security officer was killed and another three were wounded in the early morning incident. It said that U.S. and German forces then also got involved, and that there were no injuries to German soldiers.

Later, the German military clarified that the Afghan officer was a member of the Afghan army  Afghan troops who are involved in securing the airport as part of the multinational operation.

There was no further information and it wasnt known who the attackers were. The Taliban, who are manning the outside perimeters of the Kabul airport, have until now not opened fire on NATO or Afghan troops within.

Mondays incident took place after at least seven Afghans died in a panicked crush of people trying to enter Kabuls international airport on Sunday, the British military said. Thousands were still trying to flee the country in a chaotic exodus a week after the Taliban takeover.

The German Defense Ministry said Monday that the countrys military has evacuated more than 2,700 people from Kabul since the evacuations started, with people of 38 nationalities among those taken out. German A400M transport aircraft are shuttling between Kabul and Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark  A plane with Norwegian citizens from Afghanistan, others with links to Norway and also other foreign nationals landed in Oslo on Monday, the fourth flight in the past days to have landed in Norway.

The Scandinavian countrys foreign ministry declined to say how many were on the plane or give details for safety reasons, the Norwegian news agency NTB said.

In neighboring Sweden, Foreign Minister Ann Linde said Monday that more than 170 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan. I am pleased that we can now welcome local employees, at the same time as we continue to work to evacuate more local employees, she said.

Denmark too has been active in evacuating people from Afghanistan. Finland said that so far the total number of its evacuees was at 110. They include citizens from Finland and people with permanent Finnish residence, along with other persons who have been working for Finland, the EU and NATO, together with their families.
MEXICO CITY  Mexico has accepted its first group of refugees from Afghanistan.

The five women and one man arrived Tuesday in Mexico City, where they were welcomed by Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard. Ebrard told the group, Welcome to your home.

The refugees belong to a group involved in the field of robotics. They had to travel through six countries to reach Mexico. They fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of the country earlier this month.

Ebrard says Mexico will grant them whatever legal status they consider best. That could include giving them asylum or refugee status.

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MORE ON AFGHANISTAN:

 Taliban insist on airlift deadline amid new report of abuses

 Biden decides to stick with Aug. 31 final pullout from Kabul

 G-7 grapples with Afghanistan, an afterthought not long ago

 UN rights chief warns of abuses amid Talibans Afghan blitz

 Taliban takeover prompts fears of a resurgent al-Qaida

 Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden says forces are on track to leave Afghanistan by his self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline but it will depend on Taliban cooperation.

In an address to the nation Tuesday, the president said he is pushing U.S. forces to leave the sooner the better due to increasing threats from ISIS-K and other terror groups in Kabul. Biden says the threats are real and significant challenges that we also have to take into consideration.

Biden says more than 70,000 people have been evacuated since Aug. 14. But there is tumult and violence outside Kabuls airport making it difficult for Americans and their Afghan allies to reach safety.

The president says that in a virtual Group of 7 meeting with world leaders, the nations were resolved to stand shoulder to shoulder to get people out of Afghanistan. But Bidens decision to pull out forces by the deadline has received sharp criticism from at home and abroad

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MOSCOW  Russias defense minister has voiced concern about the Taliban seizing a large number of weapons, including air defense missile systems, after sweeping over Afghanistan.

Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday the Taliban has captured hundreds of combat vehicles along with a number of warplanes and helicopters.

He expressed a particular worry about the Taliban obtaining more than 100 man-portable air defense missile systems.

Shoigu noted that Afghanistans refugee problem is a cause for grave concern.

The Russian defense chief voiced hope that the Taliban would move to form an inclusive government that would include all groups in the country.

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ROME  Italy will offer Afghan citizens evacuated to Italy from their homeland the opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Premier Mario Draghis office said Tuesday he has asked the Italian army general in charge of the national vaccination program to work out a plan so evacuees of recent days can receive the vaccine. If they want a vaccine they will receive them at locations around the country.

Right after they arrive in Italy, evacuees are issued humanitarian visas and are tested for COVID-19. Earlier in the day, Italian ministers told lawmakers that 2,659 Afghans have already reached Italy, and nearly 1,100 more were at Kabul airport awaiting Italian flights.

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MADRID  Spain is receiving a new batch of 290 Afghan refugees on a commercial airplane that has flown from Dubai to a military airbase in the outskirts of Madrid.

At least 130 more people are expected to travel later on Tuesday in two separate flights operated by the Spanish Air Force, the Defense Ministry said.

The latest arrivals bring to more than 1,200 the number of people that Spain has evacuated from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

They come as Defense Minister Margarita Robles acknowledged that Spain wont be able to aid all the people it had planned to despite the ongoing frantic efforts to evacuate as many as possible.

In an interview with Spains Cadena SER radio, the minister said that controls by Taliban forces and increasing tensions in Afghanistan were making it even more difficult for Afghans who worked for Spanish troops in the western city of Herat to travel to the Afghan capital, Kabul.

We are going to take out all the people that is possible. But there will be people that will remain for reasons that dont depend on us, due to the situation there, she said.

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BRUSSELS  European Council President Charles Michel says a number of G-7 leaders raised concerns with U.S. President Joe Biden about the Aug. 31 deadline for getting their nationals and Afghan helpers out of Kabul.

Michel says that several leaders expressed concerns about the timing of August 31, during Tuesdays G-7 summit. He declined to tell reporters after the meeting what response Biden gave the leaders.

According to an administration official, Biden plans to stick with his deadline for completing the U.S.-led evacuation from Afghanistan. The decision reflects in part the U.S. militarys concern about heightened security threats to the massive airlift that began 10 days ago.

Michel says the EU remains concerned about European citizens and Afghan people who worked with them being able to safely reach Kabul airport.

Michel says the EU raised this issue with our American friends and partners notably the need to secure the airport, as long as necessary, to complete the operations; and second, a fair and equitable access to the airport, for all nationals entitled to evacuation.

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MOSCOW  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow is strongly against any U.S. troops presence in the ex-Soviet Central Asian nations and also opposes American attempts to persuade them to host Afghan refugees.

Speaking during Tuesdays visit to Hungary, Lavrov noted that Russia and some of the Central Asian countries are members of a security pact stipulating that any foreign military presence in the region requires their common agreement.

He added that the presence of U.S. troops in any of the regions countries would expose it to a potential retaliatory blow.

Hosting troops from the U.S. which has openly declared an intention to keep Afghanistan in cross hairs and launch strikes if necessary means immediately turning itself into a target, Lavrov said. I strongly doubt that any country, in Central Asia or elsewhere, would be willing to become a target to help the Americans pursue their initiatives.

Russias top diplomat predicted that Washingtons efforts to persuade Central Asian nations to host the Afghans who worked with the U.S. and its NATO allies would prove equally futile.

Lavrov charged that the U.S. has asked the countries of the region to host the Afghans for a couple of months before it gives them them American visas, the offer he scathingly criticized.

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BRUSSELS  European Council President Charles Michel says the sweeping Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and the chaos that has followed are proof that the European Union must boost defense cooperation to handle security challenges itself.

Taliban militants took control of Afghanistan in just a few weeks as the NATO-trained national security forces withered after the Biden administration announced its intention to leave the conflict-ravaged country.

European NATO allies rely on U.S. airpower, transport and logistics to operate in Afghanistan and were forced to pull out too.

Michel says these events show that developing our strategic autonomy, while keeping our alliances as strong as ever, is of the utmost importance, for the future of Europe.

Twenty-two EU countries are members of the U.S.-led 30-nation military alliance, NATO.

Michel told reporters Tuesday after the G-7 summit that he plans to put the question up for debate at Europes top table.

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BRUSSELS  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the European Union is ramping up its aid to Afghanistan amid a widening humanitarian crisis in the strife-torn country.

Von der Leyen says the EUs executive commission will propose to almost quadruple the humanitarian aid coming from the EU budget.

She says Brussels will now increase it to over 200 million euros ($235 million) this year to help meet the urgent needs of Afghans inside Afghanistan and those being sheltered in neighboring countries.

Von der Leyen told reporters after Tuesdays G-7 summit that the 27-nation bloc has frozen development assistance to Kabul and will only resume payments if the Taliban meet several conditions, including on human rights and forming an inclusive government

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MOSCOW  Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the United States and its allies for leaving Afghanistan in chaos that raises potential security threats for Russia and its allies in Central Asia.

Addressing Tuesdays meeting of the main Kremlin party, United Russia, Putin noted that militants could use the turmoil to destabilize the ex-Soviet Central Asian nations bordering Afghanistan.

There is a danger that terrorists and different groups that found a refuge in Afghanistan will use the chaos left by our Western colleagues and try to launch an expansion into neighboring countries, Putin said. That will pose a direct threat to our country and its allies.

At the same time, Putin noted that Moscow has learned the lessons of the 10-year Soviet war in Afghanistan and will stay away from turmoil in Afghanistan.

We have drawn the necessary lessons, Putin said. We dont have any intention to interfere in Afghanistans internal affairs and, moreover, let our military forces be drawn into the all-against-all conflict.

He added that a possible rise in drug trafficking and the exacerbation of problems with migration could also pose threats to Russia.

Moscow, which fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with the Soviet troops withdrawal in 1989, has made a diplomatic comeback as a mediator over the past few years, reaching out to the Taliban and other feuding Afghan factions.

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BERLIN  The German military says it is concerned by the growing risk of attacks by the Islamic State group in Kabul.

Germanys top military commander, Gen. Eberhard Zorn, told reporters Tuesday that the threat has further increased.

We have signals both from American sources as well as our own assessment, that there is an increase of (IS) suicide bombers (slipping) into the city, he said.

Thats increasing and leads to heightened precautions, he added.

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said she takes seriously the Taliban threat not to allow any foreign troops to remain beyond Aug. 31.

I think one needs to take very, very seriously the announcement that they wont agree to a further delay, she said. She added the threat could also be an attempt by the group to drive up the price in negotiations with foreign officials.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands  The Dutch military is halting shooting exercises at one of its firing ranges because the facility will be used to house Afghans evacuated from Kabul.

The Defense Ministry said Tuesday that shooting training at the Harskamp military base is suspended until further notice.

The first Afghan evacuees are expected to arrive later Tuesday in Harskamp, a large military base in the forests of the Veluwe region of the central Netherlands.

Military exercises are continuing near the first Dutch army base opened to house Afghan evacuees, in a northern village, but shooting has been suspended there, too.

The military says that evacuees will hear almost nothing of the exercises at the base in the northern village of Zoutcamp.

The Defense Ministry has opened three barracks to evacuees. So far, around 1,000 people have been brought to two accommodation centers, which are already nearly full.

The Harskamp base will house a further 800 Afghans.

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A Taliban spokesman says the U.S. must complete its evacuation of people from Afghanistan by the Aug. 31 date the Biden administration set for the withdrawal of all American troops.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Tuesday his group will accept no extensions to the deadline. He says life is returning to normal in the country but chaos at the airport remains a problem. Many Afghans are desperate to flee the Taliban takeover of the country.

Mujahid says he is not aware of any meeting between the Taliban and the CIA, but he did not deny that such a meeting took place. An official says the director of the U.S. agency met with the Talibans top political leader in Kabul on Monday.

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ANKARA, Turkey  Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says Turkey has so far evacuated 1,404 people from Afghanistan  1,061 of them Turkish nationals and 343 nationals of various countries.

Because of our (troops) presence at the airport, many countries, international organizations or NGOs have asked our help in evacuating their personnel, Cavusoglu told reporters Tuesday. We have been providing assistance to them together with the United States and Britain.

Cavusoglu said that there were some 4,500 Turkish nationals in Afghanistan but only around 200 are still waiting to be evacuated.

We have contacted each one of them. ... An important number of them said they did not want to return, Cavusoglu said, explaining that they included people who had businesses or jobs in Afghanistan or were married to Afghans.

We of course, respect their decision but we have also made the necessary suggestions and warnings, he said.

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ROME  Italys foreign minister is warning allies against concentrating on blaming the U.S. administration for the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio told Parliaments foreign affairs and defense commissions on Tuesday that while such finger-pointing is coming into fashion in European public opinion, it risks weakening the traditionally solid trans-Atlantic alliance. Those engaged in assigning blame should be aware that if this alliance ends, there is no other to replace it, Di Maio said.

After the Americans leave Kabul airport  the date hypothesized for now is at the end of the month  it wont be in any case possible, not for us, nor for any country in the Alliance, to maintain any kind of presence in Afghanistan, Di Maio said.

Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini told lawmakers that so far 2,659 Afghan citizens, about a third of them children, have been evacuated by Italy. Another 1,000 people were waiting inside the airport for flights to Italy.

Italy is using its current leadership of the G-20 grouping to involve world powers, especially China and Russia, to try to build consensus on strategy toward Afghanistan.

The rapidly unfolding crisis in Afghanistan has forced Italy to suspend aid cooperation agreements. But we dont intend to interrupt humanitarian aid where conditions permit, Di Maio said. He said assistance would be funneled through the International Red Cross and U.N. agencies, especially for women and other vulnerable people.

At the request of the United States, Italy is also allowing temporary transit of evacuees on U.S. flights through military bases in Sicily and northern Italy.

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BUDAPEST, Hungary  Russias foreign minister says he opposes the placement of any U.S. military forces in countries neighboring Afghanistan in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from the country and its subsequent takeover by the Taliban.

Speaking at a press conference in Hungarys capital, Budapest, Sergei Lavrov said the presence of U.S. soldiers in Central Asian countries bordering Afghanistan would create instability in the region, and make those countries a target for potential attacks.

This is not the right way to preserve stability in those countries, Lavrov said.

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HELSINKI  Finland says it has now evacuated over 200 people from Afghanistan, including permanent staff and locally hired employees working for the Nordic countrys embassy in Kabul with their families.

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto tweeted on Tuesday that Finlands most recent evacuation on Monday included also 40 persons from the European Union delegations in Afghanistan.

He said that the majority of those evacuated from Afghanistan were women and children, and that the evacuation effort was continuing this week.

On Friday, Finland sent a few dozen of its special unit soldiers to Afghanistan to help safeguard evacuations at the airport in Kabul.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto urged the international community in a speech in Helsinki on Tuesday to take notice of the acute human distress unfolding in Afghanistan. He expressed concerns over the situation of women and girls and other groups in a vulnerable position in the country, including locally hired employees of foreign embassies.

We have a specific responsibility for the security of the locally hired people who have enabled our (Finlands) own operations in Afghanistan over the past years, the Finnish head of state said.

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SEOUL, South Korea  South Korea says it has sent three military aircraft to Afghanistan and an unspecified nearby country to evacuate Afghans who worked for its embassy in Kabul and other South Korean-run facilities.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry on Tuesday did not confirm how many people will be evacuated. On Sunday, Song Young-gil, lawmaker and leader of South Koreas ruling Democratic Party, said the Seoul government should evacuate some 400 Afghans who were involved in South Korean rebuilding projects in Afghanistan.

Apart from embassy staff and their families, the South Korean planes will pick up Afghans who worked for a South Korean-run hospital at the U.S. militarys Bagram Airfield before the facility closed in 2015 and a South Korean-run job training center, the ministry said.

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BERLIN  A German army officer trying to help Afghans at risk from the Taliban to flee their country has launched a blistering attack on Germanys evacuation efforts.

Cpt. Marcus Grotian told reporters in Berlin on Tuesday that he was overwhelmed by disbelief at the way Germanys governing parties and politicians disregarded warnings about the Taliban advance and accused Chancellor Angela Merkels office of failing to step in when needed.

Grotian, who heads a network of volunteers trying to help locals who worked for German institutions in Afghanistan, said some 6,000 Afghans are still waiting to be evacuated and many likely wont make it.

There will be many, too many human tragedies to come, he said. Thats absolutely clear.

Grotian accused German officials of creating a dysfunctional bureaucracy that is making incomprehensible decisions about who can board evacuation flights and who cant.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. Sometimes a person who was never on a list is let through, sometimes a person who has been on our lists or those of the military command for six weeks is still turned away, he said.

Grotian recounted one incident earlier Tuesday in which an Afghan woman who had worked for Germanys foreign development agency four years ago was barred from entering Kabul airport.

He said the mixed messages being sent to Afghans by German bureaucrats would likely mean some will miss other opportunities to leave the country because they are still waiting for Germany to evacuate them.

Everyone who has worked for Germans must now be let through, because there wont be many more chances, said Grotian. Theyve been rejected three times, some of them four. There may not be a fifth when the planes dont fly anymore.

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PARIS  French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said an Afghan evacuated from Kabul to Paris and suspected of links to the Taliban was detained by French police on Tuesday.

The man is one of five Afghans placed under strict surveillance by Frances intelligence agency for possible links to the Taliban. The five men were required to stay in a hotel in the Paris region for a quarantine, as are all evacuees who arrive in France without having been fully vaccinated.

One left the place where he was asked to stay and police arrested him, Darmanin said on news broadcaster France Info.

Of the other four men, one was obviously linked to the Taliban, Darmanin said. But he helped the French army a lot, the French (nationals), your fellow journalists, more than a hundred Afghans who had visas and could not get out from the embassy. The French Embassy has served as a shelter for hundreds of people before they were transferred to the Kabul airport, where the French ambassador and a reduced staff now work.

The man admitted to belonging to the Taliban and to bearing arms at a blockade in Kabul that was under his responsibility.

Darmanin said the security checks were done in Abu Dhabi, where the French have transferred evacuees before the onward journey to Paris.

There was no breach, he said.

Darmanin said France has evacuated over 1,000 Afghans from Kabul over the past week, including a large majority of Afghans who worked with the French government or French groups in the country.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark  A second person who had been deported from Denmark to Afghanistan, and who returned to the Scandinavian country on an evacuation plane from Kabul, has been arrested.

Danish police said Tuesday on Twitter that the man faces preliminary charges of violating an entry ban. Preliminary charges are one step short of formal charges.

On Sunday, a 23-year-old man was recognized by police for being member of an outlawed criminal gang when he tried to sneak back into Denmark. He too arrived on an evacuation plane from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of the country.

Because of the situation in Afghanistan, Denmark is no longer deporting people to that country.

Denmarks Defense Minister Trine Bramsen said another 50 persons have been evacuated out of Kabul. A Danish Hercules C-130 flew them out Tuesday, with Bramsen saying that so far a total of about 850 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan.

In neighboring Sweden, Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Monday evening that 55 people  mainly Swedish Embassy employees and their families  had been flown out of Kabul, bringing the total number of evacuees to 225.

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WARSAW, Poland  Officials say that Poland has evacuated over 750 people from Afghanistan and a few dozen more are waiting at the Kabul airport for the air transport to Poland, but time is running out on the possibility of evacuation.

A deputy foreign minister, Marcin Przydacz, said on Tuesday that majority of those who cooperated with Polands diplomatic mission have been evacuated and the waiting list is getting shorter. However, there are still a number of families and mothers with children whom the authorities want to bring to Poland for security reasons, Przydacz said.

But the logistics and the conditions of the evacuation are challenging, he added.

Top government official, Michal Dworczyk, tweeted an appeal for help in locating the family of 13-year-old Fawad who got separated from his relatives during an attempted evacuation from Kabul. It was not immediately clear if Fawad has been brought to Poland. Fawads photo was posted on Dworczyks Twitter account.

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BEIJING  China says the international community should support chances for positive developments in Afghanistan rather than impose sanctions on the Taliban.

The international community should encourage and promote the development of the situation in Afghanistan in a positive direction, support peaceful reconstruction, improve the well-being of the people and enhance its capacity for independent development, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters at a daily briefing on Tuesday.

Imposing sanctions and pressure at every turn cannot solve the problem and will only be counterproductive, Wang said.

China, which shares a narrow border with Afghanistan, has seized on the ugly scenes at Kabul airport to redouble its harsh criticism of U.S. actions in the country, particularly its attempt to install a Western-style democracy. Beijing has kept open its embassy in Kabul and sought to maintain friendly relations with the Taliban.

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KABUL  Afghanistans Hazaras, a Shiite minority, are calling on the Taliban to set up an inclusive government in which all ethnic groups would have a voice.

Shiite leader Sayed Hussain Alimi Balkhi said the countrys Shiite clerics have issued a declaration stating that a future parliament in Afghanistan should include members of different sects of Islam.

He asked for freedom of religion under an Islamic government and asked that there be separate courts for Shiites that follow Jafari jurisprudence, in accordance with the provisions of law.

The Shiite concerns come as the Taliban negotiating team in Qatar has been was insisting on implementation of Islamic law, and specifically Hanafi laws which are a major school of Sunni jurisprudence, in the laws and the constitution of Afghanistan.

The Taliban are a Sunni militant group.

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LONDON  Britain says it has evacuated 8,600 U.K. citizens and Afghans from Kabul in recent days, 2,000 of them in the last 24 hours.

But Defense Secretary Ben Wallace conceded that were not going to get everybody out of the country before the U.S.-led mission ends on Aug. 31.

Britain and other allies are pressing President Joe Biden to extend the evacuation past the end-of-the-month date agreed with the Taliban. But Wallace told Sky News its unlikely Biden will agree.

The government said one of the evacuees on a British plane turned out to be a person on a U.K. no-fly list. Wallace said the individual was identified on arrival in Britain was investigated and judged not a person of interest to security services.

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BERLIN  Prominent Afghan womens rights activist Zarifa Ghafari has arrived in Germany together with her family members.

Ghafari landed at Cologne/Bonn airport late on Monday after fleeing Afghanistan to Pakistan last week.

Armin Laschet, the governor of Germanys North Rhine-Westphalia state who met Ghafari, said it was important to help as many women as possible to leave Afghanistan in the coming days, Germanys dpa news agency reported.

Ghafari became the mayor of the Afghan town of Maidan Shahr in 2018, at the age of 26.

She was a recipient of the the U.S. State Departments 2020 International Women of Courage award. According to the State Department, she has survived at least six assassination attempts.

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GENEVA  Switzerlands foreign affairs office says a charter flight has arrived in Zurich with 219 people who were evacuated from Afghanistan on board.

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs says the flight from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, landed early Tuesday, carrying 141 Afghans who worked with the Swiss department of development and cooperation in Afghanistan or their families and relatives.

Another 78 people from Afghanistan, Germany and Sweden were also on the flight.

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A new rumor circulating Chinese social media suggests that Oppo might be bringing back its N series line of premium smartphones. For context, this was the makers flagship assortment of Android phones dating back to 2013s Oppo N1 - the first Android phone with a rotating camera and also the first that could officially boot CyanogenMod.



Oppo N1

Check out this Flashback article which covers the N1 in more detail. The device was followed by the Oppo N3 in 2014 but the N line ultimately was phased out in favor of Oppos other smartphone lines.

#DigitalChatStation

I dont know if anyone remembers the OPPO N series that is born to turn. pic.twitter.com/dABR8h7ePm  Digital Chat Station (@chat_station) August 23, 2021

Noted tipster Digital Chat Station first teased the return of Oppos N series yesterday via Twitter. A new post on Weibo via @Arsenal fills in more details suggesting the new N series phone will compete in the premium segment, priced at around CNY 4,000 ($618) and would be positioned between the Find X series and the Reno line.



@Arsenal post on Weibo (machine translated)

Keep in mind that these are still early rumors and there is still no official statement from Oppos side on the possibility of the N line making a comeback.

Source (in Chinese) | Via
Xiaomi has been selling its products with Mi branding on the overseas market, but it will phase out the moniker from now on. XDA-Developers first reported the news, and then it was officially confirmed by a company spokesperson - starting from Q3 2021, the Mi product series will be simply called Xiaomi; just like it has been since forever at home in China.

Xiaomi Mix 4

The first devices with the new branding were actually the Mix 4 smartphone and the Pad 5 tablet series, launched on August 10. After the event was over, we had our suspicions about the rebranding, but it took 14 days for the company to confirm what everyone expected - Mi is no longer a thing.

The full press release states:

This change will unify our global brand presence and close the perception gap between the brand and its products. This change may take some time to take effect in all regions.

With introducing the new brand identity, two distinct product series will sit beneath the parent brand.

Xiaomi products represent the pinnacle of technology and offer a premium experience.

Redmi products bring big innovation at a more accessible price point and are aimed at a younger audience.

This differentiation is also reflected in our updated logos, with both the Xiaomi and Redmi logotypes under the parent brand logo.

The product series naming convention  Xiaomi and Redmi  will also be applied to our ecosystem and IoT products over time.

Previously, a Xiaomi GM has confirmed the physical Mi Stores will now be called Xiaomi Stores, and we expect the announcement to be made official during the September 15 event when the 11T series might arrive with 120W fast charging, flagship chipsets and 120 Hz screens.
Art moves us, it compels us to open ourselves to the world and the people around us. If youve ever found yourself inexplicably tearing up while listening to music, or felt your breath catching in your throat as you watch a film, you know that power firsthand.

For young people on island hoping to pursue a career in the performing arts, high level pre-professional training options have been limited. This will all change Sept. 7, when Guam Conservatory of Arts opens its doors in Barrigada.

The conservatory will focus on the classical performing arts (ballet, music and drama) and will provide rigorous, disciplined training necessary for students with an eye toward a professional artistic career. For the time being, only ballet classes will be offered as they continue to fundraise and build out their facility.

For founder and Artistic Director Eugene Bob Bordallo, the work of the conservatory goes far beyond training students in technique.

I refer to it as a ministry, the ministry of Guam Conservatory of Arts, Bordallo said. The great thing about art, or an arts education  it begins to tell you what we all have in common.

He sees a clear connection between this core element of the classical arts and CHamoru culture.

Inafamaolek. It means to restore that which has been severed or broken. And so theres this idea of when were in community, we need to be mindful of restoring whats been broken, Bordallo said.

So why I feel that art is so important is because what moves you, like, in theater, it just guts you where youre like, Oh, my gosh, that is a universal thing happening within all of us. And it makes us more forgiving of people. It makes us more insightful, hopefully more compassionate, more merciful. And it really should, you know, bind the community so that we build each other up.

One way in which Bordallo will use this conservatory as an instrument for community healing is by offering as many needs-based scholarships as possible.

Its usually the people who have travailed, who have gone through hardship, they get perspectives, you know, they know how to survive, they know how to come together as a community. They know how to weather the storms, and keep persevering, Bordallo said. So in terms of the arts, we dont want to preclude them. You know, their voice is so important. And yet they are precluded from classical arts training.

While speaking with Bordallo at the conservatory, three school-aged girls from the surrounding neighborhood poked their heads in after school. Kids from the area pop in often, Bordallo says, and this was the first time these girls had stopped by since the ballet barre had gone up.

Bordallo walked them over to the barre and cheerfully demonstrated how to stretch, placing one foot on the barre and straightening his leg, one arm curved overhead in fourth position, bending his chest toward his knee.

The girls followed suit and he returned to our conversation. As they moved on to their best attempts at pirouettes and jetes, it was impossible to ignore their delight just across the studio.

This will not be his first time teaching, nor will it be his first time focusing his efforts on creating opportunities for families who need financial support.

In addition to his long career as a professional ballet dancer in San Francisco and New York City, he helped found the San Francisco Family Theatre where they offered heavily discounted ballet classes to local kids in need. Years later, some of those students have gone on to dance professionally.

Michael Pangelinan serves on the Board of Directors and is passionate about this aspect of the conservatory.

The whole idea behind the conservatory is to offer this to kids that wouldnt otherwise be able to afford it, they wouldnt have the opportunity, because, you know, they come from a financial background that maybe doesnt allow them to spend money on a dance studio or to pay to have private lessons, Pangelinan said. But now, you know, theres finally an organization on Guam that actually is offering the opportunity to get that kind of experience.

Jonathan Abuel, a dancer who grew up on Guam, encourages young dancers on island to take advantage of the conservatorys offerings.

Its honestly, yeah, like a really amazing thing and a really great opportunity. To my knowledge, the first to ever make that happen, to bring that to Guam  And Im really hoping that people gravitate towards it and actually take these courses or take these programs, because this is an amazing opportunity for the dance community in Guam.

The Cocktails at the Conservatory event on Aug. 31 will raise money to furnish the studio with professional dance floors, mirrors, carpeting, and internal walls. The event will be the first in a series of fundraising efforts to help realize each of the conservatorys goals.

The fundraiser will feature live music, cocktails, and appetizers for guests. Both Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio are expected to make remarks, and guests will also hear from Bordallo about the future of the conservatory.

Bordallo hopes that the event will inspire members of our community to get involved. If I can get biblical on you, Bordallo said, You know, Jesus said that if you have two cloaks, to give up one  Its simply that they can help lift those who need lifting.
Middle and high school students enrolled in the TRIO Talent Search program listen to a guest speaker during a workshop over Christmas break in 2019.
Sen. Frank Blas Jr. introduced a bill on Tuesday that would prohibit any employers from mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for their employees.

Dubbed the Right to Informed Consent Act, Bill 181 states that no employer will be able to discharge, refuse to hire, or otherwise discriminate against an individual who for any reason declines to get a specified vaccination. A specified vaccine in the language of the bill includes COVID-19 vaccines, influenza vaccines, and Tdap or tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccines.

With the governors recent executive order circumventing an individuals freedom to make the best medical decision for themselves and forcing employers to mandate the vaccine, the bill is intended to protect an individuals right to informed consent and their infringement on medical liberty. The individuals, not the government or their employer, should have sole responsibility for their medical decisions, a release from Blas office states.

Employers would not be able to make unvaccinated employees wear additional personal protective equipment or publicly disclose that they have not taken a vaccine. A person who is subject to a violation under the act will be able to bring a civil suit to court for relief and damages, and employers will be prohibited from punishing employees for filing a complaint or taking action.

Any employer who would like to require vaccines will have to inform an employee of the rights under the act.

For many in our community, the decision to get vaccinated is not an easy one to make. Weighing a mandate to get vaccinated to keep their job versus an existing medical condition, a religious belief, a trust issue, or the need to provide for their family is a choice that no one should have to make. We need to trust that businesses and their employees know what needs to be done to keep their workplaces safe without the government forcing their will upon them. Vaccinations may have their value, but the ability to choose and the right to make an informed decision is priceless, Blas said.

Sens. Tony Ada, Chris Duenas, and Jim Moylan are signed on as co-sponsors of the bill.
A plea agreement for Charity Alex will be reached in the coming weeks for charges stemming from a fatal traffic crash in January 2019.

The Office of the Attorney General told Presiding Judge Alberto C. Lamorena III they are in the process of making a new plea offer.

In response, Lamorena said based on the facts of the case, he thought Alex could qualify for negligent homicide.

A life was lost, Lamorena said in regard to driver Yun Park dying from injuries after a collision with Alex.

At about 3:15 a.m. Jan. 6, 2019, Alex was driving a white Honda CRV on Airport Road when she veered into the oncoming lane and struck a white Nissan Frontier driven by Park. Park died six days later from injuries that included a broken neck and ruptured intestines, court documents state.

Alex told authorities she was really tired and possibly fell asleep at the wheel. She also said she was on her way home after getting up early to drop a friend off at work and to attend Bible study, documents state.

Alex is scheduled to appear in the Superior Court of Guam again at 10 a.m. Oct. 5.
Cleo Justine Barcinas Topasna entered a plea of guilty to two robberies from March 2019.

Topasna appeared before Presiding Judge Alberto C. Lamorena III Tuesday and pleaded guilty to the charges of third-degree robbery as a third-degree felony and fraudulent use of a credit card as a misdemeanor.

For the robbery charge, Lamorena deferred the plea, meaning if Topasna serves a sentence of two years of probation, her record will be cleared of all charges. If not, she will face a conviction.

In March 2019, police arrested Topasna, two men and a 15-year-old boy in connection with two Tumon robberies: one on March 6 by Holiday Resort Guam and the other on March 10 by Pacific Islands Club, according to GPD spokesman Sgt. Paul Tapao.

According to the magistrates complaint, Topasna, David Quichocho and Shawn Quichocho, brandished a knife and demanded money from those they robbed. They received cash in response to the threats and, in one incident, a cellphone and a credit card.

The credit card was used at a Subway, which is where Topasna and the other suspects were recognized.

In an interview with police, Topasna, David Quichocho and Shawn Quichocho said they often stood on the street asking for money but decided to scare tourists in hopes of getting more than usual, documents state.

Topasna was ordered to stay away from the village of Tumon and the victims in the case.
CMS Corporation announced Tuesday that it had been awarded a $29 million project to renovate and make additions to the existing Hangar 6 at Andersen Air Force Base.

CMS received this award under its $2.6 billion prime Worldwide Engineering and Construction contract with the Air Force.

With this award, CMS is looking forward to adding to our 11-year history serving Andersen Air Force Base, company CEO Ernest Enrique stated in a news release. Our teams institutional knowledge of Andersen Air Force Base and the logistics of working on island, relevant hangar experience  both on- and off-island  and expansive on-island resource network will ensure successful delivery of this important project. We look forward to supporting the continued buildup on Guam, as well as the opportunity to continue our work at this strategic location.

For this project, CMS will renovate an approximate 18,900-square-foot portion of Hangar 6 to expand the footprint of the aircraft maintenance areas, as well as existing offices and support spaces.

The company will also construct two one-story structures  a supply section and a support section, directly adjacent to the hangar.

The new supply section includes constructing a high-bay precast concrete structure that will contain storage racks, storage cabinets, and administrative desks, according to a news release from the company.

The new support section will contain aerospace maintenance equipment and maintenance storage within a high-bay precast concrete structure.

Additional work includes the construction of a new exterior wash rack and demolition of an 86-SM exterior storage facility.

CMS has successfully executed over 35 renovation, new construction, design-build and military fuels projects valued at more than $112 million on Guam, according to the company.
Corrections & Clearings: this article has been updated to reflect the correct date of GHRA's meeting with Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero.

The Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association is working with Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros administration to make weekly COVID-19 tests more accessible to private sector employees covered under the recent vaccine mandate, according to GHRA president Mary Rhodes.

Leon Guerrero late Monday night said that employees of restaurants, bars, and other businesses subject to the recent vaccine mandate have the option of weekly testing, instead of getting shots. GHRA had met with the administration on Monday to discuss the adjustments to the mandate.

Moving toward rapid antigen tests, which take 15 minutes, would ease the stress on Public Health, Rhodes said. To administer the polymerase chain tests would take a minimum of 24 hours. GHRA was looking to make BinaxNOW antigen tests, which Guam started using last December, more available for businesses. GHRA started working with American Medical Center in December to provide rapid test sites to businesses. An over-the-counter BinaxNow test, already available in the states, could let employees get tested at home or the workplace, but the association would have to work with Public Health on the guidelines for rolling out the any rapid tests.

GHRA earlier this year, to meet the rapid testing strategy that we have within the private sector, was given an authorization letter from Public Health to access the BINAX cards for free, she said.

Rapid tests are acceptable under the executive order.

Rhodes stated the association was pushing to make the rapid test option available across the board while keeping the more reliable PCR test available for those who are shown to be positive from a rapid test. They were to schedule a meeting with public health to go over the protocols for rapid testing, she said.

Firm

The governor continues to be firm on keeping vaccine requirements for outdoor dining, Rhodes said, and allowing restaurants to keep 50% occupancy without having to require vaccine proof for patrons was still off the table. She said the association was hopeful that all options would be considered, should the number of cases change.

We wanted to make sure that we were able to accept everybody and have businesses make that decision. But the governor made it very clear that at this time, the goal is to really increase vaccinations, she said.

GHRA was positive on allowing people to self-attest that they had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, another change to the mandate, given the difficulty for people to get ahold of a CDC card.

We really hope that the community understands that the businesses are not really responsible for this, we have to uphold the mandates, Rhodes stated.

Mixed opinions

Business owners still had mixed opinions on the mandate.

General Manager Leonard Campos of Meskla Chamoru Fusion Bistro said the restaurant was opposed to the mandate because it encouraged segregation against the unvaccinated.

Letting people self-attest to vaccination didnt make much of a difference.

It encourages people to lie. Thats all it does, Campos said.

Long lines at testing facilities made weekly testing impractical, he stated, and there were some employees who had come out and said that they would just not come in for work.

Ron Fejeran of Rons Diner in Mangilao said he would comply with all the mandates, and his staff was fully vaccinated by their own choice. He said he was sorry to turn some customers away on Monday.

They were regulars. They helped to build this business, but I had to tell them that I didnt want to get in trouble.  I apologize to everybody  but hey  this is not my call, he said.

Frank Kenney, co-owner of Jamaican Grill, acknowledged that it was a serious issue for the whole community.

Were taking a step back stance on this one.  Well see how our business model is being affected. Well see how the consumers may change their buying patterns at our restaurants. Well be in a better position to comment I think, you know, after we get data, Kenney said.

Thomas Peinhopf, owner of bars the Shady Lady and Livehouse, late last year sued the governor over the shutdown of non-essential businesses

As for enforcing the latest orders: I cant. You know, I dont think its legal. We have laws and (the governor) has been violating laws over and over and over with executive orders, he said.

Peinhopf stated he wasnt against the vaccine, but he was a freedom-loving person who couldnt police the people in his establishments. He was concerned over additional restrictions that might come, but currently was frustrated, resigned and just trying to survive after losing the court case earlier this year.
A 36-year-old man was charged in court after Dededo residents made criminal trespass complaints.

Pen Mars, 36, was first reported to the authorities when a man said he saw Mars standing in the bathroom of his Dededo residence, according to a complaint filed in the Superior Court of Guam.

The homeowner quickly left to his bedroom and returned to confront Mars. He saw Mars was gone but that his freezer was open and hot dogs were missing, the complaint stated.

Later that day, Guam Police Department officers responded to a complaint in the area from two women who saw Mars standing on their property. He was holding a chainsaw owned by the women and looked into the windows of the home, the complaint stated.

When asked by one of the women why he was there, Mars said he was going to do the yard. The woman asked Mars to leave. Mars left the residence after the woman became angry, the complaint stated.

Police officers later found Mars walking along East Santa Barbara Road with his hand inside his pocket. An officer asked Mars to remove his hand for safety reasons several times and Mars became angry. Mars removed his hand, entered a fighter's stance and attempted to punch the officer but missed, the complaint stated.

Mars was charged with:
Fred Cruz II said at first, he didnt like or agree with the governors orders requiring patrons and employees of private businesses to get vaccinated.

But after changes were made to the executive order Monday, especially the idea that someone is vaccinated after one shot, the Sinajana resident finds the order is more reasonable.

At least we are coming to some sort of compromise, because we have to respect everybodys rights, but we also have to figure out how to get out of this situation, Cruz said.

On Friday, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said customers and workers at dine-in restaurants, bars, gyms and other covered establishments would have to prove they were fully vaccinated. But after complaints from lawmakers and the public, the governor amended the order late Monday night. Now, people only need the first shot of a two-shot series, and they can attest to their vaccination status.

In addition, employees of covered establishments who are not vaccinated can opt to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing rather than lose their jobs.

I have always said that we will ultimately triumph over this disease by the actions we take together as a community, the governor said when she announced the changes. I have heard you, and I am listening.

Bringing both sides of the issue together is something Cruz wants to see, while emphasizing that the COVID-19 pandemic is a real threat.

Cruz and his wife have an online sewing business making clothes and face masks. He said that the executive order will not affect his business, but customers are required to wear masks to enter and they limit the number of people inside as a safety measure against COVID-19.

Requiring someone to be vaccinated at restaurants is good for indoor dining, because people are close to one another, said Lorna Constantino, 67, from Agat. But she added that for outdoor dining, vaccinations should not be mandated.

While she would prefer everyone to be fully vaccinated, requiring one shot of the vaccine for establishments and large gatherings is a step in the right direction. Constantino said this loosening of the vaccination requirement by the governor was a reaction to people speaking out against the mandate.

Constantino said that employees should be vaccinated for everyones benefit, but also for their own protection working in jobs with lots of people who may expose them to COVID-19.

Samuel Jugo, 27, from Mongmong-Toto-Maite, said he doesnt have an argument against the executive order or the revisions to it.

He is concerned about people getting vaccinations to protect the islands elderly.

I agree if thats the mandate, then Ill comply, he said.

Jugo recently came home from the states, where he worked a retail job. He said he values employees complying with wearing masks and that he would make sure he would provide proof of vaccination by the deadline if he was working on Guam.

Leilani Devera, 51, from Dededo said she wants everyone on the island to be vaccinated but disagrees with the requirement that all employees receive the vaccine.

Its peoples choice if they dont want to be vaccinated, why would we be forcing them? I know its for our own safety, for Guams safety we want 100% vaccinated, but there are people whose mindset is different, said Devera.
A print of ancient CHamorus. The experiences of CHamoru ancestors must be taken seriously and reflected upon in the present, writes Elyssa Santos.
I am one of the many who are dismayed with the governors latest executive order, restricting the movement of unvaccinated family members, fri
Last Friday, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero spoke on the recent spike of positive COVID-19 cases over the previous weeks. With cases reaching up to th




Haiti - FLASH : New investigating judge in the assassination of President Moise





Two weeks after the withdrawal of the investigating magistrate Mathieu Chanlatte hhttps://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34477-haiti-flash-investigating-judge-mathieu-chanlatte-withdraws-from-the-file-on-the-assassination-of-president-jovenel-moise.html , for lack of means and security, Me Bernard Saint-Vil, Dean of the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince appointed Judge Gary Orelien on Monday, August 23 to investigate the case of the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.



This time, Rockefeller Vincent, the Minister of Justice, affirms that all necessary means will be made available to Judge Orelien in the context of this case so that he can carry out this investigation with international ramifications.



To this end, the Minister sent a letter dated August 23, 2021, to Leon Charles Director General a.i of the National Police of Haiti, letter which we reproduce below :



Letter from the Minister of Justice to DG of the PNH :

"[...]



Mr. Director General a.i.



I hasten to urge you to pass the firm and necessary instructions to the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) so that all the logistical, financial and coercive means available to the National Police of Haiti are strongly mobilized for lead to the execution of the warrants issued by the Government Commissioner against all those who have an implication in the assassination of His Excellency President Jovenel Moise.



Furthermore, I would like to draw your attention to the need to set up a special security system in the cells housing Colombians and other people concerned by this affair and detained in the civil prison of Port-au-Prince. This approach contributes to the idea of minimizing all the risks incurred by the latter with the intention of reducing them to silence. I am waiting, Mr Director General a.i that the maximum permanence is decreed and maintained on this file on which the future of democracy and the Nation depends on it.



Finally, I remind you that it is obligatory for the National Police of Haiti to accompany and comply with all the requisitions of the investigating magistrate who will be appointed to investigate in depth this villainous act which will continue to shock the national conscience. .



Rockefeller Vincent, av

Minister [...]"



To be continued...



Read also on the assassination of President Moise :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34371-haiti-flash-a-4th-police-officer-arrested-in-direct-connection-with-the-assassination-of-president-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34351-haiti-flash-all-the-arrested-colombian-ex-soldiers-were-aware-of-a-plan-to-kill-president-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34339-haiti-flash-official-report-by-dimitri-herard-on-the-assassination-of-president-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34331-haiti-flash-arrest-of-the-presidential-security-coordinator-jean-laguel-civil.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34299-haiti-flash-7-of-the-colombians-arrested-had-received-american-military-training.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34296-haiti-flash-the-company-which-participated-in-the-financing-of-the-operation-knew-nothing-about-the-assassination-of-president-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34283-haiti-flash-follow-up-of-investigations-into-the-assassination-of-president-moise-video.html



https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34278-haiti-national-funeral-note-from-the-first-lady-martine-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34265-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34250-haiti-flash-according-to-colombia-in-the-commando-only-a-few-knew-about-the-assassination-of-president-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34238-haiti-flash-monitoring-of-investigations-into-the-assassination-of-president-jovenel-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34225-haiti-notice-the-pnh-is-looking-for-3-dangerous-and-armed-individuals-including-a-former-senator.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34223-haiti-justice-the-dg-of-the-colombian-police-wonders-about-the-role-of-the-chief-of-security-of-president-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34220-haiti-politic-creation-of-the-organizing-committee-for-the-national-funeral-of-president-moise-text-of-the-decree.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34218-haiti-flash-wanted-notice-for-a-very-dangerous-colombian-mercenary.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34217-haiti-flash-the-white-house-does-not-rule-out-sending-troops-to-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34214-haiti-assassination-of-president-a-colombian-team-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34212-haiti-politic-a-large-american-delegation-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34210-haiti-flash-arrest-of-one-of-the-intellectual-authors-of-the-assassination-of-president-moise-and-an-attempted-coup.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34205-haiti-flash-statements-and-testimony-from-colombia-about-the-commando.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34203-haiti-usa-no-american-military-assistance-for-the-moment.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34201-haiti-flash-authenticated-message-from-the-first-lady-martine-moise-audio.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34199-haiti-assassination-of-the-president-names-of-the-20-members-of-the-commando-arrested-5-others-still-on-the-run.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34193-haiti-flash-the-government-requests-the-sending-of-american-soldiers-to-the-country.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34188-icihaiti-flash-11-mercenaries-arrested-in-the-taiwanese-embassy.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34193-haiti-flash-the-government-requests-the-sending-of-american-soldiers-to-the-country.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34188-icihaiti-flash-11-mercenaries-arrested-in-the-taiwanese-embassy.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34183-haiti-flash-the-commando-that-killed-the-president-included-26-colombians-and-2-haitian-americans-official-video.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34182-icihaiti-assassination-of-president-moise-15-days-of-national-mourning-text-of-the-decree.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34178-haiti-politic-what-measures-contains-the-state-of-siege-text-of-the-decree.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34177-icihaiti-usa-the-pm-met-with-secretary-of-state-anthony-blinken.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34176-haiti-un-the-security-council-condemns-the-assassination-of-president-jovenel-moise.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34174-icihaiti-diplomacythe-assassins-of-moise-were-professional-mercenaries-dixit-bocchit-edmond.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34173-haiti-flash-the-police-intercepts-the-presumed-assassins-of-president-moise-official-video.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34172-haiti-flash-martine-moise-in-florida-for-treatment.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34170-haiti-flash-the-first-lady-martine-moise-would-still-be-alive-but.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34168-haiti-flash-the-state-of-siege-is-declared-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34165-haiti-assassination-of-jovenel-moise-what-says-the-constitution.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : The USA issues a Level 4 Alert Do not travel to Haiti





The United States Department of State has issued a Level 4 Alert "Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and COVID-19.".



The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a level 4 travel health advisory for Haiti, indicating a very high level of Covid-19 in the country.



Your risk of contracting Covid-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).



Before planning an international trip, please review the CDC's specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.



Summary of the situation in Haiti : (extracts of the update) :



"[...] Kidnapping is widespread and victims regularly include U.S. citizens. Kidnappers may use sophisticated planning or take advantage of unplanned opportunities, and even convoys have been attacked. Kidnapping cases often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed during kidnappings. Victims families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members.



Violent crime, such as armed robbery and carjacking, is common. Travelers are sometimes followed and violently attacked and robbed shortly after leaving the Port-au-Prince international airport. Robbers and carjackers also attack private vehicles stuck in heavy traffic congestion and often target lone drivers, particularly women.



Protests, demonstrations, tire burning, and roadblocks are frequent, unpredictable, and can turn violent. The U.S. government is extremely limited in its ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Haiti  assistance on site is available only from local authorities (Haitian National Police and ambulance services). Local police generally lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents [...]"



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Earthquake : Reconstruction will cost $1.12 billion (first assessment)





On Monday 23 August, Prime Minister Ariel Henry chaired a preliminary meeting of the technical steering committee, as part of the assessment of damage, losses and post-earthquake needs 2021, in the Southern Peninsula (PDNA-2021 / Post Desaster Needs Assessment).



From the outset, the Head of Government expressed his satisfaction with the quality of the support offered by the members of the Tripartite Partnership involving the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank (WB). He also highlighted the availability of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) which is at the forefront, alongside other national and international actors, in the planning of post-earthquake reconstruction.



Ministers Michel Patrick Boivert (Economy), Liszt Quitel (Interior), Simon Dieuseul Desras (Planning) as well as representatives of technical and financial partners including the UN, WB, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), IDB took part in this meeting "It is essential that each actor has in mind the objectives that we have set for ourselves, along with the 6 week deadline to complete the entire process and begin to provide, with serenity and speed, lasting responses to this disaster," underlined Prime Minister Ariel Henri adding "We have the firm will to orient reconstruction on the path of sustainable development "encouraging all local and international actors to work rigorously in order to provide the Government and its partners with adequate tools to better frame their interventions for the benefit of earthquake victims.



The technical and financial partners welcomed this initiative of the Haitian authorities. The United Nations Deputy Resident Coordinator in Haiti, Maureen Bermingham said saw this exercise as an opportunity not only for the physical reconstruction of the country but also for social reconstruction.



Msellati Laurent, Resident Representative of WB in Haiti, in his remarks confirmed the readiness of his institution to align with the proposals that will be made by the partners of the United Nations and also the European Union and the IDB.



Following the first satellite impact assessment, the results showed that the damage caused by the earthquake would require the disbursement of US $1.12 billion, Laurent said.



Stephanie Zidebell, the representative of the UNDP confirmed the contribution of her organization in the process of reconstruction of the southern peninsula.



Recall that Haiti is in its 4th PNDA: 2016 after the passage of Cyclone Mathew, 2010 after the earthquake of January 12 and 2008 after the passage of hurricanes Fay, Gustave, Hannah and Ike.



The technical steering committee has 6 weeks to finalize the preliminary version of the PDNA (update of the 2016 PDNA), produce the physical and economic reconstruction plan for the southern peninsula and organize the meeting of donors in order to have funds to finance the plan "It is essential that each actor has in mind the objectives that we have set for ourselves, along with the 6 week deadline to complete the entire process and begin to provide answers, calmly and quickly lasting to this disaster," concluded Ariel Henry.



SL/ HaitiLibre


















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The Biden administration says it does not know how many U.S. citizens are in Afgha
The delta variant-driven surge of COVID-19 continues across the U.S. and this part of Montana is no exception, with 23 new cases being reported in Hill County over the weekend, one of the most dramatic jumps since last year, before the emergency-use authorization of any vaccines.

This brings the county to 82 active cases with two hospitalizations. Blaine County now has 22 active cases with nine new cases confirmed over the weekend.

The state tracking map shows Liberty County has 11 active cases with two new cases and Chouteau has three active cases with one new case.

For the past 10 days Hill County has been adding 10 or more cases a day, and for the last couple months the rate of new cases has been increasing especially among younger people which the delta variant appears to be more dangerous to.

The state added over 600 new cases Monday and 720 more today.

The state map this morning listed 3,899 active cases with 239 hospitalizations.

Some counties are seeing more than 100 cases a day.

The map this morning reported 166 new cases in Yellowstone County, which has 639 active cases, and 136 in Flathead County, with 690 cases.

The number of new cases in Cascade County dropped to 24 this morning, but it has 664 active cases.

The state has 3,899 active cases and 239 active hospitalizations.

Montana has 1,768 COVID-19-related deaths since the first confirmed cases in March 2020.

While cases are most common among the unvaccinated, who make up almost 90 percent of hospitalizations in Montana, breakthrough cases remain common including in Hill County where a vaccinated staff member at Northern Montana Care Center recently tested positive, necessitating that the facility's outbreak status to continue for the next 14 days.

Hill County Public Health Director and Health Officer Kim Berg said the 11 breakthrough cases in Hill County tended to exhibit less extreme symptoms and recover more quickly.

Blaine County Public Health Nurse Jana McPherson-Hauer said much the same of the breakthrough cases in her jurisdiction.

"Breakthrough cases report more mild symptoms that are shorter in duration than cases in unvaccinated individuals," McPherson-Hauer said, "We are following the guidance of the CDC and encouraging all people to wear masks to indoor public places during times of substantial or high community transmission. It is another important tool we can easily use to slow the spread."

Berg's email said, due to the circulation of the delta variant, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says is at least twice as contagious at the original strain, even fully vaccinated people should mask up in areas with significant community transmission, with McPherson-Hauer making a similar recommendation for Blaine County.

The delta variant is much more likely to be transmitted by people who are vaccinated than previous strains, leading to the recommendation for everyone to mask up regardless of vaccination status.

Currently the CDC's data tracker lists Hill and Blaine counties, along with the vast majority of the state, as an area of high transmission.

The Montana Nurses Association has recommended mask wearing in indoor public spaces s well.

"Bringing back masks for vaccinated people, especially while indoors, reduces the risk that a person with a breakthrough infection will infect an unvaccinated person, who remains at a much higher risk of serious illness or death," MNA CEO Vicky Byrd said in a press release. "While it is impossible to know who is vaccinated and who is not, let's take care of each other and our state by wearing masks."

She said masks, hand washing, and social distancing remain the easiest, most non-invasive methods to help stop the spread of the virus and asking people who are not vaccinated, and people who are vaccinated, to wear a mask while indoors in the public is the way to keep the state open.

She asked people to encourage their family and friends to get vaccinated, wear a mask, and minimize the risk of transmission especially now that the delta variant has raised the risk for children and is straining hospitals that are struggling to find nurses, beds and oxygen.

"MNA is concerned about the many variants and encourages all Montanans to get vaccinated who can do so," she said.

She said MNA will continue to ask Gov. Greg Gianforte, Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras and the state's elected officials to lead the people through this pandemic with respect and support for public health professions by endorsing their recommendations and supporting all of their health care providers and stakeholders who use science and evidence-based data to provide the best public health care for all citizens.

Berg and McPherson-Hauer said it's important for more people to get vaccinated, and the Federal Food and Drug Administration's recent full approval Monday of the Pfizer vaccine, which was approved for emergency use last year.

"Hearing the news of Full FDA authorization for the Pfizer vaccine is very exciting," Berg said. "This news just further supports our cause and the fact that these vaccines are safe and effective and the best chance we have at putting a stop to this pandemic. We highly recommend that all who can get vaccinated do so."

McPherson-Hauer echoed Berg's excitement and said the approval further supports the importance of getting vaccinated.

"It further proves what we have been saying for months- that the vaccine is safe, effective and a very powerful tool in our fight against COVID-19," she said.

In Hill County, vaccinations are available through Bullhook Community Health Center, 406-395-4305; the Hill County Health Department, 406-400-2415; Northern Montana Health Care's Specialty Medical Center at 406-265-7831 or it's family Family Medical Center at 406-265-5408; Western Drug Pharmacy,406-265-9601; Gary & Leo's Pharmacy, which takes walk-ins, Walmart and the Rocky Boy Health Center, 406-395-1655.

Vaccinations are available in Blaine County through the Blaine County Health Department, 406-357-2345, and Fort Belknap Health Center.

Vaccine is available in Chouteau County at the Chouteau County Health Department, 406-622-3771, and Big Sandy Pharmacy at 406-378-5588.

Liberty County Health Department has vaccine available. People can call 759-5517.
Havre Police Department

Officers investigated a noninjury crash between a car and truck reported from U.S. Highway 2 and 19th Avenue at 11:42 a.m. Monday.

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Officers investigated a report of a broken windshield made at 1:10 p.m. Monday from Ninth Avenue.

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Officers investigated a report of a break in made at 3:15 p.m. Monday from 14th Avenue.

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Officers investigated a hit-and-run crash reported from Second Avenue at 4:46 p.m. Monday.

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Officers investigating suspicious activity on the 700 Block of Second Street Monday at 10:42 p.m. arrested Davis William Cravens of Havre, 24, on charges of theft, obstructing a peace officer and on a Justice or City court warrant.

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Officers investigating a complaint made from Second Avenue at 11:34 p.m. Monday arrested Nathaniel Wayne Doney of Hays, 34, on a charge of disorderly conduct and on a Justice or City Court warrant.

Hill County Sheriff's Office

A Monday 7:41 a.m. non-injury vehicle crash near mile marker 6 on Wildhorse Road was referred to Montana Highway Patrol.

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Deputies made an arrest on a warrant served at Hill County Detention Center Monday at 1:34 p.m.

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A summons was issued after a caller on the 8000 Block of U.S. Highway 87 reported at 4:35 p.m. Monday that a pit bull attacked some children. No details on the charges were provided.

Havre Fire Department

Emergency medical personnel responded to one call Monday.

Havre Animal Shelter

The shelter this morning held three 9-week-old kittens, two 15-week-old kittens, a 6-month-old kitten and one 11-week-old kitten all of unknown gender, three female cats, three male 18-week-old kittens and two male cats. A male 15-week-old kitten and a male 16-week-old kitten were being held separately but are also available for adoption.

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The shelter also held one female and one male 11-week-old puppies, a female Doberman pinscher dog, a male Labrador retriever dog, a female Australian shepherd dog, a male husky dog and a female shar pei dog.
Press release

Steve Mulonet, veteran service officer for the Montana Veteran Affairs, will be visiting the following locations and times to meet with veterans who are interested in applying for benefits.

Veterans interested in applying for benefits should bring a copy of their discharge paperwork, DD214, with them.

Wednesday, Sept. 1

Wolf Point  Wolf Point Cultural Center  10 a.m to 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 8

Shelby  Courthouse  9:30-11:30 a.m.

Cut Bank  Glacier County Courthouse Annex RM19  1:30 p.m to 4 p.m

Thursday, Sept. 9

Cut Bank  Glacier County Courthouse Annex RM19  8:30011:30 a.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 15

Glasgow  Glasgow VA Clinic  1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 16

Malta  Malta City Hall  9:30-11:30 a.m.

Friday, Sept. 17

Rocky Boy  Rocky Boy Veteran Center  11 a.m. to 1

p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 22

Shelby  Courthouse  9:30-11:30 a.m.

Cut Bank  Glacier County Courthouse Annex RM19  1:30-4 p.m.

Thursday,Sept. 23

Cut Bank  Glacier County Courthouse Annex RM19  8:30-11:30 a.m

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Browning veterans can meet in Cut Bank

If bad weather exists on days of travel, people can stay tuned to the local radio stations for updated information regarding our outreach schedule.
From Northern Montana Health Care

Brock Doty, human resources assistant at Tilleman Motor Company recently paid a visit to the Northern Montana Sletten Cancer Center. He presented a check for $615 to the Northern Montana Health Care Foundation for the Sletten from their recent "Drive for a Cause" campaign.

"Drive for a Cause" is a fundraising campaign that Tilleman Motor Company ran this July at their dealership. A local, family-owned business, Tilleman Motor Co. has served the community of Havre and the Hi-Line for the last 37 years. They announced July 6 that a donation was made for every test drive that happened at their dealership during the month of July. The Northern Montana Sletten Cancer Center was chosen as the benefactor for these funds.

Built originally in 2008, the Northern Montana Sletten Cancer Center was made possible by the generosity of the Sletten Construction Company, and in large part due to the generous support offered by the community. Many fundraisers and events were held to help raise the $1.5 million needed to construct the center.

"Offering chemotherapy and radiation treatments to cancer patients locally has been of immense benefit to the folks of the Hi-Line" said Christen Obresley, vice president of patient and regulatory services for Northern Montana Health Care and executive director of the Northern Montana Health Care Foundation. "Now that the Cancer Center is part of our community, we are always working toward bettering the care we can offer through it. These funds will go towards that goal."

"We're so pleased to accept this donation for our facility "said Dr. Rajeev Rajendra, the hematology/oncology provider based at the Sletten. "Being new to the community myself, I am amazed at the support and generosity of Montana people. I also give credit to the amazing staff here at the Sletten. They truly care for their patients and work tirelessly on their behalf."

For more information on the Northern Montana Sletten Cancer Center, people can visit https://nmhcare.org/providers-clinics/clinics/northern-montana-sletten-cancer-center .
It was a pleasure visiting Beaver Creek Park earlier this year and having the opportunity to meet many personally involved with decisions regarding beaver. The public meeting with three experts regarding beaver was helpful, insightful, and consistent with our knowledge and observations. We appreciate, Commissioner Chair Mark Peterson, arranging to have them speak.

As decisions again approach for beaver in Beaver Creek Park, we do hope the points and advice presented will be heeded. Since the stream was simplified, beaver are attempting to naturalize the park. Now there are substructures built on the floodplains creating conflicts. Flooding, was said, will occur even without the beaver. Outhouses were observed close to the river. Giardia does correlate often with cabin outhouses with higher levels in high use recreational areas.

It was great, though, to hear there is funding available for infrastructures, for recreational trails, and so on, and how affordable some improvements and non-lethal strategies are. Experts provided a variety of considerations, i.e. upgrade to a small bridge for the Boy Scout Camp, gazebos are too close to the river, a culvert is too small at the road crossing. Trap Free Montana also has funding earmarked for non-lethal methods. An easy project, provided it is done correctly, is to wrap trees. The tree wrappings observed in the park do not fit this description. In addition, where applicable, flow devices are reportedly 87%-97% effective and for many years. Again, if they are professionally done and not homemade.

Nowadays is the most important time to support the work of the beaver. We are in a statewide declared drought. Fires are underway. Areas are drying up, temperatures are high, water is down, and grasshoppers are expanding in magnitudes across agricultural land. Predictions are the worst is yet to come. What happens on the Beaver Creek River goes beyond there. These beaver are saving critically necessary water far more than the eye can see. They are providing essential browse for animals such as cattle, deer. The beaver also creates fire breaks. Beaver deepen waters, provide shade, benefitting fish and increasing their size. The beavers tree cutting often stimulates new growth, i.e. willows, aspen, cottonwoods.

What is scientifically and ecologically imperative is a sunset clause on the trapping of beaver. Forty-five beaver have already been reported trapped and killed over seven months into this year just in Beaver Creek Park. This would have destroyed family groups, pregnant females, dependent baby kits, yearlings, and the 2-year-olds just setting off independently on their own. Beaver are monogamous and mate for life. It is unknown who else may have been trapped and killed as trapping is indiscriminate. Elsewhere, trout, otters, turtles, herons, and dogs are known to have been caught in traps for beaver. A trapper reported finding only a duck bill in one of his traps.

Beaver provide habitat which an estimated 80%-85% of wildlife rely upon and 50% of threatened and endangered species depend upon. Beaver ponds create wetlands which are among the most biologically productive ecosystems in the world providing habitats for plants, insects, amphibians, fish, waterfowl, songbirds, and mammals. According to the BBC Earths Index, a beavers services to the landscape and wetlands management are worth $120,000 a year. Park Superintendent, Chad Edgar, a biologist by formal education, should be able to attest to their vital role. For those wanting to visit a place like Beaver Creek Park and escape to nature, wildlife are a magnet, a memorable reward.

As Beaver Creek Park has experienced over the many years, trapping is a Band-Aid. The beaver returns. Yet, what if they dont? Will that be deemed a success or later shown to be travesty? Its the habitat and available resources that dictate the beaver population and within their territorial behavior. One beaver family may utilize several lodges. Just as the aftermath of fires are deemed disturbingly destructive through the uneducated eye, summation of beaver overpopulation is often subjective and not based on science.

So why continue to trap and inhumanely kill any of the beaver and repeatedly when there are more successful, affordable, and viable solutions? Why not make a diligent effort and try them first, if for nothing else then for ethics and compassion? Have you ever watched a trapped beaver, know how long it takes a beaver to drown, or how body crushing conibear traps are not necessarily a quick kill?

A responsible, respectful, and effective plan for Beaver Creek Park is to get rid of the problems not the beavers. A win:win is best achieved by working with the beaver rather than against them.

You have such a beautiful and treasured county park. Do the Hill County commissioners and park board members really want the increasing reputation they opted instead to continue trapping beaver?



K.C. York of Hamilton is president and founder of Trap Free Montana
Henderson, NC (27536)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 84F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 62F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Henderson, NC (27536)

Today

Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 62F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
THE leader of South Oxfordshire District Council has pledged to help refugees from Afghanistan.

But Sue Cooper warned that the area is short of social housing and the councils finances and resources are already overstretched.

The Government has agreed to resettle 20,000 people fleeing the Taliban, which has taken control of Afghanistan following the withdrawl of US troops.

Councils across England have committed to taking refugees who are being flown out of Kabul airport amid chaotic scenes.

Councillor Cooper said: Many people in Afghanistan are now facing a truly awful situation and we in the UK have a moral duty to offer as much support as possible to those who feel they are no longer safe there.

Our big problem in this area is there is a severe shortage of affordable and social housing.

In the short-term when they arrive, Im hoping that any Ministry of Defence places weve got, like RAF Benson, might have accommodation that could be suitable.

It is after that, though, that there is an issue and a couple of months is probably all they will be able to give. There is a big difference between accommodating a single person and a family with three or four children. We just do not have the houses to put them in unless the Government wants to give us some money to rent them out privately.

People might think it is easier to accommodate single men but when you look at our housing register the majority of people are those wanting one-bedroom units. It is a balancing act.

The council can provide help to people over the age of 18 who have been granted refugee status as part of the UK resettlement scheme.

It is currently supporting two Syrian families and working to resettle three others in partnership with neighbouring Vale of White Horse District Council.

Cllr Cooper, who represents Benson and Crowmarsh for the Liberal Democrats, said support packages were in place to help a small number of individuals but the council couldnt replicate this on a larger scale.

She said: Our resources are already fully used. It is somewhat easier for councils that have got their own housing stock, which we dont. We have to negotiate with housing associations that operate in the area but they cant just magic up houses out of nowhere.

We are in desperate need of more social and affordable housing. Cllr Cooper said the council also had too few officers to do the work needed.

The housing department is already really busy trying to find houses for people on the verge of being made homeless because they have lost their job during covid, she said.

As a district, we have previously supported people in similar situations and we will do our best to work with our partners to offer what help we can to people from Afghanistan who are granted refugee status.

She was supported by Councillor Maggie Filipova-Rivers, who represents Goring on the council and is a regional co-ordinator for the City of Sanctuary charity and previously worked for Restart Refugee Support.

She said: It is not just the houses, we need to integrate them with language and mental health support. Language will always be the biggest barrier to getting resettled and mental health is also really important because of what they have been through. It should be a humanitarian response rather than a political one. From what Im seeing on social media, there is widespread support across the political spectrum, which is really reassuring.

It is a positive step that the Government has taken but we need more guidance and we need it very quickly.

Oxfordshire County Council is trying to identify empty housing stock suitable for housing families.

Council leader Liz Leffman said: We will do all we can to support those in need. We already know that the people of Oxfordshire are keen to provide support as many have come forward with generous offers of help.

Having previously dealt with the difficult situation that arose in Syria with refugees leaving that country for the UK, we have considerable experience of dealing with such situations.

Henley MP John Howell said: The ability to control affordable housing lies with the district council. They are the planning authority and they will have to take action.

The Government is trying to do its best to deal with the situation in Afghanistan. This is not the time to be jumping up and down about the money involved.

It has been really encouraging to see so many councils across the country giving offers of support.

Matt Rodda, Labour MP for Reading East, said the number of refugees the Government was willing to accept was not enough.

They are offering 5,000 places but that is in the first year and then the rest will come later. The need is right now. The Government needs to remove the bureaucracy and ensure there is an effective scheme.
THE owner of a rug shop in Henley says his business is already being affected by the crisis in Afghanistan.

Usman Afzal, who runs the Rug Shed in Reading Road, said shipments are being held up due to the closure of borders.

More than 70 per cent of his stock comes from Afghanistan where he says the best value for money rugs are made.

Mr Afzal, 34, hopes to source Afghan rugs from Pakistan, where he is originally from and where many Afghans have resettled.

But he says his main concern at the moment is for the safety of people living in Afghanistan.

He said: It is a humanitarian crisis. Im worried about the people Ive met and my heart goes out to them. These are amazing and lovely people. Afghanistan is a tricky place from a political standpoint but is normally very reliable and definitely not as bad as it is going to be now.

Mr Afzal said Americas decision to withdraw forces from Afghanistan had left it exposed to the Taliban and that the years of conflict have put the country in a worse position than previously.

He said: I never thought it would happen. They went there to help people. Who would have thought after 21 years of war they would just leave? They vanished and the Taliban took over without a fight.

I have a friend who has travelled to Peshawar and now he cant get back to his family in Afghanistan because of the border closure. He is fearful for them. As much as the Taliban say there wont be vengeance, they dont think like us. All they know is fighting and the only thing that is certain is war.

Mr Afzal, who lives in Reading Road, opened the Rug Shed in April 2018. He first came to the UK when he was 20 and his wife, Mahnoor, moved here permanently earlier this year.

He said: Forty to 50 per cent of our warehouse stock is from Afghanistan. If someone asked me where the best rugs are made, I would say Iran but if someone asked where the best value for money rugs are made, it is hands down Afghanistan.

For a similar quality, you are probably looking at 50 to 100 per cent more in terms of the cost and that is why they are so popular. An 8ft x 5ft rug from Afghanistan costs between 1,800 and 3,000. The difference in the quality comes down to the cotton and the dyes used but they are also hand-spun.

Mr Afzal said: The biggest crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan is Torkham and it is closed and is now going to be manned by the Taliban.

We have a couple of shipments stuck there because of the borders being closed. Sure it is a hassle but if it came to it I would still find similar rugs in Pakistan.

At the moment, everything is a bit unclear but having to charge more is a real possibility.

We hope it doesnt come to that, we hope that in all of this madness the Taliban dont just block off the country.
Elbert Coffee, Jr., 83, of Dallas, passed away Aug. 29, 2021. Visitation will be noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, at Cozine & Tarver Funeral Home in Greenville, Texas. His funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, at New Hope Baptist Church in Greenville, and burial will be in
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Veteran forward Haywood Highsmith, who appeared in five games with the Sixers during the 2018/19 season, will reportedly be returning to the team this fall.

Highsmith signed last month with Vanoli Cremona, but the Italian club announced today in a press release that the 24-year-old has exercised the opt-out clause in his contract. According to Vanoli Cremona, Highsmith will be signing an Exhibit 10 deal with Philadelphia.

Highsmith, who went undrafted out of Wheeling in 2018, spent most of the first two seasons of his professional carer playing for the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers G League affiliate. In 89 NBAGL games (29.5 MPG), he averaged 11.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 2.6 APG on .423/.338/.679 shooting. He spent the 2020/21 season with the Crailsheim Merlins in Germany.

Since the Sixers project to have a full regular season roster, Highsmith looks like a long shot to make the 15-man squad. A return to Delaware may be in the cards for the forward, who would be eligible to earn a bonus of up to $50K if he spends at least 60 days with the Blue Coats.
Reopening

24 August 2021

The soulful city of Memphis welcomed back its coveted hot spot for both locals and visitors alike, the Hu. Hotel on August 19. Standing gracefully on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River with unbeatable rooftop views of the city skyline, the refreshed 110-room hotel that is part of the Aparium Hotel Group portfolio reopened its doors with two newly revitalized F&B concepts that speak directly to the city's culture featuring great music, food, art and plenty of Southern hospitality.

Led by Aparium's Culinary Director and talented Apparatus Room Chef, Thomas Lents, the menu at the Hu. Hotel evokes the spirit of Memphis, playing on the city's vibrant culture and attributes. Hu. Roof, a top-of-market rooftop bar, serves up eclectic yet classic, frozen and tropical cocktails alongside globally-inspired shared plates. The all-day snack menu features house-made chips and dips as well as full-plates like the Tennessee Farm Lamb Meatballs and Brown Sugar Salmon Slider. The revamped cocktail menu features new additions along with some of the hotel's familiar signature cocktails like The Golden Horseshoe, named for the elite boxed seat area in the famous Lyceum Theater built by Hu Brinkley (the hotel's namesake), which boasts notes of exotic passionfruit and spice, anchored by Sailor Jerry's rum.

The Hu. Roof, adorned with a custom mural by Memphis-based artist Brandon Marshall (@nosey42), boasts a revitalized terrace featuring fresh new contemporary furnishings in muted tones with pops of color that lend the space an air of playfulness. Situated on the 17th floor of the hotel, Hu. Roof invites visitors to experience breathtaking views of the Mighty Mississippi and the Hernando DeSoto Bridge. As the only all-season rooftop in Memphis, it's the perfect place to grab a hand-crafted signature cocktail and relax on the 1,000 square foot oasis offering indoor and outdoor seating. Hu. Roof launches with a week-long line-up of live music featuring daily performances by local DJs and bands including Cruisin' Heavy, whose female powerhouse vocalist appeared on "The Voice". Also, starting August 28, replace Sunday Scaries with a series of Sunday Fundays celebrating weekend vibes with bottomless mimosas, frose all day and bloody mary popsicles. Whether you are looking for the perfect sunset "golden hour" spot or the ultimate boozy brunch, Hu. Roof is the place to be.

Lucy's is Hu. Hotel's "come as you are" all-day cafe experience serving as a community gathering place. In addition to serving coffee from Frothy Monkey, the casual and upbeat cafe restaurant features curated wines by the glass, classic cocktails, baked goods and a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. The menu boasts a mix of classics and Southern comfort favorites making Lucy's a destination for hotel guests and hungry locals alike. Lucy's delightful breakfast menu features items like the Orange Ricotta toast or Grilled Peach and Blackberry Parfait. For dinner, guests can expect to indulge in hearty flavors with choices like the Lucy Burger or the Country Ham Plate followed by a decadent dessert such as the House-made Chocolate Cream Tart. Lucy's will also host regular classic cocktail happy hours and guests can also expect to see collaborations with local distilleries and breweries such as Old Dominick and Wiseacre.
Appointment

24 August 2021

Commonwealth Hotels announced today that Richard Leon has been appointed the director of sales and marketing of the Radisson Hotel Marietta. Mr. Leon brings over 30 years of hospitality experience to his new role as director of sales and marketing having previously served as the director of community relations for Solvere Living.

Prior to joining the Radisson Hotel Marietta, Mr. Leon built his career as hospitality sales professional with tenures at award winning properties including the Aruba Marriott Resort and Conference Center, the Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center, the Twelve Atlantic Station, the Twelve Centennial Park, and the Artmore Hotel. Mr. Leon is a dedicated member of the community and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from City University of New York, New York City, NY.
Appointment

24 August 2021

The Aspen Meadows Resort has named Frank Kastelz general manager.

With more than 20 years of hospitality experience, Kastelz has a diversity of specialized expertise from guest relations to operations and finance.

Most recently he served as hotel manager for The Tremont House, a Wyndham Grand Hotel in Galveston, Texas, as well as the complex director of food and beverage for three Wyndham hotels including the iconic Hotel Galvez & Spa, a Wyndham Grand hotel. Kastelz has worked with a variety of Wyndham brand properties in roles such as general manager at the Wyndham Santa Monica At the Pier, as well as director of operations of the Wyndham San Diego Bayside. So when Aspen Meadows, a Dolce by Wyndham property, needed an interim general manager this spring following the retirement of Jud Hawk, Kastelz was a natural fit to quickly understand the brand culture until a permanent replacement could be found.

Prior to working in hospitality, Kastelz was a cryptologist for the U.S. Navy for nearly a decade where he learned the importance of constant training and continual process improvement. He considers his leadership training in the Navy to be one of his most valued life lessons.
Press Release

24 August 2021

Los Angeles  The July 2021 Women in Travel and Hospitality Conference was deemed an outstanding success and a touching celebration of female enlightenment. Powered by BLLA and the Travel Industry Executive Womens Network (TIEWN), this one-day, fully digital experience created a forum for women to support one another and acknowledge the utmost importance of female leaders within a dynamic industry.

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At the July gathering, influential women were represented on an international scale. Together, they leaned into their power and discussed the many ways in which women can change the field of travel, tourism, and hospitality for the better. The main theme of the conference was clear: women are resilient, and when that resilience is channeled into work, mountains can be moved. Additionally, leaving a legacy was a key discussion point as was wellness.

The nearly 70 speakers inserted these themes into a range of sessions including discussions, panels, keynotes, fireside chats, and workshops. Topics of wellness initiatives, strategic planning, innovation, career growth, leadership, digital marketing, technology, and industry progression were also addressed.

In addition to the numerous educational opportunities, intimate networking sessions were available throughout the day. Attendees were able to connect one-on-one through a speed-dating App, as well as in virtual introduction rooms. In one of the various testimonials, Vivian Chambers, Founder of the Muse Collection, stated that It is very rewarding to connect with like-minded, successful women in our industry. It is empowering to hear their success stories.

With such a phenomenal agenda of speakers for this years conference, a wide array of stories, information, and resources were able to be shared with global women in hospitality and travel.

Learning about the importance of education and diversity from women like Assia Riccio, Founder of Evolvin Women, Xenia zu Hohenlohe, Founding Partner/Director at Considerate Group, and Dr. Sowon Kim, Associate Professor at Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne (Switzerland); the attendees gained valuable insights on how crucial working with a diverse group of women is.

As stated by Dr. Sowon Kim, Associate Professor at Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne (Switzerland), Theres a strong link between emotional intelligence, empathy, social competencies, resilience, and also the fact of having a sense of purpose and maintaining ones sense of personal mission.

In order to adopt a resilient lifestyle, you have to attain the energy to be resilient which includes taking care of your personal wellness. Bev Maloney-Fischback, CEO, Founder and Publisher of Organic Spa Media, and Kim Marshall, Co-Founder of SWell PR, discussed practical ways to embrace resilience while being mindful of your wellbeing. Reach out to your community and reach out to your mentors. Reach out to your friends and to your believers, stated Maloney-Fischback. She later emphasized, If you take the time and if you look after yourself and you really manage self-care, then the [hard] decisions become easier.

Attendees also gained perspective from Amber Asher, President & General Counsel of Standard International, a fierce, inspiring woman in a male-dominated industry. In the world of hotels, Asher has the advantage of being knowledgeable in both real estate and the hotel business. She became an expert at her job, and now, she uses her leadership position to encourage other women to be the expert in the room. From a leadership standpoint, our industry is in dire need of change, and as explained by Asher, Bringing more people to senior roles that are female will only impact that change.

In an interview with Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President of Advocacy & Communications of World Travel & Tourism Council, strategies for success were discussed. Although the industry is making a comeback, Messina urged that standing out in a crowd is crucial to success in a womans professional journey. She discussed how to assess what you are passionate about, and how to harness it to stand out in the industry.

This year, the Founder of TIEWN, Frances Kiradjian, announced a new Award - The Legends in Travel & Hospitality Award, a special symbol of merit given to a female leader who goes above and beyond in her work, champions creativity, and challenges the status quo. She will also have achieved a high level of success as witnessed through the organizations served and whose work positively impacted the industry.

The Winner of the 2021 Award was Thuy (Twee) Carroll, Founder and CEO of Tweet World Travel Group and Managing Director at TKG in Adelaide, Australia  a woman who continually demonstrates all of these qualities and more. Twee was both nominated and selected by the judges for this Award given her success in transforming her travel business into a comprehensive travel technology platform that can thrive beyond the era of Covid-19. As one of Australias most skilled female CEOs, she is passionate about tourism and believes in its ability to empower communities and strengthen the society at large. We at TIEWN congratulate Twee on her amazing success as well as winning this years Award, stated Frances Kiradjian.

As the conference came to a close, attendees were left with two questions: what will their legacy be, and how will they leave it? As stated by Diana Stobo, Founder/Owner of the Retreat Costa Rica, Founder/CEO of Truth Bar, & Founder of Diana Stobo LLC, A legacy is everything that you are and the impact that you have on others. In order to leave a legacy, women need to embrace their power and pave their path towards a new reality.

We are always so proud of the presentation of this womens organization and its events which are supported by the dozens of speakers, their particular topics of discussion as well as the attendees who tell us all about their experience including meeting many others around the world who attend. We are also grateful in so many ways, to our Sponsors C2C Designs, Greenberg Traurig, Curator Hotel & Resort Collection, Organic Spa Magazine, Meetaways, GitGo, Dragonfly Strategists, Lutron, Marble Systems, Revenue Analytics, and Studio Nile Brand, stated Frances Kiradjian.

Post-event conference access to all video content and resources can be ordered here at the event site.
Press Release

24 August 2021

IHG Hotels & Resorts has today announced Vignette Collection as its new Luxury & Lifestyle brand, with hotels in Australia and Thailand the first to join the collection.

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Vignette Collection becomes the sixth addition to IHGs brand portfolio in the past four years, taking it to 17 in total across nearly 6,000 hotels in more than 100 countries. The Collection further enriches IHGs fast-growing Luxury & Lifestyle offer for both leisure and business travellers.

IHGs Vignette Collection will give owners of world-class independent hotels the opportunity to retain their distinctive identity, while benefitting from our global scale, Luxury & Lifestyle expertise, and powerful IHG Rewards loyalty programme. These exclusive properties in sought-after urban and resort locations will accelerate IHGs growth and meet an increasing appetite from travellers for one-of-a-kind stays.

Keith Barr, CEO, IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: Our new Vignette Collection gives IHG a compelling way to welcome world-class independent hotels into our brand family, combining each propertys distinctive identity with the power of our global scale. As our first hotels in Australia and Thailand both showcase, each property is as unique as the next, and all will be endorsed by IHGs trusted reputation for quality.

Weve been strategic with the enhancements weve made to our Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio in recent years, which at more than 400 hotels and 100,000 rooms is the second largest in the industry. Weve built on the heritage and global success of our InterContinental brand, with the rapid international expansion of Kimpton and Hotel Indigo, and acquisitions of Six Senses and Regent. We expect to attract more than 100 Vignette Collection hotels in 10 years, and the brand will be key to delivering our ambition of industry-leading net rooms growth.

Among the first hotels to join IHGs Vignette Collection will be Hotel X, a 5-star hotel, dining and lifestyle destination in the centre of Brisbanes Fortitude Valley, Australia. Hotel Xs distinctive design and luxurious facilities celebrate this iconic Brisbane neighbourhood through ultra-cool art, Avant Garde lighting and exceptional views of the cityscape.

Thailands vibrant Pattaya Aquatique hotel will also be one of the first hotels to join the Vignette Collection. Working in collaboration with Thailands leading integrated lifestyle real estate group, Asset World Corporation Public Company Limited (AWC), the hotel is based in Pattayas Aquatique district, the citys first iconic lifestyle destination.

Mrs Wallapa Traisorat, CEO and President, AWC, commented: AWC feels honoured to be the first partner in Asia and one of the first globally to launch a hotel under IHG Hotels & Resorts new Vignette Collection. With the backing of IHGs global systems and support, we are confident that our unique hotel, located in the vibrant and lively beachfront destination of Pattaya, The Aquatique, will appeal to all travellers seeking inspirational and exceptional experiences.

Meet Vignette Collection

Whether its a city haven, sun-kissed resort, or beyond, IHGs Vignette Collection will provide one-of-a-kind stays, with each hotel serving up a distinct service style and character.

Owners of independent hotels and small chains are increasingly attracted to the opportunity to benefit from the scale, expertise and investment of a global hotel brand leader, such as IHG. Those joining IHGs Vignette Collection will gain rapid access to world class revenue delivery and guest reservation systems, Luxury & Lifestyle expertise, our powerful IHG Rewards loyalty programme, and procurement savings. All of this will come without high upfront costs and each hotel will retain its distinctive identity.

Alongside the significant owner benefits, Vignette Collection will meet the needs of travellers seeking exciting independent stay experiences, and provide a greater choice of outstanding destinations to earn and burn loyalty points. Nowhere is this more sought after than in Luxury & Lifestyle, where the desire for distinct experiences and unique service is permanent.

Seamless conversions of high-quality, unique independent luxury and lifestyle hotels and small portfolios will further fast-track IHGs growth in a market worth more than $100 billion, and where more than 1.5 million rooms globally are currently independent. Over the next 10 years, IHG expects Vignette Collection to attract more than 100 properties globally.

Luxury meets purpose

As part of IHGs long-term Journey to Tomorrow responsible business plans, we are committed to caring for our people, communities and planet. Vignette Collection will embrace this  IHG will work with owners and hotel teams to engage with initiatives of their choosing, as part of a shared vision to build brighter futures for people in the communities where we operate. Hotels will also have the opportunity to positively impact local youth empowerment groups through dedicated skills-building resources, on-site events, and volunteering. This will further contribute to IHGs long-term commitment to improve the lives of 30 million people in communities around the world by 2030.
Press Release

24 August 2021

Over the past several years, the Airbnb community has opened thousands of doors to those in need. Airbnb.org  an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in moments of crisis  has helped to shelter those displaced by natural disasters, and offered hundreds of thousands of places to stay and peace of mind to frontline workers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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In this past week, it has become abundantly clear that the displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees here in the United States and elsewhere is a significant humanitarian crisis  and in the face of this need, our community is ready to once again step up.

Today, Airbnb and Airbnb.org are announcing that Airbnb.org will provide temporary housing to 20,000 Afghan refugees worldwide  the cost of which is funded through contributions to Airbnb.org from Airbnb and Brian Chesky, as well as donors to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund.

Airbnb and Airbnb.org recognize that the situation on the ground is fast evolving. Airbnb.org will closely collaborate with resettlement agencies and partners to go where the need goes, and evolve this initiative and our support as necessary. In addition, given the tremendous need, Airbnb urges fellow members of the global business community to join efforts to provide immediate support to Afghan refugees.

As tens of thousands of Afghan refugees resettle around the world, where they stay will be the first chapter in their new lives. For these 20,000 refugees, my hope is that the Airbnb community will provide them with not only a safe place to rest and start over, but also a warm welcome home. Brian Chesky, Airbnb CEO and co-founder

Todays announcement builds on efforts that have already begun in support of Afghan refugees at Airbnb and Airbnb.org. Last week, Airbnb.org gave emergency funding and support to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), HIAS and Church World Service to provide immediate temporary stays via the Airbnb platform for up to 1,000 arriving Afghan refugees. Over this past weekend, Airbnb.org worked with partners to place 165 refugees in safe housing shortly after touching down in the US.

As the IRC helps to welcome and resettle Afghans in the U.S., accessible housing is urgently needed and essential. We are grateful to our partners at Airbnb.org and Airbnb for once again offering their support and infrastructure to meet this moment, providing safe and welcoming places for individuals and families as they arrive in the United States and begin rebuilding their lives. David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee

Over the past four years, Airbnb.org and Airbnb have connected approximately 25,000 refugees  including hundreds participating in the US Special Immigrant Visa Program  to temporary housing. Earlier this year, Airbnb.org announced the creation of the $25 million Refugee Fund, to further expand Airbnb.orgs support of refugees and asylum seekers worldwide.

We know that Airbnb Hosts and guests around the world will be eager to stand up and assist this massive effort  and in the coming days, Airbnb and Airbnb.org plan to share details on how Hosts and the broader community can support this initiative. In the meantime, learn more about Airbnb.orgs work to open homes in times of crisis at airbnb.org/join.
Its been just over a month, and China has once again squelched Covid-19, bringing its local cases down to zero.

It was more difficult this time, even though the leaders of the worlds most populous nation used the same playbook they followed to quell more than 30 previous flare-ups. The arrival of the more infectious delta variant has raised the stakes, as the pathogen refines its ability to escape curbs and flout vaccination. Its unclear how long the victory will last.

The China model shows what it takes to get Covid under control, and raises questions about whether other nations would be willing - or able - to follow the same draconian steps.

Heres what happened between July 20, when news emerged of a cluster of infections among airport cleaning staff in the eastern city of Nanjing, and August 23, when China returned to Covid Zero.

Repeated mass testing of entire cities

China took testing to an unprecedented level during this go-round. Local authorities checked their populations repeatedly, a dozen times in one city alone, to ensure every last infection was caught. In all, more than 100 million tests were administered. In the city of Yangzhou, some people were infected while waiting in line to get swabbed.

Quarantines also played a larger role. The Chinese capital of Beijing at one point was sealed off from other places with even a single case. It also cut off trains and flights from hotspots around the country, even though the city ultimately posted fewer than 10 infections in the delta flareup.

Other regions introduced sweeping curbs, from barring entry for people from high-risk areas to asking them to cut short vacations. Most had to remain isolated at home - a rule that was strictly enforced - before returning to work and school. More than 200 neighborhoods were labeled high- or medium-risk, triggering sweeping curbs that disrupted lives and businesses.

A Peak and a Plunge

First there was one asymptomatic infection at the airport in Nanjing. The next day, there were more than a dozen. By the end of that week in July, daily infections had climbed to nearly 50, suggesting exponential spread across more than 1,000 kilometers. In less than three weeks, daily cases ballooned to more than 100, scattered across half of the nation. Then it ended, almost as quickly as it began. The number of infections dropped to single digits the next week amid tightening curbs, then zero. More testing will show if it has been vanquished.

The blazing spread of the delta variant across the country became the biggest test of Chinas Covid control model. Ultimately it penetrated nearly 50 cities across 17 provinces and reintroduced the virus to Wuhan, which had been Covid-free for over a year.

Still, China eliminated the virus in about a month, roughly the same time it took to quell previous outbreaks including one at the start of 2021 that totalled some 2,000 cases. In comparison, cities in Australia have undergone repeated lockdowns, keeping more than half of the countrys 26 million people confined to their homes, without gaining control of the virus. In the U.S., which has never succeeded in containment, relying instead of vaccination, booster shots are slated to roll out next month to shore up protection against its delta resurgence.

China has thus far kept all its infected patients alive. In the viral hotspot of Jiangsu province, critical cases at one point rose to as many as 18, raising fear that the country could see its first Covid fatalities in more than six months. Yet many have since shown signs of disease moderation and recovery.

Economic Setback

The containment-at-all-costs approach is weighing on the worlds second largest economy. Consumption and manufacturing slowed in July, with further weakness expected for August when infections peaked and measures to control them intensified. Investment banks from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to Nomura Holdings Inc. cut their growth projections.

Covid Zero vs Co-Existence

More infectious variants and their rampant spread are making the global eradication of Covid-19 less likely. That realization is driving decisions in countries from Australia to Singapore to learn to live with the virus after they previously sought to eliminate it.

Still, China has proven its ability to keep the pathogen at bay, and it has vowed to continue, regardless of the effort or expense. Health minister Ma Xiaowei told the state news agency Xinhua on August 16 that authorities planned even stricter measures intended to spot incursions of the virus from abroad more quickly.

The health minister also reiterated that Covid containment provides a more stable environment for economic development and investment.

With the delta variant swirling globally, making herd immunity an impossibility, China is finding itself isolated in its zero tolerance approach. The threats from outside will continue. Some new cases over the past few days were reported in places like Shanghai, rather than in the most recent outbreaks hotspots.

Its clear China can stamp out the virus. The question remains how long it can hold out against the rest of the world.
The federal government gave health care companies a chance to save taxpayer money by partially privatizing Medicare. They blew it.

Taxpayer-funded Medicare provides socialized health care to 61 million older and disabled Americans. Private insurers will try to entice as many as possible into Medicare Advantage, alternative plans they promise will provide more benefits while costing taxpayers less. Critics say they do neither.

Congress and President Bill Clinton created the Medicare+Choice (Part C) option in 1997 to reduce the federal budget. Private insurance companies said they could better manage Medicare patients than could government employees.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: Medical debt becoming a pandemic

The argument fits into the private-sector-is-good, big-government-is-bad philosophy of the era. President Ronald Reagan had convinced Americans that MBAs could generate enormous profits and make the world a better place by protecting the public from bureaucracy.

The pitch deck makes a compelling case for what is now called Medicare Advantage. With access to tons of medical data, private insurers could create narrow networks of interconnected doctors and hospitals to offer high-quality care while reducing waste and abuse.

If youre a senior enrolling in Medicare, Advantage plans cap out-of-pocket expenses and may include dental and vision coverage. Many offer gym memberships, and some offer rebates on the Medicare Part B premium that all must charge.

This year, about 42 percent of people eligible for Medicare chose an Advantage program, about 26 million Americans. Unfortunately, Medicare Advantage is not suitable for everyone.

The program has lower premiums, but consumers still have out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles. The more you use Medicare Advantage, the less likely you will save money compared to Original Medicare with a Medigap plan, a supplemental policy that offsets costs.

If you have many medical needs and a decent retirement income, Advantage will likely cost you more than the original. If you dont figure this out during the first year, you may not be eligible for Medigap if you switch back, which means higher costs.

Some people in Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans complain they cannot access doctors or specialists as quickly as they could with private insurance or Original Medicare. This is how Medicare Advantage is supposed to save money, by making sure you only see who the insurer thinks you really need to see.

Medicare Advantage almost always offers more benefits to healthy seniors, but it fails to save taxpayer money, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commissions report to Congress.

The Commission estimates that Medicare currently spends 4 percent more per capita for beneficiaries enrolled in MA (Medicare Advantage) than it spends for similar enrollees in traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare, the commission found.

The private sector is charging the government more per patient than it would have cost if the government had done the job itself. Thats what happens when for-profit corporations try to provide essential services the government can offer at cost.

Insurers offering Medicare Advantage, unsurprisingly, are interested in profits as much as they are patients. They aggressively market their plans in parts of the country where payment formulas give them the best chance to make more money. The programs stay away from places where needs are highest and profits low, particularly rural areas.

Medicare could change the formulas, so taxpayers at least dont lose money. But we all know what happens when regulators try to change the rules. Big health insurers have an army of lobbyists to make sure no one touches their profits.

Medicare Advantages other problem is fraud. The governments per capita payments are determined by the health of the individuals enrolled in the program. The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services found that insurers are exaggerating their enrollees so-called health risk assessment to collect higher per-capita payments.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: America's health care system flails again

This review identified 3.5 million beneficiaries with diagnoses reported only on HRAs (health risk assessments) yet with no other encounter records for visits, procedures, tests or supplies that contained the diagnosis reported on the HRA, investigators found. These exaggerated health problems reap Medicare Advantage programs billions of dollars in undeserved income every year, the report warned.

Congress passed a law in 2019 ordering Medicare to crack down on exaggerated diagnoses. But Medicare has yet to implement the proposed rules because the health care industry objects to them. Political pressure has tied the bureaucrats hands, costing us all more in taxes.

The U.S. health care industry keeps rejecting tighter regulations while promising it will lower costs. They are failing and leaving us with one of the most expensive and inefficient systems in the world. Worse yet, the private sector is intent on keeping it that way.

Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and policy.

twitter.com/cltomlinson

chris.tomlinson@chron.com
M/I Homes has assembled a pipeline of lots that will enable the company to nearly double the number of homes it builds in the Houston market in the next 18 months. The lots will position the Columbus, Ohio-based builder to build 1,100 to 1,200 houses a year locally, up from 632 in 2020.

With the expansion, M/I Homes controls about 4,500 lots in the Houston market, up from 2,200 a year ago, according to Jay McManus, its Houston division president. The company sells homes in the $200,000 to $450,000 range.

Home sales in 2021 will be slightly below last year's pace, but not for lack of demand, McManus said.

"We would have sold many more this year if we didnt exhaust our lot supply," he said. The company slowed its pace of deliveries as it ran out of buildable lots, he said.

RELATED: New home market 'hitting on all cylinders'

After homebuyer demand ramped up in May 2020 in the early phase of the pandemic, M/I's sales rose 50 percent last year, up from 422 sales in 2019. The company builds in nine Houston area communities, including Pinewood at Grand Texas in Spendora and Magnolia Ridge in Magnolia north of Houston.

M/I Homes will begin building in six new communities where it has secured nearly 1,800 lots. It's looking at another 1,000 lots in two Montgomery County communities.

In Cypress, it plans to build on 523 lots in Marvida, an 856-acre community near Fry Road and West Road. Sales will begin in late 2021, and it is to begin building in Lago Mar in Texas City next year after securing 166 lots.

In nearby La Marque, the company is developing Ambrose, an 82-acre community off Delaney Road planned for 290 homes. Home sales are expected to begin in early 2022.

M/I has secured 367 lots in Summerview, a 175-acre community in Fulshear, where it will begin building homes in 2022, and it controls 201 lots in Millers Pond, a 185-acre development in Richmond.

The homebuilder is developing the Sorella community in partnership with Johnson Development Services. It will have 424 lots in the community, which is slated to open in 2023.
As the highly contagious delta variant surges across the world, the health and safety protocols established for cruise ships are being put to the test. Over two weeks in late July and early August, 27 coronavirus infections were identified aboard the Carnival Vista cruise ship sailing out of Galveston, Texas.

One of those infected, a passenger, later died.

It was the highest number of cases aboard a ship reported since June, when cruises restarted in the Caribbean and United States, and the first death.

The passenger and 26 crew members were immediately isolated after testing positive for the virus. Contact tracing and further testing was conducted, with no new cases reported by Aug. 11, when the ship arrived at the port of Belize City on the northeastern coast of Central America, Carnival said.

Though the ship sailed out of Texas, which bans businesses from requiring vaccinations, more than 96% of passengers were vaccinated and all but one crew member was fully vaccinated, according to the Belize tourism board.

Most infected crew members were either asymptomatic or experienced mild symptoms of the virus, but Marilyn Tackett, a 77-year-old passenger from Oklahoma, was admitted to the hospital in Belize and put on a ventilator after experiencing respiratory complications. Days later, she was evacuated to a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she received treatment, but on Aug. 14 her condition worsened, and she died, according to a statement issued by her family on a crowdfunding page set up to help pay for her care.

Tacketts family declined to comment on the incident.

We are very sorry to hear about the death of a guest who sailed on Carnival Vista, Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement. The cruise line said that it was highly unlikely Tackett contracted the coronavirus aboard the ship, which left Galveston on July 31, and that she had received expert medical care onboard before being evacuated.

The cruise line did not test vaccinated passengers before they embarked for the cruise.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new advisory, warning people with increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 to avoid travel on cruise ships, irrespective of their vaccination status.

Carnival is not the only cruise line to have seen an uptick in cases. Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean had six guests test positive onboard its Adventure of the Seas ship.

The companies have responded to the recent increase in cases by introducing pre-departure testing requirements for all passengers. Carnival also added a mask mandate on Aug. 7 for all vaccinated and unvaccinated guests in indoor areas and banned smoking in the casino.

The protocols are designed to flex up and adapt, said Chris Chiames, the chief communications officer for Carnival Cruise Line, in a telephone interview. Thats what theyve done here in the context of their desire to mitigate and minimize the threat of COVID, which is everywhere, unfortunately, and its going to remain everywhere for a long time.

We never suggested our ships would be COVID free, he continued. But we designed our protocols to meet and exceed the guidelines of the CDC and we will continue to be vigilant while continuing to focus on giving our guests a great vacation.

Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean, said the cruise line was typically seeing one or two positive cases out of more than 1,000 guests a week per ship. More than 90% of passengers are vaccinated, he said, and because of preboarding testing requirements two to 10 guests are prevented from boarding ships each week because they test positive.

But, Bayley said in a candid Facebook post addressing the current coronavirus situation, Testing captures status at a point of time and if the guest is incubating infection, then the test will miss it. The vaccinated guests who test positive typically are asymptomatic, he said in the post.

Some cruise lines say passengers have canceled amid concerns about the risks of the delta variant, but many sailings are fully booked through the rest of year because of pent-up demand.

Many cruise enthusiasts with upcoming trips believe that cruise ships are one of the safest ways to travel during the pandemic because of the high percentage of vaccinated passengers and crew, added testing requirements and stringent health and safety measures enforced on board.

Its very comforting boarding a cruise ship knowing that most people are vaccinated and everyone is tested, said Aidan Alexander, 62, an avid cruiser from Florida who has eight sailings booked through 2022. When you get on a plane or stay in a hotel you dont know anyones vaccination or COVID status and that makes it very difficult to relax and unwind.

John Ioannidis, an epidemiology professor at Stanford University, disputes that notion. In an airport, on a plane or in a hotel, he said, you only get exposed for a few hours, whereas on a cruise ship you could get exposed for many days and weeks. Its a kind of cumulative exposure.

But he said the health and safety protocols implemented by cruise companies will likely avert the major disasters and deaths that were seen in the initial stages of the pandemic last year.

I think that its fair to say that its likely that the outbreaks will not be left to grow to the same extent as they did in the outbreaks in the first wave of the pandemic, he said.

Christina Perez, 56, a passenger who was on board the Carnival Vista when the virus cases were identified earlier this month, said the cruise line dealt with the situation well and she felt safe throughout her trip.

It was still an amazing vacation. The crew took great care of us and kept us informed and managed to contain the situation very quickly, Perez said in a telephone interview.

I think its getting risker to travel now with the new variants, even on cruises, but at least if there is an outbreak on a cruise ship there is a plan and you know youll be taken care of, she said.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Lillian Callahans medical roller coaster began when she had a seizure at school at the age of 9.

Her parents, Mike and Erin Callahan, rushed her to the emergency room in their hometown of Atlanta, Ga.

A CT scan revealed a lesion in the right side of her brain. After more testing, an MRI and two biopsies, the Callahans learned Lillian had a tumor  one that surgeons said was inoperable, due to its size and location. Still, the Callahans moved forward with treatment, a combination of proton radiation and oral chemotherapy.

We were past the point where radiation would continue to shrink the tumor, Mike explained.

In addition, there was a new problem. Dead tissue cells in her brain were causing a buildup of pressure. Lillian now had severe headaches and was prescribed steroids, but the side effects included weight gain, hair loss and light sensitivity.

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She was so miserable, Erin said.

Lillian turned 10. Again, her parents pushed for surgery, hoping to remove what was left of tumor and the dead tissue.

The neurologist said it wasnt possible, Mike recalled.

Too risky, they said.

The Callahans were told an operation could result in a stroke or paralysis, but they could not bear to watch their daughter suffer with no solution in sight.

You have that feeling of hopelessness, Mike said. You just want to make it better. In a millisecond, you would switch positions with her if you could.

One day, Erin opened Facebook, scrolling through a brain tumor support group.

A post highlighted a story similar to her own  a mother wrote about Atlanta doctors refusing to operate on her daughters brain tumor, and how she found Dr. David Sandberg in Houston.

She posted pictures, Mike recalled. And she said, I went to Houston and it changed my childs life.

Annie Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Contributor

Finding a way

Dr. Sandberg  professor and chief of the division of pediatric neurosurgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth and director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Institute  has a reputation for saying yes when other surgeons say no.

When Erin Callahan found his email online, she sent him a message immediately.

I wasnt expecting to get a reply, especially not within 10 minutes, she said.

But soon the Callahans journeyed to Houston, where Dr. Sandberg was able to remove a larger portion of Lillians tumor, as well as the dead tissue.

As a result, Lillian, now 11, no longer has headaches and is off steroids. She is about to start middle school and is receiving an experimental vaccine therapy in Buffalo, NY.

Her last two MRIs showed no new tumor growth and even a possible reduction in size.

We wouldnt have been able to do that if Dr. Sandberg had not done the operation, Mike said. She would be in a much different place right now.

And Lillian is just one of many patients who have sought out Sandberg when other doctors could not offer solutions.

On Jan 24, the day before his fifth birthday, Jakota Reeder fell off a bunk bed. He told his mother Tori that his head hurt.

She assumed he had a concussion and took him to an emergency room near his home in Sweeny, Texas where a CT scan revealed an arachnoid cyst.

Doctors told her not to worry and that it would not rupture.

They pretty much blew it off, saying he was fine, Tori recalled.

But Jakotas headaches never stopped. One morning in March, he awoke screaming and vomiting. The cyst ruptured and his head was filling with blood.

Jakota was moved to Childrens Memorial Hermann Hospital on a Life Flight, where Dr. Sandberg and his surgical team were on standby. Within minutes of arriving, Jakota was wheeled into surgery.

If I hadnt brought him in on Friday, he wouldnt be with me that coming Monday, Tori recalled.

On RenewHouston.com: How a Houston bodybuilder overcame a traumatic brain injury to compete in the sport he loves

After three days at the hospital, the Reeders took Jakota home. Now, all he has is a scar on his scalp as a reminder of the life-saving operation.

Hes back to normal now, Tori said. Hes back to being my little boy. Hes a totally different kid.

Tori learned from Sandberg that the cyst should have been operated on when it was first discovered. She felt like finally, with Sandberg, Jakota was in the right hands.

Somebody was finally doing something, she said. I knew my son was going to be okay.

Torri added, I can truly say Dr. Sandberg saved my sons life. I will recommend him to anyone.

Annie Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Contributor

Simply doing his job

As far as Sandberg is concerned, he is simply doing his job, one that he loves.

A patient comes to you with a finite problem, and you can help them, he said.

He approaches each case with care.

Ive got kids, and I know how much patients love their kids, he said. We want to offer them hope.

Sandberg did not initially imagine a career as a pediatric neurosurgeon. But he grew up admiring his father, Joel Sandberg, an ophthalmologist in Florida. In high school, the two went on medical mission trips. Thats when Sandberg realized the potential of medicine to help others.

My mind was opened, he said.

He earned his bachelors degree in history at Harvard University.

Growing up in south Florida, I was astonished when winter arrived, he recalled. And I couldnt believe people were sleeping in the streets in Boston in the winter.

He volunteered at a student-run homeless shelter at Harvard. Then he became the director of a program to help people find jobs and eventually headed the shelter.

It was the best thing I did in college, Sandberg said.

While the experience inspired him to consider a career in public health, his path eventually led him to become a neurosurgeon.

I realized I loved being in an operating room, said Sandberg, who earned his M.D. at Johns Hopkins University.

For his postgraduate training, he headed to Weill Medical College of Cornell University, first as a surgical intern at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, then as a resident in neurosurgery.

He then became a visiting fellow in pediatric neurosurgery at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and a fellow at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

He held faculty positions at the University of Miamis Miller School of Medicine for eight years before moving to Houston in 2012.

Sandberg currently holds appointments at Memorial Herrmann, M.D. Anderson and the Womans Hospital of Texas.

He remains devoted to service, making numerous trips abroad to Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Uganda and Haiti. He works with both the Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery (FIENS) and Project Medishare.

He also regularly volunteers with his children in downtown Houston with Food not Bombs.

Annie Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Contributor

Searching for new answers

Sandberg continues to search for answers - for even the most challenging cases.

Since 2004, he has been diving into research for ways to treat tumors in the hard-to-reach brain stem, or fourth ventricle of the brain.

Sandberg explained that chemotherapy administered by vein or pill can be hard to get into the brain because of the blood brain barrier, a network of fine blood vessels that protects the brain from foreign substances.

The brain is very good at protecting itself, Sandberg said. Thats great if you have an infection. Its bad, however, if you are trying to administer a drug to solve a problem.

For chemotherapy to work in the brain, he explained, high doses are required to surpass the blood brain barrier.

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The chemo wreaks havoc on other organs, Sandberg said. Ive seen so many kids harmed by chemo. I see patients that die of the treatment, not the disease, and its heartbreaking.

Even when brain tumors are surgically removed, often a small bit remains on the brain stem.

We often can remove 99 percent of the tumor but not 100 percent, Sandberg said. Im often in a situation where Im staring at that tiny bit of tumor that I can see under a microscope. I kept thinking, why not blast it with some medication?

He was positive there had to be a better way.

I had this idea, he said. We could give medicine locally at the site of the tumor. We can achieve very high drug levels at the site of disease without exposing the body unnecessarily.

Sandbergs chief concerns were medulloblastoma, one of the most common malignancies in children, and ependymoma, fast-growing cancer tumors that often recur. Both are common in the fourth ventricle of the brain.

Nobody before had infused drugs into that specific space, Sandberg said.

He started animal trials while still living in Miami; in 2013, he began the first human clinical trials in Houston, partnering with MD Anderson, UTHealth and Memorial Hermann for the research.

Sandberg worked with the chemo drug methotrexate and children with recurrent malignant brain tumors.

We had remarkable success, he said. We definitely extended the life of kids. And Ive been doing clinical trials ever since.

He is currently enrolling patients for two different trials - one for medulloblastoma and one for ependymoma.

The success rate for other treatments of ependymoma are low, Sandberg added.

Its a typical story of trials that have failed, he said.

He hopes that finding the right medication is key.

For now, were doing a small pilot, he said. Were hoping to hit a home run.

Providing hope to families is Sandbergs main driver.

He cares deeply about the children he treats, explained his co-worker Dr. Manish Shah, pediatric neurosurgeon at Childrens Memorial Hermann Hospital and UTHealth.

We succeed because of him, said Shah, who was recruited by Sandberg. Hes like my big brother. Hes a great role model, a great dad and husband. He does it all.

Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer.
Fifteen months ago, Solidad Odunuga received a phone call from the Houston Health Department.

Odunugas daughter, who had been living on and off the streets, had given birth to a baby boy named Emmanuel before leaving the hospital with no contact information or forwarding address.

Emmanuel was born with congenital syphilis, an infection passed to him during pregnancy from his mother. Odunuga suspects her daughter didnt know she had syphilis.

Once she found out, and I found out, there was no more education from that point, Odunuga said. Even from the hospital when she was leaving. No pamphlets, nothing to take with her. She had a social worker who was going to give her information, but somehow that fell through the cracks. They just let her go.

Texas law requires pregnant women to be tested for syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B at their first prenatal visit, and again in the third trimester. When a mother or newborn is diagnosed with syphilis, their recovery depends on post-treatment surveillance for up to 15 months afterward, according to a Harris County study conducted by the Society for Fetal-Maternal Medicine.

Syphilis is curable, and if it is caught early enough and treated with penicillin during pregnancy, the baby can be cured with no problems, said Dr. Irene Stafford, a maternal-fetal specialist and associate professor at UTHealths McGovern Medical School.

But many like Odunugas daughter do not attend regular prenatal visits. Without information, education and outreach, infected people are often untreated and unaware of the longterm consequences of their infection, Stafford added.

In late July, Odunugas daughter gave birth to a second child with congenital syphilis. Again, she was not given options, information or guidance before she left the hospital on foot, Odunuga said.

That was about a month ago. Now Odunuga, 48, has quit her job to care for her two grandchildren, each suffering the longterm effects of syphilis. One doctor told her Emmanuel would never walk; another said he would be developmentally delayed.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Teens find allies in Houston unicorn doctors who give them control over their health

There were a lot of developmental issues from the beginning with feeding and eating, and were still dealing with all those same things as of today, Odunuga said. He has about seven or eight different illnesses that have stemmed from all this.

Though treatable, syphilis still a problem

Emmanuel is considered one of the lucky ones because he survived delivery. More babies are born with congenital syphilis in the Houston area than any other part of the state.

Infected fetuses often die in utero, or the baby dies soon after birth, said Lupita Thornton, a public health investigation manager for the bureau of HIV/STD and viral hepatitis at the Houston Health Department. If they do survive delivery, their symptoms can mirror diaper rash or a cold, but on the inside their organs and bones are damaged.

In April, the department reported a marked increase in fetal deaths linked to congenital syphilis during the pandemic, up from four in 2019 to 14 in 2020  an increase of 250 percent. Since 2019, all fetal deaths linked to syphilis in Harris County were among either Black or Latino fetuses, according to the department. That year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,870 cases of congenital syphilis across the U.S.

Stafford works with Odunuga and others in the heartwrenching position of caring for young children born with syphilis. Forty percent of congenital syphilis cases end in stillbirth or death after delivery, Stafford said. What makes her upset is these deaths are 100 percent preventable.

Its a sea of lost people, including (Odunugas) daughter, who dont get follow-up treatments and intervention, she said.

Young ladies and women are lost, and they dont know where to go, Stafford said. Whether they know theyre pregnant or theyre late to care, they have no idea how to get plugged in. They dont know how to get tested. Its a community problem  a systemic issue for outreach and education for young people.

Syphilis symptoms are hard to decipher because the infection can go dormant in adults after an initial breakout or rash, Thornton said. If left untreated, the infection can cause body rashes, sores and alopecia in the first and second stages. Later, it can cause severe, irreversible damage to the heart and brain, she added.

On HoustonChronicle.com: 14 years later, has the HPV vaccine made a difference in Texas?

A lot of people may think Maybe I just changed my detergent, and Im allergic to it, Thornton said. If its a penile lesion, men will think its a zipper cut. Women maybe cant see the actual primary lesion because its in the cervix or inside the mouth. It doesnt hurt, so youre not aware of it.

Syphilis has risen in women and heterosexual couples, she added. When that happens, there is often a correlation in babies born with the infections.

We dont know what happens with the children in the long-run  maybe attention deficit disorder or learning disabilities, but we dont know. We need more surveillance and studies for that, Thornton said.

A prenatal promise

The rise in Houston-area cases prompted the health department to create an outreach team, providing women of child-bearing age with information on HIV/AIDS and syphilis. The two infections often rise simultaneously in Houston, she said.

The team started My Prenatal Promise  at MyPrenatalPromise.com  a campaign that urges pregnant women, especially women of color, to be tested for syphilis at least three times.

When a patient tests positive for syphilis during pregnancy, the health department is alerted and attempts to schedule follow-up talks with the patients primary doctor  if they have one  to make sure a treatment plan is underway.

On HoustonChronicle.com: How to keep your sexual health in check during the pandemic

If the person is child-bearing age and tests positive, the team checks in with them periodically to make sure they are being treated in case they become pregnant after diagnosis.

The newly-formed team has also worked to treat spouses, so theres a lower risk of reinfection, Thornton said. Prior to delivery, neonatal physicians and nurses are informed about the possibility for congenital syphilis so medications are on-hand as soon as the baby is delivered.

A burden on women of color

In Katy, Odunugas day starts at 5 a.m. when her grandson, Emmanuel, wakes up.

Two hours later, she drops him off at Joycare Pediatric Day Health Center for physical and speech therapy sessions until mid-afternoon. When they get home, she feeds him and entertains him him until his 7 p.m. bedtime.

But then theres the night rotation of waking up when he cries. Emmanuel has asthma and allergies, and has suffered from seizures on a routine basis.

The days never seem to end, Odunuga said, especially now that she and her oldest daughter are caring for the newborn, as well.

My daughter is helping me watch the babies. I cant do two of them, she said.

Congenital syphilis is disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic patients, said Stafford, a maternal-fetal specialist. If the patient is low-income or experiencing homelessness, its difficult to track and trace their points-of-contact even if they are diagnosed early. Its even harder to bring them back in for timely treatment, she said.

Join the conversation with HouWeAre: A newsletter on race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities

Funding for STI tracking and tracing has been affected by COVID-19, as well. At some health departments, contact tracers have been diverted to handle the pandemics spread.

Fundamentally, we need to consider that STIs will never really go away. Not paying attention to them is only going to make them worse, she said. At this point, if were having a baby pass away more than once a month from something preventable, we have an obligation as a city to make this a known public problem.

On HoustonChronicle.com: This dating expert says COVID-19 is death knell for hookup culture.

Stafford hopes for more community outreach by local health departments, hospitals, public and private health care providers and social media platforms. People need to know where to go for testing and how to find well-timed treatment, she said.

People think its been eradicated because people dont know, Stafford said. With every patient I see at almost every visit, I want them to be tested for STIs  its not about stigma or embarrassment.

I know youre having sex, this isnt your fault. Lets get on top of it and get you tested.

julie.garcia@chron.com

Twitter.com/reporterjulie

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SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. (AP)  A southern Arizona police officer who resigned after a probe found he behaved and talked inappropriately around women has given up his law enforcement certification.

The Sierra Vista Herald/Review reported Monday that Travis Mattern, a former officer with the Tombstone Marshal's Office, voluntarily relinquished the certification.

The certification is akin to a professional license.

The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board had begun an investigation into whether Mattern should be stripped of it.

The newspaper obtained a six-page report from an internal investigation that showed Mattern had a pattern of disturbing behavior toward women.

Mattern resigned in February after a woman filed a complaint, accusing him of loitering at the bar where she worked and following her home. He sent her a sexually explicit text a month earlier.

The report states Mattern told another woman he liked cutting women and putting salt or lemon juice in their wounds."

He also told Tombstone Marshal Jim Adams that he once had sex on top of his patrol car. Adams also said a female Arizona Rangers captain informed him Mattern once asked her questions that were very sexual in nature.

Attempts to reach Mattern through a listed number went unanswered Monday morning.
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP)  A northeastern Iowa driver was seriously hurt and her 15-year-old sister killed when their car was hit by a train at a rural crossing east of Waterloo, the Black Hawk County Sheriffs Office reported.

The crash happened Saturday along Canfield road when a car driven by Emma Michels, 18, of Maynard, entered the train crossing at the same time as the train, officials said. Michels and her 15-year-old sister Kate Michels, who was in the passenger seat, were taken to a Waterloo hospital, and Kate was later flown to an Iowa City hospital. where she died Sunday of her injuries.
AUGUSTA, Kan. (AP)  A man wounded in a police shooting near Wichita has been booked into jail on probation violations.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in a news release that 49-year-old Barrye Lightner, of Augusta, was taken Sunday night from Wesley Medical Center to the Sedgwick County jail.
A longtime housing advocate and attorney has been appointed a senior advisor to Maine Gov. Janet Mills to help meet the demand for affordable housing in the state.

Greg Payne will take the position starting Sept. 7, the Portland Press Herald reported Monday. Payne, 52, worked at a nonprofit affordable housing developer based in Portland and led the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition for almost 15 years.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Physician Jason Martin on Monday announced that he's running as a Democrat for governor in 2022, arguing that incumbent Republican Gov. Bill Lee's handling of the coronavirus pandemic prompted him to jump in the race.

As a critical care physician, I took an oath to do no harm, Martin, 46, said in an a statement. Right now, there are too many politicians out there like Gov. Lee doing more harm than good for the people of Tennessee, and Im running to change that.

Martin has been a vocal critic of Lee over the past year as the state has navigated the ongoing surges of the coronavirus throughout Tennessee.

As Lee resisted calls to implement a statewide mask mandate last year, Martin was among the various medical experts who pleaded with the governor to reconsider. The doctor often pointed to the COVID-19 patients he regularly treated to express just how extreme the pandemic has affected the state's hospitals and health care system.

Instead, Lee left the decision up to county leaders to decide whether or not to implement mask mandates. This led to a hodgepodge of mask rules across the state before many were lifted as the COVID-19 vaccine became widely available, and Lee eliminated most counties' ability to issue broad mask mandates in public places.

Most recently, Lee sparked criticism from Democratic leaders and health officials when he signed an executive order last week letting parents opt their children out of coronavirus-related mask mandates in K-12 schools.

My experience as a doctor in cities and rural communities has made it abundantly clear to me that Tennessees health care system is incompetent, our economy isnt supporting people to afford their families needs, and Gov. Bill Lee is failing our students, said Martin, who is running as a first-time political candidate.

Lee won the gubernatorial seat in 2018 against Democratic candidate and former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. Lee has said he's running for reelection and currently only faces one other GOP candidate  Curtis Carney, owner of the Nashville-based Off The Wagon Tours.

Republicans have held the Tennessee gubernatorial seat since 2012. Republicans also control both Tennessee U.S. Senate seats, the majority of the congressional districts and have a supermajority in both chambers of the General Assembly.

Other Democratic candidates vying for the Democratic nomination include Carnita Atwater, a New Chicago community leader in Memphis, and Casey Nicholson, an ordained minister from Greenville.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Democrat Terry McAuliffe urged all Virginia employers on Monday to require the COVID-19 vaccine for their workers who are eligible, sharpening a policy debate in the closely watched governor's race over how best to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

McAuliffe's call followed a decision by federal regulators to give full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine and marked an escalation of his advocacy for obligatory vaccines as a condition of employment. The former governor now seeking a second term has previously urged Virginia health systems and school divisions to issue mandates, and required his own campaign staff to be fully vaccinated.

I have long said that the best way to defeat this deadly virus, keep our students in school and keep Virginias economy strong is by getting every eligible Virginian vaccinated as quickly as possible, McAuliffe said in a statement.

McAuliffe is facing Republican Glenn Youngkin, a former business executive and political newcomer, in the November general election. Youngkin, who is vaccinated, has consistently urged Virginians to get the shot but has said he opposes vaccine or mask mandates.

At a campaign event last week in southwest Virginia, the former co-CEO of the Carlyle Group was asked about his approach to managing the pandemic, at a time when the contagious delta variant is driving up new cases and hospitalizations.

First of all, we pray its behind us every day, Youngkin responded. My expectation is, this virus is tough. And so first thing that I would ask everybody to do is get the vaccine."

He said in a statement Monday that McAuliffe's announcement was an attempt to bully Virginians and businesses into compliance and a step that will clearly evolve into closing down businesses and locking down Virginia again.

Both candidates' have become increasingly focused on the pandemic this month, each launching recent ads dealing with the subject.

In one ad released last week, Youngkin spoke on camera, saying that data clearly show that COVID-19 vaccines save lives.

Its your right to make your own choice, and I respect that. I do hope youll choose to join me in getting the vaccine, he said in the ad.

A McAuliffe ad, meanwhile, went after Youngkin for supportive comments he made about the leadership of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a state that has recently accounted for about one in five COVID patients hospitalized nationwide.

Bob Holsworth, a longtime analyst of Virginia politics, said McAuliffes announcement Monday draws a bright line between the Democrat and Youngkin that will become a distinguishing feature of the campaign moving forward.

Virginia will become a test case of the politics of employer mandates, he said.

Recent polling conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found majorities support certain measures intended to slow the spread of the virus, including school mask mandates and vaccine mandates for certain workers and activities.

The Food and Drug Administration's full approval of the vaccine came Monday after more than 200 million Pfizer doses already have been administered in the U.S.  and hundreds of millions more worldwide  since emergency use began in December. The FDA has never before had so much evidence to judge a shots safety.

The Pentagon immediately announced it would require members of the military to get vaccinated as the U.S., and the FDA's action was expected to open the door to other new mandates.

Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, who is term-limited, announced earlier this month that state workers will have to be vaccinated or face regular testing for COVID-19 starting Sept. 1.

Virginia recorded about 345 new cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks, ranking 33rd in the country for new cases per capita, according to an AP analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University. One in every 524 people in the commonwealth tested positive in the past week.

About 56.3% of the population is fully vaccinated, according to that data.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  The West Virginia University Health System, the state's largest private employer, announced Monday that it will require all employees to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by Oct. 31 as COVID-19 cases continue to grow exponentially statewide.

The mandate applies to workers at all of the WVU Health System's hospitals and clinics in West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and staff working remotely at home or onsite. The health system includes 20 hospitals and five health institutes and has more than 1,000 medical staff and 15,000 employees.

The move came after the West Virginia Hospital Association announced its support for hospital and health system employee vaccination requirements. And earlier Monday, the U.S. gave full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine.

Were doing this because it is the right thing to do," Albert L. Wright Jr., president and CEO of the WVU Health System, said in a statement.

Wright said the health system has "a higher obligation to our patients as well as to each other. I want WVU Medicine hospitals and clinics to be as safe as possible for our patients and staff. A fully vaccinated workforce will help ensure that safety.

More than 60% of the health system's workforce has been vaccinated for the virus, the statement said. Statewide, about 58% of residents age 12 and up are fully vaccinated.

Wright said the number of unvaccinated staff missing work due to COVID-19 is increasing and is starting to have a material impact on our patient care mission.

The number of active virus cases statewide has nearly doubled in the past 10 days to 10,543, its highest since Feb. 15. There were 3,951 new positive cases reported in the past week alone  numbers not seen since late January. The number of people in hospital intensive care units from the virus has doubled to 143 this month, according to state health data.

There have been 470 total confirmed cases of the more contagious delta variant of the virus in 46 counties, a fourfold increase this month.

___

Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
Jay R. Jordan / Jay Jordan, Staff

One person died and another was sent to a hospital following a Stafford-area shooting, according to Houston police.

Officers responded to the shooting, which occurred in the 11200 block of Mulholland Drive, according to a tweet from police before 4 a.m.
A COVID-19 testing provider at Rice University produced multiple false positive test results last week, which prompted the universitys recent decision to revert to remote learning for the first two weeks of the fall semester, according to officials.

Kevin E. Kirby, who serves as chair of Rices crisis management advisory committee, said in a letter to university staff Sunday that the testing provider had changed its protocols resulting in significant differences in how test results are decided. After finding some unusual patterns in the testing data, Rice officials, who were unaware of this change, asked the provider to revert to its previous testing strategy.

Kirby did not give the testing providers name.

The university retested around 50 people who originally tested positive  twice on different days, and by two different providers. All but one persons results came back negative.

The university began ramping up testing on Aug. 13  days before move-in and its orientation week  due to a surge of the coronavirus and its delta variant in the Houston community. Initial results showed 81 people had tested positive out of around 4,500 people tested over nine days, resulting in a 2 percent positivity rate. Though that rate is lower than that of the surrounding community, Kirby said it was a cause for concern because it was much higher than the 0.24 percent positivity rate that Rice had for the last academic school year, during which the university ran 150,000 tests.

This unusual campus positivity rate prompted us to take quick action and assume a more cautionary posture until we could determine whether there was a significant risk of widespread infection, Kirby said.

Rice announced Aug. 19 that it would shift its first two weeks of the fall semester online and implemented a host of temporary restrictions, including a ban on dining in groups indoors and drinking alcohol on campus, and a delayed move-in. The university also said it would grant refunds or waive fees for those who no longer wanted to live on-campus.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Rice moves first 2 weeks of fall semester classes online

An examination of the testing data, however, showed some inconsistencies. A majority of the positive tests results were produced by one provider. More than 90 percent of those reported infections were from community members who were fully vaccinated and 75 percent of those tests were from people who reported no symptoms. Additionally, most of the people shown as positive were from different populations, with only one possible cluster indicated.

These testing data anomalies were part of the reason we decided to take most of our classes online for the first two weeks, until Sept. 3, as a precautionary measure, Kirby said.

After retesting, however results showed the the positivity rate at Rice for those nine days was 0.6 percent  not the 2 percent originally reported.

Kirby noted that despite there being fewer infections than originally reported, Rice will remain online for its first two weeks of the semesterMany students and faculty had made plans based on this scheduling change. The university will also use this time to assess whether it needs to implement any other strategies, but the plan is still to return to in-person classroom instruction fully in two weeks, he said.

Kirby said some other adjustments will be made in the coming weeks. For example, students who were once asked to delay their arrival on campus can now move in. Weekly testing requirements will continue.

The university has also relaunched a testing statistics dashboard on its COVID-19 website, which show stats since Aug. 13 as well as data from August 2020 through May 2021.

Of the 4,834 people tested since Aug. 13, 26 have tested positive, according to the dashboard.

brittany.britto@chron.com
Carnival Cruise Line announced this week that all passengers over age 12 without medical exemptions must be vaccinated to board ships departing from Atlantic or Gulf home ports, a move to strengthen safety protocols after the death of an elderly passenger who sailed on a Carnival cruise ship that left Galveston.

The change, effective Aug. 28, comes in the wake of the death of 77-year-old Marilyn Tackett, a Carnival Vista passenger hospitalized for COVID-19 in Belize who died on Aug. 14 in a Tulsa, Okla., hospital, the New York Times first reported.

Carnival confirmed the death on Tuesday, though the cruise line said Tackett was already symptomatic and did not disclose that fact when she boarded on July 31 for a week-long cruise, an explanation accepted by the Galveston County health authority.

Regrettably, there is a fair amount of disinformation about the circumstances of this matter. The guest almost certainly did not contract COVID on our ship, and she was assisted with expert medical care on board, Carnival said in a written statement Tuesday. We have continued to provide support to her family and are not going to add to their sadness by commenting further.

Tackett's death is the latest development in an early August outbreak aboard the Vista that also affected 26 crew members. Carnival initially characterized the outbreak as a small number of cases.

But shortly before the Vista returned to Belize City on Aug. 11 for a subsequent cruise, the company disclosed to the Central American country's officials that it had identified 27 cases onboard, including the 26 crew members and one additional passenger, according to a news release from the Belize tourism board.

The crew members involved had broken protocol on a shore leave, Carnival told the Galveston County health authority.

Carnival reported 99.8 percent of the 1,492 crew members and 96.5 percent of the nearly 3,000 passengers onboard were vaccinated, including everyone who had tested positive, Belize officials said.

Most of those who tested positive were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, the release stated. That wasnt the case for Tackett, who was taken onshore when the Vista docked at Belize City on Aug. 4 and put on a ventilator before being airlifted on Aug. 7 to an intensive care unit in Tulsa, according to a crowdfunding page set up by her family.

Tackett's death marked the first reported COVID-19 death associated with cruising since several major cruise ship outbreaks early in the pandemic prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to shut down the industry until earlier this year.

The CDC has given cruise operators two options to resume cruising: perform simulated voyages to prove safety onboard, or ensure at least 95 percent of crew and passengers are vaccinated. Galvestons two year-round cruise operators, Carnival and Royal Caribbean International, have pursued different paths.

Carnival has opted to require vaccines for nearly all passengers and resumed weekly voyages aboard the Vista on July 3, marking the return of cruises to Galveston. Although Texas law prohibits businesses from demanding proof of vaccination, a narrow exemption allows companies to comply with public health orders from agencies like the CDC.

But Carnival is navigating uncharted territory as the delta variant spawns breakthrough cases among the vaccinated and as local, national, and foreign authorities issue conflicting rules.

The cruise line tightened its vaccine policies, effective through October, after the Bahamas announced that cruise ships docking at the Caribbean island nations ports starting Sept. 3 must be able to prove all passengers over age 12 are vaccinated, except those with a documented medical exemption.

Other regular Caribbean destinations have imposed similar requirements, the cruise line said in a Sunday release. Carnival in early August rolled out an indoor mask rule and on Aug. 14 announced vaccinated passengers must provide a negative COVID-19 test upon boarding. The company cited government regulations as the motivation for its new vaccine requirement.

Not all officials, however, are interested in further regulation. Florida, home to the countrys busiest cruise ports, sued the CDC in April to overturn the agencys sailing restrictions, which conflicts with a state law banning vaccine requirements. A federal court in June granted a temporary injunction against the sailing order, resulting in a months-long standoff with cruise companies there.

RELATED: Galveston's vaccinated cruises sidestep Florida-style standoff over vaccine passport ban

In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has also spoken out against vaccine passports as part of a push to end government-mandated public health measures. The states request to join Floridas lawsuit was granted in early August.

The CDCs outdated and unlawful regulation harms the State of Texas, its economy, and its citizens, said a petition to join filed by Attorney General Ken Paxton in May.

Cruise companies have fought back with lawsuits, arguing that state bans on vaccine requirements have been the real obstacle to restarting the industry. Norwegian Cruise Line, which had refused to resume sailing from Florida and sued the state, in early August won a temporary injunction allowing the company to go ahead with fully vaccinated cruises.

Pent-up demand has kept cruises booked despite the pandemic surge. Houston-based travel agent Shayla Northcutt isn't deterred by the Vista outbreak. She left Galveston on a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico in early August and has another cruise, to Greece, booked for September.

Her agency took a hit early in the pandemic, but said business has rebounded as more travelers seek assistance navigating health and safety protocols. She counsels her clients to get tested before they depart cruises out of Galveston or elsewhere.

Are there some concerns? Absolutely, she said. It's hard to say, Stop living.

Some cruise lines have changed their advertising to emphasize safety measures rather than frolicking freely onboard, said Houston-based travel agent Don DePasquale.

Still, the recent Carnival outbreak has prompted travelers to have second thoughts and some to cancel outright. People start to think, Maybe we shouldn't do this right now, he said.

Insurance packages that cover medical expenses in international waters are increasingly popular, DePasquale said, but the price is steep, with plans starting around $250 per passenger. Carnival requires teens and adults without shots to obtain such travel insurance, as does Royal Caribbean.

Despite the regulatory turmoil, Carnivals new vaccine requirement may give its coming Galveston cruises a better outlook amid the delta-driven pandemic surge, which has severely strained area hospitals.

DEEP DIVE: Inside a Galveston ICU, young patients desperately cling to life

Cruise operators must have the consent of Galveston Countys public health agency, which so far has deemed cruises safe enough to sail if one to two passenger cases and five to six crew member cases are found without further spread, said Dr. Philip Keiser, the countys local health authority.

I prefer Carnivals approach in all honesty, and Carnivals been pretty good, Keiser said in a Aug. 12 interview. If they have lots of cases, we potentially can pull out of the agreement, in which case the CDC will not allow them to sail.

The July 31 cruise is an aberrant situation thus far, andthe precautions right now seem to be working, Keiser added Tuesday. Carnivals negative COVID test requirement was prudent, he said.

One of the holes was, What about people that may not be forthcoming about symptoms or exposures? But by doing this, theyll hopefully plug that up, he said.

Julian Gill and Nora Mishanec contributed to this report.

charlie.zong@chron.com
Within hours of the daylight shooting outside a Galleria-area restaurant, relatives of Dyrian Riculfy flocked to Houston to be with him.

The livery businessman  a member of the New Orleans-based fraternal group Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club  was shot in the head minutes after 5 p.m. Saturday, along with his friend Everett Briscoe, a New Orleans police detective, who died shortly afterward. Riculfys niece, Nicole Williams, made it to Ben Taub Hospital by 3:30 a.m. Sunday and waited to see him.

We definitely need a miracle, Williams said Tuesday afternoon.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Off-duty New Orleans police officer killed in Galleria-area restaurant shooting

The niece earlier stood alongside law enforcement at an emotional news conference where officials announced a cash reward of $100,000 to find the shooters. She remained silent then  except to correct public officials who mistakenly said her uncle had died.

Riculfy, a father of six and owner of a New Orleans livery company, remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Houston authorities said they hope the increased reward entices potential tipsters to reveal who wounded Riculfy and killed the Briscoe. The increased reward comes as authorities escorted the body of Briscoe  a 13-year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department  back to Louisiana. Billionaire Tilman Fertitta, whose restaurant is where Briscoe and Riculfy were shot, has pledged $60,000  more than half of the reward fund.

I hope after today thousands of (tips) come in and all we need is one good one, police Chief Troy Finner said at the news conference.

More Information The following people and organizations have contributed the following amount to a reward for information: Crime Stoppers of Houston: $5,000 Mayor Sylvester Turner: $5,000 Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans: $20,000 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives: $10,000 Tilman Firtitta: $60,000 See More Collapse

Crime Stoppers of Houston initially offered a $5,000 reward. On Tuesday, Mayor Sylvester Turner said he provided $5,000 of his money to the fund, while Crime Stoppers of Greater New Orleans provided another $20,000 to help find the suspects. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives provided $10,000.

Briscoe and Riculfy, who went by DJ, were among several members of the New Orleans-based fraternal group Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club who stopped by Grotto Ristorante at 4715 Westheimer to smoke cigars and drink cocktails. Two men confronted the group on the patio and at least one man opened fire during what police believe was an attempted robbery.

It was not known if the gunmen escaped with any stolen goods.

I just felt like it was a robbery that went bad, Williams said. They probably got scared and just ran.

Police on Saturday released surveillance footage of the possible gunmen  two men who fled in a silver or gray Altima with paper plates. Investigators continued on Tuesday to canvass nearby businesses for more surveillance footage of the suspects.

I find it so upsetting that a policeman visiting our city for a vacation weekend met such a violent death, Feritta said.

Fertitta said he believes the men, once caught, will turn out to be repeat offenders in the criminal justice system.

Robbers dont do it once and then retire, he continued.

The businessman, also the Houston Police Foundation chairman, cited statistics that several thousand felony cases are pending and that the backlog is contributing to a rise in crime. As of late July, nearly 54,000 felony and more than 43,830 misdemeanor cases on the court docket were pending, county data shows. The mounting cases has led to a backlog in the courts.

Fertitta said he would also contribute an extra million dollars to the police department to use for future rewards.

The mayor said, based on his conversations with other city leaders, that Houston is not alone is the rise in violent crime. He referenced that several others were killed in Houston over the weekend in homicides. While overtime for extra police patrols would be approved, Turner said, he urged county officials to do more to fix the courts backlog.

We have to have trials. People out on felony bonds awaiting trials, those cases must push forward, Turner said. The responsibility can not just fall on HPD. It cannot.

Samantha Ketterer contributed to this report.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
Harris Countys criminal courts backlog has decreased by 1,580 cases this month with the help of a $3.5 million pilot program where prosecutors are paid overtime to triage cases, District Attorney Kim Ogg said.

While some defense attorneys have criticized the program, pointing to exhaustive efforts that only slightly move the needle, Ogg on Tuesday told Harris County Commissioners Court that her plans are working and necessary. The backlog is at a crisis point, with almost 98,000 cases on misdemeanor and felony court dockets as of late July and thousands of cases being filed per month, according to the most recent county data available.

This phase in our strategic backlog reduction plan is critical to restoring order in our streets by reducing the case backlog choking the local court system, Ogg said.

Ogg also told the commissioners she will eventually ask for more prosecutors - a familiar refrain which defense attorneys have repeatedly panned and the county has previously rejected.

Some of those defense lawyers said Tuesday that money for the triage program - coming from rollover dollars in the DAs offices budget - would be better spent elsewhere when prosecutors should be able to make the same discretionary decisions in court or at the start of the case filing process.

When youre talking about six prosecutors needed to get rid of class B misdemeanors  it reminds you of the joke, How many Aggies does it take to screw in a lightbulb? said Murray Newman, a defense attorney and vocal critic of the district attorney.

Ogg in June announced the plan for the DAs office to review again more than 30,000 misdemeanors and state jail felonies, clearing the way for other prosecutors to focus more attentively on harder, serious cases. The goal was initially to start with nonviolent cases that typically dont involve a victim, Ogg said. To date, her office has spent $69,000 of the allotted $3.5 million on the program, according to her office.

Since June 14, the new triage section has again reviewed 10,437 criminal cases and disposed of 6,608 of them, meaning the defendants were convicted, diverted through community programs or dismissed, Ogg said.

Through the program, 4,629 plea offers have been sent to the Harris County Public Defenders Office and private defense attorneys. Of those, about 800 were accepted, 216 are in progress and most of the others received no response, Ogg said.

Joe Vinas, president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, said defense attorneys learn of plea offers through automated emails, some of which end up in spam folders. Those messages direct them to an online system where they can view the plea, creating a series of hoops to jump through that can be time consuming and easily missed, he said.

This administration has made it very difficult on us to get the things done that it used to be very easy to do, Vinas said.

DAs office representatives discounted the attorneys criticisms and said the point of the triage program is to not waste resources down the line.

With triage we are assigning priorities and allocating precious resources as we seek ways to get appropriate resolutions to every case -- we believe in not wasting precious court time with low level non-violent cases when there are rapes, robberies and murders that need attention, they said in a statement. Many defense attorneys are incredibly responsive to our plea offers, but others are not.

In total, the triage program has taken 891.8 hours of work, the district attorney said. About 4,600 new cases were filed between Aug. 3 and Aug. 20, and the backlog has decreased by 1,580 in that time, Ogg said.

Ogg spoke to commissioners court members as she awaited their vote on a request to extend funding for 22 intake positions. That initiative started later than intended, causing the need for an extension, Judge Lina Hidalgo said.
Fort Bend ISDs Pecan Grove Elementary School is moving to online learning for a week due to the spread of COVID-19.

Confirmed case data suggests a significant impact to the schools ability to adequately staff the campus and has caused an operational disruption that prevents the district from continuing to provide in-person instruction, according to a letter administrators sent to parents last night.

The school will be virtual Tuesday through Friday. The instructional day will start at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and school will take place during normal hours for the rest of the week.

The district tentatively is planning for students to return to the campus Monday.

The duration of this transition is contingent upon campus staffing and several other internal and external environmental factors that are being monitored daily, reads the email to parents. It is our intention to return to face-to-face instruction for students once we can do so.

According to the districts online COVID dashboard, there currently are 33 self-reported positive cases in the elementary school. Of the active cases, 31 are students. The school has 741 students and 87 staff.

There are 791 total active cases in the entire district. Of those cases, 682 are students.

Last school year, the district reported 1,641 cases through the end of July.

The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees voted 4-3 to mandate masks at its Monday night meeting. However, the mandate does not take effect immediately.

The mandate takes effect once administration develops protocols on how the requirement will be implemented, particularly when it comes to outdoor use, student activities such as band and choir, and for children with special needs, reads an announcement from administrators. As the issue of mask mandates works its way through the legal system, Fort Bend ISD remains committed to taking all prudent actions to lessen the spread of COVID-19 and provide safe learning and work environments for all its stakeholders.

Fort Bend ISD Acting Superintendent Diana Sayavedra said in a prepared statement that the updated protocols will help keep the school community safe.

We are aware that some families may feel anxious about the mask mandate, but we hope that we can all unite in the spirit of cooperation and support of our students and staff, she said.

hannah.dellinger@chron.com
We ask our fellow Texans preoccupied with the surging delta variant to make room in their worries for another menacing foe we can neither see nor hear: the phantom of voter fraud.

Its not that the myth of voter fraud is an actual threat to Texans like COVID-19, which is sickening and killing people. Its that Republican leaders in the Legislature are once again elevating it to the top of their agenda, using the specter of cheating at the polls to push through voting restrictions that are neither needed nor particularly helpful in addressing the problems they claim exist.

It doesnt matter that this legislation is a terrible distraction from serious issues facing our state  say a faulty power grid that still isnt fixed. What matters is that so-called election integrity bills are good politics for Republicans. They have spent years trying persuade their voters, even before Donald Trump joined in, that our elections are under attack and that the only defense is to limit the voting access of people they dont want to vote: namely, Democrats, which, in Texas, means many people of color, including those of lower income.

For a while, Republicans effort to pass voting legislation was on hold because outnumbered Democrats in July hightailed it to Washington D.C. to block the quorum the Texas House needed to pass it. The Democrats in D.C. pleaded for federal omnibus legislation to protect voting rights in every state and found the same intractable obstacles that have so far doomed efforts to expand voting and strike down restrictive state policies. Even the much-narrower John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is expected to ultimately fail in the U.S. Senate.

Yet, the Democrats quorum breaks in the last few months have yielded some results: The May walkout prevented two awful, 11th-hour additions to the state bill from becoming law. One was a ban on Sunday morning voting that seemed so clearly aimed at Black folks who vote in groups after church that Republicans later tried to claim the provision was added due to an unfortunate error. The second would have given judges a lower bar with which to overturn elections.

But last week, enough Democrats returned to Texas to allow Republicans to continue their cynical quest.

Theres no question that Republicans will pass their elections bill or that Gov. Greg Abbott will sign it with glee at a ceremony in which he will frame it as a win for democracy or that Republicans will tout it among their chief accomplishments in TV ads and campaign door-hangers.

The only question is whether the elections bill will be awful, less awful or something most Texans can live with. We vote, if we must, for the latter.

Senate Bill 1, the bill the Houses Constitutional Rights and Remedies Committee heard all day Monday, is nearly identical to the one Democrats broke quorum to defeat in the first special session.

In a dream world  a wondrous, sadly fictional version of Texas in which members of both parties worked together to increase voter participation in this low-turnout state and battled only to win voters over, not to obstruct them  this legislation wouldnt exist.

Its perpetually worth noting, as this editorial board has done several times, that in 15 years of looking, the Texas Attorney Generals Office has prosecuted 155 people for voter fraud out of more than 94 million votes cast. Few were infractions serious enough to warrant jail time.

Some House Republicans have in the past week talked a good game of addressing widespread concerns about the bill. Theres plenty of reason to be skeptical, but for a moment, lets take them at their word.

Theres a path forward in which Republicans get to tell the stop the steal segment of their base that they protected election integrity, and the most harmful elements of the bill are taken out.

Jeff Miller, a policy specialist at Disability Rights Texas, told the committee Monday that some components of the legislation could have a chilling effect on Texans with disabilities, particularly increased requirements for personal assistants and a crackdown on curbside voting. Its encouraging that Senate bill author Bryan Hughes said he would work with disability rights advocates to make adjustments. Its essential that happens.

Meanwhile, the bans of drive-through and of 24-hour voting are misguided and obvious attempts to shut down successful methods of voting access that helped Harris County, a very large Democratic stronghold, achieve record turnout in November. But the current COVID-19 surge across Texas reminds us that those alternative voting methods werent just welcome conveniences, they were potentially life-saving accommodations that we may find ourselves needing again if this pandemic, or another, presents another risk.

Counties that have the will and the resources to provide safe and secure voting methods should have the latitude to do so. Texas, unlike many states, requires an excuse to vote by mail, and is now proposing adding more steps to that process, so it only makes sense to keep other options open.

Republican Rep. Andrew Murr of Junction, who authored the House bill in the first special session, said Monday the committee hadnt researched whether the changes could or would have any disparate racial impacts in the state. It was the same admission a previous bill author made on the House floor in the regular session. Youd think, if theyre going to keep claiming their bills dont discriminate, theyd have done some research by now to back up that claim  especially given the states long and shameful history of voter suppression.

Another highly concerning provision in the bill: a requirement that a partisan poll watcher causing a disturbance or even harassing a voter cant be thrown out until he gets one warning, which essentially sets up a get-out-of-jail-free card for people whose motives have nothing to do with democracy and everything to do with intimidation. Lawmakers should heed calls for training requirements for poll watchers.

SB1 also makes it a criminal offense to obstruct a poll watchers view and gives them the power to sue election officials who challenge their judgment.

In the end, theres not much lawmakers can do with this bill to make it something Texas needs. Its still politically motivated legislation based on a lie. But given the political reality that the bill will pass, Republicans who still count fairness among their virtues should do what they can to take out the worst parts and make it something most Texans can live with.

Dont worry, guys, you can still claim you saved democracy in your TV ads.
Regarding HISD superintendent: Im sending my kids to school. Its the safest place for them to learn, (Aug. 20): I had to do a double take when I saw the headline you assigned to the essay by HISDs Millard House II: School is the safest place for your kids. Really? Our states share of the population that has received at least one shot is barely over 50 percent, positivity rates and the number of children coming down with COVID are skyrocketing and our governor is doing his best to tie all districts hands by banning mask mandates, the best defense available so long as children cannot be vaccinated. Only recently did the TEA decide to require notification of an exposure to COVID. So no, our children are not safe in the classroom.

David Kelly, Spring

School leaders, the pressures of strained hospital systems, personal freedoms, anxious families and a battle-weary public seem to have fallen to rest on your shoulders.

I appreciate the tremendous weight this places on each of you, because of the responsibilities placed on my own family during this pandemic. My spouse is on the front lines treating COVID patients, and we have walked through daunting trials and uncertainties. Although we never volunteered for this position, my family is stronger, more resilient and more caring because of what we have endured.

Every infectious disease expert, epidemiologist and major medical organization agrees that schools should require masking for all adults and students. Masks are the most effective way for us to protect our children who cant be vaccinated, and to prevent staffing shortages due to COVID-19 illness and quarantine. I am struck by the amazing opportunity we have to embody the values of responsibility, kindness and citizenship in our current struggle. We have the chance to model them for our children in making this change.

I recognize this decision wont be easy. It will take strong leadership and additional logistics, and will elicit criticism from those who disagree. My family has endured these same challenges with the responsibilities we were given, but I now look back and consider it a blessing to have been able to serve and care for those around us. I hope that each of you will do the same  our prayers will be with you.

Sarah Abrego, Houston

I strongly support HISDs decision to reassign certified teachers from central office (and elsewhere) to provide direct services to children where teaching vacancies exist. I realize there are many staff who will resist your decision, but it shows refreshing courage to put instruction and students first. For too long, certified teachers have sought advanced degrees and additional certifications in order to leave the front lines of the educational battlefield as quickly as possible. I encourage you and your top staff to search out departments and assignments that are staffed by certified teachers who receive top salaries and district prestige but provide no direct services to children. The issue of long-term subs and dedicated subs needs close scrutiny. HISD administrators can multitask just like classroom teachers. COVID and student/staff health issues must come first, but instruction and direct delivery of services to children by qualified staff must also be a top priority.

I am praying that God will give Superintendent House both courage and clarity. It is past time that certain positions be eliminated and streamlining of administrative duties commences. Please consider rewarding the best and brightest teachers for remaining in the classroom rather than giving financial and prestige-enhancing incentives to leave the neighborhood schools. The next time one of the administrative staff or district experts starts criticizing teachers, please ask: Now refresh me again. How much time did you provide direct services to children this week? That should help everyone remember what really matters  students and instruction.

Robert Robbins, Houston

Lessons from the first week of school

Regarding 'Nice but firm': Texas school districts grapple with how to enforce mask mandates, (Aug. 18): Ive written as a citizen of Texas who has tried hard for many months not to judge any political faction. But today I write as a grandmother who has learned that her grandchilds school, after one week, has had little ones exposed to COVID. I had hoped the school would follow reason and, at minimum, have everyone wear masks again, as they did last year. How quickly was the fact forgotten that last years mask mandate was one of the helping forces to not have to close the school. But then along came Gov. Abbot who, as far as we know, has no degrees in medicine, let alone pediatrics. It is maddening to think that one man can control the health and very lives of our children, teachers and staff. Allow the schools to lead.

C. Rita Portales, Bryan

My Colorado grandkids are in a school district that has a mask mandate this year, much like they had last year when they completed their year successfully, without major COVID interruptions. They are in first and fourth grade and masking up is part of their school experience. They understand that masking is their responsibility to their friends and that it is a very small inconvenience in the effort to keep each other safe. They are building an understanding of responsibility and community. Im proud of them and wish that more adults would follow their lead. If we arent in this together, we will lose. Kindergartners understand that. Why cant the rest of us?

Carol Godell, Spring
The major record labels now pull down $2.5 million an hour

While many artists continue to struggle financially in the new streaming economy, many major labels appear to be doing just fine, bringing in more than $20 billion in global revenue over the past year.

Guest post by Bobby Owsinski of Music 3.0

Youll still find a large contingent of artists complaining about how little they make from streaming but its not hurting the major labels any. A study done MBW Review and Instrumental crunched the numbers to find that the majors are now raking in $2.5 million per hour, and are on pace to generate more than $20 billion in worldwide revenue this year!

In the first half of the year, this is an improvement of over 40% over last year, which is an amazing increase for what was thought to be a mature product. This includes all sales, streaming royalties and publishing, but its still a huge number given the expectations of the industry. No wonder major label execs are smiling.

In case you dont know, the major labels include Warner Music, Sony Music and Universal Music Group. The study did not include revenue generated from Merlin, the independent label association that many are now calling the 4th major label.

Of the three, Sony Music Publishing is the largest publisher by a long shot, raking in $838 million in the first half of the year. UMG posted revenue was $683 million, followed by Warner Music at $381 million.

What does this mean? We can look at the above and come to the following conclusions:

The music business is currently in a good place. It wasnt that long ago that many industry pundits couldnt even imagine how streaming would ever get to 100 million subscribers and revenue numbers that would approach the best the industry has ever done. Weve blown past 100 million and revenue is now coming from sources that no one ever dreamed of or could exploit before.

It wasnt that long ago that many industry pundits couldnt even imagine how streaming would ever get to 100 million subscribers and revenue numbers that would approach the best the industry has ever done. Weve blown past 100 million and revenue is now coming from sources that no one ever dreamed of or could exploit before. It pays to be a middleman. As always, getting a little piece (or in this case, a big piece) of the action as a middleman has been the secret to success in many businesses, and the major labels are no exception. While they can still boast an incredible infrastructure that can take an artist from star to superstar, its also possible for an artist to do so much more to boost their career in the beginning that can put them in a better position later when its time to sign with a major.

As always, getting a little piece (or in this case, a big piece) of the action as a middleman has been the secret to success in many businesses, and the major labels are no exception. While they can still boast an incredible infrastructure that can take an artist from star to superstar, its also possible for an artist to do so much more to boost their career in the beginning that can put them in a better position later when its time to sign with a major. Artists always have to push for a better deal. While a brand new artist wont be able to do this unless theres a bidding war, any artist thats already generated a fair amount of business without a major label should push for the best deal they can get. The labels are making a lot of money  its time for you to be raking in your fair share too.

The music industry is in the best place its been for about 20 years. By all indications, the good times should continue to roll for some time.

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Edward Carmel is making a bid for the Ward 6 seat on the City Council. He's concerned about crime, drugs and homelessness, and says he wants to be accessible to constituents.

Carmel Focuses on Bettering Community in Ward 6 Bid

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Edward Carmel says he wants to address issues within Ward 6, such as crime and violence, while being an accessible presence to constituents.

"I have suggestions that will maybe bring us together closer as residents and counselors," the former Homelessness Prevention Committee chairman said. "I am not a 'yes' man, I will work with the mayor, and I will work with the district attorney if it comes to that, but I will not answer 'yes' when it comes to council decisions on every decision."

This is the third time that Carmel will be running for a seat on the City Council. Four years ago, he ran at-large and, two years ago, he ran for Ward 6 but didn't make it past the preliminary election.

Carmel feels strongly about supporting the Pittsfield Police in its battle against gun violence, drugs, and general crime in the city. He opposes cuts made in the fiscal 2022 budget totaling $205,000 from the contractual allowances and patrol officers' line items.

"I don't make promises, but I will make a promise, and I will come through with it, that is not going to be an easy thing to do, but I will promise the residents of Ward 6 and the rest of the city that every time something comes up about the police, I will be in favor of it," he said.

Carmel said he knows from experience that there is "no such thing as a safe neighborhood in Pittsfield" and wants to see councilors of all wards collaborating on the issue. He also wants to sit down with other local authorities and create a strategic plan.

"No ward, no street, no anything in Pittsfield is safe," he said. "They're dealing drugs on Mountainview Drive on the other side of Pittsfield, and they're dealing drugs on this side off of West Street up in the mountains, it's one side to the other and in between, so don't come to me and say that you feel safe in your neighborhood because one day something might happen. I'm not saying it will, I hope it doesn't, I pray to God. It may, so to prevent this, I want to see my council doing something."

A resident of Columbus Avenue, Carmel said residents are afraid and "don't want to leave their houses." He is especially fearful for women, children, and any innocent bystanders.

"But if you get somebody like myself to go down there every month, which I will make my list every month to visit each house again and again and again, I promise you, they will actually come down hopefully a little," Carmel added.

"I just want to see the residents be happy, they're almost not self-sufficient anymore in this ward, some of them not all of them, but some of them because of the terror that it's coming to this ward and again, I reiterate all around the city, it just happens to be over here more than it is in other places."

He will potentially be running against Guiel Lampiasi once more, as she has taken out papers for re-election but has not yet returned them. Carmel has several issues with Lampiasi's leadership, claiming that she is only present in the community for photo opportunities. He also disagrees with her vote in support of defunding the police budget early this month.

Carmel has a long history in Pittsfield, moving to the city from Hinsdale as a teenager and returning after three years of service in the Army as a diesel mechanic. He first became involved in local politics in 2000 and, in 2016, he successfully petitioned the City Council to restart the long-dormant homelessness committee.

A longtime advocate for unhoused individuals, he served as chairman of the former homelessness committee and is a member of the Homelessness Advisory Committee.

He will facing off in the November election against Dina Guiel Lampiasi, who won the Ward 6 seat in 2019 and is running for re-election.

"I figured I would put my hat in there and try to get elected and hopefully this time around, people will listen to me when I tell them that I can change this by myself, but I need help, obviously, I need my constituents to call in, to write in, to do anything to push stuff through," Carmel said.

"I will work with any constituents in my ward that wants to talk to me, all you have to do is call."
North Adams Council, Committee Respond to OML Complaints

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The City Council and two of its committees are answering Open Meeting Law complaints filed in June.

The complaints filed on June 30 were brought by council candidate Jennifer Barbeau.

Barbeau accused the Community Development Committee for not filing minutes and documents for three meetings; the General Government Committee for not announcing the meeting was being recorded and "prohibiting" her from recording it; and city councilors for failing to file Open Meeting Law and conflict of interest certificates.

All three panels held special meetings last week to answer the complaints. The chairs had not been made aware of them until the 14 business days to respond were nearly over.

Council Vice President Lisa Blackmer at Thursday's special meeting of the City Council on Aug. 19, said she had been forwarded that complaint at 10:25 a.m. on Aug. 16, almost immediately after the resignation of then President Jason LaForest.

As of Thursday, all but two councilors had signed their annual certificates; one was to do so on Friday and the other as soon as they were available. All were to be completed by the meeting of Sept. 4.

Councilor Benjamin Lamb said he was "surprised" that the complaint called on certain councilors by name when the full council was in violation.

"The only councilor to actually comply with this Open Meeting Law, specifically signed document was Councilor LaForest previous to his departure," he said. "But not every councilor was indicated on the document. It was very specific names that were identified, not the full council."

The complaint named Lamb as well as Councilors Peter Oleskiewicz, Bryan Sapienza, Jessica Sweeney, Keith Bona, Lisa Blackmer and Wayne Wilkinson. It did not name LaForest or Marie T. Harpin.

The complaint against Community Development was that it had not filed minutes and supportive documentation for the Dec 16, 2020, and the May 5 and June 9 meetings. The committee met Tuesday, Aug. 17, after learning about the complaint the Friday before.

Lamb, the chairman, said the Dec. 16 minutes and documents were submitted to the city clerk on Feb. 4, 2021. According to ordinance, changed in 2017, minutes are to submitted to the clerk within two weeks of a meeting.

"The delay in these materials being submitted was caused by myself, having two deaths in the family and a death of a family pet, as well as a concussion that I experienced in January, which impeded my ability to spend time on my computer for several weeks," he said.

The May 5 meeting was not held because it was posted improperly so was rescheduled to June 9. Those minutes were submitted by email to the clerk on June 12.

The June 20 meeting was held via Zoom and recorded as all remote meetings have been. These minutes and documents were filed on Aug. 10.

"So, all of the materials have been submitted and all but the July 20, 2021, meetings had been submitted prior to this complaint being submitted," Lamb said.

Barbeau also referred to audio of the meeting being posted without documentation. Lamb said the audio was posted to the city website to ensure people who missed the meeting could at least hear it until the video was loaded by Northern Berkshire Community Television. The station had run into some difficulties in getting videos online, he said.

The council approved a rule in March to have Zoom meetings of committee forwarded to NBCTV for public posting online.

Sapienza, a new member of the committee, said it sounded like some of the issues had been technical in getting things posted. Plus, he said, the new city clerk and assistant have been "overwhelmed with work" in learning their positions.

Lamb said it has also been a challenge in getting the old minutes ported over to the new website.

A member of the General Government committee could not attend Thursday's meeting so it will meet again on Tuesday to respond. The complaint had been that Barbeau was not given the opportunity to record a meeting because she could not inform the chair she would be recording.

Correction: the General Government meeting was not held over Zoom. This has been corrected.
Director of Community Development Deanna Ruffer goes over potential priorities at Monday's hearing on the use of ARPA funds. Monday's meeting was the largest to date with about 50 people attending at Morningside Community School. PreviousNext

Housing, Homelessness Assistance Top Priorities for ARPA Funds



Mayor Linda Tyer addresses the gathering at the third of four planned public hearings for setting priorities for ARPA funds. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Residents want to see Pittsfield's $32.4 million allocation in American Rescue Plan Act funds used to help the more vulnerable populations secure  and keep  housing.

Monday's conversation on the ARPA spending was largely centered around the need for affordable housing and aiding those who are experiencing homelessness.

At the third and most well-attended hearing, around 50 community members gathered at Morningside Community School to identify areas in the housing and neighborhood sector that are in need of the monies.

In a cell phone survey, they voted "developing affordable housing" and "funding services to address homelessness and improve access to stable affordable housing" as the top priorities.

Similarly, "providing services to support healthy living environments conducive to mental and physical health" was chosen as the top priority in another query, and rent and mortgage assistance was voted as the most urgent form of aid.

The U.S. Treasury Department has broadened the eligible ARPA funds for the Morningside, West Side, and downtown areas within the city because as census tracts, they were identified as being disproportionately affected by the COVD-19 pandemic.

When asked how the Morningside and West Side were impacted by the last year and a half in two words, the group said income was affected the most.

They also used submitted phrases such as "lack of resources" and "increased poverty."

Resident Kamaar Taliaferro suggested that when investing in the qualifying census tracts, the city remembers the history of these areas is "intimately intertwined with race."

He also said these qualifying census tracts highlight the fact that those who lack resources are impacted by events such as the pandemic harder and that wealth development strategies should be spearheaded with housing.

This earned a round of applause from the other attendees.

"When we consider investment in the West [Side], consider investments in the Morningside, I think we should recognize that when we talk about qualified census tracts we're saying those who lack wealth are harder impacted by any vagary, any vicissitude of fortune, any change in circumstance first," Taliaferro said.

"And we should prioritize wealth development strategies through housing, that's tried and true."

An attendee who disclosed that he has been going through "hard things in his life" suggested giving money directly to people who need help.

Others spoke on the city's homeless population and how they are not receiving the resources they need, even suggesting that they are treated as lower-class citizens.

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Act was passed by Congress and signed into law in March with the goal of stabilizing local government operations, households, small businesses, and other sectors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pittsfield is receiving $32.4 million that is being allocated in two parts. The first deposit of $16.2 million happened about a month ago and the second will happen next year at this time.

Obligations for the spending must be made by the end of 2024 and the funds must be spent by 2026.

The city is also receiving a county allocation of $8.4 million in two phases. The funds are being distributed to communities on a per-capita basis because Berkshire County no longer has a county administrative structure.

Several other categories of use for the funds were identified in the meeting including a daytime center for homeless individuals, increasing homeownership, a community center, and investing in renewable energy.

Real estate agent Billy Keane said increasing homeownership is integral to helping residents build individual wealth.

"The development of affordable housing is an important and crucial aspect for the community but it doesn't develop individual wealth building, which is so crucial in this economy, and our community in general," he said.

"Encourage homeownership, I know it sounds biased because I'm a real estate broker, but I promise you, it's integral to the development of your own individual wealth, so hopefully the city can incorporate that into its educational programs."

Ward 6 City Council candidate Edward Carmel advocated for separating the income brackets for low and middle come housing to serve more residents.

"I make $12,000 a year, and you can't help me because I make $12,000 a year, but there are other people that make 13 and 14 and they can get help, because of their income and this net," he said.

"I want to see a split between low and middle, I want to see a split because we have housing going on right now, no one sitting in this room can afford those apartments."

In the hearing, disparities in rental assistance services for non-English speaking residents were also addressed. Reportedly, those speaking languages not used to translate city documents didn't know of their rights such as not being evicted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Director of Community Development Deanna Ruffer said the city is doing its best to translate all city resources into a wide array of languages.

The last hearing will be held at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts on Wednesday, Aug. 25, at 11 a.m.
DESE Commissioner Jeffrey Riley explains the change in COVID-19 data that lead to his request to institute a mask mandate to the Board of Education on Tuesday.

DESE Board of Education Approves Universal Mask Mandate

BOSTON  Public school students will have to mask up this fall.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Tuesday morning found that "exigent circumstances" existed and authorized the implementation of a face-covering mandate.

DESE Commissioner Jeffrey Riley had requested the determination in the face of rising rates of new COVID-19 cases.

The Education Department had proffered guidelines that "strongly encouraged" unvaccinated staff and students to mask indoors in July, prior to the emergence of the much more transmissable Delta variant.

"We know that a return this fall to full-time, in person instruction is crucial," he said. "And after the challenges of last year, it will be incredibly important for this year to get off on a strong start."

In the Berkshires, Berkshire Hills, Central Berkshire, North Adams, Mount Greylock and Pittsfield have already instituted mask mandates; McCann Technical, which only serves Grade 9-12, opted to follow the July 30 state guideline allowing vaccinated individuals not to mask.

The mandate would be in place until at least Oct. 1 before being reassessed. It would allow for certain exemptions. If by Oct. 1, 80 percent or more of all students and staff in a school are vaccinated, then the mask mandate could be lifted. This would apply only to vaccinated individuals; the unvaccinated would still have to wear masks. There is no vaccination dosage yet for children under age 12.

"This does not mean that vaccinations will be the sole determinant for unmasking but if vaccinations were to increase among those eligible, especially now that the FDA has fully approved the Pfizer vaccine, that would be great," the commissioner said.

The meeting lasted less than a half-hour and only a few members spoke.

"Obviously circumstances may change in the coming weeks, which may allow us to take a different course as the commissioner said, but for now the safest and simplest path forward is to mask up in schools as we all work to meet or exceed the 80 percent vaccination benchmark," said Secretary of Education James Peyser.

Member Martin West noted that public venues for adults are not putting in such restrictive measures and that schools should be last places to do so.

However, the board has no control outside of the schools and it came down to whether "exigent circumstances exists that adversely affect the ability of students to safely, attend school," he said. "Based on the information that the commissioner has shared, based on the recommendation of the Department of Health and Human Services, I'm reluctantly convinced that such exigent circumstances exist."

Member Paymon Rouhanifard was the only no vote on the measure, saying that "tying this masking proposal to vaccination rates is just frankly really bad public policy."

He felt that the "data goalposts" had been shifted, reminding the board that the state had one of the highest vaccination rates and low hospitalization rates, as well as low transmission in school settings.

"There's no clear off ramp," Rouhanifard said. "It was recently reported that the vaccine for children under the age of 12 will not be approved in 2021 ... I'm honestly, genuinely surprised that this is being endorsed by by our governor as an incentive for vaccination, because I consider our governor and his administration to be really smart about technocratic policy solutions."

Member Matt Hills thought it was a "straightforward vote" and evinced confidence in the leadership of the commissioner and state officials.

"It seems to be remarkable that we live in a state where not only we have an education commissioner, but elected leadership, the governor, legislative leaders have dealt with this whole pandemic for a year and a half in a fairly nonideological way and have been completely unafraid to change, to not be prisoners of whatever they might have said a few months earlier, or a year earlier," he said.

West said he did not think Riley would keep restrictions in place just for the sake of it.

"We have a public health situation that continues to evolve and he should have the flexibility, just like the governor should have the flexibility to deal with it appropriately," he said.

The vote to declare "exigent circumstances" as defined in the Student Learning Time regulations based on COVID-19 data was approved 8-1.
MCLA Professor Receives Irene Buck Award

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Arts|Learning, a state advocacy agency for arts education, has named MCLA Professor of Arts Management Lisa Donovan its 2021 Irene Buck Service to Arts Education Award recipient.

According to a press release, the Irene Buck Award honors an individual for distinguished and prolonged service as an advocate for arts education. The recipient exemplifies commitment and service to, and support of the arts, and arts-education communities.

It was named to honor Irene Buck, President of the Massachusetts Alliance for Arts Education for many years, who was the first recipient in 1998.

Donovan has published widely on arts integration and rural arts education, including multiple books and research that was featured by the National Endowment for the Arts. She has also led multiple grant-funded initiatives that seek to increase access to the arts for Berkshire students.

Donovan has experience working as an arts educator and administrator in a variety of organizations including Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Berkshire Opera Company, Barrington Stage Company, University of Massachusetts' Department of Theater, Boston University's Theater, Visual Arts and Tanglewood Institutes. In addition, she served as executive director of the Massachusetts Alliance for Arts Education.

In addition to her work as a professor, Donovan is currently spearheading several projects that foreground the use of the arts as a strategy for regional change. Her research Leveraging Change: Increasing Access to Arts Education in Rural Areas (Donovan & Brown, 2017) was featured by the National Endowment for the Arts. She serves as the director of the Creative Compact for Collaborative and Collective Impact (C4) initiative, creating the Berkshire County Blueprint for Arts Integration and Education, which is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. She is also co-director of the Berkshire Regional Arts Integration Network (BRAINworks), funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement, and director of the MCLA Institute for Arts and Humanities, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. She has published widely on arts integration and rural arts education including Teacher as Curator: Formative Assessment and Arts Based Strategies (Donovan & Anderberg, 2020). She is the co-editor/author of a five-book series on arts integration published by Shell Education.

Donovan has a B.A. in Psychology from Oneonta State University in New York, an M.A. in Communications from Boston University and a Ph.D. from Lesley University.

Arts|Learning, formerly the Massachusetts Alliance for Arts Education, is a nonprofit alliance partnering with dozens of professional arts education organizations, cultural institutions, and public agencies to bring about changes in the way the arts are viewed and supported within public education.
Smithsonian Host Sites Sought for 2022 Tour

NORTHAMTON, Mass.  Through a partnership with the Smithsonian, Mass Humanities will select six local institutions to host "Crossroads: Changes in Rural America," a traveling exhibit produced by the Smithsonian Institution's Museum on Main Street program.

Applications open Aug. 30 for museums, libraries, and other cultural centers interested in welcoming the Smithsonian to their communities. Organizations must be located in a town with a population of 12,000 or less to be eligible to host the exhibit. In October, Mass Humanities will select six sites for the "Crossroads" tour, which arrives in Massachusetts in September 2022.

"We're excited about the opportunity to partner with the Smithsonian for a Museum on Main Street tour," said Brian Boyles, Executive Director of Mass Humanities. "As our rural communities in Massachusetts face new challenges, this initiative offers local residents the opportunity to discuss the past, present and future of their hometowns."

"Crossroads" explores how rural American communities changed in the 20th century. The vast majority of the United States landscape remains rural with only 3.5 percent of the landmass considered urban. Since 1900, the percentage of Americans living in rural areas dropped from 60 percent to 17 percent. The exhibition looks at that societal change and how rural Americans responded.

The host sites will receive trainings from the Smithsonian along with a $10,000 grant from Mass Humanities to host programs during the exhibit, which will be on display for six weeks in each community. Grant funds also support trainings, publicity, planning meetings and staff time. Host sites will be responsible for developing public programs to support the exhibit, including at least one community conversation held in partnership with another local organization.

"The collective stories and history of Massachusetts' rural towns are rich and colorful," said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council. "And, as someone who lived and worked in the DC area for years, I know firsthand just how powerful and enlightening a visit to any of the Smithsonian Museums can be. This is a wonderful opportunity for rurally-focused cultural organizations to truly showcase the Power of Culture in their community, and I encourage all interested parties to apply."

The state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Mass Humanities receives major support from Mass Cultural Council.

Launched in 1994, Museum on Main Street (MoMS) is a Smithsonian outreach program that engages small town audiences and brings revitalized attention to underserved rural communities. The program partners with state humanities councils like Mass Humanities to bring traveling exhibitions, educational resources and programming to small towns across America through their own local museums, historical societies and other cultural venues.
This is a contributed article by Szymon Klarman, Knowledge Architect at BlackSwan Technologies.

Artificial intelligence is often compared to human intelligence. But AI capabilities in isolation can only match some parts of human intelligence. For instance, a large proportion of AI products use machine learning to categorise, classify or make predictions based on data  often with huge success. And yet, using these insights to make a demonstrable difference to an organisation can be problematic due to a lack of contextual information, which is a fundamental component of human intelligence. This is where graph technology comes in.

As many as 50% of Gartner client inquiries on the topic of AI are about the use of graph technology. And looking to the future, Gartner predicts that by 2023, graph technologies will facilitate rapid contextualisation for decision making in 30% of organisations worldwide.

Knowledge graphs are one of the key technologies gaining traction from enterprises. First, they can represent all the concepts of a particular domain such as corporate risk or equipment repair. Second, they allow for the exploration of relationships between entities of interest such as organisations, people, locations and transactions. As organisations are often unable to act upon a large proportion of the data they possess, theyre forced to make decisions based on contradicting, duplicated or incomplete information. Knowledge graphs can help by creating a single source of truth, contextualising huge amounts of data in a similar way to the human mind.

Humans make decisions based on what we consciously or unconsciously know or believe about the world. For example, a person may decide to apply for a job with a company because the company offers products that they have knowledge of and because they are familiar with many of the companys customers. This context allows the person to better evaluate their chances of being hired. This is the same context that knowledge graphs emulate, which becomes a foundation for extracting insights using AI techniques. Ultimately, enterprises can use these insights to make decisions.

How does a knowledge graph work?

Without knowing, most people interact with a knowledge graph on a regular basis; for instance, searching on Google or even using popular food delivery apps. In the Google example, if we type the phrase Alexander Fleming into Googles search box, users would not just get a set of links containing this phrase, but also an information box with data about a specific entity; UK biologist Alexander Fleming, that matches the query.

Within the box, the information includes points such as Fleming invented Penicillin, his birthplace and birthdate. Under the surface, this data corresponds to a small fragment of a knowledge graph. The nodes of this graph represent real-world things or concepts, while the edges represent their properties or the relationship between them. The labels, like date, person, born, invented and object are what make the meaning of the whole structure  the semantics  explicit.

Googles knowledge graph views these facts, found from different sources on the internet, as connected pieces of the same conceptual map. This networked representation of data is not only more intuitive, but it makes the existing relationships between entities in the given domain transparent. This enables users to put everything in context, in an easy to comprehend and accessible way.

For instance, when searching When was the birthdate of the inventor of penicillin, the response is the correct date of August 6, 1881. The response is the result of traversing the underlying graph the way a human with the same knowledge would: starting from the named object, via the link to a person, and finally to the date of birth. This vital feature of connecting data and uncovering non-obvious and indirect relationships is one of the main benefits of using a knowledge graph. A targeted enterprise knowledge graph would do a similar job for a specific domain, such as cyber security or risk management.

From a technology standpoint, a knowledge graph is a live information asset. It involves data management processes that rely on a number of AI techniques to thoroughly interpret data and solve a wide range of business problems. This use of multiple AI techniques is what Gartner calls Composite AI.

In response to a query, knowledge graphs can present all relevant pieces of information in one consistent conceptual map; helping decision-makers gain insights of unprecedented granularity, depth, and precision. A clear overview of all data and relationships is particularly important when a business decision relates to safety, due diligence, or compliance.

How enterprises use knowledge graphs

It's not just consumer-facing applications that a knowledge graph can be useful for. Enterprises can use the technology to process data about products, services, and clients, even when the data is spread over multiple databases, spreadsheets and documents in disconnected systems. The technology helps organisations to combine structured, unstructured, internal and external data; enable complex logic with conditional rules and machine learning inference; and adapt to changing user and market needs through constant updates.

One such use case is the ability to undertake research on any given company; potentially a prospective client, customer or partner.

Traditionally, to conduct company research, an analyst has to access and review tens of internal databases, knowledge platforms, documents and spreadsheets. They then have to crawl public APIs, websites and news sources, just to obtain reasonably comprehensive coverage of the legal entities in question, before any genuine analysis can even begin. This process is time-consuming, error-prone, and not scalable, thus significantly increasing the cost of making informed decisions.

In contrast, once the single source of truth in the form of a knowledge graph is set up, it is easy to answer questions like Who are the direct and indirect subsidiaries of a company? Advanced network analysis can provide answers to more complex questions such as Who is the most important shareholder in the network? Machine learning algorithms can be fed by a knowledge graph in a way that would be incredibly difficult to achieve otherwise, to create advanced classification results or predictions. To obtain the same accuracy, organisations would have to collect many common features related to each of the entities they want to classify.

The knowledge graph then becomes a base for a current, 360-degree view of any entity. The structures and connections between entities in the graph can be captured and analysed by artificial and autonomous agents. If combined with automated workflows and AI technologies for processing and evaluation, companies can benefit from greater flexibility, better insights, a reduction in computation power and storage resources, and perhaps most significantly, the knowledge graph can be used as the backbone for sophisticated AI systems that cater to a wide range of applications, such as thwarting fraud and money laundering.

Knowledge graphs are an important capability to add to an enterprises arsenal  whether used directly or through a third-party system. Building an in-house knowledge graph can be resource-intensive, meaning a white box AI design is in critical demand for the wider use of the technology. Knowledge graphs allow enterprises to contextualise tremendous amounts of data that would otherwise be impossible for humans to carry out on their own. The technology empowers analysts to efficiently analyse the knowledge that has been extracted, adding context and depth to other AI techniques and serving as a bridge between humans and systems.
UPDATED 25.08.21 As G7 leaders convene today, 24 August, to discuss evacuation efforts in Afghanistan over 50 civil society organisations, including the IFJ, have called on G7 countries to commit and take immediate action to support Afghan media workers to ensure their protection and evacuation.

The signatories ask that G7 members:

1. Make an explicit commitment to evacuate all journalists, media workers and media

advocates at risk, and their families

2. Ease visa restrictions for all Afghan journalists, media workers, media advocates and

their families seeking asylum

3. Simplify and secure the process for visa application, and collaborate with third

countries when possible

4. Provide safe passage to and at the airport and other routes

5. Remain in Kabul in order to secure the airport and the possibility to evacuate beyond

the August 31 deadline

6. Create an emergency fund for Afghan journalists and media workers

7. Provide pathways for cash to enter in the country

8. Repurpose development budget lines to address the emergency situation

9. Coordinate efforts within the United Nations system for immediate support

10. At the 26 August special session of the Human Rights Council, call for the

establishment of an independent monitoring and investigative mechanism that is

adequately staffed and resourced

Read full statement here

Signatories

ACOS Alliance

ARTICLE 19

Association of European Journalists (AEJ)

Association for International Broadcasting

Association of Freelance Journalists (Kenya)

Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)

Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM)

Committee to Protect Journalists

Dart Centre Asia Pacific

Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma

DW Akademie, Deutsche Welle

English PEN

Ethnovision

European Broadcasting Union

European Centre for Press Media Freedom

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Freedom House

Free Press Unlimited

The Frontline Club

The Frontline Freelance Register

Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)

The GroundTruth Project

Guardian News and Media

IFEX

International Center for Journalists (ICFJ)

International Media Support

International News Safety Institute (INSI)

International Womens Media Foundation (IWMF)

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

International Press Institute (IPI)

Internews

James W. Foley Legacy Foundation

Maharat Foundation

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Overseas Press Club of America

Overseas Press Club Foundation

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

PEN America

PEN Canada

PEN Germany

PEN Japan

PEN International

Public Media Alliance

Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Rory Peck Trust

Samir Kassir Foundation

The Signals Network

Storyhunter

VII Agency

VII Foundation

Women Photograph

World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)

Following their meeting, the G7 leaders issued a joint statement. G7 leaders said their immediate priority was "to ensure the safe evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have partnered with us and assisted our efforts over the past twenty years, and to ensure continuing safe passage out of Afghanistan".
Sithu Aung Myint, a political analyst for Voice of America and Frontier Myanmar, and BBC Media Action senior producer Htet Htet Khine, were arrested by police and taken to a Yangon interrogation centre on August 15. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) urges the State Administrative Council to release Myint and Khine.

Protesters hold up the three-finger salute during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon on July 29, 2021. Credit: AFP

Police arrested Myint, Khine and two other people at 10 pm during a raid of Myints apartment at Thri Mon Einyar in Bahan township, Yangon. Police threatened Myint and the others to open their door and switch on their laptops. Authorities reportedly also threatened people in the area to turn a blind eye to the arrest. Police are holding the two journalists at Shwe Pyi Thar interrogation centre in Yangon, known for torturing Civil Disobedience Movement protestors and journalists.

The Myanmar military-appointed State Administration Council issued a summons for Myints arrest on April 24 under sections 505(a), which criminalises statements that undermine the conduct of military or government employees and 124(a) of Myanmars Penal Code, prohibiting disloyalty or contempt towards the government and military.

Policed charged Khine under section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act prohibiting membership or taking part in an unlawful association. Section 15 of the Unlawful Associations Act defines an unlawful association as an association which encourages or aids persons to commit acts of violence or intimidation, or of which the members habitually commit such acts.

The IFJ said: The arrest of Sithu Aung Myint and Htet Htet Khine is a blatant attempt to stifle press freedom in Myanmar. The IFJ condemns the arrests and calls for the military to recognise the importance of objective media and allow media workers to carry out their respective duties safety without fear of arrest or harassment.
In celebration of National Heroes Day, PLDT Global Corporation (PGC) is launching a new campaign to salute its employees and promote its culture of service excellence around the world.

Dubbed as #PeopleOfPGC, the social media campaign aims to uplift overseas Filipino workers by sharing the lives of PGC employees who are deployed in different parts of the world in the service of their kababayans.

Twenty percent (20%) of PGCs employees are present in key markets across Asia, the United States, and Europe. Given the challenges posted by the COVID-19 pandemic, these employees have shifted to work-from-home setups and virtual transactions, which allowed them to cater to more business partners who service Filipino customers in different continents.

PLDT Global is a company that knows the Filipino. We are in the best position to bring the services of international businesses closer to the overseas Filipino market. Wherever theres a Filipino, PGC is there to serve through our products, digital platforms, and network of partners all over the world. Through our people, especially those stationed abroad, we gain an intimate understanding of overseas Filipino realities, and can create solutions that are relevant to their needs, said Albert V. Villa-Real, SVP and Chief Commercial Officer at PGC.

Aside from that, PGC employees also understand best the sentiments and challenges of Filipino customers overseas. For Reinan Buenaventura, the most challenging part of working abroad is battling with homesickness. Buenaventura worked as an IT specialist at PLDT Hong Kong for seven years before he was reassigned to PGC's Manila office as Service Delivery Manager.

The first few years were fun because I got to meet a lot of people and make new friends. But eventually, I missed being able to come home to my loved ones in the Philippines. I was homesick and I kept myself busy to cope. I also called my family almost every day, he said.

On the other hand, meeting Filipinos in communities abroad has become a source of inspiration for Ariane Matucading, Originally from Davao, Matucading is now based in Tokyo working as a logistics officer at PLDT Japan.

When Filipinos here in Japan are given the opportunity to work, they can really exceed expectations. They are versatile, adaptable, and hardworking because they have one goal in mind: to do whatever it takes to give their families back home a better future, Matucading said.

Malasakit, inclusivitiy

With over 2,000 global points of presence, PLDT Global believes that the art of interconnecting the Philippines to the rest of the world relies on global individuals who are inclusive by heart and mind.

PLDT Global supports its employees  local and abroad-- with inclusive health and medical benefits, which also covers partners of employees in domestic partnerships, same-sex unions, and extended dependents such as stepparents, step-siblings, and step-children.

This is just one of our many ways to show our malasakit to our employees who are committed to serving our customers. A lot of us have also experienced working abroad and being away from our families and friends, thats why we hope that through these benefits and this #PeopleOfPGC campaign, we can inspire not only our employees, but other kababayans as well, Villa-Real added.

Bringing OFWs closer to home

PGC has also developed several solutions to help Filipinos overseas conveniently connect to their families and loved ones back at home.

One of which is Free Bee, an award-winning mobile app that provides users ways to call and send messages to their loved ones with or without the internet. As the go-to lifestyle app for Filipinos overseas, Free Bee also helps its users to conveniently pay Philippine bills and send load to any Free Bee, Smart and TNT customer. Free Bee users can also enjoy various content or discover services from brands and businesses that are tailor-fit for OFWs and their families.

The #PeopleOfPGC campaign is aligned with the PLDT Groups sustainability pillar of Excellence through Human Capital and underscore the commitment to helping the Philippines attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

To find out more about this campaign, visit PLDT Global's LinkedIn Page.
Update: On August 24, 2021, the House of Representatives approved the $3.5 trillion budget resolution package.

Joe Biden knows that supporting small businesses is politically popular; that's why the president just recast his Build Back Better Agenda as means for growing jobs and creating a fairer tax system for Main Street.

The White House late last week published a fact sheet, outlining a litany of reasons small businesses ought to favor the Biden agenda. In addition to painting previously proposed measures such as an extension of subsidies for paid leave and child tax credits as small-business benefits, the memo showcases how raising the corporate tax rate to 28 percent (from 21 percent) and ramping up IRS enforcement of tax avoidance strategies among large corporations levels the playing field for small businesses.

"In short, President Biden's plan lays the foundation for American small businesses to win the 21st century," reads the document. And, in return, small businesses may well be the key to getting it passed.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have taken issue with all or parts of the $3.5 trillion budget resolution, which sets the stage for passage of Biden's ambitious American Families Plan later this fall. The budget resolution blueprint passed the Senate on August 11, and the House is expected to vote early this week, after returning from its August recess. While an approved plan doesn't require Republican votes, it will need Democrats to remain unified behind the package.

Progressive Democrats in the House want to approve a spending package before they vote on the infrastructure bill, which passed the Senate on August 10. The GOP opposes both raising corporate taxes and adding to the deficit--although it's not yet clear if this plan would add to the deficit. Moderate Democrats, including Senators Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, have said the resolution figure is too high, yet they've not said what number they'd prefer.

One thing everyone can get behind? Small business.

"Small business is motherhood and apple pie on the Hill," says Robert Litan, an economist and nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington. So it makes sense, then, that Biden painted many of his wish-list agenda items as beneficial for small businesses, adds Litan.

By extension, it also tracks that lawmakers will favor the small-business provisions, as outlined in the fact sheet. "I would be surprised if the small-business measures get left on the cutting room floor," Litan adds.

Among the highlights, which includes a 15 percent minimum tax on book income--income before taxes and the amount most often disclosed to shareholders--of "large, highly profitable" corporations, there's:

An extension of the tax credits authorized by the American Rescue Plan for small businesses that buy health insurance through HealthCare.gov. According to the White House, the tax credit, which offsets an individual's health insurance premiums, saved families an average of $50 per person per month. The Build Back Better Agenda makes the premium reductions permanent, benefiting the 1.2 million small-business owners who already access the exchanges, the White House estimates.

An expansion of the enhanced child tax credit--valued at $3,000 for children 6 to 17 years old and $3,600 for children under 6. The previously existing child tax credit was $2,000. While Biden's fact sheet doesn't indicate when the extension of the credit would end, a prior proposal has the measure running through 2025. The White House pointed to new research from the Department of the Treasury showing that more than three million small-business owners with children would benefit from an extension of the cuts.

An extension of employer-subsidized paid leave--with 12 weeks of paid leave by year 10 of the program, and three days of bereavement leave per year starting in year one. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, first passed on March 18, 2020, and extended through September 30, 2021, by the Economic Aid Act, fully subsidizes enhanced paid leave benefits for all employers. It is not clear if Biden's BBB agenda will also offer to subsidize wage replacement for bigger companies. Citing a "state-level study," the administration says nine out of 10 business owners experienced a positive affect on productivity, profitability, and turnover after adopting paid leave.

The memo also contains plenty of more traditional small-business-focused items: There's a plan to inject "billions of dollars" into the Small Business Administration's flagship 7(a) loan program. Biden will further ask Congress to seed a new financing facility to allow the federal government to co-invest with private capital in small manufacturers, and he's calling for an increase in federal contracting opportunities for small businesses.
If you're not following Gravity Payments CEO Dan Price on Twitter, do it now.

An anomaly in the world of highly-paid C-levels, Price veered off the money-paved path and decided his employees deserve more. He gave up more than $1 million in annual compensation to guarantee a minimum $70,000 salary for each of his employees.

This isn't a promo for the trailblazing CEO, though. It's a treatise on trust. Since overturning the money-making apple cart in 2015, he's been vocal about the painful discrepancy between the income of C-levels and the financial lack of many employees. That's key -- especially since most of us (myself included) don't fully appreciate the schism that exists.

All of Price's stats-driven observation are astounding, but this recent Tweet opened the door to a new realization:

The second half is what struck me -- "Half the workers have been convinced they're poor because of 'China.' "

Let me reframe: The spotlight is continually shifted from CEO compensation to employee compensation -- and where those numbers lag, outside forces are scapegoated. All of this avoids the damning question: Why do CEOs make in one day what an employee makes in a year? Is that justified by what they do?

Most of the time, no, though I encourage you to read more in The New York Times's recent article on the subject. More importantly, the shifty finger-pointing that happens when compensation talk arises damages employee trust. How can an employee have faith in a CEO when he or she refuses to even acknowledge a question about fair compensation?

Price is bringing this all to light. Transparency is key. Acknowledgement of pay discrepancy is part of modeling honesty. And answering questions about fair remuneration is not only good, it's necessary.

We no longer live in a time when C-levels can escape the limelight when it suits them. Equity and fair pay are top of mind for generations flooding the workforce, and business leaders need to be able to look them in the eye and tell them:

"I have no obligation to share what I make or explain what I do to earn that money, but I understand how important it is to trust me. That trust begins with transparency. So I will lead with honesty and equity, understanding that your work makes our collective success possible."

This begins at the beginning -- with nascent startups and early-stage business owners. Set the expectation now that you will be open about what you do, why you do it, and how you compensate yourself for that work. Explain your compensation philosophy. And in the years to come, as you enjoy growth and mounting profits, be honest about who made that growth possible and pay accordingly.
Jessica Chastain says the make-up she wore to portray televangelist Tammy Faye was so heavy it caused permanent damage to her skin.

The actor plays Faye in the forthcoming biopic The Eyes of Tammy Faye, a dramatisation of her life as well as that of her husband Jim Bakker.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Chastain said transforming into Faye required her to spend between four and 7.5 hours getting her make-up done  and that she still has AirPods that are covered with product.

I started to have hot flashes because its so heavy and hot. I was afraid, she said. It was like going on a long-distance flight every day. Because if it takes 7.5 hours to put on, its going to take at least two hours to get off. It was concerning to me. I was worried about my circulation.

The actor said the role involved the most prosthetics Ive worn, and that Fayes make-up in the film gets heavier as she gets older.

Asked how she kept her skin from breaking out as a result of wearing so much make-up, Chastain told the paper: I think for sure Ive done some permanent damage to my skin on this.

Listen, I eat very pure and I take very good care of my skin and I stay out of the sun and all that stuff. But its heavy. And when youre wearing it all day every day  the weight of it on your body, it stretches your skin out.

All in all, though, Chastain said the process was fine as it was for [her] art.

The Eyes of Tammy Faye, directed by Michael Showalter, also stars Andrew Garfield as Bakker. Its scheduled for release on 17 September in the US and is expected to come out that same month in the UK, with a specific release date yet to be confirmed.
CIA director William Burns held a secret meeting with the Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul on Monday, The Washington Post has reported, citing unnamed US officials.

There has been no official statement from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) but, if the meeting is confirmed, Mr Burns would be the most senior US official to have had a meeting with the Taliban since it seized power in Afghanistan last week.

The reports of the meeting come amid a frantic evacuation process in Kabul where the US and allied forces continue to rescue hundreds of people each day. But with the 31 August deadline for withdrawal nearing, discussions about a possible extension are underway. There is also pressure from other forces, including the UK and France, who have said they want the US military to continue evacuation beyond the deadline so more people can be rescued.

The evacuation efforts have focused on bringing citizens of these countries back first, but theres also increasing pressure to evacuate those who worked for the US and other western forces, since they are at the greatest threat of persecution at the hands of the Taliban.

The Taliban had earlier threatened consequences if the US didnt completely withdraw from Afghanistan, including leaving the Kabul airport, which is currently the only site under the control of the American military and being used for evacuation. The militant Islamist group, however, did not specify what those consequences would be.

The Biden administrations move of sending their senior-most secret services officer to negotiate with the Taliban will likely be seen as recognition of the militant groups authority over Afghanistan.

Mr Burns, a celebrated officer who played a crucial role in locating Osama bin Laden in 2011, was chosen as the new director-general of the CIA in March and has more than 30 years of experience at the State Department, including as an ambassador to Jordan and Russia.

The de facto leader of the Taliban who reportedly met with Mr Burns, Abdul Ghani Bardar, was once arrested by the CIA 11 years ago and spent eight years in jail.
The fate of thousands of Afghans who are seeking refuge abroad following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan hinges on talks between the Islamist group and international powers that have started this week.

Germanys foreign minister Heiko Maas stated that discussions had begun between the Taliban, the US, Germany and Turkey to extend the deadline set for American troops to withdraw from Afghanistan  which would effectively end airlift evacuations.

The Turkish government had recently offered to provide security for Kabul airport.

It came after a firefight at the airport between Afghan guards and unidentified gunmen, drawing in American and German soldiers, saw an Afghan person killed and four others injured.

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed on Monday that the US was in daily talks with the Taliban through political and security channels.

When asked if US president Joe Biden would extend the deadline, Mr Sullivan said that he was taking this day by day, and will make his determinations as we go  we believe there is enormous progress in Afghan evacuations.

Mr Sullivan added that the US was consulting with the Taliban on every aspect of what is happening in Kabul and he confirmed that the US State Department was confident it could get every American out of the country by the 31 August deadline.

The Taliban has stated that it would firmly oppose foreign forces remaining beyond the withdrawal date previously announced by Mr Biden, warning that there would be consequences if that was to happen.

If they are intent on continuing the occupation, it will provoke a reaction, Taliban spokesperson Dr Suhail Shaheen said.

Boris Johnson and other European leaders are due to ask the US president at a virtual G7 emergency summit to consider continuing evacuations after 31 August, to cope with the thousands of people who have arrived at the airport and surrounding areas.

However, there is consternation among American officials about the deteriorating security situation with warnings from Washington about the possibility of an Isis attack.

UK officials have also said that the British ambassador to Afghanistan, who is currently carrying out his duties from a hotel near the airport, told MPs in a telephone call that the Taliban had been clear with wanting evacuations to end within days.

The signalling that were seeing from the Taliban, including earlier today, is pretty uncompromising that they want the operation finished by the end of the month, they said.

So I think it follows from that, that if the US and its allies were to try to push beyond that, then theres at least a risk there, of us doing so in a much more difficult and less compliant environment.

With the decision on extending the deadline unclear, the US is deploying helicopters and Special Forces to Kabul city to extract stranded American citizens and high value allies.

The UK Special Forces have carried out similar missions in the last week.

Meanwhile, the US military reported its biggest day of evacuation flights out of Afghanistan on Monday, with 28 military flights carrying about 10,400 people to safety over the most recent 24-hour period.

John Kirby, the Pentagons chief spokesperson, said that the faster pace of evacuation was due in part to coordination with Taliban commanders on getting evacuees into the airport.
The Taliban may only claim to uphold pledges on human rights and recriminations against opponents until the last international troop is gone from Afghanistan, it has been warned.

As G7 leaders met to discuss the situation, including calls to extend the 31 August withdrawal deadline, experts said Western nations could not depend on the groups behaviour so far as an indication of its future actions.

Following the Talibans takeover of Kabul, a spokesperson sought to reassure Afghan civilians and the international community about its support for the rights of women and girls, media freedom, and protections for former government personnel.

But Zabihullah Mujahids claim that the Taliban was not going to seek revenge on anybody has already been undermined by reports of killings, torture, kidnapping and intimidation.

At a press briefing on Tuesday morning, experts from the Chatham House think-tank said it was too early to know whether the group had reformed any of its oppressive positions.

Leslie Vinjamuri, director of its US programme, said that president Joe Biden had to make very difficult calculation about the costs of making or breaking the evacuation deadline.

The calculation he will be making is what does the Taliban do if the US doesnt get out by the 31st, how many lives will be shed and whose, she added.

The Taliban want to look like good citizens - until the last international troop is gone.

Hameed Hakimi, a Chatham House research associate and former advisor to the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Taliban was trying to bring former opponents including ex-ministers and warlords into the fold of the new administration.

He pointed to symbolic gestures, including a U-turn on attempts to completely remove the Afghan national flag following protests, and the inclusion of women at some official meetings.

They are doing small little gestures trying to show they are different, time will tell whether they are, Mr Hakimi added.

The Taliban only has one superior goal and that is to protect themselves.

(MOD/AFP via Getty Images)

As well as questions around the Talibans plans for governing Afghanistan, its relations with Isis and al-Qaeda are also uncertain.

In the 2020 deal that ensured the withdrawal of US troops, the Taliban pledged to ensure terrorist groups were not able to use Afghan territory to train and plot foreign attacks.

But there are concerns that the agreement may not be honoured, or that the Taliban may lose control of parts of the country and allow ungoverned spaces that are a key concern for British intelligence services.

The stance the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will take towards al-Qaeda is unclear, following a long-running association and links between senior figures.

Isis, which has a smaller presence in Afghanistan, has fought the Taliban and officially declares the group an apostate militia, although the two groups have also collaborated in the past.

Isis local faction has not claimed an attack on the Taliban since the day before the group took Kabul.

Claims of attacks - mainly shootings - targeting Taliban fighters were previously sent out over Isis official propaganda regularly, with six recorded by The Independent in the month to 14 August.

Mr Hakimi said it was likely that Isis was keeping a low profile as the Taliban exerts its control, and that other terrorist groups were doing the same for the time being.

A propaganda photograph of an Isis militant alongside rockets the group claimed were used to attack the presidential palace in Kabul on 20 July 2021 ( Isis propaganda channel)

There are concerns that the Talibans success could inspire Islamist groups to become more active in surrounding countries, as well as action by individual jihadists further afield.

Patricia Lewis, who leads the International Security programme at Chatham House, said the response to the rapidly-changing situation was hampered by a pattern of major failures of intelligence.

There is clearly a major disconnect between daily intelligence and a long term strategic understanding of what has been going on in Afghanistan, she told the press conference.

Its not that there werent people predicting what was happening, but their analysis stayed low down on the pecking order. We need to do a lot of work to fix those problems.

Dr Lewis said a situation where G7 nations were having a request a withdrawal extension from the Taliban should not have arisen, adding: The deadline was always looming so why has it got to this point? Why was intelligence about the Taliban not factored into planning? Why do we not prepare for the worst-case scenario properly is the question we need to have answered.

The Ministry of Defence said the UK has evacuated more than 8,400 people from Afghanistan as part of the rescue mission that began less than two weeks ago.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 29 August 2021 A Taliban fighter stands guard as Talibans acting Higher Education Minister Abdul Baqi Haqqani (not pictured) addresses a gathering during a consultative meeting on Taliban's general higher education policies at the Loya Jirga Hall in Kabu AFP/Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2021 A child that was evacuated from Afghanistan looks on at the U.S. airbase in Ramstein, Germany Reuters World news in pictures 27 August 2021 Soldiers take a selfie before a military parade in Chisinau, Moldova EPA World news in pictures 26 August 2021 Smoke rises from the site of a suspected suicide bombing outside Kabul airport in Afghanistan AP World news in pictures 25 August 2021 Egypts Ibrahim Elhusseiny Hamadtou in action during his Mens Singles Class 6 Group E Table Tennis match at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA World news in pictures 24 August 2021 People take pictures of fireworks outside the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 23 August 2021 Staff members spraying disinfectant at a school ahead of the new semester in Bozhou, Chinas eastern Anhui province AFP/Getty World news in pictures 22 August 2021 A Taliban fighter stands guard at a checkpoint in the Wazir Akbar Khan area in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan AP World news in pictures 21 August 2021 Mexican firefighters known as "Topos" work in the early morning hours in a search and rescue mission, amid the rubble from last week's 7.2 magnitude earthquake, in Les Cayes, Haiti AP World news in pictures 20 August 2021 Bangladeshi vendor sells a religious item during a Muharram event at the premises of Hussaini Dalan in Dhaka, Bangladesh EPA World news in pictures 19 August 2021 Law enforcement officers with rifles take position near the US Capitol building in Washington DC as police investigate a possible explosive device in a truck near the heart of 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demonstration demanding Thai prime minister Prayut Chan-Ochas and King Maha Vajiralongkorn be held accountable for the governments failure to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, in Bangkok AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 August 2021 Members of local NPO release paper lanterns on Motoyasu River in front of beside the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, as it was known before 1945, and now called the Atomic Bomb Dome, as the city marks the 76th anniversary of the world's first atomic bomb attack AFP/Getty World news in pictures 5 August 2021 The Men's Decathletes pose for a photo following their competition on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan Getty World news in pictures 4 August 2021 Maronite clergymen pray near damaged grain silos at the port of Lebanons capital on the first anniversary of the blast that ravaged the port and the city AFP/Getty World news in pictures 3 August 2021 An underwater view shows Frances Charlotte 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Rojas took gold and broke the Olympic and World Record in the process AFP/Getty World news in pictures 31 July 2021 Elaine Thompson-Herah celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the gold medal ahead of Jamaican teammate Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the women's 100m final at the Tokyo Olympic Games Reuters World news in pictures 30 July 2021 Athletes compete during the mens 3000m Steeplechase at the Tokyo Olympics Reuters World news in pictures 29 July 2021 Athletes compete in the BMX mens Olympic quarter-finals run at the Ariake Urban Sports Park in Tokyo AFP/Getty World news in pictures 28 July 2021 A picture taken with a drone shows researchers from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University investigating a dead fin whale found in the harbor of Terneuzen, The Netherlands EPA World news in pictures 27 July 2021 People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk past extra papers reporting on Japanese gold medalists at Tokyo Olympics AP World news in pictures 26 July 2021 The ball hits Thailand's Orawan Paranang's face as she competes against Japan's Kasumi Ishikawa during her women's singles round 3 table tennis match at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games AFP via Getty Images World news in pictures 25 July 2021 A woman walks in the rubble after flooding due to heavy rains in Dinant, Belgium, a week after more than 30 people were killed in floods in the country EPA World news in pictures 24 July 2021 A firefighter uses a drip torch to light a backfire in an effort to stop the spread of the Dixie fire in Prattville, California AFP/Getty World news in pictures 23 July 2021 An overview shows Japan's tennis player Naomi Osaka lighting the flame of hope in the Olympic Cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, at the Olympic Stadium, in Tokyo AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 July 2021 People wade through a flooded street following a heavy rain in Zhengzhou, in Chinas Henan province AFP/Getty World news in pictures 21 July 2021 People celebrate in Brisbane, Australia, following an announcement by the International Olympic Committee that the city was picked to host the 2032 Olympics AAP Image via AP World news in pictures 20 July 2021 Muslims attending the Eid Al-Adha prayer at Skenderbej Square in Tirana AFP/Getty World news in pictures 19 July 2021 Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat during the annual Haj pilgrimage outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia Reuters World news in pictures 18 July 2021 People protest against the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan Reuters World news in pictures 17 July 2021 A long exposure photograph shows Muslim pilgrims circumambulating around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand mosque in the holy Saudi city of Mecca during the annual hajj pilgrimage AFP/Getty World news in pictures 16 July 2021 A van crushed by the torrents is pressed against a tree after the floods caused major damage in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, western Germany AFP/Getty World news in pictures 15 July 2021 A staff member sits at an interactive digital installation "Fire / Forest and Spiral of Resonating Lamps in the Forest" during a media preview of "teamLab: A Forest Where Gods Live" at the lobby of Mifuneyama Rakuen Hotel, Takeo Hot Springs in Saga prefecture AFP/Getty World news in pictures 14 July 2021 Pupils of the Special Military School of Saint-Cyr march during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris AFP/Getty World news in pictures 13 July 2021 Rescuers look for bodies after a catastrophic blaze erupted Monday at a coronavirus hospital ward in the al-Hussein Teaching Hospital, in Nasiriyah, Iraq AP World news in pictures 12 July 2021 People try to recover a car damaged during flash floods after heavy monsoon rains in Bhagsunag, a popular tourist town in Himachal Pradesh, India AP World news in pictures 11 July 2021 Police cars are seen overturned in the street in the framework of a demonstration against Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana AFP via Getty Images

Embassy staff, British nationals, those eligible under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) programme and a number of nationals from partner nations were included in the figure.

Officials said the evacuation process will run as long as the security situation allows, in coordination with the US, but the defence secretary conceded that Mr Biden is unlikely to delay the departure of US troops from Afghanistan to allow more people to be evacuated.

Ben Wallace admitted that we're not going to get everybody out of the country and said any movement after 31 August was unlikely.

The prime minister spoke to Mr Biden on Monday evening ahead of the G7 leaders call and vowed to use every humanitarian and diplomatic lever to protect human rights in Afghanistan.

The Taliban will be judged by their deeds and not their words, Boris Johnson added.
In the final months of Americas war in Afghanistan, the withdrawal of US forces moved with remarkable efficiency. Troop levels dropped speedily and quietly, often at a pace that shocked local allies. A case in point came at Bagram Airfield, once the epicentre of US operations in the country, which was evacuated by US forces in the dead of night and without notice.

At the same time, tens of thousands of Afghans who had worked with the American military, or who now faced imminent danger from the advancing Taliban for their work in other fields, were alarmed that their own escape was not moving at the same pace. They worried that they would be abandoned.

The result was worse than they could have feared. Today, those thousands are stranded in the capital Kabul, which is now controlled by the very fighters who threaten their lives. There is only one way out  through the citys airport  but it has been thrown into chaos and confusion in the rush.

It is just a disgrace, said Muhammad, a former interpreter for US forces for 13 years who spent two days at the airport with his wife and five children trying to flee. I went there at 7 in the morning and waited until 5pm. Ten hours in the sun, he told The Independent by phone from Kabul.

Images have emerged in the last two days of Taliban fighters patrolling the perimeter of the airport and harassing people trying to escape. Gunmen have opened fire on people trying to scale the wall.

The scenes of desperation at Hamid Karzai Airport have sparked a chorus of criticism of the Biden administrations exit strategy from Americas longest war, not just because it underestimated the Talibans strength, but for the danger now faced by those Afghan allies on the ground.

In June, as the withdrawal continued apace, President Biden stepped up efforts to evacuate US allies in the country, saying: Weve already begun the process. Those who helped us are not going to be left behind.

But it was not quick enough. Before this weekend, only 2,000 Afghans had been flown to the US. Lawmakers and aid organisations involved in the process have been critical of the slow progress in processing the visa applications as the withdrawal deadline rapidly approached.

In May, Republican House representative Michael Waltz, a former Green Beret who worked with Afghan interpreters during his time in the country, criticised the Biden administrations total lack of a sense of urgency, or a plan.

I have conducted hundreds and hundreds of missions side by side with them

JC Hendrickson, a senior director of refugee and asylum policy and advocacy at the International Rescue Committee, which is working with the US to settle the visa applicants, told The Independent: This process certainly should have been started earlier.

The urgency on this side of things just doesnt seem like it was there.

The Taliban advance into Kabul led to the evacuation of embassy staff from the country sooner than expected. There have been reports of visa documents and passports being destroyed by evacuating staff, complicating the process even further.

Aid agencies are now calling for urgent action to evacuate at-risk Afghans from Kabul. Mr Hendrickson called for rapidly increasing the amount of people that are put through the process and increasing flexibility of the programmes to help more people get to safety.

The chaos began at the airport over the weekend when the Taliban entered Kabul without facing any resistance, prompting thousands to head there in an attempt to board flights out. There has since been an uneasy tension as US forces control the inside of the airport and Taliban fighters patrol outside.

Hundreds of Afghan citizens are evacuated on a US air force plane from Hamid Karzai International Airport on Sunday (EPA)

In the initial rush to escape, one video showed a US air force transport plane taking off with desperate Afghans clinging to the side, only to fall to their deaths as it took off.

Muhammad, who requested that only his first name be used because of the threat posed by the Taliban, was among the crowds trying to leave. He worked with the US military for 13 years as an interpreter.

I have conducted hundreds and hundreds of missions side by side with them, he said. I have gotten injured twice as well during the service  I took shrapnel the first time, and on the second time, I was blown with a command wire IED. During the service, I also have been threatened so many times and attacked by the Taliban insurgents.

Muhammad described a chaotic and bloody scene at the airport as thousands pushed to find a way out of the country and Taliban fighters watched on menacingly.

There was nobody to talk to. They were sitting in towers and not even talking, he said of the US soldiers guarding the airfield.

There are thousands of people waiting with the hope of being picked up by the US, Isaf or Nato aircraft. They have Taliban insurgents close to them, looking and identifying them. The Taliban are walking in between these people and torturing them, shooting in the air to distract and push away these people. Some of the people were climbing on the walls to get on the airfield and broke their legs and arms in the process, he said.

Muhammad began his visa application process years ago and has taken part in several interviews and medical checks. But the last time he heard from the US regarding the application was in 2015.

When the Taliban get the girls, they make them marry their soldiers. I dont want my sister to be forced to get married to an enemy soldier

Afghans who worked for or on behalf of US forces as interpreters are eligible for special immigrant visas, but the process has been plagued with backlogs. The Trump administration drastically reduced the number of Afghan special immigrant visas from 2017 onwards. In 2018, only 200 applications were processed, NPR reported, down from 10,000 in 2016.

In July, even before the Talibans push into Kabul, some 18,000 US allies and 53,000 family members were caught in the backlog, according to the Migration Policy Institute. That number is now likely significantly higher.

The evacuation effort currently underway, dubbed Operation Allies Refuge, could see as many as 50,000 Afghans airlifted from Kabul, according to the Associated Press. Some estimate the number could be double that.

The Biden administration believed they had time to process the evacuations before all US forces were due to depart in September. But the unexpected speed of the Taliban advance changed everything, prompting an evacuation of American and other foreign personnel simultaneously.

The Pentagon is now reportedly planning to evacuate potentially tens of thousands of Afghans to the US for visa processing, a reversal of its earlier policy of processing them abroad.

People wait outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul (Reuters)

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday that between 5,000 and 10,000 US citizens were believed to remain in the Kabul area and that US military bases were prepared to receive up to 22,000 Afghan allies in the coming days and weeks. He added that the US was working towards the evacuation of between 5,000 and 9,000 people a day from Kabul. On Wednesday, Mark Milley, the chair of the US joint chiefs of staff, said the operation is likely to be the second-largest civilian evacuation mission ever conducted by the US.

Back in the US, family members of those trapped are working day and night to find a way to rescue their loved ones. A man named Rocky, who gave only his nickname to avoid identification, was an interpreter for the US armed forces for many years. One day, a video of him working alongside the soldiers was posted online, and he began to receive threats to his life. After a years-long process, he was granted a special immigrant visa and currently lives in the US, but many of his family members are still trapped  among them his brothers, sisters and parents.

Outside of the airport is Taliban; inside is US soldiers. The US army wont let them come in, and the Taliban is outside. Its very tough for them, he told The Independent.

Rocky said he has been in constant contact with his family as they try to flee.

There is no safe place except Kabul airport. When [the Taliban] get the girls, they make them marry their soldiers. I dont want my sister to be forced to get married to an enemy soldier, he said.

I just want them to be safe, he said. I dont need them to come to the US. My only wish is that they be safe. If they get into the airport and there is a flight for them, then they are going to be safe. Otherwise, the way its going, Im sure Im going to lose a lot of my family.
The Taliban have appealed to the US not to encourage Afghans to leave the country, saying their talent was needed as part of the rebuilding effort.

At a news conference, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said crowds at the airport should go home amid chaotic scenes and reports of at least 20 killed in recent days.

We ask the Americans, dont encourage Afghans to leave... We need their talent, he said.

He added that the Taliban were not in favour of allowing Afghan citizens to leave the country and that the 31 August deadline for evacuations from Kabul by Western and other nations was unlikely to be extended.

The focus for the Taliban now was on clearing up and improving security, he said.

In an appeal to those still trying to leave that they would be safe if they remained in Afghanistan, the spokesperson added: We guarantee their security.

Many Afghans fear reprisals and a return to the harsh version of Islamic law that the Taliban enforced when in power from 1996 to 2001, in particular the repression of women.

Seeking to ease such fears, the Taliban spokesperson said it was trying to come up with a procedure so women could return to work. He also said there was no list of people targeted for reprisals. We have forgotten everything in the past, he said.

However, Taliban fighters have set up checkpoints throughout Kabul stopping motorists to ask where they are headed or checking car papers, and reports suggest some fighters have been going door to door in search of former government workers and activists.

The promise of security for Afghan nationals came on the same day that the UNs human rights chief warned of credible reports of severe abuses in areas under Taliban control.

The allegations included summary executions of civilians and security forces who had laid down their arms and restrictions on women.

Michelle Bachelet urged the Human Rights Council to take bold and vigorous action to monitor the rights situation in Afghanistan.

At this critical moment, the people of Afghanistan look to the Human Rights Council to defend and protect their rights, she said.

I urge this council to take bold and vigorous action, commensurate with the gravity of this crisis, by establishing a dedicated mechanism to closely monitor the evolving human rights situation in Afghanistan.

Days earlier, a Norway-based private intelligence group that provides information to the UN said it had obtained evidence that the Taliban have rounded up Afghans on a blacklist of people they believe worked in key roles with the previous Afghan administration or with US-led forces. Several Afghans are in hiding, saying they fear such reprisals.

Additional reporting by agencies
Some of Joe Bidens allies are pointing out that the 31 August deadline to completely evacuate Americans and local allies from Afghanistan is becoming increasingly hard to reach, even as the president is set to make a decision by Tuesday on a deadline extension.

Tens of thousands still remain to be airlifted from the conflict-torn country.

Completing the pullout, including of the US army troops carrying out evacuation operations, by 31 August is unlikely, Adam Schiff, a Democratic representative said, pointing to the number of American citizens who remain in Afghanistan.

I think its possible but I think its very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, Mr Schiff, who is also the chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, told reporters on Monday.

Some reports estimate a crowd of 20,000 people are present at Kabuls international airport since 15 August, the day the Taliban took control of the national capital without firing a single shot. Since then, people have been crowding the airport in a bid to flee the country and escape the militant groups rule.

Mr Biden has been in talks with allies and world leaders, including UK prime minister Boris Johnson and French president Emmanuel Macron and has discussed the situation in Afghanistan with them.

The US president spoke to world leaders ahead of the G7 summit, where there is a possibility the USs decision to pull out of the country may come under fire.

Mr Biden is expected to announce his decision to extend the deadline after the summit.

The decision will be taken by Mr Biden within 24 hours in part to give the Pentagon time to prepare accordingly, an unnamed administration official told news agency Reuters.

The Taliban, who has wrested control of Afghanistan, is on the back foot and has refused to tolerate any extensions, warning that any increase in the deadline will result in consequences, even as some reports have said US officials on the ground have been trying to come to an understanding with the militant group since 15 August to allow Americans and allies to reach Kabuls airport.

Pointing out another challenge in the evacuation operation, Department of Defence officials have said the US needs more time to fly out the nearly 6,000 US troops stationed on Afghan soil to carry out airlifting operations.

This is in addition to the evacuation of thousands of Americans, citizens of allied countries and local Afghan population who have aided US forces in the last two decades.

A major portion of the Kabul airport is still under the US militarys control which is said to be the only exit route for people in the country.

Some of Mr Bidens advisers, however, have highlighted security threats and have cautioned the president against extending the 31 August deadline.

But a senior State Department official said the USs commitment to Afghans at risk doesnt end on 31 August.

Mr Biden on Sunday pointed to discussions taking place within the military as well on extending the deadline. Theres discussions going on in the military about extending. My hope is we will not have to extend, but there are going to be discussions, he said.

Nearly 48,000 people have been evacuated in the last 10 days, according to new data shared by the White House.

The US pull out from Afghanistan has widely been described by political commentators and experts as a debacle. The decision to pull out of the country was first taken by former president Donald Trump, who had reached an agreement with the Taliban.

Mr Biden has maintained he has only been following through on his predecessors decision, even as the handling of the evacuation process has roundly come under fire.

At least 20 people have reportedly died so far because of firings and stampedes at the Kabul airport.
UK military officials have been accused of wasting space on evacuation planes after a car was pictured being airlifted out of Afghanistan.

Broadcast footage shows a Toyota car onboard a British aircraft surrounded by troops and evacuees as they prepare to take off from Kabul airport.

The images were broadcast amid fears the US will not extend its 31 August deadline for ending the evacuation in Kabul, increasing the risk that some people are left behind.

Britain is unlikely to retain a presence in Afghanistan once the US has left.

Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, earlier insisted he would prioritise the evacuation of people over pets and animals, following claims that the extraction of an animal charity was blocked.

Paul Farthing, a former Royal Marine, founded the Nowzad animal shelter in Kabul rescuing dogs, cats and donkeys after serving with the British army in Afghanistan in the mid-2000s.

Since Kabul fell to the Taliban earlier this month Mr Farthing, known as "Pen", has been campaigning for all of his staff and their families, as well as his 140 dogs and 60 cats, to be evacuated from the country in a plan he has dubbed "Operation Ark".

On Monday morning, a jubilant Mr Farthing announced the UK government had granted visas for all of his staff and their dependents - but later it was suggested that a plane chartered to fly them out was blocked by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

However, Mr Wallace said it would still be possible for Mr Farthing, a British passport holder, to leave Kabul. He was called forward on Friday, Mr Wallace added.

Responding to the footage of the car being airlifted out of the airport, Mr Farthing expressed disbelief and shock.

He wrote on Twitter: "You rescued a car??? WTF".

Dominic Dyer, a wildlife campaigner and close friend of Mr Farthing, said he had no words to explain his anger at images showing a car being airlifted out of the Afghanistan capital.

An MoD spokesperson said: We are aware of reports around vehicles being loaded onto flights leaving Afghanistan.

Cleared passengers are always loaded as an absolute priority and any spare capacity is used for operational freight. No flight has left Kabul empty.

Britain has so far evacuated more than 8,000 people from Afghanistan in the past 10 days, including more than 2,000 in the previous 24 hours, according to Mr Wallace.

The figures include people departing the Afghan capital in nine military flights over a 24-hour period. Embassy staff, British nationals, those eligible under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) programme and a number of nationals from partner nations were included in the evacuation figure.

So far, 5,171 of the total have made claims under Arap. More than 1,000 UK armed forces personnel have been deployed in Kabul.

But there are growing concerns that not everyone that the UK has made a pledge to will be able to escape Kabul as they desperately attempt to flee the new regime before the 31 August deadline.

Mr Wallace said the Kabul evacuation effort is "down to hours now, not weeks" as he conceded Britain's involvement will end when the US leaves Afghanistan.
A woman caught in the deadly flooding of Waverly, Tennessee , posted footage of the disaster just before she drowned.

Linda Almond, 55, was trapped in a house with her 37-year-old son, Tommy, as the water rose around them. As the situation worsened, Ms Almond broadcasted a live video of her surroundings on Facebook.

We are being flooded right now in Waverly, Tennessee. Really scary, Ms Almond says in the video, showing the river of floodwater rushing past her window.

I think something just hit the side of the house, a male voice, presumably Tommys, can be heard saying.

Ms Almond then sounds increasingly nervous.

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, she says repeatedly.

The mother and son later climbed onto their roof for safety, family members told WKRN , but the roof collapsed and they fell into the river of floodwater, which began carrying them away. Tommy was later rescued, but Ms Almond did not survive. Her body was recovered on Sunday.

The massive floods that battered Tennessee this past weekend left 22 people dead and at least 10 missing. About 120 homes were also destroyed, in some cases ripped out of the ground by the rushing floodwaters.

One of those houses was the one the Almonds were trapped in.

My brothers house was lifted off its foundation, Victoria Almond, Tommys sister, told The Washington Post .

After her mother and brother were swept away, Victoria explained, they grabbed onto a utility pole for safety. But some time later, another unmoored house began floating toward them. To avoid getting hit, they let go.

My brother went down for about 45 seconds underwater and when he came back up, he couldnt find Mom, Victoria told the paper . That was when they let go. It was the last time he saw her.

Survivors assess the damage after the disastrous flooding in Tennessee (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean/AP)

Tommy eventually found a roof that was stable enough to stand on, and he waited there for the storm to end. When the flooding was over, he walked along the street and managed to borrow a pedestrians phone, which he used to call his sister.

Victoria said she could tell right away her mother was no longer alive.

I could hear it in his voice, the way he described it and his tone of voice  I already knew, she said. It wasnt confirmed, but I already knew.

Victoria remembers Linda Almond as a kind, non-judgemental person.

She taught me to always have an open mind and see both sides of the coin, she said.
A family in Waverly, Tennessee is pleading for help digging through the flood debris where they believe their teen daughter is stuck.

Lilly Bryant , 15, was last seen on Saturday morning as floodwaters swept her away and slammed her into a tree, her family says. The teenagers aunt, Tarri Holderman, believes she is somewhere in the area, buried under the wreckage left behind.

There is so much debris and we just need people to come out to move this stuff so we can see underneath, Ms Holderman told WZTV .

The distraught aunt says she and the rest of the family have called hospitals and shelters in the area to see if Lilly might be there, but without luck. Nevertheless, theyre holding out hope that the teenager is still alive.

Were praying that shes just unconscious somewhere and not being able to talk, Ms Holderman said.

Lilly has blonde hair, is 57 tall, and was wearing a pink top and blue or black shorts when she was last seen. Her family and Waverly authorities are asking for the publics help in finding her.

Over the weekend, Tennessee was devastated by catastrophic flooding , especially in Humphreys County, where the city of Waverly is located. At least 22 people in the state have died, and about 40 are missing.

Among those affected, tragically, are children who were ripped from their parents arms by the floodwaters. A pair of seven-month-old twins were killed, and a two-year-old boy is missing after slipping out of his mothers grip as she held onto her four other children.

Ms Holderman says her family is in agony over the thought of losing Lilly.

Lilly Bryant, 15, has been missing since she was swept away by floodwaters in Waverly, Tennessee (GoFundMe / Shauna Tidwell)

My sister is just devastated, the aunt told WKRN . Shes broken down so many times she cant even speak. Im pretty much all cried out.

Ms Holderman says family members have travelled in from other states to help look for Lilly, and locals in the Waverly community have volunteered to house them.

People have taken us in that we dont even know, Ms Holderman told WZTV . The people here are so nice, so nice. I just want to thank everybody for everything theyve done.

What is most needed now, she says, are tractors and other vehicles to lift the debris.

We just need to have closure. We need to find her, she said.
Among his many achievements, Gottfried Leibniz (16461716) invented differential calculus independently of Isaac Newton; much of the notation and vocabulary used today comes from Leibniz, who possessed a flair for both symbolism and language. He was also a pioneer in the field of symbolic logic.

However, unhappily for Leibniz, he is probably best known as the inspiration for Voltaires satirical creation, Dr Pangloss, who spends his time in the novel Candide insisting that all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds, despite the fact that he is confronted with disaster after disaster. There is an element of truth in this characterization of Leibnizs philosophy  or his metaphysico-theologo-cosmolonigology, as Voltaire put it  but it would be a mistake to think that Leibniz was some sort of buffoon. He was one of the leading intellectual figures of his age.

He was born in Leipzig on 21 June 1646. His father, who taught moral philosophy at the University of Leipzig, died when he was only six years old, and he was raised mainly by his mother, who was careful to nurture and encourage his precocious intellectual talents. He taught himself Latin at an early age in order to read Livy, and then, having been given free run of his fathers library, worked his way systematically through the ancients  Cicero, Herodotus, Seneca and Plato.
The Washington Post issued a clarification over "curry," days after Pulitzer prize-winning columnist Gene Weingarten received backlash from furious readers for racist stereotyping of Indian food.

Mr Weingarten courted controversy through a column titled You can't make me eat these foods, in which he wrongly claimed that the entire Indian cuisine is based on one spice and that is "curry."

In its clarification for the column published on 19 August, WaPo wrote: "A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Indian cuisine is based on one spice, curry, and that Indian food is made up only of curries, types of stew. In fact, Indias vastly diverse cuisines use many spice blends and include many other types of dishes."

Although the author received flak for expressing his dislike for other popular food items such as anchovies, blue cheese and hazelnut, netizens especially tore into him for his lack of knowledge on the diverse and multi-cultural cuisine that is home to India.

If you like Indian curries, yay, you like one of Indias most popular class of dishes! If you think Indian curries taste like something that could knock a vulture off a meat wagon, you do not like a lot of Indian food, the column read.

Top Chef mentor and author Padma Lakshmi called the article "white nonsense" and asked Mr Weingarten to "kindly f**k off."

She added: "Is this really the type of coloniser 'hot take' the Washington Post wants to publish in 2021 - sardonically characterising curry as one spice and that all of India's cuisine is based on it?"

Similarly, Mindy Kaling, an American actor with roots in south Asia, slammed the article on Twitter. You dont like a cuisine? Fine. But its so weird to feel defiantly proud of not liking a cuisine. You can quietly not like something too, she wrote.

Dude you f*****g boiled down some of the most diverse cuisine to ew curry. It was racist and terrible and made me even question where youve even eaten Indian food. I am still appalled it made it to print, said a user.

Mr Weingarten apologised on Twitter for his "whining infantile ignorant" column.

"I should have named a single Indian dish, not the whole cuisine, and I do see how that broad-brush was insulting. Apologies. Also, yes, curries are spice blends, not spices, he wrote on Monday.

In an earlier post on Monday, Mr Weingarten said took nothing back after a taste of Indian food at Rasika, Washington, DCs best Indian restaurant.

Took a lot of blowback for my dislike of Indian food in todays column so tonight I went to Rasika, DCs best Indian restaurant. Food was beautifully prepared yet still swimming with the herbs & spices I most despise. I take nothing back, he wrote.
The Swedish government is required to pay a convicted drug dealer 33 bitcoins  roughly 14 million krona (1.2m)  after the cryptocurrency soared in price during his time in custody.

The offender was stripped of his proceeds when he was convicted in 2019, when the price of bitcoin was less than one tenth of todays value.

By the time the Swedish Enforcement Authority auctioned off the cryptocurrency, only three of the 36 bitcoins seized needed to be sold to pay the debt.

The lesson to be learned from this is to keep the value in bitcoin, that the profit from the crime should be 36 bitcoins, regardless of what value bitcoin has at the time, prosecutor Tove Kullberg reportedly told Swedish Radio.

It has led to consequences I was not able to foresee at the time.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have become popular among some criminals due to their semi-anonymous nature that make them difficult to track. One of the earliest use cases for bitcoin was as an online currency among users of the dark web drug market Silk Road, while cyber criminals and hackers typically demand cryptocurrency when carrying out ransomware attacks.

A 2019 study estimated that 46 per cent of all bitcoin transactions between 2009 and 2017 were for illegal activity, however there has since been a major rise in mainstream applications that have increased the number of legitimate transactions.

Cryptocurrency-fuelled crimes have become so widespread that the US government recently hired a cryptocurrency firm called Anchorage Digital to safeguard its seized crypto.

I think we should probably invest in an internal education in the [prosecution] authority, as cryptocurrency will be a factor well be dealing with to a much greater extent than we are today, prosecutor Tove Kullberg reportedly told Swedish Radio.

The more we increase the level of knowledge within the organisation, the fewer mistakes we will make.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has reflected on her time as a Victorias Secret Angel while revealing her belief that the lingerie company missed the boat with its rebranding attempts.

The 34-year-old, who recently revealed she is pregnant with her second child, discussed the brands controversial past and its recent attempts to overhaul its image during an interview with The Sunday Times.

Beginning in 1995, the company promoted its latest offerings with the annual Victorias Secret Fashion Show, during which the brands iconic Angels would walk the runway in lingerie and wings. However, in 2019, amid controversy and plummeting viewership, the brand announced that the fashion show had officially been cancelled.

In June 2021, Victorias Secret announced its latest bid to revamp its image, with the lingerie company introducing The VS Collective and revealing that it had replaced its Angels with ambassadors such as Megan Rapinoe and Priyanka Chopra.

At the time, the companys chief executive Martin Waters said the change was about reestablishing Victorias Secret as an advocate for female empowerment.

According to Huntington-Whiteley, who walked in the fashion show for the final time in 2010, it had been a different time when she last worked for former employer.

It was a different time and its crazy [to say that] because it was 11 years ago, which is not that long ago, she said.

The supermodel, who was the fifth highest-paid model in the world in 2017 with an income of $9.5m according to Forbes, then revealed that she believes that the brand has been unsuccessful in its attempts to embrace the cultural shift that happened over the last few years.

I do feel Victorias Secret really missed the boat with broadening themselves out in the past few years and really listening to the cultural shift of what people are looking for from their brand, she told the outlet.

In addition to the decision to replace the brands Angels, Victorias Secret has also expanded its representation in recent years to include transgender and plus-size models - after the companys former chief marketing officer Ed Razek was criticised for controversial comments hed made about the casting of plus-size models and the inclusion of transgender models in the fashion shows.

Reflecting on the companys latest attempts to rebrand, Waters previously told The New York Times: When the world was changing, we were too slow to respond.

We needed to stop being about what men want and to be about what women want.

Huntington-Whiteley is not the only former Angel to speak out regarding the need for the lingerie brand to rebrand, as Heidi Klum previously said it was about time.

About time, is all I can say. About time, the supermodel, who was an Angel from 1999 to 2010, told The Sunday Project in July. As a model, you go there, you are happy to have a job. When you are not the company, you do what you are told. But finally, looking at this now, Im like, about time.
Airbnb has said it will house 20,000 Afghan refugees at no charge to help deal with one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time.

The company asked hosts to reach out if they were willing to offer accommodation for refugee families.

Airbnb will cover the cost of the stays, which it said would start from Tuesday. The company also called on other businesses to join efforts to support refugees.

Airbnbs announcement comes as US and UK troops withdraw from the country after a 20-year intervention, prompting fears for the safety of Afghan citizens who are now under Taliban rule.

As tens of thousands of Afghan refugees resettle around the world, where they stay will be the first chapter in their new lives, said Airbnb chief executive Brian Chesky.

"For these 20,000 refugees, my hope is that the Airbnb community will provide them with not only a safe place to rest and start over, but also a warm welcome home.

The efforts will be paid for by Airbnb's charitable arm, which is funded by Mr Chesky and other donors.

Airbnb said it recognised that the situation on the ground is evolving fast. The company pledged to closely collaborate with resettlement agencies and partners to go where the need goes, and evolve this initiative and our support as necessary.

David Miliband, president and chief executive of the International Rescue Committee, welcomed the companys commitment.

He said: As the IRC helps to welcome and resettle Afghans in the US, accessible housing is urgently needed and essential.

We are grateful to our partners at Airbnb.org and Airbnb for once again offering their support and infrastructure to meet this moment, providing safe and welcoming places for individuals and families as they arrive in the United States and begin rebuilding their lives.
A Missouri man has died rescuing his two young relatives from Lake Michigan waters on Sunday. He is the fourth person to drown in the lake this summer in the southeastern Wisconsin city of Racine.

Racine County sheriffs officials on Monday identified the man who drowned Sunday as 40-year-old Thomas Walker. The authorities didnt reveal where in Missouri he lived.

Walker went into the lake at North Beach on Sunday to rescue the boys, whose ages are unknown, authorities said.

Mr Walker was last seen saving the boys.

The children showed that they were in distress, and an adult male relative entered the water to save the children, the sheriffs office said. The adult male assisted in the rescue of the young children; however, he did not emerge from the water.

Emergency responders from the South Shore Fire Department, Racine Fire Department, and the sheriffs office dive team was called to the scene at around 3 p.m. Mr Walker was found in the water about an hour later. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

The sheriffs office released a statement from Walkers family.

He was a kind soul and an amazing uncle to his niece and nephews. And how we lost him is a testament to how great an uncle and all-around guy he was. (We) never met a person who didnt like him. He is missed greatly.

The National Weather Service warned of hazardous water conditions along Lake Michigan on Sunday, including the beaches in Racine County. These conditions make swimming a risky activity.

The county sheriff, Christopher Schmaling, urged swimmers to check the conditions before entering Lake Michigan.

This, like the other unfortunate drownings this summer, are tragic, incredibly sad, and preventable, Schmaling said.

The three other Lake Michigan drowning victims in Racine died in June and were children.

In 2021, The Great Lakes Surf Rescue has reported 56 drownings in all the Great Lakes.

AP
The European Unions top migration official is urging member countries to help Lithuania beef up surveillance on its border with Belarus and not to give in to political pressure from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko

Lithuanias border guard service said it detained 171 people caught crossing in from Belarus on Tuesday night, the largest number in a single day this year. It brought the total number of migrants detained so far this year to 3,027.

The border service said the migrants, all from Iraq were to be placed in one of Lithuanias already crowded immigration detention centers.

Movements of people across the border have spiked dramatically since the EU imposed sanctions this year on more Belarus government officials.

Once dubbed Europes last dictator, Lukashenko ordered a crackdown on opponents and protesters since he was named the winner of a sixth term last August in a vote that the West denounced as rigged. His main election challenger fled to Lithuania.

The unacceptable instrumentalization of people for political purposes must stop. Our first priority must be to assist Lithuania in security its border with Belarus, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson wrote to Lithuanias 26 partner countries in a letter seen Thursday by The Associated Press.

I call on all of you to contribute to this effort as a matter of priority, Johansson said.

She said 35 officers from the EU's border and coast guard agency, Frontex, have now been deployed to Lithuania and four to EU neighbor Latvia, which also borders Belarus. More workers are due to be sent to help with border surveillance. Frontex is also providing equipment, including fingerprint scanners.

Johansson said the commission stands ready to provide 12 million euros ($14.3 million) to help meet urgent migrant reception and asylum processing needs, and that Lithuania can also benefit from other material aid including temporary shelter from the EUs civil protection mechanism.

A commission team is to visit Lithuania to study ways to boost surveillance along its entire border with Belarus.

Lithuanian authorities believe most of the people attempting to enter the country traveled to the Belarus capital of Minsk on one of the four weekly flights from Iraq, which carry up to 500 passengers each.

In the letter, sent Wednesday, Johansson said the EU has been in contact with the Iraqi government to better control flights to Belarus and readmit Iraqi nationals who want to return voluntarily or have no right to international protection.

___

Follow all AP stories on global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration.
Breast milk of mothers who have had two Covid-19 vaccines contains antibodies that could help protect babies from coronavirus, a study has found.

The study was conducted between December 2020 and March 2021 and although small, is encouraging, researchers say.

In total, 21 US healthcare workers were recruited who had never previously had Covid. This was around the time when vaccines first became available to healthcare workers in the US.

Mothers breast milk and blood was sampled three times - prior to having the vaccine, after the first dose and then again after the second dose.

Results showed that there was a robust antibody response in blood and breast milk after the second dose. This was around a one hundred-fold increase compared with levels before vaccination.

It also seemed that the levels of antibodies present post-vaccine were higher than those seen after natural infection with the virus.

When babies are born, their underdeveloped immune systems means that it is hard for them to fight off infections. They are therefore often also too young to respond adequately to certain types of vaccines, say experts.

Joseph Larkin III, senior author of the study and an associate professor at the University of Florida, said: Our findings show that vaccination results in a significant increase in antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 - the virus that causes Covid-19 - in breast milk, suggesting that vaccinated mothers can pass on this immunity to their babies, something we are working to confirm in our ongoing research.

Meanwhile, Josef Neu, one of the studys co-authors and a professor in the University of Floridas College of Medicines department of paediatrics, division of neonatology, explained: Think of breast milk as a toolbox full of all the different tools that help prepare the infant for life.

Vaccination adds another tool to the toolbox, one that has the potential to be especially good at preventing Covid-19 illness.

The results of our study strongly suggest that vaccines can help protect both mum and baby, another compelling reason for pregnant or lactating women to get vaccinated.

Researchers are continuing their work looking into how breast milk containing Covid antibodies gained via vaccinations could protect babies who ingest it. However, they said that initial results were encouraging.

The study has been published in the journal Breastfeeding Medicine. It was funded by the Childrens Miracle Network.
Investigators searching for missing university chef Claudia Lawrence have begun a search operation in gravel pits about eight miles from her home in York.

Ms Lawrence went missing 12 years ago and no body has ever been found, although police believe she was murdered.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed on Tuesday an operation has begun to search the gravel pits at Sand Hutton, to the east of York, involving underwater search teams and forensic experts.

Detective Superintendent Wayne Fox, who took over as senior investigating officer in the case earlier this year, said: The searches which have commenced here today at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits are in relation to the disappearance and suspected murder of Claudia Lawrence more than 12 years ago.

While I cannot say at this stage how long the search may take, I do anticipate that a number of specialist officers and staff, including underwater search teams, and forensic experts are likely to be at this location for a number of days.

Police officers searching the land at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits near York (PA)

He added: Whilst I am unable to disclose what brought us to this location, I would like to stress that the searches that you will see in coming days are just one of several active lines of inquiry which are currently being investigated and pursued by North Yorkshire Police Major Investigation team in our efforts to establish what happened to Claudia and to identify any person responsible for causing her harm.

I can confirm Claudia's family are aware this activity is taking place.

Ms Lawrence, who lived by herself in the Heworth area of York, was last seen on 18 March 2009.

North Yorkshire Police has conducted two investigations and questioned nine people in relation to her disappearance and suspected murder but no charges have ever been brought.

Police believe Ms Lawrence was murdered, although no body has ever been found (PA)

Earlier this year, Mr Fox repeated that North Yorkshire Police believe that several people know, or have suspicions about, what happened to the 35-year-old.

He said some of the information received by the force appears extremely interesting and sparks a whole new line of investigation, and he urged anyone providing this information to get back in touch with as much detail as possible.

Earlier this year there was a fresh appeal for information relating to her disappearance.

Mr Fox said then that it was not too late for witnesses to come forward and end her loved ones unrelenting anguish.

He said: For whatever reason, they have maintained a silence for 12 years. That is an awfully long time to carry such a burden of guilt. The longer you carry it, the greater the anguish you are causing to Claudia's family and friends.

Please do the right thing, come forward and speak to me.

Additional reporting by PA
Hundreds of Afghans who were promised resettlement in Britain more than a year and a half ago are still in refugee camps waiting to be transferred to the UK.

The Home Office is coming under pressure to transfer around 200 Afghan refugees it accepted before March 2020, but whose cases were put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Last week, the department announced that it would introduce a new Afghan resettlement scheme that would offer sanctuary to 5,000 people from the country in the first year, and 20,000 in the long term.

But the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which aids global resettlement, told The Independent it was concerned that the scheme would mean a further delay for hundreds of already displaced Afghans, and hundreds more refugees from other parts of the world who had been informed they would be resettled in Britain but have been left in limbo.

Laura Padoan, spokesperson for the organisation, said there were around 200 Afghans living in refugee camps and informal settlements in countries such as Turkey, Iran and India who had been identified for resettlement to the UK, but were yet to be transferred. She said it wasnt clear whether they would be included in the new resettlement scheme.

A lot of Afghan refugees have been living in protracted, very difficult situations for a very long time, and that includes women at risk, children at risk, survivors of sexual violence, people with urgent medical needs. Some of these people have been told theyve been accepted by the UK but we dont know when theyll be arriving, she said.

At the moment we dont have any details about whether the Afghan resettlement scheme will see the UNHCR identify refugees in a traditional resettlement model way, or whether the government is proposing something different. We really hope to get clarity on that.

But something that can be done now is to resettle the Afghans who have already been identified as being in need of resettlement and are due to come to the UK.

Shadow immigration minister Bambos Charalambous said: This is a desperate situation and now more than ever we need certainty and clarity from the Home Office about the resettlement scheme.

The Independent has backed calls for ministers to be more ambitious in its plan to resettle Afghans. Our Refugees Welcome campaign is calling for the government to offer sanctuary to as many people as possible.

Last August, the UNHCR submitted a proposal to the Home Office for it to commit to resettling 5,000 vulnerable refugees who had fled from conflict-hit countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan and Eritrea.

But the Home Office has not accepted this proposal, and it scrapped the numerical target on its global refugee resettlement programme, known as the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), in March, saying the numbers would instead be kept under review.

Ms Padoan added: Around the world there are hundreds of thousands of refugees who need to be resettled. We dont have a commitment from the UK, and we desperately need it to come forward and offer places to those people in need.

It makes responding to need very difficult when theres no commitment, because in the UK local authorities need to plan in advance to be able to receive people, and at our end we need to have the staffing capacity to be able to identify people most in need.

It cant all be done on an ad-hoc basis. Its absolutely necessary for the government to work with the UNHCR, who are identifying the refugees, and also local authorities and charities offering support services in the UK.

Louise Calvey, head of services and safeguarding at Refugee Action, said: The announcement to welcome 5,000 Afghan refugees last week is welcome but is inadequate in terms of the numbers of people needing help. It utterly fails to address the refugees who have been waiting in limbo under the UKRS scheme, which the Home Office have been dragging their heels on for more than a year now.

A Home Office spokesperson said: Our immediate priority is to evacuate those in danger in Afghanistan in order to save lives. While the pandemic has meant that resettlement activity has been disrupted over the last year, no one should be in any doubt of our commitment to build upon our proud history of resettling refugees in need of protection.
The Cornish tourist board has urged people not to visit unless they have pre-booked and to test themselves extensively amid a spike in coronavirus cases in the county.

Visit Cornwall chief executive Malcolm Bell said visitors should aim to treble their efforts as much as possible with the hands, face, space guidance and try to remain outdoors.

It comes as the southwest county has seen a rise in cases in recent weeks after visitors flocked there for their summer holidays.

Figures calculated by the PA news agency using health agency data show both Devon and Cornwall have 500 cases or more per 100,000 people in the seven days to 18 August.

A week before, the figure was 300 or less per 100,000 people.

We are asking people not to come unless they have booked ahead and request they take a lateral flow test before, during and after [their] stay so that [people] can be safe and help us to manage the current spike, said Mr Bell.

On Monday, health officials said they were investigating 4,700 cases of coronavirus suspected to be linked to the Boardmasters festival, which took place nearly two weeks ago in Newquay.

The cases are spread across the country but around 800 are living in Cornwall, a council official confirmed.

Mr Bell said: There is concern and most local residents will be happier in a week or so, when the peak season is over and an older demographic visits as there are too many occurrences of overcrowding in honey pots.

We are asking visitors to look at visiting other parts of Cornwall.

We have over 300 beaches and lovely parts that can cope with visitors.

He added that the vaccination programme in the county was in full flow and asked people due to arrive to be patient with businesses who are short staffed and to book ahead with activities.

Mayor of Newquay Louis Gardner, who is also the Conservative councillor for Newquay Central and Pentire and owns a delicatessen in the town, said he had been speaking to other businesses this week and they believed the rise in cases was due to a number of different issues.

Were seeing a spike in Cornwall because weve got the highest number of visitors weve ever had, he said.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. 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The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave Getty UK news in pictures 16 July 2021 The sun rises behind the Sefton Park Palm House, in Sefton Park, Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 15 July 2021 Sir Nicholas Serota watches a short film about sea monsters as he opens a 7.6 million, 360 immersive dome at Devonport's Market Hall in Plymouth, which is the first of its type to be built in Europe PA UK news in pictures 14 July 2021 Heidi Street, playing a gothic character, looks at a brain suspended in glass at the worlds first attraction dedicated to the author of Frankenstein inside the Mary Shelleys House of Frankenstein experience, located in a Georgian terraced house in Bath, as it prepares to open to the public on 19 July PA UK news in pictures 13 July 2021 Rehearsals are held in a car park in Glasgow for a parade scene ahead of filming for what is thought to be the new Indiana Jones 5 movie starring Harrison Ford PA UK news in pictures 12 July 2021 A local resident puts love hearts and slogans on the plastic that covers offensive graffiti on the vandalised mural of Manchester United striker and England player Marcus Rashford on the wall of a cafe on Copson Street, Withington in Manchester Getty Images UK news in pictures 11 July 2021 England's Bukayo Saka with manager Gareth Southgate after the match Pool via Reuters UK news in pictures 10 July 2021 Australias Ashleigh Barty holds the trophy after winning her final Wimbledon match against Czech Republics Karolina Pliskova Reuters UK news in pictures 9 July 2021 England 1966 World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst stands on top of a pod on the lastminute.com London Eye wearing a replica 1966 World Cup final kit and looking out towards Wembley Stadium in the north of the capital, where the England football team will play Italy in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday PA

Our accommodation is at 100 per cent capacity, our hospitality venues are full, theres no social distancing in place, but I think those factors added in all together are having an effect.

Its a perfect storm.

A spokesperson for Boardmasters said the festival used the NHS Covid Pass app as a condition of entry to the festival or urged people to show proof of a negative test before entering and asked people to test themselves during the five-day event.

They added that more than 450 people tested positive and left the festival early or did not go in.

No event is able to eliminate risk entirely and the latest Test & Trace data includes reported infections among the 76,000 people who visited the festival or related activities at Fistral Beach in Newquay and the wider area during the week of Boardmasters, they said.

We will continue to work with our public health partners to understand the extent to which attendance at the festival has contributed to the figures.

Additional reporting by Press Association
One person has been taken to hospital after a large fire closed the George IV Bridge in Edinburgh.

Images from the scene show smoke pouring from a branch of Patisserie Valerie, next door to The Elephant House cafe which was made famous as the place where JK Rowling wrote much of her early Harry Potter series.

Members of the public are being asked to avoid the area and several roads in the city centre have been closed.

Nine fire engines and two height appliances were sent to the scene after emergency services were called to the blaze shortly after 6am on Tuesday.

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: We received a call at 06.39am today to attend an incident at George IV Bridge in Edinburgh with our first resource arriving on scene at 6.46am.

We dispatched two ambulances, one advanced paramedic and our special operations team to the scene.

We transported one patient to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Firefighters at the scene of a large fire at George IV Bridge in Edinburgh which has closed several roads in the city centre (Matt Donlan/Twitter/PA)

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: We were alerted at 6.18am on Tuesday 24 to reports of a building on fire at George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.

Operations Control mobilised nine appliances and two height vehicles to the scene where firefighters are tackling a fire affecting a number of properties.

Crews are still in attendance.

Police Scotland added in a statement: Our officers are currently assisting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service dealing with a large fire at George IV Bridge.

Please be aware that there are numerous road closures in the vicinity of George IV Bridge and Candlemaker Row at present and avoid the area where possible.
Men who were deported to Zimbabwe on a charter flight last month are homeless and living in fear of the authorities, it has emerged, as the Home Office prepares to send another mass removal flight to the country.

The Independent has spoken to two deportees who are sleeping rough in Zimbabwean cities Harare and Bulawayo and having to beg for food after being forcibly removed along with 13 others on a controversial flight to the southern African nation on 21 July.

Campaigners are meanwhile calling on the Home Office to halt a second removal flight to Zimbabwe scheduled for Wednesday. Dozens of Zimbabweans are said to have been rounded up and placed in removal centres in recent weeks, including those who have been in Britain since they were young children.

Before this summer, no mass deportation flights had left for Zimbabwe for years, but it is believed the UK has agreed a deal with the countrys new government which enables removals of Zimbabwean nationals who have served prison sentences in the UK of more than 12 months.

Charities and unions have described the deportation flights as a cruel double punishment that is tearing people away from their homes, families and communities and placing them at risk of persecution, isolation and poverty.

Recommended Final UK troops pulled out of Kabul

The charter flight to Zimbabwe on 21 July had been due to leave with around 50 people on board, but this was reduced to 14 after legal challenges, as well as Covid self-isolation, meant many had their removal cancelled in the days and hours before.

One of those who was on the flight, Munyaradzi Ndowa, 37, who moved to the UK in 2007, told The Independent he had returned to Bulawayo, the city where he grew up, but that he was sleeping on the streets because he no longer has any family or support network there.

Ive been struggling. Its really terrible. I have nowhere to live. I have to ask for food from strangers. Luckily people have a good heart, he said.

The Zimbabwean national, who was deported on the basis of a burglary offence in 2018 for which he was sentenced to 28 months, said he had no family in Zimbabwe and only his sister in the UK. My sister rings me every day, but theres not a lot she can do. I just roam around, he added.

Another deportee, a 43-year-old man who was removed last month on the basis of a 13-month prison sentence in 2012, said that since completing the 10-day quarantine on arrival, he had been sleeping on the floor of someones shed in the Zimbabwean capital Harare.

The Zimbabwean national sent The Independent a photograph of the shed where he is sleeping (Supplied)

The father-of-five, whose children all live in the UK, said: I had no money, no identification card, nothing. Just a pair of shoes and the clothes I was wearing. My living situation is impossible. I have relatives in the UK who are trying to find a way to send me money and help me, but everyone has also got their own problems.

A few friends I still know in Zimbabwe who I ask for food. Its so embarrassing. Im coming from a rich country and Im having to beg for food.

The man, who did not wish to be named due to fear of reprisals from the Zimbabwean authorities, said he had requested asylum in the UK in 2012 on the basis that he had previously been attacked by the Zimbabwean army due to his political beliefs, but his claim was refused due to limited evidence.

Im afraid. Im having to go to meetings with the Centre Intelligence Organisation (CIO). Theyre trying to find out why I was claiming asylum.

Asked what he intended to do, the man said: I need to make it back to my kids. Those people risking their lives crossing the Channel from Calais and all that  I will be there soon.

The Home Office says it is funding re-integration support provided by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for all those deported to Zimbabwe, and said those returned in July were escorted from quarantine to their onward destination by IOM. But the men said they had not received this support.

In another case, Tendai Goremano, 29, who was also deported last month despite having lived in Britain since he was eight, said he would probably be dead by now if a friend had not been able to accommodate him.

I was lucky I knew someone. If it wasnt for him I might be dead by now. Id be homeless. I dont know what Id have done. All my family is in the UK, I have no one in Zimbabwe apart from my friend, he said.

Mr Goremano had been doing a degree in electronic engineering when he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in 2012 after getting into a fight in a nightclub. He has not been involved in crime since, but was prevented from working or studying after his release from jail in 2013.

I committed a crime when I was young. As far as I know, I never learnt any of this stuff in Zimbabwe, I learnt it in the UK. Ive gone to prison, done the time for the crime, learnt from my mistakes, but Im still paying for it. Im not allowed to progress my life, he said.

There were news cameras in our faces when we came off the plane. It felt awful. There was a murderer and a rapist on the flight, so now theyve put us all in this category. Straight away, people hear my English accent and they think straight back to that video. Im alienated. I stick out.

The Trade Unions Congress (TUC) has called on the government to suspend deportation flights until it has fully addressed the miscarriages of justice that have taken place within the immigration system.

A spokesperson said: The TUC is concerned that the Home Office does not adequately check the circumstances of those they targeted for deportation. Many have no family, social or financial links with the countries they are due to be deported to, and would be placed at risk of persecution, isolation and poverty.

Director of Detention Action Bella Sankey said it was morally repugnant that people who were brought to the UK as children were being deported to homelessness and destitution, and described the removals to Zimbabwe, a country still rife with oppression and human rights abuses, as a grotesque mission.

Among those facing removal this week is Bruce Mpofu, from Bradford, who was handed a deportation order on the basis of a 22-month sentence for robbery in 2010. He has not committed a crime since. He is currently in Brook House removal centre with dozens of other Zimbabweans.

The 29-year-old, who came to the UK with his family aged nine, and whose rugby club in Wibsey is fundraising money for his legal fees, told The Independent: Im terrified. I dont know what Ill do out there. I dont speak the language, I dont know anyone. I dont have money.

Ive learnt from my mistake over 10 years ago. If Id been in and out of prison I might understand, but Ive changed. Its not fair for them to judge me on a mistake I made 10 years ago.

Zoe Gardner, policy and advocacy manager at the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), said it was wrong to exile people who call the UK home to a country they barely know, where their lives could be put at risk.

Describing the deportations as a cruel double punishment, she added: The Home Office must stop tearing people away from their homes, families and communities.

Zita Holbourne, national chair of campaigning group Barac UK, said: The government has embarked on a summer of mass deportations ... tearing families apart and including people who came to the UK as children and those who will face persecution if deported.

A Home Office spokesperson said the men deported in July had a history of serious and persistent offending in the UK, with crimes including assault and burglary.

We make no apology for doing whatever is necessary to remove these individuals from the UK as the British public would expect. We only ever return those with no legal right to remain in the UK, including foreign national offenders, they added.
An emergency summit of G7 states chaired by Boris Johnson is expected to agree a unified approach on the future use of sanctions on Afghanistan, but hold back from immediate measures against the new Taliban regime which has seized control in Kabul.

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab today insisted that the UK is ready to use all the levers at our disposal - including sanctions - to protect the people of Afghanistan and prevent the country again becoming a base for terrorism.

His warning came just a day after Downing Street denied reports that the UK was pressing world leaders to consider imposing sanctions at this afternoons virtual summit.

Instead, the G7 countries - the UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan - are expected to agree to take a unified front on the questions of when and if to recognise the Taliban regime and any future measures in retaliation to breaches of obligations on human rights and terrorism.

One Whitehall source told The Independent that the Taliban had indicated that, unlike during its previous period of power before 2001, it wants Afghanistan to maintain ties with the outside world in areas such as trade. London wants the G7 to send the message to the new rulers in Kabul that the quid pro quo for international links of this kind will be the disavowal of terrorism and respect for human rights.

It is understood that no planning is currently under way on specific sanctions, but that Mr Raabs comments were intended to signal to Kabul that they are a tool which the UK will not hesitate to wield in future.

Foreign affairs committee chairs from the parliaments of the G7 states issued a joint statement calling for the leaders at todays summit to back a UN resolution setting out binding commitments on the Taliban as a condition of co-ordinated international recognition of the Kabul regime, with robust sanctions in response to violations.

These should include repudiation of all cross-border terrorism, equality of rights for girls and women, protection of minority groups, commitment to democratic elections and ending all narcotics activity, said the committee chairs, including Tory MP and Afghanistan veteran Tom Tugendhat.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. 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There is little indication from its past or present behaviour that the Taliban is committed to any of these principles, so the G7 countries should be prepared to isolate the Taliban and impose robust sanctions should violations reach an agreed threshold, said the joint statement.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Raab said that the UK was focused on ensuring that gains made over the past 20 years in Afghanistan are not lost.

Our priorities are clear, he said. Afghanistan must never again be used as a base for terrorist attacks. We will have to address the looming humanitarian crisis in the country, which would also threaten regional stability, and we must strive to secure a more inclusive Afghan government that can maintain stability and avoid the kind of rights abuses that the Taliban have committed before, particularly against women.

We will use all the levers at our disposal, including sanctions, aid and access to international finance systems, and we are rallying our international partners around these shared priorities.

US president Joe Biden told reporters on Friday that he and secretary of state Antony Blinken would work with other countries to set harsh conditions for any co-operation with or recognition of the Taliban, based on their treatment of women and girls and overall human rights record.

The UK ambassador to Washington, Dame Karen Pierce, said that Mr Johnson will stress a unified approach during the 90-minute video-conference.

We want to start the process of developing a clear plan, so that we can all deal with the new Afghan regime in a unified and concerted way, said Pierce. We will judge the new regime by actions, not words.

We want to work together to convey the very important point that we dont want Afghanistan to be a breeding ground for terrorism. We dont want it to lapse into its pre 9/11 state.

Biden told reporters on Sunday that the US was already working with the Taliban to facilitate the evacuations, but that the Islamist group was seeking legitimacy in the longer term.

That meant it would need additional help in terms of economic assistance, trade, and a whole range of things, but the international response - including potential sanctions - would depend on their actions going forward.
British manufacturing businesses are to get another year to comply with Brexit red tape following concerns that an impending deadline could have sent them into chaos.

The Independent previously reported that vital parts for UK goods, such as cars and fridges, could fall into legal limbo if the government took too long to replace the ubiquitous European CE mark.

The new UKCA mark was due to be a requirement from 1 January 2022, but that deadline will now slip back to 1 January 2023 under new government plans.

The decision, confirmed by the governments business department on Tuesday, is another sign that the government was poorly prepared for the consequences of Brexit.

Industry bodies, factories and conformity assessors had previously told The Independent that there was not enough capacity, or no capacity at all, for testing certain goods ahead of the previous 2022 UKCA compliance deadline.

They said it risked a falling out between business and government if, as feared, it derailed British supply chains. It could also have held up businesses recovery efforts in the wake of the pandemic.

But businesses will now have another year to get approved under the new system.

Ahead of the U-turn, the British Chambers of Commerce had told The Independent that they had serious concerns about the effect on business of the looming deadline.

A business department spokesperson previously said of the new kite mark: Businesses have a responsibility to ensure their products meet the requirements of regulations. We continue to work with industry on this issue and to ensure they understand their obligations.
Boris Johnson must urgently rethink the UKs resettlement scheme for people in Afghanistan to save lives at immediate risk from the Taliban, Nicola Sturgeon has warned.

Scotlands first minister has urged the prime minister to increase the commitment to welcome 5,000 refugees in the next year and a total of 20,000 Afghan refugees over the long-term.

In a letter to Mr Johnson, the SNP leader said: We are concerned that the commitment to resettle 20,000 refugees in the long-term and just 5,000 in the first year is not sufficient in the context of the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding.

Ms Sturgeon added: We believe a commitment to a substantial increase in numbers is required and urgently seek further details of how civilians, especially women, girls and others in need of refuge will be protected.

She said Nato countries should avoid a cut-and-run operation in Afghanistan as thousands seek to get on flights out of Kabuls airport  but the US made clear on Tuesday that the evacuation will end by 31 August.

The SNP has called for parliament to be recalled immediately for an update on the UKs evacuation and resettlement plans  saying the failure to persuade the US to push back its deadline was deeply regrettable.

The partys Westminster leader Ian Blackford MP said: The UK parliament must be recalled immediately so that ministers can provide daily updates and MPs can properly scrutinise plans for the evacuation, refugee resettlement, and efforts to tackle humanitarian and security concerns.

Mr Blackford added: It would be unacceptable for the prime minister to avoid scrutiny by keeping parliament in recess for another fortnight.

Refugee charities have said the UKs short-term commitment to resettle 5,000 Afghan citizens was too little to meet the scale of the immediate crisis. Both Conservative and Labour MPs have also urged ministers to use the programme for people trying to flee the country right now.

Labours Yvette Cooper, chair of the Home Affairs Committee, and the Conservtaive Tobias Ellwood, chair of the Defence Committee, said it should be implemented on an interim basis.

Organisations involved in refugee resettlement say there is confusion in the way the scheme has been presented, because the process typically takes place only once people have fled their country of origin.

The Independent has backed calls from MPs and charities for No 10 to expand its plan to resettle Afghans at risk of losing their lives in the Taliban takeover.

Our Refugees Welcome campaign is calling for the government to offer sanctuary to as many Afghans as possible  and for local authorities and charities devoted to their welfare to be given the strongest possible support.
Gender critical feminist campaigners in Scotland have attacked the SNPs plans to make it easier for people to legally change gender.

As part of the partys new power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens, the SNP have agreed to introduce a bill within the next year to reform and simplify the Gender Recognition Act, which governs how trans people can legally change gender.

Currently, the Act requires people to prove to a Gender Recognition Panel they have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, they have lived in their new gender for at least two years already and then make legally-binding declaration they intend to live as this gender for the rest of their life.

The Scottish government has already held several consultations in recent years on amending the law to allow people to simply self-identify their new gender with a form which would automatically be recognised by the panel.

Their agreement with the Greens, who are supporting an SNP minority government in a formal confidence and supply deal, commits them to reforming the Act in the next 12 months.

The text of the agreement stats: We will reform the Gender Recognition Act in a Bill introduced in the first year of this parliamentary session.

This will ensure the process by which a trans person can obtain legal recognition is simplified, reducing the trauma associated with that process.

But For Women Scotland, a lobbying group which formed in opposition to self-identification in 2018, has accused Nicola Sturgeons government of ignoring the views of women and trying to push through changes out of step with the publics views.

As usual with the SNP, it is not listening to the wider general public, Marion Calder, the director of For Women Scotland, told The Daily Telegraph.

This is the SNP forging ahead with its Bill without any consultation  its a farce  and it will try to rush this through as fast as it can.

"The general public have an understanding theres only two sexes and they will be confused and astonished.

Of all the things we could be looking at  economic recovery, drug deaths, falling education standards  the Scottish Government has decided its so important its got to be done in the first year."

For Women and other campaigners argue simplifying and speeding up the process of gender transition could open the door to men pretending to be trans women to gain access to female changing rooms or other spaces in society reserved for women.

Trans activists dismiss this as fear-mongering, and have said the current gender recognition process is overly bureaucratic and interfering with trans peoples private lives.

Under Theresa May, the government in Westminster held its own consultation on reforming the Act and introducing self-identification, but concluded last year the current process was fair and scrapped plans to change the law.

However, a spokesperson for the Scottish government insisted reforms to the Gender Recognition Act in Scotland posed no threat to women or their rights.

"This reform will be undertaken in a way that ensures womens rights are preserved and protected, they said.
The government is said to be considering plans to make it a criminal offence for UK residents to travel to Afghanistan, which, if defied, could see offenders jailed for up to 10 years.

It was not immediately clear if all or just some of the south-central Asian nation would be blacklisted under the proposal, according to reports first published in The Telegraph. Ministers are due to discuss how it could legitimately work later this week.

Were looking at every option available at this stage about how we proceed in the future. This is one of the options, the newspaper quoted a source as saying.

However, the source stressed ministers were currently preoccupied with the evacuation effort to get UK nationals and eligible Afghans out of the country as fast as possible.

The drastic measure is thought to be a result of the longer-term threats presented by the Taliban takeover, particularly mounting fears that an influx of radicalised western recruits could travel to Afghanistan to join existing or incoming terror cells in the country.

Reports over the past few weeks have raised concerns that Al Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State Khorasan  also known as Isis-K  could gain momentum in the fragile country now it is in the hands of the Taliban, an Islamist militant group.

In 2019, the government created new designated area offence powers which allow the home secretary to ban British nationals from travelling to, or remaining in, specified terror hotspots.

The legislation  part of the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019  was introduced in the wake of the collapse of the Isis caliphate, which saw suspected British jihadists and jihadi brides return to the UK from Syria and Iraq.

Certain loopholes exist, though, for people who can prove they have a legitimate reason to be in a blacklisted area, such as humanitarian work and journalism.

One foreign policy think tank told The Telegraph on Monday night that it welcomed the idea of Britain including Afghanistan on its blacklist.

Sam Armstrong, the director of communications at the Henry Jackson Society, warned the government has been left completely unprepared for the Talibans victory in a range of areas, including asylum and counter-terrorism.

With glaring loopholes in counter-terrorism laws and clear support for the Taliban from UK extremists, banning travel to the region has become vitally important for national security, he said.

In former US president Donald Trumps 2020 deal, which ensured the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban pledged to ensure terrorist groups including al-Qaeda and Isis were not able to use Afghan territory to train and plot foreign attacks.

But, as The Independent revealed last week, there are already concerns that the agreement may not be honoured, or that the Taliban may lose control of parts of the country to its rivals.

A widely-circulated UN Security Council report, dated 1 June this year, came to the conclusion that the militant group and al-Qaeda remain closely aligned and show no indication of breaking ties.

Elsewhere in the document, which covers developments in Afghanistan between May 2020 and April 2021, UN member states are quoted as saying that the relationship between the two groups has grown deeper as a consequence of personal bonds of marriage and shared partnership in struggle, now cemented through second generational ties.

The Taliban previously refuted these claims.

A spokesperson said Downing Street had nothing to add when approached for comment.
The United States and European Union are raising alarm over the recent deployment of troops from Eritrea to Ethiopias Tigray region, where nine months of war have killed thousands of people and sparked a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Forces from Ethiopias rebellious Tigray recaptured much of the territory in June, in a major setback for Ethiopias government. But the new Eritrean deployments, which come months after Ethiopia said foreign troops were pulling out, raise the prospect of an escalation of fighting.

The United States is concerned that large numbers of [Eritrean Defence Forces] have re-entered Ethiopia, after withdrawing in June, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a statement on Monday.

Those remarks came as the Treasury Department announced sanctions against a leading Eritrean official it accused of human rights abuses during the war in Tigray. Eritrea said the allegations are baseless.

EU diplomats meanwhile wrote in an internal memorandum on 20 August that Eritrea was sending reinforcements across the border into Tigray.

The document, seen by Reuters, said Eritrean troops had deployed to the already heavily militarised and contested western part of Tigray and taken up defensive positions with tanks and artillery around the towns of Adi Goshu and Humera.

It also said that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Eritreas capital Asmara on 17 August, a visit that was not announced by his office, while en route to an official meeting in Turkey.

Spokespeople for Eritreas information ministry, Ethiopias prime minister and Ethiopias military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

War broke out last year between Ethiopias federal government and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), which controls the Tigray region, and more than two million people have since been forced to flee their homes.

Eritrean troops entered Tigray to fight alongside federal forces in a conflict marked by abuses including rape, according to investigations by Reuters, the UN and international human rights organizations.

The Ethiopian government said in April that Eritrean troops had begun withdrawing.

However, the spokesperson for the Tigrayan forces has repeatedly said that the Eritrean soldiers have remained. He was not immediately reachable for comment on Tuesday.

Reuters
Its a sharp, clear morning in Ceuta on 20 July, the day before Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice. People walk their dogs along the beachfront. Cyclists in lycra fly by.

And hundreds of bleary-eyed boys step out of their sleeping places. They are some of those than remain from the three days in May when perhaps 10,000 migrants swam around the border wall that separates Ceuta, the Spanish north African enclave, from Morocco.

More than half were summarily returned, but thousands remained.

The city, and its 85,000 inhabitants, scrambled to manage the new arrivals. Ceuta was already under exceptional strain.

In March 2020, citing the pandemic, Morocco closed the land border around it. It has remained shut since, with no indication of when it might reopen. The economy has suffered badly.

Even the wealthier centre is papered with liquidation and for sale signs. Many shops are shuttered. Relations with Morocco, which does not recognise Spains sovereignty over Ceuta, remain tense.

The diplomatic crisis started with Madrids silent refusal to join the United States in recognising Moroccos sovereignty over the Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony. The continued closure of the border around Ceuta, and the sudden arrival of the migrants in May, ratcheted up the pressure.

When I arrived in the city two months later, the initial chaos had given way to a new normal, which continues today. The majority of the migrants are now in repurposed warehouses near the border with Morocco, out of sight and out of mind for most of the people who live there.

They are provided for, in a basic way, while their asylum applications are processed. But there are still as many as one thousand migrants, including several hundred minors, living in the streets.

No one knows the numbers with any precision, but their presence is plain to see. Many live along the coastline that runs from the centre of Ceuta along to Benzu, a small town that lies just before the border with Morocco.

Moroccan migrants climb a cliff as they attempt to cross the border to Spains north African enclave of Ceuta, 19 May 2021 (AFP/Getty)

Between Ceuta and Benzu runs about 4km of road, with beaches to one side and mountains to the other. Walking along this road, the sleeping spots reveal themselves. Shadows stir in an abandoned car, before the door opens and a body unfolds out of it, stretches, and heads over to the public showers on the beach.

More bodies emerge from half-built houses; from behind the desalination plant, where the nooks between the great rocks of the breakwater offer spots of shelter; and down the steep bank beside the road, which is covered with wire mesh to prevent landslides and makes easy scaling. Above, tents and huts are visible on the ridge.

Around lunchtime, the migrants begin to gravitate away from the beach and up to Sidi Embarek, Ceutas biggest mosque. The day before Eid al-Adha is a public holiday in Ceuta, where roughly half the population is Muslim, but the place is abuzz. An NGO called Luna Blanca operates out of the mosques basement, and volunteers in green and white are piling plastic bags with food for migrants in every spare space.

They plan to work through the whole holiday. We cannot stop, says Mustafa Abdelkader, who manages Luna Blanca. They will still be here.

In his office, Abdelkader leans back in his chair. He offers me a bottle of water while a fly hovers around the room. Ceuta is a border city: weve always seen entries. But a massive entry used to mean 100 people  something that could be controlled, something the city had resources to deal with, Abdelkader says. This isnt just massive. Its extraordinary.

At any time, Ceuta holds a number of migrants. The centre for adults has a capacity of 500, though it often exceeds that. Then there are several facilities for the mostly Moroccan minors, with a capacity of several hundred.

The centres are open and migrants can wander the city, whiling away the months while they wait and hope to be transferred to the mainland. Ceuta and Melilla, Spains other north African enclave, are the only land borders between Europe and Africa. This makes them the cheapest way to get into Europe, and therefore attracts the most desperate migrants.

Those that came in May included many from across Africa and the Middle East, including Senegal, Cameroon, Yemen and Syria, who left home long ago and had been stuck in Morocco, trying to get into Spain, sometimes for years.

But it also included a great number of Moroccans themselves, who sought to escape a hand-to-mouth existence. Many tell the same story: they were encouraged to come. They were put on buses, told that Ceuta was open and the way to Spain was clear. Or they saw people posting on social media and didnt want to miss their chance. (The Moroccan government denies it facilitated their entry.)

They were deceived, says Abdelkader. After a few weeks, the migrants realised that everything they were promised was false. And they began to suffer. Because they were on the street and they are still there today. Two months of eating in the street, sleeping in the street. No toilets, no hygiene.

Some voluntarily returned to Morocco. The majority of the rest have opted to live in the warehouses administered by the local government. But even now a little under one thousand turn up at the mosque every day for lunch, suggesting that many are still living in the streets.

Spanish police control migrants crossing the border back to Morocco at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on 20 May (AFP/Getty)

The sheer number of Moroccans that came in the first place likely reflects the desperate situation in the Moroccan cities around Ceuta.

From what we hear, its very, very bad, says Abdelkader. We are suffering in Ceuta, but Castillejos is suffering ten times more. With the border closed, they have no way to earn money. All the families, 99.9 per cent of them, lived off the border trade.

A joyous noise draws us out the office and into the courtyard. A skinny boy is beaming and clutching some papers in his hand. He speaks no Spanish, but one of the volunteers steps in to translate. Ive got my papers. Im going to Spain tomorrow. And then, in broken Spanish: Spain  good, beautiful. Morocco

I ask Abdelkader whether, given his contact with the migrants living in the streets, he knows what they intended to do. Look, its well known that all of them  without exception  want to cross the Strait and get to Europe, he says.

The way they do it doesnt make a difference to them. They might try for political asylum. Or they might try by raft, by jet ski or under a lorry that boards a ferry. They know the risks. Theyve seen the images that the Mediterranean brings us every year.

In the hot hours of the afternoon, Ceutas port is listless. Since the land border closed and trade dried up, only a few boats come and go each day.

A four-lane road runs parallel to the sea, lined with supermarkets, petrol stations and closed travel agencies. The sun bears down overhead and shadows shrink to nothing. Skinny legs stick out from doorways.

The port is where the youngest of the migrants tend to congregate. And it is where No Name Kitchen, a Ceuta-based NGO, goes around in their van, looking for them, providing aid.

The good drivers have left, says Mar Soriano, laughing, as she crunches the gears and the engine groans. The minors tend to move in groups, and each has their patch  often a petrol station, where they can earn a few coins washing cars. We pull into one and find a group of ten crouching in the shade.

The boys seem to range in age from as young as 12 to 20. At first, only a few have the confidence to speak. Communication comes in a mangling of Spanish and Moroccan Arabic. To one side, Soriano tells me the older boys look out for the younger ones. Sometimes, anyway. Its not always so friendly.

The government has asked people not to feed the children in the streets, hoping the promise of food might draw them into the centres set up to accommodate them. But some minors say they prefer to live in the streets because they hear rumours that those in the centres are sent back to Morocco.

On 13 August, they were proven right. The Spanish government began bussing groups of minors back to Morocco. After doubts about the legality of the process, the deportations were temporarily suspended on 16 August.

But the other reason some minors choose to live in the streets is that, come nightfall, they can do el risky. This imported anglicism is one of the few Spanish words they know. It describes any attempt to break into the port, stow away on a ferry and reach the mainland.

The port is built to resist this. The walls that surround it are several metres high, with piercing, slicing edges. In places, bright tufts of fabric have been caught. Even if they scale the walls without detection, they face police and dogs that check every vehicle boarding a ship. Still, some boys make it. But much more often they fail, and they bear the damage. Some die. This group is in bad shape. Bloodshot eyes; torn clothes; fingers somehow grimy, despite washing cars. And they are covered with gashes, burns and bruises.

One has suppurating weals from jellyfish stings. They sit there sharing cigarettes and drinking fizzy drinks. Soriano and Cristiana Corral, another volunteer, tend to them. They disappear into the van and emerge with antiseptic cream, iodine and bandages, as well as water, shoes and clothes.

At first, the Spanish government hoped Moroccan families might come forward to claim their children. A few did. But more offered encouragement, told them to keep going, to make it to Spain. Other children may have left their families for good reason. Save the Children interviewed hundreds of the minors who came to Ceuta in May and found a quarter reported physical or sexual abuse. A number had been living in the streets in Morocco for some time already.

 Migrant boy swims to Spain's Ceuta with plastic bottles to stay afloat

No Name Kitchen seems to have a policy of not asking too many questions. They dont nag them about where they sleep, about the junk food they choose to buy with their few euros, about the kids smoking hashish.

They win their confidence with small kindnesses. The boys are drawn in. One of the youngest, a small boy wearing a bumbag with a cannabis-leaf print, takes a long pull on a joint, then finds a bar and starts doing pull-ups. Feeling his audience, he hits the ground and does some push-ups.

Then he wrests a pair of red-and-blue roller blades from another boy and puts them on. He cuts smooth arcs on the open space of the petrol station, as if ice skating. He scrapes to a stop and shoots us a look.

Back in the van, I ask whether the boys have problems from the owners of the petrol stations. Not really, says Corral. The owners arent there, anyway, just the employees, many of whom are of Moroccan origin themselves. As we are pulling out, the boys start shouting and running after us.

The one in roller blades flies up to the window, grinning toothily; Corral has forgotten her lighter. And they call them thieves.

Dusk arrived and I am outside the Sidi Embarek mosque again, waiting for a migrant called Mohamed. We met at a protest for migrants rights a week before and he invited me to spend an evening where he lives. It ends up being the evening before Eid al-Adha.

The Feast of Sacrifice comes from the moment when the Prophet Abraham is ready to sacrifice his son for God, only to be relieved at the last moment, told he can sacrifice a ram instead. In Ceuta, as elsewhere, the Muslim community celebrates by doing the same. Outside the mosque, trucks shuttled past with trussed-up rams in the back.

Mohamed appears with a friend, Amir, and we walk through town, then up a dirt track, rising. At the top, on an elevated plateau, there are four huts assembled from junk. Mohamed says there were twice as many to begin with, but people have gone: some to Spain, some to the warehouses, some back to Morocco.

Its beautiful, I say. To the west, the mountains and Morocco. To the east, the isthmus of Ceuta reaching for Spain. And ahead, the Strait of Gibraltar and the Rock. The electric lights are coming up. Thats beautiful, Mohamed says, sweeping his hand across the view. This, pointing to the huts, is horrible.

Mohamed offers me the seat in the entrance of their hut. We share the peach juice and chocolate I bought on the way; Amir offers cigarettes. Mohamed begins to talk, while Amir, who speaks only Arabic, sits silently, smoking and watching videos on his phone.

Mohamed grew up in a Moroccan city near Ceuta. His parents divorced when he was young; he left home and school when he was 14, going to Rabat, Moroccos capital, by himself. He began to work in kitchens. He did that for many years  he is now 27  before he came back to his city five months ago, for Ramadan, and ended up staying.

On 18 May, Amir, a childhood friend, rushed to him at his new job.

Amir came and said, Moha! Moha! The border is open, everyone is going to Ceuta. Weve got to go, right now! I told the boss, Im going to buy some medicine, Ill come right back. And I took a taxi. I still havent called him!

They swam in with the rest. They found this spot and started building their huts, piece by piece. The first two days they didnt eat and the cold at night was terrible. At first the police followed them around, but they had long stopped coming up here.

With time, Mohamed and Amir settled and found their routines. They shower down by the beaches and get lunch from the mosque. They decked out the hut to repel the cold and the snakes, lizards and racoons that share the area. And they found sporadic work as bricklayers and tilers, earning a little money, if they get paid at all.

Before the land borders were closed, some 30,000 people used to cross into Ceuta from Morocco every day, including many workers. It seems some of the homeless migrants are filling this void of cheap labour.

The Moroccans that came in May are working, says Mohamed. They are soldiers; they work on anything. And they lived like this in Morocco before. We know this life like we know our families.

The light is fading and the cicadas set up a wall of sound. Every few minutes, a motorbike rips up the road below. From the sports centre just off it comes the smacks, squeaking trainers and echoing shouts of several games of squash. Mohamed speaks with some bitterness of the lack of hospitality they had received.

In the first days, we went to the locals and asked for help, for food. And they want to hit us. They get angry. Even the Moroccan-origin locals, who he thought might understand, turned away. The answer every time is, Why did you come here? I want to say, why did you come here first? You got your papers; I dont have my papers yet. But I will get my papers. And I will come back and ask you again!

Mohamed checks himself: not all the locals are like this. But his own family had let him down. He has an uncle who lives in Ceuta, not far from where we are just now.

I met him twice. He never asked me, Do you want some help? Youve seen my situation. Of course I want help. But he didnt ask me that. He just asked me, Oh, you left your job in Rabat? Why? And I think to myself, you know our country, you know everything, so why are you even asking me that?

The adult migrants in Ceuta give various reasons for coming. Some talk about being able to provide for family. Some talk about material things: houses, cars and so on. Others talk about freedom and rights. All of them want to work. None believe they could attain these things in Morocco, even if they had a job.

And then they see how people live in Europe  or at least the online image of it.

This generation is different, says Mohamed. They have technology. From 13 years old, they know everything. When they open the internet, they see the reality. So why are they still there? Nobody in Morocco can ask this question. But in their hearts, everybody wants to ask it.

The muezzins begin to call from the many minarets in the city. Mohamed and Amir do not stir. Maybe I will get to Europe, maybe I will make some money, Mohamed says. But at the same time, Ill miss so many things. Tomorrow is Eid al-Adha. Everybody is going to celebrate with their family. And me? Mohameds thoughts turn to his mother.

They talk on the phone every day. Shes 60 years old and she works. When I get to Europe and I start my job, Im going to tell her, OK, stop the work. Be in your home. Even if I dont have money, I will send something.

It is dark by now, and the lights are bright and beckoning on the other side of the Strait. I ask Mohamed if he had tried el risky.

He frowns and shakes his head. I think I can go with a kayak. But when you do it, you have to think, This is my dream. If I dont do it, I will die. If I have this in my mind when I enter the sea, I will get to the other side. I swear to God; I know myself. Its not impossible. Its so close. I know friends who did it, and right now they are in Spain.

From the start of 2021, at least 159 people having died trying to cross the sea to Spain. I ask if hes really thinking about doing this.Why? Is it not safe, or what? Mohamed laughs. First Im going to do my asylum papers. But if something happens I have my plan B.

Mohamed rubs his forehead, searching for the words. I think on Monday Im going to the warehouses. Im going to rest. It was a hard two months in Ceuta, he says. Like a dream.
Conservative pundit Candace Owens is facing a $20m defamation lawsuit which claims she smeared a fellow right-wing commentator with false allegations of drug use, fraud and working as a strip club madame.

Kimberly Klacik, a former Republican congressional candidate and regular on conservative news programmes, accused Ms Owens of sharing an insulting string of allegations in an Instagram video seen by thousands that she claims amounted to character assassination, part of a long-running feud between the two.

Baseless character assassination has no place in political dialogue, Ms Klaciks attorney, Jacob S Frankel, told Law & Crime . The defendant chose to use her huge social media platform to attack a respected Baltimore political figure; we are using the proper forum  the power of the courts  to respond.

In June, Ms Owens, who hosts a podcast on conservative commentator Ben Shapiros Daily Wire network, posted a clip in which she accused Ms Klacik of being a madame who laundered money, spent campaign funds on cocaine, and recruited strippers to work for a club she claimed the womans husband owns.

These caustic and made-up defamatory allegations are without factual support, the lawsuit , filed in July, reads.

The claims, however, were strong enough to damage Ms Klaciks career, according to the legal action. After the video was posted, Ms Klacik says she lost a book deal, was removed from political fundraisers, lost a contract with a nationally recognised vendor, and saw her regular appearances on Fox News disappear.

A spokesperson for Ms Owens said a new video posted on her Instagram story contains full proof of the original allegations, many of which were public knowledge before Candace stated it.

This lawsuit is meant to distract from Kimberlys strange FEC filings which was the most important element of the video Candace did exposing her, the spokesperson added.

The two media figures, two of the best known Black conservative women commentators, first began battling on Twitter in June, according to the complaint.

The day after Joe Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a national holiday, Ms Owens made a post calling the celebration a form of psychological warfare and perpetual brainwash meant to make people believe everything is racist.

Believe it or not, many in Black America are very aware the fight is about classism rather [than] racism, Ms Klacik wrote. Unfortunately, the loudest mouths with the largest platforms represent the majority. This might come to a shock to you because of your lack of engagement with black people.

Ms Klacik, a member of the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee, first came to national attention last summer. During her unsuccessful 2020 race to fill the congressional seat of the late Elijah Cummings, a Democrat, the commentator posted a video lambasting Baltimores Democratic political leadership, much of which is Black, for the citys problems.

Donald Trump eventually supported her campaign, and she was invited to the Republican National Convention, before she lost the race to Democrat Kweisi Mfume.
People who were not vaccinated against Covid-19 were nearly five times as likely to be infected and 29 times more likely to be hospitalised than people who were inoculated from the disease, according to research from Los Angeles published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The evidence follows the release of several similar studies revealing the vaccines ability to significantly reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalisation and death, while underscoring the alarming impacts of infections and transmission among the unvaccinated as the more-contagious Delta variant becomes dominant.

Another report released from the CDC on Tuesday also illustrated the waning efficacy of vaccines against the surge in Delta infections, which US health officials signalled earlier this month following several weeks of climbing rates of severe illness that have overstressed health systems and warnings to Americans that vaccines remain the best defence to keep people out of hospitals.

Research from the US, Israel and the UK has shown a partial decline in vaccine efficacy against mild to moderate to severe infections, though it is unclear whether that decline has followed dropping levels of immunity, a rise in transmissions amid dropped restrictions and less-stringent health guidelines like wearing masks, or the Delta variants dominance, or a combination of all three factors.

In the latest CDC study, focusing on a cohort of frontline health workers, vaccine effectiveness was reduced to 66 per cent in recent months, compared to 91 per cent in months that preceded Deltas dominance.

Results from the Los Angeles study  reviewing infections from 1 May through July, when the Delta variant was predominant  are similar to those from recent studies indicating that Covid-19 vaccination protects against severe infections with increasing prevalence of the Delta variant, the report says.

Efforts to increase Covid-19 vaccination coverage, in coordination with other prevention strategies, are critical to preventing hospitalisations and deaths, according to the CDC.

White House health officials have pointed to a rise in vaccination efforts, now averaging roughly 450,000 shots per day, with 6 million shots within the last seven days, the highest seven-day total in more than a month, according to chief coronavirus adviser Jeff Zientz.

The way to end this pandemic is more vaccinations, he told reporters on 24 August.

Still, rates of infections and deaths from Covid-19 continue to climb, according to CDC director Rochelle Walensky.

Following rising rates of hospitalisations for coronavirus, the seven-day average of daily deaths from the disease is now 739, marking an increase of 23 per cent from the previous seven-day period, she said.

Dr Walensky told reporters on 18 August that officials are concerned that the current strong protection against severe infection, hospitalisation and death could decrease in the months ahead, especially among those who are at high risk or who were vaccinated earlier, which has prompted health officials to recommend booster shots for vaccinated Americans eight months after their second dose of the two-dose drugs from Moderna and Pfizer.

The overall purpose of vaccines is to keep us out of the hospital, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy added last week.

More than 171 million eligible Americans ages 12 and older are fully innoculated from Covid-19, according to CDC data as of 23 August.

Following Pfizers full approval order from the Food and Drug Administration on Monday, several large companies and institutions have issued requirements that employees be inoculated from the disease, which is likely to trigger more requirements in healthcare and other frontline work and elsewhere.

Requirements were issued for federal workers, service members through the US Department of Defence, healthcare workers at the departments of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services. Universities across the US have also issued requirements for students and staff.

Drugstore chain CVS Health, which operates nearly 10,000 retail pharmacies, will require staff and nurses to be fully vaccinated by 31 October.

The Louisiana health system Ochsner, one of the largest employers in the state, also is requiring its employees to be vaccinated.

Unionised employees at Walt Disney World in Florida also must be vaccinated by 22 October.

Oil and gas giant Chevron also will require vaccines for workers travelling abroad, offshore rig workers and other personnel.

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Businesses and institutions must step up and follow their lead, Mr Zientz said on Tuesday.

You have the power to protect your communities and end the pandemic through vaccination requirements, he added.
South Dakotas coronavirus cases have jumped by more than 300 per cent, in two weeks, following the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which saw more than 500,000 people descend on the town.

The Sturgis event contributes an estimated annual revenue of $800 million to the town of Sturgis, which has a population of around 6,600. According to New York Times coronavirus data, there has been a staggering 352 per cent increase in cases in the state in the past 14 days, averaging 243 cases and 123 hospitalisations daily.

The same festival last year was dubbed a super spreader event, as coronavirus cases accelerated following the rally.

Any time you have a mass gathering of hundreds of thousands of people and then they return to their home states, youre going to increase the likelihood of a superspreader event, Victor Huber, a biomedical sciences professor at the University of South Dakota, told NBC News.

Despite the Delta variant sweeping across the US, the organisers did not mandate masks at the rally  which has street food, bike shows, parties and live music  but did made Covid-19 tests, masks and hand sanitiser available and temporarily allowed alcohol to be consumed outdoors to avoid indoor crowding.

Dr Anthony Fauci warned prior to the event that we could see a new surge of coronavirus afterwards. Its understandable that people want to do the kinds of things they want to do, they want their freedom to do that, Fauci told NBCs Meet the Press. But there comes a time when youre dealing with a public health crisis that could involve you, your family and everyone else, that something supersedes that need to do exactly what you want to do . . . lets get this pandemic under control before we start acting like nothing is going on.

More than 49 per cent of people in South Dakota have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Republican Gov Kristi Noem told The Associated Press that she has no plans to up her messaging on promoting the vaccine, claiming that messaging around it had reached a saturation level where people start to tune you out.

Ms Noem had a similar stance on mask-wearing  stating that it was unconstitutional to enforce it. Any other governor that took a stronger mitigation measure they broke their oath to the Constitution, she said. Every governor that closed a business could be sued for the taking of that business.

Ms Noem has previously been mocked for her anti-drug campaign slogan: Meth. Were On It.
A right-wing militia leader, facing life in prison for orchestrating the 2017 Minnesota mosque blast in the United States, now identifies as a woman, as per court documents.

Emily Claire Hari, the 50-year-old leader of the group White Rabbit, who was previously known as Michael Hari, alleged that a "combination of gender dysphoria and right-wing misinformation" fuelled her "inner conflict" during the time she was convicted for bombing the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Centre.

She has requested the judge to legally acknowledge her transgender identity, the Star Tribune reported.

In the official court documents, Hari's attorney Shannon Elkins wrote that she was living a double life and had planned a trip to Bangkok and Thailand for a sex reassignment surgery.

Ms Elkins wrote: "She strongly desired to make a full transition but knew she would be ostracised from everyone and everything. Thus, as she formed a ragtag group of freedom fighters or militiamen and spoke of missions to Cuba and Venezuela, Hari secretly looked up 'sex change,' 'transgender surgery,' and 'post-op transgender' on the Internet."

Elkins argued before US district judge Donovan Frank to give Hari no more than a 30-year prison sentence instead of the life term.

In November 2020, a federal jury convicted Hari after she was found guilty of all five counts related to the bombing of the mosque. She was charged for damaging property because of its religious character, forcibly obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs, conspiracy to commit felonies with fire and explosives, using a destructive device in a crime of violence, and possessing an unregistered destructive device.

As per reports, on 4 August Hari picked up her co-conspirators Joe Morris (25) and Michael McWhorter (31) in a rented pickup truck. The trio was carrying assault rifles, a sledgehammer and a 20-pound bomb. Under Hari's supervision, Morris and McWhorter broke open one of the windows and tossed the bomb inside the imam's office during the morning prayer.

During trial, Morris and McWhorter pleaded guilty and were considered as the key witnesses for Hari's prosecution.

Although there was no reported causality in the blast, the pipe bomb attack shook the Muslim community and led to protests across the United States. While former governor of Minnesota Mark Dayton denounced the attack as "an act of terrorism," then president Donald Trump and the White House were silent on the attack.
Five people have died and two more are missing after a fire broke out on a Mexican offshore oil platform.

Six other workers were injured in the accident which took place while they were carrying out routine maintenance on Sunday.

Pemex, the state-owned oil company which runs the facility, said the blaze on the processing platform in the Ku-Maloob-Zaap oil field had now been brought under control.

However, the fire did cause 125 wells in the field to shut down, slashing oil production by 421,000 barrels a day, a quarter of Mexicos total output and costing Pemex the equivalent of 18m a day.

Rescue workers are still searching for the two people missing in the accident, Pemexs chief executive Octavio Romero told a press conference. One of those injured is in a serious condition in hospital.

The cause of the fire has not yet been found and investigations are continuing, Mr Romero said.

This was the result not of an equipment failure, not of a lack of maintenance, but rather of planned (maintenance) work, where what occurred is known as an accident.

Why did it occur? That is something we will find out in coming days.

Pemex has a chequered safety record, is groaning under huge debts, and the Mexican government has engaged in a ruthless cost-cutting programme under president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

The president, who expressed sorrow at the incident at a morning news conference, has made reviving Pemexs fortunes a top priority of his government.

But the companys boss said a lack of investment was not the cause of the fatal accident, but was simply down to the inherent risks of working in the oil industry.

There is not a problem of lack of investment, there is not a problem of lack of resources," Mr Romero said. "The oil industry is a risky industry. We have had accidents, which in numbers are less than in previous years."

A fire at another Pemex platform last month caused a furore on social media after leaking underwater gas appeared to set the sea itself on fire.

Pemex hopes to restore some kind of production in the fire-damaged platforms and associated wells as soon as possible, with the first wells coming back on line as soon as Wednesday or Thursday, Mr Romero told reporters.
Classrooms for 400 students lie crushed under a collapsed roof, a smattering of desks broken like matchsticks. Chunks of the Pepto-pink health centre slammed into the administration office. In the debris field that was the Evangelical Baptist School of Picot, a white crib in a day care is the single item still standing.

Tuition was $200 (146) a year, a tidy sum for the land-tillers, tradesmen and teachers that populate nearby farming communities. In a country where any edge helps, parents made the sacrifice to give their children a fighting chance. Like most schools in Haiti, where public services were wanting even before last weeks massive earthquake, Evangelical Baptist was private.

It was also uninsured.

One of the hundreds of schools destroyed or badly damaged when the earth shook, it is now emblematic of a disaster that took 2,189 lives and counting  and so much more.

It robbed communities across Haitis largely rural south of their futures: their schools and hospitals  which, in Haiti, can take serious politicking and decades to secure. Their churches and temples  Catholic, Protestant, Vodou  which so often provided for people when the government did not. The quake also damaged power plants, bridges and roads, compromising electric grids and transit. The water supplies for countless communities are contaminated, in some places, locals say, because of corpses upstream.

It will cost millions to rebuild our school, and we do not have it, said the Rev Calixte Dorval, Evangelical Baptist's 65-year-old rector, as he walked past a stray piece of roof. The government doesn't have it. Our only hope is foreign assistance, and we dont know what will come. Without it, none of our schools will ever be rebuilt. And Haiti will always be a country stuck behind the bus, late and left behind.

Even as Haitians bury their dead, rescue operations continue and bands of desperate victims raid aid trucks. A country of endless crises led by an interim government stepping in for an assassinated president once again faces the arduous task of rebuilding.

Allegations emerged that some aid groups raised money on the back of Haitian suffering while using relatively little of the funds on the ground

In the Western hemispheres poorest nation  one worn down by repeated natural and manmade disasters  the list of broken infrastructure and housing is an omen of new hardship ahead. In the rural southern peninsula, which is already cut off from the capital by violent gangs that control the roads, tens of thousands of homes and buildings are in ruins.

Among them are 24 healthcare facilities, including four that were obliterated and some that serve as the only hospital within a several-hour drive. At least 287 private and public schools were damaged or destroyed. A key bridge in Jeremie is buckling, threatening to isolate thousands. Sections of road, including a recently paved highway that took more than a decade to build, have been split, chunks broken off.

Just as it did in 2010 after an even more deadly earthquake  and in 2016, when Hurricane Matthew pummeled the same southern communities stricken by the quake now  Haiti is looking to the international community for help.

But that hasnt worked out well in the past.

Last weeks quake reopened old wounds from the 2010 temblor that struck closer to the densely populated capital and killed more than 220,000 people. More than $13bn in aid was allocated by international agencies to respond to the disaster. But mismanagement, a disconnect with local reality and lack of organisation led to mistakes that the Haitian government, international agencies and NGOs say they can't afford to commit again.

Edline Joesil lost her husband in the disaster (The Washington Post)

Allegations emerged that some aid groups raised money on the back of Haitian suffering while using relatively little of the funds on the ground. In 2016, the United Nations acknowledged its peacekeepers played a role in a post-quake cholera epidemic. In 2018, the charity Oxfam admitted that staff members had engaged in sexual misconduct with vulnerable earthquake victims.

Joel Charny, a long-time humanitarian aid worker, described the international response in 2010 as monstrous.

There was just so little respect and understanding of the Haitian people, he said.

To avoid the mistakes of the past, the Haitian government is now requesting that aid flow through it, and aid groups say they are improving coordination to avoid overlap and address critical needs. But Haiti was already in the midst of a humanitarian crisis before the quake, and aid groups remain concerned about meeting needs in a country that now has so many.

While humanitarians are focusing on the immediate life-saving response, longer-term solutions to development deficits need to be addressed to support Haiti to build back better, said Christian Cricboom, Haiti director for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Aid agencies have agreed not to give out too many tents (The Washington Post)

The Haitian government criticised international aid groups for widespread distribution of tents in 2010, saying it led to sprawling tent cities that remained for years. Controversially, officials are asking aid organisations to refrain from large-scale tent handouts now  a request aid agencies say they back.

But with hundreds of thousands of Haitians suddenly homeless across the south, there is less understanding in the streets. Distrust of local and national officials, who victims insist are corrupt and will distribute the aid for personal or political gain, is growing.

How are we supposed to stay dry after our houses collapsed? said Sylvia Herculus, 38, pointing to the bedsheets she strung up in a square in the hard-hit city of LAsile, 10 miles from the epicentre. Hundreds of residents who lost their homes are now squatting in the square, which has the feel of a refugee camp.

Not far from Herculus, a disabled man sat in the open in his underwear and a tank top, a sanitation bucket next to him. He struggled with palsied hands to shield his exposed body with a thin towel.

A wrecked school in Camp-Perrin (The Washington Post)

We need tents! Herculus said. They say they will rebuild quickly. But we know they wont.

One of the biggest rebuilding challenges is the loss of countless churches and temples that offered social safety nets for rural people largely abandoned by the state. In Camp-Perrin, the Kay Manbo Yolande Vodou Temple distributed rice to the needy in the mornings. Now, the building is a rubble heap on the side of National Road 7, a scenic highway, now damaged, that runs through soaring mountains covered in lush jungle canopy.

Its priestess, Jeanne Yolande Vital, a pillar of the community, was crushed inside, along with the kitchen and restaurant that fed the community.

My mother was the shoulders of this community; it depended on her, said Derelie Davilmar, 38, Vitals daughter. She gave food, medicines. What the people needed. There is no way to replace her. The community will suffer.

Senicile Massius, 39, mayor of a nearby devastated town, Marceline, fretted for its future after hardly a single school was left standing.

We still have 10 schools that were damaged by Hurricane Matthew that never reopened, she said. We cannot let that happen now. Too many schools have been destroyed. But how will we rebuild?

Nurse Michel Lin surveys the damage at LAsile Community Hospital (The Washington Post)

Even as Haitians confront tremendous grief, many are looking at the future with fear.

Edline Joesil, a teacher, lost her husband, also a teacher, in the earthquake. He died at a funeral, when the church caved in.

Now a single mother of three and her house destroyed, Joesil said she was most afraid for her childrens education.

Two weeks before school was set to start, their classrooms and school supplies were under rubble.

It was my husbands dream to educate them, she said. But now I have lost everything and they have no schools left to attend. I am lost.

Bruno Maes, Unicefs representative in Haiti, visited schools hit by the earthquake with Haitis minister of education this week.

Its really a disaster, Maes said. Its a massive, massive impact on the education system.

Roughly 100,000 students and teachers will have their academic years disrupted, he said. Classes are unlikely to return before October, a grave concern in a country where half of children attending school are at risk of dropping out.

Unicef, Maes said, is considering solutions, including temporary classrooms.

Workers have been digging graves (The Washington Post)

The frustration of the population is increasing, he said. They want to get assistance quicker, but its not easy for us to be everywhere with all of the assistance needed.

L'Asile, a conurbation of 52,000 people living mostly in rural communities, was founded in the 1930s. After decades of trying, it secured its first hospital  a 50-bed facility complete with operating rooms and infectious-disease wards  in 2008.

Now, the administration offices of the facility have fallen on top of operating rooms, paediatrics and the maternity ward. Miraculously, no patients or staff died, although injuries included broken limbs and deep gashes. Expensive medical equipment and the only surgery centre within a two-hour radius now lie under tons of concrete. The interior of the directors office  a Haitian flag on his desk  is visible through a collapsed wall.

The hospitals capabilities have been reduced to a small outdoor triage centre, where bandages are changed amid mosquitoes and biting flies.

Rebuild? Dr Geraldine Chery, 34, said with a grim laugh outside the collapsed facility. How long will it take? Seriously? In Haiti? Maybe 100 years.

Few trust in a rebuilding effort that could restore what little they had. The fear in communities such as LAsile  where most homes have been damaged or destroyed  is that they will simply fade into time, that their homeless residents will migrate to the capital or join the growing number of Haitians trying to make it to the United States.

Im the mayor, and Im ready to go, said Martinor Gerardin. The people think Im holding back help from them, and Im afraid. Please, take me in your helicopter to Miami. I am ready to go now.

Coletta reported from Toronto. The Washington Post's Ana Vanessa Herrero in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.

 The Washington Post
When Hanan El-Atr met Jamal Khashoggi a dozen years ago, she believed the way they connected was uncanny.

The location was a media awards ceremony in Dubai in 2009, and Khashoggi, a celebrated reporter and broadcaster, was picking up yet another honour.

Like many people over the years, El-Atr was struck by Khashoggis intelligence and charm. Yet, she believed the connection was so strong he was like her twin.

We have the same vision, El-Atr tells The Independent. I remember very well, we talked about the foreign policy of America and we spoke a long time about King Hussein of Jordan and how he dealt with [Egyptian president] Gamal Abdel Nasser.

She adds: Anyway, we swapped the telephone numbers. He kept coming to Dubai because his first wife and three of his kids were living [there]. We saw each other whenever he came to Dubai, at least once a month. So, our relationship became close.

After Khashoggi, 59, was murdered by Saudi agents and his body dismembered inside the nations consulate in Istanbul in October 2018, the media rushed to tell the story of Hatice Cengiz, the Turkish woman, 20 years younger than Khashoggi, who was his fiancee. She had travelled with him to the consulate to pick up papers to prove he was divorced from two previous wives in Saudi Arabia, documents that would enable him to marry her.

Then and now Cengiz, 39, who waited in vain outside the consulate for Khashoggi to emerge, considers herself to be Khashoggis widowed fiancee. She has helped spearhead a demand for justice and has sued Saudi Arabias crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS), accused by her and US intelligence of ordering the murder  something MBS stridently denies.

Yet four months prior to his murder, Khashoggi had married El-Atr, 52, in a simple Muslim ceremony in northern Virginia, attended by a couple of witnesses, and officiated by a Muslim imam.

You will be the happiest bride, Khashoggi wrote to El-Atr, in a text message first published by Yahoo News Conspiracyland podcast.

In another, he said: I throw myself at you, kiss you and delight you. I take out a watch or a necklace or perfume I bought for you to delight you.

El-Atr tells The Independent she does not know whether Khashoggi had proposed marriage to Cengiz  Perhaps yes, perhaps no  but she is certain she was his wife and is now his widow.

Having spent two years obtaining the certificate proving she married Khashoggi in Alexandria, Virginia, on 2 June 2018, she is now speaking out. She says she feels it is her right to do so, and she is determined to try and continue her late husbands work to bring reform to the Middle East, and in particular Saudi Arabia.

My message is that his sacrifice of his life was not for his own benefit, but to help those who are behind bars in Saudi Arabia, she says, speaking from an undisclosed location in the DC area. My husband, at the last minute, was crying out for [political prisoner] Essam al-Zamil, and others in jail.

She adds: I appreciate the whole world values his sacrifice now, and I want their help, and the journalists help, to bring [about] his mission and vision by at least [having them] release the people behind bars in Saudi Arabia.

 Justice for Jamal Khashoggi protest outside the Embassy of Saudi Arabia

In the three years since Khashoggi was murdered, a number of details have emerged about his killing and dismemberment. In February, the Biden administration released a report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) that assessed the killing had been ordered by MBS.

Despite the controversy, and Saudi Arabias denials, there was no real punishment of Riyadh. It then emerged at least four of the dozen-strong Saudi hit team had received paramilitary training in the United States, a contract that would have required the approval of the US State Department.

At the same time, a much richer portrait has also emerged of Khashoggi, whose journalistic career included interviewing Osama Bin Laden in 1979, and who was once a de facto representative of the kingdom. He even had a job in the Saudi Embassy in London.

Not surprisingly, more information has emerged about his personal life, including two ex-wives in Saudi Arabia, the most recent of whom, Alaa Nassif, had served him with divorce papers at the end of 2017. He had four children, two sons and two daughters.

El-Atr, an Egyptian citizen who previously worked as a steward for Emirates Airlines, says while she had known Khashoggi since 2009 and sought to support his work, their relationship became closer when he left Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2017. It appeared he had realised he could not speak and work safely inside the kingdom.

In June 2017, Khashoggi left Saudi Arabia for the United States. El-Atr says she was in London and received a call from a US number. It was Khashoggi.

I asked are you free. He said yes. I said thank God  make use of your freedom, she says. Because I [wanted to] give him a courage to continue his way, because I believed in him.

In March 2018, says El-Atr, Khashoggi invited her to travel to Virginia to celebrate his birthday. It was at that point the relationship became romantic. A few days later he proposed and bought her two rings.

On 2 June that year, they were married by Anwar Hajjaj, an imam in northern Virginia. They did not seek a civil marriage licence, El-Atr says, because they were trying to keep things low profile.

Regardless, they spent the next three weeks  a period she refers to as their honeymoon  doing up the apartment they shared.

This summer, The Washington Post claimed, the phones of both El-Atr and Cengiz were targeted using NSO Group Pegasus spyware.

The Post said a Pegasus user sent texts to her in November 2017 and again in April 2018, and pretended to be her sister. Clicking on the texts would have dowloaded the spyware.

I believe Ive been monitored by a lot of people, and my husband as well  I mean a lot of countries, she says.

Khashoggis fiancee Hatice Cengiz, and his wife, Hanan El-Atr, did not know about each other until after his death (AFP via Getty Images)

The foreign ministries of Saudi Arabia and the UAE did not respond to enquiries. The embassies in Washington DC of both nations also did not reply.

The NSO Group declined to comment further on what it termed baseless claims. In a previous statement it said: Our technology was not associated in any way with the heinous murder of Jamal Khashoggi. We can confirm that our technology was not used to listen, monitor, track, or collect information regarding him or his family members.

El-Atr says she was at work on 2 October 2018 when she learned Khashoggi had gone missing and was ultimately declared dead.

When it was confirmed, I couldnt stand on my feet, she says. In fact, one manager from Emirates saw me and [they had to] carry me.

That was when she learned of Cengiz.

I dont know anything about this lady, and I dont know  maybe she only accompanied my husband to the consulate. But my husband was with me three days before he went to Istanbul, and we were talking though his trip, she adds.

Im not clear who this woman is, what is behind her, or what motivates her, she said.

El-Atr says Khashoggi had previously had more than one wife at the same time, something that is not uncommon in some Muslim societies.

I wasnt too happy. But until now, I dont know what is the agenda behind her, she says.

One of Khashoggis associates, Kristian Ulrichsen, says he did not know about El-Atr, or Cengiz, but it was perhaps in keeping with the journalists discretion about many things.

I think he was thinking about the fact he may not be able to go back to Saudi for some time, and was thinking about a new life here, says Ulrichsen, who works as a Middle East fellow at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy.

He says the last time he saw Khashoggi was March 2018 and he was becoming less optimistic about Saudis fortunes under MBS.

He says: There was very much a sense of regret about the direction things were going in, and a sort of sense of disillusionment, because at the end of the day, he saw himself as a Saudi patriot.

El-Atr says she too sensed that disappointment. In April 2018, when they became engaged, she says Khashoggi told her: I might be a curse in your life.

She says he was also concerned about money and had told her not to quit her job.

She said Khashoggi had told her that a British journalist  either the late Robert Fisk, The Independents celebrated Middle East correspondent who died last year, or former Guardian correspondent David Hirst, she does not remember which  told him to prepare yourself ... to eat burger and chips for a long time, meaning they would be short of funds.

In last months of his life, Khashoggi had been increasingly depressed about what was happening in the country of his birth.

Increasingly, he was losing hope, about Saudi Arabia, about the whole Middle East, and his own personal life, she says.

[I want to tell people] just how much Jamal suffered for his vision before he died, not just the horrible crime we hear about on 2nd October  my husband died since he left Saudi Arabia. He was in exile by his body, not by his soul. He was always interested in his country.
The US Navy is at work on a very different kind of weapons system: one that relies on the human voice.

In June, the Navy filed a design for an acoustic hailing and disruption system ( AHAD ), a device that records a targets speech with a long-range microphone, then plays back two versions of the audio: one simultaneously, and the other with a slight delay.

A design schematic showing a proposed US Navy technology which would capture then rebroadcast a targets voice to disorient them. (US Patent Application of Christopher a Brown, of the Naval Surface Warfare Center)

The goal, according to the patent application for the non-lethal device, is to thoroughly disorient the person being recorded.

Due to the delayed auditory feedback effect, the target speakers concentration will be disrupted, making it difficult for them to continue speaking, reads a description of the design, which is credited to Christopher a Brown, of the Naval Surface Warfare Center near Bloomington, Indiana.

The device itself looks a bit like a TV satellite dish, and contains a parabolic dish, microphone, and an ultrasonic speaker.

By utilizing directional microphones and speakers that can create a focused beam of sound, only a target speakers voice will be picked up by the system, and only a target speaker will hear the transmitted audio, according to TechLink.

It might seem like the stuff of science fiction, but the armed forces have been using long-range sonic technology for decades on ships, checkpoints, and other vehicles, often to warn people they are approaching a restricted area.

It is an audible cue to let people know not to come any further  targeting someone with a warning tone and speaking through this device, Navy Lt Cmdr Lance Lantier said in 2009, according to Task and Purpose . Non-lethal weapons provide warfighters escalation-of-force options. Its a matter of how we can first try to alter someones behavior without using lethal force.

The Navy has poured millions into such sonic technologies, which were first developed following the bombing of the USS Cole off the coast of Yemen in 2000. In addition to playing warnings, the broadcasting devices can also hit intended targets with ear-splitting alarms as a way to disperse crowds or attackers.

Though often touted as a non-lethal technology, sonic devices have found regular use by highly armed US police, who have been documented across the country using the gadgets to forcefully break up Black Lives Matter demonstrations.

Horrible, nauseating pain hit my body, the journalist Cory Choy told Popular Mechanics about what it was like being hit with a sonic blast at a 2014 Black Lives Matter protest, and then I realized it was sound. At first you just think, Whats happening to me? Your body goes into complete pain and panic mode. Its the sound equivalent of looking into the sun.

Ironically, the devices being developed by the Navy bear a resemblance to those some think are responsible for the so-called Havana Syndrome, a mysterious set of illnesses among US diplomats in Cuba and elsewhere, which some blamed on clandestine sonic devices from foreign adversaries.
Eighty-seven-year-old Elsie Eiler has been the only resident in Monowi, Nebraska, since her husband Rudy died in 2004. So it came as a big shock to her that the decennial US census had doubled the number of residents in its last report.

Much to Eiler's surprise, America's smallest town  with just one resident who is mayor, town board, clerk, treasurer, librarian and bartender  now had two people living in it, according to the recently released 2020 census report.

Well, then someones been hiding from me, and theres nowhere to live but my house, Ms Eiler told the Lincoln Journal Star. But if you find out who he is, let me know?

According to a census spokeswoman, the extra person was created by an algorithm for data protection reasons.

What youre seeing there is the noise we add to the data so you cant figure out who is living there, the spokeswoman told the Star. It protects the privacy of the respondent and the confidentiality of the data they provide.

The phantom resident was shifted from another census block, but some have debated the accuracy of the findings. At a micro-level, in a town with a total area of 0.21 square miles this may seem odd, but zoom out a little its accurate, explained the census department.

We take the same number of people, but we move them around, the spokeswoman explained. When you look at it all the way out, its correct.

Ms Eiler has a son and daughter, both moved away from town when they graduated from school. There was also a bachelor living in town for a while too, but when his house burned down he moved elsewhere.

Ms Eiler pays the town's taxes each year, to keep its water mains turned on and its lampposts lit. She also applies to herself for a liquor licence. "When I apply to the state for my liquor and tobacco licenses each year, they send them to the secretary of the village, which is me, she told the BBC. So, I get them as the secretary, sign them as the clerk and give them to myself as the bar owner.

In the 1930s Monowi was home to 150 people, when the Elkhorn Railroad was in operation. Eiler's closest town is 6.92 miles away.
Pfizer's CEO Albert Bourla said the company believes that it could be ready to counter a vaccine-resistant variant of Covid-19 within three months, should one arise.

The CEO made the statement on Tuesday during a Fox News segment.

Every time that the variant appears in the world, our scientists are getting their hands around it, Mr Bourla said during the segment. They are researching to see if this variant can escape the protection of our vaccine. We havent identified any yet but we believe that it is likely that one day, one of them will emerge.

The company spokesman said he anticipates a vaccine-resistant variant, but stressed that if more Americans take the shot, the chances of such a mutation occurring will decrease.

Around 52 per cent of Americans are currently fully vaccinated, according to the CDC, and approximately 61 per cent have taken at least one dose of the vaccine.

The Pfizer shot was given full approval by the US Food and Drug Administration on Monday, ending a much-repeated complaint among anti-vaxxers that the shots had not been fully approved.

The approval of the Pfizer shot also paves the way for employers and businesses to enact vaccine mandates for employees and customers.

During an appearance on the TODAY Show, Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said that a survey suggested that 30 per cent of those hesitant to take the vaccine would consider taking the shot now that it has been given full approval.

He also noted that mandates were more likely to occur with full approval in place.

The second element is  that there will now be much more enthusiasm in mandating vaccines, be they in corporations and places of employment, universities, colleges, the military  all of that I believe will contribute greatly to the number of people vaccinated, he said.

Full approval also allows Pfizer to advertise its vaccine.

However, Pfizer's CEO said the company's focus now was not convincing the unvaccinated to change their minds, but to increase the vaccine supply to help meet global demand.
Tensions remain high in Portland, Oregon, one of the centres of widespread national civil rights protests last summer, after a far-right rally on Sunday commemorating a past clash turned violent itself.

Hundreds of people, including far-right street fighters from the Proud Boys gang and anti-fascist demonstrators, fought in the streets of Northeast Portland, using mace, pepper spray, paintball guns, clubs and mortar fireworks as weapons.

(Getty Images)

A 65-year-old was arrested on Sunday evening after firing a handgun at what appeared to be a group of anti-fascists, and was charged with unlawful possession and use of a weapon.

Earlier in the week, city officials warned they might not directly intervene in expected clashes.

Members of the Proud Boys (L) clash with anti-fascist activists following a far-right rally on August 22, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. - Far-right groups, including the Proud Boys held a rally in Portland on the anniversary of a violent altercation with anti-fascist activist a year earlier. (AFP via Getty Images)

We are dedicated to keeping the peace. Our ask is simple: We are asking you to choose love, Mayor Ted Wheeler said on Friday during a press conference . People should not necessarily expect to see the police standing in the middle of the crowd trying to keep people apart. People need to keep themselves apart and avoid physical confrontation.

A mayoral spokesperson told Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) the police were aware of the clashes within minutes and planned to make arrests after the fact.

A flipped-over van lies in a parking lot after an altercation between members of the Proud Boys and anti-fascist activists following a far-right rally on August 22, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. - Far-right groups, including the Proud Boys held a rally in Portland on the anniversary of a violent altercation with anti-fascist activist a year earlier. (AFP via Getty Images)

Violence continued into the early evening on Sunday. Proud Boys flipped over and defaced a van that pulled into a parking lot near their event, and ransacked a truck believed to belong to a left-wing protester, who himself received numerous injuries. Anti-fascists also reportedly harassed and attacked local journalists.

I saw this dude beating a woman, a witness, who asked to remain anonymous, told OPB of the van. There was like two ladies that got hit. It was a nightmare, it was f****** terrifying.

Right-Wing activist Phillip Anderson (L) gives a speech while shrouded in yellow smoke during a far-right rally on August 22, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. - Far-right groups, including the Proud Boys held a rally in Portland on the anniversary of a violent altercation with anti-fascist activist a year earlier. (AFP via Getty Images)

As the chaos continued, Proud Boys appropriated a Black Lives Matter slogan, chanting , Whose streets? Our streets!

The event began at an ironically named far-right event honouring the Summer of Love, last years protests in Portland which often featured violent clashes between left- and right-wing groups amid broader, peaceful civil rights activism.

PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 22: A member of the far-right group Proud Boys aims a paintball gun while leaving a demonstration with a Statue of Liberty replica in the bed of the truck on August 22, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. The Proud Boys and other far-right extremists fought with left-wing activists in Portland on the anniversary of a similar fight in 2020. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Were not going to stand down, Proud Boy Tusitala Tiny Toese told the crowd from a makeshift stage, warning the group was not playing this time.

Portland police arrest a man who allegedly exchanged gunfire with two other men near a rally held by the far-right group Proud Boys on August 22, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. A large left-wing crowd gathered in downtown to counter a planned far-right, Proud Boy rally. (Getty Images)
Jen Psaki has hit back at Tony Blairs criticism on Afghanistan saying Joe Biden is talking to the current UK leader.

The former Prime Minister, who sent troops into the country in 2001 after 9/11, has slammed the US abandonment of Afghanistan and branded the withdrawal tragic, dangerous, and unnecessary.

But the US presidents White House press secretary strongly pushed back against Mr Blairs essay on the matter when she spoke to reporters on Monday.

The President has been in touch directly with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is the current leader of the UK, she said when asked about it at her daily briefing.

Mr Blair wrote in the op-ed, published by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, that the Talibans sweeping return to power could leave Western allies doubting their strategic will.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, wearing a face covering due to Covid-19, leaves the BBC in central London on June 6, 2021, after appearing on the BBC political programme The Andrew Marr Show (AFP via Getty Images)

The world is now uncertain of where the West stands because it is so obvious that the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in this way was driven not by grand strategy but by politics, he wrote.

And he said that Mr Bidens decision to withdraw was done as an obedience to an imbecilic political slogan about ending the forever wars.

He also said that the chaos seen in Afghanistan would only serve to strengthen the efforts of jihadists and help China, Russia and Iran.

The Biden administration has defended the US withdrawal amid chaotic scenes in Kabul as desperate Afghans and Americans tried to leave the country following the collapse of the national government and security forces.

Mr Biden said in a speech on Tuesday that around 70,000 people have been evacuated from Kabul since 14 August.

The president says that the US is set to complete its operations by 31 August, but that he has asked the Pentagon and the State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timetable, should that become necessary.

And he added: The completion by 31 August depends on the Taliban continuing to cooperate and allow access to the airport to those who are transporting out and no disruptions to our operation.

The sooner we finish the better.
A customer at a north Florida restaurant gathered the staff of 10 employees together to thank them for their hard work. In a remarkable act of generosity, the man then handed the staff a $10,000 tip to share.

The man, his wife, and son finished their dinner at the Wahoo Seafood Grill, the Gainesville Sun reported, before giving the generous tip.

An employee told the newspaper that he suspected something out of the ordinary would happen when the heavy-set, muscular man had the workers assemble in a group.

Each employee went home with $1,000 in hand.

The owner of the restaurant, Shawn Shepherd, told the newspaper he got a call from his employees that night. They told him about the big tip, but he thought it sounded suspicious.

Check his ID and the name on the back of his credit card, Mr Shepherd told the employee who called.

Despite the owners suspicions, the restaurants point-of-sale system approved the transaction. Mr Shepherd said he checked back the next day to make sure the money was still there.

Mr Shepherd compared the event to a holiday.

Watching these guys get their check was almost as good as Christmas morning, Mr Shepherd told the GainesvilleSun.

He said hes very thankful for the diner because his employees have been loyal to the restaurant through the pandemic. Service workers were particularly at risk for contracting Covid-19 because they were more likely to be exposed at work, which by definition cannot be performed from home.

Among those benefitting from the big tip was Ashley Green, who was called into work that day. She had recently endured a rough time because her daughter was ill.

Shes had a hard month, shes been not able to work. Kid has been in and out of the hospital. Its been absolutely a really stressful time for her, Mr Shepherd said.

When the coronavirus pandemic began, Mr Shepherd said he temporarily closed the Wahoo and lost some $30,000 in food. Beyond this restaurant, The National Restaurant Association said restaurant and food-service sales were $240 billion below its 2020 pre-pandemic forecasts.

I knew nothing about curbside, I knew nothing about delivery and takeout. We werent prepared for that. We didnt even have the containers to do it, Mr Shepherd said.

He noted that the Florida Restaurant Lodging Association and the Alachua County Chamber of Commerce were a big help, finding them emergency funding to pay the employees. He reopened the Wahoo in May.

He said hes indebted to his employees because theyve helped keep the restaurant afloat during hard times.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press
The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has rescinded an honorary Emmy awarded to now-former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo following his resignation from office and allegations of sexual harassment.

His name and any reference to his receiving the award will be eliminated from International Academy materials going forward, the academy said in a statement on 24 August.

Then-Governor Cuomo was awarded the Emmy Founders Award for effective communication and leadership during the Covid-19 crisis, the academy said in its announcement when he was honoured in 2020.

The governors 111 daily briefings worked so well because he effectively created television shows, with characters, plot lines, and stories of success and failure, said academy president and CEO Bruce Paisner in a statement announcing the award last year. People around the world tuned in to find out what was going on, and New York tough became a symbol of the determination to fight back.

The announcement from the International Academy  one of three organisations that grants Emmy awards  follows Mr Cuomos final day in office on Monday, after he resigned in the wake of mounting allegations of sexual harassment, chronicled in a lengthy report from the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, and potential impeachment probe from state lawmakers.

Prior recipients of the Founders Award  given to people or organisations that cross cultural boundaries to touch our common humanity, according to the academy  include former vice president Al Gore and Oprah Winfrey.

In his final public appearance in his third term as governor, Mr Cuomo continued to dismiss the allegations as politically motivated during a 16-minute prerecorded video message.

His successor Kathy Hochul, who served under Mr Cuomo as lieutenant governor, was sworn in just after midnight on Tuesday. She is the first woman to serve as the states governor.

Cynthia Nixon, the Sex and the City actor and activist who challenged Mr Cuomo in the states 2018 Democratic primary race, said on Twitter: The difference between me and Andrew Cuomo? Neither of us is governor, but I still have my Emmy(s).
A Biden administration official said President Joe Biden has agreed with a Pentagon recommendation to stick with the 31 Aug deadline to withdraw from Afghanistan, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

Reuters reporter Steve Holland reported the news first.

The Pentagon recommendation was made on Monday based on concerns about security risks to American forces, the official told Reuters.

This comes after Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said there is currently no plan to change the timeline.

Theres been no change to the timeline of the mission, which is to have this completed by the end of the month, Mr Kirby said in a news conference Tuesday.

Mr Kirby said the military continues to make progress in getting Americans and special immigrant visa applicants out of the country.

We remain committed to getting any and all Americans that want to leave to get them out, he said.

Similarly, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanded that the Taliban guarantee safe passage for those who want to leave Afghanistan. Mr Johnsons words came after a virtual G7 summit, wherein he, French President Emanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to convince Mr Biden to extend the deadline to get as many people out from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
President Joe Biden is delaying his address on Afghanistan until 2:00 pm after he faced pushback from other members of the G7 for not pushing back his planned withdrawal date of 31 August.

The news came as Reuters reported that Mr Biden was sticking with his planned deadline for the United States to leave.

Similarly, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby reaffirmed the timeline.

Theres been no change to the timeline of the mission, which is to have this completed by the end of the month, he said on Tuesday.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron all tried to persuade Mr Biden to extend the time available to evacuate people out of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.

Similarly, European Council President Charles Michel said several leaders expressed concerns about the timing of August 31, The Daily Mail reported.
The House Select Committee probing the Capitol riots of 6 January will send notices to telecom companies to request phone records of several people, including members of Congress, CNN reported on Monday.

The notices could be sent to the companies by this week, asking them to preserve communication records which can eventually lead to testimony from witnesses, according to the report citing sources.

The committee is also looking to send similar notices to social media companies, suggested Democratic representative Bennie Thompson, chairman of the Select Committee, without confirming the names of the companies.

He said they intend to issue subpoenas as soon as the end of August and he has already signed a broader investigation strategy for the 6 January Capitol riots.

"We have quite an exhaustive list of people. I wont tell you who they are. But its several hundred people that make up the list of individuals we plan to contact," Mr Thompson told the reporters outside the House Democratic Caucus meeting on Monday.

He said they plan to obtain phone, email, and text records without confirming the names of the members of Congress.

The Mississippi Democrat said they are yet to send out the letters to the companies, confirming that the Committee will contact a wide range of people.

Democrat representative Mikie Sherrill previously said that she witnessed "members of Congress who had groups coming through the Capitol ... a reconnaissance for the next day."

Calling it suspicious, she raised alarm that some members may have provided "reconnaissance" tours to rioters even as Capitol was closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Several Democrats have also accused Republican leaders of communicating with the alleged rioters before the attack.

Mr Thompsom said that they will look into everything that has the potential to provide them with the information about 6 January, adding that "we will look at all records at some point."

Both Republicans House minority leader Kevin McCarthy and representative Jim Jordan has said they spoke to then-president Donald Trump on phone on the day of the insurrection.

But Mr Jordan said he has nothing to hide and warned of political retribution if the committee will investigate records of politicians.

The committee started work on 27 July with an emotional public hearing that with the testimony from two Capitol Hill and two Washington, DC police officers.
CNN has aired the final interview with the Michigan congressman who died less than a year after resigning from the GOP following disagreements with former President Donald Trump.

The interview was aired after the death of Rep Paul Mitchell, aged 64, on 22 August from renal cancer. It was carried out by Jake Tapper, and Mr Mitchell wished for it to be broadcast after his death. The former lawmaker spoke from hospice after his cancer, diagnosed in June, became terminal.

In December 2020, Mr Mitchell resigned from the Republican Party in reaction to Mr Trump spreading unverified claims that the election in 2020 was rife with voter fraud. Mr Mitchell said in 2019 that he would not seek re-election to the House of Representatives because he wanted to spend more time with family. He leaves behind his wife and six children.

In the interview, Mr Mitchell said that the US would benefit from more bipartisanship and that disagreeing with someone did not make them a bad person.

Id like to talk with President Biden and some of the people I know in the administration about, we need real bipartisanship, he told Mr Tapper. Our country, our society, is struggling.

He continued,Its struggling because people cant accept that they believe in different things, and look for what they agree on and decide whether someones a good person or not. And thats too bad.

Mr Mitchell emphasised the importance of trying to learn to understand people and judge less, and love more and lets have less hatred.

You see whats going on, where its, lets rev up the base, those people are evil. Its destructive and honestly people, just take the time to care about the other person, when you care about them, its hard to hate them, he told Mr Tapper.

Mr Mitchell also extolled the value of being friends with people from various political perspectives.

Theres value in people you dont agree with. Its easy to find people you agree with, theres value in people that we may disagree with on something strongly, but that doesnt inherently make them a bad person, Mr Mitchell said. Ive got good friends on the Democratic side. What we agree on is maybe 10 or 15 percent, but I think the world of them.

He concluded by explaining to Mr Tapper that he left Congress because it became that I couldnt uphold my responsibilities as a dad to the young son his family adopted from Russia four years ago.

Mr Mitchells death was announced by his wife Sherry to CNN via a statement.

I am immensely proud of him and never more so then when he was the lone voice in a sea of politicians who cared more about power than the true definition of the office, she wrote.
Outgoing New York governor Andrew Cuomo has sparked outrage after he pardoned six people, including a convict in a 1981 truck robbery which killed three, in his last few hours in office.

Among them is 76-year-old David Gilbert, who was imprisoned for his role in the $1.6m armed robbery and is among the last surviving convicts in the case.

The other five pardons given by Mr Cuomo include four men convicted for murder, and Lawrence Penn, a private equity manager who was held guilty for falsifying business records in connection with accusations of stealing millions of dollars from investors.

Mr Cuomo explained why he gave clemency to them in a tweet. I am granting clemency to six people. These individuals have shown remorse, rehabilitation and commitment to their communities. I thank all the volunteer attorneys representing clemency applicants for their dedication and service to justice, he said.

Gilbert, the truck driver, was serving a life sentence for his role in the Brinks robbery case that took place near Nyack, New York in 1981.

The septuagenarians case was fought by his son, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. He was eligible for parole only after 2056.

With the clemency nod from Mr Cuomo, Gilbert will now be sent to the state parole board where his case will be considered for potential release.

Mr Boudin was quoted as saying by the Associated Press (AP) that his heart is bursting, and it also aches for the families of the three victims.

Republican assembly member Mike Lawler criticised the decision, calling it a disgusting betrayal to the people of Rockland county, where the robbery took place.

Andrew Cuomos final act as governor is a disgusting betrayal to the people of Rockland County, Mr Lawler said in a statement.

This year will mark the 40th anniversary of the Brinks Robbery and rather than stand with the brave men and women in law enforcement, Andrew Cuomo has once again stabbed them in the back, the statement added.

The Brinks robbery case was a botched heist that left a guard and two police officers dead and involved the leftist revolutionary group the Weather Underground.

Gilbert, who was unarmed and played the role of a getaway driver, was charged with robbery and murder because people were killed during the crime. He and his co-defendants said they were freedom fighters and said their trial was illegitimate.

Those who lost their lives were Sgt Edward OGrady, Officer Waverly Brown and Peter Paige, a Brinks guard.

Mr Boudin, who campaigned for his fathers release, was just 14 months old when Gilbert went to prison. On the eve of my first childs birth, my father, David Gilbert, has been granted clemency, he said in a statement to the AP.

Although he never used a gun or intended for anyone to get hurt, my fathers crime caused unspeakable harm and devastated the lives of many separate families. I will continue to keep those families in my heart, he added.

Mr Cuomo also granted clemency to 10 people last week, including Jon-Adrian Velazquez, who ran an unsuccessful campaign to exonerate himself for the 1998 killing of a retired New York city police officer.
Former President Donald Trumps director of communications has been mocked online for comparing her boss to Winston Churchill.

Liz Harrington posted a link to an article from the American Spectator, an online magazine, with the headline Trump: The New Churchill on Twitter.

Churchill is lauded on both sides of the Atlantic for his leadership during the Second World War and Mr Trump is among those to have expressed their admiration for him.

The article, by Jeffrey Lord, a conservative commentator and former Reagan official, compares the dynamic between Mr Trump and his successor President Joe Biden to that between Churchill and his predecessor Neville Chamberlain, the UK prime minister best known for his failed policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany.

Ms Harrington and the article were mocked for the comparison between the Nobel prize-winning wartime leader and the twice-impeached one-term president.

I think he meant to say, Trump: The new Benedict Arnold, wrote Johnny Rocko.

Dan Fliller replied, Those two words should not even be in the same sentence.

Another person said, Liz, I had no idea you were into comedy. Then again...

Not that I am a great admirer of Churchill but .... said Naim Khan.

Trump aint even worth tying the shoelaces of Winston, wrote Calvin M Justin.

Another said, I feel this is turning into a parody account. Hilarious.

Previously, Mr Trump has expressed his love of the British wartime leader. Throughout his first bid for the White House, he implied he would put back the bust of Churchill in the Oval Office that President Barack Obama swapped for an artwork of Martin Luther King Jr.

During Theresa Mays visit to the White House shortly after Mr Trumps inauguration in January 2017, the bust was featured in a number of photographs of the two leaders.

In 2020, Mr Trump told George Stephanopoulos he believed there were many similarities between himself and Churchill at an ABC News town hall.

Theresa May and Donald Trump meet beside a bust of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the Oval Office of the White House on January 27, 2017 (Getty)

One comparison between the two that Mr Trump and his supporters may not enjoy is that Churchill was thrown out of power in a landslide election in 1945, being replaced by a left-wing leader  Clement Attlee  widely considered to have been one of Britains greatest ever prime ministers.

However, Mr Trump could turn that comparison to his advantage  just as Churchill returned to power for a second term in 1951, so the 45th president is thought to be planning a run for the White House again in 2024.
Floridas Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, is facing a backlash from his generally conservative constituents for his numerous acts to stifle coronavirus mitigation efforts.

A new poll from Quinnipac has revealed that residents in Florida are generally in favour of more coronavirus mitigation efforts, including mask mandates.

Mr DeSantis recently issued an executive order prohibiting school districts from enforcing mask mandates for students. He has also threatened to cut off funding to school districts and officials who defy his order.

According to the poll, 60 per cent of Florida voters support school mask mandates, with only 36 per cent opposed.

Mr DeSantiss threat to cut off funding was also widely opposed, with only 25 per cent of respondents agreeing that the policy is a good idea.

Even when broken down by political party, the poll found that a majority of Republican voters opposed Mr DeSantis withholding pay from school administrators for defying the mask order.

Tim Malloy, a polling analyst from Quinnipac, explained the results of the survey.

As Covid-19 makes a frightening resurgence, it's Tallahassee versus the teaching institutions, he said. Thumbs down from Floridians on DeSantiss ban on mask requirements in public schools. Thumbs down on DeSantiss call to freeze pay of administrators who mandate mask wearing. And he gets scant support from fellow Republicans on penalising the school leaders who defy him.

The coronavirus  in particular the highly contagious Delta variant  has ravaged Florida, making it the second most infected place on the planet.

Over the weekend, Covid-19 cases in Florida have reached the the highest point since the pandemic began, and is now the only state in which the number of daily fatalities are exceeding previous waves of the virus.

To illustrate the scope of the pandemic in the state, a group of 75 doctors in South Florida staged a walkout on Monday to draw attention to the surge in unvaccinated Covid-19 patients being hospitalised.

The doctors said they were fatigued and frustrated by misinformation driving the vaccine resistance among largely conservative individuals.

Its incredibly frustrating because we know the vaccines are safe and effective and its people that go out and talk against them that really go against physicians and medicine and science. Its not the message we want to get across to people, one doctor, JT Snarkski, told MSNBC. Vaccines are safe and we need to get our communities vaccinated.

Over the course of one week, five police officers in South Florida died of Covid-19, and a mother lost two of her sons to the virus over the course of 12 hours.

On Tuesday, Florida recorded 21,208 new Covid-19 cases, and six new deaths. In total, the state has 3,103,941 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 42,722 deaths.
Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who previously warned of the huge consequences of withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan, has now reportedly attempted to charter flights out of the country for the countrys at-risk women.

Ms Clinton and her team have been trying to aid potential Taliban targets in leaving the country, which swiftly fell to the militant group in mid August following the withdrawal of US troops, The New York Times reported.

As the Taliban took over the countrys major cities, dramatic scenes saw thousands of people surrounding Kabul airport in an attempt to escape life under the groups rule.

And as it soon became clear that evacuating people would be a gargantuan task, some private individuals decided to donate money to charter flights out of the country.

Last week, the evacuation options to get womens rights activists out came largely from an informal network of powerful, connected, some very wealthy people, some trying to literally charter private jets to evacuate women thought to be Taliban targets, Marie Clarke, the vice-president of global programmes at Women for Women International, told The Guardian.

In addition to having a hand in attempting to rescue at-risk women from Afghanistan, Ms Clinton also spoke with Canadas prime minister, Justin Trudeau, about the escalating crisis.

I also spoke last night with former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Mr Trudeau said on Tuesday, according to the Washington Examiner, adding that she shares our concern for Afghan women and girls and urged Canada to continue our work.

The former presidential hopeful earlier this year warned about the humanitarian consequences of a withdrawal from Afghanistan following a two-decades long war that cost the US more than $822bn.

This is what we call a wicked problem. There are consequences both foreseen and unintended of staying and of leaving, she told CNN in May, adding that the US was facing two huge consequences of withdrawal  the threat from the Taliban and the number of refugees the situation would likely create.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki has defended the Biden administrations handling of US evacuations from Kabul, claiming that the operation could not be called anything but a success.

Speaking with reporters at a daily press briefing on Tuesday, Ms Psaki was asked by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy whether the US was concerned about the possibility of Afghans with suspected ties to terror groups being among the evacuees; in response, she stressed that the US vetting process for evacuees was very strenuous.

We have a stringent vetting process that includes background checks, said Ms Psaki, who added: [T]his is now on track, Peter, to be largest airlift in US history ... so no, I would not say that is anything but a success.

Her remarks came as a new poll shows that just around one in four Americans support the job President Joe Biden is doing managing the US withdrawal from Kabul, even as a majority of the country still believes that pulling out combat troops from Afghanistan remains the right decision.

Overseas, the US administration has been hammered by critics, particularly in the UK, who have complained that the withdrawal essentially reverses all the gains made by coalition forces in the region for the past two decades.

The president has remained steadfast in his defence of the decision to continue with the withdrawal, explaining that he would not reengage America in a war with the Taliban without any guarantee of achieving a better outcome in the future.

During his questioning, Doocy also referenced Americans who have told news networks that they are unable to reach Hamid Karzai International Airport where the US evacuations are taking place, one of whom he identified as Fatima who told Fox News that US officials had not answered her emails.

In response, Ms Psaki made a direct request for the contact information of Fatima and any other American citizens who have told reporters that they have been unable to reach safety in Kabul or contact US personnel.

If we are not in touch with this individual, give me their contact information and well will get in touch with them. If any of you are hearing from American citizens who cant reach us, give me their contact information and we will get in contact with them, she stressed.

The Biden administration currently plans to wrap up the US evacuations from Kabul within a week from today, when a deadline set by Mr Biden is set to occur. A Taliban spokesperson said earlier on Tuesday that any attempt by the US to remain in Kabul beyond that date could result in consequences, while the White House said in a statement that the president had informed leaders of the G7 that the US was on pace to conclude evacuations of Americans and others by that date.
A moderate Republican senator unloaded on President Joe Biden after the latter suggested on Tuesday that the US would not extend its deadline to remove all combat forces from Afghanistan, and accused the president of being too trusting of Taliban officials.

Ben Sasse, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued a statement urging Mr Biden to keep US forces in Kabul as long as was necessary to safely remove every last American citizen from the country.

Damn the deadline, Mr Sasse said. The American people are not going to surrender our fellow citizens to the Taliban.

The Biden administration needs to cut the Stockholm Syndrome, he added. If President Biden accepts the Talibans terms hell be the one holding the shovel in Afghanistans Graveyard of Empires.

.@BenSasse statement on the Aug. 31 withdrawal timeline w/ a (graphic) window into coming Hill pushback:



"Mr. President, tell the Taliban were getting our people out however long it takes, and that were perfectly willing to spill Taliban, al-Qaeda, and ISIS blood to do it. pic.twitter.com/tCBXpFph1Q  Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) August 24, 2021

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday that the Biden administration believes it can remove all Americans who wish to exit Afghanistan by the 31 August pullout deadline, while he and other officials have admitted some difficulty in reaching some American citizens in the country just as news reports have indicated that many are being harassed or even blocked from entering Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.

Mr Sasse urged the White House in his statement to tell the Taliban were getting our people out however long it takes, and that were perfectly willing to spill Taliban, al-Qaeda, and ISIS blood to do it.

As recently as Monday, administration officials including Mr Sullivan had left open the possibility of extending the US mission at the Kabul airport beyond August 31. On Tuesday, however, an administration official confirmed to news outlets that the president had accepted a recommendation from the Pentagon to stick to the deadline, which top generals apparently believe is sufficient time to remove Americans, Afghan nationals and others from the country.

A spokesman for the Taliban hinted on Tuesday that there would be consequences should the US fail to abide by its previously-agreed-upon withdrawal timeline.

Should that deal be violated, it would mean that the president has violated the commitment he has made, the Taliban official, Suhail Shaheen, told CBS News. So in light of that violation, it [would be] up to our leadership to decide what to do."
A flight carrying US vice president Kamala Harris from Singapore to Hanoi departed nearly three hours later than scheduled due to a recent possible anomalous health incident in Vietnam, according to the State Department.

Two US diplomats in Hanoi were set to be medically evacuated following incidents over the weekend allegedly involving Havana syndrome symptoms, according to NBC News.

Earlier this evening, the vice presidents traveling delegation was delayed from departing Singapore because the vice presidents office was made aware of a report of a recent possible anomalous health incident in Hanoi, Vietnam, read a statement from the US embassy in Hanoi today. After careful assessment, the decision was made to continue with the vice presidents trip.

The designation of anomalous health incident has been used by State Department officials to describe so-called Havana syndrome, an alleged illness reported by US diplomats and other officials abroad.

More than three hours after a pool of reporters travelling with the vice president was called back to a hotel, reporters returned to the motorcade heading for Paya Lebar Air Base at 6.42pm. Take-off was scheduled for 4pm.

The vice presidents senior adviser Symone Sanders, who is traveling with the vice president, told reporters that she is well, all is fine, according to pool reports. This has nothing to do with the vice presidents health, she told reporters on Air Force 2.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that the administration takes every reported incident of Havana syndrome seriously but clarified that this is not a confirmed case at this point in time. She did not confirm whether two diplomats were involved

Roughly 200 people  mostly American and Canadian diplomats, intelligence officers and State Department staff  have reported symptoms related to the Havana syndrome that reportedly included a loud piercing sound and head pressure, along with nausea, dizziness and brain fog.

Ms Harris concluded a three-day trip in Singapore, where she delivered remarks on US foreign policy, including issuing a warning about Chinas encroachment in the South China Sea.

Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate, and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea, she said in a speech today. These unlawful claims have been rejected by the 2016 arbitral tribunal decision. And Beijings actions continue to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations.

Her office also announced that the US has offered to host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2023 to demonstrate the importance the United States places on the region and multilateral cooperation, according to a statement from Ms Sanders.
A Kentucky lawmaker who won reelection despite facing criminal charges for allegedly choking a woman and trying to hog tie" her during a domestic dispute resigned on Tuesday.

State Republican Rep. Robert Goforth, a former gubernatorial candidate, submitted a letter to the governor's office and the House speaker's office announcing his immediate departure.

At this time, family and personal circumstances demand my full attention and focus, Goforth wrote in the brief message.

Goforth faces strangulation and assault charges stemming from the 2020 domestic dispute. Authorities said he faces accusations of choking a woman with an ethernet cable and attempting to tie her up. A pretrial conference is set for Dec. 16.

Goforth pleaded not guilty and was reelected by a wide margin to another two-year term last year in his rural district, a Republican stronghold that covers Jackson and parts of Laurel and Madison counties in southeastern Kentucky.

His legal turmoil prompted a citizen's impeachment petition seeking his removal from office. A House panel dismissed the petition after determining that impeachment doesnt apply to legislators under the states constitution.

Goforth was a relative newcomer to the legislature when he challenged then-Gov. Matt Bevin in the 2019 GOP primary. Goforth won nearly 40% of the vote, exposing Bevins political weakness despite the governors backing from then-President Donald Trump Bevin never fully recovered from the lackluster showing, and he lost a close race to Democrat Andy Beshear the current governor, in the general election.

Goforth was known as a strong social conservative with a populist tone, backing funding for public education and workers' rights issues. He had pointed to his life story in his election campaigns. He dropped out of high school to help support his family, then earned his GED, served in the Army and went on to college. He became a pharmacist and opened a small chain of pharmacies.

In his resignation letter, Goforth thanked his constituents for electing him and said it was with a heavy heart that he was leaving the legislature. He wished the governor and his now-former House colleagues the very best.

The governor will set the date for a special election to fill Goforth's seat.

Goforth was arrested in the spring of 2020 after the woman told authorities that he assaulted her while three small children were in the home, officials had said. The woman had visible marks on her forehead, neck and arms, and bruises on her leg when she went to the 911 Dispatch Center in London, Kentucky, to file her report, they said.

The woman said she fled after Goforth made several attempts to hog tie her, according to the citation. Goforth allegedly strangled her with an ethernet cable to the point where she said she had difficulty breathing and thought she was going to pass out, the citation added.

The woman later said she never wanted him criminally charged and said they had reconciled.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has been mocked online for sharing footage of apparent fan mail stuck to the walls outside her office in Congress.

Ms Greene, who represents Georgias 14th Congressional District, posted a video of the letters from her supporters stuck to the walls outside her Washington DC office.

I am so grateful for all the beautiful letters I receive everyday from great people all over America! Its the nicest welcome back to my office in DC seeing some of them right at the front door, she wrote. Thank you for your prayers and support!

The fain mail is hard to make out in the video. However, some of the messages can be deciphered, including one reading: Thank you for all you do for the country.

Since being elected to the House of Representatives in January, Ms Greene hasgarnered an established a notorious reputation for numerous reasons: her links to the conspiracy theory group QAnon, seeming to defend those who took part in the attempted coup on 6 January and her anti-covid safety measures rhetoric, among other controversies.

Earlier this month, her Twitter account was suspended for a week after she shared vaccine misinformation, claiming that the vaccines were failing to her more than 436,000 followers.

Ms Greenes fan mail display was met with many users pointing out how childish it appeared to them. Many said it reminded them of a kindergarten classroom and not the decor of an US elected official.

One user wrote, How unprofessional. Is this Kindergarten?

Looks like a kindergartens artwork on a refrigerator. All thats missing are gold stars and sparkles, tweeted Lee Roblatt.

Looks like a kindergarten, said Jo Connor.

Isnt that what the entrance to a kindergarten classroom looks like? Enough said, tweeted Marie B Jump.

Sorta reminds you of a kindergarten doesnt it, said Jane Dymond.

Other people asked if Ms Greene had other issues that she needed to be directing her attention to.

Roger Wallace replied, COVID crisis in Georgia hospitals includes shortage of nurses, along with an article about the covid crisis in her home state of Georgia.

On 19 August, 89 per cent of ICU beds were full and it was estimated that 4,850 people were receiving hospital treatment for the coronavirus, according to reports.

Asking all you professionals?, wrote Kathleen Flatley. Do you have time for nonsense on your 1st day back from vacay, or are there too many important things to get caught up on?
Former presidential candidate Ricardo Anaya, who was one of several unsuccessful aspirants for Mexicos top office in the 2018 elections, has fled the country, claiming that charges against him are politically motivated.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador denied Monday that the government is persecuting Anaya. The president said the charges stem from accusations by a former official that legislators like Anaya were paid off to vote for the country's energy overhaul in 2013 and 2014..

Anaya, a former congressman who was the presidential candidate of the conservative National Action Party, said in a video posted on social media over the weekend that he was leaving Mexico He did not say where he was going, but said he feared being jailed for 30 years on the charges.

In the era of autocrats like Lopez Obrador, exile is the only alternative to continue fighting," Anaya said. Allowing yourself to be jailed by an autocrat often means losing the battle.

Anaya had been criticized in the past for his long sojourns in the United States He had recently been touring Mexico in an apparent bid to ignite another run for the presidency in 2024.

Lopez Obrador has never liked Anaya much. The two sparred angrily in debates for the 2018 election, with Lopez Obrador dubbing Anaya with a nickname that means little rich kid. But the president denied Monday that the charges were a political vendetta, calling that a lie, a falsehood.

However, many Mexicans have expressed concern that the ex-official who has accused Anaya and others of accepting bribes has himself been allowed to stay out of prison for alleged corruption because he agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Some fear Emilio Lozoya, the former head of the state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, may avoid prosecution in exchange for smearing the president's opponents.

Lozoya has acknowledged bribery, but said he was ordered to commit the offenses during the 2012-2018 administration of President Enrique Pena Nieto.
Over the past five years, an alarming number of American diplomats, troops, and intelligence officers have been suddenly stricken with a mysterious illness. The symptoms vary, but range from headaches to ringing in the ears, as well as loss of hearing, memory, and balance. Some victims have suffered long-term brain damage.

Even more disturbing, reports have trickled out that the CIA and the Pentagon dont believe this is a naturally occurring illness  its a deliberate act of aggression. A study commissioned by the State Department said the most likely source is a pulse of radiofrequency energy directed at US targets.

And those targets arent just in far-flung embassies and CIA safehouses anymore, such as Havana or Moscow. Officials say at least two incidents occurred near the White House.

The Pentagon is reportedly developing a wearable sensor to help identify the attacks.

So whats going on here? How is energy being used to attack US personnel? Who is attacking them? And why? Heres what we know so far about these invisible assaults.

Who has been affected?

Since 2016, more than 130 American personnel have fallen ill with the syndrome, according to new reporting from The New York Times.

The first incident was in 2016 in Havana , Cuba. According to the State Department, at least 21 employees of the US embassy there reported the typical symptoms: headaches, tinnitus, and balance and memory problems. Some retired early because of the illness, which became known as the  Havana syndrome .

American officials were stumped, and some accused the CIA of not taking the situation seriously enough. The Trump administration, eager to shut down diplomacy with Cuba anyway, removed more than half the staff of the Havana embassy, accusing the country of specific attacks. Cuba has denied any responsibility.

But before long the syndrome was popping up in other places. Intelligence officers reported the same symptoms in China and Russia. Marc Polymeropoulos, a former senior CIA officer, was in Moscow in 2017 when he was suddenly stricken.

I was woken up in the middle of the night with an incredible case of vertigo, Mr Polymeropoulos told The Guardian . My head was spinning, incredible nausea, I felt like I had to go to the bathroom and throw up. It was just a terrifying moment for me. I had tinnitus which was ringing in my ears, and the vertigo was really what was incredibly debilitating and I really wasnt sure what was happening. I couldnt stand up. I was falling over.

Four years later, Mr Polymeropoulos says his headache still hasnt stopped. In 2019, he retired from the CIA because of his symptoms.

I had a lot more to offer, the former intelligence officer told GQ . I was 50, but I had to retire because these goddamn headaches dont go away.

The cases kept coming. In 2018, almost a dozen staffers were evacuated from the US embassy in Guangzhou, China, after reporting a medical incident similar to the event in Havana. In the fall of 2020, a number of US troops in Syria developed mysterious flu-like symptoms, similar to those of the Havana syndrome.

There have also been suspected attacks on US soil. In 2019, a White House staffer reported being stricken with the Havana symptoms while walking her dog in Arlington, Virginia. And in November 2020, Defense officials have now told members of Congress, a suspected attack sickened a National Security Council official near DCs Ellipse park  within walking distance of the White House.

On 7 June, the US Senate voted unanimously to provide financial support to victims of the mysterious syndrome.

Later in the summer, Vice President Kamala Harris flight to Hanoi, Vietnam, was delayed after US personnel in the Vietnam capital reported experiencing Havana Syndrome-related symptoms over the weekend ahead of her trip.

What is causing the illness?

Directed, pulsed radiofrequency energy was the culprit found by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, in a report on the illness commissioned by the State Department.

According to a New York Times analysis, that language is crucial. By using words like pulsed and directed, the report was saying the energy wasnt randomly dispersed by a cellphone or other device. It was being aimed at people.

How does one aim energy at people? And whos doing the aiming? The reports that have leaked from the CIA and other agencies have been vague, citing classified information and a need to avoid making unfounded accusations. But after a contentious CIA briefing earlier this month, some members of Congress were more blunt about what they think is going on.

Theres a mysterious, direct energy weapon that is being used, Senator Susan Collins, who is on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CNN after the briefing. And it is causing, in some cases, permanent traumatic brain injury.

Who is responsible?

According to Politico , the Pentagon recently told top members of Congress that it suspects Russia is behind the suspected attacks. Russia has denied any responsibility.

If confirmed, the directed energy attacks would join a long list of non-military assaults Russia has waged against the United States in recent years, including its SolarWinds cyberattack and interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Most of the attacks so far took place when Donald Trump was still president, which some experts say explains why more hasnt been done about them.

The Trump administration did not demonstrate any level of urgency in confronting aggressions, Russian aggression of any sort, Rep Abigail Spanberger, who is on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told CNN . So alleged Russian aggression through a curious and not fully defined  be it sound attack, be it microwave attack on US personnel  is clearly not something that would rise to the top of their to-do lists when clear Russian aggression is not something that they were contending with.

President Biden, however, has taken a more confrontational approach to Russia than his predecessor. His CIA director, William Burns, has also vowed to make investigating the directed energy incidents an extraordinarily high priority. What the new administration will do if Russia is proven responsible remains to be seen.
Police in Germany have launched an investigation after seven people at a university received medical treatment after showing symptoms of poisoning.

Staff at the Technical University in Darmstadt, south of Frankfurt, experienced medical problems on Monday after having food or drink from a kitchen on the universitys Lichtwiese campus.

Milk cartons and water containers appeared to have been contaminated with a liquid that had a powerful smell, police said.

Authorities said that they had searched other university buildings as a precaution but found nothing else linked to the suspected poisoning. They also said no one else had come forward with symptoms.

Police said in a statement that they are doing everything to identify the culprit or culprits and that, as far as they are aware, there is no longer any acute danger.

Prosecutor Robert Hartmann said that while authorities believe the contamination may have been deliberate, they currently have no information pointing to any specific person as a possible culprit.

He said that the substance has been identified, but prosecutors will not publicly name it for now in view of the ongoing investigation.

One person was affected relatively severely by the poisoning, but their life is no longer in danger, Mr Hartmann said.

We are shocked by the apparent crime that took place at our university, the universitys president, Tanja Bruehl, said in a statement.

No suspects have yet been identified or motive established for the suspected poisoning.

Additional reporting by AP
Ganesh Chowdhury, was on his way home from the office when he received a phone call from a friend. There is a dolphin that has been accidentally caught, and it is now stuck in the fishing net, the friend told him. Please come here fast.

While on his way, Mr Chowdhury, 30, a resident of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, instructed the caller to not pull the net. It could have fatally injured the dolphin, he tells The Independent.

I immediately called the forest department, which also told me to reach the spot, he says. But by the time I reached there, the dolphin, which was on its way to one shore, was now somewhere near Nadia district. So, we went into the water with our boat.

Somewhere in the river, we saw the dolphin that was still stuck in the net. The moment I held the fishing net, the dolphin pulled away so hard that the net came off. It was free to go its own way, he says.

Mr Chowdhury, a conservationist, has to inform the forest officials each time he hears from fishermen or friends about a Ganges river dolphin being stranded or found dead in his district. This is because dolphins are protected under the first schedule of the Wildlife Protection Act, meaning they are prohibited from being hunted throughout India. Their poaching can lead to imprisonment of up to seven years.

But there is another fear that drives Mr Chowdhurys work to save the dolphins. He knows that not all captures are unintentional and not all killings are accidental. Some of the dolphins are killed to extract their oil, which is then used as bait for catching catfish, shares Chaudhury. These instances are hard to detect because the farmers who extract dolphin oil, do it carefully, he says.

His fears are not unfounded. A report by a local NGO called Human and Environment Alliance League (HEAL) found in 2019 a number of dolphins along the river banks of Malda and Murshidabad district in West Bengal were killed for bait oil. The researchers carried out field visits at multiple sites across the stretch and met fishermen who had stored dolphin oil in containers of up to 20 litres, with some containing oil from a dolphin killed about just a week before.

When a dolphin gets caught accidentally or intentionally in fishing nets, the fishermen either retain the carcass if the dolphin is dead or if the dolphin is still alive, they capture and kill it. Young dolphins are more prone to get trapped in nets, said the report.

Stop the Illegal Wildlife Trade We are working with conservation charities Space for Giants and Freeland to protect wildlife at risk from poachers due to the conservation funding crisis caused by Covid-19. Help is desperately needed to support wildlife rangers, local communities and law enforcement personnel to prevent wildlife crime. Donate to help Stop the Illegal Wildlife Trade HERE.

The dolphins are then cut up and the blubber and oil stored in drums, explains Meghna Banerjee, a member of the NGO. They let the oil stay there to ferment. When the flesh goes down, the oil is what is remaining at the top of the drum. They take the oil and sell it in the market. The oil is used for fish baits and is said to treat joint pain. The oil is said to gain its properties within a few months after its extraction. This means, the older the oil, the better and costlier.

In their investigation between October and November 2019, HEAL found that the oil was sold at a price ranging from anywhere between Rs 1,200 per kg (11.61) to Rs 2,000 (19.48) per kg.

But authorities believe HEALs research does not reflect the true situation on the ground. When The Independent reached out to Vinod Kumar Yadav, chief wildlife warden of West Bengal for comment on the report, he dismissed, it saying there are no kind of intentional killings of dolphins in the state, declining to comment further.

Dr Saket Badola, the head of TRAFFIC India, however, said hunting of dolphins is an issue in general and that even the non-targeted deaths due to net entanglement contribute to the dolphin oil market for oil-bait fishing.

It may not be targeted hunting, but there is a demand for their oil. So, even if a dolphin is caught accidentally in some net somewhere, then also there is a risk that they are not released back, he tells The Independent. All fishermen know that this oil has some value or that they know that this oil can be sold in the market. And that is the primary challenge in their conservation as far as hunting and poaching is concerned.

According to a 2020 research paper by Wildlife Institute of India, about 64 per cent of the participating fishermen used dolphin oil as bait, while about 62 per cent considers dolphin oil better than other oils for catching catfish.

(The Independent)

The paper, titled as Evidence for the continued use of river dolphin oil for bait fishing and traditional medicine: implications for conservation, argued that dolphin oil continues to be in use despite the availability of alternative bait oil such as sardine oil and fish oil.

The co-authors of the paper, Dr Vishnupriya Kolipakam and Professor Qamar Qureshi say that this trade is unorganised and limited to northern and northeastern states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam. There is no international trade of this oil, they tell The Independent. The people who indulge in this are the poorest of the poor.

However, they also argue: whether used for oil or not, entanglement is a big problem for dolphins as it has led to a lot of dolphin deaths, adding that from rough extrapolation, they found that about 50 to 60 dolphins die each year.

This number should be prompt concern, says Dr Kolipakam, because a dolphin comes to maturity after three years. It gives birth to only one calf. So, for such a species, even an offtake of 10 per cent can lead to a drastic decline. Because that population is not going to recover so fast, adds Dr Kolipakam.

Prof Qureshi blames the entanglement deaths on the gill net that are used in fisheries. The rivers are fished all along and the entire river is a fishing habitat. For dolphins to navigate through it means they will get entangled at one point or the other, says Prof Qureshi.

But the mosquito net sweeps off anything and everything from the water, which is very harmful to the ecosystem. Many times, fishing nets are simply disposed of in the water. Many aquatic animals get entangled and die. Over time the use of the traditional net, which is known to have larger mesh, has declined and the mosquito net has increased. This has led to overfishing. 

The researchers believe that a part of the problem can be solved if the government creates temporary fish sanctuaries.

It is not possible to have enforcement throughout the stretch of the river. But to have some kind of mechanism to have a temporary fish sanctuary will not only help the fish population but also the fishermen, says Dr Kolipakam.

Prof Qureshi believes that this can be done if the government declares certain areas as fish sanctuary for a few years and then moves to another area after that. Though the current fishery law has provision for declaring an area a temporary fish sanctuary, it is not practised, he says. It is important to understand that we are not dealing with terrestrial habitat and these rivers are not rocky. These rivers change on an annual basis as flood patterns change, says Prof Qureshi.

It is a very sustainable way of fishing, it will create the fish stock and help dolphins and many other endangered faunas. It also helps the local fishermen, adds Dr Kolipakam.
The latest travel traffic light reshuffle on 4 August saw seven countries and territories move to the green list: Austria, Germany, Latvia, Norway, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The total green list now stands at 36 destinations, but 16 of these are also on the green watchlist - an additional rating that signals which places could soon move from green to amber.

Where did the idea come from?

Holidays abroad were given the go ahead from the UK from 17 May, under a traffic light system that classifies each country or region as red, amber or green. This is dependent on coronavirus infection rates, the presence of any variants of concern and the progress of the vaccination programme in that country.

As well as the traffic light system, there is also a green watchlist to flag up countries where figures may be on the borderline of requiring a move to the amber list.

Which destinations are on the green list?

There are currently 36 countries or territories rated green, but only 20 of these are deemed safe enough to be on the true green list, rather than the green watchlist:

Anguilla

Antigua and Barbuda

Austria

Australia

Barbados

Bermuda

British Antarctic Territory

British Indian Ocean Territory

Brunei

Bulgaria

Cayman Islands

Croatia

Dominica

Falkland Islands

Faroe Islands

Germany

Gibraltar

Grenada

Hong Kong

Iceland

Israel and Jerusalem

Latvia

Madeira

Malta

Montserrat

New Zealand

Norway

Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands

Romania

Singapore

Slovakia

Slovenia

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Taiwan

Turks and Caicos Islands

Travellers returning to the UK from these countries dont need to quarantine. However, they must complete a Passenger Locator Form and provide a negative test result  be it rapid antigen, lateral flow or PCR  before departing for the UK, as well as taking a PCR test within two days of arrival.

You do not need to quarantine unless the test results are positive.

What is the green watchlist?

The green watchlist is an additional measure that the government uses as a way of identifying the countries most at risk of moving from green to amber.

Countries on the watchlist are kept under review and the Department for Transport says it will respond to emerging evidence, with a particular focus on variants of concern.

As of 4am on Sunday 8 August, there are 16 territories on the green watchlist:

Anguilla

Antigua and Barbuda

British Antarctic Territory

Barbados

Bermuda

British Indian Ocean Territory

Cayman Islands

Croatia

Dominica

Grenada

Israel and Jerusalem

Madeira

Montserrat

Pitcairn Islands

Taiwan

Turks and Caicos Islands

The next review of travel traffic light lists is expected to be announced on 25 or 26 August, with the rules coming into effect the following week.

Why is it needed?

The green watchlist system aims to avoid abrupt changes, which last year resulted in travellers rushing back to the UK as quarantine was imposed on countries and regions at short notice.

The government says the system is being implemented to give passengers more certainty and to provide greater assurance for those who wish to travel abroad.

However, countries can still move quickly from one list to another: the report states that the government will not hesitate to act immediately should the data show that countries risk ratings have changed.
Morocco, Jamaica and the Caribbean island of Aruba all look likely to move from the amber list to the red list in this weeks review of the UK traffic light travel system, one expert has predicted.

Writing in several detailed Twitter threads between Thursday and today, data analyst and journalist Tim White listed notable rises and declines in the infection rates of various destinations, and made his predictions for countries that are likely to move between lists.

This weeks travel update is likely to happen this Wednesday 25 or Thursday 26 August.

Any follower of mine must know Ive been warning about Jamaica for a few weeks, tweeted White earlier today.

The islands now taken measures to control the Covid-19 outbreak. I know a lot are predicting it stays amber, but sadly I think the positive test rates are just too high. Its a very close call, but I think red.

Looking at the figures across Africa, White commented: Here are the six [countries] in Africa in most danger of being moved to red based purely on infection rates: Gambia, Djibouti, Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana.

That doesnt mean they will go red, he added, and some are small sample numbers so the first two may escape.

For Morocco to stay on the amber list, White said, the JBS (Joint Biosecurity Committee) would have had to have seen the countrys Covid figures from yesterday or today, but past decisions suggested the decision will have been made earlier.

I suspect they met at the weekend and came to a decision then, when Covid-19 rates were worse. And it would be brave to overlook 6 per cent infection rate among passengers. I predict red, he commented.

The Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba also drew Whites eye with its current case numbers.

The Caribbean is difficult to predict because [there are] so many small islands, but Aruba stood out with a very high percentage of travellers returning to the UK infected in the NHS data. It was a very small sample, but high rates back home mean I predict red, tweeted White.

When a country switches from the amber to the red list, returning travellers to the UK must quarantine for 10 days in a hotel at their own expense, which has been estimated at 2,285 per adult.

White also predicted the following destinations would be pushed down to the red list: Montenegro, Uzbekistan, Kosovo and Kyrgyzstan.
Turkey remains stuck on the UKs travel red list following the latest update to the international travel rules, announced yesterday afternoon.

There were high hopes in the industry that the holiday favourite would go amber, with the Turkish Embassy saying earlier this week that the country expected to be upgraded from red in the next review.

Turkey has reported around 135,000 new infections over the last seven days, compared to the UKs 236,000.

Only seven new countries - including Canada and Denmark - moved to the green list, with two moving down from amber to red.

The next review of the red, green and amber travel lists is expected to be announced on 15 or 16 September.

In other travel news, train ticket sales to UK seaside towns are reported to have surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

Industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said demand is more than double compared with last years August bank holiday, and up 17% on the same weekend in 2019.

Follow below for the latest travel updates:
The harrowing scenes at Kabul airport, as desperate refugees try to reach planes bound for western countries, are provoking a moral and practical crisis: for whom are we responsible? Specifically, is Britain  with its offer to take 5,000 people this year and eventually 20,000  doing enough?

I learnt yesterday of the limits to our hospitality in the form of a woman in my former constituency, threatened by deportation. Not an Afghan: but someone from Germany. She has lived here 30 years, has a daughter born here and a long history of community involvement including decades on the electoral register. None of this is regarded by the Home Office as adequate proof of local residence and it has rejected utility bills because they are in her husbands name. We hope that decency and common sense prevail but I wouldnt count on it.

The relevance of that episode is that it serves as a warning to those Afghans trying to come to Britain. The mindset of the Home Office officials who will process their claim to asylum should they get here is seemingly not generous, nor are the policies to which they work. And they will not be approved as refugees to be provided safe passage here if they are among the hundreds or thousands of Afghans whose connection with the UK is deemed too slight  embassy guards, British Council workers, for example  even though the connection may qualify them for a Taliban execution.

Indeed, Afghans now have the awful dilemma of whether to keep their official papers to convince British bureaucrats of their identity or to destroy them to avoid betraying their foreign links to the Taliban.

The quality of British government risk assessment can be judged from the fact that, until recently, Afghan deportees were being sent back to a country judged safe. Fifteen thousand Afghan refugees have been sent back in the last decade, classified as failed asylum seekers.

On the basis of numerical pledges Britain is up there with other western countries: 30,000 for the USA; 20,000, Canada; 10,000, Germany. That is a warm welcome as compared to eastern European countries (Orbans Hungary says it will only take a few dozen), Australia and Asian states like Japan and China which do not admit refugees.

The biggest burden of refugees will be carried by neighbouring Stans of which Tajikistan has offered to take 100,000 and Pakistan may get millions. That would be the pattern of previous humanitarian crises which, for example, have left 3.7 million refugees in Turkey.

Britain has a somewhat ambiguous attitude to refugees and other migrants. We English like to think we are different though most of us are a cocktail of Scandinavian, German, French and Irish (probably with traces of African and Mongolian descent). The limits of tolerance to foreigners were first apparent in modern times when antisemitic aliens legislation curbed the numbers fleeing pogroms in eastern Europe before the First World War.

A quarter of a million Belgians came soon after but didnt attract much attention. Irish economic migrants were treated with some hostility as were Commonwealth nationals and, much more recently, east Europeans.

Leaving aside the bigger issue of economic migration and focusing specifically on refugees, reactions have invariably been mixed. A Conservative government welcomed 27,000 Ugandan Asian refugees after a Labour government had slammed the door on Kenyan Asians, even those with British passports. I have reason to remember those events since I married into a Kenyan Asian family.

My brother married into a family of Hungarian refugees of whom there were 11,000. Later there were 20,000 Vietnamese boat people (out of more than a million settled in the west); 50,000 came from Yugoslavia, and more than 100,000 from Somalia. More recently, there have been an estimated 15,000 from Hong Kong with expectations of many more to come (theoretically more than 5 million are eligible but in practice only around 300,000 will come, trusting that the British promise of safe harbour will be honoured).

The numbers of refugees appear large until compared with the volumes of economic migrants. There has been net migration of more than 300,000 a year in recent years, dominated by overseas students and eastern European workers. Less than a tenth were successful asylum seekers (there are also 70,000 pending cases).

In the eyes of the public, however, it is the desperate people in dinghies in the English Channel or fighting to get on planes for Kabul who dominate as the visible face of human migration.

At every crisis over asylum and migration there has been a schism between those who believe that Britain is an overcrowded island which is full and cant afford the cost of newcomers, and those who see merit in admitting people who bring skills, entrepreneurial energy, cultural diversity and a supply of labour to regenerate an ageing country  or simply merit compassion. The balance has changed but the direction of travel is clear: towards tighter restriction. And not only in the UK. The decision of Angela Merkel to admit a million Syrian refugees to Germany and to oversee their integration now seems a remarkable, if almost unique, exercise of generosity of spirit.

Nobody would accuse Priti Patel of indulging in generosity of spirit. But to be fair to her, the Home Office hostile environment goes back a long time and was very evident in the Blair era. One of the lesser discussed drivers of Brexit voting among some communities was the sense that their relatives had a rough (or impossible) ride coming to Britain, while white Europeans could come freely. But Brexit has not catalysed a rush of generosity and tolerance in Home Office circles.

On the contrary, the Nationality and Borders Bill, currently making its way through parliament, threatens to make the hostile environment even worse. Refugees who do not follow lawful routes  via an official resettlement programme or come from officially designated unsafe countries  will be deemed criminal, however desperate. Refugees outside the official programme can be given temporary refuge albeit without recourse to public funds (but also without the right to work) .

The new law also creates the legal basis to park asylum seekers in offshore processing centres in the Australian manner (Nauru for Australia; talk of nations like Rwanda for the UK). These measures are in clear breach of international asylum obligations, but the UK has made it clear  in the context of Brexit  that national sovereignty takes precedence over international law. This new doctrine puts the UK in the good company of China and Russia.

But the bill is some way off becoming law. With the Afghan disaster proving a terrible humiliation for the UK and the west in general, some of us are hoping that something can be rescued from the wreckage in the form of a genuinely humane response to the refugee crisis  as The Independent has called for. There is a will among the majority of the public (if not Conservative voters) to accommodate as many as possible of those people for whom Britain has a responsibility.

While the Home Office will be doing everything it can to keep the numbers down, there is a chance for Boris Johnson to confound expectations by blocking its institutional hostility from the off.

As one of the leading participants in support of the Nato deployment and a key party to its chaotic withdrawal, the UK must re-establish some respect and self-respect by taking a leadership role in its response to the needs of refugees. To do less would be unforgivable.

Sir Vince Cable is a former leader of the Liberal Democrats and served as secretary of state for business, innovation and skills from 2010 to 2015
CBEC announces new Drawback Duty rates

Recently, the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) announced new drawback duty rates. Drawback duty is a provision that allows for the refund of customs and excise duties paid on the imported raw material used in the manufacturing of export goods.

Post July 1, 2017, exporters in India were briefly allowed to claim a higher rate of drawback duty on exported items. This was to facilitate an easy transition to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system.

However, this relaxation will be available only until September 30, 2017, and subject to the condition that exporters submit a certificate declaring that no Input Tax Credit (ITC) of CGST/IGST has been claimed on imports.

After September 30, 2017, the GST paid on inputs of exported goods will not be covered under the drawback duty provision under the Customs Act of 1962. Instead, it will have to be claimed as refund under provisions in GST law.

RELATED: Tax Compliance Advisory

Important Aadhar ID linkage deadlines

Aadhaar is now a mandatory proof of identity in India. It is a twelve-digit unique identification number based on biometric and demographic data, and is issued to all individuals residing in India, regardless of citizenship.

The biometric unique Aadhaar ID is now required in all financial matters  banking, PAN, and filing taxes, and to avail benefits under any government scheme. Aadhaar must also be linked to all other identification credentials such as driving licenses, mobile numbers, and email address. If these credentials are not linked by the deadline, they may become void.

The government has updated the deadlines for this linking:

Deadline to link Aadhaar with PAN  December 31, 2017

Deadline to link Aadhaar with mobile SIM  February 2018

Deadline to submit Aadhaar details to banks and financial institutions  December 31, 2017

Deadline to link mutual fund investments to Aadhaar  December 31, 2017

Deadline to give Aadhaar details to avail social security schemes  December 31, 2017

RELATED: Startups in India: New Business Relaxations, Eligibility Criteria Announced

Indias states to be ranked on startup infrastructure

The Department for Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) will facilitate the process of ranking Indias states and union territories (UTs) according to their initiatives to support startups.

This assessment will be conducted by a third party, and will be based on parameters promoting entrepreneurship and the overall startup ecosystem in that state/UT.

Currently, the DIPP is framing the assessment parameters. This includes: a startup policy, startup cell, website portal, network of mentors, participation in the public procurement process, number of incubators and accelerators, funding support, and tax incentives.

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In this issue of India Briefing Magazine, we discuss payroll processing and reporting in India, and the various regulations and tax norms that impact salary and wage computation. Further, we explain Indias complex social security system and gratuity law, and how it applies to companies. Finally, we describe the importance of IT infrastructure, compliance, and confidentiality when processing payroll in India.


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The drinking habits of Keralites are 'legendary' and the people of the southern state have the dubious distinction of the highest per capita liquor consumption in India.

And the sale of liquor can go through the roof, quite literally during festivals, and it is not uncommon for the state to create a new record for buying alcohol.

BCCL

Onam, the biggest festival of Kerala also sees the highest demand for liquor in the state as people celebrate 3-4 days of holiday with friends and family.

This year, despite all the hardships and financial troubles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kerala has set another record high for liquor sales.

According to local media reports, liquor worth as much as Rs 750 crore were sold by state-run Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BevCo) outlets during the Onam season.

BCCL

As per reports, the highest single-day sale was on August 20, the day of Utharadam a day before Onam when Rs 85 crore worth of liquor was sold.

Among the outlets, a BevCo unit in Thiruvananthapuram saw sales worth over 1.04 crore, the highest in Kerala in a day.

All-time high

Rs 750 crore worth liquor sale in ten days (August 11-21) is an all-time high, according to BevCo.

"Last Onam, we made around Rs 565 crore in sales. This year, we saw a record sale of Rs 750 crore," Yogesh Gupta, the Managing director of BevCo said.

ANI

Out of the Rs 750 crores, over Rs 600 crore will go to the State government as taxes.

"The liquor store on Power House Road in Thiruvananthapuram made Rs 1.04 crore on August 20. In fact, there has been a 40 per cent increase in sales this year," Gupta said.

ConsumerFed also saw liquor business of over Rs 60 crore during Onam days.

Due to Onam, the liquor outlets had remained shut on August 21.

BCCL

This year, for the first time, BevCO had introduced the online sale of liquor with an aim to reduce crowding at outlets.

The pilot project, from one outlet each in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode touched over Rs 10 lakh.

There are 301 government-run liquor outlets across the state.

This is not the first time this year, such high business was seen at liquor outlets in Kerala.

ANI

On June 17, BevCo and bars liquor outlets had reopened for the public after remaining shut for nearly two months due to the strict lockdown measures.

And in just one day BevCo outlets alone had sold liquor worth Rs 64 crore.
AP

Speaking about the condition in Afghanistan, former Vice President and the current 'acting' President Amrullah Saleh has said that the Taliban has been committing human rights violations in certain regions of Afghanistan. He said that the situation in the Andarab valley of the northern Baghlan province has been deteriorating as now the Taliban has stopped food and fuel supply in the region. Read more



Here are the top stories from across the world making headlines today.

Hundreds Of Afghan Refugees Protest In Delhi, Call For Human Rights Groups To "Protect Women"

Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

Hundreds of Afghan refugees staged a protest in Delhi's Vasant Vihar area Monday evening to express their solidarity with the Afghan community in the country as the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan. The protest was held before the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in New Delhi on Monday, where refugees presented a list of demands, including refugee cards. Read more



Can't Imagine What Will Happen Next, Says Afghan's Only Female Sikh MP Evacuated By India

Abhishek Jha/ Twitter

On Sunday, India evacuated 24 Afghan nationals, from the Hindu and Sikh communities to safety from the country ran over by the Taliban last week. One of them was Anarkali Kaur Honaryar, Afghanistan's only female Sikh MP. She along with her family had fled to India as the religious minorities are wary of the Taliban, given their track record. Talking about her ordeal, the first non-Muslim member of the National Assembly of Afghanistan said that the situation is unimaginable. Read more



Family Of Minor Dalit Girl Alleges Gangrape, No Evidence Of Assault In Medical Report: Police

BCCL

In a shocking incident, the family of a Dalit girl has alleged that their daughter was abducted and gang-raped by five men in Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh. The incident took place on Sunday night when the minor girl was sleeping in the verandah of her house. The family of the 14-year-old girl said that all the accused were their neigbours. Read more



Kerala Sets Another Record For Liquor Sale On Onam, Gulps Alcohol Worth Over Rs 750 Crore

BCCL

Onam, the biggest festival of Kerala also sees the highest demand for liquor in the state as people celebrate 3-4 days of holiday with friends and family. This year, despite all the hardships and financial troubles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kerala has set another record high for liquor sales. According to local media reports, liquor worth as much as Rs 750 crore were sold by state-run Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BevCo) outlets during the Onam season. Read more


Thousands of Afghan nationals who worked alongside the U.S. during the 20-year war in Afghanistan are in danger of being killed by the Taliban.

Many Afghan nationals worked as translators, drivers and in other roles assisting the U.S. and coalition members. With the Taliban now in control, they've never been more vulnerable.

"They will beat him to death or kill him"

One man, whom the Americans called Reggie, says he's now in constant fear at his home in Kabul. He was the interpreter who worked alongside a man from Michigan when he served in Afghanistan.

us troops

Now, the man's father Michael Taylor is at his home in Michigan's Gladwin working non-stop trying to get his son's former interpreter out of Afghanistan. "I just got off the phone with my son, who is in contact with a gentleman from the State Department who is at the airport in Afghanistan and told him not to send him there because they will not let him in, and if they turn him around, they will beat him to death or kill him," said Taylor.

Father says interpreter saved son's life multiple times

Taylor credits that interpreter for saving his son's life on multiple occasions. He says the interpreter has been trying for eight years to get a visa so he could come to the United States when the U.S. eventually leaves Afghanistan. Now that the Taliban has taken over, that interpreter is on the run, fearing for his life.

AP

"He is being hunted by the Taliban. I got a voice message from him yesterday and they had gone to his home. He had left the home with his sister and wife and his children, there are six of them, and they literally almost beat his father to death," said Taylor.

President Biden's statement

President Joe Biden was asked Friday about what the American government is doing to get this interpreter and thousands others like him to safety. "There is no one more important than bringing American citizens out, I acknowledge that, but also important is those SIVs, the translators, they were part of the operation, they went to battle with us," said President Biden.

AP

Taylor was not impressed with what he heard. "I get the sense that the ship is sailing at the sea with no one at the helm...," said Taylor. "We need to bring in more troops, bring in two or three battalions, and go get the people that saved people like my son and get the Americans out," said Taylor.
Speaking about the condition in Afghanistan, former Vice President and the current 'acting' President Amrullah Saleh has said that the Taliban has been committing human rights violations in certain regions of Afghanistan. He said that the situation in the Andarab valley of the northern Baghlan province has been deteriorating ever since the change in regime.

First, the Taliban were using children and the elderly as shields to move around and conduct house raids, now they have stopped the supple of food and fuel in the region.

Reuters

Taliban, opposition troops clash

This comes as confrontations between the Taliban and opposition troops in the Andarab area have been reported. Local resistance troops in the Panjshir valley, commanded by Ahmad Massoud, son of famed anti-Taliban politician Ahmad Shah Massoud, are allegedly posing a challenge to Taliban forces.

Taking to the micro-blogging site, Saleh said, "Talibs aren't allowing food and fuel to get into Andarab valley. The humanitarian situation is dire. Thousands of women and children have fled to the mountains. Since the last two days Talibs abduct children and elderly and use them as shields to move around or do house search."

AP

Talibs aren't allowing food & fuel to get into Andarab valley. The humanitarian situation is dire. Thousands of women & children have fled to mountains. Since the last two days Talibs abduct children & elderly and use them as shields to move around or do house search.  Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) August 23, 2021





It has been reported that around 300 Taliban terrorists were killed in the attack in Andarab. The escalations in resistance against the terrorist group were also witnessed from Kapisa located in North-East Afghanistan.



AFP

Situation in Afghanistan

Amid the ongoing evacuation process in Afghanistan, the UN humanitarian agencies have also warned of not being able to bring emergency supplies to the country. Further, WHO Regional Director Richard Brennan also said that around 500 tonnes of medical supplies which was scheduled to be delivered this week, is not yet been brought into the country.
In July 2015 Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security made a bombshell announced that one of the US's most wanted men, Taliban commander Mullah Omar has died.

After initially denying the reports, the Taliban too acknowledged that its founder is, in fact, dead, but did not reveal more details including the cause and where he spent his final days.

Reuters

But there were rumors that Omar may have died a long time ago, but the security agencies only got wind about it now.

Died in April 2013

This too was proven right and later Taliban themselves acknowledged that Omar had, indeed, died in April 2013, and the reason for the death was tuberculosis.

This admission came as a shock to many including the Taliban militants because just days before that they had heard from him!

Audio message even after 'death'

In July, the Taliban had released an audio message, purportedly from Omar, backing the peace negotiations with the government. This was typical of how Omar had communicated to his men - by audio messages, posted on their website on major Muslim festivals.

Reuters

A few months before that the Taliban had also released his biography in which it said that he was alive and still the supreme leader of their movement.

Like most of the Taliban's top leadership, Omar too was a highly reclusive figure and not many people outside his close circles had even seen him, in person.

So for nearly two years, the Taliban successfully hid the fact that Omar is dead to even their own men, and kept him 'alive' through audio messages.

There were a total of four audio messages 'from Omar' between August 2013 and July 2015, before he was confirmed as dead.

Taliban explains

In September 2015, the Taliban provided more details about Omar's death.

AFP

While introducing his successor Mullah Akhtar Mansour, the Taliban said that news of Omar's death was kept secret by a handful of Taliban leaders on tactical grounds.

"Several key members of the supreme leading council of the Islamic Emirate [Taliban] and authentic religious scholars together decided on concealing the tragic news of the passing away of [Mullah Omar]... and keep this secret limited to the very few colleagues who were already informed of this incorrigible loss," the official statement as part of Akhtar Mansour's biography said.

"One of the main reasons behind this decision was... that 2013 was considered the final year of power testing between the mujahideen and foreign invaders who... had announced that at the end of 2014, all military operations by foreign troops would be concluded," it said.

Life and death shrouded in misery

The location of his last days is still debated. While some claim that the one-eyed Mujahideen leader spent his last days in Karachi, Pakistan, others say he never left Afghanistan.

Reuters

According to them after the fall of the Taliban regime, Omar had withdrawn to Zabul province.

And according to journalist Bette Dam Omar was living near a US military base.

Like other missing details, the burial place of Omar is also still a mystery.

However, it is widely believed that Omar was buried in a cemetery in Sarkhogan area Zabul, where several other senior Taliban commanders are also buried.
A giant tortoise on an island in Seychelles has demonstrated that slow and steady can indeed win the race after it was filmed chasing and eating a baby bird.

It has been dubbed as a horrifying and amazing attack, with researchers stating it was the first documented example of deliberate hunting in the wild by the species, The Guardian reported.

Screengrab/YouTube

New research describing the behavior was published in Current Biology and includes footage of the encounter. The incident happened in the late afternoon of July 30, 2020, on Fregate Island, which is in the Indian Ocean several hundred miles northeast of Madagascar.



In the video, a female Aldabra giant tortoise, weighing about 66 pounds, approaches a baby tern that had climbed onto a log after falling out of its nest. The tortoise moves toward its prey, its neck extended and jaws open wide, climbing onto the log as it snaps at the chick. The bird tries to defend itself by pecking at the tortoises face and flapping its wings, to no avail.

In a new paper published in Current Biology, Anna Zora and Justin Gerlach offer the first direct evidence of a giant tortoise hunting on Fregate Island in the Seychelles. This video of the tortoise killing a tern chick is truly something to watch.



Video credit: Anna Zora pic.twitter.com/kI8x6mm2Wk  Aylin Woodward (@AylinWoodward) August 23, 2021

Then the moment the tern stops pecking, the tortoise strikes, biting down on the bird's head and killing it. Its limp body tumbles off the log and the tortoise swallows it whole.

All tortoises were previously thought to be vegetarian, with the exception of occasional cases of eating carrion opportunistically or consuming bones or snail shells for calcium.



But since the hunting tortoise was recorded last summer, the researchers have said others in the area have been spotted engaging in similar behaviour.

Experts suggest this entirely new hunting behaviour is driven by the unusual combination of a tree-nesting tern colony and a resident giant tortoise population.

Representational Image/NYT

"Shocked' is probably the right word," Justin Gerlach, a zoologist at the University of Cambridge and co-author of the study, told Business Insider, adding that he thinks the bird didn't initially see the tortoise as a threat.



Gerlach knew tortoises wouldn't turn down meat if they could get it, but the video is proof that this tortoise, at least, deliberately went after prey.

"I haven't seen the behaviour myself - my co-author Anna Zora mentioned it to me and I assumed 'hunting' was just a misunderstanding. But when she showed me the video I was amazed - absolutely no question of what is going on," he said.

On the Galapagos and Seychelles islands, giant tortoises are the largest herbivores and eat up to 11 per cent of the vegetation. They also play an important role in dispersing seeds, breaking vegetation and eroding rocks.
As you grow older, your birthdays tend to get a little more depressing.

But even though the concept of growing yet another year older can be daunting for some people, fortunately, most of us have people around us who will always keep us grounded and remind us that we're only as young as we feel.

But a man named Mac Thompson turned thirty-three years old and what he received from his father was weird for even a person who went to the other side of the thirties.

Unsplash

He had the support of his father to remind him that while 33 isn't necessarily a 'special' birthday, it marks a slightly lesser-known milestone.

Mac Thompson was left baffled when he received the hilariously dark handwritten message from his dad, Dennis Thompson, on the inside of his birthday card, alongside the air fryer he received as a gift.



Instead of his usual 'From Dad' message, the 65-year-old teacher reminisced about becoming a father at the same age.



But that was not it. In addition to the little information about his life, Mac father's also attached a pretty morbid line which read: "Jesus was 33 when he was crucified. Enjoy your day! Love Dad." After he shared the message on social media, it went viral.

some fun trivia from dad for my birthday pic.twitter.com/SaNzSCSgRM  mac (@macthompson) August 20, 2021

He even shared the picture of the front of the card which too was really funny.

this was the front of the card pic.twitter.com/MkCmIz5jqQ  mac (@macthompson) August 20, 2021

After this, people had a lot of trivia to share and many hilariously wished Mac on his 33rd birthday.

May your 33rd be happier than His   arego (@airuhgo) August 20, 2021

Frodo Baggins was 33 when he began his quest to destroy the ring  rosie (@rosieieieie) August 21, 2021

33 is also the year that hobbits recognize as becoming a full grown adult.  wkhi   (@wakazhi) August 21, 2021

Mine sent me a card that said something like... "Napoleon conquered several parts of Europe by the age of 30... what have you done?" lol  Gufty Bovilex is a  malcontent dorkface baker (@GuftyB) August 21, 2021

You either nail a girl and get her pregnant or get nailed to a cross. -love dad.  The optimist (@BerubeNathaniel) August 21, 2021



Mac from Boynton Beach, Florida, USA, who received the card last Friday, said: "My first through was 'What the f*** LOL' Like I didn't really expect him to include that part about Jesus considering we're not particularly religious.

"I think he was just reminding me of the fact 33 was a big milestone for him personally. He grew up going to Catholic school so maybe that random piece of information stuck with him."

However, one thing that reciprocated most with people who commented was that everyone's father has the exact same handwriting.

Well, let's hope our fathers would have a similar sense of humour when we turn a little older.
A woman wearing a shawl depicting the Afghan national flag takes part in a protest demanding the international community to help Afghan refugees, at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in New Delhi on Aug. 23, 2021. (ANI photo)
Woodbridge, VA (22192)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mostly cloudy during the afternoon with heavy thunderstorms becoming likely. Isolated tornadoes possible. High near 80F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Cloudy and damp with rain early...then becoming partly cloudy. Low near 60F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Woodbridge, VA (22192)

Today

Thunderstorms, accompanied by locally heavy rainfall at times. Isolated tornadoes possible. High 82F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Rain ending this evening. Partial clearing overnight. Low 61F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Local Twin Cities artists Enzyrose, Eyenga Bokamba, Noah Lawrence-Holder, LeShon Lee, and Meadow Gillispie, talk about their reaction to the murder of George Floyd, the trial of Derek Chauvin, and life as a black artist during this time.
Hub International Ltd., the Chicago-based insurance broker, announced that it has signed a purchase agreement to acquire the assets of National Home Warranty Group Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Aviva Canada Inc.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

With offices in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, and Vancouver and Langley, British Columbia, National Home Warranty is one of Western Canadas leading home warranty providers. Partnering with more than 3,500 registered builders, they provide new home warranty coverage to 15,000 homes and homeowners every year.

Our investment in National Home Warranty rounds out Hubs capabilities in Western Canada to offer a more complete and comprehensive solution to make builders stronger and help homeowners better protect their assets, said David Moon, president of Hub International Canada West (Hub Canada West). Their builders and clients will have access to an additional layer of risk management, specialties, resources and services with Hub.

Following the acquisition, the National Home Warranty team will join Hub Canada West, continuing to service and support clients.

Source: Hub International

Topics Mergers Canada
A southern Illinois county agreed to pay a nurse $35,000 to settle her lawsuit alleging she was fired for refusing to tell local law enforcement which residents had tested positive for the coronavirus.

The payment to nurse Diane Kuhl is part of an out-of-court settlement revealed by documents the Belleville News-Democrat obtained this week in response to an open records request.

Under the settlement, the county will pay $10,000 and its insurer will pay the $25,000 balance. Both sides are responsible for their own legal fees and Clinton County denies fault, liability or wrongdoing under the settlement, the newspaper reported.

She got the relief that she was seeking in court, which was to make up for the lost wages and benefits she suffered because of this wrongful termination, said Carl Draper, Kuhls attorney.

Ben Jacobi, an attorney representing the county, declined to comment on the settlements terms.

Kuhl worked as a part-time nurse for the Clinton County Health Department for four years before she was fired in April 2020, according to the lawsuit filed in August 2020 in Clinton County Circuit Court.

It alleged that the departments then-interim administrator told Kuhl to provide names and addresses of COVID-19 patients to the Clinton County Sheriffs Department and police chiefs in municipalities so they could take extra precautions when responding to 911 calls.

Her suit argued that it would have been illegal for her to provide the information to outside agencies under federal and state laws that protect patient privacy. In addition, she could have faced disciplinary action, including the loss of her nursing license, the complaint alleged.

Draper also characterized the administrators request as unnecessary, noting that the Illinois Department of Public Health was already recommending that first responders behave as if everyone was contagious, as a precaution.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics COVID-19 Illinois
An Iowa man is suing an eastern Nebraska county, its sheriff and several deputies, saying their lack of training led one of the deputies to shoot him in the eye with a pepper ball during a protest last year.

Adam Keup, 24, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, filed the federal lawsuit last week against Sarpy County, the Omaha World-Herald reported. The lawsuit also names Sheriff Jeff Davis and four deputies as defendants and alleges that Davis handed out the pepper balls to his deputies before the May 29, 2020, protest in Omaha without providing any training on how to use them or on crowd-control tactics.

The protest was among dozens that erupted across the country in the days after the death of George Floyd when Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyds neck for several minutes even after Floyd stopped moving and pleaded for air. Chauvin was sentenced earlier this year to 22 1/2 years in prison.

Keup has said he went to the gathering to watch his partner take photos of the protest. Keup said he was standing on a sidewalk about 100 feet from protesters and law enforcement when four Sarpy County deputies in riot gear approached them, and one of the deputies shot him in the eye and shoulder with pepper balls.

Keup says deputies then took him behind a police line and poured water into his eye to try to flush it out, not knowing that water flushing is not recommended for treating pepper balls exploding into an eye. The lawsuit says the water only worsened the chemical agent embedded in Keups eye, causing scar tissue that left the eye blinded.

The lawsuit says the county and its law enforcement agents violated Keups constitutional rights and seeks an unspecified amount in damages.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Nebraska
Smart Choice Agents Program

Smart Choice Agents Program, an agency network with over 8,700 independent agents and 100 carrier partners, reported that 631 agents were selected to join the partnership network during first half of 2021.

Smart Choice also added two key hires in leadership positions for sales and finance

Mike Golonka, the former national accounts sales director at MetLife Auto & Home (part of Farmers Insurance Group), has been named as vice president of Strategic Partners. In this role Golonka will work with Smart Choice on key company relationships and Smart Choice Partners on the integration of business into Smart Choice partner companies.

Thomas Andrews, formerly a senior auditor at Dixon Hughes Goodman, has been named vice president of Finance and will lead the finance team.

We set very aggressive goals for expansion as part of our 5-year plan, said Andrew Caldwell, President of Smart Choice Agents. This unprecedented response from agents helps us maintain our growth trajectory and it also validates the unique business value that we offer independent agents.

The Smart Choice Agents Program is a wholly owned program of Worldwide Insurance Network Inc. (WIN), headquartered in High Point, North Carolina. They currently serve 8,700 agency partners in 45 states.

United Valley Insurance Services Adds Two New Members

Sunset Business Insurance Solutions of Burbank, California, and The Coverage Pro LLC of Scottsdale, Arizona, have joined United Valley Insurance Services Inc.

Sunset Business Insurance Solutions was founded in 2016 and offers property and casualty insurance products to their clients with an expertise in workers compensation benefits. Founder and owner, Faith Branvold has over 35 years of experience in the insurance industry.

The Coverage Pro was founded in 2019 with a commercial lines focus on construction, property, and towing. They also operate a robust personal lines department. Agency Principal and owner, Jeff LaScala, has over 25 years of experience in the industry.

Founded in 1983, United Valley Insurance Services is an exclusive membership network of over 85 independently owned and operated insurance agencies with more than 100 locations in the Western U.S. United Valley Insurance Services and its member agencies sell and service $1 billion in total written premium and have direct access to more than 60 insurance company markets countrywide.

Missouris Top Team Insurance Joins Valley Insurance Agency Alliance

Top Team Insurance in Springfield, Missouri, joined Valley Insurance Agency Alliance (VIAA), a cohesive family of nearly 150 independent insurance agencies in Missouri and Illinois.

Top Team Insurance was founded in 2021 by David Johnson. The full-service agency specializes in personal and life insurance.

Johnson has 15 years of experience in the construction field and owns numerous companies including team real estate, team property management, and team construction. Johnson also founded Infinity Martial Arts, which has three martial arts gym locations, as well as Infinity Fight Promotions.

Founded in 2006, VIAA generates more than $350 million in written premium and is the regional founding member for the Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance (SIAA), a $10 billion national alliance.

Keystone Signs Iowas Shomo-Madsen Insurance

Keystone Insurers Group (Keystone) added a new agency, Shomo-Madsen Insurance in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Shomo-Madsen was formed in 2010 by Bobby Shomo and Steve Madsen. The firm is are one of six independent agencies in the Iowa and 254 nationally to be named a Best Practices Agency over the past five years including 2020.

The agency well-known for their work with the Iowa Big I, with Madsen serving as the associations current president. In addition, Shomo has served as a CIC Instructor. Aside from the agencys Marshalltown main location, it has regional offices in Jewell, Colfax, Prairie City, Newton, Monroe, and Mingo.

Topics Mergers Carriers
The judge overseeing Purdue Pharmas bankruptcy said on Monday that some members of the Sackler family who own the OxyContin maker face a substantial risk of liability and could be on the hook for huge amounts of money over claims the company fueled the opioid epidemic.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain in White Plains, New York, made the remark during closing arguments in a trial over Purdues proposed reorganization plan.

I think there is substantial risk that the Sacklers, or some of them, could be liable for huge amounts of money, said Drain, who added that the question is where you draw the line.

Under the deal, which Purdue says is worth more than $10 billion, the Sacklers would contribute about $4.5 billion and receive legal protections against future opioid-related litigation.

Drain did not explicitly state which way he will rule but suggested he finds the deal was sufficient. But he urged lawyers for the Sacklers and the nine states that oppose the deal to continue settlement talks over next couple of days.

More than 500,000 Americans have died since 1999 from opioid overdoses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Drain told Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence Fogelman that it would be boneheaded to reject billions of dollars from the Sacklers just because it is not enough to solve the entire U.S. opioid crisis.

The judge is expected to issue a formal ruling on the deal this week.

The money would go toward various entities and private individuals with opioid claims, as well as state and local opioid abatement programs.

Critics of the settlement argue that the liability releases are too broad.

An attorney representing the states of Washington and Oregon, which oppose the plan, told Drain on Monday that approving the deal would be a historic mistake.

The judge also stated that appeals courts generally support the types of releases the Sacklers would receive if they meet certain standards.

At the outset of Mondays hearing, a lawyer for the Sacklers said they had agreed to narrow the litigation releases to exclude protections for the family against non-opioid-related claims.

But the crux of the releases, shielding the Sacklers against opioid-related litigation, remains intact.

During testimony last week, members of the Sackler family said they would not contribute if they do not receive the releases.

(Reporting by Maria Chutchian in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder, David Gregorio and Peter Cooney)

Topics Legislation
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will seek input on whether digital customer engagement innovations used by financial firms should be governed by existing rules or may need new ones, commission chair Gary Gensler told Reuters.

While the SECs thinking on the subject is at an early stage, its rules may need updating to account for an artificial intelligence-led revolution in predictive analytics, differential marketing and behavioral prompts designed to optimize customer engagement, he said.

The SEC plans to launch a sweeping consultation in coming days that could have major ramifications for retail brokers, wealth managers and robo-advisers, which increasingly use such tools to drive customers to higher-revenue products.

Were at a transformational time. I really believe data analytics and AI can bring a lot of positives, but it means we should look back and think about what does this mean for user interface, user engagement, fairness and bias, said Gensler. What does it mean about rules written in an earlier era?

The consultation was partly sparked by Januarys meme stock saga, which resulted in intense scrutiny of retail broker practices, including gamification  game-like prompts designed to optimize customer engagement.

Gensler told Congress in a May hearing about the saga that the SEC would seek public input on gamification.

He now says the agency should examine the gamut of digital-engagement practices. While such features can increase consumers access to capital markets, they may also expose them to increased risks.

Certain behavioral prompts could potentially be considered investment advice and regulated as such, he added.

These digital engagement practices raise questions as to when marketing becomes advice, when is it a recommendation, whats the duty of care? said Gensler, who was previously a professor at MIT where he taught classes on financial technology.

Gensler echoed a growing worry among regulators that such tools may perpetuate discriminatory behavior. With some marketing practices, for example, companies customize product offerings and prices to customers preferences and profile.

The data thats coming in to these data analytics, whether it be machine learning or deep learning, will represent the biases in society, as they exist already, he said.

SPACS

Since becoming SEC chair in April, Gensler has set out an ambitious agenda, pursuing new climate change and workforce related disclosures, cracking down on the boom in special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, deals and increasing scrutiny of U.S.-listings of Chinese companies.

Gensler said the SECs planned new SPAC rules would enhance disclosures, particularly regarding the costs of deals and how later stage investors would be diluted.

Wall Streets biggest gold rush of recent years, SPACs are listed shell companies that raise funds to acquire a private company and take it public, allowing targets to sidestep the more onerous regulatory checks of an initial public offering.

But some critics say later stage investors are getting ripped off by SPAC sponsors, which are also early investors.

Think about the cost at every stage: at the beginning, the sponsor fees, the underwriting fees, the lawyers fees. It all adds up to a very intensive and costly process, said Gensler.

(Reporting by Katanga Johnson and Chris Prentice; Writing by Michelle Price; Editing by Sam Holmes)

Top Photo: The headquarters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Washington. REUTERS/Jim Bourg
Insurance carriers and agents may want to pay more attention to small business insurance customers, especially those with commercial auto and workers compensation policies. Theyre feeling neglected.

According to the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study a lack of proactive support and personalized attention has put a strain on customer satisfaction among small commercial insurance customers. The small business J.D. Power insurance satisfaction scores have fallen significantly for a second consecutive year.

Small commercial lines customer satisfaction has declined 15 points in the past two yearsa 7-point decline from a year ago and an 8-point decline in 2020 from 2019. These represent the only declines in the studys 9-year history. Satisfaction with interactions shows a 20-point decline from a year ago.

We see a real pattern of small business insurers missing the mark on soft skills, such as interaction with agents and proactive outreachboth being areas in which commercial insurers have historically thrived, said Robert M. Lajdziak, senior consultant of insurance intelligence at J.D. Power.

The study examines overall customer satisfaction among small commercial insurance customers with 50 or fewer employees.

Lajdziak said small commercial customers spend three times more effort interacting with their carrier on websites, on the phone or with agents. The largest declines in the study are among customers who had workers compensation coverage or commercial auto policies.

Carriers will want to pay particular attention to customers with these types of policies, he said.

While insurers doled out tens of billions of dollars in refunds to personal lines customers during the COVID-19 pandemic, small business insurance customers got no relief since their coverage was not affected. However, they took notice and felt ignored, the survey suggests.

Some other findings of the 2021 study:

Customer effort to interact with agent is three times higher than 2020: Customers who say they had to exert a great deal of effort to interact with their agent increases to 32% from 10% a year ago. Digital interactions were no less immune, increasing to 34% from 10% year over year.

Customers who say they had to exert a great deal of effort to interact with their agent increases to 32% from 10% a year ago. Digital interactions were no less immune, increasing to 34% from 10% year over year. Proactive outreach too little, too late: in 2020, only 19% of customers indicated their carrier proactively reached out to them to discuss business needs related to COVID-19. While proactive contact significantly increases to 45% in 2021, the positive effect it has on customer satisfaction declines 31 points, which indicates insurers may have been too late in providing support to their customers.

in 2020, only 19% of customers indicated their carrier proactively reached out to them to discuss business needs related to COVID-19. While proactive contact significantly increases to 45% in 2021, the positive effect it has on customer satisfaction declines 31 points, which indicates insurers may have been too late in providing support to their customers. Mixed messaging in communication: While proactive outreach still has a positive effect, carriers need to ensure the information being communicated is accurate across channels and documents. Among customers who received proactive outreach from their insurer are citing more problems and/or billing issues in 2021 (46%) than in 2020 (26%).

While proactive outreach still has a positive effect, carriers need to ensure the information being communicated is accurate across channels and documents. Among customers who received proactive outreach from their insurer are citing more problems and/or billing issues in 2021 (46%) than in 2020 (26%). Scrambling to get answers: Customers experiencing problems and/or billing-related issues are using multiple channelssuch as mobile app, online chat and text messagingto get answers to their questions. These customers are nearly twice as likely to use four or more channels than those who dont experience problems.

In this years survey results, Allstate ranked highest in overall customer satisfaction with a score of 848 (on a 1,000-point scale). State Farm (846) ranked second and Erie Insurance (845) ranked third.

The study is based on responses from 1,994 small commercial insurance customers. Overall satisfaction is comprised of five factors (in order of importance): interaction; policy offerings; price; billing and payment; and claims. The study was fielded from March through June 2021.

Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance Market Small Business
Considering two principal questions in an insurance dispute between Texas homeowners and their insurance carrier, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit handed each party a win and a loss.

The dispute in Randel v. Travelers Lloyds of Texas concerns the insurers handling of a claim filed by Randy and Debra Randel following a Fourth of July fire that started in their garage and damaged their home.

According to the Fifth Circuit panel, the two questions it needed to consider in the case are:

Does the payment of the appraisal award prevent a plaintiff from continuing to pursue a breach of contract claim against an insurer?

Can an insurer be liable under the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act for failing to timely pay the full damages it owed even though it timely made sizeable payments in response to the claim?

The answer to both questions, the Court determined, is yes.

The Randels notified the insurer the day after the fire and Travelers made an early payment on the claim. The Randels felt the amount was insufficient.

Acknowledging the claim upon receipt, Travelers issued a $10,000 advance check to the Randels and inspected the property with the Randels and their contractor.

The Randels authorized their contractors to repair the property but later told them to stop after they disagreed about certain repairs.

Travelers in August estimated the damage to the Randels property at $179,232.16 and paid the Randels $126,720.86 after the deductible and depreciation costs. In October, the insurer estimated the couples personal property loss to be $53,270.49. Travelers also paid out $24,446.33 in three loss of use payments over several months, the court explained.

The Randels felt Travelers estimate of the damage was insufficient. A public adjuster hired by the couple estimated damage to their house at $499,448.69, an amount that was much higher than Travelers estimate.

In Travelers view, after the Randels fired the contractors, repairs ceased, and thus any additional damage resulted from the Randels failure to mitigate. Travelers thus declined coverage for additional damage to the property, the opinion states.

Randels invoked the policys appraisal provision, which Travelers initially balked at but to which it eventually agreed.

The parties submitted for appraisal the dwelling and personal property claims but excluded the loss-of-use claim. An appraisal award granted $317,030.70 actual cash value in dwelling damages and $100,331.02 actual cash value in personal property damage, the opinion states.

Travelers paid the award  minus the prior payments and the policy deductible  within five business days. Ultimately, the insurer paid $533,529.88 on the claim, an amount that included payments for personal property and loss of use, as well as for damage to the dwelling.

The Randels sued in state court, however, alleging that Travelers underpaid their claims in violation of the insurance policy, acted in bad faith, and violated the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act (the Act). The Randels continued to press these claims after Travelers paid the appraisal amount, the opinion states.

The case was moved to federal court where Travelers obtained a summary judgment on the claims against it. The district court concluded that the Randels acceptance of the appraisal payment ended their breach of contract claim for damages to the dwelling and determined that the Randels were not entitled to additional benefits for loss of use, the Fifth Circuits opinion states. Therefore, the district court decided, the Randels could not maintain their bad faith claim without a breach of contract claim.

The 5th Circuit Court agreed the Randels breach of contract claim was appropriately denied by the lower court.

Although the issuance of an appraisal award does not bar a breach of contract claim, payment and acceptance of the award does, the 5th Circuits opinion states, citing a ruling from the Texas Supreme Courts decision in Ortiz v. State Farm Lloyds. [T]he insurers payment of the award bars the insureds breach of contract claim premised on a failure to pay the amount of the covered loss.

The Court found no evidence that Travelers failed to pay the amounts it owed but the Randels claim regarding prompt payment was another matter.

Citing the Texas Supreme Courts ruling in Barbara Techs. Corp. v. State Farm Lloyds, the Fifth Circuit noted that paying the full amount of an appraisal award does not necessarily erase a prompt payment claim. That is because an insurer may be liable under the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act even when it pays in full if that payment was not timely, the opinion states.

The district court dismissed the prompt payment claim relating to dwelling and personal property coverage because although Travelers early payments were less than the amount it ultimately owed, the early payments were in an amount it deemed reasonable, the Fifth Circuits opinion states.

However, while the Randels case was on appeal, the Supreme Court of Texas provided the answer we could only guess at four years ago, the opinion states. It held that that a reasonable payment should roughly correspond to the amount owed on the claim.'

The Court noted that in the current case it did not need to determine how close to the final amount owed the payment made before the appraisal needed to be because the numbers were so far off. There is a substantial gap of roughly $185,000 between the preappraisal dwelling and personal property payments and the appraisal award, the opinion states.

Travelers now concedes that its preappraisal payment was not reasonable given the recent guidance from the state high court. Travelers preappraisal payment thus is not a defense to liability under the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act. As a result of this recent clarification of Texas law, the claim seeking interest for late payment of dwelling coverage must be remanded, the Court concluded.
The bridge crews lack of attention to a cargo ships position let it drag anchor and hit another anchored ship and a dock last year, doing millions of dollars in damage, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report.

Monitoring a ship at anchor  requires a continuous state of vigilance and the use of all available means to determine whether a vessel is dragging or not, said the report.

Nobody was injured when the 453-foot-long (138 meter) Nomadic Milde hit the 590-foot (180-meter) bulk carrier Atlantic Venus, forming a T across the longer ships bow, and then hit the Cornerstone Chemical Co. dock, the board said.

The report said damages were estimated at $16.9 million  $10.9 million to the dock, $5.5 million to $6 million to the Nomadic Milde and more than $410,000 to the Atlantic Venus.

However, Cornerstones estimate puts dock repairs at $52.3 million, with lost business, prejudgment interest and court costs bringing the total to $66.9 million. Those figures are in a lawsuit against both ships, the towing company that was working to separate the two when the cargo ship hit the dock and a third ship that passed nearby, raising a wake.

Attorneys for both Cornerstone, based in Bridge City, Louisiana, and for owners and managers of the cargo ship, which say its repairs cost $1.5 million and are trying to limit its liability to $6.2 million, declined to comment because litigation is pending.

A bench trial before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon is currently scheduled Sept. 12, 2022.

The Mississippi River was high when the accident occurred about 5 p.m. on May 8, 2020, at the Kenner anchorage near New Orleans, where the Nomadic Milde was just upriver of the other ship.

It had taken on a cargo of lead concentrate and its crew was to finish repairing a cargo hatch the next morning, the NTSB said. The cargo was to be delivered to Port Pirie, Australia, according to court papers filed for owner New Nomadic Short Sea Shipping AS of Bergen, Norway, and operator Intership Navigation Co. Ltd, of Cyprus.

The Nomadic Milde probably first moved while the pilot who had directed the crew to its berth was leaving, and then did so again before the crash, according to NTSB.

Had the pilot noticed the motion, he might have stayed on board, it said.

The report said that apparently neither watch officer checked the cargo ships position frequently, or by any means other than an electronic monitoring system.

That alarm was set to sound if the Nomadic Milde was more than 590 feet (180 meters) from a center point, even though it had started out about 490 feet (149 meters) from the Atlantic Venus, the report noted.

The anchor watch alarm radius setting of 590 feet was too large to provide for a timely alarm of the ship dragging, it said.

There would have been time to avoid the crashes if the bridge team had noticed other evidence that their ship was drifting, the report said.

The ships radars would have provided information for the crew to determine or crosscheck if the range to a vessel or object had decreased, or if the ship had moved while at anchor, NTSB wrote.

When watches changed just after 4 p.m., the incoming chief officer noticed that the Nomadic Milde was not in the middle of the anchor watch circle but didnt check other information, the report said.

At 4:13 p.m., the officer on watch aboard the Atlantic Venus called, asking the Nomadic Mildes officers to monitor their holding position.

The chief officer did not take any follow-up action to address the concern, only communicating that their engines were ready on short notice, the report said.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Transportation
The Kentucky governors efforts to aggressively combat COVID-19 suffered a landmark legal defeat Saturday as the states high court cleared the way for new laws to rein in his emergency powers.

The state Supreme Court ordered a lower court to dissolve an injunction that temporarily blocked the Republican-backed laws strictly limiting Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears emergency powers.

The ruling revolved around a constitutional showdown between Beshear and the GOP-led legislature over the scope of the governors executive authority in emergencies. It comes as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are surging because of the highly contagious delta variant.

The case stems from measures passed by the legislature this year to curb those emergency powers in response to Beshears aggressive handling of the coronavirus crisis. The governor immediately filed a lawsuit challenging the measures after his vetoes of the bills were overridden.

The Supreme Court said Saturday that the governors claims that the measures impaired his ability to carry out his constitutional duties were largely unsupported by sound legal principles.

In sum, considering that the challenged legislation was lawfully passed, the governors complaint does not present a substantial legal question that would necessitate staying the effectiveness of the legislation, Justice Laurance B. VanMeter wrote.

Republican lawmakers said the new laws were meant to put checks on what they viewed as Beshears overreach in ordering a series of restrictions to combat the viruss spread. The governor maintained the steps he took to limit activity during the pandemic have saved lives.

The governor lifted most of his pandemic restrictions in June. But with COVID-19 cases spiking due to the delta variant, he signed a recent executive order imposing an indoor mask mandate in K-12 schools, child care and pre-kindergarten programs across Kentucky.

One of the contested laws limits the governors executive orders in times of emergency to 30 days unless extended by lawmakers. Under another measure, businesses and schools have to comply either with COVID-19 guidelines from the governor or the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They could follow whichever standard is least restrictive.

Last year, the state Supreme Court upheld the governors authority to issue coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses and individuals to try to contain the spread of COVID-19. The legislature responded by passing the new laws this year.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics COVID-19 Legislation Kentucky
More than 13,500 firefighters were working Monday to contain a dozen large California wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee to safety.

After an extensive review of fire damage, Gov. Gavin Newsom requested a presidential major disaster declaration for eight counties, Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Office of Emergency Services, told a briefing near Sacramento.

If approved, the declaration would provide a wide range of assistance including housing, food aid, unemployment and governmental emergency costs, Ghilarducci said.

Nearly 43,000 Californians were under under evacuation orders and more than 500 households were in shelters, he said.

New concerns were developing at the explosive Caldor Fire southwest of Lake Tahoe, the famed alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada state line and surrounded by peaks of the Sierra Nevada and resort communities.

The Caldor Fire, just 9% contained, has become the nations number one priority for firefighting resources, said Chief Thom Porter, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

It is knocking on the door to the Lake Tahoe basin, Porter said. We have all efforts in place to keep it out of the basin but we do need to also be aware that is a possibility based on the way the fires have been burning.

Porter said he personally did not believe the fire would get into the basin but that he could be proved wrong.

The Caldor Fire has incinerated nearly 180 square miles (466 square kilometers) of El Dorado National Forest and continuing assessments showed 447 buildings destroyed. More than 17,000 structures were still under threat.

Two police officers from the Sacramento County city of Galt were in critical condition after a head-on traffic collision while they were headed to the Caldor Fire under a law enforcement mutual aid deployment, Ghilarducci said.

To the north, containment increased to 40% at the Dixie Fire, which has burned more than 1,130 square miles in the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades. Ongoing assessments showed 1,259 buildings destroyed, including 678 single-family homes, Cal Fire said. Nearly 13,000 structures remained threatened.

In Nevada, public schools in the Reno and Sparks area and parts of Lake Tahoe were closed Monday due to wildfire smoke, affecting 67,000 students.

In Northern California, where most of the blazes are burning, there were no red flag warnings for critical conditions but the seven-day outlook called for moderate fire danger. In Southern California, meanwhile, moist ocean air has been keeping skies cloudy and temperatures cooler than normal well into each day.

Porter said that meant there was low potential for large new fires in Southern California, allowing firefighting resources to be surged from south to north.

While Southern California has so far escaped large-scale wildfires this year, Los Angeles officials on Monday urged residents to be aware of whats going on in the north because the regions high fire season is typically late in the year when dry, gusty Santa Ana winds blast out of the interior and flow toward the coast.

That awareness is going to help us when it happens here in Southern California, Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said during a briefing to display the citys fleet of firefighting helicopters at Van Nuys Airport.

The mix of spring growth dried out by summer heat and high winds creates a dangerous condition that could lead to large, fast-moving brush fires, he said.

Related:

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics California
An aerial landscaping team has taken flight in the mountains west of Fort Collins, Colo.

Its landing site sits in a broad field at the base of Poudre Canyon. Every few minutes, a helicopter arrives to lift a net loaded with about 1,300 pounds of shredded wood. The payload arcs from a cable as the aircraft banks toward a line of fire-charred mountains, waiting to spread the mulch over a section of scorched forest.

The daily airshow is meant to protect water supplies. Last year, the Cameron Peak Fire, the largest in state history, burned through the Cache la Poudre River watershed, leaving many slopes vulnerable to destructive erosion during rain events.

Our fear is the debris and ash will come into the reservoir and make the water undrinkable, said Randy Gustafson, a water resource administrator overseeing the project for the City of Greeley. What were trying to accomplish here is to stabilize these slopes.

Forests have long served as a reliable piece of natural infrastructure across the American West. Experts now warn theyre increasingly vulnerable as climate change drives more frequent and intense wildfires. Without any vegetation, the scorched landscapes left in wildfire burn scars lack the treetops to slow rain or roots to hold back hillsides.

The mulching project is an attempt to help the forest recover as quickly as possible. Sean Chambers, the Sewer and Water Director for the City of Greeley, said it stands as an example of whats likely required by climate change: rapid, collaborative work to preserve natural resources many take for granted.

The forest is more prone to burn every summer, Chambers said. In our future, thats going to be part of our business model.

Those long-term consequences of wildfire are already proving deadly in Poudre Canyon.

Last July, heavy rain triggered a mudslide near Black Hollow Road, about 50 miles west of Fort Collins along State Highway 14. Authorities have confirmed the flood killed three people. Another person is still missing.

The event also loaded the river with sediment, forcing Fort Collins and Greeley to shut off their intakes along the waterway. Both communities are now relying on a backup supply of water in Horsetooth Reservoir. Its unclear when the river might again carry treatable water, but utility managers dont expect the problem will have any immediate effect on customers.

Chambers said the disaster showed the urgency of the aerial mulching project, which has required a coordinated effort to win government approval and gather funding. With the helicopter team costing between $2,500 and $3,000 an acre, its unclear if the project can be completed.

After the Cameron Peak Fire, Greeley worked with the City of Fort Collins, Larimer County and Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed to map where mulch could best protect water resources. It identified thousands of acres across the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, but some fell inside wilderness areas. Since federal law bans mechanized landscaping in those places, the U.S. Forest Service only permitted work on less protected public land.

Daniel Bowker, the forest and fire project manager for the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, said the experience has him reconsidering the idea of wilderness. While he supports saving some areas of human development, he wonders if it might be necessary to make exceptions in an era of rapid climate change.

We have to take an active role in the management of these landscapes. Just standing back and doing nothing is a management technique. Its just not the one we need, Bowker said.

The group outlined a $31 million project for aerial mulching across about 11,000 high-priority acres. So far, its cobbled together funding from local, state and federal resources to pay for about half of the project. Its now hoping to finalize an additional $5.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Emergency Watershed Protection Program. However, the federal funding would still leave a $7 million shortfall, according to Chambers.

And if it doesnt come through, he expects the helicopters will be forced to stop flying on Aug. 24.

While the financing remains uncertain, Chambers is far more confident the mulching process will work.

Thats because his department tried the technique after the 2012 High Park Fire. The blaze burnt up almost 90,000 acres in the Cache la Poudre River watershed. A coalition of government agencies responded with an aerial mulching program, trying out various materials, including agricultural straw, wood straw and shredded wood.

A 2017 review published by the U.S. Forest Services Rocky Mountain Research Station found mixed outcomes from the aerial mulching work. One study measured more sediment in the water below a fully treated watershed compared to a partially treated watershed. Still, the researchers cautioned that could be because foresters mulched more severely burned areas.

On the other hand, researchers showed the treatment slowed erosion. One study found fences on mulched hillsides gathered far less sediment than untreated slopes, especially in the first few years after a fire. The difference disappeared as vegetation recovered across the landscape.

If hillsides stay put, Chambers said the benefits would be profound. Intake pipes wont clog with ash and dirt. Reservoirs wont require expensive excavation projects. People might even face less risk from flash floods during the next major rainstorm. All amount to reasons he is scrambling to keep the helicopters flying into the fall.

It might seem crazy, but the risk to life, property and water supply is just too important not to protect our natural resources. And this is the best science-based strategy to do that, he said.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Colorado
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Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020
Primary school children will not be required to wear masks when they return to the classroom. Not everyone agrees with the Department of Education's guidance, sent out to schools last week. Concerned about the growing incidence of Covid-19, some health experts say young children should be required to wear a face mask. There are many parents who would agree.

I am a child psychotherapist, not an immunologist, and have no expertise on the pros or cons of mask wearing from a transmissibility perspective. However, where I have some degree of expertise is on the social and emotional development of children. I have spent many years studying these trajectories and feel this perspective needs to be considered when deciding on the impact of measures such as face coverings for young children.

The undeniable fact is that language and words play a central role in communication. But, tone of voice, intonation, punctuation and facial expression play a significant role too. Children learn these forms of communication through practice and interaction. These learnings occur most intensely in the formative or early years. When we learn to interpret the subtleties of communication, we begin to develop an important skillset collectively known as emotional intelligence.

The ability to interpret and appropriately express emotions such as anger, sadness, frustration, empathy and fear are all features of emotional intelligence. Many psychological experts support Daniel Golemans claim that emotional intelligence is a stronger predictor of life success than academic intelligence or IQ.

Canvas of the heart

Our faces express much of what we feel, often more than our voices.

The eyes may well be the windows to the soul, but the face is the canvas of the heart.

As we get older, we get more adept at reading facial expressions as we build on the template established in early childhood. From infancy, we learn to interpret the emotions of others and to mimic and respond appropriately. We know that a lack of stimulus with the outside world can arrest or delay mastering these skills. This learning trajectory commences steeply and levels out as we get older. This can be seen in the physiological difference between a two and 10 year old. The neurons fire at a higher rate in early childhood and so disruptions to learning opportunities are more noticeable.

The other core aspect of childhood development is emotional regulation. Already we are seeing evidence of a large proportion of children struggling to regulate their feelings. The number of childhood anxiety referrals I have received over the last year has been unprecedented. The pandemic and rolling lockdowns have taken their toll on our emotional reserves and so it has never been more important for us to scaffold and support our childrens wellbeing and protect their emotional development.

One of the most effective ways of doing this is through consistency and routine, an approach emphasised by nearly every parenting manual. Repetition allows us to form habits, develop awareness and most importantly, form trust in a reliable world. This reliability has been thrown into disarray over the past year and a half and many children have lost trust. They were initially told that school was closed for two weeks in March 2020, but they did not return until September 2020. They went on their holidays in December and didnt see their friends and teachers again until March/ April 2021.

This disruption has chipped away at their social and emotional learning, so we need to maximise opportunities for children to experience quality emotional interaction, which includes their ability to see other peoples faces and for others to see them.

Childhood lasts a lifetime

I have worked continuously over the pandemic. I have adjusted my practice to incorporate virtual sessions, social distancing sessions in larger rooms and sessions with masks. On reflection, the mask sessions are the hardest to manage. The ability to read and analyse a persons facial expression is central to my work. It is incredibly difficult to sit with someone who is in pain and not see their full facial expression and be unable to express your empathy non verbally. Not surprisingly, some young people who come to see me have opted for virtual sessions over face-to-face sessions due to the communicative difficulties posed by face masks.

While its essential we prioritise our childrens health, children wearing masks is not without its risks too.

From my professional experience, I believe making young children wear masks will negatively impact their emotional development.

But will it have a more significant impact than catching Covid? I cannot say. Will the disruptions of possible school closures over the next year, due to increased transmission, have a greater negative impact on children than the emotional/ social cost of wearing masks? Again, I cannot say.

But what I do know is that childrens voices need to be heard in this, and their parents too. Our response to the pandemic has not worked out well for children so far. The idea that the adults know best is only true when the adults in question explore the possible psychological impacts of physical safety measures on children.

The global pandemic is severely impacting our lives, our relationships, and our mental health. Lets consider the two sides to every decision rather than going with the safest short-term option. A cost-benefit analysis is often the best way to come to a decision on whether something is worth pursuing or not. However, as is the case with many mental health and emotional dynamics, they can be difficult to measure and therefore the cost is underestimated. As schools reopen, I hope we keep in mind that childhood lasts a lifetime. And before we make pervasive decisions about childrens physical safety, I implore all decision makers to consider the long-term emotional impact on children too.
What are the safety measures in schools?

The schools' strategy focuses on making sure children with Covid-19 symptoms dont attend school, that there is rapid identification of children who develop symptoms in school, and a focus on physical distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene and good ventilation.

These measures are based on copper-fast principles that have stood the test of time in terms of infection prevention and control, according to Dr Abigail Collins, a consultant in public health medicine and the HSE schools lead.

Obviously, all of those things we asked to be put in place in school settings, and many other settings, very early on in this pandemic."

Does the Delta variant change anything?

Bar the introduction of C02 monitors to help schools monitor ventilation, safety measures in schools will stay the same as last term. Dr Collins said no extra measures were needed, bar those already in place.

Our objective always was to look at how the virus transmits and put in the infection prevention controls, that would make that much less likely to happen.

Public health doctors monitoring outbreaks in schools saw remarkably little change in close contact positivity, that is the number of close contacts who go on to test positive for Covid-19, between the first term of school, and the second. This was despite the advent of the more infectious UK variant in December.

In the case of newer, more contagious variants, adhering to those measures becomes even more important.

Your wiggle room for non-compliance decreases," said Dr Collins.

"It's not necessarily that there is anything that we decided not to include in the start or anything sort of new and fancy out in the field to bring in, it's more like actually, these are the things that work, and you need to do them even better if something is more infectious.

You need to do even slightly more of the right things, slightly more of the time to make sure most people are as optimally protected.

This includes availing of vaccination when it is offered to a student and minding exposures outside of school, particularly indoors.

Think about who you're meeting and where you're meeting people. The more people you meet, the more chances you have, particularly in certain indoor settings."

The advice is to limit our exposures, but my child has 25 children in their class. How does that work?

Families being told to limit their contacts while their child shares a class with dozens of other students every day has been one of the more confusing messages of the pandemic.

Dr Collins understands this. We know that schools have been one of the most moderated environments that we have in terms of public health input."

It's not like mixing in an environment where there are no control measures, such as a nightclub.

"You definitely are meeting more people if you're going to school, but that's why the recommendations for the infection prevention control measures have been made very explicitly to schools, and their implementation is really important.

"We know from all the data and monitoring that we've been doing, and internationally its been identified, that schools are lower-risk settings for the onward spread of Covid-19. So yes, they are mixing, but it's really important for education and psychosocial development.

What classifies someone as a close contact in a school?

A Public Health Risk Assessment (PHRA) is undertaken regionally by public health departments for all educational settings where a confirmed case has attended whilst infectious. This PHRA determines close contacts. According to the HSPC, it is assumed they will have been within a closed space for at least two hours because of the length of the school day.

What symptoms should parents be aware of?

Symptoms of Covid-19, including Delta, include fever with a temperature of 38C or above, any type of new cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, aches and pains, or loss or change to their sense of smell or taste.

Other uncommon symptoms include sore throat, headaches, runny or stuffy noses, feeling sick or vomiting, and diarrhoea.

If you have them, don't ignore them, even if you don't feel unwell with them, just don't ignore them," said Dr Collins.

"Contact your GP, and if you are worried your child has Covid-19 but doesnt have any clear symptoms, keep them at home.

Observe them, contact your GP, and have that discussion with them.

Can my younger child wear a face covering when they go back to primary school?

Currently, there is no requirement for younger students to wear face coverings in school. However, this doesnt stop any parent from deciding their child should wear a face covering.
Burma Around 30 Myanmar Junta Troops Killed in Magwe Ambush

Military trucks carrying reinforcement arrive Loikaw, Kayah State, in June. / Tharlikar.

Around 30 junta soldiers were reportedly killed and 15 others wounded during an ambush by the civilian resistance Yaw Defense Force (YDF) in Gangaw Township, Magwe Region, on Monday.

On Monday afternoon, 16 YDF fighters ambushed a military convoy on the Gangaw-Kale highway, according to the groups statement.

It said the convoy was taking reinforcements to Kale Township in Sagaing Region.

The group, which represents the Yaw community in Gangaw, reportedly used two grenade launchers, three landmines and homemade grenades.

A YDF video shows a military truck triggering a landmine.

In the attack, three out of eight military vehicles were damaged, around 30 soldiers were killed and 15 injured.

The group said it suffered no casualties when soldiers fired back indiscriminately.

The Irrawaddy was unable to independently confirm the casualties.

Last week, the junta troops on the Gangaw-Kale highway faced a series of landmine attacks by civilian resistance fighters, killing around 50 junta troops and injuring many others.

Myanmars junta is facing growing numbers of armed resistance volunteers and attacks by ethnic armed groups across the country, except in Rakhine State.

In July, more than 740 junta soldiers were killed and almost 730 wounded during 355 shootouts, assassinations and bombing attacks by ethnic armed groups and civilian resistance fighters, according to Myanmars parallel National Unity Government.

Attack in Yangon

On Monday evening, resistance fighters from the Civil Guerrilla Force attacked junta forces at a garment factory in Hlaing Tharyar Township using a remote-controlled bomb.

In the explosion, two junta troops were seriously injured, according to the groups statement.

The group said it suffered no casualties.

On Sunday morning, junta sentries on the Bayint Naung Bridge, which connects Hlaing Thayar and Mayangone townships, were attacked by unidentified assailants. Some regime troops were reportedly injured.

Armed resistance by civilians against the junta appeared in late March when regime forces began killing peaceful protesters.

Since the Feb. 1 coup, the junta has killed more than 1,010 people during crackdowns, arrests, interrogations, raids and random shooting, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners reported on Monday.

Over 7,440 people, including elected leaders, have been detained by the junta or face arrest warrants.



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Burma Artist U Marlar, Favorite of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Dies of COVID-19

Then State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (center left) attends the opening of Shades of Art, Colors of Inspiration, an exhibition of works by artist U Marlar (center right), at the National Museum of Myanmar in Yangon in 2016.

Artist U Marlar, a favorite of detained State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, died of COVID-19 on Aug. 20. He was 68.

Nearly 50 artists have died of COVID-19 during Myanmars third wave of coronavirus infections, most of them in July.

Mandalay-based artist U Marlar was known for his watercolors depicting Myanmar culture and traditions. He graduated from the State School of Fine Arts in Mandalay and served as an instructor there for 10 years.

Driven by his keen interest in archaeological research, U Marlars paintings often focused on historical locations in Myanmar. He spent nine years working at the Mandalay Department of Archaeology, where he studied the paintings, sculptures and murals created from the Bagan to the Konbaung dynasties. He founded the Myanmar Watercolor Artists Association in 2013.

Myanmars art circles were filled with excitement when then State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi curated U Marlars art exhibition Shades of Art, Colors of Inspiration in July 2016. The title was chosen by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi herself and the exhibition showcased watercolor works depicting the mode of dress of Myanmar women in the late Konbaung Dynasty.

The exhibition in Yangon was attended by National League for Democracy patron U Tin Oo, then Religious Affairs and Culture Minister U Aung Ko and Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi bought 19 of 30 paintings on display and U Marlar presented her with a painting as a gift.

One month before the art exhibition, U Marlar was commissioned by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to create a painting based on Beida Lan (or Hyacinths Way), a famous poem by one of Myanmars greatest poets, Saya Zawgyi. The poem depicts a water hyacinths passage up and down a river to illustrate the theme of resilience in the face of hardship.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent nearly 15 years in detention between 1989 and 2010 under military rule and escaped an assassination attempt by the previous military regime, told U Marlar that her life bore parallels to the Beida Lan poem. U Marlar completed the painting in 10 days, after which Daw Aung San Suu Kyi asked him if he had any plan to organize a solo art exhibition, leading to the Shades of Art, Colors of Inspiration exhibition.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is herself an art enthusiast. A painting she created while under house arrest drew an offer of US$150,000 at an auction in 2016. However, the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded by the NLD, declined to sell it and instead kept it for its collection. Before her detention, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also commissioned other artists to draw pictures for her and visited art exhibitions when she had time.

The military regime removed the State Counselors possessions from her Naypyitaw residence in early August, six months after the February coup. Daw Aung San Suu Kyis personal art collection was among the items that were removed to an unknown location.



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Burma Myanmar Junta Cuts Internet Access in Hpakant

Soldiers from Light Infantry Division 33 deployed on the streets of Mandalay during anti-regime protests in February. / The Irrawaddy

Myanmars military regime has cut off internet access in Hpakant, Kachin State since Friday.

Mobile internet services were blocked around 8.30pm on Friday, followed by a shutdown of wifi internet hours later, said residents. Telecom operators said that they did not know why internet services were blocked or when they would resume, according to locals.

Not only is the internet blocked, but we also cant make phone calls or send SMS now. And we cant top up our mobile phones either. From previous experiences, when the internet is shutdown in Hpakant it normally means military operations are in progress, so we are concerned, said a female resident who requested anonymity.

Last Saturday, police from Police Battalion 30 based in Seik Mu village on the outskirts of Hpakant left their base and joined the Hpakant Township police inside the town. The same evening, the ethnic armed group the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) torched the barracks of the police battalion in Seik Mu.

Junta troops have been seen patrolling in Hpakant at midnight following the internet shutdown, said residents. Previously, they normally stayed in their outposts at that time.

They are patrolling almost every night now. My house is by the road and I could not get to sleep once they drove past. Around 40 to 50 of them drove past around 2am today, said a resident of Lone Khin village.

Hpakant residents said they felt unsafe talking about the situation on the phone because the military regime is monitoring phone calls. The junta has ordered the countrys telecom and internet service providers to install spyware that allows the military to eavesdrop directly on calls, read text messages, emails and other web traffic, as well as tracking the locations of users.

There have also been rumors in Hpakant that the military regime will install checkpoints to isolate the town. On Monday, some people were leaving the town for fear of fighting, said one Hpakant resident.

Telecom operators were also ordered to restrict internet access in Rakhine from June 2019 until the February 1 coup, as the military was engaged in heavy fighting with the Rakhine ethnic armed group the Arakan Army.

However, the regimes spokesperson, Major General Zaw Min Tun, denied that there was an internet blackout in Hpakant. There is no internet shutdown in any part of the country, he said.

Any military operations in Hpakant are being done in response to the attacks of the KIA and the local Peoples Defense Force, said the military spokesman.

Hpakant is home to the worlds largest deposits of high-quality jade, as well as gold and other precious gems. All the jade mining companies operating in Hpakant have ties to Myanmars military or the KIA.

Prospectors have to pay taxes to the military and the KIA if they find jade or precious gems, and both the KIA and the military rely on Hpakants mines to generate crucial funds.

KIA brigades 6 and 26 are active in Hpakant, while battalions under the command of Division 33 of the Myanmar military are based in the township.

In Waingmaw Township, which is separated from the Kachin State capital Myitkyina by the Ayeyarwady River, the militarys Battalion 58 shelled nearby villages every night from August 3 to August 19, following a KIA attack on July 29. Residents from at least four villages near the battalions base have been forced to flee their homes amid the daily shelling.

KIA information officer Colonel Naw Bu said that the regime has been continuously reinforcing its troops. The junta brought in some 5,000 additional soldiers after the coup, and hundreds more reinforcements are being sent either by road or by the river, he added.

Hpakant residents have formed anti-regime protest groups in their wards and villages to organize demonstrations and other forms of daily defiance against the junta. Locals are continuing their anti-coup protests, despite the internet shutdown, said Hpakant residents.



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Tens of Thousands Flee Myanmar Regime Forces Raids in Sagaing, Magwe
Burma Tens of Thousands Flee Myanmar Regime Forces Raids in Sagaing, Magwe

Locals are being forced to flee their homes in Sagaing and Magwe. / CJ

Tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes in Sagaing and Magwe regions due to recent junta raids, according to local sources.

Junta forces have been raiding one village after another in Tabayin, Minkin, Myaung, Yinmarbin and Kani townships in Sagaing and Yesagyo and other townships in Magwe, attacking the bases of local resistance fighters, detaining civilians and looting.

Junta troops used local villagers as human shields while traveling from one village to another during raids in Myaung, a member of the township Peoples Defense Force (PDF) told The Irrawaddy on condition of anonymity.

They have been on the rampage lately in Myaung. They came here because military informants were killed and to wipe out the Myaung PDF. They use around 10 villagers as human shields when they go from one village to the next. They release the villagers after they reach their destination, he said.

Human Rights Affairs Minister U Aung Myo Min of the parallel National Unity Government called the regimes use of civilians as human shields the worst form of human rights violations and a war crime.

They arrest and torture people in villages, and also force them to carry things for the army. And they also use civilians as shields or deterrents against enemy attacks. These are more than human rights violations; they are blatant war crimes, said U Aung Myo Min.

The Myanmar militarys code of ethics also bars military personnel from using civilians in fighting or putting their lives at risk.

Junta troops raided villages in Tabayin as of Sunday and at least seven youths were detained, according to locals.

They stayed overnight at Oh Tein Twin Village, and took food, drinks and rice. They took liquor from the pub and killed chickens for meat. They arrested people and looted. And they destroyed the things they dont need so that other people cant use them, said a Tabayin villager.

One young person was shot dead as junta troops opened fire while arresting five youths in the village of Hinthar in Yesagyo Township of Magwe Region, a township PDF member told The Irrawaddy.

As many junta troops have come recently, it appears that they are acting according to a plan to get rid of the PDF. Our weapons are no match for theirs, though there are many resistance fighters available to fight them. As the NUG has not declared D-Day, and we are not yet in a position to fight them in terms of weaponry, we have had to withdraw, he said.

A PDF base in Shwe Hlan Village was raided on Aug. 19 in Yesagyo Township, and weapons were seized. More weapons were seized from the village during the junta raid on Saturday.

Junta forces also attacked a PDF base in Myaung Township, forcing resistance fighters to withdraw.



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Myanmar Regime Soldiers Commit Arbitrary Killings, Looting During Raids
August 20, 2021

Idaho State Universitys College of Business is announcing its first-ever endowed professorship in the Department of Management thanks to the support of Idaho Central Credit Union. The announcement marks the fourth new endowed professorship in the College of Business in the past 10 months.

The ICCU Endowed Professorship in Management will last in perpetuity and will be awarded to tenured faculty members in the management department. Professor of Management Dr. Alex Bolinger has been selected as the first ICCU Endowed Professor, due to his exemplary work and the signature learning opportunities he provides to students in his classes. The ICCU team is pleased to support Bolinger's efforts in furthering his research and providing the hands-on student projects that Bolinger has developed for his students.

Alex is an inspiring professor and Ive watched his work in action for many years, said ICCU Chief Executive Officer and College of Business alumnus, Kent Oram. I know students are better prepared for the workforce when they have studied with him.

Bolinger was surprised with the professorship award on Monday afternoon with an unexpected visit from Oram; ICCUs Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Shelli Bardsley; ICCUs Chief Marketing Officer, Michael Watson; and Bolingers family.

It is particularly meaningful to receive this professorship from ICCU because of their generous sponsorship of the ICBSC, Bolinger said. ICCU has not only provided funding, but Kent Oram and his entire leadership team have consistently taken the time to meet with our Idaho State graduate business students to mentor them and cheer them on. I cannot imagine a better partner and I am honored to be associated with the ICCU name.

For the past seven years ICCU has also sponsored the International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition (ICBSC) team, which Bolinger and accounting professor Dr. Dawn Konicek advise.

For the competition, a team of graduate students compete against teams from around the world, working in executive roles to manage simulated corporations. Idaho State students participated in the 55-year-old event in the 1990s for several years but stopped for nearly two decades before Bolinger brought up the idea of bringing the opportunity back to College of Business students. Since bringing the competition back, Idaho States student teams have returned every year with a first or second place trophy.

ICBSC is unique, Bolinger said. Its as close as a student can get to experiencing what it is like to run their own company without risking their own money  and I have never seen any activity that challenges and engages students in a way that simulates the decisions they will make in real-world organizations. Bolinger said that graduates of the Idaho State ICBSC teams span the country from Vancouver, Canada to the East Coast all of which have been very successful in their careers. He said that for many of the students, their experience in the ICBSC was the pinnacle of their college career.

In addition to the ICBSC, Bolinger also implemented a book writing course that has allowed four groups of Idaho State honors program students the opportunity to become published authors and even stars of an Emmy-nominated documentary. This course started out as an experimental idea of Bolingers, giving students the opportunity to work collaboratively in teams. The books have all been published by Arcadia Publishing and include histories on Garrett Freightlines, Pocatello, Idaho State University, and the book to have inspired a PBS documentary- the history of Idahos role in World War II.

One of my goals as a faculty member is to bring signature experiences to students, said Bolinger. Experiences, such as ICBSC, that enable students to dynamically apply what they are learning in the classroom and remember long after they leave Idaho State.

Bolinger said that one of the challenges for a smaller, more rural institution such as Idaho State University is facultys need to travel in order to cultivate research collaborations, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends for making classes dynamic and current. This gift gives me the peace of mind of knowing that I will be able to continue to build those collaborations and bring cutting-edge ideas and practices back to our students at Idaho State.

Oram said that it is his hope that this gift will give Bolinger and future management professors the resources needed to continue to provide students with these unique and impactful experiences. Professorships are powerful because they keep giving year after year. I trust [Alexs] judgement on what he believes would work best and what that will look like along the way.

This professorship is the fifth to ever be established in the College of Business. College of Business Dean, Dr. Shane Hunt notes that these endowments are an important piece to retaining professors like Dr. Bolinger that provide unforgettable and impactful experiences for students that ultimately help guide them to a successful future. Hunt explained that these professorships not only help the College to attract faculty, but they are a major piece to retaining the outstanding professors that make the most difference in a students experience in college, which has an impact on student retention and success as well. It is through support from donors like Idaho Central Credit Union that these professorships are possible.

Thank you to ICCU for this transformational gift, said Hunt. Idaho Central Credit Union has had an incredibly positive impact on our University and community and this gift will benefit students, professors and our region for generations to come. I also want to congratulate my friend and colleague Dr. Alex Bolinger on being named the ICCU Endowed Professor in Management. Alex is a world-class teacher and researcher whose leadership and service make every part of the Idaho State College of Business better.

I feel really fortunate that I get to work in a community like Pocatello and at a place like the Idaho State University College of Business with faculty and staff who care first and foremost about the student experience, Bolinger said.
August 19, 2021

Retired Idaho State University professor, distinguished veteran, and Hometown Hero award recipient, Dr. Craig Nickisch, was honored with a legacy endowment in his name.

Endowments at ISU are used to fund student scholarships and fellowships, campus programs, and help attract and recruit outstanding students and faculty to the campus community.

More than $35,000 was raised by former students, colleagues, friends and family members in honor of Nickisch . This will provide approximately $1,300 every year for scholarships and will grow as more funds are added.

It was obvious that so many have tremendous love and respect for Dr. Nickisch and his wife, Marge, Rich Ballou, the director of development who worked on the endowment, said. They are special people who make everyone they come in contact with feel important.

Nickisch was unaware of the efforts to raise money in his honor. He was given the news in a surprise celebration over Zoom.

As an ISU professor, Nickisch taught German, Spanish, Linguistics, and a course for students going out to teach languages in area schools. Multiple times he was named the Most Influential Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences as well as being recognized as a Master Teacher, an Outstanding Researcher, and for Outstanding Public Service.

Before coming to ISU in 1988, Nickisch graduated from South Dakota State University with honors. This earned him a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the Universities of Munich and Erlangen in Germany. Nickisch received his masters degree from Northwestern University, and after he entered the US Army as a Distinguished Military Graduate from ROTC.

He served in the Army for 27 years. During which he was part of the Iran hostage rescue mission, a platoon leader of Navy Seal Team 2 in Central America, and served a tour of duty in Vietnam while being in armor, cavalry, infantry, and parachute units. He taught German and French while serving as a faculty member at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he taught for 11 years and started a program in linguistics.

After retiring from ISU, Nickisch has worked on projects pertaining to veterans affairs as well as supplying learning materials to students in Germany and Madagascar studying English.

He has been recognized as a Hometown Hero by the JRM Foundation. His many awards include the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Stars, seven Air Medals, the Federal German Cross of Merit, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.

It has been one of my greatest professional honors to get to work with Craig and Marge and call them friends, Ballou said.
The global unrest around the world continues with the ongoing pandemic and various political issues. So, when a video of a man being brutally beaten by one of the SARS officials surfaced on the internet on Oct. 4, it took social media by storm.
Huntsville, TX (77320)

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Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High 67F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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WithYouWithMe robotic process automation developer Ryan Bain, pictured while serving in Afghanistan with the Canadian Armed Forces

Veteran-founded organisation WithYouWithMe is allocating $10 million dollars of free digital skills training to Afghan refugees following the fall of Kabul.

"Over 60% of our employees have served or are family members of those who served. We are committed to the upskilling of 2,000 Afghan refugees by placing individuals into high-demand digital pathways, including data analysis, software development and coding," said WithYouWithMe co-founder and CEO Tom Moore.

Moore was one of the 39,000 Australian troops deployed to Afghanistan since 2001.

"I've watched the recent events unfold in Afghanistan and it's been heart-breaking to see on a deeply personal level. Many of our staff are veterans and we firmly believe that the good folks who risked everything to help us deserve our support."

The initiative is being led by WithYouWithMe robotic process automation developer Ryan Bain, a former infantryman in the Canadian Armed Forces who spent 18 months embedded with the Afghan Army.

"We're dedicated to training Afghan refugees, translators and their families because it's the right thing to do. Everyone is focused on just getting them out," said Ryan.

"For those that have been forced to flee, we want to ensure they have a second chance to rebuild a new life."

Veterans and Afghan refugees can sign up here.

WithYouWithMe's digital skills training is designed for individuals with no tech experience or skills.

Courses on cybersecurity, data analysis, software development, digital project management and automation are offered. Each is valued at $5,000, and additional places may be offered beyond the initial 2.000.

WithYouWithMe also provides certified training in Microsoft, Pega, Salesforce, SAP, AWS and more.

The organisation also helps place successful graduates into entry-level tech jobs where they can work from home or in an appropriate office, depending on their needs.

WithYouWithMe has offices in Australia, Canada, USA and the UK.
GUEST INTERVIEW: Manhattan Associates is a technology leader in supply chain, retail and e-commerce, working with some of the world's biggest brands. Some of these span from Adidas to Renault Nissan, from Dell to DHL, from GM to Walmart, from Nike to Sysco and plenty more.

We recently spoke with Raghav Sibal, the Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand for Manhattan Associates to learn more.

In business for over three decades, Manhattan Associates explains that it "unites information across the enterprise, converging front-end sales with back-end supply chain execution."

We're told its "software, platform technology and unmatched experience help drive both top-line growth and bottom-line profitability" for its customers.

Given the maturity of digital transformation and the cloud in 2021, it comes as no surprise that Manhattan Associates "designs, builds and delivers leading edge cloud and on-premises solutions," so that across the store, online or from their fulfilment centres, Manhattans retail customers are "ready to reap the rewards of the omnichannel marketplace."

Manhattan Associates technology connects two billion people to twenty billion consumer choices, with 150,000 pairs of shoes moved every hour, 300,000 tons of food moved every day, $101 billion in retail pharmaceuticals helping people keep healthy, with a reach spanning 8 million miles across four oceans and six continents, meaning it can "enable, enhance and expand commerce across the globe."

The video interview with Raghav Sibal is directly below, followed by a summary of our discussion:

I started by welcoming Raghav to the program, and asking him to explain Manhattan Associates in 2021, and how it has evolved since it first started in 1990.

We spoke about the criticality of the company's products and services to the modern world, helping ensure they stayed in business with all the changes and challenges of the COVID world we now live in, and what makes Manhattan Associates' technology different.

Raghav spoke about some of the company's many and varied global customers, including Super Retail Group, one of Australia's leading retailers and parent company of Rebel, Super Cheap Auto, BCF and Macpac. Super Retail Group successfully went live recently with Manhattan's Distributed Order Management solution, part of the Manhattan Active Omni solution suite.

We looked at how this project was able to be implemented during the pandemic, and how the solution was able to help smooth out supply chain disruptions, and how it does this for its other customers, too.

Raghav spoke about the company's landmark advancement which offers "a unified distribution, transportation, labour and automated solution within a single, cloud-native application," looking at what things were like before this, and the type of innovation required to bring this to realty.

We looked at how the industry will evolve over the next couple of years through to what the industry's evolution might look like in 2030, before delving into Raghav's memories of his first computer, the best advice he has received in life, and his final message to iTWire viewers and readers, and to his current and future customers and partners.

So, please watch the video interview above to learn more from Raghav Sibal and Manhattan Associates!
Australians believe schools should teach online safety cucciculum with a new study showing that many parents have not taken proactive security measures to protect their family/home when distance learning was introduced to their lives, despite being concerned that their children could be exposed to scams or illegal content.

The study by global security firm McAfee shows that even after almost two in five Australians had a household member start online learning since the start of 202056% of which were under the age of 18over a third of parents saw no increased risk to their childrens online safety.

And as such, almost half (48%) of Australian didnt take any proactive security measures to protect their family/home when distance learning was introduced to their lives.

McAfee says, however, there is a concerning discrepancy between Australians concerns and behaviours, with respondents citing they are being extremely worried about exposure to scams (43%), sharing personal information (43%), illegal content (35%), cyber-bullying (40%) and misinformation (31%).

McAfee says one explanation could be that 80% of Australians believe that children should be taught about digital wellness and online safety in the classroom and only 8% believing it to be their own responsibility.

The snap return of online learning signalled the start of another particularly stressful time for Australian parents. Were now tasked with not only keeping the household running and working from home ourselves, but also with making sure our kids are logged in ready for their Zoom class and able to complete their online schoolwork, said Alex Merton-McCann, Cyber Safety Ambassador and Cybermum ANZ at McAfee.

While there are understandably lots of distractions at the moment, something as important as our childrens cyber safety shouldnt slip off the list! At McAfee, we know the importance of digital wellness and want to help parents and teachers educate themselves and their children.

McAfee says that even in those instances where school are teaching digital wellness as part of the curriculum, parents need to continue to educate themselves and their families - and the security firm has put together its top tips for parents to get their children prepped for going back to school safely:



 Get your devices ready: much like getting children ready to going back to school by preparing backpacks ahead of time, its good to make sure that any device that children will be using for school or homework is up to date on its latest settings including security software.

 Refresh passwords: Many students will still be accessing the same online learning tools from the classroom. With passwords regularly being shared online by cyber criminals, its good to update passwords regularly. Using a password manager will help create, organize and encrypt strong passwords to make it simpler to be safe.

 Access from home securely: Use a VPN when children are accessing online learning services from home to protect the privacy of the internet connection with bank-level encryption to stop hackers stealing personal information like passwords or data.

 Teach personal responsibility: With misinformation a major concern for many parents, its important for parents to educate their children about fake news and how to spot it. Ask children to question the content they read or watch online to determine if it is credible before making up their minds.

 Discuss digital wellness round the dinner table: While it can sound like a boring topic, its important for families to regularly discuss online safety at home. Parents should talk to their children about how to spot a phishing scam, what to do if theres been a data breach and how to have good digital wellness.
TPG Telecom Limited (TPG Telecom) released results for the six months ended 30 June 2021 that it says demonstrates the benefits of the merger as the company completes its foundational phase of integration.

TPG Telecom chief executive officer Inaki Berroeta said the company had delivered for shareholders, despite external factors presenting significant challenges.

The groups EBITDA result is pleasing and demonstrates a solid underlying performance achieved through the realisation of $38 million in merger cost synergies and strong commercial management, Mr Berroeta said.

"In an environment with continued headwinds from COVID-19, NBN margin erosion and the new RBS levy, and residual challenges from the merger delay and 5G vendor restrictions, we are performing well.

Through the groundwork we have laid across the company over the past year since the merger, we are now in a stronger position to take advantage of our growth potential.

With 7.5 million consumer and business services, the largest family of owned telco brands in Australia, and a valuable portfolio of infrastructure assets, there is enormous potential to drive greater shareholder returns and exceptional customer experiences.

Mr Berroeta said the company had made good progress on its strategic priorities for 2021.

We are seeing rapid early growth in NBN alternatives with our 4G home wireless customer base more than tripling in the first six months of the year, and we will build on this following the launch of our 5G home wireless in June, he said.

Our mobile network is better than ever through our fast-tracked 5G rollout and combined spectrum deployment, and this will support mobile and home wireless growth as 5G reaches scale in major cities by the end of the year.

We have built good momentum in Enterprise, with strong growth in our own Fast Fibre as well as NBN products, and signing iconic Australian and global brands.

Financial performance

The groups reported revenue increased 71% from HY20 to $2.63 billion and reported EBITDA increased by 67% to $886 million, as the HY20 results only had four days contribution from TPG Corporation.

On a pro forma basis, which calculates figures to simulate what the groups results would have been if the merger had been effective throughout HY20, revenue decreased by 3% from $2.71 billion and EBITDA decreased by 3% from $918 million.

Reported NPAT for HY21 was $76 million, a decrease of 8% from $83 million in HY20 although this was impacted by the fact that HY20 NPAT benefitted from a $226 million one-off accounting credit to income tax expense. Underlying NPAT decreased 6% to $132 million compared to HY20 pro forma NPAT

The TPG Telecom Board has declared an interim dividend of 8 cents per share.

On-net strategy with growth in NBN alternatives

The groups strategy to improve fixed broadband margins through growth in on-net products is building momentum. On-net subscribers increased 12% to 154,000 in the six months. This comprises customers on the groups own home wireless, FTTB, HFC and VDSL networks.

The groups total fixed broadband customer base increased in the six months by 23,000 to 2.20 million, including 1.95 million NBN customers. The NBN customer base increased by 48,000 in the period.

Mobile subscriber trends

TPG Telecom said that returning to mobile subscriber growth continues to be a key focus with new price plans and promotional activity across the companys three major mobile brands - Vodafone, TPG and iiNet.

TPG Telecom is confident its mobile business, which has been impacted by factors including COVID restrictions, will return to growth when Australian borders reopen and its 5G network reaches scale in the major cities.

Postpaid mobile subscriber declines started to flatten in HY21, with the customer base ending the period at 3.19 million, a 1.8% decrease in the half-year.

The prepaid mobile subscriber base ended the period at 1.91 million, a 3.4% decline in the half- year.

Excluding the impact of reduced international roaming revenue and interconnect rate changes, postpaid ARPU for HY21 was $36.0, a 1.6% decline vs HY20, while prepaid ARPU was $17.7, a 12.7% increase vs HY20.

The groups total mobile subscriber base was 5.11 million as at 30 June 2021.

Merger synergy program on track

TPG Telecom said it has delivered $38 million in cost synergies during HY21 as part of its $70 million merger synergy target for 2021, excluding home wireless and revenue synergies.

The savings arose from migrating iiNet mobile customers onto the groups network, optimising network backhaul and transit arrangements, eliminating certain duplicated costs and streamlining other operating expenses.

Additionally, during HY21 TPG Telecom renegotiated its $5.25 billion debt facilities with improved margins and extended maturity dates.

5G network

TPG Telecom is expecting to surpass its 5G rollout target of 85% population coverage in the top six cities in 2021, by reaching this milestone in four additional regions.

The company is now expecting to reach 85% population coverage on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, NSW Central Coast and in Wollongong by the end of the year, in addition to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra.

5G coverage is currently available in more than 700 suburbs and more than 750,000 5G-enabled devices are on the network.

The company said it is building a smarter 5G network through innovative technologies and processes, including pre-assembling hundreds of 5G sites in a factory for a faster, cheaper and more sustainable rollout.

Strategic assets review

TPG Telecom advises it is undertaking a strategic review of its telecommunications tower assets.

The company operates a mobile network of 5,800 rooftops and towers, and owns the passive infrastructure on around 1,200 of those sites. The majority of those 1,200 sites are in metro areas and have a high average tenancy ratio.

Demand for telecommunications infrastructure assets is strong, and TPG Telecom has commenced this review to obtain a preliminary market assessment.

While the company said it is continually seeking opportunities to maximise shareholder value, it has not made any commitment in relation to these assets.

A more responsible and sustainable business

TPG Telecom says it has demonstrated its increased commitment to becoming a more sustainable and responsible business.

The company has committed to powering Australian operations by 100% renewable electricity by 2025, introduced vaccination leave, and harmonised employee benefits across pre-merger entities including its Super Bump to help bridge the gender gap in superannuation balances.

Looking ahead

TPG Telecom said it enters the second half of 2021 in a strengthened position following solid progress on integration activities and its strategic priorities.

The company is on track to reach 85% 5G population coverage in ten of Australias largest cities and regions by the end of the year, supporting future growth in mobile and home wireless.

The company says its key strategic focus areas for the second half of 2021 are bringing more fixed customers onto its own infrastructure, lifting its impact in the enterprise and government market, improving mobile performance and achieving its $70 million merger cost synergy target for 2021.
Services for Robert Kesinger, 67, of Alto Will be Thursday August 26th at 10am at the O.T. Allen and Son Chapel. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Interment will follow services at Old Palestine Cemetery in Alto. Robert Kesinger was born May 18th, 1954 in Rus




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Mike has reported on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's wildlife, wildlands and the agencies that manage them since 2012. A native Minnesotan, he arrived in the West to study environmental journalism at the University of Colorado.
NEOSHO, MO - Paul Dean Hughes, 89, passed away Saturday, August 28, 2021. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton, MO. Visitation is 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
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Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. High 79F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 59F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

A mainly sunny sky. Less humid. High 81F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
The trial of Hamid Noury, 60, started on August 10 in Stockholm. This Iranian man was arrested in autumn 2019, almost as soon as he disembarked from a plane bringing him to Sweden for a holiday.

In this universal jurisdiction trial, the former Iranian prison official is charged with violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes  including counts of torture and inhuman treatment  and murder. Noury is alleged to have played a significant role in the 1988 summary executions in several prisons across Iran. This is the first time that an actor in this dark episode of Iranian history has faced justice. It is also the most important war crimes trial that Sweden has seen in recent years, according to Goran Hjalmarsson, a Swedish lawyer specializing in international crimes.

In July 1988, the young Republic of Iran was emerging bloodied from eight years of war with Iraq. Ayatollah Khomeini, Supreme Guide of the Revolution, ordered the execution of prisoners linked to the Peoples Mujahedin, an Islamic, Marxist-influenced movement allied with the 1979 revolutionaries which turned its weapons against the regime in 1981. Having moved to Iraq, the Peoples Mujahedin headquarters coordinated multiple attacks on Iranian territory, up to a deadly last lightning offensive in July 1988, just before the signing of a ceasefire between Tehran and Baghdad. In the days that followed, the Supreme Guide issued a fatwa [religious decree] ordering the execution of prisoners still loyal to the Mujahedin.

Thousands of prisoners executed

Death committees, composed of a religious judge, a prosecutor and an intelligence official, toured the prisons. Prisoners with close or distant ties to the Mujahedin were brought to them. Some were only guilty of participating in the demonstrations organized by the movement in the early 1980s, Hjalmarsson says indignantly. Those who did not deny their sympathy for the armed group were executed. In less than three weeks, thousands of detainees were killed without further trial. After a brief interruption in mid-August, the executions resumed. This time, left-wing activists were brought before the committees: Communists, Trotskyists, Marxist-Leninists. They were asked if they believed in God. Those who refused to lie, without knowing that their lives depended on their answer, were taken before the death squad. As for the women, they were whipped into submission, causing some to die.

Thirty-three years later, the exact number of prisoners killed remains unknown. Without totally denying that these executions took place, the Iranian regime has always denied having perpetrated a massacre. According to Amnesty International, Tehran has even in recent years gone about removing the mass graves where the bodies were dumped. It is true that in 2012, a citizens tribunal  a symbolic trial organized by victims and human rights organizations in The Hague  tried to shed light on the crimes against humanity committed in the 1980s in Iran. But no one responsible has ever been tried. Noury is the first.

Iranian Hamid Noury (grey hair and white shirt) at the opening of his trial for crimes against humanity and murder in Stockholm, Sweden, on 10 August 2021.  Anders Humlebo / TT News Agency / AFP

Noury, administrator of executions?

The 60-year-old prison official was assistant to the prosecutor of Gohardasht prison, west of Tehran, according to the prosecutor in charge of the case, Kristina Lindhoff-Carleson. He was not part of the death committee and did not take part in the decisions, the prosecutor said, but he managed the administrative tasks, helping to select the prisoners sent to the committee and then transferring them to the execution room.

In the indictment, the Lindhoff-Carleson team lists 136 people they believe they can show were killed at Gohardasht during this period. But the prosecutor estimates that at least 600 to 700 people were killed in the prison between July and September 1988  a massacre for which, she asserts, Noury is one of those responsible.

The accused is suspected of participating, together with other perpetrators, in these mass executions and, as such, intentionally taking the lives of a large number of prisoners, who sympathised with the Mujahedin and, additionally, of subjecting prisoners to severe suffering which is deemed torture and inhuman treatment, the indictment states. With an international armed conflict going on between the Iranian regime and the Mujahedin since 1981, these acts are considered by the Swedish justice system to be violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes. In addition, the accused is suspected of intentionally killing, together with other perpetrators, a large number of prisoners who sympathised with various left wing groups and who were regarded as apostates, continues the indictment. These acts are classified as murder according to the Swedish Penal Code since they are not considered to be related to an armed conflict. There was no armed conflict between the regime and these political groups at the time, so these acts cannot be prosecuted as war crimes, said Lindhoff-Carleson. And the Swedish Penal Code only recently incorporated the notion of crimes against humanity, in a non-retroactive law. On the other hand, Swedish justice has universal jurisdiction for the crime of murder, explains the prosecutor. That is why Noury is also prosecuted on this count.

Trapped by ex-son-in-law, victim and lawyer

The accused denies any involvement in the alleged executions of 1988, his lawyer, Thomas Soderqvist, told AFP. Flying in for a European vacation in November 2019, the 60-year-old never imagined he would fall into a trap  cleverly woven by an unlikely alliance between one of his ex-gendarmes, one of his victims, Iraj Mesdaghi, and London lawyer Kaveh Mousavi. The three knowingly lured him to Sweden, as reported by Liberation, while warning the Swedish police of his arrival. We received information from a London law firm four or five days before Hamid Noury arrived in Sweden, confirms Lindhoff-Carleson. They sent us a number of documents with enough information for us to decide to open an investigation.

In the wake of this, a complaint was filed in Stockholm. And when Hamid Noury got off the plane at Arlanda airport, he was picked up by the police and placed in custody. After his arrest, we had to work very quickly to gather enough evidence to justify his continued detention, with a view to his future indictment, adds lawyer Hjalmarsson, who helped the victims and the London lawyers to build the case. Since then, the number of civil parties, which he represents with three other lawyers, has multiplied. Among the plaintiffs are both surviving former Mujahedin and the families of slain leftists, Hjalmarsson says. Many of the survivors recognize Hamid Noury with certainty, he further asserts, Some will say that more than thirty years have passed, but such a traumatic memory does not disappear. In total, 26 families and 33 former supporters of the Mujahedin have filed civil suits. But more than 70 people, refugees from all over the world, will be heard during this trial, which is to continue until April 2022. For my clients, this trial has a very symbolic importance, continues their lawyer. They know that they will probably not get any economic compensation but that is not the issue for them. What is at stake is the feeling of obtaining justice and finally shedding light on what happened in 1988.

The affair has political impact particularly since the new Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi  who was sworn in on 3 August  is suspected of having taken part in one of these death committees when he was deputy prosecutor in Tehran in 1988. Agnes Callamard, secretary general of Amnesty International and former UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, expressed alarm at the accession to power of a man who should be investigated for the crimes against humanity of murder, enforced disappearance and torture. The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, has called for an independent investigation into the events of 1988 and the role that Raissi played in them.
Former Chadian president Hissene Habre, who has died at the age of 79, was a brutal dictator under whose eight-year reign tens of thousands of people were executed, tortured or jailed.

Sentenced to life after a landmark trial, Habre spent his final years as a prisoner in Senegal, where he died in hospital, Senegalese officials confirmed Tuesday.

In May 2016, Habre was handed a life term for war crimes, crimes against humanity and torture by the Extraordinary African Chambers, a tribunal created by Senegal and the African Union (AU).

The trial set a global precedent, establishing the first time that a country prosecuted a former leader of another nation for rights abuses.

The sentence was upheld in 2017.

The court ordered him to pay compensation to each victim who suffered rape, arbitrary detention and imprisonment during his rule, as well as to their relatives.

 Pinochet comparisons 

A desert warfare specialist, Habres rule was marked by fierce crackdowns on dissent, including alleged torture and executions of opponents, earning him comparisons to Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.

Investigators found that more than 40,000 people were killed during his rule.

The son of a farmer, Habre was born in Faya-Largeau, northern Chad, and grew up among nomads in the Djourab desert.

His intelligence landed him a job as a local official before he left for Paris in 1963 to study law and attend Sciences-Po, the prestigious political science school. One of his influences at the time was Ernesto Che Guevara.

Habre joined the Chad National Liberation Front a year after returning home in 1971 and became its leader, before breaking away to form another rebel group, the Northern Armed Forces (FAN).

He made headlines in 1974 when he kidnapped a French ethnologist who was held for three years before France agreed to terms for her release.

A staunch nationalist, Habre then served as prime minister in the government of president Felix Malloum and as defence minister under his sometime ally Goukouni Weddeye who later became president.

Unlike Weddeye, Habre was an outspoken opponent of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi and the relationship did not last.

Habre broke from his Tripoli-backed ally just months after the formation of Weddeyes 1979 government, triggering violence in Chads capital, NDjamena.

He fled the city for eastern Chad in 1980, but returned to fight his way to power in 1982.

 Two decades in Dakar 

During his rule, opponents  real or imagined  were arrested, tortured and often executed by the dreaded Documentation and Security Directorate (DDS), Chads secret police.

Habres reign ended in 1990 as dramatically as it had begun when Idriss Deby, formerly a loyal general, led a rebel force that drove him from power and into exile in Senegal.

The former dictator lived freely for more than 20 years in an upmarket Dakar suburb with his wife and children, swapping his military garb for billowing white robes and a cap.

Habre was considered a discreet, generous neighbour and a pious Muslim who helped finance the construction of several mosques.

The AU mandated Senegal to try Habre in July 2006, but then president Abdoulaye Wade delayed the process for years despite an agreement to create a special court for the trial.

Belgium also sought Habres arrest over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity after three Belgian nationals of Chadian origin filed a suit in 2000 for mass murder, arbitrary arrest and torture during his regime.

Brussels issued an arrest warrant for him in September 2005, and he was arrested in Senegal shortly after, but the African country said its courts did not have the jurisdiction to rule on a Belgian extradition request.

Habre was arrested again in Dakar on June 30, 2013, and the AU decided his trial should take place there, a world first.

burs-jv/ri
Chads government said Tuesday it has no plans to pay official homage to Hissene Habre, after the former president, serving life in Senegal for crimes against humanity, died from Covid-19.

In view of his crimes and his out of respect for his victims, there will be no official homage, the government told AFP.

Chads former dictator, 79, succumbed to coronavirus in Dakars main hospital on Tuesday.

Habre seized power in 1982, ruling Chad with an iron fist until he fled to Senegal in 1990 after being ousted Idriss Deby Itno.

His rule was marked by brutal crackdowns on dissent, including alleged torture and executions of opponents and some 40,000 people are estimated to have been killed, earning Habre the nickname of Africas Pinochet.

Were not opposed to the body being repatriated to Chad, even as our thoughts are with all of the victims of his rule, said government spokesman, Abderaman Koulamallah.

Its up to his family to decide.

Habres family had issued no official statement by late Tuesday and there was no indication as to where he will be buried.

We bow to his remains as former president of Chad, spokesman Koulamallah said.

The head of Chads military junta and son of Idriss Deby Itno, Mahamat Idriss Deby, expressed his sincere condolences to (Habres) family and the Chadian people.

To God we belong and to Him we return, he wrote on Twitter.
In a previous article, we discussed some emerging trends in cannabis-related companies seeking bankruptcy protection (click here Check out the previous post). But first, the question is whether cannabis-related companies can file for bankruptcy relief?This article will review Arizonas first decision under the following circumstances In re Medpoint Management, LLC, Case No. 2:14-bk-15234-DPC., published on April 6, 2015. Medical point The decision was made by the distinguished Daniel P. Collins, who was the Chief Judge of the Arizona District at the time of this decision.

this Medical point The case started with an involuntary request from three requesting creditors Medical pointOnce an involuntary petition is filed, the so-called debtor has the opportunity to answer the petition and seek to dismiss the case.This is exactly what happened Medical point case.

Background information

Medpoint is a limited liability company established under the laws of Arizona. Medpoint is a pharmacy management company operating under the Arizona Natural Health (ANW) pharmacy certificate. Medpoint previously managed ANWs cannabis business, business relationships and cultivation operations. ANW has no employees, but Medpoint employs approximately 70 employees. Medpoint purchased an interest in another entity that had a management contract with ANW. In May 2014, ANW terminated its relationship with Medpoint because ANW was not satisfied with Medpoints performance under the management agreement. Medpoint violated various other agreements with requesting creditors.

problem

Although Medpoint has made several arguments on why its case should be dismissed, the main argument relates to whether the debtor can legally manage cannabis-related businesses without violating the Controlled Substances Act (21 USC 801) Wait.sequence.)

The operative part of the bankruptcy law that seeks to dismiss a case is 11 USC  707(a), which stipulates in the relevant part,

Only after notification and hearings, the court can dismiss the case under this chapter, and can only have reasons, including: (1) The debtors unreasonable delay is detrimental to the creditor; (2) The failure to pay any fees required by Chapter 123 of Title 28 Or fees; (3) In voluntary cases, the debtor failed to submit the information required by Article 521(a)(1) within 15 days or within an additional time allowed by the court. ), but only on motions by American trustees.

Therefore, the question facing the court is whether there are reasons for dismissing Medpoints Chapter 7 case. Medpoint and the U.S. trustee argued that the rejection was justified, and the creditor who filed the application argued that the court should issue a relief order under the Bankruptcy Law.

In making a decision that the Medpoint case should be dismissed, the court solicited decisions from other regions to deal with similar issues. The following is the courts discussion of the three cases on which it is based.

exist Arenas, The bankruptcy court found that there are reasons to dismiss the debtors case because the debtors assets include marijuana and marijuana-related assets. In Arenas, 514 BR 887, 892 (Bankr. D. Colo. 2014) (It is impossible to legally manage the debtors bankruptcy estate under Chapter 7, which constitutes the reason for the rejection of the debtors case under 11 USC  707(a).). Arenas The court held that the debtors Chapter 7 trustee [could not] Without violating CSA 856(a)(2), control the debtors property or, without violating CSA 841(a), liquidate the inventory of cannabis plants owned by Mr. Arenas on the date of the petition. ID891. Because the trustee was unable to perform his duties, the court found that the bankruptcy case was of no avail.

exist Will Rey, Chapter 7 The trustee wants to operate the debtors property to increase its sales value. In re Vel Rey Properties, Inc., 174 BR 859 (Bankr. DDC 1994). The trustee asked the bankruptcy court to relieve him of any responsibility for non-compliance with DC housing regulations while he was preparing to sell the property. ID. In 863. The court rejected the trustees request and pointed out that if the trustee or the US trustee was[] Regarding personal responsibility. .. The court can simply dismiss the case under section 707.  ID. In 866 (Quoting Ohio v. Commercial Petroleum Services.company, 58 BR 311 (Bankr. ND Ohio 1986)).

In another bankruptcy in Colorado, the property debtor was a landlord who received approximately 25% of his income from a marijuana entity. In re Rent-Rite Super Kegs W. Ltd., 484 BR 799, 802803 (Bankr. D. Colo. 2012). The bankruptcy court found that renting cannabis to a cannabis entity would impose criminal liability on the debtor and confiscate the real property. ID. At 809. Due to the risks associated with cannabis tenants, the bankruptcy court found that the debtors continued lease with the cannabis entity constituted a serious mismanagement of the estate and rejected it under Section 1112(b)(4)(B)). ID.

Based on the above situation, the court Medical point Persuaded by the reasoning of these cases, so dismissed Medical point Involuntary petition.

in conclusion

When the assumed debtor is directly involved in the cannabis business, some courts have determined that there are reasons for dismissing the bankruptcy case. At least for these types of businesses, the law is clear-companies directly involved in the cultivation, cultivation, manufacturing, or sale of cannabis will not be eligible for bankruptcy protection. Where the law is less clear is that the debtors relationship with the cannabis company is more relaxed.For these debtors, the only physical option may be State court takeover Or unsupervised liquidation. Case law in this area is constantly evolving.
Sign up for myFT Daily Digest and be the first to learn about the news of the UK retail industry.

Supermarkets are reducing the frequency of deliveries to stores and prioritizing products that are most profitable and easy to transport, as they are struggling to solve the shortage that has caused many British companies to be alarmed.

According to industry executives, so far, retailers have been able to solve supply problems.

Certain products in certain stores are sometimes out of stock, but the company avoids any impression of a total shortage that could trigger panic buying.

But these restrictions are beginning to affect the wider UK industry, including restaurants, bars and wholesalers, as well as healthcare and construction groups.

McDonalds milkshakes are the latest high-profile victim as the fast-food chain was forced to reduce milkshakes and bottled beverages from the menus of its 1,250 UK branches on Tuesday due to a supply chain disruption.

Nandos last week Closing 45 stores Due to the chicken shortage, the bar group Greene King encountered some beverage supply problems in Scotland, and the City Pub Group has run out of Prosecco. Novikov, a high-end Asian and Italian restaurant in London, said it is working hard to source Wagyu beef.

This is of course much more difficult, said Caroline Taylor, Novikovs general manager. We have to be more organized with suppliers to ensure we get supplies.

Due to chicken shortage, Nandos closed 45 stores last week  PA



An experienced retail executive said: As a retailer, if you face the problem of reduced capacity, the first thing you will stop shipping nationwide is bottled water. It takes up a lot of space and has very low profit margins. .

Another former executive in the industry added: You are trying to shut down complexity. This is mainly to reduce unsalable product lines. You can stop promotional activities that stimulate demand. But these are very unfriendly things to customers. 

Large food companies such as chicken producer 2 Sisters Food Group and dairy company Arla said the lack of transport drivers and manufacturing staff (many of whom were from the EU before Brexit) has already hit supply.

Milk & More, the largest home milk delivery service company in the UK and a division of German dairy group Muller, said it is actively recruiting drivers to meet future challenges, while Nandos said it has reopened most restaurants , But about 20 employees are still helping its suppliers every day.

With the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions and the reopening of businesses, demand for products has exacerbated this problem.

A monthly survey conducted by the employer organization CBI on Tuesday showed that the UK retail industrys inventory levels related to expected sales fell to minus 21% of undersupply this month, the lowest level since records began in 1983.

The danger is that the wrong things are supplied, said the experienced retail executive. Agent drivers usually fill vacancies during peak periods or during holidays. Many of them are currently focused on supplying Amazon for Black Friday, and then they will move to the supermarket for Christmas.

Dairy company Arla says the lack of transport drivers and manufacturing staff has affected supply  Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty



Material and labor shortages have also spread to industries such as healthcare and construction.

In particular, the lack of building materials may lead to longer-term problems. Shane Vinay, director of London-based roofer SV Roofing, said the delivery time for items such as plywood and lead tiles has been extended from a few days to three months or more, while the prices of products such as wood strips have tripled .

God knows, this is the most expensive time for any renovation, he said.

Clive Watson, Executive Chairman of City Pub Group, said that this shortage means that for businesses such as bars that have been closed for most of the pandemic, it becomes impossible to renovate or open new venues. .

People are concerned about chicken and milk because it is very popular. The biggest concern is staff and construction bottlenecks, Watson said. It has hindered our plans to open a new bar. We cannot open a new bar [in Swansea] Until the end of September, this means that we will completely miss this season. 
LOUISIANA (KADN) - Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), joined News15 Today to discuss the latest on his bi-partisan infrastructure plan, as well as Afghanistan.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana State University will require students on its campuses to be vaccinated now that the FDA has given full approval to the Pfizer vaccine, but details of the mandate were still coming, university officials said Monday.

The university has more than 30,000 students.

Louisiana has repeatedly broken records this month for the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19. Most of the hospitalizations involve people who are unvaccinated, according to the state health department.

Only about 39% of Louisianas residents are fully vaccinated, one of the nations lowest inoculation rates.

On Tuesday LSU officials announced LSU will require all Tiger Stadium guests 12 years of age and older to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to entry.

LSU students are required to submit proof of their first vaccination by Sept. 10 Students have until Oct. 15 to submit proof of full vaccination.
Park Min Young's adorable baby Leon made a cameo for Egoist Korea's 2021 Fall/Winter collection.

The actress' white bichon frise stole the spotlight as the fur baby posed with the Hallyu star for the clothing brand's new campaign.

Egoist Korea Welcomes Park Min Young as their New Ambassador

The fashion label recently welcomed the "Her Private Life" star as their newest muse, showing off Egoist Korea's latest capsule collection dubbed as "youthful heritage."

Park Min Young flaunted her modeling skills in a series of photos, acing the campaign shoot by displaying her oozing charm and youthful aura.

In one photo, the 35-year-old actress dons a cream knitted sweater vest over a white button-down shirt that illustrates an ivy league student.

On the other hand, the second photo would surely captivate the fans as the actress carried her fluffy bichon frise, Leon, while both sported a matchy outfit.

According to a representative of Egoist, the Hallyu star resonates with the brand's "unique elements."

"We expect that actor Park Min Young, who is loved for his colorful charm, and Egoist's unique elements will meet to bring good synergy to customers," the fashion label explained as obtained by a local outlet.

Interestingly, the "Queen for Seven Days" star also shared the behind-the-scenes during the campaign shoot.

Over Park Min Young's Instagram, she flaunted a lovely photo with Leon as both of them smiled for the camera.

In addition, she also shared the welcome gift and a special note from the brand.

Apart from Egoist, Park Min Young scored several endorsements--from luxury brands to beauty products and more.

In July, she showed off her stunning curves for the health and beauty brand, Julie's Choice.

She is also Tod's South Korean Ambassador, as well as the popular cosmetic brand, Sooryehan.

Park Min Young's New Drama' Meteorological Agency People: The Cruelty of Office Romance'

Her latest campaign comes ahead of her upcoming drama "Meteorological Agency People: The Cruelty of Office Romance" alongside Song Kang, Yoon Park, and Girl's Day member Yura.

Back in June, JTBC announced the complete lineup of the cast directed by "When the Camellia Blooms" PD Cha Young Hoon.

The melodrama series depicts the story of everyday lives--including the intriguing love life and challenges of Korea Meteorological Administration staff, the country's national weather forecast service.

Park Min Young's Instagram Welcomes 'New Character' Jin Ha Kyung

In the drama, Park Min Young took on the role of Jin Ha Kyung, who is known for her intelligence but also has a cold persona, causing her to be treated as an "outsider" at work.

Interestingly, she also shared a glimpse of her character on social media, posting Jin Ha Kyung's graduation photo.

"New character," Park Min Young's Instagram caption reads.

Meanwhile, Song Kang portrays the overachiever Lee Shi Woo while the Girl's Day member is set to take the role of Chae Yoo Jin, the daily weather reporter who delivers exciting scoops and breaking news.

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
The new KBS coming-of-age romantic comedy series "Police University" starring Cha Tae Hyun, Jinyoung, and Krystal recently aired its much-awaited fifth episode.

Interestingly, the latest episode highlights not only Krystal and Jinyoung's budding romance but also Cha Tae Hyun's melancholic past.

Yoo Dong Man and Kang Seon Ho's Investigation Begins

In the previous episode, Yoo Dong Man, played by actor Cha Tae Hyun, desperately asked Kang Seon Ho, played by B1A4 member Jinyoung, for his help to catch the culprit who harmed his subordinate detective.

With this, Kang Seon Ho deliberately decided to lend his hacking skills to the poor professor in order to find the criminals. Since Yoo Dong Man is an experienced detective, Kang Seon Ho thought that he would be a huge help to him to expand his knowledge and experience as an aspiring police officer.

Law professor Kwon Hyuk Pil, played by actor Lee Jong Hyuk, becomes the duo's prime suspect. Luckily, the law professor cooperated with them whole-heartedly.

Despite their endless suspicions, the duo found out that law professor Kwon Hyuk Pil is innocent. Yoo Dong Man, who is ashamed of himself and his rash decisions, asked for the law professor's forgiveness.

In order to forgive the detective, Kwon Hyuk Pil challenged Yoo Dong Man into a man-to-man Judo fight, under Judo professor Choi Hee Soo's, played by actress Hong Soo Hyun, supervision.

A Glimpse of Yoo Dong Man's Tragic Past

In spite of his rash decision-making and quite questionable behavior, Yoo Dong Man is sensitive and kind-hearted. In episode one, he let Kang Seon Ho and his brother off the hook after their father Yoon Taek Il, played by Oh Man Seok, asked for forgiveness on behalf of his sons.

Episode five highlights the tragic past of Yoo Dong Man, which urged him to do his best in catching the illegal gambling criminals.

As his team goes after the online gamblers, his subordinate Kim Eun Ju dies in an unexpected accident.

It was then revealed that the late sergeant Kim Eun Ju is his fiancee and bride-to-be, whom he will marry right after they closed the online gambling case.

This tragic accident left crime detective Yoo Dong Man heartbroken, and promised himself to catch the culprits so Kim Eun Ju didn't die in vain.

Oh Kang Hee and Kang Seon Ho Share a Romantic Moment

After Oh Kang Hee's roommate Min Jae Kyung, played by f(x) member and actress Park Seun Yeon respectively, tells her how she is starting to see Kang Seon Ho in a romantic light, the more Oh Kang Hee realizes that her roommate was right.

In the latest episode, Oh Kang Hee's heart beats faster than usual every time she sees Kang Seon Ho smiling at her. In addition to that, she even gets jealous whenever her fellow freshman talks to other girls apart from her.

On the day of the career guidance, the PR club and Judo club showed off the advantages of attending Korean National Police University.

Oh Kang Hee, as a PR representative toured the potential students around the campus, while Kang Seon Ho flaunted his upgraded Judo skills as a Judo club member.

The career guidance was a success and the students, along with professors Yoo Dong Man, Kwon Hyuk Pil, and Choi Hee Soo, drank soju in the nearest pub to celebrate.

Kang Seon Ho, who has a low alcohol tolerance, was so drunk that he could barely walk. Oh Kang Hee lent her support as they went back to the university, careful enough not to get caught.

But drunk Kang Seon Ho isn't able to keep his mouth closed, making drunk noises which alerted the university's guidance counselor Baek Hee, played by actress Seo Ye Hwa.

Feeling helpless, Oh Kang Hee closes the gap between their lips to keep Kang Seon Ho.

'Police University' Sees a Slight Dip in Viewership Ratings

The fifth episode of the much-loved rom-com series "Police University" recorded a slight drop in viewership ratings with 6.9%.

The Monday-Tuesday drama started with a rating of 5.2% and continued to record a personal best for its four consecutive episodes, with its personal best of 8.5% in the previous episode.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: B1A4 Jinyoung Decorates Star1 Magazine's September 2021 Issue + Shares How He Overcomes Anxiety

Though there was a slight 1.6% decrease from the previous episode, "Police University" remains the highest-rated drama among the Monday-Tuesday dramas in South Korean television.

Follow KDramastars for more Kdrama, KMovie, and celebrity news updates!





KDramastars owns this article.



Written by Elijah Mully.
The highly anticipated rom-com drama series "You Raise Me Up" starring EXID's Ahn Hee Yeon (most commonly known as Hani) and "Nokdu Flower" actor Yoon Si Yoon finally released its main trailer.

It highlighted not only Hani and Yoon Si Yoon's first awkward meeting after years but only their relationship during their high school years.

EXID Hani and Yoon Si Yoon Unexpectedly Bump Into Each Other in 'You Raise Me Up'

Upcoming romantic-comedy series "You Raise Me Up" released its main teaser video prior to its premiere, which highlighted the awkward reunion of high school sweethearts Yoon Si Yoon and Hani.

The teaser video begins with the parting of high school lovers Do Yong Sik and Lee Lu Da, played by Yoon Si Yoon and Hani, respectively.

"I'll call you as soon as I land in America. Don't change your email address," Hani says as she bursts into tears.

On the other hand, Yong Sik, who is also heartbroken, gently comforts her by saying, "Contact me, okay?"

The phrase "we are all someone's first love" reminds the viewers of their own true first loves as they resonate with the two main characters.

In the next scene, Lee Lu Da, who is now a full-fledged urologist, wonders about her first love. Even using Yong Sik to make her current boyfriend, Ji Hyeok, played by actor Park Ki Woong, jealous.

With disappointment, Lu Da bumps into Yong Sik once again which destroys her expectations. After completing an erectile dysfunction exam at the urology department of the hospital, Lu Da finds Yong Sik's name as she scans the patients' charts.

Shyly, Yong Sik pulls up his pants after completing the exam and couldn't hide his embarrassment at the voice who asks him, "By any chance, are you the Yong Sik I know?"

The hilarious teaser video raised potential viewers' expectations and anticipation. Fans and K-drama viewers recently expressed their excitement as they look forward to seeing seasoned actor Yoon Si Yoon and EXID's Hani on the small screen together.

Yoon Si Yoon Shares Thoughts On His Character in 'You Raise Me Up'

"Nokdu Flower" actor Yoon Si Yoon makes his small screen comeback with wavve's original series "You Raise Me Up" as the 31-year-old public servant Do Yong Sik, who is unexpectedly suffering from impotence.

"I was drawn to the drama since it deals with an unambiguous topic. I also found out that erectile dysfunction damages the body and mind at the same time," said Yoon Si Yoon, who shared the reason why he chose the drama.

He added, "I wanted to express the character of Yong Sik perfectly so I sincerely paid attention to every action."

According to the production team of the drama, Yoon Si Yoon's synchronicity with Do Yong Sik was perfect.

Finally, the actor also shared the advantage of his new drama among the others, "The biggest advantage of "You Raise Me Up" is that it's not obvious. With the new drama, the viewers will be able to find sympathy and stories that the viewers can resonate with. Please look forward to it."

'You Raise Me Up' Production and Release Date

The upcoming romantic comedy drama series "You Raise Me Up" is written by screenwriter Mo Ji Hye and directed by Kim Jang Han and produced by Studio S.

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"You Raise Me Up" will consist of eight episodes that will feature the funny and romantic lives of EXID's Hani and actor Yoon Si Yoon.

"You Raise Me Up" is scheduled to premiere exclusively on wavve on August 31.

Check out the hilarious teaser of "You Raise Me Up" here:

Follow KDramastars for more Kdrama, KMovie, and celebrity news updates!

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
By Kevin Liptak, Phil Mattingly and Kaitlan Collins, CNN

(CNN) -- President Joe Biden will stick, for now, with an August 31 deadline to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan after determining the risks of Taliban reprisal or terror attacks were too high.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden relayed his decision in crisis talks of the Group of 7 on Tuesday morning, making clear the decision to stick to the withdrawal timeline was in large part driven by those security risks.

"The President conveyed that our mission in Kabul will end based on the achievement of our objectives," Psaki said in a statement. "He confirmed we are currently on pace to finish by August 31st and provided an update on progress in evacuating Americans who want to come home, third-country nationals, and Afghans who were our allies during the war."

Psaki said Biden noted that each day the risks are getting higher in a country now controlled by the Taliban. The President made a particular point of warning of the potential for terror attacks, which has become an acute concern inside his administration, Psaki said.

Still, Biden has asked for contingency plans in case he determines at a later date the US needs to remain in the country for longer. And on the G7 video conference, he left open the possibility of extending past the end-of-month deadline should the dynamic with the Taliban change.

European allies of the United States stressed during the talks that they wanted to ensure any possibility of a deadline extension was considered by the US, according to a person familiar with the call.

While advocating for leaving at the end of the month, Biden said the risk of an attack is "very high," an administration official said.

Even as the United States flies tens of thousands of people out of the country, the situation in Afghanistan remains desperate and many Afghans who assisted the war effort are still awaiting their turn to leave. US officials have described in stark terms the real threat of terror attacks at the Kabul airport as crowds gather outside the gates

Biden spoke for seven minutes on the G7, which includes the heads of the world's leading democracies.

Evacuation effort picks up steam

The crisis talks of the G7 come as the Afghanistan evacuation effort has picked up steam in the past days, now far exceeding the administration's initial daily goals. The White House said on Tuesday that 12,700 people were evacuated by 37 US military flights and 8,900 were evacuated by coalition flights over the past 24 hours. The Pentagon added that the military has increased the pace of flights out of Kabul to one aircraft every 45 minutes.

In total, the White House says US efforts have facilitated the evacuation of approximately 58,700 people since August 14, and 63,900 since the end of July. Approximately 1,000 Afghans have arrived at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, DC, in the last 24 hours, according to the Pentagon.

The massive logistical undertaking by the American military -- which took control of part of Kabul's international airport, including its air traffic control, in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover -- has allowed other countries to evacuate their citizens. If the US withdraws, its unclear whether civilians from any country would still be able to leave.

Despite the massively scaled-up flights, some of Biden's advisers were worried about US troops' safety and the potential for ISIS or Taliban reprisals should they stay any longer than August 31. Representatives for the Taliban have called the deadline firm, and said American troops remaining past the date would amount to a "clear violation" of their agreement with the United States.

The administration has remained in daily discussion with the Taliban on security matters, including the end-of-month deadline. The CIA director, Bill Burns, traveled to Afghanistan this week to meet with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar, according to senior administration officials, who said the US is seeking a clearer understanding of where the Taliban stands on several issues as the clock ticks towards the deadline.

Burns, a seasoned career diplomat, is the highest-ranking US official to meet in person with Taliban leadership since Afghanistan's civilian government collapsed on August 15.

Some on the President's national security team warned against an extension. Instead, they pointed to the rapidly sped-up flights out of the country and said they still believe there is time to compete the effort before September.

"We believe that we have time between now and the 31st to get out any American who wants to get out," national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Monday.

Any extension would have been likely be very brief and focused only on evacuating Americans, according to one official familiar with the matter, who said all contingencies were under discussion. The Taliban has made clear that "our leadership will take proper and necessary decision(s)" should the US stay past August 31, spokesman Sohail Shaheen said Monday.

"August 31 is deadline announced by them," the Taliban spokesman said. "US must adhere to removing troops from Afghanistan by this date. Otherwise, it will be a clear violation."

G7 nations pressure US to stay past August 31

The emergency meeting of the G7 was called this week to respond to the chaotic events in Kabul, where tens of thousands of foreign nationals and Afghan citizens who assisted in the war effort are desperately trying to leave.

Britain and France in particular were pressing Biden to leave troops in country for an extra few days, arguing it would still allow him to meet his original 9/11 withdrawal date for US forces.

Even some US Democrats agree; House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff emerged from a classified briefing with intelligence officials on Monday pessimistic the Biden administration will be able to meet its goal of evacuating all Americans and its allies from Afghanistan by August 31, saying that was "very unlikely."

"It's hard for me to imagine all of that can be accomplished between now and the end of the month," Schiff said, adding he was worried about the terror threat to the airport.

There was another all-member House briefing on Afghanistan scheduled for Tuesday morning. Top members of Biden's national security team, including the secretaries of State and Defense, all briefed lawmakers.

Emerging afterward, lawmakers from both parties said they pressed the officials to extend the August 31 deadline.

"There was strong, bipartisan support to extend the August 31 deadline," said Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat. "That was a major theme, a major comment a major point we all tried to make, urging them to do more to advocate with the President to extend the deadline."

G7 members also planned on Tuesday to discuss whether or when they should jointly recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan's government, western officials familiar with the planning told CNN. Any decision on whether to recognize the Taliban would come with enormous consequence that could be used as leverage to compel the group to respect human rights, the officials said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is hosting the meeting as the current G7 president, is advocating for a unified approach to the Taliban, according to western officials. He wants the world's leading democracies to come up with a plan on how to recognize the government or potentially apply economic sanctions or withhold aid.

So far no governments have recognized the Taliban as the official government of Afghanistan. Doing so could allow the country access to previously committed foreign aid. Non-G7 powers like China and Russia have also been in contact with the Taliban.

Biden has said he wants to see "harsh conditions" applied to the Taliban, particularly in how they treat women and girls, before lending their government legitimacy. He said Sunday he was open to applying sanctions.

Tuesday's G7 call is also expected to include the Secretaries General of NATO and the United Nations. Both organizations are expected to play a role going forward in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon has advised Biden he must decide by Tuesday in order to leave enough time for troops and equipment to leave the country by the end of the month, according to officials familiar with the matter.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.  As hospitals in Jackson and Josephine counties started struggling under the surge of COVID-19 patients earlier this month, Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls reported that it was not seeing the same dramatic numbers. Now administrators say that's changing at a rapid pace.

Sky Lakes said that on late Monday, staff were forced to open up a second COVID-19 isolation unit and started evaluating the need to postpone surgeries due to the rapid rise in cases.

Administrators noted that there were 20 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 at Sky Lakes on Tuesday  twice the number of patients there on Friday, and triple the count from a week prior.

Now the case load is straining the medical centers capacity, according to Dr. Grant Niskanen, Vice President for Medical Affairs at Sky Lakes and a practicing family medicine physician.

The COVID-19 surge that swamped hospitals throughout Southern and Central Oregon earlier this month has arrived in Klamath Falls, Niskanen said. He predicts that the number of local COVID-19 patients will continue to increase well into September.

Niskanen, who spoke with the Oregon Health Authority earlier in August about the situation at Sky Lakes, reiterated his plea for vaccinations. Except for only a couple, the COVID-19 patients were treating now are unvaccinated, he said. [Vaccines] are very effective at preventing hospitalization and death.

Sky Lakes had just two available beds in its intensive care unit (ICU) on Tuesday, and currently has three COVID-19 patients receiving care in the ICU.

We made plans in the winter to open a second COVID-19 isolation unit and luckily we did not need to. Now, because of the sudden surge, we have no choice, said Paul Stewart, Sky Lakes President and Chief Executive Officer.

The isolation units have a combined capacity of 24 patients, with the patient load spread between the two. Still, patients who require more intensive treatment are placed in another area of the hospital to meet their needs.

According to Sky Lakes, they were already nearing maximum capacity as COVID-19 hospitalizations started to spike. Now administrators are looking to get temporary staffing to meet the demand.

We may have more physical beds in the house, but weve had to divert so many of our resources to COVID-19 care that we dont have the appropriate staff available for additional non-COVID patients, Stewart said. "Our staff have been working hard to deal with everything this pandemic has handed us. They are doing a fantastic job, but they are tired and stressed.

Most of the elective surgeries that require overnight stays are being indefinitely postponed to relieve pressure elsewhere and ensure adequate COVID-19 capacity, said Ron Woita, RN, Vice President of Patient Care Services. This is not yet a blanket order  there may be circumstances that require a procedure immediately  but we are considering each case very carefully. If the number of COVID-19 patients continues to climb, we may need to reschedule all elective procedures.

As the number of positive COVID-19 tests increases, the Emergency Department is often slammed by an influx of people with COVID-19 symptoms, Woita said. More and more people are turning to the E.D. for care as their symptoms become more severe, he said.

Still, we absolutely want people to come to the Emergency Department when they need medical assistance urgently. We never close, Woita added, apologizing to anyone with non-emergent needs who may have experienced a long wait recently.

Administrators are looking into placing a field hospital-like tent outside the Emergency Department in a replay of March 2020 when the pandemic was still new, as Asante Three Rivers has done.

This would take some of the load from the Emergency Department, add capacity to help us care for people with less-urgent medical needs, and help control the flow of patients requiring isolation, Woita said.

Stewart also urged people to get vaccinated to slow the spread of the virus. The best time to have been vaccinated was three or four months ago, he said. The second-best time is now.
SALEM, Ore.  Governor Kate Brown announced on Tuesday that Oregon's statewide mask mandate will be expanded to include outdoor public spaces, particularly large events and other circumstances where physical distancing is not possible.

The Delta variant is spreading fast and wide, throwing our state into a level of crisis we have not yet seen in the pandemic. Cases and hospitalizations are at a record high, said Governor Brown. Masks are a quick and simple tool we can immediately deploy to protect ourselves and our families, and quickly help stop further spread of COVID-19.

The Delta variant is much more contagious than previous variants weve seen, and it has dramatically increased the amount of virus in our communities. Masks have proven to be effective at bringing case counts down, and are a necessary measure right now, even in some outdoor settings, to help fight COVID and protect one another.

RELATED: Asante's critical care and emergency departments are under siege

The new requirement begins Friday, August 27, and applies regardless of vaccination status. The Oregon Health Authority also highly recommended masks for private outdoor gatherings when people from different households cannot consistently maintain physical distancing.

At the Governor's direction, the OHA plans to issue a new rule on the topic. The rule does not apply to "fleeting encounters," such as when two people walk by one another on a trail or in a park. The rule also does not apply to private settings, despite the strong recommendation from the OHA.

It is much easier for people with the Delta variant, compared to people who were sick last year, to infect others around them, said State Health Officer Dr. Dean Sidelinger. This is because they have one thousand times more virus in their nose  which means that those around them are much more likely to get sick because this variant behaves so differently. We are starting to see instances where cases are clustering around events, like outdoor music festivals, that happen outdoors. Wearing masks in crowded settings  even outdoors  will help slow the spread of COVID-19.

As with the indoor mask requirement, there are some circumstances where the mask requirement will not apply:

Children under 5 years old;

Individuals who are actively eating, drinking, or sleeping  as well as individuals living outdoors, such as persons experiencing houselessness;

Persons playing or practicing competitive sports, or engaged in an activity in which it is not feasible to wear a mask  such as swimming;

Individuals delivering a speech or performing  such as with outdoor music or theater;

Mask requirements for day-to-day operations at K-12 schools are not governed by this rule, and will instead continue to fall under the school mask rule. Outside public events, spectator events, and gatherings of the general public on K-12 school grounds will be subject to the rule. Child care and youth programs will continue to follow existing OHA mask guidance; and

In addition, entities subject to the ADA must continue to comply with that law.

The combination of vaccines and masks is the most powerful way we can fight this latest surge of COVID-19 and save lives," Brown continued. "Vaccination continues to be the best way you can protect yourself and your family from the Delta variant, and the most effective way we can help our exhausted nurses and doctors, who are working around the clock to treat Oregonians sick with COVID in our ICUs  the majority of which are unvaccinated individuals. With the full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine this week, we have additional reassurance that the vaccines are safe and effective.
By Chris Boyette, CNN

(CNN) -- Mississippi health officials are warning residents not to take an anti-parasitic drug  in most cases, a formulation purchased at livestock supply centers  to treat or prevent Covid-19.

You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y'all. Stop it. https://t.co/TWb75xYEY4  U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) August 21, 2021

The Mississippi State Department of Health issued an alert on Friday that the Mississippi Poison Control Center has received an increasing number of calls from people who have taken the drug known as ivermectin  and that at least 70% of such calls related to "ingestion of livestock or animal formulations of ivermectin purchased at livestock supply centers."

While there are human uses for the drug, the US Food and Drug Administration has not approved ivermectin to treat or prevent Covid-19 in humans and the drug is not an anti-viral medication.

"There are approved uses for ivermectin in both people and animals. Patients should be advised to not take any medications intended to treat animals and should be instructed to only take ivermectin as prescribed by their physician," the Mississippi State Department of Health alert said. "Animal drugs are highly concentrated for large animals and can be highly toxic in humans. Some of the symptoms associated with ivermectin toxicity include rash, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, neurologic disorders, and potentially severe hepatitis requiring hospitalization."

According to the alert, 85% of the callers had mild symptoms, but one person was instructed to seek further evaluation due to the amount of ivermectin they told poison control they had taken.

The US Food & Drug Administration tweeted on Saturday: "You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y'all. Stop it."

In March, the FDA said that people should not use ivermectin to attempt to treat or prevent Covid-19. "Taking large doses of this drug is dangerous and can cause serious harm," the FDA said.

Mississippi has been grappling with a surge in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations.

On Friday, state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs issued a statewide order requiring residents diagnosed with Covid-19 to "immediately home-isolate on first knowledge of infection" for 10 days from onset of illness or the date of a positive test for those who are asymptomatic.

Only around 37% of the population of Mississippi is fully vaccinated, well below the national pace, according to Johns Hopkins University data. And there have been a record number of new cases over the past week, according to the data.
MEDFORD, Ore.  Rogue Retreat received a $150,000 grant this week from the People's Bank of Commerce Foundation, funds that will go toward the organization's ongoing efforts to transform a Medford motel into housing for vulnerable members of the community.

Rogue Retreat took over the Redwood Inn on N Riverside Drive in March with the help of Oregon's "Project Turnkey" initiative. According to the organization, they'll put the funds toward renovations on five of the eventual 47 rooms in the building  starting as housing for people displaced by the Almeda Fire, and eventually becoming transitional housing for the homeless once Almeda survivors are re-homed.

We cant thank Peoples Bank of Commerce Foundation enough for their amazing generosity. Their desire to help the Rogue Valley rebuild from these fires shows what a business can do to help the greater community. We are honored to partner with Peoples Bank of Commerce Foundation to remodel five rooms which will serve our community for many years to come, said Chad McComas, Rogue Retreat Executive Director.

When the Project Turnkey site is complete, it will have 43 apartments for housing people displaced by the Almeda Fire and four apartments for those in need of skilled nursing care. Rogue Retreat said that renovations remain underway, with 18 suites currently in use and another 14 under construction.

Peoples Bank of Commerce Foundation is very pleased to partner with such an exceptional organization in providing relief for the fire survivors. These 43 apartments will make a significant impact in the ability of those future tenants to continue to recover from the fire and rebuild their lives, right here in the Rogue Valley, said Julia Beattie, Committee Chair of Peoples Bank of Commerce Foundation.

After Rogue Retreat received the Project Turnkey grant to buy the Redwood Inn, it also received a $450,000 grant from the City of Medford toward renovating units, accompanied by a grant from Providence for the recuperative care component.
MEDFORD, Ore. -- Medford School District had students return to the classroom Monday, August 23.

School started a week earlier than usual since the federal funds designated for COVID-19 remediation allowed educators to make up for learning time lost during the pandemic.

With students learning in person comes mask requirements, and many parents at the Medford School District are happy to have their students wear a mask if it means they can come to school in person.

Kevin Stine is one parent at Wilson Elementary School who also happens to be on the Medford City Council. He tells Newswatch 12 his daughter is resilient.

"She's able to wear a mask and follow the rules, and for her at least, she's been just fine throughout all of this."

The principal at Wilson Elementary School, Charity MacLeod says the district is aware of some of the mental health challenges children experience as a result of the Covid mandates.

A Social Emotional Advocate has now been hired at all Medford elementary schools to address behavioral and social needs of the students.

All of the elementary schools across the district have also hired assistant principals to support educators when it comes to behavioral discipline and Covid guidance.

In addition to masks now becoming part of the day-to-day learning experience, students at Wilson Elementary also have assigned seats inside of the cafeteria measured 3 feet apart. The current capacity for students in the cafeteria is 160 with this regulation, while there are more than 400 students present on school grounds.

School districts across the Rogue Valley are still waiting on additional guidance from the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department Education for further information on Covid-19 vaccine requirements for all educators.

So far, the Medford School District said it has not had any of its staff resign due to Covid mandates.
GRENADA, Calif.  The California Highway Patrol says that an 18-year-old California man was killed during a single-vehicle rollover crash on I-5 south of Yreka on Monday.

CHP officers were dispatched to a call for an overturned vehicle on I-5 north of Louie Road around 6:30 a.m. Upon arrival at the scene, officers found that the driver had been ejected from the vehicle. First responders tried giving the man CPR, but he succumbed to his injuries.

According to a preliminary investigation, the 18-year-old from Puyallup, Washington was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pickup southbound on I-5 in the fast lane, going at an "undetermined speed." The driver veered into the median and then over-corrected to the right, losing control and overturning. CHP said that the driver was not wearing his seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle.

"The officers of the California Highway Patrol would like to remind all motorists to always wear their seatbelts while traveling," the agency said. "The failure to do so has resulted in many fatal traffic collisions in the Yreka area this year."
SALEM, Ore.  Southern Oregon's hospitals warned two weeks ago that they were overwhelmed and "beyond full" from the influx of COVID-19 patients, but cases and hospitalizations in the region have yet to see a turnaround. New cases continue to stack up by the hundreds on a daily basis, and hospitalizations set a new record practically by the day.

Our healthcare and public health systems are working tirelessly to ensure this pandemic slows downs and lives are saved, but we cannot do this on our own, said Tanya Phillips, Health Promotion Manager for Jackson County Public Health.

Jackson County reported 242 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, after seeing more than 300 cases over the weekend.

Even more concerning are the hospitalizations. Region 5, which covers hospitals in Jackson and Josephine counties, was without any available ICU beds on Monday. Yet hospitalizations for COVID-19 rose to 219 on Tuesday  10 more than on Monday  and ICU patients rose to 55 from 41 the day prior.

Health officials have repeatedly said that those hospitalized with the virus are overwhelmingly unvaccinated, representing between 90 and 95 percent of cases.

We need everyone to do their part by getting vaccinated, wearing masks, and making smart decisions about the activities they engage in. Our healthcare providers and public health professionals have been responding to COVID-19 for over a year now; they continue to work endless hours to keep our community safe and are experiencing the worst of this pandemic right now. They are exhausted; please help our community overcome this and do your part, said Dr. Jim Shames, Health Officer for Jackson County.

Jackson County Public Health reported six more deaths attributed to COVID-19 on Tuesday  three at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, two at Providence Medford Medical Center, and one at a residence. The patients ranged in age from 59 to 95. With those latest fatalities, Jackson County's death toll rose to 190 since the pandemic began.

Public health officials have joined with the local hospital administrators in encouraging the local community to slow the spread of COVID-19 and help relieve the strain on healthcare systems by wearing masks and getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Masks are currently required in all indoor public spaces.

Governor Kate Brown announced on Tuesday that Oregon's statewide mask mandate will be expanded to include outdoor public spaces, particularly large events and other circumstances where physical distancing is not possible.
President of Unifor Jerry Dias makes remarks to the De Havilland picket line at the Downsview plant in Toronto on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. Dias said at the north Toronto rally that he and the 700 workers represented by Unifor Local 673 and 112 are determined to get the company back to the bargaining table and closer to an agreement that is fair to staff. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
Nursing student Mona Wang waits to to be interviewed during a demonstration in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, July 11, 2020. The British Columbia prosecution service says an RCMP officer in Kelowna has been charged with assault in connection with a wellness check of Wang early last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix look on as Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks about the COVID-19 vaccine card set to arrive in mid-September as they discuss details about the process during a press conference at provincial legislature in Victoria, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Carthage College will host a NASA-supported program for teachers this fall to explore curriculum opportunities, develop demonstrations and experiments related to spaceflight and microgravity.

The Kenosha campus will be the site of a two-day workshop for K-12 teachers in STEAM disciplines across Wisconsin on Oct. 8-9 as part of the Embedded Teacher Program.

One or more teachers will be selected from the local workshop participants to fly with their experiments aboard the Zero Gravity Corporations G-Force One aircraft. The modified 727 aircraft performs parabolic flights in which researchers experience sustained periods of weightlessness in order to test space-bound equipment, conduct scientific research and train for spaceflight.

The workshop will introduce the basic concepts of microgravity physics, the types of research conducted in space, the curriculum opportunities for teachers at the middle and high-school levels, and will provide hands-on materials and individual assistance with developing teachable explorations of microgravity science on G-Force One.Participants will propose experiments and demonstrations that support existing research scheduled for an upcoming ZERO-G flight.
Ketchikan, AK (99901)

Today

Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. High around 65F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 52F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
ALSEA, Ore. -- A superintendent in rural Benton county is speaking out after he gained national attention for a letter he sent parents regarding Governor Kate Browns mask mandate.

Marc Thielman, the superintendent of the Alsea School District, said he was trying to show parents who had expressed concerns about their children's abilities to wear a mask in the classroom throughout the school day other options.

We need to deal with individual students and families at the individual level and then we need to communicate if there are going to be accommodations so that other kids know that everybody has different needs, Thielman said.

He said the majority of parents in his district oppose the mandate and as many as one-third of them had reached out to him with concerns about their children covering up in the classroom.

Thielman's letter to the school community pointed them to the part of the mandate stating the following.

Nothing in this rule is intended to prohibit a school from complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act, or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, section 6 of the mandate states.

Thielman went on to say any parents who wish to request an accommodation for their children could apply for a 504 plan or request accommodations through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

However, he claimed the district has not seen a significant uptick in the number of requests for accommodation.

"We have not had a tsunami of 504s," Thielman said. "Most parents, they understand and have a lot of confidence in our ability to keep kids safe because we did it all last year.

Thielman said he expects 10% to 15% of students in his district to require accommodations.

Some examples of accommodations, according to Thielman, were replacing a mask with a face shield, adding additional Plexiglas barriers between students, and offering additional, outdoor mask breaks.

Thielman said it's not fair to associate him with others throughout the country who are actively fighting mask mandates.

They associated me with people who are genuinely touting mask mandates like the governor of Louisiana or something and I dont think that was fair because were implementing the mandate. Were requiring masks, Thielman said.
EUGENE, Ore. -- Lane County is making progress on issuing permits to residents in the McKenzie River Valley who are trying to rebuild from the Holiday Farm Fire, a county spokesperson said last week.

Devon Ashbridge, public information officer for Lane County, said hundreds of people upriver are trying to rebuild at the same time. Its also a fairly complicated process because of strict land use laws for unincorporated areas where most of the damage occurred. Ashbridge said the large number of applications initially put a strain on the county office that handles permits.

The volume is a challenge, Ashbridge said. The land use law throughout Oregon is very complexbut you also have almost 500 people needing to rebuild at the same time. We don't typically see that level of development in rural Lane County at once.

To ease the load, the Lane County Board of Commissioners approved hiring additional employees for the Land Management Division. A specialized permit navigator was also hired to help survivors wade through the complicated paperwork.

They can work with people to make sure those applications are complete. That way, when they're submitted, they can be reviewed and processed fairly quickly, Ashbridge said.

To date, 104 permits have been issued for manufactured or stick built homes, and 22 are still pending. The average processing time is about three weeks. The county has also processed 111 type one land use permits, and 32 are still in review.

Ashbridge said the county does not want bureaucracy to be a barrier for people returning to the area.

RELATED: HOLIDAY FARM FIRE SURVIVORS FRUSTRATED OVER SLOW PERMITTING PROCESS

We want people to be able to come home. We don't want to see this turn into a mass exodus of residents. This is an area where people have lived there for generations. There's so much history and family history. We want to see people come home, Ashbridge said.

The county said recently passed legislation in Oregon is also helping speed up the process of getting permits.

If you have questions about permits, you can also stop by the McKenzie Schools new gym from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays. Permit navigator Marianne Nolte is also available for questions at 541-682-4057. You can also keep track of the rebuilding progress through an interactive map.
LANE COUNTY, Ore.- Douglas County is seeing some of the worst numbers in America when it comes to COVID-19 cases, and doctors said it's partially due to the unvaccinated community.

According to Monday's update, 137 new cases were reported in Douglas County. 78 people are in the hospital, and 69 of those are not vaccinated; that's about 88%.

Southern Oregon is now gaining national attention for its steep increase in COVID-19 cases. According to an article in the New York Times, Douglas, Josephine, and Curry counties are among the 60 worst in the nation. Each county is averaging about 150 cases per day per 100,000 residents.

Doctor Bob Dannenhoffer, the Chief Medical Strategist for Douglas Public Health, told KEZI 9 News the huge surge with the Delta variant and the growing number of cases day-by-day is overwhelming for doctors and medical staff.

"We're seeing a huge surge in COVID infections, hospitalizations and deaths, we think this is mostly due to the Delta variant in an area where not that many people are vaccinated and in an area where people aren't following the public health recommendations," said Dannenhoffer.

He said there are still ample opportunities for people to get vaccinated.

The Douglas County Tiger Team offers free pop-up clinics and Douglas Public Health has a list of locations on their website.

With full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine, Dannenhoffer said public health officials are thankful because this will spread good information, something he said is needed right now, especially for those who might still have reservations.

MORE: U.S. Regulators give full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

"I think full FDA approval is another sign of confidence in this vaccine and we hope we will convince some of those people who were sitting on the fence that now is the time to get it," said Dannenhoffer.

And there are small businesses in Lane County who have taken matters into their own hands.

"Crumb Together," a cookie and coffee shop in downtown Eugene, put a sign in their window that reads:

"Because of the unvaccinated, masks required again. Thank you for your support!"

The owner, Deirdre Steirpe, said she's had enough with those who choose to be unvaccinated.

"I was infuriated, I was angry, you know this has really affected our business and you know as a business owner, freedom of speech and I felt it was necessary," said Steirpe.

Steirpe received some backlash because of the sign. One Twitter user saying: "Way to be discriminatory."

But this did not stop people in the community from showing their own support. Eugene resident Kevin Hagel said he wanted to show "Crumb Together" that they had his full support.

"I had seen that there was a post on Twitter of someone criticizing Crumb Together for having a sign up that was encouraging people to get vaccinated. And I thought that was a good enough reason to come by and support a local business," said Hagel.

Steirpe said she didn't do it to shame anyone who's refusing to get the shot, but she said she feels it's a necessary step to get back to normal.

"I am just stating a fact. This was not meant to be malicious or hurt or offend anybody, this is my way of saying that everyone who can needs to get vaccinated," said Steirpe.
SPRINGFIELD, Ore.  Jessie Lee Wilson of Springfield is in Lane County Jail on sexual abuse charges involving a young girl.

Springfield police arrested Wilson, 36, after they responded to a call early Sunday morning regarding an alleged sexual assault. A young girl told police that she had been sexually assaulted by an adult male.

Springfield police detectives were then called in to help with the investigation. Following their investigation Wilson was arrested and charged with first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and first-degree sexual abuse.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is asked to contact Springfield Police Investigations at 541-726-3721.
In the last year we've lost thousands of family members, friends and co-workers to COVID-19. We'd like to give you a chance to honor their memory.

Share a Memory
The new silver museum which recently opened its doors in Waterford would probably not have come into existence without the efforts and generosity of a Mullinavat-born businessman and his wife.

Noel and Stephanie Frisby gifted their collections of Irish silver to Waterford Treasures and financed the development of the two galleries in the Deanery thus making the Irish Silver Museum a reality.

The leadership and generosity of the Frisby family inspired others to loan and donate important collections to the museum, one such was Colman Curran and his wife Elizabeth Clooney gifted their collection of 30 grandfather clocks, over 30 important bracket and wall clocks, 30 pocket watches, all of which are Irish.

Their collection includes clocks by 18th Century renowned clock maker William Maddock. The earliest pieces connect to Waterfords Viking heritage and thanks to their role as expert seafarers the collection includes a silver coin made in modern-day Iraq in 742, which found its way to Waterford in about 850.



Minister Paschal Donohoe cutting the tape in the presence of Noel and Stephanie Frisby, at the recent opening of the Waterford Silver Museum

The Museum of Irish Silver: Power, Politics and Piety is located in The Deanery, Cathedral Square, in the heart of Waterford City. Situated next to the Medieval Museum, it was officially opened by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe recently.

Noel Frisby, with his wife Stephanie are no strangers to South Kilkenny, as Noels family come from Kileen in Mullinavat. Noel was the youngest of a large family involved in farming for generations.

He has had a most successful career in the construction and property business and it is as he staed so well his and his families contribution in lasting manner to the history, culture and heritage of Waterford City. His parents were Jack and Nell (nee Aylward) Frisby.

Having gone to Mount Sion secondary, Noel completed other educational courses, and after a spell in England came home near his roots and commenced in business in Waterford City, of which he now heads Frisby Construction and Frisby Homes from their large offices in Canada Street, Waterford.

With the astounding generosity of Noel and Stephanie Frisby, as Eamon McEneaney, Director of the Waterford museums and Waterford treasurers said that the collection will stand out as a great addition to the history and heritage of Waterford and its culture.

Mr McEneaney thanked publically thanked Noel and Stephanie for their generous gift to the city and people of Waterford.

Since the Viking period in Ireland, silver has been a most prized metal and a means of exchange. Entire eras of the past are on display at the Irish Silver Museum in Waterford City. Visitors can see the story of the country told through the medium of this precious metal. One of the seven precious metals of antiquity, silver has long enthralled and fascinated humans.
MASON CITY, Iowa - A shooting Monday left a Mason City man behind bars and could have been much worse, authorities said.

Jacob Patterson, 21, is being held on $10,000 bond in the Cerro Gordo County Jail and is being charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon.

Patterson is accused of pulling a gun and pointing it at a victim before he fired as the vehicle pulled away. The bullet struck the rear driver's door and went through the back door and struck another vehicle, which had two people inside it.

"If the victim would not of pulled away at the same time the victim could of been injured. The other vehicle had subjects in the vehicle also," court documents state.

The incident occurred at 4th St. SE and S. Illinois Ave.
ROCHESTER, Minn.- It's the announcement millions of Americans have been waiting for. In a highly anticipated move, Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine is now fully approved by the FDA for use in people ages 16 and older.

Now that it has the same level of regulation as other vaccines, more companies, universities, and local governments are expected to make getting the vaccine mandatory.

Christian Fisk is a student at the University of Minnesota Rochester. He believes that more Americans, especially college students, will get the Covid-19 shot now that the FDA has approved the vaccine.

"For people that are going to university, I definitely think it's going to change their minds because they're going to put their school career in perspective. Now that it's FDA approved, I think that there's going to be a lot less fear with what could happen with the vaccine so I think more people are definitely going to get it for sure."

Ryne Rawson is all for the vaccine.

"I'm very pro-vaccine myself and I really hope it changes people's minds. This is coming from a big official body so I think people will become less skeptical and mandates might start coming through which would be helpful for numbers getting up."

Rawson is concerned about his family and is hopeful more people will choose to get inoculated.

"I have a four-year-old sister and a 16-year-old sister back home and on top of that, I also have an immunocompromised father so I'm nervous for him and I'm nervous for them. I don't want them to be affected by Covid and the Delta Variant."

Haley Nordstrom comes from a family that never gets shots and doesn't think the FDA's decision will change their minds.

"I am not too concerned because my family never gets sick. We have this thing in our immune system, where we just work very quickly and we don't even get a cold."

Nobody in Nordstrom's family has ever been vaccinated. They haven't received a tetanus shot.

Mohamed Arish is a researcher in Rochester from India. He says people who are hesitant about receiving the vaccine should just take it.

"They must get a vaccine because if people are not getting a vaccine, the virus can get mutated and we can see many strains coming up in the recent year."

Arish encourages everyone to look at what science has shown us.

"They must admit the vaccine is working and they must get their shots."

Following Pfizer-BioNTech's full approval, President Biden is pleading with employers to require employees to be vaccinated. The University of Minnesota is also adding the Covid-19 vaccine to the list of required shots for all enrolled students.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - After this week, playgrounds in Rochester will be a little more empty and classrooms will be a little more full.

In a recent survey conducted by RAND Corporation, about 84% of parents plan to send at least some of their children to school in-person this fall, 12% are unsure about what to do and only 5% of parents say they have no plans of sending their children back to school.

One Rochester mom KIMT News 3 spoke with said it was tough sending her kindergartner to school for the first time during a pandemic last year. Now that her daughter is going into first grade, she's hoping she'll be in the classroom all year long. "It was hard. Especially working a full-time job. So, trying to find somebody and get all of the assignments done was very difficult," explained Sydney Krogstad. "So, we're hoping to be in the classroom this year all year. They need to be around their friends, so I'm excited to start the year and hopefully, the COVIDdoesn't impact us too bad."

A study by McKinsey suggests not having in-person learning has put K-12 students about five months behind in mathematics and four months behind in reading.

The U.S. Department of Education has created a return to school roadmap helping families get ready for the first day of school. They have a checklist you can go through on these final days of summer break.

Rochester Public Schools start on Monday and as a reminder, masks will be required for all students and staff inside the buildings.
MASON CITY, Iowa - Another piece of the River City Renaissance project is finally coming to fruition.

Ground has officially been broken on the roughly $1.6 million Skywalk that will connect Music Man Square to the yet-to-be constructed Hyatt Place hotel in the south parking lot of Southbridge. As a result, part of Delaware Avenue is down to one lane, and visitors to the Square are asked to enter through the South Pennsylvania Avenue entrance.

Work is expected to take about 12 months. Meanwhile, city officials expect closing on the financial portion of the hotel to be soon, with construction expected to begin shortly thereafter.
MASON CITY, Iowa - A gas leak early Tuesday resulted in some Mason City residents being forced to stay in their homes.

Workers were on scene near Highway 122 and Virginia Ave. between 8:45-10 a.m. A witness in the neighborhood told KIMT he was about to head outside when he heard a sound like an air hose getting cut and a distinct smell.

Crews were on scene after a gas leak was reported Tuesday morning in Mason City. KIMT photo Crews were on scene after a gas leak was reported Tuesday morning in Mason City. KIMT photo

Alliant Energy was on the scene and residents were allowed to leave their residences a short time later.
MASON CITY, Iowa  A man caught with meth and pot in Cerro Gordo County is sentenced to probation.

Kevin Lynn Nitcher II, 37 of Mason City, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and possession of marijuana-3rd or subsequent offense. He was arrested on April 2 in the 600 block of S. Garfield Avenue in Mason City and law enforcement says Nitcher had 22 grams of meth and a zip lock baggie of marijuana.

Hes been given three to five years of supervised probation.
Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Austin and Albert Lea have announced new visitor restrictions and that more COVID-19 testing will be available.

"Were testing hundreds of people each day for COVID-19. In southeast Minnesota counties outside of Rochester, 15 to 20 percent of tests are coming back positive," says Robert Albright, Jr. D.O., regional vice president, Southeast Minnesota Region, Mayo Clinic Health System. "Nearly all patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 are unvaccinated people. For our part, Mayo will continue to vaccinate as many people as possible, give antibody infusions to prevent hospitalizations, encourage masking and educate our communities on the threat of another surge. Our communities can, in turn, help us keep medical professionals available for non-COVID-19 care by getting vaccinated and wearing masks to reduce the spread of the virus."

The number of visitors in its hospitals and clinics will be one per patient, starting Wednesday.

That goes for locations in Albert Lea, Austin, Cannon Falls, Lake City and Red Wing.

"Mayo Clinic Health System is making this change in response to increasing cases of COVID-19 in the communities it serves, largely due to the delta variant. All visitors must comply with masking and safety requirements. Visitor restrictions are subject to change, depending on the presence of COVID-19 in each community," Mayo said in a statement.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  The militia leader convicted of masterminding the bombing of a Minnesota mosque is asking a judge to legally acknowledge her transgender identity.

Emily Claire Hari was previously known as Michael Hari.

Hari was found guilty last year of civil rights and hate crime charges in the bombing of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington in August 2017.

According to court documents, Hari says gender dysphoria and right-wing misinformation fueled her inner conflict when she was convicted in the bombing. Hari's attorney is asking a judge to sentence her to no more than the minimum 30 years in prison, not the life sentence that prosecutors requested. Sentencing is set for Sept. 13.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  A Forest Lake Police Department sergeant is dead after his utility-terrain vehicle crashed in Wisconsin.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that Kurt Kowarsch was visiting his cabin Saturday night in Burnett County, Wisconsin. Authorities there say he apparently lost control of the vehicle and hit multiple trees before the vehicle caught fire. A preliminary autopsy report showed that he died before the vehicle caught fire.

The 42-year-old Kowarsch served as a patrol officer, trainer, investigator and SWAT team member. He also was a firearms instructor. His infant daughter, Brooke, died in 2011 at a home day care in Lindstrom. The unlicensed provider was charged with murder and manslaughter but was later acquitted.
ROCHESTER, Minn.  An accused Olmsted County drug dealer is pleading not guilty.

Sean Alexander, 42 of Rochester, was arrested in February and charged with second-degree sale of drugs and third and fifth-degree drug possession.

Investigators say they got a tip in August 2020 of someone selling large amounts of heroin and that eventually led to Alexanders arrest after a traffic stop in Interstate 90. The stop led to the search of a Rochester address where authorities say 378.5 grams of marijuana, 39 grams of heroin, digital scales, marijuana wax, and paraphernalia were located.

No trial date has been set for Alexander.
The Rochester Township board held a public comment session on Monday at 6 p.m. over concerns regarding Olmsted County's Blue Heron rookery.

The rookery, which is a nesting site for Blue Heron's, is currently being assessed as a possible housing project, titled Pavilion Estates.

Members of Save the Rookery organization spoke out against the proposed plans, arguing the construction would lead to the elimination of the nesting site.

Speaking on behalf of Pavilion Estates was Jeff Broberg, who called the advocates unique designation of the rookery not based on fact.

Rochester Resident Hugh Smith said he believes there should be an independent study of the rookery.

"What we need is an objective, professionally trained individual, to conduct the environmental impact study, so we find out whether this is an activist dream or a legitimate concern," Smith said.

The last day for public comment submissions is this Thursday.
MASON CITY, Iowa - After months of sleeping in and enjoying fun in the sun, it's time to hit the books again for another school year.

At Harding Elementary Monday morning, parents bid farewell to their children, some of whom are in the classroom for the first time ever. Principal Brooke Brunsvold always looks forward to the start of school.

"This is one of my favorite days. The kids are excited, the teachers are excited to get everybody back in the building."

Educators have been heartened throughout this pandemic by the determination of their students. This year, the hope is students will once again meet expectations with self-driven passion, logic and creativity.

"Our students are resilient, and they'll meet us with whatever expectations we set for them."

Across town, inside Ashley Andersen's classroom at Lincoln Intermediate, students are getting to know each other through a 'brown bag' welcome exercise. Students were tasked to bring five items important to them to help

"The hope is that students will see something and maybe start a conversation because of that."

With everyone back in the classroom, the task of teaching should be easier.

"I'm looking forward to getting close to normal, really getting to know these kids."

Brunsvold echoes that statement.

"We're looking for a year that's a little more normal. Super excited to start at full capacity and seeing kids in the building."

In Iowa, school districts are not allowed to issue mask mandates. Still, Mason City is recommending wearing masks inside district buildings. For the district's updated health and safety guidance, click here.
Jasper, TX (75951)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 94F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 73F. Winds light and variable.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, left, talks in July with Cindy Brown, president of the Chippewa Valley Bean Co., as Eric Rygg of Huntsinger Farms listens.
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COLUMBIA  Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has filed a class action lawsuit against school districts with mask mandates.

The lawsuit names Columbia Public Schools, the Board of Education for the School District of Columbia and its boards members and Superintendent Brian Yearwood as its sole defendants.

The lawsuit includes three counts, including that "mandates are unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious and that the mask mandate is unlawful as to school children." It also says the mandate was not approved by the Missouri Board of Education.

The CDC recommends universal indoor masking by all students (age 2 and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.

CPS sent out an email to parents about the mask decision on Aug. 13. CPS said the decision is not "a forever decision, but it is a decision that is currently necessary." The district will continue to monitor the situation and will reevaluate the decision at a later date.

CPS issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, saying the district is "extremely disappointed to learn Schmitt has chosen to pursue litigation."

"Numerous school districts across Missouri and across our country made the same safety decision based on what is needed in their communities during this period of time. The decisions made are based on guidance and recommendations from local, state and national experts, including the CDC," the statement said.

It also said the lawsuit will "waste taxpayer dollars and resources which are better spent investing in our students."

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The district says it "intends to aggressively defend its decision to keep its community and its scholars safe."

The lawsuit alleges that "children are at an extremely low risk of severe illness and death from COVID, that children are at a low risk for spreading it, that masks fail to provide adequate protection against COVID in children and that masks are detrimental to the development of young children."

'If Schmitt successfully blocks local schools from adopting mask requirements, more Missouri children will get sick from COVID-19." House Minority Leader Crystal Quade said in a statement.

It also notes that the district continues with the mask mandate despite the Columbia City Council's rejection of a citywide mask mandate.

The lawsuit cites Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services data and medical studies that "confirm that children have a low risk of transmitting the virus to other children and that children make up less than 1 out of every 100,000 people who are hospitalized in Missouri."

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at Tuesday's briefing President Biden will support schools that are facing legal action and directly pointed to the Missouri Attorney General's newest lawsuit.

"We've seen recently, I think today or yesterday in Missouri, additional steps taken that, in our view, put more kids at risk. The president thinks that's completely unacceptable and he has asked his Secretary of Education, directed I should say, to use all of his authority to help those school districts doing the right thing to ensure every one of their students has access to a fundamental right of safe, in-person learning," Psaki said.

"This lawsuit might help Schmitt win a Republican U.S. Senate primary, but it puts the lives and education of Missouri children in jeopardy." Quade said.

Schmitt previously filed lawsuits in St. Louis County, Kansas City and Jackson County for its mask mandates. A preliminary injunction issued last week halted the mask mandate in St. Louis County.

This story is breaking and will be updated.
COLUMBIA  The sudden shift to online learning right before quarantine caused change for every family. But for Black families, that change exposed the disparities in broadband access.

Charity Martin remembers the struggles her family faced when Columbia Public Schools suddenly went online back in March 2020.

"One minute they can talk to the teacher, see the teacher, next thing the whole thing is blank," Martin said.

Martin's niece and nephew's Zoom often faced disconnects from spotty broadband during virtual school lessons.

Zoom meetings were the norm during the switch to virtual learning last year. Daily Zoom users spiked from 200 million in March 2020, a huge increase from just 10 million in December 2019, according to CNBC, a sign of schools' increased use of the service for schooling.

However, families with spotty broadband were left in the dark.

A team of researchers at MU, comprised of post-doctoral fellow Adaobi Anakwe and Wilson Majee, an associate professor in the School of Health Professions, looked at that shift to online learning.

"The school did not necessarily ensure that they had access to broadband," Anakwe said.

For the study, named "Sink or Swim: Virtual Life Challenges among African-American families during COVID-19 lockdown," researchers surveyed 11 Missouri families, a majority of them single mothers.

Anakwe and her team found the shift to online learning at the start of the pandemic caused stress for Black families and exposed the digital divide.

"The digital divide has been there right?" Anakwe said. "With the disparities and access to acquisition of digital resources."

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Martin knows the digital divide firsthand.

"You can't afford it," Martin said.

"COVID-19 and the Digital Divide in Virtual Learning" was one of the sources the MU researchers cited in their article. The source found that technology rates for Black households lag far behind white households. Thirty-six percent of Black households reported limited computer or internet access, compared to just 28% of white households.

"The Black community, they are saddled with a lot of disparities in access to a lot of things: jobs, education," Anakwe said. "Adding on that digital divide can be a very big problem that not only compromises educational attainment, it can actually impact your health."

A lack of broadband access is an issue that affects the entire city of Columbia.

"We know the more affluent neighborhoods have access to internet because it's built in, it's right there in the ground," Columbia Mayor Brian Treece said. "But some of our older, poorer neighborhoods may not."

In a recent visit to Columbia, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt even acknowledged the issue that impacts the entire state of Missouri.

"Our state went from 50% of our state not having access to broadband to about half of that in a few years," Blunt said.

With a looming threat on the horizon, Martin worries that her family may go back to those challenges she faced back in March of 2020.

"There might be a day where they shut down the schools with this delta COVID [variant]," Martin said. "What are the children going to do?"
Poster for The First Alleyway's "The Last Supper" on Aug. 28 / Courtesy of Jen Lee



By Jon Dunbar



The First Alleyway, a cornerstone of Gwangju's foreign community and foodie scene, is closing its doors after 12 years. "The main reason is burnout," owner Tim Whitman told The Korea Times.



"My cook and I have been going very hard at it for so many years  my cook is burnt out too. And the pandemic has just made it so much harder; 18 months feels like five years. And of course the pandemic has been a slow, steady, financial bleed."



It's a great loss for the southwestern city, but it's hard to criticize Whitman's desire to bow out after so many years.



The Alleyway was originally founded in 2009 by Michael Simning, a beloved Gwangjuite who passed away from cancer in 2014. Simning and Whitman were business partners running the shop, Underground Grocers, together providing the city with food products imported from abroad.



"There was such a poor selection of foreign foods in Gwangju, and it was sold in such a mixed-up way  one store to buy nacho chips, another for salsa (seriously)," Whitman said of those days.



As Underground Grocers kept growing, it had to move into bigger spaces. When it moved to its third location, Simning also opened the Alleyway. "Mike was quite a foodie and would experiment with lots of food ideas," Whitman said.



After Simning was diagnosed with cancer, Whitman took over the restaurant business.





The exterior of The First Alleyway in Gwangju / Courtesy of Ellis I. Lee
By Jaushieh Joseph Wu





After more than 200 million infections and over 4 million deaths and counting, the COVID-19 pandemic has raged across the globe. This has created a profoundly devastating socio-economic impact on our interconnected world, with virtually no countries spared. The pandemic has disrupted global trade, exacerbated poverty, impeded education and compromised gender equality, with middle- to low-income nations bearing the brunt of the burden.



As many countries brace for another spike of the virus, prompted by the highly contagious Delta variant, the world looks up to the United Nations to ramp up comprehensive efforts to resolve the crisis, ensure better recovery and rebuild sustainably. This daunting task requires all hands on deck. It is time for the global body to welcome Taiwan, a valuable and worthy partner that stands ready to lend a helping hand.



Over the past few months, Taiwan, like many other countries, has been dealing with a surge of COVID-19 cases after almost a year of success in containing the virus. Yet, it got a handle on the situation and emerged even more ready to work with allies and partners to tackle the challenges posed by the pandemic. Taiwan's effective response to the pandemic, its rapid capacity expansion to meet global supply chain demand and its substantive assistance toward partner countries around the world all speak to the fact that there is no lack of compelling reasons for Taiwan to play a constructive role in the U.N. system.



However, under pressure from the People's Republic of China (PRC), the U.N. and its specialized agencies continue to reject Taiwan, citing the 1971 U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 as a legal basis for this exclusion. But the language of the resolution is crystal clear: it merely addresses the issue of China's representation in the U.N.; there is no mention of Chinese claim of sovereignty over Taiwan, nor does it authorize the PRC to represent Taiwan in the U.N. system. The fact is, the PRC has never governed Taiwan.



This is the reality and status quo across the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwanese people can only be represented on the international stage by their popularly elected government. By falsely equating the language of the resolution with Beijing's "one China Principle," the PRC is arbitrarily imposing its political views on the U.N.



The absurdity doesn't end there. This exclusion also obstructs the participation of Taiwan's civil society. Taiwanese passport holders are denied access to U.N. premises, both for tours and meetings, while Taiwanese journalists cannot obtain accreditation to cover U.N. events.



The only reason for this discriminatory treatment is their nationality. Barring members of Taiwan's civil society from the U.N. defeats the ideal of multilateralism, contravenes the U.N.'s founding principles of promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and hampers the U.N.'s overall efforts.



For six decades, Taiwan has been providing assistance to partner countries around the world. Since the adoption of the U.N. 2030 Agenda, it has focused on helping partners achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and, more recently, engage in anti-pandemic response and post-pandemic recovery.



Meanwhile, at home, Taiwan has fulfilled its SDGs in gender equality, clean water, sanitation, good health and well-being, among others. Our innovative, community-based solutions are harnessing public-private partnerships for the benefit of society as a whole.



The World Happiness Report 2021, released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, ranked Taiwan the happiest in East Asia, and 24th in the world. The ranking indicates how the people of a country feel about the social support they receive, and reflects in large part a country's implementation of the SDGs. Taiwan is willing to pass on its experience and work with global partners to build a better and more resilient future for all.



At a time when the world is sounding the clarion call for climate actions and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, Taiwan is actively charting a roadmap toward the goal, and has drafted dedicated legislation to facilitate this process. Climate change knows no borders, and concerted efforts are necessary if we want a sustainable future. Taiwan knows this, and is working on the best ways to turn the challenges of carbon reduction into new opportunities.



In his oath of office in June this year, U.N. Secretary-General?Antonio Guterres stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed our shared vulnerability and interconnectedness. He said that the U.N., and the states and people it serves, can only benefit from bringing others to the table.



Denying partners that have the ability to contribute is a moral and material loss to the world as we seek to recover better together. Taiwan is a force for good. Now is the time to bring Taiwan to the table and let Taiwan help.





Jaushieh Joseph Wu is minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan).


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PORTLAND, OR (KPTV)  Governor Kate Brown said Oregon welcomes any refugees from Afghanistan and is ready to help them. Catholic Charities of Oregon expects there could be hundreds of people with special immigrant visas coming here over the next several months.

When Ahmed Alzubidi sees the images of people trying to leave Afghanistan, he understands the feelings of panic and desperation.

"I've been in that situation before when the U.S. Army withdrew from Baghdad in 2011," he said.

He was an Iraqi broadcast journalist embedded with the U.S. Army as the situation became dangerous in Iraq.

"There was panic and we dont know what we will do," he said. "Now they sacrifice everything, they left their house, their friends, their family, just to want to be safe."

This week, many Oregon state legislators and Governor Kate Brown offered their support and welcome to refugees and called on the Biden administration to lift refugee admission caps and take emergency actions to save lives.

How to help Afghan refugees The refugee crisis in Afghanistan is growing as the Taliban take over the country.

In a statement, Brown said: "It's critical that the United States take steps to evacuate as many people in danger from Afghanistan as quickly as possible, including expediting the visa approval process, particularly for those Afghans and their families who have risked their lives in service of this country.

Catholic Charities of Oregon is one of several refugee resettlement agencies here. The visas allow people who are targeted because of their work for the U.S. to relocate here.

"We have to find them safe and secure housing, help the kids get enrolled in school, make sure their medical needs are being met, employment services," Matthew Westerbeck, the Director of Refugee Services for Catholic Charities of Oregon, said. "This is a way for them to come to the United States, be safe, rebuild their lives, pursue their dreams and have that opportunity after working alongside us overseas."

Alzubidi went through that process and was at one point a case manager himself. He said its like starting over.

"It's not an easy process," he said. "It needs patience, time and someone who can work with you to guide you on the right path."

You can find more about services at the following links:

 Catholic Charities of Oregon

 Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

 Lutheran Community Services
POCATELLO, Idaho (KPVI) - "As we saw the last four years, we had low gas prices, a stable Afghanistan and other things," said Bannock County Commissioner Terrel Tovey, who believes the new presidency has gone off the path. Read more
The John Minor Wisdom U.S. Court of Appeals Building for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans.
Masked students file into class in the Coates Hall auditorium as LSU has its first day of classes to begin the fall semester Monday Aug. 23, 2021, in Baton Rouge, La. (Photo by Bill Feig, The Advocate)
BILLINGS - Leaders from Billings Clinic, SCL Health/St. Vincent Healthcare, RiverStone Health and St. Johns United wrote in a release they "strongly support the decision of the Billings Public Schools to require masking of all K-12 students, staff and visitors."

Billings' health care community believes the decision will help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant.

"Prevention measures, such as masking, vaccination, and staying home when experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, will keep students in school and our community safe," they also wrote in the release.
BILLINGS - A Billings man accused in a sex and drug trafficking conspiracy and of brandishing a firearm during an assault over a botched drug deal admitted multiple crimes on Tuesday, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.

Mario Juan Drake, 32, pleaded guilty to a second superseding information charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and ecstasy, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and use of a facility in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date is pending before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. Drake was detained pending further proceedings, according to a press release.

In court documents, the government alleged that in 2019, Drake, co-defendant DJavon King and others conspired to distribute illegal narcotics, including cocaine and ecstasy. Multiple witnesses and social media involved Drake, King and others in this conspiracy.

On April 24, 2019, a struggle ensued between a buyer, identified as A.L., and two distributors, identified as A.R. and K.H., during an attempted distribution of ecstasy at a Billings motel. The buyer assaulted A.R. and left the scene.

In response, Drake, King and others arranged a meeting with A.L. during which they assaulted A.L. while holding firearms. Drake brandished a firearm during the assault and later he, King and others informed A.R. and K.H. that they had retaliated against A.L. in response to the failed drug transaction.

King pleaded guilty to charges in the case and is pending sentencing.

The government further alleged that in April and May of 2019, two women were engaged in commercial sex with Drake and were intimately involved with him.

Drake used his cell phone to assist with commercial sex dates for the women by receiving and posting photos of them for advertisements, setting pricing for calls and communicating with sex date customers for both women. Drake would accompany the women to hotels and use a timer during the calls. If the calls went past the time, Drake would enter the room.

Drake faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release on the drug crime and a mandatory minimum seven years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release consecutive to any other sentence on the firearms crime.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus and Bryan T. Dake are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 24, 2021--

Desktop Metal (NYSE: DM), a leader in mass production additive manufacturing (AM) solutions, today announced it has qualified the use of 316L stainless steel for the Shop System, the worlds first metal binder jetting system designed for machine shops. With an expanded materials portfolio, users can now leverage affordable, high-quality binder jetting technology to print end-use parts in 316L stainless steel with throughput, print quality, and productivity unattainable via legacy additive manufacturing processes.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005530/en/

Custom spray nozzles are often used in chemical processing. With conventional manufacturing methods, such nozzles would typically be cast followed by extensive secondary machining on a five-axis CNC. 316L is an essential material for this part because of its excellent material properties, even at elevated working temperatures and while spraying corrosive fluids. 3D printing in 316L on the Shop System can produce the entire order of several hundred nozzles in less than a week with only one secondary thread-tapping operation required, reducing lead times and manufacturing process complexity. (Photo: Business Wire)

Known for its corrosion resistance, high ductility, and excellent mechanical properties at extreme temperatures, 316L is an austenitic stainless steel well-suited for demanding environments and applications, such as parts exposed to marine, pharmaceutical, or petrochemical processing, food preparation equipment, medical devices, surgical tooling, and consumer products such as jewelry.

The launch of 316L for the Shop System is a part of an aggressive and extensive materials roadmap to broaden our AM 2.0 portfolio and address a rapidly expanding set of use cases for our print platforms, said Jonah Myerberg, co-founder and CTO of Desktop Metal. We are fully focused on developing opportunities for our customers to produce parts competitively with conventional manufacturing, and we are excited to be able to extend our binder jetting technology to meet this need and address key existing and emerging killer applications for 316L in the market.

316L Stainless Steel - Key Applications

The Desktop Metal materials science team has validated that 316L stainless steel printed and sintered using the Shop System meets MPIF 35 standards set by the Metal Powder Industries Federation.

Examples of key use cases include:

Bulb Nozzle

Custom spray nozzles are often used in chemical processing. With conventional manufacturing methods, such nozzles would typically be cast followed by extensive secondary machining on a five-axis CNC. 316L is an essential material for this part because of its excellent material properties, even at elevated working temperatures and while spraying corrosive fluids. 3D printing in 316L on the Shop System can produce the entire order of several hundred nozzles in less than a week with only one secondary thread-tapping operation required, reducing lead times and manufacturing process complexity.

Watch Bezel

A bezel is the main component that houses the dial and movement within a watch. With the Shop System, multiple different watch bezel models can be printed in each build, enabling mass customization with no tooling required and minimal lead times. For consumer products applications such as this bezel, 316L is an ideal material since it allows for excellent corrosion resistance while maintaining the high strength.

Medical Device Closure

Assembly closures can be used to latch and hold medical device components in place. CNC machining these closures would be challenging given the miniscule, precise geometries, while metal injection molding (MIM) would require large investments and lead times for tooling, difficult to justify given the mid-volume requirements for the component. The Shop System can print up to 10,000 medical device closures in a week, without any tooling costs and without the extensive labor costs and time that machining would require. 316L is an ideal material for medical components such as this closure, because of its corrosion resistance, which makes it easy to clean and sterilize.

Wall Colmonoy is excited to have 316L as a new option for the Desktop Metal Shop System, said Michael Shreeve, Business Development Manager, Precision Components, Wall Colmonoy Limited UK, a global powder and components manufacturer. We look forward to opening up the additive route to many more customers and component types. This will be of particular interest to our customers as we support them with maintaining supply chains across a wide range of industry sectors, such as petrochemical, power generation, automotive, aerospace and more. As we build upon our existing expertise with wear-resistant alloys such as Colmonoy and Wallex, 316L on the Shop System will be a welcome addition to our additive manufacturing portfolio of materials.

Availability of 316L stainless steel on the Shop System is excellent news, both for us and our customers, said Patrick Chouvet, CEO of EAC Metal Ornaments, a renowned French-based metallic ornament manufacturer of worldwide designer collections in footwear, leather goods, apparel and cosmetics. Some of our customers and applications require the excellent corrosion resistance the steel offers, and it is particularly well suited to the polishing and plating processes we use for luxury goods.

The Shop System - Affordable, Batch Production of Metal Parts

Featuring the most advanced single pass print engine in the binder jetting market, the Shop System offers a turnkey solution for producing complex, end-use metal parts in a fraction of the time and cost of conventional manufacturing and comparably priced legacy AM technologies. The Shop System includes all the equipment machine shops need to begin binder jettingfrom printing through sinteringand is designed to scale throughput with a range of build volume configurations. In addition, Desktop Metal software for build preparation and sintering simulation, in combination with metal powders and process parameters optimized to deliver exceptional part quality and repeatability, make it easy for businesses to get up and running with binder jetting in days instead of weeks or months.

Other key Shop System benefits include:

Easy to use and operate. Designed with the modern machine shop in mind, the Shop System produces parts at the push of a button through its easy-to-use software interface. It features engineered powders and default processing parameters optimized to deliver exceptional quality and ensure repeatability without the need for extensive third party materials qualification or process development. The use of software-generated hand-removable sintering setters eliminates the need for costly and labor-intensive post-processing steps.

High productivity and superior print quality. Featuring variable build sizes up to 16L and a high-speed, single pass print carriage, the Shop System produces end-use metal parts up to 10 times the speed and at a fraction of the cost of legacy additive manufacturing technologies, amplifying existing output with up to hundreds of complex metal parts printed per day, with mechanical properties exceeding industry standards. With speeds up to 800 cc/hour, the Shop System enables batches of tens or hundreds of complex printed parts in as little as five hours.

Rich feature detail with exceptional surface finish. Businesses can print dense, complex metal parts with incredibly fine feature detail and surface finishes as low as four-micron roughness average (Ra) out of the furnace. Leveraging an advanced single pass printhead, 1600 native DPI, the Shop System delivers 400 percent the resolution of legacy binder jetting systems. Reliable print quality is enabled by the 5x nozzle redundancy on the printhead  25 percent higher redundancy than comparable binder jetting systems.

The Shop System also supports 17-4PH stainless steel and chrome cobalt. A broad portfolio of additional materials is in active R&D with additional releases slated to roll out this year.

To learn more about the Shop System and applications for 316L stainless steel, visit https://www.desktopmetal.com/products/shop.

About Desktop Metal

Desktop Metal, Inc., based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is accelerating the transformation of manufacturing with an expansive portfolio of 3D printing solutions, from rapid prototyping to mass production. Founded in 2015 by leaders in advanced manufacturing, metallurgy, and robotics, the company is addressing the unmet challenges of speed, cost, and quality to make additive manufacturing an essential tool for engineers and manufacturers around the world. Desktop Metal was selected as one of the worlds 30 most promising Technology Pioneers by the World Economic Forum and named to MIT Technology Reviews list of 50 Smartest Companies. For more information, visit www.desktopmetal.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words believe, project, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, strategy, future, opportunity, plan, may, should, will, would, will be, will continue, will likely result, and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks, uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties set forth in Desktop Metal, Inc.'s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Desktop Metal, Inc. assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005530/en/

CONTACT: Media Relations:

Caroline Legg

carolinelegg@desktopmetal.com

(203) 313-4228Investor Relations:

Jay Gentzkow

jaygentzkow@desktopmetal.com

(781) 730-2110

KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA MASSACHUSETTS

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING UNIVERSITY AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING EDUCATION MOBILE/WIRELESS HEALTH GENERAL HEALTH OTHER TECHNOLOGY GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE SOFTWARE INTERNET HARDWARE ELECTRONIC DESIGN AUTOMATION CONSUMER ELECTRONICS BANKING AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SEMICONDUCTOR SATELLITE OTHER MANUFACTURING OIL/GAS TEXTILES OTHER DEFENSE NANOTECHNOLOGY DEFENSE STEEL CONTRACTS ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ENERGY ENGINEERING OTHER EDUCATION CHEMICALS/PLASTICS CONTINUING

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PUB: 08/24/2021 08:31 AM/DISC: 08/24/2021 08:32 AM

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ROME, AUG 24 - Making COVID jabs compulsory for many Italian workers is "not a heresy", Regional Affairs Minister Mariastella Gelmini told Corriere della Sera newspaper Tuesday. She said the next two weeks' data will be "decisive" in taking decisions like obligatory vaccines. Gelmini said there may be no alternative unless at least 80% of the population is vaccinated. "The use of the Green Pass (vaccine passport) may be extended," she said. Gelmini said she agreed with Civil Service Minister Renato Brunetta that being vaccinated would be "indispensable" for staff who work in the front offices of the civil service and public administration. Italian employers are demanding compulsory jabs but unions are resisting the calls. (ANSA).
ROME, AUG 24 - The West must try to push the Taliban into dialogue in order to protect Afghans who helped western forces, 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader and ex premier Giuseppe Conte said Tuesday. "The Taliban must demonstrate they are open to dialogue, and the latest news do not suggest there will be a change," Conte told the annual meeting of influential Catholic activist group Comunione e Liberazione in Rimini. "But we have no alternative except to create a compact stance to try to force the Taliban to talk to ensure protection for the people who will remain," he said. "We are working on the evacuation plan but it will end in a few days," Conte said referring to the US deadline of August 31 for pulling its last soldiers out and ending the airlifts. "We must work on humanitarian corridors and worry about those who remain". The US's allies are expected to push for an extension of the August 31 deadline at a G7 meeting later Tuesday. Conte has been criticised, mainly by rightwing politicians, for calling for talks with the Taliban. The Islamist extremists have said they will be more moderate than in their previous brutal regime but there have been reports of militants beating women activists working for Milan charity Pangea and whipping young men for wearing jeans. (ANSA).
ROME, AUG 24 - ITA, the new slimmed-down incarnation of national flag carreir Alitalia, will start operations in mid-October with 2,800 employees handling the aviation activities, a number that will go up to a maximum of 5,750 by the end of its current business plan in 2025, he company told trade unions Tuesday. ITA will complete the purchase of Alitaia's aviation assets after talks with unions have ended, but not before September 7, the company added. ITA, which stands for Italia Trasporto Aereo, expects to be fully operational from October 15. The first flights of the new smaller airline will leave on that date, it said last month. Transport Minister Enrico Giovannini said: "with ITA a new important Italian airline is born, with significant growth prospects, and which will be able to compete on the national and international market". ITA will start out with a fleet of 52 aircraft, which will go up to 78 in 2022 with the arrival of new-generation aeroplanes, according to the new company's industrial plan. The fleet will further increase to 105 aircraft by the end of 2025, including 81 new generation aeroplanes (77% of the fleet) to reduce the airline's environmental impact and boost efficiency. The company will also introduce a new labour contract aimed at giving it greater flexibility and competitiveness. It aims to break even by the third quarter of 2023. Its hubs will be Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate airports. It will start out with 45 destinations and 61 routes and this will go up to 74 destinations and 89 routes in 2025. Its long-haul destinations in the IATA Winter 2021 season will be New York (from Rome and Milan, and Tokyo Haneda, Boston and Miami (from Rome). In the ITA Summer 2022 season there will be new flights to Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Washington and Los Angeles. The loss-making former flag-carrier has been in extraordinary administration for years and the pandemic made its plight even worse. The European Commission asked Rome to show there would be "discontinuity" to give the green light to the launch of ITA, a new State-controlled company. A European Commission spokesperson said Brussels will "remain in close contact with the Italian authorities to ensure that the launch of ITA as a vital, new market player is in line with the EU laws on State aid. "Italy has reassured the European Commission that, at the end of the Alitalia operations, passengers' rights will be protected," the spokesperson added. Italian trade unions said the new airline was "born weak" and its business plan was "unacceptable". ITA got its license to fly last week. Civil aviation authority ENAC granted ITA its certificate as an air operator (COA) and its license to exercise air transport. (ANSA).
ROME, AUG 24 - Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio will brief the Lower House on Afghanistan on September 7, at 16:00, the conference of House whips decided Tuesday. Previously, on the morning of he 7th, he will report to the Senate on the situation in the Asian country after the Taliban's unexpectedly swift return to power following a 20-year NATO-led mission. (ANSA).
RIMINI, AUG 24 - Centre-left Democratic Party (PD) leader Enrico Letta on Tuesday reiterated a call for Economy Undersecretary Claudio Durigon to quit or be sacked after the nationalist League MP called for a park in his home city, Latina, to be renamed after Arnaldo Mussolini, the brother of Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Answering a question on whether Durigon should resign, Letta replied "Yes. Apology of Fascism is incompatible with the Constitution and our government. I believe the affair must be resolved". The park in the city founded by Mussolini after he drained the Pontine Marshes is currently named after Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, two anti-mafia prosecuting magistrates who were murdered by Cosa Nostra in 1992. League leader Matteo Salvini said Tuesday that Durigon "has my utmost confidence". He recalled that the Latina-born MP had been the "father" of the 'quota 100' early-retirement pension reform, a key League policy move. Ex-European Parliament president Antonio Tajani, No.2 in ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party, said "we aren't asking for anyone to resign and at this difficult moment it is useless to waste time on internal political battles". Asked about the renewed calls for Durigon to go, Tajani said "this government must put the national interest before partial interests". Ettore Rosato of the centrist Italia Viva (IV) party said he did not think there would be a government crisis over Durigon. Anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) MP Mario Perantoni said the M5S would file a no-confidence motion in Durigon unless he quit. (ANSA).
ROME, AUG 24 - Italy's Afghan mission was not in vain, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Tuesday. Di Maio told a joint session of the parliamentary foreign and defence committees that "in these 20 years we helped maintain regional stability, fight terrorism, and favour more education, rights and freedom for the Afghan people." He said "it is precisely this awareness that spurs us to do everything possible to make sure these rights are not now brutally cancelled". Di Maio thanked the "many Italians who sacrificed their lives to offer a better future for Afghanistan." Di Maio said the Italian forces will leave Kabul when the Americans do, at the end of this month (though the G7 is set to request an extension). He said all the Italians in Afghanistan and 2,700 Afghans had been evacuated so far. Di Maio said Italy would judge the Taliban by their actions and that they are "restoring unacceptable practices such as early and forced marriages and denying women the most elementary rights, starting with education". (ANSA).
ROME, AUG 24 - Some 3,741 Afghans have been evacuated from Kabul, on 44 flights, and 2,659 of them are already in Italy, Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini told a joint session of the parliamentary foreign and defence committees on Tuesday. Italy has been evacuating Afghans who worked with the Italian mission and are at risk of Taliban reprisals. (ANSA).
ROME, AUG 24 - Afghan events have surprised the international community, Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini told a joint session of the parliamentary foreign and defence committees Tuesday. "The events of the last few days have surprised the whole international community by the swiftness with which the political and military context changed and its dramatic consequent humanitarian effects", he said. Guerini stressed that no Italian weapons had fallen into Taliban hands. Some 3,741 Afghans have been evacuated from Kabul, on 44 flights, and 2,659 of them are already in Italy, Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini told the joint session of the House and Senate foreign and defence committees. Italy has been evacuating Afghans who worked with the Italian mission and are at risk of Taliban reprisals. (ANSA).
ROME, AUG 24 - Premier Mario Draghi urged G7 leaders Tuesday: "Italy will redirect the resources that were destined for Afghan military forces towards humanitarian aid. I ask you all to join this commitment, compatibly with the situation of your countries," according to sources present at the virtual summit. Draghi added that the objective in Afghanistan is to try to safely wind up evacuation operations by the end of August. He underscored the need to "maintain a contact channel even after the August 31 deadline and the possibility of transiting from Afghanistan in a safe way. Furthermore, we must ensure that international organizations have access to Afghanistan also after this deadline". (ANSA).
An Illinois man is facing several charges as a result of a multi-vehicle accident that occurred in June that resulted in the death of a 72-year-old Fontana man.

Police said John Buckley, 57, of Plainfield, Illinois has been charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol as a result of an accident that occurred June 5 near the intersection of Illinois Route 12 and Big Hollow Road in Fox Lake, Illinois.

Stephen Kaman died as a result of the accident.

According to police, Buckley was driving his vehicle south on Illinois Route 12 while attempting to turn westbound onto Big Hollow Road at a high rate of speed, causing him to lose control his vehicle while making a right-hand turn and striking a vehicle that was being driven by Kaman while it was stopped at a red light in the eastbound to northbound lane.

Police said Kaman died as a result of the injuries he received during the accident. Kamans wife, Lynn Kaman, was a passenger in the vehicle during the time of the accident.

Pursuant to a search warrant, a sample of Buckleys blood was collected and analyzed for alcohol content. Police said, as a result of the analysis, Buckleys blood-alcohol content was 0.117 about five hours after the accident.

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Columnist Sue Bowman discusses how an event at the start of her vacation proved the farm is never far away  mentally, at least.
The York County community of farmers turned out to cheer up one of their own with a 63-tractor parade.
Corn growers need to be on the lookout for corn earwormthey often arrive in mid-summer, but producers should start enacting their management plan early.
Special Task Force Uttarakhand, in an operation in Bengaluru, nabbed a Cameroon national in a case related to Rs 66 lakhs cyber fraud case. Electronic gadgets, more than a dozen mobile phones, SIM cards, ATM cards, laptops recovered: Ajay Singh, SSP STF pic.twitter.com/0gPYnkvOBd ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021

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Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy decried First Lady Jill Biden over the weekend for letting his husband, Joe Biden, run as the president of the United States, contending that she should know better about the chief executive's "state of mind."

The comments of the Fox News host came as Campos-Duffy and the other hosts of the show Fox and Friends were tackling the chaos and Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, Deadline reported.

Campos-Duffy mentioned Joe Biden's mental fitness as president in the show, arguing about the lack of leadership. The host also called President Biden "mentally frail" and "incompetent."

Aside from calling Joe Biden a "mentally frail" individual, Campos-Duffy also slammed Jill Biden for letting her spouse run in the office.

"I'm sorry as a political spouse, I can't help but look at Jill Biden," the Fox News host pointed out. Campus-Duffy also contended that "the most patriotic thing" Mrs. Biden could have done would be not letting her husband run in his mental state. "I think she failed the country as well," the Fox News host further noted.

READ NEXT: Joe Biden Latest Gaffe: President Appears to Forget the Name of His FEMA Director Deanne Criswell

Jill Biden's Press Secretary Demands Apology From Fox News Host After Criticism

In response to the criticism, First Lady Jill Biden's Press Secretary Michael LaRosa demanded an apology from the Fox News host on Monday, calling the Campos-Duffy's comments "disgusting."

"I hope they'll apologize to the first lady and leave this kind of talk in the trash where it belongs," LaRosa emphasized in his statement. Jill Biden's press secretary also noted that the show hosts "can do better" and their viewers deserve "better."

This is disgusting. @RCamposDuffy and @FoxNews know better. They can do better and their viewers deserve better. I hope they'll apologize to the First Lady and leave this kind of talk in thewhere it belongs. https://t.co/emBFCwKDiV  Michael LaRosa (@MichaelLaRosa46) August 23, 2021

It can be recalled that Campos-Duffy became a weekend host of Fox and Friends in June. The host is known to be married to former Republican Congressman Sean Duffy.

Other Attacks on President Joe Biden's Mental Health

Although Jill Biden was criticized for letting her husband run as the president, it was not the first time Joe Biden's mental health was attacked.

On Aug. 16, Texas Congressman Ronny Jackson urged Biden to resign if he is not "mentally capable" of handling the crisis in Afghanistan. In late July, Jackson also predicted that the president would resign over limited cognitive abilities.

Furthermore, the Texas congressman also pointed out that something serious was going on with the president that would make him leave his post or others would convince him to vacate his office due to medical issues. Jackson also highlighted that Joe Biden's situation developed when Biden's fitness to be the U.S. president became a "national security issue."

On July 23, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Biden's doctor, released a three-page medical summary of the president's health. The summary revealed that President Biden was "healthy and vigorous," as well as fit to execute his duties as the chief executive of the U.S.

READ NEXT: Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer Face Backlash Over Maskless Dining, Dancing While Joe Biden's Presidency Under Siege

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Jill Biden: 'It's Ridiculous' To Question Joe Biden's Cognitive Abilities - From TODAY
U.S. President Joe Biden has encouraged private companies to issue COVID vaccine mandates after the Food and Drug Administration released a full approval on Pfizer's two-dose vaccine for people ages 16 and above.

Biden was calling companies to ramp up vaccine requirements to reach millions of more people, according to an NBC News report.

The president said that if they're a business leader or nonprofit leader, this is now required.

Around 70% of eligible Americans have received at least one shot of the vaccine, while about 60% are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's data.

With the full approval, it would be easier for employers to issue a vaccine mandate, according to public health experts.

Chevron Corp. had also required its workers to be vaccinated after Biden made the call.

The oil company will be requiring the vaccine, particularly to workers traveling and living abroad, as well as those working on U.S.-flagged ships, according to an NBC News report

READ NEXT: Third Dose of COVID Vaccine Already in the Works for People With Weak Immune Systems, Dr. Anthony Fauci Says

Vaccine Mandates

In Texas, San Antonio school officials are moving forward to require vaccines for district employees.

Superintendent for the San Antonio Independent School District had called for mandatory employee vaccinations.

Pedro Martinez's decision had resulted in a lawsuit from the state's Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to a Texas Tribune report.

Meanwhile, other corporations such as Microsoft, Tyson Foods, Walt Disney, and Disney had announced vaccine requirements after the Biden administration called for mandated vaccinations for federal employees last month.

Michelle Strowhiro, a lawyer at McDermott Will & Emery, said that more companies will impose their own vaccine requirements after the FDA's decision.

Strowhiro added that employers are trying to balance implementing the right safety standards for their work areas while also being aware that many employers are already struggling.

FDA Approval on Pfizer

Pfizer was the first vaccine to earn the full approval of the FDA.

The mRNA vaccine will be marketed as Comirnaty, according to a CNBC report.

More than 204 million of the Pfizer shots have been used, according to CDC.

Pfizer had submitted its application in May. This had caused more calls from advocates to grant it full approval.

Pfizer has met the FDA's high standard for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality.

Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said that they recognize that FDA approval of a vaccine may instill confidence to get vaccinated.

A survey from Kaiser Family Foundation stated that more would be inclined to get the vaccine if it earned the full approval, with three in 10 unvaccinated adults noting that.

Dr. Paul Offit said that full approval is more psychological than anything else.

Offit is a voting member of the agency's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee.

The Pentagon had already announced that it would make vaccinations mandatory for service members.

READ MORE: Moderna Booster Shots Work Well Against Variants: Early Data

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: What full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine means for the fight against the pandemic - from ABC News






On Aug. 23, Monday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called out a reporter who asked about Americans stranded in Afghanistan.

Psaki said that it was "irresponsible" to use the term "stranded" amid reported of Americans not able to board flights out of the country, according to a New York Post report.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden's administration said they are unsure how many U.S. citizens remain in the country after Afghanistan's takeover.

However, some reports are noting that they cannot reach Kabul's airport to be evacuated.

Psaki said they are committed to bringing Americans who want to come home, adding that they are in touch with those people through phone, text, and email.

Fox News had also asked Psaki on Saturday about an American woman who was reportedly trapped from reaching the Kabul airport.

The White House never responded to the query.

The reported woman said that she has given up hope of going to the airport, saying that it is impossible to make it through all those people.

The woman added there are as many as 20 Taliban checkpoints between her and the airport. She noted that Taliban fighters on one try whipped her to get through, while one man was shot in the head on another try.

NEXT: Former Pres. George W. Bush Says Withdrawal of U.S. Troops in Afghanistan Is a Mistake

Americans in Afghanistan

Americans currently in Afghanistan have a sole evacuation route through Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.

Americans must pass through Taliban checkpoints and go through crowds of people outside the airport, according to the National Review report.

On Monday, gunfire erupted around the airport. The U.S. embassy had warned Americans to avoid the airport due to possible security threats.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin noted that some Americans attempting to leave Afghanistan have been beaten by Taliban fighters.

Austin said that the situation is unacceptable and that they made it clear to the Taliban leader.

Since Aug. 14, around 37,000 people have been evacuated through the Kabul airport.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that several thousand Americans had been evacuated since the same day.

The spokesman did not specify a particular number as he said the count is "very fluid" and changes nearly by the hour.

Meanwhile, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that they have time between now until Aug. 31 to get as many Americans who want to get out.

Sullivan added that the nation is on discussions with the Taliban to ensure that there would be a safe passage for American and Afghan evacuees, according to an Insider report.

Taliban Takeover

European countries and Turkey fear the sudden takeover of the Taliban could cause a migration crisis, being reminded of a 2015 migration spike caused by the Syrian war.

European leaders want to avoid another wide-scale influx of refugees and migrants from Afghanistan, according to an Associated Press News report.

EU's migration hard-liners are eyeing setting up deportation centers in countries near Afghanistan.

READ MORE: U.S. Military Launches Airstrikes Against Iran and Syria, Targets Militia Groups Behind Drone Attacks on U.S. Personnel

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Written by Mary Webber

WATCH: Psaki Calls Out Fox News for Saying Americans 'Stranded' in Afghanistan - from Bloomberg Quicktake: Now






After the latest update of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's regularly revised travel advisories list, the Bahamas and Morocco are now among the countries with the highest-risk destinations for travelers.

CDC's Level 4 List: Destinations With Very High COVID-19 Risk

According to CNN, the CDC recommended that individuals avoid traveling to locations that were considered part of the "Level 4: Covid-19 Very High" notice. Based on CDC's advice, individuals who would be traveling to the listed countries should be fully vaccinated first.

Based on the recent update of the CDC, six destinations were moved to the Level 4 list on Aug. 23, including countries like the Bahamas, Kosovo, Morocco, Haiti, Sint Maarten, and Lebanon.

The evolving list of travel notices of the CDC ranges from Level 1, considered 'low,' to Level 4, which is 'very high.'

Moreover, the destinations listed under the "Covid-19 Very High" Level 4 category in the last 28 days had more than 500 recorded cases in every 100,000 residents. Meanwhile, countries that were listed under the Level 3 category of the CDC were destinations that have had 100 to 500 recorded cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days.

The newly added six destinations to the Level 4 list were previously considered as part of the "Level 3: COVID-19 High" record.

Starting Aug. 21, residents in mainland Exuma, Abaco and the Abaco Cays, and North, Central, and South Andros of the Bahamas would not be allowed to go out from their homes from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. The prime minister of the Bahamas implemented the pandemic curfew due to the rise in COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, amid the aftermath of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the southwest portion of Haiti on Aug. 14, the Haitian prime minister reminded citizens to be conscious of the risk brought by COVID-19 during the ongoing recovery efforts.

READ MORE: First Cruise Ship Departs From California to Mexico After 17-Month Pause Due to COVID Pandemic

CDC's Updated Level 3 Destinations

CDC also updated their "Level 3: Covid-19 High" category list after ten other destinations reached the level's criteria. Destinations like Albania, Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Bosnia, and Brunei moved up two categories after previously categorized as level one. Countries like Bulgaria and Serbia were relocated from level two. While the countries of Greenland and Guernsey changed from "level unknown," and Paraguay moved down to Level 3 after being listed in level four.

The CDC guidance stated that for destinations that were listed on the Level 3 category, the agency urged unvaccinated travelers to avoid nonessential travel to those locations. Based on general travel guidance created by the CDC, the agency recommends avoiding all international travel, especially if they were not fully vaccinated.

The agency emphasized in a statement that fully vaccinated travelers were less likely to get and contribute to the spread of COVID-19. However, CDC also reminded the people that even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some COVID-19 variants, especially during international travel, as it poses additional risks, CBS 46 reported.

READ NEXT: How to Help Haiti: Here's How You Can Send Aid to Earthquake Victims in Haiti

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Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: CDC adds more countries to high risk travel list - KRON 4


Disney World would require vaccines among their employees under labor union, as per its agreement with the Service Trade Council Union (STCU).

The agreement between Disney World and the said union was announced through a statement from Local 362, which was posted on social media on Monday. The said statement revealed that all employees represented by the union must show proof COVID vaccines inoculated them by Oct. 22.

Service Trades Council Union was reported to have at least 43,000 cast members in Disney World.

A Disney spokesperson in a statement that they appreciate the " communication and collaboration" from the union representatives as they focus on the safety of their cast members at the "forefront" of their health protocol.

READ NEXT: Disney and ABC Chief Reveals Passing on Scripts Not Meeting Diversity Standards

Disney World Requires Vaccine Proof to Employees

As the company requires vaccination among unionized employees, Disney World would encourage COVID vaccines by establishing COVID vaccine events over the next few weeks. Furthermore, the announcement also directed those Casts interested in going to the Hub for more information.

Union statement on Agreement with Disney regarding Cast Member vaccine requirement #GetVaccinated #1u pic.twitter.com/XAFFL2gTvb  UNITE HERE! Local 362 (@UNITEHERE362) August 23, 2021

In the statement, the union emphasized that COVID vaccines are safe, effective, and free, touting the full approval of Pfizer, which according to them, will be offered by the company to their unionized employees.

The union also pointed out that getting vaccinated is "the best way for workers to protect themselves" from the notorious disease.

Although Disney World encouraged the COVID vaccine among unionized employees, Local 362 highlighted that casts with other medical issues or sincerely held religious beliefs would be eligible to apply for accommodation through a "negotiated process." The union highlighted that Disney would exert effort to accommodate the said demographics.

Moreover, the said process would include weekly meetings and explanations if any accommodations will be denied. A grievance procedure would also be available in case there will be a dispute on the accommodation request.

Meanwhile, Local 362 underscored that cast members who would not comply with the vaccine requirement and did not request accommodation will be separated from the company with a "yes" rehire status.

Joe Biden Encourages Private Companies to Impose COVID VaccineThe agreement between Disney World and the STCU came as President Joe Biden urged the private companies to impose COVID vaccine mandates as Pfizer received full approval from the FDA.

On Monday, the president said that vaccines would be required for business leaders and non-profit leaders. To date, around 70% of American adults received the first dose of the vaccine, while 60% were reported to be fully vaccinated. CDC reported that more than 204 million Pfizer shots were utilized.

It can be recalled that the Pfizer vaccine was made eligible for Americans aging 16 and above. The FDA's full approval makes Pfizer the first vaccine to receive the said status in the U.S.

Public health experts voiced out that it would be easy for employers and private companies to impose vaccine mandates with the full approval of the Pfizer vaccine from the U.S FDA.

READ NEXT: 5 Hurt After Fire Hits Pemex Oil Platform in Gulf of Mexico

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Walt Disney World Requiring Masks Indoors Again, Regardless of Vaccination Status - From ABC Action News
Bolivia's former president Jeanine Anez is reported to be in stable condition after she tried to commit suicide on Saturday, August 21.

Anez has cut her lower arms while in jail after prosecutors charged her with genocide over the deaths of protesters in 2019, Reuters reported.

Her lawyer Norma Cueller said it was a cry for help as the former president of Bolivia feels very harassed. Cueller noted that a doctor found Anez with cuts on her left wrist.

Douglas Uzquiano, head of the national police's special anti-crime unit, said what happened is within the definition of attempted suicide.

READ NEXT: Bolivia Ex-President Alleges Prison Abuse in Emotional Letter

Bolivia's Former President Jeanine Anez in Stable Condition

The director of prisons, Juan Carlos Limpias, said Sunday that Jeanine Anez, 54, was in "stable condition without a doubt." Limpias noted that the former president of Bolivia is with her family in the jail, adding that her family will be an important factor to help improve her state of mind, Al Jazeera reported.

Anez's daughter, Carolina Ribera, said her mother made an attempt on her own life due to severe depression and prolonged imprisonment.

The former president was briefly taken to a hospital from jail on Wednesday. It was her third hospital trip in two weeks. Doctors noted that Jeanine Anez had a thorax exam and was suffering from hypertension. She was later returned to jail.

Charges Against Jeanine Anez

Prosecutors announced Friday the charges of genocide against Jeanine Anez over two incidents in November 2019 in which a total of 22 people died in police clashes. The former president also faces charges of terrorism, sedition, and conspiracy.

According to The Washington Post, this has caused her supporters in Bolivia to call on President Luis Arce's government to safeguard her well-being.

Attorney General Juan Lanchipa has presented the charges against Anez before the Supreme Court. The sentence for genocide carries 10 to 20 years in prison.

Cesar Munoz, Americas senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, said Bolivia lacks an independent judicial system, which will be very difficult to have an impartial investigation on the said allegations.

Munoz noted that they fear that the Arce government will cherry-pick the report and just use the parts that they see that would solidify their political interests.

Bolivia's ombudsman, Nadia Cruz, cited structural flaws in the country's justice system and said it could not be used as an excuse to holding Anez accountable.

U.N. representatives had also visited the former president in jail after reportedly feeling physically weak and deeply emotionally affected.

Jeanine Anez was the vice president of the Bolivian senate in October 2019. The resignation of longtime Bolivian president Evo Morales and other top leaders from his party paved the way for Anez to declare herself the country's interim president in November 2019.

READ MORE: Bolivia's Interim President Jeanine Anez Chavez Must First Prove Her Legitimacy as a Leader

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Bolivia's Ex-President Anez Arrested in 'Coup' Probe - From CGTN






The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has a force of roughly 19,000 officers. However, only 12 Border Patrol agents are reportedly patrolling around a 245-mile stretch of the southern border amid a historic influx of migrants.

Reports said it was the lowest-ever number of agents on duty in the area. Daily Mail reported that approximately half of the agents stationed in Texas have been pulled from patrolling the border as they were tasked with processing migrants in custody.

National Border Patrol Council vice president Jon Anfinsen told the Washington Examiner that "morale is in the toilet." Anfinsen said morale among CBP officers is low as they are not allowed to do their job.

He noted that it creates "this defeated feeling in everyone" when they were not allowed to do their basic job of patrolling the border and actively searching for people who have crossed illegally.

He added that officers are almost solely dealing with people walking up to them and turning themselves in, while some immigrants "who don't want anything to do with us" run away. That means thousands of migrants could cross the border undetected.

READ NEXT: Tijuana Cartel Boss Eduardo Arellano Felix Soon to Be Freed From Prison, But Where He Goes Next Is Unclear

Border Patrol Agents Crisis

A former senior official at CBP also told the Washington Examiner that morale is tanking fast, adding that this can be seen in the simple statements made by agents. The former official noted that agents are just tired.

Anfinsen said this was not the first crisis that these agents have faced. However, he noted that this one has taken a significant toll on agents. Anfinsen said agents are already burned out, and "there's really no end in sight."

The migration influx at the border in the past seven months was the highest in the United States since 2000. The Border Patrol reported 212,672 migrant encounters along the U.S.-Mexico border in July, the highest monthly total in 21 years. Texas and New Mexico account for 60 percent of known illegal crossings.

Border Situation

Unknown suspects have recently used firearms to shoot several Border Patrol agents in Texas and California. Agents found cover from shots fired without any harm to themselves or others, Deming Headlight reported.

Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said agents would continue to provide security at the border and the public despite the recent shootings, which are being investigated by the Border Patrol and U.S. federal and Mexican law enforcement authorities.

According to CBP, Rio Grande Valle Sector recently stopped three narcotic smuggling attempts with a total of over 130 pounds of marijuana and more than 50 pounds of cocaine.

Agents working in Brownsville, Texas observed two persons illegally entering the U.S. on Friday afternoon. One of them was carrying a bundle of marijuana, weighing approximately 23 pounds.

On Saturday evening, Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station agents apprehended two people with two bundles of marijuana weighing more than 110 pounds.

Agents working in Roma, Texas seized two backpacks containing over 50 pounds of cocaine on Sunday night. Only the driver of the two vehicles involved was arrested.

The arrested smugglers are citizens of Mexico and Honduras. The cases were turned over to Starr County Sheriff's Office.

Meanwhile, the Border Patrol is also asking agents about volunteering to deploy to Afghanistan and nearby countries to process Afghan refugees seeking admission to the U.S.

READ MORE: El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel Continues to Thrive Despite the Drug Lord's Absence: Report

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Border Patrol Agents Struggle As Migrant Crossings Surge - From NBC News






A baby from Mexico, who was pronounced dead upon birth last Wednesday, happened to be alive. But the joyful atmosphere faded away as the infant died on Sunday.

Premature baby Jesus Sebastian was presumed dead at the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) No.16 General Hospital in Torreon. He was born to a mother who was 23 weeks pregnant.

READ NEXT: Mexico Holds National Referendum to Vote on Whether to Investigate the Country's Ex-Presidents

Mexico Baby Dies Four Days After Mistakenly Pronounced Dead

Jesus Sebastian was brought to the hospital morgue after doctors believed he died during delivery. Doctors ruled that the incident was a stillbirth.

The baby's mom, Daniela Hernandez, told the doctors that she saw her child move. However, the doctors stayed firm with their initial assessment. They said it was only a reflex movement of an already deceased baby.

Reports said the family had signed a death certificate. However, they insisted on seeing the four-day-old baby to verify that he was really dead. Morgue personnel eventually noticed that Jesus Sebastian was still breathing and proceeded to save him.

In the past few days, Sebastian's family asked the public for prayers for the baby to come out of the hospital in good health.

The Mexico baby was reported to be stable late last week until he passed away Sunday evening. The lawyer for the family, Jesus Jasso, said medical reports showed that the baby had suffered two heart attacks.

As the baby lost his life for alleged medical negligence, the family filed a complaint against the hospital. Coahuila authorities will conduct the investigation.

"Whoever is responsible should be held liable because that was medical negligence," the baby's family said.

The IMSS was reported to also carrying out its own investigation into the case. The hospital said all the people involved would be summoned, and their conduct will be reviewed, and sanctions will be issued if irregularities are found.

"We regret the suffering the family of the minor went though," said Coahuila Human Rights Commission head Hugo Morales, adding that the commission will also launch an investigation, even though it has yet to receive any complaint from the family.

According to Jasso, involved medical personnel could face charges of medical negligence or even homicide.

Another Incident of Mexico Baby Coming to Life After Pronounced Dead

It was not the first time a baby from Mexico was pronounced dead and then later discovered alive. On October 21 last year, another newborn infant, who was declared dead by doctors, was found alive by a funeral home inside a morgue refrigerator.

The said baby was also pronounced dead by doctors from general Hospital La Margarita located in Puebla City. Medical staff from the healthcare facility told the parents that the infant was dead, so the child was sent to the morgue at around 4 a.m.

The baby was then placed in the morgue refrigerator, and at about 10 a.m., the funeral home driver noticed that the baby started to cry and move.

The incident prompted at least two parallel investigations from the hospital. Mexico's Puebla Governor Luis Miguel Barbosa also announced his intention to file criminal complaints against those responsible.

READ MORE: California Dad Admits to Killing His 2 Kids in Mexico Over Qanon, 'Serpent DNA' Conspiracy Theories

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Newborn Baby Declared Dead by Doctors, Watch What Happened After Mother's Emotional Prayer - From Gospel Hypers
Florida mom Jessica Bortle was facing a manslaughter charge after her 14-year-old special needs daughter died last month.

Bortle and her daughter Jasmine Singletary were alone in a hospital room shortly before she passed away. The 14-year-old victim had a neuromuscular disorder.

Hospital staff said the child died despite life-saving measures, according to a Crime Online report. Autopsy results on July 21 showed that the victim had "major internal injuries" to her liver and ribs.

Both of the injuries were not present when the Florida girl was admitted to the hospital. Police said the injuries had to have occurred while Jasmine was confined to her hospital bed.

According to the police, the Medical Examiner noted that the injuries were so severe that the Florida girl would have died only minutes after receiving them.

READ NEXT: Grandson Stabs Grandmother to Death, Injures 4 Others, Including His Mom, in Louisiana Crime Spree

Florida Girl Dying

Jasmine Singletary was admitted to the hospital for infection treatment. Days later or on July 13, the girl unexpectedly lost consciousness and stopped breathing, People reported.

Attempts were made to revive the girl. However, she was eventually pronounced dead. Bortle was in the room when the girl stopped breathing.

Detectives had concluded that the Florida mom caused Jasmine's fatal injuries following an investigation. Jessica Bortle was then charged with manslaughter.

Bortle reportedly admitted to investigators that she slammed the hospital table into Jasmine's abdomen and then leaned onto the table with her weight.

The mother and daughter had an argument prior to the incident, Bortle told police officers. The argument was about the girl's breaking crayons.

Jasmine's grandmother was also allegedly present in the room when the incident happened. She recounted the same story of the incident as the suspect did. However, she did not face any charges and is now a witness for police.

The Florida mom is being represented by a public defender. However, it is not yet known if the suspect has entered a plea to the charge against her.

Child Maltreatment

Child maltreatment is a problem being faced globally with serious life-long consequences. But it remains complex and difficult to study, according to a World Health Organization fact sheet.

Annually, there are an estimated 40 to 150 homicide deaths in children under 18 years of age. Some are likely due to child maltreatment.

Meanwhile, young girls are particularly at risk of sexual violation, exploitation, and abuse. Child maltreatment can have long-term consequences to the victims, including depression, obesity, high-risk sexual behaviors, alcohol, and substance abuse.

Diseases such as heart disease, cancer, suicide, and sexually transmitted infections can be a result of maltreatment. In addition, victims of child abuse have a 13 percent greater likelihood of not graduating from school.

The WHO had responded to the global problem through collaboration with partners, helping recognize patterns of child abuse.

The health arm of the United Nations has also established a set of guidelines that would help the health sector respond to child maltreatment.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children with disabilities may be at higher risk for abuse or neglect as compared to children without any disabilities.

READ MORE: 13-Year-Old Boy Arrested for Shooting Younger Sister to Death

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Fla. Mom Accused of Killing Daughter with Special Needs While Visiting Her in Hospital - From Hollywood News Today






The Taliban has warned President Joe Biden that there would be consequences if the evacuation and withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan would go beyond the August 31 deadline.

The Taliban met with Sky News in Doha to discuss the organization's next move regarding the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. During the interview, the Taliban issued a warning about the ongoing withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.

Taliban spokesperson Dr. Suhail Shaheen called the August 31 withdrawal deadline "red line." Shaheen noted that Joe Biden has already set August 31 as the deadline to withdraw all the military forces.

Thus, the Taliban spokesperson said if they extend it, "that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that."

Shaheen then warned that if the U.S. or United Kingdom were to seek additional time to continue evacuations, "the answer is no or there would be consequences."

"It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation, it will provoke a reaction," the Taliban spokesperson said.

U.S. Department of Defense on the Taliban Warning

After the interview, U.S. Department of Defense press secretary John Kirby said they had seen the public statements by the Taliban spokesman regarding their stand on the August 31 deadline, and they have clearly understood it.

Kirby said their goal was to get as many people out as fast as possible in Afghanistan. He added that they were happy after seeing the latest numbers they've got. Kirby also stressed that they were "not going to rest on any laurels."

"The focus is trying to do this as best we can by the end of the month and as the Secretary (of Defense) said, if there needs... to have additional conversations with the Commander in Chief about that timeline, he'll do that but we're just not at that point right now," Kirby noted.

Meanwhile, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to personally ask Joe Biden to extend a deadline for U.S. troops leaving Afghanistan. The pair spoke on the phone on Monday, with the White House saying that they have discussed the ongoing efforts of the U.S.' diplomatic and military personnel in evacuating their citizens, local staff, and other vulnerable citizens.

The White House further noted that both leaders discussed plans for the G7 virtual leaders' meeting on Tuesday, where they would underscore the importance of close coordination with allies in managing the current situation and forging a common approach to Afghanistan policy.

READ NEXT: Americans, Other Foreign Nationals in Afghanistan Will Not Be Charged for Evacuation Flights, State Department Says

Joe Biden to Decide on the Afghanistan Evacuation Deadline Within 24 Hours

On Sunday, Joe Biden warned that the evacuation would be "hard and painful" and much could still go wrong. The president also said the troops might stay beyond the August 31 deadline to oversee the evacuation, Reuters reported.

On Monday, an administration official said Joe Biden would decide within 24 hours whether to extend the timeline to give the Pentagon enough time to prepare about their possible move.

Some advisers of Joe Biden were arguing against extending the deadline. Two officials had said the expectation was that the U.S. would continue evacuations past August 31.

Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said Monday that he believes the evacuation could not be completed in the eight remaining days.

Schiff said he thinks "it's possible but I think it's very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated."

In defending his decision to pull out the troops in Afghanistan, Joe Biden noted that it was wrong to order U.S. troops to engage in further fighting when they were not willing to do so.

"I cannot and will not ask our troops to fight endlessly in another country's civil war," the president said.

Joe Biden added that there was never a good time to withdraw the U.S. forces.

READ MORE: Pres. Joe Biden Defends Decision to Pull Out U.S. Troops in Afghanistan After TalibanTake Over

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Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Taliban Warns There Will be a Reaction if Joe Biden Delays US Troops Withdrawal - From The Sun
The death has taken place of a Laois Presentation sister who spent her long life in dedicated servitude to God, having joined her order 72 years ago.

Sr Rosarii (Noreen) Fennelly, Presentation Sisters, Bridge Street, Mountmellick and Shalom, Nursing Home, Kilcock, and originally of Bawn, Stradbally, Laois, died peacefully aged 93, on Monday, August 23 2021, in the loving care of the staff of the Mater Hospital, Dublin.

There has been a rush of fond condolences from the Mountmellick community at her passing, many recalling her teaching in school, guiding them as altar servers as the church Sacristan, and also a friend.

Mountmellick Parish Priest Fr Micheal Murphy has paid tribute to Sr Rosarii, who taught in Mountmellick for some 40 years and had also served as church sacristan for almost 50 years since 1971, only retiring less than two years ago.

"She was an exceptional teacher, kind, thorough and caring. She was also so dedicated in her work as a sacristan, which carried responsibility for the linen, vestments, altar, flowers, the whole lot. She kept it spotlessly clean and tidy. She was one of a kind," he said.

"She taught the whole town over her time. She had gone to school herself in St Mary's College so if she was perhaps 13 starting there, you could say she has been associated with the Presentation Sisters for 80 years.

"As a hobby she loved playing bridge too and was faithful to her companions there. She will be hugely missed, by her family, by the community of sisters who were her second family, and by the community of Mountmellick who were like her third family," Fr Murphy said.

Sr Rosarii made her First Profession as a Presentation Sister in 1949. She taught in the Presentation Primary School until 1971 when the new schools on Davitt Road were built. She subsequently taught in Scoil Iosaif Naofa and Scoil Phadraig Naofa for some years until her retirement in 1992.

It was in 1971 she took over as sacristan in St Josephs Parish Church, training in her successor Annette Dempsey in all the minute and specific details of the job before finally retiring in recent years. She was able to return with the sisters to the recently renovated convent in Mountmellick for a time before she moved into the Shalom nursing home.

It was in June 2019 that Sr Rosarii was presented with the Benemerenti Medal for her 48yrs as sacristan in St Josephs Church, along with retired Parish Priest Fr Frank McNamara at a joint ceremony in St Joseph's Church by Bishop Denis Nulty. (pictured below, pic: Denis Byrne).

At the time Bishop Nulty warmly praised their lifelong ministries.

The ministry of both Sr Rosarii and Fr MacNamara to the parish has been remarkable and their marvellous commitment is rightly being honoured, he said.

It was for her work and commitment as Sacristan that the Benemerenti Medal, bestowed only by the Pope on people who have exhibited long and exceptional service to the Church, was awarded to her.

Her attention to cleanliness and tidiness meant that it was always a pleasure to walk into the sacristy in Mountmellick, said Bishop Nulty.

As well as taking care of vestments, linens and sacred vessels, he said her beautiful handwriting in all the parish registers will be admired and appreciated forever making it very easy for generations to come to source details of baptisms, marriages and funerals.

Sr Rosariis kindly manner and cead mile failte for everyone speaks volumes of the respect and understanding she showed people throughout her life and work, both as a muinteoir and a sacristan, the bishop said.

For Sr Rosarii's funeral, the Convent is private. Evening Prayer will be in St Josephs Parish Church, Mountmellick at 6 pm on Tuesday, August 24. Funeral Mass at 11 am on Wednesday, August 25. Both occasions are private to Sr Rosariis family and the Presentation Sisters and limited to 50 attendees in accordance with Government guidelines.

Burial in St Josephs Cemetery following the Mass. The Mass can be viewed on the parishwebsite here, and people are welcome to show their respects by lining the funeral route.
A South Kildare TD who represents and lives in Portarlington, and is a former Army Ranger, has welcomed the move by the Irish Army to help evacuate Irish citizens from Afghanistan.

Members of the Irish Army Ranger Wing in the elite special forces unit have been deployed to Afghanistan to provide security and support at the request of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Currently approximately 30 Irish citizens are seeking evacuation from Kabul.

An Emergency Consular Assistance Team (ECAT) - featuring members of the Army Ranger Wing based at the Curragh - is expected to arrive on Tuesday evening, August 24 in Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) in Kabul, to assist the remaining Irish citizens who wish to evacuate from Afghanistan.

Cathal Berry is an Independent TD for Kildare South has been calling for their deployment since early last week.

Great that the Ranger Wing have been deployed to assist with this mission, its better late than never. It should have been done last week. These highly skilled individuals represent the finest of the Irish Defence Forces. There are no better people to extract Irish citizens than Irish soldiers themselves," he said.

He described how prepared the wing is for such action.

This operation is called a Non-Combatant Emergency Operation or NEO and the ARW would be training for these every year. Not only do they conduct exercises, but they do have contingency plans in place so they can customise to any country in the world.

The real value of having Irish troops on the ground will be the face-to-face contact with their counterparts from other militaries, some of whom they will have worked with in the past - that is the key component that had been missing. This is a hand-picked team, including a communication specialist, with encrypted satellite radios, youll have medical specialists and other specialists. Their job is to provide assistance and security for the two diplomats in order to extract our Irish citizens," Deputy Berry said.

Ten Irish citizens have already been evacuated through HKIA with the assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs the Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

The remainder of citizens that have requested assistance with evacuation comprises mainly of family groups

The ECAT will consist of officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Defence Forces personnel, namely members of the elite the Army Ranger Wing.

This is a consular assistance mission with Defence Forces providing security and support to the consular staff.

The deployment of the ECAT has been approved by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney on the joint recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence.
The death has occurred of Will BYRNE

Liffey Square, Sallins, Kildare / Naas, Kildare

Arrangements have changed.



Sadly missed by his loving mother Chai, brother Jeff, sisters Jea, CC and Rona, daddy P, father Cyril, lola Naty, nieces Bea, Layla and Hailee, aunts Aina, Jen, Isabel, Tetet and Nora, uncle Al, extended family and a wide circle of friends.

"May Will Rest In Peace"

Removal from The George Mullins Funeral Home, Naas on Thursday morning arriving at The Church of Our Lady and St. David, Naas for Funeral Mass at 10am. In line with current guidlines the number of mourners in the church will be limited to fifty people. The webcam in the church is via the parish website on https://www.naasparish.ie/our-parish/naas-webcam

Following the Funeral Mass a Cremation Service will take place at 12.20pm in Newland's Cross Crematorium with web-streaming from there on the link https://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/newslands-cross-cemetery-crematorium

Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to Pieta House.

Those who would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to current restrictions can not, please feel free to leave a message in the condolence page below.

The death has occurred of David CULLY

Naas, Kildare



Cully (Naas)  Aug 22, 2021, (peacefully), surrounded by his loving family, at home, David, beloved brother of Larry, Liz, Jimmy (deceased), Patricia, Noel, John, Paulette (deceased), Mary, Josephine, Ann Marie, PJ and Michael; Sadly missed by his loving brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law especially Noel Power, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

Due to current Government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a Private Funeral (limited to 50 people) will take place at the Church of Our Lady and St. David, Naas on Wednesday arriving for 12 noon Mass followed by burial immediately afterwards at St. Corbans Cemetery. Those who would like to join the private funeral service remotely by webcam can do so by clicking on https://www.naasparish.ie/our-parish/naas-webcam/ or via the Naas Parish App under the Web Cam Folder or those who would have liked to attend the Funeral, but due to current restrictions cannot, please feel free to leave a message in the Condolence Book below. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to Kare, Naas.

May He Rest In Peace

The death has occurred of Susan Elizabeth (Betty) Dempsey (nee Murray)

Liffey View, Newbridge, Kildare / Antrim



Formerly of Toomebridge, Moneyglass, Co. Antrim. Sadly missed by her loving husband Paddy, brother Tony, sisters in law, brothers in law in particular Robert, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.

May Betty Rest In Peace

Due to Government advice and restrictions regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to current restrictions cannot, please feel free to leave a message in the condolence page below. Removal from her family home on Wednesday morning to arrive at St. Conleth's Parish Church, Newbridge for Requiem Mass at 11 o'clock. Burial afterwards in St. Conleth's Cemetery, Newbridge. Betty's Funeral Mass will be live-streamed on the Newbridge Parish website:

https://www.newbridgeparish.ie/parish-church

The death has occurred of Michael J. Farnan

Leixlip, Kildare



Michael J. Farnan, Leixlip, Co. Kildare, August 21st 2021, passed peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family after a short illness, bravely borne. Survived by his beloved wife Dolores, brother Jim and children Ian, Lorraine, Robert and Paul and his ten wonderful grandchildren. Very sadly missed by his daugthers-in-law, son-in-law, extended family and friends.

Due to current government guidelines, a funeral for family and close friends will take place for Michael. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to the current restrictions cannot, please leave a personal message for the family in the condolences section below.

Michael's funeral cortege will leave the family home, Castletown, Leixlip on Wednesday morning (25th. August) at 10.30am to arrive at The Church of Our Ladys Nativity, Leixlip, for 11.00am funeral Mass, for those that might like to line the route in a socially distance manner.

Michael's funeral Mass can be viewed on Wednesday morning at 11.00am by clicking on the following link:

http://oln.ie/oln/live-webcam/ followed by cremation in Mount Jerome Crematorium which can be viewed at 1.00 pm on the following link:

https://vimeo.com/event/153499

Family flowers only please, donations, if desired, to https://www.cancer.ie/ways-to-help/donate/donate

House private.

The death has occurred of Christina (Chris) Flanagan (nee Carr)

St. Dominics Park, Newbridge, Kildare



Formerly of Caragh. Peacefully, at St. James' Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. Sadly missed by her loving husband Bryan, daughter Louise, son Mark, son in law Tony, grandchildren Ciaran, Hannah, Jack and Ryan, sister Betty, mother in law Olive, sisters in law, brothers in law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.

May Chris Rest In Peace

Due to current government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to current restrictions cannot, please feel free to leave a message in the condolence page below.

Removal from her residence on Wednesday morning to arrive at The Dominican College Church, Newbridge, for Requiem Mass at 11 o'clock. Mass will be live-streamed on www.dominicansnewbridge.ie. Burial afterwards in Caragh Cemetery.

The death has occurred of John Morgan

Abbeyfield, Ballytore, Kildare



Peacefully in the loving care of the doctors, nurses and staff at Naas General Hospital; John will be sadly missed by his family, extended family, neighbours and friends.

May John Rest In Peace.

Due to Government advice regarding public gatherings, a private funeral for family and close friends will take place on Thursday in The Church of Saints Mary and Laurence, Crookstown (max. 50 people in church) followed by burial in adjoining cemetery. Those who would have liked to attend but who cannot due to current restrictions, please leave your message for the family in the Condolence Section below. The family would like to thank you for your support and understanding at this most difficult time.

John's Funeral Mass on Thursday at 11.00a.m. may be viewed on the following link:

https://www.churchservices.tv/crookstown
An Emergency Consular Assistance Team (ECAT) - featuring members of the Army Ranger Wing based at the Curragh - is expected to arrive this evening in Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) in Kabul, with a view to assisting the remaining Irish citizens who wish to evacuate from Afghanistan.

Ten Irish citizens have already been evacuated through HKIA with the assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs the Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

The remainder of citizens that have requested assistance with evacuation comprises mainly of family groups.

The ECAT will consist of officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Defence Forces personnel, namely members of the elite the Army Ranger Wing.

This is a consular assistance mission with Defence Forces providing security and support to the consular staff.

The deployment of the ECAT has been approved by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney on the joint recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence.

Minister Coveney said: "Good progress has been made to date in evacuating Irish citizens from Afghanistan.

"My view is that further progress requires a short deployment of a consular team to HKIA.

"The security situation for citizens attempting to access to airport remains extremely volatile. Citizens should continue to follow the consular advice given to them directly by our Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Officials said that given the complex security environment, no further operational details will be released.

The Consular Section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy in Abu Dhabi will continue to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens in Afghanistan who wish to depart, including, as necessary, after air evacuations out of HKIA have concluded.

Independent TD for Kildare South and former Army Ranger, Cathal Berry has been calling for the deployment of the Army Ranger Wing since early last week.

Deputy Berry commented: Great that the Ranger Wing have been deployed to assist with this mission, its better late than never. It should have been done last week. These highly skilled individuals represent the finest of the Irish Defence Forces. There are no better people to extract Irish citizens than Irish soldiers themselves.



This operation is called a Non-Combatant Emergency Operation or NEO and the ARW would be training for these every year. Not only do they conduct exercises, but they do have contingency plans in place so they can customise to any country in the world.



The real value of having Irish troops on the ground will be the face-to-face contact with their counterparts from other militaries, some of whom they will have worked with in the past - that is the key component that had been missing. This is a hand-picked team, including a communication specialist, with encrypted satellite radios, youll have medical specialists and other specialists. Their job is to provide assistance and security for the two diplomats in order to extract our Irish citizens.
The local electoral areas (LEAs) of seven out of the eight towns in County Kildare are below the national average for Covid-19 infections, figures show.

In the two week period between August 3 and 16, the infection rate of the virus across Ireland as a whole was almost 500 people per 100,000 of population.

In County Kildare, only the Celbridge LEA, which covers over 21,000 people, had a higher rate as 504 people per 100,000 of population had positive test results.

There were 109 Covid-19 cases in this area during the fortnightly period up to August 16.

The lowest area was Newbridge LEA which covers a massive 35,000 people and which had only 91 cases and an incidence rate of 256.5.

The information is based on official figures provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

After Celbridge, the Naas area was the next highest with 169 confirmed cases and a rater per 1000,000 population of 432.

Maynooth had 123 cases and an incident rate of 414 per 100,000 of population.

In Clane, there were 115 and the rate per 100,000 of population was 404.4.

Leixlip saw 63 Covid-19 cases and the incidence rate was almost 400 per 100,000.

Athy had 81 cases and the LEA rate was 305 while Kildare town had 73 cases and an incidence rate of 284.

Meanwhile the Department of Healths Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan continued to urge people to get the jab if they are holding out.

He said: Covid-19 vaccines are very effective against severe illness and protect people from needing care in hospital and ICU.
Sallins and Castledermot are the only two towns or villages in County Kildare which have been nominated under the Government's Streetscape Enhancement Scheme 2021.

Under the scheme, property owners will be provided with funding to improve the facades of their buildings, carry out artwork and install features such as canopies and street furniture.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys announced the 124 towns and villages will benefit from the new 7 million fund to support the enhancement of streetscapes and shopfronts.

The Streetscape Enhancement Initiative is designed to make rural towns and villages more attractive places to live, work and visit.

The minister said: We all know that even the most modest of improvements to our buildings and streetscapes can make a huge difference.

And so over the coming weeks, local authorities will work closely with businesses and property owners to give our towns and villages the facelift they deserve.

It will also make a huge difference to the families who live there.
Coverys European Holdings (CEH), an agency platform and network specialising in European markets, has completed the 51% acquisition of Carrick-on-Shannon based Joseph G Brady (Insurance) Ltd. (Brady Insurance), an insurance underwriting agency, broker and Lloyds coverholder based in Ireland.

Brady Insurance provides a suite of business and personal lines products. The company has held Lloyds coverholder status since 2013 through its wholesale brand Brady Underwriting, an underwriting agency specialising in commercial insurance products for the Irish market.

Brady Insurance is headquartered in Carrick-on-Shannon and has an office in Dublin.



The company will continue to be led by Jane Brady, who has served as managing director since June 2005. A family business, Brady Insurance was established in 1959 by Jane Bradys parents, Joe and Kathleen Brady.

Jane Brady, Managing Director said We are delighted to join the CEH network. We are excited to further develop our business which is one of Irelands longest-established and best regarded brokerages. CEH will support our journey of providing superior insurance services both nationally and locally. We also have ambitious expansion plans and look forward to drawing on the strength and expertise of the growing CEH network.



The acquisition of Brady Insurance is the fourth since the inception of the CEH network in January 2020, following previous acquisitions of the AEC Wholesale Group, Bridge Insurance Brokers, and Gava Underwriting.



Doug Robare, Chief Underwriting Officer, Coverys European Holdings, said: Brady Insurance is a prime example of the top-quality businesses we are bringing into our expanding network. As an independent, the company has stood the test of time over the last six decades  with their impressive performance a testament to their expertise, the strength of their product base, technology platform and stellar network. Now, as part of the CEH family, I look forward to supporting Jane and her talented team in their next phase of growth.
Sligo Leitrim SIPTU Big Start Committee met with Minister Frank Feighan in Ballintogher last week to discuss the recently launched New Deal for Early Years campaign which is calling on the government to reform the childcare system so it can provide improved services for children, families, providers and workers.

John Davey, Early Years activist and owner of Ballintogher Playschoolsaid Early Years teachers are earning shocking levels of pay for years, along with the challenges that the pandemic presented in the delivery of quality childcare, this has led to a serious staffing crisis in our sector.



John said locally and nationally we are hearing of Early Years teachers and providers walking away from the sector.

He added What is also very concerning is the amount of graduates leaving the sector which leaves the quality of care and education of Irish children at stake and unless the Government is serious about addressing lack of investment in the sector then it will spiral downwards even further.



Lucy Davey, Early Years Teacher and activist added The government needs to publicly fund the wages of the sector to entice these graduates to work in our sector, it is very difficult to expect a graduate with a degree in childcare to begin working in a sector that is paid just above the minimum wage.

She said We are begging the government to please invest in Irelands children they are our future.

As a father of young children Minister Feighan stated that he personally values Early Years teachers and recognises the work, responsibility and commitment involved in the running of these childcare services and collectively as a Government he agreed substantial investment was required.



SIPTU Organiser and Big Start Campaign Coordinator Ann OReilly The current childcare system is simply not working.

It must be reformed in order to create high quality, affordable and accessible services for children and families which are delivered by qualified educators with professional pay and conditions

Despite their qualifications, most Early Years educators earn just above the minimum wage and parents are paying the highest fees in the European Union.

She added the Government now has the opportunity to make a down payment on a new childcare system in this coming Budget that delivers for children, families and Early Years Educators.



The organisations involved in the New Deal for Early Years campaign are SIPTU, National Womens Council, National Childhood Network, CRANN Support Services, National Community Childcare Forum, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, OMEP Ireland, Further Education Teachers Network, Association of Childhood Professionals, Men In Childcare, PLE and SPARK.
The following deaths have occurred in the wider Leitrim area:

Margaret (Margie) Brennan - Scurbeg, Ballinameen, Boyle, Roscommon



Margaret (Margie) Brennan Scurbeg, Ballinameen, Boyle, Co. Roscommon. 21st August, 2021. Peacefully, in her 85th year, in the wonderful care of the staff, especially her grandniece Zola, at Drumderrig Nursing Home, Boyle. Predeceased by her parents Dominic and Mary Kate, brother Jimmy Joe, sisters Mary Derwin and Sr. John (Sue) and her nephew Timothy. Sadly missed and fondly remembered by her brother Domcie, sister-in-law Kathleen, nieces Orla Fallon, Cathy Weston, Paula Cull and Susan, nephews Barry, Fergal and Justin, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, great-grandnephew, cousins, relatives and all her friends in Drumderrig Nursing Home. Funeral Mass on Tuesday (24th Aug) at 3pm in The Church of the Holy Trinity, Kilmaryal. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

Eileen Guihen (nee Gilraine) - Church Road, Arigna, Roscommon



The death has occurred of Eileen Guihen (nee Gilraine) Derrinavoggy, Arigna, Co. Roscommon. August 21st 2021, peacefully, in the tender care of the staff at Plunkett Nursing Home, Boyle. Predeceased by her beloved husband Johnnie, and her children Ann, Ownie, George and Kevin, her grandchildren Ownie, Johnnie and Amy. Eileen will be sadly missed by her loving family Ann, Patrick, Margaret, Johnnie, Rita, Irene, Paul, Una and Linda, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and her many friends. Removal on Tuesday morning to the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the B. V. M. Arigna, arriving for Mass of Christian Burial at 12 noon. Interment afterwards in Arigna Cemetery. Mass will be streamed live on Kilronan Parish Facebook page.

Elizabeth Mary (Betty) Reilly - Rosduff, Moyne, Longford / Dublin



Elizabeth Mary (Betty) Reilly, Rosduff, Moyne, Co Longford and formerly Tourmakeady Road Dublin. Peacefully in the loving care of Esker Lodge nursing home Cavan in her 95th Year. Sadly missed by her loving family brother James Reilly, Rossduff sister Bridget Smith, UK, nieces nephews relatives and friends. Removal from Lakelands funeral home on Tuesday morning to arrive at St Colmcille's church Aughnacliffe, Co Longford for Requiem mass at 12 noon restricted to 50 people with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Neighbours and friends are very welcome to line the route in a safe and socially distanced manner, as a mark of respect.

May they all Rest in Peace.
Nursing home residents and their families have told Sage Advocacy that they are growing increasingly concerned about the rise in the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in nursing homes and the impact this is having on visiting arrangements.

Members of Sage Advocacys Nursing Home Residents - Family Forum  have told the national charity, which provides a support and advocacy service for vulnerable adults, older people and healthcare patients, that some nursing home providers are not adhering to the current HSE guidelines and have introduced new restrictions.

Sarah Lennon, Executive Director, Sage Advocacy said: We are aware from our advocacy work and through members of our Forum that some nursing home providers have introduced certain visiting restrictions - without confirming a Covid-19 outbreak in a facility and without providing a risk assessment to nursing home residents and their families.

We have also been informed that some nursing home providers who are experiencing a confirmed Covid-19 outbreak have reverted to window-only visiting and are only permitting residents to speak through a closed window to family

members.

Nursing home residents and their families have repeatedly told us that they are frustrated by the lack of clear communication from some nursing home providers around the issue of visiting and also in relation to residents outings from a nursing

home.

Sage Advocacy believes it is vitally important, following the experiences of Covid-19 in nursing homes in the last 12 months, that nursing home providers now focus on the right of residents  particularly their right to see or refuse visitors and their right to maintain meaningful relationships with people who are important to them.

The national charity has contacted the Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, to ask her to issue a further direction to nursing home providers and urge them to restore the right to visiting, in line with public health guidance, as completely and quickly as is practically possible in the context of the assessed level of risk at the time.

Sarah Lennon said: Nursing home residents and their families have made enormous sacrifices throughout the pandemic, and for a very long period of time had very limited or no contact at all with their loved ones.

We need to learn from our experiences during the worst days of the pandemic, particularly in relation to nursing home residents and how we can better support residents and their loved ones in the future.

Thats why today Sage Advocacy is calling on the Government to waste no more time in establishing the Commission on Care for older people and enable it to urgently start examining care and supports for older people in Ireland. The Government pledged to set up the Commission in the Programme for Government nearly 14 months ago  as a country we cannot wait any longer for action on this.
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THE University of Limerick has implemented a maximum capacity of 300 students for face-to-face lectures for the new academic semester.

Students have been informed via email that Week 1 of the Autumn 2021 semester commences on Monday, September 6 (first year students excluded) with teaching and exam weeks taking place as per the academic calendar.

To safely accommodate your return to campus, and to comply with government guidance, the university has implemented a maximum capacity of 300 students for face-to-face lectures, reads the email from the Academic Registry Team. All lectures above this capacity will be delivered online for the Autumn semester. Apart from these large lectures, all other activities are planned to be on-campus.

The university will continue to adhere to government public safety advice as well as observe the recent Higher Education Reopening Plan guidance issued by the Irish Universities Association (IUA), the email continues.

Due to Leaving Certificate results being issued later than normal, the incoming undergraduate CAO students will commence classes in Week 4, on Monday, September 27 and will have a 12 week Autumn semester (9 teaching weeks, 1 reading week and 2 exam weeks).

This truncated Autumn Semester ensures that first year students will finish the semester at the same time as all other year groups, and that the Spring Semester can proceed as planned per the academic calendar.

All other first years (postgraduates or non-CAO courses) will commence on September 6. A small number of first year courses are approved to commence early. The health and safety of our staff and students remains a top priority for UL and all of the above is subject to public health guidance, concluded the email.
DELICIOUS burgers were devoured in the sunshine when Mid-West Simon Community hosted burger barbecues for clients in their services in Limerick and Ennis as part of National Burger Day.

All burgers were kindly donated by Kepak.

National Burger Day was sponsored by Kepak, and supported by Flipdish, Blenders, Coughlans and Kilmeadan.

With every burger purchased and photo shared online with the hashtag #nationalburgerday, a meal was donated to Simon Communities and a total of 16,000 meals were donated to Simon Communities including Mid West Simon which has a base on Lower Carey's Road in the city.

There was an increase of 2,000 meals donated from last years figure of 14,000 meals.

We are delighted and very grateful for the number of meals donated to Simon Communities as part of #NationalBurgerDay, with an increase of 2,000 extra meals donated this year, said Jackie Bonfield, CEO, Mid West Simon Community.

We would like to congratulate both Bun Bros, Ennis for being voted the Best Burger Takeaway Chain in Munster and also to Flipside, Sligo Irelands Best Burger Winner and to all the other winners. We would like to thank Kepak and the public for buying burgers and also all the supporters of National Burger Day for their contributions to this campaign. We are very much looking forward to National Burger Day again next year!
THE Department of Public Health Mid-West has urged Limerick fans to socialise sensibly in the wake of the sides All-Ireland victory.

Limerick ran out 3-32 to 1-22 winners over Cork in Croke Park sparking celebrations around the county.

In congratulating the hurlers for their historic back-to-back win, the department also requested fans celebrate responsibly in the days to come.

While we appreciate that many supporters may want to socialise with friends and family in the coming days, we urge that you do so sensibly and that you adhere to Public Health guidelines. Unfortunately, we have seen a significant rise in Covid-19 cases in Limerick in recent weeks, the department said in a statement released this teatime.

It appealed to people who have not yet registered for a Covid-19 vaccine to do so as soon as possible.

In addition to vaccination, basic public health measures such as wearing a facemask, avoiding high risk social situations and washing your hands remain critically important and, if you develop symptoms of Covid-19 in the coming days, please self-isolate and get tested, they added.

Speaking at todays media briefing of the National Public Health Emergency Team, the chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said people are well aware of how to socialise responsibly.

He said its his view that unvaccinated people should not go to large events, as the incidence is too high and the protection from mass vaccination hasn't fully been reached.

Gardai in Dublin yesterday said theyd asked a number of licensed premises around Croke Park to close.

They also said theyd received reports of anti-social behaviour and people not socially distancing near the venue, whose crowd was capped at just over 40,000 due to restrictions.
Samsung Group has unveiled a 240 trillion won ($205 billion) expansion that will entail hiring 40,000 people over three years, a sprawling investment blueprint intended to build the South Korean conglomerates lead in next-generation technologies.

Samsung Electronics Co. and affiliates like Samsung Biologics aim to lead research and spending in areas from telecommunications and robotics to corporate acquisitions. The countrys largest conglomerate is setting aside 180 trillion won for its home country alone and now aims to hire another 10,000 people over the period, on top of 30,000 new jobs already planned, the group said in a statement. Samsung Electronics shares finished Tuesday 3.1% higher.

The envisioned spending includes expenditures outlined previously, such as Samsung Electronics long-term goal of investing $151 billion through 2030 to delve deeper into advanced chipmaking. But the announcement comes days after Samsung scion Jay Y. Lee walked out of jail. The conglomerates de facto leader, who was serving a sentence on graft charges, won release on parole just months ahead of South Koreas presidential election.

Lee, 53, was sent back to jail for a second time in January after he was convicted of using bribery to win support for his formal succession at the conglomerate. The billionaire had served six of the 18 months he had been expected to spend behind bars during his second stint, on top of the year he was incarcerated before his initial release in 2018.

In the months after his imprisonment, a supply crunch in the global semiconductor industry and Samsungs role in facilitating a Covid-19 vaccine deal with the U.S. fanned calls from business leaders and politicians to free Lee. Still, activists have criticized the decision, saying it was proof of preferential treatment for the powerful tycoon class known as chaebols.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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The chief executive officers of Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. plan to attend a White House meeting with President Joe Biden this week to discuss efforts by private companies to improve cybersecurity following a dramatic uptick in ransomware and online attacks over the past year.

Apples Tim Cook, Microsofts Satya Nadella and Amazons Andy Jassy plan to attend the event scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, according to people familiar with the matter.

The executives could discuss efforts undertaken by critical infrastructure entities, including those in the banking, energy and water utility sectors, to improve cybersecurity and collaborations with the government. The tech executives are likely to discuss how software can drive better security in the supply chain, according to a senior official familiar with the event.

The chief executives of companies including Alphabet Inc.s Google, International Business Machines Corp., Southern Co. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. have also been invited, the senior official said.

Southern Co. CEO Tom Fanning plans to attend, according to the official. The company declined to comment.

Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, IBM and JPMorgan also declined to comment.

The meeting follows massive cyber and ransomware attacks on critical energy infrastructure, including that of Colonial Pipeline Co., as well as software and cloud providers such as Microsoft and SolarWinds Corp., which have largely been perpetrated by cyber groups based in Russia and China.

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Jehangir Wadia, the younger son of Wadia Group patriarch Nusli Wadia, has quit the boards of Britannia Industries Ltd and Bombay Burmah Trading Corp., stepping down from responsibilities at all listed businesses of the $15 billion Wadia Group.

In March, he resigned as managing director at family controlled airline Go First (then Go Airlines) and Bombay Dyeing and Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

The departure of the 48-year-old business executive once presumed to be Nusli Wadias successor from all the marquee publicly traded companies of the group is unexplained. Jeh Wadia, as well as a spokesperson for Wadia Group and Nusli Wadia, did not respond to questions from Mint.

In its latest annual report released last week, Britannia said Jeh did not offer himself for reappointment to the board.

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Mr. Jehangir N. Wadia, non-executive director, who retires by rotation at the ensuing AGM (annual general meeting) in terms of Section 152 of the Companies Act, 2013, has not offered himself for reappointment. The board of directors at their meeting held on 30 July 2021 resolved not to fill the resulting vacancy, and the same is placed before the members at the ensuing AGM for their approval," the annual report said.

The latest annual report of Bombay Burmah carries an identical notice, and the resolution will be brought before its shareholders at its annual meeting.

Bombay Burmah was the company Jeh joined when he entered the family business in July 2001. He was inducted into the board of Britannia in September 2005. National Peroxide is the fourth listed firm of the Wadia Group, but Jeh was also not on the board of the specialty chemical firm.

While neither Wadia nor the group has commented on the development, two people aware of developments said the departure is connected to differences with father, Nusli Wadia.

Signs of strain in familial ties came in May, when Go First, in its draft share sale documents ahead of an initial public offering, said it was exploring legal action against Jeh Wadia, who was the companys managing director till March, over ownership of the Go Air brand name and other such assets. Jeh Wadia owns the Go Air brand name through a privately held firm, and the companys IPO prospectus said he has made ownership claims over the brand and related trademarks.

When Jeh Wadia quit Go Air and Bombay Dyeing in March, the group said it was part of a move to hand over control to professional executives.

A statement from the airline said: Among other initiatives, a key element of this plan, forged over weeks of discussions and consultation, was to strengthen the management of the company by bringing on-board proven industry professionals, a strategy that has worked well for the group in its other ventures including Britannia. Consequently, Jeh Wadia, part of the promoter family, stepped down from his position of managing director while continuing as promoter," it said.

Bombay Dyeing made an identical statement in a regulatory filing. In keeping with the objective of professionalization of the management, Jeh Wadia, MD of Bombay Dyeing and Manufacturing Co. Ltd, has stepped down and will not be renewing his contract... which has expired on 31 March 2021."

However, elder brother Ness, 50, continues to be the managing director of Bombay Burmah and chairman of National Peroxide. Ness is also a board member at Bombay Dyeing, Britannia, and Go First. Markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) placed the airlines proposed IPO on hold in June without assigning reasons.

The Wadia group is one of Indias most storied conglomerates, with a presence in packaged consumer goods, textiles, chemicals and food processing. Britannia and Bombay Dyeing are more than a century old. Bombay Burmah is 158 years old.

The whiff of differences at the firm comes about half a century after Nusli Wadia battled his father, Neville Wadia, over the latters decision to sell Bombay Dyeing to R.P. Goenka. In 1971, Nusli thwarted the deal by enlisting support from the rest of the family, employees and J.R.D. Tata. If Jeh Wadias departure from the boards is indeed linked to differences with his father, history would be repeating itself at the conglomerate that traces its origins back to 1736.

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UAE authorities have temporarily suspended issuing visas on arrival for Indian passengers who are arriving from or been in India in the past 14 days Etihad Airways said on Monday. However, no reason has been provided for the suspension.

The UAE authorities have decided to temporarily suspend the Visa-on-arrival facility for passengers who are arriving from or been in India in the past 14 days. We're working to update our website, please keep an eye on https://bit.ly/TravelGuideEN for latest regulations," Etihad Help tweeted.

The UAE authorities have decided to temporarily suspend the Visa-on-arrival facility for passengers who are arriving from or been in India in the past 14 days. We're working to update our website, please keep an eye on https://t.co/hWA7ZGfiaF for latest regulations. *Ari  Etihad Help (@EtihadHelp) August 23, 2021

Last week, Etihad Airways had said that Indians with a visa or residence permit issued by the US, UK or an EU Member State could visit Abu Dhabi.

Early in August, the countrys flag carrier Emirates announced that UAE residents flying in from India and five other nations are no longer required to present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate for entry.

All passengers with a valid UAE residence visa are allowed to travel to and through Dubai from India, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Uganda, provided they have a valid COVID-19 test certificate issued within 48 hours between the time of sample collection and scheduled flight departure, the Gulf News reported.

As Emirates airline updated its travel rules for UAE residents flying in from India, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Uganda, COVID-19 vaccination certificate is no longer stated as a requirement for entry into Dubai, the report said.

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Some parents eager to vaccinate their children under 12 against Covid-19 are hoping that the Food and Drug Administrations full approval of Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SEs vaccine could make that happen even before the FDA authorizes shots for emergency use for that age group.

But the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have emphasized that the safest thing for this group of children is to wait for more data to be analyzed.

Mondays decision prompted many parents to call their pediatricians and ask them whether they will administer vaccines for children under 12. The FDAs approval generally means vaccines are eligible for off-label use, meaning beyond approved populations, but the CDC said Monday they arent authorizing that.

Pfizers vaccine is authorized for emergency use for children aged 12 and up and fully approved for those 16 and up. Moderna Inc.s and Johnson & Johnsons vaccines are authorized only for those 18 and over and arent fully approved.

Parents are reporting mixed success. Some say they have been able to schedule appointments, while others say they have been refused.

Patti Mulligan, 44, says she called her pediatricians office Monday as soon as she saw the FDA approval news. She was able to schedule a first dose for her 9-year-old daughter on Wednesday.

I dont have any hesitation. Ive been trying to get my daughter into a trial unsuccessfully. I am just ready to get her more protected as soon as possible," says Ms. Mulligan, who lives in Raleigh, N.C. She says she has an appointment for her daughter with her pediatrician but will remain on edge until she receives the shot.

The FDA and CDC cited the absence of safety data for the vaccine in children under 12 as the reason for advising against it. The CDC said a different dosage would likely be required and pointed to Pfizers plans to amend its emergency use authorization for children aged 5 to 11 in September once it has more results. On Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics warned doctors and parents against vaccinating children under 12.

We really dont have any data" on the safety and tolerability of the vaccine on 5-to-11 year olds, says Sean OLeary, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and vice chairman of the American Academy of Pediatricss committee on infectious diseases. Children under 5 are being studied, he says, with data coming later.

Dosages for 5-to-11-year-olds will likely be much smaller than what is available, he says. Higher dosages administered to those children could cause unexpected safety issues. We just dont have data and we need it," he says.

Pfizer is testing the vaccine in children under 12, down to children as young as 6 months old but expects results for 5-to-11 year olds in September, with other ages after that. Should results show that it is safe and effective, it plans to request full approval. Moderna is also testing its vaccine on children under 12 down to six months, and J&J is testing its vaccine on children 12 to 17.

The CDC issued updated guidance on the Pfizer vaccine Monday, saying doctors cant offer the vaccine to patients under 12 as part of off-label use, and that any off-label use of the vaccine, such as providing boosters, isnt authorized.

Providers who offer off-label use of the vaccine may not have immunity from claims because such usage may not be covered under the public-health emergency legislation that shields providers from liability.

They might also not be reimbursed for the costs of administering off-label shots, and administering them might also impact a providers ability to remain in the CDCs Covid-19 vaccination program. All Covid-19 vaccines in the U.S. have been purchased by the federal government, which allows only those enrolled in its program to administer them.

The highly contagious Delta variant of Covid-19 is tearing through the U.S., driving up infections primarily in unvaccinated communities, as children head back to school. More children have become infected since the strain began circulating this summer. Available data suggest that coronavirus-associated hospitalization and death is uncommon in children, according to the AAP.

Health officials remain focused on trying to get more older children who are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine to show up for shots. According to the AAP, 43% of all 16- and 17-year-olds are fully vaccinated. For 12-to-15 year olds, the figure is 33%.

Mondays decision changes the calculus for parents such as Kelly Berg.

Ms. Berg, a 45-year-old stay-at-home mom in Los Angeles, has contemplated an early vaccine for her 11-year-old triplets. In Texas, where the family has a second home, you can bring your kid in to get vaccinated and they dont really ask questions." She says that she knows vaccine recipients there under 12 but that she doesnt want to teach her children that it is OK to lie.

Now, with the news of approval, if there is a way to get around it legally, I am so there," she says.

Other parents say they tried to request vaccines after Mondays authorization but havent had any luck.

Melanie Stickle, a 35-year-old mother of two in Silver Spring, Md., says that when she heard of the full approval on her parent WhatsApp group, she called her pediatricians office to see if they would consider vaccinating her two young children, aged 5 and 7.

They said they werent recommending it and wouldnt be doing it," she says.

Regardless of what pediatricians suggest, parents are likely to press the issue in the coming weeks, according to doctors.

Parents have been clamoring for months to vaccinate their children under 12, says Scott Krugman, a pediatrician at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. He says that while parents might point to other drugs that are routinely used off-label for children, such as acid blockers or asthma medicines, pediatricians have never really used vaccines in an off-label way."

A vaccine is different from medicine used to treat an existing illness or condition, he said.

If you are giving something to someone who is perfectly healthy, the burden is on making sure there is no potential side effect," he says.

With some evidence of myocarditis, a heart inflammation occurring rarely among vaccinated teens and young adults, he says, it is particularly important to make sure the dosage for smaller children is correct.

With concerns over the Delta variant, a lot of pent-up demand, and school starting or has started in many places," he adds, this is going to be a hot topic."

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NEW DELHI: In a big boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative towards making the country an electronics manufacturing hub, Wistron Corp of Taiwan has partnered with Optiemus Electronics to build products such as smartphones and laptops, among others.

Optiemus Electronics, in a regulatory filing, stated that it "signed an MoU on a Strategic Partnership to form a unique alliance to strengthen the ties with the $30 billion Taiwan Headquartered Wistron Corporations Indian subsidiary Wistron Infocomm Manufacturing (India) to manufacture mobile devices, IT hardware and Automotive- EV products."

Apart from manufacturing mobile phones, the alliance will also work towards design and manufacturing of tablets, laptops, hearables/wearables, telecom products, IoT/Industrial IoT, smart meters/devices and automotive-EV products.

As part of the deal, both the companies will also work towards creating a joint hub in India for Design Solutions Product Development apart from bringing smart manufacturing to India.

Wistron, Optiemus will invest roughly $200 million to ramp up electronics manufacturing in the next three to five years, the two companies said.

The partnership is expected to yield revenues of 38,000 crore over five years for Optiemus, the company said, adding that it plans to hire roughly 11,000 workers for its two plants on the outskirts of New Delhi. It has a workforce of just about 300 now.

"Wistron wants to grow its footprint in India, Optiemus wants to leverage the government initiatives (in electronics manufacturing)... so it makes sense to come together from a win-win point of view," Optiemus managing director A Gururaj, who once led Wistron in India, told news agency Reuters.

The success of India's electronics manufacturing sector is key to PM Modi's ambition of turning the country into the factory of the world, like neighbouring China.

To boost exports, Modi has announced production linked-incentive (PLI) programmes that pay manufacturers for sales of locally made goods.

Although foreign companies need to make phones and laptops above a certain value to get PLI benefits, there is no such threshold for Indian companies.

That means Wistron and Optiemus, which have won PLI approvals for smartphones and IT products, can make cheaper products and still get the government incentives.

"Optiemus is very advanced discussions with a large global company to make smartphones," said Gururaj, declining to name the client, reported Reuters.

Optiemus Electronics Limited shares on Tuesday was trading 4.98% higher at 148.65 apiece on BSE at the time of writing the report.

EXPANSION PUSH

The Wistron-Optiemus partnership is also key to Wistron's business ambitions in India, which have so far rested largely on Apple, its key client in the South Asian nation.

Wistron entered India in 2015 by buying a minority equity stake in Optiemus in a partnership that assembled devices for brands including Taiwan's HTC and South Korea's LG. Wistron has since sold its equity back to Optiemus.

In 2017, Wistron began assembling iPhones in a small plant in the southern tech hub of Bengaluru and has since expanded to a much bigger factory in Karnataka state's Narasapura industrial area.

Worker discontent over unpaid wages led to a riot at the Naraspura factory late last year, leading Apple to put Wistron on probation.

"Wistron's partnership with Optiemus will help it scale and diversify manufacturing in India to other products beyond smartphones phones and key client Apple as well as assemble devices locally for other global clients," said Neil Shah of Hong Kong-based tech analytics firm Counterpoint Research.

Apart from being a key Apple supplier, Wistron also makes laptops for Dell, Xiaom, Acer and Intel-based servers.

With inputs from agencies

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A photo of the lovers' remains next to an illustration of how they may have looked when they were first buried. (Image credit: Photo by Qian Wang; Illustration by Anqi Wang)

The skeletal remains of two lovers, buried together more than 1,500 years ago in northern China, were recently discovered locked in an eternal embrace, a new study finds.

It's possible that the woman, who wore a metal ring on her left ring finger, sacrificed herself so that she could be buried with her husband, the researchers said. While joint male-female burials are not uncommon in China, this entwined burial "with two skeletons locked in an embrace with a bold display of love" is the first of its kind in the country, and may reflect changing attitudes toward love in Chinese society at that time, the researchers wrote in the study.

"This is the first [couple] found in a loving embrace, as such, anywhere anytime in China," study lead researcher Qian Wang, an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Texas A&M College of Dentistry, told Live Science in an email.

Related: In photos: Ancient tomb of Chinese couple revealed

Archaeologists discovered the burial in June 2020 during the excavation of a cemetery that had been exposed during construction work in Shanxi province. The cemetery contained about 600 burials from the Xianbei, an ancient nomadic group in northern China that assimilated into Han Chinese culture, and dated to the North Wei Dynasty (A.D. 386-534), the grave shapes and ceramic goods found in the cemetery revealed.

Because the couple's burial was unique, the archaeologists decided not to fully excavate the skeletal remains. Instead, the team left them entwined so that the duo could be put on display in a future museum exhibit. The archaeologists found two other couples buried together in the same cemetery; but these couples were not hugging as closely, and the females were not wearing rings, Wang said.

Image 1 of 3 An illustration of the two lovers fitted onto a photo of the burial in Shanxi province, China. (Image credit: Illustration by Anqi Wang; Photo by Qian Wang) Image 2 of 3 An illustration showing the man and woman in their eternal embrace. (Image credit: Anqi Wang) Image 3 of 3 An aerial view of the lovers' burial. Archaeologists found three pottery containers next to the burial and charcoal and ash at the man's foot, "laid as moisture-proof material under the coffin during burial," the researchers wrote in the study. (Image credit: Qian Wang)

The ringed lovers' partial excavation still revealed plenty about them. The man would have stood about 5 feet, 4 inches (161.5 centimeters) tall and had a few injuries, including a broken arm, part of a missing finger on his right hand and bone spurs on his right leg. He likely died between the ages of 29 and 35, the researchers said.

The woman, in contrast, was fairly healthy when she died. She stood about 5 feet, 2 inch (157.1 cm) tall and only had a few dental problems, including cavities. She likely died between the ages of 35 and 40. It's possible that the woman wore the ring on her ring finger due to influence "by the customs from the western regions and beyond through the Silk Roads  and assimilation of the Xianbei people, reflecting the integration of Chinese and Western culture," Wang said.

The silver-colored metal ring found on the woman's left ring finger. (Image credit: Qian Wang)

Whoever buried the couple did so with tender care. The man's body was curved toward the woman's, and his left arm lay beneath her body. His right arm embraced her, with his hand resting on her waist. The woman's body was placed "in a position to be embraced," the researchers wrote in the study. Her head faced slightly downward, meaning her face would have rested on his shoulder. Her arms hugged his body.

It's likely this scene reflected the couple's dedication to each other in life. "The [burial] message was clear  husband and wife lied together, embracing each other for eternal love during the afterlife," the researchers wrote in the study.

The team had a few ideas about how the couple ended up in the same grave. It's unlikely the lovers died at the same time from violence, disease or poisoning, as there is no evidence yet of any of these things. Perhaps the husband died first and the woman sacrificed herself so that they could be buried together, the researchers said. It's also possible that the woman died first and the husband sacrificed himself; however, this is less likely, as the woman appears to have been in better health than her partner.

Related: Photos: Treasures from 800-year-old tombs in China

Dying for love?

During the first millennium, when this couple was alive, the ability to freely express and pursue love in China became culturally "prominent," the researchers said. There were fictional love stories galore and even historical records of people taking their own lives for love. In essence, pursuing love and dying by suicide for love was "accepted, if not promoted," Wang said.

While the circumstances that led to these lovebirds' intimate entombment remains a mystery, their burial is a "unique display of human emotion of love in a burial, offering a rare glimpse towards love, life, death, and afterlife," Wang said.

The study was published online June 4 in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology .

Originally published on Live Science.
A wasp nest (left) and wasps under white light; the same nest (right) under UV light, with parts of the nest are glowing bright green. (Image credit: Bernd Schollhorn and Serge Berthier)

While trekking through the tropical forests of northern Vietnam, scientists unexpectedly discovered wasp nests that glow fluorescent green under ultraviolet light .

The nests, which look like a cluster of hexagonal cells, were built by several species of paper wasp, all belonging to the genus Polistes. The wasps seal off the underside of the hexagonal cells with so-called cocoon caps made of silken fibers, which protect the growing larvae within the nest. And for reasons yet unknown, these cocoon caps emit a strong greenish-yellow glow when exposed to UV light between 360 and 400 nanometers in wavelength.

"We were very surprised to find such strongly fluorescent biomatter," senior author Bernd Schollhorn, a professor of chemistry at the University of Paris, told Live Science in an email.

Related: Bioluminescent: A glow-in-the-dark gallery

Wasp nest (left) shown under white light; the same wasp nest (right) shown under UV light and glowing bright green. (Image credit: Bernd Schollhorn and Serge Berthier)

The team initially set out to discover unknown fluorescent insects in tropical rainforests, so they'd come equipped with UV LED torches. "We were not searching for wasp nests in particular," Schollhorn said. "To our knowledge, this phenomenon has not been observed in the past, neither by scientific researchers nor by any photographers."

When exposed to white light, the nest cocoon caps appear bright white. Their verdant fluorescence begins to appear under normal daylight, and at night under a UV torch, the bright green glow of the nests can be seen up to 65 feet (20 meters) away, the authors wrote in their report, published Tuesday (Aug. 24) in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface .

The authors compared the nests of these Vietnamese wasps to those of two other Polistes species: one from the Amazonian rainforest of French Guiana and one from a temperate region of southern France. They found that all the wasps' cocoon caps showed similar fluorescent properties, although their glows varied in both intensity and the range of UV light that elicited the strongest reaction.

Having discovered these mysterious glowing nests, the researchers now wonder whether the fluorescence serves any specific purpose for the wasps. On this front, they have several ideas.

It may be that the glowing nests act as homing beacons for wasps flying back to their nests at twilight, or perhaps wasps of different species use subtle variations in fluorescence to differentiate their colonies' nests from those of nearby colonies. Or it may be that the fluorescent cocoon caps protect wasp larvae from harmful UV rays that would otherwise disrupt the larvae's development.

Past studies suggest that wasp larva development is heavily influenced by the relative length of day and night; therefore, the glowing cocoon caps may help to control how much daylight reaches the larvae as they grow into pupae, the authors wrote. "The last hypothesis is my favorite," Schollhorn told Live Science.

The Vietnamese Polistes species usually breed during the rainy season, between June and August, when cloud cover blocks a significant amount of visible light from reaching the nests but still lets a fair amount of UV light slip through. By setting the cocoon caps aglow, this residual UV light may increase the wasp larvae's overall light exposure during development, thus influencing how they grow, the authors wrote in the study.

In future studies, the authors want to determine the chemical structures of the fluorescent compounds in the nests. They also plan to see if the compounds might have any potential uses in biological research or medicine; for instance, fluorescent compounds are often used to label molecules in the body.

Originally published on Live Science.
(Image credit: Getty / ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP)

An enzyme that can tear cell membranes to shreds may contribute to the organ damage that ultimately kills some people with severe COVID-19, a new study hints.

The enzyme , called "secreted phospholipase A2 Group IIA" (sPLA2-IIA), normally protects the body from invaders, such as bacteria , by grabbing hold of specific fats in the microbes' membranes and tearing them apart, said senior author Floyd Chilton, a biochemist and director of the Precision Nutrition and Wellness Initiative at the University of Arizona. Human cells also contain these fats, but unlike bacteria, human cells carry these fat molecules on the inner lining of their cell membranes, rather than on the outer surface.

This arrangement usually hides the molecules from sPLA2-IIA and prevents the enzyme from attacking human cells, but it's not a fool-proof system, Chilton said.

Related: 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history

Cells need energy to maintain the structure of their cell membranes, but when cells begin to die due to infection or stress, the fatty molecules that sPLA2-IIA targets can become exposed, leaving human cells vulnerable to attack. In addition, damaged cells release their mitochondria , the so-called powerhouse of the cell; mitochondria resemble bacteria in terms of their membrane structure, so sPLA2-IIA rushes in to shred the free-floating mitochondria to bits and spill their contents out into the body, Chilton said. This, in turn, can call the immune system into action and set off a wave of intense inflammation , according to a 2020 report in the journal EMBO Reports .

"Once that begins to happen, you're going down a slippery slope," Chilton told Live Science.

The new research from Chilton and his colleagues hints that this disastrous chain of events may unfold in patients with severe COVID-19 infections  although we'll need more research to know for sure. For now, the study only shows a strong correlation between sPLA2-IIA and the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19; it cannot prove that the enzyme directly causes the observed damage, Chilton said.

In the study, published Tuesday (Aug. 24) in the Journal of Clinical Investigation , the researchers analyzed blood samples from 127 patients who had been hospitalized between January and July 2020. Of those patients, 30 died of COVID-19; 30 experienced a severe case but survived; and 30 patients experienced mild COVID-19 infections, meaning they didn't require supplemental oxygen. The remaining 37 people did not have COVID-19 and served as a comparison group.

The team measured the levels of more than 1,000 enzymes and metabolites in the patients' blood plasma, and then used a computer algorithm to see what patterns emerged. Strikingly, they found that circulating levels of sPLA2-IIA reflected the severity of patients' disease, "particularly in deceased COVID-19 patients." In other words, a person's sPLA2-IIA levels hinted at whether or not they died from COVID-19 infection.

For context, the plasma of healthy people contains relatively low concentrations of sPLA2-IIA  at most, a few nanograms per 0.03 ounces (1 milliliter) of blood, the authors wrote in the study. "sPLA2 is normally very low, increases as the result of the viral trigger and decreases again when the inflammation resolves," Frans Kuypers, director of the Red Blood Cell Laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the study, told Live Science in an email.

Studies suggest that in severe inflammatory conditions like sepsis , sPLA2-IIA levels can skyrocket to hundreds of nanograms per milliliter. And in the new study, some of the patients who died of COVID-19 showed sPLA2-IIA levels as high as 1,020 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) of blood, the team reported.

Overall, the patients who died of COVID-19 had fivefold higher sPLA2-IIA levels than those who had a severe case but survived; and those who died had nearly 10-fold higher sPLA2-IIA levels than those with mild COVID-19 infections or non-COVID-related illnesses.

In addition to sPLA2-IIA, a marker of kidney function called "blood urea nitrogen" (BUN) was also linked to patients' disease severity, the team found. BUN, a waste product of protein digestion, normally gets filtered from the blood by the kidneys, but when the kidneys get damaged, BUN quickly accumulates. As COVID-19 infection damages the kidneys, high levels of sPLA2-IIA likely further damage the organ, thus raising the levels of BUN in circulation, Chilton said.

The researchers then created an index to predict the risk of COVID-19 mortality based on both BUN and sPLA2-IIA levels. They tested out the index on a group of 154 patients, separate from their original study cohort, who had been hospitalized between January and November 2020; these patients had either mild, severe or fatal COVID-19. The team found that they could predict "with reasonably high accuracy" which patients died of COVID-19 based on their sPLA2-IIA and BUN levels, and that they could also pinpoint which had severe disease but survived.

Again, the current study only identifies a correlation between sPLA2-IIA and severe COVID-19, but the results suggest that the enzyme may often be a critical factor in fatal cases, Chilton said.

"Their finding underpins the importance of this good guy [sPLA2-IIA] going bad," Kuypers told Live Science. That said, the current study has a few limitations, namely that the sample size is fairly small and the team was unable to track sPLA2-IIA levels through time, he noted. Looking forward, an ideal study would include a large number of patients whose sPLA2-IIA levels are checked daily. This would provide clearer evidence as to which patients accrue high concentrations of the enzyme, how the enzyme causes damage and whether any treatments reduce that harm, Kuypers said.

When it comes to possible treatments, drugs that work against sPLA2-IIA already exist, although none have made it all the way through clinical trials. Especially as new variants of SARS-CoV-2 emerge, it's important to identify drugs that can protect against death, regardless of which version of the virus a person catches. In this respect, targeting sPLA2-IIA may be a good idea, but we need trials to know for sure, Chilton said.

One such trial is already underway. According to ClinicalTrials.gov , investigators are currently recruiting people with severe COVID-19 for a trial of varespladib, a potent inhibitor of sPLA2 enzymes.

Originally published on Live Science.
The U.S. Department of Defense's uncrewed X-37B spy plane is one of the most intriguing spaceships in the world, flying regular covert missions whose purposes aren't fully known. But over the years, information about the craft, which is also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), has come to light in dribs and drabs. Here, we take a look at 10 things that can be definitively said about the secretive space plane.

Basic facts are available

The reusable X-37B, which resembles a smaller version of one of NASAs now-retired space shuttles, was originally built by NASA in 1999, as previously reported by Live Science's sister site Space.com . It is around 29 feet (8.8 meters) long and 9.5 feet (2.9 m) tall, with a wingspan of slightly less than 15 feet (4.6 m). It weighs 11,000 pounds (4,990 kilograms) when on the launchpad.

Like the space shuttle, the X-37B takes off vertically and is propelled by a rocket. Once in orbit, it can maneuver on its own, and it eventually lands on a runway back on Earth , much like a conventional plane. The vehicle has a small payload area, roughly the size of a pickup truck bed, enabling it to carry gear and satellites. It operates at an altitude of between 150 and 500 miles (240 to 805 kilometers) above Earth , according to its manufacturer, Boeing .

Different military branches have had it over the years

Space Force now has control over the X-37B space planes. (Image credit: U.S. Space Force)

NASA transferred two X-37B vehicles to the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in 2004, according to Space.com . After being operated by the U.S. Air Force for many years, the robotic spy planes came under the purview of the newly established Space Force in 2020, according to Military.com , a news and resource website for military members.

Nobody knows quite what it's up to

A U.S. Air Force X-37B space plane, an unpiloted miniature space shuttle, is seen after landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility on Oct. 27, 2019 to end its record 780-day OTV-5 mission. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force)

Despite flying six missions to date, the X-37B's true purpose remains a mystery. Some possibilities include surveillance of the Earths surface from on high and deploying spy satellites, though nothing has ever been confirmed.

More out-there theories have been proposed, such as the notion that the X-37B could be a space-based bomber, a vehicle for spying on the Chinese space station, or a means for the U.S. military to interfere with other countries' satellites. Experts have splashed cold water on all these ideas, saying they would require large amounts of fuel or would be too easy to trace back to the American military, as previously reported by Live Science.

It can remain in space for years

One of the two X-37Bs accomplished its first launch in 2010 and spent 224 days in space. Its partner vehicle first flew a year later and remained in orbit for more than double that amount of time.

The current record for the spacecraft is 780 days  more than two full years  in orbit, which occurred during the fifth flight of the X-37B, Live Science previously reported . What it was doing up there for all that time remains a mystery.

It can launch on a SpaceX rocket

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches an X-37B space plane on a classified mission for the U.S. Space Force from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on May 17, 2020. (Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

While the X-37B has typically ridden United Launch Alliances Atlas V booster into space, the vehicle is capable of being launched by different rockets. During its fifth mission in 2017, the military changed things up a bit and used a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to take it to orbit, according to Space.com.

Civilians have photographed an X-37B

Though it is a clandestine piece of military hardware, the X-37B is not immune to being spotted by civilian skywatchers. The vehicle's launch times are publicly announced, which enabled satellite tracker Russell Eberst of Edinburgh, Scotland, to determine where it would be in the sky and see it through a telescope in October 2017. Netherlands-based sky sleuth Cees Bassa did the same that year, Live Science previously reported .

And a Dutch skywatcher and satellite tracker named Ralf Vandebergh was able to photograph the robotic vehicle as it orbited overhead in 2019. "We can recognize a bit of the nose, payload bay and tail of this mini-shuttle, with even a sign of some smaller detail," he told Live Science at the time.

It can carry experiments

An artist's illustration of the U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane in orbit. (Image credit: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center )

Shortly before the most recent X-37B launch in 2020, the U.S. military revealed that the spy plane had a new service module attached to its rear that allowed for large numbers of experiments to be carried to orbit. "The incorporation of a service module on this mission enables us to continue to expand the capabilities of the spacecraft and host more experiments than any of the previous missions," Randy Walden, director and program executive officer for the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, said in a statement .

The mission deployed a small satellite known as FalconSat-8, which contained five experimental payloads, some developed by the U.S. Air Force and some developed by NASA. While NASA has stated that it was flying an experiment on a previous X-37B flight , this was the first time the military had disclosed any specifics about such cargo.

It has won awards

Boeing's X-37B operates about 110 to 500 miles (160 to 800 kilometers) above the Earth at a speed of about 17,500 mph (28,200 km/h). (Image credit: Boeing)

In 2020, the X-37B was given the Collier Trophy, one of the most prominent awards in aviation, for pushing "the boundaries of flight and space exploration," according to the U.S. Air Force . "Sophisticated and uncrewed, the X-37B advances reusable spaceplane technologies and operates experiments in space that are returned for further examination on earth," Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett said in a statement.

Previous Collier Trophy winners include Orville Wright, Howard Hughes, the Apollo 11 lunar landing team, the International Space Station, and the B-52.

It is designed to frustrate enemies

(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

During a panel at the Aspen Security Forum in 2019, former Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson revealed that the X-37B may be able to fly low enough to use Earth's atmosphere to alter its orbit, according to Military.com . Wilson said that the vehicle's maneuvers are specifically designed to drive adversaries such as Russia and China "nuts" because they are unable to predict exactly how it will behave.

A crewed version was once in the works

These designs from a Boeing study show configuration for a crewed space plane (X-37C) derived from the unmanned X-37B spacecraft. The designs could carry up to six astronauts to low-Earth orbit and include autonomous and piloted flight capabilities. (Image credit: AIAA/Grantz/Boeing)

Back in 2011, Boeing studied different vehicle designs that the X-37B could eventually evolve into. A paper by company engineer Arthur Granz titled " X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle and Derivatives " mentioned a version called the X-37C that would be larger and able to carry astronauts, according to Space.com . But since then, little information about the X-37C has appeared.

Originally published on Live Science.
Vacation rental company Airbnb said Tuesday that it would begin offering free accommodation around the world to some 20,000 refugees forced to flee Afghanistan amid the Taliban's rapid rise to power.

"The displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the U.S. and elsewhere is one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time," Airbnb's co-founder and head of community, Ben Chesky, confirmed in a series of tweets.

"We feel a responsibility to step up," he said as the United States and NATO forces continued their efforts to evacuate those most at risk from the country.

The company said that they would cover the costs of the initiative and that they would also rely on donations to its Refugee Fund.

In a statement released, Airbnb said that there was "tremendous need" for the initiative due to the "fast evolving" crisis in Afghanistan.

Since Aug. 14, the United States has evacuated about 58,700 people from Kabul, with images showing their relief and exhaustion after facing violent clashes, Taliban fighters, and chaotic scenes at Kabul airport. Within just 24 hours ending Tuesday morning, about 21,600 people were evacuated on U.S. and coalition flights

Chesky said it was the community's hosts offering up their residences that made the idea truly possible, and asked people to sign up to accommodate a refugee family if they wanted to help those fleeing Taliban rule.

He also said he hoped that the company's initiative would inspire "other business leaders to do the same."

"There's no time to waste," he said.

The announcement comes as companies and countries around the world face growing pressure to help those frantically trying to escape the country.

On Tuesday, the European Union said it would increase its humanitarian aid to Afghanistan by more than $175 million.

There are almost 2.5 million registered Afghan refugees, who have been forced to flee their homes, according to the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR. Many officials, however, say that the true toll is likely to be significantly higher.

According to Airbnb, 75,000 vulnerable people have found safe accommodation amid times of crisis over the last nine years.
NEW YORK (AP)  Walmart said Tuesday it will start farming out its delivery service, using contract workers, autonomous vehicles and other means to transport rival retailers' products directly to their customers' homes as fast as just a few hours.

The nations largest retailer said it will dispatch contract workers from its Spark delivery network, which was launched in 2018, to merchants stores to pick up items and then bring them to shoppers. Over the past year, Walmart has doubled Sparks coverage to more than 500 cities nationwide, providing access to more than 20 million households.

Walmart, which is based in Bentonville, Arkansas, aims to tap into its ties with local communities, particularly businesses in rural areas that have struggled to provide their own delivery services.

The strategy will pit Walmart against delivery services run by the likes of Uber and DoorDash. And it comes as Walmart moves to expand its sources of profits and revenues beyond its core retail businesses. It echoes Amazon's diversification move with its Amazon Web Services cloud computing unit, which the online behemoth built for itself and now sells to other businesses.

Last month, Walmart began offering small- to medium-size businesses the e-commerce technology it developed to let shoppers buy products online and pick them up at stores. Its part of a partnership with technology provider Adobe.

Walmart said the delivery service, Walmart GoLocal, has already signed a number of deals with national and small-business clients, although it did not name them. It declined to offer figures on the investment or financial targets for the service. Deliveries to the other businesses will begin in the next few months.

The moves are happening as the pandemic has deepened shoppers' appetite for speedier deliveries, putting more stress on smaller retailers that can't meet their expectations. Walmart itself has been relying on DoorDash and other crowd-sourcing services as well as its own workers to serve its own customers. But it has also been expanding its Spark platform that until now has not delivered non-Walmart goods.

Shoppers ordering anything from cupcakes to gadgets at their local stores won't know that Walmart is involved. They buy the goods on their local store website and then the store activates the Walmart GoLocal delivery. Walmart said it will be a white-label service, so deliveries will not be made by Walmart-branded vehicles.

This is a smart tactic that has more upside than downside," said Jason Goldberg, chief commerce strategy officer at Publicis Communications, part of Publicis Groupe SA.

Goldberg noted that the more deliveries Walmart can make, the lower the costs and the more profitable each delivery becomes. By working with different businesses with different needs, it can also manage peaks in ordering. Walmart will have an advantage in the competition for gig workers because it can offer more shifts to those looking for flexibility.

The only downside is that Walmart is potentially giving up business to some of the local players, Goldberg said. For example, a customer may prefer buying a birthday cake from the local bakery and having it delivered in the next few hours, rather than picking one up at Walmart, he said. But Goldberg said he believes the benefits from having a broader deliver network outweighs those small competitive disadvantages.

Goldberg said that it's possible Walmart could use the sales data from all the third-party deliveries to inform its own future plans. But he doubts they would do that, given the antitrust scrutiny Amazon is facing.

During a call with reporters, Tom Ward, a senior vice president at Walmart's U.S. division, said that fees for the service will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The delivery time could be as fast as a few hours or up to two days. Walmart said it could eventually use drones for delivery.

In an era where customers have come to expect speed and reliability, it's more important than ever for businesses to work with a service provider that understands a merchant's needs," said John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart's U.S. division.

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Federal health officials are investigating emerging reports that the Moderna coronavirus vaccine may be associated with a higher risk of a heart condition called myocarditis in younger adults than previously believed, according to two people familiar with the review who emphasized the side effect still probably remains uncommon.

The investigation, which involves the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is focusing on Canadian data that suggests the Moderna vaccine may carry a higher risk for young people than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, especially for males below the age of 30 or so. The authorities also are scrutinizing data from the United States to try to determine if there is evidence of an increased risk from Moderna in the U.S. population.

The two people who described the investigation spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing review because they were not authorized to discuss it.

One of the people familiar with the review emphasized it is too early to reach a conclusion. The person said the agencies must do additional work before deciding whether to issue any kind of new or revised warning or recommendation about the situation. In June, the FDA added a warning label for the Pfizer and Moderna shots - both known as mRNA vaccines - about increased risk of myocarditis.

"We have not come to a conclusion on this," one of the people familiar with the investigation said. "The data are not slam bang."

Moderna did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Caccomo said that while the agency will not comment on internal meetings or discussions, "we can say that FDA is absolutely committed to reviewing data as it becomes available to us. We have previously communicated about myocarditis and COVID-19 vaccines and if new information changes the risk/benefit profile, we will update the public accordingly."

In a statement, the CDC said its "Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has and continues to review reports of myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. CDC, FDA, and our vaccine safety partners are actively monitoring these reports, including reviewing data and medical records, to learn more and understand any relationship to COVID-19 mRNA vaccination."

One individual said the Canadian data, which was provided by that country's government, indicates that there might be a 2.5 times higher incidence of myocarditis in those who get Moderna compared with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart.

The myocarditis side effect is extremely rare, and even if it is more likely in people receiving the Moderna vaccine, it probably is still very uncommon. Officials want to be careful to not cause alarm among the public, especially when officials are trying to persuade more people to be vaccinated amid a surge of cases fueled by the fast-moving delta variant.

Federal health officials in late June said there is a "likely association" between the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines and an increased risk of the rare heart condition in adolescents and young adults, the strongest assertion so far regarding a potential link.

But the CDC's vaccine advisers, at a June 24 meeting, said that getting covid-19, the illness caused by the virus, puts someone at far greater risk of heart inflammation and other serious medical problems than the risk of developing myocarditis from vaccination.

The CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services together with 15 of the country's leading medical and public health organizations - including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association - issued a joint statement after the June meeting saying they "strongly encourage everyone 12 and older" to get the shots because the benefits far outweigh potential harms.

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The Washington Post's Lena H. Sun contributed to this report.
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Scott Budnicks One Community has tapped Ameet Shukla to serve as head of content.

In his new role, Shukla will oversee the companys slate of film and television projects and will report directly to Budnick.

Ameets vision and passion for making content that can change the world bowled us over, One Community CEO Scott Budnick said, announcing Shuklas hiring. We couldnt be more pleased to have him on board to lead our content team and we are excited to continue growing our slate so that we can continue growing our impact.

Shukla previously served as president of production for Michael Shambergs MAS Production, as well as VP of production at Double Feature Films (under Shamberg and Stacey Sher). Shuklas producing credits include Cold Pursuit, starring Liam Neeson; Freeheld, starring Julianne Moore and Elliot Page; and Zach Braffs Wish I Was Here.

From my first meeting, I knew this was the place I wanted to be, Shukla said of joining One Community. The passion and dedication every single person has for the companys mission is inspiring and empowering.

Its the best kind of challenge to lead a content team that is charged with not only bringing incredible, entertaining stories to the world, Shukla continued. But also to work hand in hand with our impact team every step of the way to make sure we can use the power of those stories to make real, positive change.

Founded and led by industry veteran Budnick (who produced The Hangover franchise before founding the Anti-Recidivism Coalition), One Community is a social impact-focused co-finance company whose first movie was Just Mercy, starring Michael B. Jordan as attorney and civil rights activist Bryan Stevenson. The companys most recent project is MGMs Respect, which stars Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin.

The companys slate of upcoming projects includes King Leopolds Ghost, to be directed by Ben Affleck; In the Shadow of the Mountain, the feature adaptation of pioneering mountaineer and social entrepreneur Silvia Vasquez-Lavados upcoming memoir, produced by and starring Selena Gomez; an untitled feature film inspired by and starring Mexican-American boxer Ryan Garcia; and a television adaption of the best-selling book, A Thousand Splendid Suns.

One Community simultaneously announced two other promotions  elevating Lauren de Normandie and Saul Delcompare to new positions within the company. De Normandie, who was promoted to director of development, joined One Community in January 2019 after seven years as an independent producer and winning a Daytime Emmy for her work as an executive producer on Amazons Studio City. Delcompare has been promoted to creative executive, after joining One Community in October 2020 from CAA Media Finance. Delcompare was also previously at Endeavor Content.

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SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched the Aug. 23 episode of Bachelor in Paradise.

Week two of Bachelor in Paradise began with the beloved cast title cards and introductions (including Kenny Braaschs black box, the return of Connor Brennans catsuit and another attempt from Kelsey Weir to open a champagne bottle). Viewers then picked up from last weeks unexpected entrance where former cast member Demi Burnett returned to the beach.

The self-described troublemaker arrived with a date card and identified Brendan Morais as a potential suitor after meeting with Kenny and Connor. Brendan  who had recently been linked to Natasha Parker  accepted the invitation and headed to the date with Demi.

Natasha was disappointed by Brendans acceptance, as they expressed interest in each other during the first day. In addition to Natasha and Brendan, several other couples started to emerge: Tammy Ly and Aaron Clancy, Tahzjuan Hawkins and Tre Cooper, Maurissa Gunn and Connor, Mari Pepin-Solis and Kenny, Noah Erb and Abigail Herringer, Ivan Hall and Jessenia Cruz, and Grocery Store Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt.

The men were scheduled to give out the roses for the week, leaving James Bonsall and Karl Smith as the most eligible and unclaimed bachelors on the beach. Kelsey, Deandra Kanu, Serena Chew, Victoria Larson and Victoria Paul were the unpaired women.

Despite Brendans acceptance, the date between him and Demi was less than rosy. While it started playful with jet ski rides in the ocean and a brief make out session, things turned south when Brendan admitted that he wanted to explore connections with other women. Demi was descriptive in her unhappiness.

Meanwhile, on the beach, other cast members speculated that Brendan was in fact there for the wrong reasons. Rumors flew that he was holding out for Pieper James to arrive. Pieper was a contestant from Matt James season of The Bachelor, but the two were linked before the show as a potential pair and sparked conversations about Brendans readiness for a relationship, or if he was genuine in his search for love.

Upon their return from the date, the cast updated Demi on the Pieper development. Natasha interrogated Brendan about his relationship pre-show, questioning why the two didnt continue dating off-screen. Demi accused him of wasting her time. He admitted to hanging out with Pieper for a month and a half but was adamant that there were no labels and that he wasnt in a relationship. He claimed to not know if she was arriving on the beach and instead confirmed to Natasha that he had feelings for her.

As they mended things, Ivan and Jessenia flourished with the second date card of the day. The two spoke over an intimate dinner and dove into how they faced racism (Ivan is half-Black, half-Filipino; Jessenia is Latina) since joining the franchise. Ivan was credited with having difficult conversations with Bachelorette Tayshia Adams during her season; the two made headlines for their talks about Black Lives Matter, police brutality and their experiences with prejudices in the real world. While Ivan was celebrated for his conversations, he acknowledged that Jessenias experience was different as a woman navigating the franchise.

I had no backlash at all  no negativity [for the race-related conversations on air]. Almost zero racist messages, he said. Its not right that you guys have to go through [racist social media harassment]. People tend to be harder on women and I just felt for yall.

It was difficult, I guess, to see myself through that lens, Jessenia said. Im aware Ive always been a person color, but to then go home and have to face all these really scary, really nasty messages online where people were just outright racist towards you.  I had never experienced that type of racism until after the show. And it hurt; it really hurt. Thats why I had to think about it long and hard [about coming back]. Because the way I saw it  if was if Im gonna go share my heart to someone, just to be torn apart  why do I want to do that again?

In a franchise often criticized for not addressing its white-leaning cast and audience, the two addressed the situation head-on before sharing their feelings with each other.

In the midst of the budding couples, several others scrambled to solidify their relationship statuses. Deandra shared a kiss with Karl and Victoria P. tried to scoop up James. But the latter rose and fell from James good graces quickly, as it was revealed by Tammy that she has a boyfriend back home.

Their confrontation unraveled after guest host David Spade announced the beginning of the weeks cocktail party leading up to the rose ceremony.

James was initially smitten with Victoria P. but was confronted by the news by both Tammy and Kelsey. The news was juxtaposed with Victoria repeatedly forgetting James name in her confessionals, sparking more questions about her interest in him. When he confronted her, she quickly became defensive and combative before eventually walking away. She, in turn, confronted Tammy and Kelsey for starting the rumor and refused to take responsibility for her actions. She was accused of blaming her actions on others and trying to get out of her web of lies. She eventually decided to leave paradise, self-eliminating before the rose ceremony.

With James rose now available, Demi and Kelsey both pitched their eligibility to him. Meanwhile, Victoria L. fought with Tahzjuan after her attempt to steal Tres rose, and Serena C. performed a last-ditch rap/make-out with Aaron to claim his.

Despite the attempted rose theft, the initial roses handed out during the ceremony went to the identified couples: Ivan gave his rose to Jessenia, Noah to Abigail, Joe to Serena P., Connor to Maurissa, Tre to Tahzjuan, Karl to Deandra, Brendan to Natasha, Aaron to Tammy and Kenny to Mari. James distribution went last but was briefly interrupted by a near-fainting spell from Kelsey. Demi called it performative and an attempt to guilt her way into a rose, but the unverified tactic was unsuccessful. James handed out his flower to Demi, sending Kelsey, Victoria and Serena home.

Bachelor in Paradise airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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The unbelievably sad news that Charlie Watts has died is just beginning to reverberate around the world. The public knew he was going to miss out on the upcoming Stones tour since he was recovering from surgery, but the 80-year-old drummer had survived past health scares unscathed and it truly seemed like he was made of steel.

Watts joined the Rolling Stones in January 1963 and is the only member besides Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to appear on every record. He also didnt miss a single concert throughout his 58-year history in the band. The last one took place August 30th, 2019, at Miamis Hard Rock Stadium. It was originally booked for the following evening, but the band moved it forward a night since Hurricane Dorian was barreling toward the state.

It was a standard show for the 2019 No Filter tour that mixed classic hits like Honky Tonk Women, Start Me Up, and Brown Sugar with deeper cuts like Out of Control, Dead Flowers, and Sweet Virginia. And it ended, of course, with Satisfaction. Rain was pouring down by that point, but the Stones barreled through it. Watts looked as unflappable as ever.

Nobody in Miami that night could have possibly known that they were witnessing the end of a major chapter of Rolling Stones history. The group announced earlier this month that Steve Jordan will be filling in for Watts when their latest tour kicks off September 26th in St. Louis. And if the shows arent somehow derailed by Covid, theyll likely become public wakes for Charlie. The Stones are even rumored to be contemplating a 60th-anniversary tour in 2022. But theyd be the first to admit that they simply will not be the same band without Charlie.
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A ground-breaking survey about diversity and the auditioning process for British actors, believed to be the largest of its kind in the U.K., has revealed that 79% of respondents feel roles continue to stereotype their ethnicities, and 64% have experienced racist stereotyping in an audition.

Meanwhile, more than half (55%) of respondents have experienced racist behavior in the workplace, while a majority have spoken out about the lack of support in hair and make-up departments and the inability to speak up against racism in the workplace.

The survey was commissioned by the Personal Managers Associations newly installed Racial Diversity Group  a collective of top British talent agents who convened earlier this year to tackle issues of race faced by actors of color in the U.K. The findings were authored by the group alongside Dr. Jami Rogers from the University of Birmingham and the Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity.

With nearly 1,300 respondents, the survey was collected between March and April. Its findings, shared exclusively with Variety, have been published in a report, entitled Race Between the Lines: Actors Experience of Race and Racism in Britains Audition and Casting Process and On Set.

In a foreword, British actor and pioneer for industry representation Lenny Henry (Lord of the Rings), who is of Jamaican heritage and whose org co-authored the findings, said, Every time we see a great actor like Thandiwe Newton, Idris Elba or David Harewood leave these shores to find opportunities denied to them in the U.K., it is a painful reminder of why casting is so important.

This report finally brings into the open what many of us talk about, and suffer, in private. I know from personal experience the powerlessness that far too many actors feel to be able to speak out when we witness or experience racist stereotypes.

Through a mixture of quantitative and qualitative analysis, the study is divided into questions about the auditioning stage and the workplace. Key respondent groups identified as Black  African (18%), Black  Caribbean (12%), Any Other Ethnicity (11%), Black Caribbean and White (10%), Indian (10%) and Asian and White (8%), among others. Half of respondents described their career status as developing, while 8% said they were established and 3% very well established.

AUDITIONING

The U.K. auditioning process for actors of color was described as one of the most pernicious sites of institutional racism in the industry, where decisions about casting are made before anyone even enters the room. What begins as stereotypes that inform the writing process are sent to agents, which embed the stereotype in the casting process, writers Rogers. Then, at the audition, directors and casting directors can ask performers to play a stereotype and not a person, which further dehumanizes characters of color in scripted drama and perpetuates stereotypes.

Respondents detailed everything from code words used in conjunction with stereotypes (I have been asked on more than one occasion, Could you do the Black thing? or Can you make it more street or urban? or Could you Black it up a bit more?); to requests by a casting panel for an actor of color to speak in an exaggerated or stereotypical accent (I was told to sound more Asian. Asia is a continent.).

Most of these experiences highlighted the lack of people of color in decision-making roles, such as casting director, producer or director.

As often the only person of color, in a room of white directors or casting directors or producers, its hard to feel like you have a voice to question choices or styles they want which feel racially driven, when you dont see someone who looks like you, shared one anonymous respondent.

The problem is further nuanced for actors of mixed heritage who are often subject to narrow perspectives among decision makers. I am half-Pakistani and half-Irish with slightly tanned skin. In seven years I have auditioned for one Irish role (that was last week) and the rest have been Indian  which I am not. But I have had to adjust to not limit my opportunities.

Meanwhile, respondents from some communities said they were being excluded altogether from the auditioning process. East and Southeast Asians are hugely left out of the diversity and inclusion movement, said one contributor. There [is] barely presence of us being cast in meaningful roles, both on stage and on screen.

When it came to auditioning for roles that are white or a different heritage to your own, the majority of respondents said they would do so (30% said always while 37% said sometimes).

One respondent said they submit themselves for white roles because I want my face to pop up in [a decision makers] inbox and for them to ask themselves why the character has to be white or why thats necessary for them. But usually, I dont actually want the job, because I dont think I want to work with people who think like that.

Nonetheless, despite the overt and subconscious racism of the audition process, only 39% said they feel confident enough to say they would always or usually turn down an audition due to racist stereotypes. The vast majority said they would only sometimes, rarely or never feel able to turn down an audition if they felt the part was the product of racist stereotyping, simply due to a dearth of work.

IN THE WORKPLACE

The survey also underlines uncomfortable realities for actors of color in the workplace, particularly when it comes to hair and make-up: 71% of respondents had experienced hair or make-up artists who lacked the knowledge to work with them on an equal basis to their white co-workers; only 28% had encountered no problems with hair and make-up in dealing with their physical features.

The hair and make-up issues were keenly felt by the African-Caribbean community, as well as performers from East Asian backgrounds. One respondent said they were often made to feel uncomfortable for speaking up [and] never consulted on hair changes. On set Ive been talked about my hair being a problem in shots as though Im not in the room.

Another contributor pointed out the inherent inequality of the field, where hair and makeup artists of color were forced to be able to cater to all kinds of skin tones and hair, but the same was not expected of white artists. The few black hair stylists I worked with knew not only how to tend to Afro-centric hair texture, but also Caucasian and thick Asian or Hispanic. But Im still yet to work with a white hairstylist who knows how to treat Afro-centric hair. (Queen and Slim actor Jodie Turner-Smith recently made the point in an interview with Variety at Cannes.)

Elsewhere, 55% said they have encountered culturally insensitive language in the workplace.

Perhaps most problematic is the fact that 73% of respondents said they would feel uncomfortable, very uncomfortable or would refuse to discuss the issues raised in the survey with a casting director. (76% would feel this way talking to a producer, and 66% for a director.)

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

The report made a number of urgent policy interventions for the industry.

The authors called for (1) an independent third-party reporting body, such as the CallIt app, that actors can access confidentially and anonymously if needed.

They also ask for (2) creative involvement from people of color at all levels, from the development process through to post-production, including active involvement and input from people of color with the power to actively engage in anti-racist practice, including the avoidance of stereotypes in writing and casting. This would mean having such individuals in substantive roles as opposed to advisory positions. Thus, productions should set specific and transparent employment targets for diverse representation at various casting level positions.

Also suggested is (3) ensuring appropriate levels of competency for hair and make-up artists working with actors of all heritages, which would be reflected in union agreements, and (4) the mandating of unconscious bias and active bystander training for all productions and cast and crew, in a model similar to the COVID protocols set during the pandemic.

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Just a few weeks ago, industry sources were buzzing that the real reason Kanye Wests long-delayed Donda album has missed two scheduled drop dates this summer is because hes looking for a release-date battle with Drakes Certified Lover Boy, similar to his 2007 duel with 50 Cent.

Donda was scheduled to be released after listening sessions at Atlantas Mercedes-Benz Stadium  first on July 23, then on August 6, and theres another one at the massive, 60,000-plus capacity Soldier Field stadium in Wests hometown of Chicago on Thursday night. (Wests label hasnt said that the album will be released after this one, but as the saying goes, Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.)

Yes, the past few years are filled with unreleased Kanye West albums. But over the past few days, he and Drake have been jabbing at each other over social media in ways that make a Donda vs. Lover Boy battle seem more likely  and things gained enough momentum over the weekend to make it feel like its all leading up to something.

The two have a long history, going back to 2008 (head to Complex for a forensic blow-by-blow of the past and present). But this recent battle started on July 24  the day after Wests first missed release date  when his longtime collaborator Consequence tweeted, We looking for @Drake drop date. Drake responded six days later, saying Albums cooked  Certified Lover Boy on the way, and thats for anyone in the way, with a watch out emoji. A week later, during Wests second listening session, among a couple of newly added Drake references to Drake in the lyrics, West rapped on the song Junya, Move out of the way of my release.

But things really picked up this past Saturday, when a new Drake verse was added to Betrayal, a song on Trippie Redds new album Trip at Knight.

All these fools Im beefin that I barely know/ Forty-five, forty-four (Burned out), let it go/ Ye aint changin shit for me, its set in stone, Drake raps, although there was some question as to whether or not he actually said Ye. However, both West and Consequence are 44 years old.

Later that day, Consequence responded to the song by name, writing, Its the Disrespect for me dawg Respect My Team. Its Party Time.
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Moulin Rouge: The Musical has appointed Chloe Beck to oversee its equity, diversity and inclusion efforts.

As director of EDI, Beck will focus on the Broadway production, the upcoming U.S. national tour and the shows international productions. She officially started in the newly created role on July 12.

After living through the pandemic and noting the effects of COVID-19 and police brutality on BIPOC, queer, trans and non-binary bodies, I knew that I could not stop fighting for equity and inclusion after protests slowed down. Its time for me to bring my love of the arts, fresh perspectives and passion for cultivating belonging into the EDI space, Beck said in a statement. Its time to not only wish for truth, beauty, freedom and love in this world, but time to work towards it. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a place where everyone is welcome and its a privilege to work alongside so many passionate people striving to prove just that. The time for systematic change on Broadway is now and Im ecstatic to be one of the leaders of that change.

Prior to her move to Broadway, Beck spent a decade in higher education and was most recently employed at New York University. As a student affairs professional on college campuses, Beck worked extensively in training and development, anti-bias response and mental heath and wellness. She also led the creation and implementation of several affinity groups, initiatives and programs, including black women in leadership and navigating LGBTQIA rights in the workplace.

Carmen Pavlovic and Bill Damaschke, producers of Moulin Rouge: The Musical, say the popular Broadway show is pledging to make the production a more inclusive space.

Recognizing the need for long overdue and necessary change in our industry we strongly believe Chloe will be a key partner in driving strategies, programs and initiatives to give our company the tools required to embed Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in our culture and day to day operations, Pavlovic and Damaschke said. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is based on a world in which all are welcome. Working with Chloe, we are committed to making this a reality in every aspect of the production.

The Tony-nominated musical resumes performances on Friday, Sept. 24, more than a year after Broadway went dark due to the pandemic. The Broadway League previously announced that all 41 Broadway theaters in New York City will require audience members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and will be required to wear a mask at all times except to eat and drink.

Moulin Rouge, inspired by Baz Luhrmanns 2001 film, made headlines earlier this year when its star Karen Olivo stepped away from her leading role, as Satine, over the theater industrys silence on allegations of workplace harassment and abuse leveled against the prolific theater producer Scott Rudin. Olivo will be replaced by Natalie Mendoza, who will star alongside Aaron Tveit as Satines love interest Christian and Danny Burstein, who portrays the clubs impresario Harold Zidler.

Moulin Rouge: The Musical is directed by Alex Timbers and with a book by Tony Award winner John Logan, choreography by Sonya Tayehand music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Justin Levine.

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On Monday morning, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the first Covid-19 vaccine  a significant milestone in the ongoing fight to end the pandemic. Eight months after issuing Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, followed by millions of shots in arms across the United States and other parts of the world, the FDA gave their final and highest stamp of approval to the two-dose vaccination for people 16 and up.

Though the review process ahead of granting EUA to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine  which will now be marketed as Comirnaty (pronounced ko-meer-nah-tee)  was extremely thorough, the one for full FDA approval was even more exhaustive. We evaluated scientific data and information included in hundreds of thousands of pages, conducted our own analyses of Comirnatys safety and effectiveness, and performed a detailed assessment of the manufacturing processes, including inspections of the manufacturing facilities, Dr. Peter Marks, director of FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement.

In addition to bolstering the confidence of those who have already received the vaccine, full FDA approval brings with it new rules regarding how and when the vaccine may be used and, in some cases, required. But with Covid vaccines remaining highly politicized, it has yet to be seen whether the approval will have a real impact on the countrys sluggish vaccination rates.

In an interview with NPRs Mary Louise Kelly a few hours after the FDAs decision, Dr. Anthony Fauci sounded hopeful about the potential impact of having a Covid vaccine with full FDA approval.

This is purely an estimate, but I think there are probably about 20 or more percent of people who were not getting vaccinated among the 90 million or so people who are eligible to be vaccinated who have not gotten vaccinated, Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical advisor to the president, said. I believe that those people will now step forward and get vaccinated  so youre going to have a group of people who otherwise would not have gotten vaccinated.

Heres a look at what will change now that theres a Covid-19 vaccine with full FDA approval.

More widespread vaccine mandates

One of the most visible and wide-reaching consequences of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine receiving full FDA approval will likely be an increase in Covid-19 vaccine mandates. While some state and local governments, private corporations, healthcare systems, universities, and school districts have already implemented vaccine mandates, full FDA approval for a Covid vaccine means more will follow suit.

It certainly makes it easier for employers, schools, etc. to mandate vaccines, says Dr. Howard P. Forman, professor of radiology and public health, and director of the health care management program at the Yale School of Public Health. While they seemed to have no legal problem doing so, before, it offers a much easier and historically defensible case after full approval.

Indeed, within minutes of the FDA granting full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, announcements of new vaccine mandates began rolling in. One of the first came from New York City, which will now require all Department of Education employees (from teachers to administration to support staff) to receive at least one dose of vaccine prior to September 27th, noting that weekly Covid testing is not an alternative to vaccination, the New York Times reports.

Unsurprisingly, there have been legal challenges to the vaccine mandates mounting across the country since they were first introduced  and for those involved, todays FDA approval is a major blow. The biggest difference [of having full FDA approval of a Covid vaccine] is that this will take away most of the lawsuits against the [vaccine] mandates, says Dr. Dorit Rubinstein Reiss, a professor at the University of California Hastings College of the Law, where she specializes in vaccine law and policy. Most of the lawsuits against university and employer mandates highlight the vaccines EUA status, and approval removes that argument, and makes those cases very, very hard, because we have a long history of vaccine mandates [in the United States].

The possibility of off-label use

Along with allowing Pfizer to actively market Comirnaty to the public via TV commercials and other forms of advertising, todays announcement from the FDA also carries with it the possibility of off-label use of the vaccine. In other words, it gives doctors the ability to prescribe this vaccine for reasons beyond its approved use. Two potential scenarios include giving patients early booster doses, and prescribing the vaccine to children under the age of 12.

Forman says that boosters are the most obvious off-label use of the newly approved Covid-19 vaccine, including situations where physicians prescribe a dose of the Pfizer vaccine prior to the official start of the booster rollout on September 20th, as announced by the White House last week. In addition, we could easily imagine boosters being offered over a shorter interval  for example, [after] five months, as in Israel, versus the eight months that the U.S. seems inclined to endorse, he tells Rolling Stone.

The Pfizer vaccine is currently available to children between the ages of 12 and 15 under EUA. This age group  which has been studied in separate clinical trials  was not included in todays full FDA approval, though is expected to get it once the review of the data from the trials is complete.

Off-label use in children under the age of 12, however, comes with some concerns. We have not seen data on the under-12 studies yet, and I would caution anyone to reserve judgment on that group until we actually see data, Forman explains. I have no reason to believe it would not be true for younger individuals, but think it prudent to see data.

Along the same lines, Reiss says that she thinks most doctors would hesitate to prescribe the vaccine to a preteen without the use first receiving approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The ACIP can make recommendations off-label also, she tells Rolling Stone. So if we get to the point where theres really strong need for use in children, and if the FDA hasnt acted on the EUA yet, its hard for me to see [the ACIP] going there, but they can.

According to Forman, some of the off-label uses could also come with benefits. In the UK, stretching the interval between first and second doses has seemingly been accompanied by a more robust immune response, ultimately, he says. I would presume that the FDA approval would indicate the usual 19 to 23 day interval that was used in the trial, but stretching this to 12 weeks might be an appropriate off-label use.

The potential impact on vaccination rates

At this point, its too early to predict the extent of the impact todays FDA approval will have on vaccination rates. The most recent Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) poll, however, does offer some insight. In July, three percent of adults surveyed indicated that they would only get the Covid vaccine if they were required to do so by their employer  a scenario many may face following the expected new wave of vaccine mandates. This figure is down from six percent in Junes poll.

As has been the case since the vaccine rollout began, there is a small number of people with a history of vaccine allergies and/or specific medical conditions that have concerns over whether the benefits of a Covid vaccine would outweigh any potential risks caused by their illnesses. In these scenarios, its not necessarily a case of people being opposed to receiving a Covid vaccine, but rather, are approaching the decision with particular caution. However, CDC guidance indicates that Covid vaccines may be administered to most people with underlying medical conditions, and recommends that anyone hesitant about getting the vaccine for medical reasons speak with their healthcare provider for advice.

But what about those who remain vaccine hesitant for other reasons? The results of the KFFs June poll found that 31 percent of unvaccinated adults said that they would be more likely to get a Covid vaccine once one received full FDA approval. (That piece of data was not provided in the KFFs July poll.) So does this mean that group is out of excuses and will willingly get vaccinated? Reiss isnt convinced that will happen.

Im kind of suspicious that this is really their deciding factor, Reiss says. I doubt most of these people know the process. Specifically, Reiss expects at least some of the people who said that theyd get a Covid vaccine after one has been granted full FDA approval to change their opposition to the claim that the approval process was rushed for political reasons. I expect that on hesitancy, the effect [of full FDA approval] will be marginal, she adds.

Similarly, Forman doesnt see this milestone as one that will significantly move the needle on vaccination rates. I would imagine it will cause some immediate bump, but not a huge one, he says. Forman also stresses the importance of recognizing that we all have irrational  and maybe even rational  fears about medical interventions, when considering those who continue to refuse to be vaccinated.

When you are deeply enclosed in a misinformation echo chamber that is telling you that this vaccine will make you infertile, impotent, cause permanent damage to your brain, heart, etc., it may be rational to be fearful, he explains. So it is important to respect that these people are not crazy, but perhaps overly susceptible to bad information.

But at the same time, Forman is optimistic that the perceptions of Covid vaccines among this group could gradually shift. The anti-vax movement in this country is not new, and it has generally crossed political, demographic, racial, and socioeconomic lines, he says. But I do believe that most can be reasoned with  however much time it might take.
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The official trailer for Marvels highly anticipated Spider-Man: No Way Home is finally here, following a Sunday night leak on social media.

Sony Motion Pictures Group CEO Tom Rothman introduced the trailer, with remarks from Tom Holland and Benedict Cumberbatch. The clip sees Peter Parker face his most brutal foe to date  the past. After nearly a year of speculation, the trailer confirms the multiverse plot of No Way Home, which will bring Holland together with villains of previous Spider-Man cinematic franchises.

This includes Alfred Molinas Doctor Octopus, Jamie Foxxs Electro, and Willem Dafoes Green Goblin. In the most recent Spidey sequel, Parkers true identity was exposed over the films final moments. Now confronting exposure and serious consequences, high school student Parkers life has been spun into chaos.

For the record, I never wanted to lie to you, Holland tells costar Zendaya in the trailer. But how do you tell somebody you are Spider-Man?

Seeking a supernatural solution, Parker turns to Doctor Strange (Cumberbatch), looking for a spell that will undo the big reveal and set things as they were. Thanks to some trusty teen awkwardness, the magic unleashed plunges Parker and Strange into the multiverse and untold danger.

Zendaya will reprise her role as MJ, Jacob Batalon is back as Ned Leeds, Marisa Tomei as Aunt May, Benedict Wong as Wong and Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan. Jon Watts returns to direct his third installment in the Holland series.

Earlier this year, Molina told Variety that his story will pick up right from the moment in Spider-Man 2 where Doc Ock sinks in the East River with his unstable nuclear reactor to save the city.

In addition to Molinas return, Foxx previously revealed in a since-deleted Instagram post that he will reprise his 2014 role as Electro from Marc Webbs The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Fans have also petitioned for Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, the Spider-Men who battled Doc Ock and Electro in their own franchises, to return for the cross-universe bonanza, but there have been no official announcements.

The official Twitter account for the film poked fun at Sundays leak after the trailers official release, writing: Shout-out to the real ones who are watching the trailer for the first time right now.

Watts also joked about the leak on social media, posting an Inception-style video of the trailer to his Instagram with the caption: The way the director intended.

Spider-Man: No Way Home is set to swing into theaters on Dec. 17. Watch the trailer below.

Antonio Ferme contributed to this report.

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Emma Appleton (The Witcher) and Bel Powley (The Morning Show) have nabbed the lead roles in Working Title Televisions forthcoming adaptation of Dolly Aldertons memoir Everything I Know About Love.

Appleton is currently filming FX series Pistol, about the Sex Pistols, where she plays the tragic Nancy Spungen, who was murdered by her boyfriend, Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious. She has also appeared in The Witcher.

Powley is best known as Claire Conway in The Morning Show and Minnie in The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

The duo will play childhood best friends Maggie and Birdy as they move into a house-share in their twenties as they navigate heartbreak, romance and growing up. China Moo-Young (Intergalactic) is set to direct the 7-part series.

Appleton and Powley will be joined on-screen by Marli Siu (Alex Rider) and Jordan Peters (Gangs of London) as well as newcomers Aliyah Odoffin, Connor Finch and Ryan Bown.

Everything I Know About Love will broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer in 2022. It is set to begin filming imminently in London and Manchester. It is produced by Working Title Television (We Are Lady Parts), which is part of NBCUniversal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.

The series will be executive produced by Jo McClellan for the BBC, Dolly Alderton, and Surian Fletcher-Jones, Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner for Working Title Television. Simon Maloney will produce.

It was commissioned by director of BBC drama, Piers Wenger. NBCUniversal Global Distribution will distribute the show.

We at Working Title are incredibly proud to be working with the phenomenally talented Dolly Alderton, said Working Titles Fletcher-Jones. It has been a real joy helping to bring her vision to life alongside our brilliant lead director, China Moo-Young, and producer, Simon Maloney. We cant wait to get going with this genuinely hilarious and heartfelt show.

We have a sublime cast for Everything I Know About Love and Im so excited to see them bring all the heart and humour of Dollys scripts to life on screen, added Moo-Young.

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Whoopi Goldberg has frankly dissected cancel culture during a freewheeling session at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Tuesday where she delivered the annual International Icon Interview.

In conversation with presenter and journalist Jackie Adedeji, Goldberg, a recent Variety cover star, spoke about the time when her career stalled after she allegedly joked about President George W. Bush in 2004. When Adedeji asked Goldberg whether she considered herself as having been canceled at the time, Goldberg said, No. I would describe that situation as a lot of people covering their backsides, because the joke was never about him. But no one ever stood up and said, Hey, heres what actually happened. And they put it in the newspaper. And you notice, theyd never seen what I exactly said, or what I said at all. But all somebody has to do is say you said it.

I feel like the truth doesnt seem to matter as much these days, Goldberg said.

Addressing cancel culture directly, Goldberg said, Because there is cancel culture, people will call or text and say Im not buying your product. This is who you have talking about your product, me and my five million followers  if you keep her  were not going to buy your car, or were not going to buy your shampoo or were not going to buy your toothbrush or were not going to buy your Pampers, Goldberg said.

Goldberg said she was out of work for five years after the Bush incident and bounced back when Barbara Walters offered her a hosting gig on The View.

Lucky for me, Barbara Walters offered me a job and said, Hey, would you like to do this? And I was like, You know, Im not in favor in the general public. She said, Youll be perfect.'

Elsewhere, talking about opportunities in the media industry for people of color, Goldberg said there were boneheads everywhere in the world who were barriers to entry.

I believe that it has been hard, but thats why more women of color have to write the things they want to see, Goldberg said. The actor said that newcomers have to make their work available on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Now, if you want to get famous from it, thats a whole other conversation. But if you get the work done, learn how to do everything, you can do it on YouTube. The industry could help new talent by just opening their eyes.

Playing the quintessentially British character Doctor Who has long been one of Goldbergs stated aims and she reiterated her desire at the Edinburgh talk.

I would like to have played Doctor Who but I think it would mean an evolution into being American, Goldberg said. I dont know if thats correct for Doctor Who. I dont know if I can usurp that.

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Think of modern athleisure and these images may come to mind: Thin white women in yoga leggings drinking green juice while running errands. An attractive but hungover guy in joggers and sunglasses making an afternoon run to get food to quell his stomach. Or working from home in the "nice" sweat set you bought online mid-pandemic.

Type in "athleisure" to any search engine and you'll see similar images. Primarily thin, white men and women donning tops with sportswear logos and carrying expensive bags, going to wherever people who buy really expensive bags go.

Ivy Park, Beyonce's athleisure brand, has been the antithesis to this stereotype since its founding. Since its first drop in 2016, the brand has been redefining this generation's most popular and versatile fashion movement.

Now, Queen B is using her native Texas as inspiration for the brand's new Rodeo collection, a line full of daring denim pieces and monochromatic color palettes reminiscent of the muted tones of the deserts of the American Southwest. According to the Houston Chronicle, the line pays homage to oft-overlooked Black cowboy culture and how they "helped create American cowboy heritage and the Western frontier."

In a statement to the Chronicle, Bey spoke on the importance her home city's yearly rodeo had on the collection  and her art.

The Houston Rodeo is a gumbo of family, connection, delicious food and eclectic genres of music. I grew up seeing artists like Selena and Frankie Beverly and Maze and today it is just as eclectic with artists like Kacey Musgraves to Mary J. Blige. I remember the trail ride, with people riding from all over to the Houston Rodeo."

Along with its rodeo inspo, the line includes models of all shapes, sizes, genders, and is available in plus sizes.

Multiple pieces, from gender-neutral snap-button boiler suits to cow print skirts and tights, have already sold out after dropping online and in a select number of Adidas stores on August 19.

Fans of Bey (and the cowboy aesthetic) are eating up the collection at lighting speed, and taking to social media to express their love for the creativity and looks behind its creation.

Lana Del Rey did a country album... why can't Beyonce?

One nail artist created a press on nail set with the same brown cow print used in the new Ivy Park collection.

And yes, there were still haters comparing the drop to the That's So Raven farm trip episode.

Once again, the icon is showing up for Texas, and more importantly, creatively highlighting a history the U.S has ignored.
BOLOGNA, Italy (AP)  For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a black-and-white photo of himself as a young American soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944.

On Monday, the 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblings  now octogenarians themselves  in person for the first time since the war.

Adler held out his hand to grasp those of Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana Naldi for the joyful reunion at Bologna's airport after a 20-hour journey from Boca Raton, Florida. Then, just as he did as a 20-year-old soldier in their village of Monterenzio, he handed out bars of American chocolate.

Look at my smile, Adler said of the long-awaited in-person reunion, made possible by the reach of social media.

It was a happy ending to a story that could easily have been a tragedy.

The very first time the soldier and the children saw each other, in 1944, the three faces peeked out of a huge wicker basket where their mother had hidden them as soldiers approached. Adler thought the house was empty, so he trained his machine gun on the basket when he heard a sound, thinking a German soldier was hiding inside.

The mother, Mamma, came out and stood right in front of my gun to stop me (from) shooting, Adler recalled. She put her stomach right against my gun, yelling, Bambinis! Bambinis! Bambinis! pounding my chest,'' Adler recalled.

That was a real hero, the mother, not me. The mother was a real hero. Can you imagine you standing yourself in front of a gun and screaming Children! No!' he said.

Adler still trembles when he remembers that he was only seconds away from opening fire on the basket. And after all these decades, he still suffers nightmares from the war, said his daughter, Rachelle Donley.

The children, aged 3 to 6 when they met, were a happy memory. His company stayed on in the village for a while and he would come by and play with them.

Giuliana Naldi, the youngest, is the only one of the three with any recollection of the event. She recalls climbing out of the basket and seeing Adler and another U.S. soldier, who has since died.

They were laughing, Naldi, now 80, remembers. They were happy they didnt shoot.

She, on the other hand, didnt quite comprehend the close call.

We werent afraid for anything, she said.

She also remembers the soldiers chocolate, which came in a blue-and-white wrapper.

We ate so much of that chocolate, she laughed.

Donley decided during the COVID-19 lockdown to use social media to try to track down the children in the old black-and-white photo, starting with veterans groups in North America.

Eventually the photo was spotted by Italian journalist Matteo Incerti who had written books on World War II. He was able to track down Adler's regiment and where it had been stationed from a small detail in another photograph. The smiling photo was then published in a local newspaper, leading to the discovery of the identities of the three children, who by then were grandparents themselves.

They shared a video reunion in December, and waited until the easing of pandemic travel rules made the trans-Atlantic trip possible.

I am so happy and so proud of him. Because things could have been so different in just a second. Because he hesitated, there have been generations of people, Donley said.

The serendipity isnt lost on Giuliana Naldis 30-year-old granddaughter, Roberta Fontana, one of six children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who descended from the three children hidden in the wicker basket.

Knowing that Martin could have shot and that none of my family would exist is something very big, Fontana said. It is very emotional."

During his stay in Italy, Adler will spend some time in the village where he was stationed, before traveling on to Florence, Naples and Rome, where he hopes to meet Pope Francis.

My dad really wants to meet the pope, Donley said. He wants to share his message of peace and love. My dad is all about peace."

____

Colleen Barry contributed to this report from Milan.
The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Im

A truck driver said he was to be paid $40,000 for transporting something illegal to San Antonio, according to an arrest affidavit.

The case unfolded at about 5:22 a.m. Aug. 14 along U.S. 83 in Laredo. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers observed a blue tractor towing a trailer was driving north on U.S. 83. Troopers ran the license plate of the tractor, and it returned to a different vehicle.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  Florida's Walt Disney World will now require union employees as well as non-union and salaried workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to keep their jobs at the theme park. The company also said Wednesday it would soon require vaccines for its cruise passengers ages 12 and up on ships to the Bahamas.

The deal was reached Monday with a union coalition, shortly after the Pfizer vaccine earned full Food and Drug Administration approval. It requires the workers to show proof of vaccination by Oct. 22 to remain employed, although employees can request exemptions for medical or religious reasons, a union statement said.

Any employee who doesnt comply, and doesnt request an exemption, will be separated from the company with a yes rehire status, according to the Service Trades Council Union. Before layoffs and furloughs due to the pandemic, the coalition covered about 43,000 of 77,000 Disney World workers.

Disney announced last month that all non-union hourly and salaried employees would be required to receive the vaccine within 60 days. The company also asked all employees who were working from home to show proof of vaccination before returning to work.

The company will hold on-site vaccine events for employees over the next several weeks, the union statement said.

On the cruise side, Disney will require all passengers ages 12 and older to be fully vaccinated on trips to the Bahamas. The decision comes days after that country announced it would not allow ships to enter its ports, including private islands owned by various cruise lines unless eligible passengers are fully vaccinated. The order runs from Sept. 3 through Nov. 1.

Earlier this month, 26 crew members and one passenger tested positive for COVID-19 on a Carnival cruise just before the ship made a stop in Belize City.

According to a statement from Disney, unvaccinated children must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken between 5 days and 24 hours prior to the cruise and will also be given a second test at the terminal before boarding.

We are resuming sailing in a gradual, phased approach that emphasizes multiple layers of health and safety measure, the statement said.

Other cruise lines including Royal Caribbean have updated their policies with similar mandates. Carnival said that only children under 12 and adults with a medical condition that prohibits vaccination are exempt from the requirements starting Aug. 28 through October, for departures from all Atlantic and Gulf homeports.

Norwegian Cruise Line already had a vaccinated-only passenger policy in place.

The mandates conflict with orders of Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who forbid cruise lines from requiring vaccines for passengers. The issue is being decided in the courts where the latest ruling by a federal appeals court overturned pandemic restrictions on Florida-based cruise ships.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is fighting the DeSantis-led lawsuit challenging the regulations, arguing the rules would prevent future COVID-19 outbreaks on ships that are vulnerable to the spread of the virus because of their close quarters and frequent stops at foreign ports.
As part of Texas A&M International Universitys commitment to a full, on-campus experience this Fall 2021, incoming and returning students will have a chance to take part in a slew of activities, all culminating in an exciting fireworks display.

Organized through the Office of Student Orientation, Leadership and Engagement, TAMIUs annual Welcome Week activities are scheduled Monday, Aug. 23 - Friday, Aug. 27.

Enrolled students can RSVP to an event or to access virtual activities, visit Trailblazers at tamiu.campuslabs.com/engage/.

Welcome Week is an annual week-long program of activities aimed at helping students transition to university life. All events are free and open to currently enrolled students.

This years celebration is particularly special as it ends with an on-campus fireworks display. The Dustys Lights Fireworks Extravaganza happens Friday, Aug. 27 at 9 p.m. at the Academic Innovation Center parking lot.

TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz said the initiative is a bold way to welcome students back to campus.

Its a great way to kick off the Fall 2021 semester and culminates our Welcome Week activities here. With students back on campus as part of our full, vibrant Fall experience, theyve navigated their way to classes, meeting their faculty and fellow students  and will be getting to safely know our 300-acre campus.

We wanted to further heighten that exploration of our academic and co-curricular offerings with a new event that makes our welcome safe, shared and visible. My hope is that in seeing that welcome fill the sky, it will also fill students with the hope of a brighter future that we will share together, he explained.

While some events are happening virtually, most Welcome Week activities occur on campus in several locations including the Academic Innovation Center, the Student Center and the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center.

Both indoor and outdoor Welcome Week activities will adhere to social distancing protocols. The use of face coverings is highly recommended when attending in-person events.

The remaining schedule for TAMIUs Welcome Week 2021 is as follows:

Tuesday, Aug. 24

School Supply Packages handed out, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Breezeway; Getting Involved Fair, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., STC Lobby; Tie Dye T-Shirts, 3 - 5 p.m., STC Courtyard; and TAMIU Scavenger Hunt, 6 - 8 p.m., Virtual.

Wednesday, Aug. 25

iServe Fair, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., STC Lobby; Yoga and Meditation, 2 - 3 p.m., Virtual; and Welcome BBQ, 4 - 6 p.m., ZSC Green.

Thursday, Aug. 26

Take the Next Step Fair, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., STC Lobby; Caricature Lady, noon - 2 p.m., Virtual; Trivia Night, 4 - 6 p.m., AIC 126; and Movie Night, 8 - 10 p.m., AIC 126.

Friday, Aug. 27

Greek Showcase, noon - 2 p.m., ZSC Green; TGIF Loteria, 6 - 8 p.m., AIC 126; and Dustys Lights Fireworks Extravaganza, 9 p.m., AIC Parking Lot.

For additional information on event signups and attendance instructions, visit Trailblazers at tamiu.campuslabs.com/engage or contact the SOLE office at 956-326-2280, via email at sole@tamiu.edu or visit tamiu.edu/sole.

TAMIUs Fall semester 2021 begins Monday, Aug. 23. The TAMIU Fall plan is focused on a return to a full and vibrant on-campus experience for all students, faculty and staff at its 300-acre northeast Laredo campus. Late registration ends Friday, Aug. 27. For detailed registration information, visit go.tamiu.edu/registration21.

For more information, contact the Office of the University Registrar at 956-326-2250, email registrar@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the University Success Center, Suite 121.
Officials from the City of Laredo and Webb County reported an additional 439 positive cases and seven related deaths from the past three days  the worst local report for COVID results in months.

The additions bring Laredo to 49,108 positives and 893 deaths historically dating back to the beginning of the pandemic locally in March of 2020.

After last week began with 375 cases Monday  the most on a Monday since the positives started to be totaled on a non-daily basis  cases instead fell off the rest of the week. Wednesday and Friday featured two of the three lowest new case totals in the past 10 reports.

But that trend has not continued through this week. On Monday, positives instead reached 439  their highest total in any report since the non-daily format was established on May 27. It was the most in any report at all since Jan. 26 had 471 in a single day.

Additionally, the seven deaths are another elevated total. It was the second-highest non-daily report behind only the 10 fatalities from July 15. However, that one was made up of backdated fatalities, and this one featured only recent deaths.

Among the locals that died were four men, including two in their 20s and two in their 60s, as well as three women with their ages in the 40s, 50s and 60s. One individual died last Thursday while the other six all died either Saturday or Sunday.

Overall, the amount of positives and deaths reported make this the worst non-daily report for COVID metrics thus far, and the worst overall report since Jan. 22 featured 607 positives and 11 deaths in a single day.

Laredos rolling seven-day positivity rate is currently 10.1%. Texas rolling positivity rate is 21.4% while the United States is at 11.5%.

COVID-19 Metrics in Laredo Positives: 49,108 Deaths: 893 Hospitalizations: 74 ICU: 34 Fully Vaccinated: 80.2% Recoveries: 47,473 Total Tested: 391,209 7-Day Positive Rate: 10.1% Source: City of Laredo Health Department See More Collapse

Mondays results led to a rise in active cases up to 742 from 696 Friday after decreasing in three consecutive reports. The current active cases include 284 below the age of 19, 338 between the ages of 20-49 and 120 above 50 years old.

The city stated that of the currently investigated active cases, 194 are from non-vaccinated individuals. However, it did not state how many active cases were still pending investigation for the third straight report. Typically this figure has led to non-vaccinated individuals making up 75-85% of active cases in the past when it has been disclosed.

This entire year, only 51 fully-vaccinated persons have been hospitalized with a breakthrough case.

Laredos hospitalizations remained mostly the same as they were reported at 74, up two from Fridays total. ICU cases were reported at 34, one lower than Friday.

Meanwhile, Laredos COVID-19 hospitalization rate sat at 20% according to the Texas Department of State Health Services most recent data for Sunday. This is slightly elevated from the 18.5% from Fridays report.

As an indicator of the current struggles of the state with COVID, Laredos hospitalization rate ranks only 15th out of the 22 hospital regions in Texas listed by the DSHS. There are three regions above 30% including Corpus Christi (35%), Waco (32.5%) and Lufkin (30.7%).

Laredos available hospital beds now sit at just seven, and ICU beds remain at zero for the 21st straight day.

As Laredo is medically underserved and with facilities understaffed, its hospital capacity has been diminished despite being nowhere near its previous high in hospitalizations of 249 in January when it was receiving help from the state, something that has been denied this time around. This is why local experts continue to tout being vaccinated as vital, even despite the areas success in that regard, as its current lack of resources has curtailed that success.

As of the most recent vaccination data from the city, Laredo has a total of 80.2% of its eligible population over 12 years of age fully vaccinated, or 173,228 people. Additionally, around 18.8% have received only one shot, thus giving the area around 99% of its eligible population being at least partially vaccinated.

However, around a third of Laredos total population is below the age of 18. That means that a significant segment of the citys actual population may not be vaccinated, as those under 12 are unable to do so.

As for its elderly, the city reports that 95.7% of those age 65 and up have been at least partially vaccinated.

Over the course of the pandemic, 391,209 tests have been administered. An estimated 47,473 people have recovered from a previous infection.

zdavis@lmtonline.com
NEW YORK (AP)  All New York City public school teachers and other staffers will have to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, officials said Monday, ramping up pandemic protections as the nation's largest school system prepares for classes to start next month.

The city previously said teachers, like other city employees, would have to get the shots or get tested weekly for the virus. The new policy marks the first no-option vaccination mandate for a broad group of city workers in the nation's most populous city, though Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday that coaches and students in football, basketball and other high-risk" sports would have to get inoculated before play begins.

Unions bristled at the new requirement, saying the city needed to negotiate, not dictate. Two big city workers' groups were planning to file a labor complaint or take legal action.

About 148,000 school employees  and contractors who work in schools  will have to get at least a first dose by Sept. 27, according to an announcement from the Democratic mayor and the city health and education departments.

Were going to do whatever it takes to make sure that everyone is safe, de Blasio said at a virtual news briefing. Schools Chancellor Meisha Ross Porter called the policy another layer of protection for our kids, including her own 11th-grader.

The city hasnt immediately said whether there will be exemptions or what the penalty will be for refusing, though de Blasio told MSNBC later Monday that there will clearly be consequences. The previous vaccinate-or-test requirement had provisions for unpaid suspensions for workers who didnt comply.

De Blasio said the city would start bargaining this week with school system unions over specifics, and officials hope for agreements. But the mayor said the city intends to implement the requirement Sept. 27, with or without a deal.

A union known as DC 37  which represents school aides, lunchroom workers and other staffers along with thousands of other city employees  said it would file an unfair labor practices complaint with the state Public Employment Relations Board. And the Municipal Labor Committee, an umbrella group of unions that together represent about 350,000 city workers, voted Monday to pursue legal action that could mean a lawsuit over the city's varying vaccination policies for city employees, chairperson Harry Nespoli said.

All we want to do is sit down and try to negotiate the best policy that will protect the city and its workers, said Nespoli, who's vaccinated but worried about maintaining the option of undergoing testing instead of inoculation.

Were concerned about the people in New York, too. We dont want to see people get sick, he said, but there has to be an alternative if that person doesnt want to take that jab.

The city didn't immediately comment on the labor groups' planned actions.

Other school unions also said they needed answers and input.

I understand completely why you have the requirement: Theres a pandemic. We just have to make sure that we negotiate" accommodations if a doctor certifies that someone shouldn't get vaccinated, said Gregory Floyd, the president of Teamsters Local 237. It represents about 4,400 school safety agents.

The United Federation of Teachers raised the potential of arbitration if necessary.

Custodians' union President Robert Troeller said he believed about 60% of the 850 members of Local 891 of the International Union of Operating Engineers had gotten at least a first shot, but some others are dead-set against this.

At least 63% of all school employees already have been vaccinated, not including those who may have gotten their shots outside the city.

Citywide, over 70% of adults have gotten at least a first dose.

The new requirement came as federal regulators gave full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine, one of three vaccines available in the U.S. All already have authorization for emergency use, but officials hope the full approval will increase public confidence in the vaccines.

School starts Sept. 13 for the city's roughly 1 million public school students.

U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona hailed the city's leadership on teacher vaccinations, tweeting that it's important to maximize the amount of inoculated people in schools.

New York, like some other cities and states, has been fighting the virus' highly contagious delta variant by ratcheting up pressure to get more people inoculated.

New York City last week began requiring proof of vaccination t o enter restaurant dining rooms, gyms and many other public places, a first-in-the-nation policy that a few other cities have copied. Meanwhile, New York state announced last week that hospital and nursing home workers would have to get inoculated.

Vaccine mandates for teachers are fairly rare so far in the U.S., though Washington state, for one, says teachers must be inoculated or face dismissal.

Vaccinate-or-test requirements for school employees are somewhat more common, existing in places including Los Angeles and Chicago, which are the two biggest U.S. school districts after New York. The state of New Jersey joined the list Monday with a new policy affecting teachers and state employees.

New York state's court system announced a vaccinate-or-test rule Monday for judges and staffers. Such policies already exist for other state employees and transit system workers.

A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 6 in 10 Americans say students and teachers should have to wear face masks while in school, and that teachers and eligible students should also be required to get vaccinated. But Democrats and Republicans differ sharply on these issues, the poll found.
WAVERLY, Tenn. (AP)  Anna Mays woke up in a panic attack Monday, thinking she was back in the rising floodwater.

Two days ago, she had been clinging for her life to the front door of her duplex in rural Tennessee as the water inched up to her neck. Her brother was hanging onto a tree.

Then Mays realized where she was: The gym at the Waverly Church of Christ, now her temporary home alongside other victims of record-breaking rain Saturday that sent floodwaters surging through the region, killing at least 22 people.

Her story has become a familiar one in Humphreys County, and particularly the small town of Waverly. Large swaths of the community are suddenly displaced, sorting through difficult decisions about what comes next even as they relive the horror of what just happened.

This morning I was having a panic attack and thought I was in water, and I was trying to get that way and trying to get this way. I was just scared half to death," said Mays, who doesn't know how to swim. "I was just, something woke me up and I thought I was in the water, and  I never have seen  Ive seen it on TV, but Ive never have seen it like it in life, where cars was going by.

Mays started gathering up a few belongings after a police officer came to the door of her duplex Saturday morning, telling her to evacuate. She and her brother could see the water rising quickly. Her brother was trying to keep it out of the house by shoving towels under the door, but they were soon overwhelmed. Minutes later, the flooded creek pushed open the door and water poured into the house.

Mays brother went outside to try to find a way onto the roof but ended up clinging to a tree. Mays held on to the front door until they were rescued by boat, escaping with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. Mays said the neighbor on the other side of the duplex lost her daughter, who was about 7 or 8 years old.

While survivors grappled with their recollections  more than 90 people stayed in shelters Sunday, according to the states American Red Cross chapter  rescue workers continued their arduous searches for anyone else swept away.

Authorities rummaged through heaps of debris as search and rescue teams used dogs to try to sniff out any missing people, Waverly police Chief Grant Gillespie said.

Theres still a lot of debris in and along the creek that needs to be examined. Thats a painstaking process, Gillespie said during a news conference. We have to tear that apart, a lot of times, with equipment.

The police chief said the number of people considered missing has fluctuated, as people have not been able to reach loved ones who are later confirmed to be safe.

Im reasonably sure that we are less than 10 right now that we are truly not sure about the whereabouts of, or that we dont think well resolve fairly easily, Gillespie said.

Saturdays flooding took out roads, cellphone towers and telephone lines, leaving people uncertain about whether family and friends survived the unprecedented deluge, with rainfall that more than tripled forecasts and shattered the state record for one-day rainfall. Emergency workers were searching door to door, said Kristi Brown, coordinated health and safety supervisor with Humphreys County Schools.

Many of the missing live in the neighborhoods where the water rose the fastest, said Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis, who confirmed the 22 fatalities in his county. The names of the missing were on a board in the countys emergency center and listed on a city of Waverly Facebook page, which is being updated as people call in and report themselves safe.

The Humphreys County Sheriff Office Facebook page filled with people looking for missing friends and family. GoFundMe pages asked for help for funeral expenses for the dead, including 7-month-old twins swept from their fathers arms as they tried to escape.

The death of the twins was confirmed by surviving family members. A foreman at country music star Loretta Lynns ranch also died. The sheriff of the county of about 18,000 people some 60 miles (96 kilometers) west of Nashville said he lost one of his best friends.

Up to 17 inches (43 centimeters) of rain fell in Humphreys County in less than 24 hours Saturday, passing the Tennessee record for one-day rainfall by more than 3 inches (8 centimeters), the National Weather Service said, though Saturday's numbers will have to be confirmed.

School was canceled for the week, according to the sheriff's office. Waverly Elementary and Waverly Junior High suffered extensive damage, according to Brown. About 2,000 homes in the county were without power Monday evening, utility officials said.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee toured the area, calling it a devastating picture of loss and heartache. President Joe Biden offered condolences to the people of Tennessee and directed federal disaster officials to talk with the governor and offer assistance.

Survivors played back the harrowing moments when the water closed in.

Billy Ray Rushing was staying with his daughter, Annie Rushing, when they were told to evacuate.

Right then and there, we got in the car and left, he said.

The water was already over their muffler. Their neighbor, Mary, on the other side of the duplex went back inside her home but soon was calling, asking them to come back for her, Rushing said. It was too late.

There wasnt any way we could get back there. I hate it, but I couldnt take the chance of her and me drowning, he said, indicating his daughter.

That same neighbor warned Jodie Stawski, across the street, to get out before the water reached their apartment.

But as we went, as we was driving out, we could see these people on their porches, said Stawski on Monday. And I think in my mind, they thought they were safe. That the water was not going to get that high. But from what I heard, it gushed at them. And we lost Miss Mary. She drowned in the process. She was our hero. She saved us.

___

Kristin M. Hall contributed from Waverly.
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The United Independent School District Board of Trustees and Superintendent David H. Gonzalez announce Laura P. De Los Santos as the new Executive Director of Special Education.

Laura P. De Los Santos is a 24-year veteran educator of United ISD with an extensive background in education. She is a graduate of Texas A&M International University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Educational Administration.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Texas Republicans brought back their voting bill Monday with no changes as some Democrats returned to the Capitol for the first time since ending their holdout, making it clear that the bill is on track to become law after their 38-day walkout.

Dozens of people showed up to testify before lawmakers to seize their last chance for public input on the the bill that will tighten voting rules in ways the GOP says will ensure election integrity and that Democrats say amounts to voter suppression for disabled people and minorities.

Senate Bill 1 would make mail voting a stricter process, increase liberties for poll watchers, and prohibit 24-hour and drive-thru voting, two ways Harris County  which includes Houston and where 44% of the nearly 5 million residents are Latino and 20% are Black  expanded options for voters and also offered protections against the coronavirus.

Candis Houston, who lives in Houston, said she arrived in Austin on Sunday night so she could show up early Monday to testify. She joined about 70 other people who arrived at the Capitol as the sun was rising.

Houston is against the voting overhaul and wanted to share her experience of using a drive-thru polling location with her daughters, including one who was positive for COVID-19, during the November election. Houston said she and her daughters' identities were thoroughly verified before they cast ballots, that they were not allowed to have cell phones out and that it was more convenient than having to go into a building to vote.

I had ancestors that died and marched for the privilege for us to vote, and anytime I can participate, I am going to be there," said Houston, who is Black. We should be encouraging people to vote and not limiting them by limiting where and when they can vote."

But Steve Lawrence, of the Houston suburb of The Woodlands, showed up to press lawmakers to pass the bill. Lawrence said he was precinct chairman, a partisan position that registers voters and encourages them to show up and cast a ballot. But he said he didn't trust the way the 2020 election was conducted and wanted to ask the Legislature to make procedural changes on how mail ballot corrections are managed, as well as language on forensic backups to results and system maintenance.

We are not happy with the election, and the way that there seems to be such a fight to stop any examination of the systems," Lawrence said. "I think they wouldnt be fighting so hard if there wasnt something there.

A House committee amended Senate Bill 1 on Monday to match language in the House version of the bill. The panel was expected to pass the legislation that will next head to a vote of the full House, leaving it just steps from the desk of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign it into law.

Texas is the last of the big GOP-run states that has yet to pass more restrictive voting laws, largely because more than 50 Democrats in the state House of Representatives jetted off to Washington, D.C., in July to block the proposals. The maneuver kept the House from having enough members for a quorum that would allow it to conduct business. It was an escalation of a similar tactic Democrats used by walking out during the waning hours of the regular legislation session in May.

Former President Donald Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen have stoked discontent among many Americans and driven the Republican Party to impose the changes. But GOP lawmakers don't frequently invoke Trump's name.

The legislative intent of the bill is the application of this code and the conduct of elections be uniform and consistent throughout the state to reduce the likelihood of fraud in the conduct of elections, protect the secrecy of the ballot, promote voter access and ensure all legally cast ballots are counted, so Texans remain confident in a reliable elections system said Republican Rep. Andrew Murr, the author of the bill. He told the House committee Monday that the language was inspired by bipartisan input.

Ending the walkout showed fissures among Texas Democrats, with some who wanted to keep holding out publicly criticizing their fellow representatives. But even Texas residents and activists who showed up to testify Monday acknowledged the end of what appears to be a losing battle is likely drawing near.

Far fewer people waited in line to speak compared to earlier in the year, when hundreds lined up. Texas' current surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations because of the super-contagious delta variant could have been one reason more avoided the crowded Capitol.

But Amber Mills, a volunteer with the nonpartisan organization MOVE Texas, which advocates for underrepresented communities, said the low turnout Monday didnt mean Texans support the voting legislation. And in her view, the fight against the bill already has had wins.

Even if lose on this bill today, or tomorrow, or whenever it happens, we are in a better position than we were last session and we know we will keep moving forward that way, Mills said.
Beth D. Ramage, formerly of Lockport, NY, passed away August 21, 2021 in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Beth was born May 17, 1931, daughter of Howard H. Dobbins and Almeda T. Dobbins. Beth was a graduate of Lockport High School and Queens College in Charlotte, NC. Predeceased by her husband of 6
Together for Hospice, which represents 26 Hospice and specialist palliative home care services throughout the country, has announced the launch of the 2021 Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice.

The campaign was launched by journalist and broadcaster, Miriam OCallaghan, who is calling on people in Longford to support this important initiative by hosting a socially distanced or virtual coffee morning social on Thursday, September 23.

Now in its 29th year, Together for Hospice alongside its long-term partner Bewleys want to make this years event bigger and better than ever and are asking people in Longford to get creative with their coffee creations and host a coffee morning social at a time that suits them  morning, noon, or night to raise funds!

Whether its morning mochas, lunchtime lattes or afternoon americanos, simply gather a group on Thursday, 23rd September, and do coffee your way, to help raise much needed funds to support the work of Longford Hospice Homecare. Those taking part are encouraged to host socially distanced coffee morning socials and follow all government guidelines*.

In 2020, the fundraising event raised over 1 million for local hospices and specialist palliative homecare services nationwide and contributed to a significant fundraising milestone for the event which has raised over 40 million since its inception in 1992. The funds raised have enabled local hospice groups such as Longford Hospice Homecare to fund front-line staff such as nurses and healthcare assistants who provide specialist, high quality and loving care to patients and their families, fund on-going facility enhancements as well as purchasing crucial equipment. Funds raised locally stay local and go directly back into each local hospice service.

Launching the campaign, Miriam OCallaghan commented, It is a pleasure to launch Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice. By getting together with family, friends, and colleagues for a coffee morning social we can support the vital work hospice and specialist palliative care services do for families and communities every day. This year we really want to see people in Kildare get creative with their events and coffee creations and take time together with loved ones to help make this the best year yet.

Dan Rooney, Chairperson, Longford Hospice said, We are delighted Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice is back for another year raising funds in support of Hospice in-patient and community services around here in Longford and around Ireland. The funds raised each year by the Irish public ensure we continue to provide vital support to individual patients and their families every day. We are incredibly grateful to the continued generosity of the coffee morning hosts, donors ambassadors and Bewleys for their longstanding support."

Jason Doyle, Managing Director at Bewleys Ireland & UK said, At Bewley's, caring for people and the community is at the heart of our business. We are immensely proud of our 29-year partnership with Hospice and proud to have helped raise over 40 million in vital funds for Hospices nationwide. Were delighted to be back in 2021 for Bewley's Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice and this year were encouraging people to not only host a coffee morning but to think outside the box and create events throughout the day. After all, coffee can be enjoyed at any time.

To register to host a coffee morning on Thursday, September 23, or on a date that suits you, go to www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie or call 1890 998 995. Hosts are provided with a Coffee Morning Pack containing Bewleys coffee, posters, and invitations free of charge. Remember, every cup counts!
Community, Charity & Cause

By Chris Boyle Published: August 24 2021

It is my honor to recognize and thank Courtney for the assistance she provided at the recent community concert, said Legislator Anker.

Suffolk County Legislator Anker recently attended a meeting of the Miller Place Fire Department at the Miller Place Fire House to honor Courtney OConnor, a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), for providing medical assistance during a summer community concert while she was off-duty.

It is my honor to recognize and thank Courtney for the assistance she provided at the recent community concert, said Legislator Anker. I was impressed by her medical knowledge, quick reaction time, professionalism, and compassion as she helped a resident experiencing a medical emergency. In addition, Courtney provided comfort to the residents small children reminding them that everything was going to be okay. I am grateful for the services of the Miller Place Fire Departments EMT and volunteer firefighter members like Courtney, who volunteer their time to ensure the health and safety of our community.

Last month, while Courtney OConnor was attending a summer community concert at Heritage Park in Mount Sinai, a resident experienced a medical emergency. Although Courtney was not on duty, she sprang into action as the first responder on the scene and provided medical assistance. Courtney OConnor is a recent Miller Place High School graduate and has been a volunteer member of the Miller Place Fire Department for a year.

For more information, please contact Legislator Ankers office at (631) 854-1600.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: August 24 2021

Bipartisan bill would hold drug dealers accountable for causing fatal overdoses.

Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini and New York State Sen. Todd Kaminsky were joined by Sen. Anthony Palumbo, Assemblywoman Judy Griffin, Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and members of the Suffolk County Legislature to announce the introduction of a bill that would create a death by dealer statute under the New York State Penal Law to hold drug dealers accountable for causing fatal overdoses. The bill was introduced by Sen. Kaminsky and co-sponsored by Sen. Palumbo in the State Senate and introduced by Assemblywoman Griffin and co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Giglio and Assemblyman Thiele in the State Assembly.

We simply cannot allow drug dealers to continue killing our family members, loved ones, and neighbors, District Attorney Sini said. It is a sick and depraved way of making money to sell drugs to people and play Russian roulette with their lives. We need to pass laws that empower law enforcement, not make it more difficult, to hold killers accountable. Its very simple: if you sell drugs and cause death, you will be held responsible for that death. This will give law enforcement the tools needed to hold drug dealers accountable, it will give families members who lost a loved one justice, and  perhaps most importantly, as a practical matter  it will provide a deterrent to drug dealers which will save lives.

When drug dealers kill, they should be treated like murderers, said Sen. Kaminsky. After a rash of overdose deaths on Long Island, yesterday I stood with Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini in support of my Death by Dealer legislation. Overdose deaths have increased dramatically, and law enforcement needs every available weapon in this battle. Right now, when a dealers drugs cause an overdose, the law does not allow them to be charged with homicide or even manslaughter. I have been working since 2015 with former District Attorney Madeline Singas and District Attorney Tim Sini to change this  and my bill with Assemblywoman Judy Griffin does just that. When a drug dealer causes an overdose, he should end up in prison, period.

I commend the work of local law enforcement for swiftly investigating and apprehending these suspected drug dealers and for their efforts at getting deadly drugs off our streets and out of our communities, said Sen. Anthony Palumbo. We must address this deadly scourge head-on. The new death by dealer legislation, which I co-sponsor, would reverse the trends of going soft on criminals and provide District Attorneys Offices and law enforcement with an important tool to keep drug dealers behind bars and deadly drugs off our streets.

The opioid and drug epidemic is a monumental problem on Long Island and throughout New York State and the laws holding dealers accountable must be strengthened, said Assemblywoman Judy Griffin. That is why Senator Todd Kaminsky and Is Death by Dealer'' legislation is so important. This legislation is a step in the right direction because it holds dealers significantly more accountable by increasing penalties and charges when a homicide occurs. When passed, this measure will be an effective way to combat the opioid and drug epidemic.

This is important legislation that puts peddlers of fatal drugs behind bars for good, said Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio. I'm calling on the Speakers of both houses to convene and adopt immediately, we must deter these dealers with this legislation to save lives. I'm proud to be a co-sponsor of this bipartisan bill.

Enough is enough, said Assemblyman Fred Thiele. I am terribly saddened by the recent fatal overdoses in our East End community. We need justice for overdose deaths now. We cannot stand by and allow yet another tragedy to occur in our communities before we take action. That is why I am a co-sponsor of the Death by Dealer statute in New York (A.6314), allowing us to charge dealers with homicide if someone dies as a result of their actions. We need justice and we need it now!

For far too long, the current system has made it incredibly challenging to hold dangerous drug dealers who peddle lethal poison to our communities accountable, said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. We need action now to help save lives. That is why I am calling on Albany to pass the Death By Dealer statute to help provide closure for families and hold those who knowingly sell these dangerous drugs in our state accountable for the lives that they steal from our fellow New Yorkers.

The proposed law would create a new statute under the States Penal Law for Homicide due to Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a class A felony, which carries a maximum period of incarceration of 25 years to life in prison, and Homicide due to Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a class B felony.

Under the proposed law, an individual would be guilty of Homicide due to Sale of a Controlled Substance if he or she commits one of several enumerated offenses in connection with the sale of controlled substances and the person to whom the controlled substance was sold dies from the injection, inhalation, absorption or ingestion of the substance.

Homicide due to Sale of a Controlled Substance charges will be upgraded to a class A felony if the drug is classified as a schedule II narcotic, an additional substance is added to enhance the effects, a dealer is aware that the user is under the influence of narcotics at the time of the sale, or if the dealer is aware that the user has participated in a rehabilitation program or has suffered an overdose within the last 30 days prior to the sale.

The proposed legislation also amends the current statute for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree to lower the aggregate weight of narcotics necessary for that charge, and to add a minimum number of packages of narcotics required for the charge regardless of weight.

New York State Penal Law currently includes a statute for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance to a Child; however, the proposed legislation would create two subsections for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance to a Child in the First Degree, a class A-II felony, and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance to a Child in the Second Degree, a class B felony. A person would be guilty of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance to a Child if he or she is over the age of 21 and knowingly and unlawfully sells a controlled substance to a person less than 18 years old.

Lastly, the proposed legislation amends the Penal Law statute for Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance to include the unlawful sale of electronic prescriptions or blank prescription forms by physicians or pharmacists.

The Suffolk County District Attorneys Office has previously convicted four individuals of Manslaughter in the Second Degree for selling drugs that caused fatal overdoses:

In August 2016, in a first for New York State, the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office indicted Roxy Headley Jr., of Mastic Beach, on a charge of Manslaughter in the Second Degree for selling heroin and fentanyl that caused a fatal overdose. Headley pleaded guilty on March 2, 2018, and was sentenced on May 16, 2018, to 11 to 15 years in prison.

In December 2016, the District Attorneys Office indicted James Fava, of Ronkonkoma, on a charge of Manslaughter in the Second Degree in connection with a fatal overdose. Fava was the first person in New York State to be convicted of manslaughter for causing a fatal overdose when he pleaded guilty on Nov. 16, 2017. He was sentenced on Feb. 13, 2018, to four to six years in prison.

John Brophy, of Riverhead, pleaded guilty on Aug. 30, 2019, to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a B felony, and Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a C felony. Brophy was sentenced on Oct. 3, 2019, by Suffolk County Court Judge Anthony S. Senft, Jr. to four to six years in prison
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(Sharecast News) - West Africa and India-focussed gold exploration and development company Panthera Resources announced on Tuesday that the initial assay results from the recent aircore (AC) drilling programme at Bassala had confirmed the presence of "significant" gold mineralisation.

The AIM-traded firm said "significant" drill intercepts from the five metre composite samples included 45 metres at 0.57 grams of gold per tonne from 25 metres, including five metres at 2.53 grams per tonne from 40 metres, and 30 metres at 0.88 grams of gold per tonne from 20 metres, including five metres at 3.18 grams per tonne from 20 metres.



It also highlighted 20 metres at 0.75 grams of gold per tonne from 15 metres, including five metres at 1.92 grams per tonne from 15 metres, as well as 15 metres at 0.44 grams per tonne from 25 metres, and 10 metres at 0.96 grams per tonne from 35 metres including five metres at 1.44 grams per tonne from 35 metres.



Panthera also reported 10 metres at 0.93 grams of gold per tonne from 30 metres including five metres at 1.38 grams per tonne from 30 metres, 10 metres at 0.87 grams per tonne from 20 metres, five metres at 5.1 grams per tonne from 15 metres, and five metres at 2.75 grams per tonne from 55 metres.



The final highlights included five metres at 1.67 grams of gold per tonne from 15 metres, five metres at 1.18 grams per tonne from five metres, and five metres at 1.08 grams per tonne from 20 metres.



Approximately 22%, or 843, of the 2,191 five-metre composite samples collected from the AC drilling had now been assayed at SGS Laboratory in Bamako.



The assay results were from four of the 13 targets drilled, with each of the targets returning "significant" gold intercepts.



Preliminary interpretation suggested a prominent, flat-lying or sub-horizontal structural control to gold mineralisation, similar to that evident at the nearby Kalana mine operated by Endeavour Mining.



The remaining 78% of assays would be reported periodically over the coming weeks, the board said, with the remaining nine of the 22 targets identified at Bassala planned to be drilled after the wet season.



"The assays to date are very encouraging for first pass aircore drilling and representing only four of the 22 targets we have identified at Bassala," said managing director Mark Bolton.



"All of the four targets tested have returned significant gold mineralisation from the shallow AC drilling and many of the intercepts may be close to true thickness if the current interpretation of relatively flat-lying mineralisation is confirmed."



Bolton said it was "encouraging" that the current interpretation was that mineralisation could in part be flat-lying, similar to the nearby Kalana mineralisation, which consists of a series of stacked sub-horizontal zones.



"If this interpretation is correct, only the uppermost zones will have been intersected in this shallow drilling, with potential for further zones at depth."



At 1108 BST, shares in Panthera Resources were down 1.85% at 13.25p.
(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Tuesday.







SMALL-CAP - WINNERS







Bank of Georgia Group PLC, up 3.5% at 1,504.60 pence, 12-month range 829.74p-1,662.00p. Peel Hunt raises rating on the Georgian lender to Buy from Add.







Hunting PLC, up 2.7% at 203.00p, 12-month range 120.10p-297.00p. The energy services provider makes USD5.0 million investment in Cumberland Additive Holdings in a move that sees Hunting diversifying into the additive manufacturing sector. Hunting says the investment provides the group with access to the fast growing additive manufacturing sector, which is increasingly being adopted by many of the firm's current oil and gas clients.







Pensana PLC, up 2.8% at 96.60p, 12-month range 38.00p-208.00p. The mining company says geotech drilling and trenching work has started at the Saltend rare earth oxide separation facility, in the UK. Says key milestone marks the start of building the world's first sustainable rare earth separation facility with a target production of 12,500 annualised tonnes of rare earth oxides, including 4,500 tonnes of magnet metal rare earth oxides. This would represent approximately 5% of 2025 projected world demand.







Tirupati Graphite PLC, up 1.7% at 113.37p, 12-month range 45.00p-160.00p. The advanced materials developer says for financial year to March 31, revenue was GBP1.1 million, up 42% from GBP793,577 last year. Total production was up 30% year-on-year, with total sales volume up 54%. Company remains on track and with its recent capital raise of GBP10 million in April and is in a sound financial position to deliver on the current phase under its medium-term development plan, it adds.







By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Exton, PA (19341)

Today

Thunderstorms, accompanied by locally heavy rainfall at times. Potential for flooding rains. High 74F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Showers with a possible thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 59F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
In coordination with Spain's ministry of defence, Llucmajor-based airline Air Europa has scheduled ten flights from Dubai, bringing over 2,000 Afghans, Spanish personnel and troops to the Torrejon de Ardoz military airport in Madrid.

The first of these flights was on August 20. At present, the last scheduled flight will be on August 28. The airline is using part of its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The final six flights will have capacity for almost 300 passengers.

Air Europa has a 15-year contract with the ministry for logistical and strategic flights. The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Teodoro Lopez Calderon, said on Monday that there are no more flight authorisations between Kabul and Dubai due to traffic saturation as there is only one runway, but that an attempt is being made to increase flights from Dubai.

The airline explains that it has a specific operations department working 24 hours a day on the flights from Dubai. Cooperation with the ministry is "maximum", as is the willingness of crews to fly when service is required.

Flight time from Dubai is around eight hours. The defence ministry has arranged provisions for the flights - picnic sets of sandwiches, nuts and water.
The Thiruvananthapuram district sessions court on Tuesday granted an anticipatory bail to former Kerala DGP Siby Mathews in the conspiracy case registered by CBI against him and 17 other police officers in connection with the ISRO espionage case.

Earlier, the CBI had approached the court

seeking custody of Siby Mathews to interrogate him.

He is the fourth accused in the case and was booked for offences including criminal conspiracy and kidnapping and fabrication of evidence, under the IPC, in connection with the arrest and detention of former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan in the 1994 espionage case.
FILE - This undated file photo provided by The Ford County Sheriff's Office in Paxton, Ill., shows Michael Hari, a militia leader convicted of masterminding the bombing of a Minnesota mosque, Hari is asking a judge to legally acknowledge her transgender identity. Emily Claire Hari was previously known as Michael Hari, who was found guilty last year of civil rights and hate crime charges related to the bombing of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington in August 2017.
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Allen Dean Semeski, Sr., 50, of Norman, formerly of Hartshorne, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 25, at his home in Norman. The family will welcome friends for visitation on Thursday, Sept. 2, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home in Hartshorne. Graveside funeral services will be F
FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2021, file photo the U.S. Supreme Court is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Joe Biden may have averted a flood of evictions and solved a growing political problem when his administration reinstated a temporary ban on evictions because of the COVID-19 crisis, but he left his lawyers with legal arguments that even he acknowledged might not stand up in court.
An interview of Han Fu, a 4th year PhD candidate in Prof. Kimberly Grays research group, was recently featured by Northwesterns International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN) article. The article highlights some of Fus research, specifically the synthesis and characterization of 3D functionalized crumpled graphene balls, which show strong and selective affinity for micropollutants in water. He discusses some of the pros and cons of doing research during a pandemic, as well as what makes a great mentor.

Han Fu graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a major in chemical engineering in 2010. He also holds a M.S. degree (2012) in chemical engineering from the University of Tokyo (supervised by Dr. Kazunari Domen) and a second M.S. degree (2020) in Environmental Engineering from Northwestern University. Prior to joining Northwestern University, he worked as a process engineer at a pharmaceutical company called Amphastar Pharmaceutical (2013-2018) located in Los Angeles. His experience in the pharmaceutical field inspired his career switch to environmental engineering and his desire to approach chemical product development from a preventive perspective.

Thousands of anthropogenic materials (also called micropollutants), coming from pesticides, organic solvents, detergents, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products, are discharged into waterways daily and potentially threaten ecological and human health. Fu and Gray have collaborated with Professor Jiaxing Huang formerly in Material Science & Engineering at Northwestern University (he has recently relocated to Westlake University, China) to develop a novel adsorbent based on three-dimensional (3D), stacking-resistant, crumpled graphene oxide balls (CGBs) to remove micropollutants in surface or ground water systems. Furthermore, he has synthesized a titanium dioxide (core)/crumpled graphene oxide (shell) composite which can adsorb and photodegrade micropollutants in water, which shows the promise of a self-regenerating adsorptive material for contaminant removal. The results of the work were recently published in Carbon and Nanomaterials.
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Mattie Wentz, 12, holds up her family's score sheet during harness racing at the Crawford County Fair on Monday. The family members guess which horse will win each race, with each correct guess awarded a mark on the sheet.
By June 2020, about 40% of adults in the U.S. were struggling with their mental health, and 13% of those had started or increased their substance use, according to survey results published in an August 2020 paper by another team.So, to get an idea of community-wide habits and anxiety levels at the start of the pandemic, Subedi's team at Murray State University used wastewater epidemiology.They calculated per capita consumption for a diverse set of drugs based on their presence in sewage entering treatment plants. With this technique, the researchers developed comprehensive and nearly real-time patterns of prescription and illicit drug use, which are important to public health authorities, law-enforcement and other agencies.The researchers collected raw sewage samples from treatment facilities in two towns in western Kentucky and northwest Tennessee, says Alexander Montgomery, a graduate student who is presenting the work. Back in the lab, they measured the levels of easily abused prescription medications, illicit drugs and their metabolites.As Montgomery explains, the team took extra precautions with these samples because no one knew if SARS-CoV-2 could survive in wastewater. "I had to be extremely careful with every step of the extraction and handling process," he says.Their results showed that consumption of hydrocodone  one of the most abused prescription opioids  spiked by 72% from March to June 2020. The researchers suggest the change was because people had easier access to doctors as they switched to telemedicine appointments. Conversely, the use of illicit stimulants dropped by 16% for methamphetamine and 40% for cocaine.The researchers suggest that travel restrictions limited interstate and international trafficking of these drugs. "Our results match with all of the sources that we could find pertaining to other drug estimations in the community," says Montgomery, including declines in city and state police methamphetamine and cocaine seizures.And now, even more recent data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that nationwide, drug overdose deaths increased by nearly 30% from the prior year with the majority caused by opioid overdoses. Overdose deaths from fentanyl-laced illegal stimulants also increased in 2020.At the same time, the prevalence of benzodiazepines  anxiety-related sedatives  was elevated by nearly 30% and antidepressants increased by 40%. In a related project that is also being presented by Subedi's team at ACS Fall 2021, they examined the same wastewater samples for isoprostanes  hormones that indicate oxidative stress and anxiety  and found their levels rose significantly."That tells us as people's anxiety levels increased, the levels of prescription drug consumption also increased," Subedi says, aligning with additional interventions recommended by health professionals to treat elevated mental health issues."The trends that we are reporting are only for the first four months of the early COVID-19 pandemic, and they may not be true for an extended period of time," Subedi says. Although the pandemic is now receding in some parts of the world, the team continues monthly wastewater sampling.Subedi notes that monitoring the trends of drug use and community-level anxiety post-pandemic will help explain the overall effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on people's lives.Source: Eurekalert
The whole world, including people who are not internet-savvy, know who Priya Prakash Varrier is. I mean, who would have thought that this young girl's lone wink would make her an overnight internet sensation?

The nation became fond of the actor from Kerala in no time as her 'winking' video went viral.

In a less than a minute-long video, Priya winks playfully at her male co-star, and this found a permanent spot not just on the internet but also in everyone's hearts.

 Instagram/Priya Prakash Varrier

 Instagram/Priya_FC

Priya has been in the news since she became the internet's most searched personality in the country. Soon, work started flowing in for her, and she went on impressing us with her skills.



She recently took off on a much-needed vacation to enjoy a break from work. However, her vlogs were being used, and they were circulated with out of context captions.

 Instagram/Priya Prakash Varrier

Varrier took to social media and spoke about how her privacy was violated during her trip. She said that her videos were being shared on many social media platforms with absurd captions. She also highlighted how cyber laws should be stricter so that people's privacy is not breached.



She said, "In today's highly digitalised world, almost everyone is affected by weak cyber laws. There are many cases of young women who've faced trouble online from different avenues and have even disappeared from different parts of the country in the recent past."

 Instagram/Priya Prakash Varrier

She also said, "Yes, people are interested in other people's lives, which I pointed out. Privacy is important for everyone, and I believe one should keep the privacy of person/celebrity if he/she is sharing any vlog from anyone's wall."



Varrier also did a movie called Love Hackers, which talks about cybercrime and misuse of technology. It also adds that strict statutory laws is the need of the hour and should be done to stop criminal activities in the cyber world.

The actor also explained, "We're living in a democratic country where we're free to practice any profession, speak and write our opinions without fear or favour and safeguard our privacy. It's the need of the hour irrespective of whether I'm a celebrity or a common man."

Priya has been trolled several times on the internet, and when asked about the toxicity, the 21-year-old said that she doesn't care about it anymore since it's in the virtual world.



She said, "Most importantly, what I do with my friends and how I live my life is my very personal choice. But in social media space, I do have respect for everyone's private space."

 Instagram/Priya Prakash Varrier

Apart from that, Priya was, however happy with her vacation. She concluded by saying, "It was amazing. One of the absolute best trips I've ever taken. After a long time, I felt lucky because I was exploring Russia. Majority of tourists visiting Russia only go to Moscow and/or St Petersburg. That's certainly a great start, but, surprisingly, there's a lot more to discover. Russia has a lot of gorgeous countryside, artistic treasures and intense history, epic train rides, unique wildlife and warm hospitality."


When a foreigner makes a peculiar remark about our country, especially the cuisine, Indians are bound to get irked.

A similar situation occurred recently when Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gene Weingarten commented on Indian food, which created a stir on the internet and it did not go quite well with the audience.

Actor-producer Mindy Kaling and model-television host Padma Lakshmi slammed the post that said, 'Indian cuisine only includes one spice'.

The article written by the columnist speaks about a lot of issues including how Indian food is wholly 'based on one herb'.

 iStock

 Instagram/Padma Lakshmi

Even Meena Harris, the niece of Vice President Kamala Harris, said in a Tweet, "Apropos of absolutely nothing name your ONE favorite Indian spice. Ill go first: asafoetida."



Apropos of absolutely nothing name your ONE favorite Indian spice. Ill go first: asafoetida.  Meena Harris (@meena) August 23, 2021

I love fenugreek! There are so many spices in this wonderful cuisine!  Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) August 23, 2021

Mindy Kaling, too expressed her displeasure and wrote, "I love fenugreek! There are so many spices in this wonderful cuisine!" She also tweeted, "You dont like a cuisine? Fine. But its so weird to feel defiantly proud of not liking a cuisine. You can quietly not like something too."

Top Chef mentor Padma Lakshmi couldn't hold back and replied in the series of tweets, "What in the white nonsense is this?"

She also mentioned, "Is this really the type of colonizer 'hot take' the @washingtonpost wants to publish in 2021- sardonically characterizing curry as 'one spice' and that all of India's cuisine is based on it?"

What in the white nonsense is this? pic.twitter.com/ciPed2v5EK  Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) August 23, 2021

She took to Instagram and shared the screenshot of the article. It read, "Indian food. The Indian subcontinent has vastly enriched the world, giving us chess, buttons, the mathematical concept of zero, shampoo, modern-day nonviolent political resistance, Chutes and Ladders, the Fibonacci sequence, rock candy, cataract surgery, cashmere, USB ports ... and the only ethnic cuisine in the world insanely based entirely on one spice. If you like Indian curries, yay, you like Indian food! If you think Indian curries taste like something that could knock a vulture off a meat wagon, you do not like Indian food."

The Washington Post has added a correction tonight to the top of the @geneweingarten column pic.twitter.com/p4yM7ar9Wk  Katie Robertson (@katie_robertson) August 24, 2021

However, it has now been modified and reads, "...rock candy, cataract surgery, cashmere, USB ports ... and curry. If you like Indian curries, yay, you like one of Indias most popular class of dishes! If you think Indian curries taste like something that could knock a vulture off a meat wagon, you do not like a lot of Indian food."

As she shared the former article, Padma wrote, "There is truly no need for something like this to be published in 2021 (or ever). Its racist and lazy at best. My issue is not this persons performative contrarianism (although it is tedious) or that he didnt enjoy the Indian cuisines hes tasted."



Post this incident, the journalist took to Twitter and spoke about his visit to an Indian restaurant. He also said that the food was made beautifully, but it was swimming with herbs and spices. He also said, "I take nothing back."

Padma Lakshmi finally replied and said, "On behalf of 1.3 billion people, kindly f*** off."

Here's how furious people are on Twitter with his remark on Indian food.

.@geneweingarten thinks Indian food is terrible because it is entirely based on one spice. Which is basically the opposite of the truth. pic.twitter.com/sumaGpOBl4  Anand Giridharadas @ The.Ink (@AnandWrites) August 23, 2021

Ah yes. That's why the masala dabba was invented: to hold that one spice in multiple containers. pic.twitter.com/tVPNjGfTed  Edward Anderson (@edanderson101) August 23, 2021

I pride myself on my Pakistani cooking. I also love South Indian, and fusion dishes. That you got paid to write this tripe, and boldly spew your racism is deplorable.

May your rice be clumpy, roti dry, your chilies unforgivable, your chai cold, and your papadams soft.  Shireen Ahmed- CanWNT Stan (@_shireenahmed_) August 23, 2021

who the fuck is @geneweingarten, how the fuck is he allowed to speak on food when his palate is so numb he thinks CURRIES are a single spice dish & why the fuck is WaPo publishing straight up National Front talking points disguised as food opinions? https://t.co/PrMNfeNroM  Shiv Ramdas (@nameshiv) August 23, 2021

You are a absolute idiot @geneweingarten. We even put 8 spices in our omelets. https://t.co/DD83aqkJZF  rabia O'chaudry (@rabiasquared) August 23, 2021

No one cares that you don't like it. It's the ignorance of saying it's "one spice" and assuming all Indian food is "curry" that rubbed people the wrong way. A diverse country filled with so many different kinds of food cannot be summarized by a colonizer's word like curry!  LaVidaLopa (@LaVidaLopa) August 23, 2021

This is one portion of my spice rack. And I cook cuisines of just 2 Indian states. "One spice"? pic.twitter.com/e2r2abfAKX  TheBrook (@Southern_Brook) August 23, 2021

Dude just write a glowing review of your favorite dish from Applebee's for your hometown newspaper and save us all the drama  Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) August 23, 2021
Most of us have grown up with taboo soaked lenses when it comes to discussing sex. In fact, a majority of our sex education comes from anecdotal conversations with our peers rather than well informed and structured education about consent, safe sex practices and overall sexual wellbeing.

 iStock

Teaching everyone, regardless of age, about the importance of sex is essential. It isnt solely the responsibility of parents, but of the government, schools and the medical infrastructure as well.



In a heartbreaking incident that transpired in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, a 25-year old ended up sealing his urethra with an adhesive, thinking it to be sufficient contraception as they didnt have access to condoms.

Police have begun investigations and according to their reports, Salman Mirza, aged 25, resided in the Fatehwadi area of Ahmedabad. On the 22nd of June, Salman and his girlfriend, accompanied by another woman, went to a hotel. The deceased and his partner have been reported to be addicted to hard drugs which may have also played a part in this fatal mistake.

 iStock

Having sex under the influence of drugs can be a risky proposition as the couple soon found out. The adhesive may have been erroneously used on his urethra by Salman Mirza as a way to avoid impregnating his girlfriend. No one can justify this as risque sex. Poor sex education as well as a drug-induced state may have essentially lead to the death of this youth. A report by The Times Of India states, Since they did not have any protection, they decided to apply the adhesive on his private parts to ensure that she does not get pregnant. They were carrying the adhesive as they occasionally used it with whitener to inhale the mixture for kick.



 iStock

The 25-year-old youth, Salman Mirza was found lying unconscious in the shrubs by a person known to him. He was rushed to Sola Civil Hospital as soon as his health worsened, before he eventually succumbed to his condition.



A case of accidental death has been registered after Sayrabanu Mirza, Salmans relative, lodged a complaint with the police. According to police reports, Salman used the adhesive to block his urethra which may have resulted in far more grievous consequences than the youth had anticipated.

We are waiting for the report on the deceaseds viscera sample that has been sent for forensic examination, DCP Premsukh Delu told TOI.

We cant possibly fathom what may have gone through the youths mind before they committed this blunder, however we hope it serves as a lesson for us and people around us to invest in sex education for all in this country.
The Karnataka government has asked IT firms in Bengaluru to extend the work from home policy till the end of the year. While you may think this might be related to the pandemic, the actual reason is entirely different. The Karnataka government has asked IT companies with offices on Outer Ring Road (ORR) or Bengalurus IT corridor to extend work from home till the end of December 2022 so that they can work on the Metro rail construction.

The request comes from the department of information technology, biotechnology, science & technology as the soon-to-be initiated Metro rail construction from Silk Board to KR Puram is about to begin. The metro line will go all the way to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).

 Unsplash/jonathan-kemper

We would like to bring to your notice that BMRCL (Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited) is starting metro construction works on Outer Ring Road (ORR) from Central Silk Board to KR Puram and the construction of the same could extend to about 1.5 to 2 years. The ORR houses many large Tech Parks and IT company campuses and carries [a] large amount of traffic throughout the day. The ORR, despite having 6 lanes and service roads, is infamous for its perennial traffic congestion, EV Ramanna Reddy, the additional chief secretary, IT/BT, S&T department said in his letter to the regional director of NASSCOM.



 Reuters

IT firms in Bengaluru were amongst the first companies in India to implement work from home policies when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in the country. However, many of the companies are planning to resume office in the wake of reduced COVID-19 cases in India.



However, the department argues that extending WFH till the end of the year will ultimately benefit IT companies. IT companies especially located in ORR, would extend the work from home option for most of the employees till December 2022, and/or the IT parks/companies may be advised to stagger the working hours for those employees working physically at office.

 Unsplash/firos nv

The department also requested companies that wish to resume working from office to ask their workers to use company or public buses to reduce the congestion. "We request you to circulate this advisory to IT companies located on ORR so that infrastructure development activities are carried out smoothly, which would also ease out traffic congestion in future, Reddy said.


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Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. High 93F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
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AG Nessel Seeks Public Input on Recent Power Outages

AG Nessel Seeks Public Input on Recent Power Outages

August 24, 2021

LANSING - Following her calls last week for utility companies in the state to prioritize customers who dealt with extended power outages, Attorney General Dana Nessel has launched an online feedback initiative to collect resident and business outage experiences as she continues to advocate for Michigan consumers.

AG Nessel's August Power Outages Feedback form is now live online. Residents and business owners who experienced an extended power outage are encouraged to fill out the form, which collects information including the resident's utility company, how long the outage lasted and the financial loss suffered.

"As a state, we must put a heavier priority on examining our utility companies and how they adapt to the changing climate and needs of their millions of customers," Nessel said. "It remains unacceptable that Michigan residents have grown to expect power outages every time there's severe weather in the forecast. We can-and must-do better. I appreciate the public's help by providing my office with information on the hardships they faced during extended outages."

The feedback form will take less than five minutes to complete and will help the Department better understand the impact the extended outages had on consumers. Nessel is also in the process of planning a listening tour focused on the hardest hit areas around the state.

As Nessel shared Thursday afternoon, DTE Energy's proactive recognition of the challenges the latest outages created by automatically pushing up to $100 customer credits helps relieve some of the frustration, but those credits should serve as the beginning of actions to address these problems. Consumers Energy has since announced automatic credits up to $25.

Last Monday, Nessel called on DTE Energy and Consumers Energy to make consumer credits automatic instead of an application process, and to provide greater credits to assist customers who lost hundreds of dollars or more in food and alternative housing costs. In addition, the Attorney General called on the utilities to create a fund to assist displaced customers during significant power outages such as those we are currently experiencing.

As the state's top consumer advocate, Nessel has pushed for changes before the utilities' regulating body - the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) - since taking office. Similar concerns were raised in a July 2019 letter to the former MPSC Chair and continued with comments filed with MPSC in August 2019, March 2020, and August 2020.

Despite Nessel's repeated efforts, Michigan utilities rank in the bottom quartile of reliability when benchmarked against utilities around the country, which includes being among the worst in power restoration time.

The feedback form will remain on the Department's website. The public's input is greatly appreciated.

Lynsey Mukomel agpress@michigan.gov Attorney General
AG Nessel Issues Statement Following Sixth Circuit Ruling Affirming MDHHS' Mask Mandating Authority

AG Nessel Issues Statement Following Sixth Circuit Ruling Affirming MDHHS' Mask Mandating Authority

Lynsey Mukomel agpress@michigan.gov Attorney General

August 24, 2021

LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a statement after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit sided with State defendants Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel and Nessel in Resurrection School v. Hertel et al.

The Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's decision to deny plaintiffs' request to enjoin a mask mandate because plaintiffs were unlikely to succeed on their Free Exercise, Equal Protection, and Substantive Due Process claims. In its ruling, the district court noted that MDHHS had a rational basis for the mask mandate.

"This ruling affirms our continued stance that MDHHS was well within its jurisdiction to impose a mask mandate to help control the spread of COVID-19 as children went back to the classroom last school year," Nessel said. "As science has proven and now the Sixth Circuit agrees, enacting a mask mandate in the manner in which MDHHS did so does not violate one's rights-it is a measure by which we can better protect public health."

The case was first filed last October in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. Resurrection School, a Catholic elementary school in Lansing, challenged MDHHS orders requiring children to wear a face covering in school and later appealed to the Sixth Circuit when the district court sided with the State.

A copy of Sixth Circuit's ruling, issued late Monday, is on the Department's website.

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MDHHS provides $11.5 million in federal Disaster Food Assistance Program benefits to 22,000 households in Washtenaw, Wayne; Gov. Whitmer presidential disaster declaration request paved way for support

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 24, 2021

CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112

LANSING, Mich.- More than 22,000 Wayne and Washtenaw county households received more than $11.5 million in federal Disaster Food Assistance Program benefits during a special application opportunity Aug. 12-19.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) accepted in-person applications over a seven-day period to provide benefits to eligible households affected by severe flooding and power outages at the end of June.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sought a presidential disaster declaration for the two counties due to the flooding and power outages on June 25-29. Whitmer and MDHHS sought and received Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) approval from the Biden administration through the Food and Nutrition Services within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"No Michigander should have to worry about putting food on the table, especially as they're facing extreme weather events and persistent flooding of their home and other property," said Gov. Whitmer. "This food assistance, approved by the Biden administration, helped 22,415 families in Washtenaw and Wayne counties as they continued to rebuild their lives after this summer's historic flooding. We will ensure that impacted families have the support they need right now and invest in our infrastructure to make it more resilient to increasingly extreme weather."

The total number of residents to receive disaster assistance is 87,517.

"Improving access to services and benefits, including food assistance, is an important MDHHS priority," said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. "I'm pleased we were able to provide assistance to residents of Wayne and Washtenaw counties affected by the flooding earlier this summer. I appreciate the dedication of the MDHHS staff who worked tirelessly to ensure this process ran smoothly and that Michiganders in need were able to get help."

MDHHS staff from over 60 of its offices across the state, including staff who relocated from other county offices to support the application process, assisted residents with their applications at eight locations in Wayne and Washtenaw counties.

Households determined to be eligible received a one-time-only benefit to spend on food. Households approved for Disaster Food Assistance Program benefits were issued a Bridge Card, an electronic benefits card similar to a debit card that can be used to redeem their food assistance benefits at eligible retail stores and farmers markets.

The federal Disaster Food Assistance Program application period is over, however, Michiganders in need of food assistance should visit Michigan.gov/FoodAssistance to learn more or they can apply for food assistance or other public benefits at www.Michigan.Gov/MIBridges.

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Lt. Governor Gilchrist Launches 'Thriving Cities' Tour to Continue Putting Michiganders First and Delivering Real Change

Lt. Governor Gilchrist Launches 'Thriving Cities' Tour to Continue Putting Michiganders First and Delivering Real Change

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 23, 2021

Contact: Press@Michigan.gov





Lt. Governor Gilchrist Launches 'Thriving Cities' Tour to Continue Putting Michiganders First and Delivering Real Change

Tour will make 25 stops across Michigan, including Flint, Saginaw, Benton Harbor, Lansing, and more

DETROIT, Mich. -- Today, in Detroit, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II launched the next phase of his 'Thriving Cities' tour. In 2019, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist started 'Thriving Cities' by holding conversations across Michigan to hear directly from community members in cities. This phase will analyze the tangible impacts of the game-changing investments the Whitmer/Gilchrist administration has made to help cities thrive, and explore ongoing, underlying challenges that they face.

"Michigan's cities offer tremendous opportunity to our people and we are proud of the progress we have made to help families, communities, and small businesses in our cities thrive. However, cities continue to have underlying, unmet needs, and the COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the disparities that Michiganders of color in cities face daily," said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. "I look forward to connecting with more communities across our state on this leg of the Thriving Cities tour to highlight what the Whitmer/Gilchrist administration has done and will continue to do Michiganders in cities. Our number one goal is to put Michiganders first by improving the quality of life in urban centers and increasing economic opportunity."

The Thriving Cities tour will be making 25 stops across Michigan, including meeting with residents from Flint, Saginaw, Benton Harbor, Lansing, and more.

"During my first tour across the state, it became clear that after decades of disinvestment, local communities across Michigan were struggling to address their crumbling infrastructure, broken education systems, and widening skills gap," said Gilchrist. "Since that tour, we made the largest K-12 investment in state history without raising taxes, made community college and job training programs free to help more people get good-paying, high-skill jobs, created 15,000 auto jobs including the first plant in Detroit in decades, and continued to fix the roads and repair water infrastructure. We made progress on these issues which were discussed in every city I went to on the first Thriving Cities tour. They're issues that people across Michigan face every day. On this tour, I'm looking forward to discussing more solutions we can pursue and investment we can make to meet every city's needs, from transportation to infrastructure to housing. Governor Whitmer and I will continue showing up, listening, and taking decisive action to get things done that make a real difference in people's lives."

For more information and that latest updates on the Thriving Cities tour visit: https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90502_95096---,00.html

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Gov. Whitmer Highlights "Outstanding Success" of MI Shot to Win Sweepstakes, which Increased Vaccinations Every Week During July

Gov. Whitmer Highlights "Outstanding Success" of MI Shot to Win Sweepstakes, which Increased Vaccinations Every Week During July

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 23, 2021

Contact: press@michigan.gov

Gov. Whitmer Highlights "Outstanding Success" of MI Shot to Win Sweepstakes, which Increased Vaccinations Every Week During July

LANSING, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer today was joined by leaders of the Protect Michigan Commission and Michigan Education Trust to announce all remaining winners in the MI Shot To Win Sweepstakes, a lottery-style raffle that gave fully vaccinated Michiganders a chance to win more than $5 million in cash and a combined total of nearly $500,000 in college scholarships.

"Thanks to every Michigander who got their shot, the MI Shot To Win Sweepstakes has been a success and we are continuing to make progress in keeping our families and communities safe," said Governor Whitmer. "But our work is not done. We are going to keep making efforts to reach people where they are, answer their questions and help them get their shots. If we work together, I know we can get this done and continue our economic jumpstart."

During a news conference on July 1, Governor Whitmer announced the launch of the sweepstakes alongside the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Association of United Ways, Michigan Association of State Universities, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

While the summer months historically report lower vaccination rates, the MI Shot to Win Sweepstakes helped Michigan reverse that trend during a critical period of time before the more infectious Delta variant became the dominant strain of COVID-19. Michigan recorded week-to-week increases for first dose vaccinations throughout July during the sweepstakes:

July 4-10 28,000 first doses administered

July 11-17 30,000 first doses administered

July 18-24 35,000 first doses administered

July 25-30 41,000 first doses administered

The sweepstakes helped increase the state's vaccination rates from 61% to 63%, supporting the climb toward the state's goal of a 70% vaccination rate. Michigan's vaccination rate now exceeds 65%, according to state's most recent data on the COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard.

Over that same July time span, more than 2.4 million Michiganders signed up to win cash prizes and over 106,000 Michiganders entered to win scholarships. The media coverage from the sweepstakes also generated more than $7 million in free publicity about the importance of getting one of the three safe and effective vaccinates.

"The sweepstakes and news coverage helped spur conversations between families and friends about the sweepstakes," said Protect Michigan Commission Director Kerry Ebersole Singh. "Several winners who were previously unvaccinated before the sweepstakes said they were inspired to get their vaccinations based on those discussions and the prizes they could win."

Michigan's sweepstakes was one just strategy the state and the Protect Michigan Commission has used to promote vaccinations, Ebersole Singh noted. Governor Whitmer created the Protect Michigan Commission in January. Housed within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, commission leaders are charged with helping to ensure every Michigander has a plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

With three safe and effective vaccines readily available to all eligible residents, the state of Michigan has seen the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths plummet for vaccinated individuals, while unvaccinated Michiganders remain vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19. From January to July of this year, unvaccinated Michiganders accounted for a staggering 98% of COVID cases, 95% of hospitalizations, and 96% of deaths.

Moving forward, the Protect Michigan Commission will:

Continue the commission's wide-ranging public education campaign.

Highlight Michiganders' COVID experience stories in its messaging and advertising.

Increase community access points for vaccinations through mobile clinics and community events.

Continue door-to-door outreach and canvassing efforts to low-coverage areas -over 200,000 doors have already been knocked in communities throughout Michigan -to encourage people to get vaccinated.

"If we work together to increase vaccination rates, we can continue putting people back to work, continue our economic jumpstart, and ensure students can safely learn in the classroom," Ebersole Singh said. "So please: get your shots to keep yourself and your loved ones safe."

The MI Shot To Win Sweepstakes giveaway featured $5 million in total prizes, including 30 daily prizes of $50,000, a $1 million prize and a $2 million grand prize. For those receiving vaccines ages 12 to 17, there were nine four-year college scholarships. Each scholarship drawing prize consists of a four-year Michigan Education Trust (MET) Charitable Tuition Program contract (valued at $55,000) that may be used to pay for tuition and mandatory fees at a college or university in accordance with MET terms and conditions.

Michigan's sweepstakes giveaway was powered by Meijer in partnership with the Michigan Association of United Ways and the State of Michigan. The statewide vaccine sweepstakes is supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Association of State Universities, Small Business Association of Michigan, Business Leaders for Michigan, Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, the Protect Michigan Commission and many more organizations.

The complete list of MI Shot To Win Sweepstakes winners include:

$2 Million Winner

Christine Duval, Bloomfield Township, Oakland County

$1 Million Winner

LaTonda Anderson, Grand Blanc, Genesee County

Michigan Education Trust Scholarship Winners

Landon Burkhart, Dakota High School, Macomb County

Karan Choudhary, Plymouth High School, Wayne County

Josiah DeBaets, Eastern High School, Kent County

Ian Miller, Salem High School, Wayne County

Meadow Surman, White Lake Middle School, Oakland County

Mallory Wheeler, Reading High School, Hillsdale County

Jackson Wittwer, Eisenhower High School, Macomb County

Kamare Wright, Thurston High School, Wayne County

Hudson Chambers, Grand Rapids City High Middle School, Kent County

$50,000 Daily Drawing Winners

July 1 Amber Berger New Baltimore, Macomb County July 2 Adrienne Peterson Southfield, Oakland County July 3 Chris Ackerman Detroit, Wayne County July 4 Larita Lee Wyoming, Kent County July 5 Jenna Basaj Sterling Heights, Macomb County July 6 Paul Bareno Rockford, Kent County July 7 Leslie Boney West Bloomfield, Oakland County July 8 Jonathan Barraw Traverse City, Grand Traverse County July 9 Mikayla Alexander Detroit, Wayne County July 10 Erika Smith Flint, Genesee County July 11 Majid Al-hacham Detroit, Wayne County July 12 Anthony Carroll Detroit, Wayne County July 13 Jonelle Shannon Grand Rapids, Kent County July 14 Debbie Cameron Port Huron, St. Clair County July 15 Jacqueline Mabee Allegan, Allegan County July 16 Clara Jekel Holland, Ottawa County July 17 Ke'Lexis Love Flint, Genesee County July 18 Brianna Hrejsa Grand Rapids, Kent County July 19 Brian Loussia West Bloomfield, Oakland County July 20 Diedrie Malloy (DJ) Kincheloe, Chippewa County July 21 Joshua Long Grand Rapids, Kent County July 22 Joel Cotton South Lyon, Oakland County July 23 Todd Demeyers Oakland Township, Oakland County July 24 Alyssa Armstrong Caledonia, Kent County July 25 Caleb Nielsen Paw Paw, Van Buren County July 26 Brandon Ebright Okemos, Ingham County July 27 Kevin Underwood Lowell, Kent County July 28 Brian Kulesz Sterling Heights, Macomb County July 29 Jacqueline Paul Indian River, Cheboygan County July 30 Breya Matthews Grand Rapids, Kent County

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Governor Whitmer Lowers Flags for Identified MIA Korean War Soldier

Governor Whitmer Lowers Flags for Identified MIA Korean War Soldier

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 22, 2021

Contact: Press@Michigan.gov

Governor Whitmer Lowers Flags for Identified MIA Korean War Soldier

LANSING, Mich. -- Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags to be lowered to half-staff throughout the state of Michigan on Monday, August 23 to honor the life and service of Corporal Dale W. Wright.

"I am lowering flags throughout the state to honor Cpl. Wright's service and the sacrifices he made for our country," Governor Gretchen Whitmer said. "I am grateful that his remains have finally returned home to Michigan. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those who were fortunate enough to know him."

Cpl. Wright served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.

He was reported missing in action along with Army Sgt. Jesse "Johnnie" D. Hill, after their unit was attacked near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea on Dec. 2, 1950. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. After nearly 70 years, Cpl. Wright's remains have been found and identified.

Cpl. Wright will be buried in Holly, Michigan.

The State of Michigan recognizes the duty, honor and selfless service of Corporal Dale W. Wright by lowering flags to half-staff. Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments and other organizations also are encouraged to display the flag at half-staff.

To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.

Flags should be returned to full-staff on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2021.

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Governor Whitmer on Afghan Resettlement

Governor Whitmer on Afghan Resettlement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 20, 2021

Contact: Press@michigan.gov

Governor Whitmer on Afghan Resettlement

LANSING, Mich.-Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued the following statement as the United States prepares to receive Afghans.

"Michigan's greatest strength is-and always has been-our people. We have a rich history of multiculturalism-from the Dutch who settled in the West, to the Finns who mined the North, to the Middle-Easterners who made Dearborn a flourishing center for Arab culture, and countless others who make us who we are. People from around the world have come to Michigan over centuries for good-paying jobs, a high-quality education for their kids, and the right to live and worship freely.

Now, as Afghan families flee violence and political persecution, it is our duty and honor to welcome them with that fundamental Michigan spirit of friendliness. The State of Michigan embraces the opportunity to welcome Afghan families as they find a new home to begin their lives.

As the situation in Afghanistan continues to unfold and we wait to hear further details from the U.S. State Department, the State of Michigan's departments and agencies are gearing up to ensure Afghans who may come to our state have the support they need to succeed. A network of departments across the state are at the ready to help ensure those who arrive in Michigan can get their feet on the ground.

We are grateful to the tens of thousands of Americans, including roughly 70,000 Michiganders, for their service to our country and to their families who made untold sacrifices over the past two decades. We must also recognize the complex set of emotions they may be feeling at this time. There are sons and daughters leaving Afghanistan today whose moms and dads fought in the same conflict a lifetime ago. There are tens of thousands of Afghans who helped our military on the ground who are now fearing for their lives.

The unfolding events register differently in the hearts and minds of those who served, and I encourage veterans who are processing their reactions to reach out to the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (1-800-MICH-VET) or local organizations geared towards veterans to have a conversation and get the help they may need. You answered the call to serve your country and now we have a duty to serve you."

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Governor Whitmer Appoints Susan Corbin as Permanent Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

Governor Whitmer Appoints Susan Corbin as Permanent Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 20, 2021

Contact: Press@Michigan.gov

Governor Whitmer Appoints Susan Corbin as Permanent Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that she appointed acting Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Susan Corbin to serve as permanent Director of the department. The Governor also thanked State Budget Director Dave Massaron for his service to the State of Michigan and congratulated him on his new role as Chief Financial Officer of Wayne State University, which he will transition to after completing the fiscal year 2022 budget.

"Michiganders across the state have benefited from Susan's leadership as Acting Director of LEO since October 2020, and I am proud to appoint her as permanent Director," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "Susan is a veteran of Michigan state government with decades of experience. She is a proven leader who will help us continue our economic jumpstart and make lasting investments in our families, communities, and small businesses. I look forward to collaborating with her as we create good-paying jobs and make progress on kitchen-table economic issues."

Susan Corbin has been the acting Director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity since October 2020. During her tenure as Acting Director, Michigan's unemployment rate has decreased for seven straight months, our economy is the fastest-growing in the Midwest, and we went from a projected $3 billion deficit to a $3.5 billion surplus.

"Susan has been a long-time supporter and advocate for hard working people in Michigan," said Ron Bieber, President of the Michigan AFL-CIO. "With her continued leadership in the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, I am confident that the prosperity of Michigan's workforce will remain a priority and that she will provide strong leadership, working with organized labor, to protect workers rights and continue to build Michigan's economy back better."

Previously, she was LEO's Senior Chief Deputy since its creation in August 2019. Today, Susan leads the department, with direct-line responsibility for the Labor agencies and Unemployment Insurance Offices.

In the past, Susan served in multiple roles across state government, including as a Senior Advisor in the Office of Governor Whitmer, Director of Customer Assistance in the Michigan Public Service Commission, Deputy Director and Chief of Staff for the Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth where she had oversight responsibility for the Unemployment Insurance Agency, the Worker's Compensation Agency, and the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration. She also served as Director of Appointments for Governor Granholm.

Ms. Corbin began her professional career working for the Michigan Departments of Commerce, Labor and Transportation assisting with their cultural, educational and trade relations with the People's Republic of China. She has a degree in International Relations from James Madison College at Michigan State University.

Dave Massaron, the current budget director, will transition to his new role at Wayne State University after completing the fiscal year 2022 budget.

"Dave Massaron has been an instrumental partner in the progress we have made for Michigan families," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "Thanks to Dave's leadership, we continued to put Michiganders first and worked across the aisle with the legislature to make several game-changing investments, including the largest education investment in state history without raising taxes. Dave will stay on the Cabinet through the fiscal year 2022 budget process to ensure our ongoing negotiations progress smoothly. I wish Dave the best of luck in his new role at Wayne State University. The state of Michigan and I are grateful for your service."

The Executive Office of the Governor has begun a search for a new budget director and will make an announcement in the coming weeks.

Before serving as State Budget Director, Dave was Chief Financial Officer of the City of Detroit, where he developed the strategy and budget to continue essential City operations and ensure Detroiters had services needed during the pandemic while balancing a budget with an over $400 million revenue loss.

In his prior role as Chief Operating Officer for the City of Detroit, Massaron led a team of departments that created a plan to fix Detroit roads and spur economic development along main streets in Detroit's neighborhoods. Massaron also worked to create the Detroit Promise Zone Authority and fund the Detroit Promise, which provides tuition-free college educations for Detroit high school graduates.

Massaron is a graduate of James Madison College at Michigan State University and the William and Mary School of Law.

Susan Corbin.jpg

Dave Massaron.jpg

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Gov. Whitmer Congratulates 57 Michigan State Police Trooper Graduates

Gov. Whitmer Congratulates 57 Michigan State Police Trooper Graduates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 20, 2021

Contact: Press@Michigan.gov

Gov. Whitmer Congratulates 57 Michigan State Police Trooper Graduates

As 75 recruits prepare to begin next academy, State Police seek applicants for next classes

LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined with the Michigan State Police (MSP) today to celebrate the 57 troopers who graduated this afternoon from the 139th Trooper Recruit School.

During the ceremony in Lansing, in which Governor Whitmer was the keynote speaker, Col. Joe Gasper, director of the MSP, administered the Oath of Office to 57 individuals who begin their assignments at MSP posts across the state next week.

"Public service is a noble calling and I'm proud of the 57 graduates who join the ranks of the Michigan State Police today to begin serving the people of Michigan," said Governor Whitmer. "The Michigan State Police is one of the premier law enforcement agencies in our country, and I want every trooper to know that as a former prosecutor, I got your back and I recognize and appreciate the sacrifices you make to keep us safe."

The 139th Trooper Recruit School began on Sunday, March 7, 2021, with 75 prospective troopers, at the MSP Training Academy in Lansing. Recruits received training in patrol techniques, report writing, ethics, cultural diversity and implicit bias, decision making, leadership, first aid, criminal law, crime scene processing, firearms, water safety, defensive tactics and precision driving.

Tpr. Brock Bowers was elected Class Orator by his fellow recruits and spoke on behalf of the graduating class at their ceremony. Also recognized during the ceremony were Tpr. Charles Gutt who received the Team Building Award, Tpr. Joseph Milbocker who received the Outstanding Performance Award, Tpr. Aaron Tait who received the Academic Achievement Award and Tpr. Shawn Cosgrove who received the Marksmanship Award.

"Today as we celebrate adding these 57 individuals to the Michigan State Police family, their future is laid out in front of them, full of opportunity and excitement," said Gasper. "At a time when solidifying and growing relationships with the communities we serve is critically important, I know these newest troopers will rise to challenge, helping us to continue to deliver the very best in law enforcement services."

Including the 57 graduates of the 139th Trooper Recruit School, there are approximately 1,215 troopers assigned statewide, and a total of 1,900 enlisted members in the MSP.

The next recruit school, the 140th Trooper Recruit School, begins on Sunday, Aug. 22, at the MSP Training Academy in Lansing with 74 prospective troopers. They are expected to graduate on Feb. 17, 2022.

With hundreds of trooper vacancies due to continued attrition, the MSP Recruiting and Selection Section and Training Division remain busy. The MSP is actively recruiting for future trooper recruit schools, including the 141st Trooper Recruit School, which is the department's first recruit school for licensed law enforcement officers and the 142nd Trooper Recruit School.

Persons interested in learning more should visit www.michigan.gov/MSPjobs for information on how to apply.

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Governor Whitmer Calls on Michigan Utilities to Put Families First

Governor Whitmer Calls on Michigan Utilities to Put Families First

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 20, 2021

Contact: press@michigan.gov

Governor Whitmer Calls on Michigan Utilities to Put Families First

Governor urges utilities to boost payments to Michiganders facing power outages, invest in longer-term solutions to keep the lights on

LANSING, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer calls on DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, and Indiana Michigan Power to take immediate action to help Michigan families dealing with extended power outages and commit resources to improve reliability through tree trimming and grid hardening.

"This summer, Michiganders have been dealing with extreme weather events that led to lengthy power outages and repeated flooding," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "More than 750,000 Michiganders lost power over the last few weeks, with some outages lasting up to a week on some of the hottest days of the year. Outages like these lead to fridges full of spoiled food, interfere with life-saving medical equipment, disrupt the workday, and exacerbate the dangers of unmitigated hot weather. We need tangible, immediate action from Michigan's three largest utility companies to ensure the production and delivery of affordable, reliable energy to every family, community, and small business."

Governor Whitmer is calling on utilities to automatically credit Michiganders who experienced outages and increase the amount paid out. She is also asking for immediate action to reduce disruptions to power by increasing tree trimming and other grid-hardening practices. These extra investments should be financed by the company, rather than customers. Safe, dependable energy is key to a high quality of life and strong economic growth. The state's electric grid must be up to the task so families, communities, and small businesses across Michigan can keep the lights on.

The Governor also encourages the Michigan Public Service Commission to prevent utilities from recovering outage-related costs from customers; require utilities to develop more extensive emergency preparedness plans; and speed up the adoption of rules that will increase grid security and reliability.

Over the last two years, the State of Michigan has taken several steps to boost reliability and study the electric grid. This includes work to implement the recommendations identified in the 2019 Statewide Energy Assessment and the MI Power Grid initiative. It is clear, however, that further action is needed to make our electric infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.

The letters can be read here:

Utility Outage Letter to CEOs.pdf

Utility Letter_Outages_MPSC.pdf

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LONDON (AP)  For months, Gabrielle Walker had been looking for a part-time job. She applied to restaurant chains and retailers like Nandos and Primark, and she scoured the job search site Indeed.

Nothing.

Then one day, Walker, a 19-year-old student at University College London, was scrolling through TikTok and stumbled on a video about an app called Stint. A face on the screen explained that Stint could help students earn money by working brief temporary stints at places like restaurants and bars that require little training or experience.

Walker downloaded the app, took a 15-minute intro course and days later snagged a job polishing cutlery at a Michelin-star restaurant in London  for one day. Between May and June, she took on several other gigs, squeezing them into her class schedule where she could.

Everyone could do it, Walker said.

Stint, in use across the U.K., has grown in popularity, alongside similar apps in the United States like Instawork and Gigpro, as one response to the peculiar ways in which economies have been rebounding from the pandemic recession. Uncertainty about the durability of the recoveries and the tentative re-openings of businesses still threatened by the coronavirus have made flexibility a top priority  for workers and employees alike.

As the hospitality industry, in particular, confronts worker shortages, these apps are helping form an ultra-short-term worker-employee relationship, something that hasn't widely existed in recent decades. Walker noted that even students with no relevant experience could sign up with one of these apps and likely find paid work  as brief as a couple of hours  that fits their schedule from week to week.

In contrast to Stint, Instawork and Gigpro are suited more for skilled or experienced workers who want or need short-term shifts. Collectively, the newer apps represent a variation on the many gig apps that sprang up in recent years  from Uber and DoorDash to TaskRabbit and Thumbtack  that typically serve households in need of a one-time service. What distinguishes the latest apps is that they link workers with employers that have a steady need for labor but don't necessarily want to commit to permanent hires given the uncertainties from the pandemic.

Its no surprise that during COVID, when everything became virtual that these ... marketplaces might have exploded, said Fiona Greig, co-president of the JPMorgan Chase Institute, a global financial thinktank, whose research expertise includes the online platform economy.

The newer gig apps could potentially help ease the labor shortage in England, where nearly all pandemic restrictions were lifted last month. Most recently, its  pingdemic  by which the National Health Service alerted people to self-isolate if they had been in close proximity to someone who had tested positive for the virus  disrupted businesses. Many workers had to isolate themselves, and some stores had to shut down temporarily for lack of labor.

Gig economy workers can help plug the gap, said Mariano Mamertino, a senior economist at LinkedIn.

While Mamertino holds out hope that pandemic-related shortages will ease as Englands economy reopens and vaccine rollouts continue, one question mark that remains for the UK," he said, is whether firms will have to permanently adapt to a new post-Brexit status quo.

Not everyone is celebrating the trend. UKHospitality, the leading trade association for Britains hospitality sector, suggested that while businesses are used to innovating, the economic forces that have created staff shortages in the industry could pose enduring problems.

The association, along with the British Beer and Pub Association and the British Institute of Innkeeping, asserted that the road to recovery requires that the government put in place the right trading environment," including an expansion of business tax cuts. UKHospitality has also urged an overhaul of post-Brexit visa rules to make it easier for foreigners to work in the industry.

Sol Schlagman, who co-founded Stint along with his brother, Sam, drew from his own experience as a college student in creating it.

Its the student that needs to have money to pay their rent," he said, "but its also the student that wants to buy a pair of shoes they wouldnt necessarily buy otherwise.

The restaurant chain Chipotle uses Stint to recruit workers at short notice to cover peak times in our restaurants," said Jacob Sumner, its director of European operations. Chilango, another food chain, said its stores use the app when they need extra pairs of hands during busy times.

The use of apps to connect businesses and workers for short-term gig work appears to be a growing trend in the United States as well.

The biggest change we see is this desire for flexible staffing on both sides, said Sumir Meghani, CEO and co-founder of Instawork, which connects businesses with temporary or short-term hourly workers.

During the pandemic, Meghani said, businesses discovered that the rise and fall of viral cases  and the resulting disruptions to their operations  sometimes require them to scale up or down at any given notice.

Greater flexibility in the worker-employer relationship during the pandemic period is also what Gigpro's founder, Ben Ellsworth, has observed. His app, which operates in three Southern U.S. states, is expanding, to try to address staffing shortages exacerbated by the pandemic.

Ellsworth, who spent years in the restaurant industry, said that with eateries in particular, workers have been plagued with low wages, lack of incentive, no real focus on flexibility or quality of life. Stuck at home after being laid off, many of these workers either turned to other industries, Ellsworth suggested, or came to recognize gig work as an opportunity to tailor their work hours to their own needs. That realization arrived just as businesses, too, sought workers to fill part-time hourly slots  at least temporarily  as business restrictions eased.

Now that restrictions have been lifted and businesses are starting to boom again," Ellsworth said, "theyre getting stretched.

While the flexibility provided by these apps serves a need now, some critics foresee a threat to workers over the long run. If gig workers replace jobs formerly filled by permanent restaurant or retail employees, they could diminish job security, along with sick pay and other benefits.

The flexibility of the gig economy may be welcome when crises take out regular staff, but this comes at a potential cost to society," said Ann Light, a professor of design and creative technology at the University of Sussex.

Still, Greig acknowledged that the apps can lower barriers to entry for people who need cash quickly, a category that includes many young workers with limited work experience.

The role of gig workers, for employment purposes, can vary widely with these apps. Student users of Stint are employed as workers, guaranteed a set wage and accrued holiday pay. On the other hand, those who use Instawork are considered independent workers who can choose to be either contractors or employees. Gigpro users are independent contractors.

Platforms also take their cue from an international perspective, Light suggested, even as they battle local jurisdictions. This year, Uber drivers in Britain won rights as workers. Similarly, last week, a judge struck down a California measure that exempted app-based ride and delivery services like Uber from a state law requiring that drivers be classified as employees eligible for benefits.

In the meantime, the worker apps appear to be filling a niche. For Monty Jackson, a student at the University of Plymouth in England, the work gigs he's obtained through Stint have helped fund his swimming hobby.

He had been working part time at restaurants and bars. But the work shifts he received had interfered with his studies. Now, he plugs in only the hours when hes available and picks up a work slot sometimes the same day he looks for one.

The flexibility attracted me," Jackson said.

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This story was first published on August 24, 2021. It was updated on August 26, 2021 to correct the name of the Instawork app.
MANISTEE  The Armory Youth Project was recently awarded a grant of $3,500 from Knizacky Insurance Agency through the Farm Bureau of Michigan Agent Charitable Fund in support of the Armorys mission to provide a safe environment where young people grades 6-12 can build community and be encouraged in their educational, emotional, physical and Christian spiritual development.

We are excited to be able to support the Cooking Matters for Teens program, providing the supplies and food that will help the youth learn self-sustaining behaviors of food preparation, said Matthew Knizacky and Joshua Gray of Knizacky Insurance Agency in a press release.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)  Hundreds of students at the University of Michigan could be couch surfing when the new school year begins next Monday.

A developer admits that The One, a new apartment complex in Ann Arbor, is behind schedule and won't be ready until September, MLive.com reported.
MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP)  Residents across the waterlogged Northeast began clearing mud and tearing out sodden carpets Monday after deluges dropped by Tropical Storm Henri, whose remnants threatened further flooding in New England as the system made a slow trek back to the sea.

The smell of sewage filled the air as residents of Rossmoor, a retirement community in central New Jersey's Monroe Township, returned to soaked homes and ruined possessions after Henri turned their streets into rivers.

Roseann and John Kiernan said theyd have to likely toss their appliances, tear up walls and carpets and replace their car after their house filled with nearly 2 feet of water on Sunday.

This is what we were left with. Nothing, nothing, lamented Roseann Kiernan. They told us that everything has to go.

A few miles away from Monroe, the whirring of portable pumps split the air on the main street in Jamesburg, another hard-hit New Jersey community.

Luke Becker, who operates the Four Boys ice cream stand along with his three brothers  one of six the family owns  said nearly 4 feet of water rushed into the shop, dislodging a tall cooler and leaving 3 inches of mud behind.

We were initially hoping to be back open by Labor Day, but now it looks like weve got to go through all the plumbing and rip out a ton of electrical because we dont know how much of that was affected, he said. Right now theres really no timetable.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy toured the storm-ravaged towns Monday, which remained under a flood warning until midnight.

Henri spared coastal areas of New York and New England major damage when its center made landfall Sunday in Rhode Island. But its size and slow speed led to deluges in areas from Maine to Pennsylvania.

On Monday, Henri's remnants, now considered a post-tropical cyclone, were moving eastward over New England at a leisurely 9 mph but were expected to accelerate later, prompting flood watches or warnings across swaths of the Northeast.

In the Catskills region of New York, Hunter Town Supervisor Daryl Legg believed his mountain community, which was devastated by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, would be able to weather the slow-moving storm.

I think we escaped any kind of danger so far only because of the length of time it took for the storm to move through, he said. This has been a 24-hour period, so its not really the same storm, thank goodness.

But downpours, flooding and even tornadoes were still possible in New England, where officials fretted that just a few more inches would be a back-breaker following a summer of record rainfall.

The ground is so saturated with water that every inch of rain creates immediate floods and flash floods, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday after seeing damage in the community of Canterbury, where nearly every home lost power Sunday amid heavy winds.

No deaths have been attributed to Henri, but thousands remained without power across the region as crews scrambled to remove toppled trees and power lines through Monday.

President Joe Biden has declared disasters in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and Connecticut, opening the purse strings for federal recovery aid to those states.

Annette Landry, a resident of Manchester, Connecticut, a Hartford suburb some 40 miles inland, hoped Mondays rains wouldnt be a repeat of the deluge that left three units in her condo complex under a few inches of water Sunday.

Firefighters said they helped evacuate 18 homes and made several rescues after Henri dumped about 5 inches of rain.

It was a tragedy that this happened, because the people who live here are people who can ill afford to live anywhere else, said Landry, a 72-year-old retiree whose second-floor home was spared.

In central New Jersey, Dolores Hebert was still shaken Monday after being ferried to safety by boat with her dog and cat as 8 inches of rain fell and water surged through the streets in Rossmoor.

I was sleeping and when I woke up, it was up to my knees, the 76-year-old said as she stood by a front door bearing 18-inch-high watermarks. I didnt know what to do. I panicked.

___

Associated Press writers Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, Michael Hill in Albany and Philip Marcelo in Boston contributed to this report.
TOKYO (AP)  Japans government adopted an interim plan Tuesday that it hopes will win support from fishermen and other concerned groups for a planned release into the sea of treated but still radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant.

The government decided in April to start discharging the water into the Pacific Ocean in the spring of 2023 after building a facility and compiling release plans under safety requirements set by regulators. The idea has been fiercely opposed by fishermen, residents and Japans neighbors including China and South Korea.

Under the plan adopted Tuesday, the government will set up a fund to buy fisheries products and freeze them for temporary storage to cushion the impact from negative rumors about the discharge. The government will also help promote Fukushima products to restaurants and other food industries.

The government also plans to start raising fish in the water treated to levels allowable for discharge as part of a safety awareness campaign. Further details have yet to be decided.

The accumulating water has been stored in about 1,000 tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi plant since 2011, when a massive earthquake and tsunami damaged its reactors and their cooling water became contaminated and began leaking. The plant says its storage capacity will be full late next year.

Japanese officials have said ocean release is the most realistic option and that disposing of the water is unavoidable for the decommissioning of the plant. Government and TEPCO officials say tritium, which is not harmful in small amounts, cannot be removed from the water, but all isotopes selected for treatment can be reduced to safe levels for release.

More than a decade after the crisis, fisheries and agricultural products from Fukushima are still often priced lower or shunned by retailers and consumers, though all marketed foods are tested for radiation.

The plan adopted Tuesday requires the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, to pay compensation in case of economic damage from the water discharge.

TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa, who attended Tuesdays meeting, told reporters afterward that the company plans to release a compensation scheme soon and that it takes seriously possible consequences of the water discharge.

Japan has obtained agreement from the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor and review the release of the treated radioactive water from the Fukushima plant into the Pacific. The monitoring and review will start before the discharge, which is expected to take decades until the plant's decommissioning ends.

Experts from IAEA will visit Fukushima for water sampling ahead of the release and compare results with those by TEPCO, as Japan hopes monitoring by the respected agency would help gain international understanding.

While Japan works with IAEA for safety monitoring and evaluation of the water discharge and disclosure to the international community, the government will do utmost to ensure a sustainable business environment for fisheries and other businesses and stay close to those affected by the disaster, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at Tuesdays meeting.
The Huron County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Eugene Tip MacGuire to be the new Huron County Health Officer, which will take effect on Oct. 1.

MacGuire was nominated as the replacement for Ann Hepfer, who announced her intent to retire earlier this year. He has served as the environmental health director for the Huron County Health Department since 2009, served as Tuscola Countys environmental health director from 2006 to 2009, and has over 27 years of experience in environmental and public health.
The Chief Science Officer (CSO) Leadership Training Institute (LTI) for the Great Lakes Bay Region was held in mid-August at Saginaw Valley State University.

Midland Public Schools CSOs from DHS, MHS, JMS and NMS were among the more than 80 CSOs from the Great Lakes Bay Region who participated in this year's LTI, Midland Superintendent Michael Sharrow shared in this week's email communique. Midland Public Schools participates in the CSO Program in partnership with Saginaw Valley State University.
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  Oregon was once the poster child for limiting the spread of the coronavirus, after its Democratic governor imposed some of the nations strictest safety measures, including mask mandates indoors and outdoors, limits on gatherings and an order closing restaurants.

But now the state is being hammered by the super-transmissible delta variant, and hospitals are getting stretched to the breaking point. The vast majority of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated.

The intensive care unit at Salem Hospital in Oregons capital city is completely full, with 19 of the 30 beds occupied last week by COVID-19 patients, the youngest only 20 years old. It's the same at a hospital in Roseburg, a former timber town in western Oregon. A COVID-19 patient died in its emergency room last week while waiting for an ICU bed to open, an event that was deeply distressing to the medical staff.

We need your help, grace and kindness, the staff of CHI Health Medical Center said on Facebook. They are reeling from the extraordinary onslaught of new cases and hospitalizations."

Oregon is among a handful of states, including Florida, Arkansas and Louisiana, that have more people hospitalized with COVID-19 than ever before.

This is really a dire situation, said Jeff Absalon, chief physician executive for St. Charles Health System in Bend. National Guard troops were deployed to the mountain town's hospital last week to assist medical workers.

Some 1,500 guard troops have been dispatched to hospitals around the state by Gov. Kate Brown, who warned of the seriousness of this crisis for all Oregonians, especially those needing emergency and intensive care.

Oregon keeps breaking records for the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, reaching 937 on Monday. That's a 50% increase over last year's record, when vaccines were not yet available. More than 90% of Oregon's adult hospital and ICU beds are currently full.

And on Monday Legacy Health, a hospital system in Portland that includes six hospitals, said it was pausing all non-urgent surgical procedures for two weeks to create bed capacity.

Lisa, a nurse in Salem Hospitals ICU, told a small group of visiting journalists Friday that she is both frustrated and sad to see a record number of COVID-19 patients, even though vaccines are widely available. She spoke on the condition that her last name not be used, because the pandemic and how to fight it have become highly politicized.

Weve been dealing with the second wave when we thought  I guess we hoped  it wouldn't come. And its come. And its harder and worse, way worse, than before," she said. Hours earlier, a COVID-19 patient died in the ICU.

As she spoke, a patients heart monitor beeped. A mechanical ventilator occasionally added a higher-pitched tone. Fifteen of the COVID-19 patients were on ventilators. The hospital's wellness department, which normally recommends yoga and deep breathing for relaxation, recently set up a booth and filled it with dinner plates for a different kind of stress relief.

We put on safety glasses, Lisa said. And we took plates and we shattered them. And I kept going back. I kept going back, and they told me I had enough turns.

She said one advantage over last year's surge is that she's vaccinated, so she is not as scared of dying. Another improvement is that there are plenty of masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment.

Other than the beeping monitors, the ICU was quiet. The COVID-19 patients are heavily sedated and behind closed doors. Outside their rooms stand poles draped with IV bags, the tubes running through a crack in the door so nurses can change the bags without exposing themselves to the virus.

Beds outside the unit can be upgraded to ICU-level care by adding monitors and life-support machines, said Martin Johnson, the ICU medical director. A rapid-response team composed of an ICU nurse and an ICU-level respiratory therapist provide backup support, he said, stressing that the hospital can still take in patients.

After conferring on each patients medical status, ICU team members, who have spent a year and a half trying to keep COVID-19 patients alive, stand in a circle, sometimes holding hands, and try to come up with positive things to say.

Sometimes it's, Their oxygen needs are less, or their fever is gone, Johnson said. At other times, its The patient opened his eyes and squeezed my hand.

When there is no improvement, staff will instead express gratitude for each other or for the support of patients' relatives.

Oregon's early success against the virus may have helped fuel the delta variant's toll on the state, because the aggressive measures to curb the first surge left many population pockets with no immunity. And though some 72% of adults statewide are at least partially vaccinated, that number drops to less than 50% in 10 of Oregons 36 counties.

Oregons low immunity level, considering previous infection rates and the number of unvaccinated people, creates a high risk for new infections, said Renee Edwards, chief medical officer at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

Compounding the problem: Oregon has, along with Washington state, the lowest per-capita supply of hospital beds in the nation. The two states each have only 1.7 beds per 1,000 residents, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit focusing on national health issues. South Dakota ranks first, with 4.8 beds per 1,000.

It will be a race against time to see if Oregon's health care system can withstand the current surge before it eases off. Oregon Health & Science University predicts the peak will be Sept. 7.

___ Cline reported from Portland, Oregon. Cline is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Getty Images

The real estate market is hot right now in Michigan, with listings getting multiple offers and selling for over the asking prices in just days. In many Michigan communities, the pace of sales is hitting a record: in the Dearborn area in June, homes stayed on the market for 13 days, down from 28 the year before, according to real estate data service Realcomp.

This trend in Michigan is mirrored nationwide. The national market reached what the National Association of Realtors called crisis-level this year. The study, called "Housing is critical infrastructure", found that the U.S. is in the midst of an "underbuilding gap" of around 6 million housing units dating back to 2001.
STAMFORD  Attorneys for Connecticut and the eight other states that oppose OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharmas proposed settlement of thousands of lawsuits reiterated this week their objections to the broad legal protections sought by the firms owners, as they opened their arguments during an often-tense bankruptcy hearing on the plan.

Arguably the most controversial component in Stamford-based Purdues settlement framework is a stipulation for the Sackler family members who own the company to be released from the pending lawsuits, as well as potential claims related to Purdue. The plan also seeks releases for more than 1,000 other parties associated with Purdue and its owners, including Sackler family members not directly involved with the company.

Those potential releases are a condition of the Sacklers offer to contribute about $4.3 billion in cash to the settlement proposal, which Purdue values at more than $10 billion. The Sacklers have not personally filed for bankruptcy.

Its our view, and the view of the other objecting states, that the breadth of the releases provided for the Sacklers  given what we believe theyve done leading up to this bankruptcy  does not seem right to us, Irve Goldman, an attorney with the law firm Pullman & Comley, said in his arguments for Connecticut and the other opposing states during the remotely held hearing on Monday. That belief is based on the recognition that if the plan is confirmed they will have gotten every bit of protection and more that they would have received in their own bankruptcy.

Earlier in the day, Purdues attorneys said in their opening arguments that the companys settlement offer represented the best opportunity to resolve the more than 600,000 claims against Purdue and deliver billions of dollars to help tackle the opioid epidemic.

If we do not seize this opportunity, if we squander this moment, billions of dollars for the creation of a public benefit company  all dedicated to abatement of the opioid crisis  will be lost, said Marshall Huebner, one of the companys attorneys.

Huebner described Purdues settlement plan as a tightly woven tapestry of no fewer than 14 incredibly complex and mutually dependent sets of settlements among tens of thousands of the debtors creditors.  Pull out a core thread, and the tapestry unravels.

Under other key components of Purdues plan, the Sacklers would agree to relinquish control of Purdue so that it could be restructured into a new public benefit company focused on using its funds to tackle the opioid crisis. In addition, they have proposed selling their international pharmaceutical businesses.

Despite the proposal, Purdue and the Sacklers have denied the accusations in the lawsuits, including one from Connecticut, that the company fueled the opioid crisis by deceptively marketing OxyContin, a powerful painkiller.

Trying to find common ground

Purdues attorneys also cited support for the settlement plan, referencing the backing of 95 percent of voting creditors, including about 40 states.

Huebner said the 120,000 voting creditors ranked as the most voting creditors in the history of Chapter 11 bankruptcies. But that total comprised only about 20 percent of Purdues claimants.

Connecticut has opposed Purdues settlement plan since the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2019 in a federal court in White Plains, N.Y.

California, Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington as well as the District of Columbia also oppose the proposal.

There is a scenario in which additional consideration could be provided in order to achieve full consensus, Goldman said. But the parties have chosen to simply draw the line here and attempt to force a resolution on the objecting states.

A few moments later, Judge Robert Drain asked Goldman how he would respond in a hypothetical scenario of one holdout deciding that no amount of money was enough.

That is a difficult question to be answered. To be principled about things, we would have to respect the judgment of that one holdout, Goldman said. If we believed it was truly an adequate settlement ourselves, I think it would be up to us to prevail on that holdout to see it our way.

During several points of the objecting parties arguments, Drain appeared irritated by the presentations of those groups attorneys. In one exchange, he admonished Matthew Gold, an attorney for Oregon, Washington and the District of Columbia, in response to a reference he made to the Sacklers.

You have hundreds of thousands of people who hate the Sacklers who have agreed to this (settlement plan). Its not for the Sacklers benefit, Drain said, raising his voice. Its because theyve made a calculation that they do better  they the creditors do better, they the victims do better. They would love to have the Sacklers pay more money. This is not a plan for the Sacklers. Get over that rhetoric.

After about seven-and-a-half hours of proceedings Monday, the confirmation hearing for Purdues settlement plan is scheduled to continue Wednesday. The hearing started Aug. 12, and Drain is expected to make a ruling by the end of this week.

If an agreement can be reached with the remaining objecting states  that involves not only narrowing the (third-party) release, but providing for additional funds or clarifying the injunctive relief in the plan  the parties should focus on that tonight and Wednesday, Drain said at the end of Mondays proceedings. That will clearly be your best opportunity to do so, and you should use it. The time is past at this point to speechify.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott
Editors note: The audio clips included in this story are only a small sample of the 40-plus calls made to 911 the night of the shooting at the Danbury Fair mall. They include examples of callers describing the scene, looking for instructions and providing tips about the shooting. One call has been edited to protect the identity of the caller.

DANBURY  Newly released 911 calls show shoppers, employees and their families fear as they hid from a shooter at the Danbury Fair mall earlier this month.

Dozens of people called 911 on the evening of Aug. 11 after at 15-year-old girl was shot outside Macys. The release of the 911 recordings follows a Freedom of Information Act request from Hearst Connecticut Media.

Just get here fast, Danbury mall, Macys said one caller, who said she heard a gunshot and then saw everyone run.

The calls, at least 40 in total, provide further insight into the leads police had the night of the shooting. They ranged from store workers who locked themselves and patrons in back rooms to family members seeking information so that they could relay it to their loved ones who was trapped inside. Others gave tips to the dispatcher about the shooting and some were looking for direction on what to do while inside the mall.

One caller reported seeing someone run out of the mall, throw something into a bush by Macys, jump in a black Ford or Chevy, and drive away in the direction of Pier 1 Imports.

He kept on looking back and he tucked something into his waistband, the caller said. And then once he got close enough to the bush, he threw it into bush, and sprinted and got into the truck.

The dispatcher took down the callers information, told her and her group to wait, and that a detective would call.

Police have said the teenage girl was shot in the upper chest. She was part of two groups who were in an altercation prior to the shooting. Police described video surveillance footage as showing eight members of one group and an unknown number in another.

A 14-year-year-old boy has been charged with the shooting and further information, including his name, is sealed due to his age. It was unclear whether the 15-year-old girl was the intended target of the shooting, but did state the target may have been a person wielding a hammer.

One caller reported finding a hammer near her car. The dispatcher took down her contact information so police could follow up on scene.

I saw the person was running off with a hammer, and they dropped it off in front of my car, said the caller, who told the dispatcher she was going to Macys with her husband and saw people running out of the store.

A few people called to report an active shooter in the mall.

Others described hiding in the back of stores or what they heard to the dispatchers.

We thought we just heard a gunshot, said a caller who identified himself as the supervisor at the LEGO store. All the other stores closed around us.

OK, just shelter in place, the dispatcher said. Did you see anybody? Did you see anybody run or anybody do the shooting?

I didn't see any shooting, the supervisor said. But I saw everybody running. Pfoof, I just had to take a breath.

OK, just shelter in place, OK, the dispatcher said. We have officers on the way.

A couple callers told the dispatcher in whispers they were hiding behind the Disney store. Dispatchers told shoppers and employees to stay put and wait for the directions of officers, who eventually evacuated people from the mall.

One caller asked the dispatcher what she should do.

I just heard something really loud outside and all the doors started closing, she said. Should I close my store, too?

Yes, close your store and wait and take shelter, the dispatcher said.

Do you know what happened? the employee asked.

No miss, he said.

Do you know what happened? she said.

Do what I told you, he said.

Can I go outside or can I stay in the store? she said.

No, the dispatcher said. Shut the store and remain in the store.

Im in the store, she said. Im just really scared right now.

Okay, the dispatcher said.

So my sister is going to come pick me up. Should I  she began.

Miss, no one is going to go in the mall now, he said. I have to go. I have to take other emergency calls. Just take shelter.

Family members who had loved ones in the mall called to ask for information, but dispatchers had little to give.

Theres an active incident going on, the dispatcher told one caller. Just tell your wife to shelter in place.

The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing and police recently said it is possible more arrests will be made.
MIDDLETOWN  A city man has been accused of assaulting hospital staff while in police custody.

Lewis A. Nicholas, 28, has been charged with felony assault on emergency personnel and second-degree criminal mischief following the incident.

Middletown police said they were called to the Middlesex Hospital emergency room around 3:10 p.m. last Wednesday by Portland police, who said a person in their custody was assaulting hospital staff.

Police said a nurse told officers that Nicholas arrived in hand and leg cuffs, and began screaming and threatening staff, as well as kicking so much that the shackles started to cut his ankles. He was placed in hospital restraints, but Nicholas continued to fight with staff, police said.

As a doctor was administering medications to him, Nicholas continued to hit the stretchers safety rails, so the nurse put seizure pads against them to prevent him from further injuring himself, police said.

He then spit in my face, laughed, cleared his throat and spit on my chest, the nurse told officers, according to the incident report.

When he was transported to the police station, Nicholas urinated on the booking room floor after being told he had to wait to make a phone call, the report said.

When police were about to take him out of the room, Nicholas reached through an open window and pulled a computer monitor off the desk, breaking it, according to the report.

Nicholas was in Portland police custody on charges of violating a protective order, first-degree criminal trespass, interfering with an officer/resisting arrest, second-degree threatening, assault on emergency personnel and failure to comply with fingerprint request, according to the state judicial website.

Nicholas has several convictions stemming from incidents between January 2013 and May 2019, including first-degree escape out of the New Haven court system, the report said. He was sentenced for that incident to one year in jail, suspended after four months, according to judicial records.

He was also convicted of several probation violations, felony first-degree failure to appears, violation of a protective order, fifth-degree larceny, and other crimes, records show.

Nicholas is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond and is expected to appear in state Superior Court at Middletown Sept. 17.
MIDDLETOWN  For many first-generation and low-income students, simply the idea of attending college can be daunting. The cost of higher education might be prohibitive. The application process can be complicated and overwhelming.

Even with a committed support network, it can all be too much.

Oftentimes for first-generation students, college is not something thats expected  It is now starting to be a little bit more like hey, you should go to college, but it is not as widespread as in more affluent communities, said Miguel Peralta, director of Wesleyan Universitys Upward Bound Math-Science program.

The program is pulling down those barriers for high school students in Middletown, Meriden and New Britain. In 2021, 30 of the 32 students who graduated from the program are moving on to higher education. Twenty-six of those students are bachelor-degree bound. Over 100 students participate in the program in the three towns, with most joining after their first year of high school and staying through graduation.

Approximately 90 percent of Upward Bound participants over the past five years are continuing their education. This is the level of success we are accustomed to, Peralta said. We are trying to help students not just go to college but to thrive there as well.

Wesleyan has had a long and rich history with Upward Bound going back to the programs inception five decades ago. The program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, helps students who are interested in mathematics and science prepare for college. In addition to an intensive six-week academic summer program that includes math, science, writing, and language training, students are taught financial literacy and other pertinent skills.

In keeping with Wesleyans emphasis on the importance of a liberal arts education, students have the opportunity under ordinary circumstances to travel to cultural events, museums, plays, and art exhibits. Students can also do community service. All of the activities are set up to push students to expand their worldview, he said.

Students with a wide range of interests and abilities join Upward Bound. Students who are struggling work alongside those who are getting good grades, each bringing their own unique contributions so that they can all be successful.

Peralta said that the programs structure allows his team to take a more personal approach with the students. We help rising seniors with their college application process. We hand hold as much as we can, and explain things to the students and their parents to ensure that they know what they need to do in order to complete the application. Well walk them through the enrollment and financial aid processes, Peralta said.

For Peralta, a Middletown native, even after a decade at Wesleyan, the job is personal. He graduated from the program in 2003 and went on to the University of Connecticut for his undergraduate work and Central Connecticut State University for graduate school. Upward Bound helped change the trajectory of Peraltas life, an experience he hopes to share with students.

When he hosted the programs Senior Dinner on June 15, Peralta watched a group of kids celebrate a big step towards a bright future  one much like the step he made some time ago. The great thing about this is you are able to take a look back and see how far theyve come and much theyve grown, he said.

Editors note: Steve Scarpa is manager of media and public relations for Wesleyan University. This article has been reprinted with permission from the News @ Wesleyan blog.
What do you remember about the day of Sept. 11, 2001?

For the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Hearst Connecticut Media is asking for readers to share their memories from that day.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  Chad's former dictator Hissene Habre, the first former head of state to be convicted of crimes against humanity by an African court after his government was accused of killing 40,000 people, has died in Senegal. He was 79.

Habre, whose case for years showcased Africas reluctance to put its despots on trial as he lived in luxurious exile, had recently contracted COVID-19 according to local media reports. His death Tuesday at a Dakar hospital was confirmed by Jean Bertrand Bocande, director of the penitentiary administration.

The former dictator, first arrested in Senegal in 2013, had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2016 but ultimately served about five years in prison following his conviction.

Human rights activists say Chad was a ruthless, one-party state under Habres rule from 1982 to 1990. A fearsome security service headed by members of Habres Gorane ethnic group was placed in every village, documenting even the slightest transgressions against the regime, they said.

The list of offenses meriting arrest included speaking ill of Habre, listening to enemy radio stations or performing magical rites to aid the enemy, according to a truth commission appointed shortly after Habre fell from power. That commission concluded Habres government oversaw 40,000 killings.

Hissene Habre will go down in history as one of the worlds most pitiless dictators, a man who slaughtered his own people, burned down entire villages, sent women to serve as sexual slaves for his troops and built clandestine dungeons to inflict medieval torture on his enemies, tweeted Reed Brody, a human rights lawyer who worked for years to bring Habre to justice.

But even five years after Habres conviction, torture survivors and families of the dead have not seen one penny" in compensation, Brody wrote in a piece for Human Rights Watch earlier this year.

The African Union has failed even to establish the court-mandated trust fund to search for Habres assets and solicit contributions, he said.

As Senegal confronted a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, some victims' advocates had urged the government to make sure Habre was vaccinated, ensuring he would serve a long sentence behind bars.

As a victim of Hissene Habre he is a human being like any other. He died  I cant say Im happy, but thats his fate," said Rachel Ndounodji, who husband was killed during the Habre regime. But how to forgive him? We are halfway there. And how to forgive him? The victims are not yet compensated.

Lawyer Jacqueline Moudeina, who represents victims families in Chad, vowed Tuesday to press ahead with those compensation claims despite Habres death.

For Younous Mahadjir, who was held for four months at the end of Habres rule for distributing anti-regime pamphlets, the overwhelming impression of the period was fear.

At any moment they could arrest you, said Mahadjir, who while in detention had water poured down his throat until he lost consciousness. During Habres time, to be prudent, when you slept you wore your clothes, because you never knew when they might come for you.

Detainees were subject to a wide range of torture techniques. Some were burned, others were sprayed with poison gas and still more were forced to put their mouths around the exhaust pipes of running vehicles, causing severe burning when the motor accelerated.

Habre was born the son of a farmer in the northern Chadian town of Faya-Largeau in 1942. The country was still under French colonial rule, and he worked as a civilian for the French military before being selected to study in France, where he earned a law degree.

He returned in 1971 to work for Chads foreign affairs ministry, but he soon became involved in a peasant rebellion of Muslim northerners against the largely southern-dominated Christian government.

His rise did not seem driven by ideology. The final report of the truth commission sharply criticized Habres opportunism, describing him as a man without scruples motivated by power alone. Thus he would join with the armed rebellion one moment and with the government the next. To win over public sympathy, he portrayed himself by turns as a convinced Maoist and a fervent Muslim, the report said.

In a later passage, the report said that despite Habres education, his comportment and thinking are not much different from those of a camel thief.

Habre became prime minister under then-President Felix Malloum in 1978, but Malloum fell from power the following year.

In 1982, Habre deposed President Goukouni Oueddei, beginning his eight years as head of state. Aware that his regime was under threat from Libya, Habre created his security service known as the Directorate of Documentation and Security, or DDS, not long after becoming president.

He received substantial support from the United States and France because he was seen as a bulwark against former Libya dictator Moammar Gadhafi, according to Human Rights Watch. Habre received hundreds of millions of dollars in American aid and was invited to the White House, HRW says, while support from France came in the form of arms and logistical support.

Documents left behind by the DDS highlight the extent to which Habre oversaw its day-to-day operations.

What these documents make very clear is that Hissene Habre was kept informed of virtually everything, from the cloth being used for uniforms to the deaths of prisoners, said Brody who discovered the documents spread across the floor of the old DDS headquarters in Chads capital, NDjamena. What we see here is a control freak, really, who was keeping on top of every detail.

One document says the DDS was intended to serve as the presidents eyes and ears, while another notes that a facility for very special prisoners was placed near the presidency so Habre could keep tabs on them. The documents mention more than 12,000 victims of Chads detention network, indicating that Habre received direct communications concerning 900 of them.

Habre fled to Senegal after being overthrown in December 1990. For 22 years, he lived freely and comfortably even during the periods he was technically under house arrest, splitting his time between two large villas in the seaside capital of Dakar  one for his Chadian family, the other for the family he started with a Senegalese woman he took as a second wife.

All this time, Habres victims were working to bring him to trial and they filed a case against him in Senegal in January 2000. He was indicted the following month, but his lawyers successfully moved for the case to be dismissed, arguing that Senegalese courts could not judge someone for crimes committed in Chad.

A separate case was initiated in Belgium, and Habre was indicted there in 2005. But Senegal refused to take any action. In 2012, the International Court of Justice ruled that Senegal needed either to try Habre or to extradite him without further delay. In collaboration with the African Union, Senegal established a special tribunal to try Habre, and he was finally arrested at one of his villas on a Sunday morning in June 2013. Two days later, the court formally charged him with war crimes, crimes against humanity and torture.

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Associated Press journalist Oliver Monodji Mbaindiguim in N'Djamena, Chad, contributed to this report. Robbie Corey-Boulet contributed reporting when he was working for AP in Dakar, Senegal.
CHESHIRE  Attorney Alexandra Cavaliere Gasser learned two months before marrying her law school sweetheart, Joe Gasser, that she had ALS, a progressive neuromuscular disease that is 100 percent fatal.

Now, a year later, they still have the blissful aura of newlyweds, even as her condition deteriorates, requiring help with the basics of daily living such as turning in bed.

We had a special relationship before the diagnosis, but Id say now we have something thats one of a kind, she said. He pretends to be stoic, hes the most empathetic and caring person I know.

Alexandra Gasser has lost physical abilities  her speech is heavily slurred, she uses a walker, a scooter, her limbs are weak, she exhausts easily and becomes winded.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media

Joe Gasser, also an attorney, said that as the couple comes up on their one-year wedding anniversary, hell never forget the sense of unreality he felt being in the neurologists office with his then-fiancee as they were told she had a progressive neuromuscular disease, not yet identified as ALS.

Alexs disease and what weve gone through the last one-and-a-half years has strengthened our relationship, he said. Were always in each others corner and theres nothing we cant say to each other. We might be stronger as a couple.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis  ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease  breaks down nerve cells, reducing the function of muscles. Ten percent of the cases are genetic and 90 percent, like Alexandras, are random. There is no cure and life expectancy is three to five years from the onset of symptoms. In the final stages, sufferers lose their ability to talk, chew, drink and breathe.

As the clock ticks, the couple is fighting desperately to get access to stage three clinical trial medication treatment through pending legislation. Alexandra Gasser doesnt qualify for the trials, in part because of the amount of time since symptoms emerged.

Contributed photo

The first symptoms of ALS emerged in 2019 when she was on a work trip and noticed she was slurring like I was a little drunk.

A doctor did some diagnostics and told her there was nothing wrong and not to worry about it.

A nurse friend told her she should get a second opinion; by the end of January 2020 she knew it was a neuromuscular disease. In July 2020 it was confirmed ALS  by then she had leg weakness as well as slurred speech.

ALS is terrifying, she said. Honestly, its a punch in the gut when you get told you have ALS. The disease is 100 percent fatal.

The Gassers are realistic about the grim prognosis. And, as ALS acts uniquely in each victim, they have no idea whats ahead.

They couple, as well as Alexandra Gassers mother, Lorri Cavaliere of Bethany, have lobbied heavily for Connecticuts two U.S. senators to cosponsor the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act, reintroduced by U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.

Contributed photo

If approved, the bipartisan bill would in part give Alexandra Gasser access to already FDA-approved therapies that have shown promise in halting ALS progression.

The couple got hopeful news this week when U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told the Register he would cosponsor the bill.

Blumenthals support will strengthen the bill in the Senate and increase its chances of coming up for a vote and being approved, Joe Gasser said.

I will support the bill and I will do whatever I can to help pass it, said Blumenthal, who is helping to lead efforts to put $200 million for ALS research in the next federal budget.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who met remotely with the family recently, said he was looking at the obstacles.

In a statement, Murphy said he was grateful I had a chance to meet with Alexandra and her family as they courageously fight against this terrible disease.

There are a number of barriers to accessing potentially lifesaving treatments such as those currently in clinical trials for ALS. Im working with my colleagues to find ways to lessen those obstacles while ensuring quality standards are in place, Murphy said.

Contributed photo

Alexandra Gasser said the hope is that treatment could halt the disease  or maybe even reverse some symptoms  so that she can live long enough for a treatment or cure to be found.

Im expecting the worst but hoping for the best, she said. Im living my life like I only have a few years left.

The couple met on Sept. 18, 2014, at an orientation for the University of Connecticut School of Law, when they were among those assigned to carry an American flag at the event. They wound up standing next to each other.

He was a handsome nerd who didnt know he was handsome, Alexandra Gasser said.

As for Joe Gassers future wife, she was downright irresistible.

Alex was the most outspoken woman I met in my life. Her confidence and enthusiasm were something I couldnt resist, he said.

She became a corporate attorney who specializes in mergers and acquisitions, he a litigation attorney who works for the New Haven firm Jacobs & Dow.

Alexandra Gasser is still working  the disease leaves ones mind fully intact  But Im winding down, she said, because she can no longer write, as movement in her fingers and hands has deteriorated.

Her speech is increasingly slurred, making her difficult to understand  or as she puts it: My voice has flatlined. That means her ability to emphasize a point or express an emotion such as excitement are gone. The effort it takes to talk is exhausting and takes her breath away.

Contributed photo

That ability to speak clearly is what she misses most, because she once was an expert at explaining complex concepts, she said.

We do a good job with nonverbal communication, Joe Gasser said.

Alexandra Gasser puts humor into the tragic situation every chance she gets, even poking fun at her limitations on Instagram.

I wanted a place where I could talk about ALS without it being so depressing, she said, noting she gets lots of comments on the social media page from people with and without ALS.

Shes also not holding any pity parties for herself.

Ive lived a life so fortunate. People wait their whole life to live the life Ive had, she said. This disease has changed my whole perspective on life. Its intensified every relationship thats most important to me.

She is known as a fiercely independent woman, so Joe Gasser knows not to run and help his wife to get up if she falls.

So, hed give me a little smile and say, Let me know when you want help, she said. Hes great at helping me feel independent.

Every time I saw her having difficulty I wanted to run over and solve it, he said. But you just let her know youre there if she wants help.

Alexandra Gasser knows what she cant do. She cant turn in bed without help, Joe does the cooking, she needs assistance with most every daily routine and is starting to have difficulty swallowing.

Alexandra Gasser said shes disappointed they wont have children, but its a decision they made, he said, because they may not have very long with their mom, and that wasnt a decision we want to make for them.

The couple, married at Chatfield Hollow Inn in Killingworth, soon will celebrate her 30th birthday and their first wedding anniversary, and her birthday in Hawaii with family.

I make the most of every day, she said.
HADDAM  Nonagenarian Nestor Gendreau had a rare opportunity last week to take part in a ceremonial flight on an 81-year-old airplane as part of a program that allows WWII veterans to relive their military days.

Gendreau, who lives in the Higganum section of town, flew in the aircraft as part of a commemorative event sponsored locally by Sport Clips and organized by Dream Flights International, according to a press release issued by his son Gerald Gendreau.

The 20-minute flight left from a small airport in nearby Chester and toured the lower Connecticut River Valley and Long Island Sound, the news release said. Many state and local members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, as well as friends and family members, were in attendance.

Gendreaus flight was piloted by James Sims, who flew an open-cockpit, Boeing Stearman 75 biplane. Designed in 1940, the plane was used as a military training aircraft during the war. Sims was assisted on the ground by his copilot Garett Williams, according to his son.

Dream Flights is a service organization whose pilots fly six similar vintage Stearman planes across the country. Based in Carson City, Nevada, with its maintenance hangar near San Antonio, Texas, the organization honors nonagenarian WWII veterans with period accurate flights, the release said.

In fall 1944, Gendreau, 18 at the time, was drafted, and left his familys potato farm in the remote, French-speaking Aroostook County of northern Maine to join the service. He traveled by rail to attend basic training at Camp Kroft in South Carolina, and was scheduled for immediate deployment to the war effort in western Europe, his son said.

Just as he completed basic training, news came that President Roosevelt had died. In the ensuing month, the war in Europe finally ended.

With the end of the war, Gendreaus orders changed quickly. He boarded another train, this time bound for Camp Maxey in Texas. Once there, Gendreau underwent advanced training to prepare for the anticipated but dreaded ground invasion of mainland Japan, Gerald Gendreau said.

From Texas, Gendreau went next to Fort Ord in Oakland, California. While stationed there, he learned the United States had just dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He boarded the USNS Adder at the naval base in San Francisco, as a member of the US Armys 77th Infantry Division (as known as The Statue of Liberty Division) bound for Yokohama in mid-September 1945, the press release said.

The trip took 17 days, Gerald Gendreau said. While at sea, the ship was hit by a typhoon and lost one crew member overboard. Though often seasick, Gendreau landed safely in Yokohama, located only 415 miles from Nagasaki. He spent a few weeks there, and was soon moved to a U.S. base on the northern island of Hokkaido near Sapporo. Gendreau was promoted to corporal in 1946.

His responsibilities included guarding the munitions depot on the base. In 1946, after a 30-day furlough to return home in Madawaska, Maine, he extended his military service by a year. He was stationed in Tokyo for a brief period before he completed his service in 1947.

Gendreau was quarter master of the local VFW chapter for 29 years and post commander for two of those years. He has been a warden of the Knights of Columbus as well as a council member for 12 years, the news release said.

Prior to his retirement, Gendreau worked for 42 years as an electrician for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in Middletown.

For information, visit dreamflights.org.
MIDDLETOWN  Police were called after relatives of a homicide victim lashed out at the defendant and his family during Tuesdays arraignment.

You failed as a mother, the victims aunt Wondtresia Hardy shouted several times while facing the family of Matthew Obanner, who is charged with murder, first-degree assault and other offenses in connection with the May homicide.

The 20-year-old Middletown resident is accused of killing Tylon Hardy, 25, in a May 16 shooting on Highlands Crescent and Stirling Court in Middletown. Hardy suffered fatal injuries and a 17-year-old was hurt in the shooting, police said.

Obanner was taken into custody at a home in New Jersey Aug. 5. He was held on a $2 million bond on a fugitive from justice charge until he was extradited to Connecticut.

The family and friends of the victim were escorted out of the courthouse by marshals. Obanners family was held inside the courthouse until police arrived and escorted them to their cars.

Middletown police have said the investigation into the shooting remains ongoing and have declined to provide further information and Obanners arrest warrant remained sealed on Tuesday.

Prior to the arraignment hearing, Wondtresia Hardy said her nephew was a young man battling with issues of life. She said he was trying to find his way in life.

He was at the wrong place at the right time, she said.

Wondtresia Hardy said Tylon, who was an artist and rapper, got caught up with the wrong crowd and made poor choices.

His drug was violence at times, she said. But he was more than that, too. In spite of that, his life had value. Everybodys life has value.

Wondtresia Hardy said the shooting was tragic for the families involved, but she wants to see justice for her nephew. Im going to see it to the end, she said.

Before Wondtresia Hardys outburst, Judge Kevin Murphy kept Obanners bond at $2 million at the request of the bail commissioner and the states attorney. His lawyer, Walter Hussey, requested it be lowered to $1 million, which Murphy denied, citing the seriousness of the accusations and Obanner being a flight risk.

If Obanner posts bond, he would not be allowed to leave his mothers house except for court appearances and doctors appointments.

Obanners next hearing is Sept. 7.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  People who oppose mask requirements or restrictions on public gatherings imposed by Kansas counties can challenge them in court and obtain a ruling within 10 days  at least for now  because of a decision Tuesday by the state's highest court.

The Kansas Supreme Court's ruling could discourage counties from imposing mask mandates to deal with the two-month surge in COVID-19 cases tied to the more contagious delta variant. Most local school boards aren't directly affected but could hesitate to act as well.

The court's ruling also came the morning after Wichita's school board voted to require anyone age 3 or older to wear a mask inside its buildings, starting Monday. While only a few counties have imposed mask mandates, at least 15 school districts that serve about a third of the state's students have a requirement for at least some students or staff.

The Supreme Court granted a stay allowing enforcement of the pandemic-inspired law until it can rule on Republican state Attorney General Derek Schmidt's appeal of a lower court's ruling that declared the law unconstitutional. The Republican-led Legislature passed the law in March to restrict the power of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and county officials during emergencies.

The Supreme Court's order, signed by Chief Justice Marla Luckert, didn't explain why it granted the stay, though it could indicate that the justices feel Schmidt's appeal has merit.

Kelly declined to comment immediately after the ruling, telling The Associated Press, I haven't seen it.

But Schmidt called the ruling welcome news, saying in a statement that the lower court ruling created unnecessary confusion "at a time when the rise in COVID cases makes certainty and stability in the law even more critical. Top Republican lawmakers had a similar reaction.

Dennis Kriesel, executive director of the Kansas Association of Local Health Department, said his group had advised local health officials outside Johnson County to continue to comply with the law until the state Supreme Court rules on the appeal. He said attorneys he knew were skeptical that the high court would strike down the law.

The surge in COVID-19 cases from the delta variant is stressing hospitals. Topeka's largest, Stormont Vail, accepted only 15 of the requested 46 transfers from other hospitals from Friday through Sunday, its CEO said in an online update Tuesday. Its emergency department had 10 patients Tuesday morning who had been waiting for rooms for more than six hours.

In Johnson County, the states most populous county, children are required to wear masks indoors, and the county commission directed the countys six school districts to require masks in their elementary schools.

Neighboring Douglas County also is requiring children to wear masks. County Commission Chair Shannon Portillo said that in an uncertain legal environment, the county attempted to comply with the state law but it "does make it much harder for local governments to react to this pandemic.

Several counties cited the law in ditching their mandates and COVID-19 restrictions in the spring. It allows people to sue specifically over mask mandates, limits on public gatherings and restrictions on business operations or religious gatherings. It also requires a hearing within three days and a ruling seven days later.

The law does not apply to school board decisions. A previous version of the law did apply to schools, but those provisions expired in June when top Republican lawmakers ended a state of emergency for the pandemic over Kelly's objections.

However, the Shawnee Mission school district in Johnson County argued that it would be affected if the law were not blocked because it was directed by the county commission to require masks in elementary schools. With 26,000 students, it is the third-largest district in Kansas.

The district said in a filing with the Supreme Court this month that if the state could enforce the law, the district would be forced to spend time and resources defending measures it took on COVID-19, instead of providing safe educational opportunities for its students.

The Wichita school board acted Monday night after Superintendent Alicia Thompson told members that 245 students and staff had tested positive for COVID-19 during the first two weeks of fall classes. As of Monday, more than 1,600 students or 3.4% were in quarantine.

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Hollingsworth reported from Mission, Kan.

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Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna
A proposed stretch of interstate highway that would connect a dozen military bases between Texas and Georgia made its way into the $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed by the Senate this week with the expectation it will improve access to bases located in some of the more isolated stretches of the South.

The highway is a "major step in advancing Interstate 14 as a future corridor for handling freight movement, military facility connectivity, coastal evacuation and sparking economic development," said John Thompson, chairman of the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition, a group of community leaders who advocate for the highway.

If the House passes the sweeping legislation and sends it to President Joe Biden to sign into law, it will expand Interstate Highway 14 from its 25 miles near Fort Hood, Texas, into Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and onto Augusta, Ga. The proposed 1,300-mile route runs between Interstate Highways 10 and 20 and would primarily upgrade already existing roads.

It would better connect tens of thousands of troops and families at bases including Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Fort Polk, La., Camp Shelby and Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and Fort Benning, Robins Air Force Base and Fort Gordon in Georgia, advocates contend.

By linking to other interstate highways, it could also ease travel as far west as Fort Bliss, Texas, and as far east as Fort Stewart, Ga., and the Port of Savannah, according to a map of the proposed route.

Thompson, a former county judge for Polk County, Texas, where the highway is planned to stretch across, used the phrase "forts to ports" to describe the proposed route.

"It's about moving troops and material, and it creates an ease in the ability to keep our country safe," he said.

Of the Army's 11 armored brigade combat teams, six reside in Texas, said Keith Sledd, a coalition board member.

"Sure, you can go to the Texas ports, but what if something happens like [Hurricane Harvey] in Houston several years ago?" he said.

In 2017, the massive storm closed the Port of Houston for an entire week. The nearby Port of Beaumont, which Sledd said is also used by the military, remained closed to large ships for several weeks after Harvey and suffered eroded shorelines and infrastructure damage that took years to fully repair.

"To get them to another port, that's what this highway offers. It's the ability to move to ports over in Louisiana or Mississippi or Alabama, or vice versa," said Sledd, a retired Army colonel and executive director of the Heart of Texas Defense Alliance. Based outside of Fort Hood in Killeen, the nonprofit is funded by local governments to advocate on issues that benefit the military in central Texas and the surrounding communities.

Fort Stewart is home to three Army brigades but also experiences hurricanes. The new highway would allow those brigades to get to other ports to the west to deploy, if needed, he said.

"[Hurricanes] often interdict I-10 and it may lead to flooding or sometimes physical damage to the road structure itself or bridges. What this gives you is an ability if there is a contingency going on at the same time you've got one of those extreme weather events going on, you now can bypass it further inland," Sledd said.

Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., proposed the amendment to the bill with support from the other eight senators in the five affected states. The House has not released a scheduled of when lawmakers might debate the infrastructure bill.

Cruz said passage of the amendment clears the way "begin the necessary work to upgrade this road system and connect strategic military installations across our states."

"This planned route would connect military installations across Georgia and drive economic opportunities to our rural communities," Warnock said.

Outside of the military, local communities could also see an economic bump, Sledd and Thompson said.

Where I-10 and I-20 run through some of the largest cities in these five states, proposed I-14 would bring life to some smaller towns, including many where military families live, shop and seek employment.

"All the large corporations, distribution centers or manufacturing companies, they want to locate where their logistics is simplified and it's usually adjacent to an interstate system," Sledd said.

In the existing stretch of I-14 running near Fort Hood, where about 89,000 trucks make deliveries each year, he said they've already seen positive improvements to traffic and new business development. Federalizing the highway also allowed for the road to expand from two lanes to three in each direction.
WASHINGTON  An officer who shot and killed a woman during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol as she began to climb through the broken part of a door leading into an area known as the Speakers Lobby acted lawfully and in line with police department policy, the U.S. Capitol Police said Monday.

Capitol Police announced the findings of their internal investigation into the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt on Monday. Officials said they had interviewed multiple witnesses and reviewed video and radio calls as part of the monthslong probe.

Federal prosecutors also cleared the officer of any wrongdoing after an investigation into the shooting and did not publicly name him. Capitol Police, concerned for his safety, have also not released his name. The officers attorney, Mark Schamel, said his client is facing many credible death threats and other horrific threats and was forced from his home because of them.

The Associated Press is not naming the officer because of the concerns for his safety.

Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego, was shot by the police lieutenant when she tried to climb through a door with the glass smashed out as she and others in the mob pressed to get into the Speakers Lobby outside the House chamber. She was unarmed.

Prosecutors said Babbitt was part of the mob that was trying to get into the House as Capitol Police officers were evacuating members of Congress from the chamber. The officers used furniture to try to barricade the glass doors separating the hallway from the Speakers Lobby to try to stave off the rioters, who kept trying to break through those doors, smashing the glass with flagpoles, helmets and other objects.

At the same time, Babbitt tried climbing through one of the doors where the glass was broken out. The officer, inside the Speakers Lobby, then fired a single round from his service weapon, striking Babbitt in the shoulder, prosecutors said.

Capitol Police said its office of professional responsibility  which handles such investigations  determined the officers conduct was lawful and within Department policy. The officer will face no internal disciplinary action.

The policy says an officer should only use deadly force when they reasonably believe their actions will be in defense of human life  either their own or another person who could be in immediate danger of serious physical injury, officials said.
Capt. Micah Ables was an infantry officer. He had a Ranger tab and served as a platoon leader in the prestigious 101st Airborne. If anyone was going to see combat, it was him.

But he missed out on the years of the Afghanistan war that saw the most intense fighting, serving in that campaign from the end of 2014 to mid-2015, when the conflict was starting to tamp down and firefights became rarer.

"What good is an infantryman who doesn't fight?" he asked Military.com. "That's the identity struggle I had coming back from Afghanistan."

In civilian life, no one prays for a hurricane or a home invader to kick down the front door. Average people don't normally yearn for dangerous situations. Longing for a gunfight with the enemy feels wrong, but it's relatively common among those in the military, especially within the combat arms.

More than a dozen service members and veterans spoke to Military.com, describing feelings of dread that they had missed out on the wars, most prominently the two decades of conflict in Afghanistan. Most have never deployed, while some, like Ables, deployed to a war zone but spent more time watching movies than fending off Taliban fighters in the Hindu Kush.

Read Next: Afghanistan: The War That Made War Normal

They all expressed guilt and described feeling less legitimate than other soldiers who fought bravely in America's longest war. They're all very well aware of the dangers combat brings. They could have been maimed or killed, or walked away with serious emotional trauma.

"I'm proud I brought my platoon back in one piece and I was able to deescalate the few situations we did have," Ables said. "The more the years have gone by, I really am truly happy and grateful that nothing happened. As much as I would've liked to prove myself as an infantryman, when I think about the flipside and the consequences: What if my platoon sergeant was killed? Or one of my soldiers wounded?"

Those who described their lingering desire to see action didn't think the war should drag on just for them to have a chance to "get some." Those who were interviewed after Kabul fell to the Taliban were enraged over the chaotic withdrawal and agreed U.S. troops need to be out of the country as soon as possible so as not to risk a deadly, and avoidable, engagement with the Taliban.

Wanting to be in combat isn't tied to wishing for conflict that wouldn't otherwise exist. It's a complicated dichotomy some troops dance with. They would never purposefully egg the enemy on or want new wars to break out. Yet if there is going to be a collision with an enemy, they want to be there.

"I can't talk to someone because it boils down to me complaining I never shot anyone, which is crazy talk," one specialist in an infantry unit told Military.com on the condition of anonymity. "Who knows how normal this is?"

A command sergeant major pins the Combat Action Badge on a military policeman during a ceremony at Camp Liberty, Iraq. (U.S. Army/Sgt. Kimberly Johnson)

Many who spoke to Military.com used a comparison to the effect of an athlete training their entire lives for a sport, being picked by a team, maybe even going to the Super Bowl, but never playing. Some suggested their mental health has suffered, something of a paradox given that those who do see combat often face serious mental health consequences.

Combat experience, and some of the awards that come with it, can make it easier for service members to rise through the ranks and find more job opportunities in the military, but no one interviewed for this story expressed concerns about missing out on advancement.

Most troops said they either feel their dread isn't widely shared, or that it might be an underlying, but unspoken, insecurity in some units.

None of the service members interviewed has seen mental health experts about the sense of inadequacy they live with. Most agreed they would feel ridiculous seeking therapy because they avoided traumatic situations.

"They're not crazy whatsoever; they've trained so much for combat," Kenneth Marfilius, a social work professor at Syracuse University's Falk College and former Air Force therapist, said in an interview. He described the guilt and feelings of inadequacy as very common and a serious mental health concern.

Marfilius, who also worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs, said there's virtually no research on the subject. A spokesperson for the VA could not point Military.com toward any subject matter experts.

"There's guilt potentially involved," Marfilius added. "They sometimes have friends who did deploy into bad situations, and they feel guilty that they did not. There's some secondary trauma, listening to the experiences of others, and that can weigh heavily on them. There's a level of it being difficult to relate; there are issues with isolation, maybe some anxiety or depression."

In some cases, these troops saw some combat or were exposed to legitimate danger, but short bursts of tension are no substitute for action against the enemy and can almost be a tease.

Ables described a few close calls. His convoy of armored gun trucks was shot at once. They didn't find the shooter and never returned fire. The only sign of the exchange was a single bullet mark on the lead truck, right below the gunner.

Ables believes he drove over improvised explosive devices, the Taliban's weapon of choice, several times, but they never detonated.

"We definitely felt cheated and guilty," he said. "There was a lot of disappointment. That's the f----- up part about this. We have these feelings, and then you have this disappointment. How do you explain this to someone? You can't share that at all. It's super isolating."

But there's a dichotomy Ables wrestles with. If the 101st saw action during that rotation, some of his soldiers likely would have gotten hurt or killed.

The Other Side of Combat

Capt. Rick Dickson, who was commissioned after serving as an enlisted member, was a cavalry scout and deployed to Iraq with 82nd Airborne in 2006 as a private first class. His unit saw some of the most intense fighting of the war. The deployment was chronicled in the book, "Headhunter: 5-73 Cav and Their Fight for Iraq's Diyala River Valley."

Dickson, who is now a public affairs officer with 1st Special Forces Command, said he too was eager to jump into combat when he was younger. He cited pride being in the 82nd, the quality of training his cavalry unit went through ahead of their tour, and looking up to noncommissioned officers who had previous combat experience and served as role models.

But the rotation had serious repercussions on Dickson and his unit: 22 soldiers died on the deployment, and many more were injured or returned home with post-traumatic stress disorder.

"I can't say that I blame them for wanting to serve their country," Dickson said of other soldiers who haven't had a chance to see the fighting he did. "I get that. But on the flip side, war is dangerous no matter who you are or what job you have. You're going to have to live with the things that happen over there. A lot of us weren't thinking about that, the after-effects of what people are going to go through after combat. It's all the fighting that we saw. When we got back, and out of the fight, everything hits you."

An infantryman shows evidence of the long journey after returning from Operation Buffalo Thunder II at Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, July 2, 2012. (U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. Brendan Mackie)

For the National Guard, the issue of finding legitimacy in the military through combat may be compounded. Some Guardsmen who spoke to Military.com joined the part-time force to see combat while also hoping not to surrender their civilian goals.

The Guard has essentially been deployed abroad nonstop, and top brass have called it a critical part of the war efforts. About 500 Guardsmen have been killed in combat since 9/11, according to Defense Department data.

But by serving part-time, Guardsmen have fewer opportunities to prove themselves. Sometimes, a deployment is the only opportunity a Guardsman gets to be fully immersed in military culture. And for some Guard units, the pace of deployments may be slower than some active-duty units.

Whatever concerns those in the active duty have about a placid deployment, or worry that they aren't good enough, "that's intensified for Guardsmen," 1st Lt. Eric Evans, a Guard engineer officer who initially enlisted as an infantryman, told Military.com. "When we deploy, it gives us that credibility that at least we did something."

Evans and his unit originally were sent to Kuwait, which is seen by many troops as a boring rotation. But early in that 2019 deployment, his unit was rerouted to Afghanistan, a chance to get into the war that was met with enthusiasm.

His engineer unit traveled around Afghanistan working on construction projects including building a new barracks at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.

But Evans said it didn't feel like war. Aside from constantly being armed, it was easy to forget his unit was in a combat zone.

As the uneventful deployment was wrapping up in December 2019, his unit was at Bagram Air Base, the largest U.S. base in Afghanistan at the time. That's when the Taliban launched a daring attack on the fortress, setting off two car bombs and infiltrating a medical facility that was under construction outside the main part of the base. An hours-long firefight broke out between Taliban fighters and U.S. and Afghan forces. Two people were killed and at least 70 were wounded.

Evans' unit was tapped to patch up a broken wall on the perimeter to prevent the Taliban from taking ground in the base.

"A commander burst into our [headquarters] saying they needed engineers to fix the wall," he said. "This was a bread-and-butter engineer mission. We were staging to go fix this wall, and there were Apaches doing gun runs trying to kill Taliban. That was by far the most exciting day. It was the one day there was some action. We felt like we were contributing to the war in a small way and that we got a taste of what so many others before us saw."

'Slick Sleeves'

At the heart of perceived legitimacy are combat patches and badges. Historically, after 30 days in a combat zone, soldiers are authorized to wear a patch for the unit they deployed with on their right sleeve. Troops without these patches often are referred to as "slick sleeves" -- it immediately identifies those who never deployed to war. In January the Pentagon changed the time requirements, meaning anyone who deploys to a combat zone for any period of time is eligible.

Soldiers who fought the enemy are awarded Combat Infantry Badges, given to infantry, or Combat Action Badges, given to those in any other job, whether it's combat arms or not.

Shortly after the attack on Bagram, Evans heard other soldiers around the base asking about awards.

"I heard a guy talking if they were going to get CIBs being a part of the quick reaction force," he said. "It's an odd thing.  I think that culture is why a lot of people want to deploy, to get their CAB or CIB and be able to flex that. I've noticed how many people don't have badges or patches, even among active duty now."

Retired Col. Darryl (Dee) Daugherty, who left the Army after serving as chief of staff of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command in Hawaii, remembers being crushed after his infantry unit wasn't tapped to deploy to Operation Desert Storm in 1991. It led him to leave combat arms.

"We didn't get the call. It was devastating because that was the war of our generation," Daugherty told Military.com "My best friends in other units were coming home with CIBs and Bronze Stars, and I thought I was done and went to get tangible skills in the Army and transferred to transportation."

But 12 years later when the U.S. invaded Iraq, Daugherty commanded a transportation battalion. The battlefield didn't care whether a unit was infantry or not, everyone was put in harm's way. Ironically, command in transportation gave Daugherty more combat experience than most infantry units, traveling through contested territory to deliver much-needed supplies in a conflict that didn't have a defined front line.

Back then, many troops fought from vehicles without sufficient armor, making them easy targets.

"We five-finger discounted steel from air bases -- anything we could find to protect our vehicles from ambushes," Daugherty said. "We saw more gunfights than a lot of the infantry."

But he's conflicted. One of his soldiers was killed and at least 22 were wounded. Yet he described finally getting into combat as "cathartic" and "validating."

He said he understands the eagerness to see war. He did not expect a new conflict to surface after being passed over during Desert Storm. But the consequences and long-term mental health issues weigh heavily on him. At the same time, he said he would do it again.

"I had PTSD and didn't know it for a while," Daugherty said. "I told some friends once that if I could [go to war] every day but still come home to my family, I would. You become addicted to adrenaline. I liken coming home from that first year at war like driving a hot-rod Corvette at 75 miles per hour. Then, you get home and are told you can only drive at five miles per hour."

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: In an Image Mocking the Marines, the Taliban Shows Off New Propaganda Savvy
The window to evacuate thousands of Americans remaining in Afghanistan, and even more Afghans and their families who face danger from the Taliban, is closing fast.

On Tuesday, the Taliban hardened its position on the evacuation now under way, flatly ruling out any extension of the U.S. government's planned Aug. 31 deadline to finish its efforts and withdraw all troops. The Taliban also said that, while foreign nationals still are allowed to leave, it would not permit Afghan nationals to travel to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, the only air transportation hub still in operation in the country.

A day earlier, The Washington Post reported, CIA Director William Burns met secretly with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul, likely to discuss a potential deadline extension. Those talks were evidently unsuccessful.

Read Next: In an Image Mocking the Marines, the Taliban Shows Off New Propaganda Savvy

CNN reported Tuesday that President Joe Biden also has decided not to extend the U.S. deadline, though the Pentagon is preparing a contingency plan in case that cutoff is missed, according to the Washington Post.

This leaves one more week to evacuate as many civilians as possible, withdraw troops and conclude one of the most massive airlift operations in history. How much can be accomplished remains an open question.

The military is seeing signs of progress, moving 12,700 people over the preceding 24 hours as of Tuesday morning via 32 C-17 Globemaster III and five C-130 Hercules flights. With C-17s now taking off approximately every 45 minutes, the military is outpacing its original 5,000 to 9,000 daily goal. Another 57 flights by allies evacuated 8,900 people.

The U.S. military and its allies hope to keep up that pace of more than 20,000 daily evacuations, which, when combined with Mondays evacuations, would allow the rescue of 100,000 people by the end of this week.

Since Aug. 14, when the military's major evacuation operations began as the Taliban closed in on Kabul, 58,700 Americans; other foreign nationals; Afghan Special Immigrant Visa, or SIV, holders; and other at-risk Afghans have been evacuated. Another 5,200 were evacuated before that.

But within the Pentagon, the sense of time running out is growing. The military needs to evacuate its own personnel, weapons and equipment before the mission is complete, or destroy or otherwise dispose of items that can't be transported. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby was vague on timelines in a briefing with reporters Tuesday, but acknowledged it would take several days to safely pull all troops and equipment out.

Kirby repeatedly stressed that the military is committed to getting out all Americans who want to leave, and that it has the capability to do so by the end of the month. The Pentagon said Tuesday afternoon that about 4,000 U.S. passport holders, plus their family members, have been evacuated so far.

Reassurances about Afghan citizens were not as forthcoming. While Kirby said the military is working to evacuate SIV applicants and other vulnerable Afghans, and pointed out that the vast majority of evacuees so far have been Afghans, he made no commitment to getting out all those Afghans who want to leave.

CNN reported that the airport's gates are now closed to Afghans, for the most part, causing an outcry among activists who have pushed the US. government for months to do more to help those who served in interpreter and other jobs for the American military.

"It is a looming abysmal failure," Kim Staffieri, co-founder of the group Association of Wartime Allies, tweeted Monday evening.

Kirby said that crowds outside the airport are smaller than in the first few days of the evacuation, and the scene is less chaotic.

But there are also problems at secondary locations. Kirby acknowledged sanitation and hygiene conditions at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where some evacuees have been temporarily housed, have been terrible, worsened by the overwhelming number of people there and the speed with which they've moved. He said Al Udeid and U.S. Central Command are taking steps to improve conditions.

And fatigue has begun to set in among some airmen engaged in the grueling, round-the-clock airlift operations. U.S. Transportation Command head Army Gen. Stephen Lyons told reporters Monday that, in some cases, leadership has pulled tired aircrews from rotation to ensure safety issues don't pop up.

But, he said, though some are "probably exhausted," the crews are motivated and eager to finish their mission.

The military is housing Afghans at four stateside installations: Fort Lee in Virginia, Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, Fort Bliss in Texas, and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, but could add more installations if necessary.

Three babies have been born, all healthy, during the evacuation, including one who was born aboard a C-17.

Air Mobility Command said in a Saturday tweet that the baby's mother went into labor on a C-17 flight from an intermediate staging area in the Middle East to Ramstein Air Base in Germany and began having complications. The pilot descended to increase the air pressure, which helped to stabilize the mother and save her life, the command added. She delivered the child on the aircraft after landing at Ramstein.

The other two children were born at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, shortly after their mothers reached Ramstein.

-- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey.

Related: Taliban Destroy Statue of Foe, Stoking Fear over Their Rule
Since taking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban has been eager to release pictures of its fighters equipped with modern weapons and tactical uniforms. One image in particular -- an apparent recreation of the famous moment when Marines raised the American flag on Iwo Jima during World War II -- has quickly gained attention and shown off how the group is tending carefully to its new public image.

The photo, which purports to show the Taliban's Badri 313 battalion, features four men clad in full and matching tactical gear and rifles hoisting the white flag of the Taliban in the Afghanistan mountains. The men and flag, which is only half-raised, bear a striking similarity to Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal's iconic photo of Marines raising the U.S. flag at Mount Suribachi amid the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Rosenthal's photo not only won him the Pulitzer Prize just months after it was taken, it instantly became symbolic of the war in the Pacific and the Marine Corps.

In this Feb. 23, 1945 photo, U.S. Marines of the 28th Regiment, 5th Division, raise an American flag atop Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan. (AP Photo/Joe Rosenthal, File)

The service would go on to make the image the model for the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

Dr. Haroro Ingram, a senior research fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University whose research includes looking at militant Islamist propaganda that targets English-speaking audiences, says the photo is indicative of a larger transformation within the Taliban.

"If this is legit, there is no doubt Badri 313 are taking the piss with this photo," Ingram told Military.com in an email.

Read Next: Afghanistan: The War That Made War Normal

The Marine Corps did not comment on the photo or its similarity to the famed Iwo Jima image.

"More importantly, I think it is a small and relatively superficial example of what is a pretty profound transformation in the Taliban's campaign efforts," Ingram added. "There is no question that the Taliban has improved its propaganda efforts."

The researcher explained that the Taliban likely "began to have a better appreciation for the power of propaganda" when it noticed that "exaggerating the impact of airstrikes on local communities and highlighting the death of innocent civilians contributed to, at times, a hesitancy on our side."

There's also the fact that the Taliban's resurgence comes after the region saw the rise and fall of the Islamic State. Multiple researchers noted that ISIS used social media strategically in an effort to paint itself as a powerful and influential force in the region and as an effective government for those under its rule.

Although an Islamic State affiliate, ISIS-Khorasan, is operating in the region, it is important to note that it is enemies with the Taliban.

U.S. officials have said that they regard the ISIS offshoot as a threat, especially since it may see the chaotic evacuation and political uncertainty in Afghanistan as an opportunity both to hit the U.S. and embarrass the Taliban.

Since seizing control of the country last week, the Taliban has sought to assure fellow Afghans and the world that its rule will be peaceful. A Taliban spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, told NPR last Wednesday that American troops and civilians will not be attacked.

"The peace process efforts have also meant that the Taliban's intelligentsia is more politically nuanced and savvier in their communications than in the past," Ingram noted.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: ISIS Threats, Taliban 'Red Line' Against Extension Complicate Afghanistan Evacuation
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  The U.S. military in South Korea is investigating videos showing dozens of people dancing close together, without masks at a club on an air base on Saturday night.

Videos posted to Instagram and TikTok show military personnel drinking and dancing during a club-like event at the Enlisted Club at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, roughly 30 miles from Seoul.

Service members, according to the current policy imposed by U.S. Forces Korea, are required to wear masks in all indoor common areas on military facilities to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

USFK spokesman Col. Lee Peters in an emailed statement Tuesday said the command was aware of the event and was still gathering all the facts and pertinent information.

Peters said USFK-affiliated personnel, which include civilian employees and family members, need to conduct themselves appropriately while following all  mitigation measures  both on and off installation  at all times.

U.S. service members are instructed to adhere to local public health laws in addition to several USFK prohibitions, which include an ongoing ban on bars and clubs throughout the peninsula.

Peters said USFK remains committed to being good neighbors with South Korea and condemns any type of behavior affecting the alliance between the two countries.

Maskless parties hosted at U.S. facilities in December prompted the temporary closure of buildings at Osan and Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. military base overseas.

Partygoers at the Flightline Tap Room on Camp Humphreys were seen in videos and photographs on social media dancing without wearing masks.

USFK at the time described the two events as having displayed poor judgment and actions inconsistent with USFKs core tenets and COVID-19 health protection mitigation measures.

In a separate incident in February, Osan Air Base temporarily went into lockdown after a service member violated health orders and attended a large off-base party. People affiliated with the base were ordered to shelter-in-place until contact tracing was completed.

Four service members stationed at Osan tested positive for the coronavirus between Aug. 18 and 21, according to USFKs most recent update Monday. All of the infected service members were placed into medical facilities.

Less than 1% of USFKs force has been confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 and it remains at a high level of readiness, the command said in its update. Over 80% of its community, which includes civilian employees and military spouses, are inoculated.
COLUMBIA, S.C.  A noncommissioned Army officer depicted in a viral video accosting and shoving a man in a South Carolina neighborhood has been convicted of third-degree assault.

A magistrate judge found Fort Jackson Army Sgt. Jonathan Pentland guilty of the misdemeanor Monday after a two-day trial, news outlets reported. He will have to choose between 30 days in jail or a fine of $1,087. Pentland was suspended from his post prior to the trial.

Pentland, 42, is white and the man shoved is Black. The video of part of their confrontation became a racial flashpoint when it was posted to Facebook in April after Pentland screamed, Youre in the wrong neighborhood."

But race was never mentioned during Pentlands trial in Columbia.

Pentland testified that he was trying to protect his family from a man acting strangely. The man he shoved, 22-year-old Deandre Williams, said he was trying to avoid a confrontation.

As a young man, if I go on a walk, I shouldnt feel any form of pressure," Williams said after the verdict.

The officer who arrested Pentland testified that the video of the confrontation spoke for itself. Pentland weighs about 100 pounds (45 kilograms) more than Williams and was towering over the other man while yelling.

Prosecutor Paul Walton said Pentland broke the law three times: when he shoved Williams before the video started and again as Williams took an awkward step toward Pentland's wife, and then when he slapped Williams' cellphone out of his hand as he held it up trying to record Pentland.

His pride is hurt, Walton said of Pentland. Hes a drill sergeant and hes used to people doing what he says.

Williams' father cried on the stand as he testified that his son had a form of cancer that caused his brain to swell two years ago and that has left him struggling to understand things since.

Pentland's lawyer said the two-minute video was only a small part of the confrontation that took place over 20 minutes.

Instead of fully investigating the incident  the officer that signed the arrest warrant testified he never listened to 911 calls about Williams' odd behavior, such as allegedly touching a stranger's baby  Richland County Sheriff's Department leaders jumped to a conclusion after public reaction to the video, said defense attorney Benjamin Allen Stitely.

They didnt want the truth. They wanted to make up a bully for TVs sake," Stitely said.

Pentland said his threatening demeanor and strong language stemmed from his military training to deescalate situations and resulted from fear his family would be hurt. He said he was acting in self-defense and not trying to pick a fight.

Its embarrassing to the community," Pentland testified. Im sorry for the way it escalated. Anybody looking back at this, you can watch that video and 100% see that it looks worse than it is. I did what I felt I had to do to protect my friends and family."

Pentland said he received thousands of death threats after the video went viral and his wife had to find a new job and his daughter a different school.
An effort to rename Fort Benning after Lieutenant General Harold (Hal) Moore and his wife, Julie Moore, has been picking up steam in recent months as the Department of Defense moves to eliminate Confederate names from U.S. military installations.

A mandate to change the names of installations and other Defense Department assets (including warships and buildings) that were named after prominent Confederate figures was passed into law last year, with a commission to address these changes stood up on Jan. 1.

Hal Moore was a famed U.S. Army general who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and his wife, Julie, played a vital role in changing the way the U.S. military went about delivering casualty notifications. Now, a website and online petition are helping spread the word on the Fort Moore effort, and its gained the support of military organizations like Blue Star Families.

Related: These Are the First Military Bases Whose Confederate Names Could Be Changed

Fort Benning and the Naming Commission

Each year, more than 18,000 young Americans are transformed into U.S. Army soldiers within the storied gates of Fort Benning, but some feel as though the installations namesake is an affront to the Army values taught within. The base draws its name from Henry L. Benning, a former judge in the Georgia Supreme Court and notable general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.

Benning began his military career in the Confederacy as a colonel, raising and then leading the rebel 17th Georgia Infantry Regiment himself. He soon butted heads with Confederate leadership about things like conscription and was nearly court-martialed, but after proving himself in combat at the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Antietam, he was promoted to brigadier general. He continued to fight through the end of the conflict, and upon the Confederate governments surrender, he returned to practicing law in Georgia for the remainder of his life.

Camp Benning was established in 1918, was made an official installation in 1920, and was renamed Fort Benning in 1922. Today, Fort Benning is one of 10 U.S. Army bases with such a Confederate namesake. In 2020, a concerted effort began to rename these bases, prompted in no small part by national discussions about racial issues in America.

The Defense Department soon assembled a team of eight officials tasked with traveling to these installations and pursuing options for new names. The teams official title is the Commission on the Naming of Items of the Department of Defense That Commemorate the Confederate States of America or Any Person Who Served Voluntarily with the Confederate States of America, but most just refer to it as the Naming Commission.

The Naming Commission was established by Section 370 of the United States National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA), a mouthful that also usually goes by a decidedly shorter name: the annual defense budget. The commission was enacted by law on Jan. 1 of this year. That same law mandates that a plan be implemented to make the appropriate changes within three years.

The Naming Commissions report is due on Oct. 1, at which point Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will be responsible for choosing how best to proceed.

The Push for Fort Moore

With Fort Benning on the list of installations due for a name change, a growing chorus of voices is singing its support for Fort Moore, honoring not only the legendary general, but importantly, his wife as well. The effort now has a website and a petition thats gathering up signatures to present to the Naming Commission.

Fort Moore would simultaneously recognize Hal Moores life, a decorated and highly regarded commander of the Vietnam War and his wife, Julie Moore, who was equally distinguished as a leader of Army family programs who changed how the military cares for the widows of fallen soldiers, the Fort Moore petition website reads.

The website includes a great deal of information about both Hal and Julie Moore, as well as reasons behind the push to name Fort Moore in their honor.

Fort Moore will uniquely honor the families of slain soldiers and highlight the military spouses invaluable contribution to combat readiness, the website reads.

There can be no better or unique way to inspire the men and women who will train at the renamed Fort Moore, and particularly to provide recognition to the widows of our Nations slain, than to name Fort Benning for the couple that exemplifies Americas highest standards of command and compassion -- Hal and Julie Moore.

The site also includes quotes from a number of military veterans, explaining just how important Hal and Julie Moore were to the families on Fort Benning, and the troops under Gen. Moores charge. Some of those remarks, like that of Bud Alley, who fought alongside Moore in Ia Drang, reference an interview then-Col. Moore did immediately after days of fierce fighting.

He had been three days with no sleep; directing his battalion in combat against superior numbers, but as he was interviewed, he spoke of two things as tears streamed down his dusty face, Alley is quoted as saying.

The courage and determination of his men not to quit and of their sacrifices. His poise, control, and calmness has never been forgotten.

You can see the interview on the Fort Moore website or watch it below:

Who Were Hal and Julie Moore?

Hal Moore was a legendary Army leader and veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars. Despite a career full of heavy fighting, hes best remembered for leading elements of the 1st Cavalry Division in the first major battle of the Vietnam War. The bloody three-day battle and events surrounding it became the basis for the popular book, We Were Soldiers Once  And Young, as well as the subsequent movie, We Were Soldiers.

It could be argued that the Army was a part of Julie Moores very DNA. Born the daughter of an Army colonel on Fort Sill in 1929, she saw three generations of men in her family head off to war in defense of the United States, starting with her father, continuing with her husband Hal, and extending all the way to her childrens service in the Persian Gulf War and Global War on Terror.

Like many military spouses, Julie Moores contributions to the Army often go overlooked. She is perhaps most often remembered for her actions during her husbands time in Vietnam, when she took it upon herself to follow the taxis tasked with notifying widows of their husbands deaths to provide support when the Army was unprepared to do so.

As an editorial aside, I had the solemn honor of participating in these sorts of notifications during my time in the Marine Corps during the Global War on Terror, and its all but impossible to overstate the weight Julie Moore volunteered to shoulder, or how important her efforts were.

Read the original article on Sandboxx.
A 3rd Infantry Division soldier deploying to Iraq is warning other servicemembers of the latest scam to target troops and their families.

According to 1st Lt. David Cowan, in early December his 84-year-old grandmother received a phone call from a man calling himself J.D. Taylor. The man claimed that Cowan was on his way home on leave from Iraq for the holidays, but had gotten hung up and lost his wallet and military identification card.

Cowan's grandmother, he said, was "asked by this person to wire $800, allegedly on my behalf so that I could get back home and surprise my family for Christmas."

The claim was a scam. Luckily for Cowan and his family, his grandmother knew to be suspicious of strangers asking for money, even if they'd somehow managed to reach the relatives of a soldier whose name they knew.

"I told her to write down everything she could remember from the conversation and to immediately contact the authorities," Cowan wrote in an e-mail to Stripes. "My grandmother is 84, and still a very sharp woman. Thankfully, she immediately saw through his scam and decided to contact me directly."

Cowan suspects the scam artist will try a similar ruse with other military families. And according to federal investigators, he's probably right.

In recent years, the FBI has tracked a growing number of scams targeting military families or making false claims to prey on the public's feelings of good will for troops.

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center has tracked scams including ones sent from purported soldiers who have found or "stolen" millions of dollars in Iraq. Those scams are similar to the "Nigerian" e-mail scams.

"The scam e-mails vary in content; however, the general theme of each is to request personal information and/or funds from the individual receiving the e-mail," according to an FBI primer on the subject.

Despite repeated warnings about these particular or general scams, FBI officials say, many people still fall for them.

Investigators say Cowan handled the situation correctly. Law enforcement authorities advise people to never provide any personal or financial information over the phone or send money to a stranger on a relative's behalf.

If contacted by a suspicious-sounding person, one should record the details of the conversation and immediately contact local and federal authorities, they say.
Rumors about the demise of manufacturing in America are greatly exaggerated. In fact, millions of jobs are up for grabs in the U.S. manufacturing sector. These open vacancies exist because American industry needs good people with manufacturing skills to go to work in these roles.

Our industry is constantly working to overcome the skills gap, says Babs Chase, Vice-President of Military & Veterans Programs at The Manufacturing Institute. There were 826,000 manufacturing jobs open as of June, and the Manufacturing Institute and Deloittes most recent skills gap study projects that -- if we dont do more to enhance training and recruitment practices -- 2.1 million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled by the end of the decade.

Manufacturers created the Manufacturing Institute to be the industrys workforce development and education organization. Simply put, its mission is to train workers for the manufacturing sector. The organizations latest effort, called Heroes MAKE America, focuses on transitioning service members, military veterans, members of the guard and reserve as well as military spouses.

Weve seen that the veterans who finish the Heroes MAKE America programming and transition into manufacturing tend to prove their excellence in fast-paced, challenging work environments, Chase says. This has been especially true throughout the ongoing disruption of the pandemic.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, American manufacturers practically were begging people to apply for jobs in their workplaces. To address the labor shortage, the Manufacturing Institute came up with a three-pronged approach to get military members and vets into their open jobs.

(National Association of Manufacturers)

The veterans we work with are uniquely positioned to step into manufacturing roles. They leave military service with technical training, leadership skills and mission-focus that will set them apart, says Chase. Veterans are accustomed to working in teams toward a common goal. They are on time, disciplined and adaptable.

The first approach is called Heroes Connect, which is for those veterans who already have badly needed manufacturing skills. Through Heroes Connect, the Manufacturing Institute will link qualified candidates with opportunities at companies like General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Sherwin-Williams and others. Its a chance to meet with people currently working at those companies and establish a relationship that could lead to employment.

Next, the institute established an online base of job-search resources for veterans interested in the manufacturing sector. The site not only provides a list of current openings, but also provides career development resources through the PsychArmor Institute. There, they can get training in professional networking, job interview skills and cover-letter writing, among others.

Finally, theres the Heroes MAKE America training program. This program offers reskilling training specific to the manufacturing sector, along with all necessary certifications so graduates can get right to work when theyre finished. Its open to veterans, spouses and even military members in their last 180 days of service through the Department of Defense SkillBridge program.

Some might question how so many veterans could be trained on specific machinery when there are a limited number of machines on which to train. The Manufacturing Institute has teamed with a startup called TRANSFRVR and Oculus Quest to create a hands-on virtual reality training program for certified production technicians and certified logistics technicians.

Since January 2021, participants at the Fort Riley, Kansas, location have been supplementing their hands-on lab training with TRANSFRs manufacturing simulations, which use state-of-the art virtual reality to vividly recreate the experience of working in a manufacturing workplace, Chase says.

Manufacturing in America is far from dead, but it needs more people in a hurry. The National Association of Manufacturers and its Manufacturing Institute want the work ethic and soft skills that veterans bring to the production line. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the manufacturing workers can earn anywhere from $32,000 to $70,000 per year, depending on their skill level.

Manufacturers recognize that members of the greater military community are phenomenal assets to any organization, Chase says. Manufacturers benefit greatly from filling their ranks with natural leaders with specialized skills and a penchant for learning.

As more and more older manufacturing workers leave the workplace for retirement, the need for new skilled technicians will only grow, so a program like Heroes MAKE America and its 92% job placement rate would be a great place to start.

For more information, head over to the Manufacturing Institutes Heroes MAKE America page and submit the Learn More form.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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If you think that getting into a radiologic technology (RT) education program should be easy given the shortage of rad tech professionals, think again. The fact is that RT programs are turning away would-be students who don't meet what is often the strict criteria for admission.

"It is not easy to get in," says Jane Saball, a student at Bethesda Memorial Hospital's radiography school in Boynton Beach, Florida. "These programs are not just looking for anybody. They're looking for the cream of the crop."

Before she was accepted into her program, Saball, who is changing careers to RT, returned to college to earn specific credits. She also obtained some healthcare experience to strengthen her application. Saball is now on track to earn a certificate of completion in RT in 2008.

Application Levels Affected By Costs

For the 2006-2007 academic year, 95 people applied for just 12 openings at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's RT program, according to Connie Mitchell, MA, RT(R)(CT), the school's radiography program director. For the 2007-2008 year, "we're down just a bit but still had about 60 applicants," says Mitchell, president of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT).

Bill May, MEd, RT(R), FASRT, program director at MedVance Institute in Cookeville, Tennessee, says the private programs are more expensive but tend to be easier to get into. At MedVance, about 60 percent of applicants are accepted, May reports.

"Most of the state-sponsored programs have [prerequisites], and since the tuition is much less, [application levels] are much higher," he says. "At a community college last year, we had over 300 applicants and only accepted 19 students."

Some programs accept students on a first-come, first-served basis, while others go by the point system for entry. At the University of Nebraska, for example, Mitchell awards applicants points based on their work toward completing prerequisites that include 35 credit hours of basic science, math and English. Interviews, written narratives, healthcare experience and other factors are also used to evaluate candidates.

Wow the Admissions Committee

To boost your chances of getting accepted into an RT program, experts offer these tips:

Keep Up Your Grades: Educators look for high grade point averages -- especially in high school and college math and science courses. Mitchell looks for GPAs in the 3.2 to 3.6 range. For applicants to community or state-sponsored colleges, May says that the only way students get accepted is if they have from 12 to 26 semester hours of credit of specific general-education courses and have almost straight As in those courses.

Apply for the Right Reasons: Jan Clark, MEd, RT(R)(CV)(M)(QM), says educators are looking for people suited to healthcare. "In terms of interpersonal skills, it is that desire to help others," says Clark, ASRT national education chapter delegate. "The students who tend not to do well are the ones that come to the programs for the wrong reasons [such as salary]."

Have Computer/Technology Skills: Since radiography is a technology-focused career, applicants should have a comfort level with technology, Clark says.

Hone Your Interview Skills: Many programs require applicants to interview with faculty. Before her interviews, Saball researched industry trends and the specific programs she was applying to. The preparation helped convey her interest, desire and ambition. Be prepared with questions for the program faculty, Mitchell says. For instance, you might ask about similarities or differences with other programs you're considering.

Choose References Wisely: Mitchell recommends listing college professors, high school instructors and employers as references instead of friends or relatives.

Volunteer or Job-Shadow: Know what the profession has to offer and what your career goals are, Mitchell says. In addition to observing in a radiology department at a hospital, Saball volunteered at a hospital emergency room, which gave her the direct patient-care experience she needed to earn more points.

Apply to More Than One Program: Saball applied to three and was accepted to one.

Be Persistent: Besides submitting her completed applications on time, Saball followed up with schools to show initiative.
[August 24, 2021] Fujitsu Selected by Florida Utility for Fiber Broadband Build-out Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc. has been selected by the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (FPUA) to plan, design and deploy a broadband network expansion to be part of a neighborhood revitalization for promoting long-term business growth on the Florida coast. FPUA is a public utility that has provided electric, water, wastewater and natural gas services to the City of Fort Pierce and surrounding areas since 1972. Starting in the early 2000s, FPUA began offering dedicated internet to large businesses and anchor institutions through its FPUAnet division. In 2018, the FPUA Board approved an initiative to become a smart city by providing high-speed internet to all parcels within the city. This initiative provided the opportunity for a community partnership to deploy into Lincoln Park, one of the city's revitalization zones. Internet connectivity has become an essential utility for education, community services and economic prosperity. The smart city expansion will focus on enhancing the quality of life in the community through support of quality job creation, livable wages and safe, healthy neighborood initiatives. Fujitsu's (News - Alert) role as prime broadband network integrator includes providing market analysis, financial/ business modeling, engineering design, deployment and overall project management for the Lincoln Park project. The project is slated to be completed in phases, with initial service turn-up expected in early 2022. This network infrastructure has also been designed to support the future deployment of wireless technology, including public Wi-Fi in several areas. "We are making a vital investment in digital equity for one of our community's most underserved neighborhoods," said Jason Mittler, FPUAnet manager, Fort Pierce Utilities Authority. "We trust in Fujitsu's experience and vendor-neutral approach to help us successfully roll-out this project." "Network connectivity with equal access is important for community inclusion, education possibilities and economic development," said Greg Manganello (News - Alert) , senior vice president and head of wireless and service solutions, Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc. "We are pleased to support FPUA's mission to provide a next-generation network to enhance their customers' quality of life." About Fujitsu Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 126,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$34 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For more information, please see https://www.fujitsu.com/. About Fujitsu Network Communications (News - Alert) Inc. Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of digital transformation solutions for network operators, service providers and content providers worldwide. We combine best-in-class hardware, software and services with multivendor expertise to enable cost savings, faster services delivery and improved network performance. Working closely with our customers and ecosystem partners, we design, build, operate and maintain better networks for the connected world. For more information, please see http://us.fujitsu.com/telecom or connect with us on LinkedIn (News - Alert) at www.linkedin.com/company/Fujitsu-network-communications. Fujitsu (and design) and "shaping tomorrow with you" are trademarks of Fujitsu Limited in the United States and other countries. All rights reserved. All other company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005197/en/

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[August 23, 2021] European Intermodal Terminal Operators Convinced of Nexxiot's Kingpin Monitor Efficacy and Reliability Agora Intermodal, Europe's largest consortium of intermodal terminal operators, has issued a strong statement of support for Nexxiot AG's proprietary wireless Kingpin Monitor sensors designed specifically for cargo shipping containers, saying they are convinced by the efficacy and reliability of Nexxiot's game-changing technology. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005658/en/ A field test of Nexxiot's wireless Kingpin Monitor sensor takes place in Hamburg in June. Photo credit: VTG AG. Agora Intermodal comprises truck and rail intermodal terminal and transport operators from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and The Netherlands, and represents about one-third of central European handling volume. The consortium is named for the ancient Greek marketplace, representing its members' exchange of ideas and technology. In June 2021, Nexxiot presented its proprietary Kingpin Monitor in collaboration with VTG, the largest private railcar company in Europe. The Kingpin maintenance-free sensor set is designed to improve safety in intermodal transport activities. When semi-trailers are being loaded onto railcars, the display's LED lights provide employees with a clear visual indication of the loading status. Representatives of AGORA Intermodal Terminals were given a detailed impression of the Nexxiot innovation during a trial loading under working conditions at the DUSS terminal in amburg-Billwerder. The participants were particularly convinced by the excellent implementation of the display and the easy handling of the Kingpin Monitor system. Antje Falk, founding member of AGORA and Managing Director of Baltic Rail Gate GmbH, said: "We were impressed by the excellent readability of the Nexxiot display. Due to the unique angle at which the display is mounted on both sides of the railcar, the LED on the display can be seen even in direct sunlight and from a great distance. This feature is especially important for crane operators who have to move the semi-trailers. We would like to see this display become a European standard in the future as well as being able to be activated remotely." Kristian Kolsche, also Managing Director at Baltic Rail Gate GmbH, added: "Safety is a number one priority at the terminals. It must also be guaranteed if more goods are transported by rail in the future. Therefore, we welcome any technological innovation, such as the Nexxiot Kingpin Monitor, that brings more safety to operations." Stefan Kalmund, CEO of Nexxiot, said: "For us, external validation from the industry and independent organizations is very important in the development of new solutions. Our sensors are the first of their kind and are intended to make work at the terminal easier and bring more safety and transparency to all processes. That's why the feedback from AGORA Intermodal Terminals encourages us as we roll out the Kingpin Monitor." He added: "The field tests are almost completed. Therefore, we are confident that we can start the roll-out this November, as planned." The handling of semi-trailer cargo containers on railcars requires great diligence. Adverse conditions, such as high winds or other extreme weather conditions, or an incorrectly placed kingpin, can compromise loading safety if not checked carefully. Nexxiot's Kingpin Monitor solution uses technology to address these challenges. The Kingpin sensor detects whether the kingpin is engaged and whether the hitch status is open or locked. This provides real-time information on the status of the semi-trailer to employees on site as well as to dispatchers and decision-makers who have access to the data via the Nexxiot Logistics Cloud. About AGORA Intermodal Terminals: The AGORA Intermodal Terminals Working Group was established in 2011 as a result of an EU project. The approach of the working group is to bring together terminal operators in order to promote the exchange of information and ideas and joint learning with regard to "good practices" in terminal management, increasing terminal capacities and improving interaction with cargo terminal operators, rail transport companies and other cargo terminal stakeholders. The current 18 member companies operate more than 40 cargo terminals with a total capacity of about 5 million loading units. AGORA terminals achieved a handling volume of around 3.8 million loading units in the "Corona year" 2020 and expect a further increase in traffic in 2021. The office of AGORA is managed by KombiConsult GmbH, Frankfurt am Main. https://www.intermodal-terminals.eu/ About Nexxiot: Nexxiot is a driver of the TradeTech solutions of tomorrow. An industry leader in the digitalization of asset and cargo transportation, Nexxiot empowers global shipping companies and suppliers to harness the power of their data through proprietary, cutting-edge technology and integrated data solutions to track, find and protect cargo from more than 167 countries around the world and across 450 network roaming partners to ensure accountability, security and efficiency. Headquartered in Zurich, Nexxiot operates throughout Europe and the U.S., employing people from 22 countries. The company's secure, industry leading Cloud comprises data from over 2.5 billion travelled miles. Committed to sustainability through corporate and social responsibility, Nexxiot's goal is to enable a five percent reduction in worldwide carbon dioxide emissions in the logistics industry by increasing cargo transport efficiency and eliminating waste caused by empty runs and inefficient routes. https://nexxiot.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005658/en/

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In an unprecedented development in the state's political history, the Maharashtra police on Tuesday afternoon arrested Union minister Narayan Rane for his 'slap slur' remark against chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, as an aggressive Shiv Sena protested vociferously all over the state.

This is said to be a first in the state when a serving Union minister has been arrested and comes around 20 years after a Union cabinet ministers, the late Murasoli Maran and TR Baalu, both in the government of the late prime minister AB Vajpayee, were nabbed by Chennai Police in June 2001.

In a day of fast-paced developments, a team of police personnel went to Mr Rane's camp in Sangameshwar in Ratnagiri in the Konkan region, whisked him off to a waiting vehicle and took him to the local police station for the other arrest-related formalities amidst tight security.

The sensational happenings came barely a couple of hours after Mr Rane sharply dared that "nobody could do anything to him" or prevent him from "moving around freely."

A team of senior police officers met Mr Rane and later completed the arrest formalities even as a large number of his supporters and a huge posse of police were present.

Mr Rane, whose health seemed to have deteriorated as he suffers from diabetes and hypertension, underwent a preliminary medical check-up and is expected to be taken to Nashik later.

Anticipating the arrest possibility, Mr Rane's team had moved the Bombay High Court seeking to stay the arrest but was declined urgent hearing in the matter.

Multiple police complaints have been filed against Mr Rane with Police in Pune, Raigad, Nashik and at least two teams of Nashik and Pune police proceeded to nab the central minister.

This afternoon, leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis had dropped hints at the upcoming possibilities, stating that if Mr Rane was arrested, the party had kept a Plan B ready to carry forward the ongoing Jan Ashirwad Yatra.

However, while the BJP has categorically rejected Rane's statements, the entire party will solidly stand behind him in the current crisis, Mr Fadnavis assured.

The stunning arrest of Mr Rane - a former Shiv Sena Chief Minister - is likely to trigger further bitterness with the party's former ally, BJP, which went on a downslide after Mr Thackeray joined hands with the Nationalist Congress Party-Congress to head the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in November 2019.

Top leaders from both the NCP-Congress have flayed Rane's remarks against the CM, even as angry Saniks went on protests throughout the state.

Even as a police team was closeted with Mr Rane, one of his aides, Pramod Jathar claimed that "no arrest warrant has been produced and the police allegedly pleaded that they were under 'pressure' to arrest Mr Rane in five minutes."

Mr Jathar contended that the police were not following the due protocols, nor showing the arrest warrant or other documents for the same and not revealing under whose alleged 'pressure' they were taking the action.

Angry supporters of Mr Rane and BJP activists raised anti-Maharashtra government slogans and threatened to block roads and highways till his 'illegal arrest' was cancelled.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
The Right to Information (RTI) law is power disseminated. Information is power and hence disseminating information translates into the dissemination of power and what it has done is, is unpacked those centres of power, centres of impunity, which wreaked havoc and that is raresomething which the RTI law has been able to do. It has really been a powerful tool, says Aruna Roy, founder of the National Campaign for Peoples Right to Information. She was speaking at a new RTI series, Conversations on RTI with Shailesh Gandhi launched by Moneylife Foundation.

The RTI Act is like water, by itself it is nothing. You have to apply it to something. To forestry, human rights, pensions, rations, wages, women's rights or rights in a municipality. This is where it takes power. It flowers and goes to fruition and therefore a transformative law, she added.

Shailesh Gandhi, the former central information commissioner and a transparency evangelist, started the discussion by sharing his journey into the RTI movement. I must mention another interesting fact, there are two ladies in todays session, who are directly linked to my journey into the RTI movement. I first heard the term Right to Information at a meeting at Sucheta Dalals house in 2003 when Maharashtra got its first RTI Act and subsequently, I got into the national movement, thanks to Aruna Roy, he says.

Speaking further on the beginning of RTI, Mr Gandhi says, Aruna (Roy) is a pioneer of the RTI movement, in some ways she invented the act for places in rural Rajasthan. While most people work in cities, Aruna along with Nikhil Dey and Shankar Singh helped promote the act in rural areas.

Sharing some interesting anecdotes from the initial days of the RTI movement, Ms Roy, a former officer from the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) cadre talked about how the most famous slogan came into existence.

She says, We went to a press conference with my friend Sushila. A journalist asked her, tum kitne tak padhi likhi ho (till how much have you studied) and she replied, Mein chauthi pas hun (I studied till fourth standard). The journalist responded when senior people have not found anything, how could a fourth standard passed hope to help draft the RTI Act? She gave a beautiful response, saying, Jab mein mere bete ko dus rupaya dekar bazaar bhejti hoon to wo kharidari karke wapis aane par us paise ka hisaab mangti hoon. Ye sarkaar mere naam se arbo karbo rupaiye kharch karta he to main hisaab nahi maangungi kya? (When I send my son to the shop with Rs10, I ask him for an account of the money. This government spends crores of rupees in my name, will I not ask for an account of that? This then led to the famous RTI slogan, Ye humara paisa hein, humara hisaab hein (this is our money, this is our right to accountability).

My contribution is actually very small. It is part of a very large movement of so many wonderful people who came together, Ms Roy says. While working with the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) I saw corruption at all levels from the panchayat to the union government although not all were corrupt and unless we live close to people, we will not understand where these bottlenecks lie.

So, when we began the MKSS, we believed in living with the people and continue to live amongst people in our mud huts bang in the middle of the village and continue to draw a minimum wage salary even today, she says.

While the RTI movement has now snowballed into a mass movement, the initial days were not easy. Ms Roy says, We repeatedly kept asking for minimum wages, health rights, repeatedly asked for employment rights and every time we came up against a blank wall and the blank wall used to say we cannot show you, the list of below poverty line (BPL) people, we cannot show, the muster list, we cannot show. So we started having an interest in transparency because of the effect of this on the lives of very poor people.

Talking about the fascinating stories of RTI, Mr Gandhi says, Aruna, RTI falls under Article 19(1)(a) under which we have freedom of speech and the freedom to publish. But the resistance to RTI is far more. Courts have also expanded the scope of freedom of speech and right to publish but in RTI, there seems to be a reversal, would you like to comment on this?

Ms Roy replied saying, In recent years, this is might be true. But we are not allowed to speak since there is a great deal of restrictions on expression.

"However, the RTI goes beyond everything. Educated people may know about the RTI movement. But an ordinary citizen in a remote place may not even know Shailesh or Aruna or even the MKSS. And yet he would probably have read a section of the RTI law, and then says to his block development officer (BDO), tum soochna do, nahi toh mein RTI laga dunga (you give me information or I will file an RTI). One of my relatives witnessed this happening in a remote place. There are people who dont know me, they dont know the RTI movement but are using the RTI act. This is happening everywhere, in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

The discussion was followed by a Q&A with the audience.

When asked about the absence of a prescribed time limit on disposing second appeals for the commission, Mr Gandhi said, "Incidentally, the first draft of the bill had a time limit set for the disposal of second appeals but when the parliament approved the Act, this portion was changed. There are three High Court judgments of Calcutta and Karnataka, saying that within 45 days the commissions must dispose of such appeals. We had filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court also. But I think if across the country people file cases on various High Courts, we might be able to get some advantage. Some people talk about amending the law, but I am completely against it because I'm convinced that if today it goes to parliament, we will get massacred and we will not be able to do anything about it. Instead of amendments, let us try and build pressure through media.

Sucheta Dalal, founder trustee of Moneylife Foundation asked, In the past 10 years of running Moneylife Foundation, we have realised, this understanding of RTI is not there amongst the middle class, people who ought to know their rights better. So is there any advice on how to make the educated people more literate about their rights?

In her reply, Ms Roy says, I have a thought, wherever we have won these major battles, we have had common people fight these battles because they are focussed and they have nothing to lose. When we come get privileges, we calculate the consequence of what we will lose and in the calculation that if it is good for us, then we are willing to lose a bit so we can gain a little more.

You need to have the power to take negativity because there is a lot of negativity in public life. We become creatures of convenience and comfort and we do not want to give up the convenience or comfort. The more you have, the less you want to give it out and this has been a problem not only with RTI but with a lot of other movements too, she added.

RTI activist Vinita Deshmukh, who is also consulting editor of Moneylife, raised the issue of lack of coordination among RTI activists from across the country. She says, There are so many regular RTI activists doing wonderful work in different parts of the country, but none of us knows each other and mini-groups of people working individually in different parts of India.

Because of that if you want to fight together for an amendment, or against what the government is doing, you never come across the entire RTI movement, 100s and 1000s of people who are fighting the cause. Could you speak about how to have a national umbrella?

I would completely agree with you, Ms Roy says, we need another movement, another huge movement to arise because we are 60-80 lakh users of RTI but only a few are visible. We need to have at least four to six lakh RTI users visible from across the country. Their name should also be visible.

When we have such a large group, then, believe me, we will be the biggest democratic force ever to get what we want. But what stops us is the fact that we are splintered.

We, therefore, need to continue these conversations even after this meeting, try and see how we can do this, she added.

The webinar had over 110 participants along with senior RTI activists like Bhaskar Prabhu, Lokesh Batra and former Central Information Commissioner Prof (Dr) Sridhar Acharyulu.

Watch the video of the webinar here
Weather Alert

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT... The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality alert for Beaverhead, Carbon, Gallatin, Madison, and Park counties in effect until 9 AM MDT 9/2/2021 This alert will be updated again at 9 AM MDT 9/2/2021. An Air Quality Alert means that particulates have been trending upwards and that an exceedence of the 24 hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) has occurred or may occur in the near future. As of 0900 AM MDT, Particulate levels in West Yellowstone are Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups As of 0900 AM MDT, Particulate levels in Billings, Miles City, Red Lodge, Libby, Dillon, Birney, Bozeman, and Helena are Moderate When air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups... State and local health officials recommend that people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should limit prolonged exertion. When air quality is Moderate... State and local health officials recommend that unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. For more information visit the Montana Department of Environmental Quality at http://todaysair.mt.gov
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Lansdale, PA (19446)

Today

Thunderstorms, accompanied by locally heavy rainfall at times. Potential for flooding rains. High 74F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm this evening, then some lingering showers still possible overnight. Low 59F. ESE winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Lansdale, PA (19446)

Today

Thunderstorms, accompanied by locally heavy rainfall at times. Potential for flooding rains. High 74F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm this evening, then some lingering showers still possible overnight. Low 59F. ESE winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
August 24, 2021 The Foreign Policy Borg And The Retreat From Afghanistan - by Michael Brenner by Michael Brenner There are few things in this kaleidoscopic world of ours that we can count on  for predictability, for fixity of outlook, for unswerving resistance to the vicissitudes of life. The American foreign policy community is one of them. They reliably react to stunning events in the world with reiteration of what they have been saying for years and decades They do so in unison. They never admit error of analysis or of policy, they preserve a righteous tone, and they retain a permanent inventory of persons to scapegoat  and, equally important, those who are always exempt from blame. The Afghan debacle demonstrates, once again, how deeply entrenched this behavioral pattern is. It is self-evident, it is glaring, and it is a reason for both shame and for doubting the United States ability to conduct its external relations in a sober, reasonable manner. Recent essays of mine have sought to explicate this phenomenon. There is no point in trying to summarize them. Instead, here are several declarative statements intended to correct some of the most egregious misrepresentations about what had happened and its implications: The United States never has had a strategic national interest in Afghanistan  certainly, not for the past 30 years. No one is to blame for losing Afghanistan. It never was ours to lose; it was never ours to recast in Washingtons image of what we would like it to be. No more than China, Cuba, Vietnam or Iraq were ours to lose. The widespread notion that the American Dream has as a central component an imperative to empower women and teach religious tolerance in Central Asia, among other places, is total nonsense. It is neither historically, psychologically nor philosophically valid (to understate it). There are very good reasons to probe the collective American psyche in search of clues as to why we act as we do. Superimposing a puerile version of WOKE sensibility on the nations foreign affairs is a pastime we cannot afford  even if the editors of The New York Times instruct us that their potted version of history is the true one. That tale tells us that Afghanistan dissipated a dream that somehow had survived Vietnam, Iraq, and Libya - not to speak of our failed experiments in exporting Americanism in Haiti (multiple times), Dominican Republic (a few times) and across the Central American banana belt. Staying in Afghanistan after we had dislodged and scattered the al-Qaeda was a fools errand from the very beginning; whether the aims were geostrategic or nation-building. It never had a chance of succeeding. The foreseeable costs always outweighed any conceivable successes  however modest  by several magnitudes. Afghanistan significance as a launching pad for Islamic terrorism was always exaggerated, and today is totally unjustified. The Taliban did provide refuge for Osama bin-Laden and his lieutenants after they were kicked out of Sudan. The execution of 9/11 itself was organized in Hamburg and operationally coordinated from two apartments in New Jersey. Over the past several years, the mainspring for terrorist acts has been ISIS  not al-Qaeda or its affiliates. Al Nusra, an affiliate, has concentrated its activities in Syria. ISIS, in turn, owes its existence to the United States. It was spawned in the prison camps we built in Iraq, its core recruits were Iraqis, its military expertise was provided by ex-officers of Saddams army whom L. Paul Bremmer III summarily fired in 2003. Some ISIS fighters did try to reestablish themselves in Afghanistan -with transport and support provided by their long-time backer: President Erdogan of Turkey. (He exported others to Azerbaijan and many thousand to Libya). They were a mixed lot of Syrians, Iraqis, Chechens, Uighurs. Initially, they got some sympathy from radical Taliban factions. The leadership, though, wanted nothing to do with them and soon moved to suppress/evict them forcibly and will continue to root them out. In the present Taliban vision for the country, they are as welcome as a Vatican established bishopric in Kabul. The range of commitments made by the Taliban in Moscow in regard to jihadis - and other- matters - gain credibility from the new regime's acute need for economic assistance. Washington's freezing of the Central bank's meager assets in only the first step in the West's campaign to strangle Afghanistan and, thereby, to destabilize the Taliban government. China and Russia have pledged financial aid, investment and commercial dealings to counteract the American strategy. It would be put in jeopardy by any significant Taliban deviation from the mutually agreed guidelines. The main reasons why the Wests Afghan project failed were these: we installed a corrupt, incompetent, and weak leadership that had little legitimacy in the eyes of a majority of Afghans; our coddling of warlords, opium lords and a host of unsavory characters; the deep-seated Afghan distaste for foreigners meddling in their affairs. The use of aggressive tactics like search-and-destroy, signature airstrikes and the creation of Afghan commando units that were a law unto themselves  all of which alienated an increasing fraction of the Afghan (largely rural) population. So, our placing of non-Pashtuns from the Northern Alliance in most senior military, Intelligence and police positions (along with a preponderance of rank & file personnel) to quell an insurrection that was Pashtun at its core. In other words, our strategy was a recipe for recrudescence of the Taliban as effective as anything they could have prepared themselves. The United States understanding of the country they were trying to reconstitute was thin, non-existent or distorted. This was true of policy-makers in Washington and especially the Pentagons Central Command which ran the war. The parade of commanding generals whose identity changed every year was a further guarantee that the learning curve would be flat. The suddenness of the Ghani regimes disintegration, the collapse of the much-touted Afghan Army we supposedly trained for 19 years  in mimicry of the routing of the even more highly touted, Petraeus built Iraqi National Army that crumbled with hardly a shot being fired before ISIS in 2014 The evacuation fiasco itself derived from poor Intelligence  CIA & Pentagon, the willful ignorance about Afghan politics, and appallingly bad planning by the U.S. Army. The Army is one of those entities that our politicos and MSM have been given immunity from accountability and criticism. The Pentagons omnipresent campaign to sacrilize the American military has paid off in a big way. So, instead of offering the apology they owe the American people they carp from the sidelines (if retired), leak to the press (if still in uniform) and mobilize their corps of Pentagon-briefed, Pentagon-loyal camp-followers to lay the blame on President Biden*. These are members of the defense expert fraternity who have an unblemished record of getting just about everything wrong since the inception of the Global War On Terror. The decision to leave Afghanistan was made by Trump and Pompeo. They had nearly a year to prepare. Biden gave them an extra three months. Military forces in country were kept at levels that the Army itself deemed adequate to ensure a smooth withdrawal of troops. He later added a few thousand. And it was the Pentagon, not Joe Biden, that took the bizarre snap decision to quit the Begram Airbase in the dead of night (without informing the Afghan general slated to inherit it)  thereby, denying us a secure airport conducive to an orderly processing and boarding of evacuees. However, it appears obvious that no contingency plans were ever made for a possible rapid evacuation of civilians  much less qualifying Afghans. Even in the fateful weeks when the handwriting was on the wall, they brass failed to act. The tragic fiasco at the airport was wholly the Pentagons fault. They could not as much as cordon off sections of the airport, establish control of entry gates, or maintain a modicum of order. The ensuing chaos occurred despite the understanding with the Taliban, who observed it, not to interfere with the evacuations. So, a fair judgment is that the people who should be denounced for sins of omission  and a few of commission  are Secretary of Defense General Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Mark Milley, CENTCOM head General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr, and the American commander of ISAF, General Austin Scott Miller. They are the 4 untouchables who barely get a mention while the pack harries Joe Biden. Simply put, they didnt do their jobs. No candor, no sense of responsibility. What do we get instead? The Republicans castigate Biden for Trump's decision. The Pentagon casts aspersions on the administration - but surreptitiously. The media put on their hysterical psycho-drama - and, in the process, display their profound ignorance cultivated over 15 years of forgetting about Afghanistan. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan seeks to divert attention and to sow panic (thereby, perhaps, unifying Americans in collective fear) by loudly sounding the alarm about a fanciful ISIS threat - "real" and "acute" - to the evacuation. *(Biden, for all his faults, was the one man in the Obama administration who stood up to the cabal orchestrated by Robert Gates, with Hillary out front providing political cover, that coerced Barack Obama into the ill-fated surge of 2009-2010). ---

Added by b: The White House just announced that the U.S. will stick to August 31 as the end date for the complete retreat from Afghanistan as the Taliban had demanded. In light of the above I do expect last minute Pentagon shenanigans to sabotage that outcome. Posted by b on August 24, 2021 at 15:52 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
Moultrie, GA (31768)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 72F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
SHREVEPORT, La. (AP)  Lauren Debroeck slowly leans in closer to her husbands face, hoping this might be the day he wakes up after nearly a month.

Debroeck does her hair and makeup impeccably each morning because she wants him to look at her and know that, despite the maze of wires and tubes around his hospital bed, everything is OK.

I love you so much, she whispers while stroking the 36-year-old's forehead.

Debroeck herself was hospitalized three doors down from her husband in her own battle with COVID-19 earlier this month, and every time she heard alarms from medical machines or someone gasping for breath echoing down the hall, nurses ran in to assure her it wasnt her beloved Michael.

I want him to look at us and see were making it, Debroeck said. Even if were falling apart.

The bedside vigil is playing out in a Shreveport hospital that is packed with patients from across Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas and overwhelming medical staff, who describe crying on the way to work and becoming numb to the sound of zipping up body bags and sending dead patients off to funeral homes. About 120 of Willis-Knighton Medical Center's 138 coronavirus patients are unvaccinated, including the Debroecks.

Michael was against the COVID-19 vaccine. Lauren simply never found the time.

I made the appointment three times and canceled it because I was too busy, she said.

Nursing Coordinator Beth Springer recalls how, a month ago, the ICU hallways were nearly clear. Now the pandemic seems worse than ever before.

I see a lot of sadness. I see a lot that I never thought Id see in my career, said Springer, who has been a nurse nearly 20 years.

Early in the pandemic, nursing staff at Willis-Knighton would hang a paper angel on the wall every time they lost a patient to the virus. But as the months progressed and the death toll rose from one surge after another, the visual became a brutal sight for providers to look at hour after hour.

Willis-Knighton's Chief Nursing Officer, Denise Jones, breaks down in tears when she explains how they replaced the angels with colorful paper streamers hanging above the hallway  anything to give solace to a staff that has zipped patients who didnt make it into body bags and held up phones so families could talk to their sick loved ones.

Were looking for anything we can do for the staff to find some joy in their every day because theres very little in it right now, said Jones.

Registered nurse Melinda Hunt is working six or seven days a week, waking up before dawn. She turns on a Disney movie while she gets ready.

But the escape is fleeting. Her eyes fill with tears as she drives to work on a rainy morning. Hunt, 24, decided to become a nurse when she was 6 and she watched the compassionate and skilled professionals help her younger sister who had leukemia.

Hunt used to be upbeat and peppy. But now she feels exhausted and drained. Co-workers have noticed the change and sometimes ask her if she is OK or if she needs a break.

I dont feel like I can take a break because we already dont have nurses, she said.

By the time Hunt gets to the Infectious Disease Critical Care Unit around 6:30 a.m., she pushes away the tears and the exhaustion. There are COVID-19 patients who need her honesty and compassion.

These patients ask me, Am I going to die? And I dont want to tell anybody theyre going to die, Hunt said. But Im not going to give them false reassurance either.

Inside Willis-Knighton, plastic sheeting separates the lobby so potential COVID-19 patients can be isolated as they are examined.

The halls are filled with medical equipment and nurses and doctors in head-to-toe protective gear shuffling from one room to the next.

But those busy hallways are a stark reminder that just when it seems things might get back to normal, the pandemic roared back.

In July, the hospitals number of COVID-19 patients were in the single digits. Now, they are over 100.

Its more chaotic. Its just the rate at which its grown and spread is way faster, said Springer, the nursing coordinator for the hospital.

Jones, the hospital's chief nursing officer, has burned-out nurses come into her office every day.

Imagine the pressure of knowing I dont know if I can do this another day, another hour, but if I dont show up tomorrow theres nobody there to care for this patient. Theres nobody here to hold this phone and let them talk to their family the last time before we put a tube in them, Jones said.

I feel very powerless and defeated as a leader that I cant help them more.

ICU Charge Nurse Cheryl Thomas feels duty-bound to be there to comfort patients who are on the verge of death.

Im not ever going to let someone die alone," she said, lamenting how virus-related restrictions mean many family members are unable to visit in-person.

She admits thats a heavy burden to carry day after day. But its why she chose this profession. Because I do care.

Under those streamers that replaced the paper angels, Hunt hugs a woman whose 70-year-old sister died moments ago, four days after showing up with COVID-19 symptoms.

After the hug, Hunt joins a second nurse who had called the funeral home and they quietly zip up the white body bag with the deceased woman inside. A green blanket is spread over the stretcher and the nurses hope to go unnoticed as they wheel the body onto an elevator and to the first floor of the hospital.

I dont think anyone ever told me Id be taking bodies down to the loading dock, nurse Kristen Smith said as they head to a loading dock to meet an employee of the funeral home again.

I feel like Ive become numb to it, Hunt said.

___

Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  The vaccinations that U.S. schoolchildren are required to get to hold terrible diseases like polio, measles, tetanus and whooping cough in check are way behind schedule this year, threatening further complications to a school year already marred by COVID-19.

The lag was caused by pandemic-related disruptions last year to routine doctor's visits, summer and sports camps at which kids usually get their immunizations.

Now, pediatricians and educators are scrambling to ensure that backlogs don't keep kids from school or leave them vulnerable to contagious diseases.

Its a big deal, said Richard Long, executive director of the Learning First Alliance, a partnership of education organizations that has mounted a public outreach campaign. Were going to have kids getting seriously sick this fall, and the sad part is, for the most part, its preventable."

The number of non-flu vaccines ordered and administered through the federal Vaccines for Children program, which covers about half of Americans under 18 and serves as a barometer of national trends, plummeted after former President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in March 2020, a review by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed.

A subsequent review of 10 jurisdictions, released in June, showed that, despite administered doses again approaching pre-pandemic levels last fall, they did not increase to the level that would have been necessary to catch up children who did not receive routine vaccinations on time.

A full reckoning for schools is still weeks off, when grace periods that allow unvaccinated children to temporarily attend school begin to lapse around the country.

But the latest COVID-19 surge linked to the delta variant has added new hurdles  including swamped doctor's offices and clinics, and even potential shortages of medicine vials, syringes and needles  to the swirl of confusion and fatigue already facing those working to tackle the backlog, health and pharmaceutical experts said.

Dr. Melinda Wharton, director of the CDC's Immunization Services Division, said political rhetoric and misinformation around COVID-19 vaccines also aren't helping.

In a lot of communities, we polarize vaccines: Either you believe in vaccines or you dont believe in vaccines. And were lumping a whole lot of perspectives and issues into an artificial dichotomy, she said. That does worry me a great deal.

Dr. Sara Sally Goza, immediate past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said her practice in Fayetteville, Georgia, was inundated with families needing to get caught up on their shots. That caused a backlog of patients headed into the first day of school in early August.

Actually, weve even had patients of other pediatricians calling us," she said, "because I guess theyve been told that were somehow magically able to work people in and get to them when their doctors arent able to get them in.

And some parents remain complacent, experts said  either because they're vaccine skeptics or because they're exhausted by the pandemic and come from a generation unfamiliar with the ravages of diseases like polio.

You just have our general population saying, 'Im tired of thinking about medical issues. I want to be on vacation, I want to be outside, I want to go to the shore, whatever it is, said Wharton. So getting a non-COVID vaccine doesnt seem like the highest priority for people.

When the Pennsylvania Department of Health reminded parents last week to add their childrens routine vaccinations to back-to-school checklists, the comments section conflated into debate over COVID-19 vaccines and mask mandates.

Even those committed to getting the shots sounded tired. This is getting ridiculous with you people, remarked one parent. Kind of hard when you cant get an appointment until AFTER school starts! wrote another.

State education and health departments have joined local districts' efforts to increase information-sharing about vaccines and opportunities for children to get their shots, and governors  including Maryland Republican Larry Hogan and Kansas Democrat Laura Kelly  have elevated this month as National Immunization Awareness Month as a way to bolster compliance.

The Learning First Alliance's Power to Protect vaccination campaign, backed by the National PTA and teachers unions, has provided information to principals, teachers, school nurses and support staff like bus drivers and janitors on which shots students of different ages require, and where to get them.

Nudge and encourage is really the role here, the group advised in a June tweet shared by the American Federation of Teachers and others.
3 1 of 3 Rotary West Club Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Rotary West Club Show More Show Less 3 of 3





The Midland West Rotary Club hosted a scholarship luncheon on Aug. 17 to honor the scholarship recipients for the Fall 2021 semester at Midland College..

The recipients are students in the Applied Technology Division, namely Miguel A. Figueroa, Jimmy Espinoza, Juliana Servantes, Rhett Clark, Hector Montes and Marissan Schuller. Midland West Rotary wanted to provide scholarships specifically for Applied Technology students because of their importance to our community yet oft-overlooked need for assistance. There will be another distribution of scholarships for the Spring 2022 semester; that scholarship luncheon will be hosted in January.
Ive always wanted to work in a hospital and be involved in the process to save lives, Jordan Weathermon said. However, I didnt realize how truly rewarding this would feel until I was part of the NICU [Neonatal Intensive Care Unit] team while I was serving as a respiratory therapist intern. I was able to help a human at the start of life. I remember going home thinking that I played a part in ensuring this person will lead a normal life.

Weathermon recently graduated from Midland College with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Respiratory Care this past May.

I didnt immediately choose respiratory care as my career field when I graduated from Permian High School, he explained. I first went to UTPB [University of Texas Permian Basin] for two years. At the time, I thought I would major in kinesiology. As I got older, I realized that I wanted to have a career that helped people in a more hands-on approach. So, I spent 12 hours shadowing various medical personnel at Medical Center Hospital and observed how the respiratory therapists are experts in their field. Nurses and doctors rely on them to be the experts in breathing therapeutics. I did some research on schools that offered training to become a respiratory therapist, and fortunately, there was a program close to home at Midland College.

Weathermon began taking classes at Midland College in August of 2019 while also working approximately 40 hours per week in the retail industry. He also maintained a 3.7 GPA while attending school full-time.

I had to stay focused on my schoolwork, he said. Fortunately, I had great instructors. The program chair during my first year at Midland College was Bob Weidmann. He was great and had the program laid out well. He retired in spring 2020, and I was a little worried about the future of the program. I just couldnt see anyone as great as Bob stepping in to fill his shoes. Bob was incredible and full of knowledge. I remember being frightened and sad that I wouldnt be able to spend my last year in the program soaking in all of his knowledge.

However, the new program chair, Kally Eddison, is every bit as good. She does a phenomenal job and is full of energy. She did everything she needed to do to get us up to speed during the pandemic and ready to assume professional careers. She and the Clinical Director Stan Middleton make a great team.

All three of these people  Bob, Kally and Stan -- are experts in the field of respiratory care. They provide a lot of information and present it in an easy-to-understand way. The program also provides great hands-on skills training.

In November 2020, during his last year in the program, Weathermon was hired part-time as a paid respiratory therapist intern at Midland Memorial Hospital. As such, he was able to assist with patient care in coordination with licensed therapists. Weathermon has been able to work with several patients who were suffering from breathing-related issues resulting from COVID.

As awful as COVID is, it presented a great learning experience for me, he said. It also made me realize that I chose a career where I can be on the front lines and a valuable member of the patient care team.

Weathermon is now a fully licensed respiratory therapist and is still working at Midland Memorial Hospital. As such, he works 36 hours per week and prefers the 7 p.m.-7 a.m. shift.

There is a great team of professionals who work the night shift, he explained. When I am called into a patients room in the evening, it is usually quieter; there arent as many people in the room. Most of the time, its just the patient and me, and I can really work one-on-one with the patient.

Weathermon said that another reason he enjoys the night shift is that his girlfriend Lili Tran, a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit, also works the same shift. When the couple have time off, they enjoy traveling and hiking. They have been on hiking trips throughout Texas and Colorado, and they especially enjoy the northwest United States. Weathermon said that one day they hope to travel to Japan, Korea and Singapore.

--

Rebecca Bell is the executive director of Institutional Advancement at Midland College
After failing this spring, Texas lawmakers are again trying to ban the most dangerous type of radioactive waste from entering the state  at the same time as a nuclear waste disposal company in West Texas pursues a federal application to store the highly radioactive materials.

Environmental and consumer advocates for years have decried a proposal to build a 332-acre site in West Texas near the New Mexico border to store the riskiest type of nuclear waste: spent fuel rods from nuclear power plants, which can remain radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years. Strong political interests in Texas, from Gov. Greg Abbott to some oil and gas companies operating in the Permian Basin, have opposed the companys application.

But a bill that sought to ban the highly radioactive material failed during the regular legislative session that ended in May. That bill, filed by State Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa, whose district includes Andrews County where the existing nuclear waste company Waste Control Specialists operates, included a big break on fees for the company. Some lawmakers also thought the previous bills language wasnt strong enough to actually ban the materials.

Now, Landgraf has again filed a bill during this years second special session that seeks to ban the highly radioactive materials from coming to the companys facility in his district. The House Environmental Regulation Committee on Monday passed House Bill 7, which does not include any changes to fees for the existing company, one of the key criticisms that killed the proposed legislation earlier this year.

So in other words, this is designed to be clean and easy so that we can go on record as a state [opposing high-level nuclear waste storage], Landgraf said.

Waste Control Specialists has been disposing of the nations low-level nuclear waste  including tools, building materials and protective clothing exposed to radioactivity  for a decade in Andrews County. The company, with a partner, is pursuing a federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission license to store spent nuclear fuel on a site adjacent to its existing facility.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is advancing the companys license. In July, NRC staff recommended in an environmental review that the site be approved to take the highest level of nuclear waste. The license still needs review by the federal commissioners.

Scientists agree that spent nuclear fuel, which is currently stored at nuclear power plants, should be stored deep underground, but the U.S. still hasnt located a suitable site. The plan by the WCS joint venture, Interim Storage Partners, proposes storing it in above-ground casks until a permanent location is found.

Landgrafs HB 7 includes a ban on disposing of high-level radioactive waste in Texas other than former nuclear power reactors and former nuclear research and test reactors on university campuses (nuclear power plants must keep the waste generated from operations on site until a long-term disposal site is created). The bill would also bar state agencies from issuing construction, stormwater or pollution permits for facilities that are licensed to store high-level radioactive waste.

Some opponents of nuclear waste, however, say the bill doesnt go far enough. Karen Hadden, the executive director of the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Coalition, an alliance of businesses and organizations that oppose the nuclear waste facility, is opposed to the bill because she said the ban leaves out another type of highly radioactive waste, much of it generated by the decommissioning of nuclear power plants. The material  known as Greater than Class C waste falls into what experts call a gray area between lower-level categories of radioactive materials and spent nuclear fuel.

We would support a single, well-written ban on spent nuclear fuel and Greater than Class C reactor waste, Hadden said in an interview with the Tribune. We question why the bill isn't better written.

But Landgraf, during the Monday house hearing, said the bill does the job asked by Abbott in his special session agenda: further limit high-level radioactive materials in Texas. He said that while he isnt automatically opposed to including the Greater than Class C waste in the proposed ban, he doesnt want to assume that his constituents in Andrews County want the additional regulation on the site. He also advocated for simplicity and speed since federal regulators could decide on the license application before the end of the year.

I would not want to miss an opportunity to send a message to the NRC, Landgraf said.

--

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2021/08/23/texas-nuclear-waste-storage-site-legislature/.
Listening. Connecting. Expanding. Michigan Tech's new Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Wallace Southerland III will build on 30 years of experience and the positive relationships he inherited.

Southerland arrived on campus July 1 from Salisbury University in Maryland, where he served as the associate vice president of student affairs. In this Q&A, Southerland shares what brought him to Michigan Tech and his preliminary strategies for working together across campus to connect with all students and help them achieve their goals.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your background.

WS: This year will be my 30th anniversary in the student affairs business. And while Ive been looking forward to that anniversary and its very exciting, its also caused me to reflect on my professional life. As an undergraduate student, I was an active, engaged student leader  I was vice president of student government, managing editor of the student newspaper, president of the Black Student Alliance, etc.  and I enjoyed opportunities to make a contribution to whatever organization I was part of.

My first job after earning my undergraduate degree was as an assistant to a university president. It sparked my passion and I knew I wanted to have more of that higher education administration life. And that university president is still my mentor today. Ive spent almost all of those 30 years in higher education specifically as an administrator. And those few years where I wasnt an administrator, I served as an executive search consultant for colleges and universities.

"Service is part of my blood. My purpose in life is to be in service to others to help improve quality of life." Wallace Southerland III, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Q: Why Michigan Tech?

WS: Professional and personal factors brought me to Michigan Tech. Professionally, becoming a vice president was the next step in my career, and I was ready. When I learned of the opportunity at Michigan Tech, I was drawn both to the institutions values and the values of Student Affairs as a division. Im drawn to the Universitys mission to seek solutions to some of societys greatest challenges through technology. Im drawn to the idea of increasing access to STEM fields, particularly for women and for underrepresented minorities. Im drawn to Student Affairs commitment to leadership, accountability, engaging with students and creating a more scholarly environment.

Wallace Southerland III

Additionally, this position offers opportunities that I didnt have previously. Im excited to have the opportunity to work closely with International Programs and Services, with fraternity and sorority organizations and with the Office of Academic and Community Conduct. Im also looking forward to collaborating with the University Senate on mutually beneficial opportunities.

On the personal side, I was attracted to Michigan Techs location. I have family in Illinois that Im much closer to now.

So, those are the professional and personal reasons Im drawn to the University, and I want to stress that Im coming in with eyes wide open. I know the student body is not as diverse as the University wants it to be or as I want it to be. Its a challenge for me to figure out how I can use my 30 years of experience in many different aspects of student affairs to help the University move forward in becoming a more inclusive and diverse institution.

Q: How will you develop your vision and priorities for the Dean of Students Office and Student Affairs?

WS: I think it would be presumptuous and maybe even irresponsible to rush into a new job and have a vision before I even know where the bathrooms are. Ive made a commitment to use these initial days to listen, to learn about institutional and community culture, collect data about the organization and then put that all together. Once I fully understand whats working and what needs improvement, I can determine the direction this Office will go in and then work to build support for that direction.

That said, over the past 15 years Ive developed a professional compass that includes an anchoring set of priorities I can take with me to any institution. While Im gathering data, listening and learning, my broad set of universal priorities are:

Invest in staff excellence: I want staff to have what they need to be successful. I want them to have the resources to be their very best. And if staff are at their best, that leads to the second priority.

Invest in student excellence: I want to make sure students are making the best, most positive, healthy decisions about their academic lives, their personal lives, their careers and so forth. Student success is so much more than getting a high GPA. Its about learning how to navigate difficult situations.

Create a culture of planning and assessment so that we can make data-informed decisions based on evidence. This helps us get where we want to go, know how were going to get there and understand whether what were doing is working.

Create a culture of internal and external engagement: I value collaboration and partnership and I strongly believe in making connections and finding allies to help us get to where we want to go as a department. That means partnerships with other departments on campus and partnerships within Student Affairs and it also means partnerships with the local community and the local schools, for example.

Create an environment where we are committed to development and getting the resources we need to support all the priorities I just listed.

This broad framework helps me wherever I go. I want to link whatever Im doing to one of these priorities. Ive already discussed this framework with my team and in the coming days were going to have conversations about what it means so that its not just a theory or a concept.

Q: What are your initial thoughts on how youll connect with students at Michigan Tech? Whats your approach?

WS: To a certain extent, the pandemic stole from us a sense of community spirit, but I think this year is going to be incredible. Im looking forward to working with the folks in Student Affairs, President Koubek, faculty and students to reclaim our community spirit and our sense of connectedness.

I met with Undergraduate Student Government and Graduate Student Government and will continue to meet with each on a monthly basis to build on the positive relationships I inherited. I want to make sure the institution understands what the student needs and priorities are, that were listening and that were being honest in what we can and cannot do.

I want to make sure Im a good citizen on campus and will continue to increase my visibility across the campus at student and faculty events, senate meetings. I will be looking for ways to become more engaged, both on campus and in the community.

Im looking forward to participating in shared governance and figuring out how we can advance student-centered institutional policies that show we understand the needs of parenting students, veteran students, nontraditional students, commuter students, online students, international students, etc. These are the populations that tend to be accidentally overlooked because student affairs professionals have a tendency to focus on what we know  and what we know is the traditional undergraduate experience.

"Undergraduate students are important, and we need to be focused on their experience, but theirs is not the only experience." Wallace Southerland III, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students

I want to stress that the Dean of Students Office serves graduate students, and we intend to be accessible to and attentive to their needs. The Dean of Students Office is for every student and its part of my job as an organizational leader to help my Student Affairs colleagues to tell their stories and get their messages out. It starts with me as a leader setting the tone and then its on us as the Student Affairs division to reinforce that message in every interaction with students and their families.

When I was interviewing for the job, it was exciting to hear President Koubek say that the Vice President of Student Affairs is the point person for student retention. I welcome that challenge. Im eager to get the entire campus excited about retention  faculty, deans, campus police, facilities, etc. I want to talk about what every member of our community can do to make sure that every student has a positive Tech experience.

Dean of Students Wallace Southerland III awaits his turn in the dunk tank during 2021 Move-In Weekend festivities.

Q: What do you anticipate to be some of the other challenges of your job?

WS: The elephant in the room is that Im one of very few Black people on campus. Im also one of the few Black men in the Houghton community and I will be reminded of that visually everywhere I go. It will be a challenge for me to get used to an environment where not a lot of people look like I do.

Its also always a challenge to build relationships and trust with a whole new team. Building relationships with faculty members who historically may not fully understand what we do in Student Affairs and getting them to trust us and becoming authentic partners with them.

It might also be a challenge to do some things that the Student Affairs division might not be accustomed to doing. For example, we are definitely student centered, but we should also be assessment centered and data informed. It can be a challenge to get comfortable with collecting, analyzing and sharing data, and making policy and operational decisions from that data on a regular basis. This is not unique to MTU. Its a challenge for the student affairs profession to embrace assessment.

I believe in going out and fishing for what we need  in other words, getting money. Its going to be a challenge to find my place in the fundraising lane that doesnt interfere with other institutional funding priorities. Also, finding a way to be a partner with enrollment management to further diversify the student population will be a challenge. But these are all positive, honest challenges that Im looking forward to pursuing. Im not at all discouraged by these challenges.

Q: Is there anything else youd like the community to know?

WS: Like I said, Im coming to this position with eyes wide open, so Im learning all I can about hockey. [laughs] I want the community to know that my goal is for Student Affairs to be perceived by students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni as an industry leader in helping students achieve their goals. I want students to leave the University, experience life, look back and say, Because of my experiences at Tech and because of my experience with Student Affairs, I am prepared  Im prepared for that job, Im prepared for lifes challenges, Im prepared for lifes problems. Thats what I want.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university, home to more than 7,000 students from 54 countries. Founded in 1885, the University offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. Our campus in Michigans Upper Peninsula overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior.
Center for Ethics Announces Theme, Fall Schedule

"Pandemic: Response, Resilience, Reflection" will provide a framework to look back and examine the ethical questions that arose due to the global impact of the COVID-19 virus.

Tuesday, August 24, 2021 09:38 AM

The onset of the current global pandemic has upended life for many people. It has wrought economic hardship, devastated families, strained global healthcare systems and exaggerated social inequalities. It has also presented moments of possibility, including incredible scientific collaboration and research on treatments and vaccines, the emergence of local, mutual aid networks to provide essential resources for assisting neighbors and inspired innovations in work and education.

"Pandemic: Response, Resilience, Reflection" explores some of the ethical questions that arise when we pause to think about the global pandemic including: What lessons can be learned from the scientific collaboration on COVID-19 treatments and vaccines? From receiving a vaccine to wearing masks, how has the pandemic exposed the limits and obligations of individual and collective ethical behavior? How should we respond to the ways in which the pandemic has had disparate impacts based on race and class? How do we think about the rationing of care when health systems get overwhelmed?

Fall 2021 Center for Ethics Schedule of Events

Faculty & Staff Discussion of Sonia Shah Reading

Friday, September 10 at 2 p.m.

GQ Annex, Seegers Union

This event is closed to the general public.

Faculty and staff are invited to join a discussion of the chapter Blame from Sonia Shahs book, Pandemic in advance of Shahs visit to campus later in September [see September 22 event information below]. Faculty and staff who do not have a copy of the book may request a copy of the chapter by completing an online form.

Alumni Weekend Virtual Panel

Friday, September 17 at 2 p.m.

Alumni Registration Link; Zoom information to follow

This alumni panel will highlight members of the alumni community who have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic through their work in the medical community, including their research on treatment and vaccines and their observation of changes to the ways we deliver education and conduct business. This forum will provide space to reflect and will serve as an important connection between alumni, faculty, staff and students as we spend the next year exploring some of the ethical questions that arise when we pause to think about the global pandemic.



Sonia Shah, Author

An Evening with Sonia Shah

Wednesday, September 22 at 7 p.m.

Miller Forum, Moyer Hall

Sonia Shah is a science journalist and prize-winning author of critically acclaimed books on science, politics and human rights. Her works include, The Next Great Migration: The Beauty and Terror of Life on the Move, which explores our centuries-long assumptions about migration through science, history and reporting, predicting its lifesaving power in the face of climate change, as well as Pandemic: Tracking Contagions from Cholera to Coronaviruses and Beyond and The Fever.

Her writing on science, politics and human rights has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, Scientific American and elsewhere and has been featured on CNN, RadioLab, Fresh Air and TED.com, where her talk, Three Reasons We Still Havent Gotten Rid of Malaria has been viewed by over 1m people around the world.

Shah holds a bachelors in journalism, philosophy and neuroscience from Oberlin College.

Arthur Brooks, Social Scientist

Finding Happiness in Times of COVID

Thursday, October 14 at 7 p.m.

Miller Forum, Moyer Hall

Arthur C. Brooks is the William Henry Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School. Before joining the Harvard faculty in July of 2019, he served for ten years as president of the Washington, D.C.- based American Enterprise Institute (AEI), one of the worlds leading think tanks.

Brooks is the author of 11 booksincluding the national bestsellers Love Your Enemies and The Conservative Heartand has published dozens of academic journal articles and the textbook Social Entrepreneurship (2008). He is a columnist for The Atlantic, host of the podcast The Art of Happiness with Arthur Brooks and subject of the 2019 documentary film The Pursuit, which Variety named as one of the Best Documentaries on Netflix in August 2019.

Previously, Brooks was the Louis A. Bantle Professor of Business and Government at Syracuse University, where he taught economics and social entrepreneurship. Prior to his work in academia and public policy, he spent 12 years as a professional French hornist in the United States and Spain.

Brooks holds a Ph.D. and an M.Phil. in policy analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He also holds an masters in economics from Florida Atlantic University and a bachelors in economics from Thomas Edison State College.

This event is co-sponsored by the Department of Accounting, Business, Economics and Finance; the Office of the President; and the Endowment for Political Discourse and Dialogue.



Dan Royles, Historian

Dont We Die Too?: Race and Sexuality in the Early AIDS Crisis

Thursday, October 21; at 7 p.m

Miller Forum, Moyer Hall

HIV/AIDS has disproportionately affected Black communities in the United States since the disease was first identified by doctors in 1981. Today, African Americans account for almost 42 percent of new HIV diagnoses each year, despite being only 13 percent of the U.S. population. While racial disparities in the HIV/AIDS epidemic are well documented, the history of African American responses to the disease have been largely ignored in emerging narratives of AIDS and AIDS activism in the United States. This talk will trace early efforts to respond to AIDS in Philadelphia's African American community and the ways that work was complicated by struggles over race, sexuality and urban space in the City of Brotherly Love.

Dan Royles is an assistant professor of history at Florida International University. He is the author of To Make the Wounded Whole: The African American Struggle against HIV/AIDS and is working on a multi-year study for the National Park Service on the history of anti-Black violence in the United States and its territories since 1500 as well as a social, cultural and intellectual biography of Claude Brown, author of the celebrated book Manchild in the Promised Land.

The Center for Ethics is proud to co-sponsor this talk with the 40 Years of HIV/AIDS Activism: Perspectives from Around the Globe lecture series and the Shankweiler Scholar Honors Program.



Betsey Stevenson, Economist

First Week of November

Virtual Event Via Zoom: specific date, time and Zoom information to follow

Betsey Stevenson is a professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan. She is also a faculty research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, a visiting associate professor of economics at the University of Sydney, a research fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research, a fellow of the Ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich and serves on the executive committee of the American Economic Association.

Stevenson served as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers from 2013 to 2015, where she advised President Obama on social policy, labor market and trade issues. She served as the chief economist of the U.S. Department of Labor from 2010 to 2011, advising the Secretary of Labor on labor policy and participating as the secretary's deputy to the White House economic team. She has held previous positions at Princeton University and at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.

Stevenson is a labor economist who has published widely in leading economics journals about the labor market and the impact of public policies on outcomes both in the labor market and for families as they adjust to changing labor market opportunities. Her research explores women's labor market experiences, the economic forces shaping the modern family and how these labor market experiences and economic forces on the family influence each other. She is a columnist for Bloomberg View, and her analysis of economic data and the economy are frequently covered in both print and television media.

Stevenson earned a bachelors in economics and mathematics from Wellesley College and a masters and Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University.

About the Muhlenberg College Center for Ethics

The Muhlenberg College Center for Ethics seeks to develop our capacities for ethical reflection, moral leadership and responsible action by engaging community members in scholarly dialogue, intellectual analysis and self-examination about contested ethical issues. Through thematic lectures and events, the Center for Ethics serves the teaching and study of the liberal arts at Muhlenberg College by providing opportunities for intensive conversation and thinking about the ethical dimensions of contemporary philosophical, political, economic, social, cultural and scientific issues. In service to its mission, the Center for Ethics hosts special events and programs, provides faculty development opportunities and provides support for student programming.

The 2021-2022 program directors are Chrysan Cronin, assistant professor of public health, and Lindsey Nagy, associate professor of economics. The director of the Center for Ethics is Brian Mello, associate professor of political science.

Unless otherwise noted, events are free and open to the public. At the time of this article's publication, all attendees must wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. Food and drink will not be provided, and external food and drink are not permitted. Should event or visitor policies change, descriptions and event locations (including streaming locations) will be added to this article.

About Muhlenberg College

Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is a highly selective, private, four-year residential, liberal arts college offering baccalaureate and graduate programs. With an enrollment of approximately 2,200 students, Muhlenberg College is dedicated to shaping creative, compassionate, collaborative leaders through rigorous academic programs in the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences; selected preprofessional programs, including accounting, business, education and public health; and progressive workforce-focused post-baccalaureate certificates and masters degrees. Located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, approximately 90 miles west of New York City, Muhlenberg is a member of the Centennial Conference, competing in 22 varsity sports. Muhlenberg is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
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Jacksonville Fire Department has some new equipment at its disposal that will elevate its level of paramedic response and provide continuous CPR during treatment.

The department recently purchased a Zoll AutoPulse automated CPR device for use when responding to emergency situations.

Fire Chief Doug Sills said the addition of the automated CPR device will help provide an improved quality of service at all times for those in the care of the departments paramedics.

Theyll be able to maneuver a person out of a structure or down a staircase without stopping CPR, Sills said. There is a 5% greater success rate.

Without such a machine, Sills said, CPR has to be started and stopped several times in the course of moving or transporting a person. Because the machine wraps around a persons chest and provides monitoring, it also can provide continuous CPR as long as the person needs it.

The machine monitors airflow and can tell if a person is breathing on his or her own or still needs CPR and responds accordingly.

About 85% of the time, CPR doesnt have to be stopped, Sills said. The survivability rate is higher.

It also is compatible with the department's other equipment.

It works in partnership with our cardiac monitors and it will recognize if a person sustains their own breathing, Sills said.

Department personnel will receive training from Zoll on use of the equipment.

The new device is one of many recent upgrades to paramedic equipment and is one of the largest and most exciting, Sills said.

Over the past six months we have revamped our paramedic service and upgrades with a lot of new equipment, Sills said.

The new equipment cost roughly $15,000 and was covered by funds from the CARES Act. Sills is hoping the department will be able to get funding for a second machine for the substation within the next year, he said.

Its a cool piece of equipment and I look forward to getting it out on the street, Sills said. Of course, we always hope to never have to use it, but we are happy to have it available. Its one more tool we will have available to help the community.
Fire caused an estimated $55,000 in damage Monday to a South East Street house.

Jacksonville and South Jacksonville firefighters were called about 1 a.m. to 610 S. East St. and found the kitchen and a back porch area on fire. Those inside were able to get out safely.

Firefighters were at the scene for about two hours.

The cause is under investigation by the Illinois State Fire Marshals Office, but it is not considered suspicious.

 Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP)  Hamas-backed Palestinian activists on Tuesday in the Gaza Strip launched a new wave of incendiary balloons into Israel, further raising tensions after a night of Israeli airstrikes on the seaside territory.

The enemy sides this week have engaged in their heaviest cross-border fighting since an 11-day war in May. In the occupied West Bank, meanwhile, officials said a Palestinian teen was killed in a clash with the Israeli military.

The May war between Israel and Hamas militants ended with an inconclusive Egyptian-brokered cease-fire. Since then, Gaza's Hamas rulers have grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in efforts to cement the truce. Hamas wants Israel to lift a stifling blockade on Gaza, while Israel has demanded the return of the remains of two soldiers, in addition to two captive Israeli civilians, Hamas is believed to be holding.

Hamas-backed activists have launched incendiary balloons into southern Israel several times in recent weeks, setting fires on the other side of the border. On Saturday, they held a violent demonstration along the Israeli border fence.

During the demonstration, a militant next to the fence pulled out a pistol and shot an Israeli sniper in the head at point blank range. The Israeli remains in critical condition. Some two-dozen Palestinians were also hit by Israeli fire.

The Israeli military said in a statement that it was beefing up its forces along the Gaza border and conducting extensive exercises. The army said that it would act aggressively against any militant activity along the fence.

Early on Tuesday, Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes on Hamas targets in response to incendiary balloons. The Israeli military said that Hamas fired machine guns into Israel, drawing an additional airstrike. No casualties were reported on either side.

But by the afternoon, the activists were launching the balloons again. Our message is clear and explicit. This siege must be broken, said one of the activists, who identified himself as Abu Omar. We will not be intimidated by any threats.

The violence has complicated the cease-fire efforts by Egypt, which closed its border with Gaza on Monday because of difficulties in the cease-fire talks. It also has threatened to overshadow a visit to Washington by Israel's new prime minister, Naftali Bennett, who is scheduled to meet President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday.

Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade over Gaza since Hamas took control of the territory in 2007, a year after winning Palestinian parliamentary elections. The blockade restricts the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza and has crushed the local economy. Israel has tightened the blockade since the war, holding up deliveries of much-needed reconstruction materials.

Last week, Israel said it had reached an agreement with the Gulf country Qatar to resume monthly aid payments to Gaza's poorest families. The payments are to resume in the coming weeks, providing some relief to impoverished Gaza.

In the West Bank, meanwhile, Palestinian authorities said a 15-year-old boy died after being shot in the head during clashes with soldiers in the northern city of Nablus. The Israeli military said soldiers were carrying out an arrest raid in the Balata refugee camp when they came under attack from nearby rooftops by Palestinians who fired guns and threw large stone blocks.

The military said soldiers opened fire at a person they said was about to drop a large object on them. It was unclear whether the teen, identified as Imad Hashash, was the same person.

___

Associated Press writer Jack Jeffery reported from Ramallah, West Bank.
Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Jennifer L. Jones, 38, of Jacksonville was cited at 2:39 p.m. Monday on a disorderly conduct charge after being accused of yelling obscenities at Kosciusko and Jordan streets while children were present.

THEFTS, BURGLARIES

 A bicycle was taken between midnight Sunday and 4:58 a.m. Monday from a residence in the 300 block of Brookside Drive.

 Several items were stolen from a car parked in the 100 block of Spaulding Place, according to a report filed at 7:54 a.m. Monday.

 A wallet and other items were taken from a vehicle in the 500 block of East Douglas Avenue, according to a report filed at 9:15 a.m. Monday.

 Someone went through the interior of a vehicle in the 800 block of East College Avenue but did not remove anything, according to a report filed at 10:22 a.m. Monday.



Pike County

Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Gregory W. Howard, 42, of Barry was arrested at 10:24 p.m. Saturday on a domestic battery charge.

 Bradley L. Surratt, 29, of Griggsville was arrested at 4:29 p.m. Thursday on a violation of an order of protection.

 Raefeal E. Crider, 40, of Hannibal, Missouri, was arrested at 6:59 p.m. Thursday on charges of criminal damage to property and criminal trespassing.

 Jeana L. Thomas, 46, of Louisiana, Missouri, was arrested at 3:03 a.m. Saturday on a charge of possession of methamphetamine.

 Joshua L. Bates, 31, of Pittsfield was arrested at 1:05 p.m. Thursday on an aggravated battery charge and on a petition to revoke warrant.

 Ethan L. Miller, 31, of Pittsfield was arrested at 3:24 a.m. Saturday on a charge of delivery of methamphetamine.

 Virginia A. Henry, 33, of Quincy was arrested at 3:22 p.m. Aug. 16 on a petition to revoke warrant.

State police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Cindy Lou Ledbetter, 64, of Hannibal, Missouri, was arrested at 1:13 a.m. Friday on a criminal trespassing charge.

 James B. Phillips, 62, of Louisiana, Missouri, was arrested at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday charge of driving while license is revoked or suspended and a petition to revoke.

 Patrick D. Garrison, 41, of Taylor, Michigan, was arrested at 1:46 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of driving under the influence-commercial motor vehicle.

Pittsfield Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Jeremy J. Miller, 18, of Pittsfield was arrested at 3:50 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of a controlled substance and resisting a peace officer and on a petition to revoke warrant.

Compiled by David C.L. Bauer
On Friday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation establishing the Childhood Anaphylactic Policy, creating added safety measures for students with life-threatening allergies. House Bill 102 provides guidance to school districts and daycares regarding anaphylactic reactions.

"Im glad that the Childhood Anaphylactic Policy will not only provide comfort to parents of children with severe allergies, but it will better equip daycares and K-12 schools with the expertise to help these kids," Pritzker said in a statement. "As a parent myself, Im intent upon making Illinois the best state in the nation to raise a young family. Thanks to this bill, were locking in another piece of the puzzle today."

In an effort to better help schools protect all students, House Bill 102 requires the Illinois Department of Public Health to establish anaphylaxis policies and procedures for school districts and daycare settings.

To relay the most accurate information, IDPH will update the policies every three years in consultation with specialists. The information will be displayed online on the IDPH website, as well as provided to each school district, charter school and daycare center within six months after the effective date -- July 1, 2021 -- of becoming law. To continue to help educate caregivers about the severity of food allergies and anaphylaxis, schools and daycare centers must communicate the policies annually to parents.

"Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can include a wide range of symptoms and can start quickly causing a life-threatening emergency," said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike, in a statement. "Allergic reactions can be unpredictable as to when they occur, the type of symptoms, and the severity of symptoms. Because anaphylaxis can occur at any age, including children, it is important for teachers and staff in schools and daycares to know the signs of an allergic reaction and be prepared to act. IDPH will convene allergy experts and pediatricians to develop a policy to help schools and daycares protect children from severe allergic reactions."

IDPH will also work with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to establish the most effective policies and procedures.

"As the state superintendent, I take the safety of each and every student personally. Parents and guardians entrust us to keep their children safe when they are at school, whether that be in the classroom, on the playground, or in the cafeteria," said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala, in a statement. "This new law will help give parents peace of mind that there is a plan in place and staff have been properly trained to protect children if they have an allergic reaction while at school."

HB 102 is based on Elijahs Law, which was passed in New York in 2019. Similar to Elijahs Law, HB 102 ensures that all children and students are safe, regardless of socioeconomic conditions.
Today

Farmers Market: 7 a.m., Lincoln Square, 901 W. Morton Ave. Prices vary.

Produce and Bakery Giveaway: 9 a.m.-noon, Jacksonville Food Center, 316 E. State St. Free | For Morgan County residents.

Free Noon Meal: 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., The Salvation Army, 331 W. Douglas Ave. | Meals in to-go containers and can be picked up at side door.

Artist on the Plaza: Noon-1 p.m., Old State Capitol South Lawn, downtown Springfield. Free | Derrick Streibig performs. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. For full performance schedule, go to springfieldartsco.org.

Walking for Wellness: 12:30-3 p.m., First Christian Church, 2106 S. Main St. Free | Indoor walking program offered year-round Monday-Thursday. For more information, call 217-243-6445.

Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen: 3:30-4 p.m., Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen, 105 E. Dunlap St. Free | Serving meals to go for anyone in need.

Morgan County Republicans: 6 p.m., Waters Edge Winery, 1061 E. Morton Ave. | Scheduled speaker is state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer.

Lake Springfield Watershed Meeting: 7 p.m., Sangamon County Farm Bureau, 2631 Beechler Court, Springfield. | Keynote speaker Michael Castellano, professor of agronomy at Iowa State University. A reception for Dick Lyon to honor his 32 years of service. To attend virtually, call 217-241-6635, ext. 3, or email Shelly Seman at michelle.seman@il.nacdnet.net or Jake Vancil at jake.vancil@il.nacdnet.net.



Wednesday

Produce and Bakery Giveaway: 9 a.m.-noon, Jacksonville Food Center, 316 E. State St. Free | For Morgan County residents.

Story Time: 10 a.m., Jacksonville Public Library, 201 W. College Ave. | Celebrate National Dog Day. Virtual on Facebook page or in person at library. Call 217-243-5435 for more information.

Free Farmers Market: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois, 300 S. 15th St., Springfield. Free | Walk-up service includes free produce, cheese, eggs and more.

Free Noon Meal: 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., The Salvation Army, 331 W. Douglas Ave. | Meals in to-go containers and can be picked up at side door.

Walking for Wellness: 12:30-3 p.m., First Christian Church, 2106 S. Main St. Free | Indoor walking program offered year-round Monday-Thursday. For more information, call 217-243-6445.

Governor Duncan Mansion: 1-4 p.m., Gov. Duncan Mansion, 4 Duncan Place. Suggested donation $5 per adult, $3 per child. | Living history museum. Masks required for those not vaccinated.

Commodity Food Distribution: 1:15 p.m., The Salvation Army, 331 W. Douglas Ave. Free | For income-eligible residents of Morgan County. Bring proof of residence and a box for food.

Story Time: 3 p.m., Jacksonville Public Library, 201 W. College Ave. | Celebrate National Dog Day. Call 217-243-5435 for more information.

Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen: 3:30-4 p.m., Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen, 105 E. Dunlap St. Free | Serving meals to go for anyone in need.



To submit items to the calendar, go to myjournalcourier.com and select calendar, or email jjcsocial@myjournalcourier.com. Items must be submitted at least 48 hours in advance.
Ive been practicing immigration law for over 25 years, and I speak four languages fluently. Ive traveled widely outside of the United States, and lived abroad for large stretches in the 1980s and 90s.

All of this is to say that I am devastated with whats happening in Afghanistan.

Some readers will simply yawn and turn the page on this one. Theyre more interested in being warriors against school boards than in hearing about the fall of Kabul. Theyre focused on kids in masks as opposed to women wrapped in burqas. They are obsessed with women getting patted on the rear, and not women who are being stoned to death.

I get it, we all have our priorities.

But these days, my interests extend a little broader than to whats going on in my own backyard, because thats never been the boundary of my world. When you deal with foreigners every day of your life, especially the type of foreigner who comes to this country in search of protection, you take John Donnes words to heart:

No man is an island entire of itself; every man

is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;

if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe

is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as

well as any manner of thy friends or of thine

own were; any mans death diminishes me,

because I am involved in mankind.

And therefore never send to know for whom

the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

I dont want to make this political, although its difficult to avoid criticizing our current president for withdrawing our troops from Afghanistan. I wont presume to be an expert in geopolitical issues beyond the impact they have on my asylum clients, and my depth of knowledge in the national security sphere is as shallow as a YouTube makeup star. But I cant avoid the reality that until Joe Biden made the executive decision to draw down our presence with unexpected haste, the Taliban was relatively dormant.

Theyre never inactive. Theyre always terrorizing people like my doctorate student from Peshawar, who was beaten as he returned home from vaccinating villagers against smallpox. They target folks like my elementary school teacher from the Swat Valley, bombing his building because he dared allow girls in his classes. They make examples of men like my cab driver from Islamabad, who made the mistake of delivering a Swedish journalist whod written an expose about fundamentalist terrorism, to his hotel. For that service, Nawaz was shot at by masked men on a bike.

And these are just the ones over the border in Pakistan.

Now, with the vacuum created by this recent withdrawal, the Taliban in Afghanistan (as well as their Pakistani brothers of Tehrik I Taliban) have become emboldened. They are winning, and they know that they are winning, and we have left.

Years ago, my brother Michael was living and working in the Green Zone in Iraq, assisting in the prosecution of Saddam Hussein. He wrote home about the men and women who served as translators, people who risked their lives every day to serve the U.S. government. That government promised to protect them.

And they needed that protection. Those civilians in the Green Zone like my brother were living in one of the safest areas in the Middle East, an almost impenetrable fortress guarded by the most competent, fearless and resourceful troops in the world. The interpreters, on the other hand, lived in villages seeded with informers and terrorist sympathizers. Their families were at risk. They could not hide behind American artillery for their safety. And yet, they showed up every day, and did their jobs, and then squared their shoulders and walked home.

The same thing was happening in Afghanistan. And while our government has made some relatively feeble efforts to support these individuals, like creating a visa classification which would allow them to immigrate, very few have made it to the U.S. And of those who did get visas, the vast majority have left their families behind because of administrative red tape.

Biden has said that he wants to prioritize the removal of these brave men and women, and thats all well and good for the cameras. But by drawing down the troops, he has helped fuel the onslaught of a terrorist organization that is stronger, more resilient and deadlier than ISIS, al-Qaida, or the many fundamentalist splinter groups around the world.

In the next months, I will be meeting with other asylum clients who are refugees from Taliban cruelty. I will do everything that I can to make sure that they, the lucky ones who made it out, dont ever have to go back into the maelstrom. I may be successful, and I may not be.

But when I look into their eyes, I will see the others who are not there before me, the ones that stand behind them and who are still in that blighted place left open and vulnerable to the ravages of war and terror.

And I will be ashamed, knowing the reason for it.

Christine Flowers is an attorney and columnist. She can be reached at cflowers1961@gmail.com.
Is there political bias in vaccination rates? Our study goes one step beyond any other analysis. We found that Red States led in vaccination rates and Blue States were behind while Trump was president. But now that Biden is president, those states that supported Democrats in the election went from laggers to leaders in vaccination rates, while those preferring Trump are among those dragging their heels.

Many studies look the relationship between politics and vaccination rates. A study done by the Stanford Graduate School of Business found that, in a group of 1,480 self-identified Republicans, unvaccinated participants who were exposed to the pro-vaccination statements by former president Donald Trump were 7% more likely to increase their intention to vaccinate. However, participants who viewed the pro-vaccination endorsements by Joe Biden and other Democrats reported they would be significantly less likely to encourage others to vaccinate, compared with those who viewed the Republican elite endorsement or the neutral control.

Furthermore, according to data compiled by The New York Times in April, states with larger Trump votes shares, such as North Dakota, West Virginia and Oklahoma, are much more likely to have more adults who are vaccine hesitant. Conversely, states with larger Biden vote shares, such as Vermont and Massachusetts, are much more likely to have less adults who are vaccine hesitant. This is further supported by the fact that in the 10 states where the government projected that residents would probably get a COVID-19 vaccine were won by Biden in the 2020 election, while nine of the 10 states where the most residents said they would probably or definitely not get the vaccine were won by Trump, the exception being Georgia, which Trump narrowly lost.

Such studies of the politics of vaccination rates are typically looking at recent numbers. We have no idea if Blue States have chief executives better at organizing vaccine drives, or if Red States are more likely to have residents with vaccine hesitancy no matter who is president.

That was the case, until our study. We gathered data on current vaccination rates by state, from July, 2021, six months into Bidens presidency. We compared them to vaccination rates by state throughout January, when Donald Trump was still president. Data on both sets were confined to first dose cases, due to the relative novelty and time gap between shots for a number of vaccines. The results were shocking.

Alaska was leading the United States in vaccination rates in January of this year, but has fallen to 30th. Number two in vaccination rates from Trumps presidency was West Virginia. Today, that state ranks 41st in the percentage of states with the population having at least one dose. North Dakota was third. Now its 44th. And South Dakota, once ranked fourth in the waning days of the Trump Administration, is now number 29 for vaccinating people with at least one shot.

Oklahoma fell from ninth in January to 39th in July. And other states that were once above average in vaccination rates when Trump was in charge are now below average in getting people at least one shot, including Nebraska, Kentucky, Utah, Montana, Tennessee and Wyoming.

But it is a similar story for Blue States. Once leery of getting vaccinated with Trump in office, residents of these states that elected Biden now have populations more willing to be vaccinated. Massachusetts was once 28th in the country in vaccination rates in January, but is now second in the country in that category. Today, Hawaii is third in vaccination rates, when it was once 33rd under Trump. California used to be 46th in vaccination rates in January, but has jumped to 12th. Its a similar story for other states that were once below average in vaccination rates with a Republican in the White House (Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, Illinois, Virginia, Delaware, Minnesota and Wisconsin), which are now all above average in state vaccination rates.

Clearly, our politics have become so polarized that the choice to make a life-and-death decision depends on who is in the White House.

Perhaps a bipartisan approach may be the best solution in a vaccination push, if America is to have any chance at conquering the coronavirus by achieving herd immunity.

John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. He can be reached at jtures@lagrange.edu.
The Nation's Weather for Wednesday, August 25, 2021

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NATIONAL SUMMARY

Heat will persist from the south-central United States to

the East Coast tomorrow, with widespread highs in the 90s F.

High humidity levels across the eastern third of the country

will make it feel even more uncomfortable. Locally heavy

thunderstorms are forecast to erupt amid the steamy air

across the Great Lakes region and into the central

Appalachians. Another stormy day is on tap for the Southeast

with widespread downpours. The northern Plains will get a

brief break from heavy rainfall before flooding downpours

and localized severe weather return later in the week.

Outside of stray storms in the northern Rockies, much of the

West can expect a dry day. Localized gusty winds could

threaten to fan ongoing wildfires and spread smoke hundreds

of miles away from its source.

SPECIAL WEATHER

No new information for this time period.

WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

No new information for this time period.

DAILY EXTREMES

National High Tuesday 106 at Guymon, OK

National Low Tuesday 26 at Stanley, ID

_____

Copyright 2021 AccuWeather
Watertown, SD (57201)

Today

Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 78F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low near 60F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Algeria breaks off diplomatic ties with neighboring Morocco View Photo

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP)  Algeria formally broke off diplomatic relations with neighboring Morocco on Tuesday, with the foreign minister citing a series of alleged hostile acts.

The move culminates a period of growing tension between the North African countries which are mired in a decades-long feud, with their borders closed to each other. There was no immediate reaction from Morocco.

Algeria has decided to break diplomatic relations with Morocco starting today, Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said at a news conference, in which he read a statement from the president.

The announcement comes nearly a week after President Abdelmadjid Tebboune told a meeting of Algerias High Security Council that incessant hostile acts perpetrated by Morocco have meant the need for a revision in relations between the two countries and the intensification of security checks at the western borders with Morocco, the official APS news agency reported.

Both countries are allies of western nations, and the move risked complicating diplomacy in the region. Both are important in the fight against terrorism in the nearby Sahel region.

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abdul Gheit called on both to avoid further escalation. He expressed hope the two countries can maintain a minimal level of ties to ensure stability for themselves and within the region.

The Algerian foreign minister cited an accumulation of grievances against Morocco leading to Tuesdays decision.

He also denounced massive and systematic acts of espionage by Morocco, a reference to allegations that the kingdoms security services used Israeli-made Pegasus spyware against its officials and citizenry, APS said. Morocco adamantly denies such claims.

Other criticism ranged from reported remarks by Moroccos U.N. ambassador in mid-July to recent comments by the Israeli foreign minister on an historic visit to Morocco as part of their normalization of ties.

Morocco has turned its territory into a platform allowing foreign powers to speak with hostility about Algeria, APS quoted Lamamra as saying. For the official news agency, he was alluding to a remark by Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in Morocco this month in which he referred among other things to Algerias effort to stop Israel from having observer status in the African Union.

Since 1948, no Israeli official made a hostile declaration to an Arab country from another Arab country, APS quoted Lamamra as saying.

Moroccos U.N. ambassador allegedly said that the people of Algerias Berber region of Kabyle should have the right to determine their status. He also cited Algerias claims that Morocco backs a separatist group in Kabyle, known as MAK, which Algiers has placed on a terrorism list. Algeria has suggested that MAK had a role in wildfires this month in the Kabyle region that killed scores of people, including more than two dozen soldiers.

The issue of Kabyle recalls Algerias support for a bid by the Polisario Front, a pro-independence movement based in southern Algeria, for self-determination in the disputed Western Sahara that was annexed by Morocco in 1975.

Morocco wants autonomy for the region under its supervision, while Algeria wants self-determination via a referendum.

For all these reasons, based on the facts  I have announced, Algeria has decided to break relations, Lamamra said.
FILE - In this March 2, 2021, file photo, pharmacy technician Hollie Maloney loads a syringe with Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at the Portland Expo in Portland, Maine. The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) View Photo

Jamestown, CAOn Tuesday, August 24th a COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be held in the city of Jamestown. it will take place at the Jamestown community hall from 9:30 am to 11:30 AM and 1:15 pm to 3:00 pm. Appointments can be made here. Walk-ins will be accepted as long as supplies are in stock.

Pfizer vaccine has recently made headlines as it is the first COVID-19 vaccination that has been granted FDA approval. More on that story and how state leaders reacted to the news can be found here.

The Motherlode has recently seen a fairly large uptick in the amount of COVID-19 cases that has seen all local ICU beds at occupancy and local leaders stressing the need for residents to get vaccinated. An overall look at COVID-19 and the recent surge can be found here.

If Motherlode residents do test positive for COVID-19, public health stresses that If you receive a positive test result, please isolate at home and our Public Health team will reach out to you as soon as possible.
Tuolumne Public Health reports a new COVID-19 death, a man in his 60s who was not vaccinated. The Public Health team offers its condolences to the families and friends of the individual.

Tuolumne Public Health reports 102 new cases identified since Friday. There were 41 cases, all community, on Saturday and 61 today, 59 community and 2 Sierra Conservation Center inmates. There are 272 active community cases including 16 who are hospitalized. The total current case rate, a 14-day rolling average for Tuolumne County is up to 62.8 per 100,000 population from a previous high of 57.3 on Thursday. Of the 100 new community cases 18 were vaccinated; 10 Moderna, 6 Pfizer, 2 Johnson & Johnson.

The new cases include 17 cases age 17 or under and 18 cases age 60 and older. The gender and age breakdown for is; 2 girls and 4 boys age 0-11, 7 girls and 4 boys age 12-17, 8 women and 8 men age 18-29, 8 women and 8 men age 30-39, 11 women and 9 men age 40-49, 7 women and 6 men age 50-59, 7 women and 7 men age 60-69, 1 woman and one man age 70 to 79, and 1 woman and 1 man age 80-89.

A total of 22,564 Tuolumne residents are fully vaccinated and 4,046 are partially vaccinated. The vaccination rate is 53% of eligible people in Tuolumne, those age 12 and older. The California department of corrections reports 14 active cases at the Sierra Conservation Center (SCC). A total of 1,554 inmate cases have been resolved which includes all southern fire camps.

Tuolumne Public Health is conducting a Pfizer COVID vaccination clinic as detailed here. Full federal approval of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 years and older was detailed here, Moderna and J&J have emergency use approval. Tuolumne Public Health continues to strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated, as the most important step to reduce the spread of disease and prevent serious illness and death, as well as reduce the impact to the healthcare system. In addition, the continued practice of other preventive actions like wearing a mask in public, keeping your distance, avoiding crowds, washing hands, and staying home when sick will help slow the spread of the virus.

Calaveras County Public Health Calaveras reported 24 new Covid cases since Friday. Active cases decreased to 97 from 189 active cases Friday. Calaverass highest active cases peaked at 123 during the first COVID-19 surge in December/January. There is one active Covid hospitalization. There are 9 new cases age 0-17 and one new case in individuals 65 years and older. Since the pandemic began Calaveras has had 315 Covid-19 positive people who are 17 and under and 509 Covid-19 positive people 65 and over.

Mariposa County Public Health reports the biggest surge in COVID-19 cases to date with 40 new cases since Friday, including 2 cases under 11, 4 age 12 to 19, and 12 cases age 60 and older. A total of 15 of the 40 new cases were unvaccinated, 18 are currently under investigation, and 7 are fully vaccinated.

This afternoon before the 40 new cases were added Mariposa Health officials said July 22nd marked the start of an increase in COVID-19 cases like no other we have seen in Mariposa County. In the past month, we have reported 238 new COVID-19 infections. It took from the end of March 2020 to the end of December 2020 for us to even have 238 cases in our county. Of the 238 cases identified this past month, 14 were hospitalized due to their infection. 9 of those individuals are still in the hospital receiving significant medical care. Only 2 of the 14 have been released and we are deeply saddened to have lost 3 of those individuals. Mariposa County is experiencing our biggest surge in COVID-19 cases. More cases lead to more hospitalizations, more deaths. More cases mean less healthy staff to keep businesses open. More cases mean more risk. Now is the time to take action, take responsibility. If we can all do our part, we can stop this surge.

Tuolumne Testing The State testing site is at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds in Sonora and plans to be open every day from 7 AM to 7 PM. Due to increased demand, appointments should be made rather than walking in. Appointments can be scheduled at www.lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123. Testing is also available through Rapid Care or the hospital emergency department if you are experiencing any symptoms, or contact your healthcare provider.

Vaccines in Calaveras, Tuolumne or Mariposa can be made at local pharmacies and through myturn.ca.gov or by calling 833-422-4255. Current guidance was issued for a third COVID vaccination dose for those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. For details on those criteria, please look here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/ThirdVaccineDoseQandA.aspx Individuals who meet the criteria should check with their healthcare provider to confirm appropriate administration and timing of a third dose of the COVID vaccine. A vaccine can then be scheduled through their provider, a pharmacy, or another vaccination clinic.

Anyone 12 and older is eligible for the COVID vaccine, Pfizer is approved for anyone over age 12. If you have questions about MyTurn and the registration process, call Tuolumne Public Health at 533-7440 or email Health@tuolumnecounty.ca.gov

The California Department of Public Health and local County Health Department issued masking guidance for universal masking indoors as detailed here. Information and guidance on isolation and quarantine is available at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Guidance-on-Isolation-and-Quarantine-for-COVID-19-Contact-Tracing.aspx Guidelines for self-care and more tips from the CDC are here.

County/Date

Tier Color Active

Cases New Cases

Total Cases COVID

Deaths Amador 8/22 167 102 2,443 41 Calaveras 8/23 97 24 2,660 61 Mariposa 8/23 84 40 740 10 Mono 8/23 64 8 1,167 5 Stanislaus 8/23 2,478 698 64,417 1,118 Tuolumne 8/23 272 102 5,403 82
Adventist Health Covid-19 vaccines help View Photo

Sonora, CA  Adventist Health Sonora and the Tuolumne County Public Health Department are urging the community to band together to stop the current COVID-19 surge.

They collectively put out a joint statement calling for locals to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Adventist Health Sonora President, Michelle Fuentes, says, When our neighbors are hurting, we step in to help. Our community is hurting because of the current surge, and we need all hands on deck to fight this.

The hospital reports that over the last several weeks, daily cases in the community have risen sharply, and the Emergency Department has seen unprecedented numbers of patients each day. The total number of admitted patients has also been high, leaving few beds available for patients with emergent medical needs. Given limited space and the high number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital, elective inpatient surgeries are on hold until capacity improves.

Exhaustion is an understatement at this point, says Dr. Philip Clarkson of Adventist Health Sonora. Were trained to provide services, care for patients, and in some cases, save lives. Well continue to do that. But whats sad is that so much of this is preventable.

Adventist Health Sonora reports there are more COVID hospitalizations currently than at any point during the pandemic.

The evidence is clear: vaccination can help shield our loved ones and neighbors here in Tuolumne County from the worst outcomes, adds Michelle Jachetta, Tuolumne County Public Health Director. The best, most effective thing community members can do to protect themselves, their community, and the capacity of our local healthcare system is to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

The joint press release notes that other safety measures are also requested, like staying home when sick, wearing a mask in public, washing hands frequently and avoiding large gatherings.

Jachetta concludes, If those who are eligible get vaccinated and everyone continues to practice the other recommended safety measures, we can finally get back on the path toward the normal were all missing.
Amador County District Attorney's Office View Photo

Sutter Creek, CA  The Amador County District Attorneys Office has filed charges against a man who allegedly yelled profanities at a school principal and struck a teacher during an argument related to school masking requirements.

The incident happened on August 11 during the first day of classes at Sutter Creek Elementary School. A parent, 49-year-old Jason Wages, allegedly started yelling at the principal, and when a male teacher stepped in to break up the incident, Wages allegedly struck the teacher.

The Amador County District Attorneys Office reports that Wages has now been charged with battery on a school employee, disruptive presence at a school, and disturbing the peace with offensive language.

The District Attorneys office has put out a statement, While these are turbulent times and many decisions related to the pandemic are controversial, that does not excuse people using violence to demonstrate their frustration.

California has a statewide mask mandate at all public schools.
CAL Fire Chief Thom Porter View Photo

Sacramento, CA  With over 13,500 firefighters working to contain a dozen large California wildfires, the head of CAL Fire says the state is currently on pace to break last years record-breaking wildfire season which had over 4.3-million acres burned.

Chief Thom Porter says, Today, we are also almost three times the number of acres burned in California, over our five-year average. Fires are burning in ways that no one has seen before.

Firefighters from across the west are currently helping to battle the states various incidents, and the highest priority for resource allotment is currently the 117,000-acre Caldor Fire in El Dorado County. There is nine percent containment.

Porter is calling on all Californians to pack a to-go bag in preparation of future incidents. Late August and September are often very fire-prone periods.

Get that stuff ready, he says. Every single Californian, this is my charge to you  be ready for the emergency that is coming to your doorstep at the least appropriate, or least expected, time. And when it is time to go, just go.

The second highest priority incident is the 731,000 acre Dixie Fire. Officials have recently slowed the spread and gained 41-percent containment. It is the largest single fire in the states recorded history.
9 women now serving as governors in US, tying a record View Photo

With Kathy Hochul officially taking the reins as New Yorks governor, a historic number of women are currently leading U.S. states  a push towards equality and representation that could continue into next years midterm elections.

There are now nine women serving as governor in the U.S. That ties a record that was set in 2004 and matched in 2007 and 2019, but its still well shy of gender proportionality.

Taking over on short notice for a scandal-plagued predecessor in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Hochul began her tenure Tuesday with more than enough challenges for a new administration. She also began with an historic opportunity: Hochul is the first woman to hold one of the most prominent governorships in the U.S.

New York as a whole has been a tough place for women to break into the highest levels, because there is very much a tight set of powerful gatekeepers, said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

And unfortunately  even in 2021  women are still seen, in effect, as newcomers, she said.

A century after women gained the right to vote, 19 states still have never been led by a woman. That includes some of the most populous states, such as California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Illinois. Even if it succeeds, Californias recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom next month doesnt appear likely to elevate a woman to the states top job.

Hochul had served as New Yorks lieutenant governor until succeeding fellow Democrat Andrew Cuomo, who resigned after a decade in office. Cuomo had faced a potential impeachment battle after an attorney generals investigation said he had sexually harassed or inappropriately touched 11 women. Among other things, Cuomo also had faced a legislative investigation into whether he misled the public last year about COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.

Hochul pledged a dramatic change in culture that will include mandatory ethics courses and improved sexual harassment training for state employees.

I want people to believe in their government again, Hochul said Tuesday while outlining her top goal.

Hochul already has announced she will seek a full four-year term in 2022.

Taking over in a crisis could benefit her politically, especially since women can face greater scrutiny when running for office, said Betsy Fischer Martin, executive director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University.

It gives her an automatic way to shine in the office, Fischer Martin said.

Next year could be a pivotal one for women running for governor. Democratic Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon will be the only female incumbent barred from seeking re-election by term limits. Six male governors also will be term-limited, opening a path to office for fresh candidates from both parties.

In Arizona, where Republican Gov. Doug Ducey cant run again, the field already has several candidates who are women, including Republican state Treasurer Kimberly Yee and Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. Arizona already holds the record for the most women who have served as governor  four. Kansas has had three.

In Arkansas, which has never had a woman serve as governor, a high-profile Republican primary pits Attorney General Leslie Rutledge against Sarah Sanders, press secretary for former President Donald Trump and daughter of former Gov. Mike Huckabee. The incumbent, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, will be termed out.

In 2018, womens political advocates also thought they were primed for success with a record number of candidates for governor. But they did not ultimately set a new record for victories.

Women currently hold 18% of governors offices  significantly less than this years new records of 27% of U.S. congressional seats and 31% of state legislative seats. In addition, Vice President Kamala Harris also became the first woman in that role this year.

Part of the challenge in electing women as governors is overcoming stereotypes of men as stronger, more decisive leaders, Walsh said.

Another challenge is deepening the pool of women willing to enter politics, said Wendy Doyle, president and CEO of the Kansas City, Missouri-based nonprofit United WE.

The organization is coordinating an effort to get more women appointed to positions on state, county and city boards and commissions. Its working with local officials in California, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania Texas and Washington. The idea is that some women appointed to positions eventually will run for elected offices.

Its a long game, Doyle said. But weve got to build the pipeline; weve got to build the bench.

By DAVID A. LIEB

Associated Press
The Latest: Mexico accepts its 1st group of Afghan refugees View Photo

MEXICO CITY  Mexico has accepted its first group of refugees from Afghanistan.

The five women and one man arrived Tuesday in Mexico City, where they were welcomed by Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard. Ebrard told the group, Welcome to your home.

The refugees belong to a group involved in the field of robotics. They had to travel through six countries to reach Mexico. They fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of the country earlier this month.

Ebrard says Mexico will grant them whatever legal status they consider best. That could include giving them asylum or refugee status.

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MORE ON AFGHANISTAN:

 Taliban insist on airlift deadline amid new report of abuses

 Biden decides to stick with Aug. 31 final pullout from Kabul

 G-7 grapples with Afghanistan, an afterthought not long ago

 UN rights chief warns of abuses amid Talibans Afghan blitz

 Taliban takeover prompts fears of a resurgent al-Qaida

 Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden says forces are on track to leave Afghanistan by his self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline but it will depend on Taliban cooperation.

In an address to the nation Tuesday, the president said he is pushing U.S. forces to leave the sooner the better due to increasing threats from ISIS-K and other terror groups in Kabul. Biden says the threats are real and significant challenges that we also have to take into consideration.

Biden says more than 70,000 people have been evacuated since Aug. 14. But there is tumult and violence outside Kabuls airport making it difficult for Americans and their Afghan allies to reach safety.

The president says that in a virtual Group of 7 meeting with world leaders, the nations were resolved to stand shoulder to shoulder to get people out of Afghanistan. But Bidens decision to pull out forces by the deadline has received sharp criticism from at home and abroad

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MOSCOW  Russias defense minister has voiced concern about the Taliban seizing a large number of weapons, including air defense missile systems, after sweeping over Afghanistan.

Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday the Taliban has captured hundreds of combat vehicles along with a number of warplanes and helicopters.

He expressed a particular worry about the Taliban obtaining more than 100 man-portable air defense missile systems.

Shoigu noted that Afghanistans refugee problem is a cause for grave concern.

The Russian defense chief voiced hope that the Taliban would move to form an inclusive government that would include all groups in the country.

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ROME  Italy will offer Afghan citizens evacuated to Italy from their homeland the opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Premier Mario Draghis office said Tuesday he has asked the Italian army general in charge of the national vaccination program to work out a plan so evacuees of recent days can receive the vaccine. If they want a vaccine they will receive them at locations around the country.

Right after they arrive in Italy, evacuees are issued humanitarian visas and are tested for COVID-19. Earlier in the day, Italian ministers told lawmakers that 2,659 Afghans have already reached Italy, and nearly 1,100 more were at Kabul airport awaiting Italian flights.

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MADRID  Spain is receiving a new batch of 290 Afghan refugees on a commercial airplane that has flown from Dubai to a military airbase in the outskirts of Madrid.

At least 130 more people are expected to travel later on Tuesday in two separate flights operated by the Spanish Air Force, the Defense Ministry said.

The latest arrivals bring to more than 1,200 the number of people that Spain has evacuated from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

They come as Defense Minister Margarita Robles acknowledged that Spain wont be able to aid all the people it had planned to despite the ongoing frantic efforts to evacuate as many as possible.

In an interview with Spains Cadena SER radio, the minister said that controls by Taliban forces and increasing tensions in Afghanistan were making it even more difficult for Afghans who worked for Spanish troops in the western city of Herat to travel to the Afghan capital, Kabul.

We are going to take out all the people that is possible. But there will be people that will remain for reasons that dont depend on us, due to the situation there, she said.

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BRUSSELS  European Council President Charles Michel says a number of G-7 leaders raised concerns with U.S. President Joe Biden about the Aug. 31 deadline for getting their nationals and Afghan helpers out of Kabul.

Michel says that several leaders expressed concerns about the timing of August 31, during Tuesdays G-7 summit. He declined to tell reporters after the meeting what response Biden gave the leaders.

According to an administration official, Biden plans to stick with his deadline for completing the U.S.-led evacuation from Afghanistan. The decision reflects in part the U.S. militarys concern about heightened security threats to the massive airlift that began 10 days ago.

Michel says the EU remains concerned about European citizens and Afghan people who worked with them being able to safely reach Kabul airport.

Michel says the EU raised this issue with our American friends and partners notably the need to secure the airport, as long as necessary, to complete the operations; and second, a fair and equitable access to the airport, for all nationals entitled to evacuation.

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MOSCOW  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow is strongly against any U.S. troops presence in the ex-Soviet Central Asian nations and also opposes American attempts to persuade them to host Afghan refugees.

Speaking during Tuesdays visit to Hungary, Lavrov noted that Russia and some of the Central Asian countries are members of a security pact stipulating that any foreign military presence in the region requires their common agreement.

He added that the presence of U.S. troops in any of the regions countries would expose it to a potential retaliatory blow.

Hosting troops from the U.S. which has openly declared an intention to keep Afghanistan in cross hairs and launch strikes if necessary means immediately turning itself into a target, Lavrov said. I strongly doubt that any country, in Central Asia or elsewhere, would be willing to become a target to help the Americans pursue their initiatives.

Russias top diplomat predicted that Washingtons efforts to persuade Central Asian nations to host the Afghans who worked with the U.S. and its NATO allies would prove equally futile.

Lavrov charged that the U.S. has asked the countries of the region to host the Afghans for a couple of months before it gives them them American visas, the offer he scathingly criticized.

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BRUSSELS  European Council President Charles Michel says the sweeping Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and the chaos that has followed are proof that the European Union must boost defense cooperation to handle security challenges itself.

Taliban militants took control of Afghanistan in just a few weeks as the NATO-trained national security forces withered after the Biden administration announced its intention to leave the conflict-ravaged country.

European NATO allies rely on U.S. airpower, transport and logistics to operate in Afghanistan and were forced to pull out too.

Michel says these events show that developing our strategic autonomy, while keeping our alliances as strong as ever, is of the utmost importance, for the future of Europe.

Twenty-two EU countries are members of the U.S.-led 30-nation military alliance, NATO.

Michel told reporters Tuesday after the G-7 summit that he plans to put the question up for debate at Europes top table.

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BRUSSELS  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the European Union is ramping up its aid to Afghanistan amid a widening humanitarian crisis in the strife-torn country.

Von der Leyen says the EUs executive commission will propose to almost quadruple the humanitarian aid coming from the EU budget.

She says Brussels will now increase it to over 200 million euros ($235 million) this year to help meet the urgent needs of Afghans inside Afghanistan and those being sheltered in neighboring countries.

Von der Leyen told reporters after Tuesdays G-7 summit that the 27-nation bloc has frozen development assistance to Kabul and will only resume payments if the Taliban meet several conditions, including on human rights and forming an inclusive government

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MOSCOW  Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the United States and its allies for leaving Afghanistan in chaos that raises potential security threats for Russia and its allies in Central Asia.

Addressing Tuesdays meeting of the main Kremlin party, United Russia, Putin noted that militants could use the turmoil to destabilize the ex-Soviet Central Asian nations bordering Afghanistan.

There is a danger that terrorists and different groups that found a refuge in Afghanistan will use the chaos left by our Western colleagues and try to launch an expansion into neighboring countries, Putin said. That will pose a direct threat to our country and its allies.

At the same time, Putin noted that Moscow has learned the lessons of the 10-year Soviet war in Afghanistan and will stay away from turmoil in Afghanistan.

We have drawn the necessary lessons, Putin said. We dont have any intention to interfere in Afghanistans internal affairs and, moreover, let our military forces be drawn into the all-against-all conflict.

He added that a possible rise in drug trafficking and the exacerbation of problems with migration could also pose threats to Russia.

Moscow, which fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with the Soviet troops withdrawal in 1989, has made a diplomatic comeback as a mediator over the past few years, reaching out to the Taliban and other feuding Afghan factions.

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BERLIN  The German military says it is concerned by the growing risk of attacks by the Islamic State group in Kabul.

Germanys top military commander, Gen. Eberhard Zorn, told reporters Tuesday that the threat has further increased.

We have signals both from American sources as well as our own assessment, that there is an increase of (IS) suicide bombers (slipping) into the city, he said.

Thats increasing and leads to heightened precautions, he added.

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said she takes seriously the Taliban threat not to allow any foreign troops to remain beyond Aug. 31.

I think one needs to take very, very seriously the announcement that they wont agree to a further delay, she said. She added the threat could also be an attempt by the group to drive up the price in negotiations with foreign officials.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands  The Dutch military is halting shooting exercises at one of its firing ranges because the facility will be used to house Afghans evacuated from Kabul.

The Defense Ministry said Tuesday that shooting training at the Harskamp military base is suspended until further notice.

The first Afghan evacuees are expected to arrive later Tuesday in Harskamp, a large military base in the forests of the Veluwe region of the central Netherlands.

Military exercises are continuing near the first Dutch army base opened to house Afghan evacuees, in a northern village, but shooting has been suspended there, too.

The military says that evacuees will hear almost nothing of the exercises at the base in the northern village of Zoutcamp.

The Defense Ministry has opened three barracks to evacuees. So far, around 1,000 people have been brought to two accommodation centers, which are already nearly full.

The Harskamp base will house a further 800 Afghans.

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A Taliban spokesman says the U.S. must complete its evacuation of people from Afghanistan by the Aug. 31 date the Biden administration set for the withdrawal of all American troops.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Tuesday his group will accept no extensions to the deadline. He says life is returning to normal in the country but chaos at the airport remains a problem. Many Afghans are desperate to flee the Taliban takeover of the country.

Mujahid says he is not aware of any meeting between the Taliban and the CIA, but he did not deny that such a meeting took place. An official says the director of the U.S. agency met with the Talibans top political leader in Kabul on Monday.

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ANKARA, Turkey  Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says Turkey has so far evacuated 1,404 people from Afghanistan  1,061 of them Turkish nationals and 343 nationals of various countries.

Because of our (troops) presence at the airport, many countries, international organizations or NGOs have asked our help in evacuating their personnel, Cavusoglu told reporters Tuesday. We have been providing assistance to them together with the United States and Britain.

Cavusoglu said that there were some 4,500 Turkish nationals in Afghanistan but only around 200 are still waiting to be evacuated.

We have contacted each one of them.  An important number of them said they did not want to return, Cavusoglu said, explaining that they included people who had businesses or jobs in Afghanistan or were married to Afghans.

We of course, respect their decision but we have also made the necessary suggestions and warnings, he said.

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ROME  Italys foreign minister is warning allies against concentrating on blaming the U.S. administration for the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio told Parliaments foreign affairs and defense commissions on Tuesday that while such finger-pointing is coming into fashion in European public opinion, it risks weakening the traditionally solid trans-Atlantic alliance. Those engaged in assigning blame should be aware that if this alliance ends, there is no other to replace it, Di Maio said.

After the Americans leave Kabul airport  the date hypothesized for now is at the end of the month  it wont be in any case possible, not for us, nor for any country in the Alliance, to maintain any kind of presence in Afghanistan, Di Maio said.

Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini told lawmakers that so far 2,659 Afghan citizens, about a third of them children, have been evacuated by Italy. Another 1,000 people were waiting inside the airport for flights to Italy.

Italy is using its current leadership of the G-20 grouping to involve world powers, especially China and Russia, to try to build consensus on strategy toward Afghanistan.

The rapidly unfolding crisis in Afghanistan has forced Italy to suspend aid cooperation agreements. But we dont intend to interrupt humanitarian aid where conditions permit, Di Maio said. He said assistance would be funneled through the International Red Cross and U.N. agencies, especially for women and other vulnerable people.

At the request of the United States, Italy is also allowing temporary transit of evacuees on U.S. flights through military bases in Sicily and northern Italy.

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BUDAPEST, Hungary  Russias foreign minister says he opposes the placement of any U.S. military forces in countries neighboring Afghanistan in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from the country and its subsequent takeover by the Taliban.

Speaking at a press conference in Hungarys capital, Budapest, Sergei Lavrov said the presence of U.S. soldiers in Central Asian countries bordering Afghanistan would create instability in the region, and make those countries a target for potential attacks.

This is not the right way to preserve stability in those countries, Lavrov said.

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HELSINKI  Finland says it has now evacuated over 200 people from Afghanistan, including permanent staff and locally hired employees working for the Nordic countrys embassy in Kabul with their families.

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto tweeted on Tuesday that Finlands most recent evacuation on Monday included also 40 persons from the European Union delegations in Afghanistan.

He said that the majority of those evacuated from Afghanistan were women and children, and that the evacuation effort was continuing this week.

On Friday, Finland sent a few dozen of its special unit soldiers to Afghanistan to help safeguard evacuations at the airport in Kabul.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto urged the international community in a speech in Helsinki on Tuesday to take notice of the acute human distress unfolding in Afghanistan. He expressed concerns over the situation of women and girls and other groups in a vulnerable position in the country, including locally hired employees of foreign embassies.

We have a specific responsibility for the security of the locally hired people who have enabled our (Finlands) own operations in Afghanistan over the past years, the Finnish head of state said.

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SEOUL, South Korea  South Korea says it has sent three military aircraft to Afghanistan and an unspecified nearby country to evacuate Afghans who worked for its embassy in Kabul and other South Korean-run facilities.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry on Tuesday did not confirm how many people will be evacuated. On Sunday, Song Young-gil, lawmaker and leader of South Koreas ruling Democratic Party, said the Seoul government should evacuate some 400 Afghans who were involved in South Korean rebuilding projects in Afghanistan.

Apart from embassy staff and their families, the South Korean planes will pick up Afghans who worked for a South Korean-run hospital at the U.S. militarys Bagram Airfield before the facility closed in 2015 and a South Korean-run job training center, the ministry said.

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BERLIN  A German army officer trying to help Afghans at risk from the Taliban to flee their country has launched a blistering attack on Germanys evacuation efforts.

Cpt. Marcus Grotian told reporters in Berlin on Tuesday that he was overwhelmed by disbelief at the way Germanys governing parties and politicians disregarded warnings about the Taliban advance and accused Chancellor Angela Merkels office of failing to step in when needed.

Grotian, who heads a network of volunteers trying to help locals who worked for German institutions in Afghanistan, said some 6,000 Afghans are still waiting to be evacuated and many likely wont make it.

There will be many, too many human tragedies to come, he said. Thats absolutely clear.

Grotian accused German officials of creating a dysfunctional bureaucracy that is making incomprehensible decisions about who can board evacuation flights and who cant.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. Sometimes a person who was never on a list is let through, sometimes a person who has been on our lists or those of the military command for six weeks is still turned away, he said.

Grotian recounted one incident earlier Tuesday in which an Afghan woman who had worked for Germanys foreign development agency four years ago was barred from entering Kabul airport.

He said the mixed messages being sent to Afghans by German bureaucrats would likely mean some will miss other opportunities to leave the country because they are still waiting for Germany to evacuate them.

Everyone who has worked for Germans must now be let through, because there wont be many more chances, said Grotian. Theyve been rejected three times, some of them four. There may not be a fifth when the planes dont fly anymore.

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PARIS  French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said an Afghan evacuated from Kabul to Paris and suspected of links to the Taliban was detained by French police on Tuesday.

The man is one of five Afghans placed under strict surveillance by Frances intelligence agency for possible links to the Taliban. The five men were required to stay in a hotel in the Paris region for a quarantine, as are all evacuees who arrive in France without having been fully vaccinated.

One left the place where he was asked to stay and police arrested him, Darmanin said on news broadcaster France Info.

Of the other four men, one was obviously linked to the Taliban, Darmanin said. But he helped the French army a lot, the French (nationals), your fellow journalists, more than a hundred Afghans who had visas and could not get out from the embassy. The French Embassy has served as a shelter for hundreds of people before they were transferred to the Kabul airport, where the French ambassador and a reduced staff now work.

The man admitted to belonging to the Taliban and to bearing arms at a blockade in Kabul that was under his responsibility.

Darmanin said the security checks were done in Abu Dhabi, where the French have transferred evacuees before the onward journey to Paris.

There was no breach, he said.

Darmanin said France has evacuated over 1,000 Afghans from Kabul over the past week, including a large majority of Afghans who worked with the French government or French groups in the country.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark  A second person who had been deported from Denmark to Afghanistan, and who returned to the Scandinavian country on an evacuation plane from Kabul, has been arrested.

Danish police said Tuesday on Twitter that the man faces preliminary charges of violating an entry ban. Preliminary charges are one step short of formal charges.

On Sunday, a 23-year-old man was recognized by police for being member of an outlawed criminal gang when he tried to sneak back into Denmark. He too arrived on an evacuation plane from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of the country.

Because of the situation in Afghanistan, Denmark is no longer deporting people to that country.

Denmarks Defense Minister Trine Bramsen said another 50 persons have been evacuated out of Kabul. A Danish Hercules C-130 flew them out Tuesday, with Bramsen saying that so far a total of about 850 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan.

In neighboring Sweden, Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Monday evening that 55 people  mainly Swedish Embassy employees and their families  had been flown out of Kabul, bringing the total number of evacuees to 225.

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WARSAW, Poland  Officials say that Poland has evacuated over 750 people from Afghanistan and a few dozen more are waiting at the Kabul airport for the air transport to Poland, but time is running out on the possibility of evacuation.

A deputy foreign minister, Marcin Przydacz, said on Tuesday that majority of those who cooperated with Polands diplomatic mission have been evacuated and the waiting list is getting shorter. However, there are still a number of families and mothers with children whom the authorities want to bring to Poland for security reasons, Przydacz said.

But the logistics and the conditions of the evacuation are challenging, he added.

Top government official, Michal Dworczyk, tweeted an appeal for help in locating the family of 13-year-old Fawad who got separated from his relatives during an attempted evacuation from Kabul. It was not immediately clear if Fawad has been brought to Poland. Fawads photo was posted on Dworczyks Twitter account.

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BEIJING  China says the international community should support chances for positive developments in Afghanistan rather than impose sanctions on the Taliban.

The international community should encourage and promote the development of the situation in Afghanistan in a positive direction, support peaceful reconstruction, improve the well-being of the people and enhance its capacity for independent development, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters at a daily briefing on Tuesday.

Imposing sanctions and pressure at every turn cannot solve the problem and will only be counterproductive, Wang said.

China, which shares a narrow border with Afghanistan, has seized on the ugly scenes at Kabul airport to redouble its harsh criticism of U.S. actions in the country, particularly its attempt to install a Western-style democracy. Beijing has kept open its embassy in Kabul and sought to maintain friendly relations with the Taliban.

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KABUL  Afghanistans Hazaras, a Shiite minority, are calling on the Taliban to set up an inclusive government in which all ethnic groups would have a voice.

Shiite leader Sayed Hussain Alimi Balkhi said the countrys Shiite clerics have issued a declaration stating that a future parliament in Afghanistan should include members of different sects of Islam.

He asked for freedom of religion under an Islamic government and asked that there be separate courts for Shiites that follow Jafari jurisprudence, in accordance with the provisions of law.

The Shiite concerns come as the Taliban negotiating team in Qatar has been was insisting on implementation of Islamic law, and specifically Hanafi laws which are a major school of Sunni jurisprudence, in the laws and the constitution of Afghanistan.

The Taliban are a Sunni militant group.

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LONDON  Britain says it has evacuated 8,600 U.K. citizens and Afghans from Kabul in recent days, 2,000 of them in the last 24 hours.

But Defense Secretary Ben Wallace conceded that were not going to get everybody out of the country before the U.S.-led mission ends on Aug. 31.

Britain and other allies are pressing President Joe Biden to extend the evacuation past the end-of-the-month date agreed with the Taliban. But Wallace told Sky News its unlikely Biden will agree.

The government said one of the evacuees on a British plane turned out to be a person on a U.K. no-fly list. Wallace said the individual was identified on arrival in Britain was investigated and judged not a person of interest to security services.

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BERLIN  Prominent Afghan womens rights activist Zarifa Ghafari has arrived in Germany together with her family members.

Ghafari landed at Cologne/Bonn airport late on Monday after fleeing Afghanistan to Pakistan last week.

Armin Laschet, the governor of Germanys North Rhine-Westphalia state who met Ghafari, said it was important to help as many women as possible to leave Afghanistan in the coming days, Germanys dpa news agency reported.

Ghafari became the mayor of the Afghan town of Maidan Shahr in 2018, at the age of 26.

She was a recipient of the the U.S. State Departments 2020 International Women of Courage award. According to the State Department, she has survived at least six assassination attempts.

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GENEVA  Switzerlands foreign affairs office says a charter flight has arrived in Zurich with 219 people who were evacuated from Afghanistan on board.

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs says the flight from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, landed early Tuesday, carrying 141 Afghans who worked with the Swiss department of development and cooperation in Afghanistan or their families and relatives.

Another 78 people from Afghanistan, Germany and Sweden were also on the flight.

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By The Associated Press
North Carolina judges: More felony offenders can now vote View Photo

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Tens of thousands of North Carolina residents convicted of felonies but whose current punishments dont include prison time can register to vote and cast ballots, a judicial panel declared Monday.

Several civil rights groups and ex-offenders who sued legislative leaders and state officials in 2019 argue the current 1973 law is unconstitutional by denying the right vote to people who have completed their active sentences or received no such sentence, such as people on probation. They said the rules disproportionately affect Black residents and originated from an era of white supremacy in the 19th century.

In a brief hearing following a trial last week challenging the states voting restrictions upon felons, Superior Court Judge Lisa Bell said two judges on the three-judge panel have agreed they would issue a formal order soon allowing more felony offenders to register. The judges are acting before issuing a final trial ruling, as voting in October municipal elections begins next month.

Roughly 56,000 more people would now be allowed to vote, based on estimates. One lawyer said it represents the largest expansion of North Carolina voting rights since the 1960s.

When I heard the ruling, I wanted to run in the street and tell everybody that now you have a voice, said Diana Powell with Justice Served NC, a Raleigh-based community group that sued. I am so excited for this historic day.

Current law says felons can register to vote once they complete all aspects of their sentence, including probation and parole. With the upcoming order, felons who only must complete these punishments that have no element of incarceration can register. The decision also would apply to people convicted of a federal felony but whose current punishment is probation.

A lawyer for House Speaker Tim Moore, who is a defendant along with Senate leader Phil Berger and the State Board of Elections, said an appeal to block the panels preliminary injunction will be filed.

Moore attorney Sam Hayes called Mondays decision an absurd ruling that flies in the face of our constitution and further casts doubt on election integrity in North Carolina.

The defendants also could appeal any final ruling from the judges that expands restored voting rights moving forward to the 2022 elections, which include a U.S. Senate seat. An uptick in voter rolls stands to affect races in the closely partisan-divided state. There are 7.1 million registered voters in North Carolina.

Last year, the same judges ruled a portion of the law requiring felons to pay all monetary obligations  likes fines and restitution  before voting again was unenforceable because it made voting dependent on ones financial means. That allowed more people to vote last November.

Now, if a person can just say, I am not in jail or prison for a felony conviction, then that person can register and they can vote freely, said Stanton Jones, one of the plaintiffs lawyers.

Bell, the panels chief judge, said Monday that the majoritys reasoning for the injunction would be explained in their order. The state election board said Monday was its deadline to change registration forms for the fall, and that county boards must immediately begin to permit these individuals to register.

Dennis Gaddy, co-founder of Community Success Initiative, a Raleigh-based organization that helps ex-prisoners and another plaintiff, said his group and others would have a statewide registration drive.

The wait is over, and Im excited to be a part of this transformation, said Gaddy, who was once behind bars and unable to vote for seven years after his release because he was on probation.

The North Carolina Constitution forbids a person convicted of a felony from voting unless that person shall be first restored to the rights of citizenship in the manner prescribed by law. The 1973 law, approved by a Democratic-controlled General Assembly and written in large part by Black legislators, eased restoration requirements.

A plaintiffs witness testified last week that felony disenfranchisement had origins from a Reconstruction-era effort to intentionally prevent Black residents from voting. Now more than 42% of the felony offenders on probation or supervision and who are disenfranchised are Black, according to a court document.

Legislative leaders acknowledged in a legal brief that for much of the states history, felony disenfranchisement was used to exclude African Americans from voting. But they said there was no evidence the 1973 law was motivated by discriminatory intent  rather, it treats all offenders the same.

Sen. Warren Daniel of Burke County, a top Republican on election issues, portrayed the upcoming order as judicial overreach: If a judge prefers a different path to regaining those rights, then he or she should run for the General Assembly and propose that path.

Twenty states automatically restore voting rights for convicted felons when they are released from prison, while about 15 restore those rights upon completion of their sentence, including probation and parole, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

By GARY D. ROBERTSON

Associated Press
PHOENIX (AP)  Cyber Ninjas will not need to imminently release records of their review of the 2020 vote count in Arizonas largest county.

Arizona Supreme Court Justice Kathryn King put a hold Tuesday on a lower court order for the records to be released by Aug. 31 while the high court considers an appeal.

Republicans who control the Senate argue the records are not subject to public release because theyre maintained by the Senates contractors and legislative immunity applies.

But the Arizona Court of Appeals said last week that was not the case. The court said the main contractor, Florida company Cyber Ninjas, was subject to Arizonas public records law because it was performing a core government function that the Senate farmed out.

The records are sought by the watchdog group American Oversight. A Supreme Court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 14.

The unprecedented partisan recount and review of election results in Maricopa County was prompted by former President Donald Trumps loss in the state and his contention without evidence that he lost in Arizona and other battleground states because of fraud.

Senate Republicans issued subpoenas to Maricopa County for all 2020 ballots, the machines that counted them and other data in the states most populated county.
Possible Havana syndrome case delays Harris trip to Vietnam View Photo

HANOI (AP)  U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris trip from Singapore to Vietnam was delayed several hours Tuesday by an investigation into two possible cases of the so-called Havana Syndrome in Hanoi, administration officials said.

The investigation was in its early stages and officials deemed it safe for Harris to make her scheduled stop in Vietnam, which is part of her trip across Asia meant to reassure allies about American foreign policy amid the tumultuous evacuation of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. The Havana Syndrome is the name for a rash of mysterious health incidents first reported by American diplomats and other government employees in the Cuba capital beginning in 2016.

U.S. officials take any reported incident of Havana syndrome seriously, press secretary Jen Psaki said at a White House press briefing later Tuesday.

U.S. officials had not yet confirmed the latest reported case, and it did not involve anyone traveling with Harris, Psaki said. In light of the reports, there was an assessment done of the safety of the vice president, and there was a decision made that she could continue travel along with her staff, Psaki said.

There have been two separate cases of unexplained health incidents reported by U.S. personnel in Vietnam within the past week, the officials said. It was not immediately clear who was impacted by the syndrome, though officials said it was not someone who worked for the vice president or the White House, according to the officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation.

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi issued a statement saying the delay was because Harris office learned about a report of a recent possible anomalous health incident in the Vietnamese capital. The embassy provided no details, but said Harris office decided to travel to Hanoi after careful assessment.

The U.S. government uses anomalous health incident to describe the syndrome. Some of those impacted report hearing a loud piercing sound and feeling intense pressure in the face. Pain, nausea, and dizziness sometimes followed.

Similar, unexplained health ailments have since been reported by Americans serving in other countries, including Germany, Austria, Russia and China. A variety of theories have been floated to explain the incidents, including targeted microwaves or sonic attack, perhaps as part of an espionage or hacking effort.

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. Administration officials have speculated that Russia may be involved, a suggestion Moscow has denied.

Harris was set to depart for Hanoi on Tuesday evening after delivering a speech in Singapore, castigating China for its incursions into the South China Sea, and a discussion of supply chain issues with business leaders.

But the flight was delayed for more than three hours and Symone Sanders, Harris chief spokesperson, refused to explain. Unprompted, Sanders volunteered that Harris was well although reporters had seen the vice president several times Tuesday and had no reason to be concerned about her health.

Congress has raised alarms over such attacks, finding rare bipartisan support in House and Senate for continued government-wide investigation into the syndrome, response as well as millions in support for American personnel medical monitoring and treatment.

The Biden administration is facing new pressure to resolve the mystery as the number of reported cases of possible attack has sharply grown. But scientists and government officials arent yet certain about who might have been behind any attacks, if the symptoms could have been caused inadvertently by surveillance equipment  or if the incidents were actually attacks.

Whatever an official review concludes could have enormous consequences. Confirmation that a U.S. adversary has been conducting damaging attacks against U.S. personnel would unleash calls for a forceful response by the United States.

For now, the administration is providing assurances that it takes the matter seriously, is investigating aggressively and will make sure those affected have good medical care.

One key analysis identified directed, pulsed radio frequency energy as the most plausible culprit. Published in December by the National Academy of Sciences, the report said a radio frequency attack could alter brain function without causing gross structural damage. But the panel could not make a definitive finding on how U.S. personnel may have been hit.

And a declassified 2018 State Department report cited a lack of senior leadership, ineffective communications, and systemic disorganization in responding to the Havana cases. The report says the cause of the injuries was currently unknown. The document was published by George Washington Universitys National Security Archive.

Chris Miller, the acting defense secretary during the last months of the Trump administration, created a Pentagon team to investigate the suspected attacks. That was after he met a soldier late last year who described how, while serving in a country Miller wouldnt identify, he had heard a shrieking sound and then had a splitting headache.

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Lemire reported from Lowell, Mass. Additional reporting contributed by Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Lisa Mascaro in Washington

By ALEXANDRA JAFFE and JONATHAN LEMIRE
LOS ANGELES (AP)  A Southern California man broke into thousands of Apple iCloud accounts and collected more than 620,000 private photos and videos in an effort to steal images of nude young women, federal authorities said.

Hao Kuo Chi, 40, of La Puente, has agreed to plead guilty to four felonies, including conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to a computer, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

Chi admitted that he impersonated Apple customer support staff in emails that tricked unsuspecting victims into providing him with their Apple IDs and passwords, according to court records cited by the Times.

He gained unauthorized access to photos and videos of at least 306 victims across the U.S., most of them young women, he acknowledged in his plea agreement with federal prosecutors in Tampa, Fla.

Chi said he hacked into the accounts of about 200 of the victims at the request of people he met online. Using the moniker icloudripper4you, Chi marketed himself as capable of breaking into digital accounts, he admitted in court papers.

He faces up to five years in prison for each of the four crimes.
Texas hospital systems are increasingly closing temporarily their off-site emergency rooms and sending their staff to their hospitals to support staff overstretched by COVID-19.

The moves came as the coronavirus continues to rage throughout the state.

Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston closed three suburban emergency rooms Monday in Kingwood, Spring and Sienna to help ease the burden on its hospital staffs, it said in a statement.

Closing these locations allows us to reassign the staff to other Memorial Hermann locations where their help is critically needed," the Memorial Hermann statement said.

St. Lukes Health in Houston has closed its Conroe ER to help meet surging admissions at its hospital in nearby The Woodlands.

Texas Health Hospital Rockwall, near Dallas, has closed its free-standing ER to help its hospital ER. An air-conditioned tent also has been erected outside the hospital to accommodate 10-15 overflow patients, according to a hospital statement.

Hunt Regional Healthcare has closed its ER in Commerce to supplement the staff at its flagship hospital in nearby Greenville.

Of the 7,258 intensive care unit beds in Texas hospitals, 6,746 were filled Tuesday, or 93%, with 3,592 beds taken by COVID-19 cases, or 51%, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Meantime, 48,996 of the state's 62,203 inpatient hospital beds were filled, or 79%, with 13,998 beds taken by COVID-19 cases, or 22.5%. That is the most in more than seven months.

Our hospitals are feeling the burn with a tremendous number of new patients. They are pulling all the levers to extend their abilities, but even if we have the space, we dont have the staff, said Texas Hospital Association spokeswoman Carrie Williams. We are grateful the state has stepped in and is helping us with. This surge has come faster and with more force, and at a time when we were already depleted.

In the past month, coronavirus hospitalizations in Texas have increased by nearly 200%. Texas is quickly approaching its record for the most coronavirus hospitalizations during the pandemic: 14,218 on Jan. 11. State health officials on Tuesday reported 199 new deaths.

Meantime, in rural Chambers County east of Houston, officials this past weekend announced that COVID-19 patients were overwhelming local hospitals and the countys EMS service. Chambers County EMS call volume had increased 73% compared to the same time last year and 67% of these calls were either COVID-19 positive cases or suspected cases.

Patients were spending an average of 96 hours in the emergency room before they could be moved to a bed, according to Chambers County officials.

During Tuesdays Chambers County Commissioners Court meeting, Ron Nichols, county emergency services director, said that in the last seven days, the countys emergency call volume was up 112%.

Nichols told commissioners that at about 7:30 p.m. last Friday, not one ambulance was available in Chambers County or in nearby Hardin and Jefferson counties to provide responses to 911 calls.

This was because of extreme hospital wait times, he said.

In Fort Bend County in suburban Houston, school district officials approved a mask mandate for students and staff Monday night.

We are aware that some families may feel anxious about the mask mandate, but we hope that we can all unite in the spirit of cooperation and support of our students and staff, Fort Bend school district Acting Superintendent Diana Sayavedra said in a statement.

The mask mandate comes as one elementary school in the Fort Bend district was switching to virtual instruction for the rest of this week.

And in the Austin suburb of Leander, the Leander school board decided not to close district schools despite a recommendation by Williamson County health officials that they shut down after more than 400 COVID-19 cases were confirmed among students and teachers.

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This story has been corrected to show that data on the percentage of hospital beds and intensive care unit beds in use was released on Tuesday, not Wednesday.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukraine's president on Tuesday urged closer ties between the ex-Soviet nation and NATO and the European Union in a speech marking the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.

Ukraine celebrated its independence day on Tuesday with a military parade and massive festivities in the capital Kyiv. Opening the parade, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a strong Ukraine is a country that dreams ambitiously and acts decisively.

Such a country becomes NATO's Enhanced Opportunities Partner; such a country is officially supported by others when it applies to join the European Union," Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine didn't officially become independent until the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991. But like most of the 15 former Soviet republics, it declared its sovereignty immediately after the failed hard-line coup against reformist Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.

On Aug. 24, 1991, the Ukrainian parliament adopted the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, reestablishing the countrys independence after more than 70 years of being part of the Soviet Union. Less than four months later, Boris Yeltsin and leaders of other Soviet republics declared the Soviet Union defunct and Gorbachev stepped down on Dec. 25, 1991.

The 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence came as the country is locked in a bitter tug-of-war with Russia, which in 2014 annexed Crimea and has since been backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, and Kyivs efforts to shore up support among Western nations.

Territories may be occupied, but one can't occupy the people's love for Ukraine. One can create a desperate situation and make people get (Russian) passports, but one can't issue passports for their Ukrainian hearts, Zelenskyy said Tuesday. If some people in Crimea and Donbass (region in eastern Ukraine, controlled by Russia-backed separatists) are afraid to talk about it, it doesn't mean they are afraid to think about it. They will come back, because we're family.

The center of Kyiv on Tuesday turned into a large venue for concerts and other festive events marking the anniversary. Thousands of people flocked to the central Maidan square, which over the past 30 years has been a rallying point for Ukrainians.

The popular uprising of 2013-2014, which ousted pro-Russia President Viktor Yanukovych and triggered the years-long confrontation with Moscow, started on Maidan square.

Delegations from 46 countries and blocs, including 14 presidents, attended the parade in Kyiv. The day before, they took part in the Crimean Platform summit called by Ukraine to build up pressure on Russia over the 2014 annexation of Crimea that has been denounced as illegal by most of the world.

The annexation and Moscows backing of rebels in the east of Ukraine, where more than 14,000 have been killed since 2014 in the fighting between separatists and Ukrainian forces, plunged Russias relations with the West to post-Cold War lows. The tensions rose once again this year after Russia increased troop numbers near its borders with Ukraine, including in Crimea, eliciting international outrage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin published an article last month, describing Russians and Ukrainians as one people and accusing the West of working methodically to rupture historic links between the two neighbors and to turn Ukraine into a key bulwark to contain Russia.

But polls in Ukraine show that the vast majority of Ukrainians support the independence of the country. If a referendum on Ukraine's independence was held this year, 70.3% of the country's residents would vote for it, according to a survey of the prominent Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.

The generation of Ukrainians, born both in the west and the east of the country after it became independent, see themselves as a separate European nation that is not tied to the myths of the Soviet era and is indifferent to the Kremlin's pleas about the common past, the institute's director, Volodymyr Paniotto, told The Associated Press.

Paniotto said that Zelenskyy's generation, as well as younger Ukrainians, have a pro-Western mindset and will determine Ukraine's path for decades to come  from the Soviet past to a European future.

Firefighter Serhiy Zhadko, 29, who came to watch the parade with his 7-year-old son, told the AP that Ukrainians had to (go through) two revolutions in order to finally choose their path to Europe, but were ready to defend our choice.

Yes, there are lots of problems in Ukraine, theres a war and poverty, but we look forward and not back on the Soviet past, Zhadko, 29, said.

NATO and the EU keep mum about when Ukraine can become a member, despite Kyiv's persistence. The EU only went as far as to sign a landmark Association Agreement with Ukraine in 2014, which stipulated free trade and visa-free travel between the two.

Ukraine's Western allies expect Kyiv to keep pushing reforms, including in the judiciary, and the creation of effective anti-corruption mechanisms that would stem the endemic graft in the country.

Ukrainian democracy is a work in progress which yet to learn the lessons of fighting corruption and to limit the influence of the oligarchs, Ukrainian political analyst and head of the Penta Center think tank Volodymyr Fesenko told the AP.

Western partners directly link the speed of (Ukraine's) integration into Euro-Atlantic blocs with success in reforms and the fight against corruption, he said.

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Associated Press writer Daria Litvinova contributed to this report from Moscow.
Jeff Bezos may have stalled NASA's contract with Elon Musk to get to the Moon, but many key employees are abandoning the Blue Origin ship (in this case, the rocket).

Outlets such as CNBC and Gizmodo have reported that more than a dozen high-ranking engineers have resigned from the Amazon founder's space exploration company in recent weeks, with some joining the ranks of rival companies such as SpaceX .

According to these reports, among the main defectors is Nitin Arora, who was the principal engineer of the lunar landing program of Blue Origin and has just announced on LinkedIn that he is joining the team of Elon Musk's space company. Another major outlet is that of former NASA astronaut Jeff Ashby, one of the directors of the New Shepard launch program. For her part, Lauren Lyons announced her entry to the Unicorn Firefly Aerospace team.

Others who have left the company include Steve Bennett, senior vice president of New Shepard; Scott Jacobs, National Security Sales Director; Bob Ess, Senior Director of New Glenn; Tod Byquist, New Glenn First-Stage Senior Director; Bill Scammell, Senior Finance Manager for New Glenn; Christopher Payne, Senior Manager of Production Testing; Nate Chapman, New Shepard technical project manager; Dave Sanderson, senior propulsion design engineer; Rachel Forman, HLS Senior Human Factors Engineer; Jack Nelson, Lead BE-4 Controller Integration and Test Engineer, among others.

Bezos's company sued NASA for awarding a key contract to SpaceX in what it said was uneven competition. Prior to this, Bezos had written an open letter to NASA administrator Bill Nelson saying that his company would pay billions of dollars in exchange for the contract to develop a lunar lander for the Artemis program.

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Adrienne Bailon, best known for Disney's "Cheetah Girls" is strutting up to Brick at Blue Star for a one night pop-up event on Tuesday, August 24.

While her ferocious girl group days are behind her, the Emmy award-winning talk show host of The Real has moved on to different pursuits.
Bachelor in Paradise, a Bachelor franchise offshoot that gives contestants a second chance at love, is back this summer. Along with casual hangouts and one-on-ones between really gorgeous people, one contestant is sharing some of the racist rhetoric that followed her stint on The Bachelor earlier this year.

Jessenia Cruz, a 28-year-old who lives in San Antonio, competed for Bachelor lead Matt James' heart in January. She was sent home during a one-on-one date as James felt they didn't have a romantic spark. During the season, Cruz became a fan favorite for her honesty and for standing up for herself. She received lots of love from Bachelor Nation fans, but also hate.

While on a one-on-one date with Bachelor in Paradise fan-favorite Ivan Hall, Cruz shared in the Monday, August 23 airing how the racism she experienced after the show overshadowed the journey. Last season was especially chaotic after former Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, was seen in photos attending an antebellum-themed college party in 2018. The fallout of the photos included Chris Harrison stepping down as host after nearly 20 years, and two former Bachelor contestants filling in as hosts during this season's Bachelorette.

"It was difficult, I guess, to see myself through that lens," she says to Hall. "I'm aware I've always been a person of color, but to then go home and have to face all of these really scary, really nasty messages online where people were just outright racist towards you."

"And, granted, there was some support that I did get, like, being Latina and being portrayed on screen, a lot of women reached out to me about that," Cruz continued. "But I had never experienced that type of racism until after the show. And it hurt. It really hurt."

Cruz brought up the racism she received to communicate how skeptical she had been to go on another Bachelor show. She describes it as, "if I'm going to go share my heart to someone, just to be torn apart, why would I want to do that again?"

However, Cruz told Hall she's glad she decided to put herself out there again, adding she feels safe on Bachelor in Paradise island with Hall, who's from the Tayshia Adams season of The Bachelorette. He was born in Chicago, but grew up in Plano (it's the Texas tie for me).

Fans appreciated watching the two share an intimate and serious conversation about racism, as many can't help to ship and stan.

Scroll below to see cute tweets of fans loving Cruz and Hall, and some sticking up for Cruz:
WASHINGTON (AP)  The United States clashed with some of its closest allies over President Joe Bidens insistence on sticking to an Aug. 31 Afghanistan withdrawal date that will shut down a frantic international evacuation effort from Taliban rule.

Biden insisted after virtual talks with leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies Tuesday that the U.S. and its closest allies would stand shoulder to shoulder in future action over Afghanistan and the Taliban, despite disappointing them in their urgent pleas now to allow time for more airlifts.

The U.S. president was adamant that the risk of terror attacks was too great to accede to appeals from G-7 leaders to keep what are now 5,800 American troops at Kabul's airport beyond the end of the month, anchoring the airlifts.

Britain and other allies, many of whose troops followed American forces into Afghanistan nearly 20 years ago to deal with the plotters of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, had urged Biden to keep American forces at the Kabul airport longer. No country would be able to evacuate all their citizens and at-risk Afghan allies by the Aug. 31 deadline, allied officials had said.

"We will go on right up until the last moment that we can, said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had openly lobbied to keep the airport presence after Aug. 31. Johnson acknowledged he was unable to sway Biden to extend the U.S. military presence in Tuesday's talks.

But youve heard what the president of the United States has had to say, youve heard what the Taliban have said, he said.

A senior French official, speaking anonymously in accordance with the French presidencys customary practices, said President Emmanuel Macron had pushed for extending the Aug. 31 deadline but would adapt to the American sovereign decision. Thats in the hands of the Americans, he said.

In a partial show of unity, G7 leaders agreed on conditions for recognizing and dealing with a future Taliban-led Afghan government, but there was palpable disappointment Biden could not be persuaded to extend the U.S. operation at the Kabul airport to ensure that tens of thousands of Americans, Europeans, other third-country nationals and all at-risk Afghans can be evacuated.

The meeting of the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.S. served not only as a bookend to the Wests 20-year involvement in Afghanistan that began as a response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks but also a resigned acknowledgment from European powers that the U.S. calls the shots.

Our immediate priority is to ensure the safe evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have partnered with us and assisted our efforts over the past twenty years, and to ensure continuing safe passage out of Afghanistan, the leaders said in a joint statement that did not address precisely how they would guarantee continuing safe passage without any military presence.

Going forward, the leaders said they would judge the Afghan parties by their actions, not words, echoing previous warnings to the Taliban not to revert to the strict Islamic form of government that they ran when they last held power from 1996 until the U.S.-led invasion that ousted them in 2001.

In particular, we reaffirm that the Taliban will be held accountable for their actions on preventing terrorism, on human rights in particular those of women, girls and minorities and on pursuing an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan, the leaders said. The legitimacy of any future government depends on the approach it now takes to uphold its international obligations and commitments to ensure a stable Afghanistan.

Yet, individual leaders offered less sanguine descriptions of the meeting as well as the state of affairs in Afghanistan, which have dramatically changed since the bloc last met in Britain in June. At the time of that summit, Afghanistan had been almost an afterthought with the leaders more concentrated on the coronavirus pandemic, China and Russia. Although Biden had announced his plan for complete withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Cornwall meeting did not anticipate Talibans rapid takeover.

I want to stress again that of course the United States of America has the leadership here, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters in Berlin after the meeting. Without the United States of America, for example, we -- the others -- cannot continue the evacuation mission.

On Monday, CIA chief William Burns met with Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul in talks in which the Taliban underscored they would not accept a U.S. military presence at the airport beyond Aug. 31.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday said his group would accept no extensions to the deadline.

The G-7 leaders were also joined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

___

AP writers Nomaan Merchant in Washington, Jonathan Lemire in Lowell, Mass., Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Ellen Knickmeyer in Oklahoma City and Frank Jordans in Berlin, contributed to this report.
We're not upset that Alamo City temperatures haven't hit the triple digits. We'll pass on sweating uncontrollably while setting up our Halloween decorations two months early.

I used this thigh balm in 95-degree heat while wearing...

Still, it's a surprising (and much discussed) fact this year that San Antonio has not yet hit 100 degrees on the mercury.

MySA spoke with Keith White, a metrologist with the National Weather Service, back in July in about San Antonio's strangely cool summer.

At the time, White predicted at least a couple of triple-digit days in the coming weeks, but it's been over a month now, and we've still not recorded any temps in the hundreds. Dig around and look at multiple extended forecasts, and you'll find no triple digit days forecasted anytime soon for the region.

We checked back in with Keith to see if we still have a chance for a 100-degree day now that August is rushing to a close.

"At that time [in early July], we were just climbing into peak summer heat. As we go through the next weeks our chances will get lower and lower," White says.

White dove more into the more than 100 years of data that NWS has recorded for the Austin-San Antonio region. He noted that the last summer with no triple digit days in San Antonio was 14 years ago, in 2007.

Despite being so near to the close of summer, there's still a fairly good chance of us hitting 100 degrees. Plus, White says it's not unheard of to see the hottest days come in late September.

"In two out of every 10 years, we see our hottest days after September 20."

But, he notes that the chances for those late-summer spikes continue to wane throughout the last month of summer.

"By September 15 if we haven't seen one yet, those chances are going to be very low"

The latest San Antonio has ever hit its hottest temperature was on September 28.

Although summer 2021 has been cooler in South Texas, those who prefer a chillier autumn may be disappointed.

White says predictions show weird weather patterns continuing into the fall season.

"It's really hard to say what our fall will look like. The latest outlook does have our area slightly tilted toward warmer temperatures and above or near normal precipitation."
Yves here. This post by Tom Neuburger mentions the treatment of women in Afghanistan, a pet issue in some circles here. I was remiss in not hoisting this section of a fine piece by Tariq Ali in the New Left Review when we linked to it earlier this month:

As for the status of women, nothing much has changed. There has been little social progress outside the NGO-infested Green Zone. One of the countrys leading feminists in exile remarked that Afghan women had three enemies: the Western occupation, the Taliban and the Northern Alliance. With the departure of the United States, she said, they will have two. (At the time of writing this can perhaps be amended to one, as the Talibans advances in the north saw off key factions of the Alliance before Kabul was captured). Despite repeated requests from journalists and campaigners, no reliable figures have been released on the sex-work industry that grew to service the occupying armies. Nor are there credible rape statistics  although US soldiers frequently used sexual violence against terror suspects, raped Afghan civilians and green-lighted child abuse by allied militias. During the Yugoslav civil war, prostitution multiplied and the region became a centre for sex trafficking. UN involvement in this profitable business was well-documented. In Afghanistan, the full details are yet to emerge.

And as for our treatment of Afghanistan as a country, as opposed to regions controlled by separate warlords, Americans are largely ignorant of what it took to unify Germany and Italy (and the ways it still hasnt fully taken).

By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at Gods Spies

Tearsheet of a 2013 New York Times article on Afghan corruption and its cause



At that [1969] wedding I went to, after the men ate off the giant platters of food, dogs and slaves ate, and what was left was brought to the women who had prepared the feast.

Howie Klein

The loss of Afghanistan to the Taliban  if you can lose a nation you never controlled in the first place  has stolen the news cycle as pro-war Pentagon-influenced propagandists made sure to excoriate President Biden for his failure.

Lurking beneath this story, though, are a number of other, much more important stories involving this debacle and its end. These are a few of them.

First, the U.S. military command, all the way up to President Biden, appeared to have had no idea Afghanistan would collapse this quickly. None. Courtesy of Matt Taibbi and a public post at his Substack site, we find this:

Secretary of State Blinken (July 7th): We are not withdrawing, we are staying, the embassy is staying, our programs are staying  If there is a significant deterioration in security  I dont think its going to be something that happens from a Friday to a Monday. pic.twitter.com/5RGuw4OfZL  Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) August 15, 2021

And Joe Biden had this to say to Jake Tapper on July 8:

Q: Your own intelligence community has assessed that the Afghan government will likely collapse. BIDEN: That is not true, they did not reach that conclusion There is going to be no circumstance where you see people lifted off the roof of an embassy The likelihood that youre going to see the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely.

A large part of the responsibility for the events we are witnessing belongs to the military establishment and its inexplicable blindness. Did they really not know that their puppet government would fall as soon as we left? Seems everyone else did.

Second, another reason for the events we are witnessing is that Afghanistan just isnt a country in any of the traditional senses. Heres Howie Klein, describing an extended trip he took to Afghanistan in 1969, one of several:

Thats where I learned that Afghanistan wasnt a country the way we think of a country. The king, one of the prominent citizens told me while I sat around smoking hash with a dozen other prominent citizens, was the king of Kabul. He wasnt the king of Kandahar. I experienced that sentiment almost everywhere I went in the country, but it was most pronounced in Kandahar. Later Kandahar became the spiritual home of the Taliban. Last night when Yarolslav Trofimov, writing for the Wall Street Journal, reportedthat the Taliban pressed their rapid advance across Afghanistan with the capture of Kandahar, he was really just expressing the inevitable, something I hope to God American war planners already understood was going to happen.

The King of Afghanistan is just the King of Kabul. This has been true for centuries.

The nation of Afghanistan is a 19th century British construct, meaningless lines on a Whitehall map. The Pashtun areas of Afghanistan have more in common with the Pashtun region Pakistan than they do with the rest of their so-called country.

These are not nations. They became nations only under British imperial rule and the subsequent breakup of that brutal empire. (John Oliver, for most of his professional life, has been quite eloquent on that brutality.) Third, the violence and retribution certain to be inflicted by the Taliban are not unique to the Taliban. Violence, including violence against women, is normal in Afghanistan, and further, also normal in every nation liberated from an invader. Howie Klein again: After the British were defeated by the patriots in 1783, the third of colonists according to John Adams who favored the British (the loyalists), were disgruntled. Some were so disgruntled that, at least 80,000 of them many wealthy packed up and left, fleeing to Britain, Canada and British colonies in the Caribbean. Here they were traitors especially those who had actively collaborated with the British, spying on and killing patriots and joining British military units. Think about the local European fascists in France, Norway, Poland, Russia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Holland, etc who collaborated with the Nazis against their own countries during World War II. A few lucky ones managed to flee to the Western Hemisphere. The U.S., Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil were especially happy to welcome fascists and Nazis. Others were punished anything from firing squads to social castigation.  You would be extraordinarily naive if you think there isnt going to be retribution from the Taliban in Afghanistan now against collaborators. Fox and the GOP will blow it up as a way to smear Biden but if there was no retribution, it would be the first time in history people who collaborated with an occupying power got off scot free. Afs know it, of course, which is way so many are absolutely panic-stricken at what is still the Hamid Karzai International Airport. About the Afghans historic mistreatment of women, Klein writes: [Guardian writer Peter] Beaumont wrote [here] that women were []pushed from public life, [which] mostly barred them from working or studying and confined them to their homes unless accompanied by a male guardian. I was in Afghanistan for extended periods of time in 1969 and 1971 and thats the way it was then too. The Afs are pretty primitive. When I was there I kept thinking how I was back in Biblical times. I lived with a family in a tiny hamlet in the Hindu Kush for a winter after breaking my ankle when I fell off my horse. My close pal got married while I was living with them. I never saw his wife (or mother or sisters or any other women); I went to the wedding. They didnt. When the Russians took over the country, things lightened up for women. Then what we in the U.S. called the freedom fighters including bin Laden pushed them out with U.S. help, women went back to being treated the [way] Taliban believes women should be treated third class citizens. The following is especially striking: At that wedding I went to, after the men ate off the giant platters of food, dogs and slaves (technically servants) ate and what was left was brought in to the women at the back of the house who, had, prepared the feast all day and certainly knew what they were missing out on. I recall wondering more than once why dont the women kill the men in their sleep? Through that whole period, public executions and floggings were common according to Beaumont. The Afghans were pretty primitive already. Not stupid, of course, but ruled by customs largely unmodified by what we in the West call civilized life. Its a (propagandistic) mistake to attribute that culture to those evil Taliban. They merely continue it. Fourth, massive theft, especially of American money delivered on pallets from our country to theirs, has been seamlessly woven into the fabric of elite Afghan life. Klein: We keep hearing how Afghanistan, the most institutionally corrupt place on a corrupt planet, has a trained military force of over 300,000. Is that so? There is no effective Afghan army, at least in part because the U.S. dollars that pay them is siphoned away into the pockets of government officials and the 300,000 dont get much, if anything not even rations or ammunition. Why should they fight? For most of them, there isnt any reason to. When President Ghani fled, he took four cars and as much American moneyas he could fit into his personal helicopter. What he couldnt take was reportedly left on the tarmac. MOSCOW (Reuters)  Russias embassy in Kabul said on Monday that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had fled the country with four cars and a helicopter full of cash and had to leave some money behind as it would not all fit in, the RIA news agency reported. Ghani, whose current whereabouts are unknown, said he left Afghanistan on Sunday as the Taliban entered Kabul virtually unopposed. He said he wanted to avoid bloodshed. The bloodshed he wanted to avoid was his own. The amount he managed to escape with was not a small amount: Afghan ambassador in Tajikistan says Ashraf Ghani escaped with bags full of 169 million US dollars when Kabul was falling.  Kawoon Khamoosh (@KawoonKhamoosh) August 18, 2021 Its easy to point to the greed of their elites as the reason why we failed. But if you contrast the continent-sized corruption of our elites (see below) with the relatively regional theft of the Afghan lords, youll see why we have precious little to criticize them for. Fifth, the pattern in all this has been the same for decades. From Taibbis piece: We go to places were not welcome, tell the public a confounding political problem can be solved militarily, and lie about our motives in occupying the country to boot. Then we pick a local civilian political authority to back that inevitably proves to be corrupt and repressive, increasing local antagonism toward the American presence. In response to those increasing levels of antagonism, we then ramp up our financial, political, and military commitment to the mission, which in turn heightens the level of resistance, leading to greater losses in lives and treasure. As the cycle worsens, the government systematically accelerates the lies to the public about our level of progress. Throughout, we make false assurances of security that are believed by significant numbers of local civilians, guaranteeing they will later either become refugees or targets for retribution as collaborators. Meanwhile, financial incentives for contractors, along with political disincentives to admission of failure, prolong the mission. Near the end this process the lies become institutionalized  perhaps the reason that Binken and Biden were so blind to easy-to-predicted events. Or perhaps not the reason. Because, remember Sixth, at the bottom, each of these war-making projects is a con, a wealth transfer run by an eager Congress at the more eager urging of the big-money Military Machine  the Pentagon, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing (yes, them), and the rest. Hundreds of billions per year flow from the U.S. government into the purses of our military suppliers. Lockheed vacuums up $45 billion per year all on its own. They then take a massive profit, turbo-charged by overruns and failures-to-deliver (we pay more for failed projects that successful ones) and return the rest as materiel to the Pentagon chiefs, who ship it to other countries to  theres no polite way to say this  blow stuff up. Stuff in this case includes millions of foreign lives  innocent fathers and mothers, helpless children, and all the soldiers and insurgents who, like every person in the United States itself, would prefer not to be invaded. Once that money is spent, squandered, or lost, the Machine goes to Congress for more, and its never disappointed. Rinse and repeat forever. Half the federal budget is used this way. Half. The estimated cost of the Afghan War through 2020 is $2 trillion. The estimated cost of the Afghan War through 2050 is $6.5 trillion, assuming we honor our obligation to the maimed and ruined soldiers we deployed there. All the money we didnt blow up went into the pockets of the Machine  of Raytheon, your Congressional representative, former Pentagon generals and admirals, of Ashraf Ghani, Hamid Karzai, and the purse of every petty warlord we bribed and paid to pretend to want us there. All this should be told when telling the U.S.-Afghanistan story. Perhaps in the future, when the Pentagon isnt driving what cant be said, it will be. Bottom Lines There are two for this piece: If Blinken and Biden were as blind as they claimed to be to this monstrous systemic theft, one that has stretched unchanged through all the decades they spent enabling it, theyre as deluded as the stumbling drunk who swears he never touches the stuff.Theyre fit for the loony bin and unfit for office. This is the first and only act Joe Biden has performed in the whole of his public life that I consider admirable  and given the lockstep universal elite opposition he faces, its admirable indeed. (This is an updated version of a piece published earlier.)
Our GM has thrown down a marker on what the fail will look like in the US, Covid-wise. Via e-mail:

There is no conceivable way there will be school without mass infection. The most optimistic modelling I have seen, assuming masking and everything, project 30% of kids getting infected within 2 months. But without masks it will be 80% within 2 months. And with B.1.617.2 household attack rates are near-100%. Make that 50% with vaccines, that is still a total disaster. Especially where you have multigenerational households (and we all know who will be hit the hardest because of that factor, and vaccine uptake is very low there too). The only time we saw what truly uncontrolled mass infection looks like in a place with a high median age was in Bergamo early on in the pandemic. Even NYC only managed to infect 25% of the population, and that caused all-cause mortality to shoot up 900% and killed 0.35% of the population. Everywhere else we had one of two situations: 1. In countries with high median age, there was some form of mitigation or people were aware of what is happening and retreated voluntarily, because they could, as high-median age countries are also generally better off economically 2. Really high attack rates above 50% were only seen where populations are young, in Latin America, Africa and India. Because young populations make that more tolerable while young populations are also found in poor countries where people cannot shield. That still resulted in truly catastrophic situations, e.g. Guayaquil in Ecuador in March/April 2020 (where they had corpses out on the streets bring-out-your-dead style because too many were dying and they could not bury them), Iquitos in April/May 2020, Manaus (twice), India, etc. But we have not really seen 50-70% of the population getting infected at once in an area with a median age of 40. It is anyones guess what that looks like, the higher-order effects are unpredictable, all sorts of things can break down without anyone expecting it. The hope is that the vaccines will blunt the impact, but that is not guaranteed at all. Viral evolution has actually accelerated  we are up to AY.25 now, it is picking up mutations in the Nsp and ORF proteins at a crazy rate, and nobody can figure out what is happening.

Now of course, the immediate answer is there wont be school, or there will only intermittently be school. Thats already started. From the Montgomery Advertiser, Pike County first of Alabama districts to temporarily close schools due to COVID-19 cases:

The Pike County School system in Troy announced it would cancel classes on Friday to deep clean its buildings amid a spike in COVID-19 cases, largely among its youngest students. In a social media post Monday evening, the district outlined the plan to cancel Fridays classes, keep Monday as a virtual learning day as planned and have students return on Aug. 24. The district did not address concerns from social media users about the decision to wait until Friday to take action. The district reported 45 positive cases among its five schools, with two of those cases among adults, according to data posted Aug. 16 by the district on its website. The largest percentage of positive cases were among pre-K through third grade students, representing about half of the total. In addition to the positive cases, another 124 students and two staff members were in quarantine.

Lordie, hygiene theater still? The CDCs refusal to loudly correct early misperceptions about Covid means that what has become misformation has a log tail.

Note that Pike County is far from the worst Covid area in Alabama. Per the Mayo case tracker, its seven day average case rate is 45 per 100,000 versus 110 per 100,000 for Shelby County, 115 per 100,000 for Mobile County, and 120 per 100,000 per Elmore County. Pike County also has a higher proportion of black citizens than Alabama as a whole (36% versus 26.8 for the state) so blaming this outcome on Bubbadom would be misleading.

The story concludes:

As thousands of students across the country are sent home to quarantine not even a month into the new school year, more Alabama districts are likely to close their doors in the coming weeks. Districts in several southern states have announced closures, including at least one in Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana and four in Texas.

Heres the problem. As with Pike County, the pressure to open up schools is so great that they will be closed for short or longer term only after the contagion horse has left the barn and is in the next county. Notice the part where the biggest cohort positive cases was pre-K to third grade, and the additional 124 told to quarantine almost certainly had a significant representation in this age group.

Now.drumrollkids 8 years old and younger quarantining? As in isolated in single room or part of the house for 11 days, meals delivered outside their doors and dirty dishes retrieved, plus a bathroom set aside for their exclusive use? I know of only two American adults who did a full bore quarantine, and one already lived alone. We dont do quarantines in America.

So GM is right about 100% household attack rates before you get to any possible vaccination blunting. How far infections advance in schools before they move back to online learning is anyones guess. The one thing, perversely, that will favor schools being closed faster is that word has gotten out that children are winding up in hospitals with Delta, which wasnt the case with wild type. So even though many parents, all things being equal, would prefer schools to be open, the possibility of having a severely ill child in most cases will more than offset that. And thats before you get to evidence suggesting kids are also more susceptible to long Covid than adults:

More than half of children aged 6-16 years old who got COVID-19 had at least one symptom lasting more than 120 days. Even more alarming, the study reported that an astonishing 42.6% of those kids were impaired in their daily activities by the symptoms. https://t.co/yw9RHkHPaM  Laura Miers (@LauraMiers) August 23, 2021

Mind you, this likely outcome is dreadful not just from the standpoint of potential human cost but also stress on parents. KLG pointed out this Atlantic article Parents Are Not Okay:Were not even at a breaking point anymore. Were broken, which I urge you to read in full. After describing how hard it was to get through the last school year, the author states:

I am a father. I have a 6-year-old and a 16-year-old. And what I can tell you is that I am furious and I am afraid. I can also tell you that the only real difference between this year and last is that the most effective tool for keeping our kids saferemote schoolseems to be off the table. When cases were plummeting this spring, most every district and state board of education made the quick decision to stick a knife in remote school. It was awful last year, dont get me wrong, and I understand what motivated that decision. But now were stuck with full-on, 30-kids-in-a-room, wide-open school as the Delta variant rages. Its a real monkeys-paw situation, because, as a parent, all Ive wanted for a year and a half is for my kids to go back to schoolfor their sake and for minebut not like this. Now Im stuck wishing that the thing that barely worked last year was still an option, because whats looming is way worse. School is only just starting and already kids are being quarantined in mind-boggling numbers: 20,000 across the state of Mississippi, 10,000 in a single district in Tampa, Florida. Theyre getting sick too, with hospitalizations of kids under 17 across the country up at least 22 percent in the past month, by the CDCs count, and each new week sets pediatric hospitalization records for the entire pandemic. The rapid increase of COVID-19 cases among kids has shattered last years oft-repeated falsehood that kids dont get COVID-19, and if they do, its not that bad. It was a convenient lie that was easy to believe in part because we kept most of our kids home. With remote learning not an option now, this year well find out how dangerous this virus is for children in the worst way possible.

And this is before the word has really gotten out that the vaccines we have now dont do much to blunt transmission of Delta and their efficacy against severe infection wanes faster than anticipated too. More and more studies from reputable sources show how fully vaccinated people are testing positive and some even getting quite sick. As we pointed out, and the MSM is finally taking notice. We wrote about New York Magazine on Eric Topol of Scripps and the Financial Times worrying about lower than expected protection levels. Over the weekend, Bloomberg went the whocouddanode angle in he U.S. Is Getting a Crash Course in Scientific Uncertainty. From the top:

Anecdotes tell us what the data cant: Vaccinated people appear to be getting the coronavirus at a surprisingly high rate. But exactly how often isnt clear, nor is it certain how likely they are to spread the virus to others. And now, theres growing concern that vaccinated people may be more vulnerable to serious illness than previously thought. Theres a dearth of scientific studies with concrete answers, leaving public policy makers and corporate executives to formulate plans based on fragmented information. While some are renewing mask mandates or delaying office reopenings, others cite the lack of clarity to justify staying the course. It can all feel like a mess.

The lack of agency is stunning. Its the CDCs damned fault there is no data. The UK launched regular large scale blood tests. It also sequences the virus vastly more than we are.

And it was Rochelle Walensky and Fauci, admittedly amplified by far too many people who should have known better, who sold the vaccines as a magic bullet. Why arent they being held to account? It was obvious that unless and until we had a nasal vaccine (Novovax has one in the works and if we are lucky it might be out by late 2022), no Covid vaccine would achieve sterilizing immunity.

But the CDC and Biden Administration all got high on their own PR and told Americans to abandon masks, even when, assuming wild type Covid vaccine efficacy, the US vaccination rates were way too low to abandon caution. With Delta already rampaging across the US, this policy change was criminal. It cost lives and it will cost more lives.

From GM:

To me personally it was never a shock to see the events of the last few months. As I have said on multiple occasions, the surprises were that the vaccines initially cut transmission by as much as they did, and that they worked as well as they did  few knowledgable people expected either. And we will probably never see those numbers again. I did expect boosters to be needed, in two years, not in 6 months, but that is a difference of degree, not of a kind. The shock to me was when I saw people in research, very prominent scientists I work with, authors of many papers on various aspects of immunology, directly involved in various projects studying COVID, etc. behaving as the regular people you are referring to. They genuinely believed it was all over. And they had been believing it since November 2020. But it only dawned on me that they truly are this deluded at some point in April 2021. I myself was in denial  of the reality that they were in denial of the reality of the virus  for many months.

And KLG:

I never would have believed such political and scientific ineptitude would rule the world. Walensky and Fauci can move the goal posts and prattle all they want to, but the word vaccine means to the people that they will be protected and spread will diminish to nearly nothing as a result of widespread vaccination, as with polio and smallpox. The people are also willing to accept some risk, too, if that is explained to them. The relative ineffectiveness of these vaccines is becoming obvious to all but the most obtuse, who seem to be (1) physicians who seem to believe rather than see, public health officials who have lost the plot, and politicians at every level (local School Boards to the two nonjudicial branches of the US goverments). Still, I see some evidence we, as represented in the legitimate and disinterested scientific community, are doing much better on the science. At least I think we are, but Im not sure it will matter as the backlash strengthens.

The Biden Administration is out to make the backlash worse. Its doubling down on vaccinations as its one trick for dealing with Covid. On Monday, the Administration made clear that the reason for pushing for Boeing 737 style full authorization of the Pfizer Covid vaccine was so that employers could mandate vaccinations without worrying about pesky lawsuits. The lead para of the Financial Times story:

Joe Biden urged employers to require workers to get vaccinated against Covid-19 after the Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to the BioNTech/Pfizer jab.

Yet it is already obvious that variant proliferation means that for the near future, vaccine development and deployment will hopelessly lag the state of play and thus be less than fully effective.

What happens to the credibility of scientists, doctors, and officials as it become increasingly obvious that the blame Bubba for rising case counts doesnt cut it, as more and more people know of someone or even themselves become Covid positive despite being fully vaccinated? There are already too many stories like this to keep under wraps:

Weve also been told, contrary to the official narrative, of Covid deaths among people who were fully vaccinated, with no co-morbidities. Yet the media is keeping up the story that Covid deaths among the vaccinated take place only among the diabetic, obese, and/or immunocompromised. Even if the exceptions so far arent a large proportion of the total, pretending they dont, as if cant, exist will only increase the credibility gap.

Were going to see even more acting out as a result of trying to deal with cognitive dissonance among the PMC whove invested a lot in the magic vaccines tale. And as with Bubbadom, their first impulse will be to project and lash out at others as more and more evidence comes in that contradicts their deeply-held faith.

In other words, batten down the hatches. If you think its been rough so far, you aint seen nuthin yet.
My position with Nashville Post has evolved since 2000 when I began work with the now-defunct The City Paper. TCP became a Post sister pub in 2008 (when I began some Post work) and folded in 2013. I have worked mainly with the Post since late 2011.

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(Natural News) Sally Kirkland has been acting since she was 17, and has appeared in more than 250 movies. But she didnt sign up for the role shes playing now  an advocate for not getting the COVID vaccine.

(Article republished from ChildrensHealthDefense.org)

In the most recent episode of The Peoples Testaments, Kirkland told Polly Tommey, Like I know my own name, I would advise you not to do the vaccine.

Kirkland did get the vaccine. After seeing what a friend, who got the virus, went through, she got both doses of the Moderna vaccine.

Her friend recovered  but five months after her second Moderna shot, Kirkland remains in constant pain.

Kirkland, 79, said she was healthy before she took the vaccine. But almost immediately after the second shot, she experienced excruciating headaches, vertigo, nausea and joint pain.

Kirkland said some doctors refused to blame the vaccine for her symptoms, despite the timing of the symptoms. But others didnt  including three doctors who told her the vaccine attacked the nerve in her brain that causes dizziness, vertigo and joint pain throughout her body.

At one point, alone late at night, the vertigo caused Kirkland to fall, resulting in a broken toe and sprained ankle.

Kirkland said she also has terrible heart pain, which makes her feel as though shes having a heart attack.

Today, Kirkland takes multiple prescriptions for pain, nausea and vertigo, and alternates between applying moist hot packs and ice on her joints. Still, she continues to work, she said, because she needs to support herself.

During a recent acting job in New Orleans, Kirkland had to be rushed to a hospital where one doctor told her, Youre not the first person. Weve had other people who got the Moderna vaccine, which attacked the nerve in their brain, causing all these symptoms.

Read more at: ChildrensHealthDefense.org and Vaccines.news.
(Natural News) As a whole, the Antarctic has cooled by about 2 degrees Celsius in the same 40-year period (1979 to 2018) that carbon dioxide rose from 337 to 410 parts per million  meaning that the world is actually getting colder, not hotter.

A paper published in the journal Atmosphere noted that the trends from ERA5 are consistent with these observations, showing that there is a cooling trend in East and West Antarctica, while a warming trend comes from the Antarctic Peninsula.

According to graphical illustrations of the surface air temperature trends from satellite observations in the study, most of Antarctica and much of the surrounding Southern Ocean cooled during this period. The researchers posited that one-third of the 40-year cooling trend can be attributed to the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). The MJO is the major fluctuation in the tropical weather on weekly to monthly timescales, characterized by its eastward-moving pulse of cloud and rainfall near the equator. It normally recurs every 30 to 60 days. This influence will likely accelerate the long-term cooling trend for Antarctica in the coming decades.

A study from Western Washington University in Bellingham showed that most of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet is cooling, with the warming constrained in the Antarctica Peninsula. With the help of satellite and surface temperature measurements, it demonstrated that Antarctica warming is false, as the satellite temperatures showed no warming in the last four decades. The southern ocean around Antarctica has also cooled since 2006, and sea ice has increased since 2012. The Larsen Ice Shelf station has also been cooling at a rate of 1.8 degrees Celsius per decade since 1995.

However, the government and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as well as so-called scientists, still insist on saying that climate change is here, and the planet is getting warmer. (Related: Climate change HOAX has literally convinced a member of Congress that the world is going to end in 12 years.)

Key factors to Antarcticas climate

Antarcticas climate remains windy and dry, with wind speeds that vary across the continent. The relative humidity of the air on the continent is often as low as 0.03 percent, and is considered to be a polar desert.

The coldness of Antarcticas climate comes from various factors. Its high latitude means that sunlight hits the surface at a low angle, so solar energy is spread over a larger area than if the surface hits a higher angle. By being spread over this larger area, the energy received per unit is reduced. Furthermore, south of the Antarctic circle is a period during austral winter where the sun does not rise above the horizon.

The Antarctic Peninsula had been warming since at least the 1950s, but a shift in prevailing winds resulted in its cooling in 1998.

John Turner of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) said, What we are seeing is natural climatic variability overriding global warming.

Antarctica has barely warmed over the years, and the warming seas around its edges are eating away at ice shelves and glaciers but are yet to penetrate the vast interiors of the continent. Further, the winds that circle the south pole act as a shield that is keeping out warmer air from higher latitudes.

A separate study using Antarctic satellite temperatures also showed that there had been no warming as of late, and the Southern Ocean around Antarctica has markedly cooled since 2006. Sea ice also increased substantially since 2012, and surface temperatures at 13 stations over the Antarctic Peninsula have been cooling sharply since 2006. Sea ice has reached all-time highs, and temperatures have been cooling at a rate of 1.8 degrees Celsius per decade since 1995.

Learn more about what is really happening on the planet at RealInvestigations.news.

Sources include:

ECMWF.int

MDPI.com

BOM.gov.au

DiscoveringAntrarctica.org.uk

NewScientist.com

ScienceDirect.com
(Natural News) The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) partnered up with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, it has been revealed, to push a digital campaign of disinformation and propaganda about the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19).

The China Internet Development Foundation (CIDF), a self-described socialist internet group run by a branch of the CCP, reportedly teamed up with Gates and his cronies to spread fraudulent information about the Chinese Virus.

Gates and the CIDF co-wrote and signed a memorandum back in 2015 pledging to cooperate in areas of public health, suggesting that both Gates and the CCP knew there would be a pandemic at some point in the future for which they would need to cooperate in addressing it.

There was also the infamous Event 201 pandemic exercise that Gates spearheaded back in the fall of 2019, which simulated a future outbreak of a deadly coronavirus. As we all now know, this exercise went live just a few months later.

According to the cooperation memorandum of understanding, the two parties will rely on new technologies such as the Internet to promote pragmatic cooperation in the fields of charity, public health, and international development, and work together to improve the quality of life of the poor and promote poverty reduction in developing countries, the memorandum from the Gates Foundation and CIDF reads.

Bill Gates committed treason by partnering with Xi Jinping to push Chinese authoritarianism on America

The CIDF, we now know, is run by the CCPs Ministry of Civil Affairs, which is managed by the Cyberspace Administration of China. The CIDFs charter pledge explains that its goal is to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Another of the organizations goals is to [c]onsciously maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core in ideological and political actions, and earnestly fulfill the historical mission of building a network power to promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The Foundation adheres to the overall leadership of the Communist Party of China and, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Communist Party of China, establishes an organization of the Communist Party of China, carries out party activities, and provides necessary conditions for the activities of the party organization, its charter further explains.

The CIDF openly admits that one of its primary missions is the practicing of the core values of socialism, which Gates also pushes. After all, this is one of the primary goals of the plandemic: to socialize how people are allowed to live their lives by forcing them to wear a mask, get vaccinated, and obey the governments orders.

Gates has been orchestrating this kind of thing within the context of a global vaccine genocide for many decades. The fact that he has now been exposed for treasonously conspiring with the CCP to drive the final nail in the coffin is certainly no surprise.

The CIDF, with Gates help, has also been organizing and deploying large Chinese bot armies online, the purpose of which is to infiltrate social media platforms and spread propaganda about the origins of the Fauci Flu.

These thousand-person legions, as The National Pulses Natalie Winters describes them, are responsible for steering the narrative in favor of the CCPs version of events, whether true or not.

All Cyberspace Administration bureaus must pay heightened attention to online opinion, and resolutely control anything that seriously damages party and government credibility and attacks the political system, a government memo obtained by ProPublica explains.

To learn more about how the Chinese Virus charade is a deep state plot to plunge the entire world into totalitarianism, visit Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Resident Joe Biden of the White House nursing home for career criminals with dementia is calling on corporations all across the United States to mandate Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines for their employees now that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech injection.

The latest phase of Operation Warp Speed, Bidens call for a jab mandate is aimed at the tens of millions of hesitant Americans who want nothing to do with Big Pharmas experimental gene therapy, which was funded and brought into existence with taxpayer funding from the Trump administration.

The Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, announced that its fully concluded  its the, its now, its a thorough independent scientific review, Biden stated nonsensically, stumbling through random words while laughing at his own inability to speak.

After a strict process, the FDA has reaffirmed its findings that the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective, and the FDA has given its full and final approval. So, let me say this, uh, loudly and clearly. If you have, if youre one of the millions of Americans who say that they, uh, will not get the shot when its, until it has full and final approval of the FDA, it is now happened. The moment youve been waiting for is here. Its time for you to go get your vaccination, and get it today, today.

Mentally incompetent Biden wants you to roll up your sleeve for FDA-approved gene therapy

Calling the FDAs rushed decision an important moment in the plandemic agenda, Beijing Biden went on to thank acting FDA commissioner Janet Woodcock and the entire team at the FDA for rushing its approval at warp speed when normally it takes upwards of a decade to approve a new vaccine.

Shes ensured that the, uh, the team, uh, followed the science above all, China Joe went on to mumble in confusion.

Theyve looked at the, uh, mountains of clinical data, clinical trial data, and the safety and efficiency data, and concluded without question the vaccine was safe and effective for emergency use in December. That same thing, weve got those shots in arms at the time, 350 million in the United States, and billions *cough* across the world, they kept poring over this data, the FDA approval is the gold standard.

Hunters dad is hopeful that businesses and corporations across America will now step up with vaccine requirements that will reach millions more people, pointing to the vaccine-or-test mandate he issued last month for federal workers.

I call on you now to do that: require it, Biden tried to say, appearing to forget where he was and why. And as I just said, now its been granted.

Those whove been waiting for full approval should go get your shot now. The vaccination is free, its easy, its safe and its effective, and its convenient. For 90 percent of Americans, theres a vaccination site less than five miles from your home and you can get the shot without an appointment, so please, get your shot today. There is no time to waste.

Numerous times during his canned, teleprompter-led speech, Biden lost track of the script and appeared to forget the subject matter at hand. He would then suddenly remember, only to quickly forget again, showcasing his Alzheimers on the world stage.

How much money is the vaccine industry now paying to Hunter? asked one commenter at Citizen Free Press.

He sounds like hes heavily medicated, wrote another.

To keep up with the latest news about Fauci Flu shots, be sure to check out ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

Archive.is

NaturalNews.com

CitizenFreePress.com
(Natural News) A new video is circulating that shows angry French shoppers protesting outside of a grocery store that refuses to let them buy food without first showing proof of Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination.

The incident occurred just a few weeks after French President Emmanuel Macron decided to force Chinese Virus injection passports on the French people, who ever since have been protesting all across their land.

While many stores and restaurants throughout France are refusing to go along with Macrons fascist scheme, some, including the store depicted in the video  you can watch it below  are attempting to starve out people who refuse to permanently alter their DNA with experimental gene therapy (mRNA) chemicals.

Unreal scenes in France as people not allowed into supermarkets without"covid passports". pic.twitter.com/jeSEdkZ84M  Tony (@_Mrtdogg) August 19, 2021

As you will notice, a line of armed guards was placed just outside the stores entrance to block unvaccinated shoppers from entering. One woman is seen confronting them with screams of protest as they stare back dead-faced, just doing their jobs.

None of the protesters are seen in the clip wearing a mask, either, suggesting that they are opposed to all forms of Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) tyranny as mandated by the government.

The entire world has had it with this insane bulls***, wrote one Twitter user in response to the clip, which is infuriating people all around the world.

Now theyre denying people access to food in France  if they dont take an unapproved FDA vaccine for a virus with a 99.7% survival rate, wrote another.

Many French are bravely standing up to Chinese Virus injection tyranny

The current law in France dictates that French shoppers show a covid vaccine passport when entering large shopping malls. Public spaces with a surface area of less than 20,000 square meters are supposed to be exempt.

Any person caught entering a bar or restaurant of any size in France without first presenting a vaccine certificate could face up to six months in prison. Shop owners who refuse to check their patrons injection status could be thrown in prison for a year and be fined more than $50,000 per infraction.

The good news is that the French, at large, are fighting back against these draconian impositions. Many business owners are blatantly defying the orders, as are their patrons who are refusing to obey.

Early on, French police made a point of showing their presence in an attempt to scare the French people into compliance. That has since changed, according to reports, as enforcement has waned amid ongoing nationwide protests.

The one area where the government of France is claiming a victory is with inner-city public transport, which continues to check riders injection status. Those without proof of vaccination are being denied access to public transport throughout France.

Hilariously, Macron gave a speech recently defending the vaccine passport scheme. Macron called it a form of freedom for the French people, claiming that it promotes safety.

If the police or anyone is denying you access to food, they are trying to kill you, wrote one commenter at Summit.news, suggesting that people need to stand up and do something before it is too late.

Dont go with 10 people; dont go with 100 people; go with 1,000+ people and stomp any police that try to stop you, wrote another. Set up target stores in various parts of your city. Hit them at the same time en masse so that they cannot respond effectively.

They are acting as an armed gang and violating your rights. And for good measure sing La Marseillaise as you beat them down. Bonne chance mes amis!

The latest news about Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) tyranny can be found at Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

Summit.news

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Washington Post opinion columnist Jennifer Rubin celebrated the reported statistical decline of the white population in America, making it clear that the globalist political class is rooting for the loss of white majority. Rubin went even further and noted that she hopes white people will not be able to rule over the population in the coming years. Independent observers who talk about The Great Replacement of white people in America are consistently attacked as racists and lampooned as supposed conspiracy-peddlers, but the globalist media emboldens the theory with their own words.

(Article republished from BigLeaguePolitics.com)

Rubin touted a more diverse, more inclusive society in response to U.S. Census data that showed the white population declined in numbers in America, which Rubin described as fabulous news. Rubin then opined, now we need to prevent minority White rule. Rubins racially charged bile is sadly characteristic of the way leftist politicians talk about the issue of race in America.

Democrat politico Stacey Abrams outlined the Democrat racial strategy, with respect to the 2020 Census, years ago in a 2014 conference called Race Will Win The Race: The Progressive Path To Victory. Abrams stated: My eye is on 2021. Because when we do re-districting in 2021, if we have not changed the electorate, especially in the South, we will have a majority minority population that is governed by a minority white conservative coalition. And thats the most dangerous precedent that we can possibly set for the South in the next 20 years. No wonder then that the New York Times ran a pro-Abrams 2018 piece entitled We Can Replace Them, which pitted Abrams campaign for Georgia governor as some kind of crusade against supposed white identity.

a more diverse, more inclusive society. this is fabulous news. now we need to prevent minority White rule. https://t.co/or1MIJHxdx  Jennifer 'pro-voting' Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) August 12, 2021

Read more at: BigLeaguePolitics.com and WaPoop.news.
(Natural News) Twitter has decided that it will not be prohibiting the Taliban from using its platform, breaking ranks with Facebook, TikTok, and other tech companies who have decided to ban the terror group.

(Article republished from BigLeaguePolitics.com)

When asked if the Taliban will be disallowed from their platform, a spokesman from the company seemingly avoided the question, saying that Twitter will continue to proactively enforce its rules on the glorification of violence, platform manipulation and spam. The spokesman took time to praise Twitter for its benevolence as well, saying he was witnessing people in the country using Twitter to seek help and assistance.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid is active on the website and currently has over 300,000 followers.

Mujahid is not the only Taliban member on the platform, with an announcement of his about a Taliban press conference in Kabul drawing messages from various supporters, including one who goes by the name Muhammad Ibrahim.

Ibrahim has a history on the platform that includes providing advice to another online user seeking to join the Taliban.

I want to join Taliban, the man wrote in a July 14 message. Pls help me.

Then go to Afghanistan but first parent permeation https://t.co/APxRr15BFG  Muhammad Ibrahim (@Muhamma53082207) July 14, 2021

Then go to Afghanistan, Ibrahim replied, with added advice that he seeks his parents permission first.

Twitter has drawn fire from numerous critics, with many suggesting that Twitter has engaged in a blatant double standard regarding the treatment of public figures given their banning of former President Trump.

Why on Gods green Earth does the Taliban spokesman have an active Twitter account but not the former President of the United States? Rep. Madison Cawthorne (R-NC) wrote on Sunday. Whos [sic] side is the AMERICA BASED Big-Tech companies on?

French politician Jerome Riviere echoed similar sentiment across the world, saying, Freedom and democracy are not doing well when Twitter continues to ban Trumps account but relays the Taliban spokespersons without any second thoughts. Twitter has a long track record of engaging in censorship, with a recent scandal by the company involving their ban on accounts exposing the results of the recently concluded Arizona election audit.

Twitter has a long track record of engaging in censorship, with a recent scandal by the company involving their ban on accounts exposing the results of the recently concluded Arizona election audit.

Read more at: BigLeaguePolitics.com and BigTech.news.
(Natural News) Some unvaccinated Americans are refusing blood transfusions from vaccinated donors for fear that the blood from someone who has received a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is tainted in some way.

The mainstream media and some health news sites quickly jumped on the opportunity to label the so-called anti-vaxxers as believers and spreaders of misinformation. They say that the anti-vaxxers believe the blood of a vaccinated individual contains a microchip or ingredients necessary for human cloning.

The majority of Americans are now vaccinated against COVID-19 with 60 percent of the U.S. population and 72 percent of adults at least partially vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This means that available blood donors in the country at this point are mostly vaccinated.

We are definitely aware of patients who have refused blood products from vaccinated donors, said Dr. Julie Katz Karp, director of the blood transfusion program at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia.

If for some reason we didnt want vaccinated people to donate blood, wed be in a real problem, wouldnt we? Please believe us when we tell you its fine.

Blood centers have only limited access to donated blood that has not in some way been affected by COVID-19. Based on samples, Katz estimated that as much as 70 percent of the blood currently being donated is coming from vaccinated donors.

More than 90 percent of current donors have either been infected with COVID-19 or vaccinated against it, said Dr. Michael Busch, director of the Vitalant Research Institute. Busch has been monitoring antibody levels in samples from the U.S. blood supply.

Blood donors not screened for COVID-19

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recommend routine screening for COVID-19 among blood donors. In general, respiratory viruses are not known to spread by blood transfusion and there has been no reported case of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease, being transmitted through blood.

Emily Osment, an American Red Cross spokesperson, said her organization has fielded questions from clients worried that vaccinated blood would be tainted and capable of transmitting components from the COVID-19 vaccines. Red Cross officials said theyve had to reassure clients that the vaccine, which is injected into muscle or the layer of skin below, doesnt circulate in the blood.

While the antibodies that are produced by the stimulated immune system in response to vaccination are found throughout the bloodstream, the actual vaccine components are not, Jessa Merrill, the Red Cross director of biomedical communications, said in an email.

The idea that the vaccine itself is contagious has circulated in recent months.

There have been claims that proteins can shed protein molecules from a vaccinated person to an unvaccinated person, effectively infecting the unvaccinated person the same way a person can be infected with a virus. (Related: EXTERMINATION machine unmasked: Why vaccinated people are making HEALTHY people sick, Pfizer document admits vaccinated people shed infectious particles, the spike protein is the bioweapon.)

A lot of people think theres some kind of microchip or theyre going to be cloned, Dr. Geeta Paranjape, medical director at Carter BloodCare, told Kaiser Health News. She said that some parents have become worried about their child receiving needed blood transfusions from vaccinated people.

Its better to be safe than sorry

There are still a lot of questions surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. Some say theyre experimental, some say theyre not. But its not hard to see why people are being cautious.

The spike protein generated by a COVID-19 vaccine can leave the site of injection and enter the bloodstream, which could possibly be causing injury and even death among those who get vaccinated. There have also been some studies showing that spike protein can damage endothelial cells, which line the blood vessels.

One study found signs of endothelial damage and fragments of SARS-CoV-2, including the spike protein, in the brains of 13 people who had died of COVID-19. Researchers injected the spike protein into mice and found that the animals displayed neurological symptoms similar to those seen in COVID-19 patients.

To top it all, no less than the National Institutes of Health (NIH) admitted that the COVID-19 vaccines are experimental. The NIH website posted a story on Jan. 12 titled Experimental coronavirus vaccine highly effective, referring to Modernas mRNA vaccine.

Follow Immunization.news for more news and information related to coronavirus vaccines.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

FullFact.org

NIH.gov
(Natural News) CBS News just proved how far down the whirlpool of nonsense its willing to go. The outlet actually blamed climate change for Afghanistans terrorism outbreak following President Joe Bidens massive foreign policy failure.

(Article by Joseph Vazquez republished from NewsBusters.org)

CBS News climate and energy reporter Cara Korte wrote an absurd story headlined: How climate change helped strengthen the Taliban. She decried that Rural Afghanistan has been rocked by climate change, before making the wild connection that the Taliban  likely without knowing climate change was the cause  has taken advantage of that pain.

But CBS News was singing a different tune 6 years ago when it blamed opium profits  not climate change  for strengthening the Taliban in a 2015 story headlined: Taliban set to double opium profits this year? CBS News said in 2015 that the Taliban derived 40 percent of its funding from the illicit opium trade, which fuel[ed] their insurgency. Climate change wasnt even mentioned in the 2015 story. Talk about a whopping narrative shift. [Emphasis added.]

Korte ignored mentioning the billions in profits the Taliban made off of its illicit drug trade until the seventeenth paragraph of her story. But she blamed the opium trade on the false narrative that farmers were struggling to produce other crops and climate change. Korte said in the first paragraph of her piece that the Taliban derived its strength from three decades of floods and drought that have destroyed crops and left people hungry. But this isnt true. Heartland Institute President James Taylor used United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization cereal crop yields (corn, wheat, and rice) data to upend the propaganda from CBS News: Afghanistan has fully doubled its crop yields during the past three decades. He continued: Also, Afghan farmers have set new production records on a regular basis, especially during the past few years.

Even the Holocaust-denying Al Jazeera ran a story Aug. 16, 2021, blaming opium for the Talibans comeback: Opium: Afghanistans drug trade that helped fuel the Taliban. Al Jazeera didnt mention climate change in its story.

Climate Depot Founder Marc Morano joined Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News Aug. 20 to also go after CBS News for using climate nonsense to shift blame away from Bidens blunders. Theres no end to which the media and academia will not defend progressives and Democrats in power using climate, Morano stated.

Read more at: NewsBusters.org and Lies.news
(Natural News) The FDAs fraudulent approval of the failing Pfizer covid vaccine is all that leaders of blue cities and states needed to order the mass slaughter of their own employees. In mere hours after the FDAs announcement yesterday, the State of New Jersey ordered the mass slaughter of all NJ teachers and state workers via spike protein injections, a clot shot that has already killed an estimated 500,000 Americans (and counting).

The NY Dept. of Education announced a similar vaccine slaughter campaign for all education workers statewide, including teachers, school administrators, janitors and food prep workers. Los Angeles also chimed in, ordering the vaccine slaughter of its 60,000 employees, including firefighters, law enforcement officers and other first responders.

Many other blue cities and states have joined the mass executions, demanding total compliance to an experimental, deadly vaccine  yes, its still a medical experiment, even according to the FDAs own approval letter  despite the total lack of animal trials, bio-distribution studies and long-term safety data. In essence, these blue cities and states are committing vaccine suicide, leading to a scenario in the not-too-distant future where many of these Democrat-run cities will be collapsed ghost towns.

I cover this in a 13-minute emergency podcast update that youll find here:

Brighteon.com/a8c4746f-b4de-4da5-938b-d15594889cb3

Governments unleash total war against the human population with vaccines, starvation and death camps

The coming collapse of blue cities and states isnt the end of this medical horror, however: In collusion with Big Pharma criminals, governments around the world have now declared total war against the human population, and theyve initiated vaccine slaughter, engineered starvation and the construction of covid death camps in order to carry out their global depopulation agenda.

Their goal is to reduce the current human population by 90%. This means killing around 7 billion people. Vaccines are only part of the final solution to achieve this, since only around 2.5 billion people have been vaccinated on the planet so far. The rest of the deaths are being engineered to come from starvation (deliberate food collapse), violence, lawlessness and government-run death camps where vaccine-hesitant people are rounded up and thrown into covid death camps to be exterminated en masse, Holocaust-style. The CDC has publicly announced this plan on its own website, calling the covid death camps green zones and claiming they will meet minimum humanitarian standards. The CDCs covid camp plans offer no description for how healthy people might one day leave those camps, by the way.

Keep in mind that engineered financial events will also contribute to the mass death and destitution across the planet as humanity is plunged into End Times scenarios by satanic forces.

Ultimately, by the way, we believe Satans forces will be defeated and humanity will prevail. While the depopulation globalists are trying to mass murder 7 billion people, we hope the damage can be limited to just one billion. But it all depends on how quickly humanity rises up against the evil and demands the arrest and prosecution of the criminals running the covid plandemic bioweapons scheme.

Todays Situation Update podcast provides a lot more details:

Brighteon.com/a864d1b4-320b-4692-a755-24ea6bab6488

Find more podcasts and interviews each day at:

https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport
(Natural News) Majority of Americans no longer believe that President Joe Biden is capable of governing the country. This is according to a poll conducted by mainstream media outlet CBS News.

The survey was conducted with the help of public opinion company YouGov. It interviewed 2,142 adult residents of the United States between Aug. 18 to 20.

It found that 51 percent of the respondents believe Biden is no longer competent as a president. Fifty-two percent believe he is no longer focused, and 53 percent said he is no longer effective at governing the nation.

CBS News believes much of this change in public perception regarding Biden has to do with the recent events surrounding Afghanistan. The U.S. and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies have recently withdrawn from the war-torn nation. At the same time, the Afghan government has completely collapsed allowing the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban to take over. (Related: Taliban going door-to-door hunting down anyone who worked for the US, its allies and the former Afghan government.)

Americans support Afghanistan withdrawal, but not Biden

The survey made it clear that a majority of people still believe the U.S. made the right call to withdraw from Afghanistan. Sixty-three percent approved of removing U.S. troops from the country. But only 47 percent approved of the way Biden handled the withdrawal.

This is a significant dip from a similar poll in July, which found that 60 percent of Americans approved of Bidens handling of the situation in Afghanistan.

The poll found that a vast majority of Americans believe the removal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan went badly. Thirty percent said it went somewhat badly, and 44 percent said it went very badly. Twenty-one percent said the withdrawal went somewhat well, and only five percent believe it went very well.

People object to the way the withdrawal was handled for a variety of reasons. The resurgence of the Taliban has made Americans fearful that the Islamic fundamentalist organization would engage in international terrorist actions. Sixty percent of respondents believed that with the Taliban in control, the threat of terrorism in the U.S. would increase. Thirty-six percent believed the threat of terrorism would not change, and only four percent believe the threat would decrease.

Others still are concerned about the fate of the thousands of U.S. civilians still in Afghanistan. Sixty-seven percent of survey respondents believe Biden does not have a clear plan for evacuating U.S. civilians, compared to 33 percent who believe there is a coherent plan in place.

People are also concerned about Afghan citizens who have helped the U.S. and NATO in their fight against the Taliban, such as those who worked as translators or provided the U.S. with intelligence. They are concerned that these Afghans will face retaliation from the Taliban.

There is broad support among Democrats, Republicans and independents alike to help Afghan collaborators and their families enter the U.S. Eighty-one percent of all respondents  90 percent of Democrats, 76 percent of Republicans and 79 percent of independents  believe the U.S. should help Afghan translators.

People are also divided on who is responsible for the Talibans takeover. Twenty-five percent of respondents believe former President Donald Trump bears a lot of the responsibility, while 36 percent of respondents believe Biden is primarily responsible. Most other respondents believe the failures of the Afghan government and army are primarily to blame.

Bidens approval rating plummets

Bidens overall approval rating has been dropping for several months. Now, only half of the population approves of his overall performance. Similar polls conducted in March and July showed he had an approval rating of 62 percent and 58 percent, respectively.

The decrease in his approval rating comes mostly from independents, a majority of whom gave him positive marks in the previous surveys. Now, more than half  54 percent  disapprove of how he is handling both the withdrawal from Afghanistan and his overall performance as president.

Biden has an 11 percent approval rating among Republicans, and an 86 percent approval rating among Democrats.

A similar poll conducted by mainstream media outlet NBC shows similar results. Its own survey conducted at around the same time shows that Bidens approval rating has dropped to 49 percent.

With regards to the situation in Afghanistan, the poll found that only 25 percent of respondents approved of Bidens handling of the situation. Sixty percent disapproved of Bidens handling of the situation, and 15 percent were unsure.

Similar to the CBS poll, the NBC poll found that a majority remained opposed to continuing the war in Afghanistan. Sixty-one percent believed the war was not worth it, compared to 29 percent who want the war to continue.

Learn more about how many Americans disapprove of the Biden presidency at JoeBiden.news.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

CBSNews.com

NBCNews.com
(Natural News) The Michigan Legislature is debating a bill that would ban employers from requiring workers to be vaccinated against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). A recent public hearing on the proposed law drew in many healthcare workers who supported the proposed legislation.

Called the Informed Consent in the Workplace Act, or HB 4471, the bill was proposed by Republican State Rep. Sue Allor and 16 co-sponsors.

HB 4471 prevents employers from requiring employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and other diseases like tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. It also prevents employers from threatening, firing, discriminating against, retaliating against and refusing to hire workers who decline to get vaccinated.

The proposed legislation also prohibits employers from forcing unvaccinated employees to wear masks at all times in the workplace as retaliation for refusing to get vaccinated. It also prevents employers from requiring employees to make their vaccination status public by ordering the unvaccinated to wear a mark that distinguishes them from their vaccinated co-workers. (Related: Holocaust survivor warns COVID-19 measures similar to Nazi Germanys subjugation policies.)

Allor firmly believes that employers should not have the power to require employees who are unvaccinated to remain masked.

To look at an individual and say, You dont have the vaccine, put the mask on, that is more or less putting a scarlet letter on them, and that with this bill is saying they cant do, said Allor.

The bill also provides an easy legal avenue for aggrieved employees to sue employers who violate any of the above-mentioned measures of this bill. They can sue for injunctive relief and up to triple the financial losses the workers incur as a result of their employers attempt to pass vaccine or mask mandates.

Allor argued the choice to get vaccinated should be up to an employee, not to his bosses.

They definitely should not lose their job, she said. In many instances, theyve gone to school for years to achieve a certain degree, a certain level of knowledge to perform a job that they love.

Michiganders support ban on vaccine mandates

On Thursday morning, this bill was presented for a public hearing. The hearing was conducted by the State House Committee on Workforce, Trades and Talent.

Should a business be able to force a vaccine on employees? In a right-to-work state, is it a constitutional violation if they did? asked committee chairwoman Rep. Beth Griffin, a Republican.

Our Michigan businesses are being done a monumental disservice here because the only data and science they are hearing about is based on often conflicting media reports about guidance from politically motivated government agencies.

Many people who supported the right of workers to make their own decisions regarding vaccines showed up to the public hearing in support of Allor, Griffin and the other Republican legislators pushing the bill.

Katie Kirn, a nurse who refused to name which Michigan hospital system she worked for, made a tearful testimony before the committee. She shared that in June she received an email from her employer threatening to fire her for noncompliance with the systems vaccine mandate.

She was given a week off to think about getting vaccinated. When she came back to work, she was warned that she has to get on board with the vaccine mandate. If she disagreed, she was told to resign.

Kirn added that the health systems managers were provided with lists of non-compliant employees. They are being pressured, coerced and intimidated into receiving the vaccine, said Kirn. They are being told they wont be able to find other jobs in healthcare.

Several other people spoke in the public hearing. One doctor argued that natural immunity, which people gained through a previous COVID-19 infection, is better than the supposed immunity acquired from vaccines. He cited a study that supported his claim.

Another doctor made the case that vaccine mandates are discriminatory. This is because around 70 percent of the African American population in Detroit still refuse to get vaccinated because they do not trust the government. The doctor pointed out that workplace vaccine mandates would effectively exclude them from gainful employment.

Several other people spokes, including other healthcare workers and law professionals. One presented data to the committee that questioned the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and wearing face masks. One former federal judge argued that mandating vaccines violates the Constitution.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

FreeP.com

Fox2Detroit.com
(Natural News) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating emerging reports that Modernas Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is associated with the risk of myocarditis for younger individuals.

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle and is usually caused by a viral infection, which is why its link to COVID-19 is not surprising.

The FDA and CDC investigation is focused on Canadian data comparing the risk of myocarditis in Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

Authorities are scrutinizing data from the United States to determine whether or not there is enough evidence of an increased risk from Moderna in the U.S. population for the condition. A separate study in the U.S. found that males ages 12 to 17 were likely to develop myocarditis within three months of testing positive for COVID-19.

Moderna asked the FDA to expand the emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine to adolescents between the ages 12 and 17. However, the agency has not been granted the request.

The FDA also added a warning label for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines about the increased risk of myocarditis  or heart inflammation.

Preliminary data showed that the risk of myocarditis may be as much as 2.5 times higher for the Moderna vaccine. While sources stressed that the new research has not yet reached a conclusion, there is still plenty of work to be done before the FDA can attach another label to the Moderna vaccines. (Related: Exclusive: Dad says life not the same for 21-year-old student who developed myocarditis after second Moderna shot.)

In Washington, D.C., three senators announced that they tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated.

Republican Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Democrat John Hickenlooper of Colorado and independent Angus King of Maine all revealed that they had breakthrough infections of the disease.

The agency advises those seeking medical attention when they experience chest pain, shortness of breath or fast beating or fluttering of the heart after receiving the vaccine. These warnings were added in late June, when heart inflammation occurrences were the first link to the mRNA vaccine.

Should people be concerned about myocarditis?

Individuals who receive COVID-19 vaccines should be still concerned about the possible adverse effects, such as myocarditis. The latter is a serious condition that involves inflammation of the heart muscle, making it more difficult for the heart to pump blood, eventually leading to heart failure.

Myocarditis presents itself through chest pains and discomfort, heart palpitations, fainting, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, exercise intolerance, fever, loss of appetite, swelling of feet or legs and overall weakness. It can also lead to complications such as arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, heart failure and even lung complications such as effusions.

Healthcare professionals are advised to consider myocarditis and pericarditis in adolescents or young adults who present with chest pain, shortness of breath or palpitations. It is also important to ask about prior COVID-19 vaccinations once these symptoms are identified. This is so that any instances of these diseases caused by the vaccines can be correctly tagged as such, helping provide more data about the diseases link to the vaccines.

Find more updates about the Moderna vaccine at VaccineInjuryNews.com.

Sources include:

Biospace.com

ZeroHedge.com

VOANews.com

WashingtonPost.com

NHLBI.NIH.gov

CDC.gov
(Natural News) You know things are bad with Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines and the plandemic agenda when even The New York Times is sounding the alarm about surging infections due to widespread vaccine compliance.

The more people get injected, the Times now admits, the more they are testing positive for Fauci Germs, in many cases requiring hospitalization. How can this be when the jabs are supposed to be the cure for covid?

The answer, of course, is that Fauci Flu shots cure nothing and actually cause antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), an unnatural immune response that makes it easier for the Chinese Virus to enter cells.

Vaccine-induced ADE makes a person more at risk of getting sick from the Wuhan Flu while doing absolutely nothing to build immunity. It is the exact opposite of what is needed to put a stop to the Chinese Virus once and for all.

Using Israel, one of the worlds most vaccinated countries, as an example, the Times explains that the daily case rate is spiking to astronomical levels thanks to the injections.

I believe we are at war, announced Israeli coronavirus commissioner Prof. Salman Zarka during a recent parliamentary committee meeting.

Once propped up on the world stage as a shining example of how safe and effective Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines are, Israel now serves as a cautionary tale of what not to do in the midst of a pandemic.

The fourth wave of covid sickness is a direct result of mass vaccination

The latest excuse, however, blames waning immunity, which the experts claim can be fixed if the fully vaccinated line up to get their booster injections as soon as possible.

The claim is that the injections from Donald Trumps Operation Warp Speed program are simply not effective at treating the delta variant  though many would contend that the shots are responsible for spawning and spreading the delta variant.

The vaccine may be less effective at preventing infection with the highly contagious Delta variant, now the primary version of the virus in Israel, the Times reported. And the first cohort to be vaccinated was an older group whose immune systems may have been weaker to begin with.

Herd immunity would have long since been achieved had there been no vaccines at all, it turns out. The virus would have completely fizzled out months ago all on its own and life could have returned to normal.

Thanks to Operation Warp Speed, though, the fully vaccinated are now spreading new variants like wildfire, threatening to undo all of the progress that was made in eradicating the pandemic.

The mainstream media is slowly coming around to this reality, even if outlets like the Times are still claiming that the injections supposedly helped in the beginning.

Prof. Ran Balicer, chairman of an expert panel that advises the Israeli government on covid-related issues, claims that the jabs worked well for the original virus, but not for future variants like delta.

Truth be told, there would not even be a delta were it not for the vaccines, but fake science hacks like Balicer will never tell you that. You will have to read between the lines on your own to see the truth about this sham, which continues to mutate just like the virus as the experts manufacture new excuses for why they cannot get things under control.

Like the United States, Israel is now pushing booster shots as the solution to the delta variant. Once these boosters get into people arms, they will likely spawn yet another new variant for which authorities will push another round of boosters, and this cycle will repeat itself probably forever.

To learn more about how Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines are dangerous and ineffective, be sure to check out ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

Archive.is

NaturalNews.com
Due to a council's interpretation of Covid-19 guidelines, many rescue dogs slated to be rescued by an animal sanctuaries, were reportedly shot dead in rural Australia.

The animals were reportedly murdered by the Bourke Shire Council in New South Wales, to prevent volunteers from the Cobar-based shelter from traveling across the state and potentially spreading the infection.

COVID-19 infections have been on the rise in Australia, prompting the country's largest city, Sydney, to prolong its lockdown until September and impose stronger measures. A curfew was made and people are required to wear masks outside.

New South Wales Orders Shoot to Kill: Dog Raid





Police in Australia, a supposedly free nation, have battled with anti-lockdown protestors, drawing firearms on them, putting them in chokeholds, pepper spraying them, and slamming them with batons but there may be a new low that neither de Blasio nor Lightfoot could imagine.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a local government body in New South Wales ordered the killing of rescue dogs at a publicly owned kennel, in order to "defend" its residents.

The dogs were murdered by Bourke Shire Council in the state's north-west to prevent volunteers from a Cobar-based animal shelter from traveling to pick up the animals last week, according to the Herald.

The article stated that "several" dogs were killed but did not specify how many. They had also been shot to death, according to the report.

The Office of Local Government, or OLG, told the newspaper that it "has been notified that the council chose to take this course of action to safeguard its workers and community, especially vulnerable Aboriginal communities, from the danger of COVID-19 transmission," according to a spokesperson.

"There have been no recent locally acquired COVID-19 cases in Cobar," the Herald said, citing the state Health Department. However, pieces of the virus have been detected in the area's sewage system.

"Shelter volunteers are upset and had COVID-safe methods in place to manage the dogs, one of which was a new mother another source told the newspaper.

This isn't the first time this has happened. The head of the OLG, Minister Shelley Hancock, has already faced concerns in Parliament over the shooting of animals in municipal pounds. Lisa Ryan, a proponent of animal rights, has called for an immediate investigation.

Also read: Delta Cases Surge Across Australia and New Zealand, 600 Infected in Just 4 Days

Lockdown Extended in Sydney Australia: Delta Strain Affects All Districts

The lockdown in Australia's most populous city, which began in late June and was supposed to finish on August 28, has been extended until September 30

Authorities in Sydney have prolonged the city's lockdown for another month due to an increase in cases caused by the Delta strain in the New South Wales capital.

Tougher restrictions, such as a midnight curfew in 12 of Sydney's worst-affected districts and an outside mask requirement, will be implemented.

The curfew, which will be in effect from Monday at 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., will affect two million of Sydney's five million residents. Gladys Berejiklian, the premier of New South Wales, said the policy was intended at "reducing the movement of young people." Residents in certain regions will be limited to only one hour of exercise each day.

The country of 25 million people has had a significantly lower death toll than many other countries, with 971 fatalities from Covid since the epidemic, as Australia's pandemic response focuses on lengthy lockdowns and stringent border regulations.

Even though the vaccination deployment has picked up in recent weeks, there has been some dissatisfaction with the sluggish pace. In Australia, half of over-16s (50.2%) had received their first vaccination dosage, whereas just 28.2% are completely immunized.

Also read: A Deadly 'Brain-Eating' Disease is Spreading Among Animal Population in Texas
Chinese researchers had studied and developed a modern biological technology that can potentially eradicate deadly mosquito-borne diseases using nuclear technology. Their eradication project intends to wiping out specific mosquitoes in different regions and prevent its transmission.

The study founded by researchers from the Nuclear Technology Research and Development Center of the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) was commended by International Atomic Energy Agency for its innovation. CAEA was founded in partnership with the Sun Yat-sen University in 2020.

Modern biotech to eradicate mosquito-borne disease transmission

Basically, male mosquitoes are prevented to produce an offspring by removing their reproductive capacity using radiation from nuclear technologies. This way, the event of them repopulating would not be possible even when they mate with wild female mosquitoes.

The sterile mosquito technique was proven to have "strong and long-lasting effectiveness, without chemical pollution harm to other animals or drug-resistance in mosquitoes," according to the director of the center, Wu Zhongdao.

Wu believes the technique can reduce mosquito-borne disease and its transmission to people, which is considered a global problem. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 700,000 deaths every year linked to mosquitoes.

In South Africa, severe outbreaks of malaria have killed hundred thousand of people.

The sterile mosquito technique is also built to reduce morbidity, according to Zhang Dongjing, a research fellow of the center. Zhang also went to Johannesburg in 2020 to facilitate and assist the technique to the China's national infectious diseases center.

Also read: Freak Weather Impairs Bees Flight: Extreme Heatwave May Lead Them to 'Overheat'

Controlling mosquito-borne diseases in developing countries

The Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China also studied sterile mosquitoes in hopes to fight Zika, a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes. Their lab was considered the world's largest mosquito factory which prevents fertilization of eggs. The mosquitoes infected with a strain of Wolbachia pipientis, a bacterium that inhibits Zika and other viruses, were then released by the center on Shazai Island to mate with wild females and stop the next generation.

The mosquito factory claims 99% suppression rate of Aedes albopictus, or Asia tiger mosquito, the type known to carry Zika virus, after the first year of tests.

"Experts in China plan to test the technology in larger urban areas in the near future using sterile male mosquitoes from a mass-rearing facility in Guangzhou," said Zhiyong Xi, Director of Sun Yat-sen University-Michigan State University's Joint Center of Vector Control for Tropical Diseases and Professor at Michigan State University in the United States.

CAEA expects an output of 40 to 50 million sterile mosquitoes per week, which China believes to control, if not totally eradicate, the mosquito-borne diseases in developing countries. This makes a great contribution to giving solution in challenges faced by international public health care due to mosquito problems and diseases.

Using the nuclear technology, the university also plans to set up three to four anti-mosquito demonstration sites in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and set up overseas training bases to completely suppress mosquito population.

Also read: San Francisco International Airport is Home to 1,300 Endangered Snakes
The Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland has finally let off some steam after months of increasingly severe and destructive earthquakes.

The isolated valley of Geldingadalir was rocked by lava on March 19, marking the first time in 800 years that an eruption had shaken this southwesterly sliver of land.

More than 30,000 earthquakes hit Iceland's southwest corner in March. Some of the vibrations were barely a few seconds long. Others registered a magnitude of 5.4 on the Richter scale.

On March 19, volcanologists announced that the world's newest volcano had erupted, marking the first volcanic eruption on this stretch of land in 800 years. Scientists hurried to get to the location as soon as possible. Because the eruption was only 20 miles from Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, scientists could capture data usually lost at more dangerous or remote eruptions.

Volcanologists are ecstatic, but this show is more than simply a chance to peer into Iceland's boiling depths. It's also a portal to a completely different planet. Christopher Hamilton, a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona, remarked, "The eruption is, in my opinion, a perfect model for Mars."

Volcanic Planet

Mars is undeniably a volcanic planet. It constructed massive volcanoes that damaged the Earth's surface in its early centuries. They tipped the world as a whole over by 20 degrees at one point.

*Although its volcanic output diminished over time, Mars continued to erupt tiny volcanoes and spew lava for most of its existence. It may be still volcanically active today, with magma gurgling beneath the surface, preparing for a future eruption.

However, little is known about the origins, evolution, and behavior of Mars' volcanism, which is one of the reasons why experts are eager to utilize the Geldingadalir eruption as a model.

Parts of the Martian surface were crushed together while others were driven apart when massive volcanic provinces formed and the world cooled and shrunk. Martian magma erupted from fractures in places where the crust fractured.

Related Article: Presence of Icy Clouds in Mars Could Have Made Development of Lakes and Rivers Possible



Compared to the Icelandic Eruption

A fissure was also the source of the Geldingadalir eruption. Lava has been steadily pouring out of an irregularly shaped cone for the past two weeks, slowly filling the valley. Then, on April 5, a second fissure - likely the first of many to come - opened up immediately north of the first, releasing its fountains and rivers of lava, as is typical for this type of eruption on Earth and Mars.

Magma Conduit

The peninsula's location atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the volcanic rift that pushes the Americas away from Europe and Africa, allowed for this miniature eruption. In addition, the violent tectonic tremors that preceded the eruption suggest that it acquired a temporary speed boost, allowing magma to make incursions into the new voids within the shallow crust.

If the magma conduit remains open, the Geldingadalir eruption could form a small shield volcano, a magmatic mound with a very low-angle slope. According to Hamilton, such a structure would be comparable to those seen across Mars, which means scientists may observe one grow on Earth in real-time if this eruption occurs.

The eruption involves basalt, a magma with a honeylike viscosity, which is another connection to Mars. Many volcanoes produce basalt, but the magma from the Geldingadalir eruption is remarkably fluid. Its magma is rushing up from the mantle and through the crust at breakneck speed.

A planetary volcanologist at the University at Buffalo, Tracy Gregg, said it "didn't halt too much on its trip to the surface." "It came into being, and then it needed to go somewhere and do something."

The presence of a very fluid variant of basalt in Martian eruptions suggests that its volcanoes may have had Icelandic-style plumbing at periods.

The most intriguing link between Mars and Iceland is how their volcanic activity may affect life.

Martian Eruptions

There were several eruptions on Mars where magma collided with ice. Iceland is also the place to go if you want to see what occurs when lava meets ice. Arola Moreras Marti, a researcher at the University of St. Andrews who researches biosignatures on Mars, stated, "Iceland is a wonderful area and one of the greatest parallels for Mars we have on Earth."

Long ago, the Martian surface was a radioactive desert unfit for life. But what is happening now at Geldingadalir happened on Mars, and it may still be happening. Underground hydrothermal networks have formed anywhere hot rock meets water during the last 4.5 billion years. These subterranean hideaways would be reasonably livable habitats since they would be protected from the lethal radiation blasting their surface.

Ancient Mars

When Mars was young, it was also wetter, with a thicker radiation-blocking atmosphere. So microbes might have existed on the surface a long time ago.

Significant Difference

However, there is one significant difference: the size of the occurrences. The lava flows on Mars were awe-inspiringly prolific, with enough lava to bury a continent the size of the United Kingdom is only a few weeks. According to Tobias Durig, a volcanologist at the University of Iceland, the Geldingadalir eruption is a "model-scale lava field." It's a tiny Martian explosion.

Also Read: Curiosity Rover Captures Stunning Cloud Formation on Mars

For more space related news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
A Seychelles giant tortoise, previously thought to be strictly herbivorous, was seen chasing and eating a fledgling bird in a "horrifying and magnificent" attack, with researchers claiming it was the first known evidence of the species' deliberate hunting in the wild.

The female giant tortoise stalks a lesser noddy tern chick on Fregate Island in July 2020, snapping at it unsuccessfully before delivering a deadly bow by clamping its jaws directly around its head.

Fregate Island, privately owned and maintained for ecotourism, is home to roughly 3,000 giant tortoises. Other tortoises have been seen in the vicinity carrying out similar attacks, but no tortoise species has ever been actively chasing prey in the wild.

An Unexpected Behavior

According to research published in Current Biology, the Seychelles giant tortoise belongs to the species Aldabrachelys gigantea, which is "generally thought to be strict herbivores."

The study was directed by Dr. Justin Gerlach, director of studies at Peterhouse, Cambridge, and an affiliated researcher at the University of Cambridge's Museum of Zoology. "This is entirely unexpected behavior, and it has never been seen in wild tortoises before," he said.

Diverse Sanctuary

The unique mix of a tree-nesting tern colony and a resident giant tortoise population on Seychelles' Fregate island, according to researchers, is driving this new hunting behavior.

Related Article: Supposedly Extinct Galapagos Giant Tortoise Species Confirmed to Have Resurfaced in the Island



"Vegetarians"

Previously, all tortoises were considered vegetarians, although they have been seen opportunistically grazing on carrion and eating bones and snail shells for calcium.

Seabirds Nesting

Seabirds have been able to recolonize the island thanks to extensive habitat restoration, and there is now a colony of 265,000 noddy terns that leave the ground "littered with dropped fish and babies that have fallen from their nests."

In most cases, potential prey is too swift or nimble for giant tortoises to catch. The Seychelles giant tortoise approached the chick on the log. However, biologists believe this type of interaction occurs frequently. Giant tortoises are the greatest herbivores on the Galapagos and Seychelles islands, eating up to 11 percent of the flora.

Birds and Tortoise

"These days, the combination of tree-nesting terns and giant tortoise populations on Fregate Island is unusual," Gerlach added. However, our findings show that when ecosystems are restored, completely unanticipated interactions between species may emerge - things that likely happened frequently in the past but we've never seen it before."

According to Gerlach, the video could show a "population of tortoises evolving a novel sort of behavior with evolutionary ramifications," according to Gerlach. However, the resurgence of seabird and tortoise populations could also have "recreated conditions for natural behaviors that people haven't seen in hundreds of years."

Evolution

The contacts of naturalist Charles Darwin with giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands were crucial in developing contemporary evolutionary theories. Darwin discovered that each island in the chain had its unique kind of gigantic tortoise after visiting a number of them.

"It's apparent that they enjoy eating terns," Gerlach continued. However, they're going to much difficulty compared to how easy it is to eat plants."

Also Read: Darwin's Arch, a Rock formation Named After the British Scientist, Collapsed

For the most recent updates from the animal kingdom, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
One of the major hot spots for severe thunderstorm activity, mostly tornadoes, worldwide is the eastern part of the U.S. The typical explanation for this result is the combination high geographical area to the west and the Gulf of Mexico to the south.

Severe thunderstorms

A study carried out in the Climate and Extreme Weather Laboratory of Purdue University's College of Science in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences largely reverses one half of this well-established hypothesis.

Scientists made use of a global climate model to carry out climate simulation experiments checking this hypothesis. It was done by either making the North American terrain flat or using land to "fill in" the Gulf of Mexico.

The study reveals that the possibility for severe thunderstorms strongly relies on upstream raised terrain but shockingly powerless on the Gulf of Mexico. Getting rid of elevated terrain greatly decreases severe thunderstorm environments mostly over the continental interior, connected with an atmosphere that is cooler and drier.

Also Read: Footage: Dangerous Tornadoes Rip Across Colorado in the Middle of Severe Thunderstorms

Hot Spot for Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado

Substituting the Gulf of Mexico with land basically moves severe thunderstorm environments a little bit towards the east from the central Great Plains into Illinois. Although it does diminish them over southern Texas.

This study made it clear that scientists have a lot to learn concerning the reason North America is a hot spot for both severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. And in general, how severe weather may alter in time to come because of climate change worldwide.

Officially, severe thunderstorms are defined as storms that can be able to produce hail that is one inch or bigger or wind gusts that is more than 58 mph. Hail having this size can cause damage to property including roofs, plants, and cars.

Effect of Thunderstorm

Wind possessing this type of strength can break off large branches, pull down trees, or lead to structural damage to trees. Some severe thunderstorms are capable of producing hail bigger than softballs or winds more than 100 mph. It is advisable to pay attention to the weather so you be aware of the period severe storms are likely to occur.

Thunderstorms are also accompanied by tornadoes and risky lightning; torrential rain that can lead to flash flooding.

A thunderstorm is considered severe if it makes hail not less than three-quarters of an inch in diameter, possesses winds of 58 miles every hour or more, or produces a tornado. If a thunderstorm has these the National Weather Service (NWS) considers it to be severe.

When authorities issue a severe thunderstorm warning, analyze what actions to take when a tornado or flash flood warning is issued. Thunderstorms could happen singly, in lines, or in clusters.

Related Article: Powerful Thunderstorms in the Mid-West Can Cause Winds as Strong as Category 2 Hurricane, Forecasters Warn

For more news, updates about thunderstorms and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
It takes hard work to be a farmer, that is until you get a half-ton sapphire out of the ground when you are digging a well. Then it's extremely good being a farmer.

The Discovery

Workmen digging a well on the Sri Lanka island dug out a boulder that has a cluster of 2.5 million carats in star sapphires. Sri Lanka is a country which, like a diamond, disparages its size when it comes to richness.

The find that is pale blue color has been named the 'Serendipity Sapphire' and could be up to $140 million on the international market, awaiting inspections and approval by world experts.

The owner of the stone named Mr. Gamage told the BBC that "the person who was digging the well alerted us about some rare stones. Later we stumbled upon this huge specimen."

Gamage did not disclose any information but kept it confidential for obvious reasons. Gamage explained that when he was cleaning the stone of mud and dirt, some high-quality star sapphires shifted, giving a suggestion that like the well-known Bahia Emerald, this massive half-ton stone is not just one structure. But possibly hundreds of star sapphires merged together with other minerals.

Also Read: Rare Whale Vomit Considered As Floating Gold, Costs $70,000; Will It Endanger Sperm Whales?

Star of Adam

In a country lucky to have rich wildlife, ons of elephants, beautiful beaches, and as the story was told, the mountain which the Buddha of ages ascended to Buddhahood. One of the most crucial trade on Earth is the gemstone trade on Sri Lanka.

The island nation which is not bigger than West Virginia, is the top exporter of sapphires and other valuable stones in the world, which produces half a billion in revenue last year as one of the five biggest producers of gem.

An area in which the Serendipity Sapphire was mined is called Ratnapura. This area is a traditional gem mining region well-known for making star sapphires, like the previous one that was recognized as the largest ever seen, the Star of Adam, which weighs 1404 carets.

Asterism

In Sinhalese "City of Gems" is the meaning of Ratnapura, and even as competitive markets for sapphires are set up in Madagascar, Ratnapura is still a world capital in the gem trade.

The Chairman of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority of Sri Lanka whose name is Thilak Weerasinghe told the BBC, "It is a special star sapphire specimen, probably the biggest in the world. Given the size and its value, we think it will interest private collectors or museums."

Star sapphires have a gemological feature referred to as asterism. Asterisms in gems take place when tiny flakes or spines of other material is stuck in the gemstone when it starts to form, thereby producing an effect when getting light from above of a sparkling six-pointed star.

Star of India is the most famous, and it is currently held in the American Museum of Natural History.

Related Article: Ambergris: Thai Woman Finds Whale Vomit Worth 185,000 While Walking on the Beach

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President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the full FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
FILE - This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows OxyContin pills arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt. Several U.S. senators are questioning the Food and Drug Administrations work with a consulting firm that helped businesses sell prescription painkillers during the nation's overdose crisis. Democrat Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa, among others, have asked the FDA about potential conflicts of interest in its work with McKinsey and Co. The senators sent a letter Monday, Aug. 23, 2021 to the FDA noting that the agency paid McKinsey more than $140 million after hiring it several times starting in 2008. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, file)
Thane Grauel / Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW CANAAN  Police are reminding residents to lock their cars and remove any valuables after recent incidents of vehicles being stolen or broken into.

Police said last Friday afternoon a resident reported a scooter had been stolen out of the New Canaan Parish parking lot. The resident told police the scooters tire had been locked and the vehicle was covered at the time of the theft. The keys were not taken during the theft, according to police.
Norwalk Fire Department veteran Albert Bassett was recently named as the first paid assistant fire chief for the New Canaan Fire Department in its long history. Bassett is planned to start in the role on Sept. 20.

Bassett has served as assistant fire chief in the coastal city since 1992, and prior to that, he was deputy fire chief and shift commander.

New Canaan Fire Chief John Hennessey has been trying to get funding for a career assistant chief for a number of years, he said Monday. Without an assistant career chief, Hennessey has been on call constantly which can be exhausting, he said.

The hiring of Bassett was approved unanimously by the Board of Selectmen on Aug. 17. His salary of $120,810 is in the 2021-22 budget, Personnel Director Cheryl Jones said Monday.

Bassett has tremendous experience in many facets of fire safety, personnel management and firefighter training, Fire Commissioner Jack Horner said at the selectmen meeting. Albert will be a tremendous asset to New Canaan.

The department will have two assistant chief officers. Bassett will lead the 24 career firefighters and volunteers. Assistant Fire Chief Russ Kimes works with the 30 volunteer firefighters. Kimes is also the towns emergency management director.

Hennessey said he has felt stretched thin serving as fire chief and director of fire service. He has been responsible for the career firefighters, the Fire Marshals Office and the Volunteer Fire Company, he explained.

Having the new assistant chief will improve services and safety of all of our personnel and the people of New Canaan, Hennessey said, adding he will assist the director of fire services with many tasks that are currently not being adequately administered.

Bassett has been co-chairperson of the Fairfield County Hazardous Incident Response Team since 2001. He is the Emergency Support Function chair for ESF-10, which oversees hazardous materials response for the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. He is also currently an instructor at the State of Connecticut Fire Academy.

I have known Assistant Chief Bassett for many years and he will be a fine addition to our department, Hennessey said.

Bassett received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Haven in 2008, a Master of Business Administration from University of New Haven in 2013 and a Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology in 2018.
Years after its official breakthrough in 2017, the Aperol Spritz has cemented itself as a go-to cocktail in the US, appearing on more and and more bar menus (and Instagram posts) each year. Part of it is undoubtedly how easy it is to make: It has just three ingredients: Aperol, Prosecco, and soda water. Luckily, none of these are terribly expensive if youre looking for a drink to prepare for a group.

But while it might only have recently started gracing cocktail lists in the U.S., its been an aperitif of choice in Europe for around 120 years, with roots that go even further back. The spritz was born in the 1800s, when Austrian soldiers in northern Italys Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions (under Austrian rule at the time), were getting tipsy a little too quickly.

Aperol Aperotivo Liqueur

Aperol Aperitivo Liqueur wine.com $19.99 Shop Now

The Austrian soldiers were not used to drinking wines and found them too strong, says Corinthia London bar operations manager Alena Cagnato. Thats why they requested some water to be poured into the wine to make it more drinkable. Spritzen is a German verb [to splash], and thats where the name spritz has its origin.

Like all recipes, the spritz evolved: Still water was swapped for sparkling, and other liqueurs were added to the combo for a little something extra. In the 1900s new bitters like Aperol came on the scene, says Cagnato, and the resulting union was perfection: Prosecco is the most known and consumed wine in Veneto and Aperol was born in Padua [a city in Veneto]  The marriage between the two was just inevitable  I think we can say it has been one of the longest and most successful marriages ever!

These days, there are a few ways to go about making one: According to Aperols website, the International Bartenders Association-approved recipe for an Aperol Spritz is three parts Prosecco, two parts Aperol, and one part soda, and an orange slice (of course). If you want more Aperol flavor, Daniel Warrilow, the Italian Portfolio Ambassador for Campari Group (which produces Aperol), suggests equal parts Aperol and Prosecco, plus a splash of soda water and orange.

The best Prosecco to use come with the Designation of Controlled Origin (DOC) label, a distinction of excellence that kind of sets out the rules for a proper Prosecco: in this case, its produced from grapes grown in the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions of northeast Italy, says Michelle Erland, certified sommelier. It should also use a minimum of 85% Glera grapes and be produced through a specific method that uses secondary fermentation. If you want to level up, though its not necessary by any means, theres also Prosecco Designation of Controlled Origin and Guaranteed (DOCG), which is made in accordance with the Italian government and adheres to rules even more stringent than DOC.

But there are a ton of different kinds of prosecco, which range from something a little sweeter to

extra-extra dry, and they have more impact on the flavor of an Aperol Spritz than you might think. Although some proseccos might drink perfectly on their own, once paired with Aperol, they can completely bury the spirits flavor or taste flat against it. And one things for sure: Be sure to avoid any wines that are off-dry or sweet, says Warrilow. The beauty of Prosecco is that its perfectly balanced to complement the herbaceous and floral notes of Aperol as to not have an overly sweet cocktail.

All said and done, the best Proseccos for pairing with an Aperol Spritz make the Aperol sing without making the drink too sweet or too dry. But which ones are those?

In the interest of saving you from disappointing Aperol Spritzes, this writer once again assembled a crew of seven dedicated, regular-people tasters to give a few proseccos a go and see how they measured up in an Aperol Spritz. One clear winner emerged, but in the name of variety, we spoke with a few other experts (including an Italian bartender and a sommelier) to see which prosecco theyd pair with the Aperol.

The Group Favorite

Mionetto Prosecco Brut DOC  $14.99, Wine.com

Mionetto Prosecco Brut 750ml wine.com $14.99 Shop Now

During an evening of tastings (five proseccos in all), the Mionetto stood out as the obvious favorite among the seven of us, each bringing our own fair share of Aperol Spritz-swilling history to the tasting table. It was juicy and vibrant in the glass without being overwhelmingly sweet, and the fizz balanced the soda waters carbonation perfectly. I love the Mionetto, said taster Carlos Alvarado. It didnt taste too sweet  there was a nice bubbly feeling on the tongue. It tasted like a classic Aperol Spritz.

Cindy Brzostowski, also on the tasting committee, echoed Alvarado: Its a classic, signature Aperol, she said. Theres not a lot of sweetness, but its also not too bitter.

But it was perhaps volunteer Adam Hurly who summed it up best: Its great that a cocktail I made tastes exactly like one I would pay good money for at the bar.

The Sommeliers Picks

Valdo Marca Oro Prosecco DOC  $14.99, Wine.com

Valdo Prosecco Valdo wine.com $14.99 Shop Now

Made from 100% Glera grapes, this Prosecco is one of Erlands top picks for an Aperol Spritz. Using high-quality ingredients for your Aperol Spritz like Valdo Marca Oro Prosecco DOC will certainly elevate the classic cocktail with this bottles versatility, fine perlage, and crisp, fruity palate, she says. Perlage, by the way, refers to the bubbles, or pearls, that keep rising up from the bottom of the glass  if its a Prosecco where there arent bubbles rising up for long, thatll result in an Aperol Spritz that goes flat fast.

La Gioiosa Prosecco DOC Treviso  $16.99, Wine.com

La Gioiosa Prosecco wine.com $16.99 Shop Now

Also a favorite of this writer and the Italian in the tasting committee, this prosecco comes sommelier-recommended for an Aperol Spritz. While its on the pricier side, its a great pick not just for drinking alone, but for balancing out the flavors of the Aperol: La Gioiosas Prosecco DOC Treviso serves an Aperol Spritz well with its dry, fresh and flavorsome sensation on the palate and fine, persistent perlage, says Erland. Like the Valdo Marco Oro above, its made from 100% Glera grapes.

The Bartenders Pick

Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco Superiore  $19.99, Wine.com

Nino Franco Prosecco Rustico 750ml wine.com $19.99 Shop Now

This DOCG (fancy fancy) Prosecco is at the top of the list for Cagnato. It boasts a very fine perlage and its quite creamy and with character, she says. It comes from Valdobbiadene DOCG, in the heart of the Prosecco hills, and it contains all the typical aromas and notes: green apple, pear, a flower bouquet and some freshness  which balances perfectly to complement Aperol.
CANTERBURY  Gov. Ned Lamont showed up in sunglasses Monday morning to observe damage from Tropical Storm Henri to one of the hardest hit towns in the state.

It was a sunny morning, a much different scene than 24 hours earlier in the eastern Connecticut town of just over 5,000 residents that stretches across 70 miles of roads, almost most of them lined with trees.

When Lamont arrived in Canterbury, more than 500 residents were still without power. This is the town that had 95 percent of their power off and today almost everybody is on and everybody, Ive been promised by Eversource, will be on by the end of today, he said.

Republican First Selectman Chris Lippke was among the more than 2,000 reported households without electricity. He was at his office when he received a call from his wife around 11 a.m. Sunday telling him that the power had gone out. Their lights came back on early Monday morning.

I told Eversource you were coming to town. Ive never seen so many trucks in Canterbury, Lippke quipped to Lamont.

In a matter of minutes Sunday, most residents in Canterbury lost electricity, which Lippke attributed to a lot of strategic trees coming down all in the wrong places.

The town has taken down over 1,000 dead, diseased and decaying trees on town-owned property, including rights of way along the road edges, he said. And while thats been significant, a gypsy most infestation and drought in recent years - despite a lot of rain this summer - have left many weakened trees in the wooded town.

Educating residents on how to identify and what to do about dying trees on their property, including assistance with removal, could help remedy the problem, Lippke said.

Monday brought an impressive arsenal of political power to a town that has rarely if ever seen it. In addition to Lamont and other state officials, U.S. senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy joined the tour with local officials, while measuring the power companys response to the storm.

A utility crew working on power lines on Brooklyn Road in town was surprised by the governors presence Monday morning. One worker, whod traveled from New Hampshire to help out, said he was not expecting Lamont, who he did not realize at first was the governor. His reaction: It certainly added a bit more pressure to the job.

Lamont spoke with the state emergency operations team and said Red Cross is closing down shelters. After last summers bad experience with storm Isaias, the state helped to make sure the utilities were prepared for the worst this time, he added.

I think they stepped up, Lamont said about both utilities, Eversource and United Illuminating. They had twice as many folks on the ground ready to go this time as last time and thats the way weve got to do it. Lets make this the norm.

Lippke said he was in regular communication with Eversource throughout the storm. He suggested one area of improvement: more feedback from utility crews in the field to the Eversource liaisons assigned to towns so municipal leaders are more aware of the extent of the damage.

Something that looks like a small issue could be more involved in terms of equipment that needs to be replaced, he said.

Blumenthal said the pressure on Eversource has led to an increase in the utilitys responsiveness and he vowed to keep it up. Murphy said the senators need to make sure Connecticut receives money to help repair damages from the storm.

Obviously we dont have the kind of damage we thought we were going to have so well very carefully monitor damage assessments, well talk to all the towns as to how much money theyve expended and well make sure to bring every dollar to Connecticut that we are allowed under federal law, Murphy said.

He reminded people to stay vigilant as rains from the storm continue.

Canterburys Town Hall offices remained be closed for the day but the building was open during business hours for residents to charge devices and receive drinking water for animals. Most roads reopened and no damage to town property was reported.

julia.berman@hearstmediact.com
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Robert Ashton has made the acquaintance of a man who needs to be given the opportunity to rebuild his life, and suggests that we should have a compassionate spirit in such circumstances.

A few months ago I wrote an article for Quaker magazine The Friend, about the earth-sheltered eco-home were planning to build in rural Norfolk. Im told it will be one of the most energy efficient homes in the country. Ill be writing a book about our journey to a life free of fossil fuels. The article prompted several positive comments from Friends, with one or two phoning me to offer their encouragement.



But what moved me most was the handwritten letter that arrived a week or two later. It was written by Richard, a man currently serving an eight year sentence. He had become a Quaker while in prison and had a professional interest in water-saving technology which he thought might be useful for our project.



I was curious to learn why he was in prison, so googled his name and discovered some lurid reports of his court hearing. One described him as a ruthless sexual predator and another described him as a pervert who had been caged for eight years. I wrote back, thanking him for his interest in my project, and described my own journey to becoming a Quaker. I mentioned in closing that I am a volunteer with Circles UK, a charity that supports former sex offenders re-establish themselves in the community at the end of their sentence, and suggested he might find it helpful to join a Circle when he leaves prison.



He wrote back thanking me for my willingness to correspond, saying that he had in general found Quakers to be magnanimous in accepting him. Naturally I am led by our testimony to equality to value his friendship and we have become what I guess youd call pen-pals.



Im reminded of a something Albert Einstein once said: Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish. How true that is, and how wrong it is to deny anyone the opportunity to put past mistakes behind them and start afresh. Yet I know from the experience of others Ive helped, that the biggest fear that haunts sex offenders on their release is the fear of exposure, prejudice and victimisation. The internet makes it all too easy for anyone to learn of Richards past, which will make it all the harder for him to rebuild his life.



We will never prevent newspapers from writing lurid headlines, nor will legislation ever be passed that sees news stories disappear from the internet after a few years. Search engines can, if quizzed in the right way, reveal more than most of us would wish to be known about our past lives. This can be annoying and occasionally embarrassing, but for someone who has been to prison for an offence he now deeply regrets, it can damage their chances of leading a useful life.



Everybody deserves a second chance; what more can we do to make that possible?



Robert Ashton is an author, social entrepreneur and Quaker.





Visit www.robertashton.co.uk

The views carried here are those of the author, not of Network Norfolk, and are intended to stimulate constructive and good-natured debate between website users.

We welcome your thoughts and comments, posted below, upon the ideas expressed here.
Newburyport, MA (01950)

Today

Rain. High 76F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Periods of rain and becoming windy. Rain may be heavy late. Low 61F. NE winds at 10 to 15 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Amesbury - John L. Plourde, age 92, of Amesbury MA, died in peace on July 8, 2021. He was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Phyllis (Fenton) Plourde. He leaves four sons and three daughters-in-law, Dennis and Sally of Newbury, David and Carol of Amesbury, Thomas and Evelyn of Rochester, N
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This Thursday, Elon Musk announced that his electric vehicle company is working on creating a humanoid robot . The invention will be called Tesla Bot and will work with the same Artificial Intelligence (AI) that its cars use.

The Tesla CEO made the surprise reveal at the end of his Artificial Intelligence Day presentation, supported by PowerPoint slides. Among the details he shared about the Tesla Bot , he highlights its possible launch date in 2022 .

Elon Musk also revealed that the robot will have a height of 1.73 meters , but despite its height it will only weigh about 57 kilos , since it will be made of "light materials" .

Inside, the humanoid will be operated by a Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) computer . The 'head' will be equipped with cameras like those used by Tesla vehicles in their autopilot system to map the environment. Your 'face' will be a screen to display information and, most likely, touch controls.

What functions will the Tesla Bot have?

The businessman, who today is the second richest man in the world according to the Forbes billionaire ranking, said that the Tesla Bot "is intended to be friendly and navigate through a world built for humans ."

Join us to build the future of AI  https://t.co/Gdd4MNet6q pic.twitter.com/86cXMVnJ59 - Tesla (@Tesla) August 20, 2021

As he explained, the Tesla android would eliminate dangerous, repetitive and boring tasks which would have profound implications for the economy . As an example, Elon Musk suggested that the robot could be told: go to the store and buy the following food  .

"We should be concerned about AI ," the controversial businessman said in a question and answer session. However, he noted that Tesla seeks to create "a useful AI that people love and is unequivocally good ."

The Tesla Bot dance

Elon Musk and Tesla's presentation did not include any prototypes or samples of the humanoid robot. However, an artist dressed as a Tesla Bot did appear doing a strange dance that immediately inspired memes. Here are some to brighten your day ...

My Tesla bot going to 7/11 to grab me a slurpee pic.twitter.com/Oc6ym0bDn2 - StarBoy (@jacintotoobeast) August 20, 2021

"My Tesla Bot going to Seven Eleven to bring me a slurpee."

nobody:



me: * putting cute outfits on a Tesla bot at 4:59 am* pic.twitter.com/iARkGhb3MJ - aerial (@suchHODL) August 20, 2021

"Nobody: / Me: putting cute outfits on my Tesla Bot at 4:59 am."

My Tesla Bot is teaching me how to dance. Little worried it wants to move my brain out of my body though. #teslabot pic.twitter.com/81R5Ywolj9 - King Anthony! (@KinguAmoz)August 20, 2021

"My Tesla Bot is teaching me to dance. Even though I'm a bit worried, it wants to get my brain out of my body."

Can't wait to have a dance party with my Tesla bot. pic.twitter.com/2bj1hde0S0 - Maria Merano (@ Writer_01001101) August 20, 2021

"I can't wait to have a dance party with my Tesla Bot."

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Alpha: Eddie Gallagher and the War for the Soul of the Navy SEALs

By David Philipps

Crown. 443 pp. $28.99

- - -

The SEALs may be the only pop-culture heroes to emerge from the disastrous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They're the guys who killed Osama bin Laden. In blockbuster movies and best-selling books, such as "American Sniper" and "Lone Survivor," they battle not only a ruthless enemy but also risk-averse generals, incompetent politicians and an indifferent citizenry. America might have lost its post-9/11 wars, but the SEALs won theirs - at least in their memoirs and at the movies.

More quietly, the conventional Army and Marine Corps units in Afghanistan and Iraq often told a different story of the SEALs' exploits. In their version, the shadowy special operators swooped into villages at night with little warning, knocking down doors, killing civilians and creating new enemies who mounted even more furious attacks on the U.S. troops left behind to clean up their mess.

David Philipps's "Alpha: Eddie Gallagher and the War for the Soul of the Navy SEALs" draws a bit from both of these narrative traditions. The core of Philipps's book is Special Operations Chief Eddie Gallagher, a senior enlisted SEAL and antihero who is portrayed as possessing almost superhuman powers. In Philipps's telling, Gallagher is a "narcissistic sociopath" with "ice-blue eyes" who opens fire on old men and little girls. The Navy's failed attempt to convict him of murdering a badly wounded Islamic State war prisoner during the 2017 battle for Mosul - a crime that Gallagher seemed to brag about in text messages - results in not only his acquittal but also the forced resignation of the secretary of the Navy.

A dogged researcher and gifted writer, Philipps turns the story of Gallagher's rise, his alleged war crimes and the botched Navy prosecution into an infuriating, fast-paced thriller. In addition to that tale, Philipps tells the story that's captured in his book's subtitle: "the war for the soul of the Navy SEALs." U.S. presidents as disparate as Barack Obama and Donald Trump have turned repeatedly to the SEALs to hunt down America's most notorious enemies, free hostages and liberate cities.

But Philipps's book raises an uncomfortable question: What if the SEALs are terrible at their jobs?

SEAL leaders chose Gallagher's Alpha platoon for the mission to liberate Mosul from the Islamic State because they believed that the unit, and Gallagher, were among the Navy's best. But in combat, Gallagher and Alpha platoon were a disaster. Rather than focusing on the enemy, Gallagher's men felt obligated to fire warning shots at women and children in an attempt to keep them away from their chief, who they said tried to kill just about every civilian who wandered into his rifle sight. Philipps describes the pressure that weighed on Special Operator 1st Class Dylan Dille as he sought to protect Iraqis from his boss: "It was exhausting. The tension of being forced to fire at people to make them flee in terror without accidentally killing them left him covered in sweat."

Gallagher also orders his men to shoot grenades into a crowded Mosul neighborhood for no discernible reason. Initially Special Operator Josh Vriens, a SEAL sniper, thought the display of firepower "looked cool," Philipps writes, "but as they continued to launch grenades over the river it dawned on him that it was also incredibly stupid." As Philipps puts it: "Vriens had joined the Navy to help the helpless . . . now here he was, in the thick of it, launching hundreds of grenades blindly into the city. He wondered how it had gotten to that point."

A better question would have been: How did Vriens get to that point? It's a question I wish the book had spent more time trying to answer. In Philipps's telling, Gallagher is a soulless master manipulator who goads his men into committing war crimes in a devious effort to prevent them from turning on him. But in portraying Gallagher as a super-criminal Svengali, Philipps risks letting the Navy SEALs and their leadership off the hook.

Philipps, a Pulitzer Prize-winning military reporter for the New York Times, devotes a chapter to a history of the SEALs' "pirate" culture, which produced and promoted Gallagher. Philipps's book asks the right questions. So too do some of the Alpha platoon SEALs, such as Vriens, who turned in Gallagher at considerable risk to their careers. Despite misgivings, almost all had followed at least some of his illegal orders.

"He didn't know if it was just Eddie that was all messed up, or if it went further," Philipps writes of Vriens, one of many SEALs in the platoon who sought to expose Gallagher's alleged crimes and testified against him. "Was it just one platoon or platoons all over the Teams?" Later, at Gallagher's murder trial, a Marine combat veteran on the jury asks a similar question: "How could these screwballs have risen up through the ranks to leadership positions?"

As a reporter who spent nearly two decades covering the military in Iraq and Afghanistan, I couldn't help but wonder: Are the SEALs really this incompetent and morally compromised?

Early in the fight for Mosul, SEAL Master Chief Brian Alazzawi watches Gallagher fire so wildly that he accidentally hits the wall of his own sniper hide, sending up a shower of concrete shards and dust. "It should have been a red flag but Alazzawi had bigger things to worry about," Philipps writes. "He was overseeing three platoons in Iraq, and the other two teams of so-called elite commandos were barely functioning." Unfortunately, we don't hear much about these other platoons.

U.S. presidents, reluctant to deploy big conventional ground forces, are likely to rely even more on the SEALs in future years. These troops will need to have "a killer instinct" as well as "empathy, restraint, and the ability to stay on course in the stormy morality of combat," Philipps writes. The inescapable conclusion from reading Philipps's book is that the SEALs lack these critical attributes and that the blame for those shortcomings extends far beyond the moral failings of Eddie Gallagher.

- - -

Greg Jaffe is a national reporter with The Washington Post who spent almost two decades covering the military. He is a co-author of "The Fourth Star: Four Generals and Their Epic Struggle for the Future of the United States Army."
Even though the US Food and Drug Administration has fully approved the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for people age 16 and older, and it remains authorized for people as young as 12, the agency is warning against using the vaccine "off-label" in children younger than 12. To do so, it says, "would not be appropriate."

Off-label refers to an approved product being used in a way or in a patient that it wasn't necessarily approved for; it happens commonly with some drugs, such as when a chemotherapy approved for one type of cancer is used to treat a different type.

The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is not currently approved nor authorized for children younger than 12, and the appropriate dosage for this age group has yet to be determined.

"We do not have data on the proper dose nor do we have full data on the safety in children younger than what is in the EUA," Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said during a briefing call on Monday.

"So that would be a great concern that people would vaccinate children because we don't have the proper dose and we don't have the safety data, nor do we have all the efficacy data, as well," Woodcock said. "We are not recommending that children younger than age 12 be vaccinated with this vaccine. It would not be appropriate."

Meanwhile, the FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both strongly recommend that all eligible adolescents, ages 12 to 17, be vaccinated as soon as possible, especially as the highly transmissible Delta coronavirus variant continues to circulate nationwide.

As of last week, the AAP reports 180,000 new cases of Covid-19 among children and adolescents, according to the Academy.

So far, about 8.5 million or 34% of all adolescents ages 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

'Not just small adults'

It's clear many parents are eager to get younger children vaccinated, but FDA's Woodcock said that children "are not just small adults."

"We really would have to have the data and the appropriate dose before recommending that children be vaccinated," Woodcock added on Monday.

The AAP also "strongly discourages" using the vaccine off-label in children younger than 12, noting that the dose of the adult vaccine is much higher than the doses being tested in young children.

"The clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 11 years old and younger are underway, and we need to see the data from those studies before we give this vaccine to younger children," AAP President Dr. Lee Savio Beers said in a statement on Monday, following the FDA's approval.

"The dose may be different for younger ages," Beers said. "The AAP recommends against giving the vaccine to children under 12 until authorized by the FDA."

Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases, also urged physicians to wait until clinical trials are complete in young children before giving the vaccine to those under 12.

"We do not want individual physicians to be calculating doses and dosing schedules one-by-one for younger children based on the experience with the vaccine in older patients," Maldonado said in a statement on Monday.

"We should do this based on all of the evidence for each age group, and for that we need the trials to be completed. I know parents are anxious to protect their children, but we want to make sure children have the full benefit of ongoing clinical trials."

Covid-19 vaccine trials underway in younger children

In a letter sent to Woodcock earlier this month, the AAP called on the FDA to work aggressively to authorize a vaccine for children younger than 12.

Pfizer has said it expects to have vaccine trial data on children ages 5 to 11 by the end of September, and the company could apply to have its vaccine authorized for those younger ages shortly after. The company also has said data for even younger children, ages 2 to 5, could be available shortly after.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are also working on studies in children.

Last month, the FDA asked Pfizer and Moderna to double the number of children ages 5 to 11 in clinical trials. The FDA also asked for six months of follow-up safety data, instead of the two months it asked for with adults.

"We know parents are eager to be able to give their children the protection of this vaccine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics shares that feeling of urgency," Beers said on Monday. "The Delta variant has led to significant increases in the number of children and adults infected with the virus. While we wait for a vaccine to be authorized for younger children, it's important that everyone who is eligible now get the vaccine. That will help reduce the spread of the virus and protect those who are too young to be vaccinated."

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President Joe Biden said Tuesday the US is on track to complete its hurried airlift in Afghanistan by August 31, acknowledging he does not plan to keep American troops in the country any longer even as questions remain over who will be able to leave and when.

In late afternoon remarks at the White House, Biden recognized the success of the mission will depend largely on cooperation from the Taliban. He said he's asked military leaders to be ready with contingency options to "adjust that timetable" if it becomes necessary.

"We are currently on a pace to finish by August 31. I am determined to complete our mission," Biden said in a speech that was delayed by hours.

Still, he said meeting that deadline "depends on the Taliban continuing to cooperate and allow access to the airport to those who are transporting out and no disruptions to our operation."

"The sooner we finish the better," Biden said. "Each day of operations brings added risk to our troops."

Earlier in the day, Biden relayed his decision on sticking to the end-of-month deadline in crisis talks with the Group of 7, making clear the decision was in large part driven by persistent security risks.

"It is a tenuous situation," he said in his remarks, describing an "acute" risk of attack from the ISIS affiliate operating in Afghanistan.

Biden's foreign counterparts had entered the morning G7 meeting prepared to apply pressure on Biden to extend the deadline, arguing more time is needed to evacuate their citizens and at-risk Afghans who assisted in the war effort. But aware of the risks that will confront American troops in September, Biden made clear he wants the airlift finished by the end of the month.

While the Pentagon has voiced confidence it can evacuate all remaining Americans in the country by next week, it's less clear it will be able to assist the thousands of Afghans who assisted the war effort and are still awaiting their turn to leave.

Many Afghan allies who the US has aimed to help will be left behind, a senior administration official told CNN, adding, "That would be true whenever we evacuated and whenever the Taliban took over."

The official said the 70,000 people evacuated in the last 10 days does not closely match the universe of Afghan allies potentially eligible to come to the US, which Biden has previously estimated at 50,000 to 65,000. Many of the 70,000 evacuated have included different groups of Afghan allies given priority by the US' European partners. In addition, some of those evacuated have not even applied for Special Immigrant Visa status yet, though they will in Qatar or Kuwait.

The official declined to estimate the number of Americans still in Afghanistan, deferring to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who will speak on Wednesday, but said the number on August 14 was "probably lower than most people believe" because "a lot left in the final few weeks."

Evacuation effort picks up steam

The crisis talks of the G7 came as the Afghanistan evacuation effort picks up steam, now far exceeding the administration's initial daily goals. Biden said on Tuesday that in the past 12 hours, 12,000 people had been evacuated from Kabul: 6,400 on 19 separate US military flights and 5,600 on 31 different coalition flights.

The Pentagon said the military has increased the pace of flights out of Kabul to one every 45 minutes.

In total, the White House says US efforts have facilitated the evacuation of approximately 70,700 people since August 14, Biden said. Approximately 1,000 Afghans have arrived at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, DC, in the last 24 hours, according to the Pentagon.

The massive logistical undertaking by the American military -- which took control of part of Kabul's international airport, including its air traffic control, in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover -- has allowed other countries to evacuate their citizens. If the US withdraws, its unclear whether civilians from any country would still be able to leave.

European allies of the United States stressed during the talks that they wanted to ensure any possibility of a deadline extension was considered by the US, according to a person familiar with the call.

While advocating for leaving at the end of the month, Biden said the risk of an attack is "very high," an administration official said.

Despite the massively scaled-up flights, some of Biden's advisers have worried about US troops' safety and the potential for ISIS or Taliban reprisals should they stay any longer than August 31. Representatives for the Taliban have called the deadline firm, and said American troops remaining past the date would amount to a "clear violation" of their agreement with the United States.

The Taliban has made clear that "our leadership will take proper and necessary decision(s)" should the US stay past August 31, spokesman Sohail Shaheen said Monday.

"August 31 is deadline announced by them," the Taliban spokesman said. "US must adhere to removing troops from Afghanistan by this date. Otherwise, it will be a clear violation."

The administration has remained in daily discussion with the Taliban on security matters, including the end-of-month deadline. The CIA director, Bill Burns, traveled to Afghanistan this week to meet with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar, according to senior administration officials, who said the US is seeking a clearer understanding of where the Taliban stands on several issues as the clock ticks towards the deadline.

Burns, a seasoned career diplomat, is the highest-ranking US official to meet in person with Taliban leadership since Afghanistan's civilian government collapsed on August 15.

Ahead of Tuesday's G7, some on the President's national security team warned against an extension, pointing to the rapidly sped-up flights out of the country.

Any extension would have been likely be very brief and focused only on evacuating Americans, according to one official familiar with the matter, who said all contingencies were under discussion.

G7 nations pressure US to stay past August 31

The emergency meeting of the G7 was called this week to respond to the chaotic events in Kabul, where tens of thousands of foreign nationals and Afghan citizens who assisted in the war effort are desperately trying to leave.

Britain and France in particular were pressing Biden to leave troops in country for an extra few days, arguing it would still allow him to meet his original 9/11 withdrawal date for US forces.

Even some US Democrats agree; House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff emerged from a classified briefing with intelligence officials on Monday pessimistic the Biden administration will be able to meet its goal of evacuating all Americans and its allies from Afghanistan by August 31, saying that was "very unlikely."

"It's hard for me to imagine all of that can be accomplished between now and the end of the month," Schiff said, adding he was worried about the terror threat to the airport.

There was another all-member House briefing on Afghanistan scheduled for Tuesday morning. Top members of Biden's national security team, including the secretaries of State and Defense, all briefed lawmakers.

Emerging afterward, lawmakers from both parties said they pressed the officials to extend the August 31 deadline.

"There was strong, bipartisan support to extend the August 31 deadline," said Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat. "That was a major theme, a major comment a major point we all tried to make, urging them to do more to advocate with the President to extend the deadline."

G7 members also planned on Tuesday to discuss whether or when they should jointly recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan's government, western officials familiar with the planning told CNN. Any decision on whether to recognize the Taliban would come with enormous consequence that could be used as leverage to compel the group to respect human rights, the officials said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who hosted the meeting as the current G7 president, is advocating for a unified approach to the Taliban, according to western officials. He wants the world's leading democracies to come up with a plan on how to recognize the government or potentially apply economic sanctions or withhold aid.

So far no governments have recognized the Taliban as the official government of Afghanistan. Doing so could allow the country access to previously committed foreign aid.

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What has happened in Afghanistan will not stay in Afghanistan but will have a ripple effect throughout the region and beyond.

In remarks Friday at the White House, President Biden again proved he is out of touch with reality. Responding to criticism that Americas credibility has been damaged due to his precipitous withdrawal of U.S. troops, Biden said, I have seen no question of our credibility from our allies around the world.

Several allies have been critical, among them German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who met with Biden at the White House last month. She called the withdrawal an extremely bitter development. We were not in this alone, after all. It is right for our allies who fought valiantly with us to feel betrayed.

Perhaps the most powerful and emotional criticism came from Tom Tugendhat, a member of the British House of Commons. Tugendhat, who served in Afghanistan, called Biden shameful for disparaging the Afghan military. He said he had lost friends there and accused Biden of having torn open old wounds with a withdrawal that appeared to be a defeat.

Biden has also claimed to have been uninformed by his own intelligence agencies that disaster awaited a rapid pullout. Thats not what intelligence sources are saying in leaks to the media. This bogus claim further erodes his credibility.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin contradicted the president when he said Taliban fighters have been harassing and beating Americans trying to flee Afghanistan. Biden said he has no indication Americans are being prevented from reaching the Kabul airport. Reaching the airport and getting on a plane are not the same, as the Taliban have it encircled with checkpoints.

Does anyone know what is going on in this administration? Aside from its claims not to know how many Americans remain in Afghanistan and its inability to ensure their safe passage out of the country  which could lead to the taking of hostages as in Iran in 1979  the long-term consequences of our poorly executed non-policy will continue, perhaps for years to come.

Former Israeli diplomat Yoram Ettinger writes in his newsletter: In 2021, the 14-century-old vision and strategic goal of Islamic terrorism is not limited to the territory of Afghanistan. It is driven by fanatic imperialism, striving to subordinate the infidel West  and especially The Great U.S. Satan  which is perceived to be the key obstacle on the way to Islamic global domination. Islamic terrorism is determined to establish a global Islamic society, ruled by the Quran and Sharia (divine law), which is inconsistent with peaceful coexistence with the infidel U.S., irrespective of its involvement in Afghanistan. In fact, it requires a decisive war against the U.S., including terrorism on the U.S. mainland.

Western targets are not the sole focus of these terrorists. They have made clear their intent to topple countries headed by Muslim leaders whom they regard as heretics. These include Jordan and Saudi Arabia, the latter a primary interest of the late Osama bin Laden.

In coming after the West, terrorists dont have to initially take over a country. They only have to sow fear and chaos, wreck economies and erode freedoms. As weve seen after 20 years in Afghanistan, they are patient and we are not. Through immigration, a higher birth rate and achieving positions in Western governments, they intend to methodically rule the world. They count on the Wests weakness and exhaustion to help propel them to victory.

After only seven months in office, President Biden has shown himself to be a weak and failed president. What our enemies make of it will have serious repercussions far beyond however long his administration lasts.
A newly discovered asteroid is sticking close to our sun -- much closer than our own planet Earth.

The asteroid, called 2021 PH27, completes an orbit around the sun every 113 days and comes within 12.4 million miles (20 million kilometers) of our star.

That gives this space rock the distinction of having the shortest known orbital period for an asteroid -- and only the second shortest orbit around the sun after Mercury, which takes 88 days to complete its orbital journey around our star.

Scott Sheppard, an astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science, discovered the asteroid in twilight observations made by Brown University astronomers Ian Dell'Antonio and Shenming Fu on August 13. Dell'Antonio, a professor of physics, and Fu, a doctoral student, took the images using the Dark Energy Camera mounted on the Victor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile.

Multiple aspects of the asteroid surprised Sheppard.

The asteroid is 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) in size and "very few asteroids this size in the inner solar system likely exist that are unknown," he said.

"2021 PH27 gets so close to the Sun that its surface can reach temperatures of 900 degrees Fahrenheit (482 degrees Celsius), hot enough to melt lead," said Sheppard via email. "Because of these extreme temperatures, it is unlikely 2021 PH27 is composed of any volatile material, and it is most likely made up of rock with maybe some metal like iron."

It has an unstable orbit that crosses the orbits of Mercury and Venus as they make their way around the sun. Within a few million years, the asteroid's orbit will likely cause its doom. The rocky fragment could collide with Mercury or Venus, or the sun itself, or be knocked out of its current position in the solar system.

The asteroid is so near the sun's massive gravitational field of the sun that it experiences effects on its orbit, Sheppard said.

The newfound asteroid is only one of about 20 Atira asteroids, which are those asteroids that are completely interior to Earth's orbit of the sun.

While there are a few known asteroids that come nearly as close to the sun as 2021 PH27, they have much longer orbits.

"Some of these asteroids have been seen to have dust in their orbits, suggesting the asteroids are slowly fragmenting or cracking apart from the extreme thermal stresses on these objects," Sheppard said.

One notable example of this is Phaethon, the cometlike asteroid that creates the Geminid meteor showers that occur in our skies every December.

Tracking down an asteroid

But where did this space rock come from? That's one of the questions Sheppard wants to investigate next, but he has some ideas based on the preliminary observations.

It's likely that the asteroid became dislodged from the main asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter, but Sheppard hasn't ruled out the possibility that 2021 PH27 is actually an extinct comet.

"It could be an extinct comet as comets are known to come from the outer Solar System on elongated, long period orbits and gravitationally interact with the inner planets to get more circular shorter period orbits that keep them in the inner solar system for long periods of time," Sheppard explained. The inner planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.

When this happens, some of the comet's elements will evaporate until it no longer looks like a comet. Instead, it's just the leftover remnants.

Sheppard typically searches for incredibly distant objects in the solar system and beyond. However, it's also crucial to understand the population of asteroids close to Earth's orbit. Near-Earth asteroids have a chance of impacting Earth in the future, but some of them are incredibly difficult to observe because they approach our planet during the daytime.

"The space interior to Earth's orbit has been relatively unexplored to date," Sheppard said. "It is hard to observe the region towards the Sun because of the Sun's extreme glare."

But the Dark Energy Camera has a large field of view, making it a powerful tool to search for otherwise elusive objects like 2021 PH27 -- especially during the twilight hours as the sun sets and just before it rises.

After Sheppard's discovery, astronomer David Tholen at the University of Hawai'i measured the asteroid's position and predicted where it could be observed the next night. This enabled multiple telescopes to observe the asteroid from Chile and South Africa on August 14 and 15. These astronomers postponed observations for their own research to assist with learning more about the asteroid.

"Although telescope time is very precious, the international nature and love of the unknown makes astronomers very willing to override their own science and observations to follow up new interesting discoveries like this," Sheppard said. "We are so grateful for all of our collaborators who enabled us to act quickly on this discovery."

Soon, the asteroid will pass behind the sun and won't be observable until early 2022. Sheppard is eager to learn more about the asteroid's composition and its origin.

"Where are these inner asteroids coming from? Some are recently dislodged Main Belt Asteroids, other might be extinct comets, but there could be another source population, such as the Vulcanoids, which are a hypothetical population of asteroids," Sheppard said.

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Legendary Black entertainer Josephine Baker is set to become the first Black woman to have her remains buried in the Pantheon monument in Paris -- one of the highest honors in France.

French president Emmanuel Macron made the announcement on Monday, writing that Baker "held high the motto of the French Republic."

In a statement released the same day, the Elysee Palace wrote that Baker was the embodiment of the French spirit, though she was born American.

"World-renowned music hall artist, committed to the Resistance, tireless anti-racist activist, she was involved in all the fights that bring together citizens of good will, in France and around the world," the palace wrote.

She will be honored at the monument on November 30.

Baker, who died in 1975, will become the first Black woman to be buried at the monument, joining just five other women -- French Holocaust survivor Simone Veil, scientist Marie Curie, French Resistance fighters Genevieve de Gaulle-Anthonioz and Germaine Tillion, and Sophie Berthelot, the wife of a famous chemist who was buried along with her husband.

The news of Baker's reinterment comes as France has been embroiled in debates over racism in the country, as more and more people of color in the nation are challenging long-held ideas of French universalism.

Beginning her career in the US as a dancer in several vaudeville shows, Baker became immensely popular, so much so that her success took her to Paris. There, Baker became a household name, even playing in a few successful movies released in Europe, according to the National Women's History Museum.

Later, Baker became a spy for the French military during World War II. While performing for the Nazi regime, she would send secret information she discovered to French officials through invisible ink on music sheets, the museum said.

Throughout her life, Baker was also outspoken against racism particularly in the US. As one of the few women speakers at the March on Washington in 1963, Baker spoke against segregation, comparing her experiences abroad to the place of her birth.

"You know, friends, that I do not lie to you when I tell you I have walked into the palaces of kings and queens and into the houses of presidents. And much more. But I could not walk into a hotel in America and get a cup of coffee, and that made me mad," she said, according to the museum.

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The Taliban said Tuesday that they were "not allowing the evacuation of Afghans anymore" and warned that the US must stick to next week's deadline to pull out, as a frantic Western evacuation operation at Kabul airport picked up pace.

The announcement came as US President Joe Biden made clear he aims to stick with his August 31 deadline to withdraw troops from Afghanistan -- as long as the Taliban does not disrupt ongoing evacuation operations or airport access. Top American allies have already called for an extension in order to fly more people out.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told a press conference Tuesday that while foreign nationals could continue traveling to the airport, the huge crowds of Afghans that have gathered there in recent days should return home and would not face reprisals from the country's new rulers.

"The road, which goes to the airport, is blocked. Afghans cannot take that road to go to the airport, but foreign nationals are allowed to take that road to the airport," Mujahid said.

"We are not allowing the evacuation of Afghans anymore and we are not happy with it either," he added.

The doctors and academics of Afghanistan "should not leave this country, they should work in their own specialist areas," Mujahid added. "They should not go to other countries, to those Western countries."

Asked about the statement from the Taliban, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that should not impact Afghans who were prioritized by the US to leave the country. "No. That is not how you should read it," Psaki said.

"Our expectation, which we have also conveyed to the Taliban, is that they should be able to get to the airport," she later added.

Many of those fleeing the country since the Taliban took over have been educated people, especially women. The last time the Taliban ruled, women were banned from working and forbidden to attend schools and universities.

Mujahid also gave reassurances that foreign embassies and aid agencies would remain open.

But experts remain dubious of such pledges amid reports of human rights abuses and concerns that the situation will deteriorate further once most of the international community leaves the country.

G7 leaders were meeting Tuesday in the first such international forum since the Taliban toppled the internationally-backed Afghan government more than a week ago.

They have called on the Taliban to guarantee safe passage for all those wishing to leave Afghanistan after August 31, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday, describing this as the G7's "number one condition" for the Taliban.

"The number one condition we are setting as G7 is that they've got to guarantee right the way through -- through August 31 and beyond -- safe passage for those who want to come out," Johnson said after the virtual meeting of G7 leaders.

Biden sticks to his self-imposed deadline

Biden has already requested contingency plans in case the US withdrawal deadline slips -- though operations are running on schedule for now. Staying on schedule will require the Taliban's cooperation, he said at a press briefing Tuesday.

"The sooner we can finish the better. Each day of the operations brings added risk to our troops, but the completion by August 31 depends upon the Taliban continuing to cooperate and allow access to the airport for those we're transporting out, and no disruptions to our operations," the US President said.

"In addition, I've asked the Pentagon and the State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timetable should that become necessary," he added.

Biden had faced growing pressure from top US allies, including the UK and France, to extend the deadline.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday that additional time beyond the August 31 deadline is necessary for evacuations.

A Elysee spokesperson added on Tuesday that the length of France's military evacuation operation depends entirely on when the United States decides to pull its soldiers out of Kabul's airport.

"We are in the hands of the United States," the spokesperson said during a press briefing. "What we are telling the Americans is naturally to give us the maximum time to pursue the operations."

At the White House briefing on Tuesday, Psaki said that if August 31 holds as the date of US withdrawal from Afghanistan, evacuations will need to end even earlier to leave time to withdraw troops and machinery.

The decision will be met with dismay by allies who fear there won't be enough time to get their citizens, along with Afghans who assisted in the war effort, out of the country by the end of the month.

Despite the pressure on Biden, NATO will also pull its footprint from Afghanistan when the US withdraws, according to a diplomat familiar with the matter.

The diplomat said people on the ground in Kabul were not pleased by Biden's decision to stick to the deadline, saying there is "an evident disconnect between the reality and the politics." They estimated that tens of thousands of people would be left behind because of the August 31 deadline.

CNN has reached out to NATO for comment.

Military advisers had told the White House that the decision on the deadline had to be made by Tuesday in order to have enough time to withdraw the 5,800 troops currently on the ground, as well as their equipment and weapons.

The US evacuated a record 12,700 people from Kabul airport between Monday and Tuesday morning, according to a White House official, and another 8,900 people were evacuated by 57 coalition flights. The US has now evacuated some 58,700 people from Afghanistan since August 14.

Meanwhile it emerged that CIA Director William J. Burns had met face-to-face with a top Taliban leader in Kabul on Monday, in what one US official described as "an exchange of views on what needs to happen to be done" by August 31.

The Biden administration has been in regular contact with Taliban officials throughout the course of the evacuation process, both on the ground in Afghanistan and in Doha, Qatar.

But the covert meeting, first reported Tuesday by The Washington Post, between Burns and Taliban co-founder and deputy leader Abdul Ghani Baradar amounts to the highest-level direct exchange of views since the militant group took control of the capital, a US official briefed on the matter told CNN.

Meanwhile, European Union officials said Tuesday that the bloc's relations with the new Afghan authorities will be subject to "strict conditions" regarding the "deeds and attitudes" of the new regime.

"It is too early to decide what kind of relations will develop with the new Afghan authorities," European Council President Charles Michel said after the meeting with G7 leaders.

US evacuates record number from airport

The number of evacuees in and around Kabul airport swelled to around 20,000 over the weekend. But the pace of airlifts has sharply picked up in recent days, and as of Tuesday afternoon there were 4,671 people awaiting flights, Lieutenant Colonel Brett Lea told CNN.

The vast majority of those still trying to get out of Kabul were Afghans, the source said, adding that applicants for the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program -- an avenue for Afghans who worked for United States forces and agencies to get out of the country -- were once again permitted into the airport.

SIV applicants had been told not to come to the airport on Monday as the US tried to clear backlogs of evacuees and ensure US passport and green card holders got on aircraft out of Kabul before August 31.

The Pentagon said early Tuesday that 17 US military and partner nation aircraft evacuated approximately 16,000 people from Harmid Karzai International Airport within the previous 24 hours, with the US Air Force transporting just under 11,000 of them.

That gave an opening to expand the evacuation, the source said.

"The aperture has widened," they said. SIV holders plus immediate family and anyone who can "clearly and credibly articulate a clear and credible connection" with the US government could now get out, the source said.

Despite that relaxation of restrictions, the gates to the airport remained closed, the source said.

"But the people who are already there or being pulled in individually, they're flexing a bit," they said.

About 300 US citizens had been brought in overnight, and moves were coordinated with the Taliban, the source said. The closure of the airport's gates, however, significantly reduces the number of SIV applicants who can reach the base.

Afghan security forces continued to use unofficial means to get their colleagues and friends onto the base, the source said. "Not sure who the Afghans are still pulling in, but it seems to be a steady trickle," they said.

The source also said there had been no progress in the evacuation of locally employed embassy staff, although planning was underway.

While the backlog of evacuees was being whittled down in Kabul, strain was showing up elsewhere in the route that would eventually lead evacuees to resettlement outside Afghanistan.

One of the main waypoints for evacuees, the massive US Ramstein Air Base in Germany, had reached its capacity of 7,800 evacuees on Monday.

Harrowing reports of executions

The frantic evacuation race comes against the backdrop of "harrowing and credible reports" of civilian executions and restrictions on women's rights under the Taliban in Afghanistan, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Tuesday.

The reports included executions of civilians and members of the Afghan security forces, restrictions on girls' right to attend schools, recruitment of child soldiers, and repression of peaceful protest, Bachalet told the UN's Human Rights Council in Geneva.

"Many people now fear reprisals by the Taliban against those working with the government or the international community; people who have worked to advance human rights and justice; or those whose lifestyles and opinions are simply perceived to be opposed to the Taliban ideology," Bachalet said.

The reports of violence lie in stark contrast to Taliban assurances to international media since seizing the capital over a week ago.

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Pikeville, KY (41501)

Today

Cloudy with occasional light rain throughout the day. High 72F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

A few clouds. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable.
Aaron had a counselors heart, which is why he eventually got his masters degree in social work. He absolutely saw the change in policing with community outreach."
An officer reported that Logan Freed smelled of alcohol, her shirt was inside-out and her eyes were glossy and watery. She was unable to perform DUI-related tests including reciting the alphabet from D to S, counting backwards from 79 to 41 or standing on one leg.
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
Jim Nowlan

My Turn | Edgar fellows: Followers or leaders? For the sake of the state, it's time for them to be the latter
'Champaign County should be grateful that our area has not been as hard hit as Chicago and its surrounding counties. This is not however the time to rest on our laurels. Phase 4 does not mean the virus has stopped spreading.'
Exposure to wildfire smoke during pregnancy increases the risk that a baby will be born too early, a new Stanford University study suggests.

The study, published Aug. 14 in Environmental Research, finds there may have been as many as 7,000 extra preterm births in California attributable to wildfire smoke exposure between 2007 and 2012. These births occurred before 37 weeks of pregnancy when incomplete development heightens risk of various neurodevelopmental, gastrointestinal and respiratory complications, and even death.

Wildfire smoke contains high levels of the smallest and deadliest type of particle pollution, known as PM 2.5. These specks of toxic soot, or particulate matter, are so fine they can embed deep in the lungs and pass into the bloodstream, just like the oxygen molecules we need to survive.

The research comes as massive wildfires are again blazing through parched landscapes in the western U.S.  just a year after a historic wildfire season torched more than 4 million acres of California and produced some of the worst daily air pollution ever recorded in the state. During the 2020 fire season, more than half of the state's population experienced a month of wildfire smoke levels in the range of unhealthy to hazardous.

This year could be worse, said Stanford environmental economist Marshall Burke, a co-author of the new study. And yet much remains unknown about the health impacts of these noxious plumes, which contribute a growing portion of fine particle pollution nationwide and have a different chemical makeup from other ambient sources of PM 2.5, such as agriculture, tailpipe emissions and industry.

One possible explanation for the link between wildfire smoke exposure and preterm birth, the authors say, is that the pollution may trigger an inflammatory response, which then sets delivery in motion. The increase in risk is relatively small in the context of all the factors that contribute to the birth of a healthy, full-term baby.

However, against a backdrop where we know so little about why some women deliver too soon, prematurely, and why others do not, finding clues like the one here helps us start piecing the bigger puzzle together." Gary Shaw, DrPH, co-author, professor of pediatrics and co-primary investigator of Stanford's March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center

Extreme wildfires

The new results show wildfire smoke may have contributed to more than 6 percent of preterm births in California in the worst smoke year of the study period, 2008, when a severe lightning storm, powerful winds, high temperatures and a parched landscape combined for a deadly and destructive fire season  one that has now been dwarfed by the record-setting infernos of 2020 and ongoing blazes like the Dixie fire in Northern California.

"In the future, we expect to see more frequent and intense exposure to wildfire smoke throughout the West due to a confluence of factors, including climate change, a century of fire suppression and construction of more homes along the fire-prone fringes of forests, scrublands and grasslands. As a result, the health burden from smoke exposure  including preterm births  is likely to increase," said lead author Sam Heft-Neal, a research scholar at Stanford's Center on Food Security and the Environment.

The research provides new evidence for the value of investing in prescribed burns, mechanical thinning, or other efforts to reduce the risk of extreme wildfires. Given that premature births cost the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $25 billion per year, even modest reductions in preterm birth risk could yield "enormous societal benefits," said Burke, an associate professor of Earth system science at Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences (Stanford Earth). "Our research highlights that reducing wildfire risk and the air pollution that accompanies it is one way of achieving these societal benefits."

'No safe level of exposure'

The researchers analyzed satellite data of smoke plumes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to identify smoke days for each of 2,610 zip codes. They paired these data with estimates of ground-level PM 2.5 pollution, which were developed using a machine learning algorithm that incorporates data from air quality sensors, satellite observations and computer models of how chemicals move through Earth's atmosphere. They pulled additional data from California birth records, excluding twins, triplets and higher multiples, which commonly arrive early.

After accounting for other factors known to influence preterm birth risk, such as temperature, baseline pollution exposure and the mother's age, income, race or ethnic background, they looked at how patterns of preterm birth within each zip code changed when the number and intensity of smoke days rose above normal for that location.

They found every additional day of smoke exposure during pregnancy raised the risk of preterm birth, regardless of race, ethnicity or income. And a full week of exposure translated to a 3.4 percent greater risk relative to a mother exposed to no wildfire smoke. Exposure to intense smoke during the second trimester  between 14 and 26 weeks of pregnancy  had the strongest impact, especially when smoke contributed more than 5 additional micrograms per cubic meter to daily PM 2.5 concentrations. "If one can avoid smoke exposure by staying indoors or wearing an appropriate mask while outdoors, that would be good health practice for all," Shaw said.

The findings build on an established link between particle pollution and adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight and infant deaths. But the study is among the first to isolate the effect of wildfire smoke on early births and to tease out the importance of exposure timing.

"Our work, together with a number of other recent papers, clearly shows that there's no safe level of exposure to particulate matter. Any exposure above zero can worsen health impacts," said Burke, who is also deputy director of the Center on Food Security and the Environment and a senior fellow at Stanford's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. "While as a society it will be extremely difficult to fully eliminate all pollutants from the air, our research suggests that further reductions in key pollutants below current 'acceptable' levels could be massively beneficial for public health."
Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that attacks the tear system in the eyes and salivary glands, leading to patients experiencing extremely dry eyes and mouth. Current treatment options for Sjogren's syndrome are lacking. But a new animal model may help elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms behind the disease, leading to better therapeutic methods.

Professor Tetsuya Kodama, from the Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering for Cancer, at Tohoku University's Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, led a research group that reported on how McH-lpr/lpr-RA1 (McH/lpr-RA1) mice can act as a Sjogren's syndrome animal model.

McH/lpr-RA1 mice are inbred strains of mice. Dr. Shiro Mori, a lecturer at Tohoku University Hospital, and his colleagues have been cultivating them for many years as disease models for the spontaneous development of severe autoimmune arthritis, sialadenitis, and vasculitis.

Kodama, Mori, and Dr. Keiichi Saito, an assistant professor at the Liaison Centre for Innovative Dentistry at Tohoku University's Graduate School of Dentistry, collaborated to analyze the pathogenesis of this mouse model. Their research revealed that the McH/lpr-RA1 mice spontaneously developed autoimmune inflammation in the salivary gland tissue and blood vessels.

Further observations of the McH/lpr-RA1 mice unveiled extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells (mainly lymphocytes) in the salivary gland tissue and destruction of the existing salivary gland structure. In addition, inflammation occurred at the foot and knee joint and blood vessels in the kidneys.

Aquaporin 5, a protein that is critical for saliva production and its secretion, was absent or weakly expressed, indicating an inhibited salivary secretomotor system in the mouse model. The study also suggests that the significant inflammation of salivary glands, along with tissue destruction, contributes to Aquaporin 5 expression being suppressed.

The research group is hopeful the relationship between Sjogren's syndrome and malignant lymphoma could be investigated in the model mice since vasculitis has been associated with malignant lymphoma development in patients with this disease.

Kodama believes that McH/lpr-RA1 mice are a superior disease model for autoimmune sialadenitis when compared to other model mice since they do not develop nephritis and have a longer life span.

With the McH/lpr-RA1 mouse now registered at the RIKEN BioResource Center in Tsukuba, Japan (BRC No. RBRC11160), Kodama and his team are ready to provide this mouse model to researchers who need it for their research.

We believe the McH/lpr-RA1 mouse will reveal more about inflammation in the salivary glands and blood vessels, leading to new treatment methods for Sjogren's syndrome." Professor Tetsuya Kodama, Tohoku University's Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering
Monitoring urine sugar levels is important during early stages of diabetes, and diaper sensors represent an attractive solution. In a recent study, scientists from Tokyo University of Science, Japan, developed a novel self-powered diaper sensor that generates the required electricity directly from urine using a biofuel cell. The proposed device can wirelessly transmit the measured glucose concentration and notify the presence of urine, helping prevent diabetes and simplify patient care greatly.

Thanks to science and modern medicine, we know a lot more now about the early signs of certain diseases and which biomarkers to check. Most importantly, we have the necessary devices and techniques to conveniently sample and analyze these biomarkers in clinical settings so that doctors, patients, and caregivers can act accordingly. In the ever-evolving field of healthcare technology, wearable electronics and biosensors are seen as potential game changers, as they allow both medical staff and non-medical people to remotely monitor relevant bodily variables.

In the specific case of diabetes-;a relatively common disease-;monitoring blood sugar levels is crucial. Fortunately, urine sugar levels provide indirect information about blood sugar levels and can be used as an alternative biomarker to avoid drawing blood constantly. Moreover, to measure urine sugar levels in elderly or long-term care patients, sensors can be embedded directly into their diapers. By wirelessly transmitting the acquired data, diaper sensors can greatly simplify caretaking and health monitoring tasks. However, both sensors and wireless transmitters require an energy source to function and putting batteries in diapers may be a questionable solution from both environmental and practical standpoints.

Fortunately, scientists from Japan have worked out a solution to this problem. In a recent study published in ACS Sensors, Associate Professor Isao Shitanda, Professor Masayuku Itagaki, and Mr. Yuki Fujimura from Tokyo University of Science (TUS), Japan, present a promising approach to realizing self-powered diaper sensors that can generate energy directly from urine. This work was done in collaboration with Associate Professor Seiya Tsujimura from the University of Tsukuba, Japan. Worth noting, this work is in line with other research efforts of Dr. Shitanda and his colleagues to develop self-powered biosensors like a lactate sensor energized entirely by sweat.

But how does one generate enough electricity from urine to power a sensor? The answer lies in electrochemistry. The scientists developed a paper-based biofuel cell that, through a pair of reduction-oxidation reactions, outputs electrical power proportional to the amount of glucose in the urine. Important considerations in the design of such biofuel cells are the amount of urine needed to generate enough power and the overall stability and durability of the device. With this in mind, the scientists developed a special anode, the negative terminal of an electrochemical cell, using a process known as "graft polymerization" that allowed them to firmly anchor glucose-reactive enzymes and mediator molecules to a porous carbon layer, which served as the base conductive material.

The scientists tested their self-powered biosensor in diapers using artificial urine at various glucose concentrations. They used the generated energy to power up a Bluetooth Low Energy transmitter, and remotely monitored the measured concentration using a smartphone. They found that the biofuel cell could detect urine sugar in a very short time (within 1 second).

Besides monitoring glucose in the context of diabetes, diaper sensors can be used to remotely check for the presence of urine if you stock up on sugar as fuel in advance. In hospitals or nursing care sites, where potentially hundreds of diapers have to be checked periodically, the proposed device could take a great weight off the shoulders of caregivers." Dr. Isao Shitanda, Associate Professor, Tokyo University of Science, Japan

In short, the sensor that Dr. Shitanda's team has engineered can not only prevent diabetes, but also make diaper management more efficient and responsive without compromising the environment. "We believe the concept developed in this study could become a very promising tool towards the general development of self-powered wearable biosensors," says Dr. Shitanda.

Let's hope future studies will further improve upon wearable biosensors powered by our own body fluids.
Mosquitos spread viruses that cause potentially deadly diseases such as Zika, dengue fever and yellow fever. New U.S. Army-funded research uses gene editing to render certain male mosquitoes infertile and slow the spread of these diseases.

Researchers at the Army's Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies and the University of California Santa Barbara used a gene editing tool known as CRISPR-Cas9 to target a specific gene tied to fertility in male mosquitoes. CRISPR-Cas9 is a genome editing tool that is creating a buzz in the science world, according to yourgenome.org. It is "faster, cheaper and more accurate than previous techniques of editing DNA and has a wide range of potential applications."

Researchers experimented with the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are found in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, discerned how a mutation can suppress the fertility of female mosquitoes.

"This is yet one more important and exciting example of how synthetic biology tools are demonstrating unparalleled utility," said Dr. James Burgess, ICB program manager for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, now known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory. "In this case, it's a precision increase from chainsaw to a scalpel leading to the correct biochemical outcome that could substantially reduce the population of a very infectious mosquito."

To manage populations, scientists use a vector-control practice called the sterile insect technique in which they raise a lot of sterile male insects and they then release these males in numbers that overwhelm their wild counterparts. Females that mate with sterile males before finding a fertile one are themselves rendered infertile, thereby decreasing the size of the next generation.

Repeating this technique several times has the potential to crash the population because each generation is smaller than the last; releasing a similar number of sterile males has a stronger effect over time.

The sterile insect technique is effective in managing a number of agricultural pests, including the Mediterranean fruit fly, a crop pest in California. It has also been attempted with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, but with limited success.

In the past, scientists used chemicals or radiation to sterilize male Aedes aegypti, but the chemicals or radiation impacted the mosquitos' health to such an extent that they were less successful in mating with females, which undercuts the effectiveness of the sterile insect technique.

The research team wanted to identify a more targeted approach with less collateral damage, mutating a gene in mosquitoes that specifically caused male sterility without otherwise impacting the insects' health.

When CRISPR/Cas9 came out several years ago it just offered new opportunities to do things that you couldn't do before. So, the time seemed right to for us to start working on Aedes aegypti." Dr. Craig Montell, Distinguished Professor, UC Santa Barbara

Using gene editing in male Aedes aegypti, researchers found that the mutant male mosquitos produced no sperm, and unlike in previous efforts, the sterile studs were otherwise completely healthy; however, the team wasn't sure whether sperm, albeit defective sperm from the sterile males, was needed to render female mosquitoes infertile, or whether the transfer of seminal fluid was all it took.

In one experiment, researchers introduced 15 mutant males into a group of 15 females for 24 hours. Then they swapped the males for 15 wild-type males, and left them there.

"Essentially, all of the females remained sterile," Montell said. "This confirmed that males could suppress female fertility without producing sperm."

Next the researchers set out to determine how timing played into the effect. They exposed the females to mutant males for different lengths of time. The scientists noticed little difference after 30 minutes, but female fertility quickly dropped after that. Montell noted that females copulated twice on average, even during the first 10 minutes. This indicated that females have to mate with many sterile males before being rendered infertile themselves.

Combining the females with the males for four hours cut female fertility to 20% of normal levels. After eight hours the numbers began leveling out around 10%.

According to Montell, Aedes aegypti populations could easily bounce back from an 80% drop in fertility. The success of sterile insect technique comes from subsequent, successive releases of sterile males, where each release will be more effective than the last as sterile males account for an ever-growing proportion of the population.

The team plans to continue investigating mosquito mating behaviors and fertility. They are devising a way to maintain stocks of males so they are only sterile in the wild and not in the lab. In addition, they are characterizing male mating behavior to uncover new ways to suppress mosquito populations.

"We've become very interested in studying many aspects of behavior in Aedes aegypti because these mosquitoes impact the health of so many people," Montell said. "There is a pandemic every year from mosquito-borne diseases."
A six country clinical study of more than 1,100 hospitalized COVID-19 patients who required high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy suggests that prone positioning (rotating patients with severe breathing issues so they are face down) soon after admission can significantly reduce the need for mechanical ventilation.

While critical care specialists have for years rotated intubated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome onto their stomachs, this study provides clinical evidence needed to support the use of prone positioning for patients with COVID-19 requiring high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy.

The findings, published today in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine, are from the meta-trial conducted in medical centers in the United States, Mexico, France, Canada, Ireland, and Spain onseverely ill patients with COVD-19 between April 2020 and January 2021. (The study is available at "Awake prone positioning for COVID-19 acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure: a randomized, controlled, multinational, open-label meta-trial.")

Breathing in the prone position helps the lungs work more efficiently. When people with severe oxygenation issues are laying on their stomachs, it results in better matching of the blood flow and ventilation in the lungs which improves blood oxygen levels." Dr. Jie Li, study's lead author, associate professor and respiratory therapist, Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Li noted that several interventions are available to improve oxygenation in critically ill patients. However, there is little outcomes-focused clinical evidence to show that prone positioning prior to mechanical ventilation is beneficial.

In this innovative trial, the authors hypothesized that prone positioning effectively lowered the need for mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Adult patients with COVID-19 who required respiratory support from a high-flow nasal cannula, and agreed to participate in this clinical trial, were randomly assigned to the supine or prone positioning groups. They were asked to stay in that position for as long as they could tolerate. Both the supine and prone positioning groups received high-flow oxygen therapy and standard medical management.

Patients were continually monitored to determine if mechanical ventilation was needed. This study's data showed that the prone positioning group were significantly less likely to require mechanical ventilation(33% in the awake prone positioning group vs 40% in the supine group).

Another study lead author , Stephan Ehrmann, MD, PhD, from Tours, France said that "for the clinical implications of our study, awake prone positioning is a safe intervention that reduces the risk of treatment failure in acute severe hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19. Our findings support the routine implementation of awake prone positioning in critically ill patients with COVID19 requiring high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy. It appears important that clinicians improve patient comfort during prone positioning, so the patient can stay in the position for at least 8 hours a day.

Reducing the need for mechanical ventilation means that resources can be most effectively utilized. "Ventilators can indeed save the lives of people who are no longer able to breathe on their own. That said, we now have strategies to keep patients off the ventilator, saving those devices for the sickest patients who truly need them." Li added.

The meta trial approach: global approach, timely results

The study also demonstrated a unique design, a meta-trial, which is an original way to combine the efforts of several investigators to speed up necessary research during a pandemic. Traditional multicenter or international trials need a long setup time to implement agreements for the study. The meta-trial approach achieves the goal quickly without losing the rigor of a conventional international randomized controlled trial. A meta-trial combines the features of international prospective randomized controlled trials and a retrospective meta-analysis.

Li lauded the collective, global effort this study represents. "As clinicians and researchers dedicated to helping people breathe, the COVID-19 pandemic has been haunting and demoralizing. But I am very proud and hopeful-- the healthcare profession has saved so many lives and simultaneously worked to create the science and evidence-based approaches to patient care-- whichwill save more lives in the future. Science is stronger than fear."

The hospitals participating in the study were:

United States

- Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL

- Unity Point Health-Des Moines, Des Moines, IA

- Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX

- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI

Canada

- Hopital de Verdun, Montreal, Quebec

- Royal Victoria Hospital and Montreal General Hospital, both part of the McGill University Healthcare, Montreal, Quebec

- Hopital de la Cite-de-la-Sante, Laval, Quebec

- Hopital de Gaspe, Gaspe, Quebec

Spain

- Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron

- Hospital Universitari del Mar

Ireland

- Galway University Hospitals

-National University of Ireland, Galway

- University College Dublin

Mexico

- Hospital Civil Fray Antonio Alcalde. Guadalajara, Jalisco

- Hospital General de Occidente. Guadalajara, Jalisco

France

- CHRU Tours, Tours ; CHU de Nantes, Nantes ; CH du Mans, Le Mans ; CHR d'Orleans, Orleans ; CHU de la Cavale Blanche, Brest ; CHU de Poitiers, Poitiers ; CHU de Nice, Nice ; CH Victor Dupouy, Argenteuil ; APHP, Hopital Louis Mourier, Colombes ; Centre Hospitalier Bretagne Atlantique, Vannes ; APHP, Hopital Tenon, Paris ; CHU de Lille, Lille ; CH de Mont-de-Marsan, Mont-de-Marsan ; CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble ; CHU d'Amiens, Amiens ; CHU de Caen, Caen ; Centre hospitalier du pays d'Aix  Centre hospitalier intercommunal Aix-Pertuis, Aix-en-Provence ; CH de Dax, Dax ; CH de Bethune, Bethune ; CHU Dijon-Bourgogne, Dijon ; CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux ; CHD Vendee, La Roche-sur-Yon ; CH de Valence, Valence ; CH de Blois, Blois ; CH de Lorient, Lorient ; CHU de Nancy, Vanduvre-les-Nancy
Why do women over 35 have more difficulty getting pregnant? After discovering one of the causes of age-related female infertility, researchers at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) suggest that it will be possible in the future to improve the quality of the eggs of older patients by intervening on the cell cycle level.

In a study published in the journal Developmental Cell, CRCHUM researcher Greg FitzHarris and Aleksandar Mihajlovic, a postdoctoral fellow in his lab and first author of the study, reveal in aged mouse eggs (oocytes) that some chromosomes are slower to move during meiosis, a crucial phase of cell division.

These laggards contribute to an uneven chromosomal distribution and therefore to the formation of cells with an abnormal number of chromosomes. This abnormality, called aneuploidy, is one of the major causes of infertility and explains, in part, why older women have difficulty becoming pregnant and carrying a pregnancy to term.

To give the slowest chromosomes time to reach their destination, we artificially prolonged meiosis with a chemical. Using high-definition imaging techniques, we found that this slowing down before cell division limited aneuploidy." Greg FitzHarris, Professor, Universite de Montreal

In the medium term, this discovery, which is still in the basic research stage and conducted in the laboratory on mice, could be used in the clinic to increase the performance of eggs used during in vitro fertilization. Extensive efficacy, safety and security testing will be required before such an approach is adopted.

Almost one in six Canadian couples is affected by infertility. This number has doubled since the 1980s.
The Oxford-run VALIDATE Network has received $1.5 million in funding for its tuberculosis vaccine work from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Worldwide, tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the top 10 causes of death, killing around 1.4 million people per year. An effective vaccine for TB is one of the primary goals of the VALIDATE Network, an international research network aiming to accelerate vaccine development for complex intracellular pathogens that are often neglected. The VALIDATE Network's TB vaccine work has now received a $1.5 million funding boost from the Gates Foundation.

The money will support fellowships, grants and training for VALIDATE Network TB researchers, particularly female researchers, early-career researchers and researchers in low- and middle-income countries. By supporting these researchers to continue their work, the Gates Foundation hopes to accelerate the development of a robust pipeline of next-generation TB vaccine candidates, as well as boost the career development of the young TB scientists who do this vital work.

The VALIDATE Network, led by Professor Helen McShane from the University of Oxford, Professor Helen Fletcher from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Professor Samantha Sampson from the University of Stellenbosch, has always prioritized career development for its members alongside the scientific aims of vaccine development.

With around 450 members in 68 countries, the global network is an engaged and interactive community, offering both scientific opportunity and career support for its members, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. By encouraging cross-pathogen, cross-continent, cross-discipline and cross-species collaborations alongside supporting member's development, the Network hopes to generate new ideas, share information and ultimately develop effective vaccines more quickly and easily in the future.

The new Gates Foundation funding will also enhance collaboration with the CTVD (Collaboration for TB Vaccine Discovery), an international network of scientists dedicated to fostering innovation, cooperation, and collaboration in the TB vaccine space, opening up further opportunities for learning, training and discovery.

We are delighted that the Gates Foundation has recognized the value of the VALIDATE Network that we have established, both scientifically and to support career development. We look forward to working with the Foundation to continue to support career development, with a shared focus particularly on women and low- and middle-income setting researchers." Professor Helen McShane, Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford and Director of VALIDATE

Professor Samantha Sampson, Principal Investigator in Mycobacteriology at the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and Co-Director on the Gates Foundation funding, says: 'I am very excited about this opportunity to take a more active role in the VALIDATE Network. I am also very grateful for the support from the Gates Foundation, which will allow us to build on the already-strong network to further TB vaccine development through supporting research, collaboration and capacity development.'

While the current Gates Foundation funding focuses on the VALIDATE Network's TB vaccine work, the Network is working on vaccine candidates for a range of intracellular neglected pathogens, including leishmaniasis, melioidosis and leprosy. These debilitating and deadly diseases are often forgotten, despite the widespread suffering they cause around the world, particularly in low-income countries and for those in poverty. The VALIDATE Network plans to secure matching funding from other sources for their other research priorities in the future.
Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, famous for taking on Big Tobacco in the 90s and winning, worked on a series of ill-fated national lawsuits against nonprofit hospitals. The goal? Get nonprofit  or "charity"  hospitals to actually provide charity care instead of price-gouging and dunning low-income patients.

Scruggs didn't exactly score a total victory  some hospitals kept behaving shamefully. And he lost big, eventually.

But he did help start important changes.

For instance: We've been following the work of Jared Walker, who went viral on TikTok, spreading the word that nonprofit hospitals are legally obligated to provide charity care. That obligation didn't exist when Scruggs launched those lawsuits.

For the next few episodes, we'll tell some of the stories about how that change happened  it's a wild ride, and Scruggs wasn't the only player (or the most effective)  and how folks today are pushing that work forward.

This episode relies on audio from The Kindling Group documentary Do No Harm.

And researchers with the Innovation for Justice Program at the University of Arizona are looking at hospitals' debt collection practices, and how laws or regulations could do a better job protecting people. They're looking to talk to people who have been sued over medical bills. If that's you, or someone you know, here's a link to get in touch: bit.ly/talkmeddebt. It's a 30-minute interview, and it is all anonymous.

Here's a transcript of this episode.

"An Arm and a Leg" is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with "An Arm and a Leg," subscribe to the newsletter. You can also follow the show on Facebook and Twitter. And if you've got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers would love to hear from you.

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to "An Arm and a Leg" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
A team of scientists from Australia has recently identified a frameshift deletion mutation in ORF7a of the delta variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The mutation results in the production of a truncated peptide with altered functionality. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server while awaiting peer review.

Background

SARS-CoV-2, the causative pathogen of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus with a genome size of about 30kb. The genome of SARS-CoV-2 encodes four structural proteins, including envelope, membrane, nucleocapsid, and spike proteins, which play important roles in viral budding and entry into host cells.

In addition, the genome encodes multiple accessory proteins, including ORF3b, ORF6, and ORF7a, which are involved in the suppression of host immune responses by antagonizing type 1 interferon (IFN) response. Studies investigating SARS-CoV-2 accessory proteins have shown that ORF7a acts as an antagonist of a host pro-apoptotic protein, namely bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 (BST2). A reduction in BST2 expression is known to increase the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in the host cell, leading to increased release of infectious virions from the host cell.

In some SARS-CoV-2 variants detected in March 2020, an 81-nucleotide in-frame deletion in ORF7a has been identified. This mutation is associated with the removal of signal peptide and beta strand sequences. Despite occurring frequently, deletion mutations in ORF7a are generally transient, most probably because of host immunity-mediated reduction in viral fitness.

In Australia, a recent surge in new COVID-19 cases has been observed. These cases are primarily associated with different SARS-CoV-2 delta variant infections. For mutational analysis of these variants, the scientists have sequenced SARS-CoV-2 genomes isolated from recent COVID-19 cases detected in Australia.

Important observations

Based on the study findings, the delta variants currently circulating in Australia are associated with a 17-nucleotide frameshift deletion mutation in ORF7a with minimal other alterations in the gene. The deletion mutation spanning the genome positions 2760727623 resulted in the generation of a truncated peptide that is incapable of suppressing host cell BST2.

The consensus genome of the first virus of current Australian cases showed 100% similarity with the sequence of a complete ORF7a obtained from the USA. This could be the possible progenitor. Importantly, the first Australian case of the current outbreak and close contacts exhibited only 25% sequence similarity with ORF7a with a 17-nucleotide deletion mutation.

In Australia, the first delta genome with consensus-level ORF7a deletion mutation was identified in June, which accounted for 72% of viral genomes in the Australian COVID-19 outbreak. However, as mentioned by the scientists, it could be an underestimated value as the analysis includes travelers returning to Australia and incomplete sequences.

By analyzing 392,734 whole-genome sequences of the delta variants from the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) database, it was observed that almost all delta variants with ORF7a frameshift deletion mutation originate from current Australian cases.

Visualization of a 17-nucleotide deletion in ORF7a of Delta variant SARS-CoV-2 sequences (ORF7a 17del) from Australia, 2021, the possible functional consequences at the peptide level, and the increasing frequency in NSW, Australia. Sequences chosen for visualization include the index case of the current outbreaks (lacking ORF7a17del), the first Australian case possessing ORF7a17del, the only sample assigned to lineage AY.3 that possesses ORF7a17del, the three USA samples (all lacking ORF7a17del) that match the Australian index case, and the only four non-Australian samples to possess ORF7a17del. Accession numbers for all samples analyzed for this panel are in the Supplementary Appendix , available with the full text of this letter online. Panel A shows the sample dates of all chosen samples relative to the index case of the current outbreaks (16 June 2021), and all variants in the sample genomes relative to the SARS-CoV- 2 reference genome (created in part using snippet ( https://github.com/aineniamh/snipit ). Panel B illustrates the consequences of ORF7a17del on the amino acid translation of ORF7a, leading to a premature stop codon after amino acid 78 and a truncated peptide sequence (~64% complete). Amino acids 144 are identical to the SARS-CoV-2 reference genome in all samples and are not presented. Panel C demonstrates the number of genomes of all lineages from Australia from 01 January 2021 until 11 August 2021 with ORF7a17del, ORF7a17del plus other deletion(s), other deletions in ORF7a only, or no deletions in ORF7a. The purple dashed line indicates the beginning of the current outbreaks in Australia, with shading also indicating pre-outbreak and outbreak samples.

Study significance

The study reveals a global surge of delta variants with ORF7a 17-nucleotide frameshift deletion mutation that causes the generation of a truncated peptide with different or no activity towards the host restriction factor BST2. Despite the inability to suppress host restrictions, the number of cases with delta ORF7a 17-nucleotide deletion mutation is increasing, indicating that this mutation does not always impair viral fitness.

Collectively, these observations indicate that the ORF7a 17-nucleotide frameshift deletion mutation provides a direct selective advantage by compensating for the loss of BST2 antagonism. However, another reason could be that the mutation has appeared by a chance founder effect, which is defined by a reduction in genetic variation that occurs when a small group of individuals dissociates from a larger population to establish a sub-population.

Given the rapid spread of delta variants worldwide, the scientists suggest that functional studies of variants containing the ORF7a 17-nucleotide deletion mutation are urgently required.

*Important Notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Every Summer at the Berlin based KNAUER Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH employees have more to look forward to than just the beautiful weather. Each July all of KNAUERs employees are invited to the companys quarterly financial presentation, where they can find out how the company is performing and, consequently, how much of this success will be shared with them via the companys profit-sharing bonus scheme.

Alexandra Knauer and Carsten Losch, Management. Image Credit: KNAUER

The company, which currently has 160 employees and is due to celebrate its 60th birthday next year, is led by Alexandra Knauer and Carsten Losch who agree that any success felt by the company should be felt by the employees too. KNAUER is a profitable company and the amount of the profit-sharing bonus changes depending on the companys results that year.

It is important to me that our employees can share in the companys success, and by doing this they are more likely to feel connected to KNAUER and think with the company in mind. We want our success to be shared and for our customers to feel that success in their wallets!" Carsten Losch, Joint CEO, KNAUER Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH

KNAUERs simple profit-sharing scheme

Following the publication of the audited annual financial statements 17% of the annual net profit is pooled into the profit-sharing bonus pot. Profits and losses from the companys shareholdings are deducted, if needed, so they have no influence on the premium amount. The remaining profit is then used to invest in the business and to increase liquidity.

2020 was a highly successful year for KNAUER with the 17% profit-sharing bonus pot sitting at an extremely healthy EUR 500,000. This success is rooted in KNAUERs venture into the design and production of systems for the production of lipid nanoparticles, a key component in the mRNA vaccines being used to fight the corona virus.

The share of the bonus pot that employees are entitled to depends on their length of service at KNAUER. Any employees who had been at KNAUER for 2 years by the cut-off date of 31 December 2020 receive a full share of the bonus, with newer employees gradually earning the full entitlement  For a service of 6-12 months employees receive 25% of the share, and for a service of 1-2 years receive 50% of the share. For periods in which employees were not able to make an active contribution to the companys success, for example if they were on probation, on maternal or paternal leave, or other long absences, there were corresponding deductions. This profit-sharing bonus scheme is a tried and tested method at KNAUER with the clear rules keeping it easy to calculate.

KNAUERs profit sharing scheme helps to make their employees feel valued whilst helping the company keep hold of some of the best heads in the business  employees who leave the company before the bonus is paid-out forfeit their share. This rule means the profit-sharing bonus is not just a bonus for the employees hard work but also a bonus for, and a sign of appreciation of, their loyalty.

We are beyond thrilled to announce that the full bonus for employees this year is EUR 4,380 and is EUR 700 for trainees.
In an attempt to make breathing devices available to low-income and isolated areas, scientists have developed the LeVe CPAP System for respiratory support to treat COVID patients with tests showing promising results.

LeVe CAP System. Image Credit: University of Leeds

Making respiratory support more available to support COVID patients

The surge of COVID-19 infections in low- and middle-income countries requires alternative strategies to those implemented in wealthier nations.

In response, the World Health Organisation is encouraging the development of low-cost breathing aids easily deployable in poorer-resourced healthcare systems. For that to be possible, the devices must operate with low-pressure oxygen systems.

Contrasting to richer nations, clinical facilities in poorer settings may not have a centralized oxygen supply, which provides a steady supply of oxygen cylinders, and is a critical tool in the treatment of COVID infection.

In a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Medical Technology, a team of researchers has designed the continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, device, to provide respiratory support for mild and severe cases of COVID.

The device was developed by a team of scientists, engineers, and doctors based at the University of Leeds, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Medical Aid International, and the Mengo Hospital in Uganda.

The device was tested ten healthy volunteers and has shown that it can be used safely without inducing hypoxia (low levels of oxygen in tissues) or hypercapnia (build-up of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream) and that its use was well tolerated by users, with no adverse events reported.

To ensure the device remains simple as well as effective, the team used principles of frugal innovation in the design of this breathing aid. Meeting clinical demands in a health setting with limited access to resources was a focal point in the development of this CPAP system.

A particular innovation to generate the required airflow is the use of an electric fan, akin to the fans used to cool electronic devices, to overcome the lack of access to high-pressure air and oxygen supplies. This provides a constant air supply for patients under mild or severe cases of infection.

Offering greater access to critical clinical care technology

The supervising academic on the project, Nikil Kapur, Professor of Applied Fluid Dynamics at the University of Leeds describes: By adopting the approach of frugal innovation, we have been able to redesign an important piece of medical equipment so it can function effectively in poorer resourced healthcare settings.

We have stripped away unnecessary complexity and ensured the device will work in settings where oxygen supplies are scarce and need to be conserved. The prototype is an important step in developing a device that will create greater access to critical care technology and help save lives.

Despite conventional CPAP machines costing around GBP 600 and ventilators costing over GBP 30,000, the current prototype device costs in total around GBP 150 (equivalent to USD 207).

Dr. Tom Lawton, Consultant in Critical Care and Anaesthesia at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and a member of the research team, states: In the UK, CPAP has been effective as the mainstay of respiratory treatment for severe COVID-19 and helps to keep patients from needing advanced ICU care such as ventilators.

In many countries, resource limitations mean that even CPAP is difficult to come by and more severe disease frequently leads to death. Simple CPAP devices, designed to operate in a resource-limited setting, can help reduce global healthcare inequality and save lives both now with covid-19 and potentially with other diseases in the future.

Dr. Pete Culmer, Associate Professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Leeds and the studys lead author, said: The Leeds prototype has been specifically made to work with oxygen concentrators, which have a low ow of oxygen and at low pressure.

The fan or CPAP blower is connected to what is known as a breathing circuit. That circuit is made up of alter to catch viruses and bacteria in the air ow, tubing, face mask, a valve which controls the ow of oxygen from the oxygen concentrator, and an expiration outlet.

The device can generate four different levels of air pressure dependent on the patients need. The findings also describe that desirable oxygen saturation levels in the blood  between 96 percent and 100 percent  were maintained in the healthy volunteers taking part in the trial.

Upcoming patient trials and future developments

Further trials are planned to be conducted begin at the Mengo Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, in September, with patients infected by COVID.

It is only the regional referral and the national referral hospitals that have access to CPAP. Yet patients first present to the lower-level facilities when they have breathing difficulties and by the time they arrive at the regional referral centers, in some cases, it is too late. The ability to hook a patient onto ventilation when they need it potentially saves many lives and reduces the hospital stay." Dr. Edith Namulema

She then adds, Also, as a country, we have about 500 ICU beds for 42 million Ugandans which is very few.

The prototype developed in the current study will provide a widely deployable device that aims to address the challenge of limited access to breathing support. By using cost-effective components that are adaptable to a range of settings, respiratory devices may be more accessible to low-income and isolated areas.

Professor David Brettle, Chief Scientific Officer at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and a member of the team that developed the device, describes: The innovation at the heart of this device is the simplicity of its design, the low production cost and how it efficiently makes use of scarce oxygen supplies.

In the UK access to the necessary health technology can be taken for granted, but even relatively simple technology is sometimes not available in low-and middle-income countries. This innovative device aims to level the playing field.
A new longitudinal study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server suggests vaccinated patients on chronic hemodialysis having waning immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern. The German researchers found a drop in neutralizing antibody levels and T cell activity four months after receiving their second Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Approximately 80,000 patients require renal replacement therapy in Germany. Hemodialysis therapy requires in-person treatment, increasing the risk for coronavirus exposure or self-isolation. The data supports the need for a third booster shot in hemodialysis patients and other individuals at high risk of coronavirus exposure.

How they did it

The research team measured the immune response of 76 patients receiving hemodialysis several weeks after vaccination. In addition, about 23 healthcare workers with no underlying health conditions were also assessed as a control group.

Measurement of B-cells, T-cells, and vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies was taken four months after individuals received their second Pfizer-BioNTech shot. They evaluated each individuals antibody responses toward several variants of concern  Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta.

Vaccinated hemodialysis patients showed decreased IgA and IgG levels

Three weeks after the second dose, antibody titers were significantly decreased by 61% in the control group and 75% in the dialysis group.

Sixteen weeks after vaccination, dialysis patients showed a more pronounced decrease in IgG response towards the original SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain than the control group.

Saliva anti-RBD IgG levels at the mucosal site also showed a significant decrease in dialysis patients compared to healthcare workers with no underlying conditions.

Anti-RBD IgA levels were significantly different between the hemodialysis group and the control group. About 75% of dialysis individuals and 47.8% of the control group were seronegative.

The researchers explained that the decrease in IgA and IgG levels might be due to IgAs shorter half-life.

Humoral and cellular responses induced by BNT162b2 against SARS-CoV-2 significantly decrease from 3 weeks to 16 weeks post-second vaccination.

About 17.1% of hemodialysis patients show no vaccine-elicited T- and B-cell response

Vaccinated hemodialysis patients showed significantly lower neutralizing antibody activity against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain four months after complete vaccination. About 89.5% of dialysis samples and 82.6% of control samples fell below the 0.2 threshold, signifying a lack of neutralizing activity.

This is a substantial significant reduction in neutralizing activity compared to 3 weeks post-second vaccination, where only 4.3% of the control samples and 50.0% of the dialysis samples were below the threshold, explained the researchers.

An observed lack of serological response in hemodialysis patients may be from the absence of a B-cell response. Results showed that hemodialysis patients had a 2.6% T-cell response but no B-cell response. To compare, the control group showed a 23.6% B-cell response but no T-cell response.

There were 17.1% of patients in the dialysis group who showed no B- or T-cell response towards SARS-CoV-2.

For dialysis patients, this is particularly concerning as they often suffer from comorbidities, which put them at additional risk for severe COVID-19. The lack of a considerable SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cell response in dialysis patients may result from chronic inflammatory conditions leading to T-cell exhaustion and suppression of IFN levels, explained the researchers.

Vaccinated hemodialysis patients have reduced humoral response against VOCs

Vaccinated hemodialysis patients showed a decreased neutralization response for all variants of concern compared to the original SARS-CoV-2 strain.

Compared to the first-time antibody levels that were measured, hemodialysis patients showed a significant decline in neutralization for both the Alpha and Beta variants.

Antibody levels were not initially measured against Delta and Gamma in the initial analysis. Because of this, the researchers were unable to observe the changes in protection against these variants over time.

The dialysis group showed more reduced neutralizing activity than the control group against Alpha, Gamma, and Delta. However, differences in neutralizing activity against the two cohorts were not significant for the Beta variant.

About 93.4% of dialysis patients were non-responders against Alpha, 100% were non-responders against Beta and Gamma, and 96.1% were non-responders against the Delta variant.

Study limitations

The study is based on a small sample of hemodialysis patients and was not age or gender-matched. However, the researchers argue the results are consistent with prior studies looking into dialysis vaccine responses.

Their results suggest future vaccination strategies will require additional booster shots in this patient population.

*Important Notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
In 2021, several new variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged and spread throughout the world. Some of these new variants include the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Lambda, and Eta strains.

Study: SARS-CoV-2 alpha variant: is it really more deadly? A population level observational study. Image Credit: Corona Borealis Studio / Shutterstock.com

The rapid spread of the Alpha variant

While the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant was first detected in the United Kingdom, it quickly spread to other countries around world. In fact, by mid-January 2021, the Alpha variant was detected in twelve states in the United States of America. Simultaneously, this variant had also become the dominant circulating strain in Israel, where it accounted for more than 90% of new cases.

Upon detection of the Alpha variant in Israel, the country intensified its surveillance as well as prioritized rapid vaccination. Although the Alpha variant strain was reported to be more transmissible than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain, there have been conflicting reports on whether this variant is also deadlier than the wild type strain.

To this end, in a recent study published on the pre-print server medRxiv,* researchers analyzed the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) data obtained from Israel to determine whether the Alpha variant led to a higher fatality rate.

How was the study carried out?

In the current study, the researchers analyzed data published by the Israel Ministry of Health from March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021.

Calculation of crude mortality rate was done by summing the deaths divided by the total population of Israel. Additionally, case-fatality rates were calculated weekly to minimize all weekend under-reporting biases.

What did the study find?

Case-fatality rates in Israel quickly rose during the start of the pandemic and peaked in May 2020.

On December 22, 2020, the Alpha variant was first detected in Israel. By January 2021, the Alpha variant quickly became the dominant circulating strain throughout this nation.

Despite the increasing dominance of the Alpha variant in 2021, case fatality rates were not found to rise. In fact, cumulative case-fatality rates were found to decrease from 1.25% in July 2020 to 0.74% at the end of March 2021.

Weekly case fatality and overall mortality rates in Israel.

Taken together, the emergence of the Alpha variant was associated with higher crude mortality rates and lower case fatality rates. The authors speculate that the changes in these rates are likely due to the more infectious but less deadly nature of the Alpha strain.

Cumulative case fatality rates from November 2020 until the end of January 2021. The horizontal yellow line marks the date the alpha variant first appeared in Israel. Variant proportions are illustrated.

A possible explanation of our findings is that Alpha variant infected more people over time in Israel and the U.K., but once infected, these people were no more likely to die than people infected with the wild-type virus.

Publicly available data from many countries also showed that fatality rates did not rise above December 2020 levels, despite the rapid spread of the Alpha variant. In fact, fatality rates in Israel were found to be lower than those in the U.K. due to the presence of a much younger population.

In conclusion, the researchers stated that although the Alpha variant is more transmissible, it does not appear to be more deadly than the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 variant.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Researchers at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA have developed brain organoids -; 3D, brain-like structures grown from human stem cells -; that show organized waves of activity similar to those found in living human brains.

Then, while studying organoids grown from stem cells derived from patients with the neurological disorder Rett syndrome, the scientists were able to observe patterns of electrical activity resembling seizures, a hallmark of the condition.

The study, published today in the journal Nature Neuroscience, broadens the list of brain conditions that can be studied in organoids and further illustrates the value of these human cell-based models in investigating the underlying causes of diseases and testing potential therapies.

"This work demonstrates that we can make organoids that resemble real human brain tissue and can be used to accurately replicate certain features of human brain function and disease," said Bennett Novitch, a member of the Broad Stem Cell Research Center and senior author of the study.

Over the past decade, researchers have discovered how to take cells from a person's body, such as skin or blood cells, coax them in the lab to become induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, and then direct those cells to form any type of cell found in the body -; including neurons. Scientists now can even encourage iPS cells to aggregate into three-dimensional forms, creating organoids that look more like miniature human organs than cells in a flat dish.

That advance has enabled scientists to study how one person's cells might be different than the norm, and to carry out experiments that aren't possible in living humans -; manipulating the genetics of kidney cells, or using lung organoids to study how COVID-19 infects and damages the lungs, for instance.

When it comes to the human brain, however, creating an organoid that mimics the organ's structural complexity is particularly challenging. Getting the cells to organize as they would in a human brain is just part of the battle.

The cells also must connect with one another and function like neurons would in a human brain. Healthy human brain cells not only send electrical signals throughout the brain in response to stimuli but also have coordinated waves of activity called neural oscillations or brainwaves. Distinct patterns of brainwaves are associated with specific activities -; learning or sleeping, for example -; and abnormalities in these patterns can be an indication of disease.

"With many neurological diseases, you can have terrible symptoms but the brain physically looks fine," said Dr. Ranmal Samarasinghe, a member of the Broad Stem Cell Research Center and first author of the paper. "So to be able to seek answers to questions about these diseases, it's very important that with organoids we can model not just the structure of the brain but the function as well."

After producing a batch of brain organoids derived from the skin cells of healthy people, Novitch, Samarasinghe, and colleagues at the UCLA Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center used two different approaches to study the patterns of electrical activity inside them -; one involved inserting a probe into each organoid to measure brain activity, the other watching the brain cells in action under a microscope.

Some of the information they gathered was akin to the data scientists would normally find in brain scans called electroencephalograms or EEGs. The analysis showed multiple kinds of neural oscillations.

I hadn't anticipated the range of oscillation patterns we would see. By learning how to control which oscillation patterns an organoid exhibits, we may be able to eventually model different brain states." Novitch, Samarasinghe, Ethel Scheibel Professor of Neuroscience, University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences

Next, the team developed brain organoids using cells from people with Rett syndrome, a genetic disorder associated with learning delays, repetitive movements, and seizures. While the organoids appeared normal in structure and organization, their neural oscillations were abnormal: They lacked the variety of oscillations demonstrated in the non-Rett organoids. Instead, the Rett organoids had fast, disorganized activity like what clinicians see in EEGs of people with Rett syndrome and related disorders.

When Novitch and Samarasinghe treated the Rett organoids with an experimental drug called Pifithrin-alpha, the seizure-associated activity patterns disappeared, and the organoids' neural activity became more normal.

The use of organoids to study brain disorders will remain limited because organoids don't replicate every aspect of a human brain -; they lack blood vessels, for instance -; and they resemble brains in early development rather than adult brains. But the UCLA study suggests that they could nevertheless be used to test a wide range of brain functions, disorders, and drugs that couldn't be studied with brain cells in a Petri dish.

"This is one of the first tangible examples of drug testing in action in a brain organoid," said Samarasinghe, who is also an assistant professor of neurology. "We hope it serves as a stepping stone toward a better understanding of human brain biology and brain disease."
The rapid spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the United States has stretched health care informatics beyond its limits. This is largely due to the increased demand for real-time in-depth information on viral load and antibody responses across the country.

This challenge was further complicated by the lack of accurate and timely testing that was available in the United States at the start of the pandemic. In fact, testing for SARS-CoV-2 was largely performed in response to suspected infections, rather than in a proactive manner. Antibody tests were also rarely performed.

In a recent study published on the preprint server medRxiv,* researchers aimed to monitor the levels of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in populations that were subjected to routine tests. Further, the authors correlated these serum levels with available infection, vaccination, and demographic data.

Study: Comparison of Antibody Levels in Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Vaccination Type in a Midwestern Cohort. Image Credit: vitstudio / Shutterstock.com

About the study

The current study involved 245 individuals, out of which 135 were female and 110 were male. A total of 19 participants had received the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) single-dose coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, whereas 141 and 72 had received the two-dose messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, respectively.

Notably, 12 participants had not received any vaccine. A total of 43 participants had a prior infection with COVID-19, with 3 individuals being asymptomatic.

Blood samples were collected from all participants. Titration based on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed on the blood samples once a month for a total of eleven months to determine anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in the blood.

The study involved certain biases such as economic, cohort educational, and racial bias.

Study findings

The results of the current indicate that antibody levels in unvaccinated individuals after infection extended to ten months after infection. Additionally, patient responses to the Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J vaccines were clearly observed ten days post-vaccination. However, more consistent antibody levels were observed twenty days post-vaccination.

Individuals who had received the J&J vaccine exhibited lower antibody levels as compared to the other two vaccines, both in naive and recovered individuals. Thus, it can be concluded that the efficacy of the J&J vaccine was lower than Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Following vaccination with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, antibody responses peaked at around 40 days post-vaccination, with levels beginning to decline after 120 days. Further tests will need to be conducted to determine whether the antibody response levels continue to decline or remain at a level similar to recovered individuals. The study also showed that the antibody response for all three vaccines was higher in recovered individuals compared to naive individuals.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody (IgG) signals from samples from naive and recovered individuals receiving vaccines from different manufacturers as compared to PCR positive unvaccinated individuals (data replicated from Fig 1). The numbers of independently collected replicates are (from right to left) 46, 122, 331, 8, 40, 31, and 133. Samples collected per individual are shown in Fig. S4.

We observed little in the way of demographic impacts on antibody production, with only gender impacting infection recovery and no impact of gender, age, or race on responses elicited by the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Comparison of Female and Male anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody (IgG) signals. N refers to the number of independent replicates. Vaccinated group is only Pfizer and Moderna as other manufacturer groups did not achieve the numbers necessary for statistical comparison.

The study had certain limitations, of which included IgG binding to a single spike isoform, uncertainty in sample collection method and timing, as well as participants belonging only to a local community.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Researchers have reversed lung fibrosis in a mouse model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF, as reported in a study published in the journal Cell Death and Differentiation.

Mice were given bleomycin for 12 days to establish lung fibrosis, and then treated daily until 21 days with ABT-199, whose medical form is known as Venetoclax, a medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use in several forms of leukemia. Control bleomycin mice had lung fibrosis with widespread collagen deposition. The bleomycin mice that received ABT-199 had normal lung architecture at 21 days and no collagen deposition.

These results suggest a novel therapeutic target to reverse fibrotic remodeling in the lungs, says study leader A. Brent Carter, M.D., professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Medicine. The research was also led by first author Linlin Gu, Ph.D., UAB Department of Medicine.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic disease showing aberrant remodeling of lung tissue. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most common form of pulmonary fibrosis and has a high mortality rate within three to five years. Currently approved medications have limited efficacy.

ABT-199 acts by inducing apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in monocyte-derived macrophages in the lung. Macrophages are large white blood cells that engulf and digest anything that does not have the surface proteins of healthy cells. Targets can include cancer cells, microbes and cellular debris.

Previously, fibrosis progression was known to be associated with apoptosis resistance in lung macrophages, though the mechanism of that resistance was poorly understood. Also, existing dogma did not point to macrophages as actors in fibrosis; it instead proposed that increased alveolar epithelial cell injury and apoptosis were the initiating events in lung fibrosis.

Apoptosis is a regulated suicide process for cells that are a threat to the organism or are no longer needed. Mitochondria, the organelles that are the powerhouses of the cell, play a key role in the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Carter, Gu and UAB colleagues -; seeking to better understand the mechanism of how lung macrophages become apoptotic resistant -; soon learned that the mitochondria also play a key role in apoptosis resistance.

Using lung lavage, they isolated macrophages from people with IPF. They found a marked increase in the macrophage mitochondrial protein Bcl-2 -; a regulator of apoptosis -; as compared to lung macrophages from people without IPF. Mitochondrial Bcl-2 was also elevated in lung macrophages from bleomycin-exposed mice that have lung fibrosis.

Besides increased Bcl-2 in the mitochondria of lung macrophages from bleomycin mice, Carter and colleagues also found two proteins -; MCU and Cpt1a -; showed a similar increase in expression. The MCU protein is a channel to bring calcium into the mitochondria, and Cpt1a is an enzyme in mitochondria that is the rate-limiting step for the fatty acid beta-oxidation energy pathway. MCU was previously known to regulate metabolic reprogramming of lung macrophages to fatty acid oxidation, as well as act in the progression of lung fibrosis and apoptosis resistance.

The researchers found that Bcl-2 was regulated by MCU, and that silencing MCU caused a significant decrease for Bcl-2 in the mitochondria of lung macrophages. They found that MCU modulated the binding of Cpt1a to a particular domain of Bcl-2, which anchored Bcl-2 in the mitochondria to attenuate apoptosis. This interaction was dependent on Cpt1a activity.

Looking again at lung macrophages from people with IPF, they found a direct correlation between the levels of Cpt1a and Bcl-2; the amounts in macrophages from different individuals varied in tandem.

Importantly, Carter and colleagues found that mice with a conditional deletion of Bcl-2 in lung macrophages were protected from pulmonary fibrosis in the bleomycin model, and they were also protected from asbestos-induced lung fibrosis. These conditional deletion results set the stage for the experiments showing that the Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-199 was able to reverse fibrosis in the mouse bleomycin model. Furthermore, ABT-199 completely blocked the Cpt1a-Bcl-2 interaction. In additional genetic evidence, fibrosis was also reversed by the conditional deletion of Bcl-2 in mice with established fibrosis.

Taken together, these observations suggest that fatty acid oxidation provokes apoptosis resistance through the stabilization of Bcl-2 in the mitochondria by binding to Cpt1a. Moreover, these data demonstrate that monocyte-derived macrophages are required for fibrosis progression, and they suggest a novel therapeutic target to prevent progressive aberrant fibrotic remodeling." Brent Carter, M.D., Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham
With schools and other educational institutions having been closed for much of the school year globally, the need to recommend and evaluate methods to minimize the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is essential.

Study: SARS-CoV-2 aerosol transmission in schools: the effectiveness of different interventions. Image Credit: Halfpoint/ Shutterstock

A new study shows that leaving the windows open all day is the most effective intervention, with higher efficacy in winter relative to summer. Still, the use of surgical face masks was also very effective. However, combined modality use carried the greatest effectiveness against viral transmission, even when a super-spreader was present.

A preprint version of the study is available on the medRxiv* server while the article undergoes peer review.

Background

Children were thought to be relatively less involved in viral transmission because they had less severe infections, with a larger proportion of asymptomatic infections. The subsequent school outbreaks showed that children did drive local spread, as supported by data from England, where the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 was found to spread the fastest among people up to 24 years of age.

The reasons for this phenomenon include the significantly lower rates of vaccination in this group and the lack of mitigation interventions in schools despite the knowledge that the virus is spread primarily through airborne particles. Such droplets persist in the air near an infected person and accumulate in the absence of ventilation.

Indoor spaces are the places of greatest risk of the spread of infection. Therefore, the virus can spread via indirect and long-range contact. Schools are crowded and badly ventilated, leading to recommendations to follow physical distancing and hand hygiene in schools. These are not effective enough, however, when the long-range viral spread is considered.

Natural ventilation is used where available, but if not, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend portable filtration devices be used. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems are recommended since they can remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns or more, including bacteria and viruses.

Masks are recommended by the CDC for all children and school staff, but only for the older individuals in the European Union.

What did the study show?

The paper aimed to compare the effectiveness of the previously mentioned interventions to reduce SARS-CoV-2 spread in a standard classroom. The researchers chose to use the COVID Airborne Risk Assessment (CARA) tool.

The factors examined included the viral emission rate from the nose or mouth, the viral concentration in the air during exposure, the absorbed dose of viral particles following inhalation by an exposed host, and the chances of transmission on-site.

The viral concentration depends on the room volume, the occupancy at any given time, the rate of removal of viral particles as influenced by:

natural ventilation (determined by the area of openable windows and the indoors-outdoors temperature gradient)

the level of air filtration (number and effectiveness of filters)

gravity-dependent particle settling

the rate of decay of infectious viruses in aerosols over time.

Open windows

The researchers compared the opening of one side of one, two, or six windows. Two different seasons were simulated, spring/summer and winter, with outdoor temperatures of 18C and 5C, respectively, with an indoor temperature of 22C.

When windows were kept open throughout the whole day in spring/summer, the cumulative dose was reduced by two-, three- and seven-fold, with one, two, or all six windows, respectively. If kept open only during breaks, the dose reduction was between 1.1-1.2-fold.

Whole-day opening during winter reduced the cumulative dose by three-, five- and 14-fold with one, two, and six windows, respectively. Practically, this is not possible as the room cannot be heated without unacceptable waste of energy. Thus, the scientists looked at keeping the windows 20 cm open all day instead during winter.

This decreased the cumulative dose by 1.7-, 2.4- and five-fold, with one, two, and six windows cracked open. If windows were opened after each class for ten minutes, the cumulative dose was reduced by about two-fold in summer and winter.

HEPA filtration

With a rate of 5 ACH and two filters per classroom, vs. 2.5 ACH (corresponding to one filter), the results show that the latter has an effect equivalent to having two windows partly open the whole day long during winter. The effect is doubled by using 5 ACH, and further doubled when face masks are used by staff and students.

Combined interventions

When natural ventilation and masking are combined, the cumulative dose is reduced eight-fold than with ventilation alone, for a total reduction of 19-fold below the baseline. When face masks were used with HEPA filtration, a similar reduction was achieved with 2.5 ACH, but an astonishing reduction by ~30-fold at 5 ACH.

A combination of all three brought the reduction to 30-fold and 40-fold for 2.5 and 5 ACH, respectively.

What of a super-spreader?

Research indicates that 80% of secondary spread is due to15% of individuals. With a super-spreader present, the cumulative dose increased five-fold and 16-fold. However, the cumulative dose dropped to below baseline conditions when ventilation with face mask use was combined.

What are the implications?

The study shows that a combined approach can reduce the cumulative dose of viral particles absorbed by an individual below the baseline. Opening the windows only during breaks is ineffective and should not be advised.

The researchers highlight that school-age children and young adults have the highest infection rates with the spread of the delta variant to the UK. Thus, such strategies have proven valuable among unvaccinated and crowded groups. To maximize effects, the group recommends using the aforementioned measures in unison with additional interventions, such as social distancing.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
James Patrick Constantine, 71, passed away on Thursday, August 26, 2021 at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center in Louisville. He was born in Jeffersonville, and was a retired Operations Manager for Insight Cable. He was an Army Veteran of the Vietnam War. He was preceded in death by his parents
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Afghans sit with a Red Cross worker in a COVID testing center after arriving on a Spanish Air Force plane carrying Spanish nationals and Afghans at the Torrejon military base as part of the evacuation process in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul White) (Associated Press)

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  BRATISLAVA, Slovakia  The first evacuation flight from Kabul organized by the Slovak government has landed in Slovakia.

Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok says a total of 20 passengers were onboard, 16 Slovak nationals and four Afghans among them, including a 10-month old baby. It was the full capacity of the military transport plane.

Four other Afghan nationals who were working with the Slovak armed forces were transported onboard of a Czech evacuation flight and flown to Slovakia overnight.

Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said the members of Slovak armys special forces had to use weapons to secure the passengers' safe transport to the plane. He cited a deteriorating situation at the airport but declined to give details.

Prime Minister Eduard Heger says his country is coordinating further steps with allies.

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MORE ON THE CRISIS IN AFGHANISTAN:

 Taliban violently disperse rare protest days after takeover

 Mullahs rise charts Talibans long road back to power

 Taliban allowing safe passage from Kabul in US airlift

 In Talibans 7-day march to power, a stunning string of wins

 US agencies scrub websites to protect Afghans left behind

 Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

WARSAW, Poland -- A second airplane carrying people evacuated from Afghanistan has landed in Warsaw.

The plane landed on Thursday morning, following one that brought people late Wednesday.

Poland has deployed 100 soldiers to Afghanistan to help with the evacuations of Polish and Afghan citizens. Those evacuated are first transported to Uzbekistan by military transport and then brought to Poland on civilian airliners.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has shared images on Facebook of some of those being evacuated.

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ROME  Two more Italian C130s have brought nearly 200 Afghan citizens out of Kabul, as Italy continues its evacuation of people who worked with Italian forces and their families following the Taliban takeover of the country.

The Defense Ministry said the passengers aboard the two flights were transferring Thursday to other aircraft in Kuwait, and from there would continue onto Rome.

Italy has vowed to evacuate as many Afghans as it can, particularly those who worked with Italian forces during the nearly two-decade long NATO and U.S.-led operation in the country.

With the arrival in Rome later Thursday of the latest evacuees Italy says it will have airlifted out some 500 Afghans.

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KABUL, Afghanistan  Afghanistans steel factories association is concerned scrap metal smuggling abroad has increased and exhausted supplies, putting thousands of workers at risk of losing their jobs.

Abdul Nasir Reshtia, chief executive of the association says that with borders reopening, Afghanistans scrap metal is being smuggled once again to neighboring countries.

Reshtia warns that in next ten days, the smuggling will push factories to close as they cannot operate without scrap metal.

Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had banned the export of scrap metal to support Afghan steel factories so they could compete with imported steel from neighboring countries.

Reshtia says that he has not been able to reach the Taliban leadership to share his concerns.

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BUCHAREST, Romania  Romanias foreign ministry says that a military aircraft has evacuated a single Romanian citizen from Kabul airport to Islamabad.

It said in a statement that the particularly difficult security conditions in Kabul meant that the access of other groups of Romanian citizens to the airport could not be achieved.

The C-130 Hercules aircraft, which evacuated a NATO employee on Wednesday evening, had military personnel and a mobile consular team onboard ready to provide specialized assistance. It is set to return to Kabul airport to continue evacuating Romanian citizens, officials said.

Authorities said that at the time of the operation there were 33 Romanian citizens registered as present in Afghanistan.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands  A Dutch military transport plane has arrived in Amsterdam carrying people evacuated from Kabul.

The Ministry of Defense says that a C-17 plane landed late Wednesday night at Schiphol airport. On board were 35 Dutch nationals along with citizens from Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The government says it has now airlifted 50 Dutch nationals out of Kabul. A Dutch consular crisis team along with dozens of troops to protect the personnel flew into the Afghan capital on Wednesday.

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BRUSSELS  The European Union said Thursday that 106 staff members of EU delegations and their families had safely left Afghanistan but said that some 300 still remained behind.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Thursday that the first plane with EU staff had landed in Madrid, from where they will be relocated among the 27 EU member states.

There are still 300 more Afghani staff of European Union delegations blocked on the streets of Kabul trying to reach the airport and trying to have a seat on some of the European Union member state flights, Borrell told a EU parliament committee.

He insisted that these people have loyally promoted and defended the unions interests and values in Afghanistan over many years, adding that it was the EUs moral duty to protect them and to have to save as many people as possible.

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MADRID  Spain has evacuated 53 people from Afghanistan on its first flight to airlift Spanish citizens and Afghan workers and their families from Kabul.

The military cargo plane landed at an airport near Madrid on Thursday morning with five Spaniards and 48 Afghans on board. An unspecified number of children were included.

Spain has two more planes prepared to continue with the evacuation of Afghan workers and their families.

All the passengers received a COVID-19 test on arrival and were attended by police so that they could ask for international protection, the government said in a statement.

The airport also received a flight from the European Union External Action service with five Afghan families on board. Spains government has offered to take in additional evacuees from EU partners and care for them until they can be distributed to other countries of the bloc.

We are still working to evacuate those Afghans who worked with Spain in the quickest manner possible and guarantee their security along with those people who have worked with the EU, said Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Albares.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark  Denmark says that a plane with 84 people who had been evacuated from Afghanistan has landed in Copenhagen and were now on safe ground in Denmark.

On Twitter, Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod wrote Thursday that the evacuation is still in full swing and we are working hard to evacuate the last local staff, interpreters and other groups from Kabul.

Danish media said that those aboard the plane reportedly were locally hired people and interpreters who had worked for Denmark. No further details were available.

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WARSAW, Poland  Polands president has approved the deployment of a 100-person military contingent to Afghanistan to help secure the evacuation of Polish citizens and the citizens of other countries in coordination with allies.

President Andrzej Duda signed the order late Wednesday for the mission, and which is to last until Sept. 16.

Meanwhile, a first plane carrying a group of people who were evacuated from Afghanistan landed at Warsaws military airport late Wednesday, said Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak. The group was first taken from Kabul by military plane to Uzbekistan and from there was transported on to Warsaw.

Since Tuesday, Polish forces have been carrying out an operation to evacuate Poles and Afghans who previously cooperated with the Polish military or diplomatic mission or who helped otherwise with western groups.

Those who arrived in Warsaw will have to go into quarantine.

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WASHINGTON  The Biden administration has suspended all arms sales to the government of Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of the country.

In a notice to defense contractors posted Wednesday, the State Departments Political/Military Affairs Bureau said pending or undelivered arms transfers to Afghanistan had been put under review.

In light of rapidly evolving circumstances in Afghanistan, the Directorate of Defense Sales Controls is reviewing all pending and issued export licenses and other approvals to determine their suitability in furthering world peace, national security and the foreign policy of the United States, it said.

The notice said it would issue updates for defense equipment exporters in the coming days.

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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden says hes committed to keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, even if that means maintaining a military presence there beyond his Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawal.

In an interview with ABC News George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday, Biden said that the U.S. will do everything in our power to get Americans and U.S. allies in the nation out before the deadline. Pressed repeatedly on how the administration would help Americans left in the nation after Aug. 31, Biden finally affirmed, if theres American citizens left, were gonna stay till we get them all out.

Up to 15,000 Americans remain in Afghanistan after the Taliban took full control of the nation. The Biden administration has received criticism for the scenes of violence and disorder in recent days as thousands attempted to flee while the Taliban advanced.

But during the same interview, Biden suggested there wasnt anything the administration couldve done to avoid such chaos. The idea that somehow, theres a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I dont know how that happens, he said.

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WASHINGTON  The International Monetary Fund says that the new Taliban government in Afghanistan will not at the current time be allowed to access loans or other resources from the 190-nation lending organization.

In a statement Wednesday, the IMF said it would be guided by the views of the international community.

The statement said, There is currently a lack of clarity within the international community regarding recognition of a government in Afghanistan, as a consequence of which the country cannot access SDRs or other IMF resources.

SDRs are special drawing rights which serve as a reserve that IMF member countries can tap into to meet payment obligations.
(Newser)  One of the police officers who shot Breonna Taylor in 2020 has decided to return his advance and find another publisher for his book. Jonathan Mattingly's book was picked up by Post Hill Press, a conservative publisher in DC known for titles like Follow the Money: The Shocking Deep State Connections of the Anti-Trump Cabal and Firebrand: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the MAGA Revolution by Matt Gaetz. Its a last-ditch effort to sell the book. Post Hill Press relies on Simon & Schuster to distribute its product, and that publisher is not interested in attaching Mattingly to its brand, the Guardian reports.

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Mattingly, one of three officers who fired a gun during a raid on the 26-year-old EMTs apartment, announced his decision in a post in the conservative blog American Thinker. "My side of the story is completely different from what you've heard from the media," he wrote, outlining the differencenamely, he says police identified themselves when knocking on the door, which not all witnesses agree is true. Simon & Schuster, which will be sold to another media company later this year, did not offer a comment, the Wall Street Journal reports. (Read more Breonna Taylor stories.)
(Newser)  A Jacksonville mother and two of her sons all caught COVID. She was vaccinated, but they werent. She got a relatively mild case, but they died. "Its a parents worst nightmare, Lisa Brandon tells News4Jax. Brandon had three sons. David died five years ago. Aaron Jaggi, 35, and Free Jaggi, 41 were living with her when they all came down with symptoms in July.

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The brothers wound up on ventilators in the ICU. Free, who had to be put in a medically induced coma, died 12 days later and his brother Aaron succumbed the next day, just 12 hours later. Now, Brandon wants to tell her story to spare other parents the same agony. "The only reason Im doing this is to put the word out to please get vaccinated," she says.

A family friend started a GoFundMe to help with expenses, and it has reached more than $37,000. Brandon moved in with her sons for support after the Davids death. She was splitting the rent with them and will need to find a new place to live soon.

The pandemic is raging through Florida, spurred by the highly contagious delta variant. About 75 doctors staged a walkout Monday morning in Florida in protest of the massive numbers of unvaccinated COVID patients filling hospitals, News Channel 8 reports. "We are exhausted," Dr. Rupesh Dharia of Palm Beach said. Then, the doctors returned to work, because their patients needed them. (Read more COVID-19 stories.)
(Newser)  A 23-year-old hiker missing in Montana's Beartooth Mountains since early July is believed to have died in a sudden rock slide. The body of Tatum Morell, a Montana State University graduate student in engineering, was discovered Saturday in a gully below Whitetail Peak, one of five area peaks over 12,000 feet tall that the avid hiker from Ketchum, Idaho, had hoped to climb on a solo trip, reports Fox News. She is believed to have been "caught in a significant rock slide and suffered fatal injuries" after her last contact on July 1, Red Lodge Fire Rescue said, per People. It noted her body "was mostly buried under rocks."

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The area in which Morell's body was found had been searched numerous times since she failed to return as planned on July 5, per the Mercury News. It was her first time hiking the Beartooth Mountains, though she'd completed similar treks before, reports the Billings Gazette. She'd spoken to her mother via satellite phone on July 1. The following day, she reportedly left her tent near Shadow Lake to set out on the West Fork Trailhead near Red Lodge, close to the Wyoming border, intending to climb Whitetail Peak.

Morell's tent, which had some of her gear inside, was found earlier in the search near Shadow Lake. Her body was perhaps only a half mile away, Carbon County Sheriff Josh McQuillan said, per the Gazette. A group of hikers initially spotted gear amid debris before calling first responders and providing GPS coordinates, McQuillan said. "After almost two months of extensive search efforts, we are relieved that [Morell] is able to be returned to her family," said Red Lodge Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Jon Trapp. He added the effort to find her "surpassed anything I've seen in my 17 years with Search and Rescue operations." (Read more hiker death stories.)
(Newser)  After the "permanent" replacement for Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek lasted just one day of filming, the show is apparently back to square one in its search for a worthy successor. Sony Pictures Television said Monday that Mayim Bialikselected earlier this month to host Jeopardy! specials while regular hosting duties fell to Mike Richardswill return as guest host for this week's taping of 15 episodes, the New York Times reports. Richards, who stepped down amid controversy over derogatory remarks he had made about women, Jews, and Haitians, among others, will remain as executive producer. The episodes he taped will air as scheduled, reports Variety.

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"As we move forward with production on this season of Jeopardy!, additional guest hosts will be announced," Sony said in a statement. The company said it had resumed its search for a replacement for Trebek, who hosted the show for 37 seasons. Sources tell CNN that Bialik may now be a contender for the regular hosting role. One source says the "studio loves Mayim," but at the time the hosting decision was made, scheduling conflicts with filming of her Fox sitcom Call Me Kat would have made it impossible for her to do both jobs. Other guest hosts who could now be contenders include fan favorites Ken Jennings and LeVar Burton. (Read more Jeopardy stories.)
(Newser)  Enrique Tarrio apologized to a Washington, DC court on Monday for burning a Black Lives Matter banner that had been ripped down from a Black church in Washington. Calling his actions "a grave mistake," the Proud Boys leader told the judge: "I profoundly apologize. I didn't see the consequences of what I did." But after committing the crime last December, NBC reports, Tarrio posted on social media, "I'm damn proud I did it!" So when it came time for sentencing, Superior Court Judge Harold Cushenberg exceeded the recommendation of federal prosecutors90 days in jailand gave Tarrio 155 days. The defendant "did not credibly express genuine remorse" for the misdemeanors, the judge said. He was told to report to jail on Sept. 6.

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The sentence also covers Tarrio's conviction for attempting to possess a high-capacity gun magazine. He brought the magazines to Washington the month after the banner incident, when he arrived just before the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. He was arrested on Jan. 4, then released and told to leave Washington. Although Tarrio wasn't at the Capitol for the riot, the judge said his earlier actions hurt democracy, per CNN. He had posted that there'd be a big turnout of Proud Boys members at the Capitol. "This court must respect the right of any citizen to peacefully assemble, protest, and make his or her views known on issues," Cushenberry said. "But Mr. Tarrio's conduct in these criminal cases vindicate none of these democratic values. Instead, Mr. Tarrio's actions betrayed them."

The Rev. Dr. Ianther Mills, pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church, spoke at the sentencing. Leading a "marauding band of angry white men ... apparently looking for trouble" through the streets of the city, she said, Tarrio commited "an act of intimidation and racism." In an earlier letter to the court, Mills said that for many in her congregation, the crime brought back "visions of slavery, the Ku Klux Klan (and) cross burnings." Tarrio also had said he didn't realize the banner was church property. But he didn't care about the law, Cushenberry said: "He cared about himself and self-promotion. ... His claim of 'innocent mistake' is not credible at all." (Read more Proud Boys stories.)
(Newser)  US forces in Afghanistan are going beyond Kabul's airport to rescue stranded American citizens and allies, the Pentagon confirmed Monday. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said troops and helicopters have extracted around 350 Americans from the city and there could be similar missions in cases where people are "in extremis," the New York Times reports. Kirby said negotiations between US and Taliban commanders are ongoing. Officials say that in an operation Monday morning, a US helicopter brought 16 American citizens to the Kabul airfield, the AP reports. Kirby said that in another rescue last Thursday, Army helicopters picked up 169 Americans from near a hotel outside the airport gates.

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Kirby said "constant coordination and deconfliction with the Taliban" has allowed the US to step up the evacuation process. Officials said Monday that 28 US military flights brought another 10,400 people to safety in the 24 hours that ended Monday morning. Army Gen. Stephen Lyons told reporters at the Pentagon air crews are becoming "exhausted" from the nonstop evacuation missions. He also said three babies have been born during evacuation flights.

It's not clear how long the evacuation flights will continue, the Guardian reports. President Biden said Sunday that he hasn't ruled out extending the Aug. 31 deadline for troop withdrawal, but a Taliban spokesman described that date Monday as a "red line." Ben Wallace, the UK's defense secretary, said the British evacuation effort could now be down to "hours, not weeks." Reuters reports that Boris Johnson and other G7 leaders are expected to pressure Biden to extend the deadline when he hosts a virtual meeting Tuesday. (Read more Afghanistan stories.)
(Newser)  More than 13,500 firefighters were working Monday to contain a dozen large California wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee to safety. After a review of the damage, Gov. Gavin Newsom requested a presidential major disaster declaration for eight counties, Mark Ghilarducci, state Emergency Services director, told a briefing near Sacramento. If approved, the declaration would provide a wide range of assistance including housing, food aid, unemployment, and governmental emergency costs, the AP reports. Nearly 43,000 Californians were under evacuation orders, and more than 500 households were in shelters, Ghilarducci said. The smoke reached Nevada, causing public schools in the Reno and Sparks area and parts of Lake Tahoe to close, affecting 67,000 students.

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New concerns were developing at the explosive Caldor Fire southwest of Lake Tahoe, the famed alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada state line and surrounded by peaks of the Sierra Nevada and resort communities. The Caldor Fire has become the nation's No. 1 priority for firefighting resources, said Chief Thom Porter. "It is knocking on the door to the Lake Tahoe basin," Porter said. The Caldor Fire has incinerated more than 166 square miles of El Dorado National Forest, and continuing assessments showed 447 buildings destroyed. More than 17,000 structures were still under threat. To the north, containment increased to 40% at the Dixie Fire, which has burned more than 1,130 square miles in the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades. Ongoing assessments showed 1,259 buildings destroyed, including 678 single-family homes, Cal Fire said.

(Read more California wildfires stories.)
(Newser)  Marilyn Tackett was excited to go on her first trip outside the US when she boarded the Carnival Vista cruise ship before it disembarked from Texas on July 31, according to a GoFundMe set up for the 77-year-old Oklahoma woman's family. She went on an excursion with her family when the ship docked in Roatan on August 3, but by the next day, she wasn't feeling well and declined to disembark for an excursion in Belize, according to a Belize newspaper. Her family returned from the excursion to find the retired Sunday School teacher struggling to breathe, and she tested positive for COVID-19. She was hospitalized in Belize and placed on a ventilator, and evacuated August 6 to a Tulsa hospital, but she died on August 14, the New York Times reports.

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Twenty-six crew members also tested positive and were isolated, and no new cases had been reported by August 11. The ship had returned to Texas August 7 and set sail again on another weeklong cruise the same day, Fox 26 reports. The 27-person outbreak is the highest number of COVID cases reported aboard a cruise ship since cruises restarted in the US and Caribbean in June, and Tackett's is the first COVID death. "We never suggested our ships would be COVID free," says a Carnival exec. "But we designed our protocols to meet and exceed the guidelines of the CDC." The CDC last week warned anyone at risk for severe illness from COVID to avoid cruises even if they're vaccinated.

According to a press release out of Belize, 99.98% of the crew were fully vaccinated and 96.5% of passengers were; everyone who tested positive was fully vaccinated. Carnival tells Axios that Tackett "almost certainly did not contract COVID on our ship." On Monday, cruise lines including Carnival announced new vaccination and testing requirements on some cruises as the delta variant surges, the Washington Post reports. There was some uproar over Tackett being left in Belize; earlier this month, Royal Caribbean announced it would fly passengers who tested positive during a cruise home on a private jet and cover all associated costs. (Read more COVID-19 stories.)
(Newser)  Peter Doocy, Fox News' White House reporter, had a question for Jen Psaki during Monday's White House press briefing that the press secretary did not appreciate. "Does the president have a sense that most of the criticism is not of leaving Afghanistan, its the way that he has ordered it to happen by pulling the troops before getting these Americans who are now stranded?" Doocy asked. "Does he have a sense of that?" Psaki, whom Mediaite describes as getting "defensive" and Fox describes as "visibly annoyed," responded, "I think its irresponsible to say Americans are stranded. They are not. We are committed to bringing Americans who want to come home home. We are in touch with them via phone, via text, via any way that we can possibly reach Americans to get them home if they want to return home."

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Doocy then said, "There are no Americans stranded, is the White Houses official position on whats happening in Afghanistan right now?" Psaki replied, "Im just calling you out for saying that we are stranding Americans in Afghanistan when we have been very clear that we are not leaving Americans who want to return home. We are going to bring them home and I think thats important for the American public to hear and understand." The interaction went viral, with media outlets and commenters on social media alike expressing skepticism; the New York Post notes there have been "numerous reports of Americans being unable to board flights out." Fox News rounds up incredulous social media reactions, with some accusing Psaki of using semantics to obscure the truth of the situation. (Read more Afghanistan stories.)
(Newser)  Last week, William Burns had a full calendar in the Middle East, meeting with various officials from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Lebanon, and Egypt, per Axios. This week, a more under-wraps gathering went down, this time in Kabul between the CIA chief and Abdul Ghani Baradar, the de facto leader of the Taliban, US officials tell the Washington Post.

The meeting's purpose: As what President Biden calls "one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history" continued to progress in Afghanistan, with the US trying to pull out as many civilians as possible, what the Post bills as "the highest-level face-to-face encounter between the Taliban and the Biden administration" since Kabul fell took place. Although the CIA is staying mum, the news outlet notes the huddle likely focused on the deadline at the end of the month for the US to evacuate Americans and others.

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Taliban warning: Although the Biden administration is feeling the heat from allies to stick around into September to help yank out tens of thousands of Americans, citizens of ally nations like Britain and France, and Afghans trying to flee from the Taliban, the latter group has called any possible extension of that Aug. 31 deadline a "red line" that shouldn't be crossed.

Although the Biden administration is feeling the heat from allies to stick around into September to help yank out tens of thousands of Americans, citizens of ally nations like Britain and France, and Afghans trying to flee from the Taliban, the latter group has called any possible extension of that Aug. 31 deadline a "red line" that shouldn't be crossed. 'Tinge of irony': That's how the Post frames Baradar's role in meeting with Burns, as the Taliban leader had been arrested in a joint CIA-Pakistan sting in 2010. However, after his release from prison in 2018, apparently at the urging of either the US or Qatar, Baradar served as a lead negotiator with the White Housetalks that eventually led to then-President Trump announcing a May 2021 pullout date from Afghanistan. Baradar is also thought "to hold significant influence over the Taliban rank and file," the Post notes.

Criticism on Burns: The US intel community in general and the CIA specifically have taken flak for seemingly underestimating a quick and forceful Taliban takeover, with Burns' tour of the Middle East last week seeming to "[suggest] the [CIA] didn't think a collapse was imminent" in Afghanistan, per Axios. At the time, a CIA spokesperson told the outlet: "The CIA director remains fully engaged on Afghanistan and all critical agency business no matter his location."

The US intel community in general and the CIA specifically have taken flak for seemingly underestimating a quick and forceful Taliban takeover, with Burns' tour of the Middle East last week seeming to "[suggest] the [CIA] didn't think a collapse was imminent" in Afghanistan, per Axios. At the time, a CIA spokesperson told the outlet: "The CIA director remains fully engaged on Afghanistan and all critical agency business no matter his location." His take in July: Last month, in a wide-ranging interview with NPR, Burns was asked if he thought it was possible Afghanistan could fall within six months after the US left the country. The CIA chief's response was to repeatedly note that "the trend lines" were "troubling."

(Read more William Burns stories.)
(Newser)  The US could reclaim a "degree of normality" by spring if the "overwhelming majority" of unvaccinated Americans get vaccinated against COVID-19. So White House chief medical adviser and NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, though he warned continued spread could prompt another worrisome variant.



Quote: "As we get into the spring, we could start getting back to a degree of normality, namely reassuming the things that we were hoping we could dorestaurants, theaters, that kind of thing," Fauci said. "But there's no guarantee because it's up to us ... If we keep lingering without getting those people vaccinated that should be vaccinated, this thing could linger on, leading to the development of another variant which could complicate things."

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That's consistent: Fauci also offered up early next year as a point at which the US might return to normalcy in February, per Forbes. In May, he said the US could get "as close to back to normal as we can" by Mother's Day in early May 2022if most Americans are vaccinated.

Fauci also offered up early next year as a point at which the US might return to normalcy in February, per Forbes. In May, he said the US could get "as close to back to normal as we can" by Mother's Day in early May 2022if most Americans are vaccinated. Opinion: CNN's Stephen Collinson sees Fauci's comments as "a severe jolt to a weary nation" and a warning for President Biden. "A pandemic that stretches through another grim winter and beyond risks slowing the economic recovery on which Biden is relying for a strong performance" in next year's midterm elections, and could "trigger the kind of sour mood among the electorate that always spells danger for incumbents."

Timing: Fauci spoke hours after the FDA gave its full approval to Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccineaka Comirnatyfor people aged 16 and older, and at a time when hospitals in states with lower vaccinations rates are seeing a surge in COVID-19 patients. Fauci said this could convince many Americans to finally get the shot. Only 51.5% of the US population is fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Fauci spoke hours after the FDA gave its full approval to Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccineaka Comirnatyfor people aged 16 and older, and at a time when hospitals in states with lower vaccinations rates are seeing a surge in COVID-19 patients. Fauci said this could convince many Americans to finally get the shot. Only 51.5% of the US population is fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. Cry for help: We're looking far from normal now with the American Hospital Association asking the federal government to release $48 billion in funding. Its president, Richard Pollack, describes "a 43% increase in COVID-19 hospital admissions over the past two weeks, which are especially affecting poorly vaccinated southern states," in a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, per the British Medical Journal. He adds the daily average of adult COVID-19 patients in the ICU has increased 33% in a week.

(Read more COVID-19 stories.)
(Newser)  Students and staff at a German college had a quite unpleasant dining experience this week, and now local police suspect poisoning. Cops in the state of Hesse say seven students and employees took ill Monday on the Lichtwiese campus of Darmstadt Technical University, reports the Guardian. Police suspect that milk and water containers located in three separate kitchen areas were contaminated over the weekend, and one investigator told the Bild newspaper it didn't look like an accident.

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Officials say a "harmful substance" with a "pungent smell" was placed into the containers. Among the victims' symptoms: nausea and the frightening experience of watching their limbs turn blue, per Hesse police. Six were treated at a local hospital, while a seventh, a 30-year-old student, seemed close to death, until doctors were able to stabilize them on Monday night. An investigative team made up of dozens of police officers is now looking into the incident as a possible case of attempted murder, per Deutsche Welle.

In a statement, police say that they've searched other buildings on campus and found nothing, that no other victims have come forward, and that there doesn't seem to a threat of "acute danger" for others, per Euronews. In the meantime, students and staff members are being advised to drink or eat only out of containers they've "carried themselves or stored under supervision," at least for the next few days, per the Guardian. "We are shocked by the apparent crime that has been committed at our university," the school's president said Tuesday. (Read more Germany stories.)
(Newser)  One of at least 22 victims killed in Tennessee flooding described her terror in a Facebook Live video moments before she was swept away. "We're being flooded right now," Linda Almond announced in a 70-second video filmed from her son's home in Waverly just before 10:15am Saturday, per the Washington Post. The video showed high water flowing outside the home, carrying large debris along with it. "This is scary," the 55-year-old Almond said. "Really scary." Halfway through the video, she appeared to grow more concerned. "Whoa, whoa," she said. "I think something just hit the side of the house," a second person was heard saying.

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The home, where the South Florida native had been staying for the past several months, flooded soon after, per the Post. Almond and her son, Tommy, were able to climb onto the roof, but then it collapsed, family members tell WKRN. Almond's daughter, 25-year-old Victoria, tells the Post that the home "lifted off its foundation." Almond and Tommy were left clutching a power line pole. Then a house came floating toward them, forcing them to let go, Victoria says. Tommy "went down for about 45 seconds underwater and when he came back up, he couldn't find Mom," she adds.

Almond's body was recovered Sunday. Victoria says her mother was in poor health, with a bad back. Tommy, 37, was eventually able to reach safety. "He was in the military and he said that flood was the scariest thing he's ever been through," says Victoria. An estimated 21 inches of rain fell in the area on Saturday, prompting floods that swept away homes, cars, and people. At least 22 people died, including 7-month-old twins. Twelve to 15 people remain missing, per the AP. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Director Patrick Sheehan tells the outlet that he expects "to see mostly recovery efforts at this point." (Read more Tennessee stories.)
(Newser)  "Kill it! Squash it, smash it ... just get rid of it," is the official advice from the government of Pennsylvania for residents who encounter the spotted lanternfly. The insect, an invasive plant-hopping species from Asia first detected in the US in 2014, is considered a major threat to the state's agriculture industry, the Guardian reports. Some 34 of the state's 67 counties are now under a quarantine order regulating the movement of materials like landscaping waste or firewood that could harbor the insect. "In the fall, these bugs will lay egg masses with 30-50 eggs each," the state warns. "These are called bad bugs for a reason, don't let them take over your county next."

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The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture says the spotted lanternfly can cause serious, sometimes fatal damage to trees, vines, and crops, NPR reports. When they feed, they "excrete a sugary substance, called honeydew, that encourages the growth of black sooty mold," the state says, warning that the insect could cost the state's economy hundreds of millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs.

The insect, believed to have first arrived from China up to a decade ago, has also been detected in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio, reports Lehigh Valley Live. Authorities in Rhode Island issued a warning earlier this month after a single insect was spotted in an industrial area of Warwick. (Read more invasive species stories.)
(Newser)  Would you want Al Capones favorite gun? Or the dapper gangsters diamond and pearl stick pin? Its not just a thought experimenthis granddaughters are selling off some family heirlooms. The items are pretty nice things, with dollar values inflated by the mobster cooties all over them. The gun in question is a Colt .45, and there are family photos, a letter to his son sent from Alcatraz, some china figurines, and a couple of watches, all authenticated and appraised by Timothy Gordon of Antiques Roadshow fame, the Wall Street Journal reports.

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Figurines that would ordinarily go for $50 are expected to sell for more like $250 because of the connection to the worlds most famous criminal. The online auction is set for Oct. 8 at Witherells in Sacramento, Calif.

The location and timing are not a coincidence. Capone moved to Florida after being released from prison. When his son, Albert Francis "Sonny" Capone grew up, he dropped the Capone and went by Albert Francis Jr., and moved to Northern California. Thats where he raised his family, and thats where his daughters are concerned all of the family memorabilia will burn up in a wildfire if they dont sell it off soon. "This is the second summer weve had our suitcases packed in case we were going to be evacuated, and we knew there was no way we could save these things that belonged to our grandparents," Diane Capone told CBS Sacramento.

The Capone granddaughters insist the memorabilia reveals the loving, family-oriented grandpa they remember. Ethicist Erich Hatala Matthes told the Journal he was curious about the sale, but "knowing this is Al Capones stuff is enough to have moral concern." (Read more Al Capone stories.)
(Newser)  A vaguely worded statement from the State Department about a hiccup in Vice President Kamala Harris' travel plans seems to be raising more questions than it answers. Harris flew from Singapore to Vietnam on Thursday, but the flight took off only after a three-hour delay, reports the Hill. The official explanation:

"Earlier this evening, the Vice President's traveling delegation was delayed from departing Singapore because the Vice President's office was made aware of a report of a recent possible anomalous health incident in Hanoi, Vietnam," the department said. "After careful assessment, the decision was made to continue with the Vice President's trip."

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So what exactly is an "anomalous health incident"? You might reasonably suspect something related to COVID, but both CNN and Bloomberg were quick to point out that the State Department uses that exact wording in reference to the mysterious ailment plaguing diplomats abroad known as Havana syndrome. So far, no further details have surfaced about who got sick or with what ailment. Harris, the first US vice president to visit Vietnam, is scheduled to spend two days there, per Al Jazeera. (The VP used her speech in Singapore to deliver a public warning about China.)
(Newser)  The deadline for the US to be out of Afghanistan is a week away, and President Biden is unlikely to extend it. The president spoke to G7 leaders Tuesday and will make public remarks later in the day, but the Pentagon has recommended sticking to the Aug. 31 withdrawal date to minimize risk of an ISIS-K attack, USA Today reports. Biden has agreed to abide by that recommendation, reports Politico, citing anonymous insiders. Meanwhile, the Taliban said Tuesday that it will no longer allow Afghans to leave the country:

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Road closed: "The road that ends at the Kabul airport has been blocked," said a Taliban spokesman, per the New York Times. "Foreigners can go through it, but Afghans are not allowed to take the road, said Zabihullah Mujahid. Biden has promised to evacuate every Afghan who wants to leave, but its unclear when or how that will happen. Mujahid said Afghanistan needs to prevent a brain drain, and its citizens should stay and rebuild. This country needs our doctors, engineers and those who are educatedwe need these talents."

Broken promises? The Taliban has promised there will be no retaliation for Afghans trying to leave, and the rights of women will be protected. But UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet told CNN there had been credible reports of reprisals, including civilian executions and restrictions placed on women.

The Taliban has promised there will be no retaliation for Afghans trying to leave, and the rights of women will be protected. But UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet told CNN there had been credible reports of reprisals, including civilian executions and restrictions placed on women. Pace increases: Evacuations have been moving even more quickly recently, though. The road to the airport is dangerousat least seven people including a toddler have diedbut flights continue, and 58,000 people have been evacuated since Aug. 14 when Kabul fell. About 21,600 were flown out in the last 24 hours.

(Read more Afghanistan stories.)
(Newser)  Summer is winding down. The weather is cooling. Students are getting ready to go back to school. Doesnt it sound like a great time to squeeze in a little vacation, maybe a trip to Hawaii? Guess again. "Its not a good time to travel to the islands," Gov. David Ige of Hawaii says. Hawaii would very much prefer to limit visits to essential business travel, since travel is what is bringing COVID to the islands, USA Today reports.

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In a statewide statement of "its not you; its me, Ige said that tourists just wouldnt have as much fun. Restaurants are limiting seating, rental cars are hard to find, and big gatherings will be restricted starting Wednesday. Ige stopped short of banning travel. Vaccinated visitors dont even need to take COVID tests or quarantine, per Safe Travels Hawaii.

Hawaii just wants tourists to stay away for a little whilethrough October would be nice. Elizabeth Char of the states health department said in a statement that if COVID infections dont recede, the health system could be overwhelmed and residents and visitors may find it difficult to get the treatment they need right away, per the Hill. (Earlier this month, two visitors from California were arrested for allegedly faking vaccination cards.)
(Newser)  The head of one of Japan's most violent organized crime groups has been sentenced to death by hanging. Nomura Satoru, leader of a Yakuza crime syndicate based in the southern city of Fukuoka, was convicted of ordering four attacks, one of which killed the former chief of a fishing cooperative, the BBC reports. This is believed to be the first time a senior member of a Yakuza group has received a death sentence. Prosecutors said Nomura, 76, was responsible for the attacks because he was at the top of the group's chain of command. The lower-ranking members of the Kudo-kai group who carried out the attacks were convicted in earlier trials.

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Fumio Tanoue, Nomura's 65-year-old second-in-command, received a life sentence. "I asked you for a fair judgment. But this is not fair at all," Nomura told the judge after he was sentenced Tuesday, per the Asahi Shimbun. "You will regret this for the rest of your life." Prosecutors said he deserved a harsh sentence because the victims of the four attacks were all ordinary citizens, not members of rival gangs. Prosecutors said the victims included a nurse who was stabbed in 2013, allegedly because Nomura was unhappy about how he was treated at a local clinic, and a former Fukuoka police officer who was shot in the leg in 2012. (Read more Yakuza stories.)
(Newser)  It sounds a little bit like a Russian fairy tale. A Russian toddler wandered away from her 4-year-old sister, out of her familys yard, and into a nearby forest, the BBC reports. Lyuda Kuzina, only 22 months old, had no food or water with herwhat toddler does?but survived three nights alone in a forest. She was covered in bug bites, but otherwise fine, untroubled by wolves, bears, or mythical entities like Baba Yaga.

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The whole town in the Smolensk region turned out to search for her, including police, divers, and various volunteers, the Moscow Times reports. "One of the groups stopped for a rest and suddenly heard a quiet squeak. They called again and heard another squeak," a rescue organization said. Lyuda was restored to her mother, who said the toddler had vowed never again to wander off. "Although quite how long she'll remember that promise, I have no idea, Lyudas mom, Antonina Kuzina, said.

Lyuda was taken to the hospital in moderate conditionafter her rescuers literally wept with relief. Her story is not unlike the adventure of a 3-year-old Siberian boy who wandered into a bear-infested forest in freezing temperatures with nothing but a candy bar in his pocket. He was found three days later tired and cold, but fine. Perhaps Baba Yaga was looking out for him, too. (Read more uplifting news stories.)
(Newser)  A California judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in the embezzlement trial of attorney Michael Avenatti, who is charged with stealing millions in settlement money from his clients. US District Judge James V. Selna ruled on technical grounds that federal prosecutors failed to turn over relevant financial evidence to Avenatti, the AP reports. Another hearing in the case was set for Sept. 2, and Selna scheduled a tentative new trial date for Oct. 12. It was the second trial in recent months for the 50-year-old lawyer who once represented porn actress Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against then-President Donald Trump. Avenatti was sentenced in July to 2 1/2 years in prison in a $25 million extortion case in New York.

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Federal prosecutors in Southern California have accused Avenatti of cheating five of his clients out of nearly $10 million by negotiating and collecting settlements on their behalf and funneling the payments to accounts he controlled while lying to them about what happened to the money. "We represented thousands of little guys, the Davids versus the Goliaths," Avenatti told the jury in an opening statement. "We gave people who had no chance a fighting chance." In one instance, prosecutors alleged Avenatti collected $4 million from Los Angeles County for a man who suffered injuries in custody and was left paraplegic after a suicide attempt, paying out much smaller amounts that he told the man were advances.

Avenatti, who is suspended from practicing law in California but was representing himself at trial, had pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of wire fraud in connection with the allegations spanning from 2015 to 2019. Avenatti also faces charges of bankruptcy and tax fraud in California. He is expected to be tried on those allegations later this year. He also faces another criminal case in New York in which he is charged with cheating Daniels out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. (Read more Michael Avenatti stories.)
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Judge rules in favor of county in prison permit fee dispute

Chris Grego / C. J. GREGO/STAFF FILE PHOTO The Northumberland County Courthouse at Market and Second streets in Sunbury.

SUNBURY  Coal Township has lost the permit fee lawsuit, barring a successful appeal.

Senior Judge Dudley N. Anderson, of Lycoming County, ruled Monday the municipality has 30 days to refund $267,320.98 plus statutory (by the law) interest and costs to Northumberland County for permit fees for the construction of the Northumberland County Jail that were deemed excessive.

Northumberland County paid the permit fees under protest in 2017.

Craig Fetterman, president of Coal Township Board of Commissioners, said the commissioners plan to appeal Andersons ruling to grant the county summary judgment in the case.

In his opinion, Anderson said building permit fees fall within the category of license fees and must be assessed commensurate with the expense of administering the permit.

Anderson, who cited case law in his opinion, said Building Inspections Underwriters, the entity the township engaged to perform all inspections and reviews, actually discounted its charge to the township, resulting in a total payment by the township in the amount of $113,204.02. This appears to be unrefuted evidence, Anderson said.

In a deposition with Coal Township Manager Robert M. Slaby Jr., Anderson said it was acknowledged that the township performed no independent inspections, which left the court confronted with an assessed fee of $269,320.98 that cannot be justified by corresponding township expenditures or expenses.

Anderson stated, The townships explanation is reduced to an argument that this amount was assessed to cover general administrative costs. In support of this assertion, they have provided no documentation. The court will concede, however, that they have the usual expenses attendant to running the office and will adjust the refund by $2,000, which the court considers generous.

After listening to arguments from attorneys representing both parties at a hearing in May, the judge said he planned to issue a ruling within 30 days, but his order wasnt filed until Monday afternoon in the county prothonotarys office.

At the hearing, the judge requested Coal Township to submit to the county the amount of money it spent on administering the permit fees. Earlier this month, Northumberland County Solicitor Frank W. Garrigan said the county had not received any correspondence from the township regarding the costs involved with administering the permit fees.

Garrigan represented the county at the May hearing, while attorney Paul A. Logan, of the law firm of Post & Schell, of Philadelphia, represented the township.

County Commissioner Chairman Sam Schiccatano and former Commissioner Rick Shoch filed the suit on Jan. 15, 2018. They claimed the $382,525 assessed by the township for the construction of the county jail was in excess of the amount commensurate with the actual expense of administering the building permit process.

Schiccatano previously expressed concern that township taxpayers could be placed in jeopardy if the court sides with the county because the permit fee money in question was not placed in escrow and may have been spent.

Schiccatano previously said township officials should have placed the money aside until the matter was settled to avoid penalizing their taxpayers, if the township didnt prevail in court.

He previously stressed that the lawsuit is not a commissioner against township action, but instead is a result of concerns brought up by those involved in the permit fee process, including Garrigan and design architects.

Fetterman responded by stating the court did not order the township to place the permit fee money in escrow, adding that the county could have filed an immediate request to have the funds sequestered in an interest-earning account.

Fetterman has attributed the bulk of a 7.5-mill tax increase for 2020 to the ongoing legal battle over permit fees for the prison. He said $50,000 was budgeted for legal fees in 2020 to defend the suit.

By the end of 2020, Coal Township will have spent nearly $150,000 in legal fees to defend this lawsuit. And, yet, the escrow amount is questioned, Fetterman previously said, noting that the townships comments are limited because it is still in litigation with the county. Also, since this suit has been filed by Northumberland County, every bill list has been unanimously approved by all five commissioners at each Coal Township public meeting.

In addition to defending the suit, Fetterman said permit fee funding was used toward the recreation center along Arch Street and hopes the county realizes the importance of the project.

This is the peoples money and is needed to provide safety and services, he added.

Fees in dispute

According to court documents, the county received an invoice from the township on Aug. 11, 2017, for $161,724 as the cost of various state inspections and plan reviews, and an additional $220,801 labeled as the Coal Township permit fee.

On Aug. 15, 2017, the county made an initial payment to the township for $161,724 for the state inspections and plan reviews.

On Sept. 6, 2017, the township confirmed the receipt of the payment but also demanded that the county pay the $220,801 by the close of business on Sept. 13, 2017. The township warned it would issue a stop work order, if the payment was not received, documents state.

The county paid the remaining balance on Sept. 12, 2017, but also communicated to the township that the building fees were not permissible by law and demanded repayment of fees in excess of the actual amount of the costs incurred by the township.

In the suit, the county sought declaratory judgment that the townships calculation of building permit fees is unreasonable and that the fees are unconstitutional and invalid.

Ongoing negotiations

On Dec. 6, 2018, two days after attending a county commissioners meeting to request a meeting between the parties in hopes of ending the suit, Slaby announced that township commissioners would settle the lawsuit if the township reimbursed an agreed amount to the county, in exchange for the county donating that same amount toward the public recreation facility on Arch Street.

Schiccatano said at the time that he did not consider the proposal an offer to negotiate because the county would still be out the same amount of money. He had expressed optimism following a county commissioners meeting on Jan. 7, 2019, that the county was close to settling the lawsuit; however, more than two years have passed without a resolution.

On behalf of the board, Fetterman previously expressed an invitation to the Northumberland County commissioners to attend a Coal Township public meeting in order to settle and discuss the issue in a public setting.

At the time, Fetterman said he wanted Coal Township and Northumberland County to work together in order for them to grow and prosper.

Case history

On April 25, 2018, Anderson denied the townships preliminary objections that asserted the court lacked jurisdiction over the appeal of the fees, the county did not accord itself to statutory conditions and the complaint was premature.

On May 25, 2018, the township filed answers to the complaint and a counterclaim that argued the townships ordinance, which has been in place since 1972, and the fee schedule, adopted on March 9, 2006, allows for the recovery of all costs incurred that are related to the county building activities, adding that ordinances were duly enacted and fees were properly calculated and assessed.

During a hearing on Nov. 28, 2018, Garrigan said a letter was issued by the county to the township that requested a refund for overcharging the county for building permit fees associated with the prison. The township never responded to the letter, he said, which prompted the then-majority commissioners to file the suit.

Attorney Jodi Wilenzik, of the law firm Post & Schell, claimed the letter requested reimbursement by the township rather than a refund.

Anderson, who appeared bewildered that both parties couldnt resolve the issue without taking it to court, told Wilenzik that he believed the township had an obligation to respond to the countys letter, instead of ignoring it.

The judge recommended both parties talk in an attempt to resolve the matter to avoid racking up legal fees for county and township residents.

On Dec. 17, 2018, Anderson denied the townships motion for summary judgment.
Shamokin, PA (17872)

Today

A steady rain. The rain will be heavy at times. Potential for flooding rains. High 67F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected..

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Cloudy and damp with rain, heavy at times, early. Becoming partly cloudy late. Low around 55F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 72F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 72F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 72F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Violations of residence and work permit regulations have landed 74 people in the dock. All of them were arrested during an inspection campaign to combat irregular employment and violations of street vendors.

The General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science, Southern Governorate Police Directorate, and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority jointly led the campaign.

Police had also arrested several wanted persons in connection with various cases during the campaign. Public Prosecution is pursuing legal actions against the suspects.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

School leaders have confirmed their readiness for the start of the new school year 2021/2022. They promise to spare no effort in serving all students, and providing them quality education, in the face of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Whether the mode of teaching and learning is remotely or actual attendance, they are confident that they will live up to expectations and fulfil their patriotic duty as educators with the cooperation of administrative and educational bodies, and the support of parents.

The director of Al Ahed Al Zahir Secondary School for Girls, Noor Munir Al-Ghannam Al Subaie, said they look forward to achieving positive results in terms of the sustainability of the educational service during the pandemic, which have been achieved during the past two academic years.

We are ready to continue imparting the most precious knowledge to our students to help push the Kingdoms educational process forward, said Al Subaie.

She emphasised that the exceptional achievement the past two academic years will serve as their motivation to continue achieving strategic goals, developing and improving school work  especially with regard to the development of student learning  spreading distinguished classroom practices among teachers, and organising training workshops for staff.

The head of the teaching and learning team at the school, Professor Widad Abdel-Rasoul, said that despite the harm the pandemic caused to the education system, they will be all out to provide everything for the benefit of their students.

Creative learning project coordinator Zahraa Al Sari confirmed that the organisation of internal training workshops continues during these circumstances, through digital platforms, to keep pace with global developments, and to acquire educational strategies that are attractive and can motivate the passion for education.

The coordinator of the Science Department, Professor Mais Al Badawi, pointed out that the focus during the pandemic was on enhancing research skills and self-learning among students, through training, guidance and follow-up. Prof Al Badawi noted that these conditions were the gateway for students to focus on skills they were not interested in previously, which represents a positive reflection of the pandemic.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The accession of the Central Bank of Bahrain to the Arabian Gulf System for Financial Automated Quick Payment Transfer (AFAQ) to accelerate cross-border transfers across the Gulf Cooperation Council will bring a tremendous boost to Bahrains banking sector, said Bahrain Association of Banks.

AFAQ, BAB said, will bring comprehensive positive effects on the banking sector of Bahrain, trade and investment exchange and all financial transactions of institutions and individuals in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

The first financial transactions through the GCC Real Time Gross Settlement system as part of AFAQ was between CBB and the Saudi Central Bank on the 10th of December 2020.

The central banks of the remaining states will come on board according to an agreed schedule. The Gulf Payment Company in Riyadh, established by the Supreme Council of GCC to build and operate the GCC RTGS, operates AFAQ.

GPC is owned and managed by the National Central Banks of the six GCC countries - the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait.

Commenting, Adnan Ahmed Yousif, the Chairman of the Bahrain Association of Banks, said: AFAQ will contribute to the financial integration, stability, and economic growth in the region, as its also a crucial step to provide banks and customers an additional channel of transferring funds through a faster and more secure mean at a lower transaction cost.

For his part, the CEO of the Association, Dr Waheed Al Qassim, said the move would help Bahraini banks and financial institutions increase the speed and rate of their financial transactions with their counterparts in Saudi Arabia.

The central banks in the rest of the GCC countries will join accordingly to enhance the desired benefits of AFAQ, Dr Al Qassim said.
The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Independence Day, observed annually on 14 August, is a national holiday in Pakistan. It commemorates the day when Pakistan achieved independence and was declared a sovereign state.

Pakistan Independence Day is a very unique and significant day for every Muslim in the subcontinent. This day commemorates the tremendous achievement of the Independence of Pakistan on August 14, 1947. Pakistan being an independent nation stands for national unity, social justice, religious harmony, economic parity, legal protection, cultural tolerance, the enlightened vision of the future, elimination of ethnic and religious differences, and above all a patriotic fervour to espouse the above ideals. On this Great Day, Pakistan School sends its best wishes to all our fellow compatriots in Bahrain.

Lets salute and remember the sacrifices and sufferings of the great many for this great achievement. We are happy to present a synopsis of Pakistan School, Bahrain on this joyous occasion.

The genesis of Pakistan School, being a community school goes back to the later part of the 1960s when the leading visionary members of the community realized the need for a schooling system for their children, leading to the establishment of a small primary school in 1968 in a rented building in Fariq Fadil area of Manama.

After a few years, the school was upgraded to secondary level education following affiliation with the Federal Board, Islamabad, Pakistan. In 1984, the new campus of the Pakistan School was constructed in Isa town, which was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.

Two new blocks, Jinnah Block and Sir Sayed Block were constructed in Isa town Campus, between 1994-95. Today Pakistan school has two wings, Manama (Primary) and the main campus, Isa Town. Pakistan School, being a community school is delivering quality education to students from more than 20 different nationalities.

Besides Pakistanis, more than a thousand Bahraini students are on the roll of the school, which is an indicator of the quality of education offered here and the trust reposed by the Bahraini community in Pakistan School. Pakistan School, being a community school has laid down a well-defined and practical network of extra and co-curricular activities for the personality and the character-building of the students. These activities are conducted on inter-class, inter-house and inter-school levels.

A large number of outgoing students of Pakistan School have been working as successful doctors, engineers, businessmen and in many other fields worldwide. Pakistani students have been performing tremendously in the Bahrain level sports, co-curricular and cultural activities.

In the last five years, the school has brought about tremendous progress in all spheres. A lot of renovation and maintenance work, replacing of all window ACs with new split ACs to provide a calm and peaceful classroom environment for effective learning, the addition of huge infrastructure and modern facilities for the students, professional development programs for the faculty are a few to name here.

Pakistan School is a community school in Bahrain that keeps Arabic as a compulsory subject in the curriculum for all classes. An Islamic Center has been established in the school to create a generation equipped with the right knowledge of Islam. The Board of Management has been contributing immensely to the progress and development of the school.


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Courtesy of Starbucks

It's officially PSL season. Starbucks announced Monday that the highly-anticipated pumpkin spice latte is back on the menu as of Aug. 24, for its 18th year.

The espresso beverage, which gets its flavor from pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, is available hot or iced with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice topping.
BEIJING (AP)  Asian stock markets were mixed Wednesday after Wall Street hit a new high as investors looked ahead to a Federal Reserve gathering for an update on U.S. stimulus.

Shanghai advanced while Hong Kong declined. Tokyo was unchanged.

Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 index rose 0.2% after a quiet day in the market.

Investors are betting on an absence of aggressive taper signals when Fed officials speak Friday at their annual Jackson Hole meeting, said Mizuho Bank's Venkateswaran Lavanya in a report.

Some Fed officials say the U.S. central bank needs to start winding down bond purchases and other stimulus due to stronger hiring and higher inflation. Others want to wait for stronger economic data that show a recovery is established.

The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.2% to 3,512.77 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong fell 0.4% to 25,615.67. The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo was unchanged at 27,733.11.

The Kospi in Seoul shed 0.2% to 3,134.24 and the S&P 500 in Sydney advanced 0.3% to 7,521.60. New Zealand, Bangkok and Indonesia rose while Singapore retreated.

On Wall Street, the S&P 500 advanced to 4,486.23 for its second record high in two weeks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.1% to 35,366.26. The Nasdaq composite climbed 0.5% to a record 15,019.80.

Banks and a mix of retailers, travel companies and restaurant chains accounted for much of the upward move. Those gains offset a slide in health care companies, household goods makers and technology stocks.

Investors bid up shares in homebuilders after the government reported that sales of new U.S. homes rose modestly last month.

In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude lost 48 cents to $67.06 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.90 on Tuesday to $67.54. Brent crude, used as the price basis for international oils, shed 47 cents to $70.58. It rose $2.30 the previous session to $71.05.

The dollar advanced to 109.79 yen from Tuesday's 109.70 yen. The euro declined to $1.1738 from $1.1755.
RIDGEFIELD  Although construction crews were not able to complete renovations at the Governor Street parking lot before Tropical Storm Henri rolled into the region, it is still slated to reopen this week.

Workers spent most of Saturday repaving the area, which will provide an additional 37 public parking spaces near Main Street. First Selectman Rudy Marconi said striping would hopefully be completed by Wednesday at noon, weather permitting.

The project was approved three years ago as part of a capital plan. Four of the spots will have electric vehicle charging stations similar to the ones behind Town Hall, and lampposts will also be added to illuminate the area at night.

As of now drivers can only enter and exit the lot from Governor Street, but officials are eyeing another outlet to provide access to Bailey Avenue in the north. The objective is to increase accessibility to businesses there as well as on abutting Main Street.

If you park all the way down at the end (of the lot) you would have to walk south to Governor Street and then back up (to Main Street), Marconi explained, and what were trying to do is come up with a way to cut through to Bailey Avenue.

Such an outlet would require cooperation from neighboring property owners, he said, but well definitely be looking at that.

Governor Street isnt the only place where residents and visitors can now find additional parking. Earlier this spring, Ridgefields mail-handling operations moved to the United States Postal Service annex in Danbury, which freed up roughly 40 parking spaces downtown.

It eliminated 21 people coming into work at the post office every day ... but it also moved all of the postal trucks out of that location, Marconi said, so theres that secondary lot that is not being used.

The selectman visualizes one ingress/egress point on Catoonah Street for parking near the post office. From there, drivers could either turn right into a pocket park in front of the building or drive further north to access the secondary lot in the rear. But the idea is purely conceptual at this point.

Local officials are currently in talks with Congressman Jim Himes office to arrange a sublet with the USPS and the property owner so the town can utilize the lot formerly occupied by mail-delivery trucks. If both parties agree to the modified lease, it would provide even more parking for employees who typically park on Main Street.

The perimeter lots would collectively add 80 new spaces in town, which would allot more parking to shoppers visiting Main Street. Both projects coincide with an impending realignment of the thoroughfare, which aims to improve traffic flow downtown.

Construction on that project is set to break ground next spring and will take approximately six months, with a completion date of Thanksgiving 2022.

Hopefully it will create a ... Main Street that is set for the next 20 to 25 years, Marconi said. Maybe longer.

alyssa.seidman@hearstmediact.com
The passengers on board the flight shouted slogans like 'Wahe Guru ki Khalsa, Wahe Guru ki Fateh' for a safe return from Afghanistan.

An Air India flight carrying 78 passengers, including 25 Indian citizens is en route to New Delhi from Tajikistans Dushanbe in a safe evacuation from Afghanistan.

Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said evacuees were flown in from Kabul.

Helping in the safe return from Afghanistan. AI 1956 en route to Delhi from Dushanbe carrying 78 passengers, including 25 Indian nationals. Evacuees were flown in from Kabul on an @IAF_MCC aircraft. @IndEmbDushanbe, tweeted Bagchi.

The passengers on board the flight shouted slogans like Wahe Guru ki Khalsa, Wahe Guru ki Fateh for a safe return from Afghanistan.

Earlier, Indian authorities on Monday evacuated 75 Sikhs amid the deteriorating situation in war-torn Afghanistan.

Afghanistans situation is worsening as people are in rush to leave the nation after the Taliban seized control last week. On August 15, the countrys government fell soon after President Ashraf Ghani left the nation.

Countries have been evacuating their citizens from the war-torn nation. Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs had said the government is committed to the safe return of all Indian nationals from Afghanistan. (ANI)
The Baghel government has completed two-and-a-half years in office in June. The supporters of TS Singh Deo raised the issue of rotational chief ministership.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and state Health Minister TS Singh Deo will meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the national capital on Tuesday morning over the ongoing tussle between the two leaders for the change of leadership in the state.

Chhattisgarh Congress in-charge PL Punia will also be present at the meeting.

The Baghel government has completed two-and-a-half years in office in June. The supporters of TS Singh Deo raised the issue of rotational chief ministership.

Though Congress never talked about the two-and-a-half-year formula in Chhattisgarh, the supporters of TS Singh Deo kept claiming that he was promised to be the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh in the last two and a half years of the regime of the present government. The meeting of Baghel and Deo with Rahul Gandhi will end the suspense about whether there will be a change of leadership in the state or not.

Earlier in the last month, senior tribal MLA Brihaspati Singh alleged that Deo orchestrated an attack on him which sparked controversy. Deo had walked out of the state Assembly and said he will not be part of the session of the House until the government orders an inquiry into the allegations against him.

Later AICC in charge of Chattisgarh PL Punia held several meetings to resolve the situation and consequently, MLA Brihaspati Singh backtracked from his statements.

But PL Punia failed to persuade TS Singh Deo, who has been upset for not probing Brihaspati for levelling allegations against him.

According to sources, TS Singh Deo has conveyed a message to the party high command in Delhi that he cannot wait for more than two months and if the promise of a change of guard is not kept, he can resign from all the posts.

Meanwhile, Baghel has rejected the talk of rotating CM after two and a half years. It is clear that he is not in the mood to leave the chair. However, after meeting Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi a few weeks ago, it was definitely told Baghel that he will have to do what the high command decides. Now the matter has come to Rahul Gandhi.

Bhupesh Baghel has maintained good relations and image in front of the partys high command, while Deo has also being asked to handle party affairs at the national level on many occasions.

Recently, Singh Deo was sent to Tripura as a senior observer of AICC to take stock of the political developments in the state.

Since December 2018, Baghel has grabbed everyones attention with his work. Baghels identity has been made as a struggling OBC leader and he is among the youth leaders of Congress.

TS Singh Deo is a senior leader and belongs to a royal family but his image is that of a good honest leader.

The alleged promise of being made CM for two and a half years also goes in his favour. For this reason, there is talk of a change of guard.

It will be interesting to see how Rahul Gandhi will try to end the rift between TS Singh Deo and Bhupesh Baghel.

Amidst all this, it is a matter of relief for the Congress that despite this tussle over the chief ministers chair, there is no threat to its government in Chhattisgarh as it has 70 MLAs in the 90-member assembly.

Congress won the assembly polls held in December 2018 with a thumping majority. Then, the state Congress president Bhupesh Baghel was made the chief minister. TS Singh Deo was the head of the manifesto committee in the election. Supporters of both Baghel and TS have claimed that the partys unilateral victory was due to their leaders.
The successful recovery of the three Swaroop is an uplifting moment for every Indian just as much as the Sikh community. Earlier on Monday, the images of Sikh men carrying the scriptures while barefoot at Kabul Airport evoked much sympathy on the Internet and now their efforts have bloomed.

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh, the Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, President of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R P Singh have retrieved three Swaroop from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, salvaged from Afghanistan and brought by plane to India.

Following this, Hardeep Singh Puri posted on Twitter, Blessed to receive & pay obeisance to three holy Swaroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from Kabul to Delhi a short while ago.

Eye dabbing visuals that will be etched forever in the hearts of all Indians, not just the Sikh community were reported from the airport on Monday.

Previously, Manjinder Singh Sirsa had informed in a tweet thar an Air India plane carrying 78 people (includes 53 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus) will be arriving from Dushanbe, Tajikistan, having landed there from Kabul International Airport. After the holy books has safely landed in India, he tweeted, I request PM & HM to amend CAA and extend the cut-off date from 2014 to 2021 so that people coming from Afghanistan get benefitted & lead a safe life here and their children are able to study here.

The successful recovery of the three Swaroop is an uplifting moment for every Indian just as much as the Sikh community. Earlier on Monday, the images of Sikh men carrying the scriptures while barefoot at Kabul Airport evoked much sympathy on the Internet and now their efforts have bloomed.
She also claimed that the Taliban terrorists are being instructed and trained by Pakistan.

Afghanistans famous pop star, Aryana Sayeed, who escaped from the Taliban after the takeover of Kabul, has blamed Pakistan for empowering the terrorist outfit and expressed her utmost gratitude to India for helping Afghans during the ongoing crisis.

I do blame Pakistan. Over the years, we have seen videos, seen evidence that Pakistan is behind empowering the Taliban. Every time our government touches the Taliban they see identification and it would see a Pakistani person, so its very obvious that I blame them and hope that they back off and dont interfere in politics in Afghanistan anymore, said Afghanistans pop star Aryana Sayeed in an exclusive interview with ANI from an undisclosed location.

She also claimed that the Taliban terrorists are being instructed and trained by Pakistan.

They are being instructed by Pakistan, their bases are in Pakistan where they get their training. I hope the international community, first of all, cut off their funds and dont offer funds to Pakistan for funding the Taliban, said Sayeed.

Moreover, she urged the international community to sit down and find a solution to bring peace to Afghanistan. I hope they can put pressure on Pakistan. I believe that were dealing with all these issues in Afghanistan because of Pakistan, she added.

Meanwhile, she lauded the Indian governments efforts in Afghanistan and termed India as true friend.

India has always been good to us. They have been a true friend, theyve been very helpful and kind to our people, even refugees. Afghans who have been in India before have always spoken highly of the nation, its people. We are grateful to India, she added.

On behalf of Afghanistan, I want to express my utmost gratitude to India and I want to say thank you. Over the years weve realised that the only good friend in the neighborhood we have is, India, she said.

Aryana Sayeed in 2015, sang at a stadium, breaking three taboos: Singing as a woman; Not wearing hijab; and entering a stadium as a woman, which was forbidden under the Taliban.
Airbnb opened the doors of its properties to 20,000 Afghan refugees globally Tuesday and sought assistance from hosts who rent property through the home-sharing company for more free housing for those fleeing the crisis.

The displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the U.S. and elsewhere is one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time. We feel a responsibility to step up," said CEO Brian Chesky on Twitter. I hope this inspires other business leaders to do the same. There's no time to waste."
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  Arkansas on Tuesday ran out of intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced, as a surge in cases continued overwhelming hospitals in the state.

The state's ICU capacity for COVID patients barely eased hours after Hutchinson's announcement, with only one hospital in southeast Arkansas showing availability, according to the state's system for coordinating coronavirus patients. Virus patients make up about half of the state's ICU beds. The number of virus patients in ICUs and on ventilators reached a new high in the state on Monday.

Everyone should know the strain this puts on our hospitals and the need to get our vaccinations and how critical our bed space is," Hutchinson told reporters at a news conference.

Hutchinson said hospitals in the state were working to open more ICU beds for virus patients. Arkansas Department of Health Chief of Staff Renee Mallory said one hospital planned to open additional beds later Tuesday and possibly later in the week. The Department of Health on Tuesday said the state's total available ICU beds dropped by four to 18.

For us, it is much more difficult to coordinate these transfer requests," said Jeff Tabor, program manager for Arkansas COVIDComm, the state's system for matching COVID-19 patients with hospitals. The patients during the summer surge are so much sicker than during the winter surge."

Arkansas ranks fifth in the country for new cases per capita, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University researchers. Arkansas has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country, with 40% of the state's population fully vaccinated.

The state on Tuesday reported more than 2,200 new virus cases and 45 new COVID-19 deaths. The state reported 10,950 additional doses of the vaccine have been given. The number of COVID-19 patients overall in the state dropped by 44 to 1,367.

Dr. Jose Romero, the state's health secretary, said the surge in cases is continuing to keep the state's ICU capacity tight.

The more beds we open up, the more theyre going to get filled, Romero told reporters.

Baptist Health planned to open 18 additional ICU beds, 15 of them for COVID-19 patients, at its hospitals in Fort Smith and North Little Rock. Greg Crain, president of Baptist's metro region, said it hoped to open the beds in Fort Smith on Friday and in North Little Rock on Aug. 31.

In a report issued earlier Tuesday, public health researchers forecast that the state's death toll from COVID-19 will exceed 7,000 by Aug. 30. Arkansas on Tuesday reported 6,749 people have died from the virus since the pandemic began.

If this forecast holds true, COVID-19 will have killed more Arkansans than all the wars in the 20th and 21st centuries, the forecast by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health said.

The researchers' forecast also predicted the number of children hospitalized due to COVID-19 will increase by 20% through Aug. 30 and 34% through Sept. 14.

Hospitalizations and patients requiring intensive cases have reached record numbers and put our hospital system in a precarious position," the report said. The report's cover featured a photo of a forest fire, a reference to how UAMS researchers have described the state's surge in cases and hospitalizations.

The state Health Department on Tuesday also issued an advisory warning people to not use livestock medicine to try and treat COVID-19. The advisory follows an uptick in calls to the Arkansas Poison Control Center about people taking ivermectin intended for animal or livestock use.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved ivermectin in both people and animals for some parasitic worms and for head lice and skin conditions. It has not approved its use in treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans. Some Arkansas Republican lawmakers have touted the drug as a potential treatment for COVID-19.

The advisory warns that the veterinary formulation of the drug can be highly toxic in humans. Some symptoms associated with ivermectin toxicity are rash, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, neurological disorders and potentially severe hepatitis requiring hospitalization.

Mississippi's health department this week issued a similar warning about ivermectin's use.

Also Tuesday, a group of parents filed a lawsuit challenging an Arkansas school district's decision to require masks following a judge's ruling blocking the state's mask mandate ban.

The lawsuit against the Cabot School District argues the local school board did not have the authority to impose the requirement. A similar lawsuit was filed against a northwest Arkansas school district last week.

More than 100 public school districts and charter schools have approved mask requirements after a judge issued a preliminary inunction against the state law banning mask mandates by government entities. The requirements cover more than half of the state's public school students.
DERBY  Irana McNish thought she was going to be interviewed Tuesday morning for a newsletter by the mortgage company that financed her house.

She got up, got ready and cleaned up for her guests.

I straightened out the house and I was waiting, McNish said.

But when she opened her front door at 9 a.m. McNish was greeted by photographers and the local branch manager for the mortgage company, Envoy Mortgage. The newsletter was a ruse; the company came to her house to tell her they would make one monthly payment towards her mortgage, which is $1,935 a month.

McNish said she struggled to make sense of it.

I can't believe it. It was a shock. I was thinking about all kinds of things. I wish I would have worn something better, McNish said.

McNish was surprised once again as the company representatives pulled out a big box. When she opened it, she saw a big novelty check with her familys name on it.

I'm like, what did I do to deserve this, she said.

McNish, who graduated from a nursing program this May, previously lived in subsidized housing, but it didnt feel like it was subsidized.

She said she paid more than $1,700 a month in rent before she bought a house. She previously worked as a nursing assistant, making $14 an hour. When she became a licensed practical nurse, or LPN, McNish made more money but had her rent increased accordingly.

So she banded together with her adult children and they pooled their money together, along with the proceeds from a 401k plan at a previous job, for a down payment on a house.

McNish was also finishing up school. She studied to be a registered nurse, so she had to juggle house hunting with her studies in late 2020 during the pandemic and that proved to be a challenge.

We had to go see a few houses. And I had an exam the next day. I was focused on looking at houses. So I messed up on the exam, she said.

She scored low on what she called an important exam. But she said she stayed the course and not only managed to buy a house in Derby but also managed to pass her final exam.

Throughout all this, she also worked at an assisted living center, taking care of patients  some battling COVID-19.

Melissa Mason, the branch manager at the Envoy Mortgage location in Fairfield, said that it was precisely her story that made her stand out to the company.

She was chosen because of the service that her and her family gave back to the community. And she's a nurse  her daughter's a teacher. She says that her son was a Marine, and now serves in a National Guard. And he's going to school right now for criminal justice, Mason said.

McNish chose Derby due to the convenient location from her current job over in Stamford.

She said she loves her house  a one-story building on Laurel Avenue with an attached garage. It has two bedrooms, an attic and a fireplace, which she hasnt used yet but wants to test this coming winter.

McNish said shes going to use the money freed up from the mortgage payment to clean up the chimney.

McNish said she loves punching in her security code to open her front door. When she steps inside, she knows everything in her house is hers. If her son or daughter were to get married, she would be able to leave them the house, she said.

But most of all, she loves her home because it belongs to her family.

This is our home; nobody can tell us what to do, she said.
Bangkok (AP)  The former longtime military ruler of Myanmar, Than Shwe, and his wife have been released from a capital city hospital after both being successfully treated for COVID-19, a hospital official said.

The 88-year-old and wife, Daw Kyaing Kyaing, were discharged from the Thaik Chaung military hospital in Naypyitaw on Friday, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with the press.

Than Shwe was hospitalized earlier this month, and his wife a short time later, and both were treated in a VIP section of the hospital under tight security.

The government has not yet officially commented on their cases, and independent media in Myanmar initially reported that their hospitalization was a precautionary measure as the country grapples with a new wave of the coronavirus, fueled by the virulent delta variant.

But the hospital official confirmed they had both tested positive for COVID-19, though both ended up exhibiting only mild symptoms. He said, for example, neither needed oxygen to help them breathe while they were being treated.

Since their release they have been examined by doctors and continue to do well, he said.

Myanmar has been struggling with one of the worst COVID-19 surges in Southeast Asia, and the military leadership that seized control of the country in February from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyis democratically elected government has been accused of making it worse by diverting critical medical supplies to itself and its supporters.

On Monday, the government reported 2,186 new cases and 125 more deaths, bringing Myanmar's total cases to 375,871 and deaths to 14,499. Many believe the official numbers are significantly lower than reality, due to poor testing and reporting.

At the beginning of August, Myanmar had the region's highest per capita death rate of the region, but according to the official figures it has been declining steadily and is now lower than several other countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Than Shwe ruled from 1992 until 2011, when he handed power to a nominally civilian, pro-military government.

During his rule, he led a feared junta that brutally crushed dissent and routinely jailed political opponents, including Suu Kyi, the face of Myanmars pro-democracy movement.

He controlled a 400,000-strong military that turned its guns on myriad ethnic rebellions as well as on university students and Buddhist monks who launched an uprising in 2007.

By the time Than Shwe stepped down, Suu Kyi had spent 15 of the previous 21 years in prison or under house arrest.
WEST HAVEN  City officials are set on selling the former Thompson School building at 165 Richards St. to be developed into new units of housing.

The question is whom the city will select to do the project.

To give an idea of the types of projects developers envision for the former school, the City Council this week heard from two developers as well as some information about a third. If the developers get their way, after making it through city plan officials, that vision would be market-rate housing.

The building was owned by the Board of Education before it was shuttered and sold to the city amid declining enrollment in 2010, according to Superintendent of Schools Neil Cavallaro. Plans to sell the vacant building, as well as the vacant Stiles School building at 575 Main St., to an Indiana-based developer for $852,000 fell through when federal tax credits were not realized and the developer found the cost of development would be excessive because of needed remediation efforts.

Subsequent council-approved plans to sell the former schools to Litchfield-based Park Lane Group LLC for $450,000 also were stalled by the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the expiration of the councils approval when a 300-day title sale deadline was not met.

Since then, the city received a state grant of $180,000 from the state Department of Economic and Community Developments Brownfield Remediation Program to remediate toxins in three former school buildings  including Thompson  which Corporation Counsel Lee Tiernan said would relieve some of the financial burden from potential developers who would need to pay that money for a study to assess the amount of remediation work needed.

Although the Thompson site was sold as a package deal with Stiles in 2019, Tiernan said the city will represent Thompson alone before the Planning and Zoning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals as they seek to earn the necessary approvals to develop the building, which is zoned as a school, into a residential building. He said increased interest in the Stiles building, because of its proximity to the water, means there are more options for what the city could do with that site.

Tiernan said Park Lane Group remains interested in developing Thompson School into 45 housing units with possible incubator space. Tiernan told the Register in June that the plan would include a coworking space for professionals who do not have a permanent office. Tiernan said Park Lane Groups developer could not make the meeting this week, but still was interested in the site.

However, there are now two more developers who have expressed interest: local developer Tyler Smith of Alpha Investments, who want to develop 50 units in the building, and Enclave Communities, which Tiernan said is looking at developing high-end apartments in a similarly sized project.

Tiernan noted Smith is a young man with plenty of confidence, drive and ambition who has developed 12- and 15-unit projects before, which would make the Thompson project his largest yet.

Smith told the council he is a go big or go home type of person who would only develop the types of units in which he himself would like to live. Although Thompson would be the biggest project of his career, he said his expertise is in turning around dilapidated properties quickly and efficiently.

Tiernan said Enclave Communities has developed in New York City and New Haven and the developer likes the projects proximity to a highway, the University of New Haven, Yale University and the beach.

Enclave principal Fernando Pastor said he would like to keep the interior of the school largely the same, preserving its large corridors and respecting wall placement. He said each classroom has the potential to be a housing unit that would go for about $1,600 to $1,800 per month. He said he also would be interested in the potential to build a second building on the site.

Tiernan said all three developers are seeking a tax abatement once a zoning designation is approved.

The council unanimously approved the sale of the building, allowing the city to seek zoning approvals and for Mayor Nancy Rossi to negotiate the sale of the building with one of the three developers for a minimum sale amount of $200,000.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
NEW HAVEN  Col. Severio Bob Fodero has been inducted posthumously into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.

His wife, Janice, accepted the commemorative medallion and certificate on his behalf at a recent ceremony in the State Army National Guard Armory, she said.

Fodero was the chairman of the New Haven Veterans Advisory Committee for over 30 years and was an advocate for veterans here in the Greater New Haven area, said longtime friend and fellow veteran Frank Alvarado in a statement. Foderos name will be added to the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame plaque located in the State Legislative Office Building in the state Capitol.

Fodero began his military career in the Army ROTC at University of Connecticut. After graduation in 1954, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He was deployed to Orleans, France, for two years of active duty, attaining the rank of captain, according to his wife.

Returning stateside, he joined the 340th General Hospital Army Reserves in New Haven. After 30 years of service, he retired as commander of the unit, with the rank of colonel. Fodero was appointed by then-Mayor John Daniels to serve as chairman of the newly-created Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee in 1990, according to Janice Fodero. He held the position through the terms of three mayors until his death in 2020.

Under Foderos direction and with Mayor John DeStefano Jr.s support, the committee rescued the Veterans Commemorative Plaques from the New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum before it was demolished. The plaques were rededicated on a new Veterans Memorial Wall in City Hall. Fodero also was chairman of the Orange War Remembrance Committee and the Orange Board of Health.

Fodero also worked at Yale Health, where he retired as associate director after a 42-year career, according to his obituary.

At a wreath-laying ceremony on Memorial Day weekend in 2014, Fodero said a prayer.

Freedom is like the air we breathe, it is something we just have. Many will not understand how precious either is until theyre at risk of being taken away, Fodero said at that ceremony. Today we remember a sacrifice made and a debt we cannot repay.

And in 2009, Fodero was one of several who spoke at the War Memorial Flagpole on the Green as communities across the region marked Memorial Day and honored all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

God bless the United States, and God bless every one of you, said Fodero.

The Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame was established in 2005 to increase awareness of state veterans who have distinguished themselves after discharge from military service. To date, 168 veterans have been inducted.
NEW HAVEN  The new hires keep coming for the city school district as the 2021-22 school year draws near.

The Board of Education, acting on recommendations of Superintendent of Schools Iline Tracey, named an interim chief financial officer, a chief of staff for central office and an interim assistant principal at Davis Street Magnet School.

The personnel actions came as the district also hired 52 new teachers  25 of them provisionally pending certification  and 14 paraprofessionals.

Some of the new teachers are being paid for with federal COVID relief funds, according to the personnel report.

Linda Hannas, director of the districts business office, was named interim chief financial officer. She replaces Phillip Penn, who left in June to become the CFO for Hartford Public Schools.

The search for a permanent finance director is on going. Tracey said the district so far has not had much success in its search, even with the help of a search firm.

The superintendent said Hannas has worked in various roles with the district since 1971, when she was a student work-study intern. At the time, her goal was to be a secretary.

She went on to get business degrees and is qualified to handle the job, Tracey said.

Linda is one of those individuals who stays with the ship, Tracey said. I could not find a more fitting person to offer the position to. She knows where everything is.

In her current position, Hannas receives $107,000 annually. The interim job pays $185,000.

A memorandum of understanding with AFSCME Local 3144, approved by the school board, indicates Hannas will be in the position for up to six months.

Michael Finley, a native of Griffin, Ga., and executive director of The UCAP School Independent School in Providence, R.I., will be Traceys chief of staff effective Sept, 13. Prior to Rhode Island, Finley was part of the University of Connecticuts Executive Leadership Program, and before that, a principal at Jumoke Academy in Hartford.

In his new role, he will receive $165,000.

Adham Conaway, a sixth-grade teacher at Davis, will be interim assistant principal at Davis. The previous assistant principal, Marisa Asarisi, now is interim principal of the school.

Conaway, a city native, is the son of school board member Larry Conaway.

I am extremely excited for this school year, Adham Conaway said. He has taught at Davis since 2015 and has a sixth-year educational leadership certificate from Southern Connecticut State University.

Board member Edward Joyner called Conaway the kind of young leader the city, state and country needs. Conaway is the favorite teacher of Joyners grandson.

He is cut from the same cloth as his mother and his father, Joyner said. He is bright, committed and ethical.

The vote passed with four out of seven members voting in favor.

Larry Conaway recused himself from the vote on the appointments. Board member Dr. Tamiko Jackson-McArthur voted against, and member Darnell Goldson abstained from the vote on the appointments because supporting materials were not provided on line to the public prior to the meeting.

Goldson also abstained from the vote on the memorandum of understanding for the interim finance position.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Poland's prime minister insisted Tuesday that efforts by Middle Eastern migrants to enter the European Union country from neighboring Belarus are part of a plot by the Minsk regime to sow political instability in the EU.

Mateusz Morawiecki spoke in Kuznica, in the east, during a visit to the Border Guards securing Poland's  also the EU's  border with Belarus.

Almost 3,000 migrants have tried to enter illegally from Belarus this month alone, and a group of some 30 people  including from Afghanistan and Iraq  have remained at the border, sleeping outdoors for over two weeks. Poland is denying them entry, saying they are political pawns in the hands of Belarusian authorities.

Our eastern neighbor is trying systematically, and in an organized way, to destabilize the political situation, Morawiecki said.

He said his government had knowledge of advertisements that encourage Iraqis to go to Belarus, who are then escorted to the border with Poland and forced by Belarusian officers to cross the Belarus-Poland border. Morawiecki didn't provide further details.

He said these efforts will fail because Poland's border will be very well protected.

Morawiecki 's comments Tuesday follow repeated claims by Poland and the Baltic states that also border Belarus that the government in Minsk is encouraging migrants to cross into their countries. They say its in retaliation for the European Union imposing sanctions on Belarusian officials over the crackdown on dissent following the disputed reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko in Aug. 2020.

Earlier Tuesday, Polands government said it sent tents, blankets, power generators and other items to help the group of refugees and migrants who are stuck at the border.

Polish officials insisted that the group remains on Belarusian territory and will not be allowed into Poland. They said an aid transport convoy the government sent was waiting at the border for permission to enter Belarus.

The European Commission, the EUs executive body, said it was in contact with Polish authorities and closely monitoring the developments at the border.

We firmly reject attempts to instrumentalize people for political purposes, spokesman Christian Wigand said in Brussels. We cannot accept any attempts by third countries to incite or acquiesce in illegal migration towards the EU.

Wigand also stressed the need for orderly border management and full respect for migrants fundamental rights.

Opposition politicians and humanitarian organizations have criticized Poland's right-wing government for not helping the stranded migrants who were sleeping in the open.

The U.N.'s refugee agency has appealed to Poland to let the group in and provide medical and legal assistance.

But Warsaw is refusing to do so.

If we accept this group, the next moment we will have not 10 or 20...but 1,000, 2,000 and 10,000 people trying to enter, Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz said.

We must not forget that this is ... intentionally directed at Poland, somewhat in the spirit of revenge for our assistance to the civic society in Belarus, Przydacz said.

Poland has granted refuge to dissidents who fled Belarus.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Nine activists from Bahrain had their iPhones hacked by advanced spyware made by the Israeli company NSO Group, the world's most infamous hacker-for-hire firm, a cybersecurity watchdog reported on Tuesday.

Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto said NSO Groups Pegasus malware successfully hacked the phones between June 2020 and February 2021. Those reportedly hacked included members of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and two political dissidents living in exile. At least one of the activists lived in London when the hacking occurred, Citizen Lab said.

Citizen Lab said it has high confidence that at least four of the activists were hacked by the Bahraini government, which has a history of using commercially available spyware.

One of the activists targeted is Moosa Mohammed, who said he was previously a victim of spyware, in 2012.

When I fled torture and persecution in Bahrain, I thought I would find safety in London but have continued to face surveillance and physical attacks by Gulf regimes, he said.

The government of Bahrain, a tiny island kingdom off the coast of Saudi Arabia thats home to the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet, has a long history of suppressing dissent. Bahrain's National Communication Centre dismissed Citizen Lab's findings as misguided" and said in a statement the country is committed to safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.

NSO Group said in a statement that it had not yet seen the report, but questioned Citizen Lab's methods and motives. If NSO receives reliable information related to the misuse of the system, the company will vigorously investigate the claims and act accordingly, the company said.

Citizen Lab found that in some instances the malware infected targeted iPhones without the users taking any action  whats known as a zero-click vulnerability.

Bill Marczak of Citizen Lab said the exploits worked against a recent versions of the iPhone's operating system, adding that there's no indication that the bugs exploited have been fixed."

Ivan Krstic, head of Apple Security Engineering and Architecture, said such attacks are costly and often have a short shelf life. They are not a threat to the overwhelming majority of our users," he said in a statement, adding that Apple constantly adds new protections for its devices and data.

The new report is the latest unwelcome news for NSO Group. The firm was the focus of recent reports by a media consortium that found the companys spyware tool Pegasus was used in several instances of successful or attempted phone hacks of business executives, human rights activists and others around the world.

Those investigations, based on leaked data obtained by the Paris-based journalism nonprofit Forbidden Stories and the human rights group Amnesty International, sparked widespread condemnation of the company.

Last month around 1,000 protesters in Hungarys capital demanded answers to allegations that the countrys right-wing government used Pegasus to secretly monitor critical journalists, lawyers and business figures. Indias parliament also erupted in protests as opposition lawmakers accused Prime Minister Narendra Modis government of using NSO Groups product to spy on opponents and others.

France is also trying to get to the bottom of allegations that President Emmanuel Macron and members of his government may have been targeted in 2019 by an unidentified Moroccan security service using Pegasus. Morocco, a key French ally, denied those reports and is taking legal action to counter allegations implicating the North African kingdom in the spyware scandal.

Facebook is currently suing NSO Group in U.S. federal court for allegedly targeting some 1,400 users of its encrypted messaging service WhatsApp with highly sophisticated spyware. That includes users in Bahrain, Facebook said.

Human rights experts working with the United Nations recently called on countries to pause the sale and transfer of spyware and other surveillance technology until they set rules governing its use, with the aim of ensuring that it wont impinge upon human rights.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  An electric utility will evaluate its next steps after regulators in Virginia rejected a rate increase request aimed at extending the life of some coal-fired generating plants in West Virginia, a company spokesman said.

The Virginia Corporation Commission on Monday rejected American Electric Power subsidiary Appalachian Powers request to make upgrades to comply with federal environmental regulations and pass the costs on to consumers, West Virginia Public Broadcasting reported.
CLEVELAND (AP)  More than 120 activists, scholars, pastors, students and average citizens attended the first hearing Monday of a new panel charged with redrawing Ohio's state legislative districts for the next 10 years, most advocating new maps that are more fair and representative.

Witnesses at the first of nine public hearings of the Ohio Redistricting Commission at Cleveland State University maligned the current gerrymandered maps and called the process disheartening, embarrassing, demoralizing and unfair.

My vote doesn't count," Daisie Reish, 77, of Grafton, told the panel. I call my representatives constantly and they never vote for me. They always vote the opposite.

Person after person  young, old, Black, Muslim, immigrant and people whose families have lived in the area for generations  told the panel they feel disadvantaged and unheard by their government as a result of the current district maps.

Tom Hach, executive director of Free Ohio Now, which has opposed some COVID-related business restrictions, called the hearings stacked against Republicans because they are all being held at universities. He said the majority-Republican commission was being bullied by Democrats, despite their party winning only 7 of Ohio's 88 counties in the 2020 presidential election. While the figure was correct, those seven counties are also home to almost half of the state's population.

An Associated Press analysis found that Republican politicians used census data after election victories 10 years ago to draw voting districts that gave them a greater political advantage in more states than either party had in the past 50 years. Voters in Ohio have some of the nation's most gerrymandered maps, the AP found.

Those voters approved constitutional amendments in 2015 and 2018 that created a new process for drawing both state legislative and congressional district maps this year and set up the independent commission.

Some in the audience heckled Hach as he was speaking and one man called him out for not wearing a mask, prompting a visit by security. Later, Chibuzo Petty, 31, of Middleburg Heights, though an advocate for fairer districts, said it was wrong for the group to chide Hach and that the timing and location of the daytime hearing meant it was dominated by liberal elites who are either retired or have the privilege of taking a day off work.

Christos Ioannou, 20, of Shaker Heights, likened his feeling living in a majority-Democratic area represented mostly by Republicans to a scene in Twilight Zone, where a man sees a gremlin on the wing of a plane and no one else does.

I just want you to see how messed up this all is, how disturbing it is, how undemocratic it all is, because this has to be representative, he testified. What's been going on this past decade, it's disgusting, it's abhorrent and it scares me that so many people are willing to show up today and speak out against this and odds are it stays the same or gets worse.

Participants also complained that the public hearings were only scheduled days before an initial Sept. 1 deadline. The panel must finish redrawing legislative districts by then, a feat they have admitted will be difficult to impossible.

Commissioners have blamed the scheduling issues on the delayed release of 2020 Census data. Maps loaded with the new Census data are still being assembled by experts at Ohio University.

The General Assembly has to complete a new map of the states congressional districts, which will be reduced from 16 to 15 as a result of lagging population growth, by Sept. 30. The panel would only get involved in that second process if state lawmakers cannot come to an agreement.

High-profile commission members  including the House speaker, Senate president, governor and secretary of state  sent surrogates to Monday's meeting, leaving Democratic co-chair Sen. Vernon Sykes, of Akron, to lead the hearing. State Auditor Keith Faber was the only statewide member to attend.

At an afternoon hearing in Youngstown, DeWine was criticized for choosing to attend a Cincinnati Bengals practice rather than the hearing. Spokesman Dan Tierney confirmed the Republican governor's whereabouts. He said in a text that he understands the hearings all this week to be part of a staff level listening tour and that DeWine will review all submitted materials.

Jen Miller, executive director of the Ohio League of Woman Voters, called the governor's decision a profound dereliction of duty given the fact that these maps will determine representation for voters for up to a decade.

John Fortney, a spokesperson for Republican Senate President Matt Huffman, said Huffman felt it was best to send senators from each of the areas where the hearings are being held and that was the case Monday.

The forums will continue through Friday, with visits to Dayton and Cincinnati on Tuesday, Zanesville and Rio Grande on Wednesday, Lima and Toledo on Thursday, and Akron and Mansfield on Friday.

Full details are on a newly launched website. The forums will also be broadcast live on the state-funded Ohio Channel.
NEW HAVEN  While children under 12 cannot yet receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Thomas Balcezak, chief clinical officer, said Tuesday that masks are their best defense and there is evidence now that kids can be severely impacted by the disease.

More children appear to be getting the disease or the multisystem inflammatory syndrome, sometimes for two to six weeks after they come down with COVID-19, he said during an online press briefing. Its not a trifle for children, he said.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 180 pediatric COVID patients in Yale New Havens hospitals, Balcezak said. On Tuesday, there was one, a 16-year-old in intensive care, according to spokesman Vincent Petrini.

Balcezak said his pediatrician colleagues have said masks have no negative effects on children, including on their speech and language abilities. He said, Although the majority of kids dont get sick or have symptoms, they can be an active reservoir for the disease.

He said the wait for children to be eligible to be vaccinated is because testing is required to see what reactions they will have and to determine the appropriate dose. I think well see by the end of the year at least some EUA [emergency] authorization for kids under the age of 12, possibly as young as 6, Balcezak said.

With more than three times the number of hospitalized patients in Yale New Haven Healths five hospitals than there were a month ago, officials stressed vaccination as the best way to fight COVID-19.

On Tuesday, there were 137 hospitalized patients, 37 of whom  more than a quarter  were fully vaccinated, said Christopher OConnor, president of Yale New Haven Health. A month ago there were 52 inpatients. He said 37 patients are in intensive care, with 23 on ventilators, compared with 10 and five a month ago.

Balcezak said more than 27,000 of the health systems employees, at least 83 percent, have been vaccinated, which Yale New Haven has mandated. With Pfizers recent full approval by the FDA we are hoping that we will see more people choose to be vaccinated, he said.

We have some holdouts, but we are rapidly approaching our Aug. 31 deadline to get your first dose, and we will be holding firm to our mandate to our medical staff and employees, and by and large its going very well, Balcezak said.

OConnor said if employees refuse to get vaccinated, theyll no longer work for Yale New Haven Health.

Balcezak said there is a segment of the folks that have not yet chosen to be vaccinated who were waiting for Mondays full approval by the Food and Drug Administration for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. He said the FDAs giving it their full-throated approval is something people should take comfort in.

For Yale New Havens employees, basically two exemptions for medical conditions exist, Balcezak said. One is if someone has had an episode of Guillain-Barre syndrome; the other is if someone has a severe reaction to their first shot, such as an anaphylactic episode. Other employees have been deferred, such as those who are temporarily immunocompromised because of cancer treatments, he said.

Religious or spiritual exemption requests are evaluated by the Spiritual Care Department, and can involve an interview to fully understand the duration of those beliefs and where theyre founded.

Balcezak said the best way to persuade people to get the vaccine is through appreciative inquiry to try to educate skeptics rather than by a frontal assault, which he said does not work. He also responded to those whose concerns are not based in science, such as those who are worried about long-term side effects.

There are no vaccines in history that have long-term effects, other than immunity, that have not been seen in the short term, within four to six weeks after inoculation, he said. We are concerned about potential long-term side effects of a vaccine  and somehow we have some cognitive dissonance where we dont recognize that the disease COVID-19 has innumerable long-term side effects that have been recorded, such as long-haul COVID.

He also said while fetal cell lines derived from abortions, some as old as the 1960s, were used in development and testing of vaccines, there are no fetal cells in the vaccines themselves.

OConnor said businesses and other organizations need to decide whether to mandate vaccinations based upon their facts. I think its important we let science lead the way.  The protection of our patients and staff are of utmost concern, so thats why we did it.

Balcezak said the increase in cases, which are almost all from the delta variant, are because of the vaccines tend to wane over time, and because delta delivers 1,000 times more virus to the system. The consensus out there right now is, while the three vaccines that are available in the U.S. are slightly less effective against the delta variant, that really is not a big concern, Balcezak said.

Even the best vaccines, these vaccines, are only 95 percent effective, he said. If we bombard you with enough virus, some of you will get sick. We are being bombarded with this virus even if we dont know it all the time.

Balcezak said about 300 immunocompromised people have been given a third dose of vaccine and we will provide third doses when the FDA approves that for non-compromised people.

Balcezak said while he hopes people get vaccinated and follow public health measures so COVID will really fade away like SARS did, he believes its more likely were going to be living with COVID for a long time. Across our health system, were going to see a handful to about 100 cases up and down in cyclical fashion over the next year or so.

The situation will get worse, however, if a new variant that can evade the vaccines or that infects people in a new way appears, he said.

On Tuesday, there were 54 COVID patients in Yale New Haven Hospital, 50 in Bridgeport Hospital, 12 in Greenwich Hospital, 13 in Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London and eight in Westerly Hospital in Rhode Island, OConnor said.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
We are coming up on 100 years of Iron Brew! If you think Im talking about craft beer, then youre not from around here. (Read that back so that it rhymes; it feels good.)

Iron Brew is one of Foxon Park Sodas rare off-the-grid pop flavors. Outside of that and Gassosa, Foxon Park sticks to the standards: Grape, Orange, Cream, Root Beer, Kola  with a K no less! Sure, White Birch is a smidge off-the-grid (a wintergreen breeze floating off an Alaskan tree, according to the company site), and even Strawberry soda has only come in to fashion in the past few decades.

Foxon Park, named after the neighborhood in East Haven where its shop is still located, almost has 10 of those under its legendary (round these parts anyway) belt. Come the new year it will be 100 years that Connecticut residents have been enjoying this family-owned and operated product. It was founded in 1922, right here, by Matt Naclerio, an immigrant from Italy.

Many couldnt even fathom polishing off a slice of Pepes or Sallys without some Foxon Park accompanying it. I once heard a man shout blasphemy! when ordering his pie at a great spot on the outskirts of New Haven upon finding out they didnt have Foxon Park, and was instead offered a bizarre beverage called Sierra Mist, True story.

Get this: We used to have Foxon Park delivered to our house when I was a kid. No, not by some uncle who brought a few bottles when my mother was making steak pizzaiola for dinner. By the Foxon Park delivery guy. Thats even what wed shout to each other when that truck would roll up on our house in Morris Cove: Ma, the Foxon Park guy is here!

She neednt rush to the door or anything. There was a box waiting for him on our front porch, as accessible as the day is long. An envelope would be sitting in the empty crate, with both payment and our next order.

The order typically read: Two Grape (my brother), two cream (my sister Laurie), two Gassosa (my sister Julie), and two orange (me). It worked out perfectly, as the crate was slotted to fit exactly eight bottles. Synchronicity, I believe they call it.

Interestingly, the Foxon Park crate sat on one side of the screen door into our porch (that was never locked), while the silver crate for bottles of milk sat on the other side. I have no recollection of any milkman making any deliveries, but have been assured he did and just stopped doing so when I was little, while the Foxon Park kept on coming. The silver crate stayed there for years, perhaps in a decorative capacity, and I would later muse about how funny it was to see milk and soda as neighbors. One was good for your teeth, and the other  we were always told  so, so bad.

But we didnt care. Nor did our parents, and thats probably because Foxon Park was  and remains  caffeine-free. No bouncing off the walls. Or, should I say, no extra bouncing off the walls, as there was a ton of that happening anyway, no caffeine  or even sugar  required. But Foxon Park is all about their sugar. They use 100 percent natural cane sugar.

The gentleman who delivered it my house growing up was named Ray and he basically became like a member of the family. Were I to run in to him today - and I ran into him often long after he stopped delivering to our house, throughout my 20s and 30s - hed surely rattle off both my late parents names and each siblings. I bet he could still even recall our flavors. I quizzed him in this very capacity, at Twin Pines Diner late one morning about 20 years back, and he nailed it. My sister Julies love for Gassosa in particular tickled his fancy. (Gassosa is the flavor  dare I say  they both may be most known for and equally proud of).

I once asked Ray why Foxon Park didnt try to go national and recall him simply shrugging his shoulders, his answer not being all that wordy. They just didnt need to, was my guess. Plus, I always got the sense that they liked being steeped in Connecticut tradition  being ours and ours alone.

Can you stumble on some Foxon Park at a pizza joint in, say, Rhode Island? Sure. But chances are pretty good that the owner of that place either came from New Haven, or was just here often enough to know that making Foxon Park available was a wise move.

Now, of course, you can still hop on the Foxon Park website right now and order a case and have it delivered. Well into its fourth generation as the family-owned and operated gem that it is, delivery is key to any businesss success.

But time marches on.

You just wont get the famous wooden soda crate to leave by your unlocked door. You probably wont get the cheers from your kids as the driver parks in front of the house, stepping out of the truck with your exact order  before hes even seen it when he grabs the your envelope left in the crate, where the cash is left too. And you cant get Ray.
In this handout photo provided by the Ministry of Defence, members of the UK Armed Forces taking part in the evacuation of entitled personnel from Kabul airport in Afghanistan. (LPhot Ben Shread/Ministry of Defence via AP)
Former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has declared that the party would return to power in 2023. ...

Former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has declared that the party would return to power in 2023.

Atiku said PDP would be strengthened to take over power from the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2023.

He made the declaration during his visit to the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, at the Government House in Benin on Tuesday.

The former presidential candidate disclosed that the meeting with Obaseki centred on governance, current issues in the country and how to strengthen the former ruling party ahead of 2023.

On his part, Obaseki commended Atiku for his leadership and support during the last election in the state.

He said: I cannot thank you enough for the leadership that you continue to provide; the counsel you gave me during my electioneering, the private conversations, and the assistance you rendered to me when we joined the party.

We had challenges, but you stepped up and threw your weight behind the resolution of the issues.
Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has described the militia arm of the Indigenous People...

Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has described the militia arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Eastern Security Network, ESN, as bandits.

Igbokwe made the claim while accusing Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader of jeopardizing the Biafra agitation.

The aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State accused Kanu of introducing violence to the Biafra agitation.

Igbokwes comment was contained in a statement he posted on his Facebook wall, on Monday.





He maintained that Kanu is destroying the Southeast with his mode of agitation.

Igbokwe recounted that founder of Biafra Independence Movement, BIM, Ralph Uwazurike never adopted violence in his agitation for Biafra.

He, however, lamented that hell has been let loose since Kanu took up the struggle.

The statement reads partly: Chief Uwazurike struggled for Biafra with wisdom and decency. He did not carry arms, he did not harass or abuse anybody, he was not confrontational, he did not kill anybody, he was not calling names. He was tactically and diligently doing his thing without jeopardizing the businesses of his people.

Today Nnamdi Kanu is in the saddle and hell has been let loose. Threats everywhere. Confusion everywhere, deaths and destruction everywhere. Can this continue? Can we allow this vacuum to continue? Why are Governors not speaking? Why are Igbo intelligentsia not speaking out? What of the Bishops, the University eggheads?

Kanu is destroying and decimating the economy of Igboland. Today the bandits say they have power over life and death in Igboland. The bandits and Children of hate say they have banned me from coming to Igboland.





I am sure most of us would have seen the continuous threat to my life and the life of those of us who do not agree with the philosophy of IPOB and ESN bandits on Biafra agitation.
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has confirmed Tuesdays security breach. A large number of bandits attacked the NDA campus in Afa...

The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has confirmed Tuesdays security breach.

A large number of bandits attacked the NDA campus in Afaka, Kaduna State, around 1:30am.

Lieutenant Commander Wulah and Flight Lieutenant CM Okoronkwo were shot dead.

Another officer, Major Datong was kidnapped while second Lieutenant Onah sustained gunshot wounds. He is receiving treatment.

In a statement made available to newsmen, Major Bashir Muhd Jajira, NDA Public Relations Officer said, we lost two personnel and one was abducted.

The spokesman disclosed that the bandits gained access into the residential area of the Academy in Afaka.

He said the NDA, in collaboration with the 1 Division Nigerian Army, Air Training Command and other security agencies in Kaduna, have commenced pursuit of the assailants.

The NDA community and Cadets are safe in the Academy. We assure the general public that these unknown gunmen would soon be apprehended and the abducted personnel rescued, Jajira added.
After an early morning raid of her apartment, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission returned to the Lekki residence o...

After an early morning raid of her apartment, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission returned to the Lekki residence of Big Brother Naija Lockdown housemate, Dorathy Bachor, on Monday and whisked the entrepreneur away for interrogation.





The former housemate in the 2020 edition of BBNaija television reality show had taken to her Instastory on Monday, to reveal that EFCC operatives broke into her Lekki residence in Lagos around 5am.

According to the star, the anti-graft officials broke into her house, saying they were after a suspected internet fraudster.

The EFCC later confirmed the invasion in a statement on Monday, stating that operatives from the Lagos Command of the Commission, acting on verified intelligence, executed a Search Warrant at a block of flats located in the Lekki area of Lagos on Monday, 23rd August, 2021 during which nine internet fraud suspects were arrested.

Ms. Bachors apartment happened to be one of the flats in the building.

EFCC operatives had knocked on her (Dorathys) entrance door, identified themselves as being from the Commission on a mission to execute a Search Warrant. But they were refused entry, for several minutes by Bachors sister.

The operatives were left with no choice than to force their way in, lest suspects escape or destroy vital evidence.

Though the EFCC claimed nine suspected internet fraudsters were arrested in the building housing Dorathys flat, no suspect was specifically arrested in the BBN stars apartment. The agency did not also release the details of the suspect arrested in the other flats in the building.

Hours later, EFCC officials subsequently returned to whisk Dorathy away for interrogation.





Dorathys sister, Cynthia Bachor disclosed on Wednesday that the BBN star was subsequently released.

Cynthia, however, declined further comments on the matter but said, She (Dorathy) is now fine.

Efforts to reach spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.

This is not the first time the anti-graft agency would be accused of random highhandedness or breaking into peoples homes and hotel rooms in the dead of the night, without showing a warrant.

On July 13, 2021, EFCC operatives broke into Parktonian Hotel in the Lekki area of Lagos. During the raid, the operatives were alleged to have gained entry into the occupants rooms by seizing the master cards from the management of the hotel at gunpoint.

When the EFCC operatives gained entry into the rooms, it was learnt that some of the occupants were naked under the duvet as the operatives interrogated the occupants.

They broke into the hotel and threatened to shoot the receptionists and management workers if they didnt immediately release the master access card to them. So, the hotel workers had to comply immediately, an eyewitness reportedly said.

Barely a week after, a Nollywood filmmaker, Biodun Stephen, alleged that armed EFCC officials broke into her hotel room in Lagos but apologised to her when they realised that she was not the one they were after.

They just burst into hotel rooms in the middle of the night, not caring who you are or what state you are in, Stephen had lamented.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has urged the Federal Government to deploy drones and missiles against bandits ravaging the Northern...





Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has urged the Federal Government to deploy drones and missiles against bandits ravaging the Northern part of the country.

El-Rufai said the Federal Government should furnish troops with more sophisticated weapons against bandits.

Speaking in Abuja, the Governor said the Federal government should deploy a combination of air and ground forces against bandits in the North.

According to El-Rufai: I think the security agencies also need more advanced technology. The Air force needs more drones.

Drones are much cheaper than planes, and there are drones now that can carry missiles.

But drones can be more targeted, more selective and quiet. And drones can also fly in circumstances that airplanes cannot due to bad weather.

We need the combination of airpower, and we need troops on the ground augmented by local expertise and knowledge. We need just one, two, three months of operation just to kill all these bandits.

Its the only way to stop this. So the only option that we have is to ensure that we kill them all.
Six out of 136 abducted students of Salihu Tanko Islamiyya, Tegina, Niger state have been reported dead. The students were kidnapped o...

Six out of 136 abducted students of Salihu Tanko Islamiyya, Tegina, Niger state have been reported dead.





The students were kidnapped on May 30 from the Islamic school in Tegina, Rafi local government area of the state.

Abubakar Alhassan, the school principal, was said to have disclosed that the bandits called to notify him of the death of the children.

Alhassan said the bandits disclosed the children died of illness, asking that the demanded ransom be paid for the release of the other children in captivity.

Abubakar Adam, a father of seven children who are currently in captivity was said to have further confirmed the development.

The bandits had earlier demanded the sum of N110 million but later raised the ransom figure to N200 million.

The parents of the abducted children were said to have paid N30 million naira as ransom to the bandits who refused to release the children.

The Niger state government had promised to intensify efforts to rescue the children.

Niger has come under bandit threats with several attacks on communities and with many persons displaced across the state.
Dolphin Bay Elementary School kindergarten student Isabela Osorio gets an assist with her mask from her sister Valentina and Assistant Principal Janet Blano Soto on Aug. 16, in Miramar, Fla. Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel/TNS
First U.S. COVID-19 deaths came earlier  and in different places  than previously thought
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. Low 48F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Add aroma to ambiance with cool diffusers and pretty scented decor.

From the heart

A multisensory design by French perfumer Mathilde M., this handcrafted textured-plaster, scented decoration was inspired by ex-voto hearts and adorned with a delicate imprint of 18th-century embroidery.

Relish, 600 Metairie Road, Metairie, (504) 309-3336, relishneworleans.com. Sacred Heart plaster decoration with a concentrate of woody, spicy, sweet Marquise room fragrance, $35.

Smell-good tech

Take your home scent game to the next level with a fragrance diffuser you can control from anywhere  and even create a custom schedule  with a convenient smartphone app.

Fleurty Girl, 617 Chartres St. and 3137 Magazine St., New Orleans, (504) 301-2557, fleurtygirl.net. Pura Smart Home Fragrance Diffuser with two 10 ml. fragrance vials (Sweet Grace and Afternoon Retreat scents), $76.

Hardy bloom

Enjoy the uplifting aroma of peppermint oil from this sweet little diffuser. Supported by a wooden base, its white plaster flower absorbs fragrance oil and diffuses it into the air.

Nola Flora, 4536 Magazine St., New Orleans, (504) 891-3333, nolaflora.com. Earth Luxe flower diffuser with 10 ml peppermint fragrance oil, $45.

Le parfum originale

Named after the Paris address where luxury perfumer Diptyque began in 1961, the 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain hourglass diffuser will fill your home with the flagship stores signature fragrance  with notes of blackcurrant leaves, mosses and sun-dried fig leaves.

Pied Nu, 5521 Magazine St., New Orleans, (504) 899-4118, piednunola.com. Diptyque hourglass diffuser with 2.5 fluid ounces of 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain fragrance oil, $190.

Nifty mist

This ultrasonic ceramic diffuser boasts a classic sleek look and upgraded functionality  with customizable mist and lighting settings.

Sotre, 3933 Magazine St., New Orleans, (504) 304-9475, sotrecollection.com. Ceramic Ultrasonic Diffuser by Voyage et Cie (fragrance oils sold separately), $119.
The number of New Orleans public schools students and staff members quarantining due to possible exposure to the coronavirus surged again last week, to 4,657, and the school district is tracking 453 "active" COVID-19 cases, the latest numbers released by NOLA Public Schools show.

With all New Orleans public schools now back in session, the numbers reflect the first full week in the classroom, NOLA Public Schools said in a news release later Monday evening.

The number of students and staff quarantining, the school system noted in its weekly tracker, represents more than 9% of the district's combined students and staff. Last week, the district said 3,004 students and staff were quarantining.

Of the active cases, NOLA Public Schools said 399 are students and 54 are staff.

The growing number of cases and quarantines comes as the region continues to see large numbers of infections reported in the community. Much of the spread has been blamed on the more contagious delta variant and Louisiana's lagging vaccine rate.

School officials in New Orleans and across the metro area have pushed vaccinations and recommended masks to help curb the spread. The school district on Monday reiterated its goal is to "preserve in-person learning."

Orleans Parish School Board President Ethan Ashley said the district is in constant contact with public health officials and "it's clear that in-person continues to be the best option for the district.

"Our schools are safer places than they're getting credit for."

At a recent press conference, NOLA Public Schools officials said the high numbers of quarantining students and staff actually reflect ramped up mitigation efforts. It said Monday that 1,600 students were tested last week and that it is piloting a new testing program with the state Department of Health that it plans to expand in September.

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"Of the 453 active cases we are currently tracking, 364 were newly reported last week," Dr. Benjamin Springgate, the school district's medical advisor, said in the news release. "Based on our proactive protocols, the close contacts of those individuals, 4,657 people, are in quarantine. Our high quarantine numbers reflect our mitigation efforts in action to help keep students and staff safe."

The school district has seen 740 cumulative cases this school year.

Among schools, KIPP Leadership, with 308, and KIPP Morial, with 301, had the highest numbers of quarantines. They were followed by Arthur Ashe Charter, with 294, and Morris Jeff Elementary-Lopez Campus, with 223.

A group of parents last week urged the School Board to expand virtual learning options, which this school year are largely only available to students who are quarantining or have been granted a medical waiver.

But NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr. said the schools are safe.

"This year, we have more tools available to us to mitigate this pandemic, he said in a statement. "Our school community has more access to testing and vaccination opportunities than ever before."

Lewis said the district is asking families to do their part  get vaccinated, get tested regularly and wear masks.

Last week, the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools said that public schools educating nearly half of the city's approximately 45,000 public-school students have agreed to require employees be vaccinated. And the School Board adopted a measure requiring a couple hundred central office workers under its jurisdiction to be vaccinated.
Chloe McGuckin, a recent honors graduate of Mandeville High School, has been awarded the U.S. Submarine Veterans Academic Scholarship for 2021.

At Mandeville High, she was a four-year member of the school's award-winning Color Guard and served as its co-captain during her senior year.

Chloe is attending LSU, majoring in mass communications. She has been selected as a member of the LSU Color Guard.

She is the daughter of Kristen McGuckin and granddaughter of John and Dottie McGuckin.

Folsom resident wins research honors

Eleven students have earned top honors from Mississippi States recent Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, including Folsom resident Madalyn Jennings.

The senior poultry science major placed second in the category of biological sciences and engineering.

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Jennings winning body of research and her presentation was titled Evaluation of antibiotic resistance pattern of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from broiler breeders with colibacillosis from Mississippi." She was mentored by Reshma Ramachandran, Mississippi State assistant research professor of poultry science.

Hosted by the universitys Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College, this years competition included 113 project submissions by students conducting faculty-guided research in four categories at the states leading research university. The 11 winners hailed from six states; Jennings was the only winner from Louisiana.

Local residents graduate throughout the U.S.

Brian Wetzstein, of Mandeville, has earned a law degree from the Georgia State University's College of Law in Atlanta.

Upper Iowa University has awarded Slidell residents Jason McDonnell a cum laude Bachelor of Science degree in public administration, and Christopher Washington, a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice.

Covington resident Isabelle A. Pellegrini has graduated cum laude from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science and technology.

Shunderrica Booker, of Covington, graduated from Hinds Community College in Mississippi during the summer.
Louisiana marked its single deadliest day in nearly 18 months of the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, another bleak statistic that arrived as Ochsner Health, the state's largest hospital system, said all of its employees would need to get vaccinated or face losing their jobs.

The new requirement from Ochsner came one day after the formal approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of Pfizer's two-dose COVID-19 vaccine and as the Louisiana Department of Health announced that 139 more people had died of the virus. The tally surpassed by 10 people the previous record for confirmed deaths in a single-day, reached on April 14, 2020.

The mounting death toll has been driven by the highly-transmissible delta variant combined with Louisiana's woeful vaccination rate, which has led to a rapid surge in cases and hospitalizations across the state in recent weeks.

Ochsner is one of Louisiana's largest private employers, and nearly a third of its 32,000 workers are unvaccinated despite months of education efforts around the vaccines. During a news conference Tuesday, Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas pointed to the staggering number of patients currently in intensive-care units and on ventilators across the 40-hospital system as a testament to the need for a vaccine requirement.

"This is absolutely a critical situation and one that's frankly not sustainable," said Thomas. "The way out of this is to have folks continue to get vaccinated, and that's one of the reasons that you see that we are now mandating vaccines across our system."

Over the past seven days, 346 people have died in Louisiana due to the coronavirus, the highest seven-day count of the pandemic. The figure represents a 21% increase over the prior week and a fivefold increase since the last week of July. Newly identified infections are averaging more than 3,300 per day, and as of Tuesday more than 2,800 people who have tested positive are in Louisiana hospitals.

Ochsner has delayed over 5,000 surgeries since the last week of July to free up space to treat COVID patients. As of Monday, 979 COVID patients were in Ochsner hospitals alone, and 88% were unvaccinated. Of those patients, 265 were in the ICU and 151 were on ventilators.

And while overall admissions have plateaued at a high level, the number of patients in need of critical care is still rising.

"We continue to see our ICU numbers gradually creep up," said Dr. Robert Hart, Ochsner's chief medical officer. "We've also seen our number of patients that are intubated, or on the ventilator, actually rise."

+19 Inside Ochsner's COVID units, 'rows and rows' of coronavirus patients fight to survive The sixth floor of Ochsner Medical Center in Old Jefferson was once where patients awaited heart transplants and recovered from heart surgery.

The new vaccine mandate includes all employees, both patient-facing and corporate, and applies to full-time and part-time employees. It also includes vendors, students, contract employees, travel nurses and volunteers.

Employees must show proof of vaccination by October 29, or they will face a one-month suspension. If they don't get the vaccine, they'll be fired. Exemptions will be available for medical or religious reasons.

Ochsner cares for physically vulnerable people, and we have an ethical obligation to protect them from COVID-19, said Hart in a prepared statement. As we are in the midst of another surge due to the delta variant, we need to stop this virus in its tracks.

Hospitals that have partnerships with Ochsner but are not owned or fully managed by the health system will not fall under the mandate. That exception includes 14 of the 40 facilities Ochsner operates, including St. Tammany Parish Hospital and Slidell Memorial Hospital.

Ochsner did not provide a list of the 26 hospitals that fall under the vaccine mandate but said facilities in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport, Monroe and Lafayette were included, along with others in clinics, community health centers and urgent cares.

Hospital officials first mentioned the vaccine requirement in July, saying it would be put in place once the FDA lifted its emergency use authorization and gave formal approval. Ochsner already has a requirement that its employees receive a flu shot, and many Louisiana health care workers are required to get immunized against measles, mumps and other infectious diseases.

Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

+2 COVID's fourth wave has outsized impact on younger Louisianans, worrying doctors and experts Early in the pandemic, a simple truth emerged: COVID preys most viciously on the elderly, exacting a brutal toll on those over the age of 60, 

Thomas said that misinformation about the vaccines, which studies have shown are overwhelmingly safe and effective, is part of the reason people haven't yet gotten the shot.

Many people who are not getting vaccinated are citing information that is not accurate, said Thomas. I implore anyone who is unsure about the vaccine to reach out to their physician to discuss their concerns.

Of Louisiana's large hospitals, Ochsner joins the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady health system in requiring the vaccine, which announced in early August that all employees must be vaccinated between the end of October or end of November, depending on position. That mandate applies to the systems hospitals in Baton Rouge, Acadiana, Bogalusa, Monroe and Jackson, Miss.

Around 2,000 hospitals across the country have issued vaccine mandates, according to the American Hospital Association. Houston Methodist was the first to issue a requirement on March 31, but many systems and cities and states have since followed suit. States such as Oregon, Rhode Island, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maine, California have enacted mandates that cover large swaths of health care workers.

CrescentCare in New Orleans, a federally qualified health care center, mandated the vaccine for its 286 employees on Aug. 9. Over 96% of staff is now vaccinated, and the remaining 10 non-clinical employees who are unvaccinated must receive weekly tests.

Other large hospital systems in New Orleans have not mandated the vaccine.

We continue to evaluate a vaccine policy for all employees now that the FDA has issued approval while continuing to strongly encourage vaccine acceptance across the system, said Dr. Jeffrey Elder, the medical director for emergency management at LCMC Health, in an emailed statement. LCMC operates six hospitals in New Orleans.

A representative from Tulane Health System, which is majority owned by Nashville-based HCA Healthcare, said the hospital continues to strongly encourage vaccination, but does not require it.

Still, the official approval of the Pfizer vaccine has already influenced a number of non-health care related institutions to create a requirement.

Louisiana State University students will need to show proof of vaccination by Oct. 15, President William F. Tate IV said Tuesday, and Gov. John Bel Edwards indicated last week that state employees would likely need to get vaccinated or face stringent testing requirements.

New Orleans city workers and contractors are also under a vaccine mandate, and Saints fans had to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test to attend Monday's preseason game in accordance with new city rules that mandate vaccines or recent tests for a host of businesses and venues.

On Tuesday, New Orleans' Sewerage & Water Board said it will be requiring employees and contractors to get vaccinated or be regularly tested for coronavirus. The rules will cover the roughly 1,400 employees at the S&WB and an unknown number of contractors. It's not clear how many of those workers are currently vaccinated.

When it comes to the safety of our employees, every option is on the table, S&WB Executive Director Ghassan Korban said in an emailed statement. We are working on a timeline to establish a process as a vaccine mandate is forthcoming for our employees and contractors and we will closely follow the protocol set by the City of New Orleans.

Approximately 40% of Louisiana's population is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, ranking the state 44th in the nation.

Staff writer Jeff Adelson contributed to this report.
More coronavirus deaths were reported in Louisiana on Tuesday than on any other single day of the pandemic, the Louisiana Department of Health reported in a noon update.

The state Department of Health reported 121 new confirmed deaths and 18 more that are suspected to have been caused by the coronavirus.

The highest prior number recorded in a single day was a surge of deaths at the beginning of the first wave, when the state reported 129 confirmed deaths on April 14. The next highest was on Jan. 17, when the state was in the grips of the third wave and 111 confirmed and 24 probable deaths were reported.

+2 COVID's fourth wave has outsized impact on younger Louisianans, worrying doctors and experts Early in the pandemic, a simple truth emerged: COVID preys most viciously on the elderly, exacting a brutal toll on those over the age of 60, 

The death count released on Tuesday also pushed the number of confirmed deaths over the past week to its highest level of the pandemic. Over the past seven days, 346 people have died due to covid, a 21% increase over the prior week and more than 5 times the number of people who died in the last week of July.

Tuesday's figures brought the total death count from the pandemic in Louisiana to 10,859 confirmed deaths and 1,257 more that are suspected to have resulted from covid.

The recent surge in the death count is the tragic consequence of the rapid rise in cases as the fourth wave burned through the state in July and August. Typically, patients survive for several weeks after initially contracting an infection and it takes additional time for those deaths to be officially verified and recorded.

While recent weeks have seen the number of new cases fall off from a high of more than 4,200 cases per day set in mid-August, the spread of the infection throughout Louisiana remains at exceptionally high levels compared to any other point of the pandemic.

The Department of Health reported 3,245 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday. That brings the seven-day total to 23,465 new cases, just below the the 24,460 cases recorded in the week that ended last Tuesday.

Even with the decline, however, that weekly total is 4,000 cases higher than any point in the pandemic prior to the fourth wave.

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Louisiana also saw an increase in hospitalizations of patients with covid on Monday, the last day for which data is available. That breaks a five day streak in which hospitalizations had declined from an all-time high of 3,022 a week ago. The latest count show 2,838 patients hospitalized on Monday, an increase of 18 patients from Sunday.

New cases reported Tuesday by region:

New Orleans area: 552

Shreveport area: 530

Lafayette area: 485

North Shore area: 427

Monroe area: 341

River Parishes and Houma/Thibodaux area: 323

Baton Rouge area: 302

Alexandria area: 164

Lake Charles area: 119

New deaths reported Tuesday by region:

Lafayette area: 24

New Orleans area: 23

Baton Rouge area: 13

River Parishes and Houma/Thibodaux area: 13

Shreveport area: 13

Monroe area: 13

North Shore area: 13

Lake Charles area: 5

Alexandria area: 4

Patients hospitalized by region

New Orleans area: 563

Baton Rouge area: 458

Lafayette area: 387

North Shore area: 356

Shreveport area: 347

Monroe area: 193

River Parishes and Houma/Thibodaux area: 191

Alexandria area: 186

Lake Charles area: 175

Note: The Advocate and The Times-Picayune staff calculates daily case count and confirmed death increases based on the difference between today's total and yesterday's total of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths. The Louisiana Department of Health releases a daily case count on its dashboard that includes probable cases as indicated by a positive antigen test. That case count can be different than the one listed here.

This is a developing story. More details and analysis to come.
Detective Everett Briscoe had been in Houston just a couple of hours Saturday when he and his buddy Dyrin DJ Riculfy decided to walk to a nearby restaurant patio to smoke cigars.

The pair were on a long overdue guys' trip with about a dozen members of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club, including its president, Elroy James. The group planned to eat, drink and catch up with Zulu members living in Texas. Mostly, they were trying to escape the pandemic for a few precious days, now raging in its fourth wave.

The crew had piled into a limo bus outside the club's headquarters that morning, ready to cut loose and have some fun.

Briscoe made it, but just under the wire, according Kelvin Harry.

"Before we pulled off, the bus diver needed to stop," Harry said. "He gets on the bus and just starts telling stories."

Riculfy was also in good spirits, posting a picture on Facebook showing the men getting ready to board.

Its a blessing to travel with my Zulu brothers to Houston, Riculfy wrote. The love is real.

But the day, full of levity, would soon turn tragic.

Shortly after Briscoe and Riculfy were seated on the patio of the Grotto Ristorante in the Galleria neighborhood around 5:15 p.m., two armed men rushed customers and demanded their belongings, authorities said.

Briscoe and the other patrons complied with the orders, but one of the assailants began shooting, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner told reporters Saturday.

The two men, both fathers in their 40s, were hit. Briscoe, 41, was killed, and Riculfy, the 43-year-old owner of a party bus and tuxedo rental company, was taken to a Houston hospital in critical condition.

He remained hospitalized Monday, though medical staff had stabilized him, according to his wife, Nikia Riculfy.

They were just going on a guys trip to hang out, she said.

Zulu members, police and politicians like City Councilman Jay Banks, a club member and friend of Briscoe, were stupefied at the tragedy. At a Sunday afternoon press conference, Mayor LaToya Cantrell embraced Banks as he wept.

A day later, Banks said the shootings were the latest blow for a legendary social organization still mourning several members who have died of COVID-19 over the last 16 months.

We dont seem to be able to catch a break, Banks said. Its not the best of times.

By late Monday, the Houston Police Department had yet to release any new information about the hunt for Briscoes killers, and no briefings were immediately planned. For now, detectives efforts appear to be focused on recovering a silver or gray Nissan Altima with paper license plates that the robbers used as their getaway vehicle.

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The Altima was parked in a garage tucked behind the restaurant thats usually used for valet parking, according to the Houston Chronicle, which spoke with workers at a nearby CVS who watched surveillance video of the car fleeing the scene in a direction unknown.

On Sunday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the killers arrest. He also warned that it was simply a matter of time until police find the attackers, in a sign of how closely leaders there are tracking the case.

Zulu President Elroy James said members will forever be indebted to how attentive Turner, Finner and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, have been in the aftermath of one of the club's darkest days. He also thanked former U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, now an adviser to President Joe Biden, for helping the group switch hotels following Briscoe's slaying.

Briscoe wasn't even planning to sleep at the hotel with the rest of the group, according to his friend Kelvin Harry. Instead, he was at the restaurant patio waiting for a ride to somewhere else.

On the bus trip up, the 13-year NOPD veteran, who spent the bulk of his career investigating persons crimes and homicides, told his companions how proud he was of his two boys, ages 10 and 16, the latter starting his senior year of high school.

"It was a beautiful trip, until we got to Houston," Harry said.

After the shooting, a distraught Harry started streaming video from the crime scene.

Everett, I am going to make sure I tell your sons you (were) proud of them  especially that 12th grader, he said on the video.

As for Riculfy, whose daughter is a cancer survivor, he couldnt stop talking about his wife, Harry said. But he wanted to make the most of the trip, so he called Harry to join him for a cigar at the restaurant.

Before he could get there, both men were shot, police said. The robbers left with nothing.

Horrified, the Zulu members took the luxury bus to the hospital to be with Riculfy. They clung to hope Monday that he would survive.

DJ,  you (were) just helping me get on my feet, Harry said on the video. You wouldve gave em that chain. DJ, you wouldve gave em all that jewelry.

He then took a minute to address the robbers before he and his fellow Zulu members prepared to return to New Orleans.

Little boys, he said. Yall better turn yalls selves in.

+5 NOPD officer slain in Houston was veteran detective Everett Briscoe: sources The off-duty New Orleans Police Department officer who was killed while visiting Houston Saturday evening was veteran detective Everett Brisco
A man who allegedly attempted to sexually assault a woman while she slept in her Tulane University dorm room is now in police custody, the university's police department said.

Update: Name released of Tulane student arrested in dorm break-ins

The Tulane University Police Department said the man, who is a student and resident of Warren Hall dorm where the alleged assault took place, entered the woman's room at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, climbed on her bed and exposed himself.

When the woman woke up and screamed, the man left the room but then entered two others, though university police say no incidents occurred in those rooms.

Campus police did not identify the man taken into custody, but said he is banned from Tulane's campus pending the investigation, police said.

If you have any information about these crimes, call TUPD at 504-865-5381 or NOPD at 504-821-2222.
A Marrero mother accused of consuming methamphetamine before breastfeeding her 3-month-old daughter will stand trial on a charge of second-degree murder in the infant's death, according to Jefferson Parish court records.

A Jefferson Parish grand jury on Thursday indicted Autumn Blansett, 32, with the murder of her daughter, Maddalynn, and possession of methamphetamine. The Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office also charged her with possession of marijuana, court records said.

Blansett dialed 911 the morning of Nov. 1 after she found Maddalynn unresponsive in her Eden Roc Drive home, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office investigators said. Medical personnel arrived, but the baby could not be revived.

Investigators found no obvious signs of abuse. But a toxicology test conducted for the autopsy determined Maddalynn died of methamphetamine intoxication, authorities said. The babys death was ruled a homicide.

Detectives questioned Blansett after receiving the test results on Dec. 11. She admitted using meth and marijuana shortly before she breastfed Maddalynn. Blansett also admitted smoking meth every other day, even after Maddalynns death, authorities said.

+2 After newborn girl dies from fentanyl-tainted breast milk, Kenner mom booked with murder: JPSO Lana Cristina was sentenced to five years in prison after a negligent homicide conviction in which she supplied the heroin that killed her friend, court records said.

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At the time of the indictment, Blansett was free on a $78,000 bond. The court on Thursday increased the total bond to $153,000 after Blansett was formally charged.

An arraignment date has not yet been set.

Blansett's indictment comes two weeks after Sheriff's Office detectives arrested a Kenner mother accused of killing her 4-day-old daughter by breastfeeding the infant after consuming the deadly opioid fentanyl. Lana Cristina, 28, was booked Aug. 4 with second-degree murder in the death of her daughter.

+2 After Kenner infant dies from meth-tainted breast milk, mom imprisoned 25 years A Kenner mother accused of killing her 6-week-old daughter by breastfeeding the infant after ingesting methamphetamine  the second time she a

In a case similar to Blansett's, Kenner mother Brandie Froeba, 38, was indicted in March with second-degree murder in the death of her infant daughter, Daisy. The 6-week-old died of methamphetamine toxicity after Froeba took the drug before breastfeeding the baby.

Froeba was sentenced to 25 years in prison July 22 after she pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
A Tulane University student is facing felony home invasion charges following an investigation into what authorities first described as an attempted sexual assault in a campus dorm on Sunday.

Efrain "Efra" Eskenazi Bettis, 19, a freshman and resident of the dorm where the incident occurred, was jailed Monday, according to records.

Eskenazi, a native of Panama, was arrested after Tulane officials reported that a man entered a womans unlocked room in the Warren House dorm on Newcomb Place about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. It was move-in weekend for most students living on campus Uptown.

The intruder was in the room for nine minutes and at one point climbed on top of the woman, who was sleeping under the covers, and exposed his genitals while kneeling on the bed, officials said.

The man fled after the woman screamed, and he entered two other dorm rooms, but he didnt do or say anything, according to university officials. He also allegedly attempted to go back into the first room a couple hours later, but the door had been locked.

Police arrest Tulane student in attempted sexual assault case A man who allegedly attempted to sexually assault a woman while she slept in her Tulane University dorm room is now in police custody, the uni

Surveillance video as well as identification and key card activity linked Eskenazi to the break-ins, investigators alleged.

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He was booked on one count each of home invasion and unauthorized entry. He was not booked with sex crimes.

Eskenazi will not be allowed on campus until the criminal case against him is resolved, Tulane officials said. During a hearing Tuesday, a magistrate commissioner noted that Eskenazi had no prior arrest history and set his bail at $2,000.

An attorney for Eskenazi, Mark Vicknair, argued that the freshman was "heavily intoxicated" early Sunday and simply entered the incorrect rooms because he was confused.

"This is all a big mistake," Vicknair said.

Louisiana law defines home invasion as going into a persons abode while the resident is there with the intent of inflicting violence. It convicted, Eskenazi could face up to 30 years in prison.

Unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling is simply entering anothers home without permission, and it carries a maximum of six years in prison.
Blooms of potentially harmful algae have swirled in lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas during most of the summer of 2021, spurred by increased inflow of phosphorus and other nutrients caused by this years heavy rainfall, according to scientists monitoring the blooms.

The concentration of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, this year has not resulted in health warnings from the Louisiana Departments of Environmental Quality or Health, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has not issued any reports of effects on fisheries.

EPA has conducted testing and toxin levels are well below limits, said Mindy Faciane, a spokeswoman for the health department. We are monitoring and plan to conduct some testing of our own soon for toxins produced by algae.

A spokesman for Wildlife & Fisheries said the agency wont know what impact this years bloom might have on fisheries until its over and can be compared to past events.

We would speculate that there is far less coverage than the algal bloom we experienced last summer after the prior spillway opening, and we did not have any reported effects from that lake-wide algal bloom, said spokesman Rene LeBreton.

The last time health warnings were issued for algae blooms in the lake was in 2019, when the Bonnet Carre Spillway was open for a record 123 days, funneling nutrient-rich Mississippi River water into Lake Pontchartrain.

In June and July of that year, Wildlife and Fisheries and the health department warned those on the water to avoid the blue-green algae, which can cause rashes, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. The health department also advised against harvesting or eating fish taken from the lake during the bloom.

The reemergence of the algae issue is in part the result is in part the result of new technology being used by NOAA to track harmful algae blooms in the Gulf of Mexico, and especially their efforts to track blooms of a different strain of algae, Karenia brevis, or red tide, off the central Florida Gulf Coast. Health warnings have been posted in numerous locations along that stretch of Florida coastline for much of the spring and summer. In April, blooms in that area were exacerbated by the release of phosphorus-rich wastewater from a phosphogypsum pile at a closed fertilizer manufacturing facility in Manatee County to portions of Tampa Bay.

Louisiana is included in the satellite surveillance in part because of the repeated openings of the spillway, which have often fed large blooms of algae.

This year, the problem is the unusual number of intense rainfall events, which pick up nutrients from individual home sewage treatment systems, cattle farms and other types of agricultural operations, and from natural sources within the watersheds of a half-dozen rivers and bayous that feed into lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain.

The total rainfall recorded by mid-August at both Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and Ryan Baton Rouge Airport already matched the annual average.

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Researchers with the Army Corps of Engineers are also investigating whether the closure of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet and construction of the Lake Borgne Surge Barrier have significantly reduced salinity levels in the western part of Lake Pontchartrain and adjacent Lake Maurepas, which also produces conditions beneficial to algae growth, said Eric Glisch, an environmental engineer with the Corps New Orleans district office. Glisch has overseen Corps monitoring of nutrients in the lake in recent years when the spillway, a Corps-controlled flood control project, is opened.

From reviewing satellite imagery for evidence of blooms, it looks like the Amite River (the largest tributary to the Pontchartrain estuary, not including the Pearl River) is often the primary source for blooms, which can begin in Lake Maurepas and migrate through Pass Manchac to the northwest/north part of Lake Pontchatrain, where they tend to fester, Glisch said. The Tangipahoa (river) is the second largest tributary, and is located in the part of Lake Pontchartrain where blooms typically occur. Presumably, theres an overlap of inflows from Pass Manchac and the Tangipahoa contributing to the blooms in that part of Lake Pontchartrain.

A Sunday satellite image shows the greatest concentrations in Lake Pontchartrain are near the north shore shoreline, with lesser concentrations along the western edge and middle of the lake and smaller amounts along the shoreline east of Lakefront Airport.

No way to keep up: Efforts to rebuild coastline in Cameron Parish may be an unwinnable fight HOLLY BEACH  Its in some ways like walking into the past. A stroll along the dirt and gravel road between marsh and grass-lined ponds, the s

Moderate concentrations show up along the northern shoreline of Lake Maurepas, completely filling Lac des Allemands on the west bank, and filling most open-water areas within the wetlands in the drainage area of the Caernarvon Spillway.

John White, an oceanography and coastal sciences professor at Louisiana State University who has been studying water quality and algal blooms in Lake Pontchartrain since the spillway was opened in 2008, said his team also hasnt completed its assessment of this years bloom.

But anecdotally, the water samples we are filtering are greener than we have seen in over a decade, he said.

We seem to see larger algal blooms in years where the north shore river discharge is high, due to higher precipitation, as this water is the primary source of nutrients which feed the algae in years when the spillway is closed, as it is this year, White said. While in the past, the algae blooms have been more patchy, we are seeing high algae consistently all across the western half of the lake.

In comparison, in years when the spillway is open, the spillway water is turbid, or brown with the sediment carried by the Mississippi River. That blocks light, and in turn blocks fast growth of the algae, even though it may have more than enough nutrients.

The lake is not turbid during the closed years, and with nutrients from the north shore watershed, the algae is thriving, he said.

The flow from the spillway also moves more quickly through the lake than flow from the north shore, resulting in the nutrients being in the lake and available to algae longer, said Sibel Bargu Ates, a professor of oceanography and wetland studies at LSU, who has been working with White on the lakes algae issues.

Warm temperatures without tropical storms or hurricanes also contribute to the lake's algae growth, while winds that do play across the lake have helped move the algae across a larger part of its surface this year, she said.
A New Orleans resident has a serious case of West Nile virus, according to city officials.

The state health department reported the case this week, saying it involves the patient's brain or nervous system, a news release from the New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board said. The symptoms began the week of Aug. 13.

The virus can be spread if a mosquito bites someone after biting an infected bird.

Most infected people don't have any symptoms, and most cases are similar to the flu. Common symptoms can include headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or rash.

+2 Biting back: Agency tasked with killing St. Tammany mosquitoes outlines ambitious plan Officials at the agency tasked with killing mosquitoes in St. Tammany Parish want to expand their lab, add more space for training and bring o

In rare cases, the virus can cause serious symptoms or even death, especially for people who are older than 65 years old or immunocompromised.

Airplane to spray mosquito treatment Tuesday

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An airplane will spray part of the city for mosquitoes Tuesday night, officials said.

Weather permitting, an insecticide against southern house mosquitoes will be sprayed between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tuesday. The targeted area is bounded by Tchoupitoulas Street, River Road, the Jefferson Parish line, Howard Avenue and Interstate 10.

The southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, is the primary spreader of the West Nile virus in south Louisiana, according to city officials.

Officials are urging people to protect themselves from mosquito bites by limiting outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, using EPA-approved insect repellents and mosquito-proofing residences by maintaining screens on windows and doors.

Residents are also urged to empty water-filled containers to reduce mosquito breeding sites. Change water every week in containers that cannot be removed, such as bird baths, sugar kettles, pools and ponds. It takes seven days for mosquitoes to grow from an egg to an adult, so it is important to inspect outdoor areas every week, they said.

Staff writer Carlie Kollath Wells contributed to this story.
With the official approval of the Pfizer vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration, there should be no more doubt about its efficacy and effectiveness and there should be no concerns about the legal impact of vaccine mandates. Though we have three vaccines that were authorized for emergency use, we have one blessed with the full authority and weight of the United States government  and its time for us to use the muscle to require vaccinations.

Louisianas statewide mask mandate is unfortunate but necessary. But its not enough.

Its time for vaccine mandates across the state, starting with those charged with taking care of us in hospital and medical facilities, nursing homes and schools. Its time to require that those who check on us, who give us medicine, who touch us, who bandage and operate on us, protect themselves  and us  by being vaccinated. Its time to require those who care for our loved ones in nursing homes and senior homes be vaccinated. Its not enough to require masking in our school classrooms. We need employees responsible for our health and our kids to be vaccinated.

We have three vaccines that have been saving lives since they were given emergency approval. At this point, only the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid Vaccine has earned full FDA approval, though the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines may be approved soon.

The federal government is requiring nursing home employees to be vaccinated if they want to continue taking care of Medicare and Medicaid patients. Its the right thing since the elderly are among our most vulnerable. Plus, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has surveys showing some nursing homes have 88% of their staffs vaccinated but others have less than 45%. Its not worth the risk of transmitting the virus from employee to patient.

Ochsner and Our Lady of the Lake hospital systems announced earlier that vaccines would be mandated once the FDA officially authorized the Pfizer vaccine. That means now. Other hospital systems have indicated that they were seriously exploring mandates, but the time to consider is over. Its time to act. Require the vaccine to give patients their best chances for recovery and an exit from the hospital on their own feet or in a wheelchair  not in a body bag.

Im glad some of our private colleges and universities have required vaccines for faculty, staff and students. Im happier today because our public higher education institutions are reviewing the details of the FDA approval with the idea among some to mandate vaccines for everyone on campus. Though online education has grown exponentially and its here to stay, its best for many of our states college students to learn in classrooms, conference rooms, libraries and labs. Its not worth losing them because someone isnt wearing a mask or because someone is unvaccinated.

We know Louisianas more than 700,000 public school kids are better off in classrooms, but only with masking and only with vaccinated teachers, administrators and staff. Not doing that means were likely to have individual, groups, classes and schools immediately ushered into quarantine.

Some of us have been happy to protect ourselves and our families and to do what we can to protect others with social distancing, masking and vaccinations. Some of us were ecstatic to get first and second doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the one-jab J&J as soon as they were available. Some of us opted to wait and see, choosing to watch news reports about how it went for others and seeing how it went for those closest to us.

There are those who werent waiting to see. Theyve been clear. They werent going to have anything pushed into their shoulders unless and until the FDA granted final and full approval. That has been done.

Louisiana continues to be one of the worst when it comes to vaccination percentages and one of the states with high COVID-19 case counts. We must continue to work to limit our community spread, decrease our case count, reduce virus hospitalizations, and slow and eliminate virus deaths.

The FDA approval should encourage us all. Those most responsible for examining the data and examining clinical trial results have determined that the Pfizer vaccine is effective and safe.

The best thing we can do is to cooperate with these mandates and to encourage those we know to do the same.

Bring on the vaccine mandates.
Earl Smith, 83, former resident of Moore, OK passed away peacefully at his home in Longmont, CO. Earl was born in Depew, OK to John and Ethel Smith. He retired in 2000 from Rose State University as an accounting Professor. Graveside service will be held at Oakdale Cemetery, Depew, OK on Sept
Williamsport, Pa. -- National Aviation Day, a commemorative holiday established in 1939 by Franklin D. Roosevelt on Orville Wright's birthday, is a time to pay tribute to those who have contributed to the aviation industry.

In observance of National Aviation Day on August 19, State Senator Gene Yaw met with local representatives and Lycoming Engines staff.

This Legislative Session, I again sponsored a Senate Resolution, SR 136 recognizing August 19 as National Aviation Day, Sen. Yaw said. I have the privilege of representing the home of Lycoming Engines, located in Williamsport, which power more than half of the world's general aviation fleet, both rotary-wing and fixed-wing. Lycoming Engines is a top employer for our area residents. I applaud them on their commitment to the aviation industry, Lycoming County and their employees.

Related reading: Aviation hearing with Sen. Gene Yaw, Center for Rural Pa., and local business owners highlight aviation issues in region

Inspired by Charles Lindbergs trans-Atlantic flight, Lycoming began developing aircraft engines following years of developing automobile engines in the early 1900s. Lycoming also provides engines for military training schools and other specialized applications.

Pennsylvania ranks 16th in the country in the number of public-use aviation facilities with 124 airports, heliports, and seaplane bases. The 124 public-use facilities provide an annual economic impact of $28.5 billion to the state. The aviation industry also supports more than 322,000 jobs making it one of the largest employment sectors in the state. Pennsylvania also supports the states 243 private-use airports and 280 private-use heliports.
Wellsboro, Pa.  An elderly woman in Tioga County recently lost $1,110.20 through an Amazon phone scam, according to state police.

The 70-year-old woman of Wellsboro was contacted via phone by a suspect purporting to be with Amazon security, according to Pennsylvania State Police at Mansfield. The suspect claimed that an iPhone had been fraudulently charged to her account and that he could get her money back if she could provide information and go to a particular website.

Related reading: What you should know about financial fraud: Area events help raise awareness

The victim followed the suspects directions and a total of $1,110.20 was transferred out of her bank account.
In the wake of Henri's deluge across the Northeast, building heat and humidity this week can put a strain on cleanup crews and those left without power. AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures are forecast to approach the century mark in some of the worst-hit areas, forecasters say.

Henri made landfall in Westerly, Rhode Island, as a 60-mph tropical storm at 12:15 p.m. EDT Sunday. The storm was a Category 1 hurricane just six hours prior to moving onshore. Over 115,000 customers were without power in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts at the peak of the storm's fury.

One of Henri's biggest impacts was its flooding rainfall. Rainfall totals surpassed half a foot in portions of northeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and southern New York as Henri swirled as a tropical rainstorm over the region on Monday. In New York City's Central Park, rainfall had eclipsed 8 inches. Locally higher rainfall amounts occurred in the New York City area and in parts of central New Jersey.

This map shows observed total rainfall from Henri as of Monday morning, Aug. 23, 2021. (National Weather Service)

The National Weather Service office in Boston, Massachusetts, confirmed at least three EF-0 tornadoes associated with Henri Monday morning.

"The great news for clean up is that Tuesday and Wednesday look to be largely dry for the region as high pressure re-establishes itself over the Northeast," AccuWeather Meteorologist Matt Benz said.

The dry conditions will be a welcome break from rounds of heavy rainfall that have plagued the region for much of the summer, with Henri being the latest soaking rain event.

Swollen rivers and streams will gradually recede and debris cleanup and power restoration efforts can go on without disruptions from the weather.

However, AccuWeather meteorologists say one aspect of the weather could complicate recovery efforts.

"Temperatures will rebound for Tuesday and beyond with what will be a very warm and humid stretch of weather that will likely stick around through the end of the week," Benz said.

High temperatures in the hardest-hit zones will climb into the upper 80s to lower 90s F, but it will be the humidity that really makes things feel worse for those outside. AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures in the 95- to 100-degree Fahrenheit range will be common during the peak heating time of the afternoon.

Linda Orlomoski, a Canterbury, Connecticut, resident who lost power during Henri, was particularly concerned about the upcoming swelter.

Its supposed to get nasty hot and humid again on Tuesday. If we still have no power by then, that will be miserable," Orlomoski told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Those still without power during the hot and sticky pattern should seek out means to cool down whenever possible, such as heading to an air-conditioned public building or taking a dip in a local lake or pool. Anyone cleaning up debris or doing any other type of manual labor outdoors is encouraged to drink plenty of water, take frequent breaks in the shade and wear light-colored clothing to lessen the risk of heat-related illnesses.

Those seeking relief at area beaches could face another issue.

"There may be water quality issues for a few days along the Northeast beaches, especially from New Jersey to New York and Connecticut and Rhode Island due to contaminated water runoff into the bays and coastal waters," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said.

People are urged to observe any local restrictions on area beaches set forth by officials.

Later in the week, the risk for rain will return to the impacted areas in the form of scattered showers and thunderstorms, though heavy rainfall is not anticipated.

In the short-term, forecasters say that there are no new tropical systems that could impact the Northeast.

AccuWeather's long-range team is monitoring the Caribbean, however, where they say a tropical system may form later this week and impact some of the same areas that Grace ravaged in Mexico.

A currently non-tropical storm is forecast to push westward from south of Bermuda to reach the southern Atlantic coast later this week with an uptick in drenching showers and thunderstorms for the Southeastern states.
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Rome, GA (30161)

Today

Partly cloudy. High around 85F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low near 65F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Rome, GA (30161)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. High around 85F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 65F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Sony has started shipping a new revision of the PlayStation 5, the second so far. The second revision has received a helpful upgrade and even a slight weight reduction.

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Last month, Sony listed a new version of the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition in Japan. While the console remains true to the original model, it lost a bit of weight. Specifically, the revised console is approximately 300 g lighter, a 7.7% reduction.

Press Start now claims that Sony has started shipping the revision in Australia. The website adds that the console bears the model number CFI-11, a change from the original console's CFI-1. It is unclear how Sony has cut 7.7% from the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, nor if this revision is rolling out worldwide.

Regardless, CFI-11 also contains a different screw to attach the console to its bundled stand. Undoubtedly, the change is a minor one, but it makes it assembly simpler. As the photo below shows, the new screw can be tightened by hand, rather than with a screwdriver.
Frederick County firefighter seriously injured in crash on his way home from work
A contractor killed at the Cleveland-Cliffs Indiana Harbor steel mill in East Chicago on Saturday night was identified as a 40-year-old Portage man.

Ryan Briney was killed by a vehicle in a parking lot at the steel mill, according to the Lake County coroner's office. The incident took place in the 3000 block of Dickey Road in East Chicago's Indiana Harbor neighborhood.

Briney was pronounced dead at 10:56 p.m. Saturday, according to the coroner's office. Union officials said he was an ironworker.

The cause and manner of death are pending, according to the coroner's office.

Cleveland-Cliffs said he was an outside contractor, one of many routinely employed for maintenance and construction projects at the hulking integrated steel mills that line Northwest Indiana's lakeshore around Lake Michigan. Cleveland-Cliffs Corporate Communications Director Patricia Persico said the contractor was hit by a pickup truck and died due to the injuries he suffered in the accident.
MERRILLVILLE  Gov. Eric Holcomb is recommending Northwest Indiana lean in to the qualities that make it a unique place to live, work, play and stay as Region business and community leaders take steps to grow the economy and attract new residents.

"You've got so much going on here," Holcomb said. "We're humble Hoosiers but it's OK to have some swagger when it's true, and there's a lot to share about this Region."

The Republican chief executive addressed the status of Northwest Indiana during a question and answer session at Avalon Manor Tuesday with Marc Chase, editor of The Times, during the annual induction ceremony for the Business and Industry Hall of Fame, sponsored by The Times Media Co.

Holcomb said no other quadrant of the state has the same connections to the global economy thanks to Northwest Indiana's proximity to Chicago, the current and future road and rail infrastructure linking the Calumet Region to Chicago, and the myriad opportunities to bring new talent into the Hoosier State.

He said if Region leaders remain focused on continuing to grow the population in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, push for business investment that will create the jobs needed 10, 20 or 30 years down the line, and stay hungry for change, then Northwest Indiana truly can become the best version of itself.
Valparaiso High School graduate Olivia Vandevelde is coming off a year of virtual study. Its exciting to be back on campus, said the social work major, who due to illness and COVID-19 has not been in a classroom for two years.

Tracy Eustace, a business major from Crown Point and Boone Grove High School, took two years off before enrolling in college.

It feels good getting back in the rhythm, Eustace said.

Eustace prefers in-person learning. Its easier for a learning community and more face-to-face interaction.

The induction ceremony was open to freshman and sophomores who could not take part last year. IUN has held the pinning induction ceremony since 2017. The 2020 program was virtual.

Thomas Hankins, a sophomore business major from Kouts, said returning to in-person learning feels good and it really helps.

The toughest part of virtual learning the past year, Hankins said, was working with different computer programs and software issues.
Asif: Culinary Institute of Israel, a new food-focused cultural center with a library, test kitchen, rooftop farm, gallery and cafe, opened last month in Tel Aviv. Its the work of Naama Shefi, who created and runs the nonprofit Jewish Food Society in the United States to foster Jewish food culture, and Terry Kassel, chairwoman of the board of Start-Up Nation Central, an Israeli nonprofit promoting innovation. For one of its first programs, the cookbook author Adeena Sussman will discuss food for the Rosh Hashana holiday and suggest recipes from cookbooks she wants to see in Asifs library.

Flavors from the Library, Sept. 1, noon to 1 p.m., $5, asif.org/events.

Follow NYT Food on Twitter and NYT Cooking on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Get regular updates from NYT Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice.
This is a pivotal moment for our country in the fight against the pandemic, Dr. Janet Woodcock, the acting F.D.A. commissioner, told reporters. The public can be confident that this vaccine meets the F.D.A.s gold standard for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality that we require for an approved product.

Some health experts are worried that the approval will unleash a wave of demands from vaccine recipients who want their doctors to prescribe booster doses. The federal government plans to begin rolling out third shots to people who had their second shot eight months earlier, but only after the F.D.A. clears extra doses and not until Sept. 20.

I think we just have to keep people calm, said Dr. Jesse L. Goodman, a former chief scientist at the F.D.A. and now a medical professor at Georgetown University. He noted that more than one million Americans had already managed to get extra shots on their own and that demand could be difficult to control.

Ordinarily, final approval could give doctors a certain measure of freedom to prescribe a drug differently than the label advises. Pfizer is also ostensibly now free to market the vaccine, under the brand name Comirnaty.

In this case, though, as both Pfizer and the F.D.A. noted, the federal government controls the distribution of the vaccine in the United States. Dr. Woodcock strongly discouraged people from seeking a third shot until the F.D.A. has ruled on whether extra shots are safe and effective for the general adult population.

She specifically warned against giving the vaccine to children under 12, saying that doing so would be of great concern because regulators have not collected enough data yet from clinical trials on safety or the proper dose. Trials are still in progress for that age group, and a regulatory decision about emergency use could be several months away.

We certainly want to make sure that we get it right in the children ages 5 through 11, said Dr. Peter Marks, the F.D.A.s top vaccine regulator, and then even in younger children after that.
Killed in the robbery were Sgt. Edward OGrady, Officer Waverly Brown and Peter Paige, a Brink's guard. The commutation of Mr. Gilberts sentence, like Ms. Clarks before him, outraged the law enforcement community in Rockland County.

Its absurd, Arthur Keenan Jr., a retired detective with the Nyack Police Department, who was wounded in the shootout, said on Monday. He said Mr. Cuomo is stabbing all of law enforcement in the back, and when I say all, Im talking about federal, state, local  all across the whole country  because hes a traitor.

In a statement, Ed Day, the Rockland County executive, said that Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, had debased himself and the office of the governor.

As if victimizing 11 women, including members of his own staff, was not despicable enough, his commutation of the 75-years-to-life sentence of David Gilbert is a further assault on the people of Rockland and New York State, said Mr. Day, a Republican. Andrew Cuomo continues to focus on the well-being of murderers rather than the victims of these horrible offenses.

Also among the five people whose sentences were commuted on Monday  and who, unlike Mr. Gilbert, will all be released from prison without further hearings  was Ulysses Boyd, 66, who was convicted of one count of second-degree murder, and of two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Mr. Boyd has served 35 years of a 50-years-to-life sentence for killing Harold Bates during an encounter at a drug house in 1986.

Times doesnt go by that I dont think of Mr. Harold Bates and his family because I still got my family, he said in a video filmed before the coronavirus outbreak. I can still see my kids. They dont have that choice no more.

Mr. Boyd said he has an enlarged heart and chronic arthritis, and had pneumonia last year.

When I wake up in the morning, Im in pain, Mr. Boyd said in the video. Basically, Im just waiting to die.
Full federal approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for those 16 and older is opening the way for institutions like the military, corporate employers, hospitals and school districts to announce vaccine mandates for their employees.

Within hours of the announcement, the Pentagon, CVS, the State University of New York system and the New York City school system, among others, announced that they would enforce mandates they had prepared to carry out but had made contingent on the F.D.A.s action.

One of the first and largest to move ahead was the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III had already received authorization from President Biden to mandate vaccines for all active-duty troops once the vaccine was fully approved, and he was moving swiftly to put the plans into action, said John F. Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman. The secretary will soon send specific vaccination guidelines to 1.4 million service members.

These efforts ensure the safety of our service members, Mr. Kirby said during a news briefing on Monday. He said the deadline date for getting vaccinated was still being determined.
Outside Staten Island University Hospital this week, as passing cars and fire trucks honked supportively, some employees chanted, I am not a lab rat! They were among the nurses, medical technicians, infection control officers and other staff at the hospital who are denouncing efforts to push them to get vaccinated.

Staten Island has the highest rate of Covid-19 infection of any borough in New York City.

The aggressive opposition to the vaccines, and even to regular testing, at a hospital in New York City  the epidemics onetime epicenter  shows the challenges of reaching the unvaccinated when some of the very people who could serve as role models refuse vaccination.

Some medical workers at the Staten Island hospital are so fiercely opposed that they call themselves The Resistance, after the rebel faction in Star Wars. They are defending what they view as their inherent rights, and their leader is gathering hospital workers from other states in an attempt to create a nationwide movement.

Scientists and medical professionals say that those who refuse vaccines are potentially endangering the lives of patients.
As a desperate U.S. effort to evacuate Americans from Afghanistan gained momentum on Monday, Taliban leaders rejected a suggestion from President Biden that American forces might remain past an Aug. 31 deadline to complete the operation, injecting fresh urgency into an already frantic process.

American officials are increasingly worried that even with the vast number of Afghans, Americans and people of other nationalities evacuated in recent days  a total of about 10,400 people in the 24 hours from Sunday to Monday alone, according to the White House  many still remain to be rescued. In recent days, that operation has increasingly focused on the Americans still left, over the Afghans who worked with the United States.

On Monday, a State Department official said that some former Afghan military interpreters or other close U.S. allies, a designated priority group for evacuations, were being turned away from the airport by American officials in order to give priority to U.S. passport and Green Card holders in recent days. The official was not authorized to brief the press, and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The officials account was supported by interviews with Afghans who have approached the airport in recent days, and with American veterans groups and other organizations that have tried to organize evacuations for interpreters and other Afghans at risk from the Taliban.
Chinas zero-tolerance approach to Covid is starting to wear thin in the eastern city of Yangzhou, much of which has been in a lockdown since the beginning of the month.

Over the weekend, one man got into a brawl with a group of volunteers at a roadblock. After video of the altercation was widely shared online, some residents complained that they could not go out to buy their own food and had to rely on volunteers to deliver produce that some people claimed was rotten.

Beijing initially scrambled to stamp out an outbreak that began on July 21 and quickly spread to half of Chinas provinces and autonomous regions, exposing some limitations of its approach to pandemic control.

The outbreak, which spread fast and often through asymptomatic cases, posed the biggest challenge yet for Chinese officials since the coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan early last year. At one point some domestic health experts even called for a different Covid approach.
Australia, which is battling its worst coronavirus outbreak, must cease lockdowns that attempt to stamp out the virus once the country reaches its initial vaccination target of 70 percent of the eligible population, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday.

We have to deal with it; otherwise we stay in the cave forever, Mr. Morrison told reporters in Canberra, the capital. He pushed back on some state leaders who had suggested that they might continue to enforce lockdowns even after the targets were met. He added, Thats not a sustainable solution.

Australia, which last year was held up as a blueprint for tackling the pandemic, has for the past several weeks been battling a growing outbreak of the faster-spreading Delta variant. The outbreak, which began in Sydney, has led to lockdowns across the nation.

Last month, state leaders agreed to limit restrictions once 70 percent of eligible Australians were vaccinated. Mr. Morrison has said the goal is to begin to reopen international borders once that number reaches 80 percent. (A trial of a program that would allow vaccinated travelers to quarantine at home, rather than in designated hotels, is beginning this week. The countrys largest airline, Qantas, has also introduced incentives for vaccinated travelers.)
Starter episode: Karaoke & Heartbreak

Over the last couple of years, A-list podcast ensembles have become more and more common, and this gripping sci-fi treat from QCode features several actors you know and love. Thirty five years after the U.S.S. Hope disappeared, the families of its crew have long assumed that their loved ones are dead. But when the spaceship unexpectedly returns to earth, a sole survivor (Richard Madden, David Budd in Bodyguard and Robb Stark in Game of Thrones) remains on board  and even more strangely, he hasnt aged a day. What this heady concept means is that Madden and Brian Cox (the paterfamilias Logan Roy in Succession) get to play twin brothers, even though they are 40 years apart in real life; Maddens Edward went to space, while Coxs Hunter stayed behind and aged normally. As Edwards joyful reunion with his family takes a sinister turn, youll be hooked quickly.

Starter episode: Some Kind of Impostor

A wry, gently surreal British sitcom about rival small-town morticians, Wooden Overcoats is as entertaining as it is strangely comforting. Set on the fictional British Channel island of Piffling (just one of many outrageously quaint names), the show follows the twin Funn siblings, Rudyard and Antigone, who run their familys funeral home. Since theirs is the only one on the island, the Funns have gotten away with doing the bare minimum for decades  but that changes when an obnoxiously charming and competent rival, Eric, sets up shop across the street. Thanks to carefully drawn and uniquely bizarre characters, impeccable sound design and writing thats at once sharp and wholesome, Wooden Overcoats has earned its status as a podcast classic  and after a long hiatus, a fourth season is on the way.

Starter episode: The Bane of Rudyard

As countless classic movies have proven, theres no better setting than outer space to delve into the psychological impact of isolation. And in an audio drama, without any visuals to distract you, that isolation takes on an even more intimate quality. Wolf 359 takes place on a remote space station, and initially feels lightweight, focusing on a smartass slacker named Doug whos just trying to stave off the intense boredom of his days in space. But as the ensemble broadens, and a vast, disturbing conspiracy begins to reveal itself, the show gradually becomes a twist-filled, profoundly gripping psychological character drama, blending moments of visceral horror with empathetic reflections on mental illness and abuse.

Starter episode: Succulent Rat-Killing Tar

Mabel begins with the most classic of horror story setups: A woman takes a live-in job at a mysterious, remote house, and soon becomes disturbed by strange occurrences within the house. In this case, our protagonist is Anna Limon, a home nurse whos been hired to take care of Sally, an isolated older woman with dementia. As Anna tries in vain to contact Sallys only living relative, her estranged daughter Mabel, Annas unanswered stream-of-consciousness voice mail messages become the narration to the show. And as things get spookier and spookier inside the house, so does the audio were hearing. The result, told over 40 episodes, is a nuanced and endlessly surprising ghost story.

Starter episode: The Letters

Though Wondery is one of the biggest names in podcasting (and was recently scooped up by Amazon), theyre known more for buzzy nonfiction thrillers like Dirty John and Dr. Death than scripted fare like Blood Ties. But this tightly plotted mystery series, which stars Gillian Jacobs and Josh Gad as two siblings whose parents die unexpectedly in a plane crash, is so binge-worthy that its two seasons may last you only a day. While grieving the loss of their parents, the siblings uncover dark secrets about their family business, and their own relationship begins to fray under the pressure.
On some superficial level, Charlie Watts had always seemed the oddest Rolling Stone, the one who never quite fit as a member of rocks most Dionysian force.

While his bandmates cultivated an attitude of debauched insouciance, Watts, the bands drummer since 1963, kept a quiet, even glum, public persona. He avoided the limelight, wore bespoke suits from Savile Row tailors and remained married to the same woman for more than 50 years.

Watts even seemed barely interested in rock n roll itself. He claimed that it had little influence on him, preferring  and long championing  the jazz heritage of Charlie Parker, Buddy Rich and Max Roach. I never liked Elvis until I met Keith Richards, Watts told Mojo, a British music magazine, in 1994. The only rock n roll player I ever liked when I was young was Fats Domino.

Even the Stones celebrated longevity represented less of a lifes mission to Watts than a tedious job punctuated by brief moments of excitement. In the 1989 documentary 25x5: The Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones, he summed up what was then a quarter-century on the clock with one of the worlds greatest rock n roll bands: Work five years, and 20 years hanging around.
AFTER THE SUN

By Jonas Eika

Translated by Sherilyn Nicolette Hellberg

The word thrill arrives from the verb form of an earlier word, thirl  to make a hole, to pierce, to penetrate  with thirl itself tied back to thruh, from which we get through. I just want to make clear how I mean the word, when describing After the Sun, Jonas Eikas debut collection of stories, as relentlessly thrilling. Many lasting, vibrant scenes involve literal penetration  yes, sexual, but also otherwise, ritualistic, say, or symbolic. And its the language, too, that pierces, thrills. The sentences in these stories stretch past the limits of the ordinary to the luridly extraordinary, and some moments feel as if they are breaking through to the sublime.

Eika is Danish. He published a novel to wide acclaim in his home country in 2015, when he was in his early 20s. After the Sun is his first book translated into English, and kudos to the translator, Sherilyn Nicolette Hellberg, who has managed to capture not just the meaningful absurdities but the energy of a writer determined to defamiliarize everyday usages of language. The effect of the prose is similar to what one character feels while standing in front of a wall of images: as if they had been collected in a parallel universe, where every product was slightly different from the corresponding one in our world, so that, for example, you could identify a bar of chocolate but at the same time find that description inadequate, because you were encountering that object for the first time, and it was glowing, the wall was glowing with colors I had never seen before.
THE CHINESE QUESTION

The Gold Rushes and Global Politics

By Mae Ngai

In his classic treatise on American pauperdom, How the Other Half Lives (1890), Jacob A. Riis, a Danish carpenter turned journalist and photographer, opines, The Chinese are in no sense a desirable element of the population, and they serve no useful purpose here. Ascribing his own failure in penetrating the inner soul of New Yorks Chinatown to proverbial Oriental inscrutability, Riis asserts that each Chinese in America, unlike European immigrants, is a homeless stranger among us.

In hindsight, these racist statements from a progressive social reformer may sound shocking, but as Mae Ngai shows in her meticulously researched book, The Chinese Question: The Gold Rushes and Global Politics, views like Riiss actually represented the prevailing sentiment toward Chinese, not just in the United States but throughout the Anglophone world in the 19th century. Tracking the migration of Chinese to California, Australia and South Africa, Ngai, a professor of history at Columbia University, locates the beginnings of Chinese communities in those far-flung gold-producing regions, where they faced marginalization, violence and exclusion from self-described white mens countries.

The so-called Chinese Question (at the time thorny social issues were called questions: the Negro Question, the Jewish Question, the Woman Question and so on) boiled down to this: Are the Chinese a racial threat to white, Anglo-American countries, and should Chinese be barred from them?

Excavating rich deposits of the past, Ngai has certainly made striking discoveries. She ties the Chinese Question to a pivotal period in the 19th century that saw the ascendence of British and American financial power spurred by gold production, colonial dispossession and capitalist exploitation. Born out of an alchemy of race and money, the history of the Chinese communities in the West, Ngai cogently argues, were not extraneous to the emergent global capitalist economy but an integral part of it.
Biden briefs G7 on Afghan withdrawal

President Biden told world leaders during a virtual meeting that he was still planning for U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan by Aug. 31, though an extended mission was a possibility, according to an official.

The U.S. will begin withdrawing its 6,000 troops in Kabul as soon as this week or this weekend in order to meet the deadline. The longer the troops wait, Biden said during the closed-door meeting, the greater the risk of a terrorist attack, which he described as very high.

The pace of evacuations has accelerated greatly despite the chaos and desperation outside the Kabul airport. But the Taliban announced that they would block Afghans from traveling to the airport. Kabul residents said they were struggling to make ends meet in an economy that, propped up for the past generation by American aid, is now suddenly in free fall.

Secret talks: The C.I.A. director, William Burns, traveled to Kabul this week to meet with the Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar as the U.S. sought more time for the evacuation operation. The Taliban have rejected any plans to extend the deadline for U.S. troops.
After all, the F.D.A. leaders made clear that they had made up their minds long ago about the substantive part of the decision to grant full approval. They publicly endorsed the vaccines, urging Americans to get shots. Dr. Janet Woodcock, the acting commissioner, said three months ago that the vaccines have met our high standards for quality, safety and effectiveness. Early last month, Dr. Peter Marks, who oversees the approval process, wrote, If we truly want our lives to return to normal, the fastest way to do so is simple  get vaccinated right now.

The wait for full approval, then, was more about process than science.

The F.D.R. approach

The second key point is that American history is rich with examples of government officials doing what the F.D.A. decided not to do in this case: overhaul their process in a time of crisis.

Franklin D. Roosevelt repeatedly broke with tradition  and endured confrontation with the courts  to fight the Great Depression. His administration, working closely with business, also threw out the normal bureaucratic procedures to build World War II ships, planes, tanks, bombs and other materiel with stunning speed. In this century, the Federal Reserve under Ben Bernanke took creative risks that helped keep the financial crisis of 2007-9 from becoming another Great Depression. (The title of Bernankes memoir is telling: The Courage to Act.)

In each of the instances, officials avoided taking steps that clearly violated the law. Yet they recognized that the law often includes gray areas and gives government agencies leeway to choose one of several approaches. During normal times, taking the cautious route and following procedural precedent tends to make sense. It minimizes chaos and mistakes.

But a national emergency can change the equation. In an emergency  like a depression, a war or a pandemic  government leaders will sometimes decide that the abstract benefits of bureaucratic continuity are smaller than the concrete benefits of preventing a depression, winning a war or saving lives. These leaders refuse to be bound by precedent.

In 1932, Roosevelt described his approach as: Above all, try something. In 2021, the F.D.A. took a different approach.

More virus news:
Airbnb and its charitable arm, Airbnb.org, said on Tuesday that the company intended to provide free temporary housing globally for 20,000 refugees fleeing the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan.

As American and European governments race to evacuate tens of thousands of people, the property rental company called the displacement and resettlement of refugees a significant humanitarian crisis.

The cost of the accommodations will be covered with money from Airbnb and its chief executive, Brian Chesky, as well as contributions from the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund, which was begun in June with the goal of raising $25 million. The organization is working with resettlement agencies and offered to support federal and state governments.

The displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the U.S. and elsewhere is one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time. We feel a responsibility to step up, Mr. Chesky said on Twitter.
Unionized workers who make Oreos, Chips Ahoy!, Newtons and other Nabisco snacks are on strike in five states over what they say are unfair demands for concessions in contract negotiations.

Members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers union in Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Oregon and Virginia have rejected managements call for changes in shift lengths and overtime rules. The workers are also calling for the restoration of a pension plan, which Nabiscos owner, Mondelez International, replaced in 2018 with a 401(k) program after a contract impasse.

We want our pension back. We earned that, Mike Burlingham, vice president of Local 364 in Portland, Ore., said in an interview. This is a good job, where people plan for retirement. If the company could have their way, that would be gone and it wouldnt be a job worth fighting for at all. The union put the number of striking workers at more than 1,000.

The previous contract expired in May. Union workers say they have often put in 16-hour days as demand for snack foods has increased during the pandemic.
In the early days of the pandemic, scientists reported a reassuring trait in the new coronavirus: It appeared to be very stable. The virus was not mutating very rapidly, making it an easier target for treatments and vaccines.

At the time, the slow mutation rate struck one young scientist as odd. That really made my ears perk up, said Alina Chan, a postdoctoral fellow at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Mass. Dr. Chan wondered whether the new virus was somehow pre-adapted to thrive in humans, before the outbreak even started.

By the time the SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected in Wuhan in late 2019, it looked like it had already picked up the mutations it needed to be very good at spreading among humans, Dr. Chan said. It was already good to go.

The hypothesis, widely disputed by other scientists, was the foundation for an explosive paper posted online in May 2020, in which Dr. Chan and her colleagues questioned the prevailing consensus that the lethal virus had naturally spilled over to humans from bats through an intermediary host animal.
Coomer watched the video in shock. He is adamant that he never participated in any antifa phone call, and he felt disgusted by the accusation that he had done anything to change the results of the election. The Trump campaign and its allies have introduced more than 60 lawsuits claiming election fraud in this country, but no court has found persuasive evidence to support the idea that Coomer, Dominion or anyone else involved in vote-counting changed the election results. Bipartisan audits of paper ballots in closely contested states such as Georgia and Arizona confirmed Bidens victory; and prominent Republicans, including Attorney General Bill Barr and Trumps official in charge of election cybersecurity, have reaffirmed the basic facts of the election: Over all, the results were accurate, the election process was secure and no widespread fraud capable of changing the outcome has been uncovered.

Oltmann is now the subject of a defamation suit brought by Coomer. It currently names, as co-defendants, 14 parties responsible for the dissemination of Oltmanns claims about that alleged antifa phone call, including Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani and the Trump campaign. (Dominion has filed separate defamation suits against Giuliani, Powell, Fox News and others. Lawyers for Giuliani, Powell and for the Trump campaign declined to comment. Fox called the Dominion litigation baseless and defended its right to tell both sides of the story.) Oltmanns best defense would be to provide corroboration of his claims about that phone call  he has said there were as many as 19 people on the line  but he has so far declined to do so.

As Coomer watched the video, though, he felt a second strong emotion: a powerful sense of regret  because the Facebook posts were, in fact, authentic. Why, he thought, hadnt he just deleted them? Coomer could imagine how his words would sound to just about any Republican, let alone someone already hearing on Fox News that Dominion was switching votes for Biden. He told me that he believed every word of what he said on Facebook, but when colleagues later asked him what he was thinking, he was frank: He had screwed up. At a time when well-funded efforts to sow mistrust in the election were already underway, Coomer had given conspiracy theorists a valuable resource, a grain of sand they could transform into something that had the feel  the false promise  of proof.

Elections in the United States are impossibly convoluted. Every county  and, in some states, every municipality  runs its own election, creating a patchwork system in which voters in one place may have a remarkably different voting process from their neighbors just a few miles away. That variation can breed mistrust: If voters in one county believe their election process is being administered correctly, different methods in other counties might strike them as suspect.

Local governments also rely on private companies like Dominion and its competitors ES&S and Hart InterCivic, which together control 90 percent of the voting-machine market, to provide machines, software and technical support. For Americans who are suspicious about an election result  or are looking to create suspicions  these relatively obscure, private companies present an obvious target. In 2004, after George W. Bush narrowly won the presidency, Democrats focused on possible irregularities in Ohio, whose 20 electoral votes would have given the presidency to John Kerry. The voting machines used in Ohio that year came from Diebold, whose chief executive, Walden ODell, was a longtime Republican donor. A year before the election, ODell wrote a letter to about 100 people inviting them to a fund-raiser: I am committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president next year, he wrote. The language reinforced mistrust of Diebold machines among some Democrats. ODell later said the letter was a huge mistake, and Diebold ultimately sold its voting-machine business.

Dominion was founded in the wake of a different controversy: the failure of punch-card voting machines  and their infamous hanging chads  in the 2000 election. After Congress funded a bill to replace those machines, many counties purchased direct-recording electronic (D.R.E.) voting machines, which eliminated paper ballots altogether. The limits of that approach became apparent in 2006, when, in Sarasota, Fla., a Congressional race that used D.R.E. machines made by ES&S produced a result that struck partisans and neutral observers as unlikely. ES&S stood by the results, but in the absence of a paper ballot, doubts and uncertainty lingered.

Dominion was well-positioned at that moment. John Poulos, the companys chief executive and one of its founders, started the business in 2003, serving a small circle of clients who favored a paper ballot. Additionally, Dominion developed a tabulator that kept a digital image of the paper ballots so they could be easily audited. (They also sold machines that met the needs of visually impaired voters, with audio interfaces and headphones that allowed for independence and anonymity.)
To go by the best available advice, then, you are increasing your risk of serious illness by avoiding vaccination and increasing it even more if you are also planning to become pregnant. A doctor who encouraged a patient to skip vaccination out of concerns about fertility or who, in the name of such unfounded claims, assisted her in evading an employers mandate would be violating the first-do-no-harm principle.

There are valid medical reasons for some people to avoid vaccination  but these are extremely rare. Having a compromised immune system is not such a reason; having a serious allergy to vaccine components is. We trust doctors to certify when there are valid reasons to avoid vaccination. A doctor who certified that a patient has a valid medical reason to avoid vaccination because it posed risks to her fertility would be betraying that trust.

These arent the only ethical violations to consider. If a doctor knew better but acceded to the patients request, the note would be a lie. If the doctor didnt know better? That would be culpable professional ignorance  itself a violation of professional ethics. Notice that this is different from many other bogus medical notes in that it exposes both the patient and other people to medical harm. Certifying that someones pet is an emotional-support animal mainly risks annoying other people, like fellow passengers on an airline that still allows E.S.A.s. Lying about someones back condition to help the person qualify for Social Security disability benefits cheats law-abiding citizens. These are bad consequences, but theyre not the kinds of bad consequences that doctors have a special duty to help us avoid.

Either way, I count at least three serious violations. So, yes, you should report a doctor who did this to the state medical board and any other relevant authorities. Of course, the fact that this staff member has announced her plans doesnt mean her physician will comply. There have long been doctors who supplied patients with bogus medical exemptions from routine state-required vaccinations, and even amid the pandemic there will doubtless be doctors who disgrace their profession in this manner. But we can hope such malpractitioners will prove few in number. For the sake of your clinic and of this particular staff member, lets hope her physician recognizes that, in medicine, the customer is often wrong.

Im a project manager at a small consulting company. The head of my department and I have weekly meetings with less experienced staff members to go over goals and progress reports. At one recent meeting, the department head stated that she has double-billed on numerous projects (e.g., conducting field oversight and writing a report during the same time period). She conveyed to the junior staff that this was perfectly OK and encouraged them to do the same.

I should have said something at that time, but I was caught off guard by someone not only admitting that she engaged in an illegal activity but also encouraging others to do so. How do I handle this situation going forward? Our company works under contract for several different local governments, and I am required to sign off on the invoices before submittal. Now I am concerned that I could be implicated. Do I seek legal counsel or consult with the corporate attorney? What if this manager denies everything? She is well respected within our company because her division is extremely profitable. Name Withheld

In a legitimate commercial enterprise, the object isnt simply to make money; its to make money while obeying the law, treating employees decently and so on. Yes, it would have been better had you objected at once. But now you ought to uphold your obligations as a manager (and citizen), while protecting yourself and the company from the consequences of her wrongdoing. Consult with the corporate attorney  and, perhaps first, with an attorney of your own. This years Global Business Ethics Survey Report found that almost 80 percent of U.S. employees who reported misconduct said they experienced retaliation. Thats troubling. We can thrill to stories of moral heroism, but in a properly run institution, you shouldnt have to be a hero to do whats right.

Kwame Anthony Appiah teaches philosophy at N.Y.U. His books include Cosmopolitanism, The Honor Code and The Lies That Bind: Rethinking Identity. To submit a query: Send an email to ethicist@nytimes.com; or send mail to The Ethicist, The New York Times Magazine, 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018. (Include a daytime phone number.)
Gov. Kathy Hochul, in her first day as governor of New York State, called on state health officials to impose a universal mask mandate in public and private schools and said she wanted to institute Covid vaccine-or-test mandates for employees in schools.

Ms. Hochul stopped short of formally implementing either requirement. In a televised address, she said that she was ordering the state Health Department to institute the mask requirement and would partner with all levels of government to implement a vaccine order.

Im working now on getting this done, she said.

But in her first remarks to the public as governor, Ms. Hochul said that her top priority as she took office was ensuring that children could safely return to in-person learning as the Delta variant of the coronavirus spreads across the state.

Priority No. 1: We get children back to school and protect the environment, so they can learn and everyone is safe, Ms. Hochul said.
A detainee was stabbed. A correction officer was slashed. And another person who was incarcerated at Rikers Island had scalding water thrown on him, causing second-degree burns all over his body.

The episodes were included in a letter that a federal monitor filed with a court on Tuesday that described unreasonably high levels of violence this summer at Rikers, New York Citys vast jail complex.

The letter, filed by Steve J. Martin, who was appointed to monitor the city jails, said the violence at the Rikers complex had worsened significantly since a report in May that described a pervasive level of disorder and chaos in the jail system as a whole.

The filing described a series of episodes that began when an assailant passed through an unsecured door to throw scalding water on another person being held at Rikers. One person involved in the attack was stabbed four days later; another assaulted a jail officer and a fellow detainee this month, causing serious injuries to all three people, including the assailant.
When Afghans speak to me now, they all whisper like my friend, hoping desperately to avoid detection. Their workplaces and homes are being raided by armed men, as the Taliban search for journalists, activists, prominent figures  anyone who has spoken out against their brutality. It goes far beyond critics: In some areas of Kabul, the Taliban are reportedly compiling a list of the houses belonging to members of the Hazara and Shia minority communities, whom they consider heretics. While in front of international TV cameras, the Taliban speak of amnesty for all who fought against them, the reality for Afghans there is completely different.

The people Im talking to sometimes go silent. All of a sudden, their Twitter and Instagram accounts stop: no posts, no stories, no tweets. Some have switched to encrypted messaging, their communication ever more frantic. For those who venture outside  bravely pouring onto the streets, for example, to celebrate Afghanistans Independence Day last week, waving now banned Afghan flags  bullets await. The attempt to flee is perilous. Many, including American citizens, have reached the airport only to be stopped, beaten and turned away. Their homes are now marked by the Taliban.

The Afghan people have been all but abandoned to their fate. Despite its promises to evacuate thousands of at-risk Afghans who assisted the United States, the Biden administration has effectively left the job to Afghan American community organizers, operating from overseas with minimal resources. That must change immediately. The Biden administration needs to establish security in and around the airport, beyond the Aug. 31 deadline for final withdrawal, and make certain that everyone who needs to can make it onto an evacuation flight.

The administration must drop its onerous immigration regulations  for example, asking Afghans to present threat letters and insisting they first travel to a third country before their cases are processed  and provide family reunification applications, which should be expedited and prioritized.

It should go further still. In the aftermath of American intervention in Cuba and Vietnam, refugees from both countries were granted refuge; the same should happen now. The United States has a clear role in causing the humanitarian disaster slowly unfolding in Afghanistan today. For those millions of Afghans whose lives have been turned upside down by two decades of American military action, ending in a poorly organized withdrawal, nothing less than a complete humanitarian parole  offered to any Afghan whose life is in danger  will do.
The true fault here lies with the schools administration, whose deer tails popped up as they bolted into the forest, out of a fear of going against the commandments of what we today call antiracism, which apparently includes treating Black people as simpletons and thinking of it as reckoning.

True wokeness would have been to awaken to the tricky but urgent civic responsibility of, when necessary, calling out Black people on nonsense. Yes, even Black people can be wrong. As the Black professor Randall Kennedy of Harvard Law puts it in his upcoming Say It Loud!: Blacks, too, have flaws, sometimes glaringly so. These weaknesses may be the consequence of racist mistreatment. But they are weaknesses nonetheless. To pretend this is never the case where racism is concerned is not to reckon but to dehumanize.

I know  you thought, based on what people of a certain charisma are telling you, that the idea is that where race or racism is concerned, Black people are always right. What matters is not what someone meant, but how the (Black) person says he or she feels about it. Anything less is blaming the victim.

The problem is that to subscribe to this etiquette requires consideration beyond what logic dictates. For example, according to the tenets of critical race theory that has such influence on so many these days, each Black person represents a race-wide narrative of oppression that we need to think about regardless of pesky details such as empiricism or even coherence. Or perhaps Black infallibility is just complicated?

Right. All of us, on some level, know that this is nonsense, and readers who think I am making this point only to white people are quite mistaken. I mean all of us. Neither slavery nor Jim Crow nor redlining renders a peoples judgment of where racism has reared its head infallible.

Treating a people with dignity requires not only listening closely and sympathetically to their grievances, but being able to take a deep breath and call them out on aspects of those grievances that dont make sense. And there will be some, unless those airing the grievance are fictional creations instead of human beings.

On race, we should assess, look ahead rather than backward, channel our thoughts and feelings with cortex rather than brain stem, and think slow rather than fast  and the notion that this counsel is white is science fiction. That goes for both protesters and those whom they protest at. Instead, too much of what passes as enlightenment on race these days involves merely pretending that something makes sense out of fear.
Monday was supposed to be a banner day for former President Donald Trump and the MAGAverse. After multiple delays, legal challenges and public controversies, the results of the third  and hopefully final  review of the presidential voting in Maricopa County, Ariz., was scheduled for delivery to its Republican sponsors in the State Senate. At long last, the proof of mass election fraud would be laid out for all to see! Mr. Trump would be vindicated! Maybe even reinstated!

At least, thats what MAGA die-hards hunkered down in their bunkers of disinformation were hoping. Most everyone else  including plenty of Arizona officials from both parties  just wanted this gong show to end.

Alas, it was not to be. On Monday, the Republican president of the State Senate, Karen Fann, announced that the Cyber Ninjas, the Florida-based firm overseeing the recount, had not yet completed a full draft report after all. It seems the firms chief executive and two other members of the audit team had come down with Covid-19. Also, the State Senate had only just received images of the ballot envelopes from Maricopa County, which still needed to be analyzed for inclusion in the final report.

And so the spectacle grinds on.

The clown-car chaos in Arizona is a near-perfect distillation of what Mr. Trump has done to the Republican Party, as well as much of the broader public. On what feels like a daily basis, he beats the drum about a stolen election, setting a tuneful lie that many Republican voters still dance to as the party mandarins look on, in either active support or silence. The political ramifications of this disinformation will be on display in Arizonas U.S. Senate race next year, as well as those elsewhere, as independents and moderates assess if this is the party they want to reward.
Last Friday, as the clock ticked toward 10 a.m., many labor economists were poised at their keyboards like runners about to do a 100-yard sprint. You see, the Bureau of Labor Statistics was scheduled to release its latest monthly report on state employment and unemployment, and everyone wanted to crunch the numbers and learn what they showed.

Why was this report different from any other report? In June, roughly half the states did something remarkable: They cut off enhanced unemployment benefits, even though the federal government was paying for those enhancements. That is, they turned away free money from Washington  money that was helping many of their residents, and also flowing into their states economies.

The justification for this aid cutoff was the claim that generous unemployment benefits were deterring workers from searching for or accepting jobs, holding back economic recovery. So economists wanted to know whether states that slashed benefits would show faster job growth than states that didnt. This B.L.S. report would give a first indication of whether that was actually happening.

It wasnt; or to be more precise, if there was any effect, it wasnt strong enough to cut through the statistical noise.
Julia Cheek, founder of Everly Health, which provides at-home health tests through its subsidiary, Everlywell, said at a conference in 2019 that comparisons to Ms. Holmes were so frequent that colleagues and advisers even suggested she dye her hair so that the connections would stop. Both women have blond hair. Ms. Cheek did not change her hair color.

Ms. Cheek, 37, attributed the constant analogies to the fact that few female-founded companies get to a certain size and profile, which magnifies the actions of those that do. Women founders have to navigate these types of questions that their male counterparts simply dont have to answer, she said.

The frequent comparisons are pernicious, many entrepreneurs said. In conversations with investors, female founders often field what researchers call prevention questions, which are framed negatively and designed to prevent losses. But male founders are more often asked promotion questions about a start-ups possibilities, which allow them to focus on their hopes and ideals, according to researchers at London Business School and Harvard.

If youre offered a promotion question, you can answer in a promotional way, said Andy Coravos, founder of HumanFirst, an at-home health care start-up. The core issue you have with Elizabeth Holmes is its a prevention question.

Some women said they also felt caught in a start-up ecosystem that venerates bold, disruptive businesses, with investors often forgiving those who bend the rules or who take shortcuts in pursuit of growth.

Beth Esponnette, founder of Unspun, a custom jeans company, said investors had frequently encouraged her to be more aggressive, sometimes to the point of dishonesty. One once advised her to increase her revenue projections by 10 times, a wildly unrealistic level.

Last month, Ms. Esponnette published an essay describing this struggle titled I Get It, Elizabeth Holmes. Many of Ms. Holmess actions were inexcusable, Ms. Esponnette, 33, wrote. But I still believe that she thought she was doing the right thing taking the universal advice of Silicon Valley: Fake it till you make it.
It would have been better to stay and die in Afghanistan than make this journey.

AN AFGHAN REFUGEE, 20, after she and her family were pushed back three times as they tried to cross into Turkey from Iran.
SACRAMENTO  For a generation, Larry Elder has been an AM radio fixture for millions of Californians, the voice they could count on when they were fed up with liberal Democratic politics. Undocumented immigrants? Deport them. Affirmative action? End it. Equal pay? The glass ceiling doesnt exist.

Now Mr. Elder, a Los Angeles Republican who bills himself as the sage from South Central, could end up as the next governor of the nations most populous state. As the campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom has become a dead heat among likely voters, Mr. Elder has emerged almost overnight as the front-runner in the campaign to replace him.

Fueled by a combination of arcane recall rules, name recognition and partisan desperation, his rise to the top of a pack of some four dozen challengers has stunned and unnerved many in both parties.

Democrats call him the agent of a far-right power grab. Republican rivals say he is an inexperienced, debate-dodging opportunist. Orrin Heatlie, the retired sheriffs sergeant who is the recalls lead proponent, said he and his fellow activists were voting for someone else.
Massachusetts is preparing to introduce a mask mandate for the states public schools as early as Wednesday, in a reversal for Gov. Charlie Baker, who has vocally advocated for local control of school masking policy.

Mr. Baker, a Republican in a deeply Democratic state, had come under pressure to make masks mandatory in schools, and a poll released last week suggested that 81 percent of Massachusetts voters support the idea.

The state education board on Tuesday voted 9 to 1 to give the education commissioner, Jeffrey Riley, the power to issue a mandate. Mr. Riley is expected to issue the mandate this week, establishing uniform requirements ahead of school openings.

Massachusetts has not joined the list of states  including New Jersey, Oregon and Washington  that require teachers to get the vaccine. According to a New York Times data tracker, 75 percent of Massachusettss population has received at least one dose, a higher rate than any state except Vermont.
Oregon is restoring a statewide mask mandate, ordering both vaccinated and unvaccinated people to wear masks when gathering indoors or out.

Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, said on Tuesday that masks  which will be required starting on Friday  were needed to fight rising coronavirus cases fueled by the Delta variant. She called face coverings a simple yet critical tool to help keep Oregonians safe.

The Delta variant is much more contagious than previous variants weve seen, and it has dramatically increased the amount of virus in our communities, Ms. Brown said in a statement. Masks have proven to be effective at bringing case counts down, and are a necessary measure right now, even in some outdoor settings, to help fight Covid and protect one another.

Oregon is the first state to reintroduce an outdoor mask mandate for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people since the Delta-driven surge took hold in the early summer, and among a handful to reimpose an indoor mask requirement statewide.
As of Tuesday evening, Mr. Biden said that 12,000 people were evacuated from Kabul during the previous 12 hours, the result of 19 military flights and 31 coalition flights. That brings the total number evacuated since the end of July to 75,900 people, the president said  well beyond the upper limits of what the Pentagon said was possible only days earlier.

Whether that pace can keep up is unclear  much depends on getting those with the right passports or visas to Kabul and through the airport gates, amid reports of beatings and long waits in the citys brutal sun. But in interviews, senior aides indicated that they saw a chance of bringing some order to the chaos  and with it, a sense that they were regaining some modest control over a government collapse in Kabul they did not see coming until it was already underway.

In the past several days, top administration officials have seized on the airlift as the heart of what they hope is a better story to tell: tens of thousands of people evacuated from Kabul safely, with no fatalities among American troops. They are sending multiple updates to reporters each day showing that the pace of people being flown to safety is accelerating.

In private conversations and in public statements, officials  including the president himself  have suggested that the evacuation of American citizens and Afghan allies is likely to rank among the most ambitious such efforts ever. Their hope is that if the history books mark this moment, it will be as evidence of order and operational competence.

On Friday, Mr. Biden described the evacuation as one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history, saying the United States is the only country in the world capable of projecting this much power on the far side of the world with this degree of precision.
The top Republican in the Pennsylvania State Senate promised this week to carry out a broad review of the 2020 election results, a move that comes as G.O.P. lawmakers continue to sow doubts about the contests legitimacy by pushing to re-examine votes in battleground states like Arizona.

State Senator Jake Corman, who serves as president pro tempore of the G.O.P.-controlled chamber, made the comments in an interview with a right-wing radio host, and they were first reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer on Tuesday. His remarks were the strongest sign yet that Pennsylvania  which President Biden won by more than 80,000 votes  may press forward with a review of 2020 results, despite no evidence of voter fraud that would have affected the outcome.

In the interview, Mr. Corman said that he wanted to begin almost immediately and that hearings would begin this week. He added that he expected to use the full power of the states General Assembly, including subpoenas, to conduct the review, which he referred to as a forensic investigation.

We can bring people in, we can put them under oath, we can subpoena records, and thats what we need to do and thats what were going to do, Mr. Corman said. And so were going to move forward.
They are no murder hornets; they are harmless to animals and humans. But they can devastate valuable crops like vineyards. In 2019, researchers at the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences warned that the spotted lanternfly had the potential to cost Pennsylvanias economy $325 million a year and 2,800 jobs.

They cover trees by the hundreds and swarm in the air. The sweet substance they secrete, known as honeydew, has coated decks and playgrounds.

These are called bad bugs for a reason, said the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, which has set up a hotline  1-888-4BADFLY  for residents to report sightings. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture named its eradication campaign Stomp It Out. In Ohio, residents have been told to scrape off any lanternfly eggs they see on trees, double-bag them, and throw them away or immerse them in hand sanitizer or alcohol.

The need to stamp out the bug will grow even more urgent next month, when the adults must feed voraciously to reproduce so they can lay eggs around October and November, said Julie Urban, an evolutionary biologist in the Penn State entomology department who has studied lanternflies for two decades.

She said she had heard joggers in Pennsylvania parks scream when the insects landed on them. Yoga practitioners at a vineyard were unnerved one year when swarms of lanternflies began hitting them on the head, Professor Urban said.
DAKAR, Senegal  Hissene Habre, the former president of Chad, died on Tuesday while serving a life sentence in Senegal for crimes against humanity, including killings, torture and sex offenses, during his rule in the 1980s. He was 79.

His death was confirmed by Lt. Mame Balla Faye, the director of the Cap Manuel prison in Senegal, the West African country where Mr. Habre was being held after being convicted there in 2016. Mr. Faye did not provide further details.

He was not in prison at his death, however, according to news media reports. He had spent 10 days in a nearby clinic receiving treatment for complications of diabetes and high blood pressure, Senegalese news media said. Some outlets reported that he had been infected with the coronavirus.

Mr. Habre was allowed out of prison for 60 days in April 2020 after a judge said he was particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus. His wife had long petitioned the Senegalese authorities to release him on health grounds even before the pandemic.
We are currently on a pace to finish by August the 31st. The sooner we can finish, the better. Each day of operations brings added risk to our troops. But the completion by Aug. 31 depends upon the Taliban continuing to cooperate and allow access to the airport for those who were transporting out, and no disruption to our operations. In addition, Ive asked the Pentagon and the State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timetable should that become necessary. Im determined to ensure that we complete our mission, this mission, every day Every day were on the ground is another day we know that ISIS-K is seeking to target the airport, and attack both U.S. and allied forces, and innocent civilians. Additionally, thus far, the Taliban have been taking steps to work with us so we can get our people out. But its a tenuous situation. Were already had some gunfighting break out. We run a serious risk of it breaking down as time goes on. Second, the G7 leaders and the leaders of the E.U., NATO and the U.N. all agreed that we will stand united in our approach to the Taliban. We agreed the legitimacy of any future government depends on the approach it now takes to uphold international obligations, including to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a base for terrorism. And we agree that none of us are going to take the Talibans word for it.
WASHINGTON  The C.I.A. director, William J. Burns, traveled to Kabul for talks with the Taliban leadership, American officials familiar with his visit said on Tuesday, conducting the administrations highest-level in-person talks so far with the new de facto leaders of Afghanistan.

Mr. Burns, a former longtime diplomat who is the Biden administrations most experienced back-channel negotiator, met on Monday with Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban leader who had led diplomatic negotiations in Qatar with the U.S. government that began during the Trump administration.

While American officials would not provide details of the brief trip, they said Mr. Burns was not there to negotiate an extension of President Bidens planned Aug. 31 troop withdrawal. Indeed, after Mr. Burns departed, the Taliban announced they would reject any postponement of the American militarys departure, and Mr. Biden said he would not seek one, though he left open the possibility of shifting course.

Mr. Burnss negotiations appeared to be more general, covering the evacuation operations and terrorist threats. American officials need the Taliban to tolerate the evacuation flights and to help stop the Islamic State or others from mounting attacks on Afghan civilians, including any suicide bombings outside the airport, American officials have said.
SINGAPORE  Vice President Kamala Harris sought to fortify the image of the United States as a credible ally by offering a sharp rebuke of China during an address on Tuesday in Southeast Asia. Her effort comes as the White House faces growing questions about its reliability as an international partner amid continuing violence in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

In the South China Sea, we know that Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea, Ms. Harris said in Singapore. She added that Chinas unlawful claims had continued to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations.

The White House is aiming to refocus U.S. foreign policy strategy on competing with Chinas rising economic influence rather than on continuing to fight forever wars, such as the two-decade long conflict in Afghanistan. The chaotic effort to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies from Kabul has overshadowed the vice presidents trip, which began on Sunday in Singapore and took her to Vietnam on Tuesday.

Ms. Harriss overseas trip, her second as vice president, gained heightened urgency in the days before she boarded Air Force Two. The journey had been seen as a chance to bolster economic and security ties with key partners in Singapore and Vietnam, a crucial piece of President Bidens strategy in the South China Sea. But in the wake of the haphazard withdrawal from Afghanistan, her trip became the administrations first test of the White House efforts to reassure the world that it can still be a trusted international partner.
WASHINGTON  The World Bank said on Tuesday that it had halted disbursements of aid money to Afghanistan as it assesses how the Taliban plan to rule the country.

A World Bank spokesperson said that the international development organization is deeply concerned about the situation in Afghanistan, particularly the impact that the new leadership will have on women in the country. The bank plans to monitor how the leadership transition proceeds and consult with the international community.

The World Bank has committed more than $5.3 billion for development projects in Afghanistan since 2002 and has raised nearly $13 billion for the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, which it administers. The bank had committed nearly $800 million to the country in 2021.

The decision follows a move by the International Monetary Fund last week to freeze the distribution of more than $400 million in emergency currency reserves that were allocated to Afghanistan amid a lack of clarity over the legitimacy of a Taliban-led government.
Hissene Habre, the former president of Chad, has died while serving a life sentence for crimes against humanity, including killings, torture and sex crimes, during his rule in the 1980s. He was 79.

Mr. Habres death was announced on Tuesday by the Justice Ministry in Senegal, the West African country in which he was convicted, according to news agencies. The former presidents wife also confirmed his death to news media in Senegal, several of which reported that he had died after being infected with the coronavirus.

Mr. Habre was allowed out of prison for 60 days in April because a judge said he was particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus. His wife had long petitioned the Senegalese authorities to release him on health grounds.
BAR, Montenegro  Smoking kills, but the millions of cigarettes that slipped through the concrete warehouses of Montenegros main port on the Adriatic Sea were particularly lethal.

A long list of journalists and investigators lost their lives, as did criminals involved in an illicit cigarette trade that, with the covert blessing of the United States, had been a major industry for Montenegro since the Balkan wars of the 1990s.

Now Montenegro says it is determined to extinguish the smuggling trade.

Everybody knew what was going on, but nobody wanted to touch it, said Dritan Abazovic, a deputy prime minister responsible for security who is leading the drive by Montenegros new government to halt what has been a lucrative business.

European countries lost billions of dollars in tax revenue as cigarettes  both real and counterfeit  stored in the Adriatic port of Bar were transported from Montenegro westward using false documents.
Mr. Netanyahu successfully encouraged President Trump to abandon the deal. He also accelerated a long-running shadow war with Iran and sealed diplomatic agreements with four Arab countries that once ostracized Israel  deals that he hoped would help his fight against Iran.

Understand the Infrastructure Bill One trillion dollar package passed. The Senate passed a sweeping bipartisan infrastructure package on Aug. 10, capping weeks of intense negotiations and debate over the largest federal investment in the nations aging public works system in more than a decade. The final vote. The final tally in the Senate was 69 in favor to 30 against. The legislation, which still must pass the House, would touch nearly every facet of the American economy and fortify the nations response to the warming of the planet. Main areas of spending. Overall, the bipartisan plan focuses spending on transportation, utilities and pollution cleanup. Transportation . About $110 billion would go to roads, bridges and other transportation projects; $25 billion for airports; and $66 billion for railways, giving Amtrak the most funding it has received since it was founded in 1971. Utilities . Senators have also included $65 billion meant to connect hard-to-reach rural communities to high-speed internet and help sign up low-income city dwellers who cannot afford it, and $8 billion for Western water infrastructure. Pollution cleanup : Roughly $21 billion would go to cleaning up abandoned wells and mines, and Superfund sites.



But Mr. Bennetts constructive tone differs from that of Mr. Netanyahu, who had a strong relationship with the Trump administration but a fraught one with the Democratic administrations that book-ended Mr. Trumps tenure. In 2015, Mr. Netanyahu antagonized President Obama with a combative speech before Congress that criticized the impending nuclear deal, and in 2010 he embarrassed Mr. Biden, then Mr. Obamas vice president, when his government announced new settlement construction in East Jerusalem shortly after Mr. Biden arrived in Israel on an official visit.

It took Mr. Biden nearly a month after his inauguration to call Mr. Netanyahu, which some Israeli analysts took as a snub. In contrast, Mr. Biden called Mr. Bennett just two hours after the new Israeli leader had been sworn into office.

Mr. Bennetts more conciliatory approach is part of a wider effort by the new premier to show that Israel has moved on from Mr. Netanyahu, who developed an increasingly fractious relationship with congressional Democrats and polarized American Jews, an approach that critics said risked turning seven decades of solid American support for Israel into a partisan issue.

By contrast, Mr. Bennett heads a diverse governing coalition that he says aims to soothe Israels social and political divisions, tackle domestic policy conundrums that went unaddressed during Mr. Netanyahus final years in power and heal relations with the Biden administration and estranged Arab countries, like Jordan.

We could be this lighthouse in a storm, if you will, Mr. Bennett said.

A former high-tech entrepreneur who spent parts of his childhood in the United States and Canada and speaks fluent English, Mr. Bennett represents a new generation in Israeli politics. The first Israeli prime minister to wear a kippa, a Jewish skullcap, he has long moved easily between the religious and secular worlds and says the skills required for building successful start-ups equally apply when it comes to rebooting the country.
Under the arrangement, the Jordanian government has retained administrative oversight of the Temple Mount, known to Arabs as the Noble Sanctuary or the Aqsa compound. The Aqsa Mosque and the golden Dome of the Rock, a shrine that Muslim tradition considers to be the spot where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven, are situated on its limestone plaza.

Israel has overall security authority and maintains a small police station there.

The government officially allows non-Muslims to visit the site for several hours each morning on the condition that they not pray there. Though no Israeli law explicitly bars Jewish prayer there, Jewish visitors who attempt to pray there have historically been removed or reprimanded by the police.

When this balance of power has appeared to teeter, it has often led to violence.

When Ariel Sharon, a former Israeli prime minister, toured the mount in 2000, surrounded by hundreds of police officers, the provocation led to the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising.

When Israel briefly installed metal detectors at the mounts gates in 2017, it led to unrest that left several people dead and briefly threatened to unleash another major uprising.

And when the Israeli police raided the compound several times last spring, it contributed to tensions that led to an 11-day war with Hamas, the militant Islamist group in the Gaza Strip, as well as days of unrest within Israel.

The policy began to change during the tenure of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels longest-serving prime minister, who led coalitions of right-wing and religious parties. Rabbi Glick said that the police began to allow him and his allies to pray on the mount more openly five years ago.
Share of the population that is age

Share of the population that is age

Share of the population that is age

The United States has a far higher share of seniors without full vaccine protection than many other wealthy countries, a key risk factor driving serious Covid-19 illness and death, a Times analysis shows.

As the Delta variant has torn across the country, Americas pace of vaccinations has sped up after months of relative stagnation, and full federal approval of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday could extend that momentum. Just over half of Americans are now fully vaccinated.

But national averages mask the high rate of older Americans who remain deeply vulnerable. Older people still account for most Covid-19 deaths, and in many counties, especially in the South and Mountain West, seniors without full vaccination make up more than 10 percent of the total population.

We have swaths of populations in counties who are healthy Americans, over 60, who are not vaccinated, said Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers. These people are at extreme risk, and they dont realize it.

Share of the population that is age 65+ and not fully vaccinated High levels of elderly vaccination have protected many northeastern states, despite their having some of the countrys oldest populations. 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% Wash. MAINE Mont. N.d. Minn. Ore. N.H. WIS. Idaho MASS. S.D. N.Y. Conn. Mich. Wyo. R.I. PA. N.j. Iowa Neb. Nev. Ohio Md. Del. Ind. UTAH Ill. Colo. Kan. Mo. Ky. CALIF. N.C. Tenn. Okla. Ariz. Ark. N.M. S.C. Ala. Miss. Texas LA. ALASKA Fla. Many southern states with surging outbreaks have large pockets of elderly residents who arent fully vaccinated. Share of the population that is age 65+ and not fully vaccinated 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% Wash. High levels of elderly vaccination have protected many northeastern states, despite their having some of the countrys oldest populations. MAINE Mont. N.d. Minn. Ore. N.H. WIS. Idaho MASS. S.D. N.Y. Conn. Mich. Wyo. R.I. N.j. PA. Iowa Neb. Nev. Ohio Md. Del. Ind. Ill. UTAH Colo. Kan. Mo. Ky. CALIF. N.C. Tenn. Okla. Ariz. Ark. N.M. S.C. Ala. Miss. Texas LA. ALASKA Fla. Many southern states with surging outbreaks have large pockets of elderly residents who arent fully vaccinated. High levels of elderly vaccination have protected many northeastern states, despite their having some of the countrys oldest populations. Many Southern states with surging outbreaks have large pockets of elderly residents who arent fully vaccinated. MAINE Ky. N.C. Tenn. N.H. Ark. S.C. MASS. N.Y. R.I. Conn. Ala. Miss. PA. N.J. LA. Md. Del. Fla. Share of the population that is age 65+ and not fully vaccinated 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% High levels of elderly vaccination have protected many northeastern states, despite their having some of the countrys oldest populations. MAINE N.H. MASS. N.Y. Conn. R.I. PA. N.J. Md. Del. Many Southern states with surging outbreaks have large pockets of elderly residents who arent fully vaccinated. Ky. N.C. Tenn. Ark. S.C. Ala. Miss. LA. Fla. Share of the population that is age 65+ and not fully vaccinated 2% 4% 6% 8% 10%

By contrast, unvaccinated seniors in Britain, Spain and Canada are relatively rare. And they are rare there no matter where you live: Those nations also have far fewer disparities between the most and least vaccinated areas, according to local immunization data.

Even London, which has higher rates of vaccine hesitancy among seniors than the rest of Britain, is far ahead of most of the United States in its vaccination rates.

That discrepancy may help explain why the Delta wave has led to such a higher rate of death in the United States than in Britain, public health experts say. Although cases surged in both countries, those cases caused many fewer hospitalizations and deaths in Britain, suggesting that vaccines had weakened the link between infection and serious disease.

Cases in the U.K. reached 80% of the winter peak this summer, but Covid-19 deaths and hospitalizations rose only modestly. 100% of winter peak Estimated date Delta became the dominant variant 75% Cases 50% 25% Hospital admissions Deaths 0% Oct. 2020 Jan. April July But in the United States, Covid-19 deaths are rising more quickly, and hospital admissions have already reached 75% of the winter peak. 100% of winter peak Hospital admissions 75% Cases 50% Deaths 25% 0% Oct. 2020 Jan. April July Cases in the U.K. reached 80% of the winter peak this summer, but Covid-19 deaths and hospitalizations rose only modestly. 100% of winter peak Estimated date Delta became the dominant variant 75% Cases 50% 25% Hospital admissions Deaths 0% Oct. 2020 Jan. April July But in the United States, Covid-19 deaths are rising more quickly, and hospital admissions have already reached 75% of the winter peak. 100% of winter peak Hospital admissions 75% Cases 50% Deaths 25% 0% Oct. 2020 Jan. April July Cases in the U.K. reached 80% of the winter peak this summer, but Covid-19 deaths and hospitalizations rose only modestly. 100% of winter peak Estimated date Delta became the dominant variant 75% Cases 50% Hospital admissions 25% Deaths Oct. 2020 Jan. April July But in the United States, Covid-19 deaths are rising more quickly, and hospital admissions have already reached 75% of the winter peak. 100% of winter peak Hospital admissions 75% Cases Deaths 50% 25% Oct. 2020 Jan. April July Note: Deaths are shown shifted backwards by 14 days, and hospital admissions by seven days, to reflect the typical delay between a positive test and an outcome.

While older Americans are more likely to be vaccinated than younger Americans, seniors without full vaccine protection are at much higher risk of dying from Covid-19.

The Delta variant has hit many areas with clusters of vulnerable seniors particularly hard. Low elderly vaccination rates in Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana and Nevada have coincided with surging rates of hospitalization and death.

Comparisons between countries are inexact, and no single factor determines how many people get seriously sick or die during a Covid-19 outbreak. Overall vaccination coverage in a community, as well as existing health conditions, access to medical care and individual behavior like mask wearing all play large roles.

Some areas at high risk in the United States have not yet experienced severe Delta outbreaks, including parts of Colorado, Kansas and North Dakota.

But vaccines are highly effective at preventing serious illness and death, even against the Delta variant, and public health experts say the level of senior vaccination is a useful tool for understanding vulnerability during an outbreak.

While younger, unvaccinated adults are making up an increasing share of new hospital visits, the vast majority of people dying from Covid-19 are people who are older and unvaccinated, said David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University.

As in the United States, France and Italy have struggled with vaccine hesitancy among many seniors. The rates of less protected older people in some areas, like Sicily in Italy and Marseille in France, rival those in the American South. Japan, whose rollout has been impeded by shortages of doses, has some of the lowest elderly vaccination rates in the developed world.

Where vulnerable seniors live in eight countries Share of the population that is age 65+ and not fully vaccinated. Circles are sized by population. Note: Canada, Israel, Italy and Spain provide vaccination data for people age 60 to 69, but not 65 and above. In these countries, the fully vaccinated share of people age 65 and over is estimated by assuming equal vaccination rates for 60- to 64-year-olds and 65- to 69-year-olds.

Vaccine hesitancy is not unique to the United States, but it is more widespread and forceful than in Europe, and it breaks down more clearly along political lines. State and local governments have also been less willing than European leaders to use mandates to pressure residents to be vaccinated.

The Food and Drug Administrations decision to grant full approval on Monday to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could lead some people who have been hesitant to get vaccinated. And it will speed up vaccine mandates: The Pentagon has said it will require shots for 1.4 million active-duty troops, and some hospitals, colleges, corporations and other organizations are expected to follow suit.

But those mandates are still narrower than those in parts of Europe, where policy-making is more centralized. All French and Italian residents must show proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test to gain entry to most indoor venues, including restaurants and bars.

Signing up older Americans for their first shot remains a struggle, public health experts say, as people who really wanted a vaccine have already gotten it. While getting to a vaccine provider may still be an issue for some, especially in more rural areas, many more people are resistant to immunization because of their politics and personal beliefs, and those of their friends and family.

We have really tried to get them vaccinated, said Molly Howell, the immunization director for the North Dakota Department of Health, where health officials have sent letters to every unvaccinated senior in the state. There just seems to be a lack of trust in public health and government, and even a lack of trust of medical professionals.
The Malaysian Palm Oil Council has hired DCI Group for a public affairs push to support its efforts to improve the labor and human rights policies and practices in Malaysia.

Human Rights Watch reports that the coalition that came to power in Malaysia in March 2020 launched a crackdown on media freedom, free speech, refugees and migrants.

In January, the government used the COVID-19 pandemic to declare a state of emergency, the first in 50 years, according to HRW.

A new prime minister, Malaysias third in three years, took power on Aug. 21.

Palm oil is an ingredient in more than half of the packaged goods (food, detergents, cosmetics) used by Americans.

Malaysia accounted for 25.8 percent of the worlds production and 34.3 percent of exports in 2020.

DCI also will enhance the market expansion of Malaysian palm oil by creating better acceptance of it through awareness of various techno-economic advantages and environmental sustainability, according to its Justice Dept. filing.

The firms one-year contract is worth $25K in monthly fees.
TULLAMORE D.E.W whiskey has won the Irish Whiskey Taste Master 2021 for its 18-year-old single malt whiskey.

Four Masters in total were produced at the competition with Tullamore emerging as winners.

The event took place at the Ibis Hotel in London Bridge. Each entrant was placed in a bag and labelled anonymously, to ensure that every whiskey was judged exclusively on its quality and taste.

The flavour of the Tullamore Dew whiskey was described by judges as of green apples, brambles, oatcakes and sweet spices.

Tullamore Dew single malt whiskey is triple distilled. It is finished in 4 different cask types, including ex-bourbon barrels, ex-oloroso sherry butts, ex-port pipes, and ex madeira drums.

The Tullamore Dew distillery produces three whiskies, grain, single malt and pot still. Two more products are due for release by the distillery before Christmas.

Tullamore Dew 14-year-old whiskey also received a gold medal at the competition.

A decision on a proposal to open a new visitor centre at the distillery which is located in Clonminch is due on September 5 next.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan T.D. has welcomed the next stage in testing hydrogen buses as part of the Department of Transports Low Emission Bus Trial.

Following the testing of a single-deck hydrogen fuel-cell bus last November, a new hydrogen fuel cell electric double-deck bus will now be tested on Wednesday, August 25 & Thursday, August 26 in Dublin.

The vehicle will be tested on a modified Dublin Bus route 9.

The bus will be driven to simulate real-driving conditions while examining emissions and energy efficiencies. An assessment of costs and infrastructural requirements will also be undertaken.

This will be the final phase of the Departments Low-Emission Bus Trial, which has previously tested a range of alternative fuel technologies including electric, hybrid and gas technologies.

The Department of Transport is working with Bus Eireann, Go-Ahead Ireland, BOC Gas, and consultants Byrne O Cleirigh to carry out the testing and the results will form part of the decision-making process to help further transition the public transport fleet to lower-emitting fuels and technologies.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan T.D. said: We are now in the final stages of testing alternative fuel technologies which will inform how our bus fleet will operate and how we can support a sustainable transport system across Ireland.

"In line with climate action targets, we are investing in alternatively fuelled vehicle technology across bus and rail with the objective of transitioning all public transport to low-zero emission fuels and technologies. I am delighted to welcome this trial which will provide practical insight into the operation and impact of hydrogen technology and allow us to assess it alongside other previously tested bus technologies. By examining all available technologies, we can best determine how to power our future urban bus fleets while improving sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) and Bus Eireann recently unveiled three of the new hydrogen-fuel-cell-electric double-deck buses which are already being used on commuter services in the Greater Dublin Area. The buses are initially serving Bus Eireanns route 105X, which runs between Dublin and Ratoath, County Meath.

The report on the findings of Phase Two of the Low-Emission Bus Trial will be published later this year.
Falling between the cracks of remembrance: who were the dead of the Irish Revolution, 1916-21? is the subject of Offaly History Society's lecture on Monday night next, August 30 at 7.30pm.

The lecture will be via zoom - Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89520703882 Meeting ID: 895 2070 3882

The speaker is Daithi O Corrain who lectures in the School of History and Geography at DCU and is chair of the MA in History. He has published widely on the Irish Revolution, 1912-23 and Irish Catholicism.

In terms of the Irish Revolution there has been a tendency to focus on well-known events such as the 1916 Rising, Soloheadbeg and Bloody Sunday, among others.

While welcome, this provides only a snapshot of the grim human toll of the Irish Revolution.

Until the publication of The Dead of the Irish Revolution there was no agreement on so vital a fundamental as the number of people who died, let alone their life stories or why they were killed. This paper will discuss the scale of lethal violence in which 2,850 people  civilians, republicans, police and British military  died. It will set out both national and local trends, explain causes of and responsibility for death, and examine a selection of individual but largely forgotten cases from Offaly and the Midlands.

Lastly, it will explain how the stories of the dead were recovered and why this is important.

Daithi is the author of Rendering to God and Caesar: the Irish churches and the two states in Ireland, 1949-73 (2006) and chapters on Irish Catholicism in The Cambridge Social History of Modern Ireland (2017), the Cambridge History of Ireland (2018) and the forthcoming Oxford History of British and Irish Catholicism.

He is co-editor with Professor Marian Lyons of The Irish Revolution, 1912-23 series of county histories published by Four Courts Press. His latest book (with Eunan OHalpin) is the landmark The Dead of the Irish Revolution (Yale, 2020).
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Christian Association And Alliance For Social Action (CASA), is all set to release its short movie Muhammad: The Pocso Criminal on the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse is an annual global awareness (November 19). The short film is made with the intention of spreading awareness about rising child abuse cases. Muhammad will be the first short film released by CASA in its awareness campaign.

The short movie directed by Derin Vasco is about an incident that had happened in Assams Dibrugarh district in 1997. A 6-year-old girl was raped and murdered by Muhammad who was a Bangladeshi national.

The shooting of this short movie will commence from October first week and the movie will be released on various online platforms on November 19, announced CASA through their Facebook page.
Saha Sarkaryavah of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Dr Krishna Gopal has said that the sentiment that Bharat expressed during the pandemic period was not seen anywhere else in the world. during the Corona period, every social and religious organisation of the country did service according to its capability. Service has been an integral part of philosophy and Sanatan Sanskar for thousands of years. Indian society progresses only with the capital of this spirituality. There is a lack of capital in the form of compassion and co-operation in the Western world. That is the fundamental difference.

Further, he added, We also stood up from the horrors of Corona because people here take pleasure in serving others. It is also our responsibility to make the world aware. Today the world is witnessing how India has conquered the tragedy of Corona on the basis of the collective power of society.

To deal with the unexpected crisis of Corona, National Service Bharti conducted various types of service work in the country. This service work should awaken the spirit of inspiration in the conscience of society. Consequently, a coffee table book title Vayam Rashtrangbhuta, a book titled Service story of sensitive India in Corona period and a documentary Saundary Din Seva Ke have been made. On August 17, these special compilations were released and broadcast in the august presence of Dr. Krishna Gopalji, Saha Sarkaryavah of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at NDMC Convention Center in New Delhi.

Edited by Shri Prashant Pol, the introduction of the book Sensitive India's service story in the Corona period has been written by Shri Suresh (Bhaiyaji) Joshiji, former Sarkaryavah of RSS. Through the introduction, he has described the compilation as a page in the history of an unimaginable period. Similarly, in the foreword of Vayam Rashtrangbhuta, Shri Bhaiyaji said that after seeing and reading this compilation, everyone would get new inspiration and energy for social service.
Paying homage to all those who lost their lives at the bomb blast of Shakti karyalaya in Chennai, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale recalled the martyrdom of Karyakartas of Tamil Nadu.

I pay my respectful homage to all of them. Their supreme sacrifice will ever inspire the Swayamsevaks to shoulder the noble task of the nation. That was on August 8, 1993; I distinctly remember that I was attending the wedding of an ABVP karyakarta at Mysore, and the shocking news of Chennai came. The sudden reaction was that Tamil Nadu is going the Kashmir way!, said Dattatreya Hosabaleji. In his heart-rending message, Sarkaryavah said Pujya Balasaheb Deorasjis visit was not only a consoling incident but also an inspiring and confidence-building event! So many years have passed. We all know the current situation. At this juncture, I gratefully recall the martyrdom of our Karyakartas of Tamil Nadu and pay my respectful homage to all of them. Their supreme sacrifice will ever inspire the swayamsevaks to shoulder the noble task of the nation. My pranams to all adhikaris and Karyakartas.

Today I remember the fateful day and pay my homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives at the altar of Mother Bharat. Sangh Adhikaris and karyakartas paid floral tributes to all the 11 killed in the Chennai Karyalaya Bomb blast on August 8, 1993. It was the 28th Martyrs day of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.


Dibya Kamal Bordoloi

Guwahati: In yet another encounter with criminals, Assam police killed an arms smuggler in Karimganj district on Monday night. Nurul Islam who allegedly tried to flee custody while he was taken for a search operation by police was killed in the encounter. Nurul Islam along with an aide was arrested on Monday in a joint operation by BSF and Karimganj police team. Police recovered a pen pistol and four 7.65mm pistols and four magazines from Islam.

According to the police sources, Nurul Islam, was being taken to Niralagaon in Badarpur on Monday night in search of one more of his accomplices and arms, when he allegedly tried to escape.

Police had to open fire on Islam, who died after sustaining bullet injuries. Karimganj police revealed that Nurul Islam was involved in arms smuggling racket.

Police sources further revealed that a strong network of arms smuggling rackets is active in bordering areas of Karimganj district. This racket smuggles small arms from neighbouring Bangladesh and supplies to criminals in Barak valley. BSF and Assam police now jointly increase the vigil to check this racket. Monday's operation was jointly carried out by BSF and Assam police. Karimganj police are now investigating the matter and looking for other accomplices of killed arms smuggler Nurul Islam.
Dibya Kamal Bordoloi

With an aim to provide big relief to poor women borrowers, as per the election promises of ruling BJP, who are not able to return the loan amount of Micro Finance Institutions, the Finance Department of the Government of Assam signed an MOU with Microfinance Institutions for implementation of Assam Micro Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme (AMFIRS), 2021in the presence of Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma at a programme held at Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati on Tuesday.

Altogether 38 MFIs and Banks signed the MoU with the state government, which will remain in force till March 31, 2023.

Amongst the prominent MFIs and Banks that signed the MoU include Microfinance Institutions Network, North East Small Finance Bank, Association of Small Finance Bank of India, Nightingale Finvest Private Limited, Grameen Development and Finance Pvt. Ltd., North East Micro Finance Association, Bandhan Bank Ltd, Arohan Financial Services Ltd, HDFC Bank Ltd, Fusion Microfinance Pvt Ltd, L&T Financial Services and Asirvad Microfinance Ltd.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sarma said that the Assam government in its first cabinet meeting formed a committee under the chairmanship of Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Ashok Singhal to fulfil its election promise of waiving micro-finance loan to provide succour to poor women who are not able to return the loan amount.

Accordingly, Assam Micro Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme has been devised with an objective to balance long term view of ensuring continuity of micro-finance for supporting economic activities of low income and poor households in the state and providing relief to eligible customers for tiding over current stress in the micro-finance sector due to various operational reasons, the Chief Minister said.

Till June, 2021 there were 14 lakh microfinance borrowers in the state. Chief Minister Dr. Sarma informed that the new scheme would involve Rs. 12,000 crore credit portfolio, out of which State government would be required to expend around Rs. 7,200 crore.

He further said the scheme emphasizes responsible lending by financial institutions through compliance of RBI regulations and industry guidelines in letter and spirit, while promoting responsible borrowing and timely repayment culture among customers.

Detailing the provision of the MoU, the CM said that relief under the scheme shall be extended to all borrowers to the extent of loan amount up to 1.25 lakh3 by maximum 3 lenders. To become eligible for the scheme, concerned borrower will have to fulfill eligibility or non-eligibility conditions as laid down in the guidelines.

The Chief Minister further said that under the scheme borrowers who have been repaying regularly with Zero Past Due will be provided one-time incentive to the extent of their outstanding balance, subject to a cap of Rs. 25,000/-. Similarly, borrowers whose payments are overdue, that is the accounts which are overdue but not NPA, the state government will pay the overdue amount. All such borrowers will be encouraged to make timely installment payments so that their accounts remain standard and credit culture is reinforced. To incentivize such credit discipline, the government, after observing such borrowers for a time period, as may be decided with mutual consultations, on a case to case basis, make onetime incentive payment of Rs. 25,000/- or equal to the outstanding balance, whichever is lower. Further, borrowers who are stressed, destitute and whose accounts have become NPA will need to apply through a format verified & certified by the lender. Government will consider providing partial relief or full relief based on detailed evaluation.

The Chief Minister also said that many people in the state are stressed by private money lenders. Keeping this in view, the state government decided to promote borrowing through MFI and Banks only that carry out their operations strictly adhering to RBI guidelines. The CM also urged the MFIs and Banks to maintain fair practice code of RBI while disbursing loans in future. Dr. Sarma at the same time called upon the people to ensure judicious utilization of borrowed money.

MFIs representatives while welcoming the state government initiative hailed it as historic and affirmed conviction that the move would go a long way in ensuring 100% financial inclusion in the state.

Assam Government waives 7200 crore microfinance loans of poor women borrowers; Signed MoU with MFIs

Dibya Kamal Bordoloi

With an aim to provide big relief to poor women borrowers, as per the election promises of ruling BJP, who are not able to return the loan amount of Micro Finance Institutions, the Finance Department of the Government of Assam signed an MOU with Microfinance Institutions for implementation of Assam Micro Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme (AMFIRS), 2021in the presence of Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma at a programme held at Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati on Tuesday.

Altogether 38 MFIs and Banks signed the MoU with the state government, which will remain in force till March 31, 2023.

Amongst the prominent MFIs and Banks that signed the MoU include Microfinance Institutions Network, North East Small Finance Bank, Association of Small Finance Bank of India, Nightingale Finvest Private Limited, Grameen Development and Finance Pvt. Ltd., North East Micro Finance Association, Bandhan Bank Ltd, Arohan Financial Services Ltd, HDFC Bank Ltd, Fusion Microfinance Pvt Ltd, L&T Financial Services and Asirvad Microfinance Ltd.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sarma said that the Assam government in its first cabinet meeting formed a committee under the chairmanship of Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Ashok Singhal to fulfil its election promise of waiving micro-finance loan to provide succour to poor women who are not able to return the loan amount.

Accordingly, Assam Micro Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme has been devised with an objective to balance long term view of ensuring continuity of micro-finance for supporting economic activities of low income and poor households in the state and providing relief to eligible customers for tiding over current stress in the micro-finance sector due to various operational reasons, the Chief Minister said.

Till June, 2021 there were 14 lakh microfinance borrowers in the state. Chief Minister Dr. Sarma informed that the new scheme would involve Rs. 12,000 crore credit portfolio, out of which State government would be required to expend around Rs. 7,200 crore.

He further said the scheme emphasizes responsible lending by financial institutions through compliance of RBI regulations and industry guidelines in letter and spirit, while promoting responsible borrowing and timely repayment culture among customers.

Detailing the provision of the MoU, the CM said that relief under the scheme shall be extended to all borrowers to the extent of loan amount up to 1.25 lakh3 by maximum 3 lenders. To become eligible for the scheme, concerned borrower will have to fulfill eligibility or non-eligibility conditions as laid down in the guidelines.

The Chief Minister further said that under the scheme borrowers who have been repaying regularly with Zero Past Due will be provided one-time incentive to the extent of their outstanding balance, subject to a cap of Rs. 25,000/-. Similarly, borrowers whose payments are overdue, that is the accounts which are overdue but not NPA, the state government will pay the overdue amount. All such borrowers will be encouraged to make timely installment payments so that their accounts remain standard and credit culture is reinforced. To incentivize such credit discipline, the government, after observing such borrowers for a time period, as may be decided with mutual consultations, on a case to case basis, make onetime incentive payment of Rs. 25,000/- or equal to the outstanding balance, whichever is lower. Further, borrowers who are stressed, destitute and whose accounts have become NPA will need to apply through a format verified & certified by the lender. Government will consider providing partial relief or full relief based on detailed evaluation.

The Chief Minister also said that many people in the state are stressed by private money lenders. Keeping this in view, the state government decided to promote borrowing through MFI and Banks only that carry out their operations strictly adhering to RBI guidelines. The CM also urged the MFIs and Banks to maintain fair practice code of RBI while disbursing loans in future. Dr. Sarma at the same time called upon the people to ensure judicious utilization of borrowed money.

MFIs representatives while welcoming the state government initiative hailed it as historic and affirmed conviction that the move would go a long way in ensuring 100% financial inclusion in the state.
Nirendra Dev

Late Arun Jaitley served as a Union Finance Minister and held charge of Defence portfolio for two brief periods under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was also a minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 1999 and 2004.



New Delhi: BJP chief J P Nadda and Union ministers, including Amit Shah and Dr S Jaishankar, on Wednesday, August 24, paid homage to the former Minister and their esteemed party colleague Arun Jaitley on his second death anniversary.



"Arun Jaitley had wide knowledge about the constitution, a great debater and was also a popular leader," Home Minister Amit Shah wrote in his tweet in Hindi. Late Jaitley had contributed memorably to the country's polity, he said.



External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar wrote in his message: "Tribute to Shri Arun Jaitley ji, with his large heart and great mind. His contribution to Indias progress is beyond measure."



BJP national president J P Nadda said that Late Jaitley had contributed immensely to the country and the BJP as an organisation.



Late Jaitley served as a Union Finance Minister and held charge of Defence portfolio for two brief periods under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was also a minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 1999 and 2004, holding portfolios like Information and Broadcasting and Commerce.



From 2009 he was Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, and his debating skills even left political detractors impressed.

Born December 28, 1952, he breathed his last on August 24, 2019. Some of his best debates were during the Lokpal crisis and on the Liberhan Commission report on Ayodhya and GST Bill.



Earlier in 2002, he was one of few leaders who defended Narendra Modi strongly for the post-Godhra riots. For long - he was the real 'Delhi' contact - the eyes and ears - of Narendra Modi. On the political front, he was hailed as a 'good poll manager' as he often brought electoral success to the saffron party - in states like Gujarat and Bihar. Despite falling ill, Jaitley took a key part in BJP's election campaign in 2019, and though he was a member of the Rajya Sabha, he did not join the cabinet because of health reasons. In fact, on the eve of swearing-in, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had gone to his house to see his 'ailing friend'.



Political rival S Jaipal Reddy of Congress would, however, differ: "He is a successful poll manager for BJP, but he contested no big election."



He was the darling of media - especially the BJP beat correspondents for years. He was called 'Bureau Chief' as he knew a galaxy of journalists by their first name. He also knew how to mock journalists, and many also said - his wit was often not grasped well by capital's journalists. Once to a crowded group of scribes in his office, Late Jaitley had said - "Well then, many journalists are standing and most of the others are outstanding."



Some of his 'friends' often joked that Jaitley could have been a good newspaper editor, too. The grapevine in the media has been - he knew how to plan stories for journalists and would give them 'leads'. Some bitter detractors among BJP leaders more often complained that he also knew how to 'plan' stories for or against many politicians.
Sumeet Mehta

Congress and Nehru - Gandhi Dynasty will invest heavily in its last-ditch effort to save itself from getting washed off from the country's political landscape.



History has shown that Congress has never come to power in states where it lost three assembly elections in a row. That leads to the party slowly losing relevance in local bodies, too, once a political alternative is available. The only exception is Madhya Pradesh, where Congress won the 2018 elections after a hiatus of 15 years.



I am sure this is a cause of severe concern for Congress in general and the sole proprietors of the party  Nehru - Gandhi Dynasty  in particular. They need to be concerned about the loss of all their influence over bureaucracy and judiciary with this final collapse in the 2024 general elections. This will spell a disaster for Congress because the victory of BJP in 2024 will drive an exodus of Congress party members from the party. This, in turn, will lead Congress and Nehru - Gandhi Dynasty down the hill towards obliteration. This will be why Congress and Nehru - Gandhi Dynasty will invest heavily in its last-ditch effort to save itself from getting washed off from the country's political landscape.



Currently, Congress and Nehru - Gandhi Dynasty are not working on winning the 2024 general elections. They are fully aware that they cannot win elections and install a Congressi in the PMO. Hence, Congress will prefer a third - fourth - fifth - sixth - nth front coalition forming a government with outside support of Congress. This will help Congress retain its stranglehold over bureaucracy and ensure the judiciary doesn't slip out of its control zone. Frequently changing Prime Ministers will come as a bonus for Congress, as it will handle misgovernance. At the same time, the coalition Prime Minister enjoys the glamour of Prime Ministership and has to take the blame and responsibility for misgovernance. This will be a smart strategy of Congress to instil in the public consciousness the need to give a decisive electoral verdict in favour of Congress, to avoid political turbulence and uncertainty arising from frequently changing Prime Ministers. Congress is also fully aware that once BJP loses 2024, it will take decades before it can project another person who can win the imagination of the masses. So for the foreseeable future, BJP will be finished.



Electioneering for 2024 has already begun with leftist style hyperactive agitprop against the government on everything - including good government initiatives like Farm Bills, leading to agriculture sector reforms. Opposition to Article 370, CAA, and Ram Mandir is more to appease Muslims and retain their confidence and support than to oppose the government for the sake of opposing. This will get viler as we get closer to 2024. Woke SJWism on feminist and casteist issues and blatant misinformation campaign to further false atrocities on Muslims and Christians, to show government and country in a bad light will be one of the templates Congress will use to sway a critical mass of BJP voters away from BJP. Along with this, media will be used effectively to share misinformation on the failure of governance by BJP, exactly the way they did during CAA and Farm Bills. The strategy is a mix of intimidation and shaming to first silence vocal BJP supporters on social media and nudge fence-sitters and silent sympathisers and supporters to either vote for the other party or press NOTA.



2024 elections is a fight to finish for both sides. It is a battle of survival for Congress and a battle of supremacy for BJP.

The real fight will start with the 2022 UP assembly elections. Lucknow is the gateway to Delhi. Results of the 2022 UP assembly elections will be the leading indicator of the outcome of the 2024 general elections. UP assembly elections are something for everyone to watch out with the bated breath.



(The writer is a Chartered Accountant by qualification and a Corporate Finance and Investment Professional. He is also the author of Diagnosing GST for Doctors, published by CNBC Books 18. He tweets from @sumeetnmehta.)
Dibya Kamal Bordoloi

Guwahati: An Assam Civil Service (ACS) official Saibur Rahman was arrested on Tuesday by the Chief Ministers Vigilance Cell for allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Police said Saibar Rahman, was being investigated based on a complaint of having misappropriated property. A complaint was lodged against Rahman that during his tenure as additional deputy commissioner in Dhubri, he had acquired the huge property by illegal and corrupt means. Interestingly Rahman is close to AIUDF chief MP Badaruddind Ajmal and Rahman's second wife Minakshi Rahman was a candidate of the AIUDF party in the Sarukhetri constituency in the Barpeta district in the last assembly election held in March-April this year.

SP of the vigilance cell informed that the civil servant Rahman has 89 landed properties in his or his two wives name worth rupees almost 100 crores. Police also found

moveable and immoveable assets belonging to him, worth over Rs 6.38 crore. More than 90 per cent of these properties are disproportionate to his known sources of income which is only Rs 6 crore, according to his tax return file. A case 01/2021 U/S 420/406/409 IPC R/W Sec 13(1)(b)/2(c) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment Act) 2018 was registered against him in Vigilance Police Station.

It should be mentioned that arrested Saibur Rahman married his second wife, a Hindu girl while he was posted as ADC in Morigaon district. His second wife Minakshi Das now Minakshi Rahman was his subordinate employee and the alleged forceful marriage had become a topic of controversy.

Investigating police said that Rahman bought 89 landed properties during 2002 and 2021 mostly in Barpeta district of lower Assam.

Rahman was posted as deputy secretary in the Welfare of Minorities and Development Department.
Air India flight with 78 people, including 53 Sikhs and Hindus who are Afghan nationals and three Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji reached Delhi from Dushanbe.

New Delhi: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan and Bharatiya Janata Party leader RP Singh received three Swaroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib on Tuesday (August 24) brought from Kabul at the Delhi airport.



Hardeep Singh Puri, in a tweet, said, "Blessed to receive & pay obeisance to three holy Swaroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from Kabul to Delhi a short while ago."



President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee Manjinder Singh Sirsa was also present on the occasion.



"I request PM & HM to amend CAA and extend the cut-off date from 2014 to 2021 so that people coming from Afghanistan get benefitted & lead a safe life here and their children are able to study here," Sirsa later said in a tweet.



Earlier in the morning, Sirsa had informed in a tweet that an Air India flight with 78 people, including 53 Sikhs and Hindus who are Afghan nationals and three Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji would be reaching Delhi from Dushanbe.



These people were yesterday airlifted to Dushanbe from Kabul in an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft.



The three Sri Guru Granth Sahib will be taken in a procession to Guru Arjan Dev Ji Gurdwara in the New Mahavir Nagar area of Delhi.

Earlier on Monday (August 23), Hardeep Singh Puri had informed about the three Sri Guru Granth Sahib being taken to an IAF aircraft.



"Three Sri Guru Granth Sahib are being escorted to IAF aircraft at Kabul Airport. 46 Afghan Hindus and Sikhs along with stranded Indian nationals are blessed to return on the same flight," he tweeted.



Courtesy: ANI


Hate preacher Anjem Choudary, based in Britain, wrote a 3,500-word treatise titled Sincere Advice to The Leadership of The Taliban.



Islamic hate preacher, who inspired a generation of jihadi fighters and terrorists, wrote a treatise asking the Taliban to impose Sharia strictly.



Anjem Choudary, based in London and preaches hate against non-Muslims, said music is un-Islamic and should be banned. He added that women should not be allowed to go out alone.



He suggested the Taliban There should be the removal of all borders and an invitation to all Muslims to become citizens of the new Islamic State to unite the Muslim land of the Indian sub-continent, to begin with, to be the precursor of greater unity under the Khilafah (caliphate)."



Choudary was jailed five years ago for supporting the terrorist organisation the Islamic State and was banned from speaking in public following his release. The ban from public speaking was lifted last month, leaving him free to spread his hate against non-Muslims.



Choudary suggested the British and the American forces were legitimate targets and urged the Taliban fighters to point their guns at occupying forces and anyone who stands in the way of implementing the rule of Allah.




Nirendra Dev

The release said both the leaders emphasised the commonality of perspectives between both sides on promoting inclusive cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.



New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday (August 23) evening, spoke to German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel, and both the leaders discussed the unfolding security situation in Afghanistan and its implications on the region and the rest of the world.



"They emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and security, with the most urgent priority being the repatriation of stranded people," an MEA release said here.



The two leaders also discussed issues on the bilateral agenda, including cooperation in Covid-19 vaccines, development cooperation focusing on climate and energy, and fostering trade and economic relations.



Mr Modi and Ms Merkel exchanged views on issues of multilateral interest, such as the forthcoming COP-26 meeting and the Indian initiative to promote a dialogue on maritime security at the United Nations Security Council.



The release said both the leaders emphasised the commonality of perspectives between both sides on promoting inclusive cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.



The interactions between PM Modi and the German leader have their own significance in the given circumstances, as German troops are among the forces securing the Kabul airport, and some were also involved in the gun battle on Monday, August 23.



India has evacuated about 550 people, including 400 Indians. Indian Air Force planes have evacuated some Indian origin, Afghan politicians, and a few Nepali citizens.



Mr Modi also tweeted to share information about his tele talks with Ms Merkel and said both sides reiterated the commitment to strengthen the India-Germany Strategic Partnership.


Nalanda University, in collaboration with the Delhi-based India Foundation, is organising the 6th International Dharma-Dhamma Conference on November 7-9 in Nalanda in Bihar.

The stated aim of the conference is to bring together religious, political and thought leaders from Dharma-Dhamma traditions to ponder over building a philosophical framework for the emerging new world order.

The India Foundation has invited papers from the participants which would be presented in the conference.

India Foundation & Nalanda University invites Research Papers for presentation in 6th Dharma Dhamma Conference on the theme Dharma-Dhamma Traditions in building the Post-Covid World Order. Last Date for Submission of Abstract: 31 August 202 India Foundation posted on Twitter.

The theme of the conference is Dharma-Dhamma Traditions in building the Post-Covid World Order.

The old world order is crumbling and is giving way to a new world order. In a statement, the India Foundation noted The old-world order, based on economy, trade and defence, as the essential bonding factors between nations, is giving way to a new one in the post-Covid era.

It added New agenda items of urgency like climate change and other environmental issues; healthcare, not as disease management but with an emphasis on healthy living; technologies like AI, robotics, big data and block chain, that impact everyday human life directly and indirectly.

Hinduism and Buddhism have answers to many of the challenges emerging in society. The India Foundation statement noted The Dharma-Dhamma traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism, together with other religious persuasions of the East, have distinctly holistic and inclusive answers to the challenges of the emerging post-Covid world order. The Dharma-Dhamma approach to environment, holistic healthcare, human-centric development and human dignity can act as a defining wisdom for mankind in its endeavour for survival and progress on the principles of peaceful coexistence, non-violence, truth, amity and respect for all other forms of life.
Nirendra Dev

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Aug 24, had a detailed and useful exchange of views with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Had a detailed and useful exchange of views with my friend President Putin on recent developments in Afghanistan. We also discussed issues on the bilateral agenda, including India-Russia cooperation against COVID-19," the Prime Minister tweeted.

He also said both the leaders agreed to "continue close consultations" on important issues.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister held tele talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Both the leaders stressed on the importance of 'repatriation' of stranded people in Afghanistan.

Boris Johnson has recently said in a tweet: It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years".

The virtual meeting of G-7 countries  the U.K., the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan is expected to formulate a new plan for the immediate term and moot long term measures as hundreds of Afghan nationals and others continue to gather around Kabul airport trying to flee Afghanistan.

In the emerging equations in the Af-Pak region, Russia is expected to play an important role along with two other nations such as China and Iran.

Boris Johnson and others, including French President Emmanuel Macron, are pushing US President Joe Biden to extend his self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline for the total withdrawal of US and NATO forces in order to facilitate smooth evacuation of all foreign nationals.

The Talibans have, however, opposed this.

There will be 'consequences' if the deadline for withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan is extended beyond August 31, the Taliban said.
Dalhousie, Princeton, and the University of Mass-Boston have withdrawn from a virtual conference titled "Dismantling Global Hindutva".



After the Hindu American Foundation wrote to the heads of 41 American universities, three have withdrawn from the Anti-Hindu conference.



HAF's campaign to write to 41 universities ostensibly co-sponsoring the DGH event resulted in over 650,000 messages being delivered in less than 24 hours, overwhelming the system. The official DGH website has been down all day. Where are we now? posted the Hindu American Foundation (HAF).



It added, Three universities--Dalhousie, Princeton, and University of Mass-Boston--have confirmed that they are not sponsors and asked that their logos be removed. 3 other logos were removed from the DGH site before it went down. We'll still be following up with others.



Radicals are organising a virtual conference titled "Dismantling Global Hindutva" from September 10-12. Earlier, 41 American universities were sponsoring the event. But, after the protest, three have dropped their names.



Audrey Truschke has been leading the hate campaign against Hindus in the garb of academics. Rashmi Samant, who was hounded by the radicals after she won the presidential election for the Oxford University Students Union, said, She attacks Hindus and Hinduism in broad daylight and then claims victimhood by claiming to be criticising the current government.




N J Thakuria



Guwahati: Completing the Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Assam on Tuesday, Union ports, shipping & waterways and AYUSH minister Sarbananda Sonowal offered heartfelt gratitude to karyakartas of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) along with representatives of civil society groups, who extended their supports to the former State chief minister which Sonowal terms as his strength.



Addressing a selected gathering of people at Khalihamari of Dibrugarh in eastern Assam, Sonowal bared his heart with appreciations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for extending whole hearted supports to Assam as well as other north-eastern States in the process of developments. Sonowal urged the residents of Northeast to continue blessing PM Modi

for his future missions.



Addressing a series of meetings in various localities during the last three days, Sonowal asserted that the progress in the region started as the BJP party led NDA formed government in New Delhi following the general elections in 2014. It was later fast-tracked as the saffron party won in 2016 Assam assembly elections.



In presence of another central minister from the State Rameshwar Teli, Sonowal did not forget to criticise the Congress party for its careless attitude to the region. He claimed that the entire north-eastern region was lagging behind in developments, because of the century-old partys step-motherly attitudes during its rule for decades after the countrys independence.



Sonowal in his maiden visit to Assam, after being inducted into the Union cabinet led by PM Modi, even did not spare former PM Dr Manmohan Singh for his reluctance to initiate developmental activities in the region, even though he represented Assam in Rajya Sabha for decades.



Arriving in the city with a three-day interactive mission with the BJP workers and common people on Saturday morning, Sonowal also added that the landlocked region would witness more welfare and development related works in the coming days. In presence of Assam BJP president Bhabesh Kalita, Sonowal also praised incumbent State CM Himanta Biswa

Sarma for bold offensives against the menace of drugs to save the future generation.



Sonowal on the penultimate day of his visit, attended public meetings at Demow, Jorhat, Mariani, etc, and also prayed at historic Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar, which was established by Mohapurus Shrimanta Shankardevs prime disciple Sri Sri Madhabdev in the fifteen century to spread the message of spirituality and harmony. Earlier, he visited Batadrava, the sacred birthplace of Gurujona in Nagaon locality.
Nirendra Dev

One particular concern is that the Taliban has released hundreds of prisoners, including suspected Al-Qaeda operatives, across Afghanistan.

New Delhi: Once bitten, but the US cannot afford to be shy. In the coming months, the US Intelligence sleuths will get into much more aggressive stances and pro-active roles to keep an eye on signs of recruitment by Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and nearby areas of Pakistan.

As we are approaching 9/11, for them to be able to reclaim Afghanistan, think about what that does for recruitment, says a CNN report quoting an unnamed US counterterrorism official.

The National Counterterrorism Center has noted in a recent report that terrorist groups from Pakistan to Syria have publicly celebrated US defeat in Afghanistan.

One particular concern is that the Taliban has released hundreds of prisoners, including suspected Al-Qaeda operatives, across Afghanistan. Since the US withdrawal of forces and Taliban takeover, it is apprehended now that several senior Al Qaeda leaders who fled to other countries in the past could now return to Afghanistan.

In fact, days before the fall of Kabul, the US Department of Homeland has said that the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks could catalyze violence in the United States. In the long term, it is being perceived by all stakeholders that Afghanistan could eventually turn into a safe haven from which terrorists can recruit, train, launch attacks and also maintain media operations (social media included) to inspire attacks in the United States.

On behalf of the US administration, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has already said: The threat...is something we are focused on with every tool in our arsenal. In the wake of the withdrawal of US forces, it is already being suggested that the American establishment as of now faces a huge challenge to streamline and fill the intelligence vacuum in Afghanistan.

Amid chaotic scenes at the Hamid Karzai International Airport at Aizawl, Taliban militants guard as hundreds of native Afghan men and women and children gather to flee the country.

Congressman Steve Chabot slams Pakistan

In his address to the virtual gala of the Hindu Political Action Committee, Congressman Steve Chabot, Co-Chair of the India Caucus, said that he applauds the Indian government for welcoming the Afghan religious minorities who have a good reason to fear persecution.

In contrast, we all know that Pakistan, and particularly its intelligence services, played a key role in fostering the Taliban and allowing them to take over, eventually. It's just disgusting to watch Pakistani officials celebrate the victory of this group that will bring untold brutality to the Afghan people, Chabot said.

Pakistan''s own persecution of religious minorities, however, gets a lot less attention here in America than it deserves. We would do well to educate our fellow citizens about these abuses," he said, adding, persecution is particularly manifested in the heinous practise of kidnapping, forced conversion to Islam and forced marriage of underage Hindu girls to older Muslim men.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad Joint General Secretary Surendra Jain accused the Muslims in Afghanistan for being when Hindus and Sikhs were facing abuse.



New Delhi: Vishwa Hindu Parishad Joint General Secretary Surendra Jain on Tuesday (August 24) objected to the migration of Muslims from Afghanistan to India, adding that the VHP volunteers would prefer to help Hindus and Sikhs who have migrated from the war-torn country. Speaking to ANI, he said, "Migration of Hindus and Sikhs are quite natural as they were in less number and after the Taliban took over control of the country as it has become impossible for minorities to live in Afghanistan. Our workers will meet and help them with every possible thing, but I object to the migration of Muslims to India."



He further said, "Many people have come and took shelter here, like Rohingyas from Bangladesh, and now they are involved in terrorist activities. Muslims from Afghanistan should not come, they have no right. No Islamic country is ready to accept them. Now, who will be ready to take their responsibilities?"



"I believe that not all Muslims from Afghanistan have tortured Hindus and Sikhs. When atrocities were unleashed on Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan, the Muslims were mute spectators and clapping. Hence, they are equally responsible for violence against the minority communities in Afghanistan. Supporters of the Taliban in India claim that Muslims in India are feeling suffocate so it is better they stay there itself," said Jain.



Demanding Indian citizenship for Hindus and Sikhs who migrated from Afghanistan, he questioned Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Akali leaders whether they support citizenship being given to Sikhs coming from Afghanistan.



Courtesy: ANI
If youre walking along Larkin Street near Ashman Street on a weekday  roughly between May and November  chances are you might see three or four guys sitting at the top of some concrete stairs.

These are the gentlemen from the maintenance department at St. Brigid Catholic School.

Sometimes I see them when they are on their lunch break doing what they do best: greeting people who pass by.

They are polite and friendly but they draw you in with their equally humorous side. These folks kind of remind me of Statler and Waldorf from the Muppets who sit up in the balcony and share commentary about everything  only there are four of them instead of two.

If I have time to stop, as we are chatting they soon discover how Im doing and I will inquire about them as well. And eventually one of them might offer up a joke or some teasing, as the situation allows. (Like the time I locked my keys in the car.)

Im not exactly sure how I met this group. It might have been while I was preparing a coffee order for them at Espresso Milano. Or I could have been someone they waved to as I was going into work.

But thats just part of their neighborly wayyou might not remember how you met them but you will end up waving back, chatting and probably sharing a laugh. And then you will walk away with a smile.

One of the members of this group is Gary Hollingshead of Midland. He is the maintenance supervisor and has worked at St. Brigid for 30 years.

Ive been coming to Milano since it opened, he said. Actually, I had to wait two years. I had to make coffee on my own all that time  it was terrible.

He and his wife, Susie Hollingshead, a teacher at the school, have been married for 18 years. There is an interesting story behind how they met.

She dropped off her application at the school, but they didnt need a teacher at that moment, he said. Then a few days later, the administrator said the school needed a kindergarten teacher. They had thrown away the application, so I went dumpster diving for her number and found it in a trash bag. She was hired and we were married two years later.

While he enjoys greeting the public on the stairs, his favorite part about working at St. Brigid is standing out front in the morning and greeting the students as they arrive.

Another member of the group, Ron Torka of Sanford, has been working in maintenance at the school for 19 years.

Like the others, he mentioned that he enjoys working with the students and their families. He also enjoys the camaraderie with the staff.

Torka pointed out that his group at the top of the stairs will talk to anyone.

We heckle a few people if they deserve it, he said. Even the ticket man.

He is referring to Tim Stockton who took over as a parking attendant after Barb Ader retired.

Andrew Reed of Midland, who started working at the school in 2011, has an interesting connection with Ader.

Barb is my wifes aunt, he said. She would come by and heckle us! She would say, what are you guys doing sitting on the steps? Youre doing nothing.

Reeds wife, Kyla Reed, works at Huntington Bank.

When Andrew started coming to Milano, he would either get a mudslide or what he sometimes calls a twisted rabbit  a cross between the white and the tan rabbit.

Andrew enjoys being part of the maintenance crew at St. Brigid. And he enjoys chatting with people as well.

Even if we dont know their name, we start waving, he said.

Joe Sira, a 2018 Bullock Creek High School graduate, has worked in the maintenance department for more than two years. He attends Saginaw Valley State University where he studies marketing.

He also enjoys his co-workers as well as the people who stop by.

Its great being out on the porch and seeing you guys in the afternoons, Sira said.

He also admires their gift of gab.

I just like how they can talk to anyone and everyone, he said.

It seems like just yesterday when the guys were first introducing him as the newest addition to their crew. They joked around at that time about teaching him in the ways of the porch. I have yet to hear him heckle anyone but Im sure its in the works.

Siras girlfriend, Lexi Moulton, is a 2019 Bullock Creek graduate who is studying social work at SVSU. Sira and Moulton met during track season his senior year. Moulton sometimes stops by to visit him and the others as they eat their lunch on the stairs.

This group of gentlemen all agree that they know many people. They mentioned the Mackinac Center, city workers and former students. But there are many others from downtown and beyond.

And though they often share lighthearted conversations, they also remember the details. They mentioned talking with Bret Cousineau about his recent car trouble.

And they remembered that I went to Florida for a memorial service and to check on a relative. Thats pretty nice.

Which is how I would describe the guys at the top of the stairs outside of St. Brigid Catholic School ... pretty nice.

Niky House, a barista at Espresso Milano in Midland, and local freelance writer, pens this Coffee Shop Talk column series for the Midland Daily News.
Michigan Sugar Company announced Aug. 24 that it plans to invest more than $65 million in its future.

During a media event held at the piling ground near the companys Bay City factory, representatives with the company announced the investment would allow it to double its sugar extraction from molasses.

The $65 million investment will allow the company to construct a desugarization facility at its Bay City factory.

The facility will allow Michigan Sugar Company to produce up to an additional 80 million pounds of pure, all-natural sugar annually from molasses, that is a byproduct of the process through which sugar is extracted from sugarbeets, a company press release read.

According to the release, the company is currently able to extract approximately 60% of the sugar from molasses and the investment will increase that extraction rate to 100%.

We are going to produce up to 80 million more pounds of sugar annually without planting another acre of sugarbeets, said Adam Herford, a grower-owner from Elkton, who serves as chairman of the board. That means 80 million more pounds without any additional passes over our farm fields with our equipment, without any further spraying of our crops to ward off disease and pests, and without burning any additional fuel on our farms to expand operations.

This truly is a win-win for all involved, Herford continued.

Herford said the facility will replace the current equipment, which was installed in the 1990s.

This is one of the most substantial investments made in the history of our company and brings Michigan Sugar Company up to par with other sugar producers across the United States, Herford said.

According to the release, the company currently processes 325 tons of molasses daily, and after the construction, which is expected to last 18 to 24 months, that amount will increase to as much as 650 tons daily.

Michigan Sugar President and CEO Mark S. Flegenheimer said because molasses is a byproduct of sugar production, it doesnt yield the return that sugar does.

Simply put, we can sell sugar at a higher price than we sell molasses, he said. Our nearly 900 grower-owners will see added annual revenue of $10 million to $15 million, in perpetuity.

Flegenheimer said the investment is historic not only for the company, but also the owners, employees, customers and communities.

According to the release, Michigan Sugar Companys grower-owners are spread across 20 Michigan counties, as well as Ontario, Canada.

In addition to the companys $65 million investment in its Bay City factory, the company will also be adding $4 million in juice softening equipment at its factories in Caro and Sebewaing.

Jason Lowry, VP of operations said when factories desugar molasses, it needs to be soft.

We have the juice softening equipment in Bay City and we installed juice softening equipment at our factory in Croswell as part of a $70 million capital upgrade of that facility over the past six years, Lowry said. Now well add that equipment in Caro and Sebewaing, which means those factories and those communities also will benefit from our investment.

Joining Michigan Sugar Company at the event were several elected officials at the state and local levels, including Rep. Timothy Beson and Rep. Annette Glenn, as well as Monitor Township Supervisor Terry Spencer.

As one of our townships largest taxpayers and employers, we depend greatly on Michigan Sugar Company as a pillar of our economy, Spencer said. This is a company with 930 year-round employees, 1,100 seasonal workers, an annual payroll of more than $65 million and an economic impact of more than $500 million.

Construction on the 22,000 square foot facility is expected to start this fall and is expected to be completed by fall of 2023.
BIG RAPIDS  Lovers of art in Big Rapids are familiar with Artworks, a nonprofit organization which offers programming to bring the arts in various forms to the Mecosta County area.

Artworks recently welcomed new executive director Ric Underhile, who will spearhead many of the organizations projects and directives throughout the year.

Underhile, who is originally from Arizona, lived in Grand Rapids for the past 22 years before moving to Canadian Lakes. He earned a bachelors degree in piano performance from Illinois Wesleyan University and later earned his Ph.D. in health education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale before working as a counselor.

Later, Underhile found work at Aquinas College as a grant writer, and eventually connected with artists friends around the state who inspired him to get back into work in the arts. This inspiration led to finding the executive director position at Artworks through longtime friend and Artworks exhibit coordinator Roxanne Cullen.

He says music has always been a passion throughout life.

My mother would always find me banging on pots and pans around a year and a half old under the sink, and I started playing piano when I was around five, Underhile said. I just would sit down at the piano and start playing, and played the drums and violin but eventually quit that. I sang, I danced, and was in theatre. I also did pencil art and handcraft art, so Ive always been really interested in the arts.

Roxanne mentioned that the executive director position was open at Artworks, so I asked for a tour. and after she took me around, I was sold and really wanted the job, he added. I interviewed, and I made it clear that I wanted the job. I ended up landing it, and three weeks in, Im still amazed at all the art we have.

Underhile owns his own small business, Six Dogs North Fine Arts, a gallery that features work of fine artists who express their ideas through monumental pencil drawings, sculptures, and paintings. Through the gallery, he supports six different local artists through showcasing and selling their work.

Underhile said he hopes to continue Artworks mission to vitalize the community through the arts and humanities, become the leading resource and creative force for the arts in Michigan, and creating a culture of warmth and belonging, individual differences and embracing our common ground, creating change through the arts and humanities.

I have a number of goals, but they arent completely solidified because theres a lot more that Id like to know, Underhile said. Ill be working on that throughout probably the next six weeks and try to figure out a structured plan.

"The things Im concerned about are that we arent as visible as Id like us to be, and Id like our artists to be more recognized and well-known. Id like to bring in more artists from different parts of the state to enjoy the environment and become known here.

There is great art all over the state, but I want to figure out how we can all connect and support each other and be a part of our home communities but also expand into other communities, he added. One of my goals is to really become a hub for artists, so that as artists are thinking about opportunities to show or sell their work we are at the top of their list.

Artworks features regularly rotating exhibits in its gallery in downtown Big Rapids and also has a gift shop where visitors can purchase individual artists pieces. Artworks roots go back to the 1980s when two groups, the Mecosta County Council for the Arts and the Humanities Council of West Central Michigan, were formed to promote arts and humanities in the area.

Underhile said the Artworks board is working closely with the Grand Rapids Art Exchange to find new and unique pieces to feature, and that planning for new events for the upcoming year is underway.

I really would like to diversify our art, so weve been looking around the state for organizations and groups to collaborate with, Underhile said. I want more people to know about us and to spread out. Were in our 21st year, and weve had such loyalty from the community, the Batdorf family has been especially generous in helping us continue our work. We want to use the funds to support people who have been kind to us and give back through art.

We have a lot of new exciting things that we are looking at, and are looking forward to welcoming new artists and visitors this year, he added.
TRAVERSE CITY  A new survey from Housing North of more than 200 employers and workers across northwest Michigan shows housing continues to be a challenge to growing the regional economy  but also indicates solid support for public and private initiatives to expand housing options.

More than three quarters of the survey respondents across the 10-county region said they knew of someone who couldnt relocate to northern Michigan because of the difficulties in finding housing. Almost half said it was very difficult to secure housing, with the greatest challenges in Charlevoix, Emmet and Grand Traverse counties.

We decided we wanted to learn more about the housing needs in our region by hearing directly from employers and workers, said Yarrow Brown, executive director of Housing North. Housing is one of the biggest challenges facing our region and impacts so many of our businesses. We wanted employers and their employees to know that we hear them and are working toward solutions.

The survey idea resulted from a stakeholder event for business and community leaders hosted in June by Housing North. Housing North also asked for the survey to be shared with the employees and associates of the participants of this stakeholder event.

When employers were asked for the biggest challenges to creating more housing for their employees the top three responses were the shortage of affordable housing, the competing demand from short term rentals, and lack of housing options.

Brown said the group was able to agree on a collective vision statement for tackling the regions housing challenges seeking: A pool of available housing options at a variety of price points that are affordable for the average working person and full-time residents, including retirees.

A common theme was that we need to focus on solutions and actions that move the needle on housing in our region, Brown said.

Brown was encouraged by the level of support shown in the survey for collaborative and legislative efforts to expand the housing market. Some 58% of respondents said they would consider investing in community-based housing collaboratives, while only 7% said they would not. Almost 50% said they would consider investing in a regional housing fund to help their workers secure housing.

Another 45% said they would consider investing in housing through tax credits included in the Employer Housing Tax Credit legislation introduced earlier this year in the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives. That legislation and other related housing bills are supported by the Michigan Housing Coalition, a state-wide group of housing advocacy organizations that includes Housing North. The bills were passed by the Senate this summer and are pending in the state House.

More than half of the employers that responded indicated the lack of affordable housing options is the biggest housing challenge in their service area. Survey results also showed that respondents in Charlevoix, Emmet and Antrim counties encountered the longest commutes from home to work, led by Antrim County residents with an average of 25 miles.

Housing North is committed to working with private and public partners on initiatives that can help to bring more housing to our region, including opportunities for employers to invest in housing if they so choose, Brown said. Were also committed to continuing our work with local units of government to become more housing ready and offer clear guidance on what they can do to help with housing solutions.

If employers want to dive deeper into their own employees housing needs or for a copy of the survey results, they are encouraged to contact Housing North. They have custom surveys they can provide for companies.

Founded in 2018, Housing North is a nonprofit organization that works to build awareness, influence policy, and grow capacity and resources for housing solutions in Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee and Wexford counties. More information is available online at housingnorth.org.
MECOSTA COUNTY  The Mecosta County Sheriffs Office responded to the following calls.

All calls may not be reported.

Monday, Aug. 23

 A complaint was taken from the Mecosta County Jail involving a bond violation and child pornography.

 A woman was evicted from her home  in the 5000 block of 19 Mile Road in Fork Township  by a court officer, but she was refusing to leave.

 A larceny of tools and a car jack from a vehicle parked behind Paris Auto Sales was reported.

 Fraudulent activity was reported in the 16000 block of Monroe Road in Deerfield Township. The complainant sold a trailer on Craigslist and the buyer sent him a fake check.

 Fraudulent activity was reported in the 19000 block of 10th Avenue in Fork Township. A man was scammed out of $1,800 worth of Ebay cards between Aug. 16-21 in attempts to purchase a quad.

 A civil complaint was made in the 6000 block of Bantry Bay Court in Morton Township. A man chained a semi truck trailer to a tree. He was upset that the company didnt finish putting trim and soffit up.

 A domestic assault was reported in the 12000 block of 3 Mile Road in Deerfield Township. A brother assaulted his sister and also violated a PPO order for his wife.

 Child neglect was reported in the 17000 block of 205th Avenue in Big Rapids Township. Two children, ages 4 and 6, were out in the parking lot unsupervised. The complainant attempted to get ahold of the mother, but she would not come to the door and sat with her kids for an hour. The mom was sleeping on the couch and stated she worked third shifts. CPS was notified.

 A larceny was reported in the 11000 block of 5 Mile Road in Hinton Township. Victim had his chainsaw stolen from the back of his truck sometime between Aug. 21-22.

 An aggravated assault was reported in the 20000 block of Jefferson Road in Aetna Township. Two men got into a fight. Both went to hospital on the own for their injuries. A neighbor/witness tried to break it up, but left prior to arrival of police due to having a probation warrant out of Kent County.

 A traffic stop was performed in the 16000 block of Derby Lane in Martiny Township. The complainant was upset about a black Chevy pickup tearing up the road. Sheriffs deputies made contact with the driver, who stated he would slow down.

 Domestic violence was reported in the 5000 block of 10 Mile Road in Morton Township. A woman was slapped on her head and had her hair pulled from her scalp by a man. He was gone upon the deputies arrival. DHS was advised for poor living conditions for the kids she had with her.

 A harassment complaint was made in the 300 block of Deerpath Lane in Fork Township. A man reported he is being threatened by his neighbor

 An assault/juvenile runaway was reported in the 16000 block of 135th Avenue in Colfax Township. A mother reported coming home to find her 14-year-old daughter in bed with a 15-year-old boy from Midland. The two ran out of the house, shoving the mother down on their way out. The two were said to be in a stolen dark blue Chrysler Town and Country, which was reported stolen out of Midland.

 Suspicious activity was reported in the 10000 block of Northland Drive in Mecosta Township. A man reported that an unknown vehicle dropped off a McDonalds bag on his porch and then left. Prior to our arrival the unknown vehicle then returned, picked up the bag and left.
GREEN LAKE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP)  A female black bear has been euthanized after it was injured in a hit-and-run car crash in northern Michigan, authorities said.

The bear suffered injuries to its hindlegs that rendered them unusable, said Steve Griffith, a wildlife biologist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The injuries were too extensive for the bear to survive, he said.
Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 25, Carpenter Street will be closed from Franklin Street to East Lyon Road until further notice for water main work related to an ongoing water main installation project in the greenbelt area between Lyon and Patrick from East Carpenter Street to Bayliss Street.

The road will remain closed until work has been completed, which will likely span several weeks. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes around the closure.
MEBANE, N.C. (AP)  Lloyd Dobyns Jr., an award-winning NBC News correspondent who reported from places around the world and who anchored an innovative U.S. television newscast in the early 1980s, has died, his family said. He was 85.

Ken Dobyns said in a statement that his father died Sunday in Mebane, North Carolina, northwest of Raleigh. He said his father suffered complications from a series of strokes.

Dobyns worked for NBC News in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and was known in the U.S. for working with Linda Ellerbee on the late-night news series NBC News Overnight in 1982 and 1983, according to a statement released by Ken Dobyns and online with a Raleigh funeral home.

He was a friend, teacher, trouble-maker, and a world-class journalist, Ellerbee said in the statement. I shall miss him more than I can say.

Dobyns was born in Newport News, Virginia, on March 12, 1936. After serving in the U.S. Army, he began his broadcasting career as a reporter for WDBJ-TV in Roanoke, Virginia, in 1957. Three years later, he became a news anchor at WAVY-TV, the NBC affiliate in Virginia's Tidewater area, and advanced to news director, the family statement said.

In 1969, Dobyns left Virginia for New York, where he first became managing editor of WNEW-TV, then as part of the NBC News team. He worked as a foreign correspondent before returning to New York to anchor the TV news magazine Weekend, winning a prestigious Peabody Award in 1975.

Dobyns set the style for Weekend, a writing and reporting style that continued after he was joined by the equally droll and witty Ellerbee  the first time the two were paired on air, the statement added.

After leaving NBC News Overnight, Dobyns anchored the short-lived TV magazine Monitor. In a documentary titled If Japan Can, Why Cant We? he reported on the Japanese boom at a time when American manufacturing was faltering. The documentary's success led him to co-write several books about Japans economic success.

Dobyns won more than two-dozen awards for reporting, writing, and anchoring while with NBC News. He retired in 1986.
James White has been named Detroits police chief after serving since June 1 as an interim replacement for James Craig who retired and is looking at a possible run at Michigan governor.

Mayor Mike Duggan announced Monday that the job now belongs to White pending approval by the City Council.

Duggan was given three candidates to consider by the Board of Police Commissioners following a national search.

White, 53, is the latest in the line of about a dozen Detroit chiefs since 1990. Several had been forced out amid allegations of wrongdoing.

He stepped down as chair of Michigans Civil Rights Commission to take over as interim chief.

To have quit that, come back here on an interim basis knowing what he had to go through, going through the (interviewing) process like everybody else with the Board of Police Commissioners, I think it just shows how much he loves the city, how much he loves this department, Duggan said.

White joined the citys police force in 1996. During his career, he ran the Civil Rights Integrity Bureau and was a supervisor in the 6th Precinct before Craig appointed him assistant chief in 2013.

White left the police department in August 2020 to take the civil rights post.

White said in May that his top priorities would be fighting crime, with a particular focus on speeding, drifting and other traffic violations. He also said he would balance the need to uphold the law with citizens rights.

On Monday, he emphasized the importance of having a good relationship with Detroit residents.

We need the community, White told reporters. Our community deserves excellence in policing. Im going to support these officers, but Im going to require that there is excellence and a drive toward excellence in policing.

Craig announced in May that he was retiring after seven years as chief.

He was hired in 2013 by an emergency manager after the state assumed control of the financially broken city. Craig, who is Black and a native of the city, immediately set out to restore residents confidence in the Detroit Police Department, which had a history of civil rights abuses by officers against the citys mostly Black population.

Last month, Craig announced the formation of an exploratory committee to look at a run for Michigan governor as a Republican.

___

Williams reported from West Bloomfield, Michigan.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  Maine health officials have reported that 95% of state residents in their 70s have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Maine is one of the oldest states in the country, and it also has one of the highest rates of COVID-19 vaccination. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday that 95% of the more than 125,000 people in their 70s in the state have now had their final shots.

More than 70% of the state's eligible population is fully vaccinated. That means they have had one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.

Older Mainers have higher vaccination coverage than other age groups. The rate for people age 50 and older is about 83%. For those 12 to 49, it's about 58%.

The pace of vaccination in the state has ticked up recently, Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah said Tuesday.

In other pandemic news in Maine:

KING IMPROVING

A spokesperson for independent Sen. Angus King said the senator is feeling better as he recovers from the coronavirus.

King, 77 and a U.S. senator since 2013, announced Aug. 19 that he had tested positive for the coronavirus. King was vaccinated for the disease earlier this year.

Spokesperson Matthew Felling said Tuesday that King is feeling better, quarantining and resting at home, following doctor's orders.

___

THE NUMBERS

Cases of the coronavirus are still on the rise, and the delta variant is to blame.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Maine has risen over the past two weeks from 140.50 on Aug. 8 to 162.57 on Sunday. The seven-day rolling average of daily deaths in Maine has risen over the past two weeks from 0.14 on Aug. 8 to 2.86 on Sunday.

The AP is using data collected by Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering to measure outbreak caseloads and deaths across the United States.

Nearly all cases in the state are likely attributable to the delta variant, Shah said Tuesday. That's an additional incentive to get vaccinated, he said.

Delta is not just the predominant variant in Maine, it is the variant in Maine, Shah said. This is a concern. 

Maine CDC has reported more than 74,000 cases of the virus and 924 deaths since the start of the pandemic. The number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 is about twice what it was two weeks ago, Shah said.

___

REMOTE SCHOOL

A COVID-19 outbreak has caused the first pivot to remote schooling of the year in Maine.

The high school in Van Buren went remote Monday after a staff member who was in contact with many students tested positive for the coronavirus, the Bangor Daily News reported. Students who are vaccinated or did not come into contact with the staff member were scheduled to return to in-person learning Tuesday, the Daily News reported.

Vaccinated students will be required to wear masks for 10 days. Unvaccinated students have to quarantine for the same time frame and attend school remotely.

___

Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
Midland County added 24 new COVID-19 cases and one death between Saturday, Aug. 21, and Monday, Aug. 23.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from Aug. 15-21, Midland, Gladwin and Isabella counties have substantial community transmission rates, with 50-99 cases per 100,000 in a 7-day period. Bay and Saginaw counties have high community transmission rates, which denotes 100 or more cases per 100,000 in a 7-day period.

COVID-19 numbers reported from Aug. 21-23

Midland County: 24 cases and one death were added; pandemic total is 7,156 cases, 724 probable, 97 deaths and three probable deaths.

Bay County: 43 cases and one death were added; pandemic total stands at 10,966 cases, 696 probable, 346 deaths and 14 probable deaths.

Gladwin County: nine cases were added; pandemic total stands at 1,979 cases, 391 probable, 57 deaths and four probable deaths.

Isabella County: 20 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 5,565 cases, 971 probable, 97 deaths and five probable deaths.

Saginaw County: 85 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 20,969 cases, 1,438 probable, 615 deaths and 21 probable deaths.

The state added 3,920 cases and 10 deaths between Saturday and Monday. Overall, Michigan is at 933,394 cases and 20,123 deaths.

Recovered

According to the Midland County Health Department website, which was updated Aug. 23, 7,047 Midland County individuals have recovered from COVID. The state reported that as of Aug. 20, a total of 878,031 persons have recovered.

Testing

Midland Countys seven-day rolling positivity rate on Aug. 19 was listed at 7.4%, and Gladwin County's was listed at 7.6%. Our 12-county region is listed at 9.6% and Michigan is at 8.4%.

MidMichigan Health statistics

As of Aug. 16, MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland was listed as having a 77% bed occupancy, with nine COVID patients and two in the ICU. MidMichigan Medical Center in Gladwin was listed as having a 25% bed occupancy, with no COVID patients.

Both medical centers reported having at least 15-30 days worth of personal protection equipment (N95, surgical masks, gowns, gloves and eye protection) on hand.

Midland County vaccinations

In Midland County, 40,635 people  48.75% of Midland County's population  have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Aug. 18, according to the CDC. Currently, the vaccines are not authorized to be given to those under age 12. Local data provided from the Midland County Health Department shows a slightly higher vaccination rate for Midland County (50.6%).

Midland County Health Department is hosting a weekly walk-in vaccination clinic from10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every Tuesday on the second floor of the Midland County Services Building, 220 W. Ellsworth St., Midland.

The health department will also host a clinic from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8 at Dow High School.

Future COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Midland County are listed at www.co.midland.mi.us/HealthDepartment/COVIDVaccineInformation.aspx. Those with questions may call 989-832-6380 or email MCDPH@co.midland.mi.us.
Cathy Bodnar, Midland County Department of Public Health medical director, welcomed the news of the Food and Drug Administration giving full approval of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine on Monday.

Bodnar hopes the update builds more confidence in the countys unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated populations to get the shot. She encourages individuals to get information from trusted sources including their healthcare providers.

Healthcare professionals are very confident in the vaccine, Bodnar said. Unfortunately, its taken a beating on social media and people are believing those unfounded claims on social media.

Bodnar provided a breakdown of how many Midland County residents have been fully vaccinated as of Aug. 20. The information comes courtesy of MI Lighthouse Report. According to the report:

31.8% of residents ages 16-19 are fully vaccinated.

40.5% of residents ages 20-29 are fully vaccinated.

52.2% of residents ages 30-44 are fully vaccinated.

50.4% of residents ages 45-54 are fully vaccinated.

69.3% of residents ages 55-64 are fully vaccinated.

92% of residents ages 65-74 are fully vaccinated.

85.2% of residents ages 75 and older are fully vaccinated.

The Midland County Health Department has seen interest in obtaining the vaccine wane over the summer months. When the department hosted clinics at various community events, an average of two to three people would stop by to get the vaccine. Bodnar has seen a slight uptick in interest in the past couple of weeks and said the department would be delighted to expand their clinics.

We certainly have capacity to expand. What we were lacking throughout the summer was demand, Bodnar said.

As schools return to in-person classes, the Midland County Health Department will host clinics to vaccinate individuals ages 12 and older. The next available clinic will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8 at Dow High School, 3901 N. Saginaw Road.

Individuals can also get their first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at weekly walk-in clinics from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every Tuesday on the second floor of the Midland County Services Building, 220 W. Ellsworth St., Midland.

Bodnar said the department has many opportunities to provide the vaccine to the community and are willing to work with different groups to aid in distribution.

The FDAs approval on Monday did not cover booster shots. However, the agency is allowing the use of a third dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for those who are immunocompromised. Bodnar explained that Midland County is waiting to distribute the booster until it is approved by the FDA, but is currently providing third doses for those moderately or severely immunocompromised as they didnt respond as well to the first two doses. The third dose can be given 28 days after the second dose of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines; data is still coming in for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

In comparison, the booster dose is meant for waning responses to the first two doses and is recommended to be administered eight months after the second dose.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that face masks ought to be worn by those who are not vaccinated, vaccinated individuals with weakened immune systems, and all (including vaccinated) individuals who are in indoor public places in areas of substantial or high transmission rates. Midland County is considered to have a substantial transmission rate, according to the CDC. Bodnar recommends individuals  both vaccinated and unvaccinated  wear masks outside when social distancing cannot be maintained.

The COVID vaccines are safe and effective. The path out of this pandemic is for our population to get vaccinated, Bodnar said.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  The militia leader convicted of masterminding the bombing of a Minnesota mosque is asking a judge to legally acknowledge her transgender identity.

Emily Claire Hari was previously known as Michael Hari, who was found guilty last year of civil rights and hate crime charges related to the bombing of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington in August 2017.

During the trial, prosecutors said Hari was fueled by a hatred of Muslims when he devised a plan to pipe bomb the building during morning prayers. While no one was hurt in the bombing, it spread fear through the community, prosecutors said.

Hari, 50, of Clarence, Illinois, said gender dysphoria and right-wing misinformation fueled her inner conflict when she was convicted in the bombing, according to court documents.

She strongly desired making a full transition but knew she would be ostracized from everyone and everything she knew, Haris defense attorney, Shannon Elkins, wrote in the documents. Thus, as she formed a ragtag group of freedom fighters or militia men and spoke of missions to Cuba and Venezuela, Ms. Hari secretly looked up sex change, transgender surgery, and post-op transgender on the internet."

Elkins said Hari bought military fatigues for her so-called missions but purchased female clothing for a planned trip to Thailand for male-to-female surgery, the Star Tribune reported. Hari was living a double life, Elkins said.

Elkins cited these as factors in asking U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank to give Hari no more than the minimum 30-year prison sentence, not the life term prosecutors have requested.

Hari also asked for an amended prison placement based on her transgender identity, but the details of the request are under seal.

Haris sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 13.

Two Illinois men also charged in the case pleaded guilty.
No one was seriously hurt in the wee hours of Saturday morning when a man driving a white Ford pickup truck crashed into a Collinsville, Ill. funeral home.

According to Collinsville Police, the incident is still under investigation after its blatantly clear there is significant damage to the chapel at Kassly-Meridith Funeral Home. Collinsville is located 15 miles east of St. Louis.

All we know is the gentleman that did this was going north on Illinois-159 and fell asleep, and kind of jumped the curb and went airborne, and it was a perfect shot right through those doors.

It would appear that he didnt navigate that turn very well, Major Brett Boerm, a public information officer with the Collinsville Police Department, said.

Schemerhorn said the incident occurred between 3 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

There was significant damage to the chapel, which is all fixable, he added. The inside is fine. I have a service on Friday, and now were going to use St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

Funeral home owners also have locations in the nearby communities of Highland and Lebanon should their facilities be needed.

Boerm said officers were meeting with the driver Monday.

He was transported from the scene to a local hospital for some minor treatment, he said.

Determining if the driver was intoxicated or not is also still under investigation.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  One of the notorious Arellano Felix brothers was deported from the United States back to Mexico after serving most of a 15-year prison sentence, but he was promptly re-arrested when he arrived in his homeland Monday.

Prosecutors in Mexico said Eduardo Arellano Felix was handed over to Mexican federal authorities at a border crossing in Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas. He faces organized crime and drug trafficking charges in Mexico.

He was one of several brothers who founded the Tijuana-based Arellano Felix cartel that moved hundreds of tons of cocaine and marijuana from Mexico and Colombia into the United States.

Known for its violent and brutal control of the drug trade in the border city of Tijuana in the 1990s, the arrests or death of most of the seven Arellano Felix brothers have reduced the cartel to a shadow of its former self. The family slowly lost its grip along Californias border with Mexico over the past decade, while the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels emerged as the most powerful groups in the highly coveted corridor for moving drugs to the United States.

Arellano Felix was extradited from Mexico in August 2012 to face U.S. charges. He was arrested in October 2008 in a shootout with Mexican authorities at his Tijuana home.

Brother Benjamin Arellano Felix, described by U.S. and Mexican authorities as the cartels mastermind, was sentenced to 25 years in U.S. prison. after being extradited from Mexico, where he was arrested in 2002. Ramon Arellano Felix, the cartels top enforcer, was killed in a shootout with Mexican officers in 2002.

Another brother, Francisco Javier, was sentenced in 2007 to life in prison after the U.S. Coast Guard captured him in a fishing boat in international waters off Mexicos Baja California coast.

The issue of freed drug traffickers has been a sensitive one for Mexico, after the release or near-release of several old-guard drug lords.

Almost eight years ago, drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero walked out of a Mexican prison late at night when a judge improperly ordered his release from a 40-year sentence for the torture-murder of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique Kiki Camarena in 1985. He has since returned to drug trafficking and unleashed bloody turf battles in the northern Mexico border state of Sonora.

Mexicos current government is beginning to earn a reputation for having released more drug lords than it has captured, part of the presidents stated policy of no longer detaining drug lords to avoid violence.

It's a particularly thorny issue President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who in 2019 ordered the release of Ovidio Guzman, one of El Chapo Guzmans sons, to avoid bloodshed.

In April, a lower court ordered 1990s drug lord Hector El Guero Palma freed, a development that threatened international embarrassment had he walked free. But in July, a Mexican appeals court overturned the acquittal, arguing the lower court improperly applied the double jeopardy rule, which prohibits trying someone twice for the same offense.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Andrew Mullin.

Thursday, Aug. 19

11:43 p.m.  Deputies responded to a Lee Township location for a 39-year-old Dearborn Heights female who reported her 41-year-old Lee Township ex-boyfriend was hallucinating and was out of control. Deputies contacted the male at his residence, and he was transported to the MidMichigan Medical Center emergency room for a mental health evaluation. A mental health petition was completed.

10:48 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Midland Township residence regarding a 27-year-old female reporting her 27-year-old male roommate damaged property in the residence. Deputies advised the female that this was a civil matter, and she needed to contact the courts.

10:25 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Warren Township residence to assist EMS with a lift assist. Dispatch said an intoxicated 54-year-old Warren Township male fell and could not get up. EMS personnel were able to get the male up. He refused any further medical treatment.

10:10 p.m.  Deputies responded to a Jasper Township residence reference an unwanted guest. The 37-year-old Edmore woman left upon request.

8:20 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Mills Township location reference a verbal dispute between a 29-year-old male, and his 34-year-old male brother-in-law. Both parties were separated, and no physical assault occurred.

7:37 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence to assist EMS with a combative patient. Deputies spoke with a 65-year-old Lee Township female patient who voluntarily decided to go with EMS to the hospital.

3:35 p.m.  Officers responded to a hit-and-run crash in the area of Eastman Avenue and Wackerly Street.

11:15 a.m.  Lee Township deputies responded to a Lee Township residence for a death investigation involving a 42-year-old Lee Township male. The death appeared to be a natural death, no foul play was suspected. The mans body was released to the funeral home. Deputies were assisted by MidMichigan Medical Center EMS.

10:35 a.m.  Officers responded to traffic license violation that resulted in a revoked license in the area of Isabella Street and Currie Parkway.

4:07 a.m.  Officers responded to a hit-and-run crash Cypress Street.

12:14 a.m.  While investigating another incident the deputes contacted a 28-year-old Mount Pleasant female who possessed two warrants out of the Isabella County courts. The female was turned over to tribal police, who responded directly to the scene.

Wednesday, Aug. 18

9:14 p.m.  Officers responded a driver operating with a suspended license in the area of Isabella and Vance streets.

8:39 p.m.  Officers responded to a criminal sexual conduct in Linwood Drive.

7:04 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Jerome Township trailer park regarding a verbal argument between a 58-year-old Jerome Township female and a 50-year-old Jerome Township male. The deputy provided both parties with advice how to prevent future issues.

4:43 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Lincoln township residence to speak with a 37-year-old male and a 41-year-old female reference a verbal dispute. Deputies were able to help both subjects resolve their issues without incident.

1:30 p.m. Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash in the area of Eastman Avenue.

11:13 a.m.  A deputy attempted to settle a dispute over property and quell unwanted communications between parties.

3:23 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Geneva Township residence regarding a suicidal 44-year-old Geneva Township male. The male had a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was transported to MidMichigan Medical Center for medical treatment. A mental petition was completed.

1:14 a.m.  Officers responded to a case of domestic violence on Eastman Avenue.
Sammy Wade Ball Jr. was born May 16, 1966 in Bakersfield, CA. He died August 18, 2021 in Shreveport, LA. at age 55 from Covid-19. He was preceded in death by his father, Sammy Wade Ball Sr. He is survived by his wife of 27 years Angela Ball and his 3 children, Bernard, Christian, and Melissa
Juba, South Sudan (PANA)  The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday said it is grateful for the generous contribution of EUR 5 million from the European Union to support the United Nations Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS) and the Logistics Cluster (LC) in South Sudan
Harare , Zimbabwe (PANA)  India has contributed almost US$ one million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Zimbabwe to help affected people tackle climate shocks
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA)  Eight persons were killed on Monday evening at Kwoi community, Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, in Northcentral Nigeria, during a gun battle between some gunmen and security operatives
Lusaka, Zambia (PANA) - The inauguration of former opposition leader, Hakainde Hichilema, as Zambias new president is an opportunity to end the crackdown on basic freedoms and end Police brutality, Amnesty International said on Tuesday
BLOOMINGTON  After weeks of move-in days and orientation programs, Illinois Wesleyan University students are back. Students on Monday returned to classes and a busier campus that looks closer to normal in the third school year affected by the pandemic.

I absolutely love seeing these people," said sophomore Izabella Villatuya. "I loved seeing all these people and new faces."

IWU is offering some online and hybrid classes, but most classes are in-person again. The start of the semester comes as COVID numbers are increasing nationally, fueled by additional cases of the delta variant. Wesleyan has put various measures in place in response to COVID.

Senior biochemistry student Ria Patel said she felt professors are relieved to have students in classrooms again, too. She had already had two classes by midday on Monday and said the professors had quickly gotten things rolling with lectures and assignments.

They are wasting no time, she said.

Villatuya, an accounting major, and sophomore Isaiah Gallivan, a psychology major, have never had what was once a normal college experience with classes.

Gallivan is glad that the freshmen this year get to experience a more normal start to their college life. He is also encouraged that so many students at IWU are vaccinated. The full Food and Drug Administration approval for the Pfizer vaccine on Monday morning means students will be required to be vaccinated next semester, under the schools COVID response plan. More than 80% of students are already vaccinated.

Villatuya said it was awkward last year to try to make friends by reaching out over Zoom calls after freshmen orientation or classes. For Patel, it was hard to pay attention in class, especially with the potential to turn off the camera and mute the microphone.

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Junior Nyja White, a theater major, is glad she can see and interact with her professors again. She had a hard time asking questions over Zoom last year, she said. While some of her classes were officially in-person last year, such as dance courses, positive cases among students sometimes sent them online temporarily.

The students excitement for the 2021-22 school year goes far beyond academics. All four were excited for a return to self-serve options in the cafeteria. Last year cafeteria workers would serve the students, meaning they had less control over portion sizes and even how done their toast was.

White feels a bit of shock at being back on campus with everyone, she said.

Its relearning college all over, she said.

As head of IWUs Black Student Union, White hopes the full return to campus brings people back out to extracurricular activities, including Registered Student Organizations (RSO). A lot of groups seem to just work better in person, she said. RSOs can also be an important part of helping new students find a place in the campus community.

It lets the first-year students know there is a space for (them), White said.

Gallivan said that jealous would be the wrong word to describe his feelings when comparing his own freshman experience with those of students before him. Rather he is excited for the incoming freshmen to get to experience the social life of campus from the get go.

Patel admires the sophomores, like Gallivan and Villatuya, for showing a lot of graciousness in accepting the way things had to be different during their freshman year, she said.

Last year posed a lot of problems that wed never thought wed have to face, Patel said.

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The father of the Metro East policeman killed on the McKinley Bridge is livid about how the criminal justice system handled a 2017 weapons case against the man now charged with his son's death.

Caleb Lawyer Campbell, 22, was charged Friday in the death of Brooklyn police Officer Brian Pierce Jr., 24, who was killed on the bridge Aug. 4 by a hit-and-run motorist.

Campbell had been sought for nearly four years after he missed a court date in St. Louis County.

Pierce Jr. had been a Brooklyn police officer for nine months. He also was a lieutenant with the Makanda Fire Department near Carbondale. He moved to Carbondale recently and was making the 100-mile drive nearly every day to work the night shift in Brooklyn. His family said he was passionate about being a police officer.

"Honestly, he should have never been on the street," Brian Pierce Sr. said in an interview Monday. "It makes me sad and makes me angry that the justice system didn't do its job."

Police arrested Campbell on Friday at his grandmothers home in the 5100 block of Rockingham Drive in Ferguson. Court records say he has lived in the 2000 block of Wedgwood Drive in unincorporated north St. Louis County.

While awaiting extradition to Illinois to face charges in the officer's death, Campbell is being held in the St. Louis County jail in Clayton on charges in the unrelated case from 2017. In that case, he is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest in Florissant.

Court documents say Campbell was a backseat passenger in a car stopped on July 17, 2017, by Florissant police for having improper license plates. Charges say he ran from the car, hid in a yard and struggled with the officer who caught him. Police said they found a loaded .40-caliber pistol in a satchel Campbell carried.

Campbell made arrangements through his attorney to surrender on the Florissant charges and turn over any firearms he had. Over the prosecutor's objection, court documents say, Judge Mary Ott allowed bail to be $500 cash. But Campbell failed to show up by the deadline, said Keith Liberman, who was his attorney then. The arrest warrant was issued on Aug. 30, 2017, and Campbell evaded court since.

Whether a county fugitive unit actively searches for someone depends on how serious the underlying felony is.

Florissant police Officer Steve Michael didn't have specifics Monday about efforts made over the years to find Campbell. In general, Michael said, "We actively look for anyone who's wanted. There are definitely attempts made to locate a person, but there may not be a lot of leads."

Pierce Sr. said Campbell should have been locked up for the Missouri crime.

"A charge that bad, with a gun, that should have been a priority," he told the Post-Dispatch. "They knew who he was and what he looked like."

In 2017, Campbell already had a felony conviction.

He had pleaded guilty the year before to resisting arrest, unlawful use of a weapon and possession of marijuana in St. Louis. He was sentenced to prison for two years, but the judge set it aside and put him on probation. Campbell then violated terms of the probation, according to court records, and Judge Michael Stelzer sent him to prison, where Campbell served less than 10 months, through mid-March 2017.

Because of that conviction, he stood to be locked up again after the Florissant incident.

Authorities point out, however, that even if Campbell had been convicted and punished in 2017 for the Florissant case, he might already have served his time and been free to encounter Pierce Jr. on the bridge.

Campbell is charged in Madison County with first-degree murder and other felonies in the death Aug. 4 of Pierce Jr. on the bridge. He had been standing on the bridge, throwing down spike strips to flatten tires of a car that was fleeing police. Pierce Jr. was struck by a red Dodge Charger with temporary Illinois tags and a black front end. The Dodge raced into Missouri from the bridge, which crosses from Illinois into the Near North Riverfront neighborhood. Police later found the Charger abandoned in St. Louis.

Police had been trying to stop a car that fled the Bottoms Up nightclub in Brooklyn. Investigators havent said what happened at the nightclub that caused police to give chase. Investigators also haven't said what led them to Campbell. The officer's father said Campbell was seen on video surveillance footage at the night club.

Other charges Campbell faces in the Illinois death are failure to report an accident involving personal injury or death, reckless homicide, failure to stop after having an accident involving personal injury or death, and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. Court records in Illinois do not mention a lawyer for Campbell. Campbell's family could not be reached for comment.

Kim Bell  314-340-8115 @kbellpd on Twitter kbell@post-dispatch.com

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Illinois House and Senate redistricting hearings will be held virtually and in person Thursday, Friday and Saturday before the General Assembly's expected Aug. 31 vote on state legislative district boundary changes being considered by Democrats who control both chambers.

The hearings, some of which will be held jointly between House and Senate redistricting committees, will allow for oral testimony to be offered via Zoom and in person at sites in Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, Peoria, Collinsville and Carbondale.

"We are holding them throughout the state so everyone has the opportunity to participate and all parts of the state have an opportunity to be heard," Jaclyn Driscoll, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside, said Monday.

Welch and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said last week that they will convene a one-day special session Aug. 31 in Springfield. Welch said legislation to be voted on will "amend the legislative map enacted in June to incorporate the latest Census data."

A key Republican lawmaker involved in the once-every-10-years redistricting process slammed the hearing schedule.

State Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, said Democrats' plan for soliciting public opinions and coming up with changes will be "highly condensed" and offer "even less transparency" than when Democrats first approved the new legislative map in May with no Republican votes.

Democrats' "rush to take new legislative action" to correct discrepancies revealed by 2020 Census data released Aug. 12 so they can maximize political power is a "sham process" that won't hold up in court, Barickman said.

Driscoll said the public hearings currently scheduled will be held before Democrats propose changes in the map. She said the hearings "are intended to inform the public about the Census and give the public an opportunity to provide their recommendations."

It's unclear whether there will be additional public hearings after changes proposed by Democrats are made public.

Democratic lawmakers either weren't available or declined interviews to answer questions about the latest hearings.

Instead, House and Senate Democrats issued a news release in which Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago, chairman of the Senate Redistricting Committee, said: "Our goal throughout this entire process has been to ensure that every person in Illinois receives fair and equal representation. The maps passed in May were drawn with the best data available at the time. Now that the long-awaited Census data has arrived, we will make adjustments as needed."

Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero, chairwoman of the House Redistricting Committee, said in the release: "Our goal from the beginning has always been passing a map that adheres to state and federal law while reflecting the diversity of this state and remaining a model for the nation for minority representation."

Earlier this year, Republicans and good-government groups criticized Democrats for conducting months of hearings before specific proposed legislative district boundary changes were known and not giving much time for responses later on.

A few hearings were held in the days after an initial Democratic proposal was made public. A few tweaks to that proposal were made before the House and Senate votes on May 28 votes.

Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat who previously said he would veto a redistricting map drawn by politicians, nevertheless signed the map into law June 4.

Barickman said Republicans warned Democrats that the American Community Survey population estimates Democrats used in the remapping process, rather than waiting for official 2020 Census data this month, would lead to their map being declared unconstitutional.

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Democrats said they were fulfilling their duty under the Illinois Constitution to take action before June 30, and they were confident the map they came up with would pass constitutional muster.

Republican leaders in the General Assembly, as well as the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, filed separate lawsuits in federal court to strike down the map. Those lawsuits remain pending.

Republicans said in recent court documents that the map should be declared invalid because several legislative districts in the Chicago area have 2020 population levels diverging too far from the average district size.

Barickman said he doubted federal judges will uphold the Democrats' map, even after any changes made next week. There's no legal precedent for this matter in Illinois because ACS estimates weren't the General Assembly's main source for map making before this year.

Barickman and other Republicans say Democrats and federal judges should transfer the map-making process for state legislative districts in the hands of a bipartisan, eight-member commission.

Democrats oppose this option because they say the commission would deadlock, and power over redistricting then would be given to one party or another based on a name drawn out of a hat.

The organization CHANGE Illinois issued a news release a few days ago that said lawmakers should to move forward on any changes to the new legislative map with "transparency and inclusion" that previously were "sorely lacking."

The group said, "Illinoisans should be granted a two-week period to review changes to maps and to provide further feedback and insight that was not afforded them in the spring."

CHANGE Illinois Executive Director Madeleine Doubek said: "Lawmakers should actively engage community members in a dialogue about how districts can be drawn to better serve the people. They should not simply be told 'thank you' and shown the door by elected officials seeking to preserve their power."

House and Senate Democrats said in their release that members of the public can provide testimony, submit electronic testimony or submit electronic witness slips before the hearings through the General Assembly website, ilga.gov, or through email at redistrictingcommittee@senatedem.ilga.gov and redistrictingcommittee@hds.ilga.gov.

The seven committee hearings, which can be viewed live on the General Assembly website, at:

*1 p.m. Thursday for a joint House and Senate hearing in the Michael Bilandic Building in Chicago.

*10 a.m. Friday for a House hearing at IBEW Local 309 in Collinsville.

*Noon Friday for a Senate committee hearing in the Will County Board Room in Joliet.

*10 a.m. Saturday for a joint House and Senate hearing in Gilmore Auditorium at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, 222 SW Washington St., Peoria.

*Noon Saturday at a House hearing (virtual only) for the Champaign region.

*3 p.m. Saturday for a Senate hearing in the Carbondale SIU Student Center in Carbondale.

*10 a.m. Sunday for a House hearing at Phillips Park Visitors' Center in Aurora.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administrations full approval of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine Monday may inspire some unvaccinated Illinois residents to roll up their sleeves, but the bigger impact will likely be in prompting large organizations to mandate the shots, health and legal experts say.

I think its more significant than people realize because I believe corporations and schools are really going to move the needle for increasing vaccinations, Dr. Mathew Philip, a primary care physician and senior vice president of clinical innovation at DuPage Medical Group, said of the vaccine gaining FDA approval. This gives those organizations cover to do that. This is going to get us a lot closer to that herd immunity.

Until Monday, all three COVID-19 vaccines used in the U.S. had been allowed under emergency use authorizations, not full FDA approval. The Pfizer approval comes as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in Illinois, fueled by the highly contagious delta variant.

Some Illinois vaccine holdouts are already seeking shots. As of Monday, about 59% of Illinois residents ages 12 and older were fully vaccinated, and nearly 76% had received at least one dose.

Two patients contacted Dr. Laura Zimmermann, a primary care doctor at Rush University Medical Center, shortly after the FDA approval Monday morning to let her know they were ready for their shots.

A handful of patients have also told Philip, with DuPage Medical Group, that theyve been waiting for FDA approval before getting vaccinated.

Despite over 200 million doses of Pfizer being given, people still feel like this is an experiment because it has emergency use authorization attached to its name, Philip said.

Patients have also told Dr. Lee Francis, an internal medicine physician and the CEO of Erie Family Health Centers, that they wanted to see the FDA grant the vaccines full approval before taking their turns.

About 31% of unvaccinated U.S. adults surveyed in June by the Kaiser Family Foundation said they would be more likely to get vaccinated if one of the vaccines gained full FDA approval.

Still, local experts say the FDAs approval is likely to be most influential when it comes to organizations mandating the shots, rather than changing the minds of large numbers of unvaccinated individuals.

I think it will help a few people, move them toward wanting the vaccine, but I think the biggest benefit will probably come from the comfort bigger organizations have in mandates, said Dr. Jeffrey Linder, a primary care doctor at Northwestern Medicine and chief of the division of general internal medicine and geriatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Already, a number of organizations have reacted. Shortly after the FDA announced its approval Monday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she would require the vaccine for city workers, and the Pentagon said it would require shots for members of the U.S. military. President Joe Biden urged U.S. employers to require their workers to get shots, in a speech shortly after FDA approval was announced Monday.

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Many  but not all  Chicago-area hospitals have announced vaccine mandates for workers in recent weeks, as have several large, Chicago-based employers, including United Airlines. Cook County and Chicago Public Schools are also requiring shots for workers.

Employers were already allowed to mandate the vaccines, even before they gained full FDA approval, though they must consider exemptions for medical or religious reasons. The FDAs approval, however, might make some organizations feel more at ease requiring their employees to get shots, said Margo Wolf ODonnell, co-chair of the labor and employment law group at law firm Benesch in Chicago.

Many employers have been waiting for this moment, for the vaccine to receive full approval, ODonnell said. If you want a mandate, its easier, it seems, for your workforce to accept it if your vaccine is fully approved.

Those vaccine mandates may be especially powerful in boosting Illinois vaccination rate, as many individuals continue to decline vaccines, even with full FDA approval.

Zimmermann, with Rush University Medical Center, doesnt think the FDAs approval will alter the opinions of all unvaccinated individuals.

While I think this is going to help, the FDAs Pfizer approval is not going to be a panacea, Zimmermann said. I dont foresee it opening the floodgates.

Larry Work, 65, of Wheaton, decided not to get vaccinated, and his mind was not changed by the FDAs approval.

Work said he is concerned about possible side effects and believes the FDAs approval was politically motivated. He also said he has recovered from COVID-19 and believes he has immunity, though his doctor has told him to get the vaccine.

I have a lot of questions. I have a lot of questions about the approval, even, he said.

Patients have a number of reasons for not getting vaccinated that have little to do with FDA approval, Zimmermann said.

Some of her patients are wary of any type of medical intervention because of past negative experiences with health care systems, she said. Others are relying on misinformation. Some worry that if theyre allergic to other medications theyll be allergic to the vaccines, which Zimmermann said is not the case.

Many others want to wait and see how the vaccines affect those whove already taken them. Zimmermann tells patients that plenty of people have already been vaccinated without major problems.

You can say now over 200 million people have gotten the first dose of the vaccine, and if the vaccine were really harmful, those would be the folks flooding our hospitals, Zimmermann said. Instead, what were seeing is the folks flooding hospitals in places like Florida are those who are unvaccinated.

The state reported 4,203 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases Saturday, 2,007 on Sunday and 3,003 on Monday. Thats up from the first half of July, when the state was reporting fewer than 1,000 new cases each day.

In Illinois, 2,064 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Sunday, more than double the number in hospitals on Aug. 1.
ROCKFORD  U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger called the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan a "disaster," and said the previous and current presidential administrations share blame.

Kinzinger, a 16th district Republican from Channahon who serves with the Air National Guard, made his remarks Sunday on CNN.

"I think what breaks my heart probably more than anything on the political side is that America has been splayed out in the world and embarrassed by the world, and our European allies are saying, 'America looks weak,'" Kinzinger said. "And yet, honestly, the Republicans are putting out talking points to make (President) Biden look bad. Biden and the Democrats are putting out talking points to point at the past administration. They're both responsible."

He reiterated his remarks made Aug. 15 and posted on his website when the Taliban overtook Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, and regained full control of the country.

At the time, Kinzinger criticized the Trump Administration for legitimizing the Taliban by openly negotiating with terrorists to withdraw U.S. troops by May 1 to bring an end to the 20-year war. That agreement was made without consent of the Afghanistan government and included the release of 5,000 Taliban fighters who had been held captive by the Afghanistan government.

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Kinzinger also criticized the Biden Administration for trying to fulfill a campaign promise to follow through on the agreement to pull out of Afghanistan "without any semblance of a plan or forethought into how this would play out."

The congressman also acknowledged "fear mongering" from members of his party opposed to Afghans entering the U.S. via the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program or by any other means.

"Refugees to this country have always been the ones that are extremely entrepreneurial," he said. "We all know that they came here, they work hard, and they fight hard for success.

"So, if anybody here wants to go out and fear monger and continue that darkness in your heart and speaking it so that you can win an election: A, you are either evil at heart yourself, or B, you're a charlatan who is only interested in winning the election. You truly can't say you care about the health of American people if, you know, you're out there doing stuff like that."

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CoinFlip, a fast-growing Chicago-based Bitcoin ATM operator, is relocating its headquarters from West Town and moving into the massive Old Post Office redevelopment this fall, doubling its space to 44,000 square feet in a 12-year lease.

Beyond the amenities offered by the Old Post Office, the 6-year-old cryptocurrency company was incentivized by the state to make a long-term commitment to staying in Chicago. CoinFlip, which has 194 employees, agreed to add at least 30 employees by the end of next year and make $17 million in capital investments in return for nearly $1.7 million in Illinois economic tax credits.

We chose the Old Post Office because we thought it was a great place to attract top tech talent, said Deerfield native Ben Weiss, 26, CEO of CoinFlip. I think that were building a great crypto community in Chicago.

CoinFlip, which operates 2,700 Bitcoin ATMs across the country, is projected to handle more than $1.5 billion in cryptocurrency transactions this year. The company generated $50 million in revenue from transaction fees last year, a number that is projected to double in 2021, Weiss said.

Illinois is looking to attract and retain businesses operating in the booming cryptocurrency industry. Legislators are weighing a bill that would create a special purpose depository trust for digital assets as part of building a broader cryptocurrency ecosystem. The state is home to 58 blockchain and cryptocurrency companies, with an anticipated 25% increase in jobs expected across Illinois by 2025.

We are  working to build a cryptocurrency regulatory framework thats best in the nation, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at a news conference Tuesday announcing the CoinFlip move to the Old Post Office. And so we are, frankly, open for business for everyone that wants to be in this industry.

Founded in 2015, CoinFlip has carved a niche in the cryptocurrency industry through its network of ATMs, which change cash into bitcoin, selling over $5 million in digital assets per day across 47 states. The average transaction is several hundred dollars, buying a fractional amount of a bitcoin, currently valued at nearly $50,000.

CoinFlip jobs range from customer support to field operations, but many of the new hires will be focused on technology as the company expands its cryptocurrency transaction capabilities, Weiss said. Employees are currently working on a flexible schedule, allowing them to choose between remote and in-office work during the pandemic.

We have been letting employees do what they feel most comfortable, Weiss said. Most people come in at least three times a week.

The company will retain its current space near the United Center as a warehouse for assembling the ATM units, but the rest of the office will relocate to the Old Post Office by October or November, Weiss said.

By committing to job creation and capital investment, CoinFlip qualified for the Illinois Economic Development for a Growing Economy program, better known as EDGE. In addition to adding at least 30 new jobs and making $17 million in capital investments, CoinFlip must retain at least 138 jobs currently held in the Chicago office to get the full $1.68 million in tax credits, which are processed on an annual basis for up to 10 years, department spokeswoman Lauren Huffman said.

The conversion of the long-vacant Old Post Office into modern offices has attracted tenants such as Uber, Walgreens, PepsiCo, Ferrara Candy and most recently, tech firm Cisco Systems, which is relocating its Midwest headquarters from Rosemont.

Completed in 1921 and greatly expanded in 1932, the massive post office has long loomed over the Eisenhower Expressway as a gateway to downtown Chicago. After sitting vacant for nearly two decades, New York developer 601W Cos. undertook an $800 million renovation of the Old Post Office, creating 2.5 million square feet of office and event space. The repurposed building reopened in fall 2019.

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NORMAL  Midwest Food Bank is providing assistance to Haiti and different parts of the U.S. following dangerous weather events recently.

A semi-truck load of family food boxes and hygiene kits is being sent to the Northeast, where Tropical Storm Henri inundated communities.

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We are standing by to help our neighbors in the Northeast, says Tara Ingham, executive Director of Midwest Food Bank Bloomington-Normal. Our dedicated volunteers and generous donors allow MFB to bring help and hope to those in need.

They also are expected to get requests from Tennessee, where heavy rains caused extensive damage. Additionally, the group is shipping earthquake relief sea containers to Haiti, where an earthquake struck on Aug. 14.

Midwest Food Bank has 12 locations, including 10 in the U.S. and one in East Africa and Haiti. Donations are accepted at midwestfoodbank.org.

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Is Cuba on the edge of a tectonic shift from Castroite communism to Western-style democracy? Until very recently, it would have seemed unthinkable. But when Patria y Vida, a music video sharply criticizing the situation in Cuba, becomes the anthem of massive street demonstrations, the impossible starts to sound possible.

Indeed, the demonstrations in Havana and dozens of other cities and the widespread popularity of Patria y Vida (Homeland and Life) suggest strongly that the Cuban people are fed up with the false promises of communism and are ready for a fundamental change in their politics and lives.

But are all the conditions present for such a dramatic change? One way of determining that is to compare Cuba with East Germany in January 1989 when the communist boss Erich Honecker boasted that the Berlin Wall would stand for another 100 years. In November of that same year, the Wall came tumbling down, and East Germans welcomed a new era of political and economic freedom.

East Germany was ready for a revolution because:

 It had suffered decades of economic decline and deprivation.

 Communist leaders admitted they no longer believed in communism, which had served as the ideological raison detre for East Germany and the other communist satellites behind the Iron Curtain.

 Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev announced that Moscow no longer recognized the Brezhnev Doctrine and would not come to the aid of a faltering communist regime.

 Lutheran pastors sparked the massive public demonstrations that demanded the communist bosses relinquish their power and authority.

 U.S. and other Western sanctions helped reduce East Germany to the economic level of a third world country complete with rationing of food and clothing.

So, in comparison, what of Cuba today?

Cuba has been in serious economic decline since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which had provided billions of dollars in subsidies annually to the island nation. For a while, Venezuela under the Chavez/Maduro regime had propped up Cuba, but Venezuela is now suffering more economically than Cuba. As a result, basic goods are strictly rationed year-round in Cuba.

The rising generation does not care about Fidel Castro and Che Guevara and their vaunted revolution. What they know is that communism has failed to put bread on the table.

What then are the differences between the communist Cuba of today and the East Germany of 1989?

Most Cuban communists still cling to Marxism-Leninism and Fidel Castros 60-year-old propaganda, a major source of their political power.

Cuban police are willing to use force and even bullets to break up Libertad! rallies and demonstrations.

Hundreds of dissident leaders are jailed and separated from the Cuban people.

So, some but not all of the necessary conditions are now present for a Cuban counter-revolution. There are things that the United States and its allies can do to further the cause of freedom and democracy in Cuba.

The U.S. should maintain the economic sanctions against Cuba, for the best of reasons: They expose the inability of the communists to provide the people with basic necessities.

The U.S. should form an international coalition of democratic nations that condemns communist Cuba for its crimes against humanity, past and present, and steps up international pressure for a free Cuba.

Lee Edwards, Ph.D., is the Distinguished Fellow in Conservative Thought in the B. Kenneth Simon Center for Principles and Politics at The Heritage Foundation

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BELLEVILLE  Two St. Clair County Republicans are suing the county government, Chairman Mark Kern and County Clerk Thomas Holbrook over a newly proposed redistricting map.

They argue that the plan is unconstitutional and will give Democrats an unfair advantage over Republicans in upcoming county elections.

In the suit filed this month in the U.S. Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Republican County Board member Ed Cockrell and St. Clair County Republican Party Chairwomen Cheryl Mathews say Kern drew legislative districts without waiting for new data from the 2020 Census to be released. In doing so, they allege, Kern violated the 14th Amendment of the U.S Constitution by gerrymandering the map.

"Mark Kern proposed the redistricting plan, and the Board voted to pass it, despite lacking the official population counts from the census," the complaint says. "The plan does not take into account the official census counts, nor any other population data."

Every 10 years the county board votes on adjusting district lines to reflect population changes based on the newest census data.

Kern did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit and the redistricting process.

Holbrook said he couldn't comment on the lawsuit itself, but said he has no say in the redistricting process. He said the county clerk's office role is to record and file the new map that is passed by the county board.

"Whatever they (the county) give me is what I record," Holbrook said. "I don't have any judgment in the process at all"

The proposed map was approved on June 2 at a special board meeting. Cockrell was the only board member to vote against the map.

"District have not been created to be compact, and they divide townships and precincts in such a way that is violative of the statute and benefit the Democrat County board candidates," the complaint continues. "Some of the districts have unusual shapes designed to allow the incumbent Democrat to be residing in their district, whereby they are in their district by a short distance."

Cockrell and Mathews say that the newly drawn map is unconstitutional and "unsupported by any other data whatsoever." They seek to have the map redrawn based on the official 2020 census count released this month.

In their suit, Cockrell and Mathews also allege:

Democratic members of the county board and possible future Democratic candidates conspired to create Democrat districts and eliminate and dilute Republican representation on the board.

The proposed plan intentionally and unnecessarily places Republican incumbents into areas with a larger Democrat base, "diluting" Republican influence and the electoral process, some of which were in districts narrowly won by Democrats.

Because census data was not used, creating equal districts is not possible.

The new map violates the "one person, one vote" principles derived from the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th amendment of the Constitution due to districts having varying numbers of voters, sometimes by a difference of more than a thousand.

"The proposed map by Kern gives over-representation to the western portions of the county, traditionally democratic. Additionally, the odd shapes of the currently proposed districts accommodate current democratic incumbents," Matthews said in an email to the Belleville News-Democrat .

There are other issues with the map beyond the gerrymandering, Matthews said.

She said the map ignores a loss of population and population shifts that are shown in the recently released census data. One example, she said, is a population shift in East St. Louis not accurately represented in the June map.

"According to US Census data, East St Louis' population has decreased from 27,432 in 2011 to 18,516 today. Despite a loss of 8,916 residents, East St. Louis still has three county board members," Mathews said.

Cockrell told the News-Democrat Kern's map "speaks for itself," and was "clearly" gerrymandered in favor of Democrats. He pointed to examples in the lawsuit that he said show the map "cherry picks" subdivisions that help Democrats in certain districts.

"None of that was done with census numbers and it looks like a lot of the county board members weren't consulted about it," Cockrell said.

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South Korea is likely to bar Google and Apple from requiring software developers to use their payment systems, effectively stopping them from charging commissions on in-app purchases, the first such curbs on the tech giants by a major economy, according to a Reuters report.

The parliament's legislation and judiciary committee is expected on Tuesday to approve the amendment of the Telecommunications Business Act, dubbed the "Anti-Google law," that takes aim at app store operators with dominant market positions.

If the bill gets the committee's approval, it will be put to a final vote on Wednesday. Lawmakers in South Korea have pushed the issue of the commission structure since mid last year.

"If the new bill becomes the law, developers will have options to use other independent payment systems," Kwon said.

The NYTimes adds that a group funded by Google and Apple has urged trade officials in Washington to push back on the legislation, arguing that targeting American firms could violate a joint trade agreement.

The South Korean legislation would be the first law in the world to require companies that operate app stores to let users in Korea pay for in-app purchases using a variety of payment systems. It would also prohibit blocking developers from listing their products on other app stores.

How the White House responds to this proposal poses an early test for the Biden administration: Will it defend tech companies facing antitrust scrutiny abroad while it applies that same scrutiny to the companies at home?

Washington has a longstanding practice of opposing foreign laws that discriminate against American firms, sometimes even when doing so conflicts with domestic policy debates.

A Google spokeswoman, Julie Tarallo McAlister, said in a statement that Google was open to exploring alternative approaches but believed the legislation would harm consumers and software developers.

The Google store accounted for 75 percent of global app downloads in the second quarter of 2021, according to App Annie, an analytics company. Apples marketplace accounted for 65 percent of consumer spending on in-app purchases or subscriptions.

There's a lot more to the story from the NYTimes that you could read here.

Considering that the White House is looking for Apple and Google to assist in the fight against Ransomware at a meeting this week, perhaps the White House will in turn assist these companies in their fight with the South Korean legislature.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 83 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we briefly cover object detection using 3D scans and link to five additional granted patents covering a wide range of technologies from virtual parallax used to create photorealistic, 3D street scenes for Apple's 'Look Around' Maps feature through to Low-light and/or long exposure image capture mode for iPhone cameras. And as always, we wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple today.

Object Detection using 3D Scans

Apple was granted a patent titled "Object Detection Using Multiple Three-Dimensional Scans," which generally relates to detecting and tracking real world physical objects depicted in images, and in particular, to systems, methods, and devices for detecting and tracking such physical objects based on prior scans of the objects and creating a 3D model.

Apple's patent FIG. 2 below is a block diagram of a mobile device (iPhone) displaying a computer-generated reality (CGR) environment with AR content of the physical object of FIG. 1 taken in by the iPhone's backside camera and/or scanner. Apple doesn't describe landscape even though their patent figure clearly does; FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting a first scan (camera movement in blue) of the example physical object in the center; FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting a second scan (camera movement in Pink) of the example physical object in the center.

Apple's patent FIG. 5 above is a block diagram illustrating the differences of the paths of the image sensor during the first scan of FIG. 3 and the second scan of FIG. 4.

Apple's patent FIG. 9 above is block diagram illustrating exemplary components of a device used to generate 3D models of physical objects and detect the physical objects.

Apple's granted patent relates to ARKit/ARKit 2. The video below, titled "ARKit 2 Tutorial: Create an AR Shopping Experience - Scan & Detect Real 3D Objects," explains ARKit 2 well in respect to scanning and detecting 3D objects which are components highlighted in Apple's patent FIG. 9 above.

For further details, review Apple's granted patent 11,100,659.

Apple acquired Montreal Based Vrvana, a Mixed Reality Headset Company with Hand Tracking Technologies back in 2017. Both inventors listed on today's granted patent were original members of Vrvana.

Other Granted Patents that Might Interest Some

01: Multimodal three-dimensional object detection (#11,100,669)

02: Virtual parallax to create three-dimensional appearance (#11,099,722)

03: Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for system-wide behavior for 3D models (#11,099,707)

04:Manipulation of virtual objects using a tracked physical object (#11,099,634)

05: Low-light and/or long exposure image capture mode (#11,102,421)

The Remaining Patents Granted to Apple Today
Dramatic increase in ransomware attacks globally during first half of 2021 have been driven by triple extortion technique, and it's set to expand further, according to an August 03 report by ComputerWeekly. The report noted that the frequency of ransomware attacks has increased dramatically over the past year, with 93% more carried out in the first half of 2021 than the same period last year.

The surge in attacks has been fueled by the rise of the triple extortion ransomware technique whereby attackers, in addition to stealing sensitive data from organizations and threatening to release it publicly unless a payment is made, are also targeting the organizations customers, vendors or business partners in the same way.

To help combat this hit on the US economy, CEOs from Apple, Microsoft and other major US companies plan to attend a White House meeting with President Joe Biden this week to discuss efforts by private companies to improve cybersecurity following a dramatic uptick in ransomware and online attacks over the past year, according to people familiar with the matter.

The meeting follows massive cyber and ransomware attacks on critical energy infrastructure, including that of Colonial Pipeline Co., as well as software and cloud providers such as Microsoft and SolarWinds Corp., which have largely been perpetrated by cyber groups based in Russia and China.

The Bloomberg report further states that "The chief executives of other large tech companies, banks, energy companies and water utilities -- including Alphabet Inc.s Google, Amazon.com Inc., International Business Machines Corp., Southern Co. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. -- have also been invited, to the event scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

The executives could discuss efforts undertaken by critical infrastructure entities, including those in the banking, energy and water utility sectors, to improve cybersecurity and collaborations with the government. The tech executives are likely to discuss how software can drive better security in the supply chain, the senior official said."
Payson, AZ (85541)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 72F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Mr. Alswel Annan, the current president for the Private Universities Students Association of Ghana (PUSAG) has been honored as part of the 40 topmost Excelling Student Leaders in Ghana.



The Public Relations Officer for Joy4Fame Shipping Company Limited, was granted this highly honored award at the Ghana Students Leaders Awards (GSLA'21). This event was held at GNAT Hall, situated in Accra on Saturday, 21st August, 2021.



The Executive Board of Director and other board members gave him this honor, considering his contributions into the development of students welfare in the country. Mr. Alswel Annan was considered a deserving leader to be well recognized in our various communities due to his highest level of integrity, political activism, and social responsibility.



Among other qualities of Alswel Annan include having a highly leveled civic and ethical conduct. He has risen to the top right from amassing great opportunities from Pentecost University. Mr. Alswel Annan was the former SRC President for Pentecost University after which he took a higher step to become the PUSAG President.



Alswel Annan is indeed a deserving student to be honored as he is the current Ambassador for London International Model United Nations representing Ghana for 2020/2021. His mouthwatering ambassadorial deal has bring to light, a true reflection of his incredible qualities and outstanding capabilities in youth and student development in Ghana.

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.

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The Ghana Education Service (GES) has distributed over 446,954 remedial materials to final year senior high schools (SHS), libraries and teachers in preparedness for this years West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates.

The remedial materials contain packs of past questions from 2015 to 2020 and a guide on how to answer them as well as chief examiners reports to help guide the candidates ahead of the WASSCE.



In addition to the booklets, the GES presented 140 digital recordings of lessons in the core subjects  Core Mathematics, English Language, Integrated Science and Social Studies to the schools.



The Core Mathematics has 30 lessons, English Language has 40 and Social Studies 30.



Candidates



The Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, who made this known in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said the distribution of the items formed part of the governments intervention to second cycle schools.



A total of 446,321 final-year SHS students are writing the 2021 WASSCE for school candidates across the country.



They are made up of 221,437 males and 224,884 females from 965 public and private second cycle institutions.



The 2021 WASSCE statistics made available to the Daily Graphic indicate that the public schools are 651 while the private ones are 314.



The examination, which began with the project work last Monday, will have the written papers taking off on September 1, 2021.



A total of 763 supervisors will be at the 763 centres to invigilate the examination.



Preparatory materials



Prof. Opoku-Amankwa said similar remedial materials were given to the candidates last year, saying that they are preparatory materials to prepare the students towards the examinations.



Those of last year were from 2013-2019.



The Director-General of the GES noted that each candidate had been given packs of the remedial materials while the digital lessons on external hard drives were for the schools.



The teachers can download them onto their laptops and schools that have television sets can play them for the students to watch. The schools can also download them on their desktop computers in their laboratories to get the students to access.



The feedback we are getting is that everything is good. We are also arranging to put it on YouTube and also put it on our Ghana Learning Television. Once it goes to YouTube, day students can also access in the comfort on their homes, he said.



Prof. Opoku-Amankwa indicated that the preparations towards the examination were key because people did not go to school to fail but to excel and move on and so everything had to be done to guide the students to do well.



He said the final-year students were not supposed to take the remedial materials away, explaining that it had been communicated to the schools for reuse by subsequent candidates.



According to him, the materials got to the regional offices for collection by the schools from July 27 to 31, 2021.



Free SHS



Prof. Opoku-Amankwa said by the introduction of the free SHS, the government sought to relieve parents of their burden as far as funding was concerned and also give students some relief so that they would not be confronted with the problem of having to leave the classrooms for the non-payment of fees.



In doing this, he said the government did a number of things; the first of which was to provide two sets of uniforms, house cloth, Physical Education (PE) kits, core textbooks for each student, given out quantities of elective textbooks in addition to free feeding, among other things.



Again, Prof. Opoku-Amankwa said the government also paid some money for maintenance, examination, clubs and general administration of the schools.













Source: graphiconline.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.

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Academic activities in public universities in the country resumed yesterday following the suspension of a strike by members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).



This came to light when the Daily Graphic team visited the University of Ghana, the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) and the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ).



The leadership of UTAG last Friday asked members to return to the classroom immediately, pending the final outcome of its deliberations with the government over its grievances.



The industrial action started on August 2, 2021.



Legon



At the University of Ghana, the usually bustling campus was quiet, with few students seen heading in various directions, possibly to engage in private studies.



Some of the students said their examinations were due this week and so they were preparing for them.



Two students, Stephen Tetteh and Anita Andoh, who were seen heading towards the Balme Library, said per the timetable, they would start their examination tomorrow.



The vice-president of the University of Ghana branch of UTAG, Dr Samuel Kojo Kwofie, said: We have restored our services 100 per cent.



He, however, said the organisation of the end-of-semester examination was being done by the management of the university, and that members of the association had nothing to do with it.



UPSA



On the UPSA campus, there was virtually no academic activity, as the students had already written their end-of-semester examination.



According to Mercy Asamoah and Joyce Asante, they finished their examination before the UTAG strike came into full force.



The president of the UPSA branch of UTAG, Dr Ampem Darko Aniapam, said members did not mark examination scripts during the strike.



I just sent a message to our members that they should start marking the scripts by 9 a.m. today. I have seen some of them coming to pick the scripts. Before the strike even started, a large chunk of the students had finished with their examination, he added.



GIJ



A couple of lectures were going on when the Daily Graphic team got to the GIJ campus.



A student, Ms Esther Nettey, said as of 12 noon yesterday, she had attended two lectures and expressed joy that academic activities had resumed fully.



The vice-president of the GIJ branch of UTAG, Dr Kodwo Jonas Anson Boateng, confirmed that lecturers were back to the lecture halls.



UDS



From Tamale, Samuel Duodu reports that academic work resumed on the Tamale, Nyankpala and the City campuses of the University for Development Studies (UDS) yesterday.



The UTAG chairman of the UDS, Dr Felix Longi, confirmed the suspension of the strike by members.



Some of the students expressed satisfaction at the turn of events and said they needed their lecturers to supervise their project work, mark their examination scripts and release their results to enable them to graduate on schedule.



Recall



Members of UTAG started a sit-down strike on August 2, this year to demand a restoration of their 2021 salary levels and improvement in their conditions of service.



The Senior Staff Association of the Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG) had earlier gone on strike to press home similar demands but called off the action after the first week.



The NLC subsequently directed the associations to call off their actions, but UTAG refused, compelling the commission to proceed to the High Court to seek an injunction to stop the university teachers from continuing their industrial action.



Not satisfied with the decision of the commission, the association filed a motion at the same court to challenge the order to call off the strike.



When the case was called last Thursday, the Labour Division of the Accra High Court struck out the suit filed by the NLC after the commission decided to stop pursuing the case.



The decision paved the way for UTAG and the government to return to the negotiation table to resolve the dispute per a road map outlined in an MoU, leading to the suspension of the strike.









Source: graphiconline.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.

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A Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has urged the public to make a conscious effort to learn and become conversant with the French language.

He said learning French especially for Ghanaians was not an issue of luxury but rather was a crucial way to tap into the numerous opportunities available in French-speaking countries.



At the launch of a bilingual school (French and English), Ecole Therese Internationale, at Otinshie East Legon in the Adentan Municipality last Friday, Rev. Fordjour said: With French, lawyers, teachers, engineers, architects, doctors, business men and women from Ghana can easily sell their services and goods to Frenchspeaking countries, he said.



Inauguration



Ecole Therese Internationale is an international bilingual school that uses French and English language for teaching and learning.



Students can opt to learn in French, and they will be exposed to the English language as well, or vice versa.



Ghana, Rev Fordjour said, was surrounded by French-speaking countries, and therefore, French was the key to help the country better integrate with such countries.



The three closest neighbouring countries all speak French, and one way of deepening our cooperation and integration with them is by learning French, he said.



Apart from Rev. Fordjour, another Deputy Minister of Education, Ms Gifty Twum Ampofo, also attended the inauguration of the school.



Representatives of foreign missions, especially from French-speaking countries, National School Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA) and other educational bodies were also in attendance.



Commitment



Rev. Fordjour said the government was committed to promoting the learning of French in the country, explaining that the government was implementing a policy that would position the countrys education system in a manner that would promote the learning of French.



In view of that, he said the government had signed a bilateral cooperation agreement with the French government for the promotion of French education.



At the multilateral level, Ghana has deepened its commitment and as a result signed a linguistic pact with La Francophone in an effort to promote the education, learning and the speaking of French, he said.



He said the promotion of French was also at the core of the countrys foreign policy as Ghana shared borders with French-speaking countries.



According to him, French-speaking countries had excelled in making many of their citizens conversant with the English language.



However, he said it was unfortunate that English-speaking countries had not been able to achieve such a feat by promoting French in their countries.



The possibility of our Francophone brothers and sisters speaking and writing English is higher than Anglophone people speaking French, he said.



French is key



The Principal of Ecole Therese Internationale, Mrs Theodora Wood, quoting President Akufo-Addo, described Ghana as an English island in a French sea.



She said the country was surrounded by French-speaking countries, a situation which ignited her passion to set up the institution to educate people in French.



Recent developments, including the African Intercontinental Free Trade Area (AfCTA), are also a factor. This is seeking to create one African market. It is, therefore, important to educate the next generation in French to enable them to take advantage of this opportunity, she said.

Source: graphiconline.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.

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Drama is unfolding in the case involving the six aggrieved pastors of the Light House Chapel International (LCI) days after their lawyer mounted a spirited defense against the alleged $12 million settlement demand on the church.



In the latest twist to the circus, it is emerging that part of the said controversial amount was allegedly set to be used as legal fees for Kofi Bentil, Vice President of Imani Ghana and lawyer for the 6 Ex Pastors.



Deep throat sources insist that the Imani Lawyer was allegedly hoping to line his pocket from his clients - the six pastors - if they could get the 12 million dollars they demanded from the church.



Mr. Bentil had in a statement on Friday flatly denied the supposed demand of the said amount by his clients.



According to him, the figure is a figment of the imagination of the defendant, Lighthouse Chapel.



Myjoyonline, in an August 20, 2021 interview quoted Mr. Bentil as saying that the only claim his clients have made is for the reimbursement of all funds owed them by the church and nothing more, unless otherwise decided by the Court.



We have categorically denied it in a statement that we put out. We have not made such a request of them, he emphasised.



But some witnesses described as The Eminent Clergymen are said to have been present in the meeting where the said $12M settlement request was made by the six pastors.



The men of God are: Bishops Anyani Boadum of Jesus Generation Ministries, Tackie Yarboi of Victory Bible Church and Gideon Titi-Offei of Pleasant Places Church.



According to Rev. Kwesi Dei of the LCI, Rt. Rev Dr. Anyani Boadum personally delivered this message of the $ 12 million demand to the church leadership as part of the settlement discussion, and added that they also learnt that Kofi Bentil was hoping to reap $ 1.57 million dollars from this deal.



It seems Bentil, the one who constantly calls people predatory elite", is the one here allegedly hunting for a big breakthrough in legal fees of $1.57 million dollars.



According to Rev. Kwesi Dei, the $ 12million was calculated and explained by Kofi Bentil to the 3 Eminent Clergymen in a meeting in which all 6 renegade pastors were present.



The Clergymen were dumbfounded by the demand and asked them whether they really wanted them to deliver such a message to the LCI. Bentil and plaintiffs were reportedly adamant and insisted that is their demand and did not budge. The 3 men of God left the meeting disappointed and dismayed.



Contradictory Denial In Court by Kofi Bentil



It is to be recalled that on 3rd August 2021 when the $ 12 Million bombshell was dropped by Rodney Heward-Mills, counsel for LCI, Kofi Bentil appeared to speak from two sides of his mouth.



He first denied his clients ever demanded that amount, and then added that even if they did it does not matter.



Why Cant Bentil Tell The Public What Transpired?



Kofi Bentil claims there were weeks of settlement talks but is unable to give details of the talks. The devil is indeed in the detail.



He and his clients have only come out to deny the demand for $12 Million but have not told the world what demands they made and what transpired during the weeks of settlement talks.



Displaying the content of Clients Reliefs on Social Media



Kofi Bentil and his clients have displayed the reliefs sought by his clients on social media and said there is no $12 million mentioned in the writs and that LCI cooked up that $12million figure.



LCIs response to that is that the church never said the $12 million figure is in their writs. The figure came up during settlement talks and popped up in court when the judge asked for feedback from the parties on settlement since he had earlier recommended that the matter, if possibly, be settled out of court.



It is therefore a disingenuous, mischievous and not too smart a campaign of misinformation for the plaintiffs to display the writs on social media and say see .. see.. look at .look at there is no $12 Million in our writs. That is a very infantile attempt at misinformation and propaganda knowing that the narrative is that the demand was made during settlement and not in their writs.



A Blackmail Suit?



The LCI has observed that this suit has all the characteristic of a blackmail suit. Kofi Bentil and his clients embarked on a mission to sue the church, bastardize the church on social media, browbeat the church into submission and extort outrageous sums of money from the church knowing that the LCI has a policy of not engaging in media banters and would ordinarily, not want to fight in court; much so with former pastors of the church.



And true to their prediction, the LCI has been silent on the matter since last April when it came out. Now it is looking like Kofi Bentil and his clients have pushed the church to the limits and have compelled LCI to come out to speak.



LCIS Call To Kofi Bentil before Writs Were Issued



The Church says it is a blackmail suit because before the plaintiffs issued the writ, the church heard about the grievances of the plaintiffs and was told that Kofi Bentil is their lawyer.



LCI therefore instructed their lawyers to speak to Kofi Bentil to know the grievances of the plaintiffs. The lawyer for LCI called Kofi Bentil on 15th March 2021.



During the conversation the lawyer from LCI told Kofi Bentil to write formally to the church on all the grievances of his clients as is standard practice for lawyers in such matters so that he presents it to the LCI after which a meeting can be held, but Kofi Bentil reportedly said categorically that he will not write to LCI.



Kofi Bentil rather allegedly issued threats that LCI needs to settle this matter or else if it hits the media it will be electrifying..



While the conversation was on-going, Kofi Bentil told the LCI lawyer he is being distracted by some noise around him so he would call back in 30 minutes. The LCI lawyer waited the whole day but Kofi Bentil did not return the call.



The following day which was the 16th of March 2021, LCI instructed its lawyer to send Kofi Bentil a text to ask him to contact him since LCI did not hear from him the day before. The lawyer sent the text which was delivered to Kofi Bentils phone on Tuesday 16th March 2021. Our reporter has seen the text and it read as follows:



Good morning Mr. Bentil . I trust you are well. This is Counsel for Lighthouse. We didnt finish talking yesterday. You said you were going to get back to me in 30 minutes but I didnt hear from you. You can call anytime today when you are free. Thanks. Nice day.



Kofi Bentil never got back to the LCI. The next time the LCI heard from Kofi Bentil was the 6 writs issued by him on behalf of the 6 ex pastors and served on LCI on 23rd April.



It is to be noted that even though the writs were filed on Monday 19th April 2021 it was not until Friday 23rd April 2021 that LCI was served with them.



Before LCI received the writs, social media was already awash with defamatory publications in an article titled Darkness in A Lighthouse and the article made copious reference to the writs concerning LCI, even though LCI had not been served with them.



The ex-pastors have continued with their vile campaign and disparaging assault on the church on social media even though the matter is in court, all in the bid to hammer LCI into settlement talks and extort money from the church with intimidation and blackmail.



Kofi Bentil and his clients were not interested in settlement talks from Day 1. Or else why will Kofi Bentil flatly refuse to follow standard legal practice in matters such this to simply write to LCI as requested for talks to begin? Why did he refuse to call back the LCI lawyer? Why did he refuse to reply the text from the LCI lawyer to call him the following day to contact him?



LCI states that the $ 12 million demand from the Ex-Pastors is factual. Kofi Bentil reportedly did that calculation and explained same to the 3 Eminent men of God who tried to broker peace. This calculation included his legal fees of $1.57 million. The figure was so outrageous that the Senior Clergymen abandoned any hope of settling this matter amicably.



The 6 Ex-Pastors have sued the LCI for among other things the alleged non-payment of their SSNIT contributions.



The six pastors are Bishop Larry Odonkor, Bishop Oko Mensah, Rev. Edward Laryea, Pastor Seth Duncan, Pastor Edem Amankwah and Pastor Faith Makafui Fiakojo.

Source: The Ghanaian Publisher









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.

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Massive infrastructural development is taking place in all the six newly created regions, the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, has assured.



He disclosed that in all, there were 96 projects ongoing while some had been completed and inaugurated.



The projects, he said, included six regional administration blocks under construction, with one completed; 24 two-storey blocks for decentralised agencies, with three completed and one inaugurated while 66 bungalows were being constructed.



Twelve of those bungalows have been completed and five of them inaugurated.



Wrong assertions





In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, Mr Botwe said evidence of the unprecedented infrastructural development abounded in the regions.



The minister who was throwing more light on the developments taking place in the new regions, also debunked assertions by a section of the society that very little development projects were taking place in the newly created regions.



On average, he said, 70 per cent of all the projects had been completed and they were all expected to be fully completed and delivered by December this year.



Those that had been completed and inaugurated were done ahead of schedule, he pointed out.



Vehicles



Furthermore, Mr Botwe added that in May 2019, President Akufo-Addo presented 48 cross-country vehicles (eight vehicles per region) and 30 motorbikes (five motorbikes per region) to the newly established RCCs to ensure smooth operations in their respective regions.



He said some of the ongoing projects included Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) offices, offices for various departments and agencies, staff bungalows and road construction.



Beneficiary agencies include Feeder Roads, Education, Health, Agriculture and Security.



RCC offices



In each of the six regions, construction of three-storey RCC offices are taking place, with the one for Sefwi Wiawso completed and handed over.



He indicated that the remaining five would be completed and handed over by December this year.



The construction of 24 two-storey building offices for regional directorates of Health, Education, Agriculture and Feeder Roads were ongoing, with 3 completed and one inaugurated.



Bungalows



Sixty-six bungalows are also being constructed, with each region benefiting from 11. Out of the 66, 12 have been completed and five inaugurated.



Mr Botwe stated that on the average all the remaining projects were 70 per cent complete and that they were expected to be fully completed by December this year.



Those contractors who have completed their projects had done that ahead of schedule.

He added that to augment the fleet of vehicles to the RCCs, the ministry further presented additional 18 pick-up vehicles (3 per region) to enhance their operations in March, 2020.



Roads



He disclosed that each region was benefiting from the construction of two critical roads which were at advanced stages.



Mr Botwe noted that President Akufo-Addo did not just create the six new regions but had followed up with massive infrastructural development.



He explained that the 2020 budget (paragraphs 375-377) as well as the 2020 Mid-Year budget statement (Paragraphs 271-273) captured the clear intentions of the projects that the government had outlined for these new regions.



Savannah



Citing the example of Bole in the Savannah Region, he said the government was constructing two two-storey Regional administration blocks for the Department of Agriculture, with two Senior Staff bungalows which were nearing completion.



He added that in the Savannah Regional capital, Damongo, a two-storey administration block for the RCC and 2-storey administration block for the Regional Directorate of Education were being constructed.



Mr Botwe explained that in spite of challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government was working assiduously to execute the projects.



Police



He told the Daily Graphic that plans were on course for a contract to be awarded for the construction of six three-storey administration blocks for Regional Police Commands.



Also under construction would be six three-storey flats (two bedroom flats, 12 units) for staff of the Regional Police Commands.



Under the contract, 12 bungalows will also be constructed for Regional Police Commanders and their deputies.



Gratitude



Mr Botwe expressed gratitude to the chiefs in the various regions for their support and for providing an average of 300 acres of land for the construction of the development projects.



















Source: Graphiconline.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.

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The Government says it has through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection disbursed an amount of GH160 million out of the GH213 million required to pay caterers of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) for the 1st term of the 2021 academic year.



The disbursement of the funds which commenced on Friday 20th August, 2021, covered 62 cooking days of the 1st term, a statement issued Monday by the GSFP said.



The statement said the ongoing payment does not include some regions such as the Western and Western North regions due to limited funds, however the GSFP says it has received strong assurance from the Controller and Accountant General for the release of an additional GH53 million to pay the remaining regions as quickly as possible.



In line with Governments vision and commitment to sustaining the programme and improving upon its quality service to beneficiary pupils, caterers are assured that all outstanding arrears would be settled within the framework of the programmes contractual obligation with them.



GSFP also urges all caterers who have any payment related issues to contact our Regional Coordinators in their respective regions for speedy resolution.



Finally, the Ghana School Feeding Programme on behalf of the Government and the Ministry of Gender expresses its special appreciation to all Caterers for the services well rendered over the period; and encourages them to remain committed in feeding the 3,448,067 beneficiary pupils under the Programme, the statement signed by Head of Public Relations of the GSFP, Siiba Alfa, said.









Source: graphiconline.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.

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The following is the full response of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the petition by the Executive Director of Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability ("ASEPA") to get Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah removed from office for alleged bribery.



RE: PETITION TO INVOKE ARTICLE 146 OF THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE



By an unreferenced letter received at the Office of the President on 13th July, 2021, signed on behalf of Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability ("ASEPA") by Mensah Thompson describing himself as Executive Director, ASEPA, a petition for the removal of the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, was delivered to my office. Attached to the letter were two documents in support of the petition:



(i) a letter, dated 8th July, 2021, written by a Kwasi Afrifa, Esq. on the letterhead of 0 & A Legal Consult petition; and



(ii) a letter written by the Judicial Secretary, dated 12th July, 2021, requesting the "Ghana Police Service to conduct criminal investigations into a bribery allegation".



ASEPA claims to be "a registered Civil Society organisation based in Ghana with full rights under the laws of Ghana".



By a letter, dated 20th July, 2021, I consulted the Council of State, in accordance with the terms of article 146 (6) and the teachings of the Supreme Court in Agyei-Twum v. Attorney-General and Another [2005-2006] SCGLR 732, in determining whether the petition discloses a prima facie case against the Chief Justice, which determination should precede the appointment of a committee under article 146 (6) of the Constitution.



By a letter, dated 20th August, 2021, the Council of State conveyed to me its conclusions on the consultation as to whether a prima facie case has been established against the Chief Justice.



Accordingly, I make this determination of whether a prima facie case has been established against the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, to warrant the appointment of a committee u











Source: graphiconline.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.

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In his inauguration speech, President Hakainde Hichilema promised Zambians that change had arrived.



The newly inaugurated leader, who won a landslide victory against the incumbent Edgar Lungu in elections earlier this month, said the future would not be without challenges but he added the economy would be revived.



It was not just a question of fixing the economy - but growing it too, and he called for the private sector to play a role.



It was important to seek and make investments locally and regionally before looking to Europe and beyond, he said.



He promised Zambians three decent meals a day: No Zambian should go to bed hungry.



His administration would look at reforms to the mining, energy, land and tourism sectors, he said.



The 59-year-old also thanked his predecessor for his service and for the smooth transition to his administration.



This was the countrys third peaceful and democratic transfer of leadership over the last three decades, something that was of great credit to Zambia, Mr Hichilema said.



Democracy is the way to go - for Zambia, the people of Africa and the world.



He underlined that the new government would have zero tolerance towards corruption, it would be a hallmark of the administration - and it would not be a question of retribution.



The cabinet would be representative of the whole country - and all regions would have an equal share of development, he said.



The media too could feel the new dawn as they would be able to operate freely, the new president added.



Setting out his administrations commitment to educating the young, he said: Education is the best investment in any child, Im an example of that.



Calling for unity, he reiterated the slogan of Zambias founding father Kenneth Kaunda, who died in June aged 97: One Zambia, one nation.



Afterwards, President Hichilema released hundreds of balloons into the sky over Heroes Stadium - a change from last inauguration when doves were used and proved problematic when they refused to fly off.

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.

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The microblogging site Twitter is set to roll out operations in Ghana in September, officials have confirmed. The social networking service on 12 April 2021 announced that it has settled on the West African country to establish its Africa headquarters.



Speaking in an interview with Asaase Business, Dr Nadia Adongo Musah, the Deputy director for the Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President said the company is currently interviewing its first batch of employees.



Twitter is here because of what we did in 2018. A Nigerian who was part of the team that attended the full circle event we organised in 2018 helped us to get this tech giant. He is currently in the country helping to conduct interviews for the first batch of employees Twitter will be working with. If things go as scheduled, they will be opening their office here in Ghana next month [September], she said.



The choice of Ghana for its operations came as a surprise for many, triggering heated debate about the business environment for technology start-ups across the continent.



However, for the social media giant, its decision was based on Ghanas support for free speech.



As a champion for democracy, Ghana is a supporter of free speech, online freedom, and the Open Internet, of which Twitter is also an advocate. Furthermore, Ghanas recent appointment to host the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area aligns with our overarching goal to establish a presence in the region that will support our efforts to improve and tailor our service across Africa, Twitter said in a statement in April.













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.

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Personnel from the Homicide Unit of the Ghana Police Service that deals with crime of murder have arrived from Accra to commence investigation into the alleged killing of three boys at Abesim near Sunyani in the Bono Region.

Homicide team



The team arrived in Sunyani yesterday after the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, directed the team to take over the investigation into the incident.



The police in Sunyani arrested 28-year-old Richard Appiah, an architect, who is believed to have murdered the three children and kept some meat suspected to be human flesh in his fridge.



The victims are his own 12-year-old stepbrother, Louis Agyeman Junior, and a 15-year-old Stephen Sarpong. The third victim is yet to be identified.



The bodies were found in his living quarters, owned by his father at Alaska near Abesim on Friday, August 20, 2021.



The police arrested another suspect (name withheld) last Sunday to assist in investigations.



The Daily Graphic gathered from the Bono Regional Police headquarters that the team has been busy at the crime scene since arrival.



According to the source, the unspecified number of the homicide officers had picked the fridge in which the suspect was alleged to have kept the pieces of suspected human parts to the regional command.



In addition, the team has gathered and brought the exhibits suspected to have been used to commit the crime to the regional headquarters for inwards transfer to Accra.



The homicide team is being supported by some Sunyani Municipal and Abesim Police personnel.



When the Daily Graphic visited the crime scene yesterday, there was an armed police officer stationed there to prevent people from visiting the house to distort evidence.



Last Sunday, the IGP led a delegation to visit families of the two boys to console them and directed that the homicide team take over the case.







Source: graphiconline.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.

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The Chief Imam of Larabanga in the Savanna Region, Alhaji Mahama Mumuni Zankawah, has offered prayers for success for former President John Mahama.



According to him, just as the Holy Prophet Muhammad overcame trials to achieve success, so would he be successful in his endeavours.



Prophet Muhammad, when his own people neglected him and he moved from Mecca to Medina, from Medina he succeeded and came back to Mecca. Now the whole wide world is full of Muslims. So, as the prophets did, so shall you be.



The spiritual leader of Larabanga made the remarks through a translator when the former President and his entourage paid a courtesy call on him as part of the 2020 NDC Presidential Candidates nationwide tour to thank Ghanaians for their support for him and the NDC Parliamentary Candidates.



Referencing the disputed 2020 elections, he said the setback was merely an indication that Allah was preparing him for future success.



When they push you aside small, it doesnt mean they push you out of the way. They want you to stand behind or aside and see the straightness of the road, and if you go back small, you know Im supposed to pass here. So NDC has been shifted a bit but eventually it will come back he announced.



The Imam further requested that when Mr. Mahama attains success, he should not forget the people of Larabanga.











Source: kasapafmonline.com









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THE RULING New Patriotic Party (NPP) has given the green light for its numerous members in the 275 constituencies in the country to start organising their annual Delegates Conference.



Per the partys directive, all constituencies in the 16 regions are supposed to organise the conference, starting from Saturday, August 21 to Friday, August 27, 2021.



The NPP General Secretary, John Boadu, who made the announcement in a press statement, said party members should comply fully with the directive.



The NPP will, from Saturday, August 21, 2021, to Friday, August 27, 2021, hold constituency annual delegates conference in all the 275 constituencies of the country in accordance with Article 7(27) of the party constitution.



Importance of Conference



Significantly, the NPP holds the annual delegates conference in the 275 constituencies, scattered across the country, with the aim of ensuring and promoting the effective growth and unity of the party.



For instance, the party in the various constituencies, uses such important party programmes to take stock of their activities of the previous year and also plan for the proper growth of the party moving forward.



During such occasions, the party members, who are popularly referred to as the Grassroot members or owners of the party, are given the rare opportunity to make contributions to the development of the party.



Also, the partys financial spending during the past year, are announced so that party members would know whether the party is financially viable in the constituencies as a way to ensure transparency.



Strict COVID-19 Rules



John Boadu announced in the statement that the NPP has instituted measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the historic programme.



He said each constituency is mandated to organise the conference in batches either concurrently or at different times in open spaces so as to prevent overcrowding, which has the potential to spread COVID-19.



Delegates/Attendees to each Constituency Conference shall not exceed 250 people. In other words, the conference shall be held in groups of 250 on the average, at the same or different venues within the constituency, depending on the constituencys peculiarities, the statement said.



He also declared that all the COVID-19 protocols such as the wearing of face masks, washing of hands with soap and running water and others, should be strictly adhered to.



The party is assuring its members and the general public that it is taking all the necessary steps to ensure strict adherence to these guidelines in the conduct of the constituency conferences across the country, Mr. Boadu stated.















Source: Daily Guide









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The Board Chairman of the National Theatre, Nana Fredua Agyeman Ofori-Atta, has slammed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former President John Dramani Mahama over their statements on the Agenda 111 initiative by the Akufo-Addo administration.



The President has cut sod for the construction of 111 district and Regional hospitals with the first 88 hospitals to be built within 18 months.



"So far sites have been identified for 88 of the 111 hospitals, and after cutting the sod, work on the other 87 sites will also commence today [Tuesday].



The acquisition of the remaining 13 sites will be completed shortly for work to begin. Each hospital is being constructed at a cost of $16.88 million, i.e. $12.88 million for construction and $4 million for medical equipment, and all the hospitals are to be completed in 18 months and works will begin on the regional and other hospitals in the latter part of the year, the President said during his sod-cutting for the project in the Ashanti Region on Tuesday, August 17.



Mahama On Agenda 111



According to the former President, the project is "only an afterthought that suddenly they realized that they must be doing some infrastructure and Agenda 111 has been conjured with no transparency as to how the money for the projects are going to be procured''.



Government should avert its mind and try to finish some of those projects including some of those that they themselves have initiated, he added.



NDC's Accusations



Some NDC members also accused the government of spending over GH 600 million before cutting sod for the project.



Responding to the allegation, the Ministry of Finance in a press release issued by the Public Relations Unit, indicated that the GH 600 million released to the Health Infrastructure Account at Bank of Ghana (BoG) in 2020 was the equivalent of the US$ 100 million announced by the government to implement the projects.



In 2020, GH600 million was released to the Health Infrastructure Account at Bank of Ghana (BoG) to support the implementation of the District and Regional Hospital Projects. This is the equivalent of the 100m US Dollars as announced by Government and will be disbursed to contractors in accordance with the project work plan," the statement dated August, 19, explained.



Stop The Childish Talks



Touching on the issue on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Nana Fredua rebuked the NDC and former President John Mahama for sharing dissenting views on the project.



Speaking to host Nana Yaw Kesseh, he addressed their statements as ''childish'' saying ''I mean you don't talk like that. That's not how we should play our politics . . . This a good thing. Where the hospitals will be built will provide employment for food vendors, ice water sellers and those who deal in assorted drinks. There will also be employment for doctors and nurses . . . So, stop those childish talks''.



Nana Fredua applauded the President for the initiative believing it will boost the health sector of the economy.



"These 111 hospitals are for Ghanaians," he emphasized.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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.

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has described as unwarranted and unmeritorious, the petition brought before him by the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) seeking the removal of the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, from office.



Calls for the removal of the Chief Justice (CJ) followed an allegation by a private legal practitioner, Kwasi Afrifa that he had demanded a $5million bribe to deliver a favorable judgment in a case involving his client; an allegation the CJ has denied.



Council of State



Last Friday, members of the Council of State presented their findings on the petition to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



The report was sealed and its contents were not made public. It is believed to have contained findings of whether a prima facie case has been established against the Chief Justice or not.



ASEPA



The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) had petitioned the President for the removal of the Chief Justice for allegedly collecting a bribe of $5 million.



The Chief Justice, Justice Anin Yeboah, has since denied the allegation and called on the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate the matter.



"Unmeritorious"



But President Akufo-Addo, after studying the report, established that no prima facie case has been established, thus curtailing the process.



In a statement, the President threw out the petition saying it is "devoid of any basis warranting the setting up of a committee under Article 146 (6) to undertake the very serious business of removing a Chief Justice from office.



the Supreme Court in interpreting article 146 (6) had in mind unmeritorious and unwarranted petitions such as the instant one. The petition is dismissed accordingly, the statement dated August 20, 2021, added.



"Embarrassing"



Meanwhile, The Executive Secretary of ASEPA speaking in an interview on Joy News, fired back describing the President's statement as "embarrassing".



Read the President's full response below:

Your browser does not support iframes.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The minister of roads and highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah, has petitioned the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, to investigate an allegation of corruption levelled against him on a radio station.



The petition, written by his lawyers, stated that when their client listened to the tape, he found that a popular radio presenter called Captain Smart, is alleged to have collected some money from a woman for the benefit of the minister.



The minister said he is appalled by the allegation, which, apart from its criminal connotations, is also defamatory of his integrity.



He, therefore, wants a full investigation conducted into the allegation contained on the clip, not only for his name and long-standing integrity to be cleared but also for any perpetrator involved to be dealt with in accordance with law.









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.

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Often when questions are asked about how the movie industry can be improved, players talk about financing, distribution and marketing but renowned movie producer Ivan Quashigah thinks there is more to it.



According to him, one of the things the industry turned a blind eye to was training. There are a lot of things I have seen in the industry that when we work on, we will move to greater places but I will prioritise training of actors, especially now.



I think they need to do more training and I believe this will help improve the quality of actors that we have or those coming up. I will advocate that anyone who wants to enter the movie industry should consider getting trained to get to know what acting entails so that they can do exploits, he told Graphic Showbiz recently.



Ivan also reiterated, especially to younger actors, that stardom was not a days job. The current crop of actors does not understand that being a star takes time. With some of these people, the moment they feature in a movie or two, they want to become stars.



You cant blame them, they see the likes of Jackie Appiah, Adjetey Anang, among others, who are doing well so they want to be like them forgetting that it took time for them to get to where they are today.



Nothing beats patience and waiting for your time. If only they will, they can achieve much more than what the people they look up to achieved. And when you train properly, you will be able to take your craft beyond Ghana.



There are people who are naturally talented but that alone is not enough, you need to shape it and understand the language of the industry so that you dont fall for just anything, he explained.



Technology had been a major disruptor with many players blaming it for the poor fortunes of the movie industry but Ivan Quashigah said it had its positive impact too.



Apart from it giving us the chance to show the world our works when we put them on the internet, it has also given us directors the chance to see more potential and recruit. When I started, it was difficult getting actors but now its not, he said.



When it comes to casting for movies, there are a lot of things that come to play and the YOLO producer and director said one factor that went into the selection was the numbers the person was having on social media.



This is not to say all other things do not stand but in the social media age we find ourselves, it will be a plus for an actor to have huge social media following.



It will be easy for you to sell your works and these people also help with promotion. In the current era we find ourselves in, everyone should be able to take advantage of digitisation, he added.



Ivan Quashigah is a Ghanaian filmmaker, a creative director and Chief Executive Officer of Farmhouse Productions. He is well known for producing and directing the award-winning television series Things We Do for Love and recently YOLO.





Source: Graphic Showbiz









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.

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Fast-rising Ghanaian musician and businessman Gambo, has paid a surprise visit to Cofie Eshun, the father of the late

hiplife legend, Theophilus Tagoe who was popularly known in showbiz as Castro Under Fire.



The visit formed part of activities of his Takoradi media tour.



Gambo embarked on the Takoradi tour to promote his 'New Era' Extended Play (EP).



https://ffm.to/gambo-newera-ep



The 'Drip' hit maker says he thought it necessary to pay his respect to the family of one of the greatest Ghanaian musicians that ever lived.



Castro's father was highly thankful for Gambo as an up and coming musician to do the needful by visiting him.



Mr. Eshun observed how other musicians visit Takoradi to do their media tour but do not bother to pay him visit upon all that his late son did for the Ghanaian music industry.



He prayed for God's blessings upon Gambo's music career just as he would have done for Castro if he were still alive, expressing how he deeply misses his son.



Gambo was humbled by the kind words and prayers from Castro's father.



He was also humbled by the great reception he enjoyed in Takoradi, saying his overall experience in Takoradi has been one of the best so far in his tours.



He expressed gratitude for the great support he enjoyed in Takoradi.



Castro Under Fire disappeared on the 6th of July, 2014 at the Beach in Ada during a jet ski with Janet Bandu, a female friend.



Reports indicated at the time that the two, while on holiday with the Gyan brothers opted for a jet ski cruise at a resort close to the Ada estuary and they never returned jetting but their jet ski was later found with a life jacket hanging on it.







Gambo is poised to become the face of Ghana music in the new future, with the release of his New Era Extended Play.The New Era EP was launched on June 18, 2021 and has seen Gambo featuring the likes of veteran rapper, Ayigbe Edem, Strongman, Medikal and Sefa.There are five tracks off the New Era EP. The EP is dominated by current trending stars in Ghana.D-Blacks Black Avenue Muzik label signee, Sefa, who is currently dominating local charts with her latest hit single E Choke (which features Mr Drew) was the only female star recruited for the EP.Songs on the EP include: No Stress produced by Goodboi; Beautiful featuring Sefa and produced by DJKwamzy; We Move featuring Strongman.The Beautiful song speaks about the heartbreak Gambo suffered in the hands of his ex-girlfriend.Gambo is deeply emotional about the song.According to him, the song is one that anyone who has experienced a broken-heart can listen to and console themselves.The track is off his Extended Play (EP).He recorded the song when he was in love and suffered a brutal broken-heart.Earlier this year when Gambo released the Dripofficial video believed to be the most expensive music video for 2021 so far, Gambo made it clear that there was a song for everyone on his upcoming EP.Drip saw Gambo recruiting the services of celebrated Ghanaian recording artist, Ayigbe Edem.Drip was premiered at 4syte TV premises in Accra on Friday, February 26, 2021 and is well positioned to take the Ghanaian music industry by storm.The premiere attracted several A-list artists, with live performances from Kechi and others.Drip was the first song off Gambos Extended Play. The banger is available on all major streaming platforms including YouTube, Audiomack.The EP was launched on April 9, 2021.Drip was produced by popular Ghanaian record producer, Fortune Dane.Starring in Drip official video are curvaceous Ghanaian actress, Moesha Boduong, and social media sensation, Shugatiti.Moesha and Edem were both in attendance at the premiere, which saw music lovers thrilled to great songs and performances from Gambo himself and other artists who came to support him.Drip official video was shot on the seventh floor of the leading hotel in Ghana, Kempinski Hotel, Accra.The video perfectly showcases the luxurious side of Ghana, and is comparable to music videos of top American recording artists.

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.

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Popular female Ghanaian gospel musician, Diana Antwi Hamilton, has won the Artiste of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards USA (GMA-USA) held last Saturday in New Jersey in the United States of America (USA).



She beat competition from acts such as Fameye, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, KiDi, Kuami Eugene, Mr Drew and Medikal to win the award.



In addition to the Artiste of the Year award, Diana Hamilton also took home the Gospel Artiste of the Year and Gospel Song of the Year awards.



Diana Hamilton, at the maiden edition of the awards ceremony held in 2020 took home the Gospel Artiste of the Year and Gospel Song of the Year awards.



The event which was attended by number of personalities from the creative industry in Ghana and USA was organised to reward Ghanaian music stakeholders in USA and Ghana who have contributed to the growth of the countrys music industry.



Other winners on the night were Mr Drew for New Artiste of the Year and MOGmusic, who was named Male Vocalist of the Year. Celestine Donkor also won the Female Vocalist of the Year award.



Adina and Stonebwoy bagged the Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year and Reggae/Danceall Artiste of the Year awards respectively, while Keche won Hiplife Song of the Year with No Dulling and Group of the Year.



Kofi Kinaata and Amerado bagged the Highlife Song of the Year and Hiphop/Hiplife Song of the Year awards respectively, while KiDi emerged as the winner in the Afrobeat/Afropop Song of the Year and Afrobeat/Afropop Artiste of the Year categories among others.



Performers on the night were Samini, Choirmaster of Praye fame, Kaykay Amponsah and a host of others.

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.

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Late Kumawood actor, Agya Manu was laid to rest over the weekend.



Known in private life as Samuel Manu, the actor died on Tuesday June 15, 2021 of an undisclosed ailment. He was 54.



Previous reports suggested that he was battling with diabetes and pressure before he met his untimely death.



He was laid to rest on Saturday, August 21, 2021 after a funeral ceremony held at the Arts Centre in Accra.

The event saw many Kumawood actors and actresses coming through to pay their last respects to their colleague.



Among them were Agya Koo, Kwadwo Nkansah Lil Win, Bill Asamoah, Christiana Awuni, Matilda Asare, Salinko, Akyere Bruwaa and a host of others.



Agya Manu was a prominent actor well known for his talent in Kumawood and beyond.

He appeared in movies like Bragoro, Di Asempa, and Ohia akwantuo.



He also acted alongside celebrated actors as Agya Koo, Lil Win, Kwaku Manu, Akrobeto, Akyere Bruwaa, and Rose Akua Attaa Mensah (Kyeiwaa).

Source: Daily Guide









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.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives with his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and their children, from left to right, Ella-Grace, Hadrien and Xavier, to meet with Governor General Mary Simon at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021.
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Alpinist, 5482 m Kyrgyzstan and the route climbed by Kirill Belotserkovskiy, Ivan Temerev and Alex Tyulyupo. 'One of the most beautiful mountains Ive ever climbed' Photo by Kirill Belotserkovskiy

New Kyrgyzstan climbs by Kirill Belotserkovskiy, Ivan Temerev, Alex Tyulyupo

24.08.2021 by by Planetmountain

Mountaineers Kirill Belotserkovskiy, Ivan Temerev and Alex Tyulyupo have established a series of new routes in the Western Kokshaal-Too mountain range in Kyrgyzstan. Highlights included ascents of Pik Alpinist (5482m) and Pik Korolyova (5816m).

Kirill Belotserkovskiy from Kazakhstan and Ivan Temerev and Alex Tyulyupo from Russia spent three weeks this August climbing in the Western Kokshaal-Too mountains, located on the southernmost part of the Tien Shan mountain rage straddling the border between Kyrgyzstan and China. The three attempted a few new routes on these "giant and freezingly beautiful mountains" as Belotserkovskiy puts it.



The trio acclimatised by climbing the north face and north ridge of 5482m high Pik Alpinist. Belotserkovskiy described the peak as "One of the most beautiful mountains Ive ever climbed." After setting off from base camp at 4200m, they reached the ridge, pitched their tent and and pushed on to the summit the same day before returning to the tent and descending safely the next morning. This is only the fourth route and fourth ascent of this striking peak. Acclimatisation was concluded with Belotserkovskiy scrambling up the south ridge of Karatoo, 4615m, completing the mountains second ascent.



After a short rest the the trio then climbed the North face and NW Ridge of Pik Korolyova. The trio had originally planned to climb a line up the center of the face but retreated after encountering difficult conditions. They then tackled a line further to the right, reaching the saddle where they bivied. The weather turned extremely bad on the second day but despite high winds, heavy spindrift and snowfall, they nevertheless managed to follow the ridge to the 5816m summit. Their 1650m line is graded AI4 M5 and believed to be only the third ascent of the mountain.



The expedition came to an end with Temerev and Tyulyupo climbing a new line up the South Face of Pik Marona East, 4610m, while Belotserkovskiy soloed the south ridge of Pik Skalistiy, 4845m.



A detailed report will follow in due course.

Link: FB Kirill Belotserkovskiy, CAMP - Cassin
In a year when Aiken County is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding, the Friends of the Aiken County Historical Museum is launching a project to collect the memories of local residents.

The name of the initiative is Recollections: Oral History Program and will involve interviewing folks and making audiovisual recordings while they reminisce.

The interviews will be directed toward usually not just general memories, but specific memories about things that have happened in Aiken County, said Friends of the Museum President Kathy Cunningham, who spoke during the Rotary Club of Aikens meeting Monday at Newberry Hall.

There are so many wonderful things that people can talk about and reminisce about on videotape  what county fairs were like when people were growing up here, what kinds of clubs were popular, she continued.

Other examples include remembrances of military service, participation in the Civil Rights movement, parades held locally and working at the Savannah River Site, which used to be known as the Savannah River Plant, during its early days.

Cunningham said the Friends of the Museum also wants to document the memories of tragedies, such as the 1953 explosion caused by a natural gas leak on Laurens Street in Aiken.

The blast killed 10 people and destroyed five buildings.

The recordings of the recollections will be retained in their entirety, but they also will be edited to create snippets that will be used in exhibits in the Historical Museum about specific topics.

Youll be able to hear the voice of someone who was there, someone who participated, someone that has fabulous memories that you never would have known about if we didn't do these interviews, Cunningham said.

The first 10 kiosks that will feature the memories of locals will focus on these subjects: Aiken County history, civil rights, the military, the textile industry, Banksia (the mansion where the Historical Museum is located), religion, education, pharmacy, the Summer Colony and Native Americans.

(The Summer Colony was made up of visitors from South Carolina's Lowcountry who came to Aiken during the summer in the 1800s to escape the sweltering heat and the threat of malaria.)

The Friends of the Museum is seeking nominations of people to interview, volunteer interviewers and monetary donations.

We are happy for you to nominate yourself, Cunningham said. We want to know what you have to tell us. If you nominate somebody you are very close to, maybe you should be the interviewer because they will be more comfortable with you asking the questions.

Cunningham's organization is working with the Historical Museum's staff and the Aiken County Historical Commission on the project.

Historical Museum Executive Director Lauren Virgo joined Cunningham for her Rotary presentation, which also included other information about what is happening at the museum.

To learn more about Recollections, visit achmfriends.org.

The Historical Museum is at 433 Newberry St. S.E.
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Georgia officials say they need more time to decide whether they will partner with a South Carolina county across the Savannah River on the proposed $5 billion Jasper Ocean Terminal, seen as an economic necessity by many in the rural Lowcountry.

The Georgia Ports Authority is staring at a Sept. 1 deadline to determine whether it will work with Jasper County Council on the new seaport or expand its busy Savannah port with a new terminal on adjacent Hutchinson Island.

South Carolina's ports authority has already agreed to let Jasper County take over its side of the 50-50 joint venture with Georgia, but port officials in the Peach State have to agree to the deal for it to move forward.

Georgia ports "will not be prepared to officially either offer or withhold its consent" to the agreement, Paul Threlkeld, a lawyer for the GPA, said in an Aug. 12 letter to Jasper County's attorney.

Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority, is working with Jasper County to extend the deadline, perhaps to the end of this year. Jasper County Council has agreed to a Dec. 31 deadline.

"I believe extending the deadline for the GPAs consent to Dec. 31 will provide the parties sufficient time to complete their due diligence," said Sen. Tom Davis, a Beaufort Republican who has advocated for construction of the Jasper terminal. Davis said in an email that Sept. 1 was an arbitrary deadline that can be extended without any problems, but "time is of the essence."

A spokeswoman for South Carolina's ports said "the involved parties are working through the process," and a deadline extension does not require approval by the agency's board of directors.

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The terminal was recently included in an article about 10 projects that could benefit from a proposed $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure package that has passed the Senate but still needs House approval. That article cited the cost of "substantial improvements to ground transportation infrastructure such as area highways and rail lines" as the terminal's biggest challenge.

A more pressing challenge, however, is apparent ambivalence by ports authorities in both states.

There's been little progress on the roughly 1,500-acre Jasper terminal in the nearly 15 years since rival port agencies in South Carolina and Georgia formed a joint venture to develop the site to handle future cargo needs. The two states have spent a combined $19.5 million on preliminary environmental studies for the proposed container terminal, which has a price tag of more than $5 billion.

Davis brokered the deal earlier this year to transfer South Carolina's side of the joint venture to Jasper County, where the terminal is seen as a driver for economic growth. Since then, South Carolina's ports agency opened a new terminal in North Charleston that will handle growth at Charleston's port for more than a decade while Georgia's focus has been on Hutchinson Island.

Davis is hoping Georgia will expand into Jasper County instead, and has worked with the state Legislature to set aside $2 million for environmental and engineering studies at the site.

In an email to South Carolina ports officials, Davis said he is "greatly encouraged" by the progress that's been made in recent months toward getting Georgia onboard with Jasper County to move ahead with the terminal.

If built, the Jasper Ocean Terminal would be one of the world's largest and most technically advanced seaports, able to handle the world's biggest container ships. At full buildout, it would be able to process 8 million 20-foot cargo containers per year.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 72F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
COLUMBIA  A White Fort Jackson soldier whose April shove of a smaller Black man caught on camera that sparked protests and national outcry was found guilty of third-degree assault on Aug. 23.

Jonathan Pentland, 42, will spend either 30 days in jail or pay a $1,087 fine after the guilty verdict from Magistrate Judge Diedra Wilson Hightower on the misdemeanor charge.

Pentland was charged April 14 with pushing 22-year-old Deandre Williams two days earlier during a walk in a sprawling, diverse neighborhood northeast of Columbia. Pentland, a sergeant, was suspended from duty after the confrontation.

"I'm just thankful that we were able to get things done. Not in any way do I feel things should be this way," Williams told the court after the verdict. "As a young man, if I go on a walk, I shouldn't feel any form of pressure. I don't think anybody wants to see these types of things to go down."

The verdict came after testimony from more than a dozen witnesses, including Pentland, Williams and the Richland County Sheriffs Department sergeant who signed the arrest warrant. The trial, which lasted nearly 21 hours over two days, marked the first time either Pentland or Williams spoke publicly since the confrontation.

Throughout the trial, Williams mental state was contrasted against the demeanor of Pentland.

A neighbor who lives across the street from the Pentlands, Kimberly Hernandez, testified Williams had acted erratically toward her daughter, making her uncomfortable enough that Hernandez asked the man to leave her alone.

Pentland said Williams' strange behavior put him on the defensive, and the strong language he used, including expletives and threats of physically carrying him away, was based on his military training to de-escalate situations and fear for his familys safety.

I would never have put my hands on him, except in self defense. I would never have harmed him," Pentland testified Aug. 23. "Never mean to inflict harm on anybody. All I was trying to do was to keep him focused on me. I wasn't trying to pick a fight."

Pentland's wife, Cassie, said on the stand she was fearful that Williams was going to charge at her at the time of the shove, which "created space" to ward him off.

"My husband was the barrier," she testified.

Pentland and other eyewitnesses have said during the trial the video clip depicting him telling the Black man to walk away and shouting that he was in the wrong neighborhood before pushing him gave an incomplete story of what happened.

The video does not show how it started or ended, or offer any explanation of what led to the fight. Pentland didn't use any slurs during the run-in, according to witness testimony and the film clip, and race was never mentioned during the trial.

I am arguing that Mr. Pentland was defending a threat to the neighborhood, Pentland's lawyer, Benjamin Stitely, said Aug. 23. In the world of criminal law, this is probably the most banal third-degree assault and battery you'll see in the next six months. The problem is, my client was minding his own business."

He accused the Richland County Police Department of generating a warrant against Pentland before an investigation into the incident was concluded.

You can't have a situation where half a law enforcement organization is doing an investigation and not turning it over," Stitely told the court Aug. 23. "Things are being hidden from us."

But Shawn McDaniels, the Richland County sergeant who signed Pentlands arrest warrant, said Pentlands admission of shoving Williams during a suspect interview and analysis of the video justified charging him.

Williams weighs about 100 pounds less than the 14-year soldier, who stands 6 feet tall and weighs 220 pounds.

I saw the conversation was one-sided, McDaniels testified. Its clear this was moreso a bullying situation that resulted in assault.

Williams told the court that the video was self-explanatory.

"Im walking, and hes on my shoulder, Williams testified Aug. 23. I wasnt in a place to try and have a confrontation with anyone.

New details about Williams also emerged in court. His father testified that his son received a cancer diagnosis two years ago that swelled his brain and affected his cognitive state.

He doesnt quite understand things as we would, his father, Demetrius, said before breaking down in tears.

The video sparked protests outside Pentlands house in The Summit during much of April 14. The family was escorted to another location after the home was vandalized.

Pentland said he regretted the backlash that came from his confrontation with Williams, but stood by his actions.

"It's embarrassing to the community, I'm sorry for the way it escalated, anybody looking back at this, you can watch that video and 100 percent see that it looks worse than it is," he said from the stand. "I did what I felt I had to do to protect my friends and family."
An agriculture and tourism program designed to showcase some of the state's finest hidden chefs and area farmers who provide them produce has extended its 2020 class of inductees into this year due to COVID-19. It also is hosting an outdoor dinner series this fall.

The S.C. Chef Ambassadors program was brainstormed in 2015 by Brandon Velie, a Ridge Spring chef and the honorary initial inductee, and spearheaded by former Gov. Nikki Haley, along with the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism and the S.C. Department of Agriculture.

Velie, a culinary gem in a town with a population under 1,000, hoped to reveal more small-town chefs in South Carolina and put them on the map. He also wanted to create a network between chefs, farmers and other suppliers who keep the state's culinary industry running.

When Haley planned a visit to his restaurant in 2014, he handed her an envelope holding the idea jotted down for her to read.

"I told her, 'I know you're not here on business, but I would love for you to look at this when you get a chance,'" Velie recalled. "I had put it out into the universe and let it go at that point. I wasn't expecting anything more."

Two weeks later, Velie was called into the governor's office and connected with representatives from the state departments who could help turn his idea into a reality. He left that day with the ball already rolling.

The ambassadors would serve an annual term and then they, along with the associated departments and governor, would suggest fellow South Carolina chefs for the following year.

The governor would ultimately decide the four faces to represent the state.

Now six years later, that process remains.

There have been 25 ambassadors who have participated in the program, including this year's roster featuring Kevin Mitchell, a chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of Charleston; Raffaele Dall'Erta, executive chef of Hamptons in Sumter; Jamie Daskalis, executive chef of Johnny Ds Waffles and Benedicts in Myrtle Beach; and Jason Tufts, executive chef at Malia's in Ridge Spring.

Typically, the ambassadors receive opportunities during their reign to cook at the James Beard House in New York City and participate in major state food festivals, like the Charleston Wine + Food Festival.

"I thought having the chefs featured at the James Beard House would be something that would say this brand is valid, this is something worth noticing," Velie said.

One former ambassador was featured on the "Rachael Ray Show," and others have been involved in cooking demonstrations for national programs and local festivals alike, including the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, or SEWE.

Mitchell, from Charleston, said he's used the program as a platform to share his work of honoring the enslaved and freed cooks from South Carolina who were once caterers in the city and who laid the foundation of the food we eat in the South today.

He's also been able to support, discover and network with Black farmers across the state. His upcoming outdoor dinner at Middleton Place has a particularly special meaning to him, as he pays homage to the first African American woman to write a cookbook that did not hide her name, gender or race: Edna Lewis, who was known as the "Grand Dame of Southern Cuisine."

"I have been inspired by her for many years, and I feel it is only right to honor her here," Mitchell said. "As part of honoring her, I will dedicate the main course to her by using quail, which is something that she raised."

Mitchell will also honor the many enslaved cooks who once worked at Middleton Place.

"It has been a mission of mine to give a name and face to those cooks who are the backbone of Southern cuisine," he said.

Another 2020 inductee has used this opportunity to work with award-winning authors and Charleston culinary celebrities The Lee Bros. in addition to Southern cooking show host Vera Stewart.

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That Aiken-based ambassador, Jason Tufts, is the executive chef of 30-year-running restaurant Malia's and soon-to-be general manager of breakfast-to-gelato eatery The Village Cafe.

He said his tenure, despite COVID-19, has already connected him with a deep network of farmers across the state and reiterated within him a sense of place and the importance of seasonality.

"The staff from the Department of Agriculture has been instrumental in connecting me with some great farms and dedicated farmers Ive never known about, right in my own backyard," Tufts said. "The program bridges the gap between not only farmers and chefs but, ultimately, the public as well."

Luckily, the Charleston Wine + Food Festival was a go before the pandemic derailed most remaining local events slated for 2020, Tufts said. There, he had the chance to prepare food under one of the white tents in Marion Square for thousands of attendees.

Reduced to Instagram takeovers and podcast interviews due to the pandemic, he and his ambassador classmates then had to lay low until fall.

The Euphoria festival in Greenville that September was an attempt at a socially distanced, outdoor "Sunday Supper" and one of the only other events the ambassadors worked all year.

As the COVID-19 delta variant ramps up this fall, this year's upcoming events will also be held outside.

Tufts is the first ambassador in the program's dinner series that will be held at varying farm-centric locations across the state.

His, entitled "Dinner at the Orchard," is scheduled for Sept. 12. It's being held at the largest peach farm on the East Coast, Titan Farms in Ridge Spring.

"Every year we try to do different events with our chef ambassadors, but this class got thrown a curveball by COVID," said Eva Moore, communications director for the state Department of Agriculture.

"We tried to work through some real uncertainty to host these dinners that will showcase the chefs in their own contexts and own communities, working with farmers and the people around them who make them who they are."

Tufts' dinner will begin with a scenic and fragrant drive through the peach orchard to a historic farmhouse.

There, guests will receive a signature cocktail before diving into a meal that incorporates fresh pecans from down the road at Yon Family Farms; lion's mane mushrooms from Circular Farm in Jackson; and pork belly from Keegan Filion Farm in Walterboro.

There will also be succotash created with pink-eyed peas and butter beans from Old Tyme Bean Co.; hydroponic baby gem lettuce from Vertical Roots Columbia; and broccoli and peaches from Titan Farms.

Daskalis will be in charge of the second dinner on Oct. 10, drawing from her familys own recipe box to deliver a Greek feast with Mediterranean flavors at Conways Historic Peanut Warehouse, the barn-like loft that since 1900 has served Horry Countys agricultural industry.

Charleston's own Mitchell will host the third and final dinner on Oct. 15 at Middleton Place. Tickets to that meal will also come with a copy of his first book, "Taste the State: South Carolinas Signature Foods, Recipes, and Their Stories," co-authored with David S. Shields.
Disability rights groups in South Carolina filed a federal lawsuit Aug. 24 against state leaders and local school districts that challenges the June 2021 budget proviso barring districts from using state funds for mask mandates.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of nine parents claiming the health of their minor children with disabilities may be compromised by enforcement of the mask ban, as well as Disability Rights South Carolina and Able South Carolina.

It names Gov. Henry McMaster, state Attorney General Alan Wilson, state Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman, all Republicans, and the school boards of Greenville, Horry, Lexington, Oconee and Pickens counties as defendants. None of those school districts has instituted a mask requirement this school year, citing the state budget proviso.

It was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of South Carolina, South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center, Disability Rights South Carolina, Wyche, P.A., and Arnold and Porter.

The parents and disability rights groups argue in the lawsuit that student rights are violated under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. Their children's disabilities, including underlying health conditions such as asthma, congenital myopathy, Autism, Renpenning Syndrome and weakened immune systems, make them particularly susceptible to severe illness from COVID-19, and that the ban on mask mandates effectively excludes the students from public schools, the complaint contends.

The suit comes a week after a similar federal lawsuit was filed by disability rights groups against Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott over his ban on local school districts ability to institute mask mandates in Texas schools.

Prohibiting schools from taking reasonable steps to protect the health of their students forces parents to make an impossible choice: their childs education or their childs health, said Susan Mizner, director of the ACLUs Disability Rights Program. This is a disability rights issue. Students with health conditions or disabilities that make them vulnerable to COVID have a right to attend school without endangering their health or safety. Schools who have children with these conditions have legal obligations under federal disability rights laws.

The school districts named in the suit are called indispensable but not adverse parties.

The suit comes as South Carolina experiences an unprecedented wave of COVID-19 cases in children that has seen childrens hospital wards fill to the brink. The School District of Pickens County temporarily moved to virtual instruction for a week after two weeks of classes resulted in hundreds of new COVID-19 cases or quarantines among teachers and students.

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In June 2021, state lawmakers put a proviso in the budget that barred school districts from using any state funds to enforce a mask mandate. The proviso came as cases dwindled and schools prepared reopening plans for the fall semester.

Some lawmakers have pushed for a special session to reverse the ban, but the Legislature has not been called back. McMaster has repeatedly insisted parents should have a right to choose whether their children wear a mask and Wilson vowed to challenge any mask mandates in court.

Last week, Spearman said she disagreed with McMasters position on mask mandates and that she wanted the Legislature to revisit the issue.

"I have been very clear. I do believe that issue is best handled by local school boards," Spearman said. "We have two ways to make that happen. Either the Legislature comes back in, and I have asked them to do that continually, or this ends up in the courts and the courts resolve this.

Spearman, through her spokesman Ryan Brown, said she looks forward to the court bringing finality to this issue.

Spearman has been clear in her support for empowering South Carolinas locally elected school leaders, with the input from parents and their communities, to make decisions impacting the health and well-being of the students they serve, Brown said.

McMaster and Wilson could not immediately be reached for comment.

The ADA and Rehabilitation Act prohibit outright exclusion, denial of equal access, or unnecessary segregation for students with disabilities in public education, according to the lawsuit. The proviso interferes with a schools ability to comply with its obligations under federal disability rights laws and illegally forces parents of children with underlying conditions to choose between their childs education and their childs health and safety, according to the lawsuit.

The suit, filed in Columbia, includes parents of children with disabilities in Greenville, Pickens, Oconee, Dorchester, Horry, Lexington and Charleston.
GREENVILLE  The city may ban guns from being carried openly at events and by people picketing after South Carolina changed its law to allow open carry of firearms.

On the first of two readings, and without public discussion, City Council voted 7-0 to ban open carry of firearms at permitted public events like Fall for Greenville and Saturday Market or by individuals seeking to protest. It still must pass a second vote.

Those who wish to protest within city limits must get a permit from the city. Last summer, a civilian militia at a protest near the Confederate statue on Main Street in Greenville held long guns and other firearms as they stood across from, and sometimes clashed with, Black Lives Matter protesters who called for the statues removal.

Members of the New Black Panther Party similarly carried weapons at a different protest in March.

The proposed change in city policy comes on the heels of the new Open Carry with Training law that went into effect Aug. 15. That law allows cities to set their own policies in certain instances, such as at events happening on public property. Open carry is also not allowed at courthouses or schools, with an exception for churches that rent space in a school building.

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Under the change, those who wish to protest on public property must obtain a permit at no charge from the city ahead of the gathering. They must also post signs at the protest that state open carry of weapons isnt allowed, according to the ordinance.

Currently, anyone wishing to protest or picket in a group larger than 10 people on a sidewalk, or 25 people on public property, must file a written notice of intent to picket. The city then issues a receipt of the notice of intent, which a person at the protest is responsible to carry and present to police if asked.

The new open-carry policy would also align with other venues in the city, like the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and The Peace Center, that dont allow weapons. Weapons arent allowed in any city buildings or facilities.

Eric Connor contributed to this report.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Generally cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 67F. Winds light and variable.
CONWAY  Horry County's first week of school is over, and as students take home assignments, crayons and empty lunchboxes, some also are bringing home COVID-19.

As of Aug. 23, Horry County schools are reporting 336 active COVID-19 cases, nearly tripling the number since Aug. 18 when the district reported 116 cases. Of the active cases, 285 are among students, and the other 51 are among staff, according to the district's COVID-19 dashboard, which is updated daily.

In October 2020, about a month into the then-school year, HCS reported 128 cases, which is half of what the district is seeing in the first week of school in 2021.

Four high schools lead the county in active cases  Conway, Carolina Forest, St. James and Myrtle Beach.

Cases continue to rise across South Carolina, taking a particularly hard hit on Horry County  area hospitals are reaching, or at capacity, and ambulances are delayed.

Over the past two weeks, Horry County recorded more than 2,800 cases of COVID-19, according to the most recent Department of Health and Environmental Control data.

Due to the Legislature's ban on mask mandates in South Carolina schools, face coverings are not required in the state's third-largest school district. However, the district is encouraging mask-wearing, a spokeswoman said.

Some COVID-19 precautions the district is taking include contact tracing and disinfecting high-touch areas, including classrooms and restrooms, at the end of each day. Buses are disinfected twice a day.

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Other large districts also are seeing a rise in cases. Greenville County, the state's largest district, has had 315 active cases since Aug. 17.

With active cases comes quarantines, meaning faculty member that comes into close contact with an active COVID case will have be sent home leaving students with substitute teachers.

Currently, 99 staff members in Horry County schools are quarantined, according to the district's dashboard.

The dashboard does not break down which staff members who are testing positive for COVID-19, including how many are teachers, but district spokesperson Lisa Bourcier said a substitute teacher or school staff member would be assigned to any classrooms where teachers are absent.

Unless teachers have been vaccinated or had COVID-19 within the last three months, they will be expected to quarantine for 14 days if they come into close contact with an active case, Bourcier said. This guidance applies to all faculty and students.

Daisy Elementary, Loris High School, St. James Elementary and Conway High School have the highest number of staff quarantined, with seven staff members quarantined at Daisy and five each for the three.

But almost every school within the district is reporting one or more active cases of COVID-19, according to the dashboard.

Aynor High School and Loris Middle School are the only schools without active cases, along with the district's special program schools like the Therapeutic Learning Center and the Adult Education Center.
MONCKS CORNER  Cleve DuBois has pulled off what may be the biggest feat of his infamous run as the Batman of South Carolina: eluding a major drug charge that threatened to land him behind bars for decades.

DuBois, 48, contacted The Post and Courier on Aug. 23 to reveal he had been sprung from the Berkeley County jail after prosecutors dismissed a methamphetamine trafficking charge against him, citing problems with the case.

One of his first moves as a free man will be to legally change his name to Batman, DuBois said.

In an email, DuBois said he was nervous but elated when he learned he had beaten a rap that could have sent him to prison for 30 years.

"I couldn't believe it," he said. "I started crying realizing that I actually had done something that I had never seen done in my lifetime."

DuBois became a local celebrity two decades ago by patrolling the streets of Charleston in a homemade Batmobile, complete with a tail piece that spit fire. The custom car whiz dressed in character, with a sidekick dressed as Robin perched in the passenger seat. He drew stares, gaggles of excited children and invites to charity events. His Batman persona soon became an integral part of his identity.

His recent past read more like a bad comic book than a superhero's crusade. He struggled with drug use and various run-ins with the law, including a 2019 bust in Summerville in which Berkeley County investigators said they found 4 pounds of meth under the hood of his car, which was not his famed Batmobile.

The self-proclaimed Batman was awaiting trial when he took flight last year and went on a wild run along the East Coast looking for his family. His time on the lam culminated with his re-stealing a stolen car from a police impound lot in Virginia and leading officers on a chase DuBois described as "the most amazing thrill ride ever."

In an interview with The Post and Courier a few weeks back, DuBois freely admitted to car thefts, years of drug abuse and his ties to the Folk Nation gang. But he strongly denied being a drug runner and insisted he had been set up to take the fall in the meth case by an unscrupulous confidential informant. He said the man had planted the drugs in his car and then alerted police.

Without an attorney at the time, DuBois' bid for freedom seemed a long shot. But earlier this month, prosecutors decided to drop the charge without proceeding to trial, court records show.

In an email, 9th Circuit Chief Deputy Solicitor Bryan Alfaro said a civilian witness involved in the case had credibility issues, "including inconsistencies in his version of events, that could not have been overcome had the case gone to trial."

DuBois said he broke down when he left the jail on Aug. 17. He leaned against a wall and sobbed as he reflected on his young daughter and all he had lost in the years since his felony drug arrest: his now-former fiancee, his home, his children, his cars and plenty of money, he said.

"I had nothing and no place to go," he said.

DuBois yearns to return to the days when he drew cheers prowling Lowcountry streets in one of his custom Batmobiles or on his Batcycle. But he's not quite out of the woods yet. York County officials on Aug. 23 filed a grand larceny charge against him. He's now free on a personal recognizance bond in that case, court records show.

DuBois said the charge stems from the stolen red Audi A3 involved in the Virginia chase, a light and fast vehicle he described as "an amazing car." He hopes to get that case cleared up soon and vows to replace another car he stole from a friend, making sure that fellow gets an even better ride than he had to begin with. After all, he said, that man took the theft in stride and didn't call the police on him.
COLUMBIA  In February 2020, Evelyn Mitchell, an investigator with the 13th Circuit Solicitors Office, testified before S.C. lawmakers about how a backlog of rape test kits affects victims of sexual assault.

Mitchell, a victim of sexual assault herself, spoke of the importance of developing a system to track sexual assault evidence kits that languish on shelves across the state.

Lawmakers passed a bill last year mandating the State Law Enforcement Division implement a tracking system by June 1, 2022. It became law in May 2020. In January, SLED reported to lawmakers a tracking system would cost about $150,000 to meet the laws standards.

SLEDs report comes as its backlog increased by more than 400 kits between 2020 and 2021  furthering the impact a lack of a tracking system can have on victims across the state.

SLED was not allocated $150,000 for the sexual assault kit tracking system in its 2021-2022 budget, SLED spokesman Tommy Crosby said. SLED will use its existing funds to cover the initial cost of implementing the tracking system and will work with lawmakers to allocate funding in next years budget for the system, he said.

Mitchell said it was important to find a way to fund the system. The more the backlog increases, the more important a tracking system would be for victims to monitor the status of their kits, she said.

It's virtually impossible to find out what's going on with your kit, Mitchell said. The officers don't know. Prosecutors don't know. Your therapist doesn't know. That just adds more burden to the person that's assaulted.

According to SLED, the lab had 1,258 sexual assault kits in line for testing in February 2020. As of June 2021, the latest numbers available, there were 1,664 sexual assault kits waiting to be processed and completed at the state lab.

In addition to developing the tracking system, the law requires SLED to submit a semiannual report on the tracking system to the House and Senate judiciary committees and the governor.

The reports would include the average times it took agencies to submit evidence kits and for labs to test them. The report would also cite the number of kits that were destroyed in that six-month period. The first report is due July 31, 2022.

Mitchell said she testified before lawmakers last year because she wished there was a tracking system for her kit.

In February 1980, Mitchell was blindfolded and raped by multiple people when visiting a friend in Louisville, Ky. Mitchell didnt think she would survive, she testified.

After she was found in an abandoned car on the side of the road, Mitchell was taken to the hospital and examined for an evidence kit. Mitchell described the experience as horrific.

About 40 years later, the Louisville Police Department told Mitchell in 2018 her kit and blindfold were destroyed in March 1981  never to be tested.

I'll just never forget the day I found out," Mitchell said. "I was just so overwhelmed with grief or with anger. I can't even give a name to that emotion.

Crosby said violent crime around the state had led to an increase in kit submissions and requests for priority analysis, impacting current lab resources.

During the 2020 fiscal year, SLED received 625 sexual assault kits and completed an analysis of 446 sexual assault kits, Crosby said, about 70 percent of the kits submitted. In 2019, the team received 842 new kits and tested 437, just over half.

The numbers provided by SLED only account for the kits submitted to its laboratory for testing, said Shauna Galloway-Williams, head of the Julie Valentine Center for survivors of sexual assault in Greenville. There is no way to track the kits that are on shelves at institutions across the state, she said.

I'm not surprised that SLEDs number has gone up, but the overall number is still unclear, Galloway-Williams said. We hope the kit-tracking legislation will give an accurate count of the number of kits that have been tested or not tested  and to know where they are in the testing process so that survivors can access that information.

SLED was also working to address its backlog in addition to implementing the tracking system, Crosby said.

SLED added 11 DNA analysts and two serologists to its 2021 budget, which will increase the labs ability to test sexual assault kits and other violent crime cases as they come in.

A new SLED forensic laboratory is scheduled to be completed during the first quarter of 2022, which would allow for increased laboratory space to test the kits, Crosby said.

SLEDs forensic laboratory has outsourced the analysis of some DNA cases to private laboratories through FBI programs to reduce the number of cases waiting for analysis, according to SLED.

SLED also uses money from Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction grant to fund overtime for the analysis of kits.

The National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, also referred to as SAKI, is a grant program created by RTI International and funded by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance to help address sexual assault kit backlogs across the country. RTI International is a research institute in North Carolina.

Various agencies across 40 states have received SAKI funding. South Carolina is one of 10 states that has not received SAKI funds.

An applicant for SAKI funding must demonstrate a multidisciplinary effort to successfully address unsubmitted kits in its jurisdiction, said Paul Ahearn, SLED deputy general counsel. SLED would not be the proper recipient of the grant because it would not address its backlog of submitted kits, he said.

Other state police departments in the United States have received the grant funding since 2015.

The Michigan Department of State Police used SAKI funds to conduct a statewide inventory of un-submitted sexual assault kits in law enforcement custody and provide training to law enforcement and prosecutors, according to SAKI's website.

Michigan State Police received subsequent SAKI grants to also assist its labs DNA testing and develop a template to help police determine what kits have previously been submitted to the crime laboratory but have not been properly tested. Police also received funding to hire a sexual assault kit criminal intelligence analyst.

Marylands Governors Office also received SAKI funding and designated a portion of it to the Maryland State Police. With that funding, the states police rolled out its statewide sexual assault kit tracking system, according to SAKI.

Robert Kittle, spokesman for the S.C. attorney general, said SLED would be the institution in South Carolina to consider SAKI funding.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance did not respond to multiple requests for comment regarding whether South Carolina qualified for SAKI funding.

Kevin Strom, leader of the SAKI program for RTI International, said he thought SLED should qualify for the grant, though that would ultimately be up to the agency.

Strom hoped it would be possible for SLED or other public agencies in the state to apply for funding. SAKI funding could pose a solution to at least help SLED process the more than 1,600 kits waiting to be tested, he said.
NORTH CHARLESTON  The Charleston County jail's Special Operations Group used unnecessary force on inmates for years before Jamal Sutherland's death in January, according to an analysis conducted for The Post and Courier.

Members of the jail's tactical team used Tasers and pepper spray to subdue inmates, including those exhibiting signs of mental illness, for refusing to exit their cells or arguing with deputies.

In one case in December 2019, a man who was ranting unintelligibly in his cell was stunned with a Taser and placed in a restraint chair so he could be taken to a bond court hearing.

A year later, that same reason would be used to pepper spray, repeatedly shock and physically subdue Sutherland, a 31-year-old mentally ill Black man, leading to his death.

In Sutherlands case, a correctional use-of-force expert hired by the 9th Circuit Solicitors Office said in a recent report, the force was unnecessary because jail policy dictated inmates should not be forced to attend bond hearings except by judicial order.

In another case, an inmate covered in his own feces was stunned with a Taser after turning his back on deputies in a jail cell. The inmate did not appear to be aggressive, instead offering only passive resistance to deputies.

Aubrey Land, a correctional use-of-force expert from Florida, reviewed videos and reports from nearly two dozen cases where members of SOG used force on inmates.

Land has worked as a law enforcement, prison and jail consultant for more than four years. Before becoming a consultant, he worked for the Florida Department of Corrections as a prison inspector, conducting investigations into uses of force, deaths and criminal conduct within the state's correctional facilities.

Land said the cases raised questions about how SOG deputies were trained to use force at the facility, particularly on inmates exhibiting signs of mental illness. In the cases he reviewed, the tactics team was "heavy handed" in its use of force, and failed to attempt de-escalation techniques before resorting to Tasers and pepper spray, Land said.

Sutherland died Jan. 5 at the jail after deputies Brian Houle and Lindsay Fickett, a sergeant, used pepper spray, Tasers and physical force to drag him from his cell for the bond court hearing.

Graphic video of Sutherlands death was released in May, leading to an outcry among residents. That same month, the Charleston County Council and city of North Charleston agreed to pay a total of $10 million to Sutherlands family to resolve claims related to his death.

Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said, at a July 26 news conference announcing she would not pursue charges against Houle and Fickett in Sutherland's death, that the deputies had not gone "rogue." They followed their training and jail policies or procedures during the encounter with Sutherland.

But that was part of the problem.

Gary Raney, a correctional use-of-force expert hired by Wilson to investigate Sutherland's death, wrote a 52-page report on problems he uncovered in training, policy and supervision at the jail.

He found deputies with SOG were trained to use aggression and intimidation to control inmates, seemingly ignorant of de-escalation techniques that were particularly critical to working with mentally ill inmates.

When the group's aggressive tactics violated the jail's use of-force policies, evidence suggested superiors turned a blind eye.

In his report, Raney was particularly critical of U.S. C-SOG, a former Virginia company founded by Joseph Garcia that provided training to the sheriff's special operations deputies from 2008 to 2018.

"It wasn't rogue," the solicitor said at the July news conference. "It had happened many, many times before. And there was a pat on the back and a march on to the next one."

The Post and Courier filed a request in June under the S.C. Freedom of Information Act for reports and, when available, videos documenting SOG's uses of force at the jail dating back to January 2019. The newspaper specifically requested materials related to two types of force: cell extractions and Taser deployments, since both were involved in Sutherland's death.

7 of 23 cases noted

The Charleston County Sheriff's Office provided materials regarding 23 uses of force during that period. Of those cases, seven involved inmates who were exhibiting clear signs of mental illness. That included inmates who were speaking unintelligibly, nude, covered in feces, or described as "delusional."

Human Rights Watch, a non-governmental advocacy organization, released a report in 2015 on correctional use of force against inmates with mental disabilities. The organization said inmates with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, may find it next to impossible to abide by, or even understand, prison regulations when delusions and hallucinations distort their understanding of reality.

Yet mentally ill inmates who break rules are punished the same as any other inmate  through isolation, discipline and use of force, the report states.

Proponents of chemical agents and electronic stun devices say the weapons minimize injuries to inmates and staff, the report states. But the quickness and ease with which they can be used can lead to unnecessary and punitive force, the report states.

And the weapons cannot guarantee compliance from a mentally ill inmate.

"Psychosis may render a prisoner incapable of understanding that compliance with an order is the fastest way to avoid the pain of pepper spray or electric shocks," the report states. "In fact, the infliction of pain may strengthen paranoid delusions."

The report recommended that cell extractions, electronic stun devices, and chemical sprays only be used against inmates with mental disabilities if there is an emergency, or after deputies or mental health staff have made a meaningful effort to coax the inmate into compliance, including allowing for a "cooling off" time.

The Post and Courier asked Land to review the information to determine whether SOG deputies used unnecessary force in any of the cases.

Raney also agreed to review some of the cases.

Expert's review

Based on the 23 cases provided, Land identified several cases he believed raised concerns, and overall he questioned the tactics used by SOG, particularly during cell extractions.

In his report, Raney pointed out that only two deputies  Houle and Fickett  were involved in Sutherland's cell extraction. It was generally accepted jail practice to use four to six deputies to remove a person from a cell, Raney said. One deputy enters with a shield, while the others enter to control each of the inmate's extremities.

But SOG training at the jail had reduced that number to two deputies, and sometimes to only one. This meant deputies were required to use greater force to subdue and restrain a resisting inmate, the report states.

Even when other deputies were nearby, Fickett said in an interview with investigators, they were instructed to "stay out of the way" during cell extractions, the report states.

In the cell extractions reviewed, the jail regularly used fewer than four deputies to forcibly remove an inmate from a cell.

Land criticized the jail for using so few deputies to perform cell extractions.

On June 12, 2020, three SOG deputies were dispatched to remove an inmate covered in feces from his cell so he could be taken to the behavioral management unit, according to a use-of-force report.

A strap was applied to the cell door and a SOG deputy told the man, who was sitting on the floor, to come to the door so he could be restrained, the report states. The man is seen in surveillance footage approaching the door and peering out. A SOG deputy points a Taser at the man, at which point he turns his back on the officers.

The SOG deputy shoots the man in the back with his Taser, causing him to crash to the ground. He is then dragged out of the cell. His body is limp as the deputies put him in handcuffs.

According to the report, the man was forced to shower and then taken by paramedics to the hospital. It is unclear in the report what injuries, if any, he suffered.

Land said he would like more information about the case, but he described the use of force as "disturbing."

'Threat and intimidation approach'

Raney also reviewed the case. He said no de-escalation was documented in the report, though the video appears to show one deputy talking to the inmate for some time.

The SOG deputy pointed the Taser at the inmate even though the inmate was complying, Raney said.

"It's the threat and intimidation approach again rather than good jail tactics," he said.

Finally, the inmate was only passively resisting orders, which made the use of force unreasonable, Raney said.

Under jail policy, deputies are prohibited from using Tasers on passively resisting inmates.

Land said another case was troubling because of contradictions between the report and video.

Two SOG deputies were dispatched Feb. 25, 2019, to assist in the medical infirmary, according to the use-of-force report. When they arrived, they found a woman "visibly upset" at the deputies' desk. The woman said she "was ready" and "was not going to cooperate," the report states.

One SOG deputy approached the woman "to see what movements she would make as far as complying," the report states. He claimed in the report she faced him in a "combative manner" and slapped her hands together as if ready to fight.

In response, the SOG deputy stunned her with his Taser.

The video of the encounter contradicts the SOG deputy's report. She appears to step away from him as he approaches and gestures with her hands while arguing.

"There is no indication that she goes at him in an aggressive manner, or that she takes a fighting stance with him," Land said.

Land said the use of force was unjustified and excessive.

Charleston County sheriff's Capt. Roger Antonio, a department spokesman, said in a statement the use of force was reviewed by chain of command at the time and it was determined no policy violation occurred. Antonio said the video supports the report written by the detention deputy.

On Dec. 15, 2019, two SOG deputies were dispatched to remove an inmate from his cell for bond court, a report states. The man had his face in his hands and was "pacing the cell ranting," according to the report.

When they attempted to open the door to speak with him, he began screaming "Close the door!"

The SOG deputies told superiors the inmate was refusing to attend, but they were ordered to remove him from his cell, the report states.

The inmate initially appeared to agree to be restrained when asked to place his hands through a meal service hole in the cell door. However, after his left wrist was handcuffed, he said, "I got them now," and tried to pull away from deputies while holding the door shut. The SOG deputies opened the door while one deputy trained his Taser on the inmate, ordering him to comply. When the inmate ignored the order, he stunned him. The inmate was then restrained and taken to bond court.

Mixed rules

Inmates were not required to attend bond court under jail policy, except by judicial order. But a 2017 email mandated all inmates must attend their bond hearings, using force if required, and deputies followed the email, according to Raney's report.

On Jan. 5, the same erroneous practice would cause Sutherland to be removed from his cell, leading to his death.

The use-of-force report states that the clerk's office at the bond court said the inmate had to attend his hearing, but Raney, who reviewed the case, questioned that.

During his own investigation, he spoke with two bond court judges who said they had never ordered an inmate to attend a hearing because it was unlawful to do so.

Raney said the use of the Taser was likely not unreasonable because the inmate had a loose handcuff, which was a weapon. But he said the SOG deputies should not have opened the cell door once the inmate had the handcuffs.

Raney reviewed a third case from Feb. 13, 2020.

In that case, an inmate in the medical unit refused to return his food tray to deputies. Three SOG deputies were dispatched and used pepper spray in the inmate's cell after he refused orders to return the item. The inmate allowed himself to be handcuffed after the spray was deployed.

Again, no de-escalation techniques were documented, Raney said, and no threat is described other than that the inmate "acted in an aggressive manner." Raney questioned what such a vague statement could possibly mean.

The inmate was passively resisting, Raney determined, which did not justify the use of pepper spray.

Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano, who took office just hours before Sutherland's death, has said reforming the jail has been one of her main priorities since taking office.

Graziano said her staff is working to rewrite policies that were vague or did not conform to best practices. They have also created new policies around mental health and tactics training.

Mike Stanley, a former SWAT commander, has taken over leadership of the Special Operations Group, which was renamed the Emergency Response Team, according to Graziano.

Changes have been made so that people in a mental health crisis after an arrest will be evaluated by a crisis unit before being booked into jail. The jail also has a tracking system that will alert medical staff that a resident needs a mental evaluation.

Solicitor Wilson said at the news conference last month she has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Sutherland's death for possible civil rights violations.
North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams in an appeal for funding last week told S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster the city and its surroundings are literally a suburb of Fort Gordon, a remark that makes plain Aiken Countys intense interest in cybersecurity and the jobs it brings.

It would be wise to invest in the infrastructure of cyber in North Augusta given its strategic location, Williams said to the Republican governor, who led a discussion on Friday about spending the states $600 million Savannah River Site plutonium settlement.

The city is wedged between Fort Gordon, home to the U.S. Armys cyber center of excellence; the Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta, a fusion of academic, government and private interests; and the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative and DreamPort cybersecurity facilities planned for USC Aiken.

Governor, the competition is heating up, Williams said. He added: We have to realize that cyber in Aiken and cyber in North Augusta  it can happen simultaneously.

McMaster has shown a liking to cyber, a catchall term for a field of work that stretches from national security to avoiding dodgy links in ones digital inboxes.

At a virtual U.S. Chamber of Commerce conference in May, the governor said South Carolina is primed for cybersecurity investments and leadership. He made mention of Fort Gordon and the Savannah River National Lab, the latter developing a cyber portfolio.

We are probably ahead of most other places in the structure, the kind of infrastructure and brainpower, that we need to put this together, McMaster said at the time. The Palmetto State, he continued, is positioned to be enormously competitive.

McMaster at the beginning of the year helped kick off an in-depth review of the states cyber climate; the analysis, officials said, will ultimately inform a longer-term strategy to foster a statewide cyber ecosystem.

The cyber world is an exciting one, the governor said Feb. 4. It is a new frontier for technology, for innovation, for imagination.
While most of our Founding Fathers were slaveholders, several were against the institution.

It has taken generations to overcome, but weve made great strides.

After the June 17, 2015, shooting at Emanuel AME Church, when nine people were killed by an avowed white supremacist, Charleston responded with an outpouring of grief and support. Our unified response should be held as a model for our nation.

So why are we regressing to the divisiveness of critical race theory?

The hostility displayed by both the general public and our elected representatives in the recent, four-hour Charleston City Council meeting was jaw-dropping.

The report from the citys Special Commission on Equity, Inclusion and Racial Conciliation proposes some viable recommendations that would improve our community.

Instead of teaching critical race theory, the school curriculum should incorporate local civil rights heroes, such as Septima Clark and her impact on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She was with him when he received the Nobel Peace prize in 1964.

There is also U.S. District Judge Waties Waring and his interaction with then-lawyer Thurgood Marshall in a case that ultimately led to the Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education.

Instead of debating $100 million in reparations, why dont we determine an attainable sum and appropriate it to affordable housing, education, urban farms or any myriad of things that would serve our community at large, instead of perpetuating division, victimhood and dependence on the government?

We are within reach of developing and modeling realistic programs in our community that could be replicated and implemented nationwide.

What has happened to the middle ground and common sense?

MIMI WOOD

Waterway Boulevard

Isle of Palms

Our COVID blind spots

Jan Goldmans Wednesday commentary, Why didnt we see the Afghanistan chaos coming? offers an excellent, if not regrettable, analysis of how our strategic blind spots can be painfully obvious in hindsight.

He asks, Why did we not see this chaos coming? I wonder who will write the op-ed asking the same question about our failure to appreciate how Americas global COVID-19 vaccine obligations are in service of our local safety and freedoms.

For most Americans, getting vaccinated is simple. Our vaccine stores exceed demand. The Post and Courier even reported how Prisma Health alone could see 100,000 doses expire this fall.

By contrast, low-income countries that have been denied access to the vaccines are facing lockdowns. Only 1% of Africa has been vaccinated, creating ideal conditions for new COVID variants to emerge.

Eventually, well face variants that our current vaccines are useless against. Yet no world leader is proposing adequate solutions.

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Dont they see the COVID chaos thats coming?

This paper may eventually publish post-mortem op-eds as to which world leader failed to read the intelligence in plain view. Id prefer we avoid those tragic conversations.

Everyone in the world deserves easy access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Also, South Carolinians deserve for everyone in the world to have easy access to the vaccine.

President Joe Biden and Congress must act urgently to lead and fund the global campaign to bring together industry, governments, and health institutions to accelerate the global supply and distribution of vaccines.

JIM HENNIGAN

Nightingale Lane

Greenville

Thanks to wifes helpers

This is a story of several individuals who crossed paths on Aug. 14.

The first person is my wife, Sylvia, who was returning home from Edisto Beach.

Her car was struck from behind by a pickup truck, whose driver proceeded to leave the scene of the accident.

Sylvias car ended up in a ditch with airbags deployed. What happened next is a testament to the people of South Carolina.

People stopped, called emergency personnel and rendered aid.

One person drove to the nearby fire station and reported the accident even though 911 had been called.

I thank Ed Presnell, Kevin Bazzle, Cassidy Prior and Dan for their caring and compassionate way they dealt with the situation. Their acts of kindness will never be forgotten.

I also thank the Charleston County Fire Department and the Charleston County Sheriffs Office for their quick response in dealing with the situation.

And I thank the five people who stopped and offered assistance while waiting for the tow truck to arrive.

These actions showed me just how much people care for others in South Carolina.

PETER BOLTON

Parkers Ferry Road

Adams Run
COLUMBIA  Hundreds of millions of dollars from federal COVID-19 relief funds could be used to expand broadband access in South Carolina and improve the state's roads and water systems under recommendations submitted to Gov. Henry McMaster.

In an Aug. 24 meeting, the governor's "accelerateSC" task force presented its final proposal on how to spend the $2.5 billion in federal aid the state received from the American Rescue Plan, the massive relief package signed into law by President Joe Biden in March.

If McMaster agrees with the recommendations, he can forward them on to the General Assembly, which will have ultimate control over where the money goes. The governor's spokesman said he plans to submit his final proposal to lawmakers in early September.

Some of the most expensive suggestions include $491 million for broadband expansion, $400 million for water and sewer upgrades plus an extra $72 million to bolster cybersecurity for those systems, up to $350 million to boost capacity at the Charleston port and $170 million to widen Interstate 26 between Columbia and Charleston.

Combined with a $600 million settlement with the federal government over the Savannah River Site, McMaster cast the influx of cash as an extraordinary chance to propel the state forward and rejuvenate aging infrastructure.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," McMaster said at the outset of the meeting. "We're in a great position to really make some big steps, transformative steps."

Other proposals that could receive funding include $50 million in $1,000 grants for parents of struggling students to get tutoring outside school hours, $50 million to provide relief to nonprofits, $47.5 million to nourish beaches and promote the state's recovering tourism industry, and $36 million for technical college scholarships.

School boards around the state already got a total of almost $3 billion from a separate pot of COVID relief funds and have been developing plans for how to spend it.

An additional $50 million would be used to support the state's agribusiness industry, and a total of around $24 million could be headed to the state's Emergency Management Division  $14 million to expand facilities and $10 million to replenish and maintain the state's stockpile of personal protective equipment.

Following McMaster's direction that some of the money be used to help law enforcement, the task force proposed using $27 million for police body cameras.

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The accelerateSC panel, composed of top business executives, elected officials and other high-profile community members, also suggested setting aside $250 million to replenish the state's unemployment insurance trust fund if it faces a similar cash crunch in the future.

During the meeting, McMaster said he will begin the process of collecting $435 million reserved for cities and towns across the state, some of which have been urging him to move faster on doling it out.

The governor added that officials will work to make sure the funds don't overlap with other spending so that the money can be put to the best use possible.

"We don't want to waste this opportunity," McMaster said. "Anything that we spend this money on, we invest in. It's not an expenditure, it's an investment on which we can build for the future."

The 33-page final report followed a monthslong process in which state agencies and other organizations offered input on how the money could best be spent.

James Burns, the Columbia-based attorney who chaired the committee, noted that they held four public meetings and heard a litany of testimony about the needs confronting the state.

"This was a group that rolled up their sleeves, they worked hard, and Im very confident the information and recommendations we make will have a long-term, generational, positive impact on the state of South Carolina," Burns said.

The General Assembly is expected to return in the next few months to officially determine how they want to spend the money.

McMaster voiced confidence they would adopt many of the task force's suggestions, noting that he had kept in communication with top lawmakers about the ideas as they were developed.
A man accused of selling Virus Shut Out lanyards that claim to kill viruses will admit to the criminal allegations filed against him in the District Court of Guam.

Kwong Yau Lam, 67, who was indicted Monday, is scheduled to plead guilty today to distribution and sale of unregistered pesticide, conspiracy to distribute an unregistered pesticide and false statement to government agency.

He faces a maximum of six years in federal prison and deportation, according to the plea deal.

Virus Shut Out's safety and efficacy against viruses have not been evaluated, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Lam is a citizen of Hong Kong, court documents state.

On March 20, 2020, Lam allegedly sold 100 pieces of Taomit Virus Shut Out cards to a merchant in Yigo after he explained that it would protect people from viruses, documents state.

He also allegedly sold the products to two other vendors.

The devices were not registered with the EPA in accordance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.

Lam then allegedly acquired 900 pieces from a relative in Hong Kong, but the boxes were seized in Hawaii.

He also lied to investigators about selling the devices, documents state.

Lam is scheduled to admit to the charges today before Magistrate Judge Michael Bordallo.
Janet Colliton, Esq. is a Certified Elder Law Attorney. Her practice, Colliton Elder Law Associates, PC is limited to elder law, life care, special needs and estate planning and estate administration, and guardianship with offices at 790 East Market St., Suite 250, West Chester, PA 19382, 610-436-6674 , colliton@collitonlaw.com. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and, with Jeffrey Jones, CSA, co-founder of Life Transition Services, LLC, a service for families with long term care needs. Tune in to radio station WCHE 1520 at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays for A Plan Ahead, with Janet Colliton, Colliton Elder Law Associates, and Ron Ehman, Next Home Signature.
@PottstownNews on Twitter

Evan Brandt has been a staff reporter for The Mercury for more than 20 years. He covers municipal, school district, political, state government, federal government and environmental news.
Kamala Harris has begun her trip to Asia, and no sooner had she gotten off the airplane than she was asked a question about Afghanistan.

I dont know that the social media criticism of this moment is particularly justified. Harris laughs when she is nervous, a trait that she likely would have grown out of if she had followed a normal political path. But because her rise to power in California was greased by being Willie Browns mistress, she didnt acquire the skills that less privileged politicians have to master.

After her meeting with Singapores Prime Minister, the two did a joint press conference of the sort that is familiar. They began by giving short speeches about cooperation between the two nations on trade and so on, but the reporters questions were almost all about Afghanistan. This is the first of those exchanges; a reporter asks her what went wrong with the withdrawal. You can judge the effectiveness of Harriss response for yourself:

In other words, the administration is 1) refusing to admit, while at the same time not really denying, that the withdrawal has been a fiasco, and 2) hoping anger over the disaster will die down before there is any need for an accounting.

Another reporter asked a question about Afghanistan later in the press conference, and Harris more or less repeated her answer. That occurs at around the 29 minute mark:

Harris refers insistently to the successful drawdown of the embassy as the administrations main achievement so far. I assume she means that to date, no embassy employees have been reported as murdered. Whether the drawdown was successful, many embassy employees have disputed, as reflected in a State Department diplomatic cable.

PAUL ADDS: If you want to see what the difference between an intelligent head of state and a stumbling lightweight looks like, watch the first video of Harris and the leader of Singapore (the one that lasts a little less than 5 minutes).
Please dont say they are stranded, but an unknown number of Americans are still in Afghanistan awaiting an opportunity to get back to America. No one knows how many are still there, since no one knows how many were in Afghanistan when the evacuation began. I believe Jen Psakis most recent number was 11,000, but that was a guess.

The administration has been tight-lipped about how many Americans it has actually gotten out of Afghanistan since the debacle began, but if this information is correct, the situation is grim:

NEW: Leaked State cable with evacuation numbers (as of Aug 23 at 1500 ET): Total manifested since midnight Kabul AUG 23: 483 AMCITS, 6,425 Afghans natls, 8 3rd country/unknown. Total = 6,916 Total manifested since op began: 4,407 AMCITS, 21,533 Afghans, 642 TCNs. Total = 26,582  Alex Ward (@alexbward) August 24, 2021

Other items in cable:

 128 planned flights in the next 48 hours

 Approx 13,000 people inside HKIA

 Denmark wont temp host US SIVs

 Cyprus will host evacuees in the low hundreds for 30-60 days

 Netherlands to take 2k people for 60 days  Alex Ward (@alexbward) August 24, 2021



Alex Ward is a national security reporter for Politico, which makes this information either reliable or unreliable depending on your view of that publication. But I am guessing he didnt make up the leaked cable.

If that information is correct, we probably are less than one-half way to extracting the Americans from Afghanistan. It is hard to see how that task can be accomplished by August 31, the date to which the Biden administration appears to be committed.

The withdrawal from Afghanistan is a nightmare from which stranded Americans are trying to awake. At this point, it doesnt look as though anywhere near all of them are going to make it.
Vice President Harris delayed her visit to Vietnam due to what U.S. officials are calling an anomalous health incident. According to Reuters, an anomalous health incident is a term the U.S. government often uses to describe Havana Syndrome, a condition with symptoms such as dizziness, ear ringing, nausea, migraines and memory lapses.

The syndrome received that name because it first was reported by U.S. officials based in the U.S. embassy in Cuba. A U.S. National Academy of Sciences panel found it plausible that directed energy beams caused the syndrome, which affected a large number of U.S. officials and family members in Havana. CIA director William Burns said there is a very strong possibility that the syndrome is intentionally caused, and that Russia could be responsible. Russia denies responsibility.

Harris did not suffer from the health incident. Rather, it afflicted U.S. embassy employees in Hanoi ahead of the VPs visit. Their symptoms were accompanied by strange sounds at the embassy.

Harris trip was delayed due to fears that she might experience the same syndrome in Hanoi. In the end, however, she made the trip.

We hope she returns home safe, sound, and symptom free.
Harry Enten, formerly of FiveThirtyEight and now with CNN, finds that the political environment is moving toward the Republicans. Thats not news, but Enten tries to quantify the movement.

His starting point is that Connecticut state senate race I wrote about here. In that contest, a Republican won a special election in a district that Joe Biden carried by more than 20 points in 2020.

That race is an outlier, though. According to Enten:

Across more than 30 special state legislative and federal elections during the Biden presidency, Republicans are doing 4 points better on average than former President Donald Trump did in these same districts last year.

Enten notes that Trump lost nationally by 4 points. Thus, a 4-point swing toward Republicans suggests a neutral national environment. However, this would likely be enough for Republicans to take back the US House of Representatives, especially considering that they are in a good position for redistricting.

But the trend is even more threatening for Democrats:

When you look at the first 17 special elections this year (through early April), the Republican overperformance over Trump was just a point. Examining the last 17 special elections, the overperformance has been 7 points. When you splice the data even further, Republicans have been outperforming the 2020 baseline by double-digits since the beginning of July.

Enten notes, correctly, that things may shift back to [the] Democrats. However, its my understanding that that all of these last 17 elections occurred before the fiasco in Afghanistan became manifest. If anything, then, the next movement should be away from the Dems.

Quite apart from the situation in Afghanistan, history suggests that Republicans will continue significantly to outperform Donald Trump. Enten says:

Back in 2009, there was a big movement away from Democrats in special elections toward the middle of the year. This foretold Republicans doing very well in the 2010 midterms. . . . [F]our years ago at this point. . .Democrats were outperforming Hillary Clintons performance by 14 points in the average special state legislative and federal elections. Democrats went on to take back House control in 2018.

He adds:

Its important to note that the shift were seeing across these metrics now is what we normally expect in the lead up to a midterm election. The presidents party almost always loses ground in midterm elections. Perhaps the ultimate takeaway from this data is that were more likely to experience a normal outcome in 2022 than something unique.

The Democrats have no ground they can afford to lose in the Senate and virtually none in the House. So even a normal outcome next year would be devastating for them.

You might think that a few of the endangered Dems would try to save themselves by refusing to go along with Bidens hard-left, nation-transforming spending agenda, and some are making noises as if they might. But in the end, I believe they will go along with it and hope for the best, even if the best turns out to be a good job post-2022.
Having just watched this mornings Pentagon briefing, I infer that the Biden administration intends to comply with the Taliban deadline of August 31 for the departure of American forces from Afghanistan. I emphasize that this is an inference from the Pentagon spokesmans remarks. What once appeared to be Bidens self-imposed deadline has now firmed up under pressure from Bidens new Taliban friends.

On the plus side, our airlift capacity is second to none. On the negative side, we are not entirely clear about who and what will be left behind. The humiliation, disgrace, and embarrassment of the United States remains unqualified, not to say that events dont deepen it.

UPDATE: This just in from three reporters at Politico: Biden sticks to Aug. 31 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
John Bolton calls attention to one aspect of Joe Bidens decision to choose defeat in Afghanistan  the implications for Pakistan. Bolton argues that the Talibans takeover next door immediately poses the sharply higher risk that Pakistani extremists will increase their already sizable influence in Islamabad, threatening at some point to seize full control.

By the way, Pakistan has nuclear weapons.

According to Bolton, the Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI, is the real government of Pakistan on national security issues. And ISI has long been a hotbed of radicalism, which has spread throughout the military, to higher and higher ranks.

When the U.S. overthrew the Taliban in Afghanistan, ISI provided sanctuaries, arms and supplies inside Pakistan, although Islamabad routinely denied it. Now, the Taliban can return the sanctuary favor to Pakistani Taliban  the Pakistani counterpart of the Afghan Taliban  and other radicals.

Pakistan has long held an ambiguous position in the war against Islamist terrorism. It both combats and supports terrorists. As Bolton puts it, Pakistan is the only government consisting simultaneously of arsonists and firefighters. (Im not sure its the only one.)

The Talibans improved situation due to our pullout might well shift the balance in favor of the arsonists. If the pendulum swings too far in that direction, Pakistans nuclear stockpile might (1) come under control of pro-terrorist forces or (2) at least be made available to terrorist groups to detonate anywhere in the world.

The U.S. needs to be vigilant when it comes to these possibilities. But, as Bolton says, our departure from Afghanistan means we will find it much more difficult to know whats really going on in Pakistan.

Bidens withdrawal also raises the question of whether, as long as hes president, the U.S. will take a developing Pakistani threat seriously enough to do anything about it. Bolton is pessimistic on this score, and with good reason:

In George Packers recent biography of diplomat Richard Holbrooke, he quotes from Holbrookes notes taken during an Obama administration Situation Room meeting on Afghanistan. Among his notes were private interjections, Packer writes. Vice President Joe Biden said that every one of Pakistans interests was also Americas interest: HUH? Bidens assertion was wrong when made and would be dangerously wrong today; Holbrooke was correct, and eloquent in his brevity. Lets hope Biden has changed his mind.

(Emphasis added)

Lets hope that Biden has a passably functioning mind to change.
Yes, no matter what

Yes, but it depends on variety

No, for medical reasons, uncertainty

No, principle

Vote

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Nollywood star, Funke Akindele, has opened up about everything from the drama of her first marriage to the joys of the second and to the tough 2020 she had.

The 44-year-old actress married Kehinde Almaroof Oloyede aka Kenny Doo on May 26, 2012. The couple separated 1 year and 46 days after citing irreconcilable differences. Mr Oloyede is the newly-elected chairman of the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government in Lagos.

The actress opened up about the short-lived first marriage for the first time ever on a recent episode of #WithChude, with the Co-founder of Joy, Inc. Chude Jideonwo.

WithChude is a special series of targeted multimedia conversations and investigations focused on narratives that enable and strengthen the mind, heart, and spirit.

The marriage ended in a bad way. I was filming when someone called and told me. I wanted to die. I cried and lost a lot of deals; You know I cried, lost some good deals then. But I didnt let it break me, she said.

You know, I just wanted to get married. I want to do things right, have children, and all that. And I went into the (first) marriage, it didnt work out. And it ended in a very bad way, in social media, the noise was everywhere. I was actually filming and somebody called me and told me, I wanted to die!.

Lessons

Sharing some lessons from her first marriage, the actress advised spinsters not to feel pressured into marriage to take their time because if they rush in, they will be forced to rush out.

She said: I dont want to drag anybody. Ill talk about myself. I just wanted to get married. Children, pressure, and all that. As a young lady out there, do not be pressured to get married. Get married because you want to get married, get married because you love him, you want to spend the rest of your life with him. Dont get married because mummy and daddy are saying get married or your friend just got married, have children because you want to have children, you want to be blessed with children, you love children.

Dont have children because the society will say ah shes barren ohh, 12 years 6 years e never marry ignore the gossips, ignore the naysayers, give them sorry the middle finger, I dont care. Yes, ignore because you have your life, do what makes you happy.

On how she was able to pull through the turbulent times she experienced after her marriage ended, Akindele, said: I survived that period by channeling my pain into work. I was collecting every script from the East and acting.

I rushed into the marriage out of pressure and it didnt end well.

Akindele married Nigerian rapper JJC Skillz in London in May 2016. Her pregnancy rumours were among the top searched results on Google search engine in August 2017. They welcomed twin boys in December 2018 and have several step-children.
During an attack in April on Gurza village in Dan Musa local government area of Katsina State, bandits burnt down Malam Sales house and stole his six cows.

The 60-year-old could only find his wife that night, during the commotion, but found his two daughters with whom he fled on foot to Tsamiyar Jino in Dan Musa Local Government Area of the state, nearly three kilometres from his village.

He decided to seek refuge in the neighbouring community and stay with his relatives who live there. But he was shocked to be told on arrival that the bandits had first raided Tsamiyar Jino that night before moving to Gurza.

When we reached Tsamiyar Jino, we found out that the village had also been attacked by the bandits and they left more casualties than in our own community. So, we decided to come to Katsina, he said.

With his two daughters, he walked from Gurza to Danmusa, a distance of more than 10 kilometres, where they spent a night in a market stall before continuing the trip to Katsina, the states capital city.

I now live as an IDP with one of my cousins here in Katsina and because he too is poor, I go out to beg for what to help him feed us with, Mr Sale told PREMIUM TIMES.

He later received the sad news that his wife was among those killed in the attack on his village. Although he heard that some people have moved back to Gurza from Danmusa and neighbouring towns, Mr Sale has no plan to join them.

Never again. I have left Gurza forever, he said.

Displaced communities

The activities of bandits have forced hundreds of people to leave villages in search of safety in towns. As the attacks intensify in the villages, urban communities in Katsina are swelling with displaced people.

The communities mostly affected are in the local government areas close to Rugu forest where bandits have built their fortresses.

Many fled after bandits attacked their villages, burnt their houses and stole their livestock. But most of the villages were deserted because people got tired of living in fear of imminent attacks and decided to leave.

For instance in February 2019, incessant attacks led to the displacement of about 2,000 people in Batsari Local Government Area alone. Sacked villages in the area include Garin Labo, Garin Yara, Kasai, Sabon Garin Dunburawa, Dantudun Garin Yara, Shingi and Garin Dodo.

Between the 26th and 27th of November, 2020, in Kankara LGA of Katsina State, there was a massive displacement of people in Gatakawa, Zurunkutu and Dan Nakwaguzo villages. An estimate of 3,472 individuals were reported to have arrived in Kankara town with many immediate needs, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a report.

Other villages in Faskari, Sabuwa and Dandume have also been attacked several times, forcing members of those communities to seek abode elsewhere.

Overall, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) put the number of people displaced in Katsina State at 80,115 as of October 2020.

Dire situation

Sabuwar Unguwa, Tudun Matawalle and Titin Kwado in Katsina metropolis have over the months recorded influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs), most of whom have decided never to go back to their communities because of the horror they had witnessed.

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The migration continues despite warnings by sociologists and security experts of the danger the displaced persons face or constitute in their host communities.

Some of the IDPs who have found refuge in the metropolis told PREMIUM TIMES that living away from home was heartbreaking. But many also said it is better to wander on the streets in a safe place than living in an unsecured place.

We have found a home

In a long, stretched line of houses separating Sabuwar Unguwa from Kwabren Doruwa in Katsina metropolis lies a house that is now the abode of Amina Malik, 25, and her siblings. Ten of them, with their mother, have been living in the area for a year now after fleeing their hometown of Batsari.

When we decided to leave Batsari, we had no idea where we were heading to, Amina began. But when we reached Katsina, my siblings decided we will live here forever.

Amina and her siblings, including Haruna and Saadatu, are lucky because their late father was a local politician and businessman so they could afford to buy a modest house in Kwabren Doruwa. But hundreds of others are not that lucky.

The sound of gunshots and cries of women and children still ring in my ears, Saadatu, Aminas eldest sister, said. When it started, we were all afraid and cried every time they (bandits) attacked. But we eventually got used to the sound of guns and the sight of helpless people and that was when our mother decided we must leave Batsari.

Amina said it would be suicidal to go back to Batsari. Saadatu agreed with her. Never again. I have left Batsari for good because we have found home here, Saadatu said.

Haruna, however, was not that sure. He said although the attacks have psychologically affected people, he could go back when the attacks stop.

Never again

75-year-old Amiru Rabiu was also forced to leave his native Tsatskiya in Safana Local Government Area, of which he retains fond childhood memories.

Mr Rabiu said if he were offered the choice of where to live a second life, he would not have given it a second thought before picking Tsatskiya. But that was before the guns of the bandits shattered the peace of the community, he said.

I was born and brought up in that village, he said, suppressing sobs. They first attacked us a few years ago and forced us to leave the village. We lived as IDPs for some months in Dutsin Ma but we went back, thinking that it was over. We were thinking of our farms, our houses, our ancestors graveyards and the memories, he said.

Unknown to them, what was coming was more devastating. The next attack was the last stroke that broke the camels back for Mr Rabiu.

Around 9 in the morning, the bandits arrived on more than 50 motorcycles, each carrying two men. That day, we buried 10 people and several other persons were injured.

Mr Rabiu said he did not flee the village alone. He now lives with some of his family members in Abattoir quarters while some others live in Dutsin Ma and Safana.

Asked whether he would return to Tsatskiya, Mr Rabiu looked up with a wry smile. Never again. I am not happy here because I pay rent though I am too old to work and we suffer to get food to eat. But it is better.

Many of those who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said they had not found it easy adapting to their new lives. Shelter, clothing and food are the major challenges most of them face. But they said they feel better than those still in the troubled villages.

We are alive and still kicking, Shamsudeen, who left Ruma village in Batsari local government for Katsina, said. You cannot compare us with those who stayed there and got killed by the bandits or those who are still living there in total apprehension. We are far better.

Halimatu Abubakar, Mr Rabius wife, said she would stop him if he ever contemplates going back to Tsatskiya or would not follow him if he insists.

For me, Tsatskiya is past. I will never go back to Tsatskiya because we have been living here for four months. It has not been all okay but living here is better.

Its dangerous  Expert

Commenting on the rate of migration, a security expert, who specialises in History and Strategic Studies, Baba Bala, said the trend could be dangerous in the near future.

Lets look at this from two angles; social-security and economy. They left their villages due to insecurity, are they safe in the city? Most of them are out there without shelter, so we could be facing a serious challenge of insecurity.

Is Katsina city, for instance, economically vibrant to accommodate them? The answer is no. So, those migrating could be a burden to the already fragile economy which would, in turn, bring more hardship for the natives and those migrating.

He said overall, a lack of social support from their host communities could frustrate the displaced persons.

When they are not socially and economically supported, they may become frustrated in the long run and their children and the younger ones among them can resort to violence since they cannot go back to their sacked villages and the city is not conducive for them.

Editors Note: Support for this report was provided by Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism with funding support from Free Press Unlimited.
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Nigeria on Monday recorded eight new deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic, even as 565 persons tested positive for the infection.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, in an update shared on its Facebook page late Monday night, said the countrys fatality toll from the disease now stands at 2,276 from 2,260 reported a day earlier.

The disease centre said the latest figure of confirmed cases has increased Nigerias infection toll to 187,588 among which the active cases are 16,494.

The increasing number of the active cases from merely less than 2,000 in June has been linked to the Delta variant which has been described as the most transmissible variant of the infection.

Specifics

A breakdown of the NCDC data revealed that Lagos State reported the highest figure of 205 cases while Rivers State in the South-south came second on the log with 73 infections and Ondo State recorded 63 to rank third.

The FCT and Oyo followed with 53 cases each while Ekiti State recorded 37, with Delta and Edo states closely following with 24 and 20 cases respectively.

Benue State reported 12 cases while Bayelsa, Kwara and Osun States recorded six cases each.

Ogun State recorded five cases to take the 13th position on the chart while Adamawa State from the North-east region recorded two cases as the state with the lowest number of cases for the day.

Lagos mourns

The third wave of the pandemic is apparently taking its toll on the countrys commercial nerve centre as the states governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday sympathised with bereaved families.

According to the governor, since the third wave was declared, a total of 135 deaths have been recorded in the state with patients using as much as 400 cylinders of oxygen per day.

Mr Sanwo-Olu promised continued efforts to salvage the situation even as he appealed to the people to observe relevant protocols.

He, however, warned that the two state-owned oxygen plants are becoming increasingly insufficient to cater for the oxygen needs of the rising cases. He hinted at the possibility of being handed additional plants by the federal government.

Vaccination

Meanwhile, the governor said the state will, on Wednesday, resume the second phase of the vaccination campaign against the pandemic by administering the Moderna vaccine.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said of the 601,000 doses promised Lagos by the Federal Government about 299,000 doses of the Moderna vaccines had been received on August 18
Nigerias Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has denied receiving $10 million to manipulate and alter a section of the recently signed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He said neither him, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, nor any other lawmaker received such amount.

He made the comment shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa on Monday.

Mr Lawan was reacting to reports that some lawmakers are angry at the leadership of the National Assembly having been shortchanged in the distribution of a $10 million bribe for the passage of the petroleum industry law.

According to the report, the sum was paid to the lawmakers to approve three per cent operating cost for host communities  a provision in the law.

This was one of the controversial parts of the legislation that divided lawmakers during consideration and passage. While some lawmakers suggested five per cent others wanted three. The latter was approved.

Another controversial part of the law include funding mechanism of 30 per cent of NNPC Limiteds profit oil and profit gas in production sharing, profit sharing, and risk service contracts to fund exploration of frontier basins.

Lawan reacts

But addressing journalists, Mr Lawan described the report as unwarranted, unproven and false.

This is even as he warned Nigerians against misusing the freedom of expression provided in the constitution.

People say anythingabout the President, about members of National Assembly, they call us names and this is part of the intangible dividends of democracy, he said.

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But we are determined to ensure that the space is wide open for everybody to say whatever he wants to say, but I will advise that dont say things that are bad because people are inhabitedand recently somebody said $10 million was given to the Speaker and the Senate President to give to members of the National Assembly to pass three per cent host community development fund. That is funny, but also very serious.

I really want to take this opportunity to take exceptions to those kinds of unwarranted, unprovable, false and fake information being fed to the Nigerian public and the danger people will face with this is you cause unnecessary damage to the reputation of people.

So, the freedom of expression is there, probably more than anywhere in the world, but I want to caution that Nigerians should always think positive about their leaders and their governments and if they have issues they feel very strongly about, let them speak the truth and we are prepared to tell corrections that that we feel should be able to make us do better.

2022 budget

Mr Lawan also disclosed that the 2022 budget, which was part of the discussion with the president, will make sufficient provisions for security agencies and legacy projects  which he hoped will all be completed by next year.

He also lamented that so many agencies of government are not remitting internally generated revenues.

This, he said, needed urgent attention so as to reduce borrowing in the country.

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So, if there are areas that we can now get revenues that will help us reduce the amount of borrowing, then so be it and this is something that we all agree with Mr President that we should continue to look at those areas that we need to improve on revenue generation and collection, he said.

Despite the mounting killings of Nigerians by armed groups across the nation, he applauded Mr Buhari for tackling insecurity in the country especially in the North-east and South-south regions.

It has been quite a good, successful effort in those two geopolitical zones that we inherited. But we have new challenges in the North-west particularly, and some parts of the North-central where banditry is now a phenomenon that we have to deal with.

Mr President has shown willingness and the desire to give more resources to armed forces and other security agencies to continue to fight the banditry, the little bits of the insurgency left and of course, the other security challenges and were also fully in support of giving him all the resources that you will require from us in the National Assembly to ensure that lives and property of Nigerians are properly secured.

And before this administration leaves by the grace of God in 2023, the security situation would have been stabilised, far better than what it is today. That is one in the area of security.

Subsequent meetings, he said, will be held with the president to discuss new plans and progress made so far.
The Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of two of its officers and abduction of a senior officer at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), in Afaka, Kaduna State.

A statement by the Academys spokesperson, Bashir Jajira, a major, said unknown gunmen carried out the attack.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how suspected bandits attacked the Academy and perpetrated the dastardly act.

According to witnesses, the bandits came in a large number in the early hours of Tuesday.

Aside from the officers killed and kidnapped, some others sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the NDA hospital.

The attack on the military facility comes amidst heightened insecurity in the North-west with Kaduna State at the epicenter.

Hundreds of students have been kidnapped in various schools across Kaduna State in the past five months as the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has stood his ground on his no-ransom-payment policy.

Recently, there were intelligence reports that Boko Haram flags were sighted at the Afaka Forest close to NDA and Kaduna Airport.

The Afaka campus of NDA was officially opened in February 2007. The old site in Angwan Kanawa in Kaduna town is now for postgraduate and short service cadets.

In the statement by the NDA, security agents are on the pursuit of the gunmen.

Read the full statement below:

PRESS RELEASE

SECURITY BREACH OF NIGERIAN DEFENCE ACADEMY ARCHITECTURE

The security architecture of the Nigerian Defence Academy was compromised early this morning by unknown gunmen, who gained access into the residential area within the Academy in Afaka. During the unfortunate incident, we lost two personnel and one was abducted.

The Academy, in collaboration with the 1Division Nigerian Army and Air Training Command, as well as other security agencies in Kaduna State, has since commenced pursuit of the unknown gunmen within the general area, with a view to tracking them and rescue the abducted personnel.

The NDA community and Cadets are safe in the Academy. We assure the general public that this unknown gunmen would soon be apprehended and the abducted personnel rescued.

Bashir Muhd Jajira

Major

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Academy Public Relations Officer

24 August 2021
Nigerians on Tuesday lamented the national power grid collapse that has yet again resulted in epileptic power supply and poor business operations.

On Monday, the national power grid collapsed for the second time in a period of one month, throwing many households and businesses in parts of Nigeria into darkness.

The collapse occurred around noon on Monday, according to information sourced from the electricity distribution companies.

Earlier on July 28, the grid had suffered a total collapse, which the Transmission Company of Nigeria attributed to the loss of 611 megawatts at two power stations.

Jude Okonkwo, a Lagos-based business owner, lamented the impact of the collapse on his business, calling on the government to find a lasting solution to the incessant grid collapse.

This is almost becoming a monthly occurrence and it is not good for business and the economy at all, he told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview Tuesday morning.

Another Lagos resident who declined to have his name in print lamented the impact of the blackout on households and business operations in parts of the country.

This is very bad. The power is poor already now its a complete blackout, he said.

The national grid is managed by Transmission Company of Nigeria, but suffers incessant system collapse due to what experts described as poor infrastructure.

Discos beg customers

Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the blackout and complaints from customers, many of the power distribution countries sent messages to customers pleading to them to exercise patience.

Kaduna Electric, for instance, explained the cause of the blackout and assured customers that power would be restored.

We sincerely apologise for the power outage in our franchise states which is due to a system collapse from the national grid, the company said.

Supply shall be restored as soon as the grid is back up.

Eko Electricity Distribution Company, in a message to its customers on its Facebook page, said that it is working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria to restore supply.

We regret to inform you of a system collapse on the national grid thats causing outages across our network, it said.

We are working with our TCN partners to restore supply as soon as possible. Please bear with us.

TCN restores power grid

Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it has restored the national power grid.

TCNs General Manager Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

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Mrs Mbah said the incident followed a sudden drop in system frequency from 50.18Hz to 47.63Hz which caused system instability and consequently the collapse of a part of the national grid.

She said: However, the partial system disturbance did not affect parts of the grid such as Afam Complex, Alaoji, Ikot Ekpene, Odukpani, and Calabar axis.

This means that electricity supply to these areas was not interrupted by the incident.

According to reports from the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) readings and some substations, control panel readings by System Operators showed that some units from a particular generating station tripped suddenly.

The general manager said the tripping caused an initial loss of 402 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the grid network.

This caused a destabilising imbalance which further caused the pulling out a total of 3,560MW from the grid that finally collapsed part of the national grid, she stated.

Mrs Mbah said that TCN commenced the immediate recovery of the grid at 1:19p.m. through Shiroro Generating Station and almost immediately restored electricity to Abuja axis.

She said the AlaojiOnitsha axis was restored at about the same time as Abuja, while the Shiroro-Mando axis, on the other hand, was restored by 3:42p.m.

According to her, by 6.57p.m. on Monday, the national grid was fully recovered and operational.

TCN appreciates the kind understanding of government and electricity consumers within the affected areas as it is consistently executing projects geared towards putting in place a very robust grid.

It is equally pursuing a nationwide SCADA implementation that would further contribute to grid stability, she added.
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A leading independent newspaper in Nigeria, DAILY TRUST, has called for nominations of exemplary personalities for the coveted African of the Year 2021 award. Nominations are open from August 22, 2021 to midnight of October 22, 2021.

In a statement issued at the weekend, Ag. CEO of Media Trust Limited, publishers of DAILY TRUST, Nura Daura, said ideal nominees should be ordinary Africans who have made extra-ordinary contributions to humanity in any field from any part of the continent.

Mr Daura disclosed that the award consists of three components, namely, a permanent plaque, a certificate of merit and a cash reward in aid of the awardee or his/her chosen charity project.

Valid entries for the 2021 award will be for works, events or activities undertaken by the nominee between October 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021, and nominations are to be made online at award.dailytrust.com. The eventual winner will be selected by a six-member prize committee chaired by His Excellency, Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana.

Other members of the committee who represent Africas regional blocs are: Mona Omar (North Africa), Amadou Mahtar Ba (West Africa), Gwen Lister (Southern Africa), and Minani Bihuzo (Central Africa). The Chairman of the Board of Media Trust Limited, Kabiru Yusuf, represents the award promoters.

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The DAILY TRUST Ag. CEO emphasised that a winner will emerge, strictly based on the selection criteria and not the number of entries submitted on his/her behalf.

Mr. Daura also disclosed that the presentation ceremony for the 2021 edition of the African of the Year Award will hold in Abuja, Nigeria, in January 2022.

Now in its 14th edition, the African of the Year Award was inaugurated in 2008 by DAILY TRUST in fulfilment of the newspapers commitment to African unity and sustainable development across the continent.

With this annual award, Mr Daura said the newspaper hopes to entrench the culture of selflessness among Africans with the aim of creating a pool of role models for others to emulate.

The maiden award was presented to a Congolese gynaecologist, Denis Mukwege, in recognition of his exemplary humanitarian offer of free reconstructive surgery to victims of rape in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC. He also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018, which is 10 years after DAILY TRUST had recognised his remarkable humanitarian gesture.

Last years award was won by Musu Bakoto Sawo, a Gambian changemaker and tireless women rights advocate, for her continuous commitment to ending violence against girls and women, including child marriage and female genital mutilation.
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Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu has approved N5 million as relief assistance to 95 indigenes of the state studying at the University of Jos, Plateau State.

The permanent secretary of the state Ministry of Higher Education, Halima Boyi-Dikko, stated this on Monday, while briefing journalists in Birnin Kebbi.

She said the gesture of the governor was timely, as it was aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the students in the institution, following recent insecurity challenges in their host state.

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________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bagudus gesture cannot come at a better time than now when the authorities of the university have suspended all academic activities and the students, mostly females, could not access food and are not allowed to leave the institution back to the state, due to concerns over their safety.

The relief assistance approved by Bagudu was part of his sustained efforts to shore up the educational development of the state.

These past efforts include, regular payment of huge amounts of money as scholarship to thousands of indigenes of Kebbi State studying at various tertiary institutions, within and outside Nigeria, Mrs Boyi-Dikko said.

The permanent secretary commended the efforts of the governor and called on the students to remain calm and abide by the directives of the university management.

(NAN)
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The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Tuesday asked developed countries to channel their shares of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to poor African countries.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala made this submission in a series of tweets on Tuesday.

The WTO boss applauded Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, and shareholders for the historic SDR allocation.

The IMF announced on Monday that its new allocation of Special Drawing Rights SDRs was equivalent to $650 billion.

The largest SDR in the IMFs history comes into effect in an effort to help countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the IMF noted.

The allocation is a significant shot in the arm for the world and, if used wisely, a unique opportunity to combat this unprecedented crisis, IMF said in a statement.

The SDR allocation will provide additional liquidity to the global economic system supplementing countries foreign exchange reserves.

The organisation added that countries could use the space provided by the SDR allocation to support their economies and step up their fight against the crisis.

SDRs were being distributed to countries in proportion to their quota shares in the IMF.

SDR is an international reserve asset created by the United Nations specialised agency to supplement its member countries official reserves.

Africa is entitled to about $33 billion, but French President Emmanuel Macron pledged during a summit of African leaders in May to urge richer nations to support an allocation of $100 billion to Africa.

On Tuesday, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala encouraged countries with strong foreign exchange (forex) reserves to support poorer counterparts in the fight against COVID-19, especially in Africa.

Let me congratulate @KGeorgieva and her whole team as well as @IMFNews shareholders on todays historic allocation of $650 bill in SDRs which will strengthen members reserve positions and assist them to better fight the pandemic, she tweeted.

I urge members with strong foreign exchange reserve positions to channel their SDR allocations to poorer countries, particularly those in Africa, to support their Covid19 fight.
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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has not declared interest in the 2023 presidential race, his office has said.

Laolu Akande, the vice presidents spokesperson, said Mr Osinbajo is not in any way connected with the distribution and deployment of any 2023 political posters whether on the streets or in online videos, banners and the like on the Social Media.

There have been posters online and in major Nigerian cities suggesting Mr Osinbajo would run for the highest office in Nigeria, Mr Akande said in a late Monday statement.

Read Mr Akandes full statement below.

OSINBAJO HAS NOT DECLARED INTEREST IN PRESIDENTIAL RACE

There has again been a flurry of activities, such as the release of campaign style promotional videos, banners in the Social Media and even the deployment of political posters in some parts of the country, including the FCT and Kano, insinuating that the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has joined the 2023 Presidential Race.

The Office of the Vice President wishes to reiterate a statement on the same subject, made earlier in May this year.

The Office of the Vice President is not in any way connected with the distribution and deployment of any 2023 political posters whether on the streets or in online videos, banners and the like on the Social Media.

All these are simply needless distractions from the urgent tasks of governance needed in our country at this time.

Prof. Osinbajo has not declared any interest whatsoever in the 2023 election, but he is rather focused on working in his capacity as Vice President in the current administration to address all the compelling issues in the country and concerns of Nigerians, including finding effective and lasting solutions to the security challenges and working to further boost the economy.

Therefore, we ask that people desist from such publications while we all deal together with the challenges confronting us as Nigerians, and resolve them for the benefit of our people, and the enthronement of peace and prosperity in the land.

Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity

Office of the Vice President
The Rivers State High Court in

on Monday, issued an an order of interim injunction restraining Uche Secondus from parading self as the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Judge O. Gbasam reportedly issued the order following an ex parte application filed by four applicants.

A copy of the court order which went viral online on Monday has the quartet of Ibeawuchi Alex, Dennis Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen, and Umezerike Onucha, as the plaintiffs.

Mr Secondus and the PDP are the defendants sued in the suit marked PHC/2183/CS/2021.

Details of the applicants grouse against Mr Secondus were not contained in the document which appeared online.

The court order indicated that the applicants lawyer, H.A Bello, argued his clients ex parte application after which the court granted the interim restraining orders sought against Mr Secondus.

Being an ex parte hearing, Mondays proceedings were conducted in the absence of the lawyers to Mr Secondus or PDP.

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The judge after listening to the applicants lawyer, restrained Mr Secondus from parading himself as a member or the national chairman of the PDP.

The court also barred him from performing the functions of the national chairman of the party or calling, attending or presiding over any meeting of the 2nd defendant (PDP) or any committee of the 2nd defendant at the Ward, Local Government or State level.

It also stopped him from calling for any ward, local government or state congress of the PDP or setting up committees for such congresses or participating in any activity of the 2nd defendant whatsoever.

It added that Mr Secondus must not take any of these actions whilst on suspension as a member of the 2nd defendant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

The judge also granted leave to serve the main suit and other processes filed by the applicants on the respondents through substituted means by pasting same to his gate at No.1 William Jumbo Street, Old G.R.A Port Harcourt.

No fresh hearing date is indicated on the court document.

Party crisis

Mondays court order appears to be the height of a crisis that has been brewing within the party which has been hit by a gale of defections of governors elected on its platform to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the past few months.

Governors David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Ben Ayade of Cross River and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, defected to the ruling APC in the last 10 months.

In July, Rimamnde Kwewum (PDP, Taraba), a member of the House of Representatives, called on Mr Secondus to resign in the face of mass defections hitting the party.

Mr Kwewum, who represents Donga/Takum/Wusa federal constituency of Taraba State, cited increasing weakness, incoherence and daily loss of members to the ruling party as the reason for the call.

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About a month later, seven members of the National Working Committee (NWC) resigned, citing Mr Secondus leadership style.

Some support groups within the party also recently called for Mr Secondus ouster.

The groups under the aegis of Save PDP Group and Coalition of PDP Youth Groups, made the call during a protest at the partys national secretariat in Abuja.

The leader of the groups, Tamunotonye Inioribo, while addressing the media, said the protest was organised by a coalition of different PDP support groups, that were dissatisfied with the leadership of Mr Secondus.

Mr Secondus, who has defiantly said he would not resign, held a meeting behind closed doors with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, amid efforts by various organs of the party to save the worsening situation.
Many Nigerians on various social media platforms have taken a swipe at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over its operatives invasion of the residence of a former Big Brother Naija housemate, Dorathy Bachor, on Monday.

The operatives reportedly returned to Ms Bachors apartment in the Lekki area of Lagos State, Monday evening, after the initial early morning raid that triggered her anger in an Instagram post.

Ms Bachor again took to her Instagram live story to call out the EFCC for revisiting her home hours after she alerted the public that some operatives of the commission illegally broke into her residence.

PREMIUM TIMES cannot independently confirm and verify if the faces at Ms Bachors Instagram live story were officers of the EFCC.

When contacted on Tuesday morning, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCCs spokesperson, said he had yet to watch the video posted by Ms Bachor.

He said, I have not seen the video and I cannot comment on what I am yet to see. I will get back to you when I see it.

Mr Uwujaren has yet to get back to our reporter as of press time on Tuesday.

The ex-housemate in the BB Naija Lockdown Season held last year, had earlier on Monday morning, said the operatives made their way into her living room at about 4 a.m in their search for the suspect.

According to her, the action left her shaking and her mother in a panic state.

At 4:45 a.m., I heard a loud sound, and voices followed after. I rushed out almost naked to see fully armed @officialefcc men in my living room, Ms Dorathy partly stated on her Instagram story.

Reacting to the claims later on Monday, EFCC said, in a statement, that it executed a search warrant at Ms Bachors house, which happened to be one of the flats in a building where nine suspected fraudsters were arrested.

The EFCC added that, during the raid, its operatives had knocked on the door and identified themselves, But they were refused entry, for several minutes by Bachors sister.

The operatives were left with no choice than to force their way in, lest suspects escape or destroy vital evidence, the EFCC statement also, read.

Nigerians react

However, in reaction to the developments, Nigerians on Twitter and Facebook have expressed their shock at EFCCs mode of operations.

Many have also compared the tactics of the EFCC to that of the defunct and disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

A lawyer and right activist, Festus Ogun on Twitter, @mrfestusogun, condemned the continued harassment and intimidation of the former TV reality show star.

He also called on the commission to be professional in carrying out its operation.

He said, The harassment and intimidation of Dorathy by the EFCC must stop.

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You cannot maltreat a citizen for merely exposing your impunity in the digital space. Were they expecting her to be quiet after the illegal invasion?

EFCC needs to understand what professionalism is all about.

The harassment and intimidation of Dorathy by the EFCC must stop. You cannot maltreat a citizen for merely exposing your impunity on the digital space. Were they expecting her to be quiet after the illegal invasion? EFCC needs to understand what professionalism is all about.  FESTUS OGUN (@mrfestusogun) August 23, 2021

Also a Twitter user, @mayeesq said, How EFCC, a commission set up to fight Economic and Financial Crimes became burglars under Buhari govt, me I still dont understand.

Another user tweeting via @firstladyship also stated, The EFCC is worse than SARS. It is time Nigerians rise up & say enough to the madness. It is time to pay the EFCC an #EndSARS visit. NONSENSE!!

The EFCC is worse than SARS. It is time Nigerians rise up & say enough to the madness. It is time to pay the EFCC an #EndSARS visit. NONSENSE!!  NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) August 23, 2021

Have you ever heard of #EFCC or #SARS illegal raids & arrest in core northern states?  Grumpy Grandpa (@mayeesq) August 23, 2021

On Facebook, Izuchukwu Chintua said Its a disgrace that a law enforcement agency has no special procedures and protocols to maintain a search on someones property. Its a big shame.

The thing is we may pretend that this is Nigeria where anything goes but the reality is the world laughs this Nigeria to scorn because of the mindset of the leaders.

Also on Facebook, Adolphus Okokoroko said Just imagine, you forced yourself into somebody apartment at a very ungodly hour, break her doors, then she Posts what happened to her online as a media person,

You have the audacity to return there and bully her again and destroy properties. See, one day the leaders shall become the followers, and the followers shall be leaders.
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The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has disclosed that it will investigate the over 40 million litres of petroleum allegedly smuggled out of the country daily.

James Faleke (APC, Lagos), the chairman of the Committee on Finance, said on Monday at the ongoing interactive session on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), that his committee will require the services of the Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited (NiCOMSAT), to track the movement of trucks along Nigerias borders.

He stated this after the representative of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Bashir Sodiq, told the committee that the daily average consumption was between 48 million and 52 million litres daily.

The daily consumption figure cited by Mr Sodiq contradicts the figure earlier disclosed by the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Resources (NNPC), Mele Kyari.

Mr Kyari had in June said the country was consuming 103 million litres daily in May 2021 and oscillating between 70 million to 60 million litres daily in June 2021.

According to Mr Faleke, the disparity in the records of both NNPC and DPR was about 40 million litres suggesting that about that number of litres may be smuggled out of the country daily.

He said it will take 1,000 of 33,000 litres of trucks to convey the petroleum products across the border on a daily basis.

We are taking the opportunity of MTEF to ask critical questions, because if about 40million litres of PMS are being smuggled out per day, the question is, how many trucks of 33,000 litres do we need to convey this volume out of the country?

When we did small arithmetic, we discovered that we will need 1,000 trucks. If it is true that the volume goes out of the country, it means 1000 trucks go out to neighbouring countries. And they come back to load, if that is true.

Satellite images should have captured these trailers. We have invited NICOMSAT. DPR is saying about 48 million, contrary to the number being circulated by the NNPC. We have asked the Petroleum Equalisation Fund to provide us with data on fuel consumption, he said.

Mr Sodiq in his explanation to the committee also disputed the claims by Controller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali, that the DPR was supplying PMS to the border communities.

He noted that less than three per cent of the daily consumption was being supplied to the border areas.

Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) is also due to appear before the committee on Tuesday.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, struck out an application filed by the State Security Service (SSS) against the bail granted some aides of the Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho.

The 12 detainees were arrested at Ibadan, Oyo State home of Igboho, a Yoruba secessionist agitator, on July 2.

Following an application by their lawyer, the judge, Obiora Egwuatu, granted them bail on August 4.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, however, the SSS filed an application urging the judge to reverse the bail granted four of the detainees.

But the judge threw out the Nigerian secret polices application following its withdrawal by the services lawyer, Idowu Awo.

Mr Awo said his agency had decided to file an appeal against the bail granted four out of the 12 detainees, instead of asking Mr Egwatu to reverse his previous ruling granting bail to them.

The judge subsequently struck out the motion following the no-objection response from the detainees lawyer, Sunday Adebayo.

SSS application strange

The lead lawyer to the detainees, Pelumi Olajengbesi, had in an earlier interview with PREMIUM TIMES condemned the application filed by the SSS for further detention of four of the detainees.

The detainees were in the process of perfecting the bail conditions when SSS filed a fresh application asking the court to reverse the bail.

Mr Olajenbesi told this newspaper that the application filed by the secret police was strange and constitutes an abuse of court process.

The application is an abuse of court process. It is strange to our law. You can only go to a court to vary the bail conditions, not to ask for the cancellation. I dont know which law they are reading, Mr Olajengbesi said.

Appeal against bail

In the notice of appeal dated August 13, 2021, the spy agency faulted the bail granted to Amudat Babatunde, Abideen Shittu, Jamiu Oyetunji, and Bamidele Sunday.

The service urged the Court of Appeal in Abuja to set aside the bail on the grounds that it was conducting further interrogation of the detainees to determine the level of their complicity in a case of alleged stockpiling of firearms.

Mr Egwuatu had granted bail to the four detainees in the sum of N10 million each with two sureties in like sum, while the remaining eight were granted bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties each.

Those admitted to N5 million bail are: Abdulateef Onaolapo, Tajudeen Erinoye, Diekola Jubril, Ayobami Donald, Uthman Adelabu, Oluwafemi Kunle, Raji Kazeem and Bamidele Sunday.

One of the sureties, the court held, must be an employee of the federal government on grade level 12 and above.

The sureties must be resident in Abuja, have properties and must swear to an affidavit of means.

Still detained without charge

Mr Olajengbesi told our reporter in a telephone interview on Tuesday that all the 12 detainees were still being held by the SSS despite meeting the conditions of the bail granted them about 20 days ago.

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They have met all the bail conditions. The court has signed their release order, but SSS has not complied with the court order, the lawyer said.

He also said none of his clients has been charged with any crime more than seven weeks after their arrest.
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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday demanded the release of Gloria Okolie, an alleged spy for the Eastern Security Network (ESN), who has been in illegal custody of the police.

Reacting to the development in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, said the only alternative open to the police is to charge her to court.

Mr Ojukwu, who was quoted in a statement released by the commission on Tuesday, described the detention as a gross violation of human rights, adding that it must be accounted for to serve as a deterrent.

The commission is therefore using this medium to demand the immediate and unconstitutional release of the detainee or in alternative charge her to a court of competent jurisdiction so that she will enjoy the right to fair hearing and the opportunity to defend the allegations against her, if any, Mr Ojukwu said.

ESN, believed to be the military arm of the outlawed separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been blamed for various violent activities in the South-east and South-south regions.

Amnesty International, which equally called for her release on Monday, said she was arrested by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), a tactical unit of the Nigerian police, in Imo State on June 17, 2021.

The international human rights watchdog said she was later moved to Abuja where she has been denied access to her family members and lawyer in violation of her rights.

She has now been held in custody without charge for over 68 days as of Tuesday, in violation of the constitutional provision that prohibits suspects beyond 48 hours without charge.

Mr Ojukwu noted that the unprofessional conduct of the police cannot be tolerated in the 21st Century, adding that perpetrators of such heinous crime must be immediately brought to justice.

Expressing sadness over the claims of her being used as slave by police officers, Mr Ojukwu noted that the detainee was washing clothes, sent in errands to buy stuffs for officers, tortured by some of the officers in charge of her detention hence the need for her release without further delay.

We will not hesitate to condemn such unprofessional conduct which undoubtedly resulted in further violation of the rights of the lady in question because her rights to freedom of movement and liberty among several others had been allegedly violated with impunity by the very personnel charged with the responsibility of protecting the lives and property of citizens, the NHRC boss was quoted in the statement.

Police allegations

The police had announced the arrest of 21-year-old Ms Okolie, accusing her of being complicit in the series of deliberate and well-coordinated attacks on security formations and other critical national infrastructures in the South-east and South-south regions.

The deputy public relations officer of the police, Aremu Adeniran, said Ms Okolie was arrested in Imo State, adding that she had aided the police in the arrest of one of the ESNs top leader they identified as Onye Army.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Ms Okolies arrest comes amidst reduced attacks by gunmen believed to be ESN members in the South-east and South-south regions of Nigeria.

The attacks on security formations and government establishments went from as high as more than one in a day to less than one in two weeks.
The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) risks not having budgetary allocation as the House of Representatives Committee on Finance has directed the Budget Office to suspend the budgetary process for the agency pending an investigation into its books.

The Committee reached the resolution on Tuesday at the ongoing interactive session on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), after the Commission failed to defend its expenditures from 2016 to 2021.

It was discovered that the Commission had been spending the revenue it has been generating since 2016.

The Committee observed that though the Registrar of the CAC, Garba Abubakar, claimed that the agency had not recruited personnel for the past three years, the salary and allowances of the agency continued to increase.

The Chairman of the committee, James Faleke (APC, Lagos), raised questions on the trajectory of the expenditure of the agency.

In 2021, the agency has so far generated N3.19 billion but already spent N5.136 billion.

Because I took a look at salary in 2016, your salary and allowances in 2016 was N7.7 billion. In 2017, it grew to N8.1billion, and in 2018 it grew to N8.985billion and in 2019, it grew to N10.27 billion.

Suddenly in 2020, it came down to N9.3billion and in 2021, it is growing again to N10.96 billion. In 2022, you expect that it will grow to N12.9 billion again, and in 2023 N13.7billion, while in 2024, N14 billion. Yet, you have not recruited in the past three years. I wonder what the allowances are? How often do you increase salaries?

When you pay yourself revenue and allowances that take away our revenue that you ought to have remitted to the government, it is not acceptable. Because, if you increase your salary every year, let us know that you increased it every year.

2021 performance if you go back to your revenue and expenditure, comparing the two, from 2016 I want to take you back. Your revenue was N8.74billion, you spent N11.275billion, that is about N3 billion. Again, in 2017, your revenue was N10.896billion and you spent N12.6billion, in 2018, N11.2billion, you spent N12.2billion. In 2019, revenue, N12.7billion, you spent N13.790billion. In 2020, surprisingly, revenue increased to N19.163bilion, your expenditure was N13.2billion and in 2021, your estimated revenue for the year is N20.74billion, and your estimated expenditure was N19.28billion. And in the first quarter of 2021, you have generated N3.19billion and spent N5.136billion. What is the meaning of this? First-quarter, that is the report you sent to us now.

What is happening is that this increase in expenditure will reduce your surplus, that is just the simple arithmetic. Your finance people are putting figures together so that the money you will remit to the general account that will help Nigeria will not be there, he said.

Mr Garba explained that part of the expenses was for outstanding liabilities, like staff housing and pension.

Most of these expenditures were settlement of outstanding liabilities, we got the assessment for the 2018 and 2019 pension towards the end of last year, Mr Garba said.

A member of the CAC team, Ibrahim Gano, responded to the query that it was the accounting system used by the agency that was creating the perception of discrepancy.

It seems quite strange that we have spent more than we are generating. That is really not the case. It is because of the accounting system that we are operating, Mr Gano said.

Liabilities that are due for a given year were recognised and duly impacted on our account. Liabilities are recognised in our balance sheet.

So, there was no cash outlay for such transactions, liabilities were recognised for a given year. For example, in 2019, it impacted on the P and L, but the payments were actually not done, and as such, liabilities were recognised as liabilities to be paid in the following year.

For 2021, the possible explanation is apparently because there were payments that were done upfront. For example, housing of staff, staff housing allowances, payment were actually done, but we amortised them over a period of 12 years, so it will impact on your P and L, Mr Gano said.

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A member of the Committee, Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), accused the Commission of cooking the account to make it difficult for a layman to understand.

Are you sure that you are not cooking your books? Because when you cook your books, it is always hard for a layman to understand. That is what we are facing now. If you say that you have generated this, but you have expended this..

Consequently, the committee ruled that the agency should provide it with its (CAC) full expenditures from 2016-2021.

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While announcing the resolution, Mr Faleke said: What you are doing is to borrow money in advance, you are paying upfront even when the money is not there. The committee has resolved that you will have to provide us with the details of the expenditures from 2018, line by line items. In 2018, bring the file, 2019, bring the file, in line with your budget.

You will have to submit to us by Thursday this week, unfailingly. Budget Office, you are going to be inviting CAC to your office. You do not have any agreement with them until they are done with us. We are making this clear to you. There should be no budgetary approval for them until we finish with them. If we have to close that CAC to make money for Nigeria, let us do it.

The 10-day hearing into the revenue performance is still ongoing, as the committee seeks to find extra revenue to bridge the deficit in the 2021 budget.

The MTEF proposed by the executive has a deficit of over N5 trillion for the 2022 fiscal year.
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The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Yemi Akinwonmi, has suspended the meeting of the partys National Working Committee indefinitely.

Mr Akinwonmi issued the directive on Tuesday following the restraining order issued against the party national chairman, Uche Secondus, by a Rivers High Court in Port Harcourt.

The court on Monday barred Mr Secondus from parading himself as neither the national chairman of the party nor member.

He said his deliberate decision to take over the reins of the party affairs was to ensure broader consultation in the overall interest of the party.

Quoting section 45 (2) of the PDP constitution, the deputy chairman said he was permitted to oversee the partys affairs till all issues were resolved.

Our attention was drawn yesterday evening to a court order which purports to restrain our National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus from summoning and presiding over the meetings of the organs of the party.

In the foregoing circumstance, as the deputy National Chairman South of the Peoples Democratic Party, after due consultations and in exercise of the aforesaid powers, hereby deem it fit and proper to postpone the National Working Committee, NWC, meeting earlier scheduled for today till further notice to allow for broader consultations in the overall interest of our party, Mr Akinwonmi, currently recovering from protracted illness, declared on Tuesday.

ALSO READ: Court restrains Uche Secondus from parading self as PDP chairman

However, against his directive, some members of the NWC, under the leadership of the Deputy National Chairman (North), Suleiman Nazif, held a meeting where they scheduled an emergency National Executive Committee for Friday.

Brewing crisis

The leadership crisis rocking the party took a prominent dimension in the last two weeks when seven members of the party national executives resigned their positions, faulting Mr Secondus style of leadership as the core reason for the growing defection of members and governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in recent time.

The development pitched the party governors against each other as the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, expressed relentless desire to ensure the embattled chairmans dismissal while some other stakeholders expressed contrary views.

However, Mr Secondus, against this turbulent turn of events, denied any wrongdoing and vowed not to resign his position.
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The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has warned the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and other agencies against refusing to appear before it to defend their revenue and expenditure profiles as contained in the 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

The committee gave the warning on Tuesday during its interactive session on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework with some government departments.

Chairman of the Committee, James Faleke (APC, Lagos), said NIMASA, Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), National Lottery Trust Fund, National Inland Waterways Authority and others had stayed away from the session despite invitations extended to them.

The lawmaker said, Some agencies are avoiding to come and present their papers before us, I want to make it abundantly clear that any agency of government that refuses to appear before  and defend the revenue profile and expenditure of his/her agency will be properly taken care of by the House.

The ongoing interactive session is looking at the revenue and expenditure of some revenue-generating agencies and ministries, as the committee looks to bridge the budget deficit gap in the projected 2022 budget.

I want to use this opportunity to call on NIMASA.. NIMASA, this is the second time we are making this announcement. You must bring your documents and defend your revenue before this committee.

FAAN is supposed to come here tomorrow. There will be no room for postponements. They must come in and defend the sources of their income. National Lottery Trust Fund, they must come in and defend the income they have received and the way they are managing that fund. NDIC is supposed to appear before us today, we are yet to see them. Standard Organisation of Nigeria, National Inland Water Way Authority, you must appear before Thursday. Please do not allow us to take decisions that will not be palatable to the agencies.

Last year, President Buhari invoked national security threat as the justification to go above the deficit to GDP threshold as provided in the Fiscal Responsibility Act for the 2021 budget. The Act provides that the deficit to GDP shall not be more than three per cent.

Section 12(2) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act allows the president to go above the ceiling if in his opinion, there is a clear and present threat to national security or sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The deficit in the 2022 budget as projected by MTEF stands at N5.62 trillion (3.2%) from the N5.6 trillion in the 2021 budget.

Mr Faleke has said the committee will remove frivolous capital expenditure in revenue generating MDAs, to free surplus for the consolidated revenue account.
The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Limited says it is ready to commence production in abandoned oil wells to the benefit of community and the country.

NPDC is a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The Managing Director of NPDC, Mohammed AliZarah, spoke at an event by the Ogoni Liberation Initiative, according to a statement signed on Tuesday by Garba Deen Muhammad, Group General Manager (Public Affairs), NNPC.

He said that the company understood the concerns and yearnings of the Ogoni people and shared in their pain.

According to him, the NPDC and the Federal Government (FG) would work with the communities to ensure their environment was remediated and the activities not impact negatively on their environment but bring them development, employment and growth.

He said the organisation of the event by the Ogoni Liberation Initiative and the turn-up of various people including traditional rulers, youths and women had buoyed the confidence of the company

This, he described as an act of love and solidarity.

Indeed, this is a clear testimonial and demonstration of a strong cordial relationship that has existed between us over the years.

This, for us is our social licence to operate in this peace loving community, he said

Mr AliZarah observed that it was in the best collective national interest of the country to speedily restore the environment of Ogoniland, and create the needed condition for the social economic development of the communities.

As a viable partner, we would join you to pursue the greater good of our people and the nation.

We stand with you and would work with you to achieve this within the shortest possible time, he said.

On the communique submitted by the Ogoni Liberation Initiative signed by leaders of various communities that make up Ogoni land, AliZarah assured them that he would send the document to the management of the NNPC for onward transmission to the relevant quarters including the President.

Earlier, Douglas Fabeke, the Convener and leader of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative, organisers of the event, said the Ogoni people welcomed with great joy the intervention of the FG and the takeover of the oil exploration sites by NPDC following the judgement of the Appeal Court in Abuja.

He described the judgment and subsequent takeover of the sites by NPDC as liberation for the Ogoni people.

According to him, the people of Ogoni have looked forward to the freedom over the years.

He assured the FG that the people of Ogoni would support all efforts aimed at restoring and exploring its huge natural resources for the benefit of the people.

The Ogoni people are ready for oil and gas business deal in the land to entrench development in partnership with the NNPC/ Federal Government of Nigeria through a transformed template and practical community development delivered by the host communities.

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The Ogoni people are ready to do all forms of businesses with the State, Federal and Global Corporate Communities for the development of their land, provided the business is anchored upon Ogoni development, he said.

He called on the leaders of the Ogoni to eschew bitterness and work with the FG to ensure that the people benefitted from their resources.

He submitted a communique on behalf of the people of Ogoni to the FG at the request of Ogoni people and as a condition for the mutual relationship between the people and NPDC.

The communique, among other things, requested that the issue of clean-up in Ogoniland be re-visited and the Government should mandate the handling agency to expedite actions and clean the land in tune with the UNEP Reports recommendation.

It also requested to allow the Ogoni people to bring investors that would perfectly implement the UNEP reports recommendations to the letter.

It also called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the provisions of infrastructure to the Ogoni people.

The Ogoni people will not work under any political manipulation that will affect the development and smooth operation in the Land without capturing the interest of the people.

We stand by every word drafted here and will implement it to the letter, and also ready to give the Federal Government of Nigeria a maximum cooperation to achieve its aim for the success and benefit of the Nation and the Ogoni people, the communique said.

It would be recalled that oil production operations were suspended in Ogoniland in the early 1990s due to disruptions from local public unrest. The military dictatorship Sani Abacha killed the renown environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa.

The oilfields and other installations have since largely remained dormant.

Hope was, however, rekindled following an Appeal Court judgment that paved the way for NPDC to take over oil production from Shell in Ogoni land.

The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja upturned the August 23, 2019 ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja which held that the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) was entitled to the renewal of the Lease on OML 11.

In the ruling, the Appellate Court held that the Minister of Petroleum Resources had the discretion whether or not to renew the OML 11 Lease in favor of SPDC.

The court further held that the minister rightly exercised his discretion in awarding the OML 11 Lease to NPDC, a subsidiary of the NNPC. (NAN)
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Armed bandits on Tuesday attacked a team of security officials escorting travellers from Gusau, the state capital to Dansadau, in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The gunmen set ablaze a fuel tanker in the convoy to sabotage supply of fuel to Dansadau town, one of the communities worst hit by banditry in Zamfara.

Residents of Dansadau need security escort to travel to or from Gusau, to shield them from attacks by bandits.

Residents said the fuel tanker was among dozens of vehicles being escorted to Dansadau by security forces on board an armoured personnel carrier.

A resident said the bandits appeared from the bush and opened fire on the tanker, setting off fire and an explosion.

A traditional ruler in Dansadau Emirate, Mustapha Umar, described the incident as troubling.

He said the gunmen were angry that residents of Dansadau had bsnned the sale of food and essential commodities to them.

Mr Umar told PREMIUM TIMES that the gunmen had vowed to cut the supply of essential commodities to Dansadau town to avenge the sanction on them.

Gusau is about 100 kilometres from Dansadau.

Following the incident, many in the trip were feared kidnapped after the travellers fled into the bush while the security men engaged the bandit in a gun fight.

The police spokesperson in Zamfara, Muhammad Shehu, was not available for comment as his known phone number could not be reached as of Tuesday evening.

This report will be updated as we gather more facts.
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Kathy Hochul has succeeded Andrew Cuomo as New Yorks governor after the latters resignation over allegations of sexual harassment, making Ms Hochul New Yorks first female governor.

New York Chief Judge, Janet DiFiore, conducted the swearing-in ceremony Tuesday at the states capital, making Ms Hochul, 62, a former congresswoman, the 57th governor of New York.

Her coronation is coming three weeks after the state attorney general indicted outgoing governor, Mr Cuomo, of sexually harassing multiple women.

Mr Cuomo would announce his resignation a week later, ending his 10-year reign as governor within which he rose to national prominence for his handling of COVID-19 pandemic last year. He denied wrongdoing.

Ms Hochul, a Democrat, has promised to usher in a new era of civility and consensus in state government.

I feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders and I will tell New Yorkers Im up for the task,

the New York Times quoted Ms Hochul as having told WGRZ-TV, a local news station, shortly after she was sworn in.

ALSO READ: New York governor Andrew Cuomo resigns over sexual harassment allegations

I thought about all the women that came before me, including my mother who was not there, but a lot of women through history, and I felt they passed the torch to me.

Ms Hochul would now have to decide what she would veer from Mr Cuomos COVID-19 response plans and whom to retain from the outgoing governors cabinet.

The incoming governor Hochul is a graduate of Syracuse University and Catholic University, where she obtained her law degree.
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A resident says 120 people were abducted on Sunday night in an aback by bandits on Goran Namaye village in Zamfara State.

The police spokesperson in the state, Mohammed Shehu, had said four people were killed and 50 others kidnapped in the attack.

He added that the Commissioner of Police, Yakubu Elkana, had ordered search and rescue operations for the victims.

But speaking to BBC Hausa as monitored by Premium Times, a villager who witnessed the horror, Ibrahim Sulaiman, said the figure now stands at 120.

Mr Sulaiman said a day after the attack, the district head of the area directed the traditional rulers to conduct house to house checks to ascertain the number of those kidnapped by the bandits.

We conducted a house to house count, asking questions to verify those who have been kidnapped. We found out that several people who got scared and ran into the bush returned after the bandits had left

Others who left the town for safer places were also reached through phones. When we finished the counting, we found out that there were 120 people that could not be accounted for, he added.

He noted that in his house alone, nine people, including his eldest brother, have been kidnapped.

According to him, when the bandits entered the community around 1:35 a.m., they started shooting before going from house to house, choosing people to kidnap.

They gathered those they kidnapped from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. and took them away with them, he said.

He further noted that people of the town met at the house of the district head where a comprehensive list was made of those kidnapped, adding that it tallied with their earlier submission.

Communities in Maradun and Bakura local government areas of Zamfara State have been facing renewed attacks by bandits in recent days.

Mr Shehu, the police spokesperson, said he would verify their claim and revert.

Since Nigeria Air Force jets bombed their camps in the Sububu and the Bakura forests, bandits have intensified attacks on communities in Bakura, Maradun and Talata Mafara local government areas.

Recently, they attacked Zamfara State College of Agriculture and Animal Sciences.

Last week alone, Yarkofoji and Rini, both neighbouring communities of Goran Namaye, were attacked by the bandits suspected to be loyal to bandit-kingpin, Halilu Kachalla.
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The Tinubu Support Group does Tinubu great disservice. This is a leader who made great sacrifice to promote democracy in Nigeria. He invested a lot in building a generation of leaders. He earned a reputation as a master political strategist. Today, he appears to be surrounded by a group of political vultures and hacks on the question of 2023. Whoever and whatever they may be, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu owes us a duty to call the TSG, as presently constituted, to order.

From what we have seen and heard so far, it seems most likely that the race for the 2023 presidential position would end up as the fiercest, most contested, and perhaps the most controversial since Nigerias return to civilian rule in 1999. We all must keep an eye on 2023. In 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo emerged, not because he was a known, seasoned, politician, but because the country needed a pair of steady hands and a strong character, with the right connections and experience to save the faltering ship of state, and move the country beyond the evil annulment of the 1993 presidential election. Obasanjo delivered. But he ran into troubled waters with his succession plans: the politics of a Third Term, the bitter quarrel with his Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his open endorsement of Alhaji Umaru Musa YarAdua, whose health status and eventual death in office defined the highest office of the land. President Goodluck Jonathan who succeeded his boss, YarAdua, was a collective product of the law, and the majority insistence on what was right. His presidency was a turning point and a major historic landmark for Nigeria, an affirmation that Nigeria could also be a land of dreams where a man of humble beginnings could rise to the top.

By 2015, the forces of elite conspiracy and ethno-religious myopism organised an acidic campaign against the Jonathan presidency and got him out of office. He was succeeded by President Muhammadu Buhari, a former military Head of State, who had sought the presidency of Nigeria as a civilian three different times  1999, 2007 and 2011. In 2015, he was propelled into office by an electorate that had embraced his managers promise of change and hope. He was yet another rallying point for great expectations. In 2023, the circumstances would be different. There is no coalescing, propelling force, at this time behind any aspirant, on such a national scale, and of such a momentum as we saw with Obasanjo, Jonathan, and Buharis cult-like popularity. And this is why the 2023 presidency is fast becoming a desperate gamble, a try-your-luck kind of proposition, without any core basic agreements. A kind of anybodys game, generating tension, so early, so far, from the commencement of the 2023 electoral process.

There is no consensus on any issue. The people of the South-East argue, rightly, that it is their turn to produce the president of Nigeria. No Igbo man has been president since 1999, although Igbos have helped to put others into office. They want the marginalisation of Igbos to end. They want it on record that the Igbo race is not inferior to any other group in Nigeria. Igbos are the third largest ethnic group in the country. They have been told by Northern spokesmen that nobody will offer them the presidency on a platter of gold, and that in any case, they should go and organise themselves and reach out to other Nigerians, especially now that there is an internal debate in the South-East about identity politics  who is Igbo and who is not, and who is more Igbo than the other? Many persons consider this suggestion an insult! The people of the North-East and Central zones also insist that it is their turn to have their kinsmen inside the Presidential Villa and that after the presidency has gone round the six geo-political zones, we can then begin to talk more seriously about those principles of merit, competence, knowledge  the same issues the other privileged geo-political zones never stretched when the presidency fell into their laps.

Constitutional provisions on eligibility for the Nigerian presidency are stated in the 1999 Constitution. There is no mention of ethnicity or geographical zone, although Section 14(3) and (4) mentions Federal Character, diversity, unity and justice. The two major political parties have since agreed on an unwritten code of rotational presidency, but this is beginning to look more like a tool of political expediency. Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Nigerias two major political parties  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC)  are both engulfed in crises that could be counter-productive. There is no clarity on both sides about how the 2023 process could be used to address the peoples concerns. Not even the National Assembly is serious about the provision of an electoral framework that can inspire trust and confidence. In 2021, Nigerias Ninth National Assembly, dominated by the ruling party, voted to prevent the adoption of electronic transmission of election results. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is possible and doable, the politicians disagree. In smaller, neighbouring African countries, electronic transmission of results is not a problem. In Nigeria, it is a source of crisis.

I have never met Governor Yahaya Bello personally I think he, like every Nigerian, of eligible age, can aspire to the presidency of Nigeria, and that the rest of us have the right to express an opinion and an interest without being mauled by any group that claims a monopoly of insight about the future of Nigeria. There is nothing that Yahaya Bello has said that was not implied in the Babangida criteria for the 2023 presidency.

But what I find even more disturbing is the bad rhetoric that is beginning to build up, the high velocity intolerance and the threat of violence that hangs dangerously in the air, coupled with the refusal of some emergent stomach democracy activists to engage in decent conversation. This has been a bane of Nigerian politics. But it is getting worse. It could even become more frightening. The professional political class must seek counselling for its growing mass psychosis. The right of Nigerians to choose, to express their differences and choices must be respected. Nobody has a monopoly of the right to Nigerian citizenship, or the corridors of power. The way some interested parties are carrying on is deplorable. I recall writing once in this column about likely candidates for the 2023 presidency titled The South West Presidential Hopefuls (April 20). I made some categorical statements about the chances of those who were in the news at the time: Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Dr Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State. It was my own review of the political situation and the possibilities. But what did I get in return? Those who felt I was critical of their masters went after me with a sledge hammer. I read one reasonable piece in which the author tried to respond to the issues raised but the others were so poorly written, I couldnt waste my time reading them till the end. Bad writing gives me migraine and there seems to be a large supply of hacks around many of our political figures. In the 80s and 90s, we used to have quality debates in Nigerian newspapers. Today, the space is dominated by hacks without brains. Well maybe I was lucky. They didnt abuse my parents.

Since that piece, the conversation about 2023 has gained greater momentum, beyond zoning and possible Southern candidates, to a full-blown obsession. This reached a peak recently with the prescriptions by former Head of State and President, General Ibrahim Babangida during an interview with Arise TV, ahead of his 80th birthday on August 17. I wrote a review of some of his submissions in the context of what marked his 80th birthday: An attempt at revisionism on certain key historical points, but again I got thoroughly abused by one of the key organisers of the IBB white-wash. I have made my point. The IBB interview, considering his own stature, added oxygen to the 2023 presidential debate. ThisDay newspaper followed up with a front-page list of 31 likely candidates, and a review of those who can lead Nigeria in 2023. I take all of that as a healthy promotion of public conversation. But it merely ended up showing a certain trait that I think can pose a threat to the journey towards 2023: the thinking by some people that the presidency of Nigeria is already an acquired right. How? When? Where?

One of the immediate reactions to the ThisDay list came from Dr Doyin Okupe, veteran politician, spokesperson to a political party, the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), and media adviser to two former presidents. Dr Okupe, appearing on Arise TV Morning Show, said there are only three possible candidates: Senator Bola Tinubu, his good self, and incumbent Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in that order. We later hosted Mr Sonny Iroche, Chairman of the Anambra League of Professionals, who thought that Dr Doyin Okupe must have been joking, and that he, Iroche, would make a better candidate. Before Iroche, Malam Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, President of the Kings College Old Boys Association, and Chairman of the Board of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) also appeared on the Arise TV flagship show to discuss the state of the nation. He had kind things to say about Tinubu, leader of the APC, but he made it clear that he, Kashim-Imam, would be the best man for the job.

Somehow, within the South-West and the APC, every man who considers himself a potential president manages to defer to just one man: Senator Bola Tinubu. Those who say anything that is off-key in that regard or fail to pay homage get knocked, no matter how sensible they may sound. This then reminds me of the case of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, who has been a target of heavy pummelling for the effrontery to have told Senator Tinubu, in an interview with the Daily Trust newspaper, that the senior politician should allow his children to take over the presidency of Nigeria in 2023. Yahaya Bello obviously considers himself a Tinubu son. Whereas the leader of the APC has not yet formally announced that he wants to be president, there is already an army of Tinubu Support Groups out there pushing the 2023 Tinubu for President agenda. As far back as May, Governor Bello had announced in a television interview that Nigerian youths, women and all Nigerians, including very objective elites were asking him to run for president in 2023. Bello was immediately dismissed by Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), who reminded him that the presidency in the APC had been zoned to the South, and that being a youth cannot be an automatic qualification.

Going forward, two key questions are pertinent: Is there a dark horse and a third force in the political space who may emerge as president in 2023? And is there enough time for such an alternative to make any meaningful impact, timing being a major factor in politics?

Indeed, much earlier, Eniola Bello in his ThisDay column, Yahaya Bello: The Ugly Face of APC (March 8) had made even more damning remarks about the governor. But Yahaya Bello has been resilient in saying he wants to be president. His latest effort must have been prompted by the renewed debate about age and 2023 presidential politics. His reported interview in the Daily Trust newspaper of August 22 is titled 2023: Buhari, Tinubu Pact not Binding on APC Members  Kogi Governor. Having confirmed that he would run for president in 2023, Governor Bello said of Tinubu: Senator Tinubu is one of our leaders and I respect him so much. He has played a very significant role in Nigerias democracy and has built a lot of people. He has paid his dues, and with all respect, as a son to him, my simple advice is that it is time for him to allow his children take over the mantle of leadership and do it to the glory of God and his admiration. He should see that those children he raised are now doing well. Let him see how we manage this country in his lifetime. However, he has a right to run, nobody is questioning that. I always urge everybody to respect him for the role he has played in this countrys democracy. He is a man of integrity, to be candid. He was then asked: Do you think the APC would survive if Tinubu is denied the partys ticket and he pulls out with the South West? Bello, who says he believes it is the turn of the North-Central to produce the next President responded: You dont build a house and destroy it. I dont think he will do that. He has grown past that. As an elder statesman, he will not say that the country should be destroyed in his lifetime, not even after his demise, so I dont see him doing that.

These are the words Yahaya Bello said, except he was otherwise misquoted by the Daily Trust newspaper. But for these respectful, almost subservient expression of admiration for the party leader, and the affirmation of his own future ambitions within the APC, Yahaya Bello has been severely rebuked by the Tinubu Support Group. In a statement signed by the Director-General of the TSG, Umar Ibrahim, Yahaya Bello has been called a disgrace, a failure and a betrayer. He is advised to channel his efforts into begging and praying for forgiveness for all the sufferings you have inflicted on the good people of Kogi State, rather than eyeing the Presidency. Ibrahim insists that Tinubu is the most qualified person for the Nigerian Presidency in 2023.

I have never met Governor Yahaya Bello personally. I dont need to. I have in fact been very critical of him: His re-election in 2019, and his many gaffes about COVID-19. But I think he, like every Nigerian, of eligible age, can aspire to the presidency of Nigeria, and that the rest of us have the right to express an opinion and an interest without being mauled by any group that claims a monopoly of insight about the future of Nigeria. There is nothing that Yahaya Bello has said that was not implied in the Babangida criteria for the 2023 presidency. Where was the Tinubu Support Group? Why didnt Umar Ibrahim go after the elder statesman? Given the level of interest that the 2023 presidency has generated, there would be more persons expressing views. How many views and expression of interest will the TSG shut down? It may be possible to intimidate persons in the South-West and the APC, but there are enough Nigerians who will also lay claim to the presidency of Nigeria. The Tinubu Support Group does Tinubu great disservice. This is a leader who made great sacrifice to promote democracy in Nigeria. He invested a lot in building a generation of leaders. He earned a reputation as a master political strategist. Today, he appears to be surrounded by a group of political vultures and hacks on the question of 2023. Whoever and whatever they may be, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu owes us a duty to call the TSG, as presently constituted, to order. They are damaging his brand. Their campaign should be more focussed on selling his ideas, not motor-park politics.

Going forward, two key questions are pertinent: Is there a dark horse and a third force in the political space who may emerge as president in 2023? And is there enough time for such an alternative to make any meaningful impact, timing being a major factor in politics?

Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson, writes from Lagos.
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The Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, has confirmed that the state has received N6.25 billion from the Federal government for ranch development projects.

The project is intended to check clashes between farmers and herders which have snowballed into banditry in states across Nigerias North-west and North-central regions.

Mr Masari confirmed the reception of the fund while delivering a lecture on governance, security and sustainable development in Africa, at the National Institute of Security Studies, in Abuja, on Monday.

Distinguished participants, let me confirm to you that the N6.25 billion promised to Katsina State government by President Muhammadu Buhari for the Ranch Development Project is now in the state government account, Mr Masari said.

He added that states initiated the project and approached the Federal Government for help.

The governor said the project involves the construction of feeder roads, slaughterhouses, solar-powered boreholes and police stations on ranches.

Mr Masari said it also includes rehabilitation of existing infrastructure such as dams, schools, dispensaries, veterinary clinics, stock routes and pasture development.

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According to the governor, phase one of the project will cover about 7000 hectares of grazing land out of the 122,000 hectares at the Rugu forest.

Also, the 10 frontline local government areas that are vulnerable to banditry and farmers/herders clashes earmarked for this intervention are Jibiya, Batsari, Kurfi, Dutsinma, Safana, Danmusa, Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa and Dandume, he said.

The governor urged the participants of this programme to use the Katsina State experience in charting out a new concept of security management through community collaboration and synergy as exemplified by state.

This is based on the fact that the challenges we are facing are community-based that require community-based solutions to ensure sustainable development.

The chunk of times, resources and energy consumed by the efforts in tackling the monumental crimes in the society could have been channelled elsewhere to properly be felt by the generality of the citizens.

However, due to the importance of protecting the lives and properties of all citizens, the government will continue to spend much to degrade and decimate the growth of criminals and criminalities across the state.

The efforts have been yielding positive results and will continue to remain so by offering support and cooperation to all those directly or indirectly involved in the fight against criminals across the state, the governor said.
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A Shariah court in Kano has ordered Sadiya Haruna, a Kannywood actress, to attend an Islamiyya school for six months of Islamic education, after finding her guilty of posting nudity on social media.

The actress, a resident of Kabuga quarters in the Kanos metropolis, is a popular online sex counsellor for women.

The judge, Ali Danzaki, ordered Ms Haruna to attend the Darul Hadith Islamiyya at Tudun Yola quarters for a period of six months as her punishment.

The school attendance will be monitored by an official of the Hisbah board to ensure compliance.

The actress was arrested and charged to court on Monday by Hisbah for uploading sexual contents on her social media handles.

The Hisbah, in a one-count charge of obscenity and indecent act, argued that the actress violated section 355 of penal code law 2000.

Ms Haruna pleaded guilty to the charge and was promptly convicted and sentenced.
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Residents of Gberigbe in Ikorodu, Lagos State, have been living in fear since Saturday when hoodlums suspected to be land-grabbers invaded the community and killed three persons, including a policeman.

A community leader in Gberigbe, Olaiwola Akanmu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the hoodlums attacked the community in a bid to forcefully take possession of a piece of land in the area.

They killed two Omo Oniles and one of the four policemen on duty here.

In a bid to take over some peoples land, some land-grabbers led hoodlums suspected to be cultists to invade our community.

The hoodlum shot sporadically and eventually a policeman and two people lost their lives. Since then, people have started living in fear.

I am calling on the police IG and CP Lagos State to help restore peace and save our community from the hands of hoodlums and land-grabbers, said

Mr Akanmu, who is Secretary of Orelade/Ladera Royal Family, Gberigbe.

According to him, the matter has been reported to the police so as to bring the situation under control but residents still live in fear of reprisal attack.

Also speaking on the incident, Olugbenga Mayan, another community leader, urged Lagos State Government to urgently intervene by addressing the problem of land-grabbers in the state.

We are calling on government and security agencies to assist us, commercial activities have been grounded; residents no longer sleep with their two eyes closed, he said.

Monsuru Adeniji, a resident, said that the incident was having untold hardship on the residents, as transporters were afraid of bringing passengers or plying the route due to fear of attack.

Contacted, Spokesman for Lagos State Police Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu said: I will contact you as soon as Im briefed on the matter.

The Lagos State government signed into law in 2016 the Lagos State Properties Protection Bill, also known as the anti-land-grabbing bill, with defaulters facing a 20-year jail term.

(NAN)
A job-seeker in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, has printed his curriculum vitae on a roll-up banner and stationed it outside the government secretariat to get the attention of Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

Oladayo Oyebowale, 33, a Masters degree holder from the University of Benin, said he first put up the banner nine days ago.

Photos and videos of the father of three, standing beside a banner with the bold inscription Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, I need a job, I want to be a responsible father, have been circulated widely on social media.

Mr Oyebowale told PREMIUM TIMES that he decided to seek the governors attention because the petty jobs he had been doing have been insufficient to take care of his family.

He said he had been unemployed since January due to COVID-19.

I have worked in construction sites, schools and other done other mining jobs but due to COVID-19, I am now jobless, Mr Oyebowale said.

Speaking to this newspaper over the phone on Tuesday, he said he was on his way to the secretariat after some government officials asked him to go home because the governor was unavailable.

I have not been offered a job. On that day when I stood at the gate, the governor was not around but the SSG (secretary to the state government) sent his PA (personal assistant) to me. Also, the deputy governor and CSO (chief security officer) met me and they told me that the governor is not around but he was aware of my standing at the gate.

But the governor has been around since Saturday and as I speak I am at the secretariat gate again with my banner, an SA (special assistant) saw me and advised that I should come to the White House maybe the governor will see me today. I will feed you back as events unfold but you can also join me in prayers.

My wife is about to leave me saying I could not take care of my children. The governor should help me, he said.

Government reacts

Ismail Omipidan, Governor Oyetolas chief press secretary, did not return requests for comments.

But Funke Egbemode, the commissioner for information, promised to contact Mr Oyebowale.

The nations economy, not just peculiar to Osun State, has entered a new phase and the state of Osun is doing everything possible to empower its youths although we cant employ everybody.

We need to find out from the man with the roll-up banner if he applied for the teaching job because we advertised that we are going to recruit teachers. Did he scale (sail) through? Was he shortlisted for the micro-teaching? Those are the immediate questions I will like to ask him

I will also like to ask him if he is aware of our empowerment programmes? Because there is no state in Nigeria that can accommodate the teeming unemployed youths but we have empowerment programmes for our youths.

Mrs Egbemode listed the governments empowerment programmes to include the out-growers broilers production scheme which, according to her, distributed day-old chicks to farmers last week.

We have distributed cocoa seedlings to established farmers and incoming farmers among others for people. We also have the micro-credit scheme where young people can get soft loans for startups and we have an agency for that and we have recorded plenty testimonials.

We were even on air to show to our people that this is doable. We dont want Osun youths lives to come to a standstill because they couldnt get a job.

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Operatives of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit, also known as Lagos Taskforce, have arrested 16 alleged miscreants over the violence that broke out at Oshodi-Mile 2 expressway on Tuesday.

According to a statement by Maliki Moliki, the spokesperson of the task force, the suspects are believed to have masterminded the violence and robbing of commuters in Iyana Cele and Iyana Isolo.

Mr Moliki said the alleged miscreants capitalised on the peaceful protest embarked upon by drivers of commercial buses on Oshodi  Mile 12 Expressway on Tuesday, to unleash mayhem on commuters.

The Nation had reported a protest against the Lagos State Taskforce by road transport workers, including thugs wielding machetes and knives on Tuesday.

The drivers reportedly protested against the routine and indiscriminate seizure of their vehicles by Taskforce officials, for which they allegedly pay huge sums before they are released.

The protesters, who set up bonfires on the expressway inward Oshodi, prevented vehicular movement in the area, leaving many passengers stranded.

Speaking on the incident, Mr Moliki said the drivers decided to protest the installation of road signage on roads that used to be bi-directional as One-way, in addition to other grievances.

He said the 16 suspects were arrested molesting passersby and destroying public facilities.

The suspects are Lekan Fatai, 29, Tosin Ajakaye, 32, Sakiru Lanre, 38, Lekan Salaudeen, 36, Hakeem Oyetoro, 47, Daniel Adeojo, 38, Ramon Moshood, 30, Lekan Nureni, 37, Okolawon Oluwaseun, 39, Olajide Qudus, 24, Uchenna Idima, 28, Dada Hamid, 23, Tega Monday, 28, Rafiu Pelumi, 20, and Wike Odigbi, 27.

Recovered from the miscreants were machetes, charms, cudgels and other harmful weapons, Mr Moliki said in the statement.

He added that the task force chairman, Shola Jejeloye, a Chief Superintendent of Police, was in the area to maintain law and order as well as listen to some of the aggrieved protesters.

Mr Jejeloye called for calm and assured the aggrieved drivers that the government would address their grievances.

He (Mr Jejeloye) added that no official of Lagos State Taskforce operates between Toyota and Mile 2, adding that the agency is presently rejigging its optoorder to prevent reported incidences of illegal Taskforce operatives in the metropolis, the statement contained.

He assured that the agency would look into genuine complaints made by the drivers and treat them accordingly.
These hot temperatures will likely stick around for a while. Do you still enjoy the outdoors when it gets this hot, or do you prefer to stay indoors in the air conditioning?

You voted:
LEWIS [mdash] Richard A. "Corky" Griffin, 71, of Lewis, passed away unexpectedly, Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, at his home. He was born in Lewis on Oct. 7, 1949, son of the late Benjamin Hastings and Evalina Griffin. Corky worked for Cornwright's Lumber Mill for many years. He is survived by his c
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the China-SCO forum on digital economy and 2021 Smart China Expo, which take place from August 23-25 as a mutual platform to share resources, planning and integration in the smart industry.

Themed with Developing the Digital Economy and Promoting Common Prosperity, the China-SCO Forum also features signing ceremonies for cooperation projects, sub-forums, and themed exhibitions attended by all 18 SCO countries including China.

SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Imamovich Norov stated that the development experience of China in the digital economy and cross-border e-commerce has provided an invaluable model for SCO countries to follow.

Nikolai Snopkov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus addressed the opening ceremony to emphasize his conviction that the 2021 China-SCO Forum will explore new opportunities for regional cooperation.

The Turing Award Winner John Hennessy rounded off a successful grand opening by stating the SCE 2021 will lead us unto a new frontier.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the digital economy has played an ever important role in prevention and control whilst promoting economic and social recovery. As a result, the switch to digital technology has become an urgent goal, and Chongqing has continued to make rapid progress in this field.

Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Singapore, addressed the audience at the opening ceremony online. She emphasized that technology is one of the four pillar sectors in the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative, and a key driver in modern connectivity and services.

Under this context, the 2021 China-SCO forum aims to construct a broader platform for strengthening exchange and cooperation between Chongqing and SCO countries, especially in frontier areas such as the digital economy and artificial intelligence.

The SCE 2021 is continuing on the established theme of Smart Technology: Empowering the Economy and Enriching Life, and holds 6 forums, 5 competitions, over 100 release events, and is attended by over 610 enterprises from 31 countries both on and offline.

In-depth cooperation and exchange is to be held on the theme of economics and trade involving countries and top enterprises along the Belt and Road, while international organizations, sister cities, and industry leaders will actively participate.

Additionally, the event is an ideal platform to present the latest advances in technology and products in the smart industry, thanks a physical exhibition area of 70,000 square meters.

The online exhibition platform features a digital sand table model that guides visitors through a series of immersive and scenario-based experiences, which present the impressive feats achieved in the development of smart technology.

For more information please visit:

https://www.ichongqing.info/special/smart-china-expo-2021/, and https://www.ichongqing.info/special/2021sco/

Contact: Cao Xiangyi

Tel.: 0086-1862-3565-606

E-mail: caoxy@ichongqing.inf

Logo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1599889/SCO_Logo.jpg

Photo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1599890/sco_forum.jpg

SOURCE SCO Forum on the Digital Economy Industry
HUDDINGE, Sweden, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Karo Pharma Aktiebolag ("Karo") has appointed Matt Roberts as the new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Karo, replacing Magnus Nylen who has decided to pursue opportunities outside of Karo. Matt will start his new position on September 1, 2021.

"I would like to thank Magnus for his contributions at Karo. Magnus has been instrumental in taking Karo to where we are today. He has led our rapid international expansion and has built a committed and strong commercial team. We would not be where we are without Magnus and his drive and passion for building business and strong organizations," says Christoffer Lorenzen.

"I am pleased to welcome Matt as our new CCO. Matt brings strong and relevant experience from leading, international consumer health companies and he has the capabilities we need as Karo expands and grows in size and scope," Christoffer continues.

Matt Roberts, born 1974, joins Karo from Johnson & Johnson where he most recently served as the Head of Commercial for Northern Europe. Since joining Johnson & Johnson in 2005 he has served in various global, regional, and local roles in the commercial area. His experience ranges from heading strategic functions such as Global Shopper and Consumer to executional roles such as Account Director for Walgreens Boots Alliance. Prior to Johnson & Johnson, Matt worked in various roles in planning and brand management at Procter & Gamble from 1996 to 2005. Matt, UK citizen, holds a BSc from Cardiff University and has completed executive programs at Said Business School, London Business School and Rutgers Business School.

"I am looking forward to joining Karo and to work with the highly engaged Karo team and our commercial partners to continue the company's strong development trajectory. I am looking forward to connecting with colleagues and business partners across Karo's direct and indirect markets and to further refine the commercial platform and ways of working to drive organic growth," says Matt Roberts.

For further information, please contact:

Christoffer Lorenzen, CEO, +46 735 017 620, christoffer.lorenzen@karopharma.com

About Karo Pharma:

Karo Pharma delivers smart choices for everyday healthcare. We own and commercialize branded, original over-the-counter products, and prescription medicines. Our products are available in more than 60 countries, with Europe and the Nordic region as our core markets. Karo Pharma is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm Mid Cap.

The information was submitted for publication by the contact persons set out above, at 8:00 CET on 24 August 2021.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/karo-pharma/r/magnus-nylen-leaves-karo-pharma--matt-roberts-appointed-new-cco,c3401790

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/72/3401790/1457853.pdf Press release (PDF)

SOURCE Karo Pharma
CAIRO, Egypt, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CEQUENS announced the launch of its new product Verify this week. The product offers verification solutions such as two-factor authentication to companies looking to protect user identities and online accounts. Verify joins a comprehensive product suite of communication solutions and brings CEQUENS closer to implementing an omnichannel approach in business communication.

Keeping private information private

"Verify offers best-in-class digital security and protects user data from constant threats," says Hussein El-Safy, Product Manager at CEQUENS. "Two-factor authentication adds extra security layers to ensure safe and immediate access to data."

Amid rapid cloud migrations, more industries are growing aware of the importance of Two-factor authentication. Verify facilitates the adoption of different verification methods such as SMS one-time passwords, voice one-time passwords, and application soft tokens. CEQUENS offers Verify as part of its award-winning Communication Platform  the multichannel solution built to foster connections between businesses and their customer base worldwide. Through multichannel integrations and a set of capable APIs, Verify presents different industries with verification experiences via SMS, Voice, or Email.

Verify keeps private information private. The product raises awareness for a set of challenges including:

Stealing, scamming, and phishing attempts

Digital identity authentication for login attempts

Password hacking, ransomware, and other cybercrimes

Spam registrations

Two-factor authentication, multi-factor solution

The COVID-19 pandemic played a part in the decision to launch Verify now. Industries such as BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, and Logistics all had to accelerate their adoption rate of two-factor authentication during the pandemic. As digital transactions increased, so did the need for secure online environments to protect sensitive data. It is worth noting that during 2020, these industries and more lost the equivalent of 20 million dollars in damage costs due to global ransomware attacks, which indicates a pressing need for better security solutions made for modern customers.

A perfect fit for every industry

Industries like banking and fintech companies can use Verify to protect financial data and secure online payments by sending immediate one-time passwords for multiple transactions. Retail and e-commerce solution providers, on the other hand, can use it to help their users validate their own identities during online shopping. While digital platforms and software houses can guide users while setting up digital accounts or devices and secure their logins using immediate verification codes. To learn more about how Verify works in your industry, schedule a demo call with one of CEQUENS's experts through this link.

A year of product reveals

Verify is CEQUENS's second major product launch in 2021, following CEQUENS Chat, which was unveiled in January to commemorate the company's 10th anniversary celebration. CEQUENS Chat is an all-in-one customer engagement solution with multichannel platform integrations.

Verify rolls out in the following countries with more to be added soon:

Egypt Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates Qatar Bahrain

To learn more about Verify, click here.

About CEQUENS

We're a Communication Platform as a Service (CPaaS) provider. Our mission is to bridge communication gaps in a communication-driven world.

Born in the digital era, CEQUENS was founded in response to the increasing challenges facing enterprise communication. We started as an SMS aggregator and gradually crafted a path toward omnichannel CPaaS solutions.

For 10 years, our innovation has empowered thousands of businesses create and deliver communication experiences finetuned to their industries. Our cloud-based, PCI/DSS compliant Communication Platform is the award-winning, end-to-end solution helping businesses realize their full potential and go digital.

As an Endeavor member and industry player, CEQUENS plays a pivotal role in transforming business communication worldwide.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1324616/CEQUENS_Logo.jpg

Kesmat El Deeb, [email protected]

SOURCE CEQUENS
On Friday, Humble Design will provide charitable services to its 2,000th client emerging from a homeless shelter. With the help of passionate volunteers, Humble Design does this by transforming empty residences into clean, dignified and welcoming homes through its free professional design services and the repurposing of gently used furnishings donated by the community.

Humble Design Detroit is celebrating this milestone with a special home "deco" and reveal on Aug. 27. Humble Design teams in Chicago, Cleveland, San Diego and Seattle  where it also operates  will hold events as well to mark 2,000 clients.

U-Haul, a national partner of Humble Design since 2016, will serve as the 2K Family Sponsor. Media is encouraged to attend.

DETROIT 2,000th CLIENT EVENT

WHAT Reveal of furnished home for a family emerging from homelessness WHEN 2:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27 WHERE 12017 Kennebec St., Detroit, MI 48205 DETAILS Diamond, a single mom with 9-year-old twin girls and an infant boy, has been without a home since the place she was renting in 2019 became uninhabitable due to issues the landlord wouldn't address. With the safety of her children in mind, she was finally able to secure a new house in July, but they have very few comforts and possessions to make it a home. MEDIA RSVP Chris Tull at (312) 545-6058 or [email protected]

"The furnishing of Humble Design's 2,000th home is cause not only for great celebration but also reflection," said Chris Tull, Director of Humble Design Detroit. "It reflects the deep legacy of Humble, born here in Detroit in 2009. It reflects the hard work, generosity and spirit of our staff, volunteers, donors and sponsors. It reflects the help and comfort that Humble has provided to so many people over the years. And it reflects that there are still so many more to help."

Humble Design furnished its 1,000th home in early 2019, nearly 10 years after the project began. Demand and impact have increased dramatically since then as the charity served its second 1,000 clients in two years thanks to expansion and local sponsorships that have ensured sustainability in more markets.

Families take a personal stake in their newly furnished homes, leading to a remarkable success rate  99 percent to receive Humble Design's services have escaped the cycle of homelessness. Clients are referred by designated services that work with local shelters.

"U-Haul is proud to sponsor the 2000th family served by Humble Design because we recognize what it means for a family to move forward towards a new life," stated Sebastien Reyes, U-Haul Vice President of Communications and Humble Design Board Chair. "Every one of us associated with this mission believes in the power of a bed and a roof overhead to change lives."

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, corporate sponsorships, furniture donations or making a financial gift, please visit humbledesign.org.

About Humble Design

Humble Design is a Detroit-born nonprofit that helps families transitioning out of homeless shelters by providing furnishings and design services. The organization turns empty houses into clean, dignified and welcoming homes  a very simple idea that can change a family's future. Founded in 2009, the organization primarily serves single parents with children and veterans. Humble Design has brought nobility to nearly 2,000 families nationally through its chapters in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, San Diego and Seattle. humbledesign.org

About U-Haul

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 23,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 176,000 trucks, 126,000 trailers and 46,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 812,000 rentable storage units and 70.5 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S., and continues to be the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul has been recognized repeatedly as a leading "Best for Vets" employer and was recently named one of the 15 Healthiest Workplaces in America. uhaul.com

Contact:

Jeff Lockridge

Sebastien Reyes

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 602-760-4941

Website: uhaul.com

SOURCE Humble Design

Related Links

http://humbledesign.org


On Friday, Humble Design will provide charitable services to its 2,000th client emerging from a homeless shelter. With the help of passionate volunteers, Humble Design does this by transforming empty residences into clean, dignified and welcoming homes through its free professional design services and the repurposing of gently used furnishings donated by the community.

Humble Design San Diego is celebrating this milestone with a special home deco and reveal on Aug. 27. Humble Design teams in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit and Seattle  where it also operates  will hold events as well to mark 2,000 clients.

U-Haul, a national partner of Humble Design since 2016, will serve as the 2K Family Sponsor. Media is encouraged to attend.

SAN DIEGO 2,000th CLIENT EVENT

WHAT Reveal of furnished home for a family emerging from homelessness WHEN 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27 WHERE 1788 Palm Ave., San Diego, CA 92154 DETAILS Mariah, a single mom of two boys, ages 4 and 5, has been homeless for nearly two years while living on the streets and in shelters after escaping domestic violence and suffering the loss of a close relative. But due to her resilience, she is about to start an internship as a medical assistant and plans to attend nursing school. She recently secured an apartment that Humble Design and U-Haul teams will fill with donations to create a beautiful home designed just for them. The boys are excited for a room filled with superheroes and dinosaurs. MEDIA RSVP Laura Lavoie at (617) 283-6675 or [email protected]

"Humble Design San Diego is so grateful to partner with U-Haul to serve our neighbors leaving homelessness," said Laura Lavoie, Director of Humble Design San Diego. "'Togetherness to end homelessness' is so much more than our company tagline. It's our promise to the community. When we bring together people with hearts to serve, and connect them with our clients, lives are changed for good. Thank you to U-Haul for making Humble's 2,000th home milestone such a beautiful illustration of our commitment to our neighbors."

Humble Design furnished its 1,000th home in early 2019, nearly 10 years after the project began. Demand and impact have increased dramatically since then as the charity served its second 1,000 clients in two years thanks to expansion and local sponsorships that have ensured sustainability in more markets.

Families take a personal stake in their newly furnished homes, leading to a remarkable success rate  99 percent to receive Humble Design's services have escaped the cycle of homelessness. Clients are referred by designated services that work with local shelters.

"U-Haul is proud to sponsor the 2000th family served by Humble Design because we recognize what it means for a family to move forward towards a new life," stated Sebastien Reyes, U-Haul Vice President of Communications and Humble Design Board Chair. "Every one of us associated with this mission believes in the power of a bed and a roof overhead to change lives."

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, corporate sponsorships, furniture donations or making a financial gift, please visit humbledesign.org.

About Humble Design

Humble Design is a Detroit-born nonprofit that helps families transitioning out of homeless shelters by providing furnishings and design services. The organization turns empty houses into clean, dignified and welcoming homes  a very simple idea that can change a family's future. Founded in 2009, the organization primarily serves single parents with children and veterans. Humble Design has brought nobility to nearly 2,000 families nationally through its chapters in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, San Diego and Seattle. humbledesign.org

About U-Haul

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 23,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 176,000 trucks, 126,000 trailers and 46,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 812,000 rentable storage units and 70.5 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S., and continues to be the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul has been recognized repeatedly as a leading "Best for Vets" employer and was recently named one of the 15 Healthiest Workplaces in America. uhaul.com

Contact:

Jeff Lockridge

Sebastien Reyes

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 602-760-4941

Website: uhaul.com

SOURCE Humble Design
FACTS AT A GLANCE Edition: 7; Released: May 2021 Executive Pool: 5697 Companies: 12 - Players covered include CA Technologies, Inc.; Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.; Cisco Systems, Inc.; Clearswift Ltd.; Digital Guardian, Inc.; Forcepoint LLC; McAfee LLC; Netskope, Inc.; Symantec Corporation; Zscaler, Inc. and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Component (Solution, Service); Industry Vertical (BFSI, Healthcare and Life Sciences, IT & Telecom, Retail and Consumer Goods, Education, Government & Public Sector, Other Industry Verticals); Organization Size (Large Enterprises, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises); Service (Professional, Managed Services) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.

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Global Cloud DLP Market to Reach $4.9 Billion by 2026

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The U.S. Market is Estimated at $451.3 Million in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $777.2 Million by 2026

The Cloud DLP market in the U.S. is estimated at US$451.3 Million in the year 2021. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$777.2 Million by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 24% over the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 21.8% and 21% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 17.2% CAGR. More

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Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.



CONTACTS:

Zak Ali

Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]



LINKS

Join Our Expert Panel

https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp



Connect With Us on LinkedIn

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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.strategyr.com


Founded in 1991, Dentatechnica is the largest distributor of materials and digital equipment for the dental care market in Bulgaria, providing a comprehensive selection of high-quality products. The company has a strong track record for technological innovation in the Bulgarian dental market, delivering its products to more than 3,000 dental clinics and laboratories across the country.

"At Abris we remain committed to our strategy of transforming local players into regional champions, and this acquisition marks the next stage in this process for Dentotal. We look forward to supporting the group as it consolidates its position in the market further, both organically and through acquisitions, in order to become the leading platform for dental distribution in Central Europe," said Pawel Gierynski, Managing Partner at Abris Capital Partners.

Following this international merger, Abris aims to continue building Dentotal into a regional leader through organic growth and further consolidation of local markets in Romania and Bulgaria. Abris will drive the transformation of the business into a sustainable and scalable platform, creating a one-stop-shop for dental clinics and laboratories in the region. As part of the value-creation process, Abris aims to support the professionalization of the business and invest in new systems, at the same time as focusing on sustainability as part of the fund's commitment to ESG and responsible investment.

Abris acquired Dentotal in 2019 from a family of Romanian entrepreneurs, with a vision to create the clear leader in the fast-growing dental supplies market in the region. While the dental care market was affected by the pandemic, with dental clinics shutting down during the lockdown period in 2020, Dentotal has emerged as a stronger company by focusing on building its internal organization, upgrading its IT systems and investing in modern logistics and sales functions.

"This transaction marks our entry into the Bulgarian market  a market we have been analysing for some time. This acquisition is a great starting point for our buy-and-build strategy in the dental distribution sector and a clear example of our plan to create the regional market champion in this space," commented Adrian Stanculescu, Partner and Head of Romania at Abris Capital Partners.

"We are delighted to welcome the Dentatechnica team to the Dentotal group. We appreciate the professionalism, dedication and determination of our new colleagues. The Dentotal team is looking forward to working together with our new colleagues as we target the leading position in the Bulgarian dental distribution market. Together we will benefit from cross-business synergies to become the preferred partner of dentists and dental technicians, both in the Romanian and Bulgarian markets," added Dumitru Matei, CEO of Dentotal.

"Combining Dentotal and Dentatechnica's teams and expertise, alongside the knowledge and stewardship of Abris, is an extremely compelling proposition, and I am confident that together we will take the company to the next level. I am excited to see Dentatechnica joining the Dentotal group, and I will be actively supporting the group in achieving its ambitious objectives," commented Vasil Popov, Founder and CEO of Dentatechnica.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Abris Capital Partners

Abris Capital Partners is a leading independent private equity fund manager, focused on mid-market opportunities in the major countries of Central Europe. Established in 2007, Abris seeks to identify, and partner with, the most successful and dynamic mid-market businesses in Central Europe, which can benefit from an input of capital and/or management expertise at both strategic and operational levels. With investment capital of almost 1.3 billion, Abris has obtained financial backing from many leading global investment institutions including corporate and public pension plans, financial institutions, funds of funds and US university endowment funds. Abris has a long-term investment horizon and usually targets transactions in which it is able to acquire a majority or sole ownership position. The typical financial commitment by Abris to any single transaction can range from 30 million to 75 million, with larger commitments available if required. The Abris advisory business operates using teams based in Warsaw and Bucharest.

Dentotal

Dentotal is a leading dental care distributor in Romania, with more than 12,000 clients  dental care clinics and laboratories in the whole country. The company was founded in 1994 and it grew with the first wave of Romanian economy, counting today more than 150 employees. In 2005, Dentotal built its own headquarters in the central area of Bucharest. In 2019, the company reached a new milestone, as it was acquired by the private equity fund Abris Capital Partners. The strategy of Abris Capital for the development of Dentotal considers the acceleration of the company's growth to transform it into a one-stop-shop for dental clinics and laboratories.

Dentatechnica

Dentatechnica is the largest dental distributor in Bulgaria with a complete portfolio of dental equipment and consumables and nationwide coverage. The company was founded in 1991 and has since had the leading role in shaping the modern dental industry in Bulgaria by introducing novel technologies to the local market, educating dentists, consulting, and supplying up-to-date equipment to many of the best dental clinics in the country.

SOURCE Abris Capital Partners

Related Links

https://abris-capital.com/


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- All Real Nutrition is a growing Irish-based health food brand. It has already taken its home island by storm and has a rapidly growing international customer base that most recently includes the United States. While there are many factors that help the company stand out, the signature chewiness of its snack bars is a small yet critical factor that propels it above the competition.

All Real Nutrition is a rapidly growing brand that is known for a variety of factors. It champions sustainability through its compostable wrappers and partnerships with environmentally friendly non-profit organizations. It maintains a customer-oriented focus through its transparent attitude toward quality ingredients and efficacious results.

However, there's one seemingly small factor about All Real Nutrition's snack bars that is easy to overlook  until they're being consumed, that is. At that point, it's impossible to ignore how predictably soft and chewy each and every bar is.

This is especially true when the brand's bars are compared to other mainstream health food snack bars. Even if these start off soft, which often isn't the case, they typically become stiffer and harder to chew by the time they find their way off of a store shelf and into a consumer's stomach.

Not so with All Real Nutrition's bars. Each bar remains soft and chewy from the moment it's created in the company's factory in Kerry, Ireland to the instant it's opened by a ravenous customer.

The secret to All Real Nutrition's incredible preservation process is two-fold. First, it uses a limited set of ingredients (which can be found right on the company's website) to create and preserve its snack bars. This includes all-natural ingredients like nuts, legumes, chicory root, and cocoa powder. Natural binding and preserving agents such as dates, honey, and grape juice are added to keep the bars in fine form as they wait to be consumed.

But the hero ingredient that truly sets All Real Nutrition's products apart is its use of Irish dairy. The company utilizes its country's uniquely perfect environment to create elite dairy products. In addition, it uses cutting-edge natural food technology to ensure that these elite ingredients remain as soft as possible en route to customers.

From sustainability to transparency to community, All Real Nutrition delivers on its promises. However, it's the company's ability to also provide a genuinely soft, delectably chewy snack bar that is quickly embedding it in the hearts, minds, and stomachs of consumers as the premier healthy snack brand on the market.

About All Real Nutrition: All Real Nutrition operates out of a factory located in Kerry, Ireland. The brand was officially launched in 2020 after having spent years in development. The company was cofounded by engineers Niall Harty and Ross McDowell.

Please direct inquiries to:

Tyson Cooper

(954) 429-6483

[email protected]

SOURCE All Real Nutrition
SEATTLE, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Purchase Green, a local-market distributor of artificial grass goods and services, announces a September 1st opening of their 3rd market distribution center  strengthening their already substantial nationwide distribution network.

As the demand for synthetic turf steadily increases and the challenges with overseas shipping and logistics continue, keeping a step ahead has been critical to Purchase Green's success. The NorCal center will support ongoing improvements to logistical operations, shrinking the gap between the company's Master Distribution Center in Southern California and 27 retail locations across 8 states, as well as dozens of dealers and installers nationwide.

Anthony Vena, CEO and Co-Founder of Purchase Green, states:

"As the adoption of turf continues to grow and to better support our existing customer base and store network in Northern California, we are pleased to announce the opening of another local sales office and market distribution center. This addition will help us to better serve our contractor base in West Sacramento, and expedite restocks for our 2 existing company stores and 5 franchises in the market, as well as support future store growth in the Northwest."

The opening of the West Sacramento Center marks a major milestone for the organization, having begun as a startup with only one small warehouse in La Verne, CA. Now, there are over two dozen Purchase Green locations  plus a mix of showrooms, business offices, and one call center.

After being acquired by Controlled Products in 2019, Purchase Green outlined some big goals for expansion. In the 12 months ending in July 2021 , 7 new locations were launched, a combination of corporate-owned and franchised. The second half of 2021 looks equally promising with 2 more stores and a 4th distribution center planned to open. This will not be the last time we hear from Purchase Green.

For more information on locations, business opportunities, and artificial grass supplies, visit purchasegreen.com

SOURCE Purchase Green Artificial Grass

Related Links

purchasegreen.com


ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 1.2% in July after falling 2% in June. In July, the index equaled 109.8 (2015=100) compared with 111.1 in June.

American Trucking Associations advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 1.2% in July after falling 2% in June. Softness in tonnage over the last few months is due more to supply constraints, rather than a big drop in freight volumes, said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. Not only are there broader supply chain issues, like semiconductors, holding tonnage back, but there are industry specific difficulties, including the driver shortage and lack of equipment."

"Softness in tonnage over the last few months is due more to supply constraints, rather than a big drop in freight volumes," said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. "Not only are there broader supply chain issues, like semiconductors, holding tonnage back, but there are also industry specific difficulties, including the driver shortage and lack of equipment. For-hire truckload carriers are operating fewer trucks than a year earlier. It is difficult to haul significantly more freight with fewer trucks and drivers.

"In addition to these supply issues, retail sales and housing starts, both large drivers of truck freight, retreated in July, although both rose on a year-over-year basis," he said.

June's reading was revised down to -2% from our July 20 press release.

Compared with July 2020, the SA index fell 2.9%, which was the first year-over-year drop since March. In June, the index was flat from a year earlier. Year-to-date, compared with the same seven months in 2020, tonnage is down 0.2%.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 111.9 in July, 3.2% below the June level (115.6). In calculating the index, 100 represents 2015. ATA's For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index is dominated by contract freight as opposed to spot market freight.

Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 72.5% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 11.84 billion tons of freight in 2019. Motor carriers collected $791.7 billion, or 80.4% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.

ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 5th day of each month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward

SOURCE American Trucking Associations

Related Links

www.trucking.org


BEDFORD, N.H., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blo Blow Dry Bar, North America's original blow dry bar and the world's largest blow dry bar franchise, recently opened in the Bedford Grove Shopping Center. Located at 7 Colby Ct., Ste. 210 in Bedford, the new bar will offer guests five signature styles on its hair menu, a variety of hair treatments, plus five signature makeup looks and a brand new section of customized looks to provide endless inspiration. Also, for a limited time, the new bar will offer a founder's rate for its signature Mane Squeeze Membership that includes two blowouts a month for $70, $5 off each additional blow out and 10% off retail.

The new bar is owned and operated by local entrepreneur Melissa Davis. Originally from New Hampshire, she moved away for college and was most recently a Sales and Operations Director for a large luxury fitness brand. During this time, Davis was an avid guest of Blo Blow Dry Bar and grew to love the brand. After a 20-year hiatus, she returned to New Hampshire, made a career change, and joined the beauty industry. She saw the need for a high-quality blow out option in the area and decided to open up the first Blo Blow Dry Bar to the Bedford community.

"During my first visit to Blo Blow Dry bar, I knew this was a company I wanted to be part of because it merges my passion for health and beauty with my career," said Davis. "I'm excited to offer the Bedford community a unique blowout bar where guests can look and feel their best with a quick visit. Not only will we offer an extraordinary experience for all guests, but for our employees as well. It's a privilege to bring Blo to Bedford and the community."

To celebrate the Grand Opening, Thursday August 26, Blo Blow Dry Bar guests will be able to book one blowout for $29, this offer runs through August 29. Along with the Mane Squeeze Membership, another Membership that includes four blowouts a month for $135 and additional $10 off any additional blow out will be available for a limited time. The new bar is teaming up with Girls Inc. to have a clothing drive during the opening. Girls Inc. is a non-profit organization that empowers and inspires girls and young women. They will collect leggings, sneakers, and socks during opening weekend. Also available during the Grand Opening are food and drinks, dry styles, make up touch ups, and braided hair.

Blo Blow Dry Bar is on a mission to create a space where people of all ages, ethnicities, and orientations are welcomed, represented, and made to feel gorgeous while emphasizing the need for self-care and wellness. Combining a sophisticated design with a fun and energetic environment, Blo cultivates a seamless and enjoyable experience for guests upon their arrival, during, and after their services. Expertly trained blo-ers are available for consultation seven days a week to meet the needs of all guests. The brand's hair menu includes five signature styles from sleek and straight to bouncy curls, plus a wide assortment of customized looks including updo's and braids. Blo Blow Dry Bar also offers makeup services from expert artists on hand to help guests look and feel amazing for any occasion.

Blo Blow Dry Bar is open Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information on Blo Blow Dry Bar in Bedford, please visit https://blomedry.com/blo-bedford/ or call 603-218-3083.

About Blo Blow Dry Bar

Blo Blow Dry Bar is North America's original blow dry bar and the world's largest blow dry bar franchise. The company transformed beauty norms and reinvented the salon industry when it launched the "no cuts, no color" concept: only blow outs. Since opening its first location in Canada in 2007, Blo has grown to over 130 locations across the U.S. and Canada and continues to expand rapidly. With a mission to enhance the lives of those in the community through the power of flawless blow outs and beauty services, Blo Blow Dry Bar offers perfectly styled hair and exceptional customer experiences seven days a week. For more information visit www.blomedry.com.

Media Contact: Leah Trice, Fishman Public Relations, 615-887-3815, or [email protected]

SOURCE Blo Blow Dry Bar
BOSTON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As pressure mounts in many US cities and states to ban new natural gas uses and enact electrification mandates, gas utilities face increasing uncertainty. In a new series, "The Future of Gas Utilities Series: Transitioning Gas Utilities to a Decarbonized Future," economists at The Brattle Group outline the need for gas utilities to become proactive, innovative participants in a clean energy future, providing details on how they can develop long-term strategies now to navigate the transition in a fiscally and socially responsible way.

The three-part series centers around three building blocks for gas utilities' transition:

A framework for how gas utilities can assess risks and opportunities related to energy sector decarbonization Strategies for growing business during the transition Practical steps for implementing these strategies and solutions

Part one of the series, "Assessing Risk," released today, identifies several key challenges that traditional gas utility business models must confront as electric heating outpaces gas heating adoption and regulators or political bodies increasingly question the role natural gas could play in meeting climate policy goals. These risks, however great, can be turned into opportunities, the Brattle authors note. This will require identifying comparative advantages for the gas industry in likely infrastructure and energy service needs, targeting critical market niches, developing new planning tools, and making several operational and regulatory adjustments so they can prepare for and thrive during the transition.

"With approximately $150180 billion of unrecovered gas distribution infrastructure at risk, utilities will need to continue to invest in existing systems to meet safety and reliability requirements, even in the face of managed, declining gas demand," shared series coauthor Josh Figueroa, a Brattle Associate. "To avoid a potential 'death spiral' trend that will increase energy bills and push even more customers to convert, gas utilities must create adaptive, long-term business strategies that mitigate emerging risks and make them an enabler of the energy transition through proactive and innovative approaches."

Parts two and three of the series will be released in the coming months, and will be available on Brattle's website. The series will culminate in a symposium  bringing together Brattle and industry experts to debate key challenges and opportunities facing the gas industry  in late 2021.

"The Future of Gas Utilities Series" is authored by Principal Frank Graves; Associates Josh Figueroa, Dr. Long Lam, and Dr. Kasparas Spokas; Senior Research Analysts Tess Counts, Maria Castaner, and Katie Mansur; and Research Analyst Shreeansh Agrawal.

ABOUT BRATTLE

The Brattle Group answers complex economic, finance, and regulatory questions for corporations, law firms, and governments around the world. We are distinguished by the clarity of our insights and the credibility of our experts, which include leading international academics and industry specialists. Brattle has over 400 talented professionals across three continents. For more information, please visit brattle.com.

SOURCE The Brattle Group

Related Links

http://www.brattle.com


Cullen's Katajavaara and Aakenus gold(-copper) projects lie along the highly-mineralized Sirkka Thrust Zone in the CLGB. The Cullen projects surround Outokumpu Oy's former gold-copper mining operation at Sattopora and the S2Resources/Kinross Gold Joint Venture ("JV") at Home, in addition to lying along strike from major recent exploration discoveries at Ikkari (Rupert Resources Ltd) and Aamurusko (Risti-Launi; Aurion Resources Ltd) 1 .

. Scandinavia's largest operating gold mine - Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd's Kittila Gold Mine (2020 production - 208,125 oz Au; Reserves 30.4 MT @ 4.1 grams per tonne Au for 4Moz Au; Agnico Eagle Mineral Reserves and Resources Statement December 31, 2020 ; https://agnicoeagle.com/) 1  lies directly to the NE of the Cullen projects.

; https://agnicoeagle.com/)  lies directly to the NE of the Cullen projects. The binding LOI provides Capella with the opportunity to acquire an initial 70% in Cullen Finland Oy (Cullen's 100%-owned Finnish subsidiary; "Cullen Oy", and registered owner of the Katajavaara Exploration Permit Licence Application ("EPLA") and the Aakenus Reservation) through an initial cash payment to Cullen of AUD 50,000. Subsequently, a total USD 250,000 investment in exploration over a two-year period and staged cash payments to Cullen totalling USD 225,000 over a three-year period are required. Capella may increase its interest in Cullen Oy by an additional 10% (for a total 80% interest) by investing an additional USD 750,000 in exploration over a further two-and-a-half years.

(Cullen's 100%-owned Finnish subsidiary; "Cullen Oy", and registered owner of the Katajavaara Exploration Permit Licence Application ("EPLA") and the Aakenus Reservation) through an initial cash payment to Cullen of AUD 50,000. Subsequently, a total investment in exploration over a two-year period and staged cash payments to Cullen totalling over a three-year period are required. Capella may increase its interest in by an additional 10% (for a total 80% interest) by investing an additional in exploration over a further two-and-a-half years. The Katajavaara EPLA and Aakenus Reservation cover approximately 200 square kilometres of highly-prospective terrain for the discovery of new gold and copper deposits.

Compilations of historical data from both the project areas and broader district are well underway, with initial targets having already been identified from historical auger till sampling.

Finland continues to lie within the top 10 mining destinations globally as determined by the independent Fraser Institute's annual survey of mining jurisdictions.

Eric Roth, Capella's President and CEO, commented today: "I am very pleased to be announcing the signing of this LOI with Cullen for the Katajavaara and Aakenus gold(-copper) projects in northern Finland. Despite hosting several world-class gold and base metals deposits, the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt remains relatively underexplored and clearly possesses significant potential for new discoveries. The Katajavaara and Aakenus projects represent logical "bolt-on" acquisitions to our existing portfolio of high-grade copper and gold projects in Norway and Sweden, respectively, and consolidates Capella as one of the premier explorers/developers with a focus on Scandinavia".

Terms of the LOI

Capella will acquire an initial 70% interest in Cullen Oy (Cullen's 100%-owned Finnish subsidiary and registered owner of the Katajavaara and Aakenus gold-copper projects) in return for paying Cullen AUD 50,000 upon the transaction receiving TSX.V Exchange and regulatory approval (the "Closing Date").

(Cullen's 100%-owned Finnish subsidiary and registered owner of the Katajavaara and Aakenus gold-copper projects) in return for paying Cullen AUD 50,000 upon the transaction receiving TSX.V Exchange and regulatory approval (the "Closing Date"). Capella will be required to invest a total of USD 250,000 in exploration expenditures on the two projects over a 24 month period from the Closing Date.

in exploration expenditures on the two projects over a 24 month period from the Closing Date. Capella may then acquire a further 10% interest in Cullen Oy (for a total 80% interest) in return for a further USD 750,000 investment in the two projects over a 4.5 year period from the Closing Date.

(for a total 80% interest) in return for a further investment in the two projects over a 4.5 year period from the Closing Date. Cullen will then be free carried until the completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") on either of the two projects. Thereafter, a standard dilution formula will apply and should either party's direct interest fall to below 10% then they will revert to a 2% Net Smelter Royalty (with 1% being purchasable for USD 1 million ).

In addition, the following cash payments are required to be made to Cullen:

USD 50,000 upon the first anniversary of the Closing Date

upon the first anniversary of the Closing Date USD 75,000 upon the second anniversary of the Closing Date

upon the second anniversary of the Closing Date USD 100,000 on the third anniversary of the Closing Date

The binding LOI with Cullen remains subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.

Qualified Persons and Disclosure Statement

The technical information in this news release relating to the Southern Gold Line project has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101, and approved by Eric Roth, the Company's President & CEO, a Director, and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Roth holds a Ph.D. in Economic Geology from the University of Western Australia, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and is a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG). Mr. Roth has 30 years of experience in international minerals exploration and mining project evaluation.

On Behalf of the Board of Capella Minerals Ltd.

"Eric Roth"

___________________________

Eric Roth, Ph.D., FAusIMM

President & CEO

About Capella Minerals Ltd

Capella is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of quality mineral resource properties in favourable jurisdictions with a focus on high-grade gold and copper deposits. The Company's copper focus is currently on the discovery of high-grade VMS-type deposits within 100%-owned, district-scale land positions around the past-producing Lkken and Kjli copper mines in central Norway. The Company's precious metals focus is on the discovery of high-grade gold deposits on its 100%-owned Southern Gold Line Project in Sweden, in addition to its active Canadian Joint Ventures with Ethos Gold Corp. at Savant Lake (Ontario) and Yamana Gold Inc. at Domain (Manitoba). The Company also retains a residual interest (subject to an option to purchase agreement with Austral Gold Ltd) in the Sierra Blanca gold-silver project in Santa Cruz, Argentina.

Field activities are ongoing on all projects, with the primary focus being to advance priority targets through the permitting process and onwards to drilling and discovery.

The Company also holds marketable securities in Cerrado Gold Inc. (TSXV:CERT; 833,334 common shares) and Ethos Gold Corp. (TSXV:ECC; 2 million common shares), providing Capella shareholders with indirect exposure to both exploration and operational success by these Companies.

Cautionary Notes and Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of Capella, including the timing, completion of and results from the exploration and drill programs described in this release. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. All such forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and analyses made by Capella in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. This information, however, is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from this forward-looking information include those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in Capella's most recently filed MD&A. Capella does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

1 References made to nearby mines and analogous deposits provide context for the Katajavaara and Aakenus projects, but are not necessarily indicative that these projects hosts similar tonnages or grades of mineralization.

SOURCE Capella Minerals Limited

Related Links

https://capellaminerals.com/


CARSON CITY, Nev., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carson Tahoe Health (CTH) is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Sina Rajamand, DO, Neurosurgeon from Battle Born Brain & Spine (BBBS). One of Carson Tahoe's major goals is to provide wide-ranging specialty services for the community, bringing better healthcare home. With this affiliation, Dr. Rajamand will be able to work more closely with the organization to provide advanced neurosurgery at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center.

Carson Tahoe Health

"Neurosurgery is a service we have been looking at expanding for years," says Dr. Allen Fink, Carson Tahoe VP and Chief Medical Officer. "Our new affiliation with Dr. Rajamand allows us to provide more complex brain and spine surgeries at our hospital, so we don't have to transfer patients far away from home."

For the first time ever, Carson Tahoe Health can serve its patients in need of vital neurosurgical procedures such as complex spine surgery, reconstruction, treatment for spine tumors, brain bleeds, head injuries, and advanced stroke care, among others. Dr. Rajamand, serving as CTH Medical Director of Neurological Services, will be leading this program to ensure greater continuity of care for our patients.

With advanced medical training from Columbia University, Midwestern University, and the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Dr. Rajamand is uniquely equipped to perform a wide variety of neurosurgical procedures.

"I'm happy to partner with Carson Tahoe in providing the greater Carson City area with a full spectrum of neurosurgical options," says Dr. Rajamand. "Our patients will now have the ability to be treated locally for these complicated, often emergency, services, and I'm excited to lead this effort."

Battle Born Brain & Spine, in affiliation with Carson Tahoe Health, is located at 1525 Vista Ln, Ste 100 in North Carson City. For more information, please call (775) 445-6622 or visit CarsonTahoe.com/Neurosurgery or BattleBornBrainandSpine.com.

About Carson Tahoe Health

As a local, not-for-profit healthcare system, Carson Tahoe Health has been part of our community since 1949. We have 240 licensed acute care beds and serve a thriving community of over 250,000. Carson Tahoe Health, an Affiliate of University of Utah Health, consists of two hospitals, two urgent cares, an emergent care center, outpatient services, and a provider network with locations across the region. Our medical campus features our 'flagship', Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center, which was voted #1 hospital in Nevada by US World & Report. We were the first baby-friendly designated hospital in Nevada and have been certified as a primary stroke center. The freestanding Carson Tahoe Cancer Center, an affiliate of Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah is located on the medical campus and provides comprehensive cancer services from diagnosis and treatment to recovery and support. To learn more about Carson Tahoe Health, go to www.CarsonTahoe.com .

Related Images

dr-sina-rajamand-neurosurgeon.jpg

Dr. Sina Rajamand, Neurosurgeon

SOURCE Carson Tahoe Health
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognician is proud to announce that they have won two golds at the 2021 Brandon Hall HCM Excellence Awards. Together with their global partners they have won in the categories for Best Unique or Innovative Leadership Program and Best Advance in Social Impact Innovation. The awards were won for the Responsible Leadership Challenge, a program created for The World Economic Forum.

"We are extremely excited to again be recognized by Brandon Hall and to receive this award for our work with The World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders and Global Shapers Communities," says Barry Kayton, co-founder of Cognician. "This recognition represents a major achievement in helping our client to realize their goal of bringing responsible leadership to a network of young leaders and changemakers in more than 150 countries."

The Responsible Leadership program was designed to encourage The World Economic Forum's global network of more than 10,000 next-generation leaders under the age of 40 to share their knowledge, build networks and implement responsible leadership behaviors. Through a series of challenges and reflections, the program aims to motivate young leaders to explore ways to overcome the unprecedented social, environmental and technological challenges facing the world today.

Says Patrick Kayton, co-founder of Cognician, "We're really proud to have increased our tally of awards this year and to be recognized with our partners for a great program. The program provided the participants with unique and innovative ways to engage with each other and to explore what it means to be a responsible leader."

Cognician activates behavior change through scalable, personalized, and data-driven digital experiences that achieve measurable change in 30 days or less. This behavior change approach, based on neuroscience, is grounded in action, follow-through, reflection, and social engagement. Cognician's chat-based, interactive interface is user-friendly and guides employees to adopt new ways of thinking and action for personal development, team collaboration, innovation, and productivity.

Cognician also received a silver award for the same program in the Best Unique or Innovative Learning and Development Program category, as well as a bronze award in the Best Learning Program Supporting a Change Transformation Business Strategy category for the program "Digital U - Digital Transformation Enablement".

About Cognician

Cognician delivers impactful change activities reliably and consistently to global teams. Cognician's bite-sized change and learning activities are customized, social, gamified, mobile, blended, insightful, data-rich, simple, and user-friendly. Fortune 1000 clients use Cognician's capabilities to shift mindsets, adapt to disruptive changes, and activate behavior change.

Contact:

Betty Kayton

Cognician

925-609-4873

SOURCE Cognician
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Jay Calvert and Dr Millicent Rovelo are celebrating the 100th episode of the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Podcast. Beyond hosting the podcast, Dr. Calvert and Dr. Rovelo also serve as executive producers, booking guests and driving conversation around the latest news and trends in plastic surgery. Only in its second full season, the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Podcast has become a trusted source of information for plastic surgeons, aesthetic medicine practitioners, and prospective patients.

Dr. Jay Calvert and Dr Millicent Rovelo are celebrating the 100th episode of the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Podcast. Tweet this The Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Podcast with Dr Jay Calvert is hosted by Dr Jay Calvert with his co-host, Dr Millicent Rovelo. These two Board Certified Plastic Surgeons cover all topic related to plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine. This podcast is found of Apple Podcasts and Google Play Podcasts. Dr Calvert and Dr Rovelo have covered topics from Rhinoplasty, Breast Augmentation, Liposuction, Breast Reconstruction to Facelifts, artistry in plastic surgery, microneedling, and more. (PRNewsfoto/Roxbury Surgical Associates) Dr Millicent Rovelo, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Body Contouring expert. Dr Rovelo practices plastic surgery in Beverly Hills, California. She is the co-host of the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Podcast. She is known for her artistry in body contouring operations such as breast augmentation, breast reduction, tummy tucks, body lifts, liposuction, and breast reconstruction for breast cancer. (PRNewsfoto/Roxbury Surgical Associates) Dr Jay Calvert Revision Rhinoplasty with rib cartilage graft. Patient had three previous rhinoplasty operations that left her with a nasal tip deformity. Dr Calvert repaired this with an open technique using the patient's own rib cartilage and fascia graft.

"Plastic surgery is a practice that is becoming less taboo and more and more mainstream," said Dr. Jay Calvert. "Practicing in Southern California, Dr. Rovelo and I have seen just about every procedure come through our office. It's our goal to make the practice of plastic surgery more accessible to everyoneprospective patients, other practitioners and surgeons, and curious listeners across the world."

The podcast can be heard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts. Dr. Millicent Rovelo and Dr. Jay Calvert work alongside one another in their Beverly Hills surgical centers sand have been published in peer-reviewed plastic surgery journals. They continue to develop their podcast for video, as well as audio formats.

Apple Podcasts: Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beverlyhillsplasticsurgerypod

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/DrCalvertTV

About Dr. Jay Calvert:

Dr Jay Calvert is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon. He is internationally known for his work on rhinoplasty and nasal reconstruction. He has appeared on multiple television shows such as The Doctors, Dr. Phil, Tyra Banks Show, and many others. Dr. Calvert was recently named to the top 100 plastic surgeons in the nation through a poll of US plastic surgeons conducted by a nationally recognized publication. To learn more about his international speaking engagements or operating engagements contact Dr. Calvert at 1-310-777-8800 or [email protected]. You can also follow Dr. Calvert on Instagram or visit www.drcalvert.com.

About Dr. Millicent Rovelo:

Dr Millicent Rovelo is a double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon with a focus on breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast reconstruction, and body contouring after massive weight loss. She is known for her visionary approach to body lifts and mommy makeovers. Dr. Millicent Rovelo can be reached through her office at 1-310-954-1355 or through her website http://www.roveloplasticsurgery.com.

Media Contact:

Lauren Renschler

William Raymond Communications

[email protected]

310-463-0863

SOURCE Dr. Jay Calvert

Related Links

http://www.drcalvert.com


DUBLIN, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Drone Manufacturers Ranking 2020 Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report provides the most comprehensive overview and analysis of commercial drone platform manufacturers. It is based on many months of monitoring, research and analysis by the research team, as well as the drone manufacturer ranking model, which was built on the basis of years of experience in the commercial drone industry and a deep understanding of the drone market.

The Drone Manufacturer Ranking Model is based on a unique approach that takes into account market shares, market activity, and public attention to competitively compare drone platform manufacturers. As a result of this model, the rankings in this report are both comprehensive and reliable. They are a product of both qualitative and quantitative research and analysis, and a look beyond the hype that drones have experienced in the past few years.

The 48-page report contains the two rankings: The Top 40 global commercial drone manufacturer ranking and the Top 20 dual-use manufacturers (commercial and governmental use) in the world.

The rankings are summed up and analyzed and followed by company profiles of the Top 10 commercial drone manufacturers per category. The company profiles outline company partnerships, products, and activities. Finally, this report also includes a .xlsx file with company information over 430 drone manufacturers.

Key Topics Covered:

GLOSSARY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

Research Methodology

Scope Definition & Research Design

Report Creation

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Drones: Where Did They Come From?

1.2 Major Segments of the Drone Ecosystem

1.3 Drone Application Methods

1.4 Drone Market Industries and Use Cases

1.5 Drone Market Dynamics

2 Drone Manufacturers

2.1 Civil Drone Manufacturers

2.1.1 Top 40 Ranking

2.1.2 Top 10 Company Profiles

2.2 Dual-use Drone Manufacturers

2.2.1 Top 20 Ranking

2.2.2 Top 10 Company Profiles

Appendix: Industry Definitions

CHARTS

Chart 1: Drone technology stack

Chart 2: Drone hardware

Chart 3: Drone software

Chart 4: Drone services

Chart 5: Commercial drone market segmentation

Chart 6: Drone application methods

Chart 7: Assessment Process of civil platform manufacturers

Chart 8: Product placement of civil Platform manufacturers

Chart 9: Assessment process of dual-use platform manufacturers

TABLES

Table 1: Commercial drone use cases across industries

Table 2: Top 1-20 commercial drone manufacturers

Table 3: Top 21-40 commercial drone manufacturers

Table 4: Top 20 dual-use drone manufacturers

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/zeq4mq

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

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LEHI, Utah, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Entrata , the multifamily industry's most comprehensive technology platform, today announced the hire of Chris Harrington as Chief Revenue Officer. Harrington brings extensive experience growing some of the most recognizable tech companies in Utah and beyond, including Domo, XANT, Omniture and Adobe.

"Chris is an immensely talented leader and businessman, who has proven time and again that he knows how to intelligently grow the company and revenue, while keeping the main focus on clients and employees," said Entrata CEO, Adam Edmunds. "Entrata is at an exciting stage of growth, and our journey is just beginning. I can't think of anyone better suited for this position at this time than Chris and his stellar group of sales and marketing professionals."

Before Entrata, Harrington was the CEO of XANT where he led the company through a complete rebrand and further built its industry-leading AI sales technology. Prior to joining XANT, he was President and a member of the board of directors at Domo, where he drove annual revenue in excess of $150M helping build the company into the market leading business intelligence system it is today, as well as through a successful IPO. Before Domo, he joined Adobe as the Vice President, Americas Enterprise Sales, following Omniture's acquisition by Adobe for $1.8B. While at Omniture, Harrington led all customer facing operations from $3.4M to $500M in annual revenue in seven years.

"I've been incredibly fortunate to be a part of some of the most exciting tech businesses in Utah during my career and have watched as Entrata has grown into the force that it is today. I'm thrilled to be joining at this pivotal stage of the company's evolution," said Harrington. "The marketing, sales and customer success teams have built incredible programs that have helped to galvanize Entrata as the clear leader and innovator in the space. With the recent funding and focus on growth, the next few years are going to be extremely exciting."

Entrata recently closed $507 million in funding and plans to more than double its research and development spend, with an aggressive go-to-market strategy including international expansion planned in the near future. It is the fastest-growing software company in real estate, with over $200 million in annual recurring revenue, more than 2,100 employees and plans to add hundreds more in the coming year.

For more information about Entrata and its technology, please visit www.entrata.com .

ABOUT ENTRATA

Founded in 2003, Entrata is the only comprehensive property management software provider with a single-login, open-access platform. Offering a wide variety of online tools including websites, mobile apps, payments, lease signing, accounting, and resident management, the Entrata platform currently serves more than 20,000 apartment communities nationwide. Entrata's open API and superior selection of third-party integrations offer management companies the freedom to choose the technology and software that best fit their needs. For more information, go to www.entrata.com .

SOURCE Entrata

Related Links

http://www.entrata.com


CHICAGO and HOUGHTON, Mich., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Everspring, Inc., a leading provider of education technology and services to universities, announces a new partnership with Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech). Everspring will support the university's online engineering certificates with SEO marketing and student recruitment to promote the certificates and increase enrollment.

Michigan Tech's College of Engineering offers a robust suite of online, accredited graduate certificates across a range of engineering fields. These certificates provide high-quality online learning from a top-ranked, high-value school for students seeking to enhance their on-the-job skills or pursue continuing education in engineering. The online certificates include options in biomedical engineering; chemical engineering; civil, environmental, and geospatial engineering; electrical and computer engineering; geological and mining engineering sciences; manufacturing and mechanical engineering technology; materials science and engineering; and mechanical engineering-engineering mechanics.

"Our online graduate certificates are directly aligned with our institutional goals to provide innovative, technology-rich learning experiences that respond to student needs, support a diverse workforce, and promote lifelong learning," says Janet Callahan, dean of the College of Engineering. "Partnering with Everspring will help us reach more prospective studentsthose who will benefit most from our online engineering certificate programs."

"Everspring's new marketing partnership with Michigan Tech presents a unique opportunity to support a distinctive, STEM-focused university that's forward thinking in its approach to online continuing education in engineering," says Beth Hollenberg, president and co-founder of Everspring. "Higher education is increasingly trending toward a focus on lifelong learning and enabling students to pursue education in a way that is convenient for their lives and careers. Michigan Tech is meeting students where they are to provide top-notch online learning, and Everspring's marketing will ensure they find the best students for their engineering certificates."

Michigan Tech consistently ranks among the best universities nationally, particularly in STEM disciplines, and is recognized for its high return on investment for students.

About Michigan Technological University

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885. With approximately 7,000 students, Michigan Tech offers more than 140 undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering, science and mathematics, technology, humanities, social sciences, forestry and environmental science, and business. Michigan Tech has several high- ranking programs and is among the best universities in the U.S. for return on investment. Located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the campus overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior. For more information, visit mtu.edu .

About Everspring

Everspring is a leading provider of education technology and services solutions for higher education. Our advanced technology, proven marketing approach, and robust faculty support and instructional design services deliver outstanding outcomes for our university partners, powering their success online. Everspring offers a range of full-service turnkey solutions, as well as standalone fee-for-service offerings, and innovative self-service products that enable universities to establish themselves as leaders in the digital delivery of higher education. Based in Chicago, Everspring serves a growing number of colleges and universities, nationwide.

Visit www.everspringpartners.com for more information. Don't just go digital. BE DIGITAL.

SOURCE Everspring

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Innovative Products Continuously Launched with International Operation Capability Further Improved

Highlights 

Revenue amounted to RMB16,952 million , a year-on-year increase of 20.85%, of which, the income from regions outside Chinese Mainland and overseas countries accounted for 30.66%.

The net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company amounted to RMB2,482 million , representing an increase of 44.77% YOY.

The net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company after deducting extraordinary gain or loss amounted to RMB1,570 million , representing an increase of 20.38% YOY.

R&D expense was RMB1,562 million , representing an increase of 29.73% YOY.

Yi Kai Da of Fosun Kite, a joint venture, was approved for launch in China , becoming the first CAR-T cell therapy product approved for domestic launch.

COMIRNATY (mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, also known as BNT162b2) was included in the government vaccination programs in Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR in the first half of the year; and Fosun Pharma has planned to supply 15 million doses of mRNA vaccine to Taiwan Region.

SHANGHAI, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 23 August 2021, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd ("Fosun Pharma" or "the Group"; Stock Code: 600196.SH, 02196.HK), a leading healthcare group in China, announced its interim results for the first half of 2021 ("the Reporting Period").

In the first half of 2021, Fosun Pharma adhered to the implementation of the "4IN" strategy and achieved steady development in the overall business performance. During the Reporting Period, the Group achieved revenue of RMB16,952 million, representing an increase of 20.85% YOY, of which, the income from regions outside Chinese Mainland and overseas countries accounted for 30.66%, marking a step forward on its international operation capability. The net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company amounted to RMB2,482 million, representing an increase of 44.77% YOY. The net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company after deducting extraordinary gain or loss amounted to RMB1,570 million, representing an increase of 20.38% YOY.

Innovative products continuously launched with China's first CAR-T cell therapy approved for marketing

Took innovation and internationalization as its core drivers, as well as increased its R&D investment, through diversified R&D system with independent R&D, cooperative development, license introduction and in-depth incubation, Fosun Pharma accelerated the development of innovative drugs and clinical development, connected with teams of outstanding scientists, leading technologies and high-value products worldwide, to promote the development and transformation of innovative technologies and R&D, based on the overall management of R&D projects by the Global R&D center.

During the Reporting period, Fosun Pharma's R&D expenditure amounted to RMB1,954 million, representing an increase of 15.69% YOY. In particular, the R&D expenses amounted to RMB1,562 million, representing an increase of 29.73% YOY. As at the end of the Reporting Period, there were nearly 2,600 R&D personnel, of which approximately 1,400 persons obtained master's degree or above). The Group had 240 major pipeline innovative drugs, generic drugs, biosimilars and consistency evaluation items of generic drugs, of which 72 were innovative drugs.

In June 2021, Yi Kai Da of Fosun Kite, a joint venture, became the first CAR-T cell therapy product approved for launch in China. It is mainly used for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. In August 2021, National Medical Products Administration ("NMPA") also included its new indications in the Drug List of the Procedure for Breakthrough Therapy Designation. It shows the clinical advantages and potential of this drug in the treatment of relapsed or refractory indolent non Hodgkin's lymphoma. Fosun Kite is expanding the indications actively, optimizing costs continuously, and exploring diversified payment methods including commercial insurance to increase the product accessibility to benefit more patients.

COMIRNATY (mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, also known as BNT162b2) has been included in the government vaccination programs in Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. During the Reporting Period, the vaccine has contributed revenue of over RMB500 million. Besides, Fosun Pharma has planned to supply 15 million doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to Taiwan, which will be donated by the Buyers to the disease control authority for local vaccination. Meanwhile, phase II clinical trials of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 in Chinese Mainland (excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan regions) and other works were also progressing in an orderly manner.

Stable growth of core pharmaceutical manufacturing business and multiple innovative products launched to improve product structure

During the Reporting Period, the revenue from core pharmaceutical manufacturing segment maintained steady growth and the product structure continued to be optimized. In the first half of 2021, the pharmaceutical manufacturing segment generated revenue of RMB12,248 million, representing an increase of 22.33% YOY. The R&D expenditure of pharmaceutical manufacturing segment was RMB1,777 million, representing an increase of 15.31% YOY, accounting for 14.51% of the revenue of the pharmaceutical manufacturing segment.

Fosun Pharma is committed to promoting innovative R&D, and is oriented towards fulfilling unmet clinical needs and improving products' accessibility, accelerating the implementation of innovative technologies and products. After over a decade of continuous investment, many varieties such as Han Li Kang (Rituximab Injection), Han Qu You (Trastuzumab Injection), Su Ke Xin (Avatrombopag Maleate Tablets), Han Da Yuan (Adalimumab Injection) and Yescarta have been approved and sold in large quantities in the past two yearspromoting sustainable growth in the Group's performance.

During the Reporting Period, the sales volume of self-developed product Han Li Kang (Rituximab Injection) achieved substantial sales growth. In the first half of the year, it contributed revenue of RMB724 million, representing an increase of 223.21% YOY. Han Qu You (Trastuzumab Injection) and Su Ke Xin (Avatrombopag Maleate Tablets), which went launched in 2H 2020, recorded revenue of RMB325 million and RMB206 million respectively, in 1H 2021. Within the Reporting Period, revenue of Gland Pharma's increased by 32.08% YOY, benefited from the contribution from Micafungin, Enoxaparin Sodium Injection and f new products launch. In addition, Gland Pharma continued to optimize the life cycle management of existing products and expand marketing channels, including the sales revenue of Atomolan Tablets (Glutathione Tablets) increased by 60.70% YOY.

Initial integration of diagnosis and medical aesthetic business completed with quality and efficiency improved

During the Reporting Period, Fosun Pharma's medical device business has initially formed three major business divisions with medical cosmetology, respiratory care, and professional medical care. In the medical cosmetology field, while actively expanding its existing energy-based medical aesthetics equipment business, Sisram Medical carried out business integration on strategic tracks such as aesthetic dentistry and injectable.

In the first half of 2021, Fosun Pharma has actively promoted strategic upgrading and internal integration in the diagnosis segment. According to the business focus and characteristics of the subsidiaries under the diagnosis segment, the Group specified the positioning and functions of each of these subsidiaries as R&D and manufacturing center, differentiated instrument R&D platform, inspection service business platform and reagent manufacturing base. Centered on six major therapeutic areas (tumor, infection, digestion and metabolism, reproduction, cardiovascular, and central nervous system), Fosun Pharma has formed a cross-methodological product portfolio as well as a matrix R&D thinking that expands to different disease fields under the same methodology.

Further improved international operation capability with proportion of overseas revenue exceeds 30%

In the first half of 2021, Fosun Pharma implemented its internationalization strategy in terms of innovative R&D, BD, production, operation, and commercialization. The Group has cultivated a global BD team for deployment in frontier areas through R&D cooperation and license-in projects, while the drug clinical and registration team in the United States, Africa, Europe, and India, continued to strengthen overseas drug registration and application capabilities. At the same time, the Group accelerated the international quality system certification of domestic production lines, and deepened international marketing capabilities so as to further expand the international market. During the Reporting Period, Fosun Pharma achieved revenue of RMB5,198 million in regions outside Chinese Mainland and overseas countries, accounting for 30.66% of the total revenue.

Fosun Pharma has already set up a mature sales network with upstream and downstream customer resources in the English and French-speaking countries and regions in Sub-Saharan Africa. After years of attentive efforts, Fosun Pharma's subsidiary, Gland Pharma has become one of India's largest and fastest-growing companies, focusing on the production of injectables, and is active across over 60 countries.

Looking forward, Wu Yifang, Chairman and CEO of Fosun Pharma said, "The development of the entire pharmaceutical industry will be presented with both challenges and opportunities. In the second half of 2021. Fosun Pharma will endeavor to optimize product-oriented strategy, improve the Group's R&D efficiency to strengthen the globalization, focused on innovation and international development. The Group will enhance innovative R&D capabilities, increase internationalized drug registration and declaration, and strive to develop strategic products. Whilst actively seeking opportunities for mergers and acquisitions to establish and promote the integration and synergy effects in the product lines and supply chains, the Group seeks to achieve continuous growth of its revenue and profits. At the same time, the Group will continue to optimize the operational efficiency in the healthcare service industry, accelerate the construction of competitive disciplines, enhance quality management, push forward the transformation of health industry to internet healthcare services and further promote breakthroughs in the consumer health sector so as to expand the operating scale in the segment and improve its capabilities in operation, management and internationalization."

About Fosun Pharma

Founded in 1994, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. ("Fosun Pharma"; stock code: 600196.SH, 02196.HK) is a leading innovation-driven international healthcare group in China. Fosun Pharma strategically operates businesses in the pharmaceutical and health industry, including pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical devices and medical diagnosis, and healthcare services. Through equity participation in Sinopharm Co., Ltd., Fosun Pharma's business extends to pharmaceutical distribution and retail.

Fosun Pharma takes pharmaceutical manufacturing as its core business and sticks to innovative research and development. Through in-house R&D, co-development, in-licensing and incubation, Fosun Pharma had established platforms for small molecule innovative drugs, antibody drugs and cell therapy, focusing on major therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology, "4 hypers" (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and hyperuricemia) and their complications, as well as central nervous system. In the meantime, Fosun Pharma keeps close track of cutting-edge technologies, such as targeted protein degradation, RNA, oncolytic virus and gene therapy to enhance its innovation ability.

Looking forward, under guidance of 4IN strategy (Innovation, Internationalization, Integration and Intelligentization), Fosun Pharma practices innovation and transformation, integrated operation and steady development, as well as the concept of sustainable development. Fosun Pharma is committed to becoming the first-class enterprise in the global mainstream healthcare industry.

For more information, please visit: www.fosunpharma.com

Forward-looking statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, the discussions of the Company's business strategies and expectations concerning future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity and capital resources, the future development of the Company's industry and the future development of the general economy of the Company's key markets and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include words and expressions such as "expect", "seek", "believe", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "may", "will", "would" and "could" or similar words or statements, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Subject to the requirements of applicable laws, rules and regulations, the Company does not have any and undertakes no obligation to update or otherwise revise the forward- looking statements in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments or otherwise. In this press release, statements of or references to the Company's intentions are made as of the date of this press release. Any such intentions may change in light of future developments. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are qualified by reference to the cautionary statements set out above.

SOURCE Fosun Pharma
We are excited to see the GSA step boldly into this hybrid workplace future. Tweet this

"LiquidSpace has been meeting the needs of businesses large and small for nearly a decade by combining an agnostic and unrivaled marketplace of on-demand office and meeting space, with exclusive technology to automate the management of hybrid workplace ," said Mark Gilbreath, LiquidSpace Founder and CEO, "The events of the past two years have brought into focus the urgency of addressing the diversity, productivity, efficiency and sustainability of the workplace. We are excited to see the GSA step boldly into this hybrid workplace future and look forward to supporting them on this mission."

About LiquidSpace

LiquidSpace harnesses the power of flexible space to transform the workplace experience, giving employees the freedom and choices to work from anywhere. Our global marketplace of flexible office space combined and workplace management platform provide companies with an end-to-end, enterprise-grade SaaS solution to manage remote or distributed workplace strategies all in one place.

Flexible office operators can join LiquidSpace to reach the growing demand from the GSA and large enterprises: https://liquidspace.com/share

Enterprises who want to harness the power of flexible space to transform their hybrid workplace experience can learn more at: https://liquidspace.com/enterprise

Contact: Jennifer McNeil, [email protected]

SOURCE LiquidSpace

Related Links

https://liquidspace.com


MEXICO CITY, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo LALA, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: LALAB) announces that its Board of Directors convened in regard to the intention of the shareholder group represented by Control Trust number 410541-7 to initiate a Voluntary Public Acquisition Offering (the "Offer) for up to all the outstanding publicly owned shares of Grupo LALA, as announced on August 23, 2021.

In this regard, Grupo LALA's Board of Directors has authorized, in accordance with the Company's bylaws, the initiation of the aforementioned public offering. In addition, the Board of Directors has received from UBS Casa de Bolsa, S.A. de C.V. ("UBS"), in its capacity as an independent expert hired by the Board's Audit and Corporate Practices Committee, an opinion that the aforementioned shareholders group's offering price is duly justified from a financial point of view and, consequently, is fair to the holders of Grupo LALA's outstanding publicly owned shares. The opinion issued on August 23, 2021 by UBS is available on the websites of the Mexican Stock Exchange, (www.bmv.com.mx) and the Company (www.lala.com.mx), with the understanding that its recipients must review the opinion in its entirety, including the assumptions on which it is based and any exceptions it may include.

The members of Grupo LALA's Board of Directors - except those who had abstained, to avoid any perceptions of conflict of interest, but who joined their vote to that of the majority - after considering the opinion issued by UBS as an independent expert and the opinion of the Audit and Practices Committee, which had convened previously, opined that the price proposed in the Offer is duly justified and fair, from a financial point of view, to the shareholders of the Company.

Further, the members of the Board of Directors who are also shareholders of the Company, and its Chief Executive Officer, Arquimedes Celis Ordaz, expressed to the Board their decision and that of their related parties, to tender their shares not held in the aforementioned trust, as along as the Offer is carried out under its existing terms, and assuming that general economic and market conditions remain stable.

The members of the Company's Board of Directors stated that they do not consider there to be any conflicts of interest with respect to the Offer.

For more information:

Daniel Espinosa and Israel Renteria, CFA

[email protected]

About LALA:

Grupo LALA, a Mexican company focused on the healthy and nutritious food industry, has more than 70 years of experience in the production, innovation and marketing of milk, dairy products and beverages under the highest quality standards. LALA operates 29 production plants and 173 distribution centers in Mexico, Brazil, the United States and Central America, and is supported by more than 40,000 employees. LALA operates a fleet that exceeds 7,500 units for the distribution of its more than 600 products which reach more than 628,000 points of sale. LALA, Nutri and Vigor stand out in their brand portfolio.

This release does not constitute an offer or solicitation of any type of action. The securities in question may not be, where appropriate, subject to public offering until, where appropriate, the Comision Nacional Bancaria y de Valores (CNBV) authorizes the offer under the terms of the Ley del Mercado de Valores (LMV).

Limitation of Responsibilities: This press release may contain forecasts or projections which reflect our current views and expectations regarding our performance, business, and future events. Forecasts include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, indicate, or imply future results, performance or achievements and may contain words such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "in our view", "will likely occur", or some other word or phrase with a similar meaning. These statements are subject to certain risks, unforeseen events, and assumptions. We caution that a significant number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, and intentions expressed in this report. In no event will we, nor any of our subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, executives, agents, or employees be liable to third parties (including investors) for any investment, decision or action taken in relation to the information released in this press release or for any consequential special or similar damage.

For more information visit: www.lala.com.mx

"Grupo LALA is listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the ticker "LALAB"

SOURCE Grupo LALA, S.A.B. de C.V.

Related Links

https://www.lala.com.mx


WINTER PARK, Fla., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 6,300 employees of Holiday Retirement, a pioneer in independent living for seniors across the United States and Canada, will be required to receive COVID-19 vaccines, the company announced today. In each state permitted, Holiday's decision will require all employees who are working in and traveling to communities, and new residents, to receive their first dose by October 4, 2021.

Announcement of the decision coincides with the FDA's full approval on Monday (August 23) of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The move also complements the January 2021 vaccine mandate by Atria Senior Living, which recently acquired Holiday Retirement and has attained a roughly 99% vaccination rate among staff.

Holiday Retirement CEO Lilly Donohue said the move is also a natural extension of the education and encouragement of employees and residents to make the choice to get vaccinated since early 2021, when vaccines became available to those living and working in independent living. Holiday had already required new employees to be vaccinated as of July 15, 2021.

"Making this decision now will help us more quickly achieve our goal of essentially completely vaccinated communities for the protection of our residents, staff, vendors and the public at large," Donohue said.

Atria Chairman and CEO John Moore saluted the vaccine decision by Donohue and the Holiday organization. "We're proud of Lilly and her team for making this choice. We've said all along that our residents deserve to live in a vaccinated environment, and our staff deserves to work in a vaccinated environment. We are unwavering in our determination to get each community in the Atria portfolio fully vaccinated," he said.

About Atria Senior Living and Holiday Retirement

Atria Senior Living is a leading operator of independent living, assisted living, supportive living and memory care communities in more than 430 locations in 45 states and seven Canadian provinces. With the recent addition of Holiday Retirement to its portfolio, Atria is now the residence of choice for more than 43,000 older adults, and the workplace of choice for more than 17,000 employees. Atria creates vibrant communities where older adults can thrive and participate, know that their contributions are valued, and enjoy access to opportunities and support that help them keep making a positive difference in our world. Glennis Solutions, a subsidiary of Atria Senior Living, is the only fully integrated, cloud-based software suite specifically designed to serve the senior housing industry. For more information about Atria, visit AtriaSeniorLiving.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram. For career opportunities and more information about working for Atria, visit AtriaCareers.com. For more information on Glennis Solutions, visit GlennisSolutions.com. For more information about Holiday Retirement, visit HolidaySeniorLiving.com.

SOURCE Holiday Retirement

Related Links

http://HolidaySeniorLiving.com


SANDPOINT, Idaho and NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kochava , the leading real-time data solutions company for omni-channel attribution and measurement, today announced Tinuiti , the largest independent performance marketing firm across the Triopoly of Google, Facebook, and Amazon, as a new Kochava Authorized Agency Partner to enable growth marketing for brands.

The addition of Tinuiti in the Kochava Authorized Partner program, strengthens a relationship between the companies who are at the forefront of privacy and knowledge sharing to deliver unequaled value to clients.

"Tinuiti is an industry leader with a shared approach to ensuring privacy-first," said Jason Hicks, EVP Growth at Kochava. "We are thrilled to have them on board in Kochava's new initiative to maximize success for their clients. Our goal is to ensure our agency partners and marketers have the necessary tools and support to succeed."

The Kochava Authorized Partner program has been established to strengthen an agency's skills in maximizing Kochava's platform. What this certification means for Tinuiti and Kochava clients:

Strongest omni-channel offering from privacy-centric leaders to stay ahead of the changing landscape

Open dialog and knowledge sharing to create custom solutions for clients to meet specific business needs

Increased knowledge about the Kochava platform to ensure strongest performance and growth for app clients

"Our partnership is all about future-proofing our offering for clients and providing the best solutions for them in the changing landscape. Users are demanding increased control over their data and more transparency to see where it's being used," said Liz Emery, senior director of Mobile and Ad Tech Solutions at Tinuiti. "Kochava and Tinuiti are working together to adapt mobile marketing strategies across media and attribution to ensure happiness for both clients & consumers."

Tinuiti has been focused on the impacts that the privacy push will have on all advertisers. The company has developed a Future of the Web content hub to provide the latest information on new restrictions, cookies, IDFA, first-party data, and all things privacy from industry experts. Recently, Kochava and Tinuiti released a thought leadership article "Mobile App + OTT The Perfect Combination".

About Kochava

Kochava Inc. is a real-time data solutions company offering the leading omni-channel measurement and attribution solutions for data-driven marketers. The Marketers Operating System (m/OS) from Kochava empowers advertisers and publishers with a platform that seamlessly integrates and manages customer identity, measurement and data controls. Unlike the complicated, siloed tech stacks employed today, the m/OS takes the next step: unifying all of your data and critical omni-channel solutions into a cohesive, operational system that goes beyond data aggregation and reporting. The m/OS provides the foundation for limitless advertiser and publisher tools, including the option to build third-party solutions onto the platform. By design, m/OS facilitates success by making data accessible and actionable to maximize ROI.

With a culture of customer-driven innovation, dedication to data security, and the most powerful tools in the ecosystem, Kochava is trusted by top brands to harness their data for growth. Kochava also hosts the largest independent mobile data marketplace, the Kochava Collective. Headquartered in Sandpoint, Idaho, the company has offices globally. For more information visit their web site www.kochava.com . Follow Kochava on social media: Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn .

About Tinuiti

Tinuiti is the largest independent performance marketing firm across Google, Facebook and Amazon, with nearly $3 billion in digital media under management and over 950 employees. With industry-leading expertise in search, social, Amazon and marketplaces, addressable TV and mobile apps, CRM and email marketing and more, Tinuiti understands that success requires both strategy and channel expertise. Each solution is delivered through Tinuiti's performance planning framework, GAMMA, and is enabled by a proprietary suite of marketing intelligence and media activation technology  Mobius. For more information visit http://www.tinuiti.com.

SOURCE Tinuiti; Kochava

Related Links

https://tinuiti.com/


DALLAS, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Maple Bear Global Schools, a Canadian company and well-established international leader in bilingual education, is pleased to announce the Briggs-Pascoe Family Global Education Fund. This legacy education fund, created by the company's founders, harnesses the foundation of the Maple Bear brand in which the spirit of giving back is an integral component.

The Briggs-Pascoe Family Global Education Fund will be open to high-potential children, aged 4 to 6, in Maple Bear regions around the globe, whose family's economic circumstances prevent them from the possibility of attending a Maple Bear school in their local community. Eligible children will receive up to $2,000 towards their tuition fees from the Briggs-Pascoe Family Global Education Fund. For September 2021, this scholarship will be awarded to a qualified family selected from applications from Maple Bear USA schools.

Maple Bear was founded with the purpose of sharing the very best of Canadian education with the world, and its owners share the belief that quality education can bring positive change in the world by educating future leaders to be critical thinkers and imbuing them with a strong sense of social justice and global citizenship.

Maple Bear is dedicated to helping its students become lifelong learners and recognizes that a strong start, through early childhood education, is critical in building the foundation that will allow children to become passionate about learning. Maple Bear acknowledges that one of the primary impediments to social mobility is access to high quality education. This fund provides an inspirational opportunity for new Maple Bear students who would otherwise not have the opportunity to benefit from this world-renowned educational program.

The rollout of the program aligns with the start of a new academic year, one in which many parents are either overcoming or still tackling the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Setbacks in household incomes, and the social disconnection and learning deficits, particularly among early learners, are amongst the leading detrimental impacts of the pandemic often cited by parents globally, who are keen to support their children's growth and access to quality education in a rapidly evolving world.

This legacy gift from the Briggs-Pascoe family is consistent with the Maple Bear culture and brand its founders have created, where giving back to Maple Bear communities around the globe continues to guide the company's long-term operations.

Visit https://www.maplebearusa.com/announcing-the-briggs-pascoe-family-global-education-fund/ to learn more about how to apply for the scholarship.

About Maple Bear Global Schools Founders

Maple Bear Global Schools was founded in 2003 in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, by Rodney Briggs, who recently retired as founding CEO. Rodney remains active with the company as Chairman and shareholder. Robin Pascoe is the former VP Corporate Communications and Social Impact. Through this new Global Education Fund, Rodney, Robin and their children, Lilly and James, hope to inspire Maple Bear owners around the globe to support, promote and encourage initiatives within their local communities with the goal of building a better society.

About Maple Bear Global Schools

Today, the Maple Bear network includes more than 550 open and signed schools in 30 countries. Maple Bear Global Schools is a world leader in bilingual education, offering high-quality Infant care, Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary and Secondary education, based on practices that place Canadian education among the best on the planet. Delivered in a safe and stimulating environment and with a multicultural and student-centered approach, the Maple Bear methodology develops curiosity, imagination, experimentation and discovery, sparking a true passion for lifelong learning.

www.maplebear.ca

SOURCE Maple Bear Global Schools

Related Links

http://www.maplebear.ca


MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Spot Trender, a leader in advertising testing and consumer insights, partnered with Bottle Rocket and Eicoff to launch a research study on customer acquisition and retention. Bottle Rocket is a leading experience consultancy that provides business strategy, product, design, and technology services that drive business resuts and solve unmet needs. Eicoff is a full-service performance advertising agency that leverages the power of television and audio to drive conversion and grow sales. Both organizations are a part of Ogilvy Experience .

Marketer using Spot Trender's online platform Ogilvy, Eicoff, Bottle Rocket, Spot Trender

Understanding how to measure and better execute on the two fundamental growth drivers of business is what the top brands and agencies in the world do best. With the tectonic shift of focus to digital advertising in the last decade, one of the most interesting themes to come out of the research was that traditional channels still provide excellent ROI and that savvy marketers know how to measure and optimize those channels in a full-funnel acquisition strategy.

"It was an absolute pleasure collaborating with the Bottle Rocket and Eicoff teams. Their expertise in key business drivers and metrics added a lot of depth to our research," said Rick Nguyen, President and Co-founder at Spot Trender.

The study surveyed 169 marketing leaders (director level or higher) to better understand what Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) businesses are tracking, and how they are tracking them.

According to our survey participants, many of them are unaware of solutions for tracking and optimizing ads for traditional channels like OOH, radio, and TV. For instance, much fewer of them think that they can accurately measure return on investment (ROI) for radio/audio than SEO/SEM and email. Modern advertising platforms like Google, Facebook, and Amazon Advertising provide dashboards and tracking capabilities, which are helpful to calculate return on ad spend.

Radio, on the other hand, requires an extra step. Advertisers who have been successfully tracking radio ROI are using surveys to understand where their customers came from. These surveys are useful not just to track radio, but other traditional advertising channels, like out-of-home billboards. Instead of just capturing impressions and demographics, world-class advertisers are measuring their ROI and optimizing those creative assets with research firms.

"New customer acquisition is the lifeblood of any growing company. The research echoed the importance of measuring the impact of acquisition campaigns across the entire funnel," said Rob Schmidt, SVP, Management Supervisor at Eicoff. "Traditional media like TV play a vital role in building awareness and creating demand in the upper funnel, while search, remarketing, and other lower funnel tactics pull these new customers in. Smart marketers know that acquisition campaigns need to be planned, executed, and measured across the full funnel, and they need to mine their data and tap into different resources to measure impact at each stage."

To learn more about this study, and metrics on different funnel acquisition strategies used by businesses contact [email protected] . To connect with the experience experts at Bottle Rocket or Eicoff, contact [email protected] or [email protected] .

About Spot Trender

Spot Trender helps brands and agencies predict and optimize the impact of their brand messaging, campaigns, and creative, with actionable consumer insights. Spot Trender is a leader in ad-testing automation with patented live audience reactions that drive business results. Visit spottrender.com to learn about full-service or online DIY suite of research solutions.

About Eicoff

Eicoff is the leader in direct response advertising, fusing the power of television with the precision of digital, to help brands drive sales and measure ROI. Testing, tracking, and optimizing media and creative to drive conversion and grow sales for our clients. Eicoff is based in Chicago and is a division of Ogilvy. Visit eicoff.com.

About Bottle Rocket

Bottle Rocket is an experience consultancy that provides strategy, product, design and technology services that drive business results and exceed customer expectations. Bottle Rocket is proud to be a part of WPP and the Ogilvy Experience global network. Visit bottlerocketstudios.com or drop us a note at [email protected] .

Contact:

Christopher South

4084129440

[email protected]

SOURCE Spot Trender
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Courtney Hoffman, Senior VP of Mergers & Acquisitions of National Auto Care today announced that National Auto Care has acquired five agencies - Profit Concepts, Pinnacle Dealer Services, Pritchard Insurance, RRC Companies (RRC) and Ace Financial Development Group (AFDG).

The announcement is made in partnership with the agencies' principals  President Dave Griffiths of Profit Concepts; owner Rod Watson and VP of Sales Gene Patton of Pinnacle Dealer Services; owner Dave Pritchard and President Greg Welch of Pritchard Insurance; owner Rodney Porter of RRC Companies; and President Tim Bartholomew of Ace Financial Development Group.

These transactions are a critical part of National Auto Care's growth strategy, as the award-winning auto finance and insurance (F&I) product provider continues its West Coast expansion and partnerships with best-in-class F&I agencies.

Profit Concepts was founded in 1979 as a general agency with a vision to help dealers maximize the profit of their sales, finance, and service departments. Profit Concepts and NAC have a long history together, including in 2018 when the two companies collaborated to develop National Powersports Care, a line of protection products exclusively for powersports vehicles.

Pinnacle Dealer Services is an Arizona-based agency founded in 2008 that provides a full-suite of products to automotive, RV, powersports and marine dealers primarily in Arizona and to other accounts throughout the Southwest.

Pritchard Insurance is a family agency that has been providing services in the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Montana for over 40 years.

RRC is an agency based in Oklahoma City covering auto dealers primarily on the West Coast and Midwest. The agency is led by Rodney Porter who has been in F&I sales for the past 15 years.

AFDG is an agency based in Portage, Michigan, covering auto dealers primarily in the Midwest. President Tim Bartholomew has more than 20 years of F&I experience.

The executive teams of each agency will continue to manage day-to-day operations of its office with the added support of NAC's industry-leading products and best-in-class claims management capabilities.

"Expansion on the West Coast is an important piece of our agency acquisition strategy. These transactions enable us to continue to increase NAC's current footprint in this market," says Hoffman. "We are excited about our future partnership with these agencies. People make the difference."

CEO Tony Wanderon adds, "It's with great pride that we bring these agencies into the NAC Family knowing their history of forward-thinking innovation in the F&I space."

Griffiths, with Profit Concepts, will play a major role in NAC's significant West Coast expansion plans.

"As a combined company, the opportunities for growth are immense as we join forces with NAC's nationwide team. The new systems, NAC team members, training for our dealers and new programs are all industry leading. National Auto Care's generosity to both me and my employees will never be forgotten," he says.

Likewise, the principals of Pinnacle Dealer Services, Pritchard Insurance, RRC Companies and AFDG each cited the people and culture at NAC as driving factors in their decision.

"We are genuinely excited about the possibilities and support provided by NAC and are continually impressed with the knowledge and expertise provided by their people," said Pritchard and Welch in a joint statement, while Watson added, "What makes NAC stand out is the people and the atmosphere. They have outstanding products and technology, and we look forward to growing with their support."

The acquisitions of these five agencies further accelerate NAC's acquisitive growth strategy, which focuses on partnering with like-minded, high-growth agents that value a team-oriented culture.

About National Auto Care Corporation Powered by passion, National Auto Care Corp. has provided F&I products, administration, consulting services, training and marketing support to independent agents, insurance companies, financial institutions, third-party administrators, and credit unions for over 35 years. National Auto Care focuses on increasing agent and dealer profitability by providing unique F&I products supported by proprietary technology in protected markets. National Auto Care was honored with a 2020 Dealer's Choice Platinum Award for F&I Products for the fifth consecutive year. For more information, visit nationalautocare.com.

Contact: Alexi Gonzalez, National Auto Care

Phone: 904-285-4401, ext. 8139

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE National Auto Care
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A powerful docuseries that spotlights the untold stories of four entrepreneurs with disabilities, Born for Business gives viewers an insider's look at what it takes to launch and run a thriving small business. Just as each entrepreneur is on the brink of success, they must navigate the complications that the COVID-19 pandemic presents.

The series features four talented disabled entrepreneurs:

images of four disabled entrepreneurs and logo for Born for Business

Qiana Allen is a fashionista with lupus who creates clothing for women with curves.

is a fashionista with lupus who creates clothing for women with curves. Collette Divitto is a baker with Down syndrome who owns a cookie brand on a mission to create change.

is a baker with Down syndrome who owns a cookie brand on a mission to create change. Chris Triebes is a driven single dad with spinal muscular atrophy (type III) making waves in the music industry.

is a driven single dad with spinal muscular atrophy (type III) making waves in the music industry. Lexi Zanghi is a millennial entrepreneur with anxiety who runs a fashion-forward brand.

"For too long, people with disabilities have been shut out of the workplace," said Jonathan Murray, Bunim/Murray Productions. "With Born for Business, we are showing how people with disabilities have long been using entrepreneurship to create an economic livelihood for themselves."

People with disabilities, who often face stigmas when looking for employment, are creating their own opportunities and success across the world. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with disabilities are self-employed at a rate nearly twice that of their nondisabled peers.

As of the 2019 American Community Survey, approximately 700,000 workers with disabilities in the United States were self-employed, enjoying the flexibility and opportunities that entrepreneurship provides.

Studies show that approximately 70% of people with disabilities want to work. Thousands could become entrepreneurs if they can develop their skills and access capital. There are many free resources, compiled by the disability nonprofit RespectAbility, to help people with disabilities and others start their own businesses.

Born for Business creates a paradigm shift for people with disabilities because it is authentic and shows what people with disabilities CAN achieve. At the same time, it does not sugar coat it. It shows stories of resilience and innovation that will have universal appeal as they are perfectly timed for a moment when people are struggling to get past the challenges of this time.

"We're creating a world where entrepreneurship is accessible for everyone," said Harley Finkelstein, President, Shopify. "We are elevating these untold stories of entrepreneurship to show the power of entrepreneurship to make dreams a reality."

Chris Triebes of The Congregation Presents is a single father with spinal muscular atrophy (type III) who is making waves in the music industry. He said he was interested in appearing on Born for Business due to the lack of representation of people with disabilities "who have a disproportionately low voice" in media, especially when it comes to portraying stories of proactive business owners making their own opportunities and succeeding. He laments the often-repeated tropes of pitied people with disabilities who are painted as helpless or unresourceful. "I want to help normalize disability," he said in conversation with RespectAbility. "I think I can be someone who's good for that."

Born for Business is produced by Shopify Studios and Bunim/Murray Productions, the Emmy Award-winning creators of Born This Way. Tobi Lutke, Pam Silverstein, Gil Goldschein, Jonathan Murray, Julie Pizzi, Erica Ross, Jonathan Stern, and Laura Korkoian serve as executive producers and Jacob Lane and Millee Taggart-Ratcliffe serve as co-executive producers.

All 10 episodes are streaming on Peacock (USA) and CRAVE (Canada).

Media Contact:

Lauren Appelbaum

[email protected]

Related Images

born-for-business.jpeg

Born for Business

images of four disabled entrepreneurs and logo for Born for Business



SOURCE RespectAbility
STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- O'Donnell Learn , the learning design firm, and InSource Services Group (ISG) , the student success services firm, will merge to become the full-service learning experience company. With a platform that catalyzes faculty experts and supports institutions, it will empower humanized learning that improves the student experience at scale.

With people at the center of everything they do, the two companies are joining forces to build the learning company of the future by empowering the development, design, and delivery of inclusive and humanized learning experiences. Together, they will bridge effective instructional design with delivery of meaningful learning experiences.

"We will promote success in every aspect of the learning experience delivery." -Carrie O'Donnell Tweet this

Carrie O'Donnell, founder and CEO of O'Donnell Learn, shared her enthusiasm for the newly formed company. "Instructional design happens outside the classroom. With our combined company services, we will be able to promote success in the course experience as well as in its design. We will promote success in every aspect of the learning experience delivery."

Russ Seiter, founder and CEO of ISG, added "At ISG, our focus is on people, and we work with the simple goal of helping students, educators, and institutions find success. Our culture of caring enables us to execute our mission, and ultimately this is what drew us together with O'Donnell Learn. With our shared culture, as partners, we can expand our capabilities to deliver on our vision of high-impact, humanized services for both our employees and clients."

The platform solution for the newly joined company is designed to service the entirety of the learning experience from instructor & learner to institution or organization.

"We are the only organization taking this next-generation approach to learning," said Ms. O'Donnell.

The news comes on the tails of another year of immense growth for both companies, as they usher in a new era with a renewed commitment to the people that make learning happen every day.

About InSource Services Group

InSource Services Group (ISG) was founded in 2013 by Russell Seiter with the simple goal of improving outcomes in education through holistic engagement, removal of obstacles, and outstanding people-centric service. ISG is a proven and experienced managed services company that improves student outcomes and the adoption of education technology through exceptional support and service. To learn more please visit us at www.isgengage.com.

About O'Donnell Learn

O'Donnell Learn is the leading learning experience design firm dedicated to engaging learners by developing humanized, inclusive, social experiences. We partner with institutions and educators to reimagine the teaching and learning experience to center on the people involved and deliver successful outcomes at scale. For more information, please contact us at [email protected] or visit us at www.odlearn.com.



Contact: Stefanie Scott

O'Donnell Learn

Phone: (203) 973-0635

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE O'Donnell Learn; InSource Services Group
"For over 40 years, Our HGU-4/P Aviators have been built to the strict guidelines of MIL-S-25948J standards," says Randolph CEO, Peter Waskiewicz, "though our mil-spec Aviator frames have always been available to our consumers, the authentic military case was never released to civilians until now."

The Special Edition Military Collection features 12 SKUs of classic Aviator sunglasses in their most popular finishes, Matte Chrome and 23K Gold with the option of polarized and non-polarized SkyTec Glass iconic American Gray lenses. Each frame comes in three different sizes that include small (52mm), regular (55mm), and large (58mm) for the perfect fit. With each frame, you will receive an authentic, embossed military-issued case that features U.S. Military specification information, custom Randolph dog tag keychain, a military-inspired cleaning cloth and a historical informational insert.

"Today, we're still handcrafting each pair of sunglasses to military standard in our factory, just outside of Boston, MA," says Sarah Fawle, Chief Marketing Officer at Randolph. "We've even gained recognition from the White House who recently gifted custom military-style Randolph frames to noteworthy guests."

The Special Edition commemorates four decades of integrity, dedication, and service of the family-owned and operated factory. Randolph is proud to offer the authentic case and other unique military-inspired accessories along with its collection to be cherished and passed down from generation to generation as the Military-issued frames and cases have before.

ABOUT RANDOLPH ENGINEERING, INC.

Family owned and operated since 1973. RANDOLPH's mission is to provide the best sunglass ownership experience in the world, through uncompromised quality, exceptional customer service and impeccable engineering. Each frame is made by hand at RANDOLPH's Massachusetts facility in 200 steps and over 6 weeks to create their signature style and comfort. For over 40 years, RANDOLPH has also provided the US Military with military-spec Aviators, a contract they still hold today. Made by the extraordinary for the extraordinary.

Press Contact: Amy Bean

[email protected] | 1-800-541-1405

SOURCE Randolph Engineering, Inc.

Related Links

randolphusa.com


HARTFORD, Conn., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Saucey, a leading alcohol delivery platform that offers ASAP and scheduled deliveries straight to your doorstep, today announced the launch of its services in the state of Connecticut. The platform will now be available to adults across cities such as Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Milford, Fairfield, Danbury, New Milford and more.

With just a few taps on Saucey's on-demand delivery application or website, the people of Connecticut can now order a cold six-pack, a bottle of wine, their favorite spirits, mixers, tobacco products, and even snacks. Saucey - which is already available in New York City, Westchester and Boston - plans to continue expanding throughout the state of Connecticut later this year.

"We're excited to bring the convenience of Saucey to the great state of Connecticut," said Chris Vaughn, CEO and Founder of Saucey. "For years, people in this state have struggled with the fact that alcohol could only be purchased from certain stores on certain days at certain times. Since the global pandemic transformed the concept of delivery from an afterthought to routine, now seemed an exciting time to show CT the incredible selection Saucey has to offer, at the best prices in the state."

Known for fast delivery, unparalleled selection and industry-leading customer service, Saucey has expanded significantly since its launch in 2014. Through this past year specifically, the company has grown rapidly to meet the growing consumer demand, launching in major American cities like Atalnta, GA and Portland, OR.

With the addition of Connecticut, the company now operates in over 600 cities across 13 states. Current U.S. markets include: New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago, Washington D.C., Dallas, Austin, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Portland and Atlanta, among others.

To try out Saucey delivery in Connecticut, shop now at https://www.saucey.com/alcohol-delivery-connecticut

About Saucey

Since its launch in 2014, Saucey has transformed the alcohol-delivery industry through its dedication to offering top-notch customer service, the latest in proprietary last-mile logistics technology, and an unparalleled mountain of consumer insights that guide the way major alcohol players can reach new, untapped audiences. Currently available in major cities across the U.S., and rapidly expanding in additional markets throughout the country, Saucey not only provides for its customers, but also supports the independently-owned liquor and convenience stores that act as the sellers on its platform. Shop now at https://saucey.com .

SOURCE Saucey

Related Links

https://saucey.com


SYDNEY, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Symbio, part of industry-leading communications software and cloud infrastructure provider MNF Group (ASX: MNF), has officially launched its proprietary communications platform as a service (CPaaS) offering in Singapore.

The launch is significant for international businesses looking to grow their global footprint into Asia because it simplifies the technical infrastructure needed to gain a foothold in the market.

Symbio is the first fully interconnected carrier to build network capabilities in Singapore for more than 20 years, introducing an entirely new unified communications capability into a market largely controlled by incumbent telecommunications providers.

CEO of Symbio, Rene Sugo said: "Singapore is one of the most digitally competitive countries in the world but has lacked options when it comes to advanced unified communications solutions. Many businesses have been unable to expand into Asia because of complicated infrastructure and the inability to fuse their software with the required telco services.

"Symbio's technology removes that complexity and provides businesses with the building blocks for entry and success in market. We are the missing piece of the puzzle which will allow international businesses to grow in Singapore and the region," he said.

This expansion will be a boon for many large businesses which have enjoyed a strong period of innovation and are now looking to explore new territories.

Says Sugo: "Symbio brings decades of innovation and expertise alongside a proprietary technology stack that effectively bridges the gap between telecommunications and cloud software. Our offering provides increased choice and better-quality services for businesses while bringing healthy competition to the telecommunications sector."

Symbio's wholesale IP-network will enable nationwide calling and number porting so customers can easily move phone numbers off legacy networks and into the cloud. This will provide the freedom and flexibility to move numbers between providers to deliver advanced unified communication solutions.

The first step in Symbio's global growth story

Symbio's entry into Singapore is part of the company's wider plans for global expansion as the company capitalises on the global growth of unified communications (including CPaaS and UCaaS) which grew by nearly 30% in 2020[1].

A global hub for innovation, Singapore is a fast-growing region of Asia which offers significant commercial opportunities for Symbio to bring its Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) offering into new markets. However, the business has plans which extend beyond Singapore.

Sugo said: "Singapore is the first stop, but we plan to take our industry leading innovation and expertise to other countries as well. The pandemic has accelerated the global adoption of advanced unified communications services and heightened the role Symbio plays in unlocking those services for technology innovators and enabling them to do business in new markets.

This is just the beginning of a wider journey as we look to deliver our solutions and enable more businesses around the world to enhance their unified communications and make it easy for users to move into the telco space without relying on legacy providers."

About Symbio

Symbio helps service providers of all sizes to compete  and win  with software-enabled communications. Our software platform and cloud infrastructure make it easy to deliver communication services. Replacing carrier complexity with software scale and agility.

Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Symbio serves a global market with a focus on South East Asia. We are the trusted name behind more than 500 providers.

Symbio is part of the Australian Stock-Exchange listed MNF Group (ASX:MNF).

www.symbio.global

SOURCE MNF Group

Related Links

http://www.symbio.global


NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sprinklr, Inc (NYSE: CXM) today announced the company's second quarter of fiscal 2022 financial results will be released after market close on Thursday, September 9, 2021. The company's earnings press release will be made available on the Sprinklr Investor Relations website at investors.sprinklr.com .

Sprinklr will host a conference call to discuss its results at 5 pm ET the same day. Interested parties may register for and access the live webcast of the call at the Sprinklr Investor Relations website . To access the call by phone, dial 877-459-3955 (domestic) or 201-689-8588 (international). The conference ID number is 13721772. Following the call, a replay will be available at the same website.

About Sprinklr

Sprinklr is the unified platform for all customer-facing functions. We call it unified customer experience management (Unified-CXM). We help companies deliver human experiences to every customer, every time, across any modern channel, at a once-impossible scale. Headquartered in New York City with employees around the world, Sprinklr works with more than 1,000 of the world's most valuable enterprises  global brands like Microsoft, P&G, Samsung and more than 50% of the Fortune 100.

Investor Relations Contact

[email protected]

Press Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE Sprinklr
FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Storm Guard- an innovative and community driven roofing and construction brand- was recently named to Franchise Business Review's second annual "Culture100" list. The list recognizes the top 100 franchise brands in a 2021 report on the Best Franchise Cultures .

Founded in 2003, Storm Guard saw the demand for a company that specializes in roofing and construction. As a single location in Minnesota, Storm Guard found themselves traveling to help local communities that were devastated by natural disasters. After responding to a hurricane in Florida in 2012, the founders saw the need for their services all over the country and decided to turn it into a franchise. Today, Storm Guard has over 35 franchise locations across 17 different states. They are looking for dedicated and exceptional individuals to help continue their success throughout the nation.

Franchise Business Review , a franchise market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction, provides the only rankings of franchises based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes its rankings of top franchises in its annual Guide to Today's Top Franchises , as well as in special interest reports throughout the year that identify the top franchises in specific sectors.

Storm Guard was among 224 franchise brands, representing nearly 25,000 franchise owners that participated in Franchise Business Review's research on the best franchise cultures. Franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems. The brands that were selected received the highest overall ratings based on 12 questions specifically focused on leadership, core values, whether they enjoy being part of the organization, and would they recommend their franchise to others.

"The impact of the pandemic this past year on small businesses has put the spotlight on franchise culture more than ever," said Michelle Rowan, President and COO of Franchise Business Review. "Our research into hundreds of brands really shows which ones held up the best when rated by their franchise owners. The franchise companies that have the honor of being named to our Culture100 list are clearly among the best of the best franchise opportunities."

"We are incredibly proud of how strong the culture is at Storm Guard," said President of Storm Guard, Shane Lynch. "As with any company, the culture is carried out through the franchisees, which is why we look for people that are dedicated to helping their community rebuild after a disaster and to be a part of the Storm Guard family."

Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com to see the full list of the 2021 Best Franchise Cultures .

About Storm Guard:

Founded in 2003, Storm Guard saw the demand for a company that specializes in roofing and construction. As a single location in Minnesota, Storm Guard found themselves traveling to help local communities that were devastated by natural disasters. After responding to a hurricane in Florida in 2012, the founders saw the need for their services all over the country and decided to turn it into a franchise. Today, Storm Guard has over 35 franchise locations across 17 different states. They are looking for dedicated and exceptional individuals to help continue their success throughout the nation.

About Franchise Business Review:

Franchise Business Review (FBR) is a leading market research firm serving the franchise sector. FBR measures satisfaction and engagement of franchisees and publishes various guides and reports for entrepreneurs considering an investment in a franchise business. Since 2005, FBR has surveyed hundreds of thousands of franchise owners and over 1,100 leading franchise companies. To read our publications, visit https://franchisebusinessreview.com/page/publications/ . To learn more about FBR's research, please visit www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com

SOURCE Storm Guard

Related Links

http://www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com


In connection with Asociacion Crear, the Four Seasons, and Asociacion Creciendo Juntos https://creciendojuntoscr.org/ , Los Angeles teens, Benjamin (12 th grade) & his brother, Christopher (10 th grade), delivered books and lunches and built book libraries for youth throughout Costa Rica. Among the schools receiving the books were Escuela Guardia, Comunidad and Paso Tempisque in the Papagayo Peninsula and Samara. Benjamin shared, "It was eye-opening to see the school environment, the towns across Costa Rica, and the need for books and libraries. Beyond that was the connection with the youth of Costa Rica. The students were respectful, excited, and engaged., asking great questions and sharing the need for us to return with even more books!"

The youth in Costa Rica returned to school after 3+ years in an uncertain academic environment, including Covid and teacher strikes. It was a heart-warming experience where language was not a barrier. There is clearly a need for more books throughout Costa Rica, as well as the opportunity to continue to 'build bridges' with charitable givers in the US. The experience and discussions sparked inspiration for further service in these communities.

Benjamin and Christopher formed Books Build Bridges, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit, while volunteering at Los Angeles based Guadalupe Center. Ben observed many students did not have age-appropriate reading material. During COVID, and because of a surplus of 'free time' to collect books, Ben collected tens of thousands of books! He donated them to the Guadalupe Center, foster children resource centers, Catholic Charities of America, and women's centers. Still, more books remained. "The number of books donated became almost overwhelming. We had no idea the desire of people to get involved and help," said Benjamin.

Benjamin researched and identified communities in Costa Rica that needed books, so the planning began. Ben & Chris also collected money to donate book mailboxes in connection with Asociacion Crear (https://www.asociacioncrear.org/). They will continue to work with local communities to collect, sort and distribute books throughout the US, Costa Rica and beyond. Next in the planning is a book collection event with the Calabasas Senior Center and Chaminade.

To get involved, learn more, or donate, go to www.booksbuildbridges.com or contact Ben at [email protected].

SOURCE Books Build Bridges, Inc.

Related Links

booksbuildbridges.com


The amicus brief argues the New York Court of Appeals "should reform the law in this case." Tweet this

Happy is a 50-year-old Asian elephant who has been held in captivity since 1977 in a one-acre exhibit in the Bronx Zoo, which is managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society. For the last 15 years Happythe first elephant in the world to demonstrate self-awareness via the mirror test and the first to have habeas corpus hearings to determine the lawfulness of her imprisonmenthas lived without the company of other elephants. In May of this year, New York's highest court agreed to consider the NhRP's arguments in support of Happy's legal personhood and right to liberty, marking the first time in history that the highest court of any English-speaking jurisdiction will hear a habeas corpus case brought on behalf of someone other than a human being.

"What philosophy and, more recently, science have understood but the law has not," Professor Nussbaum writes, "is that elephants are sentient beings who can feel emotion, foster relationships, create communities, and form a conception of the self  This Court has the opportunity to create legal precedent that provides these living creatures the legal right to thrive and survive in ways that coincide with their specific capabilities, and prevent not only the infliction of physical pain, but emotional and psychological injury as well."

Professor Nussbaum is the Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics, appointed in the Law School and Philosophy Department of the University of Chicago, and a recipient of the 2016 Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy, the 2018 Berggruen Prize, and the 2021 Holberg Prize.

Professor Nussbaum's brief criticizes the lower court decisions that denied personhood and the right to liberty to the NhRP's chimpanzee clients Tommy and Kiko and urges the Court of Appeals to adopt the Capabilities Approach to personhood as developed by Professor Nussbaum and Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen. As detailed in the brief, this approach "embraces the idea that society should examine the capacities of each creature and embrace the approach that a whole life for a creature includes the ability for love, grief, and self-recognition."

Happy's case has also received support from experts in elephant behavior cognition and behavior; philosophy; habeas corpus; Catholic theology; and animal law, including ElephantVoices' Dr. Joyce Poole and legal scholar and Harvard Law School Professor Laurence H. Tribe. In February of 2020, Bronx Supreme Court Justice Alison Y. Tuitt issued a decision that was powerfully supportive of the NhRP's arguments, concluding that Happy "is more than just a legal thing, or property. She is an intelligent, autonomous being who should be treated with respect and dignity, and who may be entitled to liberty."

Alongside the NhRP's litigation, its grassroots advocacy campaign on behalf of Happy has gained significant momentum, drawing the support and attention of elected officials such as New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, influential public figures such as Queen guitarist Brian May and actress Mia Farrow, and animal advocates in New York and around the world. In October 2019, Mayor Bill de Blasio commented on Happy's plight, telling WNYC "something doesn't feel right" about keeping Happy in the Bronx Zoo. A Change.org petition calling for Happy's release from solitary confinement has 1.4 million signatures and continues to grow.

The NhRP will file its next brief in Happy's case on Sept. 7th. Oral arguments have not yet been scheduled. For a detailed timeline of Happy's case, court filings, and decisions, visit this page. To download the above image of Happy, visit this page (credit: Gigi Glendinning).

CASE NO./NAME: THE NONHUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT, INC. on behalf of HAPPY, Petitioner, v. JAMES J. BREHENY, in his official capacity as Executive Vice President and General Director of Zoos and Aquariums of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Director of the Bronx Zoo, and WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY (Appellate Case No. 2020-02581)

About the Nonhuman Rights Project

The Nonhuman Rights Project is the only civil rights organization in the United States working through litigation, legislation, and education to secure fundamental rights for nonhuman animals.

SOURCE Nonhuman Rights Project

Related Links

nonhumanrightsproject.org


On Friday, Humble Design will provide charitable services to its 2,000th client emerging from a homeless shelter. With the help of passionate volunteers, Humble Design does this by transforming empty residences into clean, dignified and welcoming homes through its free professional design services and the repurposing of gently used furnishings donated by the community.

Humble Design Chicago is celebrating this milestone with a special home "deco" and reveal on Aug. 27. Humble Design teams in Cleveland, Detroit, San Diego and Seattle  where it also operates  will hold events as well to mark 2,000 clients.

U-Haul, a national partner of Humble Design since 2016, will serve as the 2K Family Sponsor. Media is encouraged to attend.

CHICAGO 2,000th CLIENT EVENT

WHAT Reveal of furnished home for a veteran emerging from homelessness WHEN 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27 WHERE 1501 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60657 DETAILS Mark is a local Navy veteran on a limited income. He obtained housing recently in a senior building, but unfortunately had to vacate that space. Mark couldn't bring any furniture and has very few possessions with him to make his new place feel like a real home. That's where Humble Design Chicago will step in and lift him up. MEDIA RSVP Julie Dickinson at (773) 715-1998 or [email protected]

"It is such a joy to say 'thank you for your service' to veterans by transforming their empty houses into fully furnished homes," said Julie Dickinson, Director of Humble Design Chicago. "So many of our veterans have experienced the trauma of war, and we know the impact one's environment has on mental health. We see it every week. At Humble Design, we create homes for the veterans that reflect them, to serve as a refuge and healing space.

"We'd be hard-pressed to do what we do without our partner CB2, which is transforming the perception of home design, and has been such a wonderful city sponsor here in Chicago; and U-Haul, which provides not only our warehouse space and our moving truck, but has fully funded this 2,000th home celebration across all five Humble Design cities."

Humble Design furnished its 1,000th home in early 2019, nearly 10 years after the project began. Demand and impact have increased dramatically since then as the charity served its second 1,000 clients in two years thanks to expansion and local sponsorships that have ensured sustainability in more markets. CB2 proudly serves as the city sponsor for Humble Design Chicago.

Families take a personal stake in their newly furnished homes, leading to a remarkable success rate  99 percent to receive Humble Design's services have escaped the cycle of homelessness. Clients are referred by designated services that work with local shelters.

"U-Haul is proud to sponsor the 2000th family served by Humble Design because we recognize what it means for a family to move forward towards a new life," stated Sebastien Reyes, U-Haul Vice President of Communications and Humble Design Board Chair. "Every one of us associated with this mission believes in the power of a bed and a roof overhead to change lives."

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, corporate sponsorships, furniture donations or making a financial gift, please visit humbledesign.org.

About Humble Design

Humble Design is a Detroit-born nonprofit that helps families transitioning out of homeless shelters by providing furnishings and design services. The organization turns empty houses into clean, dignified and welcoming homes  a very simple idea that can change a family's future. Founded in 2009, the organization primarily serves single parents with children and veterans. Humble Design has brought nobility to nearly 2,000 families nationally through its chapters in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, San Diego and Seattle. humbledesign.org

About CB2

CB2 is transforming the perception of home design for today's modern consumer by offering high quality, sophisticated design at an approachable price. The brand is today's destination for timeless yet edgy home collections, creating furniture and decor to inspire creativity and celebrate individuality. In addition to being a leader in online retail, CB2 is expanding its physical footprint and currently has 22 locations across the U.S and Canada. CB2 is part of Crate and Barrel Holdings, which is owned by The Otto Group, a global retail and services group based in Hamburg, Germany. cb2.com

About U-Haul

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 23,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 176,000 trucks, 126,000 trailers and 46,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 812,000 rentable storage units and 70.5 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S., and continues to be the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul has been recognized repeatedly as a leading "Best for Vets" employer and was recently named one of the 15 Healthiest Workplaces in America. uhaul.com

Contact:

Jeff Lockridge

Sebastien Reyes

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 602-760-4941

Website: uhaul.com

SOURCE Humble Design

Related Links

http://uhaul.com

http://humbledesign.org

http://cb2.com


WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventy-one percent of consumers (71%) enjoy co-branding partnerships, according to a new survey report from Visual Objects , a visual guide to finding and hiring the best creative firms.

Visual Objects surveyed 501 consumers in the U.S. about how they respond to brand partnerships and co-branding.

Visual Objects finds that 71% of consumers enjoy co-branded partnerships. More than half of consumers (61%) avoid buying from brands with negative reputations, according to Visual Objects.

Surveyed consumers had various reasonings for supporting co-branding initiatives. In most cases, people are excited about having new product options. Some are also attracted to brand partnerships because the new products solve unique problems and add value.

Brands partner and share risk to widen their audiences, solidify consumer trust, and generate more sales. Audience interest in brand partnerships strongly encourages co-branding opportunities for consumer-driven businesses.

Negative Brand Reputations Damage Partnerships

While consumers generally support businesses that team up, a negative reputation can destroy a healthy brand partnership.

Sixty-one percent of U.S. consumers (61%) will avoid buying from brands with negative reputations.

Even if one company maintains a positive reputation, a partner's negative reputation can damage them. Failing to align on core values and target audiences could hurt the reputations of all members of a co-branding effort.

Terri Rockovich, co-founder and CEO of kibble brand Jinx , recommends being discerning in the early stages of choosing a brand partner to select a complementary team.

"The best collaborations are those that truly bring value to both sides, elevating the values of the other and complementing each other's offerings with something unique that is created through the partnership."

Rockovich says that entering a co-branding partnership "inextricably links" brands together. This can be powerful but also comes with potential pitfalls.

Loyal Customers Remain Most Important

When setting up a brand partnership, companies should aim to appeal to loyal customers just as much, if not more, than new customers.

Visual Objects found that 43% of consumers would try a co-branded product from a company they already liked.

Additional research shows that increasing customer retention rates by 5% can increase profits by up to 95% .

John Li, co-founder and CTO of loan provider Fig Loans , finds that co-branding is an ideal way to reengage loyal customers through new products.

"Co-branding can help loyal customers venture out and try new products," Li said. "If they already have trust and loyalty with you, they're more likely to trust your recommendations."

Read the full report: https://visualobjects.com/digital-marketing/blog/cobranding .

For questions about the survey, contact Sydney Wess at [email protected].

About Visual Objects

Visual Objects is your visual guide to finding and hiring the best B2B service provider. A sister website of Clutch, the leading B2B services review platform, Visual Objects features portfolio items and client reviews of top creative, design, development, and marketing companies from around the world.

Contact

Sydney Wess

[email protected]

(202) 350-4344

SOURCE Visual Objects
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"High quality care for Americans with disabilities is intrinsically linked to adequate resources for caregivers and service providers," said Julia Su, Deputy Secretary of Labor, during a White House roundtable with parents and staff from AHRC New York City . "We want to care for those who give the care and receive the care." Watch the roundtable here.

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) assist people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities with daily activities, employment supports and community engagement.They help individuals gain independence. Over 4.5 million people work in direct support, according to a 2017 workforce report to the President.The majority of DSPs are women and people of color.

The meeting focused on the Biden administration's Better Care Better Jobs Act, which includes:

Enhancing Medicaid funding for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)

Strengthening and expanding access to HCBS

Promoting recruitment and retention of Direct Support Professionals

DSPs Deserve Better

New York State's nonprofit providers employ over 100,000 DSPs. Investing in the care economy is crucial, said Marco Damiani, CEO of AHRC NYC. "The human services field needs greatly enhanced resources now more than ever and deserves recognition for the indispensible value that they provide to individuals with disabilities, families and their communities. The Better Care Better Jobs Act proposes a once in a generation investment that will make our nation a better place to live."

In New York State, 93 percent of providers have seen a drop in applications in the first quarter of 2021 for DSP positions, according to a recent New York Disabilities Advocates report. The workforce shortage adds to uncertainty for people with disabilities and their families.

Many DSPs are unable to support their families on their salaries. Michael Iteme, a DSP with AHRC NYC, explained what keeps him in the field for 13 years. "This is my passion  caring for people."

Iteme, like many in the field, holds two full-time jobs to support his family. "Out of the 80 hours, I work four 16-hour shifts every single week," he said. "There are some weeks I work 96 hours. It should not have to be this way."

"We have a crisis that has been escalating during the last 10 years on Staten Island, in New York and across the United States," said Laura Kennedy, whose adult daughter has a developmental disability and lives in an AHRC NYC group home. Kennedy serves on the Board of Directors of AHRC NYC and the Arc. "The staff salaries don't match the important work they do. It is difficult to recruit and retain staff."

Founded in 1948, AHRC New York City is a family governed organization committed to supporting people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities to grow more independent and lead full lives.

Media Contact: Dylan Watton, [email protected], 646-951-3630

SOURCE AHRC New York City

Related Links

http://www.ahrcnyc.org


BRONX, N.Y., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) have been awarded a five-year, $14.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue leading and expand their research on HIV treatment and care in five Central African nations.

The new award builds on previous NIH-funded work by the Central Africa International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (CA-IeDEA), a large-scale study involving more than forty researchers and tens of thousands of patients living with HIV/AIDS in Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. The effort began more than a decade ago and has been co-led by Kathryn Anastos, M.D., professor of medicine, of epidemiology & public health, of obstetrics & gynecology and women's health at Einstein, co-director emerita of the Global Health Center, and an internist at Montefiore Health System.

CA-IeDEA is one of seven regional centers that belong to a larger global research consortium, the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA). The IeDEA teams consolidate and analyze vast amounts of health data so that researchers can study high-priority questions on HIV treatment and care. CA-IeDEA focuses on determining successful strategies that lead to improved outcomes for people living with HIV. These approaches include timely diagnosis and enrollment into care, engaging and keeping patients in care, and rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to reduce the risk of death and further transmission of the virus.

More than 86,000 people have enrolled in CA-IeDEA at participating sites in the five countries since the program was launched in 2006. There are nearly 40,000 people currently receiving HIV care at 21 CA-IeDEA sites. The five countries that comprise the center are among those with the greatest burden of HIV infection in the world.

In addition to Dr. Anastos, the two other principal investigators on the new CA-IeDEA grant are Marcel Yotebieng, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H. associate professor of medicine at Einstein, and Denis Nash, Ph.D., M.P.H., distinguished professor of epidemiology and executive director of the Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health (ISPH) at CUNY SPH.

Combating HIV/AIDS in Central Africa

The grant will provide continued support for CA-IeDEA's existing projects and fund three new initiatives: the collection of data on cardiovascular and other noncommunicable diseases to understand how these conditions affect older African adults living with HIV; a research program for adolescents living with HIV, including those who were infected around the time of birth; and studies of people co-infected with tuberculosis that will measure lung function impairment and risk of recurrence after successful treatment.

"This new award will allow us to expand our clinical reach and research focus, enrolling more children and adults with HIV/AIDS who visit health clinics in urban and rural areas in our five partner countries," Dr. Anastos said. "Our overall goal is to increase access to HIV services and improve outcomes for patients, including not only successful initiation of ART, but also diagnosis and treatment of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases."

Researchers will share anonymized data sets with public health experts and non-governmental organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO). "Larger samples from a variety of patients can help us understand critical questions," said Dr. Yotebieng. "For example, what are the experiences of adolescents living with AIDS, how do they transition to adult care, and how can they benefit more from treatments? A major aim we have is leveraging implementation science approacheslooking at ways services are delivered, what gaps exist, and how to close them."

Mentoring Researchers

A key part of the grant supports training local scientists and building capacity to sustain research initiatives. "In any country, it takes decades to 'grow' a new community of researchers, and it requires an infrastructure that can nurture them," said Dr. Anastos. "We're putting in place a system to mentor and provide statistical and study design assistance to junior investigators in Africa, so they can ask and answer the questions they want to tackle."

Multiregional research

Dr. Nash will lead the team's involvement in multiregional research that includes assessing the varying success rates of antiretroviral therapy across the seven IeDEA regions. This has included CA-IeDEA's leadership in assessing "Treat All," the 2015 World Health Organization guidelines to treat all individuals upon diagnosis of HIV regardless of CD4 cell count, as well as the development of IeDEA's consensus statement on research priorities to optimize the guideline's impact on people living with HIV.

The CA-IeDEA team is also seeking additional funding to examine the influence of climate change on HIV care and outcomes among the more than 2 million patients who have enrolled at IeDEA-participating sites in 44 countries since 2004. The team will compare data on global temperature and rainfall with that from IeDEA to determine the effect of extreme weather, if any, on patients. "National governments, normative bodies, and global funders, including WHO, UNAIDS, and PEPFAR, have not adequately factored climate-related data into short- and long-term planning, largely because studies like the one we are planning have not been done," said Dr. Nash. The grant is titled "Central Africa International Epidemiology databases to Evaluate Aids" (2U01AI096299-13).

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2020-21 academic year, Einstein is home to 721 M.D. students, 178 Ph.D. students, 109 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 265 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 1,900 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2020, Einstein received more than $197 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States through Montefiore and an affiliation network involving hospitals and medical centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island. For more information, please visit einsteinmed.org, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook , and view us on YouTube.

About the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) is committed to teaching, research and service that creates a healthier New York City and helps promote equitable, efficient and evidence-based solutions to pressing health problems facing cities around the world. For more information, visit sph.cuny.edu. Twitter @CUNYSPH.

SOURCE Albert Einstein College of Medicine
SUZHOU, China, and ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and age-related diseases, today announced its 2021 interim results and released an update on the recent progress in clinical development, strategic partnerships, and preparation for commercialization.

During the reporting period, Ascentage Pharma achieved significant progress in areas including clinical development, strategic partnerships, and intellectual properties. In particular, the company reported clinical results on its lead drug candidates in oral presentations at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, validating the promising clinical utility and first/best-in-class potential of its late-stage assets. In strategic collaborations, Ascentage Pharma entered into a major partnership with Innovent Biologics (or "Innovent"), setting the precedence of a large-scale multifaceted collaboration between two leading Chinese innovative biopharmaceutical companies.

Rapidly advancing clinical development with commitment to global innovation

In the first half of 2021, Ascentage Pharma continued to increase its investment in innovation, with the research and development expenses increased by 26.3% year on year, to RMB318 million. The company has rapidly advanced its global clinical development programs, and is currently conducting over 40 Phase I/II clinical trials in the United States, Australia, Europe, and China. Meanwhile, the company has further strengthened its portfolio of intellectual properties, paving the way for its accelerating research and development. As of June 30, the company has 144 issued patents and more than 510 patent applications globally, among of which, 110 patents are issued overseas.

In the six months ended June 30, 2021, Ascentage Pharma has rapidly advanced its drug candidates in clinical development. The third pivotal Phase II study of the company's lead drug candidate, HQP1351 (olverembatinib), in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) resistant/intolerant to first- and second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), has already completed its patient enrollment. In March 2021, a Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the indication was granted to HQP1351 by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), accelerating the future development of regulatory approval of the product. HQP1351 is the first China-developed third-generation BCR-ABL inhibitor developed for the treatment of patients with TKI-resistant CML, and is designed to effectively target BCR-ABL mutants, including T315I. Prior to the reporting period, the company has already submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) for HQP1351 in China and was subsequently granted the Priority Review status by the CDE.

Lisaftoclax (APG-2575), the first China-developed selective Bcl-2 inhibitor entering clinical development in China, was cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2021 to enter a clinical study evaluating the drug candidate as a single agent or in combination with other antitumor therapies for the treatment of patients with advanced estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer or other solid tumors. APG-2575 is currently being investigated in 17 clinical studies in a range of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, and has thus far showed enormous therapeutic potential.

During the reporting period, the MDM2-p53 inhibitor alrizomadlin (APG-115) was granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for the treatment of stage IIB-IV melanoma, marking the fifth ODD granted the product. In total, Ascentage Pharma has obtained twelve ODDs, which is a new record in the number of ODDs granted to any Chinese biopharmaceutical company and a manifestation of the company's capabilities in global innovation.

Demonstrating the therapeutic utility of lead assets with a focus on delivering clinical values

As a global leader in the development of apoptosis-targeting therapies, Ascentage Pharma has continued to demonstrate its capabilities in global innovation by attracting widespread interest at major scientific events and delivering impressive progress with the clinical development of its apoptosis-targeting drug candidates.

In an oral presentation at the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting, Ascentage Pharma reported updated results from the first-in-human study evaluating the Bcl-2 inhibitor APG-2575, another core drug candidate of the company's apoptosis-targeting pipeline, in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (R/R CLL/SLL) and other hematologic malignancies. These results of APG-2575 demonstrated favorable preliminary safety and efficacy, including an objective response rate (ORR) of 80%, and a good tolerability profile with manageable adverse events (AEs). Moreover, no dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed at the maximum tested dose of 1,200 mg. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) has not been reached, and no laboratory or clinical tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) has been reported. These data are indictive of APG-2575's potential as an alternative treatment with clear best-in-class potential.

In another oral presentation at the ASCO Annual Meeting, the company released updated results from a Phase II study of APG-115, which is also a lead candidate in Ascentage Pharma's apoptosis-targeting pipeline, in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma or advanced solid tumors that have progressed on prior immuno-oncologic (IO) drugs. These results demonstrated a manageable safety profile and meaningful clinical antitumor activity, including one patient with a complete response (CR), an objective response rate (ORR) of 24.1% and a disease control rate (DCR) of 55.2%. In addition, partial responses (PRs) were reported in enrolled patients with other tumor types. These results showed APG-115's potential as a first-in-class therapy for patients resistant or refractory to prior IO drugs. Furthermore, the preclinical results of APG-115 published in the renowned scientific journal, Nature Immunology, in March this year has demonstrated MDM2's pivotal biological role in T-cell stability, survival, and antitumor immunity, potentially laying a foundation for synergistic effects between MDM2-targeted agents such as APG-115 and cancer immunotherapy.

Expanding external collaborations through multiple new landmark partnerships

In the first six months of 2021, Ascentage Pharma entered into a landmark strategic partnership with Innovent, setting a new partnering model between innovative biopharmaceutical companies in China. According to the terms of the agreement, the two companies will jointly develop and commercialize one of Ascentage Pharma lead drug candidates, the third-generation BCR-ABL inhibitor, HQP1351; jointly develop Ascentage Pharma's Bcl-2 inhibitor, APG-2575, in combination with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection), co-developed by Innovent and Eli Lilly and Company, and Innovent's anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody, letaplimab (IBI188). Moreover, the two companies agreed that Innovent will subscribe to Ascentage Pharma's common shares for a total consideration of US$50 million at HK$44.0 per share (subscription completed), and to grant Innovent stock warrants that will allow it to acquire additional Ascentage Pharma's common shares for a total consideration of US$50 million at a subscription price of HK$57.2 per share (pending approval at shareholder meeting). Having entered this strategic collaboration that created a new partnering model for the development of innovative therapies, the two companies will collaborate in every possible manner to accelerate the introduction of China-developed innovative therapies to the world and bring clinical benefit to more patients in need.

While building win-win partnerships in China, Ascentage Pharma has actively sought new partners overseas. To accelerate its global innovation, the company has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the world-leading research institute, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), to collaborate on the non-clinical and clinical development of Ascentage Pharma's drug compound APG-1252 (pelcitoclax). This collaboration with the NCI will help Ascentage Pharma to maximize the clinical potential of APG-1252 in solid tumors and further strengthen the company's pipeline.

Also during the reporting period, Ascentage Pharma received another milestone payment from its global licensee, UNITY Biotechnology, after UNITY reported positive data from a Phase I clinical study of the senolytic drug candidate UBX1325, and dosed the first patient in the subsequent Phase IIa clinical study. In the future, Ascentage Pharma will continue to work closely with UNITY in the development anti-aging drugs that will bring hope to patients around the world.

Steady progress in commercialization and industrialization in preparation for upcoming product launches

To support the company's commercialization activities and the rollout of its global strategies, Ascentage Pharma commenced the construction of its Global Headquarters, R&D center, and manufacturing facility in November 2019. Since then, the construction has progressed rapidly and the facility will likely to be ready for operations later this year to accelerate the company's transition from a clinical-stage biotech into a full-fledged global biopharmaceutical company, further extending the company's global outreach. While entering into the agreement with Innovent on the joint commercialization of HQP1351, Ascentage Pharma has built a commercial team processing a strong track record in the field of hematology. This talented team is currently in all-out preparation for the upcoming launch of the company's lead drug candidate HQP1351, laying down a solid foundation that will enable the future commercial success.

Dr. Dajun Yang, Chairman & CEO of Ascentage Pharma, commented: "In the first half of 2021, Ascentage Pharma achieved tremendous progress in clinical development, external collaborations, and commercialization preparation. Clinical progress with two of our lead apoptotic assets, APG-2575 and APG-115, reported in oral presentations at this year's ASCO Annual Meeting, demonstrated our robust progress in research and development, and further validated the clinical value and potential of our assets. Meanwhile, we entered into a large-scale multifaceted strategic collaboration with Innovent. This collaboration will generate strong tailwind to the commercialization of our lead compound, HQP1351, and the clinical development of APG-2575. The equity investment from Innovent signifies strong recognition of our R&D capabilities and our growth potential.

Moving forward, we will press ahead with the commercialization of HQP1351 and reach the milestone of our first commercial launch as soon as possible. We will continue to accelerate our clinical programs globally and steadfastly implement our global innovation strategy. To move us closer to realizing the mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world, we will strive to bring more safe and effective therapies to patients and to create additional value for our shareholders."

About Ascentage Pharma

Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) is a globally focused biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B, and age-related diseases. On October 28, 2019, Ascentage Pharma was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code: 6855.HK.

Ascentage Pharma focuses on developing therapeutics that inhibit protein-protein interactions to restore apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The company has built a pipeline of eight clinical drug candidates, including novel, highly potent Bcl-2, and dual Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors, as well as candidates aimed at IAP and MDM2-p53 pathways, and next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Ascentage Pharma is also the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators. The company is conducting more than 40 Phase I/II clinical trials in the US, Australia, Europe, and China. Ascentage Pharma has been designated for multiple Major National R&D Projects, including five Major New Drug Projects, one New Drug Incubator status, four Innovative Drug Programs, and one Major Project for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases. HQP1351, the company's core drug candidate developed for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), has been granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and a Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the US FDA. A New Drug Application (NDA) for HQP1351 has been submitted and subsequently granted Priority Review status and a Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) in China. To date, Ascentage Pharma has obtained a total of 12 ODDs from the US FDA for 4 of the company's investigational drug candidates.

Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights, and entered into global partnerships with numerous renowned biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and research institutes such as UNITY Biotechnology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MSD, and AstraZeneca. The company has built a talented team with global experience in the discovery and development of innovative drugs, and is setting up its world-class commercial manufacturing and Sales & Marketing teams. Ascentage Pharma aims to continuously strengthen its R&D capabilities and accelerate its clinical development programs to fulfil its mission of 'addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world' for the benefit of more patients.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions may alter in light of future development.

SOURCE Ascentage Pharma

Related Links

http://www.ascentagepharma.com


LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Athos Therapeutics, Inc., a late preclinical stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of first-in-class precision therapeutics for patients with immune-mediated diseases, announced today a comprehensive Master Research Agreement for a collaborative project on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) with Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. This collaboration will advance the use of systems biology and computational science for precision medicine in IBD, for conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

IBD is a chronic complex disease resulting from the dysregulation of the immune system triggered by genetic, epigenetic, microbial, and environmental factors. Medications currently prescribed for IBD have limited efficacy, multiple and potentially serious side effects, and do not take into consideration IBD patient subtypes. It is now clear that a systems biology approach can be used to properly characterize the heterogeneity of IBD at the molecular level. This approach can stratify IBD patients into specific molecular subtypes and enable the development of precision (custom-made) therapeutics.

Athos to perform a molecular analysis of patient samples from the Cleveland Clinic Tweet this

"Currently available drugs for IBD intervene primarily on the inflammatory response of the condition and, although patients may experience clinical improvement, there is a progressive decline of therapeutic efficacy that requires the need to switch to other medications with unpredictable outcomes," said Dimitrios Iliopoulos, PhD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of Athos. "Therefore, the field of IBD is in need of new approaches that can provide precise, long-lasting and safe therapeutic options for the millions of patients with IBD," he added. "Our collaboration is designed to identify actionable and specific IBD pathology stratifications by leveraging a large volume of highly annotated IBD biosamples to be used in our proprietary computational and systems biology approach."

"This collaboration represents a significant shift and a major advance in the therapeutics of IBD based on precision medicine that will accelerate the development of personalized, safer and more effective drugs for IBD and other autoimmune diseases," said Allan J. Pantuck, MD, MS, Chairman and Chief Medical Officer of Athos. "We look forward to working closely with Cleveland Clinic to work towards improving outcomes for patients with IBD."

"Cleveland Clinic is internationally recognized as a leader in the care of patients with IBD," said Claudio Fiocchi, M.D, of Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute. "This collaborative research will help to implement precision medicine for patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis."

About Athos Therapeutics

Athos Therapeutics Inc. is a late-stage preclinical biotech company developing small molecule therapeutics for immune-mediated diseases using artificial intelligence-generated innovative chemistry and computational platforms. The co-founders of Athos include one of the founders of Kite Pharma (acquired for $12B), the medicinal chemist behind two multi-billion-dollar FDA-approved drugs (Xtandi & Erleada), and the discoverer of the miR-124 drug target, currently in a Phase III IBD trial. Athos identifies novel drug targets (hubs) by integrating clinical and molecular datasets into the biological network of a disease (the disease interactome) and matches them to its small molecule computational chemistry platform. ATH-63, the Company's lead drug compound, is moving into a Phase I human clinical trials for patients with IBD in Q12022 at the Cleveland Clinic. Other Athos' pipeline programs include drugs for lupus and various types of cancers.

SOURCE Athos Therapeutics

Related Links

https://athostx.com/


Ms. Cokley Dunlap comes to Bed Bath & Beyond from Macy's Inc., where she held roles with increasing levels of leadership responsibilities across Bloomingdale's and Macy's Inc. in human resources, employee giving, diversity and inclusion, and store management. She served as Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion Strategy since 2019 and built strategies that helped drive diversity, engagement, performance, and business growth. Before that, she was Bloomingdale's Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion, Employee Giving and Human Resources Business Partner. Ms. Cokley Dunlap also serves as Co-President of BRAG, a non-profit organization that prepares and educates people of color for executive leadership roles in retail, fashion and related industries.

As part of its ESG strategy, Bed Bath & Beyond made a commitment to become a Top 10 retail employer by 2030 by creating an equitable, inclusive work environment where all associates feel at home and can thrive. The Company has set diversity, equity, and inclusion goals to reach at least 50% women representation and at least 25% racial and/or ethnic diversity at all levels by this time. Ms. Cokley Dunlap will oversee the strategy and execution of these goals as well as partner across the enterprise to build stronger relationships with customer communities and diverse business vendors. Nicole's focus on implementing programs that drive inclusion and belonging will further advance the Company's people-powered focus as well as create and sustain its talent engine.

Ms. Markoe commented, "Nicole is a consummate leader with tremendous relationships and expertise in DE & I and will help us deliver change that is needed within our company and the communities we serve. Building our community, both inside and outside the company, is of paramount importance as we execute against Bed Bath & Beyond's transformation plans. One of our five key practices in our strategic transformation framework is championing diversity and community, and we are pleased to appoint a Chief Diversity Officer as talented and proven as Nicole."

Ms. Cokley Dunlap said, "As a values-driven company, I am excited to be a part of Bed Bath and Beyond's transformation to advance the DE&I goals. With an emphasis on associates, customers and communities, I look forward to working across the organization to optimize DE&I initiatives to drive innovation and business results.

About Bed Bath & Beyond

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") is an omnichannel retailer that makes it easy for our customers to feel at home. The Company sells a wide assortment of merchandise in the Home, Baby, Beauty and Wellness markets. Additionally, the Company is a partner in a joint venture which operates retail stores in Mexico under the name Bed Bath & Beyond.

The Company operates websites at bedbathandbeyond.com, bedbathandbeyond.ca, buybuybaby.com, buybuybaby.ca, harmondiscount.com, facevalues.com, and decorist.com.

SOURCE Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.
HAMILTON, BERMUDA, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA), the official destination marketing organisation for the island, has announced a move to review and reposition Bermuda's brand. It has appointed new partner agencies to help drive the post-pandemic recovery and has renewed relationships with two existing partners. Boston-based Proverb, an agency focused on "building powerful brands and creating a more thoughtful world", was selected to conduct a comprehensive data-informed brand study to guide the next iteration of the Bermuda brand story for the island's international market. MMGY Hills Balfour, which will service Bermuda's UK and European market needs, has been tapped to amplify the new brand messaging for the region. Local advertising agency, AAC will serve as the local support for the brand study led by Proverb.

The selection process included local and international requests for proposals. The brand study local selection committee was comprised of industry stakeholders, marketing, and brand experts. BTA Chief Executive, Charles H. Jeffers II said, "Our team understands the need to revisit the way our brand is presented to the world and has found partners who have demonstrated the requisite experience to execute on our objectives. We are focused on authenticity and telling our story in ways that truly reflect who we are and what we have to offer in ways that connect with our visitors across the world." Jeffers continued, "Critical to our recovery as a destination is a fresh approach to how we engage not only our potential and returning visitors, but also our local stakeholders, community and Bermudians around the globe. And we envision Bermuda's people and culture will be at the centre of our marketing efforts as we rebuild tourism. Our partners will help guide the brand direction and messaging using data gleaned."

To reorient the brand, BTA has brought onboard Proverb, a creative agency with deep connections to the destination  Proverb's founder and managing director Daren Bascome is a Bermudian. The agency has produced award-winning brand campaigns for destinations, properties and institutions employing a philosophy that prioritises data while incorporating the humanity and purpose of a brand. Proverb will develop a new brand study for the island integrating local and international expertise to provide recommendations that will guide the island's tourism strategies over the next several years. The brand strategy will be informed by research and will build an understanding of the Bermuda brand with the overarching goal of helping Bermuda differentiate from competitors and appeal to travellers, maximising visitation year-round.

"Bermuda is a place of rich history, natural beauty, vibrant culture, and meaningful community," said Bascome. "I'm thrilled by the opportunity to help shape and expand the story of our island to inspire visitors."

MMGY Hills Balfour has been appointed as its in-market representative office for the UK & Europe, following a competitive pitch process. As representation specialists with over 20 years' experience, MMGY Hills Balfour will implement an integrated PR, marketing, MICE, and social media strategy for Bermuda, including creative strategy, media buying and research. The London-based agency will adopt a data-driven approach combined with compelling storytelling to strengthen destination awareness and increase intent to visit Bermuda from the UK & Ireland. Notably, MMGY Hills Balfour has authentic Bermuda roots; Amanda Hills, the agency's president, was born and raised on the island.

"MMGY Hills Balfour has a longstanding relationship with Bermuda since we first represented the destination in 2003," Hills said. "Having grown up in Bermuda and previously worked closely with the Ministry of Tourism, I am personally excited to be working with the BTA again. We look forward to curating impactful campaigns that inform, inspire and welcome visitors to discover this incredible island."

"We are delighted to be working with MMGY Hills Balfour to promote Bermuda in the UK," said Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO, Charles Jeffers II. "The UK is our third-largest market after the US and Canada. In 2019 the island welcomed 21,641 UK visitors by air while UK cruise passengers were up 30 percent YOY. The introduction of British Airway's London Heathrow to Bermuda route earlier this year opens us up for expansion into the European market. And we are confident that this partnership can help us leverage the opportunities that emerge. MMGY Hills Balfour's exceptional team brings a wealth of experience to the table, and we look forward to developing a successful partnership with them."

"With the engagement of Proverb alongside Bermuda-based AAC, MMGY Hills Balfour and TURNER Public Relations agency for the United States and Reach for Canada, all of Bermuda's key feeder markets are supported by full-service agencies," Jeffers said. "As we move forward with these skilled partners, we are confident that Bermuda will reclaim its place as a leading tourism destination."

About Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA)

The Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) is an award-winning, accredited destination marketing organisation that promotes Bermuda internationally and works to empower our tourism industry stakeholders. Explore Bermuda's National Tourism Plan at BermudaNTP.com.

About Proverb

Proverb Agency, founded in 1997 is an award-winning, brand-building agency, Proverb partners with municipalities, economic development agencies, commercial real estate developers, anchor institutions, and other organizations to transform the built environment. It is known for creating smart, sophisticated campaigns that stand out from the competition and create lasting value for its clients.

About MMGY Hills Balfour

With more than 37 years of experience in the tourism field, MMGY Global maintains an international communications practice in all marketing channels, serving many of the world's premier travel and tourism brands. MMGY Global is also the author of acclaimed industry research (including the Portrait of American Travelers) that identifies the habits and preferences of travellers  insights that serve as the foundation for its marketing and creative strategies

Media Contact:

Adel Grobler

[email protected] | (212) 889 1700

SOURCE Bermuda Tourism Authority
CLEVELAND, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is pleased to announce the sale of Brace Industrial Group, Inc. (Brace), which includes Brace Integrated Services and Platinum Specialty Services along with other affiliated Brace entities, and is a portfolio company of Sterling Partners, to BrandSafway, a portfolio company of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and Brookfield Business Partners L.P. BGL's Environmental & Industrial Services investment banking team served as the exclusive financial advisor to Brace in the transaction. The specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is pleased to announce the sale of Brace Industrial Group, Inc. (Brace), which includes Brace Integrated Services and Platinum Specialty Services along with other affiliated Brace entities, and is a portfolio company of Sterling Partners, to BrandSafway, a portfolio company of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and Brookfield Business Partners L.P. BGLs Environmental & Industrial Services investment banking team served as the exclusive financial advisor to Brace.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Brace is a leading national provider of multi-craft solutions, including scaffolding, insulation, fireproofing, heat tracing, industrial siding and decking, abrasive blasting, painting, specialty coatings, lead and asbestos abatement, concrete repair, and refractory services. The Company's comprehensive capabilities enable it to offer one-stop solutions for its customers' routine maintenance, turnaround, outage, and capital project needs. With more than 2,000 employees and 23 locations, Brace serves a diverse customer base in the power, petrochemical, commercial construction, and chemical markets.

BrandSafway is a leading global provider of access, specialized services, and forming and shoring solutions to the industrial, commercial and infrastructure markets. Through a network of 360 strategic locations across 30 countries and more than 38,000 employees, BrandSafway supports maintenance and refurbishment projects as well as new construction and expansion plans across its customer base.

About Brown Gibbons Lang & Company

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructurings, valuations and opinions, and other strategic matters. BGL has investment banking offices in Chicago, Cleveland, and Philadelphia, and real estate offices in Chicago, Cleveland, and San Antonio. The firm is also a founding member of Global M&A Partners, enabling BGL to service clients in more than 30 countries around the world. Securities transactions are conducted through Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company Securities, Inc., an affiliate of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company LLC and a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. For more information, please visit www.bglco.com.

SOURCE Brown Gibbons Lang & Company

Related Links

https://www.bglco.com


MELVILLE, N.Y., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BIGNAME Commerce's core brand Envelopes.com, a leader in unique stationery, manufacturing, and custom printing services, celebrates its 50th anniversary today. Founded by Ken Newman in 1971 in Queens, New York, and originally known as Action Envelope, the company grew from serving a local clientele of 100, to serving millions of consumers and businesses across all industries today.

"We are excited to celebrate the rich history and culture that has built envelopes.com and are looking forward to the next 50 years as we expand into other relevant markets and categories while maintaining our focus on the two most important components of our business: our team and our customers," says current CEO, Craig Johnson.

Over the years, Envelopes.com experienced many changes on its way to the expansion and success it sees in the market today. Upon Ken's sudden death in 1993, his wife, Sharon Newman, took over company leadership and became one of very few women in the industry to own her own business. With three young children, her goal was to support her family and give her son, Seth, the opportunity to join the family business as he had always wanted. Seth Newman officially joined the company in 1998 and shifted the company's attention to the internet - launching its first website soon after.

Today, Envelopes.com has grown into the ecommerce collective BIGNAME Commerce, which includes the brand Folders.com and will continue to grow with other new brands such as Bags.com.

To commemorate this significant milestone, the company will offer customers surprise deals through the rest of August and into September.

To view the latest deals and see the company's large in-stock selection of sizes, styles and colors visit https://www.envelopes.com/

About BIGNAME Commerce

BIGNAME Commerce is a collection of leading e-commerce businesses specializing in customized products for businesses, organizations, and consumers worldwide. The brands have category killer domain names that drive brand recognition and credibility within their categories. Backed by private equity firm TZP Group, BIGNAME's brands have a shared e-commerce platform, a core marketing engine and shared back-office operations, all powered by great people.

Media Contact: Ilana Eichinger, Didit PR, [email protected], 516-629-3271

Liz Burke, Didit PR, [email protected]

SOURCE BIGNAME Commerce

Related Links

https://www.bigname.com/


BOSTON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Amy Abbott, Esq. is a family law attorney with Mavrides Law. Amy's primary focus is on guiding clients through the process of their case from the initial filing to assistance with their financial statements, organization and execution of discovery, and assistance with the finalization of their divorce.

Mavrides Law

Amy enjoys assisting clients by ensuring that they feel comfortable with our office and that their questions regarding the intricacies of their legal matters are resolved and attended to in a timely manner. She strives to make sure that from start to finish, each case runs efficiently, and works closely with clients to ensure they receive the utmost care and attention throughout their case.

Amy is a Certified Divorce Financial Litigator and a member of the American Association of Certified Financial Litigators. She is also the Treasurer of the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers (MAWL), and a member of the American Bar Association and Massachusetts Bar Association.

Recognition in Best Lawyers is widely considered by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor conferred on a lawyer by members of their profession. For over three decades, Best Lawyers has earned the respect of the legal profession, as well as the media and the public, as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals.

Related Images

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Attorney Amy E. Abbott, Esq.

SOURCE Mavrides Law
Q2 Revenue up 24% YoY to $16.5 Million; Adjusted EBITDA up ~2x to $5.2 Million

Management to Host Conference Call Tomorrow at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time

MIAMI, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Cansortium Inc. (CSE: TIUM.U) (OTCQX: CNTMF) ("Cansortium" or the "Company"), a vertically-integrated cannabis company operating under the Fluent brand, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021, as well as recent operational highlights. Unless otherwise indicated, all results are presented in U.S. dollars.

"We continued to drive growth and profitability in our key markets during the second quarter, as reflected by another month of record sales in May," said CEO Robert Beasley. "Our continued focus on providing differentiated, high-quality flower and wellness products has been well received by our patients. Additionally, we are now offering several boutique strains that have never been sold in the Florida market."

Cansortium significantly improved its balance sheet during the quarter with debt and equity financings of nearly $90 million, which enabled the Company to cancel legacy debt and extend maturities to 2025, as well as redeem all outstanding convertible notes. Cansortium now has both the capital and flexibility needed to execute its expansion plans.

Mr. Beasley continued, "Our core operations in Florida are performing well and our expansion plans are fully-funded. There have been minor supply chain and construction delays for several projects in Florida, which will delay the expected timing of our production ramp and push our schedule back by approximately two months. In addition, we have experienced delays in the Michigan market which, albeit a small market for us, will also impact our guidance for 2021 as we continue to hold product for sale to hedge against volatile pricing.

"Overall, we continue to expect significant growth in 2021. Our revised outlook for 2021 calls for $70-80 million of revenue with $18-26 million of adjusted EBITDA1, reflecting year-over-year growth of approximately 43% and 114%, respectively. We see upside to these numbers if the construction market opens up earlier than our current projections.

_________________________________ 1 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Company calculates adjusted EBITDA from EBITDA plus (minus) unrealized loss (gain) on embedded derivatives, plus (minus) certain one-time non-operating expenses, as determined by management. A reconciliation from adjusted EBITDA to net loss is included in the accompanying financial schedules.

"Other progress on various initiatives includes last week's opening of a new dispensary in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and securing our third Pennsylvania location in Annville, which we expect to open by the end of the year. In addition, we expect to open our 27th dispensary in Florida by the end of the third quarter and have identified four additional sites for continued growth in the first half of 2022."

Q2 2021 Financial Highlights (vs. Q2 2020)

Revenue increased 24% to $16.5 million compared to $13.2 million .

compared to . Florida revenue increased 22% to $14.6 million compared to $12.0 million .

revenue increased 22% to compared to . Adjusted gross profit 2 increased 24% to $10.7 million or 65.1% of revenue, compared to $8.7 million or 65.5% of revenue.

increased 24% to or 65.1% of revenue, compared to or 65.5% of revenue. Adjusted EBITDA approximately doubled to $5.2 million or 31.8% of revenue, compared to $2.6 million or 19.7% of revenue.

or 31.8% of revenue, compared to or 19.7% of revenue. At June 30, 2021 , the Company had approximately $26 million of cash and cash equivalents and $71 million of total debt, with approximately 264 million fully diluted shares outstanding (based on treasury stock method and share price on June 30, 2021 ).

Recent Operational Highlights

Launched Sweetwater , a new line of premium cannabis whole flower.

, a new line of premium cannabis whole flower. Hired a new Head of Cultivation.

Appointed multiple new board members, including Mark Eckenrode , Alex Spiro , and the Company's new Executive Chairman of the Board, William Smith .

, , and the Company's new Executive Chairman of the Board, . In July, the Company opened its 26 th Florida dispensary in Deerfield Beach .

dispensary in . All convertible notes from the Company's capital structure were converted to shares during the second quarter. A total of approximately $18.0 million of debt was converted into common shares of the Company.

of debt was converted into common shares of the Company. The Company sold approximately 2,600 lbs. of biomass from Michigan inventory in July.

____________________________________ 2 Adjusted gross profit is a non-IFRS financial measure that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Company calculates adjusted gross profit from gross profit plus (minus) the changes in fair value of biological assets, as presented in the consolidated statement of operations.

2021 Outlook

The Company is revising its 2021 outlook for revenue to range between $70-$80 million, with adjusted EBITDA ranging between $18-$26 million. This compares to approximately $52 million of revenue and $10 million of adjusted EBITDA in 2020.

In Florida, Cansortium continues to expect a total of 27 dispensaries to be operational by the end of 2021 and has identified four additional locations to be opened in 2022. In Michigan, the Company is holding 900 lbs. of flower prepared for sale. However, due to the pricing volatility, the Company is timing the sales cycle to realize optimal value.

The Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, along with the Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), will be available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and are also accessible through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.getfluent.com.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call and live audio webcast tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results and operational highlights.

Toll-free dial-in number: (800) 319-4610

International dial-in number: (604) 638-5340

Conference ID: 10016120

Link: Cansortium Q2 2021 Earnings Call

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Elevate IR at (949) 200-4603.

The conference call will also be available for replay via the News & Events section of the Company's investor relations website at https://investors.getfluent.com/.

About Cansortium Inc.

Cansortium is a vertically-integrated cannabis company with licenses and operations in Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Texas. The Company operates under the Fluent brand and is dedicated to being one of the highest quality cannabis companies for the communities it serves. This is driven by Cansortium's unrelenting commitment to operational excellence in cultivation, production, distribution and retail. The Company is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Cansortium Inc.'s common shares trade on the CSE under the symbol "TIUM.U" and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol "CNTMF." For more information about the Company, please visit www.getfluent.com.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based on many opinions, assumptions, and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to the factors described in the public documents of the Company available at www.sedar.com. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company; however, these factors should be considered carefully. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

For further information: www.getfluent.com

CANSORTIUM INC.











CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION







(USD '000)





























































June 30,

2021

December 31,

2020 Assets











Current assets











Cash and cash equivalents





$ 26,004

$ 3,392 Accounts receivable





122

148 Inventory, net





5,560

5,006 Biological assets





2,495

1,914 Note receivable





4,462

3,859 Prepaid income taxes





1,598

- Prepaid expenses and other current assets





1,267

1,365 Total current assets





41,508

15,684













Investment held for sale





200

200













Property and equipment, net





25,309

19,517 Intangible assets, net





96,269

97,035 Right-of-use assets





19,008

19,094 Deposit





2,727

1,050 Goodwill





1,526

1,526 Other assets





486

425 Total assets





$ 187,033

$ 154,531













Liabilities











Current liabilities











Accounts payable





4,530

4,808 Accrued liabilities





6,834

7,614 Income taxes payable





-

8,925 Derivative liabilities





-

7,412 Current portion of notes payable





375

38,583 Lease obligations





2,181

1,894 Total current liabilities





13,920

69,236







-



Notes payable, net of current portion and loan issuance costs





53,410

13,182 Lease obligations, net of current portion





20,889

20,811 Deferred income taxes





24,430

23,471 Total liabilities





112,649

126,700













Shareholders' equity











Share capital





196,588

137,835 Share-based compensation reserve





5,717

4,675 Equity conversion feature





11,044

11,044 Warrants





30,148

13,265 Accumulated deficit





(168,723)

(138,609) Accumulated other comprehensive loss





(390)

(379) Total shareholders' equity





74,384

27,831













Total liabilities and shareholders' equity





$ 187,033

$ 154,531

CANSORTIUM INC.



















STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS



















USD ('000)

















































For the three months

ended June 30,

For the six months

ended June 30,

















2021

2020

2021

2020





















Revenue, net of discounts





$ 16,469

$ 13,241

$ 31,584

$ 23,404 Cost of goods sold





5,745

4,567

11,152

8,227 Gross profit before fair value adjustments





10,724

8,674

20,432

15,177





















Realized fair value of increments on inventory sold





(4,727)

(4,953)

(9,320)

(12,515) Unrealized change in fair value of biological assets





(1,224)

7,572

5,655

19,682 Gross profit





4,773

11,293

16,767

22,344





















Expenses



















General and administrative





2,868

3,064

6,156

6,202 Share-based compensation





285

2,362

3,517

3,249 Sales and marketing





3,515

3,481

7,061

6,602 Depreciation and amortization





1,547

1,572

3,078

3,074 Total expenses





8,215

10,479

19,812

19,127





















Loss from operations





(3,442)

814

(3,045)

3,217





















Other expense (income)



















Interest expense, net





4,719

3,798

7,849

7,557 Change in fair market value of derivative liability





(1,143)

(828)

(1,551)

1,007 Loss on debt settlement





10,751

-

10,751

- Private placement issuance expense





6,640

-

6,640

- Equity loss on investment in associate





-

31

-

215 Loss on debt restructuring





-

-

-

8,065 (Gain)/Loss on disposal of assets





1

(54)

50

(54) Other (income) expense





(18)

(8)

(131)

7 Total other expense (income)





20,950

2,939

23,609

16,797





















Loss before income taxes





(24,392)

(2,125)

(26,654)

(13,580)





















Income taxes





594

3,308

3,431

6,141





















Net loss





(24,986)

(5,433)

(30,085)

(19,721)





















(Gain)/Loss from discontinued operations





33

34

31

(342)





















Net loss after discontinued operations





$ (25,019)

$ (5,467)

$ (30,115)

$ (19,379)





















Other comprehensive loss:



















Foreign exchange translation gain (loss)





(16)

254

(11)

184





















Comprehensive loss





$ (25,035)

$ (5,213)

$ (30,126)

$ (19,195)





















Net loss per share



















Basic





$ (0.11)

$ (0.03)

$ (0.14)

$ (0.10) Diluted





$ (0.11)

$ (0.03)

$ (0.14)

$ (0.10)

CANSORTIUM INC.



STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS



(USD '000)











For the six months ended June 30,

2021 2020 Operating activities



Net loss $ (30,115) $ (19,379) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:



Unrealized gain on changes in fair value of biological assets (5,655) (19,682) Realized gain on changes in fair value of biological assets 9,320 12,515 Share-based compensation 3,517 3,249 Depreciation and amortization 4,675 4,059 Discontinued operations 31 (342) Accretion of convertible debentures 2,242 3,834 Interest on lease liabilities 1,257 1,987 Change in fair market value of derivative (1,551) 1,007 Loss on investment in associate - 215 Loss on debt restructuring - 8,065 Loss on debt settlement 10,751 - (Gain)/Loss on disposal of assets 50 (54) Deferred tax expense 959 1,862 Changes in operating assets and liabilities:



Accounts receivable 26 11 Inventory (554) (5,401) Biological assets (4,246) 5,265 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,875 (646) Right-of-use assets (1,280) (728) Right-of-use liabilties 1,262 - Other assets (61) (84) Accounts payable (278) 968 Accrued liabilities (651) 1,083 Income taxes (10,523) 4,410 Other liabilities - 115 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (18,949) 2,329





Investing activities



Purchases of property and equipment (8,408) (2,126) Payment of notes receivable 284 150 Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 24 - Notes receivable (1,020) (696) Proceeds from sale of subsidiary - 600 Net cash used in investing activities (9,120) (2,072)





Financing activities



Proceeds from issuance of shares and warrants 23,730 4,351 Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of loan issuance costs 63,133 62 Payment of lease obligations (2,154) (2,133) Exercise of warrants 1,365 - Principal repayments of notes payable (35,382) (35) Net cash provided by financing activities 50,692 2,245 Effect of foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents (11) 184 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 22,612 2,686 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 3,392 2,516 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 26,004 $ 5,202

CANSORTIUM INC.





ADJUSTED EBITDA RECONCILIATION





USD ('000)































Three months ended

June 30, June 30,



2021 2020 Variance Net loss $ (25,019) $ (5,467) $ (19,552) Interest expense 4,719 3,798 921 Income taxes 594 3,308 (2,714) Depreciation and amortization 2,429 2,064 365 EBITDA $ (17,277) $ 3,702 $ (20,979)

























Three months ended

June 30, June 30,

2021 2020 Variance EBITDA $ (17,277) $ 3,702 $ (20,979) Change in fair value of biological assets 5,951 (2,619) 8,570 Change in fair market value of derivative (1,143) (828) (315) Loss on debt settlement 10,751 - 10,751 Private placement issuance expense 6,640 - 6,640 Share-based compensation 285 2,362 (2,077) Discontinued operations 33 34 (1) Loss on disposal of assets 1 $ (54) 55 Other non-recurring expense/(income) (18) 31 (49) Adjusted EBITDA $ 5,223 $ 2,628 $ 2,595

SOURCE Cansortium Inc

Related Links

http://www.getfluent.com/


LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) launched the Congressional Celiac Disease Caucus, along with U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), John Joyce (R-PA), Tim Ryan (D-OH), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), David Trone (D-MD), and Susan Wild (D-PA).

The bipartisan Caucus was launched to support innovative celiac disease research and advance legislation that promises to ease the suffering of celiac patients. The creation of the Celiac Disease Caucus has been one of the highest legislative priorities for the Celiac Disease Foundation and will allow for Members of Congress to convene, share information, elevate awareness of celiac disease, and amplify the voice of the patient community. We are grateful for the leadership of Congresswoman McCollum in creating the Caucus.

"Celiac Disease affects millions of people across America, and we know far too little about this autoimmune disorder," McCollum said. "I am excited to chair this bipartisan caucus to work together in Congress to shed light on this growing problem."

Despite being the most prevalent genetic autoimmune disease with no FDA-approved treatments, celiac disease has been historically underfunded and ignored and leads to many serious long-term health complications, including heart disease and cancers.

"The Celiac Disease Foundation commends the creation of the Congressional Celiac Disease Caucus and the leadership of Representative McCollum, who has been instrumental in furthering NIH's current efforts in celiac disease research," said Marilyn G. Geller, Celiac Disease Foundation Chief Executive. "We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Congresswoman McCollum and the Caucus to assure the passage of legislation to benefit the more than 3 million Americans with celiac disease, and the federal funding of research to accelerate the development of new treatments, and ultimately, a cure."

About the Celiac Disease Foundation

Founded in 1990, the Celiac Disease Foundation is the nation's leading patient advocacy organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for the more than 3 million Americans with celiac disease. Through strategic investments in research, advocacy, and education, the Foundation drives acceleration of innovative diagnostics and therapies, effective policies and legislation, and improved management of celiac disease. Hosting the iCureCeliac patient registry and offering robust patient recruitment services, the Celiac Disease Foundation targets patient candidates to speed enrollment and improve trial retention to drive discoveries that may lead to better treatments, and ultimately, a cure. For more information, please visit celiac.org.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Celiac Disease Foundation

Related Links

celiac.org


NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CereCore, a leading healthcare IT services firm, announced today that they have won again the Best of Staffing Client and Talent Awards for providing superior IT staffing services to their clients and candidates. Presented in partnership with presenting sponsor CareerBuilder and gold sponsors Indeed & Talent.com, ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Award winners have proven to be industry leaders in service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients and candidates. On average, clients of winning agencies are twice as likely to be completely satisfied and candidates who have been placed by winning agencies are twice as likely to be completely satisfied with the services provided compared to those working with non-winning agencies.

CereCore clients and placed job candidates were surveyed through ClearlyRated's independent research team, and responses returned satisfaction scores that were significantly higher than the industry average.

Best of Staffing Client Award : 71.6% of clients responded with satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10. The industry average for such high satisfaction scores from clients is 38%.

: 71.6% of clients responded with satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10. The industry average for such high satisfaction scores from clients is 38%. Best of Staffing Talent Award: 72.1% of placed job candidates responded with satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10. The industry average for such high satisfaction scores from placed job candidates is 40%.

"We are honored to receive this award for a second year, because it showcases our dedication to quality for both clients and job candidates," Curtis Watkins, President and Chief Executive Officer of CereCore, said. "Our staffing team has years of experience pairing the right technology skillset with the need, and we understand that having the right fit on both sides of the relationship is invaluable. As the demands for healthcare IT talent grow, we are grateful for the opportunity to help connect technical talent and healthcare providers across the nation. Linking people and IT is simply part of who we are."

"After one of the most turbulent years in modern history, winners of the 2021 Best of Staffing award have proven their commitment to go above and beyond in support of their clients and placed talent," said ClearlyRated's CEO and Founder, Eric Gregg. "These service leaders have demonstrated their capacity to be agile, to be precise, and to prioritize the client and talent experience above all else. It is my honor to celebrate and showcase the 2021 Best of Staffing winners alongside feedback from their actual clients and placed talent on ClearlyRated.com!"

About CereCore

CereCore provides IT services that make it easier for hospital operators to focus on transforming healthcare through technology. With a heritage rooted in our nation's top-performing hospitals, we provide IT and application support, technical professional and managed services, IT advisory services, and EHR consulting to hospitals and health systems.

About ClearlyRated

Rooted in satisfaction research for professional service firms, ClearlyRated utilizes a Net Promoter Score survey program to help professional service firms measure their service experience, build online reputation, and differentiate on service quality. Learn more at https://www.clearlyrated.com/solutions/.

About Best of Staffing

ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Award is the only award in the U.S. and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients and placed talent. Award winners are showcased by city and area of expertise on ClearlyRated.coman online business directory that helps buyers of professional services find service leaders and vet prospective firms with the help of validated ratings and testimonials.



Contact

Tanya Knight, Director of Marketing

P: 615.344.5857

[email protected]

SOURCE CereCore
Covering an area of about 93,000 hectares, Saihanba almost became a wasteland in the 1950s due to rampant tree felling operations, which also caused sand storms threatening Beijing and adjacent regions.

In 1962, hundreds of foresters embarked on tree planting in Saihanba to change the tide of rapid desertification. After three generations' hard efforts, the forest coverage has increased from 11.4 percent to 80 percent, currently supplying some 137 million cubic meters of clean water to the Chinese capital.

During the ceremonies honoring those who have contributed to the victory against extreme poverty, Saihanba Forest Farm was conferred the national title of role model. It also won the 2017 Champions of the Earth award, the highest honor of its kind by the United Nations.

Xi talked to some foresters, inspected the growth of trees, and listened to the introduction of farm's efforts in carrying forward the Saihanba spirit and promoting high-quality development. Saihanba has become a symbol of the Chinese spirit of hard work and a vivid example of eco-civilization.

Eco-friendly growth pattern

Despite increasing downward pressure over the years, China has been steadfast in resisting the old ways of economic expansion, and their severe impact on the environment. To this end, the top leadership has repeatedly underscored a key development approach as Xi had vividly put as "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."

In June, the General Office of the State Council issued a guideline for adopting scientific measures as part of China's afforestation efforts to fundamentally improve the country's natural environment.

It urges efforts to grow trees and grass following the inherent rules of the ecosystem to improve the stability of the ecosystem and its capacity for self-repair.

Xi has paid great attention to adopting a scientific approach to China's high-quality land greening and has on many occasions called for more efforts in promoting afforestation and protecting forest resources.

According to forestry and grassland authorities, China has successfully halted the expansion of desertification, with the desertification area shrinking by an annual average of 2,424 square kilometers.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-08-24/President-Xi-inspects-forest-farm-in-Hebei-Province-12YMORjQ9yM/index.html

SOURCE CGTN

Related Links

www.cgtn.com


Founder and CEO, Charlotte Mae, developed these products after years of struggling with her own sensitive skin. After countless remedies tried, tested, and failed, she decided to create her own solution. "Through Charlotte Mae Skincare, I want to empower women who have struggled with skin sensitivities like redness and inflammation just as I have. My goal is to create products with clean ingredients that help you look and feel your best self," shared Charlotte.

The initial launch includes three key products developed for all skin types and with sensitive skin in mind. The Soothing Face Serum, Nourishing Face Cleanser, and an Ultra-Calming Moisturizer, which Charlotte shares are "the keys to any skincare routine". The cleanser and serum are full of antioxidants to help reduce redness and sooth skin, while the moisturizer uses ingredients like jojoba oil, oat seed extract, and sunflower seed oil to ward off aging and redness.

Charlotte Mae Skincare is also dedicated to supporting other women-owned businesses through the launch of its brand. Several key elements of the business' operations are collaborative creations of other entrepreneurial women. "Charlotte Mae is just a launching pad to cultivating a community of women eager to share and inspire each other. This is my way of helping women achieve optimal skin health and invest in female success all at the same time," Charlotte said.

The products are available for purchase on charlottemaeskincare.com. The price points of the products are between $20-$25 for individual products  with all three products available in the "Mae You Always Feel Beautiful Skincare Set." The brand can also be found on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest via @charlottemaeskincare.

About Charlotte Mae Skincare: Charlotte Mae Skincare is a skincare brand offering intentionally curated products specifically formulated for sensitive skin. Based in Denver, Colorado, Charlotte Mae Skincare seeks to create & promote superior, natural products that enhance & positively contribute to healthy skin. To view products, place an order, or for more information, visit www.charlottemaeskincare.com.

SOURCE Charlotte Mae Skincare

Related Links

charlottemaeskincare.com


PHOENIX, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Desert Medical Campus in Payson, Arizona, is proud to announce that its Chill Pill brand of cannabis gel caps now offers a THC-A variety.

Unlike THC, THC-A does not cause psychotropic effects. It is referred to as the precursor to THC and is ideal for those who need symptom relief without the high.

THC-A is non-intoxicating and is less likely to cause drowsiness. Of course, first time users are advised to go low and slow. You can expect a THC-A gelcap to take effect in about 20 minutes and last about 2-4 hours.

Ongoing research into the benefits of THC-A has produced very promising results. Initial studies find that this component of cannabis may prove beneficial for a number of conditions.

So if you're searching to find natural solutions to support your body  whether it's after a long and stressful day, or to enhance recovery, or to help with specific aliments, THC-A may be the perfect option for you.

As with any cannabis product, it is important to seek quality sources. Chill Pills are whole-plant products containing a full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes, so you get the full synergistic benefits of the cannabis plant. Chill Pills also offers a Certificate of Analysis for each product upon request.

"Our Chill Pill Collection offers Arizonans a way to get natural cannabinoids, specially blended for a variety of needs," explained Pam Donner, COO of Desert Medical Campus. "Our exclusive formulations utilize the finest raw materials, and offer a consistent way to get the most out of life."

The Chill Pill Collection was recently nominated as one of the Best Edibles in Arizona. The brand was selected by Phoenix New Times, and voting is now open to the public.

To vote, visit www.bestofphoenix2021.com and navigate to the "CANNABIS & MORE" page. Scroll to "Best Edibles" and click on Chill Pill, and submit.

The public can vote once per day, per email address. Voting is open now through September 12.

For more information on where to find Chill Pills, visit: bit.ly/ChillPillLocator

Media Contact

Innovation Agency

[email protected]

SOURCE Desert Medical Campus
HONG KONG, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- China Renaissance Holdings Limited ("China Renaissance" or the "Company"; stock code: 1911.HK) today reported its unaudited interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

2021 Interim Results Highlights (all growth rates reflect year-over-year growth):

Total revenue and net investment gains increased 110.6% to RMB2.5 billion ;

; Total operating profit increased 200.3% to RMB1.4 billion ;

; Net profit attributable to owners of the Company increased 201.6% to RMB1.2 billion , exceeding full-year net profit in 2020;

, exceeding full-year net profit in 2020; Investment Management segment delivered exceptional growth with revenue and investment gains up 105.3% to RMB1.3 billion , which accounted for 53.7% of the Company's revenue and investment gains for the period;

, which accounted for 53.7% of the Company's revenue and investment gains for the period; Investment Banking segment revenue delivered robust growth, with total revenue increasing 168.0% to RMB 742.0 million ;

; CR Securities (formerly known as "Huajing") delivered strong results with revenue and investment gains up 81.4% to RMB352.3 million , reflecting increased integration with Investment Banking operations, and investment gains increasing 56.4% from principal investment;

, reflecting increased integration with Investment Banking operations, and investment gains increasing 56.4% from principal investment; Wealth Management business continues to build momentum as it gains strong traction with new clients, with AUM reaching RMB7 billion as of June 30, 2021 ;

as of ; Annualized return on average equity increased to 38.4% from 15.3% in the year-ago period; and

Cash position [1] of RMB5.1 billion and 31.4% gearing ratio.

Commenting on the Company's financial results, Fan Bao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of China Renaissance, stated:

"We are pleased to have achieved record first-half 2021 results amid the unprecedented challenges that have arisen over the past year from the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions and capital markets volatility. Specifically, the strong performance of our highly synergistic Investment Banking and Investment Management segments played a key role in driving China Renaissance's record profitability in the first half of 2021, a testament to the effectiveness of our highly diversified business model, which is operating at scale. The accelerated momentum we've seen across our four business segments reflects China Renaissance's broad-based strength, trusted partnerships with China's most innovative companies and continued resiliency.

Looking forward, we will remain focused on identifying, partnering and supporting the value creation journeys of the most innovative and disruptive enterprises, which will, in turn, fuel our continued growth and increase our market-leading position across China, Hong Kong and the U.S. The long-term macroeconomic trends supporting the gradual recovery of China's private and secondary markets are creating attractive opportunities, and we will capitalize on these tailwinds by allocating more capital to our Investment Management business, executing on our robust IPO pipeline, and leveraging our premium position to build on our Wealth Management business' early momentum."

2021 Interim Results Overview

Total revenue and net investment gains were RMB2.5 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2021, a 110.6% increase from RMB1.2 billion for the corresponding period in 2020. Transaction and advisory fees were RMB794.9 million, an increase of 185.3% from the prior period. Management fees increased to RMB207.8 million, an increase of 1.5% from the prior period. Interest income was RMB41.1 million, an increase of 16.1% from the prior period. Net investment gains were RMB1.4 billion, a significant increase of 124.7% from the prior period.

Operating profit was RMB1.4 billion, a significant 200.3% increase from RMB467.9 million in the same period last year. Net profit attributable to owners of the Company increased significantly by 201.6% to RMB1.2 billion from the same period last year. As of June 30, 2021, the Company's cash position[1] was RMB5.1 billion, compared to RMB4.3 billion on December 31, 2020 and RMB4.6 billion on June 30, 2020. China Renaissance's gearing ratio was 31.4% as of June 30, 2021.

Total assets were RMB15.1 billion, representing an increase of 20.6% from RMB12.5 billion at fiscal year-end 2020.

Business Segment Results (for the six months ended June 30, 2021)

In addition to providing consolidated financial results, China Renaissance reports separate financial information for its four business segments: Investment Banking, Investment Management, CR Securities and Others.

Investment Management:

The Investment Management segment reported solid revenue and net investment gains of RMB1.3 billion, accounting for 53.7% of total revenue and net investment gains during this period, and an operating profit of RMB994.8 million, which represent increases of 105.3% and 152.2%, respectively, compared to the prior-year period. Segment operating margin improved from 61.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2020 to 75.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The growth of this segment was primarily related to the continued strong investment performance of the Company's own private equity funds, which have invested in sectors including healthcare, consumer, technological and industrial upgrading.

The committed capital and assets under management ("AUM") of the Company's private equity funds were RMB28.1 billion and RMB61.7 billion as of June 30, 2021, representing an increase of 1.9% and 7.5% from the end of 2020, respectively. As of June 30, 2021, the internal rate of return ("IRR") of investments in the Company's own private equity funds and third-party private equity funds was 46.8% and 36.8%, respectively. The Company also noted that its average multiple on invested capital ("MOIC") of its private equity funds with completed investment has reached 4.3x.

In addition, a number of portfolio companies successfully entered the secondary markets, and nearly 40.0% of investment gains were realized from the Company's funds as a result. The Company aims to accelerate its investment exits through the public markets. The Company has also made steady progress in fundraising for its Huaxing Growth Capital RMB Fund IV and USD Fund IV, which were launched at the beginning of this year.

Investment Banking:

The Investment Banking segment reported revenue and investment gains of RMB742.0 million and an operating profit of RMB284.4 million, compared to revenue and investment gains of RMB276.8 million and an operating profit of RMB39.1 million in the prior-year period. The segment operating margin was 38.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to 14.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The significant growth in revenues was driven by an increase in equity underwriting services as a result of an increase in initial public offerings ("IPOs"), private placement fees, and sales, trading and brokerage fees. Notably, the Company participated as a sponsor or an underwriter in a number of ongoing IPOs, with equity underwriting revenue reaching a record high of RMB321.9 million. China Renaissance also strengthened its leading position in the New Economy private placement sector, as evidenced by its continued high market share across the healthcare, industrial internet and consumer sectors, and steady progress in the Hard & Core technology sector.

Meanwhile, the Company continued to successfully integrate its Investment Banking business with CR Securities. In view of our strong IPO projects pipeline and the primary and secondary market recovery, we expect even greater momentum in the second half of 2021 for the Investment Banking business.

CR Securities:

CR Securities continued to achieve growth, with segment revenue and net investment gains of RMB352.3 million and operating profit of RMB162.3 million, compared to revenue and net investment gains of RMB194.2 million and an operating profit of RMB44.9 million in the prior-year period. This growth was primarily due to higher synergies with the Investment Banking business and CR Securities obtaining its principal investment and financial product distribution licenses, which drove 56.4% growth year-over-year in investment gains from principal investment.

Others:

The Others segment mainly comprises the Wealth Management business, and investment and management of our own funds. Revenue and net investment gains totaled RMB43.4 million, which decreased 18.3% compared to the year-ago period, primarily due to the decline in investment gains generated from cash management products resulting from allocating more of the Group's capital in the Company's private equity funds. This was partially offset by an increase in the Wealth Management business, the AUM of which significantly increased by RMB4.4 billion to RMB7 billion in the first half of 2021.

China Renaissance's 2021 Interim Results Announcement, which was filed with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, is available at https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0823/2021082301147.pdf

[1] Including cash and cash equivalents, term deposits, and financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (current portion)

Disclaimer

This document is prepared by China Renaissance Holdings Limited (China Renaissance Holdings Limited and any of its subsidiaries, associated companies, and affiliates, or any of their directors, officers, agents, advisers or employees are together known as "China Renaissance"). This document has been prepared for the recipient's information purpose only. The recipient shall conduct its own investment review, evaluation and assessment.

This document is not and shall not to be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security in any jurisdiction. China Renaissance does not provide any representations, warranties or any other assurances with respect to the contents of this document. China Renaissance does not act for the recipients of this document. Distribution of this document in or from certain jurisdictions may be restricted or prohibited by law or regulations. Recipients are required to comply with all restrictions or prohibitions in such jurisdictions.

China Renaissance disclaims any liability over the use, misuse, reliance, distribution or possession of this document which shall be at the recipient's own risk. Neither this document nor any of its contents may be disclosed or used for any other purpose without the prior written consent of China Renaissance. If the recipient has any question, the recipient shall seek its own independent advice.

About China Renaissance Holdings Limited

China Renaissance Holdings Limited (stock code: 1911.HK) is a leading financial institution that combines private placement advisory, M&A advisory, direct investment, equity underwriting, sales, trading and brokerage, research, structured products, asset management, wealth management and other financial services. Providing one-stop financial services across mainland China, Hong Kong and the United States, China Renaissance operates a competitive and unique international network that connects China's capital markets with the rest of the world, serving entrepreneurs and investors globally.



China Renaissance has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, New York and Singapore, with over 650 employees. As of Dec. 31, 2020, China Renaissance had advised on more than 1000 transactions worth over RMB1000 billion since its inception, and the company's private equity funds had AUM of over RMB57 billion in investments.



China Renaissance's subsidiary Huaxing Securities is one of the first securities firms set up in accordance with 10th Supplementary Agreement of "Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)". Since its establishment, Huaxing Securities has assembled strong investment banking, fixed income, asset management, wealth management, securities brokerage, and research teams to serve existing and new clients.



Visit the company website for more information http://www.huaxing.com/

SOURCE China Renaissance

Related Links

http://www.huaxing.com/


Matt Booker has been appointed Executive Vice President, Westchester Property and Inland Marine, where he will have responsibility for leading overall efforts, including new business development, strategic direction, and implementation of underwriting strategy and product development of all property and inland marine products and services. Based in Alpharetta, Georgia, Mr. Booker will report to Scott Meyer, Senior Vice President, Chubb Group, and Division President of Westchester.

Bob Meyer, who previously served as head of Westchester Property and Inland Marine, has been named to a newly created role in Chubb North America Property as Executive Vice President, North America Property, where he will report to Derek Talbott, Division President, North America Property, and serve as a key member of Chubb's North America Property management team. As part of his expanded responsibilities, he will focus on building and developing employee training for all North America Property, as well as providing continued underwriting direction and guidance to Westchester. In his new role, Mr. Meyer will be responsible for strategic planning, portfolio management, including CAT management, and reinsurance strategy. Mr. Meyer will continue to be based in Alpharetta, Georgia.

"This is yet another example of the breadth of leadership within our organization," said Scott Meyer. "Both Matt and Bob have strong track records in underwriting, coupled with extensive leadership skills. That combination will certainly help ensure that our businesses continue to meet the needs of our distribution partners and policyholders."

"Over the past few years, we have experienced significant growth in our North America Property business," added Mr. Talbott. "Bob's years of experience and expertise are a perfect complement to our existing leadership team, and his industry knowledge and reputation within the industry will help us to further develop our business."

Mr. Booker has close to two decades of insurance experience, with 11 years spent at Chubb. Prior to this appointment, he served as a Senior Vice President, Major Accounts Property in the United States, which serves the large account segment. Prior to that, he served as Chubb's Senior Vice President and New York and Mid-Atlantic Regional Property Underwriting Manager. Throughout his career, Mr. Booker has held a variety of senior leadership roles in underwriting. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Language and International Trade from Clemson University, South Carolina.

Bob Meyer has more than three decades of insurance experience, having served in a variety of managerial and underwriting positions in global property, energy, inland marine and excess and surplus lines. He joined CIGNA, a Chubb predecessor company in 1986 as an international property underwriter in New York and moved through various Property and Inland Marine-related underwriting and managerial positions both in New York and Atlanta. Mr. Meyer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from St. John's University, New York.

About Westchester

Westchester is one of the largest and most diverse excess and surplus lines commercial property and casualty insurance underwriters in the United States. Focused on the wholesale distribution channel, Westchester provides innovative specialty products for property, specialty casualty, environmental, professional risk, inland marine, product recall, small business, binding and programs. The business is further distinguished by exceptional financial strength, underwriting excellence and superior claims handling expertise. Westchester is a Chubb company. Additional information on Westchester can be found at www.westchester.com.

About Chubb

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: chubb.com.

SOURCE Chubb

Related Links

www.chubb.com


NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that its Real Estate Finance business served as sole lead arranger on a $26 million loan for the acquisition of a three-building portfolio of industrial buildings in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The properties comprise nearly 200,000 square feet of industrial space across more than 11 acres on West Palm Beach's North Florida Mango Road, in close proximity to Interstate 95, the Florida Turnpike and West Palm Beach International Airport. The property was acquired by an entity managed by Alliance HP, a leading real estate investor across the Eastern U.S.

"The West Palm Beach market is a growing hub for commercial activity and this portfolio is well-positioned to support that growth with superb facilities close to major transportation corridors and infrastructure," said Peter D. Derrico of Alliance HP. "We greatly appreciated CIT's expertise and agility in arranging the financing for this strategic acquisition."

"Alliance HP has a well-earned reputation for recognizing commercial real estate opportunities and leasing properties to their full potential," said Chris Niederpruem, managing director and group head for CIT's Real Estate Finance business. "We were pleased to assist in financing this acquisition and look forward to future occasions to support the growth of their portfolio."

CIT's Real Estate Finance business, part of the Commercial Finance division, originates and underwrites senior secured real estate transactions. With deep market expertise, underwriting experience and industry relationships, the unit provides financing for single properties, property portfolios and loan portfolios.

About CIT

CIT is a leading national bank focused on empowering businesses and personal savers with the financial agility to navigate their goals. CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) is a financial holding company with over a century of experience and operates a principal bank subsidiary, CIT Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender). The company's commercial banking segment includes commercial financing, community association banking, middle market banking, equipment and vendor financing, factoring, railcar financing, treasury and payments services, and capital markets and asset management. CIT's consumer banking segment includes a national direct bank and regional branch network. Discover more at cit.com/about.

MEDIA RELATIONS:

John M. Moran

212-461-5507

[email protected]

SOURCE CIT Group Inc.

Related Links

www.cit.com


BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Great Place To Work and Fortune magazine have recognized ComForCare/At Your Side Home Care as the number one home care company on the Best Workplaces in Aging Services 2021 list. Earning the number one position on this prestigious list confirms the positive workplace culture cultivated by ComForCare and At Your Side's franchisees, as well as the brand's emphasis on helping others live their best lives possible.

The Best Workplaces for Aging Services award is based on an analysis of survey responses from more than 220,000 current employees. In that survey, 90% of ComForCare and At Your Side's employees said that the organization is a great place to work. This number is 31% higher than that of the average U.S. company.

"To be identified as the best at exhibiting workplace core values this past year in the face of unprecedented social, financial and health circumstances reflects an uncommon commitment to each other," said J.J. Sorrenti, CEO of Best Life Brands, parent company to ComForCare and At Your Side. "Our brand's mission is to help others live their best lives. Excellent care is top priority for our family of franchise owners, and that includes their amazing caregivers. They are the heart of everything we do and it's important to us that they feel valued and truly enjoy the vital work they do."

The Best Workplaces for Aging Services list is highly competitive. Great Place To Work, the global authority on workplace culture, selected the list using rigorous analytics and confidential employee feedback, and only Great Place To Work-certified organizations were considered

"We are incredibly proud of The Best Workplaces for Aging Services. They fought bravely and saved countless lives during the COVID-19 pandemic," says Dr. Jacquelyn Kung, CEO of Activated Insights, the partner of Great Place to Work in senior care. "Years of research has shown how great workplaces contribute to lower employee turnover and better quality of life for seniors. These honored workplaces showcase the compassion and stories behind the research. Our biggest congratulations and appreciation go to these awardees."

In 2021, ComForCare and At Your Side Home Care also ranked as a Best Workplace for Millennials and and was ranked #38 on the list of Best Workplaces in New York.

Learn more about careers at ComForCare Home Care today, or refer someone to join this important field.

About ComForCare Home Care:

As the premier franchised provider of in-home caregiving services, ComForCare is committed to helping older adults and their families live their best lives possible. They realize this goal with compassionate caregivers, innovative training and special programs, including those designed to benefit people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Founded in 1996, ComForCare has more than 215 independently-owned and operated locations in the U.S. and Canada and operates as At Your Side Home Care in Houston. ComForCare was acquired by private equity firm The Riverside Company in 2017 and is now part of Best Life Brands, a parent company that oversees service brands in the aging adult care industry. Among its many awards, ComForCare was most recently recognized on the 2021 Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list, the 2021 Entrepreneur Top Global Franchise list, the 2021 Best Workplaces for Millennials and Best Workplaces in Aging Services lists. For more information, visit http://www.comforcare.com/ .

About the Best Workplaces in Aging Services

Great Place to Work selected the Best Workplaces in Aging Services by gathering and analyzing confidential survey responses from more than 220,000 employees at Great Place to Work-Certified organizations. Company rankings are derived from 60 employee experience questions within the Great Place to Work Trust Index survey . Read the full methodology.

Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook and Instagram .

About Great Place to Work

Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work For All.

Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Activated Insights

Activated Insights is the senior care division of Great Place to Work and provides employee and resident surveys to aging services providers. With an expertise in senior care, Activated Insights is committed to transform the aging experience by impacting the lives of seniors, families, staff, and others in senior care through research, data, and technology.

Learn more at activatedinsights.com and on LinkedIn , Twitter, Facebook and Instagram .

SOURCE ComForCare

Related Links

https://www.comforcare.com/


FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey from ALG Research and Michigan Researchers Associates, Inc. (EPIC  MRA) on behalf of Consumers for Quality Care (CQC) reveals that voters see affordability and access to quality care as major issues in the state's health care system and they are seeking relief from rising out-of-pocket costs. Read more about the survey here.

"This research confirms what many Michiganders have been feeling: the out-of-pocket costs for quality health care are too high," said the Hon. Donna Christensen, a founding board member of CQC and the first female physician elected to Congress. "With about 18% of Americans with medical debt in collections, it is no wonder why consumers are stressed about the cost of going to the hospital or seeing a doctor. Out-of-pocket costs shouldn't be so high and unpredictable that they discourage people from seeking care, and insurance should act like insurance and be there for patients when they need it."

The primary issue that Michiganders have with their health care is it is too expensive - Majorities are concerned about being able to afford high deductibles (74% concerned), junk insurance plans that give little coverage (90%), and being able to afford their monthly premium (58%). Across the board, cost has become a top-of-mind issue for Michigan voters:

Three-in-four voters (77%) agree that the amount they pay for health care seems to be going up every year.

A majority (56%) agree that at some point they have struggled to pay a medical bill even while they had health insurance.

More than a quarter (27%) actively have unpaid or overdue medical bills that they are having difficulty paying off. Among voters who are already struggling financially, this number climbs to 55%.

"Michigan voters think the existing health care system is good, but too expensive, with costs rising every year," said Bernie Porn, President of EPIC-MRA. "Our poll showed voters want health care improved and they favor private health insurance over a government-run system."

Though cost continues to be a priority that Michigan residents want elected officials to address (49% cite cost as the thing they want their leaders to work on most), coming out of the pandemic, across-the-board, voters are seeking targeted, careful fixes to the health care system. Most agree we should be cautious making changes as we come out of the COVID-19 pandemic (68% agree), and they are looking to Congress for targeted fixes that build on the current system (59%) rather than fundamentally transforming it (25%):

Nearly all (90%) of Michiganders want policy changes to ensure that insurance deductibles are low enough that they don't get in the way of getting quality care.

Separately, 85% agree that there need to be changes made to prevent insurance companies from selling plans that cover so little that it isn't affordable to get care.

Coming out of the pandemic, a majority of voters (65%) are concerned that COVID-19 survivors who develop serious health problems may have to pay a greater share of their health care costs or may not be covered at all because they contracted COVID. That number climbs to 69% in the nearly 1-in-4 Michigan households where someone contracted COVID-19.

The ALG/ EPIC  MRA poll was conducted July 15-19, 2021. The online survey sampled 600 registered voters in Michigan. Overall results were weighted to reflect the composition of registered voters in the state.

ABOUT CONSUMERS FOR QUALITY CARE (CQC)

Consumers for Quality Care (CQC) is a coalition of advocates and former policymakers working to provide a voice for patients in the health care debate as they demand better care. CQC is led by a board of directors that includes the Honorable Donna Christensen, physician and former Member of Congress; Jim Manley, former senior advisor to Senators Edward Kennedy and Harry Reid; and Jason Resendez, community advocate, and health care strategist.

To learn more about Consumers for Quality Care and the issues consumers are experiencing, visit http://www.consumers4qualitycare.org/.

SOURCE Consumers for Quality Care (CQC)
PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Cryptocurrency Market By Offering (Hardware [ASIC, GPU, FPGA, and Others] and Software), Process (Mining and Transaction), Type (Bitcoin [BTC], Ethereum [ETH], Tether [USDT], Binance Coin [BNB], Cardano [ADA], Ripple [XRP], and Others), and End User (Trading, Retail & E-commerce, Banking, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030". According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global cryptocurrency market was estimated at $1.49 billion in 2020 and is expected to hit $4.94 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 12.8% from 2021 to 2030.

Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities

Rise in need for transparency in the payment system and increase in flow of remittances from foreign countries drive the growth of the global cryptocurrency market. On the other hand, lack of awareness about cryptocurrency among individuals drive the growth to some extent. However, untapped potential on emerging economies has been beneficial for the market growth, thereby creating lucrative opportunities in the near future.

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COVID-19 Scenario:

The outbreak of the pandemic led to distorted business operations for receiving upgraded equipment & new hardware, which gave way to lower mining operations. This factor impacted the global cryptocurrency market negatively, especially during the first phase of the lockdown.

However, the global situation is being ameliorated, and the market is anticipated to revive soon.

The Hardware Segment to Retain the Lion's Share

Based on offering, the hardware segment contributed to more than three-fourths of the global cryptocurrency market share in 2020, and is expected to lead the trail by the end of 2030. Increase in need to enhance the efficiency of financial payment tools promotes the demand for hardware component, thereby driving the segment growth. The software segment, on the other hand, would cite the fastest CAGR of 14.2% throughout the forecast period, due to the fact that it facilitates to manage the massive volume of data being generated for meaningful insights and better-informed decisions.

The Mining Segment to Dominate By 2030

Based on process, the mining segment accounted for nearly two-thirds of the global cryptocurrency market share in 2020, and is expected to rule the roost 2030. This is attributed to the fact that this process involves validating data blocks and adding transaction records to a public ledger known as blockchain. The transaction segment, on the other hand, would cite the fastest CAGR of 14.6% during the forecast period. This is because cryptocurrency transactions allow users with more autonomy over their own money than that of fiat currencies and users are able to control their money without dealing with an intermediary authority such as a bank or government.

Asia-Pacific, Followed By Europe and North America, Held the Major Share in 2020

Based on region, Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, held the major share in 2020, garnering nearly half of the global cryptocurrency market. The same segment would also portray the fastest CAGR of 14.5% from 2021 to 2030. This is due to increase in number of Bitcoin exchange across Asia, which brings a certain healthy competition in the industry.

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Key Players in the Industry

BitFury Group Limited

BTL Group Ltd.

Intel Corporation

Ledger SAS

NVIDIA Corporation

Coincheck Inc.

Ripple

Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

Xilinx Inc.

Xapo Holdings Limited

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About Us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, Inc. magazine revealed that Digital Market Media (DMM) ranks 1,083 nationally, and 182 in California on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy's most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

Digital Market Media Digital Market Media Ranks No. 1,083 on the 2021 Inc. 5000 With 3-Year Revenue Growth of 449%

"Our incredible team and dynamic leaders deserve full credit for our rapid growth," says Digital Market Media CEO Tom Carolan "DMM has broken the call center mold by creating a positive, caring and completely remote workplace, where team members are inspired to reach the next level. We like to say that we save good people from crappy jobs," he adds.

While many companies are struggling to find talent, DMM has thrived in the post-pandemic world, hiring great people through employee referrals. "We are committed to cultivating a strong culture and maintaining a completely remote workforce, and that has made all the difference," Carolan says.

He is particularly proud of his company's progress in the area of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. "As a remote employer, we aren't limited to a single geographic area for recruiting, and we empower team members to be themselves and embrace their individuality," he explains.

Part of DMM's culture involves giving back. Its Caring Committee has raised money to help organizations such as the Brain and Behavior Research Fund and the Women's Resource Center. In addition, employees are empowered to help customers in whatever ways they can. Carolan believes that DMM's culture of caring has been its growth engine. Since the company's inception, DMM has experienced 1,000% year-over-year revenue growth, 110% year-over-year increase in campaign conversion rates and a 493% increase in employees.



About the Inc 5000

Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this year's list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020's unprecedented challenges. Among the 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate soared to 543 percent, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, those companies added more than 610,000 jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc., which will be available on newsstands on August 20.

"The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we've lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people."

About Digital Market Media

Digital Market Media (DMM) is a marketing leader specializing in lead generation, call generation and client acquisition for the insurance and finance sectors. DMM operates full-funnel sales channels including an array of inbound pay-per-call marketing programs, lead generation, and client acquisition services. With over 145 employees globally, it operates as a fully remote company. Using proprietary digital marketing technologies alongside a partnership approach with clients, DMM delivers highly qualified inbound sales calls, lower customer acquisition costs, and provides data intelligence to enable clients to optimize the customer experience in real time across virtually any channel or device. Learn more at https://digitalmarketmedia.com.

Contact:

Tom Carolan

[email protected]

(888) 432-1819 Ext 701

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

Methodology

Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to three decimal places. There was one tie on this year's Inc. 5000. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.'s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including web sites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Vision Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

For more information on the Inc. 5000 Vision Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/.

SOURCE Digital Market Media
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The disposable gloves market in Europe is driven by the growing occurrence of contagious and infectious diseases. The growth of the market will further be accelerated due to the increasing adoption in various industries due to stringent regulatory framework, growing need for worker safety and maintaining product quality, the surging popularity of customized disposable gloves, and changing industrial landscape due to globalization and competition between vendors. However, reduced availability during the COVID-19 pandemic and volatility in raw material prices might impact the market growth adversely during the forecast period.

Read the 127-page report with TOC on "Disposable Gloves Market in Europe Analysis Report by Material (Synthetic and Natural rubber) and Geography (Germany, UK, Italy, France, and Rest of Europe), and the Segment Forecasts,2021-2025." Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders. Track key industry opportunities, trends, and threats. Information on marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions.

https://www.technavio.com/report/report/disposable-gloves-market-in-Europe-industry-analysis

Major Five Disposable Gloves in Europe Companies:

Ansell Ltd.

The company operates in key business segments including Industrial and Healthcare. This company offers mechanical gloves and sleeves, chemical body protection, chemical hand protection, and disposable gloves.

B. Braun Melsungen AG

This company offers surgical gloves and examination gloves such as latex gloves, polyisoprene gloves, polychloroprene gloves, nitrile gloves, and vinyl gloves.

Cardinal Health Inc.

The company has its key operations in the pharmaceutical and medical segments. This company offers surgical gloves, examination gloves, and cleanroom gloves.

Dynarex Corp.

The company operates in key business segments including disposable medical products and durable medical equipment. This company offers various disposable gloves brands such as Aloetex, sterile latex exam glove, True advantage nitrile glove, Ultra care latex glove, and power free plus gloves.

Kimberly Clark Corp.

The company caters to the healthcare supplies industry through key business segments including personal care, consumer tissue, and K-C professionals. This company offers disposable nitrile gloves and industrial nitrile gloves.

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Disposable Gloves Market In Europe Material Outlook (Revenue, USD mn, 2020-2025)

Synthetic - size and forecast 2020-2025

Natural rubber - size and forecast 2020-2025

Disposable Gloves Market In Europe Geography Outlook (Revenue, USD mn, 2020-2025)

Germany - size and forecast 2020-2025

- size and forecast 2020-2025 UK - size and forecast 2020-2025

Italy - size and forecast 2020-2025

- size and forecast 2020-2025 France - size and forecast 2020-2025

- size and forecast 2020-2025 Rest of Europe - size and forecast 2020-2025

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About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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SOURCE Technavio
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aggrieved, angered, and ashamed by the revelations in the documentary film, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, author Rosaliene Bacchus breaks her silence as a former Catholic nun in her novel, The Twisted Circle, and adds her voice for victims of sexual abuse by predatory priests in the patriarchal Catholic Church.

Front Cover The Twisted Circle: A Novel by Rosaliene Bacchus (USA, 2021)

Drawing on her seven-year experience of the religious life during the 1970s in her native land, Guyana, Bacchus explores the abuse of power by members of the clergy. The religious women ensnared in the author's twisted circle of deceit, are not without guilt. Taught to hate the sin but forgive the sinner, they share silent complicity with the abusers.

Inspired by real eventsthe author's sexual harassment as a young nun by a government official and her conflict with an American missionary nunThe Twisted Circle is set in Guyana's remote northwest rainforest region where Bacchus spent her final year in the convent. Against the backdrop of the country's 1979-1980 Civil Rebellion raging against the dictatorship government, the author reveals the symbiotic relationship between nuns and priests through the lenses of two warring nuns, Guyanese Sister Barbara Lovell and American Sister Frances Adler.

Barbara, an art and geography teacher, has fled the capital from the groping hands of her parish priest. She joins the staff at the public high school in the Interior township where Frances teaches biology. The white nun from Ohio is obsessed with Father Geoffrey Goodman, their British parish priest and her spiritual director. She considers Barbara, the captivating, dark skin Guyanese nun, as a threat to her special relationship with Geoffrey.

While Frances grapples with Geoffrey's broodiness as well as the demons of the Vietnam War that destroyed her brother's life, Barbara struggles with sexual harassment at school from District Education Officer Douglas Simmons. Nothing misses the uncanny perception of the devious thirteen-year-old student Raven Mendonza, son of an indigenous Carib shaman. Raven's painting of a twisted circle for his end-of-term art test troubles Barbara. Glaring at her from a turbulent sky is a large red eye. What does Raven see that remains hidden from her view?

When disaster strikes the close-knit township, Barbara and Frances must come to terms with the duplicity and complicity in a whitewashed Catholic Church.

ROSALIENE BACCHUS grew up in Georgetown, Guyana, spent 17 years in Northeast Brazil, and now lives in Los Angeles, California, with her two sons. As a young idealist in the 1970s, the divorced mother and former import-export manager had dedicated seven years to the religious life as a Catholic nun and high school teacher. Her debut novel, Under the Tamarind Tree, was released in 2019.

Learn more about Rosaliene and her work at her author's website https://www.rosalienebacchus.com and connect with her through her blog Three Worlds One Vision.

Contact: Rosaliene Bacchus

Phone: (310) 490-4751

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Rosaliene Bacchus
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Promo Social, a leader in brand activation specializing in experiential services and sponsorship solutions, is hosting EAT.SEE.AZ, an outdoor cinema experience in Scottsdale featuring crowd favorite flicks!

The cinema series will take place in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale at the scenic Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. Each night will feature Arizona's top food trucks, pop-up bars, and music for filmgoers to grab tasty bites and drinks while cozying up under the night sky for a movie!

The series will include sponsored activations from VIZZY Hard Seltzer, Sapporo PURE, Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, and Corralejo Tequila.

EAT.SEE.AZ is Scottsdale's most anticipated event and is perfect for a night out! Tickets for each showing are $15doors open at 6 PM for the public, and all movies premiere at 7:30 PM. See below for the full film lineup.

September 11th: The Big Lebowski

September 18th: A Star is Born

September 25th: Train Wreck

For more information about the series, attendees can visit the EAT.SEE.AZ. website here or buy their tickets now at Eventbrite.

Please note: All films are R-rated. An R-rated film is unsuitable for children. In this case, content is not suitable for minors. Those under 17 must be accompanied by an adult (at least 18 years old).

SOURCE Promo Social

Related Links

https://eatseeaz.com


HOUSTON and LONG BEACH, Calif., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on ENGIE's success enabling broad adoption of electrified transportation throughout the world, ENGIE North America, through its various subsidiaries and affiliates, announced today new K-12 fleet and transit agency customers: El Monte Union High School District (UHSD), Grossmont Union HSD and Victor Valley Transit Authority.

"Zero-emission buses are the future of American public transportation," said Stefaan Sercu, Chief Energy Solutions Officer, Americas at ENGIE. "In fact, soon, electrification will be one of the best options. That's good news for communities, because ultimately it will significantly reduce both the cost and environmental impact of transportation."

There are environmental and economic benefits to move to zero-emission buses, but the planning and implementation processes can be overwhelming for agency and district transportation leaders. That is why ENGIE North America is offering a comprehensive eMobility solution to accelerate electrification projects and optimize project outcomes.

The ENGIE North America turnkey solution includes:

All aspects of eMobility planning and design, covering vehicles, charging infrastructure, energy management, and on-site energy generation and storage;

Total cost of ownership analysis and assistance in applying for grants and incentives;

Financing, including purchase options, capital leasing, or fixed-cost transportation and charging-as-a-service;

Sourcing of reliable, standards-compliant technologies;

Project management, from planning through construction and installation to ongoing support; and

Community engagement, such as academic collaborations and community outreach programs.

"Just planning for a transition to an electric fleet is a daunting task when you think of all the variables involved," said Lindsey Danner, Energy Manager at Grossmont Union HSD. "ENGIE North America is helping us put a plan together we can afford  covering everything from bus infrastructure and technology to funding sources. They turned a challenge into a real opportunity for our district."

Located near San Diego, Grossmont Union HSD tapped ENGIE's eMobility services to help plan the conversion of its fleet to zero emission vehicles, including developing eBus charging infrastructure

requirements, analyzing the impact of adding solar and battery storage, and reviewing the district's plans for its new transportation yard.

Battery Storage Accelerates Progress Toward eMobility Goals

Battery energy storage is an important component of the eMobility infrastructure, as it provides back-up power and helps mitigate the costly spikes in power usage that result from the intermittent use of electric vehicle (EV) chargers. The "demand charges" that utilities levy for these spikes can constitute a significant portion of an agency's or a district's electricity bill. In addition, when battery storage is deployed in conjunction with solar, it increases the feasibility of larger solar deployments, which can support lower cost transportation electrification.

As an example, ENGIE North America devised an eMobility plan for the Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) in Hesperia, California, which included battery storage combined with solar to support the transit agency's electric and hydrogen bus fleet. The battery storage now offsets the demand spikes caused by VVTA's eBus chargers and natural gas compressors.

"The battery storage has reduced our demand charges by 40 percent," said Ron Zirges, Director of Facilities & Maintenance. "And with ENGIE North America's assistance, we successfully enrolled in the California Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), which has covered 50 percent of our storage costs."

K-12 school districts are seeing similar benefits. El Monte UHSD, just east of Los Angeles, turned to K-12 school districts are seeing similar benefits. El Monte UHSD, just east of Los Angeles, turned to ENGIE North America to design and deploy an energy storage system to support their EV chargers that power its new electric bus fleet. Deployed at five sites, the battery storage has enabled a 35 percent reduction in demand charges. The project at its five high school sites and bus garage was partially funded by a portion of the $9.8 million CA Air Resources Board Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot grant. The Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environmentparticularly in disadvantaged communities. Overall, this project at El Monte UHSD directly benefits students and educational programs by reducing energy demand costs paid out of the General Fund.

For more information on ENGIE's eMobility solution click here. Please visit the ENGIE booth #1623 at the ACT Expo, August 31  September 1, 2021 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

About ENGIE North America

ENGIE North America Inc. offers a range of capabilities in the United States and Canada to help customers decarbonize, decentralize and digitalize their operations. These include comprehensive services to help customers run their facilities more efficiently and optimize energy and other resource use and expense; clean power generation; energy storage; and retail energy supply that includes renewable, demand response, and on-bill financing options. Nearly 100% of the company's power generation portfolio is low carbon or renewable. Globally, ENGIE S.A. is a global reference in low-carbon energy and services, that relies on their key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to customers. With 170,000 employees, customers, partners and stakeholders, the group is committed to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions.

Media Contact:

ENGIE North America: Sandrine Deparis, [email protected] , (202) 855 3705

SOURCE ENGIE North America

Related Links

engie-na.com


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Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices.

Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation on pros and cons of prevalent pricing models.

Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPI's to evaluate incumbent suppliers.

Get a free sample report for more information

Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers:

Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Thermal Equipment Products and Services market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Thermal Equipment Products and Services pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as volume-based pricing, spot pricing, and cost-plus pricing and category management strategies and best practices to fulfil their category objectives.

For more insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers, www.spendedge.com/report/thermal-equipment-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report

Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth:

The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers.

Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects a change of 3.00%-5.00%.

Identify favorable opportunities in Thermal Equipment Products and Services TCO (total cost of ownership).

Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes.

Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities.

Some of the top Thermal Equipment Products and Services suppliers listed in this report:

This Thermal Equipment Products and Services procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

Daikin Industries Ltd

Danfoss AS

Emerson Electric Co

Uponor Corp

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Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

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About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

Contacts

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge

Related Links

http://www.spendedge.com


Download free sample report

Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices.

Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation on pros and cons of prevalent pricing models.

Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPI's to evaluate incumbent suppliers.

Get a free sample report for more information

Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers:

Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the White Oil Products and Services market. The report also aids buyers with relevant White Oil Products and Services pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as volume-based pricing, spot pricing, and cost-plus pricing and category management strategies and best practices to fulfil their category objectives.

For more insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers, www.spendedge.com/report/white-oil-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report

Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth:

The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers.

Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects a change of 3.00%-5.00%.

Identify favorable opportunities in White Oil Products and Services TCO (total cost of ownership).

Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes.

Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities.

Some of the top White Oil Products and Services suppliers listed in this report:

This White Oil Products and Services procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

Royal Dutch Shell plc

plc Exxon Mobil Corp

Honeywell International Inc

Repsol SA

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Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

Get instant access to download 5 reports every month and view 1200 full reports. With every purchase, we also offer complimentary research add-ons and Covid-19 impact assessments  Purchase Now!

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

Contacts

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge

Related Links

http://www.spendedge.com


CPS is a group of manufacturing and design companies with $150 million in annual sales in 2020. With more than 400 employees, the group provides innovative product solutions to clients in the semiconductor, life science, high-purity chemical processing, gas systems, and wastewater industries. CPS is predominantly active in North America with exports to Europe and Asia.

Dr. Wolfgang Buchele, CEO of Exyte, stated: "CPS is a perfect fit for Exyte. The specialized knowledge and technical capabilities of the team are extremely impressive. We are looking forward to expanding our offering in the services and process equipment area. Our strengthened global footprint will allow us to further enhance our service to existing and new customers in our semiconductor and biopharma and life sciences businesses. The acquisition will serve as a platform for future bolt-on acquisitions."

"We are thrilled to become part of Exyte," said Dmitry Shashkov, CEO of CPS. "CPS and Exyte serve the same industries and share the same high standards of technical expertise and project execution. Together, we will be able to fulfill the needs of our customers in the US even better and now also all over the world. Exyte and CPS are both well-recognized players in the market, and we are convinced that the combination of the two will allow us to further accelerate our growth."

Brian Crumbaugh, partner at Wynnchurch, stated: "Through Wynnchurch's partnership with management, CPS has accomplished a number of milestones since 2018. These include investments in additional engineering and sales resources, developing a refined commercial strategy to drive new business wins, establishing policy deployment tools to create a culture of continuous improvement, recruiting and promoting several new members of the leadership team, and acquiring Nuance Systems. These initiatives have resulted in significant growth in revenue and EBITDA at each of CPS's business units. Exyte is the ideal partner and new shareholder for CPS to continue its growth path in the upcoming years."

About Exyte

Exyte is a global leader in the design, engineering, and delivery of facilities for high-tech industries. With a history of more than 100 years, the company has developed unique expertise in controlled and regulated environments. Exyte has a truly global footprint, serving the most technically demanding clients in markets such as semiconductors, batteries, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and data centers. The company offers a full range of services, from consulting to the managing of turnkey solutions  delivered to the highest quality and safety standards. Solving the most complex challenges, Exyte forges trusted, long-lasting relationships with its clients. In 2020, Exyte generated sales of EUR 4.1 billion with over 4,900 highly experienced and motivated employees. The company is ideally positioned to further strengthen its market leadership with its broad industry insight and its exceptional talents.

About CPS

Critical Process Systems Group, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, is a leading provider of mission-critical solutions for highly demanding industries and applications. The company provides a broad range of products & services including corrosive fume exhaust ducts and air flow control devices, high purity process utility modules, biopharmaceutical processing equipment, and liquid, chemical, and gas storage, blending, and delivery control products, as well as process and mechanical engineering services and project management.

About Wynnchurch

Wynnchurch Capital, L.P., headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, with offices in California, New York, and an affiliate in Canada, was founded in 1999, and is a leading middle-market private equity investment firm. Wynnchurch's strategy is to partner with middle market companies in the United States and Canada that possess the potential for substantial growth and profit improvement. Wynnchurch Capital manages a number of private equity funds with $4.2 billion of committed capital under management and specializes in recapitalizations, growth capital, management buyouts, corporate carve-outs and restructurings.

Exyte

Adriana Williams

Vice President Corporate Communications

& Investor Relations

Tel.: +49 711 8804 1489

www.exyte.net



Critical Process Systems Group

Dmitry Shashkov

President and CEO

CPS Group

Tel.: +1 978-691-2737

www.cpsgrp.com





SOURCE Exyte
"We are thrilled to celebrate this tremendous milestone of 50,000 meals donated," said Jared Katz, CEO of Foodie Card. "With charity at our core, it's truly meaningful for us to be able to help feed those in need. However, we're just getting startedwe're focused on continuing our charitable footprint throughout the nation."

The donations support partnerships that Foodie Card has made with Island Harvest and City Harvest. Island Harvest is the largest hunger relief organization on Long Island, and City Harvest is New York City's largest food rescue organization.

According to Katz, the organization's next step is to expand into Westchester County, New York. The company has continued to see significant growth due in part to enabling its members to save 10 percent at nearly 1500 participating restaurants, but the company also attributes its rapid ascent to the company's socially conscious mission of feeding the hungry.

"Foodie Card's milestone of providing funding for 50,000 meals has made an incredibly positive impact in the lives of our Long Island neighbors who know firsthand the unfortunate plight of wondering when their next meal may come," said Randi Shubin Dresner, president & CEO, Island Harvest Food Bank. "The relationship we have with Foodie Card underscores the fact that partnerships like these are essential in creating solutions to some of society's most pressing problems, including hunger and food insecurity, and for that, we are exceptionally grateful."

For more information about Foodie Card, visit www.foodiecard.com, Facebook and Instagram.

About Foodie Card

Foodie Card is a fast-growing socially conscious subscription-based business that aims to challenge the longstanding reservation platforms that have historically offered unfavorable terms to restaurants and disrupt the dated legacy loyalty programs that haven't evolved with the times. The company allows its members to save 10% off at participating restaurants, earn rewards every time they eat, all while helping feed those in need through its "Buy A Card, Give A Meal" program. Since inception, Foodie Card has donated over 50,000 meals to those less fortunate.

For Media Inquiries

Brittany Pufahl

[email protected]

(631) 983-7302

SOURCE Foodie Card, Inc.

Related Links

www.foodiecard.com


Louis Hernandez Jr's Foundation For A Bright is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the needs of underrepresented and underprivileged children through education, healthcare, the arts, and youth leadership development.

"For A Bright Future was born from my experience growing up as a member of an underprivileged and underrepresented group. Access to solid healthcare, a strong education or leadership development, are critical to overcoming higher poverty and incarceration rates in underprivileged communities. Hannah and Hewlett are two brilliant young adults who want to pursue an education in healthcare and are already active members of their community. I'm very excited for their future and their desire to help their community in healthcare fields," said Louis Hernandez Jr., Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Foundation.

"Many of the most important pillars of a healthy and productive upbringing for underprivileged and underrepresented children are severely lacking such as access to healthcare and education. I was impressed by the quality of applications received for the inaugural Healthcare Scholarship and all the compelling stories. Congratulations to Hannah and Hewlett who are two incredible people who are working hard to make a difference in their community. I am confident that they will reach many successes in life," said Dr. Daniel Diver, FABF Scholarship Committee member, and long-time Chief of Cardiology and Director of the Cardiovascular Service Line at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, CT.

Hannah Imolode graduated from Elite Scholars Academy High School in Georgia and has continued her education at Clayton State University to become a nurse. Imolode is the ambassador of a group initiative with the goal of bringing more awareness on the various forms of cancer prevalent among children. She is also an active volunteer for her community. For over 11 years now, helping the Feed the Homeless projects at her local Church. In the past, she volunteered for the Shoebox Project and Books for Africa as well.

"When I initially applied to this scholarship, I was hesitant. I never once expected to be selected as an awardee to fund my education. Now, my educational goals are much more achievable. I can now become the nurse practitioner that I aspire to be, in order to give back to my community and to provide low-income individuals with access to quality healthcare. I am extremely grateful, and words alone cannot fully express my gratitude toward you all," said Imolode.

Hewlett Pham is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and is a Provost's Honors student. His concern for the wellbeing of his community inspired him to pursue a career in Public Health to address the increasing prevalence of asthma cases in Oakland through prevention programs and direct care. He has been an active volunteer at the UC San Diego Health Emergency Department for over three years now and has published research journals and scientific articles with faculty members.

"I am honored to be selected as a recipient of the Healthcare Scholarship and want to thank the For a Bright Future Foundation for believing in me and my dream of becoming a doctor. Their generosity has allowed me to continue to pursue academic excellence and I will make sure this investment in my future will not be wasted," said Hewlett Pham.

This year the foundation received a record number of applications to review. We would like to thank Susie Hernandez, FABF Board Member and Chair of the Scholarship Committee, and our volunteers for serving on the scholarship selection committee.

Scholarship selection team includes:

Dr. Daniel Diver , Scholarship Committee Member.

, Scholarship Committee Member. David Dame , Scholarship Committee Member.

We also would like to thank the operational team led by Gina Rogoto, Marketing and Development Manager, for their incredible efforts to source candidates across the country and facilitate the process.

Contact:

Gina Rogoto, Marketing and Development Manager

Louis Hernandez Jr.'s Foundation For A Bright Future

Email: [email protected]

About Louis Hernandez Jr.'s Foundation For A Bright Future

Louis Hernandez Jr's Foundation For A Bright is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the needs of underrepresented and underprivileged children through education, healthcare, the arts, and youth leadership development. Our initiatives provide equal opportunity for all children to have the tools and opportunities to fulfill their life goals and become constructive members of our global community.

For more information: https://www.forabrightfuturefoundation.org/ or follow @FABrightFuture on Twitter and Instagram.

SOURCE Louis Hernandez Jr.'s Foundation For A Bright Future
The Modern Board will help board members and C-suite executives as they navigate a new era of stakeholder capitalism Tweet this

Launching The Modern Board is the next step in FORTUNE and Diligent's journey to being effective allies in helping leaders transform their businesses while equipping them to manage new complexities, increased scrutiny and unforeseen disruptions.

"We live at a moment when corporate boardrooms are being challenged as never before, with rising demands from employees, governments, and society that go far beyond the traditional confines of their businesses," says FORTUNE CEO Alan Murray. "We are proud to partner with Diligent to give board members the tools they need to meet the moment and cultivate a board with a long-term vision that will serve stakeholders well."

In his CEO Daily newsletter, Murray explains further: "The reasons for this should be obvious. The three mega trends affecting all businessesthe explosion in business technology, the rising attention to stakeholder demands, and the rethinking of work and officeare heaping huge new burdens and responsibilities on corporate board members. The goal of The Modern Board is to help directors navigate those new demands, with an eye, as always, on making business better."

"Today's boardroom is experiencing a seismic shift where leaders are expected to simultaneously manage social, environmental and business issues that are imperative to their stakeholders," said Diligent CEO Brian Stafford. "This new partnership with FORTUNE will be an invaluable resource for our world's top business leaders as they navigate a new spectrum of risk and are seeking greater visibility into more aspects of their business than ever before."

Learn more at https://fortune.com/topic/the-modern-board.

About FORTUNE

FORTUNE drives the conversation about business. With a global perspective, the guiding wisdom of history, and an unflinching eye to the future, we report and reveal the stories that matter today-and that will matter even more tomorrow. With the trusted power to convene and challenge those who are shaping industry, commerce and society around the world, FORTUNE lights the path for global leaders-and gives them the tools to make business better. For more information, visit www.fortune.com.

About Diligent Corporation

Diligent is the leading governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) SaaS company, serving more than one million users from over 25,000 organizations around the globe. Our modern GRC platform ensures boards, executives and other leaders have a holistic, integrated view of audit, risk, information security, ethics, and compliance across the organization. Diligent brings technology, insights, and confidence to leaders so they can build more effective, equitable and successful organizations.

Media Inquiries:

Alison Klooster

+1 646-437-6613

[email protected]

Samuel Barber, Cognito

+1 917 246 2775

[email protected]

SOURCE FORTUNE Media
DALLAS, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Four trial lawyers from The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson have been honored in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, including firm founder Frank Branson who is recognized by the nationally respected guide to the legal industry in four practice areas.

Mr. Branson has been honored in every Best Lawyers edition since 1987. This year, Best Lawyers researchers singled out Mr. Branson for his expertise in five practice areas: Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation, Product Liability Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Professional Malpractice Law, and Medical Malpractice Law.

Debbie Dudley Branson was honored for her work in Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation and Commercial Litigation. She has been recognized annually since 2012. Veteran attorney Tim Newson earned selection for his work in Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation. John Burkhead made Best Lawyers' "Ones to Watch" list of midcareer attorneys for his Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation work.

The oldest and one of the most respected peer-review attorney guides in the country, the Best Lawyers list is developed from thousands of confidential client and peer evaluations, as well as extensive editorial research. Honorees represent the top 5 percent of practicing attorneys. For a full list of honorees visit https://www.bestlawyers.com/america.

In addition to having two jury verdicts inducted in the 2020 VerdictSearch Hall of Fame, Mr. Branson was named to D Magazine's Best Lawyers in Dallas list for the 21st year. Twice in the last three years, the firm has been named Elite Trial Lawyers Product Liability Law Firm of the Year by the National Law Journal and the National Trial Lawyers.

In addition, Mr. Branson has made the lists of Texas Lawbook's "Lions of the Bar," National Law Journal's "50 Most Influential Lawyers in the U.S.," and D CEO's "Dallas 500: Most Powerful Business Leaders." Super Lawyers magazine has listed him among the Top 10 lawyers in Texas every year since 2007 and among the Top 100 since 2003. This year the Texas Bar Foundation awarded him the Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award for his career-spanning commitment to upholding the legal profession's highest ethical and professional standards.

The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson represents clients in cases involving complex product liability, catastrophic injury, commercial air crashes, trucking accidents, professional negligence, and business torts. To learn more about the firm visit www.flbranson.com.

Media Contact:

Robert Tharp

800-459-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson

Related Links

http://www.flbranson.com


CHAMBERSBURG, Pa., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning in September, the Franklin County, Pennsylvania Sheriff's Office will begin conducting its sheriff's sales online through real estate auction site Bid4Assets.com. The new online format eliminates COVID-19 concerns by allowing all participants to bid remotely using their cell phones, laptops and desktop computers while exposing available auctions to a wider range of buyers, increasing the chances for third-party sales.

A single refundable $10,000 bid deposit is required to participate in this sheriff sale.

"We are moving forward with our sales in such a way that ensures the safety of all participants and creates new opportunities for Franklin County," said Sheriff Dane M. Anthony "The end result of this transition will be a smoother and safer process for our buyers, attorneys and staff."

The first sale will be held September 10, with 32 properties scheduled for auction. Bidders must register a free Bid4Assets account and fund a $10,000 deposit in order to participate in the auction. Available auctions can be viewed at any time at www.bid4assets.com/franklinsheriffsale. Offline bid forms can be found in our office, as well as the current auction list. Prospective bidders can also use publicly available computers located at your local library to access the site and view or participate in the auction.

Bid4Assets is currently conducting virtual sheriff's sales for multiple sheriff offices in Pennsylvania including Montgomery, Monroe, Bucks, Berks, Adams, Beaver and Philadelphia counties. Based on data from similar auctions, the sale is projected to increase participation from bidders, as well as third-party sales. This also results in greater excess proceeds going back to the former homeowners. Bid4Assets' services come at no cost to Franklin County.

"We're honored to work with Franklin County to transition their sheriff's sales online," said Bid4Assets CEO Jesse Loomis. "Other sheriffs in the Commonwealth have reported numerous benefits, from increased participation to streamlined workflow for staff, to no longer having their sales beholden to the status of COVID-19 or even inclement weather. We're modernizing a process that went unchanged for hundreds of years, and more sheriffs are signing up every month."

Bid4Assets was founded in 1999 and conducted the first online tax sale and the first online federal forfeiture auction in the U.S., both in 2000. In October 2020, Bid4Assets conducted the first virtual sheriff's sale in the Commonwealth with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. Over the last 21 years, Bid4Assets has sold over 80,000 properties for the public sector.

About Bid4Assets

Bid4Assets (http://www.bid4assets.com) is an online auction site based in Silver Spring, Maryland. The privately held company auctions distressed real estate for the federal government, sheriff's offices, county tax collectors, financial institutions and real estate funds. In Pennsylvania, Bid4Assets conducts online tax or sheriff's sales for numerous counties, including Berks, Bucks, Montgomery, Monroe, Adams, Beaver and Philadelphia. Since its inception in 1999, the company has sold more than 125,000 properties nationwide and grossed over a billion dollars in auction sales.

Media Contact:

Teresa M. Lundy

TML Communications

E: [email protected]

P: 215-500-8749

Related Images

franklin-county-pa-sheriff-seal.jpg

Franklin County, PA Sheriff Seal

A single refundable $10,000 bid deposit is required to participate in this sheriff sale.

SOURCE Bid4Assets Inc.
Acoli, 84, has been imprisoned since 1973 after conviction of first-degree murder in 1973 of a New Jersey State Trooper during a shootout on the state turnpike. Despite being eligible for parole since 1993, the state has denied Acoli's parole eight times, all of them based on procedural technicalities. Acoli is suffering from early dementia and continuing health deterioration exacerbated by his hospitalization with Covid-19 last year.

The briefs focus on issues that are germane to Acoli's case including Aging and Recidivism, Parole Board Bias, Due Process, Racial Disparities in Parole, and First Amendment violations.

"These briefs offer substantive arguments for the New Jersey Supreme Court to grant Sundiata parole as soon as possible," said Soffiyah Elijah, Executive Director of Alliance of Families for Justice, who has led the amici filings. "The breadth and depth of the issues in these briefs provide irrefutable points and compelling arguments based on the law and extensive research in support of release coupled with significant perspectives important to this case."

The briefs are intended to provide substantial credence to the case, which is awaiting oral arguments before the Court. Amicus curiae is the Latin phrase that means "friend of the court." Frequently, a person or group who is not a party to an action, but has a strong interest in the case, will petition the court for permission to submit a brief with the intent of influencing the court's decision. A seventh brief is also expected to be filed next week.

One of the most notable briefs includes four National Black law enforcement groups, who argue that Acoli has served enough time and should be released. The coalition of Black law enforcement organizations noted their commitment to community safety as well as research showing that elderly incarcerated people have low recidivism rates, the high financial cost to society to keep them imprisoned, and sentencing inequities based on race and racial stereotypes.

"A core component of our justice system includes treating people fairly under the law, in this case, Sundiata Acoli, has fulfilled his sentence but the state has not upheld its duty to prove his continued incarceration is either fair or warranted," said Ronald Hampton, Former Executive Director of the National Black Law Enforcement Association. "He has served his time, paid his debt to society, and deserves to be released."

In New Jersey, the burden of proof rests on the state to show that the defendant poses a risk to public safety or presents a substantial risk of recidivism and therefore cannot be eligible for parole.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission has reported a reincarceration rate of just 4% for those age 65 and older. The Justice Policy Institute has studied cohorts of released elderly inmates and found recidivism rates to be -3%.

Over the course of his sentence, Acoli has completed at least 100 different programs for self-improvement and vocational training. He has also participated in numerous programs designed to provide differing perspectives and modify behavior, and taught a cognitive-behavioral course "Criminal Thinking" for eight years, designed to teach other incarcerated individuals how to avoid recidivism upon their release. He has not had a disciplinary infraction in 25 years.

Prior to his incarceration, Sundiata Acoli attended college at the age of 16, majoring in mathematics, was employed as a computer analyst, working for NASA among other organizations, was a member of The Black Panther Party, and was active in voter registration efforts during the 1964 Freedom Summer.

For copies of the briefs along with background information, visit https://sundiataacolifc.org/

About Bring Sundiata Home Alliance

The Bring Sundiata Acoli Home Alliance is a project of the National Alumni Association of the Black Panther Party to successfully advocate for the release of Sundiata Acoli while educating the public about his legacy of struggle.

About Humanity Communications Collective

Humanity Communications Collective is a boutique, social justice-driven, strategic communications consulting group focused on making human and emotional connections. Learn more about at Humanitycom.com

Media Contact: Heather Hansen

Humanity Communications Collective

[email protected]

410-991-4444

SOURCE Humanity Communications Collective

Related Links

https://www.humanitycom.com


SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Full Skope LLC has launched a new version of its SkopeLend Loan Origination System (LOS), a modern loan origination platform that builds upon the success of Full Skope's previous LOS, which over the last twelve months processed more than 10,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for over 15 financial institutions across the nation.

SkopeLend Loan Origination System Full Skope SkopeLend Loan Origination System Full Skope SkopeLend Loan Origination System

The new SkopeLend LOS combines the core strength of its predecessor - its ability to scale in support of high-volume loan origination for both consumer and commercial loans, with the business agility to simply configure and modify new loan products and workflows on the fly. SkopeLend also provides compliant loan document templates that are automatically completed and routed for e-signature with the click of a button. Now lenders can stay ahead of their competition and quickly seize new opportunities without being subjected to their technology vendor's timelines and massive professional services fees.

For banks and other lenders that are just now thinking about their path to digital transformation, SkopeLend LOS makes this journey much less daunting. For example, a new company-branded digital loan application can be set up and ready for borrowers to use in as little as two days.

SkopeLend LOS is available for purchase via the SalesForce AppExchange, which makes it a cost-effective solution that brings the added benefits of world-class security and infrastructure, as well as integrations to an ecosystem of thousands of other innovative technology partners. Its ease of implementation and hyper-configurability make it the leading solution for small to midsize banks and credit unions, as well as non-bank lenders.

Doug Hogan, CEO of Full Skope, explains, "We built this product specifically for community banks and credit unions and other types of lenders who may not have large IT staffs and budgets to manage long, complex, and risky LOS implementation projects, followed by an endless string of platform support projects. They may have thought having leading loan origination technology was never really an option, but with SkopeLend we're leveling the playing field by making exceptional technology more accessible to these businesses."

About Full Skope LLC

Full Skope LLC is a financial services technology company with offices in downtown San Antonio, TX. Full Skope offers a range of leading, innovative products for banks, credit unions, and non-bank lenders, in addition to its flagship product, SkopeLend Loan Origination System. For more information visit www.fullskope.com or you can reach CEO Doug Hogan by email at [email protected].

Media Contact:

Doug Hogan

866-357-5673

[email protected]

SOURCE Full Skope LLC
In the first half of 2021, the Group reported a revenue of approximately USD 229.6 million , a 38.0% YoY increase, and a gross profit of USD 138.6 million , achieving a 28.1% YoY growth. All four of the Group's business segments demonstrated steady growth.

, a 38.0% YoY increase, and a gross profit of , achieving a 28.1% YoY growth. All four of the Group's business segments demonstrated steady growth. Building on early strategic investments, the Group saw explosive growth in its gene and cell therapy (GCT) CDMO business in revenue.

The Group invested USD 175.1 million in R&D, a 51.6% YoY increase, as it expanded its presence in the GCT industry.

NANJING, China, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GenScript Biotech Corporation (HKEX: 1548.HK), a leading global technology and service provider of life science R&D and manufacture, today reported its first half 2021 financial results for the six months ended June 30. It also announced that the Group has expanded its presence in the gene and cell therapy (GCT) industry, with aggressive investments from the Group's life science services and products business, biologics CDMO business, and cell therapy business.

In the first half of 2021, the Group maintained strong momentum across all business segments. Total revenue increased by 38% to USD 229.6 million, and gross profit increased by 28.1% to USD 138.6 million.

The Group's non-cell therapy business revenue increased by 36.6% to USD 195.7 million, with gross profit of USD 104.7 million, a 23.0% YoY increase. This impressive success was driven by the launch of new products, advanced sales capability and capacity expansion, including its GCT CDMO business' historic breakthrough in explosive revenue growth. This built on the Group's early investments in the field and advantages in plasmid and lentivirus R&D and manufacturing solutions. For the Group's cell therapy business, revenue increased by 46.8% YoY to USD 33.9 million, benefitting from continued recognition of its successes and milestone investments.

As the world's No. 1 gene synthesis supplier, GenScript Biotech has been dedicated to the gene synthesis business for more than one decade and continues to hone its competitive edge in the field. It has laid a strong technical foundation for its GCT business, which also serves as a major revenue stream for the Group. As GenScript Biotech's life science services and products business, biologics CDMO business, and cell therapy business are all achieving strong momentum and investing aggressively in the GCT industry, the Group's is expanding its presence throughout the GCT value chain.

GenScript Biotech has been continuing its strategic investments in R&D and innovation. In the first half of 2021, R&D expenses increased by 51.6% YoY to USD 175.1 million. The non-cell therapy business invested about 10% of its revenue in GMP facility construction and other infrastructure expansion. The cell therapy business spent USD154.5 million on R&D, a 52.1% YoY increase, with an investment focus on clinical studies of cilta-cel and manufacturing facilities that support the business' ongoing clinical trials and future commercialization.

GenScript Biotech is ushering in the rise of GCT as the next biotech industry revolution, tapping into the huge potential of CRO and CDMO platforms. Over the next two to three years, the life science business and biologics CDMO business will increase their strategic investments into the field. This includes investments in GCT-related ssDNA and sgRNA services, utilizing automation technology to upgrade production lines, and accelerate the launch of ongoing cell therapy products and R&D in new pipelines.

"While the global pandemic continues to impact the world and the life science community, GenScript Biotech was able to harness opportunity to maintain strong momentum. We especially made rapid progress GCT-related products and services, a key strategic field for the Group. This was made possible by our unwavering dedication to the frontier of life science technology and our market insights. As we look ahead, GenScript Biotech will continue to invest aggressively in the GCT industry to meet booming demand and fulfill our mission to make people and nature healthier through biotechnology," said Dr. Patrick Liu, Rotating CEO of GenScript Biotech.

First Half 2021 Business Highlights by Segment

The life science services and products business reported a remarkable boost in the first half of 2021. Revenue increased by 32.2% YoY to USD 152.0 million, and operating profit before unallocated central expenses and share based compensations increased by 25.5% to USD 55.2 million, maintaining great profitability.

The business has also further diversified. Gene synthesis services increased in cost efficiency, while services in protein, peptide, antibody and oligo businesses were also expanding fast, becoming the Group's second growth driver.

Gene synthesis service costs were successfully reduced by about 10%. To enhance these services, GenScript Biotech built a fully-automated gene synthesis production line covering 5,000 square feet in the US, which is expected to increase its capacity tenfold, and save transportation costs and lead time for overseas customers.

Gene editing business increased by over 65% YoY.

Oligo business increased by over 90% YoY.

To support protein production capacity, GenScript Biotech will launch two facilities in Shanghai and Singapore .

Apart from gene synthesis services, the life science services and products business is also accelerating development across the GCT industrial chain, strengthening GenScript Biotech's presence in this field. In the coming years, the business will deepen its investments in two GCT directions: customized products and services to meet GCT needs, including developing laboratory-level ssDNA and sgRNA, reagents and instruments; and specification upgrades made possible by industrial line automation to improve market share and profitability.

GenScript ProBio, the biologics CDMO business, generated USD 31.5 million in revenue, a 65.8% YoY increase, in the first of 2021. Gross profit yielded USD 10.0 million, representing a 112.8% YoY increase, and gross margin rose from 24.7% last year to 31.7% this year. Revenue growth was mainly driven by successful ongoing antibody CDMO projects and rapid expansion of the GCT CDMO business.

The business has advanced its capabilities in challenging molecule development, driving revenue from antibody and protein CDMO services to increase by 58.3%. Revenue from emerging GCT CDMO services skyrocketed YoY, maintaining GenScript ProBio's leading position in the GCT CDMO industry:

In terms of plasmid services, GenScript ProBio is the only company in China equipped with a GMP certified linearized plasmid production platform. GenScript ProBio has virtually cornered the pre-clinical and clinical plasmid supply market for mRNA vaccine R&D companies in China .

equipped with a GMP certified linearized plasmid production platform. GenScript ProBio has virtually cornered the pre-clinical and clinical plasmid supply market for mRNA vaccine R&D companies in . On viral vectors, GenScript ProBio developed China's first proprietary lentivirus suspension production platform, with a virus yield that is equivalent to or higher than that of the most widely used cell line on the market. The business will also soon be launching its proprietary AAV suspension production platform.

With its independent financing capabilities, GenScript ProBio is prioritizing investments in capacity upgrades and infrastructure for its both GCT CDMO business and antibody CDMO business.

The second GMP certified plasmid facility in Zhenjiang, China , is expected to be up and running within the year, which will enable GenScript ProBio to more than double its current plasmid production capacity.

, is expected to be up and running within the year, which will enable GenScript ProBio to more than double its current plasmid production capacity. A new R&D building in Nanjing will be added to further enhance GenScript ProBio's antibody discovery and development capabilities in upstream services.

will be added to further enhance GenScript ProBio's antibody discovery and development capabilities in upstream services. The biologics fill-and-finish line is now under construction and is expected to be operational in the second half of 2022 to better meet customer needs for commercial production.

A 12,000 L-capacity production center in Zhenjiang, China is under construction to accelerate capacity expansion in commercialization.

Legend Biotech, the cell therapy business, continued to progress in the first half of 2021 and yielded USD 33.9 million in revenue, a 46.8% YoY increase, mainly from amortization of upfront and milestone payments received from its collaboration with Johnson & Johnson. Legend's R&D expenses rose to USD 154.5 million in the first half of 2021, mainly on cilta-cel clinical trials in the US and China.

As Genscript Biotech continues to expand its business in the GCT industry, Legend Biotech has leveraged cilta-cel to enhance its in-depth industry experience and insights, which also betters the Group's understanding of client demands in its non-cell therapy business. Legend Biotech is expected to obtain commercialization approval for cilta-cel from the US FDA for end-line treatment before the end of this year. Legend will submit BLAs for cilta-cel in China and Japan in the second half of 2021, and strives to acquire commercialization approval in Europe and China in 2022.

The company also has several CAR-T therapies in the pipeline targeting hematologic malignancies, solid tumors and infectious diseases, along with a variety of autologous CAR-T, allogenic CAR-T and TCR-T R&D platforms. Legend Biotech is pushing forward its LB1901 program for the treatment of refractory and recurring T-cell lymphoma.

In addition, Legend Biotech has established production facilities in New Jersey (US), Belgium (Europe), and Nanjing (China), expanding its capacity for upcoming global commercialization.

Bestzyme, the industrial synthetic biology products business, generated USD 18.0 million in revenue, a 60.7% YoY increase, and USD 5.1 million in gross profit, a 18.6% YoY increase. Revenue growth was mainly driven by a series of new product launches and continued implementation of major account strategies. In the future, Bestzyme plans to deepen its reach in the F&B, home care and chemical substitution fields. By leveraging synthetic biology, the company aims to construct new functional proteins and functional small molecules to create new value for its customers.

About GenScript Biotech Corporation

GenScript Biotech Corporation (Stock Code: 1548.HK) is the world's leading technology and service provider of life science R&D and manufacture. Built upon its solid gene synthesis technology, GenScript Biotech is divided into four major platforms including the life science service and product platform, the biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) platform, the global cell therapy platform and the industrial synthesis biological product platform.

GenScript Biotech was founded in New Jersey, US in 2002 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2015. GenScript Biotech's business operations span over 100 countries and regions worldwide with legal entities located in the US; Mainland China; Hong Kong, China; Japan; Singapore; the Netherlands and Ireland. GenScript Biotech provides premium, convenient and reliable services and products for over 100,000 customers.

As of December 31, 2020, GenScript Biotech had more than 4600 employees globally, over 39% of whom hold master's and/or Ph.D. degrees. In addition, GenScript Biotech owns a number of intellectual property rights, including over 140 patents, over 510 pending patent applications and great numbers of trade secrets.

Driven by the corporate mission of "making people and nature healthier through biotechnology", GenScript Biotech strives to become the most trustworthy biotech company in the world. As of December 31, 2020, GenScript Biotech's services and products have been cited by 52,500 peer-reviewed journal articles worldwide.

For more information, please visit GenScript Biotech's official website

https://www.genscript.com .

SOURCE GenScript Biotech Corporation

Related Links

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RAIPUR, India, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratview Research announces the launch of a new research report on Glass Mat Market by Mat Type (Chopped Strand Mat (CSM) and Continuous Filament Mat (CFM)), by End-Use Industry (Transportation, Marine, E&E, Building & Construction, Pipe & Tank, and Others), by Binder Type (Powder, Emulsion, and Others) and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2021-2026.

This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research's internal database and statistical tools. More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact book, press release, journals, investor presentation, white papers, patents, and articles have been leveraged to gather the data. We conducted more than 10 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all four regions and with industry experts to obtain both the qualitative and quantitative insights.

Glass Mat Market: Highlights

A glass mat also referred to as a glass veil, is a non-woven material, consisting of randomly sized fiberglass. These glass fibers are aligned in the vertical direction, allowing the electrolyte to permeate through the glass mat, thereby, permitting the escape of hydrogen gas. The fibers are disturbed uniformly and bonded together by some organic additives. There are various ways through which glass fiber is bonded out of which emulsion-bonded glass mats offer several benefits, such as easy air removal, rapid resin impregnation, good surface bonding, high strand integrity, better aesthetics to composite parts, and low resin consumption.

The pandemic devastated almost the entire value chain of the composites industry. However, the impact of the pandemic varies from material to material. For instance, core materials, a unique category of composites, grew at a healthy pace amid the pandemic, whereas carbon fiber, a specialized fiber category, witnessed a colossal plunge in its demand. The degree of COVID-19 impact on certain composite materials largely depends upon the dependency on those materials in different market segments. Glass fiber, the most common fiber type, witnessed a relatively less decline compared with other fibers, credit goes to the excellent growth in the Chinese market post-Q2 2020.

Similar to other composite materials, the impact of the pandemic on the demand for glass mats varies from region to region. For instance, the Asia-Pacific's glass mat market survived the shock waves of the pandemic with a marginal decline in 2020, whereas the North American and European markets hugely plummeted in 2020. The recovery trajectory is anticipated to be analogous to the downfall. Asia-Pacific is expecting a quick recovery, followed by North America and Europe.

After a decline in the year 2020, the glass mat market is set to grow at a healthy CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period, to reach US$ 1.7 billion in 2026. An expected recovery in the construction spending, expected rebound in automobile production coupled with an incessant shift from traditional materials to lightweight composite materials, and an increase in infrastructure investments related to pipes are likely to rejuvenate the demand for glass mats across regions.

Click Here for Running Through the Table of Contents: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/toc/768/glass-mat-market.html

Based on the product type, chopped strand mat is estimated to account for the major share of the market during the forecast period due to increased usage in the marine, recreational, industrial, transportation, and construction applications. Chopped strand mats are preferred in the open mold process, whereas continuous filament mats are preferred in the closed molding process.

Based on the application type, the market is segmented as transportation, marine, E&E, building & construction, pipe & tank, and others. Building & construction is estimated to maintain its dominance in the market over the next five years. There has been an incessant increase in the penetration of composite materials in the construction industry, driven by its inherent advantages including corrosion resistance, high specific strength, excellent aesthetic property, and excellent abrasion resistance. Transportation, Marine, and Pipe & Tank are also likely to create sizeable opportunities in the years to come.

Based on the binder type, emulsion is estimated to maintain its dominance in the market over the next five years. Emulsion binders are highly preferred in chopped strand mats for a multitude of parts including automotive parts, boat hulls, and decks, chemical pipes and tanks, and swimming pools. Emulsion binders offer excellent impregnation property, excellent conformability, better handling property, ease of processing, good mechanical properties, and better surface bonding efficiency against powder-bonded glass mats.

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In terms of regions, Asia-Pacific is the largest market for glass mats, driven by China, India, Japan, and South Korea. Amid the pandemic, China emerged out to be one of few markets that recorded growth despite severe decline in the Q1 2020. On the other hand, India, another major market in Asia-Pacific, recorded a mammoth plunge in the wake of prolonged lockdown across the nation. However, both major markets (China and India) are likely to grow at a healthy pace in the post-pandemic scenario. Construction, pipe & tank, and transportation continue driving the demand for glass mats in the region. North America and Europe are also expected to offer substantial growth opportunities during the forecast period.

Some of the key players in the glass mat market are:

Owens Corning

China Jushi

Chongqing Polycomp International Corporation (CPIC)

3B Fiberglass

Fiberglass Taishan Fiberglass

China Beihai Fiberglass Co., Ltd.

Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.

Johns Manville

P-D Glasseiden GmbH

Saint-Gobain Adfors.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights on the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.

Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.

Market trend and forecast analysis.

Market segment trend and forecast.

Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc.

Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.

Emerging trends.

Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.

Key success factors.

This report studies global glass mat market and has segmented the market in four ways, keeping in mind the interest of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Following are the four ways in which the market is segmented:

Glass Mat Market Size, Share, & Forecast, by Mat Type:

Chopped Strand Mat (CSM) (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Continuous Filament Mat (CFM) (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Glass Mat Market Size, Share, & Forecast, by End-Use Industry Type:

Transportation (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Marine (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

E&E (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Building & Construction Transfer Fluids (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Pipe & Tank (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Glass Mat Market Size, Share, & Forecast, by Binder Type:

Powder-Bound Glass Mats (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Emulsion -Bound Glass Mats (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Glass Mat Market Size, Share, & Forecast, by Region:

North America (Country Analysis: the USA , Canada , and Mexico )

Europe (Country Analysis: Germany , France , the UK, Russia , Spain , Italy , and Rest of Europe )

Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China , Japan , India , and Rest of Asia-Pacific )

Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil , Argentina , and Others)

Stratview Research has several high value market reports in the composites industry. Please refer to the following link to browse through our reports:

https://www.stratviewresearch.com/market-reports/composites.html

About Stratview Research

Stratview Research is a global market intelligence firm providing wide range of services including syndicated market reports, custom research and sourcing intelligence across industries, such as Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mass Transportation, Consumer Goods, Construction & Equipment, Electronics and Semiconductors, Energy & Utility, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Oil & Gas.

We have a strong team of industry veterans and analysts with an extensive experience in executing custom research projects for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies, in the areas of Market Assessment, Opportunity Screening, Competitive Intelligence, Due Diligence, Target Screening, Market Entry Strategy, Go to Market Strategy, and Voice of Customer studies.

Stratview Research is a trusted brand globally, providing high quality research and strategic insights that help companies worldwide in effective decision making.

Stratview Research has launched 'Composights', an online portal which offers free thought leadership reports, whitepapers, market report synopsis and much more for Composites and allied industries, worth US$ 20,000 every year.

Click here to sign up (No costs involved): https://www.stratviewresearch.com/composights/sign-in

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Stratview Research

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SOURCE Stratview Research
FACTS AT A GLANCE Edition: 6; Released: May 2021 Executive Pool: 32627 Companies: 145 - Players covered include Amazon Web Services, Inc.; Axis Technology LLC; Fortinet, Inc.; Gemalto NV; Hewlett-Packard Development Company LP; IBM Corporation; Imperva, Inc.; Informatica LLC; Intel Security Group; McAfee LLC; Oracle Corporation; Trustwave Holdings, Inc.; Voltage Security Inc. and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Deployment (Private, Public, Hybrid); End-Use (BFSI, Retail, IT & Telecommunication, Other End-Uses) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.

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ABSTRACT-



Global Cloud Database Security Market to Reach $20.9 Billion by 2026

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Cloud Database Security estimated at US$6.6 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$20.9 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 18.7% over the analysis period. Private, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 19.1% CAGR and reach US$11 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Public segment is readjusted to a revised 17% CAGR for the next 7-year period.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $2.3 Billion in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $3.2 Billion by 2026

The Cloud Database Security market in the U.S. is estimated at US$2.3 Billion in the year 2021. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$3.2 Billion by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 18% over the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 16.9% and 16.1% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 13.7% CAGR.

Hybrid Segment to Reach $3.5 Billion by 2026

In the global Hybrid segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 21.3% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$779.3 Million in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$3 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$821 Million by the year 2026. More

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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

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CHICAGO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CoinFlip, the world's leading cryptocurrency ATM operator and the fastest-growing company in Chicago, today joined Governor JB Pritzker and local leaders to announce a new 44,000 square-foot headquarters located in the Old Post Office downtown. CoinFlip's new headquarters represent a long-term commitment to the State of Illinois, with the largest lease by a cryptocurrency company in city history. With support from the State of Illinois, the company will more than double its previous office space and continue to increase its current headcount across all departments of the company.

"We're proud to have founded CoinFlip in Chicago, Illinois, which has been our home for the last six years, and are excited to announce we're growing. While CoinFlip is proud to operate in 47 states, no other state is pioneering forward-thinking initiatives like Illinois that will make it not only a leader in cryptocurrency but a clear choice for our long-term plans," said Ben Weiss, CEO of CoinFlip. "We're committed to doing our part for the future of cryptocurrency as well as for the Chicago community  and that's why we're making long-term plans to grow our team here while investing in programs to help local communities benefit from the expansion of cryptocurrency technologies."

CoinFlip was named the 2021 fastest-growing company in Chicago by Crain's Chicago Business. Over the past few years, the locally based company has expanded to over 2,700 ATMs across the country, maintaining a strong record of regulatory compliance to ensure the safety and security of its customers. With this latest expansion, CoinFlip will keep that central focus, as well as map out new opportunities internationally and across product lines.

"Illinois has long been a global leader in financial services. And today we are building on that legacy, working to build a cryptocurrency regulatory framework that's best in the nation and expand access to capital for innovative companies," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Congratulations to CoinFlip on recently being named by Crain's as the fastest growing company in Chicago and thank you for your commitment to this city and state. I'm so proud you are part of the fabric of our community  and I'm absolutely thrilled you are doubling down on Illinois."

The new 44,000 SF HQ will double the size of CoinFlip's operations, paving the way for the company to increase its Chicago-based staff across all divisions and departments to add a minimum of 30 new jobs, while retaining at least 138 jobs currently held in the Chicago office. The company signed a 12-year lease and will make an overall $17 million capital investment. CoinFlip qualified for an EDGE agreement offered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to support companies making large-scale capital investments and long-term job creation commitments in Illinois communities.

"CoinFlip's headquarters expansion is a testament to Illinois' strength as a leader in tech, and we are thrilled to celebrate their new investment that will create new well-paying jobs for those who call our state home," said DCEO Director Sylvia Garcia. "Under Governor Pritzker's leadership, more and more companies are choosing Illinois thanks to our reputation as a home to world-class talent, modern infrastructure, and supportive climate for startups to innovate."



CoinFlip is the latest fintech company to expand in Illinois, which is the home base for 58 different blockchain and cryptocurrency companies. Cryptocurrency is a natural fit for the state, which is already a global hub for fintech and some of the largest in the world financial exchanges, CME Group and the Chicago Board of Exchange, and over 150 companies doing business here, accounting for $7.7 billion a year. Cryptocurrencies are expected to grow significantly in the years ahead, with an anticipated 25 percent increase in jobs headed to Illinois by 2025.

Illinois is positioned to seize on the future growth in the cryptocurrency industry, thanks to the recent passage of HB3968 by the Illinois House of Representatives earlier this year  which would establish digital asset rules for banking services as well as effectively allow financial companies in Illinois to apply for a charter to operate and deal in crypto-assets. Pending approval by the Senate, this legislation puts Illinois at the forefront of regulating the emerging industry and allows companies access to lower banking services to operate in this new space.

"I'm thrilled to see CoinFlip make Chicago its home, bringing hundreds of new financial technology jobs to our city," said State Representative Margaret Croke (D-Chicago). "Illinois already has the talent and the infrastructure in place to be a global hub to this growing industry, and I hope that we continue to make progress towards achieving that goal."

"I am delighted that CoinFlip has chosen to establish their headquarters in Chicago," said State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago). "The expansion of their innovation and progress will only benefit our city and increase employment opportunities. I look forward to the implementation of this development."

"Cryptocurrency is becoming more and more popular, and it's great to see Chicago will be home to the world's leading cryptocurrency ATM operator," said State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago). "Having CoinFlip's headquarters right here in the city will give a much-needed boost to our job market and economic future."

CoinFlip is currently developing community initiatives with a variety of national and local partners, with special emphasis on the state of Illinois, designed to improve literacy and education on all aspects of personal finance including the buying and selling of cryptocurrency. Additionally, CoinFlip continues to invest in environmental projects, including working with the Canopy Project to plant a tree for every new ATM installed around the country.

Additional legislation is pending to support the growth of the cryptocurrency industry, building on policy and legislative accomplishments undertaken by the Pritzker administration since 2019. This includes the extension of the research and development tax credit, as well as the creation of a business apprenticeship tax credit put into effect last year  initiatives identified in the Governor's 5-year economic plan for Illinois. The state continues to see rapid growth as the 5th largest cryptocurrency hub in the world - thanks to its talent, central location giving companies quick access to anywhere in the world, as well as its deep network of fiberoptics and the continued rapid growth of new data centers.

More on CoinFlip:

CoinFlip is the leading Bitcoin ATM operator globally, with over 2,700 machines across 47 states supporting the buying and selling of nine major cryptocurrencies with cash. CoinFlip's goal is to give the world quick, easy, and secure access to the benefits of cryptocurrency. The company cuts typical transaction fees by half, offers an incredibly simple user experience, and introduced 24/7 customer support, which has now become an industry standard. In 2020, CoinFlip launched Trade Desk, a high-end cryptocurrency over-the-counter trading experience with no investment minimums and no hidden fees. Trade Desk gives investors secure access to buy and sell cryptocurrencies of any dollar volume from one of the leading names in the crypto space.

Founded in 2015, CoinFlip is headquartered in Chicago. It was named the 2021 #1 fastest-growing company in Chicago by Crain's and awarded the 2021 Silver Stevie  Award for Customer Service. For more information about CoinFlip, please visit www.CoinFlip.tech.

SOURCE CoinFlip
SINGAPORE, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Group-IB, one of the leading providers of solutions dedicated to detecting and preventing cyberattacks, identifying online fraud, investigation of high-tech crimes and intellectual property protection, has been included in the Forrester overview of the global cybersecurity consulting providers "Now Tech: Global Cybersecurity Consulting Providers, Q3 2021". The report covers 36 major global cybersecurity consulting firms.

The demand for superior cybersecurity consulting services continues to increase every year. According to the Forrester's Analytics Business Technographics Security Survey, 31% of enterprise security decision-makers expect to increase spending on cybersecurity consultants and systems integrators by 5% or more in 2021. Digital transformation challenges brought by pandemic have spurred this demand further. To reinforce their cybersecurity risk programs, CISO are tapping into purpose-built strategic and tactical cybersecurity expertise.

The Forrester analysts included Group-IB service offering in the category of consultancies  the providers which "offer clients a broad range of audit, consulting, and advisory services, including cybersecurity consulting. They have a diverse set of assets and intellectual property to help clients solve security problems."

Cybersecurity services have always been the key drivers of Group-IB's technological leadership enriching the company's global threat intelligence and hunting ecosystem with first-hand understanding of adversary tactics. The company's contribution to high-profile cyber investigations in partnership with international law enforcement, and incident response engagements in more than 60 countries bring in-depth knowledge of criminal schemes. Group-IB's battle-tested experts carried out more than 1,200 successful investigations over 18 years around.

While many corporate cybersecurity teams struggle to manage multiple vendors, Group-IB offers its customers a single point of accountability and security consulting expertise trusted by the international automotive, fintech, retail companies. The company provides consulting services at every stage of the attack lifecycle: before (Security Assessment, Compromise Assessment, Incident Response Readiness Assessment), during (Incident Response and Incident Response Retainer), and after the attack (Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigation).

Contact Group-IB to learn more about intelligence-driven cybersecurity services.

About Group-IB

Group-IB is one of the leading providers of solutions dedicated to detecting and preventing cyberattacks, identifying online fraud, investigation of high-tech crimes and intellectual property protection, headquartered in Singapore. The company's threat intelligence and research centers are located in the Middle East (Dubai), the Asia-Pacific (Singapore), Europe (Amsterdam), and Russia (Moscow).

Group-IB's Threat Intelligence & Attribution system has been named one of the best in class by Gartner, Forrester, and IDC. Group-IB's Threat Hunting Framework (earlier known as TDS) intended for the proactive search and the protection against complex and previously unknown cyberthreats has been recognized as one of the leaders in Network Detection and Response by the leading European analyst agency KuppingerCole Analysts AG, while Group-IB itself has been recognized as a Product Leader and Innovation Leader. Gartner identified Group-IB as a Representative Vendor in Online Fraud Detection for its Fraud Hunting Platform. In addition, Group-IB was granted Frost & Sullivan's Innovation Excellence award for its Digital Risk Protection (DRP), an Al-driven platform for identifying and mitigating digital risks and counteracting brand impersonation attacks with the company's patented technologies at its core.

Group-IB's technological leadership and R&D capabilities are built on the company's 18 years of hands-on experience in cybercrime investigations worldwide and 70,000 hours of cybersecurity incident response accumulated in our leading forensic laboratory, high-tech crime investigations department, and round-the-clock CERT-GIB.

Media Contact

Group-IB PR Team

+65 3159-3798

[email protected]

SOURCE Group-IB
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. and SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation ("GuideWell"), a health solutions company and parent of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. ("Florida Blue"), and Triple-S Management Corporation ("Triple-S Management") (NYSE: GTS), a leading health care services company in Puerto Rico, today announced they will combine to transform the health care experience for their members in Florida and Puerto Rico.

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, GuideWell will acquire all the outstanding shares of Triple-S Management common stock for $36.00 per share in cash, representing a premium of approximately 49% to Triple-S Management's 90-day volume-weighted average trading price. The transaction (the "Transaction") equity value is approximately $900 million. Upon completion of the Transaction, Triple-S Management will become a subsidiary of GuideWell and will continue to operate under the Triple-S Management brand. The agreement was unanimously approved by both companies' Boards of Directors.

The combination brings together industry leaders  and builds on the companies' complementary assets, cultures and strategic visions. GuideWell is a not-for-profit mutual holding company and the parent to a family of forward-thinking companies, including Florida Blue, that are focused on transforming health care. In total, GuideWell companies serve more than 45 million people in 45 states. Florida Blue is the oldest and largest health insurer in Florida, proudly serving more than 5 million members across all 67 counties in the state. Triple-S Management serves more than 1 million consumers in Puerto Rico, with a strong position in Medicare Advantage, a leading position in Puerto Rico Medicaid and commercial segments, and solid foundations in its Life and P&C segments.

The Transaction positions GuideWell, Florida Blue and Triple-S Management to better serve customers and members in a rapidly evolving environment. The combined entity will be a well-diversified leader, strongly positioned to compete effectively and invest substantially to drive improved health outcomes, access and affordability.

"The Transaction expands GuideWell's core insurance operations and positions Florida Blue and Triple-S Management for significant growth and meaningful value creation for the customers and communities we serve," said Pat Geraghty, president and chief executive officer of GuideWell and Florida Blue. "Florida Blue and Triple-S Management are both recognized for their high-quality, affordable health care and their actions deeply rooted in supporting community well-being. With Puerto Rico's outlook strengthening, and Florida experiencing fast-paced growth, especially in its Puerto Rican and Hispanic populations, this is a natural next step."

"Uniting our mission-driven, community-focused teams is a great outcome for our companies, as well as for Puerto Rico and Florida, and our shareholders," said Roberto Garcia-Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer of Triple-S Management. "We have long admired Florida Blue's locally focused approach to care, and we share their respect for the uniqueness of every community served. By partnering with a strong organization that shares our mission and approach, we will be well positioned to achieve our strategic goals, expand access and improve health care outcomes for all our members. The Transaction is also clearly in the best interests of our shareholders, given the strategic fit, the significant premium to our current share price and resulting shareholder liquidity."

The Transaction:

Builds on deep local expertise to address the unique needs of Florida Blue's and Triple-S Management's diverse customers, driving improved health outcomes, affordability, access and health equity. Triple-S Management and Florida Blue will work together to launch culturally relevant solutions and improve key drivers of health. Triple-S Management's deep understanding of the Puerto Rican and Hispanic communities, its Spanish-speaking provider network and customer support, and its strong name and brand recognition in Puerto Rico will benefit Florida Blue as the Puerto Rican and Hispanic communities continue to experience fast-paced growth in Florida .

Triple-S Management and will work together to launch culturally relevant solutions and improve key drivers of health. Triple-S Management's deep understanding of the Puerto Rican and Hispanic communities, its Spanish-speaking provider network and customer support, and its strong name and brand recognition in will benefit as the Puerto Rican and Hispanic communities continue to experience fast-paced growth in . Accelerates GuideWell's and Triple-S Management's diversification and growth. GuideWell and Triple-S Management will leverage each other's capabilities and expertise to improve health care value for their respective customers. For example, the Transaction will accelerate Florida Blue's growth in Medicare Advantage and across all lines of business in Florida's rapidly growing Puerto Rican and Hispanic populations.

GuideWell and Triple-S Management will leverage each other's capabilities and expertise to improve health care value for their respective customers. For example, the Transaction will accelerate growth in Medicare Advantage and across all lines of business in Florida's rapidly growing Puerto Rican and Hispanic populations. Addresses affordability and enables increased investment. As overall health care costs continue to rise, the companies' expanded scale and reach will enable them to address affordability and continue to invest in accessible, effective health solutions.

As overall health care costs continue to rise, the companies' expanded scale and reach will enable them to address affordability and continue to invest in accessible, effective health solutions. Drives immediate accretion and propels long-term growth through scale advantages. GuideWell expects the Transaction to be immediately accretive. The Transaction will create a leading provider of Medicare in the United States , enabling Florida Blue and Triple-S Management to better compete against other insurers in Florida and Puerto Rico .

Transaction Details

The Transaction will be completed through a merger of a newly created subsidiary of GuideWell with and into Triple-S Management, with Triple-S Management as the surviving corporation. Following completion of the Transaction, Triple-S Management will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of GuideWell and will continue to be led by its current management team while operating under the Triple-S Management brand. Triple-S Management's providers, members and community partners will continue to work with the Triple-S Management staff they know and trust.

The Transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2022, subject to satisfaction of normal closing conditions, including customary state and federal regulatory review and approval as well as approval by Triple-S Management shareholders.

Advisors

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to GuideWell, and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is serving as legal counsel. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Triple-S Management, and Davis Polk & Wardell LLP is serving as legal counsel.

Message for Investors

A pre-recorded message from Mr. Garcia-Rodriguez will be available on the investor relations page of Triple-S Management's website at 8:30 a.m. Eastern at investors.triplesmanagement.com. Investors may also listen to the pre-recorded message at that time by dialing 1-877-407-0792 or 1-201-689-8263.

Website

Additional information about the combination and its compelling benefits is available at a joint website at www.BuildingHealthTogether.com.

About GuideWell

GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation (GuideWell) is a not-for-profit mutual holding company and the parent to a family of forward-thinking companies focused on transforming health care. The GuideWell organization includes Florida Blue, the leading health insurance company in Florida; GuideWell Health, a portfolio of clinical delivery organizations; GuideWell Venture Group, a portfolio of companies, including Onlife Health and PopHealthCare, focused on creating human-first and innovative health solutions for health plans; GuideWell Source, a provider of administrative services to state and federal health care programs; and WebTPA, a market leading administrator of self-funded employer health plans. In total, GuideWell and its affiliated companies serve more than 45 million people in 45 states. For more information, visit www.guidewell.com.

About Florida Blue

Florida Blue, Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, has been providing health insurance to residents of Florida for more than 75 years. Driven by its mission of helping people and communities achieve better health, the company serves more than 5 million health care members across the state. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., it is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About Triple-S Management Corporation

Triple-S Management, a health services company, serves more than 1 million customers in Puerto Rico, which represents nearly one-third of the island's population. With over 60 years of experience, it is the premier insurance and managed care brand, with the largest customer base and broadest provider networks on the island. Triple-S Management has the exclusive right to use the Blue Cross Blue Shield name and mark throughout Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla, and offers a broad portfolio of managed care and related products in the commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid segments. Triple-S Management is also a well-known brand in the life insurance and property and casualty insurance segments in Puerto Rico, with strong customer relationships and a significant market share. For more information about Triple-S Management, visit www.triplesmanagement.com or contact [email protected].

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this communication are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, not past or historical events. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "anticipate(s)," "believe(s)," "estimate(s)," "expect(s)," "feel(s)," "forecast(s)," "intend(s)," "may," "potential," "plan(s)," "predict(s)," "project(s)," "seek(s)," "should," "would," "will," and similar expressions (including the negative thereof) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Triple-S Management Corporation ("Triple-S") intends that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Although Triple-S believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions when made, there is no assurance that such assumptions are correct or that these expectations will be achieved. Assumptions involve important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect results in the future. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that Triple-S fails to obtain the required vote of Triple-S's shareholders; the risk of a significant delay in consummating the proposed transaction; the risk that a condition of closing of the proposed transaction may not be satisfied or that the closing of the proposed transaction might otherwise not occur; the risk that a regulatory approval or a Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association approval that may be required for the proposed transaction is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the impact of COVID-19 on global markets, economic conditions, the health care industry and our results of operations, which is unknown, and the response by governments and other third parties; the inability to predict and effectively manage health benefits and other operating expenses and reserves, including fluctuations in medical utilization rates due to the impact of COVID-19; changes in federal or state laws or regulations, including changes with respect to income tax reform or government healthcare programs; disasters or epidemics; provider, territory, state, federal, foreign and other contract changes and timing of regulatory approval of contracts; the outcome of legal and regulatory proceedings; the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues; risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction; the risk that potential litigation in connection with the proposed transaction may affect the timing or occurrence of the proposed transaction or result in significant costs of defense, indemnification or liability; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of the common stock of Triple-S; and the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on Triple-S's ability to contract with providers and retain and hire key personnel; as well as risk factors listed from time to time in Triple-S's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Triple-S cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Triple-S disclaims any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication relates to a proposed transaction between Triple-S and GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation ("GuideWell"). In connection with this proposed transaction, Triple-S may file one or more proxy statements or other documents with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement or other document Triple-S may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF TRIPLE-S ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Any definitive proxy statement(s) (if and when available) will be mailed to stockholders of Triple-S. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Triple-S through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Triple-S will be available free of charge on Triple-S's internet website at https://investors.triplesmanagement.com or by contacting Triple-S's primary investor relations contact by email at [email protected] or by phone at (787)749-4949. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by GuideWell will be made available free of charge on GuideWell's website at www.guidewell.com.

Participants in Solicitation

Triple-S, GuideWell, their respective directors and certain of their respective executive officers may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Triple-S is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed with the SEC on February 26, 2021, its proxy statement for its 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 18, 2021, certain of its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and certain of its Current Reports filed on Form 8-K. Information about the directors and executive officers of GuideWell is set forth on its website at www.guidewell.com/who-we-are.

These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.

GuideWell Contacts

Thurman Justice

EVP and Chief Financial Officer

(904) 905-5085

Farley Kern

Chief Communications Officer

[email protected]

(312) 213-9811

Triple-S Management Contacts

Victor J. Haddock-Morales

EVP and Chief Financial Officer

(787) 749-4949

Garrett Edson

ICR

(787) 792-6488

SOURCE Triple-S Management Corporation

Related Links

http://www.triplesmanagement.com


MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Companies pouring over high-stakes investigations and litigation now have immediate access to a powerful new service to assist in identifying and analyzing digital clues from mobile devices through HaystackID's Mobile Elite Discovery and Analysis Lab (MEDAL). Part of the company's Forensics First portfolio of services, MEDAL augments and enhances investigations of Android and iOS mobile devices for previously-restricted information with unparalleled precision.

"When it's a 'bet the company' matter, MEDAL allows professionals to gain the most insight into the activity and usage of mobile devices when it matters the most," said John Wilson, Chief Information Security Officer and President of Forensics at HaystackID. "It's incredibly powerful, and HaystackID is one of only a few legal service providers authorized to deliver this offering."

Previously restricted areas on mobile devices include the Secure Folder (Samsung), Private Space (Huawei), KeyChain (iOS), Email (Android and iOS), third-party application data, system and application logs, and deleted content, which are now accessible through MEDAL-enabled extractions. Full-file system and physical extractions from both Android and iOS devices are supported.

Key Technical Considerations for MEDAL:

ANDROID MOBILE DEVICES

Support for most Samsung, Huawei, LG Motorola, Nokia, and Sony devices

Support for devices running up to Android 11

Access to secured folders on Android devices

Access to data with file-based encryption (FBE) and full disk encryption (FDE)

IOS MOBILE DEVICES

Support for iOS versions 7  14.X

Support for iPhone devices 4s  11

Bypass iTunes backup encryption

Expanded support of Apple devices beyond those subject to the checkm8 exploit

Access to KnowledgeC database on iOS devices (e.g., device-specific info, application launched, battery percentage, charging state, music application playing)

ANDROID AND IOS MOBILE DEVICES

Forensically sound full-file system extractions

Collect unallocated space to carve for deleted data

Recover data from third-party applications, including WhatsApp, WeChat, Facebook, Signal, etc.

Access emails and attachments

Get location information from multiple streams of data, including WiFi and cell towers

"MEDAL is a game changer for the private sector, allowing advanced technology to bring corporate investigations to the next level and help bring out the truth," said Rene Novoa, Director of Forensics at HaystackID.

Forensics professionals require specialized skills and powerful tools to investigate various platforms ranging from smart medical devices to smart energy grids for issues including criminal activity, misconduct, and embezzlement. With MEDAL, professionals can find, understand, and learn from data at the start of the legal discovery continuum.

Learn More. Today.

Contact us today to learn more about HaystackID's MEDAL services and how they can help you in your computer forensics and eDiscovery efforts.

About HaystackID

HaystackID is a specialized eDiscovery services firm that helps corporations and law firms securely find, understand, and learn from data when facing complex, data-intensive investigations and litigation. HaystackID mobilizes industry-leading cyber discovery services, enterprise managed solutions, and legal discovery offerings to serve more than 500 of the world's leading corporations and law firms in North America and Europe. Serving nearly half of the Fortune 100, HaystackID is an alternative cyber and legal services provider that combines expertise and technical excellence with a culture of white-glove customer service. In addition to consistently being ranked by Chambers, the company was recently named a worldwide leader in eDiscovery services by IDC MarketScape and a representative vendor in the 2021 Gartner Market Guide for E-Discovery Solutions. For more information about its suite of services, including programs and solutions for unique legal enterprise needs, go to HaystackID.com.

HaystackID Media Contact:

Leora Goldfarb

[email protected]

858-603-5123

Rob Robinson

[email protected]

512-934-7531

HaystackID on Social Media

+ Twitter (@HaystackID)

+ LinkedIn

SOURCE HaystackID

Related Links

www.haystackid.com


MIAMI, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- When the Heal the Earth Foundation started this project, they knew of the potential difficulties in order to complete their mission and were told it was impossible to send medication to Cuba. Despite that, they achieved their mission again this past weekend and donated medication to help Cubans in need.

Heal the Earth representatives in Cuba donating Ibuprofen to local doctors and nurses.

The fundraising event was the easiest part of this cause. The hard part was hand-carrying the medication to Cuba. A Heal the Earth representative, Mrs. Trimino, traveled to Cuba from Miami with the medication in hand to deliver it to a small group of Cuban doctors and nurses. Cuba has a limited number of flights into the country due to COVID-19; Trimino's only option was to fly into Spain and get on a connecting flight there into Havana. Upon arrival, she had to quarantine for a week. Once she tested negative for the virus again, she met with local nurses and doctors and donated the medication to them. The amount of gratitude from these doctors and nurses was overwhelming. They have a hospital filled with many sick patients and have little to no medicine to treat them. This delivery of Ibuprofen helped them tremendously.

Personally donating the medication guarantees that the medication goes to the team of doctors and nurses who are committed to helping those in need. Shipments of a large box with medication inside may be confiscated by Cuban authorities or it may simply go missing. The risks of shipping out the medication is too high with little guarantee that it will get into the hands of the right people. Heal the Earth is grateful to have someone who was willing and able to support their cause and donate the medication by hand. As a Cuban woman, Trimino was more than happy to help.

Kristen Carranza, the Associate Director of the Heal the Earth foundation, said, "I'm so proud to see how quickly we were able to make this delivery. It makes me hopeful that our next few donations will go as well. We hope to continue making as many donations as we can and continue to help those in need."

Heal the Earth has successfully made two hand-delivered donations to doctors and nurses in Cuba this year. The plan is to continue making more deliveries as often as possible. The fundraising for this medication is done at their live shows with the Miami Blues band and on the Heal the Earth website. Their next shows are September 17 at Le Club in Miami and September 18 at Shipwreckers Bar in Fort Lauderdale. Please visit healtheearth.us and follow @healtheearthfoundation on Instagram to stay up-to-date with this mission.

Related Images

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Heal the Earth Donates Medicine to Cuban Hospital

Heal the Earth representatives in Cuba donating Ibuprofen to local doctors and nurses.

SOURCE Heal the Earth Foundation
CINCINNATI, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hillwood has added Ben Davis as vice president based in a new Cincinnati office. In this position, he will lead asset marketing and new business development for industrial-logistics development in the Ohio market. Ben is a market expert focused on Cincinnati and Louisville. He brings eight years of vital commercial real estate experience, including impactful positions with Colliers  International and CBRE.

Jay Smith has joined Hillwood as vice president of development in the new Cincinnati office. This addition to the team will increase the capacity for new projects, starting with work in Cincinnati and Nashville. Jay is a seasoned development veteran with more than 24 years in the business.

Kurt Nelson is executive vice president and market leader for the East Central region of the United States. He said, "Ben and Jay are crucial to our initiative to expand our portfolio across the East Central region. These hires will enable the team to locally focus our efforts on key markets and increase our bandwidth. In addition, the bench strength and strategic oversight will enable us to move more quickly on opportunities and enhance our service to customers. Ben and Jay both have deep ties in the industry and possess the work ethic to fit the Hillwood culture."

About Hillwood

Hillwood is a leader in acquiring and developing high-quality industrial properties with 192.1M S.F. across the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Hillwood also pursues well-located, functional land in the path of progress and has one of the largest land banks with a capacity of over 100M S.F. for future development. Hillwood collaboratively builds successful partnerships with public and private landowners, as well as other developers, to execute and invest throughout a broad spectrum of industrial projects. As a privately held company, Hillwood possesses the depth of capital, market expertise, industry relationships, and a forward-thinking vision to buy and build industrial properties that meet evolving markets' logistics, distribution, and manufacturing demands.

For more information on Hillwood's latest industrial availabilities across the U.S., U.K., and E.U., visit Hillwood.com.

HILLWOOD MEDIA CONTACT:

Jennifer Cheek +1 972 220 2965

[email protected]

SOURCE Hillwood Investment Properties

Related Links

https://www.hillwood.com


MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The past year has seen a mass exodus of capital city-dwelling Australians into regional areas. While some are seeking to get away from lockdown-prone areas, others are simply in need of a change of scenery or a lowered cost of living. Experts report that moving is often among the most mentally taxing life events. Jake Removals and Storage, experts in removals Melbourne-wide, shares its advice for managing moving stress.

Removalists in Melbourne

The premier removalists Melbourne -wide explain that the number one thing movers need to remember throughout the moving process is that it's okay to feel emotional. No matter the circumstances, it can be a bittersweet time saying goodbye to one home before moving on to the next.

The process can also trigger a lot of anxiety about what the future holds or whether the decision to move was right  this is also completely normal, say the removalists. Movers need to remember to be gentle with themselves as they navigate all of these emotions.

Movers need to be strategic and organised in the lead-up to their departure date. Jake Removals and Storage reminds movers that packing can take more time than they might expect, so don't leave it until the last minute. As soon as the plans to move are set in stone, the decluttering should begin. Allocate a small amount of time to this each day in the lead-up to the move  then start packing at least a week before leaving.

Jake Removals and Storage recommends first packing the items that won't be needed in the week before the move. Then, pack one box filled with essentials that may be required on moving day: phone chargers, any necessary documents or paperwork, keys  even toilet paper. This will eliminate the need to dig through boxes in search of important items.

As some of the most experienced movers Melbourne -wide, Jake Removals and Storage also suggests getting acquainted with the new area before moving there. The company advises dedicating a day or two to exploring the neighbourhood: the closest restaurants and bars, local playgrounds for kids, the most convenient supermarkets, popular dog parks, and other key points of interest. This will make the transition to the new area smoother and less daunting.

Moving can be an emotional time, but the stress doesn't have to feel unmanageable. Melbourne residents can rely on the best cheap removalists Melbourne -wide, Jake Removals and Storage, to provide them with a seamless moving experience. Contact them today to find out how.

Related Images

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Melbourne Removalists

Removalists in Melbourne

SOURCE Jake Removals & Storage

Related Links

https://www.jakemove.com.au/


MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HyPoint, the company developing zero carbon-emission turbo air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell systems for aviation and urban air mobility, today announced that it has entered into a multi-phase collaborative development agreement with Piasecki Aircraft Corporation (PiAC), a pioneer in advanced rotorcraft and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) platforms and technologies, for the development and certification of a hydrogen fuel cell system for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle applications. The initial $6.5 million agreement will culminate in the development of five 650kW hydrogen fuel cell systems for use in Piasecki's eVTOL PA-890 Compound Helicopter, which is expected to be the world's first manned hydrogen-powered helicopter.

Rendering of the Piasecki PA-890 eVTOL Compound Helicopter, powered by the HyPoint turbo air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell system

The partnership's objective is to deliver a customizable, FAA-certified, zero carbon-emission hydrogen fuel cell system to the global eVTOL marketplace. The system will offer eVTOL makers four times the energy density of existing lithium-ion batteries; twice the specific power of existing hydrogen fuel cell systems; and up to a 50% reduction in direct operating costs relative to turbine-powered rotorcraft. Piasecki will gain exclusive license to the technology created as part of the partnership; HyPoint will maintain ownership of its underlying hydrogen fuel cell technology. Piasecki and HyPoint intend to make the new system available to eVTOL makers by customizing it for use in their vehicles. Alternatively, eVTOL makers may choose to partner with HyPoint and Piasecki to develop a new system based on their specific needs.

HyPoint's revolutionary approach utilizes compressed air for both cooling and oxygen supply to deliver a hydrogen fuel cell system that radically outperforms existing battery and hydrogen fuel cell alternatives. Testing has shown that HyPoint's fuel cell system will be able to achieve up to 2,000 watts per kilogram of specific power, which is more than triple the power-to-weight ratio of traditional (liquid-cooled) hydrogen fuel cells systems. It will also boast up to 1,500 watt-hours per kilogram of energy density, enabling longer-distance journeys. In December 2020, HyPoint was named a winner of NASA's iTech Initiative, in which breakthrough technologies were ranked based on criteria that included technical viability, benefits to humanity, and commercialization potential. HyPoint's aviation applications  including eVTOL, UAS, personal air vehicles, and electric aircraft  were considered to be especially innovative.

"The much-anticipated arrival of eVTOLs and similar aircraft has been severely hindered by the technical limitations of existing power systems," said Dr. Alex Ivanenko, founder and CEO of HyPoint. "This new strategic partnership will dramatically accelerate delivery timelines by equipping eVTOL manufacturers with next-generation hydrogen fuel cell systems that meet their unique needs. Together, HyPoint and Piasecki will work to grow the emerging eVTOL market by delivering a certified multiplatform solution for eVTOL makers. In addition, we share a common vision for making safe, cost-effective zero carbon-emission flight a reality for conscientious businesses and consumers around the world."

The global eVTOL market size is forecasted to grow from an estimated $74 million in 2025 to $860 million by 2030, according to new market research. In the first few months of 2021 alone, $5 billion of investments were announced in the sector to Archer Aviation, Eve, Joby Aviation, Lilium, and Vertical Aerospace. In January 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it was engaged with manufacturers of more than 15 eVTOL aircraft. EHang, Volocopter, Joby Aviation, and Lilium are among those who have signaled their intent to launch commercial passenger operations within the next three to five years. Other players include major aircraft companies such as Airbus and Boeing. The global hydrogen aircraft market is anticipated to grow from an estimated $27 billion in 2030 to $174 billion by 2040, according to Allied Market Research.

Piasecki is currently working with the FAA to outline certification criteria, as well as with the United States Air Force, by way of its AFWERX STTR/SBIR program, which is co-investing in the development of advanced hydrogen-powered aeronautical technology.

"We are laser-focused on the development and qualification of a 650kW system for our PA-890 eVTOL Compound Helicopter, which would be the world's first manned hydrogen-powered helicopter. Success will pave the way for collaboration with other eVTOL OEMs with different platform sizes to ensure broad application of this technology," said John Piasecki, President and CEO of Piasecki. "Initial lab testing funded by Piasecki last winter demonstrated the technical viability of HyPoint's hydrogen fuel cell system. While we are benchmarking HyPoint's technology against alternatives and continue to rigorously test and validate findings, we are very optimistic. Our objective is to develop full-scale systems within two years to support on-aircraft certification testing in 2024 and fulfill existing customer orders for up to 325 units starting in 2025."

About HyPoint

HyPoint is pioneering next-generation hydrogen fuel cell systems for aviation, aeronautics, and urban air mobility. The company's flagship turbo air-cooled hydrogen high-temperature proton-exchange membrane (HTPEM) fuel cell system offers zero carbon emissions and game-changing energy performance as a result of patented innovations including lightweight bipolar plates, a highly conductive corrosion-resistant coating, and an industry-first air cooling and oxygen supply system. Together these technologies enable a lightweight, climate-independent, extended-lifespan fuel system and dramatically increase operational time and utilization rate while decreasing total cost of ownership by as much as 50% relative to turbine powered rotorcraft. The company was founded in Silicon Valley in 2019 and is backed by leading venture capital firms and individual investors. To learn more, please visit hypoint.com.

About Piasecki Aircraft

Founded in 1955, Piasecki Aircraft Corporation (PiAC) is a pioneering research and development business specializing in design, fabrication and flight testing of experimental rotorcraft and unmanned air vehicles. PiAC is an "ideas company" with a heritage of innovation in rotorcraft and UAV development. Piasecki has been recognized with numerous awards, including the "National Medal of Technology," the Smithsonian's "Air and Space Achievement Award," and DoD's "Tibbett's Award" for small business innovation. Piasecki has developed and flown more than 25 different advanced VTOL and UAV aircraft. PiAC leverages its unique skills and experience in rapid prototyping to develop and flight validate game changing technologies for our customers. PiAC maintains a cadre of highly skilled engineering, fabrication, and test personnel, with the tools and facilities to conduct aircraft design, development, qualification, and flight testing in accordance with our AS9100 certified quality system. To learn more, please visit piasecki.com.

Media Contact

Aaron Endre

Endre Communications

[email protected]

Related Images

piasecki-pa-890-powered-by-hypoint.jpg

Piasecki PA-890, powered by HyPoint

Rendering of the Piasecki PA-890 eVTOL Compound Helicopter, powered by the HyPoint turbo air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell system

SOURCE HyPoint

Related Links

http://www.hypoint.com/


LONDON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Google Cloud today announced a new partnership with SAP and Inchcape plc, a leading multi-brand automotive distributor, that will involve Inchcape bringing its business-critical sales, marketing and operations systems, and data to the cloud. The migration of its SAP systems will help transform the purchase and ownership of cars for millions of consumers worldwide, while automating and creating new efficiencies within Inchcape's operations.

Inchcapewhich partners with major automotive manufacturers in more than 36 countriesrelies on SAP for many aspects of its global business, from logistics to finance. By moving these workloads onto Google Cloud through the RISE with SAP offering, Inchcape will be able to join a diverse range of datasets into a centralised, secure, and scalable platform for the first time. And by using Google Cloud's leading artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and analytics capabilities, Inchcape will be able to manage and analyse this SAP data and create a foundation to better serve both consumers and automotive manufacturer partners.

Under the new alliance, Inchcape will become one of the first UK-based businesses to run SAP on Google Cloud as part of the RISE with SAP offering. RISE with SAP provides expert support for a simplified, cost-effective, and customisable SAP migration, helping companies like Inchcape benefit from cloud scalability, reliability, and performance with no disruption to business operations.

"This is only the start of our partnership with Google Cloud, not just in revolutionising our technology, but also in the way millions of our customers will find, choose, and operate their personal vehicles," said Mark Dearnley, Chief Digital Officer at Inchcape. "Google Cloud's close relationship with SAP and its strong technical expertise in this space were a big pull for us. Ultimately, we wanted a headache-free RISE with SAP implementation and to unlock value for auto makers and consumers in all our regions, while continuing to have the choice and flexibility to modernise our 150-year old business in a way that works for us."

For Google Cloud, this announcement reflects a deepening partnership with SAP and continued dedication to bringing uncomplicated and cost-effective ways of data management and analytics to major enterprises worldwide.

"Digital transformation of the automotive industry has the chance to create entirely new experiences for consumers and automakers, and we're committed to helping organisations in this sector find new ways of delivering more sustainable, personal, and engaging services over the entire lifecycle of vehicle ownership,'' said Dominik Wee, Managing Director Global Automotive, Manufacturing and Energy at Google Cloud. "We're excited to work with Inchcape, who has such a rich history in the industry, to re-imagine everything from its delivery supply chains to its digital estate, sales, and customer after-care."

Michiel Verhoeven, Managing Director SAP UK & Ireland, added: "Given the rapidly changing economic environment, businesses need to optimise business and operational models and innovate to be successful in the future. The automotive market is at an important crossroads as it is primed to take advantage of the digitalisation that is happening across industries. Inchcape is setting off on an exciting cloud journey, one where it can expect to significantly reduce tech infrastructure maintenance and operating costs, and improve financial efficiency and employee experience, globally. SAP is the right partner to support Inchcape's mission to move to the cloud."

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud accelerates organizations' ability to digitally transform their business with the best infrastructure, platform, industry solutions and expertise. We deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Google's cutting-edge technology  all on the cleanest cloud in the industry. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems.

About Inchcape plc

Inchcape is the leading independent multi-brand global automotive distributor, operating in 36 markets with a portfolio of the world's leading automotive brands. Inchcape has diversified multi-channel revenue streams including sale of new and used vehicles, parts, service, finance and insurance. The Company has been listed on the London Stock Exchange (INCH) since 1958, is headquartered in London and employs around 15,000 people. www.inchcape.com .

About SAP

SAP's strategy is to help every business run as an intelligent enterprise. As a market leader in enterprise application software, we help companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: 77% of the world's transaction revenue touches an SAP system. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers' businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want  without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people's lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

SOURCE Google Cloud
Achieves Record Revenue, Record Gross Margin and Positive Adjusted EBITDA

LONDON, ON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Indiva Limited (the "Company" or "Indiva") (TSXV: NDVA) (OTCQX: NDVAF), the leading Canadian producer of cannabis edibles, is pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 ended June 30, 2021. All figures are reported in Canadian dollars ($), unless otherwise indicated. Indiva's financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). For a more comprehensive overview of the corporate and financial highlights presented in this press release, please refer to Indiva's Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021, and the Company's Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, which are filed on SEDAR and available on the Company's website, www.indiva.com.

"We are delighted to report record net revenue, record gross profit and positive adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2021. Indiva continued to grow its market share organically in the second quarter, and this strength has continued through July, driven by new SKU introduction, including Wana Quick fast-acting gummies and Bhang Cookies and Cream chocolate," said Niel Marotta, President and Chief Executive Officer of Indiva. "Becoming a top 10 ranked LP nationally by dollar share and top three measured by units, and doing so by driving organic growth rather than through acquisition, is a testament to the talent, dedication and hard work of the entire Indiva team. Looking forward to the second half of 2021, we expect to see continued revenue growth driven by new product introductions, including multi-pack Wana gummies and cookies from Slow Ride Bakery, marking Indiva's first introduction of baked goods into the market. We also expect to see continued margin expansion throughout 2021, driven by lower distillate costs and continued improvement in operating efficiencies. Indiva is hitting its stride, and we intend to continue to drive profitable organic growth by delivering best-in-class cannabis products to of-age Canadians."

HIGHLIGHTS

Quarterly Performance

Gross revenue in Q2 2021 was a record $9.87 million representing a 249% increase year-over-year from Q2 2020, and a 44% sequential increase from Q1 2021. Year-to-date, gross revenue increased 229% year over year to $16.74 million .



representing a 249% increase year-over-year from Q2 2020, and a 44% sequential increase from Q1 2021. Year-to-date, gross revenue increased 229% year over year to . Net revenue in Q1 2021 was a record $9.08 million representing a 255% increase year-over-year from Q2 2020, and a 46% sequential increase from Q1 2021, driven primarily by increased sales of category leading edibles, including Wana Sour Gummies and Bhang Chocolate. Year-to-date, net revenue increased 235% year over year to $15.3 million , surpassing total net revenue for the entire fiscal year of 2020.



representing a 255% increase year-over-year from Q2 2020, and a 46% sequential increase from Q1 2021, driven primarily by increased sales of category leading edibles, including Wana Sour Gummies and Bhang Chocolate. Year-to-date, net revenue increased 235% year over year to , surpassing total net revenue for the entire fiscal year of 2020. Net revenue from edible products grew to $8.43 million , up 445% from $1.54 million in the prior year period and up 52% from $5.53 million in Q1 2021. Edible product sales represent 93% of net revenue in Q2 2021.



, up 445% from in the prior year period and up 52% from in Q1 2021. Edible product sales represent 93% of net revenue in Q2 2021. Gross profit before fair value adjustments and impairments, improved by 160% sequentially to a record $3.08 million , and increased to a record 34.0% of net revenue, versus 19% in Q1 2021 and 0.8% in Q2 2020. The improvement in gross margin resulted from the Company benefitting significantly from lower distillate costs. Year-to-date, gross profit increased to $4.27 million , or 28% of net revenue, versus nil in the corresponding period last year.



, and increased to a record 34.0% of net revenue, versus 19% in Q1 2021 and 0.8% in Q2 2020. The improvement in gross margin resulted from the Company benefitting significantly from lower distillate costs. Year-to-date, gross profit increased to , or 28% of net revenue, versus nil in the corresponding period last year. In Q2 2021, Indiva sold products containing 52 million milligrams of distillate, the active ingredient in edible products, which represents a 73% increase when compared to the 30 million milligrams in product sold in Q1 2021. Average distillate cost was $0.02 per mg in Q2 2021 versus $0.038 per mg in the previous quarter, representing a 47% sequential decline in the cost of this key input. The Company expects gross margins to continue to improve in the second half of 2021, due to significant declines in realized distillate costs, in addition to improved operating efficiencies from increased output.



per mg in Q2 2021 versus per mg in the previous quarter, representing a 47% sequential decline in the cost of this key input. The Company expects gross margins to continue to improve in the second half of 2021, due to significant declines in realized distillate costs, in addition to improved operating efficiencies from increased output. Impairment charges in the quarter totaled $0.29 million , including the disposal of product that did not meet the Company's quality standards, disposal of aged inventory and obsolete packaging.



, including the disposal of product that did not meet the Company's quality standards, disposal of aged inventory and obsolete packaging. Operating expenses in the quarter increased by 40% to $3.09 million sequentially versus Q1 2021, and increased by 106% year-over-year versus Q2 2020, primarily due to higher marketing and sales commissions driven by higher sales volumes, and higher public company costs. Year-to-date, operating expenses increased by 76% to $5.3 million .



sequentially versus Q1 2021, and increased by 106% year-over-year versus Q2 2020, primarily due to higher marketing and sales commissions driven by higher sales volumes, and higher public company costs. Year-to-date, operating expenses increased by 76% to . Operating expenses as a percentage of net revenue in Q2 2021 declined to 34% in Q2 2021 versus 36% in Q1 2021 and 59% in Q2 2020 respectively. The Company expects operating expenses to continue to decline as a percentage of net revenue as the year progresses.



Indiva achieved positive adjusted EBITDA in Q2 2021 of $0.54 million versus a loss of $0.52 million in Q1 2021 and a loss of $1.0 million in Q2 2020, driven by higher revenue and higher gross profit, offset by higher operating expenses. Year-to-date, adjusted EBITDA was nil, versus a loss of $2.17 million in the corresponding period last year.



versus a loss of in Q1 2021 and a loss of in Q2 2020, driven by higher revenue and higher gross profit, offset by higher operating expenses. Year-to-date, adjusted EBITDA was nil, versus a loss of in the corresponding period last year. Comprehensive net loss was $1.42 million for the quarter and included one-time expenses and non-cash charges totaling $1.0 million . Net loss per share was $0.01 versus $0.03 in Q2 2020. Excluding these charges, comprehensive loss in the quarter declined to $0.42 million versus a loss of $1.92 million in Q2 2020.





for the quarter and included one-time expenses and non-cash charges totaling . Net loss per share was versus in Q2 2020. Excluding these charges, comprehensive loss in the quarter declined to versus a loss of in Q2 2020. Cash balance stood at $3.4 million , and working capital stood at $5.21 million at June 30, 2021 .

Q2 2021 Market Share Hits New Record

Sell through data from Hifyre for the second quarter of 2021 continues to show strong sales of Indiva edible products. With 50% share of sales in the second quarter, up from 46% in the first quarter of 2021, Indiva continues to expand its lead in the #1 market share position in the edibles category. Market share increased in the second quarter across all provinces versus Q1 2021:

Ontario #1 with 48% market share.



#1 with 48% market share.

Alberta #1 with 59% market share.



#1 with 59% market share.

British Columbia #1 with 50% market share.



#1 with 50% market share.

Saskatchewan #1 with 32% market share.



#1 with 32% market share.

Manitoba #1 with 53% market share.



#1 with 53% market share.

Wana Sour Gummies led the edibles category with 38% total category share.





Bhang  led the chocolate category, with Bhang  Milk Chocolate remaining the top selling chocolate edible SKU nationally.



led the chocolate category, with Bhang Milk Chocolate remaining the top selling chocolate edible SKU nationally.

Product ranking in Q2 2021 showed the top seven SKUs are Wana Sour Gummies (led by Strawberry-Lemonade) and eight of the Top 10 SKUs are from Indiva.





Based on Hifyre data from British Columbia , Alberta , Ontario , Manitoba and Saskatchewan , the edibles category improved in Q2 2021 to a record $35.64 million in retail sales versus $29.6 million in Q1 2021.



, , , and , the edibles category improved in Q2 2021 to a record in retail sales versus in Q1 2021.

Headset data for June 2021 showed seven of the top nine edible products in Ontario were Indiva products.

Operational Highlights for the Second Quarter Fiscal 2021

Bhang Milk Chocolate was the highest velocity product in Ontario , according to OCS data published for their fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 , selling more units than any other SKU. Bhang Dark Chocolate was the 6 th highest velocity SKU.



, according to OCS data published for their fiscal year ended , selling more units than any other SKU. Bhang Dark Chocolate was the 6 highest velocity SKU. Bhang Cookies and Cream and Bhang Caramel Mocha Milk Chocolate became available nationally. Bhang Cookies and Cream quickly became a top seller amongst all Bhang chocolate SKUs.



Indiva expanded its distribution of Wana Quick fast-acting gummies to six provinces and one territory. In addition, Wana Quick became available in the medical channel through the Medical Cannabis by Shoppers platform.



fast-acting gummies to six provinces and one territory. In addition, became available in the medical channel through the Medical Cannabis by Shoppers platform. Indiva introduced additional premium strains under the Artisan Batch brand, most of which are limited time offers as per the brand ethos.



Indiva introduced a bubble hash concentrate product into the Province of Quebec .



. Indiva made its first deliveries of Bhang Chocolate, Wana Sour Gummies and Artisan Batch flower to the province of Newfoundland .

Events Subsequent to Quarter End

In August 2021 , Indiva introduced three new Cookie SKUs from Slow Ride Bakery to the Ontario market, marking Indiva's first baked goods introduced in the edibles category. Initial sell-in has been very strong. In the coming months, Indiva expects to broaden its baked goods product offering from Slow Ride and widen its distribution of Slow Ride Cookies coast-to-coast.



, Indiva introduced three new Cookie SKUs from Slow Ride Bakery to the market, marking Indiva's first baked goods introduced in the edibles category. Initial sell-in has been very strong. In the coming months, Indiva expects to broaden its baked goods product offering from Slow Ride and widen its distribution of Slow Ride Cookies coast-to-coast. Indiva introduced new high-potency, craft grown cultivars to the Canadian market under its Artisan Batch brand, including Unicorn Sherbert by KRFT, Cereal Milk by KRFT and Sticky Larry by Stinky Greens. The Company expects to introduce more exciting and unique cultivars from Canada's best craft cultivators in the coming months.

Outlook

The Company expects sequential and year-over-year revenue growth and margin improvement to continue in the second half of 2021, as a result of new product introduction, lower distillate costs and improved operating efficiencies.



Indiva expects to introduce over 20 new SKUs, including seasonal baked good SKUs, in the second half of 2021.



Indiva also expects to continue to introduce additional craft cannabis flower SKUs under the Artisan Batch brand. Artisan Batch puts special focus on bringing Canadians the best dry flower from craft growers. Special attention is paid to high THC potency, robust terpene content, premium buds and fresh harvest dates.

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 AND 2020



Three months ended June 30 Six months ended June 30 (in thousands of $, except gross margin %

and per share figures) 2021 2020 2021 2020 Gross revenue 9,870.3 2,826.5 16,740.6 5,091.3 Net revenue 9,076.9 2,559.7 15,298.0 4,573.0 Gross margin before fair value adjustments

and impairments 3,082.5 300.6 4,265.7 6.0 Gross margin before fair value adjustments

and impairments (%) 34.0% 11.7% 27.9% 0.1% Loss and comprehensive loss (1,416.0) (2,528.7) (4,444.8) (4,966.8) Adjusted EBITDA[1] 544.2 (524.4) 0.02 (2,166.8) Net loss per share  basic and diluted (0.01) (0.03) (0.03) (0.06) Comprehensive loss per share  basic and

diluted (0.01) (0.03) (0.03) (0.06)

1 Adjusted EBITDA is a Non-IFRS Measure. The Company calculates Adjusted EBITDA as a sum of net revenue, other income, cost of inventory sold, production salaries and wages, production supplies and expense excluding capitalized amortization in cost of sales, general and administrative expense, and sales and marketing expense, as determined by management. Adjusted license fee eliminates 50% of the fee which is equivalent to the Company's share of the joint venture company to which the license fee is paid. Adjusted EBITDA is provided to assist readers in determining the ability of the Company to generate cash from operations and to cover financial charges.

Operating Expenses



Three months ended June 30 Six months ended June 30 (in thousands of $) 2021 2020 2021 2020 General and administrative 1,675.0 1,091.6 2,800.5 2,303.1 Marketing and sales 1,093.2 229.9 1,965.7 510.1 Research and development 41.0 1.1 41.0 2.9 Share-based compensation 162.1 115.5 273.3 111.6 Depreciation of property, plant, and equipment 71.4 61.4 127.6 88.8 Amortization of intangible assets 52.0 0.1 104.0 0.2 Total operating expenses 3,094.8 1,499.6 5,312.0 3,016.8

Quarterly Results

(in thousands of $,

except per share

figures) Q2 2021 Q1 2021 Q4 2020 Q3 2020 Q2 2020 Q1 2020 Net revenue 9,076.9 6,221.1 7,050.6 3,027.2 2,559.7 2,013.3 Comprehensive net

loss (1,416.0) (3,028.8) (6,884.0) (3,571.8) (2,528.7) (2,438.1) Basic and diluted

loss per share (0.01) (0.03) (0.06) (0.04) (0.03) (0.03)

COVID-19

Government and private entities are still assessing the present and future effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Indiva has continued to operate with enhanced health and safety protocols in place to protect its employees. The Company continues to assess the customer, supply chain, and staffing implications of COVID-19 and is committed to making continuous adjustments to minimize disruption and impact. Indiva will remain proactive in its response to the pandemic and compliant with any and all provincial and/or federal policy enacted to protect Canadians.

CONFERENCE CALL

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its results on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at 8:30am EST. Interested participants can join by dialing 416-764-8658 or 1-888-886-7786. The conference ID is 09955484.

A recording of the conference call will be available for replay following the call. To access the recording please dial 416-764-8691 or 1-877-674-6060. The replay ID is 955484#. The recording will remain available until Thursday September 30, 2021.

ABOUT INDIVA



Indiva sets the standard for quality and innovation in cannabis. As a Canadian licensed producer, Indiva produces and distributes award-winning cannabis products nationally, including Bhang Chocolate, Wana Sour Gummies, Slow Ride Bakery Cookies, Jewels Chewable Tablets, Ruby Cannabis Sugar, Sapphire Cannabis Salt, as well as capsules, pre-rolls and premium flower under the INDIVA and Artisan Batch brands. Click here to connect with Indiva on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and here to find more information on the Company and its products.

DISCLAIMER AND READER ADVISORY

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has in any way passed upon the merits of the contents of this press release and neither of the foregoing entities accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release or has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the parties' current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the Company's future operations, future product offerings and compliance with applicable regulations. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the parties. The material factors and assumptions include the parties being able to maintain the necessary regulatory and other third parties' approvals and licensing and other risks associated with regulated entities in the cannabis industry. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the parties are not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities laws.

SOURCE Indiva Limited
MEDFORD, Mass., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Inkbit, the company that built the first 3D printer driven by vision-based feedback control, announced the opening of a new office at One Cabot Road in Medford, Massachusetts. With upgraded systems and space, Inkbit will further expand operational capacity where the company will build and supply customers with its first-of-a-kind closed-loop feedback 3D printing ecosystem, the Inkbit Vista. With the additional space and upgraded building amenities provided by the new location, Inkbit's ability to create and distribute the Inkbit Vista will significantly increase.

Inkbit's new office provides 38,000 square feet of space, which is an upgrade from the previous 6,000 square foot property. This vastly larger space includes dedicated system assembly, materials research, and hardware R&D. For Inkbit customers and partners, the office also features an 8,100 square foot area designated for the Digital Factory with its own dedicated power and air lines for thorough testing and development of 3D printed parts, materials, and hardware.

"Inkbit is beginning a new stage of growth and we are enthralled with our new operational space," said Davide Marini, CEO and Co-Founder of Inkbit. "This new office provides us with the ability to shift our internal focuses to growing our team and supplying customers with the tools necessary to continue our story of innovation. With the new office, Inkbit can continue its mission to be a driving force in the future of additive manufacturing."

The office is also equipped with a 3,370 square foot materials lab with a wide variety of industrial equipment, such as fume hoods and tensile testers. It will allow for safe material formulation, chemistry work, and hardware fabrication and testing.

"We are pleased to welcome Inkbit to our roster of forward-thinking, high growth tenants at One Cabot," said Duncan Gilkey, Senior Vice President of Asset Management & Director of Leasing at The Davis Companies, the owner of the property. "Since completing our multi-million repositioning of the property, we have attracted many tech and life science prospects who are drawn to the building's high-powered infrastructure.

The move to the new office follows the Inkbit's closing of $30M in Series B funding, led by Phoenix Venture Partners LLC. For more information about Inkbit, please visit inkbit3d.com.

About Inkbit

Inkbit strives to eliminate the existing chasm between prototyping and manufacturing to enable rapid, on-demand manufacturing of multi-material, end-use products. Using computer science to improve manufacturing, Inkbit developed the first 3D printer powered by machine vision and real-time feedback control to meet the speed, precision and reliability requirements of volume production. Based in Medford, MA, Inkbit is a 2017 spinout of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at MIT. Inkbit's technology is based on research led by Prof. Wojciech Matusik and intellectual property licensed from MIT. Early supporters include the MIT Deshpande Center, the MIT Industrial Liaison Program (STEX25) and The MIT Engine Network. To learn more about Inkbit, please visit https://inkbit3d.com.

Media Contact:

Ian Averback

SHIFT Communications for Inkbit

[email protected]

SOURCE Inkbit
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "It's easy to notice that people are relying more and more on their cell phones for social connections," said an inventor from Grand Prairie, Alberta. "I felt this time was often wasted and wanted a way to encourage more face-to face interactions, particularly between parents and their children."

She developed a prototype for PHONE BOX, patent-pending, to provide a protective receptacle for holding and charging cell phones to facilitates a greater focus on spending quality time together by reducing distractions. As such, it keeps phones safe, out of use and out of sight yet easily accessible. At the same time, it prevents exposure to radiation and unauthorized access by potential hackers. This device is also ideal for offices/businesses in their meeting space areas to help workers focus on what is in front of them as well as maintaining privacy and preventing their conversations from being recorded. It is also attractive, practical and easy to use. Users will appreciate how convenient, effective and affordably priced it is as well.

The original design was submitted to the Toronto sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 19-TRO-397, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp

Related Links

http://www.inventhelp.com


PITTSBURGH, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "I was concerned about damage to the dashboard of my motor vehicle from ultraviolet rays while parked in the sun," said an inventor from Crittenden, Ky., "and wanted some way to protect my investment. This accessory is designed exactly for that purpose."

He developed G's DASH ARMOR to protect a motor vehicle dashboard against heat and sun damage. As such, it extends the life of the vehicle. The aftermarket version will make using sunscreens much easier and convenient and the OEM version will eliminate the need for sunscreens. Therefore, it saves time and effort since it is maintenance free and easy to use. This practical automotive accessory is also durable for years of effective use. In addition, it is convenient, reliable and affordably priced. It is also available in different colors and designs.

The original design was submitted to the Cincinnati sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 19-CCT-4522, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to encourage children to interact with each other while walking in the rain or playing on a beach," said an inventor from Cincinnati, Ohio. "This invention is not only functional but facilitates social development."

She developed FRIENDS & TWINS UMBRELLA to enable two children to walk side by side under a single umbrella comfortably. As such, this novel, attractive and cheerful variation eliminates the need to carry two separate umbrellas for twins, siblings or friends. Furthermore, it is lightweight, compact and easy to use and carry. Parents will also appreciate how convenient, effective and affordably priced it is since its simple design minimizes production costs. Thus, it makes an ideal gift for children.

The original design was submitted to the Cincinnati sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 19-CCT-4453, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp

Related Links

http://www.inventhelp.com


CHICAGO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Two global leaders in commercial real estate have come to an agreement to operate retail assets through a unified approach. On October 1, 2021, Ivanhoe Cambridge will transition the operations of its Canadian shopping centers over to JLL (NYSE: JLL), the largest third-party retail property management company in North America.

The vast majority of Ivanhoe Cambridge's property team of retail employees are expected to join JLL Canada, whose management team and key decision-making roles will be headquartered in Montreal. JLL also plans to open an office in Quebec City in the coming months.

"We are excited to bring a globally renowned company to deepen its footprint and investments in Quebec. To focus on our core business as a seasoned, clear-sighted real estate investor and to align and standardize our business model globally, we wanted to find a partner with the scale, track record and expertise to continue the optimization of our assets' performance and lead the industry in defining the future of the retail sector, thus creating long-term value for our depositors," said Nathalie Palladitcheff, President and CEO, Ivanhoe Cambridge. "JLL's global reputation and like-minded culture will continue to support us, while creating career opportunities for our retail teams joining the JLL family."

Ivanhoe Cambridge and JLL also share a progressive management philosophy built on driving sustainable real estate goals and both parties will work together to improve energy efficiency and asset resilience thus supporting Ivanhoe Cambridge's goal of achieving net zero carbon by 2040.

"Retail has been going through a transition period over the last decade plus, where the focus has become on creating sustainable and dynamic experiential settings that engage and excite the communities it serves  and the pandemic has acted as a major accelerant on those trends," said Greg Maloney, CEO, JLL Americas Retail. "Retail is our division's sole focus and we are thrilled to expand our expertise and footprint in Canada, and Quebec, establishing JLL as the largest third-party retail manager in Canada as well."

JLL will also collaborate with Ivanhoe Cambridge to develop a Center of Excellence for Sustainability (COES) in Quebec, and an accompanying team, to accelerate the transition to sustainable and inclusive real estate through the development and implementation of current and near-future technologies. With collaboration from leading academic research teams in Montreal, the COES will keep a finger on the pulse of best practices and produce thought leadership research to share knowledge and help define the future of sustainable retail real estate.

"Through this alliance, we are expanding our presence in Quebec, a strategic market for the growth of JLL given the dynamism of its real estate sector and of its various industries contributing to the Canadian economy. We also look forward to collaborating with Ivanhoe Cambridge to shape growth opportunities, transform through technology and build strong communities in Canada through the COES," said Alan MacKenzie, CEO, JLL Canada. "I'm most importantly looking forward to tapping into the Ivanhoe Cambridge retail team's deep knowledge of the local retail market to combine efforts and increase the value of the Ivanhoe Cambridge properties, benefitting retailers, their customers and our environment."

In addition to its commitment to maintain management and high-quality jobs in Quebec and to invest in the development of the COES, JLL is also dedicated to have a positive impact in the community. Furthering its engagement toward developing the future of innovative and responsible real estate in Quebec, JLL plans to double its scholarship commitment for its existing annual scholarships at John Molson School of Business at Concordia University, while also establishing an additional scholarship at another francophone Quebec-based university. JLL will also extend its support to the Breakfast Club of Canada (BCC) for another five years, a non-for-profit organization based in Quebec, that it has already been supporting over the last seven years.

About JLL Retail

At JLL, we are passionate about retail. We deliver great experiences for shoppers  from high streets to shopping malls. And, we're ready to help you achieve your ambitions. As the leading third-party retail service provider, we have access to more than 2,000 centres totaling 186 million square feet under management, for lease and sale. Our more than 215 retail brokerage experts spanning 47 markets in the U.S. and Canada, support 2,132+ clients by restructuring or renewing leases and debt, providing disposition or investment strategies and/or evolving retail space to keep pace with the ever-changing consumer. See how we're helping our clients achieve our ambitions and subscribe to the Where We Buy podcast series and Everything We Know About Retail for real talk on the trends impacting retail. For more news, videos and research from JLL's retail team, please visit www.jll.com.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $16.6 billion in 2020, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 92,000 as of June 30, 2021. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.

About Ivanhoe Cambridge

Ivanhoe Cambridge develops and invests in high-quality real estate properties, projects and companies that are shaping the urban fabric in dynamic cities around the world. It does so responsibly, with a view to generate long-term performance. Ivanhoe Cambridge is committed to creating living spaces that foster the well-being of people and communities, while reducing its environmental footprint.

Ivanhoe Cambridge invests internationally alongside strategic partners and major real estate funds that are leaders in their markets. Through subsidiaries and partnerships, the Company holds interests in more than 1,100 buildings, primarily in the industrial and logistics, office, residential and retail sectors. Ivanhoe Cambridge held C$60,4 billion in real estate assets as at December 31, 2020, and is a real estate subsidiary of the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (cdpq.com), a global investment group. For more information: ivanhoecambridge.com.

Information:

Ivanhoe Cambridge

Media line: +1 866-456-3342

[email protected]



JLL

Hannah Heilmeier

Phone: +1 715 571 2094

[email protected]

SOURCE JLL

Related Links

http://www.jll.com


WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The June 19 Museum, Inc has agreed to acquire The Custom House from DSW Homes to establish a boutique museum dedicated to Juneteenth. The company is transforming The 1861 Customs House historic site into "The Customs House  Juneteenth Museum." This new center will feature a boutique hotel, restaurant, and educational activities that support the national celebration of Juneteenth. It will also be an "experiential museum" that will use virtual and augmented reality to celebrate global diversity and inclusion through the stories and historical significance of Juneteenth.

Photo: Judson Brothers Paul and Mark forge path forward with Kevin Jackson and Douglas Mathews to transform Custom House into a Juneteenth Museum. June 19 Museum, Inc.

Historians recognize the Galveston Texas site as the Birthplace of Juneteenth, where on June 19, 1865, U.S. Major General Gordon Granger announced the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, released two years prior. The emancipation of slavery in Galveston ended that practice, giving birth to the Juneteenth Holiday.

The "Customs House  Juneteenth Museum" is scheduled to open in time for the 2022 Juneteenth celebration. The museum's location will be in the commercial center of downtown Galveston and a short walk from the historic Strand area, which features retail shops, restaurants, and other places of interest.

The project plan has gained widespread support from the local community, including the Mayor's Office, The Old Central Cultural Center, Baptist Ministers' Association of Galveston, Galveston County Commissioners Office, and UTMB Health Government Relations.

There is a growing audience of travelers and guests with an interest and passion for the history of Juneteenth. We believe that promoting the history of Galveston and the founding of Juneteenth serves not only a public good in promoting education and learning about this consequential and transformational time in U.S. history.

About June 19 Museum Inc.

June 19 Museum, Inc. develops world-class tourist destinations dedicated to the Juneteenth Holiday. The Customs House Juneteenth Museum will feature world-class exhibits, a boutique hotel, a restaurant, and a learning center to support the Galveston, Texas community. Learn more about June 19 Museum Inc at https://june19museum.com

Media contact:

Mark Judson

703-232-7111

Kevin Jackson

877-836-0490

SOURCE June 19 Museum, Inc.
LONDON, DUBAI, UAE and Scottsdale, Ariz., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lakemore Partners Ltd. and its group entities ("Lakemore"), a leading private credit investment firm primarily investing in control CLO equity, today announced it has successfully closed Aquatine IV at US$400 million as a result of strong investor demand.

Aquatine IV is Lakemore's fourth CLO fund within the Aquatine platform, which invests in control equity positions in U.S. CLOs, and is currently one of the market's largest dedicated CLO control equity funds. The Fund's investors are a diverse group of institutional investors representing private banks, fund of funds, insurance companies, family offices and high net worth individuals, many of whom have invested in previous Lakemore Aquatine Funds.

"The successful close of our Aquatine IV fund is an important milestone for Lakemore as we further strengthen our position as a global leader in CLO investments focused on delivering high risk-adjusted returns across market cycles," said Mohamed Seif, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Lakemore.

"The significant interest and commitment to Aquatine IV highlights the trust and support our clients place in us," said Hisham Ghouth, Partner and Head of Business Development. "Our investors recognize our long-standing partnerships with top-tier CLO managers, and we continue to experience strong demand from a range of global clients looking to access reliable and defensively managed credit portfolios."

"Our team continues to deliver outstanding deal execution in 2021 through our involvement in more than 10 control equity transactions representing over US$6 billion in CLO size," added Somnath Mukherjee, Partner and Head of Investments. "We would like to thank our collateral managers and arranging banks for their partnership in helping us to secure a robust pipeline during an incredibly active year, and for contributing to long-term, sustainable value for investors in our Aquatine Funds."

About Lakemore Partners

Lakemore is a leading private credit investment firm primarily investing in control CLO equity. Serving as a partner of choice for top-tier CLO managers who are aligned to the firm's portfolio management style and risk appetite, Lakemore aims to deliver attractive returns by leveraging the extensive expertise of its dedicated team and by investing within its well-defined framework of cycle-aligned risk allocation. Founded in 2016, Lakemore has offices in London, Dubai and Scottsdale. Lakemore's mission focuses on providing sustainable and reliable income, with the firm currently managing US$1.1 billion in credit assets under management, the majority of which is from institutional clients. For more information, please visit www.lakemore.com.

Lakemore Partners Ltd. is the group parent and is domiciled in the Cayman Islands. Lakemore Partners Management US LLC is registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission as an investment adviser (RIA). Lakemore Partners (UK) Ltd. (FRN: 837603) is also an appointed representative of Duff & Phelps Securities Ltd. (FRN: 466588), which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Lakemore Partners (DIFC) Ltd. is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. Lakemore Partners Management US LLC, Lakemore Partners (UK) Ltd., and Lakemore Partners (DIFC) Ltd. are wholly owned subsidiaries of Lakemore Partners Ltd.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1587091/Lakemore_LOGO.jpg

Media Contacts:

Doug Allen/Josh Gerth

Dukas Linden Public Relations

[email protected]

+1 (646) 722-6530

SOURCE Lakemore Partners

Related Links

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Scientists believed similarly exotic rocks originated from Mars as a result of their extraordinary chemical and isotopic markers. The proof of Martian origin, however, arrived in 1995 when similar samples with tiny bubbles were discovered to contain small volumes of gas  which turned out to be a perfect match with the signature of the Martian atmosphere as determined by NASA's Viking probes.

This specimen was acquired for the Museum by meteorite dealer Darryl Pitt in April 2021 from a Mauritanian meteorite and desert truffle hunter. For confirmation of his belief this could be Martian, Pitt sent a small sample to Dr. Carl Agee  the director of the Institute of Meteoritics and one of the world's most renowned classification experts of Martian meteorites.

Following a peer review of Dr. Agee's analysis and confirmation this was indeed a massive piece of the planet Mars, scientists named the meteorite "Taoudenni 002" as this was the second meteorite to be recovered from near Taoudenni, Mali  a desert salt-mining center 400 miles north of Timbuktu.

The meteorite is primarily comprised of pyroxene, olivine and maskekynite  the impact glass whose bubbles are known to contain Martian atmosphere.

"This is a spectacular specimen of Mars," said Pitt. "And it's the perfect accompaniment to the exhibit just across the room: the largest known piece of the Moon other than the Moon itself."

About The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum

The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum is located at 99 Main Street in Bethel, Maine, and is open every day except Tuesdays. Comprising 15,000 square feet and featuring 17 interactive exhibits and a laboratory, the MMGM celebrates Maine's mining legacy in addition to an internationally renowned meteorite collection with more of the Moon than every natural history museum in the world  combined. To learn more about the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum: https://mainemineralmuseum.org/about/

SOURCE Maine Mineral & Gem Museum

Related Links

https://mainemineralmuseum.org


CHICAGO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LaSalle St., a family of wealth management firms encompassing independent broker-dealer and registered investment adviser (RIA) platforms, today announced the recruitment of Roger and Rebecca Hannan, a husband-and-wife team of financial advisors in the Chicago area that oversee $100 million in client assets.

Founded in 1990 by Roger Hannan, the Libertyville, Ill.-based practice specializes in financial planning, asset management, wealth management and tax planning for pre-retirees and retirees. Both advisors are certified public accountants, while Roger Hannan holds a Certified Financial Planner designation and Rebecca Hannan holds a Personal Financial Specialist designation.

Mark Contey, LaSalle St.'s Chief Business Development Officer, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Roger and Rebecca Hannan to LaSalle St. They have built a thriving practice together and, with our help, will only continue to strengthen the top-notch service experience they offer to clients. Moving forward on our platform, these two advisors will have access to resources, technology and platforms that will enable them to operate even more efficiently and spend more time guiding clients towards fulfilling their financial and life goals. We look forward to collaborating with them for years to come."

Both Hannans were previously affiliated with Cetera Financial Specialists and Cetera Investment Advisers. Following their transition to LaSalle St.'s broker-dealer and RIA platforms, they will operate their wealth management business under the LaSalle St. brands and continue to operate their tax consulting company as Hannan & Associates LLC.

Rebecca Hannan said, "Joining LaSalle St. marks a new chapter in the history of our wealth management business. As we searched the landscape for a new partner firm, LaSalle St. stood out for the way it balances sophistication and scale with a hands-on, can-do approach to accommodating the needs of our clients. From the moment we started discussions with the LaSalle St. team, we knew this was a different firm from the sort we knew before, a group of experts who will truly hear what we need to drive success and work hard to help us achieve it."

About LaSalle St.

LaSalle St. is a family of firms comprising LaSalle St. Securities, an independent broker-dealer; LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, a SEC-registered investment adviser; and LaSalle St. Insurance Services, a provider of annuity and insurance products. It has a singular mission of supporting the growth and success of independent financial advisors across the country. Founded in 1974 and based in Chicago, Illinois, LaSalle St. supports more than 300 financial advisors, has over $12 billion in total client assets and is registered in all 50 states. The LaSalle St. companies offer a wide range of services, including brokerage, advisory, investment and insurance. The firm clears primarily through National Financial Services, with custodial services through NFS parent Fidelity Investments. For more information, visit https://www.lasallest.com/

Media Inquiries

Joseph Kuo / Chris Clemens

Haven Tower Group

424 317 4851 or 424 317 4854

[email protected] or [email protected]

SOURCE LaSalle St.

Related Links

http://www.lasallest.com


NISKU, AB, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Industrial IoT solutions provider Latium Technologies is excited to launch the Ingenious line of IoT technologies, first introducing the groundbreaking E-Sense device.

The Ingenious E-Sense is a non-invasive IoT sensor that provides mining companies with a better way to monitor networks of high-voltage cables for damage or faults. To date, this challenge has been a completely manual process.

"Currently, there is no solution to identify damaged segments and each cable must be checked individually," said a leading member of the Asset Health team for a major Canadian mining company. "Identifying cables is a time consuming and manually intensive process."

E-Sense allows maintenance teams to immediately identify and replace damaged cables, reducing costly downtime and eliminating manual processes.

"The idea for the E-Sense came from being told, 'It can't be done'," said Latium co-founder and president Tony Pecorilli. "Our mission has always been to push the boundaries on what people think is impossible."

The Ingenious E-Sense integrates directly into Latium Technologies' industry-leading Job Site Insights suite of applications.

"The launch of the Ingenious sensor line is a major step for us," said Latium Technologies CEO Mark Bryant. "This enables us to provide truly end-to-end digital transformation solutions to our clients that save time, improve safety, and enhance operational efficiency."

Learn more about the Ingenious E-Sense product here: https://cemex.latiumtech.com/p/1

Latium's JSI technology is already used by several clients in the industrial sector, including Trans Mountain, TC Energy, and Enbridge.

About Latium Technologies

Founded in 2019, Latium has quickly become a go-to IoT solutions provider for Heavy Industry in Canada. Working with multibillion-dollar companies like Suncor, Enbridge, Trans Mountain Pipeline, TC Energy and PCL Construction, we help reduce cost, enhance logistics, bolster safety, and increase visibility using our advanced analytics platform. Learn more at latiumtech.com.

SOURCE Latium Technologies
ST LOUIS, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) School of Medicine has announced the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) has supported the expansion of its accredited Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program from 150 to 180 students, and will be launching its expanded M.D. program cohort of 30 students in St. Louis in August 2022. LCME is sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association, and considered the gold standard for medical education. PHSU has a longstanding commitment to cultivating a diverse pipeline of highly qualified medical professionals and addressing a global healthcare worker shortage -- a commitment which is strengthened by this $80 million long term investment in the St. Louis community.

Even before COVID-19, the impacts of physician shortages were being felt around the country and the world. Shortages of over 55,000 primary care physicians and 86,000 non-primary care specialties (surgical, pathology, radiology, psychiatry, and others) are predicted by 2033, if the training of physicians is not addressed. Those shortages are only exacerbated amongst physicians of color where the diversity of the medical community -- only 5.8% of physicians identified as Hispanic and 5% of physicians as Black or African American in 2018 -- seriously fails to represent the growing diversity in the U.S.

The expanded PHSU St. Louis program offerings will build on the institution's strong record of matching MD graduates from diverse backgrounds into highly competitive programs like radiology, orthopedics, dermatology, and ophthalmology, while also providing doctors with the strong cultural competency that is critical to developing a healthcare workforce that is representative of communities across the country and around the world. Students will have the opportunity to combine the traditional anatomical sciences cadaver lab with the high-tech three-dimensional anatomical software, while also engaging with the north St. Louis community, cultivating a well-rounded and highly trained medical student.

"Ponce Health Sciences University's medical school is a game-changer for the state and the region," said Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe. "As a native of St. Louis, I understand the transformative potential of this medical program. This investment also telegraphs the ongoing job-growth, medical innovation, and high-quality education Missouri is home to. To be successful in the future, we need a well-developed pipeline of physicians and healthcare workers. Locating this accredited medical school campus here is significant and will address physician shortages in St. Louis, in Missouri, and beyond."

The growth of PHSU St. Louis will expand on the University's commitment to building a robust pipeline of medical school candidates that not only demonstrate a great deal of academic potential but are also from diverse communities that are often underrepresented in the medical profession. Over the last 44 years, PHSU Puerto Rico has graduated over 2,000 physicians, biomedical scientists, and masters in medical sciences.

U.S. News & World Report ranks PHSU in the top half of all medical schools for both Most Graduates Practicing in Medically Underserved Areas and Most Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Fields -- both areas that will be a focus for St. Louis campus programming. PHSU's MD program will build on the work of PHSU's Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS) program to create new pathways to professional health programs for health science students, especially students coming from untraditional backgrounds.

Construction on the new campus, which will be the only medical school to date on the north side of St. Louis, will bring dozens of new jobs and new growth to the north part of St. Louis. Campus construction will begin alongside the development of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) West facility -- both indicators of the potential for growth in St. Louis. The program itself is expected to launch in August 2022 with an initial cohort of 30 students but is poised to grow to nearly 1,200 medical students between both campuses and create up to 120 staff and faculty positions. Students at PHSU St Louis will be able to complete clinical work in the neighborhood as well as at the nationally recognized Mercy Hospital system.

"Today's medical students need two things: first, a high-quality education that prepares them to best serve patients, and, second, the kind of cultural education that will allow them to successfully work with patients from a wide range of backgrounds all around the world," said Dr. David Lenihan, President of Ponce Health Sciences University. "That's a new way of envisioning what the medical school experience looks like, but it is paramount to creating the highly skilled and experienced medical workforce that is needed today and will be even more important in the future."

About Ponce Health Sciences University

Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU), a fully-accredited university, is dedicated to providing the highest quality graduate education programs available in medicine, clinical psychology, biomedical sciences, public health and nursing in order to prepare world-class, culturally competent health professionals to better serve a growing population of diverse patients across the United States. Located in Ponce and San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Louis, Missouri, PHSU is recognized around the world for its educational service and research achievements.

SOURCE Ponce Health Sciences University
CHESAPEAKE, Va., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Over one hundred families stopped by VA Premier Pawn in Chesapeake on Saturday to take advantage of their first annual Backpack Giveaway. Backpacks were donated by VA Premier Pawn and supplies were donated by customers, members of the community including other businesses.

Delmarva Marine Solutions, owned by Eric Arne, was one of them. "We share VA Premier Pawn's commitment to Hampton Roads and were happy to support the students," he shared.

Support for the event wasn't limited to businesses in the area. Danny Zlotowicz is a fellow pawnbroker from Camarillo, California, sent the team lunch and a donation to support the cause. "VA Premier Pawn is a great resource to their community and we're proud to support our colleagues commitment to students in the area." Danny owns a pawnshop in Camarillo that's set to celebrate its 35th Anniversary in October.

"A decade ago, I set out to offer the people of this area a new kind of pawn shop that supports them and their families," said Donald Rogers, who owns VA Premier Pawn, "this event was a great celebration of that and we've got lots more planned in the future."

More information about future events is available at their website vapremierpawn.com, via their social media channels, or call 757-488-0383.

About Virginia Premier Pawn

Virginia Premier Pawn is Hampton Roads premier pawnshop, specializing in gold and precious metals, firearms, and luxury goods. Known for their highly trained staff, they help customers in Chesapeake and surrounding areas get the savings they want or cash they need.

Media Contact

Cyndee Harrison

The Pawnbroker Network

[email protected]

313-410-2343

SOURCE Pawnbroker Network
DALLAS, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Lyons and Chris Simmons, co-founders of the Dallas-based trial firm Lyons & Simmons, LLP, have earned selection among the top personal injury litigation attorneys for plaintiffs in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Lyons and Simmons were also honored for their commercial litigation work by Best Lawyers, the oldest and among the most-respected legal guides in the United States.

The trial lawyers of Lyons & Simmons have a reputation for obtaining outstanding results in life-altering personal injury and wrongful death cases, as well as complex business disputes. Most recently the named partners secured the largest-ever verdict in Midland County, Texas, for a personal injury case, representing a mother who lost three children in a highway collision caused by a worker speeding to a jobsite in inclement weather.

Recognized among the 2021 National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers finalists, the firm was selected in 2020 and 2021 by readers of Texas Lawyer magazine among the top personal injury law firms in Dallas. Lyons and Simmons also have earned multiple individual honors from Texas Super Lawyers, Lawdragon 500, and D Magazine.

In addition to Lyons and Simmons' 2022 Best Lawyers honors, firm attorney Stephen Higdon was selected to the companion Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch listing in recognition of his work on behalf of plaintiffs in personal injury litigation as well as in the area of commercial litigation. Ones to Watch recognition is reserved for the nation's top attorneys who have been in private practice for five to nine years.

Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch recognition is based on confidential evaluations by Best Lawyers members in the same practice area, with final selection made following careful editorial review. For more information, including the full 2022 listing, visit https://www.bestlawyers.com/.

About Lyons & Simmons LLP

Dallas-based Lyons & Simmons, LLP, is a trial boutique representing clients in wrongful death, personal injury, products liability and complex "bet-the-company" business litigation matters across the country. To learn more, visit http://www.Lyons-Simmons.com.

Media Contact:

Rhonda Reddick

800-559-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE Lyons & Simmons
"During the strategic planning process we set out as a community to identify challenges and opportunities for the future of the College," said Laura Freid, President of Maine College of Art & Design. "Together, we envisioned a world enriched by artists and designers who are empowered to create with profound and practical impact. At one point we all realized that it was time to expand our name, restate our commitment to all artists and designers, embrace our evolution and place the value of inclusivity at the forefront of our work. I see the '&D' as a symbol of that processit reinforces our culture of shared accountability, visibility and collaborative success."

Design has been embedded in the College's coursework, alongside fine arts and crafts, since the first official curriculum was launched about 140 years ago.

"We have a long history of grounding our education in the fundamentals of visual design, but it's only in the last decade we've seen more than 60% of our students pursue design careers," said Ian Anderson, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College. "The name Maine College of Art & Design conveys the College's full range of offerings and is more inclusive of and comprehensively reflects all our students' design interests from animation and game art, illustration, and graphic design to textile and fashion design and woodworking and furniture design."

MECA&D Strategic Plan: Envisioning Our Future 2027, Tested For Today and Tomorrow

The Maine College of Art & Design Strategic Plan: Envisioning Our Future 2027 clearly lays out its mission to educate artists and designers for life.

In addition to updating the College's Mission, Vision, and Core Values, the plan also outlines the following five strategic goals to guide growth over the next decade:

Advance academic excellence; Further develop a culture of social change, racial justice, and inclusion; Broaden its reach online through distance learning; Create a living and learning center; and, Commit to a sustainable financial plan for the coming decades.

"At Maine College of Art and Design we teach our students how to ask questions and solve problems to become agents of societal change equipped with the talent and the tools to make a difference," said Freid. "This is the exact approach we took when we asked 'how do we grow over the next decade?' and again we asked 'will this plan be successful in a post-pandemic world?' We're confident that as we head into the future anchored by our five strategic goals we will accelerate the College's growth and be able to educate, guide, and inspire tomorrow's creative leaders to make art, make an impact, and inspire change in the world."

MECA&D Creative Identity: Designed From the Inside Out

MECA&D students, staff, faculty, and alumni created the College's new look from the inside out.

Faculty members Drew Hodges and Steve Bowden '97 are the creative directors behind the new MECA&D wordmark design, with contributions from alum designer Hallie Mitchell '17 . Founder of Drewdesignco and SpotCo, Drew is known for his celebrated work on Broadway brands, including Rent, Chicago, and Hamilton. Bowden, in addition to his roles on both the faculty and staff for the College, brought a unique perspective to the homegrown branding team as a graduate of MECA&D and seasoned, international graphic designer.

MECA&D's newly branded merchandise showcases student artwork and was carefully chosen to help the College remain environmentally conscious, reflecting sustainability values held by MECA&D students. The College also benefited from its working relationship with creative agency, VIA and community creative partners to help execute ideas locally.

Year Ahead

This fall, the College will be launching a number of new initiatives to promote the reaffirmed values, such as diversity, inclusion, and academic excellence.

Visiting Artists: MECA&D will welcome a diverse group of international visiting artists and faculty to work with students this fall, including Yazan Kalili , Ghada Amer , Alyson Shotz , Lee Mingwei .

, , , . & Lab: MECA&D students will have access to new interdisciplinary learning opportunities, including a course called & Lab, where students collaborate from across all art disciplines to solve real-world problems, giving students practical experience.

New Faculty: On the academic side, the College has recruited some notable new faculty hires, including:



Zenab Bastawala , an award-winning typographer and international speaker as an Assistant Professor in Graphic Design. She'll be relocating from India .

, an award-winning typographer and international speaker as an Assistant Professor in Graphic Design. She'll be relocating from .

Patrick Coughlin as an Associate Professor in Ceramics. His work has been exhibited around the world, and Coughlin previously worked as a professor at Saint John's University and the University of Arts in Philadelphia, PA.

To learn more about Maine College of Art & Design, please visit meca.edu and for inspiration follow @mecaart .

MEDIA KIT

ABOUT MAINE COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN (MECA&D)

Maine College of Art & Design has been activating students of all pursuits to make art, make an impact, and inspire change since its founding as Portland School of Art in 1882. Located in Portland's thriving Arts District, students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, 24-hour-a-day studios, a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and a community-based Artists at Work programmaking MECA&D the right-sized school in the right-sized city for every student who wants to make their mark and be seen. MECA&D offers BFA Majors and Minors , Graduate Programs , Continuing Studies , Pre-College , and includes the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies and the Institute for Contemporary Art . MECA&D (pronounced: Maine College of Art and Design). Follow us at @mecaart .

SOURCE Maine College of Art & Design

Related Links

https://www.meca.edu


MILWAUKEE, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, announced today that it has agreed to acquire ettain group (ettain) for $925 million in cash.

ettain will become part of Experis, ManpowerGroup's global IT resourcing and services brand, and when combined, the business will have total annual revenues of more than $4.5 billion globally with more than $1.7 billion in North America. The combination will provide increased strength in delivering IT services to the higher growth financial services and health care industries.

ettain is one of the largest privately-held IT resourcing and services providers in North America, with particular strength in Financial Services, Healthcare IT, Government and Technology clients. Founded in 1996, ettain has 28 offices located in 24 key regions across North America and has earned ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Diamond Award for both Client and Talent Satisfaction for 10 consecutive years.

For the twelve months ended June 30, 2021, ettain pro forma Revenues and pro forma EBITDA were approximately $724 million and $75 million respectively. Pro forma results assume businesses ettain acquired occurred at the beginning of the period.

Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup Chairman & CEO, said, "We're pleased to be announcing the acquisition of ettain, which accelerates our strategy of diversifying our business mix into higher growth and higher value services, continuing the expansion of our U.S. and global Experis IT resourcing and services business".

Becky Frankiewicz, ManpowerGroup President North America, added, "As companies amplify their investments in technology, demand for the IT skills that Experis provides is accelerating too. That's why we look forward to welcoming ettain's talented team to ManpowerGroup. Their impressive growth, proven leadership and winning culture will enable us to extend our capabilities, providing greater solutions expertise and more skilled talent to our clients as well as wider IT opportunities to our Experis consultants across North America".

Trent Beekman, ettain group CEO, said, "This acquisition creates compelling opportunities for employees and offers superior value for clients. This is a great opportunity for us to leverage our demonstrated expertise and strong reputation with Experis and ManpowerGroup's global leadership in workforce solutions. The combination of these two great organizations is exciting for our employees and provides many more opportunities to provide value to our clients."

Under terms of the agreement, ManpowerGroup will acquire all of ettain's equity for $925 million to be paid at closing. ManpowerGroup expects to fund this acquisition with existing cash and approximately $150 million from its revolving credit facility which it intends to repay over 12 months. The acquisition will primarily be an asset purchase for tax purposes, resulting in significant anticipated annual cash income tax savings to ManpowerGroup. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions and is expected to close as early as late September 2021.

In connection with this announcement, ManpowerGroup will hold an investor conference call live over the Internet today at 7:30 a.m. CDT (8:30 a.m. EDT). Materials for the conference call will be included within the Investor Relations section of our website at manpowergroup.com. Interested parties are invited to listen to the webcast and view the presentation by logging on to http://investor.manpowergroup.com/ i n the section titled "Investor Relations."

Supplemental financial information referenced in the conference call can be found at http://investor.manpowergroup.com/ .

About ManpowerGroup

ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN ), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands  Manpower, Experis and Talent Solutions  creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 75 countries and territories and has done so for over 70 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity - as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality and Disability and in 2021 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 12th year - all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.

About ettain group

ettain group is the Talent Solutions Company that delivers Recruitment Solutions and Managed Solutions in 5 practice areas: Technology, Healthcare IT, Digital, Professional, and Government. From discovery to execution, we help our clients successfully design, develop, and deliver critical technology and business initiatives, from providing individual resources, to staffing and managing programs and projects, to running entire recruitment processes. Founded in 1996, with nearly 5,000 employees and consultants currently at work, we offer opportunities across North America, with 28 offices located in 24 key markets. We are a proud recipient of ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Diamond Award for both Client and Talent Satisfaction for 10 consecutive years, an honor achieved by less than 1% of our industry. For more information, visit www.ettaingroup.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements, including without limitation statements regarding anticipated timing and completion of the proposed transaction, anticipated results of the proposed transaction and the impact on our future financial and operating performance, the expected tax treatment of the transaction, anticipated synergies, expected integration and transaction costs, and the intended sources of funds for the transaction, that are forward-looking in nature and, accordingly, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements can be identified through the use of words such as "may," "will," "intend," "should," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "anticipate" and similar expressions. Actual results may differ materially from those described or contemplated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements include, among others, (i) our inability to achieve expectations regarding the timing, completion, integration, accounting and tax treatments related to the proposed acquisition of ettain; (ii) our inability to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies from the proposed acquisition within the expected time frames or at all; (iii) the potential impact of the announcement on relationships with our and/or ettain group's employees, customers, suppliers and other business partners; (iv) inability to retain key personnel; (v) changes in legislation or regulations; (vi) developments in the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting business and operational impacts on us and/or ettain; (vii) economic, financial or social conditions that could adversely affect us, ettain or the proposed transaction; (viii) unanticipated liabilities or exposures for which we have not been indemnified or otherwise may not recover under insurance or otherwise; and (ix) other risks to ManpowerGroup's business and results of operations; each as further discussed in ManpowerGroup's reports filed with the SEC, including the information under the heading "Risk Factors" in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which information is incorporated by reference. We caution that any forward-looking statement reflects only our belief at the time the statement is made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

1 Pro forma revenues with ettain group estimated for 2021.

SOURCE ManpowerGroup

Related Links

http://www.manpowergroup.com


TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Medivolve, Inc. ("Medivolve" or the "Company") (NEO: MEDV) (OTC: COPRF) (FRA: 4NC) today announced it will launch its first two mobile COVID-19 testing vans servicing Las Vegas, Nevada and surrounding areas.

"This new initiative is one of Medivolve's many efforts to stopping the virus's spread through early detection," says David Preiner, CEO of Medivolve. "Going mobile allows for immediate expansion and is a cost-effective means of rapid deployment of our resources in underserved areas as new COVID-19 hotspots arise."

Like the Company's collection site locations, Medivolve's mobile testing vans are outfitted with the appropriate testing equipment, supplies, and technology to secure patient registration. Service options include three types of COVID-19 testing: rapid antigen tests, PCR tests, and rapid antibody tests. Depending on the test administered, rapid test results will be available in 15 minutes and PCR results within 2-10 business days. As vaccine availability continues to ramp up, the vans have been strategically designed to easily transition to COVID-19 vaccine administration sites.

"According to Medivolve's medical advisors, providing on-site testing services could reduce exposure to those infected while also boosting confidence in returning to work, school, or attending events," explains Preiner. "Many organizations building complete workforce strategies against COVID-19 are experiencing hurdles in rapidly deploying testing solutions, and we are honored to bring our resources right to their business front."

Mobile testing services for workplaces, schools, and events can be scheduled in coordination with Medivolve's B2B on-site testing services programs. For more information, visit www.testbeforeyougo.com.

About Medivolve, Inc.

Medivolve, Inc. (NEO: MEDV; OTC: COPRF; FRA:4NC) is a healthcare technology company that seeks to reinvent the U.S. healthcare system by leveraging a bespoke telehealth platform, a clinical diagnostic network, and a data-driven A.I. framework to improve patient care.

The company was born out of the healthcare crisis; to rethink, relearn and ultimately, reimagine a better way for the healthcare system to operate. Our network of retail collection sites plays an essential role in recovery by giving all Americans access to fast, accurate, and inexpensive clinical services when and where they need them. These centers will also play a pivotal role in diagnostic testing, vaccinations, and other point-of-care services. We are building disruptive technologies to make it easier and faster to identify, treat, and prevent medical issues. In doing so, we are working to give patients a holistic and empowered view of their personal health.

Our long-term mission is to permanently fix systemic issues in the nation's fragmented, overly complex, and expensive healthcare system. Medivolve's next growth phase is about pivoting the model and putting the pieces together to build a profitable, SaaS-based health-tech company. We bring data-driven clinical diagnostics, physician recommendations, and prescription medications directly to people, all powered by a singular, streamlined technology network. A powerful, singular purpose unites our team: harnessing the transformative power of technology to create healthier lives.

Underpinned by a bespoke, AI-driven platform, we're developing a stealth system that constantly gets smarter, takes the guesswork out of diagnostics, and flags critical health issues immediately to deliver an unparalleled level of personalization for each patient. We are determined to push the boundaries of what's possiblenot just for our business and our shareholders, but for physicians and patients and the future of healthcare. We strive to achieve a continuity of care never seen before, a game-changer for our business and patients in the communities we serve.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to mobile testing services; insurance coverage; COVID testing access; or financial results. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NEITHER THE NEO EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

SOURCE Medivolve Inc.

Related Links

www.medivolve.net


In addition to honoring the 20 th anniversary of Kleinschmidt's momentous win, MMNA will celebrate the brand's 40 th anniversary in the United States, partnering with military veterans charity Record the Journey to contest the Rebelle for a third consecutive year.

"Mitsubishi Motors has much to celebrate this year, including the 40th anniversary of MMNA, the 20th anniversary of our success at Dakar with Jutta Kleinschmidt, and the successful launch of our all-new flagship vehicle, the 2022 Outlander," said MMNA Chief Operating Officer Mark Chaffin. "Returning to the Rebelle with an Outlander inspired by that Dakar-winning Pajero is a fitting tribute to our history, a powerful statement about our ongoing commitment to women's achievement, and the exciting future ahead for our brand."

Mitsubishi Motors is the most successful manufacturer in Dakar Rally history with 12 wins, including seven consecutive starting with Kleinschmidt's victory in 2001. The Super All-wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive system, as well as other innovations on the all-new 2022 Outlander, can trace their concept and development directly back to the legendary racing Pajero (known as Montero in the U.S.).

MMNA's participation in the Rebelle Rally started in 2019, when the brand partnered with Record the Journey (RTJ), a nonprofit dedicated to helping military veterans successfully transition to civilian life. As part of MMNA's "Small Batch  Big Impact" social-good program, RTJ received the loan of an Eclipse Cross to compete in the Rebelle, finishing second in the CUV class with the event's first adaptive athlete  U.S. Air Force veteran Karah Behrend  at the wheel. In 2020, MMNA and RTJ again broke ground at the Rebelle, finishing third in a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, the first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle ever to complete the multi-day off-road navigation-focused event. The 2021 Rebelle Rally is scheduled for Oct. 7-16 and will cover more than 2,000 km across Nevada and Southern California.

The "Small Batch  Big Impact" program is a continuation of MMNA's corporate social responsibility initiative, through which the company and its dealer partners create a series of vehicle loans to small nonprofits to help support local communities.

For more information and images, visit https://media.mitsubishicars.com/en-US/releases/mitsubishi-motors-enters-2021-rebelle-rally-celebrates-companys-dakar-rally-history-with-special-tribute-livery.

About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.



Through a network of approximately 330 dealer partners across the United States, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for the sales, marketing and customer service of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in the U.S. MMNA was the top-ranked Japanese brand in the J.D. Power 2020 Initial Quality study, ranking sixth overall and experiencing the greatest year-over-year improvement of any brand. In its Environmental Targets 2030, MMNA's parent company Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has set a goal of a 40 percent reduction in the CO2 emissions of its new cars by 2030 through leveraging EVs  with PHEVs as the centerpiece  to help create a sustainable society.

With headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, and corporate operations in California, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas, Florida and Virginia, MMNA directly and indirectly employs more than 8,000 people across the United States.

For more information on Mitsubishi vehicles, please contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at 615- 257-2698 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.

Contacts

Jeremy Barnes

Senior Director, Communications and Events

[email protected]

Mobile: 714-296-1402

Lauren Ryan

Manager, Communications and Events

[email protected]

Mobile: 404-862-8286

SOURCE Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Related Links

www.mitsubishicars.com


WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- National Disability Institute (NDI) today announced that Andrew B. McCartney, Bank of America Senior Vice President and Talent Acquisition Executive, has joined the organization's Board of Directors. In his role at Bank of America, McCartney oversees the Global Technology & Operations and Corporate Support Functions Talent Acquisition teams. He is also the Human Resources Lead for the company's Enterprise Disability Strategy and Co-Chair of the Disability Advisory Executive Council.

McCartney joins a distinguished Board that consists of some of the top leaders in the financial, nonprofit and disability communities. NDI Board members provide guidance and support for the organization's commitment to building a better financial future for people with disabilities and their families.

"We are pleased to welcome Andrew as one of the newest members of NDI's Board of Directors," said Thomas Foley, NDI Executive Director. "We look forward to working with Andrew to expand NDI's diversity, equity and inclusion goals for people with disabilities and their families. He will play an instrumental role in helping NDI formulate a plan that takes us from commitment to action."

"I'm passionate about ensuring that individuals with disabilities can operate on a level playing field and that starts with ensuring they have access to resources to support themselves financially," said Andrew McCartney, SVP, Talent Acquisition Executive at Bank of America. "NDI and Bank of America share this same commitment and I'm honored to be part of this important work going forward."

McCartney has more than 20 years of Human Resource leadership experience. Since joining Bank of America in 2004, he has been a Talent Acquisition leader for most areas of the company and heavily engaged in the company's disability-related advocacy work. He is one of the Executive Sponsors in the bank's Employee Network, Disability Action Network and led the company's Disability Accommodations Group. McCartney holds a BA in Economics and Business from Westmont College and resides in Charlotte, NC.

About National Disability Institute

National Disability Institute (NDI) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to building a better financial future for people with disabilities and their families. The first national organization committed exclusively to championing economic empowerment, financial education, asset development and financial stability for all persons with disabilities, NDI affects change through public education, policy development, training, technical assistance and innovative initiatives. To learn more, visit www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org. Engage with NDI on Facebook: @NationalDisability or follow NDI on Twitter: @NatDisability.

Contact:

Kathleen Brannigan

National Disability Institute

917-647-4430

[email protected]

SOURCE National Disability Institute

Related Links

https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/


NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Volume 16, issue 2 of Chairside magazine, now available in print or online at charisidemagazine.com, discusses some of the most compelling topics in dentistry today, including restorative techniques and materials, chairside CAD/CAM systems, business management, and implant complications.

"In this edition, clinicians will be able to learn how to maximize their dental skills both in the chair and from a management perspective," said Bobbie Norton, managing editor of Chairside magazine.

New Chairside? Magazine Issue Published by Glidewell Focuses on Implant, Restorative and Esthetic Dentistry

This edition's featured Q&A profiles Dr. Randolph Resnik, the director of the Misch-Resnik Implant Institute. In the interview, Dr. Resnik discusses everything from his initial interest in prosthodontics and his relationship with the late Dr. Carl Misch, to his recommendation of the Hahn Tapered Implant and his outlook on the future of the institute. "It's a great discipline of dentistry," said Dr. Resnik regarding his outlook on implants in the general practice. "I believe everyone should be doing it because it is so rewarding."

The magazine's more clinical highlights include articles on the treatment of fenestrations at implant sites, diagnostic wax-ups, long-term soft tissue health and systemic diseases. "This is another issue that offers practical clinical advice for general dentists  everything from implants, to cosmetic dentistry, to complete dentures and CAD/CAM technology is covered," said Dr. Neil Park, editor-in-chief of Chairside magazine. "We're particularly proud to feature Dr. Randolph Resnik on the cover of this issue, in recognition of his 35-year commitment to helping dentists become successful with implant dentistry."

In addition to representing the clinical side of dentistry, the magazine addresses the business management side that has become so critical for clinicians everywhere. "There's a growing need for practice management education that's directly applicable to all of the cutting-edge advancements made in the industry to address the challenges dentists face as they add new services to their practices," said Jim Glidewell, president and CEO of Glidewell. In response to that need, this edition covers topics like how to produce a top 10% performing practice and introduces the Implant Business Essentials Continuum, a one-of-a-kind continuum that equips clinicians with the leadership and management skills they need to excel in implant dentistry.

"We hope that dentists will enjoy the articles and take advantage of the opportunity to earn four free CEUs," said Dr. Park.

Media Contact

Eldon Thompson, Sr. Director of Marketing

Glidewell

[email protected]

Related Images

volume-16-issue-2-of-chairside.jpg

Volume 16, issue 2 of Chairside magazine

New Chairside Magazine Issue Published by Glidewell Focuses on Implant, Restorative and Esthetic Dentistry

SOURCE Glidewell
MONROVIA, Calif., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pacific Bridge Companies (TPBC), a conglomerate of international firms spanning the U.S. and Asia helping financial advisors guide their clients wherever in the world their lives may lead, introduces the launch of a new logo today.

Founded in 1992 with roots that stem back to 1933, TPBC served as a bridge over the Pacific Ocean, with its purpose aimed at connecting advisors across the financial services industry to help people and companies living multi-national lives, initially and specifically between Japan and the United States. Today its services span the Pacific Rim.

In addition to providing comprehensive financial services to both U.S. and non-U.S. advisors and their clients, TPBC and its Founder, Stephen Kagawa, are committed to helping financial advisors love the work they do. Based upon his recently released book, Aloha Financial Advising, the company introduces Aloha Financial Advisors, a platform that helps entrepreneurial and mission-oriented advisors build practices of purpose and value, according to one's own personal beliefs, elevating their business and life in their entirety while creating positive impact among unserved, underserved, and poorly served communities. With its newly added focus, TPBC furthers its focus on advisor engagement.

Previously known for their iconic bridge logo, TPBC's new logo design features a traditional Polynesian calabash bowl to embrace the company's historic roots and radiate a message of collaboration and abundance.

"In Hawai'i, the calabash bowl was once utilized by family members to carry their treasures. It was customary for members of the community to contribute to the contents of such bowls, most often filled with a variety of food and passed from family member to family member who each dipped into the bowl to find nourishment and strength. The calabash bowl was a place of plenty," shares Kagawa.

"We believe our company is much the same, a place of an abundance of advisors from the world of finance with unique talents and expertise whose deepest desires are to strengthen and nourish those who come to them to seek their advice and wise counsel. Each advisor and organization we engage with, on their own merit, represents tremendous value. By gathering, purposefully engaging, and sharing with one another, we collectively become Ohana - family - and The Pacific Bridge Companies is this special Ohana's calabash bowl, the source of nourishment and strength for advisors seeking to access capabilities and care for those they serve, outside their areas of specialization or geographical reach."

He notes that while connecting was a focus of the past, TPBC has evolved to purposefully engage with these connections to catalyze a community of like-minded professionals and organizations with diverse backgrounds, exceptional expertise, and care to bring global financial navigation to life.

Visit www.thepacificbridgecompanies.com to explore and learn more about TPBC.

About The Pacific Bridge Companies

The Pacific Bridge Companies, Inc. is a comprehensive wealth management organization focused on global financial navigation. The company helps financial advisors and their clients navigate the complexities of cross-border and intergenerational financial planning between the U.S. and Asia, also assisting communities from Asia within the United States by providing advisors with access to financial planning alternatives and best practices through its Aloha Financial Advisor platform. TPBC is committed to helping financial advisors guide their clients wherever in the world their lives may lead.

Media Contact

Stephanie Nagami

[email protected]

626-303-5890

SOURCE The Pacific Bridge Companies

Related Links

thepacificbridgecompanies.com


/THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - New Found Gold Corp. ("New Found" or the "Company") (TSXV: NFG) (OTC: NFGFF) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously-announced offering of 5,048,500 flow-through common shares of the Company (the "Flow-Through Shares") that will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) at a price of $11.39 per Flow-Through Share (the "Offering Price") for gross proceeds of $57,502,415 (the "Offering") which includes the full exercise of the Underwriters' (as defined herein) over-allotment option.

The Offering was completed pursuant to an underwriting agreement dated August 19, 2021, entered into among the Company and a syndicate of underwriters led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and BMO Capital Markets and including CIBC World Markets Inc., Desjardins Securities Inc. and Clarus Securities Inc. (collectively, the "Underwriters"). Mr. Eric Sprott participated for roughly 19.9% of the financing to maintain his interest in the Company.

The gross proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's Queensway Project located in Newfoundland, Canada and on the Company's Lucky Strike Project located in Ontario, Canada on or before December 31, 2022. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers effective December 31, 2021.

The Company will have approximately $118-million in working capital post-closing of the Offering.

The Flow-Through Shares were offered by way of a prospectus supplement in each of the Provinces of Canada (other than the Province of Quebec) and were also offered by way of private placement in the United States. Copies of the prospectus supplement and documents incorporated by reference therein are available electronically on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under New Found's issuer profile.

The securities to be offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About New Found Gold Corp.

New Found holds a 100% interest in the Queensway Project, located 15km west of Gander, Newfoundland, and just 18km from Gander International Airport. The project is intersected by the Trans-Canada Highway and has logging roads crosscutting the project, high voltage electric power lines running through the project area, and easy access to a highly skilled workforce. The Company is currently undertaking a 200,000m drill program at Queensway. Nine rigs are currently in operation at Queensway with the drill count planned to increase to ten rigs by Q3 2021. With a current working capital balance post-closing of approximately $118-million, New Found is well funded for this program.

Please see the Company's website at www.newfoundgold.ca and the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

Contact

To contact the Company, please visit the Company's website, www.newfoundgold.ca and make your request through our investor inquiry form. Our management has a pledge to be in touch with any investor inquiries within 24 hours.

New Found Gold Corp.

Per: "Craig Roberts"

Craig Roberts, P.Eng., Chief Executive Officer

Email: [email protected]

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statement Cautions

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation relating to further exploration and drilling on the Company's Queensway gold project in Newfoundland; interpretation of results of the drilling program and funding of the drilling program and the timing related thereto; the use of proceeds of the Offering; tax treatment of the Flow-Through Shares; and the timing of the renunciation of the Qualifying Expenditures. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "target," "suggestive," "probability," "appear," "pursuit," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's Annual Information Form and Management's discussion and Analysis, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

SOURCE New Found Gold Corp.

Related Links

https://newfoundgold.ca/


DUBLIN, Ohio, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- New research from Quantum Health, the industry-leading healthcare navigation and care coordination company, reveals for the first time the extent to which growing healthcare complexity impacts consumers. Findings from this groundbreaking survey show that consumers experience multiple challenges when accessing healthcare and that complexity has a compounding effect on well-being and work life.

The Quantum Health findings were based on a survey of 1,001 individual consumers ages 18-64 who have employer-sponsored health insurance; more than 250 employer organizations with at least 1,000 employees; and 152 employer benefits consultants and brokers. The survey was conducted during the months of March and April 2021. Employer organizations and benefits consultants represented companies in 11 different U.S. industry segments.

Among other things, the data revealed that 8 in 10 people who received healthcare services in the last two years experienced an average of three challenges when doing so, including administrative challenges like understanding coverage levels; making use of all available benefits; finding a provider; and understanding insurance claims or billing questions. In addition, 90% of respondents with complex or ongoing clinical needs faced additional challenges related to tasks like getting prior authorizations approved; understanding test results or diagnosis and treatment options; and developing a plan of care for more complex health issues.

"This research drives home the fact that healthcare complexity affects individuals and families in multiple and very significant ways," said Kara Trott, founder and CEO of Quantum Health. "It's critical that employers, benefits professionals and healthcare providers recognize and understand that dealing with this complexity is not only a disruption for individuals and families, but it can also have a negative impact on their physical and mental well-being, as well as influencing workplace productivity."

At a high level, the Quantum Health study illustrates how consumer knowledge gaps can influence utilization of benefits, patient engagement and compliance with care plans. More detailed findings from the survey shine a light on more specific insights, including:

Physical and mental well-being suffers due to complexity . Among individuals who experienced challenges with healthcare (79% overall), 57% suffered a resulting negative impact, including: a significant decline in mental well-being (19%), a significant decline in physical health (17%) or interference with a prescribed treatment plan (16%). For people with complex or chronic conditions, 76% said they had suffered a negative health impact because of healthcare complexity, including a decline in mental well-being (28%); a decline in their physical health (37%); and interference with a prescribed treatment plan (28%).

Among individuals who experienced challenges with healthcare (79% overall), 57% suffered a resulting negative impact, including: a significant decline in mental well-being (19%), a significant decline in physical health (17%) or interference with a prescribed treatment plan (16%). For people with complex or chronic conditions, 76% said they had suffered a negative health impact because of healthcare complexity, including a decline in mental well-being (28%); a decline in their physical health (37%); and interference with a prescribed treatment plan (28%). Healthcare complexity drains workforce productivity. In fact, 60% of all respondents said they have had to spend time during their workday on healthcare-related tasks for themselves or a loved one in the past two years. When that occurred, the average time spent was 27 minutes. The average amount of time spent completing healthcare-related tasks at any time  whether at work or home  was 46 minutes.

In fact, 60% of all respondents said they have had to spend time during their workday on healthcare-related tasks for themselves or a loved one in the past two years. When that occurred, the average time spent was 27 minutes. The average amount of time spent completing healthcare-related tasks at any time  whether at work or home  was 46 minutes. There is a "confidence" disconnect between employers and their employees. Employers underestimate the impact of healthcare complexity and employee knowledge, as 88% of employers say their workers are confident in understanding their healthcare benefits. However, only 52%  barely half  of individuals surveyed actually say they feel confident. Meanwhile, only 45% find it easy to use their health benefits, and only 35% find it easy to navigate the healthcare system.

Employers underestimate the impact of healthcare complexity and employee knowledge, as 88% of employers say their workers are confident in understanding their healthcare benefits. However, only 52%  barely half  of individuals surveyed actually say they feel confident. Meanwhile, only 45% find it easy to use their health benefits, and only 35% find it easy to navigate the healthcare system. Consumers say healthcare navigation can make a difference. Of those surveyed, 39% of individuals overall and 56% of those with chronic conditions agree that they need professional healthcare navigation services to make their healthcare experience less stressful, to increase their confidence in understanding and using their benefits, and to save time. In addition, 50% of people with chronic or complex conditions said navigation would improve communication with doctors and improve clinical outcomes.

"The American workforce has gone through an extraordinary evolution since early 2020, and employers are stepping up to the plate to provide additional support for employees and their dependents. However, it's clear from this research that finding the right navigation solution  one that helps employees break through challenges caused by increasing healthcare complexity  should be a priority for business leaders and benefits professionals," said Trott.

This survey was conducted by SNG Research, an independent market research firm. Read more about these findings here.

About Quantum Health

Quantum Health is the industry-leading consumer healthcare navigation and care coordination company that delivers an unparalleled consumer experience to its members, as well as validated claims savings and high satisfaction rates for its self-insured employer clients. Quantum Health's proprietary Real-Time Intercept model identifies opportunities for early intervention in a member's healthcare journey, resulting in better engagement, outcomes and cost efficiencies.

The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Dublin, Ohio. Since its inception, Quantum Health has earned numerous awards and honors, including being named among the Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc. 5000, and a Great Place to Work by FORTUNE Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine. The Women Presidents' Organization has ranked Quantum Health as one of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies, and Columbus Business First has honored Quantum Health as a Best Place to Work.

To learn more about the company, visit www.Quantum-Health.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Media Contact:

Barbara Tabor

Tabor PR

[email protected]

651-230-9192

Susan Simkins

Quantum Health, Corporate Communications

[email protected]

800-257-2038 x 13494

SOURCE Quantum Health

Related Links

http://www.quantum-health.com


NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Understood , a social impact, nonprofit organization and the only lifelong guide for those who learn and think differently, today unveiled its 2021 Back to School Study, conducted in partnership with UnidosUS, the largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. The study focused on understanding the perspectives, anticipated challenges, and preparedness of teachers, parents, and students as we head back to school . Measuring the attitudes of 495 educators and 1,005 parents of children with and without learning and thinking differences like ADHD and dyslexia , the study found that as a result of the pandemic, more challenges lie ahead.

In July 2021, Understood, in partnership with UnidosUS, surveyed 495 educators and 1,005 parents of children with and without learning and thinking differences for its new 2021 Back to School Study to understand the perspectives, anticipated challenges, and preparedness of teachers, parents, and students as many head back to the classroom.

Over two-thirds (68%) of teachers and more than 60% of parents prefer and expect their children to return to school in person full-time. Despite feeling ready for a return to the classroom, 90% of educators are concerned about longer-term challenges that all students might face from missing traditional education last year. Top concerns include academic development (73%), anxiety (65%), and social (63%) and emotional (62%) advancement.

"As we head back to school, teachers and parents alike are concerned about the lasting impact of the pandemic on students including the learning challenges that they are observing," said Fred Poses, CEO and co-founder of Understood. "Our findings examine how we can reimagine learning across the entire ecosystem."

Reimagining the Classroom

The research found that open communications between teachers and parents will be pivotal in bridging at-home and in-classroom learning as we get ready for the new school year. Over 50% of educators have relied on technology over the past year, and have had to reimagine the classroom through innovation and creativity.

Steps for Improving Classroom Learning : Educators see a need for even more hands-on activities (61%), smaller classrooms (57%), flexible learning environments (55%), and more one-on-one interaction with students (over 50%).

: Educators see a need for even more hands-on activities (61%), smaller classrooms (57%), flexible learning environments (55%), and more one-on-one interaction with students (over 50%). What Schools Can Do to Enhance Learning at Home : Schools can support continued learning at home: 69% of respondents say that schools should offer advice to parents on how to support their children; additional learning devices, such as laptops and/or tablets should be supplied to households with more than one school-age child (66%); along with guidance to access social services (54%) and social-emotional learning support (51%).

: Schools can support continued learning at home: 69% of respondents say that schools should offer advice to parents on how to support their children; additional learning devices, such as laptops and/or tablets should be supplied to households with more than one school-age child (66%); along with guidance to access social services (54%) and social-emotional learning support (51%). How Parents Can Improve Learning : The study also highlighted opportunities for parents to play a role in learning this year: 72% of educators suggest that parents have a designated and quiet workspace for their children; parents should partner better with teachers (61%); create a calendar for work and play (60%); spend more time assisting children with assignments (58%); and allow children to learn in nontraditional academic environments (outside classrooms) (51%).

"Encouragingly, more than half of both parents and teachers believe increased interaction between teachers, students, and parents will help improve performance," added Amanda Morin, Understood's director of thought leadership and expertise. "Students who learn differently will face more challenges than usual this school year. So providing resources, such as Take N.O.T.E., and opportunities to connect parents and teachers to address these challenges is more important than ever."

Parents Grapple With How to Get Academic Support for Kids

The majority of parents (60%) are eager to send their children back to in-person learning but are unsure how to address concerns about learning challenges and developmental needs from the last school year and pandemic learning environments.

50% of all parents are worried about their child facing challenges because of not having the same education last year due to COVID-19.

44% of parents say they don't know how to start the conversations with educators around learning challenges they've noticed.

More than eight out of 10 parents wish they had a tool to track their child's behavior prior to their diagnosis, including 81% of Black/African American parents, and 83% of Hispanic/Latino parents.

Impact of Back-to-School on Diverse Students and Parents

More than 70% of Hispanic/Latino parents and 65% of Black/African American parents noticed their children experienced a learning challenge, and similarly to all parents surveyed, approximately a third said their children are continuing to struggle to adapt to COVID-19 rules and regulations in the classroom.

Black/African American (46%) and Hispanic/Latino (44%) parents say they can't afford a diagnosis for learning challenges they've observed.

More than half (63%) of Black/African American parents and nearly half of Hispanic/Latino parents (44%) say they cannot find Spanish-language resources; about half say they don't have the community support (50% of Black/African American and 48% of Hispanic/Latino parents).

39% of Black/African American parents are more likely to hire a learning specialist for their child; 42% plan to request a new evaluation for their child.

More than half of Hispanic/Latino parents (54%) have anxiety related to talking about the learning challenges of their children and feel that their communities don't support them; many (51%) have decided to not pursue noticeable challenges because their teachers don't believe their children.

"At UnidosUS, we prioritize family engagement because we know education is critical to our community, and we see the barriers to participation in the school system," said Margaret McLeod, Ed.D., vice president of education, workforce development, and evaluation at UnidosUS. "This research confirms that Latinx families are deeply invested in their children's education and concerned about the impact of the pandemic on their learning. Students with learning differences and their families need access to timely, culturally, and linguistically appropriate resources to navigate this challenging environment."

Conducted in July 2021, Understood and UnidosUS' 2021 Back to School Study leveraged quantitative data from 495 educators and 1,005 parents of children with and without learning and thinking differences across the United States. Study respondents included educators as well as parents of children ages 5-18, with 30% identifying as Hispanic/Latino, 68% as White/Caucasian, 19% as Black/African American, 3% as Asian, and 2% as Native American. Full study results are available upon request.

Taking Action With Take N.O.T.E. and Discussion Forum

On September 9, 2021, Understood will host a Town Hall forum designed to bring together parents, teachers, and experts as part of a free, virtual forum to answer questions and discuss the social, emotional, and academic challenges that their children may be facing this school year, and how to respond to them.

During the "Real Talk: Taking N.O.T.E. of Learning Challenges in the New School Year" event, Understood, with the American Academy of Pediatrics, UnidosUS, CCSSO, Teacher of the Year Juliana Urtubey, and more will also highlight the benefits of Take N.O.T.E. , a free, web-based interactive digital tool, developed in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics to help families notice and address learning challenges that they have seen during the pandemic that could be signs of learning and thinking differences.

The event will be livestreamed via Understood's YouTube channel and syndicated across its Facebook channel (in English and Spanish ). Interested attendees can RSVP here .

About Understood

1 in 5 Americans have learning and thinking differences, such as ADHD and dyslexia. They are often misunderstood, undiagnosed, and dismissed, and these differences are viewed as a weakness. This leaves many on a journey that is stacked against them and costs society more than $500 billion. Understood is the only lifelong guide for those who learn and think differently. Today, we help more than 20 million people each year discover their potential, how to take control, find community, and stay on a positive path along each stage of life's journey. When others join this journey, and people are broadly embraced, everyone thrives. Understood is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation based in New York. For more information, or to become a partner, visit u.org/media and follow us on Twitter @UnderstoodOrg .

About UnidosUS

UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza), is the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through its unique combination of expert research, advocacy, programs, and an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels. For more than 50 years, UnidosUS has united communities and different groups seeking common ground through collaboration, and that share a desire to make our country stronger. For more information on UnidosUS, visit www.unidosus.org or follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .

Info - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1600275/Back_to_School_Study_2021_Understood_Infographic.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1574220/understood_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Understood

Related Links

www.understood.org


BASEL, Switzerland, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nouscom, a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing off-the-shelf and personalized cancer neoantigen vaccines, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating NOUS-PEV. In this first-in-human trial NOUS-PEV, a personalized neoantigen cancer vaccine, is being administered in combination with the anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab to patients with either locally advanced 1L melanoma or 1L non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) expressing more than 50% PD-L1.

NOUS-PEV-01(NCT04990479) is a multicenter Phase 1b open-label study, assessing the safety, feasibility and preliminary efficacy as per RECIST 1.1 criteria of the NOUS-PEV vaccine, in combination with pembrolizumab. The study will evaluate vaccine-induced immune responses, as well as preliminary signs of anti-tumor activity in treated patients. The PEV vaccines will be prepared on an individual basis, following a tumor biopsy performed at the time of screening to identify patient-specific tumor mutations. The trial will enroll patients from Spain, Belgium and the UK.

The principal investigator (PI) of the trial is Stefan Symeonides M.D., a Medical Oncologist and Clinical Scientist in the Department of Oncology at The University of Edinburgh.

Stefan Symeonides, M.D. and PI of the trial, said: "There is still a significant unmet medical need for new therapeutics to overcome tumor resistance to anti-PD1 immunotherapies. Vaccination, and especially personalized vaccination, has huge potential and Nouscom's innovative technology has unique features that are promising for a best-in-class platform. It is excellent news that the first patient has now been dosed with NOUS-PEV. We expect this trial to deliver important initial clinical data for the development of NOUS-PEV and I really look forward to seeing preliminary results in 2022.''

NOUS-PEV is a personalized cancer vaccine based on patient-specific neoantigens sourced from individual patient tumor mutanomes[1]. The identified neoantigens are encoded in Nouscom's heterologous prime boost platform comprising a proprietary non-human adenoviral vector (GAd) and Modified Vaccinia Ankara vector (MVA). Each of the two viral vector systems encodes multiple personalized neoantigens selected by a proprietary algorithm (VENUS[2]), which prioritizes up to 60 mutations that represent the most immunogenic neoantigens. Including a large number of neoantigens in NOUS-PEV aims to ensure broad and deep immune responses, potentially overcoming issues of tumor heterogeneity and escape through immunoediting.

Patricia Delaite, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Nouscom, said: "NOUS-PEV leverages our heterologous prime boost platform to enable the fastest in class 'needle-to-needle' turn-around timelines, while subsequently inducing a broad and potent anti-tumor T cell response. Having now successfully designed, manufactured and dosed an individualized cancer vaccine, we look forward to progressing the Phase 1b clinical study and gathering important patient data in the coming months."

Dr. Marina Udier, Chief Executive Officer of Nouscom, added: "The initiation of this study represents a significant milestone for Nouscom, as it marks the second clinical program to emerge from our proprietary platform based on uniquely engineered viral vectors that are optimized for the efficient expression of tumor neoantigens. We look forward to presenting the preliminary data in 2022."

About NOUS-PEV

NOUS-PEV is a personalized cancer immunotherapy designed for each patient based on selection and prioritization of mutations unique to that patient's tumor. The strategy is based on Nouscom's heterologous prime boost platform already clinically validated by its lead off-the-shelf clinical development program NOUS-209. The platform is composed of a proprietary non-human adenoviral vector (GAd) and Modified Vaccinia Ankara vector (MVA). Each of the two viral vector systems encodes multiple personalized neoantigens selected with a proprietary algorithm (VENUS), which prioritizes up to 60 mutations that represent the most immunogenic neoantigens.

NOUS-PEV is being evaluated in a Phase 1b clinical trial in combination with the anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab in patients with either locally advanced 1L melanoma or 1L non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) expressing more than 50% PD-L1. The trial (NCT04990479) commenced in 2021 and is currently enrolling patients across multiple clinical sites in Europe.

About Nouscom

Nouscom is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing off-the-shelf and personalized cancer neoantigen vaccines. Nouscom's proprietary technology platform harnesses the full power of the immune response by combining viral vectored vaccines based on neoantigens with other immunomodulators.

Nouscom is currently advancing the clinical development of its programs:

NOUS-209 (lead), an off-the-shelf cancer immunotherapy for the treatment of MSI solid tumors, and

NOUS-PEV, a personalized cancer immunotherapy for the treatment of advanced melanoma or lung cancer

Nouscom is led by an experienced management team with deep roots in the pharma and biotech industry and are veterans in the field of viral vectored vaccines. Nouscom is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland with operations in Rome, Italy, and is backed by international life sciences investors.

For more information on Nouscom, please visit the company's website at www.nouscom.com or follow us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/nouscom-ag/

Contacts

Nouscom

Rick Davis, CBO

E : [email protected]

T : +41 61 201 1835

MEDiSTRAVA Consulting

Sylvie Berrebi, Mark Swallow PhD, Eleanor Perkin

E : [email protected]

T : +44 (0) 207 638 9571



[1] The mutanome is the entirety of somatic cancer mutations in an individual tumor

[2] Vaccine Encoded NeoAg Unrestricted Selection (VENUS). The innovative science behind VENUS has recently been published online in the peer-reviewed journal Vaccines. The full publication can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9080880

SOURCE Nouscom
NSF EyeSucceed co-founders Tom Chestnut and Jennifer Tong applied their more than 40 years of collective foodservice experience to develop a solution that addresses the growing demand for AR capabilities in the restaurant industry.

"The need for smart solutions that are cost effective has been growing for years. Following the pandemic, the food industry is seeking even more ways to leverage new technologies to improve training and efficiency while maintaining quality and consistency," said Tom Chestnut, Co-Founder of NSF EyeSucceed. NSF EyeSucceed provides foodservice businesses with a customized suite of applications, helping to keep pace with the rapid hiring and increased consumer demand that has resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic."

Another finding from the survey revealed that 51% of quick service restaurant (QSR) brands say AR could make training faster and 40% say AR could reduce human error.

"Our proof-of-concept testing and implementation in five global markets has proven that NSF EyeSucceed delivers transformational solutions," said Jennifer Tong, Co-Founder of NSF EyeSucceed. "We are encouraged by the wide use of applications for this technology to truly transform the foodservice industry  from decreasing the need for in-person visits to vastly improving employee training. For foodservice managers, this means reduced costs while also enhancing food quality and safety for both employees and consumers."

Wendy's is a long-time leader in quality assurance and is focused on continuously evolving its programs to drive industry innovation. As such, the company was among the first to investigate AR for this use and to pilot smartglasses using NSF EyeSucceed.

"Since introducing NSF EyeSucceed to our suite of quality assurance tools in 2020 through a pilot program, our team at Wendy's has experienced greater efficiency in our food safety and supplier oversight practices, from product evaluations to audit improvements," said Jorge Hernandez, Vice President of Quality Assurance at Wendy's. "This hands-free solution has been especially useful throughout the pandemic, as it's provided connectivity between sites and deepened supplier relationships, despite travel restrictions around the world. As a result, we've seen time and cost savings and positive feedback from our employees and supplier partners. We look forward to completing the pilot program, including testing the glasses for employee training, and scaling up key learnings."

NSF EyeSucceed enables:

Enhanced Training and Wearable Learning: Hands-free smartglasses can be used to train employees at workstations for shorter onboarding and on-the-line accuracy, allowing for immediate product sale and food waste reduction and higher retention of training material.

Hands-free smartglasses can be used to train employees at workstations for shorter onboarding and on-the-line accuracy, allowing for immediate product sale and food waste reduction and higher retention of training material. AR-Fueled Corrective Intelligence: NSF EyeSucceed applies next-generation AR solutions to detect human error, driving quality, consistency and cost efficiency. Use of the solution can monitor a product such as a burger being made the exact same way, no matter where you are in the world.

NSF EyeSucceed applies next-generation AR solutions to detect human error, driving quality, consistency and cost efficiency. Use of the solution can monitor a product such as a burger being made the exact same way, no matter where you are in the world. Anytime, Anywhere Maintenance: NSF EyeSucceed assists workers to keep machinery in top working order with intuitive instruction available on-demand and at the point of need. Frontline workers can install, set up and maintain equipment via livestream, and connect with technical experts to diagnose and fix issues with the aim to avoid asset downtime and technical travel time.

NSF EyeSucceed assists workers to keep machinery in top working order with intuitive instruction available on-demand and at the point of need. Frontline workers can install, set up and maintain equipment via livestream, and connect with technical experts to diagnose and fix issues with the aim to avoid asset downtime and technical travel time. Hands-free Tools: NSF EyeSucceed supports greater efficiencies in food safety by making self-audits, reporting and inspection easier with hands-free technology and digitizing documentation for everything from task checklists to inventory management, without the need for app or web development.

NSF EyeSucceed supports greater efficiencies in food safety by making self-audits, reporting and inspection easier with hands-free technology and digitizing documentation for everything from task checklists to inventory management, without the need for app or web development. Remote Work: The technology eliminates the need for travel and on-site visits by offering real-time remote audits, inspections, tech support and collaboration while maintaining quality and safety expectations. This was proved especially helpful during COVID-19 lockdowns when travel was restricted.

Another leading QSR saw the following results when using NSF EyeSucceed:

Training costs reduced by ~65% and employee satisfaction with training increased by 83%

and employee satisfaction with training increased by Training accuracy improved by 50%; improved retention and confidence over traditional platforms

improved retention and confidence over traditional platforms 75% savings in maintenance costs and lost revenue.

NSF EyeSucceed is supported by Glass Enterprise Edition 2 and runs on Google Cloud's secure, flexible and stable cloud infrastructure. As the only Glass Provider for the food industry, NSF EyeSucceed uses the most advanced smartglass technology to deliver NSF's custom food industry software applications and patents, created specifically to optimize back-of-house operations. NSF EyeSucceed is currently in the top five of Google's top 10 Glass Enterprise Edition deployments and it is now implementing at scale. NSF is part of Google Cloud's Partner Advantage Program and will be listed on its Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Connect network.

For more information on NSF EyeSucceed, visit https://www.nsf.org/eyesucceed.

For media inquiries, please contact Anj Oto at [email protected] or +1 (734) 773-4194.

Glass and the related logo are trademarks of Google LLC.

About NSF International

NSF International is an independent, global organization that facilitates the development of standards, and tests and certifies products for the food, water, health sciences and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment. Founded in 1944, NSF International is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. With operations in 180 countries, NSF International is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre on Food Safety, Water Quality and Indoor Environment.

About Wendy's

Wendy's was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas in Columbus, Ohio. Dave built his business on the premise, "Quality is our Recipe," which remains the guidepost of the Wendy's system. Wendy's is best known for its made-to-order square hamburgers, using fresh, never frozen beef*, freshly-prepared salads, and other signature items like chili, baked potatoes and the Frosty dessert. The Wendy's Company is committed to doing the right thing and making a positive difference in the lives of others. This is most visible through the Company's support of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and its signature Wendy's Wonderful Kids program, which seeks to find a loving, forever home for every child waiting to be adopted from the North American foster care system. Today, Wendy's and its franchisees employ hundreds of thousands of people across more than 6,800 restaurants worldwide with a vision of becoming the world's most thriving and beloved restaurant brand. For details on franchising, connect with us at www.wendys.com/franchising. Visit www.wendys.com and www.squaredealblog.com for more information and connect with us on Twitter and Instagram using @wendys, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wendys.

*Fresh beef available in the contiguous U.S., Alaska and Canada.

About Google Glass

Glass Enterprise Edition 2 is a wearable device that helps businesses improve the quality of their output, and help their employees work smarter, faster and safer. It provides hands-on workers and professionals with glanceable, voice-activated assistance that is designed to be worn all day with its comfortable, lightweight profile.

1 A random sample of n=680 workers and decision makers including restaurant managers, employees, food safety/quality managers, operations managers/directors and franchise managers in the UK, China, India and US were surveyed in May 2021. The study was double-blind and fielded by Lucid, a global leader in managed survey sample. The margin of error for this study was +/-3.76% at the 95% confidence level.

CONTACT: Anj Oto

[email protected]

+1 (734) 773-4194

SOURCE NSF International

Related Links

https://www.nsf.org


COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Omada A/S ("Omada"), a global leader of Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), announced today an integration with SecZetta, a leading provider of third-party identity risk management solutions. The integration will enable organizations to reduce the risk of third-party data breaches.

SecZetta provides third-party identity risk solutions that are easy to use and purpose-built to help organizations execute risk-based identity access and lifecycle strategies for third-party non-employee populations: contractors, supply chain, vendors, partners, bots and more. The information collected in SecZetta pertaining to managing third parties' identities, onboarding, role changes, contract extension, termination and identity risk management is used by Omada to inform better access decisions for third-party users.

Third parties comprise a large portion of many organizations. Most companies have a defined process inside an HCM (human capital management) system for managing employees but lack the same discipline when it comes to third parties. According to a recent report by Ponemon Institute, 54% of respondents say their organizations don't have a comprehensive inventory of all third parties with access to their network. And 65% of organizations haven't identified the third parties with access to the organization's most sensitive data.

This lack of process with non-employees puts organizations at risk; an estimated two-thirds of data breaches today originate from a third party. Businesses need a solution to manage and identify all the people and things with access to corporate systems. SecZetta collects contextual information about third-party non-employees through a collaborative onboarding process and then provides that data to Omada for provisioning and de-provisioning of access, and identity governance and access for SecZetta's customers.

Join Omada and SecZetta, along with CQURE, for a webinar on Tuesday, Aug. 24 at 11:00 a.m. ET, where company representatives will discuss the insider access risk posed by third parties and easy-to-implement steps attendees can do take to mitigate such risk. Register at https://omadaidentity.com/resources/webinars/third-party-breach/.

Jeremy Rohrs, Senior Vice President of Global Sales & Business Development, SecZetta, said: "Organizations are hyper-focused on adopting Zero Trust policies in the hope of reducing the risk of access-related cybersecurity incidents. Our integration with Omada enables organizations to extend the diligence they have around providing least privilege access to employees to their riskier, non-employee users."

Michael Garrett, CEO, Omada, said: "With most organizations today relying on third parties to achieve business goals, it's critical to get access management right. It's a balance between security and productivity  and that's what this integration provides. Organizations can work confidently with non-employees, knowing they are all fully accounted for without creating a drag on IT resources."

About Omada

Omada, a global market leader in Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), offers a full-featured, enterprise-grade, cloud native IGA solution that enables organizations to achieve compliance, reduce risk, and maximize efficiency. Founded in 2000, Omada delivers innovative identity management to complex hybrid environments based on our proven best practice process framework and deployment approach.

For more information, go to omada.net

Media Contact:

Corey Eldridge

727-385-2012

[email protected]

SOURCE Omada

Related Links

https://omadaidentity.com/


SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ValGenesis, Inc., a market leader in Enterprise Validation Lifecycle Management Systems (VLMS), today announced that one of the top ten global pharmaceutical companies selected ValGenesis' eLog solution to meet its global needs for the digitization of logbooks. The company discovers, develops, and delivers innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. Their focus on these needs comes during a remarkable time when unprecedented scientific breakthroughs are advancing the treatment of disease as never before in human history.

The selection of ValGenesis eLog to meet their global needs for electronic logbooks is one of the critical projects of their new digitization mandate to be accomplished across the company. The company searched for just the right solution to electronically manage their logbooks and had evaluated many systems, including ValGenesis. The company became a ValGenesis customer through its acquisition of two other ValGenesis customers, where it expanded the use of the ValGenesis VLMS system to its other sites. The company plans to go live with two sites in 2021 and in 2022 roll out the solution across 18+ global sites.

"ValGenesis is the trusted name for 100% paperless validation, and we are working with this client to deploy a homogenous solution to help them embrace organization-wide digital transformation in the spirit of Pharma 4.0. ValGenesis eLog mobile app, Augmented Reality (AR), and Data Analytics features make it a solution that surpasses any other in the market. We are excited to serve this customer's validation needs and look forward to their broadening use of ValGenesis eLog across their enterprise," says Narayan Raj, Sr. Vice President of Global Sales & Operations at ValGenesis, Inc.

ValGenesis eLog extends plant floor automation by managing and tracking equipment use, cleaning status, maintenance, and calibration records with an easy-to-use mobile app supporting commonly used tablets such as iPad and Android devices. Users can capture the logs through mobile devices by simply scanning the QR code available on the equipment, instruments, and clean rooms, with or without network connectivity. This helps end-users easily schedule, assign, track, and report all equipment information needed to meet corporate compliance requirements and forms a strong foundation for asset management strategy and validation status.

About ValGenesis

ValGenesis, Inc. is the creator of an innovative software platform that serves as a foundation for managing compliance-based validation activities in life science companies. ValGenesis, Inc. is the provider of the first enterprise application that manages the corporate validation lifecycle process.

This solution is fully compliant with U.S. FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and Annex 11 requirements. As the first fully paperless solution for electronic management of validation execution and approval, ValGenesis was selected by an industry peer review committee to receive the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) New Innovative Technology Award in 2005.

For more information, visit www.valgenesis.com

Further information:

Althea D'Sylva,

ValGenesis Communications,

+1 510-445-0505 Ex.1026,

[email protected]

SOURCE ValGenesis Inc.

Related Links

http://www.valgenesis.com


"Being recognized for our leadership in artificial intelligence highlights how we are helping keep customers ahead of risk in today's complex landscape," said OnSolve CEO Mark Herrington. "From severe weather, supply chain disruption, civil unrest, active assailants or a global pandemic, business as usual is no more. As we pioneer the security space with the most advanced technology, we will remain focused on keeping people and organizations safe, informed, assured and productive when it matters most."

Security Today magazine is a leading industry media brand that provides technology, education and solutions for security professionals. The magazine's preeminent editorial website, securitytoday.com, provides news, insights and advice for the security industry. Security Today's New Product of the Year Award honors the outstanding product development achievements of security providers whose solutions are particularly noteworthy for their ability to improve security. OnSolve Risk Intelligence, part of the OnSolve Platform for Critical Event Management, was selected as a winner by a panel of independent judges from the security industry, with backgrounds in engineering design and product experience. Judges named winners across 43 different product award categories using criteria including: Innovation, Interoperability, Scalability, Quality/Design, and Technology Driven.

"What a crazy year this has been for everyone. Challenging or not, I have noticed that product development and new security solutions were in no way quarantined," said Ralph C. Jensen, editor in chief of Security Today magazine. "It seems all manufacturers have been busy and have stayed on track to release new products. We appreciate those entrants who have taken the time to share their newest products with us, and for your review. I anticipate manufacturers will continue on their way to bring new technology to the forefront. I believe we are on the threshold of security engineers bringing to bear more sophisticated solutions. What a great year this will be."

OnSolve offers the first and only AI-powered Risk Intelligence product for the security space across government and enterprise. In April, OnSolve was awarded a 2021 Government Security Award (Govies) in the Security and Risk Intelligence category. In June 2021, OnSolve was also a silver winner of the Globee IT World Awards in the Business Continuity Management category.

In July 2021, OnSolve launched the OnSolve Control Center to innovate how organizations manage uncertainty, mitigate risk and strengthen resilience. A purpose-built, centralized operating hub, OnSolve Control Center allows organizations to automate and orchestrate responses to common threats in real time, mitigate impact and reduce recovery time during a critical event.

For more information about OnSolve, please visit www.onsolve.com.

About OnSolve

With billions of alerts sent annually and over 60 combined years of proven support to both the public and private sectors, OnSolve delivers critical event management capabilities backed by unmatched industry expertise, which keeps our customers safe, informed, assured and productive when it matters most. We do that through a SaaS-based global portfolio that delivers scalable, easy-to-deploy-and-use solutions for the rapid and secure exchange of vital information and coordination among organizations, people, devices and partners, regardless of the situation or level of need. For more information, please visit www.onsolve.com.

SOURCE OnSolve

Related Links

https://www.onsolve.com


DUBLIN, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Data Center Physical Security Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The data center physical security market by investment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.42% during 2021-2026.



The data center market is witnessing strong growth in the development of multiple large facilities. The data center market is mainly dominated by colocation providers, followed by internet and cloud service providers. With the increasing development of sophisticated technology and vast amounts of data, the data center security market is becoming essential for operators. Companies are increasingly working towards ensuring that customer data is protected by installing physical security measures. For instance, SIFY Technologies is investing in facilities across India equipped with physical security systems such as video surveillance, motion detection, and multi-level access control along with physical security guards.



The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the data center physical security market during the forecast period:

Increasing Construction of Hyperscale Data Centers

Rising Colocation Investment Across Data Centers

Advancements In Video Analytics and Cloud-Based Analytics

Use of Anti Climb Perimeter Security

The study considers the present scenario of the data center physical security market and its market dynamics for the period 2020-2026. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The report offers both the demand and supply aspects of the market. It profiles and examines leading companies and other prominent ones operating in the market.



COVID-19 Impact



The local and global vendors manufacturing and supplying security infrastructure faced a significant challenge during the pandemic. During COVID-19, several lockdowns were imposed by the government across the globe. As in some of the region data centers were considered essential services, the working continued with 50% of employee capacity. The threat of cyber-attack was high, and the vendors started to provide high-security solutions to the operators. Some vendors such as Honeywell International, Johnson Controls International, Legrand, Siemens, Bosch Security Systems, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, and Secure I.T. Environments provide several advanced physical security infrastructures for the data centers.



Market Trends and Segments

An increase in the number of edge data center facilities deployed will increase the demand for physical security solutions such as video surveillance and access control systems.

With advances in video surveillance, cloud provider security, and high-quality cameras are capturing and collecting vast amounts of data. Cloud-based video analytics has become the latest trend in physical security.

Cloud computing and edge processing will drive the adoption of advanced video content analytics in the coming years.

Many hyperscale operators have adopted significant physical security measures to ensure the safety of their facilities.

Remote monitoring using Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being done to ensure advanced security on the premises.

The demand for video surveillance systems is on the rise as data center investments are increasing YOY. The global video surveillance security market is expected to reach $338.7 million in 2026.

in 2026. The installation of racks in existing data centers is boosting the adoption of cabinet security solutions. The global cabinet security market will grow at a CAGR of 7.36% by 2026.

Most investments in physical security solutions among enterprise data centers will be through hyperscale self-built facilities and on-premise containerized data center developments in developing countries.

Rapidly developing technologies and innovation in the market are compelling several vendors to offer more innovative solutions to the data center industry. Vendor partnerships with modular service providers are essential for their revenue growth. Some global providers provide solutions that will give them an edge over others in winning data center security installation and commissioning projects. The data center physical security market share is likely to grow in developing regions with more security threats. It is observed that global vendors are partnering with local vendors to capture the new growing market and generate more revenue till the market gets matured.



Key Players

ASSA ABLOY

Axis Communications

ABB

Alcatraz

Bayometric

Boon Edam

Bosch Security Systems ( Robert Bosch )

) BioConnect

Convergint Technologies

Cisco Systems

CLD FENCING

Dahua Technology

Digitus Biometrics

Eagle Eye Network

Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology

Honeywell International

Horton Automatics

Instor

Johnson Controls International

Kisi

Legrand

Pacific Control

Pelco

Puffin Solutions

Secure I.T. Environments

Siemens

Schneider Electric

Southwest Microwave

SUPREMA

Verkada

WireCrafters

Key Questions Answered:

1. How big is the Data Center Physical Security Market?

2. What are the major factors driving the Physical Security Industry?

3. What is the COVID-19 impact on the Physical Security market?

4. What are the opportunities and latest trends of the Data Center Physical Security market?

5. Who are the key players for the Data Center Physical Security market?



Key Topics Covered:



1 Research Methodology



2 Research Objectives



3 Research Process



4 Scope & Coverage

4.1 Market Definition

4.2 Base Year

4.3 Scope of the Study

4.4 Market Segments



5 Report Assumptions & Caveats

5.1 Key Caveats

5.2 Currency Conversion

5.3 Market Derivation



6 Market at a Glance



7 Introduction

7.1 Physical Security Layer of Data Centers

7.2 Physical Security Checklist



8 Market Opportunities & Trends

8.1 Deployment of Edge Data Center Investments

8.2 Use of Anti-Climb Perimeter Security

8.3 Advancements in Video Analytics and Cloud-Based Analytics



9 Market Growth Enablers

9.1 COVID-19 And Data Center Security Systems

9.2 Increasing Construction of Hyperscale Data Centers

9.3 Increasing Colocation Investments

9.4 Increasing Adoption of Multi-Factor Authentication Solutions



10 Market Restraints

10.1 Security Challenges in Data Centers

10.2 Cost of Physical Security Solutions



11 Market Landscape

11.1 Market Overview

11.2 Market Size & Forecast

11.3 Five Forces Analysis



12 Product

12.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

12.2 Video Surveillance

12.3 Access Control

12.4 Other Physical Security Products



13 Physical Security Layers

13.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

13.2 Market Overview

13.3 Perimeter Security Layer

13.4 Building Security

13.5 Data Hall Security

13.6 Cabinet Security



14 End-Users

14.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

14.2 Colocation Data Centers

14.3 Enterprise Data Centers



15 Geography

15.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine



16 North America

16.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

16.2 Market Overview

16.3 Market Size & Forecast

16.4 Product: Market Size & Forecast

16.5 US

16.6 Canada



17 Latin America

17.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

17.2 Market Overview

17.3 Market Size & Forecast

17.4 Product: Market Size & Forecast

17.5 Brazil

17.6 Other Latin American Countries



18 Western Europe

18.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

18.2 Market Overview

18.3 Market Size & Forecast

18.4 Product: Market Size & Forecast

18.5 UK

18.6 Germany

18.7 France

18.8 Netherlands

18.9 Ireland

18.10 Other Western European Countries



19 Nordics

19.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

19.2 Market Overview

19.3 Market Size & Forecast

19.4 Product: Market Size & Forecast

19.5 Denmark

19.6 Norway

19.7 Sweden

19.8 Finland & Iceland



20 Central & Eastern Europe

20.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

20.2 Market Overview

20.3 Market Size & Forecast

20.4 Product: Market Size & Forecast

20.5 Russia & Czech Republic

20.6 Poland & Austria

20.7 Other Central & Eastern European Countries



21 Middle East

21.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

21.2 Market Overview

21.3 Market Size & Forecast

21.4 Product: Market Size & Forecast

21.5 Gulf Corporation Council (GCC)

21.6 Other Middle Eastern Countries



22 Africa

22.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

22.2 Market Overview

22.3 Market Size & Forecast

22.4 Product: Market Size & Forecast

22.5 South Africa

22.6 Kenya

22.7 Other African Countries



23 APAC

23.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

23.2 Market Overview

23.3 Market Size & Forecast

23.4 Product: Market Size & Forecast

23.5 China & Hong Kong

23.6 Australia & New Zealand

23.7 India

23.8 Japan

23.9 Rest Of APAC



24 Southeast Asia

24.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

24.2 Market Overview

24.3 Market Size & Forecast

24.4 Product: Market Size & Forecast

24.5 Singapore

24.6 Indonesia

24.7 Malaysia

24.8 Thailand

24.9 Other Southeast Asian Countries



25 Competitive Landscape

25.1 Competition Overview



26 Key Company Profiles

26.1 ASSA Abloy

26.2 Axis Communications

26.3 ABB

26.4 Alcatraz

26.5 Bayometric

26.6 Boon Edam

26.7 Bosch Security Systems (Robert Bosch)

26.8 Bioconnect

26.9 Convergint Technologies

26.10 Cisco Systems

26.11 CLD Fencing

26.12 Dahua Technology

26.13 Digitus Biometrics

26.14 Eagle Eye Network

26.15 Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology

26.16 Honeywell International

26.17 Horton Automatics

26.18 Instor

26.19 Johnson Controls

26.20 Kisi

26.21 Legrand

26.22 Pacific Control

26.23 Pelco

26.24 Puffin Solutions

26.25 Secure I.T. Environments

26.26 Siemens

26.27 Schneider Electric

26.28 Southwest Microwave

26.29 Suprema

26.30 Verkada

26.31 Wirecrafters



27 Report Summary



28 Quantitative Summary

29 Investment by Geography

30 Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fzzqjl

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

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Clinical trials are currently testing drugs that were shown in lab-based studies to stimulate the production of new myelin. However, in the brains of patients with multiple sclerosis, cells are surrounded by toxic elements from the blood and the immune system that inhibit the repair of damaged myelin, so it remains unclear whether the drugs can be effective in humans.

A new study by scientists at Gladstone Institutes led by Senior Investigator Katerina Akassoglou, PhD, shows that many of the drugs currently in trials may not be sufficient to promote repair within these cells' toxic environment and identifies a different treatment option that could improve the repair of myelin. The study, performed in collaboration with UC San Diego and the University of Vienna, Austria, is published in the journal Brain.

"We found a new line of drugs that could potentially be used to stimulate myelin repair even in the presence of toxic blood leaks in the brain," explains Akassoglou, who is also the director of the Center for Neurovascular Brain Immunology at Gladstone and a professor of neurology at UC San Francisco (UCSF).

Blood Leaks in the Brain Prevent Repair

Normally, in an attempt to restore insulation to damaged nerves, specialized repair cells in the brain can transform into cells called oligodendrocytes, which produce new myelin.

Drugs in clinical trials are intended to boost this formation of mature oligodendrocytes as a way of increasing myelin production. However, many of these drugs were initially tested on cells grown in laboratory dishes, which didn't account for the fact that, in disease, toxic elements are also present in a cell's environment.

In multiple sclerosis, one such element is fibrinogen, a blood-clotting protein that leaks into the brain.

Blood leaks are abundant in the brain and spinal cord of multiple sclerosis patients, and are monitored with brain scans to establish a diagnosis for the disease. Akassoglou and her team previously showed that, in multiple sclerosis, fibrinogen leaking into the brain causes inflammation and loss of neurons, and blocks myelin repair.

In this study, the researchers wanted to understand how to overcome fibrinogen's harmful effect. In collaboration with Mark H. Ellisman, PhD, director of the National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research (NCMIR) at UC San Diego, they developed an advanced microscopy technique that allows them to combine the high-resolving power and advanced 3D imaging capabilities of electron microscopy with light opticsbased imaging inside a living mouse's spinal cord.

"We can image blood leaks and track repair cells in real-time, visualizing the structure of myelin at exactly the same sites, all in the same specimen," says Reshmi Tognatta, PhD, a scientist in Akassoglou's lab and one of the first authors of the study.

The researchers found that, in mouse models of multiple sclerosis, the repair cells were clustering at sites of blood leaks in the brain, where fibrinogen is present. But instead of transforming into myelin-producing cells, they transformed into astrocytes, a type of cell that produces scar tissue.

"We now understand that fibrinogen blocks the production of myelin by causing a chain of events that prevents the repair cells from transforming into myelin producers, forcing them instead to turn into cells that can make scar tissue," says Tognatta. "Fibrinogen determines the cells' fate."

Possible New Drug to Repair Myelin

The team decided to test whether the clinical trial drugs could overcome the detrimental effect caused by fibrinogen. To do so, they developed a new method to screen the drugs in the presence of fibrinogen, mimicking the inhibitory environment around the repair cells. The new assay was designed to test not only the production of new myelin, but also the formation of damaging cells in brain lesions.

"Fibrinogen puts repair cells on a derailed path, stopping myelin production," says Akassoglou. "We can now screen, in a single assay, the efficacy of drugs to put the cells back on track for myelin repair. Our new assay is ideal for the discovery of drugs that overcome the toxic lesion environment."

The scientists showed that while the trial drugs may increase myelin repair in a normal environment, they were not effective when fibrinogen was present.

"None of the drugs we tested could reverse the effect of fibrinogen," says the other first author of the study, Mark Petersen, MD, a visiting scientist in Akassoglou's lab and an associate professor of neonatology at UCSF.

The team then tested other compounds to see if any of them could increase the production of myelin even in the presence of fibrinogen. They identified one small molecule that could not only make the repair cells turn into myelin-producing oligodendrocytes, but could also stop them from becoming scar-producing astrocytes. They treated two different mouse models of multiple sclerosis with this compound, and discovered that it increased the production of myelin and prevented paralysis in these mice.

"This compound completely overcame the effect of fibrinogen and restored myelin repair around leaky blood vessels," says Petersen. "Even if the treatment started after they were already sick, the mice improved and we saw signs that the myelin was repairing faster and there was less damage to their nervous system."

Similar compounds to the one used by the scientists are being tested in clinical trials for other indications, and so far, they appear to be safe. These compounds could potentially be repurposed and tested in multiple sclerosis patients much sooner than new drugs that still must go through an extensive development process.

Beyond Multiple Sclerosis

The small molecule identified by Gladstone researchers could be combined with other available drugs to help better repair myelin. The team's findings could also provide clinicians with a new option to enhance the production of myelin in the presence of a leaky blood-brain barrier in multiple sclerosis.

And, beyond those diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the study could help a much larger group of patients with other diseases.

"The disruption of blood vessels and deposits of fibrinogen link many neurological diseases, from multiple sclerosis to neonatal brain injuryso a discovery in one area gives us a lot of insight into other disease processes," says Petersen, who takes care of infants in the intensive care nursery. "I'm now applying our findings and the tools we developed to the study of the developing brain."

There is also growing evidence that myelin damage plays a role in normal aging as well as Alzheimer's disease. Indeed, Akassoglou's team has spearheaded studies that identify fibrinogen as a new culprit for cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Akassoglou and Ellisman also recently expanded their collaboration in Alzheimer's disease research with the support of a new grant.

"It's crucial to take into account the blood leaks in the diseased brain in order to design treatments that can benefit a broad set of patients," says Akassoglou. "We discovered that fibrinogen gains access to the diseased brain, acting as a gas pedal for toxic inflammation and as a break for repair. We are continuing to investigate its deleterious effects in the brain in hopes that we can develop effective therapies for multiple sclerosis and other devastating neurological diseases."

"Identifying and blocking the mechanisms by which fibrinogen contributes to major diseases of the brain and spinal cord is an important objective for us and the field at large," says Lennart Mucke, MD, director of the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease. "Dr. Akassoglou's research program has pioneered this mission andthrough this groundbreaking studyhas opened new avenues for the development of urgently needed novel therapeutics."

About the Study

The paper "BMP receptor blockade overcomes extrinsic inhibition of remyelination and restores neurovascular homeostasis" was published by the journal Brain on August 24, 2021.

The study's other authors are Anke Meyer-Franke, Andrew S. Mendiola, Zhaoqi Yan, Abinaya Muthusamy, Mario Merlini, Rosa Meza-Acevedo, Belinda Cabriga, Yungui Zhou, Reuben Thomas, and Jae Kyu Ryu from Gladstone; Eric A. Bushong and Mark H. Ellisman from UC San Diego; and Hans Lassmann from the Medical University of Vienna.

The work at Gladstone was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant RR18928) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (grants R35 NS097976, K02 NS110973), the Department of Defense (grant MS160082), the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (grant PP-1805-30887), the Race to Erase MS Foundation (grant P0535497), Berkelhammer Award for Excellence in Neuroscience, American Heart Association, the Simon Family Trust, Edward and Pearl Fein, the Dagmar Dolby Family Fund, and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. The work at NCMIR was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (grant U24NS120055) and the National Science Foundation (grant NSF2014862-UTA20-000890).

About Gladstone Institutes

To ensure our work does the greatest good, Gladstone Institutes focuses on conditions with profound medical, economic, and social impactunsolved diseases. Gladstone is an independent, nonprofit life science research organization that uses visionary science and technology to overcome disease. It has an academic affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco.

Media Contact: Julie Langelier | Associate Director, Communications | [email protected] | 415.734.5000

SOURCE Gladstone Institutes

Related Links

https://gladstone.org


SAN DIEGO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Grant Findlay-Shirras, co-founder of Parkbench.com, a leading online platform that helps local professionals connect with their community, has partnered with Rich Johnson, Broker & Owner of Windermere Homes & Estates, a leading real estate brokerage in San Diego, California.

In a time when #shoplocal roles off people's tongues, Parkbench has pioneered a new and innovative way for community residents and small business owners to connect and support each other.

Partnership between Windermere Homes & Estates and Parkbench.com

"Locals must support each other, and I created Parkbench to be the one-stop-shop for people to do this and stay up to date with what's going on around them," Findlay-Shirras explains.

"The use of videography has gained much popularity over the years, allowing real estate agents to become more 'humanized' to their audience and ultimately their clients," Rich explains. "Video marketing links the motivation behind the Parkbench platform, which is to create community and connection. This is central to our core values at Windermere Homes & Estates. My agents will be able to profit significantly from the use of this website platform for years to come."

Because of the sponsorship by Rich and his team, the local residents and small business owners of each community get to have all the resources that Parkbench's platform provides for free.

As Grant and his Parkbench team expand across North America, more communities are being added daily, due in part, by the generosity of people like Rich.

"Our goal is to have a Parkbench site in every community across Canada and the USA, and getting our platform in the hands of locals is now even more important with so many people working from home and so many businesses struggling with all the constraints during the Covid pandemic," Grant explains.

As for Grant and Parkbench, "We are excited to partner with Rich and his team to help provide a local news source for the people who live in San Diego and the free marketing platform for local businesses. We encourage everyone to check out their local Parkbench website and learn about the people behind the businesses, the events happening down the street, the deals being offered, and much more. Together, we can improve the economy and our quality of life."

For more information, please contact:

Grant Findlay-Shirras of Parkbench.com at [email protected]

Rich Johnson of Windermere Homes & Estates at [email protected]

Related Images

partnership-between-windermere.png

Partnership between Windermere Homes & Estates and Parkbench.com

Partnership between Windermere Homes & Estates and Parkbench.com

SOURCE Parkbench.com
CHICAGO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PAWS Chicago, the organization dedicated to building No Kill animal communities in Chicago and beyond, is now enabling "Dogenations"  or donations via various forms of cryptocurrency  ahead of the unveiling of its new state-of-the-art hospital for homeless animals, the PAWS Chicago Medical Center.

To launch this new offering and drive incremental donations, PAWS Chicago partnered on a pro-bono campaign with creative advertising agency Leo Burnett, which capitalized on meme culturespecifically the "laser eyes" memefor out-of-home advertising that targets a tech-savvy demographic of potential donors. Roughly 59 million Americans own some form of cryptocurrencyan increase of 61% in the last two yearsand "Dogenations" offer cryptocurrency holders a meaningful way to use their digital coins by donating directly through the QR code displayed on the ads.

For the campaign, Leo Burnett donated over 180 out-of-home advertisements which can be seen on digital billboardswith the QR code to donatethroughout the Chicagoland area, including at Guaranteed Rate Field, various Jewel Osco and Walgreens locations, Northbrook Court and the United Center, from August into September.

"We are a solutions-based, forward-thinking organization, which is why we are eager to connect with the growing cryptocurrency community, who can help sustain the future of animal welfare in Chicago and save animals' lives," said Susanna Homan, PAWS Chicago Chief Executive Officer.

While 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized in the U.S. each year, PAWS Chicago is very close to achieving their mission of a No Kill Chicago. Since the organization's founding almost 25 years ago, they have provided nearly 300,000 free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries in under-resourced communities, helping to reduce the number of homeless animals killed in Chicago by more than 91 percent.

But as they get closer to reaching the No Kill goal, the work gets harder: the animals being saved are sicker or more severely injured. The new premier Medical Center is a necessary next step, enabling PAWS Chicago to support the care of over 28,000 animals each year, providing treatment for dogs and cats locally and from 13 high-kill states where pets are most at risk of euthanasia. Each donation supports that life-saving work and furthers the organization's mission.

Millennials are most active in cryptocurrency and have recently overtaken Gen X as the largest pet-owning cohort of Americans, as pets and cryptocurrency trend simultaneously. #DogsOfTikTok has 78 billion views and #DogsOfInstagram has 248 million posts. Meanwhile, conversations around cryptocurrency are especially active on Reddit, particularly on /r/CryptoCurrency (3.2 million Subscribers) and /r/Dogecoin (2 million Subscribers).

"The rise of Dogecoin is further proof that people love dogs," said Ben Doessel, Associate Creative Director at Leo Burnett. "Our team coupled this trending meme with PAWS Chicago, which has been a driving force in animal welfare for decades, to give dog lovers a new way to make a real impact."

To learn more and donate, please see here. To access the creative assets, please see here.

About PAWS Chicago

PAWS Chicago works to build No Kill communities that respect and value the life of every cat and dog; to end the overpopulation of homeless animals through solutions, practices and education and to transform animal welfare by setting higher standards in the way animals are treated and developing a sustainable, solutions-based model. To learn more about PAWS Chicago's live-saving work, please visit www.pawschicago.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Leo Burnett Chicago

Leo Burnett is a creative solutions company founded on the idea that "what helps people helps business." By solving human problems with the power of creativity, Leo Burnett delivers value for people and prosperity for brands. To learn more about Leo Burnett and its rich, 85-year history, visit the agency's website, Facebook page and @leoburnettchi.

Media Contacts

Adam Skaf, Account Supervisor, MSL

[email protected]

Julia Poukatch, Manager of Media & Community Relations, PAWS Chicago

[email protected]

SOURCE PAWS Chicago

Related Links

https://www.pawschicago.org


HOUSTON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PermitUsNow, an industry recognized building permitting expediting small business in Texas, is a proud supporter of the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling  Session 6, August 26, 2021  "What You Learn After You Know It All". As a go to building permitting resource, one of PermitUsNow's core values is continued learning; and encourages other small business to embrace life-long learning to build a sustainable business.

Mattress Mack, Owner of Gallery Furniture and Helen Callier, President of PermitUsNow, Houston, Texas small business conference HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling, August 26, 2021 Session 6, What You Learn After You Know It All

Helen Callier, PermitUsNow's Leader first met Mattress Mack, owner of the renowned Gallery Furniture over 10 years ago at a small business conference in Houston, Texas where he served as the awards luncheon keynote speaker. He arrived early, shared his powerful story of overcoming business challenges, stayed late, and answered questions from many small businesses in attendance.

And today, Mattress Mack continues to support small businesses with valuable tips, strategies, and tools through the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling  Session 6, August 26, 2021 "What You Learn After You Know It All". Participants will learn in this session: Continuous & Never-Ending Thinking; Entrepreneurship as a Mindset & Skillset; Act Like an Entrepreneur and Enhance your Career. This is a virtual workshop and we invite interested parties to register online. The cost is free.

"We are super excited to be a supporter of the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling. This is a must attend event. Small businesses will learn from a uber successful businessperson; and be able to gain valuable tips to help them in their business now." Helen Callier, President of PermitUsNow

PermitUsNow plays an important in the business community by sponsoring annually HCC's Business Plan Competition and supporting training programs that will make an immediate and positive impact to small businesses like the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling.

To glean ideas tips from successful business owners is a proven way to get ahead; and Mattress Mack is an ideal businessman to learn from. PermitUsNow believes in the small business community and in Houston; and are committed to helping others in their business journey.

About Permit Us Now

Founded in September 2016, PermitUsNow is the go-to one-stop building permitting firm that helps Architects, Engineers and Contractors to save time and money plus start construction in a timely manner. PermitUsNow covers over 500 jurisdictions in Texas and has a national presence. PermitUsNow has offices in Houston, Dallas, and Austin, Texas and Jacksonville, FL. PermitUsNow manages permitting from design phase to close out for commercial, institutional, and residential projects with a team of recognized experts. PermitUsNow was also recently recognized by the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association with the LUNA Award in 2020; and by SubContractors USA in 2021 as Top Contractor of the Year.

Through its parent company, PermitUsNow is a certified minority and woman-owned business. Clients of PermitUsNow include H-E-B, JOERIS, Burns and McDonnell, United Airlines, Planet Fitness, and Brake Check.

Learn more on PermitUsNow, LLC, visit http://www.permitusnow.com or follow @permitusnow, on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact

Helen LaVelle

281-312-9981

[email protected]

SOURCE PermitUsNow
"Chic enough for a day at the office or night on the town yet, the right amount accessible for a casual gathering with friends, our collaboration with M.Gemi embodies everything we love about Peroni," said Cara Lauritzen, Senior Marketing Manager for Peroni at Molson Coors Beverage Company. "We're proud of our Italian heritage and thrilled to partner with a fashion brand that puts the same level of craftsmanship into their shoes as we do our birra."

The Peroni x M.Gemi collection features leather footwear for both men and women handcrafted in Italy with the highest level of artisan quality and care, just like Peroni. Featuring riffs on two M.Gemi classics, the men's Lucente sneaker and women's Palestra Due sneaker, each chic pair seamlessly elevates any occasion and nods to Peroni in several design elements. These include a Nastro Azzuro-inspired blue heel stitched with Peroni's signature red tag, a blue and white striped shoe sock, and a "Made in Italy" stamp emblazoned on the side of the sole.

To help consumers further elevate their style, Peroni and M.Gemi have hidden a surprise in 10 select shoe boxes -- a golden, Peroni bottle opener with a nastro azzurro or blue ribbon attached, which can be used to open a refreshing birra and unlock a surprise wardrobe or accessory upgrade valued up to $500 (limited to 21+ and void where prohibited).

"As fans head back to the office and integrate back into in-person settings, we're excited to offer a timeless piece of Italian fashion to help you step out in style," said Maria Gangemi, Founder of M.Gemi. "No matter where your style takes you, these sneakers can be dressed up or down for a chic and comfortable look, and we couldn't be more proud to partner with Peroni to bring this authentic Italian accessory to life."

When it comes to self expression and effortless style, no one does it more naturally than Italians and this sneaker collection promises to step up your fall wardrobe, with shoes as crisp and refreshing as Peroni's birra.

For those looking to purchase a pair, the shoes will be available on mgemi.com beginning today, August 24th, with a SRP of $228, and will be available in limited quantities. The ten lucky consumers that find golden bottle opener in their shoebox can visit PeroniStyle.com after 8/31 to claim their upgrade.

About Peroni Nastro Azzurro

As Italy's premier beer, Peroni Nastro Azzurro is a timeless classic that embodies the best in Italian craftsmanship and sophistication. Born in 1963 during a trailblazing era that brought Italian style and creativity to the global stage, Peroni is a pale, golden lager with a crisp, refreshing taste, balanced aroma and notes of citrus and spice. Arriving in the United States in 2005, and enjoyed across six continents today, the iconic Italian birra has consistently won over tastemakers and trendsetters looking for a fresh, clean beer to complement their style. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @PeroniUSA.

About M.Gemi

Founded in March 2015 by Maria Gangemi, M.Gemi is a Boston based accessories startup with offices in New York and Florence. A unique luxury brand unbound by traditional models, M.Gemi delivers handcrafted products for men and women at uncommon prices. Each piece is handmade in Italy by craftspeople at the most renowned family-owned workshops, with new styles released each week. M.Gemi's uncompromised commitment to quality, brought to market at an unconventional speed, positions M.Gemi at the forefront of the new luxury market and sets a new standard for direct to consumer brands. For additional information on M.Gemi and to shop the collection, visit www.mgemi.com.

SOURCE Peroni
The Company continued to step up investments in strategic upgrades on three fronts, namely its capabilities, services and channels. Medical services maintained rapid growth and contributed revenue of RMB1.067 billion, an increase of 50.6% year-on-year. Consumer healthcare business gradually recovered from COVID-19 with revenue improving by 66.1% year-on-year to RMB714 million. Capitalizing on the strong growth of core businesses, the Company's revenue soared 39.0% year-on-year to RMB3.818 billion in the first half of 2021.

Internet healthcare services have become the new normal for residents to seek medical consultation. Benefiting from a growing awareness and trust in Internet healthcare services among users, the core operating metrics of the Company's Internet platform delivered a remarkable performance. As of 30 June 2021, the number of registered users of the Company reached 400 million representing an increase of nearly 55 million or 15.7% over the same period in 2020, with the cumulative paying users over the past 12 months reaching 32.1 million representing a year-on-year increase of 69.6%.

Focused on three medical specialties, "one GP for one customer" service in four scenarios

In the first half of 2021, Ping An Good Doctor made notable progress in medical specialty operations. The Company focused on three medical specialties, namely dermatology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and gynecology and obstetrics, gathering more than 100 famous specialists and incubating other specialists in fields like ophthalmology, pediatrics, internal medicine and surgery. With the 24/7 online consultation services provided by in-house medical teams and the authoritative guidance of external renowned doctors, users have been provided with a wide range of services such as online consultations, prescription, medication guides, results interpretation and follow-up care available at home.

In respect of medical service capabilities, Ping An Good Doctor pioneered online tiered diagnosis and treatment, and positioned about 2,000 in-house medical teams as "customer managers with medical knowledge" and arranges them to provide online and offline healthcare services for customers striving to offer "faster, easier, hassle-free and more affordable" services providing the customer with a dedicated lifelong GP for each customer. Access to the customer is secured through four scenarios, namely health management, sub-health management, disease management and chronic disease management, creating a full-lifecycle electronic health record for each user.

In addition to in-house medical teams, the Company expanded the network of external doctors with more than 70% medical specialists from tertiary hospitals. The Company also launched more than 450 Famous Doctor Studios and adopted "double-doctor" model to improve utilization of high-quality medical resources lifting user satisfaction to over 99% in the first half of 2021.

Expanded user acquisition channels empowered the Group to provide heartwarming financial services

Being a key part of the Ping An healthcare ecosystem, the Company focused on the conversion of high-value users acquired through integrated finance channels and corporate clients channels empowering the Group to provide heartwarming financial services. The Company also expanded its customer sources from insurance to integrated financial services such as Ping An Bank and Ping An Puhui and deeply integrated itself withing Ping An Group's financial services business through medical membership products, health check-ups, health management services and others in order to provide full-lifecycle services for the Group's high value integrated financial customers thereby expanding the user base in an efficient manner.

For corporate clients, the Company provided customized products through an in-depth understanding of corporate employers as well as employee demands for medical services and healthcare services basing it on industry-specific attributes and employee conditions within the company, effectively reducing employers' cost of medical treatment for employees and formulating customized health management solutions as well. As a result, the Company has successfully become a preferred health partner for corporate employers and a loyal health guardian for enterprises and employees.

Explore O2O medical service to establish a diagnosis and treatment system for whole medical treatment process

The Company has discovered a clearer trajectory for Internet hospital development. While enhancing online service capability, the Company is also exploring ways for seamless online-to-offline experiences throughout the consultation and medical processes by integrating our medical, doctor and traffic resources with influential offline public hospitals. As of 30 June 2021, the Company has been licensed to develop Internet hospitals under a self-construction model in 10 cities and has signed co-construction agreements with 205 hospitals to build Internet hospital platforms.

Going forward, Ping An Good Doctor will shift its focus onto national and regional hospital giants. The Company's strategy is designed to focus on online famous hospitals, specialist centers and O2O specialist service packages in the short run, and online platform operations, tiered diagnosis and treatment services and availability of Social Health Insurance (SHI) payment at offline hospitals in the long run. The Company will step up efforts to build an urban healthcare ecosystem network by centering around O2O healthcare services for Grade A tertiary hospitals and co-constructed Internet hospitals in cities.

About Ping An Healthcare And Technology Company Limited

Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited ("Ping An Good Doctor"; "Ping An Healthcare"; stock code: 01833.HK) is the leading online healthcare service platform in China. Ping An Healthcare strives to bridge communication between doctors and patients with love, expertise, convenience and trust, and is committed to building an Internet healthcare platform with the largest scale, the most advanced models, and the highest entry barriers in China. Currently, Ping An Healthcare has formed key business sectors including online medical services, consumer healthcare, Health Mall, health management and wellness interaction.

SOURCE Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Primo Water Corporation (NYSE: PRMW) (TSX: PRMW) (the "Company" or "Primo"), a leading provider of sustainable drinking water solutions in North America and Europe, today announced it intends to host a virtual investor day on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, starting at 9 a.m. (ET). Registration details will be available on its website by November 1,2021 at www.primowatercorp.com.

The event will be hosted by Tom Harrington, Primo's Chief Executive Officer, and Jay Wells, Primo's Chief Financial Officer. The topics will include the Company's strategic priorities, capital allocation plan, ESG initiatives and an update on the Company's medium- and longer-term financial outlook and guidance. The presentation will be followed by a live question-and-answer session.

"Following our successful transformation into a pure play water company and effectively navigating the pandemic over the last 18 months, we look forward to sharing our plan for the next phase of our journey to provide strong value creation for our shareholders," said Tom Harrington, Primo's Chief Executive Officer.

A live webcast as well as related presentation materials will be available to all interested parties through the Investor Center section of Primo's website at Events & Presentations - Primo Water Corporation. For those unable to join the live webcast, a replay will be available on the website shortly after the event.

ABOUT PRIMO WATER CORPORATION

Primo Water Corporation is a leading pure-play water solutions provider in North America, Europe and Israel and generates approximately $2.0 billion in annual revenue. Primo operates largely under a recurring razor/razorblade revenue model. The razor in Primo's revenue model is its industry leading line-up of sleek and innovative water dispensers, which are sold through major retailers and online at various price points or leased to customers. The dispensers help increase household penetration which drives recurring purchases of Primo's razorblade offering. Primo's razorblade offering is comprised of Water Direct, Water Exchange, and Water Refill. Through its Water Direct business, Primo delivers sustainable hydration solutions across its 22-country footprint direct to the customer's door, whether at home or to commercial businesses. Through its Water Exchange and Water Refill businesses, Primo offers pre-filled and reusable containers at over 13,000 locations and water refill units at approximately 22,000 locations, respectively. Primo also offers water filtration units across its 22-country footprint representing a top five position.

Primo's water solutions expand consumer access to purified, spring and mineral water to promote a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle while simultaneously reducing plastic waste and pollution. Primo is committed to its water stewardship standards and is proud to partner with the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) in North America as well as with Watercoolers Europe (WE), which ensure strict adherence to safety, quality, sanitation and regulatory standards for the benefit of consumer protection.

Primo is headquartered in Tampa, Florida (USA). For more information, visit www.primowatercorp.com .

SOURCE Primo Water Corporation

Related Links

https://primowatercorp.com/


SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new book from Brian Johnston, Western Director of the National Right to Life Committee, breaks open the myth of Roe v Wade. Evil Twins  Roe and Doe, How the Supreme Court Unleashed Medical Killing dispels the idea that Blackmun wrote the decisions for women. Blackmun himself admitted and many commentators on both sides agree, Blackmun first had to remove the Hippocratic Oath as a standard for American law and for medical ethics.

Roe is not about women's rights. It was a direct assault on the culture and ethics of medicine. Until that date, no doctor in the United States could, or would intentionally kill a human being when they were most vulnerable, 'even if asked'. When in the womb is when humans are most vulnerable. Available now at pre-order discount! "This book explodes the false media narrative of Roe v Wade, and should be read by advocates on both sides of the issue. It will challenge your understanding of what has happened to our culture on January 22, 1973. It is NOT what the media tells you!" Andrea Seastrand, Member of Congress, ret.

Blackmun authorized individual doctors to use their personal opinions alone to perform abortions throughout pregnancy, even when there was no physical problem with either mother or child. This was explicitly licensed in Doe v Bolton, a decision the media is afraid to discuss.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg agreed with Johnston's analysis that the combined decisions actually focused not on women's rights but on freeing doctors to now be medical killers at their own discretion. In Roe, Blackmun actually dismissed a woman's authority or 'right' to make the decision (Roe @ 153). In Roe, the Court openly dismissed the feminist assertion that abortion is somehow about her, 'right to her own body' (Roe @ 154).

In July 2013 Justice Ginsburg told the Chicago Sun-Times that the combined decisions, both now simplistically referred to as "Roe," are, "about a doctor's freedom to practice his profession as he thinks best. It wasn't woman centered. It was physician centered."

But the popular media refuses to examine the implications and real facts of Roe v Wade. The popular press has lied, distorted and dissembled about Roe v Wade to the American public.

Even progressive legal scholars like Cass Sunstein, Laurence Tribe, Alan Dershowitz and others have publicly stated that Roe v Wade and Doe v Bolton ('the Roe regime') make no legal sense.

The media at large ignores these reports; it continues to repeat its own simplistic and distorted narrative.

Evil Twins - Roe and Doe:

How the Supreme Court Unleashed Medical Killing

is available on Amazon at Newregencypublishing and wherever fine books are sold.

More information

Brian Johnston 310 962-1131

SOURCE Brian Johnston
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- By now, your broker, IFA, portfolio manager or family office will have discussed sustainable investments with you, along with the motivations behind them. Not only do they fulfil fiduciary duties, they are likely to provide important environmental benefits. We are now moving from the idea of sustainable investing to a reality that has implications for all investment portfolios. Costa Rica Tourism Bonds has just tapped into this mega trend making this new investment available.

Costa Rica Tourism Bonds Costa Rica Tourism Bonds

Costa Rica Tourism Bonds announced the release of the first of several Sustainable Lifestyle Tourism Bonds in the country that blends a socially responsible investment with lifestyle rewards for a lifetime. These bonds provide benefits such as vacation stays and access to permanent residency offering a balance between a sustainable lifestyle and steady returns in some of Costa Rica's finest luxury resorts and developing enterprises. The purpose of these bonds is to build memories and reinforce relationships that last a lifetime while establishing long term value in a diversified portfolio. Invest where you play with the value being your annual return (which in most cases has an internal rate of return of 10% +) plus the added advantage of the vacation you can get!

Sustainable, responsible and impact investing (SRI) is an investment discipline that considers environmental, social and corporate governance criteria to generate long-term competitive financial returns and positive societal impact. According to Morningstar, 72% of U.S. investors have expressed interest in sustainable investing, and that number is on the rise.

"From January through November 2020, investors in mutual funds and ETFs invested $288 billion globally in sustainable assets, a 96% increase over the whole of 2019. I believe that this is the beginning of a long but rapidly accelerating transition  one that will unfold over many years and reshape asset prices of every type," Larry Fink, Blackrock Chairman and CEO

The world is changing and sustainability is here to stay as more and more investors are choosing to tilt their investments toward this trend. It's moving from a niche category to one that will define investing for future years. This change has been coming for a while now, and it's as assured as deaths and taxes.

"Sustainable investing provides a new, more comprehensive standard for investing that can potentially provide better outcomes for investors over the long-term," Richard Bexon Costa Rica Tourism Bonds

Whatever lifestyle change you may be contemplating, consider an investment with twofold results: a product that blends a lifestyle with an investment while helping sustainability grow successful tourism projects.

Don't want to miss out on this investment opportunity? Qualified investors are invited to participate in Costa Rica Tourism Bonds' first round with a limited number of available bonds. For more details or to request a prospectus please visit www.tourismbonds.com .

Media contact:

Jennifer Samaria

[email protected]

1-800-599-0330

SOURCE Costa Rica Tourism Bonds
BUSAN, South Korea, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The endosperm is the nutritional part of harvest cereals like rice; controlling the accumulation of starch during the final stages of endosperm development through genetic modification can improve crop nutrition and value. Scientists from Pusan National University, Korea, analyzed the genome of a rice plant mutant whose seeds contained no endosperm and an abnormally enlarged embryo. Their findings shed light on early rice embryo development and can lead to better rice crop yield and nutrition.

Their findings shed light on early rice embryo development and can lead to better rice crop yield and nutrition.

Agriculture, particularly that involving grains, has always been a steadfast pillar of civilization. Our current understanding of plant biology and genetics has helped us greatly improve the quality and yield of crops through various techniques, some of them focusing on the complex processes involved in seed development.

The seeds of most flowering plants have two distinct structures: the embryo and the endosperm. The embryo cells are created during fertilization, whereas the endosperm constitutes a structural and nutrient-rich body that protects and supports the embryo. The endosperm accounts for most of the nutritional value of the harvest in cereals like rice; many genetic studies focus on how to control the accumulation of starch during the final stages of endosperm development. On the other hand, not much is known about the genes that orchestrate early endosperm development in rice.

A team of scientists led by Assistant Professor Lae-Hyeon Cho (ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4514-4107) of Pusan National University, Korea, recently conducted a study to fill part of this knowledge gap. In their work, which was published in Plant Biotechnology Journal, the team analyzed the genome of a rice plant mutant whose seeds contained no endosperm and an abnormally enlarged embryo.

They identified a single mutation in the gene that codes for cytidine triphosphate synthase (CTPS), an enzyme that helps produce some of the building blocks of DNA and RNA. They also clarified the relationship between CTPS and the endosperm. It turns out CTPS forms macromolecular structures during the early stages of endosperm development, helping endosperm cells migrate within the seed. The mutant, having an altered form of CTPS, failed to produce this supporting structure, and thus its seeds ended up being endosperm-less.

Most notably, the scientists also showed that overexpression of CTPS in genetically modified rice plants results in a larger endosperm. This opens up an avenue for fine-tuning the size ratio between endosperm and embryo. "Controlling the embryo and endosperm size determines the quantity and quality of the seeds," explains Dr. Cho, "It is important to increase the size of the embryo in moderation while also increasing that of the endosperm."

Overall, the newfound insight provided by the research team could lead to more fruitful rice plantations. "Early seed development in rice ultimately determines the number of cells in the seed and is closely related to yield," highlights Dr. Cho, "Our study may pioneer the field of research on the early development of the endosperm and contribute to improving the quality of food crops in the future." Let us hope further progress in this field helps make food more accessible to the whole world!

Reference

Title of original paper: CTP synthase is essential for early endosperm development by regulating nuclei spacing

Journal: Plant Biotechnology Journal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.13644

About Pusan National University

Website: https://www.pusan.ac.kr/eng/Main.do

Contact:

Lae-Hyeon Cho

+82 51 350-5508

[email protected]

SOURCE Pusan National University
NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Barn Equity Partners ("Red Barn") a New York and Florida-based private investment firm, today announced it has made a majority investment in ReproTech Limited (the "Company" or "ReproTech"), one of the nation's leading companies specializing in long-term cryostorage and fertility preservation. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

A pioneer in dedicated reproductive storage with over 30 years of experience, ReproTech has perfected the art of making long-term cryostorage safe, secure, reliable and affordable. The Company offers a broad array of fertility preservation services coupled with industry-leading security, monitoring and protocols as well as facilities that are built to withstand the danger of natural disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires. ReproTech maintains four regional facilities throughout the United States and intends to strategically scale its footprint as a result of Red Barn's growth investment.

"ReproTech has long been an industry leader in long-term cryostorage and fertility preservation, and we believe the Company has a significant opportunity to further expand its business," said Luis A. Fernandez, Co-Founder and Partner, Red Barn Equity Partners. "We are looking forward to serving as a strategic capital partner to ReproTech and to partnering with Brent and his team to help the Company build upon its proven track record of safety and reliability."

In conjunction with Red Barn's investment, ReproTech's executive management team will continue to lead the business on a day-to-day basis. The Company's operating model of making reproductive cryostorage services available to patients with low fees, financial assistance for those who need it, and safety in shipping and security of storage will also remain unchanged.

"Red Barn's proven experience as a business and capital partner combined with the Company's existing leadership and expertise, is a logical next step in putting ReproTech on the right path for continued success," said Brent Hazelrigg, President and CEO of ReproTech. "We are looking forward to a strong partnership in the years to come."

About Red Barn Equity Partners

Red Barn Equity Partners is a New York and Florida-based private investment firm investing on behalf of family offices and high net worth individuals targeting lower middle market assets in the consumer, industrial, business services, and healthcare industries. The firm focuses on sub-segments characterized by fragmented competitive landscapes with strong secular growth characteristics. Red Barn provides long-term patient capital unconstrained by conventional alternative asset class timelines and seeks to transform sub-scale and underappreciated assets into national leaders and build first-class professional organizations through thoughtful investments in growth and execution. For more information, visit www.redbarnep.com.

About ReproTech Limited

ReproTech Limited specializes in long-term cryostorage and safe transportation of reproductive tissues. In 2020, ReproTech celebrated its 30-year anniversary as the cryostorage leader in the United States with four regional facilities located in the metropolitan areas of Minneapolis, MN; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Reno, NV; and Dallas/Fort Worth, TX. ReproTech's proven protocols, disaster safe rooms and 24/7 tank monitoring with data analysis and multilayered redundancies provide peace of mind to patients. ReproTech's Auto Transfer Management and Fertility Preservation Network Programs also offer economical offsite storage solutions to its fertility clinics and oncology centers. For more information, visit www.reprotech.com.

Media Contact: Mike Geller, Prosek Partners, [email protected] or 914-715-8901

SOURCE Red Barn Equity Partners

Related Links

http://www.redbarnep.com


SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- After a year of beta testing, a new app called Regimen has publicly launched as the world's first holistic digital therapy for treating erectile dysfunction which affects an estimated 150 million people worldwide.

Regimen Co-Founder and Managing Director Max Kersting

Conceived by co-founder Max Kersting, the subscription-based Regimen app goes beyond medication to address the primary causes of ED it provides personalized daily recommended treatments ranging from pelvic floor exercises, cardiovascular training, mindfulness, education, and more; and uses an AI-driven approach to personalize its programs in real time, with regular reassessment cycles.

In August 2021, Regimen raised $2.25m in a seed round led by Ringier Digital Ventures; and the subscription-based Regimen app has been gaining attention from global healthcare organizations like the NHS as a more sustainable way of treating patients with ED than drug therapy or in-person visits alone. Regimen is currently part of the DigitalHealth.London Accelerator program, and is working towards the goal of making Regimen part of every healthcare journey for patients with erectile dysfunction in the UK, USA, and worldwide. The app was recently CE-certified as a medical device in Europe, and is poised to serve as a revolutionary answer to brands positioning ED medication as the be-all-end-all when it comes to treatment of ED.

Regimen co-founder and managing director Max Kersting said: "Over the last year, we've been able to demonstrate the demand for, and effectiveness of, holistic therapy for erectile dysfunction, which is one of the most common intimate health issues worldwide. Interestingly, some of the most innovative healthcare players from all over the world have approached us regarding Regimen's potential to not only treat ED but also to reduce the risk of adjacent conditions linked to ED, since our programming tackles the underlying causes of erectile dysfunction in a personalized way, instead of focusing on medication alone.

"With this round of investment, we will be able to further personalize the program to each client's needs through AI, strengthen our scientific leadership position and evidence base, co-create models with established healthcare organizations, and ultimately bring Regimen to those in need, all over the world."

Jenny Thomas, Programme Director for the DigitalHealth.London Accelerator, said: "DigitalHealth.London's Accelerator programme supports companies that offer novel solutions for the NHS's biggest challenges. Erectile dysfunction is a key predictor for severe health issues that are part of the long-term strategy of the NHS, including cardiovascular and mental health. Tackling the underlying factors of erectile dysfunction can not only improve erections, but also has the potential to prevent severe health events. We are proud to support Regimen as part of the Accelerator programme, as a company that is addressing the most intimate health issues of the male population with holistic, personalized health and self-care programs  starting with erectile dysfunction."

The idea for creating Regimen was inspired by co-founder and managing director Max Kersting's own health journey in his twenties, when he was only able to overcome his severe erectile dysfunction through a combination of personalized, holistic and integrated treatment modalities after medication, injections, and even surgery had failed. Kersting created Regimen with his two co-founders, medical director Dr. Wolf Beecken, a urologist and andrologist, and technical director Wilko Kunert; alongside a board of leading scientists, researchers and doctors worldwide. Kersting's goal in creating Regimen was to make the same quality of personalized, holistic, and integrated care he received in his twenties, available to all those who need it.

David Hug, investment advisor of Ringier Digital Ventures, said: "The market for digital holistic men's health is underserved. We believe especially topics that are very personal and sensitive like ED can be addressed extremely well with digital products. The Regimen team has proven with the KPI's that their approach works and is appreciated by customers. We are very delighted to take the next steps with Max and his team."

About Regimen:

The Regimen app is available for download on Android and iOS devices through the Apple App Store or Google Play. $95 for a six-month subscription. To learn more, visit: https://joinregimen.com/.

SOURCE Regimen
CHICAGO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With more than 1.5 million copies in print, Dr. Marc Weissbluth's step-by-step regimen for instituting beneficial habits within the framework of your child's natural sleep cycles has long been the standard-setter in baby sleep books. Now with a new introduction and quick-start guide to getting your child to sleep, HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS, HAPPY CHILD (on sale 8/24), a Ballantine Books Trade Paperback, has been restructured to give today's parents the information they need quickly and succinctly. This new edition also includes the very latest research on the importance of:

Renowned Childrens Sleep Expert Dr. Marc Weissbluth, M.D. releases 5th edition of the long-time acclaimed HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS, HAPPY CHILD

implementing bedtime routines

practicing parental presence at bedtime

recognizing drowsy signs

the role of the father as an active partner in helping the child sleep better

overcoming challenges families face to help their child sleep better

different cultural sleep habits from around the world

individualized and nonjudgmental approaches to sleep training

"One of the most important things we can do for our kids is to establish healthy sleep habits," said Dr. Weissbluth. "With the pandemic disrupting every part of our family's 'normal' routines, it's important for parents to learn the importance of sleep for children and how to create healthy habits so their kids have a solid foundation to not only get through each day, but so they can thrive."

Sleep is vital to your child's health, growth, and development. The fifth edition of HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS, HEALTHY CHILD gives parents proven strategies to ensure healthy, high-quality sleep for children at every age.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A pediatrician for forty years, Marc Weissbluth, M.D., is also a leading researcher on sleep and children. He founded the original Sleep Disorders Center at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital in 1985 and is a professor of clinical pediatrics at Northwestern University School of Medicine.

PUBLICITY CONTACTS :

Daria Martorana / JConnelly, Inc. / [email protected]

Courtney Mocklow / Ballantine Books / [email protected]

SOURCE Dr. Marc Weissbluth
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the National Restaurant Association and its state restaurant association partners sent a letter to Congressional leadership, sharing concerning new consumer confidence survey findings and urging swift replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).

The survey found that a majority of consumers have already changed their dining behavior, which is beginning to put acute pressure back on the restaurant industry. This faltering consumer confidence comes on top of food and labor costs that are increasing at their fastest pace in several years, continued indoor capacity limits in 11 states, and crushing long-term debt loads for countless restaurant owners.

Specifically, the survey found:

6 in 10 adults changed their restaurant use due to the rise in the delta variant.

19% of adults have stopped going out to restaurants,

9% have cancelled existing plans to go out to a restaurant in recent weeks.

37% have ordered takeout or delivery instead of going out to a restaurant,

19% have chosen to sit outside instead of inside when going out to a restaurant.

"For an industry that requires a 'full house' every evening to make a profit, this is a dangerous trend," said Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association. "These changes indicate declining consumer confidence that will make it more difficult for most restaurant owners to maintain their delicate financial stability."

The letter urges Congress to complete the mission of the RRF and provide adequate funds to replenish the program and offer relief for the applications still pending.

"The rise of coronavirus variants like delta threaten to push these restaurants closer to permanently closing their doors," added Kennedy. The RRF has proven its effectiveness in every state, saving restaurants, workers, and the suppliers who depend on their business. The small gains that our industry has made toward financial security are in danger of being wiped out, dashing the hopes of communities, entrepreneurs, and consumers nationwide."

177,000 RRF applications that totaled $43.6 billion in grants are still pending.

While the first half of 2021 showed positive gains for the industry, there is still a long road ahead, especially for fullservice restaurants facing the greatest threat from new government restrictions in response to the delta variant.

Read the full letter here.

###

About the National Restaurant Association

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 15.6 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We sponsor the industry's largest trade show (National Restaurant Association Show); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart). For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.

Contact: Vanessa Sink

Media Relations Director

[email protected]

SOURCE National Restaurant Association

Related Links

https://restaurant.org/Home


SAN DIEGO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Coming off the Aug. 7 BeerX music festival in Mission Beach, Golden States Greens is looking to keep momentum when it comes to getting out into the San Diego community and sharing its message with consumers to "Enjoy the Experience."

A trusted partner within the cannabis space, the Point Loma-based dispensary has community involvement embedded in its culture.

Golden State Greens

"What we want is to create an inclusionary approach with our marketing and our brand," said Chief Marketing Officer Alex Leon. "Cannabis is for pretty much everyone, which means we've got to always be mindful about education. For us, it's a simple message of embracing people as humans and not treating them as data points."

Golden State Greens has been involved in the community since its inception in a variety of ways including school supply and food drives, community cleanups and fundraisers.

"We want the community to know that we're a brand they can count on, not just for cannabis but as a business that always has their back," Leon said. "As major players in the local cannabis industry, it's important that others see our hearts and know that we genuinely care about the general health of the people in our community and what they're going through."

The Cannabis You Can Trust brand hopes to be viewed as altruistic in its motives to help others whether it's raising money or awareness for a particular cause because these attributes are consistent within its brand principles.

"For us, it's always been about trying to better our surroundings and participate in any we can to improve the environment and community in a way that gives them a feeling of support," Leon said.

Golden States Greens is hosting an end-of-summer beach cleanup in partnership with Purpose First on Aug. 28 that starts on the boardwalk, south of the Pacific Beach pier, at 11 a.m.

"We're getting together as volunteers and encouraging everyone to come out and participate in beautifying the beaches that we all know and love," Leon said. "We grew up with it and respect it so we want to take care of it."

Golden State Greens will pass out $25-off vouchers that must be used that day and will be handed out at the end of the walk to anyone who comes out to help.

"This community cleanup is something that's necessary and we want to get people excited about it."

In addition, the beach-centric brand is hosting a food drive in November. "It's a great honor to support the community as well as local charities that are plugged into helping out the people in need," Leon said. "We're looking forward to having people come out to our events and participate with us in giving back."

For more information about upcoming events, call (844) 420-8387 or visit the company's website at https://goldenstategreens.com/.

Related Images

image1.jpg

SOURCE Golden State Greens
DALLAS, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Seven attorneys with Cobb Martinez Woodward PLLC have been honored with inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America publication for 2022. The prestigious legal guide recognizes those attorneys in eight challenging areas of legal practice.

The firm's Best Lawyers honorees are:

Bill Cobb , for his work representing defendants in Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Litigation - Defendants, Professional Malpractice Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

, for his work representing defendants in Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Litigation - Defendants, Professional Malpractice Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Carrie Johnson Phaneuf , for her work in Professional Malpractice Litigation - Defendants

, for her work in Professional Malpractice Litigation - Defendants Daniel D. Tostrud , in the practice area of Professional Malpractice Litigation - Defendants

, in the practice area of Professional Malpractice Litigation - Defendants Lindsey K. Wyrick , in the category of Legal Malpractice Litigation - Defendants

Adding to these distinctions, Mr. Cobb is recognized as Lawyer of the Year in North Texas for Product Liability Defense, while Mr. Tostrud was named Lawyer of the Year for North Texas for the representation of defendants in Professional Malpractice Litigation.

Three firm attorneys have been honored on the Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch" list for exhibiting professional excellence early in their legal careers. Typically, this list includes recipients who have been in practice less than 10 years.

This year's "Ones to Watch" honorees for the firm are:

Matthew E. Last , in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Real Estate Litigation

, in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Real Estate Litigation Jennifer Smiley , in the practice areas of Labor and Employment Law  Management and Professional Malpractice Litigation

, in the practice areas of Labor and Employment Law  Management and Professional Malpractice Litigation Andrew S. Willard , for the representation of defendants in Construction Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Recognition by Best Lawyers is based on a sophisticated peer-review survey process designed to capture the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographic region and legal practice area.

Consistently recognized among the top trial lawyers in Texas by their peers, the attorneys of Cobb Martinez Woodward are focused on the representation of a wide range of clients in litigation. For more information, please visit www.cobbmartinez.com.

Media Contact:

Barry Pound

800-559-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE Cobb Martinez Woodward

Related Links

https://www.cobbmartinez.com


MOSCOW, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dervish  80 exhibition, which marks the anniversary of the arrival of the first Soviet convoy in the capital of Pomorye, was solemnly opened today at Sheremetyevo International Airport. The exhibition was organized by the Russian Military History Society and Sheremetyevo Airport with the support of the governor and the government of Arkhangelsk Region.

Scientific Director of the RMHS M.Y. Myagkov, Minister of Culture for Arkhangelsk Region O.S. Svetlova, President of the Pomorye Community in Moscow, Russian Senator V.F. Novozhilov, member of the Presidium of the Veterans' Council for the Northern Fleet Rear Admiral A.G. Vinnik participated in the event.

The 80th anniversary of the arrival of the first Dervish convoy in Arkhangelsk is a landmark event, which is intended to preserve the historical memory of the exploits of the Great Patriotic War heroes who participated in the Arctic crossings.

On August 31, 1941, the first six foreign ships arrived in Arkhangelsk and delivered aid to our country from our allies: 3,800 depth bombs and magnetic mines, 15 Hawker Hurricane fighters, fuel, clothing, and equipment. The first caravan operation was codenamed Dervish, which later became the beginning of an unprecedented military campaign that lasted more than four years

The exhibition features unique photographs from the photo archives of the Central Naval Museum and the Severodvinsk History Museum, including the meeting of the ships of the American squadron in 1941, the arrival of the British destroyer and submarine in Murmansk in 1942, the minesweeper Gremyashchy and the ceremony of the transfer of British submarines to the USSR.

Among the remarkable features of the exhibition are portraits of Soviet members of the convoys, the crew of the British cruiser Devonshire, sailors rescued from the sunken ships, and American, British and Soviet officers in Murmansk during the Victory Parade of May 13, 1945.

The exhibition is located in the departures area of Terminal D (3rd floor) and is open until mid-September 2021. The photo exhibition dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Dervish is also open in the Moscow art park Museon on Krymskaya embankment of the Northern Dvina River in Arkhangelsk, as well as in Severodvinsk and Murmansk.

SOURCE Sheremetyevo International Airport
BALTIMORE, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SIMPLi, the ingredients brand delivering ethically-sourced food for a better world, announced today it has secured an initial seed round of funding that will catapult its next stage of growth. The investment will allow the company to strengthen its national presence for B2B relations through additional organizational support and marketing initiatives that hone collaborations and partnerships. The funds will also enable recruitment to its best-in-class team and allow them to scale their operations, sales, and marketing departments.

"We see a tremendous opportunity to boost consumer confidence in our global food supply chain, while improving the environment through regenerative agriculture practices and supporting the livelihoods of the farmers and communities we work with," said Sarela Herrada, co-founder of SIMPLi. "We're thrilled to have incredible investors who believe that our brand is changing the food industry for the better."

SIMPLi is the first-of-its-kind ingredient company committed to improving international supply chain transparency and traceability, and supplying nutrient-dense, delicious products to consumers at a competitive price. The seed funding round was led by the Abell Foundation that invests in promising Baltimore-based companies that offer attractive returns and environmental and social benefits, with additional backing by like-minded companies and impactful investors including Seth Goldman, co-founder of Eat the Change and Honest Tea, and Chair of the Board of Beyond Meat. Since its launch in early 2020, the company is on track to increase its year-over-year revenue by six times.

"Consumers, restaurants and retailers are demanding more transparency of where their foods come from and how they are grown," said Seth Goldman. "I am proud to support the SIMPLi team, who are not only working to set the highest standard when it comes to food and supply chain integrity, but also providing people with delicious, nutritious and climate-friendly foods."

On the heels of its funding, SIMPLi has also announced its partnership with Whole Foods Markets. Starting today, SIMPLi's regenerative organic red, white and tri-colored quinoa products will be available in 49 Whole Foods locations across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Kentucky, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Its expansion into Whole Foods is the company's latest venture to drive long-term market demand of existing farmers, and expand the SIMPLi footprint and market accessibility opportunities to additional grains, oils, spices and beans from producing communities in Peru, Greece and other SIMPLi supplying countries.

SIMPLi has developed partnerships with national brands like Daily Harvest , sweetgreen , and &pizza , among others, becoming their go-to wholesaler partner to source and deliver them the highest quality international ingredients for their customers. In addition to its Whole Foods debut, SIMPLi is currently available at 100+ brick and mortar stores in the Mid-Atlantic region and various e-commerce platforms including Patagonia Provisions. The launch with Whole Foods serves as an introduction to large scale retail partnership opportunities to further share the SIMPLi mission, and to share SIMPLi's story of fighting fraudulent food activity, the values of regenerative agriculture, and accessibility to nutrient dense crops to consumers across the nation.

"Our partnership with Whole Foods is an exciting amplification of our work to bring the best, sustainably sourced ingredients from around the world to kitchens everywhere," said co-founder Matt Cohen. "Expanding our national footprint with such a prominent partner affirms the success of our business in less than two years since our launch."

For more information on SIMPLi and their product assortment, please visit www.simpligood.co or follow @simpligood on Instagram.

About SIMPLi

Founded in 2020 by Sarela Herrada and Matt Cohen, SIMPLi is an ethically-sourced ingredients company with a larger mission of tackling a fraudulent international supply chain. SIMPLi works directly with the growing communities in Peru, Greece and other countries to bypass all the middle parties to bring single origin, nutrient-dense ingredients straight to your kitchen. With SIMPLi, you know where your food comes from and the communities behind it. SIMPLi brings communities together with food that is simpli good. For more information visit www.simpligood.co

SOURCE SIMPLi
PHOENIX, Ariz., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING) provides updates on previously announced spin off of 1606 Corp. On March 26, 2021 the Company announced the spin-off of its subsidiary 1606 Corp. through a stock distribution to shareholders on a 1:1 basis. As part of the ongoing strategic review, SinglePoint is evaluating potential future spin-off opportunities in order to focus the business on its core renewable energy and sustainability strategic priorities.

"We believe we are in the right place at the right time and through the solid execution of our strategic priorities, we will drive shareholder value. We believe we can also create additional value through future spin-offs of non-core assets. We have matured each of the companies into viable businesses that will continue to grow and flourish as separate entities from SinglePoint. We have established a roadmap for our non-core assets as it gives these entities an avenue to continue operations and scale, provides shareholders additional equity in a new company and enables SinglePoint management to focus on our ultimate mission of becoming a leader in the renewable energy and clean-living sector," stated Wil Ralston CEO SinglePoint Inc.

On August 18, 2021, 1606 Corp. filed its registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). To access the registration statement, please click the following link: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001877461/000147793221005733/onesix_s1.htm.

Following SEC review and approval, 1606 Corp. is expected to file the proper documentation to obtain a ticker symbol and commence trading. There is no further action required by any shareholder at this time.

"This is an exciting time for 1606 Corp and represents an important step forward in the process towards commencing trading. We look forward to continue to provide updates on the process as they become available from 1606," added Mr. Ralston.

SinglePoint management is currently developing additional information on the subsidiary companies, upcoming performance and future looking developments. Management continues to check off multiple initiatives set up to improve the fundamentals and visibility of SinglePoint in the public markets as well as for its subsidiary businesses.

About SinglePoint Inc.

SinglePoint Inc. is a renewable energy and sustainable lifestyle company focused on providing environmentally friendly energy efficiencies and healthy living solutions. SinglePoint is initially focused on building the largest network of renewable energy solutions and modernizing the traditional solar and energy storage model. The Company is also actively exploring future growth opportunities in air purification, electric vehicle charging, solar as a subscription service, and additional energy efficiencies and appliances that enhance sustainability and a healthier life. For more information, visit the Company's website (www.singlepoint.com) and connect on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential plans and objectives of the Company, the use of proceeds, anticipated growth and future expansion, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Investor Contact:

JTC Team, LLC

Jenene Thomas

833-475-8247

[email protected]

SOURCE SinglePoint Inc.

Related Links

singlepoint.com


BOZEMAN, Mont., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a bold leadership move to increase safety and reduce emissions, the nation's largest gas distribution utility, Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), recently signed an agreement for $12 million with high-tech laser company, Bridger Photonics, Inc. (Bridger). The company is using Bridger's Gas Mapping LiDAR to detect, pinpoint, and quantify methane emissions throughout SoCalGas's distribution area. While the EPA estimates that the distribution sector accounts for 6% of the oil & gas industry emissions, methane, the primary constituent in natural gas, is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas on short time scales.

SoCalGas's mission is to be the cleanest, safest, and most innovative energy company in America. The company currently serves over 21 million consumers with nearly 5.9 million meters of natural gas pipeline in more than 500 communities.

While SoCalGas already monitors its service area each year with foot patrols, consistently exceeding regulatory requirements, the company has chosen to proactively scan the remaining 80% each year using Gas Mapping LiDAR to further improve safety and reduce emissions. Helicopters equipped with LiDAR sensors will fly over SoCalGas's distribution area to scan for methane emissions. After each day's scan, Bridger will provide SoCalGas a digital map that shows gas plume images, pinpoints the leak source with GPS coordinates and quantifies the detected methane emissions. SoCalGas will use this information to dispatch appropriate crews straight to the emissions source to resolve the problem.

"Using this new technology is another way we are working to meet our commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2045," said Gina Orozco, vice president of gas engineering and system integrity at SoCalGas. "This technology provides us with a critical early detection system that can help us mitigate leaks more quickly, while we also move to use more lower and zero-carbon fuels to increasingly decarbonize our pipeline system."

Dr. Pete Roos, CEO and co-founder of Bridger adds, "We are so proud and excited to support SoCalGas's leadership in improving safety and reducing emissions with Gas Mapping LiDAR."

About Bridger Photonics: Located in Bozeman, Montana, Bridger Photonics provides precision LiDAR solutions that help oil and gas and manufacturing companies improve the safety and efficiency of their operations. Bridger developed Gas Mapping LiDAR with funding from the US Department of Energy's advanced research arm, ARPA-E, and won an R&D100 award for Gas Mapping LiDAR in 2019, which recognized the top 100 innovations worldwide in that year.



Press Contact: Tessa Wuertz at 406.585.2774 or [email protected]

SOURCE Bridger Photonics, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.bridgerphotonics.com


Recently, Webb made her way onto the U.S. charts with 6 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and sold out every date in the U.K. and Dublin on her first-ever tour. She was also included on BBC Radio 1's 2021 Brit List, named one of Apple Music's latest Up Next UK artists, and featured as the musical guest on The Ellen Show.

Mimi Webb said, "I'm thrilled to join the Sony Music Publishing family. I have been writing songs since such a young age, so having the opportunity to work with the best team in the business is a dream come true."

Tim Major, Co-Managing Director, Sony Music Publishing UK said, "Mimi is without doubt a very special artist and songwriter and the speed with which her music has connected with her ever growing audience has truly underlined that. She has a huge future ahead of her and we are very proud that she has chosen Sony Music Publishing to be part of her already incredible team."

Sony Music Publishing Senior A&R Manager Saul Fitton said, "Mimi is a truly amazing talent, a real superstar. She is extremely driven, with a brilliant team surrounding her. We're all incredibly excited to be working with Mimi, and to support her in her ever-growing success!"



At the top of 2020, Webb's career skyrocketed with the release of her debut single "Before I Go," which garnered 17 million Spotify streams and dominated TikTok with 85.7million views, 13.7M likes, 304.2K comments, and 132K shares. She maintained this momentum with "I'll Break My Heart Again" and "Reasons," unveiling a darker, edgy sound.



Webb's 2021 breakout song "Good Without" continued her winning momentum  in under a month, the track eclipsed over 20 million streams and reached the official UK Top 10 Singles Charts as it climbed the charts across Europe. Additionally, the single was recently certified Gold in the U.K. and simultaneously occupied spots in the Top 20 on the UK Singles Chart with her popular follow-up track "Dumb Love."





SOURCE Sony Music Publishing
LONDON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard Chartered PLC (the "Company") has today announced the early results of its previously announced invitation to holders (the "Securityholders") of its US$2,000,000,000 Fixed Rate Resetting Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securities (ISIN: US853254BA77 (Rule 144A) / USG84228CQ91 (Regulation S)) (CUSIP: 853254 BA7 (Rule 144A) / G84228 CQ9 (Regulation S)) (the "Securities") to tender up to US$1,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Securities (the "Maximum Tender Acceptance Amount") for repurchase by the Company for cash (such invitation, the "Offer") subject to certain offer restrictions as contained in the section "Offer and Distribution Restrictions" of the Tender Offer Memorandum dated 10 August 2021 (the "Tender Offer Memorandum"). The Offer is made on the terms of and subject to the conditions contained in the Tender Offer Memorandum, including the Maximum Tender Acceptance Amount and satisfaction or waiver of the Financing Condition, copies of which may be obtained by eligible holders from the Information and Tender Agent, Morrow Sodali Limited. Capitalised terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Tender Offer Memorandum.

The Company has satisfied the Financing Condition for the Offer by its successful offering of US$1,500,000,000 Fixed Rate Resetting Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securities, which was completed on 19 August 2021.

As at 5:00 p.m. New York City time (10:00 p.m. London time) on 23 August 2021 (the "Early Tender Deadline"), US$995,705,000 aggregate principal amount of the Securities was validly tendered and not validly withdrawn (the "Principal Amount Tendered") pursuant to the Offer.

The table below sets out the principal amount of Securities the Company has accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer.

Description of the Securities ISIN / CUSIP Outstanding principal amount(1) Maximum Tender Acceptance Amount Principal Amount Tendered(2) Principal Amount Accepted Early Tender Premium (for each Integral Multiple in principal amount) Repurchase Price (for each Integral Multiple in principal amount) US$2,000,000,000 Fixed Rate Resetting Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securities ISIN: US853254BA77 (Rule 144A) / USG84228CQ91 (Regulation S) CUSIP: 853254 BA7 (Rule 144A) / G84228 CQ9 (Regulation S) US$2,000,000,000 US$1,250,000,000 US$995,705,000 US$995,705,000 US$41.00 per US$1,000 US$1,000 per US$1,000

(1) As at the commencement of the Offer.

(2) As at the Early Tender Deadline, as reported by the Tender Agent.

Payment for Securities validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Deadline and accepted for purchase by the Company pursuant to the Offer will be made promptly on the Early Tender Settlement Date, which is expected to occur on 25 August 2021.

Securityholders whose Securities have been validly tendered and accepted for purchase will be entitled to receive the early tender premium of US$41.00 per US$1,000 principal amount of Securities in respect of any Securities accepted by the Company for repurchase pursuant to the Offer (the "Early Tender Premium"), in addition to the repurchase price of US$1,000 per US$1,000 in principal amount (the "Repurchase Price") and Accrued Interest.

In accordance with the terms of the Offer, Tender Instructions submitted after the Early Tender Deadline are irrevocable. As a result, tendered Securities may no longer be withdrawn, except in certain limited circumstances where additional withdrawal rights are required by law (as determined by the Company).

The Offer is scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m. New York City time (10:00 p.m. London time) on 7 September 2021, and Securityholders who tender their Securities after the Early Tender Deadline up to this deadline will be eligible to receive the Repurchase Price only.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Securityholders may access the Tender Offer Memorandum (as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum) at https://bonds.morrowsodali.com/sc.

For further information, please contact:

THE DEALER MANAGERS

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway, 29th Floor

New York, NY 10036

For information by telephone: +1 866 718 1649 / +44 20 7677 5040Attention: Liability ManagementEmail: [email protected] / [email protected]

and

Standard Chartered Bank

One Basinghall Avenue

London EC2V 5DD

For information by telephone: +1 212 667 0351 / +44 (0)20 7885 5739 / +852 852 3983 8658 / +65 65578286

Attention: Liability Management

Email: [email protected]

Requests for information in relation to the procedures for tendering Securities in, and for any documents or materials relating to, the Offer should be directed to:

THE INFORMATION AND TENDER AGENT

Morrow Sodali Limited

In London:

103 Wigmore Street W1U 1QS London United Kingdom Telephone: +44 20 4513 6933 In Stamford:

470 West Ave., Suite 3000, Stamford, CT 06902 United States Telephone: +1 203 609 4910 In Hong Kong:

Unit 23-016, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central Hong Kong Telephone: +852 2319 4130

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://bonds.morrowsodali.com/sc

DISCLAIMER

This announcement must be read in conjunction with the Tender Offer Memorandum. The Tender Offer Memorandum contains important information which must be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Offer described in this announcement. If any holder of Securities is in any doubt as to the action it should take, it is recommended to seek its own legal, tax and financial advice, including as to any tax consequences, from its stockbroker, bank manager, counsel, accountant or other independent financial adviser. Any holder of Securities whose Securities are held on its behalf by a broker, dealer, bank, custodian, trust company or other nominee must contact such entity if it wishes to participate in the Offer. None of the Company, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Standard Chartered Bank, Morrow Sodali Limited or any of their respective affiliates, makes any recommendation as to whether or not any holder of Securities should tender Securities held by them pursuant to the Offer.

No offer to purchase any Securities is being made pursuant to this announcement. Neither this announcement nor the Tender Offer Memorandum constitutes an offer to purchase in any jurisdiction in which, or to or from any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such offer under applicable securities laws and tenders of securities pursuant to the Offer will not be accepted from holders thereof in any jurisdiction where such invitation or tender is unlawful.

The distribution of this announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law.

Persons into whose possession this announcement and/or the Tender Offer Memorandum comes are required to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.

Offer Restrictions

United Kingdom

The communication of this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum and any other documents or materials relating to the Offer is not being made and such documents and/or materials have not been approved by an authorised person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom, and are only for circulation to persons outside the United Kingdom or to persons within the United Kingdom falling within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order")), or within Article 43(2) of the Order, or within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or to other persons to whom they may lawfully be communicated in accordance with the Order.

Belgium

Neither this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum nor any other documents or materials relating to the Offer have been or will be notified to, and neither this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum nor any other documents or materials relating to the Offer have been or will be approved by, the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (Autoriteit voor financiele diensten en markten / Autorite des services et marches financiers) and, accordingly, the Offer may not be made in Belgium by way of a public offering, as defined in Articles 3 and 6 of the Belgian Law of 1 April 2007 on public takeover bids as amended (the "Belgian Takeover Law"). The Offer is conducted exclusively under applicable private placement exemptions. Accordingly, the Offer may not be advertised and the Offer will not be extended, and neither this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum nor any other documents or materials relating to the Offer (including any memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar documents) has been or shall be distributed or made available, directly or indirectly, to any person in Belgium other than "qualified investors" in the sense of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended (the "Prospectus Regulation") and (ii) in any circumstances set out in Article 6, 4 of the Belgian Takeover Law. Insofar as Belgium is concerned, this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum has been issued only for the personal use of the above qualified investors and exclusively for the purpose of the Offer. Accordingly, the information contained in this announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum may not be used for any other purpose or disclosed to any other person in Belgium.

Canada

Any offer or solicitation in Canada must be made through a dealer that is appropriately registered under the laws of the applicable province or territory of Canada, or pursuant to an exemption from that requirement. Where one of the Dealer Managers or any affiliate thereof is a registered dealer or able to rely on an exemption from the requirement to be registered in such jurisdiction, the Offer shall be deemed to be made by such Dealer Manager, or such affiliate, on behalf of the Company in that jurisdiction.

France

This announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum and any other document or material relating to the Offer have only been and shall only be distributed in France to qualified investors as defined in Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation. This announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum have not been and will not be submitted for clearance to nor approved by the Autorite des Marches Financiers.

Italy

None of the Offer, this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum or any other documents or materials relating to the Offer have been or will be submitted to the clearance procedures of the Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa ("CONSOB") pursuant to Italian laws and regulations.

The Offer is being carried out in the Republic of Italy ("Italy") as an exempted offer pursuant to article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998, as amended (the "Financial Services Act") and article 35-bis, paragraph 3 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as amended (the "Issuers' Regulation").

Accordingly, the Offer is only addressed to holders of Securities located in Italy who are "qualified investors" (investitori qualificati) as defined pursuant to and within the meaning of Article 100 of the Financial Services Act and article 34-ter, letter b) of the Issuers' Regulation.

Securityholders or beneficial owners of the Securities that are located in Italy may tender their Securities in the Offer through authorised persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of 15 February 2018, as amended from time to time, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993, as amended) and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or with requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority.

Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis-a-vis its clients in connection with the Securities and/or the Offer.

Switzerland

Neither this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Securities constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to article 35 et seqq. of the Swiss Federal Financial Service Act ("FinSA"), or a prospectus which was understood pursuant to article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations (as in effect prior to the entry into force of the FinSA).

Neither this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Securities have been, or will be, filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority.

Neither this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Securities may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland. This announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum is personal to the recipient only and not for general circulation in Switzerland.

General

This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or a solicitation of an offer to sell Securities, and tenders of Securities in the Offer will not be accepted from Securityholders, in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws require an Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer and a Dealer Manager or its affiliate is such a licensed broker or dealer in such jurisdictions, the Offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of the Company by such Dealer Manager or such affiliate, as the case may be, and no Offer is made in any such jurisdiction where the relevant Dealer Manager or its affiliate is not so licensed or appropriately registered.

SOURCE Standard Chartered PLC
NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Starboard Value LP (together with its affiliates, "Starboard" or "we"), one of the largest stockholders of Box, Inc. ("Box" or the "Company") (NYSE: BOX), with an ownership stake of approximately 8.6% of the Company's outstanding shares, today commented on the report issued by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. ("ISS"), a leading independent proxy voting advisory firm, in connection with the Company's upcoming 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting").

Peter Feld, Managing Member of Starboard Value LP, responded to the ISS report, stating, "We are pleased that ISS recognizes the positive impact Starboard has had at Box since our involvement began two years ago and that many of the recent changes would likely not have occurred without our continued pressure. We are also gratified that ISS shares our concerns with the Company's recent unnecessary financings, particularly with respect to the serious governance issues surrounding the KKR-led preferred equity financing.

Clearly, the pressure from common stockholders is working, and now is not the time to remove that pressure. The current Board needs greater independence and common stockholder representation in light of a poor track record of execution, highly questionable recent decisions regarding capital allocation, and serious issues with executive compensation practices. The election of our highly-qualified nominees is critical to ensure that Box makes decisions that are in the best interests of common stockholders. As we have repeatedly stated, both publicly and privately to Box, our nominees are committed to working with the Board and management team to make the right decisions to create long-term value for the benefit of all stockholders.

We are thankful for the recognition that our involvement has catalyzed the positive changes at Box over the past two years, and we continue to believe there is a significant opportunity for value creation. Our nominees are highly-qualified, truly independent, with relevant experience and strong diversity. We appreciate the support from stockholders who have already voted for Starboard's nominees on the WHITE proxy card and urge all of our fellow stockholders to vote for a better path forward at Box on the WHITE proxy card TODAY."

Excerpts from ISS' Analysis & Recommendation 1

On Recognizing that Starboard Has Been a Key Driver of Positive Change at Box, "Both on the Governance and the Operational Side":

"The dissident has been a long-term shareholder, and its interactions with and pressure on the company have clearly been beneficial ."

"The dissident deserves significant credit for the changes that have taken place since it reached a settlement with the company in March 2020, and the share price performance since the settlement, as well as since the dissident's renewed campaign, likely reflects the positive impact of the dissident's involvement . There are lingering issues, particularly on the governance side, which may contribute to shareholders' concerns about the recent financings ."

"Despite the recent positive changes, the board's poor track record of implementing governance best practices since the IPO has likely contributed to the low levels of support for directors over the past few years. Some of the most significant and positive changes were made only after the dissident's involvement and the board continues to embrace a classified structure. This reluctance to proactively embrace good governance absent pressure from a major shareholder may contribute to shareholders' skepticism about some of the board's decisions, such as the recent financings ."

"The dissident deserves significant credit for the changes that have taken place since the settlement, both on the governance and the operational side ."

On Box's Questionable Financings and the Governance Concerning KKR Syndicated Deal:

"The company may be demonstrating progress, but the corpus of decisions made over the past year is not entirely without controversy. For instance, many of the governance concerns raised by the dissident about the terms of the $500 million financing and KKR's involvement appear valid . The initial agreement required the convert investors to vote in accordance with the board's recommendation; the requirement was later removed after a lawsuit had been filed by a shareholder. In addition, KKR's endorsement is arguably diluted by the fact that it syndicated approximately 71 percent of the offering. The revelation that KKR syndicated the convert underscores the concerns that shareholders have about the voting requirements and the need for this financing, and undermine the company's argument that it has brought in KKR as a strategic partner . Some of these issues likely resonate with shareholders because of the company's governance track record prior to the dissident's involvement."

" The board's explanation for both of these capital raises leaves some questions unanswered [....] However, the cumulative $845 million capital raise for a company which already had $225 million in net cash, an expectation of significant cash generation, and no history or stated strategy of significant M&A remains a head scratcher ."

On Box's History of Poor Performance:

"The company's TSR underperformance in every period from the IPO through the March 2020 settlement date, as well disappointing operational performance and shareholder-unfriendly corporate governance , made a strong case for change at the time of the dissident's initial involvement."

"As the table below indicates, BOX delivered negative TSR and meaningfully underperformed its proxy peers, as well as Dropbox and Open Text, during the three years prior to the unaffected date and from the IPO through the un-affected date ."

"It seems reasonable to assume that the changes brought about since the 2020 settlement were overdue ; it appears likewise reasonable, given the company's poor returns since its IPO, that the dissident should not be expected to have endless patience ."

On Box's Poor Governance Track Record and ISS' Recommendation that Stockholders Withhold Votes on the Election of Dana Evan:

"In an uncontested election, given that the classified board structure has not been removed (and is not subject to a sunset provision), support would not be warranted for all incumbent governance committee members. However, due to the classified board structure of the company, only one member of the governance committee is standing for reelection: Dana Evan ."

" The lingering governance issues, as well as incumbent director Dana Evan's longstanding presence on the board, which had a poor governance track record prior to the dissident's involvement , inform our decision not to override the policy-based recommendation to withhold votes on E van ."

STARBOARD URGES ALL STOCKHOLDERS TO VOTE FOR THE MOST QUALIFIED SLATE OF DIRECTORS TO DRIVE MUCH NEEDED CHANGE AT BOX

RESTORE AND ENHANCE THE VALUE OF YOUR BOX INVESTMENT

PLEASE SIGN, DATE, AND MAIL THE WHITE PROXY CARD TODAY

Starboard's publicly filed investor materials can be accessed at www.shareholdersforbox.com .

If you have any questions, require assistance in voting your WHITE proxy card, or need additional copies of Starboard's proxy materials, please contact Okapi Partners LLC, which is assisting Starboard, at the phone numbers or email listed below.

Okapi Partners LLC

1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor

New York, New York 10036

Stockholders may call toll-free: (855) 208-8901

Banks and brokers call: (212) 297-0720

E-mail: [email protected]

About Starboard Value LP

Starboard Value LP is a New York-based investment adviser with a focused and differentiated fundamental approach to investing primarily in publicly traded U.S. companies. Starboard seeks to invest in deeply undervalued companies and actively engage with management teams and boards of directors to identify and execute on opportunities to unlock value for the benefit of all shareholders.

Investor contacts:

[email protected]

www.starboardvalue.com

Okapi Partners

Bruce H. Goldfarb/Patrick McHugh

(855) 208-8901

1 Permission to quote from the ISS report was neither sought nor obtained. Emphases added.

SOURCE Starboard Value LP

Related Links

https://www.starboardvalue.com/


CHICAGO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A first-of-its-kind, cross-sectional survey of patients, caregivers and physicians on the diagnosis and treatment of brain metastases, conducted by the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA), as part of its Metastatic Brain Tumor Initiative, revealed disparities in practice patterns and communication around metastatic brain tumors. These data highlight the need to increase accessibility to clinical trials, establish clear standards of care and improve physician-patient communication reflective of the unique needs of patients with brain metastases (BM). The survey results have been published open access in the journal Neuro-Oncology Practice.

Survey data overwhelmingly revealed the critical need to increase accessibility and availability to clinical trials by both academic and private practice physicians. More than half of the physicians surveyed indicated more clinical trials are needed. Participation in a clinical trial was among the least recommended treatment options. In addition, the majority of academic (72%) and private practice (59%) physicians reported that one or more of their patients was denied participation in clinical trials, specifically due to the presence of BM.

"It is critical that patients with brain metastases have more clinical trial options," said one of the study's last authors, Priscilla Brastianos, M.D., associate professor of medicine and director of the CNS Metastasis Center at Mass General Cancer Center. "Historically, patients with a brain metastasis have been excluded from clinical trials. Expanding eligibility across all clinical trial phases is essential to discovering effective treatments for this population."

Survey data also identified disparities in recommended treatment options among private practice and academic physicians. Data suggests private practice physicians (61%) compared to academic physicians (40%) are significantly more likely to recommend whole brain radiation (WBRT). Academic physicians (56%) are also more likely to recommend cognitive-sparing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). While WBRT was the gold standard for BM for several decades, many oncologists have recently eschewed WBRT in favor of SRS for BM, due to the risk of neurotoxicity and the lack of improvement in quality of life or overall survival with WBRT.

Possible rationale for the discrepancy in treatment recommendations may be an outcome of how physicians approach them. Survey data shows academic physicians were more likely to consider clinical research and treatment toxicity in their decision-making process, whereas private practice physicians were more concerned about treating neurologic symptoms.

The survey also revealed a disparity in the perceived discussion of topics pertaining to BM. For example, only 48% of patients said they were informed of symptoms to be aware of, but 80% of physicians responded that they discussed this topic with their patients.

"While treatment and care of patients with brain metastases presents unique challenges for the physician and patient, this survey sheds some light on interventions needed to address the complex and unique needs of this patient population," said Nicole Willmarth, PhD, chief mission officer of the ABTA and author of the study. "Through the ABTA Metastatic Brain Tumor Initiative, it is our intent to collaborate with the medical oncology and brain tumor communities to better address these unmet needs and help deliver better outcomes for this patient population."

Survey Methodology

This cross-sectional online survey of patients, caregivers and physicians, conducted online by Penn, Schoen, and Berland (PSB) on behalf of the ABTA, analyzed approximately 200 responses from each cohort. The patient and caregiver survey was conducted August 13-September 16, 2018 and the physician survey was conducted June 16-25, 2019. Surveyed patients were adults diagnosed with brain metastases, caregivers providing support to a patient with brain metastases, and physicians providing direct clinical care to patients diagnosed with BM.

About the Metastatic Brain Tumor Initiative

Metastatic brain tumors are the most common type of brain tumors in adults. Current estimates suggest approximately 50,000 to 150,000 adults are diagnosed annually in the U.S. Unfortunately, the average prognosis has historically been in the order of a few months. Lung, breast, melanoma, kidney, and colon cancers are the most common primary cancers leading to brain metastases.

As the leader of brain tumor education, support services and research, the ABTA created the Metastatic Brain Tumor Initiative to inform, support and empower patients diagnosed with a metastatic brain tumor. Partner organizations include the Kidney Cancer Association, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, LUNGevity Foundation, Melanoma Research Foundation, and the Society for Neuro-Oncology.

About the American Brain Tumor Association

Founded in 1973, the American Brain Tumor Association provides comprehensive resources to support the complex needs of brain tumor patients and caregivers, across all ages and tumor types, as well as the critical funding of research in the pursuit of breakthroughs in brain tumor diagnoses, treatments and care. To learn more, visit abta.org or call 800-886-ABTA (2282).

SOURCE American Brain Tumor Association

Related Links

http://www.abta.org


JAKARTA, Indonesia, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Equipped with Techking custom-made new type tires, 200 HINO heavy-duty trucks recently came into service for one client in Indonesia. This is the largest order to the Techking Indonesia rep office since its establishment, demonstrating that the localization strategy adopted by Techking and its Indonesia rep office has enhanced client base and recognition in less than one year.

Established in November 2020, Techking Indonesia is the first rep office, a milestone in the execution of localization strategy further to the Techking Australia branch. With advantages in localized technology, distribution chains, and services, Techking is capable to win the favor of more clients. To this end, the Indonesia rep office is supposed to meet the goal of implementing localization closer to consumers and achieving a growth rate of 80% in the first year.

Since its establishment, the rep office has expanded its operation rapidly and implemented a localization strategy based on the Company's Three-lever Business Model. Development managers are responsible for local client demand researches and work with the HQ on tailored R&D; account managers focus on product management and moving down the distribution chain closer to consumers; foreign service engineers target product post-sales services and field services. To local partners, Techking also acts as a sincere collaborator and works closely with them by listening to customers and exploring solutions in the joint efforts.

With the implementation of localization, the Indonesia rep office has dramatically enhanced its market insights, distribution channel planning, product R&D, business development, program operation, and so on, and achieved performance ahead of expectations. The rep office lead Friedrich Wang explained: "The sales revenue in the first six months has already equaled to that in the whole year of 2020. We initially set the growth rate to 80%. Now we adjust to 100% and more ambitiously to 120%."

To guarantee the three-year compound growth rate of 40%, Techking VP Raymond Zhang said: "(The Company) will conduct planning, management and performance review for the Indonesia rep office from four perspectives, i.e. 'base-focused, high quality, sustainable, and risk controlling'. We will also prioritize capability building and provide full support to the Indonesia rep office for the completion of its goal."

SOURCE Techking Tires Limited

Related Links

techking.com


Established in 2018, this $100,000 grant award is given out annually to a coalition or collaborative in a rural, frontier, or tribal area that has demonstrated success in improving emergency and prehospital care with a focus on addressing inequity. It seeks to further the legacy of Jeff Leighton, a key advisor to the CARESTAR Foundation during the early days of the organization's development.

This year's grantee, Neighbors Together for Good (NTFG), was selected for its community-centered, rapid, collaborative response during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2020, when the state-wide coronavirus shelter-in-place order was announced, True North Organizing Network immediately recognized that responding to the needs of the most vulnerable members of the community was going to require a grassroots, multi-agency approach. The Del Norte County and tribal lands (DNATL), largely comprised of undocumented Latinx immigrants, Native residents, and a small Asian American Pacific Islander community, is a federally designated Medically Underserved Area in the far northwest corner of California. Once True North Organizing Network contacted the Del Norte Senior Center and the Del Norte Office of Emergency Services, Neighbors Together for Good was created and had volunteers immediately start conducting wellness checks and providing emergency food and medication to those in need.

"Programs like this are critically important to connect services to those who need them. Finding volunteers is always a challenge, but more so during the pandemic. A program that connects volunteers to community needs is a key to successfully supporting our community," said Charlaine Mazzei, Executive Director, Del Norte Senior Center.

"Neighbors Together for Good played a critical role, filling gaps in our emergency response system and supporting our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), during a time of unprecedented need," said Kymmie Scott, Del Nore County Emergency Services Manager. "It is truly a unique and innovative partnership model and one that we are incredibly proud to be a part of."

Throughout 2020, members of the coalition continued to offer a coordinated, county-wide safety net for seniors and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), setting up a hotline and door-to-door outreach for essential services, organizing a phone banking needs assessment survey, and providing regular check-ins with isolated community members. As work continued, the group realized that they were laying the foundation for what could become a stable, community-wide emergency response network with critical stakeholders ready to respond to future needs.

"The early COVID response network set up by Neighbors Together for Good has evolved into a strong regional partnership that continues to provide relief to communities in Humboldt and Del Norte County and tribal lands in the face of several emergencies that continue today," said Terry Supahan, Executive Director of True North. "We are honored to receive this award and are grateful to CARESTAR and the Leighton family for recognizing the unique challenges that rural, frontier, and tribal communities face during times of crisis. This award will provide key funding and help us to continue to improve our public information work, including vital vaccine outreach in the coming months."

"We are so pleased to award the 2021 Leighton Memorial Grant Award to Neighbors Together for Good for all they have done to support their local community during a time of such uncertainty and need," said Tanir Ami, chief executive officer of the CARESTAR Foundation. "Particularly impressive was the coalition's ability to pool resources and expertise from key stakeholders ranging from nonprofits, local government, community leaders, and neighborhood volunteers to serve a population that we know has been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The fact that this work has led to a formal development of the region's local emergency response capabilities really made them stand out with the selection committee."

An expert in the areas of non-profit foundation development, operations, finance, and investment management, Jeff Leighton was instrumental in helping CARESTAR incorporate as an organization. His illness and subsequent death during this process led the Board of Directors to establish the Leighton Memorial Grant Award to recognize Leighton's outstanding contributions to the CARESTAR Foundation, and to support regions that often find themselves without critical medical care for residents, something Leighton and his family experienced during his own health struggles.

About the CARESTAR Foundation

The CARESTAR Foundation was founded in 2017 as a result of the sale of CALSTAR (California Shock Trauma Air Rescue), an air ambulance company, and honors CALSTAR'S legacy and lifesaving work in the field of emergency and trauma transport and care. CARESTAR's mission is to improve health outcomes for all Californians, by applying a racial equity lens to fund and advocate for improvements to our emergency response system. www.carestarfoundation.org

Contact:

Linda Wendel, Communications Director

The CARESTAR Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE CARESTAR Foundation

Related Links

carestarfoundation.org


Employees want to understand how they impact the bigger picture and what they can do to accomplish their career goals. Tweet this

"People are a company's most important asset, and the cost of turnover is high. Managers need to prioritize visibility for employees on their career progression, as well as provide the mentorship and tools to help them move forward, to ensure they're retaining their best talent," said Lattice CEO, Jack Altman.

The survey found that the job hunt is not only widespread but an immediate priority, with 17% of respondents looking to move into a new job as soon as possible. There are currently more than 127 million full-time employees in the United States which equates to 21 million people currently exploring opportunities. That's roughly 13 cities the population size of Manhattan all looking to change jobs. This unprecedented shift began in May when more than 3.6 million people quit their jobs -- officially becoming 'The Great Resignation.'

The survey also looked into the reasons employees felt like their careers had stalled. Some highlights include: 24% of those surveyed said a lack of mentorship, 21% said a lack of clarity about a career path and tools to track and get there, and 16% said that a decrease in facetime/one-on-one meetings with their supervisors was a key reason they felt career stagnation.

The youngest Americans are by far the most likely to change careers because of stalled careers. 38% of Gen Z workers said they are looking for jobs with greater transparency around job path and development, and 26% of Millennials are looking for new jobs, which is more than three times that of Baby Boomers.

About Lattice:

Lattice is the people management platform that enables people leaders to develop engaged, high-performing teams. By combining continuous performance management, employee engagement, development, and growth in one solution, HR and People teams get powerful, real-time analytics that leads to actionable insights turning managers into leaders, employees into high-performers, and companies into the best places to work. Based in San Francisco, Lattice serves over 3,000 customers including Slack, Cruise, and Reddit, and was ranked on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list two years in a row. Learn more about Lattice by visiting: www.lattice.com .

In Fall 2020, Lattice launched Grow, a new career development product within the Lattice platform that provides transparency to employees' career journeys by surfacing advancement paths and actionable development plans while providing managers with trackable data insights. To learn more about Grow, visit: https://lattice.com/grow .

About the Research

The research was conducted by Censuswide, surveyed 2,012 employees in the US medium to large companies (100+ employees) over 6 days ending on July 20, 2021. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles.

SOURCE Lattice

Related Links

http://www.lattice.com


"We started The Raw Botanics Co. with a mission of producing quality natural products that help people heal and a vision of becoming a steward of transparency and consumer advocacy," said co-founder Brendan Smith. "Joining the Stop Censoring CBD coalition is a continuation of that mission and vision, and we look forward to working with our peers to improve industry standards and let the FDA know that it's past time to create a clear regulatory framework to ensure CBD products are created and marketed responsibly by all."

The CTIA is a trade organization that monitors U.S. content related to sex, hate, alcohol, firearms and tobacco (collectively known as SHAFT). The organization recently added CBD to the list, effectively preventing the industry from using SMS messaging to advertise CBD products. The Stop Censoring CBD campaign is designed to educate consumers while building a coalition of advocates to support passage of federal legislation that sets clear FDA guidelines governing hemp-derived CBD. CBD was removed from the federal government's controlled substances list in 2018, but specific regulations protecting consumers and companies, including clear guidelines on safety and communications, have not yet been created.



Joining Raw Botanics as founding members of the Stop Censoring CBD campaign include: Apothecanna, Cann, Empyri, ENUF Period, Fleur Marche, Foria, Fruit Slabs, Hivi, Juna, Looni, Miss Grass, Muri Lelu, Onda, Papa and Barkley, Plant People, Prima, Quim, Recess, Svn Space, Sweet Reason and Vertly.



The Raw Botanics Co. combines hemp-derived minor cannabinoids (CBD, CBN, CBC and CBG) with synergistic adaptogens such as ashwagandha, functional healing mushrooms and terpenes. Their four pillars: RISE, RELAX, REST and RESTORE offer benefit-based products for all needs. Raw Botanics products are engineered and formulated by top board-certified physicians in the industry. The company was founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic by San Diego entrepreneurs Les Kollegian and Brendan Smith to deliver products made from 100% real ingredients, with no synthetic, artificial, cheap, misleading or ineffective additives.



The company works with a nationally recognized San Diego research lab and an award-winning organic hemp farm in Kentucky to ensure the best raw materials, the cleanest extractions and the most advanced benefit-based formulas on the market. Raw Botanics' commitment to scientific research and natural ingredients set it apart from competitors in the space. The company uses no artificial flavors or sweeteners and is THC free. Its founders are committed to consumer advocacy, taking a bold stance against the use of cheap synthetic additives that many CBD companies use and consumers don't yet understand.



"There are a lot of unsavory characters and ineffective CBD products on the market," said co-founder Les Kollegian. "That's not us. We don't hide our ingredients. We want you to know exactly what you're putting in your body and how it can help you. We give honest, educated guidance, without the nonsense. By joining the Stop Censoring CBD campaign we hope to elevate the voices like ours, of the good actors in the industry who are creating high quality products and communicating effectively to their customers exactly what's inside them."



"Consumers are being duped by brands selling CBD products that use cheap, less effective and sometimes dangerous ingredients," explains Kollegian. "We don't mind playing the role of industry disruptor and look forward to continuing to play an active role in helping clean up the industry and educating consumers about the healthy use of CBD and the unhealthy effects of additives that many companies use to support their claims."



Sign the petition here.



About The Raw Botanics Co.

Founded in 2020, Raw Botanics unlocks the amazing power of the hemp plant by combining extracts with traditional herbs and botanicals in a product line that uses 100% natural ingredients. The product line comes in tincture (oil) form or softgels, and topicals. Raw Botanics goes beyond CBD by utilizing the entire spectrum of the hemp plant, while excluding any intoxicating properties like THC. Taking a scientific approach to formulation, the company uses nanotechnology to combine benefit- based minor cannabinoids, custom terpenes, functional mushrooms, and botanical adaptogens. They are one the first and very few hemp companies to offer products that extract the exotic minor cannabinoids CBN, CBG, and CBC and then pair each individual cannabinoid with synergistic terpenes, leading to an enhanced entourage effect targeted to very specific needs.



This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.



SOURCE The Raw Botanics Co.
LONDON, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TPBank, one of the most established financial institutions in Vietnam, has won both "Best Customer Service Banking Brand, Vietnam 2021" and "Best Mobile Banking Application, Vietnam 2021". The felicitation ceremony will be held at the Palm Jumeirah  Waldorf Astoria in early 2022 in Dubai.

The Global Brand Awards is an annual event held by Global Brands Magazine (GBM), an international publication headquartered in the UK. The award aims to recognise global brands achieving excellence in performance across a broad range of sectors while keeping its readers updated on key trends surrounding the branding world. TPBank was evaluated based on customer service, satisfaction, digital innovation, strategic relationships and new business development.

Commenting on TPBank winning the awards, Jay Reddy (Director) of Global Brands magazine, said, "TPBank very deservedly has been allocated two distinct awards on this occasion, not only for its continued excellence in customer service but also for its exemplar mobile application, both of which outshine competitors from the region. Having only been established in 2008, TPBank has shown tremendous achievements compared to even its most established competitors that have existed decades longer. We at GBM proudly allocate them these prestigious awards."

Commenting on winning the award, Nguyen Hung (CEO) said, "I'm very honoured to receive the Best Customer Service Banking Brand, Vietnam 2021 and Best Mobile Banking Application, Vietnam 2021. I'd first like to express my gratitude to Global Brand Magazines for recognising the efforts we've made to TPBank over the years."

"For many consecutive years, TPBank has continuously launched the most modern technologies that update the most prominent trends in the market, especially in mobile banking. In 2020, It was also the first bank to successfully implement eKYC on Mobile App, allowing customers to open an Account with only 5 seconds of identification. TPBank Mobile Digital Banking App reached the Top 1 of most downloaded banking and finance apps in Vietnam for consecutive weeks. Customer service quality is also something that TPBank always cares about and improves every day, so that customers always have the best experience at TPBank. TPBank will always strive every day for new and better values. Thank you so much," he said.

About TPBank

TPBank is a Vietnamese bank that was established in 2008. TPBank combines and harnesses the technological prowess of its shareholders, including DOJI Gold and Gems Group, FPT Corporation, MobiFone Corporation, Vietnam National Reinsurance and SBI Ven Holding Pte. Ltd, Singapore.

About Global Brands Magazine (England)

Global Brands Magazine (GBM) has been at the forefront, bringing news, views and opinions on brands shaping the future of their industry. The UK-based magazine provides its readers with the latest news and information on 'best-in-class brands across the globe. Each year, GBM develops a series of awards for companies that stood out, having a unique vision, exceptional service, innovative solutions and consumer-centric products among their industry leaders.

About Global Brand Awards

Global Brand Awards honours brands for their excellence in performance and rewards companies across different sectors for the quality of their services. The Brand Awards highlight accomplishments of organisations that have performed remarkably well in finance, education, hospitality, automotive, lifestyle, education, real estate, technology and several more. Global Brand Awards recognise vital players who progress towards excellence by providing a platform to acknowledge their efforts. In addition, GBM strives to create awareness concerning the significance of such organisations and rewards them for their notable efforts with the ultimate global recognition.

SOURCE Global Brands Publications Limited
SEATTLE, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TransWest, a leading tech-enabled mobility services operator, today announced the addition of three key new executives: Christie Perrott as Vice President, Marketing & Communications; Andrew Glass Hastings as Vice President, Strategic Partnerships; and Janet Zimmermann as Vice President, People & Culture. The three positions are set to prepare the company for its next stage of growth.

TransWest announced the addition of three new hires: Christie Perrott as Vice President, Marketing & Communications; Andrew Glass Hastings as Vice President, Strategic Partnerships; and Janet Zimmermann as Vice President, People & Culture.

The appointments continue to strengthen TransWest's leadership team. Over the last two years, the company added key leaders with Russell Nickel, Chief Financial Officer; Stephanie Cook, Vice President, Operations; and Justin Pate as Chief Revenue Officer.

In addition to helping move commuters, workforces, residents, and students via shared mobility solutions, the company has played a critical role during COVID, working with corporate clients including Expedia and T-Mobile to use passenger vehicles for on-demand food transportation to local communities, delivering over 1.2 million meals to families in need. Additionally, TransWest played key roles in vaccine distribution and access to BIPOC communities, transport and logistics support of front-line workers, and early-on transportation of manufacturing workers to boost the production of personal protective equipment (PPE). Now, the company is helping its clients prepare to return to their offices.

"We've been rapidly growing amidst a very challenging operating environment," said Andrew Janison, founder and CEO of TransWest. "We stepped up for the community and our clients when they needed us. Now, they're relying on us to find innovative mobility solutions to get their employees back to their buildings and campuses safely and quickly."

As the company prepares for continued rapid growth and scale, key hires were required to grow its talent, lines of business, and geographic footprint.

Perrott joins TransWest from moovel, a global provider of multi-modal mobility solutions, where she served as Chief Marketing Officer for North America carving out a global category leadership position in the emerging mobility-as-a-service market. Prior to moovel, Perrott was instrumental in creating disruptive growth for environmental, health, and safety Software-as-a-Service provider SafeTec, where she served as Chief Marketing Officer. Perrott was influential in achieving market transformation for the NW Energy Star program and has launched myriad marque technology products for companies including Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, AT&T, and Facebook. "I've spent my career at the convergence of technology and sustainability and am incredibly excited to join the TransWest team as we embark on defining the next generation of urban mobility solutions," stated Perrott.

Glass Hastings brings extensive transportation experience from both the public and private sectors. He previously worked for the City of Seattle where he led some of the region's biggest transportation initiatives and worked in close partnership with King County Metro and private mobility providers to expand mobility options and achieve one of the best commute mode splits in the country. More recently as a founding member of the policy team at the civic-tech start-up Remix, he worked in partnership with cities and transit agencies around the country to develop better systems to manage mobility. He comes to TransWest most recently from the urban mobility planning and design firm CDM Smith where he managed strategy and client relationships. "Joining TransWest is an incredible opportunity to continue to help cities and employers manage mobility by providing more options for travelers to leave their personal cars at home and rely on climate-friendly and multi-modal mobility options. We will lead by working with our clients and partners to reimagine urban mobility solutions," stated Glass Hastings.

Zimmermann comes from Amazon where she held multiple roles in her four-year tenure including as the HR leader for North America Consumer business and the Prime Video team. Prior to Amazon, Zimmermann held HR leadership roles at Philips Healthcare, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems. At Microsoft, Zimmermann led HR for Xbox during high growth leading to the successful Xbox One launch. This followed previous roles as the GM of HR for Windows and leading several teams within the compensation and performance management function. Throughout her career, Zimmermann has specialized in working closely with business leaders to develop their talent management strategy and the people practices that power their businesses and culture. "I'm energized by the opportunities and growth ahead for TransWest and humbled to join such a talented team that is dedicated to client service, our core values, and our people," stated Zimmermann.

"We've built a successful model for operating mobility services at scale. Now, we're ready to aggressively scale nationally," explains Janison. The new appointments will join Russell Nickel, Stephanie Cook, and Justin Pate.

Russell Nickel joined TransWest in April 2020 with nearly 25 years of experience as a finance and operations leader. Nickel, who started his career as a CPA in public accounting, has spent most of his career focusing on building scalable foundations and teams to support high-growth businesses. Before joining TransWest in 2020, Nickel had spent the previous six years as Chief Financial Officer of the rapidly growing consumer products company Funko. During his tenure as CFO at Funko, he helped guide the company through an explosive period of growth from $35 million in revenues to over $800 million, helping to oversee multiple capital raises, four acquisitions, and an IPO in 2017.

Stephanie Cook, a well-respected operator, change agent and team builder, joined TransWest in June 2020 from Lyft where she was Head of Driver Service Operations, enabling the success of 800+ field team members across North America. She joined Lyft in 2015 as the founding field operations leader for the Pacific Northwest. Cook was instrumental in growing the Seattle market to a national leadership position and pioneered in-person driver support by launching the first Lyft Hub. Prior to joining Lyft, Cook spent 10 years leading operations learning and development functions to build capacity to scale at Amazon, PACCAR, and AAA Washington. Cook is drawn to mission-driven organizations that address the needs of vulnerable communities and contribute to a more sustainable planet. She currently serves as Vice President, Operations for TransWest.

Justin Pate joined TransWest in January 2021 from First Transit where he led the business development, strategy and marketing efforts globally for First Transit's $1.4 billion business including transit, shared autonomous vehicles (SAV), mobility-as-a-service, fleet vehicle services and emerging markets growth. Before his role at FirstGroup, he served as Vice President of Business Development at MV Transportation. Pate quickly earned a reputation as a forward-thinking innovator with a keen eye on creative partnerships and product offerings. Prior to entering the mobility space, Justin honed his vast customer service and experience skills while serving in a variety of roles at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

Perrott, Glass Hastings, and Zimmermann will join Nickel and Cook based in TransWest's Seattle office.

Pate is based in Dallas, Texas.

About TransWest:

TransWest drives business forward through integrated and sustainable transportation management solutions. TransWest manages end-to-end mobility operations for some of the world's leading brands including charter and shuttle operations, parking management, sourcing and leasing, valet services and logistics, fleet holding and executive chauffeur and car services, special events, and program management. TransWest is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. For more information, please visit www.TransWestCo.com.

Contact:

[email protected]

Phone: 206.607.8851

Related Images

transwest-fills-key-leadership.png

TransWest Fills Key Leadership Roles

TransWest announced the addition of three new hires: Christie Perrott as Vice President, Marketing & Communications; Andrew Glass Hastings as Vice President, Strategic Partnerships; and Janet Zimmermann as Vice President, People & Culture.

SOURCE TransWest
SOMERSET, N.J., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- VCTI, the broadband and network technology experts, today announced that it had achieved 53% in customer growth in the first half of 2021, in addition to seeing an expansion of services delivered within all strategic accounts. The United States' commitment to expanding broadband access has fueled demand for VCTI's broadband products and services. Additionally, the Company also has numerous achievements in product innovation, partnerships, and leadership.

In efforts to address the country's digital divide, U.S. federal and state governments are approving funding to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities at unprecedented rates. As a result, broadband service providers are scrambling to clearly understand technology options and the financial implications of those options to prioritize infrastructure and investment opportunities.

"Our new Broadband Investment Optimization Service has been embraced by service providers for the rich, actionable insights it delivers to help them build highly efficient and effective network build-out plans in a market environment where customer demand, government programs, new technology, and new competitors are all moving at an incredibly fast pace," said Raj Singh, President, and CEO of VCTI. "The speed and differentiated services that our teams are delivering are setting us ahead of the competition."

As part of this momentum, VCTI has achieved several major milestones in the first half of 2021, including:

Outstanding Business Performance: VCTI reports a 53% increase in new customers in the first half of 2021. The new customers include GeoLinks, the fastest growing telecommunications company in California, and Etheric Networks, the leading provider of wireless internet service in the California Bay Area, and a national cable service provider. The Company also reported 100% customer retention.

New Product Innovation

VCTI's introduced its new Broadband Investment Optimization Service, which helps broadband service providers accelerate their process for identifying underserved communities and then analyzing, quantifying, prioritizing, and optimizing expansion opportunities. The speed and accuracy of the service offer a data-driven foundation to strengthen collaboration with local governments for public/private partnerships.

Growing Software Services Practice: VCTI software services continue to be embraced by existing customers. The Company's consistently high quality, on-time, on-budget delivery of projects has enabled it to expand service engagements within its existing customer base as well as attract new customers. VCTI specializes in network technologies and has expanded its Kubernetes skills base to support the re-architecting of complex hardware to migrate to the cloud. The Company is at the forefront of supporting the next generation of telecom infrastructure in the cloud.

ServiceNow Partnership Expanded: VCTI's NOCVue Service Activator, which dramatically improves broadband service provisioning, activation, and subscriber management, has been certified in the ServiceNow store. Service providers can now simplify and streamline operations by converging the ITSM and broadband activation onto the Now Platform, enabling unified control of a multi-vendor access network. A key enabler of the automation is discovering and verifying active elements in the access network. Additionally, VCTI is now a member of the ServiceNow Services Partner Program module, which enables VCTI to deliver implementations for the Now Platform, which may include consulting, outsourcing, subcontracting, or custom application development.

New Board Member: To support its growth, VCTI strengthened its advisory board with the appointment of telecom industry veteran Brent Williams, a seasoned operational and engineering leader.

VCTI Careers

VCTI is currently hiring to support its growth and expects to expand its employee base by 40% in 2021. More details on careers at VCTI can be found at https://vcti.io/join-us/.

About VCTI

VCTI is a world-class leader in network technology. VCTI provides expert technical resources to help technology companies develop complex networked and cloud products. The Company also offers software solutions and services to enable broadband service providers to optimize investments for network evolution, simplify operations, and strengthen their path to digital transformation. A trusted partner to the most respected and innovative broadband service providers and technology companies globally, VCTI is a privately held, global company headquartered in the U.S. with offices in India. Learn more at www.vcti.io

SOURCE VCTI
CAMARILLO, Calif., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- To help with ongoing drought issues across California, VGRID Energy Systems is launching their M100 Bioservers and biochar to be part of the solution. California wildfires are rapidly growing  and The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection are desperate to find ways to reduce the impact of wildfires. Much of the region is facing extreme drought conditions and heat waves that have set record temperatures, making California unprepared for another explosive fire season.

"Last year, California wildfires emitted 112M metric tons of CO 2 . That is equivalent to 25M vehicles," said Greg Campbell, CEO of VGRID. "To put that in perspective, there were only 1.7M electric vehicles sold worldwide last year."

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently called for $2B to reduce wildfire threats. The two implementations Newsom has set is to cut new fire brakes and thin out overgrown forests by removing dead and dying trees that have become tinder from massive blazes. With these new measures, experts worry they still don't have the proper firefighting and land management resources to adequately fight worsening blazes. VGRID will have an incredible impact on finding the solution to help with these drought solutions in California.

VGRID's Bioservers converts biomass, such as dead trees, into clean renewable electricity and forms biochar. These energy savers run on various types of biomass and agricultural waste to generate electricity and co-produce agricultural grade biochar to be used as a soil amendment for farmers, which will be a valuable resource for finding drought solutions in California. The biochar soil amendment helps rebuild the soil's ability to retain water and nutrients and stop them from diffusing away from the plant. The result is less irrigation water required for crops and orchards while improving the soil's health to increase plant growth. Water conservation and soil health have major roles to play to successfully combat climate change.

VGRID is addressing climate change with technology that enables both avoided emissions and carbon sequestration to directly help in decarbonizing both electricity production and agriculture. VGRID's renewable heat can be used for district heating, water heating or industrial processes, while the biochar is used for soil, water filtration and biomaterials. With this approach, dead trees or agricultural waste won't be burned or put the captured CO 2 back into the atmosphere, which will help slow the warming of our planet.

About VGRID Energy Systems

VGRID Energy Systems, Inc. is focused on innovating new solutions in renewable energy. The company delivers breakthrough technology to California Central Valley farmers to reduce their crippling water irrigation bills and to help rebuild their farm soil for long-term sustainability. The company conducts research and development, prototype fabrication of electronics, and complex electromechanical systems with ongoing testing and refinement. VGRID has approximately 60,000 square feet of laboratories, machine shops, fabrication facilities, and testing facilities in Camarillo, California. For more information, please visit https://vgridenergy.com/.

Contacts:

Ariana Richard  The GCMG Agency

818.667.6051

Sydney Nassiri  The GCMG Agency

805.796.1602

SOURCE VGRID Energy Systems
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin Orbit has selected Redwire, a leader in mission critical space solutions and high reliability components for the next generation space economy, to provide state-of-the-art digital engineering solutions that will support multi-mission planning through systematic analysis and advanced modeling and dynamic mission simulation. This critical capability will enhance Virgin Orbit's end-to-end responsive space service offering.

"Redwire is extremely proud to support Virgin Orbit with our state-of-the-art ACORN Digital Engineering software suite and other critical technologies," said Peter Cannito, Chairman and CEO of Redwire. "These solutions significantly enhance their ability to rapidly design, develop and deploy space capabilities anywhere in the world."

"We are excited about the partnership with Redwire and how combining our capabilities will build and enhance our current and future ability to serve our growing markets," said Dan Hart, President and CEO of Virgin Orbit.

Redwire recently announced the debut of its Hyperion Operational Space Simulation Laboratory (HOSS)a first-of-its-kind digital engineering environment that leverages the company's full suite of digital engineering capabilities, including software- and hardware-in-the-loop configurations, to enable next generation space architectures and solutions, such as advanced artificial intelligence, machine learning and cyber technologies. HOSS enables collaboration with government and commercial partners such as Virgin Orbit to rapidly design, develop, deploy, operate and maintain mission critical space capabilities.

About Redwire

Redwire is a leader in mission critical space solutions and high reliability components for the next generation space economy, with valuable IP for solar power generation and in-space 3D printing and manufacturing. With decades of flight heritage combined with the agile and innovative culture of a commercial space platform, Redwire is uniquely positioned to assist its customers in solving the complex challenges of future space missions. For more information, please visit www.redwirespace.com.

About Virgin Orbit

Virgin Orbit provides dedicated, responsive, and affordable launch services for small satellites. Virgin Orbit is developing LauncherOne, a flexible launch service for commercial and government-built satellites. LauncherOne rockets are designed and manufactured in Long Beach, California, and will be air-launched from a modified 747-400 carrier aircraft capable of operating from many locations in order to best serve each customer's needs. Virgin Orbit's systems are currently in an advanced stage of testing, with initial orbital launches expected soon. To learn more or to apply to join Virgin Orbit's talented and growing team, visit virginorbit.com.

Media contacts

For Redwire

Austin Jordan

[email protected]

321-536-8632

For Virgin Orbit

[email protected]

Forward Looking Statements

This document includes "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "forecast," "intend," "seek," "target," "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," "outlook," and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Such forward looking statements with respect to revenues, earnings, performance, strategies, prospects and other aspects of the businesses of Genesis Park Acquisition Corp., Redwire or the combined company after completion of the Business Combination are based on current expectations that are subject to risks and uncertainties.

A number of factors could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those indicated by such forward looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement governing the proposed business combination; (2) the inability to complete the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement due to the failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. or other conditions to closing in the merger agreement; (3) the ability to meet NYSE's listing standards following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement; (4) the risk that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations of Redwire as a result of the announcement and consummation of the transactions described herein; (5) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; (6) costs related to the proposed business combination; (7) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (8) the possibility that Redwire may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (9) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. and Redwire undertake no commitment to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Additional Information

In connection with the proposed business combination between Redwire and Genesis Park Acquisition Corp., Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. filed with the SEC a definitive proxy statement / prospectus on August 11, 2021 and is mailing the definitive proxy statement / prospectus and other relevant documentation to Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. shareholders. This document does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed business combination. It is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect to the proposed business combination. Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read the definitive proxy statement / prospectus in connection with Genesis Park Acquisition Corp.'s solicitation of proxies for the special meeting to be held to approve the transactions contemplated by the proposed business combination because these materials will contain important information about Redwire, Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. and the proposed business combination. The definitive proxy statement / prospectus is being mailed to Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. shareholders as of August 2, 2021, the record date established for voting on the proposed business combination.

Shareholders are also able to obtain a copy of the definitive proxy statement / prospectus, without charge, at the SEC's website at http://sec.gov or by directing a written request to Genesis Park Acquisition Corp., 2000 Edwards Street, Suite B, Houston, Texas 77007.

This document shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination.

Participants in the Solicitation

Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. and its directors and officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination.

Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. shareholders and other interested persons may obtain, without charge, more detailed information regarding the directors and officers of Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. in Genesis Park Acquisition Corp.'s prospectus relating to its initial public offering filed with the SEC on November 24, 2020. Redwire and its directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. in connection with the Business Combination.

Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination is set forth in the definitive proxy statement / prospectus for the transaction. Additional information regarding the interests of participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction is included in the definitive proxy statement / prospectus Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. filed with the SEC.

SOURCE Redwire

Related Links

https://redwirespace.com


ROCHESTER, Minn., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vyriad, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing oncolytic virus therapies to treat a wide range of cancers, today announced the appointment of leading life sciences investor Harry Hoffman to the Company's board of directors.

During Harry's 25 years of service as Mayo's Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer which ended December 2020, Mayo Clinic achieved top decile investment performance among a universe of major tax-exempt institutions and grew its investment assets by over ten-fold. Outside of Mayo, Harry has served on the boards of several large family offices and is a former trustee of the Endowment Board of the American Red Cross, The Investment Fund for Foundations (TIFF) and The Ronald McDonald House of Rochester. He is also a founding member and vice chair of the Southeast Minnesota Capital Fund. "I am delighted to welcome Harry onto the Vyriad Board. He has a deep understanding of Vyriad and its history, and I am very much looking forward to working with him as we take this exciting Company to its next level," said Ed Kania, Vyriad's Chairman of the Board.

About Vyriad, Inc.

Vyriad is a clinical-stage company developing virus-based therapeutics, focusing initially on proprietary oncolytic virus therapies for the treatment of cancers with significant unmet needs. Founded by scientists at Mayo Clinic and the University of Miami, Vyriad programs viruses to selectively attack cancer cells, thereby igniting antitumor immune responses that can complete the process of tumor destruction and prevent disease recurrence. Our lead platforms, derived from either vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) or measles virus, are being evaluated in ongoing Phase 1-2 clinical trials addressing multiple cancer types. Vyriad and Regeneron are engaged in a broad strategic agreement for the discovery and development of new oncolytic virus treatments for cancer leveraging Vyriad's VSV platform and Regeneron's PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo (cemiplimab) as well as its unmatched antibody discovery capabilities. Vyriad is a privately held company based in Rochester, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.vyriad.com.

Contacts:

Investor Relations:

[email protected]

Barb Duckett

(507) 289-0944

Media Relations:

[email protected]

SOURCE Vyriad, Inc.

Related Links

http://vyriad.com/


Diego Diaz is currently the Global Head of Ventures & Technology at Iberdrola. In this role, he leads the organization's venture capital program, Iberdrola Ventures, which invests in smart energy solutions worldwide. Diaz plays a significant role in managing the relationship between Wallbox and Iberdrola -- including Iberdrola's plan to purchase the first 1,000 Wallbox SuperNova chargers -- and has served as an observer for Wallbox's Board of Directors since 2019, when Iberdrola made its first investment in Wallbox. Ahead of Wallbox's plans to go public, Diaz will now transition to a member of the Board of Directors.

"I am honored to up level my role within the company and serve on its board of directors," said Diaz. "In the months ahead, we hope to continue strengthening Wallbox's relationship with Iberdrola and provide our industry knowledge to help the company continue to innovate and expand."

Pol Soler is the CEO of Quadis, a leading car dealership network in Southern Europe representing over 30 OEMs. An investor in local and international startups in the transportation space, Soler was an early investor in Wallbox and has been a member of the board since 2016. He brings over fifteen years of experience in the automotive and transportation industries at Quadis, the most recent eight as the company's CEO. With hands-on experience working with over 30 OEM brands and a unique understanding of car dealerships -- one of the largest distribution channels for residential EV chargers -- Soler's expertise will help Wallbox deepen its presence in these markets and continue its expansion worldwide.

Soler added, "The future of the automotive industry is electric -- and Wallbox is leading the charge. As demand for residential EV charging options continues to grow, I am grateful for the opportunity to draw upon my experience in managing businesses and dealerships within the automotive industry to help Wallbox drive this adoption, enhance its global presence and bring about the next wave of transportation worldwide."

Through these appointments, Wallbox's Board of Directors following the business combination with Kensington now includes Enric Asuncion, Anders Pettersson, Francisco Riberas, Diego Diaz and Pol Soler.

"The addition of these two industry veterans to our Board of Directors speaks to Wallbox's commitment to our corporate mission of uniting the automotive and clean energy sectors through our technology," said Enric Asuncion, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wallbox. "Both Diaz and Soler bring significant experience in the key sectors in which we operate, as well as a strong familiarity with our company -- and their expertise will help Wallbox to remain at the forefront of innovation in the EV charging industry."

Justin Mirro, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kensington, added, "Diaz and Soler each bring unique work experiences and a deep expertise in the automotive and energy sector to the table. Their familiarity with Wallbox, its partners and investors ensures they are aligned with Wallbox's mission and growth plans, and I look forward to their contributions to the combined company's board."

Transaction with Kensington

In June, Wallbox and Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp. II ("Kensington") (NYSE: KCAC) announced a business combination that is expected to result in Wallbox becoming a publicly traded company on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "WBX". For additional information, please visit www.wallbox.com.

About Wallbox

Wallbox is a global company, dedicated to changing the way the world uses energy in the electric vehicle industry. Wallbox creates smart charging systems that combine innovative technology with outstanding design and manage the communication between vehicle, grid, building and charger. Wallbox offers a complete portfolio of charging and energy management solutions for residential, semi-public and public use in more than 60 countries.

Founded in 2015, with headquarters in Barcelona, Wallbox's mission is to facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles today to make more sustainable use of energy tomorrow. The company employs over 500 people in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

For additional information, please visit www.wallbox.com.

About Kensington

Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE: KCAC) is a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, stock purchase or similar business combination with a business in the automotive and automotive-related sector. The company is sponsored by Kensington Capital Partners ("KCP") and the management team of Justin Mirro, Bob Remenar, Simon Boag and Dan Huber. The company is also supported by a board of independent directors including Tom LaSorda, Nicole Nason, Anders Pettersson, Mitch Quain, Don Runkle and Matt Simoncini. The Kensington team has completed over 70 automotive transactions and has over 300 years of combined experience leading some of the largest automotive companies in the world.

For additional information, please visit www.autospac.com.

Additional Information

This communication is being made in respect of the proposed transaction involving Wallbox Chargers, S.L. ("Wallbox"), Wallbox B.V. and Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp. II ("Kensington"). This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. In connection with the proposed transaction, Wallbox B.V. will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") a registration statement on Form F-4 that will include a proxy statement of Kensington in connection with Kensington's solicitation of proxies for the vote by Kensington's shareholders with respect to the proposed transaction and other matters as may be described in the registration statement. Wallbox and Kensington also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction and a proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to holders of shares of Kensington's Class A ordinary shares. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE FORM F-4 AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Wallbox and Kensington will be available without charge at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov). Copies of the proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, when available, without charge, from Wallbox's website at www.wallbox.com. Copies of the proxy statement/prospectus can be obtained, when available, without charge, from Kensington's website at www.autospac.com.

Participants in the Solicitations

Wallbox, Wallbox B.V., Kensington and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Kensington's shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. You can find more information about Kensington's directors and executive officers in Kensington's final prospectus dated February 25, 2021 and filed with the SEC on February 26, 2021. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available. Shareholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from the sources indicated above.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of section 10 of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom.

Caution About Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding Kensington's proposed business combination with Wallbox, Kensington's ability to consummate the transaction, the development and performance of Wallbox's products (including the timeframe for development of such products), the benefits of the transaction and the combined company's future financial performance, as well as the combined company's strategy, future operations, estimated financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words "are designed to," "could," "should," "will," "may," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project," the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Wallbox disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Wallbox cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of either Kensington or Wallbox. In addition, Wallbox cautions you that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to the following uncertainties and risk factors that could affect Wallbox's and Kensington's future performance and cause results to differ from the forward-looking statements herein: Wallbox's ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of Wallbox to grow and manage growth profitably following the business combination; risks relating to the outcome and timing of the Company's development of its charging and energy management technology and related manufacturing processes; intense competition in the electric vehicle charging space; risks related to health pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic; the possibility that Wallbox may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; the possibility that the expected timeframe for, and other expectations regarding the development and performance of, Wallbox products will differ from current assumptions; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the business combination; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Kensington or Wallbox, the combined company or others following the announcement of the business combination; the inability to complete the business combination due to the failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of Kensington or to satisfy other conditions to closing; changes to the proposed structure of the business combination that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations; the ability to meet stock exchange listing standards following the consummation of the business combination; the risk that the business combination disrupts current plans and operations of Kensington or Wallbox as a result of the announcement and consummation of the business combination; costs related to the business combination; changes in applicable laws or regulations; and underlying assumptions with respect to shareholder redemptions. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this press release, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could different materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the operations and projections discussed herein can be found in Kensington's periodic filings with the SEC, and the proxy statement/prospectus of Wallbox B.V. in the registration statement on Form F-4 filed with the SEC. Kensington's and Wallbox B.V.'s SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Contacts:

For Wallbox

Investors

ICR, Inc.

[email protected]

Media

ICR, Inc.

[email protected]

For Kensington

Dan Huber

[email protected]

703-674-6514

Related Links:

www.wallbox.com

www.autospac.com

SOURCE Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp. II

Related Links

https://www.autospac.com


HOUSTON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WebMD and symplr today announced that they have partnered to combine WebMD's industry-leading online health information with symplr's best-in-class provider search and scheduling. The new offering utilizes search engine optimization and trusted content to drive consumers to a health system's digital front door for real-time provider search and appointment scheduling.

"This partnership represents a breakthrough patient acquisition strategy. The integration of WebMD's leading content, which generates new patient demand, with symplr Directory's provider search and scheduling, addresses patient fulfillment needs in a new, compelling offering," says BJ Schaknowski, CEO of symplr. "Provider organizations will realize increased patient flow and higher utilization using this new, end-to-end digital workflow."

More than 75 million consumers access WebMD each month for accurate, easy to understand health information and the tools and solutions they need to take action for their health, including finding health care professionals (HCPs) to meet their needs.

symplr Directory (formerly Phynd) is a provider data management search platform used by some of the largest health systems in the country. Extending symplr's vast provider resources and services and curated provider data to WebMD, including subspecialty, clinical and patient-friendly search terms, health plan participation, and direct scheduling in the Electronic Health Record, makes it easier for consumers to find HCPs and book an appointment with an available, in-network provider.

With the new offering, WebMD's online, content-driven campaigns will drive consumers to participating providers and symplr's Find a Doctor search and scheduling. Consumers will be able to search and schedule appointments with a provider in a single workflow instead of having to check providers' availability and health plan participation by phone.

"Surveys show that over three-quarters of consumers use the internet for healthcare related-search, and a majority choose a provider based on a strong online presence," said Ann Bilyew, WebMD's Senior Vice President, Health and Group General Manager, Provider Services. "WebMD serves as a trusted, online source for consumers' seeking accurate health information and locally convenient providers that can meet their health needs. We see the WebMD-symplr partnership as a game-changer, extending advanced provider search and scheduling into consumers' WebMD experience."

About symplr

symplr's comprehensive healthcare operations solutions, anchored in governance, risk management, and compliance, enables our enterprise customers to efficiently navigate the unique complexities of integrating critical business operations in healthcare. For over 30 years, our customers trust our expertise and depend on our provider data management, workforce and talent management, contract management, spend management, access management, and compliance, quality, safety solutions to help drive better operations for better outcomes. Learn how at www.symplr.com.

About WebMD

WebMD Health Corp., an Internet Brands Company, is the leading provider of health information services, serving patients, physicians, health care professionals, employers, health plans and health systems through public and private online portals, mobile platforms, and health-focused publications. The WebMD Health Network includes WebMD Health, Medscape, Jobson Healthcare Information, MediQuality, Frontline, Vitals Consumer Services, Aptus Health, Krames, PulsePoint, The Wellness Network, MedicineNet, eMedicineHealth, RxList, OnHealth, Medscape Education, and other owned WebMD sites. WebMD, Medscape, CME Circle, Medpulse, eMedicine, MedicineNet, theheart.org , and RxList are among the trademarks of WebMD Health Corp. or its subsidiaries.

SOURCE WebMD Health Corp.

Related Links

http://www.symplr.com

http://www.webmd.com


TEWKSBURY, Mass., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WellPet, LLC, the largest North America based independent branded premium natural pet food company, backed by Clearlake Capital Group L.P. (together with its affiliates, "Clearlake"), announced today the appointment of Nneka Rimmer to the company's Board of Directors. She joins WellPet with more than 25 years of experience in the branded consumer products industry and specializes in global growth and go-to-market strategies, corporate transformation, leadership development and change management.

"What attracted me to this opportunity was WellPet's collaborative culture and team of inventive thinkers who truly put pets at the center of all they do and create. I'm confident my deep experience within the consumer sector will help WellPet execute on its compelling value proposition to deliver superior products at the convergence of science and nature," said Rimmer. "It's an exciting time for WellPet and the pet food industry as a whole, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to help the company reach new heights by partnering with WellPet leadership and Clearlake to ultimately provide pet parents more nutritional innovation and convenience."

Rimmer most recently served as President, Global Flavors and Extracts, at McCormick & Co. until April 2021. Prior to joining McCormick, Rimmer was the first African American female partner at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she advised Fortune 100 C-suite executives on operational and commercial excellence. She was a member of BCG's North America Leadership Team with a focus on consumer products and retail, the public sector, and strategy practices.

"Nneka's impressive background in corporate development and strategic planning, as well as her experience in consumer goods and retail, makes her an invaluable addition to our Board of Directors," said Reed Howlett, CEO of WellPet. "We are thrilled to welcome Nneka to the WellPet team as we continue to innovate and build on the company's 100-year heritage as a pioneer in natural pet foods."

"We see great opportunities working with Nneka and are confident her sector, managerial and corporate governance expertise will be a great addition to the WellPet Board of Directors. As WellPet continues to transform, expand and enter new categories in pursuit of its mission of delivering nutritional excellence for the growing population of pet parents, Nneka's extensive background in strategic growth will be vital to the company," said Jose E. Feliciano, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, and Arta Tabaee, Manager Director, at Clearlake. "We look forward to working closely with Nneka as we chart WellPet's next chapter."

Rimmer, who also sits on the boards of Energizer Holdings and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, will work closely with other board members and the senior leadership team as the company continues to expand into new, science-forward categories, introducing a new generation of pet parents to the benefits of premium natural nutrition with proven outcomes for a lifetime of wellbeing.

About WellPet, LLC:

WellPet, the largest North America based independent branded premium natural pet food company is home to premium pet food brands Wellness, WHIMZEES, Old Mother Hubbard, Holistic Select, Eagle Pack, and Sojos. For more than 100 years, WellPet has delivered on the promise of doing whatever it takes to make the healthiest natural products for the pets that depend on us. Today, our team of animal lovers, nutritionists, and veterinarians at WellPet are committed to carrying forth our strong heritage, continuing to find new ways to bring innovation, nutritional excellence, and product quality to our family of natural brands, always putting pet health first. For more information, visit www.wellpet.com.

About Clearlake:

Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. is an investment firm founded in 2006 operating integrated businesses across private equity, credit, and other related strategies. With a sector-focused approach, the firm seeks to partner with world-class management teams by providing patient, long term capital to dynamic businesses that can benefit from Clearlake's operational improvement approach, O.P.S. The firm's core target sectors are consumer, technology, and industrials. Clearlake currently has approximately $39 billion of assets under management, and its senior investment principals have led or co-led over 300 investments. The firm has offices in Santa Monica and Dallas. More information is available at www.clearlake.com and on Twitter @ClearlakeCap.

SOURCE WellPet, LLC

Related Links

http://www.wellpet.com


Chico's FAS: Women By The Numbers As one of the leading fashion retailers in North America, Chico's FAS brands were each founded by women and are led by women, for women. Ranked among America's Best Employers for Women for two consecutive years by Forbes , Chico's FAS, Inc. boasts impressive statistics that speak to a culture that cultivates robust female talent across all levels in our three brands:

- 96% of Chico's FAS associates are female

- 92% of Chico's FAS management is female

- 69% of Chico's FAS officers are female

- 98% of Chico's FAS field leadership is female

- 99% of field associates are female

- Both the Executive Chair of the Board and the CEO/President are women

"Chico's FAS has been dedicated to creating an equal opportunity work environment for women from the very beginning," says Chico's FAS, Inc. CEO and President Molly Langenstein. "Aligned with our brand-wide mission to develop products that ensure women never have to compromise when it comes to quality and style, we have established a company standard that continues to eliminate compromises in the workplace and that empowers our female employees. Be it through strong benefits programs, nontraditional amenities or the men and women of Chico's FAS who stand in unwavering solidarity, Chico's FAS, Inc. is always evolving to deliver the most progressive model of the modern workplace."

Creating a Modern Workplace For Women, By Women

For many women across the country, the idea of the 'office' has evolved dramatically in the last year. A recent customer survey by Chico's FAS found that of over 1,500 female customers who work full-time, only 45% work outside the home. Twenty-nine percent (29%) of the customers now work remotely and 26% of the customers follow a hybrid work model. Chico's FAS has also evolved to embrace flexible styles of work and to raise the workplace standards for women by offering a variety of longstanding and new benefits.

Chico's FAS, Inc. is proud to provide its corporate and field employees important benefits that support women's work-life balance, including 8 weeks of paid maternity leave along with an onsite daycare facility at its corporate headquarters to support their transition back to work.

Prioritizing the physical wellbeing of its employee community, Chico's FAS also provides convenient avenues for accessing health care through an on-site Health Center at its corporate headquarters and Winder, GA distribution center. Now offering virtual options, the Health Centers address concerns ranging from stress management and nutritional counseling to general practitioner appointments and wellness exams.

Chico's FAS Inc.'s pet-friendly corporate campus also offers a variety of new amenities designed to take the stress out of managing everyday life, like a hair salon and dog grooming, along with other amenities, like a fitness center, dry-cleaning, auto detailing, and a weekly fresh flower market, some of which have been available to employees for over a decade.

The Women: Power In The Numbers campaign will debut on August 26, 2021 on Chico's FAS, Inc. marketing and social channels.

For more information on Chico's FAS, Inc. please visit chicosfas.com.

ABOUT CHICO'S FAS, INC.

Chico's FAS is a Florida-based fashion company founded in 1983 on Sanibel Island, Fla. The Company reinvented the fashion retail experience by creating fashion communities anchored by service, which put the customer at the center of everything we do. As one of the leading fashion retailers in North America, Chico's FAS is a company of three unique brands  Chico's, WHBM and Soma  each thriving in their own white space, founded by women, led by women, providing solutions that millions of women say give them confidence and joy.

Our Company has a passion for fashion, and each day, we provide clothing, shoes and accessories, intimate apparel and expert styling in our brick-and-mortar boutiques, digital online boutiques and through Style Connect, the Company's proprietary digital styling tool that enables customers to conveniently shop wherever, whenever and however they prefer.

As of August 24, 2021, the Company operated 1,284 stores in the U.S. and sold merchandise through 66 international franchise locations in Mexico and 2 domestic franchise airport locations. The Company's merchandise is also available at www.chicos.com , www.chicosofftherack.com , www.whbm.com and www.soma.com as well as through third-party channels.

To learn more about Chico's FAS, please visit our corporate website at www.chicosfas.com. The information on our corporate website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this press release or incorporated into our federal securities law filings.

Media Contact:

Chico's FAS, Inc.

Kirby Smith

[email protected]

239-218-1836

SOURCE Chico's FAS, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.chicos.com


WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP is pleased to announce that Richard W. Nenno, Esquire will be joining the firm as Senior Counsel in the Business Planning and Tax Section on October 18, 2021.

Richard W. Nenno comes to Young Conaway with over 40 years of estate-planning experience and is a Distinguished Accredited Estate Planner. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Nenno served as senior trust counsel and managing director in Wealth Management at Wilmington Trust Company. Mr. Nenno is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the American Bar Foundation. He also is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning and the Bloomberg BNA Estates, Gifts, and Trusts Advisory Board.

"Dick is a true legend in the estate planning community," noted Vincent C. Thomas, Co-Chair of Young Conaway's Business Planning and Tax section. "Young Conaway remains committed to growing its Business Planning and Tax section as reflected by numerous recent additions, including, Dick. Our growing team looks forward to working with Dick and continuing to bring extraordinary service and solutions to our clients."

Mr. Nenno has authored numerous publications on estate-planning issues and is a renowned national speaker. He has presented at the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, ACTEC national meetings, the Hawaii Tax Institute, the Notre Dame Tax and Estate Planning Institute, the AICPA Advanced Estate Planning Conference, the NYU Institute on Federal Taxation, and The Tax & Estate Planning Forum (formerly the Southern California Tax & Estate Planning Forum). He is a member of the American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law (former Member of Council) and Section of Taxation; Delaware State Bar Association (Past Chair: Estates and Trusts Section); Estate Planning Council of Delaware, Inc. (Past President); Philadelphia Bar Association.

Mr. Nenno earned his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School. He is a cum laude graduate of Princeton University with an A.B. degree from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Mr. Nenno is admitted to practice in Delaware and Pennsylvania.

About Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP

Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP counsels national and international clients, handling sophisticated advisory and litigation matters involving bankruptcy, intellectual property, corporate and alternative entity law. Young Conaway also guides regional businesses through a myriad of employment, education, real estate, tax, estate planning, environmental, and banking issues. For additional information, contact Marketing and Business Development Director Felicia Gojmerac, [email protected] or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Media Contact:

Felicia Gojmerac

302 571 6600

[email protected]

SOURCE Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP
Southern Energy is positioned to continue its organic and acquisition-based growth strategy, says chief executive Ian Atkinson

's ( , , ) second-quarter results confirmed production of around 6% as it marked consistent and continuous operations, compared to last years shutdown amidst the pandemic.

Production in the quarter averaged 2,078 barrels oil equivalent per day, comprising 92% natural gas, resulting in a 3% increase for the six months ended June 30.

At the same time, realised prices are up versus the 2020 nadir; quarter-on-quarter Southerns oil price was up 91% to US$77.71 per barrel whilst gas was up 65% at US$3.35 per thousand cubic feet.

"I am pleased with our results in the second quarter, as we generated positive adjusted funds flow from operations, completed our AIM listing, and successfully bolstered the balance sheet through our debt refinancing, positioning Southern well to continue executing our organic and acquisition-based growth strategy," said chief executive Ian Atkinson.

"Our proven financial discipline and commitment to long-term sustainability are features that we believe will set Southern apart as we strive to introduce the story to a host of new investors globally heading into a period of significant growth for the company."

Operating expenses averaged US$1.03 per unit in the quarter, and was US$1.02 for the six month period, with operating netbacks marked at US$1.70 per Mcf for the quarter and US$1.80 for the half.

Southern said it generated US$749,000 of adjusted funds from operations, including US$400,000 of expenses tied to the companys listing on Londons AIM market. For the first half, the tally was US$2mln.

Southern Energy shares joined AIM in August alongside its prior listing in Canada.

The company noted its improved liquidity and strategic flexibility after it retired a credit facility, reducing its debt balance to US$5.5mln from US$12.7mln.
A look at Tuesday's major share movers on the London Stock Exchange

( ) was up 1% to 1,366p in the afternoon, nearing the all-time highs seen in February, helped by a rally on the Nasdaq.

The firm, managed by Baillie Gifford, got a boost from its investees ( ) ( ), Amazon.com Inc and Moderna.

They in turn were helped by the full approval of the ( ) jab in the US, as it had been used so far under the emergency use authorisation.

2.25pm: MyHealthChecked jumps as government plans tighter regulations for COVID-19 testing companies

MyHealthChecked PLC advanced 12% to 3.19p after welcoming plans to remove private COVID-19 testing companies from the UK governments website if they advertise misleading prices.

The Department of Health and Social Care said that 82 providers, making up around 18% of companies listed, were found to advertise lower prices there compared to their own website at the point of checkout.

Westminster said that 57 companies will be removed as they no longer exist or do not provide a relevant testing service.

12.50pm: MediaZest higher after upbeat update

MediaZest Plc added 12% to 0.0675p at lunchtime after confirming that business has improved in the second half of the financial year, as expected.

The audio-visual company said that ongoing recurring revenue contracts continue to be robust with several renewals and new contracts signed in the last few months, providing visibility over the next three years.

"We believe a lot of the changes in the workspace environment that were taking hold before the pandemic are being accelerated and following the recent improvement in the company's financial performance, it is the right time to invest in further growing this side of the business, said chief executive Geoff Robertson.

Across all sectors, the number of projects coming from established clients and the levels of renewal and growth of recurring revenue contracts are both encouraging and show the results of steadily building the business and client base in recent years."

11.55am: President Energy drops after posting lower full-year revenues

( , ) dropped 7% to 1.775p in the late morning after posting a drop in full-year revenue to US$27.8mln from US$40.8mln the year before.

The oil and gas company said it was due to the dramatic drop in oil prices, with a reduction of 40% in Argentina to US$30 per barrel of oil equivalent and 34% in the US to US$29.9 per barrel of oil equivalent.

The Argentina-focused firm said 2021 will be a very busy year with a record number of wells to be drilled and a return to growth.

10.50am: Open Orphan in demand after 8.1mln contract win

( , ) shot 17% higher to 24.25p on Tuesday morning after winning an 8.1mln contract with an unnamed major global pharmaceutical company.

The AIM-listed group will test an antiviral product using its asthma human challenge study model.

It will use as the challenge agent the human rhinovirus, the most prevalent cause of the common cold, which can exacerbate the symptoms of asthma, a condition suffered by 5.4mln people in the UK.

Elsewhere, ( ) jumped 16% to 32.5p after receiving new orders for washed coal at the Rukwa Coal Project in southwest Tanzania.

The miner said that the induction of president Samia Suluhu Hassan in the country there is more positive sentiment, which appears to be translating into business confidence and action.

It will also discuss with the government on power station supply options next month.
Kefi Gold & Copper's Harry Anagnostaras-Adams joins Proactive London's Katie Pilbeam to discuss the opportunities in both Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia where they operate.

He explains how the details of the fully assembled the full funding package of $356 million estimated to be required for the development of the Companys Tulu Kapi Gold project in Ethiopia.

And talks about their further 'positive' results from its ongoing drilling campaign at its Hawiah copper-gold project in Saudi Arabia. The updated resource estimate for the project was on track to be reported in Q4 2021.
Belfast International Airport is seeking to find other airlines willing to take over Ryanair's abandoned routes

Irish airline ( ) is to cease flying to and from Belfast International Airport.

The airline is also set to cease services from Belfast City Airport at the end of autumn, which will mean it no longer has any routes serving Northern Ireland.

"It is disappointing that Ryanair has now decided to withdraw operations from the entire Northern Ireland market at the end of October, having variously had a presence in all three local airports in recent years," a spokesperson for Belfast International Airport said.

The spokesperson added that the airport has been in talks with airlines, including some that currently do not fly to or from Belfast, to take over some of the routes previously flown by Ryanair.

"To this end, we hope to be able to make announcements regarding fresh route development in the near future, the spokesperson said.

Irish broadcaster RTE said Ryanair did not respond to requests for an explanation of the reasoning behind the latest decision.
Montem Resources Ltd (ASX:MR1) is a steelmaking coal development company, striving to become the operator of steelmaking coal mines in Canada by developing its properties in the Crowsnest Pass.

The company has three projects  Greenfield, Tent Mountain and Chinook - all of which are in close proximity to the major coal producing region of Canada and with access to existing infrastructure.

Montem believes the Chinook Project, which covers historical mines that previously exported hard coking coal to Japanese steel mills, has the potential to produce multiple open-cut hard coking coal mine.
With Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Korea not proceeding with a Licence and Supply Agreement for lead product ZolpiMist, SUDA advises that there is no immediate financial impact as a result of the termination.

( ) remains focused on cementing its presence in Latin America and establishing further markets for lead product ZolpiMist, an oro-mucosal spray formulation used for treating insomnia.

An important area for future focus is Asia after Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Korea (MTPK) indicated their intention not to proceed with a licence and supply agreement.

The Korean subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma cited challenges with their regulatory body, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, as the reason for withdrawing from the agreement.

As a result, SUDA has agreed to terminate the agreement and notes that there is no immediate financial impact as a result of the termination.

MTPKs decision follows a similar move by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Singapore Pte Ltd (MTPS) earlier this year with that company citing a change in business strategy across the ASEAN region as their primary reason not to proceed.

Seeking partners

In a statement about the MTPK decision, the company said: SUDA will continue to focus on its partnership with TEVA and look to secure additional partners for the ASEAN region and other territories.

The agreement with Teva Pharmaceuticals International GmbH, an affiliate of ( ) Ltd (TEVA), is a key part of SUDAs commercialisation strategy for ZolpiMist, which is approved by the US FDA and the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA).

TEVA has a licence to market ZolpiMist in Brazil, Mexico and Chile.

SUDA is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies to treat human disease and its two focus areas are oncology and conditions that impact the central nervous system.

The companys product pipeline includes an oral spray for the platelet-lowering drug anagrelide to treat metastatic disease in the background of high platelets, and ZolpiMist, a first-in-class oral spray of zolpidem tartrate to treat short-term insomnia.
Perseus says Yaoure will produce 260,000 ounces of gold per year, making up more than half of the companys stated annual goal of 500,000 ounces.

( , , ) has updated the life of mine plan for Yaoure, one of its three flagship West African gold assets, forecasting annual production of 260,000 ounces.

Yaoure, in Cote dIvoire, is now expected to produce 1.43 million ounces of gold over an eight-year life.

Perseus has a stated goal of producing half a million ounces of gold per year from Yaoure and its other two assets, Sissingue (also in Cote dIvoire) and Edikan (in Ghana).

Yaoure gets an update

Perseus has updated the measured and indicated resources at Yaoure, to 51.3 million ounces at 1.34 g/t gold, containing 2.21 million ounces of gold at a cut-off grade of 0.4g/t.

The inferred resources now stand at 47 million tonnes at 1.1 g/t gold and containing 1.7 million ounces at a cut-off of 0.4 g/t.

Yaoures ore reserves now total 29.6 million tonnes grading 1.71 g/t gold and containing 1.63 million ounces.

Over an estimated eight-year mine life - which has significant potential to be extended - Perseus expects to produce 1.43 million ounces with an annual average of 260,000 ounces over the 2022-24 financial years.

It expects average all-in site costs to sit at US$745 an ounce over the life of the mine, with a gold recovery rate of 90.4%.

And the current figures do not include mineralisation associated with the potential CMA Underground deposit that is the target of infill drilling.

How Yaoure fits into Perseus goal

As outlined previously by Perseus managing director and CEO Jeff Quartermaine, the company has a stated goal to produce 500,000 ounces of gold per year.

After a record June quarter, Quartermaine told investors the company was very well on track to achieving that goal.

Half-year gold production, encompassing all three of its assets, stood at 191,246 ounces and FY2021 gold production was 328,632 ounces, with both numbers exceeding the top end of their respective production guidance ranges.

Quarterly gold sales increased 23% to 106,899 ounces at an average realised gold price of US$1,652 per ounce, 1.5% more than the prior quarter.

It has been an excellent year in terms of production with each of the mines performing very, very well, Quartermaine told Proactive at the time.

Things are going exceptionally well. It has been a journey but we are certainly delivering on our promise we have made.

Edikan and Sissingue

Perseus also provided updated figures for the Edikan and Sissingue mines; Edikan has measured and indicated resources of 70.9 million tonnes at 1.04 g/t and Sissingue 7.8 million tonnes at 1.62 g/t.

Ore reserves stand at 36.4 million tonnes at 1.13 g/t gold at Edikan and 5.9 million tonnes at 1.72 g/t at Sissingue.

In the 2020 financial year, Perseus produced a total of 257,639 ounces of gold, all from the Edikan and Sissingue mines.

But Yaoure came on stream in December last year, five weeks ahead of schedule and under budget.

Its gold production ramped up rapidly over the ensuing quarters, contributing 37,343 ounces in the June quarter, exceeding Sissingue.

With gold production from Yaoure alone forecast to be 260,000 ounces in the 2022 financial year - and assuming Edikan (161,835 ounces) and Sissingue (104,672 ounces) maintain steady outputs - Perseus is well on track to comfortable exceed its half-a-million-ounce goal.

- Daniel Paproth
Golden Tag said that the 3D model illustrates that the mineralization is open to the north and at depth, as well as to the northwest and southeast of the currently modelled Fernandez Zone

San Diego is among the largest undeveloped silver assets in Mexico and is located within the prolific Velardena mining district

Golden Tag Resources Ltd said it has wrapped up a geological interpretation program on its San Diego project in Mexico that highlights broad zones of skarn mineralization open to the north and at depth.

The program was conducted in conjunction with Orix Geoscience, which reviewed existing datasets and developed a 3D geological model that incorporated results from the 2021 exploration program on the property.

In a statement, Toronto-based Golden Tag said that the 3D model clearly illustrates that broad zones of skarn mineralization are open to the north and at depth within the diorite and marble, as well as to the northwest and southeast of the currently modelled Fernandez Zone.

Golden Tags CEO Greg McKenzie said that the company was pleased with the results of Orixs work.

Having an independent team of highly qualified geologists review, validate and enhance our geological model has been beneficial for our plans going forward. The new understanding of the broad zones of skarn style mineralization should prove instrumental in planning future drill targets.

Golden Tag holds a 100% interest, subject to a 2% Net Smelter Return (NSR), in the San Diego project, which is located in the state of Durango.

San Diego is among the largest undeveloped silver assets in Mexico and is located within the prolific Velardena mining district, which hosts several operating mines that have produced silver, zinc, lead and gold for over 100 years.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
( , ) Corp CEO Trent Mell joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has arranged a combined secured convertible debt and brokered equity financing package to finance the construction of its wholly-owned hydrometallurgical refinery located in Ontario, Canada.

Mell telling Proactive, the finding will come from two sources, 37.5 million principal amount of 6.95% senior secured convertible notes led by & Co. The other funding source an overnight-marketed public offering of common shares led by ( ) for gross proceeds of approximately C$9.5 million.
Moscow, Aug 24 : Russian state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Monday that it may soon sign a new contract with Turkey on the supply of more S-400 air defence missile systems.

"Consultations are continuing. I believe they are already at their final stage," Rosoboronexport Director General Alexander Mikheev said at the International Military-Technical Forum "Army-2021", without disclosing details of the possible contract, Xinhua news agency reported.

Russia and Turkey signed their first deal on the S-400 systems in 2017 and Turkey received the first shipment in July 2019.

Turkey is the first member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to purchase the S-400 systems, which has led to discontent on part of the US.

Washington claimed that the Russian weapons would be incompatible with the NATO system and may collect confidential military information for Moscow.

The S-400 system, designed and manufactured by Russia's Almaz-Antey arms manufacturer, is capable of destroying targets at a distance of up to 400 km and a height of about 30 km.

At the Army-2021 forum, Mikheev also said that Russia has signed arms export contracts worth a total of $8.6 billion in 2021, and that the company is delivering weapons to 61 countries.
Udupi : , Aug 24 (IANS) Karnataka Kannada and Culture minister, V. Sunil Kumar on Monday said that the state government will take a call on reducing the duration of the 'Nada Geethe' (State Anthem) during the 10-day legislature session starting from September 13.

The Nada Geethe - Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate (Victory to you Mother Karnataka, The Daughter of Mother India) - is a Kannada poem, which was penned by Karnataka's most revered poet Kuvempu and this poem was officially declared the state anthem of Karnataka on 6 January 2004.

Since then, there has been demand for reducing the duration of this song which currently varies between four to five minutes depending on the rendition.

The 'Nada Geethe' is sung at all government functions and in schools.

Participating in an official meeting here, the minister told reporters that besides reducing the duration of the state anthem the state government will also take a decision on how the photograph of Kannadambe Bhuvaneshwari (Goddess of Kannada land) is to be displayed.

He added that his department would also be holding meetings with Youth Empowerment and Education departments to deliberate celebrating various 'Jayanthis' (birth anniversaries) in a meaningful manner by involving the participation of people.

"Tentatively we have decided to meet on August 27 in this regard," he said.

The minister added that he was also thinking of involving these three departments to be part of 'amrit mahotsav' celebrations of independence to infuse the spirit of patriotism among youths, students and people.

In 2014, there was a proposal to reduce the duration to one minute 50 seconds by the committee headed by Kannada prominent poet Channaveera Kanavi as the song currently varies between four to five minutes depending on the rendition.

However, the formal proposal in this regard was made by Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) in July 2019 to cap the duration of Naada Geethe - Jaya Bharatha Jananiya Thanujaathe - at two minutes and thirty seconds but the successive state government had been dilly dallying over this.

Prior to making this proposal, in November 2018, the committee headed by KSP president Manu Baligar was formed to decide on the capping the duration without leaving out any lyric from the composition of poet laureate, Kuvempu.

This committee was headed by eminent poets and jnanapeetha awardee Chandrashekar Kambara, Siddalingaiah, Doddarange Gowda, Kamala Hampana, B.T. Lalita Naik and other eminent personalities were part of the committee, who had given nod for the proposal.
Washington, Aug 24 : US President Joe Biden has urged the unvaccinated individuals to receive their shots amid the rapid spread of highly contagious Covid-19 Delta variant.

Biden made the remarks on Monday after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave its full approval to the Pfizer vaccine earlier in the day, Xinhua news agency reported.

"So let me say this loudly and clearly: If you're one of the millions of Americans who said that they will not get the shot until it has full and final approval of the FDA, it has now happened," said Biden.

"The moment you've been waiting for is here," he said. "It's time for you to go get your vaccination and get it today. Today." The president also encouraged businesses to require vaccinations among employees.

"Today I'm calling on more companies in the private sector to step up with vaccine requirements that will reach millions more people," Biden said on Monday.

Asked if the FDA's approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine will lead to any additional vaccine mandates from the Biden administration, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said during the press briefing on Monday, "I expect there will be more, sure, as we've said all along." Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said during a Pentagon briefing on Monday the Department of Defense would move forward with requiring all US military service members to be vaccinated now that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has full FDA approval.

In recent weeks, the Biden administration has rolled out vaccine requirements among federal workers, members of the armed forces, federal medical facilities and nursing home workers.

As of Sunday, 51.5 per cent of the total US population were fully vaccinated, showed CDC data.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Washington, Aug 24 : US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said that the US is engaging with the Taliban on a daily basis as the ongoing Afghan evacuation faces the August 31 deadline.

President Joe Biden has left open the possibility of extending the ongoing evacuation beyond August 31, the date he previously set to end the US military mission in Afghanistan, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.

Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, however, made clear in an interview with Sky News that such extension would be unacceptable.

At a White House briefing on Monday, Sullivan told reporters that the US has been consulting with allies and the Taliban on the evacuation issues.

"We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through both political and security channels," he said when asked about talks with the Taliban over the extension issue. "I'm not going to get into the details of those discussions here to protect those discussions, which are covering a wide range of issues." Sullivan added that the US is consulting the Taliban "on every aspect of what's happening in Kabul right now" and would continue those conversations.

"As the president has said before, we believe that we have time between now and the 31st to get out any American that wants to get out," he said, while noting "the president will ultimately make his decision about the precise shape and scope of this operation." State Department spokesperson Ned Price said later in the day that the US had discussed the issue of Kabul airport with the Taliban.

"There is actually an agreement between and among all these actors, of course between the US and our partners and allies, but also with the Taliban, that all of our interests would be served with a functioning airport," he told reporters during a daily briefing.

According to media reports, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson would use the virtual summit of Group of Seven (G7) held on Tuesday to push Biden to extend the August 31 deadline to exit the country.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also said that additional time is needed to complete the evacuation.

The US and its allies have been scrambling to evacuate personnel from Afghanistan since the Taliban entered Kabul on August 15.

Sullivan said the US and coalition aircraft had evacuated over 16,000 people in the last 24 hours.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mysuru : , Aug 24 (IANS) The ruling BJP and opposition Congress are at loggerheads over a statement issued by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) executive chairman R. Dhruvanarayana that "RSS is the real version of Taliban". BJP has announced that the party workers will flash black flags at all the public functions he attends, if he fails to tender an apology for his statement.

Dhruvanarayana, a senior Congress Dalit leader, former MP and close confidante of the Opposition leader Siddaramaiah straightaway rejected the demand and has said he will stand by his words. This might lead to confrontation between the BJP and Congress workers in the Mysuru region.

Dhruvanarayana justified his statement of equating Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to the Taliban and said he meant his words and stands by his statement in this regard on Monday.

"RSS and Taliban work on the premise of religion. There are striking similarities between both organisations. On this foundation, I have equated RSS to Taliban," he said.

"Both RSS and Taliban are proponents of religion. They don't commit to secularism. RSS worker Nathuram Godse shot and killed Mahatma Gandhi. During that time, Home Minister Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel had imposed a ban on RSS," he continued his attack.

"RSS does not believe in democracy. It propagates religion and 'manuvaad' to nurse a hierarchical society. Taliban keeps women away and the RSS also does the same," Dhruvanarayana said.

Furious BJP Yuva Morcha workers did a flash protest in front of Dhruvanarayana's office. When they tried to lay siege to his office, police took them to custody and released them afterwards on Monday evening.

BJP MLA L. Nagendra and Mysuru City President T.S. Sreevatsa have warned that if Dhruvanarayana fails to take back his statement, he will face black flags and stiff protests.

In response to this, Congress leaders staged a protest near Mysuru Zilla Panchayat office premises supporting the statement of Dhruvanarayana on equating the RSS to Taliban.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
United Nations, Aug 24 : Senior United Nations officials have expressed their concerns over the situation in Yemen, while calling on the international community to help and parties concerned to protect civilians, and children in particular in the war-torn country.

Noting that six years of war "overshadows everything" in the Western Asian country, UN Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffith on Monday told the Security Council meeting on Yemen that the war "grinds on", reported Xinhua news agency on Tuesday.

"Hostilities this year have so far reportedly killed or injured more than 1,200 civilians," he added.

Khaled Mohamed Khiari, assistant secretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, expressed his concern over the political situation in the country.

"Unfortunately, since the last Council session on Yemen there has been no further progress" in the UN's ongoing efforts to reach an agreement based on the four-point plan presented to the parties, which is comprised of: a nationwide ceasefire, the re-opening of Sanaa airport, the easing of restrictions on the flow of fuel and other commodities through Hodeidah port, and the resumption of face-to-face political negotiations between the Yemeni parties, he said.

"More than six years ago, adults started a war in Yemen. They did so despite knowing the terrible toll that violent conflict exacts on children," Henrietta Fore, executive director of UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), told the same meeting.

"The war in Yemen, now in its seventh year, has created the largest humanitarian crisis in the world- one made worse by the public health and socioeconomic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic," said the UNICEF chief.

Noting that the Yemen response plan, the annual humanitarian program, is 50 per cent funded and has received more money than any other appeal in the world, Griffith, the former UN envoy on Yemen is asking donors to increase their contributions to ensure funds are adequately distributed across the different sectors.

Khiari called on all parties to prioritise civilian needs and abstain from weaponising the economy, particularly in light of the critical humanitarian situation in the country.

Fore urged parties "to make every possible effort to keep children safe and abide by their legal obligations to keep them out of the line of fire." "I want to emphasise that respecting and protecting education, including schools, students and teachers is of the utmost importance for Yemeni children and youth. We remain gravely concerned about the severity and frequency of threats and attacks against education and the use of schools for military purposes," said the UNICEF chief.
Lucknow, Aug 24 : Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad has announced that beginning this week, Friday prayers will be offered at Asafi Imambara from August 27.

Last year, on March 19, 2020, Jawad had announced the suspension of Friday prayers at the mosque following the pandemic.

Prayers had resumed just before the second Covid wave hit again and the last of the prayers were held on April 9.

Maulana Kalbe Jawad, who is Imam-e-Juma of the prayers, said that since curfew restrictions had been lifted and Covid cases were on the decline, prayers were being resumed.

He said that the Husainabad and Allied Trust officials, who oversee management of Asafi Imambara, have been asked to provide for masks and conduct sanitisation of the mosque.

As of now, the government permits a group of not more than 50 at a place at one time.

Jawad had earlier said that a distance of 6 feet between namazis cannot make for a prayer by jamaat (congregation)-a vital aspect of Friday prayers.
August 24 : Basking in the success of his recent release Shershaah, Sidharth Malhotra has now resumed shoot for his upcoming film Mission Majnu.

On Monday, the actor took to social media to say that he has resumed shooting for his upcoming thriller Mission Majnu. Sharing a picture from the film, Sidharth wrote, #MissionMajnu shoot resumes. See you in theatres...

Sidharth Malhotra will play the role of a RAW agent in the film. The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Sharib Hashmi, Parmeet Sethi, Anant Mahadevan and Kumud Mishra. The thriller marks Rashmika Mandannas debut in Bollywood. The 15-day long second schedule will be filmed in real locations across Mumbai.

Mission Majnu is helmed by debut director and ad filmmaker Shantanu Bagchi. Written by Parveez Shaikh, Aseem Arrora and Sumit Batheja, the movie is backed by Ronnie Screwvala, Amar Butala and Garima Mehta. Prior to the second Covid-19 wave, the first schedule of Mission Majnu was shot in Lucknow. The film is inspired by real events set in the 1970s. It is about Indias most ambitious mission in Pakistan that forever changed the relationship between the two nations.

Co-producer Garima Mehta said in a statement, The the team is back on floors with strict protocol and guidelines for the shoot. In this 15 day schedule, we will shoot critical sequences of the film. Its great to be on set again and the cast and crew is excited to move onwards and upwards towards the successful completion of the film.

Talking about the film, Sidharth had earlier said, Mission Majnu is a patriotic film inspired by true events that celebrates the hard work of RAW agents who go out of their way to protect the citizens of our country. It is a privilege to tell the story of our brave agents, and I am eager to revisit a mission that forever changed the relationship between India and Pakistan. I am looking forward to sharing this special film with everyone.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 24 : The Cooperative movement over the years have been fine tuned in Kerala for inclusive growth and the new State Cooperation Minister V.N. Vasavan has said he has drawn ambitious plans which includes to turn Kerala Bank into a state of the art one, besides a first of its kind - a Cooperation University, by bringing all the educational institutions under his department under one roof.

At present there are close to 16,000 Cooperative Societies functioning under the Registrar of Cooperative Societies which include consumer cooperatives, credit cooperatives, women cooperatives, educational institutions, hospitals and to be launched Youth Cooperatives.

Vasavan, a two time legislator who hails from Kottayam, over the years has been the closest aide of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, was handpicked for this job and in a chat with IANS, he said the newly formed Kerala Bank (formed by converting the three tier cooperative structure into a two tier one) has a deposit base of Rs 2.75 lakh crore, the largest of its kind in the state.

"Massive technological upgradation is being undertaken. For this Rs 300 crore technology upgradation contract has been given to Wipro and we expect it to be completed in three months. Once done, the services in the 769 branches of the bank would be a state of the art one, which will be the best in the state. After a long wait the Kerala Bank has been cleared to collect NRI deposits by the Reserve Bank of India," said Vasavan.

In the education front, Vasavan said at the moment under the Cooperative sector there are nine engineering colleges, one MBA college, besides running the traditional courses in Cooperation.

"We are not only planning to start more educational institutions, but these institutions will offer the present day new generation courses in various disciplines which are in high demand. Our aim is to ensure that we set up a Cooperation University where all the courses under my department will be managed in the most professional way under the proposed University," said Vasavan.

Reacting to a series of frauds that have surfaced in the Cooperative banks, Vasavan assured the depositors that there need be no concern at all as they have a full fledged system which will see not a single rupee is lost by any depositor.

"Not a single person who has been involved in it will be allowed to escape as the law will catch up with all such people and it has already begun," added Vasavan.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : A week after the Taliban captured Afghanistan, hundreds of Afghan citizens continue to live an uncertain life here in Delhi and have been crowding outside various embassies for visas. The Australian High Commission in the national capital has expressed deep concern over the reports of "a rapid roll-back on women and girls' rights in Afghanistan." "Empowering women and girls has been a focus of Australia's development assistance to Afghanistan since 2001 and our Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, has joined international calls to protect the rights of women and girls," a spokesperson for the Australian High Commission exclusively told IANS on Monday.

"We will continue to promote the protection of women's rights through ongoing multilateral political advocacy, and support the immediate needs of conflict-affected women and girls through our ongoing humanitarian assistance," he said.

Meanwhile, the High Commission of Australia here is busy coordinating evacuation of Australian nationals from Afghanistan. Since August 18, Australia has facilitated evacuation of 554 people from Kabul through eight flights and is further in the process of evacuating more in coming days.

Calling the situation in Afghanistan as "evolving rapidly and highly volatile and dangerous," the spokesperson said the flights would be subject to operational conditions.

"We are working closely with like minded partners on the ground. The Australian Defence Force has deployed more than 250 personnel and up to five aircrafts to support the evacuation operation. Our officials are working round the clock to help Australians, Permanent Residents, and family members, who are seeking to leave Afghanistan," the spokesperson said in an exclusive e-mail interview with IANS.

"The Australian Government's highest priority is the safe and orderly departure of Australian citizens and visa holders, including former locally engaged Afghan employees," he added.

In fact, not just Australians, the High Commission officials are in contact with "many New Zealanders registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and will continue to provide information on departure options," he said.
Hyderabad, Aug 24 : Though the Telangana government has decided to reopen all educational institutions from September 1, many parents are still not ready to send their children to schools.

Most of the parents, especially those of primary and secondary school students, are not willing to send their wards. They are not ready to take risks as the Covid-19 cases continue and vaccine for children is still not available.

The fear of their children contracting Covid may prompt the majority of parents not to send them for physical classes immediately but wait for a few weeks before making a decision.

The state government on Monday decided to reopen all educational institutions from KG to PG across the state from September 1. The decision was taken by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao at a meeting with education minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy and senior officials.

With the health department officials stating in their report that Covid situation in the state is under control, the chief minister announced that all educational institutions including Angandwadis will be reopened.

The officials of the education department told the meeting that due to continued closure of educational institutions, students, especially school children, have come under psychological stress and this may have an impact on their future.

Keeping this in mind and after studying all aspects and after taking views of all, the chief minister decided that all educational institutions should be reopened with precautionary measures.

Some states including Andhra Pradesh have already reopened schools. The neighbouring state reopened schools a week ago.

However, on the day when the Telangana government took the decision to reopen all educational institutions, four students of a government-run school in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district tested positive for Covid-19 in the random sample testing conducted on Monday. Some students of government schools in Guntur and Prakasam districts had also tested positive for Covid after reopening schools in the state on August 16.

The decision of the Telangana government to open all educational institutions has come under criticism from parents. "Instead of opening all institutions in one go, the government should have announced this in phases. Schools above eighth standard should be reopened first and if everything goes fine, physical classes can be resumed for others," said P. Mohan Reddy, whose son is a student of fifth class in a private school in Hyderabad.

The parents recalled that lack of proper planning had led to closure of schools within a few days after reopening in February.

After a gap of nearly 11 months, educational institutions in the state had reopened in February this year. However, due to the surge in Covid-19 cases during the second wave, they were shut down on March 24.

The media reports about experts warning a possible third wave playing up in parents' minds. "The experts have not ruled out a third wave. There were also reports that children may be the worst affected in the third wave. In such a situation, how can we take risks," asked Syed Ashfaq, whose three children are in primary and secondary schools.

While parents agree that continued closure of schools is taking a toll on children's psychological health, they want to wait for some more time to see how the pandemic situation evolves before taking a decision.

"There is still no vaccine for children. If they are fully immunized, parents may be ready to send them but at this juncture not many are willing," said Ayesha Fatima, a teacher at a private school.

She pointed out that when schools had reopened for Class 7 and above in February, the attendance was only 25-30 per cent.

Lack of clarity about online classes has also landed parents in a dilemma. While announcing re-opening of all educational institutions, the government did not clarify if online classes will continue for those students whose parents are not ready to send them for physical classes.

Most of the parents are of the view that the government should continue online classes till the threat of the pandemic is completely eliminated.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
London, Aug 24 : UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to urge the world leaders at a virtual G-7 meeting to step up support for refugees fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Johnson will chair a G-7 Leaders' meeting on Tuesday afternoon He will call for an increase in aid, and promise "to use every humanitarian and diplomatic lever" to protect human rights in the country, reports the BBC.

Ahead of the meeting, Johnson has said that the first priority should be "to complete the evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have assisted our efforts over the last 20 years".

"As we look ahead to the next phase, it's vital we come together as an international community and agree on a joint approach for the longer term," he added.

The British Prime Minister would also ask the US President Joe Biden to extend the 31 August deadline for withdrawing the troops from the war-weary country.

It comes amid a race to evacuate thousands from Kabul airport.

The UK, France and Germany have all raised the possibility of US forces staying beyond the end of August to continue the airlift, and reports suggest Mr Biden will decide within the next 24 hours whether to push back the deadline.

However, a Pentagon spokesman said on Monday the US's focus remained "getting this done by the end of the month".

Meanwhile, the Taliban has said that any extension would be a "clear violation" of an agreed deal.

More than 7,000 people have now been flown out of Kabul on RAF flights since 13 August -- but UK ministers have been clear that British forces in Kabul cannot stay once the Americans have left.

The UK and US say they will work together to allow eligible people to leave when the current phase of the operation ends.

The UK Prime Minister and the US President had committed to "driving international action" to stabilise the situation, support the Afghan people and "work towards an inclusive and representative Afghan government".

The UN's Human Rights Council will also hold its own emergency session on Afghanistan on Tuesday.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bengaluru, Aug 24 : Leading fintech startup Khatabook on Tuesday said it has closed a $100 million Series C funding round led by US-based Tribe Capital and Moore Strategic Ventures (MSV), taking its market valuation to $600 million.

With fresh funds, Khatabook will focus on financial services disbursement through its software ecosystem, catering to 10 million monthly active MSMEs.

The company said that it plans to accelerate hiring to strengthen its engineering, product, design, analytics, and data science capabilities.

"The first phase of our journey was enabling digital transformation by building a tech ecosystem for Indian MSMEs. Now that we have created a widely accepted digital platform, the next step will be digitally-enabled financial services for small businesses," said Ravish Naresh, CEO, and Co-founder, Khatabook.

The start-up has expanded the ESOP pool, which now stands at $50 million.

"On this milestone for the company, we would like to acknowledge the contribution of employees and early investors through the ESOP buyback plan," Naresh added.

Other investors in the Series C round were Alkeon Capital, with continued investment participation from internal investors B Capital Group, Sequoia Capital, Tencent, RTP Ventures, Unilever Ventures, and Better Capital.

"Khatabook has successfully built such a network by empowering this seismic shift among MSME businesses to move from paper to digital, literally. Despite its large early success and fast adoption to date, the company is early in its path to power the segment," said Arjun Sethi, Co-Founder and Partner at Tribe Capital.

Amid the growing demand for technology solutions by the MSMEs, Khatabook experienced 150 per cent (on-year) growth FY20-21.

Currently, Khatabook, across all its software products, has over 10 million monthly active users.

The startup said it is buying back $10 million worth of ESOPs to acknowledge and reward employees, ex-employees, and early investors who contributed to the company's growth.

Eligible employees will be able to sell as much as 30 per cent of their vested options, it added.
Mumbai, Aug 24 : Academy award-winning actor Emma Stone will be seen playing the title role in the film 'Cruella'. She described the character as "fun and intoxicating".

Talking about how she bagged the role, Stone said: "I met with the folks at Disney. They were playing around with the idea of an origin story of Cruella de Vil and wanted to know if I would be interested." She added: "There was a lot to figure out and to see if it made sense to tell a story about her. But the character's so much fun and so intoxicating, they had an interest in finding what that story could be." Stone said that it is fun to "see the origins of Cruella".

"And we've had fun exploring what makes a villain. How people can be affected by the events that have happened in their lives, or how they can choose to kind of crumble underneath the weight of something, or rise up above it and maybe, not always, take it to the best or most 'moralistic' place." Stone added: "It is all of those things, but in this kind of fun, Disney, over-the-top, you know, crazy way, that also happens to be full of great 70s punk music." Releasing on August 27, 'Cruella' will be released in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu on Disney+ Hotstar Premium and Disney+ Hotstar VIP.
Jaipur, Aug 24 : The Congress party in Rajasthan is facing stiff competition from its own members for the ensuing panchayat elections to be held from August 26 to September 1 in six districts of the state namely Bharatpur, Dausa, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Sawai Madhopur and Sirohi.

In many places, Congress leaders are anguished over ticket distribution amid demand for tickets from family members of MLAs or other senior leaders while in other places, Congressmen are planning to defeat their own candidates for various reasons.

In Bharatpur, differences between MLA Jahida Khan and Wajib Ali have come out in the open while in Jodhpur, two renowned families -- Maderna family and former MP Badriram Jakhar are at loggerheads.

In Sawai Madhopur, MLA Indira Meena is facing challenes from her own brother while MLA Ashok Bairwa had a fight with his own brother over ticket distribution.

In Sirohi, Congress workers accused veteran leaders of giving tickets on the recommendations of an industrialist.

Similarly, Chomu MLA Rameshwar Yadav's son, Narendra Yadav accused former MLA Bhagwaan Sahay Saini of mismanaging the symbol distribution show.

The Congress party organisation in Rajasthan is running the show with 39 members only as many districts don't have presidents and secretaries over the last one year since the Pilot camp opened rebellion and the state PCC was dissolved.

Rajasthan Congress in charge Ajay Maken has been giving assurances of making political appointments soon, however, there seems to be a deadlock between the Congress state lobby and central leadership over certain issues due to existing friction between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot.

A senior worker told IANS, "Congress is killing its own credibility by postponing much-awaited recruitments in PCC and significant political posts." "Hence, there is a need to check such mishaps or we shall all be sinking in 2023 assembly polls," he said.
Kabul, Aug 24 : The closure of banks and money exchange markets in Afghanistan capital Kabul has created concerns among people and experts believe the situation will cause economic downturn.

With the return of the Taliban to Kabul on August 15, all banking activities were closed and they are still shut, Afghan media reported.

An angry man, who waited to withdraw his money from Kabul Bank, said that there were no jobs and people had no money for buying bread. He said that people might start looting and other crimes if the banks stayed closed and commerce stopped, reports said.

Najla Rahil, a Facebook user in a post said, "All the assets of our people are in banks. Now banks are closed and no one can take even wages. What this miserable nation can do? To whom they should complain?" Shafiqullah Azizi, who waited for days in front of a branch of Azizi Bank to withdraw money from his account, said that he was unable to withdraw despite he was in urgent need of it.

He said that there were reports that the banks would be reopened on last Saturday, but they were yet to be opened.

Qais Mohammadi, another resident of Kabul who visited the main headquarters of the bank, told Pajhwok Afghan News that he visited the bank on a daily basis after the Taliban's takeover of Kabul, but the bank remained closed.

He complained about his economic problems and said, "I am a government officer, our salaries were transferred to our accounts two days ahead of the collapse of the government, but my money is stuck in the bank and I don't know what to do, I have no money even for buying bread."
Kabul/Islamabad, Aug 24 : Resistance gradually building up to seizure of power by the Taliban in Afghanistan may be symbolic, but is enough to cause alarm for the new rulers and in some ways, their external supporters and mentors in Pakistan.

Symbols matter when it comes to expression of public sentiment and the Afghan flag became the rallying point. Within four days of the Taliban taking control of Kabul, many Afghans observed their traditional New Year on the day of Nowroz by flying their colourful national flag, removing the Taliban flag that is white with Quranic inscriptions.

While these protests in the cities found their way into the media, those in the countryside have gone unrecorded, which is a further cause for the new rulers who moved from the rural areas to the cities for political and military power in the recent weeks.

People took to the streets in Asadabad, Jalalabad as well as Kabul, with several deaths reported from Asadabad as the Taliban apparently fired into a crowd. Moreover, Amnesty International reminded that the Taliban had "massacred" members of the Hazara community in Ghazni in July.

"Thousands continued to defy warnings and beatings to seek evacuation via the capital's airport, a small and scattered opposition emerged in the form of protests and a potential armed rebellion, and the country's dire economic situation prompted warnings of a humanitarian crisis," NBC said in its report on August 19, 2021.

A report by Yuliya Talmazan and Mushtaq Yusufzai said: "When people heard about this incident, they staged a demonstration against the Taliban and warned them not to play with Afghanistan's national symbols. Three people were killed and three others injured in the altercation." Striking images have shown a bloodied woman and child, apparently beaten by Taliban fighters outside the Kabul airport despite the group's earlier assurances of "safe passage." The militants also cracked down on a protest in the eastern city of Jalalabad on Wednesday, leaving at least three people dead, according to a local resident, after residents tried to install the Afghan flag in place of the white Taliban banner.

Prominent Pakistani daily Dawn (August 21, 2021) warned in its editorial: "The Afghan Taliban's honeymoon period may not last long. There are many who suspect the group's intentions despite their reassurances. The fact is that the Taliban can talk all they want about inclusivity, but whether or not they will abide by their promises will become evident over the next few days and weeks." It further warned that "if reports emerge of Taliban excesses against the Hazara community and other ethnic, linguistic and confessional groups, whatever goodwill the Taliban may have earned over the past few days will disappear quickly. There are also reports of the Taliban going door to door to hunt down those who worked for the erstwhile Afghan dispensation. This flies in the face of the amnesty the Taliban had declared." Although the Taliban assertions and assurances do not include democracy and media freedom, the newspaper defended the Afghan people's "fundamental right" to "hold peaceful protests and assemblies". Analysts see this as a signal to the authorities in Islamabad and the provinces where the media has been under sustained attack.

These demonstrations by the Afghans marked the first protest while chaos and uncertainty prevailed in Kabul and other power centres. Howsoever dispersed and lacking in ballast, they marked the assertion of Afghan identity that Islamabad has been keen to see overwhelmed by the Taliban and their move to impose Sharia rule.

For, beneath the ill-concealed triumph and support to the Taliban, Pakistan wants this faith-based political culture numbing the Pakhtun identity of the Afghans that prevents a resolution of the border. Successive Kabul regimes have rejected the Afghan-Pakistan border that was determined during the British era and is called the Durand Line.

Over the last four decades and more, the Afghans have witnessed their benign monarchy and democracy destroyed. Their traditional system of decision-making by the Jirga and the role of the Maliks has also been destroyed. Now, after two decades of a relatively moderate democratic system has been obliterated with the return of the Taliban, the people are left with symbols to live for and if things worsen in the coming weeks, die for.

Typical of the popular protest last week was women, their lives and liberty threatened by the Taliban rulers, marked on the tarmac of the airport at Kabul and singing in unison, "Sar Zameen-e-Mae", a song written by Dawood Sarkhosh, himself a refugee. The sense of the song is that being refugees in one's homeland is not acceptable.

thus, the sense of nationalism in Afghanistan as it seeks to dig in in the face of the new rulers having a sordid record appears more broad-based. This is not the Afghanistan that the Taliban ruled in the 1990s. Twenty years of freedom has changed much and the Taliban cannot put the clock back.

Indeed, a false move at repression that was evident in the firing upon protesting people could trigger massive popular resistance. Brute force may spill blood, but it could prove counter-productive in the long run. After all, the Taliban strength is only 75,000, and they are still struggling to settle down internally, leave alone with the world community outside that does not trust them. They can't rule over 30 million Afghans against their will. There is a big difference between getting power and retaining it.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, Aug 24 : The central agencies are on high alert after the arrest of Sri Lankan national Suresh Raj or Chinna Suresh and Soundararajan from Kochi and Chennai in the last week of July.

The National Investigating Agency (NIA) sleuths who are probing the seizure of five AK 47 rifles and Rs 3000 crore worth of drugs from a Sri Lanka boat off the Kerala coast on March 25, 2021, has found that the arrested were handled by a Pakistani national and that the two were involved in smuggling the drugs for garnering funds to the now-defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Suresh, according to NIA sleuths is a Sri Lankan national and has been staying illegally in India for the past several years without any Visa or Passport. He has a PAN card, Aadhaar Card, Driving license, voter ID card, and Indian passport. The NIA revealed that he had got all these using forged documents to prove his credentials.

The boat 'Rahivanshi' was intercepted off the Kerala coast by the Indian Coast guard on March 25, with Six Sri Lankan nationals on board. The boat had 300 kg of cocaine worth Rs 3,000 crore in international market, five AK 47 assault rifles, and 1000, 9 mm bullets. The boat was owned by a Sri Lankan national, Loku Yaddehige Nishantha, and NIA found that since the second half of 2020 the conspiracy to smuggle drugs and weapons from Pakistan using fishing boats has been going on.

According to Central intelligence agencies that are tracking the seizure and the arrest of the Sri Lankan nationals, the drugs, and weapons from Pakistan were headed towards Hambantota port in Sri Lanka and from there to other international destinations. Sources in the agencies told IANS that the drugs and weapons from Pakistan are being smuggled using networks in Tamil Nadu and Kerala for scouting funds to the operational activities of the now-defunct LTTE.

The arrested Suresh Raj and Soundararajan have told the investigating officers that the LTTE network is active in certain pockets of Tamil Nadu. After the arrest of the duo, the 'Q' branch of the Tamil Nadu police have conducted combing operations in several parts of the state and have taken into custody certain people. However, sources in the police said that no arrests have been recorded so far.
Mumbai, Aug 24 : Filmmaker David Lowery's latest film 'The Green Knight' is a modern retelling of the 14th century poem 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'.

Lowery says the story had a great impact and opened up about the difficulties in adapting a poem.

British actor of Indian descent Dev Patel stars as the lead in 'The Green Knight', which revisits the epic tale of Sir Gawain, King Arthur's headstrong nephew who journeys to dangerous lands to battle the infamous Green Knight, after a deadly deal goes awry.

Lowery reminisces about reading the poem in his freshman year at college: "The story had an impact on me. I loved the idea of a young man engaging in such a ridiculous wager - the notion that someone would commit to a game in which the price of winning was losing one's life." Talking about the difficulties in adapting the poem, he said: "I didn't truly understand why this poem has stood the test of time until I was well into the process of making it, by which point I realized what a daunting task I'd set out upon." "How do you make a beheading game make sense to a modern audience?"

Despite the daunting task, the central theme really struck a chord with Lowery.

"The concept of chivalry in relation to a young person figuring out what type of man he's going to be was the root of this story for me, the subject is present in the original text but it's something that makes this story incredibly timely." 'The Green Knight' also features Alicia Vikander and Joel Edgerton among others.

PVR Pictures is set to release 'The Green Knight' on August 27.
Lucknow, Aug 24 : A young bank employee from Lucknow has successfully scaled Mount Kun (7,077 meters), one of the highest peaks of the Himalayan range, along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

He now aims to climb Mount Everest.

The banker Amit Kumar achieved the feat on the eve of Independence Day.

A native of Chhapra district in Bihar, Amit said, "Initially, we had planned to hoist the Tricolour at Mount Kun peak on August 15 to mark the Independence Day but extreme cold weather and unpredictable climatic conditions over 20,000 feet forced us to advance our expedition. In fact, just 10 hours after reaching the summit, the climate deteriorated to an unbearable level." Amit, 36, is an alumnus of Patna University. He developed interest in trekking after a visit to Uttarakhand in 2017.

Amit further said, "I worked on my fitness which is essential for such difficult expeditions but it is mental endurance and positive mind-frame that is the toughest. Enduring harsh weather conditions is another factor needed." Amit was part of a seven-member team led by Baljeet Kaur, who returned to Lucknow last week.
Chennai, Aug 24 : State-owned Indian Bank has been featured in the Harvard Business Publishing for its successful merger of Allahabad Bank.

The first-of-its-kind seamless merger of equal sized Indian banks with prominence in the southern and eastern region of the country has been well recognized and published by Harvard Business Publishing as a case study.

Curated by Indian School of Business (ISB), this case study titled 'Merger of Equals: The Amalgamation Story of Indian Bank and Allahabad Bank' encapsulates the journey that Indian Bank embarked on, to successfully execute the amalgamation process.

'Merger of Equals' narrates the entire integration process which comprised rigorous strategic planning and execution by Indian Bank with impetus on the challenges faced and their answers found. The merger has made Indian Bank, a pan-India lender with significant presence in southern, northern and eastern parts of the country.

The amalgamation exercise 'Project Sangam' had a three-pronged approach on product/process, employee-customer communication and IT integration.

The synergy benefits of the merger have started reflecting in terms of cost efficiencies as evidenced from the decline in cost-to-income ratio of the Bank (40.86 per cent for QE June 2021). The integration of IT operations and systems have also resulted in economies of scale through vendor rationalisation, finer pricing on AMCs and improved operational efficiencies.

Padmaja Chunduru, MD and CEO, Indian Bank said, "We are privileged to witness our amalgamation process featured in the leading publication of one of the most prestigious institutions of the world. This is a testimony to the constant dedication and sincerity of the entire Indian Bank team which helped achieve this strategic merger. We would like to take this opportunity to thank ISB and Harvard Business Publishing for acknowledging the efforts of Indian Bank. The merger has given Indian Bank a distinct experience of building synergies between two banks with vast legacies. We hope this case study will help readers understand the big picture of this exemplary merger." The two banks merged efficiently while addressing the challenges of human capital, varied cultures and geographic locations.

Indian Bank is the seventh-largest public sector bank in India. Established in 1907 and headquartered in Chennai, the bank serves over 10 crore customers with 41,557 employees. With effect from 1st April 2020, Allahabad Bank got merged into Indian Bank.
New Delhi, Aug 24: The US Vice President, Kamala Harris is in south-east Asia at a difficult time for America -- with credibility at an all-time low and its military reputation in tatters. Allies are wondering if Washington's lodestar is dimming and whether it can be relied upon in case of regional tensions and conflicts.

Harris' visit takes place as Afghanistan crumbles under the military weight of Taliban militants after two decades of US support to Kabul. The hasty and undignified withdrawal also puts a question mark on American commitment to its allies.

With south-east Asia also simmering with tensions owing to China's liberal use of its air and naval forces to intimidate neighbours, countries in the region are wondering if the US can be relied upon in case a conflict arises with China. The latter has made no bones about the fact that it would take Taiwan by force. Other countries feel that if China attacks Taiwan, Japan too may not be far behind.

Both Taiwan and Japan have separately raised the Chinese issue with the US many times, with Tokyo saying that the US and Japan may have to intervene militarily if Beijing launches an incursion onto Taiwan. With Afghan unravelling, American allies--Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia and, south-east Asia are wondering if the US has the stomach to take on Chinese hegemony.

Harris's visit is to reassure allies and inspire confidence among them about American interest in the region.

At a press conference in Singapore on Monday, she said that the US' immediate priority is to evacuate American citizens, Afghan allies and other vulnerable sections of the society. She said: "We have a responsibility and we feel a deep commitment to making sure that folks who helped us are safe".

Her talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong were on issues close to the Biden administration--tackling climate change, building reliable supply chains and reinvigorating the coronavirus-afflicted economy.

Lee hailed US intervention in Afghanistan by saying that it was able to halt the terror groups for 20 years but added that the country should not once again become an epicentre for terrorism.

Harris will land in Vietnam on Tuesday--a country which has been in news over visual comparisons of US helicopters evacuating Americans from its embassy in Saigon in 1975 and the chaotic American pullout of its people from Kabul.

Comparisons can be misleading considering Vietnam has pulled itself together after the American conflict to become a reliable middle power while Afghanistan remains bitterly divided among ethnicities, tribes and fundamentalist ideologies.

Washington has showered importance on the region by talking about "ASEAN centrality".

Harris' visit to Singapore and Vietnam was preceded by Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin who visited Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines in late July. His visit was about military and security issues, with the US assuaging the regional nations about keeping vital shipping lanes open and safe from Chinese threat. He had a breakthrough in signing a pact with the Philippines about maintaining bases for American troops.

Harris' visit is about strengthening partnerships through American Covid-19 vaccines, thought to be better than the Chinese ones, bolstering IT and technology cooperation as well as cementing bilateral ties. The idea is to not just checkmate Chinese military ambitions in the region but also prove through relationships, trade and technology that the US is reliable and ahead in the geopolitical game.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi, Aug 24: The Taliban is caught in a fierce battle with fighters of the Northern Alliance as it tries to push into the formidable Panjshir valley.

According to credible Twitter handlers of Northern Alliance or National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, "Qari Fasih Salahuddin, who is leading the Taliban's offensive against Northern Alliance at Panjshir is also trapped in a valley near Northern Salang. Anti-Taliban resistance is after him. He will be captured alive or will be hunted tonight," says one post.

The fact is corroborated by the leader Amrullah Saleh.

"Talibs have massed forces near the entrance of Panjshir a day after they got trapped in ambush zones of neighboring Andarab valley & hardly went out in one piece. Meanwhile Salang highway is closed by the forces of the Resistance. "There are terrains to be avoided". See you." Northern Alliance claims that on Sunday night two Bridges in North Salang got blown up by the northern resistance forces, cutting off the supply route for Talibani to Kabul. Taliban were also ambushed before entering.

According to the Northern Alliance, Yar Muhammad Dostum, son of Afghan Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum has already in Panjshir valley with a large detachment and fighting against on the front line.

Panjshir valley is a narrow winding valley along the Panjshir river and surrounded by the rocky mountains dominating the entry, exit and all movement along the only access road along the river. This place is known as the graveyard of the Soviets troops. The valley is a closed impregnable fortress that has remained a defeated endeavour to all invaders.

Tajik leaders of the northern Alliance are also trying to include Uzbek, Hazara and other groups against the Taliban like in the 1990s during the time of Ahmad Shah Massoud. The Lion of Panjshir. The Northern Alliance was supported by the US, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and India. India played a very significant role in providing a vital logistics link to the Northern Alliance from the Farkhor Air Base in Tajikistan where a field hospital was also established.

Once again, Afghanistan's last free citadel is fighting against the Taliban for free Afghanistan - the biggest nightmare for the Taliban.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi, Aug 24: At one of his numerous press conferences, exacerbated by the Afghanistan conflict, US President Joe Biden said that he does not trust anyone, while referring to the Taliban and whether it will honour its commitments made to the Afghan people and the world.

Much to the shock and awe of intelligence agencies, experts and the world at large, the Afghan militant group -- which was supposed to have been dismantled by the US -- is alive and kicking. With its lightning victory, the Taliban demonstrated in a swift brutal stroke that it was not only lurking in the shadows, but was ready to capture power with credible military force.

Behind Taliban's rise is the political assertion of the ultra-conservative Pashtuns, who dominate the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region. Their objective was clear--to enforce strict Sharia law according to the Sunni version of Islam, eliminate the corrupt warlords from Afghanistan and build a pure Islamic country.

The Taliban is manned by an overwhelming number of Pashtuns, which is also reflective of their numerical dominance with over 42 per cent population in Afghanistan and a heavy presence in north-west Pakistan. In its initial avatar it was largely the ethnic Pashtuns who dominated the Taliban, but over years the group began to see the importance of ethnic diversity and began accepting minority ethnicities as well.

The Taliban, however, remains strongly opposed to the Hazaras primarily because they are Shias and hail from a different ethnic group. The Taliban recently killed nine Hazaras and also blew up the statue of Abdul Ali Mazari, Hazara political leader in Bamiyan. The same place where they had earlier blown up the gigantic Buddhas.

Yet, the Taliban are hardly the true representatives of the Pashtuns who have socially evolved and diversified.

If they are the largest and the dominant segment in Afghanistan, they are the second-largest ethnic group in Pakistan with 15-18 per cent population. The Pashtuns have a complicated system of tribes with four main tribes-the Sarbani, the Bettani, the Gharghashti, and the Karlani, which are further divided into kinships or smaller extended families.

In recent history, the Pashtuns leveraged the Russian and British rivalry during the 'Great Game' but lost out when the departing British draw the Durand Line marking the de-facto border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Pashtuns have hardly given credence to the Durand Line and have been crossing it at will as they still consider it as Pashtunistan--their divided homeland. With Pakistan fencing off the border, they have voiced their resentment as this breaks their homeland and tribes.

They have been trying to assert themselves politically in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. They have made peace in Pakistan with increasing representation, and their own party the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) which advocates a peaceful resolution to the Afghan crisis and an end to militancy.

However, Afghanistan still remains an incomplete dream owing to foreign intervention and ethnic rivalries. With other Afghan groups also seeking political and ethnic assertion in the country's politics, the Pashtuns-right from the Taliban militants to the more peaceful groups--are coming round to the view that the country needs to accommodate and reflect Afghan diversity. This flexibility also got reinforced as the Taliban began the intra-Afghan talks, mediated by Qatar and under the American eye, with different sets of Afghan groups including women. For long, the Taliban considered the ethnic minorities and women as lesser people.

Currently, the Taliban leaders, almost the entire leadership is Pashtun, are seemingly talking with different sections of the Afghan society to create a Taliban government. How far accommodation of the minorities will become successful in a Taliban-run system, will only be known in a few months weeks' time.

India Narrative profiles some of the important Pashtun leaders.

Mullah Mohammad Omar: The founder and one-eyed leader of the group, is a Pashtun of the Gilzai branch. He reportedly died of tuberculosis in Afghanistan. He was close to Bin laden, and a strict enforcer of the Sharia law.

Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada: One of the top Taliban leaders, he hails from the Noorzai tribe.

Abdul Ghani Baradar: The founder of the Afghan Taliban who comes from the Sadozai tribe of Pashtuns.

Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob: He is currently the military operational commander and the son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar. An ethnic Pashtun of the Hotak tribe-he is part of the Ghilzai branch. He got his religious education in different seminaries of Karachi in Pakistan.

Sirajuddin Haqqani: The deputy leader of the Taliban owes allegiance to the Haqqani network. He is an ethnic Pashtun from the Zardan tribe of Khost.

Abdul Hakim Ishaqzai: Appointed in 2020 as the negotiator for the Taliban, he hails from Afghanistan's Kandahar province bordering Pakistan which gives him more legitimacy as Kandahar is the birthplace of the militant group. A Pashtun, he has been holding discussions in Doha on behalf of the Taliban.

Besides the Taliban leadership, Afghanistan has been governed by other Pashtun stalwarts. These include the Presidents-Hamid Karzai, Ashraf Ghani as well as Mohammad Najibullah.

Ashraf Ghani: The academic-politician, also a former World Bank specialist, he too is a Pashtun from south Afghanistan.

Hamid Karzai: The leader of the powerful Popalzai tribe of Durrani Pashtuns, he came back to Afghanistan from Pakistan after the 9/11 attacks. His main objective was to organise the Pashtuns against the Taliban.

Mohammad Najibullah: The USSR-supported President, Najibullah-who was killed by the Taliban, was an Ahmadzai Pashtun.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi: Hardeep Singh Puri along with V Muraleedharan and Sardar RP Singh receive the form of Sri Guru Granth Sahib brought from Kabul at IGI Airport in New Delhi on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: Hardeep Singh Puri along with V Muraleedharan and Sardar RP Singh receive the form of Sri Guru Granth Sahib brought from Kabul at IGI Airport in New Delhi on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: Hardeep Singh Puri along with V Muraleedharan and Sardar RP Singh receive the form of Sri Guru Granth Sahib brought from Kabul at IGI Airport in New Delhi on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Aug 24 : Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday received and carried one of the three 'swaroops' of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib that were brought from Kabul amid chaos in Afghanistan. As India is continuously engaged in evacuation from war-torn country, a group of 77 persons including Afghan Hindus and Sikhs, three copies of Guru Granth Sahib landed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport on Tuesday.

Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and V. Muraleedharan received copies of Guru Granth Sahib and 44 Afghan Sikhs who reached India from Kabul on a special Air India flight.

"Blessed to receive & pay obeisance to three holy Swaroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from Kabul to Delhi a short while ago," Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted along with a video showing him carrying a copy of the holy book.

The Union Minister thanked Prime Minister Modi for carrying out rescue operations from Afghanistan and said the government is in touch with those in the country. The minister also said all the copies of Guru Granth Sahib have undergone the Covid-19 test.

The three copies of Guru Granth Sahib will be taken to Guru Arjan Dev Ji Gurdwara in the Capital's New Mahavir Nagar. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R.P. Singh and president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee Manjinder Singh Sirsa were also present at the airport.

Sirsa later tweeted, "I request PM & HM to amend CAA and extend the cut-off date from 2014 to 2021 so that people coming from Afghanistan get benefited & lead a safe life here and their children are able to study here".
LONDON (AP)  Charlie Watts, the self-effacing and unshakeable Rolling Stones drummer who helped anchor one of rocks greatest rhythm sections and used his day job to support his enduring love of jazz, has died, according to his publicist. He was 80.

Bernard Doherty said Tuesday that Watts passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.

Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation, Doherty said.

Watts had announced he would not tour with the Stones in 2021 because of an undefined health issue.

The quiet, elegantly dressed Watts was often ranked with Keith Moon, Ginger Baker and a handful of others as a premier rock drummer, respected worldwide for his muscular, swinging style as the Stones rose from their scruffy beginnings to international superstardom. He joined the band early in 1963 and remained for nearly 60 years, ranked just behind Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as the groups longest lasting and most essential member.

Watts stayed on, and largely held himself apart, through the drug abuse, creative clashes and ego wars that helped kill founding member Brian Jones, drove bassist Bill Wyman and Jones replacement Mick Taylor to quit and otherwise made being in the Stones a most exhausting job.

Now Playing: Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts has died at the age of 80. The self-effacing and unshakeable drummer helped anchor one of rock's greatest rhythm sections for more than half a century. (Aug. 24) Video: Associated Press

A classic Stones song like Brown Sugar and Start Me Up often began with a hard guitar riff from Richards, with Watts following closely behind, and Wyman, as the bassist liked to say, fattening the sound. Watts speed, power and time keeping were never better showcased than during the concert documentary, Shine a Light, when director Martin Scorsese filmed Jumpin Jack Flash from where he drummed toward the back of the stage.

The Stones began, Watts said, as white blokes from England playing Black American music but quickly evolved their own distinctive sound. Watts was a jazz drummer in his early years and never lost his affinity for the music he first loved, heading his own jazz band and taking on numerous other side projects.

He had his eccentricities  Watts liked to collect cars even though he didnt drive and would simply sit in them in his garage. But he was a steadying influence on stage and off as the Stones defied all expectations by rocking well into their 70s, decades longer than their old rivals the Beatles.

Watts didnt care for flashy solos or attention of any kind, but with Wyman and Richards forged some of rocks deepest grooves on Honky Tonk Women, Brown Sugar and other songs. The drummer adapted well to everything from the disco of Miss You to the jazzy Cant You Hear Me Knocking and the dreamy ballad Moonlight Mile.

Jagger and Richards at times seemed to agree on little else besides their admiration of Watts, both as a man and a musician. Richards called Watts the key and often joked that their affinity was so strong that on stage hed sometimes try to rattle Watts by suddenly changing the beat  only to have Watts change it right back.

He also had an impact on the Rolling Stones that extended beyond drumming. He worked with Jagger on the ever more spectacular stage designs for the groups tours. He also provided illustrations for the back cover of the acclaimed 1967 album Between the Buttons and inadvertently gave the record its title. When he asked Stones manager Andrew Oldham what the album would be called, Oldham responded Between the buttons, meaning undecided. Watts thought that Between the Buttons was the actual name and included it in his artwork.

To the world, he was a rock star. But Watts often said that the actual experience was draining and unpleasant, and even frightening. Girls chasing you down the street, screaming  horrible!... I hated it, he told The Guardian newspaper in an interview. In another interview, he described the drumming life as a cross between being an athlete and a total nervous wreck.

Watts found refuge from the rock life, marrying Shirley Ann Shepherd in 1964 and having a daughter, Seraphina, soon after. While other famous rock marriages crumbled, theirs held. Jagger and Richards could only envy their bandmate's indifference to stardom and relative contentment in his private life, which included happily tending horses on a rural estate in Devon, England.

Author Philip Norman, who has written extensively about the Rolling Stones, said Watts lived in constant hope of being allowed to catch the next plane home. On tour, he made a point of drawing each hotel room he stayed in, a way of marking time until he could return to his family. He said little about playing the same songs for more than 40 years as the Stones recycled their classics. But he did branch out far beyond Satisfaction and Jumpin Jack Flash by assembling and performing with jazz bands in the second half of his career.

Charles Robert Watts, son of a truck driver and a homemaker, was born in Neasden, London, on June 2, 1941. From childhood, he was passionate about music  jazz in particular. He fell in love with the drums after hearing Chico Hamilton, and taught himself to play by listening to records by Johnny Dodds, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington and other jazz giants.

He worked for a London advertising firm after he attended London's Harrow Art College and played drums in his spare time. London was home to a blues and jazz revival in the early 1960s, with Jagger, Richards and Eric Clapton among the future superstars getting their start. Watts career took off after he played with Alexis Korners Blues Incorporated, for whom Jagger also performed, and was encouraged by Korner to join the Stones.

Watts wasnt a rock music fan at first and remembered being guided by Richards and Brian Jones as he absorbed blues and rock records, notably the music of bluesman Jimmy Reed. He said the band could trace its roots to a brief period when he had lost his job and shared an apartment with Jagger and Richards because he could live there rent-free.

Keith Richards taught me rock and roll, Watts said. Wed have nothing to do all day and wed play these records over and over again. I learned to love Muddy Waters. Keith turned me on to how good Elvis Presley was, and Id always hated Elvis up 'til then.

Watts was the final man to join the Stones; the band had searched for months to find a permanent drummer and feared Watts was too accomplished for them. Richards recalled the band wanting him so badly to join that members cut down on expenses so they could afford to pay Watts a proper salary. Watts said he believed at first the band would be lucky to last a year.

Every band Id ever been in had lasted a week, he said. I always thought the Stones would last a week, then a fortnight, and then suddenly, its 30 years.

For much of his career, Watts resisted the excesses of his bandmates, but he fell into heroin addiction in the mid-1980s. He would credit his stable relationship with his wife for getting him off drugs.

I was warring with myself at that time, he told Rolling Stone magazine.

With his financial future secure because of the Stones status as one of the worlds most popular live bands, Watts was able to indulge his passion for jazz by putting together some of the most talented musicians in Britain for a series of recordings and performances. They typically played during the long breaks between Stones tours.

His first jazz record, the 1986 Live at Fulham Town Hall, was recorded by the Charlie Watts Orchestra. Others by the Charlie Watts Quintet followed, and he expanded that group into the Charlie Watts and the Tentet.

Watts was an acclaimed jazz bandleader when he was stricken with throat cancer in 2004. He received extensive treatment and made a full recovery. His return to health allowed him to resume touring with both the Stones and his jazz band.

By then, the young man who had worn his brown hair down to his shoulders in the late 1960s had evolved into a craggy, white-haired, impeccably dressed senior statesman of rock. Getting Watts to talk about his place in rock history was almost impossible, but he seemed to enjoy talking about fashion. It was not unusual to see him attired in a custom-made suit and polka dot tie while his bandmates wore jeans and T-shirts.

In the tumultuous, extremely competitive world of rock and roll, Watts seemed to make few enemies.

It all seems to boil down to a certain quality which is as rare as hens teeth in the music business, but which Charlie Watts is perceived to have in abundance. In a word, decency, columnist Barbara Ellen wrote after interviewing Watts in 2000. Youve got to hand it to a  man whos played with the worlds most influential rock n roll band  and stayed happily married to his wife, Shirley  A man who, moreover, remains resolutely determined not to take his elevated position too seriously.

Watts is survived by his wife Shirley, sister Linda, daughter Seraphina and granddaughter Charlotte.

____

Katz contributed to this report before his death. National Writer Hillel Italie in New York and former Associated Press Writer Janelle Stecklein also contributed.
Landmark San Francisco seafood restaurant Swan Oyster Depot had its Yelp page frozen Monday after an Asian customers complaint about what he considered racist treatment brought a flood of negative reviews to the restaurant review website.

In his posts on Instagram on Friday, Tin Dinh said he and his sister, Tu Dinh, who are Vietnamese, were called dim sum several times by a Swan Oyster Depot staffer after placing their order at the popular Polk Street restaurant on Aug. 20. His posts spread across social media over the weekend and into Monday.

Tin Dinh also shared Yelp reviews from several years ago that also called out Swan Oyster employees for reportedly racist behavior. He said he hopes the attention brought by his posts will pressure the restaurant to acknowledge its racist language and issue a public apology.

In a message on Swan Oyster Depots Yelp page on Monday, the rating website explained its temporary freezing of new reviews, saying: While racism has no place on Yelp and we unequivocally reject racism or discrimination in any form, all reviews on Yelp must reflect an actual first-hand consumer experience (even if that means disabling the ability for users to express points of view we might agree with).

Jimmy Sancimino, whose family has run the Polk Street institution for decades, confirmed that he used the phrase dim sum in his interactions with the Dinhs last Friday, but denied that doing so was racist. Swan Oyster uses the term, he told The Chronicle, to refer to customers who order from more than one staff member, as is common at a dim sum restaurant.

Tin Dinh said he started ordering food from Sancimino. He said Sancimino walked away during the process, so his sister finished ordering from another employee. When they told Sancimino that when he returned, he walked away, pointed to them and yelled dim sum.

We have a little saying in here when people want more than one person to wait on them at once. We say its like a dim sum restaurant (where) you can have 10 different waitresses come by and drop off food at your table. But thats not the way it works here, Sancimino said. Unfortunately this man (and) young lady took it the wrong way. Im terribly sorry about it. But they obviously were in more of a rush and they wanted better service than I could provide.

Eating fresh oysters and Dungeness crab salads at Swan Oyster Depots 18-seat counter is a longtime tradition in San Francisco. Its what brought Tu Dinh, who was visiting her brother from Utah, to the restaurant Friday, along with Tin Dinhs boyfriend. They had eagerly waited in line for an hour and a half before their interactions with Sancimino.

Shocked by his use of dim sum, Tin Dinh said, they immediately told another employee about it. That employee told them that its a term they use at the restaurant and that it has nothing to do with race, Tin Dinh said.

But to Tin Dinh, the use of the term felt like a microaggression.

Violence towards Asian people is not new. Just because there was no physical harm doesnt mean theres no hurt that came from this experience, he told The Chronicle.

He also questioned Sanciminos explanation. To use a dish from a different culture to specifically point out your customers is absolutely disrespectful. ... Why not just say help or another word that does not involves someone elses culture? he wrote on Instagram.

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On Monday, Steve Sancimino, Jimmys older brother, called the incident a non-issue.

We have a certain jargon that we use and obviously somebody construed it as being a racial statement, which its not, he said.

Ask regular customers what our outlook towards our customers is. Im sure what everyone will tell you is were a very caring, respectful group of gentlemen, he added.

Swan Oyster Depot is one of the Bay Areas most acclaimed and well-known restaurants, praised internationally by critics and chefs not only for its seafood but also as an unchanged relic of old-school San Francisco. The restaurant won the James Beard Americas Classics award in 2000 and was a finalist for the organizations Outstanding Service award in 2019.

Elena Kadvany is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ekadvany
The Dogpatch location of groundbreaking Thai restaurant Kin Khao has permanently closed  in part because federal pandemic-related funding failed to come through.

That said, this is not the end of San Franciscos Kin Khao, but its unclear when the original location in Union Square will reopen with its popular khao soi and spicy wings. Owner Pim Techamuanvivit said its dependent on the Parc 55 Hotel, which houses the restaurant and has remained dark throughout the pandemic.

When the Dogpatch restaurant opened last September, taking over the former Noon All Day cafe space at 690 Indiana St., it was seen as a pandemic pivot. Techamuanvivit wanted to provide a space for not only her style of Thai food but also to keep Kin Khaos employees onboard with health insurance. At the same time, she signed a lease for one year only, knowing any new business venture at the time was a risky proposition.

Now, the year is up, and it feels like the right time to walk away. The Dogpatch space offers only outdoor seating, and fire season has begun. Plus, her extremely busy Japantown restaurant Nari could use more staff.

Techamuanvivit had hoped she could turn the Dogpatch restaurant into a permanent, more casual sister location  with help from a Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant.

Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle 2020

The federal program was intended to prioritize businesses owned by minorities but faced a lawsuit from some activists, claiming discrimination against white and male applicants. According to the New York Times, about 3,000 restaurateurs had their grants rescinded.

We got to the stage where we knew what the number was we were expecting, Techamuanvivit said. All of a sudden, it just came to nothing.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Without that money, Techamuanvivit said, she cant afford to renovate the Dogpatch space into something that would work in the long term for Kin Khaos needs. The kitchen is tiny, without necessary features like a wok station. Instead, cooks have been prepping food throughout the interior of the restaurant, making business entirely dependent on outdoor seating  and the weather.

It wasnt meant to be a Thai restaurant, she said. It was meant to sell coffee and pastries and panini.

Techamuanvivit hopes that the boost in staffing as people move from Kin Khao to Nari means she might be able to open Nari seven days a week. And perhaps some Kin Khao favorites will pop up at Naris bar, like the crispy, coconut-brined fried chicken sandwich.

Im sad were closed. I loved having Kin Khao in my neighborhood, said Techamuanvivit, who lives in Dogpatch. It was something we needed during the really, really bleak time last year.

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
Now that the Pfizer vaccine has won a full approval from the FDA, Bay Area leaders predict more vaccine mandates will follow. Bay Area diners are bailing on restaurant reservations amid delta variant concerns. S.F. schools will spend nearly $3 million on air purifiers to combat the virus and wildfire smoke. Neighborhoods in one East Bay have some of the lowest vaccination rates in the Bay Area, communities that have also withstood disproportionately high rates of job loss, eviction and coronavirus infections.

Resources on COVID-19 and Californias reopening: For detailed maps and new city-by-city Bay Area data, check out The Chronicles Coronavirus Tracker. To get regular updates on our coverage, sign up for our coronavirus newsletter.

Latest updates:

San Jose City Council meeting on vaccination mandate temporarily shut down: A group of unmasked protesters swarmed a city council meeting on Tuesday, protesting a proposal by Mayor Sam Liccardo that would require attendees of events with 50 or more people at city-owned facilities  including venues such as the SAP Center and San Jose McEnery Convention Center  to show proof of vaccination. Once the meeting proceeded, an organized group of anti-vaccination activists filled the public comment segment on Zoom with threats to recall council members and scripted screeds against the COVID-19 vaccines that have been proven to control the spread of the virus and reduce the severity of the disease. Gods given us natural immunity to fight infection. Whats going to happen when we cant shop? said one protester.

In the middle of the latest surge, California officials see signs of relief: Even though more than 8,200 people are hospitalized for COVID-19 across California, with nearly 2,000 in intensive care, state epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said Tuesday that the surge driven by the delta variant may be starting to plateau or peak. Were hopeful that things are kind of leveling out and that were going to be on the other side of this particular surge relatively soon, she said in an interview with The Associated Press, adding that the virus remains unpredictable. The statewide infection rate has dropped 25% in the past three weeks, from a high of 7% of those tested to 5.2%. But deaths, a lagging indicator of case rates, are increasing and state models project nearly 2,000 people will die within the next three weeks.

Black advocacy group objects to SFMTAs vaccination mandate for employees: In a letter sent to SFMTA, Mayor London Breed, and several media outlets, San Franciscos Black Employees Alliance & Coalition Against Anti-Blackness protested that the requirement for all city employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, labeling it a blatant abuse of authority against employees, and misrepresentation of facts. The city had made its vaccination requirement for 35,000 city employees contingent on FDA approval. With Mondays federal action, city workers must be vaccinated by Nov. 1. In the letter, the BEA asked how the city will take care of employees who suffer from adverse reactions to vaccinations (which are extremely rare, according to multiple studies) and why the Pfizer vaccine is considered the gold standard. It also questioned the role of the mayors office in encouraging city departments to push unvaccinated employees to get their shots.

NRA cancels big event in Texas due to COVID: The National Rifle Association has canceled its annual meeting that was to be Sept. 3-5 in Houston, due to concerns over COVID-19, the organization announced Tuesday. The gun-groups meeting would have been attended by thousands of people, at social gatherings and events on acres of exhibition space. The NRA said its decision followed its analysis of COVID-19 data. Houston, like other Texas cities and communities, has seen a jump in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the highly contagious delta variant. Ambulances sometimes wait for hours at hospitals to offload patients as beds have become scarce.

Outside Lands Festival to require proof of vaccination: Organizers of the festival, which is set to take place in San Franciscos Golden Gate Park over Halloween weekend, Oct. 29-31, will require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative coronavirus test within 72 hours of attending for all guests. The overall health and safety of the community and world at large remains our top priority, promoter Another Planet Entertainment said in an email to ticketholders. The letter added that guests are encouraged to wear masks and social distance at the festival, regardless of vaccination status. The new requirement comes after San Francisco Mayor London Breed said last week that she hopes to issue a mandatory vaccine mandate for any events in the city with more than 5,000 attendees.

Southern states set new pandemic death records: With cases and hospitalizations at an all-time high in the state, Florida reported a record average of 212 COVID-19 deaths each day last week, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. That is significantly higher than the daily average of 185 deaths recorded in the last week of January. Mississippi also reported a record 111 new deaths on Tuesday, with an additional 465 patients in intensive care units with the virus, according to state data. Louisiana reported 121 confirmed deaths reported Tuesday, along with 18 listed as probable. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Tuesday that the state no longer has any intensive care unit beds available for COVID-19 patients.

Vaccines are less protective against delta, study shows: The efficacy of the available vaccines against COVID-19 infection dropped from 91% to 66% as the delta variant became prevalent, according to a study published Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study tracked health care personnel, first responders, and other essential and frontline workers across the United States who tested weekly, with most of the subjects fully vaccinated. While we did see a reduction in the protection of the COVID-19 vaccine against the delta variant, its still a two-thirds reduction of risk, lead author Ashley Fowlkes told CNN Tuesday.

False positives in Oakland schools: More than a dozen reported cases of coronavirus in Oakland Unified schools turned out to be false positives, district officials said Tuesday. At least three schools were affected by the error, which was attributed to misread or mis-marked rapid test results, said district spokesman John Sasaki. The false positives likely had an impact on hundreds of people, including families, students and staff at Montera Middle School, Montclair Elementary and Oakland High, Sasaki said, requiring quarantine for some, testing and heightened stress. County and state officials are now involved in addressing the error to ensure it doesnt happen again, Sasaki said. The district will be updating its COVID-19 dashboard to reflect the lower case count, he said, adding so far this year, there are no confirmed cases of in-school transmission.

New CDC study suggests COVID hospitalization risk 29 times greater for unvaccinated study: New research from Los Angeles County published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday finds that the risk of getting infected with COVID-19 is five times higher for those who are unvaccinated compared to those who have received their shots, while the risk of hospitalization increases 29-fold. The study pulled data from May 1July 25, 2021, among 43,127 SARS-CoV-2 infections among county residents, just as the delta variant was becoming dominant.

Renewed hope that vaccine for children could arrive before Christmas: U.S. public health leaders raised hopes that a vaccine against COVID-19 for children under 12 could be available in the fall. I think its possible that we might see that process complete by the end of the calendar year, which would be wonderful for kids like mine and many kids out there who cant get vaccinated, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy told CNN Tuesday. Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, explained on ABCs Good Morning America why the process is taking so long. Keep in mind, kids are not just scaled-down adults, they have different immune systems and metabolism, you really have to do the careful trials to make sure you got the dose right and there arent any surprises, Collins said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

San Jose City Council to consider vaccine mandate for buildings and events: On Tuesday, the council will hear a proposal from Mayor Sam Liccardo that would require proof of vaccination for entry at any city facilities or events with more than 50 people in attendance. Some of the venues that could be impacted by the mandate include the Convention Center, Center of the Performing Arts and SAP Center.

Florida reports staggering new numbers of cases, deaths: Florida reported more than 42,000 new COVID-19 cases and 726 deaths over just the last two days, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Hawaiis governor asks visitors to stay away as cases surge: Hawaii Gov. David Ige asked tourists to avoid traveling to the state amid a surge of COVID-19 cases thats straining hospitals and health care staff. The state will implement tighter restrictions on indoor gatherings starting Wednesday.

California Academy of Sciences to require proof of full vaccination:Beginning Aug. 27, the Academy will require proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of a scheduled visit for all guests ages 12 and up. The policy will not apply to customers under the age of 11 who are not yet eligible for vaccination. While the current San Francisco Department of Public Health mandate does not require museums to implement a proof of vaccination policy at this time, as a scientific institution the Academy remains deeply committed to following the latest science and ensuring the health and safety of our visitors, staff, and community, the organization said on its website, adding that masks are still required for all regardless of vaccination status.

Fauci says up to 30% of unvaccinated people now may step up: Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House senior medical adviser, says that the FDAs formal imprimatur Monday on Pfizers COVID vaccine may change the minds of a good chunk of the nearly 90 million eligible Americans who still are not vaccinated. I hope that this is going to get those 20 to 30% or so of people to wind up deciding that now they feel comfortable with getting vaccinated, Fauci said Monday in a PBS News Hour interview. In addition, its going to allow people ... who are reluctant to make vaccination a requirement for attendance or employment, or what have you, who will feel much more comfortable now doing that, with the FDAs formal approval in hand.

San Francisco schools report 64 COVID cases in first week of reopening: San Francisco public schools reported 64 student cases and six staff cases in the first week, which started on Aug. 16, out of nearly 63,000 children and adults. While San Francisco reported no in-school transmission when schools reopened in the spring, its unclear whether that will hold with the highly contagious delta variant.

S.F schools to boost supply of air cleaners in classrooms: San Francisco Unified School District announced Monday that it plans to send more portable air cleaners to classrooms that rely on open windows to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, in an effort to improve indoor air quality during fire season. Pending approval from the SF Board of Education, SFUSD will purchase additional portable air cleaners for a total cost of $2.9 million. Only 10% of SFUSDs 3,000-plus classrooms currently have portable air cleaners, according to the district. Read the story here.

Over 180,000 U.S. children infected with COVID in the past week: There were over 180,000 new pediatric COVID cases in the week ending Aug. 19, reaching levels of the previous winter surge of 2020-21, according to data collected by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children accounted for 22.4% of reported weekly COVID-19 cases nationwide for the same period. Cases in children have increased exponentially with over a four-fold increase in the past month, rising from about 38,000 cases the week ending July 22 to 180,175 the past week. Nearly 4.6 million children have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, with children accounting for 1.6% to 3.6% of hospitalizations in reporting states.
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit Tuesday that seeks to stop school districts from enforcing mask mandates, requirements aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.

The action drew a rebuke from President Joe Biden, who finds such lawsuits unacceptable, his press secretary said Tuesday.

The lawsuit names Columbia Public Schools along with the district's Board of Education and board members, but is a class action lawsuit that would apply to school districts across the state that have a mask mandate for schoolchildren, said Chris Nuelle, a spokesman for Schmitt.

The new school year began Monday in several districts across the state, and with the delta variant causing a big spike in cases, hospitalizations and deaths, more than four dozen districts are requiring students, teachers and staff to wear face coverings. The lawsuit filed by Schmitt, a Republican, cites the low death rate among school aged children.

We filed this suit today because we fundamentally dont believe in forced masking, rather that parents and families should have the power to make decisions on masks, based on science and facts," Schmitt said in a news release.

President Joe Biden's believes lawsuits such as Schmitt's put more children at risk, press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday.

The president thinks thats completely unacceptable and he has asked his secretary of education, directed I should say, his secretary of education to use all of his authority to help those school districts doing the right thing to ensure every one of their students has access to a fundamental right of safe in-person learning, Psaki said. This could include a number of considerations but Ill let the secretary to speak to them.

Columbia school district spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said the district is extremely disappointed that Schmidt filed the lawsuit. She said the mask mandate is not a forever decision" but is currently necessary to keep students safe.

The decision to file suit against a public school district after a local decision is made in the interest of safety and keeping students in school will waste taxpayer dollars and resources, which are better spent investing in our students. Columbia Public Schools intends to aggressively defend its decision to keep its community and its scholars safe.

Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat, said in a statement that schools may be forced to close if Schmitt's lawsuit is successful and outbreaks occur. She also noted that Schmitt is running for U.S. Senate in 2022.

This lawsuit might help Schmitt win a Republican U.S. Senate primary, but it puts the lives and education of Missouri children in jeopardy, Quade said.

Schmitt successfully sued to stop St. Louis County's mask mandate. He has also filed suits against mask requirements in St. Louis city, Kansas City and Jackson County.

Southwestern Missouri has been the epicenter of this summers outbreak of COVID-19. But since the delta variant of the virus began its rampage in June, cases have spread across the state. Now, the Bootheel region of southeast Missouri is under siege.

Information on Missouri's COVID-19 dashboard shows that six of the 12 counties with the highest seven-day rates of new cases are in the southeast  Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi, Madison, Jackson and Perry counties.

Cape Girardeau's two hospitals are treating a combined 76 COVID-19 patients, including 24 in intensive care units, according to information from St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Hospital.

The death toll continues to rise with another 170 deaths reported by the state health department. Of them, 143 were the result of a weekly review of death certificates. One of those deaths was in May, two were in June, 35 were in July and 105 were earlier in August. The state also cited 27 new deaths, and 1,770 newly confirmed cases. Missouri has reported 618,022 COVID-19 cases overall.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

A central Missouri mayor meanwhile pushed for his friend to be given an anti-parasite drug not approved for treating COVID-19.

The Kansas City Star reported that Lake Ozark Mayor Dennis Newberry wrote on Facebook Monday that the friend should be allowed to take ivermectin in a last-ditch effort to save him.

Please pray for cooperation from his caregivers and hospital admin to allow his loved ones and friends to step in and assist with his life. If we do nothing his life will surely be taken from his 18 year old son, his family and friends, Newberry wrote.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved ivermectin to treat some parasitic worms and for head lice and skin conditions in humans, and other preparations of the drug are used to treat and prevent parasites in horses. The FDA has not approved ivermectin for treating or preventing COVID-19.

By Tuesday morning, Newberry's post had been removed. A phone message left with Newberry wasn't immediately returned.

An estimated 300,000 people attended the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia over the 10-day period that ended Sunday, but just 53 took advantage of an on-site COVID-19 vaccination clinic, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Obviously wed love to have vaccinated 1,000 people, Pettis County Health Administrator JoAnn Martin told the Post-Dispatch. But we are glad we made the effort.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  A 45-year-old New York state trooper died while on duty at a southern Adirondack lake, police said Monday.

Trooper James J. Monda was working a marine detail on the Great Sacandaga Lake at about 4 p.m. Sunday. He went into the water at a boat launch and did not resurface, Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said in a release.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden has decided to stick with his deadline next week for completing the U.S.-led evacuation from Afghanistan, an administration official said Tuesday. The decision reflects a growing fear of extremist attacks at the Kabul airport but also opens Biden to domestic political complaints of caving to Taliban demands and of potentially leaving some Americans and Afghan allies behind.

A Taliban spokesman, speaking prior to word of Biden's decision, said anew that the militant group would oppose any extension of the Aug. 31 deadline. It has allowed the airlift to continue without major interference.

Pressure from U.S. allies, Democratic and Republican lawmakers, veterans groups and refugee organizations has grown for Biden to extend his deadline, which he set well before the Taliban completed its lightning takeover of Afghanistan on Aug. 15. It remains unclear whether the airlift from Kabul's international airport can get out all American citizens and other foreigners by next Tuesday, as well as former translators and other at-risk Afghans who fear for their lives under Taliban rule.

Some Republicans bristled Tuesday at the U.S. seeming to comply with a Taliban edict. We need to have the top priority to tell the Taliban that were going to get all of our people out, regardless of what timeline was initially set," said Rep. Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican.

And Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, chairman of the House intelligence committee, told reporters after a committee briefing Monday on the Afghanistan withdrawal that it was hard for me to imagine wrapping up the airlifts by the end of the month. He also said it was clear there had been any number of warnings to the administration of a very rapid takeover by the Taliban.

Biden asked his national security team to create contingency plans in case a situation arose for which the deadline needed to be extended slightly, the official said.

The chief Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby, said Aug. 31 leaves enough time to get all Americans out, but he was less specific about completing the evacuation of all at-risk Afghans.

We believe we have the ability to get that done by the end of the month, he said, referring to the unspecified number of American citizens who are seeking to leave. He said several hundred were evacuated on Monday and that several thousand have gotten out since the airlift began. He would not be more specific.

The U.S. has repeatedly stressed the risk of continuing the airlift, due to threats of violence by the Islamic State group's Afghanistan affiliate. Germanys top military commander, Gen. Eberhard Zorn, said Tuesday the United States and Germany were particularly concerned about ISIS suicide bombers possibly slipping into crowds in Kabul.

The U.S. ramped up its round-the-clock airlift of evacuees from Afghanistan to its highest level yet on Tuesday. About 21,600 people were flown out in the 24-hour period that ended early Tuesday, the White House said. That compares with about 16,000 the previous day.

Thirty-seven U.S. military flights  32 C-17s and 5 C-130s  carried about 12,700 evacuees. An additional 8,900 people flew out aboard 57 flights by U.S. allies.

Biden had considered whether to extend his self-imposed deadline, taking into account the continued security threats by extremist groups in the Afghan capital, the Taliban's resistance to an extension and the prospect that not all Americans and at-risk Afghan allies can be evacuated by next Tuesday.

At a news conference in Kabul, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Tuesday his group will accept no extensions of the deadline.

Later Tuesday, Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, said the military will need at least several days to fully withdraw its several thousand troops and their equipment from Kabul.

NATO partners and other countries say they will have to shut down their own evacuations if the U.S. withdraws the 5,800 troops it has flown in to run and protect the massive airlifts out of Taliban-ruled Kabul.

British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said earlier that no country would have time to complete evacuations by Aug. 31.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had pressed Biden via an emergency virtual G-7 leaders meeting Tuesday to stay, said British evacuations will go on right up until the last moment that we can."

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Amid the tense operation to get people out of the country, CIA Director William Burns secretly swooped into Kabul on Monday to meet with the Taliban's top political leader, Abdul Ghani Baradar, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.

.The Washington Post first reported Burns' meeting. The U.S. official later confirmed the meeting for the AP.

A 2020 deal struck by President Donald Trump and the Taliban initially set a May deadline for U.S. troops to fully withdraw from Afghanistan, after nearly 20 years of war there. Biden extended the deadline to Aug. 31 but is adamant he, too, wants to end the U.S. military role in Afghanistan, and he is rejecting criticism following the Taliban's sudden conquest of the country this month and the collapse of the U.S.-backed government and military.

With access to the airport still dangerous, U.S. helicopter crews have been carrying out sorties beyond the airport walls to retrieve evacuees, including 16 Americans on Monday.

Since Aug. 14, the U.S. has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of more than 58,000 people.

___

Associated Press writers Nomaan Merchant, Padmananda Rama, Darlene Superville, Aamer Madhani, Frank Jordans, Lolita C. Baldor, Hope Yen, Alexandra Jaffe, James LaPorta, Matthew Lee and Dan Huff contributed to this report.
I dont think the rest of the city understands the giant sigh of soul-releasing relief everyone who actually lives out in the Outer Sunset and the Richmond had when they restored the Great Highway to operations. Last week, everybody was using the highway as a highway, the mixed-use path as a mixed-use path and the beach as a beach. If anything has spelled a return to normal, its been this. Thanks, Mayor London Breed.

Larry Young, San Francisco

Consequence of closure

Regarding Relocate to the park (Letters, Aug. 17): The author is of the opinion that the Great Highway should be permanently closed to vehicular traffic and drivers should use Sunset Boulevard. He suggested just use the east-west residential streets to reach Sunset Boulevard.

Well, I live on one of those feeder streets to Sunset and what used to be a quiet residential street has turned into a mini 19th Avenue. The Great Highway was designed for traffic, not the residential streets. It is unsafe and a detriment to quality of life. The powers that run this city never realize that for every action there is a reaction.

Robert Finley, San Francisco

Mandate the treatment

Regarding Mental illness and disability arent crimes (Aug. 23): Carlos Rios Espinosa and John Raphling argue that it is wrong for authorities to force people facing mental health crises to comply with treatment and that absent a security risk, all treatment should be consensual.

Paranoia is one of the common symptoms of severe mental illness. My brother, who died in 2016 after suffering with schizophrenia for more than a decade, believed that nearly anyone who attempted to help him was actually trying to hurt him, because the voices in his head told him so.

The only time he ever saw any progress was when nonconsensual measures were taken, which could only happen when he became especially menacing or threatening.

Espinosa and Raphling are right that services like food and shelter are important. They are dead wrong that we should wait until people become dangerous to others before being able to mandate the kind of treatment that might save their lives. My brother might still be alive if there were more so-called coercive tools at our disposal.

Skip Perry, San Francisco

Universal vaccinations

Americans who blame those who refuse to be vaccinated for the ongoing COVID-19 nightmare dont understand how a democracy is supposed to work.

We elect our government and pay those elected to pass laws to protect adults and children from existential threats, like COVID-19.

Washington, D.C.: Do your job. Enact an emergency executive order or a universal vaccination mandate and then help the rest of the woefully under-vaccinated world to vaccinate without delay.

Steven Sorscher, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Elevate the arcade

Regarding Relocate to Sunset Blvd (Letters, Aug. 19): Someone needs to inform the author that Sunset Boulevard is already one of the few north-south collector roads that service San Francisco. Along with Van Ness Avenue, Junipero Serra Boulevard and 19th Avenue, Sunset Boulevard is already congested with its capacity of traffic. Reopening the Great Highway provides needed traffic relief to the Outer Sunset neighborhoods that were burdened with the additional traffic imposed upon them by its closure.

If Sunset Boulevard were the solution, drivers would have utilized it and they added traffic to it. Perhaps the proposed subway that is years off will remove some of that traffic, but immediate solutions include use of the Great Highway for vehicular traffic. The recreational use many enjoyed when it was closed can be enhanced by improving the extant pedestrian path on its east side. There is also a pedestrian arcade along much of the west side of the Great Highway that is unknown to most because it is buried under the sand dunes. If this arcade were raised in elevation and sand kept away, it could be widened to provide additional biking and pedestrian activity separated from automobiles.
For just the second time in the states history, California voters are being asked whether to remove a governor from office before the end of his term. In a recall election fueled in part by frustration over the states response to the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsoms political future is on the line.

The campaign has entered its final stage, with mail ballots already sent to every registered voter in the state. Heres what you need to know about casting a vote in this unusual election.

On Wednesday, Aug. 25, from 7-8 p.m., The San Francisco Chronicle and KCRA are hosting a debate ahead of the Sept. 14 gubernatorial recall election. Watch it live here.

When is the recall election?

The recall election is on Sept. 14  the last day to cast a ballot on whether to keep Gov. Gavin Newsom in office.

The deadline to register to vote online at RegistertoVote.ca.gov is Aug. 30. If you miss the deadline, you can register in person  and cast a provisional ballot  up until Sept. 14. For more information about how to cast a same-day ballot, go here.

Who are the candidates running to replace Newsom?

There are 46 replacement candidates on the ballot. You can see a list of all of them here.

One candidate, Republican Doug Ose, formally ended his campaign in August after suffering a heart attack.

How do I vote?

County election officials were required to mail recall ballots to every registered California voter by Aug. 16, so yours should already have arrived.

You can return your completed ballot through the mail  no postage is required. Ballots must be postmarked by Sept. 14 to be counted.

If you prefer to drop off your completed ballot in person, it must be returned to a secure drop box, local polling place or county vote center by 8 p.m. on Sept. 14. Every county will have at least one early voting location.

Here is where to go to check if you are registered to vote. A list of ballot drop-off locations is available online or on the back of your county voter information guide.

How do I fill out the recall ballot?

The ballot contains two parts. Voters can vote on either one or both parts of the recall ballot. Go here for our in-depth, visual explainer of the ballot.

Question 1: Shall GAVIN NEWSOM be recalled (removed) from the office of Governor? The choices are yes or no. If you vote YES, that means you want Newsom to be removed from office. If you vote NO, that means you want him to stay until his term ends on Jan. 2, 2023.

If a majority votes NO, Newsom will remain in office until the end of his term. If more than 50% vote YES, Newsom will be replaced by the candidate who receives the most votes on the second question.

Question 2: The second section asks voters to choose who Newsoms replacement should be from among 46 candidates. If Newsom is recalled, the replacement candidate who receives the highest number of votes  even if it is not a majority  will serve out the remainder of his term.

You can write in a preferred replacement for Newsom, but those votes will only count if the candidate has filed paperwork with elections officials. The state will release a list of certified write-in candidates on Sept. 3.

Jungho Kim/Special to The Chronicle

Newsom cannot run as a replacement candidate nor will write-in votes for him be counted.

If I vote NO to the first question, can I still vote on a replacement candidate?

Yes, a voter can vote no to the question of removing Newsom from office and still select a replacement candidate. Voters can also skip the second question whether they vote YES or NO to the first question.

Who has Newsom recommended as a replacement candidate?

Newsom has urged voters to skip the second question altogether, instead choosing to focus his attention on campaigning against the recall. That has confused many Democratic voters. Chronicle columnist Joe Garofoli wrote about whats behind Newsom's advice to not vote for a recall replacement candidate.

Whats going on with the holes on ballot return envelopes?

Recall supporters have pointed to certain design elements of the ballot as evidence of a conspiracy to rig the election for Newsom, including a pair of small holes punched into the return envelope. But these elements are standard and, in some cases, were added to ensure accuracy and accessibility for all voters. Read more about it here.

Opinion and commentary on the recall

Endorsements: The Chronicle Editorial Board has weighed in on how they believe voters should answer the two questions on the recall ballot here.

The Editorial Board also wrote about why it isn't considering California's recall candidates for endorsement.

See more commentary on the recall here.

What are the top issues driving the recall?

The original recall petition focused on immigration, but the campaign really took off during the coronavirus pandemic, as many Californians grew frustrated with Newsoms restrictions. The pace of signature-gathering exploded after the governor attended a birthday dinner for a friend at the French Laundry in November, helping the recall qualify for the ballot.

Newsom has tried to paint the recall as a power grab by Republicans who otherwise can no longer win regular elections in California. But there are some significant policy differences that have risen to the forefront of the campaign:

The homelessness crisis: Recall supporters sense an opportunity to capitalize on frustration over widespread encampments across the state. With homelessness regularly cited in public polls as one of the biggest problems facing the state, recall organizers believe the issue could drive down support for Newsom in core Democratic areas that propelled him to a record victory in 2018, such as the Bay Area and Los Angeles, where the crisis is most evident.

Crime: Republicans are trying to make crime a top issue by triggering pandemic-stoked anxieties. Though the overall crime rate in Californias largest cities dropped from 2019 to 2020, homicides were up significantly last year, and polls indicate that most Californians believe crime is getting worse. Recall supporters have toured the state blaming Newsom for making the state a more dangerous place with policies that decrease the amount of time people spend incarcerated.

Who is funding the campaigns?

Newsom holds a massive cash advantage heading into the final weeks of the campaign, having raised three times as much money for his recall defense committee as his top Republican challengers have raised combined.

The governor has scored major contributions  sometimes in the millions of dollars  from tech executives, state employee unions and industry associations representing real estate agents, housing developers and dentists.

Because of different fundraising limits for replacement candidates, those gubernatorial hopefuls have had to rely on small donations. But John Cox, the San Diego County real estate investor who lost to Newsom in the 2018 governor race, has given more than $8 million to his own campaign.
SACRAMENTO  In his first public appearance since suffering a heart attack and ending his campaign for governor, Doug Ose on Tuesday endorsed fellow Republican Kevin Kiley in the Sept. 14 recall election.

Kiley, an Assembly member from Rocklin in the Sacramento suburbs, entered the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom last month after emerging during the pandemic as a leading critic of Newsoms public health measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus, including extended business and school closures.

But he has struggled to break out of the field of 46 replacement candidates as attention  and grassroots excitement among recall supporters  has centered on provocative talk radio host Larry Elder.

Ose, a former congressman who dropped out last week to focus on his recovery from the heart attack, said Tuesday that he trusted Kiley because of their past experience together, including in a cattle business that they owned together for several years.

Kevin Kiley brings it every day. Hes intelligent, hes curious and he delivers, said Ose, who paused his remarks multiple times to catch his breath. Kevin Kiley has what it takes to bring this state back to a sense of normalcy.

Ballots for the recall election have already been mailed to every registered voter in California. The ballot asks two questions: Should Newsom be removed from office before the end of his term? And if so, who should replace him?

If a majority of voters selects yes on the first question, then whichever candidate receives the most votes on the second question will serve out the remainder of his term, which ends on Jan. 2, 2023. The winning candidate does not need to receive a majority of votes.

Both Ose and Kiley declined to call on Elder to drop out of the race, following a report last week in Politico that he purportedly brandished a gun at his former fiancee during a heated argument in 2015 and another in The Chronicle about a 2000 book in which Elder wrote that women should tolerate some crude language and behavior from men in the workplace.

Elder denied the allegations about the gun and did not respond to The Chronicles inquiries about his book. But two other top Republican recall candidates, reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner and former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, urged him Friday to end his campaign.

Thats up to the voters to decide who to pick. Its not my position to be saying who should be dropping out, Kiley said Tuesday. We all have an opportunity, whoever is in the race, to make a case against Gavin Newsom.

Ose said, I dont know a lot about Larry Elder, which is why Im supporting Kevin Kiley for governor.

Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
In his final hours Monday as New York governor, Andrew Cuomo granted clemency to David Gilbert, the father of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Gilbert is serving a 75-years-to-life sentence for his participation in the fatal robbery of a Brinks armored truck in 1981.

Gilbert, 76, had his sentence commuted and will now be eligible for parole, and is one of six individuals who either received sentence commutations or a full pardon just before Cuomos resignation took effect after midnight.

Gilbert, along with Chesa Boudins mother, Kathy Boudin, were members of the radical leftist organization Weather Underground. On Oct. 20, 1981, they joined members of the Black Liberation Army in the botched robbery of a Brinks armored truck in New York.

Other members of the group shot and killed a Brinks guard, Peter Paige, before killing two Nyack police officers, Waverly Brown and Edward OGrady.

Chesa Boudin, now 41, was 14 months old at the time.

In a statement to The Chronicle, Chesa Boudin said he was overcome with emotion, noting that the clemency comes on the eve of his first childs birth.

My heart is bursting, and it also aches for the families of the three victims, he said.

Gilbert and Kathy Boudin were unarmed getaway drivers. They were charged and convicted under New Yorks felony murder law, which holds that all participants in a felony that leads to a death can be charged with murder, even if they were not directly responsible for the killings.

Gilbert was ultimately convicted in 1983 of three counts of second-degree murder and four counts of first-degree robbery.

Kathy Boudin was paroled in 2003. Gilbert continues to serve his sentence at New Yorks Shawangunk Correctional Facility.

Chesa Boudin said that although Gilbert never used a gun or intended for anyone to get hurt, my fathers crime caused unspeakable harm and devastated the lives of many separate families.

I will continue to keep those families in my heart; I know they can never get their loved ones back, he said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Cuomo said he would resign rather than risk impeachment after a probe by the New York Attorney Generals Office concluded that he sexually harassed at least 11 women.

In a Monday statement announcing the clemency actions, Cuomos office said the six individuals have demonstrated substantial evidence of rehabilitation and a commitment to their communities.

The march towards a more fair, more just, more equitable and more empathetic New York State is a long one, but every step forward we can take (is) worthwhile and important, he said. These clemencies make clear the power of redemption, encourage those who have made mistakes to engage in meaningful rehabilitation, and show New Yorkers that we can work toward a better future.

Cuomos office said Gilbert made significant contributions to AIDS education and prevention programs while incarcerated, and has additionally worked as a student tutor, law library clerk, a paralegal assistant and a teachers aide.

Four of the other individuals who were granted clemency received commuted sentences, and one, 51-year-old Lawrence Penn, received a full pardon. Penn in 2015 pleaded guilty to first-degree falsifying business records and was incarcerated for two years.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
A former paralegal for the San Francisco Board of Appeals has filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming she was fired for blowing the whistle on her boss and a member of the board for allegedly removing evidence from the file of a politically contentious appeal case.

In the lawsuit filed last week, Katy Sullivan states that she learned in late November of 2019 that the exhibit  the print-out of text messages between Board of Appeals President Darryl Honda and former Planning Commissioner Dennis Richards  had gone missing. After the discovery Sullivan says she sent an email to call out the fact that the documents were missing, according to the lawsuit.

Two weeks later Sullivan, who had worked as a paralegal for 30 years, including six with the city, says she learned that evidence had been removed from the file by Commissioner Honda ... who had no right to remove it, according to the lawsuit. Sullivan states the document was removed with assistance of her boss, Board of Appeals Executive Director Julie Rosenberg.

Sullivan then filed a whistle-blower complaint with the controllers office, accusing Honda and Rosenberg of deleting critical documents from an appeal in violation of the law. After filing the complaint, Sullivan says she was subjected to a campaign of exaggerated and false criticism of her work while some of her job functions were reassigned to other, less senior, paralegals.

After going on medical leave for depression, anxiety, and cervical nerve disorder, she was fired in December of 2020, the lawsuit states. Honda and Rosenberg did not return calls seeking comment.

The office of San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera hasnt had a chance to review the lawsuit yet, according to spokesman John Cote.

The city is committed to maintaining a workplace free from unlawful retaliation, including protected whistle-blower activity, Cote said. Since Ms. Sullivan has apparently brought this matter to court, that is where the city will address it.

The text messages that Honda and Rosenberg allegedly removed from the public record relate to a high-profile 2019 case in which the citys Department of Building Inspection revoked nine permits for a renovation at 3426-3432 22nd St., a four-unit historic Italianate building near Guerrero Street.

The project was being redeveloped by then-Planning Commissioner Dennis Richards, who has been a harsh critic of the citys Department of Building Inspection. Richards and his partners snagged the apartment building for $2.7 million and hoped to sell it for nearly $8 million after buying out the rent control tenants for $350,000 and renovating the units.

Richards claims the Department of Building Inspection singled his project out for retaliation after he had sought to expose corruption in the agency. The city claimed Richards and his real estate partners exceeded the scope of the permits they pulled and also failed to disclose the buyout of rent control tenants.

Richards has since sued the Department of Building Inspection. That case is pending. Richards has resigned from the planning commission.

Sullivans lawsuit does not specify the content of the text that was allegedly removed. But sources familiar with the case say the document allegedly removed included a text where Honda states, hey bro, theres some not so nice stuff going around about you right now. Whats up.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Richards has said he perceived Hondas text as a warning to back off in his criticism of the building department. He said he was stunned when he heard of Sullivans lawsuit.

Its shocking that Commissioner Honda would apparently go to such lengths to hide this information and it raises serious questions about what else has been done out of the public eye, Richards said. We are certainly looking into this. And Ill add that Im deeply troubled Ms. Sullivan may have faced professional sanctions for speaking out about wrongdoings.

The lawsuit comes at a time when the Department of Building Inspection has been at the center of a widespread investigation into corruption in San Francisco City Hall, a multi-agency probe that has so far led to charges of fraud for former Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru and bribery charges for former Public Utilities Commission General Manager Harlan Kelly. Last week, the U.S. Attorneys Office indicted former senior building inspector Bernie Curran for wire fraud.

Board of Appeals Vice Chairman Rick Swig, who has served with Honda for nearly a decade, said he couldnt comment specifically on the lawsuit. But he said that the members of the Board of Appeals are sworn to uphold standards set by the Ethics Commission and that no evidence has been suppressed or gone missing in any case that has come before the board in his tenure.

Transparency, adherence to ethical standards and adherence to sunshine laws is first, second and third in terms of our priorities, Swig said. Mr. Hondas rigor in upholding those standards is aligned with my own rigor and everyone on the boards rigor. Ill lay across railroad tracks for that one.

J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen
The wildfires tearing through Californias forests every summer are making evacuations an annual event in the states rural, woodsy corners.

Weve done so many, were getting pretty proficient at it, said Plumas County Sheriff-Coroner Todd Johns.

Last year, Johns evacuated a quarter of Plumass 19,000 residents when the deadly Bear Fire encroached from the south. This year, with the Dixie Fire burning through a substantial chunk of the county, Johns had to evacuate more than half the local population.

Most of the north state sheriffs have become quite proficient at evacuating areas in their counties now, he said. Its a lengthy process, as you can imagine.

Carrying out evacuations in vast, remote, mountainous areas presents all kinds of challenges: People are spread out, cell service is spotty, resources are thin, livestock and large animals are abundant, and homes in the hinterlands are often tucked deep in the woods, only accessible via rugged dirt roads. Plus, a prevailing attitude of self-reliance means some residents dig in their heels and simply refuse to leave.

What does it take to clear Californias wild geography when a wildfire approaches? We asked county sheriffs and representatives from the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service how it has worked in the far north over the past month as the Dixie Fire burns across the landscape.

Who calls for an evacuation in these places?

Evacuation warnings and orders in rural areas flow from county sheriffs, who consult with the state Office of Emergency Services on the danger to their communities. Theyll typically start with a warning pushed out on social media, radio stations and news outlets and send officers door to door to alert people.

Carrying out a mandatory evacuation is a complicated process that typically involves coordination with Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol, county road departments and federal agencies. Together, they close roads and campgrounds, knock on doors, ping cell phones and sweep recreation areas on foot or by vehicle.

It is crucial to understand that the sheriffs face tough choices. Evacuate too late, and people will get hurt. Evacuate too soon, people will be displaced from their homes. Neither decision is made easily, according to written replies provided to The Chronicle by Lassen National Forest public information officer Mark Gaston. The welfare of an entire community is a heavy burden for anyone to shoulder.

How do evacuations work at campgrounds, trails and wilderness areas?

Californias far north is a puzzle of intertwining national forests extending across millions of acres of mountains, meadows and woodlands. These are the places largely given over to nature, where people go to separate from the pull of modern life, often on multi-night trips.

The greatest challenge we face in wilderness areas is determining where there are people, according to the Lassen National Forest public information officer. That forest alone is 1.2 million acres in size. These areas, by design, are not easily accessible.

In an evacuation, authorities work with phone service providers to ping cell phones and GPS devices in a specific geographic area with text message alerts. They post closures at trailheads and developed campgrounds and check wilderness permits to get an idea of who and how many people may be in the backcountry. The Forest Service and sheriffs departments will also send enforcement patrols on foot and via ATV through popular hiking and camping areas to reach people on the ground.

Evacuating campgrounds in Plumas and Lassen counties hasnt been an issue lately, authorities say.

Our entire county is full of smoke, so were not seeing many people camping or vacationing here right now, Lassen County Sheriffs Lt. David Woginrich said.

Helicopters are deployed to search for people that authorities suspect may be in the least accessible areas. Earlier this month, for example, Butte and Plumas counties sent a helicopter over Butte Meadows, a popular spot for 4x4s and rock-crawlers.

Still, several residents in Butte Meadows, west of the Dixie Fire, refused to leave their homes and cabins after an evacuation order in late July. The area was spared fire damage and the order was reduced to a warning last week.

What happens when a person refuses to evacuate?

Authorities say the overwhelming majority of people are thankful to receive the heads-up about an approaching fire and are receptive to early warnings and evacuation orders. But they do encounter residents who push back, determined to protect their homes. Some are prepared with personal fire trucks, sprinkler systems and pond reservoirs to stave off the flames.

Elderly people with deep connections to their properties tend to be more ornery and resistant to evacuating, Sheriff Johns said.

Of course, we cant force people to leave, Sheriffs Lt. Woginrich said. But we strongly recommend it.

Occasionally, a confrontation can turn aggressive. Earlier this month, officers who stopped a man driving his truck toward a fire containment area near Greenville said he pulled a gun on them to move aside so he could drive into the fire zone, Johns said. Officers later searched for the man but werent able to locate him.

What happens to peoples pets and livestock in an evacuation?

Residents who evacuate often must leave their animals behind. Sometimes, that can mean risking ones livelihood. For example, a Plumas County rancher who had to leave his free-range cattle during last years Bear Fire returned to find a large portion of his herd had died.

When evacuations last days or weeks, local authorities in Plumas and Lassen will often volunteer to check in at certain homes and properties and tend to pets and livestock. This summer, they have been feeding and watering dogs, cats and horses, among other animals, Johns said.

Ideally, a rancher or person with lots of heads of livestock will be able to leave their animals in an irrigated pasture, which can act as a natural fire break. Sometimes, officials will work with locals to return to their herds temporarily during an evacuation.

The Pacific Crest Trail passes through these fire zones. How are hikers coping?

Fires across California, Oregon and Washington have shut down increasingly larger portions of the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail, forcing off thru-hikers attempting to trek the entire route this summer.

Since the Dixie Fire, Plumas and Lassen are seeing a large contingent of marooned hikers  at least 100, Johns said  who have abandoned the trail and wound up in small towns, hoping for rides and assistance.

It hasnt been necessarily problematic, but it was a concern, Johns said. There are still folks being picked up and shipped around this fire.

Lassen Volcanic National Park was evacuated. How did that work?

The 106,000-acre park, known for its unique geologic features, is composed of 85% wilderness and spans Lassen, Plumas, Tehama and Shasta counties. It draws about 500,000 visitors per year and was on pace for the highest annual visitation before the Dixie Fire caused the park to shut down and evacuate on Aug. 5.

Gregory Thomas is The Chronicles editor of lifestyle & outdoors. Email: gthomas@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @GregRThomas
Seventeen months after closing its doors, iconic San Francisco dive Bow Bow Cocktails will reopen.

But it will do so without Hsiu-Mei Wong at the helm.

Affectionately known to all Chinatown bar hoppers as Mama Candy, the 71-year-old proprietor of one of the city's most beloved watering holes is retiring and passing the business to longtime bartender Jenny Han, according to Han's daughter Rao Fu, who will officially hold the business and liquor licenses.

Alex Nicholson / Special to SFGATE

Han, who has been working at Bow Bow for 20 years, plans to reopen the bar in late August/early September as soon as the Alcoholic Beverage Control paperwork goes through.

"Candy, she was worried about her age and COVID and thought it was going to be a hard time for the business, so she passed it to my mother," Fu told SFGATE. "But she won't be gone. She enjoys drinking and meeting up with friends and she already talked to my mom and said, 'If you need help, I'll come.'"

Wong, who immigrated to San Francisco from Taiwan in 1971, bought Bow Bow in 1986 with her husband and has run it ever since, growing the legend of Mama Candy all the while. The well-worn-in dive, which sits on the quietest end of Grant Avenue right at the doorstep of North Beach, became a destination through the years thanks to Mama, who has lubricated patrons with Tiger beers and Chinese whiskey for more than three decades, while earning more than 4 stars on Yelp  an all-time accomplishment for a bar with as much mileage as Bow Bow has.

Alex Nicholson / Special to SFGATE

Theres good people here, she told SFGATE in 2019. You have a good time, treat people nice, and people come back.

According to Fu, not much of anything will change, though they may think about updating some of the most well-worn pieces of the bar down the road. For her mom, it will mostly just be an opportunity to return to a place she has always held dear.

"That was her first bartender job, she's worked there for 20 years," Fu said of Han. "Its kind of her home, her lifetime career, her everything."
BEIJING (AP)  Chinas microblogging platform Sina Weibo on Monday closed 145 accounts, some of which had defended pop star Kris Wu over his rape allegations, for publishing what it called information harmful for maintaining social order.

Wu, a Chinese-Canadian pop star, was detained on July 31 for deceiving young women multiple times into having sexual relations with him, according to Beijing police. His arrest came after several women said they were plied with alcohol and then either pressured to have sex with him or sexually assaulted.

Some of the Weibo accounts which were shut down had previously defended such allegations against Wu, according to state-run media outlet Global Times.

It was not immediately clear how many of the 145 accounts were shut down for defending Wu. Several other celebrities, such as debater and media personality Ma Weiwei, also had their accounts suspended after they defended earlier allegations against Wu in 2016, and have since apologized for their actions, according to the Global Times.

Weibo, often described as China's Twitter, said in a post published Monday that the 145 accounts were shut down for publishing harmful information related to current affairs, defined as anything from spreading rumors, disrupting state order and undermining social stability to publishing negative information that breaks the bottom line of social morality and the system.

The shutdown of Weibo accounts highlights how internet and social media platforms are required to strictly comply with content guidelines and censorship rules in China, where authorities dictate what can or cannot be published online.

Authorities in China are quick to censor keywords and search terms deemed politically sensitive or harmful to society, and internet platforms are expected to comply according to the law.

Certain search terms, such as the names of Chinese artist-activist Ai Weiwei or late Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, turn up no results when searched on platforms like Weibo.

The shutdown of accounts also come at a time when the Chinese government has tightened its grip over the internet and technology sector.

In recent months, authorities have implemented anti-monopoly rules and data privacy laws to curb unfair market practices and prevent companies from unfairly collecting and profiting off users data.
CHICO, Calif. (AP)  Personal information from students at a California college who requested a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine has been posted online after an apparent data breach.

The records from about 130 students at California State University, Chico were dumped on an anonymous internet message board, the Sacramento Bee reported Monday.

A commenter on the site linked to a spreadsheet with detailed explanations from students who had asked to be exempted from receiving the vaccine in order to attend the college. Student names and phone numbers were included in many of the entries.

The original post provided tips on how to file a religious exemption to a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, according to the Bee. State purely religious reasons only, the anonymous tip read. Do not mention anything else.

The CSU system requires its 56,000 faculty and staff and nearly 500,000 students on campus to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. The policy allows for medical and religious exemptions.

The spreadsheet shows that roughly half of the requests in the leaked document were approved. Many of the denied requests were resubmitted for another chance at approval.

We are aware of the documents posted online and circulated among the media. We are investigating this incident, while also taking a number of proactive steps to protect students confidential information, Andrew Staples, CSU Chicos public relations manager, said in a statement.

Most of the exemption requests were filed by students citing their Christian beliefs  some of them quoting Biblical scripture. Another student who was approved called the vaccine unclean and analogous to what non-kosher food is to Orthodox Jews.

Students who asked for a religious exemption included several NCAA athletes, incoming students, and residents of university dorms, the newspaper said. Students who stated they believed in healing through prayer were approved for exemption, and many referred to their bodies as a temple.

My religious beliefs follow natural healing through Gods divine power and faith healing, read one NCAA athletes exemption request that was approved. My beliefs question the necessity of modern medicine including vaccinations.
SAN FRANCISCO  When Alice Zhang set out in 2018 to raise funding for her drug discovery startup, investors kept asking her about Theranos, the blood testing startup led by entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes that had collapsed in scandal.

Others asked, too. At a Stanford University event, the organizers wanted Zhang to talk about Theranos. One adviser told her that when her startup came up in conversation, people responded by cracking jokes about Holmes.

Zhang was initially confused. Her startup, Verge Genomics, uses artificial intelligence to aid the discovery of therapeutic drugs. That was completely different from Theranos business of marketing blood testing machines as a diagnostic tool. Holmes had also been accused of criminal fraud. Zhang had not.

But the pattern was clear. When Verge Genomics raised funding later that year, a prominent industry columnist wrote an article that compared Zhang to Holmes. Although the comparisons dissipated as her startup has grown, Zhang, 32, said she hears the same stories from other female founders today, even though I could see no similarity besides the fact that were both women in the hard-science space.

A generation of female entrepreneurs  particularly those in life sciences, biotechnology and health care  is still operating in the shadow of Holmes. Though Theranos shut down in 2018, Holmes continues to loom large across the startup world because of the audacity of her story, which has permeated popular culture and left behind a seemingly indelible image of how female founders can push boundaries.

The tabloid-like saga began when Holmes started Theranos at the age of 19. She was soon lauded as the next Steve Jobs, crowned the worlds youngest billionaire and lionized on numerous magazine covers. But after a 2015 investigation by The Wall Street Journal raised questions about Holmes claims about Theranos, she spectacularly fell from grace. Her implosion captured the publics imagination, leading to a documentary, a book, a podcast and an upcoming miniseries starring Amanda Seyfried.

CAROLYN FONG/NYT

As Holmes prepares to go to trial in federal court in San Jose, California, over allegations that she defrauded investors, doctors and patients  jury selection is scheduled for Aug. 31  female founders said the ripple effects from the case could be felt anew.

Many said they already had to prove that they belonged in the male-dominated field of startups. But in recent years, they faced the additional hurdle of fighting assumptions that they were like Holmes, they said, something their male counterparts have generally not had to contend with.

There was already a higher bar before Theranos because we dont fit the pattern, said Falon Fatemi, who co-founded Node, an artificial intelligence startup, and Fireside, a media distribution startup. This just makes it that much harder.

A spokesperson for the law firm representing Holmes, 37, declined to comment. She faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted. Ramesh Balwani, the former chief operating officer of Theranos, has also been charged with fraud, and his trial may start next year. Both have pleaded not guilty.

For Heather Bowerman, 36, the fallout from Theranos has been long-standing. Bowerman founded DotLab, which has developed a test to help identify endometriosis, a chronic disorder, in 2016. At meetings with some investors, she said, she was often required to explain how DotLab would be different from Theranos. DotLab planned to publish its results in peer-reviewed journals, something Theranos never did, she said.

Still, Bowerman decided to hold off on raising venture capital funding, relying instead on government grants to get DotLab off the ground.

DotLab has since published results of studies validating its tests in peer-reviewed journals, recruited an advisory board of doctors and scientists, and it is conducting a clinical trial. The company raised $12 million in venture funding in 2019.

Even so, the stigma from Holmes persists, Bowerman said. I still today see hesitation by traditional VCs to fund a diagnostics company, she said. It really narrows the list to a short list of potential investors.

Julia Cheek, founder of Everly Health, which provides at-home health tests through its subsidiary, Everlywell, said at a conference in 2019 that comparisons to Holmes were so frequent that colleagues and advisers even suggested she dye her hair so that the connections would stop. Both women have blond hair. Cheek did not change her hair color.

Cheek, 37, attributed the constant analogies to the fact that few female-founded companies get to a certain size and profile, which magnifies the actions of those that do. Women founders have to navigate these types of questions that their male counterparts simply dont have to answer, she said.

The frequent comparisons are pernicious, many entrepreneurs said. In conversations with investors, female founders often field what researchers call prevention questions, which are framed negatively and designed to prevent losses. But male founders are more often asked promotion questions about a startups possibilities, which allow them to focus on their hopes and ideals, according to researchers at London Business School and Harvard.

If youre offered a promotion question, you can answer in a promotional way, said Andy Coravos, founder of HumanFirst, an at-home health care startup. The core issue you have with Elizabeth Holmes is its a prevention question.

Some women said they also felt caught in a startup ecosystem that venerates bold, disruptive businesses, with investors often forgiving those who bend the rules or who take shortcuts in pursuit of growth.

Nhat V. Meyer/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images

Beth Esponnette, founder of Unspun, a custom jeans company, said investors had frequently encouraged her to be more aggressive, sometimes to the point of dishonesty. One once advised her to increase her revenue projections by 10 times, a wildly unrealistic level.

Last month, Esponnette published an essay describing this struggle titled I Get It, Elizabeth Holmes. Many of Holmes actions were inexcusable, Esponnette, 33, wrote. But I still believe that she thought she was doing the right thing taking the universal advice of Silicon Valley: Fake it till you make it. 

Women at tech startups wrote to her thanking her for saying what they had been feeling, Esponnette said.

Lola Priego, 30, the founder of Base, which offers at-home blood and saliva tests that are processed at traditional labs, hears a Theranos comparison at least once a week, she said. The references come directly or indirectly from potential partners, advisers, investors, customers and reporters, she said.

She said she understood the need for skepticism, since new health care companies should be looked at critically to prevent malpractice. Often the comparisons stopped after people learned that Base works with Quest Diagnostics, a multinational company, for analysis of its tests.

But the additional bias and skepticism is challenging to overcome, Priego said.

The biggest blow came from a scientific adviser whom Priego said she had tried to recruit in 2019. The adviser took the meeting only to tell her that bringing technology into health care was doing a disservice to the industry, just like Theranos. It caused Priego to question whether she could hire the caliber of advisers she had hoped for.

It was quite demoralizing, she said. She has since recruited six advisers.

In July, Verge Genomics struck a three-year partnership with pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly to work on drugs for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, Zhang said. The company also published a paper about its methods in a scientific journal last year and recruited a chief science officer this year.

It was a relief to have something to show to those who were doubtful, Zhang said.

The most fragile part of the company is the earliest stage, when you have to buy into the people, the vision and the idea, she said. Reflecting on Holmes and Theranos, she added, Its where these types of associations can be really harmful and curtail potential.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AP)  China's state-owned CNPC has started work to set up new wells at Turkmenistan's giant natural gas fields in exchange for future gas supplies, news reports said Tuesday.

It will take China National Petroleum Corporation 2 1/2 years to make three new wells at the Galkynysh field operational, Turkmen media reported. Each will have a daily output of three million cubic meters of gas.
This story originally appeared on KCRA.

The Caldor Fire in El Dorado County continues to grow as crews try to protect structures since the fire jumped Highway 50, putting more homes and businesses at risk.

The wildfire, which ignited Aug. 14 near Little Mountain between Omo Ranch and Grizzly Flats, had burned at least 106,562 acres, or over 166 square miles, and was 5% contained as of Monday, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire Director Thom Porter said during a Monday afternoon news conference that the Caldor Fire is now "the No. 1 priority in the nation of fires to get additional and new resources that are becoming available. It is that important."

He added that the fire "is knocking on the door to the Lake Tahoe basin."

"We have all efforts in place to keep it out of the basin, but we do need to also be aware that that is a possibility based on the way the fires have been burning and the concerns that we have been living in all of these other fires and their growth," Porter said.

There are currently no evacuation warnings or orders for the Tahoe basin.

When asked to elaborate on the potential threat to Tahoe, Porter said that while he didn't think the fire would reach the basin, that he could be proven wrong.

"The weather has outstripped and Mother Nature has taken over and taken fires like the Dixie to places that I never thought was possible," he said.

The Caldor Fire jumped Highway 50 near Kyburz on Saturday, and a 40-mile stretch of the highway between Sly Park and Myers was closed Friday. Residents who live between Meyers and Twin Bridges are allowed to travel on the highway but must show identification and proof of residency.

Cal Fire said in a Sunday briefing that they do not anticipate reopening Highway 50 in the near future as the fire still poses a threat to those traveling on that road.

Fire crews on Sunday focused on keeping the head of the Caldor Fire burning in El Dorado County south of Highway 50 after a spot fire broke out on the north side, threatening nearby communities.

Capt. Keith Wade, a public information officer for Cal Fire, said the heavy, dead timber in the area is cause for concern.

"One of the things that's been impacting a lot of these fires is the rollout that's been occurring, which is dead timber on fire, starting to roll down and it can cross over containment lines and ignite other vegetation along the path," Wade said.

As of Monday, Cal Fire said 403 homes and six commercial buildings had been confirmed destroyed.

About 17,488 structures remain threatened, and evacuation orders remain in place for thousands of people.

"We know this fire has done things that nobody could have predicted, but that's how firefighting has been in the state this year," Eldorado National Forest Supervisor Chief Jeff Marsolais said.

U.S. Forest Service officials said that nine national forests will be temporarily closed through Sept. 6.

Officials previously announced a complete shutdown of the Eldorado National Forest through Sept. 30 because of the fire, and the Rubicon Trail was closed as well.

A community almost leveled

The community of Grizzly Flats in El Dorado County, a once wooded area where roughly 1,200 people called home, is hardly recognizable now. The Caldor Fire burned through many of its neighborhoods and businesses, leaving mostly debris.

Deputies with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the Grizzly Flats and Pollock Pines areas to patrol after receiving several reports of looting.

Caldor Fire structure damage map

El Dorado County officials launched a structure damage map so residents can see the status of their homes.

The map is updated daily at 9 a.m.

More Grizzly Flats coverage:

Evacuation orders for Caldor Fire

El Dorado County

Grizzly Flat: The areas on Grizzly Flats Road east of Kendra Way into Grizzly Flats Proper.

The areas of Diamond Railroad Grade, Old School House, Sweeney Road, Caldor Road and Steely Ridge.

Grizzly Flats Road east of Four Corners in Somerset into Grizzly Flats Proper.

The areas of Myers Lane, Varmet Ridge Road, Rodwell Canyon Road, Snowbird Lane and Mehwald Lane.

East of Sly Park Road between Highway 50 and Mormon Emigrant Trail to Ice House Road. This includes the communities of Pacific House and Fresh Pond.

North of Highway 50, east of Forebay Road to Ice House Road.

The intersection of Perry Creek and Hawk Haven, the east side of Fairplay Road from Perry Creek South to Cedarville Road.

This includes Slug Gulch, Omo Ranch and all roads off of Slug Gulch and Omo Ranch.

All roads off of Omo Ranch from Cedarville Road to Highway 88.

The area between Highway 88 and Mormon Emigrant Trail.

South of Highway 50 from Snows Road to Ice House Road.

Between Highway 50 and Slab Creek from Snows Road to Ice House Road.

South of Highway 50 from Ice House Road to Silver Fork Road. This includes the community of Kyburz.

North of Highway 50 from Ice House Road to Silver Fork Road to include Ice House Reservoir, Union Valley Reservoir and Loon Lake.

Silver Fork Road in Kyburz east to Twin Bridges.

North and south in a line extending from Twin Bridges to the Placer County line and south to the Amador County line.

Areas south of Farnham Ridge Road and east of Bridgeport School Road to the Amador County line.

Click here to sign up for El Dorado County's alert notification system

Evacuation warnings for the Caldor Fire

Amador County

Shenandoah Road at the Amador County line west through the River Pines community, continuing west on Shenandoah Road to Ostrom Road

South on Ostrom Road to Jibboom Street, west on Jibboom Street to Fiddletown Road

East on Fiddletown Road to Hale Road

South on Hale Road to Shake Ridge Road

East on Shake Ridge Road to Charleston Road

South of Charleston Road to the intersection of Charleston Road and Rams Horn Grade

Due east to Highway 88 at Tiger Creek Road

Tiger Creek Road east to Salt Springs Reservoir Road

East on Salt Springs Reservoir Road to the east end of the Salt Springs Reservoir. Due north from the east end of Salt Springs Reservoir to Highway 88

South of the El Dorado-Amador County line with a western border of Highway 88 due south to the east end of Salt Springs Reservoir

Southern border of the Calaveras County line

Eastern border of the Alpine County line

El Dorado County

North of Slab Creek to Wentworth Springs Road between Sand Mountain and Loon Lake.

Mosquito Road from the bridge north to include the Community of Swansboro.

North of Highway 50 to Slab Creek between Smith Flat and Snows Road.

South of Highway 50 to Pleasant Valley between Smith Flat and Snows Road, and North of Pleasant Valley between Holm and Newtown.

South of Pleasant Valley between Bucks Bar Road and Newtown Road, East of Bucks Bar Road to Mt Aukum Road.

Southwest of Bucks Bar Road to Ladies Valley Road including the community of Outingdale, Ant Hill Road, Perry Creek Road and Sand Ridge between Ladies Valley Road and Bucks Bar Road.

East of Mt Aukum Road (E16) from Bucks Bar Road to Omo Ranch Road. North of Omo Ranch Road to the intersection of Omo Ranch Road and Fairplay Road.

South of Omo Ranch to the El Dorado County Line between Mt Aukum Road (E16) and Fairplay Road to include Coyoteville Road, Cedar Creek and all tributary roads.

North of Slab Creek to Wentworth Springs Road between Sand Mountain and Loon Lake.

Mosquito Road from the bridge north to include the Community of Swansboro.

North of Highway 50 to Slab Creek between Smith Flat and Snows Road.

South of Highway 50 to Pleasant Valley between Smith Flat and Snows Road, and North of Pleasant Valley between Holm and Newtown

South of Pleasant Valley between Bucks Bar Road and Newtown Road, East of Bucks Bar Road to Mt Aukum Road.

Southwest of Bucks Bar Road to Ladies Valley Road including the community of Outingdale, Ant Hill Road, Perry Creek Road and Sand Ridge between Ladies Valley Road and Bucks Bar Road.

East of Mt Aukum Road (E16) from Bucks Bar Road to Omo Ranch Road.

North of Omo Ranch Road to the intersection of Omo Ranch Road and Fairplay Road.

South of Omo Ranch to the El Dorado County Line between Mt Aukum Road (E16) and Fairplay Road to include Coyoteville Road, Cedar Creek and all tributary roads.

From the evacuation order line in Twin Bridges east to the Echo Summit and from Highway 50 south to the Amador and Alpine County lines and north to the Placer County line.

Dry Lakes Section: This section is north of Wentworth Springs Road up to the Placer County line and the remaining section of El Dorado County south of Placer County to Loon Lake.

Shelter information

Shelter: Green Valley Community Church, 3500 Missouri Flat Road, Placerville, CA

Shelter: Cameron Park CSD, 2502 Country Club Drive, Cameron Park, CA  this shelter was full as of Monday morning

Temporary evacuation point: Amador County Fairgrounds, 18621 Sherwood Street, Plymouth, CA

Shelter: Evelynn Bishop Hall, 701 Hwy 124, Ione, CA. Call 855-755-7711 for more info.

Shelter: Rolling Hills Church, 800 White Rock Road, El Dorado Hills, CA

Shelter: Douglas County Community Center, 1329 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville, Nevada

Animal evacuation information

El Dorado County Animal Services (small animals): 6435 Capitol Ave., Diamond Springs, CA. For animal evacuation questions or assistance, call 530-621-5795.

Saureel Vineyards (large animals): 1140 Cold Springs Road, Placerville, CA. Call 530-621-5795 for more info.

Amador County Fairgrounds (large animals): 18621 Sherwood Street, Plymouth, CA

School closures

The following schools were closed because of the fire:

Gold Oak Union School District: Gold Oak Elementary School and Pleasant Valley Middle School

Pioneer Union School District: Walt Tyler Elementary, Pioneer Elementary, Mountain Creek Middle School

Battling the blaze

Cal Fire said Monday morning that overnight downslope winds, low temperatures and moderate humidity levels helped crews in slowing the fire's spread.

Crews, however, are continuing to deal with drought-stressed fuels that are "extremely receptive to spotting."

More than 1,700 personnel are fighting the blaze.

Two people were seriously injured last week by Caldor Fire, Cal Fire said.

An injured person from the Grizzly Flats area approached firefighters around 7 a.m. Tuesday, Cal Fire said. Crews tried giving medical care to the victim before requesting air transport for them, Cal Fire said. A second person was also injured in the Grizzly Flats area and was flown to a local hospital.

As the wildfire raged, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Aug. 17 declared a state of emergency in El Dorado County. With declaring a state of emergency, the state can pull from federal funds to help battle the blaze. The state has recently requested federal help for other major wildfires in California: the Dixie Fire in Butte, Plumas, Lassen and Tehama counties, and the Monument Fire in Trinity County.

Nearly 41,000 people  roughly 24,500 in El Dorado County alone  have been evacuated from their homes due to wildfires burning across the state, according to the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

More Caldor Fire coverage
A damning letter drafted by the chairman of the Butte County Board of Supervisors accuses the United States Forest Service of "gross negligence" in their handling of two wildfires that have ravaged Northern California.

This is what you need in your wildfire preparedness kit,...

The massive, and still-active, Dixie Fire and last year's North Complex Fire are named in the letter, to be reviewed in a supervisor meeting on Tuesday. If supervisors vote to approve the letter it will be sent to federal authorities.

"We are requesting that you investigate the PNF's [Plumas National Forest] wildfire management decisions that were made during the North Complex Fire and portions of the Dixie Fire under the leadership of USFS," the letter begins.

"Under the leadership of the federal incident management team, the [Dixie] fire has destroyed the town of Greenville, the community of Canyon Dam, and other small communities. In addition, it has caused the mandatory evacuations of thousands of people in Butte, Plumas, Lassen, and Tehama counties."

The letter goes on to name positions within the U.S Forest Service, and question their decision making, asking, "What course of action did the Forest Supervisor initially order (full suppression or observation and monitoring)?"

The Dixie Fire started near the Cresta Dam in Plumas County on July 13 this year  likely due to faulty PG&E equipment  and exploded across five counties to become the second largest wildfire in California history. It is still active now, covering 731,310 acres and at 41% contained, per Cal Fire.

Last year's North Complex Fire was sparked by a series of lightning events in the Plumas National Forest. It destroyed 2,455 structures over 318, 935 acres and took 16 lives.

"The fire suppression philosophy of the USFS in managing, monitoring, and lack of commitment to protecting private property, has resulted in the loss of a great deal of public resources, private property, homes, and critical infrastructure," the letter reads.

"Because of the gross negligence of the USFS fire management philosophy, we no longer have trust and confidence in the decision-making process being used by the USFS. Whatever forest management practices, initial fire attack, and suppression decisions were employed by the USFS and PNF have now been proven to be unsuccessful for protecting communities, sensitive resources, water and air quality, wildlife habitat, and other economic, social, and ecological values.

"It is a disappointment to us that the USFS has been derelict in its duty to manage our public forestlands over these past forty-plus years and is appears unprepared and incapable of planning for and managing wildfires."

The letter, signed by Butte County Supervisor Bill Connelly, concludes, "Something has to change!"

If approved the letter will be sent to the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, and the head of the U.S. Forest Service, Randy Moore. You can read the full letter here.

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Californians are already casting ballots in the Sept. 14 Gavin Newsom recall election, and some counties are already processing them.

SFGATE reached out to California's 12 most populous counties  Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern and San Francisco  and asked how election administrators will count and report ballots in the coming weeks. Only Riverside and Alameda did not respond.

In the 2020 presidential election, a few critical swing states  Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Georgia  reported Election Day results first and slowly counted mail ballots in the days following, creating the "blue shift" (Republicans were likelier to vote in-person on Election Day while Democrats were likelier to vote by mail) that fueled the various debunked "Stop the Steal" conspiracy theories.

Other states such as Texas, Florida and Ohio reported mail-in ballots first and Election Day votes afterwards, and all 10 counties that responded to SFGATE via email said early arriving mail-in ballots will be counted and tabulated first (counties can start processing ballots 29 days before Election Day, but some will not start tabulating them until the state-approved write-in candidate list is finalized on Sept. 3). In other words, assuming it remains true that Democrats are likelier to vote by mail and Republicans are likelier to vote on Election Day (which is no guarantee), California should actually expect see a "red shift" in the Newsom recall.

Here's what each county said about how it will be counting votes, ordered by population.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles will release at least three "sets" of election results. The first, which will be released sometime after polls close after 8 p.m. on Election Day, will contain mail ballots received prior to Election Day. The second will be all in-person ballots cast during the 10-day early voting period leading up to Sept. 14, and the third will be all in-person ballots cast on Election Day itself.

Late-arriving ballots (any ballot postmarked on Sept. 14 and received within seven days of Election Day will be counted) will be added to the tally "throughout the official election canvass," the county's elections office wrote in an email.

San Diego

San Diego said it would release its first update containing both mail ballots and early in-person votes shortly after polls close.

For Election Day votes, a county spokesperson wrote in an email that such ballots "must be driven in from 221 voting locations across San Diego County," adding, "It may take us until 2 a.m. to get all the precinct ballot into the count for our final unofficial election night results."

Late-arriving mail-in ballots and provisional ballots (when someone misses the Aug. 30 registration but conditionally registers at an in-person polling place) will be counted after that.

All counties have 30 days to certify results, and San Diego County expects to "use every minute of the certification period to make sure every eligible vote is counted and the results are accurate."

Orange

Like Los Angeles, Orange will report only mail-in ballots in its first report of results. The county then plans to issue an update every 30 minutes "through the evening until all votes have been counted."

Orange County officials believe that all ballots (with the exception of late-arriving mail ballots) will be counted by midnight on Election Day.

San Bernardino

While San Bernardino County is processing mail-in ballots, it will not start actually counting them until Sept. 7. (California's election laws state that counties can have machines read ballots 29 days before Election Day, but vote counts cannot be accessed or posted until polls close.)

The county said that the results shared on Election Night will contain early-arriving mail ballots. Mail ballots dropped off on Election Day  a subset the county said makes up a "significant portion of its voted mail ballots"  will not be counted until the next day on Sept. 15.

Santa Clara

Santa Clara will begin tabulating ballots immediately after the write-in candidate list is finalized Sept. 3. The county said it is unsure how long it will take to count all ballots once polls close, citing the fact that officials are not sure of when individuals will return their ballots.

Sacramento

Like Santa Clara, Sacramento plans to begin the tabulation process of mail ballots once the write-in candidate list is finalized.

Elections officials expect the vast majority of ballots to come through the mail, as Election Day in-person voting is typically very limited in Sacramento County. Officials estimated that Election Day votes made up just 6% of total ballots cast in elections between 2018 and 2020.

Contra Costa

Contra Costa County will "ready" mail ballots in the weeks leading up to the election, but will not actually tabulate them until polls close on Election Day.

County officials said they hope to include all mail ballots received through the Friday before Election Day in their initial report and are unsure how long it will take to count in-person votes.

Fresno

Fresno County started tabulating mail ballots Aug. 23  a week and a half ahead of the release of the approved write-in list on Sept. 3.

The county said that in past elections, 40% of mail ballots have been dropped off on Election Day, and that by the end of Election Day, 60% of all results are tabulated.

Kern

Kern County estimated that 50% of its mail ballots are dropped off on Election Day, but like San Bernardino County, it will wait to count those until Sept. 15.

"At a minimum I would expect between 36% and 43% of the total vote being counted after Election Day," a county spokesperson wrote in an email.

Processing of early arriving mail ballots began Aug. 23.

San Francisco

San Francisco has already begun processing mail ballots, and has also created a page outlining the reporting schedule for the election.

"The Department will release the first preliminary summary report of election results at approximately 8:45 p.m." the page reads. "This report will provide the results from the vote-by-mail ballots that the Department received and processed before Election Day."

"At approximately 9:45 p.m., the Department will release a second summary report of results. The second report will add the initial votes received from polling places to the votes reported in the first results report. At approximately 10:45 p.m., the Department will issue a third summary results report that will add more votes from polling places received since the previous report. After all polling places have reported, the Department will release a final summary report."
ONAWA, Iowa (AP)  Two people are jailed after they allegedly stole copper from electrical substations in northwest Iowa, causing power outages and thousands of dollars in damage, authorities said.

Monona County Sheriff Jeff Pratt said in a news release that Craig Keller, 40, of Onawa, and Whitney Reynek, 30, of Tekamah, Nebraska, were arrested Monday.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Two members of Congress flew unannounced into Kabul airport in the middle of the chaotic evacuation stunning State Department and U.S. military personnel who had to divert resources to provide security and information to the lawmakers, U.S. officials said.

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Mich., flew in and out on charter aircraft and were on the ground at the Kabul airport for several hours Tuesday. That led officials to complain that they could be taking seats that would have otherwise gone to other Americans or Afghans fleeing the country, but the congressmen said in a joint statement that they made sure to leave on a flight with empty seats.

As Members of Congress, we have a duty to provide oversight on the executive branch,' the two said in their statement. We conducted this visit in secret, speaking about it only after our departure, to minimize the risk and disruption to the people on the ground, and because we were there to gather information, not to grandstand.

The two lawmakers are both military veterans, with backgrounds in the region. Moulton, a Marine who has been outspoken critic of the Iraq War, served multiple tours in Iraq. Meijer was deployed as part of the Army Reserves and later worked in Afghanistan at a nongovernmental organization providing aid. Moulton serves on the House Armed Services Committee and Meijer is on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Three officials familiar with the flight said that State Department, Defense Department and White House officials were furious about the incident because it was done without coordination with diplomats or military commanders directing the evacuation.

The U.S. military found out about the visit as the legislators' aircraft was inbound to Kabul, according to the officials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military operations.

One senior U.S. official said the administration saw the lawmakers' visit as manifestly unhelpful and several other officials said the visit was viewed as a distraction for troops and commanders at the airport who are waging a race against time to evacuate thousands of Americans, at-risk Afghans and others as quickly as possible.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement Tuesday evening taking note of the desire of some legislators to visit Afghanistan and saying she was writing to reiterate that the Departments of Defense and State have requested that Members not travel to Afghanistan and the region during this time of danger. Ensuring the safe and timely evacuation of individuals at risk requires the full focus and attention of the U.S. military and diplomatic teams on the ground in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon has repeatedly expressed concerns about security threats in Kabul, including by the Islamic State group. When members of Congress have routinely gone to war zones over the past two decades, their visits are typically long planned and coordinated with officials on the ground in order to ensure their safety.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he is sticking to his Aug. 31 deadline for completing the risky airlift as people flee Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

The two congressmen said they went into their visit wanting to push the president to extend the August 31st deadline. After talking with commanders on the ground and seeing the situation here, it is obvious that because we started the evacuation so late, that no matter what we do, we wont get everyone out on time, even by September 11.

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Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Matthew Lee contributed to this report.

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This story has been corrected to reflect that Rep. Peter Meijer serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, not the House Armed Services Committee
HOLYOKE, Mass. (AP)  A third person involved in a wrong-way crash on a Massachusetts highway last weekend has died, state police said Tuesday.

A vehicle registered in New York heading north in the southbound lanes of Interstate 91 in Holyoke crashed into another vehicle at about 6 p.m. Sunday, police said in a statement.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  A high school in West Virginia's largest county will switch to remote learning for the remainder of the week, education officials announced Tuesday, as coronavirus cases continue to surge statewide.

Kanawha County school officials told parents that Capital High School students will undergo remote learning through Friday, with staff reporting to school as usual, news outlets reported. Extracurricular activities have been canceled for the rest of the week. The plan is for students to return to school on Monday.
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP)  An Arizona man reported missing last weekend while on a hike in Grand Canyon National Park was found alive Tuesday.

National Park Service officials say 48-year-old Arturo Hernandez was located about 2 p.m. by search and rescue personnel in a helicopter.
PAYSON, Ariz. (AP)  Payson police fatally shot a 31-year-old New Mexico man who allegedly had forced a woman into a vehicle at gunpoint early Tuesday in a supermarket parking lot, the police chief said.

The 27-year-old woman got out of the vehicle and was being escorted to a police car when the shooting occurred after the man also got out of the vehicle, Police Chief Ronald Tischer said in a statement.
PHOENIX (AP)  Arizona is reporting nearly another 2,600 new COVID-19 cases as well as 38 more deaths.

The state Department of Health Services' dashboard Tuesday showed 2,595 more confirmed cases of the virus.
TOWSON, Md. (AP)  A Baltimore County police officer has been convicted of raping a woman and assaulting another, the county states attorneys office said.

Anthony Westerman, 27, was found guilty of two counts of second-degree rape and other offenses from the 2017 incident, and second-degree assault from a 2019 incident on Friday. Prosecutors said he offered to get a woman an Uber from a bar in 2017, but instead took her to his house and raped her, news outlets report. Westerman is suspended without pay, police said.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  The North Carolina legislature agreed on Tuesday that only children 8 and older can be prosecuted in the state's juvenile courts  up from the current age of 6.

The bill, which the Senate approved unanimously after the House made significant changes last week, would end North Carolina as having the lowest age for juvenile adjudication set by law in the country.

The measure now goes to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who must decide whether to sign the bill, veto it or let it become law without his signature. The House also approved the measure by an overwhelming margin.

Bills debated and voted on earlier this year would have raised the minimum age to 10, in keeping with the recommendation of an expert advisory panel that examines juvenile justice issues.

But the target age was adjusted after some House members and prosecutors were concerned the intervention that otherwise would be provided to children who commit serious, violent crimes but are deemed too young to be brought into court wasn't enough.

Instead, 8- and 9-year-olds who commit the most severe felonies would still have their cases adjudicated in juvenile court before a judge, who could require more intensive treatment and even probation. They need a little bit more services that can be better provided through juvenile delinquency court than what can be provided otherwise, said Sen. Danny Britt, a Robeson County Republican and bill sponsor.

Repeat offenders of any crime or infraction at this age also would automatically be treated as delinquent. Other 8- and 9-year-olds who commit largely nonviolent felonies and any misdemeanor would avoid court but could receive as much as nine months of counseling.

Legislators who backed raising the age of delinquency to 10 say younger children lack the intellectual capacity to understand the juvenile court proceedings and assist in their defense. Advocates for a higher age tell stories of young kids drawing in coloring books in a courtroom awaiting adjudication.

More than 2,100 complaints were filed against nearly 1,150 youth under 10 during the three fiscal years from 2016 to 2019, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Ultimately 54 who went before a judge were found responsible for the actions in those complaints.

The final proposal, however, may have nearly the same numerical outcome as an outright under-10 ban.

An official in the department, which is a Cabinet agency led by Cooper, told House members last week that only a handful of the youths in that three-year stretch would have remained in the system if the proposal was law at that time.

The 6-year-old minimum of delinquency jurisdiction began in 1979 in North Carolina. Twenty-eight states and Washington, D.C., have no age specification, according to a Department of Public Safety report in March. Connecticut, Maryland and New York set the minimum age at 7.

The bill includes other recommendations from the advisory panel in light of other recent changes to the juvenile justice system. A law took effect in 2019 that declared 16- and 17-year-olds would no longer be automatically tried in adult court for most nonviolent or less serious felonies.
BEIRUT (AP)  An explosion shook the base of an al-Qaida-linked group in northern Syria on Tuesday, killing at least eight gunmen and wounding others, opposition activists said.

The explosion came as opposition fighters suffered a major setback in southern Daraa province, where a Russian-brokered deal led to the evacuation of gunmen from the region. The evacuation was to pave the way for the deployment of government troops.

It wasnt immediately clear what caused the explosion at the base of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the northwestern province of Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in the country, but some said it was a shell that exploded as fighters trained. HTS is the most powerful group in Syrias northwest.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the explosion near the village of Ram Hamadan was apparently caused by a shell that exploded. The Observatory said eight fighters were killed and 10 were wounded.

It added that the explosion occurred as drones of the U.S.-led coalition were flying overhead.

Step news agency, an activist collective, said at least nine fighters were killed and others were wounded in the blast. Step said it could have been caused when a mortar shell exploded during training.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Arabic for Levant Liberation Committee, has militarily crushed many of its rivals within the opposition in recent years.

Nearly a dozen opposition fighters left Daraa province, which has been witnessing clashes for weeks. They were some of the most serious challenges to a tenuous 2018 deal between the government and insurgents negotiated by Russia. Daraa is where the countrys conflict began 10 years ago.

Russia mediated a new deal to end the recent fighting in Daraa, in which insurgents who reject the Russia-brokered deal will have to leave the region.

On Tuesday night, the first batch of fighters consisting of 10 gunmen left the area and headed to rebel-held parts in the countrys north, according to the Observatory.

Pro-government news outlets reported that some opposition fighters had left and that shortly afterward other gunmen opened fire leaving several people wounded. The Observatory confirmed that shooting occurred but blamed government forces.

After dozens more opposition fighters leave the city of Daraa in the coming days, government forces are expected to enter the old part of the city known as Daraa al-Balad. It has for years been a rebel stronghold and has been under tight government siege for weeks.

Opposition fighters who accept the deal will have to hand over their weapons in return for amnesty.

On Tuesday, U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen in a briefing to the Security Council, called on all parties to end the violence immediately and to meet their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Immediate, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access is needed to all affected areas and communities, including Daraa al-Balad, Pedersen said.

Daraa province became known as the cradle of the uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad that erupted in 2011 as part of the Arab Spring revolts. It was recaptured by Syrian government troops in 2018. Assad has since regained control of most of the country with the help of Russia and Iran.

The Russian-mediated deal in 2018 allowed some of the provinces armed opposition to remain in their former strongholds, in charge of security. Government troops retained control of the province, but security duties were divided. Tensions regularly erupted and government troops tried several times to take over areas under opposition control.

Syrias 10-year conflict has left about half a million people dead and half the countrys prewar population of 23 million displaced, more than 5 million of them as refugees outside the country.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  The General Assembly finalized a police reform bill on Tuesday designed to get rid of undisciplined officers at North Carolina law enforcement agencies while emphasizing mental health assistance for others.

The consensus measure, which creates both public and confidential databases that monitor officer histories and requires officers to report excessive force by colleagues, still omitted many criminal justice recommendations from Democrats and a task force commissioned by Gov. Roy Cooper.

Still, Cooper is likely to sign the bill, given that only two legislators  both House members  voted against it. The Senate gave unanimous approval on Tuesday to House changes.

Supporters hailed the measure for including needed improvements during a time of national focus on racial inequity and police shootings of Black residents. They included last year's killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody and the fatal shooting in April of Andrew Brown Jr. in Elizabeth City by Pasquotank County sheriff's deputies.

The measure also addresses a situation stemming from Brown's death by altering the process by which the family members can view privately the police body camera footage of a death or serious injury. Brown's family was unhappy with the pace in which they were able to see large segments of video.

The bill would create a public database to determine whether an officers certification has been suspended or revoked. The state also would create a database accessible only by law enforcement that contains critical incident information about when an officer has been involved in a case resulting in death or serious injury. Local agencies also would be required to create internal data collection when officers discharge weapons or are subject to citizen complaints.

Most of our officers do the right thing, Sen. Danny Britt, a Robeson County Republican and the bill's chief author, told reporters after the vote. But for those officers that dont, hopefully this will prevent those from being in law enforcement. Hopefully this will weed out those bad officers.

Police officers also would have a duty to report a colleagues excessive force to superiors, and officers would receive psychological screenings and mental health strategies and training on ethics, the use of force and minority sensitivity among other items.

The final version of the measure omitted proposed increased punishments for rioting, like the violence last year amid otherwise largely peaceful demonstrations following Floyds death. A bill sponsored by House Speaker Tim Moore addressing rioting is pending.

Some recommendations pushed by the Cooper task force and others but left out of the legislation included eliminating the use of cash bonds for some criminal suspects and further restrictions on the death penalty.

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina described the legislation as a missed opportunity to transformatively address systemic racism in North Carolinas criminal legal system and blamed law enforcement groups for blocking it.

The law enforcement training and oversight provisions rely on and perpetuate the falsehoods that the failings of the criminal legal system are the result of a few bad apples and that the police can police themselves, state ACLU policy director Daniel Bowes said in a news release.

But Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat who helped lead Coopers task force, emphasized panel recommendations that ended up in the final product.

One law alone cant improve every part of our criminal justice system, but this law will make our state safer and more just, Stein said.

On body cam footage, the bill says a police department or sheriff's office would have to contact a court within three business days of receiving a formal request from a family to see video footage. From there the judge would decide within seven business days, how much footage, if any, could be watched.

Current law gives a law enforcement agency discretion to refuse the request of a family, which could then go to a judge to seek that decision be overturned. Critics say that places a large weight upon the relatives.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  A summer coronavirus surge driven by the delta variant is again straining some California hospitals, particularly in rural areas, but the trend shows signs of moderating and experts predict improvement in coming weeks.

The pattern is similar to the infection spikes California experienced last summer and much more severely over the winter when intensive care units were overflowing. But this time the moderation is coming without the shutdown orders that previously hobbled California's economy, businesses and schools.

Were hopeful, definitely, Dr. Erica Pan, the state epidemiologist, said Tuesday.

The state's latest projection does look encouraging that we are plateauing and or peaking," Pan said in an interview with The Associated Press. But she added that the "one thing we've learned" about COVID-19 is its unpredictability.

Serious cases are still climbing, with more than 8,200 patients in hospitals and nearly 2,000 in intensive care across California. One of the highest daily spikes in new hospital admissions was just last week, Pan noted.

Deaths have begun increasing and state models project nearly 2,000 people will die within the next three weeks, adding to California's death toll that is approaching 65,000, the most in the nation.

The state's epidemiological models show the rate of hospitalizations leveling off, with a peak of about 9,300 hospitalizations around Labor Day before numbers start declining. ICU admissions are projected to follow the same pattern, peaking just below 2,200. During the worst of the pandemic in January, hospitalizations topped out at nearly 22,200 and ICU admissions at almost 5,000.

Importantly, the statewide infection rate has dropped 25% in the past three weeks, from a high of 7% of those tested to 5.2%

Were hopeful that things are kind of leveling out and that were going to be on the other side of this particular surge relatively soon, Pan said.

San Francisco and other areas with high vaccination rates are seeing a "definitive decrease, while Los Angeles County is starting to improve, said Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease expert at University of California, San Francisco.

That tracks a UCSF epidemiological model that predicted the current surge would peak in mid-August and that the state will be back to low case numbers by mid- to late September, she said.

While various locations re-imposed indoor masking requirements after briefly lifting them last spring, this time health officials avoided reinstating capacity limits or shutting down businesses. Yet California remains in much better shape than states like Florida and Texas that have seen hospitals overwhelmed by delta variant cases.

Gandhi said higher immunity levels in the state, rather than broad lockdowns, made the difference this time.

Vaccinations were just starting as the winter surge ebbed, but natural immunity also is increasing as the unvaccinated get sick and recover.

All of that immunity is bringing down our cases in California, Gandhi said.

She and other experts expect vaccination rates to increase as more employers mandate the shots and proof of vaccination is required to participate in more activities.

The experts also expect some people will be more comfortable with getting the shots after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday gave full approval to the Pfizer vaccine for people 16 and older.

About two-thirds of eligible Californians 12 and over are fully vaccinated, and another 10% have gotten their first shots. Areas with higher numbers of new cases and hospitalizations tend to be areas with lower immunization rates.

In Del Norte County, in the state's far northwest, only 44% of eligible people have received at least one shot, and it averaged 170 new COVID cases per 100,000 residents in the last week, a rate nearly triple any other county. Tuolumne, Kings, Yuba and Sutter counties all had rates above 50 new cases per 100,000. The state average is 28. All those counties have vaccination rates well below the state average.

But statewide, the rate at which each infected person spreads the disease, known as the R-effective, has been dropping steadily since mid-July. In many counties including Los Angeles and San Francisco, it has dropped below one, meaning the number of infected persons will decrease.

The agricultural San Joaquin Valley remains a key concern largely because the current surge started there later and is still increasing, said Pan, but we're also hopeful that the rate of rise is not quite as steep as it was before.

To help in hard-hit areas, the state is again requiring hospitals with ICU space to accept patients from those with less capacity. It is also still waiving rules for out-of-state health care workers who help in California on a contract basis.

Pan and California Hospital Association spokeswoman Jan Emerson-Shea said exhaustion is an increasing issue for medical staff who have been fighting the pandemic since early last year, particularly with a smaller pool of traveling doctors and nurses because of the surge in other states.

Some counties are seeing more hospitalizations now than they did during either of the two previous surges.

For instance, Tuolumne County, near Yosemite National Park, had 22 hospitalized patients, double its peak in December. Lake County had double the number of patients, 20, as it did previously.

The spread in rural areas reflects both the low vaccination rates and that many had remained relatively untouched during earlier surges, said Dr. Rajiv Bhatia, an affiliated professor of medicine at Stanford University.

In the larger counties you're not seeing a significant increase or a challenge  the hospitals are not being challenged right now, he said. For me, the only interpretation of that is the vaccine is effective at preventing severe disease, regardless of the variant.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  A sham candidate for the Florida Legislature pleaded guilty Tuesday to being part of a vote siphoning scheme in last year's election and will testify against a former Republican state senator who prosecutors say ran it.

Alex Rodriguez agreed to testify against former Sen. Frank Artiles after pleading guilty in Miami-Dade County to accepting illegal campaign donations and lying on campaign documents. He will receive three years probation if he cooperates, including a year of house arrest. He had faced a possible 20-year prison sentence.

Prosecutors charged Artiles in March with felony campaign fraud charges, saying he secretly gave more than $44,000 to Rodriguez so that he could run in the 2020 election to confuse voters and siphon ballots from then-Democratic incumbent, Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez. The funds allegedly came from a dark money source. Artiles has pleaded not guilty.

Alex Rodriguez, a 55-year-old auto parts salesman with no political experience, ran as an independent in the three-way race in Miami-Dade County, pulling in 6,000 votes. The race was won by Republican Ileana Garcia by just 32 votes. She is not implicated in the scheme.

I am deeply sorry for my actions and I want to apologize to my family, my loved ones and my friends, Alex Rodriguez tearfully told the court, according to news outlets. I would like to publicly offer a sincere apology to the residents of Florida District Senate 37 including Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, the people of Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida, and anyone else who was affected by my actions.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement that the guilty plea is an important step in the effort to restore honesty to Floridas election process, which has been tarnished too long by almost invisible, independent and write-in candidates.

Artiles' attorney, Frank Quintero, said Tuesday that his client denies doing anything illegal. He accused investigators of trying to secretly use Rodriguez as an agent for the state against Artiles.

We are looking forward to deposing him, Quintero said.

A Miami Police Department investigators affidavit details multiple discussions about money between Artiles and Alex Rodriguez, starting with a discussion about why Rodriguez should file to run in the state Senate race.

Rodriguez would run as an independent with the same last name as the incumbent candidate (Jose Javier Rodriguez) in an attempt to confuse voters and siphon votes from the incumbent, the affidavit says.

But Alex Rodriguez had money troubles, so he came up with various requests to obtain cash from Artiles, according to the affidavit. At one point, Rodriguez said he could get a used Range Rover for Artiles for $10,900, and Artiles agreed.

It should be noted that the Range Rover did not actually exist. It was a fiction created by Rodriguez to get more of the money that he felt he was owed, the affidavit says.

Artiles, who represented a Miami-area district, is no stranger to controversy.

In 2017, he resigned from the Senate after using racial slurs in a conversation with two Black legislators in a Tallahassee bar. Then it was revealed that Artiles used money from his political committee to hire a former Playboy model and Hooters girl as a consultant.

Before that, Artiles, a Cuban-American, served three terms in the state House from a Miami-Dade district. He was then elected to the Senate before his resignation. He also served in the Marine Corps.
WASHINGTON - CIA Director William J. Burns held a secret meeting in Kabul on Monday with the Taliban's de facto leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in the highest-level face-to-face encounter between the Taliban and the Biden administration since the militants seized the Afghan capital, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy.

President Joe Biden's decision to dispatch his top spy, a veteran of the foreign service and the most decorated diplomat in his Cabinet, comes amid a frantic effort to evacuate people from Kabul international airport in what the president has called "one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history."

The CIA declined to comment on the Taliban meeting but the discussions likely involved the impending Aug. 31 deadline for the U.S. military to conclude its airlift of U.S. citizens and Afghan allies.

The Biden administration is under pressure from some allies to keep U.S. forces in the country beyond the end of the month in order to assist the evacuation of tens of thousands of citizens of the United States and Western countries as well as Afghan allies desperate to escape Taliban rule.

Britain, France and other U.S. allies have said more time is needed to evacuate their personnel, but a Taliban spokesman warned that the United States would be crossing a "red line" if it kept troops beyond the 31st, promising "consequences."

For Baradar, playing the role of counterpart to a CIA director comes with a tinge of irony 11 years after the spy agency arrested him in a joint CIA-Pakistani operation that put him in prison for 8 years.

The Taliban leader, however, is no stranger to Westerners.

After his release from prison in 2018, he served as the Taliban's chief negotiator in peace talks with the United States in Qatar that resulted in an agreement with the Trump administration on the withdrawal of U.S. forces. In November 2020, he posed for a photo in front of gold-rimmed chairs with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

A close friend of the Taliban's founding supreme leader Muhammad Omar, Baradar is believed to hold significant influence over the Taliban rank-and-file. He fought Soviet forces during their occupation of Afghanistan and was the governor of several provinces in the 1990s when the Taliban last ruled the country.

Since the Taliban's takeover of the country, he has struck a conciliatory tone, saying the militant group is seeking "an Islamic system in which all people of the nation can participate without discrimination and live harmoniously with each other in an atmosphere of brotherhood." But those remarks came amid reports of some girls' schools being shuttered and the Taliban seizing property and attacking civilians in some parts of the country.

In his meeting with Burns on Monday, Baradar faced one of America's most seasoned diplomats, a former deputy secretary of state who has also served as U.S. ambassador to Russia.

In April, Burns made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan as concerns mounted about the Afghan government's ability to fend off the Taliban after the U.S. withdrawal.

As director, Burns oversees a spy agency that trained elite Afghan special forces units who had been viewed as a potent force in the country, but were also implicated in extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.

Burns testified before Congress earlier this year that neither the Islamic State nor al-Qaida in Afghanistan has the capability to mount attacks inside the United States but said "when the time comes for the U.S. military to withdraw, the U.S. government's ability to collect and act on threats will diminish, that's simply a fact."

On Monday, before details of the secret meeting emerged, State Department spokesman Ned Price was asked about why senior U.S. officials hadn't engaged with Baradar given the stakes in Afghanistan.

Price said "our discussions with the Taliban have been operational, tactical, they have been focused largely on our near-term operations and near-term goals . . . what is going on at the airport compound . . . that is what we're focused on at the moment."
PAHRUMP, Nev. (AP)  An Arizona man who was arrested after a head-on crash in rural Nevada that killed three members of an Idaho family will face felony driving under the influence charges that could put him in prison for decades, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Tyler Kennedy, 32, of Tolleson, Arizona, is due to face a judge next Monday for a preliminary hearing of evidence in the March 27 crash that killed Michael Durmeier, 39, his fiancee Lauren Starcevich, 38, and Durmeier's 12-year-old daughter, Georgia.
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)  Maine's governor is calling on small businesses around the state to apply for federal disaster loans that are available because of the drought the state suffered earlier in the summer.

Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, said farm-related entities in nine Maine counties can apply for the low-interest economic injury disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration. Mills said any Maine businesses impacted by the drought, which damaged crops for farmers, should see if they are eligible for a loan.
HONOLULU (AP)  Hawaii's governor asked Monday that visitors and residents reduce travel to the islands to essential business only while the state struggles to control COVID-19 as the highly contagious delta variant spreads in the community.

Gov. David Ige wants to curtail travel to Hawaii through the end of October.

It is a risky time to be traveling right now, he said.

He said restaurant capacity has been restricted and there's limited access to rental cars.

Ige stopped short of a mandate, saying its a different time now than last year when strict travel rules that required quarantining essentially shut down Hawaiis tourism industry.

Last year in March, when I first asked for visitors to postpone travel to the islands, we saw a 60% reduction in the traffic to Hawaii" Ige said. And then certainly, ordering the mandatory quarantine of all incoming visitors reduced travel to the islands by 99.5%, essentially 100% of travelers.

Things are different now with vaccines available and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying fully vaccinated people can travel domestically.

Ige said he supports Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi's announcement to restrict indoor gatherings to 10 people and outdoor gatherings to 25.

Blangiardi said the rules taking effect Wednesday would apply to weddings and other events.

He's also urging people to get vaccinated.

Hiro Toiya, the city's emergency management director, cited a mathematical modeling tool from the Georgia Institute of Technology to illustrate risks the community faced from large gatherings.

The modeling shows there is a 20% chance that someone in a group of 10 will have the disease given the number of COVID-19 cases on Oahu now. But in a group of 100, there's a 90% chance someone will have it.

So when youre looking at how transmissible delta is, we really got to control these large gatherings, Toiya said at a news conference. The status quo is not working, and its not acceptable.

Multiple Oahu hospitals have filled their regular beds as COVID-19 cases pour into emergency rooms. The city set up a 25-cot tent outside The Queen's Medical Center - West Oahu on Friday to help handle the influx.
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP)  Gunmen attacked a military training school in northwestern Nigeria early Tuesday, killing two military personnel and abducting another, an army spokesman said.

Bashir Jajira said the gunmen entered a residential area at the Nigerian Defense Academy in Kaduna state but did not provide further details on how the assailants gained access to the base. Efforts were underway to rescue the hostage, he said.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  The Hartford city council has joined the city's mayor in calling for the closure of the Hartford-Brainard Airport, a small airfield used by flight schools, public safety flights and entertainers who come to town.

The council unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution to close the airport earlier this month, the Hartford Courant reported Monday. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin started campaigning in 2015 to close the airport.

Takeoffs and landings at the airport, which sits on 200 acres of land south of the city's downtown, have fallen by 30% between 2010 and 2020. That's according to Connecticut Airport Authority, which oversees the airfield.

It is in the best interest of the city of Hartford and the Greater Hartford community, for environmentally-friendly, economic opportunities that will create hundreds, if not thousands of jobs, and we can enjoy our natural resource, which is the Connecticut River, said Hartford City Councilman James Sanchez, who sponsored the closure resolution.

The airport is largely exempt from property taxes, which the executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, Kevin Dillon, acknowledged was a concern for the city.

The Connecticut Airport Authority cannot currently afford to take the steps need to close the airport, Dillon said. Those include repaying federal grants, conducting studies and likely dealing with claims from the current tenants.

Lindsey Rutka, who operates the Hartford Jet Center at Brainard, told the newspaper he had talked with many companies connected to the aviation industry who might be interested in coming to the airport if it were not for the political pressure to close it.

It is very difficult with the city and everyone else, with the lack of support and pressuring to close the airport to have these multiple and thriving businesses willing to come, Rutka said.
March of 2019 opened with a deep chill across Cascadia. Arctic air poured south, jacking up energy consumption and straining energy supplies in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. It conjured a perfect storm for the regions electricity grid.

As temperatures plummeted, Cascadias hydropower reservoirs sat at record lows following weak fall rains and an exceptionally cold winter. Mechanical trouble had halved output from the Centralia, Washington, coal-fired power plant  the largest generator between Seattle and Portland. A low-pressure weather system was hampering Cascadias wind farms. And maintenance work on lines in Los Angeles limited the amount of power that could flow north.

Utilities appealed to citizens to conserve energy. Industries cut back as power prices spiked. And the grid held.

Utility officials call it a near miss and a sign of a new normal. We really had a very close call, says Scott Bolton, senior vice president for transmission development at Portland-based PacifiCorp.

Future events could have direct impacts to the reliability of the bulk power system, concluded an assessment by Western Electricity Coordinating Council, the utility consortium that oversees reliability for the interconnected transmission network west of the Rockies.

Sharing renewable electricity across long distances is among the most cost-effective strategies for slashing carbon emissions, as InvestigateWest reported in April. Longer power lines with centralized control centers increase grid flexibility to carry high levels of wind and solar power.

A robust network would allow utilities to tap diverse sources. If inconvenient weather zaps Cascadias power supply, for example, utilities can import electricity  maybe solar power from the Southwest or wind power from Montana and Wyoming. And if the tables turn, Cascadia can export solar, wind and water power.

A bigger grid isnt the sole solution. Giant battery arrays on the high-voltage grid or smaller packs charged from rooftop solar panels could keep things running for several hours. Hydrogen gas produced from clean electricity and stored locally could back up the grid.

Even diehard advocates for an expanded grid agree local energy upgrades will be crucial. Still, they say, grid expansion requires immediate action. Yet grid projects often are delayed for a decade or more by community opposition to new power lines and interstate disputes over who should pay for new lines.

In most of the United States and parts of Canada, utilities give neutral grid operators and regional markets control over power plants. Such optimized systems provide electricity at lower costs, identifying where new lines are needed and spreading costs among the utilities and states that benefit.

West of the Rockies, the power sector remains dominated by vertically integrated monopolies. An independent grid operator manages most of Californias electricity, but everywhere else control rests with 37 public and private utilities, including 14 within British Columbia, Washington and Oregon alone.

A coordinated Western grid is needed to accelerate wind and solar installations and to expand access to imported renewable energy, says Spencer Gray, who runs the Portland-based Northwest & Intermountain Power Producers Coalition. The groups members include most of the Northwests renewable energy developers.

Its crazy to go into a decarbonized future still treating each state or each utility as a little island unto itself, says Gray.

Although attempts to shift the dynamic in the West failed in recent decades, the U.S. Senate recently approved an infrastructure bill with provisions to encourage centralized operations and to facilitate line approval and financing.

And Western utilities have now gained experience with open power markets via an exchange launched in 2014 by PacifiCorp and the agency that operates Californias grid. Although the Western Energy Imbalance Market trades only last-minute surpluses  mostly renewable energy that would go to waste as of last month, it had saved consumers a cool $1.4 billion.

To assess prospects for a coordinated regional grid, InvestigateWest sought the views of an industry representative, a renewable energy advocate, and a former B.C. power trader who now teaches energy economics.

Managing energy politics

Scott Bolton says hes the lone liberal arts major in a utilitys transmission department  usually the domain of electrical engineers. But its no accident. Modernizing the grid is more than a technical challenge for PacifiCorp. We have a six-state system, and we have three of the bluest of the blue states and three of the reddest of the red states, says Bolton.

As negotiators work in several forums to unify the power sector, weather and politics associated with climate change stoke tensions across the West. Grid development in states as politically diverse as Oregon, Washington and Wyoming requires a poli-sci majors experience.

State politicians think local. For example, pressure to avoid a repeat of 2020s rolling blackouts prompted Californias grid operator to adopt a California-first policy that could block urgent power flows to other jurisdictions. This engendered distrust in other states and impeded California systems effort to spearhead a Western power market.

Closer to home for PacifiCorp, tensions between pro-coal Montana and Wyoming and anti-coal Oregon and Washington threaten to delay development of reliable wind energy.

Federal politicians are working to accelerate grid expansion. Gray worked with U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington on a proposal to help transmission developers get private financing. The plan would empower the Department of Energy to sign up for rights to a proposed or expanded line, thereby encouraging utilities to join in. And a $2.5 billion transmission facilitation fund is part of the Senates $550 billion infrastructure bill, which still must pass the House.

Meanwhile, Bolton says a proposal by U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon to extend tax breaks to transmission projects could have even greater impact. That measure could pass as part of a $3.5-billion, Democrat-driven package.

But not everyone in Cascadia welcomes Boltons pitch. Communities and conservationists are fighting a link between eastern Oregon and Idaho, for example. They accuse Idaho Power, PacifiCorps project partner, of trying to siphon off Cascadias renewable energy and degrading views along the Oregon Trail.

Critics in coal-rich states, meanwhile, are riled by Oregon and Washington mandates to phase out imports of coal-generated power.

The way to transcend these divisions, says Bolton, is to deliver cheaper power to everyone. He notes the happy coincidence that adding renewable energy and cutting the use of fossil fuels now also reduces costs.

On utilities and the greater good

Nicole Hughes biggest challenge is disjointed thinking by some utilities and their states regulators.

Hughes runs Renewable Northwest, a coalition pushing for renewable energy deployment in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. To her, blackouts that crippled Texas in February dramatized the importance of sharing power among regions.

Texas operates its own grid and has only weak connections to adjoining western, eastern and Mexican grids. The result, she says, was that Texas couldnt tap outside help when extreme cold shut down dozens of gas, coal, wind and nuclear power plants in February. Hundreds of people died when heaters turned off.

Her first focus for Cascadias grid is repurposing and expanding existing high-voltage lines. One example is the line linking the Colstrip, Montana, coal power plant to the plants four co-owners: PacifiCorp, Portland General Electric, Avista and Bellevue, Washingtonbased Puget Sound Energy (PSE). Those utilities all anticipate shutting down their Colstrip units between 2027 and 2030.

Renewable Northwest eagerly awaits retirement of the Colstrip plant so that its line to Washington can be repurposed for Montana wind power. But Puget Sound Energy put that future in doubt in early 2020 when it requested permission from Washington state regulators to sell its shares in Colstrip and the power line to NorthWestern Energy, a Montana utility with a weaker commitment to climate action.

Puget Sound Energy priced its transmission asset at $1.725 million  a bargain according to a transmission expert hired by Renewable Northwest and the Seattle-based NW Energy Coalition. The expert, Michael Goggin, testified to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission that PSEs asset was worth at least $342 million to Washington ratepayers. Ultimately, staff advised the commission to reject the sale.

Hughes, meanwhile, expects her struggle to continue: We anticipate having this fight over and over again, every time a utility gets out of Colstrip.

Hughes says some new transmission lines are needed  and likely will be included in the projects planned by PacifiCorp. Still, she cautions against planning new lines until the West has a regional market that involves states and stakeholders beyond just utilities. She argues that such a market is needed to unlock the full potential of the existing grid.

Instead of just buying something new, we need to figure out if theres something we can reuse. Were not very good at that in this country, says Hughes.

Sharing British Columbias flexibility

Blake Shaffer spent seven years as an electricity trader for provincial utility BC Hydro. As an academic, he focuses on the role that power trading can play in decarbonizing economies. Power tradings moneymaking and climate action opportunities increasingly align, says the University of Calgary economics professor.

He points to Cascadias hydropower and argues it has a lucrative role to play in helping utilities across the West slash reliance on coal- and gas-fired electricity.

Hydropower reservoirs are essentially giant batteries, and British Columbia has the Wests biggest. The W.A.C. Bennett Dam on the Peace River impounds about 60 million acre-feet of water  roughly six times more than Grand Coulee Dam.

This gives the province unusual flexibility, says Shaffer. Hydropower reservoirs smooth out seasonal fluctuations in supply, making British Columbia less vulnerable to low-water years that stress Washington and California. In recent years, British Columbia also has earned extra revenue by tapping its flexible hydropower to smooth out the Western grids electricity supply.

Heres how it works: BC Hydro ramps up its turbines and sends power south when the Western grids power supplies are tight  often when wind and solar generation are in short supply. It then uses imported power to meet local demand when electricity is abundant  often when winds are strong and sunny days are activating millions of solar panels.

B.C. doesnt have massive surplus of hydropower to export. In fact, theyre often net importers. But they do have flexibility as to when they deploy their hydropower, says Shaffer. And B.C. hydropower offers its neighbors an alternative to turning on fossil-fueled generators, which currently are their leading source of flexibility.

BC Hydros import/export arm turns a tidy profit by trading electricity. Over five years, Powerex has earned an average of $260 million more annually on power sales than it paid for imports.

Shaffer says BC Hydro is boosting its capacity and flexibility. The utility is adding turbines at existing hydro dams and building a dam on the Peace River, although the structurally troubled Site C hydropower project remains controversial.

The West will need as much flexibility as it can get. As greenhouse gas targets tighten, it will be harder for utilities to use fossil-fired power plants. At the same time, peak electricity demand for home heating, cars and other equipment is expected to increase.

If the province wants to use its expanded hydropower to add flexibility to the Western grid, it will need more cross-border transmission capacity.

Shaffer says added cross-border transmission is likely to pay off for both sides. He points to work by MIT researchers who ran computer models to explore the value of comparable exchanges between Hydro-Quebecs big reservoirs and the northeastern United States.

In MITs simulation, Quebec and New England traded increasing volumes of energy back and forth as researchers programmed in more transmission between the jurisdictions. As trading increased, carbon pollution and energy costs fell, and electrification of home heating and vehicles accelerated.

But conjuring this electrical symbiosis may take years. Proposed power lines from Quebec south are frequently hamstrung by opposition from local and state interests.

Transmission doesnt get discussed enough, says a clearly frustrated Shaffer. Were all kicking and screaming and saying this is a big part of the solution if were going to decarbonize.

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This report is part of Getting to Zero, InvestigateWests yearlong reporting initiative on reducing carbon in the Cascadia region. InvestigateWests work is supported in part by the Fund for Investigative Journalism.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett departed Tuesday for his first state visit overseas since taking office, a two-day trip to Washington to meet with President Joe Biden and discuss regional rival Iran.

The newly minted prime ministers visit to Washington will come in the midst of heightened tensions between Israel and its regional arch-enemy, Iran. Israel is also grappling with a gradual resurgence of hostilities on its southern border with the Gaza Strip, barely three months after an 11-day war with Islamist militant group Hamas.

Bennett was scheduled to meet Wednesday with senior White House officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and on Thursday with President Biden during his two-day snap visit.

In a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office before his departure, Bennett said the top priority in his conversation with Biden would be Iran, especially the leapfrogging in the past two to three years in the Iranian nuclear program. He said other issues would also be discussed, including the Israeli militarys qualitative edge, the coronavirus pandemic and economic matters.

Bennett has spoken out against the possibility of a new nuclear accord between Iran and world powers, and says that any agreement must also put the brakes on Iran's regional aggression. Recent months have seen a string of attacks on Israeli-connected shipping, believed to have been carried out by Iran.

Earlier this week, Bennett told his Cabinet that he would tell the president that now is the time to halt the Iranians, to stop this thing and not re-enter a nuclear deal that has already expired and is not relevant, even to those who thought it was once relevant."

Bennett's departure also came as friction between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers was building. Indirect negotiations between the two sides to reach an arrangement for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip have broken down in the past week. Hamas has launched incendiary balloons into southern Israel and staged violent demonstrations on the border, raising the specter of renewed violence only a few months after a brutal 11-day war left at least 265 dead in Gaza and 13 in Israel.

Theres a new government in the U.S. and a new government in Israel, and I bring with me from Jerusalem a new spirit of cooperation, and this rests on the special and long relationship between the two countries, Bennett said before take-off.

Bennett took office two months ago after cobbling together a ruling coalition of eight disparate political parties  ranging from Jewish ultranationalists to a small Islamist faction  ousting longtime leader Benjamin Netanyahu from office following the country's fourth consecutive parliamentary election in two years.
BERLIN (AP)  The head of Germany's national labor agency says the country needs significantly more immigrants to plug gaps in the work force as the population ages.

Federal Labor Agency Chairman Detlef Scheele said in Tuesday's edition of the daily newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung that he expects the number of working-age people in Europe's biggest economy to decline by nearly 150,000 this year.

In the coming years, it will be much more dramatic, the paper quoted him as saying.

Scheele said that immigrants would be key  this is not about asylum, but about targeted immigration for the gaps in the labor market.

We need 400,000 immigrants per year, so significantly more than in recent years, Scheele said. From nursing care via climate technicians to logisticians and academics, there will be a shortage of skilled workers everywhere.

Germany has 83 million inhabitants. Last year, the number of foreign nationals living in the country grew by about 204,000, 1.8% more than the previous year and the lowest growth rate in a decade.

Scheele's comments come less than a month before Germany's next national election. Asked about political resistance to more immigration, particularly since a large number of refugees and other migrants arrived starting in 2015, he said: You can stand up and say 'We don't want foreigners,' but that doesn't work."

The far-right Alternative for Germany party, which is the biggest opposition party in the outgoing parliament, assailed Scheele's incomprehensible demand." Lawmaker Rene Springer accused him of making himself a mouthpiece for companies that want to push down wages further with the help of immigration.

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Follow AP's immigration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/immigratio n
LAS VEGAS (AP)  The county with jurisdiction over the Las Vegas Strip has joined a legal fight to try to collect what attorneys maintain could be be hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid hotel room taxes owed by more than 20 online travel companies.

A lawsuit by Clark County echoes claims raised last year by two Las Vegas communications executives against online hotel booking services including Orbitz, Hotwire, Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline and Hotels.com.

At stake are hundreds of millions of dollars in room tax revenue that have been avoided by online travel companies for years and years, Michael Cristalli, an attorney handling both cases, said Tuesday.

The county made the determination that its in their best interest and the interest of the taxpayers of Nevada to pursue the deficient and continuing tax liability, he said.

Officials with most of the 13 named defendants did not immediately respond to email messages Monday and Tuesday about the case. A spokesperson for Hotel Tonight Inc. declined to comment.

Cristalli and attorney Dominic Gentile also represent communications executives Mark Fierro and Sig Rogich in a case they filed last year making similar consumer fraud and unjust enrichment claims.

The lawsuits accuse online booking companies of chronically underpaying taxes ranging from 10.5% to 13.38%, calculated as a percentage of gross rental receipts.

Both court filings used an example of an online travel company obtaining a room from a hotel for $150 and selling it online to a customer for $200, then paying the state tax based on the lower wholesale price of $150.

This business model deprives Nevada taxing authorities including Clark County of taxes due them on the full value of the transaction, the county lawsuit said.

The amount in dispute includes more than $100 million in unpaid taxes, plus perhaps another $100 million in damages and penalties, Cristalli said.

The revenue would benefit tourism, school, transportation and local government general fund accounts, according to the county lawsuit filed May 14 in Clark County District Court.

Attorneys representing at least 16 named defendants moved the case in July from state to federal court, where a judge now is being asked whether to send it back to state court.

In state court, a hearing is scheduled Sept. 2 before a judge in Las Vegas who decided in May not to throw out the unusual qui tam civil lawsuit filed in April 2020 by Fierro and Rogich.

The filing lets private citizen whistleblowers be rewarded for successful outcomes where they act and the government recovers money lost to false claims or other kinds of fraud.

Fierro and Rogich, namesakes of Fierro Communications and The Rogich Communications Group, would get up to 30% of money won in their case, according to their court filing.

Tax cases aimed at similar practices in other states involving online travel companies, or OTCs, have had mixed success.

The independent nonprofit Tax Foundation surveyed similar lawsuits in 34 states and the District of Columbia for a 2016 report. It found courts in 23 states, including three federal courts of appeal, concluded that online travel services werent subject to hotel occupancy taxes. Courts in six states ruled they were.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  A white Louisiana man has received a life sentence for the apparently random killing of a Black man in a park. He also is accused of killing another Black man at a bus stop and firing into the home of a Black family as part of a string of attacks that police said may have been racially motivated.

Kenneth Gleason was found guilty of first-degree murder in April for the killing of Donald Smart, The Advocate reported. Smart, 49, was shot in a park near Louisiana State University as he was walking to his overnight shift as a restaurant dishwasher in September 2017.

The 27-year-old was also charged in the fatal shooting of Bruce Cofield, 59, a homeless man who was sitting at a bus stop on a busy street in Baton Rouge two days before Smart was killed. Evidence was presented during the trial that Gleason fired gunshots through the front door of the only Black family that lived on the same suburban street as him and his parents.

After consulting with Smarts family, prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty. That meant the only sentence that could be imposed on Gleasons first-degree murder conviction was a mandatory life term.

District Judge Beau Higginbotham said the death penalty would have been the appropriate sentence, according to the newspaper.

Theres nothing the penal system can do to rehabilitate you, Mr. Gleason, he said at the Monday sentencing hearing.

Law enforcement officials have said they believe the two killings were random. Both men were on the side of the road at night when they were shot. Officials said Gleason approached them both in the same manner  shooting them first from inside his car, then exiting the vehicle and continuing to fire while standing over them.

Gleason, who had graduated with honors from one of Baton Rouges most elite high schools, pleaded not guilty in December 2017.

He wasnt charged with a hate crime, but an FBI agent testified that Gleason searched the internet around the time of the crimes for topics including Nazi propaganda and white nationalism. Law enforcement told The Associated Press that officers who searched his home found a handwritten copy of an Adolf Hitler speech.

Investigators said ballistics tests and DNA on shell casings linked the shootings. Jarrett Ambeau, one of Gleasons attorneys, said jurors told both parties after the trial they felt that proof was strong, according to The Advocate.

Forensic science evidence is very difficult to overcome, he said.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  Two Waterbury police sergeants were sued Tuesday by a man who says he was illegally arrested and detained for filming the exterior of the city's police station.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut filed the lawsuit in federal court on behalf of Wallingford resident Keith Massimino. It accuses Sgts. Matthew Benoit and Frank Laone of violating Massimino's constitutional rights in October 2018 when they arrested him as he filmed from a sidewalk.

Massimino, who said he was performing a First Amendment audit" of the police department, was charged with interfering with police, which carries up to a year in prison. Prosecutors dropped the case earlier this year.

It was awful for me and my family to be facing a year in prison for recording the outside of a public building, Massimino said in a statement. As a professional videographer, and someone who cares a lot about the freedom of speech and the right to know what the government is up to, Im still stunned by what these people did to me.

Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said police officials will work with the city corporation counsel's office to defend against the allegations. He declined to discuss the officers' actions, citing the pending litigation.

Sgts. Benoit and Laone did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

The lawsuit is seeking undetermined money damages for Massimino and aims to deter any police department from making similar arrests, said Dan Barrett, legal director for the state ACLU chapter. Citizens have the freedom to film and record in public spaces, he said.

Our ability to observe government buildings and public employees is key to democracy, and vital when it comes to controlling police, Barrett said. "Connecticut police want to prevent the public from seeing what theyre up to, but were not going to let them hide in plain sight.

Massimino posted an online video of the encounter showing the sergeants approaching him on a sidewalk outside the police department and asking him what he was doing. Massimino replies he is getting content for a story.

The sergeants ask him for identification, calling it a security issue. He asks why he would have to show ID for performing a legal activity, and he refuses to provide his identification.

I dont know if youre about the blow up the building," Laone says. Youre videotaping secure areas of the police department.

That's not a crime, Massimino responds.

The sergeants then put Massimino in handcuffs, saying he was being detained for reasonable suspicion. They later charged him with interfering with police and released him on a promise to appear in court.

Prosecutors dropped the charge in May, citing their review of the video and case file.
JACKSON, Mich. (AP)  Police arrested a man in western Michigan in the shooting of three men who were killed in Jackson County.

The man was captured Monday night in Grand Rapids, a day after the victims were found inside a house in Grass Lake Township, near Jackson, police said.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  A Connecticut man was charged Tuesday with firing multiple gunshots at the state Capitol in late May, one of several shooting incidents police believe he was involved in around the same time. No one was injured in any of the shootings.

State police said they arrested 74-year-old Floyd Gollnick of Southington, who already was detained in connection with shootings in Southington and Bristol. He was charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief in connection with the Capitol shooting.
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (AP)  A man charged with first-degree murder in the killing of a Lake Park woman in her home last year has pleaded not guilty in the case.

Justice Bernston, 24, on Monday pleaded not guilty to the murder count, as well as theft and conspiracy counts, the Sioux City Journal reported. His trial has been scheduled to begin Sept. 21.
GEORGETOWN, S.C. (AP)  A man and woman have been found shot to death in Georgetown County, authorities said.

Deputies first learned of the shootings late Monday, WCSC-TV reported. The sheriffs office early Tuesday confirmed that both had died of gunshot wounds.
MILWAUKEE (AP)  Milwaukees mayor has ordered mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for city employees. Mayor Tom Barrett made the announcement Tuesday afternoon. The requirement applies to general city employees as well as temporary employees and interns.

We have an obligation to provide a safe workplace for all employees, and a vaccinated workforce is part of that, Barrett, a Democrat, said in a news release.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Nebraskas veterans affairs agency is facing questions from a state lawmaker after it published job advertisements for nurses touting the fact that the state doesnt require its employees to get coronavirus vaccinations.

The ads on a state jobs website prominently note the lack of vaccination requirements for state employees, right after mentioning a $5,000 hiring bonus. In a separate mail advertisement, the state lists No mandated COVID-19 vaccination as one of the many great benefits of its nursing jobs.

State Sen. Carol Blood, of Bellevue, said she inquired about the ad after constituents with loved ones in Nebraska's state-run veterans homes brought it to her attention. Blood said she understands that the state faces a chronic nursing shortage but was concerned because many veterans' home residents are elderly and sick.

It almost appears as if we saw this as an opportunity to scoop up people who dont want to be vaccinated, said Blood, whose district includes the Eastern Nebraska Veterans' Home. I dont know if thats a really good strategy.

The listings were posted shortly before Nebraska's largest hospital systems jointly announced that they will require their employees to get vaccinated.

The coalition includes Boys Town, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals, Bryan Health, Methodist, CHI Health, Midwest Surgical Hospital, Children's Hospital & Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine. Several have reopened wards to cope with a surge in largely unvaccinated COVID-19 patients.

I think were approaching a public health crisis, said Dr. John Trapp, chief medical officer at Bryan Health.

The ads also come less than a year after the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs' director, John Hilgert, disclosed his own struggles with the virus and implored people to take it seriously. Hilgert's boss, Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, has repeatedly urged residents to get vaccinated but refused to require it statewide or to require masks, despite pleas from some public health officials.

In a statement, a department spokesman pointed to virus safety measures that are in place in all four of its facilities, including mandatory weekly testing for vaccinated workers and testing every other day for those who aren't.

Masks are also required for staff when they're working with residents, visitors or other employees. Face shields or eye protection is required if county transmission rates are considered high," with 100 or more new cases per 100,000 people in a week or 10% positive tests in that time window.

Additionally, unvaccinated staff members are required to quarantine if they're exposed to the virus. All workers must also complete a screening and temperature reading any time they enter a facility.

Serving the veterans and their family members in our homes is our mission, and we take their safety and care very seriously, said department spokesman Holden Armstrong.

Blood, a potential Democratic candidate for governor who has focused heavily on veterans' issues in the Legislature, said she'd like to see the state fill nursing jobs in other ways, such as raising pay or possibly offering assistance to medical professionals with student loan debt.

I'm deeply concerned about the message this gives to our veterans' families, she said. They want to believe their loved ones are in a safe place, and I don't think they feel that way right now.

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Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte
SEATTLE (AP)  An organizer of a neo-Nazi campaign to threaten journalists and Jewish activists in three states was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison after apologizing for what he did and saying he's a changed man.

Cameron Shea was one of four members of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division charged last year with having cyberstalked and sent Swastika-laden posters to journalists and an employee of the Anti-Defamation League, telling them, You have been visited by your local Nazis, Your Actions have Consequences, and We are Watching.

The defendant wanted the victims to feel unsafe in their own homes, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

Shea, 25, pleaded guilty in April in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two of the counts in the five-count indictment: a conspiracy charge that carries up to five years in prison and interference with a federally protected activity, which carries up to 10. Prosecutors sought a term of more than four years.

In a letter to Judge John C. Coughenour, Shea apologized, saying, I cannot put into words the guilt that I feel about this fear and pain that I caused.

Shea wrote that he was homeless, struggling with addiction and dealing with a friend's death when he began researching neo-Nazism. He said he has befriended detainees of other races while in custody and he now understands that journalists play a crucial role in holding institutions and individuals to account.

The only reason I disliked the media was because I was partaking in things I didn't want to be known to the public, because on some level I knew the things I was involved in were wrong, he wrote.

Motivated by negative news coverage of the Atomwaffen Division, Shea made clear in a November 2019 group chat that the point of the plot was to intimidate journalists and others.

On Jan. 25, 2020, Shea mailed the threatening fliers to two people associated with the Anti-Defamation League, which opposes anti-Semitism, and to a news reporter who had covered Atomwaffen. Conspirators in Arizona and Florida delivered or attempted to deliver the fliers to targets there, as well.

The other defendant accused of leading the plot, Kaleb Cole, has pleaded not guilty and is due to face trial in September. Seattle police seized Coles guns in 2019 under an extreme risk protection order that suggested he was planning a race war.

More than a dozen people linked to Atomwaffen or an offshoot called Feuerkrieg Division have been charged with crimes in federal court since the groups formation in 2016.

Atomwaffen has been linked to several killings, including the May 2017 shooting deaths of two men at an apartment in Tampa, Florida, and the January 2018 killing of a University of Pennsylvania student in California.

Two other members of the flier conspiracy have been sentenced after pleading guilty: Johnny Roman Garza, 21, of Queen Creek, Arizona, who affixed one of the posters on the bedroom window of a Jewish journalist; and Taylor Parker-Dipeppe, 21, of Spring Hill, Florida, who attempted to deliver a flier but left it at the wrong address.

Garza was sentenced to 16 months in prison. Parker-Dipeppe, who was severely abused by his father and stepfather and hid his transgender identity from his co-conspirators, received no prison time  a judge found that he had suffered enough.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  More than 6,000 Afghan refugees have arrived in Virginia and more are expected, Gov. Ralph Northam said Tuesday.

Northam said he appreciates all of the humanitarian work being done in Virginia right now, according to video from a WWBT-TV reporter.
HOUSTON (AP)  The National Rifle Association announced Tuesday it has canceled its annual meeting, which had been set to be held next month in Houston, due to concerns over COVID-19.

The NRAs meeting had been set for Sept. 3 through Sept. 5 and would have been attended by thousands of people taking part in social gatherings and other events on acres of exhibition space.

The organization said it made the decision after analyzing relevant data regarding COVID-19 in Harris County, where Houston is located. Houston, like other Texas cities and communities, has seen a jump in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the highly contagious delta variant. Hospitals in the Houston area and around the state have continued to fill up with COVID-19 patients, with ambulances sometimes waiting hours to offload patients as beds have become scarce.

The NRAs top priority is ensuring the health and well-being of our members, staff, sponsors, and supporters. We are mindful that NRA Annual Meeting patrons will return home to family, friends and co-workers from all over the country, so any impacts from the virus could have broader implications. Those are among the reasons why we decided to cancel our 2021 event, the NRA said in a statement.

The NRA had announced in January it had filed for bankruptcy protection and would change its state of incorporation from New York to gun-friendly Texas.

A judge rejected the NRAs bankruptcy case in May, ruling the nonprofit organization had not acted in good faith.

The organization filed for bankruptcy protection months after New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the NRA, seeking its dissolution over claims that top executives illegally diverted tens of millions of dollars for lavish personal trips, no-show contracts for associates and other questionable expenditures. That lawsuit is ongoing.
BUTLER, Pa. (AP)  A Pennsylvania police officer was in critical condition Tuesday after being stabbed during a struggle with a man he then shot and killed, state police said Tuesday.

The officer in Butler, north of Pittsburgh, responded shortly before 7 a.m. to a report of a man acting erratically and jumping in and out of oncoming traffic," police said.
ADRIAN, Mo. (AP)  The pilot of a single-engine plane was killed when the aircraft crashed into a cornfield in western Missouris Bates County, authorities there said.

The crash was reported late Monday morning to the countys emergency services after the Piper J3C-65 was reported overdue at an airport on Sunday afternoon. Another pilot in the area spotted the wreckage in the field northwest of Adrian and landed to help direct emergency responders to the site. A Bates County sheriffs deputy also used a search and rescue drone to help guide other deputies, state troopers, police and medics to the crash site.
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. (AP)  Police and fire investigators say a fire at a northeast Missouri law firm's office is being investigated as an arson.

The fire was reported early Sunday at the Frick and Cundiff law office in Kirksville.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Portland police said Monday they are looking for a second shooter, after bullets were fired downtown during weekend demonstrations.

Opposing rallies  by a far-right group and left-wing anti-fascists  drew hundreds of people to the Rose City and sparked clashes Sunday, resulting in violence and property destruction. The Oregonian/Oregon Live reports both groups were armed with bats, paintball guns and shields.

Around 12:30 p.m., demonstrators started gathering at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park downtown. An opposing group gathered in a parking lot in northeast Portland.

Around 4 p.m., police say subsets of the groups clashed in northeast Portland, where people lit fireworks and chemical spray, and fired what appeared to be paintball and airsoft guns. About an hour later, shots were fired at demonstrators downtown, police said.

No one was injured. A 65-year-old man was arrested for unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm.

On Monday, police said there is evidence a second gun was fired during the same incident and that a group of people may have been pursuing the alleged shooter before the gunfire started.

Although police arrived at the scene of the shooting, and made an arrest shortly after, officers were noticeably absent from other violent confrontations during Sunday's protests.

In the days leading up to the clashes, Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said police would not necessarily intervene.

You should not expect to see police officers standing in the middle of the crowd trying to keep people apart, he said in a statement Friday. People should keep themselves apart and avoid physical confrontation.

In addition, except for the shooting suspect, police said there were no immediate arrests resulting from the clashes. But it said detectives are reviewing evidence "to determine whether charges can be brought for any criminal activity.

On Monday, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said in a statement that events this past weekend put innocent lives and livelihoods at risk.

However, Wheeler also stated that strategic planning" from the police bureau mitigated confrontation between the two events and minimized the impact of the weekends events to Portlanders.

Wheeler said police monitored the events and were within minutes of both locations, ready to take action if the situation worsened.

Similar events in Portland between groups with differing political ideations or affiliations have resulted in violent clashes. Sundays events fell on the one-year anniversary of a particularly violent political clash in which the opposing groups brawled on the street next to police headquarters for hours.
San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin awoke on Monday certain of one thing: The fate of his father, David Gilbert - who was sentenced to 75 years to life in prison for his role in a 1981 robbery that left two police officers and a guard dead - was in New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's hands.

In the wake of a sexual harassment scandal, it was Cuomo's last day in office, a time when outgoing governors typically grant commutations. Boudin continually refreshed the governor's press page, hoping for news.

But the news did not come from the governor's website. At about 2:30 p.m. in San Francisco, he received a text from his mother, Kathy Boudin, who had also served prison time in the same incident.

"David was commuted!" she wrote. "Eligible for parole."

Boudin excused himself from a Zoom meeting, yelled with joy, found his wife and held her in the hallway.

"We just couldn't talk," Boudin recalled in an interview with The Washington Post. "We couldn't make words come out."

In his last hours as New York governor, Cuomo commuted the sentences of Gilbert and four others who "demonstrated substantial evidence of rehabilitation and a commitment to their communities," according to a news release from the governor's office.

"These clemencies make clear the power of redemption, encourage those who have made mistakes to engage in meaningful rehabilitation, and show New Yorkers that we can work toward a better future," Cuomo said in a statement.

Gilbert will now be referred to New York State Board of Parole, which will consider his release, according to the governor's office. It added that Gilbert has made contributions to AIDS education and prevention programs. He also worked as "a student tutor, law library clerk, paralegal assistant [and] a teacher's aide," the statement adds.

Boudin, who is right now facing a recall campaign, was elected as San Francisco's top prosecutor in 2019 after running on a platform of decarcerating jails, moving away from a cash bail system, and holding police officers accountable for misconduct. He is among a class of so-called progressive prosecutors, including Larry Krasner in Philadelphia and Kim Foxx in Chicago, who were elected in recent years after pledging to enact criminal justice reforms.

During his ascension to San Francisco district attorney - a position formerly occupied by Vice President Kamala Harris - Boudin invoked his father's incarceration as a reason he assumed the role of prosecutor, and his relationship with his father has been intertwined in his political narrative.

"Growing up, I had to go through a metal detector and steel gates just to give my parents a hug," Boudin said in a 2019 campaign video.

Boudin, 41, was a baby when the robbery took place. David Gilbert and Kathy Boudin, who were members of the Weather Underground, a radical left-wing militant group, were both convicted of felony murder for their role in the 1981 armed robbery of a Brink's armored car that left two Nyack, N.Y., police officers and a security guard dead. Although they did not carry out the murders themselves, Gilbert and Boudin were in the getaway vehicle.

Kathy Boudin was released from prison in 2003 and went on to become a professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work.

Boudin told The Post that he had been trying to have his father's sentence commuted for years. He and his family applied when former governor David Paterson left office in 2010, and again in 2020 during the pandemic. They reapplied for clemency again this year.

"We felt like the governor's people were paying attention," Boudin said. "But one never really knows with these things."

While Boudin said he was grateful his father had finally been granted clemency, he acknowledged on Twitter that "his crime devastated many families." News of the clemency decision invited criticism from some of those victims on Monday.

"It's absurd," Arthur Keenan Jr., a retired detective with the Nyack Police Department who was wounded in the shootout, told the New York Times.

Keenan added that Cuomo "is stabbing all of law enforcement in the back, and when I say all, I'm talking about federal, state, local - all across the whole country - because he's a traitor."

Ed Day, the elected leader of Rockland County, where Nyack is located, said that Cuomo had "debased himself," according to the Times.

"As if victimizing 11 women, including members of his own staff, was not despicable enough, his commutation of the 75-years-to-life sentence of David Gilbert is a further assault on the people of Rockland and New York State," Day said in a statement, the Times reported. "Andrew Cuomo continues to focus on the well-being of murderers rather than the victims of these horrible offenses."

Despite those criticisms, Boudin said the news felt "like a weight I've been carrying my whole had been lifted."

He thought about the prospect of sharing "basic daily joy" is with his father, and of being able to introduce him to his yet-to-be-born child.

"Not having to take my child through metal detectors and steel gates to meet their grandfather was just one of the most amazing gifts I could have imagined," he said. "It also made me think about those other families and how nothing will ever make them whole again, and how they will continue to live with the pain and loss that was caused by my parents crime."
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP)  The U.S. Department of Energy on Tuesday announced a new kind of climate observatory near the headwaters of the Colorado River that will help scientists better predict rain and snowfall in the U.S. West and determine how much of it will flow through the region.

The multimillion-dollar effort led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory launches next week. The team has set up radar systems, balloons, cameras and other equipment in an area of Colorado where much of the water in the river originates as snow. More than 40 million people depend on the Colorado River.

Alejandro Flores, an associate professor of hydrology at Boise State University, said the weather in mountainous areas is notoriously difficult to model and the observatory will be a game changer.

We have to think about the land and the atmosphere as a linked system that interact with each other, he said in a call with reporters. Up until now, there have been a lack of observations that help us understand this critical interface.

The West is in the midst of a more than 20-year megadrought that studies link to human-caused climate change. That, along with increased demand on the Colorado River led to the first-ever shortage declaration in August, and there's an increasing threat of deeper, more widespread water cuts. Arizona, Nevada and Mexico wont get their full allocations of river water next year.

Scientists will use the observatory to gather data on precipitation, wind, clouds, tiny particles, humidity, soil moisture and other things. Along with a better understanding of the hydrology, they hope to learn more about how wildfires, forest management, drought and tree-killing bugs, for example, play a part in water availability.

A big issue in predicting water supply in the West centers on soil moisture and content, said Ken Williams, the lead on-site researcher and Berkeley Lab scientist. The monsoon season largely was a dud across the Southwest for the past two years, which means more melting snow soaks into the ground before reaching streams and rivers when it does rain, he said.

Climate experts said during a separate briefing Tuesday that southern Arizona and parts of New Mexico have seen impressive rainfall totals so far this monsoon season, with Tucson marking its wettest July on record. Mike Crimmins, a professor at the University of Arizona, called it an "amazing reversal for the desert city.

Some parts of the Southwest have seen as much as four times their normal precipitation levels. But Crimmins noted other spots like Albuquerque, New Mexico, are either at average levels or still lagging.

We have both really wet conditions for the short term, but we also have longer-term drought still hanging out there because we have these longer-term deficits that we cannot solve with just one or two or even three months of precipitation, he said.

To reverse the longer-term trends, the region would need to see back-to-back wet winters and summers that are hard to come by, Crimmins said.

The new climate observatory, called the Surface Atmosphere Integrated Field Laboratory, brings together federal scientists, university researchers and others to build upon an ongoing study in the upper Gunnison River basin in Colorado that shares characteristics with other watersheds in the expansive Rocky Mountains.

For the Rio Grande basin, the data could help water managers as they juggle longstanding water sharing agreements among Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico, Williams said. It also could help improve weather forecasting and experiments to modify the weather, such as cloud seeding to produce more precipitation.

The data will be available to other researchers and provide a benchmark for any collection beyond the two-year project, scientists said.

___

This story has been updated to clarify that watersheds in the expansive Rocky Mountains have similar characteristics.

___

Associated Press writer Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contributed to this report.
ROCKPORT, Ind. (AP)  A southwestern Indiana elementary school has entered its second week of virtual learning with more than half of its students and staff members in COVID-19 quarantine.

Rockport Elementary School in Spencer County completed the 2020-21 school year with 100% face-to-face learning," but the pre-K through fifth-grade school has been in all virtual instruction since Aug. 17, said Principal Rick Hunt.

A handful of other Indiana schools have also switched to virtual instruction in response to the spread of the coronavirus' highly contagious delta variant.

With more than 50% of the Rockport school's students and faculty in quarantine and knowing there had been some coronavirus transmission between students, Hunt said school officials believed it was necessary to switch temporarily to virtual instruction.

We all let our guard down over the summer, he told the Evansville Courier & Press.

More than half of the school's 310 students and its 46 staff members were in COVID-19 quarantine Monday as the school entered the second week of virtual instruction.

Less than 5% of the total student body have been confirmed positive for COVID, but about 25% of the schools total staff have tested positive.

Students are expected to return to in-school classes on Aug. 30, Hunt said, with stricter enforcement of personal distancing and masking procedures.

The school, which is part of the South Spencer School Corporation, is located in the Ohio River city of Rockport, about 25 miles (40.2 kilometers) southeast of Evansville.
YERINGTON, Nev. (AP)  The significance of his Remembrance Run didnt sink in until Ku Stevens was finishing up the two-day, 50-mile (80-kilometer) trek across the high desert from Carson City to Yerington to honor the memories of ancestors who were removed from their families and sent to the Stewart Indian School.

The school that operated on the south edge of Carson City from 1890 to 1980 was one of about 350 across the U.S. and Canada created to force the assimilation of Native Americans.

The Yerington High school senior's great-grandfather, Frank Togo Quinn, escaped from the school three times  the first when he was 8 years old, finding his way back to his family more than a century ago.

Running down that hill and seeing my valley and seeing my home and my peoples land out here, goosebumps all the way down, Stevens told the Reno Gazette Journal after he finished the run on Aug. 15.

Thinking what it would be like to be a kid, coming over those hills and trying to get here. Realizing youre safe, at least until they come to get you again, he said.

Stevens, a national-caliber track athlete who runs cross-country for Yerington about 60 miles (96 kilometers) southeast of Reno, reflected on how much more difficult it would have been when Quinn first escaped in 1913.

They didnt have food," he said. "They didnt have Gatorade.

It was a hard journey. So many of them did it multiple times. So many of them tried to do it and some of them didnt make it. It was a brutal reality back then, he told the Gazette Journal.

The Las Vegas Sun reported about 150 people turned out for the start of the run to help raise awareness about Native American boarding schools in the aftermath of the recent discoveries of more than 1,000 unmarked graves of children at such schools in Canada.

After those discoveries, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland launched a comprehensive review of American boarding schools with an emphasis on finding burial sites and unmarked cemeteries.

This is not a protest, Stevens told those gathered in a ceremonial circle on the school lawn. Its a remembrance. This is something weve heard of from our past, and its finally coming to light.

For decades, the schools operated like a combination of military academies and forced labor camps, with students being required to conduct marching drills and perform manual labor while being taught only rudimentary academic courses.

Some of the children were sent voluntarily by their families. Others were abducted by the government. Children as young as 4 years old were confined at Stewart, where family visits were not allowed.

Students were given Christian names and strictly forbidden from speaking their own language or practicing their own customs.

Ku Stevens father, Delmar, told the Las Vegas Sun he first started thinking about a way to help connect his son to his heritage about a decade ago.

Ku was 8, and I thought, Well put on backpacks one of these days and take off, Delmar, a social worker, told the Sun.

But when Ku Stevens learned of the discoveries in Canada, the idea went from conceptual to reality. He instigated the event, and he and his family led the way in coordinating with support drivers, sponsors and others for the two-day trek.

This is his journey, said his father, who led the support team along the route.

Misty Stevens, Kus mother, said the run stirred introspection for everyone involved.

There were moments of healing. There were moments when we were crying, she told the Gazette Journal.

There were times when we were just thinking about 8-year-olds doing what we were doing, and we were suffering," she said. "I was suffering just driving the stupid truck.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson pushed back Tuesday against Republican lawmakers who claim campuses need their permission to implement COVID-19 policies, insisting university leaders don't need legislative approval to manage the schools  a major break from his party's stance against pandemic protocols.

A key Republican lawmaker promised to pursue a lawsuit. But Thompson, a former GOP governor who served as health secretary under President George W. Bush, said he would not cede control of the system to fellow Republicans who run the Legislature.

I'm not going to be intimidated," he told reporters during a briefing. Even though I don't want to pick a fight with the Legislature, I'm going to stand my ground. I've kept politics out of (running UW) and everyone agrees with that. I'm still a strong Republican. I just put my Republican bonafides aside when I run the university. I've got the right and the authority and the responsibility to do what's necessary to keep the universities open.

Thompson has called for UW campuses to hold at least 75% of their classes in-person this fall. The schools have implemented a range of protocols over the last few weeks designed to meet that goal as the delta variant surges across the state, including mask and testing mandates.

The system hasn't required vaccinations. Thompson instead has created incentives for shots such as tuition remission. He said Tuesday, though, that he may have to "do an audible at the line if infections keep climbing.

Regardless, the protocols the system has implemented so far have angered Republican lawmakers who see them as excessive restrictions on individual liberties. The Legislature's GOP-controlled rules committee voted Aug. 3 to block the UW System from implementing any COVID-19 protocols without the committee's permission.

Thompson said he's confident state law and administrative rules give system administrators the sole authority to set campus policies and legislators have no grounds to manage system affairs.

We have complete authority to regulate, control, supervise and maintain the structures on our campus and at the same time provide for the safety and welfare of our faculty, employees and our great students, Thompson said.

Republican Sen. Steve Nass, co-chair of the Legislature's rules committee, issued a statement threatening to pursue a lawsuit. Nass said it's sad that Thompson believes in big government control over the rights of individuals to make their own health-related decisions. He said he thinks Thompson is trying to preserve the ability to mandate vaccinations.

He warned that if system administrators don't submit their mask and testing mandates to the committee for approval by Sept. 2 he'll ask Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu to file a lawsuit. Aides for both lawmakers didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

If Republicans choose to sue they would presumably seek a ruling from Wisconsin's conservative-controlled state Supreme Court, which has already erased Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate and limits on indoor gatherings. But Thompson said Tuesday he's sure he'd prevail in front of the high court.

I think the Legislature would make a big mistake suing us, he said. I think they're going to lose and as a result some of their power will go away. If in fact (the court finds) a way to rule against the university, how the hell would you run it? The university could not function with the Legislature overruling all decisions by the president, the Board of Regents, the chancellors. It would be an absolute mess.

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Follow Todd Richmond on Twitter at https://twitter.com/trichmond1
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP)  A Virginia Beach man has pleaded guilty to stabbing his estranged husband to death and hitting his mother-in-law with a car over two years ago.

Roel Delua, 36, will serve 30 years in prison after pleading guilty on Monday to second-degree murder, wounding in the commission of a felony, malicious wounding and hit and run resulting in personal injury, The Virginian-Pilot reported. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped a charge of arson.
WATERBURY, Conn. (AP)  A man was shot to death in Waterbury, and police are investigating whether the fatal shooting was connected to a shooting that injured a dog at around the same time.

Officers responding to a report of shots fired shortly after 3 p.m. Monday found a dog that had been shot in the face inside an apartment on Arch Street, Sgt. Robert Davis of the Waterbury police said in a news release. The dog was taken to an animal hospital for treatment.
SEATTLE (AP)  A woman who was sought by federal prosecutors for allegedly lying to a grand jury investigating the 2001 murder of Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Wales has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor obstruction charge.

The Seattle Times reports U.S. District Judge James Robart sentenced Shawna Reid of Marysville, Washington, to time served  a total of nine days in custody since she was indicted in 2019  with no additional supervised release, plus a $25 fine.

Robart took Reids plea at a Zoom court hearing announced just hours before it convened Monday morning.

The 2019 indictment of Reid on felony charges of lying to and obstructing a grand jury investigating Wales killing was seen as a potential break in the case, which remains unsolved. Wales was shot several times by someone who broke into his Seattle backyard on the night of Oct. 11, 2001.

But the government appears to have gotten little out of the prosecution.

Reid was indicted on charges of lying to a grand jury and obstruction of justice. A conviction could have sent her to prison for up to five years.

Reid, who said she is a stay-at-home mother for her two young children and living with her fiance in Marysville, said she was grateful to the court and its pretrial supervision, which has helped her through drug treatment and enabled her to stay sober for six months.

Im doing amazing and I want to keep it that way, Reid, 36, told the judge. Im just happy to move forward with my life.

The plea agreement alleges Reid willfully attempted to obstruct the court order that she testify truthfully to the grand jury in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

Her attorney said Reid never had anything more to offer the investigation.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  A woman who was found fatally injured inside a crashed car in Kansas City had been shot, police there said.

Officers were called around 8 p.m. Monday to the Parkview neighborhood for reports of a crash along Independence Avenue, police said in a news release. Arriving officers found the car on its side and a woman inside the car who had been shot.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  The only time Californians voted to recall a governor, they replaced him with a Hollywood megastar. This time, could it be a 29-year-old YouTube star who ends up leading the nation's most populous state?

Its a very long shot, but Kevin Paffrath could conceivably win simply because he has some name recognition by virtue of the nearly 1.7 million followers of his video channel, where he dispenses financial advice. The other eight Democrats running are essentially unknowns.

The Democratic field is filled with anonymous political neophytes because of Gov. Gavin Newsoms successful strategy of discouraging any prominent Democrats from running in the Sept. 14 election. His goal was to make it an all-or-nothing proposition for voters  keep Newsom, or live with the consequences of picking a replacement with a far different policy agenda.

Social media stardom translates to name recognition, and that's really what's going to make a big difference in an election like this with 46 names on the ballot," said Kim Nalder, a professor of political science at the California State University, Sacramento.

Voters already have received mail-in ballots with two questions: Should Newsom be recalled and, if so, who should replace him? If a majority want Newsom gone, the candidate with the highest vote total becomes governor even if they fall short of a majority, which is almost a certainty with so many candidates. People who vote against recalling Newsom can still choose a replacement option in case hes recalled.

Paffrath's climb is a steep one made more difficult by his failure to submit a statement describing his political beliefs for the voter guide that goes to all households with registered voters. For people loosely following the race, that could be the primary place to learn about replacement options.

He'd also have to overcome the message from Newsom and California Democratic Party officials that recall opponents should skip the second question altogether and focus only on keeping Newsom in office.

Paffrath thinks that's a mistake. He's been traveling the state  even showing up at some of Newsom's events  and making the case to reporters and his followers that a vote for him gives California a chance at progress on issues like homelessness should Newsom be recalled. If Democrats forfeit their right to choose a replacement, he argues it could leave the state in the hands of a Republican likely to be in a stalemate with the overwhelmingly Democratic Legislature.

We want folks in California to know there is a backup option, that if you are against the recall, do not leave the second part of the ballot blank  its stupid, Paffrath told The Associated Press.

Paffrath, who is listed on the ballot as a financial educator/analyst," posts multiple videos a day on subjects like the stock market and cryptocurrency. And about his campaign.

Many have attention-grabbing headlines such as Its Official: California is Shutting me Down," which featured Paffrath sharing that California's secretary of state wouldn't allow him to use his nickname Meet Kevin" on the ballot. In another video titled PLEASE HELP or I'm Screwed in 48 hours," he asked his followers to assist him in texting voters.

Paffrath's campaign is getting a boost. For the first time, he's being included in a debate. He'll appear Wednesday with three Republican candidates  former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Assemblyman Kevin Kiley and businessman John Cox, who lost to Newsom in a 2018 landslide.

Newsom and Republican front-runner and talk show host Larry Elder have skipped all debates.

The recall campaign is Paffrath's first foray into politics. He didnt even vote in 2018, something he now says was a mistake.

Paffrath lives in Ventura with his wife, Lauren, and two sons, ages 3 and 5. The couple met on a high school trip to Paris, but their relationship quickly hit a snag: Lauren lived in Southern California, and Paffrath in Florida. He eventually moved to California for his senior year and lived with her family, then stayed and got into real estate with the help of his wifes father. Paffrath says he and his wife have a net worth of at least $15 million.

Father-in-law Bill Stewart said Paffrath learned the ropes of the real estate business then quickly became one of Ventura County's top agents.

He combines intelligence with an incredible work ethic," Stewart said. He learns things incredibly quickly, and he's always doing research to get the best results."

Paffrath now owns many properties in Ventura County. When he started his YouTube channel, he made videos critiquing other people's real estate advice and quickly started garnering attention.

He's now hoping to capitalize on that following his bid for governor. If elected, he'd focus on homelessness, something Newsom identified as his No. 1 priority before the pandemic hit but has only worsened.

Paffrath said he'd use his emergency powers to build 80 shelters that would provide substance abuse help, mental health treatment and educational support on site, as well as meals and showers. While they're under construction, he'd dispatch the National Guard to help homeless people on the streets by passing out supplies and building temporary bathrooms.

Once the shelters are up and running  he says within 60 days  no one would be allowed to sleep on the streets. He envisions ambulances picking up people on the streets at night and bringing them to shelters or helping them get medical care, but said people would not be arrested.

California has roughly 160,000 homeless people, and politicians and community groups have for years struggled to find policy solutions. Shelters have proven an insufficient support system.

But Paffrath believes his approach will build goodwill with lawmakers to move forward on other priorities, like a wide-ranging infrastructure plan that would include constructing a pipeline to the Mississippi River for a new source of water and building underground tunnels to alleviate traffic, an idea championed by billionaire Elon Musk.

He's also proposing giving interested adults $2,000 per month to attend future schools" where they can learn skills such as computer programming or electrical engineering to find high-paying jobs.

Paffrath feels he's been unfairly blocked by the Democratic Party and its message to only vote no on the recall and not pick a replacement candidate. He said that could result in a conservative Republican governor. Paffrath believes Newsom's campaign should tout his candidacy as a viable backup.

Maybe they'll be too arrogant to do it," he said. But it would be very smart for them to do that."

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This story has been corrected to say Paffrath and his wife have a net worth of at least $15 million, not assets totaling $15 million.
By John Glidden

Bay City News Foundation

With the rise of the COVID-19 Delta variant, the Benicia City Council is expected to require that face masks be worn inside public buildings throughout the city.

The move comes as Bay Area counties have reinstated indoor mask mandates as the Delta variant circulates. Solano County has not instituted a mask mandate.

Benicia Mayor Steve Young expressed frustration with the lack of action by the Solano County Public Health Department.

"The county is unwilling to order a mask mandate so the Benicia council has to step in and do so," Young said Monday.

Young also wondered why Solano County's health officer Dr. Bela Matyas is not ordering a new mask mandate.

"It does raise the question, what does Dr. Matyas know that the rest of the public health officials in the Bay Area don't," Young added.

Reached by phone Monday night, Matyas said there wasn't evidence that a mask mandate would help stop the transmission of COVID-19 for Solano County residents.

"The data shows that it's being spread through social events," Matyas added.

Matyas said the city of Benicia is free to institute a mask mandate.

"I genuinely don't believe it is needed (for Solano County)," Matyas said.

Data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a 34 percent increase in COVID cases in Solano County from Aug. 14 to Aug. 21.

Young said the city had a mask mandate up until June when the state began to loosen mask restrictions.

Benicia's mask mandate requires every person 12 years old and above to wear a face covering when inside a building open to the public. These spaces include grocery stores, laundromats, commercial office buildings and restaurants, among others.

Over in the city of Vallejo, all persons entering city buildings -- regardless of vaccination status -- are required to wear a face mask, said Vallejo spokeswoman Christina Lee.

Lee said the Vallejo City Council might consider a similar action like the one Benicia is taking but the soonest that could happen would be in September.

The special Benicia City Council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Copyright  2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
With the rise of the COVID-19 Delta variant, the Benicia City Council is expected to require that face masks be worn inside public buildings throughout the city.

The move comes as Bay Area counties have reinstated indoor mask mandates as the Delta variant circulates. Solano County has not instituted a mask mandate.

Benicia Mayor Steve Young expressed frustration with the lack of action by the Solano County Public Health Department and wondered why Solano County's health officer Dr. Bela Matyas is not ordering a new mask mandate.

The special Benicia City Council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin's father received clemency Monday from outgoing New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the governor's office said.

David Gilbert, 76, has been in prison nearly all Boudin's life, Boudin tweeted Monday evening following the clemency.

According to Cuomo's office, Gilbert was convicted in 1983 of three counts of second-degree murder and four counts of first-degree robbery.

Full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine Monday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will likely trigger more vaccine mandates, especially at California community colleges this fall.

California's public university systems, the University of California and California State University, already chose to require students and staff to be vaccinated this fall without waiting for FDA approval of one of the existing vaccines. Some community colleges across the state did the same. But most of California's 115 campus-based community colleges have not yet implemented such mandates, and several explicitly said they were waiting for one of the vaccines to receive full approval.

One person was injured and four adults displaced in a two-alarm fire Monday afternoon in San Jose, fire officials said.

The fire was reported at 3:24 p.m. at a duplex in the 5800 block of Hillview Avenue near the Westfield Oakridge shopping mall.

Both units of the duplex were impacted by the fire, according to fire officials. The American Red Cross is helping the four people displaced.

A woman driving on Interstate Highway 80 in Vallejo Sunday was injured when someone shot at her from another vehicle, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The woman was driving west on Highway 80, east of Redwood Street, when someone in a dark sedan drove up along the left side of her car and opened fire, hitting her Infinity sedan multiple times.

Both cars then got off the freeway at Redwood Street. The woman drove to a Chevron gas station and called 911 while the shooter fled in a direction unknown to the victim, according to the CHP.

The woman was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover.

The family of a San Quentin prison guard who died after a COVID-19 outbreak among inmates and staff is scheduled to talk about its civil rights lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on Tuesday.

The family, along with their lawyers, will host a Zoom-based news conference Tuesday at 10 a.m. to talk about the suit, according to an announcement from a public relations firm representing the Oakland-based law firm of Haddad and Sherwin.

Polanco died on Aug. 9 after 34 years as a correctional officer at the prison, according to the CDCR website.

He was one of 28 people at the prison to die from the virus after prison officials allegedly failed to test the inmates before transferring them, provide them with personal protective equipment, require them to social distance or quarantine them after their arrival at San Quentin, according to the announcement.

Park rangers, lifeguards, and educators among other East Bay Regional Park District workers will decide this coming weekend whether to strike, said the group People for East Park Bay Workers on Monday.

The 600 workers are demanding more respect and fair wages. Results of the vote on whether to strike will be announced Aug. 30.

East Bay park workers make 10 percent less than people in comparable jobs in the Bay Area, according to a report. If the workers authorize a strike, it would be the first in nearly 50 years.

The California state veterinarian on Monday issued a statewide recall and quarantine order of raw goat milk from a Stanislaus County farm.

Valley Milk Simply Bottled produced and packaged the milk subject to the recall.

Consumers with half-gallon plastic jugs with a code date on the jug of "AUG 28 2021" should dispose of any in their refrigerators and retailers are urged to pull the product from store shelves.

California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones issued the quarantine after the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni was detected by the California Department of Food and Agriculture during a routine sample at Valley Milk Simply Bottled's production and packaging facility. State agriculture officials said no one has reported getting ill from drinking the milk.

The National Weather Service forecast for the San Francisco Bay Area calls for morning drizzle along the coast again Tuesday with highs from the 60s along the coast, to the upper 60s to low 70s around the Bay and to the low 80s inland. Overnight lows will be in the 50s.

Onshore winds should continue to help push smoke east of the bays. Expect a gradual warming trend through the week, with chance for warmer temperatures Friday and Saturday for inland areas and higher terrain.

Copyright  2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  New Mexico education officials this month touted a plan to address an ongoing lawsuit over educational opportunities for Indigenous and low-income students as an accomplishment of the outgoing Education Secretary.

But a draft of the document obtained by The Associated Press shows that it offers few specifics for fixing systemic inequities in the state's public school system.

The 100-page document outlines strategies to resolve a 2018 state court ruling that found New Mexico failed to provide adequate education for most students required under the state's constitution.

In most cases, the draft reiterates the general goals of the state's Public Education Department without laying out specific plans to solve problems identified in the ruling.

It prioritizes increasing access to high-speed internet, but does not suggest providing high-speed internet to all students or to all students unable to attend school in-person, which District Court Judge Matthew Wilson ordered this year.

The draft was presented to a summit of tribal leaders when they met last week with state government officials.

The education department plans to release a full version of the proposal by Dec. 1, after getting additional feedback, the document states. That leaves about four weeks for the public to comment before legislation starts to be filed next year.

The final draft will likely drive policy discussions ahead of the 2022 legislative session where lawmakers will hash out the state's education budget.

The timing is driven by the need for giving the public time to weigh in before the (legislative) session, said Public Education Department spokeswoman Carolyn Graham.

State Rep. Derrick Lente, a Democrat who sponsors much of the state House legislation supporting Indigenous issues, and other prominent Native American education advocates complained that they had not been given a copy of the document by state education officials.

Lente says feast days and other religious holidays in December will limit the publics ability to participate.

He said they should release the document sooner so there is time for people to have input.

Its insulting to think that they expect the public who yes, education is absolutely a priority, but during the holiday season, to take time out of, out of their life, and out of their holiday, Lente said, on something like this that theyve had all year to do.

The draft focuses on what needs to be done to address the lawsuit, but not necessarily who will do it or how.

The 2018 ruling found the state offers second-rate education to marginalized groups, and hasn't hired enough qualified teachers who can serve Indigenous students, English language learners or disabled children. It also found children in poverty were not receiving an adequate education.

The education department policy draft sets the goals of increasing teacher training and recruitment, driving down dropout rates and absenteeism, and increasing funding for ways to support students outside of class, from counseling to at-home internet and computers.

One of the few specific recommendations in the report cites the need to increase pay for teachers who obtain Spanish bilingual certifications or Native American language and cultural certificates, as well as technical support and training for schools for absenteeism interventions. Boosting pay for those hard to fill positions would attract more candidates, the draft said.

While follow-up rulings from state court judge Wilson has set a specific standard for high-speed internet and required students to have access, the draft does not.

Former Public Education Department Secretary Ryan Stewart has said that the state follows a federal standard that sets minimum upload and download speeds. The judge issued a higher standard, based on outcomes, saying that all students should be able to participate in a two-way video chat with their teacher

Wilson also ordered the education department to identify which students lack essential technology. The department has not released the data.

Education officials said more detailed recommendation items will be included in the version released to the public.

The state education department "is developing 90-day action plans that will include specific measurable actions as well as identifying the people responsible for those actions, the timelines, and the metrics for success, Graham said.

The education department stressed that the draft is not the first effort taken at resolving the lawsuit.

Since the 2018 ruling, New Mexico changed the state education funding formula so that schools serving Indigenous areas would keep millions in federal funds instead of having it subtracted from their state funding. In response to the pandemic, the education department has funded the purchase of laptops for students stuck at home and paid for temporary internet access.

The lawsuit named Martinez-Yazzie for the Hispanic and Indigenous families who joined the lawsuit in 2014 during Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's administration. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham tried unsuccessfully to dismiss the lawsuit last year.

Lawyers representing the plaintiffs have estimated in the past that the case covers about 80% of New Mexicos K-12 students. They include Native American students, English Language learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students.

Because the closure of in-person schooling during the pandemic disproportionately impacted those types of students, it's unlikely that the lawsuit will be dismissed any time soon.

___

Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter.
Its a bright day in the Outer Sunset and Im waiting on the curb for my first spin in one of Waymos ubiquitous autonomous vehicles.

Im the first journalist in San Francisco to ride in one such car, Im told.

I wasnt quite sure what to expect of the ride: Would it be jerky? Would I be terrified? Or worse, would a freak accident turn this into another cautionary tale warning against robotic automation?

Waymo started in 2009 as Googles self-driving car company and is now a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Googles parent company. Since the late aughts, Waymo has been sending its vehicles  recognizable for their white exteriors and spinning cameras  onto the streets of San Francisco for testing. Today, the testing reaches a new head, as Waymo has begun offering free rides to selected city dwellers (more on that later).

Michelle Robertson/SFGATE

We started on the corner of Noriega Street and 26th Avenue. My riding partner, a member of Waymos communications team, called the car with an app on her phone and we hopped in.

For about 15 minutes, we cruised around the neighborhood, driving at the speed limit, if not just below, around the Outer Sunset. It was like an Uber ride with no hard destination. The specially designed Jaguar cruised smoothly and gently. A digital map in the backseat let me follow the ride and the obstacles in our way  things like people, traffic cones and other vehicles.

We werent riding alone. A trained driver  Waymo calls them autonomous specialists  sat in the front seat, and every so often, shed glide her hands up to the steering wheel for safety.

Michelle Robertson/SFGATE

I asked her how she knew to take manual control of the car, and she had a similar answer: I adjust according to safety. Conversation over. (You can read more about Waymos safety protocols on its blog).

Though Waymo publicly reported 21 "disengagements" -- moments when the driver must step in -- in 2020 for more than 628,000 miles of driving, according to a Reuters report published Wednesday, one former Waymo driver in San Francisco said he had to disengage or intervene about 30 times a day.

"You are on your toes... There are times where (you think) 'Oh, I did not predict this behavior at all.' 'This behavior doesn't usually happen,'" the driver told Reuters.

Not once during the ride did I feel unsafe. Though I wouldnt say Im entirely trustful of current autonomous vehicle technology, with the driver up front, I never fretted wed be in grave danger.

And, admittedly, I was distracted by all the bells and whistles in the car. In the backseat, which was shielded from the front seat by a plastic partition to be COVID-safe, each Waymo car is equipped with a digital touchscreen for use with the new One Trusted Tester program, which launches today.

Michelle Robertson/SFGATE

The Trusted Tester program is a "research-focused program" that will enable selected San Franciscans to hail an autonomous ride in Waymos initial service area. Each ride will be manned by a driver and completely free  a ride-at-your-own-risk type of situation. From the backseat, the passenger can start or stop the ride, call for help, follow the map and sync your own music via Bluetooth. It even reminds you, via a voice over the speaker, to take all your belongings when you leave.

"From using the Waymo One app, to pickup and drop-offs, to the ride itself, we receive valuable feedback from our riders that allows us to refine our product offering as we advance our service," Waymo said in a press release.

The program has already been rolled out in Phoenix, where testers can hail rides sans drivers. The communications team member I rode with said so far in Arizona, there have been "no major accidents."

Michelle Robertson/SFGATE

In San Francisco, Waymo employees have been able to call for rides over the last year. With its latest announcement, Waymo is the first autonomous vehicle company in San Francisco to offer rides to civilians.

To sign up for the program, simply download the Waymo One app from the iOS or Android app stores. From there, the app will walk you through the signup process and enable you to call rides if youre selected as a tester (Waymo said its starting with an initial group before expanding).

People with disabilities are encouraged to sign up, as Waymo, which has wheelchair-accessible vehicles, says it is "committed to ensuring that our ride-hailing service is accessible for people with disabilities."

Will I be signing up to participate? You bet, at least as long as the program is free. With its robust safety protocols, including specific COVID-era cleaning tools like Air Flush, which cleanses the inside of the vehicle, Id feel confident Waymo could get me from point A to point B safely. And with Uber and Lyft prices through the roof in San Francisco and beyond, its a nice alternative to traverse short distances.

Is robot automation the future of our city? I cant say. But for now, Ill take the free ride.
You are now listening to the sounds of the New Generation. A podcast created for those who desire a new way of gaining information rather than reading a traditional newspaper. In our show we will discuss everything from sports, pop culture, politics, and local news. To stay up to date on our latest episodes every week be sure to follow us on your favorite podcast service. And dont worry, we keep it short.
BANGKOK (AP)  Thailand on Tuesday decriminalized the possession and sale of kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia whose leaves are used as a mild stimulant and painkiller and which has a following in the United States for its pain-relieving qualities.

Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said thousands of legal cases for the possession or sale of kratom were being dropped, and 121 inmates convicted in such cases would be released immediately. Possession of kratom had been punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of as much as 200,000 baht ($6,077) for quantities of 10 kilograms (22 pounds) or more.

The decriminalization of kratom, which involved removing the drug from the official list of controlled narcotics, is the countrys latest move to liberalize its drug laws. In the past two years, Thailand has allowed regulated medical marijuana use as well as the licensed buying and growing of marijuana, and permitted households to grow up to six plants. Harsh penalties remain for hard drugs such as heroin and methamphetamine.

Easing pressure on Thailands justice system and its overcrowded prisons has been a major impetus for the new drug policy.

When he proposed the action on kratom to the Cabinet last year, Somsak said the move would not only help reduce costs in the legal system, but also allow the drug to be used as a low-cost substitute for expensive painkillers such as morphine and create income for people cultivating the plant, which is mostly grown and used in the impoverished south.

In Thailand, kratom leaves typically would be chewed to give the user a mild energy boost, although it can also be smoked. But it's sometimes mixed with other drugs to make a narcotic tea, or cocktail, a form in which it remains illegal.

At low doses, kratom produces stimulant effects with users reporting increased alertness, physical energy and talkativeness. At high doses, users experience sedative effects. Kratom consumption can lead to addiction, says a website of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that lists kratom among the agencys drugs of concern.

The DEA says people have used kratom to relieve muscle strains and as a substitute for opium; the drug also has been used to manage withdrawal symptoms from opioids.

Nimu Makaje, a Muslim community leader in Thailand's southern province of Yala, expressed concern about abuse of the plant.

If we are legalizing it, we need to have proper controlling measures, he told The Associated Press. Currently, a lot of people have lost their jobs and they may use it to reduce their stress. This is very dangerous."

Ramdin Areeabdulsorma, a local politician in nearby Pattani province, said kratom has been part of local peoples daily life since a long ago, helping them feel refreshed.

To decriminalize kratom is the right thing to do. Local people or patients who need it will be able to access it more easily. However, I am concerned that teenagers will use it in a wrong way, for example, mixing kratom with other narcotics. We have to control this strictly, otherwise, it can cause damage, he said.

In the U.S., kratom is generally unregulated, although it is illegal in several states. It's typically found in smoke shops that also sell vaping devices and CBD products, but there is also an industry lobby which promotes its use as a legitimate painkiller that's a safe alternative to powerful opioids.

___

Associated Press journalists Tassanee Vejpongsa and Sumeth Panpetch contributed to this report.
New Haven is no longer Connecticuts second largest city now that Stamford has grown 10 percent in the last decade to 135,470 residents.

For generations, New Haven, or the Elm City, has been known as a cultural hub with its museums, theaters and higher education institutions. But Stamford has undergone significant economic development and its growing in residential construction. Every year, theres more housing built in Stamford, said Mark Abraham, executive director of DataHaven, an organization that follows Connecticuts trends.

I confess that I am torn. Although I lived in Stamford in the late 1990s, I also served on New Havens City Plan Commission until last year, so I have an affinity for both shoreline municipalities. Ive noticed a few things about them.

First, redevelopment efforts matter. Thats something I have studied in New York tri-state area cities for a while.

But as a planning commissioner in New Haven, I grew concerned with the hoops and hurdles many developers faced in getting projects off the ground. Massive projects, like the 12-acre 201 Munson St. apartment complex, were frequently delayed. Developers associated with that particular project never built it.

Part of the problem is that New Havens economic development bureaucracy can be burdensome. The city has numerous management teams, local boards and commissions. Plus, New Haven has several development-related agencies, 30 elected alders and a strong-mayor system. So, projects have to go through many entities and officials.

Elm Citys economic development process is not only difficult to understand, its also costly for developers and investors to pay lawyers, engineers, architects and other professionals.

Serving on the City Plan Commission, I witnessed and was a part of this red-tape maze.

Meanwhile, Stamford has significantly expanded waterfront communities like Harbor Point. Its also grown its UConn Stamford campus. Stamfords downtown housing is so popular that UConn added a new residence hall a few years ago. So many apartment and condominium complexes have also been constructed around downtown Stamford that it makes the area a desirable mixed-use and mixed-income space, especially near the expanding train station.

Since Stamford is already a notable corporate hub, its been a private-sector magnet for decades. Its economic development prowess has made it Connecticuts second largest city, beating out New Haven.

Maybe a competition among shoreline cities will spark more growth and development in all of them in the near future. Urbanists and policy officials should examine Stamford and New Havens practices, and maybe the cities can trade concepts. In fact, another nearby city should be included for comparative sake: Bridgeport. It is after all, Connecticuts largest city, even if its economic development has faced frequent setbacks.

Imagine the potential of Connecticuts three largest shoreline cities growing and developing into urban models for the tri-state area and the New England region. These cities could serve as exemplars, assuming they effectively learn redevelopment approaches from one another. Time will tell, especially with another census in 10 years.

Jonathan L. Wharton is associate dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies and teaches political science at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.
Left to right: Scott Ward, president of West Shore Community Collegel Lisa Morley, WSCC early childhood professor; Seth Hopkins of the Manistee Great Start Collaborative and Sherry Wyman, chair of the WSCC board of trustees, pose after Hopkins awarded the college the Manistee Early Childhood Champion Award.
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Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee recently signed broad new pay equity legislation into law that will require you to change many common workplace practices. The new law is slated to take effect on Jan. 1, 2023. While it might seem so far into the future that you can ignore the law for the time being, you would best be served by beginning your compliance efforts now to put your organization in the best position to get in line with the new standards.

Like many other states' pay equity laws, the new law will prohibit you from requesting applicants' salary histories before initial employment offers and requires pay transparency in the workplace. Unlike many other states' pay equity laws, however, which focus primarily on achieving pay parity between genders, Rhode Island's act addresses wage discrimination based on several protected characteristics beyond sex. The new law also provides a safe-harbor mechanism that might permit you to escape legal liability, but which requires you to take proactive steps sooner rather than later. Here's what you need to know aboutand do as a result ofthis significant new law.

Employer Obligations

The act prohibits an employer from paying any employee "at a wage rate less than the rate paid to employees of another race, or color, or religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, or country of ancestral origin for comparable work."

"Wage" includes nearly all types of compensation, but expressly excludes tips and overtime pay.

"Comparable work" means work that, "as a whole," requires "substantially similar skill, effort, and responsibility, and is performed under similar working conditions." Minor differences in skill, effort or responsibility will not prevent two jobs from being deemed comparable.

If two employees are performing comparable work as defined by the act, wage disparities are only permissible if reasonably explained by, or if the employer reasonably relied on, one or more of the following:

Seniority.

A merit system.

A system that measures earnings by quantity or quality.

Geographic location.

Shift differentials.

Job-related education, training or experience.

Work-related travel.

Any other bona fide job-related factor other than membership in a protected class.

Importantly, employers may not reduce any employees' wages to comply with the act, and employees may not agree to be paid less than that to which they are entitled under the act. In addition, employees' wage histories may not be used to justify a pay differential.

Employers must conspicuously post a notice of employee rights under the act, to be published by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RIDLT), or face a civil penalty of between $100 and $500.

Avoiding Liability

Through June 30, 2026, employers will have an affirmative defense to all liability for any alleged unlawful pay practices if they can show they: (1) conducted a "self-evaluation" of their pay practices within the two years preceding the commencement of a pay equity lawsuit; and (2) can show they have eliminated the allegedly unlawful wage differentials revealed by the self-evaluation.

The act states that the RIDLT will issue a template for employers to complete self-evaluations; however, employers may use their own forms if they choose. An employer has 90 days from the date it completes a self-evaluation to perform any necessary wage adjustments to take advantage of the affirmative defense.

After June 30, 2026, employers that perform good-faith self-evaluations and eliminate any unlawful wage differentials will not be liable for compensatory damages, liquidated damages, or civil penaltiesbut can still be liable for unpaid wages and equitable relief.

Salary History Inquiries Prohibited

The act also prohibits employers from asking for or relying on applicants' wage histories when deciding whether to consider them for employment and, when hiring individuals, determining what wages to pay them. After extending an initial employment offer, employers may use an individual's wage history to justifying increasing the compensation offered, but only if:

The wage history was voluntarily provided by the applicant without the employer's prompting.

The contemplated, higher wage does not create an unlawful pay differential within the organization.

Disclosing Salary Ranges

Employers must also provide a wage range for any position, including open positions, upon request. Likewise, an employer "should provide a wage range for the position the applicant is applying for prior to discussing compensation." In addition, when a current employee transfers to a different position within the company, the employer must provide the wage range for the new position, even if the employee does not affirmatively request it.

Employers are prohibited from retaliating against applicants or employees for requesting wage ranges. Employers also may not prevent "an employee from inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing the wages of such employee or another employee or retaliate against an employee who engages in such activities."

Penalties for Noncompliance

If, after an RIDLT investigation, the agency determines that an employer has violated the act's pay equity mandates, it may impose civil penalties between $1,000 and $5,000, depending on the number of previous violations of the act, the size of the employer, the good faith of the employer, the gravity of the violation, and whether the employer made an innocent mistake or acted willfully. The RIDLT may also order other appropriate relief or refer the case to the state attorney general. Note that the act gives employers a grace period, as it provides that no civil penalties may be assessed from Jan.1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2024.

The act also permits individuals to file a complaint with the RIDLT or in court within two years after the occurrence or discovery of an occurrence that may violate the act or within three years after the occurrence or discovery of such an occurrence if the complaint alleges a "willful and wanton" violation. An employer may be liable in such an action for compensatory damages, "special damages" of up to $10,000, up to twice the amount of unpaid wages and/or benefits owed as liquidated damages, reinstatement of the employee's position, fringe benefits, and seniority rights, punitive damages (if the employer acted with malice or reckless indifference), and attorney's fees and costs.

What's Next?

The RIDLT has been tasked with developing the act's implementing regulations but has not provided a timeframe for publishing the regulations, the required employer notice, or the self-evaluation template. Rhode Island employers should stay abreast of regulatory updates and/or RIDLT guidance on the act.

Deepa K. Desai and Joshua D. Nadreau are attorneys with Fisher Phillips in Boston.  2021 Fisher Phillips. All rights reserved. Reposted with permission.
The accused belong to a former village pradhan's family and are from a different community.

The youth was arrested on Monday while the incident took place on Saturday night.

Rampur (UP), Aug 24 (IANS) A 19-year-old youth has been arrested, along with four family members, for allegedly gang raping a Dalit girl.

Among those named in the FIR include the former pradhan's son and a medical student who recently returned from Russia.

The police said that on Sunday, the girl's father visited the police station and alleged that five men broke into his house the night before, and abducted his daughter.

On Sunday morning, the girl was reportedly found outside her home in a semi-conscious condition. She then told her family about the alleged sexual assault, the police said.

The police claimed that according to a preliminary inquiry, the 14-year-old girl was in a relationship with the man who has been arrested.

"He was produced before a local court of Rampur, which sent him to judicial custody. The role of the other accused is still under probe," said a police officer.

Rampur SP Ankit Mittal said a medical examination of the girl did not find any injury on the girl's body but an FIR has been lodged on charges of gangrape and abduction, on a complaint submitted by the victim' father.

--IANS

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The statements of both these newly appointed advisors of Punjab Congress president Sidhu were clearly against India's interests, and detrimental to national security, said ministers Brahm Mohindra, Vijay Inder Singla, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Balbir Singh Sidhu and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, along with MLA Raj Kumar Verka.

Chandigarh, Aug 24 (IANS) Taking strong exception to the patently anti-national and pro-Pak comments of two of Navjot Singh Sidhu's aides, a group of Punjab Congress ministers and MLA on Tuesday called for strong action under the law against Malwinder Mali and Pyare Lal Garg.

Besides stringent legal action against them, they also urged the Congress national leadership to direct Sidhu to immediately rein in his aides in the interest of the party as well as the country.

"The Congress has made many sacrifices for the protection of the nation's security and peace, as have our soldiers at the borders. Nobody can or should be allowed to undermine these sacrifices and jeopardise the safety of our country and its people," they emphasised, citing, in particular, the grave implications such statements could have for the border state of Punjab.

The Congress leaders also questioned Sidhu's failure to put his foot down on such an anti-national and pro-Pak diatribe by his close aides, despite the uproar it has triggered across party lines.

They said Sidhu's omission in this regard had given ammunition to the Opposition parties, who were quick to recall the PPCC president's own bonhomie with the Pakistan Prime Minister and Army chief, warning against the damage this could cause to the Congress in the run-up to the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls, which are due in less than six months.

In a statement, the Congress leaders termed Mali's statement on Kashmir a dangerous and unacceptable deviation from India's stated position on Jammu and Kashmir. By questioning the unanimous 1994 resolution of the Parliament of India declaring Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India (which was reiterated in 2012), Mali had blatantly toed the line of Pakistan, which had been trying to stake claim to the region and was in illegal occupation of certain areas, such as PoK, they added.

Even Garg's statement countering Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's criticism of Pakistan reflected strong pro-Pak leanings, they said, adding that anyone not condemning the continuous efforts from across the border to destabilise Punjab and India was playing into the hands of the enemy.

"Drones from Pakistan are dumping arms and drugs into Punjab almost every day. Our soldiers are dying at the border. How can any patriotic Indian not condemn Pak actions in the circumstances?" they asked.

Such comments, if not punished, had the potential of becoming a deadly precursor to more anti-national statements, promoted by forces inimical to the interests of India, they warned, citing the continuous threat from across the border to India's peace and integrity.

The Punjab Congress leaders also condemned Mali for posting a controversial and highly objectionable sketch of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, terming it another instance of his anti-party stance.

--IANS

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Credit Saison, Japans leading consumer finance major and credit card issuer, has put $47 million into its Indian non-bank arm, Kisetsu Saison Finance India (CS India), according to the company statement.

The fresh capital that takes the total infusion into CS India to $150 million presently. The new fund would be used to expand its loan book in India and partner with new-age fintech firms into the lending business, the company states in a statement.

Presha Paragash, CEO, CS India says, Taking into account the Covid-19 situation and the corresponding setback this has brought to the lending space, on a forward-looking basis, we are bullish on our growth plans and we are targeting to have an AUM (assets under management) of $1 billion over the upcoming years.

He further adds, While aggressive, we are confident of getting there with the ability to further leverage our parents balance sheet and also having a diversified lender base that will be commensurate with our credit rating.

CS India began its lending business towards the end of 2019 after receiving its Non-Banking Financial Services licence. The firm has a wholesale lending vertical in India alongwith a co-lending arm which focuses on fintech partnerships for consumer as well as small business loans.

CS India associates with 30 NBFCs across asset classes such as consumer, auto and gold loans. The firm is now onboarding entities for agriculture finance as well as microfinance forays, reads the statement. Furthermore, Credit Saison is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and has a group balance sheet of $32 billion.

Kosuke Mori, head of Credit Saison Global Business Division says, As a group, we are looking to become a leading Neo-Finance company in Asia. We have actively ventured out and have built many successful ventures outside of Japan and continue to invest heavily towards geographical expansion specifically in the emerging markets.

He continues, India is one of the most important markets for us which benefit not only from our financial support but also our global expertise. We look forward to our India team building the book to $1 billion in the upcoming years.
India has been witnessing a prolonged agitation in terms of trade imbalance with its neighbour China. Also, the qualms of discarding Chinese goods indirectly have been haunting India and fuel the churning border clash between neighbouring countries, which has significantly hindered the trade deal. Presently, India is all set to discuss free trade agreements (FTAs) with the UK and with the European Union (EU) by the end of 2021. However, It is also planning to conclude a preferential deal with Canada after overlooking some initial inhibitions. Additionally, a trade pact with the United Arab Emirates is also impending.

Transition Time

Within a concise period, India has evolved to make a successful trade shift from East to West. However, this swing in focus is crucial and necessary, as various India's Asian partners have articulated the disapproval in the means of India's exit from RCEP even after several years of debate. This new transition would also have a long-term impact, and it would silhouette the decisions like India's trading partners, the country's export market and the pace of its growth.

Commenting on India revamping its FTA strategy, B.V.R. Subramanian, Trade secretary, says, "We have to engage with the rest of the world. Without that, India will be shut out of global markets. We are not in any regional arrangement. So, where does India go if it wants to be a global economic player and a global trading power? We need to have FTAs. But at the same time, we have to do it in a balanced manner. We should buy enough but we should sell enough also."

Indias Hindrance in the East

India's Look East policy goes way back to the 1990s, which PM Manmohan Singh launched to initiate its trade dealings with Asean, South Korea, and Japan. Fast forward to 2014, as Narendra Modi took charge as India's PM, he reframed the policy; thus, Look East became Act East. This is initiated to show the country keen interest in raising its engagement with Asian neighbours. It was expected that RCEP would turn to be the fulcrum of that engagement as it was likely to connect India effortlessly to the regional value chain.

But, India's annual exports had been struck at around the $300 billion levels for over a decade. Even after the trade deficit with FTA partners broadened, there has been growing discomfort within the domestic industry and policy circles. This brought in the idea that the FTAs inked under Look East policy may not have delivered expected results. Furthermore, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has preferred to check the existing trade deals, even hinting that it could drop some. While various other rounds of discussion have been conducted with South Korea to renegotiate the FTA, Asean and Japan have flatly combated India's demand for a discussion so far.

Mohan Kumar, chairman of the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) says, "Everything that you (India) are trying to exportpharmaceuticals, rice, buffalo meatall of these are not like selling shoes and watches and garments. These are subject to regulatory approvals in those countries. Asean countries are very clever and misuse SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary measures) and other such technical trade barriers. Unfortunately, none of our FTAs address NTBs; they address only tariff barriers. We have been so far terrible in creating NTBs. When tariff barriers are lowered by India, any country can export anything to India. Actually, we are an open economy in that sense."

Furthermore, the EU's emphasis on labour and environmental rules, access to government acquirement, strict intellectual property rules and cross-border data flow certainly makes it tough for India to address it.

Usually, India's utilization of its current FTAs is flat. Deloitte report 2017 states that FTA utilization is as high as 70-80 percent for developed countries; it is lower than three percent of the available opportunity in India. Complying with the rules of entry requirement is extra challenging for MSMEs in comparison with the large firms,

Shift to West

With RCEP set aside and getting small measurable gain from the existing FTAs, India was confident that a trade package has been under negotiation with the US since 2018. However, the Biden administration makes it clear that it is in no mood to ink trade deals any time soon.

The demand for a trade deal with the EU has turned to be more critical post-Vietnam operationalized its FTA with the European grouping. Indian exporters directly compete with Vietnam in various sectors, ranging from apparel and leather goods to footwear and marine products. Garments produced in Bangladesh also have preferential access to the EU and UK markets under the generalized system of preferences (GSP) due to India's eastern neighbour's least developed country status.

The trade deals with UK and EU may not be easy. The EU's emphasis on labour and environmental rules, access to government procurement, strict intellectual property laws and cross-border data flow would not be easy for India to address. With India's shift towards data localization, discussions could be sharp. While India could try zero duty access for garments, textiles, and leather products, the UK and EU would seek market access in automobiles and alcohol. Additionally, the commerce ministry sustains that all the discussions would be carried out in parallel and would conclude the pact simultaneously; experts assume that the new arrangement would benefit the EU.

A trade expert says, "Data adequacy can't be resolved through an FTA. It can be secured (only) by having a domestic law in India which is in conformity with the EU's GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) law."

The new round of frenzy on integrating India with the world could be an eventual result. The sufficient precedent for India backing off from trade agreements in the past.

Rossow, Wadhwani, Chair in US India policy studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), says, "Weak trade agreements are possible, but India's eyes on stimulating (its) domestic manufacturing overrides any nascent interest in really tapping down the (existing) trade barriers with key partners. Luckily, India is a massive and developing market. So, various global manufacturers have already placed a presence to feed into the local market. But real victory would be attained by using India as a base for global manufacturing and inviting small and medium suppliers."
As simple as it might sound, running a restaurant business is no childs play. The recent crisis that emerged with the outbreak of the pandemic has only added to the difficulties that the hospitality sector faces at large. At a time when several businesses are struggling to stay afloat, some have come up with increasing menu prices as a way to cope up with the losses.

However, prominent restauranteur Navneet Kalra begs to differ. According to him, the right pricing is a very important aspect of running a restaurant business, and should not be meddled with until absolutely necessary. In his opinion, the prices must be adjusted keeping the customer expectations in mind, not just as a quick fix to cover the losses.

Navneet Kalra has been running several restaurants at prime locations across Delhi NCR for decades, the most prominent ones being Khan Chacha, Townhall, Public Affair and Mr Choy in Khan Market. In his experience, menu pricing is an extremely delicate process since it needs to take into account the location, food cost and target audience.

Understanding your customers is of utmost importance if you are running a restaurant. You cant appeal to college students with the prices that resemble to those of a premium fine dining restaurant. Similarly, if you are running a fine diner, you need to offer your customers an experience that oozes with finesse, says Navneet Kalra.

The Khan Chacha owner adds, Desperate times need not call for desperate measures. Before adjusting menu prices, restaurant owners must research their surroundings. Yes, increased prices can lead to increased net sales, but if your competitors are selling similar items at lower prices, your sales are bound to take a blow.

However, if you must hike the prices in order to meet the operational costs of the restaurant, Navneet Kalra suggests doing so in a phased manner. No one likes to see a sudden, considerable hike. However, increasing the prices in a phased manner can help mitigate the sudden shock the diners might experience, thus retaining your customer base, he says.
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One of the countrys leading ethical investors says the nations $3.3 trillion superannuation industry could move beyond divestment and adopt green short-selling as a tactic to pressure local companies with high carbon emissions to take greater action on climate change.

The Age and Sydney Morning Herald revealed this week US-based hedge fund titan AQR told the prudential regulator in April that its clients, which include some of Australias biggest super funds, would increasingly use short-selling to mitigate climate risks in their portfolios and to achieve net zero emissions exposure.

Pollination executive director Zoe Whitton says short-selling could be used by super funds to escalate engagement efforts with companies over climate change. Credit:Peter Braig

AQR manages about $200 billion globally, including for local funds such as Cbus and Colonial First State. In a letter to the regulator obtained by this masthead following a freedom of information request, it said recent moves by big investors to divest holdings of carbon emitters would not be enough to achieve the most ambitious climate goals, and funds would need to adopt different tactics including shorting.

In a report also sent to the regulator, AQR said short-selling can be used by investors to pressure heavy emitters to decarbonise their operations.
Protective equipment maker Ansells outgoing boss, Magnus Nicolin, says employers shouldnt force workers to get the COVID jab and instead use incentives to encourage their uptake of available vaccines.

Mr Nicolin, who is stepping down as chief executive of Ansell after an 11-year stint, said Australia has no choice but accelerate coronavirus vaccinations but making vaccination compulsory was a step too far.

I think you can recommend, and you can convince, and you can sell hard - but to try to force somebody, I just have a hard time with, he said.

Ansell has warned that COVID-related supply and logistics issues could impact on its operations this December half.

I think youre on thin ice when you start to force people to do things. Im all for incentives for exercising the right behaviour - [but] in my mind, thats totally different from forcing.
Francis Spuffords novel Light Perpetual begins with a big bang. Well, almost a bang: The light is grey and sullen; a smoulder, a flare choking on the soot of its own burning, and leaking only a little of its power into the visible spectrum. The rest is heat and motion. But for now the burn-line still creeps inside the warheads casing.

On it goes: a meticulously detailed slow-motion description of a detonating bomb. Not a human being in sight, but already Im hooked. What is this weapon? What destruction will it cause? What are the consequences?

The beginning of Kazuo Ishiguros Klara and the Sun presents a couple of puzzles. Credit:Andrew Testa

Beginnings are vitally important in novels. We know the big classic ones: Jane Austens truth universally acknowledged, Leo Tolstoys happy and unhappy families, Charles Dickens best and worst of times, Herman Melvilles man called Ishmael. Very declamatory. But what are authors writing now?

All praise to Scroll for bringing us the first few lines of the 13 novels longlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize. Its fascinating to compare them: they are completely different, yet if there is one quality in common, its the immediate evocation of a sense of curiosity and disquiet in the reader.
The value of higher education in launching young Australians into the career of their choice is being eroded as universities churn out record numbers of graduates who are increasingly forced to take on low-paid, insecure work.

A report by Monash Universitys new Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice argues young people face the breakdown of a long-held assumption that higher education qualifications will lead to desirable and secure work.

First-year university student Meena Hana is more interested in a rewarding career than a high income. Credit:Eddie Jim

Instead, the report points to data that shows jobs for young people are increasingly concentrated in fields that are seasonal, part-time, casual, low-wage and insecure.

The link between attainment of higher education qualifications and the movement into certain professions is not happening in a linear way any more, centre director and report author Lucas Walsh said.
Taxi giant 13Cabs will mandate COVID-19 jabs for its workforce of more than 10,000 drivers in Sydney and Melbourne in a move to serve passengers who want to avoid close contact with unvaccinated people and differentiate itself from competitors such as Uber.

The company has not yet specified when vaccinations will become compulsory for its drivers but has begun collecting drivers vaccination status and surveyed its workforce, finding only 5.9 per cent do not plan to be vaccinated.

Taxi firm 13Cabs will move its drivers away from customers if they decline to be vaccinated once its policy comes into effect. Credit:Tony Moore

13Cabs announcement follows Qantas and food manufacturer SPCs decision to mandate coronavirus shots as supply increases. It also pushes the debate over mandatory vaccination into a new sector of the workforce because unlike SPC and Qantas, 13Cabs drivers are typically contractors rather than employees, meaning the legal rules around vaccination are different.

Stuart Overell, 13Cabs chief operating officer, said vaccine supply issues meant the company could not mandate jabs immediately but said it has a plan to mandate vaccinations of drivers eventually. Drivers who refuse will be redeployed to jobs with less human contact, such as the companys parcel delivery business.
When Scott Morrison chose to start the week by telling us to adjust our mindset, prepare to leave our cave and get back our freedoms once 70 per cent of eligible Australians have been vaccinated, he used a lot of words in his prepared remarks: by my count, 1139 of them.

But one word didnt make it.

There was one word that the Prime Minister did not use when raising the prospect of Australia needing to open up. Credit:Getty

He said that at above the magical 70 per cent mark, cases of COVID-19 would not be the issue.

Dealing with serious illness, hospitalisation, ICU capabilities, our ability to respond in those circumstances: that will be our goal and we will live with this virus as we live with other infectious diseases, the PM said.
A review has found critical errors were made by a federal government department during the Ruby Princess COVID-19 debacle in Sydney last year.

The review, conducted by the Inspector-General of Biosecurity Rob Delane, identified a series of failures within the Department of Agriculture that likely contributed to the outbreak, including in the years leading up to the ships arrival in Sydney.

A report has found failings of the Agriculture Department likely contributed to the Ruby Princess outbreak. Credit:Janie Barrett

It is perplexing that, in February 2020, the world watched the spread of COVID-19 infection and implications unfold on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, but agriculture was too little and too late in being prepared to handle potential biosecurity ... issues for numerous cruise ships steaming to Australian ports, his report read.

The Ruby Princess arrived at the Port of Sydney on March 19 last year and almost 2700 passengers, some with cold and flu-like symptoms, were allowed to freely leave the ship after it docked.
COVID-19 cases in NSW will continue to climb unless the reproductive rate of the outbreak decreases, as the Chief Health Officer warns the state is here for the long haul.

There were 753 new local cases reported in the state on Tuesday, a drop on numbers over 800 in recent days although the five-day moving average still increased.

Id love to believe that we are on the trend down ... but one day is not a trend, Dr Kerry Chant told reporters.

In an infectious diseases outbreak, the reproduction rate is the average number of people each infected person goes on to infect. So at a reproduction number of 1.3, every 10 people who test positive to COVID-19 will collectively infect another 13 people.
Angela was alarmed when she received a phone call informing her that 10 bank accounts had been created under her name without her knowledge. But Henry, an Australian Federal Police officer, said he could help rectify the situation.

Little did Angela know that he was a scammer.

Henry directed Angela to go to the closest bank and withdraw money from her account. He would then help put it into another account where it would be safe. She withdrew about $8500, leaving only a few hundred dollars in her account.

Between January 1 and August 15 this year, Scamwatch has received over 28,900 reports of scammers impersonating government agencies via the phone, with losses of more than $3.88 million. Credit:

I was petrified. I was so scared, the 24-year-old, who has been in Australia for two-and-a-half years, said.
NSW has reported 753 new local cases on Tuesday, as the state hit its target of 6 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the vaccination milestone equated to roughly 30 per cent of the population being fully vaccinated and 60 per cent with one dose.

Ms Berejiklian said she was pleased and grateful the state had hit the target, and she looked forward to making an announcement on Thursday or Friday about additional freedoms available to fully vaccinated people in the state from September, as well as a plan to return to children to school.

Fully vaccinated residents had been promised additional freedoms once NSW hit the 6 million dose target. The Premier said in interviews on Monday night this group would be allowed to enjoy at least one thing banned under the current restrictions.
Public schools will be asked to run check-in assessments for all students from years three to nine when they return to face-to-face learning next term to assess how 10 weeks worth of remote classes has affected their schooling.

It comes as public high school principals say teachers should not be called back to classrooms until two weeks after their second vaccination and all HSC and special needs students should be prioritised for COVID-19 shots as part of the return-to-school plan.

Teachers from the Fairfield local government area queue for their vaccinations in July. Credit:Louise Kennerley

But some parents remain concerned about sending their children back to school at all this year, and, while schools have frequently said running online and face-to-face lessons simultaneously is too hard, some want a distance-education option.

The NSW government is planning to prioritise the youngest students from kindergarten to year 2, and year 11 students, who begin year 12 in term 4, as part of a staggered return to the classroom once vaccination rates hit 70 per cent, which is likely to be in October, around the time term four begins.
An Indigenous community leader in far western NSW has claimed that the states Health Department took days to contact him after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 , amid allegations the state government is letting remote communities down as the virus spreads in the states west.

The remote community of Wilcannia, where more than 60 per cent of the 745 residents are Aboriginal, recorded 14 new cases on Tuesday. The number of cases in far western NSW has risen to 41.

Wilcannia and the Darling River in 2019. Credit:Janie Barrett

The chair of the Local Aboriginal Land Council, Barkindji man Michael Kennedy, said residents were living in a state of fear, confusion, and anxiety.

To be honest I think the government has handled our situation out here pretty poorly in my eyes, we feel like weve had no assistance or very little assistance, Mr Kennedy told the Herald.
A recovering alcoholic who drank to excess while suffering a panic attack in hotel quarantine at Surfers Paradise says when he was ordered back to the hotel after being released from hospital, staff refused to remove the alcohol from his room.

Meanwhile, others isolating in Brisbane hotels say they battled with confined spaces and inadequate meals, while some were forced to wait for hours on a bus while rooms were prepared.

Bens quarantine room inside Crowne Plaza on the Gold Coast.

Ben, 42, who asked for his surname not to be published, applied for an exemption from hotel quarantine on entry to Queensland from Victoria due to mental health issues, with his psychologist explaining his relapses were triggered when he was confined indoors.

He had previously suffered several severe panic attacks while staying in hotel rooms, and said he dealt with high anxiety by drinking large amounts of alcohol.
One of Australias leading climate change experts is urging governments to learn the lessons of the current pandemic and apply them to climate change, before it is too late.

Professor Tim Flannery said the response to the pandemic in Australia gave the perfect blueprint for dealing with climate change.

Tim Flannery says the measures used to fight to pandemic are the exact same which should be used to curb climate change. Credit:Janie Barrett

The pandemic has taught us a lot. Its taught us the virtue of early action, Professor Flannery said.

If you leave a problem too long you run out of control, so early action is the most valuable action.
Geoff Clark, once Australias most senior Aboriginal leader, will stand trial on hundreds of charges that he defrauded $2 million in funds and assets from community bodies that managed money for Indigenous communities.

Mr Clark, the former head of the now-disbanded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to 380 charges of fraud and deception offences over allegations he misappropriated money from government-funded organisations that managed programs for Indigenous communities in western Victoria.

Geoff Clark outside court in 2019. Credit:Warrnambool Standard

He had a further 170 charges either discharged by magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg or withdrawn by prosecutors in a long-running pre-trial hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court, which heard there was sufficient evidence for him to stand trial on most of the charges.

Mr Clark, 69, pleaded not guilty to all remaining charges at the end of the committal hearing on Tuesday.
An Andrews government source, speaking anonymously so as to make predictions on Monday, said it was highly probable the states lockdown would extend beyond September 2 because both the number of mystery cases and the number of cases not in isolation had been rising. Victoria recorded 50 new local cases on Tuesday Seven cases are linked to the Shepparton cluster, which has now been genomically linked to the Glenroy cluster

Six cases are linked to the MyCentre Child Care in Broadmeadows

Twelve are linked to the Newport, Altona North and Wyndham cluster

Six are day-13 tests around the original Hobsons Bay cluster, including Al-Taqwa College

Four are linked to the Royal Melbourne Hospital

Two are existing primary close contacts associated with the Royal Childrens Hospital

Three are known household contacts of previous cases

Ten were previously unlinked but have now been clarified (four are linked to the Altona North, Wyndham and Newport area, three are linked to the Carlton and Fitzroy North area, two are linked to Thomastown and one is linked to Southbank) SOURCE: COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar More than 29,800 people received their COVID-19 vaccine doses at Victorias state hubs in the past 24 hours. However, 15,000 vaccine appointments were cancelled across the state on Monday. Melbourne emergency department worker tests positive for COVID-19 An emergency department worker at a hospital in Melbournes west has tested positive to COVID-19, authorities have confirmed.

Western Health executive Natasha Toohey said in a statement on Tuesday that the staff member worked in Sunshine Hospitals emergency department on Saturday, August 21, and Sunday, August 22. Hundreds of staff have been furloughed amid an outbreak at Royal Melbourne Hospital. Credit:Pat Scala An extensive contact tracing process, led by our infection prevention team and the Western Public Health Unit is continuing, she said. Meanwhile, health authorities have also revealed 450 staff at the Royal Melbourne Hospital have been furloughed. Fourteen COVID-19 cases have now been linked to the hospital.

We will make the necessary changes [and] that may mean that some people have to wait a little longer for some less urgent surgery for instance, in that hospital, Mr Andrews said. Access to Pfizer vaccine widens From 7am on Wednesday, 830,000 first dose COVID-19 vaccine appointments will open across Victoria. Of those appointments, 450,000 will be for the Pfizer vaccine. However, Mr Andrews said there was not enough Pfizer for every adult in the state who is under 40.

If I had supply for everybody, then everybody would be able to be booked, he said. I dont have supply for everyone, but we do have additional supply, and were making that available to as many people as fast as we possibly can. Mr Andrews said the AstraZeneca vaccine would still be available to people aged 18 and over, but those aged 16 and 17 would have to get Pfizer. Loading

Police issue more than $300k in fines over engagement party Victoria Police confirmed on Tuesday morning that they have issued more than $305,000 in fines to the attendees of an illegal engagement party held in Melbournes south-east about a fortnight ago. Sixty-nine people attended the party at Caulfield North, with at least two medical professionals among the crowd. Cases of COVID-19 were later linked to the party. Victoria Police revealed last week that they fined the engaged couple and the bride-to-bes parents $5452 for breaching the Chief Health Officers directions. On Tuesday, they confirmed they had since fined another 52 guests the same amount, meaning attendees have now been fined a total of more than $305,000.

Victoria Police has now issued 56 ... $5452 fines to people who attended the Caulfield North engagement party, a spokeswoman said. The remaining party guests were children and will not be fined. Victoria Police is satisfied all guests have been accounted for and the investigation has now concluded. Number of tier-1 exposure sites increase The release of Tuesdays COVID-19 figures came ahead of authorities adding more than 30 new COVID-19 exposure sites to the official list, including several tier-1 exposures.

St Brendans Primary School in Shepparton was listed as a tier-1 exposure site across three days last week. The schools principal said in a letter to families that, until further notice all staff, students and household members must isolate at home. Tier 1 means anyone who attended the sites during the specified timeframes has to immediately get tested for COVID-19 and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of whether they receive a negative result. Loading Medical clinics run by Dr T P Massarany in Brunswick East and Dandenong North were also declared tier 1 sites, as was Werribee Group Healthcare in Hoppers Crossing.

Health authorities identified dozens more tier 2 exposure sites and anyone who attended them during the specified timeframes needs to isolate until they test negative for COVID-19. The new tier-2 sites included supermarkets, banks, and a tram route from Docklands to Central Pier Station, as well as Shepparton Sports Stadium. Notre Dame College, also in Shepparton, was also among 18 close contact exposure sites authorities listed late on Monday evening. Victorias COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said on Tuesday that authorities were still in the opening phase of the campaign in Shepparton. Weve got a lot more people to test over the next two or three days, so Id expect to see numbers continue to rise, he said.

Reopening still safe with hundreds of daily cases: Doherty Institute boss The director of the Doherty Institute, whose modelling underlies the national plan to reopen Australia, said reopening with large numbers of daily COVID-19 cases will still be safe once the country reaches its target of 70 to 80 per cent of the adult population vaccinated. Professor Sharon Lewin confirmed the number of cases did not materially alter the Institutes modelling on which the plan was based.

The really big important issue about moving from phase A to phase B is that were moving out of an environment of zero-COVID, she told the ABCs The Drum program on Monday evening. Zero-COVID is no longer the goal once you have 70 to 80 per cent of people vaccinated. Whether you start at 30 cases or 800 cases you can still open up safely. Mr Andrews said there were still questions yet to be answered about what Victorias COVID-19 processes would look like in a post- 80 per cent world. Positive cases in Lara, near Geelong Health officials have confirmed six cases of COVID-19 in a single household in Lara, just north of Geelong. Barwon Health also listed six additional exposure sites in the town, which is about18 kilometres from central Geelong, in addition to the exposure sites connected to the Corio Village Shopping Centre in citys north.
A once high-flying Perth multi-millionaire tech mogul will be extradited to the United States to face fraud charges relating to an alleged $130 million texting scam  one of the biggest telecom scams in American history.

Eugeni Zhenya Tsvetnenko has been held almost three years in a West Australian jail while trying to fend off the extradition after his repeated attempts to get bail were denied.

Perth-based entrepreneur Eugeni Zhenya Tsvetnenko will be extradited to the US. Credit:AVWEST

But on Tuesday, Mr Tsvetnenko finally surrendered to the US authorities warrant for his extradition at the start of what was meant to be a three-day hearing before Perth magistrate Evan Shackleton.

The 41-year-old Russian-born father-of-two was raised in Perth and became a self-made millionaire  once considered the wealthiest person under 40 in WA, according to the BRW rich list  after inventing an automatic SMS delivery service more than 10 years ago.
West Australian Police Commissioner Chris Dawson is stepping away from policing duties until at least next year to take on the new role as the states COVID-19 vaccine commander to give the governments jab rollout a shot in the arm.

The state is last for vaccination rates in the country at 27.2 per cent for second doses and 45.9 per cent for first doses as of Monday, the figures are even worse in remote and regional areas such as WAs Pilbara and Kimberley where only 23.3 per cent of the population has had at least one jab.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson who has been named the states vaccine commander. Credit:Hamish Hastie

Mr Dawson will continue his role as State Emergency Coordinator but will hand over day-to-day policing duties to Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch.

The vaccine commander role mirrors similar appointments around the country including the federal government making Australian Army Lieutenant General John Frewen the coordinator of the national vaccine taskforce.
A majority of Australians want political leaders to stick to a national cabinet deal to ease restrictions when the vaccination rate hits key targets, with 62 per cent backing the plan and only 24 per cent saying states and territories should go their own way.

Voters are increasing their support for vaccinations at the same time many of them decide the country will not return to zero coronavirus cases, with 54 per cent saying it is not possible to achieve complete suppression again.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants state and territory leaders to stick to the plan to lift lockdowns once vaccination targets are reached. Credit:Fairfax Media

The exclusive findings lend weight to Prime Minister Scott Morrisons call to the country to get out of the cave after weeks of dispute over whether to relax rules when the vaccine rate reaches 70 per cent and then 80 per cent of people aged 16 and over.

The Resolve Political Monitor, conducted for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age by research company Resolve Strategic, finds majority support for the national plan within states including 64 per cent in NSW and 61 per cent in Victoria.
Two truck drivers who travelled into Queensland have tested positive to COVID, with the new community-acquired cases still under investigation in the state.

On Tuesday, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said two truck drivers had tested positive but authorities were not overly concerned.

Two truck drivers have tested positive to COVID-19. Credit: Justin McManus

There was also one overseas-acquired case detected in hotel quarantine and three overseas-acquired cases on a marine base.

Ms Palaszczuk said the drivers - one from the Sunshine Coast and the other from the Somerset region - had not been to many places at all and had mainly been with their family.
Joanne Dehler works casually as a cashier at a supermarket in Melbournes west and spends much of her time disinfecting her checkout counter to avoid customers inadvertently transmitting COVID-19.

I keep constantly cleaning and spraying. People appreciate it  they just want to shop and get the hell out of there, said the 53-year-old, who also wants out. I just want an office job.

Finding one, though, is proving difficult for Ms Dehler, from Albion, so she remains in a job that places her at more risk of exposure to coronavirus than many other Melburnians. A new index ranking suburbs by risk levels shows Ms Dehlers dilemma is hardly unique.

The index shows Melbourne is a city divided by coronavirus, with fault lines split across those able to work from home, those in secure jobs and secure housing, and those in neither and who face the virus daily.
Manila: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, 76, has accepted the ruling partys vice-presidential endorsement, solidifying his bid to stay in a top government post once his term ends next year.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will extend his rule but as vice-president. Credit:AP

Duterte agreed to run due to popular calls within the PDP-Laban for him to seek the second-highest post, the party said in a statement on Tuesday. The ruling party, which will convene next month, is also seeking continuity in the administrations economic and war on drugs agenda.

Duterte was making the sacrifice and heeding the clamour of the people, Karlo Nograles, executive vice-president of the party, said.

By law, Duterte is not allowed to seek a second term as president, but he has previously said he had unfinished business to complete.
London: Few animals have a less intimidating public image than the tortoise, but for the first time a study has found that they are also hunters that will, given the opportunity, kill and eat other animals.

Dr Justin Gerlach, of Cambridge Universitys Museum of Zoology, was involved in a conservation project on Fregate Island, a private island in the Seychelles. Anna Zora, his colleague, caught on camera the first direct evidence of a tortoise hunting when she stumbled across an adult female pursuing a bird chick that had fallen out of its nest and was standing on a log.

The bird, a tern, was too young to fly and feared leaving the log and hopping on to the ground because it would likely have been eaten by a lizard or crab. Zora saw the footage of the incident after returning home from a day of counting the islands tern population on July 30 last year.

A 45-centimetre female giant tortoise had seen the chick and made a beeline for it at walking pace. The reptile approached with its mouth open and tongue retracted, a sign of tortoise aggression.
Washington: US President Joe Biden plans to stick to his self-imposed August 31 departure deadline from Afghanistan, rejecting demands from some of Americas closest allies to delay the withdrawal of US troops.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who called an emergency meeting of the G7 nations to discuss the issue, led the push for Biden to extend the military mission to ensure as many people as possible can be evacuated from the Taliban-controlled country.

Biden has also faced calls from veterans groups and congressional Democrats to push back the withdrawal date. But the Taliban has threatened to retaliate in some form if the US stays in Afghanistan past the end of the month.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson led the push to try to convince US President Joe Biden to delay the withdrawal date from Afghanistan. Credit:Getty

Speaking at the White House following the G7 meeting, Biden said the US was on pace to complete the evacuation mission by August 31.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday, August 24, 2021, an official signing with the General Contractor of the Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project, the Ballast Nedam International Projects B.V. (BNIP), was held at the former Check-In Hall at the Princess Juliana International Airport.

The event signified the start of one of the most anticipated reconstruction projects of the companys history, following the consequences of the massive devastation to the structure during Hurricane Irma in 2017.

The Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project is jointly funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Sint Maarten Trust Fund. The Sint Maarten Trust Fund is financed by the Government of the Netherlands, managed by the World Bank, and implemented by the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB).

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Princess Juliana International Airport, Mr. Brian Mingo, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ballast Nedam International Projects B.V., Mr. Roy van Eijsden, was in attendance to lead the signing in the presence of the esteemed guests during a closed ceremony.

This is a major milestone for the country, PJIAE NV, and our staff. I would also like to compliment the project team with this accomplishment, despite the hurdles such as COVID-19, which complicated the works tremendously, they never lost focus and made the impossible, quite possible.

I also would like to thank all stakeholders not forgetting our shareholders, the Princess Juliana International Airport Holding Board (PJIAH), and the Government of Sint Maarten for their patience and consistent support over the last year. I am proud to announce that we finally can start rebuilding the Airport of the future." announced Mr. Brian Mingo.

The construction portion of the Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project will take a phased-planned approach over a two-year period, following the mobilization of the contractor in August 2021. The project is an essential renovation development, which will further modernize the fifteen-year-old terminal building.

The reconstruction project is on schedule to start by the end of September 2021 and be completed by quarter two of 2023, however, sections of the terminal building will begin to come online from as early as December 2022.

For more information about the Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project, online web users may gain access to the website at www.sxmairport.com and select the construction tab.
~Unvaccinated patients succumbed to COVID-19.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Two patients from St. Maarten patients passed away from COVID-19 confirmed Minister of Health Omar Ottley.

The Minister of Health also confirmed that St. Maarten sent five COVID-19 patients to Colombia and Panama of the five patients one passed away, while the other passed away at the St. Maarten Medical Center. One of the patients passed away on Monday evening while the other passed away on Tuesday.

SMN News learned that the patient that succumbed today was a staff member of the St. Maarten Medical Center while the other is an elderly. No further details have been released.
FILE - In this April 7, 2021, file photo, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks to reporters at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky. The Kentucky governor's efforts to aggressively combat COVID-19 suffered a landmark legal defeat Saturday, Aug. 21, as the state's high court cleared the way for new laws to rein in his emergency powers. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Afghan families enter Pakistan through a border crossing point in Chaman, Pakistan, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Chaman is a key border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan that normally thousands cross daily along with a steady stream of trucks transporting goods to Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Jafar Khan)
Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP)  what you need to know about modern and future proof access control security?

Access control and management of trusted identities are the building blocks of security, safety, and site management policies for many businesses and organisations. The current pandemic has compounded this with the introduction of new policies and regulations, particularly around social distancing and contact tracing. Most organisations will have some form of legacy access control in place, ranging from the most simplistic options, such as locks and keys, to technology-based systems. The issue with legacy systems of any type is that risks, just like technology, evolve. What was secure, convenient, and efficient a few years ago is often found wanting as the threat landscape changes. The standards governing the development and testing of physical access control systems (PACS) have also evolved to improve security and product interoperability. An example is the Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP), introduced 10 years ago as an alternative to the antiquated and vulnerable Clock-and-Data and Wiegand protocols. However, when it comes to planning infrastructure upgrades or implementing new tools, businesses must carry out due diligence to ensure the solutions are future-proof and deliver the expected level of security. Vulnerabilities and challenges In the early 1980s, Clock-and-Data and Wiegand protocols were widely adopted as the de-facto standard for interoperability between access control readers and physical access controllers. Those de-facto standards were later formalised and adopted into industry standards by the Security Industry Association in the 1990s. Wiegand is unencrypted and unable to protect from man in the middle attacks and vulnerabilities There were weaknesses, though, Wiegand is unencrypted and unable to protect from man in the middle attacks and vulnerabilities from the reader to the controller. Not only that, but Wiegand delivers limited range options and is operationally inefficient. It is also easy to target via its learnable language and a host of hacking devices available via online sources. Furthermore, the retrofitting installation alongside a legacy system is complicated for integrators and expensive for organisations, as most readers require dedicated home-run wiring. Extensive wiring on a large-scale project, such as a school or corporate campus, results in considerable  often prohibitive  costs for the installation of a PACS. Legacy access control protocol Despite the well-publicised vulnerabilities and weaknesses, Wiegand is still one of the most common protocols in legacy access control, with estimates indicating it is used in more than 90 percent of installed systems. This not only presents issues about physical security but also raises concerns relating to the protection of personal data. Access control systems not only contain information about who can and cannot use certain doors. OSDP is a communication standard Modern systems include a wide range of personal data, ranging from qualifications and certifications of individuals, home contact details, and even medical conditions or HR and employment information. With the potential fines associated with GDPR breaches, companies need to take this concern seriously. These weaknesses pushed the security industry to adopt a new protocol: Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP). This access control communications standard was developed by Mercury Security (now part of HID Global) and HID Global in 2008, and donated, free of intellectual property, to the Security Industry Association (SIA) to improve interoperability among access control and security products. Since then, it has been adopted as a standard by SIA, becoming the first secure, bidirectional reader/controller protocol to be governed by a major standards body in the security industry. In 2020 OSDP reached an additional milestone in becoming an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard. Why implement OSDP as a standard? OSDP is the only protocol that is secure and open for communication between readers and controllers The growth of networked devices, such as video and access control products, has led to an increased demand for converged solutions. Businesses and organisations recognise the value of implementing an integrated solution to enhance security and add value to technology investment. OSDP is the only protocol that is secure and open for communication between readers and controllers and is also being widely adopted by industry-leading reader and controller manufacturers. It is an evolving, living standard, making it a safer, more robust, future-proof option for governing physical access control systems. OSDP offers important benefits: 1) Increased security Implementing OSDP standards can increase security, as OSDP with Secure Channel Protocol (SCP) supports AES-128 encryption that is required in U.S. federal government applications. Additionally, OSDP constantly monitors wiring to protect against tampering, removing the guesswork since the encryption and authentication are predefined. 2) Bidirectional communication Early on, communication protocols such as Wiegand were unidirectional, with external card readers sending information one way to a centralized access control platform. OSDP has transformed the ability for information to be collected, shared, and acted upon with the addition of bidirectional communication for configuration, status monitoring, tampering, and malfunction detection, and other valuable functions. In fact, OSDP is the only open, non-proprietary, bidirectional, secure protocol for communication between card reader and physical access controller. 3) Open and interoperable OSDP adds new technology that enhances its ability to protect incoming and outgoing data collection OSDP supports IP communications and point-to-point serial interfaces, enabling customers to flexibly enhance system functionality as needs change and new threats emerge. They also can proactively add new technology that enhances their ability to protect incoming and outgoing data collection through a physical access control system. 4) Reduced installation costs OSDPs use of two wires (as compared to a potential of 11 wires with Wiegand) allows for multi-drop installation, supervised connections to indicate reader malfunctions, and scalability to connect more field devices. Daisy-chaining accommodates many readers connected to a single controller, eliminating the need to run home-run wiring for each reader, and the use of a four-conductor cable achieves up to 10x longer distances between reader and controller than Wiegand while also powering the reader and sending/receiving data. 5) User friendly OSDP gives credential holders greater ease of use, with audio and visual feedback such as coloured lights, audible beeps, and the ability to display alerts on the reader. For security administrators, managing and servicing OSDP-enabled readers also becomes increasingly convenient, as OSDP-enabled readers can be remotely configured from network-connected locations. Users can poll and query readers from a central location, eliminating the cost and time to physically visit and diagnose malfunctioning devices. Unlimited application enhancements OSDP streamlines installations and upgrades while saving organisations the expense of replacing readers OSDP supports advanced smartcard technology applications, including PKI/FICAM and biometrics, and other enhanced authentication protocols used in applications that require Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) compliance and interactive terminal capabilities. Audio-visual user feedback mechanisms provide a rich, user-centric access control environment. OSDP offers advantages for users, administrators, and integrators, alike. It adds security and real-world efficiencies, and its interoperability ensures that organisations can use systems from numerous manufacturers as they invest in infrastructure that maximises the protection of critical data. For our part, HID Globals range of HID Signo readers is OSDP verified, ensuring they offer the intended interoperability and security for secure bidirectional communication and provide an easy migration from Wiegand devices. In a campus environment, OSDP streamlines installations and upgrades while saving organisations the expense of replacing readers if a new access control solution is implemented. There are also service and maintenance benefits as OSDP encourages continuous monitoring of system uptime and allows for remote configuration of -- or upgrades to -- a reader. Cost savings upon system upgrade Integrators can also capitalise on the introduction of OSDP by encouraging open standards, which can, in turn, help them build new customer relationships and win more projects. Although upgrading to access control systems that adhere to OSDP standards is a significant initiative, the range of benefits outweighs the cost of upgrading. Increased security coupled with business efficiencies adds value for those administering the system and a high level of interoperability ensures users can deploy systems from numerous third-party manufacturers. Integrators who understand the benefits of OSDP can also help their customers support both current and future technology requirements. When a sites needs change, OSDP offers significant cost savings as the open functionality makes adding new devices easier and reduces the expense of requiring all readers to be replaced if a new solution is installed. Businesses and organisations transitioning to OSDP will also enhance value in terms of operational costs such as servicing and maintenance.
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Walker Orenstein reports on the state Legislature for MinnPost, with a particular focus on covering issues affecting Greater Minnesota.
We are still trying to tame the third wave of COVID-19 thanks to the contagions caused by the Delta variant and many companies are delaying the return to physical offices until 2022. However, there are other companies that are already planning their return at least in hybrid model in autumn and winter.

According to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll for Glassdoor, nine out of 10 employees are concerned about returning to the office, not only considering the sanitary measures in their work areas, but also considering the trips to and from their home.

For this reason, many companies are considering the hybrid or staggered model to reduce the volume of people present in an enclosed space at any given time. However, there are some others that are putting firmer rules to resume operations.

As an example: United Airlines, the leading US airline, became the first company in early August to require employees to be vaccinated or else they will be fired. The company is proposing that all employees are fully vaccinated before October 27, 2021 at the risk of losing their job.

Immunization is voluntary and undoubtedly essential to be able to stop the spread of the virus and possible future mutations, but is it legal to force employees to be vaccinated at the risk of being fired?

We consulted two experts in labor law to find out what you can do to handle the situation in your company and know your rights and obligations as an employee.

Is there a legal precedent for health contingencies such as a pandemic at work?

It is complex. The greatest precedent we have was that of the influenza that happened in 2008, but in the Federal Labor Law, until 2012 began to speak about health contingencies.

At the beginning of the pandemic they asked me if it was possible to reduce the salaries of the employees due to the crisis, obviously negotiated with the workers. Article 42 Bis. of the Federal Labor Law says that for at least one month, if a health contingency is declared that implies the closure of work centers, people could be sent home paying only the minimum wage for a maximum period of 30 days , explained Diego Garcia Saucedo, managing partner of Garcia Velazquez Abogados and member of the Mexican Academy of Labor Procedural Law.

However, and here is the detail , in no part of the Mexican labor law that refers to health contingencies does it speak specifically of mandatory vaccinations .

Let's be clear: In Mexico, are mandatory vaccinations in the workplace legal?

Article 134, fraction tenth of the Federal Labor Law says that it is the obligations of the workers to submit to the medical examinations provided for in the internal regulations and other regulations in force in the company or establishment to verify that they do not suffer from an illness or incapacity for work. contagious and incurable .

"In my opinion as a jurist, the ability to ask employees to prove that they are already vaccinated could come in here," says Garcia Saucedo. "This means that perhaps you do not want to be vaccinated, but you could be a contagious entity of the disease."

However, Jorge Salles Boyoli, a lawyer specializing in labor matters and partner at Littler, the world's largest labor law firm, points out that the answer in principle would be NO.

The freedom to be vaccinated has been privileged. There are people who for medical, ideological and even religious reasons are not immunized. As it is being solved in Mexico, that is, what can be demanded and there are laws in this regard, is with the tests that show that you do not have the virus.

So, can they force you to get vaccinated at work? The short answer would be: No, no boss in Mexico can fire you if you refuse to get vaccinated, but they can apply sanctions if you refuse to abide by the company's health standards, such as taking a COVID-19 test.

The freedom to be vaccinated has been privileged, but the boss can request antigen tests to be able to return to the office / Image Depositphotos.com

No vaccines, but tests yes

Although Mexican law is not very clear about the obligation to be vaccinated, it is in terms of the employer's ability to request medical tests.

"According to the legislation, in principle, the employer has the right to demand that the worker submit to the tests that he requests. As in many aspects the laws, as in many aspects, fell short of the pandemic. What does this mean? These laws do not speak of vaccines as such and immunizations do not fall within the definition of 'medical examinations or tests' that the boss can request, "said in Salles Boyoli in an interview with Entrepreneur en Espanol .

Even, the lawyer points out, Mexican law establishes that these tests must be borne by the employer (that is, the boss pays them).

It is a different situation than in other countries. For example, in Europe and the United States there is already talk of a kind of COVID-19 passport to be able to return to the office or from one country to another.

Article 475 Bis of the Federal Labor Law in its second paragraph says: It is the obligation of the workers to observe the preventive safety and hygiene measures established by the regulations and official standards issued by the competent authorities, as well as those indicated by the employers. for the prevention of occupational hazards .

"This implies that the employer has the power to require the worker in accordance with the law to take actions that ensure the health of the rest of the workplace and this implies contagious diseases," says Garcia Saucedo.

But wait a minute. Isn't it a violation of my labor rights?

Ideally, the current legislation clearly speaks of layoffs related to vaccine vaccines, but that is not the case.

Article 47 of the Federal Labor Law mentions the causes of termination of the employment relationship without responsibility of the employer. The fraction that could apply would be 12 since it says:

"If the worker refuses to adopt preventive measures or follow the procedures indicated to avoid accidents or illnesses."

"Could we fall into discrimination? Yes. We have the right to profess the ideology that we want, but that is never above the common good and in this case it is to prevent the spread of a contagious, potentially fatal disease and, even more, that it is about seeking a gradual return to economic activities ", remarks the managing partner of Garcia Velazquez Abogados" From my point of view, employers can request vaccination tests. Yes, they can face probable complaints, complaints and infractions, but they are winnable because they would be ensuring a greater human right, which is the universal faculty to health .

For Salles Boyoli it all comes down to a matter of terminology: The law does not say vaccine as such .

"Ideally, the legislation would expressly mention the word vaccine, but the Federal Labor Law nowhere uses it in the more than a thousand articles it has."

However, the lawyer points out, when there is an issue that is not clear in Mexican law, what has to be done is for the Judiciary to resolve the controversies. It should not be surprising that in a few months or in a few weeks a case of this nature reaches the judiciary through amparo trials and this instance has to illuminate this space that is not very clear.

If today someone thinks that demanding the vaccine violates their labor rights, they would have to go to the corresponding authorities so that they can interpret the norm and clarify this gap. When five similar cases are resolved under this assumption the Executive Power, then yes, what is known as jurisprudence is created, a norm that already obliges everyone .

If an employer tells an employee 'To come to work you need to take a test' and he refuses, there he does have the right to fire the worker for disobedience to a mandatory rule in the labor relationship, says Salles Boyoli.

Is there any distinction in this regard if it is a government company or a private one?

Although labor standards apply to everyone, it is important to distinguish that workers in Mexico are governed under two very large sections of Article 123 of the Constitution: Section A, which talks about private companies (and some parastatals), Section B, which speaks of Government companies (known as the Federal Law of Workers at the Service of the State). However, this is a much shorter law and indicates that in the absence of it, section A will be considered in a complementary manner.

"In this particular case there is no difference," says Sales Boyoli.

To make it clear again: No boss in Mexico, whether of a private or state company, can fire you if you refuse to be vaccinated, but they can do so if you refuse to present proof that indicates that you are free of the virus.

What if I go to work sick and get 'caught'?

Although it is true that you cannot be forced to vaccinate, you also have to consider what Article 135 of the Federal Labor Law says in its first section:

"Workers are prohibited from executing any act that could endanger their own safety, that of their co-workers or that of third parties, as well as that of the establishments or places where the work is carried out."

"It is also true that the employer has the obligation to preserve health in the workplace," Garcia Saucedo remarks.

That is, a worker who is sick with a contagious disease such as COVID-19, could not go to the office, but could continue working from home if possible. However, if you deliberately go to the workplace sick knowing it, you CAN be fired for putting your co-workers at risk .

Not only that, going to work sick knowing that you are a source of infection is illegal . In the Penal Code there is a foreseen crime called Danger of Contagion that occurs when a person knows that they have a contagious disease deliberately takes actions to make others sick.

Going sick to work knowing that you are a source of infection is illegal / Image: Depositphotos.com

What can you do with your team?

Let us remember that, however highly recommended and necessary it may be, vaccination is voluntary . Sure, it is a topic that lends itself to debate so you should discuss with your team about the measures you will take in your business. In this way, you will allow your employees to make an informed decision.

How to do it?

Specialist John Rampton, founder of the human resources management siteCalendar , proposes the following route:

Put the cards on the table

First, be clear about the measures you will take in your company and that you want them to be vaccinated to prevent diseases and take care of the team in general.

Respond to concerns

Address your team's concerns about vaccines and have a strategy to make your team feel comfortable such as:

Flexible, non-punitive scheduling options (such as paid sick leave) for employees experiencing post-vaccination side effects.

Remind all your employees, even if they are young and healthy, that the vaccine is effective. While research is ongoing, COVID-19 vaccines are estimated to be about 95 percent effective in preventing serious illness.

Not everyone likes to be bitten. Assure them that the COVID-19 vaccine is no worse than getting a flu shot.

Encourage them to search for reliable information about the vaccine (not just from social media). Give them information from the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) or the CDC in the United States.

What to do if they do not get vaccinated or do not want to present their proof?

If there are employees who have not been vaccinated, but plan to do so, find out what has stopped them so you can help them properly. It can be a religious or health motivation (maybe they have immunodeficiency for other medical reasons). If they are valid reasons, find out how to support them. You always have the option of allowing them to continue working at home.

The employer, for the benefit of the worker, can do whatever it takes and give incentives for people to get vaccinated, it doesn't hurt. You can give bonuses, vacation days, salary incentives, etc. " Sales Boyoli points out.

If despite all this, the employee refuses to present proof that they are free of the virus in order to return to the office, you can terminate the employment relationship for the good of your team.

As Sales Boyoli points out: "An employer can fire a worker when he commits acts of disobedience to hired work."

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Today, Monday, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has granted full approval to Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine against Covid-19 . Until now, the drug had only been authorized for emergency use by the country's health authorities, but this declaration opens the door for its sale to the public .

The decision was based on updated data from the drug's clinical trial, which includes six months of safety and efficacy data evaluated among more than 40,000 vaccinated people.

It may interest you: The FDA authorizes a third dose of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine for high-risk people

"The FDA approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to fight the Covid-19 pandemic," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting FDA commissioner, in a statement .

"As the first FDA-approved Covid-19 vaccine , the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards of safety, efficacy, and build quality that the FDA requires for a (fully) approved product," he added. the organism.

Today, FDA approved the first COVID-19 vaccine for the prevention of # COVID19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. https://t.co/iOqsxXV1fj - US FDA (@US_FDA) August 23, 2021

Mandatory vaccination, possible effect of approving the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine

"No one can now argue with the effectiveness and safety of these vaccines ," Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), told CNN.

"They were very careful to analyze all the information," added Fauci, who believes the approval would encourage "20-30%" of unvaccinated people to get vaccinated. In addition, he believes that this will lead to many companies, universities and organizations imposing vaccination as a requirement .

A recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 6 in 10 Americans are in favor of requiring that people be fully vaccinated to travel on airplanes or attend public events.

"Obligation becomes much easier when you have full approval ," said Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University, quoted by El Financiero . "I think many companies were waiting for it ."

With this in mind, many schools and businesses could purchase vaccines on their own and apply them to their staff and students. In fact, the US Department of Defense announced that it will order all active and reserve troops to be vaccinated against COVID-19, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

Pfizer competition will have more obstacles

Pfizer's achievement closes the door for other drug companies to apply to the FDA for new authorizations for emergency use, because this is only possible while other fully approved options are not available.

Of course, this is a huge business advantage for Pfizer and BioNTech . If other competitors, such as Moderna or AstraZeneca , want to market their vaccine, they will have to wait for a longer approval process.

According to the statement, the Pfizer / BioNTech coronavirus vaccine will be marketed under the name Comirnaty . So far no more details have been released, such as the expected price to the public , points of sale or if there will be any requirement to buy it .

We recommend: Pfizer and Moderna will raise the price of their vaccines after adapting to new variants

Who can get the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine?

In mid-December 2020, the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine was licensed for emergency use in the United States for individuals age 16 and older. In May 2021, the authorization was extended to those over 12 years of age, always under the supervision of the health authorities.

In the United States, there are more than 170 million people fully vaccinated against covid-19. Of these, more than 92 million (about 54%) have received the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine.

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)  Florida's power struggle over wearing masks in school to guard against coronavirus infections landed Monday before a judge considering a lawsuit that challenges Gov. Ron DeSantis' order reserving the mask decision for parents.

The three-day hearing before Leon County Circuit Judge John C. Cooper pits pro-mask parents against the Republican governor and state education officials who say parents, not schools, should choose whether their children cover up inside schools.

The hearings come as the highly contagious delta variant causes a surge in hospitalizations and deaths across Florida, where the school year is already being disrupted.

Some districts belatedly began requiring masks, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after classroom exposures forced them to send thousands of students and hundreds of teachers and staff into isolation or quarantine.

At least eight school districts representing more than 1 million Florida students were defying the governor's order as of Monday night. Duval County, which includes Jacksonville, became to latest district to adopt a stricter mask policy, which begins Sept. 7 and last for 90 days. State education officials have vowed to financially punish districts that don't comply, contending they are violating state law unless they allow parents to opt-out their children for any reason.

Charles Dodson, a former judge representing parents challenging DeSantis' order, said in an opening statement that the delta variant affects children more than previous strains and places them at greater risk in crowded schools.

Because of the delta variant, our schools are not safe and secure unless everyone wears a mask, Dodson said. It is certainly an emergency.

The Florida Constitution and state law give school boards the authority to decide health and safety matters affecting their students, Dodson said. He asked the judge to block the DeSantis order.

Each local school board, and only each local school board, should be able to decide in each district whether to make masks mandatory," Dodson said.

Most of Monday's court session focused on testimony by plaintiffs and medical experts who support masks in schools and oppose DeSantis' order banning them without parental consent. Monday's final witness, Damaris Allen, parent of a high schooler in Hillsborough County, said masks are an important to contain the virus.

I want to stop the spread of the virus in my community, said Allen, president of the parent-teacher association at Plant High School. Local school boards have the ability to make decisions based on the needs of the local community.

The hearing is set to resume Tuesday.

A lawyer for the defendants  DeSantis, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, the state school board and education department  said the governor's order heeds the state constitution and law, particularly the Parents Bill of Rights measure that took effect in July.

That law states that only parents and legal guardians can direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their child, attorney Michael Abel said.

Abel said the state's experts will testify that requiring students to wear masks causes many harms   speaking difficulty, mood changes, breathing issues and depression  while scientists disagree on their effectiveness against the coronavirus.

Citing state statistics from 2020, Abel said 40 of the 67 Florida school districts mandated masks, and yet still had positive virus tests for 48 of every 1,000 students. Districts without mask requirements had positive tests for 50 out of every 1,000 students.

Mask mandates are unnecessary, Abel said, adding the state's actions were consistent with state law and the Florida Constitution.

The mask issue has spurred heated debates at school board meetings, with one side claiming a ban on mandatory mask rules denies their children a safe education, and the other contending such requirements amount to government overreach  even tyranny.

Miami-Dade schools, the nations fourth-largest district with 340,000 students, began classes Monday with a strict mask mandate. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the district would wear any state punishment as a badge of honor.

I know it (wearing masks) is an inconvenience but it is a necessity considering the explosive nature of COVID-19 transmission, Carvalho said.

The largest school district in Florida that hasnt imposed a strict mask policy is Orange County, where parents and teachers protested Monday outside district headquarters demanding that Superintendent Barbara Jenkins and the board make masks mandatory.

Sarasota County implemented its new mandatory mask policy Monday. Masks were optional the first two weeks of classes, but outbreaks districtwide prompted the school board to impose a strict mandate. Only students who provide a doctors note will be excused, an opt-out mirrored by other districts with mask requirements.

Ive struggled with wearing a mask. I know a lot of my friends have, too, Mya Mamazza, an 11th-grader, told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune outside school Monday. I have asthma, so its really hard for me.

She wants the district to offer online classes if masks are mandatory, so she wont have to wear one.

This hearing is scheduled to end by Wednesday. It's not immediately clear when Cooper will rule, but the judge has said he prefers to decide issues from the bench  and aknowledged time is of the essence.

I want everyone to have enough time, but I think we need to move as quickly as we can, he said.

_____

Spencer reported from Fort Lauderdale.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Hundreds of supporters of a Republican-backed bill that would prohibit employers from requiring workers to receive vaccinations descended on the Ohio Statehouse on Tuesday as lawmakers heard a single additional day of testimony on the closely watched proposal.

While speakers before the GOP-controlled House Health Committee were evenly divided between those for and against the measure, supporters far outnumbered them on the Statehouse grounds.

Hundreds rallied outside ahead of time carrying signs with slogans such as Enact Vaccine Choice and No To Forced Vaccines!, then crowded into the Statehouse atrium to watch the hearing live on large-screen TVs, applauding speakers who favored the legislation and laughing at those who didn't.

Just minutes after the committee wrapped up Tuesday, Ohio State University announced it would require all students, faculty and staff to complete the full vaccination process by Nov. 15. President Kristina Johnson pegged the decision to the Food and Drug Administration's decision Monday to grant full approval to the Pfizer vaccine. Ohio State is one of the country's largest universities and a major Columbus employer.

The requirement, on top of Ohio State's mask mandate, provides the best chance of continuing to enjoy the traditions that we love throughout the academic year with higher vaccination rates in our campus community, Johnson said.

Earlier in the day, supporters told the Health Committee they questioned the vaccine's effectiveness and emphasized over and over that individual choice should outweigh a government or private employer's ability to require the vaccine.

We believe that if somebody wants to take the vaccine, thats great. Let them take the vaccine, said nurse Paige Stemen. But nobody should be forced to take the vaccine. I think everybody should have that choice.

Brian Latham, who said he was testifying as a father of three, questioned receiving a vaccine that has not been tested for long-term side effects.

So all of a sudden were supposed to roll up our sleeves to take a vaccine that has never been on the market before? he said.

Similarly, bill supporter Angie King said that without long term studies of the vaccines, I will not be an American lab rat for the CDC or Big Pharma.

The legislation has attracted opponents of COVID-19 vaccines but does not mention the coronavirus. Instead, it addresses mandatory requirements for all vaccines, such as for the flu.

The legislation would also prevent employees from being fired as a result of refusing to get vaccinated and would allow them to sue their employers if they felt they had been wrongly dismissed.

The Health Committee has received more than 1,000 submissions about the bill, ranging from people who fear COVID-19 and choose to be vaccinated to people who fear losing their job for refusing to be vaccinated, said Chairman Scott Lipps, a southwestern Ohio Republican.

Everybody's voice has been heard, Lipps said, before cautioning witnesses to avoid rude or bullying comments.

Opponents included Dr. Emily Miller, a pediatrician and mother of four, who said the legislation if passed would exacerbate the current health crisis and add to the strain children's hospitals are currently under because of an uptick of non-coronavirus respiratory illnesses this summer.

The bill will make our current situation even worse and Im asking you please do not pass it, Miller said.

Another opponent, employment lawyer Sara Jodka, warned of unintended consequences if the bill becomes law, saying employees will begin challenging other workplace requirements they disagree with, such as mandatory drug tests.

If enacted, the bill will make government a super HR department over our employers, telling them what they can and cannot do to protect their own workforces, Jodka warned.

Debate over the legislation achieved national notoriety in June when a doctor testified before the committee that people have become magnetized by the vaccine, allowing metal to stick to their skin. That has not happened.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a bulletin June 3 specifically debunking this falsehood, explaining that all COVID-19 vaccines are free from metals.

Backers, including bill sponsor Rep. Jennifer Gross, say vaccinations should be a personal choice.

Opponents of the bill include hospitals, state associations of doctors and nurses, and other health care groups that say the measure could reverse decades of protection against preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, hepatitis, meningitis and tuberculosis. Both the Ohio Manufacturers' Association and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce are also opposed.

Lawmakers should not be micromanaging businesses as they try to keep their employees safe, chamber president and CEO Steve Stivers said last week.

No legislator can claim to be pro-business and at the same time support efforts to restrict an employers ability to manage their workplace free from government interference," said Stivers, a former Republican state lawmaker and U.S. congressman.

The fate of the bill in its current form is unclear. House Speaker Bob Cupp, a Lima Republican, said Monday that the committee chairman was instructed to hold one additional hearing  the one on Tuesday  without scheduling a vote or making changes.

Hearings will then stop "while we work with the chairman, the bills sponsor, and all interested parties on this important issue, Cupp and the rest of the House GOP leadership said in a statement.

GOP Gov. Mike DeWine also opposes the legislation, calling it a very, very serious mistake, that, in the case of hospitals, would strip their authority to decide how to keep patients safe.

Last month, however, DeWine signed a bill into law prohibiting public schools and colleges from requiring individuals to receive vaccines not granted full approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The governor had urged the FDA to grant such approval, which it did on Monday for the coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer.

The anti-vaccination mandate bill before the House Health Committee also strengthens notices that schools must provide parents about exemptions they can seek against having their children vaccinated. In addition, the bill would repeal a state law requiring college students to disclose whether they have been vaccinated against hepatitis B and meningococcal meningitis.

A new law in Montana is the only measure that similarly bans employer-required vaccinations, though it permits health care facilities to require unvaccinated workers and those who refuse to disclose their vaccination status to wear masks and take other precautions.

___

Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
WESTPORT  Though emergency responders and town officials took multiple steps to prepare for Tropical Storm Henri, Westport was mostly spared the storms wrath.

Fortunately, Westport did not experience any significant issues related to Henri, said Westport Police spokesman Lt. David Wolf. Some scattered outages were quickly repaired and there was no reported flooding.

Deputy Fire Chief Michael Kronick echoed those sentiments, saying nothing noteworthy happened because of the storm.

Before Henris impact was known, Westport took many of the same precautions as other Connecticut cities and towns, such as closing parks and other recreational facilities. The town also opened its Emergency Operation Center in anticipation of the storm, but it was closed by 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

In a statement issued Sunday evening, First Selectman Jim Marpe thanked residents for their cooperation.

I want to thank our residents and businesses for heeding the instructions to remain at home and prepare for what couldve been a major situation, he said. I hope that for many Westporters, today was a day well-spent with family, or at least a chance to test and improve your emergency preparedness.

Though the storm was mostly a bust, rain continued to fall throughout the region on Monday, and Wolf said the weather was being closely monitored. The weather did lead the Westport Weston Family YMCAs Outdoor Center to close on Monday afternoon, according to a post on the organizations Twitter page.

The forecast for the rest of the weeks looks amazing! the post read. See you outside.
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Potential for flooding rains. High 67F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Rain ending this evening. Partial clearing overnight. Low near 55F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
At a Tuesday work session, Luzerne County Council will consider a proposed payment in lieu of taxes suggested by a nonprofit that plans to purchase and transform the Sherman Hills housing complex in Wilkes-Barre.

Indelible Housing Inc. is in the process of purchasing Sherman Hills, a low-income subsidized housing development at 300 Parkview Circle, off Coal Street.

The nonprofit, based in Washington, D.C, will not owe property taxes to the city, school district or county since it qualifies as a pure public charity, according to a proposed resolution council might vote on at a future meeting.

Indelible Housing has proposed to make a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, instead. Nonprofits such as colleges or universities often make PILOT payments to taxing bodies, even though they are not obliged to pay property taxes.

Indelible Housing proposes to pay the county $86,386.74 per year, according to documents included in the work session agenda packet. That is the amount of county property tax owed by Sherman Hills in 2020, the proposal states.

The agenda packet includes a lengthy description of Indelible Housings plans for the Sherman Hills Multifamily Housing Complex.

Those plans include after-school child care and adult education options for residents and healthy food distribution for older adults and youth.Council could vote on the proposed resolution authorizing the PILOT at its Sept. 14 meeting.

Also on the work session agenda is a proposed revision to the articles of incorporation of the county flood protection authority, which would allow the authority to work with Duryea to upgrade the boroughs flood control system.

Council postponed a vote on the proposed revision at its Aug. 10 meeting, which followed a public hearing on the issue.

At the hearing, flood authority board member Richard Adams spoke against revising the articles of incorporation.

Authority Board Chairman Dominic Yannuzzi said he and authority Executive Director Christopher Belleman will attend Tuesdays meeting to support the revision.

Tuesdays work session follows a 6 p.m. voting session. Members of the public may attend in person, at the county courthouse on North River Street in Wilkes-Barre.

The public may also watch or participate in the meeting remotely. Instructions on remote participation are posted to the county website: www.luzernecounty.org /1279/Public-Meetings-Online.
Ambassador Peer Gebauer officially took over on Tuesday his mandate as ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Romania, after presenting to the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, the letter of credence signed by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

According to a release of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to Romania, on this occasion the ambassador highlighted the desire to deepen the cooperation between the Federal Republic of Germany and Romania in all areas of common interest.

"Romania is a very important partner of Germany. This is demonstrated by the impressive density of bilateral relations in political, cultural and economic terms. Romania and Germany are involved together for a strong Europe and transatlantic security. In this endeavor we are united by respect and great confidence. As an ambassador, I look forward to working with our Romanian friends to further develop bilateral relations and deepen cooperation. Personally, I cannot wait to travel through this beautiful country and getting to know its people better," Peer Gebauer was quoted as saying in a statement.

The quoted source mentions that at the ceremony at the Cotroceni Palace the ambassador was accompanied by his wife, Sonja Gebauer, Head of the Culture Department at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bucharest, and by the Deputy Head of the Diplomatic Mission, Christian Plate, Agerpres informs.
Romanians who want higher pay for their work do not ask for any privilege, but only not to take half of their salary to pay all kinds of privileges for the politically connected, says Economy Minister Claudiu Nasui.

"When it comes to leaving money to working Romanians, it is a budgetary problem. But when it comes to giving 50 billion lei to programmes that have always gone to local barons and party companies, is it no longer a matter of budget or deficit? Romania isn't poor, it's impoverished. Doesn't Pandora's box open when we set up new state agencies, new state banks, thousands of new public jobs, ridiculous bonuses and, of course, new special pensioners? Romanians who want higher pay for their work do not demand any privilege from their work. They demand normality, not to take half of their salary to pay all kinds of privileges for those who are politically connected," Nasui said Tuesday in a statement.

He made these clarifications after the Finance Minister Dan Vilceanu said that exempting the minimum pay from taxation, even for certain categories of taxpayers, is a difficult measure to apply at this moment, because once there is a category of taxpayers who do not pay taxes others will want to benefit from the same scheme.

He thus answered to a question regarding a proposal of Nasui on exempting minimum wage from taxation.

In late July, Nasui pointed out that exempting minimum wage from taxation could be a solution for keeping the workforce in the country, and such measure could start on January 1, 2022 in a private sector, which could be the hospitality industry, Agerpres informs.
President Klaus Iohannis welcomed on Tuesday, at the Cotroceni Palace, the approved ambassadors of the Italian Republic, Palestine, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Chile, on the occasion of presenting the letters of credence.

According to a Presidential Administration release, during the meeting with the Ambassador of the Italian Republic, Alfredo Maria Durante Mangoni, the President of Romania highlighted the excellent level of bilateral relations, defined by the Consolidated Strategic Partnership between Romania and Italy, expressing his desire to further strengthen bilateral relations, very good politically and economically, as well as in the cultural and social fields.

Klaus Iohannis stressed the importance of the presence of Romanian citizens on the territory of Italy, appreciating that the two communities - Romanian in Italy and Italian in Romania - represent a special, positive dimension of the bilateral relationship.

Referring to the excellent bilateral relations between the two states, the Ambassador of the Italian Republic assured that the government of his country appreciates the valuable contribution of the Romanian community to the development of the Italian economy, through the development of entrepreneurial initiatives.

The two interlocutors welcomed the solidity and dynamism of the economic cooperation, expressing, at the same time, the mutual interest for its intensification.

On the occasion of the meeting with the Ambassador of Palestine, Issam Tawfiq Masalha, the Romanian head of state highlighted the full openness of Romania for the development and diversification of cooperation with Palestine in sectoral areas of common interest.

President Iohannis reiterated Romania's constant position in support of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine, to coexist in peace and security under international law, emphasizing the need for confidence-building measures to facilitate a resumption of direct dialogue between the sides.

During the meeting with the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Peer Gebauer, the President of Romania underlined the excellent level of bilateral relations, of a strategic nature, between the two states, defined by an intense political-diplomatic dialogue and strong interpersonal, social and economic ties.

The two officials reconfirmed the role of the Romanian community in Germany, respectively of the German minority in Romania, for the quality of the bilateral relationship, true bridges between the two states.

Klaus Iohannis expressed the interest of the Romanian side for a closer coordination of the two countries at the level of the European Union and within NATO, respectively at the regional level, based on the common objectives and values.

Ambassador Peer Gebauer conveyed the cordial greetings of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Angela Merkel to the President of Romania and stressed that the bilateral relationship is very good, showing that the priority of his mandate will be to intensify the dialogue.

On the occasion of the meeting with Maria-Pia Busta-Diaz, the Ambassador of the Republic of Chile to Romania, President Klaus Iohannis expressed his satisfaction for the level of bilateral relations, emphasizing the need for their continuation and diversification.

The meeting was a good opportunity to review the state of relations between the two countries, in which context were examined ways to increase them not only in the economic field, but also on the political level, given the common values shared by the two countries - rule of law, democracy and human rights.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Chile highlighted the very good relations with the European Union and thanked for the support provided by Romania for the advancement of the negotiations regarding the modernization of the European Union - Chile Association Agreement.

President Klaus Iohannis wished the new ambassadors success in fulfilling their mandate, assuring them of the full support of the Romanian authorities in this regard, Agerpres informs.
Romanian military firefighters on mission in Greece acted on Monday to limit the spread of flames in the Vilia area, as well as to maintain a line of protection between the fire front and the unaffected areas.

"Moreover, at the request of the Greek authorities, the Romanian fire brigades supplied the fire trucks of their Greek colleagues. In fact, all the missions were carried out in close contact and good cooperation with the Greek firefighters," informs a press release of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday.

The mission in the area was ensured throughout the night."The crews of the Romanian military firefighters constantly monitored and ensured the protection of the Ekklisia Profitis Ilias Monastery. Thus, 11 military, with a fire truck, a tanker, an all-terrain vehicle and a UTV (off-road vehicle), remained until the morning and made sure that the objective was safe," the cited source shows.The military firefighters at the base are to receive new intervention missions from the Greek liaison officer, taking into account that the area in which the brigade operates is classified as having a "high" fire risk level.
Romania's Defence Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca and Romania's Chief of Defence Daniel Petrescu on Tuesday welcomed Chairman of Pakistan's Joint Staff Committee Nadeem Raza, agerpres reports.

According to a press statement of the Romanian Defence Ministry (MApN), in their conversation, the high ranking officials underlined the importance of strengthening the military relations, given Romania's NATO and European Union memberships, and Pakistan's being a liaison country between Central Asia and Southeast Asia, along with the mutual support that the two countries have traditionally extended each other within UN and other international bodies.

"The minister of national defence thanked General Raza for the substantial support provided in the mission of repatriation from Afghanistan of Romanian nationals and nationals of other countries, saying this collaboration is proof of solidarity and trust, both of which underpin our relationship. The members of the two delegations also reviewed the way in which the armed forces of Romania and Pakistan can increase the level of military co-operation by participating in joint exercises, and strengthen bilateral relationships in the area of military education," the MApN statement reads.Romania's Chief of Defence Petrescu and the Chairman of Pakistan's Joint Staff Committee also had a small meeting to look into improving co-operation in the field of exchange of military intelligence, technical military co-operation and participation in joint training activities, including in emergency management specific to the armed forces, and training programmes provided through training centres and other forms of military education.Petrescu said that "the number of activities and meetings at the level of experts is intended to increase and the overall security environment improved by participating in stability missions under the UN aegis.""I conveyed the appreciation of the Romanian military for the professionalism of their Pakistani colleagues in the UN operations in Mali, Congo and South Sudan, where our countries contribute personnel. Last but not least, I thanked General Nadeem Raza for the support we received on our mission to evacuate Romanian nationals from Afghanistan. Good co-operation between the Romanian and Pakistani armed forces have materialised in ensuring the protection of our personnel and equipment in Islamabad, and other forms of co-operation," Petrescu said.A Pakistani delegation was on a visit to Romania, August 23-27, at the invitation of Chief of Defence Petrescu. They were scheduled to also meet officials of Romania's General Directorate for Armaments and the National Defence Industry.
Uniqa Asigurari and Unica Asigurari de Viata concluded their first semester of 2021 with a net profit of 3.7 million euro, according to the IFRS, shows a press release from the companies.

At the same time, the total volume of gross written premiums recorded by the two Uniqa companies until the end of the first semester of 2021 is situated at the level of 48.8 million euro, according to the IFRS, an increase of 7 pct over the result of the same period of last year.

According to the quoted source, "the top 3 most important damages covered in the first semester of 2021 totaled payments worth 4.8 million euro, covering fire risk, accidental malfunctions/loss of profit, for activities in retail - DIY, energy, etc."Uniqa Asigurari reported at the end of the first six months of 2021 an increase of 4 pct in the non-auto insurance segment, compared to the same period of last year, recording gross written premiums worth 16.4 million euro in this line of activity, according to the IFRS.Furthermore, Uniqa Asigurari de Viata concluded the first semester of 2021 with a volume of gross written premiums from life insurance policies situated at the level of 11.5 million euro, according to the IFRS, recording a significant advance of 56 pct of sales in this segment, when compared to the similar interval of 2020."Uniqa Asigurari and Uniqa Asigurari de Viata concluded the first semester of 2021 with improved results on strategic business lines, due to the increase in the volume of sales for non-auto insurance and life insurance, important segments for the durable development of the companies," the release also shows.According to the company, non-auto insurance recorded an increase of 4 pct in sales, compared to the first six months of 2020, supported by life insurance and personal liability insurance.Uniqa Insurance Group operates on the Romanian market since 2008, offering all forms of insurance of goods, liability insurance and personal insurance.
Jagger and Richards could only envy his indifference to stardom and relative contentment in his private life, when he was as happy tending to the horses on his estate in rural Devon, England, as he ever was on stage at a sold-out stadium.

Watts did on occasion have an impact beyond drumming. He worked with Jagger on the ever more spectacular stage designs for the group's tours. He also provided illustrations for the back cover of the acclaimed 1967 album "Between the Buttons" and inadvertently gave the record its title. When he asked Stones manager Andrew Oldham what the album would be called, Oldham responded "Between the buttons," meaning undecided. Watts thought that "Between the Buttons" was the actual name and included it in his artwork.

To the world, he was a rock star. But Watts often said that the actual experience was draining and unpleasant, and even frightening. "Girls chasing you down the street, screaming...horrible!... I hated it," he told The Guardian newspaper in an interview. In another interview, he described the drumming life as a "cross between being an athlete and a total nervous wreck."
Missouri lags well behind the national vaccination rate. Of the total population, 51% have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 44% are fully vaccinated, the state reported Tuesday, in comparison to 61% and 52% nationally, according to federal data.

These rates are not nearly high enough to prevent us from having future surges, Dunagan said.

Of the 528 individuals hospitalized with confirmed cases of the virus in the region, 84% are not fully vaccinated.

Dunagan said he hopes the Food and Drug Administrations announcement Monday of full approval of the Pfizer vaccine will spur more local organizations, public and private, to require employees to get vaccinated.

I think its a prudent thing to do for the individual employees, for the workforce at large, for the community and for the economy, Dunagan said.

Ivermectin

Meanwhile, cases are rising in southeast Missouri: Information on Missouris COVID-19 dashboard shows that six of the 12 counties with the highest seven-day rates of new cases are in the southeast  Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi, Madison, Jackson and Perry counties.
CHICAGO  When Maribel Cordero told her two children in 2016 that she had breast cancer but that she couldnt afford treatment, the two grabbed empty cans the next day and set out to ask for donations at their school, the mother recalls.

They thought that with the little money they collected, I was going to be able to pay for the surgery I needed, said Cordero, 54, of Pilsen.

Though she was told that her stage 2 cancer needed to be treated immediately, she was denied urgent treatment because she did not have any type of health insurance. As an immigrant from Mexico living in the country without permission, she does not qualify for federal programs that offer health coverage and she cant afford private insurance.

There was no way to pay for the treatment so I thought: Im going to die and who is going to care for my children?

She managed to get treated several weeks later through charity care. Now a cancer survivor, the mother faces the long-term effects of the illness, which include copays for multiple doctor visits a month and a bill of more than $3,000 monthly for medicines.

While she said her husband and children pitch in to make sure she gets the medicine she needs, a less stressful solution is on the way.
UNIVERSITY CITY  A former University City parking enforcement worker is accused of impersonating a police officer and using his city vehicle to pull over an ex-girlfriend.

Simcha Fremerman, 21, of St. Charles County, was charged Tuesday in St. Louis County with misdemeanor counts of false impersonation of a law enforcement officer, unlawful use of a weapon, stalking and domestic assault.

Fremerman is accused in court documents of telling an ex-girlfriend he was a University City police officer, while he was actually working as a parking control officer writing tickets for University City  a job that does not require a police license.

Charging documents allege that Fremerman applied to be a dispatcher for University City and in a background check, a police officer spoke with his ex-girlfriend.

The ex told the investigator Fremerman had told many people he was a police officer and once held a gun to her head, though later said it was unloaded. The woman also told the officer Fremerman had been following her after they broke up, court documents state.

After the background check, Fremerman is accused of then using his parking enforcement vehicle's flashing lights to pull over his ex and confront her about what was said in the background check.
In Hinckleys Aug. 3 requests for outside help, he asked a judge to appoint Christian County prosecutor Amy Fite, a former St. Louis prosecutor, to take several cases. One of Fites assistants is Rachel Smith, a former longtime St. Louis prosecutor who served as Gardners chief trial assistant before leaving the office in January 2020. Christian County is south of Springfield, Missouri.

Brian Horneyer, a public defender for Stephan Cannon, 25, who is accused of killing Dorn, told the judge it is disingenuous of Hinckley to first claim a conflict and later blame a lack of resources on the offices inability to prosecute its caseload. He said appointing a special prosecutor would only delay Cannons case further, noting that he received the states evidence in the case just a month ago. Horneyer also said the choice of a special prosecutor rests with the court, not the prosecutor seeking one.
JEFFERSON CITY  A state appeals court on Tuesday put the brakes on at least one lawsuit brought by an heir of the late Phyllis Schlafly.

In a nine-page ruling, the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District affirmed a lower court decision that sought to stop one of the conservative icons children from collecting her share of an inheritance.

Anne Schlafly Cori filed suit in 2017 claiming that her brothers convinced their ailing mother to amend a family trust so all legal bills in separate ongoing litigation between the siblings would come out of Coris share of the inheritance.

Her brother, Bruce Schlafly, filed suit attempting to stop the action, but a lower court dismissed the case. The appellate court agreed with the lower court.

Bruce Schlafly had alleged that Cori filed her legal action in an attempt to harass him and force him to pay higher legal bills.
In an unsigned email Friday in response to questions about Team Americas efforts, the State Department said, The U.S. is not communicating through third parties nor do we endorse any third parties claiming to provide access to (the Kabul airport). All interested parties should visit https://af.usembassy.gov/afghanistan-inquiries/ and follow the instructions there.

Martin said the group has filled out the forms on that embassy website for some clients.

The group is in close contact with refugees, Martin said.

We know their childrens names, Saboe said, and can hear on calls and on videos when theyre hurt or crying. Some children suffered broken bones when crushed by the mob, he said. One 73-year-old U.S. citizen sat outside the airport gates for three days and was tear gassed.

Rumors abound about which gates will be open or closed, and whats going on at each one. I think theres so much noise they cant figure out whats legitimate and whats not, he said of the families.

Were literally the only people communicating with them in a lot of cases, Saboe said.

24/7 operation
I am committed to fighting back against this kind of government overreach, Schmitt said in a statement. Americans are free people, not subjects.

According to the Columbia Public Schools website, the current masking requirement took effect Aug. 16 and requires students to mask when inside or on school buses.

Wearing masks indoors is one mitigation strategy that will provide an additional layer of protection to keep all students and staff safe and in school, the district said. We know not everyone will agree with this decision. We have listened closely and intentionally to many voices and opinions. This decision is not a forever decision, but it is a decision that is currently necessary.

A spokeswoman for Columbia Public Schools said the district was extremely disappointed by the lawsuit.
We feel these are blatant attempts to silence the voices of the voters, Bernstein said.

Republicans last year introduced legislation that would enact a $500 filing fee for groups to file a proposed petition in a bid to cut down on the scores of proposals that the secretary of state must process. It also would standardize the paperwork used to collect signatures and expand the number of words allowed on the official summary statement of the petition.

Supporters said the changes will streamline the process and eliminate duplicative or frivolous petitions.

In 2019, the Secretary of States Office estimated requiring a $500 refundable fee could lead to a 75% reduction in initiative petitions.

Republicans also want to increase the threshold for petitions to win approval.

Missouris constitution allows passage of amendments if a simple majority approves. Unlike statutory changes, the Legislature doesnt have the ability to alter constitutional amendments.

Legislation has been filed that would boost that level to 66% of voters.
Torch, in its bid to stop the investigation, filed on July 15, said its machines are legal amusement devices.

Compliance with the subpoena would be unreasonable and oppressive, as Torch is legally entitled to own, operate, and license its amusement devices under Missouri law, the companys lawsuit said.

In response, Patterson said based on recent court conclusions, there is substantially more than a reasonable possibility that [Torchs] machines are illegal gambling machines.

Patterson cites three recent court findings to support his claim: a Platte County judges ruling last year against another unregulated gaming company, a probable cause finding in Linn County that the company broke state gambling law, and the Greene County decision that there was cause to believe Torchs gambling machines and their digital contents are evidence of crime.

Patterson, according to the subpoena, was seeking information covering a one-year period ending June 14, 2021.
We have an ordinance that imposes restrictions, we have a deed that imposes limitations, said Elkin Kistner, an attorney representing the Lindell residents. Theyre not being followed.

But some residents of the private streets of Westmoreland Place and Portland Place, whose only public access is Lake Avenue along Lindell Boulevard, say the plan could lead to traffic backups that will make it more difficult to get in and out. Westmoreland resident Charles Valier, an attorney and former state representative who has lived in the neighborhood for over 40 years, said more traffic enforcement on Lindell would just as easily solve the problem. And he sees the lawsuit as a tool to compel the city to act.

As a lawyer I think their chances of success are about zero, Valier said of the lawsuit. I think they did it purely to try and force this change.

After years of discussions with no real progress, Kistner readily admits the lawsuit was designed to force the city to make safety improvements along Lindell. He said the newly released plans to turn Lindell Boulevard into a two-lane street has some potential and he expects to discuss with the city soon whether they address his clients concerns.
Some veterans have already gotten over that hurdle.

Mark Lear, an Army veteran who lives in Wildwood, was as disappointed in what happened in Afghanistan as anyone, he said in an interview Wednesday.

But he also said he felt like he did his job in preventing another 9/11 these past 20 years. And while he doesnt buy it when the Taliban say theyre going to respect womens rights now, he takes solace in the fact that they feel like they have to say it.

Theres not an ounce of me that feels like we didnt do what we were told to do and isnt proud of what we did, Lear said. And theres no way I can control what happened after.

Not everyone feels the same way.

Pete Lucier, a Marine veteran now studying law at St. Louis University, said he felt despair watching television last weekend.

But he didnt stop there. After checking in with other veterans, he found at least temporary satisfaction in working to help fleeing Afghans and aiding resettlement efforts in St. Louis.

I knew despair was not a good place for me to be in, he told the Post-Dispatch, and I knew there was an enormous need.
The size of the settlement is based on the number of participating states. Those that decline to join will instead seek a larger recovery by continuing to fight the defendants in the courts. The companies have already paid hundreds of millions in verdicts and other settlements.

The deal, which was unveiled by 14 state attorneys general on July 21, aims to resolve more than 3,000 lawsuits accusing the distributors of ignoring red flags that pain pills were being diverted into communities for illicit uses and that Johnson & Johnson played down the risks of opioid addiction.

The money would go toward funding treatment and other services.

The companies deny wrongdoing, saying the drugs were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and that responsibility for ballooning painkiller sales lies with others, including doctors and regulators.

McKesson said the companies have until Sept. 4 to determine if there is sufficient support for the agreements and said that process is ongoing. Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen declined to comment and Johnson & Johnson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The support of two other states, Nevada and Alabama, also appeared to be in doubt, according to sources familiar with the situation.
After refusing Medicaid expansion in Missouri for a decade, and even ignoring the voters on the issue, the states Republican government now appears to be dragging its feet on implementing a courts order to get it done. State employees are being told not to fully process new Medicaid applications until October, even though they apparently have the ability to do it right now. Given the states sorry history on this issue, the judge should review whether this constitutes contempt of court.

Missouris history regarding Medicaid expansion is a study in cold-hearted obstinacy on the part of the states ruling Republicans. It began a decade ago with the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, which sought to provide health care coverage to millions of Americans who lacked it. That was to be achieved in part by expanding Medicaid, the joint state-federal medical program for the poor, so that it would cover many low-income Americans who didnt previously qualify.
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Iran released promotional videos as part of an effort to win export orders for its latest armed UAV, the Mohajer-6, which is similar to older Israeli Heron UAVs but equipped to carry four small laser-guided missiles or smart (GPS guided) bombs. The Mohajer line of UAVs first appeared in the 1990s and were crude by comparison with Western, especially Israeli and American, UAVs. Iran could not find foreign customers willing to buy these early models but they were accepted and used by foreigners that received Iranian weapons to be used against Israel or other enemies of Iran.

Mohajer-6 is different and Iran is trying to present this UAV as a cheaper alternative to Chinese armed-UAVS. China has dominated this export market because the United States, which was the first to arm large UAVs, will not sell to anyone who might use the weapons for terrorist activities, against American allies or any questionable activities. That worked for China and Iran is seeking to compete with China on price. Currently Israel dominates the market for unarmed reconnaissance and surveillance UAVs. Israel rarely armed its UAVs because its armed force used them extensively to defend Israel. That meant that the unarmed UAVs could quickly call on fighter-bombers, armed helicopters or artillery to attack targets. Israel developed very effective maritime (coastal) patrol UAVs which appealed to many export customers as well as Western nations who could not get American UAVs because for most of the last two decades American manufacturers could barely keep up with demand from the American military. The U.S. eased up on its export restrictions after 2012 but by then China had grabbed most of the export market.

Iran is also offering the latest tech for its GSCs (ground control stations), and the video pitch for Mohajer-6 featured video of the equipment used for the truck mounted GSC. There were some photos of earlier Iranian GSCs, which showed operators using bulky CRTs running pirated Windows XP operating systems. Iran does not like to publicize how backward its military hardware and software is so they deliberately revealed that Mohajer-6 was using flat screen displays running pirated copies of Windows 7. The use of pirated operating system software might appear to limit the export market but there are many countries, like Ethiopia, that are not bothered by that, and want fast delivery of less expensive armed UAVs. The Mohajer-6 has been in use since 2017 against Kurdish separatists and Syrian rebels and is thus combat tested. Mohajer-6 weighs 600 kg (1,300 pounds), a payload of 100 kg and max endurance of 12 hours. Max ceiling is 5,600 meters (18,000 feet) and max speed is 200 kilometers an hour. Max range (from the GSC) is 200 kilometers. About three dozen have been produced since 2017 and most of those are in use by the Iranian military (army, navy and IRGC). All Iran it needs now is export customers and Iran is making a major effort to find some. Price is cheaper than any competitors and negotiable. Ethiopia has apparently purchased at least three plus a GSC.

Iran has long been an exporter of weapons, usually cheaper versions of Chinese and Russian assault rifles, mortars and RPGs. Iran has long had a trading relationship with North Korea in ballistic missile technology. Both nations are banned from exporting that sort of thing but desperation will find a way.
Islamic terrorists continue to claim they are conducting successful terror attacks in Congo. In late June the so-called Islamic State in Central Africa Province (ISCAP) claimed it conducted a suicide bombing in the east attack in eastern Congo (North Kivu province), when a bar in the city of Beni was attacked. Islamic terrorists are particularly hostile to alcohol, especially when men and women are doing it together. For the record, ISCAP is also known as the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces). They now claim they are a component of ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). However, a number of analysts and security personnel doubt that ISIL has any influence over the ADF. Its an information operation to give the appearance of a global coalition. The ADF existed long before the Islamic State. ISIL and ADF each also have ties to Al Shabaab in Somalia. ISIL also has similar affiliates in Mali, Nigeria, North Africa and possibly Mozambique (southern Africa) as well.

August 19, 2021: The U.S. confirmed that American special operations forces have arrived in eastern Congo. They are there to help Congolese security forces find and destroy ADF sanctuaries in Garamba and Virunga National Parks. There is no information on the size of the U.S. special ops contingent.

August 18, 2021: Rwanda confirmed it intends to continue providing Mozambique with security assistance with Islamic terrorists in Mozambiques Cabo Delgado Province. Mozambican forces are fighting rebels and Islamic terrorists there since late 2020.

Abdoul Karim Meckassoua, a former CAR (Central African Republic) president, fled CAR to Congo and then went into hiding on the other side of the Congo River in the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville). He was recently removed from the national assembly after being accused of belonging to a rebel group that opposes the current government, the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC). He was also charged with participating in an armed robbery. This resulted in an overseas travel ban as local prosecutors were prepared to arrest him

August 18, 2021: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) several attacks in the last 48 hours by the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) have left nine civilians, a soldier and eight attackers dead. ADF is a Ugandan rebel organization with strong connections to Moslem tribes in northern Uganda and claims to be part of ISIL affiliate ISCAP.

August 17, 2021: Uganda has agreed to take in 2,000 Afghan refugees. The first group of 500 arrived today.

August 16, 2021: Across Congos southern border, Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema was declared president-elect and victor in todays presidential election. Incumbent president Edgar Lungu conceded defeat. Zambia has had peaceful transfers of power since 1991.

August 15, 2021: Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi announced several U.S. special forces had arrived in Congo on August 13. They will support Congolese security forces operating in eastern Congo.

August 12, 2021: Congos capital, Kinshasa, a mob attacked and looted Indian-owned businesses. Earlier this month a Congolese student in Bangalore, India died while in Indian police custody. The student had been arrested on drug possession charges. Sub-Saharan Africans have complained of discrimination against them in India. Most of the current violence took place in Kinshasa's Limete neighborhood.

August 10, 2021: Malawi's Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested the governments energy minister, Newton Kambala, and two other officials. The men are charged with corrupt activities involving a state oil contract with state-owned NOCMA (the National Oil Company of Malawi). All three men belonged to the ruling Tonse Alliance. Diplomats and media noted the arrest demonstrates Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera is willing to target his own party in order to fight corruption in the country.

August 6, 2021: China Molybdenum Company announced it will spend $2.5 billion to double production of copper and cobalt at its Tenke Fungurume mine in Congo.

August 5, 2021: Congolese medical authorities estimated that 50,000 Congolese have become infected with the covid19 Delta variant.

August 3, 2021: In eastern Congo (Ituri province) a t least 16 people were killed in an attack attributed to the ADF. The 16 were taken hostage then knifed on a highway outside the town of Idohu. Ituri and neighboring North Kivu provinces still remain under an official state of siege mainly because of ADF violence. The state of siege, a form of martial law, was first declared on May 6th. It was supposed to be for 30 days but has been extended five times since May and parliament approved another extension today. Before the latest extension legislators criticized the effectiveness of the martial law because the police and soldiers appear to be using their enhanced powers to carry out more of their usual corrupt practices.

August 2, 2021: Congolese Catholic bishops demanded an end to attacks on Catholic churches and Catholic leaders. The bishops said they believe the attacks are intended to stop the church from calling for democracy and national cohesion. Attacks have occurred throughout Congo. Most recently, on August 1st a group of young people vandalized the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa.

August 1, 2021: Ugandan security believes that Rwanda used spyware manufactured by an Israeli firm to tap the phones of several senior Ugandan officials. A recent report said the hacked officials included former Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, former Chief of Defense Forces Gen. David Muhoozi, and former foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa. Since 2017 Uganda and Rwanda have traded accusations that the other country has harassed their citizens. Several times their border has been closed to commercial traffic. Rwanda has denied it has spied on Uganda.

July 31, 2021: In northeastern CAR (Central African Republic) UN peacekeepers reported rebel group 3R (Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation) killed six civilians and wounded several others when they attacked a village about 550 kilometers north of the capital Bangui.

July 27, 2021: In eastern Congo (Ituri province) s even Army soldiers and 15 ADF rebels were killed in a series of clashes. An army spokesman announced the army had freed over 150 hostages in the operation that led to the clashes.

July 24, 2021: Burundis government confirmed that several international mining companies will not be allowed to mine rare earths in Burundi. In April the government suspended rare earth exports because of disputes with the foreign mining companies over how much of a cut the government gets. The rare earth mining is being carried out by Chinese, Russian and British firms. The Chinese and Russians are notorious because they offer large bribes to government officials to get mining permits that include low tax rates for the government. This often backfires because when a new government comes into power, they realize that their greedy predecessors sold out their successors and Burundi in return for a large bribe.
DIAMOND BAR, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NuBridge Commercial Lending, a national commercial real estate bridge lender, entered a $73.5 million 36-month revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks, with Cadence Business Finance serving as agent. The bank group also includes Sunflower Bank, Congressional Bank and Dominion Bank. Cadence originally committed $30 million to NuBridge and successfully increased the facility through syndication. The capital provided under the upsized facility, along with equity capital provided by Trive Capital (a Dallas-based private equity firm), will allow NuBridge to build upon the companys early success and will promote the continued growth of the platform.

The support of our financing partners is critical to NuBridges growth and to building our position in the national small-balance commercial lending market, said Bill Komperda, CEO of NuBridge. We are fortunate to work with Cadence and the rest of the bank group on the new credit facility, and we are grateful for their support, added Ed Resendez, President of NuBridge.

We are pleased to provide NuBridge with a customized lending solution that will support its growth and expansion plans, said David Ellington, Director of Originations at Cadence Business Finance. Were excited to partner with Sunflower, Congressional and Dominion to increase the global credit facility to $73.5 million  $23.5 million more than we originally anticipated.

About NuBridge Commercial Lending

Headquartered in Diamond Bar, California, NuBridge Commercial Lending is a real estate lending platform that offers short-term bridge loans to owners of commercial properties in 48 states and the District of Columbia. NuBridge focuses on first-lien, short-term bridge loans to owners of multifamily apartment buildings (residential units), mixed-use properties (typically office or retail space, combined with residential apartments), single- and multi-tenant office buildings, retail properties, light industrial buildings, warehouses, mobile home parks and self-storage facilities. NuBridge targets loans ranging from $1 million to $10 million with 12, 18 and 24-month terms. For more on NuBridge Commercial Lending, visit www.nubridge.com.

About Cadence Business Finance

Cadence Business Finance (CBF) provides creative asset-based lending and specialty finance solutions to meet the strategic and financial objectives of performing middle-market businesses. CBF also lends to specialty finance companies that make asset-based or asset-backed loans to U.S. businesses. Its experienced team of relationship-oriented advisors are experts at providing flexible financing structures and thoughtful in understanding the challenges of its clients, both now and throughout their lifecycle. To learn more about Cadence Business Finance, visit www.cadencebusinessfinance.com.

About Sunflower Bank

Headquartered in Denver, Sunflower Bank, N.A., is a regional bank founded 129 years ago. Operating as Sunflower Bank, First National 1870 and Guardian Mortgage, it is a relationship-focused full-service financial institution meeting the business, personal and wealth management needs of its clients. Sunflower Bank, N.A. has bank locations in five states, mortgage capabilities in more than 40 states, and a national reach for its commercial and specialty lending verticals. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. First National 1870 and Guardian Mortgage are divisions of Sunflower Bank, N.A.

About Congressional Bank

Headquartered in Chevy Chase, MD, Congressional Banks Lender Finance Group provides creative, flexible loan solutions to growing middle market specialty finance lenders and investment funds across a wide variety of industry sectors. The Lender Finance Group seeks to cultivate long-term partnerships with lending platforms that are led by seasoned management teams. Congressional Bank targets loan sizes ranging from $15 million to $75 million and will syndicate facilities of $100 million or more through established banking partnerships. For more information on Congressional Banks Lender Finance Group, please visit (https://www.congressionalbank.com/commercial-lending/lender-finance/).

About Dominion Bank

Dominion Bank has deep Texas roots. Established in 1911 in Grapeland, Texas, Dominion Bank began a new chapter in 2019 with the completion of a $50+ million capital raise - the 3rd largest bank capital raise in Texas banking history - along with a planned move of the headquarters to Dallas, Texas. Now, led by a seasoned management team with decades of collective experience in Texas banking, Dominion Bank is positioned to expand our presence in North Texas through direct access to decision makers and efficient execution. Dominion Bank seeks to establish loan and deposit relationship with well managed and profitable businesses. The Banks size, ownership and management structure allows it to underwrite and hold credit of a meaningful size, but also provide excellent customer service and responsiveness that values each client individually.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005139/en/

April Romeos

NuBridge Commercial Lending

aromeos@nubridge.com

909.757.8090

Source: NuBridge Commercial Lending
Under the new bipartisan infrastructure legislation, nuclear power reactors have been allocated $6 billion. This move is supported by the Biden administration and Senator Joe Machin, who is an advocate for nuclear reactor incentives and the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Nuclear energy is a zero-emission, clean-energy source that generates power through uranium atoms splitting in a process known as fission&

Read more >>

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) are available in the companys newsroom at http://ibn.fm/UUUU

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ATLANTA, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power's Board of Directors has elected Aaron Abramovitz, Southern Nuclear vice president of business operations for Vogtle 3 & 4, as executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Georgia Power, effective Sept. 1, 2021. In his new role, Abramovitz will be responsible for overseeing the company's accounting and financial functions.

The move comes after the announcement that the company's current executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, Dan Tucker, will succeed Andrew Evans as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Southern Company. Evans is stepping down as executive vice president and CFO effective Sept. 1, 2021 but intends to remain a senior advisor to the CEO of Southern Company until his retirement on Dec. 31, 2021. Upon his retirement, Evans will be joining the Board of Directors of Georgia Power.

"Aaron is a demonstrated leader, and with 20 years of Southern Company experience in project governance, financial markets, regulatory matters, and other functions of our business, he will be positioned to contribute immediately to Georgia Power's continued efforts to deliver value for our customers," said Chris Womack, Georgia Power president, chairman and CEO. "Furthermore, he has worked tirelessly on the Vogtle 3 & 4 project. Our customers and other stakeholders will continue to benefit from his continued engagement on and oversight of that important piece of Georgia's energy future."

Womack continued, "I would like to thank Dan for his work and dedication on behalf of Georgia Power, and as he transitions to his new position at our parent company. I look forward to our continued collaboration on the Vogtle 3 & 4 project as well as other matters."

Tucker will also transition into the role of executive vice president and chief financial officer for Southern Company Sept. 1, 2021, where he will bring more than 20 years of experience within Southern Company, including time at Georgia Power and Southern Company Gas, to his new role.

In his current role, Abramovitz leads Southern Nuclear's project controls, risk management, budgeting and reporting, and commercial analysis & controls for Vogtle 3 & 4. As CFO, he will continue to collaborate closely with Southern Nuclear's Vogtle 3 & 4 project leadership team, Georgia Power's Nuclear Development group, and the project's co-owners to ensure communication for the project meets the needs of all stakeholders.

Prior to his current position, Aaron was the director of investor relations for Southern Company; working to enhance Southern Company's value proposition within the financial markets, while fostering effective two-way communications between the investment community and the company's leadership. In addition, Aaron provided leadership in building and improving Southern Company's shareholder outreach efforts as environmental, social and governance and sustainability had increasingly becoming an area of focus for the investment community and all Southern Company's stakeholders.

Aaron began his career at Southern Company Services in 2002, supporting financial strategy and decision support. From there, he held a series of positions at several Southern Company subsidiaries in the areas of financial analysis, financial planning, project management, and forestry and right of way. Aaron earned his bachelor's degree in business administration with majors in Finance and Management Information Systems from the University of Georgia.

About Georgia Power

Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

###

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SOURCE Georgia Power
Sgt. 1st Class David Frederick White, a 40-year-old combat veteran and Purple Heart Medal recipient, was found dead Saturday in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Searchers who found his body believe he attempted to cross a creek, but was swept away by the current. (Photo provided by Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson)

An Army noncommissioned officer and Purple Heart recipient assigned to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, was found dead in a nature preserve Saturday after he was reported overdue from a hunting trip, according to officials at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Sgt. 1st Class David Frederick White, 40, served as an explosive ordnance disposal specialist with the 65th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, according to base officials. He was a 19-year Army veteran who deployed four times to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The loss of Sgt. 1st Class White came as a shock, jarring the heartbeats of everyone and rocking the foundation of our unit, said Capt. Joshua Johnson, 65th EOD Company commander. We send our deepest sympathies and condolences to his family and friends, especially his son, and hope that we can all look back at the many memories and wonderful examples of how he has impacted all of our lives to partially fill the holes left by his passing."

Before setting out on the trip to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, White agreed to check in with a friend periodically, the base said. However, White stopped communicating after an Aug. 12 check-in, causing the friend to become concerned. They contacted the National Park Service on Aug. 16, according to the park service.

A search began the following day with Alaska wildlife troopers assisting park rangers. By Aug. 20, White was considered officially overdue by the park service, which then began using helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to assist in search efforts. Meanwhile ground teams continued to look for signs of White.

A team searching waterways found Whites body at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday on the banks of Jacksina Creek, officials said. Whites final communication stated he intended to cross the creek and officials believe he got swept away by the current, according to the park service.

His body was sent to the Alaska State Medical Examiners Office, according to the park service.

White of Tallulah, La., joined the Army in 2002 and served at Fort Irwin, Calif., Redstone Arsenal, Ala., Fort Drum, N.Y., Fort Knox, Ky., and Fort A.P. Hill, Va., before reporting to Alaska in July 2017, according to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson officials. He deployed three times to Iraq and once to Afghanistan for a total of 48 months in combat.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, five Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, three meritorious unit citations, six Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army service ribbon.
Lt. Ridge Hannemann Alkonis is a weapons officer aboard the destroyer USS Benfold at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, according to his LinkedIn profile. (U.S. Navy)

NUMAZU, Japan  A U.S. naval officer, facing 4  years in a Japanese prison, described in court Tuesday how he lost consciousness driving home from Mount Fuji and caused an accident that ultimately claimed the lives of two people.

Lt. Ridge Hanneman Alkonis, 33, crashed his car into pedestrians and parked vehicles at a soba restaurant parking lot in Fujinomiya on May 29, according to an indictment. The city is about two hours from Yokosuka Naval Base, where Alkonis is assigned to the destroyer USS Benfold as a weapons officer.

Alkonis, who is charged with negligent driving resulting in death, said he lost consciousness due to acute mountain sickness, a common set of symptoms that occur with a trip to high altitude.

Killed in the crash was a woman, 85, who died that day, and a man, 54, who died in a hospital on June 11. A second woman, 53, suffered bruises to her knees and elbows.

Alkonis testified Tuesday in Shizuoka District Court that he suffered a bout of altitude sickness that day, a leftover effect of the trip he, his wife and their three children had made up the iconic mountain.

He said two doctors, a general practitioner and a neurologist, had diagnosed him with acute mountain sickness after the accident. Symptoms can feel like a hangover and include dizziness, headache, muscle aches and nausea.

I felt my body get weak, and my car drifted out of the lane, but I was able to quickly correct it, he said in court. Five minutes later, Alkonis said, he began to talk with one of his children when he lost his memory, and the crash ensued.

I feel sorry for the suffering and the pain Ive caused the victims and their families, Alkonis said during the trial.

Alkonis did not dispute the facts of the indictment. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 18.

The Shizuoka District Public Prosecutors Office recommended he serve a 4 -year prison term without hard labor. Alkonis defense attorney asked instead for a suspended sentence that would effectively mean probation.

The indictment alleged that Alkonis dozed off at the wheel.

He could have prevented the accident, a prosecutor argued in court, had he immediately stopped driving upon feeling drowsy.

There was no emergency or necessity for him to continue driving, she said. He carelessly continued to drive.

Alkonis defense attorney countered that Alkonis didnt feel sleepy. He fell ill following the trek up Mount Fuji and lost consciousness on the way to a planned stop for lunch.

He was almost to the destination, she said. It is hard to say that his action was extremely malicious.

Alkonis told the presiding judge, Shizuoka District Judge Kumiko Maesawa, that a suspended sentence would likely mean hed be ordered back to the United States and discharged from the Navy.

His defense attorney said Alkonis was ready to pay compensation to the injured woman and the deceased victims families and had already compensated the people whose cars were damaged.

In Japan, its customary to offer extrajudicial compensation for damages or injuries in an effort to apologize.

A relative of the two people killed in the crash made a statement in court. The 85-year-old victim was her mother, the woman told the court, and the 54-year-old was her brother-in-law. That day was her mothers birthday.

I couldnt believe what happened, thinking about her cheerful voice in the morning, she said. Its painful to think how scared she was and how painful it was for her.

She said that Alkonis ran toward the victims to help, saying he was sorry, but her sister saw him with his family standing away from the victims when the ambulance arrived.

I ask the court for severe punishment. Otherwise, a similar tragedy like this will continue to happen, she said. The bereaved family will not forgive the defendant, who took two lives.

Asked by a prosecutor why he didnt stop at the time, Alkonis said he was so close to his destination that he felt he could make it there before resting.

Alkonis said he had never before experienced something like that. He doesnt drink alcohol, hadnt taken any medicine that could cause drowsiness and had slept well the night before.

Alkonis testified that he rendered aid as best he could, including trying to move vehicles off two of the victims who were trapped.

Ive tried to do everything I can to help those who had been hurt, he said. If those efforts were not enough, insufficient, Im sorry, he said.

Alkonis wife, Brittany Alkonis, testified that she felt severely carsick due to the winding roads and could not take over driving for her husband.

We are terribly sorry this happened, she said. We love this country, and we only wanted to contribute to it.
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  An Okinawa-based U.S. Navy sailor was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of drunken driving after Japanese police responded to reports of a hit-and-run crash.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Emanuel Ramirez Pecina, 22, assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Hansen, was arrested at 6:55 a.m. Saturday in Naha city after he was pulled over by police and found to be under the influence of alcohol, a Naha police spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Monday.

Police searching for a suspect in an earlier hit-and-run noticed Pecinas vehicle was damaged, the spokesman said.

We are investigating his involvement with the hit-and-run, the spokesman said. His car is pretty damaged.

The hit-and-run happened at 4:10 a.m. when a vehicle hit a taxi and fled the scene, the spokesman said. No injuries were reported from the incident.

After he was pulled over, Pecina admitted drinking the night before but denied that he was still intoxicated, the spokesman said. He told police he had slept it off and was now sober.

A breath test measured his blood alcohol content at 0.12%, four times Japans legal limit of 0.03%. For comparison, all 50 U.S. states have set 0.08 as the legal limit for driving under the influence or driving while impaired.

Pecina is being held by Japanese police, the spokesman said. His case has been forwarded to prosecutors who will decide whether to officially press charges.

Pecina may face further charges, the police spokesman said. Its customary in Japan for some government officials to speak to the media on condition of anonymity.

The incident is currently under investigation, III MEF spokesman Capt. Gabriel Adibe told Stars and Stripes via email Tuesday. The command is fully cooperating with local authorities.

Buy Photo A U.S. Navy sailor assigned to Camp Hansen was arrested Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, on suspicion of drunken driving after Japanese police responded to reports of a hit-and-run crash. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

Justice
Buy Photo Tokyo reported another 4,220 coronavirus infections on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, opening day of the delayed Paralympics. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

TOKYO  The capital of Japan reported another 4,220 people infected with coronavirus Tuesday, the opening day of the delayed 2020 Paralympics.

For a second consecutive day, the number of new cases in Tokyo was less than a week ago, according to public broadcaster NHK and the metropolitan government. Tuesdays count was 157 fewer than the same day last week.

Japan reported 16,943 new cases of COVID-19, the coronavirus respiratory disease, and 32 related deaths on Monday, according to the Johns Hopkins Resource Center. The country has fully vaccinated 52 million people, or 41% of its population.

U.S. military bases in Japan reported 56 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.

The Marine Corps on Okinawa had 27 people test positive within the past day, according to a Facebook post by Marine Corps Installations Pacific. The Marines have reported 154 new infections so far this month.

Okinawa prefecture is seeing its own record-breaking surge and reported 750 cases Tuesday, according to the Department of Public Health and Medical Care. The infection rate  308.46 per 100,000 people  is the highest among Japans prefectures.

The virus is reaching especially into younger age groups, according to Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki.

COVID-19 is affecting Marines, civilian employees and family members, a spokesman for III Marine Expeditionary Force told Stars and Stripes by email Tuesday.

That said, we are seeing an increased transmission rate among cohabitants isolating with a COVID positive case, wrote Capt. Gabriel Adibe.

The Marines expect service members and civilians on Okinawa to take this deadly disease seriously, he said. We are in this fight together, and it takes all hands to fight the virus.

Farther north, 28 cases have popped up at Yokosuka Naval Base, homeport of the 7th Fleet south of Tokyo, since Friday, according to a news release from the base.

Ten unimmunized people affiliated with the Navy tested positive: nine after falling ill with COVID-19 symptoms and one during contact tracing. Six unimmunized base employees also tested positive after falling ill, according to the base.

Another 12 immunized people affiliated with the Navy tested positive after falling ill.

The naval base is monitoring 68 people with the virus. The summer caseload there has increased from 12 in June to 107, so far this month.

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, south of Hiroshima, had one person in restricted movement tested positive, according to a base news release Tuesday. The base has reported seven cases so far this month.

Stars and Stripes reporter Mari Higa contributed to this report.
Buy Photo (Gerald Waller/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden, Germany, October 1948: Clarence the Camel stands in a C-47 aircraft amid some 5,000 pounds of food, candy, books, games and toys on the way to Berlin for distribution to children of the blockaded city during the Berlin Airlift. Clarence  mascot of the pilots of the 86th Fighter Group at Neubiberg Air Force Base  was flown in from Tripoli, Libya, for a tour of the U.S. zone of Germany after the camel caravan stop in Berlin.
An out of service missile stands as a sculpture at the main gate of Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Mont. A new U.S. Army report says the Chinese military has improved the accuracy and range of its ballistic missile force, the worlds largest. (Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times/TNS)

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  The Chinese military has improved the accuracy and range of its ballistic missile force, the worlds largest, according to a new U.S. Army report.

The DF-11, the most widely deployed short-range ballistic missile of the Peoples Liberation Army Rocket Force, was originally designed to hit targets out to 186 miles, but newer models have expanded ranges beyond 435 miles, according to an Aug. 9 Army publication titled Chinese Tactics released Monday by the Federation of American Scientists Project on Government Secrecy.

Accuracy has also increased, reducing the intended target point to only 32 yards, giving theater commanders a long-range precision strike capability, according to the Army publication. The DF-11 can employ both conventional and nuclear warheads. The solid-fuel rocket and mobile transporter-erector-launchers enable rapid launch and reload operations, it added.

The U.S. Army is attempting to reshape its forces from their 20-year emphasis on counterinsurgency to focus on an Indo-Pacific presence geared toward countering China in coordination with the Air Force and Navy. The new publication presents a menu of the longer-range and more accurate Chinese missiles that U.S. forces and Taiwan would face in a conflict.

In addition, the newer DF-15/16 missile has ranges of 600 kilometers to 1,000 kilometers and they employ advanced antiballistic missile countermeasures such as terminal maneuvers and decoys, the Army publication says. Early variants were not accurate enough for precision strikes, but newer models are much improved. These missiles can employ nuclear or conventional warheads, and have a significantly larger payload than most short-range ballistic missiles.

The publication, which also covers many other Chinese military capabilities, is the latest to portray the military might of a nation U.S. leaders consider the prime threat driving U.S. strategic planning and spending.

2021 Bloomberg L.P.

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Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The unnamed American gym teacher working at a U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, attempted to smuggle 120 oxycodone tablets and 315 morphine-based tablets by mail on Dec. 17, 2020, according to Incheon District Court records. (GeoTrinity/Wikimedia Commons)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  A 51-year-old gym teacher at a U.S. military base in South Korea was sentenced to three years of probation for attempting to smuggle morphine and oxycodone into the country, according to South Korean court filings earlier this month.

The unnamed American working at an unnamed U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek city, Gyeonggi Province, attempted to smuggle 120 oxycodone tablets and 315 morphine-based tablets by mail on Dec. 17, according to records at the Incheon District Court.

Pyeongtaek is home to two U.S. installations, Osan Air Base and Camp Humphreys, the latter of which is the largest U.S. military base overseas. Camp Humphreys is home to four K-12 schools while Osan Air Base has two.

The teacher requested the illicit substances from an unnamed source, who sent the tablets in a box containing chocolates, according to a sentencing document.

The teacher, who had no prior convictions, confessed to the crime, prosecutors said in the document.

A panel of three judges ruled the teacher committed a severe offense and sentenced him to three years of probation, in addition to recommending 2  years in prison.

An Incheon District Court public affairs officer who spoke to Stars and Stripes on a customary condition of anonymity said Tuesday that the teacher will be placed on probation and will have his prison sentence deferred.

Drug offences exert seriously bad influences on the society at large, including leaving individuals physically and mentally exhausted, injuring national health, causing other crimes and so on, the Incheon District Court wrote in its sentencing document. Therefore, the crime is not minor.

Department of Defense Education Activity-Pacific and U.S. Forces Korea did not respond to requests for comment by phone and email this week.

USFK service members and civilians stationed in South Korea are subject to the status of forces agreement between the two countries. SOFA defines the legal status of the U.S. armed forces, including civilian employees, in host countries and lays out jurisdiction in criminal and other matters.

South Korean authorities have the exclusive or primary jurisdiction over almost all offenses committed by US service members, according to the USFK website. They are most likely to exercise jurisdiction over serious violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, etc.), serious black-marketing offenses, hit-and-run driving, and attempts to commit such offenses.

Foreigners typically serve prison sentences in South Korea in Cheonan, about 50 miles south of Seoul. American prisoners receive monthly visits from a U.S. representative, according to USFKs website.

Justice
Air Force Maj. Raliene Banks, center, won her third title, Mrs. Regency International, in Las Vegas on July 31, 2021. (Regency International Pageant)

An Air Force officer with a sideline as a pageant competitor is using her spotlight to promote opportunities for women in aviation.

Maj. Raliene Banks won her third title, Mrs. Regency International, last month in Las Vegas.

Born and raised on Guam, Banks entered the Air Force in 2008 as a pilot and has flown the C-17 Globemaster, RQ-4 Global Hawk and KC-135 Stratotanker during her career. Now she works at the Pentagon as deputy chief of agile combat employment.

I didnt apply for the Air Force until I had already graduated from college, and I had a job lined up already with the Federal Aviation Administration to be an air traffic controller, Banks told Stars and Stripes by phone on Saturday. In 2007 was when I was notified I was selected for pilot training, that was probably one of the best days of my life.

Everything changed for her in 2019 when she was diagnosed with Graves disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid. That has grounded her Air Force flying career, at least temporarily.

I thought to myself, what else can I do with everything that I know and the expertise that I have, with what Im going through with Graves disease, she said. I saw other women on social media who were friends of friends that competed in pageantry, and I thought to myself, that looks like fun.

Since then, Banks has used pageantry as an outlet to promote and encourage women in aviation.

When I first started pageantry, my platform was solely based off aviation and trying to get more women into the career field, because only 6% of pilots are female and that number is just so low, she said.

Air Force Maj. Raliene Banks won her third pageant title, Mrs. Regency International, in Las Vegas on July 31, 2021. The former pilot works at the Pentagon as deputy chief of agile combat employment. (Raliene Banks) Air Force Maj. Raliene Banks won the Mrs. Regency International Pageant on July 31, 2021, with her husband, Maj. Joshua Banks, there to support her. (Raliene Banks)

Banks has participated in five competitions, so far, and has also been crowned Ms. Virginia North America 2021 and Mrs. Guam Petite 2020.

She won the Mrs. Regency International Pageant on July 31, with her husband, Maj. Joshua Banks, there to support her.

The Regency International Pageant attracts contestants from across the United States and the world. Representatives from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Philippines, Mexico and Cayman Islands have competed in interview, photogenic, fun fashion and evening gown competitions for the coveted Regency International crowns.

Banks said she speaks to people about their ambitions while encouraging and inspiring them to achieve their goals regardless of their backgrounds. From that, she created her pageantry platform, Take FLIGHT Today.

The purpose of Take FLIGHT Today is threefold, Banks said. It aims to empower women, promote aviation and educate others on how to promote resiliency within their communities.

I volunteered with Girls Day in Aviation back before COVID, she said. I also chaired The Ninety-Nines Lets Fly Now program that provides free introductory flights to women.

The Ninety-Nines is a nonprofit, international organization of licensed women pilots from 44 countries with its headquarters in Oklahoma City, according to its website.

While she is unable to fly for the Air Force, Banks can still fly civilian aircraft.

Women in Aviation International recently gave me a scholarship to do certified flight instructor training, she said.

Women in Aviation International is an American nonprofit organization that provides networking, education, mentoring and scholarship opportunities for women and men in careers in the aviation and aerospace industries.

If everything goes well and I go into remission, I can apply for a waiver to go back to flying for the Air Force, Banks said. And thats what Im really hoping for.

Jonathan Snyder
The Pacific Ocean looks over nuclear reactor units of No. 3, left, and 4 at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town, Fukushima prefecture, northeastern Japan on Feb. 27, 2021. Japans government adopted an interim plan Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 that it hopes will win support from fishermen and other concerned groups for a planned release into the sea of treated but still radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant. (Hiro Komae/AP)

TOKYO  Japan's government adopted an interim plan Tuesday that it hopes will win support from fishermen and other concerned groups for a planned release into the sea of treated but still radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant.

The government decided in April to start discharging the water into the Pacific Ocean in the spring of 2023 after building a facility and compiling release plans under safety requirements set by regulators. The idea has been fiercely opposed by fishermen, residents and Japan's neighbors including China and South Korea.

Under the plan adopted Tuesday, the government will set up a fund to buy fisheries products and freeze them for temporary storage to cushion the impact from negative rumors about the discharge. The government will also help promote Fukushima products to restaurants and other food industries.

The government also plans to start raising fish in the water treated to levels allowable for discharge as part of a safety awareness campaign. Further details have yet to be decided.

The accumulating water has been stored in about 1,000 tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi plant since 2011, when a massive earthquake and tsunami damaged its reactors and their cooling water became contaminated and began leaking. The plant says its storage capacity will be full late next year.

Japanese officials have said ocean release is the most realistic option and that disposing of the water is unavoidable for the decommissioning of the plant. Government and TEPCO officials say tritium, which is not harmful in small amounts, cannot be removed from the water, but all isotopes selected for treatment can be reduced to safe levels for release.

More than a decade after the crisis, fisheries and agricultural products from Fukushima are still often priced lower or shunned by retailers and consumers, though all marketed foods are tested for radiation.

The plan adopted Tuesday requires the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, to pay compensation in case of economic damage from the water discharge.

TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa, who attended Tuesday's meeting, told reporters afterward that the company plans to release a compensation scheme soon and that it takes "seriously" possible consequences of the water discharge.

Japan has obtained agreement from the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor and review the release of the treated radioactive water from the Fukushima plant into the Pacific. The monitoring and review will start before the discharge, which is expected to take decades until the plant's decommissioning ends.

Experts from IAEA will visit Fukushima for water sampling ahead of the release and compare results with those by TEPCO, as Japan hopes monitoring by the respected agency would help gain international understanding.

While Japan works with IAEA for safety monitoring and evaluation of the water discharge and disclosure to the international community, the government will do utmost to ensure a sustainable business environment for fisheries and other businesses and "stay close to those affected by the disaster," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at Tuesday's meeting.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris takes questions from reporters as she visits the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, following her foreign policy speech in Singapore, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (Evelyn Hockstein, Pool/AP)

HANOI  U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' trip from Singapore to Vietnam was delayed several hours Tuesday by an investigation into two possible cases of the so-called Havana Syndrome in Hanoi, administration officials said.

The investigation was in its early stages and officials deemed it safe for Harris to make her scheduled stop in Vietnam, which is part of her trip across Asia meant to reassure allies about American foreign policy amid the tumultuous evacuation of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. The Havana Syndrome is the name for a rash of mysterious health incidents first reported by American diplomats and other government employees in the Cuba capital beginning in 2016.

There have been two separate cases of unexplained health incidents reported by U.S. personnel in Vietnam within the past week, the officials said. It was not immediately clear who was impacted by the syndrome, though officials said it was not someone who worked for the vice president or the White House, according to the officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation.

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi issued a statement saying the delay was because Harris' office learned about a report of a "recent possible anomalous health incident" in the Vietnamese capital. The embassy provided no details, but said Harris' office decided to travel to Hanoi "after careful assessment."

The U.S. government uses "anomalous health incident" to describe the syndrome. Some of those impacted report hearing a loud piercing sound and feeling intense pressure in the face. Pain, nausea, and dizziness sometimes followed.

Similar, unexplained health ailments have since been reported by Americans serving in other countries, including Germany, Austria, Russia and China. A variety of theories have been floated to explain the incidents, including targeted microwaves or sonic attack, perhaps as part of an espionage or hacking effort.

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. Administration officials have speculated that Russia may be involved, a suggestion Moscow has denied.

Harris was set to depart for Hanoi on Tuesday evening after delivering a speech in Singapore, castigating China for its incursions into the South China Sea, and a discussion of supply chain issues with business leaders.

But the flight was delayed for more than three hours and Symone Sanders, Harris' chief spokesperson, refused to explain. Unprompted, Sanders volunteered that Harris was "well" although reporters had seen the vice president several times Tuesday and had no reason to be concerned about her health.

Congress has raised alarms over such attacks, finding rare bipartisan support in House and Senate for continued government-wide investigation into the syndrome, response as well as millions in support for American personnel medical monitoring and treatment.

The Biden administration is facing new pressure to resolve the mystery as the number of reported cases of possible attack has sharply grown. But scientists and government officials aren't yet certain about who might have been behind any attacks, if the symptoms could have been caused inadvertently by surveillance equipment  or if the incidents were actually attacks.

Whatever an official review concludes could have enormous consequences. Confirmation that a U.S. adversary has been conducting damaging attacks against U.S. personnel would unleash calls for a forceful response by the United States.

For now, the administration is providing assurances that it takes the matter seriously, is investigating aggressively and will make sure those affected have good medical care.

One key analysis identified "directed, pulsed radio frequency energy" as the most plausible culprit. Published in December by the National Academy of Sciences, the report said a radio frequency attack could alter brain function without causing "gross structural damage." But the panel could not make a definitive finding on how U.S. personnel may have been hit.

And a declassified 2018 State Department report cited "a lack of senior leadership, ineffective communications, and systemic disorganization" in responding to the Havana cases. The report says the cause of the injuries was "currently unknown." The document was published by George Washington University's National Security Archive.

Chris Miller, the acting defense secretary during the last months of the Trump administration, created a Pentagon team to investigate the suspected attacks. That was after he met a soldier late last year who described how, while serving in a country Miller wouldn't identify, he had heard a "shrieking" sound and then had a splitting headache.

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Lemire reported from Lowell, Mass. Additional reporting contributed by Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Lisa Mascaro in Washington
Buy Photo Maj. Gen. Paul Nanson of Britain's Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, addressed graduates of the Afghan National Army Officer Academy on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

As the chaotic rush on Kabul airport enters its second week, divisions are emerging between the United States and its allies about how to handle the future of Afghanistan policy, with a number of nations criticizing the Biden administration's self-imposed timeline for pulling out of the airport.

Ahead of a virtual summit of Group of Seven leaders on Tuesday, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told reporters that Prime Minister Boris Johnson would use the meeting to push Biden to extend an Aug. 31 deadline to leave the airport.

Wallace, a former soldier, acknowledged that British forces in Kabul are ultimately reliant on U.S. partners during their ongoing rescue operations in Afghanistan. "It's really important for people to understand the United States have over 6,000 people in Kabul airport, and when they withdraw that will take away the framework ... and we will have to go as well," Wallace said.

The British defense secretary said that "if [the U.S.] timetable extends even by a day or two, that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people."

The public comments come after a series of reports of negative reactions in London to the Biden administration's Afghanistan strategy. The Sunday Times reported that British government ministers now privately view the U.S. leader as "gaga" and "doolally."

Britain, current host of the G-7, called last week for the virtual meeting of world leaders to discuss Afghanistan. The meeting comes a little over a week after the Taliban took over Kabul following Biden's decision to withdraw U.S. troops, leading to chaotic evacuations from the Afghan capital.

At a meeting of NATO foreign ministers on Friday, diplomats from the military alliance discussed the sudden collapse of the Afghan armed forces as well as the timetable for countries to continue evacuations in the country.

"The U.S. has stated that the timeline ends on the 31st of August, but several of our allies raised ... the need to potentially extend that to be able to get more people out," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a briefing after the meeting.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also publicly expressed doubts Monday about the Aug. 31 deadline, telling reporters in the United Arab Emirates, where many evacuees are being received, that France was "concerned" about the deadline.

"Additional time is needed to complete ongoing operations," he said at al-Dhafra air base, Agence France-Presse reported.

Numerous governments are facing domestic pressure to help pull out not only their staff and citizens but also Afghans who worked with the government, for fear of reprisals from the Taliban and its allies.

With Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport the only practical exit point from Afghanistan, many nations have become reliant on the U.S. military's heavy presence there to enable evacuations. The size of the U.S. operation at the airport dwarfs that of other nations, with the British contingent at around 1,000 the next largest.

In a news conference Sunday, Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said his country would continue evacuations "for as long as it is safe to do so," but did not specify a time frame.

A German Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday that Germany wants to keep the Kabul air bridge open "as long as the situation on the ground allows" but that Berlin was also considering alternatives. "We are already thinking beyond this period and are already trying to find solutions for the time after," the spokesman said.

The German military also announced Monday that a firefight involving Western troops had broken out earlier in the day between Afghan guards at the airport and unidentified gunmen. One Afghan guard was killed and three others wounded.

The logistics of keeping a military presence in Kabul beyond this week may be complex. A Taliban spokesman told Britain's Sky News that the United States would be crossing a "red line" if the Biden administration kept troops in Afghanistan past Aug. 31.

In an address Sunday, Biden said he hoped to not have to extend the deadline. But he added that there were "discussions going on among us and the military about extending" and that the decision may rest on how many evacuations have been carried out.

Biden told reporters he would discuss the timetable for removal of U.S. troops from the airport with G-7 leaders. "I will tell them that we'll see what we can do," the president said, adding that his team was "working closely with the G-7."

Over the weekend, British newspapers carried reports of distance between London and Washington over Afghan policy. The Sunday Times reported that it took 24 hours for President Biden to call Prime Minister Boris Johnson and cited criticism of the U.S. strategy from government ministers. The Guardian called it a "nosedive" in U.S.-British relations.

Tony Blair, the former British leader who had previously praised Biden and presided over Britain's role in the U.S. intervention in Afghanistan in 2001, called the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan "tragic, dangerous, unnecessary, not in their interests and not in ours."

Blair, who was widely criticized for aligning his government too closely with U.S. foreign policy during his decade as prime minister, said Britain has a "moral obligation" to stay in Afghanistan until "all those who need to be are evacuated."

Johnson's government is also expected to press for sanctions on G-7 leaders at the meeting on Tuesday. Under Johnson's "Global Britain" foreign policy agenda, the country has been pushing the use of financial sanctions to pressure bad actors.

Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have suggested they will support a push for sanctions. "Absolutely," Trudeau said when asked if he also favored economic sanctions, according to the Canadian Press news agency. He added that "the Taliban are already recognized under Canadian law as a terrorist entity."
Buy Photo An Afghan boy flashes a smile Aug. 23, 2021, at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Airmen handed children balls through the fence at the temporary living facilities for evacuees from Afghanistan. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany  The number of evacuees from Afghanistan at Ramstein remained steady Tuesday at about 7,000, with a constant flow of arrivals and departures in the past two days, base officials said.

More than 700 evacuees had departed Ramstein for the United States by Tuesday morning, base officials said. The hundreds who have reached the U.S. via Germany so far are a fraction of the estimated 58,700 that have been evacuated since Kabul fell to the Taliban, according to White House figures released Tuesday.

State Department consular officers are at Ramstein leading an interagency effort to bring people to the United States. The focus is on helping Americans, legal permanent residents of the U.S. and their families, a State Department official said.

Government and defense officials are working under a tight deadline, per an agreement between the U.S. and Germany that allows Afghan arrivals to stay at Ramstein no longer than 10 days.

The State Department is working with nations throughout Europe to provide additional options, the Air Force said.

At this time, we are working hard to process all evacuees, each with varying degrees of status and situation, Master Sgt. Roidan Carlson, an Air Force spokesman at Ramstein, said in a statement.

Buy Photo Airmen unload pallets of bottled water Aug. 23, 2021, for distribution to Afghan evacuees at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

Rhine Ordnance Barracks, a sprawling Army post in Kaiserslautern, is temporarily housing about 90 evacuees from Afghanistan, Maj. Vonnie Wright of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command said Tuesday. That number is in constant flux, he said. The installation can support about 2,000 evacuees, the Army said.

We have showers, latrines, food and essential life support to assist in the evacuation effort, Wright said in a statement. We are taking every traveler as needed to support in the evacuation effort and assist Ramstein Air Base as much as possible.

Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily received more than 600 evacuees from Afghanistan on Sunday. The evacuees were flown from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a transit point for those departing from Kabul's airport.

Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy is postured to support Afghan evacuees who transit on their way to more permanent locations, U.S. Embassy Rome said in a statement Tuesday.

This is an ever evolving situation, and while at this time there are no flights scheduled for Aviano, we remain ready to support," the U.S. Embassy statement said.

Stars and Stripes reporter Kent Harris contributed to this report.
Buy Photo Mohammed Naiem Asadi, his wife Rahima, and their daughter Zainab, 5, share a meal in their hiding spot of six months before leaving Afghanistan for the U.S. on May 31, 2021. They received parole, a temporary status to enter the U.S. without formal admission. Other Afghans at risk due to the recent Taliban takeover of the country may also receive the status in the coming weeks, a U.S. official said. (J.P. Lawrence/Stars and Stripes)

The U.S. may offer some Afghan evacuees without complete visa paperwork a temporary status allowing them to enter the country, a White House official said Tuesday.

The government could grant parole status to Afghans who have passed security screenings, the official said.

Parole authority provides flexibility, said the senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record.

The U.S. is evacuating tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan in the wake of the Talibans takeover of the country. Some 63,900 people have been evacuated by the U.S. since the end of July, defense officials told reporters Tuesday.

The Afghan evacuees are arriving at third-country transit hubs and being vetted for security risks, the Biden administration official said.

They will then fly to U.S. military bases to receive full health screenings, a COVID-19 test and possibly vaccinations, the official said. While on the base they will be connected to resettlement organizations.

The evacuees include U.S. citizens, green card holders, applicants for the Special Immigrant Visa who served alongside American forces or government agencies in Afghanistan, and others in danger due to their work as journalists or civil society activists, the official said.

Even before the recent evacuation crisis, many SIV and other visa applicants had been waiting for a final decision from the State Department for years, advocates and lawmakers have said.

The Department of Homeland Security has broad authority to grant parole on a case-by-case basis, an October report by the Congressional Research Service said.

People receiving parole are allowed to enter the U.S. but are not considered formally admitted into the country, the report said. They can apply for a visa or refugee status, and they are authorized to work.

U.S. administrations have used parole authority to bring in Southeast Asian refugees, Cuban nationals and Central American minors ineligible for refugee status, the report said.

Some immigration critics have argued parole status is used too often, and former President Donald Trump issued an executive order to prevent parole status from being used too broadly, the report said.

The government has the authority to place conditions on parole, the Biden administration official said. This can include requiring people to report to caseworkers, the report said.
(Google Maps)

BEIRUT  An explosion shook the base of an al-Qaida-linked group in northern Syria on Tuesday, killing at least eight gunmen and wounding others, opposition activists said.

The explosion came as opposition fighters suffered a major setback in southern Daraa province, where a Russian-brokered deal led to the evacuation of gunmen from the region. The evacuation was to pave the way for the deployment of government troops.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the explosion at the base of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the northwestern province of Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in the country, but some said it was a shell that exploded as fighters trained. HTS is the most powerful group in Syria's northwest.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the explosion near the village of Ram Hamadan was apparently caused by a shell that exploded. The Observatory said eight fighters were killed and 10 were wounded.

It added that the explosion occurred as drones of the U.S.-led coalition were flying overhead.

Step news agency, an activist collective, said at least nine fighters were killed and others were wounded in the blast. Step said it could have been caused when a mortar shell exploded during training.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Arabic for Levant Liberation Committee, has militarily crushed many of its rivals within the opposition in recent years.

Nearly a dozen opposition fighters left Daraa province, which has been witnessing clashes for weeks. They were some of the most serious challenges to a tenuous 2018 deal between the government and insurgents negotiated by Russia. Daraa is where the country's conflict began 10 years ago.

Russia mediated a new deal to end the recent fighting in Daraa, in which insurgents who reject the Russia-brokered deal will have to leave the region.

On Tuesday night, the first batch of fighters consisting of 10 gunmen left the area and headed to rebel-held parts in the country's north, according to the Observatory.

Pro-government news outlets reported that some opposition fighters had left and that shortly afterward other gunmen opened fire leaving several people wounded. The Observatory confirmed that shooting occurred but blamed government forces.

After dozens more opposition fighters leave the city of Daraa in the coming days, government forces are expected to enter the old part of the city known as Daraa al-Balad. It has for years been a rebel stronghold and has been under tight government siege for weeks.

Opposition fighters who accept the deal will have to hand over their weapons in return for amnesty.

On Tuesday, U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen in a briefing to the Security Council, called on all parties to end the violence immediately and to meet their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

"Immediate, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access is needed to all affected areas and communities, including Daraa al-Balad," Pedersen said.

Daraa province became known as the cradle of the uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad that erupted in 2011 as part of the Arab Spring revolts. It was recaptured by Syrian government troops in 2018. Assad has since regained control of most of the country with the help of Russia and Iran.

The Russian-mediated deal in 2018 allowed some of the province's armed opposition to remain in their former strongholds, in charge of security. Government troops retained control of the province, but security duties were divided. Tensions regularly erupted and government troops tried several times to take over areas under opposition control.

Syria's 10-year conflict has left about half a million people dead and half the country's prewar population of 23 million displaced, more than 5 million of them as refugees outside the country.
A Palestinian gunman fires his weapons in the air during a funeral in the West Bank city of Nablus, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (Majdi Mohammed/AP)

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Hamas-backed Palestinian activists on Tuesday in the Gaza Strip launched a new wave of incendiary balloons into Israel, further raising tensions after a night of Israeli airstrikes on the seaside territory.

The enemy sides this week have engaged in their heaviest cross-border fighting since an 11-day war in May. In the occupied West Bank, meanwhile, officials said a Palestinian teen was killed in a clash with the Israeli military.

The May war between Israel and Hamas militants ended with an inconclusive Egyptian-brokered cease-fire. Since then, Gaza's Hamas rulers have grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in efforts to cement the truce. Hamas wants Israel to lift a stifling blockade on Gaza, while Israel has demanded the return of the remains of two soldiers, in addition to two captive Israeli civilians, Hamas is believed to be holding.

Hamas-backed activists have launched incendiary balloons into southern Israel several times in recent weeks, setting fires on the other side of the border. On Saturday, they held a violent demonstration along the Israeli border fence.

During the demonstration, a militant next to the fence pulled out a pistol and shot an Israeli sniper in the head at point blank range. The Israeli remains in critical condition. Some two-dozen Palestinians were also hit by Israeli fire.

The Israeli military said in a statement that it was beefing up its forces along the Gaza border and conducting extensive exercises. The army said that it would "act aggressively" against any militant activity along the fence.

Early on Tuesday, Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes on Hamas targets in response to incendiary balloons. The Israeli military said that Hamas fired machine guns into Israel, drawing an additional airstrike. No casualties were reported on either side.

But by the afternoon, the activists were launching the balloons again. "Our message is clear and explicit. This siege must be broken," said one of the activists, who identified himself as Abu Omar. "We will not be intimidated by any threats."

The violence has complicated the cease-fire efforts by Egypt, which closed its border with Gaza on Monday because of difficulties in the cease-fire talks. It also has threatened to overshadow a visit to Washington by Israel's new prime minister, Naftali Bennett, who is scheduled to meet President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday.

Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade over Gaza since Hamas took control of the territory in 2007, a year after winning Palestinian parliamentary elections. The blockade restricts the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza and has crushed the local economy. Israel has tightened the blockade since the war, holding up deliveries of much-needed reconstruction materials.

Last week, Israel said it had reached an agreement with the Gulf country Qatar to resume monthly aid payments to Gaza's poorest families. The payments are to resume in the coming weeks, providing some relief to impoverished Gaza.

In the West Bank, meanwhile, Palestinian authorities said a 15-year-old boy died after being shot in the head during clashes with soldiers in the northern city of Nablus. The Israeli military said soldiers were carrying out an arrest raid in the Balata refugee camp when they came under attack from nearby rooftops by Palestinians who fired guns and threw large stone blocks.

The military said soldiers opened fire at a person they said was about to drop a large object on them. It was unclear whether the teen, identified as Imad Hashash, was the same person.

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Associated Press writer Jack Jeffery reported from Ramallah, West Bank.
A Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit walks with the children during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (Samuel Ruiz/U.S. Marine Corps)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. military has reached its highest daily evacuation numbers for the second consecutive day, using 37 aircraft to evacuate 12,700 people from Afghanistan in a 24-hour period.

Between 3 a.m. Monday and 3 a.m. Tuesday, 32 C-17 Globemaster III and five C-130 Hercules transport aircraft carried the thousands of Americans and Afghans seeking special immigrant visas out of Kabul, said Army Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor, the Joint Staffs deputy director for regional operations.

On Monday, 11,000 evacuees were removed on 28 military flights, he said. Commercial aircraft evacuated an additional 5,000 passengers.

In addition, 57 coalition flights carried 8,900 evacuees out of Afghanistan on Tuesday, Taylor said.

It has been challenging to keep up with the flow, but we've made progress in caring for and safeguarding these vulnerable individuals and getting them moving onward, Taylor told reporters at the Pentagon.

The evacuation numbers of the past two days have exceed the militarys previously goal of evacuating 5,000-9,000 people per day, but chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the Defense Department doesnt intend to adjust its expectations.

We're trying to get as many out as we can, and so if we can exceed what our previous expectations were  and we have over the last couple of days  that's a good thing, and we're going to continue to drive at that, Kirby said.

Kirby and Taylor attributed the heightened evacuation numbers to an easing flow of operations on the ground. Since Aug. 14, swarms of crowds around the Kabul airport and on the airfield has been a key hindrance in the militarys ability to evacuate more people.

The processing flow itself has just gotten better, and the crowds around the airport are smaller than they were before, Kirby said. The situation right now is just not the same, it's not as chaotic as it was in those first couple of days.

The majority of the evacuees are Afghans seeking special immigrant visas for their service to the U.S. in roles such as translators during the nearly two decades that American troops have been in Afghanistan.

Kirby said Tuesday that he could not specify how many of the evacuees were Americans but said they total several thousand, which includes several hundred just yesterday [that] were able to get onto the airport for follow-on transportation. Every day, we are moving Americans out of the country.

The U.S. will also evacuate Afghan Security Force members who want to leave Afghanistan, regardless of whether they have applied yet for a special immigrant visa, Kirby said. There are approximately 500-600 helping U.S. forces at the airport.

There are 5,800 U.S. troops at Kabuls Hamid Karzai International Airport to provide security support and ramped up its own airlift operations for evacuations.

Since Aug. 14, the U.S. and coalition forces have evacuated about 63,000 people from Kabul, Taylor said. Those evacuees have been taken to secondary locations outside of Afghanistan for processing. The U.S. bases include Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy, Ramstein Air Base in Germany and Naval Station Rota in Spain.

Rhine Ordnance Barracks in Kaiserslautern, Germany, will begin accepting evacuees Tuesday, the Army said. The barracks can hold up to 2,000 people.

Opening additional secondary locations will help "ease the pressure" on the Qatar base, which was the first to begin taking evacuees, Kirby said. Conditions have been described as squalid as the base scrambles to support the thousands of incoming Americans and Afghans.

We are aware of  some terrible sanitation conditions at Qatar that were facilitated by the sheer numbers and the speed with which those numbers got there, Kirby said. We'll be the first to admit that the conditions could have been better, [but] they are improving.

Four bases in the United States  Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, Fort Lee in Virginia, Fort Bliss in Texas and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey  are accepting evacuees from those secondary locations.
A large poster of late charismatic guerrilla fighter Ahmad Shah Massoud is displayed next to a road leading into the Panjshir Valley on Sept 28, 2011. In August 2021, the last remnants of Afghanistans shattered security forces have vowed to resist the Taliban in the remote Panjshir Valley north of Kabul, that has defied conquerors before. (Anja Niedringhaus/AP)

In a mountain valley north of Kabul, the last remnants of Afghanistan's shattered security forces have vowed to resist the Taliban in a remote region that has defied conquerors before. But any attempt to reenact that history could end in tragedy  or farce.

Nestled in the towering Hindu Kush, the Panjshir Valley has a single narrow entrance and is the last region not under Taliban control following their stunning blitz across Afghanistan. Local fighters held off the Soviets in the 1980s and the Taliban a decade later under the leadership of Ahmad Shah Massoud, a guerrilla fighter who attained near-mythic status before he was killed in a suicide bombing.

His 32-year-old foreign-educated son, Ahmad Massoud, and several top officials from the ousted Western-backed government have gathered in the valley. They include Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who claims to be the caretaker leader after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.

They have vowed to resist the Taliban and are calling for Western aid to help roll them back.

"I write from the Panjshir Valley today, ready to follow in my father's footsteps, with mujahideen fighters who are prepared to once again take on the Taliban," Massoud wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Post. "We have stores of ammunition and arms that we have patiently collected since my father's time, because we knew this day might come."

But experts say a successful resistance is highly unlikely  and could potentially aggravate Afghanistan's already considerable problems.

While the Panjshir Valley remains as impregnable as ever, it's unclear how long its residents can hold out if the Taliban besiege the area or attack it using the U.S.-supplied armaments they have seized in recent weeks. Western countries, stunned by the collapse of a costly, two-decade attempt at remaking Afghanistan, are unlikely to invest in another proxy war.

Ahmad Shah Massoud, nicknamed the "Lion of Panjshir," was one of the main leaders of the Afghan mujahedeen, self-styled holy warriors who defeated the Soviets in 1989. His Northern Alliance included fellow Tajiks as well as fighters from other ethnic groups, in keeping with his vision of an independent, multi-ethnic Afghanistan under a moderate form of Islamic rule.

But as the country slid into war in the early 1990s, he found himself battling rival warlords and eventually the Taliban, who seized power in 1996. During their five-year rule his forces were confined to Panjshir and other remote areas in northeastern Afghanistan.

Two days before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, al-Qaida militants disguised as Arab journalists who had come to interview Massoud killed the commander in a suicide bombing.

His forces remained intact, however, and partnered with the U.S. when it invaded Afghanistan weeks later, scattering al-Qaida, which orchestrated the 9/11 attacks, and driving the Taliban from power. Along with other former warlords, they went on to form the core of the government and security forces that the U.S. and its allies would spend the next two decades arming and training, at a cost of billions of dollars.

Those forces, which from the beginning were rife with corruption, collapsed in a matter of days earlier this month, as the Taliban captured most of the country less than three weeks before the U.S. was set to withdraw its last troops.

The younger Massoud, who was just 12 when his father was killed, trained at the British military academy at Sandhurst and also earned a master's degree in international politics from the City University of London.

He has little, if any, combat experience. Sandy Gall, a veteran foreign correspondent who wrote "Afghan Napoleon: The Life of Ahmad Shah Massoud," described his son as "a very personable young man with political ambitions."

Massoud says he has been joined by highly-trained Afghan special forces and other soldiers "disgusted by the surrender of their commanders," but neither proved to be any match for the Taliban elsewhere in the country.

Torek Farhadi, an Afghan analyst and former government adviser, said the group poses little threat to the Taliban, and he cast doubt on Saleh's claims that he could lead a resistance, calling him a "social media person."

"If he was a real threat he should have stayed the day Ghani fled and defended the palace. He was the vice president and soldiers were under his order," said Farhadi.

But even the specter of such a standoff, he said, risks plunging the country into another period violence and turmoil, with dire consequences for ordinary Afghans.

The Associated Press contacted several people close to both Massoud and Saleh in order to seek comment, but was unable to reach them. Many Afghans with ties to the ousted government have fled the country or gone into hiding.

The ousted leaders holed up in Panjshir may end up joining the negotiations that the Taliban are holding with other former Afghan officials. The Taliban have said they want an "inclusive, Islamic government" but will hold off on forming one until the U.S. completes its withdrawal.

"We must use our weight with the international community to get guarantees from the Taliban for an all-encompassing government that includes women and non-Taliban," said Farhadi.

Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, a senior Taliban official, said their forces have surrounded Panjshir.

"We are doing our best to solve the issue through negotiations, but if they don't accept the talks, we are ready to fight," he said.

In an interview with the Al-Arabiya news network over the weekend, Massoud said he would not surrender territory but could support a broad-based government.

A resident of Panjshir reached by phone said Massoud had warned people that the Taliban might attack and said families could leave if they wished. Those who stayed would prefer a negotiated solution but are loyal to Massoud and prepared to fight if necessary, the man said on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

"Panjshir people are used to this," he said. "They have gone through these situations several times and they are ready for it once again."

___

Krauss reported from Jerusalem and Faiez reported from Istanbul.
Disney Cruise Lines Dream is docked in Port Canaveral, Friday, July 30, 2021. Disney Cruise Line is the latest to shift policy to now require passengers 12 and older to be vaccinated against COVID-19. (Joe Burbank, Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Disney Cruise Line is the latest to shift policy to now require passengers 12 and older to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for sailings from Florida, even though a law pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis threatens to fine cruise lines for demanding proof of vaccination.

The move comes nearly a week after the Bahamas updated an emergency COVID-19 declaration that prohibits cruises ships from entering a Bahamas port, including the many cruise lines private islands, unless eligible passengers are fully vaccinated. This does not apply to passengers 11 and under who dont have a vaccine option or to passengers with proof of a medical reason they cannot get a vaccine.

The Bahamas order goes into effect Sept. 3 and lasts through October for now. On Tuesday, Disney posted its amended policy to follow the same approach as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC Cruises and Celebrity, all of which sail from Florida and had allowed some unvaccinated passengers.

Cruise lines have opted to require vaccines from its eligible passengers from every U.S. state except Florida because of the law that went into effect July 1, which threatens to fine companies $5,000 per instance for any time a business demands proof of vaccination.

Norwegian Cruise Line filed suit over the law and a federal judge granted a temporary injunction to prevent the state from enforcing it. That injunction only applies to NCL and its sister brands Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas.

The Orlando Sentinel reached out to the governors office for comment about how it will enforce the law now that cruise lines will be asking for proof of vaccination but has not heard back.

Disney Cruise Line has only one ship currently active in the U.S. with Disney Dream sailing three- and four-night sailings from Port Canaveral with stops at its private Bahamas island Castaway Cay. It plans to add Disney Fantasy beginning Sept. 11, also on short sailings with stops solely at Castaway Cay. Disney Magic sailings listed on the companys website from Miami in October would also be affected.

Now, Disney is requiring that proof of full vaccination be provided no later than 24 hours ahead of sailing.

Guests who choose not to provide proof of vaccination to meet the requirements of The Bahamas will not be permitted to board the ship, reads a statement on the Disney Cruise Line website.

Like other cruise lines, Disney is offering passengers affected by the policy change to shift their sail dates or get a refund without penalty.

The move by the Bahamas forced the hands of all major cruise lines that have returned to business from Florida as the majority of sailings have included stops either in Nassau or at the cruise lines private islands.

Royal Caribbean makes stops to its private island Coco Cay, Disney Cruise Line to Castaway Cay, Carnival to Half Moon and Princess Cays, Norwegian to Great Stirrup Cay and MSC Cruises to Ocean Cay  MSC Marine Reserve.

The cruise industry shut down in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic spread worldwide.

Cruise lines only returned to sailing from U.S. ports in June, but now have 14 ships doing regular voyages from the three major ports in Florida and several more on tap to begin in the next month.

2021 Orlando Sentinel.

Visit orlandosentinel.com.
Flames consume trees during the Dixie Fire in Genesee, Calif., on Aug. 21, 2021. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg)

As the western U.S. bakes and burns under an unprecedented heat dome, Henri leaves a deluged East Coast staggering after a summer of deadly floods and record-setting tropical storms. Climate scientists say one is due to the other. Both come against the backdrop of a warming planet.

The high pressure that got stuck across the West causing drought and fire actually created the conditions for low-pressure-driven storms in the East. So while July was the hottest month ever recorded on Earth, it was the sixth wettest in U.S. records going back 127 years, according to the National Centers for Environment Information.

Heat in both the Pacific and the Atlantic has helped strengthen large high pressure systems, said Jim Rouiller, lead meteorologist at the Energy Weather Group. In the West, this has added to the drought and wildfires; in the East, it has steered tropical systems up the coast and kept the region warm and moist. In between has been a low-pressure trough that has kept the rain falling across the central and eastern U.S.

Abnormally warm water in the Atlantic has been providing extra moisture to the storms, said Paul Pastelok, a meteorologist with commercial forecaster AccuWeather Inc.

At least 21 people died in flooding in Tennessee and about 40 more are missing, according to Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency representative Grey Collier. Many of the homes have been removed from their foundations, Collier said by telephone. Record rains dropped more than 17 inches (43 centimeters) in McEwen, along with more than 10 inches across a wide section of the state.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday approved a major disaster declaration for Tennessee, making federal funds available for people in the region to help cover losses.

A separate system, Tropical Storm Fred, last week dumped more than a foot of rain on North Carolina where 98 people had to be rescued, according to Governor Roy Cooper. At least four have died, according to news reports.

A vehicle travels through a flooded street during tropical storm Henri in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Aug. 22, 2021. (Ismail Ferdous/Bloomberg)

The East Coasts summer has felt like a list of uninvited guests  Tropical Storms Claudette, Danny, Fred, and Henri, as well as Hurricane Elsa. In fact, Henri is the latest in a grim parade of extreme weather events worldwide as climate change takes hold. Massive wildfires have blackened not only huge swaths of California, but also Greece, Algeria and Siberia, sending smoke over the North Pole for the first time on record.

Earlier this month, Sicily appears to have broken continental Europes heat record: 119.8 Fahrenheit (48.8 Celsius). The U.K. Met Office issued its first-ever extreme heat warning.

And as wildfires hit eastern Siberia, western and central Russia were cold.

Meanwhile, floods have plagued northern Europe, killing scores in Germany and Belgium and causing billions of dollars of damage. In Germany, Julys rain and flooding were the worst natural disaster since the 1960s.

Back in the U.S., extreme has simply become ordinary. A spate of tornadoes ripped through suburban Philadelphia. Boston had its wettest July on record. The high in Portland, Oregon, hit an unthinkable 116 degrees in June.

Through the first six months of 2021, the U.S. has suffered eight disasters costing $1 billion or more that have also killed 331 people, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. The worst disaster was last Februarys winter storm that crippled the Texas electric grid and killed at least 172 people and cost $20.4 billion.

Texas grid operators say they expect record-breaking power demands this week from the heat. The corridor from Hartford, Conn. to Boston and the area around New York City have got about twice the normal amount of rain in the last 90 days, said Bryan Jackson, a forecaster with the U.S. Weather Prediction Center. Meanwhile, many areas in the Northeast, such as the central Appalachians stretching into Pennsylvania, are having an average summer.

The warm water off the coast has fueled many of the eight tropical systems named across the Atlantic this year. Henri, for instance, didnt form off the coast of Africa, as many destructive hurricanes do but was born from a weather front that crossed the Northeast U.S. and got a boost from the warm Atlantic, Pastelok said. Drought has captured more than 95% of the land in 11 western states, including all of California, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, and Utah, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Rouiller, whos been a meteorologist for 40 years, says the summer has forced some rethinking among him and his colleagues.

This is very abnormal, he said. There is also a stronger signal for global warming in the picture. I do believe now more than I have that it is occurring. I just dont know the magnitude but the change is happening and it is going to keep on increasing.
Changes to the SunCommercial's back end processing means the e-edition is getting a facelift. The biggest change is the e-edition, by default, is now presented in Text view.
Surprise has been expressed by some Tauranga residents at the continued use of Lime scooters around the city while the country is at Alert Level 4.

Under the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Transport guidelines, Lime scooters are able to operate under the current alert level as they are classed as shared micromobility, says a Tauranga City Council spokesperson.

Seems like a super spreader at a time when we are being careful to keep our distance, says a SunLive reader who noticed a lime scooter left lying near their property.

We have one scooter dumped on our corner in Matene Place and saw many of them on our walk to Papamoa Beach this morning and around Fresh Choice.

They clearly are still being used and don't have cleaning equipment supplied.

Lime scooters are classed as 'shared micromobility'.

Shared micromobility services are permitted to operate under Level 4, says Lime Director of Government Affairs in New Zealand and Australia Lauren Mentjox.

Lime's focus is on providing a safe, socially-distanced form of transport for those who must travel during this time.

Our scooters are cleaned regularly in line with Ministry of Health guidance, with an extra focus on frequently touched areas such as handlebars and brakes, says Lauren.

We also have in-app messaging reminding riders to adhere to appropriate hygiene protocols before and after riding, and a link to the Covid19 website for the latest information on essential travel.

According to the Ministry of Transport, modes of transport and service such as private vehicles, rental vehicles, small passenger services such as taxis and rideshares, car share, and shared micromobility are all classified similarly at Alert Level 4.

You cannot use these vehicles, which includes Lime scooters, unless:

 Travelling for work only if:

- to provide an Alert Level 4 service or business listed in Schedule 2 of Order; or

- as a person who is exempted from the Order, pursuant to clause 23;

- or as an enforcement officer; or

- to do necessary work as defined in clause 18

 Travelling to provide care only if:

- maintaining a shared bubble arrangement or shared caregiver arrangement; or

- providing urgent care for a child; or

- providing urgent care for a person in a critical or terminally ill condition; or

- providing childcare for the children of workers, who are permitted to leave their home to provide alert level 4 services, if there is no one else in their immediate bubble who can provide childcare and the person providing the child care treats it as a shared bubble; or

Travelling to return home/relocate only if:

- leaving or relocating a home, or place of residence, on court order; or

- travelling to a home, or place of residence, after detention or determination; or

- relocating to a temporary or emergency residence (for example, for care while sick or to seek refuge in womens refuge accommodation); or

- returning home after arriving in New Zealand (and after completion of isolation/quarantine where applicable); or

- collecting a person who has returned to New Zealand and is returning home (and after completion of isolation/quarantine where applicable) noting the person doing the collecting from MIQ must have a formal letter from MIQ authorising the travel; or

 attending an appointment with a health service (including scheduled vaccination appointment); or

 attending Court, tribunal, New Zealand Parole Board hearing or another judicial institution; or

 leaving New Zealand (including travelling to a managed isolation or quarantine facility immediately before leaving New Zealand); or

 travelling to preserve life or safety; or

 accessing local Alert Level 4 businesses or services, or exempt businesses or services (within the same territorial authority, or if it is the nearest service of its kind); or

 accessing low-risk recreation (that is readily accessible to your home or place of residence); or

 undertaking customary gathering, to the extent permitted by clause 16; or

 providing care, or enable care to be provided, for pets or other animals (that you are in charge of, and are in the same or adjacent territorial authority); or

 assisting or accompanying a fellow resident for the travel listed above, but only to the extent permitted for that fellow resident under the Order.

The Ministry of Transport website states that you should not travel if you: have been requested to self-isolate/quarantine, have symptoms of Covid-19, or are awaiting Covid-19 test results - except for travelling in a private vehicle, for medical treatment, in accordance with advice from Healthline, a public health official, or your doctor.

You cannot travel, if the travel would breach an order/direction made under the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 or the Health Act 1956.

This will likely be the case if you have arrived in New Zealand from overseas in the last 14 days, or you have otherwise individually received from a Medical Officer of Health a direction under s 70(1)(f) of the Health Act 1956.

For those modes of transport listed, including shared micomobility such as Lime scooters, public health and physical distancing measures apply.

This does not apply for private vehicles.

Vehicles other than private cars must be cleaned regularly in accordance with MOH guidance.

According to the Ministry of Transport website people using Lime scooters must wear a face covering unless exempt.

For more information please see the Ministry of Healths guidance on face coverings.

QR codes must be displayed on small passenger services such as Lime scooters. Those riding them are encouraged to scan QR codes using the NZ Covid Tracer App, or manually record their travel.

More information on the rules can be found on the Ministry of Transports website. https://www.transport.govt.nz/about-us/covid-19
Two youths is facing charges after allegedly being found with a stolen car and stolen vape equipment.

The accused were found with a stolen Mazda Demio on Sunday on Coventry Avenue, Napier.

Inside the car was vape equipment which had come from the burglary of shop in Napier earlier that morning, says a police spokesperson.

The 17-year-old youth from Napier was arrested and remanded into the custody of Oranga Tamariki pending a youth court appearance.

The 13-year-old youth was returned home for Police youth services follow-up action.

They are facing a range of charges including burglary and unlawful taking of motor vehicles.

Another 17-year-old youth is still outstanding and Police are actively looking for them.

This was great work from our staff to get these burglaries solved and the alleged offenders brought to justice, Inspector Marty James Area Manager Prevention Hawkes Bay says.

Its a win for us and for the community to be able to apprehend these people and put a stop to this offending, especially when nobody is supposed to be out and about in level four.

Todays arrest demonstrates polices commitment to holding those responsible for property crime to account, but we continue to ask for the publics help.

Please be vigilant with the security of your home, business and vehicles, and if you see anything suspicious, contact 111 immediately.

Police advise commercial premises to install CCTV cameras and bollards in front of main entrances, if possible.
A paraglider has brazenly flouted the alert level 4 lockdown rules by flying over one of the most visible landmarks in the Bay of Plenty.

A person was seen paragliding at about 5.45pm on Monday, circling the top of Mauao for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Engaging in any outdoor activity that could potentially put someone in need of rescue and hence into close contact with others, is forbidden under level 4. The local paragliding club is so annoyed they are trying to find the rogue pilot to dob them in.

Bay of Plenty resident Sarah Crisp says the person then headed closer to Rita Street, most likely to land on the beach.

At first I thought he might have had some special permission to be paragliding, so I didnt want to jump to any conclusions. But I started thinking that was unlikely and thought  wow that person sure has some balls to be paragliding over the Mount where everyone can see them

You would think at the very least theyd try to be covert about it if theyre so blatantly breaking the rules.

I wasnt angry personally but started to feel bad for the surfers and people who are probably itching to get out in the water but arent because theyre at home following the rules.

Bay of Plenty Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association president Kevin Wylie said he was told about the paraglider by someone who was in the vicinity at the time and saw them.

Paragliding is not permitted under level four lockdown, and we strongly oppose the actions of this individual pilot, Wylie says.

We have been making an effort to try to identify who it was, with a view to passing their details on to the national body for disciplinary action if we are able to identify them. At this point, we havent been able to get a positive identification.

He said the paraglider was seen late Monday afternoon, just before sunset.

Weve got some photos, but theyre not particularly close up.

A paraglider was seen flying over Mauao at Mount Maunganui on Monday evening. Photo: Sarah Crisp.

Wylie told Stuff the associations members were very opposed to the actions of this individual.

We are annoyed because we feel it reflects badly on us, and its certainly not the actions that our members think are appropriate.

He said they were doing what they could to ensure this person faces the appropriate action, and it doesnt happen again.

Wylie said the association was concerned about fallout from this incident.

Because we respect the privilege that we have of being able to fly the Mount, and we dont want this to jeopardise that, and were concerned that this individual action potentially could.

He said they were hoping to keep it in perspective, that it is one individuals actions, and it is not a reflection of our membership as a group.

Police said on Monday night they had no reports of a paraglider from anyone.

A police spokesperson says they are reminding people that exercise should be in your neighbourhood.

Adhering to social distancing, and any recreational activity that could lead to a rescue or emergency response is not permitted.

That includes, but is not limited to, activities such as surfing, snowboarding, tramping, fishing and whitebaiting.

They say police will maintain a visible presence in communities across New Zealand, including actively stopping vehicles to ensure travel is for essential purposes only.

This comes after police commissioner Andrew Coster said on Monday that a mountain biker in Taupo fell on a bike track had to be winched out by rescue helicopter and taken to hospital.

Police will be speaking to the biker at a later date and enforcement action for breaching restrictions will be considered, says Coster.

Also in Wanaka seven men are facing charges after being allegedly caught jet boating on Friday.

Police say the seven men were from six separate bubbles and one had travelled four hours from Dunedin to join the group.

The men are aged between 22 and 30, and are expected to appear in Queenstown District Court on September 13, each on a charge each of failing to comply with a Covid-19 order.

Jo-Lines MacKenzie and Scott Yeoman/Stuff
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has prosecuted CPB Contractors Pty Limited for wastewater discharges caused by construction damage on the Baypark to Bayfair Link Project, resulting in a fine of $63,000.

CPB, as the head contractor with overall responsibility for the project, pleaded guilty in the Tauranga District Court on July 5.

According to the BOPRC, the discharges occurred after one of CPBs sub-contractors struck an underground sewer pipe while installing stone columns on April 29, 2019.

The error led to about 370,000 litres of wastewater discharged onto Maunganui Road, with an unknown volume entering the Tauranga City Councils stormwater network.

The wastewater then flowed into a drain underneath the Omanu Golf Course, before running into the Tauranga Harbour.

Following the incident, CPB also worked with a hapu advisory group, comprised of representatives from Nga Potiki, Ngai Tukairangi, Ngati Tapu and Ngati Kuku to apologise for the event, and identify how cultural impacts could be addressed.

As a result of this, CPB have committed to $40,000 in environmental restoration works downstream of the discharge point.

BOP Regional Council compliance manager Alex Miller says the prosecution highlights how important it is for meticulous care to be taken during construction projects to avoid environmental impacts.

"This case shows the environmental and cultural flow on effects of wastewater discharges.

"However, we recognise CPB worked alongside tangata whenua throughout the justice process and the planting programme is a positive response to the charges."

Judge Dwyer says the discharge of raw sewage into our waterways is a well-recognised cultural offence to Maori.

Such discharges are commonly offensive to the wider community.

CPB has a comparatively high level of culpability arising out of the failures of both its employees and its own procedures which failed to ensure that a critical safety essential was followed, Judge Dwyer says.

BOP Regional Council encourages anyone who notices wastewater overflows or other pollution matters to call the 24/7 Pollution Hotline on 0800 884 883.

For more information on environmental enforcement and to view the sentencing decisions, please visit www.boprc.govt.nz/environmental-enforcement
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has clarified some issues regarding exercise protocol during the current lockdown.

There has been some confusion among Bay of Plenty residents since New Zealand headed back into an Alert Level 4 lockdown scenario regarding appropriate means of exercise.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins tried his best to explain things for the nation earlier this week, only to have a verbal mishap when discussing a New Zealanders need to get outside and spread your legs.

Residents in Tauranga and the surrounding area have however had some concerns, with SunLive readers commenting on kids playing at team sport facilities, such as outdoor basketball courts or football goals, or whether you can drive in order to go exercise.

The answer to both those questions, according to a DPMC response, is yes - but common sense appears to be the mantra.

Playing at basketball courts or going for a kickabout at the local rugby posts or football goals is fine, as long as you are doing so with members of your bubble and in your local area. So a pickup game of basketball or mass mixing at the skate park with members of the community outside your bubble is not advised.

Taking caution not to touch any equipment others might be handling, such as posts, gates, fences, is also advised.

That is one of the reasons why playgrounds are considered off limits and some recreational facilities have also followed this remit.

You can also drive to your chosen place of exercise, but only if it is in your neighbourhood, close to where you live.

People are encouraged to be responsible, not to travel too far and not to engage in high-risk outdoor activities, especially if there is a risk of injury that would require emergency services to attend, says a DPMC statement.

That is why activities including swimming, surfing, boating, hunting and generally all extreme sports are considered off-limits.

Anyone in the same household can get out walking or can exercise together. They just need to make sure they keep a safe distance from other people they dont know and it is strongly recommended everyone wears a face covering.

The general advice is to remain in your bubble, maintain social distance from those outside of your bubble and to keep activities safe and in your local area.

Following these guidelines, residents in the Bay of Plenty are still able to get outside and spread their legs during Alert Level 4 when they need to.
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TAHLEQUAH [mdash] Glen R. Haddock, born March 14, 1938 in Bakersfield, California to Johnny Aaron and Beulah Bea (Fredrick) Haddock passed away in his home August 24, 2021, at the age of 83 years 5 months and 10 days with his family holding his hands. Glen was the youngest of his twin sister
Paula Smith, a therapeutic and certified medical aide at the Fort Sill Veterans Center in Lawton, received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 9, 2021. Smith was one of 20 employees at the facility who opted to get the vaccine during the center's first clinic.
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Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Pune Posts: 168 Thanked: 358 Times

Another American...it only gets better | My Jeep Compass 2.0 TDI 4x4 MT

Enough of drooling, I want my own... that's what you say.



And there's always some trigger. Mine was a relative booking a new Kushaq. Not just for this plain reason. My wife and I were having a casual discussion over a coffee when she said "You just keep saying you'd buy a good one. This guy went ahead and got one already. In fact, he's changed 3 cars while you've owned ONE."

Wasn't really triggering, but got me thinking.

I had got the Fiesta Classic for its handling,

safety (ensured I got the Titanium with ABS, EBD and Airbags) and

the purpose (we wanted a car that could swallow a week's luggage for our small family when doing long distances).

the price point I got all this for - 8.58 lacs on road in 2014. The Fiesta wasn't at all a bad car. It hadn't given up on me even once. We only had wonderful memories with this car. But lack of power, NVH, space and comfort were the popping factors when it came to long distance drives. I tried to overcome the power factor by adding a RaceDynamics box but it developed an injector issue - quite possibly a software issue because when I removed the box, the car ran without any issues for another (last) 20k kms of my ownership. But I never bothered to follow up with RD team on this.

It wasn't really a comfortable car to do cross country - and we had done a couple of trips to Gujarat and MP within a span of 4 months that emphasized on this.

Memories rushed in - the moment when I decided to go for the Fiesta (Classic) even when I knew it was to be discontinued within a year in 2014. I'd still rate it as the only car (going out on a limb here) to give a 3 series level handling this side of 10 lacs.







My work profile and then the pandemic put serious brakes on the way the Fiesta could gather miles. It had covered only 61k kms in my total 7 years of ownership. SHAME!

But, I was able to take this car to some great trips - did Pune-Ooty, Goa (4 times in 4 years), Dandeli, Gujarat, MP and not to mention a few trips around Pune within MH. Wonderful memories. I only realized compiling this thread that I do not click a lot of pictures of my car.



Here are a few I managed to pick from my timeline for a collage.





The Hunt:

The casual discussion had me looking at the Kushaq the very next day at a Skoda showroom. It was launched not many days ago. Courteous staff, readily showed me the vehicle, offered a test drive - I wasn't impressed on multiple levels. The quality of plastics used to start with, the power available on offer AND the dismal FE it demonstrated when I drove it a bit spirited on the highway. It gave me a scare considering current petrol prices. I was fine with the size. Price to size is not a concern for me and I don't really believe in that. After a thorough inspection, I had decided that it wasn't the car for me. It didn't excite me. Also, the lack of 6 airbags on the auto variant was a bummer.

I have a Sales Rep from VW who's been a good friend since 2016 when I had booked (and canceled the Polo TSI). Rung him up to get an idea on the Taigun and how it fares with the Kushaq. Taigun wasn't launched then. But he had driven the car and told me it is "not the VW levels of quality we've come to know". I was really put off.



I checked a Honda City, Verna as well but they didn't make sense at all. Honda seemed to have skimmed on quality big time. Skinny tires, flimsy sheet metal were major put offs. Verna felt tad better in comparison. But, there wasn't much sense in getting another sedan in almost the same category. The Civic wasn't available anymore.



Shortlisted cars and why they were rejected Kushaq : rejected for not being a Skoda primarily, lack of power in the 1.0 and non-VFM pricing of the 1.5, 6 airbags not on auto variant.

: rejected for not being a Skoda primarily, lack of power in the 1.0 and non-VFM pricing of the 1.5, 6 airbags not on auto variant. Taigun : rejected for similar reasons. Let down on quality mainly.

: rejected for similar reasons. Let down on quality mainly. Honda City : just another sedan, meh!

: just another sedan, meh! Hyundai Verna : another unexciting example, but feature loaded for the price point.

: another unexciting example, but feature loaded for the price point. Ford Ecosport : was a strong contender when I was looking at the Fiesta but I did not have the budget then. It is a pretty old timer on the Indian roads now and I was also not interested in a "fun size" package during this purchase.

: was a strong contender when I was looking at the Fiesta but I did not have the budget then. It is a pretty old timer on the Indian roads now and I was also not interested in a "fun size" package during this purchase. Hyundai Creta : The facelift was radical for me. I couldn't see myself owning a car that I did not like. Never visited the showroom.

: The facelift was radical for me. I couldn't see myself owning a car that I did not like. Never visited the showroom. Kia Seltos: Apart from the poor safety rating, I actually did not like it because of its dashboard design that has a huge tablet running across. Although more and more car designs are moving towards that, it felt like a child's fantasy more and car less to me.

Note that all these cars were available in my budget in the mid-spec variant and not the top of the line. Hence, even more underwhelming.



I realized that I needed a good upgrade. A few cars that I've listed were in the ~10-12 lakhs category about a decade ago. seems like 20 lakhs is the new 10 lakhs.

The only cars that I was excited by looking/driving were some expensive (relative here) ones like the Octavia, Superb, Karoq, TROC, Jeep Compass.



Given we had just got a house less than a year ago and had blown a sizeable amount on interiors, my wallet was already bruised. I knew a budget north of 15 lacs would just not be possible. I had a choice - shelve plans of buying a new car OR check out the used car market.



That's when I casually started surfing used car websites just to see what 15 lacs can get me. It is crazy out there if you haven't decided what you want.

I saw everything from a used Brezza that had less than 7k on the odo, a mint condition Ecosport with about 12k on the odo, a few Dusters with decent mileage, 1st gen Creta (the facelifts were hard to come by really), VW Vento, Jetta, Octavia, Honda City, Verna AND then, some Merc A, B class, BMW X1 (pre-facelift), Audi Q3 from 2013-14, a Volvo D40, and the list can go on - you get the drift - basically every car in varying age and mileage was there for the taking with that money!



My shortlisted preowned cars. You can see how the choices tilt towards the Germans. Jeep Compass - had always liked the car since it was launched. Punchy diesel, matured looks, good interiors - the top of the line have leather in the color I really love. Many shy away considering the added maintenance.

- had always liked the car since it was launched. Punchy diesel, matured looks, good interiors - the top of the line have leather in the color I really love. Many shy away considering the added maintenance. Skoda Octavia - I was okay with the diesel as well as a 1.8 TSI. The examples I was able to scout for had been driven 75k+ kms and failure of the DSG was always a concern.

- I was okay with the diesel as well as a 1.8 TSI. The examples I was able to scout for had been driven 75k+ kms and failure of the DSG was always a concern. VW Jetta - capable car but discontinued. I had scouted one from TBHP classifieds as well - neat example. But also heard from a friend who owns one that spares were late to come by.

- capable car but discontinued. I had scouted one from TBHP classifieds as well - neat example. But also heard from a friend who owns one that spares were late to come by. VW Tiguan : hard to come by as many are still holding on to their purchases. I wasn't able to find good ones with fewer kms on its odo. Good ones listed were almost at 24 lacs asking price.

: hard to come by as many are still holding on to their purchases. I wasn't able to find good ones with fewer kms on its odo. Good ones listed were almost at 24 lacs asking price. Karoq and TROC were fairly new to be able to spot one on the used car market. Having a Hyundai already at home, I wasn't too keen on getting another. Hence, the Tucson was ruled out.



Another coffee table discussion and we agreed we needed a car with higher GC. Bad roads were quite a deterrent and we have plenty around Pune. The Fiesta scraped it's mud flaps with average load at the society entrance gate bump! This is the usual (slightly plump) black yellow fabricated ones. Bad roads unsettled the car way too easily and the 14" did not help much.

I remembered how I had taken a Jeep Compass test drive the week it was launched in 2017 and I was hooked. Did not feel the need to change then as the Fiesta was only 4 years old then AND the Compass was a little too expensive for me at that time - it was this time as well. LOL!



Not that I did not try to scout for the other cars listed, but a test drive in a Compass that I checked in Pune again reminded me that I wouldn't want to go for a sedan this time. The Octavia and the Jetta were immediately out of race.



Some quick searches for Pune region listed some 7-8 examples of Jeep Compass. Most of them Longitude/Longitude (O) 4x2.

I checked 3 of them that fulfilled the age-kms-condition criteria and came back disappointed - main reasons being the condition they were in, the odo reading and the asking price did not really match up. Abused and unattended in my standards.

That's when I decided to check around Pune. Narrowed down on 2 Compass' on offer in Mumbai region - both Limited, one 4x4. They were available at a dealer and the asking price was decent. Both cars looked in great nick. NIL to no body damages, full service history available. Another huge plus was that it had license plates from my RTO. It was a leasing company owned car and was maintained really well. Its service history detail was accurate as I cross verified it with the dealership in my city.

After much deliberation with myself, I decided to go take a look. A quick ~2 hour drive to Mumbai from Pune in rains (bliss!) and I was looking at the shortlisted cars. Not to mention the fun I had in the Fiesta enroute.



The Test Drive:

The 4x4 ticked all the right boxes, budget mainly. The other was a Limited Plus - relatively newer, lesser kms on the odo and the asking price was about 3 lacs above what I could afford - had to let that thought go.

Drove the 4x4 for about 20 odd kms and was happy with the way it drove. No funny things noticed right away. That said, the car was out of warranty and I requested the dealer to send the car to Landmark Jeep for a thorough inspection that I would pay for.

Dealer agreed and the car was sent to the service center. I had coordinated with the service center guys to get the first hand report to me - stressing on any expected upcoming expenditure. I had already made it clear to the dealer that I will walk away from the car if there was a looming expense like a clutch/high pressure pump. OR that the dealer negotiate the price accordingly.

Landmark Jeep green signalled the car confirming it was in top shape with no work needed. The dealer agreed to do a full 4th year service as it was anyway due. The cabin air filter and brake fluid changes were not done as the car had done a mid-schedule run to the service station for change of tires and brake pad when this was done.



The dealer offered to exchange the Fiesta with him and offered me a competitive market price for my lovingly maintained car. I was getting about 10k more with a certain online portal but I decided against it. For one, it saved me the hassle of finding a ride to Mumbai. Taking an Ola/Uber was ruled out considering the pandemic. The other factor going for this same dealer was that he was ready to set off the price against the Compass - that brought down my immediate outflow.



I asked the dealer for a week to arrange the funds, shook hands and I enjoyed the drive back from Mumbai with a hot tea break after Khalapur toll. I still wasn't sure I wanted to get a used car. Was smitten by the Compass though.



Dilemma:

I had put up a

Interestingly,



Resolution:

Deliberation with friends and the inputs received, it was clear to me that I shouldn't spend money on something I won't like.

Fiesta was a heart over head decision and that didn't go wrong! I was getting this very Jeep Compass.

Wife wasn't happy and convinced getting a used car. But she supported and asked me to go with the purchase if I was sure.



Don't we all love it when things fall in place? I got the funds arranged, gave a call to the dealer, fixed a date for exchange. Carried all documents as per our checklist for buying and selling - who knew I'd do both in the same transaction!



I spotted a Jeep Compass in my RVM enroute Mumbai. What a coincidence. You actually start looking for relation in otherwise unrelated things in such circumstances.





The Compass was home!







A few shots of the Compass - these are not edited! It stands at 3 years - 56200 kms on the odo on the day I got her.





I realized this was my second American brand after the Ford only when a friend pointed it out.



















4x4 comes as a bonus. I haven't got a chance to engage this yet. I plan to join the jeep forums and get involved whenever I can. Son showing interest in driving (he's just 6 and half), I can take him along for him to explore.









Doors open wide. Ingress is okay for most. Doesn't have a step to hop in like the MUVs/LoF SUVs.





Rear AC vents are decent. the USB port here attaches to the HU. 2 phones cannot be connected simultaneously though.

More than sufficient leg room in the rear. Under-thigh support is good. 5th occupant can only be a kid. 3 adults are not happy over longer durations. Why do I care!!





Good overall visibility. You're set high up. It is a different feeling coming to this view from a sedan. You can see far and long.

Functional dashboard. Nothing overwhelming in design. But there are plenty of soft touch materials used that make the car "feel" its price. The quality of the hard materials are good too.

The HU is smaller than what I would have expected. I will check at the service center if the 8" HU from the Limited Plus is a direct fit.

I liked that the glove box has a soft-open effect and does not just drop down when opened. Space inside is average. Fiesta was able to swallow 4 pairs of sunglasses with its cases, car documentation, paper tissues box and hold my phone when connected to carplay - and still have space for a small pack of chips. This can do half of it.





Good width seats, finding a comfortable position is quite easy. This seat has a pressure sensor that rings the seatbelt reminder. I don't have to be the villain asking to belt up now



Attachment 2197384

My son was as excited while checking out this Compass as he was sad letting the Fiesta go. He actually cried for a few minutes on the way back home.



Good bye to the Fiesta. It was a sad feeling indeed.





The drive back home was overwhelming - the power on tap, the "different" driving dynamics and a weird but satisfying feeling of having owned a car that was at least 2 segments above my Fiesta.

The drive until Lonavala was spent getting used to the car. But I thoroughly enjoyed the car later after that. Parents were actually delighted to see a preowned car maintained this well and was all smiles - they only knew I was getting one.



I'm still coming to terms and acceptance that I've got the car. Guess it would take a while to sink in. But I'm okay with that. I'm in no hurry.



My Driving Experience: High seating position: you just see so much more than what you can from a sedan.

Suspension and tires: 17" alloys with Pirelli tires - super quiet ride, bad roads are non existent to the car. Only deep and sharp bumps are felt inside. I liked that I don't have to slow down on minor undulance on the highways and roads.

Ground clearance: 188 mm unladen I suppose. This is far more than my Fiesta. I do not have to think/worry when taking the car off the road on narrow patches to let vehicles pass. That said, the low wind deflector strip brushes in basement parking ramps at times. Haven't felt it as a major problem.

Driving dynamics: The car handles really well for its size. I was in the ghat section towards Lonavala and I could feel the weight of the car in the corners. Sure footed, planted feel with minimal body roll.

Power: Plenty here. The drive from Mumbai had me getting used to the car. But a recent Satara drive up the Khambatki showed what the car is capable of doing. The car climbed the entire stretch in 3rd-4th gear in full load without a problem - I cannot imagine the Fiesta doing that.

Driver seat adjustments are plenty. You can find a comfortable position in no time. Steering adjusts for rake and reach.

Builds speed without a fuss. You can know you're going fast only by looking at your IRVM/ORVM. The traffic behind you looks like a dot in no time on an open stretch.

Great braking ability too. Grippier tires and 4 discs certainly do their job effectively.

Clutch travel: All good points listed, I felt that the clutch pedal was a bit too high for comfort. Takes getting used to.

What I absolutely loved: Leather everywhere. I love leather. Love the fact that this is NOT Leatherette or vegan leather.

Interior color. I know many loathe this, but I tend to like this shade of grey over the usual beige.

Soft touch dashboard and door panels. Overall quality of plastic. Fit and finish

Dual zone AC - no more compromises on temperature settings.

HEAVY build - the car almost feels like a moving fort. My kid struggled for a couple days with the heft of the doors when opening. Closing the doors is pretty easy.

Great insulation - wind noise even at speeds of120 kph are well controlled. I haven't pushed the car beyond as I'm not used to the dynamics still. And 120 is anyway going over the limits in MH at least.

The car had Pirelli shoes when I got her. Observed NO road noise trickling in. I'll retain this brand when changing. They are grippy too.

Rear seat comfort (reported) was by far the best - I believe thanks to the multi-link in the rear.

Size and space: I've never been a fan of 7 seater people movers. Gives me an elderly feeling for some reason. I always wanted a spacious 5 seater and the Compass' cabin does not disappoint. Enough space for 4+1 kid. 3 adults will be squeeze on the bench.

The car handles well given its size and weight. This is like saying Sunny Deol can dance well - but it actually does

Reassuring brakes - discs all around. Good bite and they are able to stop a near 2 ton block in good time.

Gear shift: Loved the round gear shifter. The throws are short and precise.

Linear power delivery. I used to like the push in the seat feeling about a decade ago. But I liked the way this car builds speed without that feeling.

A few niggles/shortcomings observed: Infamous IRVM housing rattles mildly. With a silent cabin, this feels intrusive - need to find a fix for this.

The IRVM day/night function is manual - wasn't expected on a car at this price point.

The same night we got this car, I figured that the stock 9005 halogens are poor with the only task they have.

Lack of storage space for the phone/s. I end up placing my connected phone in the mesh pocket in the passenger footwell. Even the 4x2 variants don't get a decent in-dash storage space.

Bottle holders are best for under 600 ml. Even the regular 750 ml Decathlon bottle does not fit properly.

Under armrest storage area is not lit. I'd have preferred the USB connectivity for the apple carplay here. Also, I would have loved some felt lining inside to damp the rattles caused by objects thrown in.

Talking of armrest, it interferes with my elbow when shifting gears. I will have to experiment a bit on its position to find a compromise.

No sunglass holder on the otherwise empty area where the sunroof controls would be. Again, no space in the dash to keep them either.

Things I got done post ownership: 3M Germkleen plus package.





Foam-washed and UV coating done. I thought it would be prudent to get exterior detailing done only after the rains - the mud and constant cleaning by the regular guy will degrade the detailing in no time. Planned that for Oct/Nov timeframe.



Osram DHB3 Xenons and Philips Xtreme Vision G-force. I decided to go for the 35w 4200k xenon. The original fog lamps had a more yellow tinge. Decided to swap those for the Xtreme Visions too. They work well as a team as you can see in the following pic.

Interestingly, the original ones were Philips too.



We visited a place called





A random click at the windmills. The clouds were engulfing the place and it was absolutely impossible to see beyond 10 feet in a matter of a few seconds after I clicked this.

Attachment 2197385



The headlamp switch effect was quite drastic and I must say, in time for my trip to Satara to the Chalkewadi windmills. take a look at the lights in action. It was a boon on the dark roads back to the Satara city after our visit.





A few changes planned: Jeep accessories rubber mats - the car has the usual fabric ones. They get soiled very easily. Besides, they don't cover the entire floor pan soiling the original carpeting. I've asked the local Jeep service center to keep one in stock. These are about Rs. 7000. Expensive, but I believe they're the best. Elegant ones available on Amazon are also expensive at Rs. 5500 and not that great on quality. It makes sense to spend the extra 1500 and get the original ones.

The gear shift blob to be replaced - has a few scratches - previous owner might be wearing finger rings. I'm really nitpicking here, but I like my cars in top shape.

The horn pad has lost a bit of chrome and looks patchy. I guess this might be due to some abrasive liquid used to clean at the dealers. Cheap items - ~500 each.

How I plan to use it: I love road trips. The last couple years have seen far too few driving destination trips. But I still managed to go to Koyna dam, a wonderful beach in Konkan. My earlier trips to Ooty, MP, GJ were an eyeopener as to what India has to offer. I plan to do a lot more of these with an even more capable car.

Office runs - when the offices open - I see this as a challenge considering I'm still not entirely used to driving this car in bumper to bumper traffic.

Weekend excursions to <50 km places. We tend to do this often.

My daily usage given the pandemic is about 20 kms average. But will jump to about 50 kms when offices resume excluding any weekend travel.

Upcoming trips: Wildlife safari - Kanha/Panna or Tadoba.

Rajasthan (Jaisalmer, Mehrangarh, Sand dunes) - we missed this in our last trip to Rajasthan. Need to plan this one. Have a reference of a Jeep Compass owner doing the same places in a travelogue. That's going to be handy.

Koyna backwaters - just as the rains recede.

I keep saying I'd buy a German some day, but it is hard to ignore the Americans.

Hope this car satiates my hunger for power, comfort and tour-ability for the next few years to come.



Cheers to the new member in the garage. Beyond a certain point in life, buying a new car isn't as much a "need based" decision. You just fancy something for so long that you give in to your want at some point. Of course other things permitting.Enough of drooling, I want my own... that's what you say.And there's always some. Mine was a relative booking a new Kushaq. Not just for this plain reason. My wife and I were having a casual discussion over a coffee when she said "You just keep saying you'd buy a good one. This guy went ahead and got one already. In fact, he's changed 3 cars while you've owned ONE."Wasn'ttriggering, but got me thinking.I had got the Fiesta Classic forThe Fiesta wasn't at all a bad car. It hadn't given up on me even once. We only had wonderful memories with this car. But lack of power, NVH, space and comfort were the popping factors when it came to long distance drives. I tried to overcome the power factor by adding a RaceDynamics box but it developed an injector issue - quite possibly a software issue because when I removed the box, the car ran without any issues for another (last) 20k kms of my ownership. But I never bothered to follow up with RD team on this.It wasn't really a comfortable car to do cross country - and we had done a couple of trips to Gujarat and MP within a span of 4 months that emphasized on this.Memories rushed in - the moment when I decided to go for the Fiesta (Classic) even when I knew it was to be discontinued within a year in 2014. I'd still rate it as the only car (going out on a limb here) to give a 3 series level handling this side of 10 lacs.My work profile and then the pandemic put serious brakes on the way the Fiesta could gather miles. It had covered only 61k kms in my total 7 years of ownership. SHAME!But, I was able to take this car to some great trips - did Pune-Ooty, Goa (4 times in 4 years), Dandeli, Gujarat, MP and not to mention a few trips around Pune within MH. Wonderful memories. I only realized compiling this thread that I do not click a lot of pictures of my car.Here are a few I managed to pick from my timeline for a collage.The casual discussion had me looking at the Kushaq the very next day at a Skoda showroom. It was launched not many days ago. Courteous staff, readily showed me the vehicle, offered a test drive - I wasn't impressed on multiple levels. The quality of plastics used to start with, the power available on offer AND the dismal FE it demonstrated when I drove it a bit spirited on the highway. It gave me a scare considering current petrol prices. I was fine with the size. Price to size is not a concern for me and I don't really believe in that. After a thorough inspection, I had decided that it wasn't the car for me. It didn't excite me. Also, the lack of 6 airbags on the auto variant was a bummer.I have a Sales Rep from VW who's been a good friend since 2016 when I had booked (and canceled the Polo TSI). Rung him up to get an idea on the Taigun and how it fares with the Kushaq. Taigun wasn't launched then. But he had driven the car and told me it is "not the VW levels of quality we've come to know". I was really put off.I checked a Honda City, Verna as well but they didn't make sense at all. Honda seemed to have skimmed on quality big time. Skinny tires, flimsy sheet metal were major put offs. Verna felt tad better in comparison. But, there wasn't much sense in getting another sedan in almost the same category. The Civic wasn't available anymore.Note that all these cars were available in my budget in the mid-spec variant and not the top of the line. Hence, even more underwhelming.I realized that I needed a good upgrade. A few cars that I've listed were in the ~10-12 lakhs category about a decade ago. seems like 20 lakhs is the new 10 lakhs.The only cars that I was excited by looking/driving were some expensive (relative here) ones like the Octavia, Superb, Karoq, TROC, Jeep Compass.Given we had just got a house less than a year ago and had blown a sizeable amount on interiors, my wallet was already bruised. I knew a budget north of 15 lacs would just not be possible. I had a choice - shelve plans of buying a new car OR check out the used car market.That's when I casually started surfing used car websites just to see what 15 lacs can get me. It is crazy out there if you haven't decided what you want.I saw everything from a used Brezza that had less than 7k on the odo, a mint condition Ecosport with about 12k on the odo, a few Dusters with decent mileage, 1st gen Creta (the facelifts were hard to come by really), VW Vento, Jetta, Octavia, Honda City, Verna AND then, some Merc A, B class, BMW X1 (pre-facelift), Audi Q3 from 2013-14, a Volvo D40, and the list can go on - you get the drift - basically every car in varying age and mileage was there for the taking with that money!My shortlisted preowned cars. You can see how the choices tilt towards the Germans.Having a Hyundai already at home, I wasn't too keen on getting another. Hence, the Tucson was ruled out.Another coffee table discussion and we agreed we needed a car with higher GC. Bad roads were quite a deterrent and we have plenty around Pune. The Fiesta scraped it's mud flaps with average load at the society entrance gate bump! This is the usual (slightly plump) black yellow fabricated ones. Bad roads unsettled the car way too easily and the 14" did not help much.I remembered how I had taken a Jeep Compass test drive the week it was launched in 2017 and I was hooked. Did not feel the need to change then as the Fiesta was only 4 years old then AND the Compass was a little too expensive for me at that time - it was this time as well. LOL!Not that I did not try to scout for the other cars listed, but a test drive in a Compass that I checked in Pune again reminded me that I wouldn't want to go for a sedan this time. The Octavia and the Jetta were immediately out of race.Some quick searches for Pune region listed some 7-8 examples of Jeep Compass. Most of them Longitude/Longitude (O) 4x2.I checked 3 of them that fulfilled the age-kms-condition criteria and came back disappointed - main reasons being the condition they were in, the odo reading and the asking price did not really match up. Abused and unattended in my standards.That's when I decided to check around Pune. Narrowed down on 2 Compass' on offer in Mumbai region - both Limited, one 4x4. They were available at a dealer and the asking price was decent. Both cars looked in great nick. NIL to no body damages, full service history available. Another huge plus was that it had license plates from my RTO. It was a leasing company owned car and was maintained really well. Its service history detail was accurate as I cross verified it with the dealership in my city.After much deliberation with myself, I decided to go take a look. A quick ~2 hour drive to Mumbai from Pune in rains (bliss!) and I was looking at the shortlisted cars. Not to mention the fun I had in the Fiesta enroute.The 4x4 ticked all the right boxes, budget mainly. The other was a Limited Plus - relatively newer, lesser kms on the odo and the asking price was about 3 lacs above what I could afford - had to let that thought go.Drove the 4x4 for about 20 odd kms and was happy with the way it drove. No funny things noticed right away. That said, the car was out of warranty and I requested the dealer to send the car to Landmark Jeep for a thorough inspection that I would pay for.Dealer agreed and the car was sent to the service center. I had coordinated with the service center guys to get the first hand report to me - stressing on any expected upcoming expenditure. I had already made it clear to the dealer that I will walk away from the car if there was a looming expense like a clutch/high pressure pump. OR that the dealer negotiate the price accordingly.Landmark Jeep green signalled the car confirming it was in top shape with no work needed. The dealer agreed to do a full 4th year service as it was anyway due. The cabin air filter and brake fluid changes were not done as the car had done a mid-schedule run to the service station for change of tires and brake pad when this was done.The dealer offered to exchange the Fiesta with him and offered me a competitive market price for my lovingly maintained car. I was getting about 10k more with a certain online portal but I decided against it. For one, it saved me the hassle of finding a ride to Mumbai. Taking an Ola/Uber was ruled out considering the pandemic. The other factor going for this same dealer was that he was ready to set off the price against the Compass - that brought down my immediate outflow.I asked the dealer for a week to arrange the funds, shook hands and I enjoyed the drive back from Mumbai with a hot tea break after Khalapur toll. I still wasn't sure I wanted to get a used car. Was smitten by the Compass though.I had put up a thread requesting feedback (Used Jeep Compass vs New City / Creta / Kushaq) as I really thought 15 lacs was big money to plonk on something out of warranty considering there were new cars available - none of them pulling a string in my heart. Got a 60-40 result in favor of the Compass.Interestingly, another thread (New Kia Seltos vs Used Jeep Compass) has a favor ratio of 78-22 for the Compass! I wonder if the voter population overlapped on this one. Results were quite drastic for a similar question a few months apart.Deliberation with friends and the inputs received, it was clear to me that I shouldn't spend money on something I won't like.Fiesta was a heart over head decision and that didn't go wrong! I was getting this very Jeep Compass.Wife wasn't happy and convinced getting a used car. But she supported and asked me to go with the purchase if I was sure.Don't we all love it when things fall in place? I got the funds arranged, gave a call to the dealer, fixed a date for exchange. Carried all documents as per our checklist for buying and selling - who knew I'd do both in the same transaction!I spotted a Jeep Compass in my RVM enroute Mumbai. What a coincidence. You actually start looking for relation in otherwise unrelated things in such circumstances.The Compass was home!A few shots of the Compass - these are not edited! It stands at 3 years - 56200 kms on the odo on the day I got her.I realized this was my second American brand after the Ford only when a friend pointed it out.4x4 comes as a bonus. I haven't got a chance to engage this yet. I plan to join the jeep forums and get involved whenever I can. Son showing interest in driving (he's just 6 and half), I can take him along for him to explore.Doors open wide. Ingress is okay for most. Doesn't have a step to hop in like the MUVs/LoF SUVs.Rear AC vents are decent. the USB port here attaches to the HU. 2 phones cannot be connected simultaneously though.More than sufficient leg room in the rear. Under-thigh support is good. 5th occupant can only be a kid. 3 adults are not happy over longer durations. Why do I care!!Good overall visibility. You're set high up. It is a different feeling coming to this view from a sedan. You can see far and long.Functional dashboard. Nothing overwhelming in design. But there are plenty of soft touch materials used that make the car "feel" its price. The quality of the hard materials are good too.The HU is smaller than what I would have expected. I will check at the service center if the 8" HU from the Limited Plus is a direct fit.I liked that the glove box has a soft-open effect and does not just drop down when opened. Space inside is average. Fiesta was able to swallow 4 pairs of sunglasses with its cases, car documentation, paper tissues box and hold my phone when connected to carplay - and still have space for a small pack of chips. This can do half of it.Good width seats, finding a comfortable position is quite easy. This seat has a pressure sensor that rings the seatbelt reminder. I don't have to be the villain asking to belt up nowMy son was as excited while checking out this Compass as he was sad letting the Fiesta go. He actually cried for a few minutes on the way back home.Good bye to the Fiesta. It was a sad feeling indeed.The drive back home was overwhelming - the power on tap, the "different" driving dynamics and a weird but satisfying feeling of having owned a car that was at least 2 segments above my Fiesta.The drive until Lonavala was spent getting used to the car. But I thoroughly enjoyed the car later after that. Parents were actually delighted to see a preowned car maintained this well and was all smiles - they only knew I was getting one.I'm still coming to terms and acceptance that I've got the car. Guess it would take a while to sink in. But I'm okay with that. I'm in no hurry.We visited a place called Chalkewadi near Satara city over the weekend where there's a windmill farm. It was overwhelming to see that. A larger than life setup of a windmill gives you the perspective of how insignificant a man is in size and at the same time exhibits man's prowess.A random click at the windmills. The clouds were engulfing the place and it was absolutely impossible to see beyond 10 feet in a matter of a few seconds after I clicked this.The headlamp switch effect was quite drastic and I must say, in time for my trip to Satara to the Chalkewadi windmills. take a look at the lights in action. It was a boon on the dark roads back to the Satara city after our visit.I keep saying I'd buy a German some day, but it is hard to ignore the Americans.Hope this car satiates my hunger for power, comfort and tour-ability for the next few years to come.Cheers to the new member in the garage. Attached Thumbnails



Last edited by adneeraj : 24th August 2021 at 01:28 . Reason: added pictures, added niggles, shortcomings and other details
In brief: President Joe Biden is reportedly set to meet with the heads of Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and other tech giants tomorrow (Wednesday, August 25) to discuss recent ransomware attacks and cybersecurity issues.

Bloomberg reports that Tim Cook, Satay Nadella, and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy are the big names attending tomorrow afternoon's meeting. They could be joined by Google's Sundar Pichai, who has been invited, along with execs from IBM, and JPMorgan Chase. Southern Company CEO Tom Fanning will also be attending.

According to a senior official familiar with the event, the surge in online attacks against US organizations over the last year will be the main topic of conversation. Top of the agenda will likely be the attack on Kaseya's VSA system management platform by the Russia-based REvil hacker gang, DarkSide's ransomware hit on the Colonial Pipeline, and the massive SolarWinds hack that affected both companies and government agencies alike.

With many of the groups responsible for these incidents based in Russia, Biden has repeatedly called on President Vladimir Putin to do more to curtail the hackers. POTUS has threatened US retaliation against Russia if the criminals continue to act with impunity. Biden even warned that the cyberattacks could lead to a "real shooting war."

Bloomberg writes that the meeting could examine the online security of critical US infrastructure, such as banking, energy, and water utility sectors, and the industries' collaboration with the government. The execs are also "likely to discuss how software can drive better security in the supply chain."

It appears that Biden has a better relationship with tech leaders than his predecessor. Donald Trump held several meetings with Silicon Valley's elite during his time in office and formed the American Technology Council. However, many CEOs spoke out against him during his election run and presidencyPeter Thiel was one of the few to show support publiclywhile pulling out of the Paris Agreement and Trump's immigration policies brought their collective ire. Trump was also very vocal about his dislike of Jezz Bezos.
In brief: Security researchers found that a large number of web apps using Microsoft's Power Apps portals exposed 38 million records on the open Internet as a result of a simple misconfiguration. While the issue has since been resolved, it should be a lesson learned that security settings for a low-code platform should include a privacy switch turned on by default.

The growing trend of large-scale security blunders is far from over, as evidenced by research that shows around 38 million records from over a thousand web apps that were built using Microsoft's Power Apps platform were exposed to the open Internet. This includes data from employee databases, app portals, vaccination signup tools, and coronavirus contact tracing platforms, on top of things like phone numbers, social security numbers, and home addresses.

To get an idea of the gravity of this incident, the data belongs to a number of large companies such as Ford, American Airlines, J.B. Hunt, as well as institutions like New York City public schools, the Maryland Department of Health, the New York City Municipal Transportation Authority, and the Indiana Department of Health. Even some Microsoft-made apps are affected, with over 332,000 email addresses and employee IDs exposed.

According to a Wired report, researchers at security company Upguard discovered the issue in May. Their investigation concluded that over a thousand data sets from Power Apps portals that were supposed to be private had been rendered accessible by a seemingly minor misconfiguration. In short, the data obtained by developers through Power Apps portals was public by default, and so they would need to manually set it to private if desired.

Upguard reported the issue to the Microsoft Security Resource Center on June 24, but the latter responded by explaining that this behavior was actually "by design." Researchers then started notifying the affected organizations, and a month later, almost all of the exposed data had been made private.

The good news is the issue has since been resolved by Microsoft, who changed the design of Power Apps portals to keep data private as the default behavior and released a tool for developers to check if their portal security settings allow data to be publicly accessible. Upguard says that it found no indication that the exposed data has been compromised, so the affected organizations can at least breathe a sigh of relief.

In a statement, Microsoft explained, "our products provide customers flexibility and privacy features to design scalable solutions that meet a wide variety of needs. We take security and privacy seriously, and we encourage our customers to use best practices when configuring products in ways that best meet their privacy needs."
The big picture: Samsung has big plans for the future, and to that end, the company is investing a whopping $206 billion from its coffers. Chief among the tech giant's ambitions for the next three years are the strengthening of its semiconductor business and the acquisition of engineering talent, but the South Korean firm has its eyes set on several other areas.

Samsung today announced it will invest no less than 240 trillion won ($206 billion) over the next three years in order to expand its presence in areas like semiconductors, robotics, artificial intelligence, and biopharmaceuticals. The end goal of this effort is to propel the company to new heights, as it intends to become a leader in what Samsung believes are "strategically important industries."

This new capital expenditure is significantly larger than the 180 trillion won ($154 billion) spent over the past three years. A significant chunk of the 240 trillion won investment will be allocated towards acquiring more talent in South Korea. Specifically, Samsung wants to dedicate 75 percent of the money to hire 40,000 employees through 2023, as the company needs to adapt to "great changes in industry, international order, and social structure expected after the Covid-19 pandemic."

The news comes a little over a week after Samsung's vice chairman walked out of jail to return to his office, as country officials decided his parole was a matter of national interest. Samsung recently surpassed Intel to become the world's top semiconductor supplier and has a $151 billion plan to build more production capabilities over the next ten years.

Semiconductors are a big safety net for South Korea, and Samsung says chips accounted for over 19 percent of the country's exports in 2020. It recognizes the strategic threat from Intel and TSMC, both of which are currently engaged in reinvention and expansion of their foundry businesses. The company has plans to build a $17 billion foundry in the US, and is currently evaluating sites in New York, Arizona, and Texas.

It's also worth noting that subsidiary Samsung Electronics has over $80 billion in cash reserves that it intends to use in mergers and acquisitions. Until recently, the list of potential candidates included NXP, Microchip Technology and Texas Instruments. However, acquiring NXP could easily surpass those reserves and might prove just as difficult to fly to completion as Nvidia's pending acquisition of Arm.

Another area of interest for Samsung is the development of high energy density batteries for grid storage and electric cars, and the company's Samsung SDI subsidiary is currently evaluating several sites in the US to build a battery manufacturing plant.
In context: Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has exploded in recent times, becoming the largest phone maker in both Europe and the worldall without a significant presence in the US. Most people know the company for its "Mi" range of devices, but it will be phasing out that sub-brand later this year.

In a statement to XDA Developers, a Xiaomi spokesperson said, "Starting in 2021 Q3, Xiaomi's product series 'Mi' will be renamed to 'Xiaomi.'"

"This change will unify our global brand presence and close the perception gap between the brand and its products. This change may take some time to take effect in all regions."

There were some who predicted such a move was on the cards after Xiaomi launched the latest in its Mi Mix series with the name "Xiaomi Mix 4," dropping the "Mi" branding used in the previous Mix handsets.

Xiaomi's first-ever smartphone, the Mi 1, was launched back in 2011. Company co-founder and CEO Lei Jun said it stands for "Mobile Internet" and "Mission Impossible."

The name change was likely prompted by Xiaomi's stratospheric rise this year. It replaced Apple as the world's second-largest smartphone vendor in July, and it took Samsung's position as the top phone vendor in Europe a month later. A few weeks ago, Xiaomi gained the ultimate title: the largest smartphone vendor globally, its 17.1% market share beating Samsung's 15.7%.

Now that the Xiaomi name is becoming more familiar, it probably felt the time was right to drop the Mi brandingmany of its Mi phones are listed as just Xiaomi (or "") in China, anyway.

The Redmi and POCO names aren't changing. The company says Xiaomi products "represent the pinnacle of technology and offer a premium experience," while the Redmi products "bring big innovation at a more accessible price point and are aimed at a younger audience."

Xiaomi added that the naming system "will also be applied to our ecosystem and IoT products over time."

Image credit: architectphd
(Photo : Image from Commons.Wikipedia.com) Xiaomi to End 'Mi' Brand After Over a Decade | Xiaomi Mix 4 to Launch Soon

Xiaomi is putting an end to its "Mi" branding after over a decade of being in the spotlight! The company is now launching the Xiaomi Mix 4 soon!

Xiaomi Drops 'Mi' Branding

According to AndroidCentral, Xiaomi is finally dropping its long-time popular "Mi" branding. The move was reportedly signaled by the recent launch of the company's new product, the "Xiaomi Mix 4" and will apply to other future launches.

Xiaomi products have reportedly been using the "Mi" branding for over a decade! The top smartphone brand has decided to make a major change and it's not just a change in logo shape but rather Xiaomi is deciding to shift its production away from its popular "Mi" branding which the company is extremely popular for.

Xiaomi 11T

XDA-Developers notes that this particular change started with the more recently announced Xiaomi Mix 4, and will finally continue with its future releases. Android Central reportedly tried to reach out to Xiaomi to learn more details regarding the name change.

A representative reportedly told XDA that it would most likely apply to other upcoming products like the supposedly rumored Mi 11T, which is going to be called the Xiaomi 11T. Xiaomi even reportedly used the "Mi" brand for just about every single one of its products until now.

Xiaomi Beats Samsung

Even with a cursory glance at Xiaomi's official US website, viewers can see that the "Mi" name is just about everywhere. This includes even the logo which was just recently redesigned. Xiaomi has even been able to beat Samsung by a whopping 700,000 deliveries more.

The move comes just a little after Xiaomi was able to gain the crown as the largest smartphone OEM in the whole world, even successfully overtaking Samsung for the very first time. While the company still does not have much of a presence in the United States, Xiaomi has been able to manage to capture a larger part of the global market.

Read Also: Apple iOS 15 New Beta Safari Redesign Toggle Allows Users to Bring Back a More Comfortable Look

Xiaomi Mid-Range High-Value Smartphones

The company is popular for its mid-range, high-value smartphones just like its flagship devices including the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. Retiring the popular "Mi" brand comes 10 years after the initial Xiaomi Mi 1 was officially released, which itself launched just a year after MIUI which officially marked the end of an era for the smartphone company.

XDA notes, however, that the company already sells its smartphones in China so the move works to help the company unify its products. As of the moment, however, it is still a bit unclear as to how exactly the move will affect its popular branding.

As of the moment, given Xiaomi's growing popularity, dropping the "Mi" brand could help the company grow more into a household name in a number of regions. This would be especially true in the United States where different devices just like the Xiaomi Mi Band 6 are available to take on even some of the best fitness trackers in the market.

Related Article: Classic Motorola Razr Foldable Gets Android 11 Update at Verizon | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Hype?

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Written by Urian B.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Japan's Mars mission plans to bring the soil samples of the red planet to Earth as early as 2029, even ahead of the United States' NASA and China's space agency.

It is worth noting that the US and China have already launched their exploration on Mars to further search for any evidence that life once existed in the Martian plant.

For instance, China's Mars rover has already concluded its 90-day mission on the Red Planet and continues to roam its rocky terrain to search for any frozen water as it remains in good condition.

Initially, the Chinese spacecraft, Zhurong, is designed to last for 90 Martian days, but it still lives on.

On the other hand, NASA's Perseverance Rover tried its first attempt to collect rock samples from the Red Planet last Aug. 7, but failed to retrieve them.

Nevertheless, the Mars rover of NASA made its second attempt to collect Martian rock samples last Aug. 20.

Japan's Mars Mission Plans to Bring Soil Samples to Earth

The space agency of the Asian country, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, also known shortly as JAXA, sets its eyes on launching its space explorer in 2024, JagranJosh reported.

After which, the Mars mission seeks to collect up to 10 grams of soil and bring it to Earth in 2029.

JAXA's mission on Mars is landing on the Martian Moon that goes by the moniker "Phobos."

Meanwhile, Japan's Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science professor, Tomohiro Usui, believes that the soil on Phobos is a combination of moon and Mars components due to multiple sandstorms.

What's more, JAXA scientists further suggest that any creature that once lived on the Red Planet might have perished due to the extreme cosmic and solar radiation on Phobos.

As such, the space agency is looking into the soil samples in the location.

Read Also: SpaceX's Japanese Billionaire Customer Revealed He is Now Selecting his Companions for His Moon Mission

Japan Ahead of US and China Mars Missions

So, how is Japan getting ahead of the US and even China, even if they will start their Mars Mission later than the two countries?

According to APNews, the project manager of the Japan Mars mission, Yasuhiro Kawakatsu, said in an online news conference that JAXA's rapid return trip will bring the soil samples swifter than any other country.

It is to note that NASA's Perseverance rover will take until 2031 to bring the 31 samples that they seek to collect from Mars to Earth.

On the other hand, China estimates to bring the samples a year earlier in 2030.

It seems that JAXA is aiming to replicate its successful attempt to bring asteroid Ryugu samples to Earth last December 2020. It marks the first return of an asteroid sample in history.

Related Article: European Company Arctic Astronautics to Rival Japan for Creating First Wooden Satellite To Be Launched Before 2021

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Heart failure is one of the leading causes of death around the world.

As per World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for 17.9 million deaths in 2019, which represent 32% of deaths worldwide.

To mitigate the growing cases of people suffering from CVDs, several healthcare startups have focused on the improvement of heart failure treatment.

Here are the top 5 health tech firms that tackle heart failure.

Top 5 Health Tech Startups Which Have Expertise in Heart Failure

The following list of the leading health tech firms that tackle heart failure is courtesy of Start Us Insights.

1. Restore Medical

This health tech startup is notable for its catheter-delivered implant.

Many hospitals have a hard time dealing with heart failure patients. This company has devised an effective innovation to combat congestive heart failure (CHF).

Through the utilization of catheter-delivered implants for the pulmonary artery pressure, patients can now have a breathing room against CHF, thanks to Restore Medical's technology.

When the technology is implanted into the patient, the readings of pressure can now be interpreted through the sensor in the device. Later, the results would be recorded in the patient's electronic health record or EHR.

2. Metcela

Those people who have heart failure can resort to heart transplants if necessary. Unfortunately, this treatment appears to be unreliable since only a few donors allow their hearts to be donated.

For this reason, Metcela innovated cardiac cell therapy.

The process features transplanted immature progenitor cells that are responsible for the production of cardiac muscle cells and blood vessels.

The Japan-based health tech startup has been focused on bringing its best service to heart disease patients. Through the cell-based therapy, MTC001, the firm can replenish the patient's cells in the heart through the use of fibroblast cells.

This heart failure solution is deemed to be a patient-friendly procedure, from its price to its impact on the recipient.

Read Also: PULSAR Radiation Therapy: UT Southwestern Physicians Develop New AI Strategy to Improve Tumor Control

3. Oracle Health

The symptoms of heart failure can be detected through cardiac monitoring.

There are times that the AECG (ambulatory electrocardiogram) monitoring would not be suitable since the hospital lacks devices for the method. In addition, the process is also affected by the behavior of the patient.

Oracle Health also uses ECG, but with the incorporation of machine learning. This US health tech startup is focused on bringing what's best for heart failure patients.

The device which the firm developed is battery-operated implant equipment that could be used for three years. Oracle Health has been one of the best candidates when it comes to handling heart failure problems.

What the startup created is an all-around innovation that is centered on detecting heart sounds, heart rhythms, cardiac pressure, and more.

4. ESN Cleer

In the field of medical technology, little things are considered to be relevant given that they contribute big impacts to the patients. Nowadays, more portable devices are being introduced by healthcare companies for the treatment of diseases.

ESN Cleer, a health tech firm based in Australia has managed to craft a sensor inspired by nanotechnology. This health device is easy to use since it is hand-held.

The equipment acts like a stick that gathers saliva from a person. This will tell the patient if he/she has an existing disease.

The startup also features EHF-ESwab and EHF-Test Kit for accurate detection.

5. Cardionyx

There are only a handful of devices that could manage to treat heart failure. Since heart transplant is flawed due to lack of donors, experts are thinking of devices that could quickly aid the patients to recover from cardiovascular diseases.

Cardionyx, another health tech startup that is headquartered in Israel has come up with the idea of a heart pump. The miniature smart pump can be used by patients who have heart failure complications.

The device can handle Class IV heart failure patients, or those who can't do physical activity without experiencing discomfort.

This solution highlighted a durable and cost-effective device that would lessen the risk of having blood clots and other heart damages.

There is also real-time feedback that patients can see, thanks to its algorithm.

While a person has no heart failure symptoms, it's good to immediately stay fit before it happens. An hour of moderate exercise daily can lower the risk of acquiring heart problems by almost 50%.

If you still want to read more about health tech firms, you can check the top 10 AI healthcare startups for 2021.

Related Article: Medical Startups Now Focus On Personalized Health Tech, An Approach To Cure MSK and Chronic Pain

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Written by Joseph Henry

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Baldwin reflects on War on Terror

During a Monday visit to Platteville, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., told reporters she supports President Bidens decision to fully withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by September, but criticized the lack of preparation.

Taliban forces rapidly spread across the country this month prompting the collapse of the Afghan government, leaving thousands of Afghans and Americans stranded as they desperately attempt to evacuate the country amid chaos.

Its so distressing to see how disorderly the evacuation process is, Baldwin said. We need to stand behind our allies.

Looking to the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Baldwin said she does not regret her decision to vote in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force, which enabled former President George W. Bush to order the invasion of Afghanistan.

Then a member of the U.S. House, Baldwin was one of 420 to support its passage. Just one Congresswoman, Barbara Lee, D-Calif., voted against it.

The authorization has been used in the ensuing two decades to justify military action against terrorist groups worldwide, including the Islamic State, which did not exist at the time of passage.

Baldwin said the authorization was narrowly drafted and that she has in the years since consistently expressed that the U.S. should have departed after neutralizing Al-Qaeda and its enablers.

That was not the direction of presidents of both parties and I think Biden finally realized that if you read the words of the Authorization of Use of Military Force, its very specific and this should not be viewed as an open-ended war on terror, Baldwin said. Weve always had terrorism in the world and we will always will.
Robin Marshall seriously thought about not rebuilding when the Magnolia Cafe burned in 2003.

Thirteen days later, she abandoned any such thoughts as customers started calling. She and her staff went to work in the coffee shop behind the burned cafe on Commerce Street in St. Francisville. Soon, they were serving up the cafe's Famous Turkey Special sandwiches.

Marshall knew the community loved The Mag, and she quickly found out locals weren't going to let it die.

The Mag was more than just a place to eat their favorite sandwiches and pizzas; it felt like home.

Six months later, Marshall had a plan. She owns the property that includes the coffee shop, run by her sister, Lynn Wood, and 3V Tourist Courts, small cottages located at the rear of the property.

She added a kitchen to the coffee shop and made that The Mag's new permanent operation. The coffee shop, now Birdman Coffee & Books, moved into a small adjacent building.

"The building had once been a part of the 3V Tourist Courts," Marshall said. "We just started working in here full time."

There's a nostalgic feel to the quaint buildings, where you can grab a meal, book a cabin and occasionally catch some live music in the evening.

+3 Juggling Houmas House's three restaurants is all in a day's work for executive chef Jeremy Langlois Jeremy Langlois has been working in the kitchen since high school, when he started off washing dishes for chef John Folse.

But the food is what draws people in day after day.

The Mag opened its doors in a former gas station/auto repair shop as a health food store, under another owner, and gradually became a full restaurant when Marshall bought it in 1982.

The turkey sandwich has been on the menu since day one. It is served on po-boy bread or toasted pita and combines in-house roasted and sliced turkey with Swiss cheese, guacamole, sprouts, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and mustard topped by the cafe's special sauce.

"Our pizzas have been on the menu since we first opened, too," Marshall said. "The recipes are still the same, and we make our own dough."

Pizza favorites include the Chicken Pesto & Spinach and the Motherload Pizza, with pepperoni, seasoned beef and ham as its main toppings. If those don't whet your appetite, there are more from which to choose.

Marshall, who was a mom looking for a business where her young children could hang out while she worked, initially did the cooking and made the sandwiches. She hired kitchen help as the cafe grew.

"Our growth was gradual," Marshall said. "I was young and didn't know what I was doing, so the gradual growth was nice. We had pizzas, pita bread sandwiches and juices. And we made our own bread."

The menu and cafe expanded with the staff that came and went. A Jehovah's Witness minister working in the kitchen introduced alligator sauce piquante and shrimp fried rice to the menu. Younger staff members brought up the idea of live music.

The building had an area in the back where, when it was an auto repair shop, school buses were worked on. Marshall raised the metal lift, welded it in place and turned it into a bar.

"It started out as a coffee bar, but then the music was popular, so we made it a regular bar," Marshall said. "It was a restaurant until about 10, when the music started. So it didn't become a bar until 10 at night."

On Dec. 30, 2003, an old electrical panel ignited the fire. All seemed lost at first, but then customers began calling in orders, just as they did when the state shuttered restaurant dining rooms in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic hit Louisiana.

Marshall decided to temporarily close for three months of renovations during the pandemic, but that didn't stop customers from calling.

"They wanted to know when we were going to reopen," she said. "Everybody was very supportive. We make our own salad dressing, and and we sell bottles of it on our shelf here. They came in and bought it while we were closed."

Like lots of other businesses, The Mag is experiencing pandemic-generated staffing problems, so it's only open during the day for now. But the patio area stands ready for live music to return.

These days, Marshall shares ownership of The Mag with Mary Daniel, who was hired as the restaurant's manager in 2017. That move has allowed Marshall to direct more energy to the tourist courts, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

"The cabins are pretty unique, because they're close to how they were when they opened in the 1930s," she said.

And she's not planning any additions to either the building or the menu.

"We have daily lunch specials, but if anything, I'd like to simplify the menu," she said. "We just want to be consistent."

The Mag's customers wouldn't expect anything less.
Baton Rouge General will open a monoclonal antibodies infusion center later this week for vulnerable people infected with COVID-19, expanding access to a treatment doctors say is effective at keeping people who are sick with the virus out of the hospital.

The center will be located on BRG's Bluebonnet campus and will allow for up to 80 infusions a day, according to a news release. COVID patients that are 65 or older, are overweight, pregnant or have a number of other preexisting conditions that make them vulnerable to the virus are eligible to receive the treatment at the center, according to the news release.

Infected with COVID? This simple treatment could help keep you out of the hospital If you get infected with COVID-19, there's a simple treatment that could significantly improve your chances of staying out of the hospital: mo

Early data show that monoclonal antibodies can successfully reduce COVID-19 hospitalizations rates and emergency department visits, said Dr. Louis Minsky, chief of staff at BRG. As our local hospitals are bursting at the seams with COVID-19 patients, many requiring critical care, the hope is to relieve some of that pressure.

The system already offers the treatment at its hospital in Ascension and one of its urgent care locations, said spokeswoman Katie Johnston. Officials hope the new center will allow for fewer hospitalizations in the Baton Rouge area as the infectious delta variant propels a record-breaking surge of hospitalizations that is overwhelming the city's health care systems.

Most hospitals offer the treatment, which helps jumpstart the body's immune response to the virus. It typically takes an hour and a half to administer and is given through an IV infusion.

"It's very effective at keeping people who aren't that sick from needing hospitalization if it's given quickly, if it's given with the first few days of somebody having symptoms," Dr. Joe Kanter, the state's top public health official, said last week.

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The treatment is time-sensitive: patients should receive the infusion as soon as possible after a positive COVID-19 test result or within 10 days of the development of symptoms to get the best results.

The Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization in 2020 allowing several different monoclonal antibodies as a treatment option for COVID-19. BRG is administering is REGEN-COV, which is a combination of the drugs casirivimab and imdevimab, according to the news release.

BRG's center will hold 15 infusion bays and will be staffed with assistance from the Louisiana Department of Health, according to the release.

The treatment isn't intended to replace the vaccines, which are highly effective on their own at combating the deadly virus. But officials hope its use can free up bed space as hospitals grapple with the latest and worst surge of COVID.

Last week, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said monoclonal antibodies are a "big part of our strategy to preserve hospital capacity."

Staff writer Blake Paterson contributed to this report.
With its nurses and respiratory therapists stretched thin under a crushing wave of COVID cases, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge has for months been at "capacity level red."

For patients at smaller, community hospitals suffering from heart attacks, strokes or a host of other maladies requiring specialized care, that's meant one thing: there's no bed for you here.

But a small measure of relief just arrived.

The Lake on Monday welcomed a crew of nearly 100 health care workers, hired by the Louisiana Department of Health as part of a multi-million-dollar blitz to beef up hospital capacity statewide amid a fourth and, so far, worst surge.

The team of 64 registered nurses, 16 respiratory therapists and 16 certified nursing assistants will help Louisiana's largest standalone hospital open 12 ICU beds and 41 Med-Surg beds for COVID patients beginning Wednesday.

Hospitals in Louisiana are struggling to care for the onslaught of COVID patients with a workforce of nurses that was already diminished prior to the pandemic. Fifty-eight hospitals have reached out to the state saying they're in dire need of staff and can no longer provide adequate care to patients.

Earlier in the pandemic, hospitals could turn to traveling nurses to boost their ranks, but as the latest surge ripples across the country, demand for those out-of-state workers has skyrocketed.

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Tremecka Hollie, a Baton Rouge native and ICU nurse, has spent much of the pandemic working at hospitals in Texas, California and New York. Her 30-day contract working at the Lake that began Monday will be her first in Louisiana.

"I'm happy to be here to serve my community," Hollie said, wearing a cap emblazoned with comic book superhero font.

"The main thing I want people to know is to get vaccinated. Most of the patients being seen are unvaccinated," Hollie said. "As an ICU nurse, it's very hard to see individuals young and old die daily. I've been seeing it since March of last year, and it's very heartbreaking."

Louisiana COVID numbers: 48 more deaths reported as vaccinations climb to 40% coverage The Louisiana Department of Health reported 2,838 hospitalizations and 48 more confirmed deaths in its noon update Monday.

Stephanie Manson, the Lake's chief operating officer, said nurses like Hollie will allow the hospital to reopen its doors, return to "capacity level green," and accept transfers from smaller facilities.

How long before the Lake reverts back to capacity level red is unclear. As of Monday morning, the hospital had already received 25 requests from smaller facilities needing to transfer patients in critical care.
An alleged serial killer accused of fatally shooting three homeless people near downtown Baton Rouge in December 2019 is being sent to a state mental facility for evaluation.

State District Judge Tarvald Smith made the call Monday based on the advice of two psychiatrists he appointed to weigh in on whether Jeremy Anderson was sane at the time of the shootings and can assist his attorneys.

+3 Suspected serial killer in Baton Rouge homeless slayings to undergo sanity evaluation A Baton Rouge man suspected of fatally shooting three homeless people in December will be examined by a doctor to help a judge decide whether 

The judge scheduled a sanity hearing for Nov. 10. Anderson will be evaluated at the Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System in Jackson.

Anderson, 30, of Baton Rouge, has pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge in the slaying of Tony Williams. But his lawyers have said he intends to enter dual pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity.

Anderson's attorneys contend he didn't know right from wrong when he allegedly shot Williams to death on Dec. 27, 2019, at an empty house in the 100 block of 18th Street near Convention Street.

+3 He 'didn't know right from wrong,' lawyer for suspected Baton Rouge serial killer says A Baton Rouge man suspected of killing three homeless people in December "did not know right from wrong" when he allegedly shot one of them to

East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III has said his office will prosecute Anderson as a serial killer and introduce evidence of the Dec. 13, 2019, killings of Christina Fowler and Gregory Corcoran at Anderson's trial in the slaying of Williams, 50.

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All three victims were shot in the head.

Fowler, 53, and Corcoran, 40, were found dead beneath the North Boulevard overpass. They were huddled in blankets by an empty shopping cart less than a block from Anderson's home on South 17th Street.

Williams' body was found just a few hundred feet from Anderson's house.

Anderson was arrested after officers got a tip from someone who heard him confess to the killing of Williams, BRPD Chief Murphy Paul has said.

When officers questioned Anderson, he made incriminating statements that placed him at the crime scene, according to Paul. Anderson's arrest report says that while giving a statement to detectives, he confessed to killing Fowler and Corcoran.

Police have not released a motive for the slayings, and it's not known whether the victims were killed at random or specifically targeted  either for being homeless or for some other reason. Police said they weren't sure whether Anderson knew the victims.

+5 Accused of killing 3 homeless people, Baton Rouge man will be prosecuted as serial killer A first-degree murder indictment was returned Thursday against a Baton Rouge man suspected in the December killing of three homeless people  

Moore has not indicated whether his office will seek the death penalty. If it chooses not to, Anderson would be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder.
Tens of thousands of students and faculty returned to LSU's campus Monday for the for the university's first in-person semester in 18 months.

By mid-morning, students filled the parking lots, swarmed the quad and packed into classrooms. But, as peers and professors alike basked in the familiarity of a busy campus, they realized things weren't entirely back to normal from COVID.

Amanda Viloria, history senior, said she was shocked when she walked into her first class Monday morning.

I havent seen 25 people sitting that close to each other in a classroom since 2019, Viloria said. Everyone was wearing masks, but it just felt off.

In Coates Hall, students sat inches apart in classrooms filled with between 50 and 70 full desks. Most professors had room to stand several feet away from the first row, protected by a plexiglass screen.

Joni Butcher, communication professor, said she has 50 students in one class, but she doesnt feel unsafe in her classroom.

I wasnt nervous to come to campus at all, Butcher said. I think its better for all of us if students are learning here rather than behind a screen.

Butcher continued to teach in-person classes when faculty had the option to teach remotely, a choice that she said she made with her students in mind.

Its like any virus, she said. If students are sick, they should take care of their health, but to be psychologically and socially healthy, they need to be on campus. We cant live in fear.

Aaron Jacobs, mass communication senior, said he didnt feel fear from his classmates on their first day back. Instead, he said he felt quite the opposite.

Campus is electric, Jacobs said. Theres this obvious energy in the air. Its like even though were all about to have school stress again, were just happy to have normal back.

Viloria said she is going to need time to adjust to normal after three semesters of online classes.

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I feel like its my first day of freshman year again, Viloria said. Im going to have to learn how to schedule and take notes and ride the bus again. But I dont care because I get to be on campus.

Will Mari, mass communication professor, said he has 80 students in one of his classes as opposed to the spring semester, when he had five or six students in a classroom. He said he is happy to accommodate wary students with Zoom lectures.

Several students said they were stressed about bringing COVID back to their families, which I sympathize with, Mari said.

LSU allows faculty to advocate for their students to get vaccinated, and Mari did exactly that.

I encouraged them to get vaccinated for the safety of my family and theirs, he said.

Laith Druen, mechanical engineering senior, said as familiar as his campus looked on Monday, he cant help but remember how far from normal life is for most of Louisiana.

The pandemic is worse than it has ever been, Druen said. I missed seeing people, but it feels like LSU is forcing normalcy in a time where complacency can be fatal.

The university's COVID protocol requires students to fill out a daily symptom tracker that either permits or prohibits their arrival to campus. LSU administrators have said security personnel would be stationed to ask students for their confirmation emails, but Viloria said that effort is fruitless.

No one fills out the daily symptom tracker, she said. And no one asks to see it to let us into buildings. There never has been any accountability with that.

Professors are not allowed to ask to see a students confirmation email, and LSU has yet to release the final data detailing how many students are vaccinated or COVID-negative, so there is no guarantee that students have fulfilled the requirements to be on campus.

Jacobs said he feels more comfortable being on campus because he is vaccinated, and he looks forward to the day LSU mandates vaccines.

After the FDA approved Pfizers COVID vaccine Monday morning, Ballard said that LSU is reviewing the approval with plans to implement a mandate and will communicate logistics to the LSU community soon.

Schools in the University of Louisiana system mandated COVID immunization Monday afternoon.
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Mining magnate Andrew Forrest has defended his initial low-ball bid for salmon farmer Huon Aquaculture, saying the offer factored in costs to move the companys controversial Macquarie Harbour farms into deeper waters.

On Tuesday, the Fortescue founder hit back at a statement issued earlier this week by Huons chair, Neil Kearney, who labelled Mr Forrests recent statements about the company as noise. Huon is currently in the midst of a $500 million takeover offer from Brazilian meat processing giant JBS.

Andrew Forrest has said his initial bid for salmon farmer Huon was low for a reason. Credit:Trevor Collens

Mr Kearney also revealed that Mr Forrests investment vehicle Tattarang, which currently owns 18.5 per cent of Huon, had made a bid for the salmon farmer earlier this year which was far below the $3.85 a share offer currently on the table from JBS.

Tattarang was given the opportunity to submit a final offer for the business but did not do so, a move Mr Forrest said was due to serious environmental concerns factored into the companys initial price.
Kogan founder Ruslan Kogan is hopeful a Christmas shopping blitz will alleviate the companys inventory woes after the business reported a steep decline in full-year profit, sending shares sharply down.

On Tuesday, Kogan reported it will not pay a final dividend to shareholders after a number of unexpected costs and weaker margins ravaged the business underlying profit, which fell 86.8 per cent to $3.5 million for the year ending June 30.

Kogan.com CEO and founder Ruslan Kogan. The company was forced to heavily discount excess inventory bought with the expectation COVID-elevated sales would continue through the second half. Credit:Louie Douvis

Overall variable costs gained more than doubled for the year to $45 million as Kogan fronted higher storage and marketing expenses as it was forced to heavily discount excess inventory bought with the expectation COVID-elevated sales would continue through the second half, which they did not. An additional $12 million was also spent acquiring more shares in New Zealand online retailer Mighty Ape.

However, Mr Kogan told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald he would not hesitate to make the same decisions around inventory again if he had to, defending the move by saying the business made the best decision with the information available to it at the time.
The ASX held on to modest gains during a relatively stable session on Tuesday, despite some wild swings from reporting companies. Nanosonics jumped 21.9 per cent on an upbeat outlook, while e-tailer Koggan dropped 15.8 per cent after cutting its dividend. And Monadelphous Group dropped nearly 15 per cent after warning about rising labour costs.

The benchmark ASX200 added 13 points to close 0.2 per cent higher at 7503, back to where it was last Wednesday.

Mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto found firmer footing after iron ore prices stopped plunging. The commodity dropped by $US20 per tonne last week.

Iron ore prices have finally stabilised while travel stocks found room for optimism. Credit:Louie Douvis

Rio Tinto closed 1.3 per cent higher and BHP gained 1 per cent. Fortescue added 1.4 per cent.

Global general manager at ABC Bullion, Nick Frappell, said that from a purely technical analysis point of view, iron ore prices were finding support at $US125 per tonne. Meanwhile, gold prices have been rising ahead of the central bankers conference at Jackson Hole, up $US13 in the past week to $US1,803. Federal Reserve members have been giving conflicting opinions about fiscal policy, and some large short positions on gold have been revealed recently, he said.

Everyone is kind of re-thinking this tightening narrative that has been around for a few weeks, Mr Frappell added.

The market is really aware of the importance of Jackson Hole, and with a little bit of a short squeeze, people are concerned about the risk of unexpected news.

Most gold miners improved on Tuesday, while the building materials sector declined. Boral dropped 5.6 per cent, CSR fell 3.4 per cent, Brickworks was down 2.5 per cent, and AdBri fell 2.2 per cent.

Travel sector stocks improved as New South Wales hit the milestone of 6 million people with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination. Nationally, about 31 per cent of the population aged over 16 is fully vaccinated, well short of the governments 70 per cent target.

Qantas gained 5.5 per cent, Webjet was up 6.5 per cent and Flight Centre gained 6.7 per cent.

Broadband network owner Uniti jumped 8.8 per cent after flagging a share buyback, but Telstra dropped 1.5 per cent, Chorus fell 2.4 per cent, and carsales.com dropped 2.7 per cent. SEEK delivered expected results and closed 0.4 per cent lower.

Among consumer staples Metcash was down 3.4 per cent, Coles down 3 per cent ahead of going ex-dividend on Thursday, and Woolworths dropped 1.3 per cent.
Two books about the media have landed and the buzz is considerable. Reading these two books is akin to watching an episode of the TV drama Upstairs, Downstairs. Both concern themselves with the lived experience of those who went through the most tumultuous decade in Australian media history, when thousands of journalists lost their jobs as tectonic forces combined to reshape the landscape and destroy journalisms business model.

Upheaval concerns itself with the journalists who lived through the job losses that devastated print newsrooms, Media Unmade with the executives that made the cuts.

Two new books shine a light on print-era journalism, and the boardroom deals that shaped Australias rapidly changing media industry. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

First, lets head upstairs to mahogany row. Media Unmade starts as it means to go on. It is 2010, the start of medias most disruptive decade.

Anthony Catalano, property reporter-turned-entrepreneur, has exited The Age only to appropriate a large chunk of his old employers property ad revenue with a new classifieds business model that cuts in real estate agents. The Cat, as hes known, is basking in his business success while holidaying in Las Vegas when his mobile phone chirps.
When Anders Breivik murdered 77 people in a terrorist attack in Norway in July 2011, he ushered in a new set of challenges for domestic security agencies around the world. Much of the initial investigation into his crimes focused on the extent to which he was part of a network, yielding few solid connections with far-right groups despite his detailed manifesto decrying the supposed evils of multiculturalism and feminism.

Brenton Tarrants 2019 massacre of 51 Muslims gathered for prayer in Christchurch brought this challenge closer to home for Australians. Like Breivik, Tarrant committed his heinous murders alone, drawing inspiration from Breiviks example and online narratives of a white race under perpetual threat.

In their Nazis Next Door series of reports, Nick McKenzie and Joel Tozer have uncovered the activities of those Australians who see Tarrant as a hero. The attempts of these groups to organise are often hampered by fragmentation and competing egos, but the groups are also communities of opportunity, coalescing under different names and badges, only to disperse in response to the scrutiny of police and intelligence agencies. We have already seen the ghastly consequences of just one person in such communities moving from rhetoric to armed terrorism.

Mike Burgess, the director-general of national security agency ASIO, highlighted the threat of a lone actor on the fringes of such a group, telling our reporters that 50 per cent of our priority onshore counter-terrorism caseload involves neo-Nazi and other ideologically motivated groups. His agencys attempt to track such groups will return us to long-running debates about the extent to which authorities should have access to our encrypted communications.
Chris Hemsworths management is keeping shtum on what prompted the actor to say no to a government invitation to post a shot of the Thor star getting the vaccine jab on his social media. Could it be that for the pathologically Insta-happy celeb (50.3 million followers) there really is such a thing as oversharing?

Either way, its a curious stance given the long list of local stars who have approached the government keen to take part in a pro-jab campaign coming out later in the year. But his stance is even more curious given other members of the super A-list from around the world have jumped to share news of their jabs - think Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Barack Obama, Ryan Reynolds and martini maker Stanley Tucci, who have all hit social media to document how they have rolled up their sleeves.

Thor star Chris Hemsworth. Credit:Illustration: John Shakespeare

Heck, even the captains of the global bench-pressing set including Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger, and our own Hugh Jackman publicised their vaccinations. Jackman even posted a pithy  and totally persuasive  when he got his second shot: Wolverines healing ability cant save me from Covid. But the vaccine can. Get it! Sure thing, Jacko.

While Hemsworths reps kept their silence  again  on Tuesday when asked about the stars decision to keep his shot under wraps, some other news has come to light. Turns out Hemsworth needed to get vaccinated to participate in a big-budget Nat Geo docuseries called Limitless. In mid-June, the production crew hit Armidale in northern NSW for a shoot that involved filming local Indigenous elders and accessing remote communities  which is why everyone had to be vaccinated.
At the start of the pandemic there were calls for Australians to learn to live with COVID. Those calls were mostly ignored by state premiers who ordered stringent public health measures to contain the spread of COVID.

The current rampant outbreak in NSW has led the Prime Minister and the NSW Premier to return to the live with COVID narrative. But when we try to imagine what living with COVID will look like, we need to realise that there are two very different living with COVID worlds.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison outlines the national plan to live with the virus. Credit:Getty

The first is the 21st-century vaccinated world. A recent Grattan Institute report showed that, with more than 80 per cent of the whole population vaccinated, we could open up our borders and live with COVID without lockdowns.

Living in this world would essentially involve a return to a pre-COVID life  stranded Australians could return, state borders would always be open, and vaccinated tourists and international students would be able to fly into Australia without quarantine.
Loading The sexual abuse of children and young people has been kept under wraps, it gets put in the too hard basket; we have almost an inherent blindness to it, Ms Foster said. We need to make it everybodys business to understand what to look out for and how to identify red flags and have the confidence to respond and know where specialist services are. Will Milne, ABS director of the National Centre for Crime and Justice Statistics, said the prevalence of sexual assault reporting by women had increased between 2010 and 2019, which could be because they are feeling more comfortable coming forward to police. The data strongly contradicted the assumption that sexual assault of women was most often perpetrated by a stranger.

People think stranger danger is the most prevalent, but the perpetrator is usually a known family member, and the key sexual assault perpetrator is [one involved in] intimate partner violence, said Mr Milne. The most common reasons women did not report sexual assault included that they felt ashamed or embarrassed, did not think there was anything police could do or did not regard it as a serious offence. They were more likely to report it to police if they had a physical injury, particularly if they had seen a doctor or health professional for it, and if they perceived the incident as a crime rather than as wrong but not a crime, or something that just happens. Ms Foster said the low reporting rate was not surprising given survivors know the chances of getting convictions are low and the court experience is harrowing, with survivors ripped to shreds in the stand. Public advocacy by women including Grace Tame, Brittany Higgins and Chanel Contos, combined with law reform in many states, should help more survivors feel it was worth reporting sexual assault.

We know now only 1.5 per cent [of reports] result in conviction; 98.5 per cent of sex predators are considered innocent in eyes of the law. Something is wrong with that system, Ms Foster said. One million women had been sexually abused before they were aged 15, the report found. Just under half were aged between five and nine when it first happened, and the most common perpetrator was a known person who was not a family member (42 per cent). Of 412,000 men who reported they had experienced child sexual abuse, just under half had first been assaulted when aged between 10 and 14. The most common perpetrator was also a known person who was not a family member. The report is part of a series to help assess the performance of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children. It noted across three cycles of the bureaus Personal Safety Surveys in 2005, 2012 and 2016 that most sexual assaults experienced by adults were not reported.

The 2016 survey found that in the previous 10 years, only 13 per cent of women reported their most recent incident of assault by a male perpetrator to police. Male sexual assault victims who reported the incident to police took longer than female victims: of 24,541 recorded by police between 2014 and 2019, 39 per cent reported within a week of the assault but 19 per cent took 20 years or more to report the assault. Loading Of 119,589 female victims who reported in the same period, nearly half (48 per cent) reported in less than a week and 5.9 per cent reported incidents that happened 20 years or more ago. National Childrens Commissioner, Anne Hollonds, said children were essentially invisible and reforms were needed to make them a national priority.
Frustrated doctors in hotspot suburbs, some with the lowest vaccination rates in the city, warn their Pfizer vaccination waitlists have stretched into November, with one south-west medical centre forced to cancel dozens of appointments after hundreds of doses failed to arrive.

It comes despite NSW Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce on Tuesday calling for more young people in the citys west and south-west to make bookings to be vaccinated, with well over 200,000 Pfizer appointments still available at the citys mass vaccination hubs after an extra 530,000 extra jabs were rushed to into hotspots 10 days ago.

NSW Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce urged people in hotspot areas to get vaccinated. Credit:Kate Geraghty

As we said earlier in the week, we still have well over 200,000 spots available for people in those 12 LGAs. There is plenty of capacity, said Ms Pearce. Dont delay.

But at federal government-run Lakemba Respiratory Clinic, practice manager Tareq Saleh said he had to borrow more than 120 Pfizer doses from a nearby medical centre on Tuesday to ensure he could keep at least some appointments after his weekly Pfizer delivery didnt show up.
Richard Pusey, the man who filmed four dying police officers after a crash on Melbournes Eastern Freeway, has been banned from working as a mortgage broker for a decade after making false statements to authorities over a number of years.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission on Tuesday said it revoked the licence of Pusey after he provided seven false statements in credit licence applications and compliance statements between 2011 and 2017.

Richard Pusey. Credit:

But the financial watchdog also banned the Porsche driver on character grounds, saying he lacked honesty, judgement and had no regard for the law.

ASIC was satisfied that Mr Pusey  lacks the attributes of good character, honesty, and judgement; has no regard for the law [and] cannot be relied upon to comply with directions issued from authorities, the watchdog said.
The Andrews governments move to make the Pfizer vaccine available to Victorians aged 16 to 39 from Wednesday prompted widespread cancellation of AstraZeneca appointments at GP clinics and created lengthy delays on the states booking website on Tuesday.

Until Wednesday, people between 18 and 39 were able to get the AstraZeneca vaccine in Victoria, but Prime Minister Scott Morrisons announcement last week making Pfizer available for people aged over 16 from August 31 meant people with AstraZeneca bookings had suddenly cancelled or were not showing up.

Premier Daniel Andrews has opened up accessibility to Pfizer. Credit:Justin McManus

Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday that the Commonwealths surprise move had in part forced his hand. Though he has spruiked the efficacy and safety of AstraZeneca more than most state premiers, he said people who had booked for their first dose of AstraZeneca at state hubs would now have the option of receiving Pfizer instead.

From 7am on Wednesday, 830,000 more first-dose vaccine appointments will be available, more than half of which will be Pfizer. AstraZeneca  manufactured in Melbourne and stockpiled in its millions  will still be available to people aged 18 and over, but those aged 16 and 17 will receive only Pfizer.
Several dozen University of Western Australia students stormed the vice chancellors office rooms late on Monday to protest further proposed cuts to the school of molecular sciences.

Up to 35 students refused to leave until they had met with Professor Amit Chakma, who was due to meet with the university senate ahead of further announcements over the finalisation of job cuts to its professional department of brand, marketing and recruitment, and academic restructures in its school of social sciences that effectively dismantled anthropology and sociology.

UWA students protest outside the vice chancellors offices as the university forges ahead with job cuts and restructures. Credit:UWA Pelican

UWA Student Guild Education Action Network co-ordinator Nicole McEwen said they questioned if $40 million in job cuts and course restructures were necessary, given there was little evidence or transparency around the universitys finances.

The universitys annual report recorded a $55 million operating surplus and $99 million in cash provided by operating activities in 2020. But it also tallied a loss of $2.4 million, according to a classification used by Group of Eight universities known as an underlying result, that suggested it was in a weaker financial position.
Its been an interesting few days for the childcare sector and the parents who rely on it.

After a weekend of rapidly changing advice in Victoria, childcare centres and outside school hours care are closed, except for families where one parent is an authorised worker with a permit, and for vulnerable children.

In New South Wales and the ACT, parents have been strongly encouraged to keep their kids home unless they are unable to care for them at home.

With centre operators on the brink, the federal government stepped in on Monday with financial support for early learning centres and after-hours care.
An announcement that Melbourne has officially relinquished the grand final for the second straight year is expected by the end of the week.

Against that backdrop of inevitability, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has confirmed a semi-final could be played in the Apple Isle this season and while ticket scalpers take advantage of the states lack of scalping legislation, selling seats to this weekends elimination finals at inflated prices.

The grand final will leave the MCG again. Credit:Scott Barbour

With no clear end in sight to Victorias sixth COVID-19 lockdown, well-placed industry sources said they expected the Victorian government would by mid-week confirm arrangements to again concede the grand final cannot be played at the MCG, allowing the AFL to announce the matchs move to another venue.

Perths Optus Stadium remains a clear favourite to host the match according to industry sources.
The AFL has agreed that a decision on whether a standalone team from Tasmania will enter the league will be made in early 2022, after negotiations between AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein over a timeline were finalised on Tuesday.

The agreement means that Gutwein will roll over the existing contracts with Hawthorn and North Melbourne to play games in Tasmania into 2022.

Next year, clubs will vote on a Tasmanian team entering the competition. Credit:Getty Images

The decision comes after the Carter report, released early this month, declared that a standalone team in Tasmania was viable and the AFL should pursue a process towards establishing a team in the state.

The AFL said in a statement that a position for the AFL licence would be put to club presidents in line with the funding model for the AFL industry that is being developed. This model, which determines club funding and the collective bargaining agreement for 2023 and 2024, is expected to be completed in early 2022.
Harris said the US would donate an additional 1 million Pfizer vaccines to Vietnam, which would start arriving within 24 hours, bringing the total to 6 million so far. While Vietnam has become increasingly worried about Chinas assertiveness over disputed territory, it has avoided overtly siding against Beijing along with other south-east Asian nations keen to balance ties between the worlds biggest economies. Vietnam announced Tuesday that China would give it another 2 million vaccine doses, with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh telling Beijings envoy that his country maintained an independent foreign policy and wouldnt join an alliance against another country. Harris trip from Singapore to Vietnam was delayed several hours by an investigation into a possible case of the so-called Havana Syndrome in Hanoi, administration officials said. The investigation was in its early stages and officials deemed it safe for Harris to make her scheduled stop in Vietnam, which is part of her trip across Asia meant to reassure allies about American foreign policy amid the tumultuous evacuation of US forces from Afghanistan. US Vice-President Kamala Harris prepares to leave Singapore on Tuesday. Credit:AP

The Havana Syndrome is the name for a rash of mysterious health incidents first reported by American diplomats and other government employees in the Cuba capital beginning in 2016. Loading It was not immediately clear who was affected by the syndrome, though officials said it was not someone who worked for the Vice-President or the White House, according to the officials, who were not authorised to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation. The US embassy in Hanoi issued a statement saying the delay was because Harris office learnt about a report of a recent possible anomalous health incident in the Vietnamese capital. The embassy provided no details, but said Harris office decided to travel to Hanoi after careful assessment. The US government uses anomalous health incident to describe the syndrome. Some of those impacted report hearing a loud piercing sound and feeling intense pressure in the face. Pain, nausea, and dizziness sometimes followed.

Similar, unexplained health ailments have since been reported by Americans serving in other countries, including Germany, Austria, Russia and China. A variety of theories have been floated to explain the incidents, including targeted microwaves or sonic attack, perhaps as part of an espionage or hacking effort. 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. Administration officials have speculated that Russia may be involved, a suggestion Moscow has denied. Loading Harris was set to depart for Hanoi on Tuesday evening after delivering a speech in Singapore, castigating China for its incursions into the South China Sea, and a discussion of supply chain issues with business leaders. But the flight was delayed for more than three hours and Symone Sanders, Harris chief spokesperson, refused to explain. Unprompted, Sanders volunteered that Harris was well although reporters had seen the Vice-President several times on Tuesday and had no reason to be concerned about her health.

Congress has raised alarms over such attacks, finding rare bipartisan support in the House and Senate for continued government-wide investigation into the syndrome, response as well as millions in support for American personnel medical monitoring and treatment. The Biden administration is facing new pressure to resolve the mystery as the number of reported cases of possible attack has sharply grown. But scientists and government officials arent yet certain about who might have been behind any attacks, if the symptoms could have been caused inadvertently by surveillance equipment  or if the incidents were actually attacks. Whatever an official review concludes could have enormous consequences. Confirmation that a US adversary has been conducting damaging attacks against US personnel would unleash calls for a forceful response by the United States. For now, the administration is providing assurances that it takes the matter seriously, is investigating aggressively and will make sure those affected have good medical care. One key analysis identified directed, pulsed radio frequency energy as the most plausible culprit. Published in December by the National Academy of Sciences, the report said a radio frequency attack could alter brain function without causing gross structural damage. But the panel could not make a definitive finding on how US personnel may have been hit.
Singapore: Afghan refugees in Jakarta defied lockdown restrictions and fought with police as they protested against falling humanitarian intakes by Australia and other countries.

Defying a ban on public gatherings in the Indonesian capital imposed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, more than 1000 refugees from Afghanistan were met by police, some in full PPE kit, who warned that troops stood by ready to disperse the crowds by force.

We ask [you to disperse] as we are still under the social restriction conditions. This is the second warning. The troops are ready, an officer told the protesters according to local media.

The traditional staging point for asylum seekers bidding to travel to Australia by boat, Indonesia has more than 14,000 registered refugees, over half of them ethnic Hazara from Afghanistan, who have long been persecuted by the Taliban.
The week-old COVID-19 outbreak in New Zealand now counts 148 cases, after 41 new community cases were reported on Tuesday.

Speaking at a daily media briefing in Wellington, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield stressed that although the numbers were rising, they werent out of control.

Yes, weve seen an increase today but reassuringly were not seeing an exponential growth in case numbers, said Bloomfield. So thats good.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said fighting the Delta variant is like a different virus.

And were also seeing that the vast majority are in Auckland, with the Wellington-based ones linked to [existing] cases, he said.
Theatrical licensing firm Concord Theatricals has announced that a one-hour version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats has been released to schools and children's theaters in North America.

"We've adapted the title so that it can be successfully performed by young people of all levels and experience, from this is my first show' to triple threats," said Timothy Allen McDonald, founder of iTheatrics, the company that created the pared-down adaptation. "With a running time of approximately 60 minutes, the show has been honed to its essence, revealing a story of forgiveness and acceptance."

Adapted from T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, Cats is one of the most successful musicals in history, running on Broadway for over 18 years. It is about a group of cats with whimsical names like Rum Tum Tugger and Bombalurina who gather on one special night to determine which of them will ascend on a magical tire to the "Heaviside Layer." In TheaterMania's review of the 2016 Broadway revival, our critic called it, "an extravagant feline death ritual."

Each show pack for the young actors edition of Cats includes a downloadable production guide, student vocal book, piano/vocal score, guide vocal tracks, accompaniment tracks, audition sides, official artwork, and instructional choreography and staging videos.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is the composer of Cats.

( David Gordon)

"I first experienced the singular thrill of seeing kids interpret my work in 1968, when I wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for school children to perform," said composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. "It gives me great joy to know that this version of CATS will become a part of many kittens' lives."

Click here to request a license for your own production of Cats.
Since the 1999 release of the dystopian action movie The Matrix, the metaphor of that movie's "red pill" (taken by its protagonist to see the world as it really is) and "blue pill" (taken to remain blissfully ignorant) has entered the vernacular to denote a major revelation. To "take the red pill" could mean waking up to the machinations of global capitalism, or recognizing a system of family law that privileges women, or realizing that the Democratic Party takes Black voters for granted  depending on whom you ask. Lilly Wachowski, who created the film with sister Lana before both came out as transgender, has recently revealed that the "red pill" was intended as an allegory about gender identity.

Great stories have a tendency to slip the surly bonds of authorial intent to touch the hearts of listeners wherever they might be. Such is the case of the Sophocles tragedy Antigone, recently presented by Torn Out Theater in a relatively new translation by Anne Carson called Antigonick. Competently directed by Britt Berke with few frills (and later, even fewer costumes), Antigonick leaves its audience with an open-ended question of what this tale of rebellion in the face of unyielding authority might mean in 2021.

The plot remains largely unchanged from the fifth century BC: Following the civil war between the sons of Oedipus which resulted in both of their deaths, their uncle Kreon (David John Phillips) has ascended the throne of Thebes. He honors the sacrifice of one nephew, but has decreed that the other should rot where he fell outside the city walls, and that anyone caught trying to bury him should be put to death. Their sister Antigone (Sophia Quiroga) openly defies her uncle-king. Despite warnings from the blind prophet Teiresias (an unsettlingly witchy El Yurman) and his own son, Haimon (Milo Longenecker), Kreon obstinately persists in his sentence  that Antigone should be buried alive.

Kaia Parnell plays Nick in Antigonick.

( Neal Bennington)

Founded in 2016 for the staging of a nude outdoor production of The Tempest, Torn Out Theater has built a reputation in New York with its (literally) stripped-down productions of Hamlet and The Rover. While a last-minute change of venues from Prospect Park to the Center at West Park has removed the outdoor component of the company's style, Antigonick still uses the unadorned body as an instrument for unveiling the classics to a modern audience.

In this case, Antigone removes her vaguely Grecian gown (costumes by Ilana Lupkin) the moment she defies Kreon's orders and decides to bury her brother. Mounds of dirt occupy the stage in Keyon Monte's minimal yet earthy set design. A large stained glass window upstage reading "In Memoriam" (the building is home to an active Presbyterian congregation) is a silver lining to the move indoors, serving as a constant reminder of how we honor the dead and how we don't. Following Antigone's example, other characters disrobe during similar moments of truth. In other words, they take the nude pill.

Putting any naked body onstage is an act of defiance in our increasingly repressed age. But putting naked trans bodies onstage, as Torn Out has done here, feels downright revolutionary. With so many state legislatures taking aim at transgender Americans, it's hard not to feel Antigone's spirit of resistance coursing through this production.

Quiroga conveys that most acutely with a performance that is both powerful and vulnerable. Longenecker is similarly bold in his portrayal of Haimon, who becomes Romeo to her Juliet. Kaia Parnell is a haunting presence as Nick (as in "Nick of Time"), constantly measuring the stage and counting heads in the audience. Amy Elizabeth makes a memorable late appearance as Kreon's wife Eurydike, managing to cut through Carson's often-too-clever Brechtian alienation (she enters with the line, "This is Eurydike's monologue it's her only speech in the play") to deliver real aching emotion.

David John Phillips plays Kreon, and Milo Longenecker plays Haimon in Antigonick.

( Neal Bennington)

The most unexpected performance of the evening comes from Phillips, who portrays Kreon not as an adamantine patriarch, but a deeply closeted homosexual. And really, the two categories are not mutually exclusive. He seems to be viscerally disgusted by the thought of women's bodies, spitting out his lines like a toddler would a Brussels sprout. It makes Antigone's nude crusade feel all the more poignant.

A story as timeless as Antigone is elastic enough for this treatment, as every age redefines authority and revolt. To Seamus Heaney, Kreon was George W. Bush, while he was more Vladimir Putin in Ivo Van Hove's imagining. Carson also provided the text for that 2015 production starring Juliette Binoche, but Van Hove insisted that she make an all-new translation just for him. One wonders when Kreon will be reimagined as a Belgian auteur.

As inspired as I was by Torn Out's production of Antigonick, I left the theater thinking that there was an even more shocking way to tell this story: Antigone, a woman who ignores a state mandate for religious reasons, and who expresses that choice through the dramatic removal of a garment, isn't a heroine well-suited for the modern progressive movement. I suspect that were she a real person in 2021, she would be an anti-vaxxer  a tough pill to swallow for theater audiences these days.
Become A Corporate Hero - Join The Auto Channel's TACH-TV Broadcast Television Network







Auto Central January 14, 2015; Even if you are not in Florida or Boston you can still "Go TACH'n" Watch The Auto Channel-TV STREAMING LIVE at WHDT.Net sponsored in part by Grundy Classic Car Insurance.



Monday - Saturday 2PM-5PM and 7PM-10PM

Sunday 7PM-10PM

EDITOR'S NOTE: We did launch the network 9 years ago. We're only posting this again for fun

Initial launches today on Florida TV Stations and Cable Systems

Originally Published June 2012

LOUISVILLE KY and MIAMI, FL  June 15, 2012: The Auto Channel LLC, in conjunction with WHDT World Television Service, has launched THE AUTO CHANNEL broadcast television network (TACH-TV) today. TACH-TV features television and video programming produced over the years by The Auto Channel, along with select video content produced by independent producers and studios. The television programming is presented in a traditional linear format but utilizes The Auto Channels enormous automotive website, TheAutoChannel.com, to provide on-demand, random access to supportive content.

The national broadcast network rollout begins today in Florida and can be seen on WHDT's family of television station outlets that cover most of Southern Florida, including Miami, Naples, Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Jupiter, Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce and Vero Beach. Viewers should check local television listings for channel assignments and detailed program information.

Additional local stations in California, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Massachusetts are expected to be added this summer.

Watch the TACH-TV Launch Video

Two of the key elements that will differentiate THE AUTO CHANNEL broadcast network from other automotive television programming are the affiliation with TheAutoChannel.com website and the emphasis on local market outreach with dealers, enthusiasts, and consumers. The first website to use Internet streaming video (February 1996) and one of the Internet's leading pioneers, TheAutoChannel.com contains more than one million pages of content, several dynamic data bases, a news library that reaches back to the early 1990s, and thousand of new vehicle reviews. All content on TheAutoChannel.com is provided free-of-charge 24-hours a day, every day.

The Auto Channel was founded twenty five years ago, in May 1987, by Bob Gordon and Marc Rauch, president and executive vice president, respectively. Both Gordon and Rauch are multi-award winning producer/directors, each with about a half-century of hands-on media experience.

WHDT World Television Service is owned by founder Dr. Gunter Marksteiner, a pioneer in progressive high-definition broadcasting in the United States. WHDT became the first digital television station in the United States following a ruling by the Federal Communications Commission that the station could provide primary over-the-air service using only a digital TV signal. WHDT World Television Service currently operates WHDN Boston, WHDT Stuart, WYDT Naples, and WHDT Miami.

The Auto Channel is a registered trademark owned by The Auto Channel LLC, all rights reserved.
Up for debate:

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Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb receives his Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during the state's first mass vaccination clinic at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, March 5, 2021, in Indianapolis. The state health department said nearly 17,000 people had filled up four days of appointments for the speedway clinic.
A "now hiring" sign is seen in front of a Home Depot store May 6, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Jennifer Conary looks away as she receives a COVID-19 vaccination May 12, 2021, in Auburn, Maine.
The entrance to St. Paul's School is seen Feb. 26, 2016, in Concord, New Hampshire.
Managing Editor

Delphine Luneau is a veteran journalist with more than 20 years of experience. She was the editor of Suburban Life Media when its flagship was named best weekly in Illinois, and she has worked at papers in South Carolina, Indiana, Idaho and New York.
Cars are stacked on top of each other on the banks of Blue Creek on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, after being swept up in flood water in Waverly, Tenn.
Cheyenne, WY (82001)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 56F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.
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In response to growing hospitalization rates across the state due to the Delta variant of COVID-19, Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek today announced that the upcoming public hearings of the House and Senate Redistricting Committees will be moved to a virtual format. Read more
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Towanda, PA (18848)

Today

Rain likely. Potential for flooding rains. High 67F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy and damp with rain early...then becoming partly cloudy. Low 54F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Oneonta, NY (13820)

Today

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Melanie joined The Daily Times in the early 90s and has served as the Life section editor since 1993. A William Blount and UT alum, Melanie is generally the early arriver who turns on the lights in the newsroom.

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Michael Reagan is the son of the late President Ronald Reagan, a political consultant and the author of Lessons My Father Taught Me: The Strength, Integrity, and Faith of Ronald Reagan.
News

Students across the county return to school

scarpenter / Austin Bailey/Daily Courier Students in this first grade class at Harris Elementary School are seen in this photo, paying attention to their teacher, Kim Reep. scarpenter / Austin Bailey/Daily Courier Third-grade students raise their hands in response to a question from their teacher, Ansley Parker, in this photo taken at Ellenboro Elementary School Monday morning.

FOREST CITYTraditional county schools began the 2021-22 calendar year Monday, marking the last in Rutherford to get underway.

Students in the Rutherford County Schools (RCS) started classes Monday. Administrators, principals and teachers say they are glad to begin the school year.

This morning has been a whirlwind, but its been good, Harris Elementary School assistant principal Sanna Smawley said Monday. Were very glad to see the students here, on a mostly normal first day of school.

While it isnt uncommon to see a some tears from younger students and even parents on the first day, Smawley said that was not the case Monday.

I didnt see any tears, from parents or students today, she said. Overall, it has been a good day.

Smawley is hoping the rest of the week is a smooth as the beginning.

Ellenboro Elementary School also had no problems with the first day of school.

Weve gotten off to a great start, said Ellenboro principal Kyla Bumgarner. The kids are excited, and the teachers are excited.

Ellenboro is among the largest elementary school in the county, with nearly 600 K-5 students.

Were all happy to be back in school, she added.

RCS administrators also experienced the excitement of a new school year.

Theres really nothing quite like the first day of a new school year, filled with excitement and possibility, and our schools were buzzing with energy and activity throughout the day, RCS Superintendent David Sutton said Monday afternoon.

Every member of the Rutherford County Schools team prepared with great care and attention for our students arrival this morning, he continued. I want to commend them for the hard work that led to a smooth, successful, and positive start. Most importantly, we are delighted to welcome our students and their families to the new school year.

RCS leaders, according to Sutton, look forward to continuing partnerships with the community.

We look forward to working alongside everyone across our school community to support and serve our students, as they learn , grow, and succeed throughout the year, Sutton added.

Ritchie Garland, RCS director of marketing and community relations, added to the parental excitement about starting back to school, by creating downloadable selfie signs for parents and staff to take back-to-school photos and post them to social media using the hastag #backtoschoolRCS.

It is exciting to see the back-to-school buzz from parents, students, and staff across social media platforms as we celebrate the start of another year, Garland said.

This is not the first week of school for all public school students in Rutherford County. Forest City Dunbar Elementary operates on a year-round schedule and began the new year in late July. Rutherford Early College High School (REaCH), as well as public charter schools Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy and Lake Lure Classical Academy began earlier in August.
China Zhongwang Holdings Chairman Liu Zhongtian poses for pictures just after traiding had started at the stock exchange in Hong Kong on May 8, 2009. (Mike Clarke/AFP via Getty Images)

6 California Companies Convicted for Scheme Avoiding $1.8 Billion in Customs Duties on China Imports

A federal jury in Los Angeles on Aug. 23 convicted six southern California companies for taking part in a large-scale conspiracy to avoid paying $1.8 billion in customs duties by disguising aluminum imports as pallets.

The conspirators then sold the pallets to entities disguised to look like real customers with the intent of fraudulently inflating the value of China Zhongwang, the largest manufacturer of aluminum extrusions in Asia.

The six California companies, two aluminum firms, and four warehousing businesses were all related to each other. The jury found all six guilty of one count of conspiracy, nine counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of passing false and fraudulent papers through a customhouse, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.

The aluminum sold to United States-based companies controlled by [Zhongtian] Liu was simply aluminum extrusions that were spot-welded together to make them appear to be functional pallets, the DOJ said. In fact, there were no customers for the 2.2 million pallets imported by the Liu-controlled companies between 2011 and 2014, and no pallets were ever sold.

Instead, two of the defendants in the case, China Zhongwang Holdings Ltd. and Liu, the companys former president, stockpiled the pallets on nearly two million square feet of space owned by the defendants warehouse businesses: Scuderia Development LLC in Riverside; 1001 Doubleday LLC in Ontario; Von KarmanMain Street LLC in Irvine, and 10681 Production Avenue LLC in Fontana.

Since there was no demand for the pallets, Liu and China Zhongwang began to build and acquire facilities that could melt down the aluminum and turn it into a marketable commodity.

The defendants facilitated their schemes by laundering hundreds of millions of dollars through shell companies to the U.S.-based aluminum companies controlled by Liu, the DOJ said in the press release. The funds were then transferred to China Zhongwang and the other shell companies as payments for the aluminum.

(L-R) Chinas Liaoning province Deputy Governor Liu Guoqiang (L), China Zhongwang Holdings Chairman Liu Zhongtian and Hong Kong Stock Exchange Chairman Ronald Arculli (R) toast just after trading had started at the stock exchange in Hong Kong on May 8, 2009. (Mike Clarke/AFP via Getty Images)

China Zhongwang raised $1.26 billion in an initial public offering (IPO) in 2009 on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Liu was the majority owner of China Zhongwang at the time of the IPO.
Karla Hailer, a fifth-grade teacher, shoots a video where a memorial stands at the site where five women were hanged as witches more than 325 years ago, in Salem, Mass., on July 19, 2017. (Stephan Savoia/AP Photo)

8th-Graders Lead Effort to Pardon Wrongly Convicted Witch

BOSTONMore than three centuries after a Massachusetts woman was wrongly convicted of witchcraft and sentenced to death, shes finally on the verge of being exoneratedthanks to a curious eighth-grade civics class.

State Sen. Diana DiZoglio, a Democrat from Methuen, has introduced legislation to clear the name of Elizabeth Johnson Jr., who was condemned in 1693 at the height of the Salem Witch Trials but never executed.

DiZoglio says she was inspired by sleuthing done by a group of 13- and 14-year-olds at North Andover Middle School. Civics teacher Carrie LaPierres students painstakingly researched Johnson and the steps that would need to be taken to make sure she was formally pardoned.

It is important that we work to correct history, DiZoglio said Wednesday. We will never be able to change what happened to these victims, but at the very least, we can set the record straight.

If lawmakers approve the measure, Johnson will be the last accused witch to be cleared, according to Witches of Massachusetts Bay, a group devoted to the history and lore of the 17th-century witch hunts.

Twenty people from Salem and neighboring towns were killed and hundreds of others were accused during a frenzy of Puritan injustice that began in 1692, stoked by superstition, fear of disease and strangers, scapegoating, and petty jealousies. Nineteen were hanged, and one man was crushed to death by rocks.

In the 328 years that have ensued, dozens of suspects officially were cleared, including Johnsons own mother, the daughter of a minister whose conviction eventually was reversed. But for some reason, Johnsons name wasnt included in various legislative attempts to set the record straight.

Johnson was 22 when she was caught up in the hysteria of the witch trials and sentenced to hang. It never happened: Then-Gov. William Phips threw out her punishment as the magnitude of the gross miscarriages of justice in Salem sank in.

But because she wasnt among those whose convictions were formally set aside, hers still technically stands.

It showed how superstitious people still were after the witch trials, said Artem Likhanov, 14, a rising high school freshman who participated in the school project. Its not like after it ended people didnt believe in witches anymore. They still thought she was a witch and they wouldnt exonerate her.

DiZoglios bill would tweak 1957 legislation, amended in 2001, to include Johnson among others who were pardoned after being wrongly accused and convicted of witchcraft.

Why Elizabeth was not exonerated is unclear but no action was ever taken on her behalf by the General Assembly or the courts, DiZoglio said. Possibly because she was neither a wife nor a mother, she was not considered worthy of having her name cleared. And because she never had children, there is no group of descendants acting on her behalf.

In 2017, officials unveiled a semi-circular stone wall memorial inscribed with the names of people hanged at a site in Salem known as Proctors Ledge. It was funded in part by donations from descendants of those accused of being witches.

LaPierre, the teacher, said some of her students initially were ambivalent about the effort to exonerate Johnson because they launched it before the 2020 presidential election and at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic was raging.

Some of the conversations was, Why are we doing this? Shes dead. Isnt there more important stuff going on in the world? she said. But they came around to the idea that its important that in some small way we could do this one thing.

By William J. Kole
Daniel High School students watch from the stands as a football game takes place in Columbia, S.C., on Dec. 5, 2020. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

ACLU Claims South Carolina Ban on School Mask Mandates Violates Rights

A civil liberties group has filed a lawsuit against South Carolina officials, asserting the states ban on school mask mandates violates federal laws aimed at protecting the rights of disabled Americans.

South Carolinas legislature included a prohibition on school mask mandates in its budget, which it passed in June, and Molly Spearman, South Carolinas education superintendent, later told each school board that because of that the school districts were barred from requiring students or employees to wear the face coverings.

That order violated the rights of students with disabilities, including those with certain underlying medical conditions that increase their risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID-19, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) argued in a complaint lodged this week.

More specifically, the barring of school mask mandates goes against the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act, the group said.

Both federal disability rights laws prohibit outright exclusion, denial of equal access, or unnecessary segregation for students with disabilities in public education. Both laws also prohibit methods of administration that defeat the fundamental goals of public schools, that is, to provide an education. Finally, both federal disability rights laws impose affirmative obligations on covered entities to proactively provide reasonable modifications or reasonable accommodations to ensure that individuals with disabilities have an equal opportunity to benefit from their public education, their lawsuit stated.

The group noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends masking in schools, even though many other countries have forgone masking children because theyre at low-risk of contracting serious cases of COVID-19. They cited a collaborative that said recently that data from 100 school districts in North Carolina experienced low COVID-19 transmission when masking was in place.

This finding strengthens CDCs claim that when teachers, staff, and students consistently and correctly wear a mask, they protect others as well as themselves,' the suit stated.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, both Republicans, were among the defendants named.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster talks at a press conference in Columbia, S.C., on Aug. 9, 2021. (Jeffrey Collins/AP Photo)

Plaintiffs asked the federal district court in South Carolina to block defendants from barring school districts from requiring masks.

Plaintiffs include Amanda McDougald Scott, a mother in Greenville County whose child has asthma, and Michelle Finney, a mother in Dorchester whose child has Renpenning syndrome.

Scott yanked her child from public school because of its failure to follow CDC guidance regarding masking, according to the suit. Finney is keeping her child at home for now because his high school cannot require masks.

Wilson could not be reached for comment.

While we dont comment on specific litigation, the only truly inclusive option is to allow every parent to decide whether their child will wear a mask in school. Thats exactly what the General Assemblys budget proviso does in South Carolina, Brian Symmes, a spokesman for McMaster, told The Epoch Times via email.

Seven other states have banned school mask mandates, including Florida, Texas, and Iowa.

Another 10 states require masks in schools. They include California, Hawaii, and New Jersey.

The rest have neither banned mandates or imposed them.

Several court rulings have come down in lawsuits dealing with the requirements.

The Texas Supreme Court last week said schools could require masks while an appeal on a lower court ruling is decided. And a judge in Arkansas earlier this month temporarily blocked Gov. Asa Hutchinsons ban on school mask mandates until the case is concluded.
U.S. President Joe Biden departs during an event to honor the 2020 WNBA champions Seattle Storm in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Aug. 23, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Allies to Press Biden to Extend Afghanistan Aug. 31 Deadline to Continue Evacuations

President Joe Biden is set to be pushed by allies to extend the evacuation operation from Kabul beyond his self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline, amid warnings from the Taliban that doing so would result in consequences.

At an emergency virtual G-7 meeting of leaders on Afghanistan on Aug. 24, the United Kingdom is expected to call on Biden to keep U.S. troops in the country after the end of August to allow evacuation flights out of Kabuls Hamid Karzai International Airport to continue.

The virtual talks come as vulnerable Afghans, who fear a vengeful crackdown by the Taliban terrorist group, and foreigners continue to mass at Kabuls international airport, hoping to escape the country.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Aug. 23 that France is concerned about the deadline set by the United States as additional time is needed to complete ongoing operations.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said that the virtual meeting must come to an agreement on whether to extend the deadline, and how to improve access to Kabuls airport.

A Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command provides assistance during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 22, 2021. (Sgt. Samuel Ruiz/U.S. Marine Corps via AP)

Separately on Aug. 23, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told reporters following a briefing on the matter by intelligence officials that hes not confident that the evacuation can be completed before the Aug. 31 deadline.

I think its possible but I think its very unlikely, given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, Schiff said.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States is in daily talks with the Taliban and is making enormous progress in evacuating Americans and others from Kabul. He added that Biden remains confident that all Americans can be evacuated from the country before the deadline.

In the days remaining, we believe we have the wherewithal to get out the American citizens who want to leave Kabul, Sullivan told reporters during a White House press briefing on Aug. 23.

A day earlier, Biden said evacuation efforts have a long way to go and that a lot could still go wrong.

U.S. Air Force aircrew, assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, assists qualified evacuees boarding a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 21, 2021. (Senior Airman Taylor Crul/U.S. Air Force via AP)

The United States has evacuated more than 37,000 people from Afghanistan since Aug. 14, Sullivan said during an Aug. 23 press briefing.

In the last 24 hours alone, 28 U.S. military flights have evacuated approximately 10,400 people from Kabul, he said.

Meanwhile, Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman, warned on Aug. 23 that there would be consequences if Biden fails to withdraw all troops by his deadline. The terrorist group, which seized control of Kabul on Aug. 15, hasnt specified what those consequences would be.

Ben Wallace, Britains defense secretary, told Sky News that he believes an extension to the Aug. 31 evacuation deadline is unlikely. He said he didnt think there would be an extension not only because of what the Taliban has said but also if you look at the public statements of President Biden, I think it is unlikely.

Wallace added, It is definitely worth us all trying and we will.

The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times.
Antibacterial Agents From Nature

These 'ancientbiotics' may hold the key to the looming threat of antimicrobial resistance

Probiotics, green tea, and honey are examples of ancientbioticsnatural compounds that have been used for centuries to address the overgrowth of opportunistic bacteria. These traditional medicines have also been scientifically validated as having antibacterial properties that are valued to this day.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been declared one of the top 10 global public health threats to humanity. Its fueled by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials and occurs when certain bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites become impervious to the antimicrobial drugs conventionally used to treat them. In the United States alone, 2.8 million people are believed to develop antibiotic-resistant infections annually, and 35,000 people die as a result. In 2018, approximately 5,400 people in Canada died as a direct result of AMR.

As drug-resistant pathogens spread, infections that were once easy to treat can become life-threatening, and there are few new options in development. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) stated, The clinical pipeline of new antimicrobials is dry.

If youre facing a serious infection, you should seek medical attention immediately. However, its useful to be aware of the antibacterial agents found in nature, many of which have been valued since ancient times.

Ancient Natural Antibiotics

With antimicrobial-resistant infections on the rise, scientists are now looking with interest at ancient medieval medical texts, which include various recipes to treat conditions that were likely microbial infections or cases of an altered microbiome (dysbios) and where certain naturally occurring microbes grew opportunistically and out of proportion to their natural ratios. One such remedy thats 1,000 years old included crushed garlic and a second substance in the Allium species combined with wine and oxgall, or bovine bile, then left to sit in a brass or bronze vessel for nine days and nights.

The ingredients combined to treat this infection appear promising to the modern microbiologist, researchers wrote in the journal mBio. They reconstructed the remedy, which they believe was used to treat styes, then known as wen, which are caused by staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

The ancientbiotics turned out to be effective, with the study noting their activity relies on the combined activity of several antimicrobial ingredients and highlights the untapped potential of premodern remedies for yielding novel therapeutics at a time when new antibiotics are desperately needed.

In other instances, garlic was used in ancient Greece, Rome, India, and China for infections and respiratory ailments, while in ancient Egypt, China, Serbia, Greece, and Rome moldy bread was applied as a topical treatment for infections. Other ancient civilizations relied on herbs, honey, and, in some cases, animal feces to treat infection.

Natural Antibacterial Agents

Some of the most prized antimicrobial agents come from nature, and many of them are easy to access and incorporate into your routine as necessary. At GreenMedInfo.com, you can read about 525 substances that work as antibacterial agents, which include:

1. Probiotics

Ancient civilizations embraced fermented foods, which gave them a rich source of probiotics. Today, probiotics are well known for bolstering the beneficial bacteria in your gut. Less widely known is their usefulness for directly inhibiting bacterial pathogens such as E. coli, shigella, salmonella, and C. difficile. A multi-strain probiotic is especially useful for this purpose.

Probiotics also produce inhibitory substances such as hydrogen peroxide and bacteriocins, which may inhibit pathogenic bacteria, while also blocking adhesion sites, competing for nutrients with pathogens, and bolstering the immune response. Unequivocal evidence proves the antimicrobial activity of probiotics, which includes:

Reduced giardia infection

Decrease in candida and protection against candidiasis

Reduced accumulation of bacterial plaque

The ability to fight skin pathogens

2. Cranberry

Cranberry contains a number of active compounds including phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, and organic acids that inhibit the growth of staphylococcus bacteria and salmonella and inhibit E. coli in the urinary tractgrapefruit seeds have also shown promise in treating urinary tract infections, including antibiotic-resistant varieties.

Cranberry compounds also have noted anti-adhesion effects against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, meaning it interferes with the ability of the bacteria to adhere to your tissues. A 2020 study also found that cranberry has an antibacterial effect against periodontal pathogens in biofilms, working to reduce bacteria adhesion and prevent bacterial colonization in the mouth.

3. Green Tea

Of the four primary catechins in green tea, three of themepicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)have impressive antimicrobial effects. In addition to directly inhibiting streptococcus mutans, the main cause of cavities, and reducing their attachment to oral surfaces, green tea also has antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including E. coli, salmonella, staphylococcus aureus, enterococcus, candida albicans, HIV, herpes simplex, and influenza.

Like many natural compounds, what makes green tea so beneficial is that it uses a variety of mechanisms in its antimicrobial activities. The catechins it contains are directly antimicrobial, in that they cause damage to the bacterial cell membrane and inhibit enzyme activity. Green tea also inhibits inflammation, which can increase the total antimicrobial effects that it has on an individual.

In the case of green tea for urinary tract infections, which are often caused by E. coli, one study suggested that drinking a cup of brewed green tea may control the growth of bacteria for up to six hours, and perhaps longer.

4. Curcumin

Curcumin, an active compound in the spice turmeric, has been a part of Asian traditional medicine for centuries and has notable antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects, including against staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus, gram-positive bacteria (including listeria), gram-negative bacteria (including E. coli), pseudomonas, HIV, hepatitis, influenza, herpes viruses, human papillomavirus (HPV), respiratory syncytial virus, noroviruses, arboviruses, candida, aspergillus, cryptococcus, dermatophytes, and helicobacter pylori.

In addition to being consumed orally, curcumin can also be applied topically to treat conditions such as HPV and oral plaque.

5. Honey

Honey is another ancient remedy that has long been used to combat bacteria and treat infections, burns, and wounds. Its unique in that it has broad-spectrum antibacterial activity with multiple components that work synergistically, preventing biofilm formation and decreasing the production of virulence factors.

Honey is also known to block bacterial communication, which means antibiotic resistance is unlikely to develop against honey, and, because it contains prebiotics, probiotics, and zinc, it supports the growth of beneficial gut flora that is also useful for infection control.

Honey contains more than 180 compounds, including enzymes, amino acids, organic acids, vitamins, and minerals, a complex composition that makes it useful against even multidrug-resistant bacteria. Ulcers, burns, eye and skin diseases, post-surgical wounds, and traumatic injuries are among those often treated with honey.

Is Nature the Answer?

The fact that 30 percent to 50 percent of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals are derived from plants is a testimony to their potent healing powers. Plants and other natural compounds are increasingly being valued in the search for compounds to combat antimicrobial resistance, but its difficult to isolate effective individual active compounds from nature, which tends to work best in synergy.

Still, nature holds immense promise. Synergistic combinations of antimicrobial agents with different mechanisms of action have been introduced as more successful strategies to combat infections involving multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria, researchers wrote in PLOS One. Other natural compounds that are notable for their antibacterial activity include Nigella sativa (black seed), berberine, and bee propolis.

On an individual level, using antibiotics only when necessary, consuming organic, antibiotic-free food, and embracing natural antibiotic compounds is a balanced approach to staying healthy and well.
Australia Almost Unscathed By Europes New Carbon Tariffs

Despite pressure to set stricter emissions reduction targets to avoid the European Unions (EU) sweeping new carbon levies, new research has shown that the measures will leave Australias industries largely untouched.

A report (pdf) by the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), Australias peak industry body, stated that Australias critical exportssuch as iron ore and coalremain, for the time being, untouched by the EUs new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Australian Industry Group research finds that carbon border adjustments are not an imminent threat to Australia and could be an important opportunity if we get on the front foot, said Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox.

The new CBAM will require overseas businesses shipping aluminium, cement, electricity, fertiliser, or steel to the EU to purchase emissions allowances.

However, the report outlined that only 5 percent of Australias steel exports went to the EU, with the other products impacted by the carbon levy exported in negligible quantities.

Australia appears to have little to fear in the medium term from actually implementable border adjustments by the EU or anyone else, said Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox. This is partly because only 0.25 percent of our trade with Europe is affected by the current proposal.

On the other hand, nations that could be more significantly impacted by the CBAM include China, the worlds largest exporter of steel and aluminium.

The research by the Ai group comes a week after the former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon slammed Australia over a lack of a net-zero target, accusing the federal government of falling behind on emissions efforts compared to the nations states and international partners.

Former UN head Ban Ki-moon speaks at the launch of a report on climate adaptation, by the Global Commission on Adaptation, in Beijing, China, on Sep. 10, 2019. (Photo credit should read Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Ethically, the toll of inaction on climate is incalculable, Ban said. Australias current goal  and the absence of a national zero emissions target, is out of step with its states, its trading partners, and other comparable nations.

Ban urged Australia to follow suit and ramp up emissions reduction efforts or face heavy tariffs on its export industries.

Australia risks finding itself on the wrong side of carbon-border tariffs as other nations move ahead, seizing the opportunities of the zero-carbon age, Ban said.

Port of Hay Point terminal exporting thermal and metallurgical coal in Queensland, Australia in March 2021. (Jackson Stock Photography/Shutterstock)

Its a point Willox concedes Australian industry needs to consider.

He noted that carbon excise tariffs would likely expand around the world and that similar schemes could be implemented in the United States, Japan or other economiespotentially affecting much more of Australias trade.

The CBAM will be introduced transitionally in 2023, but possible expansions to the list of targeted industries will be considered in 2025-26.

While the current proposal had minimal impact on Australia, Willox noted that future amendments to the EU proposalor new carbon borders implemented by other jurisdictionsmeant Australias industries needed to work towards a low-emissions technology overhaul.

Our patchwork world is moving towards net-zero emissions messily and at different speeds, Willox said. In the long term, the industry wont be competitive unless it reaches low-, zero- or negative-emissions.

The Trouble With Carbon Borders

Scott Hamilton, a University of Melbourne researcher and previous Executive Director of Renewable Energy for the Victorian Government, explained that the requirements for non-EU businesses to pay for emissions allowances might inadvertently hamper nations abilities to develop low-emission technologies.

Hamilton, who strongly believes in the need for a rapid reduction in emissions, explained that the intention of the EU CBAM was to ensure a level playing field between businesses in the EU seeking to reduce emissions and overseas businesses making products using cheaper fossil fuels.

Places like Germany will say, were investing a huge amount of money in green hydrogen to make green steel, but we dont want countries like Australia to be exporting steel which is being made from fossil fuels to undercut us, Hamilton told The Epoch Times.

A factory worker moves steel rods at the Multi Slide Industries manufacturing plant in Adelaide, Australia, on Aug. 12, 2013. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)

Currently, the system already applies to businesses within the EUsuch as those generating electricity or other energy-intensive industrieswhich are only allowed to produce emissions based on the number of emissions allowances they possess.

One allowance unit permits the emission of one tonne of carbon dioxide, and these allowances can be bought and traded through the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). The total number of allowances issued gradually diminishes over time, subsequently lowering total emissions.

The new CBAM would also extend this requirement onto nations exporting goods into the EU, incurring additional costs for producers using fossil fuel technology.

However, Hamilton pointed out that forcing countries such as Australia to pay the EU for emissions credits would mean a transfer of wealth out of nations that could have otherwise been used to bolster the research and development of low-emission technologies.

Europe will get that money, and theyll invest further in their technologies and in decarbonizing their systems, and Australia wont, Hamilton said.

Instead, Hamilton proposed Australia should implement its own carbon tax to accelerate the development of technologies like green steel made solely from renewables.

What I would be saying is we should have a price on carbon here and actually take that money and reinvest it into those new technologies, Hamilton said.

But Prime Minister Scott Morrison had previously reiterated that the federal government would not be implementing a carbon tax but would instead commit $20 billion of taxpayer funds towards low-emission technologies as part of its technology investment roadmap.
Authoritarianism and Censorship in the COVID Era, Part 1: Propaganda and Vaccine Patriotism

Commentary

Today is the beginning of a form of discrimination that has never been witnessed in history, and this in the land of liberty and human rights. I have not been able to enter a store for a long time now because it is out of the question that I put a sanitary napkin on my face. Since July 21st, I have not been allowed to go to the cinema, to the theater, to a concert. And from this day on, I am not allowed to go to a bar or a restaurant, nor to take a train or a plane. Some people have mentioned the yellow star, but the comparison is irrelevant: The yellow star did not prevent you from going to the restaurant or taking the train. Some have evoked apartheid, but the comparison is irrelevant: Apartheid did not prevent blacks from having their own restaurants or from traveling.Yves Daoudal, French journalist

Weve now entered that perilous phase in the psychic pandemic that can only be called Vaccine Pride. Wherever two or three Covidians are gathered together, the first question between them is Have you received your second dose?whereupon the twice-inoculated proclaim the fact with born-again triumphalism. The jabs (surely the most infelicitous metonymy in the history of the language) are now the stigmata of righteousness and yet another invitation to the postmodernists defining pose of moral superiority.

When universal forced vaccination becomes the lawdepending on where you live, its either already here or imminentand showing written proof of vaccination is obligatory for admission to stores, workplaces, government offices, airports, subways, and buses, or for keeping your job or merely leaving your home, dont be surprised if those Untermenschen who demur are required to wear something equivalent to the yellow star of David to advertise their moral insalubriousness and physical danger to the general public.

Thats not my comparison, by the way, but that of Vera Sharav, a Holocaust survivor appalled to see an ugly historical atavism reasserting itself.

Governments around the world are already broadcasting their talking points into mainstream media megaphones: The unvaccinated are incubators of vestigial disease and seedbeds of the outbreaks of the new variants. President Joe Biden attributed 100 percent of current COVID-19 infections to the unvaccinated; Dr. Anthony Faucis made-up number was more conservative, at 95 percent. Right on cue, the social media mobs have picked up their torches and pitchforks, and the virtual witch hunt has begun.

That the unvaccinated are disproportionately represented in the new case count is a baseless lie, of course. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in April that it has stopped tracking COVID-19 cases among the vaccinated that dont result in hospitalizations or deaths and is now assuming that all new cases are among the unvaccinated remnant. As Dr. Peter McCullough has observed, This intentional misinformation and propaganda scheme has been used to drive an incredible fury of vaccine mandates for schools and universities, government agencies, veterans administrations, and so on, notwithstanding that there have been no reported outbreaks in such locations.

But demagogues have always known that a population will eagerly cede its civil liberties to their maniacal ambitions if it has been sufficiently discomposed by panic, and once a scapegoat has been expediently identified upon which to project its anxieties and hatred. Disease has always been the objective correlative of moral evil in the propaganda of the almighty state. Its instructive that a brilliant and civilized nation allowed itself to be persuaded by the Nazis that the Jews, as a race, were breeders of disease.

In times of hardship or famine, other civilized European peoples imagined that the toxic auras of witches or heretics in their midst had polluted their drinking water or blighted their crops. As Piers Robinson (an academic who has made the study of propaganda his lifelong specialty) has admonished, stigmatizing the unvaccinated minority in this way can only get ugly.

Government fear-mongering in the cause of eradicating COVID-19impossible, and thus unprecedented in the history of public pandemic responsehas certainly reached a new low. An old alumnus, otherwise of sound mind and body, recently declined to gather with fellow students on a pubs outdoor patio because he didnt know how many of the attendees had been double-vaccinated. Needless to say, he had been double-vaccinated, which meant that he was protected against serious illness even if he became infected with the Delta variant (highly transmissible, but much less pathogenic than the ur-form of the virus, as is always the case with inevitable mutations) from one of the unvaccinated Untermenschen.

In his decision to self-quarantine, the clincher was his desire to be able to visit his pre-teen grandchildren. Now, transmissibility to and from children is so minuscule as to be statistically insignificant, leading one to wonder: Has the medias censorship of this non-sensationalist good news been so effective that he has never heard of it? Or has the governments fear campaign been so effective that his brain has become addled to the point that he hasnt been able to take it in? Did I mention that he was double-vaccinated?

As Jung observed in his magisterial monograph The Undiscovered Self, fear and loathing, when strategically inseminated by power-hungry rulers, can reduce a population to a state of collective psychosis:

If the affective temperature rises above [a certain] level, the possibility of reasons having any effect ceases and its place is taken by slogans and chimerical wish-fantasies. That is to say, a sort of collective possession results which rapidly develops into a psychic epidemic.  In a state of collective possession,  chimerical ideas, upborne by fanatical resentment, appeal to the collective irrationality and find fruitful soil there, for they express all those motives and resentments which lurk in more normal people under the cloak of reason and insight.

On such occasions, the most deranged and fanatical elements of the population are invested with authority and become dangerous sources of infection. As the viral infection deliquesces, we might wish to spare a thought for the epidemic of irrationality it has bred. Certainly, insisting that not only you, but everyone around you, must be double-vaccinated, wearing masks, social distancing, quarantining on return from travel, and (for the most part of the past 18 months) locked inside their dwellingsall at the same timeis either insanity or an example of the cautionary principle of redundancy run amok.

The general publics only excuse is that, like socialism, egalitarianism, and most other bad ideas, the current covideological madness is a socially top-down phenomenon. There was never a seething grassroots movement for self-muzzling, universal house arrest, and economic suicide. Whether you believe that COVID-19 is tantamount to a serious seasonal influenza or a plague on the scale of the Black Death, there can be no doubt that the campaign mounted over the past 18 months by governments and medical bureaucrats to promote social distancing and lockdowns and persuade citizens to obey mask, and now vaccine, mandates, has been ubiquitous and relentless.

The treacly Masks Keep You and Grandma Safe slogans on the backs of buses, digital overhead highway signs, and TV and internet ads have now elided into Vaccines Keep You and Grandma Safe, with the economy of a few brushstrokes. The aforementioned Piers Robinson has described the incessant state sermonizing as the largest propaganda operation in human history. Its soothing for some to know that its propaganda in our own interests, save that the same pleading was used by the communist totalitarian regimes of the 20th century to justify their Ministries of Truth (everyones favorite Orwellism).

That fact wont convince progressives who believe that the nanny state is by nature beneficent. But then, as P.J. ORourke has remarked, such ideological credulity is merely the adult phase of the belief in Santa Claus. In any case, the general publics unquestioning acceptance of what the medical experts have told them about COVID-19 will surely be remembered as one of the direst pandemics of religious fideism in history.

Whither departeth the skepticism that supposedly defines the secular and scientific temperament? Even when propaganda has been employed by democratic governments for arguably worthy endsto maintain Allied morale during World War II, for exampleno one doubts that it has trafficked in at least the occasional stretcher. During every war since, the lefts lie detectors have been calibrated to a more exquisite sensitivity than that of the PCR test. And remember, this is war (as officially declared in early 2020 by Uncle Tedros, Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron, and practically every other world leader). But this time, progressives are all in, and as far as theyre concerned, those who refuse the vaccine are (literally) giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

On the left, Trump Derangement Syndrome has thus mutated into COVID Derangement Syndrome, and in such a way that the enemy conveniently remains the same. Even as Afghanistan is dissolving into another fundamentalist Islamic state, the Biden administrations Department of Homeland Security has just enumerated the two greatest terrorist threats facing the United States today, extremists emerging from the cells of (in reverse order): (2) those who continue to question the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election and (1) those who have questioned the governments COVID-19 measures. Got that? For questioning the Democrats electoral victory, youre an insurrectionist; for questioning their COVID-19 measures, youre a dangerous anti-science jihadist.

COVID-19 has thus addled the brains of the indoctrinators no less completely than the indoctrinated. State propaganda used to be better than this. The ghosts of Lenin and Mao must now be wondering what has happened to a once high art.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A charging device for the the new Nissan Leaf vehicle is seen on July 11, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

BlackRock Jumpstarts Australias Electric Charger Network With $100M

The worlds largest investment fund BlackRock will invest $100 million (US$72 million) towards the rollout of 5,000 electric vehicle charging stations across Australia.

BlackRock Real Assets will acquire a stake in Australian electric vehicle (EV) charging provider JOLT Charge and will support its expansion by helping to build infrastructure that will encourage Australians to take up EVs faster.

This is BlackRocks first investment in the EV charging sector in the Asia-Pacific region and is part of the rollout of its Global Renewable Power Strategy fund, which is focused on renewable energy infrastructure assets.

Charlie Reid, managing director of BlackRock Renewable Power, said the partnership with JOLT had long-term potential growth.

A sign for BlackRock Inc on its building in New York, on July 16, 2018. (Reuters/Lucas Jackson)

We believe the electrification of transport plays a pivotal role in advancing Australias energy transition, and we look forward to harnessing this through our investment in JOLT, he said in a statement.

Doug McNamee, CEO and founder of JOLT, said Australia had a critical role to play in advancing the world towards a net-zero emissions future.

Were excited to be leading the way forward by building the vital infrastructure needed to power our roads, address range anxiety and help get more Australians behind the wheel of an EV, he said.

Drivers using JOLT will receive the first seven kWh of charge for free and will be charged afterwards for additional usage. JOLT will also generate revenue from advertising to be sold on its charging stations.

JOLT currently has charging stations in Adelaide and has a partnership with Ausgrid to transform existing streetside kiosks into stations.

The new rollout will begin in Hornsby and Northern Beaches in Sydney.

Globally, EV sales are predicted to increase from 3.1 million in 2020 to 14 million in 2025, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

While EV sales have increased in Europe, the United States, and China, take-up from Australian consumers has been limited. Part of the reason is the countrys vast geography, sparse population, lack of charging infrastructure, and cost of the vehiclemore than regular petrol cars.

EVs were also a major pillar of former Opposition leader Bill Shortens federal election campaign in 2019, where the Australian Labor Party (ALP) pledged an ambitious target to have 50 percent of all new cars sold in the country be electric by 2030.

The ALP lost the election, with analysts attributing the loss to the partys adoption of progressive policies, which alienated key resource-focused electorates in Queensland and regional New South Wales.
Border Patrol Arrests Nearly 8,700 Criminal Aliens Despite Thin Ranks

Border Patrol agents have arrested 8,691 criminal aliens coming across the southern border in the past 10 months. Between them, the aliens have committed 12,685 crimes.

On Aug. 14, border agents in south Texas arrested two MS-13 gang members. One, a convicted murderer from El Salvador, was apprehended after illegally crossing into the United States with a group near Mission, Texas. The 44-year-old man spent three years in prison for a murder in California in the late 90s and was imprisoned again in 2005 for re-entry of a deported alien, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Many criminal aliens are arrested while trying to evade Border Patrol, or as they attempt to blend into large groups crossing the border. While Border Patrol agents are tied up dealing with large groups, the cartels and criminal organizations smuggle contraband and people through unpatrolled areas nearby.

Several Border Patrol agents told The Epoch Times that agents estimate theyre apprehending between 10 percent and 20 percent of all illegal border crossers, although its impossible to estimate how many have avoided detection and capture.

Since February, Border Patrol agents have apprehended more than 1 million illegal aliens.

In the busiest sectors along the U.S.Mexico border, agents are constantly being pulled off the line to help process large groups of illegal border crossersmany of whom seek out Border Patrol, knowing theyll be released into the interior of the country with a request to report at a local Immigration and Customs Enforcement office when they reach their destination.

Additionally, at least 300,000 illegal aliens have slipped past border agents in the past 10 months, according to estimates based on statistics provided by Acting Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz.

The 8,691 criminal alien arrests over the past 10 months is about a 328 percent increase over fiscal 2020, if accounting for the two-month reporting difference.

Border Patrol agents are often not able to immediately check for criminal convictions in an aliens home country, so most convictions that pop up are from crimes committed in the United States that have been recorded in the National Crime Information Center database.

On Aug. 19, Border Patrol agents in Brownsville, Texas, apprehended Mexican national Marco Antonio Tellez, who was previously arrested for first degree attempted sexual abuse of a child in Lexington, Kentucky. He was sentenced to one year in prison, registered as a sex offender, and then deported, according to records.

Two days earlier, Honduran national Arlin Reinaldo Ruiz-Cardona, was arrested as part of a group of 46 in Rio Grande City, Texas. In 2011, Ruiz-Cardona was arrested in New York City for raping an 8-year-old girl multiple times, according to New York records. He was sentenced to four years in prison and subsequently deported in June 2015.

Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley sector in Texas have arrested more than 140 illegal alien gang members affiliated with 10 different street gangs this fiscal year.

One of the most recent arrests was conducted by Texas state troopers about 70 miles north of the border. On Aug. 22, troopers apprehended two illegal immigrants at the Brooks County rest area. One of the men was a confirmed MS-13 gang member from El Salvador with a 2009 conviction for sexual battery in Hall County, Georgia.
A driver wears a face mask and gloves during a caravan protest calling for California to enforce the AB 5 law, in Los Angeles on April 16, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

California Freelancers Disenfranchised by AB 5 Prepare to Vote Yes on State Recall

While a California Superior Court judge ruled Proposition 22 as unconstitutional, thousands of freelancers affected by Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5) prepare to cast their vote in the gubernatorial recall election on Sept. 14.

Karen Anderson, founder of the Facebook group Freelancers Against AB 5 told The Epoch Times that members who were once Democrat have switched their political stances as the bill impacted their livelihoods.

People who are affected directly by it, who are longtime Democrats, feel very betrayed by their party, Anderson said. Some of them in our group are voting for the recall of Gavin Newsom based solely on the fact that he signed this bill into law.

AB 5 went into effect in January 2020 and was largely supported by some state lawmakers who aimed to provide benefits for freelancers working for companies such as Lyft. The bill essentially reclassified independent contractors based on a three-pronged test, known as the ABC Test, which made it more difficult for businesses to hire gig workers without providing them with full benefits.

However, nearly a year after the bill went into effect, its regulations continue to negatively impact freelancers, leaving them with limited schedule flexibility, freelancers say.

Anderson, who is a freelance photographer, editor, and writer, worries about the day she must commit to taking care of her elderly mother full time. AB 5 makes it difficult for Anderson to provide 24-hour care while being unable to work remotely from her home.

While exemptions to AB 5 have been passed, the fear of not being hired as a freelancer lingers as employment law attorneys warn businesses to stay away from independent contractors in California to avoid potential overlooked penalties if audited, Anderson said.

In 2020, a campaign promoting Prop. 22 succeeded in excluding app-based drivers such as Lyft and Door Dash from AB 5 regulations. Anderson said a common misconception about Prop. 22 is the law exempted multiple types of freelance work from the impacts of AB 5. However, only app-based drivers gained exemptions.

AB 5 impacts seniors, disabled people, stay-at-home moms, family caregivers like myself, highly paid professionals, health care workers, she said. People have been operating as independent contractors for decades just fine and having their careers and their livelihoods just ripped out from under them because of this law.

With many struggling to land stable gigs, Anderson said freelancers feel like their elected officials have turned their backs on them.

The Democrat supermajority in Sacramentotheres not one single incumbent Democrat that has come out against AB 5not one, Anderson said. They all voted against any kinds of amendments to repeal and replace AB 5 with something that was a little more flexible.  We have just as many Democrats in our group, its across the spectrum.

Despite coming across numerous freelancers who have switched their political stance, Anderson has spoken with others who will vote against the removal of Gov. Gavin Newsom because they dont want to vote for a Republican candidate.

The Epoch Times reached out to Newsoms office regarding the Superior Court judges ruling, but the office didnt have additional information to share.
California gubernatorial hopeful Larry Elder speaks to supporters in Norwalk, Calif., on July 13, 2021. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo)

California Officials Investigate Recall Candidate Larry Elders Income Disclosure

Republican Larry Elder, who is vying to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom if he is recalled next month, is being investigated by state officials over his income disclosure statement.

The Fair Political Practices Commission told news outlets that it is investigating after receiving a complaint from the California Democratic Party.

The party, citing a Los Angeles Times article, alleged Elder failed to properly disclose information, including business income and real estate interests.

Political candidates and elected officials in California file statements of economic interests, also known as Form 700, with the commission.

Elders initial filing, which described his source of income as coming through Laurence A. Elder and Associates Inc. for being a talk show host, did not include other details.

An amended form filed last week added a list of sources from which Elder received $10,000 or more. The Epoch Times was listed because Elder is an EpochTV host, as was Penn State University; the Washington City, Texas, Republican Party; Salem Media; and seven other sources.

Elder also provided a statement showing that he owns a 50 percent interest in a Los Angeles home, but does not receive rental income from it.

The Elder campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

We made a simple mistake and we fixed it as soon as possible. These investigations are very common in the campaign world, Ying Ma, an Elder campaign spokesperson, told the Los Angeles Times.

The penalty for failing to disclose income is a fine of up to $5,000 per violation.

Elder, 69, is the leading candidate among those jockeying to succeed Newsom if voters decide to recall the governor.

The Sept. 14 recall election sees voters choose yes or no to recalling the first-term Democrat. Theyre also asked to choose from among a list of candidates, with the top vote-getter replacing Newsom if a simple majority recalls him.

Other top Republican candidates include businessman John Cox, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, and state Rep. Kevin Kiley. Democrats lack a major candidate.
Canadas Slave Trade

Commentary

Slavery? In Canada? How could it be? A little booklet called Slavery and Freedom in Niagara, by author Michael Power of Welland, Ontario, landed on my desk, and got me going on this subject. In school, we learn only that Canada-the-good served as a kind of Holy Land for persecuted slaves who escaped from a barbaric United States.

This has created an unjustified belief in our moral superiority.

For around the year 1780, there were an estimated 4,000 blacks living in the Canadian British colonies, of whom about 1,800 were slaves. Canadas first anti-slavery law (of sorts), of July 9, 1793, didnt exactly outlaw slavery. It was called An Act to Prevent the Future Introduction of Slaves. In other words, slavery would remain legalbut no more slaves could be imported to Canada.

Now, its easy to spring to judgment on all this, until we recall that slavery, practiced at some point prior to this century by almost every known civilization, and defended by Plato and Aristotle as natural, was until very recently protected by international law. In the 18th century, even freedom philosopher John Locke argued it was morally preferable to the death penalty, which is what many slave captives might otherwise have received. And its easy to agree that ancient slavery, which was primarily based in the practice of enslaving surrendered enemies who had slaughtered your sons and raped and killed your women, was humane (and profitable) compared to slaughtering them in revenge.

Slavery was widely practiced in Africa for millennia by black tribes that sold blacks to each other, to Arabs, and to whites. The U.S. census of 1830 records that 10,000 slaves were owned by free men of color. Often, the first thing a freed slave would do if he got enough money was to buy himself a slave. The last nations to outlaw slavery were those on the Arabian Peninsula, in the 1960s!

When Columbus arrived in the New World in 1492, he discovered that slavery was already widely practiced by the local Tiano, Arawak, and Carib tribes, along with cannibalism and torture. Many American and Canadian Indian tribes, such as the Tonkawa of Texas, or the Kwakiutl of British Columbia, had been slaveholders (or cannibals, or both) since forever. At the time of white conquest, up to 15 percent of the Kwakiutl were slaves to their own powerful chiefs. White Europeans who arrived in Mexico were horrified to discover an Aztec civilization built on slavery, human sacrifice, and cannibalism of thousands of slaves per year!

As for pioneer Canada, Power writes that slave owning was widespread among the emerging political and social elites of Upper Canada. Peter Russell, Matthew Elliott, and many other distinguished men who sat on the Legislative Council of Upper Canada each owned dozens of slaves.

Most sought to protect their right to own slaves by arguing that a slave was legally owned property, and the right to own property was basic to all free societies. Courts that took away legally owned slaves could then take away land, or homes, couldnt they? And then tyranny would reign.

Farmers asked who will compensate us for our freed slaves, and the lost benefits from slave labor? Many settlers were Loyalists who came to Canada because the government had promised them cheap land on the condition they clear it. So slaves were purchased specifically for that purpose. The government had lured them. Was the government now going to ruin them?

An irony of the history of slavery in Canada is that many individual U.S. states (Delaware, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Connecticut) had banned slavery outright 20 years before Canada prohibited (only) the future importation of slaves. So the state of Michigan, Power writes, became an instant haven for slaves escaping from Upper Canada. Canadian slave-owners complained bitterly, imploring our lieutenant governor to stop what was in effect a reverse underground railroad. He refused.

A friend, expressing his instant moral repugnance, asked, How could they not see the immorality of it? I replied, Just like we do not see our own. Slaves were legally defined as non-persons. Future historians will surely wonder at our own tortuous moral and legal chicanery that grants modern mothers the legal right to vacuum outor even crush heads and tear limbs offyoung babies in their own wombs? They do this so easily only because an unborn human is defined in our criminal law as a non-person.

Ironically, its the very same modern liberals who so violently deplore slavery, who as violently defend the right to abortion on demand. They dont see their immorality. Neither did slaveowners.

Are we much better off? Physically, in the sense that were not ownedyes. But if we ask about control, the answer may be less pleasing. In past times, though less than 5 percent were slaves, the average citizen, white or black, was quite free of the countless thousands of meddling laws and controls that deeply invade our persons, property, and privacyand they had to pay not a penny of income tax.

Yet today, entire populations in the free world are tax slaves to massive governments for more than half of every year of their livesand face real physical imprisonment if they refuse to pay. If youre forced to surrender all your income to government, youre certainly a slave. So then, what are you when forced to surrender up to half your income? Surely the answer is that youre half a slave. Physical ownership of persons isnt necessary to control them.

Thats why the American revolutionist Josiah Quincy in 1774 cried out against what was then the very deeply shocking idea of taxing human work: I speak it with griefI speak it with anguish  I speak it with shameI speak it with indignationwe are slaves.

He deplored chattel slavery of the few, but especially the tax slavery of all.

This article first appeared in The Edmonton Journal in 1996.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The municipal water tower in the village of Lexington, Mich., located on the shores of Lake Huron in Michigan's Thumb area on Aug. 23, 2021. (Steven Kovac/Epoch Times)

Chinese Fluoride in Tap Water Worries Michigan Community

We are dependent on China for too many things" says Village President Ray Mach of Port Sanilac

LEXINGTON, Mich.The discovery that a Michigan towns drinking water treatment plant has been adding Chinese-made fluoride to its water supply for years has some of its residents upset.

Its absurd, said Steve Stencel, a long-time restaurant owner in Lexington, Michigan. Its not good at all, buying our drinking water treatment chemicals from a communist nation that is our enemy. I am surprised that any municipality would buy fluoride for its drinking water from China. Our country needs to know this is happening.

Lexington Village Utilities Director Chris Heiden said the water plant has used Chinese fluoride for years without any problems.

Fluoride is a chemical added to drinking water to help reduce tooth decay.

The Lexington water plant supplies drinking water to village residents and several neighboring communities. It has just under 3,000 customers.

A downtown apparel shop owner in Lexington said he had no idea Chinese-made fluoride was being added to the water supply.

When he learned of it, he said it gave him cause for concern.

Its scary. I cant help but think of the What if? he told The Epoch Times.

One former water plant employee told The Epoch Times, While I was working there, I saw the Chinese fluoride in 50-pound plastic bags stacked on the floor. I was surprised and appalled.

A bag of the Chinese-made granular sodium fluoride, which is added to the community water supply in Lexington, Mich., on Aug. 2, 2021. (Steven Kovac/Epoch Times)

Doug Varty, a residential real estate developer whose new subdivision is serviced by Lexington water, said: Its wrong. Im not comfortable with Chinese-made fluoride. Surely we have American products they can use. Buying American is the way to solve the problem. If they have an alternative, they should buy it.

Village President Ray Mach of Port Sanilac, Michigan, whose community plans to buy its drinking water from Lexington, told The Epoch Times that the use of Chinese-made fluoride makes him uneasy.

Look at COVID-19. Remember a few years ago, how baby formula was supplemented with melamine in China itself, Mach said. We are dependent on China for too many things. We cant even buy a surgical mask made here anymore.

In 2008, Chinese-made baby formula products were found to have been purposefully tainted with melamine. The additive boosted the nitrogen content of diluted milk, making it appear to have a higher protein content. Out of 294,000 victims, 59,000 were hospitalized and six babies died of kidney stones and kidney damage.

Walt Badgerow, the supervisor of nearby Worth Township, which buys its drinking water from Lexington, recently passed a resolution banning the township government from purchasing Chinese products if an alternative is available.

From the moment I learned of the use of Chinese-made fluoride by the Lexington water plant I was appalled, he said. In light of the CCPs [Chinese Communist Party] track record of foisting tainted pet food on our country and selling us toys colored with lead-based paint, I am very wary of their quality control. I wont drink water with Chinese chemicals in it.

Downtown Lexington, Mich., a resort town that draws its drinking water from Lake Huron, on Aug. 23, 2021. (Steven Kovac/Epoch Times)

Badgerow was referring to the 2007 Chinese pet food scandal, during which melamine-tainted pet food sickened and killed cats and dogs in the United States. Lead-tainted Chinese-made toys made their way into the United States as recently as 2018, despite protective measures put in place by Congress.

Stencel said that in a previous career, he had direct experience with Chinese quality control. He once demonstrated a strength-testing machine to a Detroit-area truck equipment supplier.

The supposedly inspected and certified Chinese-made grappling hooks we tested failed before they reached half of the stress load they were certified for. That could kill someone. I cant trust whats coming from China, he said.

Utilities Director Heiden said he relies on a couple of independent international inspection organizations that subject chemicals such as the sodium fluoride Lexington uses to stringent testing as part of the exporting process.

It may be possible for us to buy American-made granular fluoride. I dont know, Heiden said. Wherever we buy it, it must be NSF approved.

A building housing the drinking water treatment plant in Lexington, Mich., on Aug. 23, 2021. This is where Chinese-made granular fluoride is added to the community water supply. (Steven Kovac/Epoch Times)

The two largest independent testing organizations are the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL).

Liquid fluoride is readily available from U.S. manufacturers, but Lexington and nearby Port Huron use two different dry versions of the chemical, which are more likely to be imported. Lexington uses a granular form and Port Huron uses a powder form of fluoride.

A worker from the Port Huron water plant told The Epoch Times that they had been using Chinese-made powdered fluoride until the supply chain became so undependable that they switched to a Belgian manufacturer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 2010, powdered and granulated sodium fluoride such as the one used in Lexington made up 15 percent of the water fluoridation products used in the United States. Sodium fluorosilicate, another powdered fluoridation product, made up 10 percent of the products. Fluorosilicic acid, a liquid water fluoridation product, was used in 75 percent of the countrys water systems.

The largest producers of fluorosilicic acid are located in the Asia-Pacific region, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com. Some of those producers are Solvay America, Inc., Honeywell International Inc., Napco Chemical Company, American Elements, and IXOM.

According to Michele McRae, a commodity specialist at the National Minerals Information Center, a handful of plants in the United States produce fluorosilicic acid: J.R. Simplot Co. in Wyoming, Nutrien in North Carolina, and Mosaic Co. in Florida and Louisiana.

With the exception of bottled water used as a consumer beverage, the United States Food and Drug Administration does not regulate additives, such as fluoride, used in community drinking (tap) water. Such regulation is left to state agencies.

People across Michigan and across America need to be aware of our increasing dependence upon China in some of our most basic and vital functions like our drinking water systems. We cant trust the CCP. We need to know what our own water plants are using, Badgerow said.

The Lexington Village and Township Hall is the site of the offices of the village and township government. It also contains the police department and fire department. Aug. 23, 2021. (Steven Kovac/Epoch Times)

PVS Nolwood, the Detroit-based chemical company that supplies the Lexington water plant with Chinese-made fluoride, didnt respond to repeated requests for comment.

PVS Nolwood was recently stripped of its National Sanitation Foundation certification for delivering four drums of sulfuric acid mistakenly labeled as liquid fluoride to the New Baltimore, Michigan, water plant earlier this year. The error was discovered by a workman before the substance was added to the citys water supply, but a fluoride storage tank and a pump were damaged by the acid. No one was injured.

Mike Bolf of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy told The Epoch Times that PVS Nolwood is currently operating under its certification from Underwriters Laboratories, which Bolf said was still current and valid, thus enabling the firm to continue doing business.

Underwriters has assured us that they have increased their surveillance over the company and are monitoring its corrective action plan, Bolf said.

New Baltimore ceased doing business with PVS Nolwood right after the incident.

According to Heiden, Lexington suspended doing business with the firm and is using an interim supplier.

We need to find out what corrective measures they (PVS Nolwood) are taking to get back in compliance with NSF, he said.

According to the CDC, 6.6 million Michigan residents are receiving fluoride through their municipal drinking water. The vast majority of the fluoride is in liquid form and likely produced in the United States.

More than 207 million Americans had access to fluoridated water as of 2018, according to the CDC.

Adding China-manufactured fluoride to U.S. drinking water is of course a potential attack vector for the communist regime, according to Jeff Nyquist, author and expert on Chinese Communist Party subversion tactics and unrestricted warfare.

If the Chinese government says, Oh, you make fluoride there for the water for the Americans? Hey, weve got an extra little secret sauce for your American fluoride. I mean, that is certainly possible, he told The Epoch Times.

One of the things stopping the regime from doing so is the risk of getting caught, Nyquist said.

It would be an act of war.

Is your communitys water system using Chinese-made water fluoridation products? The Epoch Times would like to know about it. Contact us at steven.kovac@epochtimes.us.

Cara Ding, Ivan Pentchoukov, and Petr Svab contributed to this report.
Australian universities need adopt new business models to survive through COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, according to a latest EY report. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)

COVID Could Force Australian Universities Into Bankruptcy If Sector Does Not Evolve: EY Report

Australias higher education institutes need to reinvent themselves to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, a consultancy group has declared.

The EY consultancy group predicted that by 2030 the Australian university sector would face a $5 billion (US$ 3.656 billion) to $6 billion (US$ 4.278 billion) revenue decline and a 50 percent cut of non-research positions, forcing the sector as a whole to either shut down or restructure. Additionally, it noted that one-quarter of Australian universities potentially faced bankruptcy.

Drawing on interviews with over 30 senior figures in Australian and New Zealand universities, The Peak of Higher Education report concluded that the longer-term future of Australian higher education involved much more disruption than first thought in the pandemic-hit business models.

The pandemic threw Oceanias over-reliance on international student revenue into sharp reliefand demonstrated how universities create major systemic risk when they assume that todays sector structure, competitors and profit pools will persist through the next 5 to 10-year planning horizon, the report said.

It also declared that universities had lost their monopoly on accreditation with non-degree credentials becoming more mainstream as more employers and peak bodies have joined the accreditation market as workforce skill providers.

Forecasting that demand for traditional higher education may never return to pre-pandemic peak level in 2019, the paper also encourages universities to create disruption within the sector to generate a new market. It also recommends that they differentiate their services and commercialise their research for new revenue streams.

The Group of Eight (Go8), Australias eight leading research-intensive universities, which undertake almost 70 percent of the sectors research activity, agree that the sector needs to urgently work out a long-term sustainable funding model to survive through the pandemic and beyond.

Go8s chief executive Vicki Thomson said the Group alone had been forced to cut 4000 jobs and lost over $780 million ( US$556 million) in revenue in only the first year of COVID-19, and the pain is set to deepen over the next few years.

Australias higher education sector will look different on the other side of the pandemic, with fewer international students, different ways of delivering education, and a sharper focus on research, she told the Epoch Times on August 20.

There is widespread recognition that the business model has to change, and that will require government, industry and the higher education sector working together to develop a model that is sustainable for the long term.

However, she is confident that the goal is achievable, saying the government has listed the commercialisation of researcha key part of the change proposed in the EY reportas its priority.

The Australian Government understands the importance of the research carried out in Group of Eight universities and in particular its contribution in the COVID context, she said. The commercialisation of research is a priority for the Australian Government; however, we need to consider a program of incentives to help drive researchers and businesses to collaborate.

Universities Australia (UA), the peak body for the sector, is more reserved about the proposals made in the EY report, insisting that the current business model, including on-campus learning, will remain valued by both domestic and international students.

Australian universities remain optimistic about the future,  UA chief executive Catriona Jackson told the Epoch Times. They are among the best in the world, offering world-class tuition, educating future generations and equipping them for the rapidly changing world of work.

She believes the current business model will sustain in a post-pandemic era, and universities have also shown adaptiveness to new challenges.

All of the wonderful reasons why an Australian university education has proved so attractive before COVID-19 will still appeal to students after the pandemic is over,  she said.

University staff and students have done a remarkable job transitioning to online learning during lockdowns and borders closures, however for the vast majority, there is a strong desire to return to campus as soon as possible.
Diner Leaves $10,000 Tip for Workers at Florida Restaurant

GAINESVILLE, Fla.A diner at a north Florida restaurant gathered the staff of 10 together to thank them for their hard work before leaving them a $10,000 tip to share.

It happened last Tuesday night as the man, his wife and son finished their dinner at the Wahoo Seafood Grill, the Gainesville Sun reported.

Shawn Shepherd, who owns Wahoo, told the newspaper he got a call from his employees that night, alerting him to the big tip. His first thought was to be suspicious.

Check his ID and the name on the back of his credit card, Shepherd advised the employee who called.

But the restaurants point-of-sale system approved the transaction. Shepherd said he checked back the next day to make sure the money was still there.

Watching these guys get their check was almost as good as Christmas morning, Shepherd told the Sun.

He said hes very thankful to the diner because his employees have been loyal to the restaurant through the pandemic.

Among those benefitting from the big tip was Ashley Green, who was called into work that day. She had recently endured a rough time because her daughter was ill.

Shes had a hard month, shes been not able to work. Kid has been in and out of the hospital. Its been absolutely a really stressful time for her, Shepherd said.

When the coronavirus pandemic began, Shepherd said he temporarily closed the Wahoo and lost some $30,000 in food.

I knew nothing about curbside, I knew nothing about delivery and takeout. We werent prepared for that. We didnt even have the containers to do it, Shepherd said.

He noted that the Florida Restaurant Lodging Association and the Alachua County Chamber of Commerce were a big help, finding them emergency funding to pay the employees. He reopened the Wahoo in May.

He said hes indebted to his employees because theyve helped keep the restaurant afloat during hard times.
Dr. Amrita Jash: IndiaChina Border Clash Signals a Broader Picture & New Approach Against China

Indias border clash with China is unmasking a greater geopolitical situation. Chinas growing aggression in Asia is expanding, but India is not putting up with it. From resistance in the eastern Ladakh region to a closer tie with the United States, how is this Asian democracy going to play its hand on the global stage?

How is the United States going to play a role in making a regional alliance with India? If the two are aligned in the form of government, and they have a common agreement over the rules-based order, how will their relationship affect Asian politics? Will China be affected by a stronger IndiaU.S. tie?

I am joined by Dr. Amrita Jash, defense expert from the Centre for Land Warfare Studies. She tells us how India is playing the strategic engagement in the region, and much more beyond thatpolitics, economics, and partnerships.
Employees Can Be Insider Threats to Cybersecurity: Heres How to Protect Your Organization

The U.S. Army recently announced an initiative called People First, a strategy that calls for enacting widespread policy directives and changes designed to better support the health and well-being of the largest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

For an organization thats known for sending its people out on long tours away from home and facing austere conditions wherever it goes, its easy to meet such an idea with a hefty dose of skepticism. On the contrary, however, it emphasizes the fact that large enterprises have to take care of their people. Not only does this result in more effective, better-performing, and more loyal employees, but it also helps reduce a significant cybersecurity threat to organizations: the insider threat.

Related: A Business Leaders Beginner Guide to Cybersecurity

Why Employees Become Insider Threats

Why do employees become insider threats? There are several reasons, and each case is unique; some do it to gain access to valuable trade secrets for personal enrichment, some are disgruntled employees trying to get back at a company for firing them, and some are just negligent workers who fall for a phishing attack or experienced a data breach and decided not to report it. But, broadly speaking, there are three main reasons that formerly trustworthy employees might become insider threats.

1. Financial

Perhaps the most obvious motivation for an employee to become an insider threat is for financial gain. This is applicable in both the public and the private sectors. In the public sector, government employees might be dissatisfied with their compensation or internal environment and start to sell valuable personal data on the dark web.

In the private sector, employees often have access to valuable intellectual property, trade secrets, or customer data that competitors or organized crime groups might pay top dollar for, or they could be bribed to become agents of a foreign nation-state. Of particular concern are technologically savvy employees (IT, for instance), who have the know-how to grant themselves elevated access rights and cover their trails from a cybersecurity perspective.

At any rate, companies should stay on the lookout for employees who suddenly start displaying signs of having more income, especially if their purchases dont seem to match their pay.

Related: 12 Simple Things You Can Do to Be More Secure Online

2. Political or Professional

Politics are another strong motivation for employees to become insider threats. For example, an employee might be upset with his or her work situation or job title but cant see a way to fix it because of inter-office politics. This could lead to that employee becoming disgruntled and wanting to take revenge on the company. This situation is common in enterprise-level organizations, where management doesnt take the time to get to know their employees or address their concerns. Providing an environment where employees can reach their full potential and have open lines of communication with their chain of command can help mitigate potential political concerns.

This ties closely to professional reasons. For example, employees might feel slighted after being passed over for a promotion, or they might be the target of an internal investigation for misconduct. On the other hand, they could find themselves the target of misconduct by a peer or boss, which could lead them to take matters into their own hands.

3. Emotional or Psychological

Humans are emotional creatures, and this, of course, applies to employees as well. Employees can get bored, burnt out or feel like their work isnt meeting certain emotional needs. This could lead them to become apathetic, which could make them insider threats through simple negligence.

The pandemic has also shown how stress can negatively impact employees. Vast numbers of employees working from home, dealing with stress from a new environment, uncertainty, and fear made Americans more susceptible to online scams, which unfortunately affected businesses.

How to Help Your Employees (And Yourself) Feel Secure

Businesses should be highly concerned about defending themselves against insider threats. Employees have special access that outsiders cant match, and having a tech-savvy, motivated employee start to wreak havoc on a company network can be extremely dangerous. Fortunately, insider threats often begin because those employees are made to feel like outsiders in their organization, so leaders have some tools to help.

Companies need to enlist the aid of mental-health professionals to gauge their employees states of mind regularly. These dont need to be formal evaluations, but periodic surveys or anonymous comment submissions could provide valuable insights into employee morale. Leaders should also stay engaged with their employees without asking pointed questions that may lead employees to think theyre being targeted.

Happy employees with high morale rarely become insider threats. Instead, managers and leaders should adopt a mindset that puts their people first, keeps their mental well-being in mind, and helps them feel secure. This, in turn, can help keep the enterprise safe and earn some well-deserved peace of mind for the C-suite.

Related: 7 Cybersecurity Layers Every Entrepreneur Needs to Understand
A rental vacancy sign is posted in front of an apartment in San Francisco, Calif., on June 13, 2018. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Eviction Moratorium Keeps California Homeowner From Living the American Dream

A California homeowner hasnt received rent from her tenants in more than 17 months. She also hasnt received any payments from the states COVID-19 rent relief program, after applying for several months.

Alyona Nickelsen, an award-winning artist, author, and owner of a three-bedroom condo in Aliso Viejo, said her tenants of more than six years have been unable to make rent payments since April 2020.

It was over $42,000, Nickelsen told The Epoch Times. Not a penny from them.

Nickelsen immigrated to Aliso Viejo from former Soviet-occupied Kyiv, Ukraine, in 1999. She started a family and opened an art business called Brush and Pencil.

That was my chance to actually start my life all over, Nickelsen said.

I came here, and I said I will never ask the government for handouts or help. I will never be dependent on the government ever, ever again.

The eviction moratorium was extended from March 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021, via Assembly Bill 832. Since then, Nickelsens tenants have not paid their rent, and she lost her second source of income. Every month the tenants are there, shes losing more than $3,000, she said.

We have bills to pay.  Its my husband and I, and Im a colored pencil artist. Give me a break. How much [do you think I make]and my husband is a retiree on Social Security, Nickelsen said.

Alyona, an artist and landlord who hasnt received any pandemic help or rent since April 2020, draws a portrait. (Courtesy of Alyona Nickelsen)

Nickelsen and her husband now reside in Texas and are trying to sell the house in Aliso Viejo. However, theyve had difficulty finding a buyer with the condo remaining occupied.

They said, We have no place to go. We have no intentions to leave, period, she said.

All of this is not really helping me to do what Im supposed to do, what I plan to do.  Instead, Im stuck with this miserable wheeling and dealing going with people back and forth, and telling them you owe me money.

Nickelsen tried to take her case to the Superior Court in the Central Justice Center. However, the case was dismissed, and she was advised by the judge to apply for COVID-19 rental relief, she said.

Nickelsen applied for the rent relief in March to receive 80 percent of the rent due, promising to forgo the remaining 20 percent. However, she didnt receive any of the funds.

When the state updated its terms, promising landlords 100 percent of their past-due rent, she reapplied on June 19. Since then, however, she hasnt heard back.

Russ Heimerich, deputy secretary of communications for the states housing agency, said the state intends to distribute the COVID-19 relief in a more efficient manner.

Our goal is to get it to the point where from the time a completed application is submitted to the time payment goes out is 30 days or less. Closing in on my goal. Were not quite there yet, Heimerich told The Epoch Times.

The state launched a $5.2 billion rent relief program to cover past-due rent that tenants owe their landlords as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are two tranches of the $5.2 billion funding. Of the first tranche, $1.4 billion is distributed by the state, while $1.2 billion is distributed through local jurisdictions, Heimerich said.

The state has already distributed rental relief to nearly 30,000 householdstotaling around $320 millionnot including the local jurisdictions rent relief distribution.

Nickelsens tenants have until Sept. 30 to pay 25 percent of the rent they owe, which can be made in one lump sum. Failing that, they face eviction.

Jonathan Madison, lead attorney at the Madison Firm, said the eviction moratorium was extended to allow the state more time to distribute the funds to the landlords, and once the moratorium ends, there could be a rise in homelessness.

The homeless population has already skyrocketed. It will get worse, Madison told The Epoch Times.

When the moratorium does expire, youre going to have a wave of evictions at an unprecedented level, and its just going to be unfortunate for a lot of tenants out there.
A sign hangs outside of a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen restaurant in Chicago, Ill., on May 6, 2021. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Fast-Food Wages Surged 10 Percent, Quickest in Years as Companies Struggle to Hire Workers

Fast-food workers wages increased more during the second quarter of 2021 than they did in any quarterly period in years amid the ongoing labor shortage, according to an industry report.

Wages for hourly workers at fast-food restaurants surged 10 percent between April and June of 2021 compared to the same period last year, according to a recent report by Black Box Intelligence and Snagajob. By contrast, fast-food employees wages increased just 4.1 percent between January and March of 2021 relative to the same period in 2020.

For the first time in decades, the American hourly worker has the upper hand in compensation conversations, the report said. In response, restaurants are offering higher wages and unique incentives to attract employees.

In addition, full-service restaurants have about 6 fewer kitchen employees and 3 fewer front of the house employees than they reported in 2019, the report found.

Id like to share my experience with the critical labor shortage issue, said Mark Glenn, a small business owner in Texas and a member of the International Franchise Association, during a Capitol Hill hearing last month. It is both real and crippling.

Not only have we posted job openings on traditional online job platforms and on social media, but we are offering the existing staff referral incentives for quality candidates that are payable if the candidate is hired, Glenn continued.

The labor shortage has hit multiple record highs over the last several months, according to the Department of Labor, the latest reports reflecting more than 10 million job openings in June even after 6.7 million reported hires that month.

There are approximately 6 million fewer employed Americans than there were in February 2020 prior to the outbreak of coronavirus, Labor Department data shows. The labor force participation rate, the percentage of Americans either working or looking for work, measured just 61.7 percent in July compared to the pre-pandemic level of 63.4 percent.

By Thomas Catenacci

From The Daily Caller News Foundation

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org
Dr. Anthony Fauci listens as President Joe Biden speaks at the White House in Washington, on Aug. 10, 2021. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Fauci Apologizes for Saying US May Not Get COVID Under Control Until Fall 2022

Dr. Anthony Fauci late Monday apologized for indicating the United States might not get COVID-19 under control for about a year.

In an interview on NPR, Fauci said that if things went well, including more people getting vaccinated against the virus that causes COVID-19, then as we get into the fall and the winter, we could start to really get some good control over this as we get into 2022.

I have to apologize. When I listened to the tape, I meant to say the spring of 2022. So I did misspeak, Fauci said later on CNN.

In the conversation with Mary Louise Kelly, she was saying, when do I think we can get some control? he added. I said if we can get through this winter and get really the majority, overwhelming majority, of the 90 million people who have not been vaccinated, vaccinated, I hope we could start to get some good control in the spring of 2022. I didnt mean the fall. I misspoke, my bad.

Fauci, President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser, is the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He frequently appears on television programs to discuss developments in the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci has received criticism for misspeaking a number of times, and for acknowledging he misled the American public on the issue of masks early in the pandemic because of concern over the mask supply.

When hes pressed about the number for herd immunity, at first, it was 60 percent, then all the way up to 90 percent. When people asked him, Why does your goalpost keep moving? He says, Well, I feel like the American people are now ready to hear what I have to say,' Dr. Nicole Saphier said on The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders program in June.

The change in Faucis position from the fall to the spring of next year also drew some criticism.

Cases always plummet in the springregardless of vaccination, Dr. James Todaro, a partner in Greymatter Capital, wrote on Twitter.

Fauci was speaking after U.S. drug regulators granted approval to Pfizers COVID-19 shot.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Approximately 61 percent of the total U.S. population, or 201.7 million people, have gotten at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose as of Aug. 23, according to federal data. People 12 years old or older can get a vaccine.

A nurse prepares a Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination as part of a vaccine drive by the Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians in Arleta, Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 23, 2021. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

He said he believes approximately 20 percent of the roughly 90 million Americans who have not been vaccinated against the virus will now get vaccinated because of the approval.

One way to motivate people to get vaccinated, he added, is the imposition of vaccine mandates.

I think youre going to see a lot more mandates and hopefully a combination of people who, on their own, decide because of this stamp of approval that they want to get vaccinated, combined with the mandates that we may be able to make a big dent in that 90 million people or so who are eligible but not vaccinated, he said.

Biden, a Democrat, called on American companies to implement vaccine mandates during a speech on Monday.

Fauci also said he is hopeful and is looking forward to return to normalcy, but claimed that a return to normal is up to us.

And when I say up to us, I mean its really how many people get vaccinated, how many people step up and say, you know, weve had enough of this, weve got to put an end to this terrible outbreak thats completely disrupted our lives, he said on CBS This Morning on Tuesday.

On the issue of herd immunity, or the number of people who have been vaccinated and who enjoy immunity against the CCP virus due to recovering from COVID-19, Fauci said its still not clear.

You dont know whether thats 80, 85, or 90 percent, you just dont know, the doctor, who has largely ignored the growing body of science on natural immunity, said. And when you dont know, the thing to do is to just do whatever you can to get as many people vaccinated as you can. And when you reach that point, youll know it, because you wont have any infections.
A vial and syringe are seen in front of a displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken on Jan. 11, 2021. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo)

FDA Discourages Off-Label Use of FDA-Approved Pfizer Vaccine in Children

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech should not be prescribed off-label for children under 12, as no data exists on proper dosing or safety in youth, an FDA official said on Monday.

Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock told reporters that the federal agency does not believe it would be appropriate for children under age 12 to get the vaccine, saying it would be a great concern if people vaccinate children because we dont have the proper data.

We dont have the safety data, nor do we have all the efficacy data, as well, Woodcock said. We are not recommending that children younger than age 12 be vaccinated with this vaccine. It would not be appropriate.

COVID-19 vaccines currently arent available for children under the age of 12 in the United States. However, Pfizer said in a statement in June that it was beginning to test its mRNA vaccine in a larger group of children under the age of 12 after selecting a lower dose of the shot in an earlier stage of the trial.

A Pfizer spokesperson said at the time that the company expects data from 5 to 11-year-olds in September and would likely ask regulators for emergency use authorization later that month. Data for children 2 to 5 years old could arrive soon after that, the spokesperson said.

The company also said it is testing a dose on children in the 6-month to 2-year-old age group, and expects to have that data sometime in October or November.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which represents childrens doctors, has issued a statement echoing Woodcocks remarks, shortly after the U.S. drug regulator approved Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine for people 16 years and older on Aug. 23.

The clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 11 years old and younger are underway, and we need to see the data from those studies before we give this vaccine to younger children, AAP President Lee Savio Beers said in a statement. The dose may be different for younger ages. The AAP recommends against giving the vaccine to children under 12 (years) until authorized by the FDA.

Its vaccine has been authorized for use in children as young as 12 in Europe and Canada. They receive the same dose as adults: 30 micrograms.

This comes as scientists in the United States and elsewhere are studying the possibility of a link between heart inflammation and mRNA vaccines, particularly among males aged 12 to 24 years. Both Pfizer and Modernas vaccines are mRNA vaccines.

Last month, the safety committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded that heart inflammation can occur in very rare cases and recommended listing myocarditis and pericarditis as new side effects in the product information for these vaccines, together with a warning to raise awareness among healthcare professionals and people taking these vaccines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) advisory committee has maintained that the risks of high inflammation dont outweigh the benefits of the vaccine and continues to recommend it to children aged 12 and older.

Some scientific experts have questioned whether COVID-19 vaccines are appropriate to give to certain groups of people.

The inventor of mRNA vaccine technology, Dr. Robert Malone, has said that the risk-benefit ratio of the vaccine for children doesnt look so good.

Typically, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP] of the CDC would be evaluating risk-benefit ratio for a new vaccine in a vigorous way, using quality-adjust life years, Malone told The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders program in July.

And then the ACIP would come out with a recommendation saying this vaccine is good to be used in the elderly. Its pretty compelling in this case with these vaccines that, even though there are adverse events, their [the elderlys] risk of COVID death or significant disease is pretty high. So thats an easy one to say yes to.

Adolescents, in contrast, have a very, very low probability of disease or death from COVID.  That calculation doesnt come out looking so good, he said.

President Joe Biden said in a statement on Monday that the FDAs licensure of the Pfizer vaccine should give added confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective.
The crew of an A400M military transport aircraft poses after evacuating people from Kabul as part of the operation "Apagan" at the French military air base 104 of Al Dhafra, near Abu Dhabi, on Aug. 23, 2021. (Bertrand Guay/AFP via Getty Images)

France: Afghan Refugee Obviously Linked to Taliban Arrested in Paris

An Afghani man who was recently flown from Kabul to Paris has been detained by French police over suspected links to the Taliban and after failing to comply with a quarantine order, authorities confirmed.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced on Tuesday that among five Afghan refugees who had been placed under strict surveillance by the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI), one refugee left the monitoring place for a few minutes and was taken into custody for questioning.

There was indeed one who was obviously linked to the Taliban, Darmanin said on news broadcaster France Info, adding that the refugee assisted the French military in evacuating journalists and French nationals out of Kabul.

He helped us get the French out, journalists, 100 Afghans who were able to come on to our soil because they helped the French, he said. Because we suspect that this person with his family, his friends has or had links with the Afghan Taliban government, we decided to put him under surveillance.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin talks to journalists in Cavaillon, southern France, on Aug. 16, 2021. (Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images)

The refugee has admitted to belonging to the Taliban and to bearing arms at a blockade in Kabul that was under his responsibility. The four other evacuees are also believed to be linked to him, though no details were provided on those allegations.

The five men were requested to stay in a hotel in the Paris region for a quarantine, like all evacuees who arrive in France without having been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Numerous officials have since criticized the French government for assisting the Afghani man with clear Taliban links, despite intelligence information being acquired that he had previously helped the designated terrorist group.

The president of the French Les Hauts de France administrative region and candidate for the 2022 French presidential elections Xavier Bertrand poses for a picture during a visit at the Esatco company site of Thouare-Sur-Loire, western France, on July 27, 2021. (Sebastien Salom-Gomis via Getty Images)

Xavier Bertrand, president of the regional council of Hauts-de-France and candidate for the 2022 French presidential elections, said the government has to publicly explain what would prevent these individuals from being expelled in absolute urgency.

Eric Ciotti, a member of the French National Assembly for the Republicans (LR), called on authorities to control repatriation much more severely.

The fifth column risk is there. The Taliban can send their soldiers to France in the flood of refugees, Ciotti wrote on Twitter. Our own transport planes cannot become the Trojan horse of the Taliban.

Darmanin said security checks were completed in Abu Dhabi, where the French have transferred evacuees before the onward journey to Paris, noting that there was no breach.

In total, over 1,000 Afghans, almost 100 French, and more than 40 people from other nationalities were evacuated by France over the past week, authorities said.

People have their luggage checked by soldiers in a reunion and evacuation center at the French military airbase 104 of Al Dhafra, near Abu Dhabi, on Aug. 23, 2021, after being evacuated from Kabul as part of the operation Apagan. (Bertrand Guay/AFP via Getty Images)

Amid a turbulent withdrawal and looming evacuation deadline, security failures on evacuees that were flown out of Kabul have been reported in Britain, and other countries.

The UK said on Monday that an individual on a no-fly list had been flown from Afghanistan to Britain on a British military plane as part of evacuation efforts, saying that person was no longer considered a risk.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant at a press conference to provide a COVID-19 update in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 6, 2021. (Mick Tsikas-Pool/Getty Images)

Freedoms on Offer for Vaccinated Australians in Locked Down State

Fully vaccinated Australians in the locked-down state of New South Wales (NSW) will be offered more freedoms from September after the target of six million CCP virus vaccine doses was achieved, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Aug. 24.

That equates to 60 percent of our population across the state having at least one dose and around 32 percent of the population double dosed, she told reporters in Sydney.

Berejiklian said it was an amazing milestone and that she was deeply grateful to the many who had come forward in recent weeks to get vaccinated against COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

The premier said she would announce later this week at least what one of those extra freedoms might be for fully vaccinated people, declining to detail what the changes could be or whether they will apply to hotspot areas including Blacktown and Canterbury-Bankstown.

Were having those conversations now, Berejiklian said, saying the chief doctor and chief psychiatrists advice will be sought on what sorts of low-risk activities people need, which might also include consideration of their links to mental health.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant speaks to the media during a press conference in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 24, 2021. (Joel Carrett  Pool/Getty Images)

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the goal remained to reduce cases, with every 10 positive cases currently infecting about 13 peoplemainly in workplaces and households.

The way to stop that cycle is to vaccinate, keep people and to get those vaccination coverage levels up very high, she said.

This comes as 753 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 were recorded in NSW out of more than 138,000 tests in the 24 hours to 8 p.m. on Aug. 23, Chant said.

Although the new daily total was down on the three-day average of more than 800, with most cases in western and southwestern Sydney, the premier said there was no way to call a one-day dip a trend.

I dont want people to ride the roller coaster of emotions on the case numbers every day, Berejiklean said. Lets get focussed on the vaccine rates because that is what will determine how we can live going forward.

NSW Police perform roadside checks before anti-lockdown protests along the City West Link at Lilyfield in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 21, 2021. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

As of Aug. 24, NSW had 11,484 active COVID-19 cases, with 107 of these cases in ICU. The premier noted the when the pandemic began, the state had quadrupled its ICU capacity to about 2,000.

This gave Berejiklean confidence that the states hospital system could handle the higher case numbers predicted in modelling by the Doherty Institute once the 80 percent vaccination target is reached.

The states chief health officer said about 608 people were being treated in the hospital. Of the cases in ICU, 95 were unvaccinated, 12 had received their first dose, and the ages ranged across the spectrum, Chant said.

Chant said that on a sad note, there were many people aged over 70 who had not yet received their first dose, and urged their family members to assist them to get the vaccine.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said Australias case numbers were all relative compared to other countries with far higher numbers.

Overseas, theyve got tens of thousands of cases every day, he told Nine on Tuesday. I was talking to [UK Prime Minister] Boris Johnson the other day (and) hes amazed that our cases are that low.

Sydney will remain in lockdown until Sept. 30, but regional parts of the state are expected to ease restrictions on Aug. 28.

Australian Associated Press contributed to this report.
Frontline Health Care Workers Protest Mandatory Vaccination in California

With Californias deadline of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for all health care workers approaching, boycotts are gaining momentum.

On Aug. 21, Californias frontline health care workers held simultaneous protests in Riverside and Irvine against the governments mandatory vaccination order at Kaiser Permanente-Riverside Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente Orange County-Irvine Medical Center.

Many protesters told The Epoch Times that their hospitals had given them an ultimatum: they had until Sept. 30 to choose between mandatory vaccination and getting fired.

The California Department of Public Health issued an announcement on Aug. 5 that workers in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, long-term care homes, and other health care-related fields must be vaccinated by Sept. 30.

Kristina, a registered nurse in California, said her hospital requires staff who are not vaccinated to be tested twice a week. If we still dont meet those criteria to have our exemption approved, then up on October 1 were going to be placed on 45 days unpaid administrative leave and after that, they said they dont know what theyre going to do but we can assume what theyre going to do, were gonna get fired.

As a health care worker who has been on the front lines during the outbreak, Kristina believes that mandatory vaccination policies are not for public safety, but are instead politically motivated. For example, people who oppose the mandate and fight for freedom of choice are labeled as anti-vaccine and anti-science.

Were super pro-science. We want people to survive this. We want this pandemic to end more than anybody does, Kristina said. But as a health care professional, she said she needs to tell people that its not as safe and effective that people are saying.

Californias frontline health care workers hold simultaneous protests against the governments mandatory vaccination order at Kaiser Permanente-Riverside Medical Center in Riverside, Calif., on Aug. 21, 2021. (Linda Jiang/The Epoch Times)

She pointed out that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus vaccines are being pushed too fast and did not go through the normal clinical trial stage. Were seeing a lot of patients come in with cardiac issues, stroke, pulmonary embolisms and blood clots in general after receiving these vaccines, and theyre varying in ages, from their 20s all the way to 70s and were seeing a lot more adverse reactions than the CDC and all those people are reporting on, she revealed.

Currently, there has been a spate of serious adverse events and deaths due to vaccination. The effectiveness of the vaccines has also been called into question. In July, a cluster of infections occurred in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, where 74 percent of the 469 cases had been vaccinated.

What is the point of getting the vaccine, if were still gonna spread it? Kristina asked.

I know that theres been a couple studies that have come out [about] how the coronavirus spike proteins affect our cardiac cells, which makes a lot of sense, because were having increases of myocardial infarctions, mild carditis, pericarditis, all of these heart issues, she added.

Californias frontline health care workers hold simultaneous protests against the governments mandatory vaccination order at Kaiser Permanente-Riverside Medical Center in Riverside, Calif., on Aug. 21, 2021. (Linda Jiang/The Epoch Times)

In June, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it had received reports of more than 1,200 cases of myocarditis following vaccination. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) indicates that many of these cases occurred after receiving a second dose of mRNA vaccine.

According to a study published on BioRxiv last December by a team of Translational Health researchers from the University of Bristol, the capsid spike protein of the CCP virus by itself can trigger a chain reaction in human cardiac pericytes, leading to heart inflammation and cardiovascular cell damage. These findings suggest that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, which produce the spike protein when inside the human body, may elicit vascular cell dysfunction.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Southern California Region Kaiser Permanente for comments, as it is one of the many hospitals in California that have issued mandatory vaccination notices.

The hospital replied in an email: We strongly believe in the science and evidence supporting COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy.  All Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians must provide proof of full vaccination by Sept. 30. Those who dont must submit to weekly testing.

We are working with labor leaders on implementation of this vaccination requirement and will also be complying with local, state and federal laws.

Mickie Fairburn, a pediatric registered nurse who attended the protest rally, said the authorities should not force the vaccine on everybody, because the vaccine is not for everybody.

Her primary concern is the safety of the vaccine.

Its just an experimental vaccine. They dont know everything about this vaccine. Some side effects from the vaccine are detrimental and are lifelong  Its not safe yet [as] it hasnt even been a full year, she said.

She also pointed out that the vaccinated could be spreading the Delta variant just as much as the unvaccinated.

Californias frontline health care workers hold simultaneous protests against the governments mandatory vaccination order at Kaiser Permanente-Riverside Medical Center in Riverside, Calif., on Aug. 21, 2021. (Linda Jiang/The Epoch Times)

In the face of the highly contagious Delta variant, an internal CDC report on July 29 indicated that vaccinated individuals can still transmit the virus.

We should be able to keep our jobs, and just get tested if needed, Mickie said.

Nurse Chrissy R. knows a patient who had a stroke after getting vaccinated. She has also seen multiple adverse reactions to the vaccine, many of which are even fatal. This is America. We should have freedom of choice, [especially] from the medical perspective, she said.

One of the protesters, Bradley Cole, believes that the government is pushing vaccines step by step on the grounds of science and public safety, and so far the government has been very successful due to the fear created.

The only thing I understand is that you have a concept of fear, he said. You have the mainstream media that constantly pumping fear into this society and everyone buys it.

Cole holds that its an infringement upon our constitutional rights to live in a free society, a free Republic, and thats when you have the entry of dictators and communist regimes that actually come into this country and now start pushing those mandates. If youre starting to give up your freedoms and its starting to erode everywhere else.

Theres obviously a bigger agenda here, because its always based on fear and control, he said. So if you keep pumping fear, you have the greatest control on people because people are afraid.
San Diego border officers seized 2.8 tons of meth and fentanyl at Otay Mesa Commercial Facility, in California, on Aug. 5, 2021. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

Fullerton Police Find 485 Grams of Methamphetamine in RV of Probationer

The Fullerton Police Department arrested a man Aug. 20 after his motorhome was found containing 485 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, stolen credit cards, and a large sum of cash.

At about 10:30 in the morning, officers received a call regarding a suspicious occupied RV that was in the area, Fullerton Police Department spokesman Sergeant Brandon Clyde told The Epoch Times.

When police arrived to the area of South Woods Avenue and West Orangethrope Avenue, they made contact with a few individuals inside the motorhome, Clyde said, and eventually talked to Kevin Dinsmore, 51 years old, who claimed to own the vehicle.

He was on probation with search and seizure terms so we conducted a probation search of him as well as the trailer, and thats what led us to [the drugs,] Clyde said.

Dunsmore was subsequently arrested for the paraphernalia and on suspicion of selling drugs.

Police were notified of suspicious behavior when multiple people were coming in and out of the RV, Clyde said.

Dinsmore is set to appear in court Aug. 24, according to The Orange County Sheriffs Department inmate search.

It is unclear what Dinsmore was on probation for.
People visit Tencent's booth at the World 5G Exhibition in Beijing on Nov. 22, 2019. The Chinese internet giant is complying with Chinese leader Xi Jinpings edict to redistribute the wealth in China. (Jason Lee/File Photo/Reuters)

Hedge Fund Manager Warns About Beijing Looting Tencent

Canadian pension investments in China face new risk from rising socialism

A hedge fund manager is sounding the alarm to investors about the Beijing regimes appropriation of profits from Chinese internet giant Tencent, a significant holding of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).

Chinas government is LOOTING TENCENT SHAREHOLDERS in what is likely to amount to well over 50% of their profits, the government is forcing over [US]$15 billion to go to common prosperity to achieve the CCPs [Chinese Communist Partys] national policy, Kyle Bass, chief investment officer of Hayman Capital Management, tweeted on Aug. 19.

The CPPIB manages and oversees retirement funds for 20 million Canadians.

The investment board provides updates to the public of its stock holdings only once a year and has previously told The Epoch Times that it doesnt comment on specific stocks. In its last update on March 31, the CPPIB disclosed holdings of nearly $4.5 billion in Tencent stock.

Media reported on Aug. 18 that Chinese leader Xi Jinping emphasized that China would focus on moderate wealth for all.

Common prosperity is the essential requirement of socialism and an important feature of Chinese-style modernization, says a translation of an Aug. 18 Peoples Daily Online report.

The South China Morning Post also reported that Tencent said it would earmark US$7.7 billion to comply with Xis call for common prosperity.

Tencents stock price is down 30 percent since March 31.

Contrarian Advice

Last week, BlackRock Investment Institutes chief investment strategist Wei Li suggested that despite Beijings crackdown on Chinese companies, investments in China should be increased as the country is no longer an emerging marketa suggestion Bass criticized.

Under the cover of the Afghanistan debacle, BlackRocks own Wei Li is saying its time to TRIPLE DOWN on investing into Chinese shares! You cant even make this up. This is quite literally FINANCIAL WARFARE being waged on gullible U.S. investors, he tweeted.

Bass added that he doesnt hold any long or short positions in Chinese securities and that the CCP is the biggest risk facing U.S. investors.

The worlds largest asset manager, BlackRock, manages a portion of the CPPIBs investments, and former CPPIB CEO Mark Machin had consulted with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink for insight on investing on more than one occasion.

The CPPIB didnt respond to a request for comment regarding its investments in Chinese companies, or whether it would provide public updates on its holdings more frequently than just once a year. It operates at arms length from the federal and provincial governments.

A Department of Finance official did not address whether the CPPIB provides more frequent updates on its holdings to the government.
People arrive to cast their ballots at a polling station in Shawinigan, Que., in the last federal election on Oct. 21, 2019. (The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes)

High Potential for Low Voter Turnout Could Influence Election

The remnants of the pandemic, the lack of a rallying issue, and disillusionment in the base of traditional parties could mean another election of low voter turnout, say some political scientists.

Federal voter turnout reached all-time highs exceeding 79 percent when John Diefenbaker was prime minister, but it hasnt exceeded 70 percent since 1993. Geoffrey Hale, a political science professor at the University of Lethbridge, sees no indication that that will change this time around.

Overall voter engagement data appears relatively normal: about a quarter of electorate engaged, and a larger plurality watching the spectacle, such as it is, in passing, and the remaining third largely disengaged as usual, Hale said in an interview.

The low turnout in Nova Scotias recent provincial election suggests that calling an election just because you can doesnt necessarily mean the voters will show up in droves.

Roughly just 55 percent of Nova Scotians participated in the Aug. 17 provincial election, though that was up slightly from the record low in 2017.

Janet Epp Buckingham, a professor of political studies and history at Trinity Western University, doesnt foresee a reversal in political apathy for this election.

I expect voter turnout to be low. There is low trust in our democratic institutions. Voters do not trust politicians to fulfill their campaign promises. There is a general malaise, Buckingham told The Epoch Times.

That said, I think people are frustrated at having an election now and that might be enough to mobilize people to get to the polls, she added.

Duane Bratt, political science professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary, said that although this election is competitive, he is not expecting a high turnout.

Overall, voter turnout has been trending low. There has been the odd jump; 2015, there was a big jump, particularly with a lot of traditional non-voters coming out for Justin Trudeau, but I dont see that occurring now, he said in an interview.

Voter participation was 67 percent in 2019, slightly less than in 2015. That year, 57 percent of those under 35 voted, an unusually high amount. In the past three elections, participation was lowest in the 18 to 24 age group and rose with every age bracket until age 65-74. In 2019, 79.1 percent of those in that age range voted.

Taking a Pass or Making a Switch

Hale says some partisan voters are disillusioned enough that they may stay home or choose an alternative. In the case of the Green Party, initial data suggests Green voters are more disengaged than the average votersomething that may be rational given the orgy of infighting that has beset the party in the past year or so, he said.

He adds theres a somewhat larger segment of the electorate than normal that is considering fifth-party voting, especially on the right.

I passed two electronic billboards on Macleod Trail in Calgary yesterday promoting the Peoples Party because the other choices suck. So there are certainly groups that are trying to play into this narrative.

Conservative Leader Erin OTooles embrace of a carbon pricing scheme and his reach for central and eastern Canadian votes may have alienated hard-core western conservatives, Hale says.

Provincially, at least in Alberta, when Conservative voters are unhappy, they dont vote for someone else, they stay at home. And I think that is a danger facing OToole, particularly in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

But there are other conservative options for those voters as well, he says, such as the Peoples Party and Maverick Party.

The federal Liberals deep deficits, potential restrictions on free speech, and mandatory vaccination for federal workers and federally regulated travel could alienate classical liberals. Time will tell whether those voters will take a pass or make a switch.

Theres also the threat for Liberals that the NDP may eat into their voter base.

The great Liberal fear has always been some of those voters going NDP, and I think Jagmeet Singh is trying to woo that. Theres this sense of excitement and a sense of fun around his campaign now, even though from a policy perspective, it looks like the old NDP, but just with a with a happier, more confident face that Singh did not campaign on in 2019, he said.

Then again, some traditional NDP voters might identify less with the party than they used to.

Its not the NDP of Ed Broadbent. Thats for sure, Bratt said.

The NDP cant take itself for granted. Theyve really transformed themselves from what we would call the old left of the Workers Party to much of the new left that focuses on social issues and environmental issues as opposed to workers issues.

In fact when it comes to workers issues, many of those voters may find the Conservatives more appealing, he said.

Erin OToole is taking on the mantle of workers  by talking about putting union reps on the board of directors of companies. So its almost like OToole has grabbed that worker vote, or is attempting to, from the old NDP.

The COVID Factor

Voter apathy might express itself differently in certain provinces and not just among certain parties. In 2019, 75.4 percent of eligible Prince Edward Islanders cast ballots, compared to 58.2 percent in Newfoundland and Labrador. Those two provinces have represented the two ends of the spectrum of participation in every election since 2008.

We are seeing signs that the campaign will play out very differently in different regions, Hale said.

Absent a single galvanizing issue, with two of three national leaders underwater in public approval ratings, it is not unreasonable to expect a lower than usual turnout, especially if COVID-infection numbers keep rising into September.

Bratt also wonders how the issue of COVID-19 infections will play out.

We havent seen a big serious outbreak yet, but the potential exists for that, and what happens if that occurs in one part of the country and not in another part of the country?
House Advances Sen. Sanders $3.5 Trillion Budget Resolution

The House of Representatives on Tuesday met in an emergency session to consider rules on Sen. Sanders (I-Vt.) budget proposal, the Senate-passed infrastructure bill, and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act.

In a vote on rules to advance Sanders budget resolution, the House approved the proposal on a thin party-line vote. All 212 Republicans voted against advancing the budget, having spent much of todays session pleading with Democrats to deal with the Afghanistan crisis first. All 220 Democrats voted to advance the resolution.

The vote followed weeks of a prolonged stalemate between moderates in the House who refused to vote for the budget proposal before passing the infrastructure bill, and progressives who refused to vote for the infrastructure bill before passing the budget proposal. The moderates controlled only nine votes, but this would have been enough to cause Sanders budget to be rejected by the lower chamber. Initially, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) referred to the tactics as amateur hour, but as the vote got closer she was forced to take their threats more seriously.

The situation intensified even more last week when moderate Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) joined with the nine in secret meetings to advise them on negotiations with Pelosi and the White House.

In an emergency meeting with the leader of the House moderates last night, Pelosi met with Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), the de facto leader of the moderate rebels. The meeting continued into this morning. The two reached an agreement that would guarantee the passage of the infrastructure bill by Sept. 27, a move that cushioned moderate concerns that the bill would not be passed.

This morning, Pelosi expressed optimism that she had the votes, but uncertainty continued as to whether the agreement the two had met would satisfy the other holdouts.

President Joe Biden, who sees the budget resolution as essential to his build back better agenda, also exerted his influence on the nine moderates in phone calls. Some Republicans, like Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) criticized the president for using this time to deal with $5 trillion in new spending and taxes, instead of using it toward dealing with the Afghanistan crisis.

With this passage, the budget proposal is one step closer to the Presidents desk, but will still face challenges when it returns to the Senate from moderates like Manchin, who has expressed concerns about its huge $3.5 trillion price tag. He has told reporters that he is not making any promises that he will vote for the bill on its return from the House. With their 51 votes including the Vice Presidents, Senate Democrats cannot afford a single defection to pass the legislation. In view of this, the Houses vote today is only one step in the very difficult process that the resolution will need to pass through to become law.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks to the press at the Pentagon in Washington on Aug. 18, 2021. (Oliver Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

House Republicans Demand Answers From Pentagon on US Military Equipment Seized by Taliban

Two top Republicans on the House Oversight Committee are requesting the U.S. Department of Defense explain its plans to prevent billions of dollars worth of U.S. weapons from being used by the Taliban.

As a direct result of the Biden Administrations poorly planned and executed U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban is now armed with a significant arsenal of U.S.-made weaponry. Worse, it would appear the Biden Administration has no clue what or how many weapon platforms are now owned and operated by the Taliban, the GOP lawmakers wrote in a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

The letter was sent by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the top Republican on the committee, and Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), the ranking member on the National Security subcommittee, as news reports document the large numbers of weapons and U.S. military equipment that were seized by the terrorist group when the United States and allies withdrew earlier this month.

Photos have circulated of Taliban members holding American M4 carbines and M16 rifles rather than AK-47s or AKMs. Other images and videos showed the Taliban surrounding U.S. Black Hawk helicopters and A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft.

Comer and Grothman say they are concerned about the seizure of biometric equipment that can scan irises or fingerprints to identify people, citing an article published by The Intercept last week.

It is likely this information will be used to attack U.S. allies, the two lawmakers wrote.

The Pentagon didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment about the letter.

Military vehicles transferred by the United States to the Afghan National Army in February 2021. (Afghanistan Ministry of Defense/via Reuters)

I dont have an exact inventory of what equipment the Afghans had at their disposal that now might be at risk, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said at an Aug. 23 press briefing. Obviously, we dont want to see any weapons or systems to fall into the hands of people that would use them in such a way to harm our interests or those of our partners and allies.

But I dont have any policy solutions for you today about how we would or could address that going forward.

Kirby went on to say there was equipment that was drawn down starting with the Trump administration and some during the Biden administration.

An awful lot of equipment, weapons, resources were drawn down, even in the last years and months of the previous administration, as President Trump decided to move down to a force of 2,500.  And then after the presidents decision in mid-April to complete this drawdown,  a very big part of the retrograde was the disposition of weapons and equipment and systems and vehicles, he said.

Some of them were destroyed, some of them were brought back home, some of them were redeployed into the region, and yes, some were turned over to the Afghans. And were working through right now to try to get a better sense of what that would look like, but I dont have any specific solutions for you in terms of what we can or will do going forward on this.

The Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, established by Congress in 2008, has said that about $83 billion was spent on developing and sustaining the Afghan police and army over two decades. Between 2003 and 2016, the United States transferred nearly 600,000 weapons, 76,000 vehicles, 163,000 communication devices, 208 aircraft, and surveillance and reconnaissance equipment to the Afghan forces, according to a 2017 Government Accountability Office report.

Between 2017 and 2019, the United States provided Afghan army forces with 4,702 Humvees, 2,520 bombs, 1,394 grenade launchers, 20,040 hand grenades, and 7,035 machine guns, stated the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

Comer and Grothman are requesting a full account of U.S. military equipment, including a complete list of all U.S. military equipment provided to the Afghan National Security Forces and the amount of military equipment that has since been decommissioned, as well as documents and information regarding planned or current efforts to recapture, destroy, or decommission the military equipment.

We are left wondering if the Biden Administration has a plan to prevent the Taliban from using our weapons against the U.S. or its allies, or selling them to foreign adversaries, like China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea, they wrote.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
A fireball rises following an air strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, late on Aug. 23, 2021. (Said Khatib/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel Carries Out Strikes on Hamas Sites in Gaza

Move in response to arson balloons, machine gunfire from Hamas

The Israeli military announced that it carried out strikes against four sites occupied by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in response to arson balloons and the firing of machine guns at Israel by the Islamist terrorist group.

All summer, Hamas launched arson balloons from Gaza into Israel. In response to Hamas renewed attacks today, we struck a weapons manufacturing site, rocket launch site & tunnel entrances in Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Twitter early on Aug. 24 local time. We will continue to respond firmly against all terrorist activities from Gaza.

The IDF said in a separate statement that its fighter jets late Monday struck a Hamas weapons manufacturing site in the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis. The jets also targeted a terror tunnel in Jabalia, as well as a Hamas underground rocket launch site near civilian homes and a school in the Shejaiya neighborhood.

The incendiary balloons from Hamas were another example of how Hamas continues to employ terror tactics and target civilians, the Israeli military said, adding that it would continue to respond forcefully to any terror attempts emanating from Gaza.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the arson balloons. The balloons had set off several fires in southern Israel, the Israel Foreign Ministry said.

The IDF shortly after its initial announcement released another statement saying it had struck another targeta Hamas terror tunnel entrance in Khan Yunisin response to Hamas firing machine guns into Israel.

15-Year-Old Killed

Separately, the Palestinian Health Ministry said a 15-year-old Palestinian boy was killed overnight in a clash with Israeli soldiers. The boy was later identified as Imad Hashash.

According to Reuters and The Associated Press, the Israeli military said it was carrying out an arrest raid in the Balata refugee camp near the city of Nablus, when its troops came under fire from nearby rooftops.

The Israeli military said one of its soldiers opened fire at a person who was about to throw a large object on the Israeli troops. It is unclear whether the 15-year-old boy who was killed was the same person about to drop the object.

The latest Israeli strikes in response to arson balloons come after events on Aug. 21, which saw a Hamas-organized protest along the Israeli border. The IDF said that hundreds of rioters approached a security fence and tried to climb it, as well as hurl explosive devices at IDF troops, prompting the IDF to respond with riot dispersal means, including when necessary live fire.

Israeli troops shot and wounded 41 Palestinians, critically injuring two, medics said, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian man with a pistol opened fire at point-blank range and shot an Israeli Border Police sniper in the head, critically wounding him. The Israeli soldier, identified as Barel Hadaria Shmueli, remained in critical condition on Aug. 23.

Just a week prior, on Aug. 16, Gaza terrorists had launched a rocket toward Israel that was shot down by its Iron Dome anti-missile system, the IDF said.

It marked the first such attack since a ceasefire was mediated by Egypt to end 11 days of HamasIsrael fighting in May. Since the May ceasefire, Israel has experienced sporadic attacks involving arson balloons, prompting the country to retaliate by striking Hamas facilities.

Israel and Hamas have waged multiple conflicts since 2007, when the terrorist group took control of Gaza.

Tensions have been rising in recent weeks between Israel and Hamas, with the latter hoping that ceasefire talks can loosen an Israeli blockade over Gaza thats been tightly restricting movement out of the territory.

Egypt also maintains restrictions on the Gaza Strip. Both Israel and Egypt cite threats from Hamas for the restrictions.
Kathy Hochul (R) is sworn-in as New York State's 57th Governor by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore (L) while First Gentleman Bill Hochul (C) holds the Bible, at the New York State Capitol, in New York, on Aug. 24. (Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)

Kathy Hochul Sworn In as New York Governor as Cuomo Resigns

Kathy Hochul has been sworn in as the 57th governor of New York, replacing now former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who stepped down in the face of allegations of sexual harassment.

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore presided over a procedural ceremony at the New York State Capitol at midnight on Aug. 24, where Hochul was officially sworn in as the first female governor in New York state history.

Ill tell New Yorkers Im up to the task, Hochul told WGRZ following the ceremony. And Im really proud to be able to serve as their governor and I wont let them down.

Cuomos resignation at 11:59 pm on Monday was prompted by a report (pdf) released by New York Attorney General Letitia James concluding there was credible evidence he had sexually harassed at least 11 women, including allegedly touching them inappropriately, commenting on their appearance, and making suggestive comments about their sex lives.

A number of the women said they feared retaliation if they reported Cuomos behavior, the report noted, describing his administration as a hostile workplace rife with fear and intimidation.

While Cuomos lawyers have challenged the credibility of the report and he himself maintains he never touched anyone inappropriately, he announced earlier in August he would step down so as not to serve as a further distraction for New Yorkers.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo gives a farewell speech via online video in New York on Aug. 23, 2021. (New York Governors Office via AP)

Cuomo released a pre-recorded farewell address on Monday, wishing Hochul success while lobbing one final round of criticism against the sexual harassment probe that drove him to resign.

Let me say now that when government politicizes allegations and the headlines condemn without facts, you undermine the justice system and that doesnt serve women and it doesnt serve men or society, Cuomo said. I understand that there are moments of intense political pressure and media frenzy that cause a rush to judgment, but that is not right. Its not fair or sustainable. Facts still matter.

The attorney generals report was designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic and it worked. There was a political and media stampede but the truth will (come) out in time. Of that I am confident, Cuomo said.

In one of his final acts as governor, Cuomo commuted the sentences of four people convicted of second-degree murder, referred one case to the parole board, and fully pardoned one person.

Melissa DeRosa, now former secretary to the governor, issued a statement on Cuomos immediate plans following his resignation.

He looks forward to spending time with his family and has a lot of fishing to catch up on. He is exploring a number of options, but has no interest in running for office again, DeRosa said, according to ABC News.
In this undated frame grab taken from video shared with The Associated Press by a self-identified hacker group called "The Justice of Ali," a guard looks at surveillance screens taken over by the group, at Evin prison in Tehran, Iran. (The Justice of Ali via AP)

Leaked Footage Shows Grim Conditions in Irans Evin Prison

DUBAI, United Arab EmiratesThe guard in a control room at Irans notorious Evin prison springs to attention as one by one, monitors in front of him suddenly blink off and display something very different from the surveillance footage he had been watching.

Cyberattack, the monitors flash. Other guards gather around, holding up their mobile phones and filming, or making urgent calls. General protest until the freedom of political prisoners reads another line on the screens.

An online account, purportedly by an entity describing itself as a group of hackers, shared footage of the incident, as well as parts of other surveillance video it seized, with The Associated Press. The alleged hackers said the release of the footage was an effort to show the grim conditions at the prison, known for holding political prisoners and those with ties abroad who are often used as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West.

In one part of the footage, a man smashes a bathroom mirror to try to cut open his arm. Prisonersand even guardsbeat each other in scenes captured by surveillance cameras. Inmates sleeping in single rooms with bunk beds stacked three high against the walls, wrapping themselves in blankets to stay warm.

We want the world to hear our voice for freedom of all political prisoners, read a message from the online account to the AP in Dubai.

Iran, which has faced criticism from the United Nations special rapporteur over its prison conditions, did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to its U.N. mission in New York. Iranian state media in the country have not acknowledged the incident at Evin.

However, several hacking incidents have struck Iran amid ongoing tensions over its accelerated nuclear program and as talks with the West over reviving the atomic accord between Tehran and world powers remain on hold.

Four former prisoners at Evin, as well as an Iranian human rights activist abroad, have told the AP that the videos resemble areas from the facility in northern Tehran. Some of the scenes also matched photographs of the facility previously taken by journalists, as well as images of the prison as seen in satellite photos accessed by the AP.

In this undated frame grab taken from video shared with The Associated Press by a self-identified hacker group called The Justice of Ali, a guard beats a prisoner, at Evin prison in Tehran, Iran. (The Justice of Ali via AP)

The footage also shows rows of sewing machines that prisoners use, a solitary confinement cell with a squat toilet and exterior areas of the prison. There are images of the prisons open-air exercise yard, prisoners bathrooms, and offices within the facility.

Much of the footage bears timestamps from 2020 and this year. Several videos without the stamp show guards wearing masks, signaling they came amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Though there is no sound in the videos, they speak to the grim world faced by prisoners at the facility. One sequence shows what appears to be an emaciated man dumped from a car in the parking lot, then dragged through the prison. Another shows a cleric walking down the stairs and passing by the man, without stopping.

Guards in another video are seen beating a man in a prisoners uniform. One guard sucker-punches a prisoner in a holding cell. Guards also fight among themselves, as do the prisoners. Many are crammed into single-room cells. No one wears a mask.

The account that shared the videos with the AP calls itself The Justice of Ali, a reference to the son-in-law of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. It also mocks Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

It claimed to have hundreds of gigabytes of data from what it described as a hack conducted several months ago. It did not answer questions about who was involved in the leak.

The account linked the timing of its leak to the recent election of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, an acolyte of Khamenei involved in the execution of thousands in 1988 at the end of the Iran-Iraq War.

The Evin prison is a stain on Raisis black turban and white beard, the message on the screens in the prison control room also read.

Iran, long sanctioned by the West, faces difficulties in getting up-to-date hardware and software, often relying on Chinese-manufactured electronics or older systems. The control room system seen in the video, for instance, appeared to be running Windows 7, for which Microsoft no longer provides patches. That would make it easier for a potential hacker to target. Pirated versions of Windows and other software are common across Iran.

In this undated frame grab taken from video shared with The Associated Press by a self-identified hacker group called The Justice of Ali, guards drag an emaciated prisoner, at Evin prison in Tehran, Iran. (The Justice of Ali via AP)

In recent months, Irans railroad system was targeted by an apparent cyberattack. Other self-described hacker groups have published details about Iranians alleging hacking on behalf of the theocracy. Meanwhile the most-famous cyberattackthe Stuxnet virus that destroyed Iranian centrifuges at the height of Western fears over Tehrans programis widely suspected to have been an American and Israeli creation.

Evin prison was built in 1971 under Irans Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. It housed political prisoners then and later, after the 1979 Islamic Revolution swept the shah from power.

While in theory under the control of Irans prison system, Evin also has specialized units for political prisoners and those with Western ties, run by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Khamenei. The facility is the target of both U.S. and European Union sanctions.

After the Iranian regime clamped down on protesters following the disputed 2009 re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, many of the arrested protesters ended up in Evin. Lawmakers later pushed for reforms at Evin, following reports of abuses at the prisonwhich led to the installation of the closed-circuit cameras.

Problems continued, however. Reports by U.N. Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman repeatedly named Evin prison as a site of abuses of prisoners. Rehman warned in January that Irans entire prison system faced long-standing overcrowding and hygiene deficiencies and insurmountable obstacles for responding to COVID-19.

Prisoners of conscience and political prisoners have contracted COVID-19 or experienced symptoms, with many denied testing or treatment or suffering unnecessary delays in receiving test results and treatment, he wrote.
A voter enters a polling station as the advance vote in the federal election is opened on Oct. 11, 2019, in St-Georges Que. (The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot)

Mail-In Voting: Canadas System Different From System in US, Elections Canada Says

A record number of mail-in ballots are expected in this federal election, but the process will be much different than the one used in the last U.S. election, says an Elections Canada spokesperson.

In the 2019 federal election, 50,000 Canadians cast their ballot by mail, a number that could swell to 2-3 million this time due to the pandemic. An Angus Reid poll last November found that one in five Canadians, including 36 percent of Albertans and 41 percent of Conservative voters, believed the 2020 U.S. presidential election was unfair and should be contested.

Matthew McKenna, a spokesman for Elections Canada, told The Epoch Times that Canadians can be more confident in the approach used in this country.

Its a bit like comparing apples to bananas in a way. Even though both [countries] include a vote-by-mail element, it really is quite a bit different, especially the fact that were a centralized electoral management body, said McKenna, in contrast to U.S. elections where rules and regulations vary from state to state.

Its pretty secure, its pretty tight, the number of checks and balances in place, he adds.

Those mechanisms allow for the detection of any sort of double-voting.  There is a unique identifier that associates an application to a return ballot, and theres a special flag to make sure to do a follow up check to make sure that there wasnt a vote cast in any other way.

To strengthen election integrity in the United States, the Heritage Foundation recommends that all polling places should be run either by a politically neutral polling official or jointly by at least two officials representing the two major political parties.

By contrast, Elections Canada already ensures that whether at a polling station or during the mail-in vote count, political parties can appoint people to scrutinize the vote. Even in cases where parties do not provide such people, the vote count by law must be confirmed by two independent witnesses.

Prof. Aleksander Essex of Western University, an expert in cybersecurity and vulnerabilities to election tampering, says Canadian federal elections are administered more securely because votes are counted by hand, not by vote tabulation machines. What concerns him about mail-in ballots is the inability to ensure a secret ballot.

Family, friends, voting partieswe hear these kinds of stories in the U.S. where people get together and vote.  You can have other people in the room with you and they can see how you vote and they can direct you how to vote, Essex said in an interview, adding that vote-buying, vote-selling, vote-gifting are hypothetically possible.

Think of this process as being like a chain, and if theres one link in the chain thats weakwell, if Im a bad guy, thats the chain link that Im going to attack.

A research brief by the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) states there were 14.7 million mail-in ballots unaccounted for in the 2020 U.S. election, including nearly 1.5 million in Los Angeles County alone. PILF called this the greatest blind spot in the American electoral system. The group also found 1.1 million undeliverable ballots and 560,814 rejected ballots.

Essex said uneasiness over whether a vote arrives and reflects the voters intent does not help confidence.

Step number one is, did [Elections Canada] get your vote? And then step number two is, did the vote get logged or modified or did they steam open the envelope? he said. You just have to trust the mail system to not do that on a large scale, right?

Canadians have until 6 p.m. on Sept. 14 to request a mail-in ballot and can do so in person or online. McKenna says those who choose the latter can be confident of the process.

If they apply online, we send them a little reference number when they apply, and [after they mail their vote] they can use it and they can check the status of their ballot.  If they prefer to, they can call their local office and ask, he said.

If you truly didnt get your kit, or if you got a damaged kit and it was too late for you to be able to get it back in the mailbox by election day, then you can go to the polls on election day and explain your situation and vote at the regular polls.

In 2019, 18.3 million Canadians voted in the federal election, including 4.7 million in advance polls. Mail-in votes are not expected to exceed 3 million, which sits well with Essex.

Mail-in voting is not as bad as online voting, but its not as good as in-person voting.  I would consider it to be a problem if the majority of the election was done in the mail-in fashion, he said, again vouching for Canadas system.

Out of everything that I know about how all the elections work across the world, I think that the federal Canadian elections are among the best-conceived and the best-run of any. Its one of the only things maybe we can feel good about these days, but we really do have a great system.

Bill C-19, which proposed temporary changes to how elections would be conducted in a pandemic scenario, died on the order paper and did not become law.
Man Finds British Riflemans Sword From 1890s While Building Deck in His Backyard

One Ottawa mans backyard home project yielded more than a new patio when his contractor removed a sword from under the earth.

The find led home owner Brad Sigouin on a quest to solve the mystery of its origin.

While installing concrete piers for a new deck in April 2020, a worker found the weapon and called Sigouins phone.

They said, You got to come over here, we found a sword. I was like, What?! he told The Epoch Times. He took a picture and sent it to me, and I rushed over right away.

(Courtesy of Brad Sigouin)

Far from being in mint condition, the sword had a heavily corroded metal scabbard with a rusted decorative guard, and a handle whose leather had completely disintegrated, revealing a metal coil underneath.

It looked to be 100 years old.

The mud kind of preserved it, Sigouin told CBC.

Hoping to discover more about the aged weapons history, he emailed photos of it to an expert at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, who was able to pin down the make to the 1890s, used into the 20th century, and as belonging to a rifle regiment.

(Courtesy of Brad Sigouin)

(Courtesy of Brad Sigouin)

Eric Fernberg of the Canadian War Museum narrowed down the date further to post-1897, based on distinct modifications to the hand guard. He speculated the blade came from the 43rd Ottawa and Carleton Rifles.

This was basically an officers sword to fight with, Sigouin told the newspaper. He thinks a British officer passing through the area might have left it behind.

The rifle regiment that were talking about were here in Ottawa at the time, and it was at the location of Parliament Hill, added Sigouin, who lives about 1.8 miles (3 km) from the government buildings.

An inquiry into the propertys previous owners revealed that the home was once occupied by militia cavalryman Andrew Imlach from 1920 until he died in 1937, CBC reported. If he used a sword, though, it would not have looked like what Sigouin found.

(Courtesy of Brad Sigouin)

Its a mystery how it got there, the homeowner said. We dont know why it was buried, there were no bones, there was nothing, so it wasnt a burial site.

Regardless where it came from, Brad and his wife, Renee Sigouin, are pleased with their newfound antique and have no intention of selling itnor is it worth much anyway, aside from sentimental value.

Sigouin speculates its worth between $1,000 and $3,000 dollars, but that would be in mint condition, he added. Its worth more to me, and the story, than anything else.

The sword is currently in the process of being mountedas a conversation piece on their dining room wall.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
A member of the UK Armed Forces fist-bumping a child evacuee at Kabul airport in an undated file photo. (LPhot Ben Shread/MoD via PA)

More Than 7,000 Evacuated From Afghanistan by UK Military

The British military has so far evacuated 7,109 people out of Afghan capital Kabul, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

The figure includes embassy staff, British nationals, those eligible under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) programme, and a number of nationals from partner nations, the MoD said late on Monday.

Armed forces minister James Heappey said UK nationals and more than 2,200 Afghans who helped British forces are the focus of the governments evacuation efforts.

We will get out as many as we possibly can but we have been clear throughout that there is a hard reality that we wont be able to get out everybody that we want to, Heappey said on Monday.

He added, The airlift is not the only route out of Afghanistan, not the only route to the UK.

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G-7) countries will hold an emergency summit later on Tuesday, during which U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to come under pressure to extend the Aug. 31 deadline for evacuation efforts at Kabul airport.

The White House said on Monday that Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had spoken by phone and discussed the importance of close coordination with allies and partners in managing the current situation and forging a common approach to Afghanistan policy.

Downing Street said the two leaders agreed to continue working together to ensure those who are eligible to leave are able to, including after the initial phase of the evacuation has ended.

In a statement, Johnson said, Our first priority is to complete the evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have assisted our efforts over the last 20 years.

He promised to use every humanitarian and diplomatic lever to safeguard human rights and protect the gains made over the last two decades.

But the Taliban has said it would not agree to an extension and there would be consequences if Biden delays the withdrawal.

Sir Laurie Bristow, British ambassador to Afghanistan, told MPs on Monday there was pretty uncompromising signalling from the Taliban that they want the operation finished by the end of the month, the Guardian reported.

Britains Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Tuesday he was doubtful there would be an extension.

I think it is unlikely. Not only because of what the Taliban has said but if you look at the public statements of President Biden, I think it is unlikely, he told Sky News.

He said that were not going to get everybody out of the country.

PA, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Nevada College Students Must Get COVID-19 Vaccines to Enroll for Spring 2022

Health officials in Nevada are requiring all students at the states public universities and colleges to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations in order to enroll in classes for the spring semester.

The new policy, which was unanimously approved on Aug. 20 by the Nevada Board of Health at an emergency meeting, adds the requirement into an existing regulation (pdf) that mandates certain vaccines as a condition for enrollment. Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, signed the mandate shortly after the vote, saying in a statement that he was grateful for the decision.

Under the emergency regulation, students have until Nov. 1 to either show proof of full vaccination or get religious or medical exemptions before enrolling in spring semester courses at any public university, state college, or community college. But those starting fall classes will not have to show proof theyve been vaccinated for COVID-19. Those who dont attend any class on campus are also exempt from the requirement.

The vaccination mandate was recommended by Sisolaks Medical Advisory Team earlier this month. According to the governors office, the emergency regulation has a 120-day limit, and would have to undergo a more rigorous public process if health officials want to make it permanent.

The move was met with a mixed reaction. During the three-hour public comment secession of the emergency meeting, several people voiced their support for the mandate, while many other students and parents expressed concerns over the safety of yet-to-be fully approved vaccines, as well as infringements of individual rights.

The data and science is clear: Vaccines are safe, they are effective, and they are saving lives, said Heidi Parker, a leader of vaccine advocacy group Immunize Nevada. The continued spread of the virus and the arrival of the new variants is an urgent reminder that this pandemic is not over yet, and the vaccination is the best and most effective way to protect our state.

This is my body and this is my choice, said Zoe Chamberlain, who identified as a student. I do not agree with you trying to force me to get this vaccine, and it is not fair that my education could be at forfeit, that I do not get to finish my degree next semester because I do not wish to put this in my body.

Some elected officials also weighed into the debate, including Byron Brooks, a member of the Nevada Board of Regents that oversees the states entire public system of higher education. Brooks suggested that the Board of Health needs to slow down, saying in part that people should be able to consult their doctors to decide whether or not to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Now nationally, we are witnessing the failure of policy regarding troop withdrawal that has produced generational complications and negative consequences, Brooks said, referencing the ongoing withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan. Im asking for leaders regarding state health and education policy to slow down and re-evaluate this entire agenda. My concern is that mistakes will be made here that will cause negative generational consequences.
A pharmacist prepares a syringe with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a COVID-19 vaccination site at NYC Health + Hospitals Metropolitan, New York, on Feb. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New Jersey, NYC to Require COVID-19 Jab for Teachers, State Workers

New Jerseys governor and the New York City mayor announced on Monday that they will be requiring all school employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine following the FDAs approval of the drug. New Jersey will allow those who do not want to take the vaccine the option of COVID-19 testing as an alternative.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told reporters he would be signing an executive order requiring all employees of public, private, and parochial schools, from preschools through grade 12, to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18.

We know that strong masking and vaccination protocols, in tandem with other safety measures are our best consolidated tool for keeping our schools open for full-time in-person instruction, and our educational communities safe, Murphy said.

Earlier this month, Murphy mandated masks for all students, school personnel, and visitors in indoor school premises for the start of the 2021-2022 school year.

The governor said that the daily number of children hospitalized because of COVID-19 nationwide hit a daily average of 1,234 last week and has tripled in four weeks, citing data from the Department of Health and Human Services.

In New Jersey, there are 13 confirmed COVID-19 cases among children and seven possible COVID-19 cases under investigation, he added.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Murphy also announced at the conference that the same vaccination policy will apply to all state employees, including those at all state agencies, authorities, public colleges, and universities, regardless of whether they are full, part-time, or contract workers.

All New York City public school teachers and other staffers will have to get vaccinated against the CCP virus, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday. Employees will have to provide proof of the first dose of vaccination by Sept. 27, de Blasio said.

The mayor has not offered a test-out option. Unions have bristled at the new requirement, saying the city needed to negotiate, not dictate. Two big city workers groups were planning to file a labor complaint or take legal action.

The implementation of the mandate followed CDC recommendations advising that school teachers and staff be vaccinated as soon as possible to help schools fully resume their operations in the fall, according to a statement.

Currently, at least 63 percent of public education workers in New York City have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and the governments goal is to reach 100 percent by the mandated date, the statement said.

Similar vaccination requirement for state employees, childcare, and school staff have been enacted in California, Washington, Oregon, and Connecticut last week by Gov. Ned Lamont.

In Connecticut, workers will be required to receive at least one dose of vaccine against the CCP virus by Sept. 27, according to a statement from Lamonts office.

Connecticut is also providing an alternative option for those who do not wish to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Employees, except hospital and long-term care staff, can be exempted from the mandate if they test negative for COVID-19 on a weekly basis, the statement said. It is not clear who will pay for the weekly testing.

Connecticut Democratic Senate President Martin M. Looney and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff supported the mandate.

I welcome the governors announcement today that all state employees must either be vaccinated against the coronavirus or undergo weekly testing. Connecticut residents should rest assured that the people working every day on their behalf are virus-free and are committed to their health and safety, Looney said in a statement.

Connecticut House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora and Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly criticized the governors order.

We fear the governor may have opened a can of worms by issuing this executive order that will surely trigger many immediately unanswerable questions from workers and entities impacted by itfrom how much it will cost employees who instead choose weekly testing to the scope of disciplinary action faced by those who fail to comply with this mandate altogether, the Republican lawmakers said in a statement.

According to a report published by The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Childrens Hospital Association, children as of Aug. 19 have represented 14.6 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the United States since the beginning of the pandemic.

During the week ending Aug. 19, children accounted for 22.4 percent of weekly reported COVID-19 cases, according to the report.

At this time, it appears that severe illness due to COVID-19 is uncommon among children, the report says. However, there is an urgent need to collect more data on longer-term impacts of the pandemic on children.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, appears before a Senate hearing to discuss vaccines, in Washington, on Sept. 9, 2020. (Michael Reynolds/Pool/Getty Images)

NIH Director: Children Under 12 Likely Wont Be Able to Get COVID-19 Vaccine for Months

Children under the age of 12 will likely not be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine until late 2021 at the earliest, according to the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

I gotta be honest, I dont see approval for kids 5 to 11 coming much before the end of 2021, Dr. Francis Collins, the NIH director, said on NPR.

Pfizer and Moderna, the makers of the two most widely administered COVID-19 vaccines in America, are conducting trials of the shots in children between the ages of 5 and 11.

After theyre done, they will present the data to the Food and Drug Administration, which would decide whether to expand emergency use authorization of the jabs to the age group.

The companies are working hard on collecting data from rigorous trials to answer questions like the correct dosage for smaller children, Collins said. Pfizer may submit its data as early as next month.

Until younger kids are able to get a shot, they should wear masks indoors, Collins added.

Still, authorization could come sooner than Collin thinks.

Asked if the age group can get a vaccine before Christmas, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top medical adviser to President Joe Biden, said, Theres a reasonable chance that that will be the case.

Fauci is the longtime head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which is an agency within the NIH.

Fauci, appearing on NBCs Today Show, said he hoped the trials and subsequent data reviews would take place quickly.

U.S. health officials have urged practically everybody to get vaccinated against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19, even groups at little risk of contracting severe cases of the virus, such as youth.

The health officials were speaking after drug regulators approved Pfizers jab for anyone 16 or older.

The same shot remains under emergency use authorization (EUA) for children between the ages of 12 and 15.

Modernas shot has not received approval. Both it and Pfizers shot received EUAs in December 2020.

A single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine is also being administered under EUA.
Former Prime Minister of Australia John Howard attends the state memorial service for the late former Australian PM Bob Hawke. June 14, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

No Reason to Withdraw From Afghanistan Immediately: Former Australian PM

Former Prime Minister John Howardwho deployed Australian troops to Afghanistan in 2001 along with democratic allieshas questioned the need for the U.S. administration to withdraw all forces from the country immediately.

There was no reason why a very much smaller force could not have been left there for an indeterminant time, he told Sky News Australia.

That would have prevented some of the negative images that have clearly come out of Afghanistan and could well have emboldened the Afghan army, provided it was supplemented by some air cover, to have provided some more resistance to the Taliban, he added.

I dont think it was absolutely essential to withdraw every last soldier from Afghanistan.

Howard was also critical of setting a date for the withdrawal of U.S. forces by the previous administration, saying it gave away a key negotiating point.

I think once the date is taken over. The date was driving the behaviour, instead of the behaviour resulting in a final outcome, he added. It was almost unavoidable that we saw what actually happened and the speed with which it occurred.

A Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) passes out water to evacuees during the evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the evacuation in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 21, 2021. (Isaiah Campbell/U.S. Marine Corps via Getty Images)

The former prime minister also stood by his decision to commit Australian forces to join the U.S.-led coalition targeting al-Qaeda and the Taliban in the wake of 9/11, saying it was totally justified.

Howards comments come as his contemporary and former United Kingdom prime minister, Tony Blair, criticised the withdrawal.

The world is now uncertain of where the West stands because it is so obvious that the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in this way was driven not by grand strategy but by politics, he wrote in an op-ed.

We did it in the knowledge that though worse than imperfect, and though immensely fragile, there were real gains over the past 20 years. And for anyone who disputes that, read the heart-breaking laments from every section of Afghan society as to what they fear will now be lost.

However, experts believe the United States could be pivoting its efforts to the Indo-Pacific region to counter Beijings growing influence and aggression.

The United States is likely to strengthen security cooperation with Taiwan in retaliation against China, and it is also likely to consider increasing defence assistance to Taiwan, Shen Ming-shih, associate professor at Tamkang Universitys Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies, told The Epoch Times.

Afghanistans institutions, built up over the course of two decades during the U.S.-led occupation, gave way to the Taliban over the past few weeks, after the United States withdrew its forces from the country.

The capital Kabul, and the presidential palace, fell to the Taliban on Aug. 15.

Further, coordination of the withdrawal was problematic, with several thousand Americans, Australians, and allies still stranded in the country.

According to Army Major General William Taylor, around 5,800 U.S. troops remain at Kabul airport to maintain security.

Australian forces have airlifted over 1,000 people from the country as part of evacuation efforts.

Meanwhile, current UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has convened an urgent G7 virtual meeting to discuss ways to prevent the situation in Afghanistan from deteriorating.
Residents of Charlotte, North Carolina, arrive at a polling station to vote on Nov. 6, 2018. (Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images)

North Carolina Court Restores Voting Rights to Felons on Probation or Parole

Some 56,000 North Carolina felons who are on parole, probation, or supervised release, will have their voting rights restored, a judicial panel said on Monday.

The 21 ruling, in a state Superior Court in Raleigh, immediately reinstates voting rights to North Carolina residents convicted of felonies but whose current punishments dont include prison time.

The decision followed a lawsuit filed by several civil rights groups and ex-offenders against legislative leaders and state officials in November 2019 on behalf of six individuals and nonprofit organizations.

They argued the current 1973 law is unconstitutional by denying the right to vote to people who have completed their active sentences or received no such sentence, such as people on probation. They also said the rules disproportionately affect black residents.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections issued a statement saying that the decision means it must immediately begin to permit such individuals to register to vote.

State Board staff will work as quickly as possible to update communication materials and all forms and documents to comply with the order. Staff are also working with the Department of Public Safety to update data the State Board receives regarding individuals who are ineligible to register to vote due to a felony conviction, the board added.

Everyone on felony probation, parole, or post-supervision release can now register and vote, starting today, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, Stanton Jones, said following the ruling, The News & Observer reported.

Mondays ruling delivers on a promise of justice by the North Carolina N.A.A.C.P. a half century ago, that all people living in communities across the state deserve to have their voices heard in elections, he added, according to The New York Times.

One lawyer said the ruling marks the largest expansion of voting rights in the state since the 1960s.

When I heard the ruling, I wanted to run in the street and tell everybody that now you have a voice, said Diana Powell with Justice Served NC, a Raleigh-based community group that sued. I am so excited for this historic day.

Sam Hayes, an attorney for House Speaker Tim Moore, who is a defendant along with Senate leader Phil Berger and the State Board of Elections, said he plans to file an appeal to block the panels preliminary injunction.

Responding to the decision, he called it an absurd ruling that flies in the face of our Constitution and further casts doubt on election integrity in North Carolina.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, 20 states automatically restore voting rights for convicted felons when they are released from prison, while about 15 restore those rights upon completion of their sentence, including probation and parole.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
North Carolina Law Extends Pharmacists Authority to Administer Vaccines, Adds Parental Consent for Minors

A North Carolina law now extends the authority of pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccines without a prescription from a physician.

The temporary authority had been granted by an emergency amendment to the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP) in 2020.

Gov. Roy Cooper signed a bill into law on Friday.

This important legislation will help our state administer COVID-19 vaccines more quickly and efficiently, Cooper said in a press release.

The amendment to PREP had authorized licensed pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians to administer COVID-19 vaccines without a prescription from a physician.

In December 2020, North Carolina State Health Director Elizabeth Tilson signed an order authorizing immunizing pharmacists in North Carolina to administer the COVID-19 vaccines in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19.

That emergency authorization was temporary, but House Bill 96, now law, will expand vaccination authority, beginning on Sept. 1, for pharmacists, interns, and technicians to continue administering the vaccines without a prescription from a physician.

Parental Consent

Republican state Sen. Joyce Krawiec, who sponsored House Bill 96, had told The Epoch Times that her reasoning for sponsoring the bill was to get the parental consent piece in there.

She said she was surprised to discover that children 12 to 17 could get the vaccine without the permission of a parent or guardian.

One of my constituents called to make me aware that his child was offered the vaccine without his consent, and I was shocked, Krawiec had said. I thought, this cant be. At first, I told my constituent, I dont think thats accurate, but Ill get back with you.

Cooper has had several programs offering scholarships to youth who took the vaccine.

One of the programs involved North Carolinians aged 1217 to be eligible for a $125,000 college scholarship at a school of their choice if they received at least one shot.

Vaccine Warnings Being Ignored

In a Monday interview on Epoch TVs Crossroads, Rex Lee, a cybersecurity and privacy adviser, said that categories for high-risk patients listed within the inserts of the COVID-19 vaccines, such as the risks to the immunocompromised and pregnant women, are being overlooked by physicians, third parties granted permission to administer the vaccines, and the mainstream media.

There is a whole category of people who fall into this, but the mainstream media keeps pressing people, or shaming people, into arbitrability going out and getting the vaccine, Lee said. And I dont think a lot of doctors know about these guidelines either because my personal doctors have not told me about these guidelines, and Im not sure if theyve ever read them themselves.

Lee added that, by getting a COVID-19 vaccine from a third party, such as a pharmacist at Walgreens or CVS Pharmacy, a person is waiving his or her legal right in the possible case of injury from the vaccine.

Who are you going to sue in that case, if they dont know that you have an inflamed heart, or if you are on blood thinners, or they dont know your cancer history, Lee said, then youre getting a vaccine from third parties who have no idea what your health history is. And then they are not doing an examination on you beforehand to see if youre even compatible with the vaccine, plus they are not doing this under a doctors care. More often than not, you are not getting the vaccine not even from a registered nurse. You are getting it from an employee at a CVS drug store, or a Walgreens drug store.

FDA Approval

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pfizer and BioNTechs COVID-19 vaccine for people 16 and older on Monday, almost nine months after having issued emergency use authorization for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine on Dec. 11, 2020.

According to an FDA press release, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will be marketed as Comirnaty.

The vaccine continues to be available under emergency use authorization, including for children 12 through 15 years of age, and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.

Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said the approval may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated.

While this and other vaccines have met the FDAs rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product, Woodcock said.

President Joe Biden said in a press conference on Monday that he hopes the approval will encourage more companies in the private sector to step up the vaccine requirements that will reach millions more people.

Comirnaty contains messenger RNA (mRNA), according to the FDA, a kind of genetic material, which is used by the body to make a mimic of one of the proteins in the virus that causes COVID-19.

Vaccines and Censorship

Robert Malone, who said he was one of the developers of mRNA technology, addressed censorship around and possible risks of the mRNA vaccinations in an interview on EpochTVs American Thought Leaders program.

His own LinkedIn profile had been suspended (now reinstated) after providing an opinion on negative side effects in individuals under 18 injected with the mRNA vaccine.

With increased public and private universities implementing vaccine mandates, Malone had warned adolescents about being vaccinated, pointing to reports linking heart inflammation as a potential side effect of the mRNA vaccine.

Regarding censorship around information on COVID-19 vaccines, he told The Epoch Times: This censorship of information, those that are experiencing it, including myself, are profoundly disturbed by what were seeing, and the long-term meanings of it.
Protestors set fire on a tire near the fence of Gaza Strip border with Israel, during a protest marking the anniversary of a 1969 arson attack at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque by an Australian tourist later found to be mentally ill, east of Gaza City, on Aug. 21, 2021. (Adel Hana/AP Photo)

Officials: Egypt Closes Gaza Border Amid Tensions With Hamas

CAIROEgypt closed its main border crossing point with the Gaza Strip on Monday amid tensions with the territorys Hamas rulers, officials said.

It was the first time the Rafah crossing was shuttered during a workday since early this year. Egyptian authorities had kept it open during the 11-day war between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group in May.

According to the Egyptian officials, the closure was connected to Cairos efforts to broker a long-term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. It was not immediately clear how long the closure would last, the officials said.

One of the officials said the move was meant to pressure Hamas because of the differences between Cairo and the terrorist group over lack of progress in both the Egyptian-led, indirect talks with Israel, and also efforts to reconcile Palestinian factions.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

Iyad al-Bozum, a spokesman for the Hamas-run Interior Ministry, said Hamas had been notified of the closure. He said they were in contact with Egyptian authorities to reopen Rafah.

The closure of the crossing exacerbates the humanitarian crisis inside the Gaza Strip, he told The Associated Press. We hope the crossing will return to work as soon as possible.

Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade over Gaza since Hamas took control of the territory in 2007. The blockade restricts the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza, with Rafah serving as the primary exit point for Gazans to travel abroad when it is open.

Hamas has grown increasingly angry in recent weeks after Israel tightened the blockade in the wake of the May war. Israel has demanded the return of the remains of two dead soldiers, as well as two Israeli civilians believed to be alive and being held by Hamas, as a condition for the cease-fire. In the meantime, it has held up the deliveries of much-needed reconstruction materials.

Activists in the Gaza Strip on Monday launched incendiary balloons into southern Israel, setting off at least three fires across the border, Israels national fire service said.

Israels military said early on Tuesday that its warplanes bombed Hamas sites in Gaza in response to the balloons launches.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in the air strikes that targeted what the military said was a weapons production facility and a rocket launch site belonging to Hamas.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the balloon launches, but in a statement on Sunday, Hamas and other militant groups pledged to continue our popular activities without hesitation or retreat.

The statement followed a a violent Hamas-organized protest along the Israeli border Saturday in which a Palestinian activist shot an Israeli sniper in the head at point-blank range. The soldier remained in critical condition Monday.

At least 24 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli gunfire at Saturdays protest, two critically.

Egypt has been a key mediator between Israel and Hamas over the years. Egypts intelligence chief Abbas Kamel paid a rare visit to Israel last week to discuss the cease-fire deal with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. He invited Bennett to visit Egypt.

A day after the visit, Israel announced that it had reached a deal with Gulf country Qatar to resume aid payments to thousands of impoverished Gazan families. The payments, a key source of stability in hard-hit Gaza, had been suspended following the war.

Since May, Egypt has allowed aid and construction convoys into Gaza to help rebuild houses and infrastructure destroyed during the fighting.

Reuters contributed to this report
Pfizer CEO Predicts Vaccine-Resistant COVID-19 Variant Likely to Emerge

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said on Tuesday that, at some point in the future, a strain of COVID-19 that is resistant to vaccines is likely to emerge.

Every time that the variant appears in the world, our scientists are getting their hands around it, Bourla told Fox News in an interview. They are researching to see if this variant can escape the protection of our vaccine. We havent identified any yet but we believe that it is likely that one day, one of them will emerge.

This is not the first time Bourla has made the ominous prediction. He addressed the issue in a wide-ranging interview with Fortune in February, around the time when attention was increasingly turning to new mutations of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, the pathogen that causes COVID-19.

Responding to a question about the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine against emerging variants, Bourla said he was quite confident it could neutralize the new mutations and cited encouraging lab results. At the same time, he said that the fundamental question is how likely it is that there will eventually emerge a vaccine-resistant strain of coronavirus.

Theoretically, its a very possible scenario. If you protect a very big part of the population, and if there is a strain that emerges that can use this pool of population to replicate while the current strains cannot, obviously this will overtake the original. So its not a certainty, but it is now, I believe, a likely scenario, he said.

At the time, Bourla told Fortune that the mRNA technology used in the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine allows for the rapid development of a new version able to create a different immunogenicity that could cover new mutations. He predicted that such a vaccine could be developed in around two months but noted this would depend on multiple factors including the regulatory framework.

In his interview with Fox News, he expanded on this, saying Pfizer has a process in place allowing the company to develop a variant-specific vaccine within 95 days of identifying a new mutation.

His remarks came on the same day that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported new data shedding more light on vaccine effectiveness against the Delta variant. Based on a study of 4,217 fully vaccinated participants65 percent of whom received the Pfizer shot, 33 percent took Modernas vaccine, and 2 percent got the Johnson&Johnson jabthe CDC report found lower effectiveness (66 percent) during the Delta prominent period compared to the months preceding Delta predominance (91 percent).

A day earlier, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full regulatory approval for Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine for people 16 and older, making it the first such shot to make it beyond the emergency-use-only stage.
James Cook, 24, of Braintree in Essex, England, has produced over 110 pieces of art work on his collection of 30 typewriters. (Courtesy of James Cook Artwork)

Photos: Young Artist Creates Mind-Blowing Art Prints Using Only the Keys on Typewriter

Using only a typewriter as his tool, a young British architecture student is making waves in the art world with his incredible renditions of country and cityscapes.

James Cook, 24, of Braintree in Essex, England, hand-renders each typicition in ink using skillful combinations of the keys on a typewriter. For Cook, experimenting with typewriters began while at college studying fine art seven years ago.

I have always been intrigued with the connection between technologyboth new and obsoleteand its potential to produce new and innovative forms of artwork, Cook told The Epoch Times in an interview.

I quickly learnt from a young age that painting just wasnt for me, but I loved to draw and wanted to explore new methods.

A section of the drawing typed on-location from the rooftop of the Moot Hall, in Maldon city, Essex. (Courtesy of James Cook Artwork)

The on-location drawing on the Horham Hall in Thaxted, England. (Courtesy of James Cook Artwork)

Inspired by British artist David Hockneys Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, a landscape drawn using an iPad painting app, Cook picked up his iPhone 5 to create some of his very own digital paintings.

However, after familiarizing himself with Paul Smith, an American artist with cerebral palsy who used the characters of a typewriter to render his subjects, Cook realized that counter-innovative technologies intrigued him more.

Something analogue and discontinued and no longer worthy of its position in the workplace, he said, that being the typewriter.

Living between Braintree and London, Cook often takes a typewriterfrom his prized collection of 30, many of which are donatedon location.

The Fellowship Afloat light vessel at Tollesbury Marina, in Essex. (Courtesy of James Cook Artwork)

(Courtesy of James Cook Artwork)

Cook begins each piece by penciling in a subtle silhouette. Typing-up classical buildings with seemingly infinite detail, he says, allows him to get inventive.

Gargoyles and carved stonework will get reimagined with 0s, Ls, ()s, and meanwhile, the raggedy brickwork of a Tudor manor is recreated in Is and -s, he said.

The experimentation of the language using the 44 keys of the typewriter, for me personally, keeps the work original and fresh.

Conventionally, typewriters like to move in a linear way. So getting a good grip on the levers and switches which disengage some of its features, if only temporarily, allows you to take back-steps and re-type over existing text more than once. You can also vary the darkness and lightness by how heavy you press the keys onto the paper.

James Cook with his parents, Graham and Rosalind Cook. He graduated from UCL in 2018 with a first-class degree, with honors in Architecture. (Courtesy of James Cook Artwork)

This limited pallet of 44 keys, says Cook, has unlimited possibilities.

He has rendered over 110 artworks to date, preferring three typewriters, his workhorses, on rotation: his first-ever machine, a 1952 Oliver Courier; a 1971 Silver Reed 200; and a 1973 Olympia SG3 typewriter that can hold larger than A4 document paper to create bigger-scale artworks.

An A4-sized portrait takes Cook anywhere between three and four days to complete. A larger landscape drawing can take up to a week. Cooks more recent architectural works measure 2 by 3 feet in size.

The full drawing of the Maldon vista typed on-location from the rooftop of the Moot Hall, in Essex. (Courtesy of James Cook Artwork)

Cook said that, normally, at any given point, only two or three typewriters are fully working, with the rest being in an almost-state of disrepair. Admitting the limitations of his technology-based tools, he said typewriters are an incredibly precise piece of engineering.

When you take them outside of their comfort zone, such as an office desk or an antiques shop, you have to deal with the unpredictable reality of them breaking whilst pitched up in the middle of a field, creating a drawing, he added. Thankfully, he said, this has only happened to him twice.

While moved by his surroundings, Cook is also inspired by commissions from customers.

One poignant commission for me was by a gentleman that had recently lost his mother, and after clearing her property, had discovered the wedding speech that she read on his wedding day, he said.

The gentleman asked Cook to recreate a portrait from a cherished photograph and incorporate segments of the wedding speech into the picture. I estimated that there was in excess of 100,000 letters, numbers, and punctuation marks stamped into the drawing, measuring roughly 4 feet by 5 feet, he recalled.

The commission took Cook one month to complete and became his first-ever hidden message artwork. He has since used the same technique to camouflage the names of the sites he visits within a picture, and copyright his artwork by concealing messages which only the original creator of the work can find.

The drawing of the Dom Tower, Utrecht, Netherlands. It took under a week to complete on the 1973 Olympia SG3 A3 typewriter. (Courtesy of James Cook Artwork)

Despite honing his craft, Cook claims that making art using a typewriter has never gotten easier. Unlike painting, he says, there is no second attempt or way of covering his mistakes up.

Accepting mistakes has been the toughest challenge, he said. Any errors that I make in the artwork, such as an out-of-place letter or number, as I see it, those mistakes stick out like a sore thumb on the page, but I bet that no one else will ever even notice them!

Cook is currently on the lookout for city-dwellers around the world willing to grant him access to a rooftop or balcony with incredible views from which to work for a day. In return, he pledges to gift a signed, framed print of the completed drawing plus any of his existing prints for free.

For as long as people are interested in my passion, then I will continue, Cook said. Its the joy and delight of listening and speaking to other people that appreciate my work which also drives my ambition to create even bigger and more ambitious type-written drawings.

Potential collaborators can contact Cook through his website, or Instagram.

Watch two of his videos below:

(Courtesy of James Cook Artwork)

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
A man is arrested after firing shots in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Photo by Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/AFP via Getty Images)

Portland Mayor Defends Policing Strategy After Street Brawls, Firefight

Portlands mayor and police commissioner on Monday defended the citys strategy dealing with events that led to brawls and people exchanging gunfire on city streets.

Members of the right-wing Proud Boys and far-left Antifa gathered in Oregons largest city over the weekend and violence broke out.

The events culminated with at least two people exchanging gunshots on a city street, though no gunshot wounds were reported.

The violence unfolded after Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said officers would not intervene.

Its not necessarily the best tactical approach to have officers wading into situations where groups are clashing with each other. I understand the optics of that, but we have to make tactical decisions that put us in a position where were likely to be successful in making an arrest or taking someone into custody, he told reporters on Friday.

Only one person has been arrested so far, but Ted Wheeler, Portlands mayor, is claiming that the policing strategy proved successful.

With strategic planning and oversight, the Portland Police Bureau and I mitigated confrontation between the two events and minimized the impact of the weekends events to Portlanders. In the past, these same groups have clashed with extremely violent and destructive results. This time, violence was contained to the groups of people who chose to engage in violence toward each other. The community at large was not harmed and the broader public was protected. Property damage was minimal, he said in a statement.

Members of the Proud Boys attack a van during a clash with Antifa members in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/AFP via Getty Images)

Antifa members, right, attack a Proud Boys member in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/AFP via Getty Images)

Officers monitored both events that took place, one in the heart of downtown and the other in northeast Portland, and were ready to take action immediately if the situation worsened and life safety was jeopardized, added Wheeler, a Democrat who also serves as police commissioner.

Journalists and locals were among those attacked by Antifa members, while both Antifa and Proud Boys members were captured assaulting people. Police officers were not visible during many of the assaults.

When gunshots were fired in the afternoon, though, officers did quickly respond and make an arrest. Officers are looking for at least one other person who was firing shots.

We will continue working with our legal teams and all City bureaus to limit the impact of these gatherings to our community. We will continue to investigate criminal behavior and will press charges when possible. Hate is not, has not, and will never be welcome in our community. We will continue to work for the safety of all Portlanders and do whats best for the city that we call home, Wheeler concluded.

Lovell also addressed Sundays events, saying in a video statement that there were too many calls to respond to all of them, including the gunshots, an attempted kidnapping, and street racing events.

Others said they didnt agree that the strategy was successful.

When there isnt rule of law, when law enforcement doesnt intervene to protect public safety, it only reinforces the lawlessness and fear that anti-democratic groups thrive on, Amy Herzfled-Copple, deputy director of programs and strategic initiatives at the Western States Center, a nonprofit extremism monitor, told The Oregonian.

Its unacceptable for there just to be hands off by the police, especially when neighborhoods are involved, state Sen. Michael Dembrow, a Democrat, added to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Members of the Proud Boys, including leader Enrique Tarrio (C), rally in support of President Trump to protest against the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, in Washington, on Nov. 14, 2020. (Hannah McKay/Reuters)

Proud Boys Leader Sentenced to More Than 5 Months in Jail

The leader of the Proud Boys was sentenced to more than five months in prison on Aug. 23 for burning a Black Lives Matter banner and for having been found with two high-capacity firearm magazines at the time of his arrest.

Enrique Tarrio, also known as Henry Tarrio, pleaded guilty in July to a misdemeanor charge of destruction of property, and separately, to a felony charge of attempted possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device.

In a hearing held via videoconference on Aug. 23, Tarrio told the court that what he did was wrong and called his actions a grave mistake, reported The Associated Press.

Tarrio, who has been chairman of the Proud Boys since 2018, is expected to report to jail on Sept. 6 to start his 155-day sentence.

The first charge, for which he was sentenced to 30 days, involves Tarrio having set on fire a large Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from the lawn of Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 12, 2020.

The second charge, for which he was sentenced to 125 days, involves Tarrio having been found with two unloaded high-capacity firearm magazines at his arrest on Jan. 4, after arriving in Washington, D.C. ahead of the Jan. 6 planned protests. According to a reporter with NBC4, Tarrio told the court on Monday that he had brought the magazines to D.C. to sell to a customer who had purchased them from him.

Tarrio was ordered on Jan. 5 to remain outside Washington until his next court hearing scheduled in June. He had initially pleaded not guilty to the felony and misdemeanor charges in January before accepting a plea deal and pleading guilty to the charges in July.

Following his sentencing, Tarrio said in a statement on Telegram, Take it to the chin.

He later added that Americans have been robbed of their free speech rights due to censorship by Big Tech and intimidation by BLM and Antifa. I will continue to do everything in my power to call out their hypocrisy and protect my fellow Americans from their depraved acts of violence.

Nothing worthwhile is gained without sacrifice. My time is short. But this is a window into the future. They want you demoralized, bankrupt, and dead, he later said in a separate statement. What Im going through is nothing compared to what theyre doing to the Boys.

Law enforcement had previously said that their move to arrest Tarrio on Jan. 4 was an effort to prevent potential violence ahead of Jan. 6. About three dozen people charged over the events of Jan. 6 have been identified by federal authorities as members or associates of the Proud Boys.

The Proud Boys group was formed in 2016 with a mission to defend Western civilization, according to the groups official website, which has since been taken down. The groups members have been known to protest against political correctness and perceived constraints on masculinity. According to the website, the groups core values include standing up for second amendment rights, the right to free speech, fighting racism, and ending the war on drugs.

In late January, Tarrio was found to have been a prolific past informant for law enforcement, and had worked undercover with investigators after he was arrested and accused of fraud in 2012.

Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.
Republicans Look to Capitalize on Biden Afghan Fiasco in 2022

News Analysis

In a press conference Tuesday morning led by Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), House Republicans blasted the Biden administration for its handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, presaging likely Republican focuses in the 2022 midterm elections.

Scalise began by blasting Bidens handling of the ongoing situation, saying it has now devolved to the point that the government is concerned about whether or not it will be able to get U.S. citizens out of the country.

They say its not happening, they say people arent stranded, Scalise said. But it is, he insisted, saying that Americans are actively being hunted in Afghanistan.

Scalise handed the microphone to Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. Banks said that beyond the Americans and American allies trapped in Afghanistan, the Taliban had taken control of $80 billion worth of U.S. equipment, including night vision goggles, body armor, and, unbelievably, biometric devices which have the fingerprints, eye scan, and biographical information of all the Afghans who helped us  over the last 20 years. He continued that, there is no plan by this administration to get those weapons back.

If any American is not evacuated or any captured equipment is used to kill an American, Banks concluded, the blood is on Joe Bidens hands.

Later, Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-Texas) took the microphone and expanded on Banks discussion. He addressed the claim that the Taliban will not be able to use the complex equipment and vehicles left behind during the evacuation, an idea that he said is nonsense. He pointed to U.S. enemies like China and Iran, who he said would be able to help the Taliban to use this new equipment.

Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio) focused on intelligence failures, saying that American intelligence operations in the country had gone so far downhill that right now is more dangerous to Americans in Afghanistan than the first day we went in.

Rep. Mark Waltz (R-Fla.) concluded with an ominous warning about the effects this failure will have on U.S. national security. With the fall of Afghanistan to the harborers of Osama Bin Laden, America is going to face Al-Qaeda three-point-o. Future American soldiers, he said, will have to go back into Afghanistan and fight through our own damn equipment to fight Al-Qaeda three-point-o.

Waltz said that in the wake of Bidens incompetence, this Congress is going to lead. Scalise later emphasized this point that the Congress would do what it appeared Biden could not.

At the opening of todays session in the House, Rep. John Joyce (R-Penn.) called Afghanistan Joe Bidens Saigon. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) said that the president had done irreparable damage to our international standingnot to mention our national security.

2022 Midterms

These comments underpin a larger strategy that Republicans are likely to pursue as the country moves toward the 2022 midterms.

Bidens approach to Afghanistan is extremely unpopular with Americans. According to a Rasmussen survey, 59 percent of likely voters say that the administration is not doing enough to rescue Americans; and an overwhelming 78 percent say that the United States should use military force if the Taliban take Americans hostage. Republicans are sure to capitalize on this unpopularity moving forward to 2022. This presents an even higher challenge for Democrats, as the presidents party is historically voted out of the majority in the first midterm of the presidents administration.

With these concerns in mind, some Democrats have put uncharacteristically high pressure on the Biden administration, while some have gone even further and are trying to dissociate themselves from the president entirely.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said in a public statement that he feared that allies would lose faith in Americas commitments to its obligations, insisting that the world must know that the United States stands by her friends in times of need, and this is one of those times. Warner promised that his committee would ask tough but necessary questions about why we werent better prepared for a worst-case scenario involving such a swift and total collapse of the Afghan government and security forces.

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) went even further in her own statement on the crisis. She wrote: These past few days have been difficult to process, and not because the Talibans progress was surprising. In fact, the opposite. We sounded the alarm, and our dire warnings fell on deaf ears. This comes after it became clear to observers that the Biden administration had the intelligence to avoid the debacle but ignored it. Like Warner, Houlahan promised that she is committed to being part of those tough conversations and holding accountable those who seemingly misled the American people.

It is likely that the Afghanistan crisis will become as important a rallying cry for Republicans in the 2022 elections as Benghazi was in the 2014 midterm and 2016 presidential election. But in this case, Republicans are rallying around a banner that is far more widely known and far more impactful to the average American.

With congressional Republicans like Scalise and Waltz promising to take a leading role moving forward, it is likely that Americans will see Republicans as taking the crisis more seriously than Democratsmany of whom have remained silent on the situation since it began.

But polls show that for the average American, the scenes coming out of Kabul fall squarely on the commander-in-chiefs shoulders; and for many swing voters, these images are unlikely to be soon forgotten. While Biden and Democrats may hope that voters forget, conferences like Scalises today are likely to become a common, key strategy for Republicans in 2022.
Charlie Watts of British veteran rockers The Rolling Stones performs with his band members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood during a concert on their Latin America Ole Tour in Santiago, Chile on Feb. 3, 2016. (Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters)

Rolling Stones Drummer Charlie Watts Dead at Age 80

Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts passed away on Aug. 24 at a hospital.

Watts, 80, passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family, the drummers spokesperson said in a statement.

Charlie was a cherished husband, father, and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation, the spokesperson added.

The cause of death was not made public and Watts family is asking for privacy.

The band said recently that Watts, who joined the band in early 1963, was going to miss its upcoming United States tour after undergoing a medical procedure.

Watts said in a statement at the time that he had been working hard to get fully fit but I have today accepted on the advice of the experts that this will take a while.

Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones poses for a portrait in New York on Nov. 14, 2016. (Victoria Will/Invision/AP)

After all the fans suffering caused by Covid, I really do not want the many RS fans who have been holding tickets for this tour to be disappointed by another postponement or cancellation. I have therefore asked my great friend Steve Jordan to stand in for me, he said.

The tour is slated to start on Sept. 16 in St. Louis, Missouri, followed by shows in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Louisiana, California, Minnesota, Florida, Texas, Nevada, Georgia, and Michigan.

Watts was previously found to have throat cancer but recovered after several surgeries.
Russian attack helicopters launch rockets during military exercises at the Kapustin Yar range in Astrakhan region, Southern Russia on Sept. 25, 2020 during the "Caucasus-2020" military drills gathering China, Iran, Pakistan and Myanmar troops, along with ex-Soviet Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus. (Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images)

Sino-Russian Cooperation Could Be Tested by Pre-9/11 Afghanistan

News Analysis

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) hailed its military drills with Russia earlier this month as an assurance that violence from the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan would not spill over the border into China.

The drills saw roughly 10,000 troops engage in counterterrorism training exercises in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, home to over 2 million Hui, a predominately Muslim ethnoreligious minority group.

Despite the fanfare, experts say that military cooperation between the two nations is not on the same order as the type of cooperation one might expect from the United States and its allies.

Further, with the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, both Beijing and Moscow face the possibility of growing instability in an area they consider their backyardCentral Asiaas experts warn that the region could revert to a pre-9/11 status quo in regards to terrorist threats.

Cooperation Based on Sovereignty

The China-Russia partnership is largely about treating one another as equals, said Arik Burakovsky, Assistant Director of the Fletcher Schools Russia and Eurasia Program at Tufts University.

Certainly, China understands that it is a rising power and Russia is a declining power, but nonetheless they have similar military strength despite the imbalance in economic strength, Burakovsky told The Epoch Times.

Their relationship has been evolving since the early 2000s, he said.

Beginning with counterterrorism efforts after 9/11 and their first joint military exercise, Peace Mission 2005, ties between Beijing and Moscow increased again in 2014, largely in response to Russias need for economic security following a slew of international sanctions due to its annexation of Crimea.

Since then, the two countries have regularly held military exchanges and consultations, including bilateral military exercises every year since 2018.

Burakovsky noted, however, that Sino-Russian military exercises were a far cry different from what most Americans think of when they hear the term.

Its important to note that the drills have been generally limited in scale and scope, Burakovsky said. Theyre usually conducted in parallel rather than jointly.

They seem to be more about deconfliction, so to speak, at the strategic level, and about geopolitical posturing rather than any kind of meaningful operational utility, Burakovsky added.

For the two countries, interoperability is not on the agenda, he said, referring to the ability of a military force to effectively work as a component unit of a multinational force, rather than in mere coordination with a foreign force.

Paul Stevenage, an independent intelligence analyst and adjunct fellow at the Center for American Defense Studies, also told the Epoch Times that the depth of the arrangement was frequently mischaracterized.

I still think, despite what a lot of people say, that the jury is still out on the degree of integration that Russia and China seek, Stevenage said.

They may be able to operate jointly in certain areas, but thats not integration, he added.

The two experts highlighted that Russia and the CCP have different theories and methods of warfighting. Between this and cultural differences between the two powers, the military cooperation demonstrated by the two countries does not resemble the traditional military alliances of the West.

To this end, Burakovsky said that the Sino-Russian entente was not based on any real ideological similarity, but rather focused on respecting one anothers sovereignty above other factors such as human rights.

They dont let human rights issues get in the way of their relationship, Burakovsky said. Its difficult to imagine Vladimir Putin being critical of the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang or Xi Jinping calling out Chechnya for its treatment of gay people. Thats just not going to happen.

Different Needs in Afghanistan

That focus on sovereignty above all has led the two nations to a critical point in their relationship, as each power now attempts to navigate a burgeoning relationship with the resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan. In the end, what involvement with the Taliban looks like for Russia and the CCP could be very different.

I dont think that the long-term interests of Russia and China in Afghanistan are the same, Stevenage said.

In the case of Russia, Burakovsky pointed out that the Kremlin felt vindicated, having spent the last seven years building Taliban contacts. Russia was also one of the few countries to not evacuate its embassy in Kabul this month. China was another.

Nevertheless, Russia is in something of a wait-and-see period with the Taliban. Burakovsky believes that the possibility of the Taliban being recognized by the Kremlin as a legitimate state actor would remain slim until the situation in Afghanistan becomes much more stabilized.

Conversely, the relationship between the CCP and the Taliban is based ultimately on a shared economic ambition, according to Stevenage. The Chinese regime desires to expand its Belt and Road Initiative, a massive global infrastructure investment project, while the Taliban is seeking better funding from international trade. As such, Stevenage believes the CCP is likely to speed up its efforts to collaborate with the Taliban on various economic efforts.

I dont think the Taliban particularly like the Chinese, but the Chinese will be able to exploit the minerals and pay them, he said. Its a very transactional relationship rather than an ideological relationship.

There is roughly $1 trillion worth of mineral wealth in Afghanistan, which the CCP now has the opportunity to extract. It is with such trade in mind that the CCP has accelerated its propaganda efforts to demonize the United States and elevate the Taliban these past weeks.

The CCP has praised the Taliban as a more rational partner than it was last time it was in power, while the editor of state-owned media outlet The Global Times called the CCP and the Taliban friends.

These efforts to warm ties with the Taliban have not gone unnoticed, and the group has praised the CCP in turn, signaling that the regime would be an important partner in infrastructure development projects in Afghanistan.

A Pre-9/11 Future

How Russia and the CCP independently decide to deal with the Taliban could affect the trajectory of their partnership in the long run. Regardless of the continuation of their entente, however, recent events in Afghanistan will have enormous knock-on effects throughout the region in the coming years.

Both Burakovsky and Stevenage expressed concern that the new state of affairs could mark an age of increased international terrorism.

If the Taliban are unable to maintain power, if they are unable to attain international legitimacy and recognition from the Afghan population, or if theres an insurgency that ensues, I think Afghanistan could become a failed state and a safe haven for terrorist organizations like the Islamic State group, Burakovsky said.

The situation could become fairly chaotic for central Asia.

Stevenage likened the situation to a timebomb regardless of the Talibans success. A resurgent Taliban would soon be followed by a resurgent Al Qaeda, he projected, ultimately paving the way for a status quo ante bellum as terrorist-training groups build upon resentment among Muslim minority groups throughout the world, whether it be in Xinjiang, Chechnya or elsewhere.

I think you will see growing resentment, Stevenage said. [Terrorists] will also look at the model that worked: You wait out the power. Its the old saying: You may have the watches but we have the time.

You may even see a reduction in ISIS as people go back to the more traditional set-up, but you will see more terrorism around the world, Stevenage added. Maybe not immediately, but it will go back to a pre-9/11 model.

Stevenage noted that the Taliban were never an international terrorist organization in their own right, but that they allowed groups that were, such as Al-Qaeda, to develop within their borders.

He fears that now there will be a return to the training and exportation of radical Islamism from Afghanistan, as China and Russia work to stabilize the Talibans power.

The one thing we can say is that AQ [Al-Qaeda] will gradually move back in, Stevenage said. They will establish training camps and that will return to a pre-9/11 type of existence.
Survivors Grapple With Aftermath of Deadly Tennessee Flood

WAVERLY, Tenn.Anna Mays woke up in a panic attack Monday, thinking she was back in the rising floodwater.

Two days ago, she had been clinging for her life to the front door of her duplex in rural Tennessee as the water inched up to her neck. Her brother was hanging onto a tree.

Then Mays realized where she was: The gym at the Waverly Church of Christ, now her temporary home alongside other victims of record-breaking rain Saturday that sent floodwaters surging through the region, killing at least 21 people.

Her story has become a familiar one in Humphreys County, and particularly the small town of Waverly. Large swaths of the community are suddenly displaced, sorting through difficult decisions about what comes next even as they relive the horror of what just happened.

This morning I was having a panic attack and thought I was in water, and I was trying to get that way and trying to get this way. I was just scared half to death, said Mays, who doesnt know how to swim. I was just, something woke me up and I thought I was in the water, andI never have seenIve seen it on TV, but Ive never have seen it like it in life, where cars was going by.

Flood damage is photographed from a Tennessee National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flying Gov. Bill Lee to Waverly, Tenn., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Alan Poizner/The Tennessean via AP)

Mays started gathering up a few belongings after a police officer came to the door of her duplex Saturday morning, telling her to evacuate. She and her brother could see the water rising quickly. Her brother was trying to keep it out of the house by shoving towels under the door, but they were soon overwhelmed. Minutes later, the flooded creek pushed open the door, and water poured into the house.

Mays brother went outside to try to find a way onto the roof but ended up clinging to a tree. Mays held on to the front door until they were rescued by boat, escaping with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. Mays said the neighbor on the other side of the duplex lost her daughter, who was about 7 or 8 years old.

While survivors grappled with their recollectionsmore than 90 people stayed in shelters Sunday, according to the states American Red Cross chapterrescue workers continued their arduous searches for anyone else swept away.

Authorities rummaged through heaps of debris as search and rescue teams used dogs to try to sniff out any missing people, Waverly police Chief Grant Gillespie said.

Theres still a lot of debris in and along the creek that needs to be examined. Thats a painstaking process, Gillespie said during a news conference. We have to tear that apart, a lot of times, with equipment.

The police chief said the number of people considered missing has fluctuated, as people have not been able to reach loved ones who are later confirmed to be safe.

Im reasonably sure that we are less than 10 right now that we are truly not sure about the whereabouts of, or that we dont think well resolve fairly easily, Gillespie said.

Saturdays flooding took out roads, cellphone towers, and telephone lines, leaving people uncertain about whether family and friends survived the unprecedented deluge, with rainfall that more than tripled forecasts and shattered the state record for one-day rainfall. Emergency workers were searching door to door, said Kristi Brown, coordinated health and safety supervisor with Humphreys County Schools.

Many of the missing live in the neighborhoods where the water rose the fastest, said Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis, who confirmed the 21 fatalities in his county. The names of the missing were on a board in the countys emergency center and listed on a city of Waverly Facebook page, which is being updated as people call in and report themselves safe.

Brian Mitchell (R) looks through the damaged home of his mother-in-law along with family friend Chris Hoover in Waverly, Tenn., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Mark Humphrey/AP Photo)

The Humphreys County Sheriff Office Facebook page filled with people looking for missing friends and family. GoFundMe pages asked for help for funeral expenses for the dead, including 7-month-old twins swept from their fathers arms as they tried to escape.

The death of the twins was confirmed by surviving family members. A foreman at country music star Loretta Lynns ranch also died. The sheriff of the county of about 18,000 people some 60 miles west of Nashville said he lost one of his best friends.

Up to 17 inches of rain fell in Humphreys County in less than 24 hours Saturday, passing the Tennessee record for one-day rainfall by more than 3 inches, the National Weather Service said, though Saturdays numbers will have to be confirmed.

School was canceled for the week, according to the sheriffs office. Waverly Elementary and Waverly Junior High suffered extensive damage, according to Brown. About 2,000 homes in the county were without power Monday evening, utility officials said.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee toured the area, calling it a devastating picture of loss and heartache. President Joe Biden offered condolences to the people of Tennessee and directed federal disaster officials to talk with the governor and offer assistance.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) walks past a home swept off its foundation in catastrophic floods in Waverly, Tenn., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Alan Poizner-Pool/Getty Images)

Survivors played back the harrowing moments when the water closed in.

Billy Ray Rushing was staying with his daughter, Annie Rushing, when they were told to evacuate.

Right then and there, we got in the car and left, he said.

The water was already over their muffler. Their neighbor, Mary, on the other side of the duplex went back inside her home but soon was calling, asking them to come back for her, Rushing said. It was too late.

There wasnt any way we could get back there. I hate it, but I couldnt take the chance of her and me drowning, he said, indicating his daughter.

That same neighbor warned Jodie Stawski, across the street, to get out before the water reached their apartment.

But as we went, as we was driving out, we could see these people on their porches, said Stawski on Monday. And I think in my mind, they thought they were safe. That the water was not going to get that high. But from what I heard, it gushed at them. And we lost Miss Mary. She drowned in the process. She was our hero. She saved us.

By Travis Loller and Jonathan Mattis
Taiwan Declares Support for Lithuania Amid Chinese Regime Pressure

Taiwan has voiced support for Lithuania after reports that Beijing is using economic coercion on the Baltic state over its decision to pursue closer relations with Taipei.

Lithuania last week drew the wrath of the Chinese regime for allowing Taiwan to open a de facto embassy in Vilnius using its own name. In response, Beijing recalled its envoy to Lithuania, and demanded Vilnius recall its counterpart. The Chinese regime considers Taiwan as part of its territory, despite the island being governed as a separate entity for decades.

Beijing has also moved to restrict some trade with the Baltic country, according to local media reports.

Taiwans Foreign Ministry, in a statement on Aug. 24, condemned any attempts to use trade as a political tool for retaliation, adding that Taipei would work to establish a more resilient supply chain with Vilnius.

Taiwan and Lithuania are friends who share common values of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights and rule-of-law, the foreign ministry said.

The island will work with Lithuania, as well as other democratic allies, to resist all coercive attempts by authoritarian regimes, it added.

In the wake of the diplomatic row, some Lithuanian businesses have found themselves cut off from the Chinese market.

Beijing has stopped approving new export permits for Lithuanian food even though no official notifications had been received, Mantas Staskevicius, director of the countrys State Food and Veterinary Service told The Baltic Times on Aug. 22.

Lithuanias talks with China on export permits for feed, non-animal products, and edible offal have stopped, the official told the outlet.

Chinas hawkish state-run media Global Times warned on the same day that the countrys businesses may experience obstacles from Beijing, including restrictions on agricultural exports and imports of raw materials. It said Lithuania must pay the price.

The Chinese regime has also halted direct freight trains to Lithuania, local media reported, although there has not yet been any official confirmation. Lithuanian national rail company told Taiwan state-owned news agency, Central News Agency, that customers informed it that several trains from China could be halted from the end of August or September. But Lithuanian Railways said it hasnt received any notification from Beijing.

China Railway Group has denied the claim.

On Saturday, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a phone call with Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, reaffirmed the United States ironclad support of the Baltic state in the face of the regimes coercive behavior.

Landsbergis, in a Twitter post on Monday, described the countrys experience as a #TestforTheWest.Also on Monday, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) applauded Lithuanias diplomatic ties with Taiwan. He also mentioned that Lithuania may suffer sustained, furious, and serious retaliation from Beijing over its support for Taiwan, while assuring Washingtons support.
Australia has approved its first major rocket launch in many decades. (SpaceX)

Taiwan to Launch a Rocket from Australia

Australian company Southern Launch will send a Taiwanese rocket into space in Australias first major launch since the 1960s.

Taiwanese company tiSPACE will launch its Hapith Ia ten meter rocketfrom Southern Launchs complex, 680km west of Adelaide later this year.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter, announced the launch approval on Aug. 23, saying it marked a significant milestone for the local industry.

This is an important outcome in establishing Australias commercial launch capability and demonstrating what our country can offer to the international space sector, Porter said.

Space is a significant global growth market that will support Australias economic future through big investment, new technologies, and job growth across multiple industries.

After Taiwans unsuccessful launch at a site in Taitung County on Feb. 13 last year due to unsuitable weather, the island state decided to launch its commercial rocket from wholly Australian-owned company Southern Launch.

International Space Station backdropped by the ocean between Antarctica and Australia, Jun. 3, 2013. (NASA)

Chief executive Lloyd Damp said the company was delighted to work with the Taiwanese company.

Southern Launch is pleased to be partnering with TiSPACE to conduct the first test launch at our Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex on the Eyre Peninsula, Damp told InnovationAus.

This is an exciting development on our journey to establish the first site in Australia capable of launching commercial satellites into orbit, enabling South Australia to start capturing part of the $5.5 billion global space launch market.

Southern Launchs regulatory lead Scott Schneider said that beyond launching rockets, space services also play a major role in everyday life.

Without space services, there is no Google Maps, no broadband internet, and no effective way to monitor the environment or manage emergencies like floods and bushfires, Schneider said.

Local launches allow Australia to invite international space businesses to create jobs and boost the Australian space industry.

With domestic launch sites for commercial use, no more will Australia send money and give away jobs to the launch industries of New Zealand, the United States, Europe or India, Schneider said.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet delivers a speech at the opening of a special session of the UN Human Rights Council on Afghanistan in Geneva on Aug. 24, 2021. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

Taliban Executed Civilians, Recruited Child Soldiers, UN Rights Chief Warns

The United Nations high commissioner for human rights announced on Tuesday she obtained credible reports of serious human rights violations, including summary executions, by Taliban terrorists in Afghanistan.

Michelle Bachelet didnt provide additional details on the findings while speaking at an emergency meeting with the UN Human Rights Council, but she urged members of the council to set up a mechanism to closely monitor the actions of the Taliban.

At this critical moment, the people of Afghanistan look to the Human Rights Council to defend and protect their rights, Bachelet said.

I urge this Council to take bold and vigorous action, commensurate with the gravity of this crisis, by establishing a dedicated mechanism to closely monitor the evolving human rights situation in Afghanistan, she added.

Those that faced execution include civilians and former Afghan security forces, according to the high commissioner, who noted that she will make a fuller written report on the allegations in March 2022.

As the Taliban took over the police headquarters in Herat, Afghanistans third-largest city, and also seized another key district capital just 150 km (95 miles) from the capital Kabul, Afghan security force personnel stand guard along the roadside in Herat on Aug. 12, 2021. (AFP Photo via Getty Images) (AFP Photo via Getty Images)

According to a UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) report, civilian casualties between Jan. 1 and June 30 rose by nearly 50 percent compared to the same period in 2020.

Bachelet stated she believes the death toll further increased over the months of July and August, around the same period the Taliban intensified their offensive and took control of the country.

In addition, reports on other serious human rights violations, which include the recruitment of child soldiers and restrictions on the rights of women, were also found to be taking place in many regions under effective Taliban control across the beleaguered Middle Eastern nation.

I strongly urge the Taliban to adopt norms of responsive governance and human rights, and to work to re-establish social cohesion and reconciliationincluding through respect for the rights of all who have suffered during the decades of conflict, Bachelet said.

The Taliban treatment of women and girls would be a fundamental red line, she warned during Tuesdays emergency session that was being held at the request of Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Afghan women queue upon their arrival aboard a second evacuation airplane, carrying Afghan collaborators and their families, that landed at the Torrejon de Ardoz airbase, 30 km (18.6 miles) away from Madrid, on Aug. 20, 2021. (Mariscal/MARISCAL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Pakistans Ambassador Khalil Hashmi said the resolution, agreed later that day by the Geneva forum, voiced grave concern over reports of violations and sent a message of solidarity to the people of Afghanistan.

Nasir Ahmad Andisha, a senior Afghan diplomat from the deposed government, called for accountability for Taliban actions, describing an uncertain and dire situation where millions of people fear for their lives.

But Chinas ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Chen Xu, said that the U.S. Army and the militaries of other coalition partners, including Britain and Australia, should be held accountable for alleged rights violations by their forces in Afghanistan.

The United States condemned attacks that it said were being carried out against civilians, journalists, activists, and minority groups, but did not name the Taliban.

Following this months swift offensive by the Taliban and takeover of the country, a humanitarian crisis has unfolded and reports have emerged of violence and brutality inflicted on the Afghan people at the hands of the designated terrorist organization.

Taliban terrorists patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 19, 2021. (Rahmat Gul/AP Photo)

Although a Taliban spokesman announced a general amnesty, explaining the group would present itself as more moderate, saying women can work and go to school and university, recent reports of violence allegedly committed by the group claim otherwise.

When the Taliban last ruled Afghanistan before a U.S.-led military operation in 2001 removed the group from power, women were mostly confined to their homes. Nearly all women were prohibited from getting an education and Burkas and male chaperones were required for women outside of their homes.

Under the extremist rule, public executions were also used as punishment for those convicted of murder or adultery, while amputation was used for those found guilty of theft.

Reuters contributed to this report.

From NTD News
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid looks on during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 24, 2021. (Hoshang Hashimi/AFP via Getty Images)

Taliban Urges Afghans Not to Flee Afghanistan, Refuses to Budge on Deadline

The Taliban on Tuesday said Afghans should not leave Afghanistan and refused to agree to an extension of the looming U.S. withdrawal deadline.

We are sending a message to the Americans again to evacuate their citizens by [Aug. 31] because they have the means to do so, they have planes and the airport is with them and they have to transfer all the forces and contractors who have relation [sic] with foreigners, Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, told reporters during a press conference in Kabul.

We are not in favor of allowing Afghans to leavewont allow themand after that, we will not allow [Americans] to be here and we will take a serious position, God willing, he added.

Mujahid also said that American officials should please change your policy and dont encourage Afghans to leave.

The United States is using the airport it holds in Kabul to evacuate thousands of Afghans in addition to Americans and citizens of other countries.

U.S. President Joe Biden previously said the United States would complete its withdrawal from Afghanistan by Aug. 31.

As of Tuesday, there has been no change to the timeline, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington.

The U.S. military is committed to getting any Americans who want to leave Afghanistan out before the deadline, he said, adding, We believe that we have the capability, the ability to get that done by the end of the month.

Some members of Congress and U.S. allies have expressed doubt that the mission will be complete by the deadline and have called on Biden to extend it.

If he does not, then other countries will likely be forced to pullout, even if evacuations arent complete, the United Kingdoms defense minister said this week.

The United States and the United Kingdom were among the countries participating in a virtual Group of 7 meeting on Tuesday. Biden was scheduled to deliver remarks afterwards at the White House.

Groups of people wait on the tarmac at Kabuls airport, Afghanistan, on Aug. 23, 2021. (Satellite Image 2021 Maxar Technologies/Handout via Reuters)

Afghans board a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport plane during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan on Aug. 22, 2021. (U.S. Air Force via Reuters)

Evacuations Ramp Up

The United States, with assistance from allies, has been able to greatly increase the pace of evacuations in recent days, ferrying out some 21,600 people from 3 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 23 to 3 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 24, according to a White House official.

In addition to 37 U.S. military flights, 57 commercial and ally flights left Kabuls airport. That amounted to approximately one flight every 45 minutes.

Now, since Aug. 14, America has evacuated or facilitated the evacuation of 58,700 people.

Were able to achieve this level of increased departures because of U.S. military personnel and our partners work around the clock to conduct this highly important mission, including airport security and flight operation, Major Gen. Hank Taylor told reporters at the Pentagon.

Afghan evacuees are being flown to various nations, including Israel, Germany, and Spain. Some are designated for the United States, which is preparing space for approximately 25,000 at military bases in four states.

In the past 24 hours, four flights with more than 1,000 evacuees in total landed at Dulles International Airport in Washington, officials said.

Officials declined to give a firmer figure on the number of Americans who have been evacuated than several thousand and continued to say they dont know how many Americans remain in Afghanistan.
Tennessee Flood Damage More Massive Than Previously Estimated: Officials

Officials said Tuesday that the weekend flooding in Tennessee that killed at least 21 people was even more destructive than previously believed, with the degree of devastation coming into sharper focus as water receded and rescue teams searched for survivors.

Our damage is much more massive than what we thought, Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis told NPR in an interview, saying over 100 homes had been washed off foundations or destroyeda far larger number than previously estimated.

Yesterday we thought it was 20-something houses that had been removed from the foundations, Davis said. Thats not even close. Well over 100-120 houses have been moved, or are gone, no longer exist.

Cars are stacked on top of each other on the banks of Blue Creek, in Waverly, Tenn., on Aug. 23, 2021. (John Amis/AP Photo)

Around a dozen people are believed still missing in hardest-hit Humphreys County, where rescuers with trained dogs continued to scour the area in hopes of finding people still alive.

Waverly resident Brittney McCords 2-year-old son was washed away in Saturdays floods.

Its devastating not knowing where my baby is, the grief-stricken mother told the Tennessean.Not knowing if hes going to be found. Where he is. My heart hurts so bad. I dont want him to be left alone.

The town of Waverly, about 55 miles west of Nashville, bore the brunt of the destruction after a storm brought 17 inches of rain in just three hours.

Humphreys County Chief Deputy Rob Edwards told The Associated Press that excavators were moving the largest pieces of debris in Waverly while drone operators searched several miles downstream for survivors.

Waverly Police Chief Grant Gillespie said Monday that the number of people believed missing has fluctuated, as people managed to get in touch with loved ones they were previously unable to reach as the flooding took out cellphone towers and phone lines.

Im reasonably sure that we are less than 10 right now that we are truly not sure about the whereabouts of, or that we dont think well resolve fairly easily, Gillespie told The Associated Press.

A woman walks up to her home in flood-hit Waverly, Tenn., on Aug. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/John Amis)

President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration sought by Tennessee officials, freeing up federal aid to help with recovery efforts, the White House said in a statement.

I want to begin by expressing my deepest condolences for the sudden and tragic loss of life due to this flash flood, Biden said at an Aug. 22 briefing.

Weve reached out to the community and we stand ready to offer them support. Ive asked the [FEMA] Administrator to speak to Governor Lee of Tennessee right away, and we will offer any assistance they need for this terrible moment, he added.

Reuters contributed to this report.
A voter reads her ballot while voting at the Legion Park polling place in Miami on Nov, 3, 2020. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The Era of Zuckbucks in Florida Election Administration Ends

The last of the three Florida counties that took grant monies from a left-wing activist group funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to help administer the 2020 elections has returned the remaining funds to the group after a new state law banned such grants, according to the Public Interest Legal Foundation.

Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, supporters of President Joe Biden and Democratic Party candidates, grabbed headlines during the last election cycle by giving as much as $400 million to the Chicago-based Center for Technology and Civic Life (CTCL).

CTCL in turn then distributed the money in the form of grants to jurisdictions across the United States purportedly to help those governments hire more staff, buy mail-in ballot processing machinery, and pursue other measures they considered necessary to administer the elections during the ongoing pandemic. Critics complained that CTCLs grants favored Democrats because they tended to go to the electoral apparatuses in Democratic strongholds and that the funds were part of an attempt to unfairly influence the outcome of the elections.

The return of this money to the Center for Technology and Civic Life (CTCL) is a victory for election integrity, said PILF President J. Christian Adams, a former U.S. Justice Department civil rights attorney.

Indianapolis-based PILF describes itself as the nations only public interest law firm dedicated wholly to election integrity, saying that it exists to assist states and others to aid the cause of election integrity and fight against lawlessness in American elections.

Zuckbucks were the biggest factor, juicing blue areas in 2020, Adams said. A private citizen should not be allowed to influence how our elections are run. At the Public Interest Legal Foundation, we are proud to have played a role in ensuring that this money will not be spent to influence the Florida elections in 2022.

After the elections last year, Florida banned private money from being used to administer elections in the state.

On May 6, Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signed the states new election integrity law that, in addition to prohibiting the use of private funds to administer elections, also banned ballot harvesting and the mass mailing of ballots, and strengthened voter identification requirements.

Florida took action this legislative session to increase transparency and strengthen the security of our elections, DeSantis said at the time. Floridians can rest assured that our state will remain a leader in ballot integrity. Elections should be free and fair, and these changes will ensure this continues to be the case in the Sunshine State.

Soon after the law was enacted, two of the counties to receive CTCL grantsLeon and Alachuareturned to CTCL the portion of the grants that were unspent, but Palm Beach County held out until earlier this month.

Lauren Bowman, a spokeswoman for PILF, told The Epoch Times that Palm Beach County officials initially didnt respond to letters PILF sent them.

PILF then sued the county, but the county took the position that there was nothing in the statute that compelled it to return the money, she said.

PILF and the county went back and forth, but the county eventually changed its position after PILF pointed out that the county was benefiting from the remaining grant money because it was accruing bank interest, Bowman said.

Palm Beach County acknowledged in an Aug. 5 email to PILF that was obtained by The Epoch Times that it was returning $612,089.24 to CTCL.

The new state law will promote electoral integrity, Bowman said.

Elections are meant to be run by tax dollars, she said. Theyre not supposed to be influenced by billionaires in Silicon Valley.
The Joker Virus Has Returned to Android, Can Empty Bank Accounts Unnoticed

It is hidden in various apps in the Google Play Store

The Belgian Police warned about the return of the Joker virus, which attacks Android devices and hides itself in various applications on the Google Play Store. This malware is capable of subscribing the user to payment services without their authorization and emptying their bank accounts without them noticing.

This malicious program has been detected in eight Play Store applications that Google has suppressed, said the Belgian authorities in a statement published this Friday on their website.

It may interest you: Did you get a free ebook for Kindle from Amazon? This new hacking method can access your bank details

The Joker malware became famous in 2017 for infecting and robbing its victims by hiding in different applications. Since then, the Google Play Store defense systems have removed around 1,700 apps with the Joker malware before they were downloaded by users.

In September 2020, the Joker virus was found in 24 Android applications that registered more than 500 thousand downloads before being removed. It is estimated that that time it affected more than 30 countries including the United States, Brazil, and Spain. Through unauthorized subscriptions, hackers could steal up to $ 7 (about 140 Mexican pesos) per subscription weekly, a figure that has most likely increased in recent months.

How Does the Joker Virus Work in Android Apps?

The Joker Trojan virus belongs to a family of malware known as Bread, whose objective is to hack cell phone bills and authorize operations without the users consent.

Researchers from the cybersecurity company Quick Heal Security Lab, cited in the statement, explain that this virus can enter text messages, contacts and other information on the infected smartphone.

Also read: So you can detect and delete spy apps on your Smartphone

What makes this malware more dangerous is its ability to subscribe the affected Android user to paid services, usually Premium or the most expensive version, without their prior authorization.

In the beginning, apps infected with Joker or another Malware from this family carried out fraud via SMS, but then began to attack online payments. These two techniques take advantage of the integration of telephone operators with vendors, to facilitate the payment of services with the mobile bill. Both require verification of the device, but not the user, thus they manage to automate payments without requiring any user interaction.

You risk a big surprise at the end of the month in your bank account or on your credit card, said the Belgian police, referring to the unknown charges that the victim will see at the end of the month.

In fact, it is very common for those affected by Joker to become aware of the theft until they review their account statement in detail. This is because the bank does not suspect an apparently normal subscription and, generally, the charges are so small that they are not detected as unusual movements, so they do not even send a usage alert to the account holder.

In Which Android Apps Could the Joker Virus Be?

On this occasion, the harmful applications that the Google Play Store eliminated after detecting that they contained the Joker virus are:

Auxiliary Message

Element Scanner

Fast Magic SMS

Free CamScanner

Go Messages

Super Message

Super SMS

Travel Wallpapers

However, other specialists warn that more apps are affected and, therefore, millions of users who do not know that they are already victims of this cyber fraud.

The cybersecurity company Zscaler, cited by La Razon, made public the names of 16 other apps that, according to their analysis, also contain this malicious code:

Private SMS

Hummingbird PDF ConverterPhoto to PDF

Style Photo Collage

Talent Photo EditorBlur focus

Paper Doc Scanner

All Good PDF Scanner

Care Message

Part Message

Blue Scanner

Direct Messenger

One Sentence TranslatorMultifunctional Translator

Mint Leaf Message-Your Private Message

Unique KeyboardFancy Fonts & Free Emoticons

Tangram App Lock

Desire Translate

Meticulous Scanner

Of course, the recommendation for Andriod users is to check if they have any of these apps installed on their smartphone and delete them immediately, since the fact that they are deleted from the Google Play Store does not imply automatic uninstallation from the computers where they were downloaded.
People wearing face masks stand in a line as they wait to be vaccinated at the Sydney Olympic Park Vaccination Centre at Homebush in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 16, 2021. (David Gray/AFP via Getty Images)

There Is No Freedom Day: Doherty Institute Says Hundreds of Daily COVID Cases Still Likely

The research institute behind Australias COVID-19 modelling has said that the virus will be easier to control after reaching vaccination targets, but has warned Aussies to expect hundreds of daily cases of the CCP virus to continue emerging, along with ongoing public health measures.

The Melbourne-based Doherty Institute issued the statement after Queensland and West Australias state leaders publicly displayed reluctance to follow through on an agreed National Cabinet plan to open interstate borders or stop using lockdowns once 70 to 80 percent of the population was vaccinated.

This level of vaccination will make it easier to live with the virus, as we do with other viruses such as the flu. However, it wont be possible to maintain a situation where there are no cases at all, the statement read, noting that after the vaccination targets are met, the focus will be on hospitalisation and medical care.

Doherty predicted that at 70 percent, Australia could still see 385,983 symptomatic cases and 1,457 deaths over a six-month period. However, with optimal public health measuresfree of any lockdownsthe number can be reduced further to 2,737 cases and 13 deaths.

Students wait to receive the Pfizer vaccine for Covid-19 at Qudos Arena in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 9, 2021. (Dean Lewins-Pool/Getty Images)

Weve learned from watching countries that have removed all restrictions that there is no Freedom Day, the statement read. We will need to keep some public health measures in placetest, trace, isolate, and quarantineto keep the reproduction number below one, but as vaccination rates increase, well be able to ease up further, and it is unlikely that we will need generalised lockdowns.

The institute said that until the country hit the 70 to 80 percent vaccination mark, governments would need to continue suppressing the virus through restrictions. Public sentiment towards restrictions has begun to boil over, however, with thousands of Australians taking to the streets on the weekend in protest against COVID lockdowns.

In late July, the national cabinetan intergovernmental body involving the prime minister and state and territory leadersagreed on a four-stage vaccination plan based on Dohertys modelling.

At the 70 percent vaccination mark, a state will enter Phase B, where stay-at-home orders and restrictions are still possible, but will be unlikely.

Upon reaching the 80 percent vaccination target, Phase C is triggered, and the country will begin reopening international borders. Lockdowns however will need to be highly targeted, while vaccinated residents will be exempt from domestic restrictions.

Some public health measures will still be needed even after the population has moved into the Phase D.

Last week, West Australian Premier Mark McGowan stood by the states right to implement highly-targeted lockdowns and indicated his government would likely continue to pursue a zero-COVID strategy.

Further, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called for renewed modelling before she would commit to opening borders, saying the previous research did not consider high case numbers and was premised around 30 cases in the community.

Dohertys response on Monday was designed to assuage this concern, emphasising that even with hundreds of new cases per day, the country could still safely ease restrictions.

Currently, Queensland and Western Australia have the lowest percentage of fully vaccinated residents at 27.87 and 27.17 percent, respectively. The current national average is 30.27 percent.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued a public plea on Monday for state leaders to follow the vaccination roadmap and break the cycle of lockdowns.

We should not delay it. We should prepare for it. We should not fear it, we should embrace it, and we should move forward together, he told reporters.
Theres Another Lab in Wuhan Thats Received Far Less Attention: The CCPs Lab | Truth Over News

The primary focus of the lab leak theory has been concentrated on the Wuhan Institute of Virology and its director, Shi Zhengli known for her coronavirus experiments involving bats at the institutes two labs.

But there is another lab in the city of Wuhan that has received far less attention: the level-2 lab of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

And like Shi Zhengli at the Institute of Virology, the CDC lab had its own coronavirus specialist, Tian Junhuaa man who spent years catching bats in remote locations, bringing thousands of samples back to the CDCs Wuhan lab.

On Dec. 2, 2019, the Wuhan CDC lab abruptly moved to a new location, barely 900 feet from the Huanan Seafood Marketthe same market that was initially blamed by Chinese authorities for the coronavirus outbreak.

Welcome to Truth over News with Jeff Carlson and Hans Mahncke.

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In this satellite photo released by Maxar Technologies, Kabuls international airport is seen amid evacuations on Aug. 23, 2021. (The Canadian Press/AP-Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies)

Trudeau Mum on US Deadline to Leave Kabul by Aug. 31 as He Meets with G7 Leaders

OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau was playing his cards close to his chest on whether he wants the G7 to push for an extension of the American military commitment to Afghanistan.

Trudeau joined a special virtual meeting of the G7 leaders Tuesday on the crisis in Afghanistan and President Joe Biden is expected to face calls from some fellow leaders to extend the U.S. military commitment to the country beyond his Aug. 31 deadline.

All Trudeau would say before the meeting was that he was looking forward to a discussion on how to protect as many people as possible.

Obviously, the conversation will continue with our allies, the Liberal party leader said when asked about the issue at an early morning federal campaign stop in Hamilton.

Im looking forward to talking about what more we can do and whether and how we can make sure were protecting as many people as possible.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is hosting the summit, and Frances Emmanuel Macron are among those calling for an extension in order to more fully evacuate all foreign nationals and vulnerable Afghans who helped the Americans and the NATO allies before the countrys recent fall to the Taliban.

Canada is one of a dozen allied countries taking part in the evacuation of people facing Taliban reprisals from Kabuls chaotic airport, which Americanled forces have secured for the time being.

Johnson has called the urgent summit of G7 leaders to discuss the evacuation crisis and plot longer-term engagement with Afghanistans new Taliban leaders, as well as dealing with humanitarian crisis for refugees.

We also have to talk about how, as an international community were holding the Taliban to account, were ensuring that were protecting people who wont be able to escape the Taliban in the coming week or weeks, said Trudeau.

Trudeau also said the return of the Taliban would have to prompt a broader rethinking of Canadas aid spending in Afghanistan.

That is absolutely something were looking at right now, obviously, with the Taliban in control of the country. Our regular aid, investments and agencies need to be looked at carefully to make sure we are not supporting indirectly, the Taliban, Trudeau said.

We obviously need to continue to be there to support the Afghan people, which we will. We need to invest even more, as we resettle, as we bring Afghan refugees to Canada, he added.

We will be there for greater financial commitments because thats what Canadians expect, for us to continue to fight for a better Afghanistan and continue to be there for Afghans fleeing for a better life.

In January, a federal review gave a mixed grade on the effectiveness of the close to $1 billion in development assistance that Canada funnelled into Afghanistan in the six years following the complete withdrawal of the countrys military forces in 2014.

The review also found that Global Affairs Canada was not adapting to Afghanistans changing needs as the Taliban began gobbling up territory between 2017 and 2020 from the recently fallen Afghan government.

In November, Canada made a further three-year, $270-million aid commitment to Afghanistan.

All of Canadas aid spending has been channelled through international organizations and has not been given directly to any Afghan government. The money goes through an international trust fund run by the World Bank and through the direct funding of projects by Canadian non-governmental organizations, their international counterparts and other multilateral organizations.

By Mike Blanchfield
Members of the UK Armed Forces continue to take part in the evacuation of entitled personnel from Kabul airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan Aug. 1922, 2021, in this picture obtained on Aug. 23, 2021. (LPhot Ben Shread/UK MOD Crown copyright 2021/Handout via Reuters)

UK Defence Minister: Evacuation of Afghan on No-Fly List Wasnt Security Fail

The British defence minister has insisted that the security system was working as it should do when an Afghan who was on a no-fly watchlist landed in the UK on an evacuation flight.

Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said that the term no-fly refers to a broader category of watchlists and requirements and doesnt mean a simple automatic refusal to board an aeroplane.

Other media reports, which cannot be confirmed by The Epoch Times, claim that MPs were told four other individuals have been denied applications to come to the UK over security concerns.

Wallace was responding to reports, later confirmed by the government, that an individual who was on a no-fly list on Aug. 23 arrived back in the UK, before being released following security checks.

Its not as straightforward as fly/no-fly, he told LBC radio. Some of them are basically just checked before they fly, he said. We generically call it a no-fly list.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: The no-fly list has many sub divisions, it could be this individual  [was categorised as] no-fly until they are checked, it could be that there are lots of different conditions before they fly. It is not necessarily that they are so dangerous they cant get on an aeroplane.

He added, I wouldnt be as alarmed as some of the media headlines are about this individual and I would also take some comfort from this process [that it] is working and flagging people.

Wallace said that the UK had to strike a balance between getting out as many people as possible from Kabul, and the need to properly vet for security risks.

Nearly 8,500 people have now been evacuated from Afghanistan by the UK since Aug. 13, according to the latest figures from the Department of Defence.

In a update on Operation Pitting, the Ministry of Defence said on Twitter: 8,458 people have been evacuated by the UK since 13 August. 5,171 of those people are Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy claimants. Nine UK military flights have left Kabul in the last 24 hours.

Wallace said the danger at Kabul airport will rise the closer the evacuation effort gets to the departure deadline.

He told Sky News, It just gets more and more dangerous as add-on groups and other terrorist groups such as IS[IS] would like to be seen to take greater credit, or like to be seen to chase the West out of the airport, that is inevitably going to feed their narrative and their ambitions.

Wallace said using British troops to secure Kabul airport after the United States pulls out wasnt an option.

Its not about effectively whether I could fly in thousands of troops and secure the airport, He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. Yes, I could do that, I could probably secure the airport for a few months, or maybe a year or two.

But for what purpose? For them to be shot at, attacked, people not to get to the airport and to trigger just a permanent fight?

PA contributed to this report
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson waves as he walks on Downing Street in London, on Aug. 24, 2021. (Henry Nicholls/Reuters)

UKs Johnson Says G-7 Agreed That Taliban Must Allow Departures From Afghanistan After Aug. 31

No extension, though, of the US-imposed deadline, leaders say

Leaders of the powerful Group of Seven (G-7) nations agreed that the Taliban terrorist group must let people evacuate from Afghanistan past Aug. 31, United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

The group, which includes the United States, agreed in the meeting on not just a joint approach to dealing with the evacuation but also a roadmap for the way in which were going to engage with the Taliban, as it probably will be a Taliban government in Kabul, Johnson told reporters in the UK after the emergency Aug. 24 virtual summit.

And the number one condition were setting as G-7 is that theyve got to guarantee right the way through, through August 31st and beyond, a safe passage for those who want to come out.

If the Taliban doesnt agree, then the G-7 has very considerable leverageeconomic, diplomatic and political, Johnson said.

The Taliban took over Afghanistan this month after the United States withdrew most of its troops from the country. Currently, dozens of flights are flying evacuees from the U.S.-held airport in Kabul on a daily basis.

But President Joe Biden set an Aug. 31 deadline for the withdrawal, which the Taliban are insisting is adhered to and have threatened consequences if it isnt. A spokesman for the group told reporters in Kabul earlier on Aug. 24 that the United States must evacuate its citizens by the deadline.

While Johnson and other allies have pushed Biden to extend the deadline, that mission seems to have morphed into a plan to apply pressure on the Taliban, according to leaders after the G-7 meeting.

The conference today did not result in new dates, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters in Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a news conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Aug. 22, 2021. (Sergey Dolzhenko/Pool via AP)

President Joe Biden speaks during an event to honor the 2020 WNBA champions Seattle Storm in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Aug. 23, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Still, she echoed Johnson in saying leaders are preparing intensively for the phase after the deadline.

We need to find a way to make sure that even after this deadline it is still possible to evacuate local staffers and people in need of protection, she said.

A group of officials is being put together from within the G-7 to form a plan of action on how to deal with the Taliban in the future, she added.

We want a unified G-7 response and it wont help anything if each nation just does its own thing but what we can say is that the evacuation is being carried out with a great feat of togetherness but, of course, I have to emphasize that the U.S. has the lead here, she said. Without the U.S., we cant continue with the evacuations; this must be made clear!

Biden was scheduled to speak after the meeting but his remarks were delayed for more than four hours.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement that Biden conveyed that our mission in Kabul will end based on the achievement of our objectives.

He confirmed we are currently on pace to finish by August 31st and provided an update on progress in evacuating Americans who want to come home, third-country nationals, and Afghans who were our allies during the war, she added, before describing added risk because of threats from ISIS-K, an affiliate of the ISIS terrorist group.

The completion of the mission by the deadline depends on continuing coordination with the Taliban, she added.

Biden has asked the Pentagon and the State Department to draw up contingency plans in the event that the mission isnt completed by Aug. 31.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is seen in Washington on July 27, 2021. (Jim Bourg/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Unlikely Afghanistan Evacuation Will Be Finished by Aug. 31 Deadline: Schiff

The United States will likely not complete evacuating Americans and others from Taliban-held Afghanistan by its self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Monday.

I think its possible but I think its very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, the number of SIVs, the number of others who are members of the Afghan press, civil society leaders, women leaders, Schiff, the House Intelligence Committee chairman, told reporters outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

SIVs stands for Special Immigrant Visas.

Schiff described himself as encouraged to see the number of people being flown out by U.S. military planes and charter flights increasing as time goes on, but said logistical difficulties in getting people to the airport in Kabul make it difficult to get everybody out by Aug. 31.

And Im certainly of the view that we maintain a military presence as long as its necessary to get all U.S. persons out and to meet our moral and ethical obligations to our Afghan partners, added the congressman, who took part in a closed-door briefing with intelligence officials on Afghanistan.

Approximately 5,800 U.S. troops are in Kabul helping evacuate Americans, Afghans, and others before fully withdrawing in the near future.

President Joe Biden imposed the Aug. 31 deadline in a summer speech, and the Taliban has said they now expect it to be adhered to. If it is not, a spokesman for the terrorist group said this week, there will be consequences.

U.S. officials have repeatedly declined to commit to extending the deadline if such an extension is required.

We are taking this day by day. We believe we are making enormous progress, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said at a press conference on Monday.

Afghans board a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport plane during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, on Aug. 22, 2021. (U.S. Air Force via Reuters)

As of Aug. 23, a maximum of 4,000 Americans had been evacuated from Afghanistan, according to military officials. That means over 10,000 may still remain in the country.

And tens of thousands of Afghans seeking visas from America are also still there.

Some allies are pressing the United States to push back the deadline, as are other members of Congress.

We absolutely must secure the airport in Kabul and keep our promises to evacuate Americans and our Afghan allies, even if that means extending the August 31st deadline to withdraw from Afghanistan, Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) said early Tuesday on Twitter.

POTUS  extend the 8/31 deadline and get our people out. We cant change the past, but we still have time to make this last part right, Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.) added.
The Java 7 power plant in Serang, Banten, Indonesia on Oct. 29, 2020. China funds dozens of foreign coal plants from Zimbabwe to Indonesia. (RONALD SIAGIAN/AFP via Getty Images)

US Cuts Funding for Fossil Fuel Projects in Developing Countries

News Analysis

WASHINGTONTackling climate change is no longer business as usual and requires significant defunding of the fossil fuel industry, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. To that end, the United States and other Group of Seven (G-7) countries have agreed to cut funding for fossil fuel energy projects both domestically and in developing countries.

The Biden administration recently took another step and extended this policy to multilateral development banks (MDB), such as the World Bank. The Treasury Department on Aug. 16 issued new guidance for MDBs to promote ending international financing of carbon-intensive fossil fuel-based energy.

The United States will oppose all new coal-based and oil-based energy projects and will narrow support for natural gas in emerging countries, according to the new guidelines. But there may be limited exceptions to these rules, especially if cleaner options are unfeasible.

This initiative, however, could make competition with Chinas controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) more difficult. Chinese development banks currently finance large infrastructure and energy projects in emerging countries with no strings attached, especially when it comes to protecting human rights or the environment.

The new U.S. guidance is in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change and prioritizes clean energy, innovation, and energy efficiency, the Treasury Department stated.

The new rules will impact MDB operations, as many European countries share U.S. concerns on climate, according to Stephanie Segal, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

The United States is the largest shareholder at some of the biggest international and regional development banks, including the Inter-American Development Bank (30 percent), World Bank (15.8 percent), and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (10 percent).

While guidance does not constitute a mandate, the United States large shareholding in the institutions translates into voting power and an outsize role in setting the institutions agendas and lending programs, Segal wrote in a recent report.

She noted, however, the U.S. initiative would have no effect on large Chinese development banks such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and New Development Bank, as the United States isnt a member.

China finances energy projects overseas, which are heavily concentrated in fossil fuel operations.

Beijing remains the worlds largest source of public funding for coal projects through the Export-Import Bank of China and China Development Bank, Segal wrote, adding that this contrasts with the G-7 countries commitment to end the funding of new coal generation in developing countries.

China seeks to bolster its image as a leader in fighting climate change and hence some scholars believe Chinese development banks could easily shift toward cleaner energy finance for projects abroad. Beijing, however, hasnt made any commitment in that regard.

China has become the worlds biggest creditor, surpassing traditional lenders such as the World Bank, the IMF, or all OECD creditor governments combined. Since its launch in 2013, Chinas BRI has poured billions of dollars into emerging countries to help build massive infrastructure and energy projects.

Beijing, however, has been accused of deliberately setting debt traps for poorer nations because of unsustainable loans and opaque lending contracts. The Chinese Communist Party has made the initiative a centerpiece of its plans to grow its geopolitical influence.

In June, G-7 leaders agreed to counter Beijings debt-trap diplomacy and growing influence around the world. The leaders pledged to provide a democratic alternative to Chinas ambitious program to address the infrastructure gap in poor countries, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

The G-7s plan is to fund development projects in four key areasclimate, health, digital technology, and gender equity.
Afghan refugees arrive at a processing center in Chantilly, Virginia, on Aug. 23, 2021, after arriving on a flight at Dulles International Airport. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

US Working On Offering COVID-19 Vaccines to Afghan Refugees: Psaki

The Biden administration is working on offering COVID-19 vaccines to Afghan refugees, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday.

Psaki also told reporters that refugees from Afghanistan arriving in the United States are being tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

They are being tested, and we are working through offering vaccines and what that process will look like, she said.

Psaki said that she will provide additional updates on a potential COVID-19 vaccine process for Afghan refugees in the coming days.

President Joe Biden has set an Aug. 31 deadline to evacuate American citizens and Afghan allies from Kabul after nearly two decades of military presence in the country following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

On Monday, the Taliban terrorist organization, which seized control of Kabul on Aug. 15, warned of consequences if Biden fails to withdraw all remaining U.S. troops by the deadline.

Afghans gather on a roadside near the military part of the airport in Kabul, hoping to flee after the Talibans military takeover of Afghanistan on Aug. 20, 2021. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images)

The United States has authorized 34,500 visas, including 8,000 for Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) applicants. The SIV program was created to protect Afghan allies who risked their lives helping U.S. troops in the country.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday that only those who are feeble or symptomatic are screened by medical personnel for COVID-19 at Kabuls Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Kirby added that Afghan evacuees are then tested for COVID-19 upon arrival to the United States.

The spokesman said that officials are taking appropriate precautions, but given the extraordinary circumstances, a blanket humanitarian exemption has been issued for COVID-19 testing for all individuals the U.S. government is transporting by aircraft from Afghanistan.

The blanket humanitarian waiver was first announced by the State Department on Aug. 19.

As Afghanistan had been a hotspot for the CCP virus pandemic, medical exams, including COVID-19 tests, had been required for evacuees prior to the Talibans takeover of Kabul, which added extra urgency to efforts to get at-risk Afghans out.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said during a press briefing on Monday that the United States has evacuated more than 37,000 people from Afghanistan since Aug. 14.

In the last 24 hours alone, 28 U.S. military flights have evacuated approximately 10,400 people from Kabul, he said.

Refugees from Afghanistan after arriving and being processed at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia on Aug. 23, 2021. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Fort McCoy in western Wisconsin said in a statement that SIV applicants, their families and other individuals at risk began arriving at the army base on Sunday. This is in addition to Afghans currently undergoing processing at Fort Lee, Virginia. More arrivals are expected in the coming days.

Fort McCoy spokeswoman Cheryl Phillips said refugees are flying into Volk Field Air National Guard Base and being transported to Fort McCoy, which is located between Tomah and Sparta, about 100 miles northwest of Madison.

It was not immediately clear how many refugees Fort McCoy will be receiving. However, 1,000 soldiers from the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve are assembling at Fort McCoy to provide support.

Fort McCoy is one three military installations in the United States approved by the Department of Defense for temporary housing. U.S. Northern Command is working to build additional capacity at the Wisconsin base, as well as at Fort Lee, Fort Bliss in Texas, and potentially other bases.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A 97 year old retired American soldier Martin Adler poses with Giulio (L), Mafalda (R), and Giuliana Naldi that he saved during WWII at Bologna's airport, Italy, on Aug. 23, 2021. (Antonio Calanni/AP Photo)

US WWII Veteran Reunites With Italians He Saved as Children

BOLOGNA, ItalyFor more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a black-and-white photo of himself as a young American soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944.

On Monday, the 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblingsnow octogenarians themselvesin person for the first time since the war.

Adler held out his hand to grasp those of Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana Naldi for the joyful reunion at Bolognas airport after a 20-hour journey from Boca Raton, Florida. Then, just as he did as a 20-year-old soldier in their village of Monterenzio, he handed out bars of American chocolate.

Look at my smile, Adler said of the long-awaited in-person reunion, made possible by the reach of social media.

It was a happy ending to a story that could easily have been a tragedy.

The very first time the soldier and the children saw each other, in 1944, the three faces peeked out of a huge wicker basket where their mother had hidden them as soldiers approached. Adler thought the house was empty, so he trained his machine gun on the basket when he heard a sound, thinking a German soldier was hiding inside.

A 97 year old retired American soldier Martin Adler (R) is welcomed upon his arrival by Giulio Mafalda Giuliana Naldi that he saved during WWII at Bolognas airport, Italy, on Aug. 23, 2021. (Antonio Calanni/AP Photo)

The mother, Mamma, came out and stood right in front of my gun to stop me (from) shooting, Adler recalled. She put her stomach right against my gun, yelling, Bambinis! Bambinis! Bambinis! pounding my chest, Adler recalled.

That was a real hero, the mother, not me. The mother was a real hero. Can you imagine you standing yourself in front of a gun and screaming Children! No! he said.

Adler still trembles when he remembers that he was only seconds away from opening fire on the basket. And after all these decades, he still suffers nightmares from the war, said his daughter, Rachelle Donley.

The children, aged 3 to 6 when they met, were a happy memory. His company stayed on in the village for a while and he would come by and play with them.

Giuliana Naldi, the youngest, is the only one of the three with any recollection of the event. She recalls climbing out of the basket and seeing Adler and another U.S. soldier, who has since died.

They were laughing, Naldi, now 80, remembers. They were happy they didnt shoot.

She, on the other hand, didnt quite comprehend the close call.

We werent afraid for anything, she said.

She also remembers the soldiers chocolate, which came in a blue-and-white wrapper.

We ate so much of that chocolate, she laughed.

Donley decided during the COVID-19 lockdown to use social media to try to track down the children in the old black-and-white photo, starting with veterans groups in North America.

Martin Adler, a 97-year-old retired American soldier (C) receives a kiss from Mafalda (R) and Giuliana Naldi, whom he saved during WWII, during a reunion at Bolognas airport, in Italy, on Aug. 23, 2021. (Antonio Calanni/AP Photo)

Eventually the photo was spotted by Italian journalist Matteo Incerti who had written books on World War II. He was able to track down Adlers regiment and where it had been stationed from a small detail in another photograph. The smiling photo was then published in a local newspaper, leading to the discovery of the identities of the three children, who by then were grandparents themselves.

They shared a video reunion in December, and waited until the easing of pandemic travel rules made the trans-Atlantic trip possible.

I am so happy and so proud of him. Because things could have been so different in just a second. Because he hesitated, there have been generations of people, Donley said.

The serendipity isnt lost on Giuliana Naldis 30-year-old granddaughter, Roberta Fontana, one of six children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who descended from the three children hidden in the wicker basket.

Knowing that Martin could have shot and that none of my family would exist is something very big, Fontana said. It is very emotional.

During his stay in Italy, Adler will spend some time in the village where he was stationed, before traveling on to Florence, Naples, and Rome, where he hopes to meet Pope Francis.

My dad really wants to meet the pope, Donley said. He wants to share his message of peace and love. My dad is all about peace.

By Charlene Pele
Afghan women wait in line to be treated at the Kalakan health clinic in Kalakan, Afghanistan, in this file photo. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Violence Against Women at the Hands of the Taliban

Commentary

As the Afghanistan crisis unfolds, the emerging reports of suffering, violence, and brutality inflicted on the Afghan people at the hands of the Taliban are devastating. In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, women in particular are in grave danger. As former President George W. Bush said, Im afraid Afghan women and girls are going to suffer unspeakable harm.

Before the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Afghans lived under the Talibans oppressive enforcement of Sharia law. Under the Talibans rule, nearly all women were prohibited from getting an education. Except for a few approved female doctors, women were forbidden from working outside the home. Burkas and male chaperones were required for women outside their homes. Further, women were prohibited from socializing with males beyond their families.

Those who disobeyed could be publicly flogged or executed.

In the 20 years that followed the toppling of the Talibans control of Afghanistan, women made enormous strides, pursued goals, and achieved successes that were once unthinkable under the Taliban regime. Women attended school and graduated from college, held government positions, worked in various professions, joined the military and police forces, and competed in the Olympics.

The Taliban recently claimed that this time, under Islamic law, women will have more opportunities to participate in public life and society. Already, however, there is legitimate and serious concern that the freedoms Afghan women have had over the past two decades will not continue under the Taliban regime.

The same day the Taliban spokesman claimed to uphold womens rights, a woman who wasnt wearing a burka was shot and killed by Taliban fighters.

Such emerging reports reveal a tragic new reality for women. Citing experts, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Taliban has already proved to have grown even more extreme than they were when their regime was in power in the 1990s.

Taliban commanders have forced unmarried women to be the wives of insurgent fighters. Speaking at a mosque, a senior local Taliban member said that all girls as young as 15 and widows below the age of 40 should become wives of the fighters.

The Taliban has shut down schools and womens health care clinics and reimposed burka and chaperone requirements in numerous areas. Women have again become prisoners, with many staying at home out of fear of being beaten for being uncovered. The price of burkas has increased as much as tenfold, as women scramble to buy them.

Tragically, the lives and futures of those who broke down barriers and forged new paths for Afghan women and girls are at risk.

An anonymous student in Kabul, who was on her way to simultaneously completing two degrees from two of Afghanistans top universities, wrote in The Guardian, I worked for so many days and nights to become the person I am today. Yet, under Taliban rule, she is forced to burn everything she accomplished in her 24 years.

Zarifa Ghafari, Afghanistans youngest and first female mayor in the Maidan Wardak Province, said the Taliban will come for people like me and kill me. Ghafari received the U.S. State Departments International Woman of Courage Award in 2020 for her work to empower young Afghan women. She said, I wont stop now even if they come after me again. I am not scared to die anymore.

Like Ghafari, the women of Afghanistan have proven that theyre a force to be reckoned with. Fawzia Koofi, a peace negotiator and a former Afghan Member of Parliament, said though the Taliban is not afraid of the worlds superpowers, They are afraid of the women.

Shukriya Barakzai ran underground classes for girls during the Talibans previous reign over Afghanistan. She later went on to help draft Afghanistans constitution and serve in Parliament.

According to Barakzai, the new generation of Afghan women, who knew freedom, are full of energy, hope, and dreams. Although the Taliban seized control of the country, Barakzai said they have not captured the hearts and minds of the people.

The courage and determination demonstrated by Afghan women and girls over the last 20 years cannot be forgotten. As Americans, we must insist that their rights be preserved and protected.

From Gingrich360.com.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Taliban Threaten Afghanistans Cultural Heritage: Filmmaker

Brent E. Huffman, the director of Saving Mes Aynak, an acclaimed documentary about efforts to preserve a 5,000-year-old settlement containing Buddha statues, paintings, and other artifacts near Kabul, is concerned about the fate of Afghanistans cultural heritage under the Taliban.

The archeological site of Mes Aynak sits on top of the worlds second-largest body of copper ore, whose lease was granted to Chinese companies more than a decade ago but which has remained largely unmined due to threats from insurgents. With the Taliban coming to power and with the CCP hinting at providing support to its government, the situation could soon change.

Huffman told The Epoch Times in an email that whats happening in Afghanistan is the biggest threat to archeological heritage happening in the world today.

People who work in cultural heritage could be killed by the Taliban, and ancient sites could all be looted and destroyed. The history of Afghanistan could be lost forever, Huffman said.

The ancient remains of Mes Aynak are located on a way-station in the ancient Silk Route over copper pit mines with billions of dollars in mineral reserves. Its about 25 miles from Kabul, which the Taliban took over on Aug. 15.

Two Chinese companies, China Metallurgical Group (MCC) and Jiangxi Copper Company Limited, were granted a 30-year lease for the copper mine for $3 billion in late 2007, and Huffmans documentary follows the journey of an Afghan archeologist who races against time in the initial years of the lease to save the site from imminent demolition.

The mining work was stalled and so the site still remains undeveloped. Last year, eight Afghan security guards were killed at a mine checkpoint under Taliban attack. It was the third attack on the site by the Taliban.

To ensure its security from the insurgents, including the Taliban, the Afghan government had deployed 1,750 policemen at the site with 84 checkpoints and security towers.

Many international archeologists, Afghan experts, and hundreds of laborers were involved in the site and have excavated hundreds of items; but the majority of the site contents remain unearthed.

After the Taliban took over Logar Province, where the site is located, Huffman worried that the world would permanently lose the huge archeological treasures and cultural heritage.

All security run by the Kabul police at Mes Aynak have fled, leaving the site open to looters. This ancient city is now fully under Taliban control. The Taliban have a long history of destroying Buddhist heritage, like the Bamiyan Buddhas in 2001 and bombing the National Museum in Kabul that same year, Huffman said, adding that Afghan archaeologists who risked their lives to study and save the city of Mes Aynak have also left the site.

The Taliban is currently partnering with China to mine Mes Aynak as soon as possible. Mes Aynak holds over $100 billion worth of copper, and a Chinese government-owned mining company plans to open-pit mine the site, a process that will completely destroy the ancient city.

However, in an article titled China to offer genuine aid in Afghanistans economic reconstruction amid chaotic transition, Chinese state media, the Global Times quoted an employee of the Chinese mining consortium expressing hope that the mining will start under the Taliban-led regime.

The Global Times article, published on Aug. 24, stated that Mes Aynak mining couldnt happen as planned because of the necessity to remove landmines.

One of the treasures at Mes Aynak. (Brent E. Huffman/German Camera Productions)

Afghanistans Heritage Under Threat

As a completely landlocked country, Afghanistan hosted many way-stations on the ancient Silk Route. Being at the crossroads of human civilization, its cultural and archeological heritage consists predominantly of Islamic, Buddhist, and Zoroastrian histories.

Afghanistan holds some of the worlds most important and unique cultural heritage, including hundreds of ancient Buddhist cities and religious centers, the oldest oil paintings ever discovered, and oldest preserved manuscripts and wooden statues, just to name a few, Huffman said, adding that after Aug. 15, its not just Mes Aynak but hundreds of other archeological sites spread around the country that are under threat.

Bamiyan, where there are still Buddhist caves and ancient oil paintings, is also under Taliban control. A plan to reconstruct the Buddhas and complete a museum there has all been abandoned.

The Taliban blew up and destroyed the giant Buddha statues of Bamiyan in March 2001, which earned them global condemnation.

In peacetime situations, sites like Mes Aynak should be protected and should become tourist destinations, but the Taliban track record in these matters isnt good, according to Huffman.

Like I mentioned, this was already happening at Bamiyan with a plan for reconstruction and a museum. This would provide sustainable income for the area, and people from around the globe could marvel at the unique treasures of Afghanistan with their own eyes. Sadly, this idea now seems impossible.

Concerned about the recent developments inside Afghanistan, UNESCO has also called for the protection of Afghan cultural heritage and a safe environment for cultural heritage artists and professionals.

Any damage or loss of cultural heritage will only have adverse consequences on the prospects for lasting peace and humanitarian relief for the people of Afghanistan, UNESCO said in a statement on Aug. 19, adding that this heritage is a part of the Afghan history and identity and is of significance for the whole of humanity.

Mes Aynak on the ancient silk route. (Brent E. Huffman/German Camera Productions)

This includes sites such as the Old City of Herat, the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam, and the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley, where UNESCO has been working for several decades, as well as museums, including the National Museum in Kabul. It is crucial for the future of Afghanistan to safeguard and preserve these landmarks, a UNESCO spokesperson said.

When asked if theres a way to pressure the Taliban into preserving this cultural heritage, Huffman said, The Taliban have been responsible for so much bloodshed and destruction, it is hard to have hope of any sort of positive outcome regardless of international pressure.

Meanwhile, an MCC employee told the Global Times that the company is evaluating the possible sanctions by the United States and other G-7 countries, as sanctions can cut off the Chinese companies from the global banking system.
White House Asks for Contact Information for Americans Stranded in Afghanistan

The White House on Tuesday asked reporters to convey contact information for Americans who have reported being stranded in Afghanistan as U.S. troops prepare to leave the country.

If we are not in touch with this individual, give me their contact information and we will get in touch with them, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington. If any of you are hearing from American citizens who cant reach us, give me their contact information and we will get in contact with them.

Multiple Americans have told news outlets that they are stranded in Afghanistan and have been unable to reach the U.S.-held airport in Kabul, which is surrounded by Taliban checkpoints.

We are stranded at home, an American who used the moniker Fatima said on Fox & Friends.

We cant get to the airport. When we try to get to the airport, we either get beaten up or we are afraid for our lives. For four daysthree, four dayswe didnt hear anything from anywhere. And then theyre saying to go to the airport, but were not being given clear guidance. They are saying one thing and the next day they come and say something else. So you really exactly dont know what to do. There is a lot of miscommunication going on. You know, your emails are getting ignored, she added.

Psaki claimed on Monday that it was irresponsible to say Americans are stranded in Afghanistan, adding, they are not.

Pressed on those remarks on Tuesday, she told reporters to pass on contact information of any Americans stuck in Afghanistan to her.

I would welcome you providing their phone number and we will reach out today, she told a Fox News reporter regarding Fatima specifically.

The administration began telling Americans in Afghanistan to leave months ago, and have texted and emailed all who remain in the country multiple times in recent days.

A Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command provides assistance during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 22, 2021. (Sgt. Samuel Ruiz/U.S. Marine Corps via AP)

U.S. troops are rarely venturing outside the airport, forcing Americans and Afghans who want to flee the country before the looming U.S. withdrawal to brave terrorists and others.

There have been beatings of Americans and Afghans by the group, Pentagon officials confirmed over the weekend.

Still, the Biden administration has continued asserting that any American who wants to leave will be flown out by the Aug. 31 deadline. And the president told fellow Group of Seven leaders that during a meeting earlier Friday, though he left the option of an extension open and directed officials to drew up contingency plans.

More than 4,000 American citizens and their families have been evacuated since Aug. 14, the administration said Tuesday. Thats the first concrete update in several days, after Pentagon press secretary John Kirby repeatedly insisted on keeping the description at several thousand.

The Americans are a small subset of the nearly 59,000 who have been evacuated. Most are Afghans who are receiving or have applied for Special Immigrant Visas or other visas.

Biden was supposed to talk at noon ET but his remarks were pushed back to 4:30 p.m., after Psakis briefing.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Mississippi's top health official said Tuesday that he has received threats from people who are spreading lies about his family as he urges the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The state has seen a rapid increase in cases since early July, driven by the highly contagious delta variant of the virus and the states low vaccination rate. The health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, has been imploring people for months to get vaccinated.

I have received some threatening phone calls and want to clarify any confusion there may be with some conspiracy theories going around, Dobbs wrote on Twitter.

Dobbs said one lie is that his son, who is also a physician, receives a World Bank-funded kickback when Dobbs urges people to get vaccinated.

I get zero $ from promoting vaccination," Dobbs wrote.

More than 1,000 out-of-state medical workers were starting to deploy to 50 Mississippi hospitals Tuesday to help with staffing shortages amid the COVID-19 surge. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said 808 nurses, three certified nurse anesthetists, 22 nurse practitioners, 193 respiratory therapists and 20 paramedics were hired under 60-day contracts that could be extended, if needed.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency awarded contracts to four companies of the 19 that submitted proposals when the state sought medical workers earlier this month. Reeves said the contract employees are being deployed within nine business days from when the state Health Department asked MEMA to seek the help.

That, in my view, is an impressive feat, Reeves said during a news conference Tuesday.

Mississippi will pay $80 million for the contracts, and Reeves said he expects the federal government to reimburse the state for the entire expense.

The Army and the Air Force are also each deploying medical contingents to work in Mississippi, with 43 people from each branch.

The Health Department on Tuesday reported 3,291 new cases of COVID-19 and 111 new deaths from the virus, bringing the state's coronavirus death total since the start of the pandemic to at least 8,158. Mississippi has a population of nearly 3 million and has reported nearly 417,000 COVID-19 cases since the spring of 2020.

The state epidemiologist, Dr. Paul Byers, said Tuesday that vaccinations have increased in Mississippi over the past several weeks after hitting a low in early July. The Health Department reported 85,510 people received a first, second or third inoculation during the week that ended Saturday. That's the largest number in any week since mid-April.

However, Mississippi still lags behind the national rate: 38% of eligible people in the state are fully vaccinated against COVID- 19, compared to 52% in the U.S.

The Scarlet Pearl casino on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is requiring all of its more than 800 employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have a medical condition that precludes vaccination, according to Ben Koff, the casino's senior vice president of marketing. Koff said employees face a Friday deadline to receive at least the first vaccination, and more than 90% had done so Tuesday.

He said Scarlet Pearl started its vaccine mandate with its 180 salaried employees, and one person left after declining to get vaccinated. Koff described the mandate as a way of caring for the community.

We're not going to compromise on caring, Koff said.

Koff said Scarlet Pearl has been offering on-site vaccinations to employees and their families. Employees are receiving $300 to become fully vaccinated. He said the casino will next month give $500 prizes to 300 customers who are members of the in-house rewards club and can prove they are fully vaccinated.

___

Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP)  A California judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in the embezzlement trial of attorney Michael Avenatti, who is charged with stealing millions in settlement money from his clients.

U.S. District Judge James V. Selna ruled on technical grounds that federal prosecutors failed to turn over relevant financial evidence to Avenatti, who has been representing himself in the case with assistance from advisory counsel. Another hearing in the case was set for Sept. 2, and Selna scheduled a tentative new trial date for Oct. 12.

This was obviously important stuff that they knew about and didnt turn over, said H. Dean Steward, Avenattis advisory counsel, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Federal prosecutors declined to comment about the ruling.

It was the second trial in recent months for the 50-year-old lawyer who once represented porn actress Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against then-President Donald Trump.

Avenatti was sentenced in July to 2 1/2 years in prison in a $25 million extortion case in New York.

Legal experts said declaring a mistrial is rare, and it might have little effect on the trial's outcome. Thaddeus Hoffmeister, a University of Dayton law professor, said prosecutors typically have the upper hand in securing a conviction, but Avenatti got a win, at least for now.

Any time you have stopped that conviction or you have overturned that case, it's a victory, he said.

Federal prosecutors in Southern California have accused Avenatti of cheating five of his clients out of nearly $10 million by negotiating and collecting settlements on their behalf and funneling the payments to accounts he controlled while lying to them about what happened to the money.

In one instance, prosecutors alleged Avenatti collected $4 million from Los Angeles County for a man who suffered injuries in custody and was left paraplegic after a suicide attempt, paying out much smaller amounts that he told the man were advances.

Avenatti, who is suspended from practicing law in California, had pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of wire fraud in connection with the allegations spanning from 2015 to 2019. He denied embezzling money and said his law firm was entitled to recoup expenses if settlements were reached.

The mistrial related to a database used by the firm. Lawrence Rosenthal, a Chapman University law professor, said fully understanding large, complex databases can be challenging when they're created by someone else.

The mistrial was first reported by the legal news service Law360.

In addition to these counts, Avenatti faces charges of bankruptcy, bank and tax fraud in California. He is expected to be tried on those allegations at a later date after Selna split a 36-count indictment into two trials.

Avenatti also faces another criminal case in New York in which he is charged with cheating Daniels out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Avenatti represented her in 2018 in lawsuits against Trump and often appeared on cable news programs to disparage the Republican president.
NORWALK  At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Norwalks Pet Animal Welfare Society, like many shelters, faced an increased demand for rescued animals to adopt. And aside from a slight dip in cat adoptions now, the desire for furry companions remains strong.

The shelter also hasnt seen the return of animals adopted during quarantine, besides those with behavioral concerns or improper fits for their homes, according to PAWS Executive Director Ellen Simmonds.

Between January and July of 2020, the shelter adopted out 126 dogs and 407 cats, Simmonds said. For this year between January and July, the shelter homed 208 dogs and 298 cats.

For the same period in 2019, the shelter homed 370 cats, Simmonds said.

PAWS hopes to continue its effort to rehome its residents during national Clear the Shelters campaign, which runs through Sept. 19.

We want to reduce the length of stay and use this wonderful opportunity to get some animals out into loving homes, Simmonds said.

Last year, the shelter found homes for nearly 1,000 animals, and it on track to hit that mark again, with about 500 adoptions so far this year, Simmonds said.

The Main Avenue shelter is waiving the adoption fee for cats who have been in the shelter six months or longer and dogs who have been in the shelter two months or longer. For cats who have been at the shelter three months and dogs who have been there one month, the adoption fee will be half priced, Simmonds said.

Started as a national event in 2015, Clear the Shelters is a partnership between NBC and local shelters across the country to increase adoptions, according to the campaigns website. Since its beginning seven years ago, the campaign has rehomed more than 551,000 pets.

Typically, the events and promotions lasted one week in August, but beginning with the coronavirus pandemic last year, the campaign shifted to a monthlong, online-based format.

Twenty Connecticut shelters are taking part in the event, including the Connecticut Humane Society and PAWS, according to Clear the Shelters website.

Simmonds and PAWS is taking advantage of the extra time, promoting eligible animals on social media and offering the tiered adoption fee discounts.

Its very challenging because animal shelters depend on the fee they get for animals, Simmonds said. Remember that doesnt cover all goods and services someone gets when they get an animal from a shelter. It comes with an exam, vaccines and rabies shots, a microchip, spay or neuter. Thats the minimum.

In 2019 the shelter added an in-house clinic to provide basic medical procedures, and earlier this year dental procedures were added to the regimen, Simmonds said.

Thats a game changer, she said. Outsourced medical is very expensive, even with kind discounts. If you get an animal that comes up with heartworm, it could cost us $3,000 to treat that. The fee is so nominal.

The shelters services and creatures were in such high demand in 2020 that it also began taking in stray dogs from the South as Connecticuts stray population was so depleted, Simmonds said.

This is new to PAWS, to take southern transports, Simmonds said. We had all these resources to help the dogs. ... We wanted to help others, so we pivoted and took southern transports, and some were more easily adoptable.

Norwalk Animal Control, a branch of the Norwalk Police Department, is not participating in any Clear the Shelters fundraising or campaigns, Sgt. Sofia Gulino said. The Animal Control shelter currently has one dog and the citys dog pound on Smith Street, doesnt shelter cats.

The shelter has a wonderful relationship with several local rescue groups that carefully matches dogs with prospective families, Gulino said. This occurs on a regular basis, and as such, we rarely have more than a couple dogs housed at any time.

Alternatively, PAWS is chock full of cats and dogs looking for their forever homes, including a slew of pit bull mix puppies, 8-month-old calico cat Casey and 2-year-old Tinsel, said Simmonds. The Clear the Shelter events, which began Monday, have already had an impact at PAWS.

Yesterday we had a good day of adoptions. Its the first day and we will see how the week goes, she said.

abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com
HARTFORD  A man was charged Tuesday for allegedly firing shots that hit the states Capitol building in May during an apparent shooting spree, according to Connecticut State Police.

Douglas Floyd Gollnick, 74, of Southington, as charged with with unlawful discharge of a firearm, first degree reckless endangerment and first degree criminal mischief, state police said. In late May, Gollnick was charged with four separate incidents in Southington, three of which involved gunfire.

A report from the Connecticut State Police on Tuesday said Gollnick fired possibly more than a dozen shots from the drivers seat of his black Chevrolet Silverado truck parked on Capital Avenue around 1 p.m. May 30.

There were no injuries, but detectives discovered at least three bullet strikes on the south side of the building, state police said. Gollnick remains in the custody of the Department of Corrections, according to the report.

The incidents on May 30 spanned about two hours, although its unclear where the shooting at the Capitol fits in to the timeline.

A Meriden-Waterbury Road resident was the first to call in hearing at least 16 shots fired at their home, according to Southington Lt. Keith Egan. Soon after, a North Star Drive resident reported hearing four or five gunshots. There were people home during both incidents, but no injuries reported.

Next, there was a reported glass break at Hartford HealthCare Group on Meriden Avenue, where police found a man matching a description of a reported shooting earlier in Bristol holding a long rifle, Egan said back in May. The man, later identified as Gollnick, fled before police could take him into custody.

Shortly after, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Meriden-Waterbury Road reported broken glass at the building, but officers arrived to hear gunshots and chased after a suspect, who fled in a vehicle.

Egan said Southington, Meriden and Middletown police, accompanied by state troopers, followed after the vehicle from Southington, onto Interstate 691 and to Route 66 in Middletown. Stop sticks were used to bring the vehicle to a stop as it drove across the Arrigoni Bridge. Egan said Gollnick was taken into custody and officers seized a .22-caliber rifle that was on the passenger seat.
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Phang Nga hopes to welcome 30,000 travelers under Sandbox 7+7 scheme

BANGKOK: Phang Nga province is set to welcome 30,000 travelers under the Sandbox 7+7 extension scheme, generating B2.5 billion throughout the fourth quarter, reports the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).



By National News Bureau of Thailand

Tuesday 24 August 2021, 03:57PM

Image: NNT

The TAT has reported that more than 700 room nights were booked for August and September across four extended areas, including Phang Nga, after the registration for the Certificate of Entry (COE) for 7+7+ scheme opened last Monday (Aug 16), reports state news agency NNT.

Phang Nga Tourism Association president Chayabol Hirankanokkul said tourism operators project 5,000 travelers in September, generating B800 million.

Tourists can visit other destinations after seven days in the Phuket Sandbox, including the provincial reopening plan Phang Nga Prompt, comprising Khao Lak and Koh Yao, Mr Chayabolsaid.

There are 75 hotels certified to the Safety and Health Administration (SHA) Plus standard, of which 25% will open for tourists during the first stage of the scheme, Mr Chayabol added.

If the outbreak situation and travel sentiment improve, 50 to 60 SHA Plus hotels will reopen in the last quarter of this year, he said.
Phukets B50mn disaster relief fund spent on fighting COVID

PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Government has spent all B50 million of the provincial disaster emergency fund on projects to counter the spread of COVID-19 across the island, and already spent nearly another B15mn from another B50mn allocated to Phuket to fight the spread of the virus.

COVID-19Coronaviruseconomics

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 24 August 2021, 01:02PM

Phuket Vice Governor Vikrom Jakthee revealed the news at a provincial-level meeting held at Provincial Hall yesterday (Aug 23).

Of the B50mn that was held as the provinces standing disaster relief emergency fund, B49,731,535 had been disbursed through 12 payments, Vice Governor Vikrom said.

Only B268,465 of the standing disaster relief fund remains, he confirmed.

Of the B49.7mn spent, B32,743,402.17 was spent on projects already completed. The remaining B12,492,909.93 had been allocated to projects that are still ongoing, he said.

V/Gov Vikrom did not specify which projects had received which amounts of money. It was also not disclosed what the outstanding B4,495,222.90 had been dedicated to.

With the standing disaster relief fund all but depleted, the Comptroller-General had provided another B50mn for Phuket officials to continue funding projects to counter the spread of COVID-19, V/Gov Vikrom continued.

Each province in the country has been allocated B50mn as a special budget to spend on COVID-19 protection measures, he added.

Of the new B50mn anti-COVID budget, the Phuket Provincial Government had already disbursed B14,793,775.30, V/Gov Vikrom confirmed.

Again, it was not specified which projects had received how much money.

The remaining B35,206,224.70 has not been spent, V/Gov Vikrom said.
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VAN, Turkey (AP)  Plain concrete gravestones painted with a number and the word Afghan are all that mark the final resting places of dozens of unidentified migrants who died trying to enter Turkey through the rugged mountainous border with Iran.

Hundreds of people escaping conflict or poverty, mostly from Afghanistan but also from other countries in the region, have died over the years risking the perilous crossing. Some succumbed after exposure to extreme weather conditions, others died in accidents as their smugglers tried to evade authorities in trucks and boats crammed with people.

Those whose identities remain unknown are buried in dirt lots in special sections of cemeteries around Turkeys eastern Van province, which borders Iran. Their grave markers bear a number corresponding with their forensic file and  if it's known  their nationality or date of death.

During the passage of irregular migrants ... there may be those who freeze at the border line in winter. There may be people who drown in a stream. From time to time, there are people who lose their lives in traffic accidents, Vans Gov. Mehmet Emin Bilmez told The Associated Press.

Following autopsies to determine the cause of death and DNA tests, the bodies are kept in the morgue for a fortnight in the hope that a relative or an embassy will claim them.

If no one takes responsibility for them within 15 days, then the metropolitan municipality takes the body from the morgue, buries it in the cemetery (for the unidentified) and gives it a number, Bilmez explained.

The migrants' biggest enemy on their trek through the treacherous gateway to the West is the weather. Winter temperatures in Van provinces vast highlands can dip as low as minus 26.9 Celsius (minus 16.42 Fahrenheit). According to local media, Turkish authorities recovered several bodies in the region this spring as the ice and snow began to melt.

Other hazards include hunger, thirst, and robbers who threaten or kill migrants if they dont give up their possessions on the spot, according to numerous migrant testimonies to the AP.

Murad Majidi, a 17-year-old from northern Afghanistans Jawzjan province, who left the country before the Taliban takeover, says he feels lucky to be alive. He fell into a ditch and broke a limb trying to evade gunfire from Iranian police at the border.

Other migrants in his group escaped, but he was caught by Turkish authorities and sent to a deportation center.

I was going to experience the fate of those (other migrants) that died in traffic accidents, froze or died ... I survived (the fall) but broke my leg. Majidi said at the center where he was registered and treated for his injuries.

At the special section of Karsiyaka cemetery, in Van provinces main city of Van, 12 graves belong to migrants whose minibus overturned and caught fire on a road last month. Some 20 other migrants were injured in that accident.

Last year, about 60 migrants drowned when a boat sank in Lake Van in a storm. Their smuggler had selected the lake crossing to avoid police and gendarmerie check-points on roads in the region.

They freeze in the cold weather, in snow. Buses crash, people die, said an Afghan who identified himself as Mustafa Aydin. He was caught crossing the border with Iran and is currently in a deportation center in Van city.

They come here to work, to send money to their families," he said. "Because there are no jobs in Afghanistan.

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Badendieck reported from Istanbul. Suzan Fraser contributed from Ankara, Turkey.

___

Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
WOOD RIVER  Four additional COVID-19 related deaths have been reported in Madison County.

On Monday the Madison County Health Department announced the deaths of a man in his 40s and a woman in her 70s. On Tuesday, the MCHD reported the deaths of a woman in her 60s and a man in his 60s.

The MCHD has so far recorded 12 COVID-19 related deaths in August, the highest tally since 12 were also recorded in April. To date, a total of 549 deaths have been recorded in Madison County.

On Tuesday there were 63 COVID-19 patients in county hospitals, the highest daily total yet. Of those patients 12 were on ventilators, also a new high.

The numbers came a few hours after the Alton school district notified parents that a person at Alton High School has tested positive for COVID-19.

We are working with the Madison County Health Department on this matter to promptly identify and notify any person who has had recent, close contact  with the individual, principal Michael Bellm told parents in a letter. Due to health privacy laws, the identity of the individual will not be released.

Bellm said that, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the vast majority of the school is considered as low risk for being potentially exposed to the virus.

We will continue to enforce safe practices to prevent, promptly identify, and respond to potential COVID cases, he said in his letter. We will also continue to monitor our students and staff for signs and symptoms of illness to promptly to avoid exposure at school.

Bellm encouraged families to monitor their students health and keep them home if ill.

For August, the MCHD has recorded 2,436 confirmed and probable cases, including 85 new cases on Tuesday  51 of them in people younger than 40. Sixteen cases were reported in Collinsville, with 15 n Alton and nine in Highland.

To date the county has recorded a total of 34,711 cases and 390,940 tests.

Noting the region remians at a high level of community transmission, the MCHD has scheduled eight upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinics. The clinics are open to anyone 12 and older regardless of where they live, work or attend school. The Pfizer vaccine will be given; parents or guardians must be present for vaccinations of 12- to 17-year-olds.

Free vaccination clincis are planned:

 Aug. 25 at Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto;

 Aug. 26 at Alton High School;

 Sept. 1 at the Highland School District Main Office;

 Sept. 1 at Collinsville Middle School;

 Sept. 2 at Granite City High School;

 Sept. 8 at Lewis & Clark Community College in Godfrey;

 Sept. 9 at Edwardsville High School; and

 Sept. 30 at Triad High School in Troy.

For details visit www.madisonchd.org. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are preferred. For assistance, call 618-692-8954, Ext. 2.
ALTON  Dr. Jaleesa Gilbert-Gortman, a board-certified Family Medicine physician, will begin Sept. 1 at Alton Internal Medicine in Suite 220 of Medical Office Building A on the Alton Memorial Hospital campus.

Dr. Gilbert-Gortman provides primary care for patients 18 and older. She helps her patients address many acute and chronic medical conditions, such as high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, urinary tract infections, asthma, acid reflux, womens health issues, gastrointestinal problems, rashes, muscle sprains and strains, and many other conditions. She also offers annual wellness exams, well-woman exams, vaccinations and other general medicine services.
EDWARDSVILLE  A homeless man was charged Monday with attempting to disarm an Edwardsville Police officer Friday.

Jordan M. Williams, 26, listed as homeless out of Edwardsville, was charged Aug. 23 with disarming peace officer and aggravated battery, both Class 2 felonies. The case was presented by the Edwardsville Police Department.

According to court documents, on Aug. 20 Williams attempted to take a Glock 23 handgun from an Edwardsville Police Officer, and bit the officers forearm.

Bail was set at $50,000.

Other felony charges filed Aug. 23 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Jacob T. Kimbro Sr., 34, of Cottage Hills, was charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, and domestic battery (third subsequent offense) and unlawful restraint, both Class 4 felonies. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On Aug. 21 Kimbro allegedly strangled a family or household member, and repeatedly struck the victim; he also allegedly grabbed the victim to keep her from leaving. He has prior convictions for domestic battery out of Madison County in 2016 and 2010. Bail was set at $75,000.

 James D. Cook, 38, listed as homeless out of Litchfield, was charged with offenses relating to motor vehicles and burglary, both Class 2 felonies. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On Aug. 2 Cook was allegedly found to be in possession of a stolen 2013 Chevrolet Impala. He also allegedly entered a building in the 8500 block of Schien Road, Worden, to commit theft. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Rudolph J. Reeves, 52, of Alton, was charged with domestic battery (second subsequent offense), and aggravated assault, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Aug. 21 Reeves allegedly repeatedly struck a household or family member; and while in custody at the Alton Jail, threatened an Alton police officer. Reeves has a 2018 Madison County conviction for domestic battery. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Derek D. Brown, 32, of OFallon, Illinois, was charged with criminal damage to government supported property, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On Aug. 12 Brown allegedly caused damage in excess of $500 to a Madison County Sheriffs Department vehicle. Bail was set at $15,000.
NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

On Monday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a package of legislation aimed at advancing equity and opportunity in higher education institutions across Illinois. The three bills, Senate Bill 1085, Senate Bill 815 and House Bill 3359, help protect prospective college students and their families from predatory college-planning companies, advance equity in state funding for higher education and ensure personal support workers can attend classes with students with disabilities, free of charge.



"With the laws Im signing today, Illinois will continue to lead the nation in providing students with more equitable access to higher learning opportunities," Pritzker said. "This isnt just a win for our students and their families  its a win for the future of our entire state. Making college more affordable and accessible while helping Illinois retain its designation as a top source for talent and innovation will grow our economy and create jobs across our state."

Aimed at protecting families in the college-planning process, SB 1085, also known as the Segura Law, creates the Educational Planning Services Consumer Protection Act. The new law adds consumer protections to ensure families of prospective college students are not taken advantage of by predatory, for-profit college-planning firms.



The legislation specifies terms that must be included in a contract for educational planning services and any contract that is inconsistent with the Act will be voided. The contracting requirements include specifying certain disclosures, such as contact information of the consumer and service provider.



To expand equity for all families, if a college-planning provider speaks in a language other than English, then the provider is required to translate all disclosures and documents required. Furthermore, SB 1085 prohibits college-planning providers from charging any enrollment or maintenance fees. The bill is effective Jan. 1, 2022.



"As the states college access and financial aid agency, we want to make sure all students and families have access to the college planning services they need and deserve," said Eric Zarnikow, executive director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, in a statement. "This consumer protection measure will help ensure that families are not trapped in long-term predatory contracts for educational planning services such as college search and financial aid application assistance, and that they know that similar services are available for free from a students school, a library, ISAC or a variety of principled organizations."



"For more than twenty years I have worked with families who look for help after they have already paid for or signed contracts with companies that charge a premium for either no service at all or services that are available for free from reputable organizations," said Jacqueline Moreno, ISACs Managing Director of College Access and Outreach, in a statement. "As college becomes more expensive, these organizations have proliferated and prey upon the highest need students and first-generation college students. The Segura Law finally provides protection and recourse for families."



To establish an equity-based funding model for the allocation of State funds to public universities, SB 815 creates the Commission on Equitable Public University Funding. The Commission will evaluate existing funding methods, while also recommending specific data-driven approaches to the General Assembly, to fund Illinois' public universities in a more equitable manner.



The 30-person Commission will be co-chaired by four individuals: one member appointed by the House Speaker and Senate President, one from the chair of the Illinois Board of Higher Education and one appointed by the Governor. While members of the Commission will serve without compensation, IBHE will provide administrative support. By July 1, 2023, the Commission will publicly publish the findings and recommendations on the IBHE website. SB 815 is effective immediately.



"This legislation will ensure that Illinois funding for public universities centers on equity and that institutions will have the resources they need to close equity gaps, both core strategies of IBHEs new strategic plan, A Thriving Illinois," said IBHE Executive Director Ginger Ostro, in a statement. "We thank the Governor and the sponsors for establishing this Commission. Illinois economic future and educational equity are inseparable. Our funding systems must recognize and reinforce that."



"I am honored to have led the work on SB815, which will help advance a new model of funding for higher education across the state of Illinois. The ultimate goal is to research ways to better fund our public universities with an equity-focused lens," said State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, in a statement. "Its a clear next step in the development of an equitable and adequate education system and Im appreciative of Gov. Pritzkers signature on this landmark legislation."
On Monday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker joined University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert Jones and other stakeholders for a back-to-school event where he announced plans for the construction of a new, world-class facility as well as large-scale renovations and updates to two centrally located buildings.

The construction and renovations are made possible by the governors bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan, the first in nearly a decade. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) will receive $140 million in state funds, matched by $52 million in non-state funding for a total investment of $192 million.

The project will take place in four phases and includes the complete restoration of the existing iconic Altgeld Hall and the replacement of Illini Hall with a new facility in its location for the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics. It will create a significant amount of space, and the new Illini Hall will become home to a data science center as part of the Champaign-Urbana Hub of the Illinois Innovation Network. Construction on the first phase began last month and full project completion is expected in June 2026. The work will be overseen by the Illinois Capital Development Board.

"The Rebuild Illinois plan recognizes the importance of the University of Illinois system as a foundation for innovation and a core building block for our states workforce of the future," Pritzker said in a statement. "Whats happening with these investments in higher education is a microcosm of what were doing across the state. Were fixing decades-old problems, creating and supporting good jobs, vaulting our state into the future, and invigorating opportunities for the next generation  including the thousands of young people who call U of I home."

Including the Rebuild Illinois funding being provided for the Altgeld and Illini Hall projects, the capital plan will invest a total of $686.3 million into the University of Illinois system over the upcoming years. $586.3 million in funding will go towards new construction, large-scale renovations and deferred maintenance to repair infrastructure that was neglected during previous administrations.

The university system will also receive $100 million in capital funds to support quantum science infrastructure.

"This investment in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Illinois Innovation Network is an investment in the people of Illinois and a better future for us all," University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen said in a statement. "The funding, made possible by the foresight of Gov. Pritzker and supported by other elected leaders, will provide a key, new home for the kind of cutting-edge data science that will power scientific advancement and economic improvement, and make certain that Altgeld Hall remains a vital part of the heart of the Urbana-Champaign campus, as well."

The Rebuild Illinois capital plan passed with bipartisan super-majorities. It will invest $45 billion in roads, bridges, railways, universities, early childhood centers and state facilities like the new crime lab and veterans homes, creating and supporting an estimated 540,000 jobs over the life of the six-year plan and revitalizing local economies across the state.

"The Illinois Capital Development Board is proud to begin work on the next phase of design for this significant project on the UIUC campus," said CDB Executive Director Jim Underwood, in a statement. "The new facility at Illini Hall as well as the restorations to Altgeld Hall will continue enhancing the institutions capacity for innovation."

"This investment is critically important, as it will firmly establish the Champaign-Urbana hub of the Illinois Innovation Network. We are proud it recognizes the unmatched expertise in data sciences and advanced analytics we have at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign," said Urbana Chancellor Robert Jones. "The data science field is fast-growing, and the Altgeld-Illini Hall projects will be incubators for collaborative research and education in data science, as well as other mathematical sciences for generations to come."
EDWARDSVILLE  While the world watched as the Taliban took over Afghanistan and Western occupants, and their supporters tried to flee, employees at Madison County Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) kept busy helping others navigate the Veterans Administration (VA) bureaucracy, yet also reflecting on what they were witnessing.

Several VAC employees are themselves veterans of Afghanistan.

Im sad to see exactly whats happening, Torie Ryan said Friday morning. Im a little heartbroken.

Ryan was a medic with the 101st Airborne, serving two tours in Afghanistan in 2008-2009 and 2010-2011.

Today, she is a veterans service officer benefit specialist, helping other veterans obtain educational, medical and crisis counseling, or other services.

Another service officer, Bradley Yount, was a U.S. Marine satellite communications specialist attached to an Army Reserve unit in Afghanistan from 2010-2011. His job was helping operate a communications hub at a NATO base, and going outside the wire to set up communications at forward operating bases.

He said the current situation is very upsetting.

Part of these veterans who are dealing with whats happening, is to put the politics aside and simply help people find the services they need.

The VAC offers some outreach, but mostly serves as a starting point for veterans seeking assistance, usually through the VA, Supervisor Bradley Lavite, an Iraq veteran, said.

As Afghanistan has collapsed, he said there has been a great deal of talk about how those who served there are handling it.

Though Lavite served in Iraq, he has a number of friends who have served Afghanistan, and has met many Afghan-war veterans who have come into the office.

I guess when it first happened, I wasnt surprised, Lavite said. I didnt know it was going to happen that fast.

Having been in the Army and the combat zone in Iraq, it seems like, on paper, we plan everything out very well, he noted. You would have figured after 20 years, we would have already had an exit strategy no matter which administration it was. We do a great job of starting and fighting wars, but we seem to have a very bad record of closing them out or ending them.

Lavite has seen many who are upset, he said, and the common question is some variation of, What did we accomplish or why were we there?

Both Ryan and Yount said they have asked that question themselves, and heard it from others.

Part of my job as a female medic was providing aid to women and children, Ryan said. We visited schools for little girls and stuff like that.

To me that was a big part of my service over there  doing good. We did a lot of health and welfare missions. Im sad to see that there are women who are terrified to leave their homes. Im sad to see there are girls who grew up in this free society that was created.

She said a few people have tried to bring it up in a professional capacity.

I say, I dont wish to comment on it because its not professional, she said.

However, she said watching everything unfold hurts.

I was a medic, but it wasnt just doing innocent things there, she said.

I saw a lot of loss of life. On my first deployment, I treated more than a hundred casualties, she recalled. My second deployment, we had a mass casualty event where I treated a lot of Americans and Afghan nationals. Its sad to think of everything that everybody has gone to, and see it all just revert back.

I think there are a lot of people who will feel that way, she said. What was it all for? That was my immediate reaction. I have hope that it wasnt all for nothing, and hopefully for these people who did get to grow up in a society that didnt have Taliban and under Sharia law.

Im hoping those people see there is the opportunity to have something different, she said, and that they fight for change, eventually, even 20 to 30 years down the road, somebody does something.

Yount said his experience was somewhat different than Ryans, in part because he was directly supporting combat missions.

So, every day when I woke up, there were missiles firing off behind me, he said, knowing we set up the communications for that. It has an impact on you. Youre supporting a mission that causes a loss of life.

While away from the base, he said all of their casualties were caused by improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.

One of my best friends was blown up twice, Yount said. He was medevacked out to Germany, and we thought he died. We found out a couple of years later that he was alive, but completely disabled.

Its something that comes back and haunts us, he said. I remember setting up the crosses at the NATO base, eight in a row.

Lavite said it is important that Afghanistan veterans should not feel ashamed, or responsible for what is happening now.

They were just doing their job, whether it took one year, five years, 10 years or 20 years, however long the president and congress wanted them there, he said.

Lavite said the VAC staff would be discussing how people are dealing with it.

The difficult part is separating the pull-out, and whats happening on the ground right now, to what happened to their specific experience when they were on the ground, Lavite said.

He said that an individual veteran was not responsible for the entire outcome of the war, but only for what they were specifically tasked to do, whether it is in combat or a base cook.

He noted that some Vietnam veterans have a hard time digesting it, too, because the end is so similar to what happened there, which includes issues raised by family and friends.

There also is the issue that veterans find it hard to seek help.

There is a lot of negative stigma associated with mental health conditions, Yount said. We find that veterans of all eras dont necessarily like to acknowledge they need help and seek it out. They almost always need an outside influencer or incident.

Because of that, a lot of pressure falls on family and friends.

Family and friends are the first line who are going to see a change, Ryan said.

That is one of the reasons the office is open to family and friends, in addition to veterans, Lavite noted.

Often family and friends have better insight into what the veteran needs than the veteran, he said.

While much of their work is putting clients in touch with services, the VAC also has a number of outreach events, including a weekly event at 10:30 a.m.

For more information visit the VACs web page at the Madison County website, www.co.madison.il.us , email mcvac@co.madison.il.us, call 618-296-4554 or visit the office at the Madison County Administration Building, 157 N. Main St., suite 115, Edwardsville.

For information about VA services and programs, visit www.va.gov/.
LONDON (AP)  The messy exit of Western military forces from Afghanistan and the swift takeover of the country by the Taliban has stunned officials in Britain and strained the U.K.'s special relationship with its most important ally, the United States.

Londons powerlessness, so far, to change Washingtons course also is a blow to U.K. hopes that an assertive Global Britain will be a major global player in the wake of its exit from the European Union.

The main stumbling block ahead of an emergency summit of Group of Seven leaders on Tuesday is a deadline for the U.S. effort to evacuate thousands of Americans, Afghans and others from Kabul. U.S. troops are scheduled to end their mission on Aug. 31, and Britain wants an extension. President Joe Biden left open that possibility, but the Taliban call the date a red line, saying that prolonging the American presence would provoke a reaction.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the virtual G-7 meeting in hope of having some impact on the chaotic course of events. Britain currently holds the presidency of the club of wealthy nations.

Johnson and Biden spoke by telephone Monday, and Johnson's office said the leaders agreed to continue working together to ensure those who are eligible to leave are able to, including after the initial phase of the evacuation has ended. It did not elaborate.

British officials acknowledge the limits of their influence, saying the airlift will end when American troops depart.

We have previously spoken to other NATO countries about staying, and that didnt prove to be a viable option, said Johnsons spokesman, Max Blain. We are going to need to leave the airport at the same time as the Americans.

Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, who has called the U.S. deal with the Taliban that set the Aug. 31 deadline a mistake, struck an almost pleading tone, saying that if Biden extended the operation even by a day or two, that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people.

Because we are really down to hours now, not weeks, and we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.

About 1,000 British soldiers are stationed at Kabuls airport, alongside about 6,000 American troops, to manage the evacuation.

Senior U.K. military officers have expressed anger over the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan, saying it exposes the hollowness of the trans-Atlantic special relationship  a phrase used since World War II to stress the bonds of history, friendship and shared diplomatic interests between London and Washington.

More than 150,000 British troops served in Afghanistan in the years after the U.S.-led 2001 invasion  the largest contingent after the Americans  and 457 died in the campaign.

Biden had warm words about the alliance when he and Johnson met for the first time at a G-7 summit in England in June.

We affirmed the special relationship  its not said lightly  the special relationship between our people, Biden said.

Although the two leaders struck a positive tone when they met, they have very different temperaments. Biden staunchly opposed Britains exit from the European Union that was championed by the populist, crowd-pleasing Johnson, and once called him a physical and emotional clone of former President Donald Trump.

Britains lack of clout with Washington underscores the fragility of Johnsons goal of making post-Brexit Global Britain a key international player and bridge between the U.S. and Europe.

Leaders across Europe were relieved when Biden replaced Trump, an isolationist who repeatedly disparaged NATO and insulted Americas allies. Biden renewed U.S. commitment to global climate change targets, which Trump had ripped up, and reassured allies that the U.S. was back as a reliable partner.

But he has stuck to Trumps commitment to end the U.S. war in Afghanistan, even as the speed of the Taliban takeover this month caught Washington and its allies by surprise.

Opponents say Johnson's unwillingness to work closely with the EU and his decision to slash Britain's foreign aid budget, citing the economic blow of the pandemic, makes Global Britain little more than a slogan.

And they accuse the government of a slow and disorganized response to the Afghanistan crisis. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was on vacation in Greece as the Taliban swept toward the Afghan capital, returning a day after Kabul fell on Aug. 15.

Johnson spoke to Biden by phone on Aug. 17, two days after the fall of Kabul. In a bland statement after the call, Johnsons office said they resolved to continue working closely together on this in the days and weeks ahead to allow as many people as possible to leave the country. British media reported it took Biden 36 hours to return the British leaders call.

U.K. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey acknowledged that Britain would have liked a more conditions-based U.S. withdrawal, but he insisted the special relationship remains strong.

Of course when you disagree with your closest friend it hurts, it causes consternation on both sides of the relationship," he told Sky News. "But absolutely nobody should think that the U.S and the U.K. have anything but the deepest and strongest of relationships.

Thomas Gift, director of the Center on U.S. Politics at University College London, said events in Afghanistan will make other Western powers more steely eyed about the reality that, even under Biden, U.S. leadership will pursue policies that it sees in its own interests, regardless of criticism by the international community.

But he said Biden remained much more of an international team player than Trump.

What were seeing here is not simply a diluted version of an America first, America alone foreign policy, he said. Were seeing Biden on one issue  granted, a hugely important one  reach a different conclusion than many other global leaders.

-

Follow all AP stories on Afghanistan at https://apnews.com/hub/Afghanistan.
Dear editor,

Today, Sunday, I learned on the news (both conservative and liberal) something very disturbing. Obamas words Dont underestimate Joe Bidens ability to (screw) things up. is coming to pass. I knew that President Biden screwed up the pull-out of troops from Afghanistan, but the degree of his screw-up, shocks me.

First of all, months ago, Biden gave an ending date to the pull-out  Aug 31st. That alone was bad enough because he just tipped off the Taliban as to the best time for them to invade. They invaded earlier than Biden expected. Biden giving a unilateral ending date to the Afghanistan war was as dumb as Biden saying to Russias Putin There are 16 targets in America that you are not allowed to target with your ransomware attack Biden just gave away what our 16 most important sites in America are. Putin played Trump for a fool. Putin also played Biden for a fool. Putin knows that Biden does not have the guts to follow through on his threats. Biden talks a mean game, but it is only empty theats.

Biden says in defense of himself that this would have happened to any president. That is an outright lie. Biden first pulled the troops out of Afghanistan, even Baghram Air Force base leaving the expensive equipment, to fulfill a political promise, then he started rescuing both American and Afghan citizens. Why did he pull troops out when he had to turn around and put them back in in order to rescue the citizens?

The pull-out of the troops is not yet complete. This has the potential of being Bidens Waterloo. This could drag on forever. There is a possiblility for the Taliban to capture and hold hostage, the remaining Americans in Afghanistan. They could also slaughter all of the Afghanistan interpreters who helped America. It could be like Presidet Carters Iran hostage debacle.

With things being as bad as they are only 7 months into his 4-year term, it is hard to imagine him lasting the rest of his term. I think that the most likely outcome would be the Democrats convincing him to resign, followed by a President Kamala Harris. If Biden wont resign, the Democrats will execute the 25th Amendment to forcefully remove him. I think all it will take is just a threat to use the 25th Amendment. He doesnt like conflict. Hes weak, both in character and in body.

In life, instead of thinking How is the world treating me? it is better to think, What is the best way to respond to that treatment? There is hope in every situation  if not for the loved one, then for you. You dont have total control over everything that happens to you. But you can have control over how you respond to it. You can still have a good, meaningful life. Its your choice.

Always do the right thing in every situation.

Greg Taylor

Alton
Scranton, PA (18503)

Today

Periods of rain. The rain will be heavy at times. Potential for flooding rains. High 67F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

A steady, heavy rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low around 55F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Gary J. Williams, 70, of South Scranton, died Sunday at home. He was the husband of Barbara Mullen Williams.

Born in Scranton, son of the late William and Gertrude Benjamin Williams, he was educated in Scranton and Madison Heights, Michigan schools. He was a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served from 1969 to 1971. He was employed in the construction and carpentry industries.

Gary was an avid hunter and fisherman. He also enjoyed cooking, whether it was for two or 102. His favorite pastime was rooting against the Philadelphia Phillies!

Garys family would like to extend a special thank you to the medical and support staff of the VNA Hospice and Home Health for their excellent care and moral support.

Also surviving locally are son, Michael; sister, Trudy Schmid; a granddaughter; two great-grandsons; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by son, Jeremy; brothers, Robert and William; and sister, Patty Birtel.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Miller Bean Funeral Home Inc., 436 Cedar Ave., Scranton. Interment with military honors will follow in Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst.

Friends and family may pay their respects Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to VNA Hospice and Home Health, 301 Delaware Ave., Olyphant, PA 18447.

Please visit the funeral home website to leave an online condolence.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Showers and thundershowers likely. High 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Thunderstorms - some locally heavy downpours are possible, especially late. Low around 60F. Winds E at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Cloudy with periods of light rain. High 71F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Thunderstorms - a few could contain very heavy rain, especially overnight. Low near 60F. Winds E at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
An overwhelming majority of the public supports calls on the Government to combat scam financial ads in its forthcoming Online Safety Bill, new research shows.

Some 87 per cent of those surveyed believe it should legislate to ensure search engines and social media sites do not mislead consumers or promote financial scams.

MPs recently slammed the Government for defying demands to cover paid-for ads, such as those on search engines like Google, in pending new legislation - despite backing for this also coming from regulators, top financial firms and consumer group Which?.

Public support: Nine out of 10 people polled back calls to make tech giants ensure online ads are not fraudulent

The public polling by Aviva, revealed in a new fraud report, also found that 53 per cent of internet users don't trust that the adverts on search engines are placed by a legitimate financial services company or provider.

Some 56 per cent don't believe that search engines verify the authenticity of financial products, services or providers that they allow to be advertised on their sites.

The damning findings reveal that people are increasingly alert to soaring cases of online fraud, and their scepticism towards financial adverts could help some to protect themselves.

Sophisticated scammers are running fake adverts and 'cloning' legitimate firms and their operations, even down to assuming the names of real staff.

>>>How to check you are dealing with a legit financial company: Find out below

MPs, financial firms, regulators, consumer groups and crime experts have all sought to raise the alarm, and succeeded in generating a lot of media coverage to warn the public.

But they have failed to convince the Government to use the forthcoming Online Safety Bill to hold global tech firms responsible for hosting scam adverts.

User-generated internet content will be included in the bill, and the Government says it is looking into how advertising can enable online fraud and will hold a consultation later this year. Read its full statement below.

Criminal gangs are using legit-looking clone sites to steal 'big money' Phil Rolfe, a financial crime expert, calls for urgent action to fight the fraud menace and explains how to protect yourself here. Clone fraud: Criminals are luring investors to fake comparison sites touting bogus products in order to steal their cash

Meanwhile, Google has announced it will require financial services advertisers to be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and other measures to crack down on fraud.

Fraudsters are using bogus websites, forged documents, fake adverts on social media and search engines, and the names and near-identical email addresses of people working in the finance industry to impersonate real companies.

Even reputable websites can be targeted through third party advertising exchanges by fraudsters constantly changing adverts to get through blocks.

The Aviva report also highlighted the threat from accident management adverts, where scammers pose as insurers or their agents to run up huge bills for car services, and adverts for 'ghost brokers' who tempt internet users with low insurance premiums.

It found a significant age difference in the likelihood someone would trust an online advert, with over-55s less likely to do so than younger internet users.

Some 29 per cent of over 55s would trust the results of a search engine compared with 59 per cent of 1624 year olds.

Meanwhile, 30 per cent of people overall would be embarrassed to admit to to friends, family or the authorities that they had been the victim of a financial scam. Aviva carried out a nationally representative survey of 2,000 people this summer.

According to its report: 'While the types of financial scams are generally the same as those before the pandemic, coronavirus has been used as the hook to lure victims. Being in lockdown has meant more people using the internet to search for, and buy, financial services and products.

'The scams range from attempts to sell people unsuitable car insurance to, at worst, stealing their entire retirement savings. Imitation websites that copy-cat well-known financial services brands, and misleading adverts are now commonplace.

'The impact on victims is not just financial either, it has a detrimental effect on people's mental wellbeing too.'

How to check you're dealing with a REAL financial firm Crimefighting expert Phil Rolfe, chief executive of P2 Consulting, offers the following tips. Use the FCA website: The FCA has done its due diligence and all providers listed on its register will be above board and credible, or you will be warned they are unauthorised or are a clone, he writes. The details such as the telephone number and website address can be verified on the FCA register - use those to make contact with a firm to be sure you are dealing with the real one. You can call the FCA consumer helpline on 0800 111 6768 if you need help. Use legitimate comparison websites: Like the FCA they have done their due diligence, he says. 'Websites such as Compare Wealth Managers (www.comparewealthmanagers.com) or Find a Wealth Manager (www.findawealthmanager.com) are investment specific comparison sites  but type their names carefully as fraudsters will have misspelled sites set up to capture investors who make an error.' >>>Find the best and cheapest Isa investment platforms: This is Money's comparison guide with legitimate links Rolfe has more tips on avoiding scams here.

Rob Lee, director of fraud prevention at Aviva, says: 'Government policy is aimed at ensuring the UK is one of the safest places in the world to be online, which we support. But Aviva's research shows that there is a long way to go on this journey.

'Online doesn't mean above board. With fraud undermining consumer trust in financial services, it's vital that the industry continues to work together with the authorities to protect the public and our customers.

'Currently, there's no legal responsibility for technology firms to verify the legitimacy of the companies which pay them to publish adverts on their platforms.

How do you report suspicions of fraud Aviva offers the following guide. Suspicious emails should be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk so the National Cyber Security Centre can investigate it. Text messages should be forwarded to 7726  it spells out SPAM. It's free  and this will share the suspected rogue text with your mobile phone provider. You can also report spam texts or cold calls to the Information Commissioner's Office. Consumers can report suspected online scams or misleading adverts to the Advertising Standards Authority, including those found in search engines, websites or on social media. You can also report scam or misleading adverts to search engines if you found them in their results. If you think you've been the victim of an online scam or fraud, contact Action Fraud, either online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

'This potentially leaves millions of internet users exposed to unscrupulous adverts. If the Government is to realise its ambition, then we believe financial scams promoted by paid-for adverts should be included in the Online Safety Bill.'

Stephen Timms MP, chair of the work and pensions committee, says: 'Aviva's research clearly highlights the widespread strength of feeling that the Online Safety Bill should tackle fraudulent paid-for adverts.

'In our committee's recent report, we drew attention to the fact that fraudulent adverts for pensions products on search engines are feeding a multibillion-pound scam industry, with devastating consequences for scam victims.

'It is not too late to ensure that the Online Safety Bill protects these consumers. Last month I wrote to the Prime Minister, with the Chair of the Treasury Committee, urging that the scope of the Bill be extended to tackle fraud through paid-for advertising. He has not replied.

'This change has the support of the public, the regulators, the industry and two cross-party select committees. The Government's insistence that the issue will be considered in a consultation later this year is too little too late. It must now stop dragging its feet, and act.'

A Government spokesperson says: 'We have brought user-generated fraud into the scope of our new online laws to increase people's protection from the devastating impact of scams.

'The move is just one part of our plan to tackle fraud in all its forms. We continue to pursue fraudsters and close down the vulnerabilities they exploit, are helping people spot and report scams, and we will shortly be considering whether tougher regulation on online advertising is also needed.'

Google was approached for comment but did not respond by the time of publication. It's previous statement can be found here.
Boots customers will be able to have products such as make-up, painkillers and vitamins delivered to their homes thanks to a new partnership with Deliveroo.

Around 400 products, including Boots' own No7 products as well as plasters, sandwiches, snacks, toiletries and baby essentials, will be available to order on the delivery app from Monday.

The chemist chain says initially 14 stores across England and Scotland will take part in the pilot.

Boots deliveries: Some 400 products will be available to customers on Deliveroo

Stores include four in London as well as in Edinburgh and Nottingham - close to its headquarters - with plans to roll out in other areas if the trial is successful.

It marks the latest deal clinched by the London-listed delivery app, which has partnerships also with supermarkets like Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Morrisons as well as with convenience store chain McColl's.

Despite its ever-growing list of deals, some in the industry have questioned the ability for brands to make a profit from Deliveroo due to the high fees charged on each sale.

Paula Bobbett, director of boots.com at Boots UK, said: 'We are very excited about this new partnership with Deliveroo and have carefully selected over 400 products for its launch to help our customers get the things they need, when they need them.

'It will be super handy for times when you need something urgently but can't leave the house, like if you're feeling unwell or are looking after your kids.

The 14 Boots stores offering services on Deliveroo Birmingham (High Street) Brighton (North Street) Cambridge (Petty Curry) Edinburgh (Princes Street) Leeds (Trinity) Liverpool (Clayton Square) London (Brent Cross, Croydon Whitgift Centre, Liverpool Street Station and Piccadilly Circus) Milton Keynes (Crown Walk) Newcastle (Eldon Square) Nottingham (Victoria Centre) Southampton (Above Bar Street).

'Our online business continues to grow and this partnership offers our customers way to access our products quickly and easily.'

Boots has been hit hard by the pandemic, with the chain slumping to a 258million loss in the year to the end of August 2020, as revenues fell 11 per cent to 6billion.

However, the chain has seen a continued rise in online sales during successive lockdowns.

Meanwhile, sales of beauty products have bounced back strongly since the easing of restrictions.

They were up 85 per cent in the third quarter of this year, as life gradually returns to normal, with sales of No7 brand up 61 per cent.

In a recent interview, Seb James, the boss of Boots, said he believed demand for make-up will soar as women return to work and start to socialise again.

Boots is introducing a blizzard of new make-up brands, including cult labels such as Drunk Elephant and Fenty, along with Korean skincare Dr Jart+ and Kylie Skin

Carlo Mocci, chief business officer for Deliveroo in the UK and Ireland, said: 'This partnership will mean more choice and selection for our consumers, delivered in as little as 20 minutes, and will create more work for riders across the UK.'
Bitcoin shot past $50,000 for the first time since May after another corporate giant threw its weight behind the cryptocurrency.

It climbed 3 per cent to $50,530, while ether, another popular digital coin, was up more than 4 per cent at $3,367.51.

The moves were boosted by Paypal which said it would allow customers in the UK to buy, sell and hold bitcoin and other digital currencies as it expands its crypto services outside of the US for the first time.

Crypto comeback: Bitcoin climbed 3 per cent to $50,410.70 while Ether, another popular digital coin, was up more than 4 per cent at $3,367.51

With over 403m active accounts globally, the US firm is one of the largest mainstream financial companies to offer users access to crypto-currencies.

Craig Erlam, analyst at Oanda, said: 'Paypal is continuing to throw its weight behind cryptos, introducing its offering to UK clients after successfully launching in the US.'

Bitcoin has had a rollercoaster ride this year and in January it was trading at $27,700.

It recovered to hit a record high of almost $65,000 in April, driven by fast-money bets and optimism about growing demand from institutional investors.

But the coin fell sharply in May after a crackdown in China and a decision by Elon Musk's Tesla not to accept it as payment any more.

In May, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey described bitcoin as a danger to the public.
China-based ride-hailing app DiDi Global has abandoned its launch in the UK and continental Europe following privacy concerns over passenger data, reports have suggested.

The Daily Telegraph said the company - which aims to compete globally with Uber and has secured licences to operate in four major UK cities - had suspended its launch for at least a year and told current staff that they could be made redundant.

Didi is China's largest vehicle hire company with a reported 493 million active users last year and has been rapidly expanding its worldwide reach, gaining a significant presence in markets such as South America, Australia and Japan.

No ride: Earlier this month, a cross-party group of British MPs urged the UK Government to block Didi's launch in the UK due to national security concerns

It has raised billions of dollars from investors to help fund this expansion and recently went public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) with a $68billion (50billion) valuation just nine years after being set up in Beijing.

But it is facing increasing scrutiny from Western countries, including the UK and US, over concerns that users of the app could have their data passed to the Chinese Government due to its expansive national security laws.

'We continue to explore additional new markets, liaising with relevant stakeholders in each and being thoughtful about when to introduce our services. As soon as we have any more news on additional new markets, we look forward to sharing,' said a Didi spokesman.

'We have established an international talent hub in the UK, recognising the exceptional quality of people in the market. Beyond that, any personnel matters remain strictly confidential.

'We seek to fully comply with all laws and regulations in all markets in which we operate.'

Earlier this month, a cross-party group of British MPs urged the UK Government to block Didi's launch in the UK, where it has operating licences in Manchester, Sheffield, Wolverhampton and Salford.

Conservative MP Tim Loughton told The Times: 'The problem with DiDi, like all other Chinese companies, is that all roads lead back to the Chinese government and their independence is really a facade.

Market retreat: Increasing scrutiny by the Chinese government has caused Didi Global's share price to plunge by around half since it went public in late June

'Whatever your concerns about competition for Uber and other legitimate transport companies, this is primarily a data-harvesting exercise and another incursion by the Chinese Communist Party into the security of the UK.'

Labour MP for Bolton South East, Yasmin Qureshi, said: 'I think our government should ask what guarantees are being sought as to whether the data is going to be kept in China and how can the risk of sensitive user data being passed on to the Chinese government be mitigated.'

Authorities in China have also been probing Didi as part of a wider crackdown on the country's largest technology firms, such as Alibaba and Tencent, citing concerns over monopolistic practices and the handling of customer data.

THIS IS MONEY PODCAST Is there a way to boost YOUR state pension and how easy is it to now retire abroad?

These probes have caused Didi's share price to plunge by around half since it went public in late June, which Chinese officials had recommended they postpone for data security reasons.

Mobile app stores in China were then forced to get rid of Didi from its platform, while the company also had its ability to sign up new users restricted over concerns that data was leaving China.

Last week, the country's legislature passed a comprehensive new privacy law - known as the Personal Information Protection Law - aimed at protecting users' online data by putting new restrictions on how data can be gathered.

A final version of the law has not yet been published, but a previous draft said firms collecting data must seek approval from users, who can withdraw that consent at any time. New rules on taking Chinese citizens' data out of the country were also formulated.
I was looking at the best buy savings rates in your tables recently but I don't recognise the names of the providers.

I see Tandem Bank are offering a top 0.65 per cent on its easy-access, SmartSave Bank are offering 1.36 per cent over one-year deal whilst Allica Bank are offering 1.38 per cent.

SmartSave are also the best buy for two and three year fixed deal whilst another provider I've never heard of called DF Capital is just 0.01 per cent behind them.

Can you tell me a little more about who these banks are, whether my money is safe and what they do with cash they get in from savers before I make a decision and open an account with any of them? D.B, via email.

It can be hard trusting your hard earned savings with names you have never heard of.

Ed Magnus, of This is Money, replies: You won't be alone if you take a look at our best buy savings tables and don't recognise a large number of the names.

In recent years, when it comes to savings rates, it has been the smaller challengers that have led the way, and noticeably big - familiar - banks are absent.

Peppered in there are building society names and perhaps established challengers that you have seen in and out of the best buy tables for the last decade.

Our tables are carefully curated by savings guru Sylvia Morris. They are independently sourced and only banks with a certain criteria feature.

Crucially, all the banks or building societies included on our list are registered with the Financial Services Authority and signed up to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

This means your money is either directly protected up to 85,000 or indirectly via its passport scheme where the compensation limit depends on the bank's home country - in Europe it is 100,000.

It is also important to point out that our tables are unbiased - we simply put the best buy rates top, in order, regardless of any affiliate link.

Another note to mention is customer service: before you are tempted to open an account at any bank, make sure you read reviews and establish how quickly you can contact it if anything goes wrong.

The competition at the top has been ramping up in recent months and we are seeing the top spot regularly changing hands as rates inch upwards, which is a good sign for savers.

Although rates are still very low, without these lesser-known names, it's likely deals on the whole would look even less enticing.

Look at the more familiar names and you'll see the UK's biggest banking groups pay less than 0.1 per cent on average across their range of easy access accounts  typically paying between 0.02 per cent to 0.06 per cent.

Some big names even pay as low as 0.01 per cent.

Compared to these rates, our best buys look like a no brainer, but even when compared to the market average they look very strong.

The average easy access account pays just 0.18 per cent, according to Moneyfacts the average one year fixed rate deal pays 0.66 per cent, the average two year offers 0.75 per cent, and the average three-year deal pays 0.99 per cent.

We take a closer look at the four lesser known savings providers that mentioned by our reader and are among those bucking the trend set by the big players.

Tandem is a challenger bank founded in 2015. It purchased Harrods Bank in August 2017 giving it access to a full banking licence as well as Harrods Bank's mortgage and savings books.

It leads the market for easy-access savings accounts, paying 0.65 per cent, whilst allowing its customers unlimited access to their cash at anytime.

its rate is close to four times higher than the average easy access rate paying just 0.18 per cent.

It is also currently offering a one year fixed rate deal paying 1.35 per cent  more than double the market average rate of 0.66 per cent.

ONLINE ACCOUNTS - EASY ACCESS Type of account (min investment) 0% tax 20% tax 40% tax Accounts WITHOUT bonus - These rates are not boosted by a temporary bonus that drops off after a year

Tandem Instant Access Saver (1+) 0.65 0.52 0.39 Investec Online Flexi Saver (5,000+) 0.58 0.46 0.35 Coventry BS Limited Access Saver (Online) 5 (1+)(7) 0.55 0.44 0.33

Unlike many savings providers which require large deposits to set up an account, Tandem will let you set up a savings account with just 1.

By opting to save via Tandem you'll also be helping to support Tandem Bank's green lending initiatives, with the aim of helping to make UK homes more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Tandem's savings products are all FSCS protected meaning if it were to go bust, savers money is protected up to 85,000.

It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Tandem's 0.65% is nearly four times' the rate of the average easy-access

SmartSave Bank was created by British bank, Chetwood Financial and is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and the PRA.

All deposits with SmartSave, up to 85,000, are protected by the FSCS, the UK's deposit guarantee scheme.

SmartSave's one-year fixed rate deal pays 1.36 per cent, which is more than double the market average rate of 0.66 per cent.

Its two-year fixed deal paying 1.46 per cent, is also more than double the market average rate of 0.75 per cent.

The only slight hurdle for savers to overcome is that you'll need a minimum deposit of 10,000 to start an account and you can only hold one savings account at a time.

SmartSave are also only offering sole savings accounts, which means you cannot hold the savings account jointly with someone else.

The maximum total amount that may be deposited in the savings account is 85,000.

Chetwood is based in Wrexham and it has two other arms alongside SmartSave - LiveLend and BetterBorrow, which are for personal loans.

The average easy access account pays just 0.18%, according to Moneyfacts, whilst the average one year fixed rate deal pays 0.66%

Allica Bank was granted its UK banking licence in September 2019.

It has offices in Milton Keynes and London and a team of relationship managers up and down the country providing support to small businesses.

It is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and the PRA and all its savings accounts are FSCS protected up to 85,000 and free to use.

It currently pays 1.38 per cent on its one year fixed rate deal which is again comfortable over double the market average at 0.66 per cent.

Like SmartSave its one limitation is that you must deposit a minimum of 10,000 to start off, but it allows for a maximum of 250,000 for those looking to stash away a large amount.

Applications must be made online so you will need internet access and a mobile phone in order to complete the security checks.

DF Capital was founded in 2016 and is based in Manchester. It is a niche commercial lender helping small and medium sized business across the UK.

It was authorised as a bank in September 2020 which enabled it to begin offering personal savings accounts to individual customers.

It is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and the PRA, and any deposits with DF Capital are protected up to a total of 85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Its two year fixed rate deal pays 1.55 per cent and its three year fixed rate deal pays 1.65 per cent, both well above the market average of 0.75 per cent and 0.99 per cent respectively.

All interest earned on your savings will be paid when the account matures and savers can set up an account with 1,000 so the barrier to entry is not too high.
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Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Potential for flooding rains. High 69F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

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Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low near 55F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
"When it comes to development, when you do it right, it really is a rising-tide-lift-all-boats type of scenario," said Stef Halmos, the artist and developer who, in 2017, began transforming three abandoned mills in the Village of Catskill into an 85,000 square-foot arts campus called Foreland that opened this month.

"I feel like the ripple effect of Foreland will be very positive just by the nature of who occupies these buildings and what the mission is of their new use."

These three buildings, two of which are now connected by a floating glass pedestrian bridge, were constructed in the mid-1800s and originally used to produce uniforms for Union Soldiers during the Civil War. They were empty for decades before Halmos re-imagined and revitalized them to house 30 artists' studios, three art galleries, two event spaces, and two eateries  one cafe that is already open, and a restaurant that will follow.

Related: Exploring the mellow mountain village of Catskill

"The Foreland building has been under construction by multiple contractors for the past 15 years, Patrick McCulloch, Village of Catskill Planning Board Chairman told Times Union: Hudson Valley via email. Stef Halmos had the right vision to take over this project and see it to completion.

Now that it is finally complete, the challenge will be to keep the entire operation afloat  especially in a mellow little river town like Catskill. And yet, Halmos has more than high hopes. She has real estate development in her blood, an artistic vision that celebrates both old and new, and a vested interest in improving the village where she set down roots with her wife and toddler.

"It's a complex eco-system with a lot going on to make these old buildings be alive," Halmos noted. "Multiple revenue streams keep the project stable." The galleries and cafe will give the public access to the space, bringing life into Foreland after four years of development. And this coming weekend, Saturday, August 28 and Sunday, August 29 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Foreland is partnering with Upstate Art Weekend and New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) on an exhibition featuring artists working in Upstate New York.

"There are over 100 artists that are exhibiting and just by the nature of the exhibition, you'll be able to walk through two of our three buildings," Halmos said.

Courtesy of Caitlin MacBride and Zoe Fisher Projects

Visitors can also check out Foreland's inaugural show in the ground floor gallery, a joint exhibition between Rachel Uffner and Mrs.

While there's definitely an element of pie-in-the-sky artistic-utopia vibe built into the Foreland's vision board, there's also a business sensibility behind the project, too. Those visiting Foreland's campus could potentially become future studio renters, or they may keep Foreland in mind for future weddings and parties, or  at the very least  they might support their in-house cafe, Willa's, by grabbing a coffee and a snack.

Foreland's heart and soul is in its affordable art studios, which Halmos recognized were in short supply when she lived in Brooklyn and was seeking a workspace for her own art. Halmos's studio work includes sculptures, photographs, and objects. While she doesn't have any of her on art on display at Foreland at the moment, she is in the process of creating a new body of work, with some forthcoming exhibitions in the pipeline. Halmos's own Foreland studio is a 1,500-square-foot space, which is partly used for her studio work and partly used for the Foreland staff headquarters.

"The prices were so extravagant for crappy [Brooklyn] studios. People were paying prime money for [a] subpar product," Halmos said of the studios. "I thought, 'I can do it better. I'm an artist and I want to build a studio that I want to use.'"

As she and her wife started spending more time upstate, her dream studio site appeared. "Just by a total fluke, I was having an ice cream across the creek from [what is now] Foreland and I was staring at that beautiful building," Halmos recalled. "I fell in love with it immediately and said, 'That's my building. That's it.'"

Emily Winiker

Halmos says the Foreland studios are affordable  pricing is available upon request, following an application process that shows proof of work  but this isn't a non-profit organization. The artists' rent helps sustain the project. "My rule of thumb is that you're going to pay 30 percent less for 100 percent better of a product. You get it all with these studios  everybody has a lot of light, big, beautiful, tall windows," Halmos said.

Caitlin MacBride, a painter who recently relocated to Hudson and rented a studio at Foreland, agrees the new space is an upgrade.

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"I spent 15 years living in Brooklyn and this studio would have been way out of my price zone there. Its large and has wide floorboards and exposed beams. I love the historical details of it being an old mill because so many of my paintings are about history and design so this environment really inspires me, she said. "Also as someone who is still relatively new to the area its been such a gift  I feel like the studio has already provided me with new friends and an amazing community of makers."

Ninety percent of the studios have been rented to date by an array of artists and makers, including painter Shara Hughes, multidisciplinary artist Lyle Ashton Harris, filmmaker Peggy Ahwesh, and sculptor Marc Swanson.

Since Halmos first laid eyes on the trio of buildings in 2017, she also started a family. Now the mother of an 18-month-old child, she joked, "Restoring these old buildings took longer and was more draining that growing and giving birth to an human."

Courtesy of Foreland

Though Halmos is somewhat new to Catskill and new real estate development, her work on Foreland shows reverence for the buildings' past. Halmos began the project with a focus on preservation, spending a year and a half on structural remediation  that is, dealing with all the engineering elements to stabilize the buildings and improve their health, safety and longevity. Her respect for the buildings' history shines through her artistic vision.

"We don't patina new things to look old and we didn't let the old things look new. We let them live together to show that there are a lot of people who have done work on this building before me and there will be many here after me," Halmos explained. "If we had to replace a beam or a floor system, we would use new wood  wide planks, tongue and groove  and let it show that it's new against some of the old things. You might see one column that is this big chunky piece of fresh timber, but the old one next to it has that patina of age."

Clearly, Halmos is looking to build on the good bones that already exist in Foreland  and in the Village of Catskill, too. She mentioned the kindness and support of the town boards, the Department of Public Works, and the local police throughout her project.

"It's really bad for a town when giant footprints sit empty, she said. Statistically, it keeps growth stagnant. And so, just from the most basic standpoint, having these buildings full and increasing the amount of bodies that are coming in and out  will be really positive. All these people want places to eat, they want places to go  they want to enjoy life in such a beautiful little town."

Others are also looking forward to the role Foreland will play in the community. "Foreland is in the heart of our village, said McCulloch. We cant wait to see what their future holds."
RAVENA - A subsidiary of the company that operates the LaFargeHolcim cement plant here is undertaking a government-funded study to see how they can use construction waste as potential fuel for cement kilns. They will also look at ways they can recycle the waste into new cement.

Geocycle, which is a subsidiary of LaFargeHolcim, which operates the cement plant Route 9W, has a $3.5 million contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

That, however, has environmentalists worried. They fear this could be a precursor to attempts to burn waste in the LaFargeHolcim kiln. Were all worried about it, said Christine Primomo, a member of the Clean Air Coalition of Greater Ravena-Coeymans.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center is spending $3.4 million to work with Geocycle, studying how debris from U.S. military installations can be used to create alternative fuels. The Army Corps will also provide materials for the study from a number of military installations with significant construction and demolition debris.

The study will be at Geocycles Holly Hill Research Center in South Carolina and Holcims Global Innovation Center in Lyon, France.

The partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will help us better understand this material and see how we can create a circular economy program leading to a zero-waste future, LaFargeHolcim spokeswoman Jocelyn Gerst said in an email. The research team will begin by conducting a waste-characterization study at a number of military installations facing significant construction and demolition debris. Construction materials will then be evaluated for possible co-processing opportunities, including energy recovery, mineral reuse, and mineral recovery.

While the project description does not include the Coeymans plant, environmentalists like Primomo are wary, noting that they have earlier pushed for a state ban on burning used tires in the kiln. Activists had earlier worried about a potential move, which has since been abandoned, to burn municipal waste.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation in May said tires could not be burned at LaFargeHolcims kiln since they dont have the proper material to do so.

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Gerst said they dont plan to fight or appeal that decision. At this time, we do not plan to pursue further action with NYDEC, she said.

Construction and demolition debris is an enormous challenge when it comes to disposal, according to a LaFarge website article about the study. They note that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2018 estimated that about 600 million tons of construction and demolition debris were generated nationwide- -- more than twice the amount from municipal solid waste.

The material for this study will come from military bases where there has been demolition. The partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will help us better understand this material and see how we can create a circular economy program leading to a zero-waste future, Sophie Wu, director, Geocycle North America said in a prepared statement.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU
ALBANY  Schenectady County-based state Supreme Court Justice Vito C. Caruso, who as the states deputy chief administrative judge for all courts outside New York City is one of the highest-ranking judges in the state, is set to retire.

Caruso, 72, of Rotterdam, who has held the high-ranking position since May 2019 when he was named to succeed Justice Michael Coccoma, will leave his administrative post at the end of the month. He will leave the bench for good about a month later, Caruso told the Times Union.

Caruso became one of the top judges in the state without attending law school. He is one of the last attorneys to be admitted to practice by reading law. State judges in New York face a mandatory retirement age of 70; state Supreme Court justices can apply to be certified in two-year extensions up to age 76.

Caruso, who received one such extension, said he was ready to move on.

"It's time for my next (extension) and I just decided that I would let the next generation tackle these problems," Caruso said in a phone interview. "I wanted to spend more time at home being with my family. You lose a lot of that, particularly in the job over the last year and a half."

Caruso said he will miss the family atmosphere of his work. He noted his father had been a federal meat inspector.

"He always said you've got to be a good public servant," Caruso recalled. "If you're working for the government, this is more than a job. You've got to watch out for people's interests. I took that on."

Caruso added: "I don't regret one minute of my career."

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore highlighted Caruso's pending departure in her latest address Monday on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under Judge Carusos leadership, the courts outside New York City made historic progress to eliminate backlogs, improve efficiency and upgrade the quality of our services, DiFiore said. She praised Caruso as a judicial leader and public servant of the highest order.

When the pandemic stuck, DiFiore said, Caruso distinguished himself  first in transitioning 640 judges and 6,000 court employees to work virtually, then by implementing health protocols to make the courts safe to return to in-person operations.

We are all indebted to him for his dedicated leadership and service to the courts, DiFiore said. Thank you, Judge Caruso. We will miss you, and we will miss the sense of pride and joy that you brought to us each and every day.

Born in Boston, Caruso's parents moved to Rochester when he was 2 years old and later to Cattaraugus County. He attended SUNY New Paltz, where he was a member of the wrestling team and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and economics. That's where Caruso met Judith, his future wife of 49 years. He decided to get married as opposed to attending law school.

Caruso clerked for longtime Schenectady area Assemblyman Clark Wemple before he became a lawyer in 1977, He spent 18 years in private practice, served as a deputy Schenectady County attorney, counsel to the state Assembly Republican minority and as the town attorney for Duanesburg. He is a onetime Schenectady County Republican chairman.

Caruso, elected to state Supreme Court in 1994, was appointed administrative judge of the Fourth Judicial District, based in Schenectady, in 2004. It includes the 11 counties of Schenectady, Saratoga, Warren, Washington, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Clinton, Essex, St. Lawrence and Franklin.

A 2004 profile on Caruso in the Times Union after he was appointed administrative judge of the 11-county district. At the time, Caruso said he dreamed of becoming a lawyer since he was in the fourth grade.

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"In your life, you should set goals as big as you can,'' Caruso had said. "I've wanted to do this for a long time, and now it's here."

Caruso has been a past director of the Schenectady County Bar Association, as well as a charter member and president of the New York State Greater Capital District Italian American Bar Association. He has served on the board of trustees of Schenectady County Community College and as a volunteer firefighter.

Caruso was the first recipient of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York's Pro Bono Distinguished Service Award. Caruso was honored by the Schenectady County Bar Association for outstanding community service . In 2018, Caruso received the Hon. Anthony V. Cardona Award for Judicial Excellence from the Italian American Bar Association. It is named for the region's late presiding appellate justice.

Caruso and his wife have a daughter, Mary Elizabeth. The judge's biography mentioned that Caruso is a member of St. Gabriels Roman Catholic Church in Rotterdam, where he serves as eucharistic minister.
This column expresses the views of the author, separate from those of the Times Union.

ALBANY  We shouldn't have expected that Andrew Cuomo would leave town with grace and honor. He didn't govern that way, so he wasn't likely to exit that way.

But could anybody have expected he'd ditch his dog?

As the Times Union's Brendan Lyons reported, the former governor moved out of the Executive Mansion last week, but Captain, his husky mix, stayed behind. Cuomo had been asking staff members if anyone would like to take the rambunctious dog, according to State Police sources.

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Not so, says Rich Azzopardi, spokesman for the disgraced Democrat. Azzopardi says Captain is loved, considered part of the Cuomo family and was left behind only temporarily.

Let's hope that's true, for Captain's sake. But it's hard not to suspect the dog was something of a prop used to humanize a governor who, as has been made clear in recent months, is widely considered a misanthrope.

If Cuomo was planning on ditching Captain  an option that, because of Lyons' reporting, he can longer get away with  it's just one more example of how the former governor is not up to snuff in the character department.

Pet ownership is a commitment. It's a bond that, barring illness or major catastrophe, should not be broken. You don't get rid of a dog simply because the animal is inconvenient, or no longer serves your political needs.

"A dog becomes part of the family when you bring it home," said state Sen. James Tedisco, a Republican from Glenville known as one of the Legislature's leading animal advocates. "You don't get rid of a dog simply because you're leaving public office."

Captain is a reportedly a high-energy handful  one mansion employee who took the dog home decided he was too much to handle  but that's not surprising. Anyone who does even a modicum of research would learn that a shepherd, Siberian husky and malamute mix is probably a poor choice for a busy politician who is often away from home.

Did Cuomo consider breeds at all? Or did he choose Captain because he looked cool?

By the way, let's acknowledge that it was inappropriate for Cuomo to have state employees taking care of his dog. Doing so is not in their job description; a governor should pay for a dog walker or a pet sitter like anyone else.

I know that's a small thing in light of all the other scandals swirling around Cuomo. It doesn't compare to sexually harassing women, hiding the true number of nursing home deaths or wasting limited resources on special COVID-19 tests for friends and family in the middle of a pandemic.

But Cuomo's casual blending of the personal and the official helps to explain why he is no longer governor. Cuomo always acted as if the office was a birthright, instead of a privilege. He behaved like a king, above the rules that apply to the little people.

That arrogance may explain why he is unable to accept that he has done anything wrong. Even on Monday, with hours to go before his departure, he was still blaming others for his downfall, including, of course, the investigators who looked into the sexual harassment allegations lodged against him.

"The Attorney Generals report was designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic," Cuomo said in a pre-recorded farewell video with an odd blue hue that gave it the feeling of an early Picasso.

"And it worked," Cuomo added. "There was a political and media stampede."

He's the victim here, and don't you forget it. Of course, Cuomo didn't mention that he'd asked New Yorkers to wait for the AG report before passing judgment. He didn't mention any of the terrible behavior detailed in the report. Nor did he mention any of the other clear abuses of power that culminated with his resignation.

For many New Yorkers  but not all, I realize  Cuomo's act had worn thin.

"I just want to forget about this governor," Tedisco told me Monday. "I don't want to think about him anymore. I don't want to chastise him anymore."

I know how he feels. I mentioned Cuomo in more than 300 articles and columns over the years. That was probably too many and certainly more than some readers preferred, but he was always laying some outrage or absurdity at my keyboard. The man dominated this state like few politicians could.

Now, it's over. Andrew Cuomo is no longer governor, and we have arrived at a better day. Congratulations, New York.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
ALBANY  Just hours before leaving office, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo granted clemency to five men, including the commutation of the 75-years-to-life sentence of David Gilbert, a former member of the radical Weather Underground who in 1981 took part in the robbery of a Brink's armored truck in Rockland County that left two Nyack police officers and a security guard dead.

Cuomo's action will allow Gilbert to make his case to the parole board. The 76-year-old has been incarcerated for four decades after being convicted of felony murder and robbery. He is currently confined at Shawangunk Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Ulster County, 80 miles south of Albany.

Steve Zeidman, a CUNY Law School professor who began representing Gilbert in 2019, said Monday evening that his client is one of the oldest and longest-serving among the state's roughly 38,000 inmates. He said that Gilbert has expressed deep remorse for his role in the crime, and while behind bars has taken part in efforts such as the creation of an AIDS education program that became a statewide model as the epidemic was raging in the 1980s and '90s.

Zeidman, who directs the law school's Criminal Defense Clinic, said that beyond the impact on Gilbert personally, Cuomo's action sends a message to incarcerated people who fear they have no chance for release. "When a governor issues clemency, it echoes, it reverberates, it spreads hope," he said.

Gilbert's son, Chesa Boudin, was elected district attorney for San Francisco in 2019. His mother, Kathy Boudin, was also incarcerated for decades for her part in the heist, and received parole in 2003.

The Times Union's Paul Grondahl wrote in November about the efforts of Chesa Boudin and Green Island's Jeff Jones, a family friend and former '60s radical turned environmental advocate, to press Cuomo to release Gilbert from prison  especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As someone who has known David since 1966, I'm just ecstatic," Jones said Monday evening. " ... He's a guy who deserves to be out of prison."

Gilbert and Kathy Boudin were in a transfer truck waiting for the getaway car carrying the robbers and the $1.6 million they had stolen from the Brink's truck at the Nanuet Mall. Boudin received a sentence of 25 years to life after hiring a lawyer, pleading guilty and accepting a plea deal; Gilbert defended himself and went to trial.

"My father was not present in the courtroom for much of the trial and nobody advocated for him, which is why it is a bad idea to represent yourself," Chesa Boudin told Grondahl. "My mother and father did the exact same thing and had identical culpability in the crime. My mother served 22 years in prison and was paroled 17 years ago, while my father is still in prison. It's an example of criminal justice imbalance."

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Boudin noted that his father is perhaps the only person his age who has served as many years in state prison who was unarmed during the commission of the crime. Another Brink's robbery co-defendant, Weather Underground member Judith Clark, who drove the getaway car, was granted parole in 2019 after Cuomo commuted her 75-years-to-life sentence in 2016. Prosecutors and law enforcement bitterly opposed her parole and called it an insult to the victims' family members.

Tarred by scandal, Cuomo is scheduled to relinquish his office at 11:59 p.m. Also Monday, he commuted the sentences of four other individuals who will not have to go before the parole board to earn release. They are:

Greg Mingo, 68, convicted of four counts of second-degree murder as well as burglary and weapons charges, who has served 39 years of a 50-years-to-life sentence;

Robert Ehrenberg, 62, was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder as well as robbery and burglary charges, who served 28 years of a 50-year-to-life sentence;

Ulysses Boyd, 66, convicted of one count of second-degree murder and weapons charges for an incident in which he was not the gunman, who has served 35 years of a 50-years-to-life sentence.

Paul Clark, 59, convicted of three counts of second-degree murder and one count of second-degree attempted murder, who served 40 years of an aggregate 58 years and 4 months-to-life sentence.

As with Gilbert's case, Cuomo cited the men's efforts to educate themselves and do good works while incarcerated.

Note: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect first name for attorney Steve Zeidman.
ATLANTA (AP)  Former football great Herschel Walker has registered to vote in Georgia, a possible prelude to him running for U.S. Senate in 2022.

Electronic voter registration records show Walker registered last Tuesday at an Atlanta house owned by his wife, Julie Blanchard.

Former President Donald Trump has been urging Walker to run for Senate as a Republican against Democrat Raphael Warnock next year. Walker has acknowledged that he is considering a run, but has declined to discuss his plans.

The 59-year-old Walker won a Heisman Trophy as a University of Georgia running back in 1982, followed by a long pro career. He has been living in Texas, but registering to vote means he's legally attesting that he now lives in Georgia.

Warnock won a special election runoff for the Senate seat in January, giving Democrats control of Senate, but he must run again in 2022.

Georgia Republicans already running for the Senate seat include state Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, former banking executive and Navy veteran Latham Saddler and contractor Kelvin King. Trumps support will be key in a Republican primary, but could be a liability in a general election in closely divided Georgia.

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In June, Walker tweeted a video that fed speculation he would run. Titled Georgia on mind," the recording shows him revving the engine of a car with a Georgia license plate. I'm getting ready, he says. "And we can run with the big dogs.

The Associated Press has reported that Walker's ex-wife and her sister reported that he threatened his ex-wife's life, that Walker exaggerated claims about private-sector success and that he often fought with business associates.

State election officials opened an investigation into Blanchard's residency after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that records show she voted in Georgia despite living in Texas. A case sheet obtained by the AP shows the Secretary of States office opened the investigation into Blanchard on Aug. 10. Walker is among Trump supporters who continue to repeat the president's false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him through fraud. Election officials nationwide found no widespread fraud.
VERSAILLES, Ind. (AP)  A southeastern Indiana teenager has been convicted of suffocating two of his young siblings months apart in 2017, when he was 13 years old.

A Ripley County jury deliberated about six hours Friday before convicting Nickalas Kedrowitz, 17, of two counts of murder in the killings of his 23-month-old half-sister, Desiree McCartney, and his 11-month-old stepbrother, Nathaniel Ritz.

He faces up to 65 years in prison for each murder count when he is sentenced Nov. 10.

Kedrowitz was arrested in August 2018 in the May 2017 killing of Desiree and the July 2017 killing of Nathaniel.

Both were pronounced dead at a hospital less than 90 days apart after being found unresponsive at the familys home in Osgood, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) southeast of Indianapolis.

Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney Ric Hertel said Kedrowitz admitted to suffocating Desiree with a towel after she got out of the bathtub, and told investigators he had suffocated Nathaniel with a blanket, WLWT-TV reported.

According to an affidavit filed when he was arrested in 2018, Kedrowitz was speaking to investigators when he began talking about saving Desiree and Nathaniel from hell and the chains of fire."

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He then added that he didnt want them to have to live in the hell that he did, before going on to describe how he suffocated the children.

When asked what that hell was, the boy replied chores, before asking investigators if theyd seen the list of daily chores he had to complete, the affidavit states.

The case faced numerous delays over the years, including hearings to determine Kedrowitzs mental competency and his waiver to adult court.
ALBANY  Republican mayoral candidate Alicia Purdy and Cafe Hollywood's owner criticized Mayor Kathy Sheehan's decision to close the business ahead of a Board of Zoning Appeals meeting Wednesday that will determine the restaurant's fate.

Purdy, one of two people running against Sheehan in November's election, and Collin Rost, the owner of the Lark Street business, said the city made the decision because it didn't like that the bar attracted mainly people of color. Purdy also questioned why Sheehan hadn't taken action against businesses in other areas of the city that have also seen violent acts near them in the past few months.

"She did not shut down the corner store at First and Quail, even though a man was murdered there just a few months ago, even though the JC Club on that corner is riddled with bullet holes and up for sale, and the entire area has attracted multiple shots fired in just the past few months," she said.

On May 21, Sharf Addalim, 35, was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting as he returned to the store where he worked at First and Quail streets. The corner has been a common spot for gunfire. Last month, Pastor Charlier Muller, who runs the JC Club on Quail Street, said he was selling his organization's building after it was hit with gunfire.

But city officials have pointed to a string of violent incidents over the past 18 months that have started inside or in front of Cafe Hollywood.

Joe Bonilla, Sheehan's campaign spokesman, said Sheehan would do everything in her power to keep the city's residents and visitors safe.

"This includes taking action against individuals and businesses that harbor those who engage in violence, such as deadly shootings and machete attacks," he said in a statement.

Rost said he met with Sheehan the other day, calling it a good meeting and that he was willing to make changes to keep his bar open but questioned why he had been singled out for closure. Rost has owned the bar for the last two decades.

"In my opinion, state of emergency means other businesses, or other people should be called out as well," he said.

David Galin, Sheehan's chief of staff, said Rost had not met with Sheehan or her office directly. The meeting was with city police and the city's corporation counsel, Galin said.

The city's Board of Zoning Appeals is supposed to issue a decision on whether to declare Cafe Hollywood a nuisance property at its 6 p.m. meeting on Wednesday. If it does, the board could shutter the business for two years.

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Sheehan issued an emergency declaration that temporarily closed the bar following a fatal shooting on July 23 that city police say started with an altercation inside the Lark Street establishment.

City officials, police and four neighborhood association leaders said it was just the latest in a long string of violent altercations associated with the venue at 275 Lark St., activities that ripple out into the surrounding residential neighborhoods and threaten their safety.

Rost has denied his business was a magnet for violence, contending the long-running bar has invested heavily in security measures and that city officials have deliberately misrepresented alleged altercations.

But authorities argue otherwise, stating city police have responded to 120 service calls in 18 months at the location  and 45 in the past six months.

Two violent episodes underpin the city's emergency declaration: A man who was slashed with a machete on June 5 during a fight, and the slaying of Lamon Lanier, 34, who was shot in the head on July 23 around Willett Street and Hudson Avenue and later died.

At a Board of Zoning Appeals hearing earlier this month, Albany police presented evidence that they said squarely connected those incidents and others to Cafe Hollywood, including people being arrested with loaded handguns.



But Rost and his staff contend they're not responsible for incidents of violence that happen outside of their venue, and have long pleaded with police to provide special details on Lark Street only to be rebuffed by authorities, purportedly citing a lack of manpower.
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  Oregon was once the poster child for limiting the spread of the coronavirus, after its Democratic governor imposed some of the nations strictest safety measures, including mask mandates indoors and outdoors, limits on gatherings and an order closing restaurants.

But now the state is being hammered by the super-transmissible delta variant, and hospitals are getting stretched to the breaking point. The vast majority of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated.

The intensive care unit at Salem Hospital in Oregons capital city is completely full, with 19 of the 30 beds occupied last week by COVID-19 patients, the youngest only 20 years old. It's the same at a hospital in Roseburg, a former timber town in western Oregon. A COVID-19 patient died in its emergency room last week while waiting for an ICU bed to open, an event that was deeply distressing to the medical staff.

We need your help, grace and kindness, the staff of CHI Health Medical Center said on Facebook. They are reeling from the extraordinary onslaught of new cases and hospitalizations."

Oregon is among a handful of states, including Florida, Arkansas and Louisiana, that have more people hospitalized with COVID-19 than ever before.

This is really a dire situation, said Jeff Absalon, chief physician executive for St. Charles Health System in Bend. National Guard troops were deployed to the mountain town's hospital last week to assist medical workers.

Some 1,500 guard troops have been dispatched to hospitals around the state by Gov. Kate Brown, who warned of the seriousness of this crisis for all Oregonians, especially those needing emergency and intensive care.

Oregon keeps breaking records for the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, reaching 937 on Monday. That's a 50% increase over last year's record, when vaccines were not yet available. More than 90% of Oregon's adult hospital and ICU beds are currently full.

And on Monday Legacy Health, a hospital system in Portland that includes six hospitals, said it was pausing all non-urgent surgical procedures for two weeks to create bed capacity.

Lisa, a nurse in Salem Hospitals ICU, told a small group of visiting journalists Friday that she is both frustrated and sad to see a record number of COVID-19 patients, even though vaccines are widely available. She spoke on the condition that her last name not be used, because the pandemic and how to fight it have become highly politicized.

Weve been dealing with the second wave when we thought  I guess we hoped  it wouldn't come. And its come. And its harder and worse, way worse, than before," she said. Hours earlier, a COVID-19 patient died in the ICU.

As she spoke, a patients heart monitor beeped. A mechanical ventilator occasionally added a higher-pitched tone. Fifteen of the COVID-19 patients were on ventilators. The hospital's wellness department, which normally recommends yoga and deep breathing for relaxation, recently set up a booth and filled it with dinner plates for a different kind of stress relief.

We put on safety glasses, Lisa said. And we took plates and we shattered them. And I kept going back. I kept going back, and they told me I had enough turns.

She said one advantage over last year's surge is that she's vaccinated, so she is not as scared of dying. Another improvement is that there are plenty of masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment.

Other than the beeping monitors, the ICU was quiet. The COVID-19 patients are heavily sedated and behind closed doors. Outside their rooms stand poles draped with IV bags, the tubes running through a crack in the door so nurses can change the bags without exposing themselves to the virus.

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Beds outside the unit can be upgraded to ICU-level care by adding monitors and life-support machines, said Martin Johnson, the ICU medical director. A rapid-response team composed of an ICU nurse and an ICU-level respiratory therapist provide backup support, he said, stressing that the hospital can still take in patients.

After conferring on each patients medical status, ICU team members, who have spent a year and a half trying to keep COVID-19 patients alive, stand in a circle, sometimes holding hands, and try to come up with positive things to say.

Sometimes it's, Their oxygen needs are less, or their fever is gone, Johnson said. At other times, its The patient opened his eyes and squeezed my hand.

When there is no improvement, staff will instead express gratitude for each other or for the support of patients' relatives.

Oregon's early success against the virus may have helped fuel the delta variant's toll on the state, because the aggressive measures to curb the first surge left many population pockets with no immunity. And though some 72% of adults statewide are at least partially vaccinated, that number drops to less than 50% in 10 of Oregons 36 counties.

Oregons low immunity level, considering previous infection rates and the number of unvaccinated people, creates a high risk for new infections, said Renee Edwards, chief medical officer at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

Compounding the problem: Oregon has, along with Washington state, the lowest per-capita supply of hospital beds in the nation. The two states each have only 1.7 beds per 1,000 residents, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit focusing on national health issues. South Dakota ranks first, with 4.8 beds per 1,000.

It will be a race against time to see if Oregon's health care system can withstand the current surge before it eases off. Oregon Health & Science University predicts the peak will be Sept. 7.

___ Cline reported from Portland, Oregon. Cline is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
ALBANY  The vast majority of New Yorkers say in a typical year they never visit a race track in the state to bet on horse racing, according to a poll conducted this month by Marist College.

Marist surveyed 868 adults in New York in early August in a poll commissioned by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The results showed 91 percent of respondents said they never go to New York tracks to bet on horse racing in a typical year. Five percent of respondents said they go once a year, 1 percent said they go twice and 3 percent said they go more than twice.

The poll aligns with generally decreasing attendance at New York tracks and also more remote betting taking place away from the track than at the track.

The New York Racing Association, which operates three of the four thoroughbred race tracks in the state, the Saratoga Race Course, Aqueduct Racetrack and Belmont Park, claimed the poll has no basis in fact and PETA's efforts were "extreme" and "political."

PETA is utilizing a poll they themselves commissioned and paid for to attempt to suggest that the overall popularity of horse racing is declining in New York," said Patrick McKenna, senior director of communications at NYRA. "That has no basis in fact or reality, as clearly demonstrated by consistent increases in wagering handle and television ratings combined with in-person attendance well north of 1 million each and every year."

PETA said it commissioned the poll as part of its efforts to end state investment in horse racing in New York.

"PETA is part of a coalition, including Alliance for Quality Education, NYCLASS, Human Services Council, LiveOn New York, New York State Humane Association, Horseracing Wrongs, New York Communities for Change and a growing list of other groups working to end the corporate welfare that props up racing," said Marc Paulhus, a PETA horse racing specialist. "Most New Yorkers dont care about horse racing, but the industry takes $230 million every year from casino taxes that could be going to benefit all New Yorkers.

McKenna said over 750,000 fans have attended racing at the Saratoga Race Track this summer, while millions more watched on television.

In 2019, 1.5 million people went to the three NYRA-run tracks over 217 race days, according to the most recent attendance numbers published by the New York Gaming Commission. The commission did not publish attendance numbers for the Finger Lakes thoroughbred track in Farmington or the seven standardbred tracks, although it published those numbers in previous years.

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About 20 million people lived in New York in 2020, according to U.S. Census data. Therefore, if every person who attended a New York track in 2019 was a New Yorker and if each attendee went to the track only once, only 8 percent of New Yorkers would have gone to a race that year.

Of the 1.5 million NYRA track attendees, over 1 million went to a race at Saratoga in 2019. On an average race day at Aqueduct, less than 2,000 people attended a race in 2019; the track has capacity for about 40,000. Belmont, which has capacity for over 90,000 people NYRA says, had roughly 4,000 people in attendance per race day in 2019.

Total attendance at the three NYRA tracks averaged 7,280 per race day in 2019, down from 9,450 per race day in 2015, according to gaming commission data. In 2005, attendance averaged 8,653 people per race day. In 1995, the tracks drew an average of 10,285 people per race day, state annual reports show.

According to NYRA's 2021 media guide, the Saratoga Race Course "routinely drew weekday crowds of more than 10,000 during the 1950s." After this article was published, McKenna said in 2021 Saratoga has had 29 race days with total paid attendance of 750,456 for an average of 25,877 per day.

Most betting on New York horse races no longer happens at tracks, but through account deposit wagering, at off-track betting locations and other means. NYRA says betting from all these remote sources is generally up.

"For example, the 2021 spring/summer meet at Belmont Park generated $632,208,251 in all-sources handle, a 20.6 percent increase over the 2019 spring/summer meet and 63.5 percent above the 2020 spring/summer meet, which was abbreviated to just 25 days because of the COVID-19 pandemic," McKenna said.
SAND LAKE  Fighting with the mining interests in the town is part of the communitys cultural landscape, but the latest faceoff over the property assessment of a 254-acre mine hits as the election for control of the Town Board is shaping up.

The Troy Sand & Gravel Co. has filed a lawsuit at the Rensselaer County Clerks Office to get the $2.8 million assessment lowered to $800,000 for its mining site at 3600 State Route 43. Thats a 72 percent reduction.

The lawsuit filed in July is expected to be another expensive case for this rural community as it hires legal and assessment experts to contest the case, Supervisor Nancy Perry said. Its piled on the $170,000 the town spent to successfully defend its zoning law in a case that included Troy Sand & Gravel that went up to the state Court of Appeals, the states highest court, Perry said.

They think the assessment is too high, Patrick L. Seely Jr. of E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy said of his client Troy Sand & Gravels decision to sue the town.

It usually takes about two years for an assessment case to wind its way through State Supreme Court. Lowering the assessment would lower the amount of taxes paid by Troy Sand & Gravel, impacting the town of Sand Lake and the Averill Park Central School District.

Its one of the biggest taxpayers in town, said Garrett DeGraff, the Democratic candidate for supervisor, who has attacked the lawsuit.

I am committed to addressing the negative impacts of mining on the quality of life in town, holding the line against minings encroachment into the towns residential neighborhoods, and defending the current zoning law restrictions on mining, DeGraff said.

Scott Gallerie, Republican candidate for supervisor, said the town has to fight the reassessment. Gallerie said that the town has to make a stand to prevent other assessment lawsuits from being filed.

You can be sure all the other mining companies are watching, Gallerie said.

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Gallerie estimated the property value pushed for by Troy Sand & Gravel is about $3,000 per acre, far below the average cost of an acre in the town.

Perry, who is not seeking re-election as supervisor, said may town officials believe the mine site may be worth more than it is assessed. Perry said the town will see what the commercial appraiser it hires determines the value of the site to be.
Two groups that work to overturn wrongful convictions argued in a petition filed Monday that a Missouri man who has spent more than 20 years in prison for killing his mother did not commit the crime.

Michael Politte was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2002. He was 14 when his mother, Rita Politte, was burned to death inside their home in Hopewell in eastern Missouri, in 1998.

The Midwest Innocence Project and the MacArthur Justice Center, along with attorneys from the Langdon & Emison law firm in Lexington, argue in the petition filed with the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District that Politte was convicted because of a biased investigation, faulty science and an incompetent defense at trial.

They asked the court to release Politte from custody, conduct an evidentiary hearing, or appoint a special master to investigate his case.

How did I end up in prison? Because this judicial system is overseen by flawed human beings who do not want to admit they got anything wrong. They do not want to admit that they wrongfully convicted a 14-year-old for murdering his own mother, Politte said in a statement released by his attorneys.

The Missouri Attorney General's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

Michael Politte and a friend were sleeping at the mobile home when they both awoke to smoke early on Dec. 5, 1998, according to the petition. Michael told authorities he found his mother's burning body in her bedroom as he and his friend tried to escape, according to the petition. She also suffered blunt force trauma to her head.

The petition alleges fire investigators quickly decided the fire was started with gasoline, and police immediately zeroed in on her son as a suspect, although no blood or other injuries were found on him. Investigators also said he did not show much emotion or remorse in the days following his mother's death.

Law enforcement did not investigate other viable suspects, including Politte's father  recently divorced from Rita Politte  who had been ordered to pay a significant financial settlement the week before she died, the attorneys say. Witnesses also said a cousin of Politte's father was seen around the mobile home shortly after the fire was reported.

Tunnel vision set in very quickly, which happens in most cases of wrongful conviction, said Megan Crane, co-director of the MacArthur Justice Center. Once they decided on Michael, the investigation was fatally undermined from that point on.

Throughout frequent interrogation, without an attorney, in the 48 hours after his mother's death, Politte steadfastly maintained his innocence, as he has in the intervening years, Crane said. Before he went to trial, Politte rejected an offer to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter because he was innocent, she said.

The friend who was at the scene has consistently backed Politte's story, and Politte's two sisters have always believed he is innocent, Crane said.

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Politte was held in juvenile custody for four years before he was tried as an adult in January 2002.

The state did not provide a motive for Politte to kill his mother, and its case rested largely on testimony from fire investigators who said the fire was started by an accelerant and that Politte had gas on his shoes  the only physical evidence linking him to the killing.

Those findings were based on fire investigation techniques that have since been discredited, and the state has conceded in the intervening years that Politte did not have gas on his shoes, according to the petition.

During the trial, Politte's attorney presented only half a day of testimony from three witnesses. No experts were called to debunk the fire and gasoline evidence, or to refute the state's arguments that Politte did not show any remorse about his mother's death. Politte's friend was not called, and the attorney persuaded Politte not to testify.

Tammy Nash was a Washington County deputy sheriff in 1998 who helped investigate the killing and also worked in the jail where Politte was initially held. She said in an affidavit that investigators were split on whether Politte was guilty and her doubts grew as she got to know him while he was in jail.

She remembers Politte crying frequently and saying if my mam was here, she would tell them I would never hurt her and I did not do this, according to the affidavit.

Nash said she did not believe Politte was capable of masterminding the crime and she submitted the affidavit because she believes he is innocent.
NORTHAMPTON  State Police are investigating what they are calling the accidental drowning death of a veteran trooper on Sunday at Great Sacandaga Lake in Fulton County.

Trooper James J. Monda, 45, a Princetown-based member of a marine patrol unit since 2017, went into the lake wearing dive gear for reasons that are under investigation, State Police Superintendent Kevin Bruen told reporters during a late afternoon briefing at Troop G in Latham.

Monda went into the water at a launch on Bunker Hill Road at about 4 p.m. and did not resurface. He was pulled from the water and taken to Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville where he was pronounced dead.

He is survived by his fiancee and his parents

Its tough. Were all hurting right now, Maj. Christopher West, the commander of Troop G, told reporters. He said Troop G, the largest troop in the state, is like a family.

Monda, who joined the State Police in 2002, spent most of his career in Troop G. West said he remembered Monda from when the trooper was in training in 2002. West was a sergeant at the time.

He was well-liked by his classmates then, and it continued out into the field now all these years later, West told reporters.

West described Monda as a conscientious hard worker who was selected for some of the most sought-after State Police assignments, such as the State Fair and the marine patrol assignment, which is separate from the State Police dive team.

He did an outstanding job up until now and Im sure he would have continued doing a great job, West said.

Monda was a native of the Rotterdam area.

He was well-liked in the area. A lot of people in the area knew him, said West. He joked around a lot that when he would stop people and see people (he knew) that he knew more people in the area than me, just a funny joke between us.

West added: Hes going to be missed  he was well liked by a lot of us here. All of us.

West was joined by Bruen and State Police Col. Steven Nigrelli.

The superintendent said an autopsy ruled out any medical emergency being responsible for the trooper's death.

We need to conduct an investigation into exactly how this occurred, Bruen said.

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Bruen said investigators would look into a number of things, including the equipment that the trooper used, the actions of the people involved and possible training issues.

Its a dangerous occupation, Bruen said. The entire occupation is dangerous. Troopers families live with it every day that when the trooper leaves the house they may not come back.

We have an obligation to make sure that when we have a situation like this that its thoroughly investigated, he said, and that if there are training deficiencies with our procedures that need to be changed or modified or equipment needs to be changed or modified that we do it.

Bruen did not want to speculate why Monda suited up and got into the water.

New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association President Thomas H. Mungeer said the PBA would be assisting with the funeral arrangements.

Trooper Monda selflessly dedicated his life to protecting and serving the public, and we will never forget his ultimate sacrifice, he said in a statement.
SUPERIOR, Wis. (AP)  Authorities are picking up the pieces after a train smashed into an SUV in Superior.

Police said the collision occurred a little before 10 a.m. Monday. The crash caused a significant traffic delay but police described incident as minor. Paramedics determined the SUVs 80-year-old driver wasnt hurt.
In his farewell address Monday, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was true to the end in his disdain for democratic government. We hope Gov. Kathy Hochul doesnt share that view.

Mr. Cuomo, who once declared that government is about action; its not a debating society, revisited that theme in his defiant, self-laudatory address, stating, We cannot go back to the old days when government talked, and government debated  but they never made a difference in peoples lives, and they never improved, and they never built.

Its quite possible, though, to build, to improve, and, yes, to debate what exactly we want to build and improve. Its messy, sure, but its democracy.

If Ms. Hochul is looking to be a different kind of politician from Mr. Cuomo  and many governors before him  she could start by showing more respect for the legislative process and for legislators who are, after all, representatives of the people of New York. She should work with lawmakers to end the routine use of messages of necessity to circumvent the three-day aging period for legislation required by the state constitution. Lawmakers and the public deserve time to absorb and discuss pending bills, especially the huge budget bills hashed out behind closed doors. And the budget should get back to being the budget, not a way for the governor to jam through legislation.

We urge Ms. Hochul, too, to be more transparent than her predecessor, whose secrets in the last year caught up with him and helped spur calls on both sides of the aisle for his resignation or impeachment. The cover-up of nursing home resident deaths and his monthslong refusal to reveal the value of his $5.1 million book deal were part of a pattern. Whether it was information on gun registrations, time sheets for a campaign contributors son working for the state, or the names of people he pardoned, Mr. Cuomo had a long track record of hiding public information.

Ms. Hochul needs to distance herself from the decisions about her State Police security detail, matters Mr. Cuomo insinuated himself into in order to both get rid of officers who displeased him and bring in a female officer who was among the women who accused him of sexual harassment. This is a professional matter.

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And Ms. Hochuls husband, William Hochul, senior vice president and general counsel to the gambling firm Delaware North, should step down from his position to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest for Ms. Hochul. The state Gaming Commission is part of the executive branch she now heads.

On a matter of particular urgency, Ms. Hochul needs to light a fire under state government to get federal and state rental aid to tenants and landlords. The Cuomo administration was abysmally slow in spending the $2.7 billion in available funds, and even with a recent push has still reached only 65 percent. This money is critical to helping avoid an eviction crisis.

Change has been forced on Ms. Hochul by Mr. Cuomos downfall. But she now has a chance to be an agent of change in the 16 months she has to finish Mr. Cuomos term. We hope she seizes the opportunity to be more than an accidental governor.
ALBANY  Gov. Kathy Hochul drew on "The Man in the Arena," the famous, century-old speech from former New York governor and President Theodore Roosevelt to paint the backdrop for her historic day as the first woman sworn in to the state's highest office.

"Today, for the first time in New York history, a woman will enter that arena as governor," Hochul said after her swearing-in. "I will not be deterred. And I'm willing to be bloodied and marred in the pursuit of doing what's right for the people of this great state."

Hochul, in her ascension from local town board to Congress and now governor, outlined her priorities for New York as its government moves past the era of Andrew M. Cuomo, whose resignation  in the face of charges of sexual harassment and a litany of controversies that were bound up in potential articles of impeachment  went into effect Monday.

The Erie County Democrat delivered a 12-minute speech to cap off a day of ceremonial events. In her taped speech, wearing suffragists' white, Hochul juggled competing narratives: the first woman to become governor; an Executive Chamber entrenched in controversy after a third straight governor leaves mired in scandal; and a COVID-19 crisis that continues to impact the lives of New Yorkers. There are also intensifying concerns over vaccinations and mask mandates as the school year begins.

Hochul is set to serve out the final 16-plus months of Cuomo's third term, and has pledged to run for governor next year.

"Your priorities are my priorities and right now that means fighting the delta variant," Hochul said.

Hochul said she plans to mandate vaccinations for all school personnel, with an option for weekly testing. She is working on universal masking policies for anyone entering a school, something Hochul said could be ordered by the state Department of Health. There may be additional requirements, too, with mass-vaccination sites reopened to facilitate booster shots for those vaccinated for more than eight months.

"Gov. Kathy Hochul brings a breath of fresh air to Albany, and she already is taking decisive action to bolster health and safety in our schools," New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta said in a statement in which he agreed with Hochul's policies. "Its critical that educators continue to have a voice in the implementation of vaccine requirements and other COVID policies at the local level."

Hochul expects to expedite rent-relief assistance in sync with the eviction moratorium, something that she is "not at all satisfied with." Money from the state's excluded workers fund should also begin to be spent, likely next month.

Hochul also announced major reforms to the state's sexual harassment policies. She called for all training to be conducted live and not through a computer program, "instead of allowing people to click their way through a class." That announcement follows allegations that Cuomo had a staff member complete his required on-line annual training.

Ethics training also will become a requirement for all state employees.

She spoke in passing about her commitment to resolving the opioid epidemic, "the ugly specter of racism," and systemic gun violence and crime, including building trust between communities and law enforcement.

Swearing in

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore formally swore in Hochul just after midnight. The event included Hochul's husband, Bill, and immediate staff. An Associated Press photographer, the lone member of the press allowed in, photographed the proceeding.

DiFiore wore a robe of the first female judge of the Court of Appeals, Justice Judith Kaye, Hochul noted during her remarks later Tuesday.

"This is an emotional moment for me, but it's one I'm prepared for," Hochul said.

She was joined by her "big Irish Catholic family" and the leaders of the Legislature, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Carl E. Heastie. She called Stewart-Cousins a "great friend" and met with the Democratic leaders after the ceremony.

Neither Stewart-Cousins nor Heastie would elaborate on what they discussed in their meeting with Hochul, but they both said it is clear top priorities are the eviction moratorium and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. They emphasized, in separate news conferences in the afternoon, that it's vital for renters to be protected from evictions and the state needs to protect people from the coronavirus.

The legislative leaders focused their remarks on the glass ceilings being broken and how the "three-men-in-a-room" state budget negotiations will now be two-thirds female.

"I know that when I broke that glass ceiling in 2019," Stewart-Cousins said, "it hopefully inspired so many people who had never been aspiring, frankly, to be in the 'room' where it happens."

Heastie reflected on what the moment meant for someone like his 12-year-old daughter.

"I want her to believe she can do anything in the world and that she won't be restricted based on the fact that she was born a girl," Heastie said.

Both leaders said it was up to others, besides themselves, to explain whether investigations of Cuomo by the Legislature should continue. They avoided directly answering whether a special legislative session should be called to address issues around evictions, the coronavirus or the investigations of the governor. They consistently shifted attention back to Hochul, the decisions she will ultimately make and the magnitude of a day in which the first female New York governor was sworn in.

Hochul spoke with President Joe Biden overnight, she said, which included a discussion on the response to Tropical Storm Henri.

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In training

Hochul has had two weeks to begin her prep for the states highest seat in elected office.

Cuomo gave notice of his resignation Aug. 10, amid an onslaught of controversies that were beginning to shape into potential articles of impeachment. It included the claims of sexual harassment, in violation of state and federal laws, according to an investigation by Attorney General Letitia James.

Hochul immediately distanced herself from Cuomo. In her first public address, following the resignation announcement, she said she would not keep staff who were described in James report as part of the toxic work culture in the Executive Chamber.

"I want people to believe in their government again," Hochul said Tuesday morning. "Our strength comes from the faith and confidence of the people who put us in the offices. I take that very seriously."

Hochul said she will commit to the chamber being a welcoming space for women.

On Monday she named two women to the top of her staff: Karen Persichilli Keough, who will be secretary to the governor, and Elizabeth Fine, who she appointed counsel to the governor.

A selection of her lieutenant governor could come later this week. She is expected to pick someone from the downstate area. While the governor and lieutenant governor dont run on the same ticket, like the president and vice president, theyre often viewed as running mates.

Hochul recently began to receive campaign contributions from high-powered unions, developers, hospital executives and lawyers, many from the Buffalo area.

Hochul rose through the ranks of elected office. She was elected to the Hamburg Town Board in 1994, where she served until 2007. She was then appointed to fill a vacant position for Erie County Clerk. Hochul then won a special election in 2011 for the congressional seat in western New York. She lost the election in 2012 in the redrawn district. Hochul then ran for lieutenant governor in 2014 and had held that position until Tuesday.

Hochul's narrative arc in recent weeks has been told as a rise from humble beginnings in a working class family in Erie County. She was born in the city of Lackawanna. The first home her parents shared was a trailer. Her father worked at a steel plant and went to college at night. He went on to lead a company.

Hochul went to Syracuse University, where she participated in on-campus activism and student government. She received her law degree at Catholic University.

The prayer prior to the ceremonial swearing-in Tuesday was delivered by Albany Pastor Solomon Dees, who is from Alabama and had once seen the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. speak at the Wilborn Temple where Dees officiates.

On Tuesday, Dees delivered a brief prayer, in which he recalled the biblical story of Joshua entering the Promise Land, something Moses did not achieve after his share of sins.

"You're able to open up the rivers that Joshua would go across," Dees said. "We ask you to do the same today."
ALBANY  On Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul called for a complete overhaul of New York's ethics oversight system.

And as the state's much-maligned current ethics watchdog faces the possibility of dissolution, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics recently announced a reform: a new policy that in principle could make its work less secretive.

But in practice, the policy so far has been aimed at bolstering the reputation of the JCOPE itself, with information released or withheld based on that criteria as opposed to overall transparency.

The Times Union asked JCOPE about the status of three separate investigative matters that have come before the panel in recent years. It declined to provide information about the status of two of them, while disclosing information about one.

A JCOPE spokesman could not explain, however, why he was able to provide information about the one matter while needing to suppress information in the other instances.

On Aug. 5, the panel announced a new communications policy authorizing the release of information about the status of investigative matters in limited circumstances.

The initiative was meant to improve public awareness of its activities and address" or "correct inaccurate assumptions in the public arena. JCOPE staff became authorized to say whether an investigation was pending before JCOPE, had been closed, or had been deferred by the agency at the request of law enforcement in order to not interfere with an ongoing probe.

According to the press release, such information could now be provided to the public when the existence of a complaint or matter is already public and certain other conditions are met.

The Times Union first asked about two matters.

One was a sworn complaint filed with JCOPE in 2019 alleging corruption by a district attorney. The complaint had been provided to the Times Union by the complainant.

The second was a referral made to JCOPE in 2020 by the state inspector generals office, concerning findings from an investigation into a state agency commissioner. The inspector generals referral was obtained by the Times Union through a Freedom of Information Law request.

A JCOPE spokesman, Walter McClure, said that JCOPE was not allowed to provide information on whether either matter was still pending before the commission.

He initially declined to give an explanation for the rejections. But on Tuesday, McClure stated the two cases were not considered public matters  even though the Times Union had copies of the complaint made to JCOPE in one instance, and a referral made to JCOPE in the other.

Asked to clarify JCOPEs definition of a public matter  the commissions only defined standard for releasing information  McClure did not give one. But he stated that the purpose of the new communications policy was to correct misunderstandings or inaccuracies about JCOPEs work.

McClure said the new policy applied to things out in the public that JCOPE needed to straighten out.

In other words, the policy is meant to allow the ethics body to correct the record when it has been criticized for not investigating a particular matter.

Since its creation in 2011, JCOPE has often been criticized for appearing virtually dormant as federal prosecutors have brought a slew of corruption cases against top New York officials.

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Asked if the new transparency policy was aimed simply at burnishing the reputation of JCOPE, McClure declined to comment. He said its staff was following the directives of the agency's commissioners.

McClure did provide the Times Union information about one matter  an answer that could enhance the agencys reputation as it faces overhaul or replacement in the wake of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos resignation: In March, Attorney General Letitia James asked JCOPE to investigate reports that Cuomos friends and family had received special access to coronavirus testing in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when such testing was scarce.

When asked about the referral by James, McClure on Tuesday confirmed that JCOPE was investigating the issue of access to testing  even though releasing that information contradicts the policy McClure had just outlined.

The New York Post had previously reported  correctly  that JCOPE was investigating special access to COVID-19 testing for Cuomos family and friends. So there was no misinformation about the status of the investigation that JCOPE needed to correct.

Disclosing that investigation could serve to aid JCOPEs reputation, however, since it's often been criticized for having overly close ties to Cuomo.

Meanwhile, if JCOPE had released information about the status of the other two investigations  the matters about which JCOPE declined to reveal anything  the information could have possibly damaged JCOPEs reputation.

In at least one of those investigations, JCOPE might have failed to follow a state law that requires it to take a vote on whether to open a full investigation in a sworn complaint. (In the past, JCOPE has lost multiple lawsuits over its failure to follow that law.) Since JCOPE is not providing the Times Union information the probe's current status, however, the question of any possible illegality remains unresolved.

JCOPE's stab at transparency comes as lawmakers are discussing doing away with the panel. While Cuomo resisted getting rid of the watchdog, it's possible Hochul will seek to eliminate the agency as she bolsters her credentials for her 2022 campaign for a full term.

And on Wednesday morning, Senate Democrats are holding a hearing examining the future of JCOPE and ethics reform.

"We want to make these institutions make sense," Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said on Tuesday. "If they dont make sense, then theres no point in having them. So yes, we will be looking at JCOPE and what to do with it."
ALBANY  Linda Lacewell, an attorney and former chief of staff for ex-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, resigned from her job Tuesday as superintendent of the state Department of Financial Services.

Lacewell, who also had headed Cuomo's coronavirus task force, had directed many of the administration's work dealing with the pandemic, including decisions on the reporting of nursing home fatalities that sparked an investigation by the U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn, according to state health department sources.

She also had been integral to the Executive Chamber's response to the sexual harassment allegations that engulfed him during the past nine months and led to his resignation this week.

A 165-page report issued by the attorney general's office that concluded Cuomo sexually harassed or inappropriately touched multiple women listed many instances in which Lacewell had been involved with researching and strategizing how to respond to the accusers. Lacewell's role included exploring the administration's legal ability to leak copies of personnel records on Lindsey Boylan, one of the governor's accusers.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was sworn into office Tuesday, pledged earlier this month that anyone in Cuomo's administration who had engaged in unethical conduct as described in the attorney general's report would not work for her administration.

Lacewell posted a statement to her "DFS colleagues" on the department's website Tuesday  about 12 hours after Cuomo's resignation took effect  saying it was "time for me to move on and make way for new leadership."

"We only have a moment in time to make a difference," her statement continued. "I am proud of the work we have done together. Our accomplishments are many. A few stand out for me, but know that I value every achievement and your daily work to protect consumers, enforce the law, and ensure safety and soundness of industry."

Lacewell listed a series of accomplishments that took place at DFS during her leadership.

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"As the pandemic gripped the state, we took comprehensive action to help consumers suddenly out of work and we strengthened the health care system. We deferred health, life, and property insurance premiums, mortgage payments, and student loan payments. We waived ATM, overdraft, and credit card fees," she said. "We broadened access to telehealth and mental health services, and we suspended rules and brokered agreements to expand critical hospital capacity. We made COVID testing and vaccines free of charge for the insured. We saved consumers several hundred million dollars a year in health insurance premiums by cutting back on insurers rate increase proposals."

In 2015, Lacewell established a program embedding attorneys in two dozen state agencies to monitor activities for the administration, including flagging potentially troublesome Freedom of Information Law requests.

The program was framed as an "ethics, risk and compliance initiative" used to bring a private-sector risk management model to state agencies and public authorities. But the effort also included managing negative information about the administration.
Farmington, WV (26555)

Today

Overcast with rain showers at times. High 68F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 53F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Farmington, WV (26555)

Today

Cloudy with periods of light rain. High 68F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 53F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
[August 24, 2021] AirCarbon Exchange announces expansion with appointment of Director, Americas

SINGAPORE, LONDON and TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AirCarbon Exchange (ACX), the world's first fully digital exchange for voluntary carbon credits with real-time trading and settlement, is pleased to announce and welcome carbon market pioneer Corinne Boone as Director, Americas. In this role, Corinne will be responsible for strategising and implementing ACX's expansion into the Americas, with an initial focus on Canada. Corinne is the current Board Chair of the Canadian Energy Research Institute, a Director of EfficiencyOne and the Halifax Climate, Investment, Innovation and Impact Fund, and as ACX's new Director, Americas, brings 30 years of experience in climate markets and energy finance to the role. The Canadian carbon market is expected to develop rapidly in the coming years. During the Climate Summit hosted by US President Joe Biden in April of this year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Canada will reduce its GHG emissions by 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030 - a significant increase above its earlier target of 30%, made under the Paris Agreement. The Government of Canada (GOC) has also pledged to achieve Net Zero by 2050. The GOC has established a minimum carbon price which currently sits at C$40/tonne and will increase to C$50/tonne in2022 and by C$15/year thereafter up to C$170/tonne in 2030. This price will be used as a backstop for provinces that do not implement a carbon pricing system (carbon tax or cap and trade) as a central part of efforts to meet GHG emission limits.



Bill Pazos, Managing Director and Co-Founder of AirCarbon Exchange said: "We are thrilled to add someone of Corinne's calibre to the AirCarbon team. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the carbon markets and will undoubtedly be a strong asset as we continue to expand our business. We believe the Canadian carbon markets are poised to grow exponentially over the coming years. Canada, at the provincial and federal levels, represents a very interesting basis for a vibrant marketplace, and we are keen to bring our established infrastructure to help scale the market by providing transparency and low transaction costs." Corinne Boone, incoming Director, Americas at AirCarbon Exchange added: "The expansion of ACX into Canada represents a huge opportunity for increased access, volume and transparency in the developing Canadian offset market to contribute to Canada meeting its stated GHG commitments. I am so excited to lead this initiative as well as AirCarbon's broader expansion into the Americas and am looking forward to rolling these out to their full potential."

About AirCarbon Exchange AirCarbon Exchange ("ACX") is a global exchange revolutionising the voluntary carbon market. The Exchange currently has a 130-strong client base comprised of corporate entities, financial traders, carbon project developers and other industry stakeholders. ACX provides its clients with an efficient and transparent trading platform which is easy to use, frictionless and with the lowest commission fees available on the market. Launched in 2019, the Exchange is a hybrid platform with a traditional central order book architecture that will be familiar to all experienced traders. The Exchange also utilizes the speed and efficiency of the Binance Smart Chain public blockchain to achieve atomic T-0 trade execution, clearing and settlement. The Exchange's core matching engine can currently match trades in the order ~10k per second. As of May 2021, ACX is the world's first carbon negative exchange, having offset its carbon emissions 12 months into the future (to May 2022) through the Onil Stoves Guatemala Uspantan project. ACX is committed to continuing to offset all of its emissions 12 months forward. For more information or to trade carbon, please reach out to info@AirCarbon.co or visit https://www.aircarbon.co. SOURCE AirCarbon Exchange

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[August 24, 2021] Arista Extends Cloud-Grade Routing to the Network Edge

Arista Networks (NYSE:ANET), a leader in cognitive cloud networking, announced today the expansion of its cloud-grade routing solutions for next generation network edge roles in the multi cloud era. Arista's EOS (Extensible Operating System) enhancements for cloud and service provider customers transform edge and backbone routing, migrating from legacy routers to software-driven, highly available and scale-out architectures for faster time to revenue and lower Opex. The new capabilities for virtual private networking and traffic engineering enable three additional edge use cases for multi cloud, metro and 5G RAN based on Arista's cloud-grade routing principles. "Arista has a great record of disruptive innovation. I'm excited to see how they will disrupt the service provider network ecosystem," said Rob Rockell, Vice President, Network Engineering, Comcast (News - Alert) . Cloud-Grade Routing is the Future Evolution With a cloud-first approach to modern software principles, Arista extends beyond the data center to replace routers with routing. This routing journey began in 2016 with the introduction of the Arista R-Series platforms addressing use cases in internet peering, internet exchange networks and Telco NFV data centers. In 2018, Arista's routing solutions expanded to cover content distribution networks, provider edge and core routing. These cloud-grade routing principles drive successful routing transformations based on leading merchant silicon platforms with high performance 10G/25G/100G/200G/400G connectivity, open standards with EVPN, and Segment Routing. Arista's flagship EOS software simplifies routing and drives Opex reduction through a single software train. As a modern networking operating system without legacy protocol stack baggage, EOS provides a consistent network-wide automation framework for scalable, secure, and efficient operations. Arista's success in these existing routing use cases includes service provider and cloud provider customers. "Arista's solution allowed us to take a fresh approach to routing for next generation edge and backbone, reducing the complexity of protocols, delivering L2/L3 services with EVPN over a Segment Routing based backbone, along with modernizing the operations to deliver superior services and experience for our customers," explains Mr. Salvatore Sciacco, CTO, CDLAN. "Arista not only had a technical solution that exceeded our needs but also a vision and strategy that complemented the future direction of CDLAN." "Arista R-series with EOS has been instrumental in transforming the MPLS VPN edge, providing 100G density, internet route scale, stability and manageability," said Rick Cheung, Senior Network Engineer, CEN (Connecticut Education Network). "Our relationship with Arista's responsive advanced services and development teams feels like an extension of our own and has affirmed our decision to grow with Arista as the right one." "We are delighted to partner with Arista Networks, sharing our focus on efficiency and experience to build our next generation cloud edge and routed backbon to accommodate our global networking infrastructure growth. Arista EOS' rich routing stack allows us to deliver programmatic traffic engineering in the core with Segment Routing without sacrificing quality, performance or reliability," said Mr. Joe Zhu, Founder and CEO of Zenlayer.



Next Generation Network Edge With this announcement, Arista enters its third phase of routing solutions with the simplification of multi cloud edge, metro edge and 5G edge designs for our cloud and service provider customers. These key attributes, driving the next phase of cloud-grade routing, for new edge profiles include:

Multi Cloud Edge: Demand for public cloud services is creating the new cloud edge, created by the cloud footprint at the network edge to deliver services closer to the end customer. Cloud edges are being built globally, with 100G/400G directly connecting to the cloud, based on a repeatable Layer 3 architecture, common software-driven provisioning and programmatic traffic steering, to deliver uninterrupted service that scales globally.

Demand for public cloud services is creating the new cloud edge, created by the cloud footprint at the network edge to deliver services closer to the end customer. Cloud edges are being built globally, with 100G/400G directly connecting to the cloud, based on a repeatable Layer 3 architecture, common software-driven provisioning and programmatic traffic steering, to deliver uninterrupted service that scales globally. Metro Edge: Legacy router designs are degrading quality and end-user experiences for service providers. To meet the new bandwidth demand and faster connectivity for E-LINE and E-LAN services, service providers are upgrading their metro ethernet edge with Capex efficient, high density merchant silicon-based 100G/400G routing platforms. Additionally, to achieve Opex efficiency, service providers are simplifying protocol complexity by adopting a single protocol for multiple edge VPN services and driving consistent automation for the metro fabric - the combination for faster and scalable service delivery.

Legacy router designs are degrading quality and end-user experiences for service providers. To meet the new bandwidth demand and faster connectivity for E-LINE and E-LAN services, service providers are upgrading their metro ethernet edge with Capex efficient, high density merchant silicon-based 100G/400G routing platforms. Additionally, to achieve Opex efficiency, service providers are simplifying protocol complexity by adopting a single protocol for multiple edge VPN services and driving consistent automation for the metro fabric - the combination for faster and scalable service delivery. 5G RAN Edge: 5G architecture is disaggregating traditional mobile backhaul, bringing the public cloud footprint in the RAN (Radio Access Network) for real time localized service updates. To address bandwidth demand from distributed nodes and a radically scaled user/device and traffic profiles, 5G edge requires scale-out repeatable routing design with high speed, high performance connectivity, a single OS for open standards based protocols and consistent automation framework across the mobile backhaul and Multi-access Edge Compute (MEC) deployments, enabling Opex efficiency and faster time to market for new services. Availability The features for the new routing use cases are available now in the latest EOS release, a single software train across all of Arista's products. The Arista R-series provides industry-leading performance, scale and port density. The latest platform breadth and flexibility of the R3-Series include: 7800R3 and 7500R3 modular systems scaling to 460Tbps of capacity New 7500R3 and 7800R3 line cards with native 25G SFP ports for flexible scaleout of edge routing applications Expanded 7800R3 range with 16-slots for up to 576 400G or 768 100G ports

7280R3 Series of 1U and 2U systems scales up to 9.6Tbps with 24 ports of 400G in 1U and with newly released options expanding the solutions for network edge 7280CR3MK-32P4S and 7280CR3MK-32D4S with 32 100G ports and four 400G ports providing both routing scale and integrated MACsec encryption at 100G 7280CR3-36S and 7280CR3K-36S, offering 36 100G ports and flexible port modes for all network edge roles from 10G to 400G 7280SR3M-48YC8, offering 48 25G ports plus 8 100G ports with MACsec encryption 7280SR3-40YC6, offering 40 25G ports plus 6 100G ports for aggregation and access deployments

To learn more about Arista's cloud-grade routing, join us for a webinar on September 2nd, 2021 at 10:00 AM PDT - register here. Read more about this announcement on Jayshree Ullal's blog here. About Arista Networks Arista Networks is an industry leader in cognitive cloud networking solutions for large data center and campus environments. Arista's award-winning platforms deliver availability, agility, automation analytics, and security through CloudVision and Arista EOS, an advanced network operating system. For more information, visit www.arista.com. ARISTA, CloudVision and EOS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of Arista Networks, Inc. in jurisdictions worldwide. Other company names or product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Additional information and resources can be found at www.arista.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements regarding performance and capabilities. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including rapid technological and market change, customer requirements and industry standards, as well as other risks stated in our filings with the SEC (News - Alert) available on Arista's website at www.arista.com and the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Arista disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005198/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Arlington Capital Partners Announces the Acquisition of MCR

Arlington Capital Partners ("Arlington Capital" or "Arlington"), a Washington, DC-area private equity firm, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire MCR, LLC ("MCR" or the "Company"). Founded in 1977 and headquartered in McLean, Virginia, MCR provides cost analysis and engineering and software development expertise to customers in defense, intelligence and critical civilian governmental agencies in the US as well as customers internationally. MCR's senior management team has invested alongside Arlington in the transaction. David Wodlinger, Partner at Arlington, said, "MCR has established itself as a preeminent provider of differentiated systems engineering and integration solutions that address critical national security objectives in the space, cyber, and missile defense domains. We are partnering with MCR to increase investment in these core areas, as well as to pursue strategic acquisitions to enhance and broaden the differentiated capabilities that MCR can bring to bear for its customers and to provide additional career opportunities for the Company's employees. We see enormous demand in the market for MCR's services and we believe that with our investment in the business, MCR is very well positioned for the significant growth in front of it." "Throughout MCR's over 40-year history, our global employee base has strived to become trusted advisors and technical partners to support our customers' success across the spectrum of critical mission challenges. This has resulted in MCR's consistent growth and positioned us to help meet future challenges," said Bill Parker, CEO of MCR. "We hae found a partner in Arlington, a firm that we have known for many years, that understands what makes MCR special and will remain committed to this mission as the Company enters its next phase of growth."



Ben Ramundo, Vice President at Arlington, said, "MCR has built a reputation for technical excellence and commitment to the mission, making the Company an employer of choice for high caliber professionals. We are excited to partner with the MCR management team to build on that tradition and accelerate the Company's growth by investing in new capabilities as well as pursuing strategic acquisition opportunities in complementary markets." Sheppard Mullin served as legal advisor to Arlington. Houlihan Lokey and Holland & Knight served as financial and legal advisors to MCR, respectively.

About Arlington Capital Partners Arlington Capital Partners is a Washington, DC-based private equity firm that is currently investing out of Arlington Capital Partners V, L.P., a $1.7 billion fund. The firm has managed approximately $4.0 billion of committed capital via five investment funds. Arlington is focused on middle market investment opportunities in growth industries including government services and technology, aerospace & defense, healthcare, and business services and software. The firm's professionals and network have a unique combination of operating and private equity experience that enable Arlington to be a value-added investor. Arlington invests in companies in partnership with high quality management teams that are motivated to establish and/or advance their Company's position as leading competitors in their field. www.arlingtoncap.com About MCR, LLC MCR transforms the delivery of cost analysis and engineering and software development for defense and civilian agencies, NATO, and European ministries. A global company based in McLean, Virginia, MCR has developed an integrated approach to service delivery that combines visualization, analytics, and high-performance talent acquisition. MCR applies this approach through CommandEdge, its internal operational platform. http://www.mcri.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005469/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Aryaka Recognized in First Global Provider Carrier Managed SD-WAN LEADERBOARD by Vertical Systems Group

Aryaka, the leader in fully managed SD-WAN and SASE, today announced the company has been recognized by Vertical Systems Group's Mid-2021 Global Provider Carrier Managed SD-WAN Services LEADERBOARD. This is Vertical Systems Group's first benchmark for Global Managed SD-WAN Services, and Aryaka (News - Alert) is in the company of eighteen of the largest telcos and MSPs across the globe, which is a testament to the company's diverse customer base. This coverage builds on Aryaka's previous top-seven presence in Vertical's U.S. Managed SD-WAN LEADERBOARD, released in April of this year. Aryaka is also the only provider that both develops the end-to-end technology and offers it as part of a one "hand-to-shake" managed service that results in an exceptional customer experience. "We're pleased to release the first benchmark that measures Global Provider market presence based on multinational managed SD-WAN customer sites," said Rick Malone, principal of Vertical Systems Group. "Enterprises with business-essential applications that span multiple regions of the world are choosing SD-WAN solutions from network operators with the global infrastructures, experience, partnerships and technical expertise necessary to deliver world-class services." Research Highlights for Global Provider SD-WAN Services Include: COVID-19 continues to appreciably impact every region of the world. Challenges cited by Global SD-WAN operators include workforce health protection, tracking the shift back from remote to office environments, service disconnects due to business closures, and supply chain disruptions.

Most multinational Managed SD-WAN customer implementations are hybrid network configurations that incorporate MPLS, IP VPN, Cloud connectivity or other services, plus multiple security capabilities that are integral or supplied by technology partners.

SD-WAN customers with MPLS connections are migrating to more cloud-suitable broadband services that provide bandwidth flexibility and lower pricing. "In this first of its kind global benchmark ranking, we are pleased to be included, reinforcing our unique position as a technology innovator and managed WAN provider," said Shashi Kiran (News - Alert) , CMO at Aryaka. "This builds on our previous inclusion across multipl years as part of the U.S. leaderboard and speaks to a growing global customer footprint anchored by phenomenal customer loyalty."



The announcing of the 2021 Global Provider Carrier Managed SD-WAN Vertical Systems Group LEADERBOARD comes on the heels of a stellar year at Aryaka. In just the last few months, the company made two significant technology moves and secured two high-profile customer wins. On May 4, the company announced that it acquired Secucloud GmbH, a proven SASE platform provider, delivering network security from the cloud. In the coming months, Secucloud's technology will be integrated into Aryaka's managed offering, delivering a compelling fusion of networking, security, and lifecycle services management. Then, on June 8, the company announced the availability of its latest Services Point of Presence (PoP) in Dublin, Ireland, inside the newly redrawn EU boundary. This deployment was driven by enterprise customer demand for more connectivity across and into the EU, anticipating any future divergence on data transfer regulations and future-proofing Aryaka's growing customer base.

On June 22, Aryaka announced that WD-40, the number one global brand for specialist solvents, has deployed Aryaka's managed SD-WAN and SASE service to build a new flexible, reliable and secure network in its Europe, India, Middle-East, and Africa region. The company has also recently announced a landmark partnership with Vodafone Fiji, the leading telecom provider in Fiji. The partnership gives Fijian businesses seamless access to fast and secure connectivity, with the flexibility and simplicity required in today's fast-evolving business environment, wherever they are in the region and across the globe. Vertical's Definition: Carrier Managed SD-WAN Service Vertical Systems Group defines a Carrier Managed SD-WAN Service for segment analysis and share calculations as a carrier-grade offering for business customers that is managed by a network operator. Required components and functionality for these offerings include an SDN (Software Defined Network) service architecture that enables dynamic optimization of traffic flows, a purpose-built SD-WAN appliance or CPE-hosted SD-WAN VNF (Virtual Network Function) at each customer edge site, support for multiple active underlay connectivity services, and centralized network orchestration with application visibility end-to-end. For a detailed definition, refer to the Vertical BLOG: Managed SD-WAN Services Reality Check. For more on Aryaka, please visit: https://www.aryaka.com/ Visit the Aryaka blog: https://www.aryaka.com/blog/ Follow Aryaka on Twitter: @AryakaNetworks Visit Aryaka on LinkedIn (News - Alert) : https://www.linkedin.com/company/aryaka-networks/ About Aryaka Aryaka, the Cloud-First WAN and SASE company, and a Gartner (News - Alert) "Voice of the Customer" leader, makes it easy for enterprises to consume network and network security solutions delivered as-a-service for a variety of modern deployments. Aryaka uniquely combines innovative SD-WAN and security technology with a global network and a managed service approach to offer the industry's best customer and application experience. The company's customers include hundreds of global enterprises including several in the Fortune 100. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005022/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Breakwater Management Expands Asset Management Platform with Control Private Equity Strategy

Breakwater Management LP ("Breakwater"), a leading capital provider to the U.S. lower middle market, announced today that it has expanded its investment management platform to include a control private equity strategy. This new effort builds upon Breakwater's 12-year history providing growth capital and acquisition financing through both private debt and structured equity. The platform extension will focus on partnering with outstanding management teams and founders to create significant value through operational improvements, the execution of organic growth opportunities, as well as add-on acquisitions. "With this new vertical, we've expanded our ability to meet the full range of financing needs a lower middle market company may have, further differentiating Breakwater as a capital provider and value-added partner," said Saif Mansour, Co-Managing Partner. "This is a natural complement to our existing set of flexible capital solutions, which now includes direct loans, and both minority and majority equity investments," said Eric Beckman, Co-Managing Partner. In conjunction with the announcement of the control private equity platform expansion, Breakwater is also pleased to announce its inaugural platform investment in the Matcon Group of Companies ("Matcon"). Based in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Matcon is a leading commercial contractor in the region, providing a full range of specialty services including excavation and shoring, environmental remediation, demolition and underground utilities services, for large scale civil infrastructure, commercial and residential projects. "We are thrilled to partner with Stephen Jungaro, Adam Heath, and Stephen Custeau, as significant rollover shareholders, and the rest of the talented Matcon team," said Darrick Geant, Partner at Breakwater. "Matcon's impressive track record and recent large project wins serv as an outstanding platform for future expansion. The company's long-tenured management team has built a market leading position with a blue-chip customer base, and we look forward to supporting their continued success."



"This is an important new chapter in Matcon's growth story," said Stephen Jungaro, Co-Founder of Matcon. "We are very excited to partner with the team at Breakwater as we work to further build the company's suite of services and opportunity set. In addition to its partnership approach and value as a capital partner, we believe that Breakwater's previous experience in the industry will bring valuable perspective and operational insights to assist us with our business going forward." "We see significant future expansion opportunities through both organic and inorganic growth initiatives, and Stephen and I are extremely excited to continue to lead Matcon through its next stage of development in our roles as executives and shareholders of the Company," said Adam Heath, Co-Founder of Matcon.

Los Angeles, California based Cherng Family Trust coinvested with Breakwater, and TD Bank provided debt financing in support of the transaction. McGuireWoods LLP and Lawson Lundell LLP served as Breakwater's legal counsel on the transaction. Sequoia Mergers & Acquisitions Corp. advised Matcon on the transaction. About Breakwater Management LP Based in Los Angeles, Breakwater Management LP provides flexible debt and equity capital to growing lower middle market companies. The firm aligns itself with committed management teams, owners, and sponsors, providing creative financing solutions tailored to meet individual company needs. Breakwater principals bring an average investment and operating experience of over 27 years and have built the firm on a deep commitment to integrity, partnership, and growth. For more information, please visit www.breakwatermgmt.com. About Matcon Based in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada and founded in 2001, Matcon is a leading commercial contractor in British Columbia specializing in excavation and shoring services. Matcon provides a full range of specialty services including, excavation and shoring, environmental remediation, demolition and underground utilities services for large scale civil infrastructure, commercial and residential projects. For more information, please visit www.matcon.ca. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005204/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Corteva Agriscience Launches Conkesta E3 Soybeans in Brazil

WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) today announces the launch of Conkesta E3 soybeans to the Brazilian market, following key product launch decisions and consistent with Corteva Agriscience's product launch policy. This leading technology is part of the Enlist weed control system that also includes Enlist E3 soybeans, which recently launched in the country. Conkesta E3 soybeans will be available to Brazilian farmers in the remaining 2021-2022 season. An important innovation for farmers in Latin America, Conkesta E3 soybeans incorporate broad lepidopteran insect protection in strong genetics as part of the Enlist weed control system, which offers maximum flexibility and superior control of broadleaf weeds and grasses. Through the introduction of this proprietary technology, Corteva expects to expand its position in the attractive Latin America soybean market. Corteva expects this technology to drive steady, incremental growth looking further ahead. "This milestone is yet another clear example of the execution on Corteva's strategy, and points to the value our balanced and geographically diverse product pipeline continues to deliver for our customers," said Jim Collins, Chief Executive Officer of Corteva Agriscience. Collins continued, "We continue to see solid demand for our Enlist technology in North America, and we are pleased to bring this crucial, proprietary solution to Brazilian growers  an action that further strengthens our offering in Latin America." Conkesta E3 soybeans recently received authorization by the European Union Commission, which enables grain produced from Conkesta E3 soybeans grown in Brazil to be exported to the European market for food and feed use. The technology has been previously authorized in several other export markets, including China. The Company remains on track for a future launch in Argentina and Uruguay, pending applicable regulatory reviews and market readiness in line with Corteva's product launch policy and Excellence Through Stewardship product launch guidance, among other factors. "We are very pleased to announce the launch of Conkesta E3 soybeans in Brazil. It combines high-performance genetics with efficient management of weeds and caterpillars, expanding Brazilian growers' productivity potential," said Alejandro Munoz, President of Corteva Agriscience for Latin America. Conkesta E3 soybeans are tolerant to Enlist Colex-D and Enlist Duo Colex-D herbicides  both contain 2,4-D choline with Colex-D technology that provides near-zero volatility and reduced drift potential  and also are tolerant to glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides. Conkesta E3 soybeans additionally incorporate two Bt proteins (Cry1F and Cry1Ac) for the management of the main caterpillar pests in soybean crops, a tailored option for farmers in Latin America. Conkesta E3 soybeans will be available for the remaining 2021-2022 season through two of Corteva's global brands: Brevant seeds, which provides premium seed to retail customers, and the regional genetic licensing business brand in Brazil, Cordius, Licensing Division of Corteva Agriscience. In the 2022-2023 season, the trait also will be available through the Pioneer brand, Corteva's global flagship seed brand with an industry-leading, unique product portfolio and agencyroute-to-market approach.



The Enlist weed control system is a solid proof point of the Company's integrated portfolio. It delivers innovation in seed, chemistry formulations and stewardship, while providing much-needed solutions that address complex challenges such as insect resistance. "The launch of Conkesta E3 soybeans in Brazil is great news for Brazilian soybean growers," said Joseph Merschman, president of M.S. Technologies, L.L.C., which jointly developed and owns the product's transgenic event with Corteva Agriscience. "We are pleased that this new trait will also be out-licensed through numerous multipliers that are currently responsible for the majority of the soybean seeds sold in the Brazilian market," Merschman continued. "This will provide farmers with a range of germplasm options for this innovative trait."

About Corteva

Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) is a publicly traded, global pure-play agriculture company that provides farmers around the world with the most complete portfolio in the industry  including a balanced and diverse mix of seed, crop protection and digital solutions focused on maximizing productivity to enhance yield and profitability. With some of the most recognized brands in agriculture and an industry-leading product and technology pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the Company is committed to working with stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfils its promise to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. Corteva became an independent public company on June 1, 2019, and was previously the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont. More information can be found at www.corteva.com. Follow Corteva on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which may be identified by their use of words like "plans," "expects," "will," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "projects," "targets," "estimates" or other words of similar meaning. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about Corteva's strategy for growth, cash flow, product development, regulatory approval, market position, anticipated benefits of recent acquisitions, timing of anticipated benefits from restructuring actions, outcome of contingencies, such as litigation and environmental matters, expenditures, and financial results, as well as expected benefits from, the separation of Corteva from DowDuPont, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events which may not be accurate or realized. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Corteva's control. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on Corteva's business, results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, there may be other risks and uncertainties that Corteva is unable to currently identify or that Corteva does not currently expect to have a material impact on its business. Where, in any forward-looking statement, an expectation or belief as to future results or events is expressed, such expectation or belief is based on the current plans and expectations of Corteva's management and expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. Corteva disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law. A detailed discussion of some of the significant risks and uncertainties which may cause results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in Corteva's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Period Ended December 31, 2020 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The transgenic soybean event in Enlist E3 and Conkesta E3 soybeans is jointly developed and owned by Corteva Agriscience and M.S. Technologies L.L.C. The Enlist weed control system is owned and developed by Corteva Agriscience LLC. Enlist Duo and Enlist herbicides are not registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your area. Enlist Duo and Enlist are the only 2,4-D products authorized for use with Enlist crops. Consult Enlist herbicide labels for weed species controlled. Always read and follow label directions.   Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/corteva-agriscience-launches-conkesta-e3-soybeans-in-brazil-301361451.html SOURCE Corteva, Inc.

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[August 24, 2021] Empathy Partners with New York Life to Provide Logistical and Emotional Support for Families After the Loss of a Loved One

NEW YORK and TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Empathy , a platform helping families navigate the logistical and emotional journeys they face after losing a loved one, today announced a concept partnership with New York Life1, America's largest2 and most admired3 mutual life insurer. Empathy's user-friendly digital companion mobile app is now available to New York Life beneficiaries and supports the insurer's commitment to providing financial peace of mind as well as bereavement resources. The loss of a loved one often leaves families grieving and in distress, not just from the loss itself, but also from the logistical challenges that follow. In the weeks and months following a loss, these families spend over 500 hours, on average, dealing with immediate needs, like arranging a funeral and validating a will, as well as long-term processes such as account cancellations, estate administration, benefit claims, and property cleanout. Combining technology and human support, the Empathy app helps to simplify end-of-life bureaucracy, minimizes tedious tasks, and automates processes involved in the administration of an estate  freeing families to deal with emotional repercussions, and to be there for one another. Empathy also offers human support to provide users both emotional and practical assistance, creating a hybrid experience to help families navigate arrangements and grief. "This work with Empathy as a concept partner continues New York Life's long-standing tradition of innovatingon behalf of our policy owners and their loved ones," said Sean Madgett, head of business development for New York Life Ventures. "We strongly believe in the role that trusted human guidance, empowered by technology, plays in delivering long-term financial security and peace of mind. There is significant opportunity in embracing new technologies like Empathy that are designed to help families put their love into action."



"We are proud to partner with New York Life to support the company's beneficiaries in their times of need," said Ron Gura, CEO of Empathy. "Empathy's core mission is to protect families when navigating a loss and we are proud to bring a technological solution that supports them through every stage of the grieving process. There's no doubt that logistics are made hard by grief and grief is made harder by logistics. Technology can ease the burden." 1Empathy is not affiliated with New York Life.

2Based on revenue as reported by "Fortune 500 ranked within Industries, Insurance: Life, Health (Mutual)," Fortune magazine, 6/2/2021. For methodology, please see http://fortune.com/fortune500/. 3As reported by "Fortune 2021 World's Most Admired Companies ranking within Insurance (Life and Health)," Fortune magazine, 2/1/2021. For methodology, please see https://fortune.com/franchise-list-page/methodology-worlds-most-admired-companies-2021/.

About Empathy Empathy 's mission is to help families deal with loss, incorporating both emotional and logistical support for the families in their time of need. Powered by technology and driven by purpose, Empathy's application simplifies and streamlines end-of-life bureaucracy with personalized plans and grief support. Launched in 2021 and headquartered in New York and Tel Aviv, Empathy was founded by Ron Gura and Yonatan Bergman and is backed by VC firms General Catalyst and Aleph. To receive more information about Empathy's app, visit us at Empathy.com. Empathy Media Contact Garrett Krivicich

Headline Media

Garrett@headline.media

+1 786 233 7684 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/empathy-partners-with-new-york-life-to-provide-logistical-and-emotional-support-for-families-after-the-loss-of-a-loved-one-301361456.html SOURCE Empathy

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[August 24, 2021] Enigmai, Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Golden Star Enterprises Ltd., Reports on Product Roadmap and Market Needs

CLAYMONT, Delaware, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire  Golden Star Enterprises Ltd., (OTCPink: GSPT) provides an update on wholly-owned subsidiary, Enigmais, current plans to upgrade its Enigmai Business Suite (EBS) workforce management (WFM) software, including the addition of a mobile interface in the coming months. Enigmai, currently focused on development of a series of upgrades to its proprietary software, has determined to also add a mobile application to further enhance the software package. This decision was a direct result of feedback from current customers and potential customers that have reviewed the software suite and have been invited to provide invaluable product feedback. Many of those companies emphasized the benefit of a mobile application in order to enable them to better serve their employees and streamline management needs. After talking to many companies with different needs in the WFM world, we understood that there is a growing need for a mobile app as a valuable add-on to our existing upgrade plans. We have listened to current and future clients and will be developing this mobile app immediately upon completion of the client upgrades already in progress, said Ms. Muskal, VP of Strategy and Business Development. The new mobile app will be designed to help Enigmai meet the needs of a wider range of customers and greatly improve customer service. As of now, there are no release dates set for the launch of this additional improvement to our EBS suite. The development is expected to commence once the company has completed the firstphase client interface development which is currently ongoing.



Mr. Eliav Kling, CEO of GSPT, added, I am extremely excited that Enigmais enhanced product roadmap is being defined with input from current and future customers, and I am pleased with the teams decision to develop a mobile app as the next step in the EBS product development cycle. I am positive that the addition of the mobile app will continue to make our software offering extremely competitive in the marketplace and offer our sales team even more diverse customer enrollment opportunities. Golden Star will support funding this critical development. About Enigmai

Enigmai was founded in Israel in 2009. As an Israeli tech company, Enigmai developed a unique and advanced solution to address the challenges large contact centers face with workforce management. Our solution supports the entire workflow cycle, from managing shifts and employee breaks to forecasting every days HR needs. Our system offers numerous advantages like integration with other organization systems in use, real-time information update, easy access reports, and a web-based solution. Leading financial and insurance companies in Israel currently use our system, supporting the operation of hundreds of employees daily. Email: info@enigmai.com www.enigmai.com About Golden Star Enterprises Ltd. Golden Star Enterprises Ltd. (GSPT) is a publicly-traded holding and acquisition company interested in taking technology start-ups and growing them to the next level. We actively search for exceptional investment opportunities in the technology vertical. We leverage managements extensive experience in the marketplace and tech industry connections to create opportunities for companies in our portfolio. Email: info@goldenstarenterprisesltd.com www.goldenstarenterprisesltd.com This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current beliefs, expectations or intentions regarding future events. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Words such as "will," "will be," "anticipate," "predict," expect "continue," "future," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause views and expectations to change. The Company assumes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any intention or obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



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[August 24, 2021] Fast-Growing One Resource Group Gears Up for More Growth by Joining Integrity

DALLAS, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Integrity Marketing Group, LLC ("Integrity"), the nation's largest independent distributor of life and health insurance products, today announced it has acquired leading brokerage general agency ("BGA") One Resource Group ("ORG"), located in Roanoke, Indiana. As part of the transaction, Todd Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of ORG, will become a Managing Partner in Integrity. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "One Resource Group has been successful year after year by providing exceptional service to their agents and agencies," said Bryan W. Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrity Marketing Group. "By combining their vision with Integrity's commitment to innovation, ORG now becomes part of an industry transformation. The energetic and magnetic culture Todd and his team have cultivated makes them an ideal fit for the team Integrity is building. It's an honor to welcome One Resource Group and we look forward to seeing them reach even greater heights alongside Integrity." Todd Stewart founded One Resource Group in 2002 to provide a world-class experience for agents and advisors nationwide. Today, ORG is one of the country's fastest growing BGAs with a team that is united in vision and passionate about providing exceptional service. The company fulfills service requirements for life insurance, long-term care, disability, critical illness and annuities through more than 80,000 agents across the country. In 2020, ORG placed more than $240 million in annual paid premium. "Building a great team is my passion. I built this company from scratch and have been honored to see it become a thriving business with a remarkable culture," said Todd Stewart, CEO of ORG. "However, when I understood what Integrity was building, it was clear that ORG needed to be part of that team. We've laid the foundation to build something even more special together and this is the start of an exciting new chapter. As an Integrity partner, we're ready to take a giant leap forward and the future of ORG has never been brighter." ORG joins Integrity's powerful network of industry legends and trailblazers, who are creating a new model of industry collaboration by sharing best practices and solutions. These partners include CSG Actuarial, ThomasARTS, Deft Research, Access Capital, Brokers International and Insurance Administrative Solutions ' third-party administrator, as well as leading call centers Connexion Point, SeniorCare Benefits and Unified Health.



The Integrity platform offers ORG cutting-edge technology and resources to advance its growth goals. These tools include proprietary quoting and enrollment tools, product development, data and analytics and a world-class advertising and marketing firm. ORG can also centralize business functions through Integrity's shared services, which include IT, human resources, legal, compliance and accounting. In addition, One Resource Group can now offer its employees meaningful company ownership through the Integrity Employee Ownership Plan.

"Today more than ever, Americans need innovative solutions that truly protect their health and wealth," said Steve Young, Integrity's Chairman of the Board. "Integrity's technology is improving the insurance experience across all fronts, which means ORG can reach more Americans more efficiently and ensure that clients feel confident in their insurance choices. Our partnership with ORG will help us fulfill our mission even faster and we can't wait to see what we'll do together." For more information about ORG's partnership with Integrity, view a video at www.integritymarketing.com/OneResourceGroup. About Integrity Marketing Group

Integrity Marketing Group, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is the leading independent distributor of life and health insurance products focused on meeting Americans wherever they are  in person, over the phone and online. Integrity is innovating insurance by developing cutting-edge technology designed to simplify and streamline the healthcare experience for everyone. In addition, Integrity develops exclusive products with insurance carrier partners and markets these products through its distribution network that includes other large insurance agencies throughout the country. Integrity's almost 5,500 employees work with over 375,000 independent agents who service more than nine million clients annually. In 2021, Integrity expects to help insurance carriers place over $7 billion in new sales. For more information, visit www.integritymarketing.com. About One Resource Group

One Resource Group, headquartered in Roanoke, Indiana, is one of the most prominent brokerage general agencies in the fully underwritten and advanced planning markets. With a team of highly skilled and motivated specialists, ORG is one of the fastest growing BGAs in the country and continues to make the brokerage experience better for agents and advisors. ORG offers a vast range of insurance products in the life insurance, annuity, disability income and long-term care space. With their state-of-the-art technology, experienced case design, case management, advanced markets and experienced underwriting, ORG continues to be a leader in the industry. Over almost 20 years, ORG has served more than 190,000 families through their network of over 80,000 agents. For more information, visit www.orgcorp.com . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fast-growing-one-resource-group-gears-up-for-more-growth-by-joining-integrity-301361597.html SOURCE Integrity Marketing Group, LLC

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[August 24, 2021] Former Qualcomm Executive, Jim Tran, Joins TDK as CEO, TDK U.S.A. Corporation

TDK Corporation (TSE:6762) announced today the appointment of Mr. Jim Tran to General Manager, Americas HQ and CEO TDK U.S.A. Corporation, effective immediately. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005218/en/ Jim Tran, General Manager, Americas HQ and CEO TDK U.S.A. Corporation (Photo: Business Wire) Mr. Tran is an experienced executive in the wireless communications industry, starting with 2G and throughout the transition to 5G, and has served in various leadership roles ranging from general management to product management to engineering management and design. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Handset Products Business at Qualcomm, responsible for Snapdragon chipset and software portfolio. Previously, Mr. Tran was Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's (News - Alert) Mobile Communication Business Unit from 2006-2011, and prior to that, Senior Director of Product Management for RF and Analog products at Qualcomm. Earlier in his career, Jim took on engineering and management roles at Sony Corporation and Boeing (News - Alert) . In his new role at TDK, Jim will focus on corporate technology marketing in conjunction with research and development by collaborating with TDK's global HQ's functions such as the corporate technology group, corporate marketing group, and new business incubation teams Jim will also serve as a Chief Marketing Team Member in the Sensor System Business Company.



"As TDK continues to make solid progress in its role in the digital and energy transformation of multiple industries, we are always on the lookout for top tier talent with system and ecosystem knowledge," said Shigenao Ishiguro, Chief Executive Officer of TDK Corporation. "Jim further strengthens our America's team, and will make significant contributions to our global sensor system marketing efforts." "We are very pleased to have Jim as a key member of our global sensor marketing effort, as semiconductor sensors are becoming an even more essential part of everyday products," said Noburo Saito, CEO of TDK Sensor System Business Company.

"TDK has a long and successful track record in connecting material science to products that are relevant to customers and to society as a whole," said Jim Tran. "It is an honor, and indeed very exciting, to join such an esteemed organization at a time when deep tech is in high demand for enabling the next generation of communication, computation, and AI." Mr. Tran will be based on the west coast and supported by Jeffrey Williams, who will remain as TDK U.S.A. Corporation (TUC) President and DGM of the Americas HQ, responsible for TUC's administrative functions. For more information, visit https://www.us.tdk.com/ or https://invensense.tdk.com/. About TDK Corporation TDK Corporation is a world leader in electronic solutions for the smart society based in Tokyo, Japan. Built on a foundation of material sciences mastery, TDK welcomes societal transformation by resolutely remaining at the forefront of technological evolution and deliberately "Attracting Tomorrow." It was established in 1935 to commercialize ferrite, a key material in electronic and magnetic products. TDK's comprehensive, innovation-driven portfolio features passive components such as ceramic, aluminum electrolytic and film capacitors, as well as magnetics, high-frequency, and piezo and protection devices. The product spectrum also includes sensors and sensor systems such as temperature and pressure, magnetic, and MEMS sensors. In addition, TDK provides power supplies and energy devices, magnetic heads and more. These products are marketed under the product brands TDK, EPCOS, InvenSense, Micronas, Tronics and TDK-Lambda. TDK focuses on demanding markets in automotive, industrial and consumer electronics, and information and communication technology. The company has a network of design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America. In fiscal 2021, TDK posted total sales of USD 13.3 billion and employed about 129,000 people worldwide. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005218/en/

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[August 24, 2021] From Man's Best Friend to Budget Buster: Pet Parents Seek Support as They Prepare for a Return to In-person Work

As millions of employees across the U.S. anticipate a potential return to in-person work, those who are pet parents-including many who participated in the more than 2 million adoptions of dogs and cats from shelters last year2-have some additional concerns beyond missing their favorite furry colleague. According to MetLife Pet Insurance's new Pet Parent Pulse (News - Alert) Survey, three in four (74 percent) working pet parents are thinking about pet care costs during this transition, while nearly all (95 percent) anticipate that a transition back to the office will cause a change in their pet's routine, or otherwise impact their pet's overall health. The survey found working pet parents are concerned about the expenses associated with their pet's health care should something go wrong (40 percent) and the cost to prepare their pet for this transition (34 percent). Younger workers are particularly worried about this-with 85 percent of Gen Z and 76 percent of millennial respondents, respectively, having some level of concern over these potential expenses (compared to 37 percent of baby boomers). "In one way or another, all employees will likely experience either personal or professional adjustments once they enter this next phase of work-but for those who are pet parents, these considerations don't end with employees and their human families," said Katie Blakeley, vice president and head of MetLife Pet Insurance. "For employees with pets, pet care and overall pet health are often top-of-mind and employers need to consider this as they reimagine the workplace experience." Working pet parents share pet-related anxieties about return-to-office Employees are anticipating that when they return to in-person work, their furry loved ones may feel an impact, including disrupting their routine (26 percent), making them anxious (24 percent) or stressed (24 percent), causing them to act out (24 percent), or disrupting their eating routine (23 percent). To combat these potential issues, 38 percent of working pet parents are planning to invest in additional support (e.g., a pet sitter, pet daycare), 29 percent are planning to adjust their work hours and one in four (23 percent) are planning to take a pay cut to work remotely and care for their pet. One in five (20 percent), meanwhile, are considering bringing their pet back to the shelter or finding it a new home entirely. The case for rethinking employer-offered pet benefits According to MetLife Pet Insurance's survey, inadequate pet benefits are also a leading reason that working pet parents want to change jobs in today's environment. In fact, more than two-thirds (67 percent) are actively searching or considering changing jobs, with more than half (51 percent) saying their current employer does not offer adequate pet benefits and it has an impact on their decision. With working pet parents feeling increasingly stressed over the impact that eventually returning to in-person work could have on their pets, employers should consider bolstering their pet-related offerings-particularly as seven in 10 employees (71 percent) either want or expect their employer to offer resources to help address this transition and three in 10 (29percent) don't believe their employer will actually do so. Specifically, respondents to MetLife Pet Insurance's survey ranked pet insurance (51 percent) and flexible work hours (45 percent) among the top benefits that would have the greatest impact of their decision to take a new job.



"When considering benefits to help attract and retain employees, employers should keep in mind that many of today's employees are pet parents with financial apprehensions around the impact this eventual transition will have on their pets' well-being," said Blakeley. "In the end, offering comprehensive benefits that meet all employees' needs is a surefire way to maintain an engaged, productive, and happy workforce." To help employees and employers work through the return to office, MetLife Pet Insurance created "A Return to Office Guide for Pet Paw-Rents" and "An Employers Guide for Welcoming Pet Owners Back to the Office" available now for anyone to download.

Research Methodology

On behalf of MetLife, CITE Research (www.citeresearch.com) conducted an online survey among 1,000 U.S. adult employees who are dog/cat parents in June 2021. Respondents were screened to be between 18-62 years of age; a full-time employee; own cats, dogs or both; and have worked remotely at least part of the pandemic (but not permanently). About CITE Research

CITE Research Inc. is a tactical global market research firm specializing in quantitative and qualitative market research. We empower our clients with dynamic research targeting the platforms that matter most for brands on a global scale. A strategic partner to Fortune 500, non-profits and start-ups, our research solutions help companies reach and engage consumers, influencers, customers, analysts, and media. For more information, please call 646-206-9017 or visit www.citeresearch.com. About MetLife

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("MetLife"), is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com. About MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions, LLC

Pet Insurance offered by MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC is underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company ("IAIC"), a Delaware insurance company, headquartered at 485 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10022, and Metropolitan General Insurance Company ("MetGen"), a Rhode Island insurance company, headquartered at 700 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886, in those states where MetGen's policies are available. Application is subject to underwriting review and approval. Like most insurance policies, insurance policies issued by IAIC and MetGen contain certain deductibles, co-insurance, exclusions, exceptions, reductions, limitations, and terms for keeping them in force. For costs, complete details of coverage and exclusions, and a listing of approved states, please contact MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC. MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC is the policy administrator authorized by IAIC and MetGen to offer and administer pet insurance policies. MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC was previously known as PetFirst Healthcare, LLC and in some states continues to operate under that name pending approval of its application for a name change. The entity may operate under an alternate, assumed, and/or fictitious name in certain jurisdictions as approved, including MetLife Pet Insurance Services LLC (New York and Minnesota), MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions Agency LLC (Illinois), and such other alternate, assumed, or fictitious names approved by certain jurisdictions.), and such other alternate, assumed, or fictitious names approved by certain jurisdictions. 1 MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions, LLC, a MetLife company

2 Shelter Animals Count, Data Dashboards, 2020 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005241/en/

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[August 24, 2021] International Guests Participate in China-SCO Forum, Smart China Expo 2021 Held in Chongqing

CHONGQING, China, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- iChongqing- The ChinaShanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on the Digital Economy Industry and the Smart China Expo 2021 (SCE 2021) opened in Chongqing on August 23th. The opening ceremony and main forum were held together with an offline exhibition, while an online exhibition opened the SCE official website. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the China-SCO forum on digital economy and 2021 Smart China Expo, which take place from August 23-25 as a mutual platform to share resources, planning and integration in the smart industry. Themed with Developing the Digital Economy and Promoting Common Prosperity, the China-SCO Forum also features signing ceremonies for cooperation projects, sub-forums, and themed exhibitions attended by all 18 SCO countries including China. SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Imamovich Norov stated that the development experience of China in the digital economy and cross-border e-commerce has provided an invaluable model for SCO countries to follow. Nikolai Snopkov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus addressed the opening ceremony to emphasize his conviction that the 2021 China-SCO Forum will explore new opportunities for regional cooperation. The Turing Award Winner John Hennessy rounded off a successful grand opening by stating the SCE 2021 will lead us unto a new frontier. ince the outbreak of COVID-19, the digital economy has played an ever important role in prevention and control whilst promoting economic and social recovery. As a result, the switch to digital technology has become an urgent goal, and Chongqing has continued to make rapid progress in this field.



Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Singapore, addressed the audience at the opening ceremony online. She emphasized that technology is one of the four pillar sectors in the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative, and a key driver in modern connectivity and services. Under this context, the 2021 China-SCO forum aims to construct a broader platform for strengthening exchange and cooperation between Chongqing and SCO countries, especially in frontier areas such as the digital economy and artificial intelligence.

The SCE 2021 is continuing on the established theme of Smart Technology: Empowering the Economy and Enriching Life, and holds 6 forums, 5 competitions, over 100 release events, and is attended by over 610 enterprises from 31 countries both on and offline. In-depth cooperation and exchange is to be held on the theme of economics and trade involving countries and top enterprises along the Belt and Road, while international organizations, sister cities, and industry leaders will actively participate. Additionally, the event is an ideal platform to present the latest advances in technology and products in the smart industry, thanks a physical exhibition area of 70,000 square meters. The online exhibition platform features a digital sand table model that guides visitors through a series of immersive and scenario-based experiences, which present the impressive feats achieved in the development of smart technology. For more information please visit: https://www.ichongqing.info/special/smart-china-expo-2021/, and https://www.ichongqing.info/special/2021sco/ Contact: Cao Xiangyi

Tel.: 0086-1862-3565-606

E-mail: caoxy@ichongqing.inf Logo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1599889/SCO_Logo.jpg Photo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1599890/sco_forum.jpg

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[August 24, 2021] IoT Marketing Opens Submissions for 2021 Industry Insights IoT Awards

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- After the success of its inaugural awards event last year, IoT Marketing's Industry Insights Webinars will be hosting the second annual 2021 Industry Insights IoT Awards on December 16, 2021, and is now accepting award submissions. The Industry Insights IoT Awards recognizes the ecosystem professionals, connected solutions providers, and high-tech leaders driving innovation and digital transformation, through the use of IoT. The award submissions deadline is on October 1, 2021. "Last year, IoT Marketing created the Industry Insihts IoT Awards to honor the commitment and resilience of businesses and leaders in the IoT ecosystem. It was also heartwarming to see the outpouring of support that our award winners received from the Industry Insights Webinars community," said Tiffani Neilson, Chief Marketing Officer of IoT Marketing and Host of Industry Insights Webinars. "We are so thrilled to bring the Industry Insights IoT Awards back for the second year in a row and look forward to acknowledging the best technologies, companies, and individuals in IoT."



The categories for this year's program include: IoT Product of the Year

Best IoT Security Solution

Best Asset Tracking Solution

Space Tech Solution of the Year

Tech for Good Award

Greenest IoT Solution

Digital Transformation Innovator of the Year

IoT Systems Integrator of the Year

IoT Thought Leader of the Year

IoT Executive of the Year A panel of IoT industry judges will narrow down the finalists for each category, and the winners will be chosen after a public vote. Finalists will be announced on October 12, 2021, and voting will remain open until December 10, 2021.

Award winners will receive the following prizes: An IoT and cloud consulting package, including promotional credits, to run systems on Amazon Web Services, from SourceLogix . This includes architecture sessions, promotional credits to run systems on AWS, and training. For qualifying businesses, some restrictions apply.

. This includes architecture sessions, promotional credits to run systems on AWS, and training. For qualifying businesses, some restrictions apply. A media-style interview with Industry Insights Webinars

Digital award ribbon and certificate

Recognition during the live event The winners of this year's Industry Insights IoT Awards will be announced during a live online awards ceremony, part of the Industry Insights Webinars series, on December 16, 2021. The event will be hosted by Tiffani Neilson and BH IoT Group Partner Steve Brumer . The Industry Insights Webinars series brings together thought leaders, experts, and business professionals for a panel-style discussion with Q&A. After just over a year since its initial launch, the series has already garnered an average of over 1,300 live viewers. For full details on award submissions for the 2021 Industry Insights Awards, please visit IoTMktg.com/2nd-Annual-Industry-Insights-IoT-Awards . About Industry Insights Webinars Powered by IoT Marketing, Industry Insights Webinars is a virtual community of thought leaders, industry experts, business professionals, and solution providers, who share their knowledge and expertise about the Internet of Things through webinars. The monthly series educates those in need of connected solutions and aligns them with relevant information and suggestions from IoT and technology ecosystem partners. For more information, please visit IoTMktg.com/Webinars . Media Contact Rose Begonia

316959@email4pr.com

(614) 695-1403 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iot-marketing-opens-submissions-for-2021-industry-insights-iot-awards-301361308.html SOURCE IoT Marketing

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[August 24, 2021] Launching of the 2021 Cloud Travel EXPO - Taitung Taiwan: County Deputy Magistrate Wang Chih hui Will Be a Slash Streamer to Market Taitung

HONG KONG, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Taitung County Government will promote tourism in Taitung through the first on-line travel expo anywhere in Taiwan. The "2021 Cloud Travel EXPO?Taitung Taiwan" will be held from August 24 to August 27. This includes an online conference and two sessions of a Live Mall. Taitung County Deputy Magistrate Wang Chih hui will also join the expo as a slash streamer with foreign influencers to market Taitung during the event. The "2021 Cloud Travel EXPO?Taitung Taiwan" started today (8/24). Nearly 20 local Taitung suppliers, including providers of souvenirs, hotels, hostels, the arts, and handicrafts will introduce their own products online. Travel service providers from Singapore and Malaysia will also view the stream of Taitung suppliers with buyers. The wide array of tourist attractions, agricultural, and special products, as well as cultural aspects of Taitung, will be promoted internationally by pairing people up in real-time through streaming. For the Live Mall event starting tomorrow (8/25), there will be two sessions held daily. Nearly 20 Taitung local suppliers and foreign treamers, as well as travel experts, will cooperate to promote the tourism industry in Taitung on a streaming platform. Ken, a renowned film director in Singapore, was especially invited to host the Live Mall. Celebrities are invited to be guests on August 25 to August 27 to tell us how Taitung is special from a Singaporean perspective.



On the third day (8/26) of the Live Mall, Taitung County Deputy Magistrate Wang Chih hui will join the event as a streamer and talk with Bom. Bom is the bassist of a world-renowned rock band that is known as the "Thai Mayday". He's been invited to promote tourism in Taitung. Bom is a Thai royal who has 2 million fans following him. The publicity of Taitung overseas will significantly increase once he gets online and recommends the event's stream. The cloud travel expo has various sweepstakes to attract foreign travelers. People who participate in the online Live Mall will have a chance to win a voucher for a hot air balloon trip with no expiration date. Foreign tourists can save the voucher for their next trip to Taitung.

The Taitung County Government organized the unprecedented cloud travel expo which will allow foreign travelers to experience Taitung during the pandemic. Foreign travelers will be able to purchase agricultural and cultural products throughout this event. The EXPO was well received on the opening day. On-line travelers can also explore Taitung on the new official website. The Taitung County Government encourages travelers to download the "Taitung Travel" App to enjoy 360 immersion technology. Travelers can enjoy a novel way to explore Taitung. Furthermore, an interactive online hot air balloon game is available. Travelers can also participate in sweepstakes if they pass the challenge. People who are interested in the event are welcome to visit the official website and experience innovative cloud travel expo services. Information related to the event: Cloud Travel Expo/ Live Mall

8/25 (Wednesday) - 8/27 (Friday) One session at 13:00 and 19:00 every day. Online Conference

8/24 (Tuesday) 13:00-16:00 Apply for Press Conference/Online Conference: https://forms.gle/ysvjPyQ83meMpV9J6 Please refer to the official website for more information: https://taitungtravelfair.com/ Campaign video of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vNhk4IlysM Taitung Start-Scenes & Food & Play: https://youtu.be/glxL8JIlL4s The Taitung County Government Website: https://www.taitung.gov.tw/en/Default.aspx SOURCE The Taitung County Government

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[August 24, 2021] Massachusetts Health Centers Surpass One Million Telehealth Visits

The Massachusetts FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Center) Telehealth Consortium today announced that its 35 community health center members have conducted more than one million telemedicine visits since the start of the pandemic in March of 2020. This achievement comes at the same time the Consortium has passed the halfway mark of its Phase II $12 million fundraising goal - thanks to a major grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation - to attain sustainable telehealth capacity at health centers and address health disparities in the communities served by them. Consortium data measuring telehealth use between May 2020 and May 2021 show that telemedicine visits have provided safe and convenient access to primary care for communities of color, which have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Of the 767, 234 Massachusetts health center patients who accessed primary care via telemedicine visits during that year-long period, more than 52% were white, nearly 21% were Black/African American, more than 6% identified as more than one race, more than 5% were Asian/Pacific Islander, and 1% were Native American. Of those identified by ethnicity, nearly 31% were Latinx/Hispanic. According to the data, the same held true for behavioral health care services. Of the total number of patients taking part in behavioral health telehealth visits during the same one-year period, nearly 56% were white, more than 23% were Black/African American, more than 5% were of more than one race, 4.65% were Asian/Pacific islander, and less than 1% were Native American. By ethnicity, 31% again identified as Latinx/Hispanic. "While telehealth played an essential role in maintaining continuity of care throughout the pandemic, our health centers see its continued popularity among low-income communities and communities of color, even as in-person visits are now available," said Christina Severin, President and CEO of C3 (News - Alert) . "As we pass one million telemedicine visits, the numbers validate what we've seen: telehealth provides opportunities for increased access to care and diminishes health inequities faced by Medicaid patients as a result of institutionalized racism in our health care system. We thank our donors who are supporting our efforts in addressing this injustice." Phase II of the Consortium's campaign is focused on ensuring that FQHCs have what they need to fully develop, deploy, sustain, and integrate telehealth modalities into primary and behavioral care, while also addressing the digital divide in their communities. This includes providing better access to broadband and reote patient monitoring equipment, increased digital literacy training, peer learning, outreach in communities that health centers serve, and online dissemination of best practices.



"The digital divide disparately impacts poor communities and communities of color," said Michael Curry, President & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. "Access to broadband and other technology is a social determinant of health that must be prioritized in order to avoid the deepening of existing racial health inequities. We will work to focus policymakers on this emerging issue and champion solutions to meet this basic need for everyone who lives in the Commonwealth - and beyond." Phase II of the campaign launched in the fall of 2020 with a, $1,040,000 from an anonymous donor to create skilled bandwidth at nine pilot sites required to integrate advanced, durable, and mature telehealth capabilities into member FQHCs. Another $3.1 million grant awarded by the FCC (News - Alert) in January as part of the FCC Connected Care Pilot Program is providing equipment and hot spots for patient broadband access. The grant announced today from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation ($878,000) is designed to increase the number of patients with controlled hypertension, particularly for African American/Black patients, and to test the additional value of Telehealth Navigators and clinical intervention over federal funding of Remote Patient Monitoring.

The Consortium is a partnership of Community Care Cooperative (C3), the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) that advances community-based care for MassHealth members, and the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, the state-based association of health centers. Community Care Cooperative (C3) is a 501(c)(3) Accountable Care Organization (ACO) that leverages the proven best practices of ACOs throughout the country and is the only ACO in Massachusetts founded and governed by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and exclusively focused on advancing integrated and coordinated community-based care for MassHealth members. C3 works with its 18 member FQHCs to strengthen health centers across the state, and continued growth enables C3 to better serve MassHealth members across the Commonwealth. To view a list of C3 health centers, click here. The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (the League) is a 501(c)(3) membership organization supporting and representing the Commonwealth's 52 community health centers, which offer primary and preventive care to more than one million residents. The League serves as an information resource on community-based primary care to policymakers, opinion leaders, and the media. It provides a wide range of technical assistance to its health center members, including advocacy on health policy issues, support for workforce development, clinical care and technology initiatives, and guidance to state leaders and community-based organizations seeking to open health centers. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation fosters path-breaking scientific discovery, environmental conservation, patient care improvements and preservation of the special character of the Bay Area. Visit Moore.org or follow @MooreFound. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005509/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Nextech AR Selected By Google As An Early Access Partner for It's 3D AR Search Program

Nextech AR Solutions Corp. ("Nextech" or the "Company") (OTCQB: NEXCF) (NEO: NTAR) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: N29), a diversified leading provider of augmented reality ("AR") experience technologies and services is proud to announce that they are an early access partner for the Google (News - Alert) 3D AR Search Program. With this, Nextech AR will grant exclusive early access of the 3D search program to its current Threedy.ai customers, which include some of the world's largest furniture retailers - Kohl's, Pier 1, Lighting Plus and Kmart Australia. With Nextech 3D generated models showing up in Google's 3D AR Search Program, brands can now expect to see their products as organic search results on Google. For more background and information on Google's 3D/AR Search initiative, please click here. Threedy.ai is a scalable 3D model creation platform powered by artificial intelligence, where customers can build their 3D product catalog and build immersive customer journeys. 3D models are created from 2D photos through Nextech AR's proprietary AI technology and hosted on the cloud. Threedy.ai has built a disruptive end-to-end solution which syndicates and scales thousands of 3D visualizations to Google Search, Google Ad Network and Web AR for Ecommerce. "3D is becoming an integral part of the online customer journey. 3D/AR experiences are now powering search and discovery, and immersive shopping experiences like virtual try-ons for fashion. 'See it in Your Space' with AR for home furnishing are taking product engagement to the next level. Threedy.ai is an essential 3D creation platform that automates and scales 3D asset creation. Working with Nextech AR customers, we will be able to build a significant catalog of 3D products that will be indexed for Google Search, and will power our own WebAR/3D and Ad Networks," says Nima Sarshar CTO of Visual Computing & AI. Google has been committed to making 3D/AR an integral part of search and shopping experiences. For certain innovative brands, including those powered by Nextech AR, anyone can now place 3D digital objects right in their own space directly from mobile Google search results. According to Internet Live Stats, Google now processes over 3.5 billion searches per day and 1.2 trillion searches per year worldwide. With more than 90 percent market share as of June 2021 (Statistica), Google has dominated the search engine market.



"Nextech AR is building solutions that connect our customers to billions of people around the world through our AI technology and special partnerships with Google. We are thrilled to work with innovative brands who are focused on digital transformation of their e-Commerce business with AR shopping. The building blocks for mass adoption of Augmented Reality are taking place," says Evan Gappleberg, CEO Nextech AR To learn more, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit our website: https://www.Nextechar.com.

About Nextech AR Nextech develops and operates augmented reality ("AR") platforms that transports three-dimensional ("3D") product visualizations, human holograms and 360 portals to its audiences altering e-commerce, digital advertising, hybrid virtual events (events held in a digital format blended with in-person attendance) and learning and training experiences. Nextech focuses on developing AR solutions however most of the Company's revenues are derived from three e-Commerce platforms: vacuumcleanermarket.com ("VCM"), infinitepetlife.com ("IPL") and Trulyfesupplements.com ("TruLyfe"). VCM and product sales of residential vacuums, supplies and parts, and small home appliances sold on Amazon. Forward-looking Statements The CSE and the NEO have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Nextech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005291/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Nokia makes scholarships pledge to improve representation of underrepresented communities in technology

Press Release Nokia makes scholarships pledge to improve representation of underrepresented communities in technology Nokia collaborates with online learning platform Udacity and Blacks In Technology Foundation.

Over 300 scholarships on offer for Nanodegree programs, which are fully online and can be completed alongside further studies or full-time work.

The programs cover a broad range of core tech competencies, from cloud computing and programming to artificial intelligence and data science, available from elementary to advanced levels.



24 August 2021 Espoo, Finland  Nokia has today announced the launch of a scholarship program aimed at providing greater opportunities for underrepresented communities in the technology industry. Working together with online learning and talent transformation platform Udacity and Blacks In Technology (BIT) Foundation, Nokia will offer over 300 scholarships, with a focus on empowering students and career changers from underrepresented communities.

The fully funded scholarships cover a range of core tech competencies, from cloud computing and programming to artificial intelligence and data science, and are available from introductory to advanced levels. The successful candidates will be able to select courses on topics such as AI Programming with Python, Java Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms, Intermediate Python, and Cloud DevOps Engineering. The courses will be provided by Udacity, whose Nanodegree programs are fully online and designed to be completed alongside further studies or full-time work, making them accessible to anyone regardless of their position or profession. Scholarships are open to applicants based anywhere in the world, to both students and industry professionals who wish to further develop their technology skills. Scholarship recipients will also have access to support and networking provided by the BIT Foundation, including mentorship, tutoring, and post-completion career support resources. Nokia will also work closely with its African-American employee resource group ABLE (Advancing Black Leadership and Excellence) to further promote the initiative. We are committed to creating technology that helps the world act together, but to do so, the technology industry must reflect the world around us, said Karoliina Lokkanen, Global Head of Sustainability at Nokia. This initiative further expands our activities to drive greater inclusion and diversity through concrete actions that provide opportunities to underrepresented communities and individuals, irrespective of background or ethnicity. Education forms a key part of this. Diverse businesses are shown to perform better, and we intend to encourage students who successfully complete one of the programs to apply for positions within Nokia.



Education is one of the most important ways for us to help remove the barriers to diversity in tech. By providing access to resources that are designed to nurture and develop peoples skills, we can help get more Black talent into the technology space, said Dennis Schultz, Executive Director at the BIT Foundation. We are pleased to see major industry players like Nokia stepping up to the plate with Udacity and addressing the issue head-on in order to drive forward digital transformation and improve much-needed Black representation in tech. We have joined forces with Nokia and Blacks In Technology Foundation because we believe that it is vital to continue to create opportunities for underrepresented groups to build careers in the field of technology, said Gabe Dalporto, CEO at Udacity. Democratizing access to digital skills training will create life-changing opportunities for people, and these scholarships will ensure we continue to take measurable steps to increase the participation of Black people in the technology sector.

Applications are now open. For more information about the scholarship program and how to enter, visit: https://www.nokia.com/about-us/sustainability/improving-lives/tech-and-underrepresented-communities/ About Nokia

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a trusted partner for critical networks, we are committed to innovation and technology leadership across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. We create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities needed for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world. Media Inquiries:

Nokia

Communications

Phone: +358 10 448 4900

Email: press.services@nokia.com About Udacity Udacity is a global, online training platform powering digital transformation and accelerated time-to-market initiatives for Fortune 500 and Global 2000 enterprises. Udacity programmes provide industry-created practitioner skills through a series of Nanodegree programmes consisting of online courses and real-world projects in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, autonomous systems, and cloud computing, among other disciplines. Udacity collaborates with expert instructors and over 200 global industry partners including AT&T, Google, Facebook, Mercedes-Benz, and NVIDIA to power technical education. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., the private company has operations in the United Kingdom, Egypt, Germany, India, and the United Arab Emirates. For more information, please visit www.udacity.com About the Blacks in Technology Foundation Founded in 2008 and established in 2012, Blacks In Technology LLC is the largest community and media organization that focuses on people of African descent in the technology industry. Through community-focused activities, events and outreach, The Blacks In Technology (BIT) Foundation is Stomping the Divide by establishing a blueprint of world-class technical excellence and innovation by providing resources, guidance, networking, and opportunities for members to share their expertise and advance their careers.



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[August 24, 2021] NoRedInk Raises $50M to Help All Students Harness the Power of the Written Word

NoRedInk, whose highly engaging digital writing curriculum is used in over 60% of US school districts, has raised a $50 million Series B round, led by Susquehanna Growth Equity and with participation from True Ventures. Schools are increasingly turning to digital tools to help them address their biggest challenges, and nowhere is the need for support more glaring than in students' writing. According to the US Department of Education's National Assessment of Educational Progress, about 75% of students in 8th and 12th grade are below "proficient" in writing, and writing has been the lowest-performing section on both the ACT and SAT since the section was introduced in 2006. Having graded over 15,000 papers, Jeff Scheur, NoRedInk's founder and CEO, created the site while teaching high school English in Chicago. The program's adaptive curriculum personalizes writing exercises to each student's interests, guides them through the writing process with instructional support, and boosts their skills through targeted practice. To date, students have completed over 10 billion writing exercises on NoRedInk's platform. "School districts are abandoning the big publishers in droves and flocking to digital tools that have proven they can actually help kids learn," said Josh Elser, Managing Director at Susquehanna Growth Equity. "NoRedInk has earned tremendous loyalty from K-12 schools and districts nationwide and teachers adore the product because it helps them teach more effectively." NoRedInk already has a presence in 88% of the top 1,000 school districts. Students delight in seeing their favorite books, movies, musicians, athletes, and personal heroes in exercises, and thecompany's technology focuses on getting students writing more frequently and building their confidence as they improve their skills.



"We love how NoRedInk's curriculum scaffolds the writing process for students across our district," said Dr. Anita de la Isla, Director of Language and Literacy at Coppell Independent School District in Texas. "If kids get stuck while working on an essay, the program gives them immediate lessons and examples to help them work through it. We've also seen that when curriculum focuses learners on what they know and are passionate about, students' engagement increases and their writing improves." NoRedInk has a free, limited version for teachers to try, and thousands of schools request upgrades to the paid version every month. The complete adaptive writing curriculum offers schools standards-aligned support across a wide array of genres, breaking down over 1,000 grammar and writing skills with unlimited practice, immediate feedback, guided revision tools, and customizable assessments. The paid version also integrates with popular learning management systems and allows administrators to track progress at the school and district level.

"Most school districts really want to prioritize writing instruction, and they need assistance putting that into practice," said Scheur. "Teaching this generation of students to develop and express their ideas gives them a voice, and it allows our society to communicate much more effectively." The company chose Susquehanna as a partner because of its philosophy of patient capital and its excellent track record supporting founder-led businesses. NoRedInk is already profitable and will use the additional funding to improve its product and bring it to more schools. About NoRedInk: NoRedInk helps students in over 60% of US school districts become better writers. The company's adaptive writing curriculum engages students with exercises based on their interests, guides them through the writing process with instructional support, and boosts their skills through targeted practice. Learners have completed over 10 billion exercises on the site, and NoRedInk's mission is to help all students harness the power of the written word. About Susquehanna Growth Equity: Susquehanna Growth Equity, LLC (SGE) is an entrepreneur-centric growth equity fund with flexible capital and time horizons. SGE is exclusively focused on growth stage internet, software, and information services companies. The firm has invested over $2.5B in 70+ market-leading technology companies such as Credit Karma, HighRadius, iCIMS, and Payoneer over the last 15 years, and has portfolio companies across the US, Canada, EU, and Israel. SGE is backed by a unique and patient source of capital, which enables the firm to give entrepreneurs and management teams freedom and flexibility to maximize growth. To learn more, visit www.sgep.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005630/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Okcoin Opens Miami Office, Becomes First-Ever Crypto Sponsor of Florida's Largest Hackathon

MIAMI, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Okcoin , one of the world's largest and fastest-growing cryptocurrency platforms, today announced the opening of its Miami office along with plans to support the city's burgeoning technology community, beginning with the inaugural cryptocurrency sponsorship of ShellHacks, Florida's largest annual hackathon. The Okcoin team, which has tripled in the last year, will be hiring for 100 additional roles and developing an internship program for Miami-based and remote candidates across all departments. The company's new Miami office will also provide a proximate location for Okcoin to service its growing customer base in Latin America and beyond. "The City of Miami is delighted to welcome a world-class company like Okcoin, whose dedication to financial inclusivity strongly aligns with our city's cosmopolitan culture," said Miami Mayor Frances Suarez. "We are excited about Okcoin's commitment to local talent and the innovation ecosystem, and their active corporate presence will help us open more financial and professional doors for our residents." "Our new Miami location is a strategic expansion that enables us to meet the rapid increase in Latin American cryptocurrency adoption while also complementing Mayor Suarez's commitment to making the city a hub for technology development," said Hong Fang, CEO of Okcoin. "We're pleased to be a part of Miami's vibrant and growing cryptocurrency community, and look forward to contributing to it with new jobs, support for local tech events, and more." As an effort to further support the city's cryptoand tech community, Okcoin has signed on as the first-ever cryptocurrency sponsor of Florida's largest hackathon, ShellHacks, taking place September 24-26. Hosted by a technology-focused student organization at Florida International University (FIU), ShellHacks brings together over 1,000 software programmers annually, with hackathon participants often recruited by the world's biggest tech companies. Okcoin's sponsorship includes a ShellHacks challenge focused on the Lightning Network  a software that enables efficient bitcoin transactions  with a workshop hosted by Lightning Labs before the hackathon. Members of the first-place team will receive $1,000 in bitcoin, mentorship, and the opportunity to intern in the Okcoin Miami office during Summer 2022.



Additionally, Okcoin is the first and only cryptocurrency exchange to list MiamiCoin, which will be listed on Okcoin beginning Tuesday, August 24. Developed by the CityCoins community, MiamiCoin is the first-ever city-based token, an open-source public utility that creates a new kind of civic engagement for the community. The MIA token will be available for trading on Okcoin.com and the Okcoin mobile app for iOS and Android. Okcoin now has seven offices globally, with bases in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malta, Japan, Korea, and Miami in addition to the San Francisco headquarters with a commitment to supporting remote work for their team.

To learn more about Okcoin, please visit Okcoin.com or follow Okcoin on Twitter and LinkedIn . About Okcoin

Established in 2013, Okcoin is one of the world's fastest-growing cryptocurrency platforms. Seeking to build a more inclusive finance future that builds wealth for everyone, Okcoin is building the next generation of tools to help anyone invest in and trade crypto easily and with industry-low fees. Okcoin supports millions of customers across more than 190 countries, assisting them in taking advantage of staking and DeFi offers and trading Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more than 25 other crypto assets. Headquartered in San Francisco, Okcoin has a remote, globally-distributed team and offices in Miami, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malta, Japan and Korea. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/okcoin-opens-miami-office-becomes-first-ever-crypto-sponsor-of-floridas-largest-hackathon-301361739.html SOURCE Okcoin

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[August 24, 2021] Peak Support featured in Inc. Magazine Annual List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies--the Inc. 5000

NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Inc. magazine revealed that Peak Support is No. 1035 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list highlights the most successful private companies in the U.S. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. "Two groups of people made this possible for Peak Support: our team members and our clients," says founder & CEO Jonathan Steiman. "Our team members show up every day aiming to work hard and deliver great customer service. And our clients represent some of the most dynamic, fastest growing companies in emerging industries. We grow by helping them succeed." "It is an honor to be included on the highly coveted Inc. 5000 list. This is a testament that with ambitious goals, courage, and sense of the future  anything is possible. This recognition displays our resilience in the face of adversity with the setbacks of Covid-19," says Bianca Lazaro, Senior Director and one of the founding leaders of Peak Support. Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this year's list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020's unprecedented challenges. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.



"The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we've lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people." Peak Support provides exceptional customer service outsourcing to high-growth companies. They offer a wide array of services including customer support, sales operations, and business process outsourcing. Their global delivery model enables us to provide service from the Philippines and the U.S.

In the six years of existence, Peak Support has grown 90% per year while maintaining the culture and core values that has made them special. The leadership team works tirelessly to make sure the team members are supported, and their contributions are acknowledged, at the same time as they are providing superior service to our clients. CONTACT: Laura Galvez-Pollo (Marketing Manager): laura@peaksupport.io More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Methodology

Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to three decimal places. There was one tie on this year's Inc. 5000. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.'s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including web sites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/peak-support-featured-in-inc-magazine-annual-list-of-americas-fastest-growing-private-companiesthe-inc-5000-301360763.html SOURCE Peak Support

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[August 24, 2021] PPG Foundation Awards $170,000 in Scholarships to Accelerate Students' Academic Studies

PPG (NYSE: PPG) today announced that the PPG Foundation is providing more than $170,000 in undergraduate college scholarships through the NATIONAL MERIT Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). The PPG Foundation has awarded more than 3,000 scholarships to help U.S. students accelerate their undergraduate studies and career opportunities since establishing the PPG Foundation Scholarship Program in 1956. From aspiring engineers to physicians, the 2021 scholarships include 29 new awards for children of PPG employees and students who live in communities near PPG facilities. NMSC selects recipients based on scores earned on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which high school students take during their junior year. "At PPG, we see higher education as a launching point for a diverse science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent pipeline," said Malesia Dunn, executive director, PPG Foundation and corporate global social responsibility. "Our long-standing partnership with the National Merit Scholarship Program allows us to contribute to this pipeline by opening pathways to today's students that will help them contribute to the world-changing technologies of tomorrow. We're proud to support these students in their academic pursuits." Student recipients will receive awards annually for up to four years of their undergraduate studies. "It is an honor to be a part of the prestigious scholarly community that has been awarded the PPG Foundation National Merit Scholarship," said Caitlin Tang, who is the child of two PPG employees, Dr. Guangliang (Tony) Tang, primer products development global manager, Burbank, Calif., and Dr. Juexiao Cai, S&T (News - Alert) research associate, Burbank, Calif. "I know that PPG is truly invested in students' potential and has recognized the hard work that I have put into my education. The scholarship will be a key part of my academic journey." Tang plans to major in computational and systems biology at the University of California, Los Angeles. In addition to the PPG Foundation scholarships, PPG Canada has also awarded scholarships annually since 2013 through Scholarship Partners Canada, a division of Universities Canada. The program was established in recognition of the increasing need for a highly trained workforce in Canadian industry, business and community life. In 2021, two scholarships were awarded to assist children of PPG Canada employees in their eforts to obtain a university or college education.



To view the full list of 2021 PPG Foundation Scholarship Program and 2021 PPG Canada scholarship recipients, click here. About the PPG Foundation

PPG's global community engagement efforts and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We invested $13 million in 2020, supporting hundreds of organizations across more than 30 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow today's skilled workforce and develop tomorrow's innovators in fields related to coatings and manufacturing. Plus, we empower PPG employees to multiply their impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more at communities.ppg.com. About the National Merit Scholarship Corporation Established in 1955 to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program, the largest independently financed competition for college undergraduate scholarships in the United States, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) is a nonprofit organization that operates without government assistance. The majority of National Merit Scholarships offered each year are underwritten by independent corporate and college sponsors that support NMSC's efforts to honor the nation's scholastic talent and encourage academic excellence at all levels of education. For more information, visit www.nationalmerit.org. About the Universities Canada Universities Canada's mandate is to facilitate the development of public policy on higher education and to encourage cooperation among universities and governments, industry, communities, and institutions in other countries. Universities Canada is associated with leading firms in nearly every sector of the economy through its provision of scholarship services and management of more than 130 different scholarships programs on behalf of corporations, government agencies and private foundations throughout North America. For additional information, please visit www.univcan.ca. PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 135 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers' biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 75 countries and reported net sales of $13.8 billion in 2020. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com. We protect and beautify the world is a trademark and the PPG Logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

National Merit is a registered trademark of National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of National Merit Scholarship Corporation and College Board. CATEGORY Community Affairs View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005523/en/

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[August 24, 2021] PROS Willingness-to-Pay (WTP) Forecasting and Optimization Technology Powers the Future of Airline Revenue Management

PROS (NYSE: PRO), a provider of SaaS (News - Alert) solutions optimizing shopping and selling experiences, today highlighted the power of its willingness-to-pay (WTP) forecasting and optimization technology with the implementation at Malaysia Airlines. WTP is available in PROS RM Advantage, an edition of Airline Revenue Management, that gives airlines access to the latest in technology and revenue management best practices and workflows. With WTP, airlines can overcome common buy-down challenges in priceable demand markets by utilizing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and pricing science at scale to improve demand forecasting and inventory management and to drive efficiency across all aspects of their revenue optimization programs. As travel demand continues to increase, airlines are refining their business strategies that require innovative solutions to accelerate revenue and to capitalize on a stronger recovery. Moreover, revenue management teams want greater control over fares and offers to meet evolving passenger expectations. The optimal path to achieve this is through leveraging AI-powered capabilities that deliver real-time demand forecasting and inventory control. By having the power to price beyond a static price point and in between two fares, revenue managers can capture much-needed incremental revenue. "Malaysia Airlines operates in a highly competitive environment, where evolving passenger demands and buy-down are real challenges that we must continually overcome," said Malaysi Airlines Berhad Group Chief Executive Officer Captain Izham. "With PROS WTP capabilities, Malaysia Airlines can deliver a personalized offering for every passenger, tailored to their needs and ultimately giving them more choice in offers that they book, while at the same time enhancing revenue."



WTP is a method in which demand is forecast as a function of price to ultimately capture the price sensitivity of customers - something traditional forecasting methods cannot easily achieve. PROS WTP forecasting is designed to scientifically predict the price sensitivity of passenger demand, incorporate that price sensitivity into an optimization algorithm, and then adjust seat availability based on the optimal decision. PROS WTP is implemented using the PROS Bayesian forecast engine, which has an established track record of success within the airline industry as the model can continuously learn and update itself while receiving new data and information. PROS RM Advantage is part of the PROS Platform for Travel which connects the critical pieces of revenue management, offer creation, distribution and digital retailing to reduce inefficiency and create consistent and revenue optimal offers across all channels.

"Airlines today are looking for advanced, proven ways to improve revenue generation," said PROS President, Travel Benson Yuen. "Malaysia Airlines' adoption of willingness-to-pay methodology is a testament of its focus to undertake transformation by adopting new revenue management innovations and to drive efficiency across its revenue optimization program. PROS is proud of its long-standing partnership with Malaysia Airlines." Visit the PROS Platform for Travel page for more information on PROS Airline Solutions. About PROS PROS Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PRO) is a leading provider of SaaS solutions that optimize shopping and selling experiences. Built on the PROS Platform, these intelligent solutions leverage business AI, intuitive user experiences and process automation to deliver frictionless, personalized purchasing experiences designed to meet the real-time demands of today's B2B and B2C omnichannel shoppers, regardless of industry. To learn more, visit www.pros.com. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the functionality and benefits of SaaS shopping and selling optimization solutions to organizations generally as well as the functionality and benefits of PROS software products. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon PROS historical experience with AI-powered solutions and its current expectations of the benefits of SaaS shopping and selling optimization solutions for organizations that implement and utilize such software. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein include the addressability of an organization's SaaS shopping and selling optimization solution needs, the risks associated with PROS developing and enhancing products with the functionality necessary to deliver the stated results and the risks associated with the complex implementation and maintenance of SaaS shopping and selling optimization solutions such as PROS software products. Additional information relating to the uncertainty affecting the PROS business is contained in PROS filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent PROS expectations as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events may cause these expectations to change, and PROS disclaims any obligations to update or alter these forward-looking statements in the future whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005135/en/

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[August 24, 2021] ReliaQuest Announces New Corporate Headquarters at Thousand & One

ReliaQuest, the leader in Open XDR-as-a-Service, today announced a new corporate headquarters at Thousand & One in Tampa, Florida. The new headquarters will support the ongoing growth of ReliaQuest as the company expands operations within the US and to new regions globally. The building, the distinctive center point of Tampa's new Water Street neighborhood, is part of a holistically balanced urban design experience within a walkable community bringing people, productivity and wellness into alignment. ReliaQuest will occupy the top six stories, totaling 120,000 square feet of office space, with external signage at the top of the building. "ReliaQuest is proving that great cyber security companies can be untethered from the traditional geographic centers of the industry and being founded in Tampa has allowed us to think differently about security and keep our focus on customer outcomes," said Greg Farrell, Chief Financial Officer of ReliaQuest. "We're investing in this community because we believe in the region's potential as a new tech center for cyber security and the local talent. As we think about the future of work, Thousand & One provides our employees the ideal environment that prioritizes productivity and wellness while supporting our long-term growth." Developed by Strategic Property Partners, Thousand & One is a 20-story commercial office space inspired by the native ecology of Florida, its architecture and industry. Connecting the rich, natural beauty of the region to the workplace, Thousand & One features double-height planted terraces carved into the building, which create coveted outdoor pace and frame views of the water. A model for the well-being of tenants, the building features two lushly landscaped rooftop terraces, floor to ceiling windows to maximize light throughout the office space and 40% more fresh outside air than traditional office buildings. Encouraging collaboration, community and thoughtful use of both group and private spaces, Thousand & One is also home to a town-hall-style gathering space, an open-air conference facility and an employee fitness center.



"Tampa's technology industry has evolved tremendously over the past few years, and the expansion of ReliaQuest is a continuation of that growth," said Dave Bevirt, the executive vice president of corporate leasing and strategy at Strategic Property Partners, the developer of Thousand & One. "ReliaQuest is exactly the type of tenant we had in mind when developing Thousand & One. They are a prime example of a high-growth, international technology company that needed more space, as well as unique amenities to attract new hires, and chose Thousand & One for its high-design offices and recreational programming and spaces. Thousand & One delivers to Tampa forward-thinking, wellness-oriented design for the first time, and it's exciting to see an industry and community leader such as ReliaQuest become our anchor tenant." The design of the building also follows the guidelines of the scientifically backed WELL Building Standard to increase cognitive performance and foster satisfaction at work. Thousand & One anticipates receiving its WELL Core and Shell certification by the International WELL Building Institute, which previously designated Water Street Tampa as the first pre-certified WELL neighborhood in the world. WELL designation reflects a building or community's commitment to promoting well-being for residents, tenants and visitors through specific evidence-based design and policy strategies based on principles of light, air, water, nourishment, movement, materials, mind and community.

To learn more about ReliaQuest, please visit our website or view our open career opportunities to join our growing team. About ReliaQuest ReliaQuest, the leader in Open XDR-as-a-Service, is known for being the force multiplier for security operations teams. ReliaQuest GreyMatter is a cloud-native Open XDR platform that brings together telemetry from any security and business solution, whether on-premises, or in one or multiple clouds, to unify detection, investigation, response and resilience. ReliaQuest combines the power of technology and 24/7/365 security expertise to give organizations the visibility and coverage they require to make cybersecurity programs more effective. Hundreds of Fortune 1000 organizations trust ReliaQuest GreyMatter to operationalize security investments, ensuring teams focus on the right problems while closing visibility and capability gaps to proactively manage risk and accelerate initiatives for the business. ReliaQuest is a private company headquartered in Tampa, Fla., with multiple global locations. For more information, visit www.reliaquest.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005294/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Report: U.S. Imports Tracking for 20% YoY Growth With China, India, Vietnam Leading

Jungle Scout's 2021 Global Imports Report analyzes international trade trends; projected annual growth could be snuffed out by COVID-19 and variant spread. AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 24, 2021 /CNW/ -- Today, Jungle Scout, the leading all-in-one platform for selling on Amazon, launched its annual 2021 Global Imports Report , which reveals projected growth of U.S. imports in 2021 in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The report explores U.S. maritime imports between 2015 and 2021 across 237 countries and all industries, analyzing how the landscape of imports has changed amidst the pandemic, evolving consumer demand, global supply chain disruptions, and more. Key takeaways include: 2021 U.S. imports are up 33% over 2020. The total number of imports in the first half of 2021 exceeded 7.5 million, a 33% increase over the first half of 2020.



Based on annual import trends and current 2021 trajectory, total imports for 2021 may exceed 16 million, marking a 20% year-over-year increase barring unpredictable pandemic influence. The trade landscape continues to be dominated by a handful of countries and industries. Ten countries account for 72% of total share of imports, and three industries make up 45% of U.S. imports in 2021. China continues to lead in trade to the U.S., with over 40% of the share of imports. China's share of imports is more than six times greater than the second-largest supplier to the U.S., Vietnam , at 6.3%. India and Vietnam are gaining U.S. import share the fastest. India's share of U.S. imports grew faster than any other country  up 32% between the first half of 2020 to the first half of 2021  with a 76% increase in total quantity of imports.

share of U.S. imports grew faster than any other country  up 32% between the first half of 2020 to the first half of 2021  with a 76% increase in total quantity of imports.

Vietnam's share of U.S. imports is up 14% over 2020 with a 52% increase in total quantity of imports.

share of U.S. imports is up 14% over 2020 with a 52% increase in total quantity of imports.

Meanwhile, Australia , New Zealand , and Canada reduced total exports to the U.S. during this time. Machinery imports are increasing, while wood and textile product imports are declining. The Machinery & Electrical industry has remained roughly 20% of total U.S. imports since 2015 and is up 37% in 2021.



The Wood & Wood Products category has dropped 16% since 2015. Additionally, the textiles category decreased again in share by 9% after experiencing a 7% decrease from 2019 to 2020.



Greg Mercer , Founder & CEO of Jungle Scout. "In the e-commerce community, we've recognized enormous demand alongside turbulent supply, meaning online brands and sellers need to stay flexible and aware of changing consumer demand, supplier options, and global news overall." About the Global Imports Report

All data represents United States maritime imports from Jan. 1, 2015 to June 30, 2021 from 237 unique countries. Jungle Scout analyzed more than 79 million maritime U.S. import records, including information on the shipper and shipment, from which country and category are extracted.

About Jungle Scout

Jungle Scout is the leading all-in-one platform for selling on Amazon, supporting $22 billion in annual Amazon revenue. Founded in 2015 as the first Amazon product research tool, Jungle Scout today features a full suite of best-in-class business management solutions and powerful market intelligence resources to help entrepreneurs and brands manage their ecommerce businesses. Jungle Scout is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and supports 10 global Amazon marketplaces. Media Contact

Leslie Termuhlen

Public Relations Strategist

press@junglescout.com Related Images jungle-scout.jpg

Jungle Scout

Jungle Scout is the leading all-in-one platform for selling on Amazon, supporting $22 billion in annual Amazon revenue. global-imports-report-2021.jpg

Global Imports Report 2021

Jungle Scout's 2021 Global Imports Report analyzes international trade trends; projected annual growth could be snuffed out by COVID-19 and variant spread. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/report-us-imports-tracking-for-20-yoy-growth-with-china-india-vietnam-leading-301361607.html SOURCE Jungle Scout

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[August 24, 2021] Ribbon Launches in Florida, Transforming Everyday Homebuyers into Cash Buyers

NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ribbon today announced its expansion to Florida. Through Ribbon's Cash Offers , Florida homebuyers can now make a non-contingent, all-cash offer with Ribbon: waiving mortgage, appraisal and home sale contingencies. With Ribbon's guaranteed close and appraisal protection feature, homebuyers and agents can now make the most powerful offer in home buying. As home sellers prefer to receive Ribbon-backed cash offers, Ribbon's entry into Florida follows exponential growth in its buyer, seller and agent products as the solution of choice in competitive, multiple offer situations. Designed for both first time homebuyers and existing homeowners, Ribbon is extending its mission to make homeownership achievable across Florida. Florida homebuyers, and first-ime homebuyers in particular, are faced with significant headwinds in purchasing their dream home. According to Florida Realtors data , 3,771 single-family homes were purchased with cash offers in May 2020. In May 2021, the number tripled to 9,376  a 148.6 percent increase.



"There are immense challenges homebuyers face in Florida's real estate market, but Ribbon aims to ensure they aren't insurmountable. Aside from increased interest in home ownership, homebuyers now have to compete against Wall Street investors, turning housing into long-term rentals at the expense of qualified buyers," said Shaival Shah, CEO and co-founder of Ribbon. "As we launch in Florida, our mission remains the same  partnering closely with real estate agents and lenders to level the playing field for everyday buyers against high net worth individuals and investors, promoting certainty for sellers, and pushing to make homeownership more achievable and fair."

Ribbon works directly with real estate professionals who remain key advocates for buyers and sellers - and experts in how the local market can meet a buyer's needs. "Purchasing a home can be a daunting task, especially in today's market where homes are coming off the market at a rapid pace," said Kendall Bonner, broker-owner of RE/MAX Capital Realty in Tampa, Fla. "Partnering with Ribbon and enabling my clients with RibbonCash Offers will allow my clients the opportunity not just to compete in this market, but to win the home they love - the home that fits their life and their needs." In addition to Florida, Ribbon operates in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and Georgia, and plans rapid expansion in 2021 and 2022. For more information about Ribbon, visit www.ribbonhome.com . About Ribbon:

Founded in 2017 in New York and Charlotte, Ribbon is on a mission to make homeownership achievable. Ribbon allows everyday families to compete on a level playing field with high net worth individuals and institutional buyers by upgrading their offers to winning RibbonCash Offers. As the leading real estate technology platform, Ribbon empowers agents, brokerages, and lenders to create a world-class experience for home buyers and sellers through powerful financial products and digital workflow software. Visit ribbonhome.com . Media Contacts:

Sean Piazza

Communications Director, Ribbon

Sean@Ribbonhome.com

770.712.9064 Ashlea Alley

BLASTmedia for Ribbon

ribbon@blastmedia.com

317.806.1900 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ribbon-launches-in-florida-transforming-everyday-homebuyers-into-cash-buyers-301361077.html SOURCE Ribbon

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[August 24, 2021] Sana Announces Expansion into Arizona Market to Bring Affordable Health Care Benefits to Small Businesses

Sana, a health care company that provides Fortune 500-level health benefits to small businesses at affordable prices, today announced their expansion into Arizona to offer comprehensive health care plans to small businesses throughout the state. Starting today, Arizona-based companies can offer their employees benefit packages with full medical, dental, vision and more without network restrictions or hidden fees. Sana is known for affordable employer health plans, $0 virtual doctors' appointments, low co-pays, 95% customer service satisfaction and access to world-class providers through its Sana Care ecosystem. In addition to virtual primary care, Sana gives employees access to virtual care providers that specialize in pediatrics, maternity, mental health. "Sana gave our organization the confidence we needed to make changes to our medical insurance plans that benefitted both employees and company in comparison to our previous provider," said Harrison Yaeger, Vice President of Operations at Stoplight. "Nearly one year into our term, I continue to hear positive feedback from our team, both new hires and long-time employees, abot their satisfaction with Sana."



Arizona's employer health insurance market is currently dominated by large legacy carriers, and the lack of competition has resulted in rising costs for small businesses. While those carriers are more concerned with larger, enterprise-level businesses, Sana's health plans are specifically built and priced for small businesses. From the unique way it accurately prices small groups, to providing access to high-quality care, to a customer experience rooted in giving every account a dedicated account manager, Sana tailors its plans to small groups in a way legacy carriers can not. "This expansion will give Arizona businesses a new, cost-effective option for health insurance. Year after year, the cost of health care increases at an unmanageable rate. It's time for a more innovative, purpose-built solution for small businesses," said Will Young, Sana Co-founder and CEO. "Sana offers no network restrictions as well as top-rated options for virtual care, which has seen exponential growth in demand over the past year."

Sana's team will discuss the move into the Arizona market at the Arizona SHRM Conference, which provides HR professionals a new way of aligning HR practices with business leader's strategies. The event begins today, August 24, at 8 am PST and is open to all HR professionals and business leaders looking for dynamic programming that can help them grow in their roles as well as assist with earning recertification credits. About Sana Sana provides small businesses with Fortune-500 level health care at prices they can afford. Through value-based care, the Sana Care ecosystem of world-class providers, direct primary care, and more, Sana is reducing the cost of high-quality care. Sana is making it easier than ever to administer benefits for employers and offers simplified health plans and top-notch customer service to employees. Sana is providing health care to small businesses that drives down costs while simultaneously delivering an exceptional quality of care. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005249/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Singapore unlocked to new providers with Symbio's launch of communications platform as a service

SYDNEY, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Symbio, part of industry-leading communications software and cloud infrastructure provider MNF Group (ASX: MNF), has officially launched its proprietary communications platform as a service (CPaaS) offering in Singapore. The launch is significant for international businesses looking to grow their global footprint into Asia because it simplifies the technical infrastructure needed to gain a foothold in the market. Symbio is the first fully interconnected carrier to build network capabilities in Singapore for more than 20 years, introducing an entirely new unified communications capability into a market largely controlled by incumbent telecommunications providers. CEO of Symbio, Rene Sugo said: "Singapore is one of the most digitally competitive countries in the world but has lacked options when it comes to advanced unified communications solutions. Many businesses have been unable to expand into Asia because of complicated infrastructure and the inability to fuse their software with the required telco services. "Symbio's technology removes that complexity and provides businesses with the building blocks for entry and success in market. We are the missing piece of the puzzle which will allow international businesses to grow in Singapore and the region," he said. This expansion will be a boon for many large businesses which have enjoyed a strong period of innovation and are now looking to explore new territories. Says Sugo: "Symbio brings decades of innovation and expertise alongside a proprietary technology stack that effectively bridges the gap between telecommunications and cloud software. Our offering provides increased choice and better-quality services for businesses while bringing healthy competition to the telecommunications sector." Symbio's wholesale IP-network will enable nationwide calling and number porting so customers can easily move phone numbers off legacy networks and into the cloud. This will provide the freedom and flexibility to move numbers between providers to deliver advanced unified communication solutions. The first step in Symbio's global growth story Symbio's entry into Singapore is part of the company's wider plans for global expansion as the company capitalises on the global growth of unified communications (including CPaaS and UCaaS) which grew by nearly 30% in 2020[1]. A global hub for innovation, Singapore is a fast-growing region of Asia which offers significant commercial opportunities for Symbio to bring its Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) offering into new markets. However, the business has plans which extend beyond Singapore. Sugo said: "Singapore is the first stop, but we plan to take our industry leading innovation and expertise to other countries as well. The pandemic has accelerated the global adoption of advanced unified communications services and heightened the role Symbio plays in unlocking those services for technology innovators and enabling them to do business in new markets. This is just the beginning of a wider journey as we look to deliver our solutions and enable more businesses around the world to enhance their unified communications and make it easy for users to move into the telco space without relying on legacy providers."







[1] https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS47572421

About Symbio Symbio helps service providers of all sizes to compete  and win  with software-enabled communications. Our software platform and cloud infrastructure make it easy to deliver communication services. Replacing carrier complexity with software scale and agility. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Symbio serves a global market with a focus on South East Asia. We are the trusted name behind more than 500 providers. Symbio is part of the Australian Stock-Exchange listed MNF Group (ASX:MNF). www.symbio.global Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1600473/Symbio_Logo.jpg

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[August 24, 2021] Suralink Continues to Lead the Industry in Innovation and Technology Adoption by Partnering With MNP

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Suralink, the leader in PBC request list management software, announced that MNP, one of the largest national accounting, tax and business consulting firms in Canada, has chosen Suralink as its automated request list and document workflow platform. MNP has a reputation for providing a collaborative, cost-effective approach to doing business with its clients. Part of this approach has been its focus on pursuing technologies that increase efficiency while improving the client experience. "MNP is continually looking at how we collaborate with our clients in order to increase efficiency in our audits so that our clients have more time to focus on the bigger picture of creating value for their stakeholders," says David Danziger, Senior Vice President, Assurance and National Leader, Public Companies at MNP. "This partnership with Suralink is a win-win-win. Our clients get increased efficiency and peace of mind of using Suralink's secure platform, and MNP benefits from creating an enhanced client experience by working with a technology leader like Suralink." MNP will use Suralink's cloud-based software solution to request, share, and track engagement documentation in an organized wayall within the protective framework of Suralink's banking-level-secure platform. Says Tim Ballantyne, CEO and Founder of Suralink: "We're honored that agiant in the industry like MNP has chosen to partner with Suralink. Its foresight in adopting technology and dedication to innovation are key reasons it has been so successful and we are confident that Suralink can help MNP reach its goals now and into the future."



About Suralink Suralink is the leader in request list management and approval workflow, helping businesses simplify the document workflow process while improving the client experience. The company's cloud-based application integrates a dynamic request list and assignment workflow solution with a secure file hosting platform to serve as a single location for client interaction. Suralink's technology, combined with its industry expertise, helps more than 450 clients in North America and the UK ensure security, simplicity, transparency, and accountability throughout the document workflow process.

About MNP LLP MNP is one of the largest national accounting and consulting firms in Canada, providing client-focused accounting, taxation and consulting advice. National in scope and local in focus, MNP has proudly served individuals and public and private companies for over 60 years. Through the development of strong relationships, MNP provides personalized strategies and a local perspective to help them succeed. For more information, visit www.mnp.ca. CONTACT Meghan Mitton

VP, Marketing

Suralink

meghan.mitton@suralink.com Nick Greenfield

Vice-president, Marketing

MNP

nick.greenfield@mnp.ca Related Images mnp-partnership.png

MNP Partnership

Suralink and MNP logos

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/suralink-continues-to-lead-the-industry-in-innovation-and-technology-adoption-by-partnering-with-mnp-301360877.html SOURCE Suralink, Inc.

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[August 24, 2021] TELUS International Opens Third Digital CX Delivery Center in the U.S., Expanding into North Charleston

TELUS International (NYSE and TSX: TIXT), a leading digital customer experience (CX) innovator that designs, builds and delivers next-generation solutions for global and disruptive brands, today announced the opening of its third site in the U.S. with a new digital CX delivery center in North Charleston. The company plans to create approximately 1,200 jobs by 2022 in North Charleston, adding to its more than 2,400 team members currently supporting digital CX and digital transformation programs from Las Vegas, Nevada and Folsom, California. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005321/en/ TELUS (News - Alert) International's new digital CX delivery center in North Charleston (Photo: Business Wire) "Following our successful second-quarter results announced late last month, which included double-digit organic growth, our company continues to hire top talent and open new sites around the world in order to support our clients' growing needs for differentiated digital customer experience and digital transformation services," said Chuck Koskovich, Chief Operating Officer, TELUS International. "We are thrilled to announce our newest site opening today in North Charleston and to recruit a significant number of new team members to join our global family of more than 56,000 who are without a doubt, driving the positive momentum we continue to achieve in the market." TELUS International's delivery center in North Charleston is 80,000 square feet and features inspiring and spacious workspaces filled with natural light, as well as a long list of amenities for employees, including top-grade ergonomic workstations, a 24/7 gym, an onsite coffee shop, and an open-air BBQ area with a fire pit. In addition, the company offers competitive salaries and benefits including 401(k) and 401(k) matching, dental, health and vision insurance, and paid time off. Due to the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company supports remote work options as needed as well as enhanced cleaning and sanitation measures onsite to ensure employee safety. "What makes North Charleston such an attractive destination for TELUS International's first site on the east coast is its thriving technology scene, cultural diversity, and focus on education," added Koskovich. "At TELUS International, our unique caring culture is reflected in how we prioritize our team members' experiences by customizing the spaces, benefits, and amenities at each individual location to best meet the diverse needs of our global workforce. We believe that engaged, inspired team members are the best brand ambassadors of our clients' products and services." TELUS International's industry expertise covers tech and games, communications and media, eCommerce and fintech, healthcare, and travel and hospitality. From its new site in North Charleston, TELUS International will provide high-tech and high-touch customer experiences to leading global brands, such as multinational financial ervices company Barclays.



Embodying #WeGiveWhereWeLive As part of the company's investment in the region, TELUS International also donated $10,000 to the Teachers' Supply Closet, a nonprofit organization that provides free supplies, such as notebooks, glue sticks, colored pencils and crayons, and hand sanitizer, to educators who teach at schools in the Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties where the majority of students rely on subsidized meal programs.

Education-focused initiatives have been a core pillar in TELUS International's corporate social responsibility program globally over the past 16 years. The company has organized large-scale volunteer initiatives such as building schools in Guatemala, renovating centers for children with hearing impairments in Bulgaria, and developing programming to teach youth in the Philippines about internet safety. "We understand the importance of contributing to the well-being of the citizens and communities where our team members and their families live and work, and as such, we volunteer our time and fund meaningful charitable programs in every region where we operate around the world," said Koskovich. "In North Charleston, we are honored to support the Teachers' Supply Closet's mission to meet the educational and creative needs of students in the Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester Counties in South Carolina. Every child deserves the tools and resources they need to be their best selves, and we are looking forward to getting more actively involved within the North Charleston community in the months and years ahead." Employer of choice in the digital CX industry TELUS International is an award-winning employer with an industry-leading employee engagement score of 86% (as measured by Kincentric) in 2020. The company leverages its breadth of next-gen digital capabilities internally to provide differentiated team member experiences, such as 100% virtual recruitment, hiring and onboarding, HR-focused chatbots to answer team member questions, and Cosmos, the company's internal social media platform. The company also prioritizes learning and development opportunities for its team members, providing access to numerous online learning, training, and upskilling opportunities to help advance their careers. Most recently, TELUS International was recognized on Fast Company's Best Workplace for Innovators international list, named one of the 2021 Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces, and listed on Mogul's Top 100 Workplaces with the best diversity and inclusion initiatives. In 2020, the organization was also recognized at The Stevie Awards for Great Employers for its innovative use of HR-related technology and programs to keep employees productive, trained, informed, and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. TELUS International was also listed on Forbes World's Best Employers 2020 with its parent company, TELUS. Click here for more information on the open positions available to candidates in the North Charleston area. About TELUS International TELUS International (NYSE & TSX: TIXT) designs, builds and delivers next-generation digital solutions to enhance the customer experience (CX) for global and disruptive brands. The company's services support the full lifecycle of its clients' digital transformation journeys, enabling them to more quickly embrace next-generation digital technologies to deliver better business outcomes. TELUS International's integrated solutions span digital strategy, innovation, consulting and design, IT lifecycle including managed solutions, intelligent automation and end-to-end AI data solutions including computer vision capabilities, as well as omnichannel CX and trust and safety solutions including content moderation. Fueling all stages of company growth, TELUS International partners with brands across high growth industry verticals, including tech and games, communications and media, eCommerce and fintech, healthcare, and travel and hospitality. TELUS International's unique caring culture promotes diversity and inclusivity through its policies, team member resource groups and workshops, and equal employment opportunity hiring practices across the regions where it operates. The company is building stronger communities and helping those in need through large-scale volunteer events that have positively impacted the lives of more than 150,000 citizens around the world and through its five TELUS International Community Boards that have provided $4 million in funding to grassroots charitable organizations since 2015. Learn more at: www.telusinternational.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005321/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Thai Food Popularity Grows in the U.S.

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As demand from the U.S. grows, Thailand has placed a focus on quality, safety and reliability with its agricultural and food exports. "Thai food has become the world's food." says Thailand's Commerce Minister, Jurin Laksanawisit. "Thailand's popular exports such as Hom Mali Jasmine Rice, Coconut and Tamarind products are all grown with the highest production standards," says Laksanawisit. "They are harvested with environmental consciousness and a focus on safe and ethical labor and we are seeing robust growth of premium Thai exports." PROMOTION IN U.S. LED BY FOOD NETWORK STAR JET TILA In the U.S., Thai products have been promoted in 2021 via "Thai Food at Home with Jet Tila," a YouTube series and public relations campaign that earned more than 12 million viewers and 30 million impressions across multiple platforms. The series was produced by Thai Trade Center Los Angeles, with the objective for Food Network star Tila to teach Americans how to cook Thai food at home. Viewers are also encouraged to use Thai ingredients, even when they are cooking another cuisine. The guests on Tila's show included: Celebrated Italian Chef Laura Vitale joined with Jet to ntroduce Thai ingredients to her Italian food fans.

joined with Jet to ntroduce Thai ingredients to her Italian food fans. Twilight Saga actress and sustainable lifestyle entrepreneur Nikki Reed joined with Jet to showcase Thai ingredients that can be used in plant-based cuisine.

actress and sustainable lifestyle entrepreneur joined with Jet to showcase Thai ingredients that can be used in plant-based cuisine. Gen Z Chef Eitan Bernath of The Drew Barrymore Show joined to cook Thai food and create his own fusion "Thai Bruschetta."



Good Morning America, GMA3 and The Talk. Thai Trade's promotional work started in 2020, with a digital advertising campaign on YouTube and Google designed to stimulate sales of Thai ingredients. Interested viewers could click to Thai products available on Amazon.

"The COVID situation created the need to try new marketing and we are pleased that delicious Thai food and ingredients are increasingly popular in the U.S." says Kwanapa Phivnil, Director of Thai Trade Center Los Angeles. "Thai cuisine has become a health-conscious and tasteful option for the US consumers across nation for their self-contained living. Our thanks to the dedicated network of importers, distributors and retailers marketing the products." ABOUT THAILAND'S DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROMOTION Thailand's Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) was established is an agency under the Ministry of Commerce, Royal Thai Government, to assist Thai manufacturers and exporters in building their competitiveness and fulfilling their potential in the global market. DITP aims to provide fast, reliable and efficient services to address the challenges and opportunities within the new world economy. Through Thai Trade Center, DITP's overseas offices are located in many countries worldwide, including four in the United States; Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Miami. DITP works closely with international trade communities, both in Thailand and abroad, to create good business relationships that would result in mutual benefit. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thai-food-popularity-grows-in-the-us-301360223.html SOURCE Thai Trade Center

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[August 24, 2021] Top Five Expectations of Canadian Business Travellers in 2021

New research from SAP Concur reveals almost nine in 10 Canadians are ready to get back in the air TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2021 /CNW/ - As Canada gets closer to the return of corporate travel, businesses are taking a closer look at how they can safely resume travel programs. New research commissioned by SAP Concur reveals Canadian business travellers overwhelmingly want to return to business travel. The report findings provide insight into how companies can prepare to meet the demands of travelling employees and ensure a responsible return to business travel. The survey of 3,850 business travellers in 25 global markets included 250 within Canada. The top five Canadian findings include: 1. Canadian travellers are ready to get back in the air. Nearly nine in 10 Canadian business travellers are ready to resume travel in the next 12 months (89 per cent) and get back to what they do best, including three in five who are very willing (59 per cent). This is driven by travellers' belief that they will suffer if their company does not increase business travel in the next year. However, to feel comfortable, they expect increased flexibility, marking changes in how they travel and do business. In fact, Canadian travellers are looking to mix time in the air with time off. A surprising 92 per cent plan to add leisure travel to their business trips in the next 12 months. In fact, 50 per cent say they'll do so a quarter or more of the time (compared to 38 per cent globally). 2. Canadian travellers worry failing to resume travel will hurt their career and their lives. For many, business travel is tied to their career success and fulfillmentso much so that more than three-quarters of Canadian business travellers worry the inability to increase business travel will affect them personally (76 per cent). Their personal career concerns include difficulty developing and maintaining business connections (49 per cent), not advancing in their career (33 per cent) and making less money (26 per cent). In fact, an alarming 85 per cent* of female business travellers fear personal or professional consequences if they don't increase business travel in the coming year, significantly more than the 70 per cent* of men who say the same. As a result, almost two-thirds of Canadian business travellers (63 per cent) say they are driving the return to the skies rather than their companylargely in part because they view their trips as opportunities to strengthen business relationships and broaden their horizons, and almost half of Canadian business want to make personal connections with customers and colleagues (49 per cent). 3. Flexibility is a top driver for Canadian business travellers. In a key departure from the narrative of the previous year, 73 per cent of Canadian business travellers rank flexibility as a top-consideration for business travel, well ahead of vaccination-related demands at 65 per cent. This includes everything from planning through the completion of their trips: business travellers cite being able to select their preferred accommodations (51 per cent) and mode of travel (37 per cent) as essential travel perks. Findings suggest structured policies are not an issue for business travellersprovided those policies are up to date. Those whose company has a mandated travel policy (54 per cent) or guidelines (32 per cent) also see the ability to book travel directly on supplier website as an essential benefit.



4. Canadian business travellers do not want COVID-19 travel policies to stay in place. Nearly 3 in 4 Canadian business travellers (73 per cent) do not want their company to return to pre-COVID-19 policy. A third (33 per cent) expect their company to adjust by allowing modifications to policies for health and safety. Business travellers with mandated policies (69 per cent) or guidelines (51 per cent) want looser restrictions. With greater flexibility, among other adjustments, they'd take trips closer to home (38 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively), stay at larger hotels (33 per cent and 35 per cent) and use their own car or rental instead of public transportation (40 per cent and 24 per cent).

5. Safety remains a priority, but Canadian travellers feel it's a shared responsibility. Last year, more than one in three business travellers held themselves most accountable for their health and safety on a trip (33 per cent), followed by the transportation providers (19 per cent) and their employer (14 per cent). Now, after experiencing the pandemic, one in four hold themselves most responsible (25 per cent), followed by their company's travel agency (21 per cent) and their employer (19 per cent). Canadian business travellers say prior to the tripas they plan and organize all their bookings and safety protocolsis wearing on them: More than two in five Canadian business travellers (45 per cent) say the most stressful stage of the business trip comes before the trip itself suggesting travellers need more support and more solutions for planning their trips. *Small base size; findings are directional. For more information, download the Canadian addendum and Global Business Traveller whitepapers. The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com), a leading independent provider of quantitative, qualitative and hybrid market research, among 3,850 business travellers defined as those who travel for business three or more times annually from the following markets: U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico, LAC (Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Argentina), UK, France, Germany, ANZ region (Australia and New Zealand), SEA region (Singapore and Malaysia), China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, India, Korea, Italy, Spain, Dubai, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg), South Africa, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland. Additionally, Wakefield Research surveyed 700 travel managers from the following markets: U.S., Mexico, UK, France, Germany, SEA region (Singapore and Malaysia), and Hong Kong. Both surveys took place April  May 2021. For the interviews conducted in this study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 1.6 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample. About SAP Concur

SAP Concur is the world's leading brand for integrated travel, expense, and invoice management solutions, driven by a relentless pursuit to simplify and automate these everyday processes. The highly-rated SAP Concur mobile app guides employees through business trips, charges are directly populated into expense reports, and invoice approvals are automated. By integrating near real-time data and using AI to analyze transactions, businesses can see what they're spending, help ensure compliance, and avoid possible blind spots in the budget. SAP Concur solutions help eliminate yesterday's tedious tasks, make today's work easier, and support businesses to run at their best. Learn more at concur.com or the SAP Concur blog. About SAP



As the Experience Company powered by the Intelligent Enterprise, SAP is market leader in enterprise application software, SAP helps companies run better. SAP applications and services enable our customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com. Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.  2021 SAP SE. All rights reserved. SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices.

SAP News Center press room; press@sap.com. Please consider our privacy policy. If you received this press release in your e-mail and you wish to unsubscribe to our mailing list please contact press@sap.com and write Unsubscribe in the subject line. SOURCE SAP Concur

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[August 24, 2021] Utah Product Sourcing Company, Prouduct, Claims Inc. 5000 Spot

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Prouduct, a product sourcing company based out of South Jordan, Utah was honored on Inc's prestigious Inc. 5000 list . This annual list identifies the 5000 fastest growing companies from across the United States and has included many highly successful companies in the past such as Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, and Patagonia. "We are honored to be selected as part of the top growing companies in the nation," said Thiefaine Magre, Co-Founder and COO of Prouduct. "This is another big stepping stone towards our vision of helping many more entrepreneurs grow their businesses. This Inc. 5000 recogition validates our dedication and hard work we've made over the years and I couldn't be happier of our team."



Founded in 2015, Prouduct has helped bring a wide variety of ideas and high-end products to life spanning from yoga pants to tiny homes and everything in between. Priding itself in better prices, higher quality, and reliability, Prouduct has had clients ranging from celebrities, top YouTube creators, podcasters, global brands, best selling authors, and more. For more information on Prouduct, visit prouduct.com

About Prouduct

The Prouduct sourcing company is the first to bring the combined end-to-end solution along with strategy and tactics to bring a product to market. Prouduct helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into profitable products w/ global sourcing & end-to-end supply chain. We provide a concierge-level service for top influencers and orgs that want to create high-end products. We can provide ideation, prototyping, source manufacturing, shipping, logistics, warehousing and fulfillment. We help you create the highest value products for your clients to increase your profits. Media Relations

Raphael Magre

Myth Communications

raphael@mythcommunications.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/utah-product-sourcing-company-prouduct-claims-inc-5000-spot-301361352.html SOURCE Prouduct

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[August 24, 2021] Vasion Announces Flexible, Secure Printing Solutions to Keep Companies Safe and Support A Hybrid Workforce

ST. GEORGE, Utah, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the workplace undergoes a massive transformation, IT professionals are searching for tools to support the shift to a hybrid work approach and maintain productivity. According to McKinsey, 52 percent of U.S.-based employees say they prefer a hybrid work model, making the need for secure and mobile printing more important than ever. But managing the demands of a hybrid workforce introduces a new set of safety and security risks.

To ease the transition, Vasion (formerly PrinterLogic, the world leader in serverless printing infrastructure) announced today a series of new features and functionality designed to support IT teams and empower all end-users with seamless and secure printing. PrinterLogic SaaS customers can now enjoy off-network printing capabilities, a new mobile printing app for Android and iOS, and a touchless printing experience. The rapid shift to support a remote workforce has hamstrung IT teams over the last 18-months. We know IT professionals everywhere are re-evaluating their current IT strategy and asking, Can this solution support the future of work?, said JD Carter, Vasion CXO. With the release of these new features, our customers can confidently and securely ensure their organization can deliver best in class serverless print management, wherever work happens. PrinterLogics new features allow end-users to securely print to corporate printers from lptops, smartphones and tablets outside corporate networks and firewalls.



Off-network Printing: This feature allows users to keep printers on their most secure networks while enabling all workers to print regardless of what network theyre on. Off-network printing addresses two key IT challenges: first, managing printing in a zero-trust network architecture and second, it provides easy, intuitive printing access to contractors, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) guests, and affiliate partners without VPNs or web portals. Off-network printing works with any end-user computing device, including smartphones and tablets.

This feature allows users to keep printers on their most secure networks while enabling all workers to print regardless of what network theyre on. Off-network printing addresses two key IT challenges: first, managing printing in a zero-trust network architecture and second, it provides easy, intuitive printing access to contractors, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) guests, and affiliate partners without VPNs or web portals. Off-network printing works with any end-user computing device, including smartphones and tablets. Mobile Printing App: The new mobile app lets users easily print from their mobile device or tablet directly to any printer on the organizations network. IT Admins can now manage printer deployments for iOS and Android devices, from the same single pane of glass as all other endpoints. The PrinterLogic mobile app facilitates secure-release printing, which ensures confidential print jobs are released to the right end user at the right time.

The new mobile app lets users easily print from their mobile device or tablet directly to any printer on the organizations network. IT Admins can now manage printer deployments for iOS and Android devices, from the same single pane of glass as all other endpoints. The PrinterLogic mobile app facilitates secure-release printing, which ensures confidential print jobs are released to the right end user at the right time. QR Code Secure Release Printing: The new QR Code secure release functionality delivers a touchless printing experience. Employees no longer have to touch a shared surface on a printer to release their print job. They can simply walk up to any printer, scan the QR code from the PrinterLogic mobile app, and select the print job they want to release. This new secure release option is available in the PrinterLogic Mobile app and keeps the health and safety of companies top of mind.

The mobile printing app is available from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. To learn more about Vasions Off-network Printing, QR Code secure release printing, and the mobile printing app, visit https://www.printerlogic.com . About Vasion

Vasion, formerly PrinterLogic, builds upon the companys best in class enterprise print management technology with an intuitive content management and business process cloud platform. With Vasions SaaS platform, businesses can capture analog and digital content, automate workflows, create agreements with e-signatures, and securely manage content wherever it is stored.

Additionally, the PrinterLogic solution pioneered digital transformation in the print management space by helping IT professionals eliminate all print servers and deliver a highly available serverless printing infrastructure. Whether your organization is paperless, still dependent on paper-based processes, or somewhere in between, Vasion has the solutions to help drive compliance, scalability, and accountability throughout your digital transformation journey. The company has been included multiple times on the Inc. 5000 and Deloitte Fast 500 lists of fastest-growing companies in North America. For more information, visit https://www.vasion.com and https://www.printerlogic.com . PR Contact

Codeword for Vasion

801-703-4092

Vasion@codewordagency.com



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[August 24, 2021] Voyager Space Subsidiary, Altius Space Machines, Inc. Announces Support of Eta Space and NASA's LOXSAT Cryogenic Fluid Management Mission

DENVER, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Voyager Space (Voyager), a global leader in space exploration, today announced its subsidiary, Altius Space Machines, Inc. (Altius) was recently selected by Eta Space to provide a cryogenic coupler for liquid oxygen (LOX) transfer in support of its planned nine-month LOXSAT cryogenic fluid management mission. Eta Space was selected by NASA to execute a flight demonstration of a complete cryogenic oxygen fluid management system. The system will fly as a dedicated payload on a Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle and will collect critical cryogenic storage and transfer data in orbit for nine months. Eta Space will collaborate with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, and NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. "The solution Altius is providing leverages previous work we demonstrated for NASA and represents the leading edge of on-orbit LOX transfer technology," said Michael Bowker, vice president, business development of Voyager Space. "We're excited to support Eta Space in this opportunity and know that once proven, will be a vital piece of infrastructure to support the space ecosystem." During this mission, Altius will demonstrate on-orbit docking and cryogenic refueling operations using a cryogenic fluid transfer disconnect and latching mechanism developed for depot applications. The system will demonstrate repeated mating/de-mating and the transfer of liquid oxygen. "Eta Space is excited to work with Altius Space Machines to demonstrate their critical cryogenic coupling technology in orbit," said Dr. William Notardonato/span>, CEO of Eta Space. "Successful demonstration on LOXSAT will enable the development of full-scale cryogenic umbilicals that are critical for the transfer of propellants in orbit."



About Voyager Space

Voyager Space is a global leader in space exploration. Voyager's long-term mission is to create a vertically integrated, publicly traded NewSpace company capable of delivering any space mission humans can conceive. The firm's first-in-industry model is uniquely tailored to support the growth needs of commercial space companies by replacing traditional private capital models with a longer-term approach that provides permanent capital. Voyager is led by founders and space industry veterans Dylan Taylor and Matthew Kuta, along with the Board of Directors which includes National Security Expert and four-star Air Force General William Shelton; leading institutional investor Gabe Finke; world-leading planetary scientist, Dr. Alan Stern; noted public company director and former U.S. undersecretary of technology Dr. Cheryl Shavers; experienced technology executive, board director, and financial leader, Marian Joh; and former undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, Ellen Lord. To learn more about Voyager Space, please visit: https://voyagerspace.com/ About Altius Space Machines, Inc.

Altius is a space robotics and technology startup with expertise in orbital rendezvous and capture robotics, active debris removal, spacecraft mechanisms, assistive telerobotics, in-space propellant transfer, satellite servicing, and on-orbit assembly and manufacturing. To learn more about Altius Space Machines, Inc., please visit: http://www.altius-space.com/

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including those with respect to Voyager Space Holdings, Inc.'s (the "Company's") mission statement and growth strategy, are "forward-looking statements." Although the Company's management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from those anticipated. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; and the ability to obtain necessary financing on acceptable terms or at all. Readers should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve these known and unknown uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/voyager-space-subsidiary-altius-space-machines-inc-announces-support-of-eta-space-and-nasas-loxsat-cryogenic-fluid-management-mission-301360848.html SOURCE Voyager Space

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[August 24, 2021] Wipro Announces Opening of New Delivery Center in Arkansas, USA

Wipro (News - Alert) Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, today announced that it will open a new delivery center in Sherwood, Arkansas. The company expects to hire up to 400 employees in the next two years in Arkansas. Wipro will invest approximately US$ three million to transform a 70,000 square-foot facility at Landers Road into a customer service center. The delivery center will provide operational services to Wipro's clients across industry verticals. "Wipro has been a technology leader for decades. With great pleasure, I welcome them to Arkansas," said Asa Hutchinson, Governor of Arkansas. "These jobs will help improve the lives of citizens in Central Arkansas, and continue to reinforce our goal of making Arkansas a leader in information technology." "I'm thrilled that Wipro recognized the talent we have here in Central Arkansas and chose Sherwood as the site of its newest facility," said Mike Preston, Executive Director, Arkansas Economic Development Commission and Arkansas Secretary of Commerce. "I know they will find the necessary support here that will continue to lead them on their path to success." "We are thrilled to welcome Wipro to our community," said Virginia Hillman Young, Mayor of Sherwood. "This announcement is the beginning of a new partnership between our city and the company. We look forward to working closely with the local Wipro team as they grow and thrive in Sherwood." "This is a tremendous win for the City of Sherwood and their local economic development team," said James Reddish, Executive Vice President - Little Rock Regional Chamber. "As a region, we know that the success of any one community is a success for all, and we look forward to supporting Wipro and Sherwood, as the company establishes and grows its presence in Central Arkansas." "We are thrilled to open the delivery center in Sherwood and improve our reach to customers in central Arkansas. This strategic investment will bring Wipro's innovation, operational capabilities and organizational expertise to the region. This is part of our commitment to enable future expansion, and drive employment generation initiatives for local communities,'' said Nagendra P Bandaru, Managing Partner-iCORE, Wipro Limited. Wipro is recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship. About Wipro Limited Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have over 200,000 dedicated employees serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future. About the City of Sherwood On April 22, 1948, Sherwood officilly incorporated as a town. According to the 2018 Annual Estimate of the Resident Population for Counties and Places, the City of Sherwood is estimated to have 31,237 residents. The City of Sherwood has a variety of resources that provide a quality lifestyle for its residents. From youth to seniors, as well as their furry friends, the city offers programs and services that appeal to all ages. Located within a few minutes from a large metropolitan area, the amenities allow residents to enjoy a quiet family atmosphere that is both CLOSE TO THE ACTION, yet FAR FROM THE NOISE.



About the Metro Little Rock Alliance The Metro Little Rock Alliance (MLRA) is a coalition of 11 counties: Clark, Faulkner, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Jefferson, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, Saline and White. Economic development leaders from these communities work together to develop and market Central Arkansas as a premier location for new and expanding business and high-quality job growth. For more information, visit www.MetroLittleRockAlliance.com.

About the Arkansas Economic Development Commission The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce, seeks to create economic opportunity by attracting higher-paying jobs, expanding and diversifying local economies in the state, increasing incomes and investment, and generating growth throughout The Natural State. Arkansas is a pro-business environment operating leaner, faster and more focused through a streamlined state government designed to act on corporate interests quickly and decisively. For more information, visit www.ArkansasEDC.com. The Arkansas Department of Commerce is the umbrella department for workforce and economic development drivers. Its divisions and regulatory boards include Division of Aeronautics, Waterways Commission, Wine Producers Council, Division of Workforce Services, Office of Skills Development, State Bank Department, Insurance Department, Securities Department, Economic Development Commission and Development Finance Authority. It was established in July 2019 as part of Governor Asa Hutchinson's wide-sweeping efficiency and transformation efforts to reduce 42 cabinet agencies to 15 while maintaining services for all Arkansans. Forward-Looking Statements The forward-looking statements contained herein represent Wipro's beliefs regarding future events, many of which are by their nature, inherently uncertain and outside Wipro's control. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Wipro's growth prospects, its future financial operating results, and its plans, expectations and intentions. Wipro cautions readers that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in our earnings, revenue and profits, our ability to generate and manage growth, complete proposed corporate actions, intense competition in IT services, our ability to maintain our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which we make strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, war, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our business and industry. The conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could decrease technology spending, adversely affect demand for our products, affect the rate of customer spending and could adversely affect our customers' ability or willingness to purchase our offerings, delay prospective customers' purchasing decisions, adversely impact our ability to provide on-site consulting services and our inability to deliver our customers or delay the provisioning of our offerings, all of which could adversely affect our future sales, operating results and overall financial performance. Our operations may also be negatively affected by a range of external factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic that are not within our control. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Annual Reports on Form 20-F. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005513/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Wreaths Across America Invites All Americans to Join National Flag Waving in Remembrance of the 20th Anniversary of September 11

COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- National nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) urges all Americans to join together on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, in waving the American flag in remembrance of the 20th Anniversary of September 11th. The event will be hosted LIVE on its official Facebook page and broadcast over Wreaths Across America Radio . It will include Gold Star Families, whose loved ones answered the call to serve after 9/11, Veterans, and First Responders and their families. Now more than ever, it is so important that we come together as Americans to show support for those whose service, courage, and sacrifice, help keep America free. WAA gathers every Tuesday morning from 9-10 am ET to raise the American flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance from the Freeport Flag Ladies Monument in Jonesboro, Maine, near the 'tip lands' where the balsam is harvested to make veterans' wreaths for placement on National Wreaths Across America Day each December. The monument, located on Route 1, was built by Wreaths Across America and Worcester Wreath Company in September 2019, after the Freeport Flag Ladies retired following 18 years of waving the American Flag in Freeport, Maine , each Tuesday since Sept. 11, 2001. "Now, more than ever, it is so critical for communities to come together to Remember all those who served, and Honor their service and their family's service, especially those who volunteered during the War on Terror following the events of September 11, 2001" said WAA Executive Director, Karen Worcester. "But more than anything, we must Teach our children about these men and women, and the courage and commitment it takes to be a part of the small number of Americans who protect all our freedoms. Please join me on Sept. 7th, as we wave the flag across America, like we do each Tuesday morning, and never forget that Freedom isn't free, and it must be protected."



The flag-waving event will begin at 8:45 am ET and conclude at 10:05 am ET. In addition to the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance and sharing of stories, the event will include four moments of silence, as listed below. At 8:46 am, on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, five hijackers took control of American Airlines Flight 11 and flew it into the heart of New York City and the northern facade of the World Trade Center's North Tower (1 WTC).

At 9:03 am, five other hijackers flew United Airlines Flight 175 into the southern facade of the South Tower (2 WTC). At 9:37 am, another five hijackers flew American Airlines flight 77 into the western facade of the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. At 10:03 am, four hijackers crashed United Airlines Flight 93 into a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Wreaths Across America is the nonprofit organization best known for placing veterans' wreaths on the headstones of our nation's fallen at Arlington National Cemetery. However, the organization, in total, places more than 2 million sponsored veterans' wreaths at over 2,750 participating locations nationwide and offers year-round programs in support of its mission to Remember, Honor, Teach. These programs include The Mobile Education Exhibit which will be visiting New Jersey, Maine, Delaware, and Maryland in September and Wreaths Across America Radio . Morning Show host Michael W. Hale will conduct live interviews and on-air tributes on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, during a special edition broadcast of his morning show from 8-10 AM eastern. This year, National Wreaths Across America Day will be held on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, at more than 2,750 participating locations across the country. To sponsor a $15 wreath for an American hero, or to learn more about how to volunteer, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org . About Wreaths Across America Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization's mission  Remember, Honor, Teach  is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information or to sponsor a wreath please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. Press contacts:

Amber Caron

(207) 513-6457

acaron@wreathsacrossamerica.org Sean Sullivan

(207) 230-4599

ssullivan@wreathsacrossamerica.org View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wreaths-across-america-invites-all-americans-to-join-national-flag-waving-in-remembrance-of-the-20th-anniversary-of-september-11-301361612.html SOURCE Wreaths Across America

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[August 23, 2021] China Unicom voted "Asia's No. 1 Most Honored Telecom Company" for Sixth Consecutive Year

HONG KONG, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited ("China Unicom" or "the Company") (HKEx: 0762) was voted six years in a row by portfolio managers and analysts as "Asia's No.1 Most Honored Telecom Company" in "2021 All-Asia Executive Team" ranking organised by Institutional Investor, a distinguished media with highly-respected proprietary benchmark research and rankings related to investment community. Meanwhile, Mr. Wang Xiaochu, Chairman and CEO of the Company, was named again as "Asia's Best CEO (Telecoms)  1st". It was kindly remarked by Institutional Investor: "Since we first published this ranking in 2011, Mr. Wang has been rated the sector's top chief executive by global investors and analysts for 11 consecutive years. This is an honor that no other Asian CEO has ever achieved and is a true reflection of Mr. Wang's effective leadership and outstanding contribution to the telecommunication industry."





The excellent recognitions mark the endorsement by professional investors and investment analysts of China Unicom's continuous enhancement in strategy execution and leading performance in corporate governance in Asia. In particular, the Company fully implemented the new development philosophy and deepened the execution of the "Focus, Innovation and Cooperation" strategy. It consistently pushed forward comprehensive digital transformation, deepened "mixed-ownership reform" and network "co-build and co-share", fully endeavoring to achieve high-quality development. China Unicom would like to sincerely thank its investors and the investment community for their kind support and the great vote of confidence. Institutional Investor's "2021 All-Asia Executive Team" ranking reflected the opinions from 4,084 global investment professionals. Institutional Investor's confidential and unprompted voting gathers data from investors and analysts to determine rankings in Most Honored Companies among the Asian companies they cover, and to evaluate these businesses on selected investor relations and corporate governance attributes. In 2021, 1,438 companies across 18 sectors were nominated in the ranking. SOURCE China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited

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The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Announces Investigation of Ouster, Inc. (OUST) on Behalf of Investors

The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces an investigation of Ouster, Inc. ("Ouster" or the "Company") (NYSE: OUST) on behalf of investors concerning the Company's possible violations of federal securities laws.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.







On August 9, 2021, after the market closed, Ouster revealed that it had received a document subpoena from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission seeking "documents regarding projected financial information in [the] Form S-4 registration statement filed on December 22, 2020."

Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert) : twitter.com/FRC_LAW.

If you purchased Ouster securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to info@frankcruzlaw.com, or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005692/en/
[August 23, 2021] Samsung Brings In-memory Processing Power to Wider Range of Applications

Samsung (News - Alert) Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, today showcased its latest advancements with processing-in-memory (PIM) technology at Hot Chips 33 - a leading semiconductor conference where the most notable microprocessor and IC innovations are unveiled each year. Samsung's revelations include the first successful integration of its PIM-enabled High Bandwidth (News - Alert) Memory (HBM-PIM) into a commercialized accelerator system, and broadened PIM applications to embrace DRAM modules and mobile memory, in accelerating the move toward the convergence of memory and logic. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005535/en/ Samsung HBM-PIM (Photo: Business Wire) First integration of HBM-PIM into an AI accelerator In February, Samsung introduced the industry's first HBM-PIM (Aquabolt-XL), which incorporates the AI processing function into Samsung's HBM2 Aquabolt, to enhance high-speed data processing in supercomputers and AI applications. The HBM-PIM has since been tested in the Xilinx (News - Alert) Virtex Ultrascale+ (Alveo) AI accelerator, where it delivered an almost 2.5X system performance gain as well as more than a 60% cut in energy consumption. "HBM-PIM is the industry's first AI-tailored memory solution being tested in customer AI-accelerator systems, demonstrating remendous commercial potential," said Nam Sung Kim, senior vice president of DRAM Product & Technology at Samsung Electronics. "Through standardization of the technology, applications will become numerous, expanding into HBM3 for next-generation supercomputers and AI applications, and even into mobile memory for on-device AI as well as for memory modules used in data centers."



"Xilinx has been collaborating with Samsung Electronics to enable high-performance solutions for data center, networking and real-time signal processing applications starting with the Virtex UltraScale+ HBM family, and recently introduced our new and exciting Versal HBM series products," said Arun Varadarajan Rajagopal, senior director, Product Planning at Xilinx, Inc. "We are delighted to continue this collaboration with Samsung as we help to evaluate HBM-PIM systems for their potential to achieve major performance and energy-efficiency gains in AI applications." DRAM modules powered by PIM

The Acceleration DIMM (AXDIMM) brings processing to the DRAM module itself, minimizing large data movement between the CPU and DRAM to boost the energy efficiency of AI accelerator systems. With an AI engine built inside the buffer chip, the AXDIMM can perform parallel processing of multiple memory ranks (sets of DRAM chips) instead of accessing just one rank at a time, greatly enhancing system performance and efficiency. Since the module can retain its traditional DIMM form factor, the AXDIMM facilitates drop-in replacement without requiring system modifications. Currently being tested on customer servers, the AXDIMM can offer approximately twice the performance in AI-based recommendation applications and a 40% decrease in system-wide energy usage. " SAP (News - Alert) has been continuously collaborating with Samsung on their new and emerging memory technologies to deliver optimal performance on SAP HANA and help database acceleration," said Oliver Rebholz, head of HANA core research & innovation at SAP. "Based on performance projections and potential integration scenarios, we expect significant performance improvements for in-memory database management system (IMDBMS) and higher energy efficiency via disaggregated computing on AXDIMM. SAP is looking to continue its collaboration with Samsung in this area." Mobile memory that brings AI from data center to device Samsung's LPDDR5-PIM mobile memory technology can provide independent AI capabilities without data center connectivity. Simulation tests have shown that the LPDDR5-PIM can more than double performance while reducing energy usage by over 60% when used in applications such as voice recognition, translation and chatbot. Energizing the ecosystem Samsung plans to expand its AI memory portfolio by working with other industry leaders to complete standardization of the PIM platform in the first half of 2022. The company will also continue to foster a highly robust PIM ecosystem in assuring wide applicability across the memory market. About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005535/en/

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[August 23, 2021] abillion, the world's leading digital platform for sustainability, publishes second report on Singapore identifying plant-based trends in the local F&B sector

SINGAPORE, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- abillion, the Singapore-based tech company that is building the world's largest online community of conscious consumers, has published a report, with support from Enterprise Singapore, titled, Singapore Food Culture: The Road Ahead is Plant-Based. This study is based on data collected through abillion from Sep 2017 to June 2021. The data was contributed by over 2,000 Singapore members, who collectively posted 46,000 dish reviews, at 4,000 restaurants, and 13,000 product reviews. To read the whole report, please use this link: https://www.data.abillion.com/post/singapore-food-culture-the-road-ahead-is-plant-based . In the last few years, abillion has witnessed more Singapore restaurants join the plant-based movement. This report found that an increasing number of local restaurants are adding plant-based dishes to their menus. The number of restaurants on the abillion app is now more than 5 times its 2017 level, with this explosive growth driven both by new restaurants opening as well as existing restaurants incorporating vegan items. Of the different kinds of eateries in Singapore, cafes and bistros offer the widest range of plant-based dishes. The growth in vegan options at cafes and bistros seem to be in tandem with the proliferation of the flexitarian lifestyle in Singapore. abillion had previously highlighted that flexitarians were the fastest growing consumer segment in Singapore. Maria Tan, lead Data Scientist behind this report, comments, "It's exciting to witness Singapore's food culture pivoting towards a healthier, more sustainable future. Our key finding that cafes and bistros are leading the way is telling of what young Singapore consumers want. Our dataset is primarily driven by Gen-Z and Millennial consumers, which means that our insights are truly forward-looking." In the previous report published in April this year, abillion found that interest in conscious consumption in Singapore doubled in the past year. As eating out (or ordering in) continues to play a large part of Singapore's food culturein 2020, total local F&B sales amounted to S$7.8 billionit is no surprise that rising environmental consciousness has influenced the F&B sector. Transitioning to vegan-friendly menus offers potential business rewards for local F&B players.



But there is still vast room for improvement. While Asian restaurants are the most popular among local diners, most serve far fewer plant-based options than Western counterparts. And, while some forward-looking F&B players have started to serve innovative Asian plant-based dishes, this is a small handful, and given the growing demand, this is a market opportunity waiting to be tapped. "We see a growth in conscious consumers who seek out sustainable or healthier foods including plant-based varieties. This has in turn spurred local food companies to develop products to respond to such trends. It's encouraging to see innovation across the ecosystem of players. Manufacturers are collaborating with F&B establishments to develop dishes using plant-based products such as dumplings, satays and paus, which are suited to the Asian palate. As more of these are included in F&B menus, consumers will have more opportunities to experience plant-based products and include them in their regular meals," says Bernice Tay, Director of Food Manufacturing, Enterprise Singapore

Thanks to member reviews and posts on its platform, abillion has the world's most valuable data set on consumer sentiment and sustainability. The data science team regularly publishes its findings, ranging from country reports to deep dives into specific retail or F&B topics. To see all the reports, visit http://data.abillion.com . CEO and abillion founder, Vikas Garg, says, "Our goal is to forge a society in which all decisions are guided by a sense of social responsibility. To get there, we need to repurpose data for social good, and encourage businesses to take bold steps towards a more sustainable and reputable future." This investigative report has been supported by Enterprise Singapore and is the second of two deep dives into plant-based consumer trends in Singapore. The first can be found here: Surfing the Plant-Based Wave in Singapore . For images of abillion in use and a portrait of CEO & Founder Vikas Garg, here . About abillion At abillion, we're working to drive a global movement for plant-based food and earth-friendly products. abillion is a digital platform that assists people that want to make sustainable choices. Using the abillion app, members can discover vegan food and vegan and cruelty-free products. abillion, launched in 2018 by CEO Vikas Garg, is unique in harnessing social media for social good. Whenever a member chooses sustainability and shares a review, the member is rewarded with a donation that can feed a hungry child, educate a child for a day, plant a tree or save an animal life. The abillion app has been downloaded by nearly one million people around the world and through its giving program, the company has donated US $750,000 to life-saving causes around the world. abillion members from over 140 countries have contributed more than 850,000 reviews of vegan dishes and vegan and cruelty-free products. Consumer reviews, along with consumer insights, are shared with business owners, influencing more than 100,000 brands worldwide to offer more sustainable options. Website: www.abillion.com Press kit: here SOURCE abillion

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[August 24, 2021] Inchcape Accelerates Digital Transformation With Google Cloud and SAP

LONDON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Google Cloud today announced a new partnership with SAP and Inchcape plc, a leading multi-brand automotive distributor, that will involve Inchcape bringing its business-critical sales, marketing and operations systems, and data to the cloud. The migration of its SAP systems will help transform the purchase and ownership of cars for millions of consumers worldwide, while automating and creating new efficiencies within Inchcape's operations. Inchcapewhich partners with major automotive manufacturers in more than 36 countriesrelies on SAP for many aspects of its global business, from logistics to finance. By moving these workloads onto Google Cloud through the RISE with SAP offering, Inchcape will be able to join a diverse range of datasets into a centralised, secure, and scalable platform for the first time. And by using Google Cloud's leading artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and analytics capabilities, Inchcape will be able to manage and analyse this SAP data and create a foundation to better serve both consumers and automotive manufacturer partners. Under the new alliance, Inchcape will become one of the first UK-based businesses to run SAP on Google Cloud as part of the RISE with SAP offering. RISE with SAP provides expert support for a simplified, cost-effective, and customisable SAP migration, helping companies like Inchcape benefit from cloud scalability, reliability, and performance with no disruption to business operations. "This is only the start of our partnership with Google Cloud, not just in revolutionising our technology, but also in the way millions of our customers will find, choose, and operate their personal vehicles," said Mark Dearnley, Chief Digital Officer at Inchcape. "Google Cloud's close relationship with SAP and its strong technical expertise in this space were a big pull for us. Ultimately, we wanted a headache-free RISE with SAP implementation and to unlock value for auto makers and consumers in all our regions, while continuing to have the choice and flexibility to modernise our 150-year old buiness in a way that works for us."



For Google Cloud, this announcement reflects a deepening partnership with SAP and continued dedication to bringing uncomplicated and cost-effective ways of data management and analytics to major enterprises worldwide. "Digital transformation of the automotive industry has the chance to create entirely new experiences for consumers and automakers, and we're committed to helping organisations in this sector find new ways of delivering more sustainable, personal, and engaging services over the entire lifecycle of vehicle ownership,'' said Dominik Wee, Managing Director Global Automotive, Manufacturing and Energy at Google Cloud. "We're excited to work with Inchcape, who has such a rich history in the industry, to re-imagine everything from its delivery supply chains to its digital estate, sales, and customer after-care."

Michiel Verhoeven, Managing Director SAP UK & Ireland, added: "Given the rapidly changing economic environment, businesses need to optimise business and operational models and innovate to be successful in the future. The automotive market is at an important crossroads as it is primed to take advantage of the digitalisation that is happening across industries. Inchcape is setting off on an exciting cloud journey, one where it can expect to significantly reduce tech infrastructure maintenance and operating costs, and improve financial efficiency and employee experience, globally. SAP is the right partner to support Inchcape's mission to move to the cloud." About Google Cloud

Google Cloud accelerates organizations' ability to digitally transform their business with the best infrastructure, platform, industry solutions and expertise. We deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Google's cutting-edge technology  all on the cleanest cloud in the industry. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems. About Inchcape plc

Inchcape is the leading independent multi-brand global automotive distributor, operating in 36 markets with a portfolio of the world's leading automotive brands. Inchcape has diversified multi-channel revenue streams including sale of new and used vehicles, parts, service, finance and insurance. The Company has been listed on the London Stock Exchange (INCH) since 1958, is headquartered in London and employs around 15,000 people. www.inchcape.com . About SAP

SAP's strategy is to help every business run as an intelligent enterprise. As a market leader in enterprise application software, we help companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: 77% of the world's transaction revenue touches an SAP system. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers' businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want  without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people's lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inchcape-accelerates-digital-transformation-with-google-cloud-and-sap-301360573.html SOURCE Google Cloud

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[August 24, 2021] UCAS Announces Major Core Technology Contract with Infosys

Building on six years of successful partnership, the renewed contract will focus on driving greater automation, innovation and efficiency across the service LONDON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced the signing of a new minimum three-year contract with UCAS, the admissions service for UK higher education. UCAS and Infosys have enjoyed a successful technology partnership since 2015 but following an extensive tender process the new contract represents a major step change in the relationship, focusing on delivering seamless customer service experiences through greater automation, innovation and efficiency. UCAS provides vital admissions and information services to students, schools, advisers, and higher education providers, offering over 30,000 courses to prospective applicants each year. The service delivers the single biggest infrastructure event within the UK education sector annually on results days every August. UCAS supports approximately 700,000 applicants every year with 60,000 more this year than in 2020, and current predictions suggesting there will be 1 million applicants to higher education in the UK by 2025. The partnership between UCAS and Infosys is fundamental to the support and delivery of a professional and stable platform that students and the people advising and supporting them, can rely on when navigating their journey to higher education. As part of the new agreement Infosys will provide a wide range of digital services that will enable UCAS to further develop the capabilities that connect learners to universities, awarding bodies, schools, and other organisations, built on a dynamic digital suite of systems able to rapidly respond to the evolving UK higher education sector. Infosys will continue to concentrate on helping UCAS achieve its ambitious targets on lowering costs, optimizing, and enhancing services for students, delivering more robust security, and providing business-as-usual (BAU) services between legacy and new digital systems. Today's announcement follows UCAS' busiest Results Day ever on 10th August, with 1.5 million logins registered in UCAS Track (peaking at 2000 logins per second), 182,126 page views on the Career Finder tool, and UCAS teams supporting more than 11,000 students with queries on the phone or via social media. The traffic is the highest volume to UCAS' systems ever seen on the most important day of the year for UCAS. Sander Kristel, UCAS' Chief Operations Officer, said, "I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this new agreement with Infosys, and the benefits to UCAS staff and customers. It represents a real shift in our partnership, and will focus extensively on automation, innovation, and efficiency acoss the business, which is key to delivering on our strategy for the future.



UCAS is seeing an increase in student demand across all areas; a demographic uplift, and a growing demand from mature students and overseas applicants means that we are anticipating a million undergraduate applicants by 2025. We need to ensure that the future services that we provide reflect the diverse range of options that applicants will have, for instance when looking for an apprenticeship. That is why this new contract with Infosys is fundamental for us to continue to deliver an efficient and effective service for all of our customers and stay at the top of our game as the go to place for higher education across the globe." Ashiss Kumar Dash, EVP and Segment Head - services, utilities, resources, energy at Infosys, emphasized, "Our relationship with UCAS spans the last six years, and our renewed partnership is testament to the great success we've achieved in that time, delivering on UCAS' digital vision. In the next three years, we will continue to bring together industry leading capabilities, ecosystems and talent to deliver new experiences that reflect the growing expectations and changing dynamics in the higher education sector. With a focus on delivering greater innovation and seamless customer service experiences, we look forward to supporting UCAS retain its position as a highly trusted and accessible service."

About UCAS UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is an independent charity, and the UK's shared admissions service for higher education. Our services support young people making post-18 choices, as well as mature learners, by providing information, advice, and guidance to inspire and facilitate educational progression to university, college, or an apprenticeship. We manage almost three million applications, from around 700,000 people each year, for full-time undergraduate courses at over 380 universities and colleges across the UK. We also provide a wide range of research, consultancy and advisory services to schools, colleges, careers services, professional bodies, and employers, including apprenticeships. About Infosys Ltd. Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in more than 50 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, financial expectations and plans for navigating the COVID-19 impact on our employees, clients and stakeholders are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding COVID-19 and the effects of government and other measures seeking to contain its spread, risks related to an economic downturn or recession in India, the United States and other countries around the world, changes in political, business, and economic conditions, fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. For more information, please contact:

Dena Tahmasebi, Head of Communications EMEA, Infosys: dena.tahmasebi@infosys.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1599783/UCAS_Logo.jpg

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[August 24, 2021] Panda Health Announces New Investors and GPO Agreement with Vizient, Inc. for its Digital Health Solutions Platform

Panda Health Inc., a marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of digital health technologies, today announced it has entered a new phase of growth after recent capital investments by a group of high-profile health care stakeholders led by Vizient, Inc. In addition, Panda has received an agreement with Vizient to offer its platform of digital health solutions at contracted savings to its member hospitals effective immediately. Panda was established in Q3 2020 by founding health systems Gundersen Health System, CentraCare, ThedaCare and development partner Fitzroy Health. Its platform is designed to help health care organizations execute on their digital health strategy as a trusted partner to source, procure, and deploy digital health solutions economically, safely, and at speed. The company's second round of Seed Series funding was led by Vizient and included health care providers Bellin Health, BJC HealthCare, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Ochsner Health, UW Health, Yale New Haven Health and technology partner CitiusTech. "We are both excited and honored to have the investment support of Vizient and this amazing group of health care organizations," said David Harvey, CEO of Panda. "We are also excited now to have a contract with Vizient which will enable us to help their members source, implement and manage best-in-class digital health solutions more quickly, safely, and economically than ever before. It is imperative that health care organizations transform digitally as fast as possible to meet the needs and demands of patients and the providers that serve them. Panda's Marketplace has been designed to do just that." By entering this new phase of growth, Panda will expand its inventory across a broader range of digital health categories featuring best-in-class suppliers. The capital investment wil also fund development of additional technology, data infrastructure, and operational scale to enhance marketplace efficiency and insights for Panda's buyers and suppliers.



"Vizient members know that embedding digital innovations and workflows across the care continuum is critical to delivering their health care mission however, there are dozens of digital health categories and literally thousands of technologies available today," said John Becker (News - Alert) , group senior vice president, Strategic Growth, Vizient. "Panda is aligned with our members' strategic and operational needs for faster, simpler technology procurement and adoption. We are excited to be able to support our members who have invested as well as offer our membership contracted saving for their services." Through its marketplace, Panda vets and assesses digital health technologies across dozens of different categories and invites those suppliers that meet their rigorous functional, technical, and service requirements to participate in the marketplace. Health systems utilizing the Panda marketplace shop and procure the technologies that meet their specific needs and Panda assists with the selection, implementation, and ongoing contract management. By offering a catalog of standardized supplier contracts and support services, Panda is able to deliver on its commitment to significantly reduce vendor selection and procurement cycle times, usually by more than half.

"For Vizient members, digital enablement is critical to their enterprise and consumer strategies in transforming access to care and care delivery, yet the market is flooded with solutions that make it impossible for providers to discern which ones are right for what they are trying to achieve. Panda is meeting this challenge for providers and suppliers," said Crystal Mullis, vice president, Member-Backed Ventures for Sg2, a Vizient subsidiary company. About Panda

Panda Health is a marketplace that transforms how health systems discover, procure, and implement digital innovations that make life better for consumers. Formed in 2020 as an independent company, Panda was developed by leading health systems Gundersen Health System, CentraCare, and ThedaCare in partnership with Fitzroy Health, the development and investment firm in New York. About Vizient

Vizient, Inc. provides solutions and services that improve the delivery of high-value care by aligning cost, quality and market performance for more than 50% of the nation's acute care providers, which includes 97% of the nation's academic medical centers, and more than 20% of ambulatory care providers. Vizient provides expertise, analytics and advisory services, as well as a contract portfolio that represents more than $110 billion in annual member purchasing volume, to improve patient outcomes and lower costs. In 2021, Vizient acquired Intalere, which expanded its footprint with ambulatory and rural acute care providers. Vizient has earned a World's Most Ethical Company designation from the Ethisphere Institute every year since its inception. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at http://www.vizientinc.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005184/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Ametros Launches "It's Settled" Podcast

Ametros has launched a podcast "It's Settled: The Ametros Podcast" hosted by its General Counsel Shawn Deane. The podcast features compelling interviews with people who have been injured at work or in an accident, their loved ones, and the insurance professionals who serve them. In the first episode, "Life After Settlement: Jim & Monica Jones," Deane interviews a construction worker whose life was upended by an injury on the job and his wife about the challenges they faced after settling his workers' compensation claim. "Jim and Monica help you understand what an injured person really goes through," Deane said. "Lawyers, claims reps, and anyone else interested in patient advocacy need to hear this. They talk about working construction for over 30 years and going from an active lifestyle to living with chronic pain. And there is great insight on how to persevere through tough times and what kind of support from family, friends and companies really makes a difference." Dr. Claire Muselman tackles the topic of "Developing a Care Advocacy Model" in the second episode. She and Deane explore the elements of a successful care advocacy model. Dr. Muselman also shares communication strategies for expressing empathy with people whose lives have been disrupted by workplace injuries and ways to arm claims representatives with the tools and techology to help them.



"We need to empower employees at the desk level to think outside the box," Dr. Muselman said. "This includes focusing on continuing improved patient outcomes after settlement as well." Ametros created the "It's Settled" podcast series to encourage and educate injured individuals and those who serve them and will drop a new episode every month. "It's Settled" is available at https://podcast.ametros.com/ and all major streaming platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Ametros is the industry leader in post-settlement medical administration and a trusted partner for thousands of members receiving funds from workers' compensation and liability settlements. Founded in 2010, Ametros provides post-settlement medical management services with significant medical and pharmacy discounts along with automated payment technology and Medicare reporting tools. Headquartered just north of Boston in Wilmington, Massachusetts, Ametros may be reached at 877.275.7415 or via www.ametros.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005221/en/

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[August 24, 2021] LS-ISAO Launches Cyber Incident Response Committee

The Legal Services Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (LS-ISAO) has established a new member-led group called the Cyber Incident Response Committee (CIRC) to create playbooks, determine best practices and if needed, shepherd impacted law firms through mitigation and recovery after a cybersecurity intrusion. According to IBM (News - Alert) , the average cost of a data breach has risen to $4.24 million in 2021, with the average cost of a ransomware breach at $4.62 million and business email compromise at $5.01 million. LS-ISAO, a non-profit, assists firms by providing intelligence, analysis, infrastructure, and resources that law firms leverage to defend their practice. Within this provided hub of information exchange in the legal services industry, members share indicators of compromise and signatures from malware, trojans and business email compromise attacks, among other threats. As an advisory group for member firms experiencing cyber incidents, the newly formed CIRC develops and shares incident response guidance based off its committee members' experience and security knowledge. Engaging impacted members and working with the LS-ISAO community as a whole, it will seek to improve preparedness and minimize the impact from malicious threat actors. The CIRC is currently developing an incident response playbook, to address both executive level and technical staff responsibilities during a crisis. A CIRC-developed repository of documents and practices will also be available to LS-ISAO community members in the community document library. "Providing guidance and support to fellow members is an ongoing activity in the community," said Bill Nelson, Chair an CEO of LS-ISAO parent company Global Resilience Federation. "Leading members decided that a more formal approach to incident response planning, with extensive documentation, could assist fellow members and fill the gap between our prevention activities and what we're sharing for post incident recovery; the CIRC's activities are geared to crisis management."



With nearly 150 law firms from around the world, including most of the Am Law 200, LS-ISAO members work together to share warning and support each other with best practices and advice. Firm security teams are backed by LS-ISAO staff analysts who enrich intelligence and provide added information streams from security vendors, government and other sources. According to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, "One of the best techniques to address [the sophistication of Advanced Persistent Threats] is for organizations to share threat information." And threats against the legal services industry are increasingly global in nature. The industry must work together to ensure mutual security for reasons of reputation, revenue, and responsibility to clients.

Firms that are able to invest heavily in cybersecurity are at a relative advantage in the industry, but LS-ISAO allows even the most secure firms to expand their security footprint and threat awareness by "crowd sourcing" intelligence within a vetted and secure community of other professionals committed to a common cause. The community also helps develop the cybersecurity capabilities of small and medium sized firms with limited IT and security resources. To learn more about strengthening your firm's cyber security through information sharing, visit www.LS-ISAO.com About LS-ISAO Law firms join LS-ISAO to "crowd-source" cybersecurity threat information with industry peers, and gain additional intelligence from analysts who research and disseminate actionable product in real and near real time. For more information or to apply for membership, contact Raquel Santiago at rsantiago@ls-isao.com. LS-ISAO LLC is a member of Global Resilience Federation, a network of ISACs and ISAOs sharing threat intelligence among thousands of members, globally. https://www.ls-isao.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005138/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Credence Security Signs Partnership Agreement with Infosec Ventures to Deliver Human-Centric Security Solutions to the Middle East

DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Credence Security, a leading regional specialized value-added distributor for cybersecurity, forensics, governance, risk and compliance solutions, today announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with Infosec Ventures' HumanFirewall, a leader in human cyber risk mitigation and management. Under the agreement, Credence Security will be responsible for promoting and delivering Infosec Ventures' HumanFirewall platform across its robust channel network in the Middle East. Infosec Ventures' offerings are available entirely on-premises or in a local cloud, in line with compliance and data sovereignty regulations, specifically for mission critical organizations in the government as well as large enterprises.



Hackers are increasingly preying on the human element of cybersecurity, as a primary attack vector. According to the Verizon 2021 Data Breach & Incident Report (DBIR), over 85% of data breaches involved human error. In the Middle East, a 2020 study by the Ponemon Institute and IBM Security, revealed that the average cost of a data breach per company in the region is $6.53 million, which is higher than the global average of $3.86 million per incident. The report also identified human error among the most common root causes of data breaches in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, similar industry studies have indicated that more than 90% of successful cyber-attacks begin with an email. These figures highlight a significant need for solutions that will not only safeguard business-critical systems but will also transform employees into an organization's best cybersecurity asset. HumanFirewall transforms employees from an organization's weakest link into their strongest line of defence. It is a world-first security awareness and training platform that also works when real attacks strike. It augments with technology what humans lack in attention. It gamifies the learning experience via phishing simulations, builds individual risk-profiles, rewards real-time reporting, remediates incidents instantly, orchestrates auto-blacklisting enterprise wide via easy to deploy one-click integration with Microsoft 365 (O365), Google Workspace (formerly GSuite) and Exchange. The solution is trusted by top corporations in 142 countries. Ankush Johar, Director, Infosec Ventures, said, "Organizations often focus their investments on tools that secure computer operating systems. HumanFirewall is centred on securing the 'human operating system', which is just as important. Our success here in the region confirms how Middle East enterprises are recognizing the need to safeguard the human element, especially during the black swan event that is COVID-19. We'r headquartered in the UK and we operate across 142 countries. The Middle East is one of the key markets where we invest significantly in terms of building an ardent and dedicated local management, product and support teams. Additionally, as part of our commitment to the region, we developed Arabic content that was custom-built in the region, for the region, to ensure it not only meets local compliance, but also addresses customer demands."



"We selected Credence Security as our regional value-added distributor based on our shared ethos of being a channel-centric business. Besides their proven market expertise and extensive channel network, Credence Security has a strong understanding of our needs and vision as a leading vendor in the region. Also, like us, they are passionate about cybersecurity. We are confident that by partnering with a premier distributor such as Credence Security, we can further accelerate our already strong local presence and fast-track our growth." Garreth Scott, Managing Director, Credence Security, said, "People's desire to quickly process information with minimal effort has created a unique vulnerability in the digital age, making them the weak links in the cyber chain. We firmly believe that HumanFirewall's innovative cybersecurity tools, backed by its exceptional team of industry experts, address a compelling demand for a modern approach to securing the human element. We are looking forward to bringing their ground-breaking solutions to our partners and customers across the Middle East region."

ABOUT CREDENCE SECURITY: Established in 1999, Credence Security, a PAN-EMEA speciality Value-added Distributor, is a leader in Cybersecurity, Forensics, Governance, Risk and Compliance. With headquarters in Dubai and regional offices in Johannesburg, London, Nairobi, and Hyderabad. We are a pure-play provider of security and forensics solutions, to both public and private sector enterprises across Europe, Middle East, Africa and India, through a select network of specialist resellers. Unlike most other distributors, we take a consultative 'value-add' solution approach, we collaborate with our partners and their customers to understand their needs, both from a technology and business perspective, and then work very closely with our partners to deliver tailor made solutions. Working closely with globally recognized, award winning vendors including AccessData, an Exterro company, HumanFirewall, Entrust, Netskope, Oxygen Forensics, SealPath, ZecOps and ZeroFox, Credence Security delivers best-in-class, Cybersecurity & Forensics technologies and solutions that protect organizations against advanced persistent threats, malicious adversaries and internal malpractice. For more information about Credence Security, visit credencesecurity.com or follow them on social media at: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CredenceSecure

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/credence-security

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CredenceSec

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn4O73EKgUE-1BbMZS95yzQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/credencesecurity/ ABOUT INFOSEC VENTURES: Infosec Ventures incubates and scales cyber security innovators that solve for inefficiencies in cyber security, solve big problems and deliver exceptionally high returns on investment for customers. IV is on a mission to make the world cyber safe, by protecting systems and the 'human operating system'. Some notable current ventures include humanfirewall.io, emailauth.io, bugsbounty.com, securityrating.com among others. ABOUT HUMANFIREWALL HumanFirewall transforms employees from an organisation's weakest link into their strongest line of defence. It is a world-first security awareness and training platform that also works when real attacks strike. It augments with technology what humans lack in attention. It gamifies the learning experience via phishing simulations, builds individual risk profiles, rewards real-time reporting, remediates incidents instantly, orchestrates auto-blacklisting enterprise-wide via easy to deploy one-click integration with O365, GSuite and Exchange. Trusted by top corporations in 142 countries. For more information about Infosec Ventures, visit www.infosecventures.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/credence-security-signs-partnership-agreement-with-infosec-ventures-to-deliver-human-centric-security-solutions-to-the-middle-east-301361501.html SOURCE Credence Security

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[August 24, 2021] Worthix Unveils Advanced, AI-Based Customer Insight Capabilities With Worthix 2.0 Platform

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Worthix , the first and only conversation-based AI technology tool for customer decision intelligence able to power one-on-one conversations with customers in any language and at any scale, today announced the availability of Worthix 2.0, a new platform with advanced features  including the Worthix Decision Lab  that enables companies to identify the elements of an experience, external influences and mechanisms, such as social proof, to pinpoint the exact moment and reason behind a purchase decision.

Customer decisions are the ultimate market disruptors, and with a rapidly changing economy, the only way for companies to stay competitive is to develop a data-driven, real-time understanding of whats driving these decisions. This feat becomes increasingly more complicated for global companies, who need to understand the unique influences behind the purchasing decisions of thousands or even millions of customers across individual regions (while taking into account the nuances of their cultures and languages). A common solution has been for companies to leverage survey technology to engage with and ask questions to their customers. However, the intelligence derived from this kind of quantitative research is limited and can often be misguided, as companies tend to confine potential responses to what matters to them. This inside-out approach can lead to an incomplete or skewed perspective of what customers really care about. Theyre also limited in speed, scope and cost-effectiveness, leading companies to dwindle their resources on limited returns. Introducing the Worthix 2.0 Platform

Worthix is the first and only AI-based customer intelligence platform to power one-on-one conversations in any language and at any scale, in order to identify the reasons behind a purchase decision. Unlike other intelligence companies that use lengthy, outdated survey methodologies, Worthix uses conversations to empathetically connect with customers one-on-one and adapt to focus on what they care most about as the dialogue progresses. By prioritizing the customer voice, Worthix quickly uncovers the drivers behind what makes a purchase decision worth it to customers. Worthix then delivers rich, actionable customer insights that enable brands to rank their top investment priorities and provide a universally positive experience to customers in any location around the world.



With the Worthix 2.0 platform, companies can obtain deeper, more nuanced customer data and generate critical insights at the speed of market change, through the use of new features including the Worthix Decision Lab dashboard; competitor insights; an updated interface, graphs and charts; advaned NLP technology and more (view full details here).



With global markets undergoing change at a pace unprecedented even a year ago, companies have never had a greater need for dependable data on whats really driving their customers purchases, and corresponding insights around the most business-critical actions to take and when in order to stay competitive, said Guilherme Cerqueira, CEO and Co-founder, Worthix. The new capabilities were delivering with the Worthix 2.0 Platform will allow companies to reach a new level of engagement with their customers and identify what elements of the customer experience make the greatest impact. Aligning their investment priorities to customers needs will help companies reach higher levels of overall business success. Availability and Pricing

The Worthix 2.0 platform is currently available and is running in production at leading enterprises. To schedule a trial, inquire about pricing and learn more, send us an email at contact@worthix.com .

Quotes

Jonathan Sachs, Vice President of Patient Experience and Foundation, Adventist Healthcare

The healthcare industry is changing rapidly, with emerging technologies transforming the market and patients expectations every day, said Jonathan Sachs, VP of patient experience and foundation, Adventist Healthcare. By using the Worthix 2.0 platform, our organization has been able to identify the actions which will make a significant impact to our patients across locations and groups, allowing us to improve our patient experience and provide the cutting-edge offerings which matter most to them. It has been especially valuable to receive continuous feedback from patients on how the changes we make are being received, so we know we are always on the path to providing better care. David Python, CEO and Co-founder, Cariuma

We are so excited for the next evolution in the Worthix platform. We utilize Worthix to deeply understand where to invest and prioritize based on real customers detailed feedback on what drove their purchase, what they love about Cariuma, and also what we can improve to make their experience the best it can be, said David Python, Co-Founder and CEO, Cariuma. We are actively using our findings to make Cariuma as great as it can be, which is such an invaluable asset for a growing brand at our size and stage. Cariuma looks forward to continuing to utilize the new Worthix platform during this exciting time! Tulio Ribeiro, Partner, Lanx Capital

For companies to remain successful over time, they need to establish an authentic and ongoing understanding of how their products are perceived by customers and what exactly is leading them to make a purchase, said Tulio Ribeiro, partner, Lanx Capital. Worthixs AI-based conversations solve this common pain point for companies at scale, and the Worthix platform goes a step further by converting all data into continuously updated, actionable priorities on the dashboard. Worthixs unique ability to provide key customer insights instantly impressed our team, and we became enthusiastic investors. Connect with Worthix Connect with Worthix on LinkedIn

on LinkedIn Connect with Worthix on Twitter

on Twitter Connect with Worthix on Facebook

About Worthix

Worthix is the first and only conversation-based AI technology tool for customer decision intelligence that powers one-on-one conversations with customers, in any language and at any scale, to identify the exact reason behind a purchase decision. Unlike other intelligence companies that use lengthy, outdated survey methodologies, the Worthix platform uses conversations to empathetically connect with customers one-on-one and adapt to focus on what they care most about as the dialogue progresses. By prioritizing the customer voice, Worthix quickly uncovers the non-intuitive drivers behind what makes a purchase decision worth it to customers. Worthix then delivers rich, actionable customer insights that enable brands to rank their top investment priorities and provide a universally positive experience to customers in any location around the world. To learn more about Worthix, visit www.worthix.com . Press Contact

Karbo Communications

worthix@karbocom.com





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[August 24, 2021] Fort Pitt Capital Group Announces Staff Promotions and Portfolio Management Transition

Fort Pitt Capital Group ("Fort Pitt") is pleased to announce promotions among the leadership in our Portfolio Management group. Beginning September 1, 2021 Dan Eye, CFA will be elevated to the role of Chief Investment Officer, and Carter Henderson will be promoted to co-Portfolio Manager. Charlie Smith, a founding partner of Fort Pitt and current Chief Investment Officer explains, "We've spent nearly a decade building the skill stack in Portfolio Management. Jay Sommariva took over fixed income eight years ago and day-to-day team management in 2019. Carter brought prodigious stock-picking skills in 2018, and Dan added his aptitude for client communication and seeing the 'big picture' in 2019. These changes simply crystallize that process, allowing me to retire from day-to-day management on June 30, 2022, while remaining in a consulting role beyond that date." "The deliberate evolution of Charlie Smith's leadership function is part of Fort Pitt's larger succession plan. Dan is a veteran leader who will assume this role seamlessly and effectively," said Fort Pitt CEO Theodore M. (Ted) Bovard. Eye has nearly 20 years of investment management experience, startingwith J.P. Morgan where he actively managed discretionary portfolios for high-net-worth individuals, then constructing and managing customized portfolios for ultra-high net worth clients with a Philadelphia-based firm, and more recently as Chief Investment Officer for Harrisburg-based RIA Roof Advisory Group. He joined Fort Pitt in 2019 as part of a merger as the Head of Asset Allocation and Equity Research and spent the last 3 years working closely with Smith.



"Ultimately, we're in the business of making it possible for people to retire," said Mike Blehar, Founding Partner at Fort Pitt. "Ted, Charlie, and I have been investing right alongside our clients since we founded the firm in 1995, building our own retirement nest eggs the same way we build it for them. Charlie has done a tremendous job of building his team in a way that will allow them to continue our firm's investment strategies at the same high-level our clients have enjoyed from inception." About Fort Pitt Capital Group:

Fort Pitt Capital Group was formed in 1995 with an emphasis on exceptional client service and advice given in the best interest of our clients. We offer a large firm's breadth & depth with in-house analysts, a powerful trading system, and certified financial planners but with a boutique's feel. Clients work with a small, dedicated client advisory team that takes a powerfully personal approach to financial planning, wealth management, business consultation, and 401(k) planning. For more information, visit www.fortpittcapital.com. *Registration with the SEC (News - Alert) does not imply any particular level of skill or training. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005572/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Tecore Networks Delivers Industry's Ultimate Portable 5G SA and NSA Compliant Network in a Box

Tecore (News - Alert) Networks, a U.S. based manufacturer and global supplier of innovative mobile network infrastructure is excited to announce the launch of its highly anticipated 5G iCore Network in a Box (NIB). In an industry where the desire for optimal Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) is constantly redefined, and applicable use cases demand high performance and power in smaller, transportable form factors, Tecore's 5G NIB answers the call. What sets this 5G NIB apart is its ability to operate in 5G standalone (SA), 5G non-standalone (NSA) or LTE (News - Alert) only mode while providing macro coverage at 20W per port. This unique NIB product comes equipped with a 3GPP compliant 5G Core, 4G EPC, gNodeB and eNodeB, all of which are integrated within its IP67 rated chassis. "Future Technologies has commercially deployed this 5G NIB form factor for several private cellular networks over the past 12 months. We find this integrated form factor of radio and core to be a great differentiator for our customer's field deployable systems for deployment scenarios of vehicle mounted systems, tactical systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles. In addition to these deployable scenarios, we have also found the 5G NIB to be great solution for agile lab to field deployments to enable next generation use case creation (application development, automation) that require connectivity, compute and application layers with agility and portability," said, Peter Cappiello, CEO - Future Technologies Venture, LLC. Unlike other similar products on the market, Tecore's 5G NIB is able to serve as a macro site, rated for both indoor and outoor use, putting it on the leading edge of portable 5G solutions. With an integrated IMS server, and the functional advantages of a 5G network providing reduced latency, increased bandwidth, higher data throughput and network slicing among its other 5G benefits, this one-of-a-kind technology is tailor-made to provide network coverage in urban, rural or isolated areas.



"Technological demands have forced companies to rethink, redesign and adapt; pushing for the development of 5G networks that are suitable for deployments in various terrains. At Tecore, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of innovation by offering a 5G macro network in a single box that provides the necessary communication infrastructure within a highly portable package ensuring ease of deployment," said Jay Salkini, President and CEO - Tecore Networks. The small, portable form factor and rapid deployment capability of this 5G NIB not only meet - but exceed - mission critical public safety needs, supporting seamless communications where and when they are needed the most. The flexibility enables multiple deployment scenarios including man-packable, vehicle-based (air, land and sea) deployments, and mobile and central command center interoperability across all public safety departments and agencies.

Tecore Networks has been in the wireless network business for over 30 years, supplying its government, commercial operator, and enterprise customers with cutting edge wireless solutions providing scalable, customizable, and cost-effective networks. When looking for an American supplier, Tecore is your ideal partner. As a trusted U.S. company, with memberships in the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (News - Alert) (CTIA), Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), Telecom Infra Project (TIP), Rural Wireless Association (RWA), National Defense Industry Association (NDIA) and Citizens Broadcast Radio Service (CBRS) Alliance, Tecore has built a robust portfolio of software and hardware solutions covering Core and Radio Access Networks (RAN). Please visit https://www.tecore.com/ to request more information about Tecore's Core, RAN and NIB portfolio. Representatives are available to discuss which Tecore solution best fits your unique requirements. About Tecore Networks Tecore Networks is a global supplier of 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G wireless network infrastructure. Tecore has dramatically enhanced functionality while minimizing space requirements, installation time and cost of ownership. Tecore's solutions include core as well as radio access network infrastructure, supported by state-of-the-art professional services. Founded in 1991, Tecore is ISO 9001:2015 certified, and is a three-time winner of the Global Mobile ( 3GSM (News - Alert) ) Award. For more information, visit www.tecore.com. iCore, Network in a Box (News - Alert), and Tecore are registered trademarks of Tecore, Inc. About Future Technologies Venture, LLC Future Technologies Venture, LLC is a Lead System Integrator (LSI) specializing in the assessment, planning, design, implementation, and support of innovative communications solutions. Future Technologies maintains a strong concentration on emerging standards such as 5G, 4G, Private LTE, WIFI, SCADA and Automation technologies. Future Technologies is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Visit https://www.futuretechllc.com/innovation-center to register for a tour of Future Technologies Innovation center to see Tecore's solutions in person. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005584/en/

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[August 24, 2021] The Annual Insider Risk Summit Adds Experts from Accenture, Aberdeen, Deloitte, IDC and PwC to Speaker Roster

Today, the Insider Risk Summit team announced the next wave of cybersecurity experts and industry advisors to the speaker lineup for the annual Insider Risk Summit 2021. New speakers to the roster include leaders from Accenture, Aberdeen, Deloitte, IDC (News - Alert) and PwC. Joining the sponsorship list includes Carahsoft, CrowdStrike, CyberArk, Microsoft, Palo Alto Networks and Splunk. Register here for the fully virtual, free-to-attend event. The Insider Risk Summit is the industry's leading conference on Insider Risk Management (IRM). IRM is a new data security movement for mitigating any data exposure event that jeopardizes the financial, reputational or operational well-being of a company, its employees, customers and partners. Insider Risk Summit Featured Speakers

Some of the event's additional featured sessions and speakers announced today include: Advisory Panel: "The Intersection of Insider Risk Management & Enterprise Risk Management -

How real-world challenges are influencing insider programs" In an almost unprecedented joining of industry advisory and insider risk experts, John Boles with PwC, Henry Chan of Accenture Security and Michael Gelles with Deloitte (News - Alert) , join Christina Richmond, the Program VP, Security Services from IDC to dive deep into the trenches in their session. CISO Panel on Addressing Insider Risk

In this insightful CISO roundtable conversation from three distinct industries - security, technology and consulting, cybersecurity leader Rick Howard from The CyberWire moderates a candid and in-depth conversation with leading CISOs, Jeff Peal from SullivanCotter, Mike Johnson from Fastly and Jadee Hanson of Code42. They will discuss the latest headlines, the security implications of hybrid work, the great resignation, real insider experiences and solutions to the insider risk problem. The Summit also features sessions by insider risk experts: -Derek Brink, Vice President and Research Fellow, Aberdeen (News - Alert)

'Understanding Your Insider Risk, and the Value of Your Intellectual Property' -Tim Briggs, Director Incident Response, CrowdStrike





-Samantha Humphries, Head of Security Strategy, EMEA, Exabeam

'Building an Insider Threat Program from Scratch'

-Ananth Appathurai, SVP, Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem

'Customer-centric Insider Risk Management - It Takes an Ecosystem' -Talhah Mir, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft (News - Alert)

'Don't Delay in Detecting and Mitigating Hidden Insider Risks' -Wendy Overton, Director of Cyber Strategy, Optiv

'Moving from Insider Threat to Insider Risk: Shifting Focus in a Changing World' -Matt Tarr, Solutions Architect, CyberArk

'Automating Threat Response to Privileged Identities' Additional speaker announcements will be made in the leadup to the conference on the Insider Risk Summit event page. Register Now and Earn CPE Credits

Insider Risk Summit attendees will have opportunities to network, take in product demos, host 1:1 meetings or attend educational sessions and discussions. Security practitioners attending the Summit are eligible to earn 20+ CPE credits. This year again, the event expects to draw security professionals from across the globe world, including: C-suite executives focused on information security, security, risk and compliance (CISO, CSO, CRO, CCO).

Security architects rethinking the security stack in the context of Zero Trust and SASE.

Insider Risk, insider threat or insider trust functional leaders.

Incident responders and security analysts.

HR and legal professionals involved in internal investigations and IP litigations. To register and learn more about the Insider Risk Summit, visit insiderrisksummit.com. About The Insider Risk Summit

The Insider Risk Summit, the industry's leading conference on Insider Risk Management (IRM), brings together security leaders and practitioners and industry experts to learn, interact and share best practices in the IRM space. More than just one moment in time - the Insider Risk Summit is a community of organizations and security professionals that understand collaboration, productivity and enablement of users while meeting data security challenges. In its inaugural year in 2020, more than 2,000 security professionals registered for the event, which is held annually in September during Insider Threat Awareness month. For the most up-to-date news about the Insider Risk Summit and the IRM community, go to www.insiderrisksummit.com or follow along on Twitter.  2021 Code42 Software, Inc. All rights reserved. The Insider Risk Summit is a trademark of Code42 Software, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All rights reserved. All other marks are properties of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005343/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Baron & Budd Announces Spring 2021 Mesothelioma Cancer Victims Memorial Scholarship Winners

Today, the national law firm of Baron & Budd announced that it has selected Makenna Thomas and Jackson Sherman as the winners of the Mesothelioma Cancer Victims Memorial Scholarship. Each winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship paid directly to the financial aid accounts at their universities. Applicants were asked to submit a written or video essay about how cancer has impacted their lives. Thomas' winning written essay was selected after a competitive review by the Baron & Budd Scholarship committee. Her essay detailed her own struggle with cancer when she was diagnosed during her freshman year of high school. Thomas explained how she dealt with the emotional trauma caused by cancer and how she found the courage to rise above it. "My life is in my hands now. I faced the vulnerabilities that were drowning me and began to grow from them. I learned to value my worth and use the strength, confidence, and determination I discovered to embrace this new version of myself. It empowered me to acknowledge that while I was different, it didn't have to be a bad thing. Once I was able to accept the fact that cancer had changed me, I granted myself the permission to give my life the meaning it seemed to be missing. And it was that meaning which taught me that, although cancer had changed me, my growth was beautiful- and that's what mattered the most," wrote Thomas. Thomas continues to have a positive attitude aimed toward helping others. She is attending the University of California Los Angeles where she is majoring in neuroscience. Additionally, Jackson Sherman was selected by the Baron & Budd Scholarshi committee as the video essay winner. His video focused on how cancer has affected many members in his family, particularly his great aunt. Sherman described the close relationship he has with his great aunt and how he has seen cancer drastically affect her health.



In a letter of recommendation, Sherman's school counselor said, "Jackson has always maintained a positive attitude and a resilience you do not see in many adults, let alone teenagers Jackson is a persistent, motivated worker and after taking all the art courses that our school offers, he decided to start our Art Club, a source of great pride for him. Within the classroom he is always kind and curious, asking as many questions as possible, but also making sure his peers have their answers and support. It is an interesting dynamic to witness a selfless teenager who is not only aware of his surroundings but strives to make sure his peers are as successful as he is." Sherman says art provides an outlet for him and way to cope with the grief he experiences from cancer. He will be attending the University of Hartford where he will pursue a degree in art, specifically illustration.

"We are proud to help support the education of these outstanding individuals. Both Makenna and Jackson have already faced a lot of adversity in their young lives, but they have found strength and courage to come out on top despite their hardships," said President and Managing Shareholder Russell Budd. The Mesothelioma Cancer Victims Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the legacy of the thousands of Americans who are diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer every year. Baron & Budd's scholarship program is open to individuals who will attend a US-based four-year university or college. For more information about the Baron & Budd Mesothelioma Cancer Victims Memorial Scholarship, please visit baronandbudd.com/mesothelioma-lawyer/scholarships/. ABOUT BARON & BUDD, P.C. Baron & Budd, P.C. is among the largest and most accomplished plaintiffs' law firms in the country. With more than 40 years of experience, Baron & Budd has the expertise and resources to handle complex litigation throughout the United States. As a law firm that takes pride in remaining at the forefront of litigation, Baron & Budd has spearheaded many significant cases for hundreds of entities and thousands of individuals. Since the firm was founded in 1977, Baron & Budd has achieved substantial national acclaim for its work on cutting-edge litigation, trying hundreds of cases to verdict and settling tens of thousands of cases. Baron & Budd and its legal experts across the country pursue litigation to protect people and their communities from the effects of dangerous and diverse issues including: harmful pharmaceuticals as well as highly addictive opioids, defective medical devices, asbestos and mesothelioma, environmental contamination including delivering ground-breaking settlements for the California wildfire victims, e-cigarette manufacturers, fraudulent and illegal banking practices, motor vehicle manufacturing and accidents, False Claims Act cases, and other consumer fraud issues. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005620/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Carahsoft Adds Solutions to IT Asset Management and Cybersecurity Blanket Purchase Agreement for U.S. Department of Defense

RESTON, Va., Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, today announced it has been awarded a modification to its Department of Defense (DoD) Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) blanket purchase agreement (BPA) N66001-21-A-0031. The modification expands the DoDs access to IT asset management and cybersecurity solutions with the addition of five manufacturers. Carahsoft holds an additional BPA (N66001-19-A-0120), with 28 total solution providers available to meet the DoDs mission needs.

Under these agreements, Carahsoft and authorized reseller partners will jointly provide software, software maintenance support, information technology professional services and training to the DoD, U.S. intelligence community and Coast Guard from the following: BPA N66001-21-A-0031: ASG Technologies

BlackBerry

Corelight

Decision Lens

Delphix

Denodo Technologies

FireEye

Flexera

Fornetix

Gigamon

PacketViper

RSA

Sonatype BPA N66001-19-A-0120: BeyondTrust

CloudBolt Software

DataLocker

HyTrust

Ivanti

Micro Focus Government Solutions

Nlyte Software

Nutanix

Oblong Industries

Recorded Future

SafeNet Assured Technologies

ServiceNow

Splunk

Veritas Technologies

Zscaler The Carahsoft Team is committed o providing leading solutions to meet the needs of the DoD, and we are proud to incorporate more of our vendors technologies and expertise to solve the latest challenges, said Craig P. Abod, Carahsoft President. With our Best-in-Class designation, we look forward to continuing to build momentum around these BPAs to better serve our Defense customers with software and services from our solution providers and reseller partners.



The agreements support the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement and are intended to reduce the contracting and open market costs associated with the traditional procurement process, including searching for sources, developing technical documents and solicitations, negotiating contractual terms, and evaluating offers. Carahsofts BPAs are designated Best-in-Class by the Office of Management and Budget, certifying they meet high standards for cost avoidance, data-driven procurement and independent reviews. Asset management and cybersecurity solutions are available under Blanket Purchase Agreement N66001-21-A-0031 and Blanket Purchase Agreement N66001-19-A-0120 through Carahsofts GSA Schedule No. GS-35F-0119Y. For more information, contact the Carahsoft IT Asset Management BPA Team at (703) 889-9878 or ITAMBPA@Carahsoft.com.

About the DoD Enterprise Software Initiative (DoD ESI) DoD ESI is an official DoD initiative sponsored by the DoD Chief Information Officer (CIO) to lead in the establishment and management of enterprise COTS IT agreements, assets, and policies. DoD ESI lowers the total cost of ownership across the DoD, Coast Guard and Intelligence Communities for commercial software, IT hardware, and services. About Carahsoft Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, we deliver solutions for Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Open Source, Customer Experience and Engagement, and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Visit us at www.carahsoft.com. Contact Mary Lange

(703) 230-7434

PR@carahsoft.com





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[August 24, 2021] MEDIA ALERT - What are the top 10 sales and use tax audit triggers for 2021?

Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting (AEX:WKL): What: Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting experts have interviewed many state revenue authorities and companies across many industries that are facing or having faced sales and use tax audits over the last year to determine activities businesses engage in or things they fail to do in meeting their sales and use tax obligations that are most likely to lead to a sales and use tax audit. The result was a top ten list of audit triggers. Why: Being aware of the most prevalent business activities that are most likely to result in sales and use tax audits is important to companies and their tax advisors for three primary reasons: It provides a clear understanding of what auditors are likely to be looking for, thereby, helping companies prepare for the audit

It reduces the time that a company will spend during the audit

It will surface actions that a company should take going forward to reduce or even eliminate future sales and use tax audits The Top Ten Audit Triggers: Prior sales and use tax audit liabilities Pattern of late or irregular sales and use tx filings Amount of exempt sales compared to gross sales reported on sales and use tax returns Industries that are frequent sales and use tax audit targets Type of business entity Changes in a state's sales and use tax law Business closure, dissolution, or bankruptcy Supplier or vendor sales and use tax audits Regularly scheduled audits for a state's largest taxpayers Whistleblowers or referrals from third parties



Who: Tax expert Mark Friedlich, CPA, Esq., and vice president of US Government Affairs at Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting North America, can help discuss these sales and use tax audit triggers in more detail.

PLEASE NOTE: The content of this article is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. The information is provided with the understanding that Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. Contact: To arrange an interview with Mark Friedlich or other federal and state tax experts from Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting on this or any other tax-related topics, please contact Bart Lipinski (News - Alert) . View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005618/en/

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[August 24, 2021] For the 4th Time, Escalon Appears on the Inc. 5000 Ranking No. 1844 With Three-Year Revenue Growth of Over 300 Percent

Inc. magazine today revealed that Escalon, leading Essential Business Services (EBS) provider, is No. 1844 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy's most dynamic segment-its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft (News - Alert) , Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. "We are very pleased to once again be recognized by Inc. magazine on its annual Inc. 5000 list," said Anurag Pal, CEO of Escalon. "Certainly, this speaks volumes about our efforts as a business and the fact that we are on a growth trajectory that shows our efforts to become the leader in Essential Business Services are paying off." Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this year's list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020's unprecedented challenges. Among the 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate soared to 543 percent, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, those companies added more than 610,000 jobs over the past three years. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc., which will be available on newsstands on August 20. "The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled," said Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we've lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with had work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people."



As the leader in the Essential Business Services category, Escalon has established itself as an innovator in helping small businesses, mid-sized businesses, and startups address one of their biggest challenges -- - making sure back-office operations, such as accounting, HR, payroll, recruiting and taxes, get done and done right. Escalon recently re-branded itself to better deliver on its brand promise. The new branding of "Escalon. And Done." assures customers that they can count on Escalon to get the job done when it comes to Essential Business Services. More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

Methodology Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent-not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies-as of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to three decimal places. There was one tie on this year's Inc. 5000. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.'s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. About Escalon Services Since 2006, Escalon has shepherded over 4,000 companies across many verticals and in 22 countries. Escalon has helped businesses grow from one person in the garage to IPO and beyond, and have been named to Inc. Magazine's Inc. 5000 list four times over the past five years. Escalon provides a one-stop shop for the integrated solutions we call Essential Business Services (EBS). EBS gives clients a seamless, audit-ready solution for Financial Ops, People Ops and Risk. About Inc. Media The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including web sites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Vision Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com. For more information on the Inc. 5000 Vision Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005625/en/

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[August 24, 2021] InterGen Data, Inc. Chooses Phalanx Advanced Endpoint Security Platform to Secure Transmission of Data Files

InterGen Data, Inc. (InterGen) has selected Phalanx's data security platform as a secure way for our clients to upload, transmit, receive, and test our proprietary predictive Life Stage Life Event Data "LSLE." Each client environment is required to adhere to strict security policies ensuring that all the data will be safe, secure, and fully encrypted from end to end. "We are very excited to implement Phalanx's solution. Our prospective customers have been clamoring for an effective way to test our data in a timely manner. By utilizing their platform, we will be able to quickly set up access for any customer in as little as 30 minutes," said Robert J. Kirk, Founder and CEO. "Once completed, we will be able to take an anonymized client data file, process it, and provide personalized insights almost immediately," Kirk further stated. "Phalanx's data-centric endpoint security platform is delivering significant benefits for InterGen Data and their customers by enabling their data with Zero Trust," stated Ian Garrett, CEO and Co-founder of Phalanx. "We have significantly reduced their implementation time, development hours, and expenses by allowing InterGen Data's customers to simply create a folder in their choice of cloud storage where all files are automatically encrypted and delivered seamlessly," Garrett further said. In the Bank, Financial Services, and Insurance industries, accessing, storing, and transferring customer data requires strict adherence to US Data Protection and Privacy Laws. "As an artificial intelligence-based/machine learning "AI/ML" Data as a Service provider, security is paramount to our success and a top-of-mind regulatory risk for our clients. The Phalanx platform ensures that our custoer files remain secure, isolated, and controlled by the customer," Robert Kirk added.



About InterGen Data, Inc. InterGen Data, Inc. (InterGen Data) was founded by the financial services industry veteran Robert J. Kirk in December 2017. InterGen Data is an award-winning Life Event Data as a Service provider that uses the latest in predictive modeling techniques and patent pending proprietary algorithms that identify when someone is likely to have an important life event occur, what that event could be, and how much of an economic impact that it would have on their financial journey. They supply this data to banks, financial services, and insurance companies.

More information can be found at https://www.intergendata.com/. About Phalanx Phalanx was founded by a group of cybersecurity experts and military veterans with the mission to provide simple, proven cybersecurity without increasing the burden on the end-user or security staff. Phalanx provides data-centric endpoint security designed with the users' psychology in mind to increase ease-of-use while decreasing the effects of a breach, insider threats, and chances of accidental spillage. The simple, automatic file encryption platform is built for organizational security so businesses can easily share data regardless of environment. More information can be found at https://www.phalanx.io Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain or refer to forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give expectations or forecasts of the future using terms such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "potential," "look to," and other terms tied to future periods. Results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations. They involve risks and uncertainties, including the "Risk Factors" MetLife, Inc. describes in its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company has no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement. Parts of this news release may include additional information on forward-looking statements. This news release may also contain measures that are not calculated based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005276/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Commtel Invests in nybl.ai, a Pioneer in the Democratization of Artificial Intelligence

Global engineering and technology company Commtel, through its subsidiary in the UAE, has invested a minority stake in nybl, the Dubai based deep tech company democratizing AI. The two companies have agreed not to disclose the percentage of the stake. nybl has built a framework that allows the codeless development and deployment of machine learning models and AI applications, and its platform is currently in use in various industry sectors in the GCC region and North America. The investment will give Commtel access to nybl's technologies for custom AI development for its clients in the Oil & Gas, Power, Mining, Transportation, and other critical infrastructure sectors. Mr. Shriprakash Pandey, CMD, Commtel Networks, explaining the rationale for the investment, said, "Our investment in nybl.ai allows us to leverage on the complementary strengths of deep industry knowledge and experience of Commtel with nybl's AI expertise to help clients use the vast amounts of under-utilizeddata and create better value for them. Collaboration between Commtel and nybl will be demonstrated live in action for the first time at GITEX 2021 in Dubai with the launch of CN-SHIELD. As a threat-detection, prediction and resolution system which generates intelligence from the disparate systems and technologies deployed at any critical infrastructure, it will be the most advanced AI-based security management solution."



nybl aims to democratize AI by enabling anyone to codelessly develop and deploy Machine Learning models and Ai applications. Mr. Noor Alnahhas, CEO & Co-founder, nybl, averred, "Commtel's investment is a strategic and synergistic partnership, rather than just a monetary investment. By combining Commtel's industry expertise with our platform, we will be launching AI applications for the critical infrastructure industries to help transform their data into actionable intelligence. We are looking towards ingress into these sectors through the deep domain experience of Commtel that will bring a 'client's view' to our AI platform. Nybl is democratizing AI, by making it easily accessible and reducing barriers to entry and partners like Commtel enable us to deliver on this promise." * Source (News - Alert) : AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005460/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Channels Inc. Announces $520,000 Seed Round

Channels Inc. is announcing a seed round of $520k led by Sahra Growth Capital, to bring their total funding to $571.8k. Started by Siddharth Kaul (18), Elan Rosen (20), and Ibrahim Mohammed (20), Channels helps organizations navigate through physical work, starting in the event space. Jamal Al-Barrak, the Managing Partner of Sahra Growth Capital, has high hopes for Channels, already citing successful clients such as Marriott Hotels and Holiday Inn: "Channels has a bright future to disrupt the event space and eventually transition into sectors such as retail. They are pioneering the mobile-friendly approach to physical communication with big players already taking note." Abdulaziz Al-Hussein, the Managing Partner of Doha Technology Global, i ecstatic about Channels' prospects in the event management space. He says, "I value visionary founders that have a true passion for pushing our current boundaries and these fine young men have shown me that there is a future to even the most old-fashioned sectors."



Channels is ready to frontier the new wave of communication tailored for the physical worker and plans on expanding past the event space into retail and much more. About Sahra Growth Capital

Headquartered in Dubai, Sahra Growth Capital focused on investing in frontier technology companies and exceptional founders. Founded in 2014, by Jamal Al-Barrak after a career in investment banking at Barclays, it has targeted early stage ventures as investment opportunities. Recently, Sahra Growth Capital has started a seed sourcing approach focused on investing between $200k and $800k into seed and pre-seed stage companies with Channels being one of their recent investments. For more information on Sahra, please visit Sahra Growth Capital. About Channels Channels Inc., established in 2019, is an enterprise technology company based in the United States, empowering physical workers to easily communicate amongst themselves to conduct their tasks. Combining a visual and quick-access focus, Channels enables organizations focused on physical work to have a workplace platform where they can run events, weddings, and much more. Thanks in large part to its transparent pricing and beautifully designed user-interface, Channels has become one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the event space. For more information on Channels, please visit Channels Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005044/en/

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[August 24, 2021] CapitalXtend Awarded Best ECN Broker PAN Asia 2021

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- World Economic Magazine Inc, a renowned business publication with web and print editions, proclaimed CapitalXtend as the Best ECN Broker PAN Asia 2021, in the annual World Economic Magazine Awards.

The World Economic Awards ceremony aims to highlight the spirit of market leaders in various industries and the awards are given out for the efficacy of global leaders that bring something unique to the table. Winners are chosen based on various factors such as reliability, innovation, etc. The third quarter of 2021 has begun, and the winners of The World Economic Magazine Award's much-awaited verdicts were released this week. The title for 'Best ECN Broker PAN Asia' went to CapitalXtend, an international Forex broker. CapitalXtend is known for its reliability, transparency, and intuitive trading experience. And this year has been really special for CapitalXtend. Not only did the broker win Best STP/ECN Broker and the Most Trusted Broker awards, but it also celebrates its 1st anniversary. The broker is one of the leading financial service providers in the industry, with many years of loyal patronage and a team committed to providing exceptional services, competitive prices, and a wide range of trading tools. The company is regulated and globally rusted for the quality of its services.



Another milestone was achieved! CapitalXtend was crowned Best ECN Broker PAN Asia 2021, mainly because of how they refined their products and constantly give traders a unique forex trading experience using cutting-edge technology. This award affirms their trading services and terms as the finest in the market.

The broker provides multiple trading accounts that meet the demands of every trader. The firm provides its clients with account features that suit all of their trading needs. Each account type is designed to gel with various trader types and the broker constantly strives to improve the quality and standards of their services. About CapitalXtend CapitalXtend is a regulated and globally trusted financial services provider that offers traders 300+ instruments, including Forex , CFD Shares , Spot Metals , Spot Energies , CFD Indices , and Cryptocurrencies . The broker offers low spreads, lightning-fast execution, and exceptional client support which is available 24*7. With CapitalXtend, traders get to access innovative trading tools, benefit from an exceptional trading environment, and reach their full trading potential. Media Contact Company Name :- Capitalxtend LLC Email Id :- hemant.kumar@capitalxtend.com Company Website :- https://capitalxtend.com



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[August 24, 2021] Aventri Partners with Brandlive and Its Greenroom to Deliver TV-Like Virtual, Hybrid Events

Producing standout virtual and hybrid events is easier now, thanks to a partnership announced today between event management software (EMS) leader Aventri and live video solutions platform Brandlive and its Greenroom technology. The partnership combines Aventri's all-in-one virtual and hybrid event platform with Brandlive's patent-pending video production software, Greenroom. Now, organizers can access Brandlive's content creation tools to bring the magic of television to events hosted on the Aventri platform. "We're elated to work with Brandlive, the emerging market leader in virtual video production," said Kurt Chessman, Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy, Aventri. "This partnership deepens our ability to serve customers in their ambitions to host the most engaging events in the industry. Brandlive has built the best product in this space, and we couldn't be more excited to work with Sam and team on delivering memorable experiences for years to come." "The key to having a great event is content that will blow attendees away and keep them engaged before, during and after the event," said Sam Kolbert-Hyle, CEO at Brandlive. "We're invested in supporting partners like Aventri to help all their customers create content experiences worth watching, truly unlike anything they've ever seen." Tools to Elevate Virtual and Hybrid Events Brandlive provides TV-like show production across live, pre-recorded and mixed formats in vivid, high-definition 1080p HD. Earlier this month, the company launched the next generation of Greenroom. The new release puts a complete virtual video production studio in the cloud and at organizers' fingertips. Below are some of Greenroom's best-in-market capabilities, now available on the Aventri platform. Showboard gives users flexibility and control. This timeline-style display enables organizers to anage the show's flow and make real-time adjustments if needed on event day to ensure a flawless production.



Showbuilder reduces the stress of live events. Organizers use this drag-and-drop tool to build shows in advance - including pre- and post-stream media, shot layouts, product notes and cues - for a seamless production. Producer and Backstage Comms further ensures events run smoothly. Organizers can speak to presenters live on stage, and participants can talk and engage during the show without fear of their audio being heard. The patent-pending technology knows which speakers are live and who is backstage and routes audio accordingly.

Presenter tools ensure that speakers can view notes and teleprompter; drive their own slides, images, gifs or videos; share their screens; and create mixed playlists of slides and video content. With Greenroom, Aventri clients can create stunning video content and reduce the risk that comes with producing these events. Fast Pace of Innovation The partnership with Brandlive comes fresh on the heels of Aventri's Virtual Events 2.0 premiere in April. This new digital platform features a networking suite that brings like-minded attendees together through artificial intelligence-driven matchmaking and smart recommendations. In April, Aventri also unveiled a new version of its mobile app, retooled to support hybrid events. With the latest enhancements, virtual and mobile solutions work in sync to deliver a unified experience for in-person and remote audiences. Whether attendees are in the same room or across the globe, they can engage and connect in real time regardless of physical location. To learn more about new capabilities available through the Aventri/Brandlive partnership, contact sales@aventri.com. About Aventri Aventri is the global leader in data-driven, end-to-end event and meeting management solutions for virtual, hybrid and in-person events. Their award-winning SaaS (News - Alert) platform, virtual technology and best-in-class service offerings have enabled more than 40,000 event professionals to plan, promote, deliver, measure and optimize over 90,000 events annually. Aventri's fully integrated platform's capabilities include virtual delivery, networking, venue sourcing, registration, marketing, logistics, onsite services, attendee engagement and data analytics. Headquartered in the United States, the company has offices in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia Pacific and has delivered customer events in over 120 countries. Aventri is a portfolio company of private equity firm HGGC. Learn more at aventri.com. About Brandlive Brandlive helps companies and brands bring the magic of television to work. The company helps some of the biggest and boldest companies in the world communicate with impact by creating events and meetings worth watching. In March, Brandlive took the number one spot on Fast Company magazine's list of the 10 Most Innovative Live Events Companies of 2021 for its Greenroom platform and its prominent role in the digital strategy of President Biden's election campaign. With over 200 employees, Brandlive is headquartered in Portland, OR and can be found online at www.brandlive.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005769/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Quantum Computing Technologies Highlight CMC Microsystems' Plan to Accelerate High Tech Manufacturing in Canada

CMC Microsystems (CMC) has brought together 14 project founders from industry, academia and non-profit technology research organizations to support a five year, $700 M program to accelerate high tech manufacturing in Canada. Called FABrIC, Fabrication of Integrated Components for the Internet's Edge, the program expects to attract $480 M in industrial R&D. The proposal also details $100M generated as revenues or provided by provinces or matching funding and used during the project. This proposal has been submitted to the Government of Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund, (SIF) administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) for a $120 M investment. Program funds will complement the R&D programs at over 100 small, medium and large Canadian companies and accelerate their commercialization of products. Some 4,000 new high-tech jobs will result. FABrIC is key to take quantum computing technology to market Canada has become a global hub for quantum innovation, and it is crucial that we continue to grow the Canadian quantum ecosystem if we are to be leaders in the emerging marketplace. FABrIC will ensure a prosperous future in the quantum space by supporting prototyping and manufacturing for Canadian quantum firms including Xanadu, 1Qbit, SB Quantum (News - Alert) , Photonic, and D-Wave, and others. Under the program, CMC will build and assemble quantum devices in Canada with the help of partners and quantum institutes at Univerite de Sherbrooke, University of British Columbia, and University of Waterloo. This will provide manufacturing capacity to start-ups and scale-ups which would otherwise be out of reach.



Game-changing technology Applications such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) require intensive computing operations. Combined with massive amounts of data they produce, these applications test the limits of classical computers. Quantum computers, however, can solve problems with a complexity that exceeds the computing capacity of conventional supercomputers, opening new possibilities for applications across different fields including AI and ML, biochemistry, finance, and cybersecurity.

About FABrIC FABrIC targets niche technologies where Canada has proven research, development, and manufacturing strengths. The initiative will build a first-of-its-kind national network to create critically needed semiconductor manufacturing capability in Canada. It will complement the extremely high volume, commodity semiconductor chip ("foundry") business. This model entails extremely high start-up costs and exists in only a few parts of the world. CMC and partners will enhance manufacturing technologies for the globally important subsectors of: microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)

integrated photonics

specialty semiconductors and quantum devices. As the global pandemic has made clear, Canada would benefit tremendously from greater domestic production capacity for crucial components used in healthcare, biomedical devices, telecommunications, and the Internet of Things (IoT). For more information visit https://www.cmc.ca/fabric/ About CMC Microsystems: CMC Microsystems works with researchers and industry across Canada's National Design Network (CNDN). We provide access to world-class platforms for Computer Aided Design (CAD), prototyping and manufacturing services (FAB), training and support (LAB) for researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry. Our services are geared for microsystems, nanotechnologies, photonics, and support innovative sectors of the next-generation economy. CMC reduces barriers by offering simplified access to the right tools to create tomorrow's technologies. Our network is made up of over 10,000 entrepreneurs and researchers at 60 post-secondary institutions across CNDN.  2021 and Reg. TM - CMC Microsystems. All rights reserved View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005770/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Unified Women's Healthcare Acquires Women's Health USA

Unified Women's Healthcare ("Unified"), a leading practice management platform in women's healthcare backed by Altas Partners ("Altas"), funds managed by the Private Equity Group of Ares Management Corporation ("Ares") and Oak HC/FT, today announced that it has acquired Women's Health USA ("WHUSA"), a national leader in practice management services for the women's health sector. Sverica Capital Management, the current majority shareholder in WHUSA, has reinvested a portion of its proceeds into the combined company. Financial terms were not disclosed. Through this combination, Unified and WHUSA represent the largest physician practice management company dedicated solely to women in the United States. Together, they will provide comprehensive business services to more than 2,500 providers across nearly 900 locations across North America. By helping providers to focus on delivering the highest standards of care to ensure better patient outcomes, Unified and WHUSA will advance their shared vision for all women to have the best healthcare in the world. "We are thrilled to join forces with Women's Health USA," said Bob LaGalia, president and CEO of Unified. "WHUSA was a pioneer in women's healthcare and has established a market-leading position across several of the fastest growing regions in the country. It is highly regarded for its focus on innovative technology solutions, strong value-based programs and development of comprehensive delivery networks. Unified's combination with Women's Health USA, along with our recent strategic partnership with CCRM Fertility, will further solidify our company's position as a vital platform providing significant value for physicians and patients across the spectrum of women's healthcare." "Women's Health USA was founded more than two decades ago with a singular focus and passion for positively shaping the direction of women's healthcare in the United States, and today's milestone marks the next phase of our journey as we continue to empower physicians with the resources necessary to provide the best possible care for women," said Nancy Bernstein, Division President of WHUSA. Andrea Balogh, Division President of WHUSA, further commented, "Unified and Women's Health USA share a deep commitment to transitioning women's healthcare delivery to value-based care, and we are confident that, together, we will be able to play an even more active role in moving the industry forward and enhancing healthcare for women across the country." About Unified Women's Healthcare Unified Women's Healthcare is a diversified women's health company focused on providing a better experience for patients, for the people who care for them and for the people and organizations who payfor that care. To support its vision of providing women with the best healthcare in the world, Unified has expanded beyond its leading OBGYN management services platform to include reproductive healthcare services, through its strategic partnership with CCRM Fertility, and the advancement of high-risk maternity care management services, with its acquisition of Lucina. As a physician led company, Unified seeks innovative ways to preserve clinical autonomy, alleviate business and regulatory burdens of running a practice, and empower physicians to make the greatest impact on transforming women's healthcare for their patients. To learn more, please visit unifiedwomenshealthcare.com.



About Women's Health USA Women's Health USA is a provider of practice management and emerging value-based care services to more than 600 women's health providers across seven states. Given its unique focus on women, paired with dynamic growth, Women's Health USA is poised to play an influential role in developing new cost effective, value-based modes of care delivery. For 22 years, the company has successfully implemented innovative growth strategies and driven streamlined operational costs, payer alignment, ancillary services development, brand development strategies and risk management services. Its unique partnership model enables women's health groups to operate independently, while leveraging the resources and influence of a national organization. To learn more, please visit womenshealthusa.com or contact Leslie Stedman at 860.678.3478 or lstedman@whusa.com.

About Altas Partners Altas Partners is an investment firm with a long-term orientation focused on acquiring significant interests in high-quality, market-leading businesses in partnership with outstanding management teams. Key elements of our approach include responsible capital structures, active ownership through strategic and operational support and an emphasis on sustainable value creation. We strive to deliver excellent investment returns for our investing partners. Altas invests on behalf of endowments, foundations, public pension funds and other institutional investors. For more information, please visit www.altas.com. About Ares Management Corporation Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, private equity, real estate and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of June 30, 2021, including the acquisition of Black Creek Group, which closed July 1, 2021, Ares Management's global platform had approximately $262 billion of assets under management with approximately 2,000 employees operating across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com. Follow Ares on Twitter (News - Alert) @Ares_Management. About Sverica Capital Management Sverica Capital Management is a leading growth-oriented private equity firm that has raised over $1.1 billion across five funds. The firm acquires, invests in and actively builds companies that are, or could become, leaders in their industries. Since inception, Sverica has followed a "business builder" approach to investing and takes an active supporting role in its portfolio companies. Sverica devotes significant internal time and resources to help its management teams develop and execute growth strategies and proactively looks for levers to pull to accelerate growth by reinvesting back into those companies. Sverica firmly believes in building businesses collaboratively that can endure for the long term by starting with a strong foundation and bringing the right people and playbook to drive reinvestment and ultimately strong returns for our investors. For more information, please visit www.sverica.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005773/en/

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[August 24, 2021] ALYI Expects To Exceed First Million In EV Ecosystem Revenue Before Year End

Dallas, TX, Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alternet Systems, Inc. (OTC Pink: ALYI) (ALYI) today announced the company expects to exceed its first million in revenue prior to the end of the year from the electric vehicle ecosystem the company has been constructing over the last few years. Instead of introducing a single EV product, ALYIs business focus is on the introduction of an EV Ecosystem that addresses the entire EV adoption environment, from the perpetual design of best in class vehicles to the perpetual design of the myriad of mechanical and digital systems that go into a best in class vehicle; from the charging and maintenance infrastructure that goes into supporting consumer and commercial vehicles, to the EV value proposition itself that drives consumers and businesses to transition from combustion engines to electric powered vehicles.

ALYI has seeded an overall EV Ecosystem Business Strategy with the development of its own EV motorcycle business. The company launched a pilot in Kenya in July in conjunction with a 2,000 electric motorcycle order. CEO Dr. Randell Torno expects to begin delivering on the 2,000 electric motorcycle order before the end of the year. The company intends to publish a specific revenue target shortly after Labor Day which falls on September 6, 2021. Earlier today, the company announced an expansion of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Rideshare Business Pilot into Ethiopia. The pilot expansion in Ethiopia has been in the works for approximately the last year. Dr. Torno visited Addis Ababa earlier this month to finalize expansion plans. Africa has millions of motorcycles, both two wheeled and three wheeled, deployed as taxis or boda-bodas and tuk tuks, and ALYI, as one part of its overall EV Ecosystem Business Strategy, is engaged in a project to replace combustion engine motorcycles with electric motorcycles. The global motorcycle taxi market was valued by Verified Market Research at $16 billion in 2018 and expected to grow to over 29 billion by 2026. Ultimately, ALYI does not intend to go it alone on the overall development and rollout of its overall EV Ecosystem Business Strategy. ALYI is building a core element into its Ecosystem that attracts, if not compels the participation of all would be brand name EV industry leaders in an annual EV symposium and conference. The EV symposium and conference will be anchored by an EV race event in Kenya that coms with a substantial brand name.



The EV race market was valued in 2019 at over $80 billion dollars and is anticipated to grow to over $200 billion by 2025 . ALYIs EV Ecosystem is founded on building participation in an EV race event as a central component in advancing EV technology and EV branding.

ALYI has been developing a partnership with a major EV racing brand for more than two years now. Over a year ago, ALYI entered into a formal partnership agreement that includes that EV racing brand. The first milestone objectives contemplated under the agreement have been achieved and the next steps are imminent. ALYI expects the next steps to include naming the EV racing brand at which time, ALYI management anticipates ALYIs overall visibility within the global EV market to be substantially elevated. The objective of the EV symposium and conference anchored by an EV race is to advance EV technology by building EV solutions for the African market  a power constrained, rugged environment with one of the lowest per capita transportation deployments in the world. EV solutions for the African market will be applicable the world around. EV solutions designed and built in Africa also contribute to building an autonomous African economy. ALYI has designed its EV ecosystem solution to include democratized participation. ALYI has partnered with RevoltTOKEN to finance ALYIs growth by offering participation in the EV ecosystem through the sale of Revolt Tokens. To learn more about RevoltTOKEN and how to participate in ALYIs electric vehicle ecosystem through the purchase of Revolt Tokens, visit https://rvlttoken.com/ . ALYI plans to make a major announcement later this month regarding the EV race that management expects will garner substantial attention to ALYIs overall EV Ecosystem strategy. For more information and to stay up to date on ALYI's overall latest developments, please visit www.alternetsystemsinc.com .



Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur.



For more information, please visit: http://www.alternetsystemsinc.com

Alternet Systems, Inc. Contact:

Randell Torno

info@lithiumip.com

+1-800-713-0297



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[August 24, 2021] IntelyCare Adds Renowned Nursing Advocate, Entrepreneur Rebecca Love to Executive Leadership Team

IntelyCare, the largest staffing platform for nursing professionals seeking per-diem positions, today announced that it has added Rebecca Love as chief clinical officer. The founder of HireNurses.com, Love is regarded as a pioneer in developing technology solutions that benefit nursing professionals. She is also one of the country's most prominent advocates for nurses, with her 2018 TEDx Talk marking the first address by a nurse to be featured on the main TED.com platform. At IntelyCare, Love will act as a company evangelist for the nursing professionals it employs, giving them a louder voice by identifying the issues they face and advocating for ways to overcome them. She will also oversee clinical operations and compliance. "Too many nurses are suffering from burnout and leaving the profession every day. I think we've dealt with nurses for too long in an antiquated way, and we need to empower them so they can own their career," Love said. "If we don't figure out how to retain nurses, allow them more flexibility with their schedules, and bring them back to the bedside, we'll see people who need 24/7 care go without." Studies show that nurses are exiting the profession at a rapid rate, and the pandemic dramatically aggravated the problem. The country's shortage of registered nurses is expected to soon reach 1.1 million. The causes of the exodus have been traced to too many long shifts, lack of control over schedules, and a general feeling that nurses' needs are being ignored. Love said she joined IntelyCare because of the company leadership's dedication to partnering with nurses. "IntelyCare is spearheading the change to put nurses first," said Love. "I think when the company started it was based on building a platform that met the demands of healthcare, largelynursing homes. And from that, they became experts in really understanding how nurses work, how shifts work, and how scheduling works. I believe IntelyCare will initiate a revolutionary change in the way nurses engage with healthcare systems."



IntelyCare's platform uses machine learning algorithms to match its employees, known as IntelyPros, with open shifts at the facilities it partners with. At a time when the healthcare industry at large is overlooking the needs of its nurses, IntelyCare gives them unprecedented control over their schedules. IntelyPros also receive retirement benefits, health insurance, holiday and overtime pay, access to childcare benefits, and 25% higher weekly wages on average. For facilities, the staffing-and-scheduling platform provides the ability to automatically optimize and add staff, leading to the highest shift-fill rate in the industry. Love's passion has always centered around ways to empower the nursing profession, with the aim of building, scaling, and strengthening nursing's impact on the future of healthcare. She is President of the Society of Nurse Scientists, Innovators, Entrepreneurs & Leaders (SONSIEL), a 501-3 Nonprofit founded by leading nurses in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. In partnership with Johnson & Johnson and Microsoft (News - Alert) , SONSIEL organizes NurseHack4Health.org, the world's largest nursing hackathon. Love also started the nation's first nurse innovation and entrepreneurship program at the School of Nursing at Northeastern University (News - Alert) , is the co-author of two international best-selling books (The Nurses Guide to Innovation and The Rebel Nurse Handbook), and is the host of the Outcomes Rocket Nursing podcast. She will lean on all of her experience to help lead IntelyCare in its mission to solve the workforce shortage by putting the needs of nurses first.

"Rebecca Love is one of the most articulate, imaginative, and straight-talking thought leaders in healthcare and nursing today," said David Coppins, IntelyCare's CEO and co-founder. "Not only is she a nurse, the daughter of a nurse, and a former nursing instructor, but she also co-founded and sold the tech company HireNurses.com. She knows from firsthand experience the role software solutions can play in tackling the most daunting healthcare challenges. We couldn't be happier that Rebecca has joined our team and will bring her tech know-how and understanding of the nursing profession to IntelyCare." For more information, visit www.IntelyCare.com. Learn more about IntelyCare Follow IntelyCare on Twitter

Connect with IntelyCare on LinkedIn About IntelyCare IntelyCare is the largest digital nurse staffing platform in the United States. Through advanced machine learning and behavioral science, IntelyCare's easy-to-use app matches nursing professionals with open assignments at its post-acute partners. In doing so, IntelyCare is leading the work evolution for nurses, empowering them with the freedom to choose when, where, and how often they work, for the wages and benefits they deserve. To learn more about how IntelyCare is redefining healthcare staffing, visit www.intelycare.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005780/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Jani Leinonen, Renowned Finnish Artist, Is Releasing His First NFT on Swappable

Jani Leinonen, the renowned Finnish artist, will offer a 3 day NFT auction of his one-of-one animated artwork titled 'Things You Own', on Swappable, until Friday, August 27th at 10am PST. Swappable is a new interface for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) powered by TrustSwap. Leinonen will be participating in an AMA Ask-Me-Anything event, offering the opportunity for the community to ask him questions. Leinonen's first NFT is supported by Stalla Madulain, the renowned Swiss art gallery dating back to 1488 and one of his most ardent supporters. As well as Switzerland-based international fine art logistics and infrastructure provider Haas & Company AG, a reputed partner of art collectors, galeries, museums, and art fairs worldwide which provides custody services for tokenized physical assets.



Swappable, powered by TrustSwap, will create a creative place for artists to sell their artworks and for users to find and collect artworks and digital collectibles. Jeff Kirdeikis, CEO of TrustSwap, mentions: "We are extremely excited to be working with such a renowned artist, we've created a platform that reduces the entrance barrier to the NFT space to support creators like Jani Leinonen." Leinonen is known for his provocative, yet playful works, criticizing capitalism and consumerism. In 2016, Leinonen was awarded the Finland Prize by the Ministry of Education and Culture, which is given in recognition of a significant career in arts. His work can be found in museums, and in private and public collections on every continent. He is currently exhibiting in Serlachius Museum with the street artist Banksy, and Salo Art Museum. The Five-star hotel Dolder Grand in Zurich has 12 of Leinonen's works on permanent display. You can find out more about Leinonen on his website.

Jani Leinonen, on his NFT artwork 'Things you own': "Have we become more consumers than citizens? Our values, our political views, our emotions, traumas, and our dreams, are revealed by this sacred shopping cart. When we take a look at this portrait of us, how much do we recognize as our own? Will there truly be a new better world displacing the established and old, or will we forever be owned by the things we own?" The team behind Swappable boasts that the Jani Leinonen collaboration is just the beginning, with many interesting collaborations to be revealed soon. Swappable is the latest offering from TrustSwap TrustSwap is a blockchain venture that offers smart contact services and innovative solutions for decentralized finance (DeFi) and commerce to help the crypto community transact with integrity, and accountability. TrustSwap solves problems in the DeFi space connected to tracking and buying crypto with 'The Crypto App', split payments, subscriptions, escrow, minting, token locks, and fundraising. TrustSwap is building foundational layers in the rapidly-emerging decentralized finance and commerce landscape with services like The Crypto App, SmartLocks, Mint, Launchpad, and Swappable's NFT interface. Visit www.trustswap.org for information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005826/en/

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[August 24, 2021] Granite REIT Announces C$330.7 Million in Acquisitions and a New Build-to-Suit Lease at Its Houston Development

Granite Real Estate Investment Trust ("Granite" or the "REIT") (TSX: GRT.UN / NYSE: GRP.U) announced today that it has acquired one development property in Canada and has agreed to acquire five income-producing properties in the United States together comprising approximately 4.2 million square feet at a combined purchase price of approximately C$330.7 million. In addition, Granite announced that it has entered into a 690,000 square foot build-to-suit lease with a leading e-commerce retailer, to be constructed as the second phase of its Houston development. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005831/en/ Brantford, Ontario Development Land (Photo: Business Wire) Kevan Gorrie, Granite's President and Chief Executive Officer commented that, "These transactions reflect our ongoing commitment to developing and acquiring institutional-quality assets in key distribution and e-commerce markets in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. The acquisition of the development site provides us with the opportunity to leverage our platform and expertise to develop state-of-the-art facilities at scale in an active and rapidly-growing distribution node. Upon stabilization, the Brantford development is expected to generate significant NAV growth for our unitholders. We are also pleased to add scale in our target markets in the U.S. via the acquisitions of the income-producing properties. These modern assets are consistent with the quality of our existing portfolio and possess strong potential for NOI and NAV growth. Finally, we are excited to announce our first major Build-to-Suit project in Houston, which will complement the initial phase of our development already in progress. This build-to-suit project, involving a national e-commerce tenant, will generate a yield consistent with our pro forma development yield for the overall project." Canadian Acquisition Brantford, Ontario Development Land On August 16, 2021, Granite acquired a 92.2 acre parcel of land in Brantford, Ontario for the development of a multi-phased business park comprising a total of approximately 1.7 million square feet of modern distribution and logistics space for $62.2 million. The greenfield site is serviced and capable of accommodating state-of-the-art buildings ranging from 100,000 square feet to 500,000 square feet with the first phase of construction anticipated to commence in the third quarter of 2022. The project is anticipated to generate a stabilized development yield of approximately 5.5%. The site is centrally located 0.5 kilometers from Highway 403, in one of Brantford's rapidly evolving distribution nodes, providing access to nearly 8.8 million people within a 90-minute drive. The property is one of the development properties referred to in Granite's June 2, 2021 press release as being the subject of exclusive negotiations. U.S. Acquisitions 1600 Rock Creek Boulevard, Joliet, Illinois Granite has agreed to acquire a 0.1 million square foot modern distribution facility located in the Chicago submarket of Joliet, IL for $20.8 million (US $16.4 million). The property is 100% leased to two tenants for a weighted average remaining lease term of 4.4 years and is being acquired at an in-going yield of 4.9%. Located in immediate proximity to Granite's three recently acquired assets in Chicago, the building features 32' clear height and is situated on 8 acres of land, near the intersection of the I-55 and I-80. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021. The property is one of the income-producing properties referred to in Granite's June 2, 2021 press release as being the subject of exclusive negotiations. U.S. Portfolio Acquisition







Chicago (0.4 million square feet) Cincinnati (0.7 million square feet) Memphis (1.3 million square feet) 1243 Gregory Dr., Antioch, IL 60 Logistics Blvd., Richwood, KY 12577 Stateline Rd. Olive Branch, MS & 8740 South Crossroads Dr., Olive Branch, MS

Granite has agreed to acquire a portfolio of four modern distribution warehouses located in Chicago, Cincinnati and Memphis, collectively totaling 2.4 million square feet. The properties are being acquired at a combined purchase price of approximately $247.7 million (US $195.0 million) representing an in-going yield of 4.7%. The properties are 100% leased to seven tenants for a weighted average remaining lease term of 3.2 years. These institutional-quality assets have minimum 32' clear heights with an average age of 8 years. All of the assets are well located in their respective markets, with close proximity to key transportation and distribution infrastructure. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021. The Canadian acquisition was funded using cash on hand and the U.S. acquisitions are expected to be funded from Granite's cash on hand. Houston Development Granite and its partner NorthPoint Development have entered into a new build-to-suit lease with a leading e-commerce retailer at its Houston Development NorthPoint 90, for an initial term of 10.9 years. The approximately 690,000, 40' clear height, modern distribution building is being constructed as the second phase of the multi-phase development, in addition to the initial phase one of approximately 700,000 square feet currently under construction. This build-to-suit project is estimated to be completed in the third quarter of 2022. ABOUT GRANITE Granite is a Canadian-based REIT engaged in the acquisition, development, ownership and management of logistics, warehouse and industrial properties in North America and Europe. Granite owns 119 investment properties representing approximately 51.3 million square feet of leasable area. OTHER INFORMATION Copies of financial data and other publicly filed documents about Granite are available through the internet on the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) which can be accessed at www.sedar.com and on the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR) which can be accessed at www.sec.gov. For further information, please see our website at www.granitereit.com or contact Teresa Neto, Chief Financial Officer, at 647-925-7560 or Andrea Sanelli, Manager, Legal & Investor Services, at 647-925-7504. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release may contain statements that, to the extent they are not recitations of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information may include, among others, statements regarding the expected square footage and stabilized yield of the Brantford development lands, the expected timing of the closing of the Unites States acquisitions, the expected completion date and development yield of the second phase of the Houston development or the impact of such acquisitions on Granite's net operating income and net asset value and Granite's plans, goals, strategies, intentions, beliefs, estimates, costs, objectives, economic performance, expectations, or foresight or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "seek", "objective" and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information should not be read as guarantees of the events, performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or the times at or by which such events, performance or results will be achieved. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are based on information available at the time and/or management's good faith assumptions and analyses made in light of its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond Granite's control, that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the risks set forth in the annual information form of Granite Real Estate Investment Trust and Granite REIT Inc. dated March 3, 2021 (the "Annual Information Form") and management's discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial position for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2021 (the "Q2 MD&A). The "Risk Factors" section of the Annual Information Form and the Q2 MD&A also contain information about the material factors or assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information speak only as of the date the statements and information were made and unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Granite expressly disclaims any intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005831/en/

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[August 24, 2021] NASA Invites Media to Launch of Lucy Mission to Study Trojan Asteroids

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Media accreditation is open for the upcoming launch of NASA's Lucy mission, which will send the first spacecraft to study the Trojan asteroids. These small bodies are remnants of our early solar system trapped in stable orbits, clustered in two "swarms" leading and following Jupiter in its path around the Sun. Lucy is scheduled to launch no earlier than Saturday, Oct. 16, on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. U.S. and U.S.-based international media, as described in NASA's agencywide media accreditation policy, must apply by 12 p.m. EDT Monday, Aug. 30. All media accreditation requests must be submitted online with NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at: https//media.ksc.nasa.gov



COVID-19 protocols at Kennedy Consistent with guidelines issued by the White House Safer Federal Workforce Task Force, all visitors to NASA facilities are required to complete a Certification of Vaccination form and show proof of a negative COVID-19 test conducted within the previous 72 hours before they will be issued a badge and permitted on center property.

The Certification of Vaccination form will be available at the Kennedy badging office and the center's pass and identification locations. Visitors must carry their certification form and COVID-19 test record with them at all times during their visit to Kennedy. Everyone on center property must wear a mask when indoors, to include those who are fully vaccinated. In addition to wearing a mask indoors, those who are not fully vaccinated or decline to provide their vaccination status on the certification form also must wear a mask when outdoors and physically distance from others in and out of doors while on center. The agency also will continue to follow guidance from local officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and NASA's chief health and medical officer. NASA will communicate any updates that may impact mission planning or media access as they become available. Over its 12-year primary mission, Lucy will explore a record-breaking number of asteroids, flying by one asteroid in the solar system's main belt and seven Trojan asteroids. Additionally, Lucy's path will circle back to Earth three times for gravity assists, making it the first spacecraft ever to return to the vicinity of Earth from the outer solar system. More about Lucy The Lucy mission is named after the fossilized skeleton of an early hominin (pre-human ancestor) discovered in Ethiopia in 1974 and named "Lucy" by the team of paleoanthropologists who discovered it. Just as the Lucy fossil provided unique insights into humanity's evolution, the Lucy mission promises to revolutionize our knowledge of planetary origins and the formation of the solar system, including Earth. For more information about Lucy, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/lucy Para obtener informacion sobre cobertura en espanol en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en espanol, comuniquese con Antonia Jaramillo 321-501-8425. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-invites-media-to-launch-of-lucy-mission-to-study-trojan-asteroids-301362125.html SOURCE NASA

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[August 24, 2021] Celeste White of Napa Prevails in Estate Case of Late Father, Prominent Napa Valley Businessman Ed Keith

A Napa County judge has ruled that Celeste K. White acted entirely properly handling the estate of her father, which had been the subject of a long-running wine country lawsuit. Both Celeste White of Napa and husband Dr. Robert White of Napa prevailed in the case. In a final court order in the case, signed by Superior Court Judge Monique Langhorne, the court ruled that "all of the accountings (by Celeste White)...are settled, allowed, approved and all acts and transactionsare ratified, confirmed and approved." The order, entered last August 20, 2020 exonerated White and ended the litigation. Celeste Keith White had been named co-trustee of the estate of her late father, Ed Keith, after his death in 2006. Mr. Keith had long been a fixture in Napa, with many investments in commercial and residential real estate and a winery property. He left a fortune valued at $92 million, and gave White the responsibility for managing a large portion of a very complex estate, including establishinga charitable foundation.



A prior news coverage had erroneously stated that White's husband, Dr. Robert White, was named executor of the estate but Celeste K. White and her brother were the estate's co-trustees. White's sister Lisa Keith, one of her four siblings, later attempted to claim that White had not properly carried out her duties as co-trustee, particularly regarding the management of the foundation. In 2017, Judge Rodney Stone ruled Lisa Keith had no standing regarding the foundation and the foundation claims were struck from the lawsuit. However, despite that loss, Lisa Keith persisted in her other claims and demanded that Celeste White create a probate accounting of the Trust.

White provided a full accounting of her father's Trust and of her management of the estate, and after a full examination, the court found no evidence to support the plaintiff's claims. Judge Langhorne's order sided entirely with Celeste K. White and her diligent management of the estate. The California Attorney General, which had been involved in the case at an earlier stage, also submitted a statement of non-opposition to the order, effectively dropping any role in the matter. "I'm glad this long ordeal is finally over and that the court recognized that everything I have done since my father's passing has been in complete accordance with his wishes and my role as trustee," Celeste K. White said. "I have lived my entire life in Napa County and know how much this region meant to my father. I believe that I managed his estate as he wanted." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210824005855/en/

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NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Soldiers and Airmen from the Tennessee National Guardsmen are supporting state, county, and local emergency responders assist the citizens of Humphreys County that have been impacted by the flash flooding on Aug. 21.

Working with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, Guardsmen are providing medical assistance and rescue support to those in need.

A UH-60L Blackhawk helicopter with the Tennessee National Guards Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team from Nashvilles 1-230th Air Cavalry Regiment has been activated to assist with water rescues. Guardsmen are working with the Nashville Fire Departments Technical Rescue Team with search and rescue operations throughout the county.

Medical providers and medics from the Tennessee National Guards Medical Command in Smyrna are being airlifted by Blackhawk helicopter to Waverlys Three Rivers Hospital to support the hospitals medical staff.

Nearly 50 Soldiers with 12 Light Medium Tactical Vehicles and eight Humvees from units in Dickson, Lexington, Trenton, and Waverly are traveling to the affected area to provide rescue support. The LMTVs are high-water vehicles able to traverse flooded areas and assist in rescue operations.

Nashvilles Joint Force Headquarters has activated its Mobile Communications Center to establish emergency communications in the affected area by providing emergency cellular, internet, and radio communications.

Our first priority is to assist with getting responders access to the area and conduct rescue operations, said Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes, Tennessee Adjutant General. Well continue to increase the number of forces as the situation dictates and well be positioning additional specialty units to respond as needed. This is all about agility and teamwork with trusted agency partners and were fortunate to have those relationships developed through many hours of training together.

The Tennessee National Guard will continue to work with local and state emergency management officials to assist in recovery efforts and will regularly provide public updates.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Over the weekend, the Tennessee National Guard increased its support to area hospitals across Tennessee as they fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Aug. 22, at the request of the Tennessee Department of Health, an additional 72 Soldiers and Airmen from the Tennessee National Guard begun supporting hospital staff with medics and administrative personnel. The Guardsman can work in many types of hospital units and help with various administrative tasks as required by the individual hospital.

The medical centers receiving National Guard support are; Baptist Hospital in Collierville, Baptist Hospital in Tipton, Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, and Morristown Hamblen Healthcare System in Morristown.

Late last week the Tennessee National Guard sent Guardsmen to Baptist Hospital in Memphis and Lafollette Healthcare in Campbell County to expand our COVID-19 support.

The Tennessee National Guard has also provided support personnel to Nashvilles Mid-Cumberland Regional Hospital Office to assist in the schools call center.

Since March 2020, the Soldiers and Airmen of the Tennessee National Guard have been working alongside and supporting the Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and various other state and local agencies to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Currently, there are more than 580 Soldiers and Airmen providing support to 58 counties in Tennessee by helping with testing, vaccinations, and administrative support to health care providers. This augmentation of National Guard staff to support hospitals is not impacting civilian health care roles but rather allowing health care professionals to work more effectively and efficiently.

Thousands of Tennessee Guardsmen have volunteered to help during the pandemic. Over the last 17 months, anywhere from 250-700 Guardsmen have been actively supporting the testing and vaccination efforts across the state. This has resulted in Tennessee Guardsmen supporting the testing of more than 920,000 Tennesseans and the vaccination of over 1 million.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Tennessee National Guard is prepared and ready to support any request for assistance through TEMA.
Premier clubs agree to bar international travel for players from 'red list' countries

Tuesday, 24 August, 2021



Together with the other 19 top-flight clubs and with the support of the Premier League, Everton have opted to prohibit travel during the upcoming international break for players from countries on the United Kingdom's "red list" for risk of Covid-19 infection.

The decision would prevent Richarlison, in particular, from joining up with the Brazil squad for three forthcoming matches in the space of seven days against Chile, Argentina and Peru.

James Rodriguez, who was not called up by Colombia for the Copa America, would also be prevented from travelling should he still be with the Blues after August 31st and be summoned by his country. His compatriot Yerry Mina is also affected by the decision.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: Premier League clubs have always supported their players' desires to represent their countries  this is a matter of pride for all concerned. However, clubs have reluctantly but rightly come to the conclusion that it would be entirely unreasonable to release players under these new circumstances.

The move would afford Richarlison his first break from competitive action since the end of last season after he played 15 times for his country at the Copa America and the Tokyo Olympics.

"Quarantine requirements mean that players' welfare and fitness will be significantly impacted. We understand the challenges that exist in the international match calendar and remain open to workable solutions."

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The topic of a COVID vaxx for public schools is uncomfortable but something that needs to be addressed.

Credit to KCPS Superintendent Mark Bedell who offers a practical preview for parents that offers a peek at the future of the vaxx for students and their families . . .



"This virus is going to be with us for the foreseeable future, and it very well could be something that is no different than the measles, the mumps, chickenpox, all of those different things where you have to have a shot before you can enroll into school," Bedell said. "We are going to be monitoring whats now developing."



Of the 6,500-7,000 students who are eligible to be vaccinated in Kansas City Public Schools, Bedell said only about 1,300 have received their shots.



The district may now require vaccinations before any student can participate in extracurricular activities.

Masks will continue to be required in Kansas City Public Schools because Bedell said masks work at preventing the spread of infection.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .

Kansas City superintendent says Pfizer's FDA approval makes vaccine mandates easier KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On the same day the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave its full approval of the Pfizer vaccine, children returned to classes in Kansas City and other districts across the metro. Kansas City Public Schools already requires that employees get vaccinated or undergo regular testing for COVID-19.

Related reading . . .

Could FDA's approval of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine affect vaccine rates in Kansas City? Will the Food and Drug Administration's approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 shot affect vaccination rates in Kansas City?A concern for some vaccine doubters has been that the vaccine was developed and manufactured too quickly.

How many COVID cases are in Johnson County schools? Here's how you can keep track OLATHE, Kan. - As students return to the classroom, Kansas school districts are updating COVID-19 reporting systems. Here's a look at how school districts in Johnson County will be reporting positive COVID cases. The Shawnee Mission School District will update its COVID dashboard as case information becomes available each week.

Local health officials hope FDA approval will encourage more vaccinations KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Local health officials are hopeful that full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine will help persuade people who are still hesitant about getting a shot. The Food and Drug Administration announced the approval Monday morning. The Moderna and Johnson and Johnson shots are still approved under an emergency authorization.

Developing . . .
Right now we share highlights from a discussion over education that didn't offer much in the way of instruction.



Check this instructive passage . . .

"Question: Does your LEAs board-approved curriculum include lessons about CRT?

"The only school to answer yes was Kansas City Public Schools, explaining their answer by saying:

We offer an African Centered College prep magnet school that services both elementary and secondary students. The board also approved the 1619 Project service learning and community activism grant to be taught during summer school. The curriculum is fully aligned with the Missouri Learning Standards.

"Five schools left the answer blank and 419 districts said no."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

Lawmakers continue probe of critical race theory in Missouri schools despite results of district survey Last month, members of the Missouri House and Senate heard testimony on why critical race theory (CRT) should be banned in the state, but on Monday, they heard why schools should teach it. Of the 554 districts in the state, only one said it teaches CRT.

Missouri school district employees sue over allegedly unconstitutional 'equity' training Two employees of Missouri's largest school district are alleging that so-called "equity" trainings violated their constitutional rights by forcing them to endorse certain beliefs about race - adding to the already-mounting legal scrutiny of attempts to push critical race theory (CRT) and its associated ideas.

Groups warn limits on race education would include Holocaust by: Associated Press Posted: / Updated: COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Civil rights leaders are warning that attempts to ban critical race theory in Missouri schools could scare educators away from teaching about the Holocaust. Rabbis, teachers, and others on Monday cautioned Missouri lawmakers about putting limits on how educators teach about race.

Developing . . .
Johnstown, PA (15901)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Potential for flooding rains. High 63F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

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Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 51F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
CLINTON - Vernon Lee Kispert, 84, of Clinton passed away August 30, 2021. He was born on April 27, 1937, to Bernice and Elwood Kispert. Vernon is survived by his loving wife Ginny and daughter Shawna Kispert; stepchildren: Wayne (Nancy) McClara of Blanford, Bob (Judy) McClara of Mena, AR, Ma
We are flying to Malta next Tuesday and have ordered tests to take with us to do 3 days before we fly home. Ideally we would like to take the test as early as possible so we can relax for the rest of the holiday without the worry of a positive test. Can someone please advise when the test needs to be taken? The Gov website says  You must take the test in the 3 days before the service on which you will arrive in England departs. For example, if you travel directly to England on Friday, you can take the test on or after Tuesday. You will need to have the negative result available before boarding on Friday.

We are flying home at 21:45 on a Tuesday. Does that mean we can take the test anytime on the Saturday? I have read people mentioning 72 hours before the flight which would mean we would have to wait until 21:45 on the Saturday night so in all likelihood Sunday morning as we will be out for dinner etc. If someone would clarify or has taken anytime in the 3 days before the flight and had no problems that would be great. We dont want to risk taking it too early and having issues flying back! Thank you!
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From Walt Disney World to Goldman Sachs, a flurry of private and public employers are requiring workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 after the federal government gave full approval to the Pfizer shot. And the number is certain to grow much higher.

For the past eight months, coronavirus shots were dispensed in the U.S. under emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Some workers and unions objected to getting the vaccine  and some employers were reluctant to require it  because it had yet to receive FDA full approval. That happened on Monday.

The FDA decision takes that off the table," said Devjani Mishra, a New York-based attorney with the firm Littler Mendelson, which specializes in workplace matters. She and others in the worlds of business, law and health predicted more companies will mandate vaccines for their workforces.

Shortly after the FDA acted, Walt Disney World reached a deal with its unions to require all workers at its theme park in Orlando, Florida, to be vaccinated.

Goldman Sachs told employees Tuesday that it will require anyone who enters the banks U.S. offices to be fully vaccinated starting Sept. 7, according to a memo obtained by The New York Times.

Drugstore chain CVS said pharmacists, nurses and other workers who have contact with patients will have to be inoculated. Oil giant Chevron Corp. said it will require some of its workers  such as those who travel internationally, live abroad or work on its offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico  to get their COVID-19 shots.

We pushed 'go' when the FDA made that decision, said Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, president of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, which announced on Monday that its 800 faculty members, 1,500 staff members and 18,000 students will have to be vaccinated. Before that, only students living on campus had to get the shot.

She said the university could have legally mandated vaccines before the FDA decision but waited for it because Pescovitz, who is a pediatrician, believes the authorization will help persuade those still on the fence.

Ohio State University, too, announced Tuesday that it would require all students, faculty and staff to complete the full vaccination process by Nov. 15. Ohio State is among the countrys largest universities and is a major employer in Columbus, Ohio.

On Monday, health experts expressed hope that the FDA's action would boost the U.S. vaccination rate, which bottomed out at about a half-million shots a day in July  down from a peak of 3.4 million a day on average in April.

The number of shots dispensed has since climbed to about 850,000 a day amid growing alarm over the highly contagious delta variant, which has sent deaths, cases and hospitalizations soaring, wiping out months of progress.

Littler Mendelson released a survey Monday showing that 9% of employers are already mandating vaccines for at least some of their workers, and an additional 12% are planning to impose some sort of mandate in the near future. In January, just 1% of firms Littler Mendelson surveyed had issued vaccine requirements.

There is a risk for employers at a time when many are struggling to fill openings and workers are confident of finding better jobs: Faced with a vaccine requirement, an employee might say, OK, fine. Im leaving,'" Mishra said. "Its not a given youre going to be able to fill that job with someone who is vaccinated.

But Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, said he doesnt foresee a large backlash.

People will see that mandates can open their businesses and save their paychecks. They will see the effects and they will welcome it, he said.

Earlier this summer, President Joe Biden announced that federal workers will have to get vaccinated or else face weekly testing and other measures.

The nation's two largest private employers don't seem to be budging. Walmart said Tuesday there is no change to its policy, which requires vaccinations for office workers but not store employees. And Amazon, which doesnt mandate vaccines for any of its employees, declined to comment.

As for the auto industry, Ford Motor Co. said it is not requiring the vaccine, and General Motors has said it isnt either, though CEO Mary Barra has held open the possibility.

The career-advice website Ladders Inc. released a study last week showing a more than 50-fold increase since January in job openings that require applicants to be vaccinated.

Ladders spokeswoman Laurie Monteforte predicted vaccine requirements will only rise after the FDA decision. Many employers, she said, have exhausted vaccine incentives such as bonuses or other perks.

Employers that require vaccines are on solid legal ground. Private companies and government employers can generally require workers to be inoculated as a condition of working there, though they must offer exemptions or accommodations in some cases.

___

Associated Press writers Carla K. Johnson, Anne D'Innocenzio, Tom Krisher and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed to this story.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  People in Oregon, regardless of vaccination status, will once again be required to wear masks in most public outdoor settings  including large outdoor events where physical distancing is not possible  beginning Friday.

The mandate, announced Tuesday by Gov. Kate Brown, is part of a growing list of statewide requirements implemented in Oregon in an attempt to slow the rapid spread of COVID-19.

Oregon is one of a handful of states with an indoor mask mandate in effect. But it's the first to reinstitute a statewide mask requirement for outdoor public areas where people are close together, according to the governors office.

Over the past month, coronavirus cases, fueled by the highly transmissible delta variant, have overwhelmed hospitals in the Pacific Northwest state. On Tuesday, Brown said 1,000 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized, beating the state's record set the previous day of 937 people.

The Delta variant is spreading fast and wide, throwing our state into a level of crisis we have not yet seen in the pandemic. Cases and hospitalizations are at a record high, Brown said in a statement. Masks are a quick and simple tool we can immediately deploy to protect ourselves and our families, and quickly help stop further spread of COVID-19."

Health officials say part of the reason for the new mandate is that they're seeing instances where cases are clustering around outdoor events, such as music festivals.

The new mandate requires masks in outdoor settings in which people from different households are unable to consistently maintain physical distance. The rule does not apply to fleeting encounters," such as two people walking by each other on a trail or in a park.

While the rule does not apply to outdoor gatherings at private residences with individuals from different households, the Oregon Health Authority strongly recommends that people wear a mask during those scenarios.

Along with mask mandates, the governor has announced that staff and volunteers in K-12 schools, health care workers and state employees are required to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18.

Oregon was once described as a success story for limiting the spread of the coronavirus, after its Democratic governor imposed some of the nations strictest safety measures. Those restrictions were lifted June 30, and the state is now being hammered by delta variant, which was first detected in India.

On Monday there were just 47 adult intensive care unit beds available in Oregon. Currently more than 90% of the state's ICU and hospital beds are full. Health officials say the overwhelming majority of people hospitalized are unvaccinated.

Many hospitals have canceled elective surgeries, and some patients are housed in hallways instead of rooms.

Brown has dispatched about 1,500 National Guard troops to hospitals around the state.

___

Sara Cline is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Tucson, AZ (85741)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds light and variable..

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Partly cloudy. Low 72F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
There have been fully-vaccinated persons who have become severely ill and some who have actu
By Jeff Murphy, August 24, 2021



During the University of Central Missouris Board of Governors meeting Aug. 19, Board President Stephen Abney, left, and University President Roger Best, right, congratulated Krystle Gremaud on being named the National Academic Advising Associations (NACADA) winner of the Outstanding Advising Award  Faculty Advising. Gremaud is assistant professor and program coordinator for Career and Technical Education in the School of Professional Education and Leadership. NACADAs Global Awards Program for Academic Advising honors individuals and institutions that are making a significant impact on academic advising.





WARRENSBURG, MO  The renewal of employee health insurance and facility projects that relate to the Fraternity Complex, Nattinger-Bradshaw Hall, Wood Hall, and the W.C. Morris Science Building were approved by the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors when it met in plenary session Aug. 19.



Bill Hawley, vice president for finance and operations and board treasurer, presented the board a proposal to renew the universitys employee health insurance plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City for 2022, which was approved. Hawley pointed out that the university currently has one plan, known as the Exclusive Provider Option. He noted that with several claims during the current year that reach the $150,000 stop loss amount, the university is facing a 14.5 percent increase in premiums to maintain current benefit coverages for its employees and their families. Based on current enrollment, total annual projected premium cost for the university in 2022 is approximately $11.7 million, resulting in a difference of about $1.5 million above this years cost.



The proposal accepted by the board calls for UCM to fund the majority of the increase while increasing the premium paid by employees by 2.34 percent across all levels of coverage. UCM currently funds approximately 73 percent of the total premiums, but beginning Jan 1, 2022, it will increase its funding to 76 percent of the total cost for coverage. In 2022, this means an "Employee-Only" plan will cost $766.61 per month, up from $669.50 in 2021. Effective in January, an employee with Employee Only coverage will pay $34.26 per month of the total premium cost, which is less than $1 more per month than they paid for their portion of the monthly premium in 2021. The employee portion varies, however, depending on if they have a spouse, children, or their entire family on their plan. Hawley said more information about health insurance coverage will be shared with employees in the near future.



The board discussed a number of matters in committee sessions that were included on the consent agenda approved during the plenary session. Among them was the award of a $491,400 contract with Major Abatement and Demolition, Inc., Blue Springs, Missouri, to provide all labor, materials, equipment, supplies, insurance, permit fees and other items necessary for the completion of asbestos abatement and related work necessary at the Fraternity Complex and Nattinger-Bradsahaw Halls. This is in addition to a $901,200 contract with Dore & Associates Inc., Bay City, Michigan, to demolish these structures. These costs will be covered through University Housing funds.



Hawley said federal and state regulations require asbestos removal before the demolition of these facilities. The general conditions of these buildings are such that the costs to renovate them significantly outweigh the benefits of doing so. The Fraternity Complex is currently offline due to significant mechanical issues that are not cost-effective to repair. Nattinger-Bradshaw is outdated and would require significant expenditures for mechanical systems in order to continue its operation. Projections indicate UCM will have sufficient housing inventory without these facilities for at least the next 10 years. Abatement and demolition is projected to be completed by January 2022.



A $851,400 contract was approved with Westport Construction Company, Clinton, for the installation of high-quality recording studio spaces that comprise multiple control rooms sharing central recording spaces on the ground floor of Wood Hall. In fall 2015, the Music Technology program began to move into this area because it provided an opportunity to better serve the needs of the program than its previous location in Hudson Hall. The proposed renovations will primarily involve subdividing large rooms into smaller spaces to allow musicians and engineers to see and hear each other via windows and microphones, while remaining acoustically and environmentally isolated from each other. These renovations facilitate and promote accepted safe practices during times such as pandemic, but also support the longer-term recruiting and pedagogical goals of the program. They afford students the opportunity to engage deeply with industry-standard practices and techniques. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funding will help make this project possible.



The board approved a $443,773 contract with Oke-Thomas and Associates Inc., Springfield, Missouri, for labor and materials to install new acoustical ceiling panels, lights and diffusers, and to clean the metal ceiling grid in Wood Hall. The existing ceiling panels have bowed due to age, reducing the efficiency of the air-conditioning return air plenum. Installing new acoustical ceiling panels will seal the air-conditioning return air plenum and act as a fire barrier. This project is being funded through Federal Budget Stabilization Funds (FBSF) that were released by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson in January 2021.



A $509,027 project at W.C. Morris Science Building utilizing Diamond Contractors, Inc., Lees Summit, Missouri, was approved with regard to the removal of single pane rubber gasket windows, including mini-blades, and installation of new thermally broke aluminum storefront windows with roller shades. This will improve the integrity of the building, which was constructed in 1967, and reduce thermal gain inside the structure to improve interior comfort and energy efficiency. Federal Budget Stabilization Funds will pay for this project.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal says that the first round of negotiations between the Ukrainian and European sides on accelerating the abolition of customs tariffs in bilateral trade would launch in September.

The statement came following a meeting with European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Ukraine's political and economic integration with the EU is gaining new momentum. In particular, in the context of discussing the revision of the objectives of the Association Agreement and further trade liberalization. Im confident that the first round of talks on accelerating and expanding the scope of customs tariffs lift in bilateral trade in accordance with Article 29 of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement will be held in September," the prime minister said.

According to Shmyhal, dialogue on concluding an agreement on conformity assessment and acceptance of industrial products (ACAA) has also gained momentum.

Also, in his opinion, it is symbolic that on July 15, the EU reopened its borders to Ukrainian citizens after a pause caused by the pandemic.

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The Crimea Platform summit opens a new page in the joint coordination of the international community's efforts to find a peaceful way to deoccupy the Crimean peninsula, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said.

He said this at the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv on Monday, August 23, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Under the present circumstances, there is no easy solution to this problem. Unfortunately, the international system, including the UN mechanism, is not well designed to resolve it. Still, peaceful resolution through diplomacy is the only way, and this requires effective coordination. And this summit marks an important start to coordinate our efforts to achieve a peaceful and lasting solution. Crimea is Ukraine," Cavusoglu said.

He expressed hope that the Crimea Platform "will serve as an effective forum to show our commitment and solidarity."

Cavusoglu also expressed hope for close cooperation between the Crimea Platform and the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people.

"The Crimea Platform is not only about territory, it's also about people. I know that large Crimean Tatar communities live in your respective countries. Turkey is also home to millions of citizens of Tatar origin," he said.

Cavusoglu also said that Turkey's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity remains strong.

Read also: Crimea Platform participants adopt joint declaration

The Crimea Platform summit began in Kyiv on August 23.

Photo: AA
The most important part of the U.S. visit of President Volodymyr Zelensky will be to try to establish the United States and Ukraine operating as genuine strategic partners, looking at issues and dealing with issues together.

Thats according to former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine negotiations, Kurt Volker, who gave a comment to Ukrinform.

First off, I think the most important about the Zelensky trip will be to try to establish the United States and Ukraine operating as genuine strategic partners, on the same side of the table, looking at issues and dealing with issues together.

The former diplomat added that too often we have seen us complaining about Ukrainians  you need to do this, you need to do that  and Ukrainians being unhappy with the U.S. for one reason or another, whether its Nord Stream (2  ed.) or its ships turning around in the Black Sea, or too much finger-wagging and not enough support.

So I hope we get over this, the former U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations stressed.

If both parties are able to do that, Volker added, an honest conversation ought to follow on how the U.S. could advance Ukraines NATO aspirations.

In this context, the NATO Membership Action Plan, Volker believes, has become an obstacle rather than a pathway as certain countries exploit the MAP, saying Ukraine must have it but yet it cant.

Asked what agreements he believes could be signed during Zelenskys trip, including on security and defense, Volker said preparations must be still underway.

At the same time, he suggested some agreements might be sealed on reform and governance, as well as on energy, noting that on security there really needs to be something.

I think its a principled issue here in Ukraine. Whether its physical security or energy security, and even developing the economy is a matter of security for Ukraine, said Kurt Volker.

So this is the ground, he believes, where the U.S. could meet Ukraine and talk about advancing Ukraines security as this is in our interest as well, underlined Volker.

Read also: Biden allows imposition of sanctions in connection with Nord Stream 2

As reported earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky will be visiting the U.S. late August, on the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden.

The visit will kick off on August 30, while the summit of the two presidents was rescheduled for August 31 due to its format being extended to include a one-on-one meeting, as reported by Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

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To counter Russia's aggressive policy, the international community must determine where the "red line" must be drawn in relations with the aggressor power.

Thats according to Musfata Dzhemilev, leader of the Crimean Tatar people, who spoke at the inaugural Summit of the Crimea Platform August 23, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

Four months ago, French President Emmanuel Macron told CBC that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was a result of unfounded collective trust in Russia on the part of Western powers, and that clear red lines should now be drawn in relations with Russia. To us, these seem to be quite encouraging words, because it clearly means that, in the end, Western powers, the international community will take some sort of measures to thwart further aggressive policies Russia has been pursuing. And here, its a very important question for us of where exactly this red line passes, said Dzhemilev.

According to him, Russia has long crossed all possible lines.

The division and, in fact, occupation of part of Moldova, the seizure of large areas in Georgia, occupation of parts of Ukraine, the slaying of thousands in Syria by their own troops and puppet forces, millions of refugees who have filled so many countries, gangster-style cyberattacks to meddle in foreign elections, the assassinations of own citizens preaching different views, the use of globally banned chemical weapons, and much more  does it all not indicate that Russia has long crossed all possible lines? said Dzhemilev.

According to the politician, today the international community should be guided not only by national interests, but also by thinking about collective world security.

"Is it not in the interests of all countries to live in a world ruled by law, not by force, and where violators of this principle must be punished? <> Isn't it clear that, if the seizure of one country's territory remains unpunished, no other country will be able to remain completely safe? Dzhemilev declared.

He reminded of the Crimean Tatar proverb that the kingdom of jackals lasts until lions wake up and rise to their feet.

We very much hope that the world community will soon rise to its feet so that the law, rather than brute force, triumphed on earth. This is the purpose of our Crimea Platform and the declaration that will be signed here, Dzhemilev said.

As reported earlier, the Crimea Platform inaugural Summit, attended by 46 delegations, was held in Kyiv on August 23.

The Crimea Platform is a new consultative and coordination format initiated by Ukraine to step up the efficiency of international response to the occupation of Crimea, respond to growing security challenges, increase international pressure on Russia, prevent further human rights violations, protect victims of the occupation regime, and achieve the main goal: to have Crimea deoccupied and to restore Ukraine's sovereignty over the peninsula.

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Rumors spread by certain media about the alleged hijacking of a Ukrainian plane in Kabul are not true as all aircraft involved in the evacuation of Ukrainians have safely returned home.

Thats according to Oleh Nikolenko, Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who gave a comment to Ukrinform.

"There are no captured Ukrainian planes in Kabul or elsewhere. The information about a hijacked plane that is being circulated by some media outlets is not true," the spokesman said.

Nikolenko stressed that all airplanes that our state employed to evacuate citizens from Afghanistan had safely landed in Ukraine.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed that Deputy Foreign Minister Eugene Enin, quoted by certain media, explained in general terms the unprecedented level of difficulties that diplomats confronted while extracting Ukrainians from Afghanistan.

According to him, it should be understood that the situation at the airport is close to chaos as many are trying to catch at least some opportunity to flee the country, so it was necessary to ensure that the right people board the right plane and return home safely.

"The Foreign Ministry remains in touch with Ukrainians who are still in Afghanistan, and is working on possible safe ways to evacuate them," Nikolenko said.

At the same time, the spokesman recalled that three evacuation flights had been made so far, which evacuated 256 people.

Earlier, certain media reported, citing Deputy Foreign Minister Eugene Enin, that unidentified gunmen at the Kabul Airport last Sunday had allegedly hijacked a Ukrainian plane set to evacuate citizens from Afghanistan.

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Caroline Van Buren, UNHCR's Representative in Afghanistan  UNHCR/Susan Hopper

The past week has been an extremely turbulent one for Afghanistan, but UNHCR staff and partners remain in the country, delivering aid and protection to many of the countrys 3.5 million internally displaced people, including over half a million forced to flee their homes since the start of this year. Representative to Afghanistan for UNHCR, Caroline Van Buren, explains how her colleagues are adapting and responding to the humanitarian crisis wherever they can safely do so.

What is the situation in Kabul at the moment? And how are you and your staff feeling?

Currently, the situation is relatively calm. Skirmishes continue in some areas, and we still hear some sporadic gunfire, but less than in the first couple of days. The situation is slowly going back to some kind of normality.

We dont know what the future holds, whats going to happen, we dont know when a government will be in place. So, were taking it day-by-day and hoping for the best.

We are okay under the circumstances. Speaking to staff, they are still confused. Some of them are scared, some of them want to return to work.



Given the security situation, to what extent are you able to provide assistance at the moment? And what kind of assistance are you providing?

We have access in all 34 provinces, in 299 out of 450 districts. It might be okay in one area and not okay in another area, so its a mixed bag and we have to ensure staff safety. Up until now, the Taliban have respected our premises and our operations. But the situation is changing all the time, and we have to be cautious, not just for UNHCR and our staff, but also for our partners. We work with a lot of partners throughout the country. Most of them are national NGOs and they have more access than we do in certain areas.

We are doing the emergency response for people who have been displaced, who need lifesaving assistance immediately; people who ran away from their homes with absolutely nothing. We provide core relief items, we provide shelter, water, healthcare, sanitation, food. We also provide cash assistance where possible.

We started the emergency response some time ago because the conflict has been ongoing. After the announcement in May that the international military forces would leave, we really had this surge, but the conflict has been ongoing. This year alone, weve provided emergency assistance to over 200,000 people.



What are the most urgent needs right now, especially for people who have been recently displaced?

Definitely food, but also shelter, water, sanitation, and core relief items like plastic sheets, buckets, blankets and gas cylinders for cooking. Also, dignity kits for women and hygiene kits. Basic relief items that people need when they run away from home without being able to take anything.

When youre going out to do those distributions, how are you ensuring the safety of staff and partners?

The Taliban is encouraging us to resume our activities; theyre saying that theyll provide the necessary security. So, for now, in most areas we are resuming our work, but we must have the greenlight from the Taliban to do so.



To what extent are Afghans able to reach and cross borders in search of safety?

Most borders are closed. The only place where people can move in and out currently is at Spin Boldak  thats the border with Pakistan  where we have business as usual. Over the last couple of days, 20,000 people [have come] out, 19,000 people [have come] in. These are not necessarily asylum-seekers; this is a very busy border and these are the numbers that we have regularly. We have people who go to Pakistan for medical care, we have people who go for school, for work, to be with their families. And we have the same number of people coming into Afghanistan. For Spin Boldak, you exit through Kandahar, and our colleagues and our partners are saying there is free movement. There are checkpoints, but there are no major issues.

Other border points, for instance the border points with Iran  you need a travel document and a visa. This is why some people are using smugglers to move through irregular border points.

The borders with Tajikstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are closed for the movement of people and other borders are only open for commercial traffic such as trucks bringing supplies.



Theres been a lot of focus on evacuations from Kabul airport and offers of resettlement from various countries. For those who dont know, please can you explain the difference between evacuations and resettlement and UNHCRs different role in those two processes?

Different countries are evacuating their citizens, their permanent residents, as well as Afghans who worked for them. UNHCR is not involved right now. When it comes to resettlement is when we become involved, but we only do resettlement from the country of asylum. So, an Afghan citizen would have to leave the country of origin, go to a country of asylum and then, if there are no solutions in the country of asylum, then we look for a third country, and this is what we call resettlement. Its a lengthy process that involves a number of interviews and checks and, unfortunately, it is only available to a very small proportion of the most vulnerable refugees.

Which population groups are you most concerned about right now?

Journalists and other media professionals, people who are perceived to support the former government, people who are perceived to support international military forces and members of minority ethnic groups. For women and girls the policy is not yet clear, it differs from area to area. In some areas, were being told that women should stay home and cannot work. In other areas, depending on the work theyre doing, they are allowed to work.

What can be done to help Afghans in need right now?

The first thing that were asking is for countries to keep their borders open so that Afghans who want to leave and seek international protection can do so.

The second thing wed like to ask is support for people who are internally displaced  lifesaving assistance for those who had to leave their homes.

And then we also need support for regular programming as we call it  restoring the lives and livelihoods of people who are returning home; rehabilitation and construction of damaged infrastructure; ensuring people have livelihoods.

So, these are the three levels: first, keep the borders open, second provide emergency lifesaving assistance, and then lets rehabilitate and construct damaged infrastructure and facilities so people can return home.

All of these things will require support from the international community and currently, our response in Afghanistan is only 43 per cent funded.

I hope that the focus on Afghanistan will continue and that it will not go away after a few weeks. UNHCR is here for the long run.


The following information is to assist persons hoping to leave Afghanistan or persons with friends or family in Afghanistan or who are forcibly displaced in the region.

Unfortunately, UNHCR is unable to assist Afghans inside Afghanistan in leaving the country and cannot answer questions about national evacuation programmes, including the UK Governments Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) relocation plan. Details on ARAP are available on the UK Government website.

The UK Government has announced its intention to establish a resettlement scheme for Afghan refugees. The programme has not yet been established operationally. Therefore UNHCR cannot yet answer questions on the programme.

Those needing humanitarian support inside Afghanistan can refer to the UNHCRs HELP page for the country.

For those outside Afghanistan in need of support, UNHCR operations in affected countries are updating their HELP pages with relevant information. These sites can be accessed through the global UNHCR HELP site.
Funding from Friends

While most of the funding for Brooklyn EMS comes from a per capita based tax evaluation, as well as charges per call -- particularly if called out to transport somebody -- there is also a Friends of the EMS group that formed around four years ago to do fundraising.

People dont realize just how dedicated these volunteers are -- its something where you dont expect anything back, Friends member Chris Johnson told the Observer. Until I lived with a volunteer, I never knew the time commitment.

The nonprofit association helps purchase things like food for when volunteers return from calls and special pieces of equipment like mannequins for teaching CPR, former EMS director Eveyln Hall said. It also organizes the Rescue Kids youth program, to help children in the Brooklyn and Oregon community gain skills for dealing with possible emergency situations.

The Friends of Brooklyn Fire and EMS was formed because we believe the community should support these volunteers by helping with non-emergency activities, the fire departments website states.
At Seahurst Elementary School in Burien, Wash., in April 2021, one-way walking paths were one coronavirus prevention measure. With infections surging as the new academic year approaches, Washington state officials are encouraging school districts to use a layered approach to safety.
Roughly 1 in 5 U.S. children meet the criteria for a mental health disorder, and the rate of suicide attempts among teens has risen over the past decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Dreamstime/TNS)
This transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. (NIAID/TNS)
Dr. Chris Meredith (right), hospitalist at Adventist Health Sonora, receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 18 from Brandi Axtell, a registered nurse.
Hugh Oscar Walton, 71, of Gray, and formerly of Sparta, passed away Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. Graveside services for Hugh Walton will be conducted on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, at 11 a.m. in the Sparta City Cemetery. Hugh was born on Jan. 20, 1950, in Greensboro, Ga. to the late James Thomas "Sl
A kitchen full of fresh ingredients and a drive to transform the fast-food industry is all W Read more
Information Technology Services looks forward to welcoming everyone back to campus for the Fall semester. We have a variety of resources available to enhance your teaching and learning experience.

Drop-In Support

The UNO ITS Digital Learning team offers drop-in support both in-person and virtually for faculty teaching with technology. If you are on campus and looking for the assistance of an instructional designer or instructional technologist, please feel free to visit the team in Eppley Administration Building (EAB) Room 113. Due to the high degree of usage and convenience for faculty, the Digital Learning will also continue staffing the virtual drop-in faculty support room, which is open 9 A.M. to 4 P.M., Monday through Friday, at https://tiny.cc/UNODigitalLearning.

Technology Assistance and Troubleshooting

For technology assistance and troubleshooting, visit the MavTECH Help Center in the Eppley Administration Building (EAB) Room 104. You can also email support@nebraska.edu or call 402.554.4357.

Below is information on some of the most used services and helpful resources available to students, faculty and staff at UNO.

Canvas

Canvas is UNO's Learning Management System (LMS) that provides instructors with the ability to distribute course materials and much more. It includes assessment and communication tools, student and teacher apps for mobile access, and analytics for monitoring usage. To access, visit canvas.unomaha.edu and use your UNO Net ID to login.

Zoom

Zoom is a web conferencing system with full audio, video and screen sharing capabilities. It can be used on Windows, Mac, and Linux computer platforms, as well as on iOS and Android mobile devices. Zoom Pro licenses are available to UNO faculty, staff and students. To access, visit zoom.unomaha.edu and use your UNO Net ID to log in to the service. Best practices on Zoom security are available on the NU ITS website.

Laptop and MiFi Checkout

Access to internet and a computer is critical for students, faculty, and staff. Equipment is available for semester-long checkout at the ITS helpdesk. To request equipment, visit: https://www.unomaha.edu/information-technology-services/software-and-hardware/checkout/index.php

Academic Video

UNO Academic Video is provided by VidGrid, the video streaming and lecture capture system used by the University of Nebraska. The service is available to instructors and students in academic courses for credit. We highly encourage instructors to take advantage of the professional closed captioning available through VidGrid to increase the accessibility of video content.

TurnItIn and Respondus

UNO instructors have access to TurnItIn and Respondus, both of which are accessed through Canvas. TurnItIn can assist instructors with reviewing students' written content for appropriate citation, and Respondus can assist instructors with the proctoring and monitoring of virtual test taking.

Open Nebraska

Open Nebraska is a NU-wide program encouraging the use of reduced-cost digital textbooks and open educational resources (OER) to help make access to textbooks and course content more affordable for students.

Data and File Storage

Microsoft OneDrive, the university's data storage provider, gives you one place to store, share and sync your work or school files.

Upload files from your PC or Mac

Share files with others

Give others permission to edit files and work on them at the same time

Get to your files from anywhere, on your computer, tablet, or phone

Sync OneDrive to your PC or Mac, so you can access your files even when you're offline

To access OneDrive through your web browser, go to portal.office365.com.

If you are using a university-managed computer, you can download the OneDrive app from your software portal. More information about OneDrive, including training resources, can be found at its.nebraska.edu/box.

Two-Factor Authentication

ITS provides Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) technology, adding an extra layer of protection for University of Nebraska online systems. Two-Factor Authentication, provided by Duo, integrates your phone into the login process, resulting in two types of authentication to verify your identity:

Something you know  your NUID and password

Something you have  your phone (mobile, office or home)

Changes to your Two-Factor account, such as adding a new device or deactivating Duo Mobile if you got a new phone but kept your number, can be made by clicking My Settings and Devices on the Duo Prompt screen.

Additional Information

More information on these and other ITS services can be found at its.unomaha.edu.
ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 24th Aug, 2021) Alya Mohamed Almehrezi, Assistant Under-Secretary for Protocols Affairs Office at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, received a copy of the credentials of Robert Michel Lauer, Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the UAE.

Almehrezi wished the Ambassador success in the performance of his duties and in enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation between the UAE and Luxembourg.

The newly appointed Ambassador expressed his pleasure at representing his country in the United Arab Emirates, which enjoys a prestigious regional and international position thanks to the visionary policy of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Warsaw, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2021 ) :The UN refugee agency on Tuesday urged Poland to take in a group of migrants believed to be from Iraq and Afghanistan who have been stranded on the border with Belarus for more than two weeks.

Thousands of migrants -- mostly from the middle East -- have crossed the border from Belarus into the eastern EU states of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in recent months.

Brussels believes the influx is being deliberately engineered by the regime in Minsk in retaliation against EU sanctions -- an accusation that Belarus denies -- and Poland has called it a "hybrid attack" on the bloc.

Poland has said it will not allow the migrants in, with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki saying that this would be giving in to "blackmail" from Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko.

Morawiecki insisted on Tuesday that the migrants "are on the Belarusian side of the border. Belarus is responsible for these groups".

"If someone on the Belarusian side wants to apply for refugee status, please do so in Minsk," he added.

Around 30 migrants have set up a makeshift encampment just inside Belarus near the Polish village of Usnarz Gorny between lines of Belarusian and Polish military personnel.

"We call on the Polish authorities to provide access to territory, immediate medical assistance, legal advice and psychological support to these people," Christine Goyer, UNHCR representative in Poland, said in a statement.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Monday directed the Transport department to gear up a crackdown against sub-standard gas cylinders in vehicles

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Aug, 2021 ) :Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Monday directed the Transport department to gear up a crackdown against sub-standard gas cylinders in vehicles.

These directions were issued in a meeting held at his office to seek recommendations about launch of new transport system in different cities as well as fixing of orange line metro fare according to the travelled destinations.

The chief minister also reviewed the proposal to start double-decker buses in big cities. He said that crackdown be continued against vehicles using LPG cylinders. He directed to present comprehensive recommendations before the cabinet meeting to take a final decision. Recommendations had been devised to determine the orange line metro train's fare in proportion to distance, he added.

The meeting decided that environment-friendly electric buses will be introduced in Lahore, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Faisalabad along with the start of a technology-based latest bus system.

Similarly, the scope of Punjab Transport Company will be extended to the remote areas of the province.

Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, Transport Minister Jehanzeb Khan Khichi, secretary transport, ACS (South Punjab), secretary finance, secretary P&D, MD TDCP, MD Punjab Masstransit Authority, secretary provincial transport authority and others attended the meeting while chief secretary participated through video link.
As part of efforts to conserve electricity, prevent deforestation and provide cheap and uninterrupted power supply especially to remote population of the province, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has completed 356 mini, micro hydel power (MHP) houses in northern KP out of a total 1,000

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2021 ) :As part of efforts to conserve electricity, prevent deforestation and provide cheap and uninterrupted power supply especially to remote population of the province, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has completed 356 mini, micro hydel power (MHP) houses in northern KP out of a total 1,000.

Being owned and operated by the local communities, these power houses were providing cheap electricity to approximately 1 million population of far flung and remote areas, said an official of Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO).

He said the government was imparting training to the local communities about how to operate and use the power houses and they were also responsible to protect these power houses from any damage or loss.

According to Special Assistant to CM Taj Muhammad Khan these power projects were strengthening the provincial economy, besides promoting tourism, creating scores of job opportunities and business activities in remote areas.

Referring to an official survey, he said"There is a capacity to generate 3000 MW of electricity by hydropower plants in Chitral on which the provincial government was working." When contacted CEO PEDO Naeem Khan, he said that in Phase II, work would start on 672 micro hydel power houses in 21 districts of KP, adding that most of these power plants are built in district Chitral because of having plentiful water resources.

He said the provincial government was planning to build the hydel power houses on canals in southern districts to extend the cheap and uninterrupted power supply facility to people of these areas.

He said KP was currently generating 162 MW of electricity from 7 hydropower plants which was generating about Rs 4.5 billion annually for the province,adding it to the conventional grid.

Recently, he said, Daral Khwar Hydropower Project in Swat has started electricity generation of 36.6 megawatts, which would provide hefty revenue of Rs 1.3 billion annually to the province.

He said Daral Khwar Hydropower project was constructed in Bahrain area of Swat district with the assistance of Chinese engineers, adding that the electricity generated by the project has been added to the national grid system.

Naeem said"Work is in progress under the short term plan, six more projects of 96 MW will be completed by the end of this year, which will bring additional revenue of about Rs 4 billion to the province.

" Under the mid-term plan, work was underway on 6 projects of 223 MW which would be completed in 2024 while under the long term plan 9 projects would generate 1899 MW of electricity which would be completed in 2027-28.

He said that in Bagot area of district Abbottabad two 75 kw hydel power houses have started power generation and providing electricity to over 300 families in the area.

Similarly, he said that PEDO in collaboration with Agha Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP) has completed 54 micro hydropower houses (MHP) in different areas of upper and lower Chitral.

These MHP plants included 200 KW Garamchishma power house, 75 KW hydropower plant Bor Bono, 100 KW Your Jog, 150 KW Bamburit power plant, 150 KW hydropower plant Rumbor etc.

Project Director Col. Muhammad Shahid told this agency that 54 micro hydropower plants in Chitral were handed over to AKRSP which would generate six megawatts of electricity at a cost of one billion rupees. Eleven of these power plants have now been completed, which would generate 1.7 MW of electricity.

He said that this would reduce the burden on forests and provide pollution free energy to the people of Chitral.

When asked about maintenance and rehabilitation of these power houses, PEDO chief said that a special fund has been created from the tariff so that these houses could be rehabilitated in case of any breakdown or damage.

He further added that PEDO was also working to do insurance of these houses through an insurance scheme.

Mohammad Arshad Abbasi, a local of Bagot village in district Abbottabad appreciating the provincial government said that the installation of the two hydel power project in his area has not only addressed the issue of power supply to the village but also provide business to the local communities and promoted tourism in the area.

Social and political activist in district Chitral Abdul Latif told APP that the series of hydel power plants that have been started would definitely stop the relentless deforestation and people would use electricity instead of wood, he added.
(@FahadShabbir)

Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Justice Javed Iqbal Monday said that NAB was committed to the logical conclusion of mega corruption cases by utilizing all available resources as per law

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Aug, 2021 ) :Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Justice Javed Iqbal Monday said that NAB was committed to the logical conclusion of mega corruption cases by utilizing all available resources as per law.

He stated this while chairing a meeting held to review overall performance of NAB at its headquarters.

Chairman said that NAB has solid evidence of money-laundering of billions of rupees by the big fish which were laundered by opening fake accounts in the Names of 'falooda walas', 'chhabri walas' and 'paupar walas'.

He said that NAB had constituted a Combined Investigation Team (CIT) to benefit from the collective wisdom of senior supervisory officers.

He said the CIT had the services of director, additional director, investigation officer, legal counsel and experts of the monetary and land revenue department which was lending quality.

He said NAB was the focal institution of Pakistan under the UN Convention against corruption and the chairman of SAARC Anti-Corruption Forum.

He said NAB was considered a role model organization in SAARC countries.

The Chairman said that NAB from Oct 2017 to June, 2021 had recovered Rs 535 billion from corrupt elements which was a record achievement as compared to other years which showed a commitment and dedication of NAB officers towards performance of their national responsibilities in eradication of corruption from the country.

He said that NAB had recovered Rs 822 billion directly and indirectly since its inception and there are 1273 corruption cases, having an accumulative volume of approximately Rs 1300 billion, under trial in various accountability courts. The performance of NAB has been lauded by reputed national and international institutions. The Bureau is the focal organization of Pakistan under the United National Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi on Tuesday called on Commander Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) Rear Admiral Shahram Irani and Commander of Northern Fleet Commodore Abdolvahab Taheri during his official visit to Iran

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2021 ) :Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi on Tuesday called on Commander Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) Rear Admiral Shahram Irani and Commander of Northern Fleet Commodore Abdolvahab Taheri during his official visit to Iran.

On arrival, the Naval Chief was received by Commander IRIN and was presented Guard of Honour, said a Pakistan Navy news release received here.

During meeting with Commander IRIN, the Naval Chief was given detail briefing on roles and objective of Iran Navy.

Besides, professional matters of mutual interest including bilateral naval collaborations and security environment of Indian Ocean Region were discussed.

The Admiral highlighted Pakistan Navy's focused efforts towards Maritime Security, Counter Piracy Operations and PN initiative of Regional Maritime Security Patrol (RMSP).

Iranian Naval Commander acknowledged and highly appreciated the role and contribution of Pakistan Navy for maintaining peace and stability in the maritime domain.

The dignitaries agreed to enhance bilateral collaboration between the two countries in general and Navy to Navy in particular.

Afterwards, Naval Chief laid floral wreath at the Martyrs monument at the National Museum of Defence.

Later, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi visited Iranian Northern Fleet (4th Naval Regional HQ) at Bandar Anzali where he was given briefing on responsibilities and capabilities of Northern Fleet. Naval Chief also visited shipbuilding yards and Naval Museum.

It is expected that recent visit of the Naval Chief will further boost bilateral relations between the two navies.
Orphan Children of PBM's Dar-ul-Ehsaas on Tuesday planted over 200 saplings along with Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM), Managing Director Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar in the grassy area adjacent to Faizabad Interchange here in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2021 ) :Orphan Children of PBM's Dar-ul-Ehsaas on Tuesday planted over 200 saplings along with Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM), Managing Director Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar in the grassy area adjacent to Faizabad Interchange here in Islamabad.

Over 200 children of PBM Schools for the rehabilitation of Child Laborers and Dar-ul-Ehsaas planted the saplings under prime minister's clean green Pakistan movement.

Appreciating the children, PBM managing director said that it is the best time to motivate our children to build their attitude towards planting trees to have the nature-friendly environment ahead. "The purpose of involving the children in plantation campaign is to engage them in a national responsibility to enable them in turning Pakistan into green and environment friendly country,"he added.

Malik Zaheer Abbas further said the prime minister has taken this task as a challenge to protect our country from deforestation, extreme weather conditions, pollution, carbon emission, flooding and to overcome global warming; that also demands an animated contribution of the whole nation at large.

Talking about the participant children, the Zaheer Abbas told that PBM is running some 51 orphanages "Dar-ul-Ehsaas" in various districts of the country to accommodate the poor orphan children.
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Speakers have stressed the need of adopting public-private partnership model and mobilizing the corporate sector to transform Pakistan Railways into a profitable entity

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Aug, 2021 ) :Speakers have stressed the need of adopting public-private partnership model and mobilizing the corporate sector to transform Pakistan Railways into a profitable entity.

In a joint webinar by Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) and NGO Reenergia on 'Vision for Pakistan Railways' on Monday, the ideas were shared on how to turn this national asset into an enterprise which would contribute to the economy of the country.

Secretary Railways Habibur Rehman Gilani, CEO/ Senior General Manager Railways Nisar Ahmed Memon, Vice Chairman PIDE Dr. Nadeemul Haque, Dr. Afia of the Reenergia were among the speakers while CEO Reenergia Dr. Amir Zafar Durrani moderated the webinar.

The webinar is part of the series of the research dialogues to find ways to deal with the issues faced by the Pakistan Railways and help it restore its lost status of a profitable organization of the early 1960s when Pakistan Railways catered for the 70 percent of the freight business of the country.

Secretary PR Habibur Rehman Gilani said Pakistan Railways is a far better institution than what is the perception outside, adding that Pakistan Railways has embarked upon a transformation journey as per vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to improve the performance of key national institutions.

He said PR is committed to the infrastructure upgradation and embracing technology through automation to make the railways customer centric.

He also hinted hiring of professionals from the corporate sector, exploiting railway land commercially and offering PR assets for branding to raise revenue.

He said some 70 million commuters use railways annually and there were plans to exploit its resources to make it a profitable institution.

The speakers stressed the need of institutional reforms within Pakistan Railways to turn it into a successful enterprise which will contribute to the economic growth of the country rather than becoming a burden and a liability for the nation.
The Sindh government has decided to declare 58 posts of grade BS-21 and BS-20 as floating posts due to shortage of 50% grade BS-21 officers of Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), over 75% of BS-20 officers and 80% of grade BS-19 officers

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2021 ) :The Sindh government has decided to declare 58 posts of grade BS-21 and BS-20 as floating posts due to shortage of 50% grade BS-21 officers of Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), over 75% of BS-20 officers and 80% of grade BS-19 officers.

It was decided in the cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at CM House on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, chief secretary Mumtaz Shah and Advocate General Sindh, said a press release issued here.

The cabinet was informed that due to heavy shortfall of the PAS officers and cancellation of additional and look-after charges by the courts of law, a large number of important posts were lying vacant which were adversely affecting the functioning of the provincial government institutions. In such a situation the ultimate sufferer was the general public.

It was revealed in the cabinet meeting that there were 25 posts of grade BS-21 in Sindh, of which16 posts belonged to PAS as their share. Currently, only five officers of PAS were working and 11 posts (of grade BS-21) were vacant.

Similarly, out of 142 sanctioned posts of grade BS-20, the PAS has a share of 67 posts but only 19 officers are working, and 48 posts are vacant. Out of 277 posts of grade BS-19 the PAS has a share of 59 posts against which only 25 officers are working, and 34 posts are vacant.

At this, the chief minister said that in order to ensure smooth functioning of government institutions filling up of at least important positions was sine qua non for the effective and efficient service delivery system.

It was pointed out that the details of posts in the share of PAS, working strength and shortfall, were roughly worked out for the last six years. The average figures for the last three years gave a very grim picture as far as the availability of PAS officers in BS-19 and above was concerned - the Sindh government remained deficient by over 50 percent in BS-21, over 75 percent in BS-20 and 80 percent in BS-19, it was noted.

The cabinet, keeping in view the acute shortage of officers, decided to declare 11 posts of BS-21, including that of Chairman Planning & Development Board, Chairman CM Inspection & inquiries Team, Chairman Anti-Corruption Establishment and Commissioner Karachi Division as floating posts in BS-20/BS-21.

On declaring such posts in BS-20/BS-21, the same could be filled from amongst BS-20 officers of PAS, Ex-PCS and PSS also on the basis of seniority.

Water shortage: Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro told the cabinet that the IRSA authorities has allowed transfer of water from Indus System to Jhelum-Chenab System through C-J and T-P Link Canals, as result not only the standing crops were turning pale but the fear of shortage of drinking water has emerged.

The cabinet urged the IRSA to stop flowing water into Jhelum-Chenab system and release water to Sindh.

Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh took up the issue of prolonged load shedding in the rural areas of the province.

He said that the old transformers installed in the rural areas usually burnt, and their repair took four to five weeks, as a result poor people suffered a lot.

The cabinet urged the power distribution companies to overhaul their system and install new transformers in their system, particularly in the rural areas.

The cabinet was informed that Provincial Benevolent Fund board (PBFB) was custodian of the benevolent fund and catered to the claim of subsistence allowance across provinces. The allowance is offered to the widow of the deceased government servant.

The chief secretary pointed out that the rules (Rule 10 of part-I and Rule 9 of Party-II) PBFB were silent on widower being the beneficiary. Therefore, the cabinet approved the amendment in the rule now it would be read as "Such grant shall be subject to the condition that the `widow' or widower, shall, each month furnish to the Board a certificate in the form. On remarriage the grant shall cease forthwith.

It may be noted that an amount of Rs5 billion is lying in the fund, out of which 45,608 beneficiaries, including 41,532 non-gazetted and 3,634 gazetted taking benefit.

The fund is paid to the family of deceased or invalidated government servants at the rate of Rs 2000 for grade BS-1 to 15, Rs2500 for BS-16-19 and Rs3000 for BS-20-21.

Minister of Women Development Department Shehla Raza requested the cabinet to approve merger of Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2013 and its Rules 2016 with Child Protection Authority Act 2011 and amendment in the Bill 2021 of Social Welfare department.

The minister said that the Child Marriage Restraint Act was initiated by the Women Development Department, but the department deals with female of age of 18 years and above and have proper residential places in shape of Dar-ul-Aman. The girls under the age of 18 cannot be accommodated with elder ladies in Darul Aman.

The Social Welfare Department has facilities of Child protection units/ centers all over Sindh, therefore the cabinet approved the merger.

The cabinet also approved the rules of Animal health Karachi presented by Minister Fisheries & Livestock Bari Pitafi.

The chief minister directed his cabinet members to take personal interest to implement the development schemes of their departments in time.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th August, 2021) The Afghan authorities did not ask Bishkek to provide military assistance or to accept refugees, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbayev said in an interview with Sputnik.

"We do not have such opportunities and resources. No, they did not contact us," he said when asked whether the Afghan authorities asked Kyrgyzstan for military assistance.
Angola has strongly denied accusations that its navy illegally entered DR Congo waters, in a letter sent by its embassy in Kinshasa and seen by AFP on Tuesday

Kinshasa, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2021 ) :Angola has strongly denied accusations that its navy illegally entered DR Congo waters, in a letter sent by its embassy in Kinshasa and seen by AFP on Tuesday.

On August 10, army chief of staff General Celestin Mbala, alerted the government to an "incursion by the Angolan navy" into Congolese waters off the coast of Moanda and two other territories near the border with Angola.

Angola "expressly and categorically denies this information," the letter said.

"(It) is keen to emphasise that its armed forces did not undertake any incursion into the DRC's territorial waters, or into the areas of Tshela, Moanda and Songololo." Luanda "vigorously condemns the publication of such groundless information aimed at undermining the excellent relations between the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Angola," it continued.

Angola reaffirmed its support of the "good neighbour policy" between the two states and its "unequivocal respect for the borders and sovereignty" of both countries, the letter stated.

A DR Congo-incorporated fishing company called Bosa has accused the Angolan navy of boarding its vessels 42 times over the past six years even though, it said, they had not strayed from DR Congo waters.

In order to avoid similar incidents in future, Angola said it hoped prevention and surveillance measures would be beefed up "to safeguard goodwill between the two countries."
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WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th August, 2021) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu about cooperation in the ongoing evacuation efforts in Afghanistan, State Department spokesperson Ned price said.

"Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to discuss our continuing cooperation in Afghanistan and our efforts to ensure the safe and orderly evacuation of our citizens, allies, and partners," Price said in a readout of the call on Tuesday.

The United States is ramping up its withdrawal from Afghanistan from the Kabul airport in an attempt to meet the August 31 deadline it had agreed on with the Taliban (banned in Russia).

The Biden administration said on Tuesday that the deadline is contingent upon the Taliban's cooperation with the evacuation operations.

On Monday, Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party spokesperson Omer Celik said Ankara could not accept a single Afghan, saying Turkey is not a refugee camp.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel over the weekend and agreed to work together to help international aid organizations with the evacuation, adding that it is a top priority.
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The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Collective Rapid Reaction Forces will hold Rubezh-2021 drills from September 1-9 in Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev said in an interview with Sputnik

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2021) The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Collective Rapid Reaction Forces will hold Rubezh-2021 drills from September 1-9 in Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev said in an interview with Sputnik.

"CSTO cooperation envisions a number of collective measures, taking into consideration the situation in Afghanistan.

So, next month, from September 1-9, joint exercises of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces, dubbed Rubezh-2021, will be held at the Edelweiss training ground in the Kyrgyz Republic," Kazakbaev said.

In addition, a series of military exercises will be held in Tajikistan, close to the Afghan border, including those aimed at practicing suppression of illegal armed groups, according to the Kyrgyz official.
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WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th August, 2021) The United States and the Taliban (banned in Russia) have discussed the terror group's future control of the Kabul international airport, US State Department spokesperson Ned price said on Monday.

"A functioning state, a functioning economy, a government that has some semblance of a relationship with the rest of the world needs a functioning commercial airport," Price said during a press briefing. "We are in discussions with the Taliban on this very front. They have indicated to us in no uncertain terms that they seek to have a functioning commercial airport."
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Western allies will not be able to fly every Afghan who needs protection out of Kabul before the United States' planned August 31 withdrawal deadline, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Tuesday

Berlin, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2021 ) :Western allies will not be able to fly every Afghan who needs protection out of Kabul before the United States' planned August 31 withdrawal deadline, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Tuesday.

"Even if (the evacuation) goes on until August 31 or even a few days longer, it will not be enough to allow those who we, or the United States, want to fly out," Maas told Bild tv.

Allies must therefore plot out how they can keep getting people out of Afghanistan even if the military operation ends as scheduled.

G7 leaders are due to hold talks later Tuesday on the crisis triggered by the Taliban's return to power, and European partners have urged Washington to push back the timeline on ending their deployment in Afghanistan.

If the August 31 deadline is kept, then the Americans "will certainly need two days to fly out their own military alone", said Maas, thereby possibly bringing forward the last day for the civilian evacuation flights.

Germany has so far flown out around 3,800 people from Afghanistan in an operation described by the defence ministry as highly risky.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th August, 2021) The Guatemalan Health Ministry said on Tuesday that the country has received a fresh supply of 400,000 shots of the Russian-made coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V.

"The 400,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine that have arrived have been sent to the National Biological Center, where they will be stored at a temperature of -18 to -20 C [-0.4 to - 4 degrees Fahrenheit] before being transferred to regional health authorities," the ministry tweeted.

The emergency use of the Russian vaccine was approved in Guatemala in late February.

Last month, the country's government and the Russian Direct Investment Fund renegotiated a contract on vaccine doses due to delays in previous deliveries. Under the new deal, Guatemala will receive half of the previous order, or 8 million Sputnik V shots, that had been prepaid by the country's government.

To date, the Russian vaccine has been approved in 69 countries with a total population exceeding 3.7 billion people.
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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th August, 2021) Kyrgyzstan is ready to renew joint hydroelectric power projects with Russia, including the Kambarata-1 dam and the Verkhne-Narynsky cascade of hydroelectric power plants (HPP), Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev told Sputnik.

The minister cited the recent launch of the Talassky gold mining plant as a prime example of an investment partnership between the two countries, adding that Bishkek will continue supporting such projects in the future.

"We are also ready to resume joint hydropower projects [such as] the Kambarata-1 HPP and the Verkhne-Narynsky HPP cascade," Kazakbaev said.

In 2012, Kyrgyzstan signed a deal with Russian energy company RusHydro to build both Kambarata-1 and the Verkhne-Narynsky cascade. In 2016, however, Bishkek withdrew from the project, despite RusHyrdro having already invested $37 million in the project by that time. In 2018, RusHyrdro filed an international arbitration suit against Kyrgyzstan to recoup the money.
SEOUL (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th August, 2021) The South Korean Foreign Ministry's special envoy for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula Noh Kyu-duk and US special envoy for North Korea Sung Kim on Monday discussed humanitarian aid to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and military exercises by the allies, diplomats said after the meeting.

The sides discussed various areas of humanitarian cooperation with North Korea, including healthcare, support to the DPRK through international and nongovernmental organizations.

"We discussed possible humanitarian assistance to the DPRK... I reaffirmed US support for inter-Korean dialogue and interaction, as envisaged in a joint statement by our two leaders in May, and will continue to support inter-Korean humanitarian cooperation projects," Sung told reporters, referring to the joint statement by the leaders of the United States and South Korea following the summit on May 21.

The diplomat also said that the United States has no hostile intentions towards North Korea, and that the ongoing South Korea-US military drills are defensive in nature. The diplomat reiterated North Korea's call to return to dialogue. "I am still ready to meet with my North Korean counterparts anywhere and at any time," he said.
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Spain will not be able to rescue all Afghans who served Spanish missions in Afghanistan because of the "dramatic" situation on the ground, Defence Minister Margarita Robles said Tuesday

Madrid, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2021 ) :Spain will not be able to rescue all Afghans who served Spanish missions in Afghanistan because of the "dramatic" situation on the ground, Defence Minister Margarita Robles said Tuesday.

Robles said Taliban checkpoints and violence were making it difficult for people to reach Kabul airport to catch one of the daily flights on a Spanish military plane out of the country.

"We will evacuate as many people as possible but there are people who will stay behind for reasons that do not depend on us, but on the situation there," Robles said during an interview with news radio Cadena Ser.

"It is a very frustrating situation for everyone, because even those who reach Kabul, access to the airport is very complicated," she added.
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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th August, 2021) Syria condemns the "baseless" allegation of the US State Department that chemical weapons were used by the government in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta in 2013, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

The US State Department published the statement this past Saturday, alleging that Syrian President Bashar Assad's government was to be blamed for the attack.

"Syria condemns the baseless accusations which were incorporated in the press statement of the US State Department regarding the chemical weapons that had been used eight years ago, in 2013, in Eastern Ghouta near Damascus," a statement read.

Such remarks are a confirmation of the hostile attitudes of the United States towards Syria after Washington's failure in Afghanistan, the Syrian foreign ministry said.

"The policy of supporting terrorists conducted by the US and [the] unilateral, unscrupulous and inhuman sanctions, that's what is really worth condemnation and punishment," the ministry said.

Reports about an alleged chemical attack in Eastern Ghouta emerged on April 7, 2018. The European Union and the United States promptly accused Damascus of being behind it, while the Syrian government denied any involvement. Syria and Russia, a close ally of the former, said the attack was staged by local militants and the White Helmets group.

A week later, without waiting for the results of an international investigation, the United States, the United Kingdom and France hit what they called Syria's chemical weapons facilities with over a hundred missiles in response to the alleged attack.
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Overseas businesses selling colourful handwoven rugs and vivid handblown glass from Afghanistan are concerned for their suppliers as the Taliban's takeover of the country threatens those with links to the West

Hebden Bridge, United Kingdom, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2021 ) :Overseas businesses selling colourful handwoven rugs and vivid handblown glass from Afghanistan are concerned for their suppliers as the Taliban's takeover of the country threatens those with links to the West.

British businessman James Wilthew has built up close ties with Afghan rug weavers and sellers, buying the sought-after carpets directly from the northern provinces, where the industry is traditionally based.

The ex-serviceman sells the carpets at his shop in Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire in northern England and estimates that his company, The Afghan Rug Shop, supports about 200 families.

A share of the proceeds goes to Afghanaid, a British charity supporting people in Afghanistan.

He said he was frustrated by the British government's response, despite an emotive emergency debate on the crisis in parliament and urgent calls for help.

"Nothing happens, there's been no action," he said, warning: "Government bureaucracy will result in the death of thousands of people." The former RAF officer worked in Afghanistan in 2004 on the UK Provincial Reconstruction Team, set up to help development projects.

Asked if Islamist hardliners could target those who worked with him due to his UK military background, he said: "Yes, of course".

The Taliban could say, "You've been working for Mr James", he said. "It's just the association." "I'm not necessarily sure how far the Taliban will go with these things: we just don't know what the spectrum of danger is." - Major export commodity - Afghan rugs are a major commodity and the country's second largest non-agricultural export, according to the World Trade Organization.

Textiles are by far the most significant Afghan import to the UK, worth some 2.4 million ($3.3 million) per year, government figures show.

The ancient carpet trade existed under the previous Taliban regime, which ruled Afghanistan with an iron fist from 1996 until they were ousted in the US-led invasion in 2001.

The uncertainty and chaos since the return of the hardline Islamists was "a temporary issue", said Wilthew.

"Under the Taliban regime, that trade (in textiles) will continue, they need the tax from that business, the employment," he added.

"It's their export commodity, it's how they make an income." Most Afghan carpets are exported via neighbouring Pakistan, but Wilthew is unusual in dealing directly with artisans and traders inside the country.

That could force him to change his business model, possibly using a middleman in Pakistan, and switching from US Dollars if the greenback is banned in Afghanistan.

He is also unlikely to be able to continue using international shipping and delivery companies DHL and FedEx for delivery, he added.

"Acquiring rugs from Afghanistan is not a concern for me. It's not an issue, the issue is my friends," he said.

- 'Impossible' logistics - Another high-end company that sells goods made by Afghan artisans is London-based Ishkar, which sells contemporary-design carpets, as well handblown tumblers, jewellery and clothes.

The brand's creative director, Electra Simon, said the company was in daily contact with people in Afghanistan, and "pretty much everybody is trying to leave".

"They just basically want to get out, they can't leave their houses right now," she said, adding they felt "sheer desperation" at the situation.

"It's really hard: the relationships we've built up with people, seeing them in these massively tricky situations," she said.

Ishkar's online shop is selling photographic prints of Afghanistan to raise funds for Emergency, which provides medical treatment to conflict victims.

The company, which works with some 30 people in the country, has removed references to Afghan partners from its website to protect them.

"We want to do everything possible to continue working with people in Afghanistan, if it doesn't put them at risk," she said "Some of them will be (at risk), others probably not as much because they are just traditional artisans working, so hopefully we can continue working with them." Some artisans in areas captured by the Taliban have been able to keep working, she said, although the logistics of exporting to Britain were at the moment "completely impossible".

Both she and Wilthew said the situation was still too fluid to predict, and a clearer picture will emerge in the coming weeks.

"It will definitely be different for us, that's 100 percent," said Simon.
Britain on Monday announced it will take delivery of another 35 million doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine in the second half of next year to "future-proof" its jabs rollout

London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Aug, 2021 ) :Britain on Monday announced it will take delivery of another 35 million doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine in the second half of next year to "future-proof" its jabs rollout.

"While we continue to build this wall of defence from Covid-19, it's also vital we do everything we can to protect the country for the future too - whether that's from the virus as we know it or new variants," said health minister Sajid Javid.

"I am pleased we've reached this agreement with Pfizer for more doses as part of our robust preparations to future-proof our vaccine programme, ensuring we have plans in place to keep the nation safe for years to come," he added.

The government has yet to decide on a potential rollout of third doses, but could begin a booster programme in early September, alongside the flu jab.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is still assessing the data on whether boosters will be needed and which groups might need them most.

Britain has been one of the countries worst hit by the virus, recording over 131,000 deaths, but has embarked on a successful vaccination programme that is credited with saving around 95,000 lives, according to the latest data from Public Health England and the University of Cambridge.

Britain had already ordered 100 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, making it the country's second most used jab, after the AstraZeneca shot.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th August, 2021) The US government is imposing Magnitsky Act sanctions on three individuals in Paraguay for their role in corruption schemes in the South American country, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday.

"The United States is imposing financial sanctions on three Paraguayan individuals for their roles in corruption schemes in Paraguay, as well as on five associated entities connected with those schemes, pursuant to Executive Order 13818," Blinken said in a statement.

The Department of the Treasury identified the individuals as Kassem Mohamad Hijazi, Khalil Ahmad Hijazi, and Liz Paola Doldan Gonza, a separate press release said.

"Taken in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Homeland Security, these actions represent a whole-of-government effort to combat corruption in the Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay Tri-Border Area," he said.

The United States is committed to supporting Paraguay's efforts to combat corruption and promote accountability for those who undermine government institutions, Blinken added.
Valdosta, GA (31601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 73F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development details humanitarian aid sent by Pope Francis to assist people in Haiti, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, who are suffering from natural disasters and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

By Gabriella Ceraso

The Pope's concern for the battered and forgotten Caribbean island of Haiti has also taken concrete form, after an appeal for solidarity launched at the Angelus on August 15 with the invocation of Our Lady's protection.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, headed by Cardinal Peter Turkson, notes that Pope Francis has decided to send a preliminary contribution of 200,000 euros for the relief of the population in this phase of the post-earthquake emergency, a phase that is linked to the already difficult situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has caused about 600 victims in the collapsed health situation on the island.

The earthquake, which struck on the morning of 14 August 14 with a magnitude 7.2 on the Richter scale, and was also felt in Jamaica, had its epicenter about 150 km west of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, and devastated entire regions of the south and southwest. A still provisional tally, which has been increasing day-by-day, now numbers 2,207 dead, 344 missing and more than 12,000 injured. The damage is incalculable. Entire inland areas have been razed to the ground and homes have come down with avalanches of land already made fragile by aggressive deforestation that has marked the island for years. And what the earthquake did not destroy, the tropical storm that hit the archipelago in recent days did.

The international solidarity that the Pope had urged from the beginning, is working, but with many difficulties due to both the uncontrolled criminal gangs present throughout the territory and the difficulties of connections for the disaster that has been created. The support of Francis is therefore necessary and desired. In its statement, the Dicastery explains that the funds will be distributed in collaboration with the Apostolic Nunciature among the dioceses most affected by the disaster, [and] will be used to assist the earthquake victims. The contribution is intended to be an immediate expression of the feeling of spiritual closeness and paternal encouragement towards the people and territories affected by the disaster. Accompanied by prayer, the humanitarian aid  being gathered by Bishops Conferences and numerous charitable organizations and other entities throughout the Church, will be used in support of the beloved Haitian population.

Support for Bangladesh and Vietnam

Along with Haiti, Pope Francis is also providing immediate relief for two other countries in great difficulty. An initial offering of emergency aid of about 60 thousand euros has already been dispatched to the people of Bangladesh, recently hit by Cyclone Yaas. Over one million affected by the cyclone are already in conditions of extreme difficulty due to the spread of Indian variant.

Vietnam is another country close to the heart of Pope Francis. The Holy Father has sent initial aid package of 100,000 euros to the country, which is in a state of serious distress due to the socio-economic consequences related to the Covid 19 pandemic, which has caused more than 8000 victims here.
Respect for human dignity and inclusive dialogue marked two key concerns brought up by the Holy See representative in Geneva at the 31st Special Session of the Human Rights Council, On the serious human rights concerns and situation in Afghanistan.

Vatican News staff writer

The Holy See continues to follow the developments in Afghanistan "with great attention and deep concern," and has renewed the appeal launched by Pope Francis on August 15 calling on all people to pray with him to the God of peace so that the clamour of weapons might cease and solutions can be found at the table of dialogue." Only in this way, he said at the time, "can the battered population of that country  men, women, elderly and children  return to their own homes, and live in peace and security, in total mutual respect.



This message was reiterated on Tuesday morning by Monsignor John Putzer, charge d'affaires of the Holy See's Permanent Mission to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva. Speaking at the 31st Special Session of the Human Rights Council, the Vatican representative urged all parties to recognize and uphold the respect for the human dignity and fundamental rights of every person, including the right to life, the freedom of religion, the right to freedom of movement and the right to peaceful assembly.

"At this critical time," he added, "it is of vital importance to support the success and safety of humanitarian efforts within the country, in a spirit of international solidarity, so as not to lose the progress that has been made, especially in the areas of healthcare and education. He expressed hopes for a peaceful and swift resolution to the ongoing tensions, and the conviction that inclusive dialogue" represents "the most powerful tool" to achieve the goal of peace.

In conclusion, the statement urged the entire international community to "move from declaration to action" by welcoming refugees " in a spirit of human fraternity."

According to the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, there are 2.5 million registered refugees from Afghanistan, comprising the largest protracted refugee population in Asia, and the second-largest refugee population in the world. In recent weeks, thousands have been attempting to flee the country, especially at Kabul airport through the airlifts underway for foreigners and Afghans. Surrounding countries are worried about an exodus across their borders given the current tensions.
Indian Christians observe Kandhamal Day on August 25 that marks the outbreak of mass anti-Christian violence in eastern Indias Odisha state in 2008.

By Vatican News staff reporter

The National Solidarity Forum (NSF) of India has announced the creation of Kandhamal Human Rights Awards for activists and groups on the occasion of the August 25 Kandhamal Day, Wednesday, in commemoration of one of the worst violence against Christians in India that erupted in the eastern state of Odisha 13 years ago.

The NSF has instituted two annual awards in honour of the victims and survivors of the mass violence against Adivasi [indigenous] and Dalit [marginalized] Christians of Kandhamal and several other districts in Odisha, and in some other states including Karnataka, in August-September 2008.

The award to an individual carries a cash prize and a plaque. The award for non-governmental organizations and groups recognizes long and sustained work on issues of human rights and civil liberties, development, harmony and peace building, NSF convenor Dr Ram Puniyani said. The awardees will be announced soon.

National Solidarity Forum

The National Solidarity Forum is a national level platform of over 70 organizations and activists, media persons, researchers, legal experts, film-makers, artists, writers and scientists, which emerged after the Kandhamal violence. Formed in May 2010, the Forum works on various issues relating to trauma, counselling, rehabilitation and advocacy for justice to victims of organized violence. NSF has been commemorating Kandhamal Day on August 25 every year with events in Kandhamal, Bhubaneswar, New Delhi and other places.

The 2020 event, held online due to the pandemic, featured human rights activists and senior noted civil society personalities discussing the challenges faced by marginalized communities with particular emphasis on the right to life, livelihood and the freedom of religion and belief.

Webinar

Wednesdays commemoration of Kandhamal Day and the awards function will also be in virtual mode. A national webinar has been organized on the theme, In Defence of Human Rights and Democratic Freedoms. It will feature personalities such as former Chairman of the National Law Commission and Chief Justice of Delhi High court, AP Shah, former Chief Election Commissioner, S Y Qureshi, and the noted film and literature personality Javed Akhtar. Among other participants are Bhasha Singh, Dr Ruth Manorama, Dr Aruna Gnanadason, Dayamani Barla, Henri Tiphagne, and Dr John Dayal.

The atrocities

The murder of Hindu leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples on August 23 triggered the 2008 violence. Even though Maoist rebels claimed the assassination, Hindu extremists blamed it on Christians. Two days later on August 25, hell broke loose on the Christians of Odisha, with Kandhamal district as the epicentre of the atrocities, which continued unabated for months. Ironically, it started 10 days after Indias Independence Day.

Odishas Christians had earlier faced similar violence, but to a much lesser scale, during Christmas of 2007, which observers say was a rehearsal for the carefully orchestrated atrocities that were to follow 8 months later.

In independent Indias chequered history, the violence in the Kandhamal and adjoining districts of Odisha in 2007 and 2008 stands out for malevolent targeting of the Christian minorities, Dalits, Adivasis, women and Children were violated with impunity, said a press release by the NSF.

It noted that over 100 Christians were killed, several of them from the clergy, and over 75,000 were displaced. More than 360 churches, places of worship and educational, social service and health institutions were destroyed and looted. The education of 12,000 children was disrupted and over 40 women were raped, molested and humiliated, including a Catholic nun. Several cases of forced conversion to Hinduism were also reported.

Justice denied

The NSF cited a study conducted by Supreme Court advocate Vrinda Grover and law professor Dr. Saumya Uma, which found the conviction rate as low as 5.13% of the cases brought to court. If one takes complaints as a yardstick of the justice process, it is just around 1% only, the NSF press statement said.

Kandhamal violence is a unique case of multiple violations of basic human rights and dignity of the most vulnerable groups. Justice is yet to be done and rights to be restored, the NSF added.
Allyson Reneau, a 60-year-old mother of 11 and grandmother of 8 from Oklahoma, is making headlines for helping 10 girls from Afghanistan escape the country amidst the crisis unraveling in Kabul.

The 10 teenagers are members of the Afghan Girls Robotic Team. They were hailed in the West as the future of Afghanistan. After the Taliban took over the country, there is fear that the insurgent group will shut down education for females. The robotics team was apparently terrified for their future.

In an interview with Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC), human rights lawyer Kimberly Motley stated that the Taliban was going door to door and taking girls out, forcing them to become child brides.

We are very, very concerned of that happening with this Afghan girls robotics team  these girls that want to be engineers, they want to be in the AI community and they dare to dream to succeed, Motley said. She added that the girls were literally begging the Canadian government and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to allow them entry into Canada.

Reneau had met the girls, who are between 16 and 18 years of age, back in 2019 at the Humans to Mars summit in Washington while they were in America for a robotics competition. Over the years, she kept in touch with them. As it became clear that the Taliban would take over Afghanistan, Reneau became concerned for the teenagers. She couldnt shake the feeling that they would soon be in danger.

Reneau first called Republican Senator Jim Inhofe for help. However, the senator was busy dealing with the issues of American citizens trapped in Afghanistan. So, Reneau took a flight to Qatar on Aug. 9. I remembered my former roommate in D.C. a couple of years ago was transferred to Qatar She said she worked in the U.S. Embassy in Qatar she was sure her boss would approve helping the girls, Reneau said to NBC.

Together, Reneau and her former roommate finished the necessary paperwork. The Qatar government sent a plane to Afghanistan and flew the girls out. The teenagers are reportedly in a secure location in the United States and will soon be able to pursue higher education.

According to Elizabeth Schaeffer Brown, a board member on the Digital Citizen Fund (DCF), the parent organization of the girls team, she and the DCF founder had been working with Qatar since the beginning of August when it became clear that Taliban would come into power.

The flight out of Kabul was only at the very end of a journey in which safety was always a concern Ultimately the girls rescued themselves. If it were not for their hard work and courage to pursue an education, which brought them in contact with the world, they would still be trapped. We need to continue to support them and others like them, Brown said.

No country for women

In an Instagram post, Reneau stated that she was receiving heartbreaking messages from many women in Afghanistan. Educated females are apparently being fired from their jobs and are in hiding. The post contained a screenshot of messages from an Afghan woman who requested Reneau for help to flee the country. The woman said that the Taliban looks at us as an enemy. Reneau is currently working to get 25 more Afghan girls from the robotics team to safety.

Though the Taliban has announced that it would ensure womens rights are protected under the regime, not many trust such statements. Theres already a level of fear of not being able to go to the street, of not being able to go to university tomorrow, of not being able to go to work next week, next year, Inna Michaeli, director of programs at the Association for Womens Rights in Development, said to NBC News.

In an interview with CNBC, Brookings Institution researcher Vanda Felbab-Brown said that there is no chance that the current freedoms for women existing in Afghanistan will be preserved under Taliban rule.

Are we going to end up in the most horrible situation  the way the Taliban ruled  in the 1990s? Or are we looking at freedoms and restrictions, perhaps similar to something like Saudi Arabia or Iran We are clearly looking at a significant reduction in political, social freedoms for all actors  not just women, but particularly for women, Felbab-Brown said.

Heather Barr, interim co-director of the Womens Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, stated in an August 17 article that there is a major disconnect between what the Taliban says to the media and what happens in reality. She pointed out that the Talibans local commanders have shut down girls schools in recent months. Though the Taliban spokesman has pledged to respect womens rights, his claims ring more hollow than ever, the article said.

Reneaus 11 children include nine daughters.
Ros Sopheap was sipping ginger tea and lemonade in July when she decided to retire after more than two decades of activism that pushed for gender inclusivity and womens empowerment. She will step down as the head of Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC) later this year. The activist, 60, moved from being an official at the Ministry of Information in the mid-1990s to founding GADC in early 2000 to advocate for gender equality and inclusion of women into positions of power. She has also researched and helped increase peoples understanding of gender-based violence and worked to reduce its prevalence. Ros Sopheap said it has been a steep path to advocate for what she and GADC believe in, as well as a lot of personal development for her. Young and naive, is Ros Sopheaps answer when asked about her start in promoting womens rights. She had no idea of what gender was really about, what advocacy was about, or the fact that gender would become such an important issue in society as it is now.

After working at the Information Ministry, she was an interpreter, a researcher and a project coordinator with local and international groups. During one of these projects, Ros Sopheap said her interest in understanding the roots of gender-based violence was piqued. I spent six months with villagers in six provinces to survey domestic violence. I started to understand more about domestic violence and hear [womens] stories, she said. It was challenging to speak to women about their experiences with violence, Ros Sopheap said, because many were unaware this violence was a criminal act  most women denied being in abusive relationships or marriages. It took long conversations to get the women to talk about the violence they experienced, she added. If we dont know how to ask them properly, their answer would be no, we are not a victim of violence. But after I spent a few days in the village with them, they started to openly talk with me and share their stories, she said. She moved on to join a three-year program as a gender training coordinator in 1997, which would eventually morph into GADC in 2000, with Ros Sopheap as its founder. Before GADC, no one talked about gender. [There were] no documents about gender in Khmer. And when people talked about gender, GADC would be the first to come into their minds, Ros Sopheap told VOA Khmer.

The activists said a combination of factors helped her in her career, including her visceral commitment to womens rights, hard work and ability to identify and nurture young activists who would continue their work. It is not unusual for activists, especially those like Ros Sopheap who have been at the forefront of their activism, to step back and assess their work and the impact it had. Neary Rattanak is a government policy to mainstream gender into policies and programs and encourages womens inclusion in civil society and the government. According to the program, 20 percent of parliamentarians were women after the 2018 national election compared to six percent in the countrys first election in 1993. As of 2019, 21 percent of ministers, secretaries and undersecretaries of state were women. However, on closer look there are only three women in Cambodias 33-member Council of Ministers and only two provincial governors. Ros Sopheap said that while there were more women in positions of power - a gradual increase she points out  the gender dynamic was still heavily pitted in favor of men. She said more needed to be done to build the capacity of women and girls, both inside and outside the home. Its not only about education at school, but also support from family, friends, and surrounding people, she said. There have been two encouraging examples of sections of society standing up for gender equality, especially when the perpetrator of the abuse is powerful. Local tycoon Heng Sear accused a television presenter of stabbing him after she alleged that he had raped her. The presenter was sent to jail, and it took a sustained social media campaign, full of anger and exasperation at the system, for the courts to release her. However, no action has been taking against the tycoon for allegedly raping her or falsely accusing her of stabbing him. Similarly, another tycoon, Duong Chhay, was caught on CCTV camera physically assaulting his former wife and another outpouring of rage online led to an arrest warrant. The man entered the monkhood and has yet to be arrested. These expressions of rage against powerful men assaulting women are encouraging, but Ros Sopheap points to another lingering, misogynistic practice that enforces the patriarchy. Chbab Srey is a code of conduct, in the form of a poem, on how to be a proper woman, that was taught in Cambodian schools. While it was largely removed from the curriculum in 2007, the poem continues to be unofficially taught to schoolchildren.
Leaders from the G-7 group of nations are set to meet Tuesday to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, with several pushing for U.S. President Joe Biden to keep U.S. troops in the country beyond his August 31 deadline in order to facilitate the ongoing evacuation effort.

I will ask our friends and allies to stand by the Afghan people and step up support for refugees and humanitarian aid, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said ahead of the virtual meeting.

With a week to go until Bidens deadline, tens of thousands of Western citizens and Afghans who supported U.S. efforts have pushed toward Hamid Karzai International Airport hoping to make it through the gates and to the safety of outgoing flights.

However, many Afghans have said it has been difficult, if not impossible, to get past Taliban checkpoints lining the airports perimeter. And Taliban officials seem unwilling to give the United States much leeway, calling the upcoming deadline a red line.

We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through political and security channels concerning every aspect of whats happening in Kabul right now, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House Monday.

Biden is taking this day by day and will make his determinations as we go, Sullivan added, defending the White Houses handling of the withdrawal, which has seen most of the U.S.-backed Afghan security forces melt away as the Taliban claimed control of the country.

We are overperforming in terms of the evacuation numbers, Sullivan said.

Criticism from U.S. lawmakers, former military officials and even some U.S. allies has poured in since Taliban forces entered the Afghan capital on August 15.

The situation in Afghanistan is worsening by the day, Republican Senator Mike Rounds said Monday. The Biden administration must make the safe evacuation of Americans still stuck in Afghanistan its top priority.

But after a slow start to the evacuation, efforts to get people out of the country have picked up.

U.S. officials said late Monday that in the past 36 hours more than 27,000 people had been airlifted out of Afghanistan, including more than 17,000 on U.S. military flights, more than the number of people who left in the first week.

And some military officials Monday expressed optimism they will be able to sustain the heightened pace of evacuations.

I assure you that we will not rest until the mission is complete, and we have evacuated Americans who are seeking to be evacuated and as many Afghan partners as humanly possible, General Stephen Lyons, commander of U.S. Transportation Command, told Pentagon reporters late Monday.

We are clearly laser focused on clearing the Kabul international airport of every evacuee that can move, he said. For me, like all of our veterans who served in Afghanistan, this mission is very personal.

At a separate briefing earlier in the day, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said despite the surge in evacuation numbers, Were not taking anything for granted.

Theres a lot of factors that go into being able to reach that output capacity, to include temporary safe havens that you can bring these individuals to as they complete their screening, he said, noting the goal has been to evacuate between 5,000 and 9,000 people a day.

A growing number of U.S. officials, however, have started warning that despite the increased flow of evacuees out of Afghanistan, more time will be needed.

I think its possible, but I think its very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated, Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff told reporters Monday when asked about the possibility the evacuation would be complete before the end of the month.

We will not stop our efforts to bring out anyone in the categories that Ive listed (eligible Afghan SIVs, or Special Immigration Visas, and P2 applicants) who want to come out of Afghanistan, a senior State Department official said Monday, describing August 31 as the deadline only for the military retrograde out of Afghanistan.

Our commitment to at-risk Afghans doesnt end on August 31, the official added.

But whether the Taliban will give the United States and its allies more time is questionable.

In an interview with Britains Sky News, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen called the deadline a red line.

If they extend it, that means they are extending occupation, Shaheen said. It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation, it will provoke a reaction.

U.S. officials have countered that any additional evacuations could still take place even without a U.S. military footprint in Kabul.

A government that has some semblance of a relationship with the rest of the world needs a functioning commercial airport, said State Department spokesman Ned Price. We are in discussions with the Taliban on this very front.

Still, the White House Monday left open the possibility that the U.S. military will keep troops at the Kabul airport into September, with officials raising concerns about the risky and volatile situation on the ground and the ongoing threats of attacks against U.S. interests by Islamic States Afghan affiliate, IS-Khorasan.

Another concern is the number of Americans in Afghanistan who are unable to make it to the airport.

U.S. defense officials have said in recent days that there is no perfect number. And Monday, Kirby was vague when asked how many Americans had made it out.

Weve been able to evacuate several thousand Americans, and Id be reticent to get more specific than that, he told reporters, though he acknowledged that some of the 5,800 U.S. troops have been leaving the airport in Kabul to get U.S. citizens when we can and where we can.

If theres an incident where somebody is in extremis and we need to get them in small numbers, we can do that, and we have been doing that, Kirby said in response to a question from VOA.

On occasion, where theres a need and theres a capability to meet that need, our commanders on the ground are doing what they feel they need to do to help Americans reach the airport, he added later, saying there have been two incidents in which U.S. helicopters have been sent out to get U.S. civilians.

NEW: US troops getting Americans to #Kabul airport without helicopters - "We're just not going to detail all of them bcs the threat environment is so high" per @PentagonPresSec



Previously disclosed rescues involved helicopters...  Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) August 23, 2021

Further complicating the evacuation efforts are reports that supplies of food and water at the airport have been running low, and that there are concerns about conditions becoming so unsanitary that some Afghans have left the airport.

Security around the airports perimeter has also been tested, most recently when an unidentified assailant opened fire on the Afghan forces guarding the gates, killing an Afghan soldier.

#Kabul airport shooting: "We cannot rule out who the hostile actor was in this shooting incident...I don't know when we'll have more forensics on this" per @PentagonPresSec  Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) August 23, 2021

If some of the Afghans who worked for the U.S. military during the past 20 years have not been able to leave the country by the end of this month, VOA asked Sullivan what advice he has for them.

We will continue to get Afghans at risk out of the country even after U.S. military forces have left, Sullivan replied.

VOAs Nike Ching and Ken Bredemeier contributed to this report.
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New Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema took office on Tuesday, 12 days after defeating incumbent Edgar Lungu in a general election. VOA's Peter Clottey sat down with Hichilema before Tuesday's inauguration to discuss goals for his five-year term.
New Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema took office on Tuesday, 12 days after defeating incumbent Edgar Lungu in a general election.

VOA's Peter Clottey sat down with Hichilema before Tuesday's inauguration to discuss goals for his five-year term. Hichilema covered a wide range of topics and promised to improve a poor economy, defend human rights, and have better relations regionally and with Washington.

Excerpts from the 55-minute interview:



VOA: What would you want to have achieved within the first 100 days?

Hichilema: One, we want to reunite this country. This country has been divided for so many years and the divisions are visible. You just have to look anywhere, you see them in the workplaces, in the market areas, divisions all over.

We can then do the second anchor of what we are selling... reconstruction, rebuilding our country. So that's rebuilding the country economically to bring back economic prosperity, to bring back investment, to bring back jobs, to expand jobs, to expand food for people.

VOA: What do you plan to do about the crackdown on press freedom and civil liberties?

Hichilema: Before this new dawn, citizens ran away from the police because the police tear gassed them, the police discharged live ammunition on them. Not anymore. The police who operate law and order keep law and order, but in a humane way, in a civilized way. And what does that mean to the population? It means that they can go about their business. And so we have called for the police to be professional in their conduct and that we will not inject political underhand methods.

VOA: What are your plans to address the debt situation?

Hichilema: Well put an eagle eye on it because we don't want to lay more debt on already overburdened economics... We know that the debt was overpriced in many cases, especially project related debt Well look at those issues with a keen eye and see what opportunities we have to dismantle this debt.

VOA: What is you plan to deal with public corruption following news that the state coffers are empty due to financial malpractices?

Hichilema: Our policy is very clear: zero tolerance to corruption. Zero and I mean zero. You come to protect public assets, you've come to grow these public assets, not to deplete them. I think it's important that that message goes to my colleagues in the European Union, the allies, and the people in the civil service... We are going to strengthen the institutions that help us to fight corruption.



VOA: What is your message to the people who suffered under the previous administration and who are demanding a pound of flesh?

Hichilema: There was a perception that if you use force, then you stay in power. We have proved that wrong. I'm sure you remember at one point I couldn't enter my own town and I asked the question: 'Why should I not enter this town? Since when did I need a passport to enter this town?' I don't want to continue articulating those issues. But I want to say that, that's over. So, the first thing we do is clearing that, that no one needs a permit. No one needs a license from anyone to hold a meeting... We will not allow other people to go through the pain we have gone through.

VOA: How do you want the already warm relations between Washington and Lusaka to be under your leadership?

Hichilema: Our values are very clear. We espouse clear values: constitutionalism, democracy, and democratic space to all, in accordance [with] our constitution, in accordance to subsidiarity laws. We ascribe the rule of law, order in society, respecting fundamental human rights, liberties, and freedoms.

VOA: What role do you think Zambia can play in promoting democracy within the SADCs region and by extension Africa?

Hichilema: We think that we have already sent a signal that we are a child of democracy. We are a product of democracy and we got elected against all odds. Honestly, we are a good example of how democracy must evolve even under brutal conditions.

So we are willing on the SADCs platforms, African Union platforms to, in a small way, because we're the new kids on the block, offer our own experiences so that others can either emulate or do even better.

VOA: What is your message to the people of Zambia after your success at the recent polls?

Hichilema: We have not overpromised anything. We have answered what people's cries are. And with the people, with the difficult financial situation, with the support of those who believe in what we are doing, and democracy and rule of law, we think all of these factors brought together will begin to dismantle a very difficult situation and deliver for the people of Zambia over a five-year period.






The Taliban said Tuesday they hope to win international recognition for their legitimate representative rule over Afghanistan, arguing the diplomatic engagement would help promote global security and ease the suffering of Afghans during decades of relentless wars.

A senior member of the Islamist groups Cultural Commission shared the remarks with VOA, saying consultations with all Afghan stakeholders on forming what the Taliban promise will be an inclusive Islamic government are ongoing and an announcement will be made soon.

We believe the world has a unique opportunity of rapprochement and coming together to tackle the challenges not only facing us but the entire humanity, and these challenges ranging from world security to climate change need the collective efforts of all, and cannot be achieved if we exclude or ignore an entire people, said Abdul Qahar Balkhi.

He spoke a week after the Taliban marched into the Afghan capital, Kabul, seizing control of the 33 of countrys 34 provinces without facing any significant resistance from security forces of the ousted government.

Critics remain skeptical about the Talibans recent pledges, citing United Nations reports that talked of the groups continued links with al-Qaida and other extremist groups. U.N. officials have also cited reports of summary executions and restrictions on women in areas under Taliban control.

We hope to be recognized by world countries as the legitimate representative government of the people of Afghanistan who have gained their right to self-determination from a foreign occupation with the backing and support of entire nation after a prolonged struggle and immense sacrifices despite all odds being stacked against our people, Balkhi said.

He reiterated that his group has made it unequivocally clear it will not allow anyone to use Afghan soil to threaten the security of other countries nor will the Taliban allow others to interfere in internal affairs of their country.

Rights of minorities were and will continue all protected, Balkhi said, attributing criticism of the Talibans controversial human rights record and extremist policies during their past government to what he called vitriolic propaganda against the group.

The Taliban had enforced their own strict interpretation of Islamic law or Sharia when they ruled the country from 1996 to 2001, barring women from leaving homes without a male relative and girls from receiving an education.

It is past time we move forward, look towards the future and not dwell on what may or may not have happened in the past, Balkhi said.

Anti-Taliban Afghan leaders have dismissed the groups assertions it has softened its policies.

Kahlid Noor, the son of ethnic Tajik Afghan commander Atta Muhammad Noor, said the Taliban would not survive as rulers of the country if they dont ensure respect for human rights and cultures of Afghanistan.

"Whatever they are saying now is more of words. We have not seen it in action so we will have to see if they have really changed. I doubt it. I still dont believe they have changed. What they are doing is more of a promissory than a policy, Noor told reporters in Pakistan this week.

The United States signed an agreement with the Taliban in February 2020 to withdraw troops and those of Western allied nations from the nearly 20 years of war in Afghanistan.

But Washington and the rest of the global community has since warned that they will not extend legitimacy to any government in Kabul formed by force.

U.S. special envoy for Afghan peace Zalmay Khalilzad, in an interview with VOA just days before the Taliban captured Kabul, had warned that if the Taliban take over the country by force, they will not win international recognition and they will become a pariah state.

Afghanistans immediate neighbors, including Pakistan, China, Iran, and Russia through its Central Asian allied nations, have all been pressing the Taliban to form an inclusive government, where all Afghan ethnicities and religious minorities are adequately represented. These countries have maintained close contacts with the Taliban but they warned that any attempt to govern the conflict-torn South Asian nation exclusively would only prolong the Afghan civil war and threaten the security of neighbors.

Beijing, Islamabad, Moscow and Tehran, however, have indicated they may be willing to work with the Taliban provided the fundamentalist group adherents to its pledges.

We hope that Afghanistan will form an open, inclusive, and broadly representative government, adopt moderate and prudent domestic and foreign policies and conform to the aspiration of its people and the common expectation of the international community, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday.

Wang told a regular news conference that Beijing hopes to see an early end to turbulence and restoration of economic as well as financial order in Afghanistan.

China stands ready to continue to play an active role in promoting peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan and helping the nation to enhance the ability to achieve self-development and improve people's livelihood, Wang said.

The last time it was in power, the Taliban tolerated the presence of the al-Qaida terrorist network, which U.S. officials say plotted the September 2001 attacks on the United States from Afghan sanctuaries at the time. The carnage prompted Washington and its Western allies to invade Afghanistan nearly a month later, ousting the Taliban from power.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirate were the only three countries at the time that recognized the Talibans government in Kabul after the group emerged victories from the then Afghan civil war and established control over most of the country.
The Taliban may discover that retaking Afghanistan may prove an easier task than ruling it.

That will depend, though, on how pragmatic and inclusive the Islamist militants are willing to be, say current and former diplomats, because they will need to compromise to secure buy-in from local power brokers, tribal elders and ethnic-minority leaders to maintain order.

Most of the attention now on Afghanistan is focused on the high-stakes and poignant drama playing out at Kabul airport, where thousands of desperate Afghans are seeking to flee the country fearing what Taliban rule will mean for them.

But after the final withdrawal of U.S.-led Western forces likely August 31, the date earmarked by President Joe Biden, the Afghans will be left alone and the Taliban will have their second shot at governing the notoriously fractious country, which since 1973 has known little but strife and civil war. One way or another, the Taliban are likely to find governing Afghanistan to be far more difficult than conquering it, according to Carter Malkasian, a former senior Pentagon adviser.

Writing in Foreign Affairs magazine, Malkasian says the Talibans victory doesnt mean an end to Afghanistans 40 years of war, uncertainty, and trauma. He adds: The Taliban face the poverty, internal strife, illicit crops, meddlesome neighbors, and threat of insurrections that are endemic to their countryand have proven the bane of all its rulers.

Challenges ahead

The militants face the challenge of turning from insurgency to governing and will have to set up national governing institutions virtually from scratch. And they will have to revamp a disintegrated bureaucracy to oversee a country comprising at least 14 different ethnic groups with a total population of 38 million.

And their opponents say it will be a tall order for the Taliban to maintain control, pointing out that the militants movement only has a small fighting force of 75,000 to impose its will.

That was a sufficient number to retake the country, except for the Panjshir Valley, thanks to a host of surrender pacts the Taliban struck with others and a stealthy infiltration military strategy that allowed them to seize control of towns and cities, including the Afghan capital Kabul. At the start of the revolutionary year of 1917 in Russia, the Bolsheviks only had 24,000 party members, but that did not stop them seizing power and ruling a much larger Russia until the Soviet hammer and sickle flag was lowered for the final time over the Kremlin in 1991.

We dont know what to expect, says Vali Nasr, a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, a research institution in Washington. First of all, there is a question whether this is the same Taliban, he said during an online discussion hosted last week by the Asia Society, a global non-profit.

Nasr, a former senior advisor to the U.S. State Department on Afghanistan, suspects it might be a different Taliban. I think there are big differences, he added.

He highlighted how the Taliban moved through the country swiftly with few major battles because they engaged politically with others in ways they did not when conquering Afghanistan in the 1990s, which was accompanied by massacres and unrestrained ferocity. That engagement started in earnest more than two years ago, note other Afghanistan country experts, with behind-the-scenes outreach to ethnic minorities by the group led by the Talibans network of shadow governors.

In 1998 after occupying the city of Mazar-e-Sharif Afghanistans fourth largest city, the Taliban slaughtered at least 2,000 civilians, most of them ethnic Hazaras, who are Shiite Muslims and are considered by the Sunni-favoring Taliban as not true Muslims. The newly installed governor threatened Hazaras with death unless they converted to Sunni Islam and hundreds fled the city along with Shiite militiamen under bombardment.

A kinder, gentler Taliban?

Last week, in a notable difference, the Taliban did not interfere with Afghan Shiites observing Ashura, which is celebrated by all Muslims but for Shiites is a major religious commemoration of the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. The killing of Hussein in 680 AD led to the split in Islam between Sunnis and Shias.

Several Taliban officials visited an Hazara neighborhood in Kabul to attend the Shiites celebration. And last week Taliban leaders held talks with Hazara leaders about how to form an inclusive government to govern Afghanistan.

Since arriving in Kabul, the Taliban has been holding meetings with politicians and others, including former President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of Afghanistans National Reconciliation Council, a body of notables and elders, over the makeup of a new government.

But is this all for show? Some Taliban opponents and country experts believe the Taliban are biding their time until they have consolidated power and are eager to keep foreign aid flowing and to secure the $9.5 billion in Afghanistan reserves currently lodged overseas.

The Taliban leadership has dialed down its criticism of the West. Anti-international rhetoric has been a rallying call in the past, but the Taliban leadership knows its chance of making any success of government depends on international donors. Despite a stunning success in one of the most sophisticated resurgent insurgencies in the world, and morale being high among Taliban fighters and field commanders, Afghanistans economic woes are extensive, notes Chatham Houses Hameed Hakimi in a recent commentary.

Ali Nazari, a spokesman for Ahmad Massoud, who is leading a nascent anti-Taliban resistance movement in the Panjshir Valley, believes the political negotiations are a ruse  as are Taliban pledges to allow girls an education and women to work.

The Taliban might be more sophisticated now and slicker in how they present themselves to the world, but they are even more radical than before, he told VOA. Their reign of terror hasnt started. Theyre waiting for Americans and Europeans to leave Afghanistan, he told VOA in a phone call from an undisclosed location.

Nazari and other Taliban opponents fear it wont be long before the Taliban start up tribunals to apportion revolutionary justice and punish those who worked with Western security forces.

Reported abuses

Others point to the mounting allegations of brutality and killings across the country and of Taliban manhunts in Kabul and elsewhere for Afghans who worked alongside Western security forces the past two decades. A Norway-based private intelligence group that provides information to the U.N. said this week it had obtained evidence that the Taliban have rounded up Afghans on a blacklist of people they believe worked in key roles with the previous Afghan administration or with U.S.-led forces.

And while Taliban leaders have been formally courting Hazara elders, Amnesty International has reported that Taliban fighters massacred nine ethnic Hazara men after taking control of Afghanistans Ghazni province last month.

The rights group says the killings took place in early July in the village of Mundarakht, Malistan district. Basing its report on eyewitness accounts, Amnesty says six of the men were shot and three were tortured to death, including one man who was strangled with his own scarf and had his arm muscles sliced off.

Amnesty fears the slaughter may represent a tiny fraction of the total death toll inflicted by the Taliban to date, as the group has cut mobile phone service in many places they control, preventing photographs and videos to be shared. The cold-blooded brutality of these killings is a reminder of the Talibans past record, and a horrifying indicator of what Taliban rule may bring, says Agnes Callamard, the secretary general of Amnesty International.

The U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet warned Tuesday that she had received credible reports of severe abuses in areas under Taliban control in Afghanistan, including summary executions of civilians and security forces who had laid down their arms and restrictions on women.

Whether the reports of killings and manhunts as well as beatings of youngsters who offend Taliban fighters because of how theyre dressed are all signs of the direction of Taliban travel or should be put down as the actions of especially fervent individual fighters or commanders is unclear. Taliban promises of inclusivity and of a softer rule and offers of concession arent persuading some observers.

Over time, Taliban leaders will have little reason not to use their military power to consolidate and monopolize control, reckons former Pentagon adviser Malkasian. And that risks pushback from tribes and minority groups.

Some information for this report came from the Associated Press.
The European Union and Britain are looking to Turkey to become a hub to process Afghan refugees seeking sanctuary in Europe. Turkey is rejecting the call.

The Turkish government is dismissing calls from Europe for it to become a hub to process Afghan refugees. Government spokesman Omer Celik said Monday that with Turkey already hosting nearly five million refugees, mainly from the Syrian civil war, it can take no more.

Celik says Turkey does not have a capacity to take in one more refugee. He said Turkey is not a refugee camp nor is it a transit point.

Celik's comments were in response to British media reports Sunday citing defense ministry sources, who said London was looking to countries like Turkey to create processing centers for Afghan refugees.

Similar suggestions in the last few days were made by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the president of the European Council, Charles Michel.

Those Fleeing Afghanistan Struggle to Survive in Turkey VOA reporters meet people who say the Taliban are killing government workers and other 'enemies' as they take over areas of Afghanistan

Under a deal with the EU, Turkey is already hosting nearly four million Syrian refugees from the civil war in exchange for billions of dollars in aid.

But analyst Asli Aydintasbas says Turkish public opinion is strongly against any new deal over Afghan refugees.

"We have a situation in which Turkey and the EU (are) negotiating these sorts of large sums, as a refugee deal, in which Turkey gets to keep the refugees," Aydintasbas said. "I think there is across-the-board resentment about Europe sort of using Turkey as a refugee camp on its borders, so to speak. People are upset about this. But it's a huge political cost for Turkey. People simply are questioning the government's refugee policy."

Resentment over refugee presence exploded into violence earlier this month in a suburb of the capital, Ankara, where hundreds of people attacked the homes and shops of Syrian migrants.

Ankara is now stepping up efforts to secure its Iranian border, the main transit route for Afghans seeking to enter Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the construction of a barrier on the frontier would be accelerated.

Additional Turkish forces are being deployed on the nearly 300-kilometer-long Iranian border, equipped with the latest surveillance equipment.

Huseyin Ediz Tercanoglu, head of Turkish security on the Iranian border, said Monday the border would be secure against any refugee surge.

Tercanoglu said Turkish forces are working in places where smuggling used to be common, adding that the entire area is monitored by 360-degree rotating thermal cameras. If there's any movement, he said, troops can be dispatched there.

Displays of such force are aimed primarily at a Turkish public fatigued by the presence of millions of refugees and Europe to send a message that Turkey will not be the host of another massive influx of refugees.
The head of the World Health Organization urged countries to delay administering booster shots by at least two months to allow nations with low vaccine doses to receive more.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters during a visit to Hungary's capital, Budapest, that priority should be given to raising vaccination rates in countries where only 1% or 2% of the population has been inoculated.

Tedros also questioned the usefulness of booster shots, saying "there is a debate about whether booster shots are effective at all."

Hungary became the first country in the European Union to offer booster shots and joins a growing number of nations, including the United States and Israel, that have begun offering or are planning to offer third shots to their populations.

The WHO said last week that it does not believe current data supports the need for COVID-19 booster shots.

In the United States, more localities and organizations said Monday they will require proof of vaccination following the announcement that Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine received full federal approval.

Louisiana officials said civil servants would be required to get vaccinated or face regular testing while universities in the state said they would begin mandating vaccinations for students.

The Pentagon said Monday it is preparing to issue guidance to require vaccinations now that the Pfizer vaccine has been given full approval. The Defense Department had previously said the vaccines would be mandatory by mid-September or immediately upon approval by the FDA.

New York City officials said Monday all public school staff, including teachers, must be vaccinated and will no longer have the option to undergo weekly coronavirus testing instead of being inoculated.

Elsewhere around the world, India sent 140 tons of liquid medical oxygen to neighboring Sri Lanka, where the delta variant of COVID-19 is fueling a surge in cases.

On Monday, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen received the first dose of the island's controversial, domestically produced coronavirus vaccine.

The island's medical and scientific communities have expressed concerns about the vaccine produced by Taipei-based Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corporation because regulators did not give emergency approval.

Instead of using the results from long-term studies of the vaccine through rounds of clinical trials, regulators opted to compare the level of antibodies the Medigen vaccine produced against the antibodies produced by the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Several governments have approved the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has endured the extensive round of clinical trials usually associated with a vaccine's approval.

Medigen has a year to submit efficacy data about the vaccine.

In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday that the nationwide lockdown, imposed to slow the spread of the delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, will be extended until at least Friday. It had been set to end Tuesday.

The lockdown extension "will allow us to have additional data and see if the virus has spread," Ardern said.

Ardern's announcement came after the country's health department announced 35 new COVID-19 cases of the delta strain, bringing the total number of the country's coronavirus cases since last week to 107.

Most of the cases have emerged in Auckland. Ardern said the lockdown there will continue to the end of the month.

"We don't want to take any risks with delta," the prime minister said.

Also Monday, China's health department said it had no new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 to report for the first time since July.

China imposed restrictions nationwide after several airport workers in Nanjing were identified in July as having the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.


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The fall of Kabul is leading to terrible scenes of flight and despair. Lets leave aside the fact that the fleeing people are mostly not peaceful translators from Western embassies, but collaborators in the US counter-insurgency with blood dripping from their hands. What we are seeing is a debacle that should make us lose faith in the power of America.

 51% of Americans disapprove of President Joe Bidens foreign policy.

 60% particularly disapprove of his policy towards Afghanistan

 63% say the war was not worth fighting [1].

Almost all Americans who fought in Iraq are very shocked.

Yet, at worst, it is clear that Washington knew perfectly well that the Afghan army would not stand up to the Taliban, who were theoretically three times less numerous and much less well equipped. The West Point CTC published a study in January to predict this catastrophe [2]. The question was not whether the Taliban would win, but when President Biden would let them win.

The US-Taliban negotiations, which have dragged on for years and were suddenly concluded by President Biden, must be interpreted as a voluntary surrender of power to the Taliban. One wonders why it took hundreds of thousands of deaths, astronomical sums of money and the efforts of four successive presidents for Washington to drive the Taliban out of Kabul and then back in; and why President Biden decided to assume the role of the defeated.

The same misunderstanding arose when the Baker-Hamilton Commission led to the US withdrawal from Iraq and the then Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, unhesitatingly assumed the role of the vanquished; a misunderstanding that still persisted three months ago when Rumsfeld died.

It is time to stop listening to the politicians and and to read the military. Politicians only tell us what we can accept to hear. We are always on the right side and we will only die for Democracy. The military, on the other hand, does not try to seduce us, but to understand what is expected of them. So they do not write to flatter our illusions, but expose the unvarnished truth.

As I have explained many times [3], in the days following the 9/11 attacks, the US Army published an article by Colonel Ralph Peters stating that the US no longer needed to win wars, but to organise instability in certain regions of the world, particularly in the broader Middle East. He went on to say that states would have to be recomposed along ethnic lines, i.e. separating mixed peoples, and that this could only be done through ethnic cleansing and other crimes against humanity. He ended his presentation by assuring that the Pentagon could always delegate its powers to mercenaries to do the dirty work [4]. In the excitement of 9/11, no one picked up on this article openly claiming to be preparing for heinous crimes.

Five years later, Ralph Peters published the map that the Joint Chiefs of Staff were working on in 2001 [5]. A panic ensued among all the military leaderhip in the wider Middle East: no one was protected, not even the US allies. Various changes of alliance followed. But it was not until 2011 and the attack on Libya (then a US ally) that we saw what was happening.

Since then, we have seen that the war in Afghanistan, which was supposed to last until Osama bin Laden fled, has lasted for 20 years; that the war in Iraq, which was supposed to last until the fall of President Saddam Hussein, has lasted for 17 years; that the war in Libya, which was supposed to last until the fall of Muamar Gaddafi, has lasted for 10 years; that the war in Syria, which was supposed to last until the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, has lasted for 10 years. Moreover, we have seen Al Qaeda (historically a creation of the CIA) and Daesh (historically a creation of Ambassador John Negroponte) commit crimes against humanity all along the lines announced by Colonel Ralph Peters. And we know that these terrorist organisations are funded, armed and supervised by the British and the Americans.

Yes, the "endless war" declared by President George W. Bush is not about "fighting terrorism", but about using terrorism to "destabilise" an entire region. This was the title of Colonel Peters article in 2001: "Stability: Americas enemy".

This being the case, we must reinterpret the fall of Kabul in the light of this new strategy. For two years, in 2002-03, Admiral Arthur Cebrowski went to explain it in all the US military academies. He met all the current US general officers. This strategy was popularised for the general public by Cebrowskis assistant, Thomas Barnett -although his book [6] has not been translated.

The fall of Kabul fulfils the central objective of this strategy on the condition that the Taliban do not succeed in establishing a stable regime -and without allies they will not be able to do so-. The escape of the US counterinsurgency collaborators, if they manage to pass themselves off as peaceful translators, will allow terrorism to spread in the countries that will receive them. This is already being denounced by President Vladimir Putin. The transfer of military equipment given to the Afghan army in the hands of the Taliban will allow them to attack their neighbours. Unlike Daesh, the Taliban already have a biometric file of almost their entire population and an air force with a fleet of over 200 fighter planes. The war in Central Asia will therefore be even more terrible than the war in the wider Middle East.

Last but not least. Some commentators believe that Washington has abandoned Afghanistan in order to create problems for Russia and China. This is not the Rumsfeld/Cebrowski strategy at all. According to the latter, we should not fight these great powers, but rather turn them into clients. They should be helped to exploit Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and many others, but only under the protection of the US army.

Understand, Washington no longer thinks like a rival of the Roman Empire, but like a racketeer. It does not build triumphal arches to its glory anywhere and even accepts that its president, Joe Biden, is defeated in Afghanistan. It seeks to dominate the world in the shadows and to make as much money as possible.

You think Im imagining a doomsday scenario? Then tell me where the flaw is in my argument!
According to The Intercept [1], the Taliban have captured the US biometric identification system, HIIDE (Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment).

For 20 years, the US occupation forces have developed a biometric file encompassing virtually the entire Afghan population, including iris scans and full digital fingerprints. Everyone entering or leaving Afghanistan, anyone who has ever been arrested or who worked for the United States has been identified.

It is not clear whether the Taliban have the know-how to exploit this database forthwith or whether they will need help from the Pakistani secret service.

The Taliban also laid their hands on the complete lists of those tortured or murdered on behalf of the US counterinsurgency (Khost Protection Force and National Directorate of Security).
As Americans face a daunting surge of Covid-19 hospitalizations -- with rates for children and adults under 50 hitting their highest levels yet -- the US Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted full approval to the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for people 16 and older.

The approval could help allay concerns for those who are vaccine hesitant, as all three vaccines available in the US have so far been distributed under emergency use authorization.

It could also help businesses, schools and states enforce vaccine mandates, experts have said. Such mandates could help quell the ever-growing number of cases, especially in states that are experiencing a lack of available ICU beds.

"It's an important step because it makes mandates easier, and it will address concerns of some of the people who have been on the fence about getting vaccinated," former CDC director Tom Frieden told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Monday.

Some universities and employers have issued mandates, including hospital systems, and the FDA approval is already accelerating that trend. On Monday, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that all education department staff in public schools across the city must be vaccinated. That makes New York the largest school system in the country to have such a mandate.

The US military also will now require all service members to be vaccinated, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said Monday.

And in New Jersey, all state employees must be fully vaccinated by October 18 or be subject to regular testing, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday.

The number of vaccine doses administered daily has mostly increased over the past week -- with three days surpassing a million reported doses, according to data published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meanwhile, the daily average of new reported cases is around 147,000, and experts have warned it could surpass 200,000 on the current trajectory.

Vaccination is key to controlling the virus

About 171 million Americans, 51.5% of the population, were fully vaccinated as of Monday, CDC data show, while 60.8% have received at least one dose. A total of 25 states have fully vaccinated more than half of their residents, with Michigan the latest state to do so, according to CDC data.

Some health experts, such as Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccinologist and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, say the US needs to have at least 80% of its population vaccinated to get the virus under control.

"If we're going to halt this virus transmission, we're going to have to get to 80-85%," Hotez told CNN's Jake Tapper Monday. And while the FDA approval may help convince a few people to get vaccinated, he said, mandates will be more helpful in reaching the goal.

"I think the bigger impact, as was mentioned, is going to be around mandates, employer mandates, federal mandates, from the military," Hotez said.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN on Monday that if the majority of the population gets vaccinated, the US could regain control of the virus by the spring of 2022.

Fauci said he misspoke when he told NPR earlier on Monday that it would be the fall of 2022.

"If we can get through this winter and get really the majority -- overwhelming majority -- of the 90 million people who have not been vaccinated, vaccinated, I hope we can start to get some good control in the spring of 2022," Fauci told CNN's Anderson Cooper.

Fauci said that includes vaccinating people who have contracted and recovered from Covid-19, who could stand to gain "an enormous increase in the degree of protection," from the vaccine.

"As we get into the spring, we could start getting back to a degree of normality, namely reassuming the things that we were hoping we could do -- restaurants, theaters, that kind of thing," he said.

Fauci said it's not yet clear what percentage of the population needs to be vaccinated for the US to gain control over the virus.

"You know how you're going to know? Just get as many people vaccinated as you possibly can, and when you get control, that'll be the number," Fauci said.

But in many states with lower vaccination rates, hospitals have been overwhelmed by a surge in Covid-19 patients.

In Mississippi, where 36.8% of the population is fully vaccinated, Gov. Tate Reeves said Sunday that a 23-person active-duty military Covid-19 response team was deployed in Jackson to provide supplemental medical staffing at hospitals. A second team is expected to arrive in Tupelo in the next week.

An uptick in cases among school-age children following the return to in-person learning has also worried health officials, with thousands of kids quarantined over the past week due to Covid-19 outbreaks. Experts have stressed that to protect those under 12 who can't get vaccinated yet, it's important to make sure those who are eligible get the shot. Another key prevention method is wearing a mask.

Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that warning signs for what could happen nationwide in the coming weeks have already been seen in the South.

"Schools open earlier in the South, against the backdrop of still a lot of prevalence (of Delta) and the infection is getting into schools, and it's proving to be hard to control in schools," Gottlieb explained. "Delta is a very contagious variant and so I think that this is a harbinger of the challenges that we're going to face nationally as schools reopen."

How to keep schools open and children safe

While districts continue to return to in-person learning, a debate is brewing between districts, parents and local officials on how to make the safest return to classrooms.

In Texas and Florida, governors have threatened to pull funding from districts that create mask mandates, but several local school boards are pushing back and telling students to mask up.

In Texas, where the issue is working its way through the courts, one district managed to get around official orders by making the mask mandate part of its school uniform policy.

In Florida, nearly 20,000 students and staff members had to be quarantined after more than 6,000 covid cases were identified among the state's 15 largest school districts since the start of school, according to a CNN analysis conducted last week. Among those, were 4,641 students and 1,547 employees who tested positive. That doesn't include the two biggest school districts in the state, Miami-Dade and Broward.

While the number of cases has been rising amid the return to school, Gottlieb said it's hard to assess if that is because the Delta variant itself is more aggressive in children or because we are simply exposing more kids to the virus.

He said schools should be following the lead of some districts in North Dakota, where schools are testing close contacts every few days to make sure asymptomatic cases aren't going undiagnosed.

"Test the close contact of kids immediately to make sure there's not other asymptomatic cases that are going undiagnosed, and then test them at some kind of interval, maybe three days and five days to make sure that there's not an outbreak being triggered in the school," Gottlieb told CBS.

US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy echoed the importance of keeping children safe amid the rise in pediatric cases.

"It's our moral responsibility as a society to do everything we can to protect our children," he told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. "Number one, all of us getting vaccinated as adults is important. Kids too young to get vaccinated rely on those around them to shield them from the virus."

Vaccine boosters up for consideration

While vaccination rates still lag in the US, those who are already vaccinated are weighing the need for booster shots.

Starting September 20, those who are eight months out from their second dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine will be eligible to receive a booster, if FDA authorizes them and the CDC recommends them.

And those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will also likely need a booster, according to Murthy.

"We believe that J&J recipients will likely need a booster but we are waiting on some data from the company about a second dose," Murthy said on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday.

So far, only Pfizer has submitted initial booster data to the FDA; the company said Phase 3 results evaluating the third dose are expected shortly.

At the same time it's considering boosters, the FDA has been working with Pfizer and BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson towards full approval -- a process known as Biologics License Application or BLA.

Clarification: This story has been updated with Fauci's clarification that the US could have control over Covid-19 entering spring 2022 if most eligible people get vaccinated.

The-CNN-Wire

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On Monday, the FDA granted full authorization of the Pfizer vaccine.

Alabama's vaccination rate remains one of the lowest in the nation. Dr. Karen Landers, a health officer with the Alabama Department of Public Health, said everyone has waited anxiously to have a fully approved coronavirus vaccine.

Dr. Landers said there are some people that were looking for the vaccine to be fully approved, before rolling up their sleeve.

"I've heard people say in my role as a physician say that they're not going to take anything until it's fully approved, and now, Pfizer is fully approved, so again this gives the opportunity for persons to be able to take a fully approved product," said Dr. Landers.

For individuals that remain vaccine-hesitant, Dr. Landers said extensive studies are done for a vaccine to get full authorization.

The FDA worked through the process as quickly as it could, but no shortcuts were taken. For the vaccine to be fully approved, it faces a number of trials and research.

"This was obviously a situation where the FDA worked diligently through their process as expediently as they could, devoting time to this in the matter deemed most urgent to get complete approval," said Dr. Landers.

Full FDA authorization of the Pfizer vaccine accounts for those 16 and older. The 12 to 15 age group has not yet been submitted for full FDA approval.

For children under the age of 12, the FDA still has not given emergency use authorization of the Pfizer vaccine.

Now that Pfizer has full FDA approval, businesses and other entities may start mandating the vaccine.

Dr. Landers said that is a choice up to individual entities and the policies they outline.

On Monday, the Pentagon announced it will require active service members to get the vaccine. They're now among a list of corporations that have already mandated the vaccine for their employees. So far, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Disney, United Airlines, and Walmart are mandating employees get the coronavirus vaccine.

WAAY31 reached out to one of North Alabama's largest employers, Mazda Toyota, to learn if they had any plans for a vaccine mandate. They have not responded.

"We do understand that some entities may be following through on this related to their own policies and of course, those are the policies in relation to the organization," said Dr. Landers.

Outside of businesses, there are schools. New York City schools already announced a vaccine mandate for teachers and staff.

Dr. Landers said ADPH does not have plans to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required vaccines in the state.

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation study, 31% of unvaccinated people said they would get the vaccine if it were fully authorized by the FDA. 49% said they'd wait and see.
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Decatur, IL (62521)

Today

Lots of sunshine. High near 80F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low near 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Decatur, IL (62521)

Today

Plentiful sunshine. High near 80F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low around 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Italian capital fails to make Eurovision shortlist after Maneskin win.

Rome has not been included in the shortlist of five Italian cities bidding to host next year's Eurovision Song Contest, organisers announced today.

The shortlist includes Milan, Bologna, Rimini, Pesaro and Turin, all of which are vying to be chosen as the host city for the 66th edition of the Eurovision next year.

The song contest is being held in Italy for the first time in three decades after Rome band Maneskin won the title in May with the song Zitti e buoni.

Within hours of the band's triumph, several Italian cities put themselves forward as suitable candidates, with Rome mayor Virginia Raggi vaunting the capital as "perfect stage to relaunch the challenge."

However the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Italian state broadcaster RAI obviously do not agree, meaning Maneskin will not have the honour of performing in their home city.

It is not known yet why exactly Rome failed the make the shortlist however candidate cities are expected to meet a range of clearly stated requirements.

These include having an international airport within 90 minutes of the city and more than 2,000 hotel rooms in the vicinity of the venue, which must be covered, equipped with air conditioning and have a capacity of 8,000 - 10,000 spectators.

A total of 11 towns and cities launched formal bids, including Rome, with the winner expected to be announced by RAI within the next few days.

Milan and Turin are considered favourites in the race, based on the Eurovision requirements as well as the presence of RAI television studios in both cities.

The 1991 edition of the Eurovision was held in Rome's Cinecitta Film Studios while the only other time that Italy hosted the contest, after Gigliola Cinquetti won in 1964, was at the Centro RAI in Naples.

Turin was already identified as a potential Eurovision venue in 2017 by RAI ahead of Italy's entry that year, bookies' favourite Francesco Gabbani, who failed to win in the end.

Milan is also seen as a strong candidate, given its experience of hosting the Expo in 2015.

The winner should be known by the end of August or in the first days of September.
We are unlikely to get a straight answer on Tuesday. Much depends on how the U.S. administration digests the lessons from the Afghanistan withdrawal. Bidens posture has been largely to deny there was an alternative, which is absurd. The G6 know that there is no replacement for the economic, military and cultural power the U.S. brings to the table. But they will be looking for a little more humility given what Afghans are suffering, and a sign that the Biden doctrine is more nuanced and coherent than the policies of the Trump era.
 The Americans with Disabilities Act allows a worker to request an exemption from a vaccine mandate if she has a disability thats covered by the law. In such a case, the employer must communicate with the worker to determine whether an exemption is a reasonable accommodation given her disability and job responsibilities -- and isnt an undue burden for the employer. Failing to engage in that process or provide a reasonable accommodation could be grounds for a lawsuit. A worker with a health condition that compromises her immune system has a good chance of prevailing on a claim if she has a doctors advice that she should avoid a vaccine. An employer would need to show that allowing a worker to remain unvaccinated would cause an undue burden or pose a direct threat in the workplace, which would be difficult to do if there are alternatives available such as working from home or moving to an area segregated from coworkers. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces federal laws against job discrimination, has said that ADA protections apply to Covid vaccines.
Its already pulling out all the stops, starting with a campaign to crush organized networks of anti-Putin activists. Alexey Navalny, who dubbed United Russia the party of crooks and thieves and has been the Kremlins loudest critic, was jailed earlier this year, his movement branded extremist and dismantled. Recent changes to election rules make it harder for candidates to put themselves forward. Such is the level of paranoia that even a former presidential contender who was supposed to be third on the Communist party ticket has been barred from standing, ostensibly because of assets held abroad (which he says have been sold)  an unusually harsh blow to a party that has long helped keep up the pretense of competitive elections without causing the Kremlin real headaches. Independent media have fared little better.
Nor can he miss the message being sent right now by the tens of thousands of Afghans who are fleeing the country, despite the Talibans promises of amnesty and tolerance. They remember, if he doesnt, what happened when the students, as the insurgents are known, first conquered Kabul in 1996: Promises of peace and order, and amnesty for Afghans who had served in the government of President Mohammad Najibullah, were swiftly broken. The score-settling started at the top: The president was castrated and hung from a Kabul lamp post, his genitals stuffed into his mouth.
First, the press is biased, not toward hawkishness per se, but toward government action to relieve visible human suffering. When it comes to domestic politics, that generally works in favor of Democrats. In foreign policy, it can work for U.S. military action or against it, depending on whether action or inaction seems to be more responsible for bloodshed and oppression. The press will therefore have a soft spot for military action if it is seen as motivated by humanitarian concerns. (Recall that in Donald Trumps first months as president, the media  specifically images of children subject to chemical warfare  prompted him to order air strikes in Syria.)
Washington needs the region to get behind its push to check Chinas moves, and has even offered up a plan for a digital trade pact covering Indo-Pacific economies. But some nations have been reluctant to sign up to the idea  held back by a combination of a lack of trust in the U.S. and fear of how Beijing would respond. Chinas largest corporations, like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd., have led a wave of investment into Southeast Asia  which has more than half a billion people rapidly migrating online  so there is not much upside to an agreement that cuts out the mainland.
The guest speaker is Abigail Robinson, a controversial statistician hired by the Canadian government to analyze the countrys pandemic-related data. According to her analysis, the sick and elderly used too many of the countrys resources during the pandemic. In other words, people who were the most vulnerable to the novel coronavirus, who would die soon anyway, were putting a strain on the countrys finances, medical supplies and personnel. It is, she says, a crisis heightened but not created by the pandemic.
Among errors confirmed by The Post: The ethics panel asserted the board had never hired its own lobbyist, which it had on multiple occasions; said the lobbyist, Jennifer Jenkins, did not attend legislative meetings or provide legislative updates to the board, though public records show she did; and claimed Jenkins only worked on a bill to make the board all-elected, when documents show she worked on a variety of other measures.
Prosecutors note that Jones and Shroyer both spoke at rallies in advance of the riot, repeating the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen. In a video posted Jan. 5, Shroyer asks, Are we just going to sit here and become activists for [four] years or are [we] going to actually do something about this?
Indicted in Senegal in 2000, Mr. Habre was convicted 16 years later by the Extraordinary African Chambers on charges including crimes against humanity and torture. He was sentenced to life in prison. The proceedings were notable, The Washington Post reported at the time, because they represented first trial of a former African ruler in another African country, under the auspices of the African Union, and could be seen as a new model for justice on the continent.
David sat still during much of the hearing, staring out on the screen from behind a blue mask. Two correctional staff stood behind him. His recent mental evaluation at the jail, the judge noted, stated that he required 24-hour, direct supervision and that he very much wanted Ritz crackers to eat.
Although Youngkin has been vaccinated and has encouraged others to do the same, he has opposed mask and vaccine mandates as violations of individual and parental rights. When asked in a radio interview this month whether he would follow the lead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and prohibit local school board officials from requiring masks, he said he would, proclaiming that there should be no mask mandates in Virginia.
She eventually enrolled at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. Then she got a job with Raytheon, first as a secretary and later working her way up to a buyer in the submarine signaling division. I sold war materials, she said. She quit the job and returned to West Virginia in 1985. Then after a few years, she left again and lived with her second husband in Oxon Hill, Md. In 2012, she returned home for good.
As Ive said before, as the president has said before, we believe that we have time between now and the 31st to get out any American who wants to get out, he said. The administration does not know exactly how many Americans are in the country nor how many want to leave, officials have said.
Since the Talibans takeover of the country, he has struck a conciliatory tone, saying the militant group is seeking an Islamic system in which all people of the nation can participate without discrimination and live harmoniously with each other in an atmosphere of brotherhood. But those remarks came amid reports of some girls schools being shuttered and the Taliban seizing property and attacking civilians in some parts of the country.
Giuliani has not been accused of any crimes, although federal prosecutors in New York are investigating his relationships with Ukrainian figures while serving as Trumps personal attorney and whether those interactions may have violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act, according to court records and people familiar with the matter. The former New York mayor has adamantly denied any wrongdoing.
FBI Special Agent Jeffery Carlson interviewed the informant in July 2019, according to court records. Hours later, according to an email obtained by defense attorneys, she told the agent that for the talk today, I have to admit that I lied on some of the items. She wrote in the email that she had reported [her accusations] using the names of others. . . . I am sorry for my fault.
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She offered no evidence for her assessment of the reactions of allies; she substitutes her own mawkish judgment of how veterans and the families of those who died in the 20-year war feel about their efforts, assuming that Mr. Biden has somehow shown them disrespect. Her gratuitous and unexplained statement that the United Nations shows favoritism for dictators served to damage her credibility, as did her statement that the Taliban threw away any chance of U.S. aid when it harbored the terrorists behind the Sept. 11 attacks. Her piece was backward-looking and simplistic, and added nothing to the complex discussion we need to have now and in the aftermath of this very difficult moment.
Interiors are offered in schemes at various price points, with complementary finishes and fixtures. A staff designer is available to advise buyers. She picked finishes and cabinets that went with the granite, that went with flooring, said Roslyn Malloy, 70, who is retired from a supervisory position with the Charles County Board of Education. All of her choices were very tasteful. Theres something for everyone, no matter what your taste is. She made the process very easy.
Catholic Charities of New York connected OCallaghans organization to an SIV family in Afghanistan who arrived in the United States this month. Hearts and Homes for Refugees said it is finalizing an apartment for the family. The family will be greeted with a culturally appropriate home-cooked meal. The organizations tradition is for the most recently resettled family  in this case, an Afghan family who arrived in March 2020  to cook the meal for the new arrivals.
Haiti is also a concern for the Vatican and it announced Tuesday that Pope Francis sent $235,000 to aid the island nation, which is struggling after a powerful earthquake Aug. 14 killed more than 2,200 people and left many more displaced. The earthquake came amid significant political instability in the country, after the assassination of its president, Jovenel Moise, on July 7, and an ongoing struggle to address the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Jan. 6, a group of Proud Boys, without Tarrio, was seen praying while kneeling near the U.S. Capitol. A short time later, members of the group were allegedly among the first insurrectionists to attack the building. At least 19 people connected to the group now face federal charges for their role in the attacks, including four charged with conspiracy.
He challenged me and so many others  to think, to love, and to live like Christ. He will be missed by many because he kept pointing people to Jesus, Stetzer said. I remember sitting together in Nashville talking about what it meant to be a vicar  and what it means to be an earthly representative of Christ. Thomas did that well, and his loss is deeply felt by many of us.
Prosecutor Robert Hartmann told reporters that, while authorities believe the contamination may have been deliberate, they currently have no information pointing to any specific person as a possible culprit. He said that the substance has been identified, but prosecutors wont publicly name it for now in view of the ongoing investigation.
But the biggest issue McLaws has with the plan is that it calls for opening up the country when 80 percent of people 16 and older are vaccinated. When you include children  who officials say appear to be more susceptible to delta than previous strains  that leaves roughly one-third of the country unvaccinated. A better strategy would be to focus on vaccinating at least 80 percent of 16-to-39-year-olds, who are most likely to catch and spread the virus, before reopening, McLaws argued.
Scenes from the video showed what appears to be a suicide attempt by a man using glass from a bathroom mirror he smashed, guards dragging an emaciated man along floors and stairs and two men  a guard and what looks like another prison employee  engaged in a bloody fistfight, as other prison employees watch and try to separate them.
Marilyn Sue Lents, 84, of Washington, passed away at 10:58 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30, 2021 at Ketcham Memorial Center. She was born Sept. 1, 1936, in Washington, Indiana, to the late Icel and Mary Kirk. Marilyn married Carol "Chick" Lents on Aug. 4, 1995, and he survives. She enjoyed tending to h
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A wave of new investors - from accountants to laundry owners - are taking a punt at uncovering the next big Australian technology hit, joining established investors in backing startups and early stage companies.

This influx of investors has started to change the ways startups raise money and disrupt traditional venture capital and angel investing, as investors look to the sector after being priced out of the housing market and seeing listed tech companies soar in value.

Maxine Minter is an investor in several startups and said she is just one of a growing number of people interested in early stage investing.

Maxine Minter is one of a growing number of people investing in startups at an early stage. Credit:Louie Douvis

We are starting to see more unicorns, more people making a lot of money in the asset class and the other is the zeitgeist of tech and startups is more prominent in Australia, she said. Six or seven years ago it was very nascent but now you are seeing Afterpay exit for $39 billion so more people want to participate in the ecosystem.
Review: Two Afternoons in the Kabul Stadium: A History of Afghanistan Through Clothes, Carpets and the Camera, Tim Bonyhady, Text, $34.99

The Talibans capture of Kabul and the virtual storm of images from inside Afghanistan make Tim Bonyhadys Two Afternoons in the Kabul Stadium timely. It also raises questions about uncritical presentations of a complex, war-torn country.

Its sub-title suggests a different form of story-telling, relating Afghanistans history through a diverse range of artefacts including photography, film, paintings, sculpture, cartoons, posters, clothes, carpets, postage stamps, banknotes, flags and the symbolic use of colour. But with only 21 images, the book remains text-heavy, the reader having to make do with Bonyhadys descriptions and interpretations. The images are interspersed in a presentation of Afghan political and social history since the late 1920s built around a series of well-told stories.

Two Afghan women walk along a street in Kabul. Tim Bonyhady sees womens dress as the image of modernity. Credit:Rahmat Gul

This promise of a different form of storytelling is quickly contradicted. Bonyhady opens with a description of a Muslim warrior taken from an old adventure travel book. This warrior is a man who goes wild with religious fanaticism and starts out determined to kill an unbeliever. Bonyhady does not mention that the author of the description was a well-known purveyor of Orientalist shows and writings in the early 1900s. Uncritical reintroduction of such Kiplingesque fantasy in the public discourse is particularly unfortunate at a time when Afghanistan is in a transition period that requires careful and nuanced responses.
A 23-year-old man from Perths north-east is accused of rape and sexually abusing an infant and other children after advertising his services through an online babysitting website.

Police seized a quantity of child exploitation material in the mans home north-east of Perth. Credit:istock photos

Police say in August this year the man from Bennett Springs sexually assaulted a baby under a year of age and took a series of photographs and videos of the infant. He is also accused of indecently dealing with three children aged between four and 10 between June and August.

Child abuse squad detectives arrested the man after swooping on his home on Sunday, August 22, where they seized child exploitation material and a number of gel blasters and edged weapons.

He has been charged with one count of sexual penetration of a child under 13 years, five counts of indecently dealing with a child under 13 years, two counts of possessing child exploitation material, one count of producing child exploitation material, and a range of weapons charges.
Voters have swung to the Coalition and backed Prime Minister Scott Morrison on key personal measures, lifting the governments primary vote from 38 to 40 per cent amid a debate about when to end lockdowns.

The government has gained ground among voters on its response to the pandemic and management of the economy, while Labor has seen its primary vote fall from 35 to 32 per cent.

The findings are part of a new survey that shows 46 per cent of voters prefer Mr Morrison as Prime Minister compared to 23 per cent who favour Labor leader Anthony Albanese, with another 31 per cent undecided and the results barely changed over the past month.

The Resolve Political Monitor, conducted for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age by research company Resolve Strategic, finds the Coalition has recovered some support from voters on policy issues as the same time it increased its primary vote.
More than 1.6 million people across the east coast have been paid $3.6 billion in assistance to survive pandemic-related lockdowns, prompting accusations from Labor the federal government is short-changing sick and vulnerable Australians.

In the past week, the number of people receiving help has climbed by 240,000 at a cost of $650 million.

Federal government assistance worth $3.6 billion has gone out to more than 1.6 million people since lockdowns hit the east coast. Credit:Janie Barrett

Federal data released on Monday showed one in 10 people or 882,000 people in NSW have been paid $2.5 billion in assistance through three programs: the COVID disaster payment, the $200 income support payment for welfare recipients who have lost at least 8 hours of work and the pandemic leave disaster payment for those forced to isolate or quarantine.

In Victoria, 347,000 residents have received $653 million while another $234 million has gone to 180,000 in Queensland.
Many leaders were shocked at Americas disastrous abandonment of Afghanistan. One who was not? Chinas President Xi Jinping.

He has long been convinced of the inevitability of US decline and Chinese ascendancy: The East is rising, he likes to say, and the West is declining. He is setting China up to be the worlds leading power and hes well on the way.

Joe Bidens Afghanistan pull-out could have made his job more difficult elsewhere in the world. Credit:Bloomberg

And that is exactly why US President Joe Biden says he is walking away from Afghanistan. Biden says hes withdrawing from the Middle East to concentrate American energy on China.

In announcing the withdrawal, Biden said: The US cannot afford to remain tethered to policies creating a response to a world as it was 20 years ago. We need to meet the threats where they are today.
In 1998, my family decided to leave Afghanistan for good. The Taliban had emerged four years earlier and in 1996 had taken control of Kabul, Afghanistans capital, imposing an ultra-conservative interpretation of Islamic sharia law. The Talibans rule was noted for its cruel corporal punishments, including public executions, the suppression of freedom of religion and expression, and the destruction of Afghanistans historical heritage. The year we left, the Taliban massacred 2000 Hazara men and boys in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Seventeen years later, I decided to go back to live and work in Afghanistan. The Taliban had been driven from power by the US-led war on terror, but Taliban insurgents had resurfaced and organised frequent suicide attacks targeting schools, educational centres, universities, mosques, and hospitals and indiscriminate attacks on civilians.

Kabul fell to the Taliban without a formal transfer of power. Credit:AP

In 2014, I started my assignment with a foreign donor agency in the country. My return coincided with the Afghan administration and its US and NATO allies signing a new bilateral military agreement. The Taliban retaliated with intensive attacks on civilians. I vividly remember the day we had four massive explosions close to my office targeting aid workers and civilians. I was newly arrived, and it was one of the hardest days for me in Afghanistan.

Soon after, daily and weekly bombing of civilians was something I adjusted to as part of my new normal. The Taliban insurgents took direct responsibility for those attacks.
Wilmington, DE (19810)

Today

Thunderstorms, accompanied by locally heavy rainfall at times. Isolated tornadoes possible. High 77F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers early, then overcast overnight with occasional rain. Low 62F. SW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
"The start of the school year is always exciting, no matter what's going on," said Colonial School District Superintendent Jeffrey Menzer. "It's just the excitement around what."

Like all school districts in the Delaware, Colonial is doing its best to prepare for fully opening the doors of its school buildings this year, but the recent optimism of getting children back into classrooms has been tempered a bit by the worrying trends of the COVID-19 Delta variant.

"I feel like three weeks ago, there was a tremendous energy around returning to school and there was not the pressure of the Delta variant looming," Menzer said. "Then, literally two weeks ago, it just felt like the wind came out of those sails of excitement to be closer to normal. Now, it's getting back into the reality of mitigation strategies, protocols, contact tracing, vaccines, masks, all the stuff that was less exciting last year is kind of back on the radar."

The district's motto this year is a simple one: "We're back." And for the time being, Menzer said that holds true, with a full slate of classes ready to go, though not unblemished by the again-necessary virus-dodging plans with which administrators were already armed thanks to the familiarity.

"We are five full days a week. Students' desks will be three feet [apart] when possible...Students will be eating in the lunch rooms. Masks will obviously be a part of the protocols--specifically on school buses," Menzer said. "I think, structurally, it will be close to normal. But then you overlay a lot of the protocols, because the contact tracing is still going to occur, people are still going to be quarantined, people are still going to be isolated, we still have to have a CARES room. So, actually, an evolution of a 'new normal' is probably emerging as the virus grows and changes. I think we have to continue to be flexible."

In-person student attendance currently stands at around 95%, Menzer said, and the districts bus schedule will accommodate both fewer drivers and fewer seats available with a strict two-student-per-bench limit by continuing previously instituted staggered start times for its school.

He's hoping the district is also able to progress toward getting back to checklist items that had fallen by the wayside due to the pandemic.

"We continue to move forward in the world of education. In Colonial, we're piloting a new ELA curriculum that we're excited about. We continue to work with our equity team across the district," Menzer said. "Some of those things that were not front-and-center last year, we'll get back to where we were. Trying to improve school climate, back to improving our facilities...Upgrading our HVAC systems, our ventilation systems, in some of our aging buildings. Those are new things that are generated from COVID, but they're just really good for the health of buildings overall."

The district is also due for a review of its 10-year plan this year, and Menzer said they've been able to continue in that process largely unhindered despite the challenges of the previous school year thanks to proactive engagement from teachers, students, and parents.

In all, he said there's a cautious optimism moving forward, and he hopes educators have taken away lasting lessons from the hurdles they've played such a dominant role in helping the district overcome.

"I hope that they've grown to have a greater appreciation for what they had previously, which will make them appreciate more every moment that they have in education, whether it's in front of a student in a classroom, or on a playing field, or in a performing studio, or virtually over a zoom, I would like to think that we, we are growing to be more appreciative of the things that we have, and actually capitalizing on every bit of time we have to do the best we can for students," he said. "And for students to recognize the value of some of the things that they might have taken for granted. To me, that's the most optimistic way to look at what was a really challenging time."
Students sit in an Algebra class at Barbara Coleman Senior High School on the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Miami Lakes, Fla. Miami-Dade County public schools require students to wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Reporter

I cover a range of stories for WDRB, but really enjoy tracking what's going on at our State Capitol. I grew up on military bases all over the world, but am a Kentuckian at heart. I'm an EKU alum, and have lived in Louisville for 30 years.


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A woman whose remains authorities say were found in a container in New Jersey was a Greenwich native.

The Bergen County Prosecutors Office identified the remains as Nicole L. Flanagan, 42. The remains were found Aug. 13 in a container on a street in Ridgefield Park, N.J., authorities said.

Thomas Flanagan, of Greenwich, confirmed Monday his sister was found dead in New Jersey.

Detective Hubert Reyes, of the New York City Police Department, said Friday that Flanagan, with a last known address in the Bronx, N.Y., was last seen outside an apartment building in Manhattans Financial District, the Associated Press reported.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's office said Ridgefield Park Police discovered Flanagans remains in the container near Hobart Street and Teaneck Road.

Police were called to the area on a report of a suspicious large plastic container having been left in the street, the prosecutors office said in a statement.

He said the medical examiner is working to determine a cause and time of death.

According to her obituary, Flanagan was born in Greenwich to Thomas and Bonnie Flanagan, and is survived by her three children, her brother and nephews.

Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home on Arch Street in Greenwich. The funeral service will also be held in Greenwich, at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary Church.

We are all devastated by the loss of Nicole, her sister-in-law Lisa Flanagan wrote in the description of a GoFundMe campaign created to cover the funeral costs.

Lisa Flanagan called her sister-in-laws death tragic and sudden. The fundraiser, launched over the weekend, has raised over $6,000.

Bergen County authorities last week confirmed the identity of the remains as Flanagans. The cause of death has not been determined by the medical examiners office.

The Bergen County Prosecutors office and Ridgefield Park Police Department are investigating.
NEW YORK (AP)  Hours before leaving office, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday granted clemency to six people, including the driver in a fatal 1981 armored truck robbery whose release was championed by his son, San Franciscos top prosecutor.

David Gilbert, 76, is serving a life sentence for his role in the bungled 1981 Brinks robbery north of New York City, a bloody heist involving leftist revolutionaries that left a guard and two police officers dead.

He is among the last surviving people still imprisoned in the $1.6 million robbery often seen as a last gasp of 60s radicalism.

Through Cuomos action, he will be referred to the state parole board for potential release. Under his sentence, he wouldnt have been eligible for parole until 2056. In a news release, Cuomos office said that while locked up, Gilbert has made significant contributions to AIDS education and prevention programs, and worked as a tutor, law library clerk, paralegal assistant, teachers aide and aide in various prison programs.

Gilberts son, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, said his heart is bursting, and it also aches for the families of the three victims.

Republican Assemblymember Mike Lawler, who represents Rockland County, where the robbery happened, slammed the governors action.

Andrew Cuomos final act as governor is a disgusting betrayal to the people of Rockland County, he said in a statement. This year will mark the 40th anniversary of the Brinks Robbery and rather than stand with the brave men and women in law enforcement, Andrew Cuomo has once again stabbed them in the back.

Four men whose sentences were commuted Monday by Cuomo were in prison for murder convictions.

Cuomo also pardoned Lawrence Penn, a private equity fund manager who served two years for falsifying business records in connection with allegations he stole millions of dollars from investors.

Last week, Cuomo granted clemency to 10 people, including Jon-Adrian Velazquez, whose unsuccessful campaign for exoneration in the 1998 killing of a retired New York City police officer was championed by actor Martin Sheen.

Maybe none of those cases had the fame of the Brink's heist.

Brinks guard Peter Paige and Sgt. Edward OGrady and Officer Waverly Brown of the Nyack Police Department were killed in the holdup and ensuing shootout at a nearby roadblock.

Gilbert, an unarmed getaway driver, was charged with robbery and murder since people were killed during the crime. He and two co-defendants cast themselves as freedom fighters and deemed their trial illegitimate. At one court session, Gilbert and co-defendant Judith Clark raised their fists and shouted Free the land!

Clark was granted parole in 2019, three years after Cuomo commuted her sentence, noting her exceptional strides in self development.

Gilberts fight for freedom gained attention as Boudin, who was just 14 months old when he went to prison, campaigned last year for San Francisco District Attorney.

Boudin ran a progressive campaign in which he said visiting his parents Kathy Boudin and Gilbert in prison showed him the criminal justice system was broken.

On the eve of my first childs birth, my father, David Gilbert, has been granted clemency, Boudin said in an email to The Associated Press. Although he never used a gun or intended for anyone to get hurt, my fathers crime caused unspeakable harm and devastated the lives of many separate families. I will continue to keep those families in my heart.

Steve Zeidman, the lawyer and law professor who spearheaded Gilberts clemency campaign, said he was overjoyed for Gilbert and his family.

David has an opportunity to make his case to the board, an opportunity to live outside the prison walls, said Zeidman, co-director of the Defenders Clinic at the City University of New Yorks Law School.

The director of the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Jose Saldana, celebrated the clemencies but said there are many others who deserve to be released.

Governor Kathy Hocuhl will inherit and indefensibly racist and brutal prison system and we are hopeful that she will lead our state toward a more humane system of justice, Saldana said in a statement.
WATERBURY  Police announced Friday they have charged a Massachusetts man in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Trevor Figueroa earlier this summer.

Authorities are still searching for two other men in connection with the July 17 killing, and warn that both should be considered armed and dangerous.
Rain, unpredictable field conditions, ill players and coaches and a first-round loss were no match for the Litchfield Park Little League team.
NWS Weather Alert NOTE: This information is provided by the National Weather Service. Forecast may differ from local information provided by our own 69News Meteorologists

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... The Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for * Portions of New Jersey...and Pennsylvania...including the following areas...in New Jersey...Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren. In Pennsylvania...Berks, Carbon, Delaware, Eastern Chester, Eastern Montgomery, Lehigh, Lower Bucks, Monroe, Northampton, Philadelphia, Upper Bucks, Western Chester, and Western Montgomery. * From 8 AM EDT this morning through Thursday morning. * The remnants of Hurricane Ida will pass through the region today and tonight. Periods of heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms associated with this low will result in widespread rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches, with locally higher amounts possible. Much of this rainfall may occur in a short period of time, exacerbating the flooding threat. Combined with wet antecedent conditions, this will lead to numerous instances of flash flooding, some of which may be significant. * Flooding of creeks, streams, urban areas, and poor drainage areas is likely in the areas of heaviest rain. Water is likely to cover the roads, especially in low-lying areas. Moderate to major flooding is possible along some main stem rivers, and roads and structures near these rivers may be flooded. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. &&
Reading, PA (19601)

Today

Cloudy and cooler with periods of rain, some heavy at times. Watching moisture associated with Ida which could lead to flash flooding..

Tonight

Overcast with occasional rain, heavy at times, which will likely lead to flash flooding. Also stay alert for a strong or severe storm tonight and overnight.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Cloudy and cooler with periods of rain, some heavy at times. Watching moisture associated with Ida which could lead to flash flooding..

Tonight

Overcast with occasional rain, heavy at times, which will likely lead to flash flooding. Also stay alert for a strong or severe storm tonight and overnight.
EAST HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) - The Town of East Hartford is implementing a mask mandate and a fine for those who violate it.

West Hartford implements indoor mask mandate The town of West Hartford is implementing an indoor mask mandate, effective at 12 p.m. on Friday.

Mayor Marcia Leclerc said the town-wide indoor mandate went into effect at midnight Tuesday.

Violators will be subject to a $100 fine, unless they can provide written documentation of a medical condition, behavioral condition or disability that exempts them.

It is imperative that all businesses and organizations follow this mandate as recommended by the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], Leclerc. said Businesses and organizations can help set the standard of protecting their employees and customers by adhering to the universal mask mandate during this fourth wave of the pandemic.

Leclerc said the mandate applies to everyone over the age of 2, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. It will remain in place until further notice.

Hartford requires masks inside all restaurants and businesses The City of Hartford is one of the latest cities in Connecticut to require masks inside restaurants and businesses.

Individuals can be exempt from the mask mandate while eating or drinking, when spaced at least six feet apart or due to a medical condition, behavioral condition or a disability.

Leclerc said East Hartford joined a growing list of municipalities with mask mandates, like Hartford, New Haven, and West Hartford.

On Aug. 20, Leclerc said she, in conjunction with the Capitol Region and Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, hosted a virtual press conference in support of a statewide indoor mask mandate.

She argued that masks reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread when they are consistently used by customers and employees, especially when physical distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

COVID-19 community transmission among East Hartford residents has dramatically increased over the last several weeks due to the ongoing surge caused by the Delta variant, said Laurence Burnsed, director of health. The number of cases reported during August to date is three times higher compared to the month of July. The evidence is clear that wearing facemasks in indoor settings can help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

East Hartfords Health Director Laurence Burnsed said the fine isnt meant to be punitive in any way to individuals. Its really meant to be a tool for us to use if we have a business for example that is overly non-compliant.

While some people dont like wearing a mask, they said it makes them feel safer.

Its just a precaution. It keeps me safe. It keeps the other people safe, so I have no problem, its not a big inconvenience, said Paul OSullivan.

Some people are not paying attention to the guidelines, not keeping their distance, so when that happens, this is what the outcome is, said Javier Navedo.

What we are seeing now is similar to what we saw a few months ago, and in towns where there arent mandates, some businesses are requiring customers to wear masks.

East Hartford has seen a vaccination rate of 86 percent among adults age 45 and older who received at least one dose.

The town reported only 61 percent for young adults and adolescents.
VERNON, CT (WFSB) - An Ellington man accused of killing his wife way back in December of 2015 will have to wait even longer for a trial.

The judge in Richard Dabates murder trial dismissed the jury that had been selected in March of 2020.

Jury selection was put on hold due to COVID.

The prosecutor and Dabates lawyers were close to having twelve jurors, and they were preparing for a trial last spring, add in the death of one of Dabates lawyers earlier this year and we could be months away from that trial.

"Many of the jurors have scheduling conflicts. They have moved on. Theyve moved out of state," Judge Julia Dewey stated.

Judge Dewey saying Tuesday that a new jury will need to be selected before Richard Dabates murder trial can begin.

Richard Dabate is accused of killing his wife, Connie, in the couples Ellington home in December of 2015. He was arrested in 2015.

Dabates lawyers and prosecutors were one juror short in March of 2020, but then all courts in Connecticut shut down because of COVID.

The trial was slated to begin in April of last year, but now its unknown when that will happen.

Outside of court, Dabates lawyer didnt want to comment.

"[Is it frustrating that the case has been going on for so long?] No comment on the schedule. COVID is what COVID is," Dabate's lawyer Trent Lalima noted.

People in Ellington were surprised to hear today that the case is still going on.

In fact, some had moved on from following it.

Man accused of killing his wife appears in court with jury selection looming A man accused of killing his wife in their home in Ellington appeared in court on Tuesday.

"So much has is going on in the world, I just kind of lost track of that one," Dotty Weimer of Ellington says.

Dabate told police he returned home around 8:30 or 9 the day his wife was killed, because an alarm went off.

He says an intruder entered the home and killed his wife in an altercation that lasted ten minutes, but in court records, police say evidence contradicts his timeline, including data gathered by the home alarm system and by Connie Dabates activity tracker.

Before jury selection can begin, Dabate has to sort out his legal team.

Police: Wife's Fitbit logs steps after husband says she died Police in Connecticut have cited Fitbit records in an arrest warrant for a 40-year-old man charged with killing his wife in 2015.

Dabate hired well-known criminal defense lawyer Hubie Santos, but Santos died in June.

Trent Lalima was working as Dabates lead lawyer, but asked for time to recruit a new co-council.

Judge Dewey said today that decision must happen before jury selection can begin.

"The scheduling of that depends on how fast that attorney can come up to speed," Judge Dewey added.

To that point, this case drew national attention, because it relies so much on technology, such as Fitbit data, the home alarm, even Facebook messages.

Dabate is due back in court on October 5 for an update on his legal team. In the meantime, he remains free on $1 million bond.
The delivery of a report on the 2020 vote count to Arizona state Senate Republicans has been delayed yet again
More than 13,500 firefighters are working to contain a dozen large California wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee
Willmar, MN (56201)

Today

Partly cloudy. High 78F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low near 60F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit Tuesday that seeks to stop school districts from enforcing mask mandates, requirements aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.

The action drew a rebuke from President Joe Biden, who finds such lawsuits unacceptable, his press secretary said Tuesday.

The lawsuit names Columbia Public Schools along with the district's Board of Education and board members, but is a class action lawsuit that would apply to school districts across the state that have a mask mandate for schoolchildren, said Chris Nuelle, a spokesman for Schmitt.

The new school year began Monday in several districts across the state, and with the delta variant causing a big spike in cases, hospitalizations and deaths, more than four dozen districts are requiring students, teachers and staff to wear face coverings. The lawsuit filed by Schmitt, a Republican, cites the low death rate among school aged children.

We filed this suit today because we fundamentally dont believe in forced masking, rather that parents and families should have the power to make decisions on masks, based on science and facts," Schmitt said in a news release.

President Joe Biden's believes lawsuits such as Schmitt's put more children at risk, press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday.

The president thinks thats completely unacceptable and he has asked his secretary of education, directed I should say, his secretary of education to use all of his authority to help those school districts doing the right thing to ensure every one of their students has access to a fundamental right of safe in-person learning, Psaki said. This could include a number of considerations but Ill let the secretary to speak to them.

Columbia school district spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said the district is extremely disappointed that Schmidt filed the lawsuit. She said the mask mandate is not a forever decision" but is currently necessary to keep students safe.

The decision to file suit against a public school district after a local decision is made in the interest of safety and keeping students in school will waste taxpayer dollars and resources, which are better spent investing in our students. Columbia Public Schools intends to aggressively defend its decision to keep its community and its scholars safe.

Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat, said in a statement that schools may be forced to close if Schmitt's lawsuit is successful and outbreaks occur. She also noted that Schmitt is running for U.S. Senate in 2022.

This lawsuit might help Schmitt win a Republican U.S. Senate primary, but it puts the lives and education of Missouri children in jeopardy, Quade said.

Schmitt successfully sued to stop St. Louis County's mask mandate. He has also filed suits against mask requirements in St. Louis city, Kansas City and Jackson County.

Southwestern Missouri has been the epicenter of this summers outbreak of COVID-19. But since the delta variant of the virus began its rampage in June, cases have spread across the state. Now, the Bootheel region of southeast Missouri is under siege.

Information on Missouri's COVID-19 dashboard shows that six of the 12 counties with the highest seven-day rates of new cases are in the southeast  Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi, Madison, Jackson and Perry counties.

Cape Girardeau's two hospitals are treating a combined 76 COVID-19 patients, including 24 in intensive care units, according to information from St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Hospital.

The death toll continues to rise with another 170 deaths reported by the state health department. Of them, 143 were the result of a weekly review of death certificates. One of those deaths was in May, two were in June, 35 were in July and 105 were earlier in August. The state also cited 27 new deaths, and 1,770 newly confirmed cases. Missouri has reported 618,022 COVID-19 cases overall.

A central Missouri mayor meanwhile pushed for his friend to be given an anti-parasite drug not approved for treating COVID-19.

The Kansas City Star reported that Lake Ozark Mayor Dennis Newberry wrote on Facebook Monday that the friend should be allowed to take ivermectin in a last-ditch effort to save him.

Please pray for cooperation from his caregivers and hospital admin to allow his loved ones and friends to step in and assist with his life. If we do nothing his life will surely be taken from his 18 year old son, his family and friends, Newberry wrote.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved ivermectin to treat some parasitic worms and for head lice and skin conditions in humans, and other preparations of the drug are used to treat and prevent parasites in horses. The FDA has not approved ivermectin for treating or preventing COVID-19.

By Tuesday morning, Newberry's post had been removed. A phone message left with Newberry wasn't immediately returned.

An estimated 300,000 people attended the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia over the 10-day period that ended Sunday, but just 53 took advantage of an on-site COVID-19 vaccination clinic, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Obviously wed love to have vaccinated 1,000 people, Pettis County Health Administrator JoAnn Martin told the Post-Dispatch. But we are glad we made the effort.
Winchester, VA (22601)

Today

Showers and thundershowers likely. Potential for flooding rains. High 74F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Winchester, VA (22601)

Today

Showers and thundershowers likely. Potential for flooding rains. High 72F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Winchester, VA (22601)

Today

Showers and thundershowers likely. Potential for flooding rains. High 72F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
LONDON - Charlie Watts, the self-effacing and unshakeable Rolling Stones drummer who helped anchor one of rocks greatest rhythm sections and used his day job to support his enduring love of jazz, has died, according to his publicist. He was 80.

LONDON - Charlie Watts, the self-effacing and unshakeable Rolling Stones drummer who helped anchor one of rocks greatest rhythm sections and used his day job to support his enduring love of jazz, has died, according to his publicist. He was 80.

Bernard Doherty said Tuesday that Watts passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.

Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation, Doherty said.

Watts had announced he would not tour with the Stones in 2021because of an undefined health issue.

The quiet, elegantly dressed Watts was often ranked with Keith Moon, Ginger Baker and a handful of others as a premier rock drummer, respected worldwide for his muscular, swinging style as the Stones rose from their scruffy beginnings to international superstardom. He joined the band early in 1963 and remained over the next 60 years, ranked just behind Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as the groups longest lasting and most essential member.

Watts stayed on, and largely held himself apart, through the drug abuse, creative clashes and ego wars that helped kill founding member Brian Jones, drove bassist Bill Wyman and Jones replacement Mick Taylor to quit and otherwise made being in the Stones the most exhausting of jobs.

A classic Stones song like Brown Sugar and Start Me Up often began with a hard guitar riff from Richards, with Watts following closely behind, and Wyman, as the bassist liked to say, fattening the sound. Watts speed, power and time keeping were never better showcased than during the concert documentary, Shine a Light, when director Martin Scorsese filmed Jumpin Jack Flash from where he drummed toward the back of the stage.

The Stones began, Watts said, as white blokes from England playing Black American music but quickly evolved their own distinctive sound. Watts was a jazz drummer in his early years and never lost his affinity for the music he first loved, heading his own jazz band and taking on numerous other side projects.

He had his eccentricities  Watts liked to collect cars even though he didnt drive and would simply sit in them in his garage. But he was a steadying influence on stage and off as the Stones defied all expectations by rocking well into their 70s, decades longer than their old rivals the Beatles.

Watts didnt care for flashy solos or attention of any kind, but with Wyman and Richards forged some of rocks deepest grooves on Honky Tonk Women, Brown Sugar and other songs. The drummer adapted well to everything from the disco of Miss You to the jazzy Cant You Hear Me Knocking and the dreamy ballad Moonlight Mile.

Jagger and Richards at times seemed to agree on little else besides their admiration of Watts, both as a man and a musician. Richards called Watts the key and often joked that their affinity was so strong that on stage hed sometimes try to rattle Watts by suddenly changing the beat  only to have Watts change it right back.

He also had an impact on the Rolling Stones that extended beyond drumming. He worked with Jagger on the ever more spectacular stage designs for the groups tours. He also provided illustrations for the back cover of the acclaimed 1967 album Between the Buttons and inadvertently gave the record its title. When he asked Stones manager Andrew Oldham what the album would be called, Oldham responded Between the buttons, meaning undecided. Watts thought that Between the Buttons was the actual name and included it in his artwork.

To the world, he was a rock star. But Watts often said that the actual experience was draining and unpleasant, and even frightening. Girls chasing you down the street, screaming...horrible!... I hated it, he told The Guardian newspaper in an interview. In another interview, he described the drumming life as a cross between being an athlete and a total nervous wreck.

Watts found refuge from the rock life, marrying Shirley Ann Shepherd in 1964 and having a daughter, Seraphina, soon after. While other famous rock marriages crumbled, theirs held. Jagger and Richards could only envy their bandmate's indifference to stardom and relative contentment in his private life, which included happily tending horses on a rural estate in Devon, England.

FILE - Members of The Rolling Stones, from left, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Ron Wood pose for photos from their plan at Jose Marti international airport in Havana, Cuba on March 24, 2016. Watts' publicist, Bernard Doherty, said Watts passed away peacefully in a London hospital surrounded by his family on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. He was 80. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa File)

Author Philip Norman, who has written extensively about the Rolling Stones, said Watts lived in constant hope of being allowed to catch the next plane home. On tour, he made a point of drawing each hotel room he stayed in, a way of marking time until he could return to his family. He said little about playing the same songs for more than 40 years as the Stones recycled their classics. But he did branch out far beyond Satisfaction and Jumpin Jack Flash by assembling and performing with jazz bands in the second half of his career.

Charles Robert Watts, son of a lorry driver and a housewife, was born in Neasden, London, on June 2, 1941. From childhood, he was passionate about music  jazz in particular. He fell in love with the drums after hearing Chico Hamilton and taught himself to play by listening to records by Johnny Dodds, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington and other jazz giants.

He worked for a London advertising firm after he attended Harrow Art College and played drums in his spare time. London was home to a blues and jazz revival in the early 1960s, with Jagger, Richards and Eric Clapton among the future superstars getting their start. Watts career took off after he played with Alexis Korners Blues Incorporated, for whom Jagger also performed, and was encouraged by Korner to join the Stones.

Watts wasnt a rock music fan at first and remembered being guided by Richards and Brian Jones as he absorbed blues and rock records, notably the music of bluesman Jimmy Reed. He said the band could trace its roots to a brief period when he had lost his job and shared an apartment with Jagger and Richards because he could live there rent-free.

Keith Richards taught me rock and roll, Watts said. Wed have nothing to do all day and wed play these records over and over again. I learned to love Muddy Waters. Keith turned me on to how good Elvis Presley was, and Id always hated Elvis up 'til then.

Watts was the final man to join the Stones; the band had searched for months to find a permanent drummer and feared Watts was too accomplished for them. Richards recalled the band wanting him so badly to join that members cut down on expenses so they could afford to pay Watts a proper salary. Watts said he believed at first the band would be lucky to last a year.

Every band Id ever been in had lasted a week, he said. I always thought the Stones would last a week, then a fortnight, and then suddenly, its 30 years.

For much of his career, Watts resisted the excesses of his bandmates, but he fell into heroin addiction in the mid-1980s. He would credit his stable relationship with his wife for getting him off drugs.

I was warring with myself at that time, he told Rolling Stone magazine.

With his financial future secure because of the Stones status as one of the worlds most popular live bands, Watts was able to indulge his passion for jazz by putting together some of the most talented musicians in Britain for a series of recordings and performances. They typically played during the long breaks between Stones tours.

His first jazz record, the 1986 Live at Fulham Town Hall, was recorded by the Charlie Watts Orchestra. Others by the Charlie Watts Quintet followed, and he expanded that group into the Charlie Watts and the Tentet.

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Watts was an acclaimed jazz bandleader when he was stricken with throat cancer in 2004. He received extensive treatment and made a full recovery. His return to health allowed him to resume touring with both the Stones and his jazz band.

By then, the young man who had worn his brown hair down to his shoulders in the late 1960s had evolved into a craggy, white-haired, impeccably dressed senior statesman of rock. Getting Watts to talk about his place in rock history was almost impossible, but he seemed to enjoy talking about fashion. It was not unusual to see him attired in a custom-made suit and polka dot tie while his bandmates wore jeans and T-shirts.

In the tumultuous, extremely competitive world of rock and roll, Watts seemed to make few enemies.

It all seems to boil down to a certain quality which is as rare as hens teeth in the music business, but which Charlie Watts is perceived to have in abundance. In a word, decency, columnist Barbara Ellen wrote after interviewing Watts in 2000. Youve got to hand it to a...man whos played with the worlds most influential rock n roll band...and stayed happily married to his wife, Shirley....A man who, moreover, remains resolutely determined not to take his elevated position too seriously.

____

Former Associated Press Writers Greg Katz and Janelle Stecklein compiled biographical material for this story.
VICTORIA - British Columbia residents will need a vaccine card to get into restaurants, clubs, ticketed sporting events and organized affairs like weddings as the risk of infection is currently 10 times higher among those who are unimmunized.

Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix look on as Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks about the COVID-19 vaccine card set to arrive in mid-September as they discuss details about the process during a press conference at provincial legislature in Victoria, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

VICTORIA - British Columbia residents will need a vaccine card to get into restaurants, clubs, ticketed sporting events and organized affairs like weddings as the risk of infection is currently 10 times higher among those who are unimmunized.

Premier John Horgan said Monday the card will give people the confidence to attend non-discretionary activities and businesses, especially as the province is unlikely to move into the last step of its restart plan on Sept. 7 as the Delta variant leads to a sharp uptick in cases.

Over 83 per cent of those who are eligible for a vaccine have received one dose and nearly 75 per cent have been fully vaccinated, suggesting the majority of residents support proof of vaccination, he said.

Horgan said the province is working with the federal government and he has spoken with Quebec Premier Francois Legault about that province's requirement for proof of both doses starting Sept. 1 for people wanting to participate in social and recreational activities.

The government has been working with the privacy commissioner to ensure data on the B.C. Vaccine Card, which can be downloaded onto phones, is kept secure, the premier said.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said starting Sept. 13, B.C. residents will have to show proof of having had a single dose of a vaccine to enter gyms, fitness centres and casinos.

After Oct. 24, those aged 12 and up will need to be fully vaccinated at least seven days earlier and only children below that age will be exempt from entering establishments if they are with adults who have been fully vaccinated.

Henry said the new measures will help reduce transmission of the virus and allow businesses to remain open for those who are protected by vaccines.

"Over the past month, up until the end of last week, people who've not been fully vaccinated account for almost 90 per cent of all of our cases and over 93 per cent of hospitalizations," Henry said.

"To put it in context, we have a rate of 28 per 100,000 cases in people who are unvaccinated, compared to two per 100,000 for people who are fully vaccinated. What that tells us is that your risk is 10 times higher if you've not been protected through vaccine."

Businesses will be required to look for proof of vaccination at least until January, but that may change depending on the number of cases as people spend more time at indoor social settings during the respiratory season, Henry said.

There won't be any exemptions for those who haven't had two shots because it's a temporary measure, likely until January, to get the province through a risky period, and the events are not essential, Henry said.

"It is really important that what we're trying to do is be able to allow these discretionary events to be able to continue in a way that is safe for the vast majority of people who have been immunized."

Provisions for those without a phone include access to a call centre, but further details will be provided after the Labour Day weekend and there will be a process for fully vaccinated visitors from outside the province to access the same services.

Both Horgan and Henry had previously suggested proof of vaccination would not be required, but that was before the seven-day moving average of COVID-19 cases jumped to 557 last week, up from 36 in early July.

Stephen Hoption Cann, an epidemiologist at the University of British Columbia's school of population and public health, said the proof of vaccination requirement was only a matter of time in keeping up with other jurisdictions trying to kick-start their economies.

"I think we're realizing that we can only go on so long economically before we run into a huge amount of debt," he said.

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However, he said it makes sense to also require health-care workers in all settings to be vaccinated, after B.C. made it mandatory for those employed in long-term care and assisted living facilities to have both doses by Oct. 12.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province is looking at mandatory vaccination in other areas in health care.

The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade welcomed the announcement of the vaccine card, saying it provides clarity for businesses making decisions around protecting the health and safety of staff and customers as many establishments struggle to manage labour and supply shortages.

"Its imperative that the provincial government works closely with business owners to ensure a seamless transition to the B.C. Vaccine Card, one that protects front-line staff, ensures the technology is widely accessible and available, and is compatible with similar efforts across the country."

 By Camille Bains in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press first published Aug. 23, 2021.
CHICAGO (AP)  The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Tuesday that hes feeling "fairly well" and receiving great care at a Chicago hospital after a breakthrough COVID-19 infection.

FILE - In this Friday, Jan. 8, 2021 file photo, Rev. Jesse Jackson receives the Pfizer's BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from Dr. Kiran Chekka, Covid Administration Physician at the Roseland Community Hospital in Chicago. The Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, have been hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19 according to a statement Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. He is vaccinated against the virus and publicly received his first dose in January. According to a statement released Saturday evening, the Jacksons are being treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He is 79 years old. Jacqueline Jackson is 77. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

CHICAGO (AP)  The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Tuesday that hes feeling "fairly well" and receiving great care at a Chicago hospital after a breakthrough COVID-19 infection.

He spoke briefly by phone with The Associated Press from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he and his wife, Jacqueline, have been hospitalized in separate rooms since the weekend when they tested positive for the virus.

"Im doing fairly well," the civil rights leader said.

The 79-year-old, who has Parkinson's disease, has been fully vaccinated. He received his first dose at a public event in January where he encouraged others to do the same. But his 77-year-old wife, Jacqueline, also a civil rights activist, has not been vaccinated. She has been receiving some oxygen but is breathing on her own without a respirator, according to family members.

Jesse Jackson said his wife didnt get vaccinated because she has a "preexisting condition" they were worried about. He did not elaborate.

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FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 file photo, Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks to the crowd during a demonstration supporting the voting rights, on Capitol Hill, in Washington. The Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, have been hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19 according to a statement Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. He is vaccinated against the virus and publicly received his first dose in January. According to a statement released Saturday evening, the Jacksons are being treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He is 79 years old. Jacqueline Jackson is 77. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Generally, public health experts strongly encourage people with existing health conditions, such as cancer or diabetes, to get vaccinated as they are at increased risk for severe illness.

Family members have said the Jacksons were admitted to the hospital in part because of their age and that both have been responding positively to treatment. They have been married nearly 60 years.

"The health status of both my parents is unchanged," one of their sons, Jonathan Jackson, said in a Tuesday statement. "They continue to rest comfortably and to receive treatment."

Jackson, who was hospitalized early this year for gallbladder surgery, has remained active and continued traveling and advocating for voting rights and other causes.

___

Follow Sophia Tareen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiatareen.
CHARLOTTETOWN - Health officials in Prince Edward Island say they'll maintain targeted border screening, testing and self-isolation for unvaccinated travellers until at least the middle of October.

Provincial workers greet motorists as they cross the Confederation Bridge near Borden-Carleton, P.E.I., Friday, July 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Brian McInnis

CHARLOTTETOWN - Health officials in Prince Edward Island say they'll maintain targeted border screening, testing and self-isolation for unvaccinated travellers until at least the middle of October.

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Chief medical officer of health Dr. Heather Morrison said today the border measures will remain a little longer to help support a safe return to school for children by keeping COVID-19 numbers low in the province.

She is reporting one new case of COVID-19 today, involving a person who travelled outside Atlantic Canada and who is a close contact of a previously reported infection. There are six active reported cases of COVID-19 in the province.

Morrison says she is in talks with the federal government about a pilot project for which parents of students would be given COVID-19 test kits to screen children showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus.

The province released its back-to-school plan Monday with recommendations for continued mask use.

Morrison says that later this week the province will run a training exercise for principals, administrators and others in the education system about what to do should a COVID-19 outbreak occur in a school.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.
Some provinces were doubling down Tuesday with mask and vaccination requirements in an effort to bring down rising COVID-19 cases, while the Northwest Territories reported its first death related to the virus.

Provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, puts on her protective mask after releasing details about a COVID-19 vaccination card that will be needed by anyone wanting to eat in restaurants, visit theatres or go to other events. She made the announcement at a news conference at the B.C. legislature in Victoria on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Some provinces were doubling down Tuesday with mask and vaccination requirements in an effort to bring down rising COVID-19 cases, while the Northwest Territories reported its first death related to the virus.

British Columbia, Quebec and Manitoba all reintroduced mandatory face coverings in some settings.

Starting Wednesday, B.C. is bringing back a public health order requiring people to wear masks in all indoor public spaces  including malls, grocery stores and on transit  to try to curb the spread of infections fuelled primarily by the Delta variant.

The order also includes students in Grade 4 and up who will soon be returning to classrooms. Face coverings will be encouraged for younger children.

Provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, said the order is to be reassessed in mid-October when the province plans to have fully implemented a proof of vaccination card for anyone wanting to eat in restaurants, visit theatres or go to other events.

Quebec also announced an indoor mask mandate for elementary and high school students across nine regions of the province, including Montreal. Education Minister Jean-Francois Roberge said the rise of the Delta variant is forcing the cautious approach.

"It's not ideal," Roberge said. It's not what we wanted at the beginning of the school year, but we have to take note of the situation, take note of what's happening elsewhere in the world and the rise of the Delta variant."

As for vaccines, Manitoba announced that all front-line provincial employees who work with vulnerable populations will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of October.

"We need to get to higher ground to avoid the tsunami," Premier Brian Pallister said.

Workers affected include doctors, nurses, teachers, early childhood teachers and prison guards. Government employees, including members of the legislature, will also be required to have their shots.

The province also said it is bringing back a mask mandate for all indoor public places, including schools.

In Ontario, the Toronto Police Service said all its uniformed and civilian members will need to be fully vaccinated and staff will be required to provide proof by mid-September.

New Brunswick followed the lead of some other provinces by expanding eligibility for shots to children who are turning 12 this year.

And, with case numbers rising, Nova Scotia premier-designate Tim Houston said New Brunswickers who aren't fully vaccinated will be treated like travellers from outside the Atlantic region and must isolate upon entering his province.

"We expect this to impact a very small number of people," Houston said of the measure beginning Wednesday.

The Northwest Territories, dealing with its worst outbreak since the pandemic began, reported its first death from COVID-19.

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"At a time, when we are trying to keep an entire population healthy, this death reminds us that individuals are at the heart of this effort," the territory's s chief public health officer, Dr. Kami Kandola, said in a statement.

There were 219 active cases in the territory.

A vaccine tracker created by a University of Saskatchewan student shows Canada has reached a milestone of 75 per cent of those eligible now fully vaccinated. It says 83 per cent have had at least one dose.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Monday, potentially boosting public confidence in the shots and instantly opening the way for more universities, companies and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory.

FILE - In this March 2, 2021, file photo, pharmacy technician Hollie Maloney loads a syringe with Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at the Portland Expo in Portland, Maine. The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Monday, potentially boosting public confidence in the shots and instantly opening the way for more universities, companies and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory.

The Pentagon promptly announced it will press ahead with plans to force members of the military to get vaccinated amid the battle against the extra-contagious delta variant. The University of Minnesota likewise said it will require its students get the shot, as did Louisiana's major public universities, including LSU, though state law there allows broad exemptions.

More than 200 million Pfizer doses have been administered in the U.S. under emergency provisions  and hundreds of millions more worldwide  since December. In going a step further and granting full approval, the Food and Drug Administration cited months of real-world evidence that serious side effects are extremely rare.

President Joe Biden said that for those who hesitated to get the vaccine until it received what he dubbed the "gold standard" of FDA approval, "the moment youve been waiting for is here."

"Please get vaccinated today," he said.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla called the FDA's action "an important milestone that I think will unlock some of the more skeptical minds."

Pfizer said the U.S. is the first country to grant full approval of its vaccine, in a process that required a 360,000-page application and rigorous inspections. Never before has the FDA has so much evidence to judge a shot's safety.

FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2021, file photo, the Pfizer logo is displayed at the company's headquarters in New York. The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

The formula, jointly developed with Germany's BioNTech, will be marketed under the brand name Comirnaty.

Moderna has also applied to the FDA for full approval of its vaccine. Johnson & Johnson, maker of the third option in the U.S., said it hopes to do so later this year.

Just over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Vaccinations in this country bottomed out in July at an average of about a half-million shots per day, down from a peak of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. As the delta variant fills hospital beds, shots are on the rise again, with a million a day given Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Full approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine means it meets the same "very high standards required of all the approved vaccines we rely on every day," said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief. That should help "anyone who still has concerns gain confidence" in the shots.

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he would seek the presidents OK to make the vaccine mandatory by mid-September or once the FDA grants final approval, whichever comes first. On Monday, after the FDA acted, the Pentagon said guidance on vaccinations will be worked out and a timeline will be provided in the coming days.

The approval also opened the way for swift action by colleges to require vaccines and solidified the legal ground for hundreds of universities that have already issued mandates for students and staff.

The public university systems in Louisiana and Minnesota had been waiting for FDA action before making vaccinations mandatory. Louisiana has become a COVID-19 hot spot, repeatedly breaking records for the number of people hospitalized with the virus. But certain other states forbid universities to require shots, including Texas and Florida.

"Mandating becomes much easier when you have full approval," said Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University. "I think a lot of businesses have been waiting for it."

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the full FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

On the same day the FDA decision came down, New York City announced that all public school teachers and other staffers will have to get vaccinated.

The delta variant has sent cases, deaths and hospitalizations soaring in recent weeks in the U.S., erasing months of progress. Deaths are running at about 1,000 a day on average for the first time since mid-March, and new cases are averaging 147,000 a day, a level last seen at the end of January.

Elizabeth Nichols, 18, of Akron, Ohio, said she felt "a rush of relief" after hearing the news of the FDAs approval. She already was on her way to get her first vaccine shot Monday morning after months of hesitation.

"I had an internal battle of whether I should get the shot or not," Nichols said in an email. "It can be scary subjecting yourself to something that is unapproved." But she added: "The authorization proves how safe it is."

The FDA, like regulators in Europe and much of the rest of the world, initially allowed emergency use of Pfizers vaccine based on a study that tracked 44,000 people 16 and older for at least two months  the time period when serious side effects typically arise.

Thats shorter than the six months of safety data normally required for full approval. So Pfizer kept that study going, and the FDA also examined real-world safety evidence.

Pfizers shot will continue to be dispensed to 12- to 15-year-olds under an emergency use authorization, until the company files its application for full approval.

Normally, doctors can prescribe FDA-approved products for other reasons than their original use. But FDA's acting Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock strongly warned that the Pfizer vaccine should not be used "off-label" for children under 12  a warning echoed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Both Pfizer and Moderna have vaccine studies underway in youngsters, and they are using lower doses than those available for people 12 and older.

Pfizer's Bourla said he expects study results from 5- to 11-year-olds by the end of September, but data for those younger than 5 will take a couple of months.

Also, Woodcock said health providers are offering COVID-19 vaccines under agreements with the government that should preclude using Monday's approval as a pretext for offering booster shots to the general population.

Currently, the FDA has authorized third doses of either Pfizer's or Moderna's vaccine only for certain people with severely weakened immune systems, such as organ transplant recipients. For everyone else, the Biden administration is planning for boosters starting in the fall. But the FDA is evaluating that question separately.

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In reaching Monday's decision, the FDA said serious side effects remain very rare, such as chest pain and heart inflammation a few days after the second dose, mostly in young men.

As for effectiveness, six months into Pfizers original study, the vaccine remained 97% protective against severe COVID-19. Protection against milder infection waned slightly, from a peak of 96% two months after the second dose to 84% by six months.

Those findings came before the delta variant began spreading, but other data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the vaccine is still doing a good job preventing severe disease.

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Associated Press Reporter Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
From Walt Disney World to Goldman Sachs, a flurry of private and public employers are requiring workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 after the federal government gave full approval to the Pfizer shot. And the number is certain to grow much higher.

FILE - In this March 1, 2021, file photo, a patient receives a sticker after receiving a shot of the Moderna COVID-19 at a CVS Pharmacy branch in Los Angeles. From Walt Disney World and Chevron to CVS and a Michigan university, a flurry of private and public employers are requiring workers to get vaccinated after the federal government gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

From Walt Disney World to Goldman Sachs, a flurry of private and public employers are requiring workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 after the federal government gave full approval to the Pfizer shot. And the number is certain to grow much higher.

For the past eight months, coronavirus shots were dispensed in the U.S. under emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Some workers and unions objected to getting the vaccine  and some employers were reluctant to require it  because it had yet to receive FDA full approval. That happened on Monday.

The FDA decision takes that off the table," said Devjani Mishra, a New York-based attorney with the firm Littler Mendelson, which specializes in workplace matters. She and others in the worlds of business, law and health predicted more companies will mandate vaccines for their workforces.

Shortly after the FDA acted, Walt Disney World reached a deal with its unions to require all workers at its theme park in Orlando, Florida, to be vaccinated.

Goldman Sachs told employees Tuesday that it will require anyone who enters the banks U.S. offices to be fully vaccinated starting Sept. 7, according to a memo obtained by The New York Times.

Drugstore chain CVS said pharmacists, nurses and other workers who have contact with patients will have to be inoculated. Oil giant Chevron Corp. said it will require some of its workers  such as those who travel internationally, live abroad or work on its offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico  to get their COVID-19 shots.

FILE - In this May 21, 2021, file photo, licensed vocational nurse Angeline Gabuten administers the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to a patient at Providence Edwards Lifesciences vaccination site in Santa Ana, Calif. From Walt Disney World and Chevron to CVS and a Michigan university, a flurry of private and public employers are requiring workers to get vaccinated after the federal government gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

We pushed 'go' when the FDA made that decision, said Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, president of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, which announced on Monday that its 800 faculty members, 1,500 staff members and 18,000 students will have to be vaccinated. Before that, only students living on campus had to get the shot.

She said the university could have legally mandated vaccines before the FDA decision but waited for it because Pescovitz, who is a pediatrician, believes the authorization will help persuade those still on the fence.

Ohio State University, too, announced Tuesday that it would require all students, faculty and staff to complete the full vaccination process by Nov. 15. Ohio State is among the countrys largest universities and is a major employer in Columbus, Ohio.

On Monday, health experts expressed hope that the FDA's action would boost the U.S. vaccination rate, which bottomed out at about a half-million shots a day in July  down from a peak of 3.4 million a day on average in April.

The number of shots dispensed has since climbed to about 850,000 a day amid growing alarm over the highly contagious delta variant, which has sent deaths, cases and hospitalizations soaring, wiping out months of progress.

Littler Mendelson released a survey Monday showing that 9% of employers are already mandating vaccines for at least some of their workers, and an additional 12% are planning to impose some sort of mandate in the near future. In January, just 1% of firms Littler Mendelson surveyed had issued vaccine requirements.

There is a risk for employers at a time when many are struggling to fill openings and workers are confident of finding better jobs: Faced with a vaccine requirement, an employee might say, OK, fine. Im leaving,'" Mishra said. "Its not a given youre going to be able to fill that job with someone who is vaccinated.

But Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, said he doesnt foresee a large backlash.

People will see that mandates can open their businesses and save their paychecks. They will see the effects and they will welcome it, he said.

Earlier this summer, President Joe Biden announced that federal workers will have to get vaccinated or else face weekly testing and other measures.

The nation's two largest private employers don't seem to be budging. Walmart said Tuesday there is no change to its policy, which requires vaccinations for office workers but not store employees. And Amazon, which doesnt mandate vaccines for any of its employees, declined to comment.

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As for the auto industry, Ford Motor Co. said it is not requiring the vaccine, and General Motors has said it isnt either, though CEO Mary Barra has held open the possibility.

The career-advice website Ladders Inc. released a study last week showing a more than 50-fold increase since January in job openings that require applicants to be vaccinated.

Ladders spokeswoman Laurie Monteforte predicted vaccine requirements will only rise after the FDA decision. Many employers, she said, have exhausted vaccine incentives such as bonuses or other perks.

Employers that require vaccines are on solid legal ground. Private companies and government employers can generally require workers to be inoculated as a condition of working there, though they must offer exemptions or accommodations in some cases.

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Associated Press writers Carla K. Johnson, Anne D'Innocenzio, Tom Krisher and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed to this story.
TOKYO (AP)  Japans government adopted an interim plan Tuesday that it hopes will win support from fishermen and other concerned groups for a planned release into the sea of treated but still radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant.

FILE - In this April 13, 2021, file photo, environmental activists wearing a mask of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and protective suits perform to denounce the Japanese government's decision to release treated radioactive Fukushima water, near the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. Japans government adopted an interim plan Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 that it hopes will win support from fishermen and other concerned groups for a planned release into the sea of treated but still radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, FIle)

TOKYO (AP)  Japans government adopted an interim plan Tuesday that it hopes will win support from fishermen and other concerned groups for a planned release into the sea of treated but still radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant.

The government decided in April to start discharging the water into the Pacific Ocean in the spring of 2023 after building a facility and compiling release plans under safety requirements set by regulators. The idea has been fiercely opposed by fishermen, residents and Japans neighbors including China and South Korea.

Under the plan adopted Tuesday, the government will set up a fund to buy fisheries products and freeze them for temporary storage to cushion the impact from negative rumors about the discharge. The government will also help promote Fukushima products to restaurants and other food industries.

The government also plans to start raising fish in the water treated to levels allowable for discharge as part of a safety awareness campaign. Further details have yet to be decided.

The accumulating water has been stored in about 1,000 tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi plant since 2011, when a massive earthquake and tsunami damaged its reactors and their cooling water became contaminated and began leaking. The plant says its storage capacity will be full late next year.

Japanese officials have said ocean release is the most realistic option and that disposing of the water is unavoidable for the decommissioning of the plant. Government and TEPCO officials say tritium, which is not harmful in small amounts, cannot be removed from the water, but all isotopes selected for treatment can be reduced to safe levels for release.

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More than a decade after the crisis, fisheries and agricultural products from Fukushima are still often priced lower or shunned by retailers and consumers, though all marketed foods are tested for radiation.

The plan adopted Tuesday requires the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, to pay compensation in case of economic damage from the water discharge.

TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa, who attended Tuesdays meeting, told reporters afterward that the company plans to release a compensation scheme soon and that it takes seriously possible consequences of the water discharge.

Japan has obtained agreement from the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor and review the release of the treated radioactive water from the Fukushima plant into the Pacific. The monitoring and review will start before the discharge, which is expected to take decades until the plant's decommissioning ends.

Experts from IAEA will visit Fukushima for water sampling ahead of the release and compare results with those by TEPCO, as Japan hopes monitoring by the respected agency would help gain international understanding.

While Japan works with IAEA for safety monitoring and evaluation of the water discharge and disclosure to the international community, the government will do utmost to ensure a sustainable business environment for fisheries and other businesses and stay close to those affected by the disaster, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at Tuesdays meeting.
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP)  A California judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in the embezzlement trial of attorney Michael Avenatti, who is charged with stealing millions in settlement money from his clients.

FILE - In this Thursday, July 8, 2021, file photo, Michael Avenatti departs a scheduled sentencing at Manhattan federal court, in New York. A California judge has declared a mistrial Tuesday, Aug. 24, in the embezzlement trial of attorney Avenatti, who is charged with stealing millions in settlement money from his clients. Judge James Selna ruled on technical grounds that federal prosecutors failed to turn over relevant financial evidence to Avenatti. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP)  A California judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in the embezzlement trial of attorney Michael Avenatti, who is charged with stealing millions in settlement money from his clients.

U.S. District Judge James V. Selna ruled on technical grounds that federal prosecutors failed to turn over relevant financial evidence to Avenatti, who has been representing himself in the case with assistance from advisory counsel. Another hearing in the case was set for Sept. 2, and Selna scheduled a tentative new trial date for Oct. 12.

This was obviously important stuff that they knew about and didnt turn over, said H. Dean Steward, Avenattis advisory counsel, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Federal prosecutors declined to comment about the ruling.

FILE - In this Tuesday, July 23, 2019, file photo, Michael Avenatti makes a statement to the press as he leaves federal court, in New York. A California judge has declared a mistrial Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, in the embezzlement trial of attorney Avenatti, who is charged with stealing millions in settlement money from his clients. Judge James Selna ruled on technical grounds that federal prosecutors failed to turn over relevant financial evidence to Avenatti. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

It was the second trial in recent months for the 50-year-old lawyer who once represented porn actress Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against then-President Donald Trump.

Avenatti was sentenced in July to 2 1/2 years in prison in a $25 million extortion case in New York.

Legal experts said declaring a mistrial is rare, and it might have little effect on the trial's outcome. Thaddeus Hoffmeister, a University of Dayton law professor, said prosecutors typically have the upper hand in securing a conviction, but Avenatti got a win, at least for now.

Any time you have stopped that conviction or you have overturned that case, it's a victory, he said.

Federal prosecutors in Southern California have accused Avenatti of cheating five of his clients out of nearly $10 million by negotiating and collecting settlements on their behalf and funneling the payments to accounts he controlled while lying to them about what happened to the money.

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In one instance, prosecutors alleged Avenatti collected $4 million from Los Angeles County for a man who suffered injuries in custody and was left paraplegic after a suicide attempt, paying out much smaller amounts that he told the man were advances.

Avenatti, who is suspended from practicing law in California, had pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of wire fraud in connection with the allegations spanning from 2015 to 2019. He denied embezzling money and said his law firm was entitled to recoup expenses if settlements were reached.

The mistrial related to a database used by the firm. Lawrence Rosenthal, a Chapman University law professor, said fully understanding large, complex databases can be challenging when they're created by someone else.

The mistrial was first reported by the legal news service Law360.

In addition to these counts, Avenatti faces charges of bankruptcy, bank and tax fraud in California. He is expected to be tried on those allegations at a later date after Selna split a 36-count indictment into two trials.

Avenatti also faces another criminal case in New York in which he is charged with cheating Daniels out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Avenatti represented her in 2018 in lawsuits against Trump and often appeared on cable news programs to disparage the Republican president.
Ontario's chamber of commerce released a framework Tuesday for private sector businesses seeking to develop COVID-19 proof-of-vaccination protocols, a move it said aimed to provide support in the absence of government guidance.

Ontario's chamber of commerce released a framework Tuesday for private sector businesses seeking to develop COVID-19 proof-of-vaccination protocols, a move it said aimed to provide support in the absence of government guidance.

The organization  which represents more than 150 chambers of commerce and boards of trade in the province  said implementing proof-of-vaccination would help businesses safely reopen and mitigate the risk of further lockdowns.

"In the absence of government guidance on domestic applicability, we hope these principles can avoid a piecemeal approach in the province," Rocco Rossi, the organization's president and CEO, said in a statement.

"We have already seen a number of businesses, organizations, associations, unions, and post-secondary institutions implement their own proof-of-vaccination policies," added Rossi. "With this framework, private sector businesses can implement similar programs with shared confidence."

The guidance issued by the chamber of commerce lays out five principles for businesses as they establish their own systems, including using the least intrusive manner possible in checking vaccination status, and providing accommodation based on human rights concerns.

Several public sector organizations have announced recently that they would require proof of vaccination from employees.

There have also been calls from a number of associations, unions and advocacy groups to implement a provincewide vaccine certification system, particularly in light of the highly contagious Delta variant that's driving a fourth wave of infections.

Meanwhile, the scientific director of the province's pandemic science advisory group, has said vaccine certificates would keep high-risk  unvaccinated  people out of high-transmission settings such as restaurants, bars and gyms.

Premier Doug Ford has so far refused to bring in a provincewide vaccine certificate system.

Ontario's top doctor on Tuesday lauded businesses and private organizations who implement their own proof-of-vaccination programs, suggesting that could be taken into account when considering capacity limits and similar health measures.

"I would think that the government should assess that, and if everyone in that environment is immunized, that's a very low risk event, and I would hope that the government would make a decision to enable them to move forward, even if we have other restrictions in place," he said.

"The same should be true for other venues like going to a professional hockey game or basketball game or baseball game. Many of them are stepping up, embracing immunization policies. And I do think the government will look very favourably on that."

Moore also suggested such policies could provide additional incentive for residents to get immunized.

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A spokeswoman for Health Minister Christine Elliott noted Tuesday that the province provides proof-of-vaccination receipts for residents after they get their first and second doses, and said vaccine passports planned by the federal government for international travel could be used domestically by businesses.

The latest provincial data shows slightly more than 82 per cent of Ontarians over the age of 12 have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and just over 75 per cent have received two. The province's top doctor has noted that vaccine uptake has slowed and daily infections are rising once more.

Other provinces have announced plans for proof-of-vaccination systems.

On Monday, British Columbia said its residents will need a vaccine card to get into restaurants, clubs, ticketed sporting events and organized gatherings like weddings.

Quebec, meanwhile, will be requiring proof of both vaccine doses starting Sept. 1 to access non-essential services such as bars and restaurants.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.
BERLIN (AP)  Scientists say that global warming makes the kind of extreme rainfall that caused deadly flash flooding in western Europe last month more likely, though it remains unclear exactly how much.

FILE - In this file photo dated Saturday, July 17, 2021, people check for victims in flooded cars on a road in Erftstadt, Germany, following heavy rainfall that broke the banks of the Erft river, causing massive damage. The German government on Tuesday Aug. 10, 2021, has agreed to provide 58 billion euros (dollars 68 billion US) to help rebuild regions hit by devastating floods last month. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, FILE)

BERLIN (AP)  Scientists say that global warming makes the kind of extreme rainfall that caused deadly flash flooding in western Europe last month more likely, though it remains unclear exactly how much.

At least 220 people died in Germany and Belgium on July 14-15 when swollen streams turned into raging rivers, sweeping away houses, roads and bridges, and causing billions of euros (dollars) in damage.

A study released Tuesday by the World Weather Attribution group used historical records and computer simulations to examine how temperatures affected rainfall from the late 19th century to the present. While the study hasnt been assessed by independent scientists yet, its authors use widely accepted methods to conduct rapid assessments of specific weather events such as floods, droughts and heat waves.

It found that across a large strip of western Europe  stretching from the Netherlands to Switzerland  the amount of rainfall in a single day increased by 3% to 19% over the period, during which global temperatures increased by 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit).

Experts say that for every 1 degree Celsius (1.8 F) the planet warms, the air can absorb 7% more water. When that water is released, it causes more extreme rainfall.

The study, conducted by almost 40 researchers from six European countries and the United States, calculated that downpours of the kind that caused last month's floods are now 1.2 to 9 times more likely  and this will increase further if the planet continues to heat up.

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Frank Kreienkamp of Germany's nation weather service DWD, who co-wrote the study, said the findings supported forecasts in a recent U.N. climate report.

Humans are clearly changing and warming up the Earth's climate, he said. And with this warming we are also seeing a change in weather extremes.

The authors said the damage and loss of life seen in this disaster highlight how nations need to do more to curb greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for such disasters.

These floods have shown us that even developed countries are not safe from severe impacts of extreme weather that we have seen," said Friederike Otto, associate director of the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University. "This is an urgent global challenge and we need to step up to it. The science is clear and has been for years.

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Follow AP's climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/Climate
SEOUL, South Korea  South Korea has reported 2,155 new coronavirus cases, nearly matching a record daily increase set earlier this month amid an alarming spread of infections.

Running from room to room, emergency room director Mark Kellar, right, barely puts one foot down as he hurries between patients at Our Lady of Angels Hospital in Bogalusa, La., Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Chris Granger/The Advocate via AP)

SEOUL, South Korea  South Korea has reported 2,155 new coronavirus cases, nearly matching a record daily increase set earlier this month amid an alarming spread of infections.

With Wednesday's report, the country has tallied more than 1,000 new cases for 50 consecutive days, including a record 2,221 on Aug. 11.

The virus has shown no signs of slowing despite officials enforcing strong social distancing restrictions short of a lockdown in Seoul and other large population centers where private social gatherings are banned after 6 p.m.

Running from room to room, emergency room director Mark Kellar, right, barely puts one foot down as he hurries between patients at Our Lady of Angels Hospital in Bogalusa, La., Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Chris Granger/The Advocate via AP)

The Health Ministry is concerned that transmissions could further increase during next months Chuseok holidays, the Korean version of Thanksgiving when millions of people travel across the country to meet relatives. It is considering measures to reduce travel during the period, such as limiting train occupancy.

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MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

 Georgia Gov. Kemp orders National Guard to overwhelmed hospitals

Miami-Dade schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, center, walks with students Oliver Angel, left, and Ariah Olawale, right, outside of iPrep Academy on the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Miami. Schools in Miami-Dade County opened Monday with a strict mask mandate to guard against coronavirus infections. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

 US outbreaks force early reversals on in-person learning at schools

 ACLU sues over South Carolina ban on school mask mandates

 Dr. Fauci recommends hospitals, doctors use more antibody treatments

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A woman wearing a face mask and gloves walks on Ermou Street, Athens' main shopping, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. Greece's health minister is announcing new measures for the non-vaccinated, as the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

SYDNEY  Australias New South Wales state has recorded another new daily high of 919 coronavirus infections. It also has had two more deaths related to COVID-19.

Women wearing face masks to help protect from the coronavirus walk by an art installation depicting people along a street in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

New South Waless previous high for a 24-hour period was 830 infections reported Sunday.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said Wednesday that the health system in Australias most populous state is under pressure but is coping.

The COVID-19 death toll has reached 76 in New South Wales since the outbreak of the delta variant was first detected in Sydney on June 16.

Neighboring Victoria, Australia second-most populous state, reported 45 new infections Wednesday.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, left, visits a vaccination centre near Glasgow, Scotland, Monday Aug. 9, 2021, to promote uptake of the COVID-19 vaccination as most coronavirus restrictions have been removed in Scotland after the country moved beyond Level 0. (Jeff J Mitchell/PA via AP)

Both states are locked down.

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BOISE, Idaho  State leaders in Idaho are urging people to volunteer at hospitals to help health workers who are being swamped by a rising number of COVID-19 cases.

Idaho Public Health Administrator Elke Shaw-Tulloch says hospitals need help with everything from housekeeping to delivering care, which could be provided by retired health workers.

Members of the public watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London, Monday August 23, 2021, which is taking place for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

The director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says volunteer help is badly needed to keep the states medical facilities operating.

Dave Jeppesen says that their level of capacity is so strained that we are talking about crisis standards of care  were dangerously close to that as this point in time.

As of Friday, the number of coronavirus infections statewide had increased 31% compared to the previous week, and hospital admissions for COVID-19 were up about 30%, according to data from the CDC.

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Commuters exit from Syntagma Metro station in Athens, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. Greece's health minister is announcing new measures for the non-vaccinated, as the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

JACKSON, Miss.  Mississippis top health official says he has received threats from people who are spreading lies accusing his family of receiving payments for him urging the public to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Mississippi has seen a rapid increase in cases since early July, driven by the highly contagious delta variant of the virus and the states low vaccination rate. State health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs has been imploring people for months to get vaccinated.

On Tuesday, Dobbs wrote on Twitter that he has gotten threatening phone calls from people repeating unfounded conspiracy theories involving him and his family.

Dobbs says one lie is that his son, who is also a physician, receives a World Bank-funded kickback whenever Dobbs urges people to get vaccinated. In Dobbs words: I get zero $ from promoting vaccination.

In this Aug. 9, 2021, photo, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster talks about the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic at a news conference in Columbia, S.C. The ACLU, representing parents of children with disabilities and disability rights groups, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 against a South Carolina law that bans school districts from imposing mask mandates, arguing that the ban effectively excludes vulnerable students from public schools. Gov. McMaster has said parents should have the choice of whether or not children should wear masks in schools. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins, file)

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MONTGOMERY, Ala.  A poison control hotline in Alabama is fielding increasing calls about possible poisoning with ivermectin poisoning, an animal de-wormer that doctors are warning people not to try as a home remedy for COVID-19.

The Alabama Poison Information Center at Childrens of Alabama has fielded 24 ivermectin exposure cases so far this year, of which 15 were related to COVID-19 prevention and treatment. It says there have been five other calls seeking information about ivermectin.

By comparison, the center had six total calls involving the de-wormer in 2019 and 12 in 2020.

In this photo provided by the Olympic Information Service, United States Paralympic team athletes Melissa Stockwell and Charles Aoki lead the team during the athletes parade at the opening ceremonies for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (Joel Marklund for OIS via AP)

Federal regulators have approved ivermectin to treat people and animals for some parasitic worms and for head lice and skin conditions, but the drug is not approved for COVID-19. The human and animal formulations are not the same, and doctors say it is dangerous for people to self-dose, particularly with the large quantities given to animals.

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JACKSON, Miss.  More than 1,000 out-of-state medical workers are starting to deploy to 50 Mississippi hospitals to help with staffing shortages as the state deals with a surge of COVID-19 cases.

Gov. Tate Reeves said Tuesday that 808 nurses, three certified nurse anesthetists, 22 nurse practitioners, 193 respiratory therapists and 20 paramedics have been hired under 60-day contracts that could be extended if needed.

People in favor of a mask mandate for Cobb County schools hold signs against the window to the office during the school board meeting Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, in Marietta, Ga. (Ben Gray/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency awarded contracts to four companies of the 19 that submitted proposals when the state sought medical workers earlier this month.

Mississippi will pay $80 million for the contracts, and Reeves says he expects the federal government to reimburse the state for the entire expense.

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DALLAS  Texas hospital systems are increasingly closing off-site emergency rooms and moving their staff to hospitals to help with a flood of COVID-19 cases.

People in favor of a mask mandate for Cobb County schools hold signs against the window to the office during the school board meeting Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, in Marietta, Ga. (Ben Gray/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston closed three suburban emergency rooms in Kingwood, Spring and Sienna to help ease the burden on its hospital staffs. St. Lukes Health in Houston closed its Conroe ER to help meet surging admissions at its hospital in nearby The Woodlands.

Texas Health Hospital Rockwall near Dallas has moved the staff at its satellite ER to the hospitals ER, and it also put up an air-conditioned tent outside to accommodate 10 to 15 overflow patients.

Of the 7,258 ICU beds in Texas hospitals, 6,746 were filled Wednesday. Of those, 3,592 were COVID-19 cases.

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FILE - Tiger Stadium is shown before an NCAA football game between LSU and Northwestern State in Baton Rouge, La., in this Sept. 14, 2019, file photo. LSU is requiring fans attending games at Tiger Stadium who are 12 or older to provide proof of vaccination for COVID 19 or a recent negative test. Our football team has reached 99.1% vaccination, and we are incredibly proud of them for doing their part to protect their team and their community, Athletic Director Scott Woodward said. We are confident our fans will do the same. (AP Photo/Patrick Dennis, File)

HOUSTON  The National Rifle Association has canceled its annual meeting, which had been set to be held next month in Houston, due to concerns over the pandemic.

The NRAs meeting had been set for Sept. 3 through Sept. 5 and would have been attended by thousands of people taking part in social gatherings and other events on acres of exhibit space.

The organization said Tuesday it made the decision after analyzing relevant data regarding COVID-19 in Harris County, where Houston is. Houston, like other Texas cities and communities, has seen a jump in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus.

The NRA says impacts from the virus could have broader implications for those attending if the event went forward.

Aimee Burrows hugs her daughter Jovie after arriving at Whittier Elementary School on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, in Salt Lake City. Kids in Salt Lake City are headed back to school Tuesday wearing masks after the mayor issued a mandate order despite heavy restrictions on mask mandates imposed by the GOP-dominated Legislature. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

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SACRAMENTO, Calif.  A summer coronavirus surge driven by the delta variant is again straining some California hospitals, particularly in rural areas, but the trend shows signs of moderating and experts predict improvement in coming weeks.

The pattern is similar to the infection spikes California experienced last summer and much more severely over the winter, when intensive care units were overflowing. But this time the surge has come without the shutdown orders that previously hobbled Californias economy, businesses and schools.

The state epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said Tuesday that were hopeful, definitely. Pan says the states latest projection does look encouraging that we are plateauing and or peaking.

A nurse prepares a dose of the Cuban made Soberana-02 vaccine for COVID-19 before giving a dose to a girl in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

More than 8,200 people are hospitalized for COVID-19 across California, with nearly 2,000 in intensive care. Deaths have begun increasing and state models project nearly 2,000 people will die within the next three weeks.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio  Ohio State University will require all students, faculty and staff to complete the full coronavirus vaccination process by Nov. 15.

School President Kristina Johnson said Tuesday that the requirement is based on the decision by the Food and Drug Administrations decision to grant full approval to the Pfizer vaccine.

People in favor of a mask mandate for Cobb County schools hold signs against the window to the office during the school board meeting Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, in Marietta, Ga. (Ben Gray/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Ohio State is one of the countrys largest universities and a major employer in the state capital, Columbus.

Johnson says the vaccination requirement coupled with Ohio States mask mandate provides the best chance of continuing to enjoy the traditions that we love throughout the academic year with higher vaccination rates in our campus community.

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OFALLON, Mo.  Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop school districts from enforcing mask mandates, requirements aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

An airport worker stands next to boxes of Moderna coronavirus vaccine after their arrival at the airport in Nairobi, Kenya Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. The first time that Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have been received in Kenya, 880,460 doses were delivered forming the first of two shipments totalling 1.76 million doses which were donated by the U.S. government via the COVAX facility, according to UNICEF who transported the vaccines. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

A spokesman said Tuesday that the lawsuit names Columbia Public Schools along with the districts Board of Education and board members, but is a class action lawsuit that would apply to school districts across the state that have a mask mandate for schoolchildren.

The new school year began Monday in several districts across the state, and with the delta variant causing a big spike in cases, hospitalizations and deaths, more than four dozen districts are requiring students, teachers and staff to wear face coverings.

The lawsuit cites the low death rate among school aged children.

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SALEM, Ore.  People in Oregon, regardless of vaccination status, will once again be required wear masks in most public outdoor settings  including large outdoor events where physical distancing is not possible  beginning on Friday.

The outdoor mask mandate, which was announced Tuesday by Gov. Kate Brown, is part of a growing list of statewide measures implemented in Oregon in an attempt to slow the rapid spread of COVID-19. There was already an indoor mask mandate.

Over the past month coronavirus cases, fueled by the highly transmissible delta variant, have overwhelmed hospitals in the Pacific Northwest state.

Health officials say part of the reasoning for the new mandate is because they are seeing instances where cases are clustering around outdoor events, such as music festivals.

On Monday there were just 47 adult intensive care unit beds available in the state, with 937 COVID-19 patients hospitalized. Currently more than 90% of the states ICU and hospital beds are full.

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MILWAUKEE  Milwaukees mayor has ordered mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for city employees. Mayor Tom Barrett made the announcement Tuesday afternoon. The requirement applies to general city employees as well as temporary employees and interns.

We have an obligation to provide a safe workplace for all employees, and a vaccinated workforce is part of that, Barrett, a Democrat, said in a news release.

The mandate will go into effect Sept. 1. Unvaccinated employees will receive up to two hours of paid leave to get vaccinated and will have until Oct. 29 to produce proof of vaccination. Workers who wont comply will face 30-day unpaid suspensions. Workers who continue to refuse to get the shots will be fired. The city will provide exemptions from the shots based on medical or religious reasons.

The mandate doesnt apply to unionized city workers. The mayors office says the city is negotiating with the unions on how the requirement will apply to members.

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OMAHA, Neb.  The health department for Nebraskas most populous county has asked the state for approval to issue a countywide mandate requiring people to wear face masks indoors.

If approved, the order would apply not only to businesses, but to schools within the countys borders, as well.

Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse told the County Board on Tuesday that she had sought the approval for the mask order from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

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Huse said the order, if approved, would require masking until community transmission drops below the substantial category and until eight weeks past the time a COVID vaccine is approved for children between the ages of 5 and 11.

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WASHINGTON  Dr. Anthony Fauci is urging hospitals and doctors to make greater use of antibody treatments for people infected with COVID-19 as hospitalizations and deaths rise due to the spread of the delta variant.

Infusions of antibody drugs can keep patients who are experiencing mild-to-moderate symptoms from getting so sick they need hospitalization, the governments top infectious disease specialist said at Tuesdays White House coronavirus briefing. They also can serve as a preventive treatment for people exposed to someone with a documented infection.

Three antibody products are available under emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, and theyre free thanks to taxpayer support. But Fauci says they remain a much-underutilized intervention.

However, demand for the drugs increased five-fold last month to nearly 110,000 doses, with the majority going to states with low vaccination rates. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has been among the patients treated with antibodies.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukraine's president on Tuesday urged closer ties between the ex-Soviet nation and NATO and the European Union in a speech marking the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.

Britain soldiers march along main Khreshchatyk Street during a military parade to celebrate Independence Day in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. Ukraine mark the 30th anniversary of its independence. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukraine's president on Tuesday urged closer ties between the ex-Soviet nation and NATO and the European Union in a speech marking the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.

Ukraine celebrated its independence day on Tuesday with a military parade and massive festivities in the capital Kyiv. Opening the parade, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a strong Ukraine is a country that dreams ambitiously and acts decisively.

Such a country becomes NATO's Enhanced Opportunities Partner; such a country is officially supported by others when it applies to join the European Union," Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine didn't officially become independent until the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991. But like most of the 15 former Soviet republics, it declared its sovereignty immediately after the failed hard-line coup against reformist Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.

On Aug. 24, 1991, the Ukrainian parliament adopted the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, reestablishing the countrys independence after more than 70 years of being part of the Soviet Union. Less than four months later, Boris Yeltsin and leaders of other Soviet republics declared the Soviet Union defunct and Gorbachev stepped down on Dec. 25, 1991.

The 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence came as the country is locked in a bitter tug-of-war with Russia, which in 2014 annexed Crimea and has since been backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, and Kyivs efforts to shore up support among Western nations.

Ukrainian military drummers march along main Khreshchatyk Street during a military parade to celebrate Independence Day in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. Ukraine mark the 30th anniversary of its independence. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Territories may be occupied, but one can't occupy the people's love for Ukraine. One can create a desperate situation and make people get (Russian) passports, but one can't issue passports for their Ukrainian hearts, Zelenskyy said Tuesday. If some people in Crimea and Donbass (region in eastern Ukraine, controlled by Russia-backed separatists) are afraid to talk about it, it doesn't mean they are afraid to think about it. They will come back, because we're family.

The center of Kyiv on Tuesday turned into a large venue for concerts and other festive events marking the anniversary. Thousands of people flocked to the central Maidan square, which over the past 30 years has been a rallying point for Ukrainians.

The popular uprising of 2013-2014, which ousted pro-Russia President Viktor Yanukovych and triggered the years-long confrontation with Moscow, started on Maidan square.

Delegations from 46 countries and blocs, including 14 presidents, attended the parade in Kyiv. The day before, they took part in the Crimean Platform summit called by Ukraine to build up pressure on Russia over the 2014 annexation of Crimea that has been denounced as illegal by most of the world.

The annexation and Moscows backing of rebels in the east of Ukraine, where more than 14,000 have been killed since 2014 in the fighting between separatists and Ukrainian forces, plunged Russias relations with the West to post-Cold War lows. The tensions rose once again this year after Russia increased troop numbers near its borders with Ukraine, including in Crimea, eliciting international outrage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin published an article last month, describing Russians and Ukrainians as one people and accusing the West of working methodically to rupture historic links between the two neighbors and to turn Ukraine into a key bulwark to contain Russia.

But polls in Ukraine show that the vast majority of Ukrainians support the independence of the country. If a referendum on Ukraine's independence was held this year, 70.3% of the country's residents would vote for it, according to a survey of the prominent Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.

The generation of Ukrainians, born both in the west and the east of the country after it became independent, see themselves as a separate European nation that is not tied to the myths of the Soviet era and is indifferent to the Kremlin's pleas about the common past, the institute's director, Volodymyr Paniotto, told The Associated Press.

Paniotto said that Zelenskyy's generation, as well as younger Ukrainians, have a pro-Western mindset and will determine Ukraine's path for decades to come  from the Soviet past to a European future.

Firefighter Serhiy Zhadko, 29, who came to watch the parade with his 7-year-old son, told the AP that Ukrainians had to (go through) two revolutions in order to finally choose their path to Europe, but were ready to defend our choice.

Yes, there are lots of problems in Ukraine, theres a war and poverty, but we look forward and not back on the Soviet past, Zhadko, 29, said.

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NATO and the EU keep mum about when Ukraine can become a member, despite Kyiv's persistence. The EU only went as far as to sign a landmark Association Agreement with Ukraine in 2014, which stipulated free trade and visa-free travel between the two.

Ukraine's Western allies expect Kyiv to keep pushing reforms, including in the judiciary, and the creation of effective anti-corruption mechanisms that would stem the endemic graft in the country.

Ukrainian democracy is a work in progress which yet to learn the lessons of fighting corruption and to limit the influence of the oligarchs, Ukrainian political analyst and head of the Penta Center think tank Volodymyr Fesenko told the AP.

Western partners directly link the speed of (Ukraine's) integration into Euro-Atlantic blocs with success in reforms and the fight against corruption, he said.

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Associated Press writer Daria Litvinova contributed to this report from Moscow.
HAMILTON - Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau outlined his party's plan to make it easier to buy a home across the country, vowing anew to address a housing affordability crisis that has grown since he came to office.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference in Ottawa on Sunday, Aug 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

HAMILTON - Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau outlined his party's plan to make it easier to buy a home across the country, vowing anew to address a housing affordability crisis that has grown since he came to office.

It was only four years ago that the Liberals unveiled a sweeping housing strategy designed to boost supply and help drive down costs for families.

The strategy was expanded in ensuing years, valued at tens of billions of dollars.

What the Liberals unveiled Tuesday would tweak programs aimed at first-time homebuyers, including one to help offset the cost of a mortgage that the government recently expanded because of low take-up in some of the hottest housing markets in the country.

It would deal with a lack of supply in the housing market, but also potentially fuel demand that has already risen through the pandemic, sending house prices soaring.

Trudeau defended his government's existing national housing strategy, which the parliamentary budget officer earlier this month described as having limited impact, saying the announcement of changes and additions wasn't a sign of any shortcoming.

"Anyone out there promising that they can fix the housing crisis (quickly), doesn't understand the housing crisis, or doesn't have a real plan to do it. They're just trying to sell you something," Trudeau said near a housing development where home prices can reach $1 million.

"That's why we've created a very ambitious, but multi-faceted plan that responds in tangible ways to make sure that people have better options."

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau makes a campaign stop in Hamilton, Ont., on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

He strained to be heard at times as one heckler chided the prime minister for perceived inaction on housing prices since taking office in late 2015, another criticized him over the handling of evacuations in Afghanistan, and another on mandatory vaccinations for travellers.

The housing plan the Liberals laid out would build, renovate, or protect 1.4 million homes, although the party didn't provide a breakdown of that figure.

It then provides about $1 billion in loans and grants to help develop rent-to-own projects with an array of partners, creating a pathway to home ownership for renters in five years or less.

The party is also promising to create what they're calling a First Home Savings Account, where those under 40 could save up to $40,000 and withdraw it tax-free for a down payment with no requirement to repay.

The idea is similar to the homebuyer-savings plan Pierre Trudeau introduced in 1975 that research suggests aided the move from renting to homeownership, but which was largely driven by higher-income households before the Mulroney government cancelled the program in 1985.

Trudeau also pledged to expand an existing tax credit for first-time buyers and reduce by 25 per cent the cost of mortgage insurance from the federal housing agency.

The plan also includes a Housing Accelerator Fund, which would make $4 billion available to help large cities speed up their housing plans, with a target of 100,000 new "middle-class" homes by 2025, and some funding to cities in the plan available on a use-it-or-lose-it basis.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities welcomed the proposal, and the push by all parties to address housing affordability.

The 2017 national housing strategy was supposed to ease the affordability crunch, but a scathing report this month from the parliamentary budget officer said that despite ramping up spending, the government was falling short of its aim to vastly expand Canada's affordable housing stock.

Yves Giroux also projected that the number of households in need of an adequate or affordable place to live would increase to about 1.8 million within five years unless more funding flowed towards the problem.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, speaking in Mississauga, Ont., said housing conditions have worsened during Trudeau's time as prime minister: "If he cared about it, wouldnt the housing crisis not be here?"

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole said Trudeau has had years to enact those housing policies and has "failed."

"He has had programs that have been ineffective in terms of affordable housing, in terms of programs for first-time homebuyers," O'Toole said in Ottawa.

"We have a serious plan to tackle a serious crisis for our country and after six years of inaction from Mr. Trudeau, more hollow words today is not what Canadians deserve."

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Green Leader Annamie Paul was speaking Tuesday about affordable housing in the Toronto Centre riding in which she is running. The median income is $39,000 while the average one-bedroom rent is $2,300, she said.

"So you do the math and tell me how people are going to manage to make ends meet," she said.

"This is something that is a failure. It is something that has gotten worse and we know that the situation has been exacerbated during the pandemic."

Trudeau also promised a "bill of rights" for homeowners that would ban blind bidding, enshrine a legal right to an inspection, ban foreign buyers for two years as the Conservatives have also promised, and an anti-flipping tax on residential properties.

He suggested the government has the tools to enforce the proposed set of rules and prevent predatory and speculative practices.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - An NDP government would ban the opening of any new for-profit care homes for seniors, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Tuesday.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh walks past his camping bus as he arrives for a news conference in Mississauga, Ont. on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - An NDP government would ban the opening of any new for-profit care homes for seniors, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters on campaign trail in Mississauga, Ont., he said his party, if elected, would implement a plan to take profit out of long-term care homes and would create national care standards to hold institutions to account.

"It is wrong that for-profits exist in the system," Singh said.

He said seniors living in for-profit facilities had higher infection and death rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Singh made the comments outside the office of Revera, a for-profit company and one of the largest long-term care home operators in the country. It is wholly owned by the Public Sector Pension Investment, the Crown corporation managing public servants' pensions.

If elected, Singh said he'd nationalize Revera and make it public.

"We fund long-term care and some of that money is going to the pockets of shareholders," Singh said.

"That is wrong. It should be going to (protecting and caring) for our loved ones."

He said he'd work with provinces and territories, which have jurisdiction over long-term care homes, but admitted it would be a challenge.

"It's not going to be easy, but it is essential and we have to get profit out of long-term care," Singh said.

He said he'd use "all the tools" at the federal government's disposal, including the use of the Canada Health Act, to get for-profit companies out of the industry.

Long-term care homes were devastated by COVID-19 across the country.

The Ryerson University National Institute on Aging has tracked 15,217 COVID-19 deaths among long-term care residents since March 2020, which amounts to 57 per cent of all deaths from the pandemic in Canada to date.

Nearly 3,800 people have died from COVID-19 in Ontario's nursing homes since the pandemic hit in early 2020.

An independent commission found long-term care homes were underfunded, suffered severe staffing shortages, had outdated infrastructure and poor oversight. Those factors, the commissioners said, contributed to the deadly toll in Ontario.

Singh said federal money for long-term care homes would have conditions attached to it.

"We provide funding and that funding should go toward the best quality of care, it should go toward staffing, it should not go toward profits," he said.

"We need to do better."

On Tuesday afternoon, Singh stopped in Hamilton for a parking lot rally with provincial NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and about 100 supporters.

He said the country needs more affordable housing, more health care, including mental health care, and a revamped nursing home system.

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"We are going to put an end to for-profit long-term care homes across this country," Singh said.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau last week said a re-elected Liberal government would give provinces up to $9 billion over the next five years to hike wages and train more workers in Canada's troubled long-term care facilities.

Trudeau said he would work with the provinces to implement national standards for long-term care homes, but won't micromanage long-term care, which falls under provincial jurisdiction.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet called on Trudeau to give up on the idea of creating national standards for long-term care homes.

Blanchet instead urged the federal government to provide Quebec with a "fair share" of funding through health transfers in order to improve care for the elderly.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.
OTTAWA - While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered Tuesday to keep Canadian military personnel in Afghanistan after Aug. 31, his fellow G7 leaders were not able to persuade President Joe Biden to extend the American deadline for withdrawal.

OTTAWA - While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered Tuesday to keep Canadian military personnel in Afghanistan after Aug. 31, his fellow G7 leaders were not able to persuade President Joe Biden to extend the American deadline for withdrawal.

Trudeau, emerging from a virtual summit with his G7 counterparts, said Canada would keep special forces operatives and aircrews at the airport in Kabul past the end of the month. The leaders met to discuss the crisis and the re-emergence of the Taliban as the country's rulers.

In this satellite photo released by Maxar Technologies, Kabul's international airport is seen amid evacuations on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who hosted the summit, and France's Emmanuel Macron were among those calling for an extension in order to more fully evacuate all foreign nationals and vulnerable Afghans who helped the Americans and the NATO allies before the country's recent fall to the Taliban.

A readout from the White House made clear they had failed to persuade Biden  at least for now  to open the door to staying longer.

"During a meeting this morning with the G7 leaders, the president conveyed that our mission in Kabul will end based on the achievement of our objectives. He confirmed we are currently on pace to finish by Aug. 31," the statement said.

"The completion of the mission by Aug. 31 depends on continued co-ordination with the Taliban, including continued access for evacuees to the airport," it continued. "In addition, the president has asked the Pentagon and the State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timeline should that become necessary."

During a media briefing Tuesday that had been delayed for several hours, White House press secretary Jen Psaki refused to say explicitly whether Biden was open to extending the deadline, but pointed repeatedly to the conditions noted in the statement.

"He asked for contingency plans," Psaki said, "but believes we continue to be on track to accomplish our mission."

The president himself emerged later Tuesday, five hours behind schedule, to drive home the point that the U.S., the G7, NATO, the European Union and the United Nations had all agreed to continue pulling in the same direction.

"We will stand united in our approach to the Taliban," Biden said.

"We agreed the legitimacy of any future government depends on the approach it now takes to uphold international obligations, including to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a base for terrorism. And we agreed that none of us are going to take the Taliban's word for it. We will judge them by their actions."

Biden also told his fellow leaders that each day on ground added to the risk from troops posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant  Khorasan Province, the terrorist organization active in Central Asia. The Taliban has also said that the deadline is firm and hinted at consequences if it is not met.

Johnson called the "urgent" summit of G7 leaders to discuss the evacuation crisis and plot longer-term engagement with Afghanistan's new Taliban leaders, as well as deal with the humanitarian crisis for refugees. The leaders' communique did not address the issue of an extension.

But they called on the Taliban to respect human rights, especially those of women and minorities, and allow unfettered humanitarian access.

"Afghanistan must never again become a safe haven for terrorism, nor a source of terrorist attacks," it said.

After the meeting, Trudeau said Canada would be prepared to stay longer, if that were possible, beyond Aug. 31.

"The commitment by our fellow G7 nations is clear: we're all going to work together to save as many people as possible," Trudeau said as he was about to board a federal election campaign bus in Hamilton.

Canada is one of a dozen allied countries taking part in the evacuation of people facing Taliban reprisals from Kabul's chaotic airport, which American-led forces have secured for the time being. A Canadian military plane departed Kabul with over 500 evacuees on board on Monday, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said in a tweet.

"Our commitment to Afghanistan doesn't end when this current phase, this current deadline comes. We will continue to put pressure on the Taliban to allow people to leave the country," Trudeau said after the meeting.

"We will continue to ensure that we're doing everything we can to get them to respect human rights and give opportunities for all Afghans."

The G7 said it was throwing its support behind the UNs "unfettered humanitarian" access to help the Afghan people.

The United Nations World Food Program warned Tuesday that its food supply for Afghanistan was due to run out by October and that it needed more international support to keep that from happening.

Mary-Ellen McGroarty, the WFP's Afghanistan director, said her organization hasn't stopped delivering food, and doing drought assessments. So far this year, it has helped 5.5 million Afghans, including 400,000 who have been internally displaced from their homes.

"The week of 15 August alone  one of the most dramatic in Afghanistan's recent history  WFP managed to reach 80,000 people with life-saving food and nutrient-dense foods to treat and prevent malnutrition," McGroarty said in an email.

Before the meeting, Trudeau said the return of the Taliban would have to prompt a broader rethinking of Canada's aid spending in Afghanistan.

"That is absolutely something we're looking at right now, obviously, with the Taliban in control of the country. Our regular aid, investments and agencies need to be looked at carefully to make sure we are not supporting, indirectly, the Taliban," Trudeau said.

"We will be there for greater financial commitments because that's what Canadians expect, for us to continue to fight for a better Afghanistan and continue to be there for Afghans fleeing for a better life."

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In January, a federal review gave a mixed grade on the effectiveness of the close to $1 billion in development assistance that Canada funnelled into Afghanistan in the six years following the complete withdrawal of the country's military forces in 2014.

The review also found that Global Affairs Canada was not adapting to Afghanistan's changing needs as the Taliban began gobbling up territory between 2017 and 2020 from the Afghan government, which has since fallen.

In November, Canada made a further three-year, $270-million aid commitment to Afghanistan.

All of Canada's aid spending has been channelled through international organizations and has not been given directly to any Afghan government.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.

 With files from James McCarten in Washington, D.C.
THE lengthy journey of a large display home has now come to an end, after it sparked the destruction of almost two dozen Charleswood trees, collided with a provincial road sign and saw its image plastered across social media.

THE lengthy journey of a large display home has now come to an end, after it sparked the destruction of almost two dozen Charleswood trees, collided with a provincial road sign and saw its image plastered across social media.

The province said the home was moved along Highway 44 near Lockport on Thursday just before reaching its undisclosed final destination.

"(The) Aug. 19 trip was the final one for this move," a provincial spokesperson confirmed in an emailed statement.

The end of the apparently ill-fated journey has attracted plenty of attention. That began with backlash from Charleswood residents and municipal leaders angered by the loss of trees.

Soon after, social media posts began tracking the homes travels. Others photoshopped the structure to artificially show it visiting additional destinations, such as British Columbia and the Panama Canal.

Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press FILES The roof of the house on a flatbed truck, waiting to be moved from the Roblin Grove development.

During what was at least the third leg of its journey this past Thursday, no damage to provincial infrastructure was reported.

The home first began its journey from Winnipeg in the early hours of Aug. 7, when a building transport company began to transfer it from a spot near the corner of Roblin Boulevard and Scotswood Drive.

The structure was reportedly too wide to clear mature trees along the Roblin median. The Winnipeg Police Service said its officers arrived to provide a previously scheduled escort around 7 a.m. and discovered 17 mature trees had been cut down. Police said officers then halted the move and arrested the vehicles driver, who will face a charge of mischief over $5,000.

In total, 23 Siberian elms were either removed or badly damaged, including six trees city forestry staff later determined had to be cut down.

While the city initially told the Free Press municipal street signs were also damaged on Aug. 7, spokesperson David Driedger said "further inspection" has determined that wasnt the case.

"Twenty-five street signs were removed to accommodate the move, which were not noted in the traffic management plan that was submitted to the City of Winnipeg. City crews restored the signs to their positions thereafter," Driedger said in an emailed statement.

Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press Files The aftermath of a house being moved from the Roblin Grove development in Charleswood with felled trees lining the median on Roblin Blvd from Scotswood Drive almost all the way to perimeter highway.

On Wednesday, Aug. 11, the home was moved again, when it struck an overhead sign on the Perimeter Highways Wilkes Avenue overpass. Following the road sign incident, the province confirmed it will investigate the move and review the permit process that allowed it.

The moving company obtained a Manitoba Infrastructure permit for the operation but failed to confirm the Charleswood route was accessible for the oversized load, according to Winnipeg police.

City officials reviewed the plan prior to the provincial permit being granted.

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The city currently expects to begin replanting the felled Charleswood trees in the spring, "pending compensation" the municipality will seek for the damages.

However, Charleswood Coun. Kevin Klein will attempt to get new trees planted sooner, possibly by devoting money from his own ward allowance.

"Trees are very precious to us... we have an obligation to take care of our city," said Klein (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood).

During the first leg of the move on Aug. 7, photos showed a truck bearing Kola Building Movers Ltd. information. The company has declined interview requests.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
WINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister left the door open Tuesday to retiring before his successor is chosen while the list of potential new leaders shrunk.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister announces that he will not be seeking re-election in front of the Dome Building in Brandon, Man., on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

WINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister left the door open Tuesday to retiring before his successor is chosen while the list of potential new leaders shrunk.

Pallister was repeatedly asked in a news conference whether he would commit to staying on until a leadership vote Oct. 30. The date was set Monday night by the Progressive Conservative party executive.

He declined to commit.

"I'll continue to do the best I can ... I'll just give it all I've got as long as I can, and when I decide to leave, I'll let you know," Pallister said.

"It's not an easy decision."

Pallister announced earlier this month that he would not seek re-election and asked the party to start planning a leadership vote. The party has set the voting date, a deadline of Sept. 15 for candidates who want to join the race and a $25,000 entry fee.

The only person who has declared an intention to run is former health minister Heather Stefanson, who stepped down from her cabinet portfolio to initiate her leadership bid.

Two high-profile Tories who had said they were considering a run  Finance Minister Scott Fielding and Families Minister Rochelle Squires  said Tuesday they had decided to bow out.

"After much discussion with my family ... I really came to the decision that it's not the time for me to make such a commitment," said Squires, who added that she has not yet decided whether to back another candidate.

Fielding said he will support Stefanson, who already has the backing of most Tory caucus members.

"I do think that she's the right person at the right time to lead the province," Fielding said.

Two other people who have said they were considering a leadership run  Winnipeg city councillor Scott Gillingham and former member of Parliament Shelly Glover  have yet to announce a decision.

If Pallister leaves before the party leadership vote, an interim leader can be chosen to take over the premier's role.

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The timing of the leadership transfer has thrown into question the planned fall sitting of the legislature.

Five bills criticized by the Opposition New Democrats, including a major education overhaul, are to be debated and voted on in a sitting scheduled to start Oct. 6.

Stefanson has promised to kill the education bill, which proposes to eliminate elected school boards and centralize education decision-making.

Pallister has said he will leave the legislative agenda to his successor. The NDP on Tuesday urged the government to reconvene the legislature and withdraw all five bills.

"It allows (the Tories) to have a clean slate, to start with a new leader," NDP house leader Nahanni Fontaine said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.
MANITOBA will not implement a universal vaccine mandate on university or college campuses in the province out of respect for their institutional autonomy, says the minister in charge of post-secondary education.

MANITOBA will not implement a universal vaccine mandate on university or college campuses in the province out of respect for their institutional autonomy, says the minister in charge of post-secondary education.

During a scrum at the Manitoba legislature Monday, Advanced Education Minister Wayne Ewasko fielded questions about mandatory immunization for staff, students and academics, and defended the provinces stance.

Ewasko, who joined cabinet in January, spoke about interference concerns he has heard since he took over the post-secondary portfolio.

"A lot of concerns that were out there was that the government was going to be telling the post-secondaries what to do and they wanted to (retain) their autonomy and so thats what were respecting," he said.

The minister added higher learning institutions vary in size, operation, population, reopening approach and "theyve got different wants and needs."

Last week, major universities and colleges co-ordinated releases to announce in unison they are making full COVID-19 vaccination compulsory to access their respective campuses.

The list of institutions requiring proof of immunization this fall includes the University of Manitoba, U of W, Red River College, Canadian Mennonite University, Assiniboine Community College, University College of the North and Providence University College.

While policy details are still being finalized, the consensus is accommodation will be made for those who cannot get a jab for medical or religious reasons. Some institutions have already indicated periodic testing will be an option for unvaccinated individuals to visit.

The Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology, Brandon University, Universite de Saint-Boniface, Yellowquill University College, Booth University College and Steinbach Bible College have yet to commit to mandates.

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On Monday, the provinces chief provincial public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, signalled his support for educational institutions making vaccination mandatory. Implementing such a measure protects Manitobans and the health-care system, said Roussin.

The Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations argues mandates protect community health and school finances, because a full reopening is tied to vaccine uptake and low COVID-19 figures.

Organization president Scott Forbes, who has long criticized the Pallister government for overstepping in university operations, was unimpressed by Ewaskos latest comments.

Introducing legislation that allows the government to set differential program fees, supporting an outcomes-based funding model for universities and repeated interference in bargaining matters all suggest the province does not respect institutional autonomy, he said in a statement.

Forbes added, "We hope his change of heart today signals that these policies will be reversed and universities will be free to perform their vital role to society without political interference."

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @macintoshmaggie
Manitoba is reintroducing its indoor mask mandate and requiring doctors, teachers and other front-line workers in the public sector to get vaccinated or undergo frequent testing in an attempt to avoid a tsunami of a fourth COVID-19 wave.

Manitoba is reintroducing its indoor mask mandate and requiring doctors, teachers and other front-line workers in the public sector to get vaccinated or undergo frequent testing in an attempt to avoid a "tsunami" of a fourth COVID-19 wave.

Premier Brian Pallister and chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin unveiled a new policy Tuesday that will require provincial employees who work with vulnerable populations to be fully immunized by Oct. 31.

Staff who choose not to get the vaccine will be subject to regular testing  as often as three times a week for full-time employees  and must provide a negative test result in order to work.

"We need to get to higher ground to avoid the tsunami," Pallister told a news conference at the legislature.

"As we prepare for the fourth wave of the pandemic and the new school year, it is critical that we do everything we can to get all Manitobans who are eligible fully vaccinated and protect those who cannot get vaccinated."

Premier Brian Pallister and chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin told a news conference Tuesday employees will have to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 31. (Jesse Boily / Winnipeg Free Press)

Designated public-sector workers include health-care providers who are in contact with patients, educational and child-care facility workers, public servants, staff in congregate settings and Manitoba Justice employees who work with vulnerable people and in correctional facilities.

Designated public sector employees  Physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, support service staff and others who work in public and private health-care settings and provide direct care, meaning they come in contact with blood and body fluids, or with patients, residents or clients (or the environments or equipment one or multiple of those above three groups visit or use)  Teachers, school and educational support staff, practicum students, bus drivers, custodial staff and other employees in the Kindergarden to Grade 12 public education sector click to read more  Physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, support service staff and others who work in public and private health-care settings and provide direct care, meaning they come in contact with blood and body fluids, or with patients, residents or clients (or the environments or equipment one or multiple of those above three groups visit or use)  Teachers, school and educational support staff, practicum students, bus drivers, custodial staff and other employees in the Kindergarden to Grade 12 public education sector  Licensed early learning and child-care facilty staff and practicum students  Public servants, including all MLAs  Funded-agency employees who work in high-risk settings with direct, ongoing contact with the public or clients, such as those who work in congregate and residential settings or group homes, or with vulnerable populations including children  Manitoba Justice staff members who work with vulnerable people and in correctional facilities Close

These employees must get their first vaccine dose by Sept. 7, be fully immunized before Halloween (they will need a followup shot two weeks prior to Oct. 31), and prove their vaccination status to avoid ongoing testing.

Roussin also encouraged private businesses to take similar steps and mandate vaccines in their workplaces.

"This mandatory vaccination requirement is just another layer of protection to ensure we can keep our kids back in school and keep them there safely," he said, noting the fourth wave is expected to affect mostly unvaccinated individuals.

He said the province continues to consider all possibilities, including suggestions that students in Grade 7 and beyond be immunized in order to attend classes.

Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin encouraged private businesses to take similar steps and mandate vaccines in their workplaces. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

Both Roussin and the premier said the new orders are in response to increasing concerns about fourth-wave projections and the rising number of cases in other jurisdictions.

It was not lost on NDP health care critic Uzoma Asagwara that earlier this month provincial officials were talking about the importance of shifting to recommendations rather than requirements as Manitoba looks toward a "post-pandemic" future.

The NDP MLA for Union Station criticized the province for being reactive, announcing few specifics related to testing the unvaccinated, and not going one step further to require people who are not immunized to provide proof of medical exemptions.

"Its pretty clear, I think, at this point that the PC party, the PC caucus, is so focused on their own personal agendas, on their own personal endeavours that they continue to fail to prioritize the health and safety of Manitobans during this pandemic," Asagwara said.

Pallister and Roussin also announced the province will soon widen the list of activities and services open only to fully vaccinated residents in an effort to boost uptake.

The changes arrive when the number of Manitobans getting vaccinated has dropped to the point where the province is closing its supersite clinic in The Pas Wednesday and the one on Leila Avenue in northwest Winnipeg next week.

Manitoba is reintroducing its indoor mask mandate. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press files)

More than 1.8 million doses of vaccine have been administered in Manitoba. Almost 76 per cent of eligible Manitobans have received two shots and approximately 81 per cent have had a single dose.

The vaccine is available to all Manitobans over the age of 12.

For Winnipeg mother Kylie Therrien, whose son will start Grade 1 next month alongside classmates who are not yet eligible to get immunized, the latest mask and vaccine announcements bring about "huge relief."

"I feel better about a lot of the safety measures that theyre taking," she said. "Im much more concerned about the delta variant than I was about the regular COVID-19 variant, because it wasnt affecting children as much."

Therrien, a member of Safe September MB, added she is frustrated about how long it took for the province to commit to universal safety measures in classrooms across Manitoba.

In recent days, both Doctors Manitoba and the Manitoba Teachers' Society have launched campaigns in favour of implementing vaccine mandates for employees in their respective sectors.

 With files from Kevin Rollason

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca
Free Press Head Start for Aug. 24              Sign up here if you would like to receive future editions of Head Start Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Free Press Head Start for Aug. 24 Good morning. The provincial Tories will choose a new leader and premier on Oct. 30, the partys executive decided at a meeting last night. The entry fee is $25,000. The Sept. 15 deadline to enter the race is only five days before the federal election, which could be a factor for anyone planning to run in both contests. In his latest column, Dan Lett says the only declared candidate is treating the leadership race like a palace coup. Earlier Monday, Premier Brian Pallister spoke publicly for the first time since he announced he would be stepping down before the next election. A display home that struck a highway sign while being moved, and earlier led to a charge being laid after trees in its path were cut down in Charleswood, has finally reached its destination. The man known as the Abbotsford Killer, whose brutal crime and brazen taunts terrorized the British Columbia city in the mid-1990s and made national headlines, has died in prison. Terry Driver attacked two teenage girls in October 1995, killing one. The survivor went into hiding with her family as the killer made threats and mocked police. He removed the headstone of victim Tanya Smith, put a message on it that included the words She wont be the last, and left it on the hood of a radio stations vehicle. Driver was arrested after his family recognized his voice on a recording released by police.  Adam Treusch, assignment editor Whats happening today

Dr. Brent Roussin at a news conference earlier this month. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files) Pandemic health restrictions: Manitoba health officials  who usually hold COVID-19 news conferences on Mondays  will hold another this morning to discuss some of the public health restrictions and measures moving forward," chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said. Pallister will join Roussin at the 11:30 a.m. news conference on COVID-19 vaccine initiatives. Dr. Jazz Atwal will speak about the province's pandemic modelling at 2 p.m. Read More Federal election campaign: All three main party leaders are in Ontario. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make a Liberal announcement in Hamilton. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will make an announcement on long-term care in Mississauga. Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole will make a morning announcement in Ottawa. The Canadian Press reports. Read More Talking Taliban: Group of Seven leaders are holding a virtual meeting on the situation in Afghanistan. The G7 leaders met only two months ago, in their first in-person summit in two years. Read More Games get underway: The Paralympic Games officially opened in Tokyo as Japan deals with record COVID-19 cases. Read More Weather

Your forecast: Cloudy with rain beginning later this morning  5 to 10 mm  and risk of a thunderstorm, with a high of 18 C and peak winds from the east at 20 km/h. In case you missed it

Federal Tory Leader Erin OToole held a telephone town hall for Manitoba voters last night. (Ryan Remiorz / The Canadian Press) Telephone town hall: OToole held an election campaign event for Manitoba voters last night. Answering questions that were generally favourable to his party, he explained his plans for the economy and referred to the year he lived in Winnipeg while serving in the Air Force. Cody Sellar reports. Read More Possible poisonings: Authorities in western Germany have launched an investigation into suspicions of attempted murder. Seven people received medical treatment after showing symptoms of poisoning at a university south of Frankfurt. Read More Record deaths in Iran: Iran reported its highest single-day COVID-19 death toll of the pandemic Monday with 709, breaking a record set Sunday. The Associated Press reports. Read More On this date

On Aug. 24, 1927: The Manitoba Free Press reported that flares spotted on the slope of Mauna Kea spurred hope of finding at least one of the planes that had gone missing over Hawaii as part of the Dole air race. In Winnipeg, 2,700 workers from the Maritimes arrived to help with Prairie harvests both in Manitoba and farther west. U.S. president Calvin Coolidge was said to favour Herber Hoover as the Republican candidate for the presidency. Today's front page

Get the full story: Read today's e-edition of the Winnipeg Free Press Read More
The claim: Justin Trudeau says the 2021 Canadian federal election might be the most important election since 1945.

Opinion

The claim: Justin Trudeau says the 2021 Canadian federal election might be the most important election since 1945.

The verdict: This election is important for Trudeaus political legacy.

All political leaders, particularly heads of government, seem to have a habit of proclaiming that any election they are contesting is the most important in recent memory. Moments after the governor general agreed with his request to dissolve Parliament, Trudeau went even further, claiming the 2021 election is "maybe the most important since 1945 and certainly in our lifetimes." Is he right?

The 2021 election is certainly important for Trudeaus political career. Going to the polls two years earlier than the fixed-date election law required  and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic  Trudeau is gambling that voters will give his Liberal Party a majority government. Being returned with another minority would be interpreted as a failure, and could stir disgruntlement in the ranks.

Change in leadership?

Trudeau has been prime minister for nearly six years. If he is returned with another minority, his time in office will be comparable to such notable Canadian prime ministers as Robert Borden, Louis St. Laurent and Brian Mulroney. However, frustrated Liberals might agitate for a change of leadership, and his grip on power will be constrained by Parliament.

If he wins a majority, hell serve at least as long as Stephen Harper and Jean Chretien. He would oversee a potentially transformative period in government, and would increase his chances of leading the Liberals in future elections.

Choosing the 1945 election as a comparison to 2021 is curious. In 1945, Prime Minister Mackenzie King called for a stable Liberal majority government. Yet voters were nonplussed, reducing the Liberals to a minority; King even lost his own Saskatchewan seat. The Trudeau Liberals probably picked the 1945 campaign as a benchmark because it fits their narrative of rebuilding after a major global crisis.

Since 1945, there have been a smattering of elections of enormous consequence to public policy in Canada. The elections of 1963 and 1965, which saw Lester B. Pearson preside over Liberal minority governments, marked a period of transformative change.

Universal health care, the Canada Pension Plan, student loans and the Canadian flag were ushered in. Minority government meant all of this was a result of bargaining with opposition parties.

The 1980 election was also pivotal, because if Pierre Trudeau hadnt formed a government again after the Joe Clark interlude, the Canadian Constitution would not have been patriated in 1982 and we would not have a Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The 1988 free-trade election stands out for its singular-issue focus. That contest was dominated by whether Canada should enter into a trade agreement with the United States that was the precursor to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Election stunners

There are also times that election results upend norms of party competition. The 1957 election was a stunner. The Progressive Conservatives led by John Diefenbaker knocked the Liberals out of office after 22 consecutive years, and the following year won one of the biggest landslides in Canadian history.

Political scientists routinely refer to the 1993 election as an earthquake because two established national parties were displaced in favour of two regional parties. The federal party system was shattered with the ascent of the Bloc Quebecois to become the official Opposition, closely followed by the popularity of the Reform Party in western Canada, and combined with the thumping of the PCs and the New Democrats.

To some extent, the 2008 election is a good comparison with the 2021 one. Stephen Harper ignored the fixed-date election by holding a snap election in the hope of obtaining a majority. That campaign occurred in the midst of the global economic crisis that saw housing prices collapse, the stock market plunge and American financial institutions teeter on bankruptcy.

Six weeks after being returned with a larger minority government, the Conservative government nearly fell over a fiscal update that triggered a coalition crisis, a political reckoning that set in motion massive government spending to stimulate the economy.

2019 election: Important in hindsight

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Yet the financial crisis did not affect all segments of society, emphasizing the fact that nothing has been seen on the scale of the pandemic since the Second World War.

As it turns out, the 2019 election was crucial.

Although COVID-19 had not yet emerged, the instalment of a Liberal minority government led to massive public policy initiatives in response to the pandemic, and put the prime minister at centre stage as the governments main spokesperson during a formidable public crisis that has affected all Canadians.

It will take years before we can assess the validity of Trudeaus rhetoric about the importance of the 2021 election. Nobody has a crystal ball to foresee what the government will do in the coming years. But one thing seems certain: this election is vitally important to Trudeaus political legacy.

Alex Marland is a professor of political science at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca.
The footage last week of a giant USAF transport taking off from Kabul airport with desperate Afghans clinging to its fuselage  and then dropping off  will find a place alongside the iconic shot of Americans queueing for the last helicopter on the roof of the U.S. embassy in Saigon in 1975.

Opinion

The footage last week of a giant USAF transport taking off from Kabul airport with desperate Afghans clinging to its fuselage  and then dropping off  will find a place alongside the iconic shot of Americans queueing for the last helicopter on the roof of the U.S. embassy in Saigon in 1975.

Humiliation can be very painful, and Americans who are aware of foreign events will be feeling very hurt at the moment. Such feelings are rarely fatal, even for individuals, however, and almost never for countries. They should take solace from Adam Smiths remark on the occasion of another military debacle.

The great Scottish economist and philosopher was replying to a letter from a distraught friend who feared the British defeat in the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, which was the decisive turning point in the American Revolutionary War, meant that Britain was ruined. Smith told him not to worry: "There is a great deal of ruin in a nation."

He was right, of course. What really lay ahead for Britain was a century and a half as the worlds greatest empire and its dominant economic power. There is certainly no guarantee that a similar future awaits the United States, but history is capricious and almost all outcomes are imaginable  so panic and despair are inappropriate responses.

The Afghanistan war was a huge and long-lasting U.S. mistake, but Americas humiliation there does not significantly diminish the countrys economic, military and strategic advantages (which are very great indeed). Its cultural prestige is a bit dented, but memories are short and it will soon recover.

President Joe Bidens posture, realistic but not defensive, will help the recovery. Afganistan was a preposterous 20-year waste of money and lives, but presidents Bush and Obama both shirked the necessary decision to cut American losses and end it.

President Trump finally bit the bullet and set the deadline for withdrawal, which Biden enforced with only a slight extension. And while the humiliation of yet another American defeat is intense in the short term, it is (if you will excuse the expression) a "learning opportunity" for the United States in the longer term.

The problem that has led to repeated U.S. military fiascos such as Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, in the view of Dr. George Friedman, founder of the intelligence company Stratfor and later of the online publication "Geopolitical Futures," is that the United States has become addicted to what he calls "non-strategic wars." Or "wars of choice," in the common usage.

The first use of that phrase was by Israels then prime minister, Menachem Begin, about the invasion of Lebanon in 1982. I was in Israel for that war, and Begin sounded proud, almost arrogant, as he contrasted it with the wars of "no alternative" (1948, 1973) when Israel fought to defend its vital interests or its very existence.

His arrogance came from the fact that by the 1980s Israel was the Middle Easts dwarf superpower, no longer seriously vulnerable to attack and free to make punitive attacks on its neighbours whenever it felt like it. There were dead Syrian tanks all over the Bekaa valley but hardly any Israeli ones, and the kill ratio in the air was 86-0 for the Israelis.

The United States is still cautious when there is a risk of war with another great power. However, it has been so dominant militarily for so long that wars with lesser powers are seen as an option to be exercised or not according to the political fashion or even the moral mood of the moment.

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Hence Vietnam (anti-communist paranoia and the "domino theory"); Grenada and Panama (old-fashioned imperialism); Serbia and Kosovo (moral mood); Afghanistan (panic about terrorism plus moral mood); and Iraq (broad-spectrum ignorance). Plus a dozen lesser military interventions from the Bay of Pigs to Libya.

I have omitted the Korean War and Gulf War of 1991 because both were fought to defend a world order beneficial to the United States. All the rest, however, were wars of choice: winning or losing them meant nothing in terms of the vital strategic interests of the United States. The U.S. won some of the little ones, but lost all the bigger ones.

The United States has fallen into the habit of frittering its strength away in non-strategic wars against countries that do not really threaten it. This ultimately undermines American power, and in the countrys own interest (as well as the worlds), it should change its ways.

The humiliation in Afghanistan is a chance for Americans to reconsider their countrys behaviour. As Rudyard Kipling wrote at the end of the second Boer War in 1901, "We have had no end of a lesson: it will do us no end of good."

Of course, the British didnt really change their ways. Old habits die hard.

Gwynne Dyers new book is The Shortest History of War.
For several years, Manitobas Progressive Conservative government has been pushing hard to reduce the number of government workers, while transferring work and contracts to the private sector. We recently published a report examining privatization and contracting out of design and maintenance of Manitobas infrastructure and transportation services, based on interviews with the workers who have been delivering these services.

Opinion

For several years, Manitobas Progressive Conservative government has been pushing hard to reduce the number of government workers, while transferring work and contracts to the private sector. We recently published a report examining privatization and contracting out of design and maintenance of Manitobas infrastructure and transportation services, based on interviews with the workers who have been delivering these services.

These workers are responsible for a variety of tasks, such as: highway and bridge maintenance, including snow clearing; capital project planning and delivery; road safety and enforcement, including regulation of trucking; maintenance of the provincial vehicle and equipment fleet; operation of water structures and ferries; and winter roads.

According to workers, the situation is dire. They reported dramatic short-staffing and a refusal by management to fill vacancies, putting public safety at risk. The infrastructure department lost one-third of its staff complement since 2016. Lack of staff was then used to rationalize the selling off of assets, leaving those remaining workers without the equipment needed to do their jobs.

Workers also reported that training offered for employees has also been reduced or eliminated. As one worker put it, "They are just setting us up to fail." This has led to extremely low levels of morale, high levels of burnout and, despite a strong commitment to public service, workers questioning their future with the province.

A large majority, 72 per cent, believe the proposed and ongoing changes to Manitoba Infrastructure Services delivery model and policies will lead to a reduction in the quality of service delivered, and approximately the same amount believe asset quality will be lower after the changes. Seventy-five per cent of workers surveyed questioned the impact these changes would have on public safety, with 55 per cent believing the safety of Manitobans would be compromised.

Worker safety was also a concern, with almost 70 per cent of the workforce feeling worker safety was in jeopardy, and 45 per cent believing it would worsen.

Despite cost savings being the often-noted motivation for contracting out, based on the workers experience so far, 73 per cent of workers expect costs to rise, and a similar percentage think the value government gets for taxpayers money will decrease. Workers provided many examples of private-sector contractors delivering substandard work, requiring constant policing by government staff and, in many cases, staff having to redo the work.

On average, the workers in our sample had more than 12 years of employment with the province, and a wide array of technical credentials and hands-on experience. Despite this, more than 85 per cent of employees disagreed when asked if they had been consulted on the changes. As one worker put it, decisions were just "jammed down our throats."

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Some even described instances of threatening or bullying behaviour, with one group of workers being told by a senior official, "Im driving the bus, you either get on it or Ill run you over." Instead of consulting its own staff, the government is relying on outside multi-national, for-profit finance and accounting firms with track records of promoting and profiting from privatization.

The negative views of workers are consistent with recent academic studies on the subject. Despite being popular in the 1980s and 90s, more recently the pace of contracting out has slowed in response to privatization failures. The returning of contracted out services to public delivery is also increasingly common.

There is now a general consensus that the quality of publicly delivered services often exceeds that of private provision, and more recent studies suggest cost savings now are generally minimal. Manitobas reforms, however, appear to be dictated by ideology as opposed to rigorous analysis.

Manitobans, along with public-sector workers, are already paying the price.

Jesse Hajer is an assistant professor in economics and labour studies at the University of Manitoba and a research associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives  Manitoba. Jennifer Keith is the owner and lead consultant of JDK & Associates, working primarily with Indigenous communities, and in her final year as a PhD student in Native Studies at the University of Manitoba. Michael Conway is an expert in public infrastructure provision, most recently employed as regional superintendent with the Northwest Territories (NWT) department of infrastructure and as the principal of Michael Conway Solutions Inc.

The full report "Hard Infrastructure, Hard Times: Worker Perspectives on Privatization and Contracting out of Manitoba Infrastructure" will be available on Aug. 24 at www.policyalternatives.ca.
Heather Stefansons strategy to win the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is simple: treat it less like a competitive race, and more like a palace coup.

Heather Stefansons strategy to win the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is simple: treat it less like a competitive race, and more like a palace coup.

Two weeks after current leader, Premier Brian Pallister, announced he was stepping down, Stefanson remains the only declared candidate. And for good reason: there is no formal leadership process and the partys executive council  which decides how and when a new leader will be chosen  didn't meet until tonight.

Stefanson clearly wants an acclamation. While there is the risk of blowback when a leadership hopeful goes too big, too soon  Google Paul Martin and Liberal leadership for an excellent case in point  Stefanson has an ace up her sleeve, an insurance policy of sorts that may help her convince the party to acquiesce to her leadership aspirations.

Stefanson, along with 24 Tory MLAs who support her bid, and her campaign manager Jordan Sisson, who sits on the partys board, will get to vote on the rules and timetable for the leadership.

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES Heather Stefanson clearly wants an acclamation.

The PC party executive council was to consider a series of recommendations from an internal working group on rules and a timetable based largely on past leadership races. Then, the board of directors, constituency association presidents and  wait for it  all Tory MLAs get to make suggestions and vote on the final rules.

It appears Stefanson's strategy worked. Tory sources confirmed last night that the party has set the bar pretty high for entry to the leadership race, and put in place a timetable that is so tight she may be the only candidate able to make it work.

Candidates will need a $25,000 upfront fee and 1,000 memberships to get on the ballot. The cut off for candidate applications is September 15th. Memberships can be sold up to September 30 and the convention and vote  if there is a vote  will take place on October 30th.

It's a set of rules that seem to be tailor made for the woman who declared her intention to seek the leadership even before the rules were created. Not impossible for another candidate to step in, but hardly the kind of process that prioritizes the recruitment of multiple candidates over a coronation.

When you combine the rules that were forged on Monday night along with her performance to date, it's really hard to believe the fix hasn't been in, and in for some time.

The first indication of a fix was Stefanson's pledge to kill the highly unpopular Bill 64, the complete overhaul of public school governance. That was a highly presumptuous promise to make given that Pallister had not set a date for his departure, the party had not set a date for a leadership convention and Bill 64 was slated to be debated and voted on in early October when the legislative session resumes.

At a news conference on Monday, Pallister was very coy about how all this as going to work out. However, he did say he expected the party will identify and install a new leader in "the next few weeks." It was a strong suggestion he already knew how this process was going to turn out, because Stefanson and her people had already worked their magic.

It should be said that internal party politics is the least altruistic of all forms of politics. There are fewer rules and more wiggle room for operatives to indulge in their baser instincts. All is most definitely fair in love, war and the race to find a new party leader.

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES Regardless of the final rules, Stefanson is already pretty confident she's got this in the bag.

However, while this Machiavellian scheming may be good for Stefansons career aspirations, it creates an unflattering picture of a governing party that is already extremely unpopular with the public.

Launching a campaign before the official campaign has started, and making promises only a premier could deliver, gives this the look and feel of a shotgun coronation.

Unfortunately, the PC party has not had a truly competitive leadership race since 1983, when Gary Filmon defeated Clayton Manness and Brian Ransom.

Since then, there have been two acclamations: Stuart Murray in 2000 and Pallister in 2012. There were three names on the ballot in 2006 but, respectfully, Ken Waddell and Ron Schuler were not viable threats to Hugh McFadyen, the ultimate winner.

When you can fit all of the people who have sought the leadership of a particular political party over the past 21 years into a mid-sized family car, it does say something about that party.

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Premier Brian Pallister said Monday he expects the party will identify and install a new leader in "the next few weeks," an admission that suggests he either supports Stefanson's scorched earth strategy or feels he is powerless to stop it.

This leadership race is starting to look a lot like the one that produced Murrays acclamation in 2000. Even though there was a shortage of candidates to take over the party after the NDPs majority win in the 1999 election, the Winnipeg arm of the PC party ran a shock-and-awe campaign to drive any and all challengers out of the race.

Today, there are a lot of Tories who are desperate to have a truly competitive leadership race, with multiple candidates and ballots. Unfortunately, Team Stefanson seems poised to dash those hopes, once again.

Pallister once defended his acclamation by pointing out that when he put his name in the hat in 2012, "nobody else wanted the job." When you see how easily this party can be manipulated by the entitled and ambitious, its no wonder.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca

Dan Lett | Not for Attribution A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world that is sent every Tuesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.
Manitobas provincial government is now adrift, at the mercy of every gust of political wind and every change in the current. Premier Brian Pallister has announced he will quit and will not seek re-election two years hence. His cabinet ministers have publicly rejected his policy. No one has any way of knowing what the provincial policy will be next month or next year.

Manitobas provincial government is now adrift, at the mercy of every gust of political wind and every change in the current. Premier Brian Pallister has announced he will quit and will not seek re-election two years hence. His cabinet ministers have publicly rejected his policy. No one has any way of knowing what the provincial policy will be next month or next year.

With luck, Manitoba will not face urgent problems this fall and winter. Our lame-duck premier has lost his political authority to lead the government and the province. No one currently has authority to take his place.

Graceful exits are hard to do. U.S. President Joe Biden is finding this every day as he tries to withdraw his nations military forces from Afghanistan. He and his predecessor gave the world long advance notice of their exit, but it has proved to be disorderly just the same.

THE CANADIAN PRESS Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says he will be waving goodbye and stepping down before the end of the year. (David Lipnowski / The Canadian Press files)

So often, the leader is the last one to see the writing on the wall. By the time the leader starts wondering when to go, the answer is  last year.

Now that Mr. Pallister has announced an early departure  he said Monday in Brandon he expects to exit before years end  it has come to light that some of his cabinet ministers could not accept his leadership in dealings with Indigenous people. A large segment of his caucus and cabinet have publicly rejected the principle of Bill 64, the Education Modernization Act, aimed at abolishing school boards, though his government has been recommending this bill to the legislature since mid-March.

Mr. Pallister maintained his hold on the party since 2016 on the basis that he won a huge majority in that years election, when the public was thoroughly fed up with the former NDP government of Greg Selinger, and again in 2019, while the NDP was still recovering from the Selinger years. Pandemic pressures, however, have taken their toll on public confidence in Mr. Pallister.

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He began to look like a man out of his depth. And it seems at least some ministers started conspiring against him behind his back.

Former premier and NDP leader Greg Selinger would have been wiser to quit sooner. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Mr. Selinger played it a different way. He took the lead in raising the provincial sales tax, which he had promised not to raise. When colleagues saw he could not win another election, they told him to quit. He refused, called a leadership convention, narrowly won a new coronation by the party, then took the party down to humiliation in the 2016 election.

Mr. Selinger would have been wiser to quit sooner. His party might still have been defeated at the polls, but he would have spared the province from two years of political turmoil and ineffective government.

Mr. Pallister is quitting sooner rather than clinging to office after a cabinet revolt. This may give his successor a chance of avoiding the kind of implosion the NDP suffered in 2016.

Even so, Manitoba is stuck, for the moment, with a premier who holds the reins but has no political authority to use them. The Progressive Conservative Party will have to thrash around through the intricacies of a leadership convention. The winner of that contest will have only a short time at the helm before being compelled to call an election.

Until those steps are completed, our hospitals, our school boards and our government departments will more or less have to run themselves. For the most part, they are quite capable of doing that, but emergencies may arise at any time calling for decisive leadership. The ruling Progressive Conservatives should do all they can to make the interregnum as brief as possible.
A councillor who represents the municipality with the lowest vaccination rate in Manitoba has apologized for having a sign on his property that encouraged the public to distrust the COVID-19 vaccine.

A councillor who represents the municipality with the lowest vaccination rate in Manitoba has apologized for having a sign on his property that encouraged the public to distrust the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Free Press reported last week about anti-vax slogans in the RM of Stanley, where less than one in five eligible residents is fully vaccinated. A prominent sign had been erected on land owned by Alfred "Bitz" Loewen, who represents ward two in the municipality.

SUPPLIED Alfred "Bitz" Loewen represents ward two in the municipality.

The sign, which faced the highway between Morden and Winkler, had a giant cutout of a needle with the word "experimental" on it, and a rotating set of messages, including calling the vaccine a "#Clotshot," suggesting the drug Ivermectin (typically used as a de-wormer for livestock) is a proven successful treatment for COVID-19 and implying the vaccination rollout violates the Nuremberg Code.

Loewen, who repeatedly ignored requests for an interview last week, took down the sign after the Free Press story ran.

He contacted a reporter to explain that a resident had asked him to place the sign on his land and he agreed.

"I own a little chunk of land along that major highway there. And people come to me... and people put what they want on their signs. And I don't care what they put on there, I don't monitor it," he said.

He said he was only told vaguely what the signage would display. Today, he regrets the decision.

"Unfortunately, this sign came up that I'm not in favour of, but it happened," he said. "So if I need to say I'm sorry, I'm sorry I allowed this to happen. I can, and I will ask for forgiveness. That's not what this community is all about."

So if I need to say I'm sorry, I'm sorry I allowed this to happen. I can, and I will ask for forgiveness. That's not what this community is all about.  Alfred "Bitz" Loewen

Loewen, a farmer who has lived on the same plot of land his entire life, said he received threatening emails after the Free Press revealed his connection to the sign. He did not report it to police and said he had deleted the emails.

Stanleys councillors, himself included, would not encourage constituents to make a decision about vaccines, he said.

Loewen would not say whether he has been vaccinated, but insisted he is not an anti-vaxxer.

The person behind the sign was Travis Fehr, a farmer who said he was offered the space for free.

"I stand by everything, every message I've had on the sign," he said. "Every word has been true."

Fehr, who said he believes the success of COVID-19 drug treatments has been kept secret by people in power, has other signs in the community. His goal is to spread a religious message that encourages people to trust in God before "pastors, or politicians, or doctors, or anybody else."

MALAK ABAS / FREE PRESS FILES Loewen, a farmer who has lived on the same plot of land his entire life, said he received threatening emails after the Free Press revealed his connection to the sign.

"I believe that God is going to start a fiery revival for Jesus in Manitoba, and so I want to be a part of that. So I do have some signs out there," he said.

Fehr wouldnt say how much involvement Loewen had about the messaging on the sign.

During his conversation with the Free Press, Fehr recommended alternative research he'd found to support his views.

He finds his sources on Telegram, a messenger app that touts its privacy features and is known for hosting far-right personalities that are often banned on mainstream apps.

"If there is a treatment for COVID, and our government leaders, and our doctors, and our media are suppressing information about a treatment for COVID, I believe that's, to use a strong word, I believe that's evil," he said.

The concern that theres a wide network hiding information about COVID-19 from the public is common, said Don Klassen, a doctor in nearby Winkler, which has the second-lowest vaccine uptake rate in the province.

"I believe that God is going to start a fiery revival for Jesus in Manitoba, and so I want to be a part of that. So I do have some signs out there."  Travis Fehr

"It always fascinates me that somebody will come and say, 'You know, there's a doctor in Texas who says this, or there's a doctor in Louisiana who said this.' Well, you know, there's lots of good medical opinions in Manitoba, if youd like. Why, instead of focusing on one doctor from Texas, why don't you (check) what the opinion is in Manitoba?" he said.

"Or, why is it that physicians have such a high vaccination rate, way more than 80 per cent? Are they all bought off by the vaccine companies? Well, I don't think so, because I haven't got my cheque yet."

After months of campaigning for vaccinations, Klassen, who has been a doctor in Winkler for four decades and is a practising Christian, said he tries to remain optimistic, but some of the conspiracy theories being pushed in the community have been damaging.

"Or, why is it that physicians have such a high vaccination rate, way more than 80 per cent? Are they all bought off by the vaccine companies? Well, I don't think so, because I haven't got my cheque yet."  Winkler doctor Don Klassen

"This isn't a government plot. This is a medical condition," he said. "Somehow, we've mixed all those other things into this medical condition, which has made a lot of people very ill."

He said he will continue to work to increase vaccine uptake, but fears the incoming fourth wave of COVID-19 will hit the region hard.

"I don't think that our vaccination rates are going to get as high as the provincial one. I hope I'm wrong about that," he said.

"As a result of that, I think we will be disproportionate contributors to any fourth wave illness that may well be about to come. I think this area will be disproportionate contributors in terms of ill, very sick people."

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_
When a stranger called Jacqueline Wood this month to inform her that her granddaughter was a recipient of Manitobas COVID-19 vaccine scholarship lottery, she immediately hung up.

When a stranger called Jacqueline Wood this month to inform her that her granddaughter was a recipient of Manitobas COVID-19 vaccine scholarship lottery, she immediately hung up.

"I thought it was a prank call," she said. "You know, one of those calls that youve won a trip to (the) Caribbean, so I just hung up on him and didnt think much of it."

A convincing follow-up call and two weeks later, Wood and her granddaughter Kayla Harper, from St. Theresa Point First Nation, flew to Winnipeg for a news conference.

On Monday, Advanced Education Minister Wayne Ewasko presented lucky student winners with oversized "Vax to Win" cheques, each one representing a $25,000 scholarship at the Manitoba legislature.

"We know the vaccine has brought hope to many of us. For these students and their families, the vaccine and this lottery have also shown them a path forward with new options and new opportunities for learning and a lifetime of success," said Ewasko, before thanking the recipients for getting immunized to protect both themselves and others.

The family of Vax to Win scholarship recipient Kayla Harper, including her four-year-old sister Zenayha Harper, watch her receive a giant novelty cheque on Monday. (Shannon Vanraes / Winnipeg Free Press)

Seven of the 10 student recipients, all of whom are between the ages of 12 and 17, were in attendance Monday to celebrate their wins with wide eyes and likely smiles hidden behind masks.

Kaylee Keefe, Chelsea Thiessen, Bea Catalla, Kaden Rozdeba, Kayla Harper, Crosby Wright, Ella Curtaz, Jordyn Recksiedler, Emma Benoit and Shaira Garcia each won a scholarship that will be held in trust until they choose a post-secondary plan.

There was roughly a 0.01 per cent chance of winning one of the scholarships set aside for youth in Manitoba  had every eligible resident between the age of 12 and 17 received a first dose before Aug. 2.

Emma, a Grade 12 student, told reporters she chose to get vaccinated because of how difficult social isolation has been during the pandemic.

"I missed seeing my friends and I wanted to stay safe during all of these trying times. Im a very big advocate for vaccines," said the aspiring psychologist, who wants to enrol in a program at Red River College after she graduates in 2022.

Angel Recksiedler burst into tears when her daughter, Jordyn, received a symbolic cheque. The win came after months of pandemic-related challenges for both of the Grand Marais mother's teenagers, who have experienced two interrupted school years.

Advanced Education Minister Wayne Ewasko presents a giant cheque to Shaira Garcia on Monday. (Shannon Vanraes / Winnipeg Free Press)

"Im very nervous and kind of scared about my future now, because I have so many options," said Jordyn, who will enter Grade 9 at Walter Whyte School this fall.

The 13-year-old said she looks forward to catching up with friends and going to the movies with her family more, now that she is fully vaccinated.

Kayla of St. Theresa Point echoed similar comments after Monday's news conference.

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The 12-year-old spent much of the 2020-21 school year isolated from classmates, doing homework packages at her kitchen table rather than in a classroom because of COVID-19 restrictions.

While still in disbelief about the scholarship win, the middle schooler said she has already been thinking about post-secondary options in Winnipeg. Asked about what she wants to be when she grows up, Kayla said, "a teacher, just like my grandpa." Her favourite subject is math.

Students who have received both doses of vaccine on or before Sept. 6 will be eligible for the next round of prizes.

As of Monday, almost 69 per cent of Manitobans aged 12 to 17 have received a first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The percentage of the eligible youth population that has received a follow-up shot is 59 per cent.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
WINNIPEG - Manitoba is bringing back its mask mandate and requiring all front-line provincial employees who work with vulnerable populations to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Manitoba chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin, right, speaks in Winnipeg, Thursday Aug. 27, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

WINNIPEG - Manitoba is bringing back its mask mandate and requiring all front-line provincial employees who work with vulnerable populations to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The changes come as health officials predict a fourth pandemic wave in the province is inevitable.

"We need to get to higher ground to avoid the tsunami," Premier Brian Pallister said Tuesday.

Workers affected will include doctors, nurses, teachers, early childhood educators and prison guards. Government employees, including members of the legislature, will also be required to have their shots.

They have until Oct. 31 to get both doses or they must undergo regular COVID-19 testing.

The province also announced masks will again be required in all indoor public places, including schools.

The fourth COVID-19 wave has emerged in other areas of Canada. In Manitoba, there has been a low number of daily cases  with 40 new infections Tuesday  and the five-day test positivity rate was at 2.4 per cent provincially.

Pallister said precautions must be taken before numbers start to rise, especially as children head back to classrooms next month.

"In a general sense, Manitoba has delayed the onset of each wave. But when it has come, it has hit us intensely," Pallister said. "Manitoba is not an island."

Manitoba was forced to send COVID-19 patients to intensive care units in other provinces earlier this year when the third wave of the pandemic overwhelmed the health-care system.

New modelling released Tuesday shows that COVID-19 could overwhelm the acute-care system within two months after the fourth wave arrives in Manitoba.

Dr. Jazz Atwal, deputy chief provincial public health officer, said without higher levels of immunizations and more restrictions, intensive care units could be overwhelmed again.

It could be made worse if cases surge during the annual flu season, he added.

The Delta variant is already causing a significant increase in cases throughout Western Canada in provinces that loosened restrictions earlier than Manitoba.

"We can see what's happening in other jurisdictions.We know that fourth wave is heading in our direction," said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer.

More than 81 per cent of eligible Manitobans have had their first dose of a vaccine and 75.5 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Roussin said the pandemic is now about those who are unvaccinatedand health officials must make sure that it does not lead to more pressures on health care.

Private businesses and organizations should follow the province's lead on mandating vaccinations to keep their employees and customers safe, he added. The province's two largest universities and many other post-secondary institutions have already said students and staff will have to be fully vaccinated before attending campus next month.

The organization that represents doctors in the province supported the move to increased restrictions.

"While the risk may feel low, this pandemic still poses a serious threat," said Dr. Kristjan Thompson, president of Doctors Manitoba, in a news release.

Opposition NDP health critic Uzoma Asagwara criticized the Progressive Conservative government for loosening the restrictions too early and making people lift their guard.

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"It sends mixed messages to Manitobans," Asagwara said.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said he was pleased with the changes, especially requiring students and teachers to wear masks when they return to classrooms.

"We are still very concerned that these announcements are coming late, especially for the school year, for people to get vaccines and for them to be fully effective," Lamont said in a news release.

James Bedford, president of the Manitoba Teachers' Society, said educators have been asking for both mandatory vaccines and a mask mandate. He said students, teachers and parents are all facing anxiety going into the new school year and this will help appease many of those fears.

Anything that adds to the anxiety level is not going to be good for the mental health of those who work in the system, nor those who learn in the system.

This story by The Canadian Press was first published on Aug. 24, 2021.
OTTAWA - The federal Liberals made an election promise aimed at helping young people buy a home while the Conservatives and NDP pitched plans to ensure economic security and health in their sunset years.

Conservative Leader Erin OToole speaks to the media Monday, August 23, 2021 in Ottawa. Canadians will vote in a federal election Sept. 20th. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

OTTAWA - The federal Liberals made an election promise aimed at helping young people buy a home while the Conservatives and NDP pitched plans to ensure economic security and health in their sunset years.

In Hamilton, Ont., Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau pledged hundreds of millions of dollars in loans, grants and tax incentives Tuesday to address the housing affordability crisis, which has grown since he came to office in 2015.

Trudeau said the money would help develop rent-to-own projects with an array of partners, creating a pathway to home ownership for renters in five years or less.

Overall, the Liberals said their plan would build, preserve or repair 1.4 million homes in the next four years.

A First Home Savings Account would allow Canadians under 40 to save up to $40,000 toward their first home and withdraw it tax-free to put toward their purchase, with no requirement to repay it.

The plan also includes a Housing Accelerator Fund, which would make $4 billion available to help large cities speed up their housing plans, with a target of 100,000 new middle-class homes by 2024-25.

Trudeau rejected a suggestion the planned measures were a tacit admission the Liberals' four-year-old national housing strategy had failed.

"On the contrary, over the past number of years, hundreds of thousands of families have gotten new homes, have a safer place to live," Trudeau said.

"We're putting forward an extremely ambitious plan that is going to continue to get people not just into homes, but help them buy those homes."

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Trudeau had sided with wealthy speculators for six years as theyve pushed the price of a home out of reach for others.

"If he really wanted to make housing more affordable for people, hed have done it already.

Speaking in Ottawa, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole pledged to give priority to pensioners over "corporate elites" during bankruptcy or restructuring proceedings.

The plan would prevent executives from paying themselves bonuses while managing a company going through restructuring, unless the pension plan is fully funded.

It was the second appeal to rank-and-file workers in as many days from O'Toole, an effort to persuade voters the party is more than an ally of big business.

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Singh promised to take the profit out of long-term care homes and create national standards to ensure the well-being of residents.

During a stop in Mississauga, Ont., Singh said seniors living in for-profit facilities had higher infection and death rates during the COVID-19 pandemic than those in non-profit care.

"The goal of a for-profit home is not to care for people, it's to make profit," Singh said. "And any time when you're talking about caring about vulnerable people, if the goal is profit, corners are going to be cut and people are going to suffer. And that to me is just not on."

If there are no changes, "we're going to see hundreds of seniors die," Singh said. "That's not a price I'm willing to pay."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.

 With files from Jordan Press, Stephanie Taylor and Liam Casey
HALIFAX - The federal Greens have nominated a candidate in Nova Scotia who was turfed by the NDP in the last national campaign after a tweet surfaced in which she had compared Israel to Nazi Germany.

Green Party Leader Annamie Paul launches her election campaign at a press conference in the riding of Toronto Centre, on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

HALIFAX - The federal Greens have nominated a candidate in Nova Scotia who was turfed by the NDP in the last national campaign after a tweet surfaced in which she had compared Israel to Nazi Germany.

Rana Zaman tweeted Tuesday she is the official candidate for the Green party in Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, the riding where she was dropped by the NDP after her remarks emerged in the lead-up to the 2019 campaign.

Zaman, a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, was criticized for online posts denouncing Israel's armed forces for shooting Palestinian protesters.

One of the posts compared Israel's actions in Gaza to Nazi Germany's actions in Europe during the Holocaust.

Zaman apologized after the comments emerged, saying in a tweet she realized that her remarks were "inappropriate, hurtful and sadly may be perceived as antisemitic."

Reached by telephone Tuesday, Zaman declined to comment, saying a statement was being prepared.

The federal Greens' position on Israel has been among the issues that has led to infighting and factionalism within the party for months under leader Annamie Paul, who was elected to her position in October 2020.

In June of this year, Green MP Jenica Atwin crossed the floor to the Liberals over views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as broader tussles over power and authority within the party.

Atwin had warned about Israeli "apartheid" in a Twitter post on May 11, deeming Paul's more traditional statement on violence in the region as "completely inadequate."

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There had been a long-simmering feud in the party after a social media post from Noah Zatzman  a former Paul adviser who has since stepped aside  that called out unspecified Green MPs for antisemitism.

The Greens' social media stir did not end with Zaman.

Kerri Coombs, the Green candidate for Red Deer-Lacombe in Alberta, tweeted a few days ago about British Columbia's provincial health officer: "I personally see Bonnie Henry as a serial killer with an 'Angel of Death' psychological profile. I'll leave it to others to figure out whether I've been reading too many #COVID studies in the @lancet, watching too many episodes of @CrimMinds_CBS or both."

Coombs recanted on Tuesday, saying she regretted the tweet and that it was "meant to be funny."

"I did binge-watch 'Criminal Minds' and binge-read COVID studies during the lockdown," she added.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.
FEDERAL Conservative Leader Erin OToole was quick to remind participants of a telephone town hall Monday night that he had lived in Winnipeg for a year when he was in the Air Force.

FEDERAL Conservative Leader Erin OToole was quick to remind participants of a telephone town hall Monday night that he had lived in Winnipeg for a year when he was in the Air Force.

As OToole answered calls from the Winnipeg-only audience and explained his partys plans for the economy, he referred to his time in the city.

He denounced Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus decision to call an election, saying he put his own desire to win a majority government ahead of "focusing on the recovery, on fighting the delta variant, fires in British Columbia and the terrible chaos in Afghanistan."

He said his party would enact strong anti-corruption laws "for transparency and to restore faith in Ottawa."

OToole launched the first of several attacks on Trudeaus fiscal record. He scolded Trudeau for adding to the national debt, as he answered a question about his partys promise to erase the deficit.

Much of OTooles focus was on economic issues  whether suggesting the Liberals are inept or boasting about his own partys financial prowess. He said his government would create a million jobs, including by giving companies incentives through substantial tax breaks.

Questions that made it through were generally favourable to the Conservative party, although some tougher questions were asked about aspects of "Canadas Recovery Plan," a document that details Conservative party promises.

OToole scorned the Liberals often and launched the odd strike at the NDP and Green party.

At one point, OToole hearkened back to former prime minister Jean Chretien, saying that underfunding the military, or at least allowing equipment to decay, was a "pattern" of the Liberal party.

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The Conservative leader promised a culture of accountability in the military.

On climate, OToole said the party would aim to reach the goals laid out in the Paris Agreement, while also attackingTrudeaus carbon tax. OToole expressed his support for pipelines in Canada.

He opposed a universal basic income in no uncertain terms, saying it would disrupt the labour market and pointing to CERB as an example of how that has already happened.

OToole denied any support for a two-tiered health-care system. "I 100 per cent support our public and universal system, full stop," he said.

After the event, the party said 16,106 people had watched it.

cody.sellar@freepress.mb.ca
With the full approval Monday of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration, Saint Marys University will start a new protocol: Every student and employee will need to be vaccinated against the quickly spreading disease, unless an official exemption form is filed.

For students or employees to be exempt from this rule, they will have to make an oath to the university that they are unable to get the vaccine.

Exceptions allowed include those described by the State of Minnesota for all state-mandated immunizations, such as medical concerns or personal beliefs.

Those looking to be exempt from the rule will have to notify the university, though, with either a doctor-signed medical exemption form or a notarized nonmedical exemption form.

There is not an approval process for these exemption forms, as they will be counted as long as they are filled out properly.

These forms will help the university keep track of their percentage of students or employees who are vaccinated.

Vaccinations or exemption forms must be completed by Oct. 8.

Proof of vaccination or the exemption forms must be uploaded to the university's health portals by this date.
ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP)  Igor Vovkovinskiy, the tallest man in the United States, has died in Minnesota. He was 38.

His family said the Ukrainian-born Vovkovinskiy died of heart disease on Friday at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. His mother, Svetlana Vovkovinska, an ICU nurse at Mayo, initially posted about his death on Facebook.

Vovkovinskiy came to the Mayo Clinic in 1989 as a child seeking treatment. A tumor pressing against his pituitary gland caused it to secrete abnormal levels of growth hormone. He grew to become the tallest man in the U.S. at 7 feet, 8.33 inches (2 meters, 34.5 centimeters) and ended up staying in Rochester.

His older brother, Oleh Ladan of Brooklyn Park, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that Vovkovinskiy was a celebrity when he arrived from Ukraine because of his size and the flickering Cold War of the late 1980s. But Ladan said Vovkovinskiy would have rather lived a normal life than be known.
Portage has not had any major concerns brought to our attention about wearing masks in our buildings, District Administrator Josh Sween said in an email . Nobody enjoys wearing them, but they do serve a greater good.

Those who didnt want their children to wear masks could enroll them in the districts virtual option, he said. If anyone shows up on the first day without a mask, the district will offer them one, but they will not be allowed to remain in the building if they do not follow the masking mandates in place, Sween said.

Baraboo also will provide masks to students who show up without one: We will have masks up the wazoo, so to speak, Briggs said.

He said his staff, including teachers and administrators, will work to support students and their families by having conversations with them and employing restorative practices, which focus on dialogue rather than punishment to improve and repair relationships.
JUNEAU  A 50-year-old Fox Lake man was placed a $60,000 cash bond on Monday following being involved in a chase during the early hours of Saturday which ended in his arrest for 5th or 6th offense of drunken driving.

Jeremy Boerson also faces felony charges of a vehicle fleeing or eluding an officer, bail jumping and a misdemeanor charge of resisting or obstructing an officer. He could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of all the charges.

Boerson appeared before Dodge County Court Commissioner Steven Seim. As conditions of his bond, Boerson must maintain absolute sobriety and shall not go upon the premises of any establishment whose primary business activity involves the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages. He also may not operate a motor vehicle without permission from the court or leave the state.

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According to the criminal complaint, a Dodge County Sheriffs deputy checked on an assist motorist complaint on Saturday at 2:24 a.m. on Highway 26 near St. Ann Road. Boerson was asleep in the drivers seat, and the deputy believed he was impaired. While the deputy was waiting for back up, Boerson fled. The deputy followed Boerson, who was traveling approximately the speed limit and obeying traffic signs.
As long as residents continue masking and avoid interacting with individuals they suspect are quarantining or isolating, theres really no real increase of risk of having people in these spaces, Collin Pitts, associate director of campus health, said at the meeting.

In the year that University Housing has managed quarantine and isolation spots both on and off campus, he said there havent been any transmitted infections among residents or employees in those spaces.

The explanation did little to reassure Burton and four other residents interviewed for this story who tuned in to the town hall meeting.

To me, saying theres no added risk is just absurd, Burton said. Its just not honest.

Adding to Burtons frustration is the fact that UW-Madison wont identify which units will be used as isolation and quarantine space, citing privacy concerns. She said the information could help her navigate which spaces to tell her children to avoid.
A traffic stop in Dekorra last week led to cocaine and marijuana charges.

Angasso Yusuf, 23, Fridley, Minnesota, has been charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine (>5-15g), a class E felony, and a misdemeanor count of possession of THC.

Yusuf made his initial appearance on Aug. 19 in front of Judge W. Andrew Voigt. Voigt set Yusufs bond at $5,000 with standard felony conditions. Court records show if Yusuf posts his bond he may return to Minnesota, but is only allowed to leave Minnesota for court in Wisconsin.

According to the criminal complaint, Columbia County Sheriff Deputy Ronald Stage stopped a vehicle on I-39/90/94 in the town of Dekorra on Aug. 18. Stage made contact with Yusuf and noted Yusuf was the only occupant in the vehicle.

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Stage reported he could smell the odor of marijuana inside the vehicle. The complaint alleges Stage saw what he thought was marijuana flakes on Yusufs clothing and inside the vehicle.

When Stage searched the vehicle he found four packets with small amounts of marijuana in the glovebox. There was another baggie of suspected marijuana located under the front passenger seat.
Covid-19 Update 69: 18+ you're up! Don't hesitate - vaccinate

Covid-19 vaccinations are open to all persons 18 years and older as from Friday, 20 August 2021.

All Wits staff and students who are 18 years and older are encouraged to register on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) system and to get vaccinated.

You can book for your vaccination at any vaccination site across South Africa.

Steps to receiving your COVID-19 vaccine:

Register for the Covid-19 vaccine on the governments EVDS system . Visit the confirmed vaccination site on the date and time of your booking. Take your EVDS SMS as proof of registration and your proof of identity (South African ID or passport) to the vaccination site.

OR

Walk-in to any vaccination site to register and vaccinate.

You can go to any vaccination site or sites close to Wits such as the Liberty site in Braamfontein, the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Parktown, the Yeoville Recreational Centre or the Hillbrow Clinic. Wits is working to secure dedicated spots for staff and students at the Liberty site in Braamfontein. More information to follow.

About COVID-19 vaccines

Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective.

Everything you need to know about vaccines  our only viable strategy for living with Covid-19

Six myths about vaccination for Covid-19 put to rest

Dont hesitate. Vaccinate.

More information

SA Coronavirus website

Wits COVID-19 portal
Healing students humanely with heart

Covid-19 reminded me of my oath, says Head of Campus Health and Wellness Centre, Anna Moloi.

For many who work in healthcare, the profession is more of a calling for those who have devoted their lives to the health of people. Over the last year, healthcare workers have been celebrated across the country for their frontline fight against Covid-19. Anna Moloi is amongst these.

Affectionately known as Sister Maggie amongst staff and students, Moloi has been recognised as a Wits Covid-19 Hero for her contribution in the fight against Covid-19 on campus. She was the go-to person on campus for staff and students who presented with Covid-19 symptoms, tested positive and needed more information about the highly infectious respiratory disease.

Knowledge and expertise on viruses and diseases was expected from Sister Maggie, given her profession. However, with Covid-19, she too had to learn more rapidly, as the novel coronavirus was a new phenomenon globally.

With information sourced from Wits infectious respiratory disease researchers, the World Health Organization, and other sources, Sister Maggie rose to the Covid-19 challenge that her role as a nurse demanded. Delivering quality healthcare services to the Wits community was now more important than ever.

Humanity for health

Servicing staff and students, especially in 2020, was not easy says the passionate nurse. When times were tough with the pandemic, I was always reminded of my oath, she says.

Living up to the Nurses Pledge she made more than three decades ago, Sister Maggie again put the health of others before herself. The Nurses' Pledge and the Hippocratic Oath guide the conduct of healthcare workers, to ensure they promote the health and wellbeing of patients under their care, and uphold the ethics of the profession.

Sister Maggie joined Wits in 1995 as a primary healthcare nurse. Prior to joining Wits, she worked as a community healthcare nurse and this experience enabled her to extend great care and support students at the start of the pandemic.

I still remember when it started last year with students coming in from China. It was so scary because everyone would call me and say, there is a student in our class from China, we told the student not come to class. What must we do? For me, I had to think of that student, says Sister Maggie.

Although Covid-19 was new to her, as a trained healthcare professional, it was crucial for Moloi to mitigate the stigma that came with the pandemic. I had to think about the student and how they were feeling, says Sister Maggie, who subsequently visited these students at their residences and homes in Johannesburg.

Despite being scared  because Campus Health and Wellness Centre (CHWC) did not have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) at the time Sister Maggie felt a strong sense of responsibility to visit the students coming in from China, to keep them calm.

I had to visit them, reassure them, and give them my cell number so they can let me know if they need any assistance or are experiencing any symptoms. They were so grateful to realise that Wits cares, she says.

Managing Covid-19 on campus

Covid-19 just came and changed everything, says Sister Maggie as she recalls how she frantically had to manage Covid-19 on campus. She had to ensure that all health protocols were in place and adhered to at CHWC, as well as ensure that the clinic was well equipped with PPE to attend to patients  although this has changed the nature of consultations.

As a nurse, you know you cannot put a barrier between yourself and the person you are serving, but now we put barriers on. PPE means that patients cannot see your facial expressions and gauge your mood, she says.

Given her calling as a nurse, care and empathy are second nature to Sister Maggie. This made it easy for her to follow up on every positive Covid-19 case on campus as part of her duties to manage infections on campus.

According to her nominee, Sister Maggie has personally monitored every student that has tested positive and assisted where necessary with referrals and consultations. The nominee says, after filling in the screening app by mistake one day, Sister Maggie personally called her to check if she was fine.

Beyond the call of duty

Sister Maggie is nominated as a Wits Covid-19 Hero for going beyond the call of duty.

When panic was pervasive across the country and on campus during last years first hard lockdown, the health of students became a priority for Sister Maggie.

She ensured that the CHWC continued to offer healthcare services to student-patients remotely  even going as far as contacting clinics and hospitals in remote areas to make chronic medication available to CHWC patients.

Sister Maggie commends the commitment of her team at CHWC who worked tirelessly and continued offering healthcare services to staff and students at the height of the pandemic.

Covid-19 gave her an opportunity to learn more and expand her health knowledge, she says.
Ruth Mohameds food pack revolution

The expression, sharing is caring, is the source behind Covid-19 hero, Ruth Mohameds philanthropic values.

A legacy of giving and compassion is the foundation that Mohamed, Finance and Office Manager at the Gauteng City-Region Observatory was raised upon. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit South Africa, Mohamed could not ignore the plight of the underprivileged who were at the risk of hunger due to the lockdown.

The pandemic deepened social inequalities seeing disadvantaged communities across the country in need of basic needs such as nutritious food and groceries. This spurred Mohamed and her church members into action within two weeks of the hard lockdown last year. The team appealed to other congregants to donate non-perishable food items in an effort to assist those in need.

Today, the church-based community programme, run by Mohamed, which stretches from Gauteng to 825km away in Graaff-Reinet, has provided up to 753 food packs, 301 cooked meals, 61 blankets 6400 baby food pouches and 357 sandwiches to vulnerable communities during the pandemic.

For her social empathy and work in feeding communities during times of great uncertainty, her colleagues nominated her as a Wits Covid-19 Hero.

Mohamed, who grew up in the Cape Flats in Cape Town, attributes her humanitarian heart and spirit of generosity to her mother. She recalls from her childhood how her mother would always share food with members of the community.



People in the community always came to our house for food, and my mother would never ever send them away empty handed. We would never understand and we would say; Mommy, but we only have for us, but you are still giving. My mother would always say you dont know where that person is putting their head down tonight and I can make a difference even if its for a moment, to get them through the night and they would come the next day, says Mohamed.

A training on missions, which Mohamed and other members from Liberty Church attended at the beginning of 2019, also inspired the food pack initiative. The Covid-19 pandemic intersected this training serendipitously, making the team ready to serve others during the harshest lockdown periods last year.



We could put that [training] into practice. It became who we are. It was part of our daily lives. I believe our homes should be a lighthouse on a hill in our communities. If we cannot help, we can refer, says Mohamed.

She hopes that the church community initiative, now registered as Seriti Compassion, grows beyond food donations. We want to build up our resources in a way that we dont only provide food. This pandemic has displayed situations of people who have anxiety and are unemployed, she says.

The non-profit organisation, Seriti Compassion, attracted R170 000 in cash donations from generous individuals. The change agent says she wants donors to witness the fruits of their generosity.



Mohamed has embraced a hands-on approach, which has enabled her to maintain contact with community leaders who guide hero n how best to meet the needs of people in their respective communities. She undertakes the bulk shopping for the food programme and also distributes the food packs to people personally.



Last year, in the spirit of Christmas, her team created special food packs that contained treats such as meat, jelly and custard. Their December outreach touched the hearts of families in Diepsloot who received these special food packs. Mohamed says she wanted beneficiaries to enjoy and celebrate Christmas the way other families do.

It cost us a bit more. Give them what you would want. I wanted to give them a nice experiencewhat does a Christmas look like for us? I wouldnt want to give people something that I wouldnt want to eat myself, she says.


It's time now to welcome the newest members of our Morning Mug Club -- brought to you by Holland Farms Bakery & Deli.

Happening from Monday, Aug. 23 through Friday, Aug. 27, Associated Medical Professionals (AMP Urology) in New Hartford will be accepting donations of non-perishable food items from the community to support the local Feed Our Vets organization.

Several bins are located throughout their building at 2 Ellinwood Drive in New Hartford where you can drop off your donation.

On Sunday, Aug. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., they will host a live event in their parking lot at 2 Ellinwood Drive to collect both food and monetary donations for the Feed Our Vets organization.

The free community event will include food trucks, raffles, a magician and a bounce house, a dunk tank and more!
Science is the prevailing lesson at Staley Elementary School, in Rome, these days. On Thursday, mother nature was the teacher.

"By about 2:30/3:00, it started to encompass the building then obviously by later in the evening, the water completely surrounded the building," says Superintendent, Peter Blake, about last week's heavy rain and resulting floods.

Blake says damage was confined to a boiler room.

"The two boilers and then the hot water system that fires up the kitchen is really what we're looking at for damage."

But it's too soon to tell what can be repaired and what will have to be replaced. Blake says drying-out efforts have been 24/7 since Friday, and he believes it will pay off in the form of an on-time opening, for the first day of school.

"Right now, the only thing that would delay an opening of school there would be if when all the cleanup process is done, if we can't get our air quality readings to be at an acceptable level. Obviously that's the most concerning issue right now, but as we sit today, there seems to be no reason why the building won't be ready to open school," says Blake.

The rest of Rome recovers, as well. Damage is extensive, at nearby Pinti Field.

"As you get up closer, you can see that we have a lot of water damage. This was completely underwater for the better part of 48 to 72 hours," says Mayor, Jackie Izzo. "As we looked underneath buildings and grounds this year, we've got a lot of damage to the play areas; they're completely washed out. All of the safety material is gone, so this is gonna take us a while to rehabilitate this and get it back in working condition."

The city is also working to get evacuated and still-displaced homeowners and landlords back in their homes. The shelter at RFA closed Sunday, and those still needing a place to stay were sent to area hotels, with Red Cross vouchers.

"We've got 31 structures there, 58 apartments, so it's gonna be very challenging to deal with homeowners and renters. Lots of damage, they had standing water up to waist high. We did end up evacuating that entire area,' said Mayor Izzo.
All SUNY colleges are now requiring students to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

With the Pfizer vaccine receiving full FDA approval on Aug. 23, the state-mandated directive for all students to be vaccinated is now in place, according to the SUNY website.

All students participating in classes in person this fall have 35 days to provide proof of vaccination or request a medical or religious exemption.

According to the policy, students who do not get vaccinated or receive an exemption may be unenrolled from classes. The policy reads:

"Upon expiration of this grace period, any student who has not shown that they have completed a full vaccine series or been granted an exemption will either be unenrolled, or may revert to fully remote instruction if that is an available option based on the student's course of study and is otherwise permitted by the campus, and will no longer have access to any in-person campus activities or services."

The requirement does not apply to faculty and staff, but SUNY officials are encouraging all employees to get vaccinated.

To read the full policy, click here.
Fireworks, flares, pepper spray and projectiles like soda cans flew between far-right and counterprotesters in Oregon over the weekend, with protesters stopping several lanes of traffic, smashing vehicle windows and instigating several fights.

Police made one arrest near a demonstration in downtown Portland, but a police spokesperson said it was not clear whether the man was connected to the protests.

Violence was spread out in two locations, first coming to a head two hours into an event billed "Summer of Love," hosted by far-right group the Proud Boys and attended by members of other extremist groups. Initially set to take place downtown, the event was moved to the Argay Terrace neighborhood of northeast Portland.

Speaking to a small crowd at the parking lot of an abandoned Kmart, in front of a massive American flag and flanked by multiple men in military-style gear, self-identified Proud Boys member Tusitala "Tiny" Toese said, "If antifa shows up, then who's the bully?" pointing out that antifa would have to travel all the way from downtown.

Most attendees of the rally were armed, and those who were not holding live fire weapons had paintball or airsoft guns, or other weapons such as spiked batons, according to CNN journalists at the scene.

Little by little at first, then in larger groups, several dozen counterprotesters dressed in black approached the rally. Some wore gas masks and bike helmets. Both sides began lighting fireworks and dispersing chemical sprays. Anti-fascists and far-left counterprotesters brawled with far-right protesters, including identifiable Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer members. People began shooting paint balls, throwing flash-bang grenades, destroying vehicles and engaging in hand-to-hand physical fights.

There were no identifiable police at the scene aside from one patrol car from the Oregon State Police, which drove through the area.

Portland Police warned Friday they would be monitoring the protests and prepared to make arrests, but said police would not be going into the crowd to break up fights.

"This is our main message: if you are planning to come down to instigate fights with those you disagree with, don't come," said Chief Chuck Lovell in a statement. "You should not expect to see police officers standing in the middle of the crowd trying to keep people apart. People should keep themselves apart and avoid physical confrontation."

Several law enforcement agencies including the Portland Police Bureau and the state police monitored Sunday's events, both in northeast Portland and at the demonstration downtown, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said in a statement Monday.

"Officers were within minutes of both locations, ready to take action immediately if the situation worsened and life safety was jeopardized," Wheeler said.

No arrests were made at the location in northeast Portland, but police said in a statement they are reviewing evidence from the scene "to determine whether charges can be brought for any criminal activity."

A few hours later, shots were fired in downtown Portland close to a demonstration between opposing groups at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, where "several hundred people" had amassed, according to Portland Police.

No injuries were reported, police said. An arrest was made minutes later and one gun was seized. A 65-year-old man was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon.

Portland Police Bureau spokesperson Sgt. Kevin Allen told CNN any connection between the man arrested and either group participating in Sunday's clash was not immediately available. Police are still looking for at least one more shooter, as a group of people may have been pursuing the gunman shortly before shots were fired, he said.

A CNN crew on the scene witnessed a person scream "Nazi!" immediately before the gunfire.

Neither the City of Portland nor the Portland Police Bureau have responded to CNN's request for comment following the events.

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President Joe Biden just got some deeply unwelcome news: The pandemic that he was elected to end could drag on deep into a midterm election year, with all the political and economic destruction that could bring.

The warning by the government's top infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, that the crisis won't be under control until spring of next year -- and even then, it will need most American vaccine skeptics to change their minds -- came as a severe jolt to a weary nation.

It also meant that Biden's best-laid plans of triumphing over the pandemic and riding an economic wave into the campaign for congressional election results in November next year now look at risk.

A pandemic that stretches through another grim winter and beyond risks slowing the economic recovery on which Biden is relying for a strong performance next year. It could demoralize the public and trigger the kind of sour mood among the electorate that always spells danger for incumbents. Already, the President's personal approval ratings and public confidence in his management of the pandemic have been ebbing, according to recent NBC and CBS polls.

Biden's partial declaration of victory over the virus on July Fourth looks highly premature -- as do earlier US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxations of mask guidance.

"As we get into the spring, we could start getting back to a degree of normality, namely reassuming the things that we were hoping we could do -- restaurants, theaters, that kind of thing," Fauci told CNN's Anderson Cooper.

Most Americans, encouraged by Biden himself, had already expected that kind of normality to be restored and may be in no mood to contemplate months more of deprivation. The spike in Covid-19 cases that has hit many areas of the country has already turned what was sold as a summer of freedom from the virus into a replay of some of the worst parts of the pandemic as hospitals throughout the South are overrun by Covid patients. And conservatives have already long ago turned against Fauci, one of the world's most respected public health experts, and he is a top target of right-wing media.

The last 17 months that changed the daily fabric of American life have been far from predictable. And there is some data from abroad -- albeit in more vaccinated nations like Britain and Israel -- that suggests the current Delta variant wave of the virus could ease or may not produce the same level of deaths as earlier surges. If so, its political impact could be mitigated.

But even the prospect that the end of the battle against Covid-19 could be many, many months away represents a nightmare political scenario for the President and his Democratic Party, already facing historic headwinds in trying to keep control of Congress. They will now face the possibility of having to do so in a nation even more exhausted by a crisis that has already cost more than 620,000 lives and that has become more politically divided by the virus every month it rages on.

A new challenge for the President

A pandemic that spans the early months of 2022 would make it even harder for Biden to keep up public morale and commitment to the kind of precautionary measures like masking -- a toxic political fault line -- that are needed to stem the further spread of the virus.

If the emergency does go on that long, it will offer an opening for Republicans who are seeking to brand Biden's presidency as a failure -- and who are seizing on his chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan to paint a broader narrative of political decay.

The latest surge of the virus, powered by the more infectious Delta variant, was able to take hold because Americans in more conservative, southern states -- deeply skeptical of government advice and science -- declined in larger numbers than their more liberal compatriots to get vaccinated. If such skepticism, fanned by conservative political leaders and conspiracy fueled right-wing media, were to ultimately boost Republicans in next year's congressional polls it would be a bitter irony for the President.

And his predecessor Donald Trump -- notwithstanding his own disastrous record on the pandemic -- would not hold back as he seeks to relaunch a political career that always prospers most in discord and political dislocation. Trump recently accused Biden of surrendering to both Covid and Afghanistan's Taliban, despite neglecting the pandemic for much of his final year in office and holding direct talks with the Taliban that set the initial stage for the current messy US retreat.

Another daunting prospect for Democrats is that there is no guarantee that Fauci's prediction will hold, and the mutating coronavirus has already confounded almost every expert estimate of how long it will last and how soon it can be eradicated. Indeed, Fauci had originally predicted on Monday in an interview with NPR that if most of the people yet to be vaccinated signed up for their doses, the virus could be under control by fall 2022, more than a year from now. If it takes that long to get the situation under control, the President would have almost no breathing room until election day, when all of the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate are on the ballot.

As the implications of his comments sunk in, Fauci appeared on CNN and walked back his dire prediction -- just a little.

"I meant to say spring of 2022," Fauci told Cooper.

"If we can get through this winter and get really the majority -- overwhelming majority -- of the 90 million people who have not been vaccinated, vaccinated, I hope we can start to get some good control in the spring of 2022," Fauci said.

A darker scenario

But Biden's top public health lieutenant also caveated his prediction with some more unpleasant possibilities if vaccine take-up doesn't significantly increase.

"You have the possibility of the virus continuing to circulate, mutating -- forming more variants and getting us back into another situation similar to or worse than Delta," Fauci told Cooper.

The dawning reality that significant virus loads will be with us for many months longer -- and another unpleasant winter may loom -- is bound to cause a sweeping recalibration of the prospects of a return to normal life so many millions of people crave. It will unleash so far unknowable political, social and economic consequences. And it again underscores, whether at home and abroad, every president's political hopes and plans are often rocked by crises that are beyond their control.

Fauci's comments overshadowed some rare good news on the pandemic.

The long-awaited full approval Monday by the US Food and Drug Administration of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine could convince some vaccine wary Americans to sign up. But this new addition to the government's armory is coming too late to prevent the Delta surge -- and the newest Covid storm that is already here in US schools.

Millions of kids are returning to in-person classes at the worst moment yet of the crisis for children, as the Delta variant -- more dangerous to minors than previous manifestations of the virus -- sweeps the nation.

Already, some school districts -- especially in the South where vaccination rates are low -- have opened and then closed. Large numbers of kids have been infected or exposed to the virus and forced into quarantine. The alarming emerging scenario is clouding hopes that the nation can make it through the start of the third school year to be damaged by the pandemic. The specter of online learning -- with all its educational deficits, community disruptions and psychological side effects -- may be looming for many again.

Biden is promising to speak in the coming days about how children can safely go back to school -- an imperative for the nation and for his own political standing.

"Cases among children are still rare, and severe cases among children are very, very rare, but I know that parents are thinking about their own kids. It's not as reassuring as anyone would like it to be," Biden said on Monday.

While the President is right that severe cases of Covid-19 are rare, hospitalizations of children with the disease have hit record highs this month as the national daily average of all new infections hit 150,000 per day and average daily deaths hit 1,000. Anecdotally, many parents now have experience with kids or their friends testing positive for the much more infectious Delta variant.

Beyond pushing mask use and adult vaccines, confronting Republican governors who banned school mask mandates and urging states to spend billions of dollars in federal rescue funds doled out to make schools safe, it is not clear how the President can quickly influence a situation at the mercy of a capricious virus.

The fact that much education policy is the preserve of the states is a complicating factor. As is the reality that while many Republicans push back at basic measures to keep people safe, the party's strategists are prepared to hammer the President in midterm elections over school closures, in a bid to weaken his hold on suburbs that helped put him in the White House.

Even as conditions worsen, the political frenzy over the virus, vaccines and Covid-19 treatments is escalating. Several Republican governors, including Florida's Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott of Texas, are waging cultural wars over mask mandates in schools ahead of reelection races and possible presidential bids. Trump's lukewarm endorsement of vaccines was booed by his crowd in Alabama on Saturday night, so don't look for the ex-President to drop much political capital on the issue in future. And the FDA just had to warn against a new crank Covid "cure" -- a livestock deworming drug -- pushed on conservative and social media.

"You are not a horse. You are not a cow," the FDA said, in a tweet that boggled the mind but summed up the country's gaping political divisions over the crisis.

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Vaccine effectiveness against Covid-19 infection dropped from 91% to 66% once the Delta variant accounted for the majority of circulating virus, according to a study published Tuesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"While we did see a reduction in the protection of the Covid-19 vaccine against the Delta variant, it's still two-thirds reduction of risk," lead author Ashley Fowlkes, an epidemiologist for CDC Covid-19 Emergency Response, told CNN on Tuesday.

The study is in line with others from the US and around the world showing Delta's increased tendency to cause largely minor infections among fully vaccinated people. Still, the effectiveness of vaccines against severe disease -- including hospitalization and death -- has remained high against all known variants.

The current study does not cover disease severity, however. Instead, the new paper is the latest chapter in an ongoing study that has been following "health care personnel, first responders, and other essential and frontline workers" who receive weekly PCR tests in eight locations across six US states. The vast majority are vaccinated.

The study's reliance on regular, weekly testing makes it possible to capture a more complete picture of Covid-19 infections in a group, since people with mild or no symptoms may be less likely to get tested overall. In the official vaccine trials, efficacy was calculated against symptomatic Covid-19 -- not all infections.

Still, the authors warn there is some uncertainty in these estimates, in part because they found relatively few infections in the first place. During the months when Delta was predominant, researchers found 19 infections among 488 unvaccinated people, and 24 infections among 2,352 fully vaccinated people.

While waning immunity may also contribute to some degree of reduced protection, the current study was unable to show this to a significant degree. Separate research suggests that even if a fully vaccinated person gets infected with the virus, they may be less likely to spread it. About 51.5% of the population is fully vaccinated, according to data from the CDC.

The study's authors are planning future analyses comparing the different Covid-19 vaccines as well as the types of symptoms experienced by vaccinated and unvaccinated people who become infected.

"It's still a very powerful vaccine," Fowlkes added, especially when it comes to more severe outcomes. "But we are also looking towards continuing to use masks for a little bit longer."

Separately, a new study out of Los Angeles County reaffirms that fully vaccinated people are far less likely than unvaccinated people to be hospitalized, admitted to an intensive care unit, require mechanical ventilation or die from Covid-19.

"On July 25, infection and hospitalization rates among unvaccinated persons were 4.9 and 29.2 times, respectively, those in fully vaccinated persons," researchers from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health wrote in the study, which was published Tuesday by the CDC.

Fauci: Covid could be 'under control' by spring

Despite these studies about the benefits of vaccination, tens of millions of people have hesitated to get the shots. Because of that, hospitals in many states with lower vaccination rates are overwhelmed by a surge in patients, students are returning to the classroom only to have to isolate due to exposure and cases among children are on the rise.

Mississippi reported 111 new Covid-19-related deaths on Tuesday, a one-day record, said state epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. Some 87% of new deaths are among the unvaccinated and more than 50% are over the age of 65, he said. Gov. Tate Reeves said more than 1,000 health care workers have arrived to help with hospital staffing shortages.

"Getting boots on the ground this quickly is a step in the right direction," he said.

Florida, too, reported a record high average of about 212 Covid-19 deaths each day last week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Anthony Fauci urged the public to get vaccinated and said if the "overwhelming majority" of the population does so the US could have the pandemic "under control" by spring 2022.

"We hope we'll be there ... but there's no guarantee because it's up to us," Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the President's chief medical adviser, told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Monday.

It isn't yet clear to health experts what proportion of the population needs to be vaccinated to reach a level of protection that could sustain a return to normalcy, like safely going to restaurants and theaters, Fauci said. So the best way forward is to vaccinate as many people as possible, he said.

Still, Fauci's spring 2022 timeline is daunting politically for President Joe Biden, who already declared partial victory over the virus on July 4. In addition, CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta questioned the definition of what it means to "control" a virus that looks to be here for the long haul.

"This is one of those situations where I think defining what it means to be in control of the pandemic is really important," Gupta said Tuesday.

"If we have more people vaccinated, it's likely we will decouple hospitalizations from cases, and maybe that will be a definition of control. (If) people aren't getting that sick anymore, ending up in the hospital, the virus starts to slowly not have places to circulate, that will be a definition of control. I think we're going to see waves of this for some time," he added.

FDA's approval opens door for mandates

On Monday, the US Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for people 16 and older, a move that health officials hope will convince hesitant Americans to get vaccinated.

"I do think that the approval the FDA announced yesterday for the Pfizer vaccine is a milestone in our vaccination efforts and it reaffirms what we have been seeing for months," US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy told CNN. "Which is that the vaccines are highly effective, they've a very strong safety profile and they're what we need to get through this pandemic."

There are still nearly 80 million people eligible to be vaccinated who have not done so.

"I do think there will be a modest increase, but, look, we have a long way to go to fill this gap," said Dr. Peter Hotez, vaccinologist and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. "I think having the full approval will certainly convince some, but it's just one of a dozen fake talking points put out there by the disinformation campaign. And, I think a number of people are just going to revert to one of the other ones."

The FDA's approval also opens the door for businesses and government bodies to mandate vaccinations, and some have already begun to do so.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio mandated the vaccine for all Department of Education employees, including teachers, on Monday. In addition, then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo released a statement Monday, before he left office, calling for all New York state employers to require Covid-19 vaccination. The state already requires all eligible government and health care employees to be vaccinated.

Now that the FDA granted full approval to the Pfizer vaccine, the next focus is authorizing a Covid vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. That could come by the end of the year under an updated emergency use authorization, officials have said.

If and when that authorization comes, at least 28 million additional children -- representing about 9% of the US population -- would become eligible to receive the vaccine, according to a CNN analysis of federal data.

If vaccination trends among the 5 to 11 age group are consistent with those from the 12 to 15 age group, about 7 million children between the ages of 5 and 11 may receive their first vaccine dose within a month and more than 9 million within two months. This would bump the overall vaccination rate in the US up by about 2 percentage points in one month and 3 percentage points in two months.

About 54% of parents with children under the age of 12 said that they "agree" or "strongly agree" that they would vaccinate their children against Covid-19 "when a vaccine is authorized and available for their age," according to a survey by The Rockefeller Foundation conducted by the RAND Corporation.

Florida Covid-19 deaths at all-time high as new cases continue to surge

Florida last week reported more Covid-19 deaths than at any time in the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University data, and hospitalizations are also higher than ever.

The state broke its January record for new daily cases about two weeks ago, and that number has continued to rise to the current average of about 21,534 a day.

Just weeks into the start of the school year for many Florida districts, more than 14,000 Covid-19 cases -- among 11,851 students and 2,610 employees -- have been reported throughout the state's 15 largest school districts since the start of the school year, according to a CNN analysis.

Several school districts are defying the governor's mask mandate restrictions, requiring masks of all students with no option for parents to decide to opt out of the mandate.

The Orange County school board on Tuesday evening enacted a 60-day mask mandate for all students and staff starting Monday, with only medical reasons accepted for exemptions.

St. Johns School District, which includes St. Augustine, on Tuesday announced a mask mandate for all employees and visitors to its schools, but not for its students, for the next 30 days, as Covid-19 cases surge in the area.

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As the floodwaters rapidly rose in her Waverly, Tennessee, home, Vanessa Yates climbed on the kitchen counters with her 4-month-old daughter in her arms and called for help.

"I just felt like I was going to drown," she told CNN's Kate Bolduan. "It just happened so quickly."

"Everything was floating ... everything was under water," Yates recalled. "My ankles were actually covered with water at that point, and so I just put her at the highest level I could and just prayed to God that we would be OK."

Yates is one of dozens of residents who were quickly overtaken by heavy rain that led to Saturday's flash flooding in Middle Tennessee that killed 18 people and destroyed dozens of homes. Officials earlier said 21 people had died but corrected the total at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities are still searching for three people who are unaccounted for.

Among those killed were 7-month-old twins, Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Grey Collier told CNN. The details surrounding the infants' deaths were not immediately available.

The raging waters pulled homes off their foundations, left cars and other debris strewn about, and washed away almost everything in its path.

As Yates struggled to keep her daughter safe, family members posted on Facebook that she and the baby were in trouble. With the water getting deeper, Yates' brother-in-law, Alan Wallace, headed out to try to rescue her and the baby. He got his kayak as close as he could to the house and got out.

Wallace posted a video as he waded through chest deep water, saying, "If I die and don't make it, I tried. I love y'all."

He made it into to the home and rescued Vanessa and the baby with the boat.

Man loses mother when water carries them into wrecked home

Thomas Almond told CNN his 55-year-old mother, Linda Almond Bryant, died in the floodwater after it carried them through town.

In a video streamed on Facebook live, Almond Bryant showed the flooding outside the home she was in. "We're being flooded right now," she says as the muddy, rushing water pushes debris by the door. "Really scary."

A male voice says he thinks something just hit the house.

"This is scary," she says and about 10 seconds later exclaims, "Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness."

She and her son later found themselves in the water.

Almond said he and his mother were hanging onto a side of his house for 30 minutes Saturday as floodwater rushed around it.

Then, a different, dislodged house that was on fire came toward them. They decided to let go, and the water carried them away, he told CNN on Tuesday.

The rushing water carried them into another dislodged house, which had come to rest against a gas station.

"We hit the corner of the house, and as I hit it, it dragged both of us under," Almond told CNN. "And I was probably under, I don't know, 30-45 seconds.

"And I came out over here, and I looked around, I screamed for my mom a couple times. But I didn't see her. And at that ... I knew I had to fight for myself."

He said the current took him around a bend to another building, where he climbed onto a roof and remained there four hours until he was rescued -- but his mother did not make it, he said.

Hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis told reporters Tuesday that while taking part in a helicopter survey, he saw over 100 homes that were destroyed and another 100 that were damaged.

"You've seen us get a little emotional through some of this," the sheriff said through tears. "You have to remember, these are people we know. These are people's families that we know. These are people that we grew up with. This is just people of our small county. And it's very close to us."

The county emergency management agency said 271 homes were destroyed and 160 had major damage. Another 28 homes suffered minor damage while 19 were affected in another way.

In the chaos of the storm, phone service was lost and people couldn't reach their loved ones, leading to a jump in reports of missing persons, officials said.

"We have three missing that we're reasonably certain is due to the flood. All the others that we've had, we've been able through investigation to clear those off the list," Waverly Chief of Public Safety Grant Gillespie said Tuesday. "A lot of people have gotten reconnected in the last 24 hours."

Search crews used dogs and other equipment in their efforts to find additional victims Monday, with debris left behind by the raging waters complicating efforts, Gillespie said.

Amid the searches, the county is also trying to recover from power outages and water issues caused by the flood.

Saturday rainfall totals reached 17.26 inches north of Centerville, in Hickman County; 17.02 inches in McEwen, in Humphreys County; and 13.76 inches near Dickson, in Dickson County, the National Weather Service in Nashville said.

The flooding on Saturday was caused by several storms training over the same area. Extreme rainfall rates are becoming more common because of human-caused global warming, scientists say.

A curfew will remain in place for the next several days, Gillespie said.

Law enforcement partners from around the state have been assigned to patrol the city and county overnight, he said.

A major disaster declaration has been approved for Humphreys County, the state emergency management agency said Tuesday.

"These federal resources will help many Tennesseans as they begin recovering from devastating flooding. We are grateful for the support from (FEMA and) our federal delegation," Gov. Bill Lee said in a tweet.

Washed out roads blocked husband from reaching family

As Yates and her baby were trying to stay above water, her husband, Anthony Yates, was trying to get home.

After his wife told him the house was flooding, he drove home as fast as he safely could, but his route was blocked by emergency responders on a road that was washed out, he told CNN.

So Yates got out of his vehicle and walked down railroad tracks in an attempt to save his family.

"I wasn't about to wait. I had to make sure that my wife and baby were OK," he said.

Once he made it to town, he was lucky enough to get a ride to his home from some people he ran into.

When he arrived, the house next door was gone and its remnants were on fire, Yates said. He asked emergency workers whether they were sure his family was safe and they said his house was empty.

Still, he pushed them to double-check and persuaded them to go back to the house.

That's when, through a broken window, he saw two pointy ears belonging to the family dog, Lily. Yates called out to the dog, who was also soon rescued.

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Peloton's lower-priced and smaller treadmill is finally going on sale.

The release of the Peloton Tread was originally scheduled for May, but was paused amid safety concerns for the company's higher-end treadmill that prompted a massive recall for both machines. Now, the $2,495 machine is being released on August 30 in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Peloton said in a press release that the Tread has the "latest in software and hardware safety features" including a four-digit passcode that owners need to enter before a workout that unlocks the belt. Also included is a safety key that helps the user stop a workout session if needed.

"Our goal is to be the go-to fitness solution and the largest and safest home fitness brand in the world," said Peloton CEO John Foley in a statement announcing the Tread's release.

About 1,000 Tread machines were sold as part of a pre-launch promotion and the company is working with existing owners to have them fixed. Peloton said on its website owners can schedule in-home appointments to have the touchscreen fix so it remains secure.

The repair was approved by Consumer Product Safety Commission and owners can use them once again following the fix. Peloton said the repair is already included on Treads going on sale next week.

Peloton is still working on a fix for the Tread+, which was recalled in May following a child's death and 70 other injuries. Sales of the machine remain paused.

Peloton is taking a substantial financial hit from the recall: about $165 million in lost revenue during the current quarter. The company releases its fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday.

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Since the beginning of the pandemic, property owner Matthew Haines said he has lost a quarter of a million dollars in rental income from tenants who did not pay him rent.

"I've never woken up having panic attacks before this year," said Haines, 53, who owns and manages 253 rental units in the Dallas area through his firm Tangent Group. "All of this is because we can't control and run our business."

He worries about providing for his family, keeping his employees and whether he should sell the buildings and single-family homes he owns, which have been his livelihood for 27 years, he said.

Like many property owners with tenants who haven't paid rent during all or part of the pandemic, Haines was looking forward to the end of the federal eviction moratorium that was put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. But after it expired at the end of July, the CDC issued a new eviction moratorium focused on areas experiencing an elevated spread of coronavirus, which covers about 90% of renters, including the area where Haines' properties are located.

The CDC said that evicting people could be detrimental to public health and would interfere with efforts to slow the pandemic.

"I'm thoroughly disgusted with it," he said of the new moratorium, which is in place until October 3. "It is an infringement on my rights as a property owner."

Haines said he isn't looking to evict all his non-paying tenants. But he makes a distinction between those who can't pay and those who won't. It's only the latter, he said, he wants out of his buildings.

"We're not kicking people out who can't pay," he said. "We're removing people who refuse to pay."

He said he currently has about eight people out of 253 units who refuse to pay. Haines said he thinks either these tenants have the means to pay or they could receive rental assistance but haven't applied. "They haven't paid in six months to a year. We'd finally be able to do something about that."

Haines said landlords like him have done what was asked of them, shouldering the burden of housing millions of people who lost income during the pandemic and fell behind on rent.

"But every time we think maybe we can get to the other side, they move the goal posts and change the rules," he said. "I want to run my business. I want to feed my family. I can only do that for so long under these conditions before we end up in a situation where we are failing financially."

Whiplash for landlords

When Dawn Pfaff, a landlord with properties in New York and Florida, heard a federal eviction ban was coming back after expiring last month, she said it filled her with "dread."

Pfaff said she thinks allowing a person to live in someone else's property for six months to a year for free, while someone else has to pay the taxes, insurance and maintenance, is a violation of the law and unconstitutional.

The notion that the moratorium is not legal is hotly contested. Court cases have been decided both for and against the moratorium and other cases have yet to be decided. Also, the moratorium does not erase the rent owed.

But most landlords in the US are like her, so-called "mom and pop" landlords with a handful of properties who are counting on rents for their income or to fund retirement.

"I didn't buy stocks and I don't have a lot of retirement saved," said Pfaff, who also works as a real estate agent and runs other property-related businesses. "Our whole plan is to get our mortgages paid off and live off rentals as our retirement income."

While she said most of her tenants have kept up with rent during the pandemic, she said she did sell a 65-unit mobile home park in upstate New York last December, partly because it had become so cumbersome to evict tenants with recent changes to tenant laws in the state prior to the pandemic.

"There are so many people like me who have tenants that can't pay," Pfaff said. "And their hands are tied."

News of the latest eviction moratorium just days after the previous one had expired was "whiplash" for landlords, according to Greg Brown, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Apartment Association, an industry group of property owners.

"We were disappointed to see we were going back to it after we had agreed that it was ending," he said. "Now we have a whole new metric and landlords are asking how they follow this and trying to figure out how to comply."

Unlike the prior ban, the new protection is more limited, targeting areas hardest hit by the coronavirus. It protects renters in areas with "high" or "substantial" transmission of Covid-19 based on the CDC's tracking of the virus.

But even though court challenges to the new moratorium are being filed, Brown said his association is telling owners that they need to hold off on evictions for non-payment of rent and that they need to work with tenants to get rent relief.

There are, he said, some places where judges are interpreting the moratorium differently. In Franklin County, Ohio, for example, judges announced they would not enforce the new rule banning evictions.

Following the renewed eviction moratorium, the municipal court in Franklin County, which includes Columbus, announced it "will not follow the eviction moratorium order issued by the CDC," because of a prior court of appeals ruling that found the CDC lacked the authority to issue the national moratorium, according to a statement. The court is "legally required to follow that Court's decision and will accept and process eviction filings," the statement said.

But, Brown said, there are substantial penalties for violating the order. "Landlords aren't going to risk having to face those."

With the updated eviction moratorium, many property owners, Brown said, are likely to run the numbers on losing an additional two months rent.

"They are figuring out how to cover 60 more days," he said. "What is the new math for how much they can recoup from rental assistance?"

Unable to pay vs. refusing to pay

When the pandemic hit, Haines knew it would be a blow to the low-income residents in his units, where a one-bedroom apartment rents for between $800 and $900 a month, Haines said. He said he dropped late fees and moved everyone to a month-to-month lease, looking to ease the burden of breaking a lease if they could no longer afford the rent.

But when local moratoriums on eviction were followed by the national ban, he found that few people left.

He said he is doing what he can. Haines currently has 24 renters that are behind on their rent, 17 of them owe more than $1,000 total. Late fees are still dropped for those working to get rental assistance and renters still struggling can remain on a month-to-month lease without the standard 10% to 20% premium to do so, he said.

The majority of his tenants who are behind on rent, want to pay but aren't able to and are doing what they can to resolve their back rent, he said. He and his staff are reaching out to residents, making sure they are aware of the federal emergency rental assistance program and helping them to apply.

One of his residents, he said, lost income but is working to pay what she can and applied to receive some of the $46 billion in rental assistance.

"She's behind about $6,800," he said. "But I'm not kicking her out over that. We'll get through it with her."

The bigger issue, he said, are renters who refuse to pay.

"We have not filed for eviction on anyone who is working with us," he said. But he has evicted residents who violated the terms of the lease.

Like the resident who he said earns $80,000 a year, which is within the individual income limit of $99,000 to be eligible for the CDC eviction moratorium. But when the moratorium went into effect, Haines said the tenant sublet part of the apartment while living there, pulling in $1,500 a month for herself and withholding rent from Haines.

Since the moratorium only protects tenants from eviction for non-payment of rent, Haines was able to remove her for what he described as breaking the terms of her lease.

There are also residents who refuse to apply for rental assistance, he said. In order to be protected by the CDC moratorium, tenants must sign a declaration that they have made a good faith effort to pay and apply for government assistance.

He's also seen at least two residents manipulate the rental assistance program by applying for relief money at multiple addresses, with inaccurate contact information, or by arranging to have the checks go directly to them without handing the back rent to him. And he said he still is not able to evict them.

But, compared with other independent rental owners, Haines considers himself fortunate so far. He and his wife have been conservative with their finances. Still, the rent shortfalls have halted their ability to save for retirement and they needed to inject cash to make sure they didn't have to lay off any of their 10 employees.

The losses this year have also forced Haines to change his screening criteria for new residents by looking more closely at past rental payment history, which he said, "hurts the very people -- lower income -- that the government says they are trying to help."

Haines said as long as his residents are willing to work with him, he'll do everything he can to keep them housed.

"I will not boot people who are trying to do the right thing," he said of his residents. "We can sustain it for a couple more months, but we shouldn't have to."

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LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)  Ivy Tech Community College Lafayette will host a 5-K race.

The event is free and open to the public.

It will take place both virtually and in-person.

All participants who complete their 5K will receive a commemorative medal, a race bib, and an IvyActive T-Shirt.

The top three in-person student finishers will receive one of three exclusive prizes.

Online registration is available until Friday, September 3, 2021.

The in-person event will take place on campus at 9 a.m. on September 11, 2021.

To register, click here.
Show Low, AZ (85901)

Today

Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 69F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 55F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
Show Low, AZ (85901)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 70F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 55F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
Teachers of the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) and staff members have a group photo after the online tour to Houhai. [UIBE]

The 2021 "Chinese Bridge" Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) Virtual Intensive Study, an online Chinese-language studying summer camp for British middle school students which ended the other day, helped participants improve their fluency in Chinese and better understand Chinese culture, winning high praise from the British side.

The two-week program, co-organized by over 50 MEP schools and 14 Chinese host institutions in 10 cities, was attended by over 1,400 British students.

The Chinese partner institutions offered diverse Chinese-language courses and cultural experience programming with localized features for British students. The University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing, for example, arranged an online tour to Houhai, a scenic area in the city. The university sent an anchor to Houhai, who explored ethnic arts and crafts in the network of alleyways, including traditional Chinese fans and "Lord Rabbit", a local handicraft symbolizing happiness and good luck. Meanwhile, another anchor in a studio relayed relevant information about the arts and crafts to the students. Despite the physical distance, the participants' enthusiasm was able to be ignited, and they raised questions one after another.

The UIBE also organized a session on the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, which is about six months away, including relevant vocabularies and topics, and a dialogue with members of the preparatory working group for the Winter Olympics. They introduced the construction of the venues, preparation work, and the country's efforts in advancing coordinated regional development.

British students' homework after online learning [UIBE]

Another Chinese institution, Zhejiang Normal University in east China's Zhejiang Province, prepared an online shopping session for the students and offered them a virtue tour to Hangzhou, capital of the province, which enabled them to visit stores selling intangible cultural heritage products and appreciate local folk songs.

"MEP programs play an important role in improving Chinese teaching in the UK and British students' Chinese language proficiency, and deepening exchanges between the younger generations, as well as building friendship and trust between both countries," said Hong Junjie, vice president of the UIBE.

An official from an MEP school called the program a unique opportunity for the British students, as it helped them to break out of their conventional thinking, make more friends, and find more job opportunities.

While some MEP students said they felt proud of participating in the program, others voiced their willingness to continue to learn Chinese, as learning Chinese is very worthwhile and brings new opportunities for them.

(Source: People's Daily Online)
Li Huanying [CCTV News]

Li Huanying, a world-famous leprosy specialist who is now 100 years old, has made legendary strides through her unremitting devotion over several decades to the cause of leprosy eradication in China.

Li was born in Beijing in 1921. After graduating from Johns Hopkins University in the United States, she served as an official venereal disease expert with the World Health Organization (WHO).

In 1958, after working for the WHO for seven years, she came back to China and got engaged in the research of skin diseases at the Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing. "I wanted to contribute the best of my years to my motherland," Li said.

Being transferred to the Beijing Tropical Medicine Research Institute of Beijing Friendship Hospital in 1978, Li began working full time on leprosy control and research.

About one year later, Li went to leprosy villages in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province in order to bolster efforts towards the prevention and control of the disease. In rural areas, patients suffering from leprosy were perceived as akin to demonic figures in the past.

[CCTV News]

Since then, Li has trudged along rugged mountainous roads to almost all the leprosy villages in 59 counties situated in seven prefectures and cities in Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces. And she never gave up despite injuries and losses suffered due to car crashes, shipwrecks, and all the other mishaps along her way.

To help people dispel their stigma and discrimination, Li shook hands with leprosy patients, which shocked local officials and villagers. She also checked patients' condition at their homes without wearing any specialized quarantine clothes. She once picked up a patient's shoes and put her hands inside to ensure that there was no nail or loose sand in the shoes so as to prevent the patient from getting any skin injuries. Li also donated money to help poor patients.

[CCTV News]

She demonstrated to patients and other people that leprosy has limited infectivity and is curable. "As doctors, we have no fear, so it was never a problem for me to deal with the disease," Li said.

Li took the lead in conducting short-duration combined chemotherapy involving 24 monthly doses in leprosy patients, which proved highly effective for the treatment of the disease and was eventually promoted by the WHO in 1994. Li also spearheaded a collaborative leprosy control program across the country.

Li Huanying (L) shakes hands with a leprosy patient at a leprosy village. [Photo courtesy of Beijing Friendship Hospital]

She has played a big part in reducing China's leprosy patients to less than 10,000 from 110,000. Moreover, the annual relapse rate was only 0.03 percent, far lower than the standard for international institutions at 1 percent. All the leprosy patients in Mengla County, an area severely afflicted by the disease in Yunnan, were cured.

"The sincere joy when I help cure patients suffering from leprosy can't be overtaken by others," Li said while remembering her past.

Li won the first prize in the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award of 2001, for her strategies, prevention technologies and study on measures for controlling and basically eliminating leprosy in China.

[CCTV News]

She also received an award for lifetime attainments concerning the prevention of leprosy in the country at the 19th International Leprosy Congress, which was held in September 2016 in Beijing.

Li Huanying (F) and other members of the Communist Party of China take an oath of admission before the Party flag in 2016. [Photo courtesy of Beijing Friendship Hospital]

In the same month, Li submitted the application letter to join the Communist Party of China. "I feel myself as qualified finally for joining the Party," the woman said. One year later, she became a Party member at the age of 96.

Her goal is to eliminate the disease from the country. "I still would like to spend my life working for the Party and the people to achieve a world without leprosy," Li said.

(Source: People's Daily Online)
, 94 year old Mutual resident, died Friday, August 27, 2021 at his home. Graveside funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at the Mutual Persimmon Cemetery. See full obituary at www.billingsfuneralhomewoodward.com
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Clariant acquires full control of Beraca, manufacturers of natural ingredients for the personal care sector offering inter alia fats, oils and botanicals, which are all collected and extracted in an environmentally sustainable production process.

MUTTENZ, SWITZERLAND/SAO PAULO, BRAZIL: Clariant has signed an agreement to acquire the remaining 70 percent in Brazilian personal care specialties company Beraca from the founding Sabara family. Clariant has held a 30 percent stake in the company since 2015. The purchase price will not be disclosed. The acquisition is expected to close in Q4 2021.

Beraca is one of the key manufacturers of natural ingredients for the personal care sector offering inter alia fats, oils and botanicals, which are all collected and extracted in an environmentally sustainable production process. Located in the Amazon region, Beraca promotes the development of communities, making them part of the personal care business on a global scale while simultaneously being strongly committed to sustainability and fair trade processes.

In more than 30 years since its foundation, Beraca has received several awards and recognition from customers and institutions as a leading company in ethical sourcing aspects for personal care ingredients. Since 2015, Beraca has invested significant resources in expanding research and innovation and has steadily increased production capacity. With around 90 employees, the family-run company generated sales of $15 million in 2020.

With its focus on sustainable products and processes, Beraca fits perfectly into Clariant's portfolio, said Conrad Keijzer, CEO of Clariant. We gain valuable access to natural materials based on the biodiversity of the Brazilian rainforest. This opens up great opportunities for high-quality growth for our care chemicals business.

There is an increasing demand for ethically produced products on the world market, which we can meet even better with this acquisition, said Christian Vang, head of business unit industrial & consumer specialties.

The acquisition of the remaining 70 percent in Beraca is a relevant building block in the strategy of further strengthening individual core business areas through targeted acquisitions. Beracas business will be integrated into the care chemicals business area.

 Worldofchemicals News
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pauses during a panel discussion at Delaware County Community College, Friday, May 24, 2019, in Media, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
This incredible video shows a Waverly, Tennessee, resident being rescued by jet ski as flood water came up to the roof of their home.
Biden argues US is on track for Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw from Afghanistan: 'The sooner we finish the better'
A view from Clwyd Souths Member of the Senedd

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South constituency Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home. (You can view an archive here).

Clwyd South MS Ken Skates writes

Working with leading charity Mind Cymru, I will soon be chairing a cross-party group in the Senedd dedicated to improving the nations mental health.

The Cross-Party Group for Mental Health will be formalised and its first meeting held in September following the Senedds summer recess. I have invited Jane Dodds (Lib Dem); Llyr Huws Grufydd (Plaid Cymru); Laura Ann Jones (Conservative) and my fellow Welsh Labour MS Jack Sargeant to join the group, and cant wait to get started.

Mental health is a subject close to my heart, and Im pleased that the Welsh Government has dedicated more and more funding to it in recent years. I was particularly proud to see the First Minister appoint a dedicated Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing in May.

I look forward to working with Members from across the political spectrum to discuss and drive ideas to improve Wales mental health.

In the constituency, I recently visited St Dunawds Church in Bangor-on-Dee in support of the appeal to raise 55,000 to have its bells restored.

I have written to the Heritage Lottery Fund to back the churchs funding bid, and would urge any local businesses which would like to help to get in touch.

Id like to thank the Rev Canon Sue Huyton, churchwarden Janis Nicholas and bell ringer Peter Furber (pictured) for their warm welcome.

I also really enjoyed walking the Ruabon Heritage Trail with Jo Smith and Sybil Bremner from the fantastic Friends of Ruabon a few days ago.

The trail starts at Ruabon Station and takes in numerous points of interest detailing over 2000 years of local history, and Jo has done an amazing job spearheading the project. The newly installed boards also have QR codes, which will soon be able to be accessed by mobile phones to give more information and help those with impaired vision.

Its a very scenic walk which takes in parts of our area which people might not have seen before. Id thoroughly recommend it to anyone who likes the outdoors and has an interest in local history.

I have received a number of emails from constituents about planned road closures on the A483.

Wrexham Council has clarified that the stretch between Ruabon and Halton will not be closed for 18 months after incorrect information was posted on social media.

However, I have made urgent representations to Welsh Government about the impact any roadworks could have locally given the road closures already in place. It is my belief that the work should not take place until the damage caused by the land slip at Newbridge has been completed so that a safe, viable diversion can be established.

I will continue to work with both Wrexham Council and the Welsh Government to try to find a solution and will be seeking assurances from the Minister that the work will be prioritised should the Welsh Government be allocated additional funding from the next UK Government Comprehensive Spending Review, which the Welsh Government budget is dependent upon.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board confirmed within the last few days that more than a million Covid-19 vaccinations have now been given to people living or working in North Wales  an incredible effort by everyone involved.

The health board also said it has had a fantastic response since opening up the vaccination programme to 16 and 17-year-olds, and will be contacting everyone in that age bracket who have yet to receive their first dose to encourage them to book it using its online booking service or attend one of its walk-in sessions.

Parental consent is not required, but people in this age group may be accompanied by an adult if they wish. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has said that advice on when to offer the second dose will come later.

You can find information on BCUHBs approach to vaccinating young people aged 12-15 with specific underlying health conditions and those living with immunosuppressed adults in the Frequently Asked Questions section of its website.

Anyone, regardless of age, is able to book the second jab online if they havent had it yet and six weeks have passed since they had their first dose  just follow the link here.

If you need advice or support, please email ken.skates@senedd.wales and include your home address and a contact number. You can also find regular coronavirus updates on my Facebook page and sign up to my weekly newsletters here.





Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South constituency Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home. (You can view an archive here).
Appeal launched over nursery plans refusal for former Gresford police station

An appeal has been launched after plans to convert an old police station in Wrexham into a nursery were refused.

Gresford Police Station was closed in July last year as it was being used less frequently by officers and costing North Wales Police 12,000 a year to maintain.

The property was later put on the market for almost 230,000 to generate funds to be reinvested into other buildings owned by the regional force.

The sites new owner Rachel Lloyd submitted proposals to Wrexham Council in October to transform it into a day nursery.

However, the application was rejected by planning officers because of concerns over the extra traffic it would generate and the impact on road safety.

Ms Lloyd has now appealed to the Planning Inspectorate to have the decision overturned after an agent representing her argued it would not put peoples safety at risk.

In an appeal statement, Peter Douthwaite said: The sole issue in respect to this appeal site is the concerns over additional traffic generation.

The site access is being improved and will provide visibility in full compliance with Welsh Government guidelines for a 30mph speed limit.

The councils highway development control officer has raised no objection on the grounds of traffic generation.

Whilst it is acknowledged that the proposed development would generate a nominal increase in vehicle movements at the site when compared to the existing use, the proposed use and associated traffic is not incompatible to Chester Road nor would the proposed use result in a danger to all road users.

Based on the above there is no reasonable reason to refuse the proposed development on the grounds of traffic generation.

An increase in police officers working remotely was previously highlighted as one of the main reasons for the closure of the village station.

Gresford councillor Andrew Atkinson said the decision did not come as a surprise to him but asked for some of the proceeds of the sale to go towards introducing speed reduction measures.

A decision will be made on the appeal by an inspector appointed by the Welsh Government at a later date.

By Liam Randall  BBC Local Democracy Reporter
Funding announced for 100 new PCSOs across Wales to keep communities safe

The Welsh Government has announced additional funding to provide an extra 100 PCSOs to tackle crime.

First Minister Mark Drakeford and Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt today said an extra 3.7 million would be made available for additional PCSOs across Wales, bringing the total budget to over 22 million.

The additional 100 PCSOs brings the total funded by the government to 600.

Ministers said the funding demonstrated the importance the government places on social justice and would ensure strong and safe communities.

Highlighting the important role PCSOs play, Mr Drakeford said: PCSOs have provided a vital link between neighbourhoods and police services and are recognised for their willingness to become part of their communities.

They have played a critical role in responding to the pandemic and I want to pay tribute to their unwavering commitment.

The PCSOs have continued to step up, providing support and developing innovative ways to keep their communities safe.

PCSOs work with police officers and share some, but not all of their powers.

Some of the things PCSOs support frontline policing with are stopping speeding outside our schools, reporting vandalism or reducing anti-social behaviour.

Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt said: Communities right across Wales have appreciated the vitally important difference that PCSOs make to their neighbourhoods.

Its clear to see that theyve fast become part of their communities and have ensured that when there is a problem, individuals know their local PCSOs have their best interests at heart.

Their work to identify and understand local issues has enabled a focus on early intervention, ensuring that local support services can link up and deliver for our communities.

Im delighted that were hitting the ground running on delivering our pledge to recruit 100 more PCSOs in Wales today, demonstrating our commitment to keeping our communities and neighbourhoods in Wales safe.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said: This announcement about the additional PCSOs is excellent news for all of us and our communities of North Wales. 

PCSOs help extend our connection with the community. Increasing visibility is vitally important. We all want to feel safe.

Increasing the number of PCSOs benefits the Force because they would not be able to operate as effectively.

The support the public has shown PCSOs when Ive been across North Wales out on the beat shows me that it increases confidence in the Force.

Having those local and important conversations  having that listening ear and taking action really matters to us.
Number of items taken after burglary at Borras primary school

Police are appealing for information after a burglary at a Wrexham primary school.

The incident at Borras Park Primary School took place between 2am and 4am on August 19.

Police say a number of items were taken from the school.

A spokesperson for North Wales Police said: If you have any information or live in close proximity to the school and seen or heard anything please contact 101 and quote reference number 21000577154.
Youngsters join together to support vulnerable people across Wrexham and North Wales this summer

Youngsters from across the region have come together to support vulnerable people in their community this summer.

Badgers and Cadets from St John Ambulance Cymru donated food and toiletries to people in need in Wrexham, Gwynedd, Denbighshire and Flintshire.

The project, from the charitys North Wales Youth Council, was started to provide a lifeline to local people during July, an often-difficult time for families, especially during the school holidays.

Volunteers aged 5-17 collected supplies across a four week period, which included food and toiletries from friends, family, and local residents, some even purchased items with their pocket money to add to their donations.

The community days, also involved a number of activities designed to develop their teamworking skills, including problem solving tasks and first aid challenges.

St John Ambulance Cymru Youth Manager, Tracy Sankey-Jones said: Our children and young people have been truly remarkable and their compassion and drive to make a difference has been inspiring.

Some of them delayed their holidays so they could be part of the project and help others when they need it most.

We even had one person receive support from, family members in Canada.

For me, their actions really demonstrate how our youth programmes help our young people grow into kind, considerate adults, she added.

St John Ambulance Cymru Chief Volunteer, Richard Paskell said: Im so incredibly proud of our young people for coming together and making a real difference to people in their community when they need it most.

Their generosity is truly inspiring and is testament to the hard work and altruism of all our Cadets, Badgers, and young people across Wales.

More information about Wales leading first aid charity, St John Ambulance Cymru, and how their youth programmes are making a difference to young people across Wales, visit sjacymru.org.uk/young-people.
WAVERLY, TN (WSMV) - 22 people are now confirmed dead after devastating flooding in Humphreys County this weekend, according to the Associated Press.

As of Tuesday morning, at least 12 people are still missing.

22 dead, 12 unaccounted for after flooding in Humphreys County Search and rescue efforts continued Monday as Waverly and Humphreys County attempt to pick up the pieces after Saturdays deadly flooding.

"Today, we are trying to get a good evaluation picture," Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said.

The catastrophic flooding happened Saturday after 17 inches of rain fell on the town of Waverly in less than 24 hours, setting a new one-day rainfall record for Tennessee.

Davis said many of the people still missing were in the area most impacted by the flood waters.

"The ones we have missing are mainly from the area of the greatest impact of the watcher when it first came up," said Davis. "From children to elderly is what our deceased is ranging from."

Waverly Department of Public Safety Director Grant Gillespie said the number of missing went down from 40 to at least 20 after posting a list of names on social media.

Gillespie also said there had been an arrest on Sunday for looting. Someone was caught trying to steal from a business that was damaged from the storm.

Humphreys County Schools announced classes would be canceled this week because of the flooding. Three schools were impacted by the flooding.

Davis said that they are having issues with notifying victims because of the infrastructure issues in the county.

Humphreys County releases names of missing residents after flooding Humphreys County first responders have released a list of names of people who have been reported missing after Saturdays deadly floods.

Now, search efforts are underway as families search for missing loved ones. Emergency officials have reopened the reunification center at McEwen High School and it will remain open until 5 p.m. The mission of the center is to help loved ones get information from those searching.

Davis asks onlookers to avoid Waverly if possible. Power still remains out in much of the community and several businesses were damaged by the torrential flood waters.

"If you don't have to come to Waverly, stay home. We'd rather ask you not to come into Waverly if you don't have too," the sheriff told News4 on Sunday morning.

The 8 p.m. curfew in Waverly and Humphreys County will remain in place on Sunday.

There is also a boil water advisory in effect for the Waverly water system.

Crews assessing damage after devastating floods WAVERLY, TN (WSMV) - Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said 10 people were dead and 31 missing after flooding on Saturday.

Anyone seeking shelter in Humphreys County is advised to go to the following locations:

YMCA Dickson County, 225 Henslee Dr., Dickson

Fairfield Church of Christ, 1860 Tennessee 100, Centerville

Waverly Church of Christ, 438 W. Main St., Waverly

Waverly First Baptist Church, 300 E. Main St., Waverly

The Red Cross has setup an online resource, so flood survivors can register and let family and friends know they are safe. To access this resource, click here.

Red Cross open shelters, to begin surveying flooded areas on Sunday American Red Cross disaster responders from across Tennessee are beginning to provide shelter, relief items and comfort for people impacted by floods in Hickman, Humphreys and Dickson counties early Saturday morning.

However, the Humphreys County Sheriffs Office advises people to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Drivers are being told "not attempt to cross flooded roads or walkways. Turn around, dont drown."

TEMA released their fourth Flash Report before noon on Sunday, highlighting the following:

A Reunification Center for flood survivors is open at McEwen High School from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday.

The American Red Cross has set up a Flood in Tennessee online resource at www.safeandwell.org where flood survivors can register and let family and friends know they are safe.

The State Emergency Operations Center is activated and supporting local assistance and resource requests in the storm-impacted counties.

Search and rescue operations, and missions to support human needs, will remain ongoing today.

Flood waters are receding and river levels are being monitored.

You can read the full report here.

Storm Impacts Multiple bridges and roadways  SR1/US70, SR230, SR48N  remain closed today from flooding and debris impacts.

Telecommunication services in the area, particularly in Humphreys County, are limited as AT&T and Verizon move resources to the area to improve voice, data, and internet access for the public and responders.

Boil water notices are in effect for the cities of Waverly and Bon Aqua, with Waverly reporting its water treatment facility is down.

More than 10,000 customers in the impacted counties remain without power.

Search and rescue teams performed more than 20 rescues and evacuations yesterday, with searches conducted in approximately 100 homes and 25 businesses.

Open shelters reported 89 occupants overnight.

Humphreys County reports three impacted schools.

Neighbors should check in on the elderly and any people living alone. People should also monitor radio and television broadcasts for information and instructions as well as charge any electronic devices in case of loss of power.
Flooding in North Korea caused by torrential rain during the first two weeks of August has forced thousands to evacuate along the countrys east coast, leaving homes and farmland devastated. The destruction is being compounded by North Koreas isolation resulting from US-led sanctions and the closing of borders since January 2020 in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during a Workers Party meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea [Credit: Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP. File]

Following more rain this past week, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday that Premier Kim Tok Hun traveled to South Hamgyong Province in the eastern part of the country to meet with emergency responders. Kim stated that he was going to the flood-stricken region to learn about the living conditions of the flood victims and to organize flood relief.

Much of the damage was caused by collapsing river levees, resulting in the widespread inundation of farmland. The flooding this month has forced around 5,000 people to evacuate and left more than 1,100 homes damaged. In some cases, water rose as high as the roof tops and caused damage to about 17 kilometers of roads and bridges, according to the state media.

As much as 300 millimeters of rain fell on parts of North Hamgyong Province on Wednesday. Downpours have already hit these regions, so we need to prepare thorough countermeasures, said state broadcaster KRT. This included plans to prevent damage from landslides caused by floods, indicating the danger that continues to exist. During the first week of August, North Hamgyong Province received upwards of 500 millimeters of rain in a three-day span while South Hamgyong Province also experienced above-average daily rainfall.

Other parts of the country have also been hard-hit. The western city of Sinuiju, which sits along the Yalu River separating North Korea from China, was reportedly flooded and was without power earlier in August. A resident of Dandong, China, across the river from Sinuiju, told Radio Free Asia (RFA) on August 3, This morning I got in touch with an acquaintance in Sinuiju over text message. He said that the entire city is flooding and that electricity supply to the whole city has been cut off since the afternoon.

North Korea residents living near China are sometimes able to use cellphones that connect to Chinese networks to communicate with those on the other side of the border. The source told RFA, a propaganda outlet for the US government, that Sinuiju residents were preparing to evacuate to the nearby mountains. Another source stated that due to rains on August 2, every part of the city is flooded and the roads are cut off.

In addition to the devastating rains, the entire Korean Peninsula has also been hit by a weeks-long heatwave. Temperatures this summer have reached as high as 36.5 degrees Celsius (97.7 Fahrenheit) during the day in parts of the North, causing damage to rice and corn crops. The heat wave has been attributed to climate change, as has the increased rains and floods during the regions summer monsoon season over the past several years.

Weeks prior to the onset of the downpours, North Korean authorities attempted to improve and strengthen existing infrastructure including dikes and levees ahead of the monsoon season. However, the impoverished country lacks necessary resources to carry out a full overhaul of its crumbling infrastructure in large part due to the crippling sanctions imposed on Pyongyang by the United States unilaterally and through the United Nations.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly discussed aid to North Korea during a phone call with South Korean Foreign Secretary Jeong Ui-yong on August 6, but details were not made public. However, any offer of assistance from Washington would be entirely cynical. The purpose of the crippling sanctions on the North is to weaken and starve the population, either forcing the Pyongyang regime to bow to US demands or preparing the ground for a devastating war of aggression, similar to the invasion of Iraq.

These sanctions have compounded North Koreas already precarious position. Its entire agricultural sector is highly susceptible to weather conditions, with a bad harvest any given year risking food shortages and starvation for the countrys working class and farmers. Pyongyang relies heavily on China for food and fertilizer to stave off famine despite UN Security Council sanctions banning large-scale economic assistance.

Over the past year, Beijing has provided large amounts of fertilizer and foodstuffs as the North is also still reeling from poor weather the previous year as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, which has further damaged its fragile economy. The Souths Bank of Korea estimated at the end of July that the Norths economy had shrunk by 4.5 percent last year, the most since 1997.

As of late July, North Korea had reported no cases of COVID-19 to the World Health Organisation but had conducted limited testinga total of just over 35,000 tests. No vaccination program is underway in part because the country needs to develop the infrastructure to store and develop the vaccines. The regime has imposed strict border controls including a three-month quarantine for all goods entering the country, compounding the economic crisis.

In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned that the country was facing a food shortage. He stated during a Workers Party of Korea plenum, The peoples food situation is now getting tense as the agricultural sector failed to fulfill its grain production plan due to the damage by typhoon last year. KCNA stated at the time that authorities would be directing all efforts to farming this year.

Last year, North Korea imported 550,000 tonnes of fertilizer from China, an amount the South Korean government called unusually high. Fertilizer and oil also made up the majority of Chinese exports to North Korea this past spring. However, despite the importation of these materials, much of the strict border controls to prevent the spread of COVID-19 remain in place. North Korea has so far rejected aid from the US and South Korea. Pyongyang similarly rejected any aid following the typhoon and floods last year.
This reporter recently interviewed Sean, a US Army veteran in his mid-30s, about the fall of Kabul, the changing attitude of soldiers to American militarism and the social crisis within the United States.

A member of the Afghan security forces walks in the sprawling Bagram air base after the American military departed, in Parwan province north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, July 5, 2021 [Credit: AP Photo/Rahmat Gul]

WSWS: The corporate media are howling that the Taliban is sitting on a trillion dollars worth of minerals and that the treatment of women will deteriorate, among other concerns. How do these pronouncements mesh with the original reason for the invasion, i.e., to prevent another 9/11 and build democracy?

S: It is certainly a morphing of the narrative. They do it without even blinking an eye. I was ranting to my wife about this earlier, but if they were so concerned about womens rights why did they support the mujahideen in the first place in the 80s?

WSWS: Did you start to have questions about American involvement in Afghanistan when you were in the service?

S: Yes, when I was a unit armorer sitting on all of this unused equipment, I was still seeing requisitions go through for new equipment for our unit even though the decision had already been made to take us offline, to stand-down our unit. We were going to shut down but we were still purchasing gear. I really couldnt square that; I had to change my assessment of what was going on. I was seeing my friends go fight and die and I was seeing their missionwhich I didnt believe in anymoreit was just an excuse to send money to contractors for goods we didnt need. I kept thinking about the money. I was deeply disgusted about the whole thing, completely disillusioned.

Over the years I kept seeing people I knew get killed and I came to ask myself, who benefits? The weapons manufacturers and the people who represent their interests in the government, those groups benefit, but what gets ground up in that mechanism are me and my friends in the poor rural South, or anywhere else where the military seemed like the only option. And meanwhile were going back to these communities with health crises and terrible infrastructure, and it seems like we arent benefiting at all.

WSWS: Did your family have military experience?

S: Some. My uncles never talked about it much, but the rest of my family held them up as these people with economic stability, and that the stability came from being soldiers.

WSWS: What was your reaction to Bidens admission that the mission in Afghanistan had nothing to do with so-called nation-building?

S: To hear the president say that it was never about nation building really flies in the face of our stated mission; they told us that we were equipping the people of Afghanistan to fight their own battles and in doing so they would be creating a barrier against the Taliban and ipso facto we would all be better off in America because the Taliban couldnt extend into a region where historically they had a lot of control. And that to me seems like a verbose way of saying nation-building.

I have friends who have gone either way about the news from Kabul. Some of them have become really disgusted and they have reached out to antiwar organizations. And I have friends who have been in longer who have doubled down on the rhetoric, especially to deal with the loss, because there is a lot of loss for a combat soldier. For some of them it was very hard to deal with.

WSWS: Can you speak to the changing mood among soldiers you know?

S: A lot of those guys really believed in what we were told the mission was originally. We had heard stories about Taliban repression and violence. We thought that at the very least we were saving the Afghan people somehow.

And now its just shock. One of my good friends has been posting different articles along the general theme of why did my buddy die? Thats a phrase I keep seeing a lot. All of us are still processing it but for some its very big. Its like having your primary motivation for risking life and limb just suddenly and finally dispelled.

After so much personal tragedy for so many of these guys, many want to just shut down the entire anti-terrorism mission internationally. A lot of them have turned to the Facebook group About Face. If you want to see a lot of the veterans going to the antiwar school of thought, you can see it there. Its people speaking out. They draw the parallel between Kabul and Saigon. Ive seen the membership of groups like that grow tremendously. Guys I never thought I would see running with groups like that, E-6s and E-7s with lots of experience and from up the chain of command, people who have been to Afghanistan multiple times, I just never thought Id see it.

WSWS: That seems like a major change of heart.

S: Absolutely. There is a mindset that is pervasive in combat arms. You are there to locate, close with and destroy the enemy. For these guys to join antiwar groups, this represents a tremendous shift. Some of them are Trump guys even.

WSWS: Presumably they would not have protested in 2003 against the invasion of Iraq, now their idea of American military involvement has changed.

S: Thats right. Im glad you brought up the Iraq war. The Army friends I am referring to were kids when they saw it starting and did not oppose it. These guys started to feel outrage when the Iraqi Defense Forces they had trained would switch uniforms and join ISIS. There was outrage about that. Now that its happened in Afghanistan it has really punched it for a lot of them.

WSWS: Can you comment on the trillions spent on the war in Afghanistan? I believe its $2.5 trillion to date but more than double that when you count interest payments on the borrowed money.

S: Yes, absolutely. I joined in about 2012 and shortly after that I got injured and became a unit armorer. I maintained weapon systems for my company. I was in charge of equipment that added up to hundreds of millions of dollars. Whenever my colleagues deployed, they only took with them a tiny fraction of what we had been maintaining for them. Stateside, I was sitting on hundreds of millions of dollars of unused equipment. I have seen military spending soar and I know personally that that money does not go toward anything that would help combat troops. The money is being wasted and only a tiny fraction of the equipment gets used. Trillions of dollars in military spending in Afghanistan clearly are not the answer.

WSWS: What would $2 trillion do stateside?

S: Where Im from its very rural. Since the turn of the 21st century rural manufacturing in the South has dried up. In the Carolinas when I was growing up it was very difficult, pretty much impossible, to get a factory job with benefits. And at the same timesorry, let me start over because thinking about all the money in Afghanistan is very upsetting, let me start over.

So, where Im from in rural Carolinas, in my parents generation it was typical to get out of high school, get a factory job and sort of get on with it. You could eventually be a supervisor. Once there you could pursue home ownership and start a family. When I was growing up, certainly since 2001, manufacturing has dried up with nothing to replace it. Theres some on the outskirts of Gastonia or Shelby [North Carolina] or places like that. But in the rural county where Im from theres no real opportunity. So, the military is seen uniformly as the best option. You could try to get good grades and go to college but even as I was growing up, we had started to see the myth exploded about getting a college degree as a guarantee for high income. So, for a lot of guys and girls the military was the best option. Go into the military and get your college paid for. I was courted by different recruiters in high school dangling these scholarships. Anyone who was an A-student was getting calls from military recruiters. Our parents talked about mill closures, defunct factories that had been there for decades, so growing up in the middle part of North Carolina it looked bleak, and the military seemed like the only sure thing.

WSWS: WSWS has covered how the infrastructure in the Carolinas is in such terrible shape and a hurricane can quickly become a deadly event and an environmental disaster, with coal ash and hog farm runoff getting into the water. Can you speak about social spending and public health in light of the cost of the Afghan war?

S: I dont know if its a cliche but certainly where I am from when the mills left decades ago crime took off. Methamphetamine took off in the early 2000s. People could manufacture it in their homes. The Carolinas are a place where addicts find themselves in prison, instead of rehab. Any money for rehabilitation would make tremendous strides in saving money on prisons. We have diabetes and poor nutrition. Any money for nutrition or education, you can go a very long way with a very small amount of social spending in the Carolinas. Its the same with the opioid crisis. Members of my family have struggled with opioid addiction, and theyve been to prison and the state just treats them like criminals. In my opinion what was done to them is criminal. Its just really sad and unfortunate.

WSWS: What are your living conditions like?

Growing up we were farmers primarily but my mom worked at a temp agency after the mills left and labor lost all of its power. My dad was a machine operator in a transnational plastic manufacturer. We got by. I was really fortunate growing up because I worked night shifts at a furniture factory when I was a teenager, so I had a little money for things.

WSWS: And now, here in Virginia?

S: I switched to food service for years and a little bit of retail. Both of those sectors do better in the city. I havent been working much since the start of COVID. My wife was pregnant and had our son early in the pandemic. He was born early and immunocompromised initially so we couldnt risk going out. We both lost our jobs. My wife has health complications, mobility issues, so the pandemic has been really, really hard on us. We both work in industries that we were essentially driven into by the conditions that were changing as we were growing up. And then when COVID came along those industries took a big dump, so its been hard. Weve been on unemployment but thats run out, so we scrape by on my medical retirement from the military.

WSWS: Are you in touch with others in those industries?

S: Anybody who has worked in those industries, especially food service, tends to keep in touch. Ive seen two major reactions among food service workers. Some left and looked for remote work. Those still in food service are pulling their hair out. There are not enough servers. Restaurant owners and managers will make posts Pardon our slow service, No one wants to work here. People are not waiting tables because its deadly. Its not because unemployment benefits are so great. People have to have their masks down to eat and drink. Its not the unemployment payment, its not because theyre lazy. There is a lot of anger among those who live off tips. Its a structure of compensation that is highly exploitative.

WSWS: They need a rank-and-file committee.

S: They do, they would benefit tremendously from a rank-and-file committee. There are already numerous online places where they commiserate about the life of food service workers. They need a committee.

WSWS: You followed our coverage of Volvo Workers Rank-and-File Committee (VWRFC) if I remember correctly?

S: I have. I followed your coverage because no one else wanted to cover it. I thought the VWRFC was tremendous because it was a counterpoint to the United Auto Workers union. Many people [saw], and I didnt realize this until I watched the Volvo strike play out, but the VWRFC would make demands and mobilize people to stick to their guns. The UAW would act like they had no interest in fighting for what workers wanted. It was strange because the VWRFC would articulate what workers actually wanted and the UAW would just release pre-printed statements ignoring this. There was a tremendous disconnect between the democracy of the rank-and-file committee and the elitism of the UAW.

WSWS: In fact, they forced the workers to vote a second time on a contract they had already rejected by 60 percent.

S: I saw workers on UAW Local 2069s Facebook bringing that up. I dont understand how they arent all pulling their hair out when they were forced to revote on a contract that they rejected. How is that democratic? Would you accept that in your gubernatorial election? Of course not! The union cannot be counted on for anything democratic at all.
The Biden administration is under increasing pressure, both within ruling circles in the US and from its imperialist allies, particularly Britain, to extend the US military presence at the Kabul airport and provide for a longer and more extensive evacuation from Afghanistans capital.

A virtual meeting of the leaders of the Group of 7 (US, Canada, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Japan) set for Tuesday morning will be the first occasion for Biden to address a global forum on the collapse of the US- and NATO-backed puppet regime in Afghanistan, which fell in only 11 days to a Taliban offensive.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds the rotating chairmanship of the G-7 and will be the nominal host of the meeting. British officials have been the most vocal about seeking a longer occupation of the Kabul airport, which depends entirely on the presence of nearly 6,000 US troops.

In this Aug. 22, 2021, photo U.S. service members during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla/U.S. Marine Corps via AP)

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said there might be hours now, not weeks left for the Kabul airlift, which has removed an estimated 50,000 people, counting diplomats and other personnel of the major imperialist powers and a much larger number of Afghan citizens, who facilitated their operations, including interpreters, clerical and service workers, drivers, bodyguards, spies, informers and many others.

Wallace rejected suggestions that British forces or those of other NATO countries could remain in Afghanistan after a full US pullout. I dont think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States, he said.

British Armed Forces Minister James Heappey admitted that any extension of the August 31 withdrawal deadline would involve a clash with the Taliban, who gets a vote on such a decision. Its just the reality, he said. We could deny them the vote; we have the military power to just stay there by force, but added that evacuation flights could not continue with Kabul becoming a warzone.

In televised comments Sunday afternoon, Biden reiterated his decision to end the US role in Afghanistan in order to continue refocusing US foreign policy to the major strategic rivals of American imperialism, China and Russia. Let me tell you, youre sitting in Beijing or youre sitting in Moscoware you happy we left? he asked, then laughed sarcastically. Theyd love nothing better for us to continue to be bogged down there, totally occupied with whats going on.

This remark, a consistent theme of Biden since he first approved final withdrawal of US troops in April, underscores that the US government has not pulled out of Afghanistan in response to the mass popular opposition to endless wars.

Rather, American imperialism is pursuing a course of action that poses the danger of a war that could bring an end to human civilizationa global strategic confrontation with its most powerful nuclear-armed rivals. At the very time that the last US forces were being drawn down in Central Asia, the US Navy was stepping up its anti-China provocations in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, and US commanders in the Pacific region were predicting war with China within a half dozen years.

Despite the shattering impact of the rapid collapse of its puppet regime in Afghanistan, American imperialism remains committed to using its massive military machine, still the most powerful of any country, to offset the vast decline in its economic strength and maintain its position of global dominance.

That belligerence is likely to be on display at the G7 summit, where the US president will listen to the urging of his European allies, particularly the British, to stay a bit longer in Kabul. Asked Sunday what his response would be to such pleas, Biden said dismissively, I will tell them that well see what we can do.

As the British armed forces minister indicated, that depends also on the Taliban. Biden indicated that the Islamist group has been in daily discussions with the US military at the Kabul airport, and Pentagon officials said Monday these talks were happening several times a day.

The Taliban has not offered military opposition to the US and NATO operations at the airport, or to incursions into the city of Kabul to remove specific groups of American and other foreign residents of the capital, including at least two cases when huge US transport helicopters were employed.

Biden and Pentagon officials also said that US forces had been able to move on the ground outside the walls of the airport, and to expand the perimeter around it, although they refused to give any details. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby flatly denied that Taliban fighters were accompanying US soldiers side by side on patrols.

Appearing on the CBS program Face the Nation Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken was taunted with the question, So we have to ask the Taliban for permission for American citizens to leave. True or not true? In words that confirmed the scale of the US defeat in Afghanistan, Blinken responded, They are in control of Kabul. That is the reality. Thats the reality that we have to deal with.

Meanwhile the campaign in the corporate media over the plight of Afghan civilians at and outside the Kabul airport continues, in conjunction with demands by a faction of the Republican Party for a more aggressive deployment of US troops there. The Sunday television talk shows were given over to harrowing footage of the conditions at and around the airport, and to right-wing critics demanding a reversal, in part or in whole, of Bidens withdrawal decision.

These included Representative Liz Cheney, whose father, as vice president in the Bush administration, played a major role in the original decision to invade and occupy Afghanistan. Also appearing were Illinois Representative Adam Kinzinger, a veteran of the Afghanistan war; Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, another former military officer; Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse; and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.

As is always the case in the corporate media, there was not a single representative of the more than 70 percent of Americans who now oppose the Afghanistan warwhich Biden voted for when he was in the Senateor anyone who criticized the military aggression from an antiwar standpoint throughout its 20-years duration, in which hundreds of thousands of Afghan civilians were killed.

The comments of Senator Sasse, a supposed moderate because he voted for the impeachment of Donald Trump over the January 6 attack on the Capitol, were particularly revealing. Speaking on Fox News Sunday, he called for sending more troops, canceling the August 31 deadline, pushing the military perimeter well beyond Karzai Airport and for immediate discussions to figure out if we should be retaking Bagram, the huge military airbase outside Kabul that was handed over to the Afghan government last month and is now held by the Taliban.

They abandoned Bagram Air Force Base in one of the stupidest military blunders in all of US history, Sasse continued, and now were left in a situation where were relying on a civilian airport, Karzai, that has only one runway. I dont think the American people fully appreciate the danger and the peril into which the president has put us because one RPG  taking down a plane onto that runway means we are stranded. So the president needs to make sure that this hostage situation into which were drifting, that the Taliban knows we will not stand for it.

The precarious situation at the airport was underscored by the outbreak of a firefight between Afghan security guards working for the US military and unknown attackers early Monday morning. German and American military forces intervened and brought an end to the combat, but one Afghan guard was killed and three were wounded.

The bitter recriminations which have broken out within the US ruling elite and its military-intelligence apparatus were also given voice by the Wall Street Journal, in an editorial Monday headlined, Dancing to the Taliban Timetable. It cited Blinkens comments about the reality of Taliban control of Kabul, and then declared, Yes, but this isnt the reality the U.S. has to accept. The U.S. military has more than enough force to dictate better terms to the Taliban 
On Sunday, the World Socialist Web Site hosted on online discussion with leading scientists, For a Global Strategy to Stop the Pandemic and Save Lives. The scientists made a powerful case for a policy of eradication, combining aggressive public health measures with vaccination to eliminate the virus completely.

The event, moderated by WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North, featured Michael Baker, a public health physician and professor at the University of Otago, Wellington in New Zealand; Dr. Malgorzata Gasperowicz, a developmental biologist and researcher at the University of Calgary and co-founder of the Zero Covid Canada group; and Dr. Yaneer Bar-Yam, founding president of the New England Complex Systems Institute.

The international meeting also heard contributions from a parent in the UK and three teachers from, respectively, Tennessee in the United States, Australia and Brazil. Each described the conditions in their countries as schools are being reopened. Dr. Benjamin Mateus, a writer for the WSWS, introduced the meeting by providing a summary of the current state of the pandemic, which is spreading rapidly throughout the globe.

In introducing the event, North explained that its focus was on providing scientific information for the great mass of people, working people, who have to deal with the reality of this pandemic, so that they can develop a strategy to stop the pandemic and save lives.

In his initial comments, Baker criticized the inadequate measures adopted in most countries. Eighteen months in, he said, I would have hoped that the world would have a very systematic way of thinking about the pandemic, describing the strategic choices countries had available and presenting the accumulated evidence about what strategies are most effective. Unfortunately, that is not the case. We have had a lack of global leadership with this pandemic. Elimination is a very viable strategy, he said, noting that several countries with large populations, particularly in East Asia and the Asia Pacific, were able to eliminate COVID-19 for sustained periods, even before the vaccine became available.

Professor Baker on his back of the envelope calculation on the estimated toll of the pandemic

Baker noted, however, that most governments decided not to implement policies that would eliminate COVID-19.

By the end of January [2020], there were very good papers appearing in top journals by good epidemiologists saying, this is going to be a global pandemic, this is the infection fatality risk. On the back of an envelope, I did the simple calculation that the proportion of the population infected would be looking like at least two-thirds based on how infectious it was. The infection fatality risk was looking like about one percent. So right away, its going to kill 30 plus million people across the globe unless you can stop it. Anyone with even basic public health epidemiological knowledge could do that simple calculation, but for some reason the key agencies we were talking about before did not produce that risk assessment and say, We must stop it.

Baker said that the World Health Organization had sent a team of international scientists to China in February 2020 to study how China had succeeded in stopping transmission of the virus. I looked at that and said, Yes, obviously we have to stop this pandemic, we have to switch to an elimination approach, and I just assumed that governments around the world would follow that advice  and they did nothing about it, most countries. We could see the success in the Asia Pacific region, and still the Western world did nothing to contain this pandemic.

Lisa, a parent in the UK, spoke powerfully about the catastrophic situation in the UK, where the government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spearheaded a campaign to remove even the most minimal public health measures to stop the spread of the pandemic. Schools are being reopened, she said, without any protections for students or teachers.

Lisa explains the horrible choices facing parents in the UK

Children are being affected more than ever, Lisa said, and I am terrified basically. I dont know what to do. Its a choice between deregistering my children from school altogetherso they wont see their friends anymore and theyve nothing to look forward to, theyve nothing to go back toand sending them in where they will be highly likely to get COVID. She asked the scientists whether parents should be keeping their children at home.

In reply, Dr. Gasperowicz noted that between 3 to 12 percent of children who are infected with COVID-19 develop long COVID, including potentially debilitating effects on mental health and cognitive development.

Professor Baker on the consequences of school reopenings

On the consequences of reopening the schools, Professor Baker added:

I think the data are pretty clear for the UK. Youre going to have essentially several million children and young people infected over the next few months, and even if adverse events are less than we expect in terms of chronic illness, just the sheer number of children and young people being infected means that were going to have a huge burden of preventable illness in young people, and some of this may be permanent. The precautionary principle means that you do not allow a population to be exposed to a hazard when you do not know the consequences of that, and when you think that the effects may be severe. A responsible government would not allow that to occur.

Professor Baker added that he has real concern that the UK government is inflicting this almost barbaric experiment on the British people at this moment.

Dr. Gasperowiczs presentation of the scientific data behind the eradication strategy

Dr. Gasperowicz gave a detailed presentation of the scientific data showing that if aggressive and coordinated measures had been taken at the beginning of the pandemic, the virus could have been eliminated in two weeks. With the new, more transmissible Delta variant, it will take more time but could still be accomplished within two months.

Dr. Gasperowiczs presentation demonstrated that vaccination, while critical, cannot stop the pandemic, because the virus can still be transmitted by vaccinated individuals. Focusing on public health measures is much more important than focusing on vaccination alone, she said. As an added layer it is important to vaccinate more people. But just by itself, it wont solve the pandemic.

The Delta variant is our wake-up call, she added. We need everything we have in our toolbox to stop it, to slow it down.

Dr. Bar-Yam has been a leading advocate from the beginning of the pandemic of aggressive measures to stop the pandemic, including lockdowns, school closures and a shutdown of nonessential production.

There really are two choices, he said at the meeting, one of which is the way out of this outbreak, this pandemic, and one of which is a pathway to tremendous loss and suffering, which weve been experiencing over the last 18 to 19 months We have to take every step and exercise the strongest action possible.

Asked whether it was necessary to shut down schools, Bar-Yam replied:

It would be appropriate to call, not just for a shutdown of schools, but if you just shut down schools that will not achieve the goal. Its one piece out of an entire strategy We should also have the goal of eliminating this virus and doing so by taking the maximum precautions in order to achieve a reduction in the number of cases.

David Norths conclusion: A powerful and overwhelming case for a policy of elimination and eradication

In concluding the event, North thanked the scientists for providing a powerful and overwhelming case for a policy of elimination and eradication and said they have a huge role to play.

The public needs to be educated. Unfortunately, the media does not do that. We havent had anything approaching this discussion on national television, at least not in the United States and I doubt anywhere else, devoting a whole evening to discuss the reality. Knowledge in this case will save lives. I also would say that if this is going to change, there needs to be the intervention of the broad mass of the population, the working people themselves, the working class has to fight for a change of policy.

The World Socialist Web Site encourages all its readers to watch the full event and share it widely on social media.
Tropical Storm Henri made landfall in the state of Rhode Island on Sunday, having recently been downgraded from a minimal hurricane. This is the second tropical storm to hit the Northeast US in less than two months, after Elsa in early July. Heavy rain falling on already saturated ground has resulted in substantial flooding, compounded along the coast by the coincidence of an astronomical high tide.

On making landfall, Henri had sustained winds of approximately 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour), with gusts up to 70 mph (113 kph). Waves of greater than 19 feet (nearly 6 meters) were reported southeast of Block Island, off the eastern end of Long Island.

After landfall, the storm first turned westward, toward New York. Reports indicated that the effects of the storm were being felt from eastern Pennsylvania, through New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Residents in some coastal areas in Connecticut were evacuated, and widespread flooding was reported extending far inland. Local evacuations were also reported in New Jersey, where flooding of up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) was observed.

A U.S. Postal truck has to turn around as Gardner Rd. in Exeter, R.I., is completely blocked by a downed tree and power lines, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Strong winds from Tropical Storm Henri downed trees and power lines across the state leaving roads impassable and citizens without power. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)

New York City experienced record rainfall, with an accumulation of nearly two inches in just one hour measured in Central Park and a total of over seven inches by Sunday evening. The National Weather Service reported that the Central Park rainfall was likely the highest one-hour total ever recorded in the park. The heavy rain forced the abrupt termination of an open-air concert in the park, a likely COVID-19 super-spreader event with thousands in attendance. Commuter rail service in the New York metropolitan area was significantly disrupted. The emergency rescue of 86 people, including 16 children, was undertaken after a number of vehicles were submerged by significant flooding in Newark, New Jersey.

Throughout the region, more than 140,000 residential customers were reported to have lost power on Sunday.

As of Monday morning, the forward motion of Henri, now downgraded to a tropical depression with winds of 30 mph (48 kph), had slowed, resulting in additional rainfall to already flooded areas but reducing the wind damage. With a turn to the east, the affected areas spread into Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Despite the efforts of utility crews, an estimated 65,000 customers remained without power, including 42,000 in Rhode Island and 10,000 in Connecticut.

Many lost power due to severed electrical lines cut down by fallen branches and toppled trees, whose roots had been loosened in the saturated ground. By midweek, temperatures throughout the region are predicted to reach into the high 80s or 90s with high humidity, creating a significant health burden for those who lack power to run air conditioners.

Additional rainfall of 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 centimeters) is expected before the storm departs, with overall storm totals of up to 12 inches (30.5 cm). More than 33 million people remain under flood watch or warning as of this writing. The storm is expected to progress eastward, crossing Massachusetts, eventually exiting into the Gulf of Maine Tuesday morning.

Federal disasters have been declared by President Joe Biden in much of the affected areas, allowing emergency funds to be allocated for recovery efforts. AccuWeather estimates that the total damage and economic losses from Tropical Storm Henri, so far, at between $6 and $8 billion. As of this writing, no Henri-related deaths have been reported.

Over the past decade, beginning with the back-to-back impacts of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee (2011), followed by Superstorm Sandy (2012) among others, there has been an increase of significant storms hitting the Northeast, a predicted effect of human-induced climate change. These storms are causing severe impacts, not only to heavily populated coastal areas but substantially into the interior, primarily due to heavy rains resulting in major flooding. Irene, for example, was the greatest natural disaster in Vermont since a major flood in 1927.

This trend is expected to worsen in the coming years as the effects of climate change intensify. Rising sea levels will drive coastal flooding ever farther inland, and warming oceans and atmospheric temperatures will tend to increase the moisture-carrying capacity of storms, resulting in greater inland rainfall and more flooding.

A rise in catastrophic flooding is already being seen in many places around the globe. During this year alone, major often deadly storms have impacted Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan and Tennessee in the US, to name but a few. Similar disasters have occurred in other countries, including Germany, Turkey and China, again, to name but a few. These storms are manifestations, along with massive wildfires and droughts in other regions of the planet, of human-induced climate change.

In advance of the storm, various public officials issued the now perfunctory warnings about its potential impacts. Typical was the statement by Andrew Cuomo, soon to be ex-governor of New York:

As always, we will do everything we can to help our local partners with any and all response and recovery operations. This storm is unpredictable and, although it appears to be moving further east, the threats of storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, high winds and power outages remain very real. Now is the time to be smartpay close attention to weather reports, and, for the safety of yourself, your family, and responders, avoid any unnecessary travel.

Or Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont:

I urge everyone in Connecticut to take this storm seriously. Prepare to shelter in place Sunday and into early Monday morning. Plan for power outages that could last for an extended period. Be prepared for urban and coastal flooding, particularly if you live in a designated flood zone. The state is deploying resources and working with our federal counterparts to react quickly and respond as necessary. We will continue monitoring the storm and provide updates through the coming days.

In addition, Cuomo made the exceedingly insightful observation that In the Hudson Valley you have hills, you have creeks, the water comes running down those hills and turns a creek into a ravaging river. In effect, he declared that this is the way things are, get used to it.

Luckily, the impact of Tropical Storm Henri did not turn out as bad as it might have been. Nevertheless, the increasing frequency and severity of such storms is inevitable unless a serious effort is made to address climate change. Otherwise, according to the ruling class, they are simply things the population must endure. In their view, the devastation and death caused by these storms and other effects of climate change must be normalized.

In effect, the ruling classs criminal response, or lack thereof, to climate change mirrors its policy toward the COVID-19 pandemic, that we must learn to live with it, with all the disastrous consequences this holds. The necessary measures to truly address climate change are simply beyond the capacity of the capitalist system to undertake. For the working class, on the other hand, this is increasingly a life-and-death issue.

As stated clearly in the Perspective published on the WSWS Monday, Extreme weather, climate change and the case for socialism, the working class must take decisive political action to replace the chaos and greed of capitalism with a planned socialist economy in order to avoid disaster.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have ramped up their attacks on Gaza, with fighter jets launching strikes on Hamas targets on Monday and Saturday in response to home-made incendiary balloons set afloat from the besieged Palestinian enclave.

It marks the heaviest escalation in hostilities since Israels 11-day war on Gaza last May that killed more than 250 Palestinians, including at least 66 children and 41 women.

Israels attacks follow Saturdays demonstration near Gazas border with Israel, when Israeli soldiers fired lives shots and injured at least 41 Palestinians, including two people who were critically injured, one of whom was a 13-year-old boy shot in the head. The IDF said that the Palestinians had shot and critically injured one of its security personnel, a 21-year-old sniper from the Border Police undercover antiterrorism unit.

Protestors evacuate a serious wounded person from the fence of Gaza Strip border with Israel, during a protest marking the anniversary of a 1969 arson attack at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque by an Australian tourist later found to be mentally ill, east of Gaza City, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

On Monday, Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, announced plans to hold a major rally on Wednesday in southern Gaza near the border with Israel. The IDF responded by building up its forces along the heavily fortified border with the Gaza Strip and instructing its officers and soldiers to respond 'more aggressively' to any attempts to breach the border fence or attack soldiers.

Hundreds of Palestinians had gathered on Saturday near the border to mark the 52nd anniversary of the arson attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Islams third holiest site. Built on the site of the second Jewish temple destroyed by the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago, it is one of the most contested religious sites in the world. While the attack was carried out by a mentally unstable Christian Australian tourist, there were suspicions that Israel had been actively involved in planning and facilitating the arson attempt.

The Mosque has become a symbol of the ongoing violations of the basic rights of Palestinians, including their ability to worship freely, most recently during Ramadan earlier this year, precipitating the tensions that gave rise to Israels murderous assault on Gaza. Since Israels capture and annexation of Jerusalems Old City after the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war, it has become a frequent flashpoint, regularly stormed by Jewish settlers and armed security forces, while worshippers are turned away at the gates and its foundations are being damaged by tunnelling.

Israels Channel 7 reported Temple Mount groups saying there had been a 60 percent increase in the number of Jewish Israeli incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque compound over the past three months, with some 9,804 Jewish Israelis storming the compound over the past three months, compared to 6,133 over the same period last year.

Under an agreement with Jordan, only Muslims can worship at the Mosque compound, while Jews can pray at the Western Wall below. But recently, Israels newly installed government, led by Naftali Bennett, a former leader of a West Bank settlers council, has allowed increasing numbers of Jews to pray there; a move that will exacerbate tensions in East Jerusalem. While he initially appeared to confirm a formal change in policy, saying that all religions would have freedom of worship on Temple Mount, he was forced to backtrack after criticism from Jordan and leftist and Arab members of his coalition, saying that the status quo ante continued.

In the days before Saturdays demonstration, Palestinian fighters had launched a rocket, the first since the May 21 ceasefire, towards Israel that was shot down by Israels Iron Dome anti-missile system.

The Palestinians balloons and rockets are aimed at securing the release of Hamas prisoners detained in Israeli jails, the lifting of Israel and Egypts 14 year-long blockade and the release of funds pledged by international donors for Gazas reconstruction following Israels criminal wars on Gaza in 2008-09, 2012, 2014 and 2021.

While Israel claimed its 2,750 aerial attacks and 2,300 artillery shells on Gaza last May were aimed at Palestinian militants arms factories and warehouses, most of the damage (61 percent) fell on the housing and infrastructure sector, 33 percent on the economic and business sectors, with some 1,500 economic establishments destroyed or damaged, and 7 percent on the social development sector. This caused losses and damages amounting to $479 million, according to the Higher Governmental Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, with the World Bank estimating Gaza needed $485 million to restore it to the same penurious state it was before the war.

On Monday, a third report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) on last Mays war concluded that Israeli air raids that demolished four high-rise buildings in Gaza City, including the 12-storey al-Jalaa building housing the local offices of the Associated Press and Al Jazeera and many families, damaged neighbouring buildings, left dozens of people homeless and destroyed scores of businesses, and apparently had not violated international laws of war.

HRWs earlier reports accused Israel of war crimes for attacks it said had no clear military targets but killed dozens of civilians, while it said the actions of Palestinian groups based in Gaza, by firing rockets indiscriminately at Israeli cities, also constituted a war crime. HRW has called on the International Criminal Court to include last Mays assault on Gaza in its ongoing investigation into possible war crimes by Israel and Palestinian fighters.

Israels targeting of businesses and factories and small businesses, along with its repeated closure of Gaza's borders, has pushed the Palestinians even further into poverty. According to the International Labour Organisation, fewer than 20 percent of people of working age in Gaza has a job, while two-thirds of women and young people are unemployed.

Since the war, Israel has refused to allow building materials needed for reconstruction that would provide work for 60,000 workers to enter Gaza until Hamas agrees to release two Israeli civilians and the bodies of two Israeli soldiers. Hamas has made this release conditional on the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Last Thursday, the United Nations and Qatar agreed to channel aid to impoverished families in Gaza whereby 100,000 families will each receive $100 monthly starting in September from funds provided by the Qatari government and distributed by the UNs World Food Programme and bank transfers rather than direct cash transfers. The deal did not address the broader issue of Gazas reconstruction, nor did it include any arrangement to pay the salaries of the civil servants in the Hamas-run government.

In a move evidently designed to ramp up the pressure on Hamas and the Palestinians in Gaza, Egypt confirmed that it would close its border crossing at Rafah with Gaza, the only point of entry and exit not controlled by Israel, indefinitely starting on Monday. Neither Hamas nor Egypt explained the reasoning behind the closure of the crossing that Egypt had opened in May to allow wounded Gazans to be treated in Egyptian hospitals and to deliver aid. Yesterday, Al Arabiya network reported that Hamas had agreed to stop launching incendiary balloons from Gaza following talks with Egyptian intelligence officials.

Israels increasingly aggressive stance towards Hamas in Gaza takes place amid stepped up violence against the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Yesterday, an Israeli soldier shot and killed a 16-year-old Palestinian after security forces stormed the Balata refugee camp near Nablus. Earlier this month, Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian man and injured 21 others during a protest in Nablus when Israeli troops fired on them with rubber bullets.

Israel has been waging a covert war against Iran, targeting its nuclear facilities, basic infrastructure and shipping. Last Thursday night, Israel struck Syrian military camps near Damascus and Homs, targeting weapons stores linked to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Shiite militias, including Lebanons Hezbollah, that were reportedly intercepted by the Syrian armys Russian air defense systems.
Teachers at Schurr High School in Montebello, an eastern suburb of Los Angeles, returned to their classrooms to prepare for the first day of classes on Monday, August 16.

In the lead-up to reopening across the Montebello Unified School District, whose student body is mostly Hispanic and working class, district officials boasted of work which had been undertaken to prepare campuses for a safe return to in-person learning. The school districts social media pages were filled with photos and videos of workers painting classrooms and deep-cleaning bathrooms and walkways. One district tweet stated, Wonderful work being done preparing for a safe return!

Instead, returning teachers found that their classrooms had rat feces covering the floors and desks. The facilities reeked from dead and decomposing rat cadavers, and there were active nests in storage cabinets.

Screenshot from LA Times video of a rat leaping from a shelf and running away in a classroom at Schurr High School in Montebello

Teacher Al Cueva told the Los Angeles Times that he could hear rats running around in the walls and ceiling.

After teachers confronted district officials over the ghastly conditions of their classrooms, parents of nearly 2,600 students were emailed late on Friday, August 13, that Schurr High School will remain closed for several more weeks. The school, which was also closed to in-person learning last year, will continue with students on remote independent study programs.

Teachers also voiced outrage over malfunctioning heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in a building, where most classrooms do not have windows. The lack of ventilation magnifies the threat of COVID-19 for students and teachers.

In a statement to the Times, interim Superintendent Mark Skvarna admitted the obvious, declaring, [T]he district should have done a better job of identifying the problem in the run-up to reopening. He added that he made the decision to close the school largely out of concern that there might be rodent droppings or other health hazards in the HVAC ducts. Skvarna did not address the implications of malfunctioning HVAC systems in windowless classrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teachers have been complaining about rodents and malfunctioning HVAC systems for a long time. Paul Chavez, a Schurr High teacher and faculty president, told the Times, Were talking even years back. It was a noticeable issue.

Chavez recounted teachers sitting through meetings on the campus and having rats fall out of the tile ceilings and scurry to the next classroom. He added, I just felt like band aids were put on this situation when a little bit more attention needed to be addressed.

In July, when Chavez returned to the campus to assist with summer school, he found his desk littered with rat feces. He brought his personal shop vacuum to clean the mess and then sanitized all of the desks in his classroom. He initially thought this was the extent of the squalor until last Monday when other teachers returned to their classrooms to find that they too were filthy and infested.

Superintendent Skvarna announced that Schurr High should reopen after a 15-day cleaning period. Speaking to the Times, he said, I dont have the current plan of attack. Im dealing with the HVAC issue, the cleaning of the rooms, the sanitizing of the rooms. He added, Were trying to get these facilities up to standards. I dont believe they were before. I believe we need to put effort and money into it. I dont believe its been a priority.

The president of the Montebello Teachers Association (MTA), David Navar, told the Times, The tragedy here is for our students, who havent been on the site for 18 months. It should be a celebration, a welcoming. Instead they are losing out on valuable instructional minutes, and its a tragedy that our students are not getting what they deserve, what they have a right to, which is an education.

However, the MTA bears responsible for pushing children back to school in pandemic conditions which would have posed intolerable threats to students health even without rat infestations and malfunctioning air conditioning. During a webinar this Sunday hosted by the World Socialist Web Site, researcher Malgorzata Gasperowicz clearly demonstrated that the only way to end the pandemic is through a comprehensive program combining vaccinations with public health measures, such as the shutdown of schools and nonessential businesses. If implemented on a world scale, such measures would be sufficient to eradicate the virus within a few weeks.

The rat infestation exposes the fraud of the school district and its union enablers, who, after allowing dilapidated and hazardous conditions to exist for years, are now lying to parents about their children returning to clean schools in safety.

Schurr High School is by no means unique. Similar conditions are found at schools around the country. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of the particularly virulent Delta variant, schools are breeding grounds for the continued spread of the virus that will undoubtedly result in more hospitalizations and deaths. Within days of reopening, large school districts have been forced to quarantine thousands of students, including over 10,000 in the Tampa, Florida school district alone.

The decline of critical public infrastructure in the United States, including public schools, is a direct result of the squandering of societys resources on financing capitalist private profit, rather than human need. The same profit motive has emerged as the main barrier to ending the pandemic.
Protests in Australias capital cities last weekend underscored the symbiotic relationship between a small, right-wing milieu that has campaigned against safety restrictions, vaccines and other public health measures during the pandemic, and a corporate, political and media establishment that is waging an increasingly hysterical campaign for the ending of all lockdowns.

Anti-lockdown protesters in Melbourne (Screenshot, ABC News)

The demonstrations, which appear to have been organised primarily on social media, occurred amid the countrys worst COVID-19 outbreak since the pandemic began. As they were being held, Australias daily coronavirus infections approached 1,000, the highest tally yet.

The spread of the extremely infectious Delta variant is out of control in Sydney, where the vast majority of cases are being recorded. Infections are being detected in regional New South Wales (NSW), case numbers are growing in Melbourne, the Victorian state capital, and Canberra, the national capital, and the virus has re-emerged in Queensland.

Under these conditions, some 4,000 gathered in Melbourne, in defiance of public health orders banning large public gatherings. Police immediately dispersed dozens who sought to do the same in Sydney. All up, several thousand more protesters took part in rallies in Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane, where stringent restrictions are not in place.

The protests had an undeniably far-right and reactionary character. Invocations of Australian nationalism were combined with vague calls for freedom to violate public health measures at will, even if that jeopardises the safety and lives of others. Conspiracy theories were promoted about the COVID vaccines, while hazy warnings were issued about the pandemic being part of a plot by a global elite to control the population.

Extreme right-wing organisations were involved, including members of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network. They made explicit the subtext of many of the slogans adopted in the protests more broadly, openly promoting racism, especially anti-Semitism.

Disoriented layers who are not hardened right-wing activists undoubtedly took part in the protests. There is not the slightest indication, however, that the sentiments animating the vast mass of the population, and especially the working class, were at all present.

The response to the gatherings on social media was overwhelmingly one of hostility, revulsion and anger over the reckless actions of the demonstrators and their anti-social politics.

In none of the copious footage or photos posted to social media by protest organisers was any reference made to social inequality, the rise of poverty and unemployment, or the need for a fight for an increase to poverty-level government assistance payments and against a stepped-up corporate offensive against jobs, wages and conditions.

As has been the case previously, government leaders and media pundits condemned the protests. They particularly focused on the violent clashes that occurred between police and demonstrators in Melbourne.

Such official denunciations have always had an entirely hypocritical character. Governments and the financial elite have railed against public health experts calls for safety measures and lockdowns since the pandemic began, because of their impact on big-business profit. Corporate publications, especially those of the Murdoch press, have repeatedly incited opposition to limited lockdowns, when governments have been compelled to adopt restrictions in response to the demands of epidemiologists and workers.

Last weekend, the basic political alignment between the ruling establishment and the anti-lockdown protests was clearer than ever before. Shorn of their more fascistic rhetoric and obscure conspiracy theories, what many of the protesters were saying was almost identical to the statements of government leaders.

As the protests were being held, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian were in the midst of a campaign insisting that the inadequate lockdown measures currently in place need to be lifted imminently, even as the countrys COVID crisis deepens.

Both have decried the impact of lockdowns and insisting that a roadmap for the lifting of restrictions, adopted by all the state, territory and federal government leaders last month, must proceed, regardless of the mass infections and deaths that will result.

In one press conference after another, and multiple interviews, Berejiklian and Morrison have declared that lockdowns are unsustainable and that people must learn to live with the virus. Yesterday, Morrison warned against those who would seek to undermine the national plan for a full lifting of restrictions beginning in October, as well as those who may fear the catastrophic consequences of these policies.

The meeting of the vaccination targets and a phased reopening have repeatedly been touted as the path to freedom, in a clear echo of the main slogan of the anti-lockdown marches.

Governments in Britain, the US and internationally have used similar rhetoric as they have scrapped safety measures and reopened the economy. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson proclaimed July 19 freedom day, to mark the lifting of all restrictions, including mask mandatesa criminal move that has resulted in a renewed surge of the pandemic.

Some members of the Liberal-National Coalition have made plain the connection between their views and those of the anti-lockdown protesters. Federal Nationals MP George Christensen participated in one of the rallies in northern Queensland last month and has continued to rail against lockdowns and even mask-wearing.

Coalition Senator Amanda Stoker yesterday claimed that the protests represented public sentiment, and justified the Morrison governments reopening drive. As weve seen with some of the protests that happened over the weekend, Australians are eager to get to the resumption of the freedoms they know and love, to get back to enjoying work and study and all of the things that make living in this country great, Stoker declared.

While inciting, stocking and promoting anti-lockdown sentiment, and seeking to do away with lockdowns in practice, the governments used the weekends rallies as the pretext for massive police mobilisations.

In Melbourne, the 4,000 protesters were met by at least 700 police. Clashes broke out, in what police claimed was the most violent demonstration in 20 years. Footage posted online shows officers deploying capsicum spray into large crowds. Some police were decked out in equipment that resembled battle fatigues, including shields and what appeared to be adapted rifles.

Some of the protesters claimed on social media that officers had fired rubber bullets into the crowd. This was disputed by police authorities, who nevertheless admitted to shooting pepper bullets, a weapon that has not been previously used at an Australian demonstration. Hundreds of arrests were carried out.

In Sydney, the entire city centre was effectively blockaded by a force of more than 1,500 extra police, a move that is also without precedent. Ride-share companies were banned from transporting passengers into the area, under threat of massive fines. A reported 38,000 cars were turned away. Trains were prevented from stopping at city railway stations. Small groups of protesters who sought to gather were immediately set upon.

Under conditions in which government ministers are expressing their solidarity with the anti-lockdown protests, it is clear that the demonstrators were not the primary target of the mobilisation. Rather, the gatherings were used as the pretext for a show of force and a trial run, to be used against future struggles, especially those of the working class.

The police operation continues a tendency that has been evident throughout the current outbreak. The more governments have dispensed with safety and health measures, the greater has been the prominence given to the repressive state agencies.

The western and southwestern working-class suburbs of Sydney are under an effective police-military occupation. Curfews are in place there, but not in the rest of the city. Thousands of cops patrolling the streets have been augmented by 800 soldiers. Meanwhile, workers in the area are compelled to attend their places of employment, even if they are unsafe, while health and community support resources remain grossly-inadequate and testing is scaled back.

The governments are well aware that their criminally-negligent policies have already provoked mass opposition. The reopening drive, which will lead to a catastrophic increase in illness, hospitalisation and death, will only intensify this sentiment. Governments are therefore preparing the blunt instruments of repression, to be directed, not at a few thousand right-wing anti-lockdown protesters, but against the millions of workers, students and young people who want public health and social rights to be prioritised above corporate profit.
After more than three weeks on strike, mechanics in the Chicago area, members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 701, are being kept in the dark about negotiations and isolated from their brothers and sisters in the same local and the wider working class as a whole.

Chicago auto mechanics on strike (IAMAW Automobile Mechanics'/Twitter)

The mechanics have shown their willingness to fight against the New Car Dealer Committee (NCDC) of Chicago and the car dealerships concession demands. On July 31, one day before the beginning of the strike, the mechanics voted down the NCDCs contract proposal by 99 percent and voted by 97 percent to strike.

But throughout the past month, the IAM leadership has isolated the strike and worked on behalf of the NCDC as conscious strikebreakers to an even greater extent than during the last strike in 2017, which lasted for seven weeks. During that time, mechanics voted down the IAMs contract proposal once before the union was able to push through a second deal. The union was ultimately able to force through a sellout by using strikebreaking tactics, negotiating side deals with dealerships that were not on strike, which took them out of the Standard Automotive Agreement bargaining pattern. This had the effect of undermining the unity of workers and weakening the strike.

IAM Local 701 is now using the same tactic in overdrive, negotiating what it refers to as the Defectors deal, separately with dealerships not on strike. The union is signing these agreements without allowing the workers at these dealerships a chance to access the full language of the contract before it is signed.

A team of World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke to Hawk Ford journeyman mechanics, apprentices and semiskilled technicians in the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn over the weekend to bring a message of support and unity from the international working class and to let workers tell their story to an international audience.

The dealers want us to pay a little bit more out of our pocket for health care every year. So right now, we are paying $10 per week, and we have been for three years. But what I heard is that the other dealers [that are not on strike] are getting health care for free, a journeyman mechanic told WSWS reporters.

Not all of the dealerships are on strike right now. Basically, we want what the other dealerships already have. There was someone here earlier who is from one of the dealerships that signed the Defectors deal, but he says they havent even seen whats in it yet. But they have an idea of what theyre getting, so thats why they signed it.

The IAM has been putting forward a narrative that blames the NCDC for breaking up the strike because they signed the Defectors deal. However, if workers read what the IAM writes about the Defectors deal, it is clear that from the beginning that the deals were the result of a partnership between the union and the dealers working to end the strike quickly.

It is isolating us because we are the only ones out here, but if the dealer is paying their workers fairly, then the union says they shouldnt have to call them out on strike, the journeyman said.

Workers are receiving about one third of their weekly pay from the IAM while on strike. Although more than what many workers in other sectors of industry receive in strike pay, this is nonetheless a tactic that puts pressure on workers to accept contracts before they are allowed the chance to read them in full detail.

Its not so much about the pay, one journeyman apprentice told the WSWS. Its about having no Most Favored Nations clause, bringing the other tiers of workers up to the same base pay as everyone else, and guaranteeing at least 36 hours per week in base pay for everyone.

The dealers want the ability to reduce our pay based on productivity rather than pay us for how many hours we are at work, and thats not going to fly with us. The dealers also want the ability to add whatever terms they want into the contract whenever they want, which would bypass negotiations every four yearsthats the Most Favored Nations Clause.

We cant even control the flow of work coming in. December is our slowest month and some of us only book 20 hours of work every week, another journeyman added. If the dealers are allowed to reduce our pay based on productivity, then that could mean well only get paid for 20 hours some weeks.

The mechanics told reporters that the costs of the tools that they need for their work are usually paid for by the workers themselves out of pocket, which does not factor into their pay rates. Theres the cost of school that a lot of us are still paying for. Theres the toolbox itself, and then the tools that you have to pay for. If you need a special tool or if you lose one, then you have to go out and get it yourself. If you need a new laptop for the job, its easier to just go out and get the latest one yourself rather than wait for the dealership to get it. Now, there are programs that we have to download onto computers, especially with the new electric vehicles coming out, which were already seeing come into the shops.

People at McDonalds make more than me, Ronnie, a semiskilled tech, told the WSWS. He is paid thirteen dollars an hour for his work, which is essential for keeping cars running smoothly. Im semiskilled, which is under apprentice. I do brakes and alignment and fluid flushes. Back in 2017, there were 129 dealers that had mechanics on strike. Now its roughly 40, because of the Defectors deals [and earlier side deals in 2017]. It hurts morale and it doesnt help. We get no details [on the Defectors deals]. The hearsay is the raise is supposedly fifty cents, to $17.50.

We had a 99 percent strike vote. The NCDC doesnt want to talk. More than half of the dealers have mechanics back to work. Dealership owners could leave the NCDC, and the IAM is pretty lock-tight about the Defectors deals.

On the IAM Local 701 Facebook page, which has for the most part kept workers in the dark about negotiations, several comments on posts have tried to persuade mechanics to find jobs at dealers that have already signed the Defectors deal, in other words, encouraging fellow workers to scab on themselves. The IAM has so far not done anything to expose these posts, denounce them, or otherwise call for unity against strikebreaking.

The facts indicate that both the NCDC and the IAM worked out a strategy to sign separate agreements with individual dealerships to undermine the strike. These deals, which have been imposed without workers having the full details or a chance to ratify, are illegitimate and bogus and must be rejected with contempt.

As it was in the 2017 strike, mechanics and technicians are very concerned about losing guaranteed weekly base rate pay that they rely on to support themselves and their families. The IAMs latest proposal, dated August 13, but not released to members until August 19, still allows the dealerships to reduce a workers base rate pay based on productivity. It states: Effective August 1, 2022, when a Journeyman Technician fails to average booked hours greater than 36 hours and those total booked hours are less than 90% of the average of all Journeyman Technicians hours, both measured during a consecutive eight (8) week period, the Employer may reduce the Technicians weekly base pay. The reduced base pay will be the average booked hours times the 36.1 hourly rate up to a maximum 5% reduction.

The current weekly base rate pay is a concession to the dealers. If mechanics remember the 2017 negotiations, they demanded 40 hours per week of guaranteed base rate pay, but after seven weeks of bitter struggle the IAM settled for 36 hours per week. This is far lower than what workers had asked for and closer to what the dealerships wanted.

If the IAM is capable of making concessions like this to the dealers, what else is it hiding?

According to its home page, Local 701 is seeking to have a contract by today. Workers have every right to be concerned that a deal imposed under these conditions will be a management-friendly sellout that will erode their living standards.

In response to the concerns workers voiced about the tactics being used to isolate them on the picket lines, WSWS reporters explained the significance of the struggle at Volvo Trucks in Dublin, Virginia this year and the powerful example that experience holds for workers everywhere.

Like the mechanics of Local 701, the Volvo workers were isolated by the United Auto Workers union and were put under immense pressure to accept a contract that workers had not yet had a chance to read, and which was filled with concessions. Rather than accept the UAWs lies, the Volvo Trucks workers recognized the international character of their struggle and formed their own organization to fight for their interests, the Volvo Workers Rank-and-File Committee (VWRFC). The committee organized resistance to the repeated attempts by the United Auto Workers to force through a sellout agreement and issued their own set of demands based on their needs, writing statements that appealed to workers worldwide and gained international support for their struggle.

Whatever the outcome of the current strike, the fight is not over. As in 2017, the WSWS is the only organization fighting for an alternative to the nationalist, pro-company agenda of the unions. That alternative, through the formation of rank-and-file committees, fights for an independent political program for the working class and international solidarity in the fight against capitalism.

The WSWS will help mechanics who want to build rank-and-file committees and a new leadership to formulate a set of demands based on what workers need, not what the corporations and unions say they can afford. To learn about how to build a rank-and-file committee, contact the WSWS today.
Nabisco bakery workers in Norcross, Georgia have gone on strike, joining striking Nabisco workers in Portland, Oregon; Aurora, Colorado; Richmond, Virginia; and Chicago, Illinois. All Nabisco production and distribution centers in the US are now on strike. These workers are struggling against brutal working conditions, low pay, and the introduction of a two-tier health care system which forces health care costs onto workers shoulders. These struggles are taking place as Nabisco has raked in record profits.

Nabisco workers on strike (BCTGM website)

Well over 1,000 Nabisco workers are now on strike across the US against Nabisco and its parent company, Mondelez International. Over 200 Nabisco workers in Portland, Oregon were the first to go on strike August 10. The Nabisco strike is part of a growing workers rebellion that spans numerous industries.

The strike by Nabisco workers was preceded by a strike of Frito-Lay workers in Kansas and Indiana over low wages, grueling shifts lasting 12-16 hours, and a sharp rise in health care costs. These struggles were ruthlessly betrayed by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) union. A Topeka Frito-Lay worker informed the World Socialist Web Site that the union [BCTGM] paid us only $105 a week and literally starved us into accepting the latest offer. In fact, the new contract forced through on July 23 by BCTGM further integrates the union into company management through the establishment of a six-person labor-management committee to make recommendations on staffing and overtime.

The striking Nabisco workers have been forced to work 12 to 16 hour shifts, seven days a week, as the Delta variant of the coronavirus has been allowed to rip through the population. Mondelez is now demanding that workers accept the auto industrys Alternative Work Schedule, which forces workers to adopt 16-hour shifts without any overtime pay. Mondelez International is also demanding that workers pay more for health care.

In 2016, Mondelez International threatened to move all production to Salinas, Mexico unless the BCTGM imposed $26 million in concessions on the Nabisco workforce in Chicago. That same year, Mondelez cut one half the jobs at the Chicago plant and closed the Fairlawn, New Jersey, and Atlanta, Georgia, plants. Over 1,000 jobs were eliminated.

The BCTGM did nothing to stop the closure of these plants, or the loss of over 400 jobs in Chicago. Security was called in and Chicago Nabisco workers were escorted out of the plant, while the BCTGM did not offer one word of protest or a strategy to fight back.

At the beginning of the Nabisco strike on August 10 in Portland, BCTGM vice president Mike Burlingham addressed the striking workers and laid out the unions intentions. This is a fight for the American middle class, Burlingham said. Were fighting to maintain what we already have. Were not coming to the table asking for things, were coming to the table saying just leave things alone.

Just leave things alone is not what workers want. In fact, this union is trying to sell out the US Nabisco workers by demagogically portraying Mexican workers as the enemy. The BCTGM, which falsely claims to represent Nabisco workers, states on its website that its aim is to convince Nabisco to stop exporting jobs to Mexico.

In fact what is needed is a common struggle with brother workers in Mexico against all attempts to divide and conquer. The stirring up of anti-Mexican prejudice only plays into the hands of the company and weakens the fight by workers. Nabisco workers in the US have more in common with their Mexican working class brothers and sisters than with the well-heeled American union bureaucrats whose only job is to keep workers in line. What is needed instead is to extend the battle across national borders and cripple Mondelezs operations on a global scale.

Mondelez International has responded to the strikes by indicating its disappointment, but says it is confident that the strikes are not expected to disrupt production at the facilities. Mondelez saw profits of $3.6 billion in 2020 on revenue of $26.6 billion.

BCTGM Local 364 in Portland, Oregon negotiated with Mondelez International for three weeks before the strike was launched on August 10. These backroom negotiations, are being kept out of sight of rank-and-file workers, who have no say or input. A genuine working class organization would involve workers directly in the bargaining process, and would publicly announce the details of every step of the bargaining process.

Rather than fighting in workers interests, the union has systematically collaborated in the slashing of jobs and workers wages for decades. Francesca, the daughter of a Chicago Nabisco worker explained, My dad told me stories of how back when he first started work at Nabisco in 1960 there were over 4,000 people. Now its just a few hundred.

Michael, a former Chicago Nabisco worker, took to social media to declare his support. I stand with you in your stand against corporate greed, he said. Please be aware that the current buildings you work in are old, and to reinvest in them might be the perfect excuse along with union negotiations that failed to set the ball in motion to let Mondelez close them!

The role of the AFL-CIO and BCTGM is to work for the shutting down of the strike and the imposition of a management-friendly deal as soon as possible. The union bureaucracy is determined to let nothing disrupt their cozy relationship with management, which has fattened the union coffers at the expense of workers.

The Nabisco strikes that are taking place across the US demonstrate to all the world the workers willingness to fight a determined struggle against the capitalist class. But Nabisco workers must come to understand that they are fighting a struggle on two fronts. They are fighting against Mondelez International and the BCTGM functionaries.

To wage this two-front struggle, it is necessary to organize workers into democratic rank-and-file committees independent of the union. The Nabisco workers must learn the lessons of the Volvo strike. It is not possible for Nabisco workers to advance a fight for their own demands so long as the BCTGM strangles their struggles and can pretend to speak for workers.

The World Socialist Web Site will assist in the formation of such a committee. Send a text to (785) 8161505 or fill out the contact form at wsws.org/workers to learn more.
The New York City Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee is fighting for a complete closure of schools as one step in eradicating the pandemic, while demanding ample support for remote learning and full income protection to allow parents to stay home with children. Our committee will meet this Tuesday, August 24, at 7 p.m. EDT to develop a plan to mobilize parents and educators against the full reopening of schools in September. We urge educators, parents and students in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey to register here and invite your coworkers and friends.

New York City public school

As the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, which now accounts for 95 percent of new cases in New York, continues to spread, Democratic Party politicians, educators unions and the corporate media are engaged in a full-throttled effort to ensure the opening of school buildings for over 2.6 million K-12 public school students in New York state, including over a million in New York City.

Earlier this week, New York Citys Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio told CNN anchor Anderson Cooper in an interview that, We need our kids back in school, Im adamant about this. Were not having remote as we had last year.

This comes at a time when the positivity rate for those tested for COVID-19 has risen again to 3 percent statewide and nearly that level in New York City. The number of pediatric hospitalizations in the state in the last few weeks has quadrupled. Nonetheless, schools are set to open on September 13 in the city and after Labor Day for most districts in the rest of the state.

To stem the broad opposition of educators and parents to in-person schooling, de Blasio mandated vaccination for all teachers on Monday. Incoming Democratic state governor Kathy Hochul has indicated that the state may impose a similar measure.

The mandate will do little to prevent infection in tens of thousands of children, which in turn will facilitate the community spread of the Delta variant throughout the city, particularly among poorer under-vaccinated neighborhoods. As in the rest of the country, all children under 12 are not vaccinated.

The number of breakthrough infections of the Delta variant in vaccinated people, the high viral loads that the vaccinated can carry and the impossibility of maintaining the already inadequate three feet of distance between students mandated by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) simply do not factor into the calculations of the state and city.

Without doubt, the most scurrilous role in New Yorks school reopening plans is being played by the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) in New York City and the New York State Teachers Union (NYSUT) in the rest of the state.

Earlier this month, UFT president Michael Mulgrew bragged at a press conference about his subservience to the school opening program of de Blasio and then-Governor Andrew Cuomo. When we opened up schools in a pandemic before there was even a vaccine, we went and did it, he said, adding, Come September, I fully expect us to be open. In response to educators who need medical accommodations, Mulgrew said, Some will get approved, and some will not. But a medical accommodation does not mean work from home. Okay? Ive been straight with everyone on that for quite some time. Last time, thats what it meant. Its not going to mean that this year.

Even more vile is a television and digital media ad produced by NYSUT and paid for by a grant from the national American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which began to air statewide on Monday. In the ad a mother asks, Why am I sending my kids back? Let me show you. Kids always learn better in classrooms with hands-on instruction than online, she says. More social interaction means kids are healthier, happier and learn better  and doctors and health advisers say schools are safe with protocols in place and experts monitoring everything.

The slick ad is a pack of lies. Children will not be healthier and happier when they get sick or infect their parents and grandparents with the Delta variant. Protocols, such as masking or social distancing may or may not be in place and will not be regularly applied if they are. Doctors and health advisers have regularly warned of catastrophe if schools are opened and experts will monitor nothing, except perhaps on districts web pages.

As the NYSUT ad shows, the back-to-school campaign is being spearheaded not only by the lie that children are safe if they are masked and if their educators are vaccinated, but also by the claim that students must return to school because of learning deficiencies with remote education over the last year. De Blasio pushed this line in his interview with Anderson Cooper: We saw the tremendous limitations of remote for our kids  not just educationally. For their social and emotional well being, for their physical well being, our kids all are coming back to school.

The New York Times published a semi-hysterical editorial on Saturday, which feigned concern about the loss in learning, particularly for working class children in the last year of remote instruction. In the United States, the Times wrote, a growing body of research shows that the suffering of poor children during the pandemic was compounded by the fact that their schools were more likely to remain closed than schools serving higher-income students.

The haphazard and poorly funded remote learning implemented by the Democratswho refused to levy a single penny from Wall Street, as well as the poorly planned and irregular shutdowns of non-essential businesses without significant compensation to small businesses or parents and other caregivers who had to stay with children, had, in many cases, an impact on learning outcomes. New York City, for example, never supplied computer equipment to all of its students and never provided full access to high-speed Internet. The city and the state, much less the federal government, never considered a program of vastly increased mental health care for children, let alone any other section of the population.

But for the New York Times, the voice of the affluent upper middle class as well as the very wealthy in the Democratic Party, to decry the suffering of poor children during the pandemic is an obscenity. This is the newspaper that has long supported brutal austerity and school privatization and then marshaled every pseudo-scientific claim to force working class children and their educators back into decrepit and poorly ventilated buildings before any vaccine at all had been developed and distributed. It is now simply promoting another propaganda argument for big business to open the schools and get parents back to workregardless of the cost in childrens lives.

Anger at the reopening plans among parents and educators in New York is widespread. One science teacher in Queens told the World Socialist Web Site, My school will be overcrowded, and we will absolutely not be able to maintain three-foot distances. And the lunchroom is going to be overcrowded with maskless students in the hallways passing shoulder-to-shoulder like subway rush hour. And we cant say that kids are going to be wearing quality masks or that theyre going to be worn properly. It is a recipe for disaster.

Shutting the schools, though, is not enough to eradicate the virus. Opposition to school reopenings needs to be a part of a global plan that includes mass vaccination, lockdowns of non-essential businesses and income support to workers who cannot work. Educators and parents in New York must adopt this strategy and reject all efforts at simply mitigating the effects of the virus.

The Movement of Rank-and-File Educators (MORE), a caucus in the UFT associated with the Democratic Socialists of America, has called for a remote option but is opposed to teachers launching a rebellion against the UFT and uniting with parents and students to prevent the opening of the schools.

The remote option is the program of sections of the Democratic Party that seek to allow schools to be opened but to head off a confrontation between parents and teachers on the one hand and the ruling establishment on the other. It is not a viable plan for the suppression and eradication of the virus and belongs to the tactic of mitigations that has been proposed by the Democratic Party. It is no accident that 61 members of the New York City Council voted for a resolution calling for a remote option.

Mitigation stands in stark contrast to the program of eradicating the virus put forward by the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee. The committee supports the international public forum sponsored by the World Socialist Web Site on Sunday, which included four leading scientists who outlined the methods that must be adopted on a world scale to protect the population from COVID-19. This includes mass vaccination, social distancing through the shutdown of non-essential businesses and activities, including in-person K-12 and university instruction, and support for workers and parents who stay home with their children and a program of scientific education for the working class.
The trade union Verdi has called nursing staff at the state-owned hospital groups Charite and Vivantes out on a three-day warning strike by thousands of workers between Monday and Wednesday this week. The union was forced to call the action because of the widespread outrage among nurses who have performed superhuman tasks during the pandemic and now find that unbearable working conditions and low pay have become the norm.

Verdi is negotiating a so-called relief collective agreement, which would pay nursing staff bonuses or give them time off from the exhausting hours they face due to chronic understaffing and other factors. Verdi also said it wants salaries at Vivantes subsidiaries brought in line with the public sector collective agreement (TVOD). Currently, the 2,500 employees at these subsidiaries receive several hundred euros less than those doing the same work at Vivantes.

Striking nurses in Berlin

Verdi gave management at Vivantes and Charite a deadline of 100 days to present a negotiable offer. After they failed to do so, the union called the warning strike. This was ostensibly the last warning before a ballot on indefinite industrial action, which Verdi says would start on August 30 if there is no movement in negotiations.

The response among workers to the partial strike has been solid. Workers at all eight Vivantes hospitals and the three Charite campuses want to strike, and entire wards are expected to be closed by Tuesday morning. According to the Berliner Tagesspiegel, Charite has already cancelled 2,000 appointments with missed treatments to be made up after Wednesday. Almost all departments are affected, from surgery and dermatology to geriatrics and gastroenterology. Fewer beds will be available in intensive care units during this time.

Widespread popular support

The strike has won widespread support from the public. Messages of solidarity are accumulating on the website of broadcaster rbb24, which regularly reports on the industrial dispute and working conditions at the hospitals. Good luck with the strikestand firm!, Hang in there! and I wish the workers in the sector good luck with their industrial action! Enough of making profits on the backs of workers and patients, are some of the comments.

Many commentors note the hypocritical praise the nurses received from corporate executives, politicians and the media last year and how they are being disrespected today. This is how you treat heroes? Got it; the real heroes all want to be in the Bundestag [parliament]. No wonder with that salary.

A year ago, nurses, careers etc. were applauded for their constant willingness to work, often to the point of exhaustion. In the pandemic, the whole dilemma of our society became obvious. ... Those who blow millions on nonsensical foreign [military] missions should start doing the job better!

Other comments denounced the enrichment of those at the top of society. Billions are thrown in the craw of the pharmaceutical corporations and yet there is no money for nursing staff, one commentator said. Another added, Financialisation also continues in the health sector. The extremely unequal distribution of income and wealth continues. Its time this was finally brought to an end.

Management at the two hospital groups have reacted with ruthless arrogance towards the strikers concerns. Vivantes said it would not accept a collective agreement because the nationwide shortage of skilled workers means a reduction in nurses workload would force the company to cut 360 to 750 beds. Consequently, the company would have to dismiss doctors and other non-nursing staff. The result would be a reduction of 870 to 1,300 jobs and an additional deficit of 25 to 45 million euros, management claimed.

This blackmail leaves one speechless. Instead of making the nursing profession more attractive through better working conditions and pay, Vivantes blames nursing staff for the reduction of beds and jobs because they refuse to be exploited to the hilt.

In fact, the miserable working conditions and decades of austerity imposed on the health system are responsible for the shortage of qualified personnel. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Germany had a shortage of about 120,000 nurses. During the pandemic, the attrition rate has risen.

According to surveys, about a third of nurses in the intensive care sector are considering leaving the profession or at least reducing their working hours. The reason given by 72 percent of respondents is overwork. Ninety-six percent feel abandoned by political decision-makers.

At the request of the company, the Berlin Labour Court banned a strike last week at Vivantes subsidiaries, which provide meals and laundry service. The court justified its attack on the right to strike by claiming there was no emergency service agreement in place between Verdi and the company. Without such an agreement, a strike could lead to a danger to the life and limb of patients, the court said.

Verdi offered a comprehensive emergency service deal, but the company rejected it after days of negotiations, arguing it was managements responsibility to develop such a plan. If the ruling is upheld on appeal, it would set a dangerous precedent allowing corporations to essentially render strikes ineffective at will. This view of the court shocks us, Verdi spokesperson Tim Graumann said, because that would mean that employers could dictate emergency services.

Verdis double game

Verdi is playing a despicable double game in this dispute. Although the industrial action enjoys broad support among the workforce and the population, the union is obsequiously begging and pleading for a rotten compromise.

Last Friday, the unions collective bargaining committee published an appeal to the hospital managements and state politicians under the heading Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate! It begins with the words, The collective bargaining committees of Vivantes subsidiaries, Vivantes proper and Charite hereby declare: It is not our intention to strike! It continues in this style. We are ready to negotiate. At any time, the Verdi officials affirm several times.

The union bureaucrats do not shy away from self-humiliation to prove that they want to avoid an escalation of the conflict at all costs. The hospital strike coincides with the shutdown of urban transit trains in Berlin by members of the GDL railway union and large demonstrations by Siemens workers against the planned closure of the gas turbine factory, the largest industrial plant in the city.

Verdi is in cahoots with the Berlin Senate (state executive), which consists of a coalition of the Social Democrats (SPD), Left Party and Greens. Most Verdi officials are members of one of these three parties and often move from union positions to political office and back. Now they are feigning outrage that the hospital management is allegedly acting contrary to the will of the Senate.

In background talks, members of the state parliament from the three ruling parties and the Free Democrats (FDP) and Christian Democrats (CDU), assured Verdi that they supported the demand for minimum staffing levels, according to the unions collective bargaining commissions appeal. That is why we, as health workers, do not understand how it can be that while all the parties in parliament elected by the citizens advocate a common stance, the hospital managements of the state-owned companies do not behave according to this basic stance.

The reason is easy to understand. The two hospital groupswhich are wholly owned by the state but run according to private profit principleswere created by the Senate to systematically lower wages and working conditions and to turn health into a source of profit.

The Vivantes group, founded in 2001, now oversees about a third of Berlins hospital patients. It employs almost 18,000 people, including 13,000 full-time staff, and has annual revenues of 1.5 billion euros. Its top managers collect over half a million euros a year to keep staff costs low and the group profitable.

These austerity measures have been implemented with the full support of Verdi, which has worked and continues to work closely with the Senate.

In 2016, for example, Charite employees experienced the historic collective agreement negotiated by Verdi, through which the staff was simply cheated. Even union representatives had to admit time and again that staffing targets were barely met.

The struggle by cleaning and kitchen staff for adequate wages has also been sabotaged by Verdi for years. Verdi will betray the workers at the Vivantes subsidiaries just as it did with Charites service company CFM (Charite-Facility-Management).

At CFM, which was spun off 15 years ago to introduce low wages, there have been countless strikes and protests. They were all sold out by Verdi without any improvements for the workers. After the protests increased, Verdi and the Berlin Senate initiated the buyback of CFM in 2019 and agreed on a collective agreement for CFM workers last year that contains no or only minimal improvements.

Talks are again taking place behind the scenes between the Senate, Verdi and the hospital management on how to steer the strike into harmless channels and strangle it. According to the Tagesspiegel, there have already been talks between Finance Senator (state minister) Matthias Kollatz (SPD) and Verdi officials. Significantly, Kollatz is also head of the supervisory board of Vivantes.

All over the world, workers are having the same experience with the reprehensible role of the trade unions. In Worcester, Massachusetts in the USA, 700 nurses employed by hospital operator Tenet have been on strike for nearly six months. Although their strike has strong support, the union is isolating it to keep it under control.

In Quebec, Canada, health care unions have negotiated a deal with the regional government against the workers wishes, paving the way for further attacks on wages and working conditions. The list could go on. Workers everywhere face the same attacks and problems. A successful struggle against this can only be waged in opposition to the unions and parties responsible for the disaster in the health sector.

The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) calls for the formation of independent rank-and-file committees by striking workers to organise a struggle against hospital management and mobilise the necessary support. The Fourth International, to which the SGP belongs as the German section, launched the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees on May Day to coordinate struggles in different factories, industries and countries.

Privatisation and all cuts in the health sector must be reversed. Hospitals and other health facilities must be transformed into public utilities and democratically controlled by the workers. This is the only way to guarantee decent wages and humane working conditions. This is what the SGP is standing for in the upcoming Bundestag (federal parliament) and Berlin Senate elections.
Since New Zealand entered a level four lockdown, the strictest level, on August 18 after the discovery of one case of the Delta variant of COVID-19, testing has identified a total of 148 active cases in the community, as of today. Of those, 137 cases are in Auckland, NZs largest city, and 11 in the capital, Wellington.

A COVID-19 testing centre in Wellington, May 2020. (Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)

On Monday, Labour Party Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern extended the lockdown in Auckland until September 1 and the rest of the country until August 28. It could be extended further.

The outbreak shows the extraordinary speed with which the highly infectious variant can spread. Officials believe that the outbreak stems from a single person who returned to New Zealand from Sydney, Australia, on August 7. Aucklands Crowne Plaza Hotel, one of several hotels serving as managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities for returned travellers, is being treated as a possible source for the outbreak.

The outbreak highlights the danger of using hotels in central locations, rather than properly-equipped facilities outside of the cities.

There will undoubtedly be more cases. The Ministry of Health has identified 421 locations where positive cases visited while infectious, including cafes, nightclubs, schools, universities, churches, retail outlets and the SkyCity Casino. More than 15,700 people have been identified as being potentially exposed to the virus.

Although New Zealand has pursued stricter lockdowns than many other countries and has not experienced mass deaths, the country remains highly vulnerable. The governments vaccination campaign has only begun to ramp up in recent weeks. Just over 23 percent of the population is fully vaccinated and 59 percent have not had their first dose. At present, only people aged over 40 and those aged 12 to 15 are eligible for vaccination. The 30 to 40 age bracket will become eligible tomorrow and those aged 15 to 30 on September 1.

The majority of the positive cases are from Aucklands Samoan community, who are disproportionately poor and more likely to suffer from health conditions such as diabetes, and to live in overcrowded conditions. Pacific Islanders also have lower rates of vaccination.

Significant numbers of essential workers, who are working during the lockdown, are unvaccinated, including in supermarkets, at the ports and in food processing. Newshub reported on August 20 that 3,000 hospital workers in Auckland had not received a single dose, despite being designated as high risk and a priority.

About 150 staff at the North Shore Hospital were told to self-isolate, after possible exposure to the virus. However, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation told Radio NZ that some nurses in some areas of Auckland have been called to work to fill staffing shortages, despite being identified as close contacts of positive cases and thus potentially placing hospital workers and patients at risk.

An uncontrolled outbreak would quickly overwhelm the public healthcare system due to decades of underfunding. According to the New Zealand Herald, there are just 284 fully staffed ICU beds across public hospitals. Dr Craig Carr, from the Australia New Zealand Intensive Care Society, told the newspaper on August 18 that although more medical equipment had been procured over the past 18 months, we actually have very few extra staff, and in some instances, weve got fewer staff.

More than 30,000 healthcare workers held a nationwide strike in 2018 and another strike in June 2021 to demand better pay and safe staffing levels. The Labour government, while refusing to address the staffing issue, is relying on the trade unions to enforce austerity, including a pay freeze across the entire public sector.

On Monday, Ardern told the media that for now the government remains committed to an elimination strategy, which means using lockdowns to stamp out the virus wherever cases are detected. She rejected the approach of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is insisting that the population must live with this virus, i.e., tolerate its continuing spread. This policy has led to an ever-expanding outbreak, along with hospitalisations and deaths, in New South Wales.

Governments in many parts of the world have adopted the policy of living with COVID-19, which means ordering schools to open so that people can return to work and corporations resume making profits, while the virus continues to run rampant, killing hundreds of thousands more people.

New Zealand epidemiologist Michael Baker stated during the panel discussion hosted by the World Socialist Web Site yesterday that he expected New Zealand to squash the Delta outbreak in the next week or two. He described the UK governments complete abandonment of restrictions, by contrast, as an almost barbaric experiment on the British people.

Baker and other experts stressed that vaccination alone is not enough to stop the pandemic. They outlined the public health measures that are necessary to eliminate the coronavirus nationally, and to eradicate it worldwide.

The Ardern government, however, has begun talking about modifying its elimination approach. Speaking on TVNZ on Sunday, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said At some point we will have to start to be more open in the future some of the measures that we are using, like lockdowns, like a very, very constrained border, you cant sustain those forever we cant sustain doing level four lockdowns every time theres a community [outbreak].

Without going into detail, Hipkins said different settings at the border would bring a different risk profile. The government has already said it plans to ease isolation requirements for international travellers from some countries next year.

The government is facing pressure from big business, reflected in the corporate media. Right-wing radio host Mike Hosking declared that the lockdown was costing billions and declared: is elimination real? And how long before they put the white flag up on that?

Columnist Matthew Hooton wrote in the New Zealand Herald that almost every country has accepted that Covid is here to stay, and basically implied that New Zealand could do the same if the country had more ICU capacity and vaccinations.

Stuff columnist Andrea Vance similarly complained: The rest of the world is embracing its post-pandemic future while New Zealand enters a March 2020 time warp. She blamed the lockdown on the governments slow rollout of the Pfizer vaccine and rundown hospitals.

None of these commentators mentioned the horrific consequences for countries like the UK and the US, whose governments have embraced living with the virus, in order to fully resume the extraction of profits from the working class. The reopening of schools and workplaces has produced a resurgence in hospitalisations and deaths, including among children. The working class internationally must oppose these murderous policies.
London bus drivers continue to call for the reinstatement of London bus driver David OSullivan, sacked in February for warning colleagues about the spread of COVID-19 at Cricklewood garage in northwest London.

At the Golders Green bus terminus last Saturday, members of the Socialist Equality Party spoke with drivers and distributed the statement, Reinstate London bus driver David OSullivan: For a safe workplace against COVID-19! No to victimisations! It was well-received by drivers at Metroline and RATP Group bus companies.

The campaign at Golders Green

A London transport worker for three decades, OSullivan was suspended on January 11 after citing his rights to a safe workplace under Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act. While Covid infections were rampant across the UK in December and January, Metroline, Transport for London (TfL) and the Unite union concealed the spread of infections at garages, leaving bus workers defenceless.

On Saturday, drivers expressed widespread hostility towards management for not listening to their safety concerns, describing the unions as useless and doing nothing but take dues. Some called the unions a mafia because of their collusion with management.

Drivers who knew OSullivan said, He's a good man who fought for his work colleagues, while Unite did nothing to protect lives and safety. Some took batches of leaflets to distribute at their garages with many saying they planned to donate to his defence campaign.

How can they sack him if what hes done is legal? We need to fight this, a driver told campaigners, adding The companies have been treating employees extremely harshly.

The campaign at Golders Green

One driver broke down in tears as he spoke about his experiences. He lost someone close to him, who died at just 36-years-old in his mothers arms.

Drivers at Cricklewood garage were incensed that Unite had failed to make workers aware of OSullivans case which they described as emblematic of the situation facing drivers throughout the pandemic who have been kept in the dark.

A driver on route 139 said, I totally disagree with what the company did, and they did it with the help of the union as well. Because the union is on the side of the management. We havent been properly protected during this pandemic. Weve been left to fend for ourselves.

Whatever the company did was just the bare minimum. We were promised anti-viral cleaning products, which they were not. We were promised proper seals, but we worked for half a year without proper seals on the buses. The company was dragging its heels in implementing this because it meant extra costs for them.

I think the sacking was completely unfair. They didnt bother to listen. Davids concern was not just his. A lot of us had those concerns. David was the one that voiced them, and he paid a price for it.

Describing current conditions and the lack of safety for drivers, he added, Every summer were struggling with the temperatures in the buses. Weve got to drive at 40-degree temperatures. Were getting threatened if we dont drive. Youre getting called in by the manager because you called in sick, so they give you a warning for that.

They put some fans in the buses which dont help at all. Theres no air conditioning in the buses. In the winter youre shaking because its cold, in the summer its too hot. And the companys always been caught off-guard. Theyre always being surprised by the temperatures, and they dont maintain the air conditioning, and this is what happens. Its all cost-cutting. Cost cutting at the expense of safety and the concern of citizens.

Youre not allowed to transport animals at these temperatures, yet weve got to work for 10 hours a day carrying people and youve got to smile, youve got to be professional, youve got to help people. But at the same time, youre sweating here like youre in a sauna, or shaking in the winter.

A Metroline driver explained how he lost his best friend, a fellow driver, to Covid-19, We used to call him Majesky and I was very close to him. He was from Nigeria like me. He died of Covid at the beginning of the pandemic. We didnt know that he had died because he hadnt come to work for about two weeks. He died alone in the house. It was very sad to learn that later. I was very close to him. I used to go on holidays with him and everything like that.

It was a result of lack of protection. We were not protected at all at the beginning.

Commenting on OSullivan alerting workers at Cricklewood about the spread of infections, he said, Yes, absolutely. He was right to alert the workers. If something is wrong, it is wrong. It is his duty as an employee to alert the workers that something is wrong.

A driver on the 183 route also voiced solidarity with OSullivan, I hope he wins his case and I hope he gets his job back. Just fight all the way mate.

Asked whether it was right for OSullivan to raise the alarm about infections at the garage, the driver replied, Yeah, of course. Definitely. In this situation, as bus drivers were just a number, as I said. They dont care about us and our safety and well-being. They dont care. They get someone else and replace us.

He described the unions as a waste of money. Im not in the union. Theyre working for the managementthey dont help the drivers. Not one bit. Theyre supposed to be there to help us. Theyre different people. They dont help their drivers.

The driver agreed that bus workers had died due to a lack of safety protections and expressed interest in the London Bus Drivers Rank-and-File Safety Committee that was formed by drivers last September after their bitter experiences during the first wave of the pandemic, PPE came in too late for us. All this shield protecting came in when people were dying. Why wasnt it done before? We didnt get hand sanitisers. Face masks? Go buy your own. I hope Dave wins.

A crowdfund appeal for OSullivan has been launched to finance a legal claim for unfair dismissal against Metroline. The appeal, launched on the CrowdJustice platform, has raised more than 11,600. It must raise 20,000 to cover legal costs associated with an unfair dismissal claim. We urge workers and youth to support the campaign.



Please donate here and visit the campaign page here.
The reopening of schools throughout the United States is fueling a massive surge of COVID-19 cases among children.

Analyn Tapia, left, and Dezirae Espinoza hold their supplies as they wait to enter the building for the first day of in-class learning since the start of the pandemic at Garden Place Elementary School Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in north Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The US reported 180,000 child COVID-19 cases in the week ending August 19, a 50 percent increase in just one week, according to the latest report from the American Academy of Pediatrics. There were 120,000 child cases the prior week, and less than 10,000 just two months ago.

Even worse, 24 children died of COVID-19 in the same period, twice the previous record set in the week ending August 5.

The reopening of schools, more than 60 percent of which have already resumed classes, has led to outbreaks in K-12 institutions throughout the country.

Metro Atlanta school districts have reported thousands of cases of COVID-19 among students and staff just weeks into the school year. Gwinnett County, Georgias largest school district, reported over 800 active cases of the virus Friday. That is up from 470 active cases in the district last week.

COVID-19 cases have exploded in Mississippi schools. Nearly 6,000 students have tested positive for the disease, 30 times more than in the previous semester. There have been 1,496 infections among teachers and staff, a six-fold increase over last semester.

Within less than a week after the August 11 reopening in New Mexico, schools in Albuquerque, Belen, Carlsbad, Los Lunas and Roswell have had major outbreaks. According to the state Environment Department, 109 schools around the state recorded at least two COVID-19 cases, including students, staff and faculty.

In the four days since the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second largest district in the US with over 600,000 students, reopened last Monday, outbreaks have taken place throughout the city. According to data released Thursday by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 118 students and staff tested positive in the 24 hours from Tuesday to Wednesday morning. Of these, 107 were K-12 students, who were on campuses during that time.

The growth of COVID-19 cases among children is only the most visible expression of the spread of the pandemic throughout the country.

Daily new cases have reached 150,000, a 10-fold increase over the past two months. In states throughout the country, hospitals are filled to capacity as the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients hit 85,000 last week, a six-fold increase since June. And most troubling of all, over 1,000 people died on Friday, a quadrupling of the daily deaths compared to two months ago.

Last week, Florida set an all-time record for COVID-19 deaths, reporting an astounding 1,486 new deaths. One person in the state is dying of COVID-19 every 7 minutes.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said more people in the state were admitted to the hospital on Wednesday than any other single day on record. She added that six of the states largest hospitals are at 100 percent capacity for ICU beds.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said the state has seen an astronomical number of COVID-19 cases during the latest surge. The governor said Friday, 28 percent of all the new cases that were reporting are in children zero to 17.

Katie ONeal, chief medical officer of Our Lady of the Lake Childrens Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, summed up the disaster facing young people. We never saw that amount of young death before, she told MSNBC. What were seeing today is a much younger population.  We have teenagers coming into the ICU to tell their parents goodbye. We have teenagers FaceTiming with their parents to tell them goodbye.

We have people stacking up for care which we never had to do, ONeal added, warning that hospitals are running out of beds and staff. People dont get the care they need, and people are dying.

In the face of this disaster, the Biden administration has demanded the full return to in-person instruction. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said last week that our priority must be to return to school in person. Replying to parents opposing the reopening of schools under unsafe conditions, Cardona said, But the reality is, if we follow the mitigation strategies, we can keep our children safe.

The Biden administration speaks for the entire US political establishment. All factions of the ruling classfrom Republicans, who are demanding an end to every mitigation measure, to Democrats, who claim that reopening can be carried out safelyare opposed to the measures that are necessary to eradicate the virus, including the shutdown of schools.

The Democrats are working closely with the trade unions and in particular the American Federation of Teachers, which is bankrolling a campaign to promote school reopenings. AFT President Randi Weingarten has declared that the number one priority is to get kids to be back in school.

This has been accompanied by a massive campaign in the corporate media. The New York Times published an editorial on Sunday (The School Kids Are Not Alright) condemning local governments for being too slow in reopening schools to in-person learning.

The Times cynically framed its demand that all schools reopen as necessary for children. The resulting learning setbacks [from school closures] range from grave for all groups of students to catastrophic for poor children, it claims. But what about the consequences for children who get sick and die? This is of no concern to the Times. While denouncing those who have minimized the impact of school shutdowns, the Times does not even mention in its long editorial the surge in cases among children. Nor does it note the studies documenting the long-term impact on children of COVID-19, including on mental health and cognitive development.

These same arguments are being used by capitalist governments throughout the world to reject the necessary measures to stop the deadly spread of the pandemic. The all-out campaign to reopen schools defies the recommendations of scientists, who have warned that it is entirely unsafe while the disease is spreading uncontrolled.

If we have transmission in the community, its not safe to reopen schools, full stop, said Dr. Malgorzata Gasperowicz, a developmental biologist and a researcher at the University of Calgary. Unless we have no transmission, we shouldnt reopen in-person schools.

Gasperowicz made these remarks at the online event, For a global strategy to stop the pandemic and save lives! sponsored by the World Socialist Web Site on Sunday . Together with Dr. Michael Baker, a public health physician and professor at the University of Otago Wellington Department of Public Health, and Dr. Yaneer Bar-Yam, founding president of the New England Complex Systems Institute, Gasperowicz outlined an eradication strategy for ending the pandemic through aggressive public health measures.

If we combine both vaccines and public health measures ... we can stomp it out, Gasperowicz said.

If these measures are not taken, Baker warned, youre going to have essentially several million children and young people infected over the next few months. ... Just the sheer number of children, young people being infected means that were going to have a huge burden of preventable illness in young people, and some of this may be permanent.

The current surge of the Delta variant of COVID-19together with every other variant that has yet to emergemust be stopped through an emergency program to eradicate COVID-19. This means the shutdown schools and nonessential production, with full compensation for workers, and a multi-trillion-dollar emergency public health program, including mass testing, contact tracing and quarantining.

But this requires a mobilization of the working class on a politically independent basis through the formation of rank-and-file committees at workplaces, schools and neighborhoods. As the World Socialist Web Site wrote last week in the statement, The eradication of COVID-19 is the only way to stop the pandemic:

The implementation of the eradication strategy requires the development of a powerful international and unified mass movement of the working class. Only a mass movement that is not driven by the profit motive and fettered to the obsessive pursuit of personal wealth can generate the social force required to compel a change in policy.

At every stage of this pandemic, the policy of the ruling class has proven catastrophic. Amidst a new resurgence, the development of an independent movement of the working class, in the United States and throughout the world, is the urgent task. The lives of millions of people, including countless children, are at stake!
On Sunday, members of the fascist groups the Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer mobilized in the city of Portland, Oregon, inciting violence against left-wing protesters, journalists and local residents. The Portland Police Bureau (PPB), with the backing of Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler, stood by, refusing to intervene until live gunshots were fired, giving the far-right mob a green light to carry out their attacks.

The so-called Summer of Love rallies were organized weeks in advance, with dozens of far-right members traveling from across Oregon, California and other surrounding states to commemorate violent provocations during the George Floyd protests last August. Proud Boys leader Tusitala Tiny Toese helped organize the rally and was in attendance.

Member of the far-right group Proud Boys physically assault an anti-fascist protester in their vehicle after smashing every window and popping all four tires during clashes between the politically opposed groups on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Alex Milan Tracy)

The main rally took place in the parking lot of a vacant K-Mart shopping center in Northeast Portland on 122nd Street. Proud Boys speakers referred to those who participated in President Donald Trumps attempted coup on January 6 as political prisoners; upheld Ashli Babbit, shot and killed by Capitol police as she attemtped to force her way into the House Chamber, as a martyr; accused antifa or anti-fascists of being violent criminals; and threatened physical violence against transgender people. Reverend Dr. Chuck Currie, who filmed the far-right rally from his car, reported that Proud Boys members hit his car and called him a faggot.

Soon after, antifascist protesters left downtown Portland, where around 200 had been peacefully demonstrating since the morning to oppose far-right violence, to mobilize around the Proud Boys rally at the K-Mart. Between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. clashes between the two sides ensued, with paintball guns, chemical agents, and baton fights.

Fascist militia men vandalized one mans truck and proceeded to beat him, as he was allegedly with the counter-demonstration. They also destroyed a medical vehicle and flipped it on its side. An independent journalist, Maranie R. Staab was physically attacked while being subjected to xenophobic and derogatory comments by men who claimed to be with the antifascist black bloc, although further investigation is required to determine their identities and affiliation.

After the Northeast Portland clashes died down by the evening, live gunshots were fired at anti-fascist protesters downtown, with no injuries reported from the incident. After taking a hands-off approach the whole day, three police officers arrested the shooting suspect, a 65-year-old man named Dennis G. Anderson. His affiliation with the groups is currently unknown, and he was released on bail on Monday.

While the streets of Portland turned into a war zone, sparked by far-right violence and fascist politics, the PPB were nowhere to be found. They did not respond to any acts of vandalism or physical attacks by the Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer, essentially giving these far-right organizations license to attack antifa as they saw fit.

Mayor Wheeler issued a public statement Monday, 24 hours after the events, defending the hands off approach as a conscious strategy developed weeks ago when they first heard about plans for the far-right mobilization. With strategic planning and oversight, the Portland Police Bureau and I mitigated confrontation between the two events and minimized the impact of the weekends events to Portlanders. Wheeler continued, In the past, these same groups have clashed with extremely violent and destructive results. This time, violence was contained to the groups of people who chose to engage in violence toward each other.

As part of this do-nothing strategy, Wheeler praised himself and other public officials for hosting a virtual peace event on Friday where they verbally denounced hate speech and bigotry. These rhetorical exercises were deemed effective by Wheeler because one of the groups decided to relocate to a separate area in the city, referring to 122nd Street where the bulk of the violence took place.

Mayor Wheeler, PPB and the local Democratic Party establishment have taken a definite stance on the side of the far-right by allowing them to incite and carry out violent attacks without intervention. This follows a trend that has developed over the past several years, in which Portland officials brutally crack down on left-wing demonstrations while giving the kid-glove treatment to the Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer.

In January, after a series of anti-police-violence protests resulted in property damage to government buildings, Wheeler denounced violent antifa and anarchists and promised to gather intelligence on these small groups of organized criminals. In March, local police and federal agents deployed tear gas, rubber bullets and illegal kettling techniques against a peaceful crowd. This all comes after the massive police response to the George Floyd protests last summer, during which peaceful protesters were beaten and gassed by PPB, then arrested and thrown into unmarked vehicles by the Trump administration.

In comparison, the fascist militiamen and supporters of the January 6 coup are treated as friendly neighbors receiving the trusted defense by the local government. Proud Boys rallies have been physically protected by police on numerous occasions, with the bulk of brutality targeted against antifa members. In 2019, leaked texts showed PPB Lieutenant Jeff Niiya providing advice to Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson. On Sunday, these groups were again given the message that they can do whatever they please without police interference.

These developments indicate a further shift to the right on the part of the Democratic Party, which has extended an olive branch to the increasingly fascistic Republican Party since Bidens inauguration. Confronted with explosive social anger from below, accelerated by the pandemic crisis, the Democrats are turning toward militaristic, anti-democratic and authoritarian forms of rule to intimidate and suppress opposition from masses of workers and young people that are turning toward left-wing, socialist politics.
In a sudden special address on Friday evening, Sri Lankan President Gotabhaya Rajapakse declared a 10-day limited national lockdown in response to rising coronavirus infections and deaths.

Rajapakses speech came after he had consistently rejected repeated appeals by independent medical experts for the imposition of stringent restrictions to save the population from rising numbers of Delta variant infections.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Rajapakse made clear that he was reluctantly imposing the lockdown because the national economy was in tatters. He warned that the population had to be prepared to make more sacrifices if longer lockdowns were required.

Between August 1 and 23, Sri Lankas official number of coronavirus infections increased by 85,516 and the death toll climbed by 2,838. These numbers are relentlessly rising in line with climbing infections and deaths globally from the Delta variant.

Colombo fuelled the spread of the virus by removing remaining travel restrictions on July 5 and on August 2 ordering all state employees working from home to return to their usual workplaces. Sri Lankas rundown health system is now unable to cope with the overflowing numbers of coronavirus patients.

Rajapakses decision on Friday to announce a limited national lockdown is not out of sympathy for people but in response to developing working-class unrest which is escalating towards a showdown with the government. Opposition to the government has increased in line with reports of rising infections and deaths in various workplaces. Last Wednesday, thousands of health workers protested demanding an immediate lockdown.

Fearing that the situation would escalate out of control, several trade unions in the health, railways, banks, education, postal, electricity and private sectors issued a joint ultimatum demanding the president implement a scientific lockdown. If the government failed to heed this demand, the unions said they would direct their members to stay at home.

These unions, however, had previously endorsed reopening of the economy in mid-April last year and supported the continued operations of big business. They only began calling for the imposition of increased restrictions and COVID-19 health and safety measures two weeks ago.

By their silence, they also in effect backed the Rajapakse governments draconian Essential Public Services Act that has banned strikes in almost all state institutions. Their lockdown call is aimed at deflecting the mounting anger among workers and saving big business and the Rajapakse regime.

Rajapakse did not utter a word of concern about the rising death toll or health catastrophe, offer condolences to bereaved families who have lost loved ones, or sympathise with those undergoing immense hardships. Instead, he arrogantly posed as a saviour of those impacted by COVID-19 claiming to be doing everything to protect them.

In line with the daily mantras uttered by governments around the world, Rajapakse declared that the people have to understand the reality, that all countries are adapting to the method of New Normal and people have to live with the virus. In other words, workers must keep toiling and ensure that big business continues boosting their profits.

The only solution is vaccination, he said, while falsely claiming that this was the accepted opinion of the World Health Organisation, the majority of medical experts and the global standardized methodology.

Rajapakse said that the government was importing enough vaccines to ensure 100 percent of those over 30 years would be vaccinated by 10 September. After that health authorities would begin giving doses to all those between 18 and 30 years of age.

With this development, the number of patients and the number of deaths will decrease, he declared. Rajapakse has since admitted that so far only 43 percent of those vaccinated have received both doses.

While vaccination is an important tool to combat the COVID-19 it cannot by itself eradicate the pandemic anywhere in the world. The working class everywhere needs a program to eradicate this deadly virus.

Much of Rajapakses 16-minute speech consisted of explaining the economic crisis facing the regime and the capitalist class and why lockdowns and restrictions were anathema.

Sri Lanka, he said, last year faced its lowest economic growth since independence in 1948: $US5 billion in foreign revenue generated by the apparel sector was gravely affected; tourism, worth $4.5 billion annually had collapsed; and local and foreign investment had been lost.

Medium and small businesses, which contributes 50 percent to the gross domestic product, were also affected, he added. Around 4.5 million people in tourism, daily wage earners and self-employed had lost their sources of income.

Rajapakse then cynically declared that the government had not abdicated its responsibility, but provided relief payments of 5,000 rupees ($25) and spent a total of 30 billion rupees. These sums, which were paid three times last year to a limited number of families, can only be described as starvation payments. Desperate families were forced to pawn whatever valuables they had.

He then shamelessly insisted that families forced into quarantine had been paid 10,000 rupees for two weeks supplies of essentials, an utterly inadequate amount for families attempting to deal with the health crisis.

Revealingly, Rajapakse said the government has not taken any action to reduce the salaries or curtail the allowances of more than 1.4 million public servants. The fact the president mentioned wage and allowance cuts indicates that wasand isunder consideration.

In line with placing the burden of the crisis on the masses, the government is increasing the price of essentials, such as rice, flour, lentils, potatoes, dry fish, and fuel, including gas. Shortages of essentials have been reported.

The president carefully avoided any reference to the governments lavish concessions to big business and investors. Providing cheap credit and tax concessions, and allowing them to cut wages and jobs, generated huge profits. Last year, Sri Lankas nine largest companies earned 80 billion rupees in profit, with the prospect of higher profits this year.

Rajapakse said that the government had continued paying an average of $4 billion a year in foreign debt repayments, maintaining its commitments to international financial institutions.

Revealing why his government was reluctant to impose strict lockdown measures, Rajapakse said: A large number of orders have been received by the apparel industry in the export sector. If we are not able to deliver these orders on time, we may lose a large amount of foreign exchange.

Rajapakse is desperately attempting to defend the profit interests of not only the apparel industry but the ruling elite and capitalist system as a whole by placing profits ahead of human lives.

Ending his speech, Rajapakse made an appeal for national unity and issued a veiled threat: This situation is not a rivalry or conflict between different ideologists, trade unions, doctors, other health officials and the government This [is] not a time for strike actions and protests. Do not attempt to destabilize the country The health sector looks at this issue from one angle, we as a government will have to manage the small economy in our country.

Protesting Gampola Hospital health workers demanding lockdowns and PCR testing on August 11 (WSWS Media)

Health workers have been at the forefront of escalating protests across the country in recent months, demanding health protections and other improvements in order to deal with the unprecedented health emergency.

The presidents threat, however, is not just against health employees but the entire working class. Everyone in the country has to be prepared to make more sacrifices, he said, if the country is to be placed in lockdown for a longer period.

Rajapakse did not elaborate on these sacrifices. Government ministers, however, have begun campaigning for wage cuts in the state and private sectors and the media is running editorials on the need for such measures.

An editorial in yesterdays Island declared that such drastic action [wage cuts] will become inevitable If the state revenue continues to decrease at the present rate, there will be no funds left for salaries or even life-saving medicines. The people must be told this bitter truth.

The working class must establish its own independent action committees and rally the rural and urban poor to combat COVID-19 and the government and employers austerity measures on the basis of a socialist and internationalist program.
Imagine if you were so fed up with your political leaders that you could get rid of them before the next scheduled election. Well, Californians can.

The Golden State's Democratic governor Gavin Newsom faces what is known as a recall election next month amid what was originally seen as a long-shot bid by conservative activists to oust him. To force the election more than a year before Newsom's reelection race, activists had to gather nearly 1.5 million signatures calling for the governor's ouster.

Voters will be asked on September 14 whether or not to keep Newsom on. Then a second question could come into play: Which of the candidates on the ballot would succeed him?

Since no party-backed Democrats are competing against their own party's governor, the state could end up being run by a Republican. This scenario led to Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger being first elected California governor in 2003.

Given the political dynamics in California  Joe Biden beat Donald Trump by 30 percentage points last year  the recall shouldn't be close. But Democrats are increasingly alarmed. The state has been pounded by drought, wildfire and the pandemic, with successive waves of infection and restrictions. The governor didn't help himself last year when he went to a birthday party at the exclusive French Laundry restaurant after telling Californians to avoid large gatherings.

The key to Newsom's fate will be whether apathetic Democrats bother to vote. If he is recalled, even a Republican with a small proportion of the vote could take office.

Former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner was an early sensation in the race. Another Republican, businessman John Cox, opened his campaign alongside a live bear. But if the governor is toppled, the smart money is now on conservative radio host Larry Elder.

Elder, who is on the record as saying sexism is exaggerated, opposes most gun control, supports Trump and is a climate skeptic. His extremism might shock Newsom's voters into action. But it's plausible that he could end up running one of the most liberal states in America.

Afghanistan: 'There are going to be discussions'

Chaos continued at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, where several people were crushed to death this weekend amid desperate crowds waiting for evacuation. As fast as the US and allies rush people onto planes, more keep arriving at the airport's gates. Will Biden still meet his August 31 deadline for US troops to leave Afghanistan? On Sunday, the President left it open-ended: "There's discussions going on in the military about extending," he told reporters Sunday. "My hope is we will not have to extend, but there are going to be discussions."

Harris heads east

Kamala Harris is getting a do-over.

The Vice President's first foreign trip to Guatemala and Mexico was overshadowed by her botched answers about why she didn't visit the US border to assess the surge of attempted crossings by undocumented migrants before venturing to Central America.

Now, she has embarked on a less contentious mission  to Singapore and Vietnam, two US allies who have no interest in tripping her up. Normally, her trip might not be noticed much in the US  and that would be just fine for the White House as Harris builds foreign policy expertise and confidence. But the debacle of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan means that anything Harris says on that issue will be closely watched. And the many time zones between the VP and Washington means there's plenty of potential for miscommunication and mixed messages.

Harris will be making the most high-profile attempt yet by the Biden administration to sell its hardline policy towards China in the region. Tensions over territorial disputes in the South China Sea and elsewhere mean a careless word could spark a diplomatic incident.

A perpetual question of America's allies in the Asia-Pacific region is whether the US is really committed to its allies. Donald Trump's presidency deepened such uncertainty. And Biden's "America is back" mantra has been undercut by the chaotic retreat from Afghanistan. So showing up is important.

Of course, everywhere Harris goes she will also be evaluated as a potential future US President. Her visit ought to go smoothly, but it's still a tight rope.

Correction: The top story has been corrected to reflect that while there are Democratic candidates in California's recall election, there is no Democratic Party nominee.

The-CNN-Wire

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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  A firefight outside Kabuls international airport killed an Afghan soldier early Monday, highlighting the perils of evacuation efforts even as the Taliban warned any attempt by U.S. troops to delay their withdrawal to give people more time to flee would provoke a reaction.

The shooting came as the Taliban moved to shore up their position and eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month. The Taliban said they retook three districts north of the capital seized by opponents the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control.

Afghanistans security forces collapsed in the face of the Taliban advance, despite 20 years of Western aid, training and assistance. Tens of thousands of Afghans have sought to flee the country since, fearing a return to the brutal rule the Taliban imposed the last time they ran Afghanistan. That has led to chaos at the airport in Kabul, the main route out of the country.

U.S. President Joe Biden has not ruled out extending the evacuation beyond Aug. 31, the date he had set for completing the pullout of U.S. forces. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to press Biden for an extension.

But Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, in an interview with Sky News, said Aug. 31 is a red line and that extending the American presence would provoke a reaction.

Gunfire broke out early Monday near an entrance to the airport, where at least seven Afghans died a day earlier in a panicked stampede of thousands of people.

Navy Capt. William Urban, a U.S. military spokesman, said an unknown assailant shot at Afghan security forces at the airports northern gate, leading Afghan, U.S. and allied troops to open fire in response. He said an Afghan soldier was killed and several Afghans were wounded.

An Italian humanitarian organization that operates hospitals in Afghanistan said it had treated six patients with bullet wounds from the airport.

There was no comment from the Taliban, who in recent days have fired warning shots and lashed out with batons to try to control crowds swelling into the thousands outside the airport.

The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world. Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths. At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed Sunday.

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military and say theres no need for any Afghans to flee. They have pledged to bring peace and security after decades of war and say they wont seek revenge on those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government.

Addressing a conference of Muslim clerics, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid urged them to push back against Western propaganda about the Taliban and said the U.S. was undermining their rule by sending planes and offering Afghans asylum.

But Mohammad Khalid, another Taliban official addressing the same gathering, struck a more ominous tone, saying history and Afghans will not forgive those who were trained in the U.S. and Europe and returned to kill their own people.

He said foreign countries should not interfere in education, asking the clerics if they would tolerate a young girl sitting next to a boy at school. He also praised the role of suicide bombers in forcing the U.S. to withdraw.

The divergent messages raised doubts as to whether the Taliban are fully united behind the more moderate image their leadership is projecting. There have also been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies.

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told the Bild newspaper that the main obstacle to getting people out was the crowds outside the airport.

Asked about Taliban assurances of safe passage to the airport she said: So far, I can say that what we need is being granted; the danger comes more from these uncontrollable crowds of people.

As the airlift continues, the U.S. government asked for 18 aircraft from American commercial carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees to their final destinations after their initial evacuation.

Since Aug. 14, the U.S. has evacuated or facilitated the evacuation of some 37,000 people on military and coalition flights. Those efforts are accelerating: In the 24 hours that ended early Monday, U.S. military flights ferried about 10,400 people to safety, an official said.

Tens of thousands of people  Americans, other foreigners and Afghans who assisted in the war effort  are still waiting to join the airlift, which has been slowed by security issues and U.S. bureaucracy hurdles.

There are also concerns that a local affiliate of the Islamic State group might target the crowds outside the airport with suicide bombers or fire missiles at U.S. aircraft. Military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff  both measures used to avoid missile attacks.

The Taliban and IS have different ideologies and have fought in recent years, but one concern about the Talibans takeover is that they could again shelter extremist groups. The Taliban harbored al-Qaida while it orchestrated the 9/11 attacks, leading to the U.S. invasion in 2001. The Taliban now say they will not allow Afghanistan to be a base for attacks on other countries.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban have faced limited armed resistance from fighters in Baghlan province, some 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Kabul. The anti-Taliban fighters claimed to have seized three districts in the Andarab Valley on Sunday, but the Taliban said Monday that they had cleared them out overnight.

Khair Mohammad Khairkhwa and Abdul Ghani Mahmood, commanders of the anti-Taliban forces, said the recent fighting had caused casualties on both sides and displaced civilians.

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said the groups forces have also surrounded nearby Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistans 34 provinces yet to fall to the Taliban. Several Taliban opponents have gathered there, pledging to resist any attempt to take the province by force.

Mujahid said there had been no fighting in Panjshir yet and that the Taliban are seeking a peaceful solution.

___

Faiez reported from Istanbul and Krauss from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Tameem Akhgar in Istanbul, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Jill Lawless in London and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates contributed to this report.
VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Masking and schools. It's been a hot topic in Vigo County.

A Vigo County School Corporation meeting is underway, and Superintendent Rob Haworth is expected to talk about the mask mandate in the schools.

While at the meeting, News 10's Hannah Follman reports an increased police presence.

Some parents were speaking out against the mandate and even protesting outside of corporation offices last week.

News 10's Hannah Follman will continue to follow this story and bring you more tonight on News 10 on myFOX10 and News 10 Nightwatch.
VERMILLION COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - A Lafayette, Indiana man will face charges for child sex crimes that allegedly happened in Vermillion County.

Indiana State Police arrested 25-year-old Lukas Groen.

The investigation into Groen started after police received information from the Vermillion County Department of Child Services.

In early May, Groen allegedly went to Vermillion County to "engage in sexual misconduct with a minor under the age of 16."

A warrant was issued for Groen's arrest earlier this month. He was arrested in Lafayette and will be transported to the Vermillion County Jai.

He was charged with Sexual Misconduct with a Minor.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  More than 1,000 out-of-state medical workers were starting to deploy to 50 Mississippi hospitals Tuesday to help with staffing shortages as the state continues dealing with a surge of COVID-19 cases.

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said 808 nurses, three certified nurse anesthetists, 22 nurse practitioners, 193 respiratory therapists and 20 paramedics were hired under 60-day contracts that could be extended, if needed.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency awarded contracts to four companies of the 19 that submitted bids when the state sought medical workers earlier this month. Reeves said the contract employees are being deployed within nine business days from when the state Health Department asked MEMA to seek the help.

That, in my view, is an impressive feat, Reeves said during a news conference Tuesday.

Mississippi will pay $80 million for the contracts, and Reeves said he expects the federal government to reimburse the state for the entire expense.

The Army and the Air Force are also each deploying medical contingents to work in Mississippi, with 43 people from each branch.

The Health Department on Tuesday reported 3,291 new cases of COVID-19 and 111 new deaths from the virus, bringing the state's coronavirus death total since the start of the pandemic to at least 8,158. Mississippi has a population of nearly 3 million and has reported nearly 417,000 COVID-19 cases since the spring of 2020.

Mississippi has seen a rapid increase in cases since early July, driven by the highly contagious delta variant of the virus and the state's low vaccination rate.

Related - Hospitalizations 'flattening off' in Mississippi, state epidemiologist says
Tupelo Partly Cloudy 86 Hi: 90 Lo: 72 Feels Like: 94 More Weather Columbus Partly Cloudy 89 Hi: 91 Lo: 71 Feels Like: 104 More Weather Oxford Partly Cloudy 86 Hi: 87 Lo: 69 Feels Like: 92 More Weather Starkville Partly Cloudy 90 Hi: 92 Lo: 72 Feels Like: 105 More Weather

We will see much drier conditions in our area over the next several days as high pressure moves into the area. However, there will be a little bit of low pressure that moves through our area on our Wednesday. This will give us a few scattered showers and thunderstorms.
LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - Local residents gathered in Tupelo today to speak out against a proposed county project.

This after people, including the organization 'Indivisible Northeast Mississippi' and The Lee County NAACP, tried to get enough signatures for a public vote on a proposed bond issue. That bond issue is to build a new justice complex and library.

That referendum came up short.

There will be a tax increase. This is something we dont need at this time since we have a pandemic going on," said Representative Rickey Thompson. "We have a lot of issues that we have to deal with.

Indivisible Northeast Mississippi submitted at least 2,000 names to the Lee County Board of supervisors earlier this month. However, Chancery Clerk and County Administrator Bill Benson said the county only certified 1,359 of those names as registered voters, so the rest did not count.

The referendum needs at least 1500 names. NAACP President Charles Moore said theres only one week left to collect at least 141 more.

Now is the time to have the voice that we can push this to a vote without five people making that decision for us," said Moore.

Mary Jane Meadows with Indivisible said the group is not against the proposed new facilities by the board of supervisors, but felt that theres been a lack of public information about the project.

"What happened to the jail thats only 24 years old? Why is it so bad that it can't be used? said Meadows.

Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson took to Facebook to share why he supports the decision for a new jail.

He said the jail is outdated and is a safety risk to staff and inmates. He added that hes willing to show the conditions of the jail to anyone who is against the county getting a new one.

Johnson added that he understands that spending money on a new jail isn't the ideal solution, but he considered it a need.

The group in favor of the public vote said anyone who signed the petition and wasnt counted should contact them about potentially getting that signature approved.
Authorities say an explosion rocked an Alabama convention center, heavily damaging the building but causing no injuries.

Al.com reports that the cause of the Monday night blast at Selma's convention center was not immediately known.

Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson said it caused significant damage to the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center.

Jackson told The Selma Times-Journal that the force of the blast shook the nearby Selma City Hall.
Morgantown, WV (26505)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. High 67F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 53F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Charleston, WV (25311)

Today

Cloudy with occasional light rain throughout the day. High 72F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Some passing clouds. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 56F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Clarksburg, WV (26301)

Today

Cloudy with showers. High 71F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 54F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania has proposed that the European Union sanction Belarusian citizens and companies which it says are helping migrants cross into EU member states, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Tuesday.

Lithuania and neighbouring EU states Poland and Latvia have reported an increase in the number of migrants, many from Iraq and Afghanistan, trying to cross their borders from Belarus.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said he will no longer hold back migrants after the EU imposed sanctions following a disputed presidential election last year and his subsequent crackdown on protesters and dissidents.

"We must send a very clear signal not only to Belarus but to every dictator who would use such instrument against the European Union or any of its members, that not only he fails, but he also gets a strike back," Landsbergis told a news conference in the border town of Medininkai.

"Sanctions are one such answer."

He said his government had presented the EU's External Action Service with a list of Belarusian citizens and companies it holds responsible for the increased migrant arrivals.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg agreed, telling the same news conference: "Those responsible must face strict sanctions."

The Lithuanian government said on Monday it will finish building a 508 km (315 mile) razor-wire-topped fence on its border with Belarus by September 2022, at a cost of up to 152 million euros.

Officials from Poland and Latvia later advocated the construction of similar fences along their own borders with the former Soviet republic.

The EU says Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is waging "hybrid warfare" with migrants to exert pressure on the bloc.

(Reporting by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; Editing by Catherine Evans)
Polish border patrol officers guard a group of migrants who attempted to cross the border between Belarus and Poland near the village of Usnarz Gorny

By Kacper Pempel

USNARZ GORNY, Poland (Reuters) -Poland will build a fence along its border with Belarus and double the number of troops there, the defence minister said on Monday, to halt a flow of migrants the European Union says is being driven by Minsk in retaliation for EU sanctions.

Poland and fellow EU states Lithuania and Latvia have reported sharp increases in migrants from countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan trying to cross their borders. The EU says Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is waging "hybrid warfare" with migrants to exert pressure on the bloc.

Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said that a new 2.5-metre-(8.2-foot)-high solid fence would be built on the border with Belarus.

At a press conference at the border Blaszczak also said the military presence there would be increased.

"It is necessary to increase the number of soldiers. ... We will soon double the number of soldiers to 2,000," he said.

Poland's government has come under sharp criticism from human rights advocates over the plight of a group of migrants trapped for two weeks in the open between Polish and Belarusian border guards near the village of Usnarz Gorny.

Poland says allowing the migrants to enter Polish territory would encourage further illegal migration and would also play into Lukashenko's hands. "These are not refugees, they are economic migrants brought in by the Belarusian government," Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz told reporters.

INHUMANE

Some lawyers and NGOs accuse Warsaw of treating the stranded migrants inhumanely by blocking their entry.

The Polish Human Rights Ombudsman said the Border Guard had violated the Geneva Convention by not accepting verbal declarations from some of the migrants that they wanted to apply for international protection in Poland.

"People were asking the border guards for protection and the border guards were pushing them back," said Piotr Bystrianin from the Ocalenie Foundation, which helps refugees.

Story continues

"That means they were in contact and that means they should give them the possibility to apply for protection. ... It is very simple."

Mahdieh Gholami, a translator helping the Ocalenie Foundation, said that Polish troops were hampering her efforts to communicate with the migrants just across the border.

"When I start to say something the soldiers turn on engines," she said.

The Polish Border Guard and the army did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Lithuania said on Monday it would complete a 508-km (315-mile) fence along its border with Belarus by September next year.

(Reporting by Kacper Pempel, Alan Charlish, Alicja Ptak and Pawel Florkiewicz; editing by Mark Heinrich and Mark Porter)
Photo by EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/AFP via Getty Images

Proud Boys Leader Henry Tarrioknown as Enriquehas been sentenced to more than five months in jail after burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was taken from a historic Black church during a pro-Trump demonstration.

Tarrio, 37, was arrested on Jan. 4 in Washington on a warrant over the Dec. 12 incident, where he burned the Asbury United Methodist Churchs flag. He also pleaded guilty to another misdemeanor, attempting to possess a high-capacity gun magazine, and later apologized for his actions, saying he made a grave mistake.

What I did was wrong, Tarrio said during a videoconference, as the Associated Press reports.

Authorities shared that Proud Boys members stole the #BLACKLIVESMATTER banner from the church, before using lighter fluid to set it on fire. Tarrio posted a picture of himself on Parler holding a lighter before telling The Washington Post that he participated in the burning of the flag.

His careless act of violence and hatred, targeted at a congregation of individuals with a lived history of social and racial injustice, had the presumably desired effect, Rev. Dr. Ianther Mills, senior pastor of the church, said. Asbury was forced to reckon with the very tangible evidence that we continue to live in a world where people radicalize hate based upon race and skin color.

Last month, Tarrio pleaded guilty to destruction of property and attempted possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, after two unloaded magazines were found in his bag after officers pulled him over with the warrant.

Two days after Tarrio was arrested, the riot at the U.S. Capitol took place, where the Proud Boys have since been looked at by investigators in relation to the Jan. 6 attack. Roughly three dozen of the 600 people charged in the insurrection were identified by federal authorities as Proud Boys leaders, members, or associates, according to the AP.

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On today's episode of 5 Things: Heavy rains across Tennessee came as Tropical Storm Henri slammed New England. Plus, violence continues at Kabul's airport, it's been one year since Jacob Blake was shot, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine could get full FDA approval this week and mental health advocates question whether police should share videos of suicide intervention.

Taylor Wilson:

Good morning, I'm Taylor Wilson, and this is 5 Things You Need To Know, Monday the 23rd of August, 2021. Today, devastating weather in Tennessee. Plus the Taliban blame the US for airport chaos in Kabul. And more.

Taylor Wilson:

Here are some of the top headlines.

The death toll from the Haitian earthquake has risen to more than 2,200 with more than 300 people still missing. Recovery efforts in the country are also ongoing during peak hurricane season with Tropical Storm Grace hitting Haiti last week. Don Everly has died. His music with sibling, Phil Everly, in the Everly Brothers helped shape the course of rock and roll. He was 84. And a five year old boy has conquered the entire Appalachian trail. Harvey Sutton is likely the second youngest ever to complete the more than 2,100 miles.

Taylor Wilson:

Tropical Storm Henri made landfall in the Northeast on Sunday. It slammed the region with high winds and rainfall records in some places after coming to land in westerly Rhode Island, right on the Connecticut Rhode Island state line. Rhode Island resident, Stephen Hayes told the AP that the storm passed through relatively quickly.

Stephen Hayes :

Today, we got a direct hit basically from Hurricane Henri or Tropical Storm Henri. Winds were pretty high this morning. Power stayed on almost all the way through. We just lost it about, I would say about an hour ago. But other than that, we have no property damage at our place. We got very lucky. I am a little surprised with this Tropical Storm Henri. It came really quick. It came quick and passed faster than normal. So we had some high winds. You could see some trees bending. I'm really surprised at how sunny it is right now. Really lucky. I was six years old, Hurricane Bob. So I'm real happy right now to be on the other side of this one.

Story continues

Taylor Wilson:

As of Sunday night, the storm was in upstate Connecticut near Hartford. It was forecast a week into a tropical depression while moving into Southern Massachusetts on Monday. Henri is also expected to slow down, which could mean heavy rains for part of New York State, Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut. The storm already slammed the region even before making landfall. Saturday was the wettest day in New York City in seven years, according to the National Weather Service, and the nearly two inches of rain in central park from 10 to 11:00 PM that night was the wettest hour in the city's history. In Rhode Island, at least 70,000 homes and businesses were without power Sunday night, while some 30,000 were without power in Connecticut. In briefings over the weekend, area governors said they expect storm disruptions to last for at least the next few days. Rhode Island Governor, Dan McKee.

Dan McKee :

Now, as the storm begins to pass out of the state, the important work of recovery must begin promptly. I've asked the National Grid to begin recovery efforts during daylight hours today so that we can get a jump on restoration efforts. We are expecting temperatures in the 90s beginning on Tuesday. This is not going lost on us. We know that that's an issue, and that's why getting power restored is critical for the health and safety of our residents, our economy, and our small businesses to make sure that they're operating.

Taylor Wilson:

The storms hit New England as severe flooding killed at least 22 people in Tennessee. At least 20 people are still missing after new rain records across the state. In McEwen, about 60 miles west of Nashville, a state record, 17 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours. Many other towns saw at least a foot of rain in the same time period. And lots of towns got up to a quarter of their typical annual rainfall in one morning. Thousands of homes may be unlivable with damage.

Taylor Wilson:

Violence continues at Kabul's international airport in Afghanistan. At least seven Afghans died on Sunday during a panicked crush of people trying to enter the airport. Large crowds continue to gather outside its walls with many people promised an exit out of the country by the United States or other countries and missions. The German military also now says that a firefight broke out in a separate incident. They said one Afghan security officer was killed and three were wounded by unknown attackers. US and German forces then also got involved. The Taliban took control of the capitol a week ago, after a quickly moving through the country ahead of the United States' troop withdrawal at the end of this month. In the days since, the US has evacuated its embassy there and moved operations to the airport, also sending thousands of troops back into the country to help evacuate Americans and Afghans who helped the United States against the Taliban over the past 20 years.

Taylor Wilson:

The Taliban have installed checkpoints around the city and getting even close to the airport has been tough for many. They also fired shots into the air to try and drive back crowds during Sunday's crush. The US Embassy is telling American citizens and others not to come to the airport at all until they receive specific instructions. The airport is one of the last routes out of the country and has seen almost constant chaos since last week's Taliban takeover. Another 7 people were killed on August 16th, including several who fell to their death as they held on to a US military plane, while it took off.

Taylor Wilson:

President Joe Biden and other US leaders gave updates over the weekend. Biden said that 11,000 had been airlifted from Kabul in total over a 36 hour period this weekend. US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan told CNN that nearly 4,000 people were flown out of Kabul on US military flights over the past 24 hours, in addition to around the same number on non-military US flights. That's still below the 5,000 to 9,000 that the military says it has the capacity to airlift daily. Over the weekend Biden, also again, defended his decision to pull out from Afghanistan.

President Joe Biden :

The evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful no matter when it started, when we began. It would have been true if we had started a month ago or a month from now. There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss of heartbreaking images you see on television.

Taylor Wilson:

For their part, the Taliban keeps sending messages to the Afghan people through the press, emphasizing that their reign will be peaceful. They're also blaming the airport chaos on the United States. Senior Taliban official, Amir Khan Muttaqi said, "All Afghanistan is secure, but the airport, which is managed by the Americans has anarchy. The US should not embarrass itself to the world and should not give this mentality to our people that the Taliban are a kind of enemy." The Taliban have control of almost all of Afghanistan, but not everywhere. Panjshir Province is the only one in the country that has not fallen to the group. The Taliban have spread video showing their fighters heading toward the region. But militia leaders there say they will defend Panjshir against them. That could spell violence after a relatively peaceful takeover with most Afghan security forces surrendering without a fight in recent weeks.

Taylor Wilson:

It's been one year since Jacob Blake was shot multiple times in the back by Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer, Rusten Sheskey. The incident paralyzed the then 29 year old black man. Video of the shooting was shared across social media, sparking protests in Kenosha and around the country. Jacob's uncle, Justin Blake, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel of the USA Today Network last week about Jacob's current condition while calling out political leaders.

Justin Blake :

My nephew, little Jake is just getting out of hospital again, after suffering severe pain. He has a new doctor so they're trying to manage his pain better. In order for him to do his therapy, he needed more pain managing. But he and our entire family are disgusted at the lying, of about all the deceitfulness that's going on in and around this case. The Mayor's a bull face liar, they utilize community members to make it look and to placate to the people as though something was going to be done when nothing at all has happened. I just got off another interview with the Chief of Police there, the African-American community he's been having me just talking to the people and things are going well. He's a liar. Things are not well in the community. I don't have to be nice anymore about it. A racist systemic runs through their whole top echelon in their government, in the Sheriffs Police Department, in the DA and et cetera.

Justin Blake :

So as an uncle, I've got the right to be frustrated as hell after I've been down there almost a year, nothing at all has happened. The police officer who shot my nephew is back at work. There's a gentleman running for sheriff that murdered somebody 15 years ago. We got arrested and brutalized, and our shoulder torn out of place while we were in custody. So nothing absolutely has changed. It's gotten worse. How about let's have a real investigation? How about let's get the gentleman, the cop that shot my nephew indicted and get him fired and indited in jail. That'd be a hell of a beginning. Because right now it's open season on African-Americans in Kenosha. Why? Because my nephew didn't commit a crime. They never charged him with a crime. And if you understand that fact, and this man got away with shooting my nephew seven times in the back and paralyzed him, then you can understand that no African-Americans in the city, state or county of Wisconsin, or specifically Kenosha, Wisconsin are able to walk around in comfort. How can they possibly?

Taylor Wilson:

Justin Blake and others in the area have been fighting this entire past year for justice. They demand that Sheskey be fired and charged. They've also pushed for an outside investigation into the police department and District Attorney's office. Sheskey was responding to a call about a domestic incident at a kid's birthday party when he shot Blake, who is now bound to a wheelchair.

Taylor Wilson:

The Pfizer BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 could get full FDA approval as early as Monday. Though parts of the review may need more time and could push approval back later this week. US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy told ABC that he would not be surprised if the FDA soon gives full approval. Pfizer's vaccine along with Moderna's and Johnson & Johnson's is being made available under an emergency use authorization. There was no word when Moderna or J&J might get full approval. Some vaccine hesitant Americans have questioned the safety of the shots, citing no full approval. The move could urge more Americans to get vaccinated and more companies and organizations to require them. 60.7% of Americans are at least partially vaccinated with 51.5% fully vaccinated.

Taylor Wilson:

Police often share videos on social media of officers saving people from suicide. That's especially true over the past year, as departments are eager for good press after the murder of George Floyd and protests around the country against police brutality and systemic racism. But mental health advocates are worried these videos could do more harm than good. One of them, Kevin Berthia, has survived his own suicide attempts. He said, "It's like we are living this tragedy with them. Who else is this triggering?" The New York Police Department, for example, often tweets detailed captions along with images of smiling cops referring to exactly where or how someone tried to kill themselves. But the American Association of Suicidology recommends that any reporting on suicide or suicide attempts specifically not do so. And that photos and videos from the scene also be left out.

Taylor Wilson:

Many departments also don't ask the person's permission to post the videos in the first place. Though, that could be changing at least in Appleton, Wisconsin. There, they had discussions for nearly a month before showing a video that is less explicit than others. They also asked permission from the man in crisis and worked with mental health organizations. For more on this issue and mental health in general, you can head to the Life section on usatoday.com. And if you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. That's 1-800-273-8255. And thanks for listening to 5 Things. You can find us wherever you get your audio, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thanks as always to Shannon Green and Claire Thornton for their great work on the show. Five Things is part of the USA Today Network

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: While Henri slammed New England, Tennessee saw deadly flooding
Italy WWII Soldier

AP Photo/Antonio Calanni

A World War II veteran has reunited with the children he saved from the Nazis in 1944.

Martin Adler, who helped rescue Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana Naldi decades ago, met with the siblings for the first time since the war after flying from Boca Raton, Florida, to Bologna, Italy, to see them, the Associated Press reported.

Adler, who was just 20 years old when he first met the trio, greeted them with bars of American chocolate, just as he did back in 1944.

"Look at my smile," he said after reuniting with the siblings.

Rachelle Donley, Adler's daughter, organized the reunion during the COVID-19 lockdown. Her father had always kept a photo of himself and the siblings, and Donley was determined to track down the three faces featured in the picture.

Italy WWII Soldier

AP Photo/Antonio Calanni

RELATED: Black World War II Vet Previously Overlooked for Purple Heart Finally Receives Medal 77 Years Later

When Matteo Incerti, an Italian journalist who has written books on World War II, spotted the photo, he was able to find out where Adler had been stationed. After the photo was printed in a local newspaper, the three children pictured in it were finally identified as Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana.

After reuniting by video in December, Adler and the siblings were finally able to see each other in person months later. While in Italy, Adler will visit the village where he was stationed in 1944, and plans to travel to Florence, Naples and Rome.

While the reunion was a joyous event, Adler's first interaction with Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana was much different. When they first met Adler, the siblings had been concealed in a wicker basket by their mother when the soldier entered the house and assumed a Nazi was there.

Adler picked up his gun and prepared to shoot the basket after hearing a sound come from inside, but was abruptly stopped by the children's mother.

Story continues

Italy WWII Soldier

AP Photo/Antonio Calanni

RELATED: WWII Veteran's Postcard Is Finally Delivered to His Family 77 Years Later: 'It's a Crazy Story'

"The mother, Mamma, came out and stood right in front of my gun to stop me [from] shooting," Adler said. "She put her stomach right against my gun, yelling, 'Bambinis! Bambinis! Bambinis!' pounding my chest."

He added, "That was a real hero, the mother, not me. The mother was a real hero. Can you imagine you standing yourself in front of a gun and screaming 'Children! No!'?"

Giuliana Naldi was just 3 years old during the incident, but she's the only one of her siblings who remembers the day Adler entered their home. She recalled stepping out of the basket and seeing Adler and his fellow soldier.

"They were laughing," Naldi, who is now 80, said. "They were happy they didn't shoot."

Italy WWII Soldier

AP Photo/Antonio Calanni

RELATED: America's Oldest World War II Veteran Celebrates His 111th Birthday in New Orleans

Adler and his company remained in the village after that fateful day, and he would often stop by and play with the children, bringing blue-and-white wrapped chocolates with him, which Naldi said she and her siblings "ate so much of."

Donley said she is "so happy" and "so proud" of her dad for his actions that day.

"Because things could have been so different in just a second," she said. "Because he hesitated, there have been generations of people."

Roberta Fontana, Naldi's granddaughter, agreed. Together, the siblings have six children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

"Knowing that Martin could have shot and that none of my family would exist is something very big," Fontana said. "It is very emotional."
What 15 US first ladies' wedding dresses looked like

From left to right: Eleanor Roosevelt, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Michelle Obama. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images, Bachrach/Getty Images, Obama For America/Handout/Reuters

Martha Washington's gold silk damask wedding gown is on display at Mount Vernon.

Laura Bush bought her two-tone wedding dress straight off the rack in 1977.

Melania Trump's Dior wedding gown held 1,500 crystal rhinestones and pearls.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Martha Dandridge Custis married George Washington in 1759 in a gown made from gold silk damask fabric.

George and Martha Washington's wedding. Junius Brutus Stearns/Library of Congress

A replica of her wedding dress, along with a cream silk petticoat and sequined shoes, are on display at Mount Vernon.

Frances Folsom wore a gown of ivory satin when she married Grover Cleveland in 1886.

An illustration of President Grover and Frances Cleveland's wedding. DEA/ICAS94/Contributor/Getty Images

Cleveland was the first sitting president to get married in the White House. After the wedding, Frances had her dress altered into an evening gown that she wore for formal events. According to the History Channel, the fabric was so stiff that the dress could stand up by itself.

Lou Henry married Herbert Hoover in 1899 in a dark gown and wide-brimmed hat.

Herbert Hoover with the Henry family on his wedding day. Lou Henry is beside him on the steps. CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

The couple met in a geology lab at Leland Stanford University. Herbert proposed via telegram while on a mining trip in Australia, and they wed at Lou's parents' home in Monterey, California.

Eleanor Roosevelt wore a long-sleeved satin gown covered in Brussels lace and accented with tulle.

Eleanor Roosevelt's wedding dress. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images

"My own dress was heavy stiff satin with shirred tulle in the neck and long sleeves," she wrote in her autobiography "This Is My Story" of her 1905 wedding to Franklin D. Roosevelt. "My grandmother Hall's rose point Brussels lace covered the dress, and the veil of the same lace fell from my head over my long train."

Bess Wallace married her childhood classmate Harry Truman in 1919 wearing a gown made of white georgette and faille.

A wedding photo of Harry Truman and Bess Wallace Truman. CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

She paired the dress with a white hat and a bouquet of Mrs. Aaron Ward roses.

Mamie Doud married Dwight Eisenhower in 1916 in a beaded gown with scalloped ruffles.

Dwight Eisenhower and Mamie Doud Eisenhower on their wedding day in 1916. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Mamie was known for her polished sense of style. She also popularized the "Mamie pink" color that became prevalent in home decor in the 1950s.

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Jacqueline Lee Bouvier wore a wedding dress designed by Ann Lowe, a Black seamstress who did not receive credit for her work in her lifetime.

A bridal portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy. Bachrach/Getty Images

According to the Smithsonian, Lowe was told to enter through the back door when she arrived to deliver the wedding dress and bridesmaids' gowns. She is said to have responded that she'd take the dresses back if she wasn't allowed to enter through the front and proceeded through the door.

With its portrait neckline and full skirt in ivory silk-taffeta, Lowe's design remains one of the most iconic wedding dresses of all time, but she wasn't credited for her work and died relatively unknown.

In 1934, Lady Bird Taylor married Lyndon Johnson in a spur-of-the-moment ceremony.

Lady Bird Johnson in 1934. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images

Johnson proposed to Taylor on their first date, but she thought it was too soon. He showed up at her doorstep unannounced 10 weeks later and asked again. They got married the next day with a ring from Sears that cost $2.50.

Betty Bloomer Warren married Gerald Ford in a blue satin dress in 1948.

A portrait of Gerald and Betty Ford on their wedding day. CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

The lace on her hat came from a parasol that belonged to Gerald's grandmother.

Barbara Pierce married George Bush in 1945. They went on to spend 73 years together.

George Bush and Barbara Pierce Bush on their wedding day in 1945. CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Her wedding dress is on display at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter wed in 1946 and have been married for 75 years.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter give members of the press a tour at a special preview of the new Carter Presidential Center. The photo behind them shows the Carters on their wedding day. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images

For her wedding day, Rosalynn wore a white mid-length dress with a black vest on top, paired with a boutonniere, a white hat, and white gloves.

In the photo above, the couple stands in front of an image showing them on their wedding day.

Nancy Davis married Ronald Reagan in a wool skirt suit with white lapels in 1952.

Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis (center) on their wedding day with their best man and maid of honor. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

She accessorized the dress with a birdcage veil and pieces of lace in her hair, and she held a bouquet of tulips.

Laura Welch wore a two-toned tan dress she bought straight off the rack when she married George W. Bush in November 1977.

Laura and George Bush's wedding. CM/SV/Reuters

The couple met at a mutual friend's barbecue in July and were engaged by September.

Michelle Robinson wore an off-the-shoulder gown when she married Barack Obama in 1992.

Michelle and Barack Obama on their wedding day in 1992. Obama For America/Handout/Reuters

She paired the dress with drop-pearl earrings and a floor-length veil.

Melania Knauss married Donald Trump in a satin Christian Dior gown that held 1,500 crystal rhinestones and pearls.

Melania Trump in her wedding gown in 2005. Gary I Rothstein/Reuters

Vogue named her gown the "dress of the year."

Read the original article on Insider
President Joe Biden said the United States was "on a pace" to hit its Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawal from Afghanistan, but is preparing contingency plans in case needed.

His remarks from the White House came the same day the Taliban said it would stop Afghans from trying to go to the Kabul airport and told women to stay home to stay for a time to stay safe, fueling worries about how the Taliban will treat women.

In the meantime, the evacuations continued, with more than 70,000 people removed from the country in the past 10 days.

Refugee group says Kabul airport difficulties continue

One of the main refugee groups resettling Afghan evacuees in the United States said many people, including some American citizens, still were finding it impossible to get past Taliban checkpoints and crushing throngs outside the airport.

The United States cannot pat itself on the back for a job half-done, said Krish OMara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.

For now, the U.S. military coordinates all air traffic in and out of the Kabul airport, but the Taliban will take over there after the U.S. pullout.

-- The Associated Press

Evacuations continue as U.S. troops removed

The U.S. military operation to evacuate U.S. citizens and Afghans from Kabul continues despite the removal of several hundred U.S. troops, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said in a statement Tuesday evening.

The Aug. 31 deadline set by President Joe Biden remains unchanged, Kirby said. However, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and commanders are drawing up plans if that deadline is changed, Kirby said.

At the peak of the operation to secure Hamid Karzai International Airport and to speed the evacuation, there were nearly 6,000 troops there. Among the troops flown out are headquarters and maintenance staff whose missions are complete.

Their departure represents prudent and efficient force management, Kirby said. It will have no impact on the mission at hand.

Story continues

--Tom Vanden Brook

Women soccer players leave Afghanistan on evacuation flight

Players from Afghanistan womens national soccer team had an important victory on Tuesday when they were among a group of more than 75 people evacuated on a flight from Kabul.

Global soccer players union FIFPRO thanked the Australian government for making the evacuation of players, team officials and family members possible, with work continuing to help more leave Afghanistan.

These young women, both as athletes and activists, have been in a position of danger and on behalf of their peers around the world we thank the international community for coming to their aid, the union said in a statement.

The Afghan team was created in 2007 in a country where women playing sport was seen as a political act of defiance against the Taliban.

Players had been advised this month to delete social media posts and photographs of them with the team to help avoid reprisals since the United States-backed Afghanistan government fell.

--The Associated Press

Blinken to update on remaining Americans in Afghanistan

Biden said Secretary of State Antony Blinken will provide an update Wednesday on how many Americans are still in Afghanistan  a number the White House has not disclosed  as well as how many have gotten out and evacuation projections.

Every day were on the ground is another day we know that ISIS-K is seeking to target the airport and attack both US and allied forces and innocent civilians, Biden said.

More: Brutal ISIS-K affiliate in Afghanistan poses terror threat to U.S. evacuation

Biden said that although the Taliban has worked with the U.S. to ensure the evacuation of Americans, its a tenuous situation, pointing to gun-fighting that has broken out. We run a serious risk of it breaking down as time goes on.

--Joey Garrison

The sooner we can finish, the better: Biden says US on track to leave Afghanistan by Aug. 31

Biden said Tuesday the U.S. is on track to complete is withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan by its Aug. 31 deadline but is preparing contingency plans in case the Taliban does not cooperate with the evacuations.

"We are currently on a pace to finish by Aug. 31. The sooner we can finish, the better, Biden said. Each day of operations brings added risk to our troops. But the completion by Aug. 31 depends upon the Taliban continuing to cooperate, allowing access to the airport for those who were transporting out, and no disruption to our operation."

He said hes asked the Pentagon and State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timetable if it becomes necessary.

Biden announced the plan in an afternoon from speech the White Houses Roosevelt Room after meeting with leaders from the Group of Seven nations Tuesday morning.

"As of this afternoon, we've helped evacuate 70,700 people just since August the 14th. 75,900 people since the end of July," Biden said.

The U.S. is seeking to remove Americans from the country as well as Afghan interpreters and others who cooperated with the U.S. military during the two-decade war.

-- Joey Garrison

Afghanistan evacuees being transported to Fort Bliss

LAS CRUCES  Refugees from Afghanistan continued to arrive at Fort Bliss in El Paso Monday as part of Operation Allies Refuge.

Less clear is how exactly how many will be processed at the installation, serving as a temporary site for what presumably would be thousands of people evacuated as the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan after 20 years.

According to U.S. Army North, refugees are being welcomed to the El Paso installation's Dona Ana Range Complex, on land overlapping Otero and Dona Ana counties in New Mexico.

Last week, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said the installation was preparing to receive up to 10,000 Afghan refugees.

-- Algernon D'Ammassa

Biden speaks to allies about U.S. timeline

Biden relayed that the U.S. mission in Kabul will end based on the achievement of our objectives during a virtual meeting with leaders of the Group of Seven nations, according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

He also made clear that with each day of operations on the ground, we have added risk to our troops with increasing threats from ISIS-K, and that completion of the mission by August 31st depends on continued coordination with the Taliban, including continued access for evacuees to the airport, Psaki said.

Biden has asked the Pentagon and State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timeline if necessary, Psaki said.

The White House announced the decision after the Taliban said they are not allowing Afghan citizens from accessing the Kabul airport, disrupting U.S. efforts to remove Afghan interpreters and other allies who cooperated with the U.S. military during the two-decade war.

A White House official said the Pentagon recommended Biden stick with the Aug. 31 withdrawal given security risks facing the military from a potential terrorist attack from ISIS-K and other militant groups because of the anticipated deterioration of Taliban cooperation.

The Taliban, which took over the Afghanistan government this month amid the U.S. drawdown, has opposed the U.S. staying beyond August. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said his group would accept no extensions to the deadline. The militant group also told Afghans not to try to flee the country.

--Joey Garrison

More: Who and what to know as Afghanistan moves toward a new government

Pentagon: Getting military out of Afghanistan will take time

Withdrawing the nearly 6,000 U.S. troops from Hamid Karzai International Airport will take time and likely curtail or halt civilian evacuation flights before Aug. 31. It took several days to fly in the troops and their equipment, and it will take some time to get them out safely.

The withdrawal must be done in a sequenced and precise way, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Tuesday. Security will be paramount.

Some equipment may be left behind. If it needs to be destroyed, Kirby said, well do that, and well do that appropriately.

Read more: Exclusive: Americans' harsh judgment on Afghanistan costs Biden's approval, down to 41%

Taliban say Afghans should not try to flee the country

The Taliban will stop Afghans from trying to go to the Kabul airport as evacuations continue ahead of an Aug. 31 deadline for the U.S. to withdraw from the country.

Taliban spokesman Zabidullah Mujahid said during a Tuesday press conference that Afghans should not go to the airport or otherwise attempt to leave the country.

"The way to the airport has been closed now. Afghans are not allowed to go there now. Foreigners are allowed to go," he said, via the translator on BBC. "But we have stopped Afghan nationals (from going) because the crowd is more. There is danger that people will lose their lives. There might be stampede.

We are again reassuring you to come to your homes, come back to your jobs, come back to your normal life. There is no danger for you. We are reassuring you," he said.

Separately, he said women should stay home to remain safe, for a time. Women would not be permanently prevented from going to work, he said.

Mujahid discouraged the U.S. from instructing Afghans to leave Afghanistan.

We are asking Americans to change your policy and please dont encourage Afghans to leave. Dont encourage our engineers, our doctors, our military. We need them. We need that talent. Do not take them out to foreign countries," Mujahid said, according to the BBC's translation.

Previously, the Taliban had pledged to uphold the rights of women despite their history of enforcing strict codes that allowed for violence against them.

The U.S. has evacuated about 58,700 people from Afghanistan since Aug. 14, and the Taliban have said they will not accept an extension of the Aug. 31 deadline.

More: Biden's approval rating drops to lowest point amid rise in COVID, Afghanistan fallout

Another 21,600 evacuated from Kabul as of early Tuesday

On Tuesday, the White House released its latest evacuation numbers out of Kabul: In the 24 hours ending at 3 a.m., approximately 21,600 people have been evacuated. They flew out on 37 U.S. military flights  including 32 C-17s and five C-130s  carrying around 12,700 people, and 57 coalition flights that flew 8,900 people.

The Biden administration says this brings its evacuation tally to about 58,700 people since Aug. 14.

This comes a week before the Aug. 31 deadline negotiated between the U.S. and Taliban for full U.S. withdrawal. On Monday, the Taliban warned that going beyond that date would provoke a "reaction" because it indicated the U.S. occupation was continuing. On Tuesday, they emphasized that point.

New threat: Brutal ISIS-K affiliate in Afghanistan poses terror threat to U.S. evacuation

Taliban: 'No extensions' to Aug. 31 exit deadline

A Taliban spokesman says the U.S. must complete its evacuation of people from Afghanistan by the Aug. 31 date the Biden administration set for the withdrawal of all American troops.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Tuesday his group will accept no extensions to the deadline. He says life is returning to normal in the country, but chaos at the airport remains a problem. Many Afghans are desperate to flee the Taliban takeover of the country.

Mujahid says he is not aware of any meeting between the Taliban and the CIA, but he did not deny that such a meeting took place. An official says the director of the U.S. agency met with the Talibans top political leader in Kabul on Monday.

 Associated Press

More: Amid Taliban takeover, fear Afghanistans media landscape will disappear

In this Aug. 17, 2021 file photo, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid speaks at at his first news conference, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Mujahid said Tuesday at a press conference in Kabul that the U.S. must complete its evacuation of people from Afghanistan by the Aug. 31 date the Biden administration set for the withdrawal of all American troops. Mujahid said his group will accept no extensions to the deadline.

Airbnb to provide free housing to 20,000 Afghan refugees globally

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said Tuesday the rental logistics company would offer free housing for up to 20,000 refugees fleeing Afghanistan in host locations around the world.

The displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the US and elsewhere is one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time. We feel a responsibility to step up, Chesky wrote in a series of tweets announcing the move.

The company will pay for the housing of the Afghan refugees, who will be housed by partnered hosts in cities around the world. Non-governmental organizations and regional partners helping refugees resettle will also be involved in the process.

Chesky did not say how long the refugees will be offered housing or if the company is helping with any long-term resettlement efforts.

The U.S. has ferried almost 64,000 people out of Afghanistan, while other nations like Canada, France and Germany and the United Kingdom have also taken refugees.

Airbnb did not specify in which countries it would house refugees, but it operates in all countries accepting displaced Afghans.

The partnership is not the first time Airbnb has used its housing to help those in need. In March 2020, the company offered up to 100,000 sites for free lodging to medical first responders and relief workers combatting the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden, G7 leaders to meet

President Joe Biden will meet Tuesday morning with leaders of the G7 nations to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

Biden is expected speak on that meeting and offer other updates at noon from the White House.

On Monday, press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden has had multiple conversations with world leaders in recent days, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, the emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

"We remain in close touch with allies and partners to coordinate the evacuation of their own citizens and their priority personnel, as well as to respond to the ongoing political and security situation in Afghanistan," Psaki said.

 Katie Wadington

Afghans walk along fences as they arrive in Pakistan through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman on Aug. 24, 2021, following Taliban's military takeover of Afghanistan.

More: For Biden, fallout from the Afghanistan withdrawal abroad complicates agenda at home

Report: CIA Director Burns secretly met with Taliban leader Monday

WASHINGTON  William Burns, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, held a secret in-person meeting with the Talibans acting leader, Abdul Ghani Baradar, in Kabul on Monday, U.S. officials told the Associated Press. The Washington Post first reported on the meeting.

The meeting was the highest-level meeting between a Biden administration official and the Taliban since the fundamentalist group took full control of the country on Aug. 15. While Burns directs the U.S.s main spy agency, his longtime background is in diplomacy, making him technically the most veteran diplomat in President Joe Bidens orbit.

The meeting comes as American and allied forces continue a rapid effort to evacuate thousands of U.S. and allied citizens as well as Afghans who are likely vulnerable to persecution under Taliban rule.

The CIA has not released details of the meeting.

For Burns, the meeting also presented the opportunity to assess Afghanistans soon-to-be formal leader. For Baradar, who was imprisoned by the CIA for 11 years, the meeting was another opportunity to display the Talibans capability as a governing force and negotiating partner.

After his release from prison in 2018, Baradar led talks with the Trump administration in Qatar that negotiated U.S. troop withdrawal from the country. In those meetings, he met face-to-face with then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who had previously also led the CIA.

On Monday, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and State Department spokesperson Ned Price both confirmed the administration is in talks with the Taliban but did not elaborate on what those meetings entailed.

 Matthew Brown

Learn more: From Bush to Biden: policies that led to the chaos in Afghanistan

This handout satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows crowds of people waiting on the tarmac at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan, with a C-17 transport aircraft ready, on Aug. 23, 2021.

UN Human Rights panel: Taliban executing women

GENEVA - The U.N. human rights chief warned Tuesday that she had credible reports of summary executions and restrictions on women in areas under Taliban control in Afghanistan, fueling fears of what their rule might hold a week before U.S. forces are set to withdraw.

Michelle Bachelet urged the Human Rights Council to take bold and vigorous action to monitor the rights situation in Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban's stunning takeover, as she sought to ensure that international attention on the country doesnt wane.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet delivers a speech at the opening of a special session of the UN Human Rights Council on Afghanistan in Geneva on Aug. 24, 2021. The UN rights chief voiced grave concern at the situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban swept into power, saying their treatment of women would mark a "fundamental red line."

Taliban leaders have promised to restore security and tried to project an image of moderation, but many Afghans are skeptical and are racing to the leave the country, leading to chaos at Kabul's international airport. Amid scattered reports, it has been difficult to determine how widespread abuses might be and whether they reflect that Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters on the ground are taking matters into their own hands.

Leaders from the Group of Seven nations plan to meet later Tuesday to discuss the burgeoning refugee crisis and the collapse of the Afghan government amid wrangling over whether the full U.S. withdrawal of troops could be extended beyond the end of the month to allow more time to evacuate those desperate to leave.

 Associated Press

How did we get here?: One week in US withdrawal and Taliban recapture of Afghanistan

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Afghanistan news: Biden says US "on a pace" for Aug. 31 pullout
Military planners are hoping for a decision on Tuesday on whether or not U.S. troops will leave Afghanistan by August 31, a U.S. defense official told CBS News on Monday.

A source familiar with the planning confirmed that the White House is working toward getting the military an answer by Tuesday on whether or not President Biden will seek to extend the troop withdrawal timeline past August 31.

Mr. Biden said in remarks on Sunday that the hope is not to extend the deadline and to have completed the operation by then but there are ongoing discussions about whether to extend.

On Monday, a Taliban spokesman warned the U.S. military not to stay a day longer.

"This is something you can say it's a red line," the spokesman said. "It will deteriorate the relation. Will create mistrust between us."

In this image provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, Marines assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit monitor the air traffic control center at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. / Credit: Cpl. Davis Harris / AP

There are about 5,800 U.S. troops at the airport in Kabul and some equipment that would need to start moving out if the U.S. sticks with its August 31 deadline.

"The goal is to get as many people out as fast as possible," Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby told reporters when asked Monday about the deadline. "The focus is on trying to do this as best we can by the end of the month."

The airlift operation has ramped up over the past week, and the Biden administration announced Monday that military and coalition aircraft evacuated over 16,000 people in the previous 24 hours, the highest number of evacuations in that time frame since August 14.

Overall, the operation has evacuated approximately 48,000 people since August 14 and approximately 53,000 people since the end of July when the military started assisting the State Department in evacuating and relocating Special Immigrant visa applicants and their families.

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A Utah couple were found dead from gunshot wounds after a four-day search in Moab, Utah, about an hour away from Arches National Park.

Wednesday, the bodies of Crystal Turner, 38, and Kylen Schulte, 24, were found by a family friend in the eastern area of the state where they were camping in their van.

Schulte and Turner went missing Aug. 14, according to the Grand County Sheriff's Office.

The couple were married four months ago and lived in the van while working in the Moab area. They had no family nearby.

Tuesday, Schulte's father posted on Facebook that they hadn't been to work, hadn't called and were not in area hospitals or jails.

"Kylen and Crystal told close friends that there was a weirdo camping near them that was freaking them out !!! And that they should move campsites. Now they have been missing for over 4 days and nights!" Sean-Paul Schulte posted early Wednesday morning.

Crystal Turner and Kylen Schulte were found dead near Moab, Utah, on Aug. 18.

Cindy Sue Hunter, the family friend who found the couple dead on Wednesday, posted on Facebook that "the desperation of your pleas for help on [Facebook], and the presence of your voice over the phone gave me the strength and courage needed to find them."

The couple's bodies were transported to a medical examiner's office, which determined the cause of death as gunshot wounds, a statement from the sheriff's office read.

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Schulte's aunt, Bridget Calvert, began a Facebook Group when the newlyweds were reported missing called "Justice for Kylen and Crystal  Moab, UT." The group had about 1,300 members as of Monday morning.

The sheriff's office is conducting a homicide investigation, though officials said there is no danger to the public. Officials did not say whether any suspects had been identified.

Officials encouraged anyone with information on the deaths of Turner and Schulte to contact the Grand County Sheriff's Office at (435) 259-8115.

Story continues

Colin Haynie: Utah boy, 16, charged with killing mother, 3 siblings

K. Sophie Will is the national parks reporter for The Spectrum & Daily News through the Report for America initiative by the GroundTruth Project. Follow her on Twitter at @ksophiewill or email her at kswill@thespectrum.com. Donate to Report for America here.

This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Utah newlyweds camping in van found shot dead
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised six more destinations to its highest travel warning level on Monday, including popular vacation hotspot the Bahamas.

The agency raised the Bahamas to a "Level 4," warning travelers they should avoid heading to the island nation, especially if they are unvaccinated. Destinations are classified as a "Level 4" if there are 500 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people.

Similarly, the Department of State issued a travel advisory on Monday mirroring the CDC's message.

"Because of the current situation in the Bahamas, even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants," the CDC wrote in its advisory. "Travelers should follow recommendations or requirements in the Bahamas, including wearing a mask and staying 6 feet apart from others."

The Bahamas, which recently implemented a vaccine mandate for cruise ships docking there, welcomes Americans and requires them to provide proof of a negative PCR or antigen test, depending on their vaccination status. On Aug. 21, the country expanded a nightly curfew.

Bahamas

Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images

In addition to the Bahamas, the CDC raised five more destinations to "Level 4": Haiti, Kosovo, Lebanon, Morocco, and Sint Maarten.

The agency has raised several countries and territories around the world to its highest COVID-19 warning level in recent weeks, including France, Israel, Greece, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The CDC has also waived warnings on a few destinations, lowering both India and Canada to "Level 2," indicating a "moderate" level of coronavirus transmission.

While the CDC and State Department update travel warnings based on epidemiological situations, the U.S. as a whole continues to heavily restrict international travel. Last week, the U.S. extended the land border closure with Canada and Mexico another month, and non-essential travel for non-U.S. citizens remains restricted from several destinations, including the United Kingdom and European Union.

In the past, the White House has pointed to the spread of the highly contagious delta variant and said that policy isn't likely to change just yet.

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram.
Gurkha guards stand inside Green Village, a fortified compound in Kabul, Afghanistan on Sept. 3, 2019, a day after a car bomb exploded outside its walls, and protesters set fire to armored vehicles. (Jim Huylebroek/The New York Times)

KATHMANDU, Nepal  The suicide bomber driving a sedan packed with explosives struck in the early hours of the morning, as the minibus crawled through Kabuls traffic.

A piece of shrapnel pierced Amrit Rokaya Chhetris left ear. He was lucky. Nine of his fellow security workers, hired by a contractor to protect Canadas Embassy in Afghanistan, were killed immediately as metal tore through the packed bus in 2016. Ultimately, 13 Nepalis were among the dead.

They were less than 700 feet from their dormitory. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

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During the day I play the harmonium to forget, or I hang out with my friends, said Chhetri, 41, now living in his home village in Nepal. If that day haunts me at night, I go to the gym for physical exercise, as my doctors suggested.

The attack five years ago focused attention on the little-known but crucial role that Nepali security personnel play in protecting officials, diplomats and companies in Afghanistan. Hired by private contractors, many are ethnic Gurkhas who have served in the Nepali, Indian or British military, and they often work under conditions that have drawn protests from labor activists. But Nepal, a landlocked country in the Himalayas, is one of the poorest in Asia, making security jobs abroad look appealing.

Now Nepal is trying to get thousands of its people out of Afghanistan. The task is daunting. Reports from Afghanistan suggest the Taliban are tracking those who worked with Western countries. The exact number of Nepali nationals in the country is unclear, and the country does not have an embassy in Afghanistan and lacks resources for helping people stuck there.

The government of Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepals new prime minister, is urging Western nations to help rescue Nepali security guards while they evacuate their own citizens from Kabul.

We have made some diplomatic efforts to coordinate their evacuation, said Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Nepals minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs.

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Karki said evacuating Nepali contractors has been complicated by the fact that many have worked in Afghanistan illegally for years, making it difficult to find and count, much less rescue, them.

The number of Nepalis working in Afghanistan depends upon which government institution you ask, Karki said.

There are no accurate records, he said. But we are committed to make their repatriation at the earliest, irrespective of their status.

Some who have escaped described a nerve-racking experience.

Its been difficult to reach the airport, Kamal Deep Bharati, a security guard from Nepal who was working in Afghanistan, said last week while waiting to leave Kabul. We have already handed over our weapons to the Taliban. The Taliban have encircled the hotel where we are staying.

Over the weekend, Bharati managed to reach the airport and was able to board a flight to London.

Nepal reacted with relief last week when more than 100 of its nationals were flown out by the United States, including Gurkhas who had worked at the U.S. Embassy. As of Sunday, 504 Nepali contract workers, including those working for the U.S. and British embassies in Kabul, were evacuated out of Kabul, Nepals foreign affairs ministry said.

Many more may remain. For example, some people from Nepal get jobs abroad after going through neighboring India to avoid government hassles. More than 350 contract workers have sought help from the foreign ministry for immediate evacuation from Afghanistan.

Government records in Nepal show 14,565 Nepalis have obtained work permits to get jobs in Afghanistan in recent years. Of them, an estimated 1,500 Nepalis worked in security positions for the embassies of the United States and other countries, as well as international groups.

Many in Nepal believe the Taliban could single out its citizens for reprisals. Its soldiers have fought fiercely against the Taliban, either as part of British or other forces or later as security contractors. Between 2001-14, British Gurkhas were involved in several tours in Afghanistan, with 12 killed and 16 injured, according to Tim I. Gurung, a Gurkha veteran and the author of a history of the Gurkhas.

Security work abroad has sometimes sparked anger in Nepal. Injured security guards and the families of those killed sometimes struggle to get the compensation they say they are owed.

Nepal had tried to stop its citizens from private security work in Afghanistan after the 2016 suicide bombing, though many continued to seek jobs, some working illegally. Nepal lifted the ban after Western countries applied pressure to reverse the decision.

The Afghanistan crisis struck at a time when the Nepali government is in disarray. The country lacks a minister of foreign affairs and a minister of foreign employment after a court last month removed the previous prime minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, from office. No Nepali diplomat has presented credentials in Kabul. the country conducts what little diplomacy it has with Afghanistan through Indias Embassy there.

For now, Nepali citizens in Afghanistan must rely on other countries to help them escape.

Chhetri, the survivor of the 2016 suicide bombing in Kabul, urged officials helping with evacuation efforts to make sure those who protected the safety of others would be safe themselves.

Afghanistan was never a safe zone, he said. It is not safe and will not become safe. So, our fellow guards should be evacuated out of Afghanistan as soon as possible. What happens if someone is killed there in a blast or shooting because of a delayed evacuation?

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New ways to get in touch

The district is making efforts to improve its communication with families going into the new school year. There are several ways for parents to get more information or have questions answered.

District officials recommend parents read through frequently asked questions at www.smore.com/dq2sb. They can also reach out to the district through its always-on communication channel Lets Talk. Details can be found at www.ysd7.org/contactus. Parents can also reach out to their childs school directly.
FILE - In this Wednesday, March 9, 2016, file photo, Rep. Frank Artiles, R-Miami, speaks on the red light bill during session, in Tallahassee, Fla. Prosecutors say former Sen. Artiles secretly gave more than $44,000 to a sham candidate for the Florida Legislature so that he could run as an independent in the 2020 election to confuse voters and siphon ballots from then-Democratic incumbent, Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez. Artiles has pleaded not guilty.
Yankton, SD (57078)

Today

Plenty of sunshine. High around 80F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.
Its human nature to blame someone or something else when we screw up. We all do it, but onl
Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 99F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Clear skies. Low around 80F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow

A mainly sunny sky. High 101F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
We do a large amount of tractor engine work as well as stationary irrigation engines, said Schlegelmilch. Medium duty diesel is becoming one of our largest markets, as well as street and restoration which led us to install a SuperFlow Engine Dyno. If its got a piston in it, we wont turn it away.

Donrich is also involved in driveline work. I started with driveline work right out of college, said Schlegelmilch. Here we repair automotive and heavy-duty truck shafts. We are also able to custom build for street rods and race cars.

He first got involved with AERA as it was the source for all his engine rebuilding specifications. He first joined the board of directors and will serve as the incoming chairman.

The AERA resources cover everything that comes into the shop and the wealth of information the staff provides is extremely helpful, said Schlegelmilch. I hope to get the younger generation interested in this line of work again and change the perception of a machine shop being a dark, dirty, greasy workplace.

Cornerstone Bank announces officer appointments

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The Board of Directors of Cornerstone Bank announced the appointments of the following officers in York, at their recent meeting:
YORK  A man caught with a stolen semi-trailer in the wrong lanes of Highway 81 in York County has been fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $10,000 restitution.

Randeep Singh, 46, of Las Vegas, Nevada, appeared in York County District Court this week.

According to court documents, troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol were dispatched regarding a reckless semi which was proceeding southbound in northbound lanes of Highway 81. Dispatch also informed the troopers that the trailer came back as being stolen after a lieutenant with the York County Sheriffs Department ran the plates.

Reporting parties said the semi had been southbound in the northbound lanes for at least 3-4 miles and was going 20-30 mph below the speed limit.

They found the semi, which had a Maine license plate.

The driver, who was Singh, was in compliance at the time of the stop and was arrested.

The trailer was reported stolen in Las Vegas and was valued at $87,000.
Bernard Bull was installed as the 11th president of Concordia University in Seward on Sunday.

Formerly the president of Goddard College in Plainview, Vermont, Bull has also worked in various administrative roles at Concordia University Wisconsin.

Bull was installed by the Rev. Richard Snow, president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Nebraska District, at a ceremony at St. John Lutheran Church.

The successor to the Rev. Brian Friedrich, who served as president of Concordia from 2004-2019, and interim president the Rev. Russ Sommerfeld, Bull was announced as the Lutheran-affiliated university's president in December 2020.

"I look forward to joining in Concordia's beautiful expression of a Christian academic community, seeking to find ways we can interact with, learn from, serve and love the many neighbors in the world around us," he said in a statement.
The scenes from Afghanistan over the past week have been harrowing. As the Biden Administration quickly approached their expedited deadline to withdraw the final U.S. troops from the country, Taliban forces took over regional capitals and major cities as regular Afghan soldiers fled their posts or surrendered. On Sunday the Taliban overtook Kabul, the capital, as former President Ashraf Ghani fled the country and handed over power. While this collapse is a disaster, we must remember why the U.S. military was there and understand why the Biden Administrations withdrawal plan failed so we can better protect Americans and our allies going forward.

The U.S. military presence in Afghanistan dates back to the start of Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001, when U.S. forces allied with NATO and Afghanistans Northern Alliance in an effort to defeat al-Qaeda, capture Osama Bin Laden, and unseat the Taliban government who gave terrorists safe haven following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Unlike Soviet efforts to expand their worldview and influence in the 1980s, our goal was to help Afghans rebuild their economy while building a self-sufficient representative democracy which protected the human rights of all Afghans. The crowds of Afghans at the Kabul airport, desperate to flee the Taliban, show us just how much many Afghans still want this freedom and opportunity.
RAIPUR: Amid reports of infighting and a widening rift over power-sharing in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and state Health Minister TS Singh Deo will meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the national capital on Tuesday.

The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister had left for Delhi on Monday evening to meet senior party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, to discuss the matter.

The CM's visit to the national capital where state's Health Minister TS Singh Deo has also reached this afternoon from Bhopal is being linked to the purported two-and-a-half-year power-sharing formula for the chief minister's post in the state's ruling Congress.

Bhupesh Baghel stopped short of divulging the agenda of his meetings in Delhi while talking to reporters at the Swami Vivekanand airport before taking off for Delhi,

After a long time, I am going to Delhi. (Last month) I visited Himachal Pradesh to take part in the funeral of Virbhadra Singh ji as a representative of Sonia Gandhi during which I met Priyanka (returning to Delhi). This time the meeting is with Rahul Gandhi. There will also be a meeting with AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal and state's incharge PL Punia, CM Baghel replied when queried about the purpose of his visit.

When asked whether Singh Deo will also be present during the meeting with Gandhi, he said, I have information of meeting with Rahul ji only.

When contacted and asked whether he will be meeting senior party leaders in Delhi, Singh Deo said that he was not aware of it as of now and state's incharge PL Punia will convey to him about it.

We don't know. Punia Ji is the person entrusted with this. He is in touch with the high command. It's for him to convey. We are waiting for his message. I have informed Punia Ji that I am in Delhi and I suppose we will get conveyed in the morning (about a meeting), he said.

The Baghel government completed two-and-a-half years in power in July this year and speculations are rife that the power-sharing formula is likely to be discussed during the CM's meetings with senior party leaders scheduled on Tuesday.

Sharing the CM's post on a rotational basis has been a buzz in the state's political circles after Congress came to power in December 2018. At that time, Baghel and his two senior cabinet colleagues - TS Singh Deo and Tamradhwaj Sahu - were the leading contenders for the CM post.

When Baghel took oath as Chief Minister on December 17, 2018, Deo and Sahu were sworn in as cabinet ministers. As per speculations, a consensus was reached for the CM's post based on a two-and-a-half-year power-sharing formula between Baghel and Deo.

Whenever asked about the power-sharing formula, the chief minister had replied that he would vacate the post if the party high-command wants him to.

(With Agency Inputs)

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New Delhi: In a grim remider of the Jessica Lal murder case, an 18-year-old service boy at a restaurant in southwest Delhi's Chhawla area was shot dead by two people, police said on Tuesday (August 24). The deceased was identified as Aman, alias Gulam Sabir, of JJ colony, Bawana, they said. The Chhawla police station was informed around 7 pm on Monday about two people opening fire at a person inside a restaurant, Heaven On Earth, located on Khaira Road, a senior officer said.

The accused had come to the restaurant as customers and were sitting inside after placing their order, he said. As Aman was about to leave, one of them shot him and fled, the officer said.

The victim was taken to the Rao Tula Ram Hospital, where he was declared brought dead, he said.

Also read: Agra's birthday party takes a tragic turn, 2 dead

A case under sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intension) of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act has been registered, the officer said. Police are checking CCTV footage of the area, and efforts are being made to apprehend the accused, he added. Aman was filling in for his friend Mahesh Kumar, who works at the restaurant and was on leave, the officer said.

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New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party will launch a one-month mega campaign to make Delhi free of corruption and garbage from 1st to 30th September. AAP Delhi convenor Gopal Rai informed on Tuesday that AAPs Aapka Vidhayak Aapke Dwar program will commence on 1st September and 2,500 meetings will be conducted with the locals.

AAP MLAs are set to hold local meetings to understand peoples problems and discuss how to make Delhi free of corruption and garbage. Gopal Rai said that Delhiites gave several chances to the BJP in MCD in return, BJPs councillors gave only garbage and corruption back to Delhi. Ward wise preparation meeting will be held in all 272 wards of Delhi from 25 to 30 August under the Aapka Vidhayak Aapke Dwaar initiative. Gopal Rai also reinforced that BJP will face a crushing defeat in MCD elections.

Delhi Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai said, Delhis people continuously gave chances to the Bharatiya Janata Party in the MCD. Despite this, the BJPs councillors gave only two things in return to Delhis people as a gift, and these two things are garbage and corruption. In the entire Delhi, in a span of 15 years, a garbage mountain rose in Delhi. And not just a garbage mountain, if you go to any locality in Delhi- be in under North MCD, South MCD, or East MCD- the first thing you meet there is the garbage in that locality. Our Prime Minister ran the Swachh Bharat Mission, yet BJPs councillors and BJPs Mayor failed to fulfill the mission in Delhi. The Swachh Bharat Mission failed in Delhi and Delhi remained filled with garbage.

He said, Failing after attempting is a different thing. However, in this case, we do not see any interest or intention to do any work. It seems as if they have this ego that, irrespective of whether they work or not, they will win the elections. BJPs leaders seem to have this arrogance that it is the compulsion of Delhis people to vote for the BJP. Corruption has taken over the entire MCD, hollowing the MCD from head to toe. And the result of this corruption is that even if MCDs assets are sold, it is still not possible for the BJP to run the MCD. MCDs assets are being sold at throwaway prices. It seems as if they intend to sell all the little that is left before leaving the MCD.

Gopal Rai said, In such a scenario, Aam Aadmi Party is launching a mega campaign to make Delhi corruption-free and garbage-free. Yesterday, we had a meeting with our MLAs and Partys office-bearers till late at night. We took this decision to launch a mega campaign to make Delhi free from corruption and garbage. The first phase of this campaign will run from 1st to 30th September. In this one-month-long campaign, 2,500 meetings will be conducted. Aam Aadmi Partys MLAs will execute the entire campaign. All the AAP MLAs will execute the 'Aapka Vidhayak Aapke Dwar' program from 1st September onwards. Under this program, all AAP MLAs will visit various localities in various Vidhan Sabha assemblies to undertake meetings with the local people. All these meetings will be taken following the COVID-19 guidelines. They will sit with the local people, interact with them, understand their problems as well as discuss how to make Delhi free of corruption and garbage.

He said, Under this mega campaign that we are launching from 1st September, the partys office-bearers will initiate such meetings in the assemblies wherein AAP does not have MLAs. To prepare for this mega campaign, AAP will be organising ward-wise preparation meetings in all the 272 wards in Delhi from 25th to 30th August. In these preparation meetings, AAPs Mandal officers and booth officers will take part and an outline for the 'Aapka Vidhayak Aapke Dwar' program will be drawn for different localities. After this, under the 'Aapka Vidhayak Aapke Dwar' program, MLAs will visit various localities and hold discussions with the residents.

Rai said, This is being done because, in the past, the change that has been brought in Delhi by the Delhi Government was with the support of the people of Delhi. So now, we will fight this battle for a better MCD alongside the people of Delhi. We are commencing this via the 'Aapka Vidhayak Aapke Dwar' program.

He said, For monitoring, day-to-day reporting, and feedback of this entire campaign, we are making 7 party office-bearers in charge at the Lok Sabha level. There will be 14 in charges at the District level and 70 in charges at the Vidhan Sabha level. They will be centrally monitoring this campaign so that the feedback and problems that are arising from the ground level reach the central office routinely. This entire campaign will be monitored and carried out systematically. Through the medium of these 2,500 meetings, we will reach out to the public. After the completion of this phase on 30th September, we will review the outcomes. We will draw the outline for the next campaign on the basis of this review.

He further said, For the first time ever, in the MCD by-poll elections the BJP was brought to zero. Considering the condition in which the BJP-ruled MCD has landed Delhi in, I have full trust that Delhis public will be ready to bring a drastic change to the MCD in the upcoming elections.

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New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party protested outside the Novelty Cinema against the sale of land worth Rs 200 crore for just Rs 34 crore by the BJP-ruled MCD. Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party workers also took out a padyatra against the BJP in all 272 wards of Delhi.

Leader of Opposition in North MCD Vikas Goyal said that BJP leaders have sold the land to their own people at throwaway prices to fill their own pockets and that BJP has been committing scam over scam in the MCD and has now made the MCD completely bankrupt. He reinforced that the people of Delhi want to hand over the MCD to the Aam Aadmi Party in the coming elections, influenced by the development model of Arvind Kejriwal that they have seen in the past 7 years.

Aam Aadmi Party workers took out a padyatra against MCD in all 272 wards of Delhi. During which they made people aware of how BJP-ruled MCD sold the Novelty Cinema land worth Rs 200 crore for a mere Rs 34 crore. In the padyatra, they also told the people how the BJP is trying to fill its pockets with the help of corruption.

Aam Aadmi Party workers, led by North MCD Leader of Opposition Vikas Goyal, raised slogans at the Novelty Cinema, strongly opposing the scam committed by BJP-ruled MCD. During this protest, the Aam Aadmi Party demanded the BJP-ruled MCD to withdraw the decision to sell Novelty Cinema and said that till the demand is not fulfilled, the party will continue to protest and make the people of Delhi aware of this corruption. The protest conducted by AAP workers was completely peaceful.

AAP Leader Vikas Goyal said, For the last 15 years, the BJP has been ruling the MCD. Throughout the last 15 years the BJP-ruled MCD has not fulfilled a single responsibility of theirs, be it cleanliness and hygiene of the city, be it running MCD hospitals & schools, or be it trying to curb water-borne diseases, the MCD has paid no heed to any of it. They have not taken up any responsibility at all; they have failed at their duties.

The BJP, while ruling the MCD, has only been conducting one duty wilfully. That moral duty of theirs is, committing corruption. They have not lost even one opportunity to not do corruption. The Bhalswa landfill scam, the medicine scam, books & mid day meal scam, you just name the job, they will find a way to do corruption. The list is so big it might need an entire book for it. They have ransacked the MCD, made it bankrupt; they havent even left enough money to pay salaries and pension to employees. There are no medicines in their hospitals, no books in their schools. They have made the MCD completely bankrupt, he said.

The people of Delhi are now determined to kick them out of the MCD. Their leaders have realised that the people of Delhi want the Kejriwal Model of governance in MCD. The people want to see the same kind of development that Delhi has seen in the last 7 years. So now the BJP leaders are eyeing the properties of the MCD. They are giving away these properties to their own people for petty cash and filling up their own pockets. The biggest example of this is the Novelty Cinema. This is a prime and historic locality of Old Delhi, not even a 100 metre shop here can be bought for 34 crores, they are also valued at the least at 40-45 crores.

The BJP-ruled MCD sold a 1157 metre large plot for just 34 crores. This is an obvious instance of corruption, and the AAP will continue to raise its voice against it. AAP leaders and councillors in this prospect took out padyatras in 272 wards of Delhi to inform the people about this daylight robbery. The AAP will protest till this order is not taken back. We have been fighting for the people of Delhi for 4.5 years and we will continue to do so, he added.

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New Delhi: On August 15, when her native city Kabul fell to the Taliban, 19-year-old Mariam Arzo Nooyar was crying at her house in south Delhi's Bhogal, saying all hope of redemption for her war-torn Afghanistan was replaced by nightmares.

Nooyar, an Afghan refugee, along with her family had moved to India seven years ago in hope of a safer and prosperous future.

"India is our home now and every year August 15 is the day of festivities in the country to mark its Independence Day. But this August 15, when India was celebrating its 75th Independence Day, we lost our, as Kabul fell to the Taliban that very day. I was depressed and sad, and cried the whole day in my room," she said with a heaviness in her voice.

She was among the hundreds of Afghan refugees, mostly youths, who gathered and vociferously protested in front of the UNHCR office here amid the deepening crisis in Afghanistan in the wake of the takeover of the strife-torn nation by the Taliban.

"The Taliban claim to do their acts in the name of Islam. But killing innocent people and curbing rights of women, is it Islam? Today, the Taliban people are hunting those who worked for the US when it occupied Afghanistan and government officials, musicians, artists, journalists. I have no hope left for my Afghanistan," Nooyar said.

Wearing a traditional scarf with the national colours of Afghanistan, she and her friend Kayenat Yusufi, 18, sit in a corner of a streetside near the UN Refugee Agency office in Vasant Vihar, to take a rest.

Yusufi, a class 12 student, points to her pair of black denim which she has paired with her traditional dress on top, accessorised with an Afghani scarf.

"In Afghanistan right now, I cannot even think of wearing this outfit. The Taliban men will beat me with sticks or rods and even shoot at me. I shudder to think what our fellow women and girls are undergoing in Afghanistan," she lamented.

Yusufi and Nooyar shouted slogans during the protest as they are both volunteers of the Afghan Solidarity Committee, an umbrella organisation of Afghan refugees in India, which led the demonstration.

PTI spoke to a large number of female protesters, who hail from different parts of Afghanistan and had moved to India in the past few years or over a decade ago.

ALSO READ | Brave women demand their rights in Kabul, but uncertainty looms over their future under Taliban

Tamanna, 10, came to the protest site along with her mother, Hasala Rahmoni, from an Afghan refugees enclave in Noida. She held up a placard with a solidarity message that read 'please provide practical support to asylum seekers and refugees'.

The young girl aspires to become a doctor, but the recent turn of events in her homeland has broken her heart and left her mother, who was a teacher of Afghan Dari (Persian) language in Afghanistan before migrating to India a few years ago, in a state of depression.

"The Taliban, they kill people and don't allow girls to go to school or women to venture out," the 10-year-old rued.

"My relatives are there in Afghanistan. I am worried about them and women and girls in general. How can we be happy in India, if our Afghanistan and Afghani people live in fear and uncertainty," her mother, Rahmoni said.

Asked if they would ever like to return to their homeland, both mother and daughter said, "No, never. With the Taliban in control now, we can't even think of returning. It's hell right now."

Among women protesters were also people who have lived in India for over a decade now. Zaalasht Akhtari, a resident of Lajpat Nagar, had moved to India 13 years ago.

At Delhi's 'Little Kabul', she lives with her parents, three sisters and a brother.

"I worked in the marketing department in the health sector. But, after the Taliban took over, the entire medical tourism flow from Afghanistan has stopped. Fate of women there, the less said the better. The Taliban, appeasing women to just form a government. They are evil, they will return to their old self," Akhtari said.

Farkhunda Hami, 22, a fashion designing student, and her friend Alnuss Sada, 19, who also sat through the protest, were dejected thinking of the fate of the women and young girls back in Afghanistan.

Amid evaporating hopes and feelings of fear and frustration, many young girls walked around the protest site, wrapped in the Afghan national flag, seeking to inject a sense of optimism amid a sea of pessimism.

Being aware of the current situation, best friends Sadaf Kargar, 14, and Beheshta Niyazi, 13, who hail from Mazhar-e-Sharif and Kabul respectively, and now live as refugees in Tilak Nagar, expressed no desire to return to their native country ever, but demanded more support from the Indian government and the UNHCR.

"I can at least walk freely with my country's flag in the streets of India. In Afghanistan, the Taliban will kill me if I even show my flag," Niyazi lamented.

ALSO READ | 'We are going back to darkness': Afghan women students see no future in Afghanistan after Taliban takeover
New Delhi: Vaccination remains key in the fight against coronavirus. With the threat of third wave looming large, it's imperative that India gets maximum number of people vaccinated. But a report by the health ministry has given the country another reason to worry.

Media reports have quoted the health ministry report which says at least 1.6 crore Indians are yet to get their second shot of the COVID vaccines 16 weeks after their first shot. The figure of 1.6 crore was arrived at by comparing how many people had got their first shots as of May 2 with the total number of people who have so far got their second.

On May 13, the government had increased the earlier gap for Covishield vaccicne doses and approved a time period of 12-16 weeks for the second jab. 85% of all vaccinations reportedly include those who have taken this jab. For Covaxin, the second jab taken be after 4-6 weeks.

As per government data, the number of people who are eligible for their second COVID shot after 12 weeks and are yet to be fully vaccinated stands at 3.9 crore. Only 11.2 crores of the total 12.8 crore people who have been vaccinated with the first Covid vaccine on May 2 have received their second dose of vaccine, the data says.

However, according to a report by the Times of India, the number of people whose second COVID jab is delayed beyond the recommended interval is all possibility is likley to be higher as it has not taken into account those who have been jabbed with Covaxin and who were due their second dose after a much shorter gap of 4-6 weeks.

India reported 25,467 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, according to a government on Tuesday (August 24).

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Kolkata: The Special Patrolling party of BSF under the aegis of BSF Guwahati Frontier helped personnel of Border Guard Bangladesh, who were encircled by BD miscreants on the Indo-BD Border.

On 22 Aug 2021 at about 2000 hrs Special Patrolling Party of BSF deployed for effective border domination on the Indo-Bangladesh border in the South Salmara district of Assam, heard some sound coming ahead of the fence " Bandhu Bachao ".

#GoodwillGesture

On 22 Aug 2021 at about 2000 hrs, Special Patrolling Party of 06 Bn BSF under the aegis of @BSF_GuwahatiFtr helped Jawans of BGB BN, who were encircled by BD miscreants on Indo-BD Border. #BSF_India@BSF_Guwahati@PIB_Guwahati#LongliveIndiaBangladeshFriendship pic.twitter.com/u8P0vFG278  BSF GUWAHATI (@BSF_Guwahati) August 24, 2021

Further, the alert party immediately lit their torch lights and saw 03 BGB personnel who were encircled by BD Smugglers/miscreants. The Special patrolling party rushed towards the border gate and went ahead of the fence and challenged the miscreants.

When the BD smuggler saw that the BSF party reached very close, the BD miscreants ran away towards Bangladesh Village Satkuribari by taking advantage of darkness and bushes. BGB troops thanks BSF for immediate help/response.

Keeping in view of the vulnerability of the border, heightened activities of the infiltrator/exfiltration, and anti-national elements on the border, BSF troops are always alert towards the issues of trans-border crimes & illegal infiltration/exfiltration and are making all-out efforts to prevent the commission of such crimes.
Indore: Police have so far arrested four persons for allegedly assaulting a bangle seller for apparently using a 'fake' name while selling his goods to women in Govind Nagar of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, an official said on Tuesday. A protest was held earlier in the day under the banner of a Hindu outfit in front of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) office against the "rise in anti-national incidents" in Indore.

The arrested persons were part of a mob that thrashed 25-year-old Taslim Ali on Sunday after asking his name, he said.

The arrested persons are identified as Rakesh Pawar (38), Vikas Malviya (27), Rajkumar Bhatnagar (37) and Vivek Vyas (35), Banganga police station in-charge Rajendra Soni said.

He said the police are scanning video footage to identify and nab other persons involved in the attack.

Police are also investigating the charges of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and forgery registered against Ali.

Ali was booked under the POCSO Act for allegedly touching a 13-year-old girl inappropriately in Indore city, officials had said on Monday.

In the melee, Ali, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, left behind a carry bag in which two Aadhaar cards were found, the officials had said.

Based on the girl's complaint, a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and IPC sections 420 (cheating) and 471 (using fake documents as real ones), among others, was registered against Ali.

Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra had said the controversy started when this man described himself as a Hindu to sell bangles to women during the holy month of saavan, while he belongs to another community.

A protest was organised on Tuesday morning under the banner of Hindu Jagran Manch (HJM) at Regal Square in front of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) office in Indore in which many people participated. A heavy police force was deployed in the area.

Eyewitnesses said protestors waved saffron flags and raised slogans such as 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', 'Hindustan me rahna hoga, Vande Matram kahna hoga', 'Jai-Jai Siya Ram' and 'Pakistan Murdabad'.

The protestors handed over a memorandum alleging that anti-national incidents and incidents against a particular community are taking place regularly. Despite bringing these incidents to the notice of the police, no firm action is being taken under the pressure from a particular group, they alleged.

The memorandum mentioned pelting of stones during an Independence Day function, eve-teasing of minor girls and incidents of "luring young girls by men by hiding their true identity".

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Manish Kapooria, however, said appropriate action has been taken in all such cases. He said the cooperation of people is needed in maintaining communal harmony in the city.

"Police will not allow any particular community to disrupt the peace in Indore," he said.

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New Delhi: Indian pharmaceutical firm Gennova Biopharmaceuticals` COVID-19 vaccine, the first homegrown mRNA-based shot, was found to be safe and effective in an early-stage study, the government said on Tuesday (August 24).

Government authorities have also approved further studies to test the vaccine`s efficacy in a larger population. Gennova plans to conduct a mid-stage study at about 10 to 15 sites and a late-stage trial at 22 to 27 sites in India.

The company`s vaccine development, partly funded by the government, will utilize the clinical trial network under the biotechnology department of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Gennova is also investing in scaling up its vaccine manufacturing capacity, the government statement added.

Its parent firm, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, filed draft papers with the market regulator for an initial public offering last week.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: Amid the ongoing battle against the deadly Coronavirus, there is some good news for millions of Indians waiting to get vaccinated. Yes, they can now book slots for COVID-19 vaccination using WhatsApp.

On its part, short-messaging service WhatsApp has also announced that the MyGov Corona Helpdesk on its platform will now allow users to locate their nearest vaccination centre and book their vaccine appointments.

"Paving a new era of citizen convenience. Now, book COVID-19 vaccine slots easily on your phone within minutes," Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Paving a new era of citizen convenience. Now, book #COVID19 vaccine slots easily on your phone within minutes. Send Book Slot to MyGovIndia Corona Helpdesk on WhatsApp

Verify OTP

Follow the steps Book today: https://t.co/HHgtl990bb  Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) August 24, 2021

On August 5, MyGov and WhatsApp had introduced the ability for users to download vaccine certificates from the chatbot; and so far, over 32 lakh certificates have been downloaded by users across the country.

"The MyGov Corona Helpdesk on WhatsApp, since its launch in March 2020, has emerged as one of the most authentic sources of COVID-related information during the pandemic and served as a critical instrument in fighting the public-health crisis for over 41 million users across India," it added.

MyGov CEO Abhishek Singh said the MyGov Corona Helpdesk has been a path-breaking technological solution that benefited millions of citizens across the nation.

"Since its launch, MyGov Corona Helpdesk, enabled with support from Haptik and Turn.Io, has evolved into a go-to platform that is not only helping citizens with authentic Corona-related information but is now also aiding them in the process of vaccine booking as also finding vaccination centers and slots and downloading vaccination certificates," he added.

It is enabling digital inclusion in the true sense as most people find the AI-based interface enabled on WhatsApp easier to navigate, he further said.

"Our collaboration has unlocked technology's potential to extend benefits to citizens at scale. Judging by the large numbers of people who have placed their trust in the MyGov Corona Helpdesk chatbot and availed themselves of the benefits, this is an important step in our journey to become a digitally empowered country.

As a platform, we are fully committed to supporting our Government's efforts to help fight this pandemic, WhatsApp Public Policy Director Shivnath Thukral said.

To contact MyGov Corona Helpdesk chatbot, citizens can save the WhatsApp number +91 9013151515 on their phones; start a chat by typing Book Slot and send it to the number. This will generate a six-digit one-time password on the respective mobile phone number.

Users then choose a preferred date and location, based on the Pincode and vaccine type. All users can follow this sequence to get a confirmation of their centre and the day of their vaccine appointment.

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New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government has activated foreign missions near Afghanistan to speed up the evacuation of stranded Indian citizens and Afghan nationals, including Hindus and Sikhs, from the war-torn country.

The government officials said that Indian authorities have been coordinating with the Indian embassies in Tajikistan and Qatar to facilitate the evacuations of Indian and Afghan nationals from there and asked them to provide all support such as transport, stay and other necessary assistance.

The Indian authorities have also been facing a major challenge that many Indian workers have been located in different parts of Afghanistan and to take them to nearby Indian embassies such as Doha by land routes has also posed a threat of an attack on the convoy by the Taliban militia.

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Special Cell set up at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Delhi has been working round the clock to quickly respond to the queries from those who have requested the MEA to come to India.

So far, a total of 1,650 Indians have put their request to this cell, and they have responded to over 2,000 calls, 600 WhatsApp messages and 1200 e-mails, the official added.

They also confirmed that till Sunday evening, a total of 526 persons arrived in Delhi, apart from the 168 who arrived by the Indian Air Force transport aircraft C17 Globemaster at the Hindan airbase on Sunday morning including two Afghan Members of Parliament Anarkali Kaur and Narendra Singh Khalsa and also a few Afghan political leaders.

Apprehending that the Taliban militia may prevent the Afghan public representatives from taking the IAF flight, the entire plan was kept secret till the flight took off from Afghanistan, the sources said.

"The US authorities have taken full control of the airport and they are managing the air operation from the war-torn country. In this huge rush, charting out a slot for an aircraft and also a safe air route for the evacuation flight, have become major challenges for US authority," an official explained over the delay of the military aircraft from Kabul airport.

The Kabul airport has been closed for commercial flights and only military aircraft are allowed to land and take off from there.

The first air rescue operation was made on August 17, when an IAF C-17 aircraft brought back 120 Indians to Jamnagar, including Indian Ambassador Rudrendra Tandon, the last batch of the Indian embassy staff, ITBP personnel from the Kabul airport amidst the critical situation in Afghanistan.

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New Delhi: In an important development, India and Russia have agreed to form a "permanent bilateral channel" for consultations on Afghanistan. The announcement of the bilateral channel has been the most visible practical cooperation between India & any of its allies on Afghanistan in the aftermath of the fall of Kabul to the Taliban since 15th August.

The development was announced hours after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a 45-minute telephonic conversation on Tuesday (August 24).



Had a detailed and useful exchange of views with my friend President Putin on recent developments in Afghanistan. We also discussed issues on the bilateral agenda, including India-Russia cooperation against COVID-19. We agreed to continue close consultations on important issues.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 24, 2021

In a tweet, PM said, "Had a detailed and useful exchange of views with my friend President Putin on recent developments in Afghanistan." Both sides have had regular exchanges on Afghanistan, including during External Affairs minister Dr. S Jaishankar's Russia visit & Russian FM Lavrov's India visit earlier this year.

During Modi-Putin talks, both sides agreed to cooperate on counter-terror and drug threats "emanating from the territory of Afghanistan", a Russian readout of talks said. They also "noted the importance of coordinated efforts" which would "contribute to the establishment of peace and stability in this country, ensuring security in the region as a whole".

The situation in Afghanistan is seen as a security challenge to both India and Russia. For India, Afghanistan could become a safe haven for Pakistan-based terror groups, and for Russia, a spillover of the crisis can impact friendly central Asian countries like Uzbekistan, Tajikistan.

Important to remember, India's Deputy NSA Pankaj Saran met Russian NSA Nikolai Patrushev last week in Moscow & had discussed Afghanistan. Last week was the first week since the fall of Kabul, and the Taliban emerging as a dominant force in Afghanistan.

During the talks, both sides also had conversations on trade, covid crisis, manufacture of Russian Vaccines in India. The next few months will see increased India, Russia engagement, given India will host the BRICS summit in September as the chair of the grouping, Russian President Vladimir Putin's much-awaited India visit for the annual India Russia bilateral summit & deliveries of the first units of S400 air defence systems.
New Delhi: A ferocious fire broke out in the house of Mohammad Kamaruddin, a resident of Dawar Village in Gurez at 3 pm on August 24, 2021. The house caught fire due to the unattended cooking activity being carried out by the family. The plastic foam insulation of the entire house acted as a catalyst and the fire engulfed the entire house in no time. On observation of the fire by the proactive sentry at Dawar Garrison, a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) was rushed to the site with firefighting equipment.

On reaching site, the residents were swiftly evacuated and it was learnt that a cooking gas cylinder was inside the house due to which nobody was entering the house, an army officer along with Mohd Yaseen (porter employed with the Army) displaying courage of the highest order, immediately rushed into the flaming house and removed the cylinder thereby averting a major mishap and minimizing the casualty and damages. After extinguishing the fire at entrance, the QRT paved the way for the local fire brigade and continued extinguishing the fire alongside the firefighters as the fire was uncontrollable.

After a strenuous firefight, the blaze was finally tamed at 3.45 pm. There were no major injuries to the residents of the house, however, the kitchen, cooking utensils, windows and some personal belongings were burnt.



Tehsildar Tariq Ahmad, arrived on the scene with the revenue department and highly lauded the proactive measures, high standards of professionalism and courage displayed by Army personnel and thanked them for the timely assistance provided in extinguishing the fire thereby minimising losses.

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Srinagar: Security forces claimed that they have killed three unidentified terrorists in the Sopore encounter that broke out in the early hours of Tuesday (August 24).

Kashmir police twits  #SoporeEncounterUpdate: 02 unidentified #terrorists killed. #Search going on. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice"

An encounter had started between security forces and terrorists in Pethseer village in the Sopore area of Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir.

Kashmir zone police tweeted  #Encounter has started at #Sopore. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice

A police officer said that on a specific input about the presence of terrorists in the area a joint team of Police, army and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation.

As the search party cordoned the suspected spot, terrorists fired upon the searching party which retaliated and an encounter started.

All the entry and exit points are sealed and lights are also installed in the area to make sure that terrorists cant flee the spot.

Earlier in the evening Jammu-Kashmir police in a special operation killed two wanted terrorists including TRF chief in Srinagar.

Two terrorists, including a top commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were killed during an encounter with the security forces, officials said.

The police said that acting on a specific input generated by Srinagar police about the presence of terrorists in the Alochi Bagh area of Srinagar district, an operation was planned by IGP Kashmir, DIG Central Kashmir range and SSP Srinagar.

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Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir police busted a Lashkar-e-Taiba module operating in Bandipora district and arrested six terrorist associates on Tuesday (August 24).

The police recovered arms and ammunition including 2 live hand grenades, 2 detonators, 15 AK series rounds, 2 matrix sheets and other materials from the site.

Acting on a specific input about anti-national activity in the general area of Bandipora, a Lashkar-e-Taiba module was busted by joint forces. In this regard, six terrorist associates have been arrested, the police said in a statement.

Incriminating arms and ammunitions have been recovered from their possession which includes 2 live hand grenades, 2 detonators, 15 AK series rounds, 2 matrix sheets and other materials, they added.

The accused have been identified as Muzaffar Mohiuddin Lone, Mohammad Amin Lone, Rizwan Qadir Lone, Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone, Javaid Ahmed Lone and Mohammad Saleem Khan.

On preliminary enquiry, it was revealed that the accused were associated with terror outfit LeT and were providing shelter, logistics and other material support to active terrorist of LeT in Bandipora district, the police said.

The officials lodged an FIR and started an investigation into the case.

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday told organisers of the upcoming Dahi Handi festival that the state should set an example by setting aside celebration of festivals for some time to banish the coronavirus completely.

Speaking at a virtual meeting of the organisers, the CM said the health of citizens should be given priority during a pandemic.

Dahi Handi festival is celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Krishna and involves communities hanging an earthen pot filled with dahi (yogurt) or other milk-based delicacies, at a convenient or difficult to reach height. Young men, boys and girls form teams, make a human pyramid and attempt to reach or break the pot.

The festival enjoys a political patronisation in Maharashtra with various parties organising Dahi Handis and announcing a reward for Govindas, who break the pots.

A statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said Dahi Handi organisers responded positively to Thackeray's appeal and spoke about holding social and health-related activities to mark the birth of Lord Krishna.

The BJP, however, demanded Dahi Handi festival be allowed to be organised under certain conditions traditionally.

"Those who have taken both doses of COVID-19 vaccines must be allowed to organise the traditional Dahi Handi at low heights without crowding. The festival should not be banned," BJP MLA Ashish Shelar said.

ALSO READ | 'There is no system left in Maharashtra to hear out farmers,' Devendra Fadnavis slams Uddhav Thackeray

Speaking at the meeting, Thackeray said the COVID-19 pandemic has forced various restrictions on the daily life of people.

"These restrictions are for the welfare of people. Only a few people speak of protesting against these curbs. They should rather protest against coronavirus and not against the government," he said.

The chief minister said the entire world is reeling under the pandemic which has destroyed many families and orphaned children.

"Countries which have vaccinated most of their citizens are feeling the heat of a third wave of the pandemic and are locked down again," he said.

Thackeray said the second wave of the pandemic is receding in some districts in Maharashtra but it is peaking in some other places.

"This is a window period which we have to utilize to ensure that the livelihood of people is not impacted and the economic cycle continued," he said.

Thackeray reiterated that a lockdown will have to be imposed again if the daily demand for medical oxygen crosses 750 metric tonnes in Maharashtra.

During the meeting, state COVID-19 task force chief Dr Sanjay Oak said physical distancing cannot be maintained during Dahi Handi celebrations as people come in close contact with each other while forming human pyramids.

"Face masks are of no use if they get wet in water. The Delta plus variant is spreading fast. Even if one person is infected, the entire group runs the risk of catching the COVID-19 infection," he said.

He asked organisers to keep the festive spirit up by organising camps to donate blood and COVID-19 treatment equipment.
NEW DELHI: Union Minister Narayan Rane was on Tuesday (August 24) detained by Ratnagiri police in Maharashtra after row over his controversial remark that he would have 'slapped Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray'.

A team of police personnel went to Rane's camp in Sangameshwar in Ratnagiri when he was en route on his 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' in the Konkan region. The developments came barely a couple of hours after Narayan Rane sharply dared that 'nobody could do anything to him' or prevent him from 'moving around freely'.

A team of senior police officers met Narayan Rane and later completed the arrest formalities even as a large number of his supporters and a huge posse of police were present. An aide to the central minister Pramod Jathar claimed that no arrest warrant has been produced and the police pleaded that they were under 'pressure' to arrest Rane. Jathar added that 'there is the rule of law' in the state but the police were not following the due protocols, not showing the arrest warrant or other documents for the same.

Earlier in the day, Rane approached a sessions court n Ratnagiri, seeking pre-arrest bail. The sessions court, however, refused to grant any relief, noting that the case was registered in Nashik and hence, it did not have the jurisdiction to hear the application.

Maharashtra: Verbal spat erupts between supporters of Union Minister Narayan Rane and police in Ratnagiri. Watch visuals from Sangameshwar Police Station.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Verbal spat erupts between supporters of Union Minister Narayan Rane and police in Ratnagiri Visuals from Sangameshwar Police Station pic.twitter.com/z7N6SBYrri  ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021

Rane had sparked off a row over his remarks about slapping Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray for what he claimed as the latter's ignorance of the year of India's independence. "It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap, Rane said during his 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' in Raigad district on Monday.

The BJP leader and former Shiv Sena chief minister claimed Thackeray forgot the year of independence during his August 15 address to the people of the state. Thackeray had to check the year of independence with his aides midway during the speech that day, Rane said.

Following his remarks, a complaint was lodged against Rane by Nashik city Shiv Sena unit chief at the Cyber police station there.

A complaint has been lodged against Union Minister Narayan Rane given by one Rohit Kadam. Case registered with Chaturshringi police station. Probe on: Amitabh Gupta, Pune police commissioner Union Minister Narayan Rane had given a statement against CM Uddhav Thackeray yesterday pic.twitter.com/eAjwSUfrio  ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021

Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered against Rane in Nashik under IPC sections 500 (defamation), 505(2) (mischief), 153-B (1)(c) (remarks likely to cause disharmony, or feeling of enmity or hatred or ill-will), a police official said. Nashik Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey on Tuesday issued orders for the immediate arrest of Rane after an FIR was registered against him in the north Maharashtra city over his remarks against the CM.

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Mumbai: Hours after the arrest of Union Minister Narayan Rane by the Maharashtra police, BJP Chief JP Nadda on Tuesday (August 24) hit out at the state government calling the arrest unconstitutional.

He added that the party will not get scared and continue the Jan Ashirwad Yatra.

The arrest of Union Minister Narayan Rane by the Maharashtra Government is a violation of constitutional values. We will neither be scared nor suppressed by such action, Nadda said in a tweet in Hindi.

The massive support to the BJPs Jan Ashirwad Yatra has rattled these people. We will continue to fight democratically and the Yatra will go on, he added.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis also slammed the Maharashtra government for using the police to suppress the Opposition in the state.

We don't support Narayan Rane's statement (against Uddhav Thackeray) but I, as an individual and the party stand with him. Sharijil Usmani abused Bharat Mata but no FIR was registered against him but you (state govt) filed FIR against Narayan Rane, he said.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut demanded that Rane should "show some respect for the Constitution" and step down as Union minister after being arrested.

Rane was arrested today by Ratnagiri police in Maharashtra after row over his controversial remark that he would have 'slapped Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray'.

It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap, Rane was quoted as saying by PTI.

A team of police personnel went to Rane's camp in Sangameshwar in Ratnagiri when he was en route on his 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' in the Konkan region and arrested him.

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New Delhi: Union minister Narayan Rane was arrested on Tuesday (Aug 24) over his controversial remarks against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, which triggered a political row and protests. Rane had said that he would have slapped Thackeray over the latter's ignorance of the year of India's independence.

"It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap," the Union Minister had quoted.

The former Chief Minister claimed Thackeray forgot the year of independence during his August 15 address to the people of the state. Thackeray had to check the year of independence with his aides midway during the speech that day, Rane said. Rane defended his remarks against Thackeray, saying he hasn't committed any crime by making them.

On media reportage of his 'imminent arrest' in the case, Rane said, hours before his arrest, that he was not a 'normal' man and cautioned the media against such reportage. "I haven't committed any crime. You should verify and show it on TV or else I will file a case against you (media). Despite not committing any crime, the media is showing speculative news about my 'imminent' arrest. Do you think I am a normal (ordinary) man", Rane said.

Rane was taken into custody by police in coastal Ratnagiri district, where he is travelling as part of the Jan Ashirvad Yatra.

Rane was taken to the Sangameshwar police station after being taken into custody, the official said. There were reports that the BJP leader complained of high blood pressure and sugar levels and a doctor was called to examine him.

Rane's remarks drew sharp reactions from Shiv Sena, whose workers put several posters in Mumbai and other places, calling him a ?kombdi chor' (chicken stealer), a reference to the poultry shop he ran in Mumbai's Chembur area five decades ago, during the initial part of his over four-decade stint with the Bal Thackeray-led party. Activists of Shiv Sena and its youth wing staged protests in various cities across Maharashtra against Rane.

In Pune's Deccan Gymkhana area, Sena workers slapped posters of Rane with footwear. Yuva Sena workers staged a demonstration in Hadapsar. A stone was hurled at a mall located on JM Road in Pune, a police official said.

In Amravati, Sena workers vandalised the BJP office located in the Rajapeth area and also set various posters installed in front of the office on fire in protest against Rane's remarks.

No BJP office-bearer or party worker was present in the office at the time of the incident. Sena activists poured petrol, brought by them in bottles, on the posters installed outside the office and set them afire around noon. They also hurled stones at the office.

Heavy police security was deployed outside Rane's residence in Mumbai in the wake of his remarks against Thackeray, an official said.

BJP workers gathered outside Rane's residence on Juhu Tara Road in Santacruz (West) in the morning in support of their party leader.
New Delhi: The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Tuesday (August 24, 2021) held a meeting in Srinagar to discuss the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the way forward for the restoration of the special status of the Union Territory. The meeting was held at J-K's former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's residence despite restrictions imposed by authorities.

Authorities had not given permission for the meeting in view of the COVID-19 protocols.

Mehbooba Mufti, MY Tarigami, Muzaffar Shah, among others, attended the meeting.

Jammu and Kashmir: Leaders of People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) meet at the residence of its chairman Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar pic.twitter.com/IbRxbIDPvJ  ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021

Speaking to reporters outside Abdullah's residence, senior vice president of Awami National Conference -- which is a constituent of the alliance -- Muzaffar Shah said the agenda of the meeting, apart from the restoration of Article 370, is to launch a mass contact programme.

Asked about the reports of the administration having denied permission for the meeting, Shah said that a democratic meeting cannot be denied.

"We are holding a democratic meeting and the government can't stop us from doing it. We will discuss how to reach out to every region's aspirations," he said.

It was for the first time that second rank leaders of the political parties which are part of PAGD have attended the meeting.

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (August 23, 2021) spoke to his German counterpart Angela Merkel and discussed the Afghanistan crisis and other issues.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, "Spoke to Chancellor Merkel this evening and discussed bilateral, multilateral and regional issues, including recent developments in Afghanistan. Reiterated our commitment to strengthening the India-Germany Strategic Partnership."

Spoke to Chancellor Merkel this evening and discussed bilateral, multilateral and regional issues, including recent developments in Afghanistan. Reiterated our commitment to strengthening the India-Germany Strategic Partnership.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 23, 2021

As per the Prime Minister's Office, the two leaders discussed the unfolding security situation in the war-torn country and its implications on the region and the world. The PMO also informed that Modi and Merkel emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and security, with the most urgent priority being the repatriation of stranded people.

ALSO READ | Germany advises citizens against travel to Kabul airport amid evacuation chaos in Afghanistan

The two leaders also discussed issues on the bilateral agenda, including cooperation in COVID-19 vaccines, development cooperation with a focus on climate and energy, and fostering trade and economic relations, the PMO said in a statement.

PM Modi and Chancellor Merkel also exchanged views on issues of multilateral interest such as the forthcoming COP-26 meeting and the Indian initiative to promote a dialogue on maritime security at the United Nations Security Council.

They also emphasised the commonality of perspectives between both sides on promoting inclusive cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (August 24), and the two leaders had a detailed discussion on the evolving situation in Afghanistan.

Had a detailed and useful exchange of views with my friend President Putin on recent developments in Afghanistan. We also discussed issues on the bilateral agenda, including India-Russia cooperation against COVID-19. We agreed to continue close consultations on important issues.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 24, 2021

PM Narendra Modi tweeted, "Had a detailed and useful exchange of views with my friend President Putin on recent developments in Afghanistan. We also discussed issues on the bilateral agenda, including India-Russia cooperation against COVID-19. We agreed to continue close consultations on important issues."

PM Narendra Modi had on Monday (August 23) spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel over the Afghanistan situation and its implications on the region and the world. Both leaders had emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and security.
NEW DELHI: The government advisory committee National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NTAGI) has said that children above the age of 12 with comorbidities will be given priority for vaccination.

The announcement was made by NTAGI chief NK Arora, who added that vaccinating adults will remain the top priority for the government health agencies.

Arora, however, added that a portion of Zydus Cadilas Zycov-D vaccine supply will be set aside for comorbid adolescents. The announcement came days after the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granted emergency approval to the Zycov-D.

Developed by the Ahmedabad-based Zydus Cadilla Group, Zycov-D is the first COVID-19 vaccine in India that can be administered to adults as well as those 12 and above.

Arora also reportedly informed that the process for approval of Bharat Biotechs Covaxin for children will begin by September-end or October.

It may be noted that the DCGI had last week granted its approval to Zydus Cadilas three-dose COVID-19 DNA vaccine for emergency use in adults and children aged 12 years and above, bringing in the sixth vaccine authorised for use in the country.

After the DCGI nod, the Ahmedabad-based company said it plans to manufacture 100 million to 120 million doses of ZyCoV-D annually and has started to stockpile the vaccine.

The generic drugmaker, listed as Cadila Healthcare Ltd, has sought authorisation of ZyCoV-D on July 1 on the basis of its efficacy rate of 66.6 per cent in a late-stage trial of over 28,000 volunteers nationwide.

The DCGI said that it will give approvals to Zydus Cadillas Zycov-D vaccine in a phased manner first starting with children aged 12 years and above in the first phase. The drug regulator added that the approvals will be given for the release of vaccines for 6 to 12 years of children and later for children aged between 2 to 6 years.

ZyCoV-D is also the worlds first plasmid DNA vaccine against the deadly coronavirus.

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New Delhi: A delegation of five Punjab Congress leaders will meet the partys interim chief Sonia Gandhi seeking the resignation of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

The delegation that leaves for Delhi on Tuesday (August 24) includes four state Cabinet ministers Tript Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Charanjit Channi and MLA Pargat Singh.

They demanded the CM to be replaced. They were categorically clear in saying after the closed door meeting that it was high time for the party to opt for a change of the guard ahead of the polls.

Changing the CM is the prerogative of the party high command. But we have lost faith in him," Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi told the media in Chandigarh.

He said the legislators unanimously authorised a five-member committee to apprise the party President Sonia Gandhi at the earliest about the dissent of the party workers over non-fulfillment of poll promises by the government.

Channi slammed the Chief Minister and his aides over unfulfilled poll promises, particularly the delay in action in the 2015 sacrilege and police firing cases.

He said the panel would seek time from the Congress high command to listen to grievances of legislators and ministers, otherwise it will be difficult for the party to get a repeat in Punjab.

My opinion is that the CM should be replaced else Congress will not survive. We are going to Delhi today to meet Sonia Gandhi to speak on this matter, Punjab minister Tript Bajwa said.

The demand to remove Singh comes just months ahead of the Assembly polls. It also comes at a time CM Singh hit out at party state chief Navjot Singh Sidhus advisers for their controversial remarks on Kashmir and Pakistan.

Also Read: Avoid speaking on sensitive issues: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh warns Navjot Sidhu's advisors over 'atrocious' Kashmir remarks

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New Delhi: Raghav Chadha, Rajinder Nagar MLA, flagged off Mission Sahara, an initiative to help and assist the transgender community in his constituency. The mission began after Chadha was approached by the area District Magistrate along with a non-profit organization namely Community Empowerment Trust, to help the transgender community which has witnessed tough times in the pandemic.

Chadha deployed different teams of volunteers to identify and prepare the ration kits for about 100 transgender people, who have been unable to access ration kits via the already existing Free Ration Distribution Scheme of the Kejriwal government.

The formed teams will further help this community by completing their KYC and other documentation required in order to come under the ambit of the Governments Ration Distribution Scheme. It becomes even more important to come for their assistance in these tough times of the pandemic.

Mission Sahara -- Rajinder Nagars unique initiative

Mission Sahara is the latest initiative of the Rajinder Nagar MLA, who has been deeply invested in several development works in his constituency. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic that threw the entire country out of gear, Shri Chadha has not let any work be stalled in Rajinder Nagar.

Right from distributing ration kits in schools, to warm blankets during the bitter cold that had enveloped Delhi earlier this year, Shri Chadha has been at the forefront of each initiative, fulfilling each of his responsibilities as the MLA of Rajinder Nagar.

Chadha said, Through Mission Sahara, we aim to spread some help to those who are in absolute need of it. For many people, each day, each night is a battle for survival. Offering free ration kits is a tiny step to alleviate their struggle.

He further said, The right to life is enshrined in our Constitution. Access to food is a part of this very right to life. As the elected representative of Rajinder Nagar, I will do everything within my power to ensure people in my constituency dont have to run from pillar to post.

Chadha also said, Mission Sahara is our way of ensuring that nobody has to struggle for basic survival and its my duty to ensure that nobody in Rajinder Nagar is forced to sleep hungry. We will continue with Mission Sahara across Rajinder Nagar until the after effects of the pandemic gets improved and we reach some form of semblancy.

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MUMBAI: In a big relief, a Raigad Magistrate late on Tuesday granted bail to arrested Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane in a case pertaining to his 'slap slur' against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The development came around 8 hours after Rane's dramatic arrest by a police posse from his camp in Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri, from where he was whisked off to a Raigad court late in the evening.

The Central minister was nabbed - a first ever for the state - after multiple cases were filed against him in various districts for his 'slap slur' targeting Thackeray. Leader of Opposition (Council) Pravin Darekar and other leaders welcomed the verdict and said it was on expected lines as Rane's arrest was illegal and it was a politically motivated case.

BJP ex-minister Sudhir Mungantiwar termed it as a victory of democracy and a defeat of the 'Talibani mentality' of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. "The state government will have to pay a price for insulting the constitutional tenets of B.R. Ambedkar," Mungantiwar said.

Meanwhile, Rane is expected to walk out free a short while later after completing the legal formalities, much to the relief of his wife Neelam, sons Nilesh and Nitesh, besides a large number of supporters.

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New Delhi: BJP chief JP Nadda on Tuesday (August 24) hit out at the Congress leadership over their silence on the recent controversial remarks on Kashmir and Pakistan by two of their Punjab leaders.

Two of Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhus advisers - Malvinder Singh Mali and Pyare Lal Garg - sparked a row after the former claimed that "Kashmir is a country of Kashmiri people" while the latter took a swipe at Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for criticising Pakistan, alleging it is not in Punjab's interest.

Criticising the statements, Nadda asked the Congress leadership to come clear on the issue.

Recent comments by Punjab Congress leaders, who enjoy the patronage of the topmost state leadership as well as the High Command in Delhi, are reprehensible. They are repeatedly making irresponsible statements that have grave implications on national security, Nadda said in a tweet.

I would urge the topmost national leadership of the Congress to state clearly whether they support the remarks on Kashmir and Pakistan made by Congress leaders in Punjab? Silence on the matter will be seen as implicit support to such objectionable remarks, he added.

Mali's and Garg's comments have drawn angry reactions from some Congress leaders including Amarinder Singh and senior leader Manish Tewari as well.

According to media reports, the Chief Minister is upset with two advisors of Sidhu after they made atrocious and ill-conceived" remarks on sensitive national issues like Kashmir and Pakistan".

Singh reportedly asked Sidhus advisors to stick to giving advice to Punjab Congress chief and not to speak on matters which they are not fully aware of.'' He asked them to think about the implications of their comments" before making such statements.

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Srinagar: Two terrorists including a top commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and his accomplice were killed in an encounter in Srinagar, officials said on Monday (August 23).

IGP Kashmir said that on a specific information, ten policemen from J&K police in civvies went there and cordoned off the area. There was firing from militants, which was retaliated, leading to the encounter and consequently the duo was killed.

He said that Abbas was motivating youth to join militant ranks. Parents and families were worried. I appeal to parents not to allow their children to join militant ranks and those who have gone should be brought back, we will welcome them, IGP said.

Both Mohammad Abbas Sheikh and Saqib Manzoor were among a list of wanted militants shared by the police for the year 2021.

Giving the details of both terrorists, Jammu-Kashmir police issued a detailed press release.

The police said, Acting on specific input generated by Srinagar Police about the presence of terrorists in Alochi Bagh area of District Srinagar, an operation was planned by Jammu-Kashmir police.

Accordingly, a special & small team of Police was sent in covert to raid a specific location. During the raid, the hiding terrorists were given the opportunity to surrender; however, they started firing on the police team. Our team also retaliated. In a brief shoot out, two terrorists of proscribed terror out LeT (TRF) were neutralized.

One of the killed terrorists was identified as top commander of LeT & self claimed chief of TRF Abbas Sheikh of Kulgam and second, his deputy & District Commander of LeT, Saqib Manzoor of Barzulla Srinagar.

As per police records, both the killed terrorists were involved in killing of several political workers, police personnel and civilians.

Saqib Manzoor was involved in the killing of Adv Babar Qadri last year.

Besides, both the terrorists were also involved in several grenade attacks on security establishments & were also involved in several other terror crimes and civilian atrocities.

They were also involved in reviving terror folds in district Srinagar and in the process recruited 7 youths into terror ranks in District Srinagar among them 4 stands already neutralized.

Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were also recovered from the spot.

All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes. In this connection, Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and further investigation is in progress.

It is pertinent to mention that Srinagar had become terrorist free District in September last year but after Abbas Sheikhs shifting to Srinagar city, he motivated and recruited Saqib and 6 other youths from city into terror rank. So far, 4 terrorists of the city have been killed in different encounters.

IGP Kashmir who was himself supervising the operation has congratulated the Police team for conducting the successful operation without any collateral damage which is a big success that led to the elimination of top most wanted terrorists who were wanted by the law for their involvement in several terror crime cases.

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Chamoli (Uttarakhand): Relief came to those who got trapped in the Tamas area near Raini village in Chamoli district due to a landslide. A team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on Monday (August 23) rescued over 200 people. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand for five days from August 24 to August 28, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.

(Pic: ANI)

Last week, the Niti Border road connecting the India-China border in Joshimath in the Chamoli district was blocked for a week in view of the recurring landslides hitting the area. As per the information shared by Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the road in the valley was blocked due to landslides and the people of the valley have been stuck inside their houses. "We are facing difficulty in opening the road because of the recurring landslides (/topic/landslides). The pedestrian movement has also been blocked. We are taking the help of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF (/topic/ndrf)) to make an alternative way for people. The rescue operation is underway," the BRO had said. Meanwhile, the people of a dozen villages of the valley have been stuck inside their houses for a week with no supply of facilities.

Also read: These states to witness heavy rainfall during next 4 days, predicts IMD

Heavy rain has caused havoc in the hill stations with landslides and flash floods in Uttarakhand as well as Himachal Pradesh leading to loss of lives and property.

(With iputs from ANI)

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New Delhi: The minuscule Sikh and Hindu community of war torn Afghanistan is living under the constant threat of Taliban who have taken reins of Afghanistan in their hands spreading a wave of panic not only among all the minorities but among the peace loving Afghan nationals also. For all these years, the local Muslim of Afghanistan have not been able to accept them as Afghanistanis owing to religious fundamentalism and both the Sikh and Hindus are dubbed as kafir.

Brief history of Sikhs, Hindus of Afghanistan

Sikhs first master Guru Nanak Dev had visited Afghanistan during his fourth udasi (travel) beloved to be between 1519 -1521 along with his Muslim companion Bhai Mardana. Baba Nanak had visited Kandahar, Kabul, Sultanpur, Jalalabad where historical Gurdwaras are situated.

Sikh and Hindu of Afghanistan had over five decades old relation with India especially the trading relation. After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the resurgence of Taliban most of the Hindus and Sikhs of Afghanistan migrated to India, explained Dr Harish Sharma, a former head of department of history at Guru Nanak Dev University, was quoted as saying by BBC.

Similarly, there are historical Hindu temples in Afghanistan including Asa Mai temple, Kabul, Devi Dwara, Kandhar, Dargah Hindu Temple, Jalalabad and Ghazni, Gardesh Hindu Temple, Gardesh etc. According to some Sikh NGOs, there was over 2.25 lakh population of Sikhs and Hindus in 1970s, but gradually their number started declining and now there are not more than 300 Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan with 285 alone in Kabul.

Recent victimization of Sikhs and Hindus

Sikhs and Hindus had made their place in Afghan society and had set up different businesses like micro financing, medicine, hakimi(medical practitioner), cloth etc. Till 1970, they were in considerable number but gradually they began migrating from Afghanistan to other countries mainly India since Muslim fundamentalists started their exploitation and the things worsen when Taliban established their government by force in Afghanistan in 1996. From time to time, the minority Hindu and Sikh had come under attack by the Taliban forces, Dr Sharma explained.

On July 1, 2018, nineteen Sikhs and Hindus were killed in an ISISs suicide bomb attack while they were going to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Prominently among others who were killed in the attack included Afghanistans lone Sikh candidate Avtar Singh who was running for parliamentary elections.

The incident evoked a sharp criticism from across the world and focused attention of global Sikh bodies on the plights of Sikhs living in Afghanistan and help started pouring in from countries including india, Canada, America, Australia etc.

Following the incident, a few rich Sikhs from Afghanistan migrated to European countries and India. Another major attack on Sikhs was on March 25, 2020, when terrorists struck at Gurdwara Har Rai Sahib killing 26 worshipers. In one of the most recent incidents, the Taliban had forcibly removed the Nishan Sahib (Sikh religious flag) from Gurdwara Thala Sahib situated in Babu Khel in Chamkani district of Patkya province of Afghanistan.

Why India is a favoured destination?

Puneet Singh Chandok is the President, Indian World Forum, very well versed in Persian and Pashtou languages, who is one of the key persons facilitating Afghan Sikhs and Hindus to reach India. He told BBC, Despite being Afghan nationals, majority of Sikhs have their relatives in India and often visit to meet them and attend family functions. They also also have business relations with India with many of them involved in medicine trade and import medicines and other commodities from India.



They also visited India to pay obeisance at Golden Temple and other historical Gurdwara. For the last quarter century, they have been performing this gesture at Zero line on mid night of August 14/15 in the memories of those who have lost their dear ones during the partition of Greater India.

Two Afghan Sikh MPs said this about their evacuation?

The situation was such that I was forced to leave my country said Anarkali Kaur Honaryar, a Punjabi Sikh Afghan politician, upon landing at Hindon Airbase, India. Anarkali is one of the Afghan Sikh nationals who on Saturday arrived India at Hindon Airbase with other Indian and Afghan nationals. She said she had a lot to tell to the Indian media but presently the time was not right.

She told Zee Media that she was a Senator in Afghanistan and was given the security personals but after Talibans took control of Kabul she was feeling insecure. While sharing her last day experience in Kabul, she revealed that it was difficult time, adding we were about 70 Afghan Hindu and Sikhs who were waiting their turn to get in to the airport, and were standing outside the Hamid Karzai Airport but they had to run to the safe places after the armed men started checking their buses.

She also urged the Indian government to evacuate the remaining Hindu and Sikhs standard in Afghanistan.



Another Afghan MP Narinder Singh Khalsa, among those evacuated from Kabul, breaks down while talking to media at the Hindon Airbase. In an emotional tone, Narinder Singh said that he had never dreamt that he would leave the country in such a manner where he and his ancestors had been living.

The Afghan MP said his father was assassinated in Afghanistan and they were having good business and houses there but now we became zero. Expressing gratitude to the Indian government, he urged India to evacuate their community men who are still in Afghanistan.

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MOSCOW: Russian air and space defence concern Almaz-Anteyhas said that it will begin to deliver surface-to-air missile defence system (SAM) S-400 to India by end of the year 2021.

"I can confirm that we will deliver [the S-400 system to India] by the end of 2021 in accordance with the schedule and contractual obligations of the Russian side,", Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, the deputy CEO of the firm, said.

He made these remarks while interacting at International Military-Technical Forum "ARMY-2021" on Monday. Dzirkaln also said that at the present Indian military personnel training is underway in operating the S-400."

As for the training, the first group of Indian specialists has completed the training.

The second group is undergoing training. I would not talk about the number of people but it is a sufficient number for the Indian armed forces to effectively operate our equipment.

I would like to say that the results shown by the first group of Indian specialists after the training were very high. I would like to note the [high] level of training of Indian specialists," the deputy CEO said.

In October 2018, India had signed a USD 5.43 billion deal with Russia for five S-400 regiments.

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MUMBAI: Union Minister Narayan Rane, who is at the center of a storm for making controversial remarks against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, has said that he has not committed any crime.

Rane has also defended his comments on Uddhav Thackeray, which has evoked a sharp response from Shiv Sena and the Congress party. On speculation about his possible arrest, Rane said that he was not a normal' man and cautioned the media against such reportage.

I haven't committed any crime. You should verify and show it on TV or else I will file a case against you (media). Despite not committing any crime, the media is showing speculative news about my 'imminent' arrest. Do you think I am a normal (ordinary) man, Rane told reporters at Chiplun in the coastal Konkan region.

I've no info that an FIR has been registered against me. I am not a common man. I have not committed any crime. Is it not a crime if someone doesn't know about 15th August? I had said that I would have slapped - these were the words & it's not a crime: Union Minister Narayan Rane pic.twitter.com/ju8CyDCtNG  ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021

Asked about cases filed by Shiv Sena workers against him over his remarks, Rane shot back, Shiv Sena who?? Rane has sparked off a row by saying that he would have slapped Thackeray for what he claimed as the latter's ignorance of the year of India's Independence.

"It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of Independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap, Rane had said.

Rane had made these remarks during his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Raigad district on Monday. The BJP leader and former Shiv Sena chief minister claimed Thackeray forgot the year of Independence during his August 15 address to the people of the state.

Thackeray had to check the year of Independence with his aides midway during the speech that day, Rane claimed. There are also reports of a clash between Shiv Sena and BJP workers in Mumbai over the issue.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: A clash breaks out amid Shiv Sena workers, BJP workers and Police in Mumbai as Shiv Sena workers marched towards Union Minister Narayan Rane's residence. Union Minister Narayan Rane had given a statement against CM Uddhav Thackeray yesterday. pic.twitter.com/TezjDGGqAb  ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021

Following his remarks, a complaint was lodged against Rane by Nashik city Shiv Sena unit chief at the Cyber police station there. Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered against Rane in Nashik under IPC sections 500 (defamation), 505(2) (mischief), 153-B (1)(c) (remarks likely to cause disharmony, or feeling of enmity or hatred or ill-will).

Considering the law and order situation across the state and in Nashik in the wake of Rane's remarks, Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey ordered an investigation into the matter and immediate arrest of the Union Minister.

Accordingly, a team, led by Nashik DCP (crime) Sanjay Barkund and comprising police inspector Ananda Wagh and other officers, was formed and it rushed to Chiplun in Ratnagiri to arrest Rane, the official said.

The team was asked to arrest Rane and produce him before a court in Nashik, the official said, adding the team was also directed to follow the due procedure for arresting the Union Minister.

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MUMBAI: An FIR has been registered against Union Minister Narayan Rane for making highly objectionable remarks against Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

According to news agency ANI, the FIR against Narayan Rane has been registered at Chaturshringi Police Station of Pune, following a complaint by Yuva Sena, for using objectionable language against CM Uddhav Thackeray.

The FIR against Rane has been registered under Sections 153 and 505 of the IPC.

Maharashtra: FIR registered against Union Minister Narayan Rane at Chaturshringi Police Station of Pune city, following a complaint by Yuva Sena, for using objectionable language against CM Uddhav Thackeray. FIR registered u/s 153 and 505 of IPC. (File photos) pic.twitter.com/WVA6n4qSeW  ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021

Nashik Police has reportedly issued an arrest warrant against the BJP leader for his alleged derogatory comments against the Maharashtra Chief Minister.

Triggering a controversy, Rane had on Monday said that he would have given a tight slap to Uddhav Thackeray after the latter allegedly forgot the year of independence during his August 15 address to citizens.

Rane claimed that Uddhav Thackeray had to check the year of independence with his aides midway during the speech that day.

It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given him a tight slap, Rane said.

The Union Minister made these comments while he was conducting his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Raigad organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for new ministers in the Narendra Modi Cabinet.

Ranes comments evoked a bitter response from Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg MP Vinayak Raut said that Rane had lost his mental balance. Rane has been the worst critic of Uddhav Thackeray ever since he was expelled from the Shiv Sena in 2005.

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New Delhi: Afghanistan's famous pop star, Aryana Sayeed, who escaped from the Taliban after the takeover of Kabul, has blamed Pakistan for empowering the terrorist outfit and expressed her utmost gratitude to India for helping Afghans during the ongoing crisis."I do blame Pakistan.

Over the years, we have seen videos, seen evidence that Pakistan is behind empowering the Taliban. Every time our government touches the Taliban they see identification and it would see a Pakistani person, so it`s very obvious that I blame them and hope that they back off and don`t interfere in politics in Afghanistan anymore," said Afghanistan's pop star Aryana Sayeed in an exclusive interview with ANI from an undisclosed location.

She also claimed that the Taliban terrorists are being instructed and trained by Pakistan. "They are being instructed by Pakistan, their bases are in Pakistan where they get their training. I hope the international community, first of all, cut off their funds and don`t offer funds to Pakistan for funding the Taliban," said Sayeed.

#WATCH | "...I blame Pakistan. Over the yrs, we've seen videos & evidence that Pak is behind empowering Taliban. Every time our govt would catch a Talib, they'd see identification & it'd be a Pakistani, it's very obvious that it's them," says Afghan pop star Aryana Sayeed to ANI pic.twitter.com/eIBAGXvaCP  ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021

Moreover, she urged the international community to sit down and find a solution to bring peace to Afghanistan. "I hope they can put pressure on Pakistan. I believe that we`re dealing with all these issues in Afghanistan because of Pakistan," she added. Meanwhile, she lauded the Indian government`s efforts in Afghanistan and termed India as "true friend".

#WATCH | "I'm truly disappointed with the president (Ashraf Ghani), the way he left Afghanistan in hands of a bunch of Pakistanis. He let down our people, our country, our armed forces, military. How could we fight without any leaders?.." says Afghan pop star Aryana Sayeed to ANI pic.twitter.com/9kRpThlDZh  ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021

"India has always been good to us. They have been a true friend, they've been very helpful and kind to our people, even refugees. Afghans who have been in India before have always spoken highly of the nation, its people. We are grateful to India," she added."On behalf of Afghanistan, I want to express my utmost gratitude to India and I want to say thank you. Over the years we've realised that the only good friend in the neighbourhood we have is, India," she said.

Aryana Sayeed in 2015, sang at a stadium, breaking three taboos: Singing as a woman, Not wearing hijab, and entering a stadium as a woman, which was forbidden under the Taliban.
Panaji: The Goa police are waiting for the Russian Consulate's nod to conduct a postmortem of the body of a 24-year-old Russian actress, who was found dead in her apartment in North Goa district last week, an official said on Monday.

Alexandra Djavi, who acted in some Tamil movies including "Kanchana 3", was found hanging in her rented flat in Siolim village of North Goa on Friday.

A senior police official said the body was kept in a mortuary while they were waiting for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Russian Consulate to conduct the autopsy.

The police have already started an investigation into the case and recorded the statement of her boyfriend, he said. The woman's boyfriend, who was living with her in the same apartment, had gone out when she died.

Meanwhile, advocate Vikram Varma, the Goa representative of the Russian Consulate in Mumbai, urged the police to conduct a probe into the "possible role" of a Chennai-based photographer into the woman's death.

The deceased had filed a complaint of sexual harassment against the photographer in Chennai in 2019, he said.

"I was informed that the woman had been hounded and blackmailed by a person in Chennai. After a preliminary inquiry, the Chennai police had found enough evidence to register an FIR and subsequently arrest him," he said.

Varma said the case (of the woman's death) "may have other facets which are not clearly visible at this stage".

The Russian Consulate was monitoring the case and would provide all required information and assistance to the Goa police, he added.
New Delhi: Model-actress Urvashi Rautela is all set to join forces with popular rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh and Guru Randhawa. The actress has previously featured in their separate music videos.

Urvashi Rautela rose to fame with her first music video with Yo Yo Honey Singh in Love Dose and with Guru Randhawa in the song Doob Gaye. Now she will be seen together with them again in her upcoming project.

The actress Urvashi Rautela is seen wearing a shinny navy blue strapless gown, posing with Guru Randhawa, Yo Yo Honey Singh and Jubin Nautiyal. The actress captioned the post on Instagram stating, "The bands back together", Can you guess what this trio is coming up with.

On the work front, Urvashi Rautela will be soon seen in web series 'Inspector Avinash' opposite Randeep Hooda in a lead role. The actress is going to play the lead role in a bilingual thriller Black Rose along with the Hindi remake of Thiruttu Payale 2.

Urvashi Rautela will be also making a Tamil debut with the 200 crores big-budget film "The Legend" opposite Saravana. The actress recently got a blockbuster response for her song "Doob Gaye" opposite Guru Randhawa and "Versace Baby" opposite Mohamed Ramadan.
Actor Gehana Vashisth has approached the Bombay High Court for anticipatory bail in a porn films case in which businessman Raj Kundra is among those arrested. Her plea, which was filed last week, was taken up for hearing on Tuesday by a bench of Justices SS Shinde and NJ Jamadar.

Her counsel Abhishek Yende told HC the actor had previously been in custody for four months in two separate FIRs related to the case, and was out on bail, while the Mumbai police was seeking to arrest her again in a third FIR related to the case.

In her plea, she said there was no need for her custodial interrogation anymore, and told court she had been subjected to three different FIRs under the same cause of action within a very short time and on the basis of the same alleged offences.

Vashisth, in her plea, said she was already under stringent conditions imposed by the Sessions Court when it granted her bail in the earlier FIRs.

The HC will continue hearing her plea further on August 26.

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Seems like Google has finally realised that it`s high time to make meetings more convenient by updating its video-communication service app that will now warn users with an alert message if it thinks they are creating an echo.

The company announced the news in a blog post on Monday that the Google Meet app will soon tell you when it thinks you're creating an echo in calls.

For the unversed, currently, the users of Meet stay unaware if they are creating an irritating echo for the meeting unless other participants interrupt to inform them. Now, presumably with this update, the meetings can be easier.

As per The Verge, Google says that Meet already controls audio to remove echo. But it can't account for all remote desktop speaker and microphone configurations that result in audio being fed back into the call.

The new echo warning update will appear as both a red dot on the Meet interface as well as a notification and a text alert. The users can click the notification to get the steps of fixing the echo, which includes muting the microphone, lowering the speaker volume, or switching to headphones. The warnings will be enabled by default and won't require any admin intervention to enable.

According to The Verge, Google says that the new echo warnings are rolling out now to Google Workspace and G Suite Basic and Business customers. The rollout will take nearly 15 days to complete.

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New Delhi: Multi-talented Raqesh Bapat who is popularly known for his role in the film Tum Bin has been garnering lot of appreciation for his calm and humour in the Bigg Boss OTT house.

But not many are aware with his other talent of carving and making sculptures.

Yes, you read that right.

Every year on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, the actor can be seen making an idol of eco-friendly Ganesha and it always manage to grab the limelight.

This year also as Ganesh Chaturthi is just around the corner, Raqesh, who is in Bigg Boss OTT house, has managed to make a Lord Ganesha's motif with a help of a fork.

Dont believe us? Well, check out the first pictures over here.

Raqesh Bapat has a penchant for painting as well. He is often sharing pictures of his stunning artworks on his social media account.

Currently, the actor is a part of the most-controversial reality show Bigg Boss OTT, hosted by Karan Johar. His connection in the show is Shamita Shetty and the duo is going strong in the show.

For the unversed, Raqesh made his acting debut in the 2001 film Tum Bin, a romantic drama directed by Anubhav Sinha. After his stint on the silver screen, Bapat moved to the television industry and starred in shows such as Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar, Maryada: Lekin Kab Tak?, Qubool Hai. Later, he made a comeback to the big screen with the films Vrundavan and Savita Damodar Paranjape.
Kabul (Afghanistan): As the crisis continues to build in Afghanistan, which has now been taken over by the Taliban, the situation for women and the children of the country remains a big worry worldwide. The children in Agfhanistan definitely need help. The UNICEF has said that around 10 million children across the country need humanitarian assistance to survive."Today, around 10 million children across Afghanistan need humanitarian assistance to survive. An estimated 1 million children are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition over the course of this year and could die without treatment," UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore said in a statement.An estimated 4.2 million children are out of school, including more than 2.2 million girls.

Since January, the UN has documented over 2,000 grave violations of children's rights. Approximately 435,000 children and women are internally displaced, the statement said. "This is the grim reality facing Afghan children and it remains so regardless of ongoing political developments and changes in government," Fore added.This comes as the UN agency anticipates that the humanitarian needs of children and women will increase over the coming months amidst severe drought and consequent water scarcity, the devastating socioeconomic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of winter. "That is why, after 65 years in Afghanistan striving to improve the lives of children and women, UNICEF will remain on the ground now and in the days to come. We are deeply committed to the country's children and there is far more work to be done on their behalf," Fore said.

She said that millions will continue to need essential services, including health, lifesaving vaccination drives against polio and measles, nutrition, protection, shelter, water and sanitation."Right now, UNICEF is scaling up its lifesaving programmes for children and women - including through the delivery of health, nutrition and water services to displaced families. We hope to expand these operations to areas that could not previously be reached because of insecurity," the Henrietta H. Fore Executive Director added. Fore further urged the Taliban and other parties to ensure that UNICEF and other humanitarian partners have safe, timely and unfettered access to reach children in need wherever they are.

Afghanistan's situation is deteriorating as people are in a rush to leave the nation after the Taliban seized control last week. Several countries have been evacuating their citizens from the war-torn nation speedily. The Kabul airport is witnessing nowadays a heavy chaos due to instability in the region.

(With ANI inputs)

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Kabul/Washington: With thousands of desperate Afghans and foreigners massed at Kabul's airport in the hope of fleeing Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers, US President Joe Biden is expected to decide as soon as Tuesday (August 24) on whether to extend an August 31 deadline to airlift Americans and their allies to safety. Biden has warned that the evacuation was going to be "hard and painful" and much could still go wrong. US troops might stay beyond an August 31 deadline to oversee the evacuation, he said.

On Monday (August 23), an administration official told Reuters that Biden would decide within 24 hours whether to extend the timeline to give the Pentagon time to prepare.

Beyond the need to remove thousands of Americans, citizens of allied countries and Afghans who worked with US forces, Department of Defense officials said it would still take days to fly out the 6,000 troops deployed to secure and run the airlift. Some Biden advisers were arguing against extending the self-imposed deadline for security reasons. Biden could signal his intentions at a virtual meeting of the Group of Seven wealthy nations on Tuesday.

Also read: There's no hope for us, doesn't matter whether we have Ashraf Ghani or Taliban, say Afghan refugees in Pakistan

Two US officials had said the expectation was that the United States would continue evacuations past August 31. Later on Monday, Democratic U.S. Representative Adam Schiff, chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, told reporters after a briefing on Afghanistan by intelligence officials that he did not believe the evacuation could be completed in the eight remaining days. "I think it's possible but I think it's very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated," Schiff said.

A Taliban official said foreign forces had not sought an extension and it would not be granted if they had. Washington said negotiations were continuing. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States was in daily talks with the Taliban and making "enormous progress" in evacuating Americans and others. Between 3 am and 3 pm local time on August 23, some 10,900 people were evacuated from Kabul, meaning the United States had facilitated the removal of 48,000 people since August 14.

US defense officials had told Reuters that almost everything would have to go perfectly to extricate every American citizen by August 31, given concerns about reaching the airport, terrorist attacks and complicated processing times. State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters the United States had discussed future control of the airport with the Taliban, as well as with U.S. partners and allies. The difficulties at the airport were underlined on August 23 with a firefight between Afghan guards and unidentified gunmen. German and US forces were also involved, the Germany military said.

A British government spokesperson said British evacuations could not continue once US troops leave. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also said more time was needed.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the virtual G7 summit must agree on whether to extend the deadline and how to improve access to the airport.

The airport chaos also disrupted aid shipments. The World Health Organization said tons of medical supplies were stuck because Kabul airport was closed to commercial flights.

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The Union health ministry has issued a memorandum mandating compulsory minimum 14 days institutional quarantine for those being evacuated from Afghanistan, at the ITBP Chhawla Camp here, amid COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

The ministry said the Centre is undertaking emergency evacuation of people from Afghanistan to India and considering the nature of crisis, it has already allowed exemption from mandatory pre-boarding RT-PCTR testing (presently mandated for international travellers) for people who have been evacuated from the war-torn country.

"Coronavirus transmission (including circulation of variants) in Afghanistan is unclear at present, as a matter of abundant precaution, it has been decided that the arriving persons shall undergo a mandatory minimum 14 days institutional quarantine at Sector Headquarters Logistic and Communications, Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Chhawla Camp, Najafgarh Road, New Delhi," the office memorandum dated August 23 said.

"The Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation shall intimate ITBP adequately in advance about the exact date and timing of these incoming flights along with the passenger manifest. The said information may also be provided to the Government of NCT of Delhi," it said.

ITBP will make requisite arrangements for arranging transportation of passengers from arrival airport to the Chhawla Camp, Najafgarh. Any person testing positive or detected as symptomatic shall be shifted to identified COVID-19 dedicated Covid Care Centre or Covid hospital of NCT of Delhi, the memorandum stated.

All nodal agencies involved -- MEA, MOCA, MHA, ITBP and Government of NCT of Delhi, NCDC -- shall designate and communicate the name, designation and contact number of their nodal persons to each other and to the Ministry of Health, it added.

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KABUL: The Taliban fighters have reportedly captured three districts in northern Afghanistan and have inched closer to the major resistance stronghold Panjshir Valley.

News agency Reuters, citing a Taliban spokesperson, said the Taliban fighters were in position near the Panjshir Valley and had retaken three districts in northern Afghanistan that fell to local militia groups last week. It, however, stated that there were no confirmed reports of further fighting in the region.

The districts - Bano, Deh Saleh, Pul e-Hesar - in the northern province of Baghlan were taken by local militia groups last week in one of the first signs of armed resistance to the Taliban since their seizure of the capital Kabul on Aug. 15.

By Monday, Taliban forces had cleared the districts and were established in Badakhshan, Takhar and Andarab near the Panjshir Valley, according to the Twitter account of spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

Forces loyal to Ahmad Massoud, son of the late mujahideen commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, have established themselves in his Panjshir stronghold, which resisted both the Soviets and the Taliban before 2001.

Massoud, whose forces include remnants of regular army and special forces units, has called for negotiations to form an inclusive government for Afghanistan but has promised to resist if Taliban forces try to enter the Valley, north of Kabul.

Late on Sunday, the Talibans Alemarah information service said hundreds of fighters were heading towards Panjshir. There has been no confirmation of any fighting, but an aide to Massoud said both sides were standing ready for military action.

Zabihullah Mujahid said the Salang Pass, on the main highway running from southern Afghanistan to the north, was open and enemy forces were blockaded in the Panjshir valley. But his statement suggested there was no fighting for the moment. "The Islamic Emirate is trying to resolve the problems peacefully," Zabihullah said.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan`s "acting" President Amrullah Saleh has highlighted the dire "humanitarian situation" in Andarab Valley of the northern Baghlan province and accused the Taliban of committing human rights violations in the region.

This comes as clashes were reported between the Taliban and resistance forces in the Andarab region.

"Talibs aren`t allowing food and fuel to get into Andarab Valley. The humanitarian situation is dire. Thousands of women and children have fled to the mountains. Since the last two days Talibs abduct children and elderly and use them as shields to move around or do house search," Saleh tweeted.

A day earlier, Saleh had warned the Taliban to avoid entering Panjshir."Talibs have massed forces near the entrance of Panjshir a day after they got trapped in ambush zones of neighbouring Andarab valley and hardly went out in one piece.

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New Delhi: A Ukrainian plane that arrived in Afghanistan to evacuate Ukrainians has been hijacked by unidentified people who flew it into Iran, said reports on Tuesday. Russian news agency TASS reported the incident citing Ukraine`s Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin.

Confirming the development, Yevgeny Yenin said, "Last Sunday, our plane was hijacked by other people. On Tuesday, the plane was practically stolen from us, it flew into Iran with an unidentified group of passengers onboard instead of airlifting Ukrainians. Our next three evacuation attempts were also not successful because our people could not get into the airport."

Tass, citing Yenin, further reported that the hijackers were heavily armed.

A Ukrainian plane that arrived in Afghanistan to evacuate Ukrainians has been hijacked by unidentified people who flew it into Iran, Ukraines Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin says: Russian News Agency TASS pic.twitter.com/imHpp5bK6G  ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021

However, the Ukrainian Deputy Minister did not report anything about what happened to the plane or whether Kiev would seek to get it back or how the Ukrainian citizens got back from Kabul, onboard this "practically stolen" plane or another one sent by Kiev.

Yenin only underlined that the whole diplomatic service headed by Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba "had been working in the crash test mode" the whole week.

However, minutes later, both Kiev and Iran's aviation chief denied reports of Ukrainian evacuation plane hijacking in Afghanistan. The spokesman of the Iranian aviation agency rejected the reports of Ukrainian airliner being hijacked and flown to Iran.

International media reports quoted Iran's aviation chief as saying that the Ukrainian plane stopped in Mashhad last night for refuelling and then headed to Ukraine. "It's now landed in Kiev," he was cited as saying.

#BREAKING

Interfax (Russian media outlet): Kiev denies hijacking any Ukrainian evacuation plane in Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/bZ0yc6A9TG  Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) August 24, 2021

On Sunday, a military transport plane with 83 people onboard, including 31 Ukrainians, arrived from Afghanistan to Kiev.

The presidential office reported that 12 Ukrainian military personnel returned home, while foreign reporters and public figures who requested help were also evacuated.

The office also added that around 100 Ukrainians are still expecting evacuating in Afghanistan.

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Geneva: China`s envoy told the U.N. Human Rights Council on Tuesday (August 24) that the U.S. Army and the militaries of its coalition partners should be held accountable for rights violations allegedly committed in Afghanistan.

During a session on reports of Taliban abuses, Chinese Ambassador Chen Xu gave no details of the alleged violations in the nearly 20 years since U.S. troops entered Afghanistan to fight the Islamist militant Taliban after the Sept. 11 attacks.

However, Amnesty International has previously said that thousands of Afghans have been killed or injured by U.S. forces of which few have been brought to justice. The U.S. Department of Defense at the time defended its efforts to avoid casualties.

The Chinese envoy told the Human Rights Council: "The US, UK, Australia and other countries must be held accountable for the violation of human rights committed by their military in Afghanistan and the evolution of this current session should cover this issue."

Council members agreed to mandate reports on any rights violations by the Taliban.

"Under the banner of democracy and human rights the U.S. and other countries carry out military interventions in other sovereign states and impose their own model on countries with vastly different history and culture," Chen said, adding that this had inflicted "great suffering".

China, which has not fought in Afghanistan, is seen to be holding out an olive branch to the Taliban and the latter has also said that Beijing can contribute to its economic development. Unlike the United States, its NATO coalition partners, and Russia, China may be at an advantage since it has not sent troops there in the past.

"We will continue developing a good neighbourly, friendly and cooperative relationship with Afghanistan and continue our constructive role in its process of peace and reconstruction," Chen added in his speech.

(With agency inputs)
Washington DC: US President Joe Biden is not considering speaking to the representatives of the Taliban`s leadership, National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan has said and added that the US has "no illusion" about the terrorist group.

"With respect to whether President Biden is likely to speak to the leadership of the Taliban, that is not in contemplation at this time," NSA Sullivan said during a White House press briefing on Monday.

This comment comes a day after Biden said that the Taliban is seeking legitimacy and have made promises but Washington will see whether "they mean or not".

"I don`t trust anybody," he had said when asked whether he believes the Taliban or not. Amid the ongoing evacuation efforts in Afghanistan, Sullivan said the US is in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis and they are "consulting with the Taliban on every aspect," including on the situation at Kabul airport.

Despite ongoing talks with the Taliban, NSA added that US forces at the Kabul international airport continue to face a serious threat from the Islamic State terror group.

The Joe Biden Administration believes that the United States has time to get every American out of Afghanistan by the August 31 withdrawal deadline. "We believe that we have time between now and the (August) 31 to get any American out (of Afghanistan)," NSA Sullivan said.

The United States will continue to evacuate at-risk Afghans out of Afghanistan after US troops leave the country by the August 31 deadline, he added.

Answering a question on Biden`s view of the Taliban, Sullivan said, "of course, he does not (trust Taliban), none of us do. Because we have seen the horrific images from the last time they were in power; because of the way in which they have conducted this war; because we have seen that the fact they are responsible for the death of American men and women for two decades of war."

"We have no illusion about the Taliban. From our perspective, we need to focus on the task at hand. We need to get thousands and thousands of people out of this country (Afghanistan)," he added.

More than two dozen US military flights evacuated approximately 10,400 people from Kabul in the last 24 hours. In addition, 61 US coalition aircraft evacuated 5,900 more people.

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DOHA: A group of Afghan women too young to recall the Taliban`s 1996-2001 rule are experiencing the same trauma once recounted by relatives after the group retook control of Afghanistan, leading thousands to flee the country.

"We are going back to darkness," said one of the university students evacuated to Qatar, who described feelings of anxiety and fear and like others declined to provide details that could identify them or their families back home for security reasons.

ALSO READ | Taliban using women as sex slaves, set a woman afire for 'bad cooking', report claims

"It`s all the stories that we were hearing from our parents and our grandparents, and at that time it was a story but now it`s like the nightmare came true," a second woman said.

The four who spoke to Reuters are among hundreds of Afghan students, mostly women, evacuated to the Gulf Arab state.

When they last held power, the Taliban strictly enforced their ultra-conservative interpretation of Sunni Islam that included banning women from going to school or working.

ALSO READ | Desperate Afghan women throw babies over razor wire at Kabul airport compound, UK soldiers cry

Many doubt the militant group`s proclamations that this time women`s rights will be protected under the framework of Islam.

"Everybody knows how harsh and brutal that era was," the second woman told Reuters at a residential compound in the capital Doha housing evacuees, including other nationalities.

She said she did not believe there were enough female teachers in Afghanistan for the gender-segregated classes the Taliban insist on.

The group of women said that the Taliban`s values were alien to them and that they would not return to Afghanistan as long as the group exerted control, even under a power-sharing government.

"I feel like I no longer belong to this country and I cannot have my country back because the situation is getting worse day by day," the third woman said.

ALSO READ | Brave women demand their rights in Kabul, but uncertainty looms over their future under Taliban

"It took us 20 years to build our country and ... now everything has collapsed," another woman added.

The third woman said she tried to bring a piece of soil with her but it was left behind in luggage at Kabul airport. Now all she has to remind her of Afghanistan is her passport.

She did not know where she would settle but said she was determined to do her best to find a new home and complete her studies.

"I will do whatever I can do ... because I don`t see the future inside (Afghanistan)."